It's June 1517 in the town of Magdeburg, Germany.

Citizens clear the way as a column of robed monks marches through the town's narrow and filthy streets.

At the head of the solemn procession, the monks carry a large cross,

and fluttering in the breeze behind it, the papal standard, the flag of Pope Leo X.

Bringing up the rear is a heavily laden cart.

Johann Tetzel, a monk in sumptuous robes, stands atop it, blessing the crowd as he passes.

Johann is around 50 with a broad belly and a kind face.

And as the procession passes, the townspeople flock behind it, all following the cart

toward the marketplace.

There, Johan clamors down to the ground as the other monks erect the cross in the

center of the square and pull folded tables from

the back of the cart. From boxes, the monks grab bundles of parchment certificates, which they

pile on the tables, and then, finally, they place a large, ornate padlocked chest on the ground.

By now, a large crowd is gathered. Johann raises his hands, and in a cavernous voice, he calls for silence.

Then Johann begins to speak.

His voice echoing across the square.

Johann preaches of God and heaven and the torments of purgatory.

He's eloquent and persuasive, but he's as much a street hawker as he is a preacher.

He's come here to sell the people

of Magdeburg eternal salvation. Johann tells the crowd that for just a few coins dropped into his

coffer, they can buy what's called an indulgence, a parchment certificate from the Pope that

forgives their sins and guarantees them entry into heaven. For a small extra payment, the townspeople can even secure the release of a soul already

...