That hostility to the hierarchy, which displays itself more especially
from the time of Dante onwards in Italian literature and history, has
been fully treated by several writers. We have already said something
of the attitude of public opinion with regard to the Papacy. Those who
wish for the strongest evidence which the best authorities offer us,
can find it in the famous passages of Machiavelli's 'Discorsi,' and in
the unmutilated edition of Guicciardini. Outside the Roman Curia, some
respect seems to have been felt for the best men among the bishops, and
for many of the parochial clergy. On the other hand, the mere holders
of benefices, the canons and the monks were held in almost universal
suspicion, and were often the objects of the most scandalous
aspersions, extending to the whole of their order.
It has been said that the monks were made the scapegoats for the whole
clergy, for the reason that none but they could be ridiculed without
danger. But this is certainly incorrect. They are introduced so
frequently in the novels and comedies, because these forms of
literature need fixed and well-known types where the imagination of the
reader can easily fill up an outline. Besides which, the novelists do
not as a fact spare the secular clergy. In the third place, we have
abundant proof in the rest of Italian literature that men could speak
boldly enough about the Papacy and the Court of Rome.
Pages:
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521