At length my offence of
having escaped from a monastery and sundry blasphemies, so-called, being
proved against me, I was condemned to death by fire.
'Then at last, when after a long year of torment and of horror, I had
abandoned hope and resigned myself to die, help came. On the eve of the
day upon which I was to be consumed by flame, the chief of my tormentors
entered the dungeon where I lay on straw, and embracing me bade me be
of good cheer, for the church had taken pity on my youth and given me
my freedom. At first I laughed wildly, for I thought that this was but
another torment, and not till I was freed of my fetters, clothed in
decent garments, and set at midnight without the prison gates, would I
believe that so good a thing had befallen me through the hand of God.
I stood weak and wondering outside the gates, not knowing where to fly,
and as I stood a woman glided up to me wrapped in a dark cloak, who
whispered "Come." That woman was your mother. She had learned of my fate
from the boasting of de Garcia and set herself to save me. Thrice her
plans failed, but at length through the help of some cunning agent, gold
won what was denied to justice and to mercy, and my life and liberty
were bought with a very great sum.
'That same night we were married and fled for Cadiz, your mother and I,
but not her mother, who was bedridden with a sickness.
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