[92] The toll which the "robber-barons" of the Rhine levied upon merchants passing through their domains. [93] _Ja wend das blat umb szo indistu es_--The translators have adopted the interpretation of O. Clemen, _L's. Werke_, I, 383. [94] The Fuggers of Augsburg were the greatest of the German capitalists in the XVI Century. They were international bankers, "the Rothschilds of the XVI Century." Their control of large capital enabled them to advance large sums of money to the territorial rulers, who were in a chronic state of need. In return for these favors they received monopolistic concessions by which their capital was further increased. The spiritual, as well as the temporal lords, availed themselves regularly of the services of this accommodating firm. They were the pope's financial representatives in Germany. On their connection with the indulgence against which Luther protested, see Vol. I, p. 21; on their relations with the papacy, see Schulte, _Die Fugger in Rom_, 2 Vols., Leipzig, 1904. [95] Certificates entitling the holder to choose his own confessor and authorizing the confessor to absolve him from certain classes of "reserved" sins; referred to in the XCV Theses as _confessionalia_. Cf. Vol. I, p. 22. [96] Certificates granting their possessor permission to eat milk, eggs, butter and cheese on fast days. [97] The word is used here in the broad sense, and means dispensations of all sorts, including those just mentioned, relating to penance. [98] Equivalent to "carrying coals to Newcastle." [99] The _Campo di Fiore_, a Roman market-place, restored and adorned at great expense by Eugenius IV (1431-1447), and his successors. [100] A part of the Vatican palace notorious as the banqueting-hall of Alexander VI (1402-1503), turned by Julius II (1503-1513) into a museum for the housing of his wonderful and expensive collection of ancient works of art. Luther is hinting that the indulgence money has been spent on these objects rather than on the maintenance of the Church. Cf. Clemen, I, 384, note 15. [101] i. e., The offices and positions in Rome which were for sale. See Benrath, p. 88, note 18; p. 95, note 36. [102] See above, p. 84, note 1. [103] The passage is chapter 31, _Filiis vel nepotibus_. It provides that in case the income of endowments bequeathed to the Church is misused, and appeals to the bishop and archbishop fail to correct the misuse, the heirs of the testator may appeal to the royal courts. Luther wishes this principle applied to the annates. [104] See above, pp. 91 f. [105] See above, p. 91. [106] See above, p. 94. [107] i. e.. Promises to bestow on certain persons livings not yet vacant. Complaint of the evils arising out of the practice was continually heard from the year 1416. For the complaints made at Worms (1521), see Wrede, _op. cit._, II, 710. [108] See above, pp. 86 f. [109] See above, pp. 92 f. [110] See above, p. 93. [111] See above, p. 89.