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 444 THE HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE in their midst or even let their bones rest in consecrated ground. The practice of burning heretics at the stake grew up spontaneously and was not introduced by the Inquisition. The clergy, however, had taught the people to hate heresy, and we must remember that the most learned and the most saintly men of medieval times alike approved of the perse- cution of heretics. But in southern France conditions were different. There society was worldly and tolerant, and the troubadours, Conditions feudal nobles, and municipalities cared little in southern for the Church. The clergy were worldly and neglected to give the people proper religious instruction, and could not be relied upon to take any ener- getic action against heresy. Even if they did, they could find no support in the lords of the land or the ruling bodies in the towns. Raymond VI, Count of_Toulouse, the greatest feudal lord of the region, was a friend of the heretics and was strongly suspected of being one himself. The heretics preached publicly in town squares and at feudal courts and gained numerous adherents, so that Innocent came to the conclusion that in some archbishoprics of southern France there were more Manichaeans than Christians. Innocent often said that he preferred that the heretics should be converted rather than exterminated, and that TheAlbi- ^ey should be won back by preaching rather gensian than by force. During the first ten years of his pontificate he sent a succession of legates to southern France, but with little result. He also, however, as early as 1204 appealed to Philip Augustus, the King of France, for aid, but the latter was too occupied with his struggle with King John of England. Finally, in 1207, Count Raymond was excommunicated. He submitted, promising to do as the papal legates wished, and received absolution. But Innocent went ahead and in November offered the feudal lords of central and northern France the same remis- sion of sins as for crusaders to the East, if they would take part for forty days in an expedition to crush heresy in southern France. Just at this juncture, in January, 1208,