else but Bread and Figs, the trouble of the day having hindred them from
preparing any thing in the Kitchen. I slept much better this night than I
had done of a long time, but when the day appeared, I expected impati∣ently
what they would do with me; when the Alcaide came at six a
clock to demand the Habit which I had wore at the Procession, of me,
I would have given him the Samnelito, but he would not receive it, be∣cause
I was to be vested with it on all Festivals and Sundays, till I had
intirely performed my Sentence. At seven a clock they brought my
Breakfast, and a little after I was warned to pack up all my Goods, and
be ready to go when called. I obeyed this order with all possible di∣ligence;
and at nine a clock a guard having opened my door, I laid my
bundle upon my Shoulders, and followed them into the great Hall,
where the greatest part of the Prisoners were already. After I had
been there some time, I saw about twenty enter, who had been the
day before condemned to be whipped, and who then received it from
the hand of the Hangman through all the Streets of the Town. Being
thus all assembled, the Inquisitor appeared, before whom we fell upon
our knees to receive his blessing, after we had kissed the ground near his
Feet. Then they commanded the Blacks, who had little or no Luggage,
to take up and carry that of the Whites. Those among the Prisoners
who were not Christians, were sent immediately to the places appoint∣ed
by their Sentence, some into Banishment, others to the Galleys, or
into the house where they make Powder, called Casa da polvera; and
those who were Christians, as well Whites as Blacks, were led into a
House which was hired on purpose in the Town, to be there instructed
for some time.
The Halls and the Galleries of the Lodgings, were appointed for the
Blacks to lye in, and we Whites were put into a separate Chamber,
where they shut us up at night, leaving us in the day time the liberty
of walking about the House, and speaking with those who were there,
or who came from other places to see us. Every day two Catechisings
were held, one for the Blacks, and the other for the Whites. Mass was
celebrated every day, at which we were all present, as well at morning
as at evening.
While I stayed in this House I was visited by a Dominican Frier, one of
my Friends, whom I had known at Daman, where he had been Prior
of his Order. This good Father, loaded with diseases and years, no
sooner knew that I was enlarged, but he put himself into a Pelanquin to
come and see me; he wept at my disaster, and embraced me tenderly,
assuring me he had been in great fears for my fake, that he had often in∣quired
concerning my health and my affairs, of Father Procurator of
the Prisoners, who was his friend, and of the same Order with himself;