Severe Inquisition, Instituted by the Spaniards, in the Year 1492

This century, it appears, could not close without a new inquisition, which the Spaniards invented, as the Germans had done before them. It was first instituted against those of the Jewish, Mohammedan, and Saracenic profession, because some of them, either through fear of persecution or for some other reason, had accepted the Roman Catholic faith with the mouth, while their sincerity was doubted. But afterward it reached all who did not perfectly observe the Romish commands. Among these the often mentioned Waldenses and Albigenses were none of the least, since they not only held the Romish belief in small esteem, but were also directly opposed to it in nearly every point, except the twelve general articles.

Concerning this, there is the following account: "Thus their (the Spaniards') first decree concerning the inquisition was to proceed only against the Jews, Saracens, and Mohammedans; but afterward much greater power was given to the inquisitors, to try and punish all who did not observe, in every particular, the ordinances of the Roman church and the Catholic faith. Pope Sixtus the Fourth confirmed this royal scheme. See the account in the Chron. van den Ond., page 900, column 1. [n514-1]