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. IX. (Book 9)

Description of the Inquisition of Goa.

THE House of the Inquisition, which the Portugueze called Santa Casa, that is, the Holy House, is scituated on one side of the great space which is before the Cathedral Church Dedicated to St. Catherine. This House is great and magnificent, having in its front 3 Gates, that in the middle is larger than the other, and it is by this that they ascend into the great Stair-case which leadeth into the Hall before mentioned. The Gates on the sides lead to the apartments of the Inquisitors, of which eve∣ry one is large enough to lodge a reasonable train. There is within it diverse other apartments for the Officers of the House; and in passing farther, may be seen a large Building divided into diverse Lodgings, in two Stories, separated the one from the other by Back-courts. There is in every Stage a Gallery, one ten foot square; and the number of these Chambers may be in all two hundred.

The little Cells of one of these Dor••••tories are dark, without any Window, lower and lesser than the others; and they shew'd me them one day, when I complained that I was treated with too much rigour, to let me know that I might have been worse provided than I was. The others are square, vaulted, whited, private, and enlightned my means of a little grate Window, which shutteth not; and to which the tallest man cannot reach. The Walls are throughout 5 foot thick; every Chamber is shut with two doors, the one on the inside, and the other on the outside of the Wall; that within consists of two folding leaves, is strong, well bolted, and opened from the lower part like a grate. It hath in the upper part a little Window, by which the Prisoners receive their Meat, their Linnen, and other things whereof they have need, and which can pass through it. This Window hath a little shutter to it, which is shut with two strong bolts. The door which is on the outside of the Wall, is not so strong nor so thick as the other, but is whole, and without any Window; they leave that ordinarily open from six in the morning to eleven, that the Wind may enter in by the Clefts of the other door, and so the air of the Chamber may be purified.