Records of the Spanish Inquisition, Translated from the Original ManuscriptsWhite, Andrew Dickson
History
Records of the Spanish Inquisition, Translated from the Original Manuscripts
White, Andrew Dickson
Inquisition -- Spain -- History -- Sources
I demanded what medicines the said Antonio prescribed him. He replied
that the first was a white onion and five plantain leaves. These were
cut up and placed upon his stomach, which relieved his pain, a symptom
which the wife of Antonio pronounced good. The cure, however, not being
effected, he was ordered to procure a partridge, twentyfive needles, and
a new pot, all of them to be bought and carried home with the left hand.
The needles were to be stuck into the partridge with great fury, and the
whole put into the pot. Then at midnight the sick man was to set it on
the fire with the left hand, and with the left hand keep stirring the
fire till two o’clock in the morning. He informed him that during this,
the tables and plates would put themselves in motion, but that he must
not be frightened, as he should be present himself. All these directions
were followed, and there were also present at the time, Francisco
Vintro, and Francisco Siralt, his brothers-in-law, to keep him in
courage during the operation. At two o’clock he took it off the fire,
but found himself no better. Antonio’s wife, Josefa, directed broth to
be made for him, he being as thin and spare as if he had suffered a long
illness. This was done the next morning, when he found himself
exceedingly weak and fatigued. A similar case occurred, as he believes,
to a tavern keeper in Barcelona, which is known to the Reverend Father
F. Juan Mesados.
His health not improving for the space of three months, he saw Axis
again, who made signs of the cross upon the parts of his body where he
felt pain, but this had no more effect than the preceding experiments.
Axis then told him that he was possessed by five companies and five
captains of evil spirits, that the companies amounted to five hundred in
number, and might be easily cast out, but the five captains were not so
easily got rid of. He proceeded to exorcise them, and Masvidal fell to
screaming and behaving like one possessed. The _little ones_, as he
called them, being despatched, he went to work upon the captains, and
the first night, after supper, about nine o’clock, he began to make
signs of the cross, and talk in unintelligible language. He then gave
two loud screams, so horrible as to frighten every one; and Axis
affirmed that they were heard in the farthest regions of the air by the
other spirits. On this occasion, the two brothers-in-law,
beforementioned, were present.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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