Agents of the Christian Church licensed to sell indulgences. The rapid proliferation of pardoners in the 14th century meant that often they were not licensed. They might carry “holy” relics to assist sales and they exploited the gullibility of people for their own profit. Pope Boniface IX ordered an enquiry into these abuses (1390) and the abuse of indulgences was one of Martin Luther’s main quarrels with the Roman Catholic Church. The sale of indulgences was forbidden by the Council of Trent (1563).