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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 October 2020
In 1636, the Spanish Inquisition tried María de la Cruz for heresy and having made a pact with the devil. Examination of her trial in light of information about sexual misconduct on the part of Catholic clerics, however, reveals that what drove María to the emotional and behavioral extremes that her accusers described was neither heresy nor the devil the authorities had in mind. Theologians who evaluated her case and also met with María discerned what those who only read the accusations against her were unable to know: María's devils were human men taking advantage of a poor, illiterate woman for sex.
This study was made possible by the kind assistance of Sarah Nalle, who obtained the trial documents for me and generously shared her expertise on the Cuenca archive. Special gratitude to Alison Weber for her thoughtful readings. Thanks as well to Jodi Bilinkoff, Roser López Cruz, Andrew Keitt, Celeste McNamara, Leticia Mercado, Glyn Redworth, Adelina Sarrión Mora, and María Tausiet. Boston College provided generous support for time and means to conduct this research.