, the presiding
inquisitor, was seen advancing to the bed of state on which the Regent
and her nephew were seated; and then, in an authoritative tone, he
proffered to them an oath to support the Holy Office, and to reveal to
it everything contrary to the faith which might come to their knowledge.
The Prince was seen to hesitate, and not till urged by his aunt would
he consent to take the oath. It was the first time such an oath had
been exacted from any of the Royal Family. Poor Prince! that look of
his sealed his fate!

Antonio Herezuelo, from the moment he saw his wife dragged off by the
familiars of the Inquisition, had been kept in utter ignorance of what
had become of her. Not a reply could he get from any of the stern
familiars who attended him. It vain he petitioned to be told whether
she was in their power--whether she was well in health--whether she had
been placed under examination. A sinister look was the only answer he
received.

"Ay, I must trust in God!" Yes, Antonio, you--all who are in trouble,
sickness, or any other adversity--may trust in Him with confidence,
assured that He in His good time will bring you out of all your
troubles.

As the familiars were clothing the prisoners in their habits of infamy,
Herezuelo thought to himself, "How can I more advantageously employ the
last moments of my life than by declaring to the misguided people the
glad tidings of salvation, by telling them of the Saviour's love, and
that they require no other priest, no other intercessor than He?" Thus
resolved to speak, he walked firmly onward to death, like a soldier to
the fatal breach; but ere he reached the platform, at a sign from the
monks, who had in vain, with all the sophistries they could utter, been
endeavouring to shake his faith, one of the familiars thrust a gag into
his mouth, which the other secured, and he was rendered speechless.
Bitter for an instant was the anguish he felt, but prayer quickly
restored to him his serenity.

"See! see! there is his lordship Melchior Cano, Bishop of the Canaries,
mounting the pulpit. Listen! he is to preach the sermon," was repeated
by many in the crowd.

In flowing language and sonorous tones the Bishop put forth the claims
of the Church of Rome to infallibility. He spoke of the importance of
unity, of the crime of heresy and schism; and, finally, he enlarged on
the duty of all Catholics to deliver over to justice all who were in the
slightest degree guilt