In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, on the twentyninth
day of January, one thousand six hundred and thirtythree, the
Inquisitor, Dr Domingo Abbad y Huerta being at his afternoon audience,
ordered the said Juan Duran to be brought from prison, which being done,
and the prisoner present, he was
Questioned, if he recollected anything relative to his affair, which he
was bound in conscience to divulge.
Answered, that he had nothing more to say.
He was then informed that Father Geronymo Vidal was present, who had
drawn up his defence, and that he might confer with him; the above
advocate then read to the prisoner a writing which the prisoner
accepted, and declared that he made a formal presentation of the same.
The defence was as follows:--
Although Juan Duran, inhabitant of Manresa, in the archbishopric of
Vique, has no necessity for a defence, on account of his full confession
and declaration of the truth respecting the matter of the Fiscal’s
accusation, yet for greater security in his defence, he offers the
following.
1st. That he is ignorant, and uttered the assertions of which he is
accused, without knowing that they were heavy offences against our Lord,
for which he is extremely grieved, and begs pardon with tears, both of
God and this Holy Tribunal, having spoken out of mere vanity, things
which were not true.
2d. That he has fully confessed; and as to what is stated by one witness
against him, that he declared himself to be the God of the country, and
by another, that he affirmed he was next to God, that these testimonies
are so extravagant that they ought not to be regarded; that he is very
penitent for his offences against our Lord, and begs correction and
instruction, with all humility.
3d. That he is descended from old Christians, and is a good Christian
himself, having set a good example wherever he has resided, living by
his labor, hearing mass and sermons; that he knows the prayers, and in
whatever he has failed, he has not offended wilfully; on all which
accounts he concludes by supplicating the favor of your Excellency’s
usual mercy.