The sermon was preached by the Bishop of Cuenga.  When it was finished, Inquisitor General Valdez cried with a loud voice, “Oh God, make speed to help us!” The King then drew his sword.  Valdez, advancing to the platform upon which Philip was seated, proceeded to read the protestation:  “Your Majesty swears by the cross of the sword, whereon your royal hand reposes, that you will give all necessary favor to the holy office of the inquisition against heretics, apostates, and those who favor them, and will denounce and inform against all those who, to your royal knowledge, shall act or speak against the faith.”  The King answered aloud, “I swear it,” and signed the paper.  The oath was read to the whole assembly by an officer of the inquisition.  Thirteen distinguished victims were then burned before the monarch’s eyes, besides one body which a friendly death had snatched from the hands of the holy office, and the effigy of another person who had been condemned, although not yet tried or even apprehended.  Among the sufferers was Carlos de Sessa, a young noble of distinguished character and abilities, who said to the King as he passed by the throne to the stake, “How can you thus look on and permit me to be burned?” Philip then made the memorable reply, carefully recorded by his historiographer and panegyrist; “I would carry the wood to burn my own son withal, were he as wicked as you.”

In Seville, immediately afterwards, another auto-da fe was held, in which fifty living heretics were burned, besides the bones of Doctor Constantine Ponce de la Fuente, once the friend, chaplain, and almoner of Philip’s father.  This learned and distinguished ecclesiastic had been released from a dreadful dungeon by a fortunate fever.  The holy office, however, not content with punishing his corpse, wreaked also an impotent and ludicrous malice upon his effigy.  A stuffed figure, attired in his robes and with its arms extended in the attitude which was habitual with him in prayer, was placed upon the scaffold among the living victims, and then cast into the flames, that bigotry might enjoy a fantastic triumph over the grave.

Such were the religious ceremonies with which Philip celebrated his escape from shipwreck, and his marriage with Isabella of France, immediately afterwards solemnized.  These human victims, chained and burning at the stake, were the blazing torches which lighted the monarch to his nuptial couch.

     Etext editor’s bookmarks: 

     Consign to the flames all prisoners whatever (Papal letter)
     Courage of despair inflamed the French
     Decrees for burning, strangling, and burying alive
     I would carry the wood to burn my own son withal
     Inventing long speeches for historical characters
     Let us fool these poor creatures to their heart’s content
     Petty passion for contemptible details
     Promises which he knew to be binding only upon the weak
     Rashness alternating with hesitation
     These human victims, chained and burning at the stake