words: "You have been taken up as a spy, accused of
treachery, and tortured, as we acknowledge, innocently: (which appears
by the account lately received from Madrid of the intentions of the
English) yet it was the divine power that brought those judgments upon
you, for presumptuously treating the blessed miracle of Loretto with
ridicule, and expressing yourself in your writings irreverently of his
holiness, the great agent and Christ's vicar upon earth; therefore you
are justly fallen into our hands by their special appointment: thy
books and papers are miraculously translated by the assistance of
Providence influencing thy own countrymen."

This trumpery being ended, they gave the prisoner eight days to consider
and resolve whether he would become a convert to their religion; during
which time the inquisitor told him he, with other religious orders,
would attend, to give him such assistance thereto as he might want. One
of the Jesuits said, (first making the sign of the cross upon his
breast) "My son, behold, you deserve to be burnt alive; but by the grace
of our lady of Loretto, whom you have blasphemed, we will both save your
soul and body."

In the morning, the inquisitor with three other ecclesiastics returned,
when the former asked the prisoner what difficulties he had on his
conscience that retarded his conversion; to which he answered, "he had
not any doubts in his mind, being confident in the promises of Christ,
and assuredly believing his revealed will signified in the gospels, as
professed in the reformed catholic church, being confirmed by grace, and
having infallible assurance thereby of the christian faith." To these
words the inquisitor replied, "Thou art no christian, but an absurd
heretic, and without conversion a member of perdition." The prisoner
then told him, it was not consistent with the nature and essence of
religion and charity to convince by opprobrious speeches, racks, and
torments, but by arguments deduced from the scriptures; and that all
other methods would with him be totally ineffectual.

The inquisitor was so enraged at the replies made by the prisoner, that
he struck him on the face, used many abusive speeches, and attempted to
stab him, which he had certainly done had he not been prevented by the
Jesuits: and from this time he never again visited the prisoner.

The next day the two Jesuits returned, and putting on a very grave
supercilious air, the superior asked him, what resoluti