I. Inquisitorial Manuals
Inquisition practice through the ages was supposed to be governed by rules, policies, and complex legal and theological principles. Both theory and practice could vary over time, however, and many different types of manuals, guidebooks and brief procedural notices were circulated as tribunals and individual inquisitors continually strove to improve on their procedures. Closer examination of such texts reveals much about the institutions themselves, their members, and their ideological underpinnings.
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The Inquisition Collection at the University of Notre Dame contains at least 23 items which can serve to illustrate the richness and variety of the inquisitorial manual tradition; this is in addition to the Simancas volume which is part of the larger Rare Book collection. Many other exemplars are listed in van der Vekene. A number of important items not listed in van der Vekene are also available at the Lea library, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia).
For more information about the collection, for appointments to view items for research purposes, or for rights and reproductions, please email us at rarebooks@nd.edu or visit our website.