Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/25

 SUBORDINATION OF INQUISITORS. 9 now the inquisitors, Pierre CeUa and GuiUem Arnaud, appeared as advocates of the appeUant in the bishop's court, and so clearly proved de Solier's heresy that the miserable wretch fled to Lom- bardy.* Similar indefiniteness of procedure is visible in the next at- tempt. The inquisitors, Pierre and Guillem, began to make an inquest through the city, and cited numerous suspects, all of whom found defenders among the chief citizens. The hearings took place before them, but seem as yet to have been in pubhc. One of the accused, named Jean Teisseire, asserted himself to be a good Oathohc because he had no scruples in maintaining marital rela- tions with his wife, in eating flesh, and in lying and swearing, and he warned the crowd that they were Hable to the same change, and that it would be wiser for them to make common cause than to abandon him. When he was condemned, and the viguier, the official representative of the count, was about to conduct him to the stake, so threatening a clamor arose that the prisoner was hurried to the bishop's prison, still proclaiming his orthodoxy. Intense excitement pervaded the city, and menaces were freely uttered to destroy the Dominican convent and to stone all the friars, who were accused of persecuting the innocent. While in prison Teisseire pretended to fall mortally sick, and asked for the ■sacraments ; but when the bailh of Lavaur brought to Toulouse some perfected heretics and dehvered them to the bishop, Teis- seire allowed himself to be hereticated by them in prison, and grew so ardent in the faith under their exhortations that when they were taken out for examination he accompanied them, de- claring that he would share their fate. The bishop assembled the magistrates and many citizens, in whose presence he examined the prisoners. They were all condemned, including Teisseire, who ob- stinately refused to recant, and no further opposition was offered when they were all duly burned.f Here we see the inquisitorial jurisdiction completely subordi- nate to that of the bishop, but when the inquisitors soon after- wards left Toulouse to hold inquests elsewhere they acted with full independence. At Cahors we hear nothing of the Bishop of Querci taking part in the proceedings under which they con-
 * Pelisso pp. 10-17. t Ibid. pp. 17-20.