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
Another of the witnesses deposed that the prisoner informed him she was
once a boy, and entertained a wish to become a female from her
attachment to a young man. That the devil appeared to her in the shape
of a handsome youth, and demanded what she wanted; to which she replied
that she wished for the shape of a female. This the devil granted her,
and they made a compact, by virtue of which she was to be alternately
male and female, changing sex every seven years; which alteration she
had effected by means of a certain herb.
On the seventeenth of December, the Inquisitor Fiscal requested that the
acts and declarations of the prisoner might be attested, and this having
been done in a junta of four Calificadores, the same persons unanimously
presented the prisoner as a wizard, sorcerer, and one holding an
explicit compact with the devil.
The information above specified having been received distinct from the
prisoner’s own declaration, in the audience which he had requested, the
Inquisitor Fiscal petitioned that he might not be tried as an
_Espontaneo_,[20] on account of what he had concealed in his
confession, that he might be removed into the secret prison, and his
trial instituted forthwith. On the eighteenth of the same month, orders
were issued for confining him in the secret prison, and commencing his
trial. Three audiences were held, in which he confessed nothing beyond
what he had declared in his first confession on the thirteenth of
November. On the twentyfirst of January the accusation was presented,
and an audience was held the same day, when the prisoner replied to the
charges. On the two following days the acts which he had omitted in his
confession were attested, and the prisoner declared that although in the
bargain which he had made with the devil he had offered to surrender up
his soul, yet he had not paid him any worship, nor abjured our Holy
Faith, notwithstanding he internally consented to the delivery of his
soul, and in consequence departed from our Holy Faith and God our Lord.
The prisoner was furnished with a copy of the accusation, and on the
twentyfourth conferred with his counsel, reserving his defence till
after the publication of the testimony. The case was then admitted for
proof, and the witnesses residing at a great distance, and in various
places, the ratification of the testimony was delayed for some time. The
business being finally accomplished, publication of the testimony was
made on the thirteenth and fourteenth of April. In the audiences which
were held on those days, the prisoner declared nothing of consequence.
The audience for communication with his counsel was held on the
sixteenth, and that for the defence will be held as soon as possible.
* * * * *
[_Here occurs a chasm in the manuscript._]
July, 1740.
[Sidenote: Juan Ginesta, confined in the secret prison.
Prison of the Martyrs.
Maintenance, two sueldos and the bread of the Contractor.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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