Two Death Sentences by the Inquisition Tribunal of Malta, 1639

Besides fighting Protestant doctrines, the setting up of the Roman Inquisition in 1542 was also aimed at introducing a sense of correct behaviour and belief expected from all Christians. The Inquisition was lenient with first-time offenders or with those who showed genuine signs of repentance. In those rare cases where the accused persisted in his or her errors, however, the Inquisition was clear: the obstinate and stubborn unrepentant who refused to be reconciled to the Church, had to be handed to the secular court to be burned at the stake.