Unexpected Window on English Maritime History: Spanish Inquisition Archives

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, over 400 Englishmen (and a few women) found themselves in contact with the Spanish Inquisition.The vast majority of these individuals are associated with maritime contact with Spain, as merchants, sailors, or prisoners of war, predominantly from the West Country. My new book draws on the records of their experiences and testimonies to provide a new perspective on maritime encounters during a crucial period of religious and political divergence.