Year: 1859

A JOKE AND NO JOKE.


When the Duke of Alva was in Brussels
abut the beginning Of the tumults in the
Netherlands, he had sat down before Hulst
in Flanders; and there was provost-mar-
shal in his army who was favorte Of his,
and the provost had put some to death by
secret commission from the Duke. There
was Captain Bolea in the army, who was
an intimate friend Of the provost's; and cne
evening late he went to the captains tent
and brought with him a confessor aud cx-
ecutioner, as his custom. He told the cap.
tam lie was come to execute his exceency's
commission and martial law upon him.
lho captain started up suddenly, his hair
standing upright, and being struck with
amazcment, asked him, "Whercin have I
offended the duke?9 The provost answered,
'Slr, | am not 10 expostulate the business
with you, but to execute my commission :;
therefore pray prepare yourself, for there
are your gliostly father and the executioner."
So he fell Oh his knees before the priest,
and having done, and the hangman going
to put the halter about his neck, the provost
threw it away, and breaking into laughter,
told him "there was no such thing, and that
he had done this to try his courage, how he
would bear the terror of DEATH Tho CAP
tain, looking ghastly at him said, erhen,
sir, get you out of my tent, for you have
done me very i'll ofiice.'


The next morning the said Captain Boloa,
though young man about thirty, had his
hair all turned gray, to the admiration o f
ell the world, and the Duke ofAlva himself,
who questioned him about it, but he would
confess nothing. The next year the Duke
was recalled, and in his journey to the court
of Spain he was to pass by ,saragossa and
this Captain bplea and ,le4provost went
along with him as llomcstics. The duke
being 10 reposc some days at Saragossa, the
young'old Captain Bo'ca told him "that
! there was thing in that town worthy TO
be seen by his exceIlency, which was a casa
de loco, be,llam-house, such one as there
was not the like in Christendom." "Well,"
SAID the duke, ego and tell the warden
will be there tomorrow afternoon" The
captain having obtained this, went to the
warden and told him the dukes intention
and that the chief occasion that moved him
to 1t was, that he had an unruly provost
about him who was subject oftentimes to
hts OF frenzy; and because he wished him
well he had tried divers means to cure him
bnt all would not do, therefore he would
try whether keeping him close in Bedlam
Tor some days would do him any good.


The next day the duke came with long
train of captains after him, amongst whom
was the said provost, very shining and fine;
being entered into the house about the dukes
person, Captain Bolea told the warden, poin-
ting at the provost, "That's the man :" the
warden took him aside into dark lobby
where he had placed some of bis men, who
muffied him in his cloak, seized upon his
sword, and hurried him into a dungeon.
The provost had lain there two night and
day; and afterwards it happened that
gentleman, coming out Of curiosity to see
the house, peeped into a small crate where
the provost was. The provost conjured
him as was christian TO Go and tell tho
Duke of Alva his provost was there confined,
nor could he imagine why. The gentleman
did his errand; and the duke being aston
'shed, sent for the warden with his prisoner;
the warden brought The provost in cuerpo,
full Of straws and feathers, mailman like,
before the duke, who, at the sight of him
burst into laughter, and asked the warden
why he made him prisoner Sir" said
the warden, "it was by virtue of your ex-
cellency's commission brought by Captain
Bolea," who stepped forth and toldthe duke,
"Sir you have asked me oft how these hairs
of mine grew SO suddenly gray; I have moi
revealed it to any soul breathing but now
III tell you excellency," and so he related
the passage in Flanders; and added, II have
been ever since beating my brains to know
'howst2 get ap equal revenge Of him for
making me old before my time" The duke
was 80 we'll pleased with the story and the
witness of the revenge that he made them
both friends and the gentleman who told
me this passage said that the said Captain
Bolea is now alive, and could not be less
than ninety years ofage. "


"WHEN l was in Paris," says Lord Sand :
wicb, II had a dancing-master, to whose
instructions I did small credit. The man
was very civil, apdsaa taking leave Of him,
offered him anv saSrica in Il on,Jon trPha,