Chapter IV.
The Reasons for Imprisoning Françoise
Secretain.
ABove I have set down the principal points of Françoise Secretain’s confession: she was further accused by Groz-Jacques of having changed herself into a wolf, but she would never speak openly of this matter. Before I examine each of these points, I must say that at first there was some doubt as to whether there was sufficient cause to seize and imprison this woman, on the ground that she should not be arrested on the strength of an accusation from a little girl that she had wished five devils on her; for it was considered that children are unstable and light-headed, and that it needs little to persuade them to say anything. l. 1 de minorib. D. late per Tiraq. de pœn. caus. 7. l. fin. de probat. c.Further, it was considered that no person should be lightly taken up when it is a question of his life or his honour; and that in a criminal process justice demands that the proofs should be clearer than daylight.
However, the contrary view prevailed, and the accused was apprehended for several reasons: first, that there was evidence of witchcraft; second, that although the girl was only eight years old, her depositions were so very precise and never varied; third, that the mother substantiated the fact that Françoise had lodged at their house after having been at first refused; fourth, that the father and mother said that they had never had any quarrel with Françoise; fifth, that during her affliction the girl had