Martina de Alastuey, that she prepared the food of Perez, in her house, and that her son Antonio Añoz, who was his servant, carried it to him in the prison.
Don Louis de Gurrea demands absolution only to reassure his conscience, although it does not reproach him!
Don Michael de Sese also claims it, to appease the same scruples!
Doctor Murillo, that he visited Perez in the prison when he was ill.
The following are instances of a spirit quite contrary to the preceding examples:—
The Doctor Don Gregory de Andia, vicar of the parish of St. Paul, being informed that a priest had refused absolution to more than two hundred persons, because they had not been absolved from the censures incurred by the bull of St. Pius V., could not help saying, That priest is an ignorant fellow. Let all those people come to me, and also all those who revolted: I would absolve them with pleasure of all their sins, and feel no fear for such an action. The vicar was arrested for his boldness, and taken to the secret prisons. Many persons shared his fate, among whom were,—
Juan de Cerio, a familiar of the holy office, who, on hearing it remarked that the Aragonese ought not to endure the Inquisition any longer, replied: "As for me, they may burn the house, the papers, the prisons, and even the inquisitors: I shall have nothing to say against it."
A brother of the Trinity, who, on hearing that the Castilians wished to reduce the Aragonese, and destroy their privileges, said, "If Jesus Christ was a Castilian, I would not believe in him."
Michael Urgel, procurator of the royal audience, confessed that after he had heard the declaration of the four counsellors, that it was an infringement of the Fueros to transfer Perez to the Inquisition, he said: "We must treat the letters of the inquisitors with contempt, and if the king supports them, he is a tyrant: let us get rid of him and elect a native king of Aragon, since we have a right to do so."
These are a few instances of the pretended sins for which absolution was demanded, and for which many persons were arrested, but they are sufficient to shew the spirit of the people and of the inquisitors.