The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-08-06
An Incident of the Inquisition.


About the same time, without word
of warning Father Potter, at the head of
400 armed men, entered tie little town
of Mossac and surrounded one Of the
houses. 1t was night. The inquisitor's
men bore lighted torches in their hands
and set up fierce yell of "Death to the
heretics + A window was thrown open.
and an old man appeared at it making
signs that he wished to speak SO there
was a general silence "Sir Inquisitor."
said he, 1--WE are unarmed, and can make
no defence We have woman and child
ren among us have mercy on them, and
we will place ourselves in your hands,
to deal with as you please. mo-" cri.
ed Friar Peter, "the women are wives of
heretcs the children arc the offspring
of heretcs; take away the abomination
from the tents of Israel" The old man
would have replied, but an archer of the
Inquisition bent his bow and shot him in
the breast so that he fell back dead into
the chamber "Forward soldiers of the
Cross /" yelled the Inquisitor. at is
the will of God down with the doors p
and the axes had begun to ring a.
gainst them, when in a moment, every
window flew open. and there began ter
rble shower of stones, bricks, crockery,
and household utensils Two or three
Of the nssaiants fell dead, ten or twelve
were sorely wounded, the rest drew back
crying, "Treachery Treachery F'"Aye,
treachery !" repeated the Inquisitor.
See the perGdy of the foes of God !
They promise not to defend themselves
and then attack us by surprise. De-
struciion to the enemies of the Lord !"
Twice more did the followers of the In
quisitor forward TO the attack, and each
time were driven back with no small
loss. The bescged were 800 in num-
Der but among them were eighty wa
men, and more than one 100 children.
There remained, only 100 fighting men,
ard these had, perhaps, suficed, had
they been armed Nevertheless, they
made brave resistance. Moreover, the
townspeoplc of Moissac, assembling at
the tumult, began TO murmur and give
give signs of displeasure. Then said
Pierre de Mirepoix, mingling with the
crowd will you allow them to MUIR
der your brethren 2"-"They are here
tics and enemies of God" answered the
moro timid-'IIow are the children
herctics, who know not what heresy
means? Do you see that this is but
pretext to plufder your town2
Look look the soldiers are bringing
faggots. They are pilng them round
the house. They will burn them alive
Citizens of Moissac with this wind
blowing, your houses will all fall prey
to the flames you have no pity on
your brethren, have pity on your town.
Pierre do Miropoix said truly the
soldiers were heapng faggots bundles of
straw, and whatever else they could lay
hands or, before the doors aud round the
house. Then the women, who were
within, ran to the windows. with their
children in their arms, crying "Mercy
for these inrocents Mercy for them a
lone l''-"Fire Fire /" yelled the In.
quisitor; and Master Robert. sezing a
brand dashed it into the midst ofthe fag.
gots, crying, "To the honor of the Holy
Martyr, Peter OF Castolnau, death and ex.
termination to the hereticsl" The other
followed his example. The flames arose
on every side. The wind drove them
hithcr and thither iD thousand wreaths,
Soon the fire became general, and its
fearful roar was swelled by the cries Of
joy ci lie assilants, ihe desperate sbrieks
OF the assailed, and indignant murmurs
of the lookers.on. Piorre de Mirepoix
urges tho people to interpose and had
almost succeeded. when Father Peter
saw the danger, and lesping on a low
wall and grasping the crucifx, he shout
ed "Wo, wo to him who dares raise
hand against the Holy Inquisition. Back
madmen, back madmeU, back com
mand you in the name of the Church
and Of jesus Christ. Wo to Moissnc.
if >hr hc { uaI tha fist,rer Of L,reiits
There shall not be left in her one soul
alive. Ansthoma Anathema ! a curse
upon you all l"-"Anathema ! Anathe-
ma p repeated his followers The ag- !
tated crowd drew back in terror and
many fell on their knees, exclaiming.
Pardon, pardon, o Lord !" @"But /
the wretched women, the poor children2" |
cried some. Mercy for them, at least.
Lord Inquisitor p "Who are you that
dare question the judgments of the
Church ?" answered tho frar, God
himself speaks by Her mouth. Who
among you dares resist the decrees of !
God 2 Who among you dores call them
unjust because bs cannot comprehend
them2 Iniquity and sacrilege !" Mean
while portion of the building was wh6i-
ly in flames. and mothers, mad with ter.
ror, were seen TO fling themselves from
the windows with their babes claspea to
their breasts, and fall in despair among
the blazing piles Of faggots Others
climbed up 10 the roof and ran to and |
fro like pbantoms in the midst of whirs
Of smoke and fire. The door was barn.
cd through A few men aud women
attempted TO make their way out through