continually and with the greatest and best reasons I could deuise I besought the Lieuetenant that as then he would not torment me because I was otherwise sufficiently vexed and gréeued which to prooue I willed them to come néere and behold my iesture whereat bringing the light somewhat néerer hee said Certainly I know not what force may doo in manie things but as farre as I can perceiue hee is not without great gréefe which by his disposition may well be séene let vs leaue him at this time vntill hee bee somewhat better or else that he dieth and quit himselfe of all and so they left me Then againe I besought the Kéeper that he would goe vnto my Masters house and intreate him on my behalfe to accomplish his word and promise giuen vnto me that hee would bring my wife with him vnto the prison and therewithall I gaue him another royall because they neuer walke in vaine Thether he went and returned me answere that the next day they both promised me to come wherewith I being somewhat comforted that night I slept better than at other times And in my dreame me thought I saw my Ladie frend the Truth who shewed her selfe verie angrie toward mee and said Thou Lazarus doost not séeke to amend thy life whereas thou didst promise me being in the Sea not to let mee depart from thée and now since thou camest forth thou hast in a manner neuer once looked vpon me for which cause the diuine Iustice hath thought it good to punish thée in this that in thine owne Countrie and in thine house thou shouldest not be knowen but shouldst be put vnto the racke as an euill dooer In the morning thy wife will come and thou shalt bee deliuered with thy honor and credit And so she departed leauing me verie ioyfull of such a vision knowing she said most true and that my punishment was most iust because the lyes which I tolde and mixed with my speach were so manie and so great although those that were true were verie strange and wonderfull of themselues that they were sufficient with the verie fear in hearing of them to strike men dead which fault I determined to repent and amend and for the same was verie sorrowfull Morning being come my iesture and countenance became as it was at the first and then I was knowen both of my Master and my wife and so taken out of prison and brought home to my house where I found my daughter almost big inough to make another And after I had rested my selfe for a time I returned againe vnto my pot and my cup whereby in short space after I had my own proper iesture and a pleasant good life CHAP. XIIII How Lazarus went vnto Salamanca and of the frendship hee found there and of the disputation he held with the Rector and how he dealt with the Students of the Vniuersitie I Liuing somewhat at my pleasure and being verie well vsed and apparelled had a desire to trauell from thence to sée the Countrey of Spaine and to sport and solace my selfe for a time because I was in a manner filled with the shadow of the sea And thinking with my selfe whether I should goē at the last I went vnto Salamanca where it is said the seuen Sciences haue their dwelling place and it was thus that I had manie times wished and desired to proue if I could deceaue anie one of those Abbots or long gowned fellowes which call themselues Licenciates And as the towne is full of them so the smell and sauour of them stretcheth farre and néere although I pray God kéepe them from my house in the night time I went therefore presently vnto that towne and thinking vpon the sea wherein I had béen I meruailed with my selfe to beholo that I saw in the towne which was somewhat more than I had heard reported of it whereof I will tell you specially of one thing that happened vnto me therein I going along in one of the greatest stréets met a man riding vpon an asse and because as then I was somewhat small eyed and wearie I could not goe anie further nor yet turne backward without great paine the man began to crie out and say Out of the way Signior Batchelor I stird not but giuing him a more honorable name cride Out of the way Signior Licenciado out of the way in the diuells name and therewith began to lay vpon him with a staffe that I bare in my hand Whereat you might presently haue séene him kicke forwards and backwards so that what with master Licenciado on one side and the Cauallero on the other I neuer in my life saw better sport nor a Licenciado of his qualitie vnto whom all men gaue place or that had so manie people to behold him But then I knew him presently to bee one that caused himselfe to be honoured with great names as I had done in the sea because of my force and valor among the Tonnyes Yet neuerthelesse they did honor to others as well as vnto me for although they called me Signior yet they gaue me no more libertie therby than I got vnto my selfe by force among them So that I assure your worship if I should continue long there I would rather be the Asse-headed Licencioado then poore Lazarillo de Tormes From thence being among the prease I went into a Colledge where I sawe so many Students and heard so many voyces that I dare say there was not one among them but was more wearied with crying than with wit And among many of others that I knew although not one of them knewe me as God would I founde one of my friends of Toledo with whom I had bin acquainted and he serued with two maisters which were of the best in the Colledge He being a wise fellow and waiting on them in their chamber told his masters of me in such maner that it was worth a dinner and somewhat more vnto me True it is it was after the maner of Colledges a short dinner and litle meate ill dressed and worse serued for I assure you there was neuer a bone that escaped without breaking and sucking In dinner time we talked of many things and I replied again so wel that they both perceiued I had gone further for my experience than they had done for their knowledge then I told them what had happened vnto Lazarus and that with such words that they all asked me where I had studied whether in France Flanders or in Italie and if at that time it had pleased God to haue granted me but a word or two of Latine I had posed them all but at the last I left off speaking being not desirous to giue them occasion to aske me any more lest they might propounde something whereunto I could not answere Neuerthelesse they thinking me to be an other maner of man than I was determined to haue me openly defend certaine conclusions and I because I knewe them all to bee Castilians as I
masters the fishes pronounced against mee beeing a Tonny as well as they In this manner being chaunged I rested and refreshed my selfe in the Water taking my breath and finding my selfe as cléerely without paine or gréefe as if I neuer had anie washing my body both within and without with that water which then and from that time forward I found to be verie swéete and sauerie viewing and beholding my selfe if I could perceiue anie part of my bodie that was not changed into a Tonnie and so remaining in the caue in great ease and pleasure I thought with my selfe that it would be good for me as soone as day came to get mee out from thence but then I feared they would know me and so my conuersion should be manifest vnto them On the other side I feared my issuing forth distrusting in my selfe that they could not vnderstand me and that I could not bee able to aunswere them vnto that which they should aske mee by which meanes my secrete might be discouered For although I vnderstood them verie well and that I perceiued my selfe to be of their forme and shape yet I greatly feared to be among them In the end I determined the best way for mee was that they should not finde me within the caue for they finding mee not to be of their companie and Lazarus de Tormes not being found they will straight iudge me to haue saued him and so will demaund an accompt of him at my hands For the which cause it séemed best vnto me that I going out of the caue before it were day and thrusting my selfe among them being so great a number peraduenture they would not sée me neither yet once finde me to bee a stranger and as I determined with my selfe so I put it in effect CHAP. II. How Lazarus de Tormes called a Tonny fish went out of the caue and how the Centinells of the Tonny fishes tooke him and lead him before the Generall of the Armie IN skipping out of the caue and leauing the rocke I was presently desirous to proue my new language and began with a loud voyce to say I dye I dye Those words scarce vttered by mee the Centinell which held the watch ouer the poore sinner Lazaro de Tormes came vnto me standing about me asked me whom I serued Sirs said I I serue the Fishes and those which are called the valiaunt Tonnyes Then said they for what cause didst thou crye out so lowd what is it that thou hast séene or felt in our aduersarie whereby thou art so altered and perplexed that thou knowest not vnder what Captaine thou seruest I said they should bring me before the Generall of the Armie and there they should know that which they demaunded Presently thereupon one of the Tonnyes willed ten of the rest to bring me vnto the Generall meane while hee stayed behinde kéeping the watch with the number of ten thousand Tonnyes at the least I was excéeding glad to perceiue that they did vnderstand mee and sayd vnto my selfe He that shewed me this great grace maketh no man lame Thus we marched and at last as daye began to appeare wee approached néere vnto the place where the great Armie lay whereas I perceiued such an innumerable number of Tonnyes that I was abashed at the sight As soone as they knew those which led me they suffered vs to passe forward and beeing entered into the Generalls lodging one of my guard making humble reuerence declared vnto him where and in what manner they had found me that I being asked by Captaine Licio what I was I answered him that they should bring me before the Generall and for that cause they said they had brought me vnto his Honour The Captaine generall was an excellent Tonnie fiercer and greater in body than the rest he asked me who I was what was my name vnder what captaine I serued what I would haue séeing I desired to be brought before him Whereat I stood in a manner confused not knowing what name to saye I had although I had beene rightly baptized vnles I should say my name was Lazaro de Tormes neither could I better tell frō whence I was nor vnder what Captaine I serued by reason I was but newly transformed nor knew not the seas neither yet the large territories and the perticular names of the same in such sort that letting passe some of the questions by the General propounded vnto me I answered him thus My Lord your honour being so valiant as it is well knowen throughout the seas it seemeth a great disgrace vnto your Honour and vs all that one miserable weake man should defend himselfe so long gainst so puissant and mightie an Armie and the more considering his weake estate and abilitie and the great power of the Tonnies Saying further séeing that I am one of your Honors subiects and at your commaundement and of your Armie I here present my selfe with promise to get and deliuer vnto you his Armes and other things that he hath which if I doo not I desire for my reward that you commaund me presently to be cruely executed as a traitor Yet whatsoeuer I said I was sure I made him no promise to deliuer Lazaro de Tormes vnto him left I should bring a foole to bed This point proceeded not of mine owne mother wit but I learned it of my master at schoole Whereat the Generall tooke great pleasure to sée mee offer my selfe vnto such a péece of seruice by which meanes he desired not anie farther matter of me but presently making me answere said It is verie true that to auoyde the death of my souldiers I determined to holde a siege about that traitor and to take the man but if as thou saist thou dost aduenture thy selfe to enter the caue thou shalt be well rewarded for thy labour although it would gréeue me much that venturing thy person in the Kings seruice and mine thou shouldst loose thy life as others haue done before thée because I estéeme much and make great accompt of my valiant and stout Tonnyes and such as are more hardie than the rest I desire to preserue them before others as all good Captaines ought to doo My Lord sayd I let not your excellencie stand in feare of any danger that may happen vnto me for I hope to bring the matter to effect without the losse of one drop of my bloud Séeing it is so said hee it is surely a great péece of seruice for the which I meane to recompence thée well and for that it is day already I am desirous to sée how thou wilt accomplish that which thou hast promised Thereupon hee presently sent vnto all the Officers of the Field that they should march forwards vnto the place where the enemie lay It was a wonderfull thing to sée so great and mightie a campe to remoue and I suppose that whosoeuer had séene them would haue béen abashed The Generall caused me to go on the one side by
Tonnnyes that séemed vnto vs to be the most nimble of best courage among them And then the Captaine on the one side his Brother on the other I as the chiefe Master of Defence taught such as desired to be expert in their weapon so that we imployed our whole time in learning them to manage their Armes and to defend themselues therewith Whereby in short space there were some among them that could giue the thrust the crosse blow and the reuerse as for the rest that dealt not in their weapons wee appointed them to hunt and séeke for victualls and the women wee learned to scowre our weapons by a fine inuention that I deuised which was that they should thrust them into the sand and draw them forth againe so long vntill they waxed bright In such manner that our companie being ioyned altogether hee that should behold that part of the sea would thinke he saw a great battaile in the water In the ende by this meanes there was almost not one of the Tonnies but began to be very expert in his weapon Hereupon we entred into counsell and in the same it was agréed that we should make a perpetuall league amitie with the cuttle fishes whereby they might come and liue among vs because with their large sinnes they might doo vs great seruice to beare our Armes and so it was done and they were glad of it because they saw we tooke them for our frends and maintained them the which as I said before might serue our turnes in that point without anie paine or trouble vnto them About this time the space of two moneths appointed by the Generall for the Captaines repaire vnto the Court began to draw néere at the end whereof the Captaine generall sent commandement that they should come thither Whereupon Licio began to make preparation for his iourney and betwéen him and I it was debated whether it should be good for me to goe with him to the court to do my humble dutie vnto the king that he might know me but we found it not conuenient considering the Generall séemed to beare me no great good wil and that he had expresly commanded me to returne vnto mine owne countrie for the which cause the matter being throughly debated in the presence of Melo brother vnto Captaine Licio a Tonny of singular good wit and of the no lesse wise Tonny his wife their aduice at the present was that I should stay there with her Whervpon he determined to go in all spéed and to take but few of his men with him being at the Court he would informe the king of me and of my great valor and vpon the Kings answere we should procéed This being agréed vpon among vs the good captaine Licio departed on his iourney with very néere a thousand Tonnies his brother Melo I with al the rest staying at home in our lodgings and at his departure from me taking me aside he said vnto me My verie frend I must of force let you vnderstand that I depart from hence with no small gréefe by reason of a dreame I had this last night I pray God it fall not out to be true but if to my euill fortune it should happen to be true I pray you that you will take it in good part and thinke vpon that which you haue giuen me in charge and hereof I pray you desire not to know anie farther at this present because it is neither cōuenient for you nor me I besought him much to declare the same vnto me and the rather because at his departure from his wife his brother the rest he gaue me a nod with his head although verie sadly leauing me verie sorrowfull and heauy He being gone I could not but thinke vpon the matter and diuers things ran in my minde touching the same among the rest I supposed this one to be it the peraduenture he vnto whom I was so much beholding might thinke that the beautie of his wife which most commonly is not matched with the greatest honestie would blinde me so much that I could not sée how the sea doth abhorre so great a wickednes But that good law is at this day much corrupted on the earth in the sea it is the like but it is no meruaile In this conceipt I continued long and in the end I deuised a meane whereby he might be assured of me and my loyaltie no way suspected which was thus that I and her brother in law being with her after some salutations and comforts offred vnto her on our parts thereby to put her out of the melancholy humor which we perceiued to be in her because of her husbands departure and the rather to behold him so sad and heauie although that he hid it both from her and me at his departure from vs I told Melo that I desired to be his guest if be thought it good because I could not be merrie being alway in companie of women rather than I should be troublesome vnto her I would leaue the house She was presently readie to make me an answere saying that if she found anie meanes of comfort she thought it would be by reason that I was in her house and at her commandement she knowing verie well the great loue and affection that her husband bare vnto me that at the time of his departure from her he gaue her not any greater charge than of the care that she was to haue of me althogh I suspected not what the cause was for our thoughts did rather disagrée In the end I thinking that it might be with the Tonny fishes as it was with me in the same case touching my wife Eluira and my master the Priest could neuer be in quiet but desired rather to be with her brother in law and whensoeuer I went to visite her I brought him alwaies with me CHAP. V. Lazarus telleth what happened vnto Captaine Licio his frend at the Court by meanes of the Captaine generall BEing sometimes hunting and sometimes exercising our weapons within eight dayes after my frends departure newes was brought vs which made vs the most sorrowfull fishes in the sea Being thus that when the Captaine generall vsed me so hardly as I told you before he willed me to depart out of the Army saying that those Tonnies which found themselues agréeued at me because of my offence committed against them would be reuenged and afterwards he had commaunded certaine Tonnies that finding me alone from al company they should presently kill me and for no other cause more than that it séemed vnto him as it was very true that I would be a witnes of his cowardlines for other cause there was none but only where desert is it ought to be recompenced but God preuented this mischiefe putting as I thinke into Licioes hart the fauor he shewed me Which being knowen vnto the Generall he bare him likewise most great hatred euill will affirming and swearing that that which
which was presently done so that within thrée daies after they were all gathered togither I chose out for my Councell twelue of the richest among them not respecting their wisedoms if they were poore because when I was a man I had séene that sufficiently done in diuers assemblies wherein many causes of importaunce were handled because as I say they looke not whether they be apparelled with wit so they be apparelled in silke These being chosen out one of them was Melo and an other the Captaines wife a woman of great wisedome a thing very well knowne both by land and seas This done we sent vnto all the company that they should dine and then repaire vnto vs in order of battaile the armed with their armes and the rest with their bare bodies when they were come I caused them to be numbred and we found them to bee in all the number of tenne thousand one hundreth and nine Tonnies all fighting men without counting women boyes and olde men whereof fiue thousande of them were armed some with Swordes other with Launces Ponyardes and Kniues all which tooke their oathes vppon my tayle vnder the whiche they put their heades according vnto their accustomed manner although I laughed in my selfe to sée their prettie ceremonie that they woulde doe as I shoulde commaund them and woulde thrust in their weapons and those that had none their Téethe into whome so euer I shoulde commaunde them to doe it procuring with all their power and force if it were possible to set their Captaine at libertie their dutie and loyaltie vnto their soueraigne King alwayes reserued Wée agreed likewise in our Counsell of Warre that the Captaines wife shoulde beeing amongst vs bee accompanied with the number of one hundreth of the beautifullest of all the other female Tonnies among the rest one of them was a sister of his a Gentlewoman of great beautie and verie well proportioned and of our army we made thrée esquadrons one of all the vnarmed Tonnies and the other two of those that beare armes I led the vantguard with two thousand fiue hundreth armed Tonnies and Melo led the rereward with as many more the disarmed with the carriages being placed in the middle hauing with vs our Pages spoken of before that carried our swordes CHAP. VII How Lazarus and his Tonnies being in order of battel went vnto the Court minding to deliuer Licius out of prison IN this manner as I saide before we marched forwardes in great haste giuing charge vnto such as we thought good for the prouision of victualls for the armie because they should not disorder themselues In the way I questioned with those that brought vs the newes of the situation of the Courte and the place where our Captaine was kept in prison meane time at the end of thrée dayes we were within ten miles of the Court and for because we marched in so new and vnaccustomed order if our comming should bee knowne we might bee preuented of that we went for we agreed that we would not march any further vntill night came willing certaine of those Tonnies that had brought vs the sorrowfull newes to go before into the Cittie and as secretly as they could learne how the case stood with our Captain and hauing so done presently to return vs the newes wherof some of them returned and brought vs the worst newes we could desire Night being come it was agreed that the captaines wife and her women with Melo and fiue hundred Tonnies disarmed of the best and oldest among them should goe straight vnto the Court and as they wel could do it they shuld beséech the King that it would please him to examine the cause of her husband and his brother and that I and all the rest wold place our selues in a wood full of trées and rockes within two miles of the Citie where thē King sometimes went to sollace himselfe and there we would remaine vntill suche time wee should sée by our aduise from them what were best to bee done We presently went vnto the wood which we founde verie well prouided with great store of fishes vpon the which we fed or to say the truth filled our selues at our pleasures and all the company did the like And the faire and gentle Tonny by morning arriued at the Citie and presently went vnto the court where she staide a long time at the gate vntill the King rose to whom they declared the comming of that gentlewoman in the ende by meanes of the importunate sute she made vnto the porters they suffered her to enter in that shee might speake vnto the King But the King that perceiued well her sute returned her an answere that as then he had no time to heare her she séeing that he desired not to heare her by word of mouth caused a supplication in very good forme to be drawne by two Counsellors that pleaded for Licio wherin she besought him to remit iudgement of Licio seeing he had appealed vnto his maiestie and the reason why for that he was the day before condemned to die by the Iudges of the land as we vnderstood by our aduiser saying his highnesse knew very well that her husband had bene falsly accused and vniustly condemned and that his highnesse would cause the inditement to be perused and the iudgement with the execution of the sentence to be staied These and other things were conteined in the petition which she deliuered vnto one of the porters and withall tooke her chaine of gold with a Iewell hanging thereat from about her necke and gaue it him praying him to stand her good friende and with teares from her eyes to consider of her dolour and grief and not to respect the smal gift The Porter very willingly tooke her petition but more willingly her chaine promising to do for her the best he could and in very déed his promise was not in vaine for that the petition being red before the King he from his owne mouth ful of gold vsed such perswasions vnto his highnesse withall showing him of the teares and lamentations that the Captaines wife made for her husband at the Pallace gate that therewith he mooued the King to pitie her estate and said I will that you goe with this woman vnto the Iudges and will them to staie the execution of the iudgement because I am desirous to be better informed touching certaine pointes concerning Captaine Licios accusation With the which commission the Porter verie glad to haue sped so well came vnto the sorrowfull gentlewoman asking her a reward for his earnest solicitation which she willingly gaue him and then without farther delay they went togither vnto the Iudges lodging but as her hard fortune fell out in going thither they chaunced to méete in the stréete with Don Pauar for so was the causer of our trobles named who being accompanied went to the court but as he espied the gentlewoman with her captain and vnderstood who they were knowing likewise the Porter craftily suspected
with my faire and new wife the Ladie Luna but much better with my king not forsaking his seruice deuising still howe I might please and content him séeing I found my selfe so much bounde vnto him so that there was no time by me omitted wherein I made him not merrie howesoeuer it fell out but still I tooke care not to say any thing whereby he might be greeued or angry hauing alwaies in memorie how litle they are estéemed and accounted off with great Lordes that tell them the truth Withall remembring the entertainment that Alexander gaue vnto the Philosopher Calistines for declaring the truth vnto him by this meanes I sped not ill besides I behaued my selfe in such sort vnto both great and litle that they sought my friendship almost as much as the kings At the same time I though to frame confirme the estate of the sea like vnto that of the land whereupon I aduised the king and tolde him it were conuenient that séeing hee bare the burthen of all he should reape the profite and it was thus for that as then the Crowne had no other rentes or reuenewes then only the thirtieth part of all things that were solde and when hée helde warre for a iust cause concerning his Country they gaue him the fishes necessary and conuenient for the same warres and paide for them and only tenne fishes for his owne table euery day I brought it to passe that when they fished they should euery one giue him as much and that it should be a custome as it is vpon the lande and that they should allow him 50. fishes euery day for his owne table I caused it likewise to be ordeined that if any of his subiects were called a Don vnlesse he were so by lawful and liniall dissent of patrimony he should pay a certaine sum for a fine vnto his highnesse and this statute I thought to be conuenient because the pride of the fishes is so great that both good and bad riche poore all are Dons as Don here and Don there Don when and Don where I did this calling to minde the commendable behauiour of the women of my country that if any chance to fall into that degrée either she shal be the daughter of an honest housholder or of a squier or els be married with some that is written worshipfull or vnto some other man of qualitie for before they be such and of good welth they call them not by the title of Don but in the sea not so much as the daughter of a meane artificer or a begger if she marry a man although he be no Officer at all but they presume within eight dayes after to put the name of Don vpon their tayles as if that name of Don would make them frée from being the childrē of dishonest parents and of those that had no such titles and as though many of them should not bee ashamed least they giue cause to haue their fathers taken out of their graues and the memory of them to be again renued and so their neghbors might laugh at them and at their worshippes which they take vpon them knowing it not to be verie sounde but therein they showe themselues to bee the more fonde and light headed It séemed good vnto the king to set it at a high rate wherby in short space séeing it cost money there woulde not bee many Dons founde Of these things and of the newe Impositions moste profitable for the king I enformed his highnesse And hee perceiuing my great care and dilligence in his seruice was not slacke in rewarding mée but rather became more liberall and bountifull vnto mée At the same time I thought vpon my poore Squier of Teledo or rather vppon his wise spéeches when as I complained vnto my selfe that I coulde not finde any Gentleman of account with whom I might be and if I chanced to find one I vnderstood him to be very nigardly and sparing Then he told me of that which I after vsed in the sea as a thing very profitable for mee specially one pointe therein whereof I was very carefull whiche was that I tooke great care not to say any thing vnto the king that might offend him and as it is a great pointe of wisedome I altogither followed his humor vsing great curtesie and shewing great fauour vnto such as he fauoured although they nothing deserued it and to such as hee liked not of I vsed them hardly speaking euill of them although I founde it not in them and not refusing to do for any were they neuer so badde Remembring the sayd Calistines that for saying the truth vnto his maister Alexander the great he caused him to bee cruelly put to death although his death it might be estéemed a life séeing it was for so iust a cause but now no man vseth it but all séeke to liue in such manner that I bent my selfe as much as I could vnto that humor and by this meanes my soppe fell into the hony and my house was filled with rich riches but although I was a Fish I had the vnderstanding of a man and the accursed couetousnesse which at this day raigneth so much in man for that a beast hauing his naturall foode desireth nor séeketh not any more As the Cocke careth not for all the pearles in the East if hee may haue his belly full of corne nor the Oxe for all the gold in India if he haue grasse inough and so is it with all other beasts only the beastly desire of man is neuer satisfied specially if it be infected with couetousnesse I say this because that notwithstanding all the riches I had as there was not almost any king in the sea that had more yet I was so pricked forewarde by that gréedie couetousnesse and not with any lawfull meanes that I caused some to go vnto the gulphes of Leon and Yerro others I sent vnto the banckes of Flaunders where diuers ships full of men wer cast away and to such places wher any battels had bin fought vppon the seas from whence they brought mee great quantitie of gold so that I thinke they brought me at the least fiue hundreth thousand Dollors a kinde of Spanish mony the king laughed when he sawe me so reioyce and to lie tombling vpon my mony and asked me what those vaine things meant séeing they were neither to be eaten nor yet to be carried about me whereat I sayd vnto my selfe If thou knewest what they meane as well as I do thou wouldest not aske me such a question but I answered him that I meant to vse them for counters wherewith he was satisfied but after I came againe to dwell on earth as I will shewe you a plague of them all for any that I euer saw and if I had al those here that were broght me in the sea I shuld haue no néed of any man but then I must be forced to kéepe them in some other such déep and secret place least I