File:The story of our Christianity; an account of the struggles, persecutions, wars, and victories of Christians of all times (1893) (14597476107).jpg

Identifier: storyofourchrist00bird (find matches)
Title: The story of our Christianity; an account of the struggles, persecutions, wars, and victories of Christians of all times
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Bird, Frederic Mayer, 1838-1908 Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901
Subjects: Church history
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa., Peerless Publishing Co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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ure-chambers offeredthe best mundane imitation of theinfernal regions, and the names ofits chief officers, Torquemada andPeter Arbues, still occupy a bademinence among the troublers ofmankind. The latter was soonkilled in the cathedral of Saragossaby friends of some of his victims;but Torquemada, who was inquisi-tor-general from 1482 to 1498, be-sides the expulsion of above eighthundred thousand Jews from theirnative land, has to his credit theburning alive of near nine thou-sand of his fellow-creatures, andthe perpetual imprisonment orother severe punishment of tentimes that number. While Colum-bus was discovering the New World,the auto-da-fe, or act of faith, wasthe chief amusement of Spanishcities. The court, the nobles andtheir families, the people of bothsexes and all ages, thronged tothese spectacles as their descend-ants do to bull-fights, and as theancient Romans did to the amphi-theatre to see gladiators slaughtereach other and Christians torn bybears and lions. The mania for
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GATE OF THE CASTLE OF PENHADE CINTRA. 3i2 THE STORY OF OUR CHRISTIANITY. blood and flames is said to have grown so great that the inquisitors were spurredon in their hideous work by popular clamor. The procedure of the Holy Office, in these later days and in this most Catho-lic of kingdoms, was simple. By night, at his own door—any time and place wouldanswer, but secrecy was generally preferred—a familiar placed his hand uponthe victims shoulder; once arrested, he was not likely to be heard of again. Hisguilt was taken for granted; his accuser was his judge. Professions were un-availing; casual words and harmless actions were twisted into evidence of heresy.Spain at this time was full of Moors and Jews who, while outwardly conforming,really retained their old faith; many of them were rich, and Church and kingalike coveted their wealth. What mattered ones real sentiments, when hisdestruction was resolved on? A mere rumor, the hint of an enemy, a worddropped in confession, were enou

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