e
particulars of which I shall give you presently. I shall, however, only
tarry sufficient time to rest the horses and again go forth, for I am but
too well aware that no time must now be lost, my enemies being numerous
and watchful.

On leaving Madrid I proceeded in the direction of Aranjuez, selling from
twenty to forty copies in every village that lay in the way or near it;
my intention was to penetrate deep into La Mancha, and in that view I had
forwarded a large supply of books to Aranjuez. Having arrived there I
made a sojourn of three days, during which time, myself, [my] servant and
Juan Lopez, of whom I have previously spoken to you, visited every house
in the town. We found a vast deal of poverty and ignorance amongst the
inhabitants, and experienced some opposition; nevertheless it pleased the
Almighty to permit us to dispose of about eighty Testaments, which were
purchased entirely by the very poor people, those in easier circumstances
paying no attention to the Word of God, but rather turning it to scoff
and ridicule. One circumstance was very gratifying and cheering to me,
namely, the ocular proof which I possessed that the books which I
disposed of were read, and with attention, by those to whom I disposed of
them, and that many others participated in their benefit. In the streets
of Aranjuez and beneath the mighty cedars and gigantic elms and plantains
which compose its noble woods, I have frequently seen groups assembled,
listening to individuals who, with the New Testament in their hands, were
reading aloud the comfortable words of salvation.

It is probable that had I remained a longer period in Aranjuez I might
have sold many more of our divine books, but I was eager to gain La
Mancha and its sandy plains, and to conceal myself for a season amongst
its solitary villages; for I was apprehensive that a storm was gathering
around me. But when once through Ocana, the frontier town, I knew well
that I should have nothing to fear from the Spanish authorities as their
power ceased there, the rest of La Mancha being almost entirely in the
hands of the Carlists, and overrun by small parties of banditti, from
whom however I trusted that the Lord would preserve me. I therefore
departed for Ocana, situate about three leagues from Aranjuez.

I started with my servant about six in the evening, having early in the
morning sent forward Lopez with between two and three hundred Testaments.
We left the high ro