Licio did vnto me was for to vex and gréue him and knowing verie wel he had but a hard witnes of him because he was with me when the General entring into the caue cried peace peace This together with that which the good Captaine and better than he had done vnto me caused him to procure this mischiefe against him and as hee came vnto the Court he went presently with great complaints vnto the King accusing him as a traitor saying that one night as the said Licio was Captaine of the guard and held the néerest Centinell vnto the caue for a great summe of money which was giuen him by the enemie that he might escape he left his watch Which he affirmed to be true by diuers witnesses and euen so God helpe him as he told the truth for that Lazaro de Tormes could not giue any thing vnles it wer a number of their heads that lay dead at his féete And going on with his falshood sayd that he had brought from strange places a most cruell and wicked Tonny the which had slaine a great number of his Armie with a sword that he carried in his mouth wherewith he plaid his part so nimbly that it was impossible for him to doo it except he were some diuel that for the destruction of the Tonnies had taken their shape vpon him and that he perceiuing the great damage which the wicked Tonny had done banished him from the armie vpon paine of death and that the said Licio in despite of the King and of his royall crowne as also in despite of him had entertained the said Tonny in his companie giuen him aide for the which causes he affirmed him to be a traitor and to haue incurred the danger of the lawes and in respect thereof he ought to be deliuered into the hands of the Iustices to be punished for his offences that by him others might take example that hereafter none might break the Kings commandements The King being thus wrong enformed and worse counselled giuing so much credit vnto his wicked Captaine with two or thrée false witnesses that swore as he had taught them and with a proofe made in the absence of the partie accused the same day that Captaine Licio arriued at the Court altogither innocent and ignorant of the matter he was commanded to be taken and put into a cruell dungeon with a great chaine about his necke and commission giuen vnto the Captain Generall to kéep him safe and to sée him punished according vnto his desert who presently prouided more then thirtie thousand Tonnies to watch him CHAP. VI. How that Lazarus vnderstanding of his friend Licios imprisonment was verie much greeued thereat and all the rest of his company and what order they tooke for the same THese sorrowfull and dolefull newes were brought vs by some of those that went with him declaring vnto vs how they had charged him in such sort as I sayd before and in what maner he had béen heard and that it would go hardly with him by reason that all the Iudges which had to do in the cause were suborned by the Generall so that as they thought the matter procéeding in such order as it did he could not long escape from a most cruell death At that time I called to minde the old saying commonly vsed and sayd vnto my selfe When shalt thou ende thy aduentures when thou shalt haue finisht a thousande misfortunes on the land and many more in the seas At this their spéech there beganne among vs a great lamentation and crie but in my selfe a double sorrow because that on the one side I sorowed for my friend and on the other side I lamented mine owne estate for that wanting him I had no hope of life being then both in the middle of the seas and of my enemies altogither without comfort and forsaken for it séemed vnto me that all the company complained on me and that with moste iustly and by good reason for that I was the only cause that they must lose him whom they desired Wherewith I sayd You my Lord departed from me in great sorow without once imparting your grief vnto me now I sée well that you prognosticated my great losse without all doubt sayd I this is the dreame that you my good friend dreamed this is that grief which at your departure leauing me you left vs withall And thus euery one mourned and lamented vnto himselfe till at the last I spake in presence of them all My Lady and you my Lord and friends that which the sorrowfull newes hath constrained vs to do hath béen iustly done for each of vs by outward signe doth show his inward griefe but séeing that this our first motion is past as it were in a moment it is good reason my Lordes séeing that with teares and complaintes our losse is not recouered that we giue order presently for the best remedie that may be deuised therein and the same well wayed and considered to put presently in effect séeing that as these men say the occasion of spéeding the matter which by those men that hate vs is ministred vnto vs doth require the same To this the faire chast Tonny his wife sheading many teares from her gracious eies answered me All of vs most valiant gentleman do very wel perceiue know that your reasons are most true as also the soden necessitie which at this present offreth it self vnto vs verifieth the same wherfore if the these gentlemen and my friends were all of my opinion we should all referre our selues vnto you as vnto him whome God hath indowed with a most cleare perfect iudgement for séeing that Licio my Lord being so wise learned did put you in trust with his most earnest waightie affaires and therein followed your counsell I do not thinke that I erre any thing herein although I am but a weake simple woman in desiring you to take the charge vpon you for the prouiding ordeining of that which shall be conuenient to be done for the safetie of him the loued you with so sincere a loue and to the comfort of this his sorowfull wife which by this meanes you shal alwaies bind vnto you This said she returned vnto her complaints and al we did the like Melo other Tonnies were with the captaines wife and at the present agreed in one consent with her giuing me the charge of the enterprise offring themselues to follow me and to do all whatsoeuer I would command them I séeing that I was in dutie bound to do it and to take vppon me all care trouble for him that for me was in such misery tooke the matter vpon me saying vnto them I knew very wel that euery one of you could do it better than I but séeing that it pleaseth you so to appoint it I am very well content therwith They thanked me and thē it was presently agreed vppon that wee should make the same knowne vnto all the Regiment
what their meanings wer so that very dissemblingly he called the Porter vnto him asking him whither he went with that company who presently declared it vnto him he séeming to like it well told the Porter how the case stood touching the captaine although it was all contrary saying that he liked wel the kings procéeding therin bicause Licio was a braue souldier and there was no reason why hee should bee executed without further examination of the cause saying further that the Iudges were at that present in his lodging and said they came thither to aske my counsell in the matter wherupon I was now going to the court for to speak with the king whereas they attend my returne but séeing that you bring a dispatch let vs goe backe againe and declare the kings pleasure vnto them and going by the way he called one of his Pages to him to whome very pleasantly he said that he should with all haste goe vnto the Iudges and will them presently to cause execution to be done vpon captaine Licio because it was the kings pleasure and that they should execute the same either within the prison or else at the gate thereof without leading him vnto the common place of execution meane time that I hold the Porter here in talke with me the Page did as he was commaunded and drawing neare vnto the Generalls lodging the Traitor tooke the Porter in with him and sayd vnto Melo and his sister in lawe that they should be of good comfort and staie there while he went in and spake with the Iudges and that from thence they would goe all togither to the prison to sée Licio and to comfort him giuing him that which he so long had expected and that he ment to go thither himselfe with them but the vnfortunate woman by good hap was enformed of the great treason of the captain general And although he had greater hatred vnto the good captain Licio then compassiō vpon the teares and lamentations of his wife yet for an outward showe hee séemed to fauour her request For when as the cruell traitor called vnto his Page willing him to go and cause Licios execution to be dispatched as God would one of her seruants heard him and told it vnto the captaines wife which the wicked generall perceiued not whereat she fell in a maner dead vpon the necke of brother in law standing next vnto her Which assoone as Melo vnderstood he presently caused 30. Tonnies of his company to depart with all spéede and to declare vnto me in what point and iminent danger the case stood with Licio who like faithfull and diligent messengers did within short space make vs acquainted with those sorrowfull newes which they brought vs crying with loude voices Arme Arme you O you valiant Tonnies for our captaine shal be presently executed to death by the treason and deceit of the traitor Don Pauar against the will pleasure of our king and so in briefe rehearsed vnto vs all that I showed you before whereat I presently caused the drums to be sounded and in all haste my Tonnies were readie with their mouthes armed vnto whom I made a pithie Oration declaring the whole procéedings to the end that as good and valiant souldiers they should shewe their courages against their enemies ayding and succouring their captaine in so extreame necessitie who answered all with one voice that they were readie to follow me and to do their endeuours in that behalfe which their answere being ended we presently beganne to march thither but hee that had then séene Lazarus the Tonny marching before his souldiers would haue iudged him a valiant captain To conclude we entred into the towne and besieged the kings palace and by force tooke Licio out of their hands slaying great nombers of them Which the king perceiuing willed Licioes wife who was then at the court to sue to the king for Licio to returne vnto her husband and tell him that if he thinke good I would haue him to dissolue his siege from about his palace and suffer his subiects quietly to go home to their houses and to morowe to come hither againe and deliuer her message vnto the councell and then she should haue Iustice The Captains wife with this answer departed not but taking time when it serued saide vnto the king My Lord neither my husband nor yet his company do hold any siege about your royall person neither likewise haue they entered into any house but that of Don Pauar so that the inhabitants of this citie cannot iustly complaine that there hath bene any iniury done vnto any of them in their houses wherefore what it pleaseth you to commaund as touching them it shall be done for for that cause I was sent vnto your grace For God is our iudge that neither Licio nor his company haue any other meaning or intent but as good and faithfull subiects ought to haue Woman saide the king for this time I can say no more vnto thée Wherewith she and her women making humble reuerence with most gracious behauiour and comely sort departed from the presence whiche the kings pleasure being knowne vnto vs we presently in good order departed the cittie staying in the wood but yet not verie hungry because we fell to eating of our enemies dead bodies commaunding the disarmed Tonnies to carry as muche with them as might suffice our army for the space of thrée or 4. daies leauing neuerthelesse as much within the citie as sufficed the citie and the court likewise those that liue of the spoile wished no other thing of God then that euery eight daies there might happen the like among them light vpon whom it would The citie being discharged of our troopes the citizens repaired again ech man to his house finding them as they left them The king commanding that the captain generals treasure shuld be brought vnto him which was such and so much as there was not anie king within the seas that had the like and then the king had som reason to mistrust his traiterous dealing because he might well suppose that it was not possible for him to get that hee had gotten by good means but by stealth Then he caused his councell to bee assembled who saide vnto the king that if it were as Licio said he then had not much offended in that actiō specially because his highnesse had commanded iustice should not be executed vntil further enquiry were made and to confirm the same the Porter that had the message in charge declared the subtile practise that the Generall vsed with him and how he deceiued him brought him to his owne house saying the Iudges were there and that he let them not depart from thence and what diligence he made towards the court Further he was showed by the Sheriffes that the Captain generall had sent them word that his Highnes commanded them that they should presently cause execution to bee done and the better to dispatch it they should not lead
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
himselfe by the way asking me what order I meant to hold in the entring of the caue I told him counterfetting and faining manie stratagems and deuices Meane time we approached néere vnto the place where the Centinels stood about the Rocke and to Captaine Licio that had sent me vnto the Generall who at that time was in verie good order about the rocke holding each place about the caue straightly besieged And yet all this notwithstanding not one of them durst once be so hardie as to approach néere vnto the entrie of the same by reason that the Generall had sent speciall commaundement to the contrarie thereby to auoyd the damage that Lazarus did vnto them because that at such time as I was conuerted into a Tonny fish I let the sword stand vpright in the entrie of the Caue and in such manner as I helde it in my hands when I was a man which the Tonnyes saw fearing that their enemie helde it in his hands and that hee stood right before the entrie of the caue As we approached néere vnto the place I said vnto the Generall it were good hee should commaund those that held centinell and siege about the caue to depart and that he with al the rest should withdraw themselues from thence which was presently done I did that because they should not perceiue the little labor I had to enter into the caue Then I being alone gaue great and liuely flashes in the water and skipping vp vnto the mouth of the caue I made a shew of some great thing I ment to doo meane time that I did this the report went among them that I had begun to enter into the caue but said they he will be slaine as well as others altogether as hardie and bold as he haue béen let him alone for assure your selues you shal sée his lustines well cooled in the end In the mean time I made show as though some resistance had bin made against me out of the caue that the enemie thrust at me as he had done at others whereat I made as though I skipped with my bodie from the one side to the other And as the Armie stood in this amaze they had not the wits to perceiue that which in truth was not to be perceiued sometime I approached vnto the caue and assailed it with most great force making as though I fought and then againe I retired as I did before which I did onely to make a shew of great matter where none was After I had done this thrée or foure times standing somewhat distant from the caue I began to roare with a loud voice to that end the General and the whole Armie might heare me saying O miserable man thinkest thou that thou canst defend thy selfe against the great power of our puissaunt Lord and and King and against his valiant Captaine generall with those of his mightie Armie Thinkest thou to escape from hence without being punished for thy great boldnes and the great murthers which by thy meanes haue béen done vpon our frends and companions Yéelde yéeld thy selfe I say a prisoner vnto the valiant and great Generall and it may bee hee will bee mercifull vnto thée Yéeld thine Armes which haue so well serued thée at this present and come forth of thy strong Hold wherein thou art for it will little auaile thée to tarrie there and put thy selfe into his power with whom for power none within the whole compasse of the seas may once compare I as I say giuing these great and threatening speaches vnto poore Lazarus all to fill the eares of the hearers thereby to incourage them as men are accustomed to doo béeing a thing wherein they take much pleasure a Tonny came vnto me from the Generall willing me to come presently vnto him with whom I went and at my approaching I found both him and all the rest almost dead with laughter and such was the noyse that they made that one could not heare the other by meanes thereof but as I appeared before him beeing much amazed at such an alteration the Generall commaunded that each man should bee quyet whereat some silence was made although the most part of them began againe to laugh till at the last with much paine the Generall said vnto me Companion if thou holdest no other method in entring the Fort of our Enemie than that thou hast alreadie showen neither shalt thou accomplish thy promise nor I be anie thing the wiser in standing to trust vpon thée which maketh me the more to suspect it in that I haue onely séene thée to assaile the entrie of the Caue and yet thou didst not enter and more that thou beginnest to perswade our aduersarie by speach which euerie one can doo as well as thou So that as farre as I and these the rest of my Campanie can perceiue thou wouldest be verie glad to be well rid of so dangerous an action Whereby it séemeth most apparant and euident vnto vs that all this time is but lost and these words spent vainly to the winde because I am certaine by this meanes thou canst not in a thousand yeares accomplish that which thou desirest or hast said that thou couldest doo and for this cause wee laughed at thée and surely our laughter is not without iust cause to sée thée stand prating vnto him as if thou wert some iolly fellow and then they all began againe to laugh at me With this I found mine owne want and said within my selfe If God had not preserued me to some other end than to féed those fooles the vnaccustomed manner of behauiour that I vsed as a Tonnie would haue béen cause of my decaye which was specially by reason that I had onely their forme and not their nature But I séeking to amend mine error answered My Lord when anie man is desirous to effectuate that which hee hath in minde to doo it happeneth vnto him as it doth vnto mee Whereat the Generall and all the rest began againe to laugh saying Alas poore man thou art deceiued for thou shouldest haue answered vnto mee as it is true that thou fearest that in stead of renting his cloathes he will teare thy bodie With that hee left off speaking for that time Wherewith I seeing that still my want of behauiour appeared and perceiuing that with a few more of such checks I might soone be mated I began also to laugh with them for companie but God knowes I grinned with no small feare which at that time I had and therewith I said vnto the Generall My Lord it may please you not to thinke that my feare is such as some of you doo presume because that hauing to doo with a man you thinke that the tongue vttereth that which the heart meaneth but it séemeth vnto me that I stay ouer long to accomplish my promise and to take vengeance in your behalfe of this our enemie wherefore with your Honours license I would willingly craue that I might returne to make
an ende of my enterprise Thou hast thy request said he Then I with no little shame and feare returned towards the caue thinking thereafter as it touched me néere to be wiser and circumspecter in my speach And approaching vnto the Caue I made as though I had bene striken and faining to retire I skipped sodeinly vnto the entery of the hole and tooke that with my mouth which at other times I vsed to doe with my handes which done I studied thinking with my selfe whether it were best for mee to enter into the Caue or to go and deliuer the Sword vnto the Generall to whome I had promised the same In the ende I considered that if I should go in I might peraduenture be accused of theft saying that I had eaten him séeing hee was not there to bee found which had bene a thing worthie of punishment At the last I turned my selfe vnto the Army the which I praied to help me because they had séene me recouer the sword and yet to shewe more courage hauing gotten it vpon the rocke then when I tooke it at the mouth of the Caue I skirmished with the same wreathing turning my mouth looking on all sides both backward and foreward and comming vnto the Generall with humble salutation holding the sword as well as I could by the hilts in my mouth I said Valiant Captain Behold here the Armes of our cruell enemy from this time forth there is no cause of feare why we should not enter into the Caue séeing he hath not any thing wherewith to defend the same You haue saide he done like a valiaunt Tonny and assure your selfe you shall be well rewarded for so great a péece of seruice and for because with so great valour and hardinesse you haue gotten the sword and that it séemeth vnto me you can better skill of it then the rest of vs I pray you holde it still vntill we haue gotten this vnhappie and wicked traitor into our hands With that an infinit nomber of the Tonnies went vnto the mouth of the Caue but yet not one of them durst be so bold to enter into the same because they feared that he was not without a poniard then I profered my selfe to be the first that wold venture for to enter so that some of them would follow and assist me and this I desired onely because I meant to haue witnesses of my innocency but such was the feare whiche they had of Lazarus that not one of them sought to follow me although the Generall promised great gifts vnto him that should second me The thing standing in this point the Generall asked mee what I thought best to bee done therein séeing not one of them was desirous to beare me companie in that dangerous entrance I answered that for his seruice I would venter to enter therein my selfe alone so they would assure mee the entrie and that they should not feare to stand by me Hée said it should be so and if so be that those which were there durst not doo it he promised to follow me himselfe In the meane time Capiaine Licio came vnto vs and said that he would enter in with me wherewith I began to skirmish on all sides of the caue with my sword and to giue diuers fierce prickes with the same and at the last skipped in crying with a lowd voyce Victoria Victoria God saue the the great sea with her great and puissant inhabitants of the same and confound those which dwell vpon the Land With these cries although but full euill fauouredly vttered Captaine Licio of whom I spake before entred after me who at that day wan much renowne and recouered with mee much credite in showing himselfe so hardie and valiant aboue the rest yet it séemed vnto me that one witnes was not sufficient to discharge mee and therefore not leauing the entrie of the caue I desired more helpe but all in vaine was my request for the diuell take them all not one of them durst once venter to enter And surely they were not greatly to be blamed therein for I assure yee in my conscience that I my selfe should haue done as much if I had thought the thing to bee as they tooke it for what should a man doo but speake the truth but for mee I entred therein as into mine owne house knowing very well before that there was not so much as a snayle within the same Then I began to animate them thereunto saying O mightie great and valiant Tonnyes show foorth this day your force and accustomed boldnes séeing that such an occasion is offered whereby you may win honour and renowne Are you not ashamed to show so little courage Know yee not that your Enemies will from hencefoorth estéeme but little of yee when they shall sée and vnderstand your small courage With these and other things spoken vnto them by mee the Generall himselfe although with more shame than otherwise entered in crying Peace peace by which words I vnderstood verie well that hee brought not all in with him séeing that in time of so great warres he proclaimed peace As soone as he was entred he willed the rest to enter which I thinke entred full euill against their wills but when they perceiued not poore Lazarus nor yet anie defence against them although I gaue great blowes and thrusts against the sides of the caue with my sword they were all amazed And the Generall was ashamed of the small companie that approached to helpe me and Captaine Licio CHAP. III. How after that Lazarus with all the Tonnyes had entered in the caue and finding nothing therein but Lazrroes cloathes there entred so manie that they thought to be smothered therein and what remedie Lazarus deuised for the same SEarch hauing béen made round about the Caue wee found the apparell of the valiant Tonny Lazarus de Tormes for they were left behinde me when I was turned into a fish yet when I saw them I was in no small feare doubting least my poore bodie had béen still within them and that the foule onely had béen turned into a Tonny but as God would I found not my selfe there and then I knew assuredly that both in bodie and soule I was turned into a fish Yet I was not well in my minde because neuerthelesse I felt no small paine and it gréeued mee in my verie flesh to sée those garments that had fitted my bodie so well beeing a man to bee so iniuriously torne and plucked in péeces by those which did it with so good a will and yet I was constrained to do the like my self because I would not séeme to vary from those of my company thereby offering occasion to be perceiued At this fight the Generall and the rest being astonished and looking rounde about verie circumspectly yet not without feare although they desired to méete with that which they founde after that they had well searched and compassed the litle Caue the Captaine Generall spake asking me what I
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
but that he commeth from God and was brought into these parts for the augmentation of your Highnes honour together with your lands and dominions which your Grace may verie well beléeue for the qualities and parts within him are such and so excellent that I am perswaded there is not anie one able to declare them in briefe for he is the wisest discréetest Tonny that is at this day in the sea with all vertuous and honourable likewise most true and verie faithfull indued with excellent manners and behauiour such as I neuer heard speake of before and to conclude there is nothing in him tending vnto euill In saying thus much of him your Highnes must not thinke that I speake it by reason of the good will I beare him but onely because I know it to be most true Truely said the King that Tonny is much bound vnto God vpon whom he so liberally bestoweth his graces and benefites and because you report so well of him it is good reason we should doo him honor seeing he is come into our Court wherefore I would haue you aske him if he be minded to remaine here with vs wherevnto I would you should perswade him in my behalfe and it may be he shall not repent him of our companie CHAP. IX How Lazarus agree to stay at the Court and was of great credit and verie secret with the King THis agréed betwéene them the Generall tooke vpon him to declare it vnto me and the King returned vnto the Citie and we likewise Being come home the Captaine tolde mee what had passed as touching me betwéene the King and him and how he desired that I would serue him with other things In the end I being intreated with my great honour consented thereunto Now behold I pray you your Crier of wiues in Toledo made the chiefe man in the Kings house with charge to rule and gouerns the same and goe tell it for a iest Then I gaue thankes vnto God that my affaires waxed daily better and sought with all diligence to please the King so that in little space I fell into such credite with him that in a manner not anie thing whatsoeuer were it of great or small importance but it passed through my hands or was done by my counsell This done I thought it not conuenient to suffer such as had deserued punishment to escape because I knew verie well how and in what manner Licioes sentence had bin vniustly giuen although the king had past it ouer in silence by reason the Captaine generall was a Fish of great accompt and of great power Wherevpon it entred into my minde to ring the bells againe and said vnto the King that there had a matter of dishonor happened to him of late which were not worthie to bee kept in silence because it was a meanes to cause iustice to bee done as a thing appertaining vnto his Maiesties seruice that such as are faultie should be punished Which his Highnes presently committed vnto me as he did all other things and I endeuored my selfe so well therin that I caused all the partakers in the same to be apprehended when they little thought of anie such matter who being put vnto the racke confessed they had sworn falsly in the cause whereby Licio was condemned and asking them wherefore they did it and what the wicked Generall gaue them to doo it they answered that hee had not giuen nor promised them anie thing neither were they his frends or seruants O sensles and miserable sinners O contentious men said I which complaine that your aduersaries condemne you by false witnesses which they proued against such times come come I say vnto the sea and you shall behold the small reason you haue to complaine vpon earth for that if the same your aduersarie doo produce false witnesses either he giueth or promiseth them somwhat for their paines or else they wer his frends or acquaintance befor that time for whom he promiseth to doo the like but these vnfaithfull fishes are neither by promise by reward nor frendship mooued thereuntoo wherfore they are so much the more to be blamed and worthie of punishment and so they were hanged I vnderstood farther that the Clearke by whom the cause was pleaded did not present nor yet take anie writing that was brought him in the behalfe of Licio neyther admitted anie one to speake that desired to answere for him O great shame said I which although if be suffred on earth that the Clearkes be fauourable yet with more honestie they take the writings although they put them not into the Court but rather say they be lost but this is the verie act of the diuell The like was found in the Iudges for that I knew it could not bee vprightly done that the Sentence was so soone giuen wherein I blamed the Iudges much saying vnto them that a plea in a manner for two strawes is not commonly ended in a yeare and some not in ten nor yet twentie and you dispatch a matter touching the life of an honourable Fish in one houre Whereunto they could not answere me ought to excuse theyr fault but the King sent expresse commaundement that hee would haue the matter dissembled withall as touching them because it concerned his royall authoritie and so I did but therwith I well perceiued and saw that the gracious and mightie hand of him that humbleth when he will and exalteth whom it pleased him ruled among them likewise in the wicked Generall for where couetousnes and enuie entreth it corrupteth all things For the which cause the King of Persia punished a wicked Iudge most gréeuously causing him to be executed and after flean whose skin hee nayled vp ouer the seate of Iustice placing the Iudges sonne in his fathers seate whereby the Barbarian King did verie well prouide in most strange manner that no Iudge after that time should be corrupted To the same end it is said by a wise man That where affection raigneth reason hath no place and that the good Lawier did commit verie few causes vnto the Iudges but rather let them bee determined by law because the Iudges are manie times corrupted either by loue hatred or guifts whereby they are induced to giue manie vniust iudgements For which cause the Scripture saith O you Iudges take no giftes which blinde the wise and subuert the words of the iust This I learned of my good master with all the rest of my experience in the law who as it is reported was better learned than either Bartolus or Seneca But to returne vnto my first purpose I told ye the King sent word it should be so although it went wholly against my minde In the meane time the Generall by the Kings commaundement had a voyage to make which was with a great Armie to inuade the Sturgeons whom wee presently ouercame making their King tributarie for the which he deliuered hostage with condition to pay yearly for a tribute vnto our King a great