This study is concerned with the Administration of Philip III of
Spainp and suggests that it was with that Administration rather
than with the Duke of Lerma that real power lay. Lerma himself is
seen as a courtier, concerned to enrich himself and his family and
quite unconcerned with affairs of state - save where they impinged
upon his own cupidity or upon his relationship with the King. It is
therefore argued that he had no faction and hardly any interest in
policymaking. The councils themselves are seen as being composed of
independent, properly professional men, and the study is particularly
concerned to analyse the councils of State, War and Finance; attendance
registers for these councils are used here.
Philip himself is described as a man at once reliant personally
upon the superficially brilliant Lerma and also, and more profoundly,
as a man who needed and valued enormously the advice of his councils.
He separated Court and Government, relaxing with Lerma while leaving
the business of government to the councils. Such policy as he had
beyond this is generally described as being belligerent
