the best and most useful of their subjects; civil magiftrates were not always willing to exert their power to the damage or destruction of their neighbours and fellow-christians : even fome of the bishops fcrupled to go fuch lengths in punishing heretics, and to make fuch flaughter of their flocks, as were thought neceffary for the entire fuppreffion of herefy. In fhort, the pope finding that the work of the Lord, as he impiously styled perfecution, was by these perfons carried on lukewarmly, he confulted with the abbot of Cifteaux, and Dominic a Spanish monk, (afterwards 'St. Dominic) what measures were moft proper to put an effectual stop to fo growing an evil.

By this triumvirate (the pope and his two counfellors) it was refolved, that the business of perfecution should be taken out of the hands of laymen, and all those who had behaved fo coolly in it; and for the future be managed only by fuch ecclefiaftics, as would act with the moft fervent zeal in fo pious an employment.

FOR this purpose inquifitors were appointed, of whom Dominic, one of the most violent and bloody wretches, even among thofe called faints, ever known, was the first and the chief: and the order of Dominican friers, inftituted by him, have ever fince been his worthy fucceffors,

SOON

SOON after the appointment of these inquifitors, the tribunal of the inquifition was set up and established. By this means perfecution was formed into a much more regular fyftem than heretofore. In a little time large edifices, folely for the use of the holy office, called alfo holy houses, were erected, in which ftately apartments for the moft reverend the lords inquifitors, and frightful dungeons and other places of torment for the poor miferable prisoners, were prepared. The whole college of cardinals are inquifitors general; under whom are delegates appointed, who conftantly refide in the houses: to these are added all neceffary officers, among whom we may be fure that goalers, tormentors, and executioners are not forgotten. There are also familiars appointed, who are authorized to bear arms, whenever necessary, in defence of the inquisitors and all employed by them, and take an oath fo to do, at the hazard of their lives.

BUT this is not their only business: they are alfo both bailiffs and informers to the holy tribunal; and as mean as the one office, and as infamous as the other is generally esteemed in other cafes, yet in the service of the inquifition these are reckoned fo honourable, that the grandees and moft confiderable people,

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people, hay even princes, are covetous and proud of the employments.

THO' catholics in general, where the ins quifition is received, are ftrictly commanded to inform that.court of all fuch crimes there cognisable as come to their knowledge, more efpecially herefies; yet the familiars are more particularly engaged to make it their business. Thus is this inquifitorial monfter furnished: with more eyes than Argus, to keep a strict and constant watch over the doctrines of the church, which are the true fources of its treasures, and with more hands than Briareus: to defend them.

V BESIDE all this apparatus of things and perfons neceffary for carrying on the infamous and bloody work of perfecution, to fecure the church against herefy and heretics, the holy tribunal is invefted with a power so unli mited, that wherever it is eftablished, all mankind, not excepting princes, kings, and emperors, are fubjected to its jurifdiction. By it many of thefe have been made to tremble, feveral have been moft feverely and igno minioufly punished, and fome dethroned and driven out of their dominions, as hath been, already mentioned.

EQUAL to the power of this court are its rapáciousness, injuftice, and cruelty. 2011:

WHEN

WHEN an accufed perfon is brought into the inquifition, the first thing is to strip him of all he has about him, even his very cloaths: next he is ftrictly examined what estate or effects, moveable or immoveable, he is poffeffed of; and to induce him to make a full difcovery of thefe, he is folemnly promised, that all fhall be reftored to him when he goes out of the house, if he is found innocent: but this promise is very rarely, if ever, kept, especially if the prifoner be rich: for it is al most as difficult for a rich man to be dif charged out of the inquifition, and declared innocent, as for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. If fair means and promises do not effect the discovery to the fatisfaction of the inquifitors, then threatnings and tore tures are made ufe of for that purpose. When by thefe, or any other methods, the inquifitors believe they have obtained a full account of the prifoner's effects, they fre quently proceed to an immediate and public fale of them; having, as Mr. Dellon in his account of the inquifition fays, predeter mined that they never fhall be restored. ..

So great is the injustice of this judicature, that perfons are frequently confined for many months, before they have any knowledge what they are accused of; and instead of be ing informed of this, they are interrogated

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by the court, if they themselves know the cause of their imprisonment: if they do not, as is oftentimes the cafe, and declare they cannot tell, they are admonished to recollect what offences, cognisable by the holy office, they have committed; and are conjured by the bowels of the mercy of the Lord Jefus Chrift (this is the ufual expreffion) to confefs them readily and fully, as the only means to fave their lives and gain their liberties. If by these methods no confeffion or felf-accufation can be obtained, then threatnings and tortures, as in the former cafe, are applied to extort them. When these are tried without effect, as is fometimes the cafe, then perhaps the prifoner is informed of fome part of what he has been charged with, in hopes of making a further discovery; but cannot come to the knowledge who his accufers are, neither are they ever confronted with him. By this means it hath frequently happened, as it needs must, that many perfons entirely innocent of what has been alledged against them, have been moft unjustly and cruelly punished, and oftentimes even with death..

A FURTHER inftance of the injustice of this tribunal is, that the most infamous perfons are admitted by it as witneffes; even those who have been convicted of perjury before this court itself are not refufed. Nay,

fuch