The Inquisition Record of Jacques Fournier
Bishop of Pamiers 1318-1325
An English translation by Nancy P. Stork
of selected confessions by Cathar heretics and Jews
to Bishop Jacques Fournier and
the Inquisition at Pamiers (France)
Fournier's Inquisition Record is one of the most remarkable and comprehensive
documents to survive from the Middle Ages. Fournier was a man of meticulous
habits and carefully supervised the keeping of his records. As a result,
the records of his inquisitions -- though primarily concerned with matters
of faith -- have served as the foundation of one of the classics of modern
social history, Emmanuel LeRoy Ladurie's magisterial work Montaillou:
The Promised Land of Error.
This work presents an entire portrait of medieval Occitan village life based
on the extensive confessions made to Fournier. Only rarely do those who
confessed to Fournier dispute with him over fine points of theology (the
Jew Baruch is one noteworthy exception); usually those confessing give an
intriguing portrait of themselves, their families and their everyday life.
This WebSite contains selected confessions, mostly by women, and is intended
to make accessible these intriguing documents, which are not currently available
in English. The manuscript of Jacques Fournier's Inquisition Record is currently
found in the Vatican Library, Lat. MS. 4030. and modern editions are available
in Latin and French. I have worked from both of these editions.
The following confessions are available:
These translations were prepared by Nancy P. Stork. To visit her
home page, click on her name below.
Nancy P. Stork
English Department
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA 95192-0090
(408)924-4477
nstork@email.sjsu.edu