PROLOGUE

Here begins the prologue addressed to the moft
noble and virtuous Senor Don Fernando de Guzman,
Chief Commander of the Order of Calatrava, composed
by Pero Tafur upon the treatise which he wrote of
his travels and voyages in different parts of the world.

The ftate of knighthood, O moft virtuous Senor, had
ever a beginning, but is, indeed, more lafting than any
other virtuous office, for the exercise thereof is more
appropriate to the noble, and virtue itself is the chief
and sureft foundation of nobility. A man may be
called noble so long as he follows the cuftoms of his
predecessors, who not departing from deeds of virtue,
gave promise of the continuance of prowess, thus
deserving to become the leaders and rulers of men. . . .

From the practice of travelling into foreign lands a
man may reasonably hope to attain proficiency in that
which prowess demands. Thus hidalgos may grow
ftout-hearted where, being unknown, they are beset
by hardship and peril, ftriving to show themselves
worthy of their anceftors, and by their own deeds to
make their virtues known to ftrangers. Moreover,
if by good fortune they escape the perils of the way
and return to their native land once more, they may
from their experience of different forms of government,
and the contrafting qualities of various nations, acquire
knowledge of what is moft conducive to the public
weal and the eftablishment thereof, which should be
the chief endeavour of him who would avoid the name
of enemy to what is noble. Therefore, for these and
other reasons, and especially in view of the truce
between our lord the King Don Juan and the Moors,

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