“ I take Nicholas de Tolentino to witness, replied he, that I know of no other crime, for which I can be responsible at this righteous tribunal, save smiting my unruly beast. Take notice, brethren, exclaimed the Inquisidor, this unholy wretch holds trampling over friars to be no crime.
Pardon me, holy father, replied Nicholas I hold it for the worst of crimes, and therefore surrender my refractory mule to be dealt with as you see fit: and if you impale her alive it will be no more than she deserves. ”

“ I have bandages and cataplasms, with oils and conserves, that I have no cause to complain of; they will restore nature to its proper state in all deeent time.———Thou talkest like a fool, friend Nicolas, interrupting him, said the Inquisitor? What tellest thou me of thy swathings and swaddlings? quick work must be wrought by quick medicine: hast thou none such in thy botica? ”

“ When Nicolas at length reached the city of Lisbon, he hugged himself in his good fortune; still he recollected that the Inquisition had long arms, and he was yet in a place of no perfect security. Our adventurer had in early life acted as assistant-surgeon in a Spanish frigate bound to Buenos-Ayres, and been captured by a British man-of-war, and earried into Jamaica, had very quietly passed some years in that plaee as journeyman apothecary, in whieh time he had acquired a tolerable acquaintanee with the English languish. ”

“ As soon as the room was cleared, the Inquisitor-general, beckoning to the prisoner to follow him and retired into a private closet where throwing himself carelessly into an arm chair, he turned a gracious countenance upon the poor affrighted accoucheur, and bidding him sit down upon a low stool by his side, thus accosted him:——— Take heart, Senior Pedrosa, your imprisonment is not likely to be very tedious, for I have a commission you must execute without loss of time ”

“ Nicolas de Tolentino, by the way, that if curses could have made the mule to go, the dispute would have been soon ended: but not a saint could make her stir any other way than upwards and downwards at a stand. A small troop of mendicant friars were at this moment conducting the host to a dying man.———'Nicolas Pedrosa,' said an old friar, 'be patient with your beast, and spare your blasphemies ”

“ By no means let him venture into Spain, said Pedrosa; I am well assured there are orders to arrest him in every port, or frontier town where he may present himself. I can well believe it, replied the captain; his piteous case will require further deliberation; in the mean time, let nothing transpire on your part; and keep yourself out of his sight as carefully as you can.———This said, the captain left the cabin, and both parties repaired to their several occupations. ”

“ Ah! then he has a captain, exclaimed Don Manuel, his supperior will be of another way of thinking; tell him this casket contains my jewels; they are valuable; let him present them as a lawful prize, which will enrich the captor; his superior will not hesitate to take them from me.———If they are your excellency’s private property, replied Predrosa, I am ordered to assure you, that if your ship were laden with jewels, no British officer in the service of his king will take them at your hands; the ship and effects of his Catholic Majesty are the only prize of the captors ”

“ So far I will open myself answered the captain, as to point out the Inquisitor-general. The best friend I have in Spain, exclaimed the Governor, my sworn protector he my enemy! impossible. Well sir, replied the captain, I must exert my authority for your sake, to make this ship your prison, till I have waited on our minister at Lisbon, and enquire for your safety; but suspend the harshness of this measure till I return ; and at the same time, he gave orders for the barge; and strict injunctions not to allow of the governer's quitting the frigate ”

“ Then I tell thee, Nicholas, it is the illustrious Donna Leonora de Casafonda; her husband is the president of Quito, and daily expected with the next arrivals from the South Seas: now, though measures have been taken for detaining him at the port, where he shall land, till he shall reeeive further orders, yet you must be sensible Donna Leonora’s situation is somewhat delicate; it will be your business to take the speediest measures for her recovery ”