These witnesses were examined, under a strict seal of secrecy, by the Inquisitors, who drew up a form of accusation, which they submitted to theologians called Qualificators.

The qualificators were not informed of the names of the accused, the delator, or the witnesses.

It was their business to qualify the case of heresy as light, grave, or violent.
Having placed it in one of these categories, they returned it to the Inquisitors, who now arrested the accused and flung him into the secret prisons of the Holy Office.

After some lapse of time he was summoned for a preliminary examination.

Having first been cautioned to tell the truth, he had to recite the Paternoster, Credo, Ten Commandments, and a kind of catechism.