FRANCISCO JUNCIA, _Presbyter Notary
for this Investigation_.
* * * * *
In the city of Barcelona, on the fourteenth day of June, one thousand
eight hundred and two, before the Reverend Cayetano Tuco, Presbyter and
Commissary appointed for this investigation, and me, the Reverend Juan
Palol, Presbyter Notary, sworn to preserve secrecy and perform
faithfully our duties, appeared, voluntarily, and made oath in the name
of God our Lord to declare the truth and preserve secrecy in everything
upon which she might be questioned, a woman, calling herself Maria Anna
Sauri, a native of the town of Trem, in the bishopric of Urgel, of age,
as she stated, forty years, a resident in Barcelona for twentysix years,
and at present residing in the Calle de Basea, in the fourth story of a
house opposite a carpenter’s, next the stairs called den Casador. She
was the widow of Juan Martines, merchant, a native of the town of
Figueras in the bishopric of Gerona.
Questioned, why she had demanded an audience of the Holy Office.
Answered, for the purpose of denouncing certain matters to the Holy
Tribunal.
Questioned, what matters.
Answered, that about six months ago she dwelt in the Calle de San
Raymundo, near the Calle del Asalto, in a house between a tavern on one
side, and a tailor’s shop on the other. In this neighbourhood resided a
female named, formerly, Teresa Sola, and after her second marriage,
Salanova, a native of Barcelona, aged from forty to fortyseven years.
Her husband was named Francisco Salanova, and was by trade a weaver, and
a native of San Felix de Llobregat. The deponent witnessed several
transactions between the said Teresa Sola, now Salanova, and a Swiss
soldier of the regiment called Bretxa. This soldier was called Joseph;
his other name unknown, as well as the place of his birth. Information
respecting him could be obtained of a certain captain, called Don Felice
Cristi.
The deponent saw these two persons take certain live frogs, stick
needles into their eyes, breasts, and backs, and put them into a new pot
over a great fire. This was done, as they informed her, for the purpose
of compelling a certain man to marriage. She also saw them take three
or four wax candles and light them. These they burnt bottom upwards,
burning, at the same time, rosemary, and repeating unintelligible
language, and making divers motions with the feet and hands.
The deponent also saw them practise operations with cards for the
purpose of divining whatever things they chose. She requested them to
perform one for her, and ascertain whether a person named Vicente, whom
she supposed to be sick, would return soon from Valencia. ‘The said
Teresa shuffled the cards, and then answered me that he was not sick,
and would return soon, which in fact took place, and the abovementioned
Vicente shortly appeared. She told me, at the same time, that I was in
much distress, and if I would give her and the abovementioned soldier
half a dollar, they would enable me to attain all my wishes. I gave them
the money, and saw that they immediately took the figure of a dragon
tied by the neck, and placed it in the sun. This occasioned me so much
terror that I begged them to desist. Upon this they gave me back the
half dollar, uttering maledictions, and the said Teresa declared that I
was about to fall into an irretrievable misfortune, and that I should be
obliged to sell every rag from my back, which in truth is my condition
at present; and although I only laughed at the prediction then, they
both told me that I might proclaim to the whole world that they had said
it.’
The deponent further stated that the said Teresa had a companion named
Maria Anna Gitar, a native of Barcelona and a resident in the Calle de
San Raymundo. The deponent has never seen this person perform any
superstitious acts, but has heard that on occasion of a quarrel between
them, some witchcraft was practised; also that the said Maria Anna Gitar
had a sister named Magdalena, (the name of her husband unknown) and the
deponent heard the abovementioned Teresa Sola, now Salanova, declare
that her sister Magdalena had not been at confession for the space of
eight years. At other times, when these two were quarrelling, the
deponent has heard the said Magdalena exclaim, ‘I am not like you, who
lay heaps of rosemary in the balcony at night to burn the next morning.’
Furthermore, the deponent has seen the said Teresa Sola, now Salanova,
burn alum for some superstitious purpose, to her unknown. On this
occasion there were two other persons present, namely, a girl called
Antonia, about twentythree years of age, a native of Barcelona, and
living with the abovementioned Teresa, and Raymundo Campeñs, widow of
Esteva Campeñs, tailor, dwelling in the Calle de San Raymundo, aged,
apparently, about fortyfive years.
Furthermore, the deponent remembers that she saw the said Teresa and the
abovementioned soldier called Joseph, burn alum for the purpose of
causing a reconciliation between a young man and a female named
Magdalena, which persons had fallen into a quarrel. The said Teresa also
practised operations with cards, and burnt rosemary, in order to effect
this object. On the first occasion were present the abovementioned
Antonia and Raymunda Campeñs, and on the second, Josefa Bardaguer, a
girl of about twenty years of age, living in the Plazuela del Pino in
the second story of a house which makes a corner of the Plazuela, and
other persons whom she does not remember, as she had witnessed these
performances between the said Teresa and the soldier so many times.
The said Teresa also informed her that she possessed a St Antonio upon
paper, which sweated whenever any ill was about to happen, and that when
a pack of cards was shuffled and the ace of spades and five of diamonds
drawn, it signified death or apprehension by the Holy Office. The
deponent further stated that the said Teresa, was accustomed to burn
rosemary, and sprinkle holy water all over her house, walking backwards
to the door; and that she possessed an herb which foretold everything,
good or bad, about to happen. Upon the stalk of this herb she placed a
piece of gold or silver money, or a ring; and the deponent on one of
these occasions saw a tile fall from the balcony into the street. In
this tile was a piece of a silver key, a gold ring, and seven reals
vellon.
Furthermore, the deponent has heard that when the said Teresa lived in
the Calle de Arolas, there ran out of her house, one day, a dog, with an
ox’s heart, stuck full of needles, and that the Alcalde, whose name is
unknown to the deponent, with the men and boys of the neighbourhood,
caught the dog and burnt him in the middle of the street.
The deponent has also seen the said Teresa burn nine plates and three
strings of cotton, which she informed her was done to break the heart of
a certain person. She also told the deponent that on the night of St
John’s day, she went to collect the leaves of certain herbs in a place
called Trinidad, where criminals who have been hanged are buried. There
accompanied her three or four women and a man who was a lamplighter. The
names of none of them were known to the deponent. Three or four men came
out and threw stones at then without hitting any one. She also informed
the deponent that she had in her possession medals and a crucifix of the
Holy Office.
Furthermore, the deponent stated that she requested her to ascertain
whether a person of her acquaintance in Valencia would return soon to
Barcelona; and the said Teresa Sola, now Salanova, bade her go and
purchase a pack of French cards at the shop of Revella, in the Plaza del
Angel. This the deponent did, and paid two reals plate for them. The
cards being produced, an operation was performed, and she pronounced
that he would return ere long, and that he had met with a misfortune;
for, on a journey to visit his sister, he had fallen from his horse and
broken his leg. She then further declared that at half past six o’clock
the next morning he would be in Barcelona; the whole of which proved
true, for at half past six he knocked at the door and said he had been
on a visit to his sister, who was a nun, and had fallen from his horse
and broken his leg.
Furthermore, the deponent stated that she had seen divinations with
cards performed by the surgeon of the Swiss soldiers in the regiment
called the regiment of Bretxa, now in Madrid. This surgeon was called
Don Felipe. His other name is unknown to the deponent. She has also seen
in his possession a book filled with figures of tombs, evil spirits, and
skeletons; and the surgeon told her that it contained matter which was
denounceable. There was present on this occasion the wife of the colonel
of the Swiss regiment, called Dona Maria. Her other name and birthplace
the deponent did not know; but only that when the regiment was in
Barcelona, the said Don Maria dwelt in the Calle Nueva del Asalto.
Questioned, what else she knew or had to relate.
Answered, that she had seen the above practices performed so often that
she had forgotten a great many instances.
Questioned, what persons were present on any of the above occasions.
Answered, that she had already named them.
Questioned, if she had seen or heard that any other person had said or
done anything against Our Holy Catholic Faith, or against the
proceedings of this Holy Office.
Answered, that she knew nothing further, and had she known anything,
should have divulged it before.
Questioned, why she suffered so much time to elapse without giving
information.
Answered, that she was ignorant of her obligation to do this, till on
relating these things to her spiritual father, he ordered her to make a
deposition of the whole before the Holy Tribunal.
Questioned, what was the personal appearance of the above mentioned
Teresa Sola, now Salanova; of the soldier; of Maria Anna Gitar, and her
sister.
Answered, that Teresa Sola, now Salanova, was a well shaped person,
somewhat fleshy, with a dusky complexion, reddish eyes, chestnut hair,
and small hands, having no scar to distinguish her. That Maria Anna
Gitar was a tall person, with an ugly pock marked face, the color of her
eyes, hair, &c. not remembered. That her sister Magdalena was a small
person, with a face likewise ugly and pock marked; other characteristics
forgotten. That the soldier called Joseph was a well shaped person, with
a long, palish face, and chestnut hair; the other marks not remembered.
The above, being read to the deponent, was pronounced to be her own
declaration, and faithfully recorded. She declared that she had nothing
to correct of its contents, except that the abovementioned Magdalena was
not the sister of the said Teresa, but of Maria Anna Gitar. She affirmed
that she did not make the declaration out of malice or ill will against
the abovementioned Teresa Sola, now Salanova, the soldier Joseph, Maria
Anna Gitar, and her sister Magdalena; but solely to discharge her
conscience. Secrecy was enjoined upon her which she promised, and not
being able to write, I, the present Commissary, sign in her name.
CAYETANO TUCO, _Presbyter and Commissary_.