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. XI. (Book 11)

Wherein is treated of the Officers of the Inquisition.

THere is at Goa two Inquisitors. The first whom they call Inquisi∣dor mor, or the great Inquisitor, is always a Secular Priest, and the second a Religious, of the Order of St. Dominick. The Holy Office hath also Officers, whom they call Deputies of the Holy Office; these are in greater number. There is of all Religious orders: They assist at the Trial of the accused persons, at their examination and forming of their Process; but they never come into the Tribunal without being sent for by the Inquisitor.

There are others, whom they call Calficadores of the Holy Office; to whom they assign the care of examining in Books, the propositions which they suspect to be contrary to the purity of Faith. And these assist not at the Trials, nor come to the Tribunals, but only their re∣port concerning the things which are committed to their charge.

There is moreover a Promotor, a Procurator, and Advocates for the Prisoners who desire them, who serve not so much to defend them, as to pump out their most secret thoughts, and to betray them: And even although there should be no reason to doubt of their fidelity, their pro∣tection would yet be wholly unuseful to the accused persons, since those Advocates never speak to them but in the presence of the Judges, or of persons whom they send to give an account of these Conferences. The

Inquisition hath other Officers, whom they call Familiars of the Holy Of∣fice, who are properly the Sergeants of this Tribunal. Persons of all conditions are ambitious to be admitted into this noble function, altho they be Dukes or Princes. They employ them to go and arrest accused persons; and they are wont ordinarily to send a Familiar or Quality for him whom they would apprehend. These Officers have no wages, and they esteem it sufficient recompence to have the honour to serve so holy a Tribunal. They carrry always as a mark of Honour, a Medal of Gold, upon which are engraved the Arms of the Holy Office. They go alone when they intend to arrest any one; and as soon as they have declared to any person that they are called by the Inquisitors, every one is obliged to follow them without replying; for if any should in the least resist, the whole multitude of people would not fail to lend their assistance for the execution of the Orders of the Holy Office. Be∣sides all these Officers, there are also Secretaries, true Sergeants, whom they call Meirinhos, an Alcaide or Jaylor, and guards to watch over the Prisoners, and bring them their meat, with other things eecessary.