but rather to the damnation of those who might break the said conditions; insomuch that I, Allegretto di Nanni Allegretti, being present, believe that never was made or heard a more awful and horrible oath.  Then the notaries of the Nove and the Popolo, on either side of the altar, wrote down the names of all the citizens, who swore upon the crucifix, for on each side there was one, and every couple of the one and the other faction kissed; and the bells clashed, and Te Deum laudamus was sung with the organs and the choir while the oath was being taken.  All this happened between one and two hours of the night, with many torches lighted.  Now may God will that this be peace indeed, and tranquillity for all citizens, whereof I doubt.’[1] The doubt of Allegretti was but too reasonable.  Siena profited little by these dreadful oaths and terrifying functions.  Two years later on, the same chronicler tells how it was believed that blood had rained outside the Porta a Laterino, and that various visions of saints and specters had appeared to holy persons, proclaiming changes in the state, and commanding a public demonstration of repentance.  Each parish organized a procession, and all in turn marched, some by day and some by night, singing Litanies, and beating and scourging themselves, to the Cathedral, where they dedicated candles; and ’one ransomed prisoners, for an offering, and another dowered a girl in marriage.’

In Bologna in 1457 a similar revival took place on the occasion of an outbreak of the plague.  ’Flagellants went round the city, and when they came to a cross, they all cried with a loud voice:  Misericordia! misericordia! For eight days there was a strict fast; the butchers shut their shops.’  What follows in the Chronicle is comic:  ’Meretrices ad concubita nullum admittebant.  Ex eis quadam quae cupiditate lucri adolescentem admiserat, deprehensa, aliae meretrices ita illius nates nudas corrigiis percusserunt, ut sanguinem emitteret.’[2] Ferrara exhibited a like devotion in 1496, on even a larger scale.  About this time the entire Italian nation was panic-stricken by the passage of Charles VIII., and by the changes in states and kingdoms which Savonarola had predicted.  The Ferrarese, to quote the language of their chronicler, expected that ’in this year, throughout Italy, would be the greatest famine, war, and want that had ever been since the world began.’  Therefore they fasted, and ’the Duke of Ferrara fasted together with the whole of his court.  At the same time a proclamation was made against swearing, games of hazard, and unlawful trades:  and it was enacted that the Jews should resume their obnoxious yellow gaberdine with the O upon their breasts.  In 1500 these edicts were repeated.  The condition of Italy had grown worse and worse:  it was necessary to besiege the saints with still more energetic demonstrations.  Therefore ‘the Duke Ercole d’ Este, for good reasons to him known, and because it is always