John Coustos

John Coustos (1703, Bern–1746) was an 18th-century Swiss businessman living in England.

While traveling on business he founded a Masonic lodge in Lisbon and was arrested by the Portuguese Inquisition. After questioning he was sentenced to the galleys. Three Portuguese Masons were put to death. He was released in 1744 as a result of the intercession of George II of England. After his release and return to England, Coustos wrote a book detailing his experiences in the hands of the Inquisition.

Literature

• John Coustos: The Sufferings of John Coustos for Freemasonry and for His Refusing to Turn Roman Catholic in the Inquisition, Kessinger Publishing, ISBN 1-4179-4187-1
• Giovanni Tarantino, "The Mysteries of Popery Unveiled: Affective Language in John Coustos’ and Anthony Gavín’s Accounts of the Inquisition", in Spaces for Feeling: Emotions and Sociabilities in Britain, 1650-1850, ed. by Susan Broomhall (Routledge 2015; ISBN 978-1138828179), pp. 35-51

References

The original publication of Sufferings of John Coustos was published in 1746. It was printed by W Strahan who at the time was the printer to George II. The original book is dedicated to the Earl of Harrington, who was one of his majestys principal Secretaries of state