1564-1696 : the Inquisition index of Knights Hospitallers of the Order of St John

Abstract

The incredible richness and diversity of the Inquisition sources makes possible their use to shed light on virtually every aspect of early modern social, religious, legal and cultural history. This is particularly true of the criminal proceedings which in their concern for accuracy, often catch the spoken word with apparent precision. The instructions to interrogators were quite specific on this point, telling them to 'ensure that the notary writes not only all the answers of the accused but also all his comments and gestures and everything that he says under torture, including all his sighs, cries, laments and tears'. Trial records may therefore lead to the discovery of forgotten models of thought and emotion which could not be recovered in any other way.