A HISTORY
OF THE
INQUISITION OF SPAIN

BY
HENRY CHARLES LEA. LL.D.

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IN FOUR VOLUMES
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VOLUME I.


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New York
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., Ltd. 1922
All rights reserved

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


Copyright, 1906,
By THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.
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Set up and electrotyped. Published January, 1906.

PREFACE.

IN the following pages I have sought to trace, from the original sources as far as possible, the character and career of an institution which exercised no small influence on the fate of Spain and even, one may say, indirectly on the civilized world. The material for this is preserved so superabundantly in the immense Spanish archives that no one writer can pretend to exhaust the subject. There can be no finality in a history resting on so vast a mass of inedited documents and I do not flatter myself that I have accomplished such a result, but I am not without hope that what I have drawn from them and from the labors of previous scholars has enabled me to present a fairly accurate survey of one of the most remarkable organizations recorded in human annals.

In this a somewhat minute analysis has seemed to be indispensable of its structure and methods of procedure, of its relations with the other bodies of the State and of its dealings with the various classes subject to its extensive jurisdiction. This has involved the accumulation of much detail in order to present the daily operation of a tribunal of which the real importance is to be sought, not so much in the awful solemnities of the auto de fe, or in the cases of a few celebrated victims, as in the silent influence exercised by its incessant and secret labors among the mass of the people and in the limitations which it placed on the Spanish intellect—in the resolute conservatism with which it held the nation in the medieval groove and unfitted it for the exercise of rational liberty when the nineteenth century brought in the inevitable Revolution.

The intimate relations between Spain and Portugal, especially during the union of the kingdoms from 1580 to 1640, has rendered necessary the inclusion, in the chapter devoted to the Jews, of a brief sketch of the Portuguese Inquisition, which earned a reputation even more sinister than its Spanish prototype.

I cannot conclude without expressing my thanks to the gentlemen whose aid has enabled me to collect the documents on which the work is largely based—Don Claudio Pérez Gredilla of the Archives of Simancas, Don Ramon Santa María of those of Alcalá de Henares prior to their removal to Madrid, Don Francisco de Bofarull y Sans of those of the Crown of Aragon, Don J. Figueroa Hernández, formerly American Vice-consul at Madrid, and to many others to whom I am indebted in a minor degree. I have also to tender my acknowledgements to the authorities of the Bodleian Library and of the Royal Libraries of Copenhagen, Munich, Berlin and the University of Halle, for favors warmly appreciated.

Henry Charles Lea.

Philadelphia, October, 1905.

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

BOOK I—ORIGIN AND ESTABLISHMENT. Chapter I—The Castilian Monarchy. PAGE Disorder at the Accession of Ferdinand and Isabella 1 Condition of the Church 8 Limitation of Clerical Privilege and Papal Claims 11 Disputed Succession 18 Character of Ferdinand and Isabella 20 Enforcement of Royal Jurisdiction 24 The Santa Hermandad 28 Absorption of the Military Orders 34 Chapter II—The Jews and the Moors. Oppression of Jews taught as a duty 35 Growth of the Spirit of Persecution 37 Persecution under the Spanish Catholic Wisigoths 40 Toleration under the Saracen Conquest—the Mozárabes 44 The Muladícs 49 The Jews under the Saracens 50

colspan="2">Absence of Race or Religious Hatred 52 The Mudéjares—Moors under Christian Domination 57 The Church stimulates Intolerance 68 Influence of the Council of Vienne in 1312 71 Commencement of repressive Legislation 77 Chapter III—The Jews and the Conversos. Medieval Persecution of Jews 81 Their Wealth and Influence in Spain 84 Clerical Hostility aroused 90 Popular Antagonism excited 95 Causes of Dislike—Usury, Official Functions, Ostentation 96 Massacres in Navarre 100 Influence of the Accession of Henry of Trastamara 101 The Massacres of 1391—Ferran Martínez 103 Creation of the Class of Conversos or New Christians 111 Deplorable Condition of the Jews 115 The Ordenamiento de Doña Catalina 116 Utterances of the Popes and the Council of Basle 118 Success of the Conversos—The Jews rehabilitate themselves 120 Renewed Repression under Ferdinand and Isabella 123 The Conversos become the object of popular hatred 125 Expulsion of the Jews considered 131 Expulsion resolved on in 1492—its Conditions 135 Sufferings of the Exiles 139 Number of Exiles 142 Contemporary Opinion 143 Chapter IV—Establishment of the Inquisition. Doubtful Christianity of the Conversos 145 Inquisition attempted in 1451 147 Alonso de Espina and his Fortalicium Fidei 148 Episcopal Inquisition attempted in 1465 153

colspan="2">Sixtus IV grants Inquisitorial Powers to his Legate 154 Attempt to convert and instruct 155 Ferdinand and Isabella apply to Sixtus IV for Inquisition in 1478 157 They Require the Power of Appointment and the Confiscations 158 The first Inquisitors appointed, September 17, 1480 160 Tribunal opened in Seville—first Auto de Fe, February 6, 1481 161 Plot to resist betrayed 162 Edict of Grace 165 Other tribunals established 166 Failure of plot in Toledo—number of Penitents 168 Tribunal at Guadalupe 171 Necessity of Organization—The Supreme Council—The Inquisitor-general 172 Character of Torquemada—His quarrels with Inquisitors 174 Four Assistant Inquisitors-general 178 Separation of Aragon from Castile 180 Autonomy of Inquisition—It frames its own Rules 181 It commands the Forces of the State.—Flight of Suspects 182 Emigration of New Christians forbidden 184 Absence of Resistance to the Inquisition 185 Ferdinand seeks to prevent Abuses 187 The Career of Lucero at Córdova 189       Complicity of Juan Roiz de Calcena 193       Persecution of Archbishop Hernando de Talavera 197       Córdova appeals to Philip and Juana 201       Revolt in Córdova 202       Inquisitor-general Deza forced to resign 205       Lucero placed on trial 206       Inquisitorial Abuses at Jaen, Arjona and Llerena 211 Ximenes attempts Reform 215 Appeals to Charles V—His futile Project of Reform 216 Conquest of Navarre—Introduction of Inquisition

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@43296@[email protected]#page_223" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">223 Chapter V—The Kingdoms of Aragon. Independent Institutions of Aragon 229 Ferdinand seeks to remodel the Old Inquisition 230 Sixtus IV interferes 233 Torquemada’s Authority is extended over Aragon 236 Assented to by the Córtes of Tarazona in 1484 238 Valencia       Popular Resistance 239       Resistance overcome 242 Aragon       Tribunal organized in Saragossa 244       Opposition 245       Resistance in Teruel 247       Murder of Inquisitor Arbués 249       Papal Brief commanding Extradition 253       Punishment of the Assassins 256       Ravages of the Inquisition 259 Catalonia       Its Jealousy of its Liberties 260       Resistance prolonged until 1487 261       Scanty Results 263       Oppression and Complaints 264 The Balearic Isles       Inertia of the Old Inquisition 266       Introduction of the New in 1488—Its Activity 267       Tumult in 1518 268 Complaints of Córtes of Monzon, in 1510 269 Concordia of 1512 270 Leo X releases Ferdinand from his Oath 272 Inquisitor-general Mercader’s Instructions 273 Leo X confirms the Concordia of 1512 274 Charles V swears to observe the Concordia 275 Dispute over fresh Demands of Aragon 276 Decided in favor of Aragon

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@43296@[email protected]#page_282" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">282 Catalonia secures Concessions 283 Futility of all Agreements—Fruitless Complaints of Grievances 284 BOOK II—RELATIONS WITH THE STATE. Chapter I—Relations with the Crown. Combination of Spiritual and Temporal Jurisdiction 289 Ferdinand’s Control of the Inquisition 289       Except in Spiritual Affairs 294 Gradual Development of Independence 298 Philip IV reasserts Control over Appointments 300 It returns to the Inquisitor-general under Carlos II 301 The Crown retains Power of appointing the Inquisitor-general 302 It cannot dismiss him but can enforce his Resignation—Cases 304 Struggle of Philip V with Giudice—Case of Melchor de Macanaz 314 Cases under Carlos III and Carlos IV 320 Relations of the Crown with the Suprema 322 The Suprema interposes between the Crown and the Tribunals 325 It acquires control over the Finances 328       Its Policy of Concealment 331       Philip IV calls on it for Assistance 333       Philip V reasserts Control 336       Pecuniary Penances 337 Assertion of Independence 340 Temporal Jurisdiction over Officials 343 Growth of Bureaucracy limits Royal Autocracy 346 Reassertion of Royal Power under the House of Bourbon 348 Chapter II—Supereminence. Universal Subordination to the Inquisition 351 Its weapons of Excommunication and Inhibition 355 Power of Arrest and Imprisonment 357 Assumption of Superiority 357

Struggle of the Bishops 358 Questions of Precedence 362 Superiority to local Law 365 Capricious Tyranny 366 Inviolability of Officials and Servants 367 Enforcement of Respect 371 Chapter III—Privileges and Exemptions. Exemption from taxation 375 Exemption from Custom-house Dues 384 Attempts of Valencia Tribunal to import Wheat from Aragon 385 Privilege of Valencia Tribunal in the Public Granary 388 Speculative Exploitation of Privileges by Saragossa Tribunal 389 Coercive Methods of obtaining Supplies 392 Valencia asserts Privilege of obtaining Salt 394 Exemption from Billets of Troops 395 The Right to bear Arms 401 Exemption from Military Service 412 The Right to hold Secular Office 415 The Right to refuse Office 420 The Right of Asylum 421 Chapter IV—Conflicting Jurisdictions. Benefit of Clergy 427 Ferdinand grants to the Inquisition exclusive Jurisdiction over its Officials 429 He confines it to Salaried Officials in criminal Actions and as
          Defendants in civil Suits 430 Abusive Extension of Jurisdiction by Inquisitors 431 Limitations in the Concordia of 1512 432 Servants of Officials included in the fuero 432 Struggle in Castile over the Question of Familiars 434 Settled by the Concordia of 1553 436 The Concordia extended to Navarre 438 Struggle in Valencia—Concordia of 1554

tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">439       Concordia disregarded—Córtes of 1564 441       Valencia Concordia of 1568 442       Disregard of its Provisions 445       Complaints of criminal Familiars unpunished 446 Aragon—its Court of the Justicia 450       Grievances arising from the Temporal Jurisdiction 452       The Concordia of 1568 454       Complaints of its Infraction—Córtes of 1626 454       Case of the City of Huesca 456       Córtes of 1646—Aragon assimilated to Castile 458       Diminished Power of the Inquisition in Aragon 461 Catalonia—Non-observance of Concordias of 1512 and 1520 465       Disorders of the Barcelona Tribunal—Fruitless Complaints 467 Catalonia—Hatred of the Tribunal—Catalonia rejects the Concordia of 1568 469       Córtes of 1599—Duplicity of Philip III 471       Increasing Discord—Fruitless Efforts of Córtes of 1626 and 1632—Concordia of Zapata 472       Rebellion of 1640—Expulsion of Inquisitors—A National
          Inquisition established 476       Inquisition restored in 1652—Renewal of Discord 479       War of Succession—Catalan Liberties abolished 483 Majorca—Conflicts with the Civil Authorities 484 Contests in Castile—Subservience of the Royal Power 485 Exemption of Familiars from summons as Witnesses 491 Conflicts with the Spiritual Courts 493 Cases in Majorca—Intervention of the Holy See 498 Conflicts with the Military Courts 504 Conflicts with the Military Orders—Project of the Order of Santa María de la Espada Blanca 505 Profits of the Temporal Jurisdiction of the Inquisition 508 Abuses and evils of the System 509 Fruitless Efforts to reform it in 1677 and 1696 511

Repression under the House of Bourbon 514 Competencias for Settlement of Disputes 517 The Temporal Jurisdiction under the Restoration 520 Refusal of Competencias by the Inquisition 521 Projects of Relief 524 Chapter V—Popular Hostility. Causes of Popular Hatred 527 Visitations of the Barcelona Tribunal 528 Troubles in Logroño 530 Preferences claimed in Markets 533 Trading by Officials 534 Character of Officials 536 Grievances of Feudal Nobles 537 General Detestation a recognized Fact 538 Appendix. List of Tribunals 541   List of Inquisitors-general 556   Spanish Coinage 560   Documents 567