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

a letter to the Commissary of Salas in the name of the Tribunal, ordering him to restore to the prisoner, on account of his poverty, the instruments of his trade and his other property. The letter was sent by the prisoner.

Rodriguez.

      TRIAL OF JUAN DURAN, FOR BLASPHEMY AND WITCHCRAFT

      I, the Fiscal of this Holy Office, state that from information received, it is made manifest that Juan Duran, blacksmith, a native of Manresa, and a resident of Villaredonda, in the bishopric of Barcelona, has committed offences against our holy faith; on which account, I purpose to bring a formal accusation against him. For which reasons I request your Excellency to order the said person to be arrested and confined in the secret prison of this Inquisition, for the purpose of accomplishing fully the ends of justice.

Dr Francisco Gregorio.

      In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the tenth day of December, one thousand, six hundred and thirtytwo, the Inquisitors, Dr Bernardo Luis Cotoner and Dr Domingo Abbad y Huerta, being at their evening audience,—having examined the testification against Juan Duran, blacksmith, a resident of Villaredonda in the bishopric of Barcelona; ordered that the above person be arrested and confined in the secret prison of this Inquisition, and that his trial be instituted in form.

      Before me—

Miguel Rodriguez.

      TO FRANCISCO COLL, COMMISSARY.

      On the receipt of this, you will proceed to take prisoner, on the part of this Holy Office, Juan Duran, blacksmith, a resident of this town, for some days past, and formerly of Villaredonda. He is a tall, thin faced, person; pale, with a chestnut beard, and meanly dressed; having secured him, you will dispatch him, under good attendance, to this Holy Office, by the hands of the Familiars, in such a manner that he cannot escape, taking measures in all the places through which he may pass, to let it be known he is apprehended by this Inquisition.

      Also, if occasion should offer, you will sieze so much of the prisoner’s property, if it be found in that town, as shall amount to eight ducats, for the expense of his maintenance, which you will transmit by those who have him in custody.

      This letter is to be returned, with a statement of all that may be done agreeably to the above orders, with respect to which we trust in the guidance of our Lord.

      Barcelona, December 14th. 1632.

      The prisoner being taken, you will inspect his person and his lodgings, in order to secure a book, about the size of the hand, in which, it is confidently believed, there are certain prayers and superstitious matters. This book you will despatch to us.

Dr Bernardo Luis Cotoner,Dr Domingo Abbad y Huerta.

      By order of this Holy Office—

Miguel Rodriguez, Sec’y.TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS INQUISITORS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF CATALONIA

      I received the orders of your Excellencies and put them in execution. I learned that Juan Duran had left this town of Villaredonda a month since, and that he labored at times in repairing the bridge of Armentera, in the archbishopric of Tarragona, whither I sent after him and had him siezed by a Familiar of that place. I have examined him, and found his book and papers which, you will receive along with this. No more cash was found upon him than three reales, which I also transmit by the Familiar who has him in custody. This is all which could be obtained of his property. The prisoner I despatch to your Excellencies according to order, and remain at the service of your Excellencies, to whom may our Lord grant many happy years.

      Villaredonda, Dec. 24th, 1632.

Francisco Coll, Rector of Villaredonda,and Commissary of the Holy Office.

      In the town of Valles Campo, in the archbishopric of Tarragona, on Saturday, the twentyseventh day of November, one thousand six hundred and thirty two, at evening, appeared, without summons, before Dr Pablo Pasqual Marquez, Presbyter Commissary of the Holy Office, and swore to declare the truth, a person calling himself Pedro Oriola, apothecary, resident of the town of Valles, of age, as he stated, fortyfour years, or thereabout; which person, in discharge of his conscience, declared and denounced the following.

      That about fifteen days since, there visited at his house, Juan Bafforell, and one Marcal, a gardener, inhabitants of the said town; and that among other things they told him they had heard a certain person (whose name and birth place the deponent is ignorant of, but knows him by sight, and that he is a blacksmith, working with Pablo Llaurador of this town, and came hither in company with a Frenchman, who officiated as a physician, and a short time since had been imprisoned by the Holy Office), say, that he possessed a book, which, if it were thrown into a fire, along with a crucifix, would remain unhurt, while the crucifix would be consumed.

      The above is the truth, according to the oath of the deponent, and being read in his hearing, is declared by him to be correctly recorded. Deponent further states that he does not make this declaration out of malice to any one, but solely to discharge his conscience, and declares that he will keep the whole secret.

      Signed,

Pero Orrola.

      Before me—

Geronymo Joan Rossellon,Presbyter Notary of the Holy Office.

      In the town of Valles, on Sunday, the twentyeighth day of the said month and year, in the evening, before the said Commissary, appeared, according to summons, and made oath to declare the truth, Juan Bafforell, a native and inhabitant of the town of Valles, of age, as he stated, fortyeight years or thereabout.

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

      Answered, that he neither knew nor conjectured.

      Questioned, if he knew, or had heard that any person had said or done anything, which was, or appeared to be contrary to the Holy Catholic Faith and Evangelical Law preached and taught by the Holy Mother Catholic Roman Church, or against the proper and free jurisdiction of the Holy Office.

      Answered, that he knew nothing of the matter, but the following. About fifteen days since, he was at the house of Mosen Pedro Oriola, apothecary, in company with the said Oriola, Bernardo Serda, innkeeper, and Salvador Marcal, gardener, and in the course of the conversation the said Marcal observed that a certain man, whom the deponent knew by sight, but not his name, or where he belongs, a blacksmith, working with Pablo Llaurador, of this town, had said, in his presence, in the tavern of the abovementioned Bernardo Serda, that he possessed a book or books of such quality and power, that if the said book or books were thrown into a fire along with an image of Christ crucified, the Christ would be burnt, and not the book. Further the deponent knoweth not.

      The above is the truth according to the oath of the deponent; and being read in his presence, is declared by him to be correctly recorded. Deponent further states that he has not made this declaration out of malice, but solely to unburthen his conscience; and, moreover, promises secrecy; being unable to write, I, the said Commissary sign in his name.

Dr Pablo Pasqual Marquez, Commissary.

      Before me—

Geronymo Joan Rossellon,Presbyter Notary of the Holy Office.

      In the town of Valles, on Tuesday the thirtieth of the same month and year, before the said Commissary, appeared according to summons, and swore formally to declare the truth, a person calling himself Bernardo Serda, innkeeper, a native and inhabitant of the said town of Valles, of age, as he stated, twentyfour years or thereabout.

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

      Answered, that he supposed it to be for the purpose of ascertaining the substance of what he had stated on several occasions; in relation to which, the facts were, that about fifteen or thirty days since on returning to his house, he was informed by his wife and another woman belonging to Vique, who lodged at his house, and who went about the country curing diseases, that they had heard a certain stranger, (a blacksmith, working with Pablo Llaurador, but whose name or birthplace they did not know although they knew him by sight),