Punishment and Penance : Two Phases in the History of the Bishop's Tribunal of Novara

Enriched by stories drawn from the files, which often allowed the accused to speak in their own voices, __Punishment and Penance__ provides a window into the workings of a tribunal in this period.

Punishment and Penance provides the first comprehensive study of an Italian bishop’s tribunal in criminal matters, such as violence, forbidden sexual activity, and offenses against the faith. Through numerous case studies, Thomas B. Deutscher investigates the scope and effectiveness of the early modern ecclesiastical legal system.

Deutscher examines the records of the bishop’s tribunal of the northern Italian diocese of Novara during two distinct periods: the ambitious decades following the Council of Trent (1563–1615), and the half-century leading up to the French invasions of 1790s. As the state’s power continued to rise during this second time span, the Church was often humbled and the tribunal’s activity was much reduced. 

Enriched by stories drawn from the files, which often allowed the accused to speak in their own voices, Punishment and Penance provides a window into the workings of a tribunal in this period.

Punishment and Penance provides the first comprehensive study of an Italian bishop's tribunal in criminal matters, such as violence, forbidden sexual activity, and offenses against the faith. Through numerous case studies, Thomas B. Deutscher investigates the scope and effectiveness of the early modern ecclesiastical legal system.Deutscher examines the records of the bishop's tribunal of the northern Italian diocese of Novara during two distinct periods: the ambitious decades following the Council of Trent (1563–1615), and the half-century leading up to the French invasions of 1790s. As the state's power continued to rise during this second time span, the Church was often humbled and the tribunal's activity was much reduced. Enriched by stories drawn from the files, which often allowed the accused to speak in their own voices, Punishment and Penance provides a window into the workings of a tribunal in this period. Contents 7 Acknowledgments 9 Note on Currency 11 Introduction 15 1. The Diocese of Novara and Its Bishops 27 2. Episcopal Jurisdiction Put to the Test: Rival Ecclesiastical Courts and Confrontation with the State of Milan, 1563–1615 41 3. The Bishop’s Tribunal and the Disciplining of the Clergy, 1563–1615 55 4. The Bishop’s Tribunal and the Laity, 1563–1615 97 5. Shifting Patterns of Activity: The Bishop’s Tribunal, 1745–1799 118 Conclusion: Two Phases of Tribunal Activity 154 Appendices 163 Notes 169 Bibliography 205 Index 217