A Summary of the Seven Treaties of Lazarillo de Tormes

First Treaty: The Blind Man

Introduced to his family, Lazarus lives with his mother and stepfather (who is of color) following his father's death in service. A half-brother is born from this union. Later, Lazarus enters the service of a blind man. This first master is the greatest influence on his life, teaching him to be clever and how to secure food. However, because the blind man is incredibly greedy and denies him sustenance, Lazarus eventually abandons him.

Second Treaty: The Cleric

His second master is a cleric. As the saying goes, "he escaped the thunder and fell into the lightning." This master is equally or more greedy than the first and represents the corruption of the clergy. Lazarus is fed food gnawed by mice, so he deceives the cleric by stealing food and blaming it on a mouse. He eventually leaves this master for the same reasons as the first.

Third Treaty: The Squire

The third master is a squire, representing false appearances. The master desperately wants to appear wealthier than he truly is. In this dynamic, the squire depends on Lazarus for survival, as the boy is the one who procures food. Due to accumulated debts, the squire eventually flees, and Lazarus is left alone once more.

Fourth Treaty: The Friar

His fourth master is a Friar of the Order of Mercy. The friar gives Lazarus his first pair of shoes, but he is a corrupt man more concerned with women than his religious duties. For this reason, Lazarus leaves him.

Fifth Treaty: The Pardoner

His fifth master is a pardoner, representing false religion. This master sells indulgences (bulls) to make money and manipulates people into buying them. He even makes a pact with a sheriff to stage a fake resurrection to prove the efficacy of his bulls. Eventually, Lazarus separates from him.

Sixth Treaty: The Painter and the Chaplain

This treaty features two masters: a painter, with whom he stays for a short time, and a chaplain. The chaplain offers Lazarus his first paid job, and he remains in this position for four years. Once he earns enough money to buy new clothes and a sword, he leaves the position.

Seventh Treaty: The Sheriff and the Archpriest

This final treaty also involves two masters: a sheriff, whom he leaves quickly due to the difficulty of the job, and the Archpriest of San Salvador. The archpriest provides him with a maid to marry. This relationship further highlights the corruption of the clergy, as rumors circulate regarding the relationship between the maid, Lazarus, and the archpriest. However, the protagonist chooses to remain deaf to these allegations.