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Execution was never carried out by the church directly for theological reasons, but by secular authorities. This procedure was clarified in the ''Ad exstirpanda'' papal bull written by Pope Innocent IV in 1252, which also authorized the use of torture for extracting confessions from the accused and recommended burning at the stake as the appropriate punishment for those found guilty and unrepentant. ''Ad exstirpanda'' marked the beginning of one of the most brutal periods of Inquisition.

Execution was never carried out by the church directly for theological reasons, but by secular authorities. This procedure was clarified in the ''Ad exstirpanda'' papal bull written by Pope Innocent IV in 1252, which also authorized the use of torture for extracting confessions from the accused and recommended burning at the stake as the appropriate punishment for those found guilty and unrepentant. ''Ad exstirpanda'' marked the beginning of one of the most brutal periods of Inquisition.

The sufferings and martyrdoms of Protestants are recounted in [[Foxe's Book of Martyrs]]. The persecutions of [[Anabaptists]] and other radical dissenters from earlier centuries is chronicled in the more extensive work, [[Martyr's Mirror]]. Both works have been subjected to critical historical analysis and have been found by non-Catholic scholars to be poorly researched, flawed, inaccurate, and most of its descriptions of persecutions exaggerated.

The sufferings and martyrdoms of Protestants are recounted in [[Foxe's Book of Martyrs]]. The persecutions of [[Anabaptists]] and other radical dissenters from earlier centuries is chronicled in the more extensive work, [[Martyr's Mirror]]. Both works have been subjected to critical historical analysis and have been found by non-Catholic scholars to be poorly researched, flawed, inaccurate, and most of its descriptions of persecutions exaggerated.<ref>[https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/18084/is-there-scholarly-concensus-on-the-historicity-of-foxes-book-of-martyrs "Is there scholarly consensus on the historicity of Foxe's Book of Martyrs?" (christianity.stackexchange.com)].</ref>

The best known of the four major inquisitions was the [[Spanish Inquisition]], which ran from 1438 onwards. One of its primary tasks was enforcement of the [[Alhambra Decree]] by the monarchs of Spain in 1492, ordering the immediate expulsion of all [[Jew]]s from the country and its territories.

The best known of the four major inquisitions was the [[Spanish Inquisition]], which ran from 1438 onwards. One of its primary tasks was enforcement of the [[Alhambra Decree]] by the monarchs of Spain in 1492, ordering the immediate expulsion of all [[Jew]]s from the country and its territories.

Likewise, Dr. Kamen states in his book:  

Likewise, Dr. Kamen states in his book:  

:"Taking into account all the tribunals of Spain up to about 1530, it is unlikely that more than two thousand people were executed for heresy by the Inquisition." (p. 60)

:"Taking into account all the tribunals of Spain up to about 1530, it is unlikely that more than two thousand people were executed for heresy by the Inquisition." (p. 60)

== External links ==

== External links ==