They were not willing that its use should pass out of the ecclesiastical hand.
The Inquisition, having already been tried in the south of France, had there proved to be very effective for the suppression of heresy.

It had been introduced into Aragon.

Now was assigned to it the duty of dealing with the Jews.
In the old times under Visigothic rule these people had greatly prospered, but the leniency that had been shown to them was succeeded by atrocious persecution, when the Visigoths abandoned their Arianism and became orthodox.

The most inhuman ordinances were issued against them--a law was enacted condemning them all to be slaves.

It was not to be wondered at that, when the Saracen invasion took place, the Jews did whatever they could to promote its success.