hich he should be examined about the letter. If the letter be written
from a distant place, the rule in the preceding clause can be followed.

11. Likewise some persons, moved by passion more than by commendable
zeal, are wont to denounce others on the ground that they are
_confessos_, and therefore not entitled to wear silk, carry weapons,
ride on horseback, or do other things forbidden to them by laws and
royal ordinances of these realms, as well as by the instructions of the
Holy Office, as likewise is set forth in the edict. In these cases one
ought to be careful not to accept such depositions except from children
and grand-children of _relaxados_, or from children of a relaxada,
[40] or from persons who themselves have been reconciled to the Church
[_reconciliados_]. The commissary may receive denunciations from these
three classes of persons, and send them to the Holy Office, without
making any arrest, issuing interdicts, or taking other steps. On the
contrary he will maintain great secrecy, and charge the witnesses to
do the same. As for other persons denounced as confessos, since they
are not in the said class, nothing will be written. On the contrary,
the same secrecy will be imposed upon the witnesses and they shall
be very kindly admonished to be silent, and not to slander their
neighbors, informing them that the Holy Office will take no offense
at what they have testified.

12. The heading of the charge made against any person must begin
with the words of the first witness, and not, as is customary with
ordinary judges in these regions, the formula, that "it has come to
his notice," etc.--inserting first what he has heard concerning the
crime from any witness. When the commissary receives documents of
many clauses from this Holy Office for the investigation of different
matters and against many persons, he will place as introduction to
the inquiry that he makes in each case that clause of the document
which applies to the matter in question, legalized by the notary.

13. Any arrest made by the Holy Office is a matter of much reproach
and dishonor for that person, and of no less damage and injury to
his property; therefore an arrest should be made with prudence, care,
and for just cause. Authority for this is not given to the commissary,
who neither should nor can arrest a person except in special cases,
and by a special order entrusted to him against the person who is to
be arrested; and even then, the com