The Hours of the Ave Bell, are eight and twelve in the Morning, and six in the Evening.  They pretend at the first to fall down in beg that God would be pleas’d to prosper them in all things they go about that Day.  At twelve they return Thanks for their Preservation to that time; and at six for that of the whole Day.  After which, one would think that they imagine themselves at perfect Liberty; and their open Gallantries perfectly countenance the Imagination:  for tho’ Adultery is look’d upon as a grievous Crime, and punish’d accordingly; yet Fornication is softened with the title of a Venial Sin, and they seem to practise it under that Persuasion.

I found here, what Erasmus ridicules with so much Wit and Delicacy, the custom of burying in a Franciscan’s Habit, in mighty request.  If they can for that purpose procure an old one at the price of a new one; the Purchaser wil look upon himself a provident Chap, that has secur’d to his deceased Friend or Relation, no less than Heaven by that wise Bargain.

The Evening being almost the only time of Enjoyment of Company, or Conversation, every body in Spain then greedily seeks it; and the Streets are at that time crowded like our finest Gardens or most private Walks.  On one of those Occasions, I met a Don of my Acquaintance walking out with his Sisters; and as I thought it became an English Cavalier, I saluted him:  But to my Surprize he never return’d the Civility.  When I met him the Day after, instead of an Apology, as I had flattered my self, I received a Reprimand, tho’ a very civil one; telling me it was the Custom in Spain, nor well taken of any one, that took Notice of any who were walking in the Company of Ladies at Night.

But a Night or two after, I found by Experience, that if the Men were by Custom prohibited taking Notice, Women were not.  I was standing at the Door, in the cool of the Evening, when a Woman seemingly genteel, passing by, call’d me by my Name, telling me she wanted to speak with me:  She had her Mantilio on; so that had I had Day-light, I could have only seen one Eye of her.  However I walk’d with her a good while, without being able to discover any thing of her Business, nor pass’d there between us any thing more than a Conversation upon indifferent Matters.  Nevertheless, at parting she told me she should pass by again the next Evening; and if I would be at the Door, she would give me the same Advantage of a Conversation, That seem’d not to displease me.  Accordingly the next Night she came, and as before we walk’d together in the privatest parts of the Town:  For tho’ I knew her not, her Discourse was always entertaining and full of Wit, and her Enquiries not often improper.  We had continu’d this Intercourse many Nights together, when my Landlady’s Daughter having taken Notice of it, stopt me one Evening, and would not allow me to stand at the usual Post of Intelligence, saying, with a good deal of heat, Don Gorgio, take