Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 3.djvu/502

 486 SORCERY AND OCCULT ARTS. From the Tour Neuve, where the ecclesiastical court held its sittings, Gilles was at once hurried before the secular tribunal in the Bouffay. It had commenced its inquest on September 18, and had been busily employed in collecting evidence concerning the child- murders, besides which, its presiding judge, Pierre de l'Hopital, had been present at much of the ecclesiastical trial, and had per- sonally received Gilles's confession. It was thus fully prepared to act, and indeed had already condemned Henriet and Poitou to be hanged and burned. When Gilles was brought in and arraigned he immediately confessed. Pierre urged him to confess in full, and thus obtain alleviation of the penalty due to his sins, and he freely complied. Then the president took the opinions of his assessors, who all voted in favor of death, although there was some difference as to the form. Finally Pierre announced that he had incurred the "peines pecunielles" which were to be levied on his goods and lands " with moderation of justice." As for his crimes, for these he was to be hanged and burned, and that he might have opportunity to crave mercy of God, the time was fixed for one o'clock the next day. Gilles thanked him for the designation of the hour, adding that as he and his servants, Henriet and Poitou, had committed the crimes together, he asked that they might be executed together, so that he who was the cause of their guilt might admonish them, and show them the example of a good death, and by the grace of our Lord be the cause of their salva- tion. If, he said, they did not see him die they might think that he escaped, and thus be cast into despair. Not only was this re- quest granted, but he was told that he might select the place of his burial, when he chose the Carmelite church, the sepulchre of the dukes, and of all that was most illustrious in Brittany. As a last prayer, he begged that the bishop and clergy might be re- quested to walk in procession prior to his execution the next day, to pray God to keep him and his servants in firm belief of salva- tion. This was granted, and the morning saw the extraordinary spectacle of the clergy, followed by the whole population of Nantes, who had been clamoring for his death, marching through the streets and singing and praying for his salvation.* On the way to execution Gilles devoted himself to comforting
 * Bossard et Maulde, p. 333 ; Pr. pp. cxli.-cxliv.