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 Fraticelli In Italie they were called Fraticelli as much to say as Shifters because they liued in true loue and concord together Insabathas And because they obserued no other day of rest but the Sabbath dayes 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 Gazares In Germany they were called Gazares as much to say as execrable and egregiously wicked Turlupins In Flanders they were called 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 Toulousains Lombards Piccards Lionistes Bohemiens Sometimes they were called by the names of those countries and regions where they dwelt 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 Manicheens as appointing two Princes And for other causes which they fained they called them Gnostiques Cataphrigiens Adamites and Apostoliques Sometimes they spitefully abused them Ribalds Buggerers Sorcerers Matthew Paris cals them Ribalds The compiler of the Treasure of histories calles thrm Buggerers Rubis saith that when a man speakes of a sorcerer he cals him Vadois And that which is more he takes vpon him to proue that they are so To which temeritie it shall be necessarie to answer in his due place where they shall be cleared from all those impostures which their enemies haue layed vpon them out of those bookes from which we haue gathered that which followeth First they impose vpon them This imposture is found in the booke of Albertus de Capitaneis of the originall of the Vadois pa. 2. In the booke of Ramerius de forma hoereticandi hoereticos fol 36. Item in the accusation of the Priests of Bohemia which they make to the king Ladislaus against the Vadois Rai ibid. fol. 37. that ancient calumnie wherewith the painims defamed the Christians of the Primatiue Church that is that they assembled themselues in the night time in corners and lurking holes and that the Pastour cōmanded the lights should be put out saying Qui potest capere capiat that is catch who catch can whereupon euery man endeuoreth to fasten vpon whom he can without any respect of bloud or parentage and that the lights being put out they committed abhominable incests many times the child with his mother the brother with his sister and the father with his owne daughter adding moreouer that they were to vnderstand that the children begotten by such copulations were most fit to be Pastours Secondly they haue charged them that they maintaine that a man may put away his wife when he will and the wife her husband to follow that sect Claud. Rubis in his historie of Lion pa. 269. The third calumnie that they charge them withall is that they haue communitie of all things amongst them euen of their wiues and all S. Bernard in his Homily 66. vpon the Canticles Albert ibid. The fourth is that they reiect the baptisme of little infants The fifth that they adore their Pastors prostrating themselues before them Albert ibid. The sixth that they maintaine that it is not lawfull to sweare for any cause whatsoeuer Rain fol. 36. The seuenth that they maintaine that the Pope doth sinne mortally when he makes warre against the Turke and that they likewise sinne mortally that do obey him when by them he makes warre against heretickes Rain ibid. fol. 22. article 32. The eight calumnie is that they vse no reuerence towards holy places and that he sins not more grieuously that burneth a Church then he that breakes into any other priuate house Albert ibid. The ninth that they maintaine that the Magistrate ought not to condemne any to death and that they that do it sinne mortally and that they maintaine this error to the end they may escape the hands of the Iudge and go vnpunished Idem ibid. The tenth that the lay-man being in the state of grace hath more authoritie then the Prince that liues in his sinne Rain in Summa fol. 12. The eleuenth that with the Manicheens they ordaine two Princes that is one good God the creator of good and one bad that is the diuell the creator of euill Idem lib. de forma haeret fol. 21. The twelfth that whatsoeuer is done with a good intention is good and that euery one shall be saued in that which he doth in that said good intention Albert. de origine Vaud fol. 4. The thirteenth that it is a meritorious worke to persecute the Priests of the Church of Rome the Prelates and their subiects And that a man may without sinne hurt them in their persons or goods and withhold their tenthes from them without scruple of conscience The last is taken out of the booke of Rubis Claud. Rubis in his historie of Lion booke 3. pa. 269. where he saith that Valdo and his Pastors retired themselues into Dauphiney in the vale Pute and the valley Angrongne where they found certaine people rather like sauage beasts then men suffering themselues to be mocked and abused and where they became saith he one like another and such as rid post vpon a besom Adding therewithall to bring within the compasse of his calumnies the Townes Cities States where the Gospell is receiued in our times And to say the truth saith he these are two
it is that they haue found fault that the Magistrates should deliuer them to death 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 they made no profession of any such beleefe that may suffice that they haue said against Antichrist That he hath brought these errors into the Church vnder a colour of good intention and a shew of faith The thirteenth calumnie was that they maintaine that a man may kill or detaine from the Priests their tithes without scruple of conscience It is certaine that if the Waldenses had power to employ their tithes to some other vse then to the nourishment of those whom they find to be dumbe dogs drowsie watchmen It appeareth by the processe against the Waldenses of Dauphiné by Albert de Capitaneis other Monkes Inquisitors slow bellies seducing and being seduced they had done it but there was neuer any as yet that hath occasioned the least troubles that may be in that regard It well appeareth that in whatsoeuer depended on their owne wils they haue neuer offered more or lesse vnto those people taking no thought for their Masses and Trentals after their death the which the Priests complaine of and from thence take occasion to accuse them for heretickes And as touching reuenge heare what they say The Lord knowing that we shall be deliuered saith In the booke of the Waldenses intituled of Tribulations p. 274 Beware of men but he doth not teach or counsell any of his chosen to kill any but rather to loue their enemies When his disciples said vnto him in the ninth of S. Luke Wilt thou that we command that fire come downe from heauen and consume them Christ answered and said Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of Againe the Lord saith vnto Peter Put vp thy sword into thy sheath c. For temporall aduersities are to be contemned and patiently to be endured for there happeneth nothing therein that is new We are here the Lords floore to be beaten as the come when it is separated from the chaffe The last calumnie of the Waldenses which we haue gathered out of the writings of their aduersaries is that which Claud. Rubis layes vpon them as a foule aspersion Claud. Rubis in his historie of Lions p. 269. in his Historie of the Citie of Lions That being retired vnto the Alpes at their departure from Lions they became like the rest of the people of that countrey beesome riders And he is not content to tie himselfe to the Vaudois onely but he addeth These are things that ordinarily follow one another Heresie and Sorcerie as it is verified saith he in our times in those Cities and Prouinces that haue giuen entertainment vnto heresie We will first iustifie the Waldenses and then answer Rubis in the behalfe of those Cities and Prouinces which he hath inclosed within this calumnie All they offend against the first Commandemēt say the Vandois in the exposition of the first Commandemēt that beleeue that the Planets can enforce the will of man These kind of men as much as in them lies accompt the Planets as gods for they attribute vnto the creature that which belongs vnto the Creator Against which the Prophet Ieremie 10. speaketh Learne not the way of the heathen and be not dismayed at the signes of heauen for the heathen are dismayed at them And S. Paul in the fourth to the Galathians Ye obserue moneths and dayes and times and yeares but I am afraid of you lest I haue bestowed vpon you labour in vaine All they offend against this commandement that beleeue Sorcerers and Soothsayers for these men beleeue the diuels are gods The reason is because they aske of diuels that which God alone can giue that is to manifest things hidden and to foreshew the truth of things to come which is forbidden of God Leuit. 19.31 Regard not them that haue familiar spirits neither seeke after wizards to be defiled with them And in the 20.6 The soule that turneth after such as haue familiar spirits and after wizards to go a whoring after them I will set my face against that soule and will cut him off from amongst his people And in the last verse of that Chapter A man or woman that hath a familiar spirit or that is a wizard shall surely be put to death they shall stone them with stones their bloud shall be vpon them As touching the punishment of
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 from their labors at night when they go toe their retaine 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 the last and most direfull excommunication of offenders and in the space of thirteene yeeres during which time he alwaies caught one or other he deliuered by sentence to the secular power to be burnt at Grenoble that is to say of the valley Pute William Marie of Vilar Peter Long alias Chastan Iohn Long alias Truchi Albert Vincens Ioane the wife of Steuen Vincens and diuers others that is to say to the number of one hundred and fifty men diuers women with many of their sonnes and daughters well strooken in yeeres whose names we haue not heere inserted because we would not grieue and weary the Reader Of the Valley of Argentiere and Frassinieres Astine Berarde Barthelemie the wife of Iohn Porti and others of both sexes to the number of eighty who were all condemned to be deliuered to the secular power in such sort that whensoeuer any one of them was apprehended he was presently brought to Grenoble and there without any other shew of proces burnt aliue This last sentence was pronounced at Ambrun in the Cathedrall Church in the yeere one thousand three hundred ninty three to the great gaine and commodity of the Monkes the Inquisitors who adiudged to themselues two parts of the goods of the said condemned and the rest to the temporall commanders with inhibition to their bordering neighbours to assist them in any manner howsoeuer to receiue them visit defend them or to minister reliefe or sustenance to any of them or to conuerse with them in any sort or to doe them any fauour or giue them any aide or counsell vpon paine to be attainded and conuinced for a fauourer of Heretickes they being declared vnworthy of all offices and publicke charges and counsels forbidding euery man to vse the seruice of any of them in matter of testimony they themselues being iudged vnsufficient to make a will or to succeed in any inheritance And if any of them should bee iudges that their sentences should be of no force and no causes should be called before them And if any of them be Aduocates that their defences and pleas bee not receiued if Notaries that their instruments be of no effect but cancelled and defaced If Priests that they be depriued of all offices and benefices with inhibition to all Ecclesiasticall persons to minister the Sacrament vnto them to giue them sepulture or to receiue from them any almes or oblations vpon paine of deposition from charges and depriuation of their Benefices This Monke reserued to himselfe by the said sentence the reuiew and examination of the proces of some dosen that he named therein and they were those which he would willingly haue to passe by the golden gate For in the proces that are come to our hands there are many that complaine that they had neuer been entangled in the snares of the Inquisitors but for their goods beeing well knowne that they neuer had any knowledge of the Beleefe of Waldenses As touching the Waldenses of the valley of Pragela they were assayled by their enemies vpon the side of Susa a towne in Piedmont 1400. about the yeere a thousand foure hundred and forasmuch as they had many times assaulted them in vaine at such times as they could retire themselues into the high mountaines and caues or hollow places thereof Vineaux in his Menor fol. 6. from whence they might much indamage and hinder those that came to assaile them the said enemies set vpon them about the Feast of the Natiuity of Christ a time when these poore people neuer thought that any would haue durst to haue past the mountaines being couered with snow who seeing their caues and cauerns taken by their enemies they betooke themselues to one of the highest mountaines of the Alpes named afterward the Albergam that is to say the mountaine of retrait and running together in troopes with their wiues and children the mothers carrying their cradles and leading their infants by the hand that were able to goe the enemy followed them vntill night and slew many before they could recouer the mountaine They that were then slaine had the better bargaine For night comming vpon these poore people which were in the snow without any meanes to make any fire to warme their little infants the greatest part of them were benūmed with cold there were found in the morning fourescore small infants dead in their cradles and most
of their mothers mothers died after them and diuers others were giuing vp the last gaspe The enemies being retired in the night into the houses of these poore people they ransacked and pillaged whatsoeuer they could carry to Susa and for the full accomplishment of their cruelty they hanged vpon a tree a poore Waldensian woman whom they met vpon the mountaine de Meane named Margaret Athode The Inhabitants of the said Valley hold this persecution to be the most violent that their fathers haue related vnto them that in their times or the times of their grand-fathers they haue euer suffred and they talke of it at this present as if it were a thing lately done and fresh in memory so often from the father to the sonne hath mention been made of this vnexpected surprise the cause of so many miseries amongst them Now in the meane while the Waldenses of the valley Frassiniere that remained and had escaped this aforesaid persecution were againe violently handled by the Archbishop of Ambrun their neighbour in the yeere 1460 that is 1460. in the time of Pope Pius the second of that name and of Lewis the eleuenth King of France This Arch-bishop named Iohn made a Commissioner against the said Waldenses a certaine Monke of the order of the Frier-Minors called Iohn Vayleti who proceeded with such diligence and violence that there was hardly any person in the vallies of Frassiniere Argentiere and Loyse that could escape the hands of the said Inquisitor but that they were apprehended either as Heretickes or fauourers of them They therefore that knew nothing of the beleefe of the Waldenses had recourse vnto King Lewis the eleuenth humbly beseeching him to stay by his authority the course of such persecutions The King granted vnto them his letters the which wee haue in this place thought good to insert at large because by them it shall be easie to know what the will and desire of the said Monkes was who intangled in their proces many of the Romish religion vnder colour of the Inquisition against the Waldenses The Letters of King Lewis the eleuenth Lewis by the grace of God King of France Dauphin de Vienois Conte de Valentinois and Dioys to our well-beloued and faithfull Gouernour of our Country of Dauphine health and dilection TOuching that part of the Inhabitants of the valley Loyse Frassiniere Argentiere and others of our Country of Dauphine it hath been certified that notwithstanding they haue liued and are desirous to liue as becommeth good Christian Catholikes without holding or beleeuing or maintaining any superstitious points but according to the ordinance 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 alwaies 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 frauds 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 been heretofore 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
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 with our 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 prouoke him to such persecutions In the the meane time that hee would bee pleased to support vs in the middest of these temptations and strengthen vs with Patience and Constancy to perseuere in the profession of the truth vnto the end of our liues and our posterity after vs Amen This persecution hath cotinued vnto this present time at the instance of Pope Paul the fift and his Nuntio who still troubleth and vexeth this poore people by his Monkes the Inquisitors They haue made some to alter their opinions who had no power to quit themselues of their goods but haue accommodated themselues to the world but the greatest number persisted constant in calling on the name of God chusing rather to be banished here on earth from their natiue countries then to be depriued of eternall life hating their Possessions their Country their Houses being the places where they could not inhabit whithout the deniall of Christ and his truth CHAP. VI. Of the Waldenses inhabiting in the New Lands and the persecutions which they haue suffered THe New lands of which wee are here to speake are in the Alpes in the Frontiers of Piedmont Dauphine and Prouence of which the cheefe Citty is Barcelona or Barcelonette Within the said Lands there are certaine Villages which haue been peopled by the Waldenses time out of minde placed in the best part of the said Lands amongst others Iosiers These places haue continued a long time the Princes of Piedmont nothing regarding the abode of the said peoples within their Prouinces but the Priests made them odious to the world because they were vnprofitable vnto them by not liuing after the manner of other people who contributed vnto them for the liuing and for the dead in such sort that when his Highnesse persecuted in his state those that had quit themselues of the Lawes of the Romish Church these were not forgotten especially when the Gouernours of the said Valley opposed themselues against them These were therefore of the number of those that were summoned in the yeere 1576 to goe to the Masse or to forsake his Highnesse Country 1576. wherein they found not better meanes to helpe themselues then to ioyne themselues vnto others who being threatned with the same banishment had recourse to the Protestant Princes beseeching them to intercede for them to their Prince that he would be pleased not to trouble them in such manner for their beliefe which they had made profession off from the father to the sonne for many hundred yeeres during which time their Princes haue not had any Subiects that haue yeelded vnto them more faithfull obedience then they not giuing place vnto any other in their duties submissions and contributions which they haue alwaies most willingly payed to their Princes as they were still ready to continue yeelding obedience to their commands onely that that they might not be troubled in their consciences The Prince Palatine of the Rhine delegated to the Prince of Piedmont a Counseller of his State with certaine other honorable personages Being arriued at Turin they saluted his Highnesse in the name of the said Prince Palatine and deliuered their Letters of Credence He was heard by the Prince Emanuel Philibert very peaceably This Councellor gaue him to vnderstand that the onely charity of their Master towards Christians of the same Religion that he professed had moued him to mediate for them that his Highnesse would bee pleased to suffer them to liue peaceably in the exercise of their Religion not offering any violence to their consciences That he would account this benefit as done vnto himselfe and hee should oblige vnto him all the Protestant Princes of Germany who likewise made the selfesame request by their mouthes That he should haue God the more fauourable and his Subiects the more faithfull if he did not shew himselfe inexorable That the confusions that haue happened in all the States of Kings and Princes that haue indeauoured to raigne and reclaime the soules of their Subiects by armes and to reduce them by violence may make wise all other Princes which were not yet come to such extremities That forasmuch as they that
defending himselfe against his enemie who assaulted him in his owne countrey The warre of the Albingenses encreased for the Earle Simon thought it was necessary hee should pursue his enemies being halfe dead and ouerthrowne and the Albingenses for their part knew that they must of necessitie defend themselues or bee vanquished and brought into thraldome CHAP. XII Pope Innocent the third sent against the Albingenses a new Legat named Bonauenture Prince Lewis the sonne of Philip tooke on him the Crosse and caused Toulouze and Narbonne to be dismantled and the walles laid euen with the ground THe Earle Simon being puffed vp with this victorie sent one to summon the Earle of Toulouze Foix and Comminge and the Prince of Bearne to deliuer vnto him the keis of those cities and castles that they possessed and that they should subscribe to what it pleased the Legat or resolue miserably to perish He receiued no answer but euery one betooke himselfe to his owne territories there to prouide the best they could possibly for their affaires The Earle Remond retired himselfe to Montauban and writ to those of Toulouze from whence he was but then departed that he vnderstood that Rodolph the Bishop of Arras was comming with a great number of Pilgrims and therefore forasmuch as he saw that they had no meanes to defend their city against so great a force that they should treat and grow to some composition with the Earle Simon reseruing only their hearts vnto himselfe vntill God should giue meanes to free them from those miseries wherein they were plunged by the insatiable auarice of their common enemie In the meane time he the Earle of Foix Comminge and the Prince of Bearne did their endeuours to trouble and to infest the enemies Armies with all the power they could for their common good The citie of Toulouze deputed six of the principall men of the city to offer to the Earle Simon the keies of Toulouze He receiued them honourably and commanded them not to depart from him without his permission In the meane time he writ to Lewis the sonne of king Philip that since the battle of Muret they of Toulouze offered to yeeld themselues vnto him but his desire was that he should haue the praise of that conquest being onely worthy of himselfe King Philip his father would not heretofore permit that he should war against the Albingenses because he had promised the King of Aragon to carry himselfe as a neuter betwixt both but now hearing of the death of the said King of Aragon he suffered him to goe The Prince being at Toulouze the citie was deliuered into his hands and presently the Legat hauing assembled the Bishops of his ranke it was concluded that the pillage should be granted to the Pilgrims and that the city should be dismantled the Castle of Narbonne excepted which was incontinently executed contrary to the promise which 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
Christ Iesus These are the things wherein the true Preacher of the Word ought faithfully to employ himselfe to conduct the party visited to his Sauiour And when he is departed this life he must giue heart and courage to the suruiuers by godly exhortations to the end they may be comforted to praise God and to conforme themselues to his holy will and whereas in former times it hath beene the manner to cause the poore and desolate widow to spend much siluer hauing lost her Husband vpon singers and ringers and eaters and drinkers whilest shee sits weeping and fasting wronging hereby her fatherlesse Children to the end that losse be not added to losse it is our duty taking pitty on them to aide them with our councell and with our goods according to that ability that God hath bestowed on vs taking care that the Children be well instructed to the end that liuing like Christians according to the will of God they may labour to get their liuing as God hath ordained and commanded CHAP. IX The Conclusion of this Booke BY that which is contained in this Booke and what hath beene faithfully gathered out of the Bookes the Waldenses haue left vnto vs it appeareth that the Doctrine which they maintaine in these dayes that make profession of reformation hath beene maintained by them many ages before they that are enemies thereunto would take notice of it there being nothing in all that is deliuered that doth either repugne the Word of God or is not altogether conformeable to that which is taught in the reformed Churches For the Waldenses and Albingenses haue knowne the necessity of instructing their children by making vse of such familiar Catechismes as haue beene practised in the Primatiue Church They haue confessed their sinnes to one onely God with termes of true humility proofes of great zeale and a holy confidence in the mercy of God by his Sonne and our Sauiour Christ Iesus They haue acknowledged the Law of God for the onely rule of their obedience and confessing themselues to bee farre distant from that perfection which ought to bee in vs to appeare vnblameable before the face of God from their imperfection they haue taken occasion to haue recourse to the only righteousnesse of the Sonne of God our Redeemer the Law being as a Looking-glasse to make them know their staines and blemishes and to send them to Christ Iesus the true lauor or washing poole They haue called vpon God in their necessities by and through one onely Iesus Christ our Sauiour They haue receiued the Sacraments with faith and repentance and without alteration They haue entred the state of Matrimony as ordained by God holy and honourable and finally they haue not beene ignorant with what charity they were to comfort and to visite and to exhort their sicke and such as are in any aduersity And what hath there beene in all these that for these they should be condemned to death as Heretikes especially seeing that with the goodnesse and puritie of their Doctrine they haue liued religiously vnder a holy Discipline which the Booke following will make good vnto vs. Luke 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 whensoeuer 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 filli liqual naisson a li pairons carnals deuon esser rondu c. Of the Instruction of Children CHildren borne of their carnall Parents must bee made spirituall vnto