The History of Persecution, from the Patriarchal Age, to the Reign of George IIChandler, Samuel
History
The History of Persecution, from the Patriarchal Age, to the Reign of George II
Chandler, Samuel
Persecution -- Great Britain; Persecution -- History
“Nicholas Burton, an Englishman, a person remarkable for his piety, was
apprehended by the inquisition of Seville, and afterwards burnt for his
immoveable perseverance in the confession of his faith, and detestation
of their impiety. When he was first seized, all his effects and
merchandizes, upon account of which he came to Spain, were, according to
the custom of the inquisition, sequestered. Amongst these were many
other merchandizes, which were consigned to him as factor, according to
the custom of merchants, by another English merchant dwelling in London.
This merchant, upon hearing that his factor was imprisoned, and his
effects seized on, sent one John Frontom, as his attorney into Spain,
with proper instruments to recover his goods. His attorney accordingly
went to Seville; and having laid before the holy tribunal the
instruments, and all other necessary writings, demanded, that the goods
should be delivered to him. The lords answered that the affair must be
managed in writing, and that he must choose himself an advocate
(undoubtedly to prolong the suit) and out of their great goodness
appointed him one, to draw up for him his petitions, and all other
instruments which were to be offered to the holy tribunal; for every one
of which they exorbitantly took from him eight reals, although he
received no more advantage from them, than if they had never been drawn
at all. Frontom waited for three or four whole months, twice every day,
viz. in the morning, and after dinner, at the gates of the inquisitor’s
palace, praying and beseeching, on his bended knees, the lords
inquisitors, that his affair might be expedited; and especially the Lord
Bishop of Tarraco, who was then chief inquisitor at Seville, that he, in
virtue of his supreme authority, would command his effects to be
restored to him. But the prey was too large and rich to be easily
recovered. After he had spent four whole months in fruitless prayers and
intreaties, he was answered, that there was need of some other writings
from England, more ample than those he had brought before, in order to
the recovery of the effects. Upon this the Englishman immediately
returns to London, and procures the instruments of fuller credit which
they demanded, comes back with them to Seville, and laid them before the
holy tribunal. The lords put off his answer, pretending they were
hindered by more important affairs. They repeated this answer to him
every day, and so put him off for four whole months longer. When his
money was almost spent, and he still continued earnestly to press the
dispatch of his affair, they referred him to the bishop. The bishop,
when consulted, said he was but one, and that the expediting the matter
belonged also to the other inquisitors; and by thus shifting the fault
from one to the other, there was no appearance of an end of the suit.
But at length being overcome by his importunity, they fixed on a certain
day to dispatch him. And the dispatch was this: the licentiate Gascus,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account