Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/326

 310 THE SLAVIC CATHARL maining of Bosnia, in spite of the fact that it was only aiding the designs of the Turks by adding to confusion and discord. In 1437 the vacancy left by Giacomo della Marca had been filled by the appointment of Fra Xiccolo of Trau, and since 1439 Tommaso, Bishop of Lesina, had been in Bosnia as papal legate, busily en- gaged in furthering the interests of Catholicism. He had failed in an effort to convert Stephen Yukcic, but the advent of a new king was an incentive to further exertions. Eugenius promptly appointed the Observant! ne Vicar of Bosnia, Fabiano of Bacs, and his successors perpetual inquisitors over the Slavonic lands, and instructed the Bishop of Lesina to promise Stephen Thomas the recognition of his election if he would embrace the true faith. The position was a diflBcult one. All his magnates, with the ex- ception of Peter Yojsahc, were Catharans, and to offend them would be to invite Turkish intervention, while, so long as he held aloof from Christendom, he could expect no aid from the West. Doubtless promises that could not be fulfilled were made to him in plenty, for he concluded to cast his fortunes with Cathohcism, but he abstained from receiving the crown offered to him by Eu- genius for fear of offending his Catharan subjects. He permitted the erection of two new bishoprics, he was duly baptized, and he labored long and earnestly to induce his subjects to follow his ex- ample. Nearly all his magnates did so, but Stephen Yukcic was a conspicuous exception, and the common people were not so easi- ly moved. Even the king himself did not dare to omit the cus- tomary " adoration " of the Perfects, for which he was duly ex- communicated by the inquisitor, but the pope recognized the difficulty of his position, and wisely gave him a dispensation for associating with heretics.* Although many Catholic churches were built, the legate re- ported, on a visit to Rome, that the land was too full of heresy for other cure than the sword. The king's position was too inse- cure for him to venture on persecution, which would infallibly have led to a revolt. In a grant, in 1446, of certain towns to Count Paul Dragisic and his brothers, who were zealous Cathari, •^ Klaic, pp. 366-7, 369-70, 372-3.— Wadding, ann. 1437, No. 2-3 ; ann. 1444, No. 42-3.— RipoU III. 91.— Raynald. ann. 1444, No. 2; ann. 1445, No. 23: ann. 1447, No. 21.— Theiner, op. cit. I. 388, 389, 395.