The Elders sat as a regular court, hearing complaints and examining witnesses.

It is true that they could inflict only spiritual punishments, such as public censure, penance, excommunication, or forcing the culprit to demand pardon in church on his knees.

But when {171} the Consistory thought necessary, it could invoke the aid of the civil courts and the judgment was seldom doubtful.

Among the capital crimes were adultery, blasphemy, witchcraft, and heresy.

Punishments for all offences were astonishingly and increasingly heavy.