HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. HI 



by her husband, Ferdinand of Arragon. Pope Sixtus IV. sanctioned its 

 establisliment in 1483, and Torqucmada became its first inquisitor-general. 

 It was the infamous h^t of this wretch, in the short period of fourteen years, 

 to drag before the tribunal 100,000 persons, and to consign GOOO to the stake. 

 In the execution of his horrible duties, he had the assistance of numerous 

 subordinates, who bore the unassuming title of '• Familiars of the Holy Office." 

 He armed the younger members among these agents in 1494, and cmferred 

 upon them the name of '• Warriors of Christ !'^ Ihey were amenable only to 

 the authority of the Imiuisition, and, by virtue of their position, enjoyed pecu- 

 liar prerogatives. 



Such was the cruelty exercised against all suspected persons, and so perfect 

 the system of espionage employed by Torqucmada, that even many of the 

 nobles of Spain, though shocked at the atrocities of the tribunal, preferred 

 becoming its assistants to being reported as heretical, and falling under its 

 fearful power. This example of the nobilit3\ taken in connexion with the 

 valuable privileges conferred by Ferdinand of Arragon upon all assistants 

 of the Inquisition, was gradually imitated by large multitudes of the lower 

 orders. They were exempted from taxation and other public liabilities, and 

 soon there were as many assistants of the Inquisition as there had been 

 taxpaying citizens. The Familiars were assistants of the Inquisition in 

 every imaginable manner. They tracked out the retreats of the heretics, 

 denounced them, had them arrested, and conducted the prisoners to the place 

 of execution. This act was called performing the part of a godfather 

 (padrino). 



The ofiicers of every Spanish inquisitorial tribunal consisted of three 

 inquisitors, three secretaries, one alguacil (summoner), and three receivers and 

 assessors, besides numerous familiars and jailers. 



At first the tribunal directed the fury of its fires mainly against the 

 professors of the black arts, astrology, soothsaying, magic, sorcery ; against 

 the ungodly and the blasphemers, and those who insulted the Inquisition. 

 Subsequently, it enlarged its jurisdiction, and punished Jews, Mahometans, 

 and unbelievers, especially if they were found opposing the brethren of the 

 holy office. Sheer covetousness not unfrequently prompted its activity. 

 Sometimes the inquisitors employed their official power to harass their per- 

 sonal enemies ; and in this way the institution exerted its malignant spirit 

 against many excellent Christians. Thus Padilla, Porlier, chief justice of 

 Arragon, and thousands more, became its victims, because they earnestly 

 asserted the rights of man against its aggressions. Johanna Bohorquez, 

 Mary of Burgundy (surnamed the mother of the poor), Ilodriguez de 

 Valero, and numerous other true Christians, sufi*ered martyrdom. Juan 

 d'Avila, St. Juan de la Cruz, St. Juan de Dios, St. Theresa, Father Luis do 

 Leon, Father Luis de Granada, Mariana, every one of whom Rome itself has 

 been compelled to denominate saints, besides other men whose erudition and 

 genius, combined with true Christian piety, were the wonder of Europe, 

 and therefore the envy of their persecutors, all had to encounter the indig- 

 nation and malice of this accursed institution. The Inquisition relent- 

 lessly persecuted the noble Moorish knights, who had passed from 



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