Records of the Spanish Inquisition, Translated from the Original Manuscripts

The above is the truth, according to the oath of the deponent, and being read in his presence, is declared by him to be faithfully recorded. He further states that he does not make this declaration out of malice, and promises secrecy. Being unable to write, I, the said Commissary, sign in his name.

Dr Pablo Pasqual Marquez, Commissary.

Before me—

Geronymo Juan Rossellon, Presbyter Not’yof the Holy Office.
CALIFICACION.15

A certain person, native of this principality, has stated, in conversation, two or three times, that he possessed a book containing a prayer of such efficacy, that if the book were thrown into a fire along with a crucifix, this last would be consumed before the book; which assertion being repeated by him with great earnestness, he was reproved for it, and told among other things, that if the Inquisition knew it, he would be punished, which silenced him after some time. The abovementioned book he exhibited several times.

2d. The same person declared on another occasion, that he was very skilful in curing disorders; that the Holy Virgin del Rosario had appeared to him and empowered him to heal diseases, and given him her benediction.

3d. The same person on another occasion declared that he had a book which he would not sell for fifty ducats, as by merely looking at it he could cure any disease, and even restore a dead person to life; that if people knew his great powers, he should grow very rich; and that he was circumcised with wounds and blood like Jesus Christ.

In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the tenth day of December, one thousand six hundred and thirtytwo, being present at the afternoon audience, the Inquisitors, Dr Bernardo Luis Cotoner, Dr Domingo Abbad y Huerta, Father Vincente Navarro, Father Martin Perez and Geronymo Vidal, Jesuits and Calificadores of this Holy Office,—and having examined the above propositions, declared, unanimously, that the

1st, is a superstitious compact with the devil, and the comparison of the book to the figure of Christ a blasphemy; the

2d, vain and superstitious; and the

3d, is a superstitious imposture; and the assertion of being circumcised, one which creates suspicions of enmity to our Holy Faith.

Vicente Navarro, Jesuit.Martin Perez, Jesuit and Lecturerin Theology.Geronymo Vidal, Jesuit.

Before me—

Miguel Rodriguez.
FIRST AUDIENCE

In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the tenth day of January, one thousand six hundred and thirtythree, the Inquisitor, Dr Bernardo Luis Cotoner, being at his morning audience, ordered to be brought from the secret prison, a certain person, who, on his appearance, was formally sworn to declare the truth in this audience and all others, till the conclusion of his trial, and to keep secret whatever he might see or hear, and everything which should befall him, concerning his trial.

Questioned, what was his name, birthplace, age, occupation, and the date of his imprisonment.

Answered, that his name was Juan Duran, a native of the city of Manresa, in the bishopric of Vique, of age, thirtyone years, or thereabout, by trade a blacksmith and farrier, and that on the day of the Innocents, he was arrested, and put in the prison of the Holy Office.

Questioned, who was his father, and wife; who were his grandfathers and uncles, paternal and maternal; his brothers and children; what were their birthplaces, residences, occupations, &c.

Answered, [Here follows a long account, in reply to the above queries.]

Questioned, of what lineage and stock were his ancestors, and collateral relatives; and if they, or any one of them, or himself, had ever been imprisoned, put under penance, absolved, or condemned by the Holy Office of the Inquisition.

Answered, that they were all old Christians of pure blood, and that he had never heard or understood that any one of them had been imprisoned, put under penance, absolved, or condemned by the Holy Office of the Inquisition; that he had never been imprisoned by the Holy Office till the present occasion.

Questioned, if he was a baptized and confirmed Christian, and made it a practice to attend mass, go to confession, and communicate, at the times fixed by the Holy Mother Church.

Answered, that he was a Christian, and was baptized, according as he had heard from his parents, in the cathedral church of Manresa, but did not know the name of the bishop who confirmed him; that he made it a practice to hear mass, confess, and commune, at the times prescribed by the holy Mother Church, and that his last confession was in the town of Valles Campo de Tarragona, in the month of October last, on the day of Our Lady del Rosario of the fleet of Don John of Austria, which confession was made to a Carmelite friar, of the convent of that city, whose name he did not know; that he received the holy sacrament from the hands of the same Friar; that he had also confessed and received the sacrament during the Lent of the last year, in the church of Igualada, before a priest belonging there, whose name he did not know; and that he had a certificate to this effect in his possession, when he was taken to prison.

Here he crossed himself, repeated the Paternoster, Ave Maria, and Credo in Latin, the Salve Regina, the ten commandments, the seven deadly sins, and the general confession in Catalan, all correctly, and declared he knew nothing more of the christian doctrine.

Questioned, if he 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. The said Duran declared, in the same place, at the same time, and to the same person, that he, the said Duran, had been circumcised with blood and wounds, like Jesus Christ, from which it is presumed that he has turned Jew.

5th. In consequence of the abovementioned cures, he has been in the habit of uttering forbidden and diabolical invocations, especially that of St Cyprian, which he has had in a small book, about his person; and it is believed that the cures he has performed have been executed by his diabolical arts and the league he has made with the devil.

6th. He has boasted, on many occasions, before certain persons, that God and the Holy Virgin had given him his power of curing; that the Virgin del Rosario had twice appeared to him, granted him the faculty of healing, and given him her benediction; all which assertions he has made to cover his villanies.

7th. From the above it is to be presumed that the said prisoner has uttered many other superstitious and blasphemous speeches, and done many other things by the help of the devil, with whom he holds a particular intimacy; also that he is knowing to the commission by others of many such crimes, the whole of which he has maliciously concealed, and though advised by your Excellencies to declare the truth, has not done it, but has committed perjury.

For which reasons, I entreat that your Excellencies will receive my relation for true, or such part thereof as shall suffice for the ends of justice in a definitive sentence, and declare the accusation fully proved, and the said Juan Duran guilty of the commission of the said crimes, imposing upon him the heaviest punishments denounced against such offences, and executing them upon his person and goods for a penalty to himself, and an example to others; and also that he be put to the torture if this be found necessary, and that the torture be repeated till he confess the whole truth both of himself and others. And I formally swear that I do not bring this accusation out of malice, but solely to accomplish the ends of justice.

Dr Francisco Gregorio.

The above accusation having been presented and read, the said Juan Duran was formally sworn to declare the truth, and answer to the same, article by article, which he did in the manner following.

To the head of the accusation, he answered that he was the same Juan Duran whom the Fiscal accused, but that he had committed no offence against the Holy Catholic Faith, nor been guilty of any blasphemies or superstitions beyond what he had confessed.

To the first article he answered, that he confessed what was contained therein; that he uttered the words specified, in the town of Valles at the inn of La Cerdaña, and that the book referred to was the one found upon him, with the invocation of St Cyprian and which was now exhibited; but that he had made the assertion abovementioned from mere ignorance and simplicity, not believing it himself; which confession he made with tears and begging for pardon.

To the second article, he answered, that it was true, but that he did not remember repeating the assertion after he had been reproved for it.

To the third article, he answered that it was true, and that the book alluded to was the one now exhibited; but that he never believed that he could raise the dead to life by the help of it.

To the fourth article, he answered that it was true, but that he was not circumcised, nor was he a Jew.

To the fifth article, he answered that he had used the invocation of St Cyprian on several occasions in cures, without knowing that it was forbidden, but did it from pure ignorance. He denied that he had any league with the devil.

To the sixth article, he answered that it was true, and that he had made some such boasts, on the following account; about fifteen years since, he was sick of lethargy, when our Lady del Rosario appeared to him, clothed in white, at the sight of which he was cured. The Virgin, however, did not tell him that he should possess the power to cure all diseases, and whether she gave him her benediction or not, he could not tell.

To the seventh article, he answered that he had never said or done any of the things charged upon him, save those confessed above, nor knew of any such which had been done by others.

To the conclusion of the accusation he answered that he had stated the whole truth; and even if he were put to the torture, could say nothing more. He ended by begging to have mercy shown him. The above being read in his presence is declared by him to be correctly recorded, and as he cannot write, I, the Inquisitor sign this.

Dr Bernardo Luis Cotoner.

Before me—

Miguel Rodriguez.

The above Inquisitors then ordered the said Juan Duran to be furnished with a copy of the accusation, that he might within three days make arrangements for his defence, with the help of one of the advocates for the prisoners of the Holy Office. The prisoner made choice of Father Geronymo Vidal, Jesuit, for this purpose, who was forthwith ordered to be summoned; whereupon the audience closed, and the prisoner, having been admonished, was remanded to prison.

Miguel Rodriguez.AUDIENCE TO COMMUNICATE THE ACCUSATION AND EVIDENCE

In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the twelfth day of January, one thousand six hundred and thirtythree, the Inquisitor, Dr Domingo Abbad y Huerta being at his 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 recollected anything relating to his affair which he was bound to divulge, agreeably to his conscience.

Answered, that he had nothing more to say.

He was then informed that Father Geronymo Vidal, whom he had chosen for his advocate, was present, that he might communicate with him and prepare for his defence. The said Father Vidal then swore in verbo sacerdotis to defend faithfully and diligently the said Juan Duran, in the present trial, so far as justice would permit, to inform him if his cause was not defensible, to do everything which a good advocate is bound to do, and to keep the whole matter secret.

The confessions of the said Juan Duran were then read, with the accusation against him, and his answers thereto, and the advocate conferred with the prisoner respecting his case, advised him to confess the whole truth, without uttering false testimony either against himself or others, and, if he were guilty, to beg pardon, by doing which, he would experience mercy. The prisoner stated that he had declared the truth as appeared by his confessions, and beyond what was therein contained denied the accusation, on which account he begged to be set at liberty.

The Inquisitor then declared that definite trial should be now had, and both parties bring their proofs salvo jure impertinentium et non admittendorum, according to the style of the Holy Office, and the Promotor Fiscal gave notice that he reproduced the testimony of the witnesses which had been already recorded. This testimony he requested might be examined, and also that all other necessary investigations might be made, and the testimony afterwards published; whereupon the prisoner was admonished, and remanded to prison.

Before me—

Miguel Rodriguez.AUDIENCE FOR PUBLICATION

In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the twentyninth 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 from prison, which being done, and the prisoner present, he was

Questioned, if he recollected anything relating to his affair which he was bound in conscience to divulge.

Answered, that he had nothing more to say.

He was then informed that the Fiscal of this Holy Office had demanded publication of the testimony against him, before which it would be well for him to bethink himself and declare the entire truth; by doing which, his trial would be despatched with all brevity and mercy.

Answered, that he had nothing more to say.

Straightway appeared the said Francisco Gregorio, Promoter Fiscal of this Holy Office, and requested publication of the testimony against the said Juan Duran, according to the style of the Holy Office. The said Inquisitors then ordered the publication to be made, concealing the names of the witnesses, and other circumstances which might tend to discover their persons, according to the orders and style of the Holy Office.

PUBLICATION OF THE TESTIMONY

A certain witness sworn and qualified in the proper time and manner, declares, &c. [Here follows the substance of the deposition of Pedro Oriola, as already given:]

Another witness, &c. [In this manner, a summary of all the testimony is given.] * * *

The publication being accomplished, the said Juan Duran was sworn to declare the truth in answer to the above testimony, article by article. [Here follow the answers of the prisoner to the several specifications, which do not differ materially from the answers to the accusation already given.]

A copy of the above publication was ordered to be given the prisoner, that he might, with the assistance of his counsel, prepare for his defence. Father Vidal, the prisoner’s advocate, was then summoned, and conferred with the prisoner respecting his trial, when the audience closed, and the prisoner, being admonished, was remanded to prison.

Miguel Rodriguez.AUDIENCE FOR THE PRISONER’S DEFENCE

In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the twentyninth day of January, one thousand six hundred and thirtythree, the Inquisitor, Dr Domingo Abbad y Huerta being at his afternoon audience, ordered the said Juan Duran to be brought from prison, which being done, and the prisoner present, he was

Questioned, if he recollected anything relative to his affair, which he was bound in conscience to divulge.

Answered, that he had nothing more to say.

He was then informed that Father Geronymo Vidal was present, who had drawn up his defence, and that he might confer with him; the above advocate then read to the prisoner a writing which the prisoner accepted, and declared that he made a formal presentation of the same. The defence was as follows:—

Although Juan Duran, inhabitant of Manresa, in the archbishopric of Vique, has no necessity for a defence, on account of his full confession and declaration of the truth respecting the matter of the Fiscal’s accusation, yet for greater security in his defence, he offers the following.

1st. That he is ignorant, and uttered the assertions of which he is accused, without knowing that they were heavy offences against our Lord, for which he is extremely grieved, and begs pardon with tears, both of God and this Holy Tribunal, having spoken out of mere vanity, things which were not true.

2d. That he has fully confessed; and as to what is stated by one witness against him, that he declared himself to be the God of the country, and by another, that he affirmed he was next to God, that these testimonies are so extravagant that they ought not to be regarded; that he is very penitent for his offences against our Lord, and begs correction and instruction, with all humility.