cused of being
magicians, and of such who read the bible in the common language, the
Talmud of the Jews, or the Alcoran of the Mahometans.

Upon all occasions the inquisitors carry on their processes with the
utmost severity, and punish those who offend them with the most
unparalleled cruelty. A protestant has seldom any mercy shown him, and a
Jew, who turns christian, is far from being secure.

A defence in the inquisition is of little use to the prisoner, for a
suspicion only is deemed sufficient cause of condemnation, and the
greater his wealth the greater his danger. The principal part of the
inquisitors' cruelties is owing to their rapacity: they destroy the life
to possess the property; and, under the pretence of zeal, plunder each
obnoxious individual.

A prisoner in the inquisition is never allowed to see the face of his
accuser, or of the witnesses against him, but every method is taken by
threats and tortures, to oblige him to accuse himself, and by that means
corroborate their evidence. If the jurisdiction of the inquisition is
not fully allowed, vengeance is denounced against such as call it in
question for if any of its officers are opposed, those who oppose them
are almost certain to be sufferers for their temerity; the maxim of the
inquisition being to strike terror, and awe those who are the objects of
its power into obedience. High birth, distinguished rank, great dignity,
or eminent employments, are no protection from its severities; and the
lowest officers of the inquisition can make the highest characters
tremble.

When the person impeached is condemned, he is either severely whipped,
violently tortured, sent to the galleys, or sentenced to death; and in
either case the effects are confiscated. After judgment, a procession is
performed to the place of execution, which ceremony is called an AUTO DE
FE, or act of faith.

The following is an account of an auto de fe, performed at Madrid in the
year 1682.

The officers of the inquisition, preceded by trumpets, kettle-drums, and
their banner, marched on the 30th of May, in cavalcade, to the palace of
the great square, where they declared by proclamation, that, on the 30th
of June, the sentence of the prisoners would be put in execution.

Of these prisoners, twenty men and women, with one renegade Mahometan,
were ordered to be burned; fifty Jews and Jewesses, having never before
been imprisoned, and repenting of their crimes were sentenced to a lon