The History and Romance of Crime
FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES
TO THE PRESENT DAY
THE GROLIER SOCIETY
LONDON
Spanish Prisons
THE INQUISITION AT HOME AND ABROAD
PRISONS PAST AND PRESENT
by
MAJOR ARTHUR GRIFFITHS
Late Inspector of Prisons in Great Britain
Author of
"The Mysteries of Police and Crime
"Fifty Years of Public Service," etc.
The Inquisitor-General and the Catholic Sovereigns
The mandate of expulsion of the Jews from Spain wasissued by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492. This edict no doubtoriginated with Torquemada, who was very bitter against theJews. When he learned that a number of their leaders werein conference with the King and Queen, and offering an immenseransom, Torquemada rushed into the presence bearinga crucifix on high and crying in stentorian tones that thesovereigns were about to act the part of Judas Iscariot."Here He is!" he exclaimed. "Sell Him again, not forthirty pieces of silver, but for thirty thousand!" and flingingthe crucifix on the table he ran out in a frenzy. This turnedthe tables and the decree for expulsion was confirmed.
THE GROLIER SOCIETY
Spanish Prisons
THE INQUISITION AT HOME AND ABROAD PRISONS PAST AND PRESENT
by
MAJOR ARTHUR GRIFFITHS
Late Inspector of Prisons in Great Britain
Author of
"The Mysteries of Police and Crime
"Fifty Years of Public Service," etc.
THE GROLIER SOCIETY
EDITION NATIONALE
Limited to one thousand registered and numbered sets.
NUMBER 307
INTRODUCTION
A considerable portion of this volume is devotedto the Spanish Inquisition, which was, forthree centuries, the most important force in Spain.Thousands were condemned by its tribunals, and itsprisons and punishments make up a large part of thepenal history of that country. Much exaggerationhas crept into the popular accounts, but the simpletruth must cause a shudder, when read to-day.
The institution was created to deal with heresy,that is, with a departure from the accepted canons.The idea that there can be unity in diversity wasnot understood. The spiritual and the temporalpowers were closely related, and bishop and king,pope and emperor, all believed that uniformity wasnecessary. Hence, heresy was everywhere treatedas high treason not only to the Church but to theState as well. The Spanish Inquisition was a stateaffair as well as an ecclesiastical court.
We shall see that the jurisdiction of