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victory； I turned about to the bishop； and； embracing him with a
pleased countenance； protested I did not know he was present； and
then； informing him of this supposed vision； I asked him if he
had not himself seen the saint？ He answered me he had； and
afterwards proceeded to assure me that this appearance of St。
James was entirely owing to his prayers； for that he was his
tutelar saint。 He added he had a vision of him a few hours
before； when he promised him a victory over the infidels； and
acquainted him at the same time of the vacancy of the see of
Toledo。 Now； this news being really true； though it had happened
so lately that I had not heard of it （nor； indeed； was it well
possible I should； considering the great distance of the way）；
when I was afterwards acquainted with it； a little staggered me；
though far from being superstitious； till being informed that the
bishop had lost three horses on a late expedition； I was
satisfied。
〃The next morning； the bishop； at my desire； mounted the rostrum；
and trumpeted forth this vision so effectually； which he said he
had that evening twice seen with his own eyes； that a spirit
began to be infused through the whole army which rendered them
superior to almost any force： the bishop insisted that the least
doubt of success was giving the lie to the saint； and a damnable
sin； and he took upon him in his name to promise them victory。
〃The army being drawn out； I soon experienced the effect of
enthusiasm； for； having contrived another stratagem＇9＇ to
strengthen what the bishop had said； the soldiers fought more
like furies than men。 My stratagem was this： I had about me a
dexterous fellow； who had been formerly a pimp in my amours。 Him
I dressed up in a strange antic dress； with a pair of white
colors in his right hand； a red cross in his left； and having
disguised him so that no one could know him； I placed him on a
white horse； and ordered him to ride to the head of the army； and
cry out； 'Follow St。 James！' These words were reiterated by all
the troops； who attacked the enemy with such intrepidity； that；
notwithstanding our inferiority of numbers； we soon obtained a
complete victory。
＇9＇ This silly story is told as a solemn truth （i。e。； that St。
James really appeared in the manner this fellow is described） by
Mariana； 1。7； Section 78。
〃The bishop was come up by the time that the enemy was routed；
and； acquainting us that he had met St。 James by the way； and
that he had informed him of what had passed； he added that he had
express orders from the saint to receive a considerable sum for
his use； and that a certain tax on corn and wine should be
settled on his church for ever； and lastly； that a horseman's pay
should be allowed for the future to the saint himself； of which
he and his successors were appointed receivers。 The army
received these demands with such acclamations that I was obliged
to comply with them； as I could by no means discover the
imposition； nor do I believe I should have gained any credit if I
had。
〃I had now done with the saint； but the bishop had not； for about
a week afterwards lights were seen in a wood near where the
battle was fought； and in a short time afterwards they discovered
his tomb at the same place。 Upon this the bishop made me a
visit； and forced me to go thither； to build a church to him； and
largely endow it。 In a word； the good man so plagued me with
miracle after miracle； that I was forced to make interest with
the pope to convey him to Toledo； to get rid of him。
〃But to proceed to other matters。There was an inferior officer；
who had behaved very bravely in the battle against the Moors； and
had received several wounds； who solicited me for preferment；
which I was about to confer on him； when one of my ministers came
to me in a fright； and told me that he had promised the post I
designed for this man to the son of count Alderedo； and that the
count； who was a powerful person； would be greatly disobliged at
the refusal； as he had sent for his son from school to take
possession of it。 I was obliged to agree with my minister's
reasons； and at the same time recommended the wounded soldier to
be preferred by him； which he faithfully promised he would； but I
met the poor wretch since in Elysium； who informed me he was
afterwards starved to death。
〃None who hath not been himself a prince； nor any prince till his
death； can conceive the impositions daily put on them by their
favorites and ministers； so that princes are often blamed for the
faults of others。 The count of Saldagne had been long confined
in prison； when his son； D。 Bernard del Carpio； who had
performed the greatest actions against the Moors； entreated me；
as a reward for his service； to grant him his father's liberty。
The old man's punishment had been so tedious； and the services of
the young one so singularly eminent； that I was very inclinable
to grant the request； but my ministers strongly opposed it； they
told me my glory demanded revenge for the dishonor offered to my
family； that so positive a demand carried with it rather the air
of menace than entreaty； that the vain detail of his services；
and the recompense due to them； was an injurious reproach； that
to grant what had been so haughtily demanded would argue in the
monarch both weakness and timidity； in a word； that to remit the
punishment inflicted by my predecessors would be to condemn their
judgment。 Lastly； one told me in a whisper； 'His whole family
are enemies to your house。' By these means the ministers
prevailed。 The young lord took the refusal so ill； that he
retired from court； and abandoned himself to despair； whilst the
old one languished in prison。 By which means； as I have since
discovered； I lost the use of two of my best subjects。
〃To confess the truth； I had； by means of my ministers； conceived
a very unjust opinion of my whole people； whom I fancied to be
daily conspiring against me； and to entertain the most disloyal
thoughts； when； in reality （as I have known since my death）； they
held me in universal respect and esteem。 This is a trick； I
believe； too often played with sovereigns； who； by such means；
are prevented from that open intercourse with their subjects
which； as it would greatly endear the person of the prince to the
people； so might it often prove dangerous to a minister who was
consulting his own interest only at the expense of both。 I
believe I have now recounted to you the most material passages of
my life； for I assure you there are some incidents in the lives
of kings not extremely worth relating。 Everything which passes
in their minds and families is not attended with the splendor
which surrounds their throneindeed； there are some hours
wherein the naked king and the naked cobbler can scarce be
distinguished from each other。
〃Had it not been； however； for my ingratitude to Bernard del
Carpio； I believe this would have been my last pilgrimage on
earth； for； as to the story of St。 James； I thought Minos would
have burst his sides at it； but he was so displeased with me on
the other account； that； with a frown； he cried out； 'Get thee
back again； king。' Nor would he suffer me to say another word。〃
CHAPTER XVIII
Julian passes into a fool。
〃The next visit I made to the world was performed in France；
where I was born in the court of Lewis III； and had afterwards
the honor to be preferred to be fool to the prince； who was
surnamed Charles the Simple。 But； in reality； I know not whether
I might so properly be said to have acted the fool in his court
as to have made fools of all others in it。 Certain it is； I was
very far from being what is generally understood by that word；
being a most cunning； designing； arch knave。 I knew very well
the folly of my master； and of many others； and how to make my
advantage of this knowledge。
〃I was as dear to Charles the Simple as the player Paris was to
Domitian； and； like him； bestowed all manner of offices and
honors on whom I pleased。 This drew me a great number of
followers among the courtiers； who really mistook me for a fool；
and yet flattered my understanding。 There was particularly in
the court a fellow who had neither honor； honesty； sense； wit；
courage； beauty； nor indeed any one good quality； either of mind
or body； to recommend him； but was at the same time； perhaps； as
cunning a monster as ever lived。 This gentleman took it into his
head to list under my banner； and pursued me so very assiduously
with flattery； constantly reminding me of my good sense； that I
grew immoderately fond of him； for though flattery is not most
judiciously applied to qualities which the persons flattered
possess； yet as； notwithstanding my being well assured of my own
parts； I passed in the whole court for a fool； this flattery was
a very sweet morsel to me。 I therefore got this f