Art of Subversion in Inquisitorial Spain: Rojas and Delicado

Appendix

Appendix English Translations These English translations for the block quotations are keyed to the numbers in brackets in the text. For the translations not credited to a specific source, see the explanation in the Preface (p. xii). Chapter One The Converso Problem 1 Some clergymen, other religious persons, and laymen informed the King and the Queen that many Christians of Jewish extraction reverted to Judaism, performed Jewish rites secretly in their homes, and did not believe in Christianity or behave as Catholics. They entrusted their consciences with these matters by requesting them, as Catholic princes, to punish that atrocious error. Were it not punished and stopped, it would grow to such a scale that our Holy Catholic Faith would suffer great detriment. 2 And those masses of people who were converted with swords over their heads, their homes sacked, burning behind them, and facing ruin: how could they possibly be sincere Christians? This generation was never able to forget how it had to embrace that new faith and, therefore, it could hardly have inculcated it in its children. That first generation had to be completely Jewish , and, within the home, the children were immersed in Judaism as soon as they were born. 3 In the first week of July ... they took the route for quitting their native land, great and small, young and old, on foot or on horses, in carts, each continuing his journey to his destined port. They experienced great trouble and suffered indescribable misfortunes on the road, some falling, others rising, some dying, others being born, some fainting, others being attacked by illness. There was not a Christian but that pitied them and pleaded with them to be baptized. Some from misery were converted, but they were the few. The rabbis encouraged them and made the young people and women sing and play on pipes and tambours to enliven them and keep up their spirits and thus they left Castile and arrived at the ports where some embarked for Portugal. (BermUdez 1962, trans. in Raphael 1992, 71-72; qtd. in Gerber 1992, 140) 259 English Translations to Pages 54-56 Chapter Two Repression and Artistic Expression 4 Distinguished Teacher, subtle graduate in the high sciences, prudent jurist, the great depths of this secret I would like you to explain to me: 5 if before the world was created, when everything was darkness and confusion, God already existed as a Trinity, since the Son had not yet been incarnated. And, should you tell me that together 10 as a Trinity and as one the Lord always was, how was he able to become human, and for the other two to leave him apart? 5 My Lord and Teacher, I would like to ask you: since the Trinity is indivisible, how was the Son able to incarnate and to become human, 5 for the Creator to become created, for the Redeemer to issue from the other two, and for the three to remain equal, none greater or smaller, all of one substance, without becoming separate? 6 25 And since Adam lost Paradise by his own fault and was taken to hell, why should God for this reason be for his sake so basely crucified? Moreover, it seems quite impossible 30 for God to suffer, being impassive. 7 As the Church commands us to believe, I accept all of this unquestionably; 35 in disturbing you, my intention was only to test your fine mettle. 8 10 Stay away from theology, for it is much deeper than poetry, its name is chaos, a profound abyss; watch out, do not follow the steps of the king who, with the subtlety of his heart, 15 made a mess out of the Three Persons, beginning a great schism in part of the world. 9 My Lord, we hold that a married woman 10 with a husband, no matter how pitiful, 260 15 Jinglish Translations to Pages 56-58 who lives with him very.unsatisfied, sins if she desires to take another. On this account, I have imagined that she would neither sin nor fall in error, since God Our Lord did the same thing to St. Joseph, who was married to the Holy Mary, as you well know, for it can be read in the story, and you, noble Lord, always explain it so 20 while commenting on the Holy Scripture. And since it pleased God and He decided to make His...