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Abstract:  REFORMING IN THE ANCIEN REGIME. THE PRELIMINARY WORK AND CONSTITUTION OF PAUL V (1608-1612) On the basis of the documentation conserved in the Vatican Library and archives, we can reconstruct the genesis of the constitution of Paul V, the “Universi agri dominici”, which in 1612 reformed the Roman tribunals. The project is presented in the context of this pope’s policies and emphasizes the similar and innovative elements between this reform and other analogous papal initiatives. An analysis evaluates the composition of the congregation which was in charge of the preliminary work. its internal characteristics and the way in which the text eas developed, the known and unknown sources which were used, and the contribution of the pope and other external institutional personalities. The aim of the paper is to present the legislative production system of the age and enrich the interpretation of this document. Finally, the discussion on the “tortura della veglia” (torture by keeping a person awake) provides an example of the general information and data which it provides.