Records of The Spanish Inquisition Part 17

7. He went accordingly to this house, and there gave to the said person a strip of parchment bearing these words, '_Ego + sum. Exe + h.o.m.o consummatum + est. Ego Juaginus Aprecor Domini Nostri Jesu Christi in vitam eternam seculi seculorum libera me de omnibus rebus de ignis cautus et omnia instrumenta hominum detenta me ach die ach nocte custode rege et guberna me Amen._' This was rolled up with a piece of lead and bone, and directed to be worn, in the shape of a cross, next the skin, near the heart, which would make the wearer invulnerable. I request that this parchment may be examined, and the prisoner questioned respecting it.

8. He also gave the same person another strip of parchment, containing various letters and figures, taking measures with it upon his body, for the purpose of securing him from wounds. He directed him to rub this over with the wax which dripped from the tapers during ma.s.s, and afterwards to wear it next his skin. I request that this may likewise be examined, and the prisoner questioned respecting it.

9. He furthermore gave to the same person four other written parchments, directing him to wear one of them upon the little finger of his left hand under a white stone set in a ring. When this stone turned red, he might play at any game except dice or _las quillas_, and be sure to win; but, if it turned black, he was not to play. He directed him further to put these parchments in his right shoe and sprinkle them with holy water, after which they were to be worn near the heart. I request that these also may be examined, and the prisoner questioned concerning them.

10. The same person requesting to see the abovementioned book of magic, he refused him, alleging that he could not read or understand it, but that he, the prisoner, had studied the whole. I request that farther investigations may be made respecting this book.

11. On another occasion, when some articles had been stolen, he discovered the thief in this manner. Collecting all the suspected persons in a dark room, he made a harangue, and ordered each man to dip his finger into a cup containing water, informing them that the water would blacken the finger of the thief. Before this was executed, he conveyed some ink into the cup. Afterwards the windows were opened with another harangue, and each man's finger was found black with the exception of one who had not obeyed the direction. This the prisoner judged to be the thief. Without doubt the abovementioned harangues were conformable to the rest of his actions, and I request that he may be examined concerning them.

12. Furthermore he directed that the names of the persons present on the above occasion, should be written upon a paper and burnt. The ashes he rubbed over his hand, where it left marked the name of the delinquent, which the prisoner had previously written there with a certain liquor, in such a manner that it could not be seen.

13. In the audiences which have been held respecting him, he has been exhorted to declare the truth and confess his crimes, which he has not done, but endeavoured to hide the enormities so recently committed by him, thus rendering himself unworthy of that mercy which your Excellencies extend to those who confess with sincerity, and deserving a punishment corresponding to his great offences.

Therefore, I request and entreat your Excellencies to accept the confession of the said prisoner, so far as in my favor, and no farther, and to regard as fully proved my accusation, or such part thereof as may suffice to obtain a sentence, condemning the prisoner as perpetrator of the above crimes to the heaviest punishments thereto a.s.signed by the sacred canons, pontifical bulls, common laws, and edicts of this realm, for a punishment to him, and a terror and example to others.

Furthermore I request your Excellencies that without any diminution of my proofs, the prisoner may, if necessary, be put to rigorous torture, to be continued and repeated till he confess all his crimes and accomplices.

The Licentiate,

DON FAUSTO ANTONIO DE ASTORQUIZA Y URRETA.

This accusation having been presented and read, the said Don Antonio Adorno was formally sworn to answer thereto, and declare the truth; and the same being again read, article by article, he answered as follows.

To the head of the accusation he replied that he was the same Don Antonio Adorno mentioned therein, and that although he in reality performed what has been laid to his charge, yet he never imagined it to be contrary to our Holy Catholic Faith, nor supposed it to be necromantic or superst.i.tious; that he never had practised anything out of disrespect for the ma.s.s, nor had uttered sacred language for a superst.i.tious purpose, nor imparted evil doctrine or instruments to others for this end; therefore he ought not to be suspected in the faith.

To the first article, he answered, that it was true, and that the circ.u.mstances occurred in the city of Valencia, in the house of a person whose name he could not recollect, but only that he resided in the Calle del Mar, near a Convent of Nuns. He made the a.s.sertions to give the company a high opinion of him. There were present on this occasion, three soldiers and an officer, who, with the prisoner, formed the patrol, a scrivener and two Alguacils, who also were attached to the patrol in Valencia. The operation which he described, he had heard of in the city of Inspruck in Germany. He had once practised it on the occasion of three dollars being stolen from Matheo Suarez, his sergeant.

He wrote the names of some persons upon pieces of paper, and on the back of each, the words '_Ego sum: exe h.o.m.o: consummatum est_.' These were thrown into the fire, but the experiment did not succeed, for they were all burnt. He did this in private, and merely to satisfy his curiosity, without imagining it to be superst.i.tious.

To the second article, he answered, that it was true he had made the a.s.sertions contained therein, as he could not believe the act to be evil, in which the words of Christ were used.

To the third article, he answered, that it was true he had spoken what is therein stated, and that the divinations mentioned, were those he had confessed in the first audience, but that he had not made use of any prayers in these operations, although on the abovementioned occasions he gave those present to understand that various words were to be uttered.

To the fourth article, he answered, that it was true the conversation and acts therein described took place; that it happened in Valencia, with the scrivener abovementioned. The paper which he took from his pocket, contained some bits of bone and a bullet battered to pieces. As to what he a.s.serted respecting the book of magic, he had done it to measure the degree of credulity of the said scrivener, who readily swallowed all his tales, and offered him money to learn the abovementioned arts. He never possessed any such book of magic.

To the fifth article, he answered, that what it contained with respect to the security from the thrust with a sword, was true, but as to what it stated respecting his a.s.sertion of making himself invisible, he had no recollection of any such thing.

To the sixth article, he answered, that it was true.

To the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth articles, he answered, that they were true. The parchments described by the Fiscal, and now exhibited, were recognised by him for the same he gave to the scrivener, with whom he held the conversation described. This man's name was Joachin. He was so desirous of obtaining a knowledge of the things related by the prisoner, that he furnished him with the parchment for the purpose. It was all done by the prisoner, to divert himself with the credulity of this person, and upon the parchments was written, among other expressions, these words in the German language, '_tu pist aynor tas tu tost claupt_;[17] that is, '_you are a fool to believe this_,' by which it might be easily perceived that his only object was to impose upon him.

It being now late, the audience closed, and the above having been read to the prisoner, was declared by him to be correctly recorded, and the truth, according to the oath which he had sworn.

Signed by him,

M. ANTO. ADORNO.

DON JOSEPH DE n.o.bOA, _Sec'y_.

In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the thirteenth day of August, one thousand seven hundred and fiftysix, the Inquisitors, Licentiate Don Joseph de Otero y Cossio, and Don Manuel de Guell y Serra, being at their morning audience, ordered the abovementioned Don Antonio Adorno to be brought out of prison; which being done, he was ordered to continue his answers to the accusation under the oath which he had already sworn.

To the eleventh and twelfth articles he answered that they were true, and that the circ.u.mstances took place in the manner described by him in the first audience, but that the harangues he made, had only for their object to create wonder in the hearers, and that he used no prayers nor sacred words.

To the thirteenth article he answered that he had confessed everything, and that he promised a thorough amendment of his follies into which he had been drawn by his ignorance, and desire to gain a little money to relieve his misery.

To the conclusion he answered that he again implored the mercy of the Holy Office for what he had confessed, which was all he had done, and that although he were put to the torture he could say nothing more. The above being the truth according to the oath he had sworn, and the whole having been read in this audience, was declared to be what he had confessed, and was signed by him.

M. ANTONIO ADORNO.

DON JOSEPH DE n.o.bOA, _Sec'y_.

SENTENCE.

In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the fourteenth day of August, one thousand seven hundred and fiftysix, the Inquisitors, Licentiate Don Joseph de Otero y Cossio and Don Manuel de Guell y Serra being at their morning audience, and having examined the proceedings against Don Antonio Adorno as far as the accusation and answers thereto--

Ordered, unanimously, that this person be severely reprehended, admonished, and warned, in the Hall of the Tribunal with closed doors, and that he be banished perpetually from the Spanish dominions at a date to be fixed upon, and that he be informed that if he fail to comply punctually with every order, he will be severely punished and proceeded against with all the rigor of justice;--that this trial be suspended for the present and the sentence submitted to the Council.

DON JOSEPH DE n.o.bOA, _Sec'y_.

In the Council, September 4th, 1756.

Senores, BARREDA, RAVAZO, and HERREROS.

Let justice be executed according to the above sentence.

EXTRACTS

FROM THE REGISTER OF THE PRISONS.

March, 1730.

[Sidenote: No. 8. Juan Panisso. Prison of the Martyrs. Maintenance, two sueldos and the bread of the Contractor.]

Juan Panisso, a native and inhabitant of this city, a married man, in custody in the secret Prison of this Holy Office, with his property sequestrated, for uttering heretical speeches. Respecting this prisoner, information was forwarded last January, that proceedings were on foot for taking the depositions of the witnesses against him, with a view to their publication. The audience for this purpose was held on the twentyninth of this month, and the prisoner answered to the charges with a full denial. In this state the case remains at present.

April, 1730.

The prisoner was furnished with the publication of the testimony, and allowed to confer with his counsel. He drew up articles of defence, and in this state the case remains.

June, 1730.