Inquisition and clergy: accusations and trials against religious during the 17th century

Abstract

This paper studies inquisitorial activity against the Spanish clergy during the centuries of the Early Modern Age. Through the analysis of the inspection carried out in 1640 by the Council of the Supreme Inquisition of the district court of Valladolid, the largest in the Iberian Peninsula, we will show not only the processes opened against the clergy, but also a hidden phenomenon, such as the percentage of friars, nuns and priests denounced for different crimes of faith who were not prosecuted by the court.