Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/242

 226 ITALY esy by reason of his association with heretics ; and as the accused was "terrible and powerful," the inquisitor was empowered to publish the legal citations in any place where he could do so m safety. The result of this trial in absentia was conclusive. It was found that he was the son of a heretic, that his kinsmen were heretics, that under his protection heresy had spread throughout the March of Treviso, and it was decided that he did not believe in the faith of Christ, and must be held suspect of heresy. In March, 1248, Innocent pronounced his condemnation as a manifest heretic to receive the reward of damnation incurred by damned heretics, but promised him that he would learn the abundant clemency of the Church if he would present himself in person by the next Ascension day (May 28). The wary old chief did not aUow his curiosity as to the extent of papal clemency to overcome his caution, and abstained from placing his person in Innocent's power. He sent envoys, however, who offered to purge him of the suspicion of heresy by swearing to his orthodoxy; but Inno- cent held that he must appear in person, and offered him a safe- conduct in coming and going. There was no security promised in staying, however, and Ezzelin was cautious. The term allowed him passed aAvay, and he was duly excommunicated. After two years more he was notified that unless he appeared by August 1, 1250, he would be subjected to the statutes against heresy. The obdurate sinner was equally unmoved by this, and in June, 1251, the Bishop of Treviso and the Dominican Prior of Mantua were ordered to summon him personally again to appear by a given time, offering him ample security for his safety : if he disobeyed, his subjects of Treviso were commanded to coerce him, and if this failed a crusade was to be preached against him.^ To a pope desirous of extending his temporal sway it was ex- ceedingly convenient to condemn his political opponents for heresy, and exceedingly economical to pay for their sul)jugation by lav- ishing the treasures of salvation. Thus, in April, 1253, Innocent lY., as an episode in his quarrel with Brancaleone, Senator ol Eome, ordered the Dominicans of the Koman province to preach Potthast No. 12899. -Berger, Registres d'lnnocent IV. No. 4095. - Raynald. Annal. ann. 1248. No. 25-6.— Harduin. Concil. VII. 362.
 * Epistt. Saecul. XIII. T. I. No. 453, 741, 757-9. - Ripoll I. 59, 135, 193.-