five hundred stripes ; so that his body was all over as black as a sboe. In 

 this condition, he sent him with two heavy chains to be cured in our 

 prison, and several days after called for, and asked him, why he stayed in 

 the Bitte, so they call the Slaves' Prison, whilst his meal was stolen. It 

 seems that day a sack had been taken out of one of the magazines that are 

 near the gate of the Seraglio. Sir, said Bausset, I stayed there ever since 

 you sent me, and durst not come away, without your orders. Hereupon 

 the king struck at him with a spear, and hurt him under the right eye, and 

 then ordered his guards to cast him into the Lyon's Walk : that walk is 

 like a court between four high walls, joining to the castle, and was parted 

 from our Bitte or prison, by a wall, but three hands in thickness, which 

 the lyons once undermined, and had like to have got in to us. 



8. — The youth hearing that sentence pronounced, ran to the ladder that 

 went up to the place, intending to throw himself in, before any other came 

 to do it. The king dismounted from his horse, and went up after, bidding 

 him change his religion, or he should be immediately devoured by the 

 lyons. Bausset resolutely answered, he was not at all concerned at it, 

 since that was the way to make him happy ; for they could take but one 

 life from him, which would end gloriously, and he had rather the lyons 

 should devour his body, than that his soul should become a prey to devils. 

 Hereupon the king drew near the edge of the wall, to cast him down head- 

 long ; but Bausset, who observed him narrowly, perceiving his design, 

 leaped himself amidst four lyons, of a monstrous size, who had not been 

 fed in three days. 



9.— Those creatures beholding their prey, rose up, and roaring put 

 themselves in a posture to fall on him, whilst he oiFered up his prayers to 

 heaven. But they as if with-held by some secret Power, presently lay 

 down again. Yet some of them soon after got up, and made towards him, 

 and being near passed by, without touching him, among the rest, one that 

 was most ravenous came up to him seven times, and passed by as often. 

 Thus the captive, like another Daniel, praised God, amidst those fierce 

 creatures, which had not the power to hurt him. 



10. — The king, who withdrew as soon as he fell in, sent twice to see 

 whether he was devoured, and in case he was not, to offer to take him out, 

 if he would turn Mahometan ; but he returned them the same answer he 

 had given to the king himself. We were all at our prayers to implore 

 tlie divine assistance upon him, and having made some holes through the 

 wall, that parted us from lyons to see, we encouraged him to be resolute 

 and die, rather than renounce his religion, which he zealously promised us. 



11. — In the meanwhile a Spanish woman captive went to petition the 

 king for Bausset's deliverance. She was called Mary of the Conception, 

 born at St. Lucar de Ban-ameda in Andalusia ; came to Mamora, to cany 

 home her husband, who was banished, and they were both taken returning 

 into Spain. Having abundance of wit, without the- least immodesty, she 

 had gained the king's affections, who granted her whatsoever favour she 

 asked either for Moors or Christians. She was called the common mother 

 of all persons in distress, for she never thought much to sue for them. 

 Her husband, whose name was John de Cormona, and she, had had the 



