Sebastian Francisco de Medrano
The Spanish novelist and playwright Alonso de Castillo Solórzano described Medrano as "the prince of the most renowned Academy Madrid ever had.
[2][3] He became a Doctor of Canon Law, Protonotary Apostolic of His Holiness, Judge, and a commissioner of the Inquisition, acting as the official censor of comedias,[4] a term largely created and defined by his close friend, Lope de Vega.
On 29 June 1622 he joined the priestly congregation of San Pedro el Real in Madrid, eventually becoming its secretary and chief chaplain.
He had been born in Madrid, into an illustrious family at the end of the 16th century; He was a priest and commissioner of the Inquisition, acting as the official censor of comedies.
[8] Solórzano explained in the epistle of Medrano's Favores de las Musas: ... Much paper could be spent praising him, though as his true friend, I must note that he wrote these works in his youth, with a natural spirit that marks him as a born poet.
He was the prince of the most renowned Academy Madrid ever had, where he presided over many poetic contests with great elegance and erudition, delivering judgments (a key aspect of such exercises) without offending anyone, and demonstrating immense grace and charm.
His works were well-received and applauded by many distinguished audiences, including one session attended publicly by Their Majesties and the most illustrious figures of Spain, both in lineage and intellect.
[1] In addition, manuscript 3,889 (Poesías varias) of the Biblioteca Nacional de España (BNM) contains what appears to be a foundational charter for a "Peregrine Academy," which, however, never became active.
[13] Favors of the Muses was composed for the Academy of Madrid and collected by Alonso de Castillo Solórzano, a friend of Medrano and who joined the group of poets in 1619.
As La Barrera pointed out: He had very intimate relations with Lope de Vega, and chance caused that great man to be taken to his room, located in the Scottish seminary, when he fainted, which preceded his death by three days.
Medrano further delves into this exposition on the close relationship he had with Lope: The world knows well how much I loved him and how I defended him, and so silence will speak about what the eyes weep.
Montalbán himself pointed this out in Para todos entre los ingenios, praising him for his verses and his works: Don Sebastián Francisco de Medrano, of sweet, sharp, and clear intellect.
On the other hand, Pablo Jauralde Pou believes that Solórzano could have indeed accompanied his friend to the Lombard capital, a reason that would justify the author's absence at the burial of his lord, Pedro III Fajardo, 5th Marquis of Los Vélez, in late 1631.
And when I summoned so many flourishing minds to the academies, the glory of my house and the honor of my modest wealth, I thought (without having opened my eyes to deception) that with those youthful works, poorly or weakly founded, I would find a place among the famous, both due to the natural talent bestowed upon me by heaven and because fortune granted me some reputation through my youthfulness, allowing me to be considered knowledgeable, and even strong, as most of the elders favored me with the title of Master."
But as I gradually became wiser, I recognized the prudence in Lope de Vega, the honor of my homeland, a miracle of our nation, and a prodigy for foreigners, to whom all who wish to acknowledge the truth know how much they owe.
