Andrew Dickson White - 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 correctly recorded. He further states that he does not make this declaration out of malice, and promises to observe secrecy. Not being able to write, I, the said Commissary, sign in his name.

Dr Pablo Pasqual Marquez, Commissary .

Before me—

Geronymo Juan Rossellon, Presbyter Not’y .

In the town of Valles, on the same day, month, and year, before the said commissary, appeared according to summons, and swore formally to declare the truth, a person calling herself Esperanza Serdana, wife of Bernardo Serdana, innkeeper, an inhabitant of the town of Valles, of age, as she stated, thirty years or thereabout.

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

Answered, that she neither knew or conjectured.

Questioned, if she knew or had heard that any person had said or done any thing which was, or appeared to be, contrary to the Holy Catholic Faith and Evangelical Doctrine taught and preached by the Holy Mother Roman Catholic Church, or against the proper and free jurisdiction of the Holy Office.

Answered, that all she knew relating to such matter was the following. About six weeks since, while she was waiting upon the guests in her tavern, and had just gone out of the kitchen into the room where the guests were, she observed them crossing themselves and expressing great wonder, crying ‘Jesu!’ ‘Jesu!’ Upon which she demanded what was the matter, and they told her, (she could not tell which of them, as there were so many present) that a man, then in the room, whose name she did not know, but only that he was a blacksmith and one she had never seen before, had said he had a book, which, thrown into a flaming fire along with a crucifix, would be preserved rather than this last, which expressions being heard by the deponent, she did not fail to express her astonishment, by crying ‘Jesu!’ and then went out of the room. The persons present also told her that the above person had said he was circumcised and had shed his blood as well as Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

Dr Pablo Pasqual Marquez, Commissary .

Before me—

Geronymo Juan Rossellon, Presbyter Not’y .

In the town of Valles, on Saturday, the fourth day of December, one thousand six hundred and thirtytwo, in the afternoon, before the said Commissary, appeared according to summons, and swore to declare the truth, a person calling himself Pablo Vicens, peasant, a native and inhabitant of the said town, of age, as he stated, thirty years or thereabout.

Questioned, if he knew or conjectured the cause of his being summoned to appear.

Answered, that he supposed it to be for the purpose of making inquiry about the following matter. About fifteen days before the feast of All Saints, he was informed by Bernardo Serda, innkeeper, an inhabitant of this town, that a man working with Pablo Llaurador, blacksmith of this town, had said before his wife and the guests in the inn, that he had in a certain book, a prayer of such efficacy that, were the book thrown into a blazing fire, along with a crucifix, the book would be preserved and the crucifix burnt; at which the deponent was much shocked, and went home. About six or eight days after this, the deponent went to the house of Pablo Llaurador, and found there the man abovementioned, whom he believes they called Juan Duran. Deponent spoke to this person, asking him what he meant by making such a speech as the above, and advised him to take care what he said, lest he got punished for it. The said Juan Duran answered, that he had made the above assertion, and would repeat it, which he did. The deponent told him he had been informed by Bernardo Serda of his speech about the book, and other assertions of his; namely, that the Holy Virgin del Rosario had appeared twice to him, and declared that he possessed the power to cure all diseases, giving him her benediction; for all which the deponent reprehended him in such a manner, that they had nearly come to blows, he having seized a blacksmith’s sledge for the purpose of throwing at the deponent, but desisted, as every one present exclaimed against him. Deponent was presently called away, and left the house, and a day or two after, on inquiring for the said person, of Pablo Llaurador, was informed that he had left him the same day. Deponent thinks he has since seen him at Villaredonda, where he believes he may be found at present.

The above is the truth, according to the oath of the deponent; and being read in his presence, is declared by him to be correctly recorded. He further states that he has not made this declaration out of malice, and promises secrecy. Not being able to write, I, the said Commissary sign in his name.

Dr Pablo Pasqual Marquez, Commissary .

Before me—

Geronymo Rossellon, Presbyter Not’y .

In the town of Valles, on Sunday, the fifth of December, one thousand six hundred and thirtytwo, before the said Commissary appeared and swore to declare the truth, a person calling himself Jayme Carbonell, native and inhabitant of the town of Valles, of age, as he stated, sixteen years or thereabout.

Questioned, if he knew or conjectured the cause of his being summoned to appear.

Answered, that he neither knew nor conjectured.

Questioned, if he knew or had heard that any person had said or done anything which was, or appeared to be contrary to the Holy Catholic Faith and Evangelical Doctrine taught and professed by our Holy Mother Roman church, or against the proper and free jurisdiction of the Holy Office.

Answered, that all he knew respecting this matter, was the following. About six weeks since, he met at his home, a man whom they called Juan, (his other name he did not know) and being in conversation with him, alone, by the fireside, the said person told him he had a book worth fifty ducats; that he knew how to cure all diseases simply by looking at the book, and that by the help of it he could even restore a dead person to life; that if people knew his great powers he should get to be very rich, and that he had been circumcised with wounds and blood like Jesus Christ; at all which the deponent laughed, and said to himself, ‘No doubt this man is crazy.’ The person referred to, worked at a blacksmith’s trade with Pablo Llaurador, and slept at the tavern of the deponent’s mother, while he was in town.

The deponent was then informed that besides what had already been related, this tribunal had received intimation that the said Juan had stated he had a book, which, being cast into a fire along with a crucifix, would remain unhurt, while the crucifix would be consumed; and that the Holy Virgin del Rosario had twice appeared to him, giving him her benediction and granting him the power to cure all diseases. He was admonished to bethink himself, and declare the whole truth.

Answered, that he never heard him utter such a thing, and knew of nothing more which the above person had said.

This is the truth according to the oath of the deponent, and being read in his presence, is declared by him to be correctly recorded. He further states that he does not make this declaration out of malice, and promises secrecy.

Signed— Jaume Carbonell Fadri.

Before me—

Geronymo Juan Rossellon, Presbyter Not’y .

In the town of Valles Campo, archbishopric of Tarragona, on Friday, the twentyfirst day of January, one thousand six hundred and thirtythree, in the afternoon, before Dr Pablo Pasqual Marquez, Presbyter Commissary of the Holy Office, in the said town of Valles, appeared Pedro Oriola, apothecary, an inhabitant of the said town, of age, as he stated, forty years or thereabout, and swore to declare the truth, in presence of the honest and religious persons, the Reverend Jaume Busquers and Pablo Fonolleda, Presbyter Benificiaries in the parochial church of the said town; which persons swore to observe secrecy.

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