Even so severe a Pope as Paul IV.

committed to his nephew, by published and printed edict, the privilege of compounding with criminals by fines.[56] One consequence of this vile system, rightly called by the Venetian envoy 'the very strangest that could be witnessed or heard of in such matters,' was that wealthy sinners indulged their appetites at the expense of their families, and that innocent people became the prey of sharpers and informers.[57] Rome had organized a vast system of _chantage_.
[Footnote 54: Alberi, vol.x.pp.

35, 83, 277.] [Footnote 55: Mocenigo's computation, _op.

cit._ p.

29.] [Footnote 56: _Ibid._ p.