always declared that it was no one but that woman who had bewitched her; sixth, that it was a question of the most abominable of all crimes, one which is usually committed at night and always in secret, and that therefore it did not call for such positive proof as would be required in the case of any other crime.Mascard. post alois tract. de probat. conclus. 1313, num. 2 et seq., vol. 3. For all the Doctors agree that less absolute proof is required in the case of grave, horrible and secret crimes. It was further considered that they were not asked to condemn the accused under the provisions of the said law, Jacob. de Bell. vis. 7 in sua practit. tit. de Inquisitio. num. 52.but only to commit her to prison so that she could more easily be brought to trial if the evidence should warrant such a course. Finally, it was reflected that a witch has the power to send devils into a person’s body, and that therefore the accusation against Françoise Secretain was a possible one; namely, that she had wished five devils on Loyse Maillat. For all these reasons, therefore, this woman was thrown into prison.
But they had not been able (as has since been the practice) to discover much against her beforehand; for they feared that she might make her escape if she were warned. And indeed the more recent usage in such cases is not altogether safe; and if it must be followed because no other course is possible, the witnesses must be sworn not to reveal their depositions, otherwise there is a danger that the matter may become known before all the information has been laid, and the accused may take to flight. But in this case the success of the event proved that Françoise Secretain had been deservedly imprisoned.
The secret judgement of God may be seen in this, when it is considered that numberless