fation which had preceded her husband's taking it upon himself. The judge, who had not yet left the town, was ftruck with fuch an inftance of mutual affection and generofity, in the breasts of people of fo low a rank; and he faw the woman in private, and heard her relate the whole ftory; in confequence of which the reader will not wonder that he pardoned both, and that a life of industry and happiness in the generous couple fucceeded this terrible event.

HISTORY OF NICHOLAS PEDROSA.

(Continued from page 7.)

HE prifoner, Nicholas Pedrofa, was placed

THE

behind a bar at the foot of the table between the meffengers who brought him in, and having made his obeisance to the awful prefence in the moft fupplicating manner, he was called upon according to the ufual form of questions by one of the junior judges to declare his name, parentage, profeffion, age, place of abode, and to answer various interrogatories of the like trifling nature. His excellency the inquifidor-general now opened his reverend lips, and in a folemn tone of voice, that penetrated to the heart of the poor trembling prifoner, interrogated him as follows:

"Nicholas Pedrofa, we have liftened to the account you give of yourfelf, your bufinefs and connections, now tell us for what offence, or offences, you are here ftanding a prifoner before us: examine your own heart, and fpeak the truth from your confcience without prevarication or difguife." "May it please your excellency, re

plied Pedrofa, with all due fubmiffion to your holiness and this reverend affembly, my moft equitable judges, I conceive I ftand here before you for no worfe a crime than that of cudgelling a refractory mule; an animal fo reftive in its nature, (under correction of your holiness be it fpoken) that although I were bleft with the forbearance of holy Job, (for like him too I am married, and my patience hath been exercifed by a wife), yet could I not forbear to fmite my beaft for her obftinacy, and the rather because I was fummoned in the way of my profeffion, as I have already made known to your most merciful ears, upon a certain crying occafion, which would not admit of a moment's delay.

"Recollect yourself, Nicholas, faid his excellency the inquifidor-general, was there nothing elfe you did, fave fmiting your beaft?"

"I take St. Nicholas de Tolentino to witness, replied he, that I know of no other crime, for which I can be refponfible at this righteous tribunal, fave fmiting my unruly beaft."

"Take notice, brother, exclaimed the inquifidor, 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 willingly furrender the refractory mule to be dealt with as you fee fit, and if you impale her alive it will not be more than fhe deferves."

"Your wits are too nimble, Nicholas, cried. the judge; have a care they do not run away with your difcretion: recollect the blafphemies

you uttered in the hearing of those pious people."

"I humbly pray your excellency, answered the prifoner, to recollect that anger is a fhort madness, and I hope allowances will be made by your holy council for words fpoke in hafte to a rebellious mule: the prophet Balaam was thrown off his guard with a fimple afs, and what is an afs compared to a mule? If your excellency had feen the lovely creature that was fcreaming in agony till I came to her relief, and how fine a boy I ufhered into the world, which would have been loft but for my affiftance, I am fure I should not be condemned for a few hafty words fpoke in paffion.'

"Sirrah, cried one of the puifny judges, refpect the decency of the court!"

"Produce the contents of this fellow's pockets before the court, faid the prefident, lay them on the table."

"Monster, refumed the aforefaid puifny judge, taking up the forceps, what is the use of this diabolical machine ?"

"Please your reverence, replied Pedrofa, aptum eft ad extrahendos fœtus."-" Unnatural wretch, again exclaimed the judge, you have murdered the mother.'

"The mother of God forbid, exclaimed Pedrofa, I believe I have a proof in my pocket, that will acquit me of that charge ;" and fo faying, he tendered the letter we have before made mention of.

The fecretary took it, and by command of the court read as follows:

"Senor Don Manuel de Herrera,

"When this letter, which I fend by Nicholas Pedrofa, fhall reach your hands, you fhall know that I am fafely delivered of a lovely boy, after a dangerous labour; in confideration of which I pray you to pay to the faid Nicholas Pedrofa the fum of twenty gold piftoles, which fum his excellency"

"Hold, cried the inquifidor-general, ftarting haftily from his feat, and fnatching away the letter, "there is more in this than meets the eye: break up the court; I must take an examination of this prifoner in private."

As foon as the room was cleared the iquifidorgeneral beckoning to the prifoner to follow him, retired into a private clofet, where throwing himfelf carelessly into arm chair, he turned a gracious countenance upon the poor affrighted accoucheur, and bidding him fit down upon a low ftool" by his fide, thus accofted him-"Take heed, fenior Pedrofa; your imprisonment is not likely to be very tedious, for I have a commiffion you must execute, without lofs of time: you have too much confideration for yourself to betray a trust, the violation of which muft involve you in inevitable ruin, and can in no degree attaint my character, which is far enough beyond the reach of malice be attentive, therefore, to my orders; execute them punctually and keep my fecret as you tender your own life: doft thou know the name and condition of the lady, whom thou haft delivered?" Nicholas affured him he did not, and his excellency proceeded as follows-" Then I tell thee, Nicholas, it is the illuftrious Donna'

Leonora de Cafafonda; her husband is the prefident of Quito and daily expected with the next arrivals from the South Seas; now, though meafures have been taken for detaining him at the port wherever he fhall land, till he receive further orders, yet you must be fenfible Donna Leonora's fituation is fomewhat delicate: It will be your business to take the fpeedieft measures for her recovery, but as it feems the has had a dangerous and painful labour, this may be a work of more time than could be wifhed, unless medicines more efficacous than common are adminiftered; art thou acquainted with any fuch, friend Nicholas ?" So pleafe your excellency, quoth Nicholas, my proceffes have been tolerably fuccessful; I have bandages and cataplafms with oils and conferves, that I have no caufe to complain of; they will restore nature to its proper ftate in all decent time." "Thou talkeft like a fool, friend Nicholas, interrupting him, faid the inquifidor; what telleft thou me of thy fwathings and fwadlings? quick work must be wrought by quick medicines haft thou none fuch in thy botica? I'll answer for it thou haft not; therefore, look you, firrah, here is a little vial compounded by a famous chemift; fee that you mix it in the next apozem you adminifter to Donna Leonora; it is the most capital fedative in nature; give her the whole of it, and let her husband return when he will, depend upon it he will make no difcoveries from her?"-" Humph! quoth Nicholas within himself, well faid, inquifidor!" He took the vial with all poffible refpect, and was not wanting in profeffions of the most inviolable fidelity and fe

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