The Clerico resolv’d to pursue his old Maxim and cry out first; and so taking the Corrigidor’s Advice, he wrote away to Madrid directly.  In the mean Time the People in the Town, both high and low, some out of Curiosity, some out of Friendship, pursu’d their Enquiries into the Reality of the Facts.  The old Landlady they could make little of to my Advantage; but whenever the young one came to the Question, she always left them with these Words in her Mouth, El Diabolo en forma del Clerico, which rendring Things more than a little cloudy on the Clerico’s Side, he was advis’d and press’d by his few Friends, as fast as he could to get out of Town; Nuns, Clergy, and every Body taking Part against him, excepting his new Convert, my old Landlady.

The Day after, as I was sitting with a Friend at my new Quarters, Maria (for that was the Name of my Landlady’s Daughter) came running in with these Words in her Mouth, El Clerico, el Clerico, passa la Calle.  We hasten’d to the Window, out of which we beheld the Clerico, Murtough Brennan, pitifully mounted on the Back of a very poor Ass (for they would neither let, nor lend him a Mule through all the Town) his Legs almost rested on the Ground, for he was lusty, as his Ass was little; and a Fellow with a large Cudgel march’d a-foot, driving his Ass along.  Never did Sancha Pancha, on his Embassage to Dulcinea, make such a despicable, out of the way Figure, as our Clerico did at this Time.  And what increas’d our Mirth was, their telling me, that our Clerico, like that Squire (tho’ upon his own Priest-Errantry) was actually on his March to Toboso, a Place five Leagues off, famous for the Nativity of Dulcinea, The Object of the Passion of that celebrated Hero Don Quixot.  So I will leave our Clerico on his Journey to Murcia, to relate the unhappy Sequel of this ridiculous Affair.

I have before said, that, by the Advice of the Corrigidor, our Clerico had wrote to Don Ronquillo at Madrid.  About a Fortnight after his Departure from la Mancha, I was sitting alone in my new Lodgings, when two Alguizils (Officers under the Corrigidor, and in the Nature of our Bailiffs) came into my Room, but very civilly, to tell me, that they had Orders to carry me away to Prison; but at the same Moment they advis’d me, not to be afraid; for they had observed, that the whole Town was concern’d at what the Corrigidor and Clerico had done; adding, that it was their Opinion, that I should find so general a Friendship, that I need not be apprehensive of any Danger.  With these plausible Speeches, though I afterwards experienced the Truth of them, I resign’d my self, and went with them to a much closer Confinement.