An English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (4 of 8) — John Shaqi
An English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (4 of 8)
History
An English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (4 of 8)
English literature
The common people, before they saw the penitents come into the Church,
were given to understand that we were heretics, infidels, and people
that did despise GOD and His works, and that we had been more like
devils than men; and thought we had had the favour [_appearance_] of
some monsters or heathen people: and when they saw us come into the
Church in our players' coats, the women and children began to cry out
and made such a noise, that it was strange to hear and see; saying,
that "They never saw goodlier men in all their lives; and that it was
not possible that there could be in us so much evil as was reported of
us; and that we were more like angels among men, than such persons of
such evil religion as by the priests and friars, we were reported to
be; and that it was a great pity that we should be so used for so small
an offence."
So that we were brought into the said high Church, and set upon the
scaffold which was made before the high altar, in the presence of all
the people, until _High Mass_ was done; and the Sermon made by a friar
concerning our matter: putting us in all the disgrace they could, to
cause the people not to take so much compassion upon us, for that "we
were heretics, and people seduced of the Devil, and had forsaken the
faith of the Catholic Church of Rome"; with divers other reproachful
words, which were too long to recite in this place.
_High Mass_ and Sermon being done; our offences (as they called them)
were recited, each man what he had said and done: and presently was the
sentence pronounced against us, that was that--
The said AUGUSTINE BOACIO was condemned to wear his _San Benito_
all the days of his life, and put into perpetual prison, where he
should fulfil the same; and all his goods confiscated and lost.
And I, the said TOMSON, to wear the _San Benito_ for three years;
and then to be set at liberty.
And for the accomplishing of this sentence or condemnation, we must
be presently sent down from Mexico to Vera Cruz, and from thence to
San Juan de Ulua, which was sixty-five leagues by land; and there
to be shipped for Spain, with straight commandment that, upon pain
of 1,000 ducats, every one of the Masters should look straightly
unto us, and carry us to Spain, and deliver us unto the Inquisitors
of the Holy House of Seville; that they should put us in the
places, where we should fulfil our penances that the Archbishop of
MEXICO had enjoined unto us, by his sentence there given.
For the performance of the which, we were sent down from Mexico to the
seaside, with fetters upon our feet; and there delivered to the Masters
of the ships to be carried for Spain, as is before said.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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