*

a proud contemner of prudent counsels, alike distrustful of the sincerity and forgetful of the friendship of others; a restless trifler with his own interest and reputation, ever sacrificing the peace of a superior mind to the morbid sensibility of an inconstant heart; a friend to justice and to truth, yet prone to play with the edged tools of sophistry and delusion; a lover of retirement, yet continually plunging himself into the very element of opposition and controversy; repenting too little and confessing too much, this paradox of a man-John James, the philo sopher of Geneva-affords in his eventful history one more striking confirmation (to which our Byron has added another) of the remark, that

"There are, whom Heaven hath blest with stores of wit,
"That want as much again to govern it."

But of all this curious and interesting collection, there was not, I must confess, a single article which in my eyes appeared more worthy of particular note than an Indulgence granted to certain individuals by the authority of Pope Julius the Second. This curious relic of an age

"When all our Fathers worshipt stocks and stones,"

besides what it owes to the peculiar nature of its contents, is interesting as an early production of the typographic art. It abounds in abbreviations, and is consequently not a little difficult to read. But through the able assistance of a literary friend, on the spot, I succeeded in obtaining an exact copy from beginning to end; with the

• La Harpe seems to have hit the point of characteristic delineation, in observing, that "Rousseau engrossed to himself the inconstancy of man."

sole exception of the names of the persons for whose spiritual use and benefit it was specifically designed. The learned gentleman who aided me in my research was, equally with myself, unable to decypher the appellatives which in manuscript filled up the blanks of this Holy and Infallible Schedule. We could only discover at the end, the word "uxor" written, indicating that the Indulgence was available to a man and his wife. As a whole, however, it serves to elucidate and explain the otherwise obscure meaning of Leo the Tenth's ten thousand years of pardon granted to reciters of Paters and Aves at Milan; and, coupled with the proceedings of Monday last in this city, seems also well adapted to demonstrate that, although Calvinism, even here at its fountain-head, has lost much of its austerity and all its intolerance, the religion of which the warlike and ambitious Julius was at the head in 1507, is in every respect the same under Leo the Twelfth, now at this Jubilee period of 1825. However vain, therefore, the hope of clearly understanding the entire meaning of this document, couched as it is in Latiuity so barbarous, and requiring as it does an acquaintance with a multitude of absurd dogmas and ridiculous ceremonies, the following attempt at an English translation is here subjoined,

as a contribution to the voluminous Evidences of History against the most monstrous system of imposture

* See pages 127 and 128 of this volume.

+ With Doctor Southey, as he expresses himself in his admirable and complete VINDICATION of his own "Book of the Church," let it be allowed me to say that-" I have seen what the Roman Catholic system is; seen it not as it is represented by those of its advocates who write for Protestant readers; but as it is in practice, as it is in itself and in its consequences."-Introduction p. 5.

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ever devised upon earth; and for that long outraged cause of religious purity and truth, in whose support the Protestant Reformer devoted his mind and heart, his soul, and strength, and life :

"We, by Apostolical authority, make known to all that the most Holy Lord, our Lord Julius the Second, and present Pope, hath confirmed and decreed that all and every the indulgences, concessions, grants, statutes, exemptions, and letters, with all and every clause therein contained, piously granted by his predecessors the Roman Pontiffs, should be of perpetual obligation: in which is granted to all the faithful in Christ truly penitent, and having confessed that they have piously distributed of their possessions, for the reparation and extension of the General Hospital of the Holy Spirit in Saxony, belonging to the Roman City, and the members of the same, and for the relief of the poor in Christ resorting to the said Hospital, and fighting against the Saracens, enemies of the Catholic faith, 3 sols for a man and his wife, or 1 person. Namely-when they can choose for themselves a suitable confessor, secular or regular, who can once in their life absolve them from all lapses, even those which are specially and ordinarily reserved to the Apostolical See. Also when they can annually choose a suitable confessor who can absolve them from all lapses (even those) reserved to the Apostolical See. By giving them in the article of death, and as often as they shall be in that state, plenary remission of all their sins. Furthermore it is granted to the aforesaid faithful in Christ; at the feast of Pentecost and for its octaves, daily, and on the feast of the Holy Trinity in particular, plenary remission of all their sins. And if in the interim it should happen that they die, ecclesiastical burial shall not be forfeited, (unless they be excommunicated, or registered as public usurers) even by the annulling of all their vows, except the vow

of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. And also with respect to usury, rapine, and things otherwise feloniously stolen, if they be ignorant to whom restitution should be made, a faculty of arranging such things is vested in appointed magistrates of their own fraternity. And to Priests and Clerks, and to religious men as well women, whatsoever in the divine offices and canonical hours, either through want of books, or through impotence, negligence, or corporeal debility, they shall have omitted to perform, is relaxed in the Lord by Apostolical authority. And the benefactors obtain each day of their lives one year and 40 days of indulgence, and on all the first Sundays of months 3000 years and 50 days. Also in each festival of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the Glorious Virgin, 7 years and 50 days. Also on the feast of the Apostles 2000 years.Also from the feast of the Nativity of our Lord to the octave, daily, 2000 years. Also from the feast of the Epiphany to the octave, daily, 2000 years. Also on the feast of the Ascension of our Lord to the octave, daily, 2000 years. Also from the feast of Pentecost to the octave, daily, 8000 years. Also from the Feast of the Body of Christ to the octave, daily, 2000 years. Also from the nativity of the glorious Virgin and for the octaves, daily, 30,000 years. Also from the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to its octaves, daily, 2000 years. Also from the feast of All Saints to the feast of St. Leonard, daily, 3000 years. Which indulgences amount yearly in the whole to the sum of fourteen hundred and thirtyfour thousand and thirty years, and one hundred and four days. These aforesaid benefactors are made partakers, whether alive or dead, in the benediction of the Roman Church, and in the pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Also in 32,000 masses, and as many psalteries, and generally in all morning masses, fasts, and alms givings which are made and shall be made for ever in appointed order. Also a great and singular privilege is granted to all the faithful in Christ piously wishing to relieve the souls

of their parents, or other dead friends, being in purgatory, viz. by paying for each soul, purposely, the fixed sum of 15 Ot. The same soul is released and equally exempted from all the pains which it would have had to suffer after this life in purgatory, by the authority of God himself which he exerciseth on earth, and which more and more he mercifully confideth in heaven to the plenary authority of the whole Church, by the way of suffrage. And because the devoted in Christ (here the names of the parties are written in), has entered into so holy a confraternity, he ought truly to rejoice in the said indulgences.-Given under seal, this eleventh day of the month of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand, five hundred, and seven.

"The Form of Absolution once in Life, and Yearly on the day of Pentecost, Trinity, and their octaves.-Misereatur tui, &c. Dominus Noster, &c. and I (by the authority of God himself and his blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and also by the Apostolical authority committed to me and granted to you) absolve you from all your sins, repented, confessed, and forgotten, be they ever so heinous or enormous, even from those sins specially and generally reserved to the Apostolical See, by giving you plenary absolution and remission, as far as the keys of Holy Mother Church extend themselves. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

"Form of Absolution Annually from all lapses.-Misereatur tui, &c. Dominus Noster, &c. and I (by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the authority of his blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by the Apostolical authority in this respect committed to me and granted to you) absolve you from all sins and faults however enormous and heinous, by giving you plenary absolution. In the name, &c.

coin.

There is nothing else in the original text. Ot is the appellation of a