"He is gone to Mass," said he. So he let down the trap door, and went
his way; leaving the rope with the basket hanging still.
And forasmuch as I lay without all comfort, reposing myself only unto
GOD's Providence; yet unwilling to lose any opportunity that lay in me,
if GOD were pleased, whereby I might be delivered. So soon as I heard
the boy was gone: I jumped up and took hold of the rope, and wound
myself up to the [trap] door. Setting my foot against the wall, with my
shoulders did I lift the trap door.
Now when I was aloft, and saw no man; for they were gone to see some
ceremonies of their idolatrous exercises in the city, I knew [of] no
way to escape away; being now in the midst of the way: wherefore it was
impossible to convey myself [away] so secretly, but I should be espied.
Wherefore, for a present shift, I went secretly into a void [_an
empty_] room of the Castle [_i.e. of Palma_] where lay great store of
lime and earth: where I tied an old cloth, which I had, about my head
and face to keep the dust out of my eyes and ears; and so did I creep
into the lime, and covered myself so well as I could, lying there till
towards midnight.
And then hearing no man stirring, I got up, and sought some way to
get forth: but could find none. Then, being greatly perplexed, I bent
myself to the good pleasure of Almighty GOD; making my humble prayers
that he would, of his mercy, vouchsafe to deliver me out of this
miserable thraldom.
And, searching to and fro, in the end I came where three great horses
stood, tied by the head and feet. Then did I unloose the halters from
their heads, and the ropes from their legs; and went to the Castle
wall. When I had tied them end to end, I made it [_the rope_] fast to
the body of a vine which grew upon the wall: and by it did I strike
myself over the wall into the town ditch: where I was constrained to
swim about forty paces, before I could get forth of the ditch.
Then walked I to and fro in the city [_Palma_] two hours, seeing no
man: neither could I devise any way forth.
Wherefore I returned back again to the town ditch, to see if I could
find any way to bring me without the town walls: and following the
ditch, at the last I perceived, by the noise of the water, that there
was a Water Gate through the wall; where I searched and found that the
issue of the water was under the wall.
Then did I very venturously enter the water, and diving under water got
into the Water Gate: and suddenly the force of the water did drive me
through with such violence, that it cast me headlong against another
wall on the outside; which with the blow did much amaze me.
Yet, by the help of GOD, I recovered, swimming down the ditch till
I came where was a trough or pipe; which I took to be laid over the
ditch, to convey some fresh water spring into the city.
There did I climb up a post which bare the same, and got upon the top
of the pipe: where some of the Watch, being near the wall, perceived
me; but could not any way come near to me.
Then cried they, in their tongue, "Who is there?" three or four times;
but I made no answer, but crept as fast as I could to get off the
pipe to land: where, before I could get down, they shot some of their
muskets after me; but, thanked be GOD, none of the shot did hit me.
Thus, with great difficulty, I escaped out of the city; and went about
six miles from thence before the day brake.
* * * * *
Then I went into a thick wood. For I perceived there were very many
sent forth, with hue and cry, both footmen and horsemen, to apprehend
me. Therefore I lay still the day and night following.
And after, for seven days' space [_3rd-9th May 1588_], I wandered
through desert ways, among woods and bushes. Many times, as I came near
the Port ways [_i.e. the roads to the seaport Palma_], I heard the
pursuers inquiring after me; demanding of divers, Whether they had seen
me pass? Some were very earnest to take me; others wishing that I might
escape: for very many times I was so near them that I heard every word
they spake.
Thus I imagined, by all possible means, to avoid [_escape from_] the
hands of these unmerciful tyrants; being in great extremity with hunger
and cold. For since the time I came out of the prison, which was at
the least eight days, I had none other sustenance but berries, which I
gathered from the bushes; and the roots of palm [trees] and other like
roots, which I digged out of the earth: and no other apparel but an old
linen cloth about my body, and a red cap on my head; without either
hose, shoes, or other furniture. So that, by reason the way was very
hard, I was forced to cut my cap in two; and [to] lap it about my feet,
to defend them from the sharp stones and gravel.
Thus travelling for the most part by night, I chanced to come where
there was a house standing alone; and near the house there stood a cart
wherein lay certain horse collars. Where searching among them, I found
the collars lined with sheepskins: which skins I rent from the collars,
and apparelled myself with them in this manner:
I put one piece before me like a breastplate, and another on my
shoulders and back; with the woolly side towards my body: tying them
together over my shoulders and under my arms with Palmite, which is
a weed like to that whereof our hand baskets are made; which is well
known to such as have travelled [in] those parts. And with another
piece I made me a cap.
And in these seemly ornaments I passed forth, till about three days
after [? _12th May 1588_], very early in a morning, most unhappily I
crossed an highway, where a countryman, travelling with a mule laden
with rundlets of wine, espied me, and demanded of me, Whither I was
bound?
I said, I was going to Coothea [_Alcudia, 31 miles from Palma_], which
is a town lying on the shore side.
But he, suspecting me to be the man which was pursued, bade me stay.
But I went onward.
He ran after me, and threw stones at me: but I (not being able to
overrun him, being very feeble) turned back; and, with a pole which I
carried, began to defend myself, striking at him three or four times.
At the last I thrust at him, and hit him on the breast, and overthrew
him: whereupon he made a horrible cry.
And immediately there came to the number of fifteen more: some having
swords; some, harquebuses; and others, crossbows. When I was thus
beset, knowing no way to escape, I yielded myself.
* * * * *
Then they bound me hands and feet, laid me on a mule, and carried me
back again to [_Palma_] the city of Majorca; delivering me to the
Inquisitor: who, when he had sent me to prison, commanded a pair of
bolts to be put on my legs, and an iron clasp about my neck, with a
chain of five fathoms [_30 feet_] long hanging thereat; which was done
accordingly.
And on the morrow [? _13th May 1588_], I was brought forth to the
accustomed place, and in the same manner: where the Inquisitor sitting,
asked first, Why I had broken prison, and run away?