In the city of Valencia, on the seventeenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and fiftysix, before Dr Lorenzo Ballester, Confessor to the secret prison of the Holy Office and Extraordinary Commissary for this investigation, appeared voluntarily and made oath to declare the truth, and preserve secrecy, Joaquim Gil, &c.
Questioned, why he had demanded an audience.
Answered, on account of the declaration made by him before the present Commissary respecting a certain Don Antonio, of the company of Don Jorge Duran, in the regiment of Asturias. This man, in addition to the peculiarities of his person before described, had a scar above his left eyebrow, apparently the effect of a wound, and a dint of the size of a filbert in the top of his forehead, with black and rather short hair. He came to the house of the deponent on the fifteenth of this month according to agreement, and after some conversation gave him a strip of parchment, about a finger’s breadth wide and above a span long, this was slit through the middle lengthwise and had written on it the following words. ‘Ego + sum. Exe + homo consummatum est. Ego Juaginus Aprecor Dominum Nostri Jesu Christi in vitam eternam seculi seculorum libera me de omnibus rebus de ignis cautius et omnia instrumenta hominum detentat me hac die hac nocte custote rege et cuberna me Amen. This was rolled up in lead with a small piece of bone, and Don Antonio told him to wear it in the shape of a cross, next to his skin, near the heart, and it would shield him effectually from all thrusts with a sword. It was exhibited by the deponent.
He also gave him another strip of parchment of half a finger in breadth, and above two yards long. At one extremity was drawn with ink a leg and foot, and at the other a heart with a cross above it. Other figures and letters were drawn in different parts. With this he proceeded to take divers measurements upon the body of the deponent, as, from one shoulder to the other, from the shoulder to the chin and nose, &c. This he informed him would secure him from being wounded, if he used it in the following manner. He was to rub it with the wax which dripped from the tapers burnt during the celebration of mass. This was to be done on nine several days during mass, keeping it under his cloak, and taking care that no one saw him. Afterwards it was to be worn in the shape of a cross, next the skin, near the heart. He gave him at the same time three bits of parchment, each about three fingers’ breadth long and one wide. Two of these contained each two lines of writing, and the other three. They were severally numbered on the back, 1, 2, 3. To these were added another, very small, also written over.
He informed him that by the help of these he could perform any kind of divination, and that if he wore the thinnest of these parchments upon his left little finger, under a white stone set in a ring, he would be directed by it in the following manner. Whenever the stone turned red, he might play at any game which was going on, except dice or quillas, and be sure to gain; but if the stone turned black, he would lose by playing. Before any such use, however, was made of the parchments, he was directed to put them in the shoe of his left foot, near the ankle, and to sprinkle them with the water used by the priest at mass. These parchments were also exhibited.
The deponent requested Don Antonio to show him the book of magic which he had mentioned, but he declined, alleging that the deponent could not read nor understand it.
Questioned, if he knew, or had heard that the said Don Antonio Adorno had any temporary insanity, or was given to wine, and if any other person was present during the last conversation.
Answered, that he knew not whether he was subject to any such irregularities, and that no other person was present during their last interview. He declared that the whole of the declaration was the truth, and not uttered by him from malice or ill feeling, but solely in obedience to his conscience and oath. Secrecy was promised by him, and he added his signature.
Joaquim Gil.
Before me—