Question

What were indulgences ?

Answer 1

Not sure if this is what you are meaning. Do you want a historic indulgence ?

The definition of indulgence is the act of giving way to one's desires, something granted as a privilege or something that is enjoyed out of gratification.
An example of indulgence is eating an extra treat or something.

Answer 2

I’m guessing from context your talking about indulgences in the Catholic Church before the reformation. Indulgences were basically the Catholic Church selling “get out of jail free cards” but for sins. At the time if you did something immoral, you could pay the church a certain amount of money and they would forgive you for it.