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. XVII. (Book 17)

Some Particulars concerning the Officers of the Inquisition.

IN all the Countries of the Portugueze Dominions, there are four In∣quisitions, to wit, in Portugal those of Lisbon, Conimbra, and Devo∣••a,

and in the East Indies that of Goa. These Tribunals are all Su∣preme, and judge without Appeal all those matters which happen with∣in the extent of their bounds. That of Goa extendeth its Jurisdiction over all the Countrys possessed by the King of Portugal, beyond the Cape of Good Hope. Beside these four Tribunals, there is also the Great Council of the Inquisition, wherein presideth the Inquisitor General. This Tribunal is the chief of all others, and is informed of all which is done by the others. Beside the Honour, the excessive Authority, and the Pensions annexed to the Charges of all the Inquisitors, they draw thence also a considerable profit two ways. The first, then when they cause the ef∣fects of the Prisoners to be publickly sold; by which means, if there be found any thing rare and precious, they need only send some of their Domesticks to cheapen it; and it is certain that no body will dare to be so bold as to bid above him. Whence it happens often that things are adjudged to him at ha••f of their just value.

The second mean, by which they may yet more considerably gain, is, that the price of the confiscated Goods being brought into the Royal Exchequer, they have power to send orders when they will, and for what summs they please, to supply the expences, and secret necessities of the Holy Office, which is paid to them ready down, without that any person dare enquire wherein these secret necessities consist, insomuch as almost all which comes from these confiscations return to them one way or other.

All the Inquisitors are named by the King, and confirmed by the Pope, from whom they receive their Bulls. There is no man at Goa, but the Grand Inquisitor, who hath or claimeth the right of being car∣ried in a Chair. Much greater respect is given to him than either to the Arch-bishop or Vice-roy; and the Governours when the Vice-roy is dead. His Authority extends over all sorts of persons, Laick and Ec∣clesiastick, except the Arch-bishop, his Grand Vicar, who is always a Bishop; the Vice-roy, and the Governours, when the Vice-roy is dead; although he can cause even them to be arrested, after he hath given ad∣vice of his intention to the Court of Portugal, and hath received secret Orders of the supreme Council of the Inquisition at Lisbon, called Cou∣selho Supremo. This Tribunal assembleth not but from fifteen to fifteen days, unless somewhat extraordinary intervenes, which may oblige them to meet more frequently; whereas the ordinary Councils are re∣gularly assembled twice a day, in the morning from eight of the Clock to eleven, and in the afternoon from two to four, and sometimes later, especially when the times of the Acts of Faith dray near, for then the Audiences are ofttimes prolonged till ten at night.

When they judge Causes, besides the Deputies which assist, the Arch∣bishops or Bishops of the places where the Inquisition is established, have a right to be present at the Tribunal, and to preside therein all the judg∣ments which are made. But it is time to return to what particularly relates to my self