I Am of opinion , that things so worthy of memory , peraduenture neuer heard of before , ne seene , ought by all reason to come abroad to the sight of many , & not be buried in the endlesse pit of obliuion , there perpetually to be forgotten : for it is possible that those , which shal reade this treatise of my life , may finde some plea sure therein . Wherfore true it is the Plinie recordeth , there is no booke so euil , but hath some goodnesse in it contained ( considering all men tast not a like , ) that which one man will not eate , another longeth sore for : we see many despise things which other do greatly esteine : Therefore nothing ought to be broken a cast away , vnles it were detestable , but that first diuers men should see the same , & especially being not hurtful , but rather able , in fleade o● damage , to yeeld profite & vtdi●ie . If the worlde verre otherwise , very fewe would take penne in hand to pleasure one man only , seing that they can not bring their workes to ende without great trauell : And when they haue ended their labor , they rightfully desire to be recompenced , & not with money , but only that all men with curteous m●de will trad and allow their workes , ( yea & if there be cause why ) giue them praise . For to this ende Tullie saith , Honor doth mainteine art of cunning . Do you thinke that the souldier that first mounteth on the wall with his ladder , is wery of his li●e ? No surely , the desire of honour encourageth him , so to venture into such danger . So likewise in Arte and learning , we vse to say , master Doctor hath preached wel , he is a man that seketh the health of souls : but I pray you demand of him whether he wil be offended , that one shal say , O how diuinely you haue preached master Doctor . The like happeneth in men of armes , as men commonly report , O how such a knight iustled noughtly , and notwithstanding he hath giuen his coate armor to a Iester which commended him for running well , what would hee haue giuen , if he had said the truth ? Wherefore nowe that all thinges passe after such a sort , I confessing my selfe to bee no holier than my neighbours , am content that such as finde any taste in this my grosse Stile and noueltie , may pleasure and delight themselves therwith : and they may perceius how a man liueth , after so many fortunes , daungers , and aduersities .

Therfore now I beseech your worship , receiue with willing hart this poore token of my true affection , which shuld haue bene much richer if power & abilitie had bene equall with desire . And seeing that you haue commanded me to write the matter at length , I haue thought good not to begin the midst of my life , but first to tel you of my birth , that al men may haue ful knowledge of my person , that those which possesse great rents & reuenues , may vnderstand what small praise is due vnto them , seeing that Fortune hath deall parcially with them : and how much commendation they deserue , which in despite of cruell fortune , with force & industrie , by rowing out of tempesinous seas , haue ariued to fortunate and happie ha●●tis .

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

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

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

( * ⁎ * )

THE nexte day after doubting of mine owne safetie there . I departed thence and went to a village which is called Mekeda , where I met for my sinnes , with a priest , who as soone as he espied how that I demaunded almes , did enquire whether I could helpe to masse : I aunswered , saying , yes sir , that I can , as truth it was : for although the blindman had vsed me scarce well , he taught me to do a thousand feates , wherof this was one . The Priest receiued me for his owne : so I escaped then front the thunder and came into the tempest , yea and God knoweth , howe from euill , to ten times worse , for the blynde man was in comparison of this master , a great Alexander . Howbeit , hee was so couetous a nigarde , as heretofore I haue rehearsed . All the miserie in the worlde , was inclosed within this wret●●ed priest , for he had alwaies a great old coffer , wherin he continually locked with a keye whith did hang at the point of his reate , all the breade that came from the Churche at offeringes , forgetting at no 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the same vnlorked , beeing 〈…〉 and buttrie . For 〈◊〉 all the house a man might discerne 〈…〉 that coulde bee eaten ; neyther 〈…〉 in the chimney , nor Cheeses 〈…〉 vpon 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 vnder 〈…〉 was 〈…〉 foure dayes . And when I shew & come for the ●●ye to talke my due , if 〈◊〉 were am straunger 〈◊〉 he would 〈◊〉 his hand in a his 〈◊〉 , & with 〈…〉 , woulde say , 〈…〉 immediatly de●iue , 〈◊〉 mee againe , their 〈◊〉 nothing but crainuie vp meate . So that he that had heard him , would haue iudged there had bene vnder the costodie of that key , al the confectures of Valentia . But for any thing that was there , beside the rope of Onion the hong on a natle , the deuill him selfe might haue had parte , and of them hee kept such straight accounte , A blanke the xii . part of an English pen●e . The custome is there vpon Saturday to eate the heads , the fecte and bowels of all beastes with his licence . that if I hadde taken at any time more then my ordinarie , I should dearely haue bought it . After that I had continued a while with him . I was ready ●ury houre to fal downe dead for hunger . His vse was , to dine & sup with as muche flesh as mounted to the value offlue blankes , wherof I was sure neuer to taste ▪ vnlesse it were of the broth , which sometimes hee would friendly parte betweene vs , and so for bread , I would to god I might haue ha● halfe as muche as was sufficiente . Vpon Saterdayes , as the custome was in that citie , he would send me for a shéepes head that should cost three Mareuedies , Two blankes a Mareuedi . wherof when it was sod , hee woulde eate both the eyes , the tongue , and the braine yea , and al the flesh on both the chèeke bones : Then reaching mee the platter , with a fewe naked bones , would say , take down this to thée , and reioyce , seeing that thou hast the world at wil , I am sure the Pope him selfe hathe nowe no better life than thou hast : than would I answer him , with lowe voyce . God sende thée alwayes the like . I had not dwelte with him thrée weekes , but I was so leane that my legges were scarce able to beare me : the hunger was so greate which I sustained , that I neuer thought to escape death , vnlesse that Gods helpe and mine owne industrie wold finde some remedy to saue my life . And for to vse my accustomed subt●●tie , there was not wherewithal , séeing that there was nothing there to giue assault vnto : yea although there had bene , I might neuer haue bene able to deceiue him , as I had done the poore blinde man , vppon whome I pray God take mercy if hee bee dead with his last blowe . For 〈◊〉 be it he was craftie , yet wanting his precious sight , I was sure bee could neuer see what I hourely did . But there was neuer man that hadde quicker eye-sight than this Prlest : For at offering time , the siluer was not so soone falne into the basen , but that streight hée had it registred , hauing alwayes one eye to my hand , & an other to the people : and his eyes woulde so roll in his head , as if they had béene of quickesiluer . As soone as offring was done he would take the basen out of my hands , and lay it vpon the aulter , so that I was neuer able to deceiue him of one blanks . And whiles I continued with him , ( or to say better , ) whiles that I consumed my selfe in this miserable seruice , he neuer sent me to the tauerne , for as much as the value of a blanke in wine , but that small quantitie which hée had offred on the Sunday , hée kepte alwayes in his coffer so sparingly , that it would last him al the wéek ouer . And for to hide his couetousnesse , he would sometimes say vnto mée , my boy , all Priestes ought to be sober in eating and drinking & therfore I dare not break order as many other do , Now you sha● sée how the miser lied falsly therein , A Saluter is a kinde of drunken prophets in Spaine which take vpon them the healing of mad dogges , for at burials & dirges , where hée had meate at other mens charges , he would eate like a wolfe , more than foure men , & drinke as it were a Saluter : and because his office was always to say dirge , at such times ( god forgiue me ) was alwayes an enemy to h●●ane nature , and onely , because that then wee shoulde fare well , and haue meate at libertie , I wished and prayed God that he woulde euerie day call vp one to heauen . When wee went to minister the sacrament to such as were sicke , my maister woulde desire those that were 〈◊〉 , to pray for the sicke man , Lazaro had not eared though the king had died , so that hee might haue had meare to stay his hunge● . surely I was neuer one of the last that 〈◊〉 vnstring God with al my hart , not that he would doe to the patient according is his will , ( as other prayed ) but that he would dispatch him out of the world : and when anie of them escaped death , I was ready ( God 〈…〉 me ) to wish him at the deuill , and who so euer 〈…〉 sure to haue of me many blessings , and prayers for his 〈◊〉 I dwelt with this maister about sir moneths , and in that 〈…〉 died only vnpersons , which I certainly slew to at 〈◊〉 least , the earnest request of my pray 〈◊〉 was cause of their death : for God the father perceiuing the raging hunger which I continually sustained , reioysed ( as I thinke ) to stay them , to 〈◊〉 my life thereby , considering that otherwise my disease coulde not be reme●●● 〈◊〉 I was neuer acease , but when we had●● burials : The day that there was 〈◊〉 , my teeth should haue no work my 〈◊〉 would faint , because that I had beene vsed sometimes to haue my bet●● filled . At suche times I sounds case in nothing but in death , which then I wished , as well for my selfe , as I had done before for the sicke men . I determined oftentimes to departe from that miserable master , yet fearing so to do , for two 〈…〉 , because I durste not trust● my legs , which by hunger were brought to great weakenesse , secondly , considering with my selfe , saying , I haue had two masters , with the first I died for hunger , whom when I had forsaken I cha●●ed vpon this other , which with the very same disease hath almost brought mee to my graue : therfore I made account that if I should forsake the second & meet with a thirde that were worse then these two , then there were no remedie but plaine death . Wherefore I neuer durst depart from him , beeing assured to finde all estates worse and worse , knowing that to descend an other degrée , Lazaro should be soon forgotten , being once rid out of this world . Lazaro was a good Christian beleeuing that all goodnesse came from God . And being in such affliction ( God of his grace deliuer euery faithfull Christian from the like ) not knowing how to counsell my selfe , my misery dayly increasing , vpon a day , when by chaunce my wretched master had gone abroad , there ariued by chance to the dore a tinker , which I beléeue was an Angel disguised , sente from God , who demaunded for worke : I answered softly , thou haste inough to amend in me , and I beléeue more than thou canst doe . But as it was no time then to delay the matter , ( by diuine inspiration ) I saide vnto him , vncle , I haue loste the key of this coffer , I feare that my maister wil beate mee , for gods sake looke amongst your keyes if there be any that will open it , I wil consider your paines : the heauenvly tinker began to assay , nowe one key , now another , of this great bunch , and I helped him with my prayers , so that immediatly before I was aware , he opened it : whereof I was so gladde , that mée thought I did sée in figure , ( as they say ) the face of God , when I beheld the bread within it : and when he had done all , I said vnto him , I haue no money , but take this for thy paiment , so he tooke one of the fairest loues , and after he had deliuered mée the key , hee departed right well pleased , and I as well content as he . At that time I touched nothing , partly because I perceiued my selfe to bee the Lorde of suche treasure , that by reason of that keye hunger durst neuer againe approch me . Incontinently after , who commeth in , but my vnhappy master , and as God would , he neuer tooke heed of the loafe , which the heauenly tinker had borrowed . The next day after , as soone as he went abroade , I began to open my paradise of bread , and what betweene my hands and my teeth , with the twinkling of an eye I made a loafe inuisible , forgetting in no wise to lock the chest againe : them I began cheerefully to swéepe the house , iudging the by such remedy I might ease my sorowfull life . So I passed that day and the nexte , with much mirth . But my contrary Fortune wente aboute to hinder mee to enioye suche pleasure long , for the thyrd days iuste , a tercian ague came vppon mée , in perceiuing him that had slayne mée with hunger , at an vndue houre , ouer the chest , tuching & tossing , accounting and reckoning his breade . I dissembled the matter , as I had not perceiued him , and in my secret prayer and deuotion , I prayed : saint Iohn to blinde him . And after that he had bene a good while casting his acc●umpte vppon his fingers , he said vnto me , if it were not that this coffer is so sure , I would say that some of my bread hath bene taken away , but from hencefoorth I will kéepe good accounte of it , there is nowe left nyne loues besides a broken piece : then said I with lowe voyce , nine euils God sende vnto thee , It seemed vnto mee with that which hée had said , my hart to be pierced through with an arrowe , and my stomacke began to riue for hunger , perceiuing how I was put to my former diet . He then departed out , and I opened the saide coffer to comforte my selfe a little , and beholding the bread , which I dursts not touch , but worshipping it , I behelde & counted it ouer , to see if the wretch had ouerreckoned him selfe : but I founde his account more iuste , that I woulde haue wished it by the one halfe : the most that I could doe , was to giue it a thousand kisses , and to cut a little delicately of that place where it was cut before : and with that I passed ouer that day , yet not so me rily as I did the other . But now because two or thrée dayes before I had breade at will , the appetite in my stomacke did increase in such sorte , that I was almost dead for hunger : wherefore being alone , I did nothing but open and locks againe the coffer , beholding alwayes that bread as a God . And God himself which succoureth those that are afflicted , seeing me in such necessitie , brought a little remedie vnto my memorie , which was , that I remembred with my selfe this coffer to be olde and broken in many places , and although the holes were little , yet might it bee thoughte that Mice had entred therein to damage th● breade . And to take out a whole loafe , the wretch wold sone espie the fault yet this may be better born withal : so than I b●●ā to claw the breade with my nailes , vpon a simple napkin that was there , taking one loafe and leauing another , so that of euerie third or fourth , I would be sure to take some crummes , & euen as if they were confects I did swalow the same , to comforte my stomacke . When hee shoulde come to dinner , opening his cheste , and espying incontinently the hurte , he did iudge that rats had done that spoile , for I had so counterfeited their gnawing , that any man would haue thought the same : wherefore hee sought all corners of the chest , and at the laste hée espied certaine holes where hee suspected they had entred : whereupon he called me in all haste , saying , Lazaro , see here what persecution hath beene done this night vpon our breade . I began to maruell , demaunding what it should be ? what should it be said he but rats , which leaue nothing wholed we went then to dinner , & as God wold I had better allowance then I was wont , for with his knife he pared away all that which hee thought the mice had touched , saying , take eate this my boy , Mice are cleane . I chanced the day to fare better , for he augmented my allowance with the which I had made , by the trauel of my handes , or to say truthe , of my nailes . We ended our dinner for al that , somewhat to sone , yet there came another plunge vpon me , perceiuing howe the Priest was earnest in pulling nailes out of the wall , and seeking little bourdes to slop the holes againe : wherfore I said to my selfe ( Lord God ) vnto howe many perils and calamitie of Fortune are humaine creatures subiect ? how short a time doe the pleasures of our troublesome life last ? lo where I am nowe , whiche trusted by this my poore remedie , to ease my miserie , being in beste hope of good aduenture , my euill lucke would not consent , but opened the sighte of my couetous maisters vnderstanding , causing him to haue more subtile wit than he had giuen him by nature , although such wretches are commonly subtile enough . When he had dummed vp the holes , I thought his chest shoulde bee shutte to my comforte , and opened to my paine , and therefore I neuer left lamenting , vntill that the curious Carpenter with his companie of bourds had ended his worke of nayling , and when he had done , said : now ye traitorly Mice you must change purpose , for there is no more profite for you in this house . As soone as euer hée went abrode , I went to view his worke , and I perceiued that he had not left in his olde cheste one hole vnstopped , not so much as a place for a flie to get in : notwithstanding without hope of gaine I opened the chest with my vnprofitable key , and there visited two loaues begon , which hee had thoughte the Mice has carued , and from them once againe I scraped a little quantitie , touching them lightly like a nimble maister of defence , for necessitie at that time my mistresse , caused mee days and night to imagine howe I might liue and seeke remedie for my sore , whereunto hunger taught me the way , which commonly maketh men haue ready wittes . I beganne then to studie aboute my affaires , séeking meanes to drawe some commoditie out of the saide couetous coffer : perceiuing one nighte that my maister slept soundly ( or at least made me beleeue so ) by his snorting & blowing , I rose on my feete , and as I had taken order with my selfe the daye before what shoulde bée done that night , I had left an olde knife which was caste aboute the house , in a place where it might be founde at need , & went to that happie coffer : and where it seemed to haue least defence , I gaue the assault with my rustie knife , which serued my tourne wel for a wimble : but the chest by reason of good yéeres , beeing weake , without strength , very softe and tender , did straight wayes render & consent that I should make for my commoditie a good hole in the side of it , and that done , opening the wounded chest , and knowing euerye loafe seuerally by the touch , I did as I had done before , and by that meanes beeing somewhat comforted , hauing locked the chest againe . I returned to my pallet , wherupon I slept little ( & as I thinke ) mine euill supper was cause of that , for otherwise , at that time of the night the king of France his cares could neuer breake me of my sleepe . On the morning the Priest my master perceiuing the hurte which was done as well to the breade as to the coffer , began to curse the Mice , saying , what meaneth this ? there was neuer Mouse wont to go here before now-and certainly his words were true , for if any house in the whole kingdome might be priuileged from Mice it might be his , for Mice are neuer wont to dwell where no parings of meate doe fall . But nowe he began againe to seeke nailes about the ways , and little bourds , to make defence against the traitorous Mice : but as soone as night came that he went to his rest . I rose vp with my tooles , and loked what he stopped in the day time , I broke vp againe in the night : finally , the one and the other of vs tooke such paine , that this prouerbe was fulfild , when one doore is shut the other openeth : at the last , wee seemed to haue Penelopes wcb in hande , what so euer hee wrought in the day , I vndid again in the night , in so much the we brought the poore coffer to such estate , the who so euer wold properly talke of it , might compare it to an olde boate or brigantin , for that number of olde nayles that was driuen into eche side of it , when he saw his remedy preuailed not he saide , this coffer is so olde & so weake , that it is no longer able to defende oure vittalles from vermine , it is nowe at that point that if I meddle any more with it , them ore it will decay , and so at length be able to do vs no seruice at all , and peraduenture euill fortune will cause mee spende two or thrée shillinges to buy an other : the best remedie that I can finde , seing this doth not preuaile , is to set vp a trappe within it , to take these cruell rats : wherupon he went in mediatly and borowed one of his neighbours , which he had continually bent within the coffer , with a baite of cheese paring , which was laide onely for my comforte and ease , for although I coulde well haue eaten my bread alone , without the help of any thing else , to cause my appetite , yet the cheese paring which I woulde pull out of the trappe , gaue me trimme taste with my mouse eaten bread . But when he should perceiue the bread so spoyled with ra●t●s , and the cheese eaten , and the rat that did the deede not taken , then woulde he wish the trap at the deuill , demaunding of his neighbours what it might bée , that the cheese shoulde be eaten , and the Rat not taken , yea and the trap fallen ? the neighbours would answere that it was no rat that did that harme , ●akes are ●ot there to ●ort much in 〈◊〉 h●u●● for foode . for at one time or other she had beene taken . And amongst the rest one saide , I doe remember that a snake was wonte to haunts your house , and by all reason it is shée that hath done the deede , for shee beeing long , mighte easily eate the cheese , and although the trap did fall , yet because hir bodye entred not in all , she might well and easely get out and scape . This neighbours saying did satisfie the whole com●anie , and especially my maister , which from that time forwarde neuer slept one night s●undely , for when he had hearde the least noise amongest the wood , hée woulde thinke that it were the S●●ke gnawing the coffer , wherefore he would streight be vp with a cudgell , which fithence he entr●d into such suspection , was always ready at his beds head , wher with he would beate the poore coffer so hard● , to feare the snake , that hee waken all the neghbours with the noyse . And as for mee , I neuer sl●pt , for often times in the night he wold turne me and my pallet ouer and ouer , thinking that the snake had gotten thit●er into my bed or into my apparell , for hee was informed , that those beastes oftentimes seking heate , haue come into childrens Cradles , & b●tten them to death . I wold always make as though I slept : then hee would in the morning say vnto mee O Lazaro , hast thou heard no noyse this night . I did pursue the Snak , and I was ●afraid 〈◊〉 had gotten into thy bed , for they are colde , & therefore seke heate . Then answered I , I pray God she hath not bitten me . I feare Snakes as the ●euil . He continued in such fearefull famaste , that he neuer slepte , so that & bering the Snake , du●st neuer approche the coffer , but onely in the day time , whiles hee was at Churche , or abroade in 〈◊〉 towne , then woulde I make my assault : whereof when he had knowledge , perceiuing that he was not able to finde any further remedie , would euery night ( ●s I haue told you ) be raging mad . All that I feared then was , that he with his diligence w●ulde meete with my priuie key which I had hidde vnder the bedstrawe : But for more suretie , at night tim● I woulde a waves keepe it in my mouth , for when that I dwelt with the blynd man , I had brought my mouth to such vse by conueying money into it , that it serued me often for a purpose . I can wel remember , when sometimes I haue had in it . xiitj . or xv . deniers , and not hindred my eating , otherwise I had neuer beens maister of denier , but that the curssed blinde man woulde haue founde it out , not leauing one seame or wrinckle of my coate vnsought . Therefore as I tel you , I did euery nighte put the keye in my mouth for a safegarde , & by that meanes I slepte soundly , not fearing that he shoulde finde it . Notwithstanding , when that the euill houre could not be escaped , my diligence was all but vaine : it pleased my fatall destenie ( or to say truth ) my sinnes , that vpon a night when I was asleepe , the keye happened so to tourne in my mouth , being wide open , in such sort , that my breath comming foorth through the hole of the keye , which was hollowe , made such loude whistling ( as euill fortune woulde ) that my carefull maister hearde it , who thought certainely that it had bene the hissing of the Snake , ( as surely it might be like ) hée rose vp very softly holding his cudgell fast , and by the noyse of the hissing came by little and litle streight to me , without making any noyse , to the intent the Snake should not heare him . When hee was neers me , hee thought certainely that the Snake was there in the strawe , wherfore he lifted vp his cudgell to kill her , and with all his strength hée discharged vppon my heade such a cruell blowe , that he wounded me to death . Whereupon , he knowing that he had stricken me , belike by the groning that I made after the receit of the blow , suspecting what had hapned , cried out to awake me , but as soone as he touched me with his handes , hee felte abundance of bloud issue out of my heade : wherefore considering what hurt he had done mee , hee wente in haste for a candle , and retourning with it in his hande , found me groning & gasping with my keye in my mouth , which I neuer let goe , beeing halfe out , euen as it was when it made suche hissing , whereat the killer of Snakes maruelled , especially when hée behelde the keye , which hée tooke out of my mouth , and vewing it , hee perceiued what it was , for in workemanship it differeth nothing from his . But for more suretie hee wente streighte to proue it , and so then espied the whole disceit . God knoweth then howe hée bragged , that hée had taken the Rat and the Snake that had made him such warre , and that so destroyed his breade : what happened the three dayes following , I am not able to tel , for I was as it were in a whales bellie ( but only this that I haue tolde you : which I had heard my master report , after that I was retourned to my selfe , for hee declared the whole matter to as many as came in and out . The third day after , I began to recouer , maruelling much , when I perceiued my selfe beeing in my strawe , my head full of plaisters , oyles , and oyntments , and being thereat amazed , I said what meneth this ? The priest then answered , the meaning of this is , that I had chased away the Ratte and the Snake that haue done me such hurt : then calling to minde my affaires , I susspected my hurte , and the cause thereof : then came there in an olde woman , with certaine of the neighbours , to vndo the cloutes about my head , and to dresse my woundes , and being glad to see mee recouered , saide , 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 gaue me meate , I being almost dead for hunger . Much a do they had to recouer mee , but by little and little I wared strong , & at .xv. dayes ende , I rose vp and was out of daunger , yet not without hunger , howebeit halfe healed . The next day after that I rose , my master tooke me by the hande , and brought me out at the dore , and leauing me in the streate , saide vnto me : Lazaro , from this day foorth , thou shalt be at thine owne libertie , and not vnder my subiection , the Lorde bée with thee : go séek thée a master , I haue no néed of such a diligent sernaunt , it is not possible , but that thou hast bene seruaunt to some blinde man . And therewith blessing him selfe from me , as though I had beene possessed with some euill spirite , hee ge●teth him in and locketh fast his doore .