DETAILS OF PROCEDURE. 531 Besides the general significance of this transaction in the his- tory of witchcraft and of its persecution, there are several points worthy of attention in their bearing on the practical application of the methods of procedure described above. In the first place, it is evident throughout that no counsel were allowed to the ac- cused. Then, the combined episcopal and inquisitorial court per- mitted no appeals, even to the Parlement, whose supreme jurisdic- tion was unquestioned. Not only was the attempt of de BeaufFort to interject such an appeal contemptuously suppressed, but when Willaume le Febvre, who had fled to Paris and constituted himself a prisoner there to answer all charges, sent his son Willemet with a notary to serve an appeal, the service was rightly regarded as involving considerable risk. After watching their opportunity, Willemet and the notary served the notice on one of the vicars at church, then leaped on their horses and made all speed for Paris, but the vicars instantly despatched well-mounted horsemen, who overtook them at Montdidier and brought them back. They were clapped in jail, along with a number of friends and kinsmen who had been privy to their intention without betraying it, and were not released until they agreed to withdraw the appeal. Thus, an appeal was treated as an offence justifying vigorous measures. It is more difficult to understand the contemptuous indifference with which a papal bull was treated. Martin Cornille, the other fugi- tive, had pursued a different policy. He carried with him an ample store of money, part of which he invested in a bull from Pius II. transferring the whole matter to Gilles Charlier and Gregoire Nicolai of Cambrai, and two of the Arras vicars. This was brought to Arras in August, 1460, by the Dean of Soignies, after which we hear nothing more of it, though it may have contributed to cool the ardor of those who were expecting to profit by the prosecutions.* The means employed to obtain confession show that Sprenger only recorded the usage of the period in advising recourse to what- ever fraud or force might prove necessary. Promises of immunity du Clercq are to be found in the learned sketch of Duverger, " La Vauderie dans les £tats de Philippe le Bon," Arras, 1885, which, it is to be hoped, will be fol- lowed by the more elaborate work promised by the author.
- Du Clercq, Liv. iv. ch. 10- 11.
