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. XXIII. (Book 23)

They carry me yet several times to Audience: Diverse Observati∣ons upon the Proceedings of the Inquisition.

I Was yet called to Audience three or four times in less than a Month, and they urged me to confess that whereof I had been accused con∣cerning the Pope. They also signified to me a new proof, which the Promoter pretended he had drawn against me upon that subj••ct, but which contained nothing di••••erent from what he had already urged against me; but what clearly demonstrates this Accusation to have been only a fal••ity invented on purpose to make me confess, is that they would not tell me the particulars of what they pretended I had spoken; but at last perceiving it impossible to draw any thing of that nature from me, they cease to mention it to me; and that this Article was not inserted in my Process, when it was publickly read in the Act of Faith. They en∣deavoured also in their last Audience to make me acknowledge that in the Facts whereof I had been accused, my intention was to defend He∣resie; but to this I would never condes••end, there being nothing more contrary to truth.

During the Months of November and December▪ I heard every morn∣ing the cries of those who were put upon the Rack; which is so cruel a torture, that I saw diverse persons both of the one and the other Sex, who were distorted and maimed by it, and among others the first Com∣panion they had assigned to me in the Prison. In this Holy Tribunal no respect is made of Quality, Age, or Sex, and all are indifferently sub∣mitted to the torture, when the Interest of the Inquisition so requi∣reth it.

I remembred to have heard it said, before I entred into the Prisons of the Holy Office, that the Auto da••e, or Act of Faith was ordinarily performed the first Sunday in Advent, because on that day is read in the Church that part of the Gospel, wherein mention is made of the last Judgment, and that the Inquis••tors pretend, by this Ceremony, to make a Lively and Natural representation of it. I was moreover perswaded that there were then a great number of Prisoners in the Inquisition. The profound silence which is every where observed in this House, had given me opportunity to count very near how many Doors were opened at the hours of repast, I had also obtained a pretty certain knowledge that there was arrived an Arch-Bishop at Goa, in the Month of October, after that See had been vacant near 30 years; because they

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had extraordinarily rung the Bells at the Cathedral for nine daies toge∣ther, which neither the universal Church, nor that of Goa in particular Celebrates any remarkable Festival; and because I knew this Prelate was expected even before my Imprisonment. All these Reasons made me hope that I should be set at liberty in the beginning of December, but when I saw the first and second Sundays of Advent passed, I doubted not but that either my Liberty or my Punishment were at least defer∣red for another intire year.