ercises, or neglect to appear before the inquisitors when summoned, or procure absolution the same year they were excommunicated; also the lodging, or contracting a friendship, with heretics, making them presents, or even visiting them especially the preventing their imprisonment in the Inquisition, or furnishing them with the opportunity of escaping, though excited thereto by the strongest ties of blood, of gratitude, or of pity. Nay, to such lengths is this article carried by the inquisitors, that persons are not only forbidden to save heretics, but are obliged to discover them, though a father, brother, husband, or wife, on pain of excommunication, of incurring suspicion of heresy, and as being obnoxious to the rigors of the tribunal, as abettors of the heresy. How unnatural, how cruel, is such an injunction!

Under the name of fautors or abettors of heresy, which constitutes the third

case, are comprehended all who favor or defend the protestant principles.

These are distinguished by the advising or assisting, in any manner, those whom the inquisitors have begun to persecute, -or, who knowing persons to be heretics, or to have escaped from the prisons of the Inquisition, or who, pon their being cited to appear, refused to obey the summons, yet conceal, advise, or assist them in order to their escape; like wise all who by threats, or otherwise, molest the agents of the tribunal in the execution of their office; or who, though they do not themselves obstruct them, aid or abet opposers.

The fourth case, subject to the judgment of the Inquisition, includes magicians, wizards, sooth-sayers, and the like; of whom it is supposed (very idly sure) that there are more in Italy than in any other country, the Italian women being strangely curious and credulous.

We shall not take up the reader's time

by specifying the various accusations, they consisting of ridiculous superstitions, arising from a heated imagination and blind credulity.

Blasphemy, the fifth case, though very common, and one of the greatest crimes, yet the inquisitors do not take cognizance of it, except it contains some heresy. We shall forbear giving instances thereof here, it being much better for mankind that such things should be buried in oblivion.

Though neither Jews, Mahomedans, or such like, are subject to the Inquisition, yet in many things they are obnoxions to it, for instance, any of the abovementioned cases; those crimes not being tolerated in Jews, Mahomedans, &c. more than in Christians.

Farther, the abovementioned become subject to the Inquisition, if they preach, write, or publish any particulars contrary to the Roman communion.

For instance, should a Jew, or Mahomedan, deny a Trinity, or a Providence, he would be punished as a heretic; as also were he to hinder a person, professing any of those religions, from becoming a romanist-or convert a romanist to theirs, or favor such a design.

Jews are not permitted to publish, or even keep the Talmud, or any book which speaks contemptuously of the catholic religion, or is prohibited by the Inquisition; and, in fine, are not permitted to have christian nurses, or to do any thing in contempt of the Romish religion.

The inquisitors take cognizance of such cases, and punish offenders in them with the utmost severity; so that the dread of this obliges those unhappy people to become converts to popery.

The utter abhorrence in which these new converts are held, makes them unite closely one with the other, in order to perform mutual services, which they

verity, all who offend its agents and officers.

On these occasions, the slightest fault is considered as an heinous crime.Neither birth, employment, dignity, nor rank however exalted, can protect. To threaten ever so little, the lowest officer belonging to the Inquisition, its informers, or witnesses, would subject the person uttering the threat to the most cruel punishment.

Such are the cases which subject a person to the Inquisition.

Having treated of the cases which subject a person to this tribunal, we will now consider the ways by which such a one becomes so.

First. By common fame, which declares him to be guilty, of one or more of the crimes before specified.