The history of the Inquisition, as it is exercised at Goa written in French, by the ingenious Monsieur Dellon, who laboured five years under those severities ; with an account of his deliverance ; translated into English.

CHAP. IV. (Book 4)

Containing the true causes of my Imprisonment, and how they Arrest∣ed me.

ALthough all which I have laid down in the foregoing Chapters, was more than sufficient for to destroy me, according to the Maxims of the Inquisition, and the Custom of the Country; yet things had not gone on so far, or so hastily, if the Governour of Daman, called Manu•• Hurtado de Mendoza had not been incited with that jealousie which I be∣fore mentiooed; which he dissembled so well, that he seemed to be one of my best friends, yet underhand he vigorously sollicited the Commissa∣ry of the Holy Office to write to Goa to the Inquisitors for to inform them of the discourse which I had held, resolving not to lose the occa∣sion which I had unadvisedly given him, of making sure of me, and re∣moving me from Daman for ever. The reason of the jealousie of this Governour, was the frequent, but innocent Visits which I paid to a Lady whom he loved, and of whom he was but too much enamoured, that which I then was ignorant of; and as he judged upon feeble appearan∣ces, he apprehended that I was more loved by her than himself.

A certain Black Frier, Secretary of the H. Office, lodged over against this Lady, he had for her no less strong a passion than the Governour, and had sollicited her to satisfie his infamous desires, even in the Tri∣bunals of Pennance, as the Lady her self assured me. This Priest ob∣serving me, became as jealous as the Governour, and although till then he had been one of my friends, and that I had also done him very im∣portant services, he ceased not to joyn himself to Manuel Hurtado to op∣press me.

These two Rivals thus united, pressed the Commissary so vigorously, that upon the advice which he sent at their sollicitation to Goa, he recei∣ved order from the Inquisition to arrest me, which was performed the evening of the 24th of August, 1673. as I was returning from visiting a Lady of great worth, called Senora dona Francisca Pereira, Wife of one of the chief Gentlemen of the Town, called Manuel Peixote de Gama. This Lady was about 60 years old, she thought her self obliged to me for the life of her eldest Daughter, and of her Grand-daughter. And in truth, I had been so happy as not to be unserviceable to her. The eldest had fallen sick in the absence of her Mother, and the impudence of an Indian Physician had reduced her to the last extremity. When I was called, I took in hand this sick Person and cured her; the Mother being

returned, and ravished with joy for the cure of her beloved Daughter: her Grand-daughter, who was yet more dear to her, fell also sick, and that more dangerously than her Aunt; nevertheless, I was not called at first for to see this young Patient, nor had they any recourse to me till her life was in a desperate condition. I found her in a very violent Fever, and although she was at the point of falling into a Phrenzy, the Indian Physician, far from thinking of letting her Blood, had covered her head with Pepper, which I caused first to be taken off, and undertaking the Cure, succeeded very well, insomuch as my Patient recovered in a few days a perfect health. From that time this Lady seeking occasions of demonstrating her gratitude, loaded me with Presents, and desiring that I would lodge nearer her; she had given me an House over against her own. This was the same day which I before mentioned, wherein she had given me this House, and I departed from this so generous a Lady to return in the evening to my own Lodgings, when the Criminal Judge of the Town, called in Portugueze, Ouvidor de Crime, came upon me, and commanded me to follow him into Prison; whither I was carried with∣out being able to obtain of him by what order he did this, till I was shut up in Prison.

How great soever my suprize was, when the Judge arrested me, yet as I was conscious of my own innocence, but above all because I imagined that I was seized upon some slight occasion; I hoped, with sufficient probability, that Manual Hurtado, who had always professed much friendship towards me, would not permit that I should stay so much as one night in Prison. But when he who carried me thither told me, that it was by order of the Inquisition, my astonishment was so great, that I remained for some time immovable; at last, having a little recollected my self, I desired to speak with the Commissary, but to heighten my misfortune, they told me, that he had parted that very day for Goa; so that there remained to me no other comfort, that the hope which every one gave me that I should be very shortly set at liberty; because the justice of the H. Office was not only equitable, but inclined very much to mercy, especially towards those who acknow∣ledged their fault betimes, without being a long while sollicited to do it.

All these fine words hindred not my unhappiness from becoming very sensible to me; and the sight of my friends, who failed not to come and comfort me, far from comforting, served only more extremely to afflict me, by the comparison which I made of their condition to my own. As I had no Enemies but hidden one, they easily mixed them∣selves among my best friends: The Governour and the Black Frier▪ who desired nothing so much as my removal, knew admirably well

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how to dissemble their hatred and their jealousie; the first in sending to me the Officer of his house, to assure me of the sorrow which he con∣ceived from my misfortune, and to offer all possible assistance to me; the other in coming to the Grate, to shed some false tears, which joy, rather than compassion, drew from him.