William Godolphin and Francisco de la Torre’s Agudezas de Juan Oven (1674)

Patronage, diplomacy, and confessionalism

Resumo

Aragonese poet Francisco de la Torre y Sevil (1625–1681) dedicated his Agudezas de Juan Oven (1674) to William Godolphin (1635–1696), English ambassador to Madrid (1671–1678). Examination of the rich paratextual matter suggests that the bond of patronage between Spanish poet and English diplomat was forged at the convergence of two factors: the problematic nature of Owen’s text, a collection of epigrams expurgated by the Holy Office whose publication in Spanish, although permitted, required avoiding inquisitorial censorship; and Godolphin’s profile as a foreign ambassador converted to Catholicism and owner of an extensive library.