Records of The Spanish Inquisition Part 27

DR ANDRES FERNANDEZ DE LA CUESTA, _Presbyter and Commissary_.

Before me--

FRANCISCO JUNCIA, _Presbyter Notary for this Investigation_.

In the city of Barcelona, on the fourteenth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and two, before the Reverend Cayetano Tuco, Presbyter and Commissary appointed for this investigation, and me, the Reverend Juan Palol, Presbyter Notary, sworn to preserve secrecy and perform faithfully our duties, appeared, voluntarily, and made oath in the name of G.o.d our Lord to declare the truth and preserve secrecy in everything upon which she might be questioned, a woman, calling herself Maria Anna Sauri, a native of the town of Trem, in the bishopric of Urgel, of age, as she stated, forty years, a resident in Barcelona for twentysix years, and at present residing in the Calle de Basea, in the fourth story of a house opposite a carpenter's, next the stairs called den Casador. She was the widow of Juan Martines, merchant, a native of the town of Figueras in the bishopric of Gerona.

Questioned, why she had demanded an audience of the Holy Office.

Answered, for the purpose of denouncing certain matters to the Holy Tribunal.

Questioned, what matters.

Answered, that about six months ago she dwelt in the Calle de San Raymundo, near the Calle del Asalto, in a house between a tavern on one side, and a tailor's shop on the other. In this neighbourhood resided a female named, formerly, Teresa Sola, and after her second marriage, Salanova, a native of Barcelona, aged from forty to fortyseven years.

Her husband was named Francisco Salanova, and was by trade a weaver, and a native of San Felix de Llobregat. The deponent witnessed several transactions between the said Teresa Sola, now Salanova, and a Swiss soldier of the regiment called Bretxa. This soldier was called Joseph; his other name unknown, as well as the place of his birth. Information respecting him could be obtained of a certain captain, called Don Felice Cristi.

The deponent saw these two persons take certain live frogs, stick needles into their eyes, b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and backs, and put them into a new pot over a great fire. This was done, as they informed her, for the purpose of compelling a certain man to marriage. She also saw them take three or four wax candles and light them. These they burnt bottom upwards, burning, at the same time, rosemary, and repeating unintelligible language, and making divers motions with the feet and hands.

The deponent also saw them practise operations with cards for the purpose of divining whatever things they chose. She requested them to perform one for her, and ascertain whether a person named Vicente, whom she supposed to be sick, would return soon from Valencia. 'The said Teresa shuffled the cards, and then answered me that he was not sick, and would return soon, which in fact took place, and the abovementioned Vicente shortly appeared. She told me, at the same time, that I was in much distress, and if I would give her and the abovementioned soldier half a dollar, they would enable me to attain all my wishes. I gave them the money, and saw that they immediately took the figure of a dragon tied by the neck, and placed it in the sun. This occasioned me so much terror that I begged them to desist. Upon this they gave me back the half dollar, uttering maledictions, and the said Teresa declared that I was about to fall into an irretrievable misfortune, and that I should be obliged to sell every rag from my back, which in truth is my condition at present; and although I only laughed at the prediction then, they both told me that I might proclaim to the whole world that they had said it.'

The deponent further stated that the said Teresa had a companion named Maria Anna Gitar, a native of Barcelona and a resident in the Calle de San Raymundo. The deponent has never seen this person perform any superst.i.tious acts, but has heard that on occasion of a quarrel between them, some witchcraft was practised; also that the said Maria Anna Gitar had a sister named Magdalena, (the name of her husband unknown) and the deponent heard the abovementioned Teresa Sola, now Salanova, declare that her sister Magdalena had not been at confession for the s.p.a.ce of eight years. At other times, when these two were quarrelling, the deponent has heard the said Magdalena exclaim, 'I am not like you, who lay heaps of rosemary in the balcony at night to burn the next morning.'

Furthermore, the deponent has seen the said Teresa Sola, now Salanova, burn alum for some superst.i.tious purpose, to her unknown. On this occasion there were two other persons present, namely, a girl called Antonia, about twentythree years of age, a native of Barcelona, and living with the abovementioned Teresa, and Raymundo Campens, widow of Esteva Campens, tailor, dwelling in the Calle de San Raymundo, aged, apparently, about fortyfive years.

Furthermore, the deponent remembers that she saw the said Teresa and the abovementioned soldier called Joseph, burn alum for the purpose of causing a reconciliation between a young man and a female named Magdalena, which persons had fallen into a quarrel. The said Teresa also practised operations with cards, and burnt rosemary, in order to effect this object. On the first occasion were present the abovementioned Antonia and Raymunda Campens, and on the second, Josefa Bardaguer, a girl of about twenty years of age, living in the Plazuela del Pino in the second story of a house which makes a corner of the Plazuela, and other persons whom she does not remember, as she had witnessed these performances between the said Teresa and the soldier so many times.

The said Teresa also informed her that she possessed a St Antonio upon paper, which sweated whenever any ill was about to happen, and that when a pack of cards was shuffled and the ace of spades and five of diamonds drawn, it signified death or apprehension by the Holy Office. The deponent further stated that the said Teresa, was accustomed to burn rosemary, and sprinkle holy water all over her house, walking backwards to the door; and that she possessed an herb which foretold everything, good or bad, about to happen. Upon the stalk of this herb she placed a piece of gold or silver money, or a ring; and the deponent on one of these occasions saw a tile fall from the balcony into the street. In this tile was a piece of a silver key, a gold ring, and seven reals vellon.

Furthermore, the deponent has heard that when the said Teresa lived in the Calle de Arolas, there ran out of her house, one day, a dog, with an ox's heart, stuck full of needles, and that the Alcalde, whose name is unknown to the deponent, with the men and boys of the neighbourhood, caught the dog and burnt him in the middle of the street.

The deponent has also seen the said Teresa burn nine plates and three strings of cotton, which she informed her was done to break the heart of a certain person. She also told the deponent that on the night of St John's day, she went to collect the leaves of certain herbs in a place called Trinidad, where criminals who have been hanged are buried. There accompanied her three or four women and a man who was a lamplighter. The names of none of them were known to the deponent. Three or four men came out and threw stones at then without hitting any one. She also informed the deponent that she had in her possession medals and a crucifix of the Holy Office.

Furthermore, the deponent stated that she requested her to ascertain whether a person of her acquaintance in Valencia would return soon to Barcelona; and the said Teresa Sola, now Salanova, bade her go and purchase a pack of French cards at the shop of Revella, in the Plaza del Angel. This the deponent did, and paid two reals plate for them. The cards being produced, an operation was performed, and she p.r.o.nounced that he would return ere long, and that he had met with a misfortune; for, on a journey to visit his sister, he had fallen from his horse and broken his leg. She then further declared that at half past six o'clock the next morning he would be in Barcelona; the whole of which proved true, for at half past six he knocked at the door and said he had been on a visit to his sister, who was a nun, and had fallen from his horse and broken his leg.

Furthermore, the deponent stated that she had seen divinations with cards performed by the surgeon of the Swiss soldiers in the regiment called the regiment of Bretxa, now in Madrid. This surgeon was called Don Felipe. His other name is unknown to the deponent. She has also seen in his possession a book filled with figures of tombs, evil spirits, and skeletons; and the surgeon told her that it contained matter which was denounceable. There was present on this occasion the wife of the colonel of the Swiss regiment, called Dona Maria. Her other name and birthplace the deponent did not know; but only that when the regiment was in Barcelona, the said Don Maria dwelt in the Calle Nueva del Asalto.

Questioned, what else she knew or had to relate.

Answered, that she had seen the above practices performed so often that she had forgotten a great many instances.

Questioned, what persons were present on any of the above occasions.

Answered, that she had already named them.

Questioned, if she had seen or heard that any other person had said or done anything against Our Holy Catholic Faith, or against the proceedings of this Holy Office.

Answered, that she knew nothing further, and had she known anything, should have divulged it before.

Questioned, why she suffered so much time to elapse without giving information.

Answered, that she was ignorant of her obligation to do this, till on relating these things to her spiritual father, he ordered her to make a deposition of the whole before the Holy Tribunal.

Questioned, what was the personal appearance of the above mentioned Teresa Sola, now Salanova; of the soldier; of Maria Anna Gitar, and her sister.

Answered, that Teresa Sola, now Salanova, was a well shaped person, somewhat fleshy, with a dusky complexion, reddish eyes, chestnut hair, and small hands, having no scar to distinguish her. That Maria Anna Gitar was a tall person, with an ugly pock marked face, the color of her eyes, hair, &c. not remembered. That her sister Magdalena was a small person, with a face likewise ugly and pock marked; other characteristics forgotten. That the soldier called Joseph was a well shaped person, with a long, palish face, and chestnut hair; the other marks not remembered.

The above, being read to the deponent, was p.r.o.nounced to be her own declaration, and faithfully recorded. She declared that she had nothing to correct of its contents, except that the abovementioned Magdalena was not the sister of the said Teresa, but of Maria Anna Gitar. She affirmed that she did not make the declaration out of malice or ill will against the abovementioned Teresa Sola, now Salanova, the soldier Joseph, Maria Anna Gitar, and her sister Magdalena; but solely to discharge her conscience. Secrecy was enjoined upon her which she promised, and not being able to write, I, the present Commissary, sign in her name.

CAYETANO TUCO, _Presbyter and Commissary_.

Before me--

JOAN PALOL, _Presbyter, Commissary, and Notary_.

In the city of Barcelona, on the eighteenth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and two, before me, Cayetano Tuco, Presbyter and Commissary, appointed for this investigation, and me, the Reverend Juan Palol, Presbyter Notary, both sworn to preserve secrecy, appeared and made oath in the name of G.o.d our Lord, to declare the truth and preserve secrecy, Maria Anna Sauri, widow, being also present, in the quality of honest and religious persons, the Presbyters whose names are signed below.

Questioned, if she remembered having made a declaration before the ministers of the Holy Office against any persons for crimes within her knowledge.

Answered, and related substantially the whole of the preceding declaration. She requested that it might be produced and read.

The deponent was then informed that the Promotor Fiscal of the Holy Office presented her as a witness _ad perpetuam rei memoriam_, in a cause under his direction against the said Teresa Sola, now Salanova, against the Swiss soldier named Joseph, against Maria Anna Gitar, and against her sister Magdalena, whose husband's name is unknown. The deponent was directed to give attention while her declaration was read, and if she found anything to add or alter of its contents, to perform it in such a manner as to declare the truth, as her a.s.sertions might prejudice the said persons. The above deposition was then read _de verbo ad verb.u.m_, the deponent hearing and understanding the same.

The deponent declared that it was her identical deposition, as it had been read and recorded; that she had nothing to add or alter respecting it, for the whole was the truth which she attested and ratified; and that if necessary, she was ready to repeat the whole against the said Teresa, Maria Anna, Magdalena, and the soldier, and against the surgeon Don Felipe, not from malice or ill will, but solely to discharge her conscience. Secrecy was enjoined upon her anew, which she promised to observe, and the deponent not being able to write, I, the said Commissary, sign in her name along with the honest persons.

CAYETANO TUCO, _Presbyter and Commissary_.

FRANCISCO PALMAROLA, _Presbyter_.

ANTONIO HUGUET, _Presbyter_.

Before me--

JUAN PALOL, _Presbyter, Commissary, and Notary_.

TO CAYETANO TUCO, PRESBYTER COMMISSARY.

In consequence of the deficiency of the information relating to the deposition of Mariana Sauri, widow, native of Tremp, and residing in Barcelona, in the Calle de Basea, in the upper story of a house opposite a carpenter's, the Tribunal has ordered that you be instructed to make inquiries with all possible expedition respecting the character and responsibility of the abovementioned person, and of the credit due to her testimony; also respecting the character and conduct of Teresa Salanova, wife of Francisco Salanova, weaver, living, as it appears, in the Calle de San Raymon, between a tavern and a tailor's shop. You will likewise make the same inquiries respecting the life and character of Joseph ----, a soldier in the Swiss regiment of Vetchar, and whether these persons conform to the precepts of the Church in the annual confession and Paschal communion. These orders I transmit for your execution. Our Lord preserve you.

Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, June 28th, 1802.

DR DON CIRO VALLS Y GELI, _Sec'y._