[MR] Wikipedia: Bonfire of the Vanities

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1497 the Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola organized the
"Bonfire of the Vanities" in Florence. His followers collected all manner
of things that promoted vanity and sinful conduct, and burned them in a
huge bonfire. The objects included mirrors, rich clothing, paintings,
books, playing cards and musical instruments:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonfire_of_the_vanities

The controversial preacher eventually got himself into hot water and was
condemned as a heretic. He and three followers were hanged and their bodies
appropriately burned in 1498:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girolamo_Savonarola

As the Wikipedia article points out, Savonarola was not the first . . . uh
. . . firebrand preacher to organize such a bonfire. St. Bernardino of
Siena had done the same thing earlier in the 15th century, but was far less
controversial.

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿