RELATION OF THE PREVENTIONS AND WAYS HOW THE PUBLIC AUTO OF THE FAITH WAS CELEBRATED IN THE SQUARE OF THE SESSOR SAN FRANCISCO OF THIS CITY OF SEVILLE, BY THE HOLY OFFICE OF THE INQUISITION OF THE SATURDAY DAY OF THE APOSTLE SAN ANDRES November 30 of the year 1624, being inquisitors the gentlemen doctor don Rodrigo de Villavicencio, Dean and oldest canon of Cadiz. The licentiate don Alonso de Hoces, canon of the holy church of Cordoba, doctor don Antonio Martin de Bazan, commander of San Juan de Acre lord of the encomienda of the said religion of the Villas de Campo and doctor Cristobal de Mesa Cortes, canon of the said holy church of Cordoba.
Place:Sevilla
Year: 1624
Event:Fiesta religiosa, Religious celebration
Licensed in Madrid by Diego Flamenco, year 1625.
On November 9, the court of the said holy office by a secretary of the secret of the sending recaudos to the ecclesiastical councils, city and royal audience, making them know that it was determined to celebrate public auto of faith in the square of the gentleman San Francisco, in 30 of the said month, day of the gentleman San Andrés, asking them to go to the accompaniment of the Holy Office and standard of the faith and to do what in such acts they were accustomed to do, to which the said councils and audience responded with words of much compliance and gratitude, that they would go to serve the said Holy Office and to accompany the standard of the faith and to do what on similar occasions they had done. And by the receiver they were sent recaudos to the señores de título, who to the reason were in the city, in the said conformity, and they responded with great offerings to the service of the Holy office and thanks for the notice.
On the 10th of this month, having notified all the relatives of the city, they went to the castle of Triana on horseback and to the trumpets and [atanales] of it. Fernando de Saavedra y Alvarado, knight of the habit of Alcántara, and major constable of the Inquisition, and Iván de Contreras, secretary of the secret of the Inquisition, the said constable on the right hand and the relatives in front, making a great accompaniment, left the Inquisition on horseback, by proclamations that were given in the squares and public places, the day of the celebration of the public auto of the faith was made notorious, with which there was a great rumor in the city, showing much joy for having 20 years that had not been celebrated another general auto and to wait for the causes of the illuminated ones.
It was tried to make the Cadahalso in the mentioned square in the part and customary place and for it the main teacher of the city was called, who made a plant and conditions of height, largueza, steps and stairs that it had to have, and having gathered carpenters with the voice of a crier the low ones were admitted and agreed the workmanship of the mentioned Cadahalso, which had of square 24 rods that was very sumptuous, divided into 2 parts, the one that fell in the middle of the square to put the green cross and penitents and accommodate commissioners, notaries, relatives and other religious and secular people, and the one that was attached to the corridor of the chapter to accommodate the lords and ladies of the title and wives of the secretaries of the Holy Office, with their different sections to give each one what belonged to him.
Thursday 28 of the said, a street of boards was made from the door of the sandy area, to the bridge of the ship that passes to Triana, so that there passed the processions of the cross, penitents and accompaniment of the banner of faith.
Friday 29, having gone the commissioners, notaries and relatives of the district in the morning some of the relatives were ordered to guard the gates of the castle and others to attend the steps of Cadahalso with rods to guard him and go making place where the procession passed and accompaniment.
In the afternoon, by proclamations that were given, it was ordered that no person should bring weapons or ride on horseback or in a carriage where the processions and accompaniment passed, under penalty* of losing everything, giving place for the secular justice to execute it.
And having combined the religions on behalf of the Holy Office so that they would come to the procession of the Cross, all those who were accustomed to go out came and in their order were placed, going in front of the banner* of the brotherhood of the Lord Saint Peter Martyr that was carried by the aforementioned sheriff and at his sides carrying the tassels of Don Nuño de Villavicencio Estupiñan, knight of the habit of Santiago, relative of the Holy Office and alderman of the city of Cadiz. And don Juan de Leyva, knight of the habit of Calatrava, accompanying them some gentlemen of title and 18020 main and lucid knights of this city. To which followed the religions and then the commissioners, notaries and relatives of this city and district with white candles of two pounds in their hands. Then came the green cross, covered with a black veil, which was carried on a platform by the fathers qualifiers with a canopy* of crimson cloth, and then the other qualifiers on the right hand, and the officers of the tribunal on the left, all by their seniority, finishing the procession in the secret secretaries, judge of confiscated goods and in the eldest father of the Confraternity of Lord Saint Peter Martyr who was allowed that place. And having left the procession of the Inquisition at a little after 3 o’clock it was 7 o’clock at night when the cross was fixed on the altar of the Cadahalso, which was very richly decorated and with many candles and white axes that burned all that night, where some religious attended and could not arrive before because of the great multitude of people that there was, that could not pass, although there were people of war and that made escort. It was very impressive to see the procession, the authority and grandeur of it and the number of old Christians who accompanied it with the insignia of such on their chests and cloaks and the place they occupied in front of the Cross, as soldiers and its defenders. And passing over the bridge, they made [salvo] all the ships of the river with artillery.
Saturday 30, day of the apostle St. Andrew before dawn by order of Don Fernando Ramirez Fariña, assistant and captain general of this city, of the royal councils and of the chamber of his majesty, some companies of bizarre soldiers came, who were divided and placed at the doors of the castle of the Inquisition, doors of the bridge of ships and other parts where there was narrowing and need of passage, for when the procession went. At 5am, the penitents being dressed, they were taken to the tribunal, in whose presence they put on the San Benitos and insignias that each one had to wear and they were given to the relatives, carrying between 2 a penitent. This done, the procession began at 7am seeing in front the cross of the parish of Mrs. Santa Ana de Triana and its clergy*, covered with a black veil and then the penitents one by one, beginning with 6 statues, 4 of relaxed, one of reconciliation and another that signified the person of an already deceased enlightened priest, 6 of abjuration of Vehementi, with the habit of a half-staff, 30 reconciled and the rest of the enlightened up to 50, and at the end of the said procession the major sheriff on horseback, very richly dressed, and other persons who accompanied him. And although great diligence and care was taken to reach the stage as soon as possible, the great force of people did not allow it. So that when the penitents had just gone up to the Cadahalso, it was 11:30 a.m. and before the penitents and the inquisitors arrived, some masses were said at the altar of the cross of the Cadahalso, so that the many people who were there would not remain without hearing it.
When the procession and penitents of the Inquisition left, the lords of the Inquisition mounted their mules, wearing on their hoods, hats that are called auto insignia of delegates of his Holiness and defenders of our Holy Faith, two by two. The gentlemen doctor don Rodrigo de Villavicencio as the oldest on the right hand. And the gentleman doctor don Alonso de Hoces to the left. And the gentleman doctor don Antonio Marín de Bazan to the right hand. And Mr. Cristobal de Mera Cortés on the left. And then in front of the tribunal was Don Antonio Figueroa, Chaplain of His Majesty, Prosecutor of this Inquisition, who carried the banner of faith, and on his left side, Doctor Martín de la Guerra Paniagua, racionero* of the Holy Church of Córdoba, fiscal of the inquisition of the city of Barcelona and in this one for the enlightened ones and taking the tassels of the ends of the standard Don Nuño de Villavicencio Estupiñan knight of the habit of Santiago to the right hand and Don Fernando de Céspedes 24 of this city of Seville, lieutenant of mayor of the royal alcazars of it: on the left hand relatives of the Holy Office. They were waiting for the two ecclesiastical and secular cabildos to arrive and having come the Dean and his Cabildo, they took the right hand and the assistant and city of the left in the form of cabildos and the accompaniment was made very lucidly, going the major mayors, 24 sworn gallantly dressed with many diamond jewels and arriving at the houses of the cabildo where the Cadahalso and the canopy of the court was inside the raised corridor with its steps. The inquisitors were seated and on their right side the Audiencia Real, beginning with the oldest oidor, because there was no regent, and to the left Don Rodrigo de Narváez, provisor of this city as an ordinary judge. And the gentleman assistant and cabildo of the city. And outside of the corridor to the right hand, the chapter of the Holy church in its stage, different from the Cadahalso that equaled with the steps of the mentioned corridor. And on the left hand side on the floor of the stage was the lady Duchess of Alcalá and other ladies, gentlemen titles. And then Ivan Tello, secretary of the secret, in a loud voice read the oath taken by the people to defend and protect the holy office and its ministers. And at the end, all being still, the Father Master Fray Juan de Arriola, Provincial of the Order of Saint Dominic, preached. And when the sermon was finished, the said secretary Ivan Tello read the sentence of a Judaizing doctor*. And the secretary Julián García De Molina, that of a renegade and religious of Señor Santo Domingo and other persons of good voices, read the other sentences, clearly and intelligibly in such a way that the people heard, shocked and marveling at such atrocious crimes, committed against God our Lord and his Holy Catholic Faith, as well of Judaism as of births, giving a thousand praises* and thanks to the holy office of the Inquisition, Although they read incessantly, they lasted reading the sentences until more than 9 o’clock at night, and at that hour the absolution of the penitents was made by the inquisitor doctor don Rodrigo de Villavicencio, the oldest, with much music, which at that hour seemed very good. And finished, they abjured the errors that they had committed, according to the style of the Saint in the form that they had gone, they returned to the inquisition and the same the town councils, accompanying the standard of the faith and the inquisitors and the secular justice at 11 o’clock at night burned the relaxed ones that they had given him.
With license of the Holy Office by Julian Garcia de Molina, secretary of the secret of the.
To see the Spanish version, modernized and transcribed, click here.
To see the French translation, click here.
