Manuscript account of an Auto-da-Fé (Ordeal by Fire) of a Jew who “persisted in his error,” which took place in Lisbon on July 14th, 1686

AUCTION 41 | Thursday, September 18th, 2008 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, & Graphic Art

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Lot 328
(INQUISITION).

Manuscript account of an Auto-da-Fé (Ordeal by Fire) of a Jew who “persisted in his error,” which took place in Lisbon on July 14th, 1686

Portuguese cursive script. Wide margins pp. (3) + 1 integral blank. Sepia ink on paper. Lg. 8vo

n.p.: n.d.

Est: $2,000 - $3,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,750
Born in Carceres, Andalusia, and at the time resident in Lisbon, Francisco Antonio de Linares, the subjrct of this account, was declared a heretic for the crime of Judaism. On being questioned by the Inquisition, he “persisted in his errors, saying that he considers himself a Jew.” The report continues: "There were so many spectators, that when the straw around the stake was set on fire, a riot occurred, observers lost their property and some were trampled to death." According to Henry Charles Lea, historian of the Inquisition, between the years 1674-1682, due to ministrations of the New Christians in Rome, the Portuguese Inquisition was sullen, celebrating no autos-da-fe, however it resumed its activities in 1681. "The renewal of operations was celebrated by autos de fe held in the early months of 1682, with processions and illuminations and other demonstrations of rejoicing." See H.C. Lea, A History of the Inquisition of Spain (1907), Vol. III, pp. 288-90