Page:History of Nicolas Pedrosa, and his escape from the Inquisition in Madrid.pdf/8

 the poor trembling prioner, interrogated him as follows———

"Nicolas Pedroa, we have litened to the account you give of yourelf, your buines and connections, now tell us for what offence or offences, you are here tanding a prioner before us: Examine your own heart and peak the truth from your concience, without prevarication or diguie." “May it pleae your excellency, replied Pedroa, “ with all due ubmiion to your holines and this reverend aembly, my mot equitable judges, I conceive I tand here before you for no wore a crime, than that of cudgelling a refractory mule; an animal o retive in its nature, (under correction of your holines be it poken) that though I were blet with the forbearance of holy Job, (for like him too I am married, and my patience hath been exercied by a wife,) yet could I not forbear to mite my beat for her obtinacy, and the rather becaue I was fummoned in the way of my profeion, as I have already made known to your mot merciful ears, upon a certain crying occaion, which would not admit of a moment's delay.”

"Recollect yourelf, Nicolas," aid his excellency the Inquiidor General, "was there nothing ele you did, ave miting your beat?"

"I take aint Nicolas de Tolentino to witnes," replied he, "that I know of no other crime for which I can be reponsible at this righteous tribunal, ave miting my unruly beat.”

"Take notice bretheren," exclaimed the Inquiidor, “this unholy wretch holds trampling over friars to be no crime.”

"Pardon me, holy father," replied Nicolas, "I hold it for the wort of crimes, and therefore willingly urrender my refractory mule to be