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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31224	La picara, or, The triumphs of female subtilty display'd in the artifices and impostures of a beautiful woman, who trapann'd the most experienc'd rogues, and made all those unhappy who thought her handsome : originally a Spanish relation, enriched with three pleasant novels / render'd into English with some alterations and additions by John Davies ...; A lo que obliga el honor. English	Castillo Solórzano, Alonso de, 1584-1648?; Davies, John, 1625-1693.; Castillo Solórzano, Alonso de, 1584-1648? Garduña de Sevilla y anzuelo de las bolsas.	1665 (1665)	Wing C1232A; ESTC R19065	175,851	314

Rufina that he used all the ways he could imagine to insinuate himself into her favour Upon that accompt it was that he proffer'd her the use of his Country-house to take the Air and recover her Indisposition conceiving that being at his own House it would be the more easie for him to compass his desires She had been told by Garay that this Merchant was a well-feather'd Fowl and might be easily pluck'd and since this good Luck had fallen to them by chance they should make the best advantage they could of it That night they onely Supp'd and every one went to his rest for it was very late The Genoese made as if he would have returned to the City and lye there but his Servants whom he had before instructed persuaded him not to go abroad at that unseasonable time of the Night for fear of meeting with any Thieves besides there being a Press in the City many young Men presum'd to do mischief in the Night and robbed all they met At last being persuaded not to stir out he was glad to pass away some part of the Night in discoursing with Rufina and being got to Bed his business was to consider by what means and with least charge he might obtain his desires of her Several things came into his mind but the easiest he could find suitably to his humour was to forget her and never think of her any more for he knew the Age we live in to be such that it is a miracle to get any kindness in Love without Liberality The next morning he commanded somewhat should be made for her break-fast not imagining she was up But when word was brought him that she was out of Bed the Genoese would needs go into her Chamber to chide her for rising so soon and by that means to see whether Rufina's beauty were any way oblig'd to artifice He found her kembing her head and so he had a full sight of her hair which was of a great length and of a Chestnut colour The Genoese gave God thanks who with so many other perfections had bestow'd on her such an excellent Head of hair but he was much more astonish'd when upon her dividing them into two parts to make him an answer he saw her Face as beautiful as it had appear'd to him when she went to bed a thing able to enflame a person less enclin'd to Love and more to Avarice than he was inasmuch as there is not a greater charm to secure a Lover's heart than to see that the beauty of his Mistress is natural and scorns to borrow any thing of Art Rufina indeed was not much troubled to look after waters paints pomatums unguents and such things wherewith such women who stand in need of them hasten on their age with their wrinkles and lose their youth ere they are aware She onely wash'd her self in fair water and needed no other vermilion to heighten the beauty of her face than that of her own lively complexion The Merchant ask'd whether she would be pleas'd to see his Garden She made answer that she was extremely oblig'd to him for the trouble he gave himself to divert her and to satissie him how kindly she took that favour at his hands she went along with him just as she was without putting up her hair which hanging down over her shoulders added much to her beauty and it is not much to be doubted but she had a design in it She went down with this new Gallant of hers who thought it an extraordinary pleasure to have her by the hand and in that posture she saw the whole Garden seeming to be much taken with the delightfulness of it Having recreated her self with him till the Sun Sun began to be somewhat hot she return'd into the house and broke her fast after which having discours'd of several things she desir'd to see the whole house The amorous Genoese desiring nothing so much as that she might see his wealth shews her a great number of excellent Pictures done by the best Painters in Europe some very rich pieces of Tapestry Cabinets of Ebony of several fashions embroider'd Beds and all sorts of Houshold-stuff of great value In a word there wanted not ought of those things requisite for the furnishing of a house fit for a Nobleman Having seen all the rooms he open'd a curious Closet near which there was a little Oratory and in that Closet there were a great many pieces of Painting done at Rome of extraordinary value Agnus-Dei's of gold and silver gilt and Flowers done as near the life as could be imagin'd The Closet was full of Books very richly bound and neatly dispos'd into gilt Drawers Garay who was a curious person and had read much was looking very earnestly on the Titles of the Books which were in one Drawer and having put that into its place he took out another wherein there were others very curiously bound but had no Titles on the backs Garay opens one of them and finds the Author of it to be Arnaldus de Villa Nova and near that were the works of Rosino Alquindus and Raymundus Lullius The Merchant perceiving him so taken up with the perusal of those Books ask'd him what he look'd on so attentively I find here Sir replies Garay a great many Books of Chymistry and from the curiosity I observe in your collection of Treatises of that kind I infer that you have studied that Science 'T is true says the Genoese I have spent some time in the perusal of those Authors but how far I pray are you acquainted with them Onely so far replies the other that I have spent the best part of my life in that study Nay then says the Genoese you must needs be a very great Chymist I am not to acknowledge what I am replies Garay we shall talk another time of these things more at large for the present I shall onely tell you that besides these Authors I have read all I could ever meet with that treated of this Science I have turn'd over the works of Avicenna Albertus Magnus Terno Pythagoras the Secrets of Calidus the Book of the Allegory of Morillus that of the Secret Stone and that entituled De tribus verbis besides many Manuscripts which I never shew'd any man The Genoese was almost out of of himself for joy to hear these things I am extremely glad said he to him that this Science pleases you for I have a particular inclination for it I know it very well replies Garay which he said having already resolv'd how to put a slur upon him but in regard I place a great confidence in you I will tell you a thing in your ear which you will be much astonish'd at It is this whispering him in the ear that my Niece knows without any study in a manner as much as I do of this Art and is very fortunate in the practick part of it as you shall see by experience But I entreat you not to

at and left the Plate and some other things they could not so conveniently carry away behind them though with some regret thinking it more prudence to make a safe retreat with what were considerable than to hazard all by grasping at too much Having therefore loaden themselves with what was most pretious they left the Furnaces and the Alembicks made the Philosopher's stone at the cost of the absent Merchant and took Horse while the people of the House were fast asleep They took their way towards Malaga and travell'd all night having about them above six thousand Crowns in Money and Jewels and left upon a Table near the Furnaces a paper of Verses to hasten the credulous Merchant to hang himself Two days after their departure he returns home very ill satisfy'd with his Journey in that he had not done any thing in the business which occasion'd it All the hope he now had was in his Uncle Garay imagining by his means he should yet be able to shew his head and not onely keep up his Reputation but also be Richer than ever he had been such a strange Mist had the Witchcraft of Chymistry cast before his Eyes He came not to his Country-house till after Night where he found the Servant whom he had left with Garay and Rufina for the rest of his people were in the City The Servant receiv'd him with a sad countenance and being got up stairs he ask'd him fearing somewhat were amiss where his Guests were of whom the Servant could give him no account as having not seen them when they went out and could onely say that two Nights before they had lock'd him into the Room where he lay which he had been forc'd to break open because he could not otherwise get out They search'd up and down and found that the Chests had been opened and all the Money convey'd away This was not the worst the Merchant feared but that they had also been with him in whose custody he had greater summs of Money and the most pretious of his Houshold-stuff It being too late to make any enquiry that Night he thought it his best course to go to Bed but desirous to visit the Furnaces once more he finds on the Table the Paper left there by Garay which having open'd he found in it these Lines Signor Octavio IT is the just reward of those who attempt things impossible to be shamefully disappointed Many of your Profession have been ruin'd by their Faith in things relating to their Trade it was therefore but fit you should repent your Credulity in a business you understood not It was indeed impardonable to expect to see that done by any Man in a few days which the Sun who hath a greater power over the Metal you were so covetous of cannot perfect under four or five hundred years Your loss I must confess is great but you have this comfortable consideration that you may now defie Chymistry and all its cheating Professors to shew you such another trick as we have done But to avoid all future Temptation take this hearty advice from two dear Friends of yours put all the fine Treatises you have of that pernicious Art into your Furnaces and having set Fire to them and your House together fairly run away by the light of it The poor Merchant had no sooner read them ere he was convinc'd they were his kind Guests who had robb'd him and extracted what he had in his Chests and Cabinets with more ease than he had infus'd it into them How he spent the Night is onely to be imagin'd being just upon the point of Breaking and not knowing any means to remedy it All the hope he had was that the Money and Jewels which he had left in a friend's hands were safe enough nay he despair'd not to find out those who had done him the mischief He turn'd himself from one side to another not out of any disturbance occasion'd by his Love to the subtle Rufina for that was absolutely lost with his Money but that he had been so basely trapan'd by a beggarly Rascal Then did he begin to curse Chymistry and all the Authors that ever writ of it whereas he should rather have given God thanks who by the cheat which was put upon him had prevented the prosecution of his design which might have absolutely ruin'd him As soon as he perceiv'd any appearance of Day he got up and went into the City to his House whom he had entrusted with the keeping of his Money and other things He ask'd him whether Garay had been with him the other answered that he had and had taken away whatever he had in his custody and that therein he had follow'd his own orders That word struck him almost Dead nay the resentments he express'd of that loss were so great that if the other had not known the cause of it he would have thought him out of his wits He comforted him the best he could and told him that his onely course was to make a speedy search for the Robbers He did all he could to that purpose sending Officers and others several ways but that which Garay and Rufina had taken was so extraordinary that they could never meet with them So they return'd to Corduba to be paid for their fruitless pursuit by him who had sent them which as his affairs stood then added not a little to his affliction This adventure was soon known all over the City and the Genoese not able to accept of another Bill of exchange that had been sent him was forc'd to absent himself and to return to Genua with what he could make by the sale of his Goods By this means he turn'd Bankrupt and defy'd his Creditors who could not find any thing he had left behind him The same thing happens many times to those who with small Estates engage themselves in too great affairs presuming upon this that if it comes to the worst they can secure themselves by an escape The end of the second Book LA PICARA OR The Triumphs of Female Subtilty The Third Book GAray and Rufina rode on a good round pace but kept in obscure ways and in four Nights they would not take up their Lodging in any Town or Village but in open Fields for fear of being surpriz'd by the Officers whom they doubted not but the Genoese had sent to enquire after them They had shifted their Cloaths and having disguis'd themselves as well as they could they carefully avoided all those places where they had the least apprehension they might be known It was Garay's charge to provide Victuals and being about the beginning of the Spring they found it no great inconvenience to lye abroad in the open air They got into a thick Wood just as the Sun was ready to set and fearing that a thick Cloud under which they were might break upon them with too great violence as there was some likelihood by reason of the great Thunder and Lightning that had

that he might the better speak to Rufina She told him how things stood and how they had buried the mony in the garden and that it was all in silver intending to reserve all the gold for her self About mid-night Garay and one of his Camerades went along with Rufina disguiz'd in man's cloaths to the garden They help'd her over first to go and see whether there might be any body in the house but all were vanish'd as if the house had been visited She thereupon call'd Garay and his companion and having taken up the mony they carri'd it away and took up their quarters at one of the farthest Inns of the suburbs Having been merry a while and drunk their own healths and to the good success of their future designs they went all to bed the two men together and Rufina by her self As soon as she found they were asleep she puts on the same habit and returns to the garden She took up the little box of gold and without any disaster got safe to the Inn before her companions awaked The next day having divided the silver whereof she and Garay had the best part and sew'd up the gold in her cloaths she left Sevit taking Garay along with her who finding what advantages he might make of her company resolv'd to run fortunes with her They took their way towards Madrid to which place they will be got by that time we shall see what is become of Marquina whom we left in St. Bernard's Monastery Having continu'd there four days after Rufina's departure from him he knew not what to think of her that she came not again as she had promis'd He address'd himself to one of the Monks who had great acquaintances in the City and intreated him to inquire what proceedings there might be against him upon the murther he had committed The Religious man promis'd him an account of it but having enquir'd at those places where he might most probably hear thereof no body could give him any satisfaction He thereupon told Marquina that he might safely go abroad and needed not to fear any thing He went out one night to a friend 's of his whom he acquainted with all that had past as also the great perplexity he was in desiring him to make a more particular enquiry into the business than he thought the Religious man had done He did so and gave him the same account as the other Yet would not that satisfie him but he must desire his friend to go to his house whereof he gave him the Mistris key He went and found it without any body in it and his Mule dead for want of meat and tendance He went with this news to his friend advising him to come out of the Monastery and go home and thence about the City as he was wont to do The death of his Mule troubled him not much so glad was he to find himself once more at liberty the onely thing gave him any disquiet was that his Theodora under which name Rufina went came not to see him But he imagin'd the cause of it might be that being a young Maid she had shelter'd her self some-where to keep out of the hands of Justice or that haply she might have been met with by her Father who as she had told him sought after her He went to his house whither came soon after the Gardener and his wife and the other servants He goes into the Garden and notwithstanding all the fear and distraction he had been in remembred the place where he had hid his mony and was not a little glad to find the mark where he had set it so that before he went to bed he resolv'd to secure his treasure in its former garrison As soon as it was dark he takes the Gardener with him and a Lanthorn and Candle and goes first to the place where the Silver was and bids him digg He did so but there was nothing to be found whereat Marquina was extremely surpriz'd He went thence to the place where they had laid the gold and there they found as little onely Rufina knew what was become of all He walk'd several turns about the garden with much vexation imagining the marks might be misplac'd but what in looking after the marks and what in digging the night slipp'd away so that at last dispairing to find any thing that night he behav'd himself like a person distracted The Gardener knew not what he look'd for nor for what reason he had brought him thither The poor man resolv'd to have a little patience till the next morning being still in some hope to find what he had hidden He went to bed or rather to spend the night in unsufferable torments but as soon as it began to dawn he got up and having call'd up the Gardener they return'd to the work they had been at the night before Having digg'd again at those places where he was confident he had laid the mony all they could find was that there had been two holes made there before and that mony or something else had been hidden there but all was remov'd This assurance made him run stark mad throwing himself on the ground running his head against the wall and doing such things as rais'd a compassion in his servants who thence concluded that he had lost his mony and suspected the feign'd Theodora to have robb'd him by the orders he gave them to search after her all over the City But she was far enough out of his reach and had so wel secur'd his mony that it was not likely it would come into his chests any more He kept his bed a good while our of a pure madness that he had so soon lost what had cost him many years trouble and pains to get together The robbery was soon divulg'd all over the City some who knew not his humour pitied his misfortune but such as had experience of his insatiable avarice were not a little pleas'd to find him so justly punish'd The end of the first Book LA PICARA OR The Triumphs of Female Subtilty The Second Book AS soon as our subtle Picara had done her work at Marquina's and had made a broken Merchant of one who was accounted the wealthiest about Sevil she thought it not prudence to make any long s●●y for fear of falling into the hands of Justice whose Officers would be abroad upon the sollicitations of the party robb'd She was gotten far enough out of the way ere he was sensible of his loss for the next night after they had taken away the Money she and Garay hired two Mules upon which they came to Carmona which lies about half a days journey from Sevil. They had taken up two places in the Madrid-coach which was to pass through that City and take them up as it went They lighted at Carmona at one of the best Inns where Rufina keeping out of sight was resolv'd to expect the Coach considering with her self what she might come to in time

speak to her of it at this time for she would not have it known to any nay would not take it well Garay could not have pitch'd upon a more likely way to bring the Genoese into the gin for his avarice was such that he would have parted with his Soul to find out the Philosopher's stone hoping if he once got that secret ever afterwards to swim in gold Rufina busied her self at the other end of the Closet while Garay made this discourse to the Genoese and was looking upon some other curious and pleasant Books for there were of all sorts Yet was she not so attentive but she heard somewhat of Garay's discourse concerning Chymistry and perceiv'd the Merchant was much taken with it The truth is Garay had some knowledge in that Science and that he had spent a considerable sum of mony to find out the Philosopher's Stone which though many had sought yet could not any affirm they had met with it The success he had had in that business onely satisfi'd him of their folly who spent their time and estates in so ridiculous a disquisition and he was glad to have met with such an opportunity to recover some part of the mony he had squander'd away therein for the Genoese crediting what was told him by Garay imagin'd himself somewhat above a Prince He told him that in that very house he had all things requisite to make the experiment and thereupon brought him into a room full of Furnaces Alembicks Glasses and Crucibles with all the instruments us'd by the Chymists and good store of char-coal Garay seeing that concluded the Merchant would be easily taken and what made him the more confident was that he imagin'd he understood all those Books whereas Garay was satisfi'd he knew onely so much of them as would serve to bring him into the noose In fine they gave over talking of it any further at that time though the Genoese was unwilling to quit the discourse They went down thence into a ground-room the windows whereof look'd into the fairest part of the Garden where dinner expected them After dinner Garay pretending it was his custom to take a nap left the Merchant alone with Rufina to whom he took occasion to make a full discovery of his love assuring her that all he had was at her service and desiring her to dispose of it as she pleased She seem'd to entertain the proffers of his affection with much kindness yet at that time she onely rais'd him into a sleight hope shewing her self very pleasant to him Having seen a Lute in one of the rooms above-stairs she desir'd it might be brought down for her Musick at which she was excellent contributed much to the bringing about of her designs The Merchant who had a little skill at that Instrument himself was very glad to hear that she us'd it and caus'd it to be immediately fetch'd saying that his deceased wife plaid excellently well upon it and that about a sev'n-night before having entertain'd some of his friends with a Collation they had set it in tune The Lute being come Rufina began to play and made it appear that there were very few could excel her at that Instrument The Genoese was astonish'd at her dexterity and to bring him absolutely to her lure she sung an Air to it but with such a grace that he was at a loss whether he should more admire her hand or her voice The truth is she had a particular excellency in both so that his excessive commendations of them were not so full of flattery as might be expected from a person passionately in love With a modest blush which spread it self gently over her face a thing she could command though never acquainted with shame she seem'd to express a certain bashfulness and ere it was quite dispell'd Signor Octavio said she to him what I have done was onely for your diversion be pleas'd to receive it with some regard to the desire I had to endeavour your satisfaction which yet I have not done without much temerity before a person of so delicate an ear as you are and one no doubt wont to hear the best voices in the world I never heard any replies Octavio that came near yours and therefore I beseech you let not your modesty cause you any prejudice nay rather be proud Madam of the excellent endowments you have so liberally receiv'd from heaven and acknowledge the favours it hath done you be more sensible of your own worth and think my approbation below it and yet when I was a young man I was much addicted to Musick and some would needs persuade me that my time was well bestow'd in it I must confess the Spanish Tongue comes not so naturally to me as the Italian the graces and beauties whereof I have better studied upon the Theorbo which I am so far Master of as in some measure to satisfie the hearer Whereupon perceiving that Rufina would have laid by the Lute he desir'd her to make use of it a little longer and to sing one Air more which she to honour him did Octavio took occasion to give his dear Rufina greater commendations for the excellency of her voice than he had done before and she to renew her thanks to him for the favour he did her He thought it time to give her leave to take a little rest and he went himself into another room to do the like Garay on the other side instead of sleeping was contriving how to get the Philosopher's stone not for the credulous Genoese but out of him He had so far persuaded him of his abilities in that Science that he desired nothing so much as to be as knowing in it as he was but all out of no other design than to satisfie his own insatiable avarice He imagin'd that if he could find the Philosopher's Stone a Rock rather against which so many have wrack'd themselves all his houshold-stuff should be of gold that he should become a Croesus and that the wealthiest about the City compar'd to him would be little better than beggars Garay had also a long discourse with Rufina about the means how they should get the Gudgeon into the net he gave her some instructions in writing that the Genoese might find she knew something of the Science at least the tearms of it Rufina got them by heart and to begin the cheat Garay ask'd for some links of a Gold-chain she had brought from Sevil. It was a large one and if there were a dozen links taken from it they would not have been miss'd Being come into the City he goes into a Gold-smith's shop to melt down those links and reduce them into an Ingot which he brought back to the house and communicated his design to Rufina Octavio who had slept all this while as soundly as if he had not been in love comes in to them and they began to talk of several things far from having any relation to the business he had