de Vargas baron of Hiquera. Being within three months of her expected confinement, Dona Juana was permitted to occupy one of the public prisons until that period arrived. A young female, who was afterwards brought to the stake was confined along with her, and did every thing in her power to promote her recovery. Dona Juana had soon an opportunity of repaying the kind attentions of her fellow-prisoner, who, having been called before the inquisitors, was brought back faint and mangled. Scarcely had the latter acquired sufficient strength to rise from her bed of flags, when Dona Juana was conducted in her turn to the place of torture.

Refusing to confess, she was put into the engine del burro, which was applied with such violence, that the cord penetrated to the bone of her arms and legs; and some of the internal vessels being burst, the blood flowed profusely from her

mouth and nostrils.

She was conveyed

to her cell in a state of insensibility, and expired in the course of a few days.

It is really a refreshment to turn from this most horrible scene to the lonely, dark, yet, tranquil dungeon of the young martyr Algieri.* Pomponio Algieri a native of Naples, was seized when attending the university of Padua, and was sent bound to Venice. His answers to his accusers, and judges, contain a luminous view of the truth. They had the effect of spreading his fame through Italy. The senators of Venice, from regard to his learning and youth, were anxious to set him at liberty; but as he refused to abandon his sentiments, they first condemned him to the galleys, and then sent him to Rome where the pope, Paul, IV. doomed him to be burnt alive, in the 24th year of his age.

* M'Crie's "Reformation in Italy."

The christian magnanimity with which the youthful martyr bore that cruel death, terrified the cardinals who attended the spectacle. A letter written by Algieri, in his prison at Venice, describes the consolations by which he was refreshed and upheld, under his sufferings, in the most powerful and beautiful language.

Extract of a letter written in prison by Pomponio Algieri to his friends in the University of Padua. 1570.

"To allay the grief you feel on my account, I am anxious to impart to you a share of my consolation, that we may rejoice together, and return thanks to the Lord with songs. I speak what to men will appear incredible; I have found honey in the bowels of the lion, (who will believe it?) pleasantness in a dismal pit, soothing prospects of life in the gloomy mansions

G

of death, joy in an infernal gulf! Where others weep I rejoice; where others tremble, I am strong; the most distressing situation has afforded me the highest delight; solitude an intercourse with the good, and galling chains, rest. But instead of this deluded world believing these things, it will be rather disposed to ask in an incredulous tone:

"How think you, will you be able to endure the reproaches and threats of men, the fires, the snow storms, the crosses, the thousand inconveniences of your situation? Do you not look back with regret on your beloved native land, your possessions, your relations your pleasures, your honours? have you forgot the delights of science, and the solace which it yielded you under all your labours? will you at once throw away all the toils, watchings, and laudable exertions devoted to study from your child-hood? Have you no dread

of that death which hangs over you, as if forsooth, you had committed no crime? O foolish and infatuated man, who can by a single word secure all these blessings and escape death, yet will not! How rude to be inexorable to the requests of senators the most august, pious, just, wise and good; to turn an obstinate ear when men so illustrious entreat you!"

"But hear me, ye worldlings, what is hotter than the fire which is laid up for you, and what colder than your hearts which dwell in darkness and have no light? what can be more unpleasant, perplexed and agitated than the life you lead, or more odious and mean than the present world? say what native country is sweeter than heaven, what treasure greater than eternal life? Who are my relations but those who hear the word of God? and where shall riches more abundant, or honors more worthy be found than in