The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-09-16
A Flight from the Inquisition.

periences of an Italian inquisition in the
last century we propose to narrate, was
native of Scotland, being born there about
the year 1856 When only five years old,
he was sent over by his parents to an un-
Gle in Italy. In that country his educa.
tion was entirely conducted, and he be.
came so great a proficient in learning as
to be appointed, when yet very young, to
various little scholastic Offices Eventu.
ally, he was made Professor Of Rhetoric
and Logic in the college at Macerata.
Hero was established an inquisition, the
constitution Of which may be gathered
pretty accurately from Bowers own ac.
count.
The Holy Tribunal. he says, consisted
Of an inquisitor, who was president of it,
aud twelve counselors. The latter were
chosen by the inquisitor either from a.
mong the ccclesiastics or the laity, but
were always men eminent for learning.
They had a salary of about two hundred
pounds per anuum each. and an apartment
in inquisition house, where the inquisitor
resided. There were, in addition, great
privileges aud much honor to the counse-
lors besides certainty of good prefer.
ment. The offences coming under their
cognizancc were purely those against the
the faith or practice Of the church, and
these were generally very trihing-such
as doing or saying anything disrespectful
with regard to saints, images, relics, or
the like. When any person was accused
before the inquisitor, a council was sum.
moned, always in the middle of the night.
If any happened to be absent, their place
was supplied by a notary-ior all trials
must be in full court-who made known
to them the crime, without naming either
the intormer or the criminal.
On an accused person being apprehend.
ed, he was confined seven or eight days
without the least glimpse Of light, Or any
other sustenance than little bread and
water once a day. After that time was
elapsed, the court was summoned for the
trial. \ notary attended, to write down
all the accused should say, and a surgeon
to feel his pulse, and tell how much tor
turs he could be made to bear. The ma
chimes and engines for torturing being all
fixed, the prisoner was brought, and with
out ever having been told either his Of.
fence or accuser, or having had the least
liberty to cxpostuatc, he was cxhortcd to
confess his guilt.
An account Of the toriurcs and punish.
mcuts inflicted would be suPerauous, for
they are well known. We pass on to
Bowers personal narrative. While Pro.
tessor Of rhetoric in the college, he was
by favor of the inquisitor, appointed to q
vacant Office Of Judge which, looking tc
emolumonts, was considered Il good pre-.
ferment. Speedily, the horfid scenes he
was compelled to witness shocked his feel
ings. His sense Of justice was outraged
and he wished himself well out Of the po
stion into wch he had unfortunately fall
en-. For three years he was projecting
his escape, and revolving in his mind ev
cry possible method of efFecting it. Bu
when he considered tho formidable diff
culties with which each of them was at
tended and the terrible consequence if h,
failed in the attempt, he was held in sus
pense. At last an accident happened
which confirmed his resolution, but at tn
same time gave tho inquisltor On oppor
tunity of trying him to the utmost. 4
person who was his intimate friend wa.
accused to the inquisition for sayiu;
something irrcverent regarding the Car
thusian friars, and, by orders Of the in
quisitor, Bower was ordered to arrest him
1t was dreadful trial OF feeling, but hi
executed his commission. The linguistic
said the next morning, when Mr.. Bower
delivered the key OF the prison and tolt
him that the gentleman was there-"Thi
is done like one that is desirous at least t
conquer the weakness of nature
After this, no one will be surprise
that Bower was determined to effect hi
escape from an office so i'll suited to hin
1t was most desperate undertaking, bu
the manner Of it was all that now occupi
ed his thoughts. He resolved to as
leave to 60 to Loretto, and for that pur
pose waited upon the inquisitor severa
times. Conscious, however, of his ow
design, whenever he attmeptcd to speat
he feared the words would falter on h
' tongue, and his very confusion betra
him, and was some time before he prefe
red his request At last, one day, beip
in familiar converse with the linguistic
he came out with it at once. My Lord
said he, 4" it is long since was at Lore
u to, will your lordship give me leave to 6
k there for week 2" With all my heart
wos the reply. Having all his matte
in readiness, including his valuable p;
pers, (among which was the Directory
he ordered horse to be at his door ca
ly the next morning. When the hor
u came, he carried his portmauteau dow
himself, and fixed it to the saddle. /
carried two loaded pistols in case Of eme
gency, being resolved never to be taxi
alive.
) The plan he had laid down was to ta
all the by-roads into Switzerland. Fo
hundred miles must be traversed befo
Ir he was clear of the pope's dominions
knew the road for barely half the d
I tance. When he had Travelled about t
: miles without meeting soul he reach
place where two roads met, one leadi
to Loretto, the other the way he propos
TO 60. Here he stood" 10 quote
own words, " some minutes in the mi
profound perplexity. The dreadful alt
: native appeared now in the strongest vie
- and he was even tempted TO quit his d.
ing project as impracticeable, and so tr
to Loretto. But at last collecting oil
force of his staggering resolution, he bo
ly pushed his horse into the country ro
aud at that instant left all his fears
hind him." 1t was the month Of Ar
that he set out. In the first sevent'
days he did not 60 one hundred miles,
terrible were the Wavs he was OBLIGED