[Footnote 90:  Llorente, p. 341.]

[Footnote 91:  Ibid. p. 360.]

[Footnote 92:  Llorente, p. 406.]

[Footnote 93:  Ib. p. 407.]

[Footnote 94:  I know that Llorente’s calculations have been disputed:  as, for instance, in some minor details by Prescott (Ferd. and Isab. vol. iii. p. 492).  The truth is that no data now exist for forming a correct census of the victims of the Spanish Moloch; and Llorente, though he writes with the moderation of evident sincerity, and though he had access to the archives of the Inquisition, does not profess to do more than give an estimate based upon certain fixed data.  However, it signifies but little whether we reckon by thousands or by fifteen hundreds.  That foul monster spawned in the unholy embracements of perverted religion with purblind despotism cannot be defended by discounting five or even ten per cent.  Let its apologists write for every 1000 of Llorente 100, and for every 100 of Llorente 10, and our position will remain unaltered.  The Jesuit historian of Spain, Mariana, records the burning-of 2000 persons in Andalusia alone in 1482.  Bernaldez mentions 700 burned in the one town of Seville between 1482 and 1489.  An inscription carved above the portals of the Holy Office in Seville stated that about 1000 had been burned between 1492 and 1524.]

Sometimes, while reading the history of the Holy Office in Spain, we are tempted to imagine that the whole is but a grim unwholesome nightmare, or the fable of malignant calumny.  That such is not the case, however, is proved by a jubilant inscription on the palace of the Holy Office at Seville, which records the triumphs of Torquemada.  Of late years, too, the earth herself has disgorged some secrets of the Inquisition.  ’A most curious discovery,’ writes Lord Malmesbury in his Memoirs,[95] ’has been made at Madrid.  Just at the time when the question of religious liberty was being discussed in the Cortes, Serrano had ordered a piece of ground to be leveled, in order to build on it; and the workmen came upon large quantities of human bones, skulls, lumps of blackening flesh, pieces of chains, and braids of hair.  It was then recollected that the autos da fe used to take place at that spot in former days.  Crowds of people rushed to the place, and the investigation was continued.  They found layer upon layer of human remains, showing that hundreds had been inhumanly sacrificed.  The excitement and indignation this produced among the people was tremendous, and the party for religious freedom taking advantage of it, a Bill on the subject was passed by an enormous majority.’  Let modern Spain remember that a similar Aceldama lies hidden in the precincts of each of her chief towns!

[Footnote 95:  Vol. ii. p. 399.]