Records of the Spanish Inquisition, Translated from the Original Manuscripts. Andrew Dickson White

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СКАЧАТЬ could write or read, or had ever studied any science or faculty.

      Answered, that he could read, but badly, having taught himself. That he had never studied any art, and could not write.

      Questioned, if he had ever been out of the kingdom of Arragon, and with what persons.

      Answered, that he had once visited the kingdom of Granada, but not in company with any person; and that he had never had communication with people of suspicious faith.

      Questioned, what were the events of his life.

      Answered, that he was born in the city of Manresa, as aforesaid, and brought up in the house of his father, till the age of sixteen years, when he was sent to the town of Igualada, to Maestre Ando, a blacksmith and farrier, with whom he staid four months, learning his trade; that he afterwards resided in several places in Catalonia, and then visited Arragon and Granada, as above stated, made no long stay, but returned hither about two years ago; that lately he had been dwelling in the village of Pont de Armenteria, Campo de Tarragona, where he was seized by the Holy Office and brought to prison.

      Questioned, if he knew or conjectured the cause of his being arrested and confined in the prison of the Holy Office.

      Answered, that he knew not, nor could conjecture, unless it was for this; he had often cured persons of fevers and other disorders, with rosemary water, flor vitæ, rue, &c., which art he had learned from God and the holy Mary our Lady, from whom he had received a particular gift for this purpose.

      Questioned, in what manner, and at what time he had received this gift.

      Answered, that he had received it at two years of age, having been born with a mole on his neck and two others on the left hip; that he had been sick in his youth for ten years or more with great lameness, and had entreated God and the Virgin to restore him to health, and grant him the power to cure others, that he might in this way earn his living.

      Questioned, what reason he had for believing that God and our Lady had given him the above power.

      Answered, that he was led to believe it from the good success which had accompanied his attempts to perform the abovementioned cures, which had been effected in the case of many persons whose names he did not remember, and from whom he had never received any pay but what they gave him out of charity; that if on the above account any testimony had been given against him, he supposed this to be the cause of his imprisonment by the Holy Office, although he was not conscious of ever having committed any offence against our Lord, nor knew any other reason for his being imprisoned.

      The prisoner was then informed that in this Holy Office it was not customary to imprison any person without sufficient information that he had committed, or seen committed, some act which was, or appeared to be contrary to our holy Catholic Faith and Evangelical doctrine, which is taught and professed by the Holy Mother Roman Catholic Church, or against the proper and free jurisdiction of the Holy Office; for which reason he was to understand that it was in consequence of some such information that he had been apprehended, and on this account he was exhorted on the part of God our Lord and his glorious and blessed mother, the Virgin Mary, to bethink himself well, and confess the whole truth. Whereupon he was remanded to prison.

SECOND AUDIENCE

      In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the eleventh day of January, one thousand six hundred and thirtythree, the Inquisitor, Dr Bernardo Luis Cotoner being at his morning audience, ordered the above Juan Duran to be brought out of prison; which being done, and the prisoner present, he was

      Questioned, if he remembered anything relating to his affair, which he was bound to state according to his conscience.

      Answered, that he had nothing more to say.

      The prisoner was then informed, that he had been already in a former audience exhorted in the name of our Lord, and his glorious and blessed mother, the Virgin Mary, to bethink himself well, and unburthen his conscience by declaring the whole truth respecting all which he had done, said, seen, or heard, offensive against God, or contrary in reality or appearance to his Holy Catholic Faith and Evangelical Doctrine, taught and professed by the Holy Mother Roman Catholic Church, or against the proper and free jurisdiction of the Holy Office, without testifying anything false. By following this direction, he would demean himself like a true Catholic Christian, and would have his trial despatched with all possible brevity and mercy; but if not, justice should be executed upon him.

      Answered, that he had nothing more to say. He was then admonished and remanded to prison.

      Before me—

Miguel Rodriguez.THIRD AUDIENCE

      In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the twelfth day of January, one thousand six hundred and thirtythree, the Inquisitors, Dr Bernardo Luis Cotoner, and Dr Domingo Abbad y Huerta, being at their morning audience, ordered the aforesaid Juan Duran, to be brought out of prison; which being done, and the prisoner present, he was

      Questioned, if he remembered anything relating to his affair, which he was bound by his conscience to declare.

      Answered, that he had nothing more to say.

      The prisoner was then informed, &c. [The whole repeated as above.]

      Answered, that he had nothing more to say.

      He was then informed that the Promoter Fiscal of this Holy Office had an accusation to bring against him, before which he would do well to declare the whole truth, and unburthen his conscience, otherwise the Promoter Fiscal would appear and proceed to his trial.

      Answered, that he had nothing more to say.

      Straightway appeared Dr Francisco Gregorio, Promotor Fiscal of this Holy Office, and declared that he presented an accusation, signed with his name, against the said Juan Duran, taking an oath that he did not present the same through malice. The accusation was as follows:—

ACCUSATION

      I, Dr Francisco Gregorio, Fiscal of this Holy Office, appear before your Excellencies, and accuse criminally, Juan Duran, blacksmith, a native of the city of Manresa, attached to the secret prison of this Inquisition, and now present; inasmuch as the said person, being a baptized and confirmed Christian, and in the enjoyment of all the rights and immunities which such persons do and ought to enjoy, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but disregarding his own conscience and the justice administered by your Excellencies, has committed offences against our Holy Catholic Faith, by uttering superstitious and blasphemous speeches, and compacting with the devil, in the manner following.

      1. A few days before the feast of All Saints last, in a certain part of the town of Valles, in presence of certain persons, the said Duran declared, two or three times, that he possessed a book containing a prayer, of such efficacy, that if it were thrown into a fire along with a crucifix, the book would be preserved, and the crucifix consumed.

      2d. In the same place and on the same occasion, the persons abovementioned hearing the said Duran repeat with much earnestness the above assertion, reproved him, and advised him to give over saying such things, as they were scandalous, and, if known to the Inquisition, would bring some punishment upon him; whereupon he again repeated it, and declared that he had said it and would say it again, thus remaining in his obstinacy and error.

      3d. About three months since, in the town of Valles, the said prisoner being in conversation with a certain person, told him that he knew how to cure all disorders; that he had a book worth fifty ducats, as by merely looking at it he could cure any disease, and even restore the dead to life; and, moreover, that if people knew his great gifts he should become very rich.

      4th. СКАЧАТЬ