04.06.2018 Views

The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

means failed, she had resource to o<strong>the</strong>r means; viz.,<br />

she persecuted those whom she was unable to<br />

persuade. This method seemed to be more<br />

successful, since we are told by good authority that<br />

after <strong>the</strong> year 1526 “<strong>the</strong>re was no Mohammedan in<br />

Spain who had not been converted to Christianity.”<br />

That is to say, in o<strong>the</strong>r language, that every<br />

Mohammedan in Spain pr<strong>of</strong>essed to be a papist.<br />

Some, however, were difficult subjects for<br />

conversion. <strong>The</strong>y would not willingly submit to be<br />

baptized. <strong>The</strong> water might be “holy,” but holy or<br />

unholy, <strong>the</strong>y wanted none <strong>of</strong> it. Never<strong>the</strong>less,<br />

baptized <strong>the</strong>y must be, so <strong>the</strong>y were forcibly<br />

seized, and <strong>the</strong> ordinance was forcibly<br />

administered. This was done in an immense<br />

number <strong>of</strong> cases. <strong>The</strong>n <strong>the</strong> church and state united,<br />

proceeded to doubt <strong>the</strong> genuineness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir forced<br />

conversion, and began to inquire into <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

sincerity. <strong>The</strong>y were ordered to relinquish<br />

everything that might have <strong>the</strong> most remote<br />

tendency to remind <strong>the</strong>m <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir former religion.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y were forced, under severe penalties, to learn<br />

Spanish, and to deliver over to <strong>the</strong>ir persecutors all<br />

91

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!