Records of The Spanish Inquisition Part 8

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 circ.u.mstances 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 a.s.sistance 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 a.s.sertions 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d of the country, and by another, that he affirmed he was next to G.o.d, 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.

3d. That he is descended from old Christians, and is a good Christian himself, having set a good example wherever he has resided, living by his labor, hearing ma.s.s and sermons; that he knows the prayers, and in whatever he has failed, he has not offended wilfully; on all which accounts he concludes by supplicating the favor of your Excellency's usual mercy.

GERONYMO VIDAL.

The Inquisitors then ordered the above to be notified to the Fiscal of this Holy Office; whereupon the audience closed, and the prisoner was remanded to prison.

Before me--

MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ.

SENTENCE.

In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the tenth day of February, one thousand six hundred and thirtythree, at the afternoon audience for the determination of causes, present, the Inquisitors, Dr Bernardo Luis Cotoner and Dr Domingo Abbad y Huerta, and, on the part of the archbishopric of Tarragona and bishopric of Urgel, Don Ramon de Queralt. Having examined the proceedings of the cause against Juan Duran, blacksmith, native of Manresa, and now in the secret prison of this Holy Office; ordered, unanimously, that the said person attend at an _Auto de Fe_, if any one should shortly happen, and if not, that he proceed to some church designated by this Tribunal, in the manner of a penitent, and with the insignia of a necromancer, that his sentence be there read to him, and a ma.s.s be said; that he make an abjuration _de levi_,[16] and be banished from the city of Manresa, and town of Valles, the places where he transgressed, for four leagues roundabout, during the s.p.a.ce of four years; and that if he infringe this order, he suffer double the above penalty.

Before me--

MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ..

In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the fifth day of March, 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 said Juan Duran to be brought from prison, which being done, and the prisoner present, he was

Questioned, &c.

Answered, that he had nothing to declare in discharge of his conscience, either respecting his own affair, or with respect to aught that had been done or said in the prisons of this Holy Office, or against the dignity, authority, or secrets of its ministers, or respecting the custody of the prisoners therein; that he had not witnessed any communication carried on among them, or knew that any one had spoken to another, or to any one without; that he carried no communication from them to any one, and that the Alcayde and Steward have faithfully discharged their duties.

He was then commanded by virtue of the oath which he had taken, and under penalty of complete excommunication, to observe perfect secrecy in relation to all which had befallen him, and all which he had seen, heard, learned, or understood while in prison, and not to divulge the same, in any shape; all which he promised.

DR BERNARDO LUIS COTONER.

Before me--