Its process was reduced to a horrible simplicity.

It arrested on suspicion, tortured till confession, and then punished by fire.

Two witnesses, and those to separate facts, were sufficient to consign the victim to a loathsome dungeon.

Here he was sparingly supplied with food, forbidden to speak, or even to sing to which pastime it could hardly be thought he would feel much inclination--and then left to himself, till famine and misery should break his spirit.

When that time was supposed to have arrived he was examined.