Quote Originally Posted by Geezer57
You can minimize the zeal drop effect of Inquisitors by keeping them busy doing anything other than trying the local populace. For example, you can hire a non-catholic mercenary unit (Muslim troops are good) with low piety. Then turn your Inquisitor(s) loose on them - if the trial is successful, you'll only lose one man, and can start over next turn.

The drawback is a high level of micro-management, but there are real benefits to be had.
This method is exellent. In one campaign I killed off the entire Sicilian royal line with (grand)inquisitors. Point is that it was in Asia minor and the zeal was down to zero when I began. After a few decades it was up 100% and the chance of burning the king was 25%.

IIRC you actually only need one inquisitor to make the trial, as long as he succeeds, the others won't burn the population, but if he fails, "heretics" will burn. Not 100% sure on this one, as it was a few years ago.