A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages; volume IILea, Henry Charles
History
A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages; volume II
Lea, Henry Charles
Inquisition -- History
in disguise and wandering from place to place with the emissaries of the
Holy Office ever on his track. He had been ordained to the ministry at
Como, and speedily acquired authority in the sect of which he became one
of the most zealous, indefatigable, and intrepid missionaries. Already,
in 1300, he was so conspicuous that every effort was made for his
apprehension. A certain Guillem Jean offered the Dominicans of Pamiers
to betray him, but the treachery became known among the faithful, two of
whom, Pierre d’Aère and Philippe de Larnat enticed Guillem to the bridge
at Alliat by night, seized him, gagged him, carried him off to the
mountains, and, after extorting a confession, cast him over a precipice.
Worthy lieutenants of Pierre Autier were his brother Guillem and his son
Jacques, Amiel de Perles, Pierre Sanche, and Sanche Mercadier, whose
names occur everywhere throughout the confessions as active
missionaries. Jacques Autier on one occasion had the boldness to preach
at midnight to a gathering of heretic women in the Church of
Sainte-Croix in Toulouse, the spot being selected as one in which they
could best hold their meeting undisturbed.[117]
The work of Geoffroi d’Ablis in Carcassonne seems to be principally
directed to determining the protectors and refuges of Pierre Autier. At
Toulouse Bernard Gui was energetically employed in the same direction.
The heretic was driven from place to place, but the wonderful fidelity
of his disciples seemed to render all efforts vain, and finally Bernard
was driven to the expedient of issuing, August 10, 1309, a special
proclamation as an incitement for his capture.
“Friar Bernard Gui, Dominican, Inquisitor of Toulouse, to all
worshippers of Christ, the reward and crown of eternal life. Gird
yourselves, Sons of God; arise with me, Soldiers of Christ, against
the enemies of his Cross, those corrupters of the truth and purity
of Catholic faith, Pierre Autier, the heresiarch, and his
coheretics and accomplices, Pierre Sanche and Sanche Mercadier.
Hiding in concealment and walking in darkness, I order them by the
virtue of God, to be tracked and seized wherever they may be found,
promising eternal reward from God, and also a fitting temporal
payment to those who will capture and produce them. Watch,
therefore, O pastors, lest the wolves snatch away the sheep of your
flock! Act manfully, faithful zealots, lest the adversaries of the
faith fly and escape!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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