_Guzman is conveyed to Port St. Mary with other honest folks like
himself. His adventures on the way, and on board the galleys._
The chain composed of twenty-six young galley-slaves, all decorated with
the collar peculiar to the order, being ready to march, we set out for
Port St. Mary where the galleys then lay. We were divided into four
bands, and chained one to another, and our conductor, escorted by twenty
guards, led us along by small days journies. We lay the first night at
_Cabeças_, a village about nine miles from Seville. The next morning,
having started again at break of day, we fell in with a lad driving
pigs. This unfortunate youth, instead of driving his beasts out of our
way, was imprudent enough to allow them to pass between our bands; the
consequence of which was, that he lost half of them. In vain did he
complain to our conductor, and entreat him to interpose his authority,
to oblige us to make restitution; the conductor, who hoped to eat his
share, turned a deaf ear to his prayers, and we passed on with our
prize, as proud of the exploit, and as joyful as though we had recovered
our liberty.
When we arrived at the inn where we stopped to dine, I made a present of
my pig to the conductor, who accepted it willingly, and with many
thanks. He then asked the people of the house if they could dress it
nicely for him; but it was easily to perceive from their answers that
they were but little accustomed to cooking. Upon which I told him, that
if he would permit my chains to be taken off for one hour only, I would
undertake to cook for him, and doubted not that I should give him
satisfaction. He did not hesitate to grant this request, and I provided
every thing in such good order for him, that he afterwards used me much
more kindly than the other prisoners.
Before we left, I had another opportunity of shewing my skill at the
inn, where two merchants happened to come in to dine. Finding themselves
in such honest company, they became extremely uneasy for their property.
One of them seemed determined not to leave any thing that belonged to
him out of his sight, and, accordingly, placed his wallet under the
table, keeping his foot upon it. I felt a great itch to be a match for
this cunning gentleman, and accordingly slipped very gently under the
table, and cutting his wallet open with a sharp knife, I drew out two
parcels, which I handed over in charge to one of my companions; named
Soto, with whom I had become acquainted in prison. When we had left the
inn, and had walked about a mile, I requested Soto to give me the
parcels, that we might see what our booty consisted of, and divide it.
Soto replied that he did not know what I alluded to. I thought at first
that he was joking, but that was very far from his thoughts, and he
persisted with oaths that he had received nothing of me. When I found he
was in earnest, I reproached him with his ingratitude and perfidy; but
he only laughed at my reproaches and threats, and kept quiet possession
of the parcels. His behaviour quite enraged me, and I resolved to be
revenged on him, by explaining the whole affair to the conductor,
choosing rather that he should profit by the theft, than such an
ungrateful and impudent rascal. This resolution I put into execution at
night when we reached the inn where we were to sleep.
I had no sooner related the story to the conductor, than he called Soto
before him, and asked him for the two parcels. The rascal answered that
he had got nothing of the sort, and that I must be a great rogue to make
such an accusation. “You will not give them up with a good grace then!”
replied the conductor. “Very well, my friend, we will treat you then as
you deserve.” At the same time he ordered the guards to flog him until
he confessed. Soto turned pale with fear at this cruel order; and out of
regard to his skin, shortly afterwards confessed that the two parcels
were concealed in the belly of the pig he had stolen. Here they were
found; and when they were opened, it appeared they were full of beads
and bracelets of coral adorned with gold, of excellent workmanship. Our
conductor, like a man who understood his calling, thrust them all into
his own pocket without ceremony, promising me a handsome reward, which,
however, I have been expecting to this day; which proves clearly that
this description of persons profit by the evil actions of rogues, though
they do not participate in their punishment. From that day Soto and I
swore eternal hatred to each other.
We pursued our route, and on our arrival at Port St. Mary, we found that
six galleys were careening to put to sea. We were confined a few days in
prison, after which we were divided into six bands. I was so unfortunate
as to be condemned to live in the same galley with Soto. We were carried
aboard our galley. I was seated over against the main-mast, and Soto on
the master’s bench; so that we seemed doomed to be near each other. The
King’s coat was then given us, a red waistcoat, two pair of drawers, two
shirts, a red cap, and a sea gown. After which a barber performed the
operation of shaving our chins and heads. I regretted the loss of my
hair exceedingly, which was long and beautiful. But it was of little
consequence; I was now a complete galley-slave, which I should have been
long before if I had had my deserts.
As the Commissary is an officer who possesses great authority over the
galley-slaves, and which he usually exercises with brutality, my first
endeavour was to gain his friendship. He ate and slept very near my
seat, and I was always very officious to serve him whenever an
opportunity presented itself. I was always the first to anticipate his
wants, and testify my extreme desire to be useful to him. All these
attentions did not go long unrewarded. I soon perceived that he regarded
me with a more favourable eye than the rest. This was a great
consolation to me; and to render myself still more worthy of his favour,
I redoubled my endeavours to please him: in which I succeeded so well,
that he at length never employed any other to assist him, and made me
leave my seat to provide his meals for him, having been particularly
well pleased with some ragouts I had already made for him. I was not a
little proud of this honour, which, in fact, exempted me from my duty as
galley-slave.
Our galley was ordered to Cadiz, to take aboard some masts, yards, and
ship’s tackling. Here a young lord, who was related to our captain, and
a Knight of the Order of St. James’s, came with his baggage on board our
galley, intending to make his first expedition. He wore, as was
customary in those days, a gold chain; but he had not been a week on
board before he lost this. In vain was every exertion made to discover
the thief; the chain was not to be found. Upon which the captain
recommended his kinsman to take one of the slaves into his service, who
should have the care of his chamber, and be responsible for every thing,
on pain of being handsomely flogged if any thing were lost. The Knight
approved highly of this advice, and the only question now was, which of
the slaves should have the honour of serving him. He had heard a good
account of my address and capacity, and wished exceedingly to have me.
Accordingly, the captain called the commissary before him, and asked him
if he was satisfied with my behaviour. The commissary, not knowing the
drift of this question, enlarged upon my merit, and spoke so highly in
my praise, that the Knight from that moment resolved to select me. I was
immediately sent for; he liked my looks, and I was enrolled in his
service, to the great regret of the commissary.
Behold me now become a valet-de-chambre to a Knight of St. James. That I
might be able to serve him the more commodiously, the first favour he
obtained for me was, that I should only be obliged to wear a link on my
foot; after which, all his clothes, linen, jewels, and other valuables
were told out to me, and given in charge to me, with the recommendation
that it would be to my own interest to be faithful and vigilant. I put
every thing in such order, that I could see the whole at one view. The
servants were expressly forbidden to enter the chamber without my
permission, when their master was not in it. This regulation saved me a
great deal of trouble in watching these sparks, who were as well versed
in legerdemain tricks as any of the slaves on board the galley.
I applied myself assiduously to study the humour and disposition of the
Knight, and it was not long ere I was beloved by him, and even esteemed,
galley-slave as I was. He felt pleasure in conversing with me, and I
appeared to him to possess such good sense, that he sometimes consulted
me on the most important occasions. One day he entered his chamber with
a thoughtful and melancholy countenance. “My friend,” said he, “one of
my uncles has written me a letter which has put me exceedingly out of
humour, in which he urges me, if I wish to be heir to all his property,
to marry. He has himself grown idle at the Court, without having dared
to take that yoke upon himself, which he wishes me to submit to. I know
not what answer to make; for I have no inclination at present for
matrimony.” “Sir,” replied I, jesting, “were I in your place, I would
write word back, that nothing could please me more than to comply with
his wishes, provided it were with one of his daughters.” My master
laughed most heartily at this advice, which was only meant by me as a
joke, and declared that he would write those very words, which he
doubted not would rid him of any further importunity.