Records of The Spanish Inquisition Part 21

_A heretical blasphemy._

Others saying to him 'Let us go to ma.s.s,' he answered by asking, 'What could they get by hearing ma.s.s?' thus disturbing the devotions of the hearers, and scorning this holy performance.

_Considered in connexion with the other a.s.sertions, this is scandalous, and sapiens haeresin._

Speaking of Indulgences, he said with some contempt, that he should value six dineros more than all the Indulgences together, and that they were good for nothing.

_Scandalous and heretical._

Speaking of prodigies and miracles, he said that from the time of Christ to the present day there had been no miracles, that he knew this well, since he had conversed with a learned person. On another occasion, discoursing on the same subject, he said, that G.o.d had never performed a miracle, and he knew it, making at the same time the sign of the cross upon his forehead.

_Heretical._

Speaking of t.i.thes, he a.s.serted that, were it not for compulsion, he would not pay t.i.thes, and that it would be better for people to enjoy the fruit of their labors themselves, and not the ecclesiastics.

_Insulting and scandalous._

Speaking of burials and supplications for the dead, he a.s.serted that when he died he would as willingly be interred in common, as in consecrated ground, and that but for compulsion he would not have a ma.s.s said for his soul.

_Sapit haeresin._

He spoke with disrespect of the Holy Inquisition, and said that the Inquisition corrected none but madmen and fools, making them declare just what was desired, and then punishing them.

_Scandalous and insulting to the Holy Tribunal._

The bells tolling for a dead person, some one said to him, 'Let us say a _paternoster_ for the dead,' to which he replied with contempt, 'To what purpose all these prayers for the dead?' The other person answering that they were supplications for his soul if in Purgatory, inasmuch as the souls, which do not go to heaven or h.e.l.l, are detained in Purgatory, he replied scoffingly to this effect: 'Who has ever been in Heaven, h.e.l.l, or Purgatory, to tell us what becomes of the souls of the dead?' adding, that sooner than die he would be transformed to a horse, an ant, or any other animal, for dead men never come back, and that when dead he would as willingly be buried in rubbish as in consecrated ground.

_Heretical._

Speaking of supplications for rain, he said they were good for nothing, and that it was nonsense to waste money for this purpose, for whether supplications were made or not, it would rain and shine just as it did in other parts of the world; that the rain depended upon the clouds, and G.o.d did not concern himself about it, adding, 'Search in what part G.o.d exists to make it rain;' and some one answering him, he repeated that they must get this error out of their heads, about supplicating for rain, as it was of no effect.

_Scandalous and heretical._

That St Thomas committed errors like the rest, and that it was useless to cite the authority of the Holy Fathers, for they were not to the purpose.

_Scandalous and insulting to the Holy Fathers._

That we could not be certain that the supplications produced rain or cured sickness, and that it was superst.i.tious to believe so as the vulgar did.

_Heretical._

The person who uttered the above sayings is declared unanimously to be a scandalous, presumptuous, and insulting blasphemer of the Saints, Holy Fathers, the Pope, and Ecclesiastical State, and to be suspected _de vehementi_.

MARIANO ALBERICH.

FR. RAFAEL TALAVERA.

FR. AUGUSTIN VOLTAS.

F. BUENAVENTINA DE LANUZA.

JUAN ANTONIO ALMONACID, _Sec'y_.

[_Dr Tamarit, however, was fortunate enough to escape with a penance, the customary reprimands and threats in case of repeating his offences, and an imprisonment of about three months._]

In the town of Cardona, in the bishopric of Celsona, on the thirtieth of May, one thousand six hundred and fortyeight, in the afternoon, appeared voluntarily, before the Revered Joseph Riera, Presbyter and Commissary of the Holy Office of the Inquisition, and Dr Pablo Serra, Presbyter Rector of the said town of Cardona, and Notary, sworn, a woman calling herself Vitoria Sala, wife of Hermenter Sala, who came, as she stated, to give information of something relating to the Holy Office.

Questioned, what she had to declare.

Answered, that about a year ago, while she was confessing herself in the church of San Diego, of the aforesaid town of Cardona, to Father Fr.

Felix Coll, a regular Ecclesiastic of St Francisco, and at that time Conventual of the Convent of San Diego, on many occasions during the act of confession or immediately after, and while in the confessionary, he had told her that he should ruin her, and many times he practised touching her face, thighs, and back. On one occasion he endeavored to feel of her bosom but she prevented him. At other times he touched and squeezed her with his hands, and in one instance attempted to kiss her, which she avoided by turning away her head. He told her that she must not discover these things to any other confessor, for he did not behave thus with any bad intention, but for the purpose of removing her scruples, and that it would be for her benefit.

The deponent was informed that the Promoter Fiscal of the Holy Office presented her as a witness in a cause under his direction against the said Father Fr. Felix. She was directed to give attention while her deposition was read word for word, and she declared that it was all true, and that she had nothing to add, diminish, or alter, respecting it, as it was the truth, and if necessary she was ready to repeat it anew against the said Father Fr. Felix Coll; that she did not make the declaration out of malice or ill will, but solely to discharge her conscience. The said Vitoria not being able to write, I, the said Commissary, sign in her name.

JOSEPH RIERA, _Presbyter Commissary_.

Before me--

PABLO SERRA, _Presbyter, Rector of Cardona, sworn Notary_.

In the town of Cardona, in the bishopric of Celsona, on the fourth of August, one thousand six hundred and ninetyeight, before the Reverend Joseph Riera, Commissary of the Holy Office of the Inquisition, appeared, according to summons from Celadonio Siejas, sworn Nuncio of the Holy Office, a woman calling herself Vitoria Salas, an inhabitant of the town of Cardona, in the bishopric of Celsona, aged, as she stated, thirtyfive years, more or less. She was formally sworn to declare the truth and preserve secrecy.

Questioned, if she knew why she was summoned to appear.

Answered, that she supposed it to be on account of the following statement which she had made to the Inquisition. She had confessed herself in the chapel of San Luis, or the church of the Convent of San Diego, in the town of Cardona, to Father Fr. Felix Coll, of the order of St. Francisco, then residing in the said convent, and, during confession or immediately after, while in the confessionary of that chapel, where he was deputed to hear confessions from February till September, 1697, he, at various times to the number of twenty or twentyfive, touched her with his hands, squeezed her face and neck, and on one occasion attempted to kiss her, but she prevented him by turning away her head.

Also, on another occasion, he told her that he should ruin her, and that she must not speak of it or discover it to any one, as he did not act from any bad intention, but that all was done for her benefit. He further told her that he wanted to go to her house.

Questioned, if she knew that this person had solicited any others during confession or immediately before or after.

Answered, that she had no knowledge of any such matter, but had been told by Marianna Guer y Savall, that the same Father Fr. Felix Coll had squeezed her hands in the act of confession several times.

The above is the truth according to the oath of the deponent. She was enjoined secrecy, which she promised. I sign in her name,

Before me--

VITORIA SALA.

DR PABLO SERRA _Presbyter_, _Rector of Cardona, &c._

MOST ILl.u.s.tRIOUS SIR,

When the guilty acknowledge their offences and repent with sorrow, G.o.d accepts them and grants them his most holy grace; and inasmuch as I have been so unfortunate as to commit some offences which relate to this Holy Tribunal, I transmit the following confession of them, not being able to present myself in person.

I was accustomed frequently in the town of Cardona, to hear the confessions of a married woman named Vitoria Sala. I never took any great liberties with her, but touched her a few times while in the confessionary. Neither I nor she had any bad intention in this, but as I perceived that she was affected with some internal inquietude, I took her by the hand and touched her face and bosom with the other, as also her neck; this I did thirty or forty times. These slight faults I confess before G.o.d and the Holy Tribunal on account of the scandal which they may occasion. I cast myself at the feet of your Excellency, hoping to have my offences overlooked with love and charity, and promising henceforth the amendment of my errors. Trusting in this my conscience remains quiet, and I continue secure in my obedience, praying to G.o.d for the prosperity of your Excellency.

Gerona, September fourteenth, 1697.

Your most humble servant, who kisses the feet of your Excellency,