Initially, the goal of the Inquisition was as follows - to eradicate heresy. And the inquisitors allegedly did not want anything else. However, in order to eradicate heresy, they needed to eradicate the heretics. And in order to eradicate the heretics, it was also necessary to eradicate their supporters and defenders.
This could be done, according to the teachings of the church of those times, in two ways:
- to convert to the true faith (Catholicism);
- burn the bodies of heretics to ashes.
The Inquisition used both methods. Often at the same time.
Preliminary investigation
This procedure began immediately after a person was suspected of heresy, which could be based on any denunciation. In addition to the inquisitor, the preliminary investigation was attended by a secretary and two monks. Their role was to oversee the testimony being given and to ensure that the testimony was recorded correctly.
The investigation itself consisted of just one simple action: the invited witnesses were interviewed on the topic of denunciation to find out if they agreed with this. And if at least one of the witnesses confirmed his consent, the suspect of heresy was arrested.
Interrogation and trial
The interrogation, based on the use of rather cruel torture (rack, "Spanish boot", water torture, and so on), was aimed at only one goal - confession. And if a person could not stand it and confessed to at least one of the heresies imputed to him, then he automatically became guilty of all the others.
And, besides, the heretic could no longer defend himself after the confession: it was believed that his crime was proven. After that, the inquisitors were only interested in one thing - whether the accused wanted to renounce the heresy. If he agreed, the church reconciled with him after the imposition of the penance. If he refused, he was excommunicated.
And in both cases, the heretic was handed over to the secular court along with a copy of the verdict and the following phrase: "let him be punished according to his deserts," which in fact meant, of course, death.
Auto-da-fe
In this state of affairs, the secular court was only a formality, after which the heretic was sent to the stake. Inquisitors, as ministers of the church, themselves could not sentence to death, and therefore gave this sorrowful duty to the secular authorities.
The accused, if he renounced heresy, received the last favor - the executioner strangled him with a special rope before the fire broke out. The one who persisted in heresy burned alive.