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each under an arm, led him into a spacious chamber, where at the head of a long table sat his excellency the Inquisidor-general, with six of his assessors, three on each side of the chair of state; the Alguazil-mayor, a secretary, and two notaries, with other officers of the holy council, were attending in their places.
The prisoner was placed behind a bar at the foot of the table, between the messengers who brought him in; and having made his obesiance to the awful presence, in the most supplicating manner, he was called upon, according to the usual form of question, by one of the junior judges, to declare his name, parentage, profession, age, place of abode, and to answer various interrogatories, of the like trifling nature: his Excellency the Inquisidor-general now opened his reverend lips, and in a solemn tone of voice, that penetrated to the heart of the poor trembling prisoner, interrogated him as follows:
Nicolas Pedrosa, we have listened to the account you give of yourself, your business, and connections : now tell us for what offence or offences. you are here standing a prisoner before us; examine your heart, and speak the truth from your conscience without prevarication or disguise.
May it please your excellency, replied Pedrosa, with all due submission to your hoiiness and this reverend assembly, my most equitable judges, I conceive I stand here before you for no worse a crime than that of cudgelling a refractory mule, an animal so restive in its nature, (under correction of your holiness be it spoken,) that although
