DR JOSEPH MONTES,
_Presbyter Notary of the Holy Office_.
* * * * *
In the city of Valencia, on the seventeenth day of April, one thousand
seven hundred and fiftysix, before Dr Lorenzo Ballester, Confessor to
the secret prison of the Holy Office and Extraordinary Commissary for
this investigation, appeared voluntarily and made oath to declare the
truth, and preserve secrecy, Joaquim Gil, &c.
Questioned, why he had demanded an audience.
Answered, on account of the declaration made by him before the present
Commissary respecting a certain Don Antonio, of the company of Don Jorge
Duran, in the regiment of Asturias. This man, in addition to the
peculiarities of his person before described, had a scar above his left
eyebrow, apparently the effect of a wound, and a dint of the size of a
filbert in the top of his forehead, with black and rather short hair. He
came to the house of the deponent on the fifteenth of this month
according to agreement, and after some conversation gave him a strip of
parchment, about a finger’s breadth wide and above a span long, this was
slit through the middle lengthwise and had written on it the following
words. _‘Ego + sum. Exe + homo consummatum est. Ego Juaginus Aprecor
Dominum Nostri Jesu Christi in vitam eternam seculi seculorum libera me
de omnibus rebus de ignis cautius et omnia instrumenta hominum detentat
me hac die hac nocte custote rege et cuberna me Amen._ This was rolled
up in lead with a small piece of bone, and Don Antonio told him to wear
it in the shape of a cross, next to his skin, near the heart, and it
would shield him effectually from all thrusts with a sword. It was
exhibited by the deponent.
He also gave him another strip of parchment of half a finger in breadth,
and above two yards long. At one extremity was drawn with ink a leg and
foot, and at the other a heart with a cross above it. Other figures and
letters were drawn in different parts. With this he proceeded to take
divers measurements upon the body of the deponent, as, from one shoulder
to the other, from the shoulder to the chin and nose, &c. This he
informed him would secure him from being wounded, if he used it in the
following manner. He was to rub it with the wax which dripped from the
tapers burnt during the celebration of mass. This was to be done on nine
several days during mass, keeping it under his cloak, and taking care
that no one saw him. Afterwards it was to be worn in the shape of a
cross, next the skin, near the heart. He gave him at the same time three
bits of parchment, each about three fingers’ breadth long and one wide.
Two of these contained each two lines of writing, and the other three.
They were severally numbered on the back, 1, 2, 3. To these were added
another, very small, also written over.
He informed him that by the help of these he could perform any kind of
divination, and that if he wore the thinnest of these parchments upon
his left little finger, under a white stone set in a ring, he would be
directed by it in the following manner. Whenever the stone turned red,
he might play at any game which was going on, except dice or _quillas_,
and be sure to gain; but if the stone turned black, he would lose by
playing. Before any such use, however, was made of the parchments, he
was directed to put them in the shoe of his left foot, near the ankle,
and to sprinkle them with the water used by the priest at mass. These
parchments were also exhibited.
The deponent requested Don Antonio to show him the book of magic which
he had mentioned, but he declined, alleging that the deponent could not
read nor understand it.
Questioned, if he knew, or had heard that the said Don Antonio Adorno
had any temporary insanity, or was given to wine, and if any other
person was present during the last conversation.
Answered, that he knew not whether he was subject to any such
irregularities, and that no other person was present during their last
interview. He declared that the whole of the declaration was the truth,
and not uttered by him from malice or ill feeling, but solely in
obedience to his conscience and oath. Secrecy was promised by him, and
he added his signature.