SPANISH WITCH TRIALS

16TH C. Trials: 1490-1526   Scattered cases (Basque) 
    1526: Last execution for w/c before 1610 case in Navarre
            Inquisitorial conference in Granada
    1530: Circular letter on restraint in witchcraft trials

Spanish Inquisition Procedures

VISITATION: yearly, 4 month trips;
                        each town visited at 10 year intervals
EDICT OF FAITH:  list of all heresies read in church
ANATHEMA against all who do not denounce heretics

AUTO DA FÉ (Act of Faith): public ceremony
                    reconciling penitent heretics, executing others

   SAMBENITO: penitential garment worn in auto da fe,
                  then hung permanently in church with names

NAVARRE TRIALS (1609-1614)

        The French Connection:
                  Pierre de Lancre's trials in Bordeaux, SW France;
                  1609-1610: 600 trials, 100 executions

LOGROŇO: Spanish city near Navarre, French border
           denunciations against French Basques fleeing de Lancre

1610 AUTO DA FÉ 31 accused witches, 11 burned
                                        20 recant (penance: sambenito)

        1611  SUPREMA: central council of Spanish Inquisition
                  sends FRA ALONSO SALAZAR to proclaim an

EDICT OF GRACE: 5,000 accusations of witchcraft
            1,802 w/c confessions, including 1400 children ages 7-14 

     1613 Debate within Suprema:  Salazar as skeptic vs.
             Hard-liners (Alonso Beccera and Juan de Valle)

        1614: Suprema instructions on witchcraft:
                      victory for skeptic Salazar:
                      "There were neither witches nor bewitched
                      until they were written and talked about."