Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/85

 SUBMISSION OF CARCASSONNE. 69 eye-witness, naturally attributes this to the influence of heresy, but it is impossible for us now to conjecture how much may have been due to religious antagonism, and how much to the natural reaction among the orthodox against the intolerable oppression of the inquisitorial methods.* For some years the Inquisition of Carcassonne was suspended. As soon as secular support was withdrawn public opinion was too strong, and it succumbed. This lasted until the truce between king and pope again placed the royal power at the disposal of the inquisitors. In their despair the citizens then sent envoys to Boni- face YIII., with Aimeric Castel at their head, supported by a num- ber of Franciscans. Boniface listened to their complaints and pro- posed to depute the Bishop of Yicenza as commissioner to examine and report, but the papal referendary, afterwards Cardinal of S Sabina, required a bribe of ten thousand florins as a preliminary. It was promised him, but Aimeric, having secured the good oflices of Pierre Flotte and the Duke of Burgundy, thought he could ob- tam his purpose for less, and refused to pay it. When Boniface heard of the refusal he angrily exclaimed, "We know in whom they trust, but by God aU the kings in Christendom shaU not save the people of Carcassonne from being burned, and specially the father of that Aimeric Castel !" The negotiation fell throuo-h and Nicholas d' Abbeville had his triumph. A large portion^'of the citizens were wearied with the disturbances, and were impatient under the excommunication which rested on the community The prosperity of the town was dechning, and there were not wanting those who predicted its ruin. The hopelessness of further resist- ance was apparent, and matters being thus ripe for a settlement a solemn assembly was held, April 27, 1299, when the civic magis- trates met the inquisitor in the presence of the Bishops of Albi and Beziers, Bertrand de Clermont, Inquisitor of Toulouse the royal officials, sundry abbots and other notables. J^icholas' dic- tated his own terms for the absolution asked at his hands nor were they seemingly harsh. Those who were manifest heretics or specially defamed, or convicted by legal proof must take their chance. The rest were to be penanced as the bishops and the Ab- Gravam. (Doat, XXX. 94). ^' -^
 * Bern. GuidoD. Hist. Conv. Praedic. (Martene Coll. Ampl. VI. 477-8) -Eiusd