e 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.

The governor proceeded to inquire the quality of the English commander,
and the prisoner's opinion what were the motives that prevented his
accepting an invitation from him to come on shore. He demanded,
likewise, the names of the English captains in the squadron, and what
knowledge he had of the embarkation, or preparation for it before his
departure from England. The answers given to the several questions asked
were set down in writing by the notary; but the junto seemed surprised
at his denying any knowledge of the fitting out of the fleet,
particularly the governor, who said he lied that he was a traitor and a
spy, and came directly from England to favour and assist the designs
that were projected against Spain, and that he had been for that purpose
nine months in Seville, in order to procure intelligence of the time the
Spanish navy was expected fr