What Was the Inquisition?
When medieval people used the word "inquisition," they were referring to a legal technique, not an organization. There was, in fact, no such thing as "the Inquisition" in the sense of an organization with a chain of command. Instead there were "inquisitors”, "individuals assigned by the pope to inquire into heresy in specific areas.” The inquisitor was an official inquirer called for information on a specific subject. This information was treated as confidential. The inquirer, aided by competent consultants, then weighed the evidence and determined whether there was reason for action. The process had to be based on an accusation by a third party who was punishable if the accusation was not proved, and in which the defendant could confront witnesses.
By the end of the thirteenth century most areas of continental Europe had been assigned inquisitors. The overwhelming majority was Franciscans or Dominicans, since members of these two orders were seen as pious, educated and highly mobile. Inquisitors worked in cooperation with the local bishops. The overwhelming majority of sentences seem to have consisted of penances like wearing a cross sewn on one's clothes, going on pilgrimage, etc. The inqusitor's goal was not to punish the guilty but to identify them, get them to confess their sins and repent, and restore them to the fold. Only around ten percent or less of the cases resulted in execution, a punishment normally reserved for obstinate heretics (who refused to repent and be reconciled) and lapsed heretics (who repented and were reconciled at one time but then fell back into error).
Primary Source: The Case of Beatrice 1320 AD from Central France
(Inquisitor) The year of the Lord 1320, the 19th of June: after it came to the attention of the Reverend Father in Christ Monsignor Jacques, by the grace of God bishop of Pamiers, that Beatrice, widow of Otho Lagleize of Dalou, who lived in Varilhes, held certain sentiments that seemed to hint at the Albigensian heresy. He wished…to inform himself about the above-mentioned facts and received the testimonials that follow.
(Inquisitor) What do you understand by these good Christians whom Raimond and this Alazais cite constantly?
(Beatrice) By 'good Christians' I understand heretics.
About 21 years ago, about one year after the death of my husband, I wished to go to confess at the church of Montaillou during Lent. When I was there, I went to Pierre Clergue, the rector, who listened to confessions behind the altar of Saint Mary. As soon as I had kneeled down before him, he embraced me, saying to me that there was no other woman in the world that he loved so much as me…
He told me also that since the outrage of crucifixion was performed on Christ on the cross, no one should adore or venerate the cross…
He told me that the church of God exists only where there is a good Christian, because he is the Church of God, but anywhere else there is no Church of God and the other men are not the Church of God…
He told me also that when these good Christians have received someone into their sect, they should afterwards neither eat nor drink, except cold water, and, when these people then die of starvation, they will be the saints of God…
And these heretical arguments continued between us during approximately two years, and this priest taught me all of this…
(Inquisitor) These errors and these heresies that the rector of the church of Montaillou, Pierre Clergue, told you and taught you, did you believe them and do you still believe them?
(Beatrice) At the time when I believed in these heresies, I did not see (neither before nor since) a heretic that I knew to be a heretic, although I believed them to be the good men, because they suffered matyrdom for God and also because of what this priest had taught me, that it was only in their sect that one could be saved.
I have great regret at having heard these heretical remarks and more to have believed these heresies and I am ready to undergo the penance which my lord bishop would like to impose on me for this.
How did Beatrice learn about Albigensian heresy? Did she understand that these beliefs were heretical? How did she respond to the questions of the Inquisitor?