Summary Chapter 99

Sancho is then taken to a palace where there is a great feast prepared. He gets frustrated, though, that he only gets to taste something before the meal is taken away. The physician, who is in charge of his health, is responsible for this. Sancho asks for a dish that meets with his approval so he can eat. The physician advises eating some wafers with quince. Sancho calls him a quack and dismisses him, threatening to do him injury if he doesn’t let him eat. He orders to be fed, for a governorship is not worth having if he is starving to death.

A courier comes with a letter. It is from the duke, saying his island is going to be attacked by enemies. There are also four men in the town who want to murder him. He advises Sancho to eat nothing.

Sancho orders the doctor to be thrown into jail for trying to starve him to death. The butler believes the food is dangerous because it was prepared by nuns. Sancho asks for some bread and grapes, feeling they are safe to eat.

A page then enters and announces there is a farmer who wishes to discuss some business with Sancho. Sancho remarks on how people don't consider that governors are mortal and need time to eat and rest. However, he agrees to see the man, so long as they take care he is not one of his assassins.

The farmer comes from a town Sancho knows well. He is a widower with two sons. One is becoming a bachelor, and the other is a licentiate. His wife died from medical malpractice from a doctor who didn't realize she was pregnant. The man laments the lost of his son.

The son that is studying to be a bachelor fell in love with the daughter of a rich family. People praise her for her beauty, though she has many physical flaws (she lost an eye to small-pox, she has cystic acne, etc.). The father likes her. He asks Sancho to give him a letter of recommendation so that his son can marry the girl. Though his son is possessed by the devil, he has a good disposition--and it would be a good match. The man also asks for money so he can set his son up financially.

Sancho tells the man off and dismisses him.