The Pleasant History of Lazarillo de Tormes a spaniard, wherein is contained his marvelous deeds and life.  
With the strange adventures happened to him in the service of junarie Masters.  
Drawn out of Spanish by David Roland of Angles●y.  
Accuerdo, Oluid.  
¶ Imprinted at London by Abel jeffes, dwelling in the fore street without Crepell gate neat Groube street at the sign of the Bell. 1586.   

  

To the right worshipful Sir Thomas Gressam Knight.  
WHEN I had read over this little treatise (right worshinful,) finding it for the number of strange and merry reports, very recreative & pleasant. I thought it no labour evil bestowed, to occupy myself in the translation thereof. And being moved thereto the rather, perceiving that in France many delighted therein, being turned into their tongue, I fully determined to bring my former pretence to end: Considering that besides much mirth, here is also a true description of the nature & disposition of sundry Spaniards. So that by reading hereof, such as have not travailed Spain, may as well discern much of the manners & custonis of that country, as those that have there long time continued. And being now finished, I was so bold as to dedicate the fruit of my simple labour unto your worship, who both for travail, dally conference with divers nations, and knowledge in all foreign matters is known to be such a one, as is well able to judge, whether these reports of little Lazaro be true or not. Wherefore I most humbly beseech your worship favourably to accept this poor present, (as offered of one) who wisheth unto you and yours, all health, wealth, long life, with increase of all veruse & worship: Trusting that after your weighty and important affairs, to ease your tedious exercises, you will recreate yourself with reading of some pleasant part hereof.  
Your worship's most humbly to commanae, David Rowland.   

The Prologue of Lazaro de Tormes, unto a Gentleman of Spain, which was desirous to understand the discourse of his life.  
I Am of opinion, that things so worthy of memory, peradventure never heard of before, ne seen, aught by all reason to come abroad to the sight of many, & not be buried in the endless pit of oblivion, there perpetually to be forgotten: for it is possible that those, which shall read this treatise of my life, may find some plea sure therein. Wherefore true it is the Pliny recordeth, there is no book so evil, but hath some goodness in it contained (considering all men taste not a like,) that which one man will not eat, another longeth sore for: we see many despise things which other do greatly esteine: Therefore nothing ought to be broken a cast away, unless it were detestable, but that first divers men should see the same, & especially being not hurtful, but rather able, in flayed o● damage, to yield profit & vtdi●ie. If the world verre otherwise, very few would take pen in hand to pleasure one man only, seeing that they can not bring their works to end without great travel: And when they have ended their labour, they rightfully desire to be recompensed, & not with money, but only that all men with courteous m●de will trad and allow their works, (yea & if there be cause why) give them praise. For to this end Tully saith, Honour doth maintain art of cunning. Do you think that the soldier that first mounteth on the wall with his ladder, is weary of his li●e? No surely, the desire of honour encourageth him, so to venture into such danger. So likewise in Art and learning, we use to say, master Doctor hath preached well, he is a man that seeketh the health of souls: but I pray you demand of him whether he willbe offended, that one shall say, O how divinely you have preached master Doctor. The like happeneth in men of arms, as men commonly report, O how such a knight justled naughtily, and notwithstanding he hath given his coat armour to a jester which commended him for running well, what would he have given, if he had said the truth? Wherefore now that all things pass after such a sort, I confessing myself to be no holier than my neighbours, am content that such as find any taste in this my gross Style and novelty, may pleasure and delight themselves therewith: and they may perceius how a man liveth, after so many fortunes, dangers, and adversities.  
Therefore now I beseech your worship, receive with willing heart this poor token of my true affection, which should have been much richer if power & ability had been equal with desire. And seeing that you have commanded me to write the matter at length, I have thought good not to begin the midst of my life, but first to tell you of my birth, that all men may have full knowledge of my person, that those which possess great rents & revenues, may understand what small praise is due unto them, seeing that Fortune hath deal partially with them: and how much commendation they deserve, which in despite of cruel fortune, with force & industry, by rowing out of tempesinous seas, have arrived to fortunate and happy ha●●tis.   

Lazaro declareth his life, and whose son he was.  
YOur worship shall understand before all things, that my name is Lazaro de Tormes, son of Thome Gonsales and Antona Petes native of Tessiares, a village near Salamanka: I was borne within the river called Tormes, whereof I took my surname, as hereafter you shall hear; my father whom God pardon, had the charge of a Mill stauding upon that River wherein he supplied the room of a Milner about rv years. It fortuned on a night my mother bring great with child, was there brought to bed, and then was I borne: therefore now I may truly report the River itself to be the place of my nativity: & after the time I came to the age of eight years, there was layds to my Father's charge that he had shamefully cut the seams of men's sacks that came thither to grind, wherefore he was taken and imprisoned, and being tormented he confessed the whole matter, denying nothing wherefore he was persecuted. I trust in God that he is now in paradise, seeing that the Gospel doth say, that blessed are such as confess their faults. About the same time an army was made against the Turks, & my father being then banished for the mishap aforesaid, chanced to be one supplying the room of a Mulitor, under a knight which went thither, in whose service like a true and a faithful man, he ended his life. My mother being then a comfortless widow, after the loss of her dear husband, determined to inhabit among such as were virtuous & honest, to be of that number, and therefore came immediately to this noble City, where after that she had hired a little house, she kept an ordinary table for divers Students, and washed shirts for a rompany of horsekeepers, belonging to the Commander of Magdalona, by means whereof she had accusation to make often resort unto the stables, where in continuance of time, a black Morrien, one of master Commanders men, became to be famiarly acquainted with her▪ So that for his part he would oftentimes arrive at midnight to our house, and return again betimes in the morning, other while at noontide, demanding at the door, whether my mother had eggs to sell, and so come in prettily without suspection: At the beginning I was right sorry to see him make repair thither, being afraid to behold his black uncomely visage: but after that I once perceived how only by his resort our fare was so well amended, I could by no means find in my heart to hate him, but rather bear him good will, rejoicing to see him: for he always brought us home with him good round can●●●s of bread, and pieces of broken meat, and in the Winter time wood to warm us withal. To be short, by his continual repair thither, matters went so forward, that my mother found good time to bring forth a young murrain, whom I daily played withal, and sometimes helped to warm. And I remember very well, that on a time as my Stepfather played merrily with his young son, the little child perceiving that my mother and I ware white, and his father black as yet, he ran away for fear to my mother, and stretching forth his finger, cried Mamma the hug: Whereat my black stepfather would laugh, and say, a whoreson, art thou afrayce of thy father? Although I was then but young, I right well marked the child's words, and said to myself, there are many such in the world, which do abhor and flee from others because they cannot see what shape they have themselves. Within a while after, it pleased fortune that the daily conversation of Aide (for so was my father's name) came to the cares of him that was Steward to master Commander, who made suthstreight inquiry, that he was aduertise● how the black murrain did use to steal half the provender that was allowed the horses, yea, horsecovering, sheets and curry combs, other whiles wood, & bran: which things in ●éede he always said were lost, 
All was fish that came to the net.  & when nothing could be gotten to serve his turn, he would never slick to unshoe the horses, to get some gain, presenting daily all such gifts to my mother, as a help to bring up my little black brother. Let us never therefore marvel more at those which steal from the poor, nor yet at them which convey from the houses they serve, to present therewith whom they love, in hope to attain thereby their desired pleasure, seeing that love was able to encourage this poor bondman or slave to do thus much as I have said, or rather more, which by evident trial was afterwards proved true: for I being examined of the deed, after much threatening was constrained as a child, for fear, 
There is an order in that country when any Moredoth commirte any hemous offence to strip himnaked and being bound with his hands and his knees together, to baste him with hot drops of burning lard.  so discover the whole matter, confessing how I had sold certain horseshoowes to a smith at my mother's commandment: wherefore my miserable stepfather was by judgement of the law, as the order is there, whipped and Larded, and to my mother express commandment was given upon the usual pain of a hundredth stripes, no more to enter into the house of the above named Commander, nor yet entertain into hers the unfortunate Zaide. My sorrowful mother fearing to throw the helve after the hatchet, determined by all means to keep their commandment, wherefore she entered into service with those which at that time dwelt at the ordinary Inn called Solona, so to escape danger & to avoid the dangerous reports of evil tongues, where she suffered much sorrow, and there brought up my black brother, until he was able to run abroad, and that I being a good stripling, 
There is no pro●sion there in Inns: for the guests must send abroad into the town for all such yittell as they need.  could go up and down the town to provide the guests of wine, and candles, and other things necessary. In this mean time, there happeved a blind man to come thither to lodge, who thinking me to be a fit man to lead him, desired my mother that I might serve him, wherewith she being right well content, most earnestly prayed him to be good master unto me, because I was an honest man's s●nne, who in maintaining the faith of jesus Christ against Lurks, died in the battle of Gelues, & how that she trusted in almighty God I would prove as honest a man as he: therefore in any wise that he would be careful over me, being a fatherless child. Let me alone then (answered he) I will not use him as a servant, but as a son. Then in happy time I began to serve my old and new master: And after we had remained certain days at Salamanka, my blind master perceiving his gain there to he but small, determined to depart thence: and a little before our departure, I went to see my mother: when I came where she was, we shed both most bitter tears, and she gave me her▪ blessing, saying, now my dear son I shall see thee no more, therefore be a good child, I pray God be thy help, I do thank the Lord I have brought thee up well hitherto, and I have now put thee to a good master, from henceforth provide for thyself, seeing that I have done my part. I took my leave and returned in haste to my master, which tarried for me ready to take his voyage. So we 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 bull: as soon as we came near it, the blindman willed me to approach, saying Lazaro, put thine ear to this Bull, and thou shalt hear a terrible noise within it: as soon as he had said ● words, I was ready like a fool to bow down my head, to be as he had commanded, thinking that his words had been most true: but the traitorous blind man suspecting how near it my head was, thrusteth forth his arm upon a sudden, with such force, that my forehead took such a blow against the devilish Buil, that for the space of three days my head feast the pains of his horns, wherefore he was right glad & said: Consider now what thou art thou foolish call, thou must understand, that the blind man's boy ought to know one trick more than the dinel himself. It seemed then immediately that I awaked out of simplicity, wherein I had of long time slept (like a child,) & I saw to myself, my blind master hath good reason, it is full time for me to open mine eyes, yea & to provide & seek mine own advantage conssdering the I a●●●alone with out any help. We continued on our ●●●ney, & within few days I came to good knowledge, so he perceiving what a ready tongue I had, was right glad, & said, neither gold nor silver can I give thee, howbeit, I do mean to teach thee the way to live, and so certainly he did: for next after God he made me a man, and although he was blind, it was he that gave me light and that taught me how to know the world●. I rejoice to declare unto your worship these Childish toys, that you may see how commendable it is for a man of low estate to be brought to authority and exalted, and contrariwise what a shame it is, a man for dignity and estimation to be pulled down to wretched misery, But to return to my blind master, and to show his nature, I assure you that sith the beginning of the world God never made man more deceitful and crafty: for in his art and trade of living he far passed all other: he could recite by heart a hundred long prayers and more, yea, & the life of all the holy saints: at his devotion time he used such a loud tunable voy●● that it might be heard throughout the Church where he prayed, and besides all that, he could counferset a good devout countenance in praying, without any strange gesture, either with mouth or eye, as other blind are accustomed to use. I am not abl● to recite a thousand other manner of ways which he had to get money: he would make many believe that he had prayers fo Bivers good purposes, as for to make women bring forth children, yea, and to make men to love their wives, although they had hated them before never so much. He would prognosticate to women that were with child, whether they should bring forth a Son or a daughter: in matters of Physic, he would affirm that Galen never knew half so much as he: also for any grief, the tooth ach, or any other disease, there was never one complained, but that immediately he would say, do this, do that, seethe such an herb, take such a root: So that by this his continual practice, he had daily great resort made unto him, (especially of women) which did faithfully believe all that ever he said: by them he had great gain, for he won more in a month, ●●en twenty of his occupation did in a whole year. Yet for all his daily gains, you must understand that there was never man so wretched a inggarde. For he caused me not only to die for hunger, but also to want what so ever I nee●●d. And therefore to confess the troth, if I had not found out means to help myself, I had been buried long sithence. Wherefore oftentimes I would so prevent him of all his craft, that my portion should prove as good as his: and to bring my matter so to pass, I used wonderful deceits (whereof I will recite unto you some) although sometimes my practising of them did cost me bitter pains. This bl●nd man carried always his bread and his victual in a little bag of cloth, which was shut at the mouth with an Iron buckle, under a miserable lock and key: at the time of putting his meat in, and taking it out, he would keep such strait account, that all the world was not able to deceive him of one crun me, and therefore there was no help, but that I must needs be content with that small allowance that he gave me, which ●●wares I was sure to dispatch at two morsels: and as soon as ever he had shut his little lock, he would think then that all were sure, imagining that I had other matters in hand: then would I boldly unrip and sow up again the side of his covetous sack, using daily to lance one of the sides, there to take out not only bread at mine own pleasure, but also sitces of flesh, and sweet ca●banades: So that by such means I found convenient time to ease the raging hunger which he was cause of. moreover all the many that ruer I could convey & steal from him, I changed always into half blanks and when any man demanded any prayer, he had always of ordinary a blank given him for his hire, & because he could not see, it should be delivered me: but he could never so soon put forth his hand to receive it, but I was as ready to throw it into my mouth, and by quick erchaunge to give him the just value of half of it, whercat he would much murmur, knowing by the only feeling of it what it was, and would say: How in the devils name cha●●eth it that since thy coming to me, I receive but half blanks, and before I had always a whole blank and sometimes two? I think surely that thy unluckiness be cause thereof. From that time forwards her thought good to shorten his prayers, cutting them off in the midst: wherefore he commanded me, that as soon as the alms giver had turned his back. I should pluck him by the cloak. 
Blind men stand there in Church porche●ryady to be hired for money to recite any prayer  Then straight ways changing tune, he would begin to cry with loud voice (as blindmen use to do) who will hear such a devout prayer, or else the life of some holy Saint? At dinner or supper time, he had always before him a little potfull of wine, which oftentimes I would lay hand on, and after two or three kisses send it him secretly home again: But that happy time continued but a while, for I was wont to leave so little behind me, that he might soon espy the fault, as in deeds immedially he did mistrust the whole matter, wherefore he began a new order, not to leave his wine any more at random, but to avoid danger, had always his little pot fast by the ear, so to be sure of his drink. Yet notwithstanding for all this, the Adamant stone had never such virtue to draw Iron to it, as I had to suck up his wine with a long reed which I had prepared for the purpose: for at soon as the end of my reed had been once in, I might well desire him to fill the pot again. Yet at the last the crafty blind man chanced to feel me, and being angry, determined to take an other way, to place his pot betwine his legs, covering it still with his hand, so to avoid call former dangers: when he had so done, I being accustomed to drink wine, did long to taste of it, and perceiving that my reed could then no more prevail at all, I devised an other kind of fetch, how to make a hole in the bottom of his wine po●, and to stop the same with a little sefte ware, so that at dinner time making a show as I were ready to die for cold, I would creep between th● blind man's legs, to warm myself at his small fire, by the heat whereof, the wax being little in quantity, would so melt away, that the wine would issue down into my meuth freshly and trim. I being sure to gape upward so just that one drop should n●uer fall beside. So that when my blind master would taste of his wine, he should never find drop to ovench his thirst, whereat he would much marvel, cursing and swearing all manner of oaths, yea wishing the pot and all that was within it at the druell, musing still how his wine should be so consumed away. Then st●●ightwayes to excuse myself. I would say, I trust you will not mistrust m●e gentle vucle, seeing that the pot came never out of your own hands. Whereupon then to be well reform of the truth, he began to feel and to gro●e the pot over so o●ten, that at last he found the spring, and at that time dissembled quietly the matter, as if he had perceived nothing. The next day I began again to prepare myself after my accustomed sort to take my pleasure of his wine, being ignorant of the evil that should ensue, thinking that my master would never have mistrusted me about such a matter, wherefore I was merry and careless. But my cruel master, perceiving after what strange sort I received those sweet drops of wine, which came forth as a quick spring at his pot bottom, my face bend towards heaven, my eyes in manner closed, so to receius with more delight and better taste, that pleasant liquor which I thought did preserve my life, the malicious blind man having time of rovengement at his will, Inted up the sweet and sour pot, (as I may say,) and with all his force clapped it so rudely upon my face, that I thought varily heaven abeve, and all therein, had fallen upon me. The cruel blow was such that it took away my senses, it troubled sore my brains, and my face was all cut with pieces of the broken pot, yea, and some of my teeth were then broken, which as yet is seen, wherefore I never loved him after, howbeit be cherished me daily: yet for all the false love and fridship which he showed, I perceived right well how glad he was that he had so punished me. To make me amends, he washed with wine the wounds which the unhappy pot had made, & after much laughing, said, what sayest thou to this my boy, the wy●● that hath done the hu●t shall now heal thee again, and such other merry jests, which I utterly misliked. As soon as I began to recover, an● that my face was in manner healed, & considered with myself, how that with few more such blows, the blinte m●n might quickly uring me to my grave: And therefore determined to shorten his days if I could, which thing I went not about immediately, but tarried a due time for mine own safetis and advantage. And whereas afterwards I went about to forget mine anger, and to forgive him the blow, the evil usage and entertainment which he daily showed me, would in no wise consent thereto. For still he tormented me with sore blows without any offence or fault at all. And when any man demanded why he handled me so cruelly, strait ways he would up and declare the discourse of his pot, saying, do you not think that this child is some innocent, and always at the end of his tale these would be his words: who unless it were the devil himself could have found out such rare pranks? The people would much marvel at my mention, and blessing themselves, would say unto my master: Punish him, Punish him, God will reward you therefore: which thing he did continually, & would have done without their bidding: wherefore I daily led him through the worst ways I could find possibly all for very spite, minding if I could to do him harm: where I might cipye stones or mire, I would even through the thickest: & although I could never escape dry foot, I was glad with losing one of mine own eyes, to put out both his that never had any. 
●e was borne ●●inde.  At such times of his sorrows to be revenged, he would take hold with his nails on the hinder part of my head, where with his often pulling, he had lefie very fews hairs behind: it would never prevail me then to say, that I could find no better way, nor yet to swear how I did not lead him that naughty way maliciously for he was so subtle that to my words he would give small credit. But now because your worship shall understand how far his craft did extend. I will declare one chance amongst many, which happened in the time I served him where in he seemeth to give full understanding of his subtlety: When we departed out of Salamanka, his intent was to come to the City of Toledo, knowing that the people were richer there than in other places, although not so charitable, yet for all that, leaning to his old proverb: More giveth the niggard than the naked, we took our voyage through the best villages we could find, where we found great gain and profit, continuing after such sort a certain time: and where as we liked not our entertainment, the third day we would be sure to take our leave and to end our year. It fortuned at the last, that we arrined to a town which is called Almorx, at such time as they gathered their grapes, where one of the viniard gave my master a whole bunch, which by reason of the late time, were more than ripe, so that some were ready to fall from the ●unch: wherefore he could by no means carry it in his bag, by reason it was so moist. Therefore he determined to make a sumptuous banquet with it, partly because he had no means to carry it with him, and partly because he thought therewith to please me, which had received that day many cruel blows. As soon as we found a valley fit for the purpose, we sat us down, and my master said, Lazaro my boy, I will now use a great liberality towards thee, it is my pleasure that both of us shall eat 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 above one at a time, and I will do the like to thee, and so we will quietly end our bunch, without any fraud or guile on ●ither part. Upon that condition we agreed and began our banquet: but my master belike forgetting his pr●mise, did soon change purpose, for immediately he began to pick the grapes by two & two, thinking peradventure that I would do the like, as he might well think. In deed I was not far behind him, for as soon as I perteived that he had broken the law, I was not content to go by two and two as he did, but went before him, taking up by two and thr●● together, and sometime more as I was best able. When the bunch was ended, he took the stalk in his hand, and wagging his head said, Lazaro thou hast deceived me, by God thou hast eaten by three and three: I utterly denied it, and said, in deed uncle it is not true: why should you think so? Then he like a crafty blindman answered, I did perceive strait ways h●we the matter went, for when I began to take up by two & two, thou never didst find faultebut didst keep silence. I then laughed to myself, although I was but young, I considered well his discrete consideration. Now ●ir to avoid long talk, I will leave apart many matters as well pleasant as worthy to be noted, which have fortuned to me with this my first master. I will only tell what happened a little before I departed: we came to Scalona, a town of the Dukes, and when we were at our lodging, 
Here they use few gridiròs but all spits, & do roast overth wart the coals. A marevedi, is the sixth part of an English penny.  he gave me a piece of a sausedge to roast, the which being almost enough, and the fat dropped and pressed out upon thin flices of bread, as the fashion is, and those being ●aten, he drew his purse, and boldly drew out a Marevedi, willing me to fetch the value thereof in wine. The devil (who as they say) is the occasion that men become thieves, was ready at hand to prepare opportuni, tie to deceive him. It fortuned that near the fire there lay a little root, somewhat long and evil favoured, such a one as belike, was not leru ●able for the pot, and therefore was left there as abject: and as at that time there was no more but he and I alone, I felt myself pinched with a lickorous appetite, my teeth being s●t on edge with the sweet savour of his roasted sausege, the which was the only witness that I should be the eater thereof) I not regarding what the sequel might be, seaving aside all manner of fear, for to fulfil my rash desire, in the mean while that the blind man was drawing his purse, I whips off quickly the sausedge from the spit, and thereon broached the foresaid worm eaten root, which my master most willingly took and began to turn, thinking to roast that which for the goodness, was not worthy t● be boiled.  
So I went for wine, and by the way I made a fair end of my sausedge, and as soon as I came in again, I found my master wring between two slices of bread, that naughty root, not knowing what it was: for with his fingers he had not as yet touched it. Immediately after he began to eat, taking a large bit of his bread, meaning to have tasted a little of his sausedge, but his teeth entered into the root, where he found a cold morsel: whereat he being sore abashed, showed it to me, and said, Lazaro what meaneth this? I than answered: Now jesus what is this? Alas wretch that I am, do you mean to blame me, you know well that I came but now from the tavern with wine, surely some naughty man hath been here, that hath done this in despite or mockage. No no, than said he, that cannot be possible, for I never let the spit go sithence out of mine own hands. Then to clear myself, I began to swear all other, that I was innocent of that vile exchange: but all was in vain, for from the subtlety of that ungracious blind man, nothing could be kept hid. He rose up and took fast hold on my head, to smell whether he could feel the savour of his sausedge: and as soon as ever he felt occasion to suspect that I had eaten it, he was as gl●d●e as a good blood hound's, that had his chase in the wind: Wherefore to be better informed of the truth, being sore endued with anger, he rashly opened my mouth with the strength of his hands, so that perforce I was fayns to gape even to the uttermost: and then he thrusteth in all haste, into my mouth, his worm-eaten nose, which was both long and sharp, yea, which at that time by reason of great anger, was lengthened a long handful, so that the pike thereof did ga● my throat. Wherefore, partly by reason of the fear that I was in, and partly because the sausedge in such short time was not settled in my stomach, but most of all, by reason of the great trouble which his monstrous nose put me too, wherewith I was in a manner choked, I was forced to discover my gluttonte, so that the sausedge of necessity returned to his old master again: for my poor stomach was so much altered, that before the blind man had drawn out his hoggish nose, I was even ready to render up the theft. For look as soon as ever he had pulled out his snout, the evil eaten sausedge came gushing cut after, in honest company. O mighty God how ha● been then buried, might well have looked for my company, for & was altogether dead: his rage was 〈◊〉 so great, that if men had not c●me in, I think certainly he would have taken away my life. With much a do I got me out of his hands, leaving him with his claws full of that small quantity of hear which I had left, (all which torment he most justly deserved seeing that through his naughtiness I suffered su●h persecution.) The ungodly blind man, would then declare to as many as came in, my unfortunate disgraces, rehearsing often over, as well the tale of his ●otte, and of the bunch of gr●pes, as also this last trick of his sausedge. The laugh●●● that men made was so great, that a● such as were in the street came in to see the feast, where he recited with such 〈◊〉 all my misadventures, that me thought verily, I did them great wrong in not laughing for company. When all this was past, there came to my mind a certain faint and a stouthfull cowa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which I had committed, in not leaving him nosselesse, seeing that I had time fit for the purpose: yea and that I had gone half the way to do it. For if I had but closed my teeth together, his nose had never gone more abroad: & truly I believe because it was the nose of that naughty man it would have better agreed with my stomach, than the sausedge did, for had it once been invisible, I might well have denied it him again. Now I would to God my teeth had done their part, for it had been better so then otherwise. The hostise, & other that were there, made us friends, and with the wine which I had brought for his supper, they washed my face, & my throat, which his nails had altorne. Whereat he made much grudging, saying, certainly this boy doth consume me more wine in a year, with washing his wounds, than I do drink in two. Without doubt Lazaro, thou art more bound to wine, than to thy father, for he only begot thee once, & it hath saved thy life a thousand times, and so declared how many times he had wounded me and healed me again with wine, & then said again: I promise thee truly Lazaro if any man in the world shall have happy chance with wine, it is thou. Which words caused those that were there, to laugh hearty, I being still in most sorrowful despair. But look what the blind man prognosticated then, it was not all in vain, for his sayings at the time proved afterward most true: wherefore I have oftentimes sithence called to mind his words, whereby it appeared that he had a great gift in prophesying, and therefore it hath often repent me of my cruel dealing towards him, although his deserts were evil, seeing that his words of Prophecy proved so true, as hereafter your worship shall plainly understand. To conclude, his evil nature and my usage considered, I determined to forsake him for ever, and as I imagined daily thereupon, desirous ●o depart, this his last deed persuaded 〈◊〉 fully thereunto, and the matter chanced to fall out thus: Within two days after, we went through the City to demand men's charities, where it had reigned much the might before, & because like wise it rayn●● s●re tha●●ay, my master went praying under certain portals the are th●●●, where it wa●●●●●. When 〈…〉 the rain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he 〈…〉, Lazaro, 〈…〉 is Without 〈◊〉, for the more that nigh●● 〈…〉, the more earnest 〈◊〉 let us draw ●●●●war● to our lodging. But as it chanced, we had vetweene us and home, a great wide gutier which the 〈◊〉 had 〈…〉 I 〈◊〉 uncle, ●hi● gutter is very brood and sunste, so that w●e shall have much a do to pass, notwithstanding. I have new espied one 〈…〉 were we may well scape over 〈…〉 thought vertly then, ●hat I had 〈◊〉 him good 〈…〉 〈◊〉 and therefore said, my good boy, now I 〈◊〉 art wise, I must 〈…〉 thee lead 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 place, where I may ●●st escape a for now in winter it is not 〈◊〉 to take water, especially to go wetshood. O how ●lad I was then to see the 〈…〉 I had wished for, ●herefore without delay, I brought him 〈◊〉 underneath the portals, & lead him right against a grea● 〈…〉 stoodst, 〈…〉 uncle 〈…〉 place of all th● 〈◊〉.  
The 〈…〉 of the 〈…〉 and also 〈…〉, for 〈…〉 himself 〈…〉 his understanding to 〈…〉 time of 〈…〉 to my 〈◊〉 and said 〈…〉 canst 〈…〉 take my ●ump 〈…〉 leap 〈…〉 Gods 〈…〉 for 〈…〉 him 〈…〉 I could and too●● 〈…〉 post, as one that 〈…〉 ●●ncounter of a Bull, and the● If 〈◊〉 uncle leap boldly as far as you can possibly, for else you may chance wet yourself. I had not 〈…〉 said the word, but that incontinently the poor blind man was ready to take his race, returning a pace or two back● 〈…〉 the standing 〈◊〉 and so with great 〈◊〉 took his leap, throwing forwar● 〈…〉 that at the ●ast his head took such a monstrous blow against the cruel stony pill●●, that his head sounde● withal as it had been a ●●ther bottle, whereupon he sell back with his cloven pate, hal●e dead: then gave I 〈◊〉 leap and said; how now 〈◊〉, ●ould you smell the sausedge so well, 〈…〉 not the pillar I p●ay you? 〈…〉 a little what you can do. So I le●te him there between the hands of 〈…〉 that came in all haste to help him, & took 〈◊〉 ready way strait towards the ●owne gate, with 〈◊〉 flow pace, and then ●rotte● so 〈◊〉 forward, that before night I arrived to Tortoise. After that ti●● I never 〈…〉 ●ought to know what God 〈…〉 with him.  
(* ⁎ *)   

How Lazaro placed himself, with a Priest, and what thing happened to him in his service.  
THE next day after doubting of mine own safety there. I departed thence and went to a village which is called Mekeda, where I met for my sins, with a priest, who as soon as he espied how that I demanded alms, did inquire whether I could help to mass: I answered, saying, yes sir, that I can, as truth it was: for although the blindman had used me scarce well, he taught me to do a thousand feats, whereof this was one. The Priest received me for his own: so I escaped then front the thunder and came into the tempest, yea and God knoweth, how from evil, to ten times worse, for the blind man was in comparison of this master, a great Alexander. Howbeit, he was so covetous a niggard, as heretofore I have rehearsed. All the misery in the world, was enclosed within this wretched priest, for he had always a great old coffer, wherein he continually locked with a key  did hang at the point of his reate, all the bread that came from the Church at offerings, forgetting at no 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the same unlorked, being 〈…〉 and buttery. For 〈◊〉 all the house a man might discern 〈…〉 that could be eaten; neither 〈…〉 in the chimney, nor Cheeses 〈…〉 upon sheltice, nor the! & broken 〈…〉 corner as common●y in other 〈…〉 which things so 〈…〉 seen & not tasted, 〈…〉 me much: 〈…〉, was a rope of 〈…〉, in a 〈…〉 and under 〈…〉 was 〈…〉 four days. And when I show & come for the ●●ye to talk my due, if 〈◊〉 were am stranger 〈◊〉 he would 〈◊〉 his hand in a his 〈◊〉, & with 〈…〉, would say, 〈…〉 immediately derive, 〈◊〉 me again, their 〈◊〉 nothing but crainuie up meat. So that he that had heard him, would have judged there had been under the costodie of that key, all the confectures of Valentia. But for any thing that was there, beside the rope of Onion the hung on a natle, the devil himself might have had part, and of them he kept such strait account, 
A blank the xii. part of an English pen●e. The custom is there upon Saturday to eat the heads, the foot and bowels of all beasts with his licence.  that if I had taken at any time more than my ordinary, I should dearly have bought it. After that I had continued a while with him. I was ready ●ury hour to fall down dead for hunger. His use was, to dine & sup with as much flesh as mounted to the value offlue blanks, whereof I was sure never to taste▪ unless it were of the broth, which sometimes he would friendly part between us, and so for bread, I would to god I might have ha● half as much as was sufficient. Upon Saturdays, as the custom was in that city, he would send me for a sheeps head that should cost three Marevedies, 
Two blanks a Marevedi.  whereof when it was sod, he would eat both the eyes, the tongue, and the brain yea, and all the flesh on both the chèeke bones: Then reaching me the platter, with a few naked bones, would say, take down this to thee, and rejoice, seeing that thou hast the world at will, I am sure the Pope himself hath now no better life than thou hast: than would I answer him, with low voice. God send thee always the like. I had not dwelt with him three weeks, but I was so lean that my legs were scarce able to bear me: the hunger was so great which I sustained, that I never thought to escape death, unless that God's help and mine own industry would find some remedy to save my life. And for to use my accustomed subt●●tie, there was not wherewithal, seeing that there was nothing there to give assault unto: yea although there had been, I might never have been able to deceive him, as I had done the poor blind man, upon whom I pray God take mercy if he be dead with his last blow. For 〈◊〉 beit he was crafty, yet wanting his precious sight, I was sure be could never see what I hourly did. But there was never man that had quicker eyesight than this Prlest: For at offering time, the silver was not so soon fallen into the basin, but that straight he had it registered, having always one eye to my hand, & an other to the people: and his eyes would so roll in his head, as if they had been of quicksilver. As soon as offering was done he would take the basin out of my hands, and lay it upon the altar, so that I was never able to deceive him of one blanks. And whiles I continued with him, (or to say better,) whiles that I consumed myself in this miserable service, he never sent me to the tavern, for as much as the value of a blank in wine, but that small quantity which he had offered on the Sunday, he kept always in his coffer so sparingly, that it would last him all the week over. And for to hide his covetousness, he would sometimes say unto me, my boy, all Priests ought to be sober in eating and drinking & therefore I dare not break order as many other do, Now you sha● see how the miser lied falsely therein, 
A Saluter is a kind of drunken prophets in Spain which take upon them the healing of mad dogs,  for at burials & dirges, where he had meat at other men's charges, he would eat like a wolf, more than four men, & drink as it were a Saluter: and because his office was always to say dirge, at such times (god forgive me) was always an enemy to h●●ane nature, and only, because that then we should far well, and have meat at liberty, I wished and prayed God that he would every day call up one to heaven. When we went to minister the sacrament to such as were sick, my master would desire those that were 〈◊〉, to pray for the sick man, 
Lazaro had not eared though the king had died, so that he might have had mere to stay his hunger.  surely I was never one of the last that 〈◊〉 vnstring God with all my heart, not that he would do to the patiented according is his will, (as other prayed) but that he would dispatch him out of the world: and when any of them escaped death, I was ready (God 〈…〉 me) to wish him at the devil, and who so ever 〈…〉 sure to have of me many blessings, and prayers for his 〈◊〉 I dwelled with this master about sir months, and in that 〈…〉 died only unpeople, which I certainly slew to at 〈◊〉 least, the earnest request of my prey 〈◊〉 was cause of their death: for God the father perceiving the raging hunger which I continually sustained, rejoiced (as I think) to stay them, to 〈◊〉 my life thereby, considering that otherwise my disease could not be reme●●● 〈◊〉 I was never acease, but when we had●● burials: The day that there was 〈◊〉, my teeth should have no work my 〈◊〉 would faint, because that I had been used sometimes to have my bet●● filled. At such times I sounds case in nothing but in death, which then I wished, as well for myself, as I had done before for the sick men. I determined oftentimes to depart from that miserable master, yet fearing so to do, for two 〈…〉, because I durst not trust● my legs, which by hunger were brought to great weakness, secondly, considering with myself, saying, I have had two masters, with the first I died for hunger, whom when I had forsaken I cha●●ed upon this other, which with the very same disease hath almost brought me to my grave: therefore I made account that if I should forsake the second & meet with a third that were worse than these two, then there were no remedy but plain death. Wherefore I never durst departed from him, being assured to find all estates worse and worse, knowing that to descend an other degree, Lazaro should be soon forgotten, being once rid out of this world. 
Lazaro was a good Christian believing that all goodness came from God.  And being in such affliction (God of his grace deliver every faithful Christian from the like) not knowing how to counsel myself, my misery daily increasing, upon a day, when by chance my wretched master had gone abroad, there arrived by chance to the door a tinker, which I believe was an Angel disguised, sent from God, who demanded for work: I answered softly, thou haste enough to amend in me, and I believe more than thou canst do. But as it was no time then to delay the matter, (by divine inspiration) I said unto him, uncle, I have lost the key of this coffer, I fear that my master will beat me, for god's sake look amongst your keys if there be any that will open it, I will consider your pains: the heavenvly tinker began to assay, now one key, now another, of this great bunch, and I helped him with my prayers, so that immediately before I was aware, he opened it: whereof I was so glad, that me thought I did see in figure, (as they say) the face of God, when I beheld the bread within it: and when he had done all, I said unto him, I have no money, but take this for thy payment, so he took one of the fairest loves, and after he had delivered me the key, he departed right well pleased, and I as well content as he. At that time I touched nothing, partly because I perceived myself to be the Lord of such treasure, that by reason of that key hunger durst never again approach me. Incontinently after, who cometh in, but my unhappy master, and as God would, he never took heed of the loaf, which the heavenly tinker had borrowed. The next day after, as soon as he went abroad, I began to open my paradise of bread, and what between my hands and my teeth, with the twinkling of an eye I made a loaf invisible, forgetting in no wise to lock the chest again: them I began cheerfully to sweep the house, judging the by such remedy I might ease my sorrowful life. So I passed that day and the next, with much mirth. But my contrary Fortune went about to hinder me to enjoy such pleasure long, for the third days just, a tertian ague came upon me, in perceiving him that had slain me with hunger, at an undue hour, over the chest, touching & tossing, accounting and reckoning his bread. I dissembled the matter, as I had not perceived him, and in my secret prayer and devotion, I prayed: saint john to blind him. And after that he had been a good while casting his account upon his fingers, he said unto me, if it were not that this coffer is so sure, I would say that some of my bread hath been taken away, but from henceforth I will keep good account of it, there is now left nine loves besides a broken piece: then said I with low voice, nine evils God send unto thee, It seemed unto me with that which he had said, my heart to be pierced through with an arrow, and my stomach began to rive for hunger, perceiving how I was put to my former diet. He then departed out, and I opened the said coffer to comfort myself a little, and beholding the bread, which I dursts not touch, but worshipping it, I beheld & counted it over, to see if the wretch had overreckoned himself: but I found his account more just, that I would have wished it by the one half: the most that I could do, was to give it a thousand kisses, and to cut a little delicately of that place where it was cut before: and with that I passed over that day, yet not so me rily as I did the other. But now because two or three days before I had bread at will, the appetite in my stomach did increase in such sort, that I was almost dead for hunger: wherefore being alone, I did nothing but open and locks again the coffer, beholding always that bread as a God. And God himself which succoureth those that are afflicted, seeing me in such necessity, brought a little remedy unto my memory, which was, that I remembered with myself this coffer to be old and broken in many places, and although the holes were little, yet might it be thought that Mice had entered therein to damage th● bread. And to take out a whole loaf, the wretch would soon espy the fault yet this may be better born withal: so than I b●●ā to claw the bread with my nails, upon a simple napkin that was there, taking one loaf and leaving another, so that of every third or fourth, I would be sure to take some crumbs, & even as if they were confects I did swallow the same, to comfort my stomach. When he should come to dinner, opening his chest, and espying incontinently the hurt, he did judge that rats had done that spoil, for I had so counterfeited their gnawing, that any man would have thought the same: wherefore he sought all corners of the chest, and at the last he espied certain holes where he suspected they had entered: whereupon he called me in all haste, saying, Lazaro, see here what persecution hath been done this night upon our bread. I began to marvel, demanding what it should be? what should it be said he but rats, which leave nothing wholed we went then to dinner, & as God would I had better allowance than I was wont, for with his knife he pared away all that which he thought the mice had touched, saying, take eat this my boy, Mice are clean. I chanced the day to far better, for he augmented my allowance with the which I had made, by the travel of my hands, or to say truth, of my nails. We ended our dinner for all that, somewhat to soon, yet there came another plunge upon me, perceiving how the Priest was earnest in pulling nails out of the wall, and seeking little boards to slop the holes again: wherefore I said to myself (Lord God) unto how many perils and calamity of Fortune are humane creatures subject? how short a time do the pleasures of our troublesome life last? lo where I am now, which trusted by this my poor remedy, to ease my misery, being in best hope of good adventure, my evil luck would not consent, but opened the sight of my covetous masters understanding, causing him to have more subtle wit than he had given him by nature, although such wretches are commonly subtle enough. When he had dummed up the holes, I thought his chest should be shut to my comfort, and opened to my pain, and therefore I never left lamenting, until that the curious Carpenter with his company of boards had ended his work of nailing, and when he had done, said: now ye traitorly Mice you must change purpose, for there is no more profit for you in this house. As soon as ever he went abroad, I went to view his work, and I perceived that he had not left in his old chest one hole unstopped, not so much as a place for a fly to get in: notwithstanding without hope of gain I opened the chest with my unprofitable key, and there visited two loaves begun, which he had thought the Mice has carved, and from them once again I scraped a little quantity, touching them lightly like a nimble master of defence, for necessity at that time my mistress, caused me days and night to imagine how I might live and seek remedy for my sore, whereunto hunger taught me the way, which commonly maketh men have ready wits. I began then to study about my affairs, seeking means to draw some commodity out of the said covetous coffer: perceiving one night that my master slept sound (or at least made me believe so) by his snorting & blowing, I rose on my feet, and as I had taken order with myself the day before what should be done that night, I had left an old knife which was cast about the house, in a place where it might be found at need, & went to that happy coffer: and where it seemed to have least defence, I gave the assault with my rusty knife, which served my turn well for a wimble: but the chest by reason of good years, being weak, without strength, very soft and tender, did strait ways render & consent that I should make for my commodity a good hole in the side of it, and that done, opening the wounded chest, and knowing every loaf severally by the touch, I did as I had done before, and by that means being somewhat comforted, having locked the chest again. I returned to my pallet, whereupon I slept little (& as I think) mine evil supper was cause of that, for otherwise, at that time of the night the king of France his cares could never break me of my sleep. On the morning the Priest my master perceiving the hurt which was done as well to the bread as to the coffer, began to curse the Mice, saying, what meaneth this? there was never Mouse wonted to go here before now-and certainly his words were true, for if any house in the whole kingdom might be privileged from Mice it might be his, for Mice are never wont to dwell where no parings of meat do fall. But now he began again to seek nails about the ways, and little boards, to make defence against the traitorous Mice: but as soon as night came that he went to his rest. I rose up with my tools, and looked what he stopped in the day time, I broke up again in the night: finally, the one and the other of us took such pain, that this proverb was fulfilled, when one door is shut the other openeth: at the last, we seemed to have Penelope's wcb in hand, what so ever he wrought in the day, I undid again in the night, in so much the we brought the poor coffer to such estate, the who so ever would properly talk of it, might compare it to an old boat or brigantin, for that number of old nails that was driven into each side of it, when he saw his remedy prevailed not he said, this coffer is so old & so weak, that it is no longer able to defend our victuals from vermin, it is now at that point that if I meddle any more with it, them o'er it will decay, and so at length be able to do us no service at all, and peradventure evil fortune will cause me spend two or three shillings to buy an other: the best remedy that I can find, seeing this doth not prevail, is to set up a trap within it, to take these cruel rats: whereupon he went in mediately and borrowed one of his neighbours, which he had continually bend within the coffer, with a bait of cheese paring, which was laid only for my comfort and ease, for although I could well have eaten my bread alone, without the help of any thing else, to cause my appetite, yet the cheese paring which I would pull out of the trap, gave me trim taste with my mouse eaten bread. But when he should perceive the bread so spoiled with ra●t●s, and the cheese eaten, and the rat that did the deed not taken, then would he wish the trap at the devil, demanding of his neighbours what it might be, that the cheese should be eaten, and the Rat not taken, yea and the trap fallen? the neighbours would answer that it was no rat that did that harm, 
●akes are ●ot there to ●ort much in 〈◊〉 h●u●● for food.  for at one time or other she had been taken. And amongst the rest one said, I do remember that a snake was wont to haunts your house, and by all reason it is she that hath done the deed, for she being long, might easily eat the cheese, and although the trap did fall, yet because her body entered not in all, she might well and easily get out and scape. This neighbours saying did satisfy the whole company, and especially my master, which from that time forward never slept one night s●undely, for when he had heard the least noise amongst the wood, he would think that it were the S●●ke gnawing the coffer, wherefore he would straight be up with a cudgel, which sithence he entr●d into such suspection, was always ready at his bed's head, where with he would beat the poor coffer so hard●, to fear the snake, that he waken all the neighbours with the noise. And as for me, I never slept, for often times in the night he would turn me and my pallet over and over, thinking that the snake had gotten thither into my bed or into my apparel, for he was informed, that those beasts oftentimes seeking heat, have come into children's Cradles, & b●tten them to death. I would always make as though I slept: then he would in the morning say unto me O Lazaro, hast thou heard no noise this night. I did pursue the Snak, and I was ●afraid 〈◊〉 had gotten into thy bed, for they are cold, & therefore seek heat. Then answered I, I pray God she hath not bitten me. I fear Snakes as the ●euil. He continued in such fearful famaste, that he never slept, so that & bearing the Snake, dared never approach the coffer, but only in the day time, whiles he was at Church, or abroad in 〈◊〉 town, then would I make my assault: whereof when he had knowledge, perceiving that he was not able to find any further remedy, would every night (●s I have told you) be raging mad. All that I feared then was, that he with his diligence would meet with my privy key which I had hid under the bedstrawe: But for more surety, at night tim● I would a waves keep it in my mouth, for when that I dwelled with the blind man, I had brought my mouth to such use by conveying money into it, that it served me often for a purpose. I can well remember, when sometimes I have had in it. xiitj. or xv. deniers, and not hindered my eating, otherwise I had never beens master of denier, but that the cursed blind man would have found it out, not leaving one seam or wrinkle of my coat unsought. Therefore as I tell you, I did every night put the key in my mouth for a safeguard, & by that means I slept sound, not fearing that he should find it. Notwithstanding, when that the evil hour could not be escaped, my diligence was all but vain: it pleased my fatal destiny (or to say truth) my sins, that upon a night when I was asleep, the key happened so to turn in my mouth, being wide open, in such sort, that my breath coming forth through the hole of the key, which was hollow, made such loud whistling (as evil fortune would) that my careful master heard it, who thought certainly that it had been the hissing of the Snake, (as surely it might be like) he rose up very softly holding his cudgel fast, and by the noise of the hissing came by little and little straight to me, without making any noise, to the intent the Snake should not hear him. When he was neers me, he thought certainly that the Snake was there in the straw, wherefore he lifted up his cudgel to kill her, and with all his strength he discharged upon my head such a cruel blow, that he wounded me to death. Whereupon, he knowing that he had stricken me, belike by the groaning that I made after the receipt of the blow, suspecting what had happened, cried out to awake me, but as soon as he touched me with his hands, he felt abundance of blood issue out of my head: wherefore considering what hurt he had done me, he went in haste for a candle, and returning with it in his hand, found me groaning & gasping with my key in my mouth, which I never let go, being half out, even as it was when it made such hissing, whereat the killer of Snakes marveled, especially when he beheld the key, which he took out of my mouth, and viewing it, he perceived what it was, for in workmanship it differeth nothing from his. But for more surety he went straight to prove it, and so then espied the whole deceit. God knoweth then how he bragged, that he had taken the Rat and the Snake that had made him such war, and that so destroyed his bread: what happened the three days following, I am not able to tell, for I was as it were in a whales belly (but only this that I have told you: which I had heard my master report, after that I was returned to myself, for he declared the whole matter to as many as came in and out. The third day after, I begun to recover, marveling much, when I perceived myself being in my straw, my head full of plasters, oils, and ointments, and being thereat amazed, I said what meaneth this? The priest then answered, the meaning of this is, that I had chased away the Rat and the Snake that have done me such hurt: then calling to mind my affairs, I suspected my hurt, and the cause thereof: then came there in an old woman, with certain of the neighbours, to undo the clouts about my head, and to dress my wounds, and being glad to see me recovered, said, there is no danger, now in him, seeing that he hath his senses, they began then to recite my afflictions, they laughing and I weeping. After all this, they gave me meat, I being almost dead for hunger. Much a do they had to recover me, but by little and little I warred strong, & at xu days end, I rose up and was out of danger, yet not without hunger, howbeit half healed. The next day after that I rose, my master took me by the hand, and brought me out at the door, and leaving me in the street, said unto me: Lazaro, from this day forth, thou shalt be at thine own liberty, and not under my subjection, the Lord be with thee: go seek thee a master, I have no need of such a diligent servant, it is not possible, but that thou hast been servant to some blind man. And therewith blessing himself from me, as though I had been possessed with some evil spirit, he ge●teth him in and locketh fast his door.   

How Lazaro placeth himself to serve a Squire, and what happened to him in his service.  
BY this means I was forced to help myself being weak, & shortly after, I came by help of good people, to this noble city of Toledo, where (I thank God) my wound closed up. As long as I was sick, every man gave me his charity, but after that I was once whole, every man would say, thou vagabond and leiterer, why dost thou not seek a master? Then I murmuring with myself, would say, & where the devil shall I find him, unless God, as he made the world, make me one. But now Idemanding alms from door to door for God's sake, I found little remedy, for charity had then ascended up to heaven. At the last God caused me to meet with a squire which walked thorough the street, in very sumptuous apparel, & cleanly, his pace in going well measured after good order. He beheld me and I him, and he said unto me: boy, dost thou want a matter? I answered, I would feign have a good master sir. Then follow me said he: God hath sent thee good fortune to meet with me, thou hast prayed well this day, I thank God, for that which I had heard him say, and for that he seemed by his behaviour and countenances to be even he, that I had so much longed for. I met with this third master betime in the morning, and he led me after him through the most part of the city: we passed through the market place, where there was sold bread, and other provision: 
Gentlemen use to buy their meat in the market themselves.  I looked when he would have laden me there with meat, for it was then, that every man provided and bought things necessary for their dinner. But with comely and large pace he went by, and left that place behind him: then I said to myself, 
There is not such provision of meat in Spain as there is in England.  peradventure hes doth not see here that which doth content him, he will buy in an other place: we walked so long that the clock struck eleven, than went he to the chief Church, and I after him, where I saw him most devoutly hear service, when all was ended, & the people departed, he came ou● of the Church and marched loysurely do●●ne a street: 
He went so l●t to the Church to came that his dinner might be made ready.  and as for me, I went joyfully, the best content in the world, perceiving how that we did not stay to seek our dinner, imagining that this my new master had been some great parsonage, and that he had his house provided before hand, that we should find dinner ready, yea such as I desired, and as I had need of. At that tune the clock struck one after noon, when we arrived at a house before the which my master had stayed I with him, than he throwing his cloak over his leafy shoulder very civilly, drew out a key out of his sleeve to open his door, we then entered in, the entrance whereof was so dark and unhandsome, that it might fear any man living to enter in, how be it, there was within it a pretty little count and reasonable chambers: and when we were within, he putteth off his cloak, demanding me whether my hands were clean, we shook it, and then doubled it handsomely, and after he had blown cleanly the dust away from an old bench that was there, he laid it up: that being done, he sat him down, demanding of me at large what country man I was, & how I came to the city: I gave him a larger account than I was willing: for I thought it a more convenient time to command me to lay the cloth, and to take out pottage, than to make such inquiraunce: yet for all that, bringing forth the best lies I could frame for myself, I made him account what I was, reckoning all the goodness that was in my parsonage, leaving apart all that which I thought was not to be rehearsed in that place: when I had declared all he stayed a while, and by that time I did see an evil slgne: for it was almost two a clock, and yet he was no readier to dine than he that had been dead. I marveled moreover, when I perceived that he had locked his door with his key, & that I could not hear any living creature stur, neither above, nor beneath: all that ever I did see was the naked walls, 
As the Priest had.  not so much, as a chair or ●●oole, nor a table, nor yet a coffer, as the other man had: finally you would have said, it had been a house, not inhabited. A while after he demanded me whether I had dined, I answered saying, no sir, for it was not eight a clock when I met with your mastership this morning, (than said he) as early as it was, I had broken my fast, and whensoever I break my fast in the morning, I never eat again until it be night, therefore pass thou over the time as well as thou canst, and we will make amends at supper: your worship may well think that when I heard these words I was ready to fall down dead, not so much for hunger, as for plainly perceiving, that then fortune was altogether mine enemy. Then began my sorrows to appear unto me again, and I to lament my misfortune: then came there to my mind, the consideration that I made when I was about to depart from the Priest, 
Poor Lazero did bear his master's dinner and his own in his boson e for fear of losing it.  weighing with myself, that although he was most wretched and miserable, yet peradventure I might meet with a worse: finally, I lamented and wept my troublesome life that was passed, and my death that did approach: and yet for all this I dissembled the matter as well as I could, and said unto him, sir I thank 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 soberness and measure in eating, and so have I been always esteemed of as many masters as I have served: be then answered saying, it is a virtue to live soberly, therefore I commend thee much: Pox fill themselves, and wyso men eat discreetly what is only sufficient for them. I now understand you well sir, said I to myself, evil luck light upon such virtue and goodness as these my masters do find in hunger: immediately after all this, I conveyed myself behind the door, where I drew certain pieces of bread out of my bosom, which were left of that I had received for God's sake two days before. But he perceiving me, said, come hither boy, what dost thou eat? I came unto him, and did show the bread, whereof he took a piece, which of two or three was the best and the biggest, saying, by my soul me thinks this bread is good and savarouse: yea marry sy●, at this time especially, said: I. Is so in deed said he, but where hadst thou it, was it moulded with clean hands? that I know not said I, howbeit I find it good. I pray God it be clean, said the poor Gentleman: and with that putting his hand to his mouth, devoured quickly all that I had given him: and somewhat before we had ended, he said, by God this bread hath a good taste, how savourous it is. And as for me then, I perceived upon which foot he halted, I made hast to eat, perceiving him to be so disposed, that if he had made an end before me, I thought he would gently have offered to help me: therefore we ended both at one time in good order. He began then with his hand to brush away a few crumbs, which had feign upon his breast, 
In Spain many, drink nothing but water, and some that may have wine; but this square drank it for want of better.  & after that entered into a chamber that was there, and thence brought forth an old pot broken mouthed, & drank well, & then he offered me the pot. But I to seem sober and modest, said sir I drink no wine: it is water, said he, thou mayst well drink of it: then I took the pot, but I drank not much, for it was not thrust, but hunger that troubled me. We passed the time so until that it was night, reasoning of sundry matters which he demanded of me, whercunto I answered as well as I could. Then we entered into the chamber from whence he had brought forth his drinking pot, he saying: boy, go to the other side, and mark how we make this bed, that thou mayst know how to make it from henceforth. I went to the one side and he to the other, and made the poor bed, which was an easy matter to do, for it was thus as I will tell you: A sheeps hurdle laid overhwarte two trefles, a silly rotten hard matresse, and upon that his bed clothes, which by reason of seldom washing could not be discerned in colour from the matresse, the which had not half so much wool as need required: we turned it to make it soft, but that was unpossible to do, for ver●e hard it is for a man to make a hard thing soft, and the devil a thing was within the cruel mattress at all, for when it was spread upon the hurdle of big●● sticks, every stick appeared thorough, en● as like as could be, to the ribs of a carian this time especially, said: I. Is so in deed said he, but where hadst thou it, was it moulded with clean hands? that I know not said I, howbeit I find it good. I pray God it be clean, said the poor Gentleman: and with that putting his hand to his mouth, devoured quickly all that I had given him: and somewhat before we had ended, he said, by God this bread hath a good taste, how savourous it is. And as for me then, I perceived upon which foot he halted, I made hast to eat, perceiving him to be so disposed, that if he had made an end before me, I thought he would gently have offered to help me: therefore we ended both at one time in good order. He began then with his hand to brush away a few crumbs, which had feign upon his breast, 
In Spain many, drink nothing but water, and some that may have wine; but this squ●e drankest for want of better.  & after that entered into a chamber that was there, and thence brought forth an old pot broken mouthed, & drank well, & then be offered me the pot. But I to seem sober and modest, said sir I drink no wine: it is water, said he, thou mayst well drink of it: then I took the port, but I drank not much, for it was not thrust, but hunger that troubled me. We passed the time so until that it was night, reasoning of sundry matters which he demanded of me, whercunto I answered as well as I could. Then we entered into the chamber from whence he had brought forth his drinking pot, he saying: boy, go to the other side, and mark how we make this bed, that thou mayst know how to make it from henceforth. I went to the one side and he to the other, and made the poor bed, which was an easy matter to do, for it was thus as I will tell you: A sheeps hurdle laid overhwarte two tresles, a silly rotten hard matresse, and upon that his bed clothes, which by reason of seldom washing could not be discerned in colour from the matresse, the which had not half so much wool as need required: we turned it to make it soft, but that was unpossible to do, for verse hard it is for a man to make a hard thing soft, and the devil a thing was within the cruel mattress at all, for when it was spread upon the hurdle of biggs sticks, every stick appeared thorough, en● as like as could be, to the ribs of a carian lean Hog, we spread upon the hungry miserable matris, a coverlet suitable to the rest of the stuff, what stuff it was off. I can not well devise: before that we had made the beds it was night, and he said: Lazaro, it is now late, and from hence to the market place where provision of meat is sold, it is a long way, 
The streets are natrowe & dark few lanterns are hong out.  and besides that ruffians and thieves do meet men every night to spoil them of their cloaks & caps in the dark, therefore let us pass over this night as well as we may, to morrow God will provide better for us. I am not provided of meat because I have been hitherto alone with out a servant, and I have always taken my meals in the City, but from henceforth we will keep a new order: sir said I, take no care for me, I can pass over one night, & more if need be without meat, & that will be cause that thou shalt live longer said he, for as wise men affirm, there is nothing that can make a manclive longer than to eat a little. If that be true said I to myself. I shall neu●r di●●for I have always been constrained to keep that rule, and I think I am fortuned to observe it as long as I live. After all this he went to bed, making his hose and his doubled his bolster, and causing me to lie at his feet, where I never slept wink, for the hard hurdle never left galling my naked bones, which by hunger and sorrow together, had not lest on them nor yet on all my body beside, and ounce of flesh: 
Hunger is always an enemy to sleep.  and as I chanced to eat nothing that day, my brain was so light, that I could never take rest. Wherefore (God forgive me) I cursed myself and my fortune a thousand times, and that which was worse than all this, I never durst change sides for fear of waking him: wherefore I desired death. The next morning when he rose, he began to shake and to make clean his hose, his doublet, & his cloak, I was his brush, so he arrayed himself at leisure: I gave him then water for his hands, & when he had occupied his comb, he taketh his sword & kisseth the pommel, and as he was putting it to his girdle, said unto me: My boy, if thou knewest what a blade this is, the wouldst marvel, there is no gold that can buy it of me, for of as many as Antonio made, he could never give such temper to any as he gave this: then drawing it out of the scabbard he tasted the edge with his fingers, saying, seest thou it? I dare undertake to cut asunder with it a whole fleece of wool: I answered him softly to myself, saying, and I with my teeth though they be not of such hard metal a loaf of bread weighing iiu. pound. Then up went the sword again, hanging it at his girdle. and after all this he marched out into the street, with a leisurely well measured pace, holding his body strait, making therewith and with his head a very good countenance, casting the end of his cloak sometimes upon his shoulder, & otherwiles under his arm, with his right hand always on his side, and as he was going forth said, Lazaro, look well about the house, while I do go and hear service, make the bed, and then fetch some water here at the river beneath, look thedoore lest any body rob us, and lay the key underneath the threshold, that I may come in: he went up the street with such comely gesture & countenance, that he that had not known him, would have judged him to have been near kinsman unto the high Constable of Spain. or at the least his chief Chamberlein. I remained then alone, saying to myself, blessed art thou O God which sendest the sickness & givest the remedy, who would think that should meet my Lord & master, with such gesture & countenance, but that he had supped well yesternight, yea and that he had slept in a good bed? and although it be now early, who would think but that he had broken his fast well? Great are thy secret doings O lord, & all people are ignorant of them: might not his good disposition, his reasonable cloak and coat deceive any man? who would distrust that such a noble Gentleman had eaten nothing all yesterday, but one piece of bread which his servant Lazaro had kept in the chest of his bosom a day & a night, so that it could not be (to say the truth) very clean? who would suspect that he had dried this morning his face and his hands upon the skirts of his coat for want of a towel? I am certain no man would judge it in him, O Lord how many are there in the world, that are in such bravery as this my master is in, which do suffer more for a little vain glories sake, than they would do for the love of thee. I stood in the door so long remembering all those things, that my master passed thorough a long and narrow street, than I went in, and within a minute of an hour, I visited the whole house above and beneat, without staying, or finding whereat to stay. When I had made the unlucky b●dde, I took my pot and went straight to the River, and being ready to take up my water, I might perceive my master in a Garden over the water, in great talk with two comely women, which by their countenance seemed to be some of them, whereof in Toledo a number are rifely found: & many of them take an use of going abroad early in the morning in Summer time, to take the air in those Gardens, and to break their fast without provision of their own under trees and shadows, near that pleasant River, trusting to find out some that would beflowe charges upon them, especially such as they had accustomed thereto, such lusty young soldiers of the city as delighted in such pastime. He was (as I mean to tell you) between these women devising and counterfeiting all kind of bravery, reciting more pleasant and sweet words than ever ovid wrote: but when they perceived the their beauty had vanquished him clean, and that he was left without shame, they demanded of him their breakfast, and he therefore to have the accustomed payment. Whereupon he being as cold in the purrse as he was hot in stomach, fell in such a trance, that he lost all the colour in his face: his tongue not able to talk, was feign to allege vain excuses. But they which in their science were well instructed, when they perceived his infirmity, they gave him over for such a one as he was indeed. All this while I was breaking my fast with stalks of coleworts, & when I had done, like a diligent servant, not seen of my master, returned home, meaning to sweep some part of the house that had most need: but I could not find wherewithal to do the deed. Wherefore not knowing what to do, I began in the world, that are in such bravery as this my master is in, which do suffer more for a little vain glories sake, than they would do for the love of thee. I stood in the door so long remembering all those things, that my master passed thorough a long and narrow street, than I went in, and within a minute of an hour, I visited the whole house above and beneat, without staying, or finding whereat to stay. When I had made the unlucky b●dde, I took my pot and went straight to the River, and being ready to take up my water, I might perceive my master in a Garden over the water, in great talk with two comely women, which by their countenance seemed to be some of them, whereof in Toledo a number are rifely found: & many of them take an use of going abroad carly in the morning in Summer time, to take the air in those Gardens, and to break their fast without provision of their own under trees and shadows, near that pleasant River, trusting to find out some that would beflowe charges upon them, especially such as they had accustomed thereto, such lusty young soldiers of the city as delighted in such pastime. He was (as I mean to tell you) between these women devising and counterfeiting all kind of bravery, reciting more pleasant and sweet words than ever ovid wrote: but when they perceived the their beauty had vanquished him clean, and that he was left without shame, they demanded of him their breakfast, and he therefore to have the accustomed payment. Whereupon he being as cold in the purrse as he was hot in stomach, fell in such a trance, that he lost all the colour in his face: his tongue not able to talk, was feign to allege vain excuses. But they which in their science were well instructed, when they perceived his infirmity, they gave him over for such a one as he was indeed. All this while I was breaking my fast with stalks of coleworts, & when I had done, like a diligent servant, not seen of my master, returned home, meaning to sweep some part of the house that had most need: but I could not find wherewithal to do the deed. Wherefore not knowing what to do, I began to muse wherein I should occupy myself, master study, I determined to tarry until noon, that my master came, for peradventure he would bring somethings with him for us to eat: wherefore I tarried his coming, yet all for nothing, for it was now two a cloc6ke, and be not yet come: but because hunger oppressed me sore, I came out and locked the door, laying the key where he had commanded, with a low and a sorrowful voice, my hands thrust into my bosom, I began to return to my former practice, in so much, that having GOD before mine eyes, and my tongue, in his name, I fell to beg bread from door to door, and from house to house, where I thought best to speed, having learned this trade in my sucking years, I mean with the blind master, I became such a scholar, that although in that City there was small charity, nor the peace was not abundant, yet notwithstanding I had put my affairs in such good order, that before the clock struck four, I had laid a pound of bread in my belly, and twice as much in my hoseme & sleeves. I returned then homeward, and in my way went thorough the streets where they sold tripes, where I demanded a woman the was there her charity, she gave me a piece of a neat's foot, and a few sodden tripes.  
When I came home, my courteous master was within, having folded his cloak & laid it up▪ walking up and down the court: and as soon as he did see me, he came towards me, wherefore I feared he would have beaten me, because I had laried so long, but it was not Gods will. The first thing he demanded me, was, where I had been? I answered, sir I was here until it was two a clock, and when I perceived that your mastership came not, I went forth into the city, to recommend myself to good people, which have given me thus much for god's sake, and so showed him the tripes which I kept in the skirt of my coat, whereat he made no angry countenance, but said, I have ●●●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 steal, as God help me I am of that opinion, one thing only I will desire thee to do, that thou wilt not let them know that thou dost dwell with me, nor that I am thy master: For that touched mine honour, and I do not doubt but that will be kept secret for very few do know me in this city, I would to God I had never come to it. Of that matter sir take you no care, said I, for no man will ask me that question, I need not therefore make such account to any of them. But why dost thou not fall now to thy victuals poor foul, if it be Gods will we shall soon be out of this misery: thou shalt understand, that sithence I came in hither, I had never good hour, this house is surely built in an unhappy place, and certainly some houses are so unlucky, that look whosoever doth dwell within them, he shall be sure to have evil fortune. But I promise thee, that as soon as the month is ended, I will not dwell here, (no though they would give it me rend free.) I fall down then, and because he should not think me a covetous glutton, I drew out my victuals, and there began to sup honestly, biting my tripes with my bread handsomely, beholding dissemblingly my miserable master, which had his cye always upon my skirt, being at that time my only platter. God take such compassion on me, as I did then upon him, for I had oftentimes endured, yea and daily felt that sorrow, which I knew tormented him: wherefore I imagined with myself, how I might well invire him: but because he told me that he had dined, I was afraid lest he would refuse the bankst. Finally, I wished that the poor man would have eased his pain, by help of mine, and that he would have eaten with me for company, as he had done the day before, especially, because the then I had better victuals, and more store, and moreover that than my hunger was less: it pleased God to accomplish my desire and his together, for when as I had begun my meat, as he walked he came near to me, saying, Lazaro I promise thee thou hast the best grace in eating that ever I did see any man have, for there is no man that seeth thee eat, but by seeing thee feed, shall have appetite, I did pity him, rather than hate him, for oftentimes with carrying him home wherewith to pass the day, I felt griefs myself. One morning, the poor gentleman rose up in his shirt, and went up to the top of the house, to ease him self, and in the mean season to he out of the suspicion that I was in, I unfolded his doublet and his hose, which were his bolster, and there fount a little purse of velvet, which had a hundredth wrinkles in it, but the devil a penny, nor yet anya stgne that there had been any there long time before. Then did I say to myself, this man is poor, no man can give that which he hath not: but my covetous blind man, and my wretched priest, unto whom God hath given so much goods, the one got with smooth hand, the other gained with his lose tongue, and yet they famished me continually: there was good reason why I should hate such people, so is the cause, why this man's case should be lamented. God knoweth that when I met with any of his estate, being of like gravity, pace, and countenance, how I pitied them, thinking that they did endure that which I did see him daily suffer, whom I had rather ser●● for all his poverty, than any of the other for the causes above named. I did like him well, but only the me thought he was to presumptuous, where I often wished that seeing he so plainly perceived his own poverty, he would something have hid his fantastical pride. But as I think, it is a rommon usual rule amongst such as he, which though they have not a cross in the world, nor a Denier, the cap must needs stand in his old place: but if GOD of his mercy do not order the matter, all such are like to die of that vile disease. As I continued in such estate, sustaining the life that I have told you, my evil fortune which never ceased to pursue me, would not yet suffer me to continue in that troublesome and shameful kind of life. For the matter happened thus: the Lords of the counsel made proclamation with sound of trumpet, because that that year there was scarcity of corn, all poor people being strangers, should forsake the City, upon pain that he which from thenceforth should be taken, should be punished with s●●pes: and so exeruting the law, within th●● days after the pr●● amation, I saw a whole procession of poor folk whipped theough the four principal streets, which sight did so fear me, that never after I durst venture to beg. Then might you have seen a strange diet we kep● at home, and the great silence that was there so that we were constrained to fast two or three days together, without eating any morsel, or speaking a word: and as for me, the best shift I made, was amongst ●ertaine poor word, which were spinners and cap knitters, 〈◊〉 my life, by reason of the acquaintance I had with them, being our 〈◊〉 neighbours: For of that meat they had I should have a little, wherewith I did not so lament mine own case, as I did my poor masters, which in eighto days did not ca●e one morsel, at the least, we were so long at home without meat, but in deed I know not whether he went, nor what he did eat abr●●●●, yet notwithstanding, for all this, you should see him come some times up the street, with a body as large as any grehounds of good race: and for to maintain his poor honour, he was wont to take a straw in his hand, whereof also there was want in our house, 
Small need to pick his teeth for any meat he had e●ten.  and standing without the door, would therewith pick those which had little need of picking, for any thing that had stuck in them with eating. Lamenting still the vuluckinesse of that house, he would say, it grieveth me, to see how all our sorrow cometh of this house, thou seest how uncomfortable and dark it is, and as long as we dwell here, we are like to be thus tormented, theréfore I would to God the month were ended, that we might departed out of it. And as we continued in this afflicted & famishing persecution, one day a rial entered into the power of my master, 
Six pence English.  I know not by what good luck and adventure, wherewith he 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 merry and lively countenance he giveth it to me, saying, take here jazaro, now God beginneth to open his hand, and to smile upon us, go quickly to the market place, and buy bread, wine and flesh, that we may break the devils envious eye: and furthermore, because thou shalt have good cause to rejoice, thou shalt understand, that I have hired an other house, therefore, the month once ended, we will no longer abide in this miserable unlucky house, cursed be it, and he that laid the first tile on it, for in evil time did I come in. By our lord all the time that I have been here, I never drank drop of wine, nor a morsel of flesh entered into my belly, nor yet have I had any rest in it, such is the sorrow and misery that belongeth to it, go thy ways and make speed, and let us dine this day like Earls. Then I took my rial and my pot, and with all haste, I began to go up the street, towards the market place, with joy and mirth. But what profiteth all this, now that I am borne under such a planet that I can never enjoy any pleasure long, without hindrance, (it appeareth so now) for as I went on my way, making my account how I should bestow my money upon that which should be most profitable and best, giving infinite thanks to God (that he had given my master that money) upon a sudden I might see right before me a dead coarse come down the street, accompanied with many priests and other people: I leaned to the wall to give them place, and the coarse went by, I might see a woman which belike was the dead man's wife, following the beer, all in mourning weed, accompanied with other women, and she weeping and lamenting, said: O my husband & my lord, alas, whether do they ●arie you? to the uncomfortable and sad house, to the dark and sorrowful house, to the house where they never eat nor drink? When I had heard her speak these words, me thought heaven and earth had met, and I said, O unfortunate wretch that I am; they carry this dead coarse to our house: wherefore I forsook my way, and broke in between the people, and running down the street as fast as ever I could, I got into the house, and when I had entered therein, I locked the door with all haste, calling out to my master for stranger long before, by reasou that he had so little acquaintance with those of the City. Finally, my wish was accomplished, and I understood that which I coveted to know: for upon a day, after that he had dined reasonably well, he being at that time indifferently well sati●●●ed, declared unto me his affairs, in so much that he certified me, that he was borne in Castilia the old, and how that he had forsaken his country for nothing in the world, but because he would not abase himself so much as put off his cap to a Gentleman his neighbour: and having heard all his discourse, I said unto him, sir if he were such a one as you say, and besides that, if he were richer than you, it had been but your duty to put off your cap first to him, for I believe he would have done the like to you: in deed he is a gentleman, and richer than I, and he would always put off his cap to the uttermost, when I did put off mine, but seeing that oftentimes mine was first off, reason would have required, that his should once have been first, and so have won of me by quick hand, the courtesy. As for me said I. I would never have had regard to that. Thou art a child said he, and therefore thou knowest not what doth belong to honour, which at this day is the only refuge of such as be honest: therefore thou shalt understand, that I am as thou seest a poor esqire, and I make a vow to God, that if I should meet in the midst of the street an Earl, that would not put his cap altogether off, as well as I do mine, the next time I see him come, I will enter into some house, as if I had some business there, or else cross over into an other street, if there be any between me and him, so that I shall not need to put of my cap 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 esteem his own person. I do remember that upon a day, I dishonoured, and had almost beaten a craft's man where I was borne, because that when so ever he met me, he would say Mantenga deos a vim, which is to say, Sir, God maintain your worship: I took him once with the deed, and said, will straightly bid you far well, and most commonly, their wages is paid with long terms, sometime your meat and drink only for your painful service. And when they mean to reform their conscience, and to consider the servants pain, there shall be delivered out of the wardrobe, some cut doublet, or some thread bare cloak, or coat: but when a man serveth a Noble man of the Order, he shall better pass over his misery: but peradventure there is not in me ability to serve & to content such men. By God if I had met with one of them, I think certainly, I should quickly have been chief of his counsel, for I would have done him a thousand kind of services. I could have disembled as well as any other, yea & pleased him a thousanefolde, that it would have been marvelous, I would have smiled merrily at his doings, although they had not been the best in the world, I would never have recited that which should have displeased him, no although it had been much for his profit, most diligent about his person in word & dorde, never vering myself about the well doing of thing 〈◊〉 that should never come to his sight, but sometimes have chid such as served, where he might hear me, that I might se●me to be careful, about that which touched him and whensoever he should happen to fall out with any of his men, than would I put forth two or three smooth words to set him forward, which should seem to be in the favour of the offender, affirming always that which I thought he liked of: & on the contrary side, a malicious mocker of the ignorant and rude sort: furthermore, I would always demand and procure, how to know the lives of strangers, to account them unto him, with other suchtricks of like quality which at this day are used in great palaces and courts, and which please the chief dwellers herein, which can not abide to see in their houses virtuous men, but do abhor, & esteem them as nought, despising & calling them fools, & ignorant in the traffic of weight is affairs so that the Lord tam not safely trust to their simple doings in weighty matters: therefore now a days, those that are subtle and crafty, get into favour, and use such means as ch unto me, and taking fast hold on the collar of my coat, said: thou art prisoner, unless thou tell where thy master his goods are become: but as never no man had taken hold on me in that place before saving only my blind master, who never laid han●e on me so rudely, but gently, that I might lead him that could not see, I was afraid, & crying mercy, I promised to tell all that they demanded. Go to them, say they, say on god's name what thou knowest and be not afraid: the Scrivener sitteth down in haste, to write the Inventory, demanding what goods he had. I than began to declare what I knew, saying, sir, the goods that he hath, or at least that which he told me he had, was a piece of ground, where foundation of houses is laid, and moreover a Dove house, which is feign, Well said (say they) my boy, though that be little worth, it is sufficient to pay us, In what place of the City standeth it, (say they) I answered, marry it standeth a good way hence in his own country. The matter is then in a fair case (say they) but where is his country: he told me that he was borne in Castilia the old: the Sergeant, and the Scrivener, laughing apace, said, this confession is sufficient for you to recover the debt (though it were greater) the neighbours that were there present, said, this child is an innocent, and he hath not dwelled long with the Squire, therefore he knoweth no more of him than you do, he hath oftentimes come to us, and we have given him such meat as we had, for God's sake, and at nights gone in to lie with his master: when they perceived my innocency, they did set me at liberty. The Sergeant and the Scrivener did demand of the man & the woman their fee, whereupon there rose great contention, and they alleged that they were not bound to pay, seeing that there was no execution made, esperially, seeing there was not wherewithal: the officers alleged, for that coming thither, they had left undone matters of much greater importance: finally, after many angry words, a poor carrier was loaden with the old matteris, which was the woman's, scant half a ●dade to the bearer: then went they all slew out together chiding, what became of them after. I know not, I believe the poor mattress paid for all. And thus as I tell you, I lost my third inaster when as I fully perceived evil fortune wrought altogether against me, in so much that my affairs went so back ward, that where as master ear wont to be forsaken of their servants, it was not so with me, but my master was feign to forsake me, yea and run away in haste.   

How Lazaro placeth himself to dwell with a Friar of the Abbey of Grace.  
I Was then constrained to seek the fourth master, which was a Friar of the Abbey of Grace, unto whom the poor women which I have to●de you off, preferred me. They called him cousin. This man was an enemy to the Choir, not liking well of his meals in the covent, a man lost for going abroad, desirous to see worldly affairs and visitations, wherefore I think that he alone did tear more shoes than all the rest of his brethren: it was he that gave me the first shoes that ever I wore in all my life, which lasted me but eight days, for he never left trotting abroad: wherefore for this, and for other small matters, which at this time I will not speak of, I was feign to forsake him.   

How Lazaro placeth himself with a Pardoner, and What things happened to him in his service.  
I Met by evil chance with the fifth master, which was an utterer of Pardons, the disceitfullest merchant and the most shameless, that ever I did see, or any man else: for to dispatch away his pardons, he had fine means and traffic, and daily imagined therefore most subtle inventions. As soon as he arriu●d to such towns, were he should utter his pardons, he w●ld first present some gift of small value or substance to the Priests and Curates of that place: sometimes a cabbage lettuce, a couple of Lemuions or Oranges: otherwhiles an apricock, or else a couple of Meaches, or at the least, to every one a fair Pear: and by that means he went about to make them his friends, that they might favour his affairs, and cause their parishioners to receive the pardons: yea, and that they should thank him, he would always be informed before he came, which were learned, & which not. When he came to those which he understood were learned, he would be sure never to speak word of latin, for fear of stumbling: but used in snche places, a gentle kind of Cast●lian Spanish, his rung always at liberty: and contrariwise, whensoever he was informed of the reverend Domines (I mean such as are made priests, more for money than for learning and good behaviour) to hear him speak amongs such men, you would say it were S. Thomas: for he would then, two hours together talk latin, at lest which seemed to be, though it was not. When that they received not his pardons friendly, he sought means to make them to take them perforce: so that oftentimes, he herefore molested the parishioners, otherwhiles causing them to receive them by subtle inventions. And now, seeing that it were too long to account all such parts as I did see him use. I will recite one, whereby he she wed right well how sufficient he was. He had preached two or three days, in a village, within the diocese of the archbishop of Toledo, without omitting any part of his accustomed diligence, and the people had not taken one pardon, nor no man (as far as I could perceive) was minded to receive any: wherefore he was in great rage. And as he imagined what he had best to do, 
Pardoners have always with them a sergeant to taky up gauges in such houses as refuse to pay for their pardon at the time appointed.  determined to invite and bid all the people to come thither the next day, so to dispatch his pardons, and that ●●ght after supper, he and his Sergeant went to play for their breakfast, and as they played, they fell at such debate, that the one gave evil words to the other: In so much, that at the last he said to his Sergeant, that he was a thief, and the Sergeant answered, saying that he was a falsifier, wherefore the commissary my master laid hand upon a short pike that stood behind the door where they played, and the sergeant on the other side, put hand to his sword which hung by his side, so that with the great noise the we made, our host & our neighbours came in, and went between them: then they being sore angry, sought all means to come together, that the one might kill the other: but the house was so full of people, that they could by no means come nee to one another, wherefore they never left, giving one another injurious words, in so much that the Sergeant said to my master, that he was a fasifi●r, and that the Pardons which he preached of daily, were most false. To be brief, when the people perceived that they could by no means pacif●e them, they determined to carry the Sergeant away to an other lodging, and my master remained still there in great rage. Whereupon our host, with his neighbours desired him heartily that he would forget his anger, and go to bed; and so then we w●t all to sleep. As soon as day appeared in the morning, my master went to the Church and caused them there to ring to Mass, & to Sermon, that he might dispatch his Pardons, than the people assembled together, murmuring amongst themselves at the Pardone, saying that they were false and nothing worth, seeing that the Sergeant himself had affirmed the same: So that before the time, they having small mind to receive any, they then utterly abhorred them. Master commissary mounte●h up into the pulpit, and beginneth his sermon, encouraging the people not to forsake such great goodness and indulgence, as the holy pardon contained: and being in the midst of his sermon, the sergeant cometh in at the Church door, and when that he had ended his prayers, he rose up suddenly, and with a loud voice discreetly said, ye honest & godly people, give ears that I may tell you a word or two, and then hear whom ye will. I am come hither in the company of this crow keeper which now preacheth, who hath deceived me, promising, that if I would help him in his affairs, I should have hal● the gains. But now perceiving the damage that my conscience ●hold receive, and besides that, the loss of your goods, I do earnestly repent that which I have done, 
All Sergeants in Spain do bear a white, ●od 〈◊〉 their ●●ndes, higher than themselves by half a foot as big●as a man's finger.  and I will tell you plainly, that the pardons which he hath brought, are false: therefore ye ought not to believe him, nor yet take any one of them. As for me, I will neither be partaker with him, one way or other, therefore from this time forward, I do forsake the rod of them, which I now cast to the ground: for if hereafter he be punished for his falsehood, you may be witness with me that I am no doer with him herein, nor yet help him, but do rather bewray unto you his craft and falsehood: and when he had said all, certain men of honour which were there, would needs have cast him out of the Church, 
They were no ●●●rds, enerv 〈◊〉 is of ho●●or there.  to avoid slander: but my master did forbid them so to do, commanding them all upon pain of excommunication, to suffer him to say all that ever he could, and he himself kept Silence whiles that the Sergeants declared all that which I have rehearsed: and as soon as he held his ●ounge, my master demanding him whether he would say any more: the sergeant answered, there may be much more said of thee, and of thy falsehood, but at this time this is sufficient. Then my master commissary falling down upon his knees in the pulpit, holding up his hands, his eyes looking up to heaven said these words: O Lord God, from whom nothing is hid, unto whom all things are manifest, and unto whom nothing is unpossible, who can do all things, thou knowest the truth, and how unjustly I am accused and slandered: as for me (O lord) I forgive him, that thou mayst forgive me. Have no regard to him that knoweth not what he doth nor saith: notwithstanding, O Lord, I do beseech thee: & through justice I demand of thee, that thou wilt not dissemble this injury which is done unto thee, peradventure, some that are here present, were minded to take th●s divine pardon, which now will not, giving place and credit to the wicked man's words: and because this matter is so hurtful to Christian neighbours, I beseech thee once again good Lord, that thou wilt not dissemble it, but immediately, that it may please thee to show here a miracle, and that it may be thus: If it be true that this man saith, that is, that the Pardons which I have here are false, that this pulpit may then sink with me, as far as the depth of s●uen men under the ground, that neither it nor I may never be seen again. And on the other side, if that be true which I say, that he being persuaded by the devil, hath said these words falsely and untruly, only to deprive the people of such goodness, that then it may also please thee to punish him, that his malicious perversity may be known to all men. My de●out master had scant ended his prayers, but that the poor Sergeant fell in a trance, giving himself such a blow against the ground, that all the Church sounded of it, stretching out his body with great absidance of foam at his mouth, making strange visages, and striking the ground both with hand and foot, tumbling up and down from one side to an other: In so much that the noise which the people made, was so great, that one could not hear another. Some were amazed and sore afraid, saying God be his help, and other said, he hath that which he hath deserved, seeing that he durst affirm such falsehood. Finally some of those that were there, which to my judgement were not without great fear, came near to hold fast his hands, wherewith he stroke all such as came near him. Others held him falste by the feet, for there was never false moil in the world that ever kicked so fast: and so they held him a good while. There were above xv. men upon him, and he gave them all their hands full: so that if they had forgotten their business, he would have given some of them overthwart the teeth. All this while my master was in the pulpit upon his knees, holding his hands together still, his eyes bend towards heanen, transported into such divine essence, the all the noise and rumour which was in the Church, was not sufficient to bring him out of his divine contemelation. Certain honest men that were there, came unto him, and a waked him by force of crying, God (seeing that he desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he shall repent and live) to pardon, forgive and restore to life, that poor sinner which was led by the devil, overcome with death and sin, that he might repent and confess his sinn●●: when he had so done, he sent for one of the pardons, and laid it upon his head, whereupon immediately the poor Sergeant began to amend and by little and little to return to himself. And as soon as he had recovered his senses, he kneeleth dow●● at master commissaries feet, & there demanded pardon, confessing how that he had said and done all those things, by the mouth and instruction of the devil, as well to give him grief, and to be revenged of him, as also d●●●●●●se the devil was sorry to see the goodness which people received by taking the holy pardons. My master did then forgive him, and friendship was made between them. Then was there such great haste to take the pardons, that almost no creature living in that town, but took one, the husband, and the wi●e, 'zounds and daughters, men's servants and maid servants, there was none but would have one. This news was spread abroad through all the towns there about, so that we then argued thither it was not needful to preach, nor yet to go to the Church to dispatch the Pardons: for the people came so fafte to our lodging for them, as if they had been pears that had been given them for nothing: in so much that my master dispatched and uttered away ten or twelve thousand pardons in ten or twelve little villages thereabouts, without preaching one sermon. And as for my part, I will confess my ignorance, for when this their invention was tried, I was in a great marvel to see such a strange case, & I thought the matter had been so in deed, as many other did: yet notwithstanding, when I perceived once the jesting and scoffing that my master & the Sergeent would make at the matter by the way, I understood plainly, that all that counterfeit show was invented by my masters subtle industrious art. And although I was of tender years, yet I took great pleasure to consider their doings, and would say to myself: How many are there such as these that deceive the simple people. To conclude, I continued with this fift master near ●oure months, during which time I suffered much sorrow.   

How Lazaro dwelleth with a Chaplain, and what happened to him in his service.  
AFterward I entered into the service of a painter of Orummes, unto whom I tempered colours, with whom I suffered a thousand evils, and as I was then of good bigness, entering one day into the great Church, one of the Chaplains received me for his own, and gave me in government an Ass, with four great tankards, and a whip, to sell water up and down the City, and this was the first stair I climbed up, to come to attain unto good life: 
They do ea● water up and down the c●tle to sell vp● Asses, with four & som● times six ran● kards: for the have no wat● but from the river.  for my mouth had then the measure. I delivered up daily to my master in game thirty Marevedis, & on every Saturday I laboured for myself, and all the week also whatsoever I could earn over thirty Marevedis a day, was mine own. This office was so good, that at four years end I had spared with my wages and my gains, so much as bought me apparel honestly, with old stuff, whereof I bought an 〈◊〉 black fustian doublet, and a coat thread bare with gathered stéeves and whole before, and a cloak that had been of selzado, and a sword of the old making one of the first of Cuellar. And perceivin, myself then in apparel like an hones man, I desired my master to take his Ass again, and that I would no more follow that office. (⁂)   

The Spaniards life. How Lazaro dwelleth with a Sergeant, and what happened to 〈◊〉 his service.  
AFter that I had taken my leave of the chaplain I did place myself with a sergeant, to be a méber of justice: but I dwelled few days with him, for in short time I perceived that it was a dangerous office, 
A man may scap in Spain the hands of the officers of Justice if they 〈◊〉 flee into some church so 〈◊〉 not their 〈◊〉 of religion.  especially when the certain transgressors, which retired into a Church, chased my master & me marvelously with stones & staves: and at that present time my master (whom I tarried for) was evil handled but they could never overtake me: yet for all that I did forswear the office. And as I imagined what kind of life I had best lead, the I might provide some thing against mine old age. God by his grace lightened my mind to find out the profitable way: So that through the favour which I had of my friends and masters, all the furrows, which before that time I had sustained, were recompensed with an office royal, which I obtained: the which I pretended, because the at this day there is no account but of them that have wherewithal. So that at this present, I live in mine office, & exercise it to God's service & yours. Sir, it is so that I have the charge to cry the wines that are sold in this city, and to make inquiraunce, 
The Criers in Spain do fell at kind of stuff and whē●●y is whip. through the cry goeth before him declaring with loud voice what he hath done.  with open cry, for things that hour been lost, and when any suffer perserution by justice, I do accompany them, declaring with loud voice their offence. I am (in plain language) a common crier. Sir matters have so well gone forward with me, & I have used myself so well, that in manner all things belonging to the office, pass through my hands. In so much, that look whosoever within this city doth broach wine, or sell any things, and the Lazarillo de Tormes be not present, they make account never to get game. In this mean time, master Archdeacon of saint Saluador your friend and servant at commandment, having knowledge of my person and ability, especially since I had cried his wine, went about to marry me with his maid. And after that I had considered, that with having to do with such a man as master archdeacon was, I could not receive but honesty and goodness, I determined to do it, so that I took her to wife, whereof hitherto I do not repent: for besides that she is honest, and a diligent wench, I find great favour and help at master Archdec●ns hand, for every year from one tune to an other, he giveth her as good as a load of wheat, and against Christmas or Easter, some good morsel of flesh, a couple or two of loaves, and such old hose as he leaveth: and he caused us to hire a little house near his dwelling: on every sunday & holy day we dined (most commonly) in his own house. But evil tongues which never cease, would not suffer us to live in peace, they would say this and that, and that they did see my wife go and make his bed, and dress his meat. But God help them better than they say truth. Forbesides that she is a woman that death not delight in such game, master Archdeacon hath promised me that which I trust he will fulfil. For upon a time in her presence, he said at large unto me, Lazaro de Tormes, he that will have regard to evil tongues, shall never get profit. I say thus much unto thee, I can never marvel, though some men murmur to see thy wife come in an out of my house, which doing, I promise thee, shall not otherwise redcund but to thy great honesty and hers. Therefore let people have their words, have thou only regard to that which shall be for thy profit. I answered him, saying, Sir, I have determined to join myself with those that are good, but truth it is, that certain of my friends have warned me of this, yea & moreover they have twice or thrice certified me with other, that before she was married to me she had two or three children, be it spoken under your masterships correction, seeing that she is present. My wife began then to give such oaths, that I thought the house would have sunk with us all, and then began to weep, cursing the time that ever she married me, in so much that I wished myself dead when that I let scape that word out of my mouth. But I on the one side, and my master on another, said so much, that she left weeping: and I did swear unto her, that as long as I lived I would never again use the like talk: and how that I rejoiced and was well content, that the should come in and out both day and night, seeing that her honesty and faithfulness was so well known. So then we remained all three with one accord until this day, and never no man heard us since reason of that matter. And from that time forward, whensoever I could happen to hear any man talk of this, I would straight break off his matter, and say unto him, look if thou be my friend, speak nothing that shall grieve me, for I do not take him for my friend that caused me to sorrow, especially that goeth about to sow discord between me and my wife, which I love better than any thing in this world, considering how that by her means, God hath done more for me, than I have deserved, and I dare swear by the holy sacrament, that she is as honest a woman as any that dwelleth within the four gates of Toledo: and he that sayeth the contrary. I will bestow my life upon him. So from thence forward, they never durst move any such matter unto me, & I had peace always in my house. This was the same year that our victorious Emperor entered into this noble city of Toledo, where his court was kept with great feasts and triumphs, as your mastership hath heard: finally, it was then that I was in my prosperity, and in my chiefest time of good adventure.   

The Spaniards life. Laziro declareth the friendship that certain high Duchmen showed him, and what happened between them.  
BEing now in the top of my prosperity, having fortune my friend, I never went without a bottle of the best wine in the city, of the very same I carried about me (beings common crier) to give a taste to as many as were willing to buy: by virtue of which wine I purchased so many gentlemen my friends, as well inhabitants there as strangers, that where so ever I came, the door should straight be opened for me. And I was in favoured every where, that if I had chanced to have slain a man, or to commit some heinous offence, all the world would straightways have been on my side, being assured that those gentlemen being the king's guard would sufficiently both succour & help me. Therefore when so ever we met, I never suffered them to depart drimouthed away, but did carry them with me to the best wine I had broached in the city, where oftentimes we went in upon our own feet, and came out either without any, or at the least with strange feet.  
And that which I liked best of all, was that all the time I kept them company, the devil a blank Lazaro de forms did pay, nor that they would consent he should pay: for whensoever I did put my hand to my purse (for manners sake only) they would take it in evil part, and beholding me angrily, would say, Nitte Nitte, Asticot lanz, and so reprehenting me, would allege, that where they were in company no man should pay a blank: wherefore I was greatly in love with these people: and it was not only that served our turn, but as often as we met we should have also slices of bacon, pieces of legs of mutton sod in that pleasant wine, with all manner of fine spice, and therewith they would fill both my bosom and skirts, enough for my wife and me a whole week. The world being then so plentiful I would call to remembrance the hungry fits I had sustained in times past, praising the Lord, and giving him thanks that the world now at the length was so well changed. But as the proverb saith: He that will do good to thee, will either go his way, or die. And so it happened to me, the court removing as it is wont to do, and my friends following it, at their departing I was desired by them that I would bear them company, promising to show me much friendship and favour. But remembering the old proverb: Better is the evil known, than the good which is yet to know, thanking them for their good will, and desiring their favour, after many sighs and sorrowful embracings, I took my leave, and they departed. And truly had I been unmarried, I would never have so forsaken their company, for indeed they were people, much of my nature and disposition. And it was a gracious, and not a fantastical nor a presumptuous life they did lead. A man should never see them scrupulous nor nice to enter into a tavern, but would go in boldly (yea with cap in hand) if the wine for goodness desc●●rd so much. They ware plain men, full of at honesty and gentle courtesy, and see well provided at all tunes, that I would to God when I am atheist, I might always meet with such men. Notwithstanding the love which I bore to my we and to my country (which new I take for mine own nature, because m●n to commonly say, whence art thou honest man) caused me to stay at home. So I continued ever since in this city, leading a solitary life for the loss of my friends and courtle life although that I was well known of all the citizens. Afterwards I lived very well at mine own ease, with increase of joy and kindred, for the birth of a trim little daughter, which within a little while after my wife brought forth. Whereat I having some evil suspicion, she did swear all oaths, that I was the father, and that she was mine. I continued in this estate, until that fortune thought that she had now given me too much-ease, and that she thought it reason for her to turn back and show me again her severe and cruel visage, to temper those few years which I passed at ease, with as much more travel and deadly sorrow, which now I should endure. (O great God) who is able to write so unfortunate & miserable a case, but must let the Inkhorn rest and put the pen to his eyes?   

¶ To the Reader.  
THough truth do purchase hate,  
and glozing bear the bell:  
Yet is the man to be belikte  
that truest tale doth tell,  
Without respect of place,  
of country, or of kind:  
For so the law of writing doth  
each honest writer bind:  
Then Lazaro deserves  
no blame, but praise to gain,  
That plainly pens the Spaniards prank  
and how they live in Spain.  
He sets them out to show  
for all the world to see,  
That Spain when all is done, is Spain  
and what those gallants be.  
The writer meant but well,  
and he that took the pain,  
To turn it to our mother tongue,  
the reader's thanks would gain  
For all his former toil,  
in penning of the book,  
The suit is small, allow him that,  
that hapst hereon to look.  
Though small the volume be,  
the value may be great:  
Wherefore to yield him thy good will  
let this my muse entreat:  
Let Roulande have reward  
for this his taken pain:  
And so thou (reader) mayest perhaps  
the like hereafter gain.  
G. Turbevile Gent.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Abel jeffes. 1586.