The Spanish Inquisition was not how it was portrayed by modern media and pop culture. By modern standards it was harsh, absolutely. But the reality of the Spanish Inquisition is this: Executions were only used in a small minority of cases, torture was also used in a small minority. The great majority of people who were brought before the inquisition, many of the cases ended with acquittal, dismissal, or relatively mild religious penalties. The punishments given by the inquisition could include things like prayers, fasting, pilgrimage, attending Mass, wearing a penitential garment, fines, temporary loss of property or office, or periods of imprisonment. This is what happened to the majority of people. The inquisition itself didn’t even carry out the executions, they were handed over to the secular authorities.