PIETRO GIANNONE. 



brotherhoods of another fo far as that frequently law- 

 fuits have been inftituted when any one of them has in- 

 trenched upon the other. May not felf-intereft be the 

 caufe of it ? At leaft it is certain, that in the kins- 

 dom of Naples this fpi ritual trade is openly carried on 

 in fhops in the towns and even in the churches, and 

 that a tribute is demanded monthly from the frater- 

 nities. The right to follow this pious traffic is granted 

 in the monaffceries to the higheft bidders of the 

 monks ; and no rafcally trick is too infamous for them 

 to commit, not only in collecting the proffered fums, 

 but for obtaining befides a fur pi us for the gratification 

 of their licentious paffions. They threaten the limple 

 with everlafting death, and carry on their game with 

 timid women fo far, that they either rob their huf- 

 bands or brothers of the money, or fell their honour to 

 the flurdy collectors, All thefe things, which I have 

 feen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears, 

 incenfed me formerly againft. the holy brotherhoods ; 

 but now, fince I know their iuperior aim, and you, 

 o holy father, have fhewn that the holy founders of the 

 orders themfelves efcablifhed the fame devotions, I 

 lament my fault, and confefs : 



I. Not only the infinite value of the rope of St, 

 Francis, but likewife the ineffable miracle of that faint, 

 pf which I formerly doubted, to. the great peril of my 

 poor foul. This principally relates to the five wounds 

 which St. Francis received after the example of our 

 Lord. Since you have proved to me this fact, vol. ii, 

 p. 148. and it is confirmed in the books of conformity 

 authenticated by feveral popes, I can no longer doubt 

 of it without fubjecting rnyfelf to the charge of here-. 



tical 



