-
Articles/Ads
Article JOHN COUSTOS, FOR FREEMASONRY, ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
John Coustos, For Freemasonry,
passed betAveen them , the oldest of the company rising up , said , he had something very particular to communicate to Mr . MOUTON ; upon which he took him behind a curtain , when , enquiring his name and surname , he told him that he was his prisoner in behalf of the King . Being sensible that he had not committed any crime for which he could justly incur his Portuguese Majesty ' s displeasure , he gave up his sword
the moment it was demanded of him . Immediately several trusty officers of the Inquisition called Familiars , fell upon him to prevent his escaping . They then commanded him . not to make the least noise , and began to search him . This being done , and finding he had no weapons , they asked Avhether he Avas desirous of knOAving in whose name he had been seized ? Mr . Mot ? TON ansAveringin the affirmative : " We seize
you , " said they , " in the name of the Inquisition , and in its name % ve forbid you to speak , or murmur ever so little . " Saying these Avords , a door at the bottom of the jeweller ' s shop , and which looked-into a narrow bye-lane , being opened , the prisoner , accompanied by a Commissary of the Hol y Office , was thrown into a small chaise , where he Avas so closely shut up ( it being in the middle of the day about noon )
that no one could see him . This precaution Avas used to prevent his friends from getting the least information concerning his imprisonment , and consequently from- using their endeavours to procure his liberty . Being come to the prison of the Inquisition , they threAv him into a dungeon , and there left him alone , Avithout indul ging him in the satisfaction they had promised , Avhich Avas to let him speak , immediately on his
arrival , to the presment or the Hol y Office , toknoAV from him the reason of his detainer . On the contrary , they ivere so barbarous to Mr . IWouTON ' S reputation , as to spread a report that he Avas gone oft with the diamond above-mentioned . But IIOAV greatly were every one of his friends surprized and shocked at this slander ! As we all entertained the hi g hest idea of his probity , none of us would give the least credit to this vile report ; Avhence we unanimouslagreedafter duly weihing
y ,, g the matter , to go in a body to the jeweller , Avho was the owner of the diamond , and offer him the full payment of it ; firmly persuaded that nothing but the most fatal and unexpected accident could haA'e made him disappear thus suddenly , Avithout giving some of his friends notice of it . However , the jeweller refused our offer in the politest manner , assuring us at the same time , that the owner of the diamond was so wealthy
a man , that the loss of it would be but a trifle to him . But as truth frequently- breaks through all the veils with which falsehood endeavours to cloud her , this generosity in persons , to Avhom we were in a great measure strangers , made us suspeCt some iniquitous dark act . Our conjecture appeared but too well grounded , from the severe persecution that Avas immediately raised against the-Freemasons , I myself being
seized four days after : Perhaps , I ' should have escaped their merciless hands , had 1 not been betrayed in the most barbarous manner by a Portuguese friend of mine , as I supposed him to be , and Avhom the Holy Office had ordered to watch me narrowly . This man seeing me in a coffee-house , the jth of March 1743 , betAveen nine and ten at ni g ht , went and gave notice thereof to nine officers of the Inquisition , who
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
John Coustos, For Freemasonry,
passed betAveen them , the oldest of the company rising up , said , he had something very particular to communicate to Mr . MOUTON ; upon which he took him behind a curtain , when , enquiring his name and surname , he told him that he was his prisoner in behalf of the King . Being sensible that he had not committed any crime for which he could justly incur his Portuguese Majesty ' s displeasure , he gave up his sword
the moment it was demanded of him . Immediately several trusty officers of the Inquisition called Familiars , fell upon him to prevent his escaping . They then commanded him . not to make the least noise , and began to search him . This being done , and finding he had no weapons , they asked Avhether he Avas desirous of knOAving in whose name he had been seized ? Mr . Mot ? TON ansAveringin the affirmative : " We seize
you , " said they , " in the name of the Inquisition , and in its name % ve forbid you to speak , or murmur ever so little . " Saying these Avords , a door at the bottom of the jeweller ' s shop , and which looked-into a narrow bye-lane , being opened , the prisoner , accompanied by a Commissary of the Hol y Office , was thrown into a small chaise , where he Avas so closely shut up ( it being in the middle of the day about noon )
that no one could see him . This precaution Avas used to prevent his friends from getting the least information concerning his imprisonment , and consequently from- using their endeavours to procure his liberty . Being come to the prison of the Inquisition , they threAv him into a dungeon , and there left him alone , Avithout indul ging him in the satisfaction they had promised , Avhich Avas to let him speak , immediately on his
arrival , to the presment or the Hol y Office , toknoAV from him the reason of his detainer . On the contrary , they ivere so barbarous to Mr . IWouTON ' S reputation , as to spread a report that he Avas gone oft with the diamond above-mentioned . But IIOAV greatly were every one of his friends surprized and shocked at this slander ! As we all entertained the hi g hest idea of his probity , none of us would give the least credit to this vile report ; Avhence we unanimouslagreedafter duly weihing
y ,, g the matter , to go in a body to the jeweller , Avho was the owner of the diamond , and offer him the full payment of it ; firmly persuaded that nothing but the most fatal and unexpected accident could haA'e made him disappear thus suddenly , Avithout giving some of his friends notice of it . However , the jeweller refused our offer in the politest manner , assuring us at the same time , that the owner of the diamond was so wealthy
a man , that the loss of it would be but a trifle to him . But as truth frequently- breaks through all the veils with which falsehood endeavours to cloud her , this generosity in persons , to Avhom we were in a great measure strangers , made us suspeCt some iniquitous dark act . Our conjecture appeared but too well grounded , from the severe persecution that Avas immediately raised against the-Freemasons , I myself being
seized four days after : Perhaps , I ' should have escaped their merciless hands , had 1 not been betrayed in the most barbarous manner by a Portuguese friend of mine , as I supposed him to be , and Avhom the Holy Office had ordered to watch me narrowly . This man seeing me in a coffee-house , the jth of March 1743 , betAveen nine and ten at ni g ht , went and gave notice thereof to nine officers of the Inquisition , who