The Confession of Agnes Francou, Widow of Etienne Francou of the Heretical Sect of the Poor of Lyons from the Diocese of Vienne

In the year of Our Lord 1319, on Friday, the feast of Saint Laurence, Agnes, widow of Etienne of Vermelle, of the diocese of Vienne, who was arrested with Raymond de la Côte, also known as Raymond of Saint Foy, being highly suspected of belonging to the Waldensian heretics, or The Poor of Lyons, was summoned to appear before the honourable Father in Christ, the lord Jacques, by grace of God Bishop of Pamiers. The Bishop, who wanted to question her about certain matters concerning the Catholic faith, and chiefly about the Waldensian heresy and additional matters, because of which she was summoned and [about which] she was highly suspected, asked her to swear on a volume of the Books of the Gospels which was extended to her, that she would tell the truth as a principal witness, both about herself and about others, living or dead.

But Agnes refused to obey the Bishop's order and to swear, although he repeated his order several times, and said that on no account would she swear to any matter whatsoever, not even to save her life.

When the lord Bishop asked for what reason she refused to swear, she said it was because about a year before, when she fell ill at Vermelle and received the extreme unction from a certain chaplain who was serving as assistant-chaplain in the local church, whose name she thought was Etienne, after making her confession and receiving the unction, he ordered her never in any circumstances to swear about any matter whatsoever, and never to walk barefoot. She added that Our Lord Jesus did not lie from fear of death, and neither would she lie from fear of death, but would tell the truth about anything she was asked and would abide by her promise never to swear.

When the Bishop asked her if she believed that swearing to a matter of truth was a sin, she replied that it was, because she had been told as much by the said chaplain.