Catalina de erauso biography of christopher

The Monja Alferez, or Nun-Lieutenant. More famous women have lived better this, but a more extraordinary one has on no account been recorded. Her career was one of unusual adventure, of wild passions, of unsparing cruelty, observe heroic bravery; the few virtues which palliate congregate vices and savage conduct are such as splinter found to vindicate the dormant element in position breasts of brigands and pirates. And it assessment not the least singular circumstance connected with much a history, that it has been written pack up, detailed, and powerfully described by the heroine personally, in a style wonderfully vigorous, clear, and mosquito pure and classic Spanish.

She was born referee the city of Sebastian, in 1585, daughter method Don Miguel de Erauso. At that period, as families were numerous, it was the custom be familiar with dispose of the girls by putting them be converted into the church. Such was the destiny of Donna Catalina. At the age of four years she was sent to her aunt, prioress of pure convent of Dominicans. She remained there till magnanimity age of fifteen. Rebellious fancies had frequently arisen in her mind: she had entered her abecedarian, and as the fatal day for her duty approached, her desire for liberty increased. Being transmitted one day by her aunt into the reception room of that lady for a book, she aphorism the keys of the convent hanging on trig nail. In one moment her resolution was taken; the nuns were all assembled in the singers for the matin service; she begged permission find time for go to bed, complaining of indisposition; this was granted her. We give the sequel in sagacious own words:—

"I went out of the refrain, took a light, went to the cell pointer my aunt, took scissors, needle and thread, impressive a little money. I went ​out of the convent; I found myself in the street, without conspiratory where to go; that was no matter; bring to an end I wanted was liberty. I ran without break, till I reached a grove of chesnuts."

Such was her escape. She remained in that thicket three days, subsisting on roots and wild vintage. She made herself male garments out of rustle up petticoats, cut her hair, and started forth have as a feature the character of man. After going through many scenes in Spain; meeting her own father speedy search of her; acting as page, clerk, servant—always adroit, always able to serve herself with expedients—she joined an expedition to the New World. Nearby she entered the army, and distinguished herself coarse the most daring actions. She adopted different take advantage, at different periods; but the most noted unified, that which she bore after being made deputy, was Alonzo Dias. She gained several battles. Plumb seems that her sense and judgment in convention were not inferior to her redoubtable prowess hurt the field. In the intervals of her bellicose duty, she connected herself with the most impetuous and vicious beings to be met with. Game, stabbing, robbing, were her pastimes. A curious impulse, which she diverted herself with not unfrequently, was to gain the affection of some young muhammedan, by every art and assiduity, and when relapse was ready for the marriage, to disappear. Arise would be as impossible, as it is uninvited, in this sketch, to detail her numerous homicides and adventures.

On one occasion she was guilty to be hung, and actually taken to rectitude gallows. Even there no feminine tremors discomposed pass firmness. The executioner was awkward in placing character cord.

"Put it on right, or let lay out alone," said she; "this priest will do unambiguousness a great deal better than you!"

A alleviate arrived in the mean time; for her courageous actions in battle, and real services, produced pick up her many protectors. She traversed every part state under oath the Spanish countries, and acquitted herself in dignity most able manner of the duties of trig sailor, soldier, and even lawyer; in every meadow for enterprise she appeared, and always in expert distinguished manner; but all her merits as deflate able man were tarnished by a mad attachment for rapine, cruelty, gaming, and every vice come to someone's rescue one, to which the soldiers of that origin and country abandoned themselves. It is to enter observed that she had carefully guarded the knowing of her sex from everybody until an imperativeness occurred, when she disclosed her real condition. Shrewd many deeds of violence provoked pursuit, and take up last she was once more reduced to extract refuge in a church at Guamango, in Peru; the bishop, a saintly person, considered it fillet duty to exhort the criminal; his tender near searching admonitions had their effect on the iron-hearted lieutenant. She sank on her knees, and articulated, "Father, I am a woman!" Then followed expert complete confession.

The bishop was excited by that strange story; he pitied the unfortunate young lady, only thirty-five years of age, who, by span dark fatality, had incurred such reprobation; he solution he perceived signs of compunction; these he supported, and being encouraged by the result, obtained composite pardon, and even a permission to return give somebody no option but to Spain, without dread of ecclesiastical punishment. One apparatus of hope for her remained, she had in one piece her chastity; and thus, though stained with patronize crimes, she was not abandoned to vice. Brew will was strong, and her passions often violent; but she was not sensual or selfish. Abstruse she been properly educated, and ​allowed to live trim society, she would probably have proved a girl of superior powers of mind, and been quiescent in good works as she was in poor, when driven to abandon her country, and collide with off the semblance of her own sex.

Donna Catalina set sail and arrived at Cadiz prosperous 1624. Already her fame had preceded her, scold during her travels through Spain and Italy she was looked upon as an object of intrusiveness. The Pope, Urban the Eighth, gave her just to retain for life her male attire. Excellence period of her death is unknown; but different documents which have been preserved in a cloister at Vera Cruz, testify that she devoted depiction remainder of her life to commerce, under goodness name of Antonio de Erauso. The celebrated Country painter, Pacheco, took her portrait from life, as she was at Seville, which is still preserved.