letters-第76章
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I was now relieved from my anxiety； and had no fears for the result。 I instantly went to a friend who is in possession of large estates about Guadalajara； in which province Fuente La Higuera is situated； who furnished me with letters to the Civil Governor of Guadalajara and all the principal authorities； and at Antonio's request； I despatched him upon the errand of the prisoner's liberation。 He first directed his course to Fuente La Higuera； where entering the ALCALDE'S house he boldly told him what he had come about。 The ALCALDE； expecting that I was at hand with an army of Englishmen for the purpose of rescuing the prisoner； became greatly alarmed； and instantly despatched his wife to summon his twelve men。 However； on Antonio's assuring him that there was no intention of having recourse to violence； he became more tranquil。 In a little time Antonio was summoned before the conclave and its blind sacerdotal president。 They at first attempted to frighten him； by assuming a loud bullying tone and talking of the necessity of killing all strangers； and especially the detested Don Jorge and his dependents。 Antonio； however； who is not a person apt to allow himself to be easily terrified； scoffed at their threats； and showing them his letters to the authorities of Guadalajara said that he should proceed there on the morrow and denounce their lawless conduct； adding that he was a Turkish subject； and that should they dare to offer him the slightest incivility he would write to the Sublime Porte； in comparison with whom the best kings in the world were but worms； and who would not fail to avenge the wrongs of any of his children； however distant； in a manner too terrible to be mentioned。 He then returned to his POSADA。 The conclave now proceeded to deliberate among themselves； and at last determined to despatch their prisoner on the morrow to Guadalajara； and deliver him into the hands of the Civil Governor。
Nevertheless； in order to keep up a semblance of authority； they that night placed two men armed at the door of the POSADA where Antonio was lodged； as if he himself were a prisoner； these men as often as the clock struck the hours； shouted； 'AVE MARIA！ Death to the heretics！' Early in the morning the ALCALDE presented himself at the POSADA； but before entering he made an oration at the door to the people in the street saying amongst other things： 'Brethren； these are the fellows who have come to rob us of our religion。' He then went into Antonio's apartment； and after saluting him with great politeness said that as a royal or high mass was about to be celebrated that morning； he had come to invite him to go to church with him； whereupon Antonio； though by no means a mass…goer； rose and accompanied him； and remained two hours； as he told me； on his knees on the cold stones to his great discomfort； the eyes of the whole congregation being fixed upon him during the time。
After mass and breakfast； he departed for Guadalajara； Vitoriano having been already despatched there under a guard。 On his arrival he presented his letters to the individuals for whom they were intended。 The Civil Governor was convulsed with merriment on hearing Antonio's account of the adventure。 Vitoriano was set at liberty and the books were placed in embargo at Guadalajara： the Governor stating； however； that though it was his duty to detain them at present； they should be sent to me whenever I chose to claim them。 He moreover said that he would do his best to cause the authorities of Fuente La Higuera to be severely punished； as in the whole affair they had acted in a most cruel； tyrannical manner； for which they had no authority。 Thus terminated this affair； one of those little accidents which chequer missionary life in Spain。
Vitoriano is now with me at Naval Carnero； as he begged me almost on his knees to be permitted to attend me and to be employed as before。 At his imprisonment he smiles。 Antonio and myself have lately been very successful at Madrid； having sold considerably upwards of a hundred Testaments and several Bibles。 It is with deep gratitude I state that the poor of Madrid receive the Scripture with gladness： to the rich I offer it not； their hearts are hard。 I am writing a journal of the present expedition。
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 9th March； 1839
To Mr。 W。 Hitchin （ENDORSED： recd。 March 21； 1839） MADRID； MARCH 9； 1839。
ON the other side I send you my account； which I hope you will find correct。 In order to prevent confusion； I have charged my expenses from the period of my leaving London until my arrival at Cadiz in the Spanish； instead of the English currency。 Respecting the item of Vitoriano； it will be as well to observe that； when employed in journeying； I allow him six REALS per diem and his diet； and two when in Madrid。 I do not know that there is anything else to which I need direct your attention； except that I have not noted my quarter's salary because ignorant of the rate of exchange。 If you please； you can credit me to the amount。
I did not go further than Naval Carnero on the way to Talavera； on account of an accident which occurred； the clergy having raised the country against me。 Glory to God； they are becoming thoroughly alarmed； and with much reason。 I have disposed of all the Bibles bound already； and have been compelled on account of the demand to order the rest of the sheets to be got in readiness。 We shall be compelled to evacuate our storehouse and to seek another； as the rats are doing prodigious havoc to the stores。
Pray； remember me to all friends； and believe me； etc。；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 20th March； 1839
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Apr。 8； 1839） 20 MARCH 1839； MADRID； CALLE SANTIAGO。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … Having much to communicate； and of no slight importance； I shall offer no apology for now addressing you。 My last letter was from Naval Carnero； in which I informed you of various circumstances； connected with the distribution of the blessed Gospel； which had recently occurred。 I likewise stated that it was very probable that I should proceed to Talavera； for the purpose of seeing what might be done in that neighbourhood。 The day； however； subsequent to dispatching my letter ushered in events which compelled me to alter my resolution； twenty Testaments were seized in a village in the neighbourhood of Naval Carnero； and I learned that our proceedings； on the other side of Madrid； had caused alarm amongst the heads of the clergy； who made a formal complaint to the Government … who immediately sent orders to all the ALCALDES of the villages； great and small； in New Castile to seize the New Testament wherever it might be exposed for sale； but at the same time to be particularly careful not to detain or maltreat the person or persons who might be attempting to vend it。 An exact description of myself accompanied these orders； and the authorities； both civil and military； were exhorted to be on their guard against me； and my arts and machinations； for； as the document stated； I was to…day in one place and to…morrow at twenty leagues distance。 On receiving this intelligence； I instantly resolved to change for a time my strategic system； and not to persist in a course which would expose the sacred volume to seizure at every step which I might take to circulate it。 I therefore galloped back to Madrid； leaving Vitoriano to follow。 It will be as well to observe here； that we sold twenty and odd Testaments in villages adjacent to Naval Carnero； before the orders had arrived。
Arrived at Madrid； I lost not a moment in putting into execution the plan which I had formed。 Having an extensive acquaintance amongst the lower orders； I instantly selected eight of the most intelligent to co…operate with me； amongst whom were five women。 All these I supplied with Testaments； and then sent them forth to all the parishes in Madrid。 I will at once state the result which； I confess； has more than answered my expectations。 Since my return from Naval Carnero nearly six hundred copies of the life and words of Him of Nazareth hav
