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Luther； since the Saxon reformer was protected by powerful princes；
and was backed by the enthusiasm of Northern Germans。 Yet the
Florentine preacher boldly continued his attacks on all
hypocritical religion； and on the vices of Rome； not as incidental
to the system； but extraneous；the faults of a man or age。 The
Pope became furious； to be thus balked by a Dominican monk； and in
one of the cities of Italy；a city that had not rebelled against
his authority。 He complained bitterly to the Florentine
ambassador； of the haughty friar who rebuked and defied him。 He
summoned a consistory of fourteen eminent Dominican theologians； to
inquire into his conduct and opinions； and issued a brief
forbidding him to preach； under penalty of excommunication。 Yet
Savonarola continued to preach； and more violently than ever。 He
renewed his charges against Rome。 He even called her a harlot
Church； against whom heaven and earth； angels and devils； equally
brought charges。 The Pope then seized the old thunderbolts of the
Gregories and the Clements； and excommunicated the daring monk and
preacher； and threatened the like punishment on all who should
befriend him。 And yet Savonarola continued to preach。 All Rome
and Italy talked of the audacity of the man。 And it was not until
Florence itself was threatened with an interdict for shielding such
a man； that the magistrates of the city were compelled to forbid
his preaching。
The great orator mounted his pulpit March 18； 1498； now four
hundred years ago； and took an affectionate farewell of the people
whom he had led； and appealed to Christ himself as the head of the
Church。 It was not till the preacher was silenced by the
magistrates of his own city； that he seems to have rebelled against
the papal authority； and then not so much against the authority of
Rome as against the wicked shepherd himself； who had usurped the
fold。 He now writes letters to all the prominent kings and princes
of Europe； to assemble a general council； for the general council
of Constance had passed a resolution that the Pope must call a
general council every ten years； and that； should he neglect to
assemble it； the sovereign powers of the various states and empires
were themselves empowered to collect the scattered members of the
universal Church； to deliberate on its affairs。 In his letters to
the kings of France； England； Spain； and Hungary； and the Emperor
of Germany； he denounced the Pope as simoniacal； as guilty of all
the vices； as a disgrace to the station which he held。 These
letters seem to have been directed against the man； not against the
system。 He aimed at the Pope's ejectment from office； rather than
at the subversion of the office itself；another mark of the
difference between Savonarola and Luther； since the latter waged an
uncompromising war against Rome herself； against the whole regime
and government and institutions and dogmas of the Catholic Church；
and that is the reason why Catholics hate Luther so bitterly； and
deny to him either virtues or graces； and represent even his
deathbed； as a scene of torment and despair；an instance of that
pursuing hatred which goes beyond the grave； like that of the
zealots of the Revolution in France； who dug up the bones of the
ancient kings from those vaults where they had reposed for
centuries； and scattered their ashes to the winds。
Savonarola hoped the Christian world would come to his rescue； but
his letters were intercepted； and reached the eye of Alexander VI。；
who now bent the whole force of the papal empire to destroy that
bold reformer who had assailed his throne。 And it seems that a
change took place in Florence itself in popular sentiment。 The
Medicean party obtained the ascendency in the government。 The
peoplethe fickle peoplebegan to desert Savonarola； and
especially when he refused to undergo the ordeal of fire；one of
the relics of Mediaeval superstition；the people felt that they
had been cheated out of their amusement； for they had waited
impatiently the whole day in the public square to see the
spectacle。 He finally consented to undergo the ordeal； provided he
might carry the crucifix。 To this his enemies would not consent。
He then laid aside the crucifix； but insisted on entering the fire
with the sacrament in his hand。 His persecutors would not allow
this either； and the ordeal did not take place。
At last his martyrdom approaches： he is led to prison。 The
magistrates of the city send to Rome for absolution for having
allowed the Prior to preach。 His enemies busy themselves in
collecting evidence against him；for what I know not； except that
he had denounced corruption and sin； and had predicted woe。 His
two friends are imprisoned and interrogated with him； Fra Domenico
da Pescia and Fra Silvestro Maruffi； who are willing to die for
him。 He and they are now subjected to most cruel tortures。 As the
result of bodily agony his mind begins to waver。 His answers are
incoherent； he implores his tormentors to end his agonies； he cries
out； with a voice enough to melt a heart of stone； 〃Take； oh； take
my life！〃 Yet he confessed nothing to criminate himself。 What
they wished him especially to confess was that he had pretended to
be a prophet； since he had predicted calamities。 But all men are
prophets； in one sense； when they declare the certain penalties of
sin； from which no one can escape； though he take the wings of the
morning and fly to the uttermost parts of the sea。
Savonarola thus far had remained firm； but renewed examinations and
fresh tortures took place。 For a whole month his torments were
continuous。 In one day he was drawn up by a rope fourteen times；
and then suddenly dropped； until all his muscles quivered with
anguish。 Had he been surrounded by loving disciples； like Latimer
at the burning pile； he might have summoned more strength； but
alone； in a dark inquisitorial prison； subjected to increasing
torture among bitter foes； he did not fully defend his visions and
prophecies； and then his extorted confessions were diabolically
altered。 But that was all they could get out of him；that he had
prophesied。 In all matters of faith he was sound。 The inquisitors
were obliged to bring their examination to an end。 They could find
no fault with him； and yet they were determined on his death。 The
Government of Florence consented to it and hastened it； for a
Medici again held the highest office of the State。
Nothing remained to the imprisoned and tortured friar but to
prepare for his execution。 In his supreme trial he turned to the
God in whom he believed。 In the words of the dying Xavier； on the
Island of Sancian； he exclaimed； In te domine speravi； non
confundar in eternum。 〃O Lord；〃 he prays； 〃a thousand times hast
thou wiped out my iniquity。 I do not rely on my own justification；
but on thy mercy。〃 His few remaining days in prison were passed in
holy meditation。
At last th