The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s8.62

c7.s8.62

operations all over the Portuguese possessions, and had commissaries at Daman, at Bassein, and doubtless at other large towns.¹ The Grand Inquisitor was appointed by the King and confirmed by the Pope, and had authority over all persons clerical and lay, except the Archbishop, his grand vicar, and the Viceroy : but even these the Inquisition might arrest after advising the Court of Lisbon and receiving orders from the great Council of the Inquisition there.² Thus Dellon³ seems justified in saying that people had much more respect for the great Inquisitor than for the Archbishop or the Viceroy. Pyrard says that the Inquisition in Goa was much more severe than in Portugal, and its administration of justice the most cruel and pitiless in the world. “Sometimes the converts are accused of putting crucifixes under the cushions on which they sit or kneel, sometimes of whipping their images or of not eating pork, or in some other way respecting their old faith, while they outwardly conformed as Christians”.⁴ The auto-da-fé at Goa usually took place only once in two or three years, and as this was the only gaol delivery for spiritual offenders that there was, it follpwed that if any one was arrested soon after an auto-da-fé he had to undergo a long imprisonment, as Dellon had.