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. XXVII. (Book 27)

Containing what was observed in the place wherein the Act of Faith was Celebrated.

THese unhappy Persons being entred into that dreadful Equipage, which I have already described, and being seated in their places, which were appointed for them near the door of the Church, the In∣quisitor followed with his Officers, entered and went to place himself upon the Tribunal which was erected for him upon the right side of the Altar, while the Viceroy and his Court seated themselves upon the left. The Crucifix was placed upon the Altar between the six Candlesticks. Every one being thus setled in his Post, and the Church filled with as many People as it could contain, the Provincial of the August••ians as∣cended the Pulpit, and Preached for half an hour. Notwithstanding the anxiety of mind wherein I then was, I sailed not to observe the com∣parison which he then made of the Inquisition, with the Ark of Noah, between which yet he found this difference, that the Animals which en∣tered into the Ark, went out again after the Deluge, invested with the same Nature which they had when they entered in: But that the Inqui∣sitor had the admirable property to charge in such sort those who are shut up in it, that in coming out we see those to be as Lambs, who when

they entred in, had the cruelty of Wolves, and the fierceness of Lions. The Sermon being finished, two Readers went up one after another into the same Pulpit, to read there publickly the Process of all the Criminals, and to signifie to them the punishments to which they were condemned. He whose Process was read, was during that time led by the Alcaide into the middle of the Gallery, where he stood upright, holding a Taper lighted in his hand, till his Sentence was pronounced. And as it was supposed that all the Criminals had incurred the punishment of greater Excommunication, they led us to the foot of the Altar whereon laid the Missals; where being placed on our knees, they made us lay our hands upon one of these Books, and remain in that posture, till there was as many persons as Missals. Then the Reader discontinued reading of the Process, to pronounce with a loud voice a Confession of Faith, after he had briefly exhorted the Criminals to repeat it with heart and mouth at the same time with him; which being done, every one returned to his place, and the reading of the Process was began anew.

I was called in my order, and understood that all my affair ran upon these three heads. The first, for having maintained the invalidity of the Baptism, called Flaminis. The second, for having said that Images ought not to be adored, and having blasphemed against the Image of the Cruci∣fix, in saying of a Crucifix of Ivory, that it was a piece of Ivory. And lastly, for having spoken contemptuously of the Inquisition, and its Mi∣nisters; but above all, for the ill intention which I had in speaking all these things. For which Crimes I was declared Excommunicate; and for reparation thereof my Goods were confiscated to the Kings account, and my self banished from the Indies, and condemned to serve in the Galleys of Portugal five years; and moreover, to perform other Penan∣ces which should be enjoyned to me in particular by the Inquisitors.

Of all these punishments, the most insupportable to me, was to see my self in an indispensable necessity of quitting the Indies, where I had resolved to Travel a yet much longer time. This sorrow, nevertheless, was not so great, but that it was much allayed by the hope of seeing my self shortly out of the hands of the Holy Office. My Confession of Faith being made, I returned to my place, and received advantage from the advice which my Guard had given me of not refusing my Bread, for the Ceremony continuing all the day, there was no person who did not that day Dine in the Church.