Records of The Spanish Inquisition Part 14

RODRIGUEZ.

SENTENCE.

In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the twentyeighth day of July, one thousand six hundred and thirtyseven, the inquisitors, Dr Domingo Abbad y Huerta, and the Licentiate Don Blas Alexandre de Lezaeta presiding in their morning audience, (the Ordinary not attending by reason of the Cabildo of Tarragona having neglected to appoint one to this office _sede vacante_, although notified to this end, and the term of eight days having expired) having examined the proceedings carried on in the Holy Office against Leonardo Phelipe, a Frenchman by birth, and a needlemaker by occupation, a native of the village of Agullon, in the bishopric of Genes, and an inhabitant of the city of Tarragona, now in the secret prison of this Holy Office,--

Ordered, unanimously, that this trial, without any other sentence, be suspended, and remain as it is at present.

Before me--

MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ, _Sec'y_.

TRIAL OF DON ANTONIO ADORNO,

FOR NECROMANTICAL PRACTICES.

In the city of Valencia, on the thirteenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and fiftysix, before Dr Lorenzo Ballester, Presbyter, Confessor to the secret prison of the Holy Office, and before the Extraordinary Commissary for this investigation, appeared voluntarily, and made oath to declare the truth, and preserve secrecy, a person calling himself Joaquim Gil, scrivener, residing in the house of Felipe Matheu in the Calle del Mar of this city, a native of Puebla de Arenoso, in this archbishopric, of age, as he stated, twentyfour years.

Questioned, why he had demanded an audience.

Answered, that it was for the purpose of giving information to the Holy Office respecting a certain soldier of the regiment of Asturias in the garrison of this city. This person was called Don Antonio, and was by birth a Neapolitan, a robust, middle sized man, with a dark complexion, and about twentyfour or twentyfive years of age, which was all the description the deponent could give. On the evening of the eleventh of the present month, the deponent and the abovementioned Felipe Matheu were in company with five soldiers at the house of the said Matheu.

Among these was the abovenamed Don Antonio, and this person declared in conversation with the deponent that he possessed the faculty of discovering the thief when a thing was stolen. This he had performed in the following manner. On a certain occasion one of his friends was lamenting the loss of some money which had been stolen from him, when he, the said Don Antonio, replied, that he would discover the thief. He then wrote the names of all the persons present upon separate pieces of paper, and threw them into the fire. Those which contained the names of the innocent were consumed, but the one containing that of the thief remained. n.o.body was able to take this out of the fire except Don Antonio. The paper was kept from consuming by the power of the words _Christo Senor Nuestro_, uttered by him, and it was drawn out from among the coals by the help of this expression; _'Ego sum. Factus est h.o.m.o.

Consummatum est_.' Besides this he knew another way of practising this divination; and this was to collect the ashes made by the papers, and rub them on the back of his hand, where they would leave marked the name of the thief. Furthermore he stated that he possessed another method of accomplis.h.i.+ng this purpose, but this he did not explain.

This conversation having been heard by the abovementioned Felipe Matheu, he rebuked Don Antonio, and this last replied that what he had done he would repeat even before the Inquisitors, or, if that was of any consequence, after communion, inasmuch as he used the words which had been uttered by Christ. Proceeding in the conversation with the deponent, he told him that he had some instruments in his pocket which were useful for many things. He then drew from his right pocket a paper folded up and containing two or three coils of something which the deponent did not see distinctly, on account of the darkness, but felt and handled them. The deponent asked Don Antonio where he had obtained the above knowledge. He replied that he had got it by studying a book of magic which he possessed; that he had learned from this the secret of making himself invisible, and also to render a man invulnerable to thrusts with a sword, a trial of which last he would make upon a dog or cat and show the efficacy of it. The deponent asked him if he knew any secrets relative to playing at ball. He answered that he did not remember any at present, but would make some researches and call upon the deponent at his house, when he would teach him a secret to gain the favor of the ladies. This was agreed to, and the deponent described the house to him. He offered him money if he would discover all his arts, which he did for the purpose of laying the whole before the Holy Office for the benefit of the Catholic Faith.

Questioned, if any other persons heard the above conversation, or knew anything relating to it.

Answered, that the abovementioned Felipe Matheu heard a great part of it, as also Joseph Masquef, scrivener, who lived in the same house, Joseph Jordan, a servant, and two Alguacils, a father and son, who were in the company, and whose names he did not know.

Questioned, if he had made this declaration out of any malice which he bore to the said Don Antonio.

Answered, that he had made it solely from the impulse of his conscience, and because he believed the above things were contrary to our Holy Faith. He affirmed that the whole was the truth, promised secrecy, and signed his name.

JOAQUIM GIL.

Before me--

DR JOSEPH MONTES, _Presbyter Notary of the Holy Office_.

In the city of Valencia, on the seventeenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and fiftysix, before Dr Lorenzo Ballester, Confessor to the secret prison of the Holy Office and Extraordinary Commissary for this investigation, appeared voluntarily and made oath to declare the truth, and preserve secrecy, Joaquim Gil, &c.

Questioned, why he had demanded an audience.

Answered, on account of the declaration made by him before the present Commissary respecting a certain Don Antonio, of the company of Don Jorge Duran, in the regiment of Asturias. This man, in addition to the peculiarities of his person before described, had a scar above his left eyebrow, apparently the effect of a wound, and a dint of the size of a filbert in the top of his forehead, with black and rather short hair. He came to the house of the deponent on the fifteenth of this month according to agreement, and after some conversation gave him a strip of parchment, about a finger's breadth wide and above a span long, this was slit through the middle lengthwise and had written on it the following words. _'Ego + sum. Exe + h.o.m.o consummatum est. Ego Juaginus Aprecor Dominum Nostri Jesu Christi in vitam eternam seculi seculorum libera me de omnibus rebus de ignis cautius et omnia instrumenta hominum detentat me hac die hac nocte custote rege et cuberna me Amen._ This was rolled up in lead with a small piece of bone, and Don Antonio told him to wear it in the shape of a cross, next to his skin, near the heart, and it would s.h.i.+eld him effectually from all thrusts with a sword. It was exhibited by the deponent.

He also gave him another strip of parchment of half a finger in breadth, and above two yards long. At one extremity was drawn with ink a leg and foot, and at the other a heart with a cross above it. Other figures and letters were drawn in different parts. With this he proceeded to take divers measurements upon the body of the deponent, as, from one shoulder to the other, from the shoulder to the chin and nose, &c. This he informed him would secure him from being wounded, if he used it in the following manner. He was to rub it with the wax which dripped from the tapers burnt during the celebration of ma.s.s. This was to be done on nine several days during ma.s.s, keeping it under his cloak, and taking care that no one saw him. Afterwards it was to be worn in the shape of a cross, next the skin, near the heart. He gave him at the same time three bits of parchment, each about three fingers' breadth long and one wide.

Two of these contained each two lines of writing, and the other three.

They were severally numbered on the back, 1, 2, 3. To these were added another, very small, also written over.

He informed him that by the help of these he could perform any kind of divination, and that if he wore the thinnest of these parchments upon his left little finger, under a white stone set in a ring, he would be directed by it in the following manner. Whenever the stone turned red, he might play at any game which was going on, except dice or _quillas_, and be sure to gain; but if the stone turned black, he would lose by playing. Before any such use, however, was made of the parchments, he was directed to put them in the shoe of his left foot, near the ankle, and to sprinkle them with the water used by the priest at ma.s.s. These parchments were also exhibited.

The deponent requested Don Antonio to show him the book of magic which he had mentioned, but he declined, alleging that the deponent could not read nor understand it.

Questioned, if he knew, or had heard that the said Don Antonio Adorno had any temporary insanity, or was given to wine, and if any other person was present during the last conversation.

Answered, that he knew not whether he was subject to any such irregularities, and that no other person was present during their last interview. He declared that the whole of the declaration was the truth, and not uttered by him from malice or ill feeling, but solely in obedience to his conscience and oath. Secrecy was promised by him, and he added his signature.

JOAQUIM GIL.

Before me--

DR JOSEPH MONTES, _Presbyter Notary of the Holy Office_.

In the city of Valencia, on the fourteenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and fiftysix, before Dr Lorenzo Ballester, Presbyter, Confessor of the secret prison of the Holy Office, appeared, according to summons, and made oath to declare the truth and preserve secrecy, Joseph Sanches Masquefa, scrivener, residing in the house of Felipe Matheu, scrivener, of this city, a native of the city of Origuela, of age, as he stated, nineteen years.

Questioned, if he knew or conjectured the cause of his being summoned to appear.

Answered, that he did not know, but supposed it to be for the purpose of learning what he had heard of a conversation in which a certain soldier of the regiment of Asturias, in the garrison of this city, was engaged; this person, who, as he had been informed was named Don Antonio * * *

and was by birth a Neapolitan, was of a middling height, somewhat full faced, dark complexioned, and about twenty or twentytwo years of age. On the evening of the eleventh of the present month, discoursing upon various subjects, this person remarked that he was acquainted with several arts, and in particular knew one by which he could ascertain who was the thief when a theft had been committed, and which he had practised on the following occasion. A soldier of his regiment had stolen two or three dollars from another, at which the sergeant was expressing his displeasure, and Don Antonio told him that if he would promise no harm should ensue to the thief or himself, he would discover who had stolen it. This the sergeant agreed to, and Don Antonio wrote the names of all who were suspected of the theft upon pieces of paper.

These he put into the fire, where they were all consumed except the one bearing the name of the thief. This was seen by all present, and some of them endeavoured to s.n.a.t.c.h it from the flames but were unable. Don Antonio alone was able to perform this action, and when the name of the thief was read, he was searched and the money found in his stockings.

This relation having been listened to by Felipe Matheu, he a.s.serted that the thing could not be done unless by a league with the devil, and that it was a matter which ought to be laid before the Inquisition. Don Antonio replied that it was an action which he should not hesitate to perform immediately after confession and communion, for it was done by uttering words that had been spoken by Christ; that is to say, '_Ego sum, Christus factus est h.o.m.o, consummatum est_,' expressions which were good and holy. A conversation then ensued in Italian, between Don Antonio and Joseph * * * a servant in the house of Felipe Matheu, which was not understood by the deponent. The conversation was broken off by the said Matheu.

Questioned, if any other persons were present at this conversation, besides those already named.

Answered, that there were also present Joseph Gil, a scrivener, in the same house, two Alguacils, one of whom was named Alba, and three soldiers of the regiment abovementioned, whose names he did not know.

Questioned, if he knew whether the said Don Antonio was subject to any occasional insanity, or was given to wine.

Answered, that he knew not of his being subject to any such irregularities, and that the above conversation was maintained on his part with much seriousness. The above is the substance of what is known to him respecting the matter, and not related from malice toward the said Don Antonio, but solely according to his conscience and oath. It was read in his hearing and declared by him to be the truth. Secrecy was enjoined upon him, which he promised, and added his signature.

JOSEPH SANCHEZ Y MASQUEFA.

Before me--

JOSEPH MONTES, _Presbyter Notary of the Holy Office_.

[_Here follow, in the original, the depositions of the other witnesses mentioned above as present on the occasion. These are omitted, as they do but repeat what has been already related._]