47
The first is that, first given in the Centum
Gravamina^ and appended to themj described
No. XIX. and copied by Musculus, No.
XXVII. by du Pmet, No. XXIX. by Wolfius,
No. XXXI. by the Paris editions, which fol-
low du Pinet; and substantially by Egane.
This recension^ (ijP we may adopt a term from
r
sacred criticism to avoid the ambiguity of the
word^ edition>) is distinguished by the appear-
ance of some grosser crimes, to which prices of
absolution are affixed^ than are to be found in
the other. From what sources the German
Princes at the Diet of Nuremburg derived their
information does not appear ; but, that such
sources existed, and were not inaccessible, is
sufficiently evident firom subsequent experience
on the same subject ; and the responsibility of
their station and duty, together with the pub*
licity of the act, are a sufficient guarantee of
their fideUty and accuracy. Neither can any
objection be deduced from the enormity of the
offences thus made pardonable for money, since
those very offences are specified in the Peniten-
tiary Canons, with their assigned penances and
the commutability of these by pecuniary mulcts.
Some surprise has been excited by the modera-
tion of the taxes in these and similar cases ;
