Guillem Figueira, tailor and troubadour, again sang out. Rome! Little do you hurt the Saracen but murder Greek and Latin! Deadlock and hellfire be your throne! Grant me no share of your indulgence nor pilgrimage to Avignon!
Much on the track of apostasy His Holiness charged Archbishop Stephen de Burnin with the particular task of quenching misbelief in Languedoc. The archbishop approved two Dominicans, Peter Seila and William Arnald, the first Inquisitors, whose authority was confirmed. They were deputed to proceed without obligation to episcopal or civil justice in the dioceses of Toulouse and Albi. Soon enough they laid hold of a false theologist, Vigoros de Baconia, who was tried, condemned, straightway executed. Thus were the Cathari deprived of an energetic leader.
Peter Seila remained at Toulouse while his associate toured the province, visiting Laurac, Villefranche, La Bessède, Saint-Félix, Fanjeaux, all predisposed to concealment. The count of Toulouse objected to His Holiness that these Dominicans ignored legal process, denied counsel to the accused, heard testimony behind locked doors, as is common to this day, and otherwise trampled on the subjects’ heads. It was claimed that as a result of such methods people used these interrogations to charge private enemies with heretic theology. In this way the trials guided witnesses toward error, not in the direction of truth, creating turmoil, rousing citizens against the clergy and monastic alike. Therefore His Holiness advised the Inquisitors to proceed with circumspection. Also, he wrote to Archbishop Stephen and to various bishops, suggesting they intercede if necessary.
This did not curb zealous pursuit. In Toulouse lived a certain Jean Tisseyre, a workman, who took it upon himself to go about the streets haranguing people. Listen to me, citizens! he would shout. I have a wife and sleep with her. Like everybody else I curse and lie and eat meat. I am a good Christian. Do not pay attention if these Dominicans call me atheist because they want to punish innocent folk. They will be after you before you know it.
That this man Tisseyre got acquainted with Cathari who had been rounded up by the bailiff Denense is a fact. He converted to their faith with such ardor that he received the consolamentum at their hands. He professed allegiance to these wicked people and declared a wish to share their fate. Justifiably he went to the stake alongside them.
For two years Peter Seila and William Arnald questioned suspects in Toulouse and the provinces. Betimes they decreed a period of grace, a week or fortnight, during which those who lapsed from godliness might admit to error without coercion. This brought out many citizens eager to accuse themselves, hoping thus to elude the stake or dungeon, hoping for canonical penance such as going on pilgrimage or paying a fine or carrying a cross. It is related that during mass confessions a suspect named Doumenge omitted to step forth. Being threatened with death, he saved himself by disclosing where ten Cathari hid themselves at Cassès. Three of these ten escaped, seven were caught and met the stake since they had gone astray. Thus did our Heavenly Father see to their conclusion.
Brothers Seila and Arnald traveled to the district of Quercy. More than two hundred seculars did they find at Moissac and burnt every one. Also, they conducted posthumous investigations, exhumed and burnt numerous corpses.
In Toulouse a singular occurrence was noted. Just as Bishop Raymond du Fauga washed his hands before entering the refectory he learned of an old woman nearby who had accepted the consolamentum. He went at once to the address, followed by the convent prior and others, to interrogate this dying old woman on matters of faith. And she, being told the lord bishop had arrived, mistakenly thought him a Cathar bishop and spewed forth the odious dogma. Then said Bishop Raymond, encouraging this misapprehension, not even fear of death should make you confess to other than that you hold most firmly. To which the old woman answered that so long as life remained she would not deny Catharism. So now Bishop Raymond disclosed himself for what he was, not Cathar but Catholic, and he implored her to recant. She would not. In front of witnesses she persevered ever more stubbornly. Then she was carried in her bed as far as Pré-du-Comte since she was too feeble to walk, put to the stake and burnt forthwith. After which the bishop with his entourage went back to the refectory, gave thanks to God and fell cheerfully upon the food. Anon the prior delivered a sermon likening the fire that consumed her to that which Elijah called down from heaven to confound the priests of Baal.
More interrogations came about. A certain perfectus, by name Raymond Gros, having seen the light of Jesus Christ, denounced large numbers of dead citizens. Graves were opened, bones and carcasses dragged on hurdles through Toulouse and a public crier announcing their names to warn the living. Qui atal fara, atal pendra. Which is to say, whosoever does the like, so will he suffer.
Behold! Behold! warned the Inquisitor. Behold a greedy fire swallow thy companions! See how the people surge close to watch eager flames lick thy flesh! Shalt thou burn or shalt thou conform? Answer at once!
Little refuge existed but at Montségur five leagues from Foix. On a pinnacle the castle stood secure, none thought it could be taken. They say it was built in our year of grace 1204 by Ramón de Perella who sympathized with Cathars and gave lodging to notorious recusants. So
