and from that day counterfeited lunacy with such success, that in less
than three months I was delivered from the Bastille, and sent to the
galleys, in which they thought my bodily vigour might be of service,
although the faculties of my mind were decayed. Before I was chained
to the oar, I received three hundred stripes by way of welcome, that I
might thereby be rendered more tractable, notwithstanding I used all the
arguments in my power to persuade them I was only mad north-north-west,
and, when the wind was southerly, knew a hawk from a handsaw.

"In our second cruise we had the good fortune to be overtaken by
a tempest, during which the slaves were unbound, that they might
contribute the more to the preservation of the galley, and have a chance
for their lives, in case of shipwreck. We were no sooner at liberty,
than, making ourselves masters of the vessel, we robbed the officers,
and ran her on shore among rocks on the coast of Portugal; from whence
I hastened to Lisbon, with a view of obtaining my passage in some ship
bound for England, where, by this time, I hoped my affair was forgotten.

"But, before this scheme could be accomplished, my evil genius led me
into company; and, being intoxicated, I began to broach doctrines on
the subject of religion, at which some of the party were scandalized and
incensed; and I was next day dragged out of bed by the officers of the
Inquisition, and conveyed to a cell in the prison belonging to that
tribunal.

"At my first examination, my resentment was strong enough to support me
under the torture, which I endured without flinching; but my resolution
abated, and my zeal immediately cooled, when I understood from a
fellow-prisoner, who groaned on the other side of the partition, that
in a short time there would be an auto da fe; in consequence of which
I should, in all probability, be doomed to the flames, if I would not
renounce my heretical errors, and submit to such penance as the church
should think fit to prescribe. This miserable wretch was convicted of
Judaism, which he had privately practised by connivance for many years,
until he had amassed a fortune sufficient to attract the regard of the
church. To this he fell a sacrifice, and accordingly prepared himself
for the stake; while I, not at all ambitious of the crown of martyrdom,
resolved to temporize; so that, when I was brought to the question the
second time, I made a solemn recantation. As I had no worldly fortu