I sent some acorns to my lady the duchess; I wish they had been gold.

Send me some strings of pearls if they are in fashion in that island.

Here is the news of the village; La Berrueca has married her daughter to a good-for-nothing painter, who came here to paint anything that might turn up.

The council gave him an order to paint his Majesty's arms over the door of the town-hall; he asked two ducats, which they paid him in advance; he worked for eight days, and at the end of them had nothing painted, and then said he had no turn for painting such trifling things; he returned the money, and for all that has married on the pretence of being a good workman; to be sure he has now laid aside his paint-brush and taken a spade in hand, and goes to the field like a gentleman.

Pedro Lobo's son has received the first orders and tonsure, with the intention of becoming a priest.