Friday, September 1, 2017

A Dancer in the Infinite - Chapter 56


Chapter 56 The Trial of Raymond

Quotes to be obtained

     Raymond’s trip had served its purpose.  Innocent was quite taken by young Raymond VII and was more kindly disposed to the elder than he had been.  He promised Raymond a fair trial in Toulouse, where he would be able to once and for all to prove his innocence, stop the sniping of papal legates and secure his holding against the appetite of the northern crusaders, particularly his two principle nemesis, the Pope’s legate of Langudoc, Arnold Amaury, and the new Duke of Carcassonne, Simon de Montfort.  The Pope sent with Raymond a letter to Amaury to this effect.

     Raymond, feeling good about his prospects had returned to Toulouse to prepare his defense.  On the day of the trial, which was to be held before the secular authorities of Toulouse itself, a optimistic Raymond invited his friends, including Joshua, who as always headed his noble friends’ invitations.  Amaury would act in the role as prosecutor.

     Joshua watched nervously, as he did not share the count’s confidence on the result, though with a friendly jury to hear the case, it did seem that Raymond’s prospects were well secured.  He knew his friend was an able orator and skilled diplomat, speaking before an audience that should be receptive to his arguments, and Raymond had the backing of the Pope himself.  But, Joshua could not help but be nervous as Raymond stood to address his jury to begin the trial.

     As he did so, Arnold Amaury cried out, “Wait!”

     The legate stood, surprising Raymond, “If the count will permit, I believe I can save us all a great deal of time and effort here.”  He looked over at the count, who seated himself once more.

     “Thank you, Count Raymond.  I do understand that you have returned yourself to His Holiness the Pope’s good graces, and that I am to help you get as fair a trial as is possible, by his order.  I assure you all that I shall do so now.”

     “However, there is one important aspect of trial law that needs first be addressed, and it is a simple one, that we shall get out of the way quite quickly.”

     Joshua saw Raymond sigh in relief at Amaury’s words, as if he were conceding victory to the count in the earliest moments of the trial.  Joshua was shrewd enough to not be so sure.  Amaury continued.

     “We were all witness to Raymond’s voluntary penance not eight months ago.  All of us here, watched our Count Raymond make certain promises to uphold the laws required by the Church.  Is that not so?  Indeed, we have seen it ourselves.  And what is the status of these promises, I ask you?  No?  Well, then I shall tell you.

     “On the count of his promise to hunt down all the heretics that crawl these lands….he has done nothing.  In fact he has impeded the efforts of those of us who are attempting to fulfill the Church’s orders.  You all know this to be true.  On the count of removing both Cathars and Jews holding public office and forcing them out of his lands…he has done nothing.  There” he pointed right at Joshua, “is a Jew that owns a vineyard nearby, he sits in council with Raymond, in fact.  I offer this as proof of the count’s perfidity.  On the count of duly accepting the orders and commands of the Pope’s own legates…this very trial stands as a violation of this pledge made before you all, as were all of these pledges, sworn over the holiest relics of Christiandom, on the very steps of his family’s Church of St. Gilles.

     “I offer you this obvious fact: that Count Raymond VI is therefore guilty of perjury, and by law he cannot be permitted to speak before us today.”

     Raymond’s face turned from red to pale and back to red once again.  Joshua saw on his face, there would be war.  Raymond’s lot was cast.  War would again erupt in Languedoc, now more violently than had been previously waged.  Toulouse would stand up to Simon de Montfort’s knights and troops.  Raymond had no longer cared for the blessings of Rome.  It was obvious that Innocent could not control the bloodlust of his own legates.  Joshua was disturbed from these thoughts as armed soldiers grabbed him roughly from behind and pulled him from his seat.

copyright 2017 Diana Hignutt

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