New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-03

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influential 1t was often convenient to 20 On
pilgrimage when domestic affairs became conpl,,
Gated The pilgrim had privilegsA moreover, anu
il he rssurued mfely from Rome or oompos,e',s
or the Holy City Of Jerusalem. his gown anu nov
laden with leaden images such as King LOUIS 'l's
Eleventh. Of unfrassant memory, was won.
wear and worship such reputation ae1acneo ~
the returned wandsFer - Hadu ID sne oiie,0
enjoys to-day. Nor Wa II always necessary ~
70 where ons said ons was going. II was p0ss'oS
70 procure pious badges and cookie snens. e'sn
supposititious reiics. without iourneyng 70 FAMOUS
sIrines. and this evasion has been commem ors'ea
n the Ronsunt Of Rcynafd the FOX, wnoss wv
pine ossftines naturally predisposea nnn ar ,1v =,
terfuee. The pilgrims however. though iuii y
s.1.-sss ,sust oais In attraction beside the par
dorer. those brazen rogues whose shameless I'M
,,o~t,,res furpi.hed 80 much capital TO the aRen"
- ths reformation We believe that no attempt
has ben made 10 estimats the amour. Oh 1s'Su.
49,. r.or,. vrunr from mediacval Europe but
,s,rs,sserine the credulity Of the period ana the
x~rs,.l habit Of regarding all religious debts ~
corn uulsory. II cannot be questioned that the mar
vests ware abundant A. NJ Jusserand shfeway
observes syen those who were NOES scepucal :.
the pardoners powers, felt BneerinEsard no uouoS
isauential doubt as to thcsapbssole sp'ri'ps'
cauaadtv Of the priestly ofasese for tho onuron
had Immersed herself profoundly upon tne as.'
and not even the hideops corrnpy5sn wnicn was
paralvxrs and degrading her, tQpia afs'r's sA'
ala snsIl. az her supernatural potfnsies
IN. theory of the treasury upon WHOM sn'
r,ocsedinps Of the pardoners rested. was iuiy sou
forth IN bun Of Pops Clement VI IN 'no s.s'
saso Ne explained, to quote NJ Jusseranu
4hat cha merits Of Christ are infinlte ana 'ne
yrcyits a. the Virgin and the saints ore super
.boundiua This excess Of unemployed meri' mas
beer constituted into treasury; not one o'a''
& denosited in strong room, or conceaieu -
a.,a hint which is to be usefully distributor 70
,h,, faithful through the blessed Peter. Keeper
:, h,aven's gate, and his successors'' howe'ol
largely employed there ought to be no lear oi in
-Ias...,,,, AZ diruinution Of this treasury nrst
s..,r. !. the infinite merits OF Christ as has
49,, .s,a hafor~. then because the more numerous
80 ,ha peoole reclaimed through the use Oh JUS
cortents the more IL is augmented by the aaoi-
tson Of their merits.n To insure the nstfiou-
tsan Of this spiritual wealth the Church employee
sriars and clerks TO 90 about, authorized by ocia'
letters offering to exchange any paro Vi s',o
contents OF the treasury" against more ~nsio'.
money or goods The agents thus empower
were the so-called pardoners, ana tney oios.
thriving trade for considerable perioo. N''u
rally--perhaps inevitably--as the business
tended, it's scope wns enlarged ana pi.se -.
10 was not only possible to secure immumv ~.
sny crimes already committed. but inouisenv.s
r,cre ala for sins to DO perpetrated. Also quite
s..n.sYlv ruauy oardoners grew tired Of keeping
scoonuts Of their receipts and turning them over
- ,ss church and went into busfnees for their own
sol. advantage. Seeing, moreover how easy ].
rms "a pretend the possession 81 eccleaasucaI
authority for the sake Of indu1gercesb many OIL
tbs holder spirits dispensed ftAessdentias Alto
,ather ana found their profit In greater freedom.
Tn. Pope was driven 70 denounce these free-
,ove,a OF whom he asserted that they proclaim
u the fxithful and simple people the real o.
pretended authorization which they have received
"a ,r,.veyently abusing those which are real,
q nrrsuyt Of infamous and hateful gain, con-
c,monsts their impudencc by attributdng TO them
reIves false and pretended authorization Oh TINS
hiud. II Is noticeable that there was nothing
infamous and hateful about the pursuit OF gain
N long Al tho lain was transferred to the golfers
al the Church; but plainly that facility WIN
which rsmunerstivs fraud could be prseusee
wss 100 stxoue o tenpenticn TO many ffiars ana
cleeks. 30 despite Pspal bulls and other fuimlnn
lions the business 81 the perdoners was pusneo
enefgetically, 70 the ever increasing scannai Oh
thu iDteIugenJ 6QQ 70 tuV tui VhSie'''s~ - - -
form doctrines. All through the fourteenth cen
fury the highways Of England echoed to the foot
steos Of these and many other knaves who,
chsek-by-iowl with wandering laborers hanai-
craftsmen, pedler, iugslers and acrobats min
| strels and merchants, messengers who performed
the work Of the post after fashion, friars,
knights. uuarrelsome soldiers, pilgrims slack and
raunt kept up a constant friction OF ideas. gave
currency 70 all the news Of the day, carried
abroad the newest and most fertlizns thoughts,
and maintained tho national life in state OF
| healthy activity, while preparing the way for
| ereat reforms and advances In many directions.
M. Jusserand has done his work excellently'
and his translator has rendered him faithfully
| and clearly. The volume Is copiously illustrated
| nom old nanuscripts and archaic documents OF
| various descriptions, while an appendix gives
several Latin authorities OF greater length, and
the usefulness Of tho work Is completed by
careful index.