Procession to the Execution⤒🔗

It is the year 1544 in the Spanish city of Valladolid. It is early morning, and a solemn proces­sion is taking place. Church bells are ringing; crowds of people are assembled in the huge city square. People dressed in festive clothing are lining the streets. The church has promised anyone who attends these festivities a forty-day indulgence. This means, that sins of the last forty days are forgiven to all who come out to watch. Men, women and children are present to view the procession. Many have also come from rural villages. They had to undergo a secu­rity check at the entrance of the city; no weapons are allowed for this occasion.

People are straining to see the procession. It resembles an ancient triumphal Roman proces­sion to celebrate a victorious conquest in battle. It is also supposed to depict the final judg­ment. The procession started in the local prison with its many underground dungeons where the Spanish inquisition does its work. The procession leaves the prison gates in a specific order. First there is a band of soldiers to clear the way, followed by a number of priests ac­companied by a boys’ choir chanting Roman Catholic liturgy. Behind them follow prisoners. Every prisoner is guarded by two soldiers and is accompanied by two monks.

After the prisoners come the local governors and officers, followed by noblemen on horse­back. Then there are more priests and monks. Now there is a little gap in the procession and after a little space we see the members of the Spanish Inquisition moving forward in slow and solemn strides. Their bearing is that of triumphalism. A standard-bearer walks at their head, holding up the red silk banner of the Spanish Inquisition. Lifted high above it is a huge, mas­sive silver crucifix overlaid with gold, which is worshipped by the local population. The members of the Inquisition are followed by soldiers on horseback, who function as bodyguards. Behind this procession follow common people in a disorderly fashion.

The Prisoners←⤒🔗

Let us take a closer look at the prisoners at the centre of this procession. They also walk in a certain order and are dressed differently from each oth­er. Those who are suspected of having erred in just a slight degree walk at the head and are clothed in black. The other prisoners wear a bright yellow garment, called a sanbenito. There are two kinds of sanbenitos. Some have red flames painted on their dress pointing downwards, while other sanbenitos have red flames pointing upwards. These are men who are charged with having violated the ordinances of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Spanish Inquisition has arrested them and confined them to un­derground dungeons. By various means the members of the Span­ish Inquisition have tried to force them to confess their sins and to withdraw what are considered heretical statements. Such inter­rogations could go on for years. When prisoners confessed, they were still punished with whippings and imprisonment for a num­ber of years.

If a prisoner confessed to heresy, he received the “privilege” to be strangled before his dead body would be cast into the fire. If a prisoner did not confess he would be burned alive. Prisoners who were going to be strangled, would wear a sanbenito, a yel­low garment with flames facing downwards, while the prisoners who would be burned alive wore the sanbenito with flames facing upwards. All the possessions of these prisoners were confiscated and divided between the Roman Catholic Church and the King of Spain.

The Sentence of the Penitent←⤒🔗

If we turn our attention back to the procession, we see that it finally arrives at the city square where we see a platform with a huge cross and various thrones set up. Around the platform are solders on horseback who stand motionless with their lances pointing downwards. When the procession has arrived in the city square a monk preaches an hour-long sermon. After that, the clerk of the tribunal loudly reads the sentences of the peni­tents who have to listen to their verdict while on their knees. The presiding Inquisitor then declares officially that their sins are forgiven, but that they are obligated to bear their punishment, whether that is a whipping, hard labour, or imprisonment.

Following this ritual, the presiding Inquisitor tells all present to bind themselves by oath to live and die in the communion of the Roman Church and to uphold its authority against all its adver­saries. At that moment all the people would fall on their knees.

The Punishment of the Guilty←⤒🔗

Now the carrying out of the sentences of those who are doomed to die follows. If these condemned prisoners had filled a church position or were of nobility, they would be publicly disgraced and degraded. Priests would be stripped, piece-by-piece, of their priestly vestments. All the prisoners are then handed over to the worldly judge to suffer their punishment. The members of the Inquisition then beseech the civil government to deal compas­sionately with the prisoners, while these very same members of the Inquisition have tormented these men and women terribly during their imprisonment. Five days prior to the procession the Inquisition had already made known to the civil authorities ex­actly how many people would be burned and how much wood was needed to make sure the cruel punishments would be car­ried out.

Those who are condemned to die are then led away to the ex­ecution place outside the city walls to be burned. Those who re­cant received the “reward” that they are first strangled and then burned. All along, these prisoners often were gagged with a piece of wood in their mouth so that they could not speak, because the Spanish Inquisition was afraid of the effect of the words they would speak.

The Martyrdom of Francisco San Roman←⤒🔗

Such a procession took place quite often in Spain and was called an auto de fe, or an act of faith. It happened in 1544 that such a procession, an auto de fe, took place in the Spanish city of Valladolid. The procession passed through the streets. There were two or three prisoners that had yellow sanbenitos with flames pointing downward but there was one who wore a sanbenito with flames pointing upward. A number of monks were thronging around him, pointing to the flames on his garment and pressing crosses into his face. The man seemed to reply nothing but his lips were moving. Sometimes his eyes would turn to heaven and then he looked very happy.

Having arrived at the city square, the sermon started. After the sermon, a priest declared the oath and everyone kneeled down except this one prisoner. The monks tried to force him to kneel but he would not. Then they wanted to make him kneel before a crucifix, but he refused. The people started to shout: Away with him. He is no Christian. Let him be burned. Then they took him away to the execution place outside the city of Valladolid.

Still, even before his execution, the monks tried to make him confess or recant so that he would only be strangled and not have to endure the suffering of being burned. But he refused. Heaven was too close to him and God was too near to him. He was fastened to the stake and the fire started to burn. As the flames reached him his head dropped. The friars around him ex­claimed that he was penitent and they ordered to have him taken out of the flames. But the victim said to them: Did you envy me my happiness? So they thrust him right back into the flames. In an instant the smoke suffocated him. This is the way the first Protestant martyr of Spain died. His name was Francisco San Roman. It was the year 1544.

Francisco’s History←⤒🔗

Who was Francisco San Roman? He was a clerk employed by Span­ish merchants in Antwerp, The Netherlands (Belgium was part of The Netherlands at that time). On a certain occasion he had been sent to Bremen in Germany to receive some payments. While he was there, he visited various churches and became acquainted with the Reformed truths; and he embraced them.

Upon his return to Antwerp and having testified of his newly found faith, he was kept in custody. When the friars started to burn books Francisco had taken along from Bremen and when they started to burn his Bible, he became so furious that the fri­ars thought he had lost his mind. Therefore they put him in a dungeon below a castle outside the city, where he remained for eight months until he was finally set free. But Francisco could not refrain from testifying to the truth and eventually he was taken prisoner again. This time he was taken to Spain, where he remained in the dungeons of the Inquisition for several years un­til he was finally put to death, freely testifying of his faith.

The History of the Church in Spain←⤒🔗

Spain had received the Gospel during the days of the apostles. The church flourished and for many years was independent of Rome. It was not until about the year 1100 that the Church of Spain fully adhered to the authority of Rome. Around 1200, the Church of Rome established the Inquisition to root out heresy by violence. During the Middle Ages there still was biblical preach­ing by many Waldensian and other preachers who travelled from town to town and preached the Gospel. Many of them were per­secuted and burned.

In 1492, King Ferdinand of Spain issued a decree that Church and State should be united as one with the aim to establish a kingdom free of heresy. At the same time this was a means to have his treasury filled with the confiscated goods of those sus­pected of heresy. He expelled all Jews and Muslims and reorga­nized the Inquisition to make it more effective and ruthless.

Spanish Oppression←⤒🔗

The Protestant Reformation began during the reign of King Fer­dinand’s grandson, Emperor Charles the Fifth. He ruled over Germany, Holland and Spain, as well as over huge parts of the Americas. His son, Philip the Second, was especially fanatic in persecuting Protestants. He tried to root out Protestantism in Holland, but by God’s grace he failed to do so. He invaded Hol­land with an army, which killed thousands of innocent people and he massacred many in various Dutch cities to try to force the Dutch to return to the Roman Catholic religion. All this hap­pened between the years 1566 to1586. But his tyranny failed. The Dutch gained their freedom and many refugees from all over Europe fled to Holland, which became a safe haven for religious freedom.

After the reign of Phillip the Second, Spain declined to become a third rate nation. It had lost its power and wealth. The money was gone and the trees were gone because they had been felled to build Philip’s many ships. The Protestants were also gone, which meant that for centuries the people of Spain were left to superstition, igno­rance and poverty. While the Protes­tant nations in Eu­rope were prosper­ing, Spain remained a backward country until the late 20^th century.

We are familiar with the Reformation that took place in Germany, England and France. But what do we know about the Reformed Church of Spain? Was there ever a Reformation in Spain? The answer is: yes.

For about fifty years the seeds of the Reformation were planted in Spain. Much of this seed germinated and many adhered to the Reformed faith, especially members of the nobility and the educated classes. From about the end of 1520 until 1570 the Reformation grew rapidly, but towards 1570 the Inquisition was successful in effectively exterminating the Protestant Reformation from Spain. Many adherents to the Reformation fled the country to find a safe haven in Holland, England and France. Others were forced to recant and yielded to the immense pressure put on them. Others chose to die instead of denying their Lord and Saviour. They were the heroes of the faith.

Johannes Froben←↰⤒🔗

How did the Reformation in Spain take place? In 1519, Johannes Froben, a German printer from Basel, shipped a collection of tracts written by Martin Luther to Spain. These tracts were printed in Latin and therefore could only be read by those of the educated class. But already the following year, in 1520, a Spanish translation was printed of Martin Luther’s commentary of Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. This was followed by translations of other works of Luther. Spanish merchants had these books imported to Spain.

Juan Valdes←↰⤒🔗

The first person to spread Reformed doctrines within Spain probably was Juan Valdes, a man of some learning, who had a position at the court of Charles V. By 1535 he already left Spain in the face of persecution, but he had books sent back to Spain. He wrote books on the doctrines of justification by faith, regeneration by the Holy Spirit, and the assurance of salvation. These books were influential in the promotion of the Protestant movement.

Rodrigo Valero←↰⤒🔗

Another early adherent to the Reformed faith was Rodrigo Valero, who was born of nobility. In his youth he did little more than spend time playing games and horse riding, until he was brought to sudden conviction. He withdrew from all his former companions and acquired a copy of the Bible in Latin. He trained himself to know Latin until he could finally read the Bible. He embraced Reformed beliefs and returned to public life, but now to expose the sins of the church and point out the true and biblical way of salvation.

He gained much influence among the people until the Inquisition caught up with him. Due to the efforts of his many friends, he was not sentenced to death but was given life imprisonment with the stipulation that every year he had to participate in a procession in which he had to wear a sanbenito. He used this occasion to publicly testify of the truth as it is in Christ, warning the people of the errors of Rome. Eventually, Valero was put in solitary confinement in a monastery where he died at the age of 50.

Dr. Juan Gil←↰⤒🔗

One of the converts of Valero was Dr. Juan Gil, who had gained the highest academic honours, a doctorate. He attempted to preach to the people, but was not well accepted because his message was very dull and academic. At this point Rodrigo Valero explained to him that he should study and preach the Word of God. Juan Gil followed this advice and soon he was the most popular preacher in the city of Seville. His preaching had such a great impact on the people that the city became a centre of Reformed Protestantism. He too, was imprisoned. It was reported that he had denied his faith; but he never did. Due to pressure put on him and the fact of being imprisoned for many years, his strength was finally broken. He was set free but died shortly afterwards.

Constantine Ponce de la Fuente←↰⤒🔗

Other men followed in the convictions of Juan Gil and started to preach so powerfully that many of the clergy in Seville, as well as in Barcelona, Toledo, Valencia, and other Spanish cities embraced the Reformed doctrines.

One of these leading men was Constantine Ponce de la Fuente, chaplain of Charles V, a man of great learning who was widely respected by many in Spain. He formed an alliance with Juan Gil to promote the doctrines of the Reformation in Seville and throughout Spain. They preached, lectured and wrote books that were widely distributed among the Spanish people.

Constantine Ponce de la Fuente was imprisoned by the Inquisition and after several years of torture and solitary imprisonment, he became totally worn out. He is said to have cried out: O my God, were there no cannibals, or pagans still more savage, that Thou hast permitted me to fall into the hands of these baptized diabolical people? Due to the terrible circumstances he endured and the deep grief he experienced because the Reformed cause was ruined in his native country, he fell victim to dysentery. This resulted in his death, after two years in prison.

Jayme, Francisco and Juan Enzinas←↰⤒🔗

Three brothers who were greatly used for the Reformed testimony in Spain around the year 1540 were Jayme, Francisco and Juan Enzinas. They studied in the Netherlands where they became acquainted with Reformed thinking and thus became devout proponents of the Reformation. Yet, none of the three brothers ever returned to Spain. Jayme went to Italy, where he was betrayed and died for his faith. Juan became a doctor in Germany where he remained for he rest of his life. His brother Francisco translated the New Testament into Castilian, a Spanish language, and was arrested. By a miracle he found his prison doors unlocked, walked out of prison and made his way to Martin Luther at Wittenberg, remaining in Germany for the rest of his life.

Cassiodoro de Reyna and Cypriano de Valera←↰⤒🔗

Another famous reformer was Cassiodoro de Reyna, who together with Cypriano de Valera, translated the whole Bible into Spanish, while in exile. This Spanish Bible was printed in 1602 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Bible Smuggler: Julian Hernandez←↰⤒🔗

Meanwhile, in various towns of Spain groups of people were gathering in secret, reading the Scriptures to each other. Books with Reformed teaching and Bibles were smuggled into Spain. Most of these books were printed in the Netherlands. One famous Bible smuggler was a dwarf by the name of Julian Hernandez. He hid books in the packages of lace and dresses he brought across the border. Because the packages were sometimes larger than this little man, customs officials sometimes helped him carry his load across the border. He said that because he was so small customs officials suspected no harm from such a little and insignificant person as he was. Because of his size he could sometimes hide himself in little spaces where normal size people could not fit.

However, the time came that he too was caught, and in 1560 at an auto de fe in Seville this diminutive but brave Bible smuggler was burned to death. On the day of his execution he encouraged his fellow sufferers by crying out to them:

Courage brothers, this is the hour in which we must show ourselves valiant soldiers for Jesus Christ! Let us now bear faithful testimony to His truth before men, and within a few hours we shall receive the testimony of His approbation before angels, and triumph with Him in heaven.

The End of the Spanish Reformation←⤒🔗

These men and women who gave their lives for the cause of the Protestant Reformation in Spain were not mere victims; they were willing sacrifices. They were not slain but offered themselves up for the Lord’s cause. In the year 1557 the Spanish Inquisition became aware that many Protestant books had entered the realm of Spain and that Protestantism was gaining a foothold in the monasteries, and spreading rapidly. Spies in Europe kept an eye on Spanish refugees and became aware of shipments of books imported into Spain.

Immediately, the Inquisitors acted to squash the Refor­mation. Many people were arrested, even those who were merely suspected of harbouring Reformed views. Hundreds were put in prison, tortured and killed. The end result was that at the beginning of 1570 the Protestant Reformation in Spain had been effectively snuffed out. Even Englishmen who happened to be in Spain were arrested, tortured and if found guilty, were burned to death. After 1570 only a few in scattered places were accused of Lutheranism and burned. The Reformation in Spain was effectually dead.

The Spanish Inquisition←⤒🔗

The Protestant Reformation in Spain was suppressed by the powerful tool of the Spanish Inquisition. What is the Spanish Inquisition? It is a church court with legal powers to uphold the authority and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. This court was empowered to imprison and extract Confessions from people by whatever means deemed necessary.

Initially, the Inquisition was instituted to persecute the Jews and to force them to undergo Christian baptism. Afterwards, it was used against any who gave the appearance of resisting the authority and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. The Spaniards were of the opinion that the inquisition could not err and that the inquisitors could not be deceived. As expected, the Inquisition was very much hated so that the chief inquisitors always had bodyguards with them. While travelling they usually had as many as 200 soldiers and 50 cavalrymen to protect them.

Three kinds of men were especially in danger of the Inquisition. Those who were very rich, because all their goods would be confiscated; those who were educated, because the inquisition did not want people to detect their deceit and corruption; and those who enjoyed high public honour, lest they would inflict damage to the Inquisition.

The Inquisition may be compared with the secret service agency of a totalitarian government. The abuse the Inquisition could inflict was horrible. At the slightest infraction people could be shut up in a dank dungeon and the inquisitors could examine them at leisure to find any errors they may have committed. In the meantime, no one could assist or speak for these unfortunate victims. If a father would speak up for an imprisoned child, he would also be cast into prison with the charge that he favoured the accused heretics. No one was allowed to visit the prisoner in the dungeon. Everything that took place was kept secret: the accusations, where the prisoner was held and the means used to extract confessions. Extensive torture was used. Christians would be captured, never to be heard of again or seen by each other, except perhaps on the scaffold. It was due to this ruthless apparatus of the Inquisition that the Reformation in Spain was successfully rooted out.

The Reformation of the 16^th century in Spain failed. It was not until 1860 that the Second Reformation took place in Spain, when evangelists and missionaries from England and the United States entered the country and established churches. Currently the Kingdom of Spain with a population of 40 million, numbers 2,600 Protestant evangelical churches with about 250,000 in attendance, and 1,300 pastors. The total number of people who call themselves Reformed is around 4,000.

We saw that during the years 1520 until 1570 Reformation beliefs were spreading swiftly in various parts of Spain. However, the Spanish Inquisition effectively rooted out the emerging Reformation. Many Protestants in Spain were forced to flee the country. Those who remained were either killed or silenced. What can we learn from all this? Let us consider six conclusions.

1. The Providence of God←⤒🔗

When we see the severity and ruthlessness of the persecutions in Spain, we may well have many questions. With our limited understanding we do not know why matters in Spain took place as they did. We must submit to the sovereign providence of God. He did not allow the Reformation to prosper there as in other European countries, such as the Netherlands.

We should realize, however, that Spain had been blessed with the gospel ever since the days of the apostles. This Mediterranean country had known God’s Word for nearly 800 years before the Gospel ever reached Holland. In His great mercy, the Lord had given Spain the Gospel, but the kings of Spain, motivated by greed for wealth and power, instituted the Inquisition, thereby forcing their own people to become slaves of Rome.

The persecution in Spain was very severe. At the beginning of Christianity, even in the midst of opposition, the apostles could still preach the Gospel publicly. Luther and his associates could proclaim the Gospel openly in spite of persecutions. This also took place in the Netherlands. In Scotland, local Protestant landowners would protect the local preachers. In Germany, the press was under the control of so-called ‘free cities’, which freely allowed the printing and distribution of material so that a stream of Reformed books were printed.

In France, a Reformed believer could not be apprehended unless the local authorities gave permission, and at times, such permission was not granted. These things gave some relief to the Protestants. But none of these advantages were given to the Protestants in Spain. In Spain the Inquisition reigned supreme.

We are called to submit to God’s providence, realizing that by nature we deserve nothing. We read in Revelation 6: 9,10:

I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

They also did not understand the events that were happening. But the Lord who is full of love and understanding said:

And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Rev. 6:11

God has determined that a certain number of His people would lay down their life for His Name’s sake. That number must be completed. Their sacrifice will ultimately be for the glory of God. He is glorified when people who confess His Name are put to death for doing so. In His providence, the Lord calls them to this self sacrifice, equips them with grace to do so, and He also rewards them for their suffering.

2. Persecution is Prophesied←⤒🔗

All that happened to the Christian church – its persecutions and hardships – have been foretold. In the book of Revelation we read several times that the beast shall make war against the people of God and overcome them. That has happened in church history in various places, also in Spain. For instance, we read in Revelation 11:7,

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. In Revelation 13:7 we read: And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

The Lord Jesus prophesied that persecutions would come. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake (Matt. 24:9). In Revelation 2:10, the King of the church encourages believers:

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Those who are slain for the Lord’s sake are not dead; they are with Christ. They live with Him. They receive a crown of life. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them (Rev. 14:13). Not a hair of their head will be lost. They belong to the Lord; they are His possession. The Lord knows the injustice done to them and He will judge the persecutors. At the final judgment they will say to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Rev. 16, 17).

3. We Have Great Privileges←⤒🔗

What great privileges we have, that we may worship the Lord in freedom! What grace that we may have the freedom to attend church! Many of us have been born and raised under the truth of the Word. In Spain many did not and still do not have these privileges.

What have we done with all the privileges given to us? Are we still resisting this King or have we learned to bow down before Him and heeded His call and claim on our lives? Have we seen that we need a Saviour for our sins? Has His service become precious to us?

Consider the blessed offers of God’s grace. Look at what other people suffered so that God’s truth would be freely proclaimed. Should we not make use of all the privileges God has given us? Should we not love and embrace His truth? Should we not cry to God for mercy to deliver us from our sins? Should we not cry to have our barren heart made new? May the riches of God’s privileges lead us to genuine repentance.

4. Preparation for Suffering is Necessary←⤒🔗

We know that all God’s children will suffer some form of persecution, distress or affliction for the sake of the Gospel. The apostle says, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). Therefore, we need to be prepared.

How can we be prepared? Only by learning to love God with all that we have. We need a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He needs to rule our lives as Lord and King. We need to receive His Holy Spirit to live in us, so that when the day of affliction or persecution will come upon us, we will be prepared and ready for that onslaught. It may come sooner than we think. The only way to stand during persecution is to be firmly rooted in Christ and to be filled with love to Him and the desire to honour Him.

5. Protection is Needed←⤒🔗

We need to be kept during tribulations and afflictions. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth (Rev. 3:10). We need to be protected; otherwise we will fall. Who can withstand deceit and remain steadfast in the hour of temptation that is coming on the earth?

Physical persecution can come, but even more dangerous is the subtle spirit creeping into our circles of silently and complacently giving in to worldliness. We see that people who are called to be dedicated to the Lord, compromise the Word of God for the love of this world. They want to live like the world. The music of the world, the sports of the world, the love of money, and the entertainment of the world, all gain the upper hand, while God and His Word are marginalized.

That is how the devil is destroying the church today. We cannot love both the world and God. Then God will withdraw Himself and give His people up to their own lusts. We need God’s protection for our churches so that they will not fall away. We need God’s protection in our personal lives against the temptations of the evil one. That protection is only in God. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Ps. 46:1).

6. Prayer is of the Essence←⤒🔗

Let there be sincere and thankful prayer among us, that God has delivered us from the darkness of Roman Catholicism and we may be under the truth of God’s infallible Word. But let there also be the prayer of supplication for ourselves and our children, to be faithful to the Lord and His Word. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41). Prayer is of the essence for us. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Eph. 6:18).

Let there also be prayer for the church that is suffering today. Let us remember the needs of the brothers and sisters in many parts of the world, where they are suffering for the faith. Let us pray for them, that they would be faithful and that God’s Word would be spread among the nations. Let there also be prayer that the Lord Jesus would soon return to take all His people to be with Him in glory. Then all God’s people will be with the Lord forever. Therefore: Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.