Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 3.djvu/117

 THE GUGLIELMITES. 101 even before this Ser Mirano di Garbagnate, a priest deeply impli- cated, had been burned. Andrea was executed probably between September 1 and 9, and Maifreda about the same time but we know nothing about the date of the other executions, or of the exhumation and cremation of Guglielma's bones — while the exam- inations of other disciples continued until the middle of October. Another remarkable peculiarity is that for the minor penalties the inquisitors called in no experts and did not even consult the archbishop, but acted wholly at their own discretion, a single frate absolving or penancing each individual as he saw fit. The Lombard Inquisition apparently had little deference for the epis- copate, even of the Ambrosian Church.* Yet the action of the Inquisition was remarkable for its mild- ness, especially when we consider the revolutionary character of the heresy. The number of those absolutely burned cannot be definitely stated, but it probably did not exceed four or five. These were the survivors of those who had abjured in 1284, for whom, as relapsed and obstinate heretics, there could be no mercy The rest were allowed to escape with penalties remarkably light. Thus Sibilia Malcolzati had been one of the most zealous of the sect ; in her early examinations she had resolutely perjured her- self, and it had cost no little trouble to make her confess, yet when, on October 6, she appeared before Fra Kainerio and begged to be relieved from the excommunication which she had incurred, he was moved by her prayers and assented, on the ordinary con- ditions that she would stand to the orders of the Church and Inquisition, and perform the obligations laid upon her. Still more remarkable is the leniency with which two sisters, Catella and Pietra Oldegardi, were treated, for Fra Guidone absolved them on their abjuring their heresy, contenting himself with simply refer- ring them to their confessors for the penance which they were to perform. The severest punishment recorded for any except the relapsed was the wearing of crosses, and these, imposed in Sep- tember and October, were commuted in December for a fine of twenty-five lire, payable in February — showing that confiscation was not a part of the penalty. Even Taria, the expectant cardinal of the New Dispensation, was thus penanced and relieved. Im-
 * Ogniben, pp. 19-20, 77, 91.