100 ROSCOE'S SPANISH NOVELISTS. 



of vintners next took their station, accused of having assassinated numbers of 

 thirsty souls, by substituting bad water for good wine. They tried to defend 

 themselves on the plea of compensation, having supplied a hospital gratis 

 with wine for the sacred ceremonies ; but this was overruled, as was that 

 preferred by the tailors, of having clothed some charity boys on the same 

 terms, and they were all sent to the same place. - 



" Three or four rich merchants next appeared, who had got wealth by de- 

 frauding their correspondents and creditors, but the accusing demon now in- 

 formed them they would find it more difficult to make a composition ; and 

 turning towards Jupiter, he said, ' Other men, my Lord Judge, have to give 

 account of their own affairs, but these have had to do with every body's.' 

 Sentence was forthwith pronounced, but I could not well catch it, so speedi- 

 ly they all disappeared; A cavalier now came forward, w r ith so good a face, 

 and so upright, as to challenge even justice itself. He made a very lowly 

 obeisance on entering, but his collar was of such a size as to defy you to say 

 whether he had got any head in it at all. A messenger on the part of Jupi- 

 ter, inquired if he was a man, to which he courteously replied in the affirm- 

 ative, adding that his name was Don Fulano, on the faith of a cavalier. At 

 this, one of the devils laughed, and he was then asked what it was he 

 wanted? To which he replied, that he wanted to be saved. He was deli- 

 vered over to the demons, whom he entreated to use him gently, lest they 

 should chance to disorder his mustachios and ruff. Behind him, came a 

 man uttering great lamentations, which he himself interrupted by saying, 

 ' Though I cry, I am none so badly off, for I have shaken the dust off the 

 saints themselves before now.' Every one looked round, thinking to see a 

 hero, or a Diocletian, from his brushing the ears of the saints ; but he turn- 

 ed out to be a poor wretch whose highest office was to sweep the pictures, 

 statues, and other ornaments of the church. His cause seemed safe, when all 

 at once he was accused by one of the devils of drinking the oil out of the 

 lamps, but which he again laid to the charge of an owl ; that he had more- 

 over clothed himself out of the church suits, that he drank the wine eat the 

 bread, and even laid a duty on the fees. He made but a lame defence ; and 

 was ordered to take the left hand road in his descent. 



"He made way for a levy of fine ladies, tricked out in cap and feather, 

 and so full of merriment, that they fell to amuse themselves with the odd 

 figures of the demons themselves. It was stated by their advocate, that 

 they had been excellent devotees ; true, retorted their demon, devoted to any 

 thing but chastity and virtue. Yes, certainly, replied one that had taken 

 her full fling in life, and whose trial now came on. She was accused of 

 making religion itself a cloak, and even marrying, the better to conceal the 

 enormities of her conduct. When condemned, she retired, bitterly com- 

 plaining that had she known the result she would have taken care not to 

 have done any of the charitable things, and said so many masses as she 

 had. 



" Next, after some delay, appeared Judas, Mahomet, and Matin Luther, 

 of whom a messenger inquired which of the three was Judas ? To this, both 

 Mahomet and Luther replied that he was the man ; on which Judas cried out 

 in a rage, that they were both liars ; for that he was the true Judas, and 

 that they only affected to be so, in order to escape a worse fate than his ; 

 for though he had indeed sold his Master, the world had been the better of 

 it, while the other rascals, by selling both themselves and his master, had 

 well nigh ruined it. They were all sent to the place they deserved. 



" An attorney who held the evidence in his hand, now called on the algua- 

 zils and runners to answer the accusations brought against them. They cut 

 a woeful figure ; and so clear was the case against them, that they were 

 condemned without more ado. 



" An astrologer now entered with his astrolobes, globes, and other quack- 



