Records of The Spanish Inquisition Part 28

TO THE MOST ILl.u.s.tRIOUS INQUISITOR.

MOST ILl.u.s.tRIOUS SIR,

I have made inquiries of the Vicar of the district of the Calle Nueva de Asalto and other streets, for the purpose of learning the character and conduct of Teresa Sola, now Salanova, and of the girl Antonia, who lives with her, and whose name has. .h.i.therto been unknown, but is now ascertained to be Antonia Costa. These two persons live in the third story of a house which makes the corner of the Calle de la Guardia. It has been ascertained from the _cartepacio_ of the communions, that neither the said Teresa Salanova, nor Antonia Costa, have, within the present year, presented their certificates of the Paschal communion.

Respecting the soldier named Joseph, of the Swiss regiment of Vetchar, I have not been able to learn anything, except that the regiment is now in Madrid.

The above is the substance of what I have succeeded in learning, and I communicate the same that your Excellency may apply it to the proper purposes. G.o.d preserve the life of your Excellency many years.

Barcelona, July 2d, 1802.

Your most humble chaplain who kisses the hands of your Excellency,

CAYETANO TUCO, _Presbyter Commissary_.

TO THE MOST ILl.u.s.tRIOUS INQUISITOR.

MOST ILl.u.s.tRIOUS SIR,

I have made the most industrious search for information respecting the character and life of Maria Anna Sauri, widow, but cannot ascertain what degree of credit ought to be attached to her testimony. I am informed by the Reverend Antonio Huguet, Presbyter, that he has some knowledge of her, as all these persons belong to the town of Tremp. He cannot tell, however, what life she leads, and only knows that she has been in the Galera. I made inquiries of the Pacionero del Pino, and he stated to me that he had seen her in the Galera, where she was then in custody for smuggling. Nothing more respecting her was known.

I have, with the a.s.sistance of the Vicar del Pino, examined the _cartepacio_ of communions of the whole district of the Calle de Asalto, Calle de Lancastre, Calle den Guardia, Calle del Olmo, Calle de San Olaguer, which, as supposed by her in her deposition, must be the second Calle de San Ramon, the whole Calle de San Ramon, and all the lanes. No part of the _cartepacio_ exhibits the name of Marianna Sauri. I then proceeded to Santa Maria del Mar, as the Calle de Basea, where she resides, is situated in that parish, and here in the _cartepacio_ of the communions it was found, but nothing further to direct me. She has left Barcelona, whether for Tremp or Figueras, I cannot positively determine.

The above information I communicate to your Excellency to be applied to the proper purposes.

Barcelona, July 2d, 1802.

Your most humble chaplain who kisses the hands of your Excellency.

CAYETANO TUCO, _Presbyter and Commissary_.

MOST ILl.u.s.tRIOUS SIR,

Father Fr. Vicente Xaus, Franciscan, residing in the Franciscan Convent of Gerona, by an extra sacramental commission from Eulalia Forcat, dwelling in the Hospicio of that city, with the intention to a.s.sume the scapulary of a sister, gives information to the Holy Tribunal, that Joseph Jalbert, merchant, a resident, as well as the other persons referred to, in this city of Barcelona, and now residing in the Callejuela de San Antonio, in a house where a herbseller keeps, uttered about two years ago, certain insulting language about Ecclesiastics, both secular and regular, saying they were a set of vagabonds, and that he would not give them money, with many other things which she has forgotten. These words were said at the house and in the presence of Senor Francisco Galup, merchant, living in the Calle de la Merced, and who can give further information of the facts. At another time, and in the presence of the abovementioned Eulalia Forcat and Augustina Buxeras, a resident in the Calle de Basea, besides his accustomed speeches above described, he took a paper on which was the figure of a Saint, and rubbed it over his posteriors outside of his clothes. The said Eulalia also saw him open a book containing many indecent figures.

Furthermore, in the name of the same person, he denounces to the Holy Tribunal the following matter. Father Fr. Antonio Puig, of Barcelona, a monk of my seraphic order, and residing in the Grand Convent of Barcelona, a thing which grieves me exceedingly, hearing the confession of this person, in which she informed him that she was mortifying herself with the exercise of the penal discipline, he visited her one day when she was confined to her bed by indisposition, and speaking of her penance, she discovered to him a portion of her body where she had applied it, when the abovementioned Father examined it, and felt it with his hand, asking her if it pained her where he touched. This business, G.o.d be thanked, proceeded no further.

He furthermore states that the said Father did even worse than this to the abovementioned Augustina, as he had learned from her own mouth. He had ascertained from her confession, that she also was practising the penal exercise, and went to her house one day, where he disciplined her so violently that she was unable to sit down. She sent for the abovementioned Eulalia to examine her, fearing that she had received some wound. The said Eulalia does not recollect that she stated he had disciplined her twice before, but remembers that she a.s.serted she had seen a part of the good Father's body uncovered.

Upon these matters the Holy Tribunal will inst.i.tute the necessary proceedings.

P. VICENTE XAUS, _Franciscan_.

Gerona, June 2d, 1807.

P. S. Both the above occurrences happened about two years ago.

Nevertheless a few days after the confession, I remember that the said Eulalia told me they continued to confess to the same Father.

In the city of Gerona, on the twentieth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and seven, before Dr Narciso Coll, Presbyter, Inquisitor Honorary, and Commissary, appointed for this investigation, and me Joseph Gasull, Presbyter Notary, both sworn to preserve secrecy, and perform faithfully our duties, appeared voluntarily, and made oath to declare the truth and preserve secrecy in everything which she knew, and about which she might be interrogated, a person calling herself Eulalia Forcat, of the city of Barcelona, aged about thirty years, a nun and attendant upon the foundlings in the Royal Hospicio of this city.

Questioned, if she knew or conjectured the cause of her being summoned to appear by the Holy Office.

Answered, that she did not know.

Questioned, if she knew or had heard that any person had said or done anything which was, or appeared to be, contrary to Our Holy Catholic Faith and Evangelical Law, or against the just proceedings of the Holy Office.

Answered, that about two years since, being in this city, and serving as a domestic in the house of Senor Francisco Galup, merchant, in the Calle de la Merced, she heard on many occasions, Joseph Jalbert, merchant, a young man, a native of Puigcerda, and who transacted business in this house for a year, and then removed with his parents to the Calle de San Antonio, utter various insulting and abusive words against the Priests, both secular and regular, disputing often at table with the said Senor Francisco Galup, respecting matters of religion, declaring that the Priests were a parcel of useless vagabonds, and that they ought to be set to work, with other a.s.sertions of the same kind, which were uttered repeatedly in the presence of the deponent and Augustina Buxeras, both domestics in the house, Senora Maria Galup, Cayetano Galup, and Senor Francisco Galup. He persisted in this language, notwithstanding they all checked and rebuked him, in particular the abovementioned Senor Francisco Galup.

On another occasion the deponent being in company with the aforesaid Augustina Buxeras, in the kitchen of the house, the abovementioned Joseph Jalbert took a paper, on which was the figure of a Saint, and with approbrium to religion pa.s.sed it behind him over his clothes. And when they rebuked him in a christian manner, he laughed and left them.

At the same time she saw in the room in which he dwelt, three books, bound in the French manner, of a small size, and containing very indecent pictures of men and women. Neither the author of the books nor the subject were known to her, as they were in French. He kept them in his possession while he remained in the house, and on his departure took them with him.

Questioned, what was the age, personal appearance, residence, &c. of the abovementioned person.

Answered, that he was then about twentyone or twentytwo years old, of a moderate stature, fleshy, with a face somewhat long, and flaxen hair. He was unmarried, and engaged in mercantile trade. She believed that he lived at present in Barcelona.

Questioned, if she knew that any other person had said or done anything which was or appeared to be contrary to our Holy Faith or against the just proceedings of the Holy Office.

Answered, No.

The above being read to her she declared that it was faithfully recorded conformably to her own declaration, and that she had nothing to add or alter respecting it, as it was the truth. She further stated that she had not done it out of malice, or ill will against the said Joseph Jalbert, but solely to discharge her conscience. Secrecy was enjoined upon her, which she promised; and the deponent, not being able to write, I, the said Commissary, sign in her name.

NARCISO COLL, _Presbyter, and for the said Deponent_.

Before me--

JOSEPH GASULL, _Presbyter Notary_.

In the city of Gerona, on the twentyfifth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and seven, before Dr Narciso Coll, Presbyter, Commissary commissioned for this investigation, and me, Joseph Gasull, Presbyter Notary, sworn to preserve secrecy, and perform faithfully our duties, appeared, and made oath to declare the truth and preserve secrecy, Eulalia Forcat, and being present in the quality of honest and religious persons, the Rev. Gines Torrent and the Rev. Thomas Parella, both Presbyter Beneficadores of the Holy Church, sworn to preserve secrecy.

She was

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

Answered, by repeating, substantially, the foregoing declaration of the twentieth of June current, made before the Commissary and Notary whose names are signed below. 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 persons referred to in the said declaration. She was directed to give attention while it was read, and if she found anything to add or alter respecting the contents of it, to do it in such a manner as to declare the truth, as what she now uttered might operate to the prejudice of the aforesaid persons. The declaration made before the abovementioned Commissary and Notary, on the twentieth of June current was then read _de verbo ad verb.u.m_, the deponent hearing and understanding the same.

She declared it was her declaration, and correctly recorded; that she had nothing to add or alter respecting it, as it was the truth, and she attested it for the same, and if necessary was ready to repeat the whole anew against the said Joseph Jalbert, not out of malice or ill will, but solely to discharge her conscience. Secrecy was enjoined upon her 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.