YOur worſhip ſhal vnderſtande before all things, that my name is Lazaro de Tormes, ſon of Thome Gonſales and Antona Petes natiue of Teſſiares, a village neer Salamanka: I was borne within the riuer called Tormes, wherof I toke my ſurname, as hereafter you ſhal heare; my father whome God pardon, had the charge of a Mill ſtauding vpon that Riuer wherein he ſupplied the roome of a Milner about rv yéeres. It fortuned on a night my mother bring gret with childe, was there brought to bed, and then was I borne: therefore nowe I may truly report the Riuer it ſelfe to be the place of my natiuitie: & after the time I came to the age of eight yeares, there was layds to my Fathers charge that he had ſhamefully cut the ſeames of mens ſacks that came thither to grind, wherefore he was taken and impriſoned, and being tormē ted he cōfeſſed the whole matter, denying nothing wherefore he was perſecuted. I truſte in God that he is now in paradiſe, ſeeing that the Goſpel doth ſay, that bleſſed are ſuch as cōfeſſe their faults. About ye ſame time an army was made againſt the Turkes, & my father being then baniſhed for the miſhap aforeſaid, chanced to be one ſupplying the roume of a Mulitor, vnder a knight which went thither, in whoſe ſeruice like a true and a faithful man, he ended his life. My mother being then a comfortleſſe widowe, after the loſſe of hir deare huſband, determined to inhabite among ſuch as were vertuous & honeſt, to be of that number, and therefore came immediatly to this noble Citie, where after that ſhee had hired a little houſe, ſhée kept an ordinarie table for diuers Students, and waſhed ſhyrts for a rompany of horſekepers, belōging to the Commander of Magdalona, by meanes whereof ſhe had accuſation to make often reſort vnto the ſtables, where in continuance of time, a black Morrien, one of maſter Commanders men, became to be famiarly acquainted with hir▪ So that for his part hee would oftentimes arriue at midnight to our houſe, and returne againe betimes in ye morning, other whiles at noonetide, demāding at the dore, whether my mother had egges to ſell, and ſo come in pretely without ſuſpection: At the beginning I was right ſorie to ſee him make repare thither, being afraid to behold his black vncomly viſage: but after that I once perceiued how only by his reſort our fare was ſo well amended, I could by no means finde in my heart to hate him, but rather beare him good will, reioycing to ſee him: for hee alwayes brought vs home with him good rounde can ••• s of breade, and pieces of broken meate, and in the Winter time wood to warme vs withall. To bee ſhort, by his continuall repaire thither, matters went ſo forwarde, that my mother founde good time to bring forth a yōg morren, whom I daily playde withall, and ſometimes helped to warme. And I remember very well, that on a time as my Stepfather played merily with his yong ſonne, the little childe perceiuing that my mother and I ware whyte, and his father blacke as yeat, he ran away for feare to my mother, and ſtretching foorth his finger, cried Mamma ye hugge: Wherat my blacke ſtepfather would laugh, and ſay, a whoreſon, art thou afrayce of thy father? Although I was then but yong, I right wel marked the childs words, and ſaid to my ſelf, ther are many ſuch in the world, which do abhor and flée from others bycauſe they cannot ſee what ſhape they haue themſelues. Within a while after, it pleaſed fortune that the daily cōuerſation of Aide (for ſo was my fathers name) came to the cares of him that was Stewarde to maſter Commander, who made ſuthſtreight inquirie, that he was aduertiſe • how the black moren did vſe to ſteale halfe the prouander that was allowed ye horſes, yea, horſecouerings, ſhetes and curry combes, other whiles wood, & bran: which things in • éede he alwayes ſaid were loſt, All was fiſh that came to the nette. & when nothing could bee gotten to ſerue his turne, he would neuer ſlicke to vnſhoe the horſes, to get ſome gaine, preſenting daily all ſuch giftes to my mother, as a help to bring vp my litle blacke brother. Let vs neuer therefore maruell more at thoſe which ſteale from the poore, nor yet at them which conuey from the houſes they ſerue, to preſente therewith whome they loue, in hope to attayne thereby their deſired pleaſure, ſeeing that loue was able to encourage this poore bondman or ſlaue to doe thus much as I haue ſaide, or rather more, which by euident triall was afterwards proued true: for I being examined of the déede, after much thretning was cōſtrained as a childe, for feare, There is an order in that countrey when any Moredoth commirte any hemous effēce to ſtrip himnaked and being bound with his hands and his knees together, to baſt him with hote droppes of burning Larde. ſo diſcouer the whole matter, confeſſing howe I had ſolde certaine horſeſhoowes to a ſmith at my mothers cōmandement: wherfore my miſerable ſtepfather was by iudgement of the law, as the order is there, whipped and Larded, and to my mother expreſſe cōmandement was giuen vpon the vſual paine of a hundreth ſtripes, no more to enter into the houſe of the aboue named Commander, nor yet entertaine into hirs the vnfortunate Zaide. My ſorrowefull mother fearing to throwe the helue after the hatchet, determined by all meanes to kéepe their commaundement, wherefore ſhee entred into ſeruice with thoſe which at that time dwelte at the ordinaric Inne called Solona, ſo to eſcape danger & to auoyde the dangerous reports of euill tongues, where ſhee ſuffered much ſorrowe, and there brought vp my blacke brother, until he was able to run abrode, and that I being a good ſtripling, There is no pro • ſion there in Innes: for the gueſtes muſt ſende abrode into the towne for all ſuch yittell as they neede. coulde go vp and down the town to prouide the gueſtes of wine, and candels, and other things neceſſarie. In this meane tyme, there happeued a blind man to come thither to lodge, who thinking me to be a fit mā to leade him, deſired my mother that I might ſerue him, wherewith ſhe being right wel content, moſt earneſtly prayed him to be good maſter vnto me, becauſe I was an honeſt mans ſ • nne, who in maintaining the faith of Ieſus Chriſt againſt Lurkes, died in the battel of Gelues, & howe that ſhe truſted in almightie God I would proue as honeſt a man as he: therfore in any wiſe that he would be careful ouer me, being a fatherleſſe child. Let me alone then (anſwered he) I will not vſe him as a ſeruaunte, but as a ſonne. Then in happie time I began to ſerue my olde and newe maiſter: And after we had remained certaine dayes at Salamanka, my blind maſter perceiuing his gaine there to he but ſmall, determined to departe thence: and a little before our departure, I went to ſee my mother: whē I came wher ſhe was, we ſhed both moſte bitter teares, and ſhe gaue mée hir▪ bleſſing, ſaying, nowe my deare ſonne I ſhal ſee thee no more, therfore be a good childe, I pray God bée thy helpe, I doe thanke the Lord I haue brought thée vp well hitherto, and I haue nowe put thee to a good maſter, from henceforth prouide for thy ſelfe, ſéeing that I haue done my part. I tooke my leaue and retourned in haſte to my maſter, which taried for me ready to take his voyage. So wée departed out of Salamanka, and came on our way as • rre as the bridge, at the entrance wher •• ſtandeth a beaſt of Stone, faſhioned much like a bul: as ſone as we came nere it, ye blindmā willed me to approche, ſaying Lazaro, put thine eare to this Bull, and thou ſhalt heare a terrible noiſe within it: as ſoone as he had ſaid • words, I was ready like a foole to bowe down my head, to be as he had cōmāded, thinking that his wordes had bene moſt true: but the traiterous blind man ſuſpecting how neare it my head was, thruſteth forth his arme vpon a ſod •• ne, with ſuch force, that my fore head tooke ſuch a blowe againſt the diueliſh Buil, that for the ſpace of three dayes my head feſte the paines of his hornes, wherefore he was right glad & ſaide: Conſider nowe what thou art thou fooliſh calle, thou muſt vnderſtand, that the blind mans boy ought to knowe one tricke more than the dinel himſelf. It ſemed then immediatly that I awaked out of ſimplicitie, wherein I had of long time ſlept (like a child,) & I ſaw to my ſelf, my blind maſter hath good reaſon, it is ful time for me to open mine eyes, yea & to prouide & ſeeke mine owne aduantage cōſſdering ye I a ••• alone with out any helpe. We continued on our ••• ney, & within fewe dayes I came to good knowledge, ſo he perceiuing what a ready tong I had, was right glad, & ſaid, neither gold nor ſiluer can I giue thée, howbeit, I doe meane to teach thée ye way to liue, and ſo certainly he did: for next after God he made me a man, and although he was blinde, it was he that gaue me light and that taught mée howe to knowe the world • . I reioyce to declare vnto your worſhip theſe Childiſh toyes, that you may ſee how commēdable it is for a man of low eſtate to bee brought to authoritie and exalted, and contrariwyſe what a ſhame it is, a man for dignitie and eſtimation to bée pulled downe to wretched miſerie, But to retourne to my blynde maſter, and to ſhew his nature, I aſſure you that ſith the beginning of the worlde God neuer made man more deceitfull and craftie: for in his art and trade of liuing he far paſſed all other: he could recite by hart a hundred long prayers and moe, yea, & the life of all the holy ſaincts: at his deuotion time he vſed ſuch a loude tunable voy •• that it might be heard thoroughout the Churche where hée praied, and beſides all that, he could counferſet a good deuoute countenance in praying, without any ſtrange geſture, either with mouth or eye, as other blinde are accuſtomed to vſe. I am not abl • to recite a thouſand other manner of wayes which hée had to get money: hée would make many beleeue that he had praiers fo Biuers good purpo • es, as for to make women bring foorth children, yea, and to make men to loue their wiues, although they had hated thē before neuer ſo much. He would prognoſticate to women that were with childe, whether they ſhould bring foorth a Sonne or a daughter: in matters of Phyſicke, hee woulde affirme that Galen neuer knew halfe ſo much as hee: alſo for any griefe, the tooth ach, or anye other diſeaſe, there was neuer one cōplained, but that immediatly he would ſay, do this, doe that, ſeeth ſuch an herbe, take ſuch a roote: So that by this his continuall p • actiſe, he had daily great reſorte made vnto him, (eſpecially of women) which did faithfully beleeue all that euer he ſaid: by them hee had great gaine, for he wan more in a moneth, •• en twēty of his occupation did in a whole yeere. Yet for all his daily gaines, you muſt vnderſtand that there was neuer man ſo wretched a inggarde. For hee cauſed mée not onely to die for hunger, but alſo to wante what ſo euer I nee •• d. And therefore to confeſſe the troth, if I had not founde out meanes to helpe my ſelfe, I had bene buried long ſithence. Wherfore oftentimes I would ſo preuent him of all his crafte, that my portion ſhoulde proue as good as his: and to bring my matter ſo to paſſe, I vſed wonderfull deceits (wherof I will recite vnto you ſome) although ſomtimes my practiſing of them did coſt mee bitter paines. This bl • nd man caried alwayes his bread and his vittell in a little bag of cloth, which was ſhutte at the mouthe with an Iron buckle, vnder a miſerable locke and keye: at the time of putting his meate in, and taking it out, he would kéepe ſuch ſtraight account, that all the world was not able to deceiue him of one crun me, and therefore there was no helpe, but that I muſt néedes bee content with that ſmall allowance that hée gaue mee, which •• wares I was ſure to diſpatch at two morſels: and as ſone as euer he had ſhut his little lock, he wold thinke then that all were ſure, imagining that I had other matters in hand: then would I boldely vnrip and ſowe vp againe the ſyde of his couetous ſacke, vſing daily to launce one of the ſides, there to take out not onely bread at mine owne pleaſure, but alſo ſitces of fleſh, and ſweete ca • banades: So that by ſuch meanes I found conuenient time to eaſe the raging hunger which he was cauſe of. Morcouer all the maney that ruer I could conuey & ſteale from him, I changed alwayes into halfe blanks and when any man demanded any praier, he had always of ordinarie a blanke giuen him for his hire, & bicauſe he could not ſee, it ſhould be deliuered mee: but he could neuer ſo ſoone put foorth his hand to receiue it, but I was as readie to throwe it into my mouth, and by quicke erchaunge to giue him the iuſt value of halfe of it, whercat hee woulde much murmure, knowing by the onely feeling of it what it was, and would ſay: How in the diuels name cha •• eth it that ſithence thy cōming to me, I receiue but halfe blankes, and before I had alwayes a whole blanke and ſometimes two? I thinke ſurely that thy vnluckineſſe be cauſe thereof. From that time forwards her thought good to ſhorten his prayers, cutting them off in the middeſt: wherefore he cōmanded me, that as ſoone as the almes giuer had turned his back. I ſhold plucke him by the cloake. Blind men ſtand there in Churche porche • ryady to be hired for money to recite any prayer Then ſtreight wayes changing tune, he would begin to crie with loude voice (as blindmen vſe to do) who will heare ſuch a deuout prayer, or elſe the life of ſome holie Sainct? At dinner or ſupper time, hee had alwayes before him a little potfull of wine, which oftentimes I woulde laye hande on, and after two or three kiſſes ſende it him ſecretely home againe: But that happie time continued but a while, for I was wont to leaue ſo little behinde mée, that he might ſoone eſpie the faulte, as in deeds immedially hee did miſtruſt the whole matter, wherefore hee began a newe order, not to leaue his wine anie more at randon, but to auoyde daunger, had alwayes his little pot faſt by the eare, ſo to be ſure of his drinke. Yet notwithſtanding for all this, the Adamant ſtone had neuer ſuch vertue to drawe Iron to it, as I had to ſucke vp his wine with a long réede which I had prepared for the purpoſe: for at ſoone as the ende of my reede had bene once in, I might well defire hun to fill the pot againe. Yet at the laſte the craftie blinde man chaunced to feele mee, and being angrie, determined to take an other way, to place his pot betw • ne his legges, couering it ſtill with his hande, ſo to auoy call former daungers: when hee had ſo done, I being accuſtomed to drinke wyne, did long to taſte of it, and perceiuing that my reede coulde then no more preuaile at all, I deuiſed an other kinde of fetche, howe to make a hole in the bottome of his wine po • , and to ſtoppe the ſame with a little ſ • fte ware, ſo that at dynner time making a ſhewe as I were readie to dye for colde, I would créepe betweene th • blynd mans legges, to warme my ſelfe at his ſmall fire, by the heate whereof, the wax being little in quantitie, woulde ſo melte away, that the wyne woulde iſſue down into my meuth freſhely and trime. I being ſure to gape vpward ſo iuſt that one droppe ſhould n • uer fall beſide. So that when my blinde maſt • r woulde taſte of his wine, hee ſhoulde neuer finde drop to ouēch his thurſt, wherat he would much maruell, cu • ſing and ſwering all maner of othes, yea wiſhing the pot and all that was within it at the druell, muſing ſtill how his wine ſhould bee ſo conſumed away. Then ſt •• ightwayes to excuſe my ſelfe. I would ſay, I truſt you will not miſtruſt m • e gentle vucle, ſeeing that the pot came neuer out of your owne hands. Wherevpon then to be well reformed of the truthe, he began to feele and to gro • e the pot ouer ſo o • ten, that at laſt he found the ſpring, and at that time diſſembled quietly the matter, as if hee had perceiued nothing. The next day I beganne agayne to prepare my ſelfe after my accuſtomed ſorte to take my pleaſure of his wine, being ignoraunt of the euill that ſhould enſue, thinking that my maiſter would neuer haue miſtruſted mee about ſuch a matter, wherfore I was mery and careleſſe. But my cruell maſter, perceiuing after what ſtraunge ſort I receiued thoſe ſweete drops of wine, which came foorthe as a quicke ſpring at his potte bottome, my face bent towards heauen, my eyes in manner cloſed, ſo to receius with more delight and better taſte, that pleaſant licour which I thought did preſerue my life, the malitious blynde man hauing time of rouengement at his will, Inted vp the ſweete and ſoure pot, (as I may ſaye,) and with all his force clapped it ſo rudely vpon my face, that I thought varily heauen abeue, and all therein, had fallen vpon mee. The cruell blowe was ſuch that it tooke away my ſenſes, it troubled ſore my braines, and my face was all cut with pieces of the broken potte, yea, and ſome of my teeth were then broken, which as yet is ſeene, wherefore I neuer loued him after, howbeit be cheriſhed me daily: yet for al the falſe loue and fridſhip which he ſhewed, I perceiued right well how glad hee was that he had ſo puniſhed mee. To make me amendes, he waſhed with wine the woū des which the vnhappie pot had made, & after much l • ughing, ſaide, what ſayeſt thou to this my boy, the wy •• that hath done the hu • t ſhall now heale thee again, and ſuch other merie ieſtes, which I vtterly miſ •• ked. As ſoone as I began to recouer, an • that my face was in manner heal • d, & conſidered with my ſelfe, howe that with fewe more ſuch blowes, the blinte m • n might quickely vring mee to my graue: And therefore determined to ſhorten his dayes if I coulde, which thing I went not about immediatly, but taried a due time for mine owne ſafetis and aduantage. And whereas afterwardes I went about to ſorget mine anger, and to forgiue him the blowe, the cuill vſage and entertainement which hee daily ſhewed me, woulde in no wiſe conſent thereto. For ſtill hee tormented me with ſore blowes without any offence or faulte at all. And when any man demaunded why he handled me ſo cruelly, ſtraight wayes he woulde vp and declare the • iſcourſe of his pot, ſaying, do you not thinke that this childe is ſome innocent, and alwayes at the ende of his tale theſe would be his words: who vnleſſe it were the deuill him ſelfe could haue found out ſuch rare prankes? The people woulde much maruell at my muention, and bleſſing themſelues, would ſay vnto my maſter: Puniſh him, Puniſh him, God will rewarde you therefore: which thing hee did continually, & would haue done without their bidding: wherefore I daily led him through ye worſt wayes I could find poſſibly all for verie ſpite, minding if I could to doe him harme: where I might cipye ſtones or myre, I woulde euen through the thickeſt: & although I could neuer eſcape drie foote, I was glad with loſing one of mine owne eyes, to put out both his that neuer hadde any. • e was borne •• inde. At ſuch times of his ſorrowes to bée reuenged, he woulde take holde with his nailes on the hinder parte of my heade, where with his often pulling, hee had lefie very fews haires behinde: it would neuer preuaile me then to ſay, that I could finde no better way, nor yet to ſweare how I did not leade him that naughty way maliciouſly for he was ſo ſubtile that to my words he woulde giue ſmall credite. But nowe becauſe your worſhip ſhal vnderſtand how farre his crafte did extende. I will declare one chaunce amongſt many, which happened in the time I ſerued him wher in he ſeemeth to giue full vnderſtanding of his ſubtiltie: When wee departed out of Salamanka, his intente was to come to the Citie of Toledo, knowing that the people were richer there than in other places, although not ſo charitable, yet for all that, leaning to his olde prouerbe: More giueth the niggarde than the naked, we tooke our voyage through the beſt villages wee coulde finde, where we found great gain and profit, continuing after ſuch ſorte a certayne time: and where as wee liked not our entertainement, the third day we would be ſure to take our leaue and to ende our yeere. It fortuned at the laſt, that we arrined to a towne which is called Almorx, at ſuch time as they gathered their grapes, wher one of ye viniar • gaue my maſter a whole bunche, which by reaſon of the late time, were more than ripe, ſo that ſome were ready to fall from the • unch: wherfore he could by no meanes carie it in his bagge, by reaſon it was ſo moyſt. Therefore he determined to make a ſumptuous banket with it, partely becauſe hee hadde no meanes to carie it with him, and partly becauſe hée thought therewith to pleaſe me, which hadde receiued that day many cruell blowes. As ſoone as we founde a valley fitte for the purpoſe, wée ſatte vs downe, and my maſter ſaid, Lazaro my boy, I will nowe vſe a great liberalitie towards thee, it is my pleaſure that both of vs ſhall eate friendly together this bunch of grapes, whereof thy part ſhall be as much as mine, we will part it after this ſort, thou ſhalt take one grape and I an other, promiſing me faithfully that thou wil • not take aboue one at a time, and I will doe the like to thee, and ſo we will quietly ende our bunche, without any fraude or guile on • ither part. Vpon that condition we agreed and began our bancket: but my maſter belike forgetting his pr • miſe, did ſoone chaunge purpoſe, for immediatly hée began to picke the grapes by two & two, thinking peraduenture that I would do the like, as he might well thinke. In deede I was not farre behinde him, for as ſoone as I perteiued that hee had broken the lawe, I was not content to goe by two and two as he did, but went before him, taking vp by two and thr •• together, and ſometime more as I was beſt able. Whē the bunch was ended, he tooke the ſtalke in his hād, and wagging his head ſaid, Lazaro thou haſt deceiued me, by God thou haſt eaten by three and three: I vtterly denied it, and ſaide, in déede vnckle it is not true: why ſhould you thinke ſo? Then he like a craftie blindman anſwered, I did perceiue ſtraight wayes h • we the matter went, for when I began to take vp by two & two, thou neuer didſt finde faultebut didſt keepe ſilence. I then laughed to my ſelfe, although I was but young, I conſ • dered well his diſcrete conſideration. Now • ir to auoide long talke, I will leaue apart many matters as well pleaſant as worthy to bee noted, which haue fortuned to me with this my firſt maſter. I will onely tell what hapned a litle before I departed: we came to Scalona, a towne of the Dukes, and when we were at our lodging, Here they vſe fewe gridiròs but all ſpits, & do roſt ouerth wart the coles. A mareuedi, is the ſixt part of an Engliſh peny. hee gaue mee a piece of a ſauſedge to roſt, the which being almoſt inough, and the fat dropped and preſſed out vpon thin flices of bread, as the faſhion is, and thoſe being • aten, hée drewe his purſe, and boldly drewe out a Mareuedi, willing me to fetch the value therof in wine. The deuill (who as they ſay) is the occaſion that men become thieues, was ready at hand to prepare opportuni, tie to deceiue him. It fortuned that neare the fire there lay a little roote, ſomewhat long and euill fauoured, ſuche a one as belike, was not leru • able for the potte, and therefore was lefte there as abiecte: and as at that time there was no moe but hee and I alone, I felt my ſelfe pinched with a lickorous appetite, my teeth beeing ſ • t on edge with the ſweete ſauoure of his roſted ſauſege, the which was the onely witneſſe that I ſhoulde bee the eater thereof) I not regarding what the ſeque • e might bee, ſeauing aſide all manner of feare, for to fulfill my raſh deſire, in the meane while that the blinde man was drawing his purſſe, I whipps off quickely the ſauſedge from the ſpitte, and thereon broached the foreſaide worme eaten roote, which my maſter moſt willingly tooke and beganne to tourne, thinking to roſte that which for the goodneſſe, was not worthy t • bee boyled.

So I wente for wine, and by the way I made a faire ende of my ſauſedge, and as ſoone as I came in againe, I founde my maſter wringing betwéene two ſlices of bread, yt naughtie roote, not knowing what it was: for with his fingers he had not as yet touched it. Immediatly after he began to eate, taking a large bit of his bread, meaning to haue taſted a little of his ſauſedge, but his teeth entred into the roote, where he found a colde morſell: whereat hee being ſore abaſhed, ſhewed it to me, and ſaid, Lazaro what meaneth this? I then aunſwered: Nowe Ieſus what is this? Alas wretche that I am, doe you meane to blame me, you knowe well that I came but nowe from the tauerne with wine, ſurely ſome naughtie man hath bene here, that hath done this in deſpite or mockage. No no, then ſaide he, that cannot be poſſible, for I neuer let the ſpitte goe ſithence out of mine owne handes. Then to cleare my ſelfe, I began to ſweare all othe • , that I was innocent of that vile exchāge: but al was in vaine, for from the ſubtiltie of that vngratious blinde man, nothing could be kept hidde. Hee roſe vppe and tooke faſte holde on my heade, to ſmell whether hee coulde feele the ſauoure of his ſauſedge: and as ſoone as euer hee felte occaſion to ſuſpecte that I had eaten it, he was as gl • d • e as a good bloud hound • , that had his chaſe in the winde: Wherefore to bée better enfourmed of the trueth, being ſore indued with anger, he raſhely opened my mouth with the ſtrength of his handes, ſo that perforce I was fayns to gape euen to the vttermoſte: and then hée thruſteth in all haſte, into my mouth, his wormeaten noſe, which was both long and ſharpe, yea, which at that time by reaſon of great anger, was lengthned a long handfull, ſo that the pike thereof did ga • my throte. Wherefore, partely by reaſon of the feare that I was in, and partly becauſe the ſa • ſedge in ſuch ſhort time was not ſetled in my ſtomacke, but moſt of all, by reaſon of the greate trouble which his monſtrous noſe put mée too, wherewith I was in a manner choked, I was forced to diſcouer my gluttonte, ſo that the ſauſedge of neceſſitie retourned to his olde maſter againe: for my poore ſtomacke was ſo much altered, that before the blynde man had drawen out his hoggiſh noſe, I was euen ready to render vp the theft. For looke as ſoone as euer hee hadde pulled out his ſnoute, the euil eaten ſauſedge came guſhing cut after, in honeſt companie. O mightie God howe ha • beene then buried, might well haue looked for my companie, for & was altogether dead: his rage was 〈◊〉 ſo great, that if men had not c • me in, I thinke certainely hee woulde haue taken away my life. With muche a doe I got me out of his handes, leauing him with his clawes full of that ſmall quantitie of heare which I had lefte, (all which torment he moſt iuſtly deſerued ſeeing that through his naughtineſſe I ſuffered ſu • h perſecution.) The vngodly blinde man, woulde then declare to as many as came in, my vnfortunate diſgraces, rehe •• ſing often ouer, as well the tale of his • otte, and of the bunch of gr • pes, as alſo this laſt tricke of his ſauſedge. The laugh ••• that men made was ſo great, that a • ſuch as were in the ſtreate came in to ſee the feaſte, where hée recited with ſuch 〈◊〉 all my miſaduentures, that mée thought verily, I did them greate wrong in not laughing for companie. When all this was paſt, there came to my minde a certaine faint and a ſtouthfull cowa 〈7 letters〉 which I had committed, in not leauing him noſſeleſſe, ſeeing that I had time fit for the purpoſe: yea and that I had gone halfe the way to doe it. For if I had but cloſed my téeth together, his noſe had nener gone more abrode: & truely I beléeue becauſe it was the noſe of that naughtie mā it would haue better agréed with my ſtomacke, than the ſauſedge did, for had it once beene inuiſible, I mighte well haue denied it him againe. Nowe I would to God my téeth had done their parte, for it had beene better ſo then otherwiſe. The hoſtiſe, & other that were there, made vs friendes, and with the wine which I had brought for his ſupper, they waſhed my face, & my throte, which his nayles had altorne. Wherat he made much grudging, ſaying, certainely this boy doeth conſume mée more wine in a yéere, with waſhing his woundes, than I do drinke in two. Without doubt Lazaro, thou arte more bounde to wine, than to thy father, for hée onely begot thée once, & it hath ſaued thy life a thouſande times, and ſo declared howe many times hee had wounded mée and healed me againe with wine, & then ſaid again: I promiſe thée truely Lazaro if any man in the world ſhal haue happy chaunce with wine, it is thou. Which woordes cauſed thoſe that were there, to laughe heartily, I being ſtill in moſte ſorowfull diſpaire. But looke what the blinde man prognoſticated then, it was not all in vayne, for his ſayings at ye time proued afterwarde moſte true: wherefore I haue oftentimes ſithence called to minde his wordes, whereby it appeared that he had a great gift in prophecying, and therefore it hath often repented me of my cruell dealing towards him, although his deſerts were euill, ſéeing that his wordes of Prophecie proued ſo true, as hereafter your worſhip ſhall plainely vnderſtande. To conclude, his euill nature and my vſage conſidered, I determined to forſake him for euer, and as I imagined daily thereuppon, deſirous • o departe, this his laſt déede perſwaded 〈◊〉 fully thereunto, and the matter chaunced to fall out thus: Within two dayes after, wée wente through the Citie to demaunde mennes charities, where it had rained much the might before, & becauſe like wiſe it rayn •• ſ • re tha • • ay, my maſter wente praying vnder certaine portals ye are th ••• , where it wa ••••• . Whē 〈…〉 the raine 〈◊◊〉 he 〈…〉 , Lazaro, 〈…〉 is Without 〈◊〉 , for the more that nigh •• 〈…〉 , the more earneſt 〈◊〉 let vs draw •••• war • to our lodging. But as it chaunced, we had vetweene vs and home, a great wyde gutier which the 〈◊〉 had 〈…〉 I 〈◊〉 vncle, • hi • gut • er is very bro • de and ſvnſte, ſo that w • e ſhall haue muche a doe to paſſe, notwithſtanding. I haue new eſpied one 〈…〉 were we may well ſeape ouer 〈…〉 thought vertly then, • hat I had 〈◊〉 him good 〈…〉 〈◊〉 and therefore ſaid, my good boy, nowe I 〈◊〉 arte wiſe, I muſt 〈…〉 thee leade 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 place, where I may •• ſt eſcape a for nowe in winter it is not 〈◊〉 to take water, eſpecially to goe wetſhood. O how • lad I was then to ſee the 〈…〉 I had wiſhed for, • herefore without delay, I brought him 〈◊〉 vnder •• ath the portal • , & leade him right againſt a grea • 〈…〉 ſtoode •• , 〈…〉 vncle 〈…〉 place of all th • 〈◊〉 .

The 〈…〉 of the 〈…〉 and alſo 〈…〉 , for 〈…〉 himſelfe 〈…〉 his vnderſtanding to 〈…〉 time of 〈…〉 to my 〈◊〉 and ſaid 〈…〉 canſte 〈…〉 take my • ump 〈…〉 leape 〈…〉 Gods 〈…〉 for 〈…〉 him 〈…〉 I could and too •• 〈…〉 poſte, as one that 〈…〉 •• ncounter of a Bull, and the • If 〈◊〉 vncle leape boldly as far as you can poſſibly, for elſe you may chaunce wet your ſelfe. I had not 〈…〉 ſaid the word, but that inc • ntinently the poore blinde man was ready to take his race, returning a pace or two back • 〈…〉 the ſtanding 〈◊〉 and ſo with great 〈◊〉 tooke his leape, throwing forwar • 〈…〉 that at the • aſt his head tooke ſuch a mōſtrous blow againſt the cruell ſtonie pill •• , that his head ſounde • withall as it had bene a •• ther bottell, wherevpon he ſell back with his clouen pate, hal • e dead: then gaue I 〈◊〉 leape and ſaide; howe now 〈◊〉 , • ould you ſmell the ſau •• dge ſo well, 〈…〉 not the piller I p • ay you? 〈…〉 a little what you can doe. So I le • te him there betwéene the handes of 〈…〉 that came in all haſt to helpe him, & tooke 〈◊〉 ready waye ſtraight towardes the • owne gate, with 〈◊〉 flow pace, and then • rotte • ſo 〈◊〉 forward, that before night I ariued to Tortois. After that ti •• I neuer 〈…〉 • ought to knowe what God 〈…〉 with him.

(*⁎*)

BY this meanes I was forced to helpe my ſelfe beeing weake, & ſhortly after, I came by helpe of good people, to this noble citie of Toledo, where (I thanke God) my wound cloſed vp. As long as I was ſicke, euery man gaue me his charitie, but after that I was once whole, euery man would ſay, thou vacabond and leiterer, why doſt thou not ſéek a maſter? Then I murmuring with my ſelfe, wold ſay, & where the deuill ſhall I finde him, vnleſſe God, as hee made the world, make me one. But now Idemanding almes from dore to dore for Gods ſake, I found little remedy, for charitie had then aſcended vp to heauen. At the laſt God cauſed me to méet with a ſquire which walked thorow the ſtreate, in very ſumptuous apparel, & cleanly, his pace in going wel meaſured after good order. He behelde me and I him, and he ſaide vnto me: boy, doeſt thou want a matter? I anſwered, I woulde faine haue a good maſter ſir. Then followe mee ſaid he: God hath ſent thee good fortune to meete with me, thou haſt prayed well this daye, I thanke God, for that which I had heard him ſay, and for that he ſeemed by his behauiour and countenances to bee euen hee, that I had ſo much longed for. I met with this thirde maiſter betime in the morning, and hee led mee after him thorough the moſt parte of the citie: we paſſed through the market place, where ther was ſold bread, and other prouiſion: Gentlemen vſe to buy their meate in the market them ſelues. I looked when he would haue lodē me there with meate, for it was then, that euery man prouided and bought things neceſſarie for their dinner. But with comely and large pace hee went by, and lefte that place behind him: then I ſaid to my ſelfe, There is not ſuch prouiſion of meate in Spaine as there is in England. peraduenture hes doeth not ſee here that which doeth contente him, hee will buy in an other place: we walked ſo long that the clocke ſtrok eleuen, then went hee to the chiefe Churche, and I after him, where I ſawe him moſt deuoutly heare ſeruice, when all was ended, & the people departed, he came ou • of the Churche and marched loyſurely do •• ne a ſtreate: He wēt ſo l • t to the Church to came that his dinner might be made ready. and as for me, I went ioyfully, the beſt content in the worlde, perceiuing howe that we did not ſtay to ſeeke our dinner, imagining that this my newe maiſter had bene ſome great perſonage, and that hee had his houſe pr • uided before hande, that we ſhould finde dinner ready, yea ſuch as I deſired, and as I had neede of. At that tune the clocke ſtroke one after noone, when wee arriued at a houſe before the which my maſter had ſtayd I with him, then hee throwing his cloake ouer his leaf • e ſhoulder very ciuilly, drewe out a key out of his ſleue to open his doore, we then entred in, the entrance wherof was ſo darke and vnhandſome, that it might feare any man liuing to enter in, how be it, there was within it a prety litle count and reaſonable chambers: and when we were within, hee putteth off his cloake, demaunding mée whether my handes were cleane, we ſhooke it, and then doubled it handſomely, and after he had blowen cleanly the duſt away from an olde benche that was there, he layde it vp: that beeing done, he ſat him downe, demanding of mee at large what countrey man I was, & howe I came to the citie: I gaue him a larger account than I was willing: for I thought it a more conuenient time to commaunde mee to lay the cloath, and to take out pottage, than to make ſuch inquiraunce: yet for all that, bringing foorth the beſte lyes I coulde frame for my ſelfe, I made him account what I was, reckening all the goodneſſe that was in my perſonage, leauing apart all that which I thought was not to be rehearſed in that place: when I had declared all he ſtaied a while, and by that time I did ſee an euill ſlgne: for it was almoſte two a clocke, and yet he was no readier to dine thā he that had bene dead. I maruelled moreouer, whē I perceiued that hee had locked his dore with his key, & that I could not heare any liuing creature ſtur, neither aboue, nor beneath: all that euer I did ſee was the naked walls, As the Prieſt had. not ſo muche, as a chayre or •• oole, nor a table, nor yet a coffer, as the other man had: finally you would haue ſaide, it had bene a houſe, not inhabited. A whyle after he demanded mee whether I had dyned, I anſwered ſaying, no ſir, for it was not eight a clocke when I met with your maſterſhip this morning, (then ſaide he) as early as it was, I had broken my faſt, and whenſoeuer I breake my faſt in the morning, I neuer eate againe vntill it bée night, therefore paſſe thou ouer the time as well as thou canſt, and wee will make amendes at ſupper: your worſhip may well thinke that when I heard theſe wordes I was ready to fall downe dead, not ſo muche for hunger, as for playnely perceiuing, that then fortune was altogether mine ennemie. Then began my ſorrowes to appeare vnto me againe, and I to lament my miſfortune: then came there to my minde, the conſideration that I made when I was aboute to departe from the Prieſt, Poore Lazero did beare his maſters dinner and his owne in his boſon e for feare of leeſing it. weyghing with my ſelfe, that although hée was moſt wretched and miſerable, yet peraduenture I might meete with a worſſe: finally, I lamented and wept my troubleſome life that was paſte, and my death that did approch: and yet for all this I diſſembled the matter as well as I coulde, and ſaide vnto him, ſir I thanke God, I am a boy that doth not greatly care for eating and drinking, for I may well compare with any of my age for ſobernes and meaſure in eating, and ſo haue I béene alwayes eſtéemed of as many maiſters as I haue ſerued: bee then aunſwered ſaying, it is a vertue to liue ſoberly, therefore I commend thée much: Pogs fill them ſelues, and wyſo men eate diſcréetely what is onely ſufficient for them. I nowe vnderſtande you well ſir, ſayde I to my ſelfe, euill lucke light vppon ſuche vertue and goodneſſe as theſe my maiſters doe finde in hunger: immediatly after all this, I conueyed my ſelfe behind the dore, where I drewe certaine péeces of breade out of my boſome, which were left of that I hadde receiued for Gods ſake two dayes before. But hée perceiuing mée, ſayde, come hither boy, what doeſt thou eate? I came vnto him, and did ſhewe thr bread, whereof hée tooke a peece, whiche of two or thrée was the beſte and the biggeſt, ſaying, by my ſoule me thinks this bread is good and ſauarouſe: yea mary ſy • , at this time eſpecially, ſayde: I. Is ſo in deed ſaid he, but where hadſt thou it, was it moulded with cleane handes? that I know not ſaid I, howbeit I find it good. I pray God it bee cleane, ſaide the poore Gentleman: and with that putting his hande to his mouth, deuoured quickly all that I had giuen him: and ſomewhat before we had ended, he ſaid, by God this bread hath a good taſte, howe ſauerous it is. And as for me then, I perceiued vpon which foote he halted, I made haſt to eat, perceiuing him to be ſo diſpoſed, that if he had made an ende before mee, I thought he wold gently haue offred to helpe mee: therefore wee ended both at one time in good order. He began then with his hand to bruſhe away a fewe crummes, which had faine vpon his breaſt, In Spaine many, drinke nothing but water, and ſome that may haue wine; but this ſquare dranke it for want of better. & after that entred into a chamber that was there, and thence broughte foorth an olde potte broken mouthed, & dranke wel, & then he offered me the potte. But I to ſeeme ſober and modeſt, ſaid ſir I drinke no wine: it is water, ſaid he, thou maiſt well drinke of it: then I tooke the potte, but I dranke not much, for it was not thruſt, but hunger that troubled me. We paſſed the time ſo vntill that it was nighte, reaſoning of ſundry matters which he demaunded of me, whercunto I anſwered as well as I could. Then we entred into the chamber from whence hee had brought foorthe his drinking potte, hee ſaying: boy, go to the other ſide, and marke howe we make this bed, that thou maiſt knowe howe to make it from hencefoorth. I went to the one ſide and he to the other, and made the poore bed, which was an eaſie matter to doe, for it was thus as I will tell you: A ſheepes hurdell layde ouerhwarte two trefles, a ſilly rotten harde matreſſe, and vppon that his bed clothes, which by reaſon of ſeldome waſhing coulde not be diſcerned in colour from the matreſſe, the which had not halfe ſo much wool as néed required: wée turned it to make it ſofte, but that was vnpoſſible to doe, for ver • e harde it is for a man to make a harde thing ſofte, and the diuell a thing was within the cruell mattreſſe at all, for whē it was ſpreade vppon the hurdle of big •• ſtickes, euery ſticke appeared thorow, en • as like as could be, to the ribs of a carian this time eſpecially, ſayde: I. Is ſo in deed ſaid he, but where hadſt thou it, was it moulded with cleane handes? that I know not ſaid I, howbeit I find it good. I pray God it bee cleane, ſaide the poore Gentleman: and with that putting his hande to his mouth, deuoured quickly all that I had giuen him: and ſomewhat before we had ended, he ſaid, by God this bread hath a good taſte, howe ſauerous it is. And as for me then, I perceiued vpon which foote he halted, I made haſt to eat, perceiuing him to be ſo diſpoſed, that if he had made an ende before mee, I thought he wold gently haue offred to helpe mee: therefore wee ended both at one time in good order. He began then with his hand to bruſhe away a fewe crummes, which had faine vpon his breaſt, In Spaine many, drinke nothing but water, and ſome that may haue wine; but this ſqu • e drankeſt for want of better. & after that entred into a chamber that was there, and thence broughte foorth an olde potte broken mouthed, & dranke wel, & then be offered me the potte. But I to ſeeme ſober and modeſt, ſaid ſir I drinke no wine: it is water, ſaid he, thou maiſt well drinke of it: then I tooke the porte, but I dranke not much, for it was not thruſt, but hunger that troubled me. We paſſed the time ſo vntill that it was nighte, reaſoning of ſundry matters which he demaunded of me, whercunto I anſwered as well as I could. Then we entred into the chamber from whence hee had brought foorthe his drinking potte, hee ſaying: boy, go to the other ſide, and marke howe we make this bed, that thou maiſt knowe howe to make it from hencefoorth. I went to the one ſide and he to the other, and made the poore bed, which was an eaſie matter to doe, for it was thus as I will tell you: A ſhéepes hurdell layde ouerhwarte two treſles, a ſilly rotten harde matreſſe, and vppon that his bed clothes, which by reaſon of ſeldome waſhing coulde not be diſcerned in colour from the matreſſe, the which had not halfe ſo much wool as néed required: wée turned it to make it ſofte, but that was vnpoſſible to doe, for verſe harde it is for a man to make a harde thing ſofte, and the diuell a thing was within the cruell mattreſſe at all, for whē it was ſpreade vppon the hurdle of biggs ſtickes, euery ſticke appeared thorow, en • as like as could be, to the ribs of a carian leane Hogge, wée ſpred vpon the hungry miſerable matris, a couerlet ſuteable to the reſte of the ſtuffe, what ſtuffe it was off. I can not well deuiſe: before that we hadde made the beddes it was night, and he ſaid: Lazaro, it is nowe late, and from hence to the market place where prouiſion of meate is ſolde, it is a long waye, The ſtreetes are natrowe & darke few lanternes are hōg out. and beſides that ruffians and théeues doe méete men euery night to ſpoyle them of their cloakes & caps in the darke, therefore let vs paſſe ouer this night as well as we may, to morowe God will prouide better for vs. I am not prouided of meate becauſe I haue bene hetherto alone with out a ſeruaunt, and I haue alwayes taken my meales in the Citie, but from hencefoorth wée will kéepe a newe order: ſir ſaid I, take no care for me, I can paſſe ouer one night, & more if néede bee without meate, & that will bee cauſe that thou ſhalt liue longer ſaid he, for as wiſe men affirme, there is nothing that can make a mancliue longer than to eate a little. If that be true ſaid I to my ſelfe. I ſhall neu • r di •• for I haue always bene conſtrained to keepe that rule, and I thinke I am fortuned to obſerue it as long as I liue. After all this hee went to bed, making his hoſe and his dubled his bolſter, and cauſing me to lye at his féete, where I neuer ſlept winke, for the hard hurdle neuer lefte galling my naked bones, which by hunger and ſorrowe together, had not leſt on them nor yet on all my body beſides, and ounce of fleſh: Hunger is alwayes an enemy to ſleepe. and as I chaunced to eate nothing that daye, my braine was ſo light, that I could neuer take reſt. Wherefore (God forgiue mee) I curſed my ſelfe and my fortune a thouſand times, and that which was worſe than all this, I neuer durſt change ſides for feare of waking him: wherefore I deſired death. The next morning when he roſe, hée began to ſhake and to make cleane his hoſe, his dublet, & his cloake, I was his bruſhe, ſo he araide himſelfe at leiſure: I gaue him then water for his hands, & whē he had occupied his combe, he taketh his ſword & kiſſeth the pommel, and as hee was putting it to his girdle, ſaide vnto mée: My boy, if thou kneweſt what a blade this is, ye wouldeſt maruel, there is no gold that can buy it of me, for of as many as Antonio made, he coulde neuer giue ſuch temper to any as he gaue this: then drawing it out of the ſcabbarde he taſted ye edge with his fingers, ſaying, ſceſt thou it? I dare vndertake to cut aſunder with it a whole fleece of wooll: I anſwered him ſoftely to my ſelfe, ſaying, and I with my teeth though they be not of ſuch harde mettall a loafe of bread weighing iiu. pound. Then vp went the ſword againe, hanging it at his girdle. and after all this he marched out into the ſtreate, with a leaſurely well meaſured pace, holding his bodye ſtraight, making therewith and with his head a very good countenaunce, caſting the ende of his cloake ſometimes vpon his ſhoulder, & otherwhyles vnder his arme, with his right hand alwayes on his ſide, and as he was going forth ſaid, Lazaro, looke well about the houſe, while I do go and heare ſeruice, make the bedde, and then fetche ſome water here at the riuer beneath, looke thedoore leaſt any body rob vs, and lay the keye vnderneath ye threſhold, that I may come in: hée went vp the ſtreate with ſuch comely geſture & countenance, that he that had not knowen him, would haue iudged him to haue bene nere kinſman vnto the high Conſtable of Spaine. or at the leaſt his chiefe Chamberlein. I remained then alone, ſaying to my ſelfe, bleſſed art thou O God which ſendeſt the ſickneſſe & giueſt the remedy, who would thinke that ſhould meete my Lord & maſter, with ſuch geſture & cou • tenāce, but that hée had ſupped well yeſternight, yea and that he had ſlept in a good bed? and although it be now early, who wold thinke but that he had brokē his faſt wel? Great are thy ſecret doings O lord, & all people are ignorant of them: might not his good diſpoſitiō, his reaſonable cloke and coate deceiue any man? who woulde diſtruſte that ſuch a noble Gentleman had eaten nothing all yeſterday, but one piece of bread which his ſeruant Lazaro had kept in the cheſt of his boſom a day & a night, ſo that it could not be (to ſay ye truth) very cleane? who woulde ſuſpect that hee had dried this morning his face and his hāds vpon the ſkirts of his coate for want of a towell? I am certain no mā would iudge it in him, O Lorde howe many are there in the worlde, that are in ſuch brauery as this my maſter is in, which doe ſuffer more for a little vaine glories ſake, than they would do for the loue of thée. I ſtoode in the doore ſo long remembring all thoſe things, that my maiſter paſſed thorow a long and narrow ſtreete, then I went in, and within a minute of an houre, I viſited the whole houſe aboue and beneat, without ſtaying, or finding wherat to ſtay. When I had made the vnlucky b • dde, I tooke my pot and went ſtreighte to the Riuer, and being ready to take vp my water, I might perceiue my maiſter in a Garden ouer the water, in greate talke with two comely women, whiche by their countenaunce ſeemed to be ſome of them, wherof in Toledo a number are rifely found: & many of them take an vſe of going abroade early in the morning in Sommer time, to take the ayre in thoſe Gardens, and to breake their faſte without prouiſion of their owne vnder trees and ſhadowes, nere that pleaſant Riuer, truſting to finde out ſome that woulde beflowe charges vppon them, eſpecially ſuche as they had accuſtomed thereto, ſuch luſtie young ſouldiers of the citie as delighted in ſuch paſtime. Hee was (as I meane to tel you) betweene theſe wemen deuiſing and counterfaiting all kinde of brauerie, reciting more pleaſant and ſwéete wordes than euer Ouide wrote: but when they perceiued ye their beautie had vanquiſhed him cleane, and that hee was left without ſhame, they demanded of him their breakefaſt, and he therfore to haue the accuſtomed paiment. Wherupō hee bing as colde in the purrſe as he was hote in ſtomacke, fell in ſuche a traunce, that he loſt all the colour in his face: his toung not able to talke, was faine to alleage vaine excuſes. But they which in their ſcience were well inſtructed, whē they perceiued his infirmitie, they gaue him ouer for ſuche a one as hee was indeede. All this while I was breaking my faſt with ſtalkes of colworts, & when I had done, like a diligent ſeruaunt, not ſeene of my maiſter, retourned home, meaning to ſweep ſome part of the houſe that hadde moſt neede: but I coulde not finde wherewithal to do the deed. Wherfore not knowing what to doe, I began in the worlde, that are in ſuch brauery as this my maſter is in, which doe ſuffer more for a little vaine glories ſake, than they would do for the loue of thée. I ſtoode in the doore ſo long remembring all thoſe things, that my maiſter paſſed thorow a long and narrow ſtreete, then I went in, and within a minute of an houre, I viſited the whole houſe aboue and beneat, without ſtaying, or finding wherat to ſtay. When I had made the vnlucky b • dde, I tooke my pot and went ſtreighte to the Riuer, and being ready to take vp my water, I might perceiue my maiſter in a Garden ouer the water, in greate talke with two comely women, whiche by their countenaunce ſeemed to be ſome of them, whereof in Toledo a number are rifely found: & many of them take an vſe of going abroade carly in the morning in Sommer time, to take the ayre in thoſe Gardens, and to breake their faſte without prouiſion of their owne vnder trees and ſhadowes, nere that pleaſant Riuer, truſting to finde out ſome that woulde beflowe charges vppon them, eſpecially ſuche as they had accuſtomed thereto, ſuch luſtie young ſouldiers of the citie as delighted in ſuch paſtime. Hee was (as I meane to tel you) betweene theſe wemen deuiſing and counterfaiting all kinde of brauerie, reciting more pleaſant and ſwéete wordes than euer Ouide wrote: but when they perceiued ye their beautie had vanquiſhed him cleane, and that hee was left without ſhame, they demanded of him their breakefaſt, and he therfore to haue the accuſtomed paiment. Wherupō hee bing as colde in the purrſe as he was hote in ſtomacke, fell in ſuche a traunce, that he loſt all the colour in his face: his toung not able to talke, was faine to alleage vaine excuſes. But they which in their ſcience were well inſtructed, whē they perceiued his infirmitie, they gaue him ouer for ſuche a one as hee was indeede. All this while I was breaking my faſt with ſtalkes of colworts, & when I had done, like a diligent ſeruaunt, not ſeene of my maiſter, retourned home, meaning to ſweep ſome part of the houſe that hadde moſt neede: but I coulde not finde wherewithal to do the deed. Wherfore not knowing what to doe, I began to muſe wherin I ſhold occupy my ſelfe, maſter ſtudy, I determined to tary vntill noone, that my maſter came, for peraduenture hée woulde bring ſomethings with him for vs to eate: wherefore I taried his comming, yet all for nothing, for it was nowe two a cloc6ke, and bee not yet come: but becauſe hunger oppreſſed me ſore, I came out and locked the doore, laying the key where he had cōmanded, with a lowe and a ſorrowfull voice, my handes thruſt into my boſome, I began to retourne to my former practiſe, in ſo much, that hauing GOD before myne eyes, and my toung, in his name, I fell to beg bread from dore to dore, and from houſe to houſe, where I thought beſt to ſpeede, hauing learned this trade in my ſucking yéeres, I meane with the blinde maiſter, I became ſuche a ſcholler, that although in that Citie there was ſmall charitie, nor the peace was not aboundant, yet notwithſtanding I had put my affaires in ſuche good order, that before the clocke ſtroke foure, I hadde layde a pound of bread in my belly, and twice as much in my hoſeme & ſleeues. I returned then homewarde, and in my way wents thorowe the ſtreetes where they ſolde tripes, wher I demanded a woman ye was there hir charitie, ſhe gaue mee a piece of a neats foote, and a fewe ſodden tripes.

When I came home, my curteouſe maſter was within, hauing folded his cloake & laid it vp▪ walking vp and down the courte: and as ſoone as he did ſee me, he came towards me, wherefore I feared he would haue beaten me, becauſe I had laried ſo long, but it was not Gods will. The firſt thing he demaunded mee, was, wher I had bene? I anſwered, ſir I was here vntil it was two a clocke, and when I perceiued that your maiſterſhip came not, I went forth into the citie, to recommende my ſelfe to good people, whiche haue giuen me thus much for gods ſake, and ſo ſhewed him the tripes whiche I kept in the ſkirt of my coate, whereat he made no angrie countenance, but fayde, I haue ••• ried for thee to dinner, and becauſe I could not ſee thee come, I dined alone, as for thee, thou haſt done like an honeſt boy, for it is better to beg than to ſteale, as God helpe mee I am of that opinion, one thing onely I will deſire thee to do, that thou wilt not let them knowe that thou doſt dwell with me, nor that I am thy maiſter: For that touched mine honor, and I do not doubte but that will be kept ſecret for very fewe do knowe me in this citie, I would to God I had neuer come to it. Of that matter ſir take you no care, ſayde I, for no man will aſke mée that queſtion, I néede not therefore make ſuch accompt to any of them. But why doeſt thou not fall nowe to thy vittels poore foule, if it bee Gods will wee ſhall ſoone bee out of this miſerie: thou ſhalt vnderſtande, that ſithence I came in hither, I had neuer good houre, this houſe is ſurely built in an vnhappye place, and certainely ſome houſes are ſo vnluckye, that looke whoſoeuer doeth dwell within them, hee ſhall bee ſure to haue euill fortune. But I promiſe thee, that as ſoone as the moneth is ended, I will not dwell here, (no though they would giue it me rent free.) I fall downe then, and becauſe hee ſhoulde not thinke mée a couetous glutton, I drewe out my vittels, and there began to ſuppe honeſtly, biting my tripes with my bread handſomely, beholding diſſemblingly my miſerable maiſter, which hadde his cye alwayes vppon my ſkirte, beeing at that time my onely platter. God take ſuche compaſſion on mee, as I did then vppon him, for I had oftentimes endured, yea and daily felt that ſorrow, which I knew tormented him: wherefore I imagined with my ſelfe, how I might well inuire him: but becauſe he tolde me that he had dyned, I was afraide leaſt hee would refuſe the bankst. Finally, I wiſhed that the poore man wold haue eaſed his paine, by helpe of mine, and that he wold haue eaten with me for company, as hee had done the day before, eſpecially, becauſe ye then I had better vittels, and more ſtore, and moreouer that then my hunger was leſſe: it pleaſed God to accompliſhe my deſire and his together, for when as I had begon my meate, as hee walked hee came neere to me, ſaying, Lazaro I promiſe thee thou haſt the beſt grace in eating that euer I did ſee any man haue, for there is no mā that ſéeth thée eate, but by ſeeing thee feede, ſhall haue appetite, I did pitie him, rather then hate him, for oftentimes with carying him home wherewith to paſſe the day, I felte griefs my ſelfe. One morning, the poore gentleman roſe vp in his ſhirt, and went vp to the toppe of the houſe, to eaſe hun ſelfe, and in the meane ſeaſon to hée out of the ſuſpition that I was in, I vnfolded his dublet and his hoſe, which were his boulſter, and there founte a little purſe of veluet, which had a hūdreth wrinkels in it, but the deuill a peny, nor yet any • ſtgne that there had bene any there long time before. Then did I ſay to my ſelfe, this man is poore, no man can giue that which hée hath not: but my couetous blind man, and my wretched prieſt, vnto whom God hath giuen ſo much goods, ye one got with ſmoth hand, the other gained with his looſe toung, and yet they famiſhed mee continually: there was good reaſon why I ſhoulde hate ſuch people, ſo is the cauſe, why this mans caſe ſhoulde be lamented. God knoweth that when I met with any of his eſtate, being of like grauitie, pace, and countenance, howe I pitied them, thinking that they did endure that which I did ſée him daily ſuffer, whome I hadd rather ſer •• for all his pouertie, than any of the other for the cauſes aboue named. I did like him well, but only ye me thought he was to preſumptuous, where I often wiſhed that ſeeing hee ſo plainely perceiued his owne pouertie, hée wold ſomething haue hid his fātaſtical pride. But as I thinke, it is a rōmon vſual rule amongſt ſuch as hée, which though they haue not a croſſe in the worlde, nor a Denier, the cappe muſt needes ſtande in his olde place: but if GOD of his mercie doe not order the matter, all ſuche are like to dye of that vile diſeaſe. As I continued in ſuche eſtate, ſuſtaining the life that I haue told you, my euill fortune which neuer ceaſed to purſue mee, woulde not yet ſuffer me to continue in that troubleſome and ſhamefull kinde of life. For the matter happened thus: the Lords of the counſell made proclamation with ſound of trumpet, becauſe that that yeare there was ſearcitie of corne, all poore people being ſtrangers, ſhould forſake the Citie, vpon paine that hee which from thencefoorthe ſhould be taken, ſhould be puniſhed with ſ •• pes: and ſo exeruting the law, within th •• dayes after the pr •• amatiō, I ſawe a whole proceſſion of poore folke whipped theough the foure principall ſtreetes, which ſight did ſo feare mee, that neuer after I durſt venture to beg. Thē might you haue ſéene a ſtrange diet we kep • at home, and the great ſilence that was there ſo that wée were conſtrained to faſte two or three dayes together, without eating any morſell, or ſpeaking a woorde: and as for mee, the beſt ſhifte I made, was amongſt • ertaine poore worden, which were ſpinners and cap knitters, 〈◊〉 my life, by reaſon of the aquaintance I had with them, being our 〈◊〉 neighbours: For of that meat they had I ſhould haue a litle, wherwith I did not ſo lament mine owne caſe, as I did my poore maiſters, which in eighto dayes did not ca • e one morſell, at the leaſt, wee were ſo long at home without meate, but in deede I know not whether he went, nor what hée did eate abr •••• , yet notwithſtanding, for all this, you ſhould ſee him come ſome times vp the ſtreete, with a bodie as large as any grehounds of good race: and for to maintain his poore honor, hée was wonte to take a ſtraw in his hand, wherof alſo there was wante in our houſe, Small neede to picke his teeth for any meate he had e • ten. and ſtanding without the dore, would therewith picke thoſe which had little neede of picking, for any thing that had ſtucke in them with eating. Lamenting ſtill the vuluckineſſe of that houſe, he would ſay, it greueth me, to ſee how all our ſorrowe commeth of this houſe, thou ſeeſt howe vnconfortable and darke it is, and as long as we dwell here, wee are like to bee thus tormented, theréfore I woulde to God the moneth were ended, that wee might depart out of it. And as wee continued in this afflicted & famiſhing perſecution, one day a rial entered into the power of my maſter, Sixe pence Engliſh. I know not by what good lucke and aduē ture, wherewith hee came home ſo blowing, Belike ſome g •••• ers had •• uen it him and it was full time. as if he had brought with him the whole treaſure of Venice, and ſo with a mery and liuely countenance hee giueth it to mee, ſaying, take here Iazaro, nowe God beginneth to open his hande, and to ſmile vpon vs, goe quickly to the market place, and buy bread, wine and fleſh, that wee may breake the diuels enuious eye: and furthermore, bicauſe thou ſhalt haue good cauſe to reioyce, thou ſhalt vnderſtand, that I haue hired an other houſe, therfore, the moneth once ended, we will no longer abide in this miſerable vnlucky houſe, curſed be it, and he that layde the firſt tile on it, for in euill time did I come in. By our lorde all the time that I haue bene here, I neuer dranke drop of wine, nor a morſell of fleſhe entred into my belly, nor yet haue I had any reſt in it, ſuche is the ſorrowe and miſerie that belongeth to it, goe thy wayes and make ſpeede, and let vs dine this daye like Earles. Then I tooke my riall and my pot, and with all haſte, I began to goe vp the ſtreete, towardes the market place, with ioy and mirth. But what profiteth all this, nowe that I am borne vnder ſuche a planet that I can neuer enioye any pleaſure long, without hyndraunce, (it appeareth ſo nowe) for as I went on my way, making my accounte howe I ſhould beſtowe my money vpon that which ſhould be moſt profitable and beſt, geuing infinite thanks to God (that he had giuen my maſter that money) vpon a ſuddaine I mighte ſee right before me a dead coarſe come down the ſtreete, accompanied with many prieſtes and other people: I leaned to the wall to giue them place, and the coarſe went by, I might ſee a woman whiche belike was the dead mans wife, folowing the beere, all in mourning weede, accōpanied with other women, and ſhe weeping and lamenting, ſaid: O my huſband & my lord, alas, whether doe they • arie you? to the vnconfortable and ſad houſe, to the darke and ſorrowfull houſe, to the houſe where they neuer eate nor drinke? When I had heard her ſpeake theſe woordes, mée thought heauen and earth had met, and I ſaid, O vnfortunate wretch that I am; they carie this dead coarſe to our houſe: wherefore I forſooke my way, and brake in betweene the people, and running downe the ſtreete as faſt as euer I could, I got into the houſe, and when I had entred therein, I locked the doore with all haſte, calling out to my maiſter for ſtraunger long before, by reaſou that hée had ſo little acquaintance with thoſe of the Citie. Finally, my wiſh was accompliſhed, and I vnderſtoode that which I coueted to knowe: for vpon a day, after that hee had dyned reaſonably well, hee being at that time indifferently well ſati ••• ed, declared vnto mee his affaires, in ſo much that hee certified mée, that he was borne in Caſtilia the old, and howe that hee had forſaken his countrye for nothing in the worlde, but becauſe hee would not abaſe him ſelf ſo much as put off his cappe to a Genleman his neighbour: and hauing heard all his diſcourſe, I ſaid vnto him, ſir if he were ſuch a one as you ſay, and beſides that, if he were richer than you, it hadde beene but your duetie to put off your cappe firſt to him, for I beleeue he would haue done the like to you: in deede hee is a gentleman, and richer than I, and he would always put off his cap to the vttermoſt, when I did put off mine, but ſeeing that oftentimes mine was firſt off, reaſon would haue required, that his ſhold once haue bin firſt, and ſo haue woon of me by quicke hand, the courteſſe. As for me ſaid I. I woulde neuer haue had regard to that. Thou art a childe ſaide he, and therefore thou knoweſt not what doeth belong to honoure, which at this daye is the onely refuge of ſuch as bee honeſt: therefore thou ſhalt vnderſtād, that I am as thou ſeeſt a poore eſqire, and I make a vowe to God, that if I ſhould méete in ye midſt of the ſtréete an Earle, that wold not put his cap altogether off, as well as I do mine, the next time I ſée him come, I will enter into ſome houſe, as if I had ſome buſineſſe there, or elſe croſſe ouer into an other ſtréete, if there be any betweene mee and him, ſo that I ſhal not néede to put of my cappe to him, for a Gentleman is bound to none but to God and the Prince, and therefore it is reaſon that an honeſt man ſhall be curious to eſtéeme his owne perſone. I doe remember that vpon a day, I diſhonoured, and hadde almoſt beaten a crafts man where I was borne, becauſe that when ſo euer he met me, hee woulde ſay Mantenga deos a vim, which is to ſay, Sir, God maintaine your worſhip: I tooke him once with the déede, and ſaid, will ſtreght bid you fare well, and moſte commonly, their wages is payde with long termes, ſometime your meate and drinke onely for your painefull ſeruice. And when they meane to reforme their conſcience, and to conſider the ſeruaunts paine, there ſhall be deliuered out of the wardrobe, ſome cut dublet, or ſome thred bare cloake, or coate: but whē a man ſerueth a Noble man of the Order, hee ſhal better paſſe ouer his miſerie: but peradnēture there is not in me abilitie to ſerue & to content ſuch men. By God if I had met with one of them, I thinke certainely, I ſhoulde quickely haue bene chieſe of his counſel, for I would haue done him a thouſad kind of ſeruices. I could haue diſembled as well as any other, yea & pleaſed him a thouſāefolde, that it wold haue ben maruellous, I woulde haue ſmiled merily at his doings, although they had not bene the beſt in the worlde, I would neuer haue recited that which ſhold haue diſpleaſed him, no although it had beene much for his profit, moſt diligent about his perſon in word & dorde, neuer vering my ſelfe about the well doing of thing 〈◊〉 that ſhoulde neuer come to his ſight, but ſometimes haue chid ſuch as ſerued, wher he might heare mee, that I might ſe • me to be carefull, about that which touched him and whenſoeuer he ſhold happen to fall out with any of his men, then wold I put foorth two or three ſmooth wordes to ſet him forward, which ſhold ſeeme to be in the fauor of the offender, affirming alwayes that which I thought he liked of: & on the contrarie ſide, a malicious mocker of the ignorant and rude ſorte: furthermore, I wold alwayes demande and procure, how to know the liues of ſtrangers, to account them vnto him, with other ſuchtricks of like qualitie which at this day are vſed in greate palaces and courts, and which pleaſe the chiefe dwellers herein, which can not abide to ſee in their houſes vertuous men, but do abhor, & eſteeme them as nought, deſpiſing & calling them fooles, & ignoraunt in the traffick of weight is affaires ſo that the Lord tā not ſafely truſt to their ſimple doings in weightie matters: therefore nowe a dayes, thoſe that are ſubtill and craftie, get into fauour, and vſe ſuch meanes as cheth vnto mee, and taking faſt holde on the coller of my coate, ſaide: thou arte priſoner, vnleſſe thou tell where thy maſter his goods are become: but as neuer no man had taken holde on mee in that place before ſauing onely my blinde maſter, who neuer layde han • e on mee ſo rudely, but gētly, that I might leade him that could not ſee, I was afrayd, & crying mercie, I promiſed to tell al that they demaunded. Go to thē, ſay they, ſay on gods name what thou knoweſt and bee not afraide: the Scriuener ſitteth downe in haſte, to write the Inuentorie, demāding what goods he had. I then began to declare what I knewe, ſaying, ſir, the goods that hee hath, or at leaſte that which he tolde me he had, was a piece of grounde, where foundation of houſes is layde, and moreouer a Doue houſe, which is faine, Wel ſaid (ſay they) my boy, though that be little worth, it is ſufficient to pay vs, In what place of the Citie ſtandeth it, (ſay they) I anſwered, mary it ſtandeth a good way hence in his owne countrey. The matter is then in a faire caſe (ſay they) but wher is his coūtrey: he told me that he was borne in Caſtilia the old: the Sergeant, and the Scriuener, laughing apace, ſayde, this confeſſion is ſufficient for you to recouer the debte (though it were greater) the neighbours that were there preſent, ſaid, this childe is an innocent, and he hath not dwelt long with the Squire, therefore he knoweth no more of him than you doe, hee hath oftentymes come to vs, and we haue giuen him ſuch meate as we had, for Gods ſake, and at nightes gone in to lye with his maſter: when they perceiued my innocēcie, they did ſet me at libertie. The Sergeant and the Scriuener did demaund of the man & the woman their fee, wherevppon there roſe great contention, and they alleaged that they were not bound to pay, ſeeing that there was no execution made, eſperially, ſeeing there was not wherewithall: the officers alleaged, for that cōming thither, they had left vndone matters of muche greater importaunce: finally, after many angrie wordes, a poore carier was loaden with the olde matteris, which was the womans, ſcante halfe a • dade to the bearer: then went they all flue out together chyding, what became of them after. I knowe not, I beléeue the poore mattris payde for all. And thus as I tel you, I loſt my third inaſter when as I fully perceiued euill fortune wrought altogether againſt mee, in ſo muche that my affairs went ſo back ward, that wher as maiſter eare wonte to bee forſaken of their ſeruants, it was not ſo with mee, but my maiſter was faine to forſake me, yea and runne away in haſt.

AFter that I had taken my leaue of ye chaplain I did place my ſelfe we a ſergeant, to be a méber of iuſtice: but I dwelled fewe dayes we him, for in ſhort time I perciued that it was a dangerous office, A man may ſcap in Spaine the hands of the officers of Inſtice if they 〈◊〉 flee into ſome church ſo 〈◊〉 not their 〈◊〉 of religion. eſpecially when ye certain tranſgreſſours, which retired into a Churche, chaſed my maſter & me maruellouſly with ſtones & ſtaues: and at that preſent time my maſter (whom I taried for) was euil hādled but they could neuer ouertake mee: yet for al that I did forſweare the office. And as I imagined what kinde of life I had beſt leade, ye I might prouide ſome thing againſt mine olde age. God by his grace lightned my minde to finde out the profitable way: So that through the fauour which I had of my friends and maiſters, all the forrowes, which before that time I had ſuſtained, were recompenced with an office royall, which I obteined: the which I pretended, becauſe ye at this day there is no account but of them that haue wherewithall. So that at this preſent, I liue in mine office, & exerciſe it to Gods ſeruice & yours. Sir, it is ſo that I haue the charge to cry the wines that are ſold in this citic, and to make inquiraunce, The Cryers in Spaine doe fell at kinde of ſtufte and whē •• y is whip. through the crie goeth before him declaring with loude voyce what he hath done. with open crye, for things that hour bene loſte, and when any ſuffer perſerution by iuſtice, I do accompanie them, declaring with loud voyce their offence. I am (in plain language) a cōmon cryer. Sir matters haue ſo well gone forewarde with me, & I haue vſed my ſelfe ſo well, that in manner all things belonging to the office, paſſe through my hands. In ſo much, that looke whoſoeuer within this citte doth broch wine, or ſell any things, and ye Lazarillo de Tormes bee not preſente, they make accounte neuer to get game. In this meane time, maſter Archdeacon of ſaint Saluador your friend and ſeruaunt at commaundement, hauing knowledge of my perſon and habilitie, eſpecially ſince I had cryed his wyne, went about to marry me with his mayd. And after that I had conſidered, that with hauing to doe with ſuch a man as maſter Archdecō was, I cold not receiue but honeſtie and goodneſſe, I determined to doe it, ſo that I tooke her to wife, whereof hitherto I doe not repente: for beſides that ſhee is honeſt, and a diligent wench, I finde great fauour and helpe at maſter Archdec • ns hand, for euery yéere from one tune to an other, hee giueth her as good as a loade of wheat, and againſt Chriſtmas or Eaſter, ſome good morſell of fleſhe, a couple or two of loaues, and ſuch old hoſe as he leaueth: and he cauſed vs to hier a little houſe neere his dwelling: on euery ſonday & holy day we dined (moſt cōmonly) in his owne houſe. But euill tongues which neuer ceaſe, woulde not ſuffer vs to liue in peace, they would ſay this and that, and that they did ſee my wife goe and make his bed, and dreſſe his meate. But God helpe them better than they ſay truthe. Forbeſides that ſhee is a woman that deeth not delighte in ſuche game, maiſter Archdeacon hath promiſed mee that whiche I truſte hée will fulfill. For vpon a time in her preſence, he ſaide at large vnto me, Lazaro de Tormes, he that will haue regarde to cuill tongues, ſhall neuer get profite. I ſay thus much vnto thée, I can neuer maruell, thoughe ſome men murmure to ſée thy wife come in an out of my houſe, which doing, I promiſe thée, ſhall not otherwiſe redcund but to thy great honeſtie and hers. Therfore let people haue their woordes, haue thou onely regarde to that which ſhall be for thy profite. I anſwered him, ſaying, Syr, I haue determined to ioyne my ſelfe with thoſe that are good, but truth it is, that certaine of my friendes haue warned me of this, yea & moreouer they haue twice or thrice certified mée wtih other, that before ſhe was maried to mee ſhée had two or thrée children, be it ſpokē vnder your maiſterſhippes correction, ſéeing that ſhée is preſent. My wife began then to giue ſuch othes, that I thought the houſe woulde haue ſuncke with vs all, and then beganne to wéepe, curſing the time that euer ſhe married mée, in ſo much that I wiſhed my ſelfe dead when that I let ſcape that worde out of my mouthe. But I on the one ſide, and my maiſter on another, ſaid ſo much, that ſhe lefte weeping: and I did ſweare vnto her, that as long as I liued I woulde neuer againe vſe the like talke: and how that I reioyced and was well contente, that the ſhould come in and out both day and nighte, ſeeing that her honeſtie and faithfulneſſe was ſo well knowne. So thē we remained al thrée with one accord vntill this day, and neuer no man heard vs ſithence reaſon of that matter. And from that time forwarde, whenſoeuer I could happen to heare any man talk of this, I would ſtreight break off his matter, and ſaye vnto him, looke if thou bee my friende, ſpeake nothing that ſhall grieue me, for I do not take him for my friende that cauſed me to ſorowe, eſpecially that goeth about to ſowe diſcord betweene mee and my wife, which I loue better than any thing in this world, conſidering howe that by her meanes, God hath done more for mee, than I haue deſerued, and I dare ſweare by the holy ſacrament, that ſhee is as honeſt a woman as any that dwelleth within the foure gates of Toledo: and hée that ſayeth the contrarie. I will beſtowe my life vpon him. So from thence foreward, they nener durſt meue any ſuch matter vnto me, & I had peace alwayes in my houſe. This was the ſame yéere that our victorious Emperour entred into this noble citie of Toledo, wher his court was kept with great feaſtes and triumphes, as your maſterſhip hath heard: finally, it was then that I was in my proſperitie, and in my chiefeſt time of good aduenture.