Fox's Book of Martyrs: Or A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant; Deaths of the Primitive Protestant MartyrsFoxe, John
HistoryHistory
Fox's Book of Martyrs: Or A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant; Deaths of the Primitive Protestant Martyrs
Foxe, John
Church history; Martyrs; Persecution
The next day many persons from on board the fleet came ashore. Among
these were several well known by Mr. Lithgow, who, after reciprocal
compliments, spent some days together in festivity and the amusements of
the town. They then invited Mr. Lithgow to go on board, and pay his
respects to the admiral. He accordingly accepted the invitation, was
kindly received by him, and detained till the next day when the fleet
sailed. The admiral would willingly have taken Mr. Lithgow with him to
Algiers; but having contracted for his passage to Alexandria, and his
baggage, &c. being in the town, he could not accept the offer.
As soon as Mr. Lithgow got on shore, he proceeded towards his lodgings
by a private way, (being to embark the same night for Alexandria) when,
in passing through a narrow uninhabited street, he found himself
suddenly surrounded by nine sergeants, or officers, who threw a black
cloak over him, and forcibly conducted him to the governor's house.
After some little time the governor appeared when Mr. Lithgow earnestly
begged he might be informed of the cause of such violent treatment. The
governor only answered by shaking his head, and gave orders that the
prisoner should be strictly watched till he (the governor) returned from
his devotions; directing at the same time, that the captain of the town,
the alcade major, and town notary, should be summoned to appear at his
examination, and that all this should he done with the greatest secrecy,
to prevent the knowledge thereof reaching the ears of the English
merchants then residing in the town.
These orders were strictly discharged, and on the governor's return, he,
with the officers, having seated themselves, Mr. Lithgow was brought
before them for examination. The governor began by asking several
questions, namely, of what country he was, whither bound, and how long
he had been in Spain. The prisoner, after answering these and other
questions, was conducted to a closet, where, in a short space of time,
he was visited by the town-captain, who inquired whether he had ever
been at Seville, or was lately come from thence; and patting his cheeks
with an air of friendship conjured him to tell the truth: "For (said he)
your very countenance shows there is some hidden matter in your mind,
which prudence should direct you to disclose." Finding himself, however,
unable to extort anything from the prisoner, he left him, and reported
the same to the governor and the other officers; on which Mr. Lithgow
was again brought before them, a general accusation was laid against
him, and he was compelled to swear that he would give true answers to
such questions as should be asked him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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