Francisco Prat, Subdeacon, native of Esponella, and a resident in the
Seminario del Señor, in the bishopric of Gerona, by counsel and order of
the Reverend Juan Salgueda his Confessor, gives information with due
respect to your Excellency, of the following matter.
About six months since, in this city, he heard Narcisa Catala y Pinsach,
the wife of a Frenchman, and reputed a woman of truth, and a native of
Gerona, dwelling in the Mercadal Parish of that city--declare that a
Frenchman who was a stocking weaver in the Hospicio of the same city,
whose name was Blaqueire, and whose age was about thirty years, had been
baptized since he was in Spain, but had prevaricated and embraced some
heresy.
Also that a certain Frenchman, named Avi Brich, aged about sixty years,
residing in the said city of Gerona, and likewise a stocking weaver in
the Hospicio, was a Jew, and the writer of this letter observing that
they ought to commune annually, otherwise they would be severely
punished, she replied that in order to deceive the spies, he took the
sacrament not merely once, but two or three times every year.
Which information I transmit to your Excellency for the necessary end.
Gerona, April 28th, 1791.
FRANCISCO PRAT, _Subdeacon_.
We herewith transmit to the Reverend Juan Salgueda, Presbyter Vicar of
the church of the Mercadal of Gerona, the extrajudicial denunciation of
Francisco Prat, Subdeacon, a resident in the Episcopal Seminario of that
city, and we grant a commission for examining him before another
Ecclesiastic as Notary, according to the formula adjoined, No. 1, in
order that the denunciation may be attested, and he may affirm, under
oath, that it is his, written and signed by him, and its contents true,
as also whether he has anything to add or alter respecting it, and from
what motive the said Narcisa Catala y Pinsach made the charges in
question against the two Frenchmen.
Having taken the deposition of Francisco Prat, you will take the
occasion and methods the most cautious and opportune to examine before
the same Notary, and according to the formula No. 2, the said Narcisa
Catala y Pinsach, respecting the matters referred to by Francisco Prat,
taking care not to mention to her the name of this person, nor the names
of the Frenchmen accused, inasmuch as she will state them herself should
her testimony corroborate the charge, in which case she will specify the
name, occupation, country, residence, age, and personal appearance of
each individual. Also if she knows whether one of them has been baptized
in Spain, when, in what Parish, and what heresy he embraced afterwards.
Also what reason she has for saying that one of them is a Jew, and in
order to deceive the spies, takes the communion not merely once, but two
or three times a year. You will also question her whether she has heard
or understood anything from these two Frenchmen or others, which is, or
appears to be, contrary to our Holy Catholic Faith, or within the
cognisance of the Holy Office, in which case she must declare whatever
she knows, with the utmost clearness and perspicuity.
These investigations being completed, you will forward the proceedings
to us, returning also all the papers. Our Lord preserve you.
Royal Palace of the Inquisition of Barcelona, June 11th, 1791.
The Licentiate,
DON MANUEL DE MERRA Y PANIAGUA.
DR DON PEDRO DIAZ DE VALDES.
JUAN ANTONIO ALMONACID, _Secretary_.
* * * * *
In the city of Gerona, Principality of Catalonia on the thirtieth day of
June, one thousand seven hundred and ninetyone, before us, Juan
Salgueda, Presbyter Vicar of the Mercadal and Commissary of the Holy
Office for this investigation, and Dr Marcial Llistorella, Presbyter
Notary, sworn to preserve secrecy, and perform faithfully our duties,
appeared according to summons, and made oath to declare the truth and
preserve secrecy, a person calling himself Francisco Prat, Subdeacon of
the village of Esponella in the bishopric of Gerona, aged twentyeight
years.
Questioned, if he knew or conjectured the cause of his being summoned to
appear.
Answered, that he supposed it to be on account of a denunciation he had
made, respecting something he had heard from Narcisa Catala y Pinsach.
He was then informed that a letter had been received in this Holy
Office, which appeared to be from him, which letter began with
‘Francisco Prat, Subdeacon,’ and ended with ‘for the necessary ends.’
This letter was then produced, when he recognised it, and declared it to
be the one which he wrote to the Tribunal, and that its contents were
true.
Questioned, if he had anything to add thereto.
Answered, that in the conversation referred to, the abovementioned
Narcisa Catala y Pinsach stated that some other Frenchmen abused the
said Francisco Blaqueire on account of his prevarication respecting our
religion, and that this happened in her house. Also, (but of this he is
not certain) he believed she declared that the father and brother of the
said Blaqueire who reside in Montagut or Tortella, in the bishopric of
Gerona, refused to live with him by reason of his baptism, and that they
had not been baptized; at any rate she said something respecting this.
Furthermore he had been told by Maria, the sister of the aforesaid
Narcisa Pinsach, that Francisco Brich was a Jew. This she told the
deponent in his own house; the like assertion he had heard from some of
the common people, but did not recollect whom.
Questioned, what gave rise to the aforesaid conversation; why the
charges were made; and seeing that it was his duty to oppose and
denounce such matters, why he waited six months before he gave
information.
Answered, that he chanced to remark, while waiting for the husband of
the said Narcisa Pinsach, that the abovenamed Brich appeared to be an
honest man, to which she replied that he was not, when the rest of the
assertions followed; that the charges were made in compliance with the
dictates of his conscience; and that he had spoken of the matter before,
but had been told that it was women’s tattle.
Questioned, what was the appearance of the persons in question.
Answered, that he had no knowledge of Francisco Blaqueire; and that the
said Brich is a man of middling stature, corpulent, somewhat florid, and
of a pacific temper; and that he knew nothing of his birthplace, except
that he was a Frenchman.
The above is the truth according to the oath of the deponent, who has
not made this declaration out of malice or ill will, but solely in
discharge of his conscience; he declared that it was correctly recorded,
and signed it in the city of Gerona, on the first day of July, one
thousand seven hundred and ninetyone.
FRANCISCO PRAT, _Subdeacon_.