I received the orders of your Excellencies and put them in execution. I
learned that Juan Duran had left this town of Villaredonda a month
since, and that he labored at times in repairing the bridge of
Armentera, in the archbishopric of Tarragona, whither I sent after him
and had him siezed by a Familiar of that place. I have examined him, and
found his book and papers which, you will receive along with this. No
more cash was found upon him than three _reales_, which I also transmit
by the Familiar who has him in custody. This is all which could be
obtained of his property. The prisoner I despatch to your Excellencies
according to order, and remain at the service of your Excellencies, to
whom may our Lord grant many happy years.
Villaredonda, Dec. 24th, 1632.
FRANCISCO COLL, _Rector of Villaredonda,
and Commissary of the Holy Office_.
* * * * *
In the town of Valles Campo, in the archbishopric of Tarragona, on
Saturday, the twentyseventh day of November, one thousand six hundred
and thirty two, at evening, appeared, without summons, before Dr Pablo
Pasqual Marquez, Presbyter Commissary of the Holy Office, and swore to
declare the truth, a person calling himself Pedro Oriola, apothecary,
resident of the town of Valles, of age, as he stated, fortyfour years,
or thereabout; which person, in discharge of his conscience, declared
and denounced the following.
That about fifteen days since, there visited at his house, Juan
Bafforell, and one Marcal, a gardener, inhabitants of the said town; and
that among other things they told him they had heard a certain person
(whose name and birth place the deponent is ignorant of, but knows him
by sight, and that he is a blacksmith, working with Pablo Llaurador of
this town, and came hither in company with a Frenchman, who officiated
as a physician, and a short time since had been imprisoned by the Holy
Office), say, that he possessed a book, which, if it were thrown into a
fire, along with a crucifix, would remain unhurt, while the crucifix
would be consumed.
The above is the truth, according to the oath of the deponent, and being
read in his hearing, is declared by him to be correctly recorded.
Deponent further states that he does not make this declaration out of
malice to any one, but solely to discharge his conscience, and declares
that he will keep the whole secret.
Signed,