Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/348

 332 GERMANY. Still the results did not correspond to Gregory's desires. In October of the same year (1231) he sought to spur Conra^^^^^^^^^^ discharge of his duty by praising in the most exalted terms his at Sand success in exterminating heretics, and by exhortmg h m 5th the same wealth of exaggeration, to redoubled energy^ The'Ieed of earnest work was more pressmg than ever. The Archbishops of Treves and Mainz had reported that an apostle o hetytlbeen sowing tares through all the land, so that not !^W thP cities but the towns and hamlets, were mfected. Many Te L archfrniver, each m his own appointed district, were tlo nglo overthrow the Church. Conrad was therefore given fuU disLtionary powers; he was not even required to hear the caL tat only to pronounce judgment, which was to be final and wXurappealH-tice to those suspect of heresy being, appar^ Tnly of no moment. He was authorized to command the aid of the secular arm, to excommunicate protectors of heresy and o av interdTct on whole districts. The recent decrees of he Holy SeVwere Serred to as his guide, and heretics -h- wou^d abjure Zeio have the benefit of absolution, care being ^^l^^^^^g .hould have no further opportunity of mischief -a dehcate ex tessfon for Lndemning Lm to lifelong incarceration. When Conrad received these extensive powers he was so dangerously ill In intervlls of leisure, however, he exercised his powers on such Ss !nd persons of condition, of whom some recanted and the CwTbuLd. On one excursion to Erfurt moi-eover, m 1232, . Kaltne. pp. 135-6, UB.-Theod. ^^f^^^Ji;^^^^ ScS^ (Menken. II, 2090).-Thar. ^ortsetz^'lg ^-/-^^^- ^/J^^^^p^ Vernac. U. 29a).-Trithem. Chron. Hirsau,. ann. (Menken. II. 484).