Preliminary Remarks 120
1547. (9th of October.) His Birth 123
His Origin 123
His early Studies 123
1569. Death of Isabella of Valois, Wife of Philip II. 124
Lopez de Hoyos 124
Cervantes quits Madrid 125
1568. He enters the Service of the Cardinal Acquaviva 125
1569. He visits Rome 126
He enlists under General Antonio Colonna in the Campaign
against the Turks 126
1571. The combined Fleets of Venice, Spain, and the Pope assemble
at Messina 126
(7th of October.) Battle of Lepanto 127
Gallant Conduct of Cervantes 127
He is wounded, and remains in the Hospital at Messina six
Months 128
1572. Don John of Austria 128
Second Campaign against the Turks 128
The Spaniards alone prosecute the War 128
Attempted and unsuccessful Assault on the Castle of Navarino 128
1573. The Venetians sign a Peace with Selim 129
Cervantes enters Tunis with the Marquis de Santa Cruz, and
returns to Palermo with the Fleet 129
Cervantes obtains leave to return to Spain 129
The Galley he embarked in attacked by an Algerine 129
Squadron 129
He is taken Prisoner by the Arnaout Captain 130
Piracies carried on by the Algerine Corsairs 131
Their System 131
Interesting Details of the Captivity of Cervantes 131
His Tale of the "Captive" 131
1576. His first Attempt at Escape with some of his Companions 133
Its Failure 133
Gabrièl de Castañeda ransomed; he brings Letters from
Cervantes to his Father 133
1577. His Father unable to procure Money to ransom both him and
his Brother; Cervantes gives up his Share to secure the
Freedom of his Brother 134
He arranges another Plan of Escape 134
1578. He is purchased by Hassan Aga 137
1579. He concerts a new Plan of Escape with the Renegade
Abd-al-Rhamen 138
Is again betrayed 138
His Liberation 140
He refutes certain Calumnies, of which he was the Object 141
1581. Landing of Cervantes in Spain 142
He again enters the Army; he embarks in the Squadron of
Don Pedro 143
1582. He serves in a naval Battle under Santa Cruz 143
1583. Also at the Taking of Terceira 143
1584. He publishes his "Galatea" 145
His Marriage 145
1588. He accepts the Situation of Commissary to the Invincible
Armada 147
1593. His Office abolished 148
He manages the Affairs, and becomes the Friend, of Don
Hernando de Toledo 148
His two Sonnets 149
The Subject of the first 149
1598. A magnificent Catafalque erected in the Cathedral of Seville
on the Death of Philip II. 149
Sonnet of Cervantes to the Monument of the King at Seville 151
1594. Anecdote of a mercantile Casualty which happened to
Cervantes; financial Annoyance 151
1597. Another Anecdote 152
1603. He removes to Valladolid 153
He becomes the Victim of litigious Proceedings 154
He composes his "Don Quixote" 155
1604. He returns to Spain 156
A Story respecting the Dedication of "Don Quixote" to the
Duke of Bejar 157
1605. Disputes respecting the Existence of the "Buscapié" 158
Satires against "Don Quixote" 160
James I. of England sends Lord Howard to present a Treaty of
Peace to Philip III., and to congratulate him on the Birth of
his Son 161
An Account of these Festivities, written by Cervantes 161
An Event occurs by which Cervantes is greatly distressed 161
1606. He follows the Court to Madrid 163
Despotism and Bigotry extend their Influence over Spain 163
Kindness of Don Bernardo de Sandoval, Archbishop of Toledo,
to Cervantes 163
1610. Count of Lemos made Viceroy of Naples 164
The Argensolas, surnamed the Horaces of Spain 164
Disappointment of Cervantes at their Neglect 164
Anecdote of Philip III. 165
1615. The Censorship of "Don Quixote" intrusted to Francisco
Marquez Torres 166
His Account of the Neglect with which the Spaniards treated
Cervantes 166
1608. Preface to the "Twelve Tales" of Cervantes 167
1614. He publishes his "Voyage to Parnassus" 168
Preface to his Work, "Comedias y Entremeses" 169
1615. Poetic Games 170
The "Don Quixote" of Avellanada 170
Indignation of Cervantes on its Publication 171
Illness of Cervantes 172
1616. His Excursion from Esquivias to Madrid 172
His Adieu to the World 173
His Dedication to his Protector, the Count of Lemos 174
(23d of April.) His Death 174
His Will 174
His Character 175
His "Galatea" 175
His "Numantia;" the Plot of this Play 176
His Comedy of "A Life in Algiers" 178
Godwin's Opinion of "Don Quixote" 182
Remarks on "Don Quixote" 182
Extracts from "Voyage to Parnassus" 184