Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 3.djvu/646

 630 CONCLUSION. Making some allowance for rhetorical enthusiasm, the invective of Xicholas de Clemangis must be received as true. As for the bish- ops, he says, as they have to spend all the money they can raise to obtain their sees, they devote themselves exclusively to extor- tion, neglecting wholly their pastoral duties and the spiritual wel- fare of their flocks ; and if, by chance, one of them happens to pay attention to such subjects, he is despised as unworthy of his order. Preaching is regarded as disgraceful. All preferment and all sacerdotal functions are sold, as well as every episcopal minis- tration, laying on of hands, confession, absolution, dispensation ; and this is openly defended, as they say they have not received gratis, and are not bound to give gratis. The only benefices be- stowed without payment are to their bastards and jugglers. Their jurisdiction is turned equally to account. The greatest criminals can purchase pardon, while their proctors trump up charges against innocent rustics which have to be compounded. Citations under excommunication, delays and repeated citations, are employed, until the most obstinate is worn out and forced to settle, with enormous charges added to the original trifling fine. Men prefer to live under the most cruel tyrants rather than undergo the judg- ments of the bishops. Absenteeism is the rule. Many of the bishops never see their dioceses ; and these are more useful than those who reside, for the latter contaminate their people by their evil example. As no examination is made into the lives of aspir- ants to the priesthood, but only as to their ability to pay the stip- ulated price, the Church is filled with ignorant and immoral men. Few are able to read. They haunt the taverns and brothels, con- suming time and substance in eating, drinking, and gambling; they quarrel, fight, and blaspheme, and hasten to the altar from the embraces of their concubines. Canons are no better; since, for the most part, they have bought exemption from episcopal jurisdiction, they commit all sorts of crimes and scandals with impunity. As for monks, they specially avoid all to which their vows oblige them — chastity, poverty, and obedience — and are licen- tious and undisciplined vagabonds. The Mendicants, who pre- tend to make amends for the neglect of duty by the secular cler- gy, are pharisees and wolves in sheep's clothing. With incredible eagerness and infinite deceit they seek everywhere for temporal gain ; they abandon themselves beyond all other men to the pleas-