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. XXVI. (Book 26)

How we went in Procession to go to the Act of Faith: The Order of this Ceremony.

THE great Cell of the Cathedral Church was rung a little before the rising of the Sun, which was as the Signat to advertize the people to run together to see the August Ceremony of the Auto dafe, or Act of Faith; and first, they made us go out one by one. I observed in pas∣sing from the Gallery into the great Hall, that the Inquisitor sat at the door, having a Secretary by him; that the Hall was ••illed with Inha∣bitants of Goa, whose names were written in a List, which he held in his hands; and that at the same time any Prisoner was brought forth, they called one of these Gentlemen who were in the Hall, who imme∣diately came up to the Criminal for to accompany him, and serve him as a Godfather in the Act of Faith.

These Godfathers receive the persons in charge whom they accom∣pany, are obliged to answer for them, and to produce them when the Festival is ended; and Messieurs the I••quisitors, pretend to do them great honour when they choose them for this Office. I had for Godfather the General of the Portugueze Ships in the Indies; I went out of the Hall with him, and as soon as I was in the Street, I saw that the Procession began by the Order of the Domini••ans, who have this noble priviledge, because St. Dominick their Founder, was also of the Inquisition. They were preceeded by the Banner of the Holy Office, wherein the Image of the Founder is represented in very rich Embroidery, holds a Sword in one hand, and in the other a branch of Olive, with this Inscription, ••••••i∣tia & Misericordia. These Monks are followed by the Prisoners, who march on after the other, having every one his Godfather at his side, and a Taper in his hand. Those who are less guilty go first; and as I passed not for one of 〈…〉〈…〉 innocent, there were more than a hun∣dred preceeded me. I had as all the rest, my head and feet naked, and I was very much troubled during all this March, which continued for an hour almost, because of the little ••••int stones wherewith the streets of Goa are scattered, which made my feet bleed abundantly. They made us walk through all the greater streets, and we were gazed on by an innumerable croud of People, who had run together from all parts of the Indies, and who lined all the streets through which we were to pass; for they took care to give notice to the Parish Priests in the Parishes of more remote places, a long time before the Act of Faith was

performed. At last, covered with shame and confusion, and very weary of the march, we arrived at the Church of St. Francis, which for this time was destined and prepared for the Act of Faith. The great Altar was spread with black; and there were upon it six Silver Candlesticks, with so many Tapers of white Wax burning. There were raised on the sides of the Altar two kind of Thrones, the one on the right hand for Monsieur the Inquisitor and his Councellors, the other on the left for the Viceroy and his Court.

At some distance, and over against the great Altar, inclining a little to∣wards the door, was placed another, whereon were laid two Mis••als open. From thence to the door of the Church was made a Gallery a∣bout three foot broad, with a Balister on each side, and both on one side, and the other were placed Benches for the Criminals and their Godfathers to sit on, who accordingly seated themselves in order as they entred into the Church, insomuch as those who came in first, sat very near the Altar.

As soon as I was entered and placed in my Rank, I applied my self to consider the order, which they made those observe who came after me. I saw that those, to whom those horrible Carochas of which I spake, were given, marched last in our whole Troop; that immediate∣ly after them a great Crucifix was carried, whose Face respected those who marched before; and which was followed by two living Persons, and four Statues of the height of a Man, represented very naturally, fixed every one to the end of a long Pole, and accompanied with so ma∣ny little Chests, born each by a Man, and filled with the bones of those whom these Statues represented. The Face of the Crucifix turned toward those who went before it, signifieth the mercy which is used in respect of them, in delivering them from death, altho they had justly deserved it: and the same Crucifix turning the back upon them that followed it, sig∣nifieth that those unfortunate Persons have no more favour to hope for. For so it is that all is mysterious in the Holy Office.

The Habits wherewith these miserable Persons were vested, were no le••s capable of striking horror and pity into the Beholders; as well the living Persons as Statues bore a Samarra of Grey Stuff, all painted over with Devils, Flames, and burning Fire brands, upon which the Head of the Prisoner was represented to the Life before and behind, with his Sentance written below, bearing an Abridgment, an in great Chara∣cters his Name▪ that of his Country, and ••••e Crime for which he was condemned. Beside, this terrible Habit they had also upon their Heads those dreadful Carochas covered, as their Vestments, with Flames and Devils. The little Coffers, wherein were inclosed the Bones of those who were dead, and against whom Process had been made, either

before or after their decease, during or before their Imprisonment, that so occasion might be given to the Confiscation of their Goods, were painted with black, and covered also with Devils and Flames.

It must be here observed, that the Inquisition terminates not its Juris∣diction upon living Perso••s, or upon those who died in her Prison; but that she sometimes formeth a Process against Persons, who died many years before they were accused, then when after their decease they are charged with any great Crime, that in this case, if they be convinced, they are digged up, their Bones are bu••ned at the Act of Faith, and all their Goods are Confiscated, whereof those are carefully despoiled who have inher••ted them: And I advance nothing which I have not seen practised; since among the Statues, which were seen when I came out of the Inquisit••on, there was one which represented a Man dead a long time before, whose Process they had fo••med, whose B••dy they had digged up, and whose Goods were Confiscated, and his Bones burnt, or it may be those of some other who had been buried in the same place.