Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 15.pdf/280

 Trials of the Dead. from the bodies of other faithful people, should be taken out of the ground, and thrown away far from the burial of any church according unto the Canon laws and decrees." Thereupon he was ungraved, his bones burnt and the ashes cast into the river. In the case of prosecution of the dead the

243

these notices were carefully recited. Yet sad experience showed that little was gained by any attempt to clear the accused, so often no one appeared, and sometimes when the chil dren did appear the Inquisitor denied them a hearing. These burnings were not economical; we find from some old accounts that in 1323 it •-TO

["he order and manner qfiakina up ye body ofJohn wio'kliff', and. Bumtna his Iones ALyears after his Seam.

children or the heirs of the accursed were always cited to appear in court and defend his memory, this was done because they were in terested parties and in case of condemnation they suffered by the penalties and disabilities of the dead condemned. Proclamation, too, was generally made in the churches inviting any one who chose to appear and defend. When judgment was given the publications of

cost 5 livres 19 sols and 6 denieres for the mere labor of digging up the bones of three heretics, a sack in which to stow them, a cord to tie the sack and two horses to draw them to the place of burning; then there was the wood for the fire, the vine branches, the straw and the stakes to pay for, and the exe cutioner's fee as well.