Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/262

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246 ITALY. the expenses of the inquisitors should be provided for, and that every assistance should be rendered by the public officials. Each inquisitor vras furnished with a letter which placed all the forces of the State at his unreserved command. The Neapolitan Inquisi- tion was fully manned. There was one inquisitor for Bari and the Capitanata, one for Otranto, and one for the Terra di Lavoro and the Abruzzi; and in 1271 one was added for Calabria and one for Sicily. Most of them were Dominicans, but we meet with at least one Franciscan, Fra Benvenuto. Yet no buildings or prisons seem to have been provided for them. The royal jails were placed at their disposal, and the keepers were instructed to torture prisoners on requisition from the inquisitors. Even as late as 1305 this arrangement appears to be in force."^ Charles's zeal did not confine itself to thus organizing and pro- moting the Inquisition. Hie supplemented its labors by instituting raids on heretics conducted under his own auspices. Thus, although there was an inquisitor for the Abruzzi, we find him, December 13, 1209, sending thither the Cavahere Berardo da Rajano with instructions to investigate and seize heretics and their fautors. The utmost diligence was enjoined on him, and the local officials were ordered to assist him in every way, but there is no allusion to his mission being in co-operation with the inquisitor. Another significant manifestation of Charles's devotion is seen in his found- ing, in 1274, and richly endowing for the Dominicans the splendid church of San Piero Martire in Naples, and stimulating his nobles to follow his example in showering wealth upon it. Yet fifty years afterwards, in 1324, the building was still incomplete for lack of funds, when King Robert aided the construction with fifty ounces of gold, which he ordered the inquisitors to pay out of the royal third of the confiscations coming into their hands. This is interesting as showing how, in Naples, the profitable side of per- secution was wholly under the control of the Holy Office.f

  • Arcbivio di Napoli, MSS. Chioccarello T. VIIL— lb. Regist. 3 Lett. A, foL

64 ; Reg. 4 Lett. B, fol. 47; Reg. 5 Lett. C, fol. 224 ; Reg. 6 Lett. D, fol. 35. 39, 174; Reg. 10 Lett. B, fol. 6, 7, 96; Reg. 11 Lett. C, fol. 40; Reg. 13 Lett. A, fol. 212 • Reg. 113 Lett. A, fol. 385; Reg. 154 Lett. C, fol. 81; Reg. 167 Lett. A, foL 324. t Archivio di Napoli, Reg. 6 Lett. D, fol. 135; Reg. 253 Lett. A, fol. 63.- Giannone, 1st. Civ. di Napoli Lib. xix. c. 5.