Records of the Spanish Inquisition, Translated from the Original Manuscripts

by Andrew Dickson White

Here the prisoner crossed himself, repeated the Pater Noster, Ave Maria, and Credo, in Spanish, without fault, and answered properly to all the questions respecting the Christian doctrine.

Questioned, if he could read or write, or had studied any science.

Answered, that he could read, write, and cipher, having learned of Dr Francisco Labatra, in Vienna; and that he had studied grammar in the Colegio de los Praxistas in this capital.

Questioned, what were the events of his life.

Answered, that he was born in Genoa; and while a boy, was carried by his parents to Vienna, where he followed his studies as above stated. At the age of sixteen he entered as a cadet in a regiment of infantry. After serving here till twentytwo, the regiment was broken up, and he remained with his mother at Vienna for the space of a month. He then set out for Spain for the purpose of securing some property belonging to him by inheritance from his ancestors in Bellpuix and other parts of the kingdom. He landed at Barcelona, and proceeded to Bellpuix, Malaga, Granada, and Seville; but, failing in his attempts to obtain his property, he enlisted in the infantry regiment of Asturias then quartered in this city. In this regiment he visited several parts and cities of these kingdoms at their respective garrisons, and particularly the kingdom of Valencia, from whence he proceeded to Reus, where he was arrested.

Questioned, if he knew or suspected the cause of his imprisonment.

Answered, that he supposed it to be on account of some acts he had performed to discover certain thieves in his company, which performances he had executed with a degree of mystery and mummery to create wonder. The facts were as follows.

In the Guard of the Duke of Berwick, at Valencia, some shirts and stockings were stolen, and the commanding officer requested the prisoner to make trial of one of his methods of discovering the thief, he having before been a witness of the operation of one of them. He accordingly assembled all the soldiers of the guard in a dark room, and informed them they must each one put his finger into a cup of water, and that the water would blacken the finger of the thief. Before the room was darkened he showed them the cup containing a quantity of clear water. They all agreed to the proposal, and the room was shut up so as to exclude every ray of light. The prisoner then conveyed a quantity of ink into the cup, and after making a preliminary harangue directed every one to dip his finger within. This they all did except one whom he supposed to be the thief. He wet his finger in his mouth lest it should be discovered that he had not complied with the direction.

They now threw open the windows and found every man’s finger black but that of the delinquent. The prisoner perceiving this and observing the agitation which he manifested, exclaimed to him, ‘You are the thief;’ and finally compelled him to pay for the stolen articles.

In order more fully to impress them with the belief that this man was guilty, the prisoner directed the commander of the guard to write the name of each person on a piece of paper and burn it to ashes, informing him that this ashes would give the impression of the name of the one who was guilty, upon his hand. In order to effect this the prisoner wrote with a certain liquor upon his own hand the name of Juan Antonio ——, (his other name he did not remember) then showing himself to the company he washed his hands before them, (taking care, however, not to rub them much) and observed, ‘You see there is nothing now written upon my hand; but when this list is burnt it will exhibit there the name of the thief.’ The paper was then burnt, and he rubbed the ashes upon his hand, when the letters made their appearance, and the prisoner gained the reputation of a wizard, more especially in the conception of the said Juan Antonio.