{"collection":"Paganism & Neopaganism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/pag/mm/mm03_03a.htm","path":"pag/mm/mm03_03a.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/pag/mm/mm03_03a.htm","text":"Of the Solemn Adjuration and Re-examination of Witnesses\nBut it may be asked whether the Judge can compel witnesses to sweat an oath\nto tell the truth in a case concerning the Faith or witches, of if he can\nexamine them many times. We answer that he can do so, especially an\necclesiastical Judge, and that in ecclesiastical cases witnesses can be\ncompelled to speak the truth, and this on oath, since otherwise their\nevidence would not be valid. For the Canon Law says: The Archbishop or\nBishop may make a circuit of the parish in which it is rumoured that there\nare heretics, and compel three or more men of good repute, or even, if it\nseems good to him, the whole neighbourhood, to give evidence. And if any\nthrough damnable obstinacy stubbornly refuse to take the oath, they shall\non that account be considered as heretics.\nAnd that the witnesses can be examined several times is shown by the Canon,\nwhere it says that, when the witnesses have given their evidence in a\nconfused manner, or appear to have withheld part of their knowledge for\nsome reason, the Judge must take care to examine them afresh; for he may\nlegally do so.","title":"Malleus Maleficarum Part 3 Question III","type":"page"}