[2] After some years of soldiering and of captivity in Algiers, Torres Naharro took holy orders, settled in Rome about 1511, and there devoted himself chiefly to writing plays.

Though he alludes to the future pope, Clement VII, as his protector, he left Rome to enter the household of Fabrizio Colonna at Naples as a chaplain[3] where his works were printed under the title of Propaladia (1517).

He classifies his pieces as comedias á noticia and comedias á fantasía; the former, of which the Soldatesca and Tinellaria are examples, present in dramatic form incidents within his personal experience; the latter, which include such plays as Serafina, Himenea, Calamita and Aquilana, present imaginary episodes with adroitness and persuasiveness.

[4] According to an evaluation in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica: Torres Naharro is much less dexterous in stagecraft than many inferior successors, his humour is rude and boisterous and his diction is unequal; but to a varied knowledge of human nature he adds knowledge of dramatic effect, and his rapid dialogue, his fearless realism and vivacious fancy prepared the way for the romantic drama in Spain.

This book was stolen from the Royal Danish Library in the seventies and was not seen again until it turned up at an auction at Christie's in 2003 where relatives of the original thief tried to sell it.