them odious to the people as if they had preferred the peace with the Turke before that with the Church the kingdome of Christ affirming that they maintained that the Pope did mortally sinne when he sends an expedition of souldiers with the badge of the crosse vpon their Cassockes or Coatarmour against the Sarazens For their iustification herein we must obserue In the booke of the causes of their separation frō the Church of Rome p. 235 that they complaine not of the enterprise of warre against the Turkes but of those spoiles that the Popes make of the goods of the Church and other diuine graces vnder the pretence thereof abusing the ignorant people with their Buls and Benedictions who too willingly receiue their lies and inuentions buying them at a deare rate As also they thinke hardly of it that the Pope should send out his Croisades his crossed souldiers being strangers to pursue them as heretickes before they be heard or conuinced to be such But they are not the onely men that condemne this auarice which the reuenging spirits of the Popes haue shewed by their Croisades Paulus Langius a Germane Historiographer layes an imputation vpon Leo the tenth Paul Lan. in his Chronicle of France 1513. See the examination of the Councell of Trent lib. 1. c. 5. that he leuied great summes of money vnder a pretence of warre against the Turkes which he bestowed shortly after vpon thirtie Cardinals which he had newly created Guicciardine noteth in his Historie that the selfe same Pope imposed great exactions vpon the people the bene fit whereof fell into the lap of his sister Magdalen and that all that leuie of money was but to satisfie the auarice of a woman and that the Bishop of Aremboldo was thought by him a commissarie worthy such an action to put it in execution with all manner of extortion Alexander the fourth conuerted the vow of Hierusalem to the vow of Pouille that is to say A part of Naples whose inhabitants are held very dangerous the vow of reuenge For he gaue power to his Legats to absolue the King of England Henry the third by name dispensing with his vow of the crosse for Hierusalem vpon condition that he should go to Pouille to make warre against Manfred Frederic Emperour not long before It is the Historiographer Math. Paris Math. Paris in his Historie of England See the first booke of the examination of the Councell of Trent cap. 5. In the booke of the causes of their separation frō the Church of Rome p. 125 that setteth downe the complaint that then was made that is to say that the tenths imployed for the succour of the holy Land were taken away and conuerted to the reliefe of Pouille against the Christians The eight calumnie was that they vsed no reuerence towards holy and consecrated places holding that that man sinned not more grieuously that burneth a Church then he that breakes into any other house They say that neither the place nor the chaire make a man the more holy and they haue maintained that they deceiue themselues much that comfort themselues or presume the more because of the dignitie of the place for what place more high then Paradise what place more secure then heauen and yet neuerthelesse man was banished out of Paradise for sinning there and the Angels were throwne from heauen to the end they might be examples to those that came after and to teach them that it is not the place nor the greatnesse nor dignitie thereof that makes a man holy but the innocencie of his life Against the ninth calumnie that is to say that they defend that the Magistrate ought not to condemne any to death they say That it is writtē In the booke of the Waldenses entituled The light of the treasure of faith fol. 214. that we are not to suffer the malefactor to liue and that without correction and discipline doctrine serues to no purpose neither should iudgements be acknowledged nor sinnes punished And therefore iust anger is the mother of discipline and patience without reason the seed of vices and permitteth the wicked to digresse from truth and honestie True it is that they haue found fault that the Magistrates should deliuer them to death It appeareth by the complaint they made to the King Ladislaus King of Hungary and Bohemia without any other knowledge of the cause then the simple report of Priests and Monkes who were parties and iudges insomuch that hauing discouered the abuse which they brought into the Church they condemned them for heretickes and deliuered them to the secular power so they call their Magistrates Now this seemed vnto them a cruell simplicitie in the said Magistrates to giue faith to persons passionate and not indifferent such as the aforesaid Priests were and to put to death so many poore innocent people neuer hearing them or examining the cause The tenth calumnie was to make them odious to Kings and Princes that is to say that a lay man in the state of grace had greater authoritie then a Prince liuing in his sinnes Against this imposture they affirme In the booke of the causes of their separation frō the Church of Rome p. 41. that euery one must be subiect to those that are in authoritie obey them loue them be at peace with them honour them with double honour in subiection and obedience and readinesse paying vnto them that which is their due The eleuenth calumnie was grounded vpon that assertion of the Waldenses that the Pope had no authoritie ouer the Kings and Princes of the earth who depend immediatly vpon God alone For from thence they take occasion to call them Manichees as appointing two Princes Against this imputation they say In the booke of the treasure of faith art 2. We beleeue that the holy Trinitie hath created all things visible and inuisible and that he is Lord of things celestiall terrestiall and infernall as it is said in S. Iohn All things are made by him and without him nothing is made The beginning of this calumnie was taken out of the Extrauagantes of Pope Boniface 8. who subiecting the authoritie of Emperours vnto his saith of his owne Quicunque huic potestati resistit Dei ordinationi resistit nisi duo sicut Manichaeus fingat esse principia De Maiorit obedientia Can. Vnam sanctam l. 1. tom 8. The twelfth calumnie imports thus much that they held that whatsoeuer is done with a good intention is good and that euery one shall be saued in whatsoeuer is done with the said good intention To this imposture we need no other answer then that which the Monke Raynerius who was alwaies their back-friend saith elsewhere Rain lib. de forma haeretic art 38. that is that they maintaine that euery man is saued by his faith which he cals a Sect. It is very necessary that a lyer should haue a better memorie then to affirme things contradictorie And to shew that
Law of God and common Justice so also by several Decrees of the Dukes of Savey made in favour of the Protestants September 29. 1603. and June 4. 1653. it is prohibited that the innocent should not suffer for the guilty so the Professors of the Reformed Religion do not desire to hinder but make it their humble and earnest Request that such as are guilty may be brought to punishment From hence then it is obvious enough to any man upon what account it is that the enemies of the Reformed Churches have not onely driven very many of them out of their native Countrey and ancient dwellings into banishment but goe on stil to persecute them by a most cruel and bloody war which they have cause to believe is not carried on against them by the proper inclination and direction of the Prince himselfe but through the perswasion and instigation of the Congregation for propagating the Faith and extirpation of Hereticks who have usurped the cognizance of this Controversie being the onely persons that have hindred the Protestants from being heard by the Prince when they have presented their Petitions or made any Addresses to his Royal Highnesse But yet they so ordered the matter that they directed divers Courtiers their creatures to feed the poore Protestants with hope that the eares of the Prince being wearied out with continued Petitions they might at length obtaine the favour to have their businesse brought to a triall before competent Judges while in the mean time they prepared Forces underhand with which they make it their businesse to fall upon them unawares and oppresse and destroy them It is against this unjust violence that the Protestants endeavour to defend themselves They struggle not against their Prince but with the said Congregation for extirpating Hereticks who as in the hearing and judging of this Cause so also in the bloody execution of their sentence by the sword have for the covering of their injustice made use of the name and Authority of the most illustrious Prince Moreover they with the like injury blame those Churches in the Valleys of Piedmont about those Letters of intercession written on their behalf to the Duke of Savoy by forrein Magistrates of the Reformed Religion as if they applied themselves to States Princes abroad for protection whereas those Letters are no more but friendly offices writtten without the privity of those Churches much lesse upon their intreaty and sent by those Magistrates of their own accord induced thereto by a Pious and Zealous affection and out of a brotherly commiseration of that most grievous calamity which might have moved even stocks and stones and whereof they had sufficient notice from other Parts seeing the turning of so many men women children Infants and sick persons out of dores to the wide world in the midst of winter at three daies warning upon pain of death was become a most notorious businesse which cried out aloud of it self and by reason of the wandring of those miserable Exiles who were forced to rove up and down like vagabonds to beg their bread Nor could they be ignorant how unjustly those their Protastant brethren of the Valleys of Piedmont were oppressed by their Adversaries in the Congregation for propagating the Faith who had openly arrogated to themselves the judging of the Cause of those our brethren in the Archbishop of Turin's house contrary to all the Rules of judicial proceeding and abused the Authority of the Duke of Savoy to oppresse and destroy them An Appendix to the foregoing Apologie AS we are informed by severall Letters the ruine long intended by the enemies of the truth of the Churches of Piedmont by the permission of God being angry because of our sinnes is now executed Indeed they had put off the execution by fained shewes and hopes of reconciliation that they might the while provide all necessaries to compasse their ends But against our expectation upon the 16. of April 1655. the Army made up of the Forces of the Duke of Savoy and of the King of France amongst which were some Irish Regiments fell upon the Churches of the Valley of Lucerna and with them the Militia of Piedmont and a crew of banished theeves felons and other malefactors let on purpose out of prison and from all parts flocking together in hope of prey whose incursions in an hostile manner the Reformed mistrusting at first and fearing to be crushed ere they could be heard when all means of approach by supplication to his Highnesse the Duke of Savoy was taken from them they withdrew themselves into the mountaines But the Commander of that Army the Marquesse of Pianesse sewing the Fox skin to that of the Lyons feigned he had no other intention then to intreate the Reformed that they would approve to the Prince their faith and obedience not by bare words but by reall facts viz. by quartering onely for three daies three Regiments of the Army viz. one at Angrogne another at Villars and a third at Boby which if they did he faithfully promised that no harme to them or theirs should be done which when it was granted by the Reformed and they had received the three Regiments presently the whole Army rushed upon them no difference made of men women children or sucking babes dashing them against stones some laying hold on them by the legges and either dismembring them or hurling them headlong into precipices with such fury that the very rocks were wet bloody with their brains and that in sight of the mothers who after the murther committed upon their children were themselves likewise murthered as it was done in the Borrough of Villars and Boby with such horrible butchery that some appeared to be indeed partakers of the crosse of Christ by being nailed to trees and put to imgring deaths am ongst whom one Paul Clement a man of a very upright life who being nailed the head downward did undergoe with great constancy the butchery and continued in holy prayers to God to the very last others especially of the weaker age and sex striving to flie from the fury of the souldiers being driven through Precipices into the mountaines full of snow died of cold and of other accidents as the numerous family of the L. Scipion Bastia In the Countries of St. John and la Tour they fell with fire and Sword upon Churches and private houses this holy fire being kindled by a Priest and a Franciscan Frier thereby to prove himselfe a Seraphin with his St. Francis to whom his Disciples give the seat of Lucifer This disaster being made in the Churches of Lucerne the Commander of the neighbour Valleys under the Duke of Savoy namely in that of Perouse St. Martine and Rupelate as glorying at the thing done commanded the Inhabitants of those places in case they did not turn Papists to leave the Countrey Whereupon those who perferred the richesses of Christ and Heaven to the earthy Country chearfully went out carrying his shame and followed him
his supreme dignitie power cursed Valdo and his adherents and commanded the Archbishop to proceed against them by Ecclesiasticall censures euen to the vtter extirpation of them Claud. Rubis saith Claud. Rubis in his hist pa. 269. that Valdo and his followers were wholly chased out of Lions and Albert de Capitaneis saith that they could not be wholly driuen out Other things we could not learne of this first persecution but onely that they that escaped out of Lions Albert de Capit. in his booke of the originall of the Vaudois who of Valdo were called Waldenses followed him and afterwards did spread themselues into diuerse companies and places CHAP. II. That the dispersion of Valdo and his followers was the meanes that God vsed to spread the doctrine of Valdo almost throughout all Europe ALbert de Capitaneis saith that Valdo retired himselfe into Dauphiney at his departure from Lions and Claud. de Rubis affirmeth that he conuersed in the mountaines of the said Prouince with certaine rude persons yet capable to receiue the impressions of his beleefe And true it is that the Churches of the Waldenses which haue continued very long and whereof there are yet a greater number then in any other place of Europe are they of Dauphiney and the bordering race or linage of them that is to say those of Piemount and Prouence Vignier saith that he retyred into Picardie Vignier in the 3. part of his historicall Bibliothe que pa. 130. where in a short time he did so much good that there were diuerse persons that did adhere vnto his doctrine for which shortly after they suffered great persecutions Dubranius in his historie of Bohemia Booke 14. For as Dubranius saith sometime after King Philip Augustus enforced by the Ecclesiasticall persons tooke armes against the Waldenses of Picardie razed and ouerthrew three hundred houses of gentlemen that followed their part and destroyed certaine walled Townes pursuing them into Flanders whither they were fled and caused a number of them to be burnt This persecution enforced many to flie into Germany where shortly after they were grieuously persecuted namely See the Sea of Histories in the countrie of Alsatia and along the Rhine by the Bishops of Mayence and of Strasburge who caused to be burnt in the towne of Bnigne thirtie fiue Burgesses of Mayence in one fire and at Mayence eighteene who with great constancie suffered death And at Strasburge fourescore were burnt at the instance of the Bishop of the place These persecutions multiplied in such sort by the edification that they receiued who saw them dye praysing God and assuring themselues of his mercy that notwithstanding the continuall persecutions there were in the County of Passau and about Bohemia in the yeare one thousand three hundred and fifteene to the number of fourescore thousand persons that made profession of the same faith Math. Paris in his historie of the life of king Hen. 3. in the yeare 1223. They had likewise goodly Churches in Bulgaria Croatia Dalmatia and Hungarie as Math. Paris reports instructed and gouerned by one Barthelmew borne at Carcassonne The Albegeois on the other side professing the same faith haue filled many countries vntill in the end they were almost wholly extirpated as shall appeare in their particular historie CHAP. III. By what names the Waldenses haue bene called by their aduersaries and with what faults and offences they haue bene charged THe Monks Inquisitors and mortall enemies to the Waldenses not being content to deliuer them euery day to the secular power they haue besides layed vpon them many opprobrious imputations affirming them to be the authors of all the heresies in the world which they endeuoured to purge imputing all those monstrous abuses that they had forged onely to the Waldenses as if they onely had bene the receptacle of all errours First therefore they called them of Valdo a citizen of Lions Waldenses of the countrie of Albi Albigeois Vaudois Albigeois And because such as did adhere to the doctrine of Valdo departed from Lions spoiled of all humane meanes and the most part hauing left their goods behind them in derision they called them the beggers of Lions In Dauphiney they were called in mockerie Chaignards Chaignards And because some part of them passed the Alpes Tramontaines they were called Tramontaines And from one of the disciples of Valdo called Ioseph who preached in Dauphiney in the diocesse of Dye Iosephists they were called Iosephists In England they were called Lollards Lollards of the name of one Lollard who taught there Of two priests who taught the doctrine of Valdo in Languedoc called Henry and Esperon they were called Henriciens Henriciens Esperonistes and Esperonistes Of one of their pastors who preached in Albegeois named Arnold Hot Arnoldistes Siccars they were called Arnoldists In Prouence they were called Siccars a word of Pedlers french which signifieth Cutpurse In Italie they were called Fraticelli Fraticelli as much to say as Shifters because they liued in true loue and concord together And because they obserued no other day of rest but the Sabbath dayes Insabathas they called them Insabathas as much to say as they obserued no Sabbath And because they were alwayes exposed to continuall sufferings Patareniens or Paturins from the Latin word Pati which signifieth to suffer they called them Patareniens And forasmuch as like poore passengers they wandred from one place to another Passagenes they were called Passagenes In Germany they were called Gazares Gazares as much to say as execrable and egregiously wicked In Flanders they were called Turlupins Turlupins that is to say dwellers with wolues because by reason of their persecutions they were constrained many times to dwell in woods and desarts Sometimes they were called by the names of those countries and regions where they dwelt Toulousains Lombards Piccards Lionistes Bohemiens as of Albi Albigeois of Toulouze Toulousains of Lombardie Lombards of Piccardie Piccards of Lion Lionists of Bohemia Bohemiens Sometimes to make them more odious they made them cōfederates with ancient heretickes but yet vnder more then ridiculous pretexes For because they made profession of puritie in their liues and of faith they called them Cathares Cathares And because they denied the bread which the priest shewed in the Masse to be God they called them Arriens Arriens as denying the diuinitie of the eternall Sonne of God And because they maintained that the authoritie of Emperours and Kings depends not vpon the authoritie of the Pope Manicheens Gnostiques Cataphrigiens Adamites Apostoliques they called them Manichcens as appointing two Princes And for other causes which they fained they called them Gnostiques Cataphrigiens Adamites and Apostoliques Sometimes they spitefully abused them Matthew Paris cals them Ribalds Ribalds Buggerers Sorcerers The compiler of the Treasure of histories calles thrm Buggerers Rubis saith that when a man
Valentinois where at this present there are places wherin times out of mind the faith of the Waldēses hath been receiued from the father to the sonne as the place des Faulques and Beauregard in Valentia and La Baulme neere Crest out of which places there are come to our hands certaine proces against some particular persons of the same places for being accused by the Inquisitors as adhearing to the faith of the Waldenses aboue three hundred yeeres since But the more famous Churches of the saide Prouince are those of the Valley of Fraissiniere neere Ambrun of Argenterie of the Valley Loyse which for the VValdenses sakes was called Val lute as if there had been nothing in the said Valley but a Brothel-house and receptacle of all manner of dissolute liuing and villany This was vtterly rooted out On the other side of the Alpes there is a valley called the Valley of Pragela where they haue inhabited time out of minde A Valley that is in the iurisdiction of the Arch-bishop of Turin peopled euen at this present with those that are descended from the first Waldenses of whom mention hath been made heretofore They were the inhabitants of this Valley that peopled the Waldensian Valleies of Piedmont La Perouse Saint Martin Angrongne and others as also those of the Waldenses inhabited in Prouence and Calabria are come out of those places of Dauphine and Piedmont In said Valley of Pragela there are at this day six goodly Churches euery one hauing their Pastor and euerie Pastor hauing diuers villages which belong to euery one of these Churches all filled with those that haue descended from the ancient VValdenses They are Churches truely reformed time out of minde For although in the said Valley there are at this present old people and not a small number that draw neere yea and some that are aboue a hundred yeere old yet these good old men haue neuer heard of their fathers or grand-fathers that masse was euer sung in their times in that Country And though perhaps the Arch-bishops of Turin haue caused it to be song in the said Valley whereof the inhabitants haue had no knowledge yet there is not any amongst them that makes profession of any other faith or beleefe then that the confession whereof we haue heard in the former booke For all those bookes before mentioned haue bin receiued by the Inhabitants of the said valley which hath been in times past one of the safest retiring places that the Waldenses had in all Europe enuironed on all sides with mountaines almost vnaccressable within the caues whereof they retired themselues in times of persecution Le Sieur de Vignaux who was one of the first Pastors that preached to his people long before the exercise of the reformed Religion was free in France could not satisfie himselfe with the liberall speech integrity and piety of these people whom he found altogether disposed to receiue the dispensation of the word of God which their fore-fathers had cherished and in which they had instructed their posterity And it was worthy the obseruation that notwithstanding they were weakned on all sides and enuironed with the enemies of their Religion in danger to be apprehended when they went out of their dores yet was there neuer any worldly respect that had power to alter their holy resolution from the father to the sonne to serue God taking his word for the rule of their faith and his law for the rule of their obedience And in this designe it was that they haue been blessed of God aboue all Christian people throughout Europe insomuch that their infants were hardly weaned from their mothers breast but their parents tooke a singular delight to instruct them in the Christian faith and doctrine vntill they were able to confound many persons dwelling elswhere well strooken in yeeres and ouerwhelmed with ignorance To this passe their Pastors brought them who not being content to giue them exhortations vpon the Sabboth daies went also in the weeke-daies to instruct them in the villages and hamlets thereabouts not sparing themselues for the roughnes of the rockes the coldnesse of the ayre the inciuility of the country where they were faine to clime vp high mountains to visit their flocke and to carry vnto them the foode of their soules euen at those times when the people in the heat of summer were keeping their cattell vpon the high rockes and there they many times teach and instruct them in the open fields There you may see those that heare the word of God with attention and reuerence There is discipline exercised with fruit There the people pray with feruency of zeale at their retaine from their labors at night when they go toe their rest in the morning before they vndertake any worke First in their priuate houses then in the Temple they begge the assistance of the Lord in all their actions thoughts words and deeds and so betake themselues to their labours vnder the protection of the liuing God whom they loue and honour and adore There you may descry more zeale and more simplicity then in many other places that abound in the delights and pleasures of this world neither are they so rude and blockish but that they haue diuers amongst them that can reade and deliuer their mindes in good tearmes especially they that trauell sometimes into the lower Countries for their commodities they haue Schooles wherein their children are taught and nurtured neither doe they want any thing they thinke necessary to aduance the glory of God amongst them The first persecution that is come to our knowledge was that which was moued by a certain Monke Inquisitor of the Order of the Frier-Minors named Francis Borelli hauing a Commission in the yeere 1380 Anno 1380. to make inquiry and to informe touching the Sect of the Waldenses in the Dioces of Aix Arles Ambrun Vienna Geneua Aubonne Sauoy the Venetian County Dyois Forests This Bull was taken out of the Chamber Country of Grenoble the Principality of Orenge the Citty of Anignon and Selon as his Bull gaue him authority which he receiued from Clement the seuenth who then was Resident and ruled in Anignon By reason of the neerenes of his Court to the habitation of the Waldenses hee thought good to purge Dauphine of those that held him to bee Antichrist and for this cause he commanded the Bishops of Dauphine Prouence and other places to which his power did extend for there was then a schisme and all Europe was diuided partly for Vrbani the sixt and partly for this said Clement to watch in such sort ouer their flockes that there might not any liue amongst them that was of the Sect of the Waldenses This Monke cited to appeare before hin at Ambrun all the inhabitants of Erassiniere Argentiere and the valley Pute vpon paine of excommunication They appeared not nor any for them were therefore condemned for their contumacy and in the end shut out of the Church by
and discipline of our mother the holy Church yet neuerthelesse some religious Mandians who call themselues the Inquisitors of the faith and others thinking by vexations and troubles to extort from them their goods and otherwise to molest them in their persons haue been desirous and still are to lay false imputations vpon them that they hold and beleeue certaine Heresies and superstitions against the Catholike faith and vnder this collour haue and still doe vex and trouble them with strange inuolutions of proces both in our Court of Parliament in Dauphine and in diuers other Countries and iurisdictions And to come to the confiscation of the goods of those whom they charge with the same offence many of the Iudges yea and the said Inquisitors of the faith themselues being cōmonly religious Mandians Mandians vnder the shadow of the office of Inquisitors haue sent and euery day do send forth proces against those poore people without reasonable cause putting some of them to the racke and calling them in question without any precedent information and condemning them for matters whereof they were neuer culpable as hath bin afterwards found and of some to set them at liberty haue taken and exacted great summes of money and by diuers meanes haue vniustly vexed and troubled them to the great preiudice and hinderance not onely of the said Suppliants but of Vs and the Weale-publicke of our Country of Dauphine Wee therefore being willing to prouide against this mischiefe and not to suffer Our poor people to be vexed and troubled by such wrongfull proceedings especially the Inhabitants of the said places affirming that they haue alwates liued and will liue as becommeth good Christians and Catholikes not hauing euer beleeued nor held other beleefe then that of our mother the holy Church nor maintained nor will maintaine or beleeue any thing to the contrary and that it is against all reason that any man should be condemned of the crime of Heresie but onely they that with obdurate obstinacy wil stubbornly maintain and affirme things contrary to the sincerity of our faith Wee haue by great and mature deliberation and to meet with such fraudes and abuses vniust vexations and exactions granted to the said Suppliants and doe grant and of our certain knowledge and speciall consent full power and authority royall Delphinale VVe haue willed and ordained and doe will and ordaine by these Presents that the said Suppliants and all others of our Country of Dauphine be freed from their courts and proces and whatsoeuer proces any of them shall haue sent forth for the causes aboue mentioned We haue of our certaine knowledge full power and authority royall and Delphinale abolished and doe abolish made and doe make of none effect by these Presents and we will that from all times past vnto this day there be nothing demanded of them or wrong offered either in body or goods or good name Except neuertheles there bee any that will obstinately and out of a hardned heart maintaine and affirme any thing against the holy Catholike faith Moreouer we haue willed and ordained and doe will and ordaine that the goods of the said Inhabitants Suppliants and all other of our Country of Dauphine that for the causes aboue mentioned haue been taken and exacted of any person in any manner whatsoeuer by execution or otherwise shall by the ordinance or command of our Court of Parliament of Dauphine or any other whatsoeuer as also all bils and obligations which they haue giuen for the causes aboue said whether it be for the paiment of fees for the said proces or otherwise shall againe bee restored vnto them vnto which restitution all such shall be constrained that haue in any thing either by sale or spoile of their goods moueables or vnmoueables by detention or imprisonment of their persons any way wronged them vntill they haue restored their goods and things aboue mentioned and obeyed otherwise to bee inforced by all due and resonable meanes requisite in such a case notwithstanding all appellations whatsoeuer which our will is in any manner be deferred And because that by reason of those confiscations which haue heen beretofore pretended of the goods of those whom they haue charged and accused in this case diuers more for couetousnesse and a desire of the said confiscations or part of them then for iustice doe and haue put many people in sute and to come to the end of their confiscations haue held diuers tearmes against iustice VVe haue declared and doe declare by these Presents that we will not from hence forward for the said cause haue any confiscations taken leuied or exacted for vs or by our Officers and whatsoeuer right may come vnto vs we doe acquit our selues off and remit vnto the children or other inheritours thereof against whomsoeuer shall pretend a right to those confiscations As also to meet with those fraudes and abuses offered by the said Inquisitors of the faith we haue forbid and doe forbid that any man suffer any of the said Inquisitors of the faith to proceed from hence forward against any of the said Inhabitants of our country of Dauphine nor restraine any of them for the cause aboue mentioned without expresse letters from our selfe touching that matter Moreouer we haue forbid and doe forbid for the cause aforesaid and the like any of our Iudges and Officers of our Subiects to vndertake any iurisdiction or knowledge but all causes and proces in the said case to be sent vnto vs and those of our grand Counsell to vs to whom and not vnto others wee haue reserued the hearing and determination Wee therefore command and directly enioyne you that our Letters be put in execution from point to point according to the forme aboue said and not other waies as in such case is requisite For it is our pleasure it should bee done and to doe it we giue you full power and authority and commission and speciall commandement We charge and command all our Iustices Officers Subiects Commissioners and Deputies to giue their assistance for the due obedience thereunto Giuen at Arras the 18 of May 1578. The Arch-bishop of Ambrun ceaseth not to proceed against the accused yea he was much more animated then before grounding himself vpon that clause of the aforesaid Letters If there bee not any found rebellious and refractary and that obstinately harden themselues in their opinions And therefore he pretended not to doe any thing against the aforesaid Letters because they that had obtained them made not their appearance in iudgement for their iustification verifying that they were neither obstinate nor rebellious Moreouer the Arch-bishop extorted from the one part of the Inhabitants af Frassiniere Argentiere and the valley Loyse a disclaiming of those requests presented to the King declaring that there were no people in Dauphine lesse free from Heresie then they that were most forward to purge themselues before the King He caused information againe to be made and that which we haue
death he was condemned to be burnt and so being brought out of prison his sentence was read in the same place and cast into the fire And this was the last of the Waldenses that is come to our knowledge that hath been persecuted to the death for his beliefe CHAP. V. Of the Waldenses inhabiting in the Valleys of Meane and Maites and the Marquisate of Saluces and the last persecutions that they suffered AT what time the Waldenses of Dauphine dispersed themselues in Piedmont there were some that made their abode in the Marquisate of Saluces in the Valleys Maties and Meane and the parts thereabouts These were not forborne during the grieuous persecutions which their brethren of the Valleys of Angrongne Saint Martin and others suffered All their refuge was to flie into the said Valleys namely when the said Gouernours of the said Marquisate persecuted them by the commandement of the Kings of France who condemned to death within their Realmes all such as made profession of the same beliefe that they did Now the deceased King of Happy memory Henry the Great and fourth of that name hauing giuen to his Subiects an edict of pacification the Waldenses that liued in the Marquisate inioyed the same priuiledges that the other Subiects did of the same Realme but when afterwards by the treaty with the Duke of Sauoy la Bresse was changed for the Marquisate of Saluces the poore Waldenses were depriued of the free exercises of their Religion within the iurisdiction of the said Marquisate for at the instance of the Nuntio of Pope Clement the eight the free liberty of their Religion was not onely interdicted but by a new edict all they were banished that within the said Marquisate made profession of any other Religion then that of the Church of Rome and for the better furtherance of their speedy departure there were sent to the said Valleys and Marquisate a great number of Monkes Inquisitors who went from house to house examining the consciences of euery one by which meanes there were aboue fiue hundred families banished who retired themselues into the Realme of France but especially into Dauphine And to the end that in those places into which they were come it might not be cast in their teeth that they were banished out of their Countries for some wickednesse that they had committed but that it was onely the zeale they bare to their religion that had made them wanderers in the world they made this Declaration following in the yeere 1603. The Declaration of the VValdenses of the Valleys Maties and Meane and the Marquisate of Saluces made in the yeere 1603. FOrasmuch as time out of minde and from the father vnto the sonne our Predecessors haue been instructed and nourished in the doctrine and Religion whereof from our infancy we haue made open profession and haue instructed our families as we haue learnt of our fore-fathers As also that during the time that the King of France held the Marquisate of Saluces it was lawfull for vs to make profession not being disquieted or molested as our brethren of the Valleys of Lucerna la Perouse and others who by an expresse treaty and agreement made with our Soueraign Prince Lord haue inioyed vnto this present the free exercise of the reformed religion but his Highnesse being perswaded by euill councell and ill affected people rather then his owne will hath resolued to molest vs and to that end hath published an edict To the end therefore that it may be made known to all men that it is not for any crime committed either against the person of our Prince or for any rebellion against his edicts or the committing of any murthers or thest that wee are thus tormented and spoiled of our goods and houses Wee declare that being certainly assured and perswaded that the doctrine and Religion taught and followed in the reformed Churches as well of France Switserland Germany Geneua England Scotland Denmarke Suâ—dia Polonia as other Realmes Countries and Signories whereof we haue vnto this present time made open profession vnder the obedience of our Princes and Soueraigne Lords is the onely true doctrine and Christian religion ordained and approued of God which onely can make vs agreeable vnto him and conduct vs to saluation Wee are resolued to follow it with the losse of our liues goods and honours and to continue therein the remainder of our liues And if any shall pretend that we are in an error we require him to make vs see our error and offer incontinently to abiure and do likewise promise to follow that which shall be proued vnto vs to be the better desiring nothing so much as with an assured and safe conscience to follow the true and lawfull seruice which we poore creatures owe vnto our Creator and by that meanes to attaine to the true and eternall felicity But if any shall goe about by force and constraint to cause vs to forsake and abandon the true way of our saluation and to enforce vs to follow the errours and superstitions and false doctrines inuented by men wee desire a great deale rather to abandon our houses our goods and liues too We therefore humbly beseech his Highnesse whom we acknowledge to bee our lawfull Prince and Lord not to suffer vs to molested without cause but rather permit vs to continue so long as wee liue and our children and posterity after vs in that obedience and seruice which vnto this day wee haue rendred vnto him as faithfull and loyall Subiects and so much the rather because we demand no other thing of him but that we yeelding faithfully vnto him that which we are bound vnto by the expresse commandement of God it may likewise bee lawfull for vs to render vnto God that homage and seruice which wee owe vnto him and he requires at our hands in his holy word Beseeching in the meane time in the middle of our exile and calamity the Reformed Churches to hold vs and acknowledge vs to bee true members therereof being willing to seale withour blood if God will haue it so the Confession of faith made and published by them which we acknowledge in all things and throughout conformable to the doctrine taught and written by the holy Apostles and therefore truely Apostolicall Wee promise to liue and die therein And if so doing we be afflicted and persecuted we yeeld hearty thanks vnto God who hath done vs that honour to suffer for his name leauing the issue of our affaires and the iustice of our cause in the hands of his diuine prouidence who will deliuer vs when and by what meanes it pleaseth him Humbly beseeching him that as he hath the hearts of Kings and Princes in his hands he will be pleased to mollifie the heart of his Highnesse to take pitty of those that haue neuer offended him or purpose to offend him to the end hee may hold and acknowledge those to be more faithfull loyall and obedient to his seruice then they are that
had beene giuen them that nothing should be altered within the citie This good vse did the Earle Simon make of the presence and forces of Prince Lewis for otherwise he durst not haue enterprised the saccage and dismantling of this goodly and great citie without the endangering of his fortunes were his forces neuer so great At this very time arriued Bonauenture the Popes new Legat and of those that tooke on them the Crosse the Bishop of Beauuois the Earle of Saint Paul the Earle of Sauoy the Earle of Alençon the Vicount of Melun Mathew de Montmorenci and other great Lords that accompanied him The Legat seeing so many Pilgrims began to feare lest Prince Lewis should dispose of diuers places which the Albingenses held to the preiudice of the Popes authoritie vnder whose name all those conquests were made for the auoiding whereof he sent vnto all those places that held for the said Albingenses the absolution and safeguard of the Church in such sort that the Prince thinking to make an assault vpon any of them they produced their absolution and shewed that they were vnder the protection of the Church And this Legat grew so audacious as to tell Prince Lewis that since he was become a souldier of the Crosse he was subiect to his commands because he did represent the person of the Pope whose pardons he was come to obtaine by obeying the Church not by commanding as the sonne of a King reproching him besides that the King his father made no account to contribute to the extirpation of the Albingenses when the time and season serued and there was best opportunity but now after those victories miraculously obtained he came to gleane the eares of that glory which was due vnto those only that had prodigally spent their liues for the Church The Prince dissembled this audacious boldnesse Narbonne was dismantled by the agreement of the said Prince which neither the Legat nor the Earle Simon would not haue durst to enterprise without his presence The Bishop of Narbonne did what he could to hinder the dismantling of it affirming that it did much import that a place in the frontiers of Spaine should bee preserued with the walles and rampiers thereof but the Earle Simon and the Legat were very instant to the contrary they obtained their desires Here endeth the good fortune of the Earle Simon for in the end of this leuy of Pilgrims which Prince Lewis brought with him he had enough to doe to defend himselfe from blowes notwithstanding the Albingenses were also wearied with continuall warres and visited from time to time with new expeditions insomuch that they sunke vnder the burthen of them Now forasmuch as this warre changeth countenance in the person of the chiefe Leaders and that from hence forward we shall speake more of the sonne of the Earle Remond of Toulouze another Remond and of Roger the sonne of the Earle of Foix then of the old Earles We here make a second booke of the actions of the children succeeding their fathers miserably afflicted only for that they had for in effect there was not any of these great Lords that was deseruedly assaulted for Religion for many times they had their recourse to the Pope as to the fountaine of all their euills and in all respects to a poore remedy neuer bringing with them from Rome other thing than good words with very dangerous effects The end of the first booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF the WALDENSES called ALBINGENSES containing the warres which they maintained after the yeare one thousand two hundred and thirteene vntill they were vtterly exterminated CHAP. I. The warre is renewed against the Earle of Foix the Aragonians make hostile incursions vpon the Lands of the Earle Simon he is discomfited by the Earle of Foix Simon is called into Dauphine The Legat Bonauenture perswades the Earle of Foix and of Toulouze to goe to Rome they further their cause nothing at all the sonne of the Earle Remond came from England thither but in vaine THE Prince Lewis sonne of Philip King of France his quarantine or fortie daies being expired retired himselfe not without much discontent to see in those warres against the Albingenses so much tyranny The Earle Simon endeuored to get a pardon for those last Pilgrims come from France against the Earle of Foix. Hologaray in his Hist of Foix pag. 157. Hee besieged the Castle of Foix but with his great losse for there died before it many gallant men Hauing laine before the Citie ten daies hee raised his siege finding to his great cost that the place was inexpugnable The Earle Simon his Brother kept his quarter at Varilles the Earle of Foix vnlodged him slew with his Lance the said Brother of the Earle Simon and put to flight his whole troope This was a counterpoise to Monfort his prosperitie which had made him ouer-insolent And as one vnhappy chance comes seldome alone euen then when he did grinde his teeth against the Earle of Foix swearing that hee would make him flie ouer the Pereney mountaines a messenger brought him tidings of the arriuall in the Earledome of Beziers and about Carcassonne of diners troopes of Arragonians and Catalans who put all they met to sword and fire saying That they would reuenge the death of their good King Alphonsus Hee was therefore aduertised that if hee did not speedily succour them the whole Country would be lost He departed therefore from Foix with great diligence Idem fol. 158. The Earle of Foix who better knew the streights and by-waies of his Country than he stopped his passage and lay in ambush for him in a place so fitting for his ouerthrow that he slew a great part of his troopes without any Alarum Hee saued himselfe with a few of his people Being come to Carcassonne it was well for him that he found not a man to speake a word vnto for the Arragonians had retired themselues Whereas had they attended his comming they might easily haue discomfited him considering the small number that were with him At this very time other Letters were brought vnto him whereby he was called into Dauphine where there was one Ademar of Poitiers and one Ponce of Monlaur who hindred the passage of the Pilgrims who came downe by the Riuer Rhosne and were conducted by the Archbishops of Lion and Vienne There were likewise the Cities of Monteil-Aimar and Crest Arnaud who tooke part with the Albingenses who were a great hindrance to the Pilgrims Simon came to treatie and composition with Ademar of Poitiers and Monlaur not hauing power to encounter so many enemies Againe he was giuen to vnderstand that the Arragonians were returned about Carcassonne and thither he came and was well beaten insomuch that he was constrained to shut vp himselfe within Carcassonne hauing not wherewithall to keepe the field before hee had new supply of Pilgrims to succour him Seeing at the last that he got nothing of the Earle of Foix by
21.23 Heauen and earth shall passe away but my words shall not passe away THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE THIRD PART OF THE HISTORY of the Waldenses and Albingenses contayning the Discipline vnder which they liued CHAPTER I. De la Disciplina La Disciplina conten en si tota doctrina Moral segond l'enseignament de Christ c. Of Discipline DIscipline containeth in it all Morall Doctrine according to the Institution of Christ and his Apostles shewing after what manner euery one ought to liue in his vocation by faith and to walke worthily in true holinesse and righteousnes There are many instructions in the Booke of God touching this Discipline shewing not only how euery man ought to liue in his owne particular estate of what age or condition soeuer he be but also what must bee that vnion consent and band of loue in the communication of the faithfull And therefore if any man desire the knowledge of these things let him reade what the Apostle hath said in his Epistles and he shall finde at large and especially in what manner euery one is bound to keepe himselfe in vnity and to walke in such sort that hee be not a scandall and an occasion of falling to his neighbour by wicked words or actions and in what manner he is bound not only to flye what is euill but also the occasions of euill and when soeuer any man hath failed therein how he may be reformed and come to amendment of life By many such generall instructions the reclaimed people newly brought vnto the Faith must be taught to the end they may walke worthily in the house of the Lord that they make not his house a den of theeues by their wicked conuersation and toleration of euill CHAP. II. De li Pastor Tuit aquilli liquol deuon esser receopu Pastor dentre de nos c. Of Pastors ALL they that are to bee receiued as Pastors amongst vs whilest they are yet with their owne people they are to intreate ours that they would bee pleased to receiue them to the Ministery and to pray vnto God that they may bee made worthy of so great an office but yet know that these Petitioners make this request to shew their humility We set them their taske causing them to learne by heart all the Chapters of Saint Mathew and Saint Iohn and all the Epistles that are Canonicall a good part of the writings of Salomon Dauid and the Prophets Afterwards hauing gotten some good testimony of their sufficiency they are receiued with imposition of hands into the Office of Teachers He that is admitted in the last place shall not doe any thing without the leaue and allowance of him that was admitted before him As also hee that is first shall doe nothing without the leaue of his companion to the end that all things with vs might be done in order Diet and apparell is giuen vnto vs freely and by way of almes and that with good sufficiency by those good people whom we teach Amongst other powers and abilities which God hath giuen to his seruants hee hath giuen authority to chuse Leaders to rule the people and to ordaine Elders in their charges according to the diuersity of the worke in the vnity of Christ which is proued by the saying of the Apostle in the first Chapter of the Epistle to Titus For this cause haue I left thee in Creete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordaine Elders in euery City as I haue appointed thee Whensoeuer any of our said Pastors committeth any foule sinne hee is thrust out of our company and forbid to preach CHAP. III. Del ' Enseignament de li filli Li silli liqual naisson a li pairons carnals deuon esser rendu c. Of the Instruction of Children CHildren borne of their carnall Parents must bee made spirituall vnto God by discipline and by instruction as it is said in the 30 of Ecclesiast 1. He that loueth his sonne causeth him oft to feele the rod that he may haue toy of him in the end and that hee knocke not at the doore of his Neighbour He that chastiseth his sonne shall haue ioy in him and shall reioyce of him among his acquaintance He that teacheth his sonne grieueth his enemy and before his enemies hee shall reioyce of him Though his Father dye yet he is as if he were not dead for hee hath left one behind him that is like vnto himselfe whilest he liued he saw and reioyced in him and when he dyed he was not sorrowfull For he left behind him an auenger against his enemies and one that shall requite kindnesse to his friends Despaire not of thy childe when he is vnwilling to receiue correction or if he proue not speedily good for the Labourer gathereth not the fruits of the Earth so soone as it is sowen but he attends a fitting time A man must also haue a carefull eye ouer his Daughters Hast thou Daughters Keepe them within and see they wander not For Dina the Daughter of Iacob was corrupted by being seene of strangers CHAP. IIII. De li Preyre de la Collectas de li Concili Regidors son estegi del poble et Preyre c. Of the Elders of the distribution of Almes and Ecclesiasticall Synodall Assemblies WEe choose amongst the people those that are to gouerne and of the Elders according to the diuersity of their employment in the vnity of Christ According to that of the Apostle in the first of the Epistle to Titus I haue left thee in Creete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordaine Elders in euery City as I haue appointed thee The filuer that is giuen for the reliefe of the people is by vs carried to the aforesaid Councell and is there deliuered for the common vse in the presence of all and afterwards taken by those that are in authority and part of that siluer is giuen to those that are to trauell any long iourneyes to employ as they shall thinke fittest and part vnto the poore Our Pastors doe call Assemblies once euery yeere to determine of all affaires in a generall Councell CHAP. V. De la Correction Ecclesiastica Semeillament deuon esser faict corrections per enduction de temors c. Of Ecclesiasticall Correction SO likewise corrections are to be vsed to hold men in feare to the end that they that are not faithfull may be punished and separated either for their wicked life or erroneous beliefe or their want of Charity or any of these euils that are found together in any one Now that it is necessary to vse such corrections our Sauiour telleth vs saying If thy brother trespasse against thee rebuke him betwixt thee and himselfe and if he repent forgiue him Luke 17. The Apostle confirmeth the same saying to the Galathians If a man be taken in any sinne you that are spirituall instruct him in the spirit of meekenesse But forasmuch as all receiue not these corrections
of the Prefect of that Province who is a Romish Cathosike and had already slain another Priest in the same place A young man of the Reformed Religion having been accused to have been partaker with him therein hath been delivered by the said Reformed into the hands of Justice and of the Delegate of his Royall Highness who having deposed there that the said Secretary called Pagot had perswaded him to go along with him in that horrid execution promised to give him three hundred Pistolls but that he had refused to do it and took onely two to bind him not to say a word of it hath been released and declared not guilty After this considering the scruples of some yet the same man hath severall times presented himselfe to Madame Royall and the cheifest of her Ministers and the Reformed have still represented him upon all occasions to be examined and brought face to face before the parties but they still refused it holding him as sully justified and the other convicted Besides though among the Reformed there should have been found a Thiefe neither their Concessions nor their Laws do suffer the innocent to be punished for the guilty Such Assassinations were never commited by order of the Reformed and could have no advantage by the death of an inconsiderable Country Priest who could never do them neither good or evill Secondly Some say that at La Tour an Asse hath been dressed like a Monk It is a Diabolicall invention In a word it was thus The Youth of the place partly Papists partly Reformed to jeere and mock at a very Heterocâ—iticall Marriage made a Charivary as they call it and tooke the asse or the Bridegroome whom they did set on the topp of the Oven in a publick place where it was seen of all all the day long and nothing therein touched the Monks nor the Masse nor the Host The Roman Catholikes in such occasions have often set up Asses upon the top of their Pinacles in those places Thirdly Therefore the published Order alledges no such reasons onely the Marquessâ— de Piannesa as appears in the answer he got M Gâ—beline the Roman Catholike Atturney of the the Reformed at Turin to make said that his Royall Highues was willing to abase their pride for having craved the Protection of the Forraign Princes because the Lords of Zurick and Berne after the Order published against them though not required but out of their own inclinations had sent to his Royall Highnes some Letters in their behalf Let the Reader judge of the validity of this Reason This Fourth is most cryed up in Piedmout viz. That the Reformed have cruelly murthered the Catholiques in Ireland and have wholly expelled them and that they ought to murther the Reformed in Piedmont and clear the State of them to lodge the Irish in their place Let yet the Reader Judge of this reason Besides it is false the Reformed have murthered the Catholicks in Ireland but to the contrary Therefore it remains that there hath been no other true cause of this but the hatred they bear to the Religion it being known to all the world that no Subjects have ever been true or more obedient to their Prince than they who never stirred when all the rest of the State was up in Arms who still payd their Taxes though over burthened have borne extraordinary Winter Quarters afforded their men for the war as often as demanded and even some few days afore their desolation sent their Militias for the service of his Royall Highness upon the seceipt of his very first command I have hastily given you a Copy of this tract of the horrible furies of the Adversaries desiring you to see if his Highness the Serenissinie Lord Protector could take occasion to insert in the Treaty with France the re-establishment of our Brethren escaped from the Massacres which they have caused the Irish to do as in revenge of their being banished out of their Country for Massacring the Protestants there Your Brother hath assured us he will give us the Charity ordained by your Church A generall Collection in your Quarters will be necessary there being so many thousands despolld of all that are seeking for refuge There are two Ministers viz. Master Gross and Master Aghit Prisoners at Turin God strengthen and deliver them and conserve you and your Colleagues whom I salute remaining May 8. 1655. Most honoured Brother wholy yours A Letter written to his Highness the Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland c. about the said Murthers Massacres and cruelties sent together with the said descriptions To his Highness My Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland ALthough his Highness the Lord Protector be well informed of whatsover comes to pass in most places of the world yet we have thought he would not be sorry to see as in a contracted picture the horrid crueltie praâ—â—sed by the Duke of Savoy's men upon the Faithfull in the Valleys of Piedmont That it to say upon such people that if any in the world did live in the greatest purity and the greatest innocency whose onely crime is that neither they nor their Fathers nor their Auncestors 500 years since would ever pollnte themselves with the Roman Superstitions and Idolatries The whole Christendome have their eyes fixed on his Highness and all good men hope that he will avenge or rather God will avenge by his hand such a hellish barbarousness If we should have a less knowledge of his Zeal and of his Heroicall courage we would tell him what once Mordecai said to the Queen Esther Esther c. 4. v. 14. If thou holdest thy peace at this time then shall their enlargement and deliverance arise from another place But thou and thy Father's house shall be destroyed And who knoweth whether thou art come to such a high dignity for such a time as this But as his Highness possesses lights altogether extraordinary he will of himself consider that God hath given him a great power to imploy it to his glory and that he hath put a victorious sword in his hand Rom. c. 13. v. 4. to be a revenger to execute wrath upon those that do evill So that as since the Creation of the World nothing hath been seen so dreadfull so nothing shall be punished in such an exemplary mander It is hoped that with him severall Protestant Princes will imbrace so just a cause But if there be any that be not sensibly moved by so deep and so sharp a wound and that having power yet be not willing to prosecute and pursue those Murtherers and those Incendiaries that saying will be applyed unto them of the Prophetess Deborah Curse ye Meroz Iudges c. 5 v. 23. curse ye bitterly the Inhabitants thereof because they came not to the help of the Lord to the help of the Lord with the mighty In the mean while your Highness will spread through the whole earth the sweet savour of his name and as it hath been said The sword of the Lord and of Gideon so hereafter they will say the sword of the Lord and of OLIVER His praises will be celebrated to the world's end and they will say that the Protector of Great Brittain is become the Protector of all those that are persecuted for righteousness sake All those that do sincerely love God and that are sick because of the bruise of Joseph will heartily pray unto God that he might be pleased to prolong the days of his Highness to settle his Government and to pour upon his posterity his most holy and most precious blessings Let his Highness be assured that this draught hath been made by a faithfull hand and let him have the goodness not to enquire who he is that sends it It is not so much the voice of men or the blood of the Martyrs as the voice of God himself who crys for vengeance for the injury done to his great name and who commands him to work the deliverance of those that are Prisoners for the Lord Jesus and to restore to their Native Country the poor banished men who like the faithfull of old are mandring in the wildernesses in the Dens in the Mountains and in the clefts of the earth That they might sing as those that returned from the Babylonian Captivity Psal 126. v. 1.2 When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion we were like them that dream Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing c. FINIS