[242] MSS. of Ambrosian Library, Tom. 54, F. 104, P. Inf. Lett. 48.
[243] MSS. of Ambrosian Library, Tom. 56, F. 106, P. Inf. Lett. 211.
[244] Beccatini, Istoria dell’ Inquisizione, p. 178.
[245] Acta Eccles. Mediolanens., I, 471 (Mediolani, 1843).
[246] MSS. of Ambrosian Library, H. S. VI, 29.—See Appendix.
[247] Ibidem, Tom. 54, Vol. 68, F, 104, P. Inf. Lett. 63, 147, 163; Tom. 55, F, 105, Lett. 250.
[248] Ibidem, C. 185, P. Inf. Carta 14.
[249] MSS. of Ambrosian Library, Tom. 44, F, 94, P. Inf. Lett. 72; Tom. 56, F, 106, Lett. 51, 206, 211.
Brescia formed part of the Venitian territory, in which these weekly conferences of the secular and inquisitorial powers were prescribed. When the Inquisition was founded in the thirteenth century, Venice refused it admission, but in 1249 it organized a kind of secular tribunal against heresy, known as the tre Savi dell’ eresia or Assistenti. At length, in 1289 it admitted an inquisitor, but adjoined to him the Assistenti, who were not to partake in the judgements but to see that he did not overstep his proper functions and to lend when necessary the aid of the secular arm. As the mainland territory of the Republic increased and the reorganized papal Inquisition appointed its delegates in the cities, the Signoria in 1548 provided that the rettori or other magistrates in each place should coöperate with the inquisitor and bishop as assistenti. Rome took umbrage at this and a prolonged negotiation ensued, which ended with the assistenti being accepted, with the understanding that they were to have a consultative but not a decisive vote. This gave the Signoria power to curb excesses and to save the people from being harassed with inquisitorial prosecutions for trifling cases of sorcery, bigamy, etc., which were so bitterly complained of elsewhere. If we may believe Páramo, when Philip failed to inflict the Spanish Inquisition on Milan, Pius V sought to introduce one of the same kind in Venice, but the proposition produced so alarming a popular excitement that the Signoria prevailed upon him to abandon the attempt, promising at the same time to exercise the greatest vigilance in the suppression of heresy.—Vettor Sandi, Principj di Storia Civile della Repubblica di Venezia, Lib. X, cap. iii, art. 3 (Venizia, 1756).—Albizzi, Riposta all’ Historia della Sacra Inquisitione del R. P. Paolo Servita, pp. 40-58 (Ed. II, s. l. e. d.).—Páramo de Orig. Off. S. Inquis., p. 266.—Natalis Comitis Historiar., Lib. XIV, ann. 1564.
[250] See Appendix for a decree of Pius V, issued within a few months of his accession.