CHAPTER II--RETROSPECT.

Vicissitudes in the History of Spain 472

Causes of Decadence--Misgovernment of the Hapsburgs 473

Industry crushed by Taxation 478

Lack of Means of Intercommunication--_The Mesta_ 480

Debasement of the Coinage 482

Aversion for Labor 483

Multiplication of Offices--Empleomanía 485

Gradual Recuperation under the Bourbons 486

Inordinate Growth of the Church in Numbers and Wealth 488

Demoralization of the Clergy 496

Clerical Influence--Development of Intolerance 498

Superficial Character of Religion 502

Results of Intolerance 504

Influence of the Inquisition on the People 507

Contemporary opinion of its Services 508

Indifference to Morals 509

Disregard for Law--Aspirations to Domination 511

Suppression of adverse Opinion 513

Statistics of its Operations 516

Conscientious Cruelty 525

Persecution Profitable 527

Influence on Intellectual Development 528

Result of seeking to control the Human Conscience 531

APPENDIX OF DOCUMENTS 535

INDEX 547

THE INQUISITION OF SPAIN.