[Renaissance in Italy, Volumes 1 and 2 by John Addington Symonds]@TWC D-Link book
Renaissance in Italy, Volumes 1 and 2

CHAPTER II
77/175

There were no attempts at dislodging the Spaniard, no Papal wars, no tyranny of Papal nephews converted into feudal princes, after his days.

He stamped Roman society with his own austere and bigoted religion.

That he was in any sense a hypocrite is wholly out of the question.

But he made Rome hypocritical, and by establishing the Inquisition on a firm basis, he introduced a reign of spiritual terror into Italy.
[Footnote 28: 'Roma a paragone delli tempi degli altri pontefici si poteva riputar come un onesto monasterio di religiosi' (_op.

cit._ p.
41).] At his death the people rose in revolt, broke into the dungeons of the Inquisition, released the prisoners, and destroyed the archives.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books