Spanish Inquisition | Manuscript eyewitness account of an early auto-da-fe, Valladolid, 1559

Spanish Inquisition

Contemporary manuscript eyewitness account of an auto-da-fe

in the presence of King Philip II and the Inquisitor Fernand Valdes, with the names of the accused and a description of the nature of their alleged crimes, 16 pages, folio, Valladolid, 8 October 1559, some wear, small paper loss to first leaf and to centre fold professionally repaired, stitched

The present manuscript begins "Relacion verdadera de la que paso en el auto que los SS. del Santo Oficio que residen en esta villa de valladolid tubvieron domingo a ocho de octubre de mill e quinienta e nueve annos presidiendo a el arcobispo de Sevilla ynquisidor mayor de esto reynos y asistiendo a todo la magestad real del invictisimo y muy catolico rey el senor nostro don felipe segundo do este nombre que dios guarde por muchos anos Amen...". It gives a detailed account of the proceedings, the reaction of the crowd, and lists the charges against the accused.

The first printed "relacion" recorded by Emil van der Vekene in Bibliotheca Bibliographica Historia Sanctae Inquisitionis dates from the same year, being printed in Seville in 1559, making this one of the earliest accounts of an auto-da-fe to be held in Spain.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, London, 3 December 1992, lot 185