Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/243

 EZZELINO DA ROMANO. 22'" a crusade, with Holy-Land indulgences, against the so-called here- tics of Tuscany. Preparations were similarly made, on a larger scale, to crush those of Lombardy, where heresy was described'^as bemg more rampant and aggressive than ever. For two years a succession of bulls was issued directing all prelates, and especially the mquisitors, to preach the cross against them, with a most lib- eral assortment of indulgences. In one of these absolution was actually offered to those who held property wrongfully acquired provided they contributed its value in aid of the crusade, thus dehberately rendering the Church an accomphce in robbery. In another, all persons or communities neglecting to aid the cmsade were ordered to be prosecuted by the inquisitors as fautors of her- esy. As a formal preliminary, Ezzelin was again cited, April 9 1254, to present himself for judgment by the next Ascension day (May 21), faihng which he was sentenced as a manifest heretic, to be dealt with as such. In aU these proceedings the curious trav- esty of an inquisitorial trial shows us the influence which the In- quisition was already exercising on the minds of churchmen, and the employment of inquisitors proves how useful the institution was becoming as a factor in advancing the power of the Holy The Neapolitan conquest and the death of Innocent TV post- poned the organization of the crusade, but at length, in June 1256 It set out from Venice under the leadership of the Legate Fihppo' Archbishop-elect of Eavenna. The capture by assault of Padua' Ezzelm's most important city, was an encouraging commencement of the campaign, but the seven-days' sack, to which the unfortu- nate town was abandoned, showed that the soldiers of the cross were determined to make the most of the indulgences which they had earned. Under its incompetent captain the crusade drao-o-ed on without further result, in spite of reiterated bulls offerino" sal vation, until, in 1258, the legate was utterly routed near B "escia and captured, together with his astrologer, the Dominican Ever ard. Brescia feU into Ezzehn's hands, who, more powerful than ever, entertained designs upon Milan, where he had relations with the Ghibelline faction. When all danger seemed to him past, ^ Ripoll I. 230, 247, 249-51, 286, 291. -Mag. Bull. Rom. 1. 102-4. - Pe.nre Append. Eymeric. p. 77.-Hardiiin. Concil. VII. 362.