Most people in
the workforce take their jobs seriously. This goes true throughout history,
including the late medieval period. However while farmers tilled the earth and
merchants hawked their wares, there were people who were laboring for a
different reason. Their charge was to root out heretical individuals who had fallen
out of sorts with the church by “forsaking the catholic faith, [giving]
themselves over to devils… [and practicing] incantations, charms, and conjuring”
(Kors and Peters, 178). This task was extremely important due to the nature of
the problem, with heresy symbolizing a loss in power and weakness in the
church.
Behind the
walls of the papal palace, support for the church’s inquisitors became official
in the form of papal decrees. During the thirteenth through fourteenth
centuries, papal bulls - or charters - were issued that effectively dealt with
inquisition. Although Pope Alexander IV made it the clear in 1258 that
inquisitors should not delve into matters beside “pestilential” heretical
offences, he referred to them as being “charged with the affairs of the faith,
which is the greatest of privileges (Kors and Peters, 117). Over two hundred
years later, Pope Innocent VIII issued a decree that expressed the authority of
the inquisitors. Believing that it was vital that the inquisitors not be “hindered
in the exercise of their office, to prevent the taint of heretical pravity
[sic] and of other like evils from spreading,” Innocent stated that all persons
who attempted to impede the work of the inquisitors would “incur the wrath of
almighty God” (Kors and Peter 178-180). These direct and somewhat harsh words
served as a warning to all that the role of the inquisitor was essential
because the urgency and importance of their work paramount.
Under the
auspices of the papacy, inquisitors during the late medieval period were
determined to carry out their charge thoroughly and effectively. Thanks to
papal bulls, their authority was given much more weight, illustrating the
importance that was associated with their work.
Is it rightfully assumed that these
papal bulls showcase the real concern that was emanating from the church during
this time? Did the support from the papacy mean that witchcraft and its
relation to heresy was a major issue for the church that could not be
overlooked?
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| 1486 treatise on the prosecution of witches, written by the inquisitor Heinrich Kramer, who was specifically mentioned in Innocent's bull (Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malleus_Maleficarum) |
From what I have read in regards to heresy there wasn't much of an emphasis on witchcraft. It didn't seem to be an issue at the forefront from what I have seen. It is easy to see though the relationship between the two however. I would say that the papacy taking such a strong stance against heresy would require it to take an equally aggressive stance towards witchcraft.
ReplyDeleteGood to think about change over time, as you point out Dylan, so that these two hundred years are very critical in new conceptions of heresy and what should be done.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to think of the inquistors as farmers tilling for heretics. It was an excellent analogue. At the time the papal bulls probably believed that what they were doing was the most important thing and was fighting the biggest threat to society. Heretics were outcasts and didn't fit into society so if the church didn't have any restrictions, anything that may be a threat to the church would be a threat to everyone whether it be to protect them or victimize the person.
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