egs being opened, he expired gradually, falling a martyr to the
malice of the inquisitors, and the stupid bigotry of his father.

_The Persecution of Dr. AEgidio._

Dr. AEgidio was educated at the university of Alcala, where he took his
several degrees, and particularly applied himself to the study of the
sacred scriptures and school divinity. The professor of theology dying,
he was elected into his place, and acted so much to the satisfaction of
every one, that his reputation for learning and piety was circulated
throughout Europe.

AEgidio, however, had his enemies, and these laid a complaint against him
to the inquisitors, who sent him a citation, and when he appeared to it,
cast him into a dungeon.

As the greatest part of those who belonged to the cathedral church at
Seville, and many persons belonging to the bishopric of Dortois highly
approved of the doctrines of AEgidio, which they thought perfectly
consonant with true religion, they petitioned the emperor in his behalf.
Though the monarch had been educated a Roman catholic, he had too much
sense to be a bigot, and therefore sent an immediate order for his
enlargement.

He soon after visited the church of Valladolid, did every thing he could
to promote the cause of religion, and returning home he soon after fell
sick, and died in an extreme old age.

The inquisitors having been disappointed of gratifying their malice
against him while living, determined (as the emperor's whole thoughts
were engrossed by a military expedition) to wreak their vengeance on him
when dead. Therefore, soon after he was buried, they ordered his remains
to be dug out of the grave; and a legal process being carried on, they
were condemned to be burnt, which was executed accordingly.

_The Persecution of Dr. Constantine._

Dr. Constantine, an intimate acquaintance of the already mentioned Dr.
AEgidio, was a man of uncommon natural abilities and profound learning;
exclusive of several modern tongues, he was acquainted with the Latin,
Greek, and Hebrew languages, and perfectly well knew not only the
sciences called abstruse, but those arts which come under the
denomination of polite literature.

His eloquence rendered him pleasing, and the soundness of his doctrines
a profitable preacher; and he was so popular, that he never preached but
to a crowded audience. He had many opportunities of rising in the
church, but never would take advantage of them; for if a living of
greater