Act of Faith Part III
The Inquisition uses a green Cross, that it may be more conveniently distinguished from those Crosses of other Colors, which are used by the Christian Commonwealth; and especially that it may be shadowed out, that all Things usually signified by Greenness, belong to the Inquisition. For Instance, Greenness denotes Stability and Eternity, is a grateful, pleasant, and attractive Color to the Eyes, and finally, is a Sign of Victory and Triumph. Hereby is shadowed forth, that the Inquisitors of heretical Pravity vigilantly preserve the Stability of the Church, and that Heretics are attracted by the green Cross, so that they can’t escape the Judgment of this Tribunal and by beholding it are brought to the tender Bosom of Mother Church, and drawn to Repentance and the Sincerity of the Faith.
The Banner of the Inquisition has a green Cross in a Field of Sable, adorned on the right Hand with a Branch of green Olive, and brandishing on the left a drawn Sword, with this Motto round about the Escutcheon [shield], Exsurge Domine, & judica causam tuam. Psalm lxxiii. Arise, 0 Lord, and judge thy Cause. The Branch of green Olive denotes the same as the green Cross. But the Branch of Olive is on the right Hand of the Cross, and the Sword on the left, to show that in the Inquisition Mercy is mixed with Justice; and the Meaning of this Mixture they derive from the Ark of the Tabernacle, in which, together with the Tables, there was the Rod and the Manna, the Rod of Severity, and the Manna of Sweetness , as though the Rod of Aaron which blossomed, was the Rod with which Judges command Criminals to be whipped. The Branch of Olive at the right Hand signifies, that nothing ought to be to so strictly regarded by the Inquisitors as Mercy and Clemency, which the Olive most wonderfully shadows forth, which hath Branches always green, and which endures Storms much longer than any other Trees, and if buried under Water, is not to soon destroyed, nor doth to easily lose its Verdure. The drawn Sword brandishing on the left, points out, that the Inquisitors, after having tried in vain all Methods of Mercy, do then as it were unwillingly come to the Use and Drawing of the Sword, which was given by God for the Punishment of Offenders. The Field of Sable, in the Midst of which the green Cross is placed, intimates the Repentance of the Criminals, and the Sorrow they conceive on Account of their Sins, which however the Green mitigates with the Hope of Pardon. The Motto round the Escutcheon, Exsurge Domine, &c. marks out, that the Inquisitors, in Expectation of the Coming of the Lord, do in the mean while punish the wicked, that they may deter others, and defend the Good.
—When Mr. Wilcox, now the present right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Gloucester was Minister to the English Factory at Lisbon, he sent the following Letter to the then Bishop of Salisbury, Dr. Gilbert Barnet dated at Lisbon, Jan. 15, 17?6, which I publish by is Lordship’s Allowance and Approbation, and which abundantly confirms the foregoing Account.
My Lord.
IN Obedience to your Lordship’s Commands, of the 10th ult. I have been sent all that was printed concerning the last Auto de Fe. I saw the whole process, which was agreeable to what is published by Limborch and others upon that Subject. Of the five persons condemned, there were but four burnt, Antonio Tavanes, by an unusual Reprieve, being saved after the procession. Heytor Dias, and Maria Pinteyra, were burnt alive, and the other two first strangled. The Execution was very cruel. The Woman was alive in the Flames half an Hour, and the Man above an Hour. The present King and his Brothers were seated at a window so near, as to be addressed to a considerable time in very moving terms by the man as he was burning. But though the Favor he begged was only a few more Faggots, yet he was not able to obtain it. These which are burnt alive here, are seated on a bench twelve Feet high, the Man’s hinder Parts were perfectly wasted, and as he turned himself, his Ribs opened before he left speaking, the fire being vecruited [?] as it wasted, and to keep him just in the same degree of Heat. But all his Entreaties would not procure him a larger allowance of wood to shorten his Miser and Dispatch him. Thus far the Letter.
How diabolical a Religion must that be, which thus diverts Men of all the Sentiments of Humanity and Compassion, and hardens them against all the Miseries and Sufferings of their Fellow Creatures. For as Dr. Geddes observed, ibid p. 450. “That the Reader may not think, that this inhuman Joy is the Effect of a natural Cruelty, that is in these Peoples Disposition, and not of the Spirit of their Religion, he May rest assured, that all public Malefactors besides Heretics, have their violent Deaths no where more tenderly lamented, than amongst the same People, and even when there is nothing in the Manner of their Deaths that appears inhuman or cruel—
But besides these Things, there are other Differences between the Celebration of an Act of Faith in India and Spain. Gonsalvius tells us, this solemn Procession began in this Manner at Seville. “In the first Place went some School-Boys, brought out of a certain College in which Boys were taught, which they commonly call the House of Teaching, who strike an Awe upon others by their Habit, Singing, and Order, in which they are kept by certain Clergymen clothed in Surplices. They walk along singing the Litanies of the Saints, repeating them alternately, the Chorus alternately answering, Ora pro nobis. After these follow the Prisoners themselves, commonly called Penitentials, disposed as it were into several Classes in this Order. Next after the Children walk those who are convicted of lesser faults. The Tokens of their Guile are usually unlighted Candles, Halters about their Necks, wooden Bits, and Paper Miters. They walk with their Heads uncovered, that the Miter may not be concealed, and after the Manner of Slaves without their Cloak. Those who excel others in Birth, or Riches, follow after those who are meaner. Next to these march those who are clothed with the Sambenito’s, or military Mantles, marked across with the red Cross, the same Order being observed as above, according so the Distinction of the Persons. Those who are defiled in holy Orders, as they are superior in Dignity, so also are they in their Place or Rank in the Procession. After these comes the third and last Class, viz of those who are appointed for the Fire Every Prisoner is attended by two armed Familiars for his safe Custody, one on each Side of him, besides which, those who are to die have two Monks or Theatins, as they call them, walking by them.”
“The whole Council of the City, consisting of the Alguazilz, Jurors, the Judges, of twenty-four Degrees, the great Officers of the Court, the Regent and Viceroy Himself or his Deputy, who are followed by a great Number of Nobility on Horseback, immediately follow the Classes of the Prisoners, who, according to the Custom of a Triumph, ought certainly to march first. After these comes the Ecclesiastical Order, the Clergy, beneficed Persons, and Curates walking first. Next after them walk the whole Chapter of the principal Church, which they commonly call the Cabild of the greater Church. Then the Abbots and Priors of the Monks Orders, with their Attendants. All these walk before the holy Tribunal to do Honor to it, because, on that Day, it openly triumphs. Between these and the next after there is a Space left empty, in which the Fiscal of the Inquisition, who hath had no small Share in gaining that Victory to the holy Tribunal, walks as Standard-Bearer in truly military Pomp, displaying and opening the Standard made of red Damask Silk. This Standard is most curiously embroidered, having on one Side of it the Arms of that Pope who granted the Inquisition, with his Name written at large, and on the other those of King Ferdinand, who first brought it into Spain. Every Thing in it is wrought with Silk, Gold, and Purple. Upon the very Point of this Banner is fastened a silver Crucifix washed over with Gold of great Value, to which the superstitious Multitude pay a peculiar Veneration, for this Reason only, because it belongs to the Inquisition. At length come the Fathers of the Faith themselves, with a slow Pace, and profound Gravity, truly triumphing, as becomes the principal Generals of that Victory. After them come all the Familiars of the holy Inquisition on Horseback. Then an innumerable Company of the common People and Mob, without any Order or Character. In this Pomp they march from the Jail of the Inquisition to the high and magnificent Scaffold [grandstand], which is built of Wood, in the noblest and most capacious Street of the City, for showing the Penitents to public View, and for hearing their Sentence. On this Scaffold they make them sit in the same Order as they marched. There is also another Scaffold almost as large as the former, over against it, in which is erected the Tribunal of the Lords Inquisitors, where they sit in their Inquisitorial, and almost divine Majesty, attended with all that Grandeur in which they came.”
The King, if present, the Queen and the whole Court, and also the Legates, and all the Nobility of Spain, generally honor this Solemnity with their Presence. The Seat of the Inquisitor General is like a Tribunal, raised above the Kings. When all are seated in their Places, they begin with celebrating Mass, but when the Priest who officiates, is come to about the Middle of the Service, he leaves the Altar, and goes back to his proper Place. Then the supreme Inquisitor comes down from the Scaffold, Robed in all his Ornaments, and making his Reverences before the Altar, ascends by several Steps to the King, attended by some of the Officers of the Inquisition, who carry the Crucifix and Gospels, and the Book in which is contained the Oath, by which the King obliges himself to protect the Catholic Faith, to the Extirpation of Heresies, and the Defense of the Inquisition. The King standing bare headed, having on one Side of him the Constable of Castile, or one of the Grandees of Spain, who holds up the Sword of State, swears that he will keep the Oath, which is publicly read over to him, by one of the Members of the Royal Council; and remains in the same Posture, till the supreme Inquisitor goes back to his Place. After this one of the Secretaries of the Inquisition goes to a Desk, reads over the like Oath, and takes it from the Council, and the whole Assembly Then all the several Sentences are read over, and the Solemnity sometimes lasts till nine a Clock in the Evening.
The Tholouse Inquisition
How the Solemnity of a general Sermon or Act of Faith was formerly observed, plainly appears from the Book of the Sentences of the Tholouse Inquisition. The People being called together into the Church, and after the preaching the Sermon concerning the Faith, the Act commenced by an Oath, which the Inquisitors gave to the Civil Magistrates, by which they promised their Assistance to discover and apprehend Heretics, and to accuse and denounce them to the Inquisitors; and finally conclude, “And in these and all other Things which belong to the Office of the Inquisition, we will be obedient to God, and the Church of Rome, and the Inquisitors.” This Oath, as appears by comparing the several Sermons together, was afterwards somewhat enlarged, that the Magistrates might not have the least Pretense for conniving at Heresy.
After this Oath the Sentence of Excommunication was pronounced against such as should hinder the Office of the Inquisition, by which all were put under Excommunication, Who have knowingly hindered the Office of the Inquisition or for the future shall hinder it by any Means, directly or indirectly, openly or secretly, either by concealing the Truth themselves or revoking what they have legally confessed, or by unlawfully persuading others to conceal or revoke it, and also whosoever shall directly or indirectly, openly or privately, knowingly grant Counsel, Assistance or Favor hereto. Thus runs the first Form of Excommunication in the second Sermon in the Book of Sentences, which was in others differently enlarged, that no Person, ever so slightly suspected, might escape the Hands of the Inquisitors, and that the Magistrate might have no possible way of throwing any Hindrance to the Inquisitors in their holy Office.
After this follows the Act of the Inquisition, and that the Tribunal may appear somewhat merciful and kind, they usually began the Act with pardoning or mitigating the Punishment to some few Persons, condemning at the same time a great many to the same or heavier Punishments. From some they took their Crosses and enjoined them some arbitrary Penance. Others were brought out of Jail, and had Crosses put on them, which was a lesser Punishment. When these Favors were bestowed, the Sentences were read over, by which Penances were enjoined to the Criminals.
The first Sentences were those of the Cross-Bearers, who were enjoined to wear Crosses on their Breast and Back, and if their Crimes were very heinous, they were condemned to wear two. If it happened that their Faults were slight, they were enjoined arbitrary Penance without Crosses. An Instance of which we have, fol. 81. Then follow the Sentences of those who were to be immured, who were condemned to perpetual Imprisonment, there to do wholesome Penance with the Bread of Grief, and Water of Affliction. If the Offences of any such were very grievous, they were more closely and straightly confined, and put in Irons.
Then follow the Sentences of the Impenitent and Relapsed, who are delivered over to the secular Court, then the Sentences against the Dead, and against the Houses in which any Persons have committed Heresy, and finally against the Fugitives. When the Sentence is pronounced, the Gospels are placed before the Inquisitors, as though nothing was decided without taking Counsel from God. This their usual Form, which generally occurs in the Sentences, plainly shows. Having God before our Eyes, and the Purity of the orthodox Faith, and having these holy Gospels placed before us, that our Sentence may come from the Face of God, and our Eyes may behold Equity.
The whole Act being finished, the Inquisitor performed three Things. First, He granted forty Days Indulgences to all who were present at Church at the aforesaid Acts of Faith. Secondly, He proclaimed publicly, that all who had given Counsel, Assistance or Favor, towards any ones abjuring Heresy, and returning to the Unity of the Church, viz. all such as inform, bear Witness, advice, read the Crimes, Abjuration and Sentence, and the Officers who keep them in Custody, shall obtain three Years Indulgencies from the Pope. Thirdly He notifies to all, that whosoever knows any Heretic or Person defamed or suspected of Heresy, and shall denounce him to the Inquisitors, shall also obtain from the Pope three Years Indulgencies. And this concludes the whole Act, and was formerly the Manner of holding a Sermon of the Faith.
Inquisitions in Spain and Portugal
Now let us see how all Things are put in Execution at this time in Spain and Portugal, after the Act of Faith.
Criminals penitent and reconciled, and brought out in public Procession, are carried back to their former Jails in the holy Office the same Day in which the Sentences are pronounced against them, and the Day following are brought to an Audience of the Inquisitors, and are admonished of those Things which are enjoined them by their Sentences, and how grievously they will be punished, unless they humbly do the Penances assigned them. After this, they send every one to the Place to which his Sentence ordered him. Those who are condemned to the Gallies, are sent to the Jails of the secular Judges. Some are whipped thro’ the principal Streets of the City, and sometimes receive two hundred Lashes. Others wear the infamous Sambenito, some every Day, others must appear in them only Sundays and Holydays But in these Things every one observes the Custom of his own Inquisition. In the Inquisition at Goa this is the Method. Before the Prisoners are dismissed, they are carried from Jail to some other House, where they are every Day instructed in the Doctrines and Rites of the Church of Rome; and when they are dismissed, every one hath a Writing given him, containing the Penances enjoined them to which is added a Command, that every one shall exactly keep secret every Thing he hath seen, said or heard, and all the Transactions relating to him, whether at the Table, or in other Places of the holy Office. And to this Secrecy every Prisoner binds himself by a solemn Oath.
The Day after this Solemnity also, the Effigies of those condemned to Death, painted to the Life, are carried to the Dominicans Church, and there hung up to be viewed by all. The Custom in this Matter is described by Ludovicus a Paramo. “There is another Monument of Infamy, which, though vulgarly called by the Spaniards, Sambenito, yet is not a Garment, but a Cloth affixed to the Walls of the Churches for perpetual Infamy in the Parishes where they lived. On this Cloth is written the Name and Surname of the Criminal, and the Business he earned on is also expressed. If he discovers any farther, they add another little Piece to the Cloth to prevent Doubt, describing his Country, and oftentimes also the Parents and Grandfathers of the condemned Person.
In some of these Cloths may be read, who were the Parents of the Criminals, of what Race they were, whether they were married, or if married Women, whose Wives they were, whether lately recovered to the Christian Religion from the Jewish Law and Mahometan Sect. Finally, the Cause of their Penance is declared according to the Nature of their Crime viz. that he was an Arch-Heretic, a Dogmatist, a declared Heretic, an heretical Apostate, a feigned Penitent, negative and obstinate, an impenitent and relapsed Heretic, a Lutheran, Anabaptist, Calvinist, Martianist Heretic, even though they died before Condemnation. Besides this Inscription, there is also painted the Mark which is usually put on living Penitents, as is above explained.
In the ancient Cloths, which have not yet been repaired, one may see an upright Cross. Besides these already mentioned, other Things may be seen in them, for in some the Person and Crime is omitted, and this one Word only written without the Picture, Combustus, Burnt. On the Cloths of such as are reconciled, this Word only without any Cross or Mark, Reconciliatus, Reconciled. Sometimes the Date of the Year is wanting. Sometimes the Flames are painted without any Inscription, so that the Criminal can’t possibly be known. Some Cloths are to be seen, from the Ends of which the Threads hang out, in which probably there is nothing remarkable, and which seem to be made of the very End of the Piece. The Cause of so great a Variety in these Cloths seems to be this, that formerly the Fathers of the holy Inquisition did not publish Constitutions concerning all these Matters, as they have now done. For after that the Instructions of the Inquisitors were printed at Madrid, there is extant a peculiar Constitution, in which the Manner of fixing up, and keeping in Repair these Cloths of Infamy is prescribed. ‘Tis decreed in this manner, Cap. 81 ‘Tis known, that the Monuments of Infamy of condemned Persons, both living, whether present or absent, or dead, must be hung up on the Walls of the Churches of the Parishes where they lived; and that whether they are imprisoned, or deceased, or fled. ‘Tts the same as to reconciled Persons, after having performed the Penances enjoined them, and the taking off their Habits, even although they were clothed in them only for the Procession at the Act of Faith, and whilst their Sentences were read over. This is inviolably observed, and no one hath Power to make any Alteration herein, but ’tis always recommended to the Inquisitors, that they should take diligent Care to repair these effigies, especially in the Provinces which they visit, that the Infamy of Heretics and their Posterity may never be forgotten.
The Time also of Condemnation must be written on these Cloths, and it must be particularly specified, whether they offended as Jews, Saracens, Lutherans, and embraced the Heresies of their Followers and other impious Persons. However, these Monuments of Infamy and Disgraced are not to be fixed up to render those infamous, who are reconciled during the Time of Indulgence and Grace. For as it was agreed with them, that they should not wear such infamous Habits, nor be clothed with them during the Time of their Reconciliation, it would be contrary to Reason and Justice to hang them up, because it would be wholly to destroy the Favor granted them. This Constitution is observed in all the Kingdoms and Dominions of the King of Spain, except in Sicily, where, in the Year 1543 when the Licentiate Cervera was Inquisitor there, there was a very great Commotion at Palermo, when the People rose against the holy Inquisition, and tore off the infamous Cloths from the Walls of the Church dedicated to St Dominick, with to great a Fury and Rage, that they could never, to this Day, fix them up again upon the Walls either of that, or any other Church.
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