Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/130

 .,^ FRANCE. them by their speech and carriage. In addition, he was fitted for the work by the ardent fanaticism of the convert, by his learnmg, his fiery eloquence, and his mercilessness. When, early m 1233, instructions to persecute heresy were sent to the Prior of Besangon, Eobert was nominated to represent him and act as his substitute ; and eao-er to manifest his zeal, he lost no time in making a de- scent upon La Charite. It will be remembered that this place was notorious as a centre of heresy in the twelfth century, and that re- peated efforts had been made to purify it. These had proved fruit- less against the stubbornness of the misbelievers, and Frere Eobert found Stephen, the Cluniac prior, vainly endeavoring to win or force them over. The new inquisitor seems to have been armed with no special powers, but his energy speedily made a profound impression, and heretics came forward and confessed their errors in crowds, husbands and wives, parents and children, accusing themselves and each other without reserve. He reported to Greg- oiv IX that the reality was far worse than had been rumored ; that the whole town was a stinking nest of heretical wickedness, where the Catholic faith was almost wholly set aside and the peo- ple in their secret conventicles had thrown off its yoke. Under a specious appearance of piety they deceived the wisest, and their earnest missionary efforts, extending over the whole of France, were seducing souls from Flanders to Britanny. Uncertain as to his authority, he apphed to Gregory for instructions and was told to act energeticaUy in conjunction with the bishops, and, under the statutes recently issued by the Holy See, to extirpate heresy thor- ouo-hly from the whole region, invoking the aid of the secular arm, and coercing it if necessary with the censures of the Churcli.* We have no means of knowing what measures Eobert adopted, but there can be no doubt that under this stimulus, and clothed with this authority, he was active and unsparing. His crazy fanati- cian probably exaggerated greatly the extent of the evil and con- founded the innocent with the guilty. It was not long before the Archbishop of Sens, in whose province La Gharite lay, exiwstu- • lated with Gregory upon this interference with his jurisdiction, and in this he was joined by other prelates, alarmed at the au- . Alberic. Triun. Font. Chron. ann. 1236.-Gregor. PP. IX. Bull. Oaudemus.. 19 Ap. 1233 (Ripoll I. 45-6).— RayuaW. ann. 1333, No. 59.