too fast ty'de to get loose from them he could not so shift them of And therefore accepting their friendly offer he made choise of the former part of the night according to their owne agreement And with this plaine proceeding he prosecuted his Visit the third night though without hope of obtaining it doubting shee would not doe him that fauour in regard of that vnlucky accident that fell out the night before But for that Clorinia lou'd and that she truely lou'd nothing could detaine her from him but with a great deale of care was still inquiring whether her Gallant meant to come againe to glad her heart with his cheerefull and comfortable lookes being very inquisitiue to know what should bee the reason that caused him so to faile the last night of his promise Now whilst her Father and Mother were at supper rising from the table she went to the fore-said hole which she might safely doe for that the chimney neere where-vnto they supt stood on the one side of the Hall being a very large one and the window where the hole vvas on the other side neere adioyning to the corner in the midst whereof were certaine things placed betweene which did shadow and hinder the sight from the one side to the other Her father and her mother sate so that she might easily goe thither and speake softly without being heard of any The truth is shee watcht an occasion hauing well aduised with her selfe what might happen to make quicke dispatch and to rise from table as soone as possibly she could Who came thither so opportunely in so good a time that Dorido was there ready expecting her comming for from out the street he might heare the footing of certaine steps in the Hall which was a sure signe vnto him that those paces were troden by his Mistresse so that he made all the haste he could to get vp to see her And because this was the second time of their meeting they were a little better flesh't then they were before met not with those stoppages which heretofore had hindred their speech So that they now discoursed more boldly and more freely as farre forth as the time would giue them leaue which that night was but short and in a manner stolne and afterwards they tooke their leaues with a great deale of tendernesse on either part hauing agreed betweene themselues that as long as the Moone vvas in her wane they would inioy the fulnesse of their loues which increased now apace till some better meanes should be found for their freer accesse In this interim a yong Gentleman a very great friend of Doridos called Horatio fell in loue with Clorinia He courted her he seru'd her and obseru'd her as became a Louer notwithstanding that he knew that shee was his friends Mistresse But he knew withall that hee did not treat with intent to take her to wife but himselfe did Relying therefore vpon this their great friendship the iustnesse of his request and the honesty of his cause he intreated him of all loues that he would desist from making loue to Clorinia and giue way to him seeing their endes were so different Horatio's affectionate words and lawfull request were of that power and preuailed so much vvith Dorido that he told him that for his part he was vvell contented therewith promising him that if his Mistresse should so like of it and that she could finde in her heart to fancy and affect him hee would giue ouer his suite leauing the field open vnto him to take his pleasure without any contradiction in the world and that he should rest himselfe assured that he would no vvay stand in competition vvith him For the better effecting vvhereof he would doe two things The one to dis-deceiue Clorinia by deliuering plainely vnto her that by reason of a certaine Vow that hee had made to himselfe it was not in his power to be married vnto her which he would not breake for all the world The other the better to make her forget him he would goe about to make loue else-where Yet for that great friendship that was betwixt himselfe and Valerio he must hold him excused if he did not forbeare now and then to visit her vvhich might turne much to his good but no hurt at all being that his true intent and purpose vvas to fauour his pretension vpon all occasions that should offer themselues vnto him Herewith Horatio rested content and was wonderfull well satisfied and gaue Dorido many thankes not considering that hauing left it to Clorinias choyse and putting himselfe vpon her Election till that he knew her minde and had gained her good will he had negotiated little or nothing at all And the offer made by Dorido was vpon the confidence that he had that to speake thereof vnto Clorinia was no other then the tearing of her heart from forth her brest But Horatio carried away with vaine confidencies and various hopes intreated Dorido that he would speake a good word for him He promised he would that he might still maintaine his friendship with Horatio and not giue any note or scandall to their loue To comply therefore with his promise and to make good his owne offer when he met with his Mistresse he made a long discourse vnto her of all that had passed betweene them Telling her that if she could finde in her heart to loue Horatio and be brought to settle her affection vpon him God forbid that euer he should goe about to hinder so honourable an intent But in case she could not yet at least was she bound in thankfulnesse to accept of this his good will by not shewing her selfe coy and strange vnto him and if he past by the street where she was shee should not scornfully shut the Window against him and flie from his sight and should shew him a cheerefull looke though it were but feigned To this Clorinia answered betwixt anger and scorne telling him that hee should surcease to lay any such command vpon her and that he should speake no more thereof vnto her for if for this cause he should leaue and forsake her she would rather be content to be hated and abhorred by him then to wrong either him or her selfe by placing her loue else-where Who as hee had beene the first so he should be the last as long as she liu'd which life of hers she would presently sacrifice vnto him for to take away all occasion from him of commanding her to loue another or to forget him as for the rest he might doe as he saw cause she would not hinder him let him take what course it pleased him so as it liked him she would not stand against it Dorido tooke wonderfull contentment in hearing this answer come from her for these words of her were that true Chrisole wherein the Gold of their loues was refined and that touchstone that tryde the purenesse of their affections and gaue assurance that it was not counterfeit metall So
what I am and I likewise know your great worth and quality which if it shall not ouer-sway mine it is the singular loue and friendship ye haue borne me that must equall the scales laying an euerlasting obligation vpon me to deserue the same This case then I make to be mine owne I challenge it as a thing proper vnto me And that the world may so vnderstand it and so take it that which hereafter I shal intreat you for by a third person I will now demand of you by way of grace and request Which is That you will be pleased to giue me Clorinia to wife Wherein ye shall doe these two things First ye shall thereby recouer your honour Secondly ye shall execute your reuenge by this hand of mine If heauen shall be so propitious and fauourable vnto me to blesse me with her life she shall liue and remaine with me though not according as her worth deserueth yet answerable to that desire which I haue to serue her making that vp in my loue which is wanting in my meanes And if ought succeed hereafter in the righting of this wrong it is fit the world should take notice that her husband did that where-vnto he was obliged and not Dorido her parents friend Make good therefore this my request for the good which from thence may redound to vs all To the Parents as also to the Brother this did seeme to be a very iust and honest motion and gaue him many thankes for this true testimony of his loue both to them and their house But because there was one as yet vn-askt which was to be a principall party in this busines which was Clorinia they would see if they could draw her to consent there-unto Which when it was broken vnto her the teares gushed out of her eyes for very ioy and she said vnto them This is that alone which I hope will keepe life in me and if I should buy it at as deare a rate as death yet I should thinke it cheape inough and that I had a good penny-worth of my bargaine I trust in God that I shall liue contentedly and dye comfortably And therefore I beseech you that I may bee espoused to Dorido according as he hath desired Presently here-vpon they call'd him in and when they came to see each other for a good while they were neither of them able to speake a word both their hearts were so full and their soules so ouerwhelmed hers with ioy and his with griefe That fit ouer-past they plighted their trothes and were made man and wife vsing those diligencies therein with the best secresie they could till the time should come that they might be openly espoused in the Church Three dayes were spent in this Solemnity and with this content Clorinia seemed to be vpon the mending hand But it was but a lightening before death for through the store of bloud which she lost she liu'd not long after Dorido perceiuing that it was impossible that his Spouse should escape with life to the end that she might die fully contented and satisfied if there may be any such thing in death on the fourth day holding it now a fit and conuenient time to put that in execution which he had deuised and plotted with himselfe on the fifth he inuited Horatio to his house as he had done at other times heretofore Who trusting in the secresie wherewith he had committed this foule offence and that there was no talke thereof in the Towne nor so much as a word spoken of it went thither as securely and as boldly as if he had done no such matter and without any suspition or iealousie at all Dorido to lull him the more asleepe and to make him more secure feigned not to know of any such thing he entertain'd him with a cheerefull looke laught and was merry with him that growing thereby the more confident he might the willinger accept of his inuitation Dorido had put such a kinde of Confection into one of his Bottles of Wine that it should cast him that drunke thereof into a most deepe and profound sleepe Which he secretly commanded he should be serued withall at the table as oft as he call'd for any Wine And as he had commanded so was it ordred And when he had euen now dined the last morsell being scarce out of his mouth he sate me in his Chayre like one that had beene dead Dorido when he saw he was sure enough now in his hands and that the Fowle could not escape the snare binding his legges and armes as hard as he could for his life to the legges and armes of the Chayre and hauing made fast all the doores of his house he put to his nose a kinde of little round ball like a Pomander made for that purpose which he had no sooner smelt vnto and taken the sent thereof vp into his head but that he presently awaked from that deepe sleepe wherein hee had before beene buryed And finding himselfe bound in that fast manner without being able to wag he knew then that his punishment was at hand for that hand which he had so cruelly cut off Dorido was as quicke in cutting off both his hands as he was nimble in vn-ioynting that of hers That done throwing a cord about his necke making vse of one of the corners of the Chayre he gaue him the Garrote wherewith he was strangled to death The next morning before it was peepe of day he droue him along before him in the Chayre vpon a Horse till he came to the house where Clorinia dwelt and putting a piece of Timber Gibbetwise into that hole in the Wall where he had committed this odious and vn-manly act he left him there hanging with his hands ty'd about his necke in a string like a childes payre of Miâ—…ens and some Verses hanging at his Hempen chayne to giue satisfaction to the world vpon what reason this was done And so Dorido when he had thus reuenged himselfe vpon Horatio left Rome with purpose neuer to see it againe thinking with himselfe that without his Clorinia neither Countrie nor life nor any thing else could be comfortable vnto him And about the breake of day when this spectacle began to be seene and talkt of Clorinia within a little after finished her life This lamentable Accident caused great both sorrow and admiration in the Embassadour But his houre was come that he must to the Palace which made them breake off for that present and to take their leaues I thanke God a thousand times that he made me not a Louer And if I had not beene a Gamester peraduenture I should haue done worse as you shall see in the second part of my life whereunto if my first haue pleas'd thee I inuite thee The Verses which were hung about Horatios necke turned into our vulgar tongue sound thus I was rash Hee blinded with iealous loue Seeing my friend preferr'd in my Loues choyse Counterfeiting his Signall cloathes and voyce
not condemne it to be dead and fruitlesse He was neuer negligent nor yet no niggard He began as I told you by this womans hand to sow the seeds of his loue and prodigally to spend vpon my mother and they both very willingly and very cheerefully are ready to receiue all And because vnto goodnes gratitude is so due a debt and that he who receiueth is bound to a requitall and euery courtesie deserues its acknowledgement This good mother of mischiefe did play her part so well grew such a good Sollicitor and followed the businesse so close that her diligence meeting in a happy coniuncture with the forwardnesse of my Mothers will she still went adding more fuell to the fire and of a little light stubble raised in a short time a terrible flame As we see many times ieasting turned into earnest and things full often to end in sober sadnesse which at the first were but begun in ieast My Mother as ye haue already heard was a discreet woman faine shee would but durst not she had a good mind to the businesse but yet she was afraid she was sometimes on sometimes off her owne heart was the Oracle of her desires with that she consulted often what were best to do And thus disputing pro and con with herselfe ya lo tenia de la haz ya delenues Somtimes as we see in the handling of Stuffes or of Cloth she was on the right sometimes on the wrong one while she would put on a full resolution to doe thus and thus by and by againe she would turne to a new Coniugation and vary the Mood she was in before In conclusion whom will not siluer win whom will not gold corrupt This Knight was an elderly man much subiect to spitting spalling and coughing he was troubled with the Stone with sharpnesse of his Vrine and other the like infirmites she had seene him full oft by her sweet side in the naked bed where he did not appeare the man my father was he had not that vigour nor liuelinesse nor that handsomenesse of shape and proportion And besides obserue it while you liue and you shal euermore find it to be true That long acquaintance and much conuersation where Gods feare is not breeds wearisomnesse and loathsomenesse at the last Nouelties please all especially women who are louers of flim-flam tales and for the receiuing and returning of newes like vnto Materia prima which neuer ceaseth to desire and seeke after new Formes She was resolued to haue forsaken the old Knight to shift her of her old clothes to change her smocke and was fully bent to fly out and to breake loose whatsoeuer came of it but her great wisedome and long experience which was hereditary vnto her and suckt from her mothers teat opened the way and presented vnto her an ingenious resolution And questionlesse the feare of losing her pension kept her aloofe off the thought whereof much perplexed her for the present who otherwise was of her selfe well egged forward and had a good mind to the game For what lesson my Father read but once vnto her the Diuell repeated the same ten times ouer so that it was no such great matter now to winne Troy there was likelihood inough to take it in lesse then ten yeeres My good Mother casts vp her account and made this reckoning with her selfe In this particular my person loseth nothing I sell no houshold stuffe I waste none of my goods and though in this kind I affoord much kindnesse to others I am therein like vnto the Candle or the Sunne in its brightnesse though I lend light vnto others I haue nothing the lesse my selfe I shall not want awhit in my estate but be rather still at the full Of whom I haue receiued so many courtesies so many gifts it is fit I should in some sort shew my selfe thankfull and not be sparing to him that hath beene so bountifull to me Shall I be couetous when he is so liberall God forbid I am now resolued what to do I will sow my bagge at both ends my iawes shall grind on both sides my chaps shall walke euery way and the better to secure my shippe I will haue two anchors to one bottome that if I should chance to lose the one I might still haue another remaining to serue my turne And if the mansion-house should hap to fall yet if the Doue-house hold vp if that stand fast we shall lacke no Pigeons as long as there is a Louer-hole for the poore fooles to get in at Hauing taken these things into her consideration she treated with this her bawdy Embassadresse how and when it might be the manner how and the time when But finding after long consultation that it was impossible to effect her desires in her owne house and that there was no good to be done at home for to enioy each other freely to take that fulnesse of content which must satisfie the hungry mawes of greedy Louers amongst many other shifts and tricks and very good and witty deuices and strange plots which they had laid their heads about for the better successe in the businesse they made choyse of this which followeth The Spring had so farre aduanced it selfe that May was in it's ending and the Summer was now making his entrance And the Village of Gelues and that of San Iuan de Alfarache are now the sweetest and the pleasantest of all that bordring Territory none thereabouts was like vnto them besides the fertilenâ—…sse and goodnesse of the soyle which is all one with that of Seuill as next neighbour vnto it which that Riuer of Guadalquibir makes the more famous whose watry gullets purling along the bankes in-rich and adorne all those gardens and fields that confine thereupon so that with reason if there may be a knowne Paradise vpon earth sure the name thereof properly appertaines to this particular seate So fairely is it set forth with shadow-casting trees so beautified with curious bowers so richly inameled with sundry sorts of flowers so abounding with sauoury fruits so accompanied with siluer-running streames with cleere springs glasse-labour-sauing fountaines fresh ayres and delightsome shades whereinto the beames of the Sunne are at that time denied their entrance and haue not permission so much as once to peepe in At one of these retiring roomes of recreation my mother agreed with her marriage-maker her Sine qua non and some of the people of her house to come one day thither to make merry And albeit the place whither they were to goe was not that which my father was owner of but was somewhat beyond it neerer vnto Gelues yet of force they must to goe thither passe close by our doore Vpon this care taken and former agreement concluded betweene them iust about the time that she was to come neere vnto our garden gate my Mother began presently to complaine of a sudden and grieuous paine in her stomake imputing the cause thereof to
purse drew foorth a Crowne and putting it in his hand told him Here take it master Doctor for by the faith of a Gentleman I now perceiue that this sacred place cannot priuiledge me from you See here how farre the couetousnesse of a foolish Physician carries him and how farre the vertue of a quicke and noble disposition this other Gentleman I betooke me to my beast and fetching my rise I got vp vpon his backe and away vve went together and wee had scarce gone a furlong from the place but we met with two Church-men that sate there hard by expecting some passengers that would carry them on horse-backe towards Caçalla for there was their dwelling and had beene at Seuill about a certaine Suit in Law By their carriage and their countenance you might well know their good life and their pouertie They were well spoken men very kind and very courteous the one was about some 36. yeeres of age the other aboue fifty They made the Carrier stay they agreed with him and doing as I had done before they got each of them vp vpon his Asse and wee proceeded on our iourney But all this while so great was the laughter of this honest man and so excessiue beyond all measure that he could scarce go on with his tale for betwixt euery word he would let go the sluce of his sides whilest like a Flood that furiously breakes foorth his laughing suddenly flushes out vpon him and as in houses where men vittaile vpon the way a man shall meet many times with a bare couple of Hens onely amongst fiue hundred persons and see what they want in good cheere they make vp with good mirth so this mans laughter was three-fold more then his discourse so farre did his spleene out-talke his tongue These his delayes were so many Speares in my sides euery deferring was a farther prouoking so that I was all this while vpon thornes For he that hath a longing desire to know a thing vvould willingly haue one word come treading on the heeles of another and with a quicke and nimble pace come if it were possible huddling all at once out of the mouth Neuer any woman that hath beene with child did euer more earnestly long for any thing then I did to know the successe of this businesse Mee thought I did consume and pine away while I vvas held in this suspence I could haue burst for anger that my eares vvere put off from hauing a present hearing for I could not but expect that some great matter must arise from such a glorious and ingenious Fabricke as this made show to be I began to conceit vvith my selfe whether some fire falne from heauen had consumed the house and all that was therein or whether those young fellowes had set the house on fire and rosted my Hostesse aliue or at least for a lesser reuenge could not be taken ofso vile a creature whether or no they had stript her starke naked and hung her vp by the heeles vpon an Oliue-tree and giuen her some thousand lashes till they had left her for dead for lesser things then these his laughter could not promise Howbeit I must confesse had I beene then so wise and considerate as I should haue beene I ought not to haue look't for any great matter or to presume that any good thing could proceed from one that was thus immoderate in his laughter For euen that which is moderate doth in a kind of manner accuse a man of lightnesse argue indiscretion want of iudgement and store of vanity but that vvhich is dis-composed and out of Reasons compasse is though there be neuer so much occasion offered the marke of a mad-man and the onely note of an absolute Asse or complete Foole. At last God be thanked this Mountaine brought foorth its Mouse in conclusion he told vs but with a thousand stops and iumpes and his wonted bounds and curuets of laughing that he hauing stayd to drinke a little wine and to tarry the comming of a Companion of his whom he had left behind he perceiued that the Hostesse of the house brought in on a Plate a Froyze of sixe egges three of them starke naught the other not so bad which she set before them and going about to diuide this their Froyze or Tansey in twaine it seemed vnto them that it made a certaine kind of resistance refusing as it were to be parted one piece hanging like torne ragges at the taile of another Whereupon because this seemed to be somewhat a bad signe and such as they did not vvell like of they began to search a little more narrowly vvhat should be the cause thereof They vvere not long in discouering the truth for they might discern certaine knobs and knurs in it which had it bin any body but my self he might at first sight haue seen how the world went and vvhere the fault lay but being a young Lad I should easily haue swallowed such a Gudgeon and should in good manners haue slightly past it ouer But these vvere a little more curious and more Court-like and sifted it out so finely that they found to their seeming three little round bumps like three little Chickens heads all clotted together And this cleared the doubt for finding the bils of these pretty fooles somewhat hard growne and none of the tendrest the pad that lay in the straw vvas presently perceiued And they taking one of them betweene their fingers going about to crush and breake it in pieces it put foorth his bill and began though dead to peepe foorth its head and spake alowd vnto them and told them plainely vvhence and what he vvas So they couered the Plate clapping another thereupon and vvhispered somewhat in secret amongst themselues vvhat it vvas I then knew not howbeit afterwards it did manifest it selfe for presently one of them called out and sayd Hostesse haue you any thing else for vs she had a little before in their sight bought a Sabalo vvhich is a Fish like a Shad which she had put vpon the ground for to rub off the scales of it telling them I haue such a Fish here vvhereof if you vvill I shall spare you a slice or two other meat haue I none I pray mother said they broyle it vs quickly then for we must be gone and if it stand vvith your good liking set a price what you will haue for it all and vve vvill carry it home along vvith vs. She said it being cut out into pieces euery slice wil yeeld me a Royal and I cannot bate you a farthing of it They said No they thought it vvas too much one Royall profit in the vvhole vvere very good gaines At last they agreed for two Royals for a bad pay-master neuer reckons vvhat he receiueth nor stands a hucking for that vvhich he is to take vp vpon trust It vvent against her heart to let them haue it so howbeit the gaine of two Royals in foure for so short a time
Stirrops my breech extremely gall'd my parts neerer my priuities full of paine as if so many needles had beene stucke in my Groyne my body was all out of ioynt but of all other parts my belly for pure hunger did most pitifully complaine Now when my Companion had ordered his beasts of burthen and had eased them of their carriages and had done all things fitting for one of his profession my turne was next to be serued and therefore said vnto him How now my Camerade what thinke you of the motion Is it not high-time thinke you to go to Supper He answered It was the motion he told me was very good and that it was high time indeed for he meant to bee stirring very early the next morning and to reach betimes to Caçalla and so to lade and away We ask't our Host if he had any thing in the house for our supper He answered He had adding withal that we should fare very daintily He was a burly-kind of man yet of a stirring metall nimble-witted cheerfull both in his speech and countenance an eternall talker but aboue all a most excellent Villaine His promising person I confesse did deceiue mee for seeing so good a presence and not hauing knowne him before the Spot at first sight made show of a good Card. And hearing him say that he could feast vs brauely my very heart and soule did leape for ioy within mee Oh they were comfortable words Whereupon I began with my selfe to giue thankes vnto God reuerencing his holy Name for that after our troubles he giues vs ease after sicknesse health after a storme a calme after sorrow ioy and a good Supper after a bad dinner I know not whether I may well tell you or no of a toung-errour but a witty one which came from a plaine country-fellow whom I knew in Olias being a certaine Village belonging to Tolâ—…do yet I shall make bold to tell it you as well for that the thing in it selfe is not scandalous as also for that it proceeded from the sincere heart of an old Christian. There were certaine good fellowes playing at Primera and the third hauing discarded the second cride I am Prime God be thanked yet at last that I haue got one game since I playd said hee that had the Prime The other Country-fellow that was in the interim drawing his Cards when he had puld them found them to be all of one linage and being glad that he had got the hand of him suddenly brake soorth at that very instant and sayd Not so much God be thanked neither as you thinke for for I am Flush If such a disparate or idle toy as this being not purposely spoken with either due measure or to any certain end but by meere chance as it were may be brought vpon the Stage this is its proper place and the Scene well layd here considering what befell vs. It s very well said my Companion to mine Host Now and thou beest a good fellow tell me I pray thee what dainty morsell hast thou prouided for vs This Socarron this dissembling Rascall that was all for his commodity cared not so as he might get by him whom he coozened told him Yesterday I kill'd a very delicate fine young Calfe which because the Damme thereof was very weake and by reason through the drinesse of the yeere that he wanted feeding he caused this Calfe to be kill'd after it was some eight dayes old The offals and the intrailes are ready drest take what you please After this crying out Presto bee gone lifting vp his legges and fetching a friscall or two he flyes away in the ayre in a trice clapping his heeles with his hands as he runnes along With this my heart began to be somewhat lighter then it was before and it did reioyce me much to heare him say that he had the Calues intrailes the very naming whereof did make my Bowels to moue within me And now taking leaue of my former wearinesse looking cheerily vpon him I said vnto him Mine Host bring vs what you thinke good Thereupon the Cloth was laid in the turning of an hand our Linnen was cleane and our bread was not so bad as before but our wine was passing good we had also a fresh Sallad set vpon the Board in a faire Plate but for such washie Tripes as mine then were I held it no good meate And had it beene spared by me either for any of the intrailes or any one foot of a Calfe it would neuer haue grieu'd me But these premises might deceiue any discreet iudgement whatsoeuer making the taste of an hungry appetite drunken with the very conceit of his promised fare The Italian by way of aduice giues vs this good lesson That in the promises of Women Mariners and Inne-keepers we should place small confidence for they that are giuen to commend themselues and their owne things as all these vsually do they do all guessing the whole by the greater part generally lye After he had set downe the Sallad he brings vs in two little Plates in each of which lay a little of this same Calues-plucke I say a little for he was afraid to giue vs too much lest through too much plenty hunger being satisfied and the belly glutted we might more easily come to the knowledge of this deceit of his Leading vs thus ley surely along we follow the sent we first ran vpon and it seemed to our taste that we still did eate according to that conceit which wee had intertained of this our supposed tender Veale and the more wee thought thereon the greater edge was set vpon our appetite and as wee had a longing desire thereunto so by degrees wee were still calling for the same hand againe For my Companion there was no care to be taken for him all meates were alike to him for he was borne amongst Sauage people and bred vp by brutish Parents whose palate was seasoned from the cradle with a cloue of Garlicke and your rude rusticall Clownes as a thing not belonging to their either goodnesse or cleanlinesse in matter of taste can seldome distinguish ill from good To most of them there is a want of perfection in their Senses and albeit they see yet do they not see that which they ought to see and though they heare yet do they not heare that which they ought to heare and so in the rest but more particularly in the tongue which was not giuen them to murmure against any man much lesse against those that are gentle and noble as well in their disposition as their descent But these kindes of vn-nurtured people are like vnto Dogs who snatch and snap at euery thing swallowing all that comes in the compasse of their chaps without chewing or like vnto the Ostrich that will deuoure a horse-shoo though it bee neuer so red hot And if a double-soled shoo which had done seruice three Winters in Madrid treading thorow thicke and thinne lodo
a thing as worthy commendation in vertuous young men as it is a glory to those parents who breed vp their children in the knowledge of tongues and exercise of Armes He lou'd his espoused Lady with all the tendernesse that a Louer could insomuch that hee did in a manner commit idolatry out of the reuerence and respect that he bare vnto her and would might hee be suffered so to doe haue set vp her Statua vpon the highest Altars On her hee did wholly imploy his memory for her all his sences kept continuall watch and ward and his will was more hers then his owne Nor was his Spouse who was made all of thankefulnesse any whit his debtor Their loue was as equall as was their qualitie and their affection did truely correspond with their euen condition But surpassing all the rest was that most honest course of life wherein they conserued themselues The sweetnesse of those discourses which by Letters passed betweene them those louely messages which were sent to and fro each to other can not be indeered according to their true desert They had visited seen one another very often but neuer treated of loue mouth to mouth But their speaking eyes parled many times when their tongues were silent which neuer omitted the occasion to talke together For both of them many yeeres before and yet not very many because they were both but young but to speake more properly had euen from their child-hood loued and visited each other at their pleasure The parents were knit in so perfect a friendship and their children in such streight knots of the fastest loue that to make this harmony the fuller they did all desire to be neerer linked if possibly it might be by a strong Alliance And by this marriage it had taken effect had it not when all was in a manner concluded beene crost in an vnlucky houre and by the rigour of some austere Planet when Baça was besieged But vpon this reuolution of things and these warlike commotions it was thought fit to deferre it for a while wayting for a more conuenient time wherein their marriage might be solemnized with greater mirth and iollitie and such triumphs and feastings performed as the youthfulnesse and qualification required of so sweet and louely a couple and seemed necessarily to suit with the estimation and greatnesse of both their parents You haue heard already who Daraxa's Father was Her Mother was her owne Kinswoman daughter to a Sister of Boabdelin King of that Citie who had treated this Match betweene them And Ozmin was cousin German to Mahomet King of Granada sur-named The Little Now that all these faire designes had contrary successe to their desires and that Fortune had bent her browe against them Daraxa remaining now in the power of those their Catholike Maiesties and being left behind in Seuill as soone as Ozmin heard of it the exclamations that he made the sorrowes which hee vttered the sighs which he vented as they were the true Heralds that proclaimed his hearts-griefe so did they moue all men to compassion who could not choose but share and that in no small measure with him when they saw such lamentable effects of his great affliction But because the losse was so solely his and the wound put so home to his very heart and soule sorrow did so seaze vpon him that in a short time it tooke hold vpon his manly yet delicate body so that all the whole frame thereof was out of temper and fell at last into a grieuous sicknesse as dangerous and difficill to be cured as the remedy was distant and the cause vnknowne The effects whereof dayly increased with mortall signes of death because the cause increased and the medicines that were ministred vnto him being not rightly applyed did him no good at all And which is the worst in maladies the Physicians did not truely apprehend the nature of his disease being the most essentiall point for the restoring of a man to his former state of health So that his afflicted Parents despairing of his recouery had now rendred vp all hope of life and the Physicians they had giuen him ouer being of opinion that it was impossible hee should liue their iudgement being strengthned and confirmed by all those accidents which did ioyntly concurre and openly expresse themselues in this his painfull torment But when this sicke Louer was treading the last step of life that he had to goe and euen entring into the doores of Death a conceit came sodainly into his head which representing it selfe to his imagination wrought so effectually with him that he seemed to draw some fruit from it and to be somewhat better then he was And though his sicknesse were yet still full of danger yet compared with that miserable estate wherein hee stood before the amendment could not for the time be greater And out of the longing desire that he had to put that in execution which his conceit had formerly entertained plotting in his imagination how he might come to get a sight of his beloued Spouse he gained breath and grew somewhat stronger stoutly resisting those things that might hinder his intent Whereupon he licenced his sorrowes and shooke hands with melancholly taking his leaue of them both bidding them fare-well for euer and did now wholly intend his health and by this meanes beganne by degrees to grow better and better cleane contrary to the expectation of those vvho had seene how low hee was brought and in what a desperate estate hee was True is that old Adage Desire subdueth feare trampleth on the neck of inconueniences and leuelleth all difficulties be the way of them neuer so steepe neuer so rocky And a good and cheerefull heart in a sicke man is the best Sirrop and the most comfortable cordiall in the world your Amber your Corall your Pearle your Gold and all the rabble of your other restoratiues are nothing vnto it And therefore it is good for a man to make himselfe as merry as he can And when thou seest a man once to wax merry when he is sicke thou maist boldly say he mends Now then by this time our Gentleman is vp vpon his feet and though yet weake and scarce able to walke vp and downe in his Chamber his long sicknesse hauing yet made his legges vnable to beare his body he forthwith furnished himselfe of a Moore to be both his Guide and Interpreter who had for a long time serued the Kings of Granada as an Intelligencer And putting vp good store of gold and iewels for that iourney and taking with him a good horse that was browne Bay with a Petronell hanging at the arson of his Saddle and his Sword and Dagger girt to his side vpon a certaine night by them appointed they deparâ—…ed out of the Citie in the fashion and habit of Spaniards and going by the way knowing well how to coast the Country as being well acquainted with those parts they passed within view of the enemies Campe
my hand in stead of a walking Cudgell me thought all the while I had that I had my Cloake on my back but it did neither doe me that credit nor keepe mee so warme as that would haue done Onely it seru'd me to vnder-prop mine arme now and then whilest I gaue breath to my weary legges As I was trudging along a couple chanced to ouertake mee trauelling that vvay on their Mules I thought with my selfe Could I now hold out lustily and keepe company with them they could not in kindnesse but pay my charges But Pescar con Maço no es renta câ—…erta To fish with a Pole is no certaine rent Nor is it to thinke and to be wise all one They are two differing things They had neuer a boy betweene them to goe along and looke to their Mules they did not ride very hard though their hearts as I afterwards found wery very hard towards me They rode gently inough but they were cruell-minded men Their pace was softer then their bowels for any compassion that was in them I iogg'd still along and kept close with them and when wee had gone some three Leagues or there-abouts it was neere about Noone My heart-strings were ready to breake with trotting and galloping after them because I would not be cast behinde For though their gate were easie yet it put me considering my youth and weakenesse of body to the height of my speed These were men or rather Beasts in mens shape for they spake not a word And I beleeue they were monstrous couetous and some there are that are so neere that they will not part with their spittle if they knew it would serue for a medicine These miserable wretches would not exchange so much as one word vvith mee because they would not helpe mee if need had been with some intertainment on the way Had they entred vpon some Discourse or told mee some such Story as did my honest Clergie man I should not haue beene halfe so weary as I was For good company wheresoeuer we chance to light vpon it is a kinde of meat and drinke to the Soule it cheeres the hearts of Trauellers it recreateth their minds it refresheth their bodies it makes them forget their wearinesse it riddeth the way it easeth our griefe it expelleth melancholly it lengthens mans life and by a particular priuiledge that it hath it makes horse-men of footmen Wee came in together into the Inne where wee were to bait but I in that case that there was but little difference betwixt me and one that is dead I was e'ne quite out of heart and cleane tyred out But that I might get me a morsell of bread to put in my mouth I was forced to buckle vp my selfe to bestirre my stumps to lay aside all ceremonies and to forget to stand vpon my points Moreouer I strain'd my selfe beyond my strength humbled my selfe more then stood with my nature applyde my selfe to wayt vpon them to put their Mules into the Stable and to carry their luggage into their lodging They were sound and lusty and had their healths about them but I had got the Plague by meeting with them For at the first dash one of them sayes vnto me Stand aside my yong Gallant get you gone we haue no need of your seruice O Traytors enemies to God thought I to my selfe how vncharitably doe these men beginne with mee what hope can I haue from them that they will giue me victuals or if I should faint on the way that they would take pitie of me and set me vp behinde them They are set downe to dinner I stood right ouer against them but somewhat aloofe off thinking they would haue been so tender-hearted as to affoord one bit or other from their trencher but I fell short of my hopes There came thither at that time a Franciscan Fryer who was on foot and all in a sweat He sate downe to rest himselfe and anon after puls mee out of his Wallet which hung on his left shoulder a Loase of Bread and a piece of Bacon I was so horrible hungry that I could scarce stand vpon my legges or fetch my breath so faint was I growne for want of food But not hauing white-Liuer'd Whore-sonne as I was the courage out of a dastardly kinde of bashfulnesse to speake vnto him to relieue my want I lookt pittifully vpon him and besought him with mine eyes which is a good dumbe eloquence that he would giue me a bit of something for Gods sake The good Fryer who read my Petition in my lookes with all the haste he could make as if his life had lyen vpon the speedy doing of it said Blessed be God Though I should want my selfe yet seeing thee in that necessitie thou now art I would rather goe vvithout my selfe then to see my poore brother lacke Take this my pretty Boy quoth hee and much good may it doe thee O to see the wonderfull goodnes of God the eternall Wisedome the diuine Prouidence the infinit Mercy which in the bowels of a hard stone doth sustaine a poore silly worme and prouide it food and filleth all things liuing with his heauenly bounty They that were able and had vvherewithall vvould not out of meere couetousnesse giue mee so much as one crumme from their table and vvhat reliefe I could not draw from them by all my seruiceable indeuours I had from this Mendicant this poore beggerly Fryer onely for Gods sake and out of meere charitie seeing in vvhat extremitie I vvas Quién proprias necessidades no tiene mal se acuerda de agenas Hee that neuer knew what want meant hath little feeling of another mans misery Mine vvas before them they saw it and with it my tender yeeres and that I had almost broken my heart hauing spent and tyred out my selfe to keep company with them yet vvere they not sensible of my wearinesse tooke no pitie at all of me nor did commiserate my vvants My good honest Fryer did freely share his victuals with me wherewith I fill'd my belly and was vvell satisfied If that good man as hee vvent towards Seuill had beene to goe my vvay hee had ransomed mee from my mis-fortunes and had made me a happy man but we were to runne a contrarie course and to take seuerall wayes yet when he was to goe his way the good man I shall euer call him by that name gaue mee halfe a Loafe that hee had left and bid me farewell telling mee Thou must content thy selfe my child with this had I more more shouldst thou haue I put it in the lyning of the lappet of my Iacket and faire and softly set forward on my way By that time I had gone three Leagues more it was night then did I supper my selfe vpon my bread without any other meat in the vvorld nor was there any that vvould giue me ought else to eate It was the Carriers day and some of them Inned there Mine Host of
him to himselfe and his â—…ie for Summer was now fully in I started and stood as one astonied not knowing what answer to make him but when I saw there was no remedie I replide yes Sir Come your wayes then quoth he in with me And if thou dost thy dutie said he and shalt deserue well at my hands thou shalt not lose thy labour I told him I was very well assured that in seruing his Worship I might gaine by the bargaine but lose nothing because I had nothing to lose Then he ask'd me Doe you know sirrah what you are to doe All that I mildly replide that you shall be pleased to command me or my selfe either know or am able to performe For he that sets himselfe to serue must not refuse when need is to doe any thing but that which more properly belongs to the dutie of his place he ought cheerefully to vndergoe it and to applie himselfe as well to the one as the other He seemed to like well both of my speech and vnderstanding and I hoping to be well rewarded flew in like a Hawke for the prey At my first comming I behaued my selfe very respectfully towards him and serued him as punctually as I could and he againe made much of me and vs'd me as kindly as heart could wish But I did not only seeke to please my Master who was a married man and his wife my Mistris euen in the meanest seruices seruing them in all things else besides both in Towne and Countrie at home and abroad taking vpon me the Office both of Man-seruant and Maid-seruant saue only that I had neuer a Gowne to put on nor a Mantle to couer me withall to waite vpon my Mistris when she went abroad But for all other seruices of the house as sweeping rubbing scowring setting the Pot ouer the fire dressing of meate making of Beds laying the Estrado in order smoothing and plaining it that not a wrinckle was to be seene and other the like seruices were my ordinary exercise And for that I was the only man all this was committed to my charge But I laboured besides to giue good contentment to all the rest of my Masters seruants So that my heeles were as nimble to runne vpon the least boyes errand in the house as the Stewards the Pages as the Mayor-Domos for him that rub'd the Horses heeles as for him that was Vsher of the Hall One would haue me to buy such and such necessaries for him another that I would brush and make cleane his clothes This man that I would get his band washt and starcht for him that that I would carrie some prouision home to his wife A third to his Wench And all this I did without grumbling or muttring or any the least vnwillingnesse in the world I was neuer any Tale-carrier nor sower of sedition nor did I euer discouer any secret or report againe what I had heard though it were not deliuered vnder the seale of Silence vnto me or that the relators had laid their finger on my mouth For I was not so ill bred but that I knew very well what and when it was lawfull for me to speake and when to hold my peace Hee therefore whosoeuer he be that serues must haue an especiall care to obserue these two things VVherein if he faile he will quickly ruine himselfe by drawing all mens ill will vpon him and making himselfe the most hated man in the world VVhereas nothing doth more recommend a man then a faire carriage and a faithfull heart When I was chidden I neuer replide and made it my studie to giue them as little cause as I could to finde fault with me I would not willingly haue any mans displeasure And all my care was to doe what I was commanded And when there was need of my seruice or that my helping hand might doe any good I was seldome or neuer wanting I was Iacke at a pinch I was here and there and euery where And albeit these diligences of mine cost me a great deale of labour and paines-taking yet I lost nothing by it for the good commendations that they gaue mee and the kinde words that they spake of me behinde my backe and the hopes that I had to be well rewarded when time should serue seemed to me a sufficient paiment and I was well contented therewith Good vsage is a great heartening to him that serueth It is the spurre which pricks on the Will and makes it goe forward it is the finger that beckens our affections it is the Lure that calls our desires it is a Charriot wherein our forces like strong Iades draw on without wearinesse and tugg stoutly thorow thicke and thinne it is good seruing of some men and they deserue to haue seruice done them Gratis And there are some men againe that a man would not serue for any money But of all others I disclaime that Master as vnworthy to bee waighted on that will neither giue his seruant good wages nor good words Kinde vsage will make a man worke out his heart but high language and poore paiment will kill any spirit liuing and make a seruant grow neglectfull if not weary of his Masters seruice Then might I affirme that leauing my roguish kinde of life this Picardia of mine as a Queene whose name I am not worthy to take in my mouth and whereunto any other politicke course of life is not to be compared all the brauerie and gallantrie of the curious method of liuing happily and passing well away the time which the world solemnizeth so much must yeeld and giue place thereunto But this though accompanied with much care was exceeding good good in the highest degree for such a one I meane as my selfe who had beene daintily bred vp in the midst of delights So that me thought I was in a manner reduced and brought backe againe to my old bias and naturall course of life as farre as it concernd the Bucolicks for my Bocados were of another kinde of qualitie and rellish then those of the Bodegon or a Pie-corner Tripe-wiues shop they were otherwise drest otherwise season'd And in this those of St. Gil Santo Domingo Puerta del Sol Placa Mayor and Calle de Toledo must pardon me and hold me excused howbeit I cannot denie but that their Liuer-slices and their rashers on the coales ran still in my head and were hard things for me to forget I did nothing were it neuer so small a thing neuer so little for the which I had not something All did giue me one thing or other one a Tarja which is a matter of pennie halfe-pennie another a Royall a third a Doublet a fourth an old Iacket to couer this poore flesh of mine I did not goeso like a tattred Rogue as I did before my meales were sure and certaine and though I had not had any other thing to sustaine my selfe withall I might haue liu'd very well vpon the skimmings
trouble wherein she was She told me out the money vpon a table so that I sold her her owne againe as if it had not been the same or that I had beene the man that had stolne it from her Wherewith she remained contented and I satisfied But lightly come lightly gone Two incounters carried it cleane away from me These petty thefts of wit I reckned as things of nothing and occasion taught me the way These were naturall vnto mee But those of permission and of greater moment I took great care in the managing of them when need did require it was a common thing with me to come neere to the Butchers chopping-blocke where the portions allotted to euery man for their allowance were cut out and diuided I did diligently obserue that which passed I learned the trick of the finger the bounding of the ballance and al the tricks of weighing many would say I weigh'd passing well yet so for mine own aduantage that euery mans part should dayly come short two ounces in weight The Despensero he would answer for himselfe that the flesh did shrinke and drie away and though he receiued full weight and the Scales true yet there could not choose but be some losse therein by cutting it out afterwards into so many seuerall pieces for Commons which might very well take vp a sixt part Your Despensero your Cooke your Butler your Purueyour and most of all your Officers they doe all of them filch and steale and sticke not to say it is their Fees and that it belongs of right vnto them and this they so openly and impudently maintaine as if they had the Kings Letters Patents to shew for it There was neuer yet any Kitchen-boy so foolish or so vnluckie but that he would make a shift to meet with the giblets of your Geese your Hens and your Capons with the hocks of a gammon of Bacon your flaps Kidnies and fat of the shoulders and loines of Mutton your Pigs-pettitoes your Calues-feet Liuars Gisards Sweet-breads Sauces Spices Snow Wine Sugar Oyle Honie Candles Coles and Wood not sparing the very Ashes nor any thing else were it Vineger Mustard Annis-seede Carrowaies from that which was most necessarie euen to those of smallest moment which are daily spent in a great mans house When I came thither first I confesse there was no man would trust mee farther then he saw me they had no great confidence of me but by little and little I got into credit by degrees first pleasing this man then contenting that man and in fine being willing to serue them all in all that I was able for he must haue a care to please all that will haue all men to pleasure him To gaine friends is a putting forth of money to Interest and the sowing of seed in a fruitfull soyle A man ought to venture his life for the keeping of a friend and the spending of his wealth for the vn-procuring of an enemie For such a one is a Sentinell that sees with a hundred eies hee is like a Dragon that stands vpon the Tower of his malice to looke into our actions from afarre and to watch vs a mischiefe if we doe amisse It importeth much not to haue an enemie and he that hath let him carrie himselfe so towards him as though he were by and by readie to become his friend Wouldst thou know who this is Behold his name and thou shalt finde him to be all one with the Deuill our mortall enemy and both of them to be one and the selfe-same thing Doe thou sowe good workes and thou shalt reape the fruit of them For the first whosoeuer hee were that did a benefit wrought chaines therewith to imprison noble spirits and to binde their hearts vnto him in the bonds of loue In those things wherein I might put my selfe forward I was neuer slothfull I did neuer giue way to any iust complaints to come against mee nor was I euer giuen to faction or to the raising of calumnies and euill reports vpon any I did abhorre all colours of this nature and aboue all your scandalous and offensiue persons whom wee properly compare vnto Sponges who what they sucke in one place haue it wrung from them in another if they doe not drop it out of themselues which is too vsuall with them Such men as these see thou trust them not shunne their fellowship abhorre their company though thou wert sure to get by them For in the end thou shalt sit downe with losse and shame enough A priuate house cannot suffer a greater calamitie nor a Common-wealth a more contagious pestilence then these make-bates these sowers of discord these Court-chamblets that are sprinkled ouer with holy water whose glosse of words makes a very faire shew but vnder that print which is quickly gone lies the deuill and his foule deeds It was euer-more my chiefe studie to haue peace with all men because it is the daughter of Humilitie And the humble minded man that loueth peace loueth and is beloued of the Author thereof which is God if ill company had not done me harme I had begun well and gone on better I had had wherewith-all to eate to drinke to laugh and to bee merry and might haue passed this carreere of my life with a great deale of content Many times when I had ended my businesse I would take a nap in the sweetnesse of that Sunne which shew'd it selfe after dinner and some-times I made my sleepes by Moone-shine remaining in the view of that faire light vntill the morning But when there was nothing to be done at home your Lackies and Pages of the Court being a company of Crack-ropes and notable Wags would make me free of the frying-Pan fright me with Snakes hang on my back weigh me downe crying More sackes to the Mill If by chance they found me asleepe then would they clap a Flie made of Waxe vpon the instep of my shoo and letting it burne there till shoo and skinne were both scorched and when I began to stir and stretch then would their knauery breake forth cry Fire fire fire Other-while they would roll vp a Carde or a piece of Paper Tunnel-wise then setting it a fire blowing out the flame they would put it directly vnder my nose till the pillars of smoake that ascended to my nostrils had not only awak'd me but almost choakt me I remember they vs'd me so once in this manner that I knew not in the world where I was whethersleeping waking standing or sitting I was eene mad I had lost my wits amongst them and if I had not beene held fast I had falne against one of the corner stones of the house and dasht out my braines in a thousand pieces yet I tooke all patiently neuer opened my mouth against them pocketting these and many other the like wrongs which I passed ouer All which I did that by correcting my selfe I might conserue my selfe choosing
who either can not or know not or to speake truely will not consume this Locust this Caterpiller by destroying so harmfull a moth And thrice vnhappy they who for ostentations sake will offer to throw the Barre with those that are able to out-fling them and striue in a brauery to ouer-doe their strength vvhich may cause a spraine if not a Rupture in their Estates The Porter as well as the Trades-man the Trades-man as the Merchant the Merchant as the Gentleman the Gentleman as the Knight the Knight as a Grande and the Grande as a King all desire to bee in-throaned and to out-strip one another by liuing aboue their compasse and spending beyond their means But in troth the Office of a King that is no good Place there is no sport in it no mirth no iollity For a King neither sleepeth so soundly nor resteth so quietly as the poore Porter doth neither doth hee eate his meat with that merry heart and free from all care as doth the Trades-man The care of one Crowne afflicts him more then that of many doth the Merchant He is troubled more in making prouision for his Armies then a Gentleman in preparing his Armes Nor is there any Knight or Titulado so much impawned or so deepely in debt but that his King is much more Nor any Grande so great but that the troubles and griefes which attend a King are farre greater He must keepe watch and ward when others securely sleepe His eyes like your shops on worky-dayes must be still open that those of his Subiects may be shut vp and keepe Holy-day And therefore the Egyptians when they would Hieroglyffe a King and by some mystical Cyphers expresse his vigilancy they did put a Scepter in his hand with an eye on the top of it Hee trauels hard when all others take their ease and laugh for he is both Coach and Coach-man He sighs and groanes when others sport and play yet few are they that take pitie of him or are sensible of his sorrowes vnlesse it be for their owne priuate interest Whereas indeed onely for his owne sake and for that generall care that he hath of all he ought of all to be both loued feared and respected Few informe him of the truth for feare of drawing hatred vpō themselues Few if he be in an errour will seeke to put him out of it and they know well inough why and wherefore they let him alone and suffer him to goe on in 't and so doe we too Onely forsooth to put themselues forward and that they may come to mount and soare the higher and the sooner though it bee with waxen wings and must in the end like Icarus come tumbling downe and fall into the Sea where they and their fortunes are to sinke for euer neuer to be seene more But what doe I talke of these transcendencies I diuine nothing They are things out of my element and therefore I will let them alone It is mens foolishnesse and their want of iudgement and discretion as I told you before that leades them thus along deceiued with these vanities to their destruction and of all other most miserable are your great Lords other Noble Gentlemen who spending where they need not fall into need themselues For euen small and slight expences vsed often too abundantly consume the substance their feathers begin to faile them they fall away by one and by one heere lose a principall there a Sarcell and so in the rest so that hauing neuer a sound feather left neither in wing or traine wherewith to maintaine their flight they are called Pelones or Pelados peel'd Gentlemen that haue had their Plumes pluckt Whereupon they are forced to retire themselues home into the Country to liue vpon some poore Farme or other where they must spend their time in breeding of Cattel as Pigs Hens and Chickens and the like reckoning the Egges that are dayly laid making account thereof as of his chiefest liuing Hence therefore I set downe this as a ruled Case That if a rich man will gouerne himselfe he shall neuer be poore And if a poore man will be thriuing he shall quickly be rich Both of them applying themselues in all things according to the time and as they see occasion For it is not alwayes fit for a Gentleman to saue nor for a poore man to spend There are entertainments to be had but such as are rather to be had for intertainment then vndoing Vpon occasion euery man ought to shew himselfe like himselfe according to the meanes that God hath giuen him For to this end hath hee bestowed these his blessings vpon him But not that all men should walke cheeke by ioule foote by foote side by side one with another as if they were all fellowes and no difference of Estates or Persons If a Noble man shall be a great spender let a meaner Gentleman hold his hand and let him not be-foole himselfe to thinke that hee can doe as much with three as the other with thirty He doth not consider that these are abortiue births and things that are out of their naturall course whereby he becomes a by-word and laughing stocke among the people and his wealth being wasted turnes begger and mewes himselfe vp in a corner and dares not be seene That man doth not vnderstand who is not of good ability that he does ill to seeme to be a Cocke before hee be out of the shell and to stretch out his throat as if he would ouer-crow all the world If hee be a Rauen and can but croke at the best why will he offer to sing and put forth his voice Or why when some Flatterer shall tell him that hee hath an excellent ayre and sings exceeding sweetly doth he not perceiue that he onely commends him to make him as it is in the Fable let fall his Cheese and then laugh at him when he ha's done The selfe-same Lesson I reade to all that euery man would learne to know himselfe let him try the temper of his Steele and let him not goe about to fyle iron with a fyle of wood lest hee finde it lost labour And when he heares a man murmure at another let him shut the doore lest another may murmure at him It is fit that wee should all sleepe vpon on foote as the Crane doth when our wealth which is the life of this world lyes vpon it casting about now that all is gone how we may doe that we may not be driuen to steale For to let things runne to waste is not liberalitie but loosenesse And with that which thy Catrer thy Cooke and thy Despensero shall steale from thee and neuer thanke thee for these are your onely three b Cheaters thou maist reward halfe a doozen of thy other Seruants But I speake no more of their theft then others waste for they will all steale all filch ne're a barrell better Herring looke what is vnder their
and those his Guests that he had in the house seeing me come in so vvell accommodated and so well waited on made inquirie of my seruants who I was And they as not knowing any thing but what they heard from my selfe told them That my name was Don Iuan de Guzman Sonne to a principall Gentleman of the house of Toral On the morning very early my Page brought me my cloathes I put them on setting my selfe forth in all my brauest gallantry and after that I had beene abroad and heard Masse I went to visit the Captaine telling him that I was come in search of him to tender my seruice vnto him He receiu'd me with a great deale of courtesie and with a cheerefull looke which vvas no more then my respect vnto him might challenge besides the good fashion that I came to him in and the moneys which I brought along with mee in my purse which were little lesse then a thousand Royals might merit some respect for the rest of the birds were flowne and like Noahs Crow were neuer to returne againe they were spent and gone in gay cloathes in courting of Wenches and in good-fellowship vpon the way He admitted me into his owne Squadron made me sit and eare with him at his owne Table vsing me euermore with much loue and kindnesse In requitall whereof I began to Regalar him and to serue him presenting him still with one thing or other inlarging my hand like a Prince as if I had for euery Tuesday a new payre of eares or were sure to meet wheresoeuer I came vvith another Grocer another Riuer and another Groue of Trees wherein to hide my selfe So fast did I spend my money without feare or vvit threw it away with so prodigall a hand taking ames-Ace against seuen and deux-Ace against eleuen I did so often visit the Drum-head that at last getting little and losing much I was almost quite blowne vp In these kinde of intertainments did I consume my selfe and my time till we vvere to march away And for to fill vp the Company vve were all of vs put into a Church vvhence we came forth one by one and when they came to call me the Pay-Master lookt vpon me in vvhose eye I seemed somewhat too yong insomuch that he durst not inroll me amongst the rest according to the instructions that were giuen him Whereat I grew exceeding angry and was so inflamed with choller that I had much adoe to containe my selfe but was ready to breake forth into passion and to haue lasht out into some liberty of language whereof afterwards I might haue repented my selfe because it might haue forced me to vtter that which would not haue vvell beseemed me nor indeed had beene lawfull for mee to vent considering the time and place O what good cloathes can doe I knew the time when men would kicke me and cuffe me about the cares and could be content to hang my head in my bosome hold my peace and take all patiently But now I made reckning as if all heauen had layne at the stake of that which to speake of was not worth a straw waxing mad with anger Then I began to know by mine owne experience that no Wine can make a man so drunke as the first fit of anger And it much more blindeth the vnderstanding not leauing it any the least light of reason And if that heat should not presently passe away I know not what fiercenesse or brutishnesse may be compared to this furie of ours I did quickly quench this flame and my Hat being come againe to his colour and my choller pacifi'd I said vnto him Sir you that are Pay-Master my yeeres I confesse are few but my courage as great as any mans It is the heart that commands and this arme knowes how to brandish a blade there is bloud and marrow enough in it for to vndertake great matters Hee answered mee very grauely and wisely It may bee so Sir and I doe verily beleeue it and with much more willingnesse then your selfe can speake it but the Order that I haue giuen me in charge is thus and thus wherein if I should exceed my Commission my Purse must soundly pay for it No body shall smart for it but my selfe I knew not what to replie to so faire an Answer though the bloud that boyled in my brest and the colour that shew'd it selfe in my cheekes could not so easily be alaid till my choller were a little better settled My captaine was very sensible of this affront of mine and tooke it as tenderly as if the case had beene his owne For being quitted of my place he was perswaded I should then presently forsake his Companie And taking part with me against the Pay-Master hee was somewhat round with him insomuch that neither of them hauing the patience to beare one with another they grew to high words and much adoe there was This storme was laid the Sea had done roaring their strife was ended and the Company was fully made vp The Captaine came to visit me at my lodging telling me in braue and gallant tearmes how much this griefe of mine did tâ—…ouble him and how sorrie he was for my heauinesse and with honourable both words and promises he gaue me that good satisfaction that I rested very well contented Such force hath Eloquence that as horses suffer themselues to be ruled with good Bridles and bitts so the fierce rage and chollericke humours of men are bridled and gouerned by mannerly reasons and are brought to winde and turne their head-strong wils changing their violent resolutions being easily reduced in the end to a settled pace and are well content to goe forward faire and softly on their way Whereupon albeit I was resolued to leaue him yet notwithstanding his words were so powerfull with me that he stopt me in my course and suddenly tooke me vp when I was in the heat and height of my Carreere Wee continued in this kinde of conuersation a prètie while and a great deale of good talke we had together And if it be not dangerous to speake the truth for feare of being called in question we did murmure and mutine at the small reckning and slight acknowledgement of Soldiers and men of true worth and valour and the base esteeme that was made of militarie discipline and profession of Armes then did we raile at the slight remuneration of Seruices and with how little truth some Ministers did informe the State thereof for their owne proper ends How things are quite out of order and vtterly miscarrie because businesses are not well carried are not in a course that should direct them to a good end euery man tending his particular profit preferring priuate before publike good And though such a one know that another man with a very good zeale and loue to his Countrie doth gouerne his Armie well and lead them on brauely he wrests all hâ—…s good seruices to the worst
thereof vnto the Iustice I vvas brought before him There I opened the case anew as before you haue heard not failing so much as one syllable in the relating of that which I had formerly deliuered The Witnesses were sworne and iustified what they had both seene and heard And in the end the businesse was brought so about that it was concluded the Goldsmith should be seuerely punished But vpon intreaty hee had a brotherly correction and so sent packing And as for me I had my Iewell giuen me in open Court with charge to carry it home to my Master I went with it to his lodging and there in the presence of all his people I deliuered it vnto him There are many that loue treason but few that like the Traitor Well may an ill man by working ill please that ill man that sets him a-worke for the working of his ends But when the deed is done it can not be but that in the brest of that man there is so much mischiefe imprinted and such knowne Characters of Villany written in the fore-head of him that none of those that imploy him will trust him either any farther or longer then they haue vse of him to bring their purposes to passe What I had done did nothing displease my Master At that time he lik't it vvell yet it troubled him somewhat and he could not well tell what to thinke of it These tricks of mine did him good seruice and that he knew well inough but he was afraid both of them and me With these kinde of Cordials I kept my Master in heart till hee came to Genoa where hauing dis-imbarkt and hauing now but little need of my seruice he shifted me off Your Traitors and other such like wicked Villaines are like vnto Vipers or your Scorpions which when you haue taken the substance of that from them which you seeke for you take them and throw them vpon the dunghill Onely they are nourished by all sorts of men especially your Great-ones who make exceeding much of them all the while they vse them as instruments of their pretended ends but those once effected they bid you fare well they will haue no more to doe with you vnlesse it be to vndoe you as you haue others and so let you goe for such a one as you are caring rather to vse then to keepe a Knaue Some few dayes after our arriuall my Master call'd me aside and said vnto me Youth you are now in Italy your seruice will be of little vse to me and your Rogueries may doe me much wrong Heere is some-what for you to helpe you on your iourney dispatch quickly and be gone for you haue free liberty to goe whither you will He gaue me some moneys of small value and some few Spanish Royals all was a matter of nothing scarce worth God a mercy and with this poore pittance I tooke my leaue of him and left him I walked along with my head in my bosome musing in the street as I went on the great force of Vertue which did neuer leaue any man vn-rewarded whereas Vice did neuer suffer any man to escape vvithout punishment and shame I would faine haue spoken then vnto my Master and haue told him that he might be pleased to remember that I had relieu'd him in his wants supplyde his necessities taken a great deale of paines in his seruice to my great cost and hinderance But I thought with my selfe that he would twit me in the teeth with those things and lay them to my charge and that therefore he was the willinger to rid himselfe of me as of a rotten member good for nothing but to infect all the rest And so I rested from that Now seeing in what disgrace I was and hoping to finde out my kindred there I made the lesse reckning of it So I went dayly vp and downe the Citie seeking by that meanes to learne the language which as yet I neither vnderstood nor knew out of the desire that I had to know and to be knowne THE ROGVE OR THE FIRST PART OF THE LIFE OF GVZMAN DE ALFARACHE The third Booke Wherein he treateth of his beggerly course of life and what therein hapned vnto him whilst he was in Italy CHAP. I. Guzman discourseth of Pouertie and of the wrongs and outrages which a poore man indureth As also of Riches and of the honours that are done vnto the Rich As likewise of the naughtinesse of this present world And how not finding his Kindred which he sought for in Genoa he went to Rome and of a iest that was put vpon him before he left that Citie WIth Flatterers no rich man is a foole nor no Poore man wise For they still weare Spectacles of the largest sight by reason whereof things represent them selues far greater then indeed they are It may truly bee called Wealths-Moth and Truths-Worme Flatterie resideth most with the Poore being the greatest enemie that he hath For that Pouertie which is not the Daughter of the Spirit is but the Mother of shame and reproach it is a dis-reputation that drownes all the other good parts that are in man it is a Disposition to all kinde of euill it is mans most Foe it is a Leprosie full of anguish it is a way that leads vnto Hell it is a Sea wherein our Patience is ouerwhelmed our honour is consumed our liues are ended and our soules vtterly lost and cast away for euer The Poore man is a kinde of money that is not currant the subiect of euery idle Huswiues chat the off-scumme of the people the dust of the street first trampled vnder foot and then throwne on the dung-hill In conclusion the Poore man is the Rich mans Asse He dineth with the last fareth of the worst and payeth dearest His Six-pence will not goe so farre as a Rich mans three-pence His opinion is Ignorance His discretion foolishnesse His suffrage scorne His Stocke vpon the Common abused by many and abhorred of all If he come in Companie he is not heard If any chance to meet him they seeke to shunne him If he aduise though neuer so wisely they grudge and murmure at him If he worke Miracles they say he is a Witch If vertuous that he goeth about to deceiue His veniall sinne is a blasphemie His thought is made treason His cause be it neuer so iust it is not regarded and to haue his wrongs righted he must appeale to that other life All men crush him no man fauoureth him There is no man that will relieue his wants No man that will comfort him in his miseries nor no man that will beare him Companie when he is all alone and oppressed with griefe None helpe him all hinder him none giue him all take from him he is Debtour to none and yet must make payment to all O the vnfortunate and poore condition of him that is poore to whom euen the very houres are sold which the Clocke striketh and paies Custome for
I had beene borne with wings at my feet and my body had been sound whole I tooke Villa diego his Breeches and tript away so nimbly that he that had runne Post should hardly haue ouertaken me Hee runnes fast that flies Feare addeth wings and strength thought was not swifter then my flight I bought something by the way to satisfie hunger and for to gaine time I eate as I went and made no stay till I was out of the Citie Where in a Tauerne I call'd for a Cup of Wine where-with I refresht my selfe that I might walke the stronger towards Rome whither I had directed my iourney thinking all the way as I went vpon that grosse scorne whereby they sought to banish me out of Genoa to the end that my pouertie might not disgrace them but I did not remaine their Debtor nor had they any great cause to bragge thereof in the end as you shall see in the second part CHAPTER II. Guzman discourseth of the vnhappinesse greatnesse and commendation of Necessitie and Want And how after hee was gone from Genoa he fell a begging And how keeping Companie with other poore beggers he was instructed by them of their Statutes and Lawes IFled so fast out of Genoa that if Lots wife had but done that which I did she had neuer beene turned into a Pillar of Salt I neuer offred to looke backe my Anger spurd me on and put me vp to the height of my speed for when choller once begins to boyle we hardly feele the wounds that are giuen vs though they be neuer so mortall neuer so deadly Besides by how much the more a man re-bringeth as it were himselfe to himselfe and looketh home into his owne bosome by so much the more hee comes neerer to the recognition and knowledge of his hurt I escaped from the ouerthrow giuen at Ronçes valles como perro con bexiga like a Dog that claps his taile betweene his legs and through too much haste to be gone as farre as his feet will carry him growes sur-bated and stiffe in his ioynts There was not one firme ligament in all the whole Fabricke of my body But I did not much feele it till I came to rest my selfe When I drew neere to a little Village some ten miles off from Genoa where I sate me downe not knowing whither to goe being bruised in my body naked of cloathes without money in my Purse and blacke and blue all ouer as if I had beene beaten with a Cudgell O Necessitie how doest thou abate mans courage How doest thou take off his Metall How doest thou dis-hearten his bodie And howbeit it be true that thou doest sharpen the wit and refine the vnderstanding yet thou destroyest the faculties therof by diminishing and taking off so much from the senses that they are readie to bee flaw'd and crackt in pieces through too much sufferance and that intolerable patience whereunto they be put There are two sorts of Necessitie The one shamelesse and impudent which like an vnmannerly guest comes of it selfe without being called The other which being inuited straines a little curtsie but comes vpon intreatie at the first bidding That which vnrequested bids it selfe God deliuer vs from it And this is that of which I treat This is like a powerfull guest in a poore mans house who out of his greatnesse brings a thousand followers along with him it is that man of Warre wherein a multitude of mischiefes like so many Pyrats stand readie armed wayting to doe hurt It is the framer and plotter of all kinde of trecheries and villanies hard to be indured and worse to be corrected It is that Lucerna Nauis Praetoriae that Lanterne in the Admirals Ship which all couzenages and deceits attend and follow it is the sport of Boyes and children a foolish dance a ridiculous Comedie the sad and direfull Tragedie of honour and of vertue It is fierce foule fantasticke furious fastidious faint facile feeble false only she failes of being a Franciscan And it is a wonder if she afford any other fruit but infamie That other which we bid inuite comes not but when she is called is Lady-like liberall rich franke powerfull affable generous sociable gracious acceptable and welcome to all She leaues vs a full and plentifull house feeds vs at her costs and defraies all recknings she is a firme defence an inexpugnable Tower true riches indeed and good without hurt That Necessitie I say which necessitates it selfe but is not necessitated is the place of perpetuall rest the house of God and the way to heauen It lifteth vp mens mindes it addes strength vnto their bodies it doth innoble their fame it cheereth their hearts it magnifieth their Actions and makes their names immortall Let renowned Cortes her truest Louer sing forth her praises Her legges and feet are of Diamonds her body of Saphires and her countenance of Carbuncles it shineth it cheereth and it quickneth it is full of pleasure lustre and life But that other neighbour of hers lookes like a filthy old sluttish Laundresse where you shall see nothing but a heape of Spittle ragges full of matter'd stuffe and the soiles of vlcerous sores which no eye is able to indure it is so loathsome to looke vpon and therefore with a great deale of reason abhorred of all Behold and view me well for I am one of those with whom Necessitie fell in loue she neuer left following me but kept me company at bed and at boord liuing in deadly sinne by being bound to seeke out meanes to maintaine her And to this end she made me studie the Briâ—…iatick Art This was the course I ran I was to day in one place and to morrow in another begging an almes of all that I met with It is fit that we should giue euery man his due And therefore I must confesse vnto thee that there is much charitie vsed in Italy and indeed so much that this new Trade that I had betaken my selfe vnto made me loth to leaue it I found so much sweetnesse in it For in a few daies I grew flush and able to make wing to maintaine my flight So that from Genoa whence I came till I saw Rome where I stayd I performed all that Voyage without spending so much as one farthing The money that was giuen I kept that whole and intire and for victuals I had euer sufficient and more then would serue my turne I was yet but a Nouice and therefore threw that away many times to the dogges which afterwards when I had more iudgement I fold for money which brought me in no small gaines I had a great minde as soone as I came thither to put my selfe into new cloaths that I might be some-what againe like my selfe but this counsell of mine me thought was not so good and therefore repenting my selfe of it I said thus with my selfe Friend Guzman take heed lest
is inlarged And questionles so much the more by how much he knows that he hath ability to do it is not afraid that he shall euer want If wee be willing therefore to doe that which he did for so did he with vs let vs take as much pleasure to giue as it would grieue vs at the heart to aske And those towards whom Gods hand hath beene so franke and liberall and hauing made them which likewise is another particular gift of his of a noble minde if they finde themselues oppressed with want and depriued of these their worldly goods they will rather indure any misery whatsoeuer then begge of another to relieue their wretched estates These are the men of whom there is great pittie to be had and these the whole world ought to relieue with a full hand For by this it is knowne who does them friendship and shewes them any kindenesse when seeing them in necessitie they succour them before they craue their helpe For if they should be put to that push and be driuen to sue vnto them they will neither giue nor lend them It is a debt which they pay them and yet put it forth to Vsurie with aduantage This is a friend indeed which succours his friend in time of need And this I call succour when I concurre and run along with him It becomes me to giue but beseemes not him to aske I am to runne equall fortunes with him I must keepe an euen pace with him neither be too farre behinde him nor too much before him If I haue entertained thee too long in this subiect and haue not giuen thee satisfaction pardon my ignorance and accept my good will So that the libertie of crauing is permitted only to the poore And in this we are equall with Kings and Princes whose particular priuiledge it is to demaund Subsedies and Ayde-money which is no basenesse in them howsoeuer it may be in others But the difference is that Kings craue of the Commons for the Common good and for to supply their necessarie occasions But the poore for themselues only out of an euill custome which they haue gotten That other Priuiledge which I told you of is that of the fiue Senses Who is he now adaies in the world that with larger licence and freer libertie doth inioy them then the poore man or with greater securitie or more content Who doth so thorowly and so feelingly taste them as he And because I haue named the word Taste I will begin first with that There is not that pot which we doe not skimme nor that meat which wee doe not proue nor that banquet wherein wee haue not a share Whither did that poore man euer come that the house that deny'd him to day did not giue him to morrow He runnes thorow all mens houses hee begs of them all and he tastes of all and he is best able to say which house hath the best meat and the best drest For the Hearing Who heares more then the poore man doth For being dis-interessed in all kinde of things none are iealous that hee should heare them in the open streets in priuate houses in publike Churches in the Market-place and in euery place euery man treats freely of his businesse without any suspition of him though the matter be neuer so important Sleeping besides a nights vpon some bulke or stall in the streets what musicke haue they bestowed vpon them which we heare not What Loue-tricks are they priuy to which we know not Nothing is kept secret from such poore beggerly Rascals as we bee And for publike affaires we haue by a thousand parts better intelligence then all the world besides For we heare that treated of in more parts then all men else besides put all together For your seeing likewise how freely may we inioy it without being noted nor aske vs the question why we gaze vpon them nor offer to hinder vs from looking here or looking there How often haue I accused and condemned my selfe when begging in the Church mine eye hath beene wandring and rouing about and chuckt and hugg'd my selfe with the delight and pleasure that I haue taken therein Or to speake downe-right English and to declare my selfe more plainely feeding mine eyes greedily on those Angelicall faces of your finest Ladyes whose Louers did not dare to looke vpon them for feare of being noted all which was freely permitted vnto vs. For matter of smelling Who can smell better then we who are called by the name of Smell-Feasts Besides if any smell bee so much the better by how much it is the more profitable to vs our owne Amber and our owne Muske is better and truer then all the rest which is a cloue of Garlicke which ordinarily we neuer goe without as being a Preseruatiue against all contagious corruption whatsoeuer And if we be desirous of any other odours we then get vs to the corner of some one street or other where these things are commonly sold and there we satisfie our sense of smelling with the sweet perfume of Ierkins and of Gloues some ciuited and some powdred that are there laid out for show till the dust and powder of them come flying into our eyes and our nostrils Will you happely say that the sense of Touching is wanting vnto vs And that neuer any good thing came yet to our hands Lament your ignorance What such difference I pray is there betwixt pouertie and beautie Wee poore beggers touch and handle as good ware as the rich and inioy as prettie Commoâ—…ties but all men doe not vnderstand this Mysterie There be some poore men which for all their beggerie and pouertie maintaine such a handsome Doxy as many a greâ—…t rich man woulâ—… be glad to inioy with all his heart And yet she had rather haue this poore man that doth truly pay her her Tribute and is not wanting vnto her in his loue then a rich man that shall defame and misuse her And how often haue some women giuen mee an almes with their owne hand I know not what others haue done but I out of my youth would make bold to take hold of hers with mine and in a kinde of deuout acknowledgement would neuer let it goe till I had kist it But these are but toyes to speake of and meere fooleries but aboue all these things the taste the sight smelling hearing and touching the chiefest and truest of all the fiue Senses put them all together was that of those ruddy cheeks of your golden Ruddocâ—…s your Spanish Pistolets your plumâ—… and fulfac't Portuguse and your cleere-skinn'd pieces of eight of Castile which we kept secret to our selues and did priuately inioy in a plentifull manner For to haue them for to pay them away is not to inioy them To inioy them is to haue them lying by vs. hauing no other need of them then to vse them for the cleering of the eye sight and the comforting
then be before handwith Death and I shall not be put to indure that brunt another time What can I doe more vnfortunate man as I am I was borne into the world here I must suffer patience must be my best comfort shuffle the Cardes therefore anew and see whether we shall haue any better lucke For my rest is vp and the care is already taken While I was thus doubtfull what would become of me the couetousnesse of these Surgeons and their greedinesse of gaine opened the doore to my remedie The one of them who was better experienced then the other came to know at last that this sore was a counterfeit sore and that by the signes and Symptomes of it it proceeded from the effects of that very selfe-same Herbe which I had vsed But this he kept close to himselfe telling his fellow This flesh is canker'd all ouer and therefore it is necessarie that to hinder it from spreading any farther and that other new flesh may come vp in its place to cut it all away to the quicke and then there was no doubt of the well curing of it The other said vnto him This cure will aske a great deale of time all this filthy matter must be taken away till we come to the very belly as it were wherein the very pith and Core of it lies before we can well tell what to say to it Howsoeuer we haue here a faire occasion offred to shew our skill and to picke out something of it for the better passing ouer of this hard yeere He that was the more expert man of the two tooke the other by the hand and led him forth aside into a withdrawing roome that ioyned close to the chamber I when I saw them thus goe forth together suspecting some secret consultation I stole me out of my bed after them that I might listen to their talke and it was my hap at last to heare the one of them say to the other Master Doctor I doe thinke be it spoken vnder correction that your Worship doth not rightly and truly vnderstand this young mans maladie for you shall seldome meet with the like kinde of cures and there is scarce one of a hundred when they doe meet with them that doth know them oâ—… can tell what to make of them yet shall I acquaint you with what I know we are Partners in this businesse and therefore I will hide nothing from you but it is a great secret that I haue to communicate vnto you What for Gods sake said the other I shall tell you sir and with that he said This begger is a notable dissembling Rogue a subtill Villaine these sores that you see are feigned ware counterfeit stuffe What shall we doe in this case Let me be aduised by you If we leaue him off thus the bird will escape our hands and so we shall lose both the credit and profit of this Cure If take vpon vs to cure him we haue no cure to worke vpon and then this Rascall will befoole vs and laugh at our ignorance and if we cannot one way or other come off fairely to our best aduantage the beâ—… course will be in my opinion to acquaint the Cardinall how the case standeth and what a countâ—…feit Knaue we haue vnder our hands No sir said the other I hold not that so fit Let vs hold the Bird fast while we haue him it is a lesse euill that vpon this young fellow that is no better then a Picaro and an errant Rogue we should gaine vs a â—…ittle reputation and come off with some good opinion then to let slip so fine and so faire an occasion Let vs therefore take no notice of these his counterfeit sores but rather lay some Playsters thereunto that may entertaine and delay the time And if need be we shall afterwards apply some Corrosiues that shall eate into the sound flesh in the cure whereof we will spend some few daies Nay then quoth the other the best way will be Sir as I take it to begin first with fire cauterizing that part which appeares thus infected Now which of these two remedies they should first begin withall as also how they were to share the gaines betweene them a great quarrell there was they could not agree vpon the point for he that first found out the nature of my sore would haue the greater share or else he would acquaint the Cardinall with the whole businesse When I saw vpon what they stucke and that it was a matter of little or no moment and that vpon their difference which was occasioned by my miserable pouertie I might runne the hazzard of my vtter ruine I rusht in betweene them and throwing my selfe downe at their feet I said thus vnto them Gentlemen on your hands and tongues depends my life or death my remedy or my ruine From my hurt no good can come to you but from my good you may reape assured both profit and credit I know you are not ignorant of the necessitie and want which the poore suffer and of the hardnesse of rich mens hearts insomuch that to mooue them to the more compassion and the easilier to get an Almes from them we are inforced to wound our flesh with these kinde of sores and martyrdomes induring much trouble and suffering much paine yet neither these nor greater miseries that we abide are of power to preuaile with them It were a great mis-fortune in others to indure that out of necessitie which wee willingly suffer for that poore and miserable maintenance which we draw from thence I beseech you for Gods sake to take pitie on me seeing that you are men that runne through the troublesome street of this world and are made of flesh and blood as well as my selfe and that which hath driuen me to this hard exigent may likewise light vpon your selues Doe not I beseech you bewray me worke your will vpon me and wherein I may serue and helpe you I will not be wanting to do as you will haue me and in all things to be so ruled by you that you may gaine much by this your cure You may be confident of me and trust me as you would your owne liues for if there were no other meanes to make me sure vnto you the feare of mine owne punishment is sufficient of it selfe to binde me to be secret Nor let not the respect of gaine restraine your kindnesse for it is better to get then to lose We are three of vs let vs all play booty and ioyne together to coozen the Cardinall for he is rich and something is better then nothing These intreaties seasoned with a few teares and vttered with that earnestnesse as I deliuered them vnto them were sufficient to make them approue of my counsell and so much the rather for that they saw that I had hit the nayle right on the head Wherewith they were so well pleased that they were ready for ioy to take me vp vpon their shoulders
that like the Prodigall sonne I would willingly haue returned home and beene content with all my heart to be one of the meanest mercenary seruants in my Lords house But such was my misfortune that he was now dead and gone Beaten with the rod of affliction I began to be humbled and was fully resolued to turne ouer a new leafe and betake my selfe to a better course of life but it was all too late I came a day after the faire And fit it is that he that will not when he may when he would he should haue nay And it stands with very good reason Que pierda por el mal quâ—…rer el bien poder That throught the badnesse of will we should lose the goodnesse of power There went the distance of some two moneths betweene my good and bad fortune And if I had beene a stay'd and well-gouern'd Youth as I had a running head and a giddy braine the least good that could haue befalne me would haue beene though the meanest of his seruants an honest prouision during my life and might haue runne the venture of some better fortune But seeing it fell out as it did yet must we thanke God as well for the bad as the good I cannot say that my malignant Starre was the cause thereof but that mine owne euill inclination was the worker of my woe For the starres non compellunt sed inclinant they incline but not constraine They make men apt but they doe not coact Some ignorant fooles sticke not to say O Sir Destinie is not to be auoyded That which shall be shall be And it is in vaine to striue against it I tell thee my friend it is a vaine thing to say so and thou doest not vnderstand the truth thereof aright for there is no necessitie that it is or should be so it is thou thy selfe that mak'st it so to be In these Morall and outward things thou hast a kinde of free-will conferred vpon thee whereby thou maist if thou wilt gouerne both thy selfe and thy actions Thy starre cannot constraine thee nor all the heauens ioyned together with all the force and power that they haue cannot compell thee against thy will It is thou that forcest thy selfe to leaue what is good and to apply thy selfe to that which is euill following thy dishonest desires whence these thy crosses and calamities come vpon thee I was now entred into the seruice of the French Embassadour with whom my Lord who is now in glory held strict amitie who in his life-time tooke likewise great pleasure in my witty iests and merry conceits He would faine haue had me serue him before but he was loth to intertaine mee lest it might be taken vnkindly to receiue another mans seruant considering the good loue and friendship that was betweene them Well I was now with him and he vs'd me well but with a different end For my Lord directed his actions to the profit and benefit of my person but he onely for his owne priuate ends and the pleasure which he tooke in my ierkes of wit the merry tales that I would tell him and the pleasing messages that I should bring him now and then from those his Ladies and Mistresses to whom he made loue He did settle me in no set place or office about him I was his seruant at large and he as largely paid me For either hee would giue me my paiment himselfe or else I my selfe would take it in his presence with some pleasant iest or other or to speake more plainely I was his chiefe Minion and Fauorite though it pleased some to call me his Buffone Iester When we had any guests as we seldome or neuer wanted wee were very complementall with them and waited punctually vpon them our eyes still attending on theirs but if they were either impudent foolish or troublesome guests which came thither vnbidden vpon such as these we would put a thousand iests Some we would make to sit all dinner time without drinke that you would haue thought that they had been so many Melones sowne in a dry ground to others we would giue very little and that in pinching glasses some had their Wine ouer-watered other-some ouer-warme without any snow When they were ready to eate their meat we would take away their Plates from them and set some salt-meats before them ill seasoned with a little oyle that was none of the best We would dayly inuent new deuices to abuse their palates that they might take dislike and come there no more It hapned once vpon a time that an English-man claiming kindred of the Embassador and it being a common custome with him to come dayly to our house my Master grew weary of him for besides that hee was not his kinsman he was neither Noble in his bloud nor indued with good qualities and aboueall in his conuersation full of impertinencies that it was a kind of captiuitie to keepe conuersation with him There are a certaine kinde of men that a mans heart will rise against them and grow into a dislike of them though he neuer saw them before And againe there are another sort of men that will steale thereinto and thrust themselues into our affection and good liking vpon the first sight winning our good will from vs and procuring our best wishes this either hatred or loue not being in the hands of the one or the power of the other But this was a meere lumpe of Lead a man of no metall in the world a dull and heauy piece of flesh in a word a meere block-head One night when they were newly set at supper hee began to lay open his vanitie with telling a thousand lyes one vpon the necke of another wherewith the Embassador was much offended and not being able to suffer such a one to goe on in his fooleries he spake to me in Spanish which the other vnderstood not and said vnto me Would I could bee rid once of this foole for I am as weary of him as euer I can be He did not speake this to a Dolt or an Asse I had his meaning in the winde Whereupon I tooke my friend to taske I followed him with salt-meats that were smart and sharpe and left behinde them a kinde of tartnesse or tang vpon the tongue wherewith being bitten he call'd for his coolers which he tooke almost faster then I could fill them The wine that he gulped downe was the gulph that swallowed him vp The glasse vvas great his draughts answerable and those often and this powder tooke so well that at last he was powdred vvith a vvitnesse and quite blowne vp When I saw he had yeelded himselfe prisoner to his pots and that hee was aboue one and thirty being many peepes out I tooke off one of my Garters and knit a sliding knot vpon the instep of one of his feete and fastened it vnto the stoole whereon he sate And when the Table vvas taken away and
and thirst with that little pittance which was rather a drop then a draught he passed therewith as well as he could till dinner was done We that were Pages hauing conspired alltogether not to looke him any more in the face while he was eating lest he should speake againe vnto vs by signes to giue him more drinke and so binde vs to bring it vnto him But he was an old beaten Souldier and knew well how to vse the weapon of his wit and being too hard for vs did likewise beat vs from this ward which we thought had beene too sure a one to bee put from For when hee had fill'd his belly and well satisfied himselfe and that the last course was serued in And your Lordship will giue me leaue quoth he I will now goe drinke And so rising vp from boord remouing his stoole from him he went to the Court-Cupboord and taking from thence the biggest Glasse that was there he powr'd forth as much Wine and Water as himselfe thought fit and hauing quenched his thirst putting off his hat and making a legge to his Lordship got him out of the roome and so went his way without speaking any one word or other My Lord was ready to burst with laughing to see how hee had put me beside my tricke and after that he had wondred awhile at the resolution and boldnesse of this fellow he said vnto me Guzmanillo this Souldier sauours somewhat of thee and thy countrie where all is carried away with Brauados and an impudent kinde of behauiour Now whilst we were talking at table of the libertie and free kinde of carriage which the Spaniards assume vnto themselues there was newly come into the house a Gentleman of Naples who had no sooner saluted my Lord but he told him that he was purposely come vnto his Lordship to acquaint him with one of the cruellest and strangest accidents that hath hapned in these our times which now very lately fell out in Rome The Embassadour intreated him to relate it vnto him And that I might the better heare it I did deferre taking away and brought him a Chayre wherein when he was set he thus began to speake In this Citie there dwelt a young Gentleman of the age of twenty or one and twenty yeeres more noble in bloud then rich in wealth He had a goodly presence he was vertuous able actiue and in his owne person very valiant This Gentleman fell in loue with a Damsell a young Gentlewoman here in Rome about the age of seuenteene being wonderfull both faire and honest they were both equall in state and condition but more in their good will and loue to each other For if the one did loue the other did burne His name was Dorido hers Clorinia Her Parents bred her vp so retiredly that they did not suffer her to treate or conuerse with any from whence any danger might arise vnto her neither did she so much as shew her selfe at the Window and did seldome looke out vnlesse it were by chance For such was the excesse of her beauty that it was able to be a loadstone to draw all the youthfull Nobilitie of Rome to desire her loue Her Parents and one only brother that she had were very iealous of her honour insomuch that these two Louers could not inioy each other as they would True it is that Clorinia as one that was truly in loue could by no meanes be hindred from shewing her selfe to Dorido as oft as he past that way For neere adioyning to her owne Window there was another of a friend of hers who for that she was marryed might with more liberty stand there when she was disposed so to do And for that she had acquainted her with her loue as often as Dorido past that way she would giue her some signe or token thorow a little hole that they had made of purpose in a partition Wall that was betweene them whereupon she would presently make haste to the Window to see him And so receiued from her Louer that short yet full content which the couetousnesse and strictnesse of those times could afford This continued thus a good while for other comfort had they none then what they tooke in this fugitiue pleasure seeing each other only in transitu as he past along the street which like a shadow was as soone gone as seene But Dorido impatient of this poore content and desirous to improue these fauours he receiued from her sought meanes how he might with more conueniencie inioy so sweet a sight seeing he might not be permitted to proceed any further Whereupon he began to enter into a strict league of amitie with her brother whose name was Ualerio into whose friendship he had wrought himselfe with that fastnesse and feruour that Ualerio could not liue without Dorido Which was an occasion that moued him many times to carry him home with him to his house wishing him to be Master thereof and to make as bold therewith if he wanted any thing as if it were his owne and to command it with the same freenesse So that by this meanes he had both liberty and leisure to contemplate the diuine beautie of his dearest Loue. With these baytes their loues were led along gaining still more ground and gathering more strength vnto them manifesting more and more their loues by their lookes But Clorinia being the weaker of the two and peraduenture more inflamed opened her minde to a maide of hers called Scintila who desirous to doe her Mistresse seruice went to seeke out Dorido whom when she had met with she said thus vnto him Dorido it is bootlesse to dissemble the businesse any longer it is now no time to hide thy selfe from me for it is not vnknowne vnto me what good liking there is betwixt you and my Mistresse and what good loue yee make each to other And that you may see that I doe not goe about to deceiue you my Mistresse her selfe hath reuealed so much vnto me intreating me that I would be a meanes to lay open her heart vnto you and to signifie vnto you how much she loues you and for farther declaration thereof hath by mee sent you this greene silke Riband as a hopefull token desiring you for her sake that you will honour her so much as to weare it about your arme I assure my selfe you are perswaded that it comes recommended vnto you from her owne hand for that your selfe haue seene it many a time hang in the dressing of her hayre So that from hence-forward you may rest confident of my faithfulnesse towards you so great is the desire that I haue to doe you seruice When Dorido heard this it strooke amazement into him neither did he seeme to like well of it for that he had neuer any great good conceipt of this Wench as being iealous of her discretion not holding her to be a fit instrument for a businesse of that great trust and consequence as this was fearing
lest their loues might through her weaknesse come to be discouered But seeing there was no other remedie and that it was Clorinias owne Act and none of his he dissembled his dislike and in the best manner that he could made shew vnto her in how much he did esteeme this her loue and seruice and how ready he would be vpon all occasions to deserue this her free and voluntary offer Some few dayes being past and Dorido's desire increasing to speake face to face with his Mistresse and finding no meanes how to doe it Loue that can ouercome all difficulties and make those things facill that seeme almost impossible opened a way thereunto shewing the meanes vnto him whereby he might come to compasse his desire There was fastened to the Wall of that house where Clorinia dwelt which butted on the open street a piece of an old Wall whereof the one halfe was falne downe and runne into decay being scarce so high as to reach vp to the Window belonging to the house and a little beneath that was a hole stopt vp with a moueable stone that might be taken out and put in againe at pleasure This did serue Clorinia sometimes in stead of a Lattice viewing thorow it without being seene those that did passe to and fro in the street This was well knowne to Dorido for that he had often seene his Mistresse peeping out at that hole This opportunitie seemed to be fauourable to his desire whereupon he brake with Scintila and intreated her that she would stand his friend telling her Since Scintila my good fortune hath beene such that I haue found you well affected to our Loues and willing to pleasure me all that you can and to afford me your best furtherance therein I will not refuse to put my selfe into your hands assuring my selfe that you wil alwayes and in all things haue that care which the loue you beare to your Mistresse and the desire you haue to doe me any courtesie doth oblige you vnto You know that since the time that I surrendred vp my soule to Clorinia and put her into the possession of my heart making her the true Lord and Owner both of it and of my life I haue got no other thing thereby saue a correspondencie of affection expressed only by lookes hauing as yet no other interpreters of our mindes but the eyes and all for lacke of better commoditie and more fit and conuenient meanes Which the more I am debarr'd of the more it augmenteth my desire For euermore priuation ingendreth appetite Now there is a thing come into my head how by your good helpe my desire may rest honestly satisfied You cannot but know the hole that is vnderneath the Window this must be the place and thou the instrument of my good fortune Thou shalt speake vnto Clorinia intreating her as from me that she will be pleased to correspond with me in this my iust request and in case she should refuse as not daring out of feare to venture so farre thou mayst then labour to perswade with her and so guide and rule her will to be brought to yeeld to this so easie a condition and that this night seeing that the darknesse thereof is so much our friend when all the people of the house shall be a bed and asleepe she will be pleased but to speake with me at that hole As for any other thing I neither intreat it nor pretend it This suite seemed to Scintila very easie and without any danger in the world she puts him in good hope promises him to sollicite it till shee had effected it she comply'de with her obligation and pointed him the houre when he should come giuing him a certaine signe what he should doe when he came to the Window Dorido when night was come disguising himselfe went to the place appointed where he stood waiting for a good occasion When all those of the house were sure and safe enough as sleepe could make them Scintila went to the Window and opened it taking occasion to throw out a little water Which being seene by Dorido who had got vpon the Wall standing there to wayte a good houre and knowing that it was Scintila he said softly vnto her Here I am Shee willed him to stay awhile and shutting the Window in she goes Doridos heart in the meane while fell a leaping in his bosome beating and thumping thereat as if it had sought to get out being ready to burst with desire inflamed with the fire of loue fearefull of the various successe of things lest some crosse accident might interpose it selfe betwixt him and this his glory whereunto he was now so neere studying with himselfe what vvords he were best to vse vnto her and in what kinde of phrase he should begin his Court-ship His thoughts ranne through a thousand seuerall things and his eyes were neuer off from that hole looking as faâ—…e there-into as that ill-placed stone would permit him He might one while heare Clorinia talking with Scintila another vvhile with her father and mother now perceiue how shee rose from the place where she sate and by and by againe past to and fro one while to this another to that side of the house till that her Parents being abed I saw her approching to the place appointed whither she came so troubled such a conflict was there betwixt Loue and Shame Modestie and Affection that she was about to goe backe But inforced there-vnto by Scintila at last she came Now when they were come to this inter-view and saw themselues thus happily met together Dorido was so transported therewith that although he had premeditated before-hand what he would say vnto her he was strucken quite dumbe and had not a word to say And she no lesse trembling not hauing any by in that coniuncture which might giue breath either to the one or the other to bring them to pronounce but so much as one word either good or bad at last by little and little when their frozen tongues had recouered a little warmth they made a shift to exchange some few words on both sides where-with they saluted each other Dorido intreated her hand and she willingly gaue it him he tooke it and kist it againe and againe blessing and stroking his face therewith neuer suffering it to depart from his mouth After he had thus taken his pleasure of her faire hand he stretcht forth his to her pleasing his touch with the delicate softnesse of her beautifull countenance vnable to enioy any other pleasure nor could that place and time affoord him any farther content In this sweet exchange of mutuall loue they intertained themselues a great while And whilest their hands did speake themselues were silent For the talke of the one did hinder the speech of the other And because Scintila made haste to part them for feare of being discouered if they should dwell any longer vpon these complementall kindnesses Dorido with many indearings of his loue tooke leaue of
if they shall not render them all fitting and conuenient thankes But they fall as short of these good things as they doe excell in all filthy and beastly vices vvherein they striue to exceede and be counted the onely men As was to be seene in a certaine Noble-man that was exceedingly giuen to Lying and lash out so vnreasonably in that kinde as no man could outstrip him who one day talking in conuersation vvith diuers other Gentlemen of qualitie told them that hee had killed a Stagge bearing so many branches or antlets on his head that it did plainely appeare to bee a Lye though hee carried it very handsomely They all admired it they said but not gaine-said it that it was one of the strangest things that euer was seene or heard of This lik't the Noble-man well But whilest he and the rest were thus wondring at it Why quoth an ancient Gentleman a neere kinsman of his that was there then in company after a pretty kinde of fashion bringing it forth doth your Lordship and these Gentlemen make such a vvonder at this This is nothing my Lord For vvithin these few dayes I my selfe did kill one in the same Forrest that had two more then this that you talke of When hee heard him say so the Noble-man blest himselfe saying It is not possible and looking angerly vpon him scorning as it should seeme to be out-lyde said vnto him Sir speake no more of this tell it no farther for it is such a thing as was neuer yet seene nor will I for my part euer beleeue it though I hold it a courtesie so to doe The Gentleman with a sterne countenance and vndaunted courage his Age and Alliance heartening him on in a discomposed kinde of voice boldly brake forth and told him Zwounds my Lord me thinkes your Lordship should content your selfe that you haue sixty thousand crownes a yeere comming in more then I without seeking to out-strip me in Lying as you doe in Liuing Let me I pray though I am a poore man lye as I list I begge nothing of you nor any man else nor doe I rob any man either of his wealth or his honour There are likewise a certaine kinde of witty-conceited fellowes that are naturally simple and ignorant from whose mouth oftentimes drop mysticall sayings and worthy the consideration which God it seemes permits them to bolt forth now and then making them also to keepe in such things as are fit to be silenced who though simple as they seeme haue an extraordinarie grace in the deliuering of them Which happinesse lighted vpon one that was a simple ignorant fellow from his cradle in whom one of the greatest Princes in Christendome tooke much pleasure who for some secret causes best knowne to himselfe had discarded one of his grauest and chiefest Ministers And this simple fellow comming one day into his presence which was shortly after the other was dismist the Court hee was no sooner entred in but the King askt him What newes in Court Hee told him That his Maiestie had done very ill in putting N. D. away And that it was without any reason or iustice in the world The King imagined that cause hauing beene iustified by many other of his Ministers that this had proceeded simply out of his owne mouth and told him Thou speakest thus for him because perhaps he was thy friend not that thou hast heard any man else say so besides The Foole replyd My friend In faith thou lyest Thou art more my friend then he I say nothing but what all men say The King was offended that any should dare to question his actions or to examine his brest And being desirous to know if any man of worth had presumed so farre to trench vpon what he had done He replyde and said Since thou professest that so many haue said it and that thou art my friend name one of those vnto me of whom thou hast heard this complaint The Foole paus'd vpon the matter And when the King thought that hee had beene calling to memory whom he should name vnto him hee angerly made answer The blessed Trinitie told it me Now see which of these three persons thou darest apprehend and punish The King thereupon thought that it was a businesse of heauen and so forbore to speake any more of it There are another kinde of pleasant Companions which are good for nothing else but to dance to play vpon Instruments to sing to murmure to blaspheme to swagger to lye and to deuoure victuals good drinkers and bad liuers And of these some are only good at one of these qualities other some at all Wherein some great ones take such delight that they shall haue what they will of them doing them many extraordinary graces and fauours which is a most grieuous sinne To these and only for these Iigges they giue Iewels of great value rich suits of cloathes and hand-fuls of gold which is more then they will doe for a wise vertuous and honest seruant which shall treate with them of the ordering of their Estates and Persons illustrating their names and honouring their house with glorious Titles But rather when it so falleth out that these come vnto them about matters of importance and which neerely concerne them they reiect them and will not be aduised by them Your Presidents Gouernours Counsellors and euery other Officer in Court or that haue ought to doe in the Palace being greedy of honour and blinded with passion if they bee called to speake their opinion they often say that in publike which their owne priuate opinion approues not though it be neuer so good because they conceiue that in so doing they shall conforme theirs to that of their Lord and Master and so mannerly seeme to runne along in the pleasing of his humour As also for that it would grieue them to the very heart that another should get the start of them in gaining their Princes grace and fauour from them So that many are not admitted thereunto for that they had not this trumpe in their hand and would not play the like tricks these getting more by their foule then they by their faire play By reason whereof many things remaine without remedie and redresse and great businesses often-times ouerthrowne And if consultation shall be had of such things whereof great profit may redound to themselues or to the State they will tell the Author thereof coldly and dryly because they will neither thanke him nor reward him Wee knew this before but there are a thousand inconueniences in it But cursed be those Counsellours who because they were not the first in deliuering that sound opinion in such a businesse blame the Author thereof and carried away with the winde of their vanitie and greedinesse of gaine send him away empty but vsing them first as Apothecaries doe their Simples who first distill or pund them in a Morter and when they haue squeez'd all the iuyce and wrung
to this Chop-loch with his finger said vnto him Anton Berrocal giue me my Pig and take you here your Asse But that this may be proued that truly by some President of these present times wherein we liue There was in Salamanca a principall Doctor of the Chayre one of the famousest and grauest Aduocates in all that Vniuersitie that often visited for his entertainment a certaine Gentlewoman that had profest her selfe a Nunne very faire she was well descended and wonderfull discreet And he being inforced to absent himselfe from thence for some few dayes he went his way without taking his leaue of her thinking that he had now attained to the perfection of his loue and that there was no need of these finenesses and niceties betweene them Afterwards when he was returned from his iourney hee vvent as he was vvont to visit her But vvhen hee saw that she would not admit of his Visit hee became very pensiue and sad there-vpon because hee could not imagine what should bee the cause of this sudden strangenesse hauing alwayes heretofore shew'd her selfe very kinde and louing vnto him But when hee came by some diligences that he had vsed to know the reason of it he was vvonderfull well contented therewith it seeming vnto him that this in some sort was rather a kinde of grace and fauour of hers theâ—… otherwise Well he sent vnto her to excuse himselfe earnestly intreating her that he might bee so much beholding vnto her as to see her vsing therein the meanâ—… of such Ladies and Gentlewomen as were friends to them both At last through much importunitie fore against her will she came forth to receiue his Visit but with that anger and disdaine that she could not containe her selfe but must needs shew it for the very first words that she let fly at him were these Base and ill-nurtur'd as thou art for such base thoughts argue no lesse then basenesse of bloud which is confirmed by thy vngentlemanly proceeding whereof to thy shame thou hast made too open show For hauing thy being as it were from me and for my sake and hauing come thereby vnto that height wherein now thou art forgetting all the good I haue done thee and all the charge that I haue beene at to qualifie thee and put thee forward in the world thou hast lost all that due respect and thankefulnesse which I deserued at thy hands but since the fault vvas mine in raising thee it is no maruell that mine should be the punishment To these she added many other more sharpe and bitter words so that the poore Gentleman being dasht quite out of countenance because many were there present when she vs'd him thus coursely and gaue him such a sound rattling incensed with the excesse of this her rigour he made her this short and cutted reply Gentlewoman touching this complaint of yours be it with or without any iust cause I will not stand to dispute it And for your accusing of my vn-mannerly proceeding let that likewise passe For Cada vno siente como ama Euery man best knowes how and how much he loues And I acknowledge that all this ariseth from the many and great fauours that you haue been pleased to conferre vpon me But whereas you touch mee in my reputation being forced there-vnto by you it is fit and necessary that therein I should satisfie those that are heere present I must be so bold with you as to tell you plainely That since God hath been pleased to raise me to that I am I come not thereto either by corruption or fauour but by mine owne great paines and continuall studies haue I procured my preferment She then interrupting him and not suffering him to goe on returned him but with a great deale of choller this quicke answere Thou lyest like a Villaine Thou rise by thy learning Thou had'st not come to that great knowledge that thou hast nor hadst euer had so much wit as to learne to mend so much as an old shoo if I had not put spirit into thee quickned thy wit and perfected thy vnderstanding by giuing thee leaue to make loue vnto me This whetstone put an edge vpon thy dull sconce and but for this thou might'st haue sunke and neuer beene able to lift vp thy head By this then wee may see how much it may import a man to loue and that it is not so great a fault as some would make it Mistake mee not I meane when the ends are good and honest But in my Master it was taken in the worfer part for his ends did exceed and passe their bounds and the blame of all that ill was laid vpon me euery man conceiuing that I was the cause thereof Complaining that since I came to serue him I had opened his scull and put into his head nothing but Hawkes-bels and Rattles All that he tooke delight in were merry tales idle iests and the like vanities which till then he had neuer formerly been giuen vnto It might very well be that with my heate I might cause some buds or little sprigs to sprout forth But for to speake the truth seeing the Parties are not heere to be examined and I am the man whom they thus accuse I assure you that others had the handling of him before that wrought him this harme For when I entred into his seruice and that hee caâ—…e to put his cure into my hands the Physicians despayred of his recouerie and had giuen him quite ouer and would haue no more to doe with him I vvill not deny but that I might minister much thereof vnto him for by reason I was in such fauour with him I had likewise the freedome to vse many odde foolish iests and preiudiciall liberties of speech I was familiarly acquainted with all Rome I had as free accesse into euery house as into our owne excusing my pretensions that I onely repaired to such and such places to giue lessons to some to sing to the Gitterne and teach other some to dance I did intertaine your young Wenches in good conuersation with merry and pleasant iests and your widdowes with whispering tales in their eares and entring into a league of friendship with your married men I got likewise the good will of their Wiues to whom they would bring mee to laugh and make sport wherewith they were well pleased for the good contentment they tooke in my harmelesse mirth And all this I did to the end that from this good ground my Master might take occasion to declare and open himselfe more freely to me For I relating vnto him what and how things passed abroad it was an easie matter for me to kindle with the breath of my words the fire that was in his heart by blowing first away the ashes from off those coales that were already throughly tinded aliue and very quicke within him He was in a good disposition there-vnto and therefore any the least occasion would serue the turne He was a kinde
Don Luys de Castro vvas first to beginne and thus hee proceeded It may bee my Lord Constable that other Louers in the recounting of their misfortunes goe painting and setting of them forth with feined sorrowes Hyperbolicall amplifications such delicacie of phrase and tendernesse of words to worke compassion that with the smoothnesse of their stile and the meltingnesse of their language they moue many to pitie and of these in this kinde much hath been written But that really and truely stript naked of all kinde of dressing and the neat cloathing of eloquence there should happen in these present times a businesse of the like nature as is mine that I haue now in hand is a thing impossible For it is one of the strangest and the most to be wondred at of all that euer I yet read or heard of And because your Excellencie is to bee my Iudge in this case I am very well perswaded you will acknowledge as much when you know my sufferings I loued a certaine Lady of this Kingdome that was a Virgin and ful-filled with all those laudable and noble qualities which might be found in any other who-soeuer being as faire and beautifull as she was discreet and honest whereof and much more then I will now speake I make Don Rodrigo de Montaluo heere present my Witnesse as the onely friend that bare mee company and was thorowly acquainted with all that which past betweene vs I seru'd her many and those the best part of my yeeres with that punctualitie and secresie that there was neuer any the least notice taken of it yet still obseruing her with that diligence as the like was neuer knowne and indeuouring alwayes to giue her all those contents which she could possibly desire from me For her I ranne at the Ring and euer made my selfe one at the ◅uego de toros y can̄as maintained Turneys and Tiltings ordained Royall Feasts and Maskes and what not And for to quit all suspition and to carry the businesse so handsomely that none might finde me out and discouer this my loue nay that they might not haue any the least presumption thereof at all these great solemn meetings my eyes were neuer placed vpon her but some other of the Ladies that were there though shee notwithstanding did really and truely know that those of my soule vvere neuer off on her but still waited vpon her and that shee vvas the sole Mistris of my heart and that for her sake onely and none but hers I inuented all these honourable pleasures and delightfull intertainments for her Vpon these kinde of Feasts and Sports and other the like occasions directed onely to this end I spent so much that I wasted and consumed a great deale of wealth letting my money fly the faster in hope it might make her come the sooner and selling away my possessions that I might compasse the possessing of her which was to me a treasure of more worth then all the world besides My father it is well knowne left mee wonderfull rich both in goods and in lands but in short I sent it packing and past away one thing after another till in the end I became so poore that your Lordships fauour is the onely prop that doth vphold mee without the which I must haue falne And though this I must tell you be none of the least griefes to see a Gentleman of such parts and qualities as my selfe to be outed of all that hee has to become so poore and needy that necessitie must tye him to serue who was wont heretofore to be serued howbeit I acknowledge it a happinesse vnto me that I am your Lordships seruant Though I must confesse withall they are the happier men and the more beholding to fortune who leade a quiet and secure life free from other mens commands not beating their braines nor breaking their sleepes in seeking meanes how to creepe into this mans fauour or to scrue himselfe into that or t'other Lords good grace and opinion But of all my misfortunes the greatest that euer befell me and which ◅its closest to my heart and doth fret the very soule of me and fill it with anguish was That my Mistresse hauing intertained me with false hopes and vaine promises vowing that she would neuer bestow her fauours vpon any other but that in recompence of my constant loue she would be married vnto me where-vnto she plighted me her faith and troth But whether these were the words of a woman or the workes of my short fortunes now when she saw my meanes were spent and my selfe growne poore vn-mindefull of all those in dearements vowes and protestations that had past betweene vs shee shooke off that hand of hers from mine to whom she had first giuen it and gaue it to another and forsaking me married him failing false as she was in her faith and qualitie for scorning my poore condition and not esteeming those my other good naturall parts she made choyse of those goods of fortune taking a Husband farre vnequall to her selfe for as he exceeded in wealth so he did in yeeres But such is the force of money that it can supply all defects and driue vnequall matches to draw in one yoke Thus haue I briefely discoursed vnto your Lordship touching my loue shewing you how happy the beginning was and how disastrous the end And although that I might not weary and tyre out your Lordship I haue beene so briefe that the shortnesse of my Discourse may seeme to lessen my misfortunes and the miseries that I then indured yet I presume your Lordships discretion will supply that want and fully conceiue what and how great they were As also take into your consideration how many troubles they haue suffred and how many perils they dayly runne thorow who wing their thoughts with ◅uch high-flying feathers and who vse such great diligence and secrecie in the carriage of their loue to the end that nothing on their part should be wanting which they thought belonged to their dutie in that behalfe Which my selfe had speciall care of I doe not thinke that either Don Rodrigo or any other Gentleman whatsoeuer can instance in a successe of more misfortune then this of mine for that louing her with that firmenesse and constancie as I did and seruing her with that loue and faithfulnesse as none possibly could be more I lost my time I lost my meanes and last of all to make the roll of my miseries the fuller I lost my Mistris Only there is left vnto me by fortune in exchange of these my many mischances the receiuing of this Ring by way of reward And here Don Luys made an end of his amorous discourses and Don Rodrigo de Montaluo entred vpon his in manner following The Ring Don Luys is none of yours you haue lost it and I ought of right to haue it And turning himselfe towards the Constable he thus went on in his speech Most noble Sir Though I confesse that to be
and put my selfe into another kinde of fashion of cloathes differing from my wonted weare he startled and stood afterwards as one amazed not knowing what he might thinke of it or what might be the cause of this change At last he askt me the reason of this sudden alteration I told him that I had taken his counsell and that I was resolued to goe to Siena where I should meet with Pompeyo a great and intire friend of mine and from thence to passe for Florence and so afterwards to visit all Italy When he heard me say so he began to take fresh breath and seemed to be very glad thereof much commending this my resolution and altring withall his owne determination for if his designe vntill then were only to seeke out some fit occasion to steale thence an odde sute of cloathes some trifling Iewels or some odde pieces of Gold not worth the talking of hauing now heard this newes of my sudden departure no lesse would now content him then my whole store Hee was very diligent in obseruing how I did make vp my Trunkes putting his helping hand thereunto He marked where I had laid a set of Gold Buttons a Chaine and other Iewels that I had and aboue three hundred Spanish Pistolets that I carryed along with me For my Lord Embassadours house being I did not now vse to play but to hoord vp what Igot yeelded me in the space of some foure yeeres that I seru'd him good store of money what in gifts what for good lucks sake Gamesters bestowd vpon me when they had a good hand what by Cardes which I was euer ready to furnish them withall and what with other Presents that now and then came vnlook't for vnto me When I had lockt and maled vp my Trunkes I laid the Keyes vpon my Beds-head whereon Sayauedra had set his heart for then did he desire nothing more then to meet with some fit occasion how he might come to the fingring of them and finde meanes to falsifie them And it fell out iust as hee would haue it For as hee and I were talking of my iourney and telling him that I purposed to send away my Trunkes before and that I would stay some sixe or seuen dayes in Rome to take leaue of my friends by which time they would be at Siena where I should finde them ready for mee when I came thither in that very instant there came one of my Lords feruants vnto mee and told me that there were some beneath did inquire for me and did much desire to speake with me And because my Chamber was out of order vnswept and not fit by reason it was so foule to receiue any visit I went downe to see who they were In the Interim Sayauedra had opportunitie to take the print of all my keyes in certaine pieces of some Waxe Candles ends that lay about the Chamber if hee had not purposely brought some along with him in his pocket Those that sought for mee were certaine Muleters or Carriers which came for my luggage they came vp I deliuered it vnto them and they carried it away This businesse dispatcht my friend and I continued talking together and because hee did not offer to goe away I thought hee did it out of courtesie and the friendship that was betweene vs and that it was out of his loue to keepe mee company for that little while that I was to stay Whereas indeed he onely stayd in Towne till these counterfetted keyes were fashioned by the Smithes hand and to make me to breake my sleepes as by and by I shall tell you Hee continued his Visits with mee for three or foure dayes together and when hee thought hee had made all cock-sure and that the Bird could not now escape his hand hee came one euening vnto my Chamber where hee had not sate long but that his face changed colour and beganne to put on that feigned hiew which hee was willing to giue it hanging his head in his bosome making show as if hee had beene taken with a great paine in his head an extreme Ach in his shoulders a strange kinde of sowrenesse or bitternesse of his mouth and palate and aboue all with a wonderfull heauinesse in his eyes that hee was scarce able to hold them vp Hee seemed to bee as it were in a Lethargie or the like drowzie disease complaining that hee was scarce able to stand vpon his legges desiring mee that I would giue him leaue to goe home to his lodging I vvas very sorry and held it as a great vnhappinesse that my Chamber was not fitted for to lodge him and to giue him that friendly intertainment as my heart desired Intreating him when I saw hee would needs bee gone that hee would acquaint mee with his lodging that I might come and visit him and send him some physicall curiosities fit for sicke folkes to rellish his taste and comfort his stomake or that I might serue him in any thing else wherein I might bee vse-full vnto him Hee told mee that hee lodged in the house of a certaine Gentle-woman that liu'd very secret and priuate but in case this his sicknesse should not suddenly leaue him or that he should chance to grow worse and worse that then hee would aduise mee thereof that I might come and visit him And so taking his leaue of mee that very day hee tooke Post and rode towards Siena where hee found his Companions that went along with the Muleters that they might see where and to whom these Trunkes were consigned When hee was come to Siena the people seeing a Gentleman come in that good equipage by Post tooke him to bee some principall Spantard Hee alighted at the chiefest Inne that was in all the Citie where presently his Companions came about him who had there attended his comming and giuing it out that they were his seruants they waited diligently vpon him That very day as soone as hee was arriued he sent one of them to Poâ—…peyo to giue him to vnderstand that hee was newly come to Towne And when my friend had receiued this message and knew that I was in the Towne hee was so ouer-ioyed that going to put on his Cloake it vvas a good while ere hee could finde the vvay to vnfold it and to set it right vpon his shoulders And hee himselfe afterwards told mee that hee first threw it one way and then another one while with the wrong side outward another with the cape doubled in and out of order and in the end when he could not hit the right through his too much ioy hee carelessely flung it onely vpon one shoulder and in this vnmannerly kinde of manner he came from home in all haste stumbling and tripping in the streets and some-times ready to fall vpon his nose through his too much haste and the longing desire that he had to see me Being come to the Inne where Sayauedra had put on my person hee tooke it very
successe of my Trunkes Hee was inwardly very sad as well for the value of that I had lost as also for the tricke that was put vpon him and the ill account that he should make me of those my goods which I had consigned vnto him Hee said neuer a word to me touching my Trunkes and would faine haue kept it from me but it was not possible For I had purposed with my selfe to shew all my brauerie the next day and like the Peacocke proudly to iot it vp and downe the streets of Siena and for that purpose requested him to helpe me to my Trunkes that I might change my cloathes Hereupon he was inforced to open all the whole businesse vnto me putting me in good hope that there were such diligences vsed and that good course already taken that he did not doubt but that I should haue all againe and lose nothing of that which they had thus cunningly stolne from me I was strooke with this blow to the very heart and was thereupon so sad as thou thy selfe wouldst haue beene hadst thou beene in my case being thus stripped of all that thou hadst in a strange Countrie farre from thy friends and forced to seeke new hauing but little store of money in thy Purse and no more but one sute of cloathes to thy backe and two Shirts in thy Port-manteau God deliuer vs from the hands of theeues and robbers and from the frauds and deceits of wicked men It was now too late to looke after them the harme was already done but no remedy to be had Que for çoso lo aueys de beuer y no lo aueys de verter Whether I would or no I was constrained to drinke of this cup there was no auoyding of it Well when I saw how the world went and that there was no helpe for it I pluckt vp my spirits set a good face on the matter and drew strength out of weaknesse For if I should in publike haue expressed my griefe and made open shew thereof I might in priuate mens opinions beene held base-minded and a man of no metall and might thereby haue hazarded Pompeyos friendship Nor had I kept neuer such stirre neuer such a coyle and adoe about it should I thereby haue repayred my losses or done my selfe any good by it And therefore sound was that counsell that we should incounter aduersities with a cheerefull countenance For thereby our enemies are ouercome and our friends recouer breath CHAPTER IX Guzman de Alfarache not recouering his lost goods shrewdly complaines of the small punishment that is laid vpon theeues Wherein he deliuereth many things worthy the noting THree dayes according to the common saying I continued booted and spurd expecting what newes I could heare from those that had these theeues in chase and whether they had had the good lucke to finde the track of their footing and so follow them vpon the heate of that sent till they had them in view and should come to ouer-take them While my friend and I were sitting at table anon after we had din'de as wee were talking of this mis fortune of mine and the cunning carriage of these theeues that had thus robd me I might heare a great trampling of the seruants of the house and some others who making haste vp the staires came in and told vs We haue him we haue him the principall thiefe is taken and the theft confest This put new courage into me quickned my bloud and the tokens of my inward content shewd themselues in my face For it is not possible that any mans heart should dissemble a sudden ioy Though it sometimes so hapneth that excesse of ioy doth suffocate the naturall heat and depriue it of it's life You might now haue lighted a Candle at mine eyes they did so sparkle and were growne so quicke me thought then I was giuing Albriçias to as many as demanded it oâ—… me and that I ranne with open armes to receiue this welcome newes We rose vp from the table where we sate talking before on this businesse to goe and meet and salute this Officer that had beene imployd in this seruice who as if he had beene no lesse affected therewith then my selfe came towards me with his mouth full of ioy and hauing kindely imbraced one another I askt him how the world went He told me it was like to goe well Then I farther demanded of him In what manner Hee replyde that one of the theeues was taken the rest he could not meet with but that this would discouer all Thou hast haply obserued that when store of water hath beene suddenly throwne vpon quicke burning coales there hath risen vp at that very instant a thicke sowltrie hot smoake yeelding almost such a steame of heate as the coales themselues gaue before they were quenched Euen in the like case did these his words leaue me For all those manifest signes of ioy which had before diffused themselues thorow-out my whole body were quite quenched with the water of this bad newes and at that very instant there was stirred vp in me an infernall smoake of choller which I had much adoe to suppresse but because I knew it would not helpe mee I dissembled it the best that I could Pompeyo call'd for his cloake and went presently to the Iudge of the Court to intreat him that he would vse therein the best diligences he could which was no more then was fitting to be done But all this did me no good For he neither denyed the theft nor confessed that he was in the fault He said that the others had committed it and that he was but their seruant and that they had only bestow'd vpon him one poore suit of cloathes which he sold and spent partly in Florence and partly vpon the way in his returne to Siena And this is the common course of such kinde of wicked people They further and fauour each others euill workes and counsels but when they haue wrought their purpose and effected their intent they forsake one another leauing euery man to shift for himselfe some going one vvay and some another Vpon this Confession because it was the first theft that euer he had beene taken with together with that which hee had alledged in his own defence and for those other considerations which offered themselues vnto the Iudge he was sentenced to publike shame and afterwards to remaine a banished man from that Citie for a certaine time Now while this businesse was a handling one of Pompeyos seruants stood diligently waiting there expecting the issue of this businesse that hee might come and aduise mee thereof And when hee had his Sentence giuen him as if he had brought my Trunkes along with him hee came running vp in all haste to my Chamber laughing all the way as hee came and as iocund as a Pye crying out aloud vnto me O SenÌ„or Guzman laugh and be merry the Thiefe that holpe to rob you is condemned to open
suspecting him to be such a one as he is I know not how they vnderstand this who doe punish them thus It were the lesser euill of the two to let them goe among the people with the fore-said Coller and Bell that men might beware of them and not to send one thus abroad where he is vnknowne with letters as it were of credence to robbe all the world No no this is no good course it is not profitable for the Common-wealth nor is there any policie at all in it to doe theeues so great a fauour But for euery light theft it is fit they should be soundly punished As to condemne them to the Gallies to confine them to some Garrison Townes and there to serue and to inflict other the like punishments vpon them for longer or lesse time according to the nature and qualitie of the offence And in case they shall be of an inferiour kinde and not deseruing the weight of your heauiest sentence I would haue them branded as the vse is in other Countries with a hot Iron in the shoulder that may leaue the print of the marke behinde whereby vpon the second theft they be taken with it will plainely appeare what lewd liuers they be By this course they beare not only the marke about them but the cause thereof This will be accusation enough to giue in euidence against them both what they are as also their course of life And I would haue this re-incidencie and relapse of theirs to be seuerely punished And many I make no question this course being taken and duly executed will for feare turne ouer a new leafe and that this their first correction will keepe them in a great deale the more awe lest the continuance of their lewd courses might chance to bring them to the Gallowes This and only this I say is iustice all the rest is Frutaregalada delicious Fruits and minister only occasion to your Escriuanos to be as arrant theeues as they and I know not whether I may be so bold to say that they are willing to set them free that they may goe abroad and steale afresh whereby they may afterwards haue occasion to take that from them which they haue stolne and so of the two proue the greater theeues But I will hold my peace and harpe no more vpon that string For I am a man and may erre and I haue beene already vnder their hands and haue suffred too much through their false dealing and I know not whether I may chance to come againe vnder their lash and then they will vse their pleasure vpon me and reuenge themselues on me without controlement for I know not who can hinder them when they are disposed to worke their will My thiefe was freed he had confest who were the principall Offenders and which way they went for which cause as also that he had rounded the Citie on an Asse and had beene put to open shame he was set at libertie leauing me poore man in the wretched prison of pouertie Where I must now take my leaue of you and bid you all Good night To morrow morning if you be desirous of the rest and would faine know what in the end was the issue of this businesse you shall haue it with all my heart which I shall truly and faithfully deliuer vnto you FINIS THE ROGVE OR THE SECOND PART OF THE LIFE OF GUZMAN DE ALFARACHE THE SECOND BOOKE Wherein Guzman de Alfarache treateth of that which befell him in Italie till he returned into Spaine CHAPTER I. Guzman de Alfarache leaues Siena and goes for Florence He meets with Sayavedra whom he takes into his seruice And before he comes to Florence he recounts vnto him on the way many admirable things concerning that 〈◊〉 And when he was arriued there he shewes him all that was worth the seeing PHOCION a famous Philosopher in his time was so poore that though he tooke a great deale of paines he could hardly get wherewithall to hold life and soule together Whereupon as oft as any in the presence of Dionysius the Tyrant and his mortall enemie made mention either of himselfe or of the manner and course of his life he made a scoffe and a iest both at it and him flouting at his pouertie and deriding his miserie thinking with himselfe that he could not doe him any greater disgrace nor iniure him more then to mocke at the meannesse of his fortunes As if he would haue inferred thereupon that if he had beene a man of that great learning as the world held him to be he might therewith haue gained bread to put in his mouth and not needed to liue in that want as now he did When this came to the Philosophers eare he was not only not grieued thereat but laughing at this his follie he answered him that reported this vnto him It is true sir that Dionysius sayes of me in terming me poore for I am truly so but I must tell you withall that he is much poorer then my selfe and hath a great deale more reason to be asham'd of himselfe if he shall but consider his owne wretched estate and condition For though I lacke money I want not friends I abound in the more and faile in the lesse But as for him though he be rich in money he is poore of friends For I know not any one that he hath This Philosopher could not satisfie himselfe better nor with a righter or fuller blow hit out his eyes then by stiling him hominem sine amicis A man that had not so much as one friend in the world that he could truly say was his friend And albeit it oftentimes so falleth out that they are purchased with money and that this is a principall meanes to winne and wedge them vnto vs yet this Tyrant had neuer yet the wit either to get or keepe them And it is no wonder that he should of all other want them For he that sayes friend sayes in that one word Goodnesse and Vertue comprehending in that all the good that speech or thought can reach vnto Whosoeuer therefore shall desire to conserue friendship and to continue in his friends loue and that the bond of amitie be not broken betweene them must haue a care that his workes correspond with his words But Dionysius being tyrannie it selfe and of too ill a digestion to keepe friendship long and his conuersation being worse then his concoction and for that friends are not so much gotten out of the greatnesse of our fortune as our vertue wanting that he wanted them For mine owne part euer since I had the vse of reason and knew what discretion was I made it my chiefest studie to get me friends though at neuer so deare a rate thinking no cost too much to purchase so great a treasure They seeming vnto me as indeed they are our greatest helps and comfort as well in prosperous as a duerse fortune Who doth enioy the content
I was so confounded that I could not tell what to thinke of it For I could not imagine with my selfe that any other Citie in the world could haue compar'd with Rome for beauty But hauing well viewd this for its bignesse it goes farre beyond it For those buildings that are in Rome the best of them are gone to ruine and few of them left standing and those that are now remaining are but meere shadowes and the very ruines and fragments of those that were so famous in former times But Florence is the flower of the world all is therein so flourishing so costly and so well set forth that I said vnto Sayavedra Certainly if the inhabitants of this Citie be as curious in the tricking of their women as they are in the adorning and beautifying of their houses they are vndoubtedly the happiest men in the world I was so strucken with admiration that I was desirous to haue dwelt a long time in contemplating and beholding euery particular peece of building but because night was now growing on and that the day would not befriend vs any longer I was faine to retire my selfe to my lodging And we were not slacke in hastning to our Inne whither when we were come we were so neatly and so daintily entertained that I cannot so much indeare it as it truly deserueth Such plenty of prouision such cleanlinesse in their lodging-chambers such sweetnesse in their linnen such diligent attendance such affable language and such good vsage did I neuer meet withall else-where in all my life I was so taken therewith that it made me almost to forget that which I most desired I slept so soundly that night thankes to the good bed that was vnder me that it seemed vnto me scarce halfe an houre since my first lying downe When the morning was come though with a heart full of sorrow for that was then my Mount Tabor I call'd to Sayauedra to giue me my clothes and for that he was so well acquainted with that Citie I will'd him to make himselfe ready to goe along with me that he might show me all whatsoeuer was of any note and held as curiosities to be worth the seeing And that first of all he should bring me to the chiefe Church where hauing heard diuine seruice and recommended our selues vnto God all things would prosper afterwards the better with vs. Thither he led me and hauing ended our deuotion I stood like one amaz'd in beholding that most famous Temple and fabricke del Zimborio which they there call Cupula which in my opinion may be better termed Copula for that it seemed not only to my selfe but as many as beheld it that therein was copulated and ioyned as it were together all that curious Architecture which the writings of the best and skilfullest professors in that profession either theoricke or practicke haue published to the world so admirable a peece of workmanship such a deale of greatnesse strength and curiositie without any wrong or iniurie to any other fabricke of Europe may iustly challenge the name of the eighth wonder of the world Let him consider with himselfe who hath any knowledge in Architecture it being foure hundred and twenty handfuls high besides the spire that is on the top of it what diameter this Cupula will require and by this he may come to guesse what manner of thing it is From thence I went to the Annunciata a Church so called to see the image that was painted there vpon the wall which might more properly be termed Heauen so admirable a peece of worke is that picture of the Incarnation of the Sonne of God Insomuch that it is held there for certaine that it was drawne by one that was no lesse excellent in his Art then holy in his life For when he had made an end of that which there you see painted and that there remained no more to be done but to finish and make vp the face of our blessed Lady the Virgin being wonderfull timerous and fearefull much misdoubting and musing with himselfe whether or no he should be able to giue it its true life and to fit it euery way in its age in truenesse of its colour its complexion in its honest and sober countenance and in the demure and modest posture of its eyes in this confusion of his and these his distracted thoughts not deuising with himselfe what he were best to doe he laid himselfe downe a while to sleepe and awaking anon after and minding to betake him to his pensill and to put his hand by the helpe of God to the peece of worke he found it made to his hand And therefore it needs not our farther commendation for it being to be presupposed that it was there miraculously wrought either by Gods owne hand or some one of his Angels it can be said to be no lesse then an Angelicall picture And for this cause the rest of that peece being considered which the Painter made we may easily conceiue what kinde of spirit he had who could finde so much fauour as to haue the hands of heauen as if for the time they had beene bound prentises to his Trade to helpe him to grinde and mixe his colours and to make an end of his worke for him So many miracles doth it daily worke such a concourse of people doth continually flocke thither out of deuotion and so great are the almes that are there distributed giuen to the poore that I did much wonder that all the beggars were not wondrous rich which put me in minde of that poore man who as I was told and you haue heard made in this Citie that his famous last Will and Testament wherein he bequeathed his Asses pack-saddle to the Great Duke That seeming now vnto me but a little small summe in comparison of that which such a one as he might very well haue gained in that place And for that it is a knowne truth Que el hijo de la gata ratones mata That the sonne of a Cat will kill his Rat. Or as our English Prouerbe hath it Cat will to his kinde a thousand and a thousand times did I bethinke my selfe of many things that I had done in my younger dayes and did now as it were plainely perceiue that if as I went to Rome it had beene my good hap to haue lighted in this Citie what with my roguish tricks my counterfeit scurffs leprosies and fore legs I might haue come to be a mayorazgo amongst them and to haue purchased some great Lordship I did likewise obserue that few of these rogues were curious and cunning or that they were their crafts-masters but were for the most part fooles meere block-heads and had little or no wit at all in comparison of those in my time And when I did perceiue what poore counterfeits they were and how sillily they did order their affaires it was sport alone to me I tooke a great deale of pleasure in looking on
he was so farre from compounding the businesse that he made little reckoning of it taking it ill at his hands that treated with him about it wishing him that hee should speake no more of it deeming it as an affront done vnto his honour and a meere defamation He feigned him-selfe to be greatly wronged though he knew well enough that I was he that was iniur'd and without giuing vs either good hopes or good words he dispatcht my messenger When I receiu'd this answer I hatched a thousand euill imaginations in my heart But because I would not returne euill for euill I resolued to talke with some one Lawyer or other of that Vniuersity that should be recommended vnto me for the nimblenesse of his wit and soundnesse of iudgement to whom I opening my case fearing the successe thereof for that my aduersaries father was so powerfull might craue his opinion and that hee would assist me with his best aduice and counsell for the better prosecuting of his businesse Hee plainly told me Sir it is well enough knowne in this Towne what manner of man Alexandro is as also his lewd and idle courses which in some other place would be a sufficient information against him Besides there is so much truth in that which you vrge against him that it is manifestly apparant to as many as know him or shall heare you You haue right on your side a iust and a good cause and therefore I would aduise you to frame an information against him and to desire iustice All Bologna hath taken notice already of this theft of his for as soone as he came hither with it it was presently knowne that these clothes were none of his owne as well because he caused them to be altred and fitted to his owne bodie as also for that he carried hence with him no lambes to sell nor any other kinde of merchandize whereby he should make so rich a returne Besides another companion of his in whom he put much trust stole a good part of these goods from him that he might likewise gaine thereby a part of his Pardons Indulgences You see now what course you must be faine to take what lyes in me to releeue you you may be assured of the best furtherance and the best counsell that I can giue you for the countenancing of this your cause Whereupon I being very desirous that a bill should be exhibited against him he presently according to my information drew one out which I forthwith presented to the Auditore del Torrone who is there the Iudge in all Causes Criminall But be it as it may be whether it were immediatly from the Iudge him-selfe or from the Notarie I know not which nor from whence nor how it came to passe but sure I am that this businesse of mine was instantly ouer all the Towne and particular notice was giuen thereof vnto Alexandro's father And for that he was a man of authoritie in that Towne and carried a great hand there amongst them he hyes him in all haste to the Iudge and there accusing me for this my bold attempt and inconsiderate rashnesse as it pleased him to terme it he formed a complaint against me that I had defamed and dishonoured his house and that therefore he was of purpose come vnto him to desire his lawfull fauour and that he would be pleased to doe him iustice to the end that I might be seuerely punished for this my presumption I know not how but the matter was so carried betweene them that it had beene better for me to haue held my peace He was a powerfull man in that Citie and the Iudge it seemed was very willing to pleasure him I began now to feare that occasions of quarrell would be pickt against me mole-hils made mountaines and this my losse turne to my greater losse making my vndoing an occasion of my farther vndoing For Loue Interest and Hatred are euer maine enemies to the Truth And in many places As a man is befriended so his Cause is ended But he that hath both money and friends is sure to worke out his ends Money is of no great thicknesse yet it dulls the double edg'd sword of iustice if it but once offer to touch it Gold is a heauy mettall and that makes the ballance of Iustice so light I did spit as it were against heauen the driuell whereof fell vpon my owne face I shot my arrowes vp into the ayre and they returned backe againe vpon mine owne bosome the innocent paying for the nocent and the iust for the vniust Much money does much harme But much more the euill intention of an euill man And therefore where an ill-minded man and a great masse of money meet together and shake hands there is much need of helpe from heauen to free an innocent soule out of their cruell clawes Good Lord deliuer vs from out their clutches for they are more griping and tyrannous then those of Tygers or of Lyons Their will is a law what-soeuer they desire that they doe right when they lift shall be wrong and wrong right And no man must controll them for it nor dare to say blacke is their eye lest he chance to lose both his owne for prying too neere into the secrets of these earthly gods O that there were men of that goodnesse and courage that would not sticke to tell them and plainly giue them to vnderstand that the money they thus vnlawfully take shall last with them but a while but the fire wherewith they shall be tormented for it shall continue for euer The Iudge did limit me a prefixed time for my proofes but so short that it was not possible for me to make my information according to that scantling In this you may see the iniustice that he did me Who did euer till now know a Iudge restraine the Plaintiffe of lawfull time to make his proofes as he did me especially when I did alleage for my selfe that the information was to come from Siena where the theft was committed whence I was to procure it for otherwise I could not haue it But to alleage this or not alleage it all was one I must be content will I nill I to sit downe with this losse There was no fence for it And to this purpose before I passe any farther I will tell you what hapned in a little Village of Andaluzia There was a certaine sessing to be set in a ratable proportion vpon the Towne-dwellers and borderers there-about for some publike peece of worke that was to goe in hand and the Collectors that were appointed to gather the money had put into their rolle to contribute thereunto a Gentleman of as ancient a house as any in those parts who taking himselfe therein to be greatly wronged made his complaint against the collectors But for all that they did not strike his name out of the rolle Now when the time was come for the levying of these moneyes they
that the streets and the windowes were wholly taken vp with them making great moane for that miserable and vnfortunate woman Now when her husband had cut off her head this Negro spake out aloud and said O God how many here doe behold this sad spectacle who with a great deale of reason might haue the like measure We likewise may very well say How many are there now adaies who condemne others to the gallowes whereon they might better and with more reason be hang'd themselues I wonder at nothing in this age nor am I of that queazy stomacke that any thing should offend mee I will dance to the sound of that Pipe after which I see others dance let things last as they may last and hold out as long as they can and then there is an end of them like vnto spoones made of a crust of bâ—…ead which wee haue no sooner supt vp our pottage with but we send them presently packing the same way with the other And since thou saist that thou lou'st my company tak'st much contentment therein and that thou lik'st so well of it I hope it shall neither bee hurtfull vnto thee nor hard to brooke it For I am so good a fellow and of so ingenious a disposition that I know how to value and make a true esteeme of those kindnesses which are done vnto mee the thankfull acknowledgement thereof I shall referre to my actions which in their due time shall testifie what I now professe But because reward is the spurre which puts vertue forward and the onely whetstone that sets an edge on mens affections making them to goe on brauely and couragiously in all that they vndertake And that it argues a basenesse of minde not to reward when from thence some glory or benefit may arise And that a man doth not cumply with his duty when hee doth not take any paines for his liuing for to that end was he borne and therewith is he to sustaine himselfe it is fit and no more then what is iust that euery man should haue a proportionable and equall gaine according to the quality of his aduenture And I am very well content to giue way hereunto making this the first stone in this our building and will treat farther hereafter of that which is to be ordered and set downe betweene vs in these or any other the like occasions that shall offer them-selues vnto vs. All that which shall fall or come vnto our hands as well those fruits already fallen as those that are to fall hereafter shall be diuided into three equall parts of all which thou shalt haue one part for thee and another for me and the third shall gâ—…e for to defray the charges of auerige for it wiâ—…l not be alwaies faire weather nor shall wee still saile before the wind nor make euermore a speedy voyage as it happens when men are becalmed at Sea and when we shall land and come ashore it is not fit that we should want cloathes and other necessaries nor must we if the enemy should set vpon vs bee vn-prouided of munition to defend our selues and offend him nor should wee chance by some storme or other accident to bee cast vpon some shelfe or quick-sand must wee lacke a boate to put out wherein to saue our liues though we lose our goods This third part we wâ—…ll still lay apart by it selfe that shall be as it were the Aerarium and publike Treâ—…surie our common purse for to supply and relieue our necessities For if we goe wisely and discreetly to worke and be not rash and inconsiderate in our actions seeing we want not vnderstanding and haue some skill in nauigation at least are both of vs good Coasters I for my part will content my selfe with no lesse then some good place of command in my Countrey and such good store of wealth that I may afterwards liue happily all the daies of my life And all this will I bring about before I be 〈◊〉 yeares elder Be therefore of good courage and take heart vnto thee for thou shalt make the like purchase wherewith thou maist returne with credit to Valençia I would not haue thee busie thy selfe in base thefts nor be none of those â—…eaking thieues that steale Primers Horne-bookes and Ballads for from such kind of thefts thou shalt reape no other profit but infamie and reproach In a word let vs brauely resolue Morir ahorcados ó comer contrompetas Either to hang together for company or to haue our dinners seru'd in with Trumpets Let vs dye like dogges or liue like men For a mans life is ended in a day but pouerty is a daily deâ—…th And if we goe on as we haue begun and vse these and the like trickes we shall with a little practice grow to greater both cunning and wealth and bid a fart in Feares teeth For all moneths are alike bee they faire or foule euery one hath his thirty dayes and no more Euery man must liue out his time how happily or how miserably I cannot say euery one must be content with his fortune And for as much as in the darke all Cats are blacke and Ione is as faire as my Lady we will so carry things in the clouds that wee may not appeare in our right colours Wee two will ioyne together keepe counsell and deale fairly one with another diuiding the spoile equally that there may be no falling out betweene vs For as it is in the Prouerbe Un lobo a otro nunca se muerde One Wolfe will not bite another Loe here if thou wilt thou shalt presently before we goe any farther haue a third part of what is already got for it is not iust nor honest to debarre any man of his right or to with-hold that from him which is his Much good may it doe thee and thanke God that with so fortunate a foot and so propitious a starre thou hast lighted thus happily into our company desiring him that we may not fall into the hands of Pyrateâ—… who haue an eye to nothing else but to runne away with the meat that others haue drest to licke away the creame that others haue laboured for and to skimme away all the fat from off the pottage not leauing vs any 〈◊〉 that good is With tâ—…is kinde of language and my liberall carriage dealing thus kindly and bounâ—…lly with him I went securing his person vnto me that hee might not forsake me bâ—…t stâ—…y and liue with me For if I should haue sought ouer all the world for a Mariner I could not haue met with a better Mate for my Barke nor one that would so well haue suted for my purpose as Sayavedra Besides he being my equall and euery way as good a man as my selfe was contented to bâ—…come my seruant and to acknowledge me for his master it being no small aduantage to haue the hand in most games that you play at He vpon these good words of minâ—… was
the Towne nor in a solitarie place that was free from company the outcryes that shee made were heard by many insomuch that great store of all sorts of people came running in especially boyes and little children besides a great number of dogs barking and bawling as if they had beene mad comming about me as thicke as bees being confounded and ready almost to haue runne out of my wits with that tumultuous hurry and horrible stirre they made And some young lads which fell in with these lesser beagles to make the cry the fuller when they vnderstood of the businesse were ready to swallow me vp aliue from whose power so violently were they bent against me it was impossible for me to scape From that day forward I began to stand in feare of this little frye which heretofore I was neuer afraid of These little minowes were they that by persecuting of me did vndoe me When I heard Sayavedra say so there presently came into my minde a famous drunkard in Madrid who being kickt and spurn'd and mightily abused by the Boyes that had got about him when hee came to the end of the street hee stoopes mee downe and takes vp a couple of stones and holding one in the one hand and the other in the other leaning himselfe against a wall hee said thus vnto them No more no more my good Boyes it is enough stay here stay here sweet Children for it is not fit you should goe any farther And therefore my pretty hearts let mee intreat you to goe backe and not trouble mee or your selues any longer for I am very well satisfied with those courtesies I haue already receiued from you for the which I kindly thanke you Otherwise I haue nothing to returne you in requitall but these stones which I shall freely bestow vpon you though it cost mee the laying on so that some of you I beleeue will be better paid for your paines then you expect Wherevpon they seeing him thus resolute they sneakt away one by one and let the poore man alone who afterward went quietly along about his busines If Sayavedra had taken the like course he might peraduenture haue had the like successe But he continuing his discourse went on and said surely where this rude rabble once bands and lincks it selfe together no good man can doe ought that is good nor any honest man passe in quiet for them I sought now to flye from them as a man would fly from the gallowes and I was in a good way towards it and wanted little of comming thither For by seeking to flye from their hands I fell into those of the Iustice who had now caught me in their net vvhence there vvas no hope to scape When I saw this misfortune vvas fallen vpon me I made no more adoe but sent presently to my Captaine aduising him how the case stood with me who as soone as hee vnderstood of it made all the haste he could vnto mee was with me as they say ere a man could say this and well instructed mee what I should both say and doe Tâ—…at done hee went to the Notarie telling him that hee knew mee to bee well descended that I was honourably borne both by Father and Mother and of as ancient and noble a House as any was in Spaine and that it was not possible nor was it to bee beleeu'd that such a Gentleman as I was would commit so foule a fact But say which cannot sinke into my head that it should be true it is not a thing so much to be wondred at for that he might either doe it out of youthfulnesse which is incident now and then to play such kinde of idle prankes or out of want lacking money and being loath to begge or borrow or forced thereunto out of pure hunger and therefore chose rather to hazard than famish his person Besides it is a matter of no moment a toy a trifle a thing not to be made any reckoning of as well in regard of its small value as also in respect of the Gentlemans qualitie and the noblenesse of his house What with these good words and something else that he did besides within some two houres after I was freed out of Prison and had God beene pleased so to haue it I could haue wisht I might not haue come out then nor three houres after that nay not till darke night but since it was his good will and pleasure that it should succeed as it did with me blessed bee his name for euer good or ill must be welcome from his hand Sinne that Catchpole of Conscience that churlish Porter that keepes account of our actions and has an eye to what wee doe who had still persecuted me at the very thresholds of the dores wherinto I entred was not vnmindful to do the like by me in that of the Prison when I was reaâ—…y to come out for euen as I was putting my foote ouer the threshold who should I meet full butte but Maister Datario who came thither to free a Prisoner As soone as hee saw mee hee presently knew mee and withall pusht me so violently backe that I fell flat vpon my backe to the ground and then comming fiercely vpon mee that hee might hold me while hee had me at this aduantage and calling to the Keeper committed me anew and followed the accusation so hard against me that neither intreaties nor any offers to make him satisfaction for his kirtle were able to make him to surcease his sute Hee was a powerfull man I vsed all possible diligences but neither did my pleading that I was a Gentleman nor the tendernesse of my yeares preuaile so farre as to bring mee fairely off And as if they had done me a deed of charity and bestowed an almes on mee by way of trans-action and agreement as if they had shewed mee all the fauour in the world they gaue mee such a heauy sentence that I shall neuer forget it vvhile I liue I vvent for shirts and they stript mee of mine from my shoulder to my vvaste banishing mee from thence for euer I had my payment but the blockhead had not his Kirtle see how a vvilfull foole such a one as this vvas stood in his owne light being more vvilling to doe me a mischiefe then himselfe a pleasure and to lose his goods rather then to let mee loose vvhich hee might easily haue recouered of me if he vvould haue suffered mee to stay in that City Well I vvas forced to forgoe Naples and vvith it all my old friends and acquaintance I packt vp all my trinkets together and that poore pittance that I had pickt vp by mine owne industry and departed from thence vvandring vp and downe Italy till I came to Bologna where Alessandro receiued me into his seruice who did vsually go out of that City to fetch in some booty or other and hauing sped vvell hee returned home in safety When wee vvere in Rome and came in vnto you when you
Sotana in which I walked vp and downe the streets All mens eyes were cast vpon mee as well for that I was a stranger as likewise in regard I was well clad and of a presence not to be despised They askt my seruant who I was Hee told them Don Iuan de Guzman a Gentleman of Seuilla And when I heard them inquire after mee I would pop vp my head stretching out my necke some what more then ordinary thinking vvith my selfe that I had some ten pound vveight of Bread more in my Belly then I had before so Peacocke-like was I blowne vp with Pride and such store of this puffe-past of vaine-glory had I swallowed downe my throat Hee told them that I vvas newly come from Rome They demanded farther of him if I were rich because they saw me come from thence in a differing fashion from the rest for they that goe to the Court of Rome and to other Princes Courts are like vnto those that go to the vvarres who thinke all the world must now bee theirs and that they haue already finished what they went for vvith which vaine hopes they vsing to flatter themselues they lash out into extraordinary expences vpon the vvay as likewise in the Court till the Court leaues them so curtail'd that they haue scarce ere a ragge left them to couer their breech returning home afterwards vveary in their bodies poore in their purses discontented in their mindes and driuen to that extreame want that they must either almost starue or begge their bread They goe thither fresh and liuely flush of money and rich in cloathes whom I can liken to nothing better then to the fish called the Tunny vvhich when it is full of spawne is also full of fish fat and faire to see to and is very good meate but vvhen her Spawne is gone from her shee turnes lanke leane and vnseasonable prouing as vnprofitable to the stomacke as it is vnpleasing to the Palate They likewise enquired of him whether I were to continue there for any long time or past onely along as a Traueller taking it in my way To all which questions Sayavedra gaue such answers as I could my selfe haue wisht Telling them that I was the only sonne of a widow-gentle-woman of very good quality being a wonderfull wealthy dame which was wife to a certain Gentleman of Genoa and that I was come thither to expect certaine Letters and dispatches and then to returne backe againe to Rome and that in the interim I would recreate my selfe here in Genoa taking much pleasure in the sight of this statâ—…ly City for that I knew not when I should make my returne nor for what part or whither I should euer haue the like opportunity to see it againe The Inne where I lay was the best in all the Towne and is commonly called L'Hosteria di santa Marta whither the most part of your Noblemen and Gentlemen did vsually resort There wee remained making merry and spending our money without doing our selues any good at all in point of profit nor did we as yet goe about it And in keeping thus our ground wee came to gaine ground The Clocke doth not alwayes strike but staies till its houre comes and when by a little and a little the time creepes on that is limited thereunto why then it strikes I playd now and then but not for much money with some other guests that were in the house more for company sake and to passe away the time then any thing else not vsing any other helpe then mine owne fortune and skill in gaming Sayavedra had now no hand in the businesse nor did I vse to set his plough a worke saue in deepe and fat grounds where there was hope of a plentifull haruest I kept him for Holidayes his attendance was when there was a great feast and a full boord but for such poore pittances as these not worth the sitting downe for I was well content hee should spare his labor For when the losings or the gettings could not be much the best course then me thought was to proceed plainly and sincerely Yet when I plaid small game I went along with a leaden foot marking and obseruing this and that other Card and if Fortune did not fauour me and that my crosse-carding was such that I could not light on a lucky encounter I would giue off with a little losse but if the wind blew faire and that I found good fortune was comming towards me I neuer left following my good lucke till I had swept vnto me all the money on the boord And it so fell out that hauing one day wonne a matter of a hundred Crowns and somewhat more it was a Captaines hap that had the command of a Gally to sit by me who I perceiu'd lik't very well of my manner of play and was very glad that I had got the money and reading in his lookes that he had no great store of Crownes in his purse but was rather in extreame want and necessity I gaue him sixe Doblones of two which in that coniuncture considering his pouerty seemed vnto him to be sixe thousand There is a time when one single Royall is more to a man then a hundred nay a thousand perhaps at another time will not doe him so much good For the which he made me such a thankfull acknowledgement as if the fauour I had done him had beene much more then it was or some matter of greater moment And this fell out very happily for me for hauing afterwards vnderstood from him-selfe of what disease he was sicke and where his griefe lay at that instant was mine owne remedy likewise represented vnto me and quickly found out that I was to make him the needle that must knit my net In a word I effected what I desired He spends nothing who buyes that he hath need of I distributed likewise some few Crownes amongst the rest of the standers by to make them the better deuoted and affectioned towards mee and that I might leaue euery man well pleas'd and contented Insomuch that by this my affable franke and bountifull carriage I grew into that credit and good opinion amongst them that I had wonne their hearts and got the good wâ—…ll and loue of all men and it is an old saying That hee that sowes well reapes well And I can assure you that as many as conuersed with me would haue hazarded their liues for me if need had beene Wherewith I found my selfe so iocond my body so lightsome my heart so comforted my blood so cleare and my spirits so quickned that my cheekes were as fresh and red as the Rose and mine eyes did sparkle and lookt so merrily as if they had laught for ioy This Captaine was called Fauelo not that this was his proper name but because it was giuen him by a certaine Mistresse of his whom hee sometimes serued which he was willing still to retaine in remembrance of her
are incident that euen persons of great both worth and valour escape in that miraculous manner and are by their misfortunes brought to that low ebbe that they are asham'd of them-selues But this wag when I had sifted and sounded him throughly and found out his intent I would haue dealt with him as hee would haue dealt with mee For Pouertie neither quits Vertue nor Riches giue it And in case it should not haue fallen out as my suspitious thoughts had suggested it and that for ought I saw he had no euill intention towards me nor any purpose to doe me any harm I should haue fauourd him all that I could and haue secretly dismist him from me And in a word though hee had not beene my kinsman yet for the good choice that he made and the good liking he had to our name preferring it before any other surely hee should not haue fared the worse for that And if I had not giuen him any money in his purse yet would I at least haue vs'd him ciuilly and not sent him away discontented who as it should seeme by him was not very well pleased with his entertainment Goe to goe to Cozen said the oldman had you seene him as I did you would haue told me another tale then now you do And for mine own part I must confesse vnto you it did me good at the heart that I had thus firkt my young Rogue and as I told you before I am very sory that I did not handle him worse and giue him that condigne punishment which the heynousnesse of the offence did deserue For you neuer saw such a tatterd Rascall as he was in all your life and being thus all to be rent and torne and not a ragge sauing your reuerence to couer his breech yet this shake-rag this young impudent Rogue did not sticke to challenge kindred of vs and that hee was lineally descended of our house and in so neare a degree as you haue heard And because he brought not his wedding garment with him but was thus poore and basely clad we gaue him Iacke Drums entertainment and shut him out of doores hauing lapt him first in a blanket where hee was handsomely canuast and with this he went his way Iust about the same time said I was I with my mother in Sevill And it 's not yet full three yeere since I left her I was their onely sonne nor had my parents any other children saue my selfe It was euen at my tongues end and almost out of my mouth ere I was aware that I had two fathers but quickly mending that fault I went on as followeth My father left me well to liue being neither so much as there-with to be able to spend lauishly nor yet so little that with good gouernment I might not liue handsomely I cannot boast my selfe to be rich nor iustly complaine that I am poore Besides my mother was alwayes a prudent and prouident woman well gouern'd a small waster and a great huswife All they that were there present were willing to giue me the hearing and were wondrous glad of it not well knowing in what Sanctuary they might place me nor how sufficiently to feast me nor could they satisfie them-selues in point of good manners if they did not giue me the right hand and being two if they did not put me in the midst betweene them both Then did I softly say to my selfe O vanity whither wilt thou how doest thou runne after those that are fortunate as long as they saile with a faire wind But when that fayles thee how in a moment doe thy friends forsake thee how many changes doest thou find in an instant And how truly did I now come to know that they are euermore fauoured and respâ—…cted from whom any hope may bee had that one way or other they may be benefited by them and this is the reason why few doe helpe the needy and all runne after the rich We are the children of pride and rather flatterers then friends For if wee were true friends indeed and were charitably minded wee would haue recourse to the contrary Especially we knowing how acceptable a thing it is in the sight of God that euery one should be as sensible of his neighbours miseries as his owne seeking to doe the same good vnto him as we would haue to be done vnto our selues were wee in the same wretched case as he is I was now become the idoll of my kindred so much was I adored by them I had bought me at an Almoneda a faire Cupboord of plate which cost mee almost eight hundred Ducats and for no other end in the world but to close vp this my wound the better I inuited all my kindred together with some other of my friends one day to dinner I made them a great feast bestow'd a costly banket vpon them cheared them all vp made wonderfull much of them and gaue them all the kinde entertainment I could possibly deuise After dinner wee goe to play I get the money but gaue it almost all away in barato to the standers by And with this coniuring tricke thus I carried them through the Ayre I was able to doe what I would doe with them O that I could haue then whispered them softly in the eare and haue told them Know Gentlemen that you feed vpon your owne flesh that the wolfe is in the midst of your flocks and that hee whom they make so much of is hee whom they so much wronged O if they did but know so much how would they blesse them selues what a world of crosses would they make in euery corner of their houses that they might not be troubled with a double labour all the dayes of their life after to doe the same thing againe a thousand and a thousand times ouer For now their mattresses were a quilting and their beds a making wherein they were like to take but little rest and fetch more friscalls in the ayre then when they tost mee in the blanket so that they shall haue as good cause to thinke vpon mee as I vpon them and remember one another the better as long as wee liue But my paine was already past and theirs was now comming vpon them O if they but knew that he that is thus with them in sheeps-cloathing shall ere long breake sodainly in vpon them like a roaring and raging lyon how would they looke one vpon another But it is well as it is for ere they and I part we will quit scores and make them to know me a little better and what it is to abuse one in that manner as they did me and to scorne and despise their owne blood It is a fine stale or call to take a bird withall to haue a good eoram vobis to spend brauely to goe gallantly and to be a Don Iuan de Guzman but it had beene better for them that I had beene poore Guzman de Alfarache with his tatterd cloathes
not very quietly for though I came cleare off and had not any the least rub but things ranne as fairely and smoothly as in such a case I could haue wisht it yet I had a little thing within that checkt me and told me in mine eare that I had not done well which did much trouble me for the time I past ouer that night as well as I could and when the Sunne was vp hauing not all this while perceiued the Galley so much as to wagg nor hearing any beating of the oares nor any the least noyse in the world as if I had beene in the greatest solitude that the minde of man could imagine being now fully awakened and going about to put on my cloathes my Captaine comes into my Cabbin and tells me that we had doubled the Cape of Noli So farre we had as faire a winde and as fine weather as heart could wish but it did not still continue thus fauourable vnto vs but much contrary and full in the teeth of vs as you shall heare hereafter For Fortune is not alwayes prosperous but with the Moone hath her Crescents and her Waynings and by how much the more pleasing are her smiles by so much the more sowre are her frownes when shee changes the copie of her countenance Onely I had a desire whilest wee were making our voyage to know what mine Hoste thought on when hee saw I returned not the first night to my lodging And what the second when the rest could heare no newes of me thinking with my selfe what lamentation they would make for me How many cold shaking fits of an Ague they would haue for want of a warme blanket how many couerlets would they cast vpon them yet giue none to the Hospitall what diligent search they would make after me what seuerall coniectures what should become of me disputing with themselues whether some bodie had not murther'd me to make themselues masters of my wealth or whether I had beene wounded in some quarrell But I imagined with my selfe that they conceiued and they were in the right that I was gone along with the Galleys And then being cleane out of hope of any humane remedie I began to thinke with my selfe how shrewdly the fleas would trouble them for many a faire night after Now did I begin to consider what haste they made to vnrip my trunkes that they might by them saue them-selues harmelesse euery one first alledging the antelation of time and prioritie of his debt and so by the ordinarie course of Law in those parts pretend as he was the first Creditor that he might be first paid Me thought I did likewise see how mine Hoste did hugg himselfe how he did laugh and chucke for ioy to thinke how rich I had left him by leauing him these two trunkes which being valued according to their weight might very well haue contented him for a farre longer and larger allowance then I could possible spend in so short a time But the worth did not answer the weight For there was nothing in them but stones which if he were minded to hang himselfe might serue for his sepulchre And what say you to my old Vnckle doe not you thinke that he was well prouided for with those pretious stones which Sayavedra acquainted him withall But that other kinsman of mine who went away with the chaine who doubts it but that he did laugh in his sleeue at the rest of his fellowes when he saw he had such a sure pawne in his hands all pure linkes of gold that he might very well pay both the Principall and the Interest But when he found it was not Gold but Alchymie light and false Latten being no better taking away its guilding and fashion then base brasse course copper or such mettall as you make your candlesticks what man can imagine what strange mouthes and faces he made How hee hang'd downe his head fixing his eyes on the ground then lifting it vp againe turne vp the white of his eyes towards heauen not out of any desire that he had to blesse him that had made him to shine and glitter thus gloriously but to curse my mothers wombe for bringing forth such a Picaro such a base rascall and arrant theefe as I was In this pickle I left them and so we parted A man might then haue said that of them which one blinde man said to another in Toledo who being to part companie and to goe each to his owne house when they tooke their leaues said each to other Good night Gossip till we see one another againe CHAP. X. Guzman de Alfarache sayling toward Spaine Sayavedra by reason of a great storme growes Sea-sicke He falls into a Calenture or burning feuer He waxes light-headed and loseth his wits He cryes out that he is Guzman de Alfarache and growing mad throwes himselfe into the Sea where he is drowned WE had such faire weather when we set forth of Genoa that the Tuesday following by Sunne-rising we had as I told you before doubled the Cape of Noli And till we came to the Pomas de Marsella we had as fauourable and prosperous a winde as we could wish There did we expect that the winde should still blow faire hauing all this while show'd it selfe so friendly and louing vnto vs. For we had a fresh gale from the East which holpe vs so well that the next day towards the Euening we discouered to our generall ioy the coast of Spaine But fortune hauing not the strength to stand firme nor being alwayes one and the same but weake and various began to manifest vnto vs the small confidence that we ought to haue of her whereof too soone to our great hurt we had sufficient tryall And now hearing the Mariners call one to another in those termes and language which is vsuall with them in such cases Heauen was couered all ouer towards the North-west with darke and thicke clouds which guttered downe vpon vs huge and great drops of raine Our good winde had bid vs farewell and our hearts began to be so sad and so heauy as if all that same darksome blacknesse had quite ouer-cast them such a cloud of sorrow had like a curtaine ouer-spred those late lightsome faculties of our soules Which being foreseene by the Pilots and those other watry-Counsellors at Sea they held a Councell in the poope debating to and fro what course was fittest to be taken to preuent such fearefull threatnings Euery one spake his opinion deliuering what he in his iudgement deemed best to be done But seeing the winde begin to lay lustily about him bearing his brazen wings against our woodden sides and his forces increasing more and more without any other resolution before their consultation could come to a conclusion they were instantly without any more adoe inforced to let fall their maine sayle which when they had ruffled and laid as low as the decke would giue them leaue they tooke out another lesser
one which they call Maâ—…buto as they doe the other la Borda which is a kinde of triangulary sayle cut out into three corners after the manner of a womans kerchiefe This they call la Latina and this they set vp about the middle of the maste which stood at the end of the last banke of oares fitting them-selues afterwards with those other things that were needfull on such an occasion They fastned their oares to the vpper deck The passengers and their souldiers they commanded sore against their wills to keepe themselues vnder hatches They fell a caulking of the Galley from the prowe to the poope nor were they wanting in any one of those diligences that were necessarie for the sauing of our lifes Whilest they were thus busie the night grew on and a pitchy darknesse had like a pauillion pitched it selfe round about vs all was clouds Aegyptian clouds blacke and darke as Hell so that hauing lost the comfort of the light we lost likewise with it all hope of safetie especially when we saw that the storme was no whit allayd but rather more and more increased vpon vs. Wherefore for the better auoyding of so many dangers whereinto by reason of this tempest they were like to runne they gaue present order to hang out the lanterne that they might the better see what they did The Sea now began to swell and lifted one while its waues as high as heauen and by and by aga ne abasing that their pride they tumbled downe so low that they opened the bosome of the Sea so wide that you might see the sand that lay in the bottome They were faine to appoint another to assist at the helme that was an expert Pilot indeed and knew how to guide the Rudder to a haire The Masters-mate they caused to be tyde fast in a chayre to the post neere vnto the poope as being resolued either to dye in that place without remouing from thence or to keepe the Galley aliue and set her in safetie Whilest this skilfull Mariner was labouring to put this his deliberation in execution we often demanded of him if we were in any great danger and much more often then he was willing to heare See how blind-sighted wee were that we would rather giue credit to that which had proceeded from his mouth then that which we saw with our owne eyes which represented nothing but death vnto vs. But his lying tongue seemed to afford vs like comfort as doth that of the Physitian to the sorrowfull and afflicted father who questions him touching the health and life of his sonne and whether he be likely to dye of this disease or whether he be dead already Who tells him That God be thanked he is on the mending hand In like manner the Masters-mate making answer vnto vs for to cheere vs vp and to put vs in heart would bawle out aloud vnto vs Que todo eranada Tush all this was nothing And therefore be of good comfort my Hearts And indeed in telling vs so he told vs but the truth For all this was nothing to that which came after For the winde had torne our sayles to fitters there was not one whole peece all was rents and rags and it grew higher and higher still so that we were forced to clap on our Treo which is a kinde of round sayle which they make vse of in stormes Fortunes hand did not yet grow weary with whipping vs but as if shee had not punisht vs sufficiently already it was our hap to haue an ill guided Galley to fall foule vpon vs which striking vs with her prowe on the poope made her ducke her head into the Sea and had well-nigh ouer-turn'd her and to make this encounter the more vnlucky the blow and the losse of our Rudder whereon did depend the hope of our safetie hapned both at one and the same instant Whe efore seeing our selues now depriued both of our hope and helme wanting a Rudder wherewith to steare yeelding our selues to the mercy of the Seas as men despayring of any remedie to repayre this losse yet that they might not desist to vse all the meanes they could which they thought might make best for our good making a vertue of necessitie they made as good shift as they could by clapping a couple of oares in the place guiding therewith the Galley besides the danger with a great deale of toyle and labour And how shall I here be able to expresse but the halfe nay the least part of that vnto you which these eyes saw and these eares heard I doe not know the tongue that can speake it But say I should light on such a tongue yet I am sure I shall hardly meet with those men that will beleeue it O how many vowes did they then make I How many Inuocations to Saints euery one calling on that which was the greatest and famousest in his owne Countrey What various deuotions what a generall recourse to their prayers And some were so childish and so foolish that you should heare no other word come from them but O my mother ò sweet mother How many abuses and how many absurdities were committed amongst them Confessing themselues one to another as if they could be their ghostly fathers and had power to absolue them Others in a loud voyce made confession of those sinnes vnto God wherein they had offended him and as if they thought that God were deafe and thicke of hearing they would stretch out their throats as high as heauen perswading themselues perhaps by the force of this their breath to send their soules packing in that very instant vp vnto heauen In this desperate and wofull manner did our poore weather-beaten Galley endure this misery together with those that were in her till the next day following when as with the brightnesse of the Sunne and the clearing of the skie we began to recouer breath so that now all was ioy and our sorrow was turned into mirth cheering and hartning vp one another Certainly it cannot be denyed That of all those dangers that attend vpon death that is alwayes most feared which is still neerest vnto vs. For from those other wee thinke we may well scape But I did not so much feare this storme nor so sensibly apprehend the danger thereof as I stood in feare by a contrary winde and the new rigging vp of our Galley to be carryed backe againe to Genoa It was not the Sea but the shame that wrought vpon me This was it that made me to say to my selfe when I saw how the winds blew and the Seas raged that all the rest did fare the worse for my sake and that I was that Ionas for whom this tempest was rais'd that it might raise me vp to repentance Sayavedra became so Sea-sicke that he fell into a shrewd burning feuer and shortly after grew besides himselfe It would haue grieu'd a mans heart and moued much compassion to see the things that he did and the fooleries
shee made Here ceased her designes and here began her sorrowes Here ceased her plenty and here began her want Here ceased her regalos and here began her troubles Which went daily so increasing vpon her that shee knew not in the world what to doe nor how to be able to maintaine herselfe in the Nunnerie And albeit all the Nunnes there wisht her exceeding well and bare her great loue and affection for the noblenesse of her condition and qualitie her affabilitie ciuilitie goodnesse of nature sweetnesse of behauiour and other commendable parts condoling very much this her present necessitie and pouertie and were very desirous that shee should continue still amongst them yet could they not possibly bring it to passe For their wills being subordinate to that of their Superiour it being in their Prelates and not their owne choice neither could they effect what they desired nor shee continue any longer amongst them For very shortly after it was notified vnto her that she should either leaue the house or if she had a minde to stay forthwith to assigne her dowry But shee not being able for want of meanes to cumply with the second condition shee was forc't to entertaine the former This poore distressed maid was so cunning at her needle and had such a curious hand in all kinde of workes white or blacke in silke or gold and in ordering her colours to giue true life and perfection to whatsoeuer shee tooke in hand that the fame thereof was spred ouer all the Citie To this summe I must adde the vertues of her soule and the beauty of her face both which were in that height of excellencie the parts of her bodie being answerable to those of her minde that he that had but once seene her would verily haue thought nay almost sworne that two most cunning and exquisite Artizans had in emulation one to the other spent all their spirits and imployde the vtmost of their skill in framing such a singular creature as shee was being such a perfect peece of beauty and goodnesse that shee might draw off the beholders eyes from all other obiects though not vnworthy the looking on and attract them to her selfe Yet all this put together being in that if the word doe not exceed excesse was nothing being compared with her retirednesse of life her mortification of the flesh her fasts prayers and penance Shee not vnwitting that shee was now thrust out into the wide world that shee had no more any Nunnerie to shelter but lay open to the venues of Fortune if shee did not the better stand vpon her guard fearing the worlds murmuring and those occasions which might bring some scandall vpon her reputation as one that was wonderfull tender and iealous of her honour shee had got her a lodging where shee had the companie of diuers other vertuous and religious young maydens and there without any suspition or least shadow of any ill intention hauing no other helpe or meanes to liue saue the sweat of her browes and the labour of her fingers ends shee liu'd there very frugally keeping her-selfe within her bounds and giuing a good example of her vertue to all the young damosels of her time The Archbishop of that Citie had a great desire to haue some curiosities made for him as certaine wrought Chalice-cloathes neat towels handsome napkins dainty handkerchers and the like to wrap the Hoste in bordered about with some historicall worke as should best fit with the vse whereunto â—…hey serued and to haue them done as neere to the life as Art could attaine vnto After much inquirie made there being none to be found that could doe these things halfe so well as Dorotea for so was this Gentle-woman called vpon the good report they had heard of her they sought her out and recommended this worke vnto her care promising shee should be well paid for her paines Shee considered with her-selfe that for such a curious peece of worke as this was to be shee must make choyce of the best the purest the brightest and the finest gold threed that shee could get for money whatsoeuer it cost And because they that know best how to bestow it know best how to buy it shee her-selfe taking some of her neighbours and friends along with her went to seeke out this ware amongst the Gold-beaters shops who in Sevill both make and sell these kinde of commodities It was their hap to come to a young mans shop that was a handsome fellow and well behau'd who had but newly set vp for him-selfe and to get him the better custome stroue to haue his shop well furnisht and indeed had better and more choyce then the rest of his neighbours that traded in that kinde Of this youg man shee was willing to buy all the gold that shee had occasion to vse about this worke as well because shee found it was fit for her turne as likewise to excuse her-selfe a labour of going too oft out of doores if shee had had so much money as would haue done the deed but hauing no more store then that little which they had giuen her to begin the worke withall shee told the Master of the shop that shee would bestow a little money with him now but shee would come againe for more as her worke went on and her moneys came in This young Occupyer when he had beheld the beauty and composed countenance of this young mayden and had well obserued her manner of speech her honest cariage and modest behauiour he fell into that good liking of her and was so farre in loue with her that the least that he could haue found in his heart to haue giuen her was all the gold that shee had occasion to vse which was no great matter being that at that very instant he had deliuered vp his soule vnto her And perceiuing that shee forbore to buy so much as otherwise shee would willingly haue done for that shee wanted money embracing the occasion which he had now in his hands not so much to gaine her farther custome as to expresse the affection that he bare vnto her and to draw her into a good opinion of him not suffering her to part vpon those termes he said vnto her Mistresse if the gold be good and such as you looke after and that it be for your turne picke and choose where you like and carry away with you as much as you haue vse for or what you please and pay me now what you can well spare as for the rest you shall pay me by little and little as you shall receiue it from their hands that set you a worke The young man seemed to them all to be very kinde and courteous and for the ware they could finde no fault with it being as good as them-selues could wish or desire Dorotea made him present payment of as much as shee had and hauing made choyce of as much gold as shee thought good and needfull for her shee carried
it away with her leauing with him the name of the street whither he should either come or send for that which was remayning behinde That done they presently went their way the poore young man being so loue-strucken after their departure and so pittifully wounded with this amorous arrow that he was as farre from him-selfe as from all rest being tossed to and fro with various thoughts hauing his braines beaten with many troublesome and vnquiet imaginations Loue had almost burst the very heart of him He did neither eat nor drinke nor any thing else that might seeme to beare the name of life so altogether was his soule occupied in the contemplation of that rare and incomparable beauty and that mirrour of all vertue that this his troublesome life was to him as bad as death not knowing in the world what to doe At last it seeming vnto him that shee was a poore young mayden and that by meanes of mariage his chafte desires might arriue in the end to some happy port hee resolued to informe him-selfe what shee was as also of what life behauiour and birth The reports which were giuen of her were such that hee was now more perplexed and lesse confident then before Despairing in a manner with him-selfe that he should euer be able to enioy so rich a iewell holding him-selfe full more and more vnworthy of so great a happinesse as to obtaine her to bee his Spouse Hee was now quite out of heart as knowing him-selfe too meane for her worth But because it was not possible for him now to goe backe nor did it lye in his hands if he would to haue done it and for that the passions of the soule are no lesse preualent in the poore then the powerfull and that all are all alike subiect thereunto and equally affected with them howbeit he found him-selfe cast so farre behind-hand yet did hee neuer leaue striuing to trie if he could get before perseuering still in his honest purpose for that hee put him-selfe into Gods hands who doth alwayes fauour our good intentions and knowes how to accommodate those things that tend to his seruice according to his diuine will and pleasure presenting euermore in his prayers and supplications vnto him that his desire was no other then to get him a companion with whom he might be the better inabled to serue him and more particularly that he might be linked in lawfull mariage vvith this so vertuous a creature and one that vvas so much to his hearts-liking and content yet not that his but Gods vvill should be done where-unto he should most vvillingly submit him-selfe and that he should so farre grant his request and no farther as it should seeme best to his Maiestie and make most for his seruice He went likewise discoursing with him-selfe and amongst many other this one presented it selfe to his imagination That peraduenture her great pouerty her wary discretion and vigilant fore-sight would force her thereunto considering the solitary kind of life she now led and the remedy thereof and laying aside those vaine points of honour not measuring her selfe by what shee was but what she is she would happely accommodate her selfe to the condition of her present fortune and that when his honest desire to serue her should bee truly represented vnto her she may chance to yeeld to my faire request Intertaining him-selfe with these thoughts cares he was minded to call vpon her for the money which she ought him but not with purpose to presse her therewith nor to be troublesome therein vnto her but taking occasion rather one while to see this her curious worke another while that passing that way hee was of purpose come thither to know whether she needed any more gold and if she did that she should not want it whilest he had any that was fit for her so fetching many a walke thither excusing him-selfe in the best mannerthat he could and as he thought would make most for the performing of these his frequent visites and the procuring of her good will and acquaintance for that time he pretended nothing else to the end that this being first obtained he might the better play his game hereafter and in the interim mitigate some part of that sorrow which her absence did continually torment him withall In this the young man shew'd him-selfe as discreet as solicitous and as solicitous as truly louing Going on in those good and honest tearmes that in a short time he gained the good wills of all those that conuersed and were companions to Dorotea Being so farre from disliking his often visites that they rather receiu'd them as fauours and courtesies Amongst the rest that liu'd there together there were foure Sisters to one of which as being the grauest and reuerendest of the company they did all shew a kinde of respect as well for her temper and wisedome as also for her priority of yeeres With this graue Matron our young man seekes to enter into a stricter kind of friendship by reuerencing her and obseruing her and by presenting her with some such tokens and remembrances as might suâ—…e best with the respect more then loue that he bare vnto her So that in the end time bringing forth occasion by degrees he discouered him-selfe vnto her making her acquainted with his desires not omitting any thing that might make her fully to vnderstand the greatnesse of his affection and the fairnesse of his pretension Earnestly intreating her withall that by interposing her power and authority she would be a meanes that his hopes should not returne home empty and vnrewarded her worth and wisedome putting him in good assurance of the contrary And that therefore she would be pleased to continue her good fauour towards him and as occasion should offer that she should goe working and disposing this peâ—…ce of waxe to receiue the impression of his affection leauing it to her to imprint it in her to the life that seeing the truenesse of the stampe shee might be the sooner molded to entertaine the motion But in case shee should not finde her plyable but tough and hard to be wrought vpon shee would seeke to mollifie her by her meeke and gentle perswasions and remoue all those difficulties which on her part might be a hinderance to these his honest desires for on his part he vow'd and protested vnto her that nothing should be able to crosse it but that with open armes he would runne to embrace her submitting himselfe to be in all things ordered if not ouer-ruled by them Good meanes seconded by good intentions and which without any humane respects treat of honest things carrying a sound heart in their breasts and a true tongue in their heads haue alwayes such force and power with them that they easily perswade because truly beleeu'd This Gentle-woman so wrought with Dorotea sometimes this way and sometimes that now vsing t'one then t'other meanes till at last shee brought the businesse so about that shee being conuinced by
reason began to yeeld to her perswasions and to condescend to the motion that shee made vnto her and obeying her in all things as if shee had beene her owne naturall mother shee kist her hands in acknowledgment of her thankfulnesse putting her-selfe wholly into her hands In conclusion the match was made vp betweene them to both their good likings but more especially on Bonifacio his part for so was her husband called for that he was fully perswaded that in meeting with this iewell no man was more happy more fortunate and more rich then himselfe hauing now got him such a wâ—…e as his owne heart could not haue wisht a better being greater in her condition and qualitie then he deserued and such a good creature besides that he could leade a secure and honest course of life with her without feare or trouble of any iellous thoughts nor of any other thing that might cause his disquiet They liued very contentedly together making exceeding much of each other and wonderfully well satisfied of that chaste and true loue which they bare one to another He did ordinarily attend his shop busying himselfe for both their benefits in the exercise of his Trade and shee abiding aboue in her chamber either playing the good huswife in those things that appertained to the good gouernment of the house or following her needle spending part of that gold threed which her husband sold in working goodly borders garnishing them with curious flowers in their true and naturall colours and other the like neat and dainty peeces wherein shee did excell Their gaines were great and to make this their happinesse the fuller there was that conformitie in their loue and such an equall retribution in their affections that no two in the world could liue more honestly and more louingly together then they did But the Deuill who is still waking and neuer sleeps but still watches most how he may breake the bond of peace and breed brawles in loue against this louing Couple these who agreed so well together that there was neuer yet any the least difference betweene them prepares his pit-falls sets vp his traps and spreads his nets with all secrecie and all the skill and cunning he could deuise to doe them all the mischiefe he could and if it were possible to throw this vniforme frame and strong peece of building to the ground He followed this poore soule close at the heeles watching aduantage how he might trip her vp and ouerthrow her and in case he could not doe that yet at least to giue her a foyle or make her to stumble Insomuch that at her Visites when shee was at Masse or at Sermon yea in her greatest deuotion when shee was receiuing the Sacrament he did still seeke to trouble her presenting her with the instruments of his malice and wickednesse young Gallants discreet in their cariage neat in their cloathes and sweet in their perfumes who fell a courting her when shee came forth following and soliciting her whither-soeuer shee went but all these tricks would not serue the Deuils turne he did not reape the fruit he hoped for for this chaste woman standing stiffely to her tackling and giuing her enemie no ground did euermore with-stand these lightnesses by opposing against them a constant chaste minde and a setled and well resolued honestie And howbeit for to auoyd all occasion shee did forbeare as much as shee possibly could to goe abroad and when shee did it was very seldome and when shee was of necessitie inforced thereunto at which time shee was likewise haunted and persecuted by them They did round her doore night and day they sought inuentions and vsed all the meanes that might be for to see her neither did this also profit them any thing Amongst those Gallants that desired to serue her for all of them were young Gentle-men of very good fashion and the chiefest in Sevill there was one hat was Teniente of the Towne a young man vnmarried and rich This Gentle-man liu'd right against the house where shee dwelt where hee had very faire and goodly roomes being especiall and principall lodgings and of so many stories high and those goodly open galleries that they did ouer-top and looke into those lower ones of Dorotea notwithstanding that they were distanced by a whole street that interposed it selfe betweene their houses So that from his Turrets his Terraces and his high windowes he might ouer-looke her and see what shee did and that so plainly that neither her husband nor her-selfe could scarce rise vp in the morning to make them ready or at night get them to bed without being seene and espyed by him especially they being carelesse and heeding no such matter and the other with extraordinarie diligence watching and prying what they did This Teniente then making vse of this occasion with all carefulnesse and vigilancie accompanied with insupportable passions and sorrowes did labour as if his life had layen vpon it how he might come to haue some speech with her or receiue any fauour from her hands But finding in the end that he lost his labour and spent his time in vaine he was forced as the rest of his fellowes were to giue ouer his sute set vp his rest and turne backe the same way he came without obtayning any the least looke or fauour from her not being able to perceiue in her any shadow of hope that either now or hereafter though neuer so small shee was likely to graunt him For this chaste woman did liue in that sober and discreet fashion and did so well and wisely gouerne her-selfe that shee put him quite off from any suspition which might incourage him to pretend any kindnesse from her or but wash off one haires bredth of gold from this good creatures credit though it is not to be doubted he vsed all the Art he could to haue made her some few graines lighter then shee was There went likewise along in the same dance with the rest another Penitentiarie that was of the same brotherhood and companie of these foolish Disciplinantes and selfe-afflicting louers This was a Gentleman of Burgos gallant young discreet and rich Which good parts fauoured by his franke and bountifull disposition might a man would haue thought haue digg'd downe mountaines and laid them leuell with the lowest earth But the chaste Dorotea neither by this Gentlemans good parts nor the Teniente's great power nor all the passions of other her Louers could be moued one â—…ot from her honourable resolution not hauing any sense or feeling thereof in the world as if shee had beene no woman of this world or had minded any such matter Against all these assaults shee show'd her-selfe a strong Tower an inexpugnable rocke against which the continuall beatings of those furious waues of their raging lust and froathy appetite not being able to preuaile were broken and dasht in peeces And it is not to be doubted but that her honestie continually keeping watch like
the Crane that with the stone of Gods loue raising her-selfe from the ground and her foot standing fast and firme on the steedy affection that shee bare to her husband did free her from these birds of rapine these Eagles of Caucasus that sought to make a prey of her And it had beene impossible to haue wounded either her or her honestie if the cunning and crafty Fowler had not spred his net couering and shadowing it ouer with the greene grasse of holinesse and simulated sanctitie to intrap this simple harmelesse and innocent Doue This Burgalese whose name was Claudio had to his seruant a dainty fine shee-slaue not swarfe and tawney as others commonly be but faire and well-fauour'd of a good presence a good garbe and gracefull behauiour borne in Spaine of a Moorish slaue of Barbary Shee was so cunning so subtle so nimble witted so dextrous in her tricks and deuices such a worker of her-selfe into all folkes loues and affections were it for her owne ends or others so curious in visiting Church-yards so charitable in accompanying those that were to be hang'd that shee was able to make water-cresses to grow on the top of a bed Shee was such a one as for such like affaires her fellow was not to be found Her Master one day call'd her vnto him and giuing her account of this his Loue-torment he craued her counsell how he might come to compasse his pretension This his good slaue after that shee had beene well informed of the businesse and knew how the case stood with him as if shee had beene in iest smilingly said vnto him Why how now my good Master what mountaines haue you to remoue What Seas to dry vp What dead to raise vnto life What great difficultie is there in that which doth thus afflict thee Or why doest thou so indeare it vnto me Sir Are not these things that I am well seene in Little oyle and lesse labour will serue to bring this wheele about then thou thinkst for Thou mayest now make reckoning that shee is thine owne and that thou hast her already in thy hands Let not this therefore trouble thee any farther but be of good cheere and plucke vp thy heart for within these few dayes I will deliuer this Hare into thy lap And if I doe not let me lose my name for euer and call me no more Sabina the daughter of Haja From that time forward shee tooke this businesse to taske and began from that very instant like a cunning Chesse-player so to order and marshall her men designing with her-selfe how to make her draughts and within how many remoues to giue first the checke and then the check-mate Now does shee set her-selfe roundly to her play and begins this her game mouing first one of her pawnes reseruing her best men for the last push if the meaner should miscarry in this battaile First of all therefore shee makes me a fine delicate little basket of the greene sprigs of Mirtles Pome-citrons Oranges adorning and setting it forth with Gally-flowres Geeimines Muske-roses and other sweet flowres bound in with small tender bull-rushes which were composed and set together in most dainty and curious manner This basket shee takes along with her and beares it to the Gold-beater Telling him that shee was seruant to a certaine Gentlewoman that was a Nunne in that Citie and Lady-Abbesse of a Couent who hauing notice of the goodnesse of his ware and hauing necessary vse of some of his best gold for to flourish ouer certaine things which were to serue for some ornament that were to adorne that Monasterie against Midsommer day which was a great Festiuall with them shee had sent him that little basket for a token intreating him to send her two pound of his purest and finest gold that shee might make proofe of it and that if it should be found to be so good as to her it had beene commended and that shee found it fit for her purpose shee would pay him well for it and he should from hence-forth haue her custome for all the gold that should be spent in her House sending weekly for so much as they had occasion to vse Besides shee would be veâ—…y thankfull vnto him if he seru'd her well and bestow now and then vpon him such dainties and curiosities as those religious places vsually afford Bâ—…facio was mâ—…ch gladded with this new occasion of fresh gaines and no lesse with his little basket of flowres which he made much reckoning of being so neatly and arâ—…ficially wrought as indeed it was Which he had no sooner receiued hauing first dispatcht the slaue away with the gold but he presently carryes it vp to his wife putding it in her lap with great ioy which was by her with no lesse receiued Shee asked him of whom hee had bought it And then he told her all that had passed Then did shee esteeme it much more then before because it brought to her remembrance the time of her childhood when with other girles of her yeeres and the Nunnes of the Couent shee did busie her-selfe in the like exercises Whereupon shee intreated her husband that when shee came to him againe he would send her vp vnto her for shee would gladly be acquainted with her The next weeke following being some six dayes after Sabina returnes very iocondly boasting how good the gold was and that shee was come for as much more of the same bringing with her a large message in the behalfe of her Mistresse the Lâ—…dy-Abbesse and presenting him from her with a little image of the rinde of Limmons and a Rosario sutable to the same so cariously cut out that it was well worthy much estimation As soone as he saw it he would not him-selfe receiue it of her but intreated her that shee with her owne hands would deliuer it to Dorotea his wife Now the sop was fallen into the honey-pot Now had she what she would haue This fell out as pat for her as a pudding for a Fiyars mouth But making strange of this newes and as though shee had knowne no such matter shee said vnto him Ah thou naughty man doest thou speake in carnest Art thou marryed indeed I doe not beleeue it Thou art bought and sold with vs for a single man we tooke thee to be a Batchclour and my Mistresse talkt of marrying thee with a pretty Lay-maydâ—… tâ—…at we haue in our House as fine and as fresh as the flowres in May and is both beautifull and rich Bonifacio replyde I haue one already as rich and as beautifull as you there can giue me any and with whom I liue most contentedly And if you will not beleeue me goe vp and see Sabina then said vnto him In faith no not I you shall not get me vp stayres I am afraid you will play the wagg with me and that you doe but iest I assure you I doe not iest said Bonifacio and therefore friend Sabina you may boldly goe vp
Vp shee goes and hauing entred the roome where shee was shee no sooner saw Dorotea but shee runnes with open armes towards her and throwes her-selfe downe at her feet making a thousand ducks and reuerences vnto her after the Moorish fashion admiring much her rare and singular beauty which though shee had heard it much spoken of before yet this worke of nature went farre beyond the words that were vttered of it For it was such an admirable peece that report was not able to expresse it to the lise but must needs fall short in the praising of it But shee stood like one astonished when shee beheld the frames and those loomes of rich embroyderies and other the like workes wherein shee spent her time wondring at their perfection and curiositie saying vnto her How is it possible that my Mistresse should not haue the happinesse to enioy such excellent good things as these No no it shall not be long by the grace of God ere you two know one another and be better acquainted and enter into a strict league of friendship O sweet Iesus When I shall tell my Lady-Abbesse what I haue seene ô how will shee enuie my good fortune What a longing desire will shee haue till shee see that face of yours and be made so happy as to enioy your good companie By the life of her that left me here behinde her and as her soule is there where those eternall tapers continually burne let the pocks consume my iaw-bones if I be not a Bawd to these your loues because I haue a great minde to bring you together and that yee should dearely loue each other I will not faile hereafter to visite you oftner you are a pearle of that price that I cannot choose but loue you make much of you and desire to serue you After these words and many other full of ceremony and complement she tooke her leaue and went away with her gold And from that time forward euery second or third day shee made one errand or other thither one while for gold another saying that she past that way telling Bonifacio that she should be guilty to her selfe of neglect that she should commit treason to her owne heart if she should passe that way and not performe a visit to that good Angell of his being the onely Saint of her sexe to whose shrine shee did owe all respect and reuerence At other times she would excuse her comming by bringing her some rarity or other and whilest shee was talking with her goe disposing and preparing of her that she would of her owne accord goe one day and make merry at the Monastery Now when she had moulded things to her mind and thought that this fine peece of gold was fit for the hammering she tooke a walke thither on Munday morning carrying along with her two pretty little baskets the one hauing in it some Conserues and the like toyes the other some fruits of that season the first and the best that were to be found vpon their first comming Which shee presented her withall telling her because they were fruits of their owne garden and the first they had gathered her Lady Abbesse thought they could not be better bestow'd on any then her selfe And that withall she had a double request vnto her The first that the next insuing Munday being the feast of the glorious Saint Iohn Baptist and the Sunday before it their first Vespers she would be pleased to doe her the fauour to stay those two daies with her in the Monasterie doing penance there with her which she might the more conueniently doe in regard that she had no occasion of businesse during those two Holy-dayes and besides the Nunnes after they had ended their feasts were amongst them-selues to represent a Comedy And that the Abbesse would take no pleasure nor contentment in it if she would not doe her this fauour to come and see it acted and that other principall Gentle-women that were of kinne to the Nunnes were likewise to come thither and that they should goe all along together bearing each other company The other that she might haue three pound of her best and finest gold to make tufts and tassels for a rich cloath that was to be vsed before the Altar desiring her if it were possible that shee might haue the choisest and the finest for that purpose that was to be got To this of the gold Dorotea made answer she could and would doe that for her with a very good will for this quoth she is in my power to performe I could likewise be content to cumply with whatsoeuer my Lady Abbesse shall be pleased to command me but this is not in mine but my husbands hands You know Sister Sabina that I am not Mistresse of my selfe I am vnder anothers command and therefore in this you must aske my good-mans leaue it is hee that can giue you an I or a No whether I shall goe or stay To whose will I must and euer shall conforme my selfe This were fine in good faith said then Sabina if your husband should deny vs so small and so faire a request as this Let me neuer thriue if I goe out of doores these eight daies vnlesse hee giue you leaue Say your selfe doth it stand with reason to omit the mentioning of common ciuility and good manners that one onely request which my Mistris makes vnto you being besides the first that euer she made vnto you so earnest a one and so iust that you should lose all respect towards her person and her kindnesse as to deny her so sleight a courtesie desiring as shee doth her saluation to inioy such a paradise as your selfe Fie Sabina hold thy peace said Dorotea be not so prophane nor doe not flout your poore friend for I am old Old said Sabina yes yes you bee very old indeed Let mee die of your disease You might as well haue told me that the Spring is the end of the yeare and that Lent is Christmas But let vs leaue off iesting As old as you are God grant your husband may long inioy you and giue you the fruit of his blessings And therefore without any more adoe I pray grant our request for I meane to goe away with this good bargaine that my mistresse may con me thanke for it O how much will she make of this pretty little Rogue Bonifacio and Dorotea fell a laughing to see her so pleasant while hee with a cheerefull countenance not seeing the Snake that lay lurking in the grasse nor the ambush that was laid for him suspecting no harme and the lesse in regard of the great confidence that he had in his wife said Well followed in good faith Now by my life Sabina hath pleaded hard in this cause and hath handsomly bestirr'd her-selfe shee must not be denyed for this once especially being it is my Lady-Abbesses pleasure to haue it so And therefore I prithee sweet Heart goe and recreate thy selfe there those
a most fierce and cruell beast it ouercomes all treads downe all that stands in its way and commands all It makes euery thing stoope to its power it â—…ubjcteth the earth and all that therein is By riches the fiercest beasts are 〈◊〉 â—…me no fish though neuer so great can resist riches nor the least of fishes that hide them-selues in the concaues and hollow holes of the rocks though ouer-whelmed with water and drowned in the deepe can escape its â—…orce nor can the fowles of the ayre though of the swiftest and nimblest wing 〈◊〉 from its Empire it exenterates and pulls out the very bowels from the profoundest parts of the earth vpon which the highest mountaines haue their foundation and it maketh dry the most hidden sands which the Sea doth couer in her bottomlesse Abysse What altitudes hath not it abased What difficulties hath not it ouercome What impossibilities hath not it facilitated In what dangers hath shee wanted safetie In what aduersitie hath not shee found friends What thing hath shee desired which shee hath not obtayned Or what Law hath shee made which hath not beene obeyed And being as it is so venomous a poyson that not onely like the Basiliske by being beheld by vs it killeth our bodies but by a bare desire onely being coueted destroyeth our soules damning them for euer to the bottomlesse pit of Hell yet shee her-selfe is a treacle to the harme we receiue from her and a counterpoâ—… to that venome where-with shee infecteth our soules and conscience if he that possesseth riches can as of an Antidote or some pretious preseruatâ—… make 〈◊〉 vse thereof Riches in its owne nature and in it selfe hath 〈◊〉 â—…ur 〈◊〉 knowledge nor power nor valour nor any other good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 punishment nor glory more then that whereunto they that doe posâ—…e it doe direct it It is like vnto the Cameleon which assumeth the colour of that thing on which it settles its selfe Or of the nature of that water of the Lake Fenco of which the Arcadians report that he that drinketh thereof ouernight growes sicke but he that takes it after the Sunne is once vp waxeth well He that shall liue in idlenesse heaping vp treasure by night that is secretly scraping a great deale of wealth together ouer-charging his conscience there-with he sure shall be sicke But he that shall vse them in the day time and show them to the light that his workes may shine before men and that he come with a cleare conscience hauing the stomacke of his soule empty of sin and his conscience not ouer-clogg'd with worldly cares this man shall be made whole Neither is the rich man condemned nor the poore man saued for that the one is rich and the other poore but onely because the rich man abuseth his riches and the poore man his pouertie For if the rich man treasures vp and the poore couer neither is the rich man rich nor the poore man poore and both are to be condemned But that may be called the best and the truest riches which being possessed is despised Fpr riches serue onely at least should to releeue our owne necessities to communicate with the good and to distribute amongst our friends The better and greater pare which rich men haue of riches is the lester part in regard they are so occasionall in men inciting them especially if their hearts be once set vpon them to this or that other sinne Ill desires beget ill doings Riches in its owne nature is a very sweet thing To this mans appetite hath a sweet tooth and a greedy gaping after it And as it is in the Prouerb La mançana corre peligro en las pujas del erizo that Apple is in great danger that stickes on the prickles of a Hedge-hogs backe The Diuine prouidence for our greater good being to diuide and distribute its gifts not laying all the weight of them vpon one side thought good to repart them in different manner and on different persons to the end that all might be saued This Prouidence made both the rich and the poore To the rich she gaue temporall goods to the poore spirituall blessings to the end that the rich man distributing his riches to the poore might thereby purchase Gods fauour and so remaining both equall might equally gaine heauen which is to be opened with a golden key to wit with riches by vsing them well And sometimes likewise this doore of heauen is to be opened with a picklocke that is by dispensing our goods to the poore Yet notwithstanding doth not man onely for that he has more thereby merit more but because he more despiseth then desireth For without comparison much more is the riches of a poore man that is contented then of a rich man that is neuer satisfied He possesseth them that is not possessed by them hee is rich that seekes not after riches and he hath most store that is the least storer This is the only man whom we may truly tearme rich wise and honourable And if the wiseman would vse his wisedome well and would measure that which he hath need of with that which he hath nature would content it selfe with a little and euen in that little would hee find an ouerplus But because the foole inlargeth the cord and would imbrace that which he hath according to that which he desireth God so orders this measure that though he had all whatsoeuer the world containes yet should he still be poore To him that is not contented nothing is enough To a hauing mind all is too little wanting much by hauing too much The eye of a couetous man will neuer say no more then will the Sea or Hell Yame hasta Now I haue enough Rich and wise shalt thou be when thou liu'st so within thy compasse that hee that knowes thee should admire the little that thou hast and the much that thou spendest and when it shall not cause any wonder in thee to see what little meanes thou hast to liue and what great possessions other men inioy Thou seest me here now rich very rich and in Spaine but farre worse then I was before for if before pouerty made me too impudent why riches hath now made me too confident If I could but haue contented my selfe or had I but had the temper of a well gouern'd man I could neuer haue wanted but because I neither did the one nor knew the other for to get money I endanger'd my body and hazarded my soule I was neuer contented neuer satisfied neuer at quiet with my selfe And for that I led an idle kind of life and was not willing to take any paines vnlesse it were in roguery I lost that with ease which I got with much labour I was like vnto that wheele which conuayes water to your Aqueducts no sooner full but presently empty I cared little for money kept it lesse but alwaeys imploy'd it ill My money was the price
consciences were seared so that we had no great sense or feeling of it I well wot that all the while I continued this wicked course of life I did neuer truly confesse my sinnes and if I did come to Confession I did not doe it as I ought to haue done and performed that duty for no other cause in the world but to satisfie the Parish and to auoid Excommunication Wilt thou see whether it be so or no Consider whether I euer promist to make restitution whensoeuer it should be in my power to doe it Or whether I had likewise a purpose to amend my lewd and wicked life when at that time there were fifteene twenty or more bonds a foot of the like nature and yet did I neuer goe my selfe nor vse any diligence by others to acquaint those that were thus bound that such and such a bond was vnlawfull and that I had grated vpon them with a griping and biting Vsury and that for to cleare my conscience and that I might worthily receiue the blessed Sacrament of the Communion I would abate them of the ouer-plus and make good all that which I had wrongfully and vnlawfully taken from them And how that I would restore vnto them besides all that which I had for that it was all stolne and had nothing that I could iustly and truly say was mine owne And if afterwards when they came to pay me I had no relenting in me nor did not returne them any thing backe againe what an intention must this be Certainly as bad as bad may be This truly is that which I ought to haue done but I did it not nor is it in vse now-adayes to doe such good things as these God if it be his will giue vs a due acknowledgement of our sinnes And I verily perswade my selfe that if then at that time I had finished this my life my soule had assuredly gone downe to hell and beene condemned to fry in that eternall fire O your Vsurers they are a wicked generation of Vipers they haue neyther any conscience nor any feare of God O what a braue and what a sure marke is this to shoot at Howneere am I now to the drawing of mine arrow vp to the head And how doe these traiterous villaines these Caterpillers ofa Common-wealth stand peeping and watching to see how and where I meane to hit O what a temptation doe I feele what a strugling doe I finde in my selfe what adoe to pull in this hand and arme of mine from letting fly my whole sheafe of arrowes at them and so to wound and gall them on all sides that I leaue no part about them vntoucht and no bone in their whole body vnbroken For in regard that I am as they say Ladron de casa a house-thiefe one of the same stamp I know them as well as they know them-selues am not only acquainted with their actions but euen with their very thoughts secrets of their hearts Will you giue me leaue to giue them a gentle nip and that I make them to see their owne perdition and put them into such a great confusion that they shall not know in the world what to doâ—… with them-selues I know that ye will not and I also know why you will not But if I shall speake the truth I must plainly tell you Riches are the cause of all this But when they are ill gotten in what misery liues the soule of such a one Certainly it is in a very bad case And hence it commeth to passe that couetous men too much deuoted vnto riches incurre infinite troubles perils and hazards And therefore to free himselfe from this danger and the better to secure himselfe Crates the Thebane that most famous Philosopher with an vndaunted courage bound vp in one pack or fardell together all the gold other such precious Iewels as he had with great fury threw them into the sea saying get you gone ô ye riches into the bottome of the sea lest you drench me in the deepe I had rather drowne you then you should drowne me But this great Philosopher by his leaue did herein me-thought very ill Much better had he done if he had distributed these his goods amongst the poore but in doing that which he did he gaue vs therby to vnderstand the great trouble that gold bringeth with it so that to him it seemed a farre lesser inconuenience to remaine poore then to liue in so many griefes and afflictions as riches occasion in those that possesse them What other thing is it to enter with consideration into the minde of the rich then to enter into a fearfull prison where within we see men imprisoned laden with irons bound with chaines fetter'd manacled and girt about the necke with collars of iron wherewith they are brought before the Iudge And how many then are the afflictions and the torments of these miserable and wretched men thus incarcerated and compassed in with strong wals and hard chains And how much more are they opprâ—…ssed and how much heauier are their shackles who Ioue riches and those most bound who most abound in them And as there is more compasiion had of those which are in these miseries and are thus fast bound and painfully laden with bolts manacles collars and chaines of iron about their feeâ—… hands necks and their whole body throughout So much more pitie is there to be taken of the rich and see how much the richer hee is and the more wealth hee hath about him and all those good things which his heart desireth yet for all this are we not to account him a rich and wealthy man but rather wretched and vnfortunate For besides the prison wherein he liues miserable as he is he findes himselfe attended and guarded with a barbarous and cruell keeper which is the loue of riches And if it so happen that thou fall at any time into their hands there is no getting out of their clutches but that they may keepe thee safe when they haue thee and that thou maist not escape from them they will haue three or foure strong doores shut vpon thee and as many great chaines to make all sure besides locks and keyes with I know not how many double wards and bits that all the picklockes in the world that euer haue beene shall or will be shall not be able to open these doores and set thee free from thence And yet these wretched creatures are so blinded in the pleasure which they take in this their imprisonment that they neuer thinke vpon it nor seeke to get out but are content to continue in it all the dayes of their life Bonaâ—…enture saith that he who hath once set his affection on gold can hardly with-draw his loue from it King Dauid saith That our soule cleaueth vnto the dust and that our belly trayleth on the ground and is as it were fastned and glued to the earth Vnfolding thereby the affection which we haue to
amongst the wormes of thy wastefull ryots and excesses which like so many deuourers lye gnawing vpon his heart and bowels Thy boldnes in going abroad thy liberty in conuersing thy exorbitancies in spending thy wastefulnesse in scattering thy vanitie in vaunting thy selfe bragging and boasting thy birth parentage which hath so many mixtures as there are differences of keyes and variety of stops in an Organ Hast thou a husband that can beare with all these and much more and yet is he fish of foure dayes old growes he stale with thee and begins he now to stinke Tell me I prithee by the life and light I coniure thee of those thy faire eyes and doe not lye vnto me whether yesterday thou didst not visit such a Hermitage such a Chappel such such other places of deuotion making there thy vowes thy offerings but to what purpose God he best knowes And is it not likewise true that since thou hadst the vse of reason nay rather before thou hadst it because thou yet wantest it there was neuer yet any Midsommer night or feast of S. Iohn wherein without sleeping for they say that sleep hindereth the vertue and operation of those you know what I meane thou betookst thy selfe to such a prayer thou knowst well enough what one but better it had beene for thee that thou hadst not knowne it being such a one as it is and so much reproued without opening thy mouth or speaking so much as one word for they likewise say that silence is another essentiall point of that prayer thou shouldst stay waiting and looking for the first that should passe along by thee after midnight to the end that by what thou shouldst heare come from him thou mightst accordingly iudge of thy future mariage know him that should be thy husbād hauing therein a strong confidence affiance and giuing the same credit beleefe vnto it as if it were an article of Faith or one of those of thy Creed when as in very deed they are no other then old wiues tales the impostures of witches the meere fooleries of foolish women such as want iudgment And is it not also true that there is not that Beata nor that deuout religious woman that thou hast not either beene with her or shee with thee to the same effect Is it not true that thou hast put on thy mantle walking diuers stations with them only for this purpose Hast thou not forcibly laid hold on their garments torne the mantles of these Saints who neuer throw them off frō their shoulders burning tapers to thou knowst whom Hast thou not broken the bounds of modesty without blushing neither setting before thee thine owne shame or the feare of God Hast thou left any sieue without trying thy sorceries thereupon or beanes lye still in their place which thou hast not made to leape and dance by euill meanes and by words and charmes hated prohibited by our holy Religion Is there any match-maker or knowne friend of thine whom thou hast not been importunate withall telling them that thou art sicke that thou longest for a husband At last God sends her a husband I speake of others not of my selfe a quiet man milde spirited one that is carefull to liue an honest man who takes paines and labours hard to get a Royall wherewith to feed and maintaine her not suffering her to want her oyntments her paintings and a thousand other toyes trinkets as brooches flowres buttōs aglets the like for the ornament of her person yet for all this within foure dayes this man also growes stale and stinkes If poore soule he doe all that hee can for thee why doest thou afflict both him and thy selfe and why should it turne thy stomacke and cause a loathing in thee when others shall but name him vnto thee Why dost thou seeke to defame him by thy obloquies detractions deprauings reproaches raylings and reuilings Why dost thou grumble at those good offices he does thee Why misconstrue his kindnesse Why fashion his affection according to thy false fancy measuring his heart by thine owne Thou wouldst not haue him digg'd out of his graue but that the memory of him should sleep for euer and yet thou digg'st him vp with thine owne hands not sparing the very bones of his Ancestors and harmelesse ashes of his whole linage throwing out lies and scandals by shouell-fuls to those that giue thee the hearing laying foule but false imputations vpon him proclaiming that as they say in the open market-place of him which neither doest thou know to bee true neither indeed is he guilty of To what end then is all this outrage I will tell thee It is onely out of her malice towards him thinking by this meanes to affront and disgrace him But thou doest therein like thy selfe thou showest thy selfe a right woman full of change and mutability fickle and inconstant and would to God these thy sodaine and vndeserued alterations doe not arise taking the course that thou dost from the offences that thou hast committed against thy husband against thy God and against thine owne soule Now that I am come hither and brought thus before euer I thought of it into this port I will vnpacke my commodities set vp a boothe and make show of all my wares as your Pedlers and poore Mercers vse to doe that goe from Faire to Faire and from Towne to Towne opening them here to day and there to morrow without making any set residence in this or that other place and when they haue sold all their trinkets returne home to their owne countrie Let vs here set open our shop and sell you some of these our good wares and let vs in open market make show vnto you of the intentions of some kind of mariages as well that we may put those out of their errour who are led thereunto for those ends as also for that they may know that they are knowne and it is fit that we should tell them the ill that they doe because they truly doe ill and that done we will presently returne home againe to our selues Some take this holy state of mariage vpon them out of no other consideration in the world then to free them-selues from the subiection of a Father or a mother and to be at their owne liberty it seemeth to your foolish young girle be she Gentlewoman or otherwise that she shall presently be a free-woman and that as soone as shee is remoued from her fathers house and receiued into that of her husbands she may gad and runne where and whither she list That she shall haue the Law in her owne hands that she shall command with authorite haue where-withall to giue and seruants to waite and attend vpon her and to be at her becke To these kind of creatures subiection seemes to be too sharpe and cruell a tye vpon them and therefore easily suppose that as soone as they are married
things may I style my selfe vnfortunate First in this my mariage though on my part I did vse all possible meanes to obserue the lawes therof Secondly that hauing done penance so long a time with her and hauing lost all my wealth I had not any acquittance of receipt vnder her hand no not so much as a childe by her whereby I might haue recouered her dowry Howbeit I haue no great cause to complaine much for this for the vnhappinesse of her death made my life happy For there is no burthen so heauy as the insupportable waight of a froward wife As a certaine passenger plainly gaue vs to vnderstand who being vpon a voyage at Sea and a great storme arising the Master of the Shippe gaue order that they should presently lighten the Shippe and throw the heauiest commodities ouer-board for the sauing of their liues The passenger hearing him say so tooke his wife vp in his armes and threw her into the sea The Iustice going afterwards about to punish him for this his offence he excused him-selfe saying That the master of the ship had commanded him so to doe And that amongst all the merchandize that hee had aboord there was not any that waighed so heauy as his wife which was the cause that hee threw her into the Sea And it pleased God that they had faire weather after it Now turne your eyes vpon my father-in-Law who neuer had any difference with me but did cherish and comfort me as if I had beene his owne naturall sonne and taking alwayes part with me against his daughter and would euer chide and reprehend her and when he saw his fatherly admonitions could not reclaime her nor worke any good vpon her he would neuer come within her doores But howsoeuer he did hate her conditions in conclusion she was his daughter and children are those tables that are sawen and hewen as it were out of the fathers heart And though they cause their sorrow yet they loue them dearely He mourned much for her but we remained friends Wee buried this vnhappy woman for that must be her name and did that was sitting for her soule And within a few dayes after we parled of parting Company for he would that I should returne that vnto him which he had giuen me with his daughter I did not stand off but gaue him all that he had giuen me and in better case then he consigned it vnto me He kindly thankt me we leuel'd our accompts remaining still as good friends as euer we were heretofore CHAP. IIII. Guzman de Alfarache being now a Widower resolues to goe to Alcala de Henares to study the Artes and Diuinity that he might make him-selfe fit to say Masse And hauing fulfilled all his tearmes and duly heard his Lectures hee leaues all and marries againe FOR to tumble downe a stone from the top of a hill euery mean mans strength will serue with the touch as they say of his little finger hee will make it to roule to the ground But if the same stone were to be drawne out of some deepe Well many men would not be able to fetch it forth and great diligence must be vsed for the getting of it vp For to make my selfe fall from that good estate wherein I was and to run head-long out of my wealth and credit my wifes wastfulnesse was enough to turne me going but to get my selfe vp againe to the same height wherein I was before I had need of the helpe of other the like Vnkles and Kinsfolke such another Genoa and Milane or that another Sayavedra should come and liue with me or that the same man should rise againe for I neuer lighted on the like seruant or companion for my turne by whose helping hand I might haue beene raised vp as high as euer I was and restored to a better estate then before But wanting these good helpes I lay buryed and whelmed-ouer head and eares in a well of miseries Goods and riches the slower they are in comming the quicker they are in going They are gathered with a great deale of leasure but 〈◊〉 scattered away in haste All at this present whatsoeuer it be in this world it is all subiect to mutation it being fuller of alterations then any thing else Let not the rich man therefore rest too secure nor yet the poore man despaire For the wheele is as slow in comming vp as in going downe and as quickly emptieth as fils the Buckets that it bringeth vp The excessiue expences of my house had stript me of all both my iewels and my money My wife might with a good conscience if she had had it considering what I suffered for her sake and the troubles which by her exorbitancies lighted vpon me haue left mee some small part of her portion which she might lawfully haue done where-with at least I might had I beene so disposed being a sole and retired man haue driuen some small trade attended my old occupation of vsury or emploied my selfe in some one thing or other to haue pickt out a poore liuing and to beginne the world anew to see if I could recouer this my weaknesse whereinto by her meanes I was fallen and now brought so low But not onely in this particular occasion but in all the rest that offered them-selues vnto mee with my friends and acquaintance I might say that which Simonides said He had two coffers or chests in his house and was wont to say vsing to open them at certaine times that when he opened that of cares and troubles from which hee thought and hoped to reape some profit it fell out contrary to his expectation finding nothing but his labour for his paines and of that it was brim-full but that wherein the Graces were kept who should haue recompenced him for his good seruices he could get nothing thence but had the ill lucke to find it alwayes empty This Philosopher and my selfe were equally vnfortunate and it seemeth that the influence of one and the same Starre had lighted on vs both For albeit I did ouermore labour to helpe and benefit others not considering the good or hurt that might come thereof and without taking the counsell of those who say Haz bien y guarte Doe well for others but yet looke to thy selfe so may I also say That I neuer washt that head that I had any other reward for my paines but scabs and scurffe And albeit I had felt the smart of it and paid soundly for this my folly yet I could not hold my hand but wilfully persisted in mine owne wayes for being made drunke with the delight that I tooke therein I did not seeke to repayre the hurt it had done mee For as it is an easie matter to strip a drunken man out of his cloathes so is it hard to doe the same vpon him that is sober They may rifle him that sleepes but not him that is awake I did neuer stand vpon my
error For euer since the fall of our first parents with that Leauen of theirs was the whole lumpe and masse of mankind made sowre and corrupted with these their hereditary vices the frame of this humane horologe was so broaken and put out of order that there was not one whole wheele left to answer one another nor any spring remaining whereby to giue it motion But was so vtterly spoiled so rent and torne in pieces and so wholly out of all frame and order as if it had beene a cleane contrary thing so differing was it now from that first setled estate wherein God had created it the alteration of this its truer course arising from mans disorderly disobedience From hence grew that blindnesse in his vnderstanding that forgetfulnesse in his memory that defect in his will that disorder in his appetite that deprauednesse in his Actions that deceit in his senses that weaknesse in his strength and those paines and torments in his greatest delights and pleasures A cruell squadron of sore and fierce enemies who as soone as God hath infused our soules into our bodies incompassing vs on euery side violently set vpon vs and so hotly assaile vs with the sweet enticements of sin faire promises and the false apparances of foule and filthy pleasures that they ouer-throw all goodnesse in vs and so taint and corrupt our soules that they put them quite out of that good course for which they were created So that it may be said of the soule that it is composed of two contrary parts the one rationall and diuine and the other of naturall corruption And forasmuch as the flesh on that side whereto it inclines is weake fraile and so full of imperfection sinne hauing so wholly infected it cleane throughout hence is it come to passe that imperfection and disorder is as it were naturall vnto vs. And such and so great is this extreame that man cannot account any conquest greater then the subduing of his passions Great is his courage whosoeuer he be that can resist them and bring them vnder in regard of that mortall warre and infernall enmity which is and still will be betweene our Reason and our Appetite For our Appetite perswadeth vs vnto that which is most agreeable to our nature to that which doth best like and please vs and to things of that quality which we take pleasure to treat of and haue a desire to obtaine them Whereas on the contrary Reason is like vnto a Schoole-master who that she may the better correct vs goes alwayes with a rod of reprehension in her hand condemning the ill which wee commit But wee like little children play the Trâ—…ants and flye from this Schoole for feare of correction when wee doe amisse and runne a-mouching eyther to our Aunts house or our grandfathers where wee are made much of and suffered to play the wantons Thus often if not alwayes Reason remaineth which ought not so to be in vassallage and slauery to our Appetite Which when it hath once gotten so great a power and dominion ouer vs that of filthy Loue being so vehement so violent so powerfull so proper to this our being so solely and wholly ours so sutable to our disposition so glued and wedged to our nature that to breathe or liue is not more proper vnto vs it must of necessitie follow that it is the hardest passion to represse the terriblest enemy that wee haue to deale withall and who with most strength and greatest force comes vpon vs assaults vs and subdues vs. And albeit it be true that Reason holding as shee doth her ancient place of preheminence is wont sometimes to hinder by her great wisedome and valour the sodaine working of a looke although it haue the power of potent causes to assist and further the same that it may not easily and as it were in a trice rob vs of our will before wee are aware putting a man in an instant besides himselfe yet as already hath beene said for as much as the Appetite and the Will are such sure marke-men so free so Lord-like being neuer yet taught to obey nor acknowledge any Superiour it is an easie thing for them hauing Loue on their side to worke whatsoeuer effects and in such forme and manner as shall seeme best to stand with their owne liking And because likewise there is not any thing which doth not naturally appeterc bonum desire that which is good and that euery action which wee vndergoe is in regard of that good which represents it selfe vnto vs or that happinesse wee finde to be in it wee euermore desire to obtaine the same and ioyne it vnto vs side as they say to side nay wee would if it were possible out of this our earnest desire conuert it and incorporate it into our owne substance From hence then this Conclusion may be gathered That for a man to fall in loue there is no such force or necessitie in it that there should some distance of time interpose it selfe that some discourse ensue thereupon or that there be any election or deliberation had in the matter but that vpon the very first veiw that onely sole single and primary sight there may ioyntly concurre in both a correspondencie or consonancie or as we here in Spaine commonly vse to call it Vna confrontacion de sangre a confronting or conformitie of the blood wherin the starres by a particular influence are wont to worke and doe often moue vs thereunto For being that these beames doe dart themselues by the eyes from the heart they take infection from that which they finde before them especially if those they encounter withall be like vnto their owne and returning presently backe againe to the very selfe-same place from whence they were sent forth as they draw these in with them to the heart so doe they portrait and ingraue therein that fayre obiect which they saw and desired And because it seemeth to the Appetite to be a noble pledge and well worthy the buying at any rate or price whatsoeuer esteeming it as a thing of infinite value it presently enters into treaty how he may come to inioy the same freely offring for it and with a very good will the greatest treasure and riches that hee hath which is his Liberty his heart being made prisoner by that Lord whom himselfe admitted into his bosome And in that very instant that this bonum or this thing be it what it will bee comes to be beloued and entertained by vs it is likewise to be considered that man doth forthwith apply his vnderstanding to esteeme it as its summum bonum or chiefest happinesse and so desiring to haue it conuerted into himselfe is himselfe conuerted into that which he so much desireth Whence it commeth to passe that those very selfe-same effects which may be wrought by length of time getting ground vpon vs by continuation consideration and conuersation so also they may be occasioned in that instant that this contentment
chance to heare of it who peraduenture may haue as much if not more need of it then I haue Much good may it doe him with it for I will not inioy any other goods saue only such as his diuine Maiestie may be best serued by me The honest Frier when he had heard me out and saw the heroicall disposition that was in me tooke me to be rather a Saint then a man And he did so much honour and reuerence me for it that there only was wanting the kissing of my garment and in a heauenly kinde of language he thus spake vnto me My deare brother giue hearty thankes to almighty God that hee hath conferr'd vpon you so cleere an vnderstanding and the knowledge of that little esteeme which we are to make of the goods of this world and assure your selfe that he that hath communicated vnto you this his holy Spirit will as he hath promised in his holy Word prouide for you and minister such things vnto you as his diuine wisdome shall thinke fit and needfull for you He who to the poore least little Wormes and all your small fleshlesse and bloudlesse Vermine as your Ants Flyes Caterpillers and the like hurtfull creeping things that crawle vpon the earth is not wanting but careth for them shall much more be mindefull of you and supply you with all those things that he shall see you stand in need of not only freeing you from these your present miseries but farther increasing your ioyes and his blessings vpon you This action of yours is a supernaturall and diuine worke which strikes admiration into men and stirres vp those Angelicall spirits of heauen to sing forth a thousand Hymnes of praise and thankes-giuing that such a noble creature was borne for the glory of God and the good of the world This is his gift and none but his acknowledge it and magnifie his praise by speaking good of his holy Name and perseuering in vertue I shall doe as you would haue me and see you returne againe vnto mee some day in the next weeke for I hope in God I shall bee able to doe you much good and procure some fauour to be be shewne vnto you When this good man had made an end of these his holy words my heart there-with me thought was quite pierced thorow and began to bleed within me for considering the greatnesse of his Sanctitie and sinceritie and on the contrary of my roguerie and villanie who by such vile and wicked meanes should goe about to make him the instrument of my thefts and the more to colour the businesse I let fall a few feigned teares this holy Frier thought I had shed them for Gods sake and there-vpon began likewise himselfe to grow somewhat tender This matter rested thus till the next Sunday following which was All Saints day and when he came to preach he spent the greatest part of his Sermon in this businesse of mine indearing that Act so much the more for that it had proceeded from a subiect so much necessited and did exaggerate it so to the heighth that he moued all those that were there to compassion and made them the willinger to doe me good So they repaired vnto him with their almes which they powred forth in a plentifull manner On Munday morning my Mother came to the Portaria and askt for that holy Father saying that she was to speake with him about an earnest piece of businesse The Porter who perceiued how desirous shee was to come to the speech of him went in to call him and presently brought him vnto her Whom she no sooner saw but taking hold of his hands and his Habit kneeling downe before him and offring to kisse his feet told him That the Purse was hers desiring him for Gods sake that she might haue it againe She acquainted him with all the outward markes of it as also with the particular and remarkeable pieces that were in it as one that had well studied the Case Where-vpon the Frier without any more adoe did deliuer it vnto her knowing the tokens to be true When my Mother had the purse in her owne hands shee opened it and taking out one of those three Doblones that were in it she gaue it to this holy Father to bestow vpon me for the finding of it As also foure Royals for two Masses to bee said for the Soules in Purgatorie and for that purpose shee re-commended them vnto him Thus did shee recouer her purse and brought it presently home vnto me not wanting so much as a pins-head of all that was in it for I had likewise of purpose wrapt some of those pieces in little parcels of paper that it might the sooner seeme to be some womans purse who vse such kinde of fiddling and fooling vvith their money After this businesse was thus ouer-past about some two dayes after vpon Wednesday towards the Euening I went to visit my Frier who against my comming thither had prouided mee a Coffer full of cloathes which might very well out-weare ten yeeres and spending money besides for some dayes He gaue it mee with a cheerefull countenance and willed mee to returne againe vnto him the next day For hee had something else to say vnto mee and hee did not doubt but it should bee much for my good I did so repairing vnto him at the time appointed Then did he aske mee whether I could write or no I inform'd him of my sufficiencie in that kinde Wherevpon he told me that there was a certaine Gentlewoman whose Husband was in the Indies who did much desire to haue such a one as I was to follow her businesse and to haue a care to husband her estate both in the Citie and in the Country and to bee true and faithfull in those things that she should commit to my charge and that therefore I should deale plainely with him and truely tell him whether I could like of this course or no for that according to my answere he should seeke or not seeke to settle mee there as hee saw I stood affected I after that I had giuen him thankes said vnto him My good father that which appertaines to my personall paines to my sollicitude diligence and fidelitie where-with I ought to serue her this I am able to tender vnto you but I must tell you withall that I am not of this Countrey nor haue any knowne acquaintance in these parts And therefore if this Gentle-woman shall put her goods into my hands and that I must haue the disposing of them she will expect that some body shall bee bound for my truth but I am not able to giue her any securitie and this is likely to be the onely rub that I know I leaue it therefore to your fatherly consideration what is to be done in this case crauing your aduice therein He told mee that he would bee my Surety and that if that were all that I stood vpon that stoppe should not damme vp the way wishing me not
but a handsome well-fauoured Wench to her Maid-seruant whom for a long time I tooke to bee free-borne and she likewise seemed to be a good and holy creature But in very truth she was such a one that she and I might very well shake hands of vs both there was neuer a barrell better Herring Well were she better or worse then my selfe be she what she will be let it suffice you she and I had tumbled together vpon one bed I know not how we did smell out one another that in so short a time we had growne to be so well acquainted For within some few dayes that I had beene in the house there was no ho with her I could not keepe her out of my Chamber would I neuer so faine but she would come in whether I would or no. To all the rest of the seruants she seemed to be a Saint and looked as though butter would not haue melted in her mouth but with me she shewd her selfe most loose and dissolute as if she had beene bred vp in some Brothell house or trained to this geare in the publike Stewes yet stil carryed her selfe with that wisdome and discretion that none of the house except my selfe no not her Mistresse could come to know or the least way to suspect that there was any such secret businesse betweene vs. Besides she did so cherish me and make so much of me that my Chest was neuer without good store of Collations and other sweet-meates So that my Chamber was like a Comfit-makers shop She furnished me with a great deale of fine Linnen as white as the curd neatly folded vp neat and sweet it was And her Mistresse was glad to see it for she tooke vs both to be Saints Shee likewise gaue me money to spend not knowing whence she had it nor how she came by it or from whose hands she receiued it I had a glimpse of some things but because I would not fall from those good tearmes wherein I stood I would not be too curious in the search of them as well that I might not lose her company while I continued there as also that I might thereby oblige her the more vnto me I went intertaining her with faire words and good hopes telling her that when time should serue I would seeke to redeeme her out of her captiuitie and afterwards make her my Wife This seasoned the pot made her rowze vp her spirits and like a Spaniell to wait diligently vpon mee and to serue mee in any thing that she thought would please me For considering the loue which I feigned to be are vnto her though she were a crafty subtill Wench she did euermore make sure account of me as if I were not a free-man and shee a Slaue And yet not so free as you thinke neither hauing a Wife for ought I knew to the contrary still aliue My Mistris knew nothing concerning her owne estate and wealth nor did finger any other moneys then what I gaue her All things that were in the Citie went through my hands I likewise had the command of all her stocke abroad in the Country and did take and gather in all the fruits and profits thereof For my designe was to make a reasonable good round booty and so get mee gone to seeke out a new world I had a great minde to goe to the Indies and did but watch for an opportunitie to imbarke my selfe howsoeuer it should afterwards fall out with mee But I could not handsomely put this blow home For my Mistris fore-seeing her certaine ruine for that her Farmers and Tenants had told her that they had paid in their rents to me the Shepheards that I had sold her flockes the Baylife of her Vineyards that I had conuaid all her Wines out of their Vaults and Sellars where they were wont to be kept and that of all this one penny-worth thereof was not come to her purse she resolued with her selfe to communicate this matter in priuate onely to one Gentleman that was her neere kinsman She then acquainted him with all that had passed and what an ill account I had made her intreating him to apply some conuenient remedy for the same Hee without speaking so much as a word thereof vnto mee when as I was going one euening to cast vp my reckning and to deuise with my selfe how I might make cleane worke of all that my Mistris had not thinking God wot on any such thing being deuoyd of all care and free from the least suspition of any such matter the weather being hot and my selfe very drowzie I fell fast asleepe Now whilest I was thus taking my rest and thinking no body any harme an Alguazil comes in suddenly vpon mee takes hold on mee and without telling me why or wherefore for that said he I should know hereafter at better leisure hee carried mee away to prison The businesse was thus carried that neither our house nor the street should bee in a hurry and tumult by any stirre or coyle that I should make when I should come to know by whose order I was apprehended and committed I went along very sad and heauy and knew not in the world what to thinke of it one while deuising with my selfe whether this my Commitment were by vertue of some Requisitoria or Commission come out of Italy Whether it were at the suite of my Creditors in Castile Or for some of my new thefts that I had so lately committed in that Citie which perhaps for want of good carriage were now come to light And albeit euery one of these had weight inough to presse downe my heart and to make it sinke vnder so many and such heauy burthens yet did it grieue me more then all the rest that I should now lye no more at racke and manger as I was wont to doe and that together with my good name I should likewise lose my credit and estimation and that men would not trust me as they had done heretofore But what remedie but patience But seeing it was no better God bee thanked it was no worse For this mis-fortune befell mee iust at such a time when as my Crowne was shauen and had not any thing worth the speaking that was to be found either about me or at home in my lodging For in regard that my Mother was a single woman and liu'd alone by her selfe by a little and a little I carried all that I had scrap't together to her and she kept it for mee Afterwards they broke open my Chest but found nothing in it but a Bull of the last yeere and a few of old ragges Where-vpon they came to prison to take an account of mee giuing them so bad a one as might well bee presumed from such a one as I was who would alwayes receiue but neuer pay I did not giue them such a Bead-roll as they doe that pray vpon their Beads They laid great sums to my charge but could meet with nothing but Blankes
the keeping and disposing of the vpper-Wards and the best lodgings they giue him that intertainment as his purse shall deserue For that Keeper or Iaylor does like him that buyes who has no respect to the qualitie of him that sels but to the thing that he selleth so to him it matters not whether the prisoner be more one then another Noble or base Gentleman or Clowne all is one for that He lookes onely vnto that which he giues him When his Commitment is not a matter of importance nor meriting corporall punishment and is not of that heinous nature as murder theft the foule sinne and other such like they leaue him at large to take the pleasure of the prison alwayes prouided that they pay him well for this his liberty I was well vs'd at the first for my cause was not criminall and handsomely lodg'd before that I had giuen securitie either to satisfie or answer to that debt wherewithall I was charged By this time they all knew me and all of vs vnderstood one another well inough we were all Camerades and hayle fellow well met one with another I gaue them content and stayd below amongst them talking and passing away the time with them but had euermore an eye to see if I could safely get to the doore and stood still watching an opportunitie when I might conueniently doe it and so giue them the slip But vpon my first apprehending as soone as I was come within sight of the prison as also after that I was committed there presently flockt about mee twenty seuerall Proctors Attourneys and Sollicitours who liu'd by the sinnes of the people who with their pen and Paper which they neuer went without tooke both my name and the cause of my imprisonment all of them making it a matter of nothing and an easie suite to goe through with One of them would tell me that the Iudge was his very good friend and did fauour all the causes that he brought before him another that hee had a great interest in the publike Notary a third that within two houres he would get me bailed a fourth that my businesse was a toy a meere trifle a thing of no consideration in the world and that for sixe Royals hee would instantly vndertake to free mee Euery one of them would make himselfe Master of my cause saying that it did properly belong vnto him for that he had accompanied me come along with me from the time of my Arrest This man I intertained for his plea of preuention being vnwilling to crosse that Prouerbe of First come first seru'd Where-vpon I intreated him that hee would call such an Escriuano a friend of mine vnto me Another for that he was the first that put pen to paper and had drawne my Petition for mee to the Teniente But to my selfe I laught at them all For I knew them well inough and the manner of their proceeding For they onely liue by what they can get and wring from a man before-hand but afterwards you shall not draw them along with two yoke of Oxen they will so hang the Arse And there was one of them that hauing a Power or Warrant to free a Thiefe was not ashamed to aske him money for to make his Interrogatories after that he should be condemned to the Gallies Thus all of them striuing which of them should be imploy'd in my businesse there comes mee rushing in violently thorow the midst of them a very bold and confident fellow that thought to rule the rost and to carry all away before him one that had beene my Proctor heretofore in criminall causes and said vnto mee What Sir are you heere I told him yes Which question he might haue sau'd for he saw I was sure inough Then he askt me What was the cause of my imprisonment When I had told it him hee replyde Tush Laugh and be merry Sir take no care for this it is a toy a trifle I warrant you Sir wee will take order for this and therefore let it neuer trouble you Haue you any money Sir that I may carry it to the Escriuano I will poast presently with a Petition to the Teniente that you may put in Sureties to answere the matter and in the meane time to haue your libertie to follow your businesse And if he shall refuse to grant you prouision in this Case we will haue a Writ of remoue to bring the matter into the open Hall and those that assist there in Counsell shall presently giue order for your release I shall speake to one of them who is my singular good Lord and I dare pawne my word to you that you shall not tarry heere aboue halfe a day When the others heard this they said Ha how now what 's this is the winde in that doore Heere is a pretty kinde of forme of framing a Petition withall my heart Is this the course you meane to take Wee haue beene some twenty of vs and vpward these two long houres and better taking paines in this businesse and will you now take the same out of our hands Shall the hindermost dogge beare away the Hare Must he now follow the suite My Proctor there-vpon made them this answere My Masters had you beene writing and labouring about this businesse these two moneths and more yet not withstanding vpon my comming vnto him I am the man that must goe thorow with it For this Gentleman is my very good friend and I am to dispatch all his businesses And therefore a Gods name ye may be gone and let my Clyent alone When they heard him say so they replyde vnto him O what a sweet and seemely manner of negociating is this What a faire flourish does hee make Where has he washt his hands that hee should shaue vs on this fashion and carry away this cause so cleanely You may be gone Sir and it please you for this Gentleman knowes reason and will intertaine him in his cause that he hath most minde to and therefore what need so many words In conclusion one said I and the other said no and in the end they differr'd so long about it that they grew at last so hot and so angry one with another that they began to rip vp each others faults and to tell without any other bodies help who they were there was not that spot in their practice which they did not lay open to view nor that staine in their life which they did not discouer shewing how and in what manner they did coozen the poore prisoners and picke their money out of their purses Which was a Dialogue for those that heard it of excellent intertainment and passing good mirth for that they were truthes represented to the life And this I assure you is a common Trade amongst them and this coozening course they take at all houres and with all persons as well prisoners as others Now when this heat was ouer-past and all was quiet I came to my old Proctor
any brauing now or out-facing of the matter that could doe them good Arrogancie was out of request with them and would not serue the turne I cannot deny but it did touch me for my part to the very quicke it went to the heart of mee especially when I called to minde the merry life that I had led the good state wherein I had liu'd if I had had but the grace to keepe my selfe well while I was well and to see the misery where-vnto now I was come Then did I begin to thinke with my selfe If this bee so painefull vnto mee already if this chaine doe so much torment me that I can scarce indure it if I feele such trouble now and if this befall me while the wood is greene what will it doe when it growes old and dry What torment will they feele that are condemned for euer to perpetuall paine Musing vpon these things I past along thorow the streetes of Seuill for my Mother did not come to accompanie me nor was she willing to see mee And I was the onely man amongst them all that was Solus cum solo left alone to my selfe We walkt along very leisurely which God wot was slowly inough yet as fast as we could conueniently for when my chaine was slacke and I was offering to goe forward my next fellow would oftentimes pull mee backe which hee could not sometimes doe withall and sometimes againe would stop of set purpose as his necessarie occasions did require Another he was foundred with going bare-foot and all the rest ready to sinke they vvere so weary Wee were men sensible of paine as other men are and being in that case as we were none had more cause to sorrow then we yet amongst our selues our griefes were so equall that we had but little aduantage one of another O the wretched and miserable state that we liue in and to how many various and vnfortunate chances are wee necessarily obliged Wee came to a place called Las Cabeças and as we went on a morning from thence wee had scarce gone halfe a League but that one of our company had espide a farre off a certaine yong fellow who was going towards Seuill with a great many fine little young Pigs and giuing the word one from another wee did presently battell-wise cast our selues into a Wing as if we had been the Turkish Gallies and marshalling our selues after the manner of a halfe Moone wee did in such an orderly fashion set vpon them that the points of the Hornes meeting as it were before and in a kinde of circle-wise inclining each to other wee had shut in the Pigges on a sudden and incompast them so that they could not get out from amongst vs and in spight of the young fellowes teeth doe what he could for his life euery one of vs made purchase of a fat Pigge The fellow began to cry out aloud making great exclamations and intreating the Commissary that for Gods sake hee would take order that he might haue them againe But hee seemed to be deafe and would not heare of that eare as one that was to haue the greatest share in this bootie and so wee past on along with our prey leauing the poore Clowne to goe seeke his remedy else-where Wee knew the worst of it alreadie so that our care and our pitie were much about one About noone when wee came to our Inne where wee were to rest our selues and with a little sleepe to passe ouer the heat of the day the Commissary called to vs for the share that hee was to haue of this our theft for being that he was consenting there-vnto the Accessorie was to haue as much as the Principall the Assentant as the Assaylant Hee commanded one of them to bee rosted for him where-vpon there arose a great stirre and tumult amongst vs being ready to goe together by the eares whilest we were arguing the Case which of vs was to part with his Pigge For amongst vs all there were scarce three of vs that had the vse of reason When I saw the Mutiny that was amongst them and that in the carriage of this busines he might and that iustly blame me the more because my vnderstanding was more then theirs I said vnto him Master Commissary my Pigge is heere ready at your seruice dispose of it as you please And if you shall so thinke it fit seeing heere is Guard sufficient vpon vs may it please you to comaund them to vnchaine me and I will take the paines to dresse it for you with mine owne hands for I haue some reliques yet remayning of a good Cooke He thankefully accepted of this my ciuill Compliment and said vnto me Of all this company that is heere vnder my charge I must truely confesse vnto thee I haue since my first knowledge of thee obserued in thee a certaine kind of noblenes and free nature which cannot but proceed from some good blood I therfore thanke you for this your present and take it kindely at your hands and shall be very glad to eate it as you shall order it for me I was taken from the chayne being recommended to the Guards I call'd for such things as were necessary but because the Inne was ill prouided of such things as I would haue had to shewe my Cookerie I could shew my skill no farther then in the well rosting of it with a fewe eggs battered together and seasoned with a little pepper salt I would haue made a pudding in it's bellie but I wanted necessaries I minced the liuer of that and such other things as I could for the present I made him sauce to his Pigge which I knewe well how to doe At the same time some Trauaylours came in to take their ease who were not a little sorry to finde vs there for that they were halfe afraid that their eares were scarce sure on their heads amongst such a company of Rogues as we were The Table whereat they were to sit wàs a long planke neeere adioyning to a bench of stone they were to eate altogether The Commissary kindly saluted them and they him and after a fewe Compliments were exchanged betweene them they sate three in a file and one of them taking his Port-mantua vnto him and putting it betweene his legges vnder the boord he there likewise lay'd his Alforjas or wallet wherein he had Cheese a Bottle of Wine and a peice of a Gammon of Bacon and that he might the better take it out he did thrust his Port-mantua a little forward leauing the Alforjas in the midst betweene his legges I when I saw that he was so warie began to suspect that it was not without cause and calling to the Hostesse for a Knife I closely clapt it in betweene my arme and my sleeue And puting a great earthen Iarre full of water vnderneath the boord and in it a Bottle of Wine that the Commissary might haue it fresh and coole when hee should
then a trimming and a calking wee that were the ghing the base rout and raskalitie of the Gallies seru'd as then for no other vse but to row towards the shore when wee were so commanded and to make prouision of boughes or something else for shade lest the heare of the Sunne should melt the tallow All the cloathes that I brought aboord with mee into the Gally I made show of them and sold them vvhich yeelded mee some money though not much adding that to that other little summe which I brought with me when I came out of Prison Nor did I know in the world how or where I might secretly lay it vp and keepe it safe either to relieue mee in such necessities as vsually offer themselues or to imploy it in some one thing or other that I might haue a penny in my purse at a pinch And for that I had neither Coffer Chest nor so much as a Deske that had a Locke and Key to it where I might safely lay it vp it did some-what trouble me not being able to deuise with my selfe what I were best to doe with it To carry it still about mee were to runne the hazzard of beeing robb'd or coozen'd of it by my owne Camerades And to commit it to another bodies keeping I had already too late experience of the ill correspondence in that kinde All I saw was ill it concern'd me to looke well vnto it and to be-thinke my selfe how I should dispose of it At last after long consideration I resolued with my selfe that I could not giue it a better or more secret place then to clappe it in my bosome and to lay it as neere to my heart as I could possibly bring it Others put their hearts there where they put their treasure but I tooke a cleane contrary course putting my treasure where my heart was Well I got me a needle and thread and clapping my Thimble on my finger I fell to worke and made mee vp a little Purse about the bignesse of a Wax-kernell which being strongly sowed and quilted with many a sure stitch vpon that part of my shirt which toucht vpon my heart I bare it there neuer suffering it to be out of my sight and hauing still an eye vpon it that it might bee the safer from its friends and my enemies who would bee euer and anon leering that way casting a sheepes eye towards it but hee whose mouth watered most at it and had a months minde to be doing with it was a notable famous Thiefe that was my Camerade and sate next vnto mee who could neuer come to filch it from mee neither at mid-night nor at at any other time so surely did I guard it on that side Yet was hee not wanting to doe his best for when he perceiu'd that I was asleepe hee would goe groping heere and there visiting euery part about mee with his hand and for that the roomes were but few and the houshold-stuffe that belong'd vnto them not much they were easily and quickly runne ouer Hee had past ouer in a trice a little Satchell that I had by my side my Gabardine and my Breeches and was come now at last to my Waste-coat which I might more properly haue termed my Soule for that with its warmth it did viuifie and quicken the bloud whereby it sustained it selfe and was kept aliue Wee both labour'd hard hee to robbe I to keepe He was not so crafty but I was as carefull And if at any time I did strip my selfe naked I vvould order the businesse so that it should be impossible for him to take it from vnder mee vnlesse he tooke mee away with it Hee continued a long time in this his care to come by it watching all opportunities to rob me of it Now in the meane while forasmuch as I did consider with my selfe that wheresoeuer a man liues hee had need of an Angell of guard to attend him vpon all occasions I beganne to bethinke my selfe whom I should make choyse of to bee my Protector And after that I had thorowly thought there-vpon I could not finde out any fitter for my turne then the Masters-Mate For albeit it be true that the Captaine as Lord and chiefe Commander of all the rest is to bee accounted the onely Protector of vs all yet out of his authoritie and greatnesse of his Place hee will not trouble himselfe with this raskall rabble They are for the most part principall persons and men of qualitie they will not vouchsafe to looke so low they reckon not of such poore snakes as we be nor take any notice who or what we are And I was the willinger to make this choyce for that the Masters-Mate was my neere neighbour his Cabbin was close by my Banke by meanes whereof I might the easier and more conueniently serue him And so much the rather was I desirous to settle vpon him because hee carried the Cudgell and had the possession of the salt Eele which hee distributed amongst vs either more or lesse according as he fauour'd or dis-fauour'd paying some soundly and letting others goe scot-free Thus by little and little I went scruing my selfe into his seruice getting more ground still vpon him and striuing to out-strip the rest As vvell in my attendance at his boord as in hauing him to bed I trickt vp his Cabbin brusht his Cloathes kept them neat and handsome lookt to his linnen and was in euery other respect so diligent about him that within a few dayes I was the onely man in his eye Nor did I account it as a small fauour that hee would deigne mee a good looke It seeming vnto mee as oft as hee lookt vpon mee that hee had bestow'd a Bull I meane not the Pizzle vpon mee and a free Indulgence from stripes and that hee did thereby absolue mee both à culpa poena From my fault and the punishment thereof But therein I was deceiued for that they beeing naturally seuere and cruell and that commonly such kinde of sterne and austere men are put into such places they neuer haue an eye to consider courtesies not seeking to requite good but to punish ill They are a people that will not acknowledge any thankefulnesse because all that wee doe for them they thinke to bee due vnto them A nights I did ridde the Dandruffe out of his head rubb'd his feet fann'd his face destroyed the Gnats and waited on him with that obseruance and punctualitie that the greatest Prince in the world could not bee better serued And if they serue their Prince for loue I did the like to the Masters-Mate for feare lest the Hoope of a Hogs-head or an Eeles tayle should twine it selfe about my shoulders which kinde of weapons they neuer goe without And howbeit it bee true that this manner of seruice is not so perfect nor so noble as the other yet feare makes men to take more heed And now and then when I saw hee was waking and had no minde to sleepe
good and a louing brother Serue him but with a sigh with a teare or with a true heart-sorrow grieuing for thy sinnes and being angry and offended with thy selfe that thou hast offended so good a brother And so by giuing him that which thou hast hee will ioyne thy stocke with his owne and making it of an infinit price not by thine but his merits thou shalt enioy life euerlasting In this discourse vvith my selfe and in other which rose out of this I spent a great part of the night showring downe teares in aboundance and waxing now heauy with the griefe for my sinnes I fell asleepe and when I awakt I found my selfe another manner of man then I was before I had cast off my old heart and put on a new one in its place I gaue thankes vnto God for this my regeneration and that hee had renued his spirit aright in me humbly beseeching him that he would vphold me with his holy hand and strengthen mee with his grace Presently vpon this I treated of the frequent Confession of my sinnes and of the reformation of my life and of the cleansing of my conscience in which good deliberation I continued many dayes but I was flesh and bloud I did still stumble almost at euery step and now and then tooke a fall But for any proceeding in my accustomed euill actions I was much amended and went from that time forward reforming my former course of life Howbeit for that I had exercised my selfe so much in my fore-passed ill deportments I was still pointed at with the finger for a wicked man which name I could neuer claw off but did sticke close vnto me For this is an euill that followes euill men that euen those good actions vvhich they doe leaue a iealousie and suspition behinde them and occasion as it were scandall to such as see them For though we doe them neuer so well with an vpright heart yet are wee held to bee but Hypocrites We haue a common Prouerbe amongst vs Que se sacan por las Uisperas los dias Santos That by the Vespers we come to know the Feasts of the Saints So they by my precedent actions would iudge of the future But to giue the world leaue to censure things as they list let him that would faine know whether hee stand in the state of grace or no and liue in Gods loue and fauour looke and consider with himselfe how God worketh with him and he shall easily come to know it Vse thy best endeuours doe that which as a good Christian thou art bound to doe so shall thy workes bee acceptable in his sight and thou shalt know like Abel that God is well pleased with this thy sacrifice and that hee hath set his eyes vpon thee Marke and obserue whether hee vses thee no worse then hee vses himselfe for this is a sure and infallible signe that thy Lord loues thee when of the same bread that hee eateth of the same cloathes which hee weareth of the same table where hee takes his meales of the same seat vvhereon he sitteth of the same Wine whereof he drinketh of the same bed whereon he lyeth he makes no difference betweene thee and him but is as it were all one What did God inioy What did God loue What did God suffer Troubles Now then when God shall share these with thee hee shewes that hee loues thee Thou art his Minion he feasts thee and makes much of thee Be thou so wise as to receiue these things thankefully and to make profit of them Nor doe thou thinke that God refuses to giue thee thine owne hearts desire thy pleasures thy contentments riches and large possessions or what else may delight thee for that he is close fisted niggardly or couetous for if thou art willing to see the worth of these worldly comforts turne but thine eye aside and looke vpon those that possesse them in greatest aboundance But who are these Euen Moores Infidels and Heretiques But God runnes a contrary course with his friends with those that are his elected and best beloued children the cherishments and blandishments that he bestowes vpon them are pouerty afflictions and persecutions O had I but knowne so much heretofore as I doe now and that God would haue been pleased to haue inlightened my vnderstanding that I might haue truely seene and lookt into my former errours I might haue benefited my selfe in another kinde of manner then I did at that time I am the willinger to deliuer this vnto you for that when I made this Discourse with my selfe I did doe it truly and with all my heart And albeit I am not worthy to merit thereby any reward being so great a sinner as I am yet notwithstanding this little crumme this poore drop this small sparke had its reward at that very instant that slender repentance of mine that my resolution though weake to doe good and that good beginning which I had put my selfe into was not without its paiment As soone as I had re-gained my moneys new persecutions and new troubles beganne to grow vpon mee Would to God that I had beene so considerate as I ought to haue beene He stript mee of that contentment wherein I now liu'd and hee beganne to touch mee to the quicke and to beat me with many stripes That small shade of Iuy which like Ionas Gourd did keepe mee from the scorching of the Sunne was lost and quite taken from mee it was dry'de vp and withered there was a worme bred in the root of it which had wasted and consumed it so that I was forced to lye open to the heates suffering new calamities and new troubles and such as I neuer thought on without any cause giuen by mee or any the least signe of offence hauing no way deserued such hard measure But stay thy Pen and ingeniously confesse that such miseries and afflictions as these are that hidden treasure in the field so highly commended vnto vs. And since thou hast patiently heard me hitherto for thine owne pleasure heare mee now another while for mine and hearken a little to the remainder of my misfortunes where-vnto I shall giue an end in the next ensuing Chapter CHAPTER IX Guzman de Alfarache prosecutes that which hapned vnto him in the Gallies And by what meanes he came to be freed from thence THere was a famous Painter who was so excellent in his Art that he had not his fellow in all the world Vpon the fame and report of whose admirable pieces of worke there came a Gentleman to his house and going into the roome where hee drew his pictures hee agreed with him that he should paint for him in a Table a very faire and beautifull Horse with rich furniture and gracefully set forth who being loose should seeme to runne away as fast as his legges could carry him The Painter performed this piece of worke with all possible perfection and shew'd therein the vtmost of his
Couarru Prouâ—…b Prou. A poore man liâ—…es secure from harme Prou. Guzman comes to Toledo and puts himselfe into handsome apparel Socodouer is the great Market-place in Toledo Compounded of Saca that is a place and dequeuir which signifies great which put together makes Sacadqueuir and by corruption Socodouer Diego de Vrrea saith it comes from Sacud de vaâ—…r A word compounded of Scicun which is a place and of the Verbe Saca which is to draw from deuair which signifieth all kind of souâ—…efooted Beasts for burthen So that Socodouer is as it were a place where beasts are brougâ—…t laden with â—…ctuals and other prouision to sell in the open Market Couarrunias b A man is said to be en Cuerpo when he goes without a cloake being in his bare Hose and Dâ—… Guzmans vaine and idlâ—… humour The Spaniard hath naturally a proud kinde of gate Guzman caught with a looke and a smile a Solana Corredor de Sol. Solarium Verb Solana Couan â—…uias The cunning of your Spanisâ—… women a Anoria is an engine that goes with wheeles to draw water out of a Well Some would haue it to come from Anno a yeere For as the Sunne passing thorow the twelue Signes causeth the yeere and brings it aboâ—…t anew So that Wheele when it is downe at the lâ—…est comes about aboâ—…t Some say it is compounded ded of am circum and haurio taking vp the water as it turnes about Others of 〈◊〉 sursum and 〈◊〉 fluo because it causeth the water below to come vp Others from the wâ—…rd Annuere To incline Others from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reftauro restituo renouo Because when they are emptie they come to be fill'd afresh Others of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Haustoria which signifieth Anoria quasi Antloria Of the Verbe Antlo antlas Diego de Vrrea saies it is an Arabicke word of the Verbe Neuare to goe round making a noise as Anoria doth Padre Guadix that it is called Noria from Naaura which is as much as a wheelâ—…g or turning about Couarru b Vino del Santo a rich kinds of â—…ine as famous about Toledo as that of Ayon Naâ—…tueil in France a Tinaja a large wide Vessell of earth as big as a Tunne Antonius drawes it's Etymologie from Tinea Alio nomine Dolium In Spaine they vsually fill them with water with Oyle with Wine or the like a The Spanish 〈◊〉 Echando mantas y no de lano Casting abroad Câ—…rless but not of Wooll i. vsâ—… hayry and â—…sh â—…ds 〈◊〉 milde â—…d 〈◊〉 words like wooll This is an ordinarie fashion in Spaine Many lâ—…e Maâ—… â—…hes are â—…de 〈◊〉 Spaine vnder these holy pretences a They haue an old Tale in Spaine That the men to keepe their wiues from gadding abroad did perswade them to vse Chapines that they might seeme as tall handsome as the men and they made them of a very heauy kinde of wood They made vse of this inuention of their Husbands but made them at first hollow within and afterwards of Corke to lighten the loade that they might be able to walke more nimbly Couarruuias verb. Chapin b Alcana A knowne street in Toledo where all your Mercers dwell Of the Hebrew word Chana to buy Guadix sayes it is an Arabick word of alquina which signifies Gaine Couarruuias c Alcantara A Bridge so called in Toledo In the yeere 1258. a great part of it was carried away with a Flood but the yeere following it was repaired and new built d Cordoua is a Noble and famous Citie in Andaluzia a A gate so called in Toledo because the entrance thereinto is hard and difficult it is an Arabicke word and signifies a thorny place and full of bushes Couarru b Almagro a principall Towne belonging to the Order de Calatraua Padre Guadix would haue it come from Alma-agua and of agro Because those waters there-abouts haue a sowre taste though they be wholsome Others from the colour of the soyle which is red Vide Couarru Verb. Almagre c A Towne in the Kingdome of Toledo intitled with a Condeship Tierra vmbrosa Guzman leaues Toledo A pleasant iest that past betwâ—…t Guzman and a pretie Wench at the Inne in Malagon a The Spanish word is Moâ—…na To wit a Mule that is begotten of an Horse and a she Asse commonly with a blacke Muzzle a swâ—…ling nostrill and hauing â—…sh trickâ—… a The Spanish word is Bota Quasi imbuta of the Latine word imbuo de in and Bibo It is made of a Goats-skinne the mouth of it being Horne with a stopple to it and the sules strongly sowne Rozend within that it may nâ—…t leake Your Trauellers on the way neuer goe without one by reason the countrey is so hot which causeth much thirst A Spanish Prouerbe The story concerning the occasion of this prouerbe En Malagon c. a Benauente is a towne in the Kingdome of Leon. There is a Land of that name b Axarquia the suburbs adioyning to Cordoua Padre Guadix saies it is so called because it stands towards the East which is termed in the Arabâ—…ck tongue Xarquia c Martos a samous towne in Andaluzia antiently called Tucci and Augusta Gemella Couarruuias d Alferez is he to whom the Captaine recommends his Ensigne that he may gather his Company together bring them all to their rendeuous The Captaine should cary the Ancient But by reason of his diuers imployments he substitutes one in his place whom they call Alferez who is subordinate vnto him stirs notwithout his direction And all that are vnder that Ensine are to sollow 〈◊〉 Colours And therefore they haue this varietie of names aâ—… Signiferos Vexiliferos Primipilaâ—…ios duces c. Couarruuias pag. 44. Guzman comes to Almagro Guzman takes on him a feigned name Guzman entertained by the Captaine for a Souldier and in what he did exercise himselfe a Regalar Is to afford a man all the delights and dainties that are to bee had for loue or money The word is deriued à Rege That is so much that a King can not desire more Guzman posseth not for a Souldier as being vnder age * A Spanish Prouerb Good cloathes put a man iâ—… heart Anger and it 's euill effects Eloquence preuaileth much A dipressum against bad Miniâ—…s touching Martiall men a The Spanish phrase is Se pone de lodo Now Poner lo de lodo eâ—… estragar O errar el negoçio Guzmans money is all geâ—… and now begins to lamentins follie Good Instructions for young men Spanish Prouerb Prouerb Prouerb Misfortunes are burthens that are hard to be borne The rich man that is vaine and the poore man that is proud both condemned Guzman sets himselfe to serue 〈◊〉 Captaine What a man should doe that would rise by his seruice A trick of a proud Courtier Want in a great person is a thing that moueth much compassion a The Spanâ—…sh word is Bolâ—…ta i. Scedula quae
mal ò el bien de su casa Guzman discourseth of women Prouerbe i Des dichada la casa don de 〈◊〉 faldas faltan k Donde no ay chapines no ay cosa bâ—…en puesta Prouerbe Prouerbe Guzman put into a nâ—…edlesse feare by mine Hostes meanes A tale of a Gentle-woman that marryed with a new Christian. l Teneâ—… el Iudio en el â—…uerpo That is estar con miedo To be in a great feare Covarr verb. Iudio pag. 492. Prouerbe m A common oath or asseueration in Spaine English Body of me 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 n The Spanish word is VnÌ„â—…s cayreladas The French renders it Ongles si lanternes si salement colorez 17 18 19 Guzman goes by night abroad about the City He meetes with two wâ—…s His wâ—… cozens him o Buenas son mangas despues de pascua The meaning whereof is when that which we desire comes to vs somewhat later then we could haue wisht it Covarr verb. mangas Prouerbe p Vn dia viene tras otro Prouerbe Guzman talkes with a wench from a window How Guzman was besmear'd q Duero Rio famosissimo en EspanÌ„a Por el qual se dixo yo soy Duero que todas las aguas beuo Covarr vâ—…rb Duero r Quando aqueste assi duele que hara con guindas Prouerbe s Alla se lo aya Marta con sus polloâ—… Los pollos de Marta piden pan y dan les agua Marta la piadosa c. Covarr pag. 541. Prouerbe * Pilar de Saragoça One of the famousest Charches in the world for that our blessed Lady appeared there to the Apostle S. Iames and willed him to build a Church there to her honour Padre Pinâ—…da lib. 10. Monar Eccles. cap. 25. sect 4. The Spanish posture when they court their Mistresse Prouerbe u Estaâ—…e la carne en el 〈◊〉 por talta de gato Alluding to those women that are retyr'd and chaste not so much out of their owne will a â—…or want of opportunity and a naturall reâ—…ct and shamefast feare that the would mâ—…y not take notice of their incontinency Casta est quam nemo rogauit Ovid. leg 〈◊〉 And anon after Aut si rusticitas non vetat ipsa rogat Also we say Que alguna 〈◊〉 garabato when with her beauty and other good graces she draws as it were with hookes your gallants hearts after her Coverr verb. Garabato x The Spanish phrase is Guarte no sea nabo Prouerbe y A quien se muda dios le ayuda Prouerbe Alcala an Vniuersity not aboue a dayes iourney from Madrid Prouerbe z Dexar vn mar por el arroya Madrid much altered in a few yeares Guzman takes a lodging in an Inne He turnes Gallant Prouerbe a The Spanish phrase is Dauame canÌ„as a las manos b Dadiuas ablandon penÌ„as Prouerbe Guzman makes loue to a young wench c A place so called in the high street of Madrid neare vnto â—…an Felipe d The Spanish phrase is No quedarà bolo en hiesto Vnkindnesse growes betwixt Guzman and his wench A plot to cozen Guzman Prouerbe e Aqui morira Sanson y quantos con el son A kind of Rodomontado or proud menacing An Alguâ—…il comes to arrest Guzman Guzman much dismaid f The Spanish phrase is Por el virgo de justilla g It is an vsual phrase 〈◊〉 Spaine to say Esta hecha su cama Such a mans bed is a making when there is some matter a working against him for his hurt Guzman treats in priuate with the Alguazil The Alguazil wrought to fauour Guzman Guzman compounds his businesse Guzman leaues his lodging h A monastery in Madrid The discourse that pâ—…st betwixt Guzman and the Alguazil at the Descalças i The Spanish word is Cauallero de epistola because it is the subdeacons office to sing or reade the Epistle of the Masse Covarr 358. The incenueniences of imprisonment and Law-sutes k The Spanish phrase is Echar la buena barba A sâ—…ort whereat one â—…ayes for all the 〈◊〉 that he and his fellowes cate by asking the seller this question Who is the honestest man of all vs which is signified por la barba By allusion it is spoken of those who with setâ—…p eches and flattering phrases gull a man of his money The fashion of your Spanish qucanes Prâ—…rbe l The Spanish phrase is Quien menos culpa tiâ—…ne à lavar la lana And it is spoken by way of prâ—…erbe Vâ—…s lavareyâ—…s la lana de aquel quâ—… le â—…a caydo la suerte mas trabajosa Comolos que trabajaâ—… en lâ—…s lavaderos que vâ—…os son apartadores Otros tiâ—…nen lâ—…s mas oficios que no son pocos y los que lavan la lanâ—… tienen mayor trabajo por andar en el agua todo el dia desnudos Covarr 113. A tale of a canâ—…g queâ—…ne A Tale of a Country Clowne A digression to another storie of the like nature Tâ—…ing Râ—…es Women weake creatures Their facile nature and mens false promises haue wrought them much â—…e m Your Silke-wormes make three sleepe Awaking after their first to feed then falling againe to sleepe till they begin to worke their balls Neuer leauing off till they shut vp them-selues in those balls and consume them-sâ—…lues vngorging all that sliâ—…nesse whereof they forme the ball Covatr pag. 327. Guzâ—…an prouides him a house of his 〈◊〉 Guzman alters the fashion of his Iewels Guzman turnes Merchant Prouerbe n Al hijo de tu vezino metelo eâ—… tu casa The care a father ought to haue in the bestowing of his daughter Prouerbe o Acude cada vn à su natural Guzman marries a wife Guzmans father in law his aduice p Iuâ—…o is a â—…yall rent raised vpon 〈◊〉 â—…wnes and other places of the â—…ingdome so â—…uea à ure which the Kings haue to susâ—…e themsâ—…lues withall â—…nd to pay the 〈◊〉 of his â—…ts of â—…ce Anâ—… from â—…ence it had the name of 〈◊〉 This kind of Tribute is due vnto the Kings of Spaine for their ayde and maintenance Covarr veâ—…b 〈◊〉 q Muger de maâ—…o 〈◊〉 This phrase 〈◊〉 taken in the worser part Covaâ—…r pag. 478. Prouâ—…rbe r Tracâ—…â—…as rabos que vn polpo Covarr pag. 600. s Nadâ—…e sabe si no es el que lo lasta lo que semejante caâ—…agasta Prouerbe Guâ—…man begins to sinke Guzman committed to prison Prouerbe * Echar la soga tras el caldero Caldero is commonly taken for a bucket which serues to take water out of a Well Now echar la â—…oga tras el caldero To fing the rope after the buâ—…ket is when we haue lost one thing to throw the other after it This prouerbe is taken from one who going to draw water out of a well the buckâ—…t slipping from the rope and falling into the Well in a rage throwes the rope after it wherewith if he would but haue had the patience he might haue