Result.  The true born Spaniards reckon it a part of their Glory, to be jealous of their Mistresses, which is too often the Forerunner of Murders; at best attended with many other very dangerous Inconveniences.  And yet bad as their Musick is, their Dancing is the reverse.  I have seen a Country Girl manage her Castanets with the graceful Air of a Dutchess, and that not to common Musick; but to Peoples beating or druming a Tune with their Hands on a Table.  I have seen half a Dozen couple at a time dance to the like in excellent order.

I just now distinguish’d, by an Exception, the Music of Valencia, where alone I experienced the use of the Violin; which tho’ I cannot, in respect to other Countries, call good; yet in respect to the other parts of Spain, I must acknowledge it much the best.  In my Account of that City, I omitted to speak of it; therefore now to supply that Defect, I will speak of the best I heard, which was on this unfortunate Occasion:  Several Natives of that Country having received Sentence of Death for their Adherence to King Charles, were accordingly ordered to the Place of Execution.  It is the Custom there, on all such Occasions, for all the Musick of the City to meet near the Gallows, and play the most affecting and melancholy Airs, to the very approach of the Condemn’d; and really the Musick was so moving, it heightened the Scene of Sorrow, and brought Compassion into the Eyes of even Enemies.

As to the Condemn’d, they came stript of their own Cloaths, and cover’d with black Frocks, in which they were led along the Streets to the Place of Execution, the Friars praying all the way.  When they came through any Street, were any public Images were fix’d, they stay’d before ’em some reasonable time in Prayer with the Friars.  When they are arriv’d at the fatal Place, those Fathers leave ’em not, but continue praying and giving them ghostly Encouragement, standing upon the rounds of the Ladder till they are turn’d off.  The Hangman always wears a silver Badge of a Ladder to distinguish his Profession:  But his manner of executing his Office had somewhat in it too singular to allow of Silence.  When he had ty’d fast the Hands of the Criminal, he rested his Knee upon them, and with one Hand on the Criminal’s Nostrils, to stop his Breath the sooner, threw himself off the Ladder along with the dying Party.  This he does to expedite his Fate; tho’ considering the Force, I wonder it does not tear Head and Body asunder; which yet I never heard that it did.

But to return to la Mancha; I had been there now upwards of two Years, much diverted with the good Humour and Kindness of the Gentlemen, and daily pleased with the Conversation of the Nuns of the Nunnery opposite to my Lodgings; when walking one Day alone upon the Plaza, I found my self accosted by a Clerico.  At the first Attack, he told me his Country:  But added, that he now came from Madrid with