be forgiven but was not retracting anything. During four long examina- vicar's objections-he denied, he explained, he reaffirmed. "It would appear from the trial records," Vicar Maro stated, "that you have said you do not believe in the pope, nor in the laws of the Church, and that everyone has as much authority as the pope." To which Menocchio replied, "I beg Almighty God to strike me dead this instant ifI am aware that I said what your Lordship charges." But, he was asked, was it true he had said that Masses for the dead were useless? (According to Giuliano Stefanut, the words spoken by Menocchio one day when they were returning from Mass had been precisely these: "What are you doing giving alms in memory of these few ashes?") "I mean Menocchio explained, "that we should be concerned about helping each other while we are still in this world, because afterwards God is the one who governs over souls, the prayers and alms and Masses offered for the dead are done, as I understand it, for love of God, who then does as he pleases, because souls do not come to take those prayers and alms, and it belongs majesty of these good works eitherforthe the living or the dead." It was intended to be a clever explanation, but actually it contradicted the teachings ofthe Church onpurgatory."Donot try to talk too much," the priest of Polcenigo, a friend who had known Menocchio well from infancy, had advised. But, obviously, the latter couldn't restrain himself.