Philip II, King of Spain | Letter signed, about the Inquisition and the conversion of Jews

Philip II

Letter signed ("Yo el Rey"),

about the Inquisition and the converted Jews, informing his correspondent that the Inquisitor general, the Cardinal Archbishop of Toledo, has seen fit to show mercy to the converts, who will be permitted to remain free and to keep their property once they have handed over their arms to the officials of the Inquisition, and expressing the hope that they will be duly grateful and behave accordingly, 1 page, folio, Madrid, 24 March 1593, holes to signatures, browning, small tears to edges

After the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, and the enforced conversion of these that remained, the Inquisition persecuted the converts with great ferocity for secret Judaic practices. The converts moreover were suspected of being in sympathy with Protestantism, which was also ruthlessly suppressed by the Inquisition under Philip II.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, London, 21 November 1989, lot 341