Preliminary Remarks 120 1547. (9th of October.) His Birth 123 His Origin 123 His early Studies 123 1569. Death of Isabella of Valois, Wife of Philip II. 124 Lopez de Hoyos 124 Cervantes quits Madrid 125 1568. He enters the Service of the Cardinal Acquaviva 125 1569. He visits Rome 126 He enlists under General Antonio Colonna in the Campaign against the Turks 126 1571. The combined Fleets of Venice, Spain, and the Pope assemble at Messina 126 (7th of October.) Battle of Lepanto 127 Gallant Conduct of Cervantes 127 He is wounded, and remains in the Hospital at Messina six Months 128 1572. Don John of Austria 128 Second Campaign against the Turks 128 The Spaniards alone prosecute the War 128 Attempted and unsuccessful Assault on the Castle of Navarino 128 1573. The Venetians sign a Peace with Selim 129 Cervantes enters Tunis with the Marquis de Santa Cruz, and returns to Palermo with the Fleet 129 Cervantes obtains leave to return to Spain 129 The Galley he embarked in attacked by an Algerine 129 Squadron 129 He is taken Prisoner by the Arnaout Captain 130 Piracies carried on by the Algerine Corsairs 131 Their System 131 Interesting Details of the Captivity of Cervantes 131 His Tale of the "Captive" 131 1576. His first Attempt at Escape with some of his Companions 133 Its Failure 133 Gabrièl de Castañedo ransomed; he brings Letters from Cervantes to his Father 133 1577. His Father unable to procure Money to ransom both him and his Brother; Cervantes gives up his Share to secure the Freedom of his Brother 134 He arranges another Plan of Escape 134 1578. He is purchased by Hassan Aga 137