When this sentence became known, the greater part of Henry's subjects cast off their allegiance, and appeared against him.-Henry was humbled―he came to the resolution of throwing himself at the feet of Gregory in order to implore his absolution. The pontiff was at that time on a visit to the countess or dutchess Matilda, at Canosa, a fortress on the Appenines. At the gate of this mansion, the Emperor presented himself as an humble penitent. He alone was admitted within the outer court, where, being stripped of his robes, and wrapped in sackcloth, he was compelled to remain three days, in the month of January, (A. D. 1077,) barefoot and fasting, before he was permitted to kiss the feet of his holiness !!

The indulgence was, however granted him-he was permitted to throw himself at the feet of the haughty Pontiff, who condescended to grant him absolution, after he had sworn obedience to the Pope in all things, and promised to submit to his solemn decision.-The Pontiff elate with triumph, now considered himself as the lord and master of all the crowned heads in Christendom,

and said in several of his letters, that "it was his duty to pull down the pride of kings."*

15.

INQUISITION.

THE inquisition is a tribunal in Roman Catholic countries, erected by the Popes for the examination and punishment of Heretics. This Court was founded in the Twelfth century, under the patronage of Pope Innocent, who issued out orders to excite Catholic princes and people to extirpate heretics, to search into their number and quality, and to transmit a faithful account thereof to Rome. Hence they were called Inquisitors, and gave birth to the formidable tribunal called the Inquisition.

One of the most celebrated inquisitors was one Dominic, who was canonized by the Pope, in order to render his authority the more respectable. He and the other inquisitors spread themselves into various countries, and treated the Protestants with the utmost severity; at length the Pope, not finding these inquisitors *Jones' History of the Christian Church.

so useful as he had imagined, resolved upon the establishment of fixed and regular courts of Inquisition; the first office of which was established in Toulouse, and Dominic became the first regular Inquisitor.

Courts of Inquisition were also established in several countries; but the Spanish Inquisition became the most powerful and dreadful of any. Even the kings of Spain themselves, though arbitrary in all other respects, were taught to dread the power of the lords of the Inquisition.

This diabolical tribunal takes cognizance of heresy, Judaism, Mahometanism, sodomy, polygamy, witchcraft, &c. Heresy in their view comprises many subdivisions; and upon the suspicion of any of these, the party is immediately apprehended. Advancing an offensive proposition; failing to impeach others who may advance such; contemning church ceremonies ; defacing images; reading books condemned by the Inquisition; lending such books to others to read; deviating from the ordinary practices of the Roman Church; letting a year pass with out going to confession; eating meat on fast days; neglecting mass; being present at a sermon preached by a heretic; contracting a friend.

ship with, or making a present to, or assisting a heretic, &c. are all matters of suspicion, and prosecuted accordingly.

In the countries where this dreadful tribunal is established, the people stand in so much fear of it, that parents deliver up their children, husbands their wives, and friends, masters their servants, to its officers; without daring in the least to murmur or make resistance. The prisoners are kept a long time till they themselves turn their own accusers, and declare the cause of their imprisonment, for which they are neither told their crime nor confronted with witnesses. As soon as they are imprisoned, their friends go into mourning, and speak of them as dead, not daring to solicit their pardon, lest they should be brought in as accomplices. When there is no shadow of proof against the pretended criminal, he is discharged, after suffering the most cruel tortures, a tedious and dreadful imprisonment, and the loss of the greater part of his effects. Those who are condemned to death. are delivered over to secular power, and perish in the flames.

"Senor Llorente who was Secretary to the Inquisition of Madrid about the year 1790, makes

the following calculation of the number of victims whom the Inquisition has sacrificed. That during the 300 years from 1481 to 1781, 31,912 heretics perished in the flames--and adding to this period the years up to the present time, 17,639 effigies have been burned, representing such criminals as the Inquisition could not catch for more substantial vengeance, and 291,456 have been condemned to severe penances.*

16.

PERSECUTION OF THE WALDENSES.

In the darkest period in the history of the Christian Church, there has ever been some who have borne their testimony in support of the pure doctrines of Christianity, and raised their voices against the general corruption of the Church.

The most distinguished of these reformers were the Waldenses, who made their appearance about the year 1160. They were the most numerons about the vallies of Piedmont.

Peter Waldo, an opulent merchant of Lyons (in France,) being extremely zealous for the ad British Critic.