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Article A MASONIC HEEO: ← Page 8 of 8
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A Masonic Heeo:
directed to extend my arms with the palms outwards ; a rope being attached to each wrist , they turned a windlass , and gradually drew them nearer and nearer to each other behind , until the backs of the hands touched . Both my shoulders were dislocated ; from my mouth issued a stream of blood , ^ he operation being thrice repeated , I was taken to my cell , whe ^ JJie surgeon , in setting my bones , put me to almost equal pain .
"At the expiration of two months , being a little restored , a new executioner , clothed in a long black garment which concealed his person from head to foot , with a mask upon his face having two holes for sight , came to my cell and Conducted me to the torture-room . Around my body he placed a heavy iron chain , which crossing upon my stomach , terminated at my wrists . He then set niy back against a plank , having a pulley
at each extremity , through which passed ropes attached to the chain at my wrists . The tormentor stretching these ropes with a roller , pressed and bruised my stomach ; and wrists and shoulders were again dislocated The surgeon , however , set them directly ; The sympathizing inquisitor , having repeated his condolence and his exhortations , withdrew , making a sign in doing so for the recommencement of the torture .
" Nine different times they had me on the rack . I was reduced to the state of a helpless cripple , unable during some weeks to raise my hand to my mouth , and my body swelled with inflammation caused by these frequent dislocations . I have too much reason to dread that I shall feel their effects through life , being seized from time to time with thrilling pains , unknown to me ere I fell into the bloody hands of these hellish inquisitors .
u The period for a general catto da f & being arrived , I was compelled to walk witKthe other victims . When at St . Dominic ' s Church , my sentence was read , and I found myself condemned to the galleys for the space of four years . " There I had leisure to reflect on the means best adapted to obtain my liberty . I succeeded in communicating with my brother-in-law , Mr . Barber , entreating him humbly to address the Earl of Harrington in my favour , as he had the honour to live in his lordship ' s family . This nobleman , whose
humanity and generosity have been the theme of abler pens than mine , undertook to procure my freedom . Accordingly , his lordship spoke to his grace the Duke of Newcastle , one of the principal secretaries of state , that he would supplicate our sovereign to order his minister at Lisbon to demand me as a British subject . His Majesty , ever attentive to the felicity of his subjects , and desirous to relieve them from all their misfortunes , graciouslv assented . Instructions were at once sent to Mr . Compton
minister at Lisbon , to demand an immediate audience of the Portuguese minister , and Admiral Matthews , then sailing with a fleet to the Mediterranean , carried those instructions but . His orders were , to anchor for four-and-twenty hours only in the Tagus , and within half that period to see me safely delivered on board some English vessel about to sail for England , The tenor of this despatch was too significant to be dallied with . An order came for my immediate release , and I left the prison of the galleys on the 25 th October , 1743 .
" I return our sovereign King George IL my most dutiful acknowledgments for having graciously condescended to interpose in behalf of an unhappy galley-slave . I shall retain as long as I have health , the deepest affection and loyalty for his sacred person , and shall be ever ready to expose my life , as every true-hearted Freemason is bound to do , for his Majesty and all his august family . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Masonic Heeo:
directed to extend my arms with the palms outwards ; a rope being attached to each wrist , they turned a windlass , and gradually drew them nearer and nearer to each other behind , until the backs of the hands touched . Both my shoulders were dislocated ; from my mouth issued a stream of blood , ^ he operation being thrice repeated , I was taken to my cell , whe ^ JJie surgeon , in setting my bones , put me to almost equal pain .
"At the expiration of two months , being a little restored , a new executioner , clothed in a long black garment which concealed his person from head to foot , with a mask upon his face having two holes for sight , came to my cell and Conducted me to the torture-room . Around my body he placed a heavy iron chain , which crossing upon my stomach , terminated at my wrists . He then set niy back against a plank , having a pulley
at each extremity , through which passed ropes attached to the chain at my wrists . The tormentor stretching these ropes with a roller , pressed and bruised my stomach ; and wrists and shoulders were again dislocated The surgeon , however , set them directly ; The sympathizing inquisitor , having repeated his condolence and his exhortations , withdrew , making a sign in doing so for the recommencement of the torture .
" Nine different times they had me on the rack . I was reduced to the state of a helpless cripple , unable during some weeks to raise my hand to my mouth , and my body swelled with inflammation caused by these frequent dislocations . I have too much reason to dread that I shall feel their effects through life , being seized from time to time with thrilling pains , unknown to me ere I fell into the bloody hands of these hellish inquisitors .
u The period for a general catto da f & being arrived , I was compelled to walk witKthe other victims . When at St . Dominic ' s Church , my sentence was read , and I found myself condemned to the galleys for the space of four years . " There I had leisure to reflect on the means best adapted to obtain my liberty . I succeeded in communicating with my brother-in-law , Mr . Barber , entreating him humbly to address the Earl of Harrington in my favour , as he had the honour to live in his lordship ' s family . This nobleman , whose
humanity and generosity have been the theme of abler pens than mine , undertook to procure my freedom . Accordingly , his lordship spoke to his grace the Duke of Newcastle , one of the principal secretaries of state , that he would supplicate our sovereign to order his minister at Lisbon to demand me as a British subject . His Majesty , ever attentive to the felicity of his subjects , and desirous to relieve them from all their misfortunes , graciouslv assented . Instructions were at once sent to Mr . Compton
minister at Lisbon , to demand an immediate audience of the Portuguese minister , and Admiral Matthews , then sailing with a fleet to the Mediterranean , carried those instructions but . His orders were , to anchor for four-and-twenty hours only in the Tagus , and within half that period to see me safely delivered on board some English vessel about to sail for England , The tenor of this despatch was too significant to be dallied with . An order came for my immediate release , and I left the prison of the galleys on the 25 th October , 1743 .
" I return our sovereign King George IL my most dutiful acknowledgments for having graciously condescended to interpose in behalf of an unhappy galley-slave . I shall retain as long as I have health , the deepest affection and loyalty for his sacred person , and shall be ever ready to expose my life , as every true-hearted Freemason is bound to do , for his Majesty and all his august family . "