END OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL DISPUTE (1175).
Source.—Roger de Hoveden, Part 2, Vol. I., p. 392. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.
"Those who are in holy orders are not allowed to give judgment on matters of life and death. Wherefore we do forbid them either themselves to take part in dismemberment, or to order it to be done by others. And if anyone shall be guilty of doing such a thing, let him be deprived of the office and position of the orders that have been granted to him. We do also forbid, under penalty of excommunication, any priest to hold the office of sheriff, or that of any secular public officer."
"Likewise, inasmuch as the church of God, according to the verity of the Gospel, ought to be the house of prayer, and not a den of thieves, and market for blood; under pain of excommunication we do forbid secular causes, in which the shedding of blood, or bodily punishment is likely to be the result, to be tried in churches or in churchyards. For it is absurd and cruel for judgment of bloodshed, to be discussed in the place which has also been appointed the place of refuge for the guilty."
THE ALBIGENSIAN HERESY IN TOULOUSE (1178).
Source.—Roger de Hoveden, Vol. I., pp. 471-475. Bohn's Libraries. G. Bell & Sons.
In the meantime the Arian heresy which, as previously mentioned, had been condemned in the province of Toulouse, had revived; and this coming to the ears of the King of France and the King of England, inflamed by zeal for the Christian faith, they determined personally to go thither, in order that they might entirely drive the before-named heretics from those parts. However, after a short time had intervened, it seemed to them that it might be more effectual if they sent thither wise men to convert the heretics to the Christian faith by their preaching and learning, than if they themselves were to hasten thither in person, for they were reminded of the words, "Tis enough to have commanded vengeance; more will the dread of your name effect than your sword; your presence diminishes your fame."
They therefore sent thither Peter, cardinal priest, titular of St. Chrysogonus, and legate of the Apostolic See, the Archbishops of Bourges and Narbonne, Reginald, Bishop of Bath, John, Bishop of Poitou, Henry, Abbot of Clairval, and many other ecclesiastics, in order that by their preaching they might convert the said heretics to the Christian faith, or on reasonable grounds prove them to be heretics, and separate them from the threshold of holy Mother Church and from communion with the faithful. In addition to this, the before-named Kings chose Raymond, Count of Toulouse, the Viscount of Touraine, Raymond of Neufchatel, and other influential men, and ordered them to act as assessors to the above-named cardinal and his associates in the faith of Christ, and to expel the said heretics from those parts by the power of their might. Accordingly, when the before-named cardinal and the other Catholic persons had entered Toulouse, they found there a certain wealthy man, who possessed two castles, one within the city and the other without the walls of the city, who, before their coming had confessed himself to be a sectary of the heretical corruption; and now, moved by terror, and desiring to screen this execrable sect, made pretence that he was a Christian. When the cardinal came to know this, he ordered the said wealthy person to be brought before him; on whose coming for the purpose of making confession of his faith, he was found to be in every article an antagonist of the Christian religion. Accordingly, he was pronounced by the aforesaid cardinal and the bishops who were with him, a manifest heretic, and condemned; and they gave orders that his property should be confiscated, and that the castles which he possessed, lofty and of great beauty, should be levelled with the ground. Upon seeing himself thus condemned, and his property confiscated, he came to the cardinal, and the bishops, his associates, and prostrating himself at their feet; asked pardon, and, penance being enjoined him, was led naked and scourged through the streets and lanes of the city. After this, he swore that he would go to Jerusalem, and remain there three years in the service of God, and if, after the said three years, he should return home, his possessions were to be restored to him on condition, however, that his castles should be levelled in testimony of his heretical depravity; he was also to give the count of Toulouse five hundred pounds of silver.
On these taking place, many of the heretics, fearing lest they might be dealt with in a similar manner, came to the cardinal and his associates, and secretly confessing their errors and asking pardon, obtained mercy. In the meanwhile, it came to their ears, that certain false brethren, namely Raymond, Bernard, the son of Raymond, and certain other heresiarchs, transforming themselves into angels of light, while they were those of Satan, and preaching what was contrary to the Christian faith, led astray the minds of many by their false preaching, and had dragged them with themselves to hell. These being summoned to come into the presence of the cardinal and his associates, for the purpose of making confession of their faith, made answer that they would come before them if they should have a safe conduct in going and returning. A safe conduct, in going and returning, being accordingly given to them, they came before the above-named cardinal and the bishops, barons, clergy, and people who were present, and produced before them a certain paper in which they had written down the articles of their faith. On their reading this at length, there seemed in it certain expressions of a suspicious nature, which, unless more fully expressed, might possibly conceal the heresy which they preached. When one of them attempted to explain the articles so written, and to speak in Latin, he was barely able to connect two words, being utterly ignorant of the Latin language. Upon this it was necessary for the cardinal and the bishops to bring themselves more on a level with them, and, in consequence of their ignorance, to use the vulgar tongue. Accordingly, on being examined as to the articles of the Christian faith, they made answer as to all the articles of the faith as soundly and as circumspectly as if they had been most sincere Christians.