Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/291

 DECLINE IN TUSCANY. 275 «iently shows how purely nominal were the functions of the In- quisition, and how close was the supervision exercised by the State. Yet inquisitors continued to be appointed, but when they attempted to exercise any independent jurisdiction we have seen, in the case of the sorcerers of 1521, that even the most energetic interference of Leo X. could not induce the Signoria to waive its Tight of final decision.* In Mantua, which formed part of the Patriarchate of Aquileia, we hear, in 1494, of an inquisitor who, for lack of heresies to sup- press, assailed the monts dejpiete, or pubHc pawning establishments, and aU who favored them. These institutions were founded about this period as a charitable work for the purpose of rescuing the poor from the exactions of the usurers and the Jews. Fra Ber- nardino da Feltre, a celebrated Observantine Franciscan, made this a special object of his mission-work in the Italian cities, and on his coming to Mantua he completely silenced his adversaries. The decline of visible heresy at this period, in fact, is illustrated in the very diffuse account which Luke Wadding gives, year after year, of Bernardino's triumphant progress throughout Italy to call the people to repentance, when cities eagerly disputed with each other the blessing of his presence. In aU this there is no allusion to any attacks by him on heresy; had there been any to assail, his burning zeal would not have suffered it to enjoy impu- nity.f In Tuscany the growing insubordination felt towards the In- quisition was manifested at Siena, in 1340, by the enactment of laws checking some of its abuses. Fra Simone Filippo, the inquis- itor, complained to Benedict XII., who at once pronounced them null and void, and ordered them erased from the statute-book. The relations between the Holy Office and the people at this pe- riod, however, are more significantly displayed in a series of events occurring at Florence, of which the details chance to have been ding, ann. 1455, No. 97.-Mag. Bull. Rom. I. 617.-Albizio, Riposto al P Paolo Sarpi, pp. 64-70. t Wadding, ann. 1494, No. 6.-When Fra Bernardo endeavored to establish a mont de piete at Florence the moneyed interests were strong enough to drive him from the city (Burlamacchi, Vita di Savonarola, Baluz. et^Mansi^^I. 557).
 * Archiv. di Venez. Misti, Cons. X. Vol. XIII. p. 102 : Vol. XIX. p. 29.— Wad-