Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/385

 THE BRETHREN OF THE FREE SPIRIT. 339 General CouncU of Vienne, which was assembled in November 1311. The heresy had evidently been studied with some care for the first tolerably complete account which we have of its doctrines IS embodied in the canon proscribing it. Bishops and inquisitors were ordered to perform their office diligently in tracking aU who entertamed it, and seeing that they were duly punished unless they would freely abjure. Unfortunately, Clement's zeal was not satisfied with this. The pious women who hved in communities under the name of Beguines were not easily distinguishable from the heretical wanderers. In another canon, therefore the Be guinages are described as infected with those who dispute about the Trinity and the Divine Essence and disseminate opinions con- trary to the faith. These establishments are therefore abolished At the same time there was evidently a feeling that this was in- flicting a wrong, and the canon ends with the contradictory dec- aration that faithful women, either vowing chastity or not mav hve together in houses and devote themselves to penitence and the service of God. There was a lamentable lack of clearness about this which left it for the local prelates to interpret their duty according to their wishes.* _ The Clementines, or book of canon law containing these pro- visions, was not issued during Clement's life, and it was not until November 1317, that his successor, John XXII., gave them legal force by their authoritative pubhcation. Apparently the bishops waited for this, for during the interim we hear nothing of perse- cution, until August, 1317, just before the issue of the Clemen- tines, when John of Zurich, Bishop of Strassburg, suddenly took the matter up He did not act under the canons of Vienne, but under those of 1310 adopted by the Council of Mainz, of which province he was a suffragan ; but an allusion to the penalties de- creed by the Holy See shows that the action at Vienne was known Ihe Beghards apparently had sought no concealment, for he threatened with excommunication all who should not within three days lay aside the distinguishing garments of the sect, and their fearless pubhcity is further shown by the bishop's confiscating the houses m which their assemblies were held, and forbidding any ■ one to read or bsten to or possess their hymns and writings, which II.— 24
 * C. 3, Clement, v. iii. ; C. 1, iii. xi.