Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/129

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CHAPTER II. FRANCE. Although Catharism never obtained in the North sufficient foot- hold to render it threatening to the Church, yet the crusades and the efforts which followed the pacification of 1329 must have driven many heretics to seek refuge in places where they mio-ht escape suspicion. In organizing persecution in the South there- tore, It was necessary to provide some supervision more watchful than episcopal neghgence was likely to supply, over the regions whither heretics might fly when pursued at home, or the efforts made in Languedoc would only be scattering the infection Vi^i lant guardians of the faith were consequently requisite in lands where heretics were few and hidden, as well as in those where they were numerous and enjoyed protection from noble and city Under the pious king, St. Louis, who declared that the only ar<rument a layman could use with a heretic was to thrust a sword Into him up to the hilt, they were sure of ample support from the secular power. Accordingly when, in 1233, the experiment was tried of ap- pointing Pierre Cella and GuiUem Arnaud as inquisitors in Tou- ouse, a similar tentative effort was made in the northern part of the kingdom. Here also it was the Dominican Order which was Sied t'oT ';/™t ?' '^""^^'■^ "■ ' '^'^- already ai! luded to the failure of the attempt to induce the Friars of Franche- Comte to undertake the work. In western Burgundy, howeve the Church was more fortunate in finding a proper nstrument a Patarin. The pecuhar fitness thence derived for detectino- the hidden heretic was rendered still more effective by the s^ecfal gift which he IS said tojbav^daimed^ being able to recognLe

  • Joinville, P. i. (Ed. 1785. p. 23).