The Strange Voyage and Adventures of Domingo Gonsales, to the World in the Moon — Context and Discussion

Antipodes was once thought as great a Paradox, as now that the Moon should be habitable. But the Knowledge of it may be reserved for this our discovering Age, wherein our Virtuosi can by their Telescopes gaze the Sun into Spots, and descry Mountains in the Moon. But this and much more must be left to the Critics, as well as the following Relation of our little Eye-witness and great Discoverer, which you shall have in his own _Spanish_ Stile, and delivered with that Grandeur and Thirst of Glory, which is generally imputed to that Nation.

It is known to all the Countries of Andaluzia, that I _Domingo Gonsales_ was born of a noble Family in the renowned City of _Seville_. My Father's Name being _Therando Gonsales_, near Kinsman on the Mother's Side to Don _Pedro Sanches_ the worthy Count of _Almanera_, my Mother was the Daughter of the famous Lawyer _Otho Perez de Sallaveda_, Governor of _Barcellona_, and _Corrigidor_ of _Biscay_; I being the youngest of seventeen Children, was put to School, and designed to the Church; but Heaven purposing to use my Service in Matters of far another Nature, inspired me with spending some Time in the Wars; it was at the Time that Don _Fernando_, the renowned Duke _D'Alva_, was sent into the _Low Countries_ in 1568; I then following the Current of my Desire, leaving the University of _Salamanca_, whither my Parents had sent me, without giving Notice to any of my Friends, got through _France_ to _Antwerp_, where I arrived in a mean Condition. For having sold my Books, Bedding, and other Things, which yielded me about 30 Ducats; and borrowed twenty more of my Father's Friends; I bought a little Nag, wherewith I travelled more thriftily than usually young Gentlemen do, till arriving within a League of _Antwerp_, some of the cursed _Gueses_ set upon me, and bereaved me of my Horse, Money, and all; so I was forced through Necessity to enter into the Service of Marshal _Cossey_ a French Nobleman, whom I served in an honourable Employ, though mine Enemies, to my Disgrace affirm, I was his Horse-keeper's Boy; but for that Matter, I refer myself to Count _Mansfield_, and other Persons of Condition, who have often testified to many worthy Men, the very Truth of the Business, which indeed was this, Monsieur _Cossey_ being about this Time sent to the Duke _D'Alva_, Governor of the _Low Countries_, he informing the Nobility of my Birth, and my late Misfortune, judging it would be no small Honour to him to have a _Spaniard_ of that Quality about him, furnished me with a Horse, Arms and whatever I wanted, using my Service, after I had learned _French_, in writing his Letters, because my Hand was very fair. In time of War, if upon Necessity, I sometimes dressed my own Horse, I ought not to be reproached therewith, since I count it the part of a Gentleman to submit to the vilest Office for the Service of his Prince.

The first Expedition I was in, was when the Marshal my Friend met the Prince of _Orange_ making a Road into _France_, and forced him to fly even to the Walls of _Cambray_: It was my good Fortune to defeat a Trooper, by killing his Horse with my Pistol, who falling upon his Leg, could not stir, but yielded to my Mercy; I knowing my own Weakness of Body, and seeing him a lusty tall Fellow, thought it the surest Way to dispatch him, which having done, I plundered him of a Chain, Money, and other Things to the Value of 200 Ducats. This Money was no sooner in my Pockets, but I resumed the Remembrance of my Nobility, and taking my Audience of Leave from Monsieur _Cossey_, I instantly repaired to the Duke _D'Alva_'s Court, where divers of my Kindred seeing my Pocket full of good Crowns, were ready enough to acknowledge me: By their means I was received into Pay, and in Time obtained Favour with the Duke, who would sometimes jest a little more severely at my Personage than I could well bear, for though I must acknowledge my Stature is so little, as I think no Man living is less, yet since it is the Work of Heaven and not my own, he ought not to have upbraided a Gentleman therewith, and those glorious Things that have happened to me may evince, that wonderful Matters may be performed by very unlikely Bodies, if the Mind be good, and Fortune second our Endeavours.