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. XXXV. (Book 35)

They bring me to the Gallere. A description of that place.

AS soon as Anchor was cast in the Haven of Lisbon, the Master, un∣der whose guard I then was, gave notice of my arrival to the In∣quisition, whither I was carried the next day, and from thence, by or∣der of the Inquisitors, who vouchsafed not to see me, I was led to the Prison called the Gallere, which beareth this name, because there being no Galleys in Portugal; those whom the Holy Office, or Lay Judges con∣demn to that punishment, are sent thither. They clapt a Chain upon my Foot, to which was chained a Portugueze, who had escaped the Fire, by confessing the evening before he was to be burnt by order of the Holy Office.

In this Gallere all Criminals are chained two and two together by one Foot, only with a Chain about a foot long. The Prisoners have at their waste a hook of Iron, whereunto hang their Chain, and there remains yet about 3 foot of Chain between them. These couples are sent every day to labour at the Work-house where they build the Ships; they carry

Wood to the Carpenters, unload the Ships, pick out stones and sand for Ballast, carry Water and Victuals aboard for the Voyages, serve to make Ropes, and all other uses, wherein they can be imployed for the service of the Prince, or of the Officers who command them, how vile and rude soever they be.

There are found among these Gally-slaves persons condemned by the Inquisition, others by the Lay Judges, fugitive and incorrigible slaves, whom their Masters put into this place to chastize them, and reduce them into order, Turks who have been taken Prisoners in the Pirate Ships of Barbary. All these persons, of whatsoever quality they be, are in∣differently employed in vile and painful Labours; unless they have mo∣ney to give to the Officers who conduct them, and who exercise an un∣heard of ••ruelty upon those who cannot mollifie them somewhat from time to time.

This Land Gally is built upon the bank of the River, it hath two great Halls, the one above, the other below, both are filled, and the coupled Prisoners laid upon Couches with Matts; all their Heads and Beards are shaved once a month, they wear a Coat made close to their bodies, and Caps of blue Cloath. They also allow to them an Hood of course grey Serge, which serveth them as well for a Mantle in the day, as for a Coverlet in the night; and these are all the Garments which are given to them from six to six months, together with shifts of course Cloath.

They give to every one a pound and an half of very hard and black Biscate to eat every day, six pounds of salt flesh every month, with a dish full of Pease, Lentils, or Beans; this allowance they may order as they please. Those who receive any supply from otherwhere, sell this fare to buy somewhat better, according to their ability. No Wine is allowed to them, and those who drink it, buy it at their own cost; every day betimes in the morning, except on some very few Festivals, they are led to the Workhouse, which is a good half League from the Galley, where they labour without any intermission, on whatsoever they are em∣ploved till Eleven of Clock; they then cease working till One a Clock, and during this interval they may either eat or rest themselves; at One a Clock they return to their labour, continuing it till night, when they are sent back to the Gally.

There is in this Prison a Chappel, wherein Mass is said on Sundays and Festivals. There are at Lisbon charitable Clergymen, who come often to make Catechisms and Exhortations to the Galley-Slaves. Beside the Victuals which the Prince giveth them, they receive very often Alms, insomuch as no want is there suffered; when there are any sick persons the Physicians and Chirurgeons come to visit them, and if the disease

grow dangerous, all the Sacraments are administred to them. Those who commit any fault are whipped in a most cruel manner. They stretch them out at length with their Bellies upon the ground; and while two men hold them, a third striketh violently with a great knotted rope upon their Buttocks, which oftimes teareth of the skin, and large pieces of flesh with it. I have seen more than once, how that after such whip∣ping they have been forced to make deep incisions, which degenerating into Ulcers, render these unhappy wretches incapable of working for a long time.

When one of the coupled Slaves hath business in the Town, they per∣mit him to go thither, even without his Companion, if he desireth it, paying a Guard, who may follow him every where. In that case he is forced to carry his Chain alone, and as it is very long he layeth it over his Shoulder, letting it hang down before or behind, as himself shall find most convenient.