armes he had recourse to his ordinary wiles and subtilties hoping to worke his ruine vnder a pretence of amitie He caused therefore the Legat Bonauenture to write vnto him that he had compassion on him for that he was so obstinate in so great a warre to his great charge and the losse of the bloud of his Subiects which if he would he might end in a short time by taking his iourny to Rome declaring his innocency to the Pope that he would giue him his best assistance as far forth as possibly he could to procure the restitution of all his Lands But yet it was very necessarie that the Church should haue some gages of his fidelitie that is that he should deliuer into his hands the Castle of Foix the one onely meanes to take away all shadow and shew of false play and that incontinently after his returne turne it should be restored vnto him with the rest of his houses He suffered himselfe to be cheated and gulled by these promises deliuered vnto him the Castle of Foix and tooke his iourney to Rome but if he went a foole thither a foole he returned For the Legat had written to Rome to the Conclaue and to the Pope that the Earle of Foix was one of the most dangerous Heretiques that was amongst the Albingenses a man of great courage and valiant and most to be feared that if he were subdued the Earle of Toulouze would be much weakned that he had gotten from him the meanes to doe any hurt by obtaining by faire words those places which the Church would neuer haue gotten by armes namely the Castle of Foix and that they were to take heed that they made no restitution of his lands which if they did it would bee impossible that the Church should euer bring the Albingenses to their vtter ruine The Pope was willing enough to ioyne in his ouerthrow but because hee came vnto him with submissions he feared least it might bee a meanes to hinder others from euer putting any confidence in the Pope He was prodigall of his Crosses his Bulls and his Words but in effect he commanded his Legat that he should not restore vnto him those places vntill hee had giuen good proofes of his obedience and iustification Presently vpon his returne hee addressed himselfe to the Legat to enioy the effect of his faire promises The Legat gaue him to vnderstand that his hands were bound by the Pope because there were some clauses in his Bulls that did binde him to a new proceeding and to know in good earnest what his innocency was but yet he should assure himselfe of his affection and that he should not attribute to him if he receiued not his full content and that he would doe his best endeuour to make loue and friendship betwixt the Earle Simon and himselfe The Earle of Foix by little and little with-drew himselfe fearing to be arrested walking about the fields and houses of his Subiects as for his owne they were all in the hands of the Earle Simon There he cursed his owne facilitie to suffer himselfe to be gulled by a Priest bites his singers for anger to see himselfe so blockishly abused after so many trickes and stratagems plaid against him The Earle of Toulouze and the King of Aragon resolue to make a leuy of their Subiects and presently to build a Fort at Montgranier a place very strong by nature In a few daies they made it a place of defence by the means labours of their poore subiects who bewailing their own miseries their Lords trauelled day night very willingly to bring the work to an end This place being built he put therin a garison left there his son Roger. The Earle Simon besieged it in the end took it by famine The cōposition was that Roger should not beare armes for one whole yeare against the Church An Article that troubled much this valiant Lord. For he withdrew himselfe for the same yeare into a house where he counted the moneths and the daies till the time was expired wherein he might either die valiantly in fight or vanquish his enemies And to this purpose he many times conferred with the sonne of the King of Aragon lately slaine how he might carrie himselfe to finde a meanes to be reuenged of his Fathers death The Legat Bonauenture in the meane time vseth the same subtletie with the Earle Remond of Toulouze He perswadeth him to goe to Rome to determine his affaires with the Pope more peaceably than with the Earle Simon The Monke of the Valley Sernay Chap. 133. especially because he was charged with the death of his owne Brother the Earle Baudoin taken in the Castle d'Olme in the Country of Cahors because he had there borne Armes against him an action that had made him odious both to God and men and which his enemies did exaggerate to the end they might stirre vp the Pilgrims to take vengeance on him saying That at the very point of death they had denied him a Confessor and that the said Bodoin prayed vnto God that he would raise vp some good Christians to reuenge the wrong done vnto him by his brother as by another Caine. The son of the Earle of Toulouze named also Remond vnderstanding that his Father was to take his iourney to Rome he went with letters from his Vncle the King of England to the Pope intreating him to doe iustice to his brother in Law The young Lord had beene brought vp vntill then in England where he could no longer spend time seeing his Father oppressed with warres and continuall trauels he therefore resolued to vse his best endeuours for his deliuerance either by composition or by armes The cause of the Earle Remond was debated before the Pope There was a Cardinall that maintained Idem Chap. 152. that great wrong had beene offered those Lords who had many times giuen of their best lands to the Church to witnesse their obedience The Abbot of St. Vberi also tooke their part with great courage and resolution The Earle Remond likewise defended his owne cause charging the Bishop of Toulouze with many outrages and that if hee had beene constrained to defend himselfe he must accuse those that had driuen him to that necessitie for had he not made resistance he had long agoe beene vtterly ouerthrowne That the Bishop of Toulouze had many times caught vnto him the fairest of his reuenewes and being neuer satisfied did still continue to vex him parting his goods with the Earle Simon of Montfort and that their onely auarice had beene the cause of the death of ten thousand men of Toulouze and of the pillage of that faire and great Citie a losse which could neuer be repaired The Charterie of Lion did also shew vnto the Pope that the Bishop of Toulouze had alwaies kindled the fire and warmed himselfe at the flame Arnaud de Villemur did also present himselfe before the Pope demanding Iustice for that the
his heauenly benedictions in these latter times An excellent prouocation doubly to obliege them to loue the truth which hath bin freely manifested vnto them and to bring forth fruits worthy thereof As it should be an extreme griefe to those places that haue neglected and reiected is that God hath abandoned them and left them to their owne sence euen in that darkenesse which they loued reuenging the contempt of his word by the ignorance thereof and suffering those to perish in their error that haue preferred it before the truth CHAP. XII The conclusion of this History of the Albingenses IT is an easie matter to gather by the contents of this History of the Albingenses that the people inhabiting in the Countrey of Albi Languedoc and diuers other places neere adioyning haue made profession of the selfe-same Religion that they haue that elsewhere were called Waldenses and the rather because their aduersaries themselues haue affirmed that they haue persecuted them as Waldenses As also that the greatest troubles that haue lighted vpon them haue beene procured by the Priests whose corruptions they haue descryed and discouered their abuses maintaining against the Church of Rome the Gospell of Christ Iesus in it puritie refusing to yeeld to those Idolatries that bare sway in those times but aboue all detesting the Masse and the inuention of Transubstantiation shaking the authoritie of the Popes dominion as being abusiue and tyrannicall hauing no resemblance of the well-befitting humilitie of the true Pastors of the Church or conformitie to the doctrine and vocation of the Apostles but rather an excesse and ryot befitting those that loue the world and perish with the world By which libertie which they tooke vnto themselues to reprehend those that beleeued the right of all redargution to belong onely to themselues they haue beene charged with diuers faults and condemned for rash inconsiderare people prophane secular persons who had thrust themselues into the office of teaching when with silence they should rather learne And the Popes not being able to winne them to the obedience of their commands nor to conuince them of error by the word of God they haue persecuted them by their Monkes Inquisitors who haue deliuered to the secular Magistrate as many as the said Monkes could apprehend and forasmuch as this way was somewhat too slow to cut them off and to see the end of them the Popes haue drawne their swords against them haue armed their Cardinals and Legats and driuen to these bloudy warres the Kings and Princes of the earth giuing Paradice for a recompence to whomsoeuer would beare armes against them and aduenture his life for the extirpation of them for fortie daies together Many great Lords haue beene desirous to know the cause of that vnreconcilable enmitie of the Pope against their subiects and hauing perceiued that passion carried those that were offended for the truth they haue maintained their cause being grounded vpon this reason That when they should bee conuinced of this errror by the word of God they would giue the glory vnto God From hence haue proceeded those cruell warres wherein a million of men haue lost their liues In the meane time euen then when it seemed that all truth was buried in the ground and that the Dragon had ouercome God raised in diuers of those places where this grace had beene knowne and receiued many goodly Churches wherein his name is purely inuocated maugre the Deuill and all his adherents To God therefore who hath begunne to destroy the sonne of perdition by the blast of his Spirit To the Sonne-of God who hath bought vs with his precious bloud bee all honour and glory for euer and euer So be it * ⎠* FINIS THE THIRD PART OF THE HISTORIE OF THE WALDENSES AND ALBINGENSES THE FIRST BOOKE Contayning the Doctrine and Discipline that hath beene common amongst them The Catechisme or manner of instructing their Children which the Waldenses and Albingenses haue vsed in manner of a Dialogue where the Pastor asketh the question and the Childe answereth set down iointly in their owne proper Language in the French Copy for the more Authority CHAPTER I. Lo. Barba Si tu fosses demanda qui sies tu Respond L'Enfant Creatura de diorational mortal c. The learned Reader desirous to see the originall may haue recourse to the French Booke where it is faithfully set forth in their owne old Language The Pastor Question WHat art thou Answer A creature of God reasonable and mortall Q. Why hath God created thee A. To the end I should know and serue him and that I might be saued by his grace Q. In what doth thy saluation consist A. In three essentiail vertues which doe necessarily belong to saluation Q. Which be they A. Faith Hope and Charity Q. How dost thou proue it A. The Apostle saith in the 1 Epistle to the Corinthians Chap. 13.13 These three things remaine Faith Hope and Charity Q. What is Faith A. According to the Apostle Heb. 11.1 It is the substance of things hoped for the euidence of things not seene Q. How many kindes of Faith are there A. There are two sorts of Faith that is a liuely and a dead Faith Q. What is a liuely Faith A. That which worketh by Charity Q. What is a dead Faith A. According to Saint Iames That Faith which is without workes is dead Againe Faith is nothing without workes Or a dead faith is to beleeue there is a God and to beleeue those things concerning God and not to beleeue in God Q. What is thy Faith A. The true Catholike and Apostolike Faith Q. What is that A. It is that which in the Apostles Symbole is diuided into twelue Articles Q. What is that Symbole A. I beleeue in God the Father Almighty c. Q. By what meanes canst thou know that thou beleeuest in God A. By this Because I know that I haue giuen my selfe to the obseruation of the Commandements of God Q. How many Commandements of God are there A. Ten as it appeareth in Exodus and Deuteronomy Q. Which are they A. Hearken O Israel I am the Lord thy God Thou shalt haue no other Gods but me Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in Heauen c. Q. Vpon what doe all these Commandements depend A. Vpon the two great Commandements that is to say Thou shalt loue God aboue all things and thy Neighbour as thy selfe Q. What is the foundation of these Commandements by which euery one ought to enter into life without which foundation no man can worthily fulfill the Commandements A. Our Lord Iesus Christ of whom the Apostle saith in the first to the Corinthians None can lay any other foundation but that which is laid euen Iesus Christ Q. By what meanes may a man attaine to this foundation A. By Faith So saith Saint Peter 1 Epist 2.6 Behold I lay in Sion a chiefe corner stone elect precious
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
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 Vado◠pa. 2. In the booke of Ramertus 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 The third calumnie that they charge them withall is Claud. Rubis in his historie of Lion pa. 269. that they haue communitie of all things amongst them euen of their wiues and all The fourth is S. Bernard in his Homily 66. vpon the Canticles Albert ibid. that they reiect the baptisme of little infants The fifth that they adore their Pastors prostrating themselues before them The sixth Albert ibid. that they maintaine that it is not lawfull to sweare for any cause whatsoeuer The seuenth Rain fol. 36. 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 The eight calumnie is Rain ibid. fol. 22. article 32. 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 The ninth Albert ibid. 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 The tenth Idem ibid. that the lay-man being in the state of grace hath more authoritie then the Prince that liues in his sinne The eleuenth Rain in Summa fol. 12. 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 The twelfth Idem lib. de forma haeret fol. 21. 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 The thirteenth Albert. de origine Vaud fol. 4. 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. 169. 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 things that commonly follow the one the other heresie and forcerie as it is verified in our times in those Cities and Prouinces which haue giuen entertainment vnto heresie CHAP. IIII. How the Waldenses are iustified and cleared from the calumnies contained in the former Chapter by those writings which they haue left THe Waldenses of Bohemia whether they were the remainder of that people that followed Valdo as some are of opinion that he ended his dayes in Bohemia after he had retired himselfe out of Germany and escaped the hands of the Bishops of Mayence and Strasburge or whether they were such persons as afterwards professed the same faith which the Waldenses did it is without all doubt that they were gricuously persecuted by king Ladislaus king of Hungary and Bohemia and we haue in our owne hands an Apologie of the said Waldenses which they sent vnto the king whom they called Lancelau to iustifie themselues against sundry complaints which were made against them by their aduersaries as also we haue a booke with this inscription Aico es la causa del nostre despartiment de la Gleisa Romana That is to say Behold the cause of our separation from the Church of Rome And forasmuch as the answer to the first calumnie that is that they assembled themselues in darke corners where the candles being put out their aduersaries do affirme they committed villanous incests we haue copied out the answer of the said Apologie in their owne tearmes and language for the more certaintie and better edification This Apologie the author Iean Paul Perrin set downe in two columnes the one French the other in the language of the Waldenses which for breuity sake we set downe onely in English referring those vnto the French booke that desire to see the originall AMong other things say they they publish In the letter to king Ladislaus pa. 2. like angrie barking curres that it is a law and common amongst vs to say Yeeld thy selfe to whomsoeuer shal request thee and that we take our pleasures in darke caues and corners with whomsoeuer shall present themselues vnto vs whether they be our mothers or daughters or wiues or sisters How true this is it may appeare in that God hauing kept and preserued vs for aboue these forty yeares past it hath bene neuer knowne that there hath bene any whoredome amongst vs that hath escaped vnpunished or any such villanie committed In such sort that our liues and carriages condemne those that accuse vs. And for as much as the Waldenses speake this of themselues and to their owne praise and therefore this their iustification may seeme but weake looke a little into that which they haue written elsewhere against whordome which may
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
being confiscable for the cause of heresie pressed the aforesaid Commissioners speedily to condemne them for heretickes but the said Commissioners would not obey his desire but rather iustified thē as much as in them lay insomuch that before their departure the said Confessour of the king in his chamber at the signe of the Angell in Ambrun wished in the presence of many that he were as good a Christian as the worst of the said valley of Fraissiniere King Francis the first of that name Ioachim Camer in his historie pag. 352. and successour to Lewis 12. vnderstanding that the Parliament of Prouence had laid heauie burthens vpon the Waldenses dwelling at Merindol and Cambriers and other places thereabout desired to be informed of the beleefe life and conuersation of the said Waldenses and to that end commanded William de Belay Lord of Langeay at that time his Lieutenant in Piemont to make a diligent inquiry into those affaires whereupon the said Lord sent into Prouence two honest reuerent men to whom he gaue in charge to make inquiry both of the liues and religion of the Waldenses as also of the proceedings of the Court of Parliament against them These two deputies to the Lord de Langeay reported that the greatest part of the countrie of Prouence did affirme that the said Waldenses were a kind of people very painfull and that about two hundred yeares since they departed from the countrie of Piemont and came to dwell in Prouence and taking vpon them the profession of husbandmen and sheepheards they made many villages that were destroyed in the wars and other desart sauage places very fertile by their labours And that they had found by informations in the said countrie of Prouence that the aforesaid men of Merindol were a peaceable people beloued of their neighbours men of a good and godly conuersation carefull to keepe their promises and to pay their debts without suites of law very charitable not suffering any amongst them to fall into want and beggery liberall to strangers and poore passengers to the vtmost of their power As also that the inhabitants of Prouence did affirme that they of Merindol were knowne from others of the countrie because they could neuer be perswaded to blaspheme or so much as to name the diuell or in any sort to sweare except it were vpon certaine contracts or in indgement And that they were likewise knowne by this that whensoeuer they fell into company of such as vsed either idle or wanton or blasphemous discourse against the honour of God they presently departed Thus you see how many of the aduersaries of the Waldenses haue giuen honourable reports of them enforced thereunto by the force of truth it selfe Let vs now see in what esteeme they haue bene with those that succeeded them in the same beleefe CHAP. VI. Testimonies giuen of the Waldenses by many great personages that haue made profession of the reformed religion THeodor Beza calleth the Waldenses the seed of the most pure ancient Christian Church Beza in his historie of worthy men which was miraculously preserued in the middest of the darknesse and errours which haue bene hatthed by Satan in these latter times Constans vpon the Reuelation Const vpon the Apocalypse sheweth that the reformatiō of the Church in the Westerne parts of the world began in France by the meanes of Waldo and that from this source it spread it selfe through the rest of Europe Bullinger speakes thus of the Waldenses Bullinger in the Preface of his sermons vpon the Reuelation What should we say saith he that aboue foure hundred yeares since throughout France Italy Germany Poland Bohemia and other countries and kingdomes of the world the Waldenses haue made profession of the Gospell of Christ Iesus and in many their writings and continuall preachings accused the Pope to be the true Antichrist of whom the Apostle Saint Iohn had prophesied and therefore we were to flie from him These people being tortured with diuerse most cruell torments haue with vnspeakable constancie giuen testimony of their faith by glorious martyrdomes and the like they suffer euen at this very day It is beyond the power of man to banish them or to roote them out notwithstanding it haue bene often attempted by most mightie kings and Princes stirred vp by the Pope but it is God saith he that hath hindred all their violent outrages Vesembecius in his Oration of the Waldenses Luther confessed that he hated the Waldenses as desperate men vntill he knew the pietie and truth of their beleefe by their owne confessions and writings whereby he perceiued that these good and honest men were much wronged and that the Pope had condemned them for heretikes being rather worthie of the praise that is due to Saints and Martyrs And that he had found in the said Waldenses one thing worthy admiration and to be obserued as a miracle neuer heard of in the Church of Rome namely that the said Waldenses hauing abandoned all humane learning gaue them selues wholly to the vtmost of their power to the meditation of the law of God day night and that they were very expert in the Scriptures and well exercised in them and that contrarily they whom we call our great Maisters in the Papacy made so light account of the Scriptures glorying neuerthelesse in the title thereof that there were some amongst them that had scarce seene the Bible Hauing also read the confession of the Waldenses he said that he did thanke God for that great light that it had pleased God to impart vnto them taking great comfort with them for that all occasion of suspition amongst them whereby one was suspected to the other of heresie was taken away and that they were knit so close together as that they were all sheepe of one fold vnder the onely Pastor and Bishop of our soules who is blessed for euer Oecolampadius writ vnto the Waldenses of Prouence in the yeare a thousand fiue hundred and thirtie this letter following VVE haue vnderstood with a great deale of contentment by your faithfull Pastor George Morel This letter is found in the book of George Morel pastor of the Waldenses touching the conference which he had with Oecolamp and Martin Bucer what your faith and religion is and with what termes you speake thereof We therefore yeeld humble and heartie thanks to our mercifull Father who hath called you to so great light in this age euen in the middest of those obscure darknesses which are spread throughout the whole world and the vnlimited power of Antichrist And therefore we acknowledge and confesse that Christ is in you for which we lone you as brethren And I would to God we had power and abilitie to make you feele that in effect which we shall be readie to do for you yea though it be in matters of greatest defficultie We would not that you should take that which we write to proceed out of any pride or attributing to
Masses We do abhorre all humane inuentions Art 11 as coming from Antechrist all which bring troubles with them and are preiudiciall to the libertie of the spirit Art 12 We beleeue that the Sacraments are outward signes of holy things or visible formes of inuisible grace and are of opinion that it is good that the faithfull do sometimes vse those signes and visible formes if it may be done But neuerthelesse we beleeue and do hold that the aforesaid faithfull may be saued not receiuing the said signes when they want place or power to vse them Art 13 We do not acknowledge any other Sacrament but Baptisme and the Eucharist We do honour the secular power Art 14 with all subiection obedience promptitude and payment CHAP. XIII Another Confession of the faith of the Waldenses WE beleeue that there is one onely God Art 1 Taken out of the booke of Charles du Moulin de la Mon. des François p. 65. who is a Spirit the Creator of all things the Father of all who is aboue all and in vs all who is to be adored in spirit and truth vpon whom onely we waite and to whom we giue all glorie for our life our nourishment clothing health sicknesse prosperitie aduersitie we loue him as the author of all goodnesse we feare him as knowing our hearts Art 2 We beleeue that Iesus Christ is the Sonne and image of his father that in him dwels the fulnesse of the diuinitie by whom we know the Father who is our mediatour and aduocate and there is no other name vnder heauen giuen vnto men by which we can be saued in whose name onely we call vpon the Father and vse no other prayers but those that are contained in the holy Scriptures or agreeing vnto them in substance We beleeue that the holy Ghost is our Comforter Art 3 proceeding from the Father and the Sonne by whose inspiration we make our prayers being renewed by him who doth all good works in vs and by him we haue knowledge of all truth We beleeue that there is one holy Church Art 4 which is the congregation of all the elect and faithfull which haue bene from the beginning of the world and shall be vnto the end whereof our Lord Iesus Christ is the head the which Church is gouerned by his word and guided by the holy Ghost in which all good Christians ought to remaine for it prayeth without ceassing for all and the word thereof is agreeable vnto God without which no man can be saued Art 5 We hold that the Ministers of the Church ought to be irreprehensible both in life and doctrine otherwise they are to be deposed from their office and other to be substituted in their place And that no man ought to presume to vndertake this honourable calling but onely he which is called of God as Aaron nourishing the flocke of Christ not for dishonest gaine or as hauing any superioritie ouer the Clergie but as being an example to the slocke in word in conuersation in charitie in faith and in chastitie We confesse that Kings Art 6 Princes and Gouernours are ordained and established Ministers of God to whom we are to obey For they carrie the sword for the defence of innocents and the punishment of malefactors and for this cause are we bound to do them honour and to pay tribute From which power and authoritie no man can exempt himselfe as may appeare be the example of our Lord Iesus Christ who refused not to pay tribute not challenging any iutisdiction of temporall power We beleeue Art 7 that in the Sacrament of Baptisme the water is the visible and externall signe which representeth vnto vs that which by the power and vertue of God inuisible so working is within vs that is to say renouation of the spirit and mortification of our members in Iesus Christ by which we are also receiued into the holy congregation of the people of God protesting and declaring before it our faith and change of life Art 8 We hold the holy Sacrament of the table or Supper of our Lord Iesus Christ to be a holy remembrance and thanksgiuing for the benefits which we haue receiued by his death and passion which is to be receiued in faith and charitie examining our selues that so we may eate of that bread and drinke of that cup as it is written in the holy Scripture We confesse that mariage is good and honourable Art 9 holy and instituted of God which ought to be forbidden to none if there be no impediment by the word of God We confesse that they that feare God Art 10 seeke the things that please him doing good workes the which he hath prepared to the end we should walke in them which are charitie ioy peace patience benignitie goodnesse mildnesse sobrictie and other workes contained in the holy Scriptures On the contrary Art 11 we confesse that we are to take heed of false teachers whose end is to call the people from the true worship of God and to rest themselues vpon creatures putting their confidence in them as also to perswade the people to leaue those good duties that are contained in the holy Scriptures and to do those that are inuented by men Art 12 We hold the old and new Testament for the rule of our faith we agree to the generall Confession of faith with those articles contained in the Symbole of the Apostles which doth thus begin I beleeue in God the Father Almightie c. And for as much as the Pastors of the Waldenses taught their people the Athanasian Creed in the Waldensian language we haue taken it out of their bookes word by word as they pronounced it in old time CHAP. XIIII The Symbole of Athanasius in the Waldensian language QValquequal vol esser faict salf deuant totas câ—sas es de necessitatenir la fe Catholica laqual si alcun non tenré entierament sensa dubi periré eternalment Ma aquesta es la fe Catholica Qunos houran vn Dio en Trinita la Trinita en vnita non confondent personnas ni departent la substantia Car antra es la personna del Paire del Filli del Sanct Esperit La Paire non crea lo filli non crea lo Sanct Esperit non crea Lâ— Paire non mesuriuol lo Filli non mesuriuol lo Sanct Esperit non mesuriuol Lo Paire Eternal lo Filli Eternal lo Sanct Esperit Eternal Emperço non tres Eternals ma vn Eternal enaimi non tres mesuriuols non crea Semeillament lo Paire tot Poissant lo Filli tot poissant lo Sanct Esperit tot Poissant emperço non tres tot Poissants ma vn tot Poissant Enaimi lo Paire es Dio lo Filli Dio lo Sanct Esperit Dio emperço non tres Dios ma vn Dio. Enaimi lo Paire es Seignor lo Filli Seignor lo Sanct Esperit Seignor emperço non tres Seignors ma vn Seignor Ca enaimi nos sen costreit confessar per Christiana verita
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
if they were good Catholikes or no to which being well taught they answered yea and with that answere the Commissioners contented themselues And yet it appeareth that they demanded diuers questions touching the Eucharist Purgatory Inuocation of Saints and diuers other points Againe he saith that the witnesses were fearefull and durst not speake and yet it plainly appeareth that the witnesses produced were for the most part Priests and Monkes of the faction of the Arch-bishop exhibited by him Againe that they suffered nothing to be set downe in writing whereas it appeareth that there are no Indictments where there is more written then in those that were framed by the said Commissioners But that which troubled the Arch-bishop most was that the said Commissioners gaue sentence of absolution touching Contumacy sine praeiudicio causae principalis iuris cuicunque acquisiti against which the Arch-bishop protested and would not yeeld his consent to seale the said sentence complaining that Monsieur the Officiall of Orleans had made knowen by his proceedings that he fauoured the said Waldenses especially hauing said openly at his lodgiug at the signe of the Angell in Ambrun that he desired to be but as good a Christian as the worst of Frassiniere But the greatest hurt came to himselfe for he saw that hee must restore diuers viniards belonging to the said Waldenses situated at S. Clements S. Crespin and at the place Chanteloube and diuers inheritances at Chateau-Roux which his Predecessor named Iohn had ioyned to the Demaine of his Arch-bishopricke The Confessor of the King hauing reported vnto him and to his Counsell what he knew touching the Waldenses and how they were absolued of their contumacy did ordaine that the goods of the said Waldenses should be restored whereupon these Letters following were granted by King Lewis the twelfth 〈◊〉 that name Lewis by the grace of God King of France c. FOr as much as it is come to our knowledge that the Inhabitants of Frassiniere haue endured great troubles and vexations punishments and trauels VVe desiring to releeue them and that they should be restored to their goods moueables and immoueables do by these Presents command all those that detaine the said goods that incontinently and without delay they desist and renounce the said goods and restore them to the said Suppliants or their Atturneies for them euery one in his place and ranke And in case of opposition refusall or delay Wee hauing regard to their pouerty and misery wherein they haue a long time and now are detained without power to obtaine iustice desiring withall Our heart it should bee administred vnto them Our will is to take notice thereof in Our owne proper person warning all those that shall oppose themselues or make delay to appeare before Vs at a certaine competent day c. Giuen at Lion the twelfth of Oct. 1501. These Letters being executed it was the opinion of most men that since the fairest and best part of the goods of the said Waldenses was possessed by the Lord Arch-bishop that there was great reason that hee should giue example vnto others seeing especially that that which they held came vnto some of them as a sallary or fee for their punishments and by the hands of the Arch-bishop Iohn his Predecessor The Arch-bishop Rostain answered that he held none of the goods of the Frassinieres onely certaine goods had been annexed to his Arch-bishopricke vpon good and iust cause and incorporated to his Church by his Predecessor the said goods being within the territories and iurisdiction thereof in which no commandement of the King hath euer been accustomed to be executed and therefore it is not to bee beleeued that it commeth from the will of the King being Protector of the Churches and following the example of his great predecessors But yet neuerthelesse the said Arch-bishop being willing to please our Lord the King will bee content to yeeld vnto the said Inhabitants of Frassiniere the said vineyards vpon condition that other the Lords and Masters of Dauphine deliuer that which they haue of the said goods and then the Arch-bishop will be content to restore that which hee and his Church doe possesse Thus these poore people were frustrated of their attempt For there was not any one that would restore any thing of that which he detained And therefore they summoned before the King and his counsell the said Arch-bishop Master Pons Counsellor of the Parliament at Grenoble Peter de Rames Esquier Lord of Poit Faix de Rames the Master of Montainard and of Argentiere Arrouars de Bonne and diuers other ordinary Atturnies Priests and Burgeses of Ambrun and Briancon They sent to the Court and hauing there more friends and credit then the Inhabitants of Frassiniere Their excuse was receiued wherein they declared that it was not in their power to restore the said goods before the Pope had absolued them And the Arch-bishop protested that hee for his part was ready to restore all that his Predecessors had vnited to his Church prouided that they had the aforesaid absolution This occasioned such as were lesse affected and constant to assay this way and to send to Pope Alexander the sixt of that name then Bishop of Rome But they were compelled rather not to goe to Rome but to fetch a writ of absolution from the Cardinall Legat in France George of the title of Saint Xist which would suffice and might be obtained with lesse charge For the obtaining whereof they had the Commissary the Kings Confessor They sent therefore one Steuen Roux who who brought two Bulles one by which he gaue absolution for Simony theft murder vsury Adultery dedention of Benefices destruction of goods Ecclesiasticall violence against Clerks by beating them vnlawfull oathes periuries Fraudes yea Apostacy and Heresie and whosoeuer had committed any crime were it neuer so hainous this Cardinall absolued them from all by his Apostolicall authority And forasmuch as his Arch-bishop might pretend that the said Bull did not absolue the said people of Frassinieres hauing been condemned by the said Apostolicall authority by Commissioners and Inquisitors deputed by the Pope and therefore his mouth was stopped he brought another Bull in which there was especially this clause Hauing power from the Pope to decide or determine any matter that any other that hath been deputed by that holy Sea or substituted can doe yea where there hath been an appeale absoluing all that haue in any manner been condemned This poore man thought he had gotten much and proceeded far in this busines but the Arch-bishop Rostain flouted his Bulles saying that they were obtained with too great a price and importunity and that he must haue an absolution from the Pope himselfe And so resolued with himselfe to restore nothing and all the rest followed his example And notwithstanding they had had absolution from the Pope yet they would haue restored nothing for he knew well inough that in those daies all things were sold at Rome witnesse
hands by the Inquisitors This Parliament caused a great number to be burnt at Turin in immitation of other Parliaments in France who burnt in those times those they called Lutherans They had recourse vnto the King presenting vnto him their petition that they might not be persecuted by the said Parliament for the profession of that Religion in the which they and their ancestors had liued for many hundred yeeres and that by the permission of their Princes But they made it worse with them then it was before for the King enioyned them to liue according to the laws of the Church of Rome vpon paine to bee chastised as Heretickes He likewise commanded the Court of Parliament at Turin to cause all his Subiects within their iurisdiction to professe his religion Adding withall that he did not burne the Lutherans throughout his whole Kingdome of France to make a reseruation of them among the Alpes The Parliament endeuoured speedily to put the commandement of the King in execution and for that cause enioyned them vpon paine of their liues to quit themselues presently of their Ministers and to receiue Priests to sing Masse liuing after the manner of other the Kings subiects They answered that they could not obey any such commands against the commandement of God whom in what belonges vnto his seruice they would rather obey then men But had not the King at that time had other imployments elsewhere without all doubt this Parliament would haue made them doe that by force which they would not be brought vnto by simple commands They therefore contented themselues to prosecute them by the Inquisition and to receiue from the Monkes those they condemned to the fire But afterwards in the yeere 1555 they increased the persecution For hauing condemned to the fire one Barthelmew Hector a Stationer who was executed at Turin because hee died with admirable constancy insomuch that hee edified the assistants and standers by in such manner that he drew teares from their eyes and words of compassion from their mouthes iustifying him with a mutuall applause which they gaue of his good speeches and prayers vnto God The Parliament tooke occasion herupon to do their best endeauor to ouerthrow this profession in the very source and to vse the authority of the King to enforce this people to liue vnder the lawes of the Church of Rome In the Booke of the martyrs of our time lib. 8. fol 122. or miserably to perish To this end and purpose the Parliament of Turin deputed a certaine President of Saint Iulian and a Collaterall named de Ecclesia to transport themselues vnto those places and there to put in practice whatsoeuer they thought good either to reduce or to exterminate the said people with promise to assist them with whatsoeuer shall be needfull to this purpose according to the aduise and counsell they should receiue from them This President with his Collaterall ttooke their iourney to Perouse and caused Proclamations publikly to be made in the name of the King that euery one of the Inhabitants was to goe to Masse vpon paine of his life Afterwards they came to Pignerol where they cited many to appeare before them Amongst others there appeared a poore simple labouring man whom the President commanded to cause his child to be re-baptized which had lately been baptized by the minister of Saint Iohn neere Angrongne This poore man requested so much respite as that he might pray vnto God before hee answered him Which being granted with some laughter he fell downe vpon his knees in the presence of all that were there and his prayer being ended he said to the President that hee would cause his childe to be re-baptised vpon condition that the said President would discharge him by a bill signed with his owne hand of the sinne which he should commit in causing it to be re-baptized and beare one day before God the punishment and condemnation which should befall him taking this iniquity vpon him and his Which the President vnderstanding hee commanded him out of his presence not pressing him any farther Now hauing framed diuers indictments against some particular persons of the said Valleys and made some collections of whatsoeuer the President could imagine might hurt the people hee assayed also to winne them by the preachings of the Monkes whom he brought with him into the Valley of Angrongne Being therefore come vnto the place where their Temple was he caused one of his Monkes to preach in the presence of the people who made vnto them a long exhortation to returne vnto the Church of Rome of which hee reported many things which the people beleeued not After that the Monke had said as much as he would and that he held his peace the greatest number of the people required that the Pastors that were there present or some one of them for all might be permitted louingly and mildly to answer to the discourse that had been made by the Preacher but the President by no meanes would giue way thereunto whereupon there followed a certaine rumour or muttering among the people which strooke the President and his Monkes with an astonishment in such sort that they could haue been content to haue been elsewhere but dissembling their feare the President retired himselfe without a word speaking to Turin whether being come hee related to the Parliament what hee had done and withall signified vnto them the difficulties that were to winne this people by extremities because if any attempt should bee made to take them by violence they were resolued to defend themselues and the places of their abode being fauourable vnto them it was to bee feared it would cost a great deale of labour and much blood would bee shed before they could either bee brought into the Church of Rome or out of the world That is was the worke of a King to roote them out and a King of Franc and therefore it was necessary to send the reports and to commit vnto his owne will and pleasure the issue of so troublesome an enterprise This aduice was followed the indictments and reports were sent to the King but as the affaires of the Court cannot be finished but with long time there passed a whole yeere before there was any other course spoken of or taken against them then that of the Inquisitors who alwaies deliuered some one or other to the secular power but the yeere being expired there came from the Court expresse commands of the King to make them to doe that by force which they would not be brought vnto by words or friendly vsage The Parliament re-sent the said President of Saint Iulien who so soone as hee was arriued at Angrongne he commanded them in the name of the King to goe to the Masse vpon paine of Confiscation of bodies and goods They demanded a Copy both of his commission and his speech promising to answere him in such a manner that he should haue reason to rest contented but nothing could
wickednesse they were as precious stones in a common sinke and therefore both enuied and admired but yet alwaies maintained by their Lords who comparing these subiects and vassals with others that they had could not satiate themselues with their praises Thus were they maintained by their Lords against all enuy and that maugre the Priests vntill the yeere 1560 at what time they could no longer defend them against the Popes thunderbolts The occasion was because they then vnderstood that in their Valleys of Pragela and Piedmont there were Pastors that with a loud voyce did preach the Gospell For they had sent to Geneua to be furnished with teachers and they sent them two that is to say Steuen Negrin and Lewis Paschal who at their arriuall did their best endeauours to establish the exercise of their Religion Pope Pius the fourth of that name being aduertised hereof the Colledge of Cardinals was assembled and presently concluded and resolued vpon the vtter ruine and ex irpation of this people who so neere the Popes Seate durst to plant the Religion of the Lutherans The charge of this persecution was giuen to Cardinall Alexandrin a violent man if there were euer any amongst the Cardinals Hee chose two Monkes of his owne humour to be his Informers that is to say one Valerio Maluicino and a Dominican Monke named Alphonsus Vrbin who began with the Inhabitants of Saint Xist Being in the place they assembled the people giuing them good speeches and protesting that their comming thither was not any way to molest them but onely louingly to aduertise them that they were not to heare any other Doctours and teachers then those which should be giuen vnto them by the Prelats of their Diocesse That they knew well that they had receiued teachers from Geneua but by quitting themselues of them and liuing hereafter according to the lawes of the Church of Rome they should haue no cause to feare any thing but if they presumed to keepe their said teachers amongst them they did put themselues in danger to lose their liues their goods and honours because they were to be condemned for Heretickes And that they might the better know who they were that had wholly forsaken the lawes of the Church of Rome they caused a bell to be rung to Masse inuiting the people to goe thither but in steed of going to the Masse they quit themselues of their houses and with their wiues and children that could follow them they did flie into the woods leauing onely within the Citty some few decrepit men and women and little children The Monkes dissembled this flight that they might the better intrap them all at once They went to la Garde not threatning any one of those that stayed in Saint Xist Being there they caused the gates of the Towne to be locked and the people to be assembled They told them that they of Saint Xist had abiured their Religion and being gone to the Masse had asked pardon at Gods hands promising them if they would doe the like that no man should offer the least hurt that might be These poore people thinking the Monkes had spoken a truth vnto them they were content to yeeld to whatsoeuer they would haue them doe But when they had vnderstood that their brethren of Saint Xist had refused to goe to Masse and that they were fled into the woods they were ashamed of their weaknesse and much displeased with their reuolt and therefore instantly resolued with themselues to goe with their wiues and children to their bretheren of Saint Xist but the Lord of the place Saluator Spinello would not suffer them to retire themselues in so miserable a manner promising to defend them against whomsoeuer prouided saith he that they caried themselues like good Romish Catholikes In the meane time the Monkes sent after those of Sainc Xist two Companies of foote-men who ran after these poore people as after wild beasts crying out Amassa amassa that is kill kill They slew diuers of them But they that could get to the top of the mountaine being on the hight of the rockes intreated they might be heard which being granted they beseeched them to haue pitty vpon them and vpon their wiues and children that they would call to minde that they had inhabited in those Countries from the father to the sonne for some ages and that in all that time there was not any that could complaine of their conuersation and yet neuerthelesse if they could not continue in their houses in that beliefe wherein they had liued to this present if they might be permitted to betake themselues either by sea or by land to the protection of God with their onely persons and some few commodities and so retire themselues whether it should please the Lord to conduct them they would very willingly forsake all their goods rather then to fall into any idolatry promising both for themselues and all theirs neuer to returne to their houses againe They beseeched them euen for Gods cause not to driue them to such necessities as that they must be enforced to defend themselues for if they should be once out of all hope of mercy it would be dangerous for themselues who had driuen them to these extremities The souldiers were the more stirred vp against them and presently made a violent assault vpon them which bound these poore people to a iust defence and so being assisted by God they slew the greatest part of the Souldiers that pursued them and put the rest to slight The Monkes the Inquisitors writ to the Vice-roy of Naples that he should speedily sendsome companies of Souldiers to apprehend cetaine Heretickes of Saint Xist and la Garde who were fled into the woods and that in so doing he should doe that which was pleasing to the Pope and meritorious to himselfe if he shall deliuer the Church from such contagion The Vice-roy came himselfe with his troupes Being arriued at Saint Xist he caused to be proclaimed by the sound of a trumpet that the place was condemned to be exposed to fire and sword But in the meane time before his arriuall the women had leasure to returne to Saint Xist whether they ran together to seeke for victuall to feede their husbands and children which were in the wood The Viceroy caused it to be proclaimed throughout the Realme of Naples that all banished people that would come to the warres against the Heretickes of Saint Xist should be pardoned all their offences formerly committed whereupon great numbers gathered themselues together and were conducted to the woods where the fugitiues of Saint Xist were and they gaue them the chase in so rigorous a manner that in the end after the slaughter of diuers of these poore people the rest of them being sore wounded retired themselues into the caues vpon the high rockes where the greatest part of them died with famine The Monkes Inquisitors made shew of much discontent and that they were much displeased with that which had happened
reprechension by the holy Scriptures they might be instructed concerning that which they were to recant or if they found nothing that they could reprehend that they might be no more molested by so many and so grieuous persecutions for feare lest thinking they made warre onely against men it should appeare that they made it against God and his truth and those that maintained it All their petitions serued to no other end then to prouoke them the more for the Iudges being possessed with an opinion that they were Heretikes refusing to take the paynes to know and examine the truth they made all their Acts in fauour of the Priests that accused them In such sort that when the Cardinall of Tournon had obtained at a high price Letters from the King for the execution of the aforesaid Decree notwithstanding the pardon and reuocation before obtained it was executed This was in the yeere 1545 that the President of Opede Gouernour of Prouence in the absence of the Earle of Grignan deputed for Commissioners the President Francis de la Fon Honoré de Tributiis and Bernard Badet Counseller and the Aduocate Guerin in the absence of the Procurator Generall He dispatched sundry Commissions and proclaimed the warre with sound of trumper both at Aix and at Marseilles So the troopes being leuied and the fiue ensignes of the old bands of Piedmont ioyned with them the army marched to Pertuis and the next day being the fourteenth of Aprill they went to Cadinet and the sixteenth they began to set fire to the Villages of Cabrieres Pepin la Mothe and Saint Martin belonging to the Lord of Sental then vnder age There the poore labourers without any resistance were slaine women and their daughters rauished some great with childe murdered without any mercy The breasts of many women were cut off after whose deaths the poor infants died with famine d'Opede hauing caused Proclamation to be made vpon paine of the with that no man should giue any reliefe or sustenance to any of them All things were ransacked burnt pilled and there were none saued aliue but those that were reserued for the Galloys The seuenteenth day Opede commanded the old bands of Piedmont to draw neere and the day following hee burnt the Villages of Lormarin Ville Laure and Trezemines and at the same time on the other side of Durance le Rieur de la Rocque and others of the Towne of Arles burnt Gensson and la Roque Opede being come to Merindol he found not any there but onely a yong lad called Morisi Blanc a very simple fellow who yeelded himselfe prisoner to a Souldier with promise of two crownes for his ransome d'Opede finding none other vpon whom he might wreake his anger payed the two crownes to the Souldier and so commanding him to be bound to a tree caused him to be slaine with hargubuse shot Afterwards he commanded the said Towne to be pilled sacked and vtterly razed and laid leuell with the ground where there were aboue two hundred houses There remained the Towne of Cabrieres compassed with walles which were beaten with the Cannon These poore people being sicke within who were about some threescore boores or Pesants of the Country called vnto them that they needed not to spend so much powder and paines to batter the Walles because they were ready to open the gates vnto them and to quit themselues of the place and Country and to depart to Geneua or into Germany with their wiues and children leauing all their goods behind them onely that their passage might be free The Lord of Cabrieres treated for them that their cause might be determined by iustice without force or violence But Opede being within the Town he commanded the men to be brought into a field and to be cut in peeces withswords these valiant executioners striuing who could shew the best manhood in cutting off heads armes and legges He caused the women to be locked vp in a barne full of straw and so put fire vnto it where were burnt many women great with childe Wherewith a Souldier being moued to compassion hauing made an ouerture for them they were beaten backe into the fire with pikes and holberds The rest of these men that were found hidden in the caues were brought into the Hall of the Castle where they were horribly massacred in the presence of the said Opede As for the women and children that were found in the Temple they were exposed to the chiefe Bauds and Ruffians of Anignon who slew about eight hundred persons without distinction of age or sexe About the end of this execution le Sieur de la Coste kinsman to Opede came thither who intreated him to send him some men of warre offering to bring all his souldiers into Aix and to make as many breaches in the wall as hee would which was granted by word of mouth but not wholly performed For three Ensignes of foot men were sent thither who pillaged whatsoeuer seemed good vnto them burnt a part of the Towne rauished women and their daughters and killed some Boores not finding any resistance In this meane time the rest of those of Merindol and other places were in great extremities in the mountaines and rockes persecuted by Opede and his army They intreated him that hee would permit them to retire themselues to Geneua with the rest of their wiues and children promising to leaue behind them all their goods Hee answered that hee would send them all to dwell in the Country of hell with all the diuels them their wiues and children in such a manner that there should be no memory left of them King Francis being aduertised of those cruelties that were executed in pursuit of the said arrest was much displeased therewith in such sort that at the very point of death being wounded with some remorse of conscience principally because it had all passed vnder his name and authority being sorry because hee could inflict no punishment vpon them before his death that had shed so much innocent blood hee gaue in charge to his sonne Henry to bee reuenged on them in prosecution whereof after the decease of his father hee sent out his Letters Patents in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred forty nine by which hee tooke vnto himselfe and into his owne hands the cause of the said Waldenses of Prouence but there was none but the Aduocate Guerin that was hanged because hee had falsty informed the King when hee kept backe the reuocation of the first retention of the cause of those of Merindoll whereupon presently followed the execution of the Arrest of the Court of Parliament of Aix And all the rest that were faulty escaped vpon this consideration that it was to no purpose to attempt any more against the Lutherans at that time Touching the rest that escaped this massacre some there were that retired themselues to Geneua others into Switzerland others into Germany and others continued neere thereabouts tilling their land by stealth and so by little
the walls and so entred the towne calying themselues towards the inhabitants thereof after the same manner as they had done before to those of Beziers for they put them all to the sword and fire Whilest those things were in doing the king of Aragon arriued at the army of the Legat and went first to the tent of the Earle Remond who was constrained to giue his assistance at this siege against his owne Nephew From thence he went to the Legat and told him that hauing vnderstood that his kinsman the Earle of Beziers was besieged within Carcassonne hee was come vnto him to doe his best endeuour to make the said Earle to vnderstand what his duty was towards the Pope and the Church which hee presumed hee should the more easily doe because hee knew well that the said Earle had alwaies made profession of the Romish religion The Legat gaue him leaue to vndertake what hee had said The king of Aragon made his approach to the Rampiers The Earle of Beziers came to parley with him The king of Aragon desired to know of him what had moued him to shut vp himselfe within the citie of Carcassonne against so great an Army of Pelerins The Earle answered that it greatly stood him vpon hauing so necessary and so iust cause to defend his life his goods and his subiects That hee knew well that vnder the pretence of religion the Pope had a purpose vtterly to ouerthrow the Earle Remond his vncle and himselfe That he found by that mediation which he had made for his subiects of Beziers the Romish Catholikes whereof he would not receiue into grace and fauour neither had spared the Priests themselues who were all cut in peeces euen adorned with their Priestly ornaments and vnder the banner of the Crosse That this example of cruell impietie added vnto that which had passed in the towne of Carcassonne where they were all exposed to fire and sword without distinction of age or sex had taught him not to looke for any mercy either at the hands of the Legat or his Pelerins And that therefore he chose rather to die with his subiects defending himselfe than to bee exposed to the mercy of so inexorable an enemy as the Legat was And that notwithstanding there were within the city of Carcassonne diuers of his subiects that were of a contrary religion to that of the Church of Rome yet they were such a kinde of people as had neuer wronged any that they were come to succor him at his greatest extremity and for this their good seruice he was resolued not to abandon them as they had promised for their part to expose their liues and goods for his defence to all hazard and danger whatsoeuer That his trust was in God who is the defender of the oppressed that he would bee pleased to assist them against that world of men ill-aduised who vnder the colour of meriting heauen haue forsaken their houses to burne and pill and sacke and ransacke and kill in the houses of other men without either reason iudgement or mercy The King of Aragon returned to the Legat who assembled together diuers of his great Lords and Prelates to heare and vnderstand what the King of Aragon would relate vnto him who told him that hee found the Earle of Beziers his kinsman much discontented with the former proceedings against his subiects of Beziers and the Towne of Carcassonne which gaue him reason to beleeue that forasmuch as they had not spared the Romish Catholikes nor the Priests that it was not a warre vndertaken for the cause of Religion but vnder the colour of Religion a kind of theeuery that his hope was that God would giue him the grace to make him know his innocencie and the iust occasion he had to defend himselfe that they should no longer hope they would yeeld themselues to their discretion because they saw their discretion was no other but to kill as many as should yeeld themselues thereunto And that therefore if it would please the Legat to grant vnto the Earle of Beziers and his subiects some tollerable composition that gentlenesse and mercy would sooner ioyne the Albingenses to the Church of Rome than extreme crueltie and that aboue all they should remember that the Earle of Beziers was young and a Romish Catholike who might doe good seruice for the reducing of those that did any way relie or put their trust in him The Legat answered the King of Aragon that if hee would retire himselfe a little they would consult together of that which should be fittest to be done The King being recalled the Legat gaue him to vnderstand that for his sake and in consideration of his intercession he would receiue the Earle of Beziers vnto mercie and with him some dozen might likewise come forth with their bag and baggage if hee thought good but for the people that were within the Citie of Carcassonne they should not depart but at his discretion The Monke of the Valley Sernay Chap. 20. Du Hailan in his History of France touching the siege of Carcassenne whereof they should hope well and haue a good opinion because hee was the Popes Legat and that they should all come forth naked men women maids children without shirts or smocks or other couering to hide their nakednesse Also that the Earle of Beziers should be deliuered to sure guard and all his goods to remaine to the future Lord of that Countrey which should be chosen for the preseruation thereof The King of Aragon though he saw this composition to be vnworthy the proposing to the Earle of Beziers yet neuerthelesse thought good to discharge his office herein to whom the Earle of Beziers answered That he would neuer come forth vpon conditions so seasoned and so vniust and that hee was resolued to defend himselfe with his subiects by such meanes as it should please God to giue vnto him The King of Aragon retired himselfe not without shew of the great discontent he receiued by this vniust proceeding The Legat hereupon commanded all his engins of warre to play and that they should take the Citie by force But it was a spectacle little pleasing vnto him for hee was an eye-witnesse of the losse of a great number of his Pelerins For they of the Citie threw downe such a quantitie of great stones with fire and pitch and brimstone and boyling water and gauled the assaylants with such infinite numbers of arrowes that the earth was couered and the ditches filled with the dead bodies of the Pelerins which caused a wonderfull noysome stench both in the Campe and in the Citie This rude vnwelcome ouerthrow caused many of his Souldiers of the Crosse to forrage and seeke for booty abroad as hauing accomplished their tearme of fortie daies during the which they had gained Paradice and refusing to conquer any more after so faire a purchase for feare they should change their former felicitie for blowes The Legat being much troubled to see his
discontented that this prey had escaped their hands and knowing that he would no more suffer himselfe to bee abused and ouer-reached by words they endeuored to get that by force which either by faire words or foule they could not Whereupon they went presently and besieged the Castle of Montferrand into which the Earle Remond had put the Earle Baudoni his brother with the Vicount of Montelar Remond of Pierregourde and Pons Roux of Toulouze and diuers other valiant men to defend that place which he knew to be of great importance After some breach and assaults the Earle Simon being out of all hope to winne this place by force of Armes desired to speake with the Earle Baudoni which hauing obtained he told him that his brother made it appeare vnto the world that he had desire to vndoe him in that hee had shut him vp in so paltrie a place which he very well saw hee could not long defend for that at the arriuall of that world of Pilgrims which were now marching towards him hee would quickly know how great an ouersight it was to locke vp himselfe within so weake a hold That if he did attend any violent assault of these Pilgrims there would be no more place for mercie That if he would yeeld himselfe and the place hee would leaue it to his guard for the Church and besides he would make him for the time to come a partner of his conquests with such aduantage that hee should shortly bee a greater man and in greater authoritie than his brother who had procured vnto himselfe by his rebellion his vtter ouerthrow That hee could neuer haue power sufficient to resist the force of so many Kings Princes and Potentates who sent their people to this warre rewarded by their owne zeale without any charge of the Church That euery man would commend and admire this his retreat besides that happinesse he should gaine vnto himselfe by consecrating himselfe to the seruice of God and his Church and acquitting himselfe of that people amongst whom there was not any that was not iudged by the Church worthy to be condemned to the fire The Earle Baudoni suffered himselfe to bee carryed by the promises and faire speeches of the Earle Simon and so deliuered vp the place and put himselfe into Bruniquel a place very strong which belonged to the Earle Remond and promised neuer to beare Armes but in defence of the Church These two places drew with them to the Earle Simons part the places of Rabasteins Gaillac Montague La Guarda Pech Selsas La Guipia St. Antonin with other places neere adioyning The Earle Remond being much astonished to see himselfe betrayed and abandoned by his owne brother bewayled his misfortunes at Toulouze where from day to day hee attended to bee inuested when vpon the surcharge of these euils hee vnderstood that the Legat and the Earle Simon had wonne vnto them the King of Aragon his one and only prop vpon earth vnder God The meane to worke it was this The Legat writ vnto him that he should winne great commendation and doe greater seruice to the Pope and to the Church if he would once againe become a mediator for the peace of the Church And to that end they entreated him to come to Narbonne where they hoped to lay a good foundation Hee tooke his iourney thither where the first thing they proposed was to make some agreement betwixt the Earle of Foix and the Church and the Earle Simon A premeditated designe againe to spoyle the Earle Remond of his succours Afterwards they gaue him to vnderstand that the Earle Simon desired to liue with him as with his best kinsman and friend that he had in the world and for this cause he was very willing to ioyne in alliance with him if he would be pleased to accept of a daughter of the Earle Simons to marry with his eldest sonne And such conditions they proposed vnto him that he was content that his sonne should marry the daughter of the said Earle Simon in regard of which alliance the King of Aragon gaue to the Earle Simon the inuestiture of the Earledome of Beziers which before hee would neuer agree vnto nor to that of Carcassonne which he likewise at the same time obtained But that which did most hurt the Earles of Toulouze and of Foix was that they caused the King of Aragon to sweare that he would no more fauour the Albingenses but carry himselfe as a Neuter in this warre betwixt the Church and them The Earle Simon hauing gotten that which he desired that is to alienate the King of Aragon from the Earles of Toulouze and of Foix hee tooke his time to bend his forces both against the one and the other CHAP. IX The Earle Simon besiegeth Toulouze makes a spoile and is beaten he raiseth the siege Aimeri is taken prisoner The Earle of Toulouze is succored and by whom The Earle Simon makes warre with the Earle of Foix who goes in person to speake with the Legat but obtaines nothing The King of Aragon animateth the Earle of Foix and his sonne Roger and intercedeth for them in vaine THe first attempt that the Earle Simon made after his alliance with the King of Aragon was the siege of Toulouze being strengthned with a great multitude of Pilgrims which the Bishop of Toulouze went to leuy in France whilest the Legat Thedize and the Earle Simon did delay the Earle Remond vnder the shadow of a treaty of peace with him Being arriued at Montandran vpon the borders of Garonne neere to Toulouze Chas lib. 3. ch 14 pa. 162. the Earle Remond made a sallie out of Toulouze with fiue hundred horse and footmen a great number and came as farre as the bridge in hope to gaine it or to breake it downe There was at that bridge a great fight and many there died both on the one side and the other In the end the Earle Remond sounded a retreat whereupon the enemie tooke heart passed the bridge and pursued the Earle Remond euen to the gates of Toulouze The Earle Remond made so sudden and so furious a reincounter vpon them that he beat backe his enemy vnto the bridge which was not large inough to receiue them so that they were almost all slaine before they were at the foot thereof Aimeri the sonne of the said Simon of Montfort was taken prisoner The Earle Simon seeing this losse and his sonne taken prisoner animated his Pilgrims to the combat They endeuoring to be reuenged of this ouerthrow ranne into the ditches set vp their ladders but they were valiantly repulsed The ditches were filled with the dead bodies of the Pilgrims and the Earle Simon was beaten from his horse In the middest of this conflict arriued the Earle of Champagne with a great number of Pilgrims and he came in good time to bee well beaten The Earle Simon commanded them all to goe to the spoile whereupon the Pilgrims ranne into the Vineyards Orchards and Gardens cut
And which was more seeing that the King persisted in this opinion that such promises were to bee made to reobtaine their goods to the end they might neuer engage themselues for that they could not performe knowing that the King of Aragon the Earle of Toulouze and Comminge were assembled at Toulouze to prouide for their affaires he came thither and thus he spake vnto them Sir Holagaray in his hist of Foix and you my Masters Friends Forasmuch as ambition can teach men both valour and temperancy and auarice can plant in the heart of a Shop-boy brought vp in the shade and in idlenesse an assurance to depart from his houshold harth and to commit himselfe to the billowes of the Sea and the mercy of angry Neptune in a small and fraile vessell it shall be great weaknesse and litherly negligence in vs who by the renowned Acts of our Trophees are knowne euen to the Confines of Arabia if we shall now come by a seruile and treacherous acknowledgement to ouerthrow the Tables and Registers of our valours so highly eleuated No no mine arme shall neuer consent thereunto we are not now in bondage I and my sonne chuse rather to make triall of the inconstant hazzard of warre than to bring vpon vs and ours so great and so notable an infamy And therefore for the honour of God quit vs of that shame that men take no notice of our lamentable estate mourning sighing after our losses like Distaffe-bearers If we must needs bow let it be when we haue first done the parts of good and braue Captaines It is an aduenturous and high enterprise you will say but it was resolued vpon by your selues Que ie voy maintenant les ressors qui lui donnent le branle de sa cheute Fare ye well Sir We yeeld not our consent in any thing Come what come may The King of Aragon was much moued with this discourse of the Earle of Foix wherein hee layeth an imputation vpon him that hee was the cause of their ruine because he had animated them against the Legat and the Earle Simon and that now hee left them as a prey by procuring a peace worse than a bloudy warre You haue Sir saith hee opened a doore to our enemies to tyrannize ouer vs if they had accepted of it and to a glorie more great than they could hope to attaine by Armes for we had beene all their Subiects without any other charge than your owne instant request As for my selfe saith he I had rather haue giuen my selfe the stab than to haue drunke of that cup. And after many examples produced by him of those that haue changed a miserable life for a present death killing themselues before they would serue for Trophees to their enemies he continued his discourse as followeth For mine owne part I had rather follow these great Spirits than hauing so often giuen testimony of my valour for another preferre life before honour by being lazie and negligent in a businesse that concernes my selfe And though Fortune deny me all meanes to make opposition against that wrong that another shall offer mee yet my courage will neuer giue way that I should make my selfe the speech of the people or a triumph for men more vnworthy than my selfe This their deniall of what you demanded doth comfort me and it vpholds our honor for we must either haue broken our faith or played the Cowards like needy beggers and liued a life more cruell more intollerable than any torment of Phalaris like miserable men yeelding our neckes to the yoake of the enemie and confessing our selues beaten sell our owne libertie and our childrens after vs and that for euer Good God what a blow were this Sir For asmuch therefore as the tempest is growen so great and wee are driuen to so extreme a necessitie imbrace vs in your armes be our head seruing vs for an example a watch-tower a conduct So shall we engage our wills and our liues to shew our selues your most humble seruants in time of need and valorous Souldiers when occasion shall be offered And though I be now worne with yeares yet neuer had I greater courage or better resolution The Earle Remond on the other side intreated the King of Aragon not to abandon their cause offering vnto him both his goods and his life to fight vnder his authoritie The King of Aragon being ouercome with these intreaties and moued with compassion towards the afflicted in the end tooke armes and sent this ticket of defiance to the Earle Simon by two Trumpetters Indeuour without delay to execute the will of the Pope or to fight with your Lord and if you fall into my hands you shall pay for it It is your dutie and I will haue it so and I rather desire it than to put my selfe to the charge of a great Army for your ruine The Earle Simon made good vse of this Letter of defiance for hee sent it into diuers parts of Europe shewing by the Bishops and Monkes that preached the Croisade that the care was not now for the Earle of Toulouze Foix Comminge or the Prince of Bearne but for a puissant King who had made himselfe the Generall of the Albingenses and that if he were not assisted extraordinarily the cause of the Church was at an end and therefore he entreated all good Christians especially the King of France to giue his best assistance in these holy warres and extreme necessitie On the other side the King of Aragon writ to the King of France that the Earle Simon of Montfort had a spirit puffed vp with high conceits farre exceeding both the capacitie of his vnderstanding and his forces That al his intentions were no other than plaisterings vnder the pretence of Religion and in the meane time he intended nothing so much as to bee a King in deed and Simon by name He beseecheth the King by Letters and by his Agents that hee would not interpose himselfe in this warre neither on the one part nor the other Which he obtained of the King insomuch that it troubled him to see his Subiects continually drawne to the shambles of this warre of the Albingenses vnder a pretence of the Popes pardon and to see so many of his great Lords his Kinsmen so vexed by the Earle Simon When the Earle Simon vnderstood that the King of France was made a Neuter he was much afflicted therewith hauing now no other recourse but to the threats of the Legat to excommunicate him if he should proceed any farther The Legat sent him an Ambassage and Letters The King of Aragon returned this answer Goe speedily and tell your Master that I will come and see him and giue him an answer with ten thousand fighting men and will him to defend himselfe for I will teach him to play with his Peere Euery one makes preparation The Monke of the Valleis Sernay Chap. 89. The Earle Simon sent into France to the Archdeacon of Paris and Master
and in good order The King of Aragon seeing him thought hee came rather to cast himselfe downe at his feet than to fight The King of Aragon had lodged his Armie in a place very aduantagious and fauourable They ioyne battell and presently the Vantgard of the Earle Simon was almost cut in peeces and it went so ill with him and his that it seemed vnto him that that was the place whither God had called him to pay with vsurie for all his fore-passed cruelties and insolencies to his owne shame when the King of Aragon in the head of his Vauntgard approched for his totall ruine and destruction for being come neere to an ambush of foure hundred Harquebusiers which the Earle Simon had placed in certaine old decayed houses he was wounded to death and fell from his horse Whereupon they fell presently into such a disorder and astonishment that doe what the Earle Remond of Toulouze of Foix and Comminge what they could to stay this cowardly Armie they could preuaile nothing with them but were enforced themselues to follow the trace and to commit themselues to the hazard and euent of this shamefull retreat flying directly to Toulouze The Earle Simon taking the aduantage of his victory and following the chase euen to the gates of Toulouze slew so many men in this dayes fight that himselfe was moued with compassion grieuing for the hard hap of his Lord the King of Aragon and causing a search to bee made among the dead commanded him to be interred not in the ground which they call holy because hee was excommunicated but in a field nere to St. Granier The Bishops Priests and Monkes which were within the Castle of Muret from whence they might behold from farre the euent of this daies iourney The Monke of the Valleis Sernay chap. 127. haue had a Monke that giues them the whole commendations of this so renowned a victory affirming that it was obtained by the benediction which the Bishop of Comminge gaue to the Army with the Crosse promising to the Pilgrims Paradice without any paine of Purgatory and that if they died in that fight they should all be receiued into heauen as Martyrs As also hee saith that all the Ecclesiasticall persons that were within the place retired themselues to a Church all the time of the Combat and that they praied with such ardency that they seemed by their crie rather to houle than to pray He that writes the History of Languedoc saith The History de Lang. sol 12. that they got the aduantage because they had receiued the benediction from the Bishops and had adored the wood of the true Crosse in the hands of the Bishop of Toulouze On the other side the Albingenses acknowledged that they saw herein an extraordinary proofe of the iudgement of God in that the king of Aragon attributed at that time more to his owne power and prouidence than the helpe and succours of the eternall God But yet for all this they lost not their courage though they had lost in this iourney fisteene thousand fighting men neither did they dispaire of the iustice and goodnesse of their cause it not being the first armie that hath beene discomfited in a iust quarrell nor the first bad cause that hath beene maintained with victory So foure hundred thousand men of Israel were beaten by twenty six thousand of the children of Beniamin who maintained a bad cause and slew in two battells two and forty thousand men Iudge 20. Iudge 20.1 Sam. 4. So the Philistins being vncircumcised Idolaters got the better in two battells against the Israelites and slew of them thirty foure thousand men and tooke the Arke of God So Ionathan was slaine by the Philistins 2 King 23 So Iosiah who was zealous of the seruice of God receiued his deadly blow fighting against the king of Egipt at Megiddo So king Iohn hauing an armie of sixty thousand men was discomfited and taken prisoner by the Prince of Wales who had not aboue eight thousand men notwithstanding the cause of the king of France were very iust 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 sabscribe 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 becauve 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
vtterly destroyed The Pope delegated one named Contat who went thither Now albeit Almeric were very valiant yet he had not gotten that authoritie which his Father had who had made himselfe at the charges of the Albingenses a great Captaine loued of the Souldier of an admirable valour patient in affliction inuincible in his trauels diligent in his enterprises fore-seeing and prouiding for the necessities of an Armie affable but of an vnreconcileable enmitie against his enemies because he hated them onely to haue their goods and that he could not haue but after their death which he procured and hastned as much as he could and that vnder the mantell of a plausible pretence of religion His sonne was a true inheritor of the hatred of his father but slow and sluggish louing his ease and no way fit for an action of great importance Besides he was depriued of the Monke Dominique of whom his Father had made very profitable vse for lodging him in the conquered Cities he gaue him in charge to finish that destruction by his inquisition which he could not doe by warres He died in the yeare 1220. the sixt of August so rich that notwithstanding he were the author of an order mendicant that is to say of Iacobin Monkes or Iacobins yet he made it knowne before his death that a scrip well ordered was better than a rent ill assigned for hee left many houses and much goods shewing thereby that he vsed his scrip but for a shew and outward appearance of pouertie but in effect he thought it good to haue wherewithall to liue else-where witnesse the Protection which the Earle Simon gaue him a little before his death whereof this is the tenure Simon by the Grace and prouidence of God Duke of Narbonnes Earle of Toulouze Vicount of Licestre Beziers and Carcassonne wisheth health and dilection After the Historie of the Monke of the valley Sernay We will and command you to haue a speciall care to keepe and defend the houses and goods of our most deare brother Dominick as our owne Giuen at the siege of Toulouze Decemb. 13. The death of this Monke was a great comfort to the Albingenses who had persecuted them with such violence but yet they were more weakned by the death of the Earle Remond of Toulouze the Earle Remond of Foix and the Ladie Philippe of Moncade Wife to Remond Earle of Foix. The Earle Remond of Toulouze died of a sicknesse much lamented of his Subiects if euer man were He was iust gentle valiant and couragious but yet too easie to giue eare vnto those that gaue him counsell for his ruine Hee was carried at the first by a true loue and charitie onely towards those his Subiects that made profession of the Religion of the Albingenses but afterwards hauing beene basely and dishonorably handled by the Legats of the Pope he knew both the crueltie of the Priests and the falshood of their doctrine by those conferences that had beene in his presence with the Pastors of the Albingenses His Epitaph was written in two Gascon verses Non y a home sur terre per grand Segnor que fous Qu'em iettes de ma terre si Gleisa non fous He that writes the Historie of Languedoc saith That he died a sudden death and that hee was carried into the house of the Friers of the Hospital S. Iohn and that he was not buried because he died an excommunicate person There was shewed not long since at Toulouze a head which some did beleeue was the head of the Earle Remond which was said to be alwaies without a sepulture but there is no likelihood that he that died amongst his owne and being Ruler ouer them should not haue so much credit after his death as to bee put into a Sepulcher Holaga pag. 164 that he that by his valour had restored all his Subiects to their houses and their Citie to it former greatnesse he whose death they lamented as a Father should be cast out like a Dogge It is neither true nor hath it any resemblance of truth that they should deny him this last office of charitie which they haue not refused to bestow vpon their greatest enemies for it was neuer heard of that the Albingenses haue denied sepulture vnto any As touching the Earle of Foix Remond he was a Prince of whom the Historie giues this testimony that he was a Patron of Iustice clemency prudence valour magnanimitie patience and continency a good Warriour a good Husband a good Father a good House-keeper a good Iusticer worthy to haue his name honoured and his vertues remembred throughout all generations When this good Prince saw that he was to change the earth for heauen he defied death an assured constant carriage and tooke comfort in forsaking the world and the vanities thereof and calling his sonne Roger vnto him hee exhorted him to serue God to liue vertuously to gouerne his people like a Father vnder the obedience of his Lawes and so gaue vp the ghost His Wife the Lady Philippe of Moncade followed him shortly after notwithout suspition of poyson by some domesticall enemy of the Albingenses whose religion she professed with all deuotion A Princesse of a great and admirable prouidence faith constancy and loyaltie She vttered before her death many excellent sentences full of edification as well in the Castilian tongue as the French in contempt of death which she receiued with a maruellous grace fortifying her speeches with most Christian consolations to the great comfort and edification of all that were present and in this estate she changed her life All these deaths made a great alteration in the wars of the Albingenses both on the one side and the other CHAP. V. Almaric of Montfort restored to King Lewis the eight the conquered Countries of the Albingenses the siege of Auignon the King appointeth a Gouernor in Languedoc The warre continues against the Albingenses Toulouze is besieged a treatie of peace with the Earle Remond and the Toulouzains ALmaric of Montfort had not the fortune of his Father in the warres of the Albingenses For he had neither King Philip Auguste who permitted the leuie of the Pilgrims nor Pope Innocent the third to appoint them Moreouer there was neither Citiâ—nor Village in France where there were not widowes and fatherlesse children by reason of the passed warres of the Albingenses And besides all this the Prelats were many times put into great feares by those cruell combats that were ordinarily made and many of them left behinde them their Miters and some Abbots their Crosses The speech of the expeditions of the Crosse was not so common This was the cause why Almaric did not long enioy his conquered Countries wherewith being much afflicted hee went into France Inuentary of Serres in the life of Lewis the eight and deliuered vp vnto Lewis the eight of that name King of France all the right that he had to the said Countries which the Pope the Councels of
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
the persecutors of truth may go and found that there is neither fidelitie nor law in the behalf of those who professe true Christianity in those Vallies They thought they had in some sort still'd the Sea and that a blessed Calme had succeeded the furious Storm when after a long Negotiation in which they had consumed great summes they had obtained of their Prince the confirmation of their antient Priviledges But they were soon deceiv'd of their hopes for instead of keeping promises to them Orders came as from their Prince against all those of the Reformed Religion dwelling in Luserne Lusernette Bubiane Fenil Bricherer St. John St. Second La Tour and Campiglion which is the best and most fruitfull ground in the Valley of Luserne as being in the plain with a strict Injunction to quit their habitations within three daies or go to Masse upon pain of Life and Confiscation of their Goods Proceedings directly contrary to the Concessions or Grants of their Prince twice confirmed by the present Duke with his expresse Declaration not to change any thing therein The Minister designed and sent for the execution of that cruell Order hath been one Andrew Guastaldo who hath the Title of the Keeper of the Catholick Faith against the Hereticks of the Vallies and who is likewise one of the Councill de propaganda fide lately erected at Turin He caused these Orders to be published in the places already named the 25th of January last past and notwithstanding the extraordinary Snow and Rain which then caused great Inundations or overflawings of water he with the greatest Inhumanity that can be imagined expell'd all sorts of persons without distinction of quality or sex or age and without commiseration of women with child and lying in nor of the sick and weak nor of old persons and sucking Infants Many thousands of all sorts were expelled and forced to retire into the Rocks there to be frozen or famished They did often addresse themselves unto their Prince and sent many Deputies to beseech him to revoke that Order producing their most just complaints and shewing their Reasons in all humility But all without effect because their Judges were their Adversaries and that those before whom their Cause was heard were members of the said Councill de propaganda fide and Slaves unto the Pope In the mean time these poor Fugitives complaining but in vain that their Goods were plundred their Grounds laid waste their Houses burnt and demolisht some of them went down to keep them then presently they were declared Rebells and all Eares were stopt to their cries and no hand would receive their humble Petitions Yet some to deceive them put them in hope to be reestablished while by the means of the generall confession of Papists to their Priests before Easter all the men of Piedmont able to bear Arms were enjoyned to be ready at a day appointed that so they might set on those Protestants all being sworn to keep that Plot secret Every one was ready the 27th of last Aprill and with many the Roman Clergie met at the Rendezvouz where Printed bills of full pardon of sins were distributed to every man besides the spoil of the pretended Hereticks given to them who should destroy them To this Militia of Piedmont the French army and some Irish Regiment join'd themselves who together plundered and wholly burnt all the houses of the Plain interdicted to Protestants by the Order already spoken of After that first furious exploit and ignoble action the Marquess of Pianess who did command that army would assault the passages and places of the mountains where all those did retire who had escaped the fury of their enemies but seeing he could not do it openly by force he resolved to use a damnable policie and detestable treachery to ruin them He sent therefore for the Deputies of Angrogne Villar and Boby of the Vale of Lusern and promis'd them yea with an Oath that if they would receive a Regiment of Horse in those places and one of Foot in each and lodge them for three days no injury should be done them Those poor souls who beleev'd him not capable of so black treachery to testifie their submission to his Highness Orders receiv'd those wicked Regiments which were no sooner in but the whole army did follow and presently began their work and put all to fire and sword making an horrible slaughter of all they found without distinction of quality age or sex young and old men women and children rich and poor were all indifferently kill'd although by very different torments and with such cruelties as can hardly be imagin'd Many were burnt alive some hang'd by the feet to a tree Others torn in pieces divers were strangely stash'd and cut then Salt and Pepper being layd on their wounds and their Shirts put on again they were burnt in that sort and so made Martyrs in an unknown way to all preceding Tyrants and Monsters Some being stript naked and tyed head and legs together were tumbled down the mountains Others were naild unto the ground through the belly with stakes and others were spit through the fundament after the manner of the Turks and others through the middle Many women having first been ravish'd and endured divers outrages and ignominies had afterwards their heads chopt off A great number of little children have been barbarously butcher'd some being cast down headlong from high places others pull'd asunder by two Souldiers who held them by the feet and a third sort had their brains dasht out Finally such strange oruelties have been us'd against them as were unknown to the very Heathen far from being exercis'd by Christians This butchery being ended there they went to the Vale of Perouse and St. Martins where upon pain of death they commanded all Protestants to go to Mass or to quit the Country within 24. hours They left their goods and possessions and did all quietly depart except some few who turn'd Papists But notwithstanding their quiet retreit all their houses were burnt that so they might never return even as it had been acted in the Valley of Lucerna Thus the Reformed Religion hath been wholly rooted out of the Valleys of Piedmont by slaughters and banishments and nothing hath been left there but for the Roman Catholicks Yet though there be about 6000 of them barbarously murdered or that dyed since by cold famine or other accidents there are above sixteen thousand of those who sav'd their lives from the Massacre acted on their brethren in the Vale of Lucerne and who have been expeld out of Perouse and St. Martin who all retir'd into the Vales of Cluson and Queeras deprived of all goods and all equally reduced unto an extream want subsisting even by the charitable helps of the Churches who did receive them or of few others who have sent them their alms In the mean time as we ought not to doubt but that God will revenge the bloud of those who have been so barbarously butcher'd
modo examinandi Hereticos fol. 130. which he was bound to pay to the Conuents and others they cause him to ordaine that euery one of his subiects that make profession of the beleefe of the Albingenses shall furnish him with a Marke of siluer Which was to perswade him that he should not thinke this imposition to be strange because the Albingenses onely were to pay the said summes As also by this meanes they made proofe of all his subiects for as soone as they found any that refused to pay the said Marke it was a kinde of inquisition whereby to take notice of all those that afterwards were to be persecuted And that they that persisted in their Religion should bee punished and condemned to death their goods confiscated their last wills and testaments to be of no force so that their children nor any of the kindred should euer recouer their inheritances That their houses should bee vtterly razed and destroyed Item hee ordaineth that all they that shall denie the Inquisitors their houses granges and woods or shall defend the Heretikes deliuer them when they should apprehend them and refuse to giue aid and assistance to the Inquisitors or to defend them when they shall require it or shall not vse their best endeuours to keepe those that are taken by the said Inquisitors shall be corporally punished and their goods confiscate Item that they that are suspected of Heresie shall sweare to liue in the Catholike faith and abiure their Heresie and if they shall refuse to doe it they are to endure the same punishment that the Heretikes doe That if after the oath taken it doe appeare that they haue receiued fauored or counselled any Heretike they shall vndergoe the punishment that the Councell hath ordained Item we ordaine saith he that if it shall appeare that any that hath offended shall die an Heretike and that it shall bee lawfully proued before the Bishop that all his goods be confiscated and that the houses wherein they shall inhabit after the treatie of peace made at Paris or shall dwell in hereafter shall be vtterly razed Thus you see what they caused the Earle Remond to ordaine and to seale vnto and at the same time they began to destroy and ouerthrow by peecemeale those they could neuer make to staggar in grosse being vnited together Moreouer to giue the better authority to the Inquisition they called a councell at Toulouze in the yeare 1229. whereat the Archbishop of Narbonnes Bourdeaux Auch and diuers other Bishops and Prelates were present wherein amongst other Articles that were concluded vpon this one shewes by what Spirit these Prelates were led We forbid say they the permission of the bookes of the old and new Testament to all Lay-people The seuenth Article of the Councell of Toulouze except peraduenture they will haue the Psalter or some Breutarie for the Diuine office or the Prayer booke of the blessed Virgin Marie for deuotion Forbidding expresly that they haue not the said bookes turned into the vulgar tongue Pope Gregory the ninth did also make constitutions at the same time against the Albingenses and especially because he would stop the mouthes of the Pastors of the Albingenses who discredited their humane inuentions He ordained that all and euery one of the Lay-people of what quality or office soeuer should be interdicted from preaching King Lewis the ninth made also statutes conformable to those of the Earle Remond as also the Emperor Frederick which we produce not that we may not weary the reader and so much the rather because all of them proceeding from one source hee that hath seene the one hath seene al for they al tend to no other end but to make the Kings Princes Emperours and Potentates of the world to seale and set to their hands to whatsoeuer they found fitting to persecute those that resisted the ordinances of the Popes neither did they dare to refuse to doe it vpon paine that the selfe-same constitutions should be executed against them Now after the treatie made with the Earle Remond hee remained a prisoner vntill the payment of the summes specified therein and in the meane time Master Peter de Colmieu Vice-Legat tooke his iourney to Toulouze to bring the Citie vnder the obedience of the King and caused the Walls to be razed and the Towers to bee beaten downe to the end they might haue no more meanes to rebell against the King He brought likewise to the Queene-mother Ioan the only daughter of the Earle Remond being of the age of nine yeeres to the end she might bee brought vp with her vntill she were of yeeres sufficient to marry Alphonsus brother to King Lewis The remouall of this young Princesse did much afflict the subiects of the Earle Remond for seeing that this change of domination would bring with it an alteration of their peace as it came to passe CHAP. VIII The Earle Remond of Toulouze solliciteth the Earle of Foix to range himselfe vnder the obedience of the Pope What practises he vseth to make him forsake the part of the Albingenses and hee suffereth himselfe to be handled by the Popes Legat. THe Earle of Foix of Comminges and the Prince of Bearne were yet to be conquered or wonne by practises The Legat Colmieu thought the Earle Remond a fit instrument to worke the latter of the two and therefore he commandeth him to write to the Earle of Foix That he should follow his example or resolue miserably to perish Hee writ vnto him in louing termes That the vnion that had alwaies beene betwixt their houses did binde him to procure their good as his owne that if he did not yeeld himselfe into the bosome of the Church of Rome hee saw such a tempest like to fall vpon him that it must needs ouerwhelme him That hauing so great an enemie as a King of France hee could not possibly stand out Hee therefore entrcated him to receiue his counsell and withall the gift that hee bestowed on him for a farther proofe of his loue that is if hee would conforme himselfe to this submission to the Pope and the Church of Rome hee would hold him from this day forward quit of that homage which hee anciently did vnto him for the Earledome of Foix. Hee likewise entreated him to procure the like submission from the Earle of Comminge and the Prince of Bearne The Answer of the Earle of Foix was That hee could not forsake his part nor his beleefe in a time wherein hee should giue men occasion to thinke that hee had more feare than reason and that it was necessary for so fruitfull a change such as they expected of him that the truth should ouercome not the allurements of promises nor the violence of armes That he would see that world of Pilgrims come that was threatned and he did trust in God that hee should make them to know the iustice of his cause and deplore the temeritie of their vow The Earle Remond was not satisfied with this
answer much lesse the Legat who found another way to winne him vnto them And that was that there were within his lands and territories and about the said Earledome subiects of his who being frighted with an apprehension of their ruine should intreat him to haue compassion both of himselfe and his poore subiects who should doubtlesse be ouerthrowne by this last violence And at the very same time hee caused the Earle Remond of Toulouze to write to the principall men of the Countries of the said Roger Earle of Foix that there was an excellent opportunitie offered their Lord if hee made not himselfe vnworthy thereof by his obstinacie that it was the onely meanes to make them liue in perfect peace that they should perswade him whilest the occasion and time serued before the expedition of the Crosse were on foot The subiects of the Earle of Foix partly for their owne interest partly for feare lest their Lord being strooken in yeeres without wife and children should leaue them to the mercie of the first Conquerour if he should depart this life without a lawfull heire they ioyned together in humble supplication to their Lord at the instant reasons and perswasions of the said Earle of Toulouze They obtained by their requests and teares that which the Earle of Toulouze could not by threats prayers nor promises for hee promised them that hee would treat with the Legat for their peace and would accept thereof for their good and contentment The Pope was aduertised of the intention of the Earle of Foix and therefore hee ioyned with the first Legat in the Earledome of Foix another that is to say the Cardinall of St. Ange accompanied by the Archbishop of Narbonnes de Folae Guillaume de Torration Bishop of Couserans Bernard de la grace Peter Abbot of Bolbonne Iohn Abbot of Comelonge William Abbot of Foix Peter de Thalames the Legats Lieutenant Lambert de la Tour and diuers others Being arriued at St. Iohn de Berges in the Earledome of Foix there appeared also the Earle of Foix with the Nobilitie and principall men of the Land The Legat related to the Earle of Foix the great contentment that the Pope had Holagaray in the life of Roger Earle of Foix. to heare that after so many combats and bloudy warres there was hope to finish them in peace that he was come to conclude that and to bring it to effect that was begunne in behalfe of the Pope that there remained nothing but to know what his resolution was and to receiue from him the promises and oathes of fidelitie to the Church which are requisire in such a case The Earle Roger replyed to the Legat and the rest that were present as followeth Messieurs I haue long since bid Rhetorick a dieu hauing made profession to pleade my cause and to make my entries with engins and speares which must be my excuse if like a Souldier I vtter my intentions My Couzen the Earle of Toulouze hath procured for which I thanke him that my enemies will now be pleased with reason to heare the causes of our leuies and why wee haue taken Armes which to this present would neuer be granted as also hee desireth that we should giue ouer the pursuit of those that desire to wrong vs vpon an assurance saith he that the King of France shall maintaine euery one with Iustice and Equitie Truly I confesse that I neuer desired any thing more than to maintaine my libertie being as yet as it were in the swadling clouts of my freedome Our Country owes onely one simple homage to the Earle of Toulouze for raising it to an Earldome but it acknowledgeth no other Master but my selfe and as for the Pope I neuer offended him for he hath neuer demanded any thing at my hands as a Prince in which I haue not obeyed him Hee is not to intermeddle with my Religion since euery man is to haue it free My Father hath alwaies recommended vnto me this libertie to the end that being setled therein though the heauens shake I might looke vpon them with a constant and assured countenance and a perswasion that they could neuer hurt me Nothing troubles me but this For in consideration that the Earle of Toulouze holds mee discharged of that homage which he pretends to belong vnto him I am ready louingly to imbrace the King and to doe him seruice in the same condition vnder the dependance of my other rights which maintaine me in Regall authoritie in that Country It is not feare that makes me stagger or yeeld to your desires and that constraines me to humble my will and desires to the earth or dunghill-like to submit my selfe to your appetite but being prouoked by that benigne and generous feare of the miseries of my Subiects the ruine of my Countrey the desire not to be accounted mutinous braine-sicke and the fire-brand of France I yeeld my selfe to this extremitie otherwise I would bee as a wall without breach or escalado against the brauest of mine enemies I giue you therefore a gage of my affection for the good of the peace in generall Take my Castles of Foix Mongaillard Montreal Vicdesos Lordat whilest that I yeeld him that homage that you demand As for the Earle of Comminge and the Prince of Bearne it was impossible they should continue firme in their resolutions to make resistance being destitute of these two props the Earles of Foix and Toulouze For they were but weake both in money and men Behold then the end to the outward appearance of the Albingenses when in the yeare 1234. there arose a certaine bastard of the Earle of Beziers who tooke armes for the Albingenses or craued their assistance to reuenge the death of his deceased Father CHAP. IX The last warre of the Albingenses by Trancauel Bastard of the Earle of Beziers The progression thereof The last expedition leuied against the Albingenses A treatie betweene the Legat Amelin and the said Trancauel The end of the warre MAtthew Paris an English Writer saith Matthew Paris history of England in the yere 1234. That in the yeare 1234 the warres began againe against the Albingenses and that there came a great Army of the Crosse against them yea that they lost aboue a hundred thousand men all at once with all their Bishops that were in that battell and that none escaped He was no doubt mis-informed For the Historiographer of Languedoc who relateth all that passed in those times hath made no mention thereof neither is it likely that he would haue forgotten so famous a victorie ouer the Albingenses whom hee hated to the death True it is that at what time the Earle of Toulouze of Foix Comminge and the Prince of Bearne tooke part with them and were their Leaders Trancauel the Bastard of the Earle of Beziers deceased did not appeare but as a priuat man of small importance but when the Albingenses were destitute of all support there were that awakned this Souldier and made him