Page "Catharism" Paragraph 35

Hunted by the Inquisition and deserted by the nobles of their districts, the Cathars became more and more scattered fugitives: meeting surreptitiously in forests and mountain wilds.

Later insurrections broke out under the leadership of Bernard of Foix, Aimery of Narbonne and Bernard Délicieux ( a Franciscan friar later prosecuted for his adherence to another heretical movement, that of the Spiritual Franciscans ) at the beginning of the 14th century.

But by this time the Inquisition had grown very powerful.

Consequently, many were summoned to appear before it.

Precise indications of this are found in the registers of the Inquisitors, Bernard of Caux, Jean de St Pierre, Geoffroy d ' Ablis, and others.

The parfaits only rarely recanted, and hundreds were burnt.

Repentant lay believers were punished, but their lives were spared as long as they did not relapse.

Having recanted, they were obliged to sew yellow crosses onto their outdoor clothing and to live apart from other Catholics, at least for a while.