About ten o'clock, the servant entered the room, and beckoned to his mistress. On her return, there was something in her look that eclipsed the gaiety of the conversation. The Doctor begged that she would conceal nothing: she paused; and having cast a look at me, she said she hoped that her fears were ill founded, but that some men of a suspicious appearance had been observed walking under the hedge by the light of the moon. There was no time to be lost in deliberation. As there was no place in the house in which I could be concealed, it was agreed that I should make the best of my way to a wood that lay at some distance. I walked out of the back door as softly as I could, and when I had gotten about half a mile off, I thought myself quite secure; when three men started from behind a tree, seized, bound me hand and foot, and threw me across a horse, that was tied to one of the branches. They swore in the most horrid manner, that if I attempted to make the least noise, they would immediately light a fire, and burn me in it. Their threats, however, did not prevent me from calling out, which brought some people about us. The wretches swore that I was a magician; that I had bewitched two monasteries, and that they had caught me in conversation with the devil; on which the people cried out, with one voice," Burn him, burn him!

G 4

him!" In this manner they carried me to the castle of Plindeburgh, where I was committed to the keep, a dark, cold dungeon, forty feet under-ground. In this state I remained for three days and as many nights; my only sustenance a little bread and water: on the morning of the fourth day, I was conducted into the presence of the governor, a venerable old man, descended from the 'ancient house of Toekoeli; he was covered with wounds, which he had received in the Turkish wars. He desired that I should be unbound: "Now," said he, "I shall listen to all you have to say; but raise your voice, for my hearing is rather dull." I told him all in as few words as I could: when I had done, he ordered some bread and wine to be set before me; several officers were present, not one of whom attempted to speak; at length, the old man said, "Your countrymen have not treated you very well, and yet it is to lines and circles that they are indebted, in a great measure, for their safety-this garrison is raised on the principles. of mathematics." He then proposed a mathematical question to me, which I had the good luck to solve to his satisfaction. "Well," said he, "to put you out of all danger at once, you had better join my regiment; you are young and healthy, and you'll make an excellent soldier in time." I assured him that I should be

proud

proud to have the honour of serving under him in any capacity; that I was no stranger to the military achievements of his illustrious house; that Hungary was still dear to me, though I had been hunted down by a parcel of monks. The old general started up, put his hand on my mouth, and said, "You must not say a word against the monks; they rule this country; they rule us; nay, they rule the Emperor himself, God bless him. But we have gotten their spurs off, and, perhaps, through time, we may dismount them; but, alas! it will not be in my day." He then called a non-commissioned officer, and desired him to take care of me, and, as I was fatigued, to procure me a bed, and to call with me the next morning. The sergeant had heard a good deal of what had happened to me, and as he had seen some service in Germany, his mind was somewhat enlightened. He cursed the monks with all his heart; and swore, that if ever one of them attempted to set a foot in the garrison, he would bucket him. The next morning, the old general gave me some accounts to copy out, and promised, that, if I behaved well, I should not be forgotten. I was happy to find that he was so universally beloved by the whole soldiery, that they would have laid down their lives for him; and no wonder; he had often led them on to victory, and bound up their wounds with his own fingers. I began

I began by degrees to like the life of a soldier tolerably well: when I was not on duty, I used to employ my time in study. The officers were very kind to me, but the monks were determined to embitter my happiness, as far as lay in their power. They were not the only enemies I had to contend with; the lawyers thought they might make something of the matter, so they joined the cry with open mouth, determined to hunt me down at once. The general sent for me one evening, and spoke thus: "You have behaved very well ever since you came into the regiment, and I doubt not, in case of danger, but you would be the first on the breach, and the last in the mine :-yet, withal, I am sorry to tell you, that I received, about two hours ago, an order from the chancery, to deliver you up the spiritual power. The lawyers of that court have drawn up an accusation against you, and I am afraid they will not grant you a copy of it; and if they even did, it would not avail you, for innocence is but a slender shield in the spiritual court: there, I am sorry to say-(see that no one is listening)-you 'll find your judge your accuser, and your accuser your judge.-. Heaven protect you, for I cannot." At these words he turned aside, and I saw the tear steal down his cheek. "My good man!" I was immediately taken into custody; a guard of twenty-five soldiers, picked out of a regiment.com

posed

to

posed of the refuse of all others, received orders, in my hearing, to conduct me to Buda, the old capital of Hungary. When we had marched about six leagues, we were met by a troop of monks, mounted on the finest horses I ever saw. The instant I caught their eyes, they set up a barbarous yell, in which they were joined by the soldiery: they looked at me to see what effect it had on me, but I never changed countenance. The morning was fine; but about twelve the sky was overcast, and in less than an hour the rain began to descend in torrents, as if the cisterns of heaven had been broken. Our guide lost the way, and led us into a large plain, which was covered with water in the course of a few hours. The horses were so fatigued, that they could scarce move a foot; the soldiers complained of hunger: the monks offered to divide their provisions with them, but they were not content with a division-they plundered them of all, and told them, with a sneer, that they could dine on their prayers. At length, we reached the castle of Pressin: I was committed to the strongest and the darkest cell in it. The next morning, I was told, that four of the friars, having caught cold, were in a high fever, so that the rest would stay behind to attend them. On the sixth day we reached Buda. I was committed to prison, a loathsome dungeon, where I remained