The compilation of an edited volume is an attempt to get many independent parts moving in the same general direction. It is also the labor of years. I thank the patience of Brill and its editors, Julian Deahl and Ivo Romein, who have provided the means through which this project has been completed. I also extend my gratitude to my series editor Christopher Bellitto, who forbearingly waited as the book went through many iterations. The foresight of such editors has created some of the most useful and relevant handbooks in present scholarship. I also thank my authors who fulfilled their promises. They provided professional and deep contributions, not to mention advice as the work progressed. Our readers have also provided much grist for improvement and gave insightful comments. I thank Ed Peters and our second anonymous reader for their incisive observations. I am also grateful to Josh Pennington for his careful copyediting of the whole project. Personally I would like to thank my professors who introduced me to inquisition studies, particularly Augustine Thompson. All of the impressive work that has been done over the last 100 years is staggering, working to wear away encrusted legends and to present inquisitions embedded in their respective contexts. The scholarship in theology, legal and social history, and textual studies has proven an exceptional foundation for our project. Finally, I also thank my colleagues and my family. I told them all firmly to dissuade me from editing collections after my first set of essays was published by Brill. Now here is my second. For their forbearance and toleration I am very grateful.