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. XXIV. (Book 24)

How I perceived that the Auto dafe was to be performed on the morrow, and what Habits were given to us to appear in this Ce∣remony.

AS I perswaded my self that the Auto dafe was never performed but in the month of December, when I ••aw the whole month spent without observing any preparation to that terrible Ceremony, I deter∣mined to suffer yet one year longer; nevertheless when I expected it least, I found my self to be in the eve of my inlargement from that long Captivity, wherein I languished two years.

I observed that on Saturday the ••1th of Ianuary, 1676, being about to give my Linnen after Dinner to the Officers to be washed, after the usual Custom, they would not receive it, but put me off till the next day; I failed not to make a great many reflections upon the cause of this extraordinary refusal; and not finding any which satisfied me, I conclu∣ed that the Act of Faith was probably to be performed the next day; but I confirmed my self much more in my Opinion, or rather I held it for most certain, when after I had heard it ring to Vespers at the Cathe∣dral, it immediately rung to Martins; which was never before done while I was Prisoner, except upon the eve of Corpus Christi day, which is cele∣brated in the Indies upon the Thursday, which immediately follows quasi mod•• Sunday, because, of the continual Rains which fall there at that time when it is celebrated in Europe.

They brought me my Supper which •• refused, and which contrary to their ordinary custom, they pressed me not very much to receive. As soon as the doors were shut upon me, I entirely abandoned my self to those mela••cholly thoughts which possed me; and at last, after many tears and sighs, overwhelmed wi••h sorrow and imaginations of death, I ••ell asleep, a little after Eleven a Clock at Night.

I had not been long asleep, when my sleep was interrupted on the sudden by the noise which the Guards made in opening my door. I was surprized to see persons enter into my Cell with Light, being not before accus••omed to it, and the time of the n••ght contributed to redouble my apprehe••sion. The Alcaide gave me an habit, which he ordred me to put on, and to be ready to go out when he should come to call me, and so withdrew, leaving in my Chamber a Lamp burning.

I had not upon this occasion either strength to rise, or to make any answer to him; and from the instant that these men quitted me, I was seized with an universal and so violent a trembling, that for more than an hour it was not possible for me so much as to look upon the habit which they had brought me. At last I arose, and prostrating my sel∣upon the ground before a Cross which I painted upon the Wall, I recom∣mended my self to God, and abandoned my fortune to his protection. Then I put on the habit, which confisted of a Vest whose sleeves came down to the wrist, and a pair of Drawers which reached to the very heels; the whole made of black stuff, striped with white.