Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/134

 .^^ FRANCE. tries of sums disbursed for them in Paris, Orleans, Issoudun Sen- Us, Amiens, Tours, Yevre-le-Cbatel, Beaumont, St.Quentm, Laon, and Macon, showing that his hberality furnished them with means to do their work, not only in the domains of the «'own but m those of the great vassals; and these items further lUustrate their activity in every corner of the land. That their sharp pursuit rendered heresv unsafe is seen in the permission already alluded to in 1255, to pursue their quarry across the border into the ter- ritories of Alphonse of Toulouse, thus disregarding the limitations of inquisitorial districts.* This shows us that already the Inquisition was becoming or- <^anized in a systematic manner. In Provence, where Pons de FEsparre, the Dominican prior, had at first carried on a kind of vol- unteer chase after heretics, we see an inquisitor officially actmg in 1245 This district, comprising the whole southeastern portion ot modern France, with Savoy, was confided to the Franciscans. n 1266, when they were engaged in Marseilles in mortal strife with the Dominicans, the business of pei-secution would seem to have been ne-lected, for we find Clement IV. ordering the Benedictines of St Vfctor to make provision for extirpating the numerous here- tics of the valley of Eousset, where they had a dependency. The Inquisition of Provence was extended in 1288 over Avignon and the Comtat Venaissin, whose governor was ordered to defray from the confiscations the moderate expenses of the inquisitors, Bertrand de Cigotier and Guillem de Saint-Marcel. In 1292 Dauphine was likewise included, thus completing the organization m the terri- tories east of the Khone. The attention of the inquisitors was specially called to the superstition which led many Christians o frequent the Jewish synagogues with lighted candles, offering ob- lations and watching through the vigils of the Sabbath when af- flicted with sickness or other tribulations, anxious for friends at sea or for approaching childbirth. All such observances, even in Jews, were idolatry and heresy, and those who practised them were to be duly prosecuted.f . Concil. Turonens. ann. 1239, c. l.-D. Bouquet, XXI. 263, 264, 268, 273. 274, 276 280 281.— Ripoll I. 273-4. 1288, No. 14, 15 ; ann. 1390, No. 3, •■), ; ann. 1293, No. 3.
 * Coll. Doat, XXXI. 68.-Murtc„e Coll. Ampl. 1. 1284.-Waddmg. Annal. ann.