There was a special office of quaestiarii, or pardoners, who had the pope’s authority to issue indulgences. As early as 1450, Thomas Gascoigne, chancellor of Oxford University, remarked that ‘sinners say nowadays: “I care not how many evils I do in God’s sight, for I can easily get plenary remission of all guilt and penalty by an absolution and indulgence granted me by the pope, whose written grant I have bought for four or six pence”.’ He was exaggerating–other accounts tell of indulgences being sold for ‘two pence, sometimes for a draught of wine or beer…or even for the hire of a harlot or
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