In the Holy Office of the Inquisition of Valencia, on the seventeenth
day of May, one thousand seven hundred and fiftysix, the Inquisitor, Dr
Don Inigo Ortiz de la Peña being at his morning audience, in which he
presided alone, there appeared the Calificadores, Padre Francisco Siges,
of the Order of Mercy, Padre Antonio Mira, Jesuit, Ex-Rector of the
college of San Pablo, Padre Juan Bautista Llopis, of the Order of Mercy,
and Padre Augustin de Vinaros, Ex-Provincial of the Convent of
Capuchins, who, having conferred together respecting the acts and
assertions now to be specified, qualified them in the following manner,
viz.
1st. The person in question, in the presence of many others, on the
night of a certain day which is named, declared that he possessed the
power when anything was stolen, to ascertain who was the thief; and in
proof of this, the said person, on the same occasion declared that in a
former instance, when a quantity of money had been stolen, and search
was making for the thief, he offered, upon the condition that no harm
should ensue to him or the culprit, to find him out; which being agreed
to, he wrote the names of those whom he suspected of the theft upon
papers and put them in a fire, when those containing the names of the
innocent were consumed, and that of the guilty one remained. He then
uttered certain words, which signified ‘_Christ our Lord_,’ by virtue of
which the name of the delinquent was preserved from burning. And by
virtue of these, words, ‘_Ego sum; factus est Homo; consummatum est_,’
the paper was drawn from the fire. The name of the thief was then read,
and the money found upon him within his stockings.
_Declared unanimously that this contains a profession of superstitious
necromancy, and a practice of the same, with the effects following; also
an abuse of the sacred scripture._
2d. The assertions in the above article having been listened to, it was
replied to this person that the thing could not be done without some
pact with the devil, to which he answered that it was so honest and just
a deed that he would perform it immediately after confession and
communion, and even before the Inquisitors, inasmuch as it was done by
repeating the words of Christ, which were the Latin expressions given in
the first article. It was repeated that the thing could not be done in
this manner, and that it ought to be denounced to the Inquisition;
whereupon this person persisted in his assertions. He also stated that
he knew another way of performing the same kind of divination, which was
by collecting the ashes made by burning the papers, and rubbing them
upon the back of his hand, where they would leave impressed the name of
the culprit. He furthermore asserted that he knew another method, which
he did not explain.
_Declared unanimously that this contains a confirmation of the
preceding, with a heretical assertion, and a new profession of
necromancy._
3d. The same person continuing the above conversation, asserted that he
possessed certain instruments which were useful for many things, and
proceeded to take from his right breeches’ pocket a paper containing
three or four folds of something, which were not distinctly seen by
reason of the night. And it being demanded of him where he had learned
his arts, he replied that he had obtained them from a book of magic in
his possession, which taught him how to do whatever he desired.
_Declared unanimously that this contains another profession like that
already qualified._
4th. He declared to the person to whom the above assertions were made,
that out of the abovementioned book he could acquire the art of making
himself invisible; also that in this manner a man could be made
invulnerable to the thrust of a sword; in proof of which he would make
trial upon the body of a dog or cat, that they might see the truth of
it.
_Declared unanimously that this contains a new profession of
necromancy._
5th. The person who bore witness to these proceedings having asked him
whether he knew any art respecting playing at ball, he replied that he
did not at present, but would make researches and come to the house of
the above person, where he would teach him other arts which he knew, to
gain the favor of the ladies. This was agreed upon, and this person gave
him directions to find his house, offering him money if he would make
these disclosures to him, all with a view to give information of the
same to the Holy Office, in order to purify our Holy Faith, and
extirpate everything contrary thereto.
_Declared unanimously that this contains a profession of necromancy
qualified as above, with the addition of an amatory necromantical
practice._
6th. Some days after this, in consequence of the above agreement, he
went to the said person’s house, where he gave him a strip of parchment
about a finger’s breadth wide, and a span long, slit through the middle
and united at the extremity, on which was written the following. ‘_Ego +
sum, Exe + Homo, consummatum + est, Ego Joaquinus Aprecor Domini nostri
Jesu Christi in vitam eternam seculi seculorum, libera me de omnibus
rebus, de ignis cautus et omnia instrumenta hominum detenta me ach die,
ach nocte, custode rege et gubername amen._’ This was rolled up within
a piece of lead and a portion of bone, and, according to his direction,
was to be worn next the skin, near the arm, in the shape of a cross.
This would, as he asserted, secure the wearer against any thrusts with a
sword. The articles have been exhibited.
_Declared unanimously that this contains a practice with instruments of
superstitious necromancy, added to a doctrine for their application
which is abusive of the sacred scripture and insulting to the holy
cross._
7th. On the same occasion, he gave to this person another piece of
parchment, half a finger’s breadth wide, and above two yards long, at
one end of which was drawn with ink a leg and foot, and at the other a
heart surmounted by a cross, with other figures and letters in different
parts. With this he took divers measures upon the body of the person
abovementioned, from one shoulder to the other, from the shoulder to the
chin and nose, from the chin to the stomach, measuring also the face,
which he informed him was done to secure him from wounds. He directed
him to rub it over with the wax which dripped from the tapers burnt
during the celebration of mass. This was to be done on nine several
days, and the operation was to be concealed from view by his cloak. The
parchment was exhibited.
_Declared unanimously, that this contains an additional profession of
necromancy, with an exhibition of additional necromantical instruments,
and the method of using them, added to an insult to the holy sacrifice
of the mass and the holy cross._
8th. On the same occasion, he gave to this person three bits of
parchment three fingers’ breadth long, and one wide each; two of them
containing each two lines of writing, and the other three, all numbered
on the back; also another written parchment. He directed him to wear the
thinnest of these pieces on the little finger of his left hand, under a
white stone set in a ring, and informed him that when this stone turned
red he might play at any game except dice or _las quillas_, with a
certainty of winning, but if it should turn black he was to abstain from
playing. The parchments abovementioned were, before this was done, to be
placed inside his right shoe, next the ancle, and sprinkled with the
Holy Water used at mass, after which they were to be worn next the
heart. The parchments were exhibited.
_Declared unanimously, that this contains an additional profession and
doctrine of superstitious necromancy, with an additional method of
practising it, added to a new insult to the sacred ceremonies of the
mass._
9th. The said person having requested to see the book of magic which he
declared was in his possession, he refused to exhibit the same,
declaring that the person who made the demand would not be able to read
or understand it, but that he had studied the whole in a certain place
which he named.
_Declared unanimously, that this contains a profession of possessing a
book of magic, and studying the same for the purpose of practising it._
Finally declared unanimously, that the person under qualification be
pronounced under suspicion _de levi_.
FR. FRANCISCO SIGES,
P. ANTONIO MIRA,
FR. JUAN BA. LLOPIS,
FR. AUGUSTIN DE VINAROS.
DON JOACHIN DE ESPLUGUES Y PALAVICINO,
_Secretary_.
* * * * *
In the Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Valencia, on the twentieth day
of May, one thousand seven hundred and fiftysix, the Inquisitors
Licentiate Don Antonio, Pelegen Venero, and Don Inigo Ortiz de la Peña
being at their morning audience, having examined the information
received in this Holy Office against Don Antonio Adorno, a soldier in
the regiment of Asturias, belonging to the company of Don Jorge Duran,
by birth a Neapolitan, and a resident in this city, for the crimes of
professing necromancy and amatory divination, and practising the same
with insult to the holy sacrifice of the mass and the holy cross--
Ordered unanimously, that the said Don Antonia Adorno be confined in the
secret prison of this Holy Office; that his property be sequestered; his
papers, books, and instruments seized, and arranged for his accusation.
Ordered further, that before execution, this be submitted to the members
of His Majesty’s Council of the Holy General Inquisition.
DON JOACHIN DE ESPLUGUES Y PALAVICINO,
_Secretary_.
[_In this part of the trial are inserted the originals of fourteen
letters, received from the different Inquisitions in the kingdom,
stating that their records had been examined without finding anything
against the prisoner. Also a letter from the Grand Council of the
Inquisition at Madrid, confirming the above order._]
* * * * *
In Council May 31st, 1756.
The Dicasts Ravazo, Berz, Barreda, and Herreros.
Let justice be executed according to the above order.