word rather then my will on the one side I am assaulted and urged by a desire to goe and see my Ladie on the other my promised faith and the glory I shall winne in this enterprize doe incite and call me away But that which I resolve to doe is to travaill with all speed that I may quickly arive to the place where that Giant is and will cut off his head at my coming and when I have peaceably installed the Princesse in her Kingdome will presently return to see the light that doth lighten my senses to whom I will yield such forcible reasons of my so long absence as she shall easily condescend to excuse my stay seeing all doth redound to her glory and fame For all that I have gained doe win or shall hereafter atchieve by force of Armes in this life proceeds wholy from the gracious favour she pleaseth to bestow upon me and my being hers O God! quoth Sancho I perceive that you are greatly diseased in the pate I pray you Sir tell me whether you mean to goe this long voyage for nought and let slip and lose so rich and so noble a preferment as this where the dowrie is a Kingdome which is in good faith as I have heard say twenty thousand leagues in compasse and most plentifully stored with all things necessary for the susteining of humane life and that it is greater then Portugall and Castile joyned together Peace for Gods love and blush at your owne words and take my councell and marry presently in the first village that hath a Parish-Priest and if you will not doe it there can you wish a better commoditie then to have our own Master Licentiat who will doe it most excellently And note that I am old enough to give counsaile and that this which I now deliver is as fit for you as if it were expresly cast for you in a mould For a Sparrow in the fist is worth more then a flying Bittor For hee that can have good and evill doth choose For ill that betides him must not Patience loose Why Sancho quoth Don-Quixote if thou givest mee councell to marry to the end I may become a King after I have slaine the Giant and have commoditie thereby to promote thee and give thee what I have promised I let thee to understand that I may doe all that most easily without marrying my selfe For before I enter into the battel I will make this condition that when I come away victor although I marry not the Princesse yet shall a part of the Kingdome bee at my disposition to bestow upon whom I please and when I receive it upon whom wouldst thou have me bestowe it but on thy selfe That is manifest said Sancho but I pray you Sir have care to choose that part you would reserve towards the Sea side to the end that if the living doe not please me I may imbarque my black vassails and make the benefit of them which I have said And likewise I pray you not to trouble your mind thinking to goe and see my Lady Dulcinea at this time but travaile towards the place where the Gyant is and kill him and conclude that businesse first for I sweare unto you that I am of opinion it will prove an Adventure of very great honor and profit I assure thee Sancho quoth Don-Quixote thou art in the â—ight and I will follow thy counsaile in rather going first with the Princesse then to visit Dulcinea And I warne thee not to speake a word to any body no not to those that ride with us of that which wee have here spoken and discoursed together for since Dulcineae is so warie and secret as shee would not have her thoughts discovered it is no reason that I eyther by my self or any other should detect them If that bee so quoth Sancho why then doe you send all those which you vanquish by virtue of your arme to present themselves to my Lady Dulcinea seeing this is as good as subsignation of your hands-writing that you wish her well and are enamoured on her And seeing that those which goe to her must forcibly lay them down on their knees before her presence and say that they come from you to doe her homage how then can the thoughts of you both bee hidden and concealed O! how great a foole art thou and how simple quoth Don-Quixote Dost not thou perceive Sancho how all this results to her greater glory For thou oughtest to wit that in our Knightly proceedings it is great honour that one Lady alone have many Knights Errant for her Servitors without extending their thoughts any farther then to serve her only for her high worths without attending any other reward of their many and good desires then that shee will deigne to accept them as her Servants and Knights I have heard preach said Sancho that men should love our Saviour with that kinde of love only for his owne sake without beeing mooved thereunto eyther by the hope of Glory or the feare of Payne although for my part I would love and serve him for what hee is able to doe The Devill take thee for a Clowne quoth Don-Quixote how sharpe and pertinently doest thou speake now and then able to make a man imagine that thou hast studied Now by mine honesty quoth Sancho I can neither reade nor write Master Nicholas perceiving them drowned thus in their Discourses cryed out to them to stay and drinke of a little Fountaine that was by the way Don-Quixote rested to Sanchoes very great contentment who was already tyred with telling him so many lies and was afraid his Master would intrap him in his owne words For although hee knew Dulcinea to bee of Toboso yet had hee never seene her in his life And Cardenio had by this time put on the apparell Doroten wore when they found her in the Mountaines which though they were not very good yet exceeded with great advantage those which hee had himselfe before And alighting hard by the Fountaine they satisfied with the provision the Curate had brought with him from the Inne although it were but little the great hunger that pressed them And whilest they tooke their ease there a certaine young stripling that travelled passed by who looking very earnestly on all those which sate about the Fountaine hee ranne presently after to Don-Quixote and imbracing his Legs hee said weeping downright O my Lord doe not you know mee Looke well upon mee for I am the youth Andrew whom you unloosed from the Oake whereunto I was tyed Don-Quixote presently knew him and taking him by the hands hee turned to those that were present and said Because you may see of how great importance it is that there bee Knights Errant in the World to undoe wrongs and injuries that are committed in it by the insolent and bad men which live therein you shall wit that a few daies past as I rode through a Wood I heard certaine lamentable screetches and cries
thereof you mean to forsake me here in a Desart out of all frequentation For Gods sake doe not me such a wrong my Lord and if you will not wholy desist from your purpose yet deâ—er it at least till the morning for as my little skill that I learned when I was a Sheepheard telleth me the dawning is not three hours off Porque la bocade la bozinaist alucina de lâ— cabeoâ— p. 168. for the mouth of the Fish is over the head and maketh mid-night in the line of the left arme How canst thou Sancho quoth Don-Quixote see where is the line or that mouth or that talle of which thou speakest seeing the night is so darke that one star alone appeareth not That is true quoth Sancho but fear hath eyes which can see things under the ground and much more in the skies And besides we may gather by good discourse that the day is not far off Let it be as little off as it lists quoth Don-Quixote it shall never be recorded of me that either tears or prayers could ever disswade me from performing the duty of a Knight and therefore good Sancho hold thy peace for God who hath inspired me to attempt this unseen and fearfull Adventure will have an eye to my weale and also to comfort thy sorrow And that thou hast therefore to doe is to make straigh my gyrts and remain here for I will return shortly either alive or dead Sancho perceiving his Lords last resolution and how little his teares counsailes or prayers could availe resolved to profit himselfe a little of his wit and make him if hee could to expect untill day and so when hee did fasten the gyrts hee softly without being felt tyed his Asses halter to both Rozinantes legs so falt that when Don-Quixote thought to depart hee could not for that his Horse could not goe a step but â—â—aping Sancho seeing the good successe of his guile said behold Sir how Heaven moved by my teares and prayers hath ordained that Rozinante should not goe a step and if you will bee still contending and spurring and striking him you will doe nothing but inrage fortune and as the Proverb saies But spurne against the priâ—k Don-Quixote grew wood at this and yet the more hee spurred him hee was the lesse able to goe wherefore without perceiving the cause of his Horses stay hee resolved at last to bee quiet and expect either till the morning or else till Rozinante would please to depart believing verily that the impediment came of some other cause and not from Sancho and therefore said unto him Since it is so Sancho that Rozinante cannot stir him I am content to tarry till the dawning although her tardinesâ—e cost me some tears You shall have no cause to weep replyed Sancho for I will entertain you telling of Histories untill it be day if you will not alight and take a nap upon these green hearbs as Knights Errant are wont that you may be the fresher and better able to morrow to attempt that monstrous Adventure which you expect What doest thou call alighting or sleeping quoth Don-Quixote Am I peradventure one of those Knights that repose in time of danger Sleep thou who wast borne to sleep or doe what thou please for I will doe that which I shall see fittest for my pretence Good Sir be not angry quoth Sancho for I did not speak with that intention And so drawing neer unto him he set one of his hands on the pomell of the saddle and the other hinder in such sort that he rested imbracing his Lords left thigh not daring to depart from thence the bredth of a finger such was the fear he had of those blows which all the while did sound without ceasing Then Don Quixote commanded him to tell some tale to passe away the time as hee had promised and Sancho said hee would if the feare of that which hee heard would suffer him Yet quoth hee for all this I will encourage my selfe to tell you one whereon if I can hit aright and that I bee not interrupted is the best History that ever you heard and bee you attentive for now I begin It was that it was the good that shall befall bee for us all and the â—arme for him that searches it And you must be advertised good Sir that the beginning that ancient men gave to their tales was not of ordinary things and it was a sentence of Cato the Roman 〈◊〉 Which saies and the harme bee for him that searches it Which is as fit for this place as a ring for a finger to the end that you may bee quiet and not to goe seeke your owne harme to any place but that wee turne us another way for no body compelleth us to follow this where so many feares doe surprize us Prosecute this tale Sancho said Don-Quixote and leave the charge of the way wee must goe to mee I say then quoth Sancho that in a village of Estremadura there was a Sheepheard I would say a Goateheard And as I say of my tale this Goatheard was called Lope Râ—yz and this Lope Râ—yz was enamoured on a Sheepheardesse who was called Torralua the which Sheepheardesse called Torralua was daughter to a rich Heard-man and this rich heard-man If thou tellest thy tale Sancho after that manner quoth Don-Quixote repeating every thing twice that thou sayest thou wilt not end it these two dayes tell it succinâ—tly and like one of judgement or else say nothing Of the very same fashion that I tell are all tales told in my Countrey and I know not how to tell it any other way nor is it reason that you should aske of mee to make new customes Tell it as thou pleasest quoth Don-Quixote for since fortune will not otherwise but that I must heare thee goe forward So that my deere Sir of my Soule quoth Sancho that as I have said already this Sheep heard was in love with Torralua the Sheepheard esse who was a round wench scornefull and drew somwhat neere to a man for shee had Mochachoes for mee thinks I see her now before my face Belike then quoth Don Quixote thou knewest her I did not know her quoth Sancho but hee that told mee the tale said it was so certaine and true that I might when I told it to any other very well sweare and affirme that I had seene it all my selfe So that dayes passing and dayes coming the Devill who sleepes not and that troubles all Yque todâ—lo annasca pag. 172 wrought in such sort as the love that the Sheepheard bore to the Sheepheardesse turned into man-slaughter and ill will and the cause was according to bad tongues a certaine quantity of little jealousies that shee gave him such as they past the line and came to the forbidden A Spanish Proverb touching their jealousie And the Sheepheard did hate her so much afterward that hee was content to leave all that Countrey because hee would not see her and goe where
famous name searching you for to remedy her mis-haps I will not answere you a word faire Lady quoth Don-Quixote nor heare a jot of your affaire untill you arise from the ground I will not get up from hence my Lord quoth the afflicted Lady if first of your wonted bountie you doe not grant to my request I doe give and grant it said Don-Quixote so that it bee not a thing that may turn to the dammage or hindrance of my King my Country or of her that keeps the key of my Heart and Liberty It shall not turn to the dammage or hindrance of those you have said good Sir replied the dolorous Damzel and as shee was saying this Sancho Panca rounded his Lord in the eare saying softly to him Sir you may very well grant the request she asketh for it is a matter of nothing it is only to kill a monstrous Gyant and she that demands it is the mightie Princesse Micomicona Queen of the great Kingdome of Micomicon in Ethiopia Let her bee what shee will quoth Don-Quixote for I will accomplish what I am bound and my conscience shall inform me comformable to the State I have professed And then turning to the Damzell hee said Let your great beauty arise for I grant to you any boon which you shall please to ask of me Why then quoth the Damzell that which I demand is That your magnanimous person come presently away with me to the place where I shall carry you and doe likewise make me a promise not to undertake any other Adventure or demand untill you revenge me upon a Traytor who hath against all Laws both Divine and Humane usurped my Kingdome I say that I grant you all that quoth Don-Quixote and therefore Lady you may cast away from this day forward all the Melancholy that troubles you and labour that your languishing and dismaied hopes may recover again new strength and courage for by the help of God and that of mine arme you shall see your self shortly restored to your Kingdome and enthronized in the Chair of your ancient and great Estate in despite and maugre the Traytors that shall dare gainsay it and therefore hands to the work for they say that danger alwayes follows delay The distressed Damzell strove with much adoe to kisse his hand But Don-Quixote who was a most accomplished Knight for courtesie would never condescend thereunto but making her arise hee imbraced her with great kindnesse and respect and commanded Sancho to saddle Rozinante and help him to Arme himself Sancho took down the Armes forthwith which hung on a Tree like Trophies and searching the Gyrts armed his Lord in a moment who seeing himself Armed said Let us in Gods name depart from hence to assist this great Lady The Barber kneeled all this while and could with much adoe dissemble his laughter or keep on his Beard that threatned still to fall off with whose fall perhaps they should all have remained without bringing their good purpose to passe And seeing the boon was granted and noted the dilligence wherewithall Don-Quixote made himself ready to depart and accomplish the same hee arose and took his Ladie by the hand and both of them together holp her upon her Mule and presently after Don-Quixote leaped on Rozinante and the Barber got on his Beast Sancho only remaining a foot where he afresh renewed the memory of the losse of his gray Asse with the want procured to him thereby But all this hee bore with very great patience because hee supposed that his Lord was now in the way and next degree to bee an Emperour for he made an infallible account that hee would marry that Princesse and at least bee King of Micomicon But yet it grieved him to think how that Kingdome was in the Country of black Moors and that therefore the Nation which should bee given to him for his Vassals should be all black For which difficultie his imagination coyned presently a good remedie and hee discoursed with himself in this manner Why should I care though my Subjects be all black Moors is there any more to be done then to load them in a Ship and bring them into Spain where I may sell them and receive the price of them in ready mony and with that money may I buy some Title or Office wherein I may after live at mine ease all the dayes of my life No! but sleep and have no wit nor abilitie to dispose of things and to sell thirty or ten thousand Vassals in the space that one would say give me those straws I will dispatch them all they shall â—lie the little with the great or as I can best contrive the matter And bee they ever so black I will transform them into white or yellow ones come neer and see whether I cannot suck well my fingers ends And thus hee travailed so solicitous and glad as hee quite forgot his pain of travailing a foot Cardenio and the Curate stood in the mean timebeholding all that passed from behinde some Brambles where they lay luâ—king and were in doubt what means to use to issue and joyn in company with them But the Curate who was an ingenious and prompt plotter devised instantly what was to bee done that they might attain their desire Thus hee took out of his case a pair of Shears and cut off Cardenio's Beard therewithall in a trice and then gave unto him to wear a riding Capouch which hee himself had on and a black Cloak and himself walked in a Doublet and Hose Cardenio thus attired looked so unlik that he was before as he would not have known himself in a Looking-glasse This being finished and the others gone on before whilest they disguised themselves they sallied out with facilitie to the high way before Don-Quixote or his company for the Rocks and many other bad passages did not permit those that were a horse-back to make so speedie an end of their Journey as they and having thorowly past the Mountain they expected at the foot â—hereof for the Knight and his company who when he appeared the Curate looked on him very earnestly for a great space with inkling that he began to know him And after hee had a good while beheld him hee ran towards him with his armes spread abroad saying In a good houre bee the mirrour of all Knighthood found and my noble country man Don-Quixote of the Mancha the flower and cream of Gentility the shadow and remedie of the afflicted and the Quintescence of Knights Errantâ— and saying this he held Don-Quixote his left thigh embraced Who admiring at that which hee heard that man to say and doe did also review him with attention and finally knew him and all amazed to see him made much adoe to alight but the Curate would not permit him wherefore Don-Quixote said Good Master Licentiat permit me to alight for it is in no sort decent that I bee a horse-back and so reverend a person as you goe on foot I
all that was his there did hee also cause his Daughter to embrace her there the beautifull Christian and the most beautifull Moore renewed the teares of them all There Don-Quixote was attentive without speaking a word pondering of these rare occurrences and attributing them to the Chimeraes which hee imagined to bee incident to Chivalrie and there they agreed that the Captaine and Zoraida should returne with their brother to Sivill and thence advise their Father of his finding and libertie that he as well as hee might should come to Sivill to the Baptisme and Marriage of Zoraida because the Judge could not possibly returne or discontinue his journey in respect that the Indian Fleete was to depart within a Moneth from Sivill towards new Spaine Every one in conclusion was joyfull and glad at the captives good successe and two parts of the night being wel nigh spent they all agreed to repose themselves a while Don-Quixote offered himselfe to watch and gaurd the Castle whilst they slept lest they should bee assaulted by some Giant or other miscreant desirous to rob the great Treasure of beautie that was therein immured and kepâ— Those that knew him rendred unto him infinite thankes and withall informed the Judge of his extravagant humor whereat hee was not a little recreated onely Sancho Panca did fret because they went so slowly to sleepe and hee alone was best accommodated of them all by lying downe on his beasts furniture which cost him deerely as shall bee after recounted The Ladies being withdrawne into their Chamber and every one laying himselfe downe where best hee might Don-Quixote sallied out of the Inne to bee Centinell of the Castle as hee had promised And a little before day it happened that so sweet and tuneable a voyce touched the Ladies eares as it obliged them all to listen unto it very attentively but chiefly Dorotea who first awaked and by whose side the young Gentlewoman Donna Clara of Viedma for so the Judges Daughter was called slept None of them could imagine who it was that sung so well without the help of any instrument sometimes it seemed that hee sung in the yard others that it was in the Stable and being thus in suspence Cardenio came to the Chamber-dore and said Whosoever is not asleepe let them give eare and they shall heare the voice of a Lackey that so chants as it likewise inchants Sir quoth Dorotea wee heare him very well With this Cardenio departed and Dorotea using all the attention possible heard that his song was this following CHAP. XVI Wherein is recounted the Historie of the Lackie with other strange Adventures befaln in the Inne I Am a Marriner to love Which in his depths profound Still sails and yet no hope can prove Of comming aye to th' ground I following goe a glistring Starre Which I aloof descrie Much more resplendent then those are That Palinure did spie I know not where my course to â—end And so confusedly To see it only I pretend Carefull and carelesly Her too impertinent regard And too much Modestie The Clouds are which mine eyes have â—ard From their deserved fee. O cleer and soul-reviving Star Whose sight doth trie my trust If thou thy light from me debar Instantly dye I must The Singer arriving to this point of his song Dorotea imagined that it would not bee amisse to let Donna Clara heare so excellent a voyce and therefore shee jogged her a little on the one and other side untill shee had awaked her and then said Pardon me child for thus interrupting your sweet repose seeing I doe it to the end you may joy by hearing one of the best voyces that perhaps you ever heard in your life Clara awaked at the first drowsily and did not well understand what Dorotea said and therefore demanding of her what shee said shee told it her again whereupon Donna Clara was also attentive but scarce had shee heard two verses repeated by the early Musician when a marvellous trembling invaded her even as if shee had then suffered the grievous fit of a Quartane Ague Wherefore embracing Dorotea very straightly shee said Alas deer Lady why did you awake me seeing the greatest happ that Fortune could in this instant have given me was to have mine eyes and eares so shut as I might neither see nor hear that unfortunate Musician What is that you say childe quoth Dorotea did you not heare one say that the Musician is but a Horse-Boy Hee is no Horse-Boy quoth Clara but a Lord of many Towns and hee that hath such firm possession of my Soul as if hee himself will not reject it hee shall never bee deprived of the dominion thereof Dorotea greatly wondred at the passionate words of the young Gyrle whereby it seemed to her that shee farre surpassed the discretion which so tender yeers did promise And therefore shee replyed to her saying You speak so obscurely Lady Clara as I cannot understand you expound your selfe more cleerly and tell me what is that you say of Souls and Towns and of this Musician whose voyce hath altred you so much but doe not say any thing to me now for I would not lose by listening to your disgusts the pleasure I take to hear him sing for me thinks hee resumes his musick with new Verses and in another tune In a good hour quoth Donna Clara and then because she her self would not hear him she stopt her eares with her fingers whereat Dorotea did also marvell but being attentive to the Musick shee heard the Lacquie prosecute his Song in this manner O Sweet and constant hope That break'st Impossibilities and Bryers And firmly run'st the scope Which thou thy self doest forge to thy desires Be not dismaid to see At eve'ry step thy self nigh death to bee Sluggards doe not deserve The glorie of Triumphs or Victorie Good hap doth never serve Those which resist not Fortune manfully But weakly fall to ground And in soft sloth their Sences all confound That Love his glories hold At a high rate it reason is and just No precious Stones nor gold May bee at all compared with Loves gust And 't is a thing most clear Nothing is worth esteem that cost not dear An Amorous persistance Obtaineth oft-times things impossible And so though I resistance Finde of my Souls desires in her stern will I hope time shall bee given When I from Earth may reach her glorious Heav'n Here the voyce ended and Donna Clara's sighs began all which inflamed Dorotea's desire to know the cause of so sweet a Song and so sad a Plaint And therefore shee eftsoons required her to tell her now what shee was about to have said before Then Clara timorous lest Luscinda should over-hear her imbracing Dorotea very neerly laid her mouth so closely to Dorotea's eare as shee might speak securely without being understood by any other and said Hee that sings is dear Ladie a Gentlemans Sonne of the Kingdome of Aragon whose Father is Lord of two Towns and
Frigot of Argiers Pirates And now the three other Gallies came to their Admirall to know what they should doe The Generall commanded that two of them should lanch to the Sea and hee with the other would goe betwixt Land and Land that so the Vessell might not escape them The Slaves rowed hard and so furiously drave on the Gallies as if they had flown and those that lanched first into the Sea about two miles off discovered a Vessell which in sight they marked to have about a fourteen or fifteen Oares as it fell out to bee true which Vessell when shee discovered the Gallies shee put her self in chase hoping by her swiftnesse to scape but it prevailed nothing for the Admirall Gally was one of the swiftest Vessells that sayled in the Sea and so got of the other so much that they in the Frigot plainly saw that they could not escape and so the Master of her would have had them forsaken their Oares and yeelded for fear of offending our Generall but fate that would have it otherwise so disposed the matter that as the Admirall came on so nigh that they in the Barke might heare a cry from the Gally that they should yeeld two Toraquis that is two drunken Turks that were in the Frigot with twelve others discharged two Calievers with which they killed two Souldiers that stood abaft our Gally Which when our Generall saw hee vowed not to leave a man alive in the Vessell and comming in great fury to grapple with her shee escaped under the Gallies Oares the Gally passed forward a pretty way they in the Vessell saw themselves gone and began to set sail and to fly afresh as they saw the Gally comming on them but their industry did them not so much good as their presumption hurt for the Admirall overtaking them within one half mile clapped his Oares in the Vessell and so took her and every man alive in her By this the two other Gallies came and all four returned to the Wharf with their Prize where a world of People expected them desirous to see what they brought the Generall cast Anchor neer land and perceived that the Vice-Roy of the City was on the shore hee commanded that a Cock-boat should bee lanched to bring him and that they should strike the Main yard to hang presently the Master of the Frigot and the rest of the Turks that they had taken in her which were about six and thirty persons all goodly men and most of them Turkish shot The Generall asked who was Master of the Barke and answer was made him by one of the Captives in Spanish who appeared after to be a Runagate Spainiard This Youth you see here is our Master and he shewed him one of the goodliest comly Youths that could bee deciphered by humane imagination He was not to see to above twenty yeers of age The Generall asked Tell mee ill-advised Dogg what moved thee to kill my Souldiers since thou sawst it was impossible for to escape is this the respect due to Admiralls Knowest not thou that rashnesse is not valour doubtfull hopes may make men bold but not desperate The Master would have replyed but the Generall could not as yet give him the hearing by reason of his going to welcome the Vice-roy aboord who entred now the Gally with some servants of his and others of the City You have had a pretty chase on 't my Lord Generall said the Vice-roy So pretty said the Generall that your excellency shall see it hanged up at the Main-yard How so quoth the Vice-roy Why they have killed me said he against all Law of Arms Reason or Custome of Warrs two of the best Souldiers I had in my Gallies I have sworn to hang them all especially this Youth the Master of the Frigot and hee shewed him one that had his hands bound and the halter about his neck expecting his death The Vice-roy beheld him and seeing him so comely handsome and humble withall his beauty giving him in that instant as it were a Letter of recommendation the Vice-roy had a minde to save him and therefore asked Tell me Master Art thou a Turk born or a Moor or a Runagate To which the Youth answered him in his own language Neither of all Why what art thou quoth the Vice-roy A Christian woman said the young man A Woman and a Christian in this habit in these employments a thing rather to be wondred at then believed My Lords I beseech you quoth the Youth let my execution bee a little deferred whilest I recount my life What heart so hard that would not bee softned with that reason at least to heare the sad and grieved Youth to tell his story The Generall bade him proceed but that there was no hope for him of pardon for his notorious offence So the Youth began in this manner Of that Linage more unhappie then wise on which a Sea of misfortunes in these latter times have rained am I born of Moriscan Parents and in the current of their misery was carried by two of my Uncles into Barbary it nothing availing me to say I was a Christian as I am indeed and not seeming so as many of us but truly Catholike but this truth prevailed nothing with the Officers that had charge given them to look to our banishment neither would my Uncles believe I was a Christian but that it was a trick of mine to stay in my native Country and so rather forcibly then by my consent they carried me with them My Mother was a Christian and my Father discreet and so likewise I sucked the Catholike Faith in my Milk I was well brought up and neither in my language or fashion made shew to bee a Morisca With these Virtues my beauty if so bee I have any increased also and though my restraint and retirement was great yet it was not such but that a young Gentleman called Don Gasper Gregorio had gotten a sight of me This Gentleman was Sonne and Heir to a Knight that lived neer to our Town hee saw me and we had some speech and seeing himself lost to me but I not won by him 't were large to sell especially fearing that as I am speaking this halter must throttle me yet I say that Don Gregorio would needs accompanie me in my banishment and so mingling himself with Moriscos that came out of other places for hee understood the language well in our Voyage hee got acquainted with my two Uncles that went with me for my Father wisely when hee heard the Edict of our banishment went out of our Town and went to seek some place in a Forraign Country where wee might be entertained and hee left many Pearls precious Stones and some money in double Pistolets hidden in a secret place which I only know of but hee commanded me by no means to meddle with it if wee were banish'd before his return I did so and with my Unkles and others of our Kindred passed into
Babary and our resting place was Argiers I might have said Hell The King there had notice of my beauty and likewise that I was rich which partly fell out to bee my happinesse Hee sent for me and asked me of what part of Spain I was and what money and jewels I brought I told him the place but that my Jewels and Monies were buried but that they might easily bee had if I might but goe thither for them All this I said hoping his own covetousnesse would more blinde him then my beauty Whilest wee were in this discourse they told him there came one of the goodliest faire Youths with mee that could bee imagined I thought presently it was Don Gregorio they meant whose comelinesse is not to bee paralell'd It troubled me to think in what danger hee would bee for those Barbarous Turkes do more esteeme a handsome Boy then a Woman bee shee never so faire The King commanded straight that he should be brought before him that he might see him and asked me if it were true they said of the Youth I told him Yes and it seemed Heaven put it into my head but that hee was no man but a woman as I was and I desired him hee would give me leave to cloath her in her naturall habit that her beauty might appear to the full and that otherwise too shee would bee too shamefast befoe him Hee bad mee doe so and that on the morrow hee would give order for my returne to Spaine to seeke the hidden Treasure I spoke with Don Gaspar and told him what danger hee had been in by being a man so I clad him like a Moorish woman and that afternoon brought him to the Kings presence who seeing him admired at her beauty and thought to reserve him and to send him for a Present to the Grand Signior and so to avoid the danger in his Sarraglio of women if hee put her there hee commanded her to bee kept in a house of certain Moorish Gentlewomen whither hee was carryed How this troublâ—â— as both for I cannot deny that I love him let them consider that have been absent from their Loves The King gave order then that I should come for Spaine in this Frigot and that these two Turks that killed your Souldiers should accompany mee and this Renegate Spaniard pointing to him that had first spoken who I know is in heart a Christian and hath a greater desire to remaine here then to returne into Barbary the rest are Moors and Turkes that onely serve for Rowers The two covetous and insolent Turkes not respecting the order wee had that they should set mee and this Runnagate Spaniard on the first shore in the habits of Christians of which we were provided would needs first scowre the coast and take some prize if they could fearing that if they first should set us on land by some mischance wee might discover the Frigot to bee upon the coast so that they might be taken by the Gallies and overnight we described this wharf and not knowing of these foure Gallies wee were discovered and this hath befalne us that you have seene In fine Don Gregorio remaines in his womans habit amonst Women in manyfest danger of his destruction and I am here Prisoner expecting or to say truer fearing the losing of my life which notwithstanding wearies mee This Sirs is the conclusion of my lamentable History as true as unfortunate my request is that I may die a Christian since as I have said I am not guilty of that crime into which the rest of my Nation have fallen and with this she broke off her eyes pregnant with teares which were accompanied with many from the standers by also The Viceroy all tender and compassionate came to her and undid the Cord that bound the Moores faire hands In the meane time whilest this Christian Morisca related her Story an ancient Pilgrim that entred the Gally had his eyes fastned upon her and shee had no sooner ended her discourse when hee cast himselfe at her feet and embracing them with interrupted words Sighs and Sobs said Oh my unfortunate Daughter Ana Felix I am Ricote thy Father that have returned to seeke thee as not being able to live without thee for thou art my very soule At these words Sancho opend his eyes and lifted up his head which hee held downe thinking upon his ill-favoured tossing in the Gally and beholding the Pilgrim knew him to bee the same Ricote that hee met the same day hee left his Government and it appear'd shee was his Daughter when being unbound shee embraced her Father mingling her teares with his Then said hee to the Generall and Viceroy This my Lords is my Daughter more unhappy in her successe then in her name as famous for beauty as I for Wealth I left my Country to finde a resting-place in some strange Country and having found one in Germany returned in this Pilgrimes weed in company of other Germanes to seek my Daughter and to dig out my hidden Treasure but found not her and the Treasure I bring with mee and now by strange chance have lighted on my greatest Treasure that is my beloved Daughter if so be our small offence and her tears and mine together with the integrity of your Justice may open the gates of mercy shew it us that never had so much as a thought once to offend you nor conspired with those of our own linage who were justly banished Then said Sancho I know Ricote well and know all is true hee saith concerning that Ana Felix is his Daughter but for other flim-flams whether hee had a good or bad intention I intermeddle not The by-standers wondring all at this accident the Generall said Well your tears will not let me accomplish my vow live faire Ana Felix as long as Heaven will give thee leave and let those rash Slaves dye that committed the fault So hee commanded that the two Turks that had killed his two Souldiers should presently bee hanged upon the Main-yard but the Vice-roy desired him earnestly not to hang them since they had shewed more madness then valour The Generall condescended for revenge is not good in cold blood and straight they contrived how to get Don Gregorio free Ricote offered two thousand Ducats hee had in Pearls and Jewels towards it Many means were thought on but none so good as that of the Renegado Spanyard that was mentioned who offered to return to Argiers in some small Bark only with some six Christian Oares for hee knew where how and when to dis-embarke himself and the house also where Don Gasper was The Generall and Vice-roy were in some doubt of him or to trust him with the Christians that should row with him But Ana Felix undertook for him and Ricote offered to ransome the Christians if they were taken And being agreed the Vice-roy went a-shore and Don Antonio Moreno carried the Morisca and her Father with him the Vice-roy enjoyning him to use them as