many great Provinces to shake off his Antichristan yoak and therefore he condemned them for Hereticks in the Councel of Lateran Yet did they so multiply that Anno 1200. they possessed many and great Cities yea they had many great Lords that took part with them as Earl Remund of Tholouse Remund Earl of Foix the Vicount of Bezieres c. Pope Innocent the third pretended a great desire to reclaime them by preaching and conference and thereupon there was a famous Disputation at Montreall wherein the Popish Doctors were shamefully baffled by Arnold But the Popes pollicy was thus to rock them asleep whilest he raised Armies against them to destroy them The pretended occasion whereof was this There was one Frier Peter that was slain in the dominions of the Earl of Tholouse whereupon the Pope sent preachers abroad through all Europe to assemble men together to take vengeance on the Hereticks for the innocent bloud of Friar Peter slain amongst them promising Paradise to all that would come to this warre and bear arms for fourty daies This he called the holy warre and gave the same Pardons and Indulgences to those that came to this war as to those which went into the Holy land against the Saracens Then did he thunder against Earl Remund charging all Arch-bishops and Bishops through their Diocesse to pronounce him accursed and excommunicated and that with the sound of a Bell and extinction of Candles every Sabbath and festivall day for murthering of a good servant of God He also absolved all his subjects from their oaths of allegiance to him commanding every good Catholike to pursue his person and to take and possesse his land c. He also wrote to all Christian Princes to stirre them up to get this pardon rather by fighting against these Albingenses then by going against the Turks Earl Remund hearing of all these preparations against him sent to the Pope humbly beseeching him not to condemn him before he was heard assuring him that he was no way guilty of the death of Frier Peter but that he was slain by a Gentleman who immediatly fled out of his Country otherwise he would have severely punished him for it But all was in vain for presently came Armies of crossed souldiers to pour down their vengeance on him and his lands Amongst these were many noble men and Ecclesiasticall persons Arch-bishops Bishops Abbots c. to all which the Pope promised Paradise but gave them not a peny The Earl of Tholouse perceived that he must either prepare for defence or submit the latter he thought the safer and therefore he went presently to the Popes Legate at Valance to whom he began to say that he thought it strange that so many armed men should be brought against him who used no other arms for his defence but his own innocency And that concerning the death of the Frier they should first have enquired the truth of the fact before they thus moved heaven and earth against him yea if he had been guilty yet there was an ordinary course of justice to be used against him and not to wreak their anger on his innocent Subjects and therefore Sir said he since I come voluntarily to you armed only with the testimony of a good conscience what further use is there of these armed Pilgrims pray you therefore counteâ—mand these souldiers before they go to make any further spoil in my territories for my own person may serve for a sufficient pledge c. The Legate answered that he had done well in coming to him yet could he not send back the souldiers except he would put seven of his best castles into his hands which should serve for a hostage Now did the Earl when it was too late see his own folly in putting himself into the Legates hands and thereby making himself a prisoner but there was no remedy now he must take Laws from him that had him in his power and therefore be told him that both his person and possessions were at his disposall beseeching him that his Subjects might receive no more damage by the Souldiers The Legate presently sent to put Garisons in those seven Castles commanding all the Consuls of every City presently to appear before him and when they were come he told them that Earl Remund had delivered up his Castles to the Pope and therefore they were to take notice of it that so they might acknowledge themselves lawfull Subjects to his Holinesse in case the Earl should falsifie his Oath to the Pope The Consuls were much astonished thus to see their Lord devested of all his possessions but that which most afflicted them was to see him led to S. Giles to be reconciled to the Church where the Legate commanded the Earl to strip himself stark naked all but his linnen drawers then did he put a cord about his neck whereby he led him nine times about the grave of Frier Peter scourging him with rods all the while The Earl demanded satisfaction for so sharp a penance seeing he was not guilty of the fact the Legate answered that he must submit if he would be reconciled to the Pope yea he must be thus scourged before the Earls Barons Marquesses Prelates and all the people he made him also to swear to be obedient all his life to the Pope and Church of Rome and to make irreconcileable warre against the Albingenses c Then did the Legate make him General of the crossed Souldiers for the seige of Beziers The Earl knew not what to do For to conduct an Army to fight against the Albingenses was to sin against his conscience and if he should fly away it would furnisâ— them with new matter of persecution against him and his subjects In this extremity he stayed in the Army a few daies and then went towards Rome to reconcile himself to the Pope Then did the Army come before the City of Beziers and provided all manner of Engines for battery reared up ladders for a general Escalado this the Earl of Beziers beholding and judging it impossible to defend the City he went out and cast himself down at the Legates feet beseeching him not to punish the innocent with the nocent which must needs be if the Town were taken by storm he told him that there were in the City great numbers of good Catholicks which would be subject to the same ruine with the Albingenses he desired him also to commiserate him now in his minority that was a most obedient servant to the Pope and had been brought up in the Romish Church in which he would live and die The Legate told him that all his excuses prevailed nothing and that he must do as he may The Earl returned into the City assembled the people and told them that he could obtain no mercy from the Legat except all the Albingenses would come and abjure their religion and promise to live according to the Laws of the Church of Rome The Popish party
of Tholouse sent some Deputies to Earl Simon to profer him the keyes of their City whom he received honourably and presently wrote to Lewis son of King Philip that the City of Tholouse was offered to him but his desire was that he should come and have the honour of taking it The Prince went thither immediately and had Tholouse delivered to him Yet the Legate resolved that the pillage of it should be given to his Pilgrims and the City dismantled which was presently executed though contrary to the promise made to the Citizens that no wrong should be done to the City Then came there a new Legate of the Popes called Bonaventure with those that had taken on them the Crosse. Viz. the Earle of Saint Paul the Earle of Savoy the Earle of Alenzon the vicount of Melun Mathew de Montmorency and other great Lords The Legate seeing so many Pilgrims feared least Prince Lewis should take upon him to dispose of divers places held by the Albingenses to the prejudice of the Church Whereupon he presently sent to all those places Absolution and protection so that when the Prince came against them they shewed that they were under the protection of the Church Yea the Legate told the Prince that since he had taken upon him the Crosse he was to be subject to his commands because he presented the person of the Pope whose Pardons saith he you come to obtaine by obeying the Church and not by commanding as the son of a King The Prince dissembled his displeasure at this audaciousnesse and the poore Albingenses were so oppressed by new Armies of Pilgrims that they sunk under the burthen of it The Prince when his fourty daies service were expired retired himself being much discontented to see so much tyranny exercised against the Albingenses Then did Earl Simon besieg the Castle of Foix but having lain ten dayes before it he found to his cost that the place was not to be won by him For where as Earl Simons brother quartered at varilles the Earl of Foix dislodged him and slew him with his launce putting to flight all his men News hereof being brought to Earl Simon he swore that he would drive the Earl of Foix behinde the Pyrenaean Mountaines but presently he had intelligence that a great Army of the Arrogonois and Catalunians were come into the Earldom of Beziers threatning to be revenged on him for the death of their good King where upon he levied his siege in hast and marched thitherwards But the Earle of Foix who knew the passages better then he lay in ambush for him in a place fit for his turne and suddenly setting upon his Pilgrims slew a great number of them only Earl Simon with a few others escaped and went to Carcasson but before he came thither the Arrogonois were gone else might they easily have discomfited him yet shortly after they returned again and Earle Simon was foundly beaten by them so that he was forced to shut himself up in Carcasson till he had a new supply of Pilgrims Shortly after came Remund the son of Earl Remund out of England where he had been bred under his uncle King John with an Army and quickly made himself Master of the City of Beaucaire and almost famished them that held the Castle so that they yeelded it up to depart with their baggage There Earl Simon lost a hundred Gentlemen that he had laid in ambush neer unto the City whom young Remund in a sally cut in pieces Anno 1214. The Legate called a Councel at Montpelier for renuing of the Army of the Church and to confirm the authority of Earle Simon where they declared him to be Prince of all the Countries conquered from the Albingenses which title was confirmed to him by the Pope also Who stiled him the active and dexterous soldier of Jesus Christ and the invincible defender of the Catholick Faith But whilest Earl Simon was in the Council receiving this his new honour a great rumour was heard in the City and a messenger brought word that the people hearing that Earl Simon was there betook themselves to their Arms purposing to kill him whereupon he stole away by the walls of the City on foot without any company and so escaped so that in one houre he saw himself honoured as a God and flying disguised hiding himself like a base scoundrell for feare of the rascall multitude Anno Christi 1215. Their was a Councill held by the Pope at Lateran where they gave the Inquisitors such power against the Gospellers that poor people were every where horribly tortured that were but suspected for Heresie and as Tritemius saith Frier Conradus of Marpurg the Popes Inquisitor if he but suspected any as guilty of Heresie vsed to trie them by the judgment of red hot irons and such as were burned by the irons he delivered as Hereticks to the secular power to be burned in the flames whereupon most of those that were accused were by him condemned to be burnt few escaping the hot irons In so much as Noble Ignoble Clerks Monks Nuns Burgesses Citizens and countrymen were under the name of Heresie by too headlong a sentence of the Inquisitor on the same day where on they were accused cast into the cruell flames no refuge of appeale or defence doing them any good By the same Lateran Councill Earle Simon had the forementioned lands of the Albingenses confirmed to him and thereupon he hastened to the King of France to receive investiture and as he went saith the Monk of Sernay in every City and towne the Popish Clergy and people met him crying Blessed is he that commeth to us in the name of the Lord and every man thought himself happy that could but touch the hem of his garment When he had recived his Investiture from the King of France being attended with an hundred Bishops that had preached the Crosse in their Diocess and with an exceding great Army of Pilgrims he hasted to make himself Lord of all those countries which the Pope had given him So that all men trembled at his reproach and with this great Army of Pilgrims he took in divers places using great cruelty putting men women and children to the sword Then was he marching to Tholouse purposing to pillage and raze it to the ground But by the way his wife sent him word that he must speedily come to her relief being besieged in the Castle of Narbonnes by the Earl of Tholouse but by this time many of his Pilgrims were returned into France Yet Earl Simon hasted to the relief of his wife and being come before Tholouse the people by their frequent sallies made that place too hot for his abode The Legate perceiving that he was much astonished at it said unto him Fear nothing we shall quickly recover the City and then we will destroy all the inhabitants and if any of our Pilgrims are in the fight they
to be of their opinion whereupon Conradius Bishop of Portua the Popes Legate wrote to the Arch-Bishop of Roan and his Suffragan Bishops to meet with others Bishops at a Councill to be held at Sens against the said Bartholmew who saith the Legate in his letters stiles himself servant of the servants of God and runs about Creating Bishops and endeavoring perfidiously to gather Churches Mathew Paris Anno Christi 1226. saith the same Author the Crosse was preached all over France by Romanus the Popes Legate against the Albingenses where in he commanded all that were able to beare arms to signe them selves with the signe of the Crosse against the Earl of Tholouse and his people and at his preaching a great multitude of Prelates and Lay men tooke upon them the signe of the Crosse yet more for fear of the King of France and for favour of the Legate then induced by the justness of the cause But the King of France being signed with the Crosse would not take upon him the expedition unlesse the Pope would forbid the King of England under paine of excommunication to move war against him for any land that he possessed at that present either iustly or unjustly which accordingly the Pope did and our King Henry the third upon receipt of the Popes letters assembled his Nobles to consult with them what he should do upon this inhibition at which time their was present one Mr William Perepund skilfull in Astronomy who constantly affirmed before the King That if the King of France took upon him this expedition he should either never returne alive or else should meet with as greate confusion as might be both of his person estate and followers The King of France having thus settled his affaires at home he together with the Legate appointed a Peremptory day for the Crossed-souldiers to come to a rendevous with their horses and Arms at Lyons from which at the time appointed he began his expidition with an huge Army which was accounted Invincible whom the Legate followed with Arch-Bishops Bishops c. In the Army there were reckoned to be fifty thousand Knights and men at Arms on horsback besides an innumerable company of footmen and then did the Legate publickly excommunicate the Earl of Tholouse putting all his favourers and lands under Interdict The King thus marching with his glittering Arms and terrible Army on Whitson-Eve came to Avignion the first City in Tholouse purposing to destroy the whole land of the Earl from one end to the other and utterly to root out the Inhabitants thereof yet very cunningly the King and the Legate sent to the Citizens only desiring passage through the City that they might follow their iourney the neerest way The Citizens consulting together returned answer That they suspected fraud neither would they admit them into the City where upon the King in a great rage swore that he would not depart thence till he had taken the City The Citizens valiantly defended themselves so that the sieg lasted long and the Earl of Tholouse being a skilfull warrior before the comming of the French Army had withdrawne all kind of victualls together with the women children and cattell into places of safety Hereupon the Kings Army fell into great wants so that multitudes perished by famine Their horses and beasts also were starved for the Earl had caused all the meddowes to be plowed up in the whole country so that they had no fodder but what was brought out of France And their wants daily increasing many Legions went out of the Kings Camp to seek for food and fodder but the Earl of Tholouse with a flying Army many times lay in ambush for them and cut off multitudes of them They also that lay in the siege before the City were miserably wasted by darts and stones shot in ingines from the walls by the Citizens valiantly defending themselves and a generall famine overspread all but it raged most amongst the poorer sort who had neither food nor money Also out of the dead carkasses of men and beasts their bred certaine great and blackflies which comming into there tents by swarms with an horible humming infected their meat and drink and when they were not able to drive them from their cupps and dishes many of the Pilgrims perished suddenly by their meanes But the King and Legate were especially troubled and confounded to think what reproach it would be to them and to the Church of Rome that so gallant and numerous an Army should vndertake such an expedition and be able to effect nothing Then the chiefe Princes and Captains being weary of the long siege amongst so many deaths sollicit that a generall storme might be given to the City hoping by their multitudes to oppresse the Citizens which being resolved upon such a great multitude of Armed men thronged upon the bridge that goes over the river of Rhodanus that the bridge breaking under them three thousand of them were drowned in that swift river Presently after as the French were one day at dinner the Citizens discovering there carlesness suddenly sallied forth violently setting upon them suddenly slew Twenty thousand of them with out any losse to themselves and so retired and the King of France commanded the dead bodies to be throwne into the River affording them no other buriall Then did he also remove his sieg to afarther distance and to prevent the like attempts caused a great ditch to be cast up between the City and his camp and the Legate with his Prelates not knowing how otherwise to reveng themselves Anathematized the Earl of Tholouse and all the subjects But whom they cursed the Lord blessed For shortly after he sent a very great plague into the French campe so that king Lewis to escape the same retired himself into the neighbouring Abbey of Monpensier where he resolved to remain till the City should be taken unto whom came Henry Earl of Compaigne desiring to be dismissed having now sereved his fourty daies but the King denyed his request To whom the Earl said that having performead what was injoyned he neither might nor would be staid any longer The King being very angry hereat swore that if he departed he would wast his whole land with fire and sword yet the Earl according to his former resolution went his waies and shortly after the Lord struck the King with sickness whereof he dyed The Legate and great Captaines concealed his death for a month together and in the interim sent messengers laboring to draw the Citizens to a composition and Commissioners being sent to the Camp the Legate perswaded them to resigne up their City to him upon promise that they should injoy their lives estates and liberties in a better manner then they had formerly but they answered that they would not live under the power of the Frenchmen whose pride and insolency they had often tryed After along Parlee the Legate desired that himself and the
a gentleman telling him that he might do a piece of service whereby he might not only merit heaven but gain a great reward here which was by going to the Earl of Bezires endeavouring to put him into great fears and then to perswade him to have recourse to the Legates mercy and withall that he should perswade him with great Oaths and Execrations whereof he could absolve him at his pleasure to come with him to the Legate with assurance that he should be dismissed safe and sound This Gentleman plaied his part so well that he brought the young Earl with him The Legate presently told him that he was now his prisoner till Carcasson was taken and till his Subjects had better learned their duty the Earl astonished hereat cried out that he was betraied and that faith was violated with him c. but this nothing prevailed for he was presently committed to the guard and custody of the Duke of Burgonne The inhabitants of Carcasson understanding this brake forth into tears and were so astonished that they now thought of nothing but how by flight to escape the danger but that seemed impossible being environed with such an Army at last one told them that he heard some old men say that there was a certain vault under ground great and large which went to the Castle of Cameret three leagues off Then were all the Citizens imploied to search for this vault and having at last found it they began their flight in the evening with their wives and children carrying with them only some victuals for a few daies This departure was accompanied with much sorrow thus to leave all their worldly enjoyments The next morning they came to the Castle and from thence dispersed themselves some to Arragon others to Catalonia others to Tholouse whether it pleased God to conduct them In the morning the Pilgrims were strangely astonished hearing no noise nor seeing any man stirring in the City yet they approached the wals with much fear lest it should be but a stratagem to endanger them but finding no opposition they mounted the wals crying out that the Albingenses were fled and thus was the City with all the spoils taken and the Earl of Beziers committed to prison in one of the strongest Towers of Carcasson Then did the Legate call all the Prelates and great Lords of his Army together telling them that though it was requisite that there should be alwaies a Legate in the Army yet it was likewise necessary that there should be a secular General wise and valiant to command in all their affairs c. This charge was first proffered to the Duke of Burgonne then to the Earl of Ennevers and to the Earl of S. Paul but they all refused it Lastly it was proffered to Earl Simon of Montfort who after some excuses accepted of it The Earl being made general settled himself at Carcasson with four thousand Pilgrims all the remainders of that huge Army After this Earl Remund of Tholouse went to the French King for his Letters of commendation to the Pope to be by him fully cleared from the death of Frier Peter and the Pope thereupon received him courteously gave him full remission and absolution and thereby declared him sufficiently justified Shortly after the Earl of Beziers died in prison and Earl Simon was put into possession of his lands whereupon all that bordered upon him began to fear him for that he gave it out that the Spring following he would have a great Army of Pilgrims wherewith he would chastise those that had not acknowledged his authority given him by the Church Upon this occasion Castris sent unto him the keys of their City the Castle of Pinies yielded to him and so did all round about Carcasson But the King of Arragon secretly encouraged the Gentlemen of the Vicounty of Beziers telling them that his Pilgrims would be uncertain and would not stay long with him and that if in the mean time they would but keep themselves in their Garisons when he was weak by the departure of his Pilgrims they might then set upon him and reduce him to reason These messages gave such encouragement to the Gentry that the Earl Simon being gone to Montpelliar they took arms to shake off his yoak besieging some of his souldiers in a Tower near to Carcasson the Earl hearing of it presently returned to succor them but the Tower was taken before he came which affront brought him into some contempt Then Captain Boucard belonging to Earl Simon attempted to surprise the strong Castle of Cabeâ—et making his approach thereto as secretly as he could Captain Roger commanding therein for Earl Remund was come forth with eighty horse to forrage Boucard on the sudden charged him but Roger doubled the charge in so furious a manner that he overcame Boucards party and brought him prisoner into that Castle that he came to surprise Gerad of Pepios took part with the Albingenses so that the warre grew hot but all the men that Earl Simon took he caused a great fire to be made and cast them into it neither did his men escape scot-free when they fell into their enemies hands The City of Carcasson was hereupon stricken with great fear having little hope to defend themselves but by flight being environed on all sides by their enemies About this time Earl Simon wrote to all the Prelates through Europe that if in the Spring following they did not send him good store of Pilgrims he could hold out no longer against his enemies having since the last departure of his Pilgrims lost above fourty Towns and Castles And whilest that he waited for these new succours he surprised the Castle of Beron where he pulled out the eyes of above a hundred Albingenses and cut off their noses leaving only one with one eye to guide the rest to Cabaret Anno 1210. Earl Simon being shut up in Carcasson for want of souldiers heard that his wife was comming from France with many Pilgrims whereupon he went out to meet her These Pilgrims he imployed against the Castle of Menerbe which at last was yielded up to him for want of water This Castle was defended by Remund Lord of Termes and was scituated in Narbonne one argument which Earl Simon used to stirre up his crossed souldiers to fight manfully against it was For that saith he there hath been no Masse sung in it since the yeare 1180. which is now thirty years Upon the surrender of the Castle they laboured to draw this noble Lord to recant his religion and turne Papist but finding him immovable they shut him up in a straight prison where shortly after he died they also took his wife sister and daughter who was a maid and other Noble women with whom they laboured to withdraw them from the truth both by flattery and frowns by faire speeches and cruell threats but when they saw that nothing would prevaile they made an huge
fire casting them into the same and burning them God fridi Annales Also after his taking of the said Castle he caused a Frier to preach to the people and to exhort them to acknowledge the Pope and Church of Rome but they not staying till he had done cried out We will not forsake our faith you labour but in vain for neither life nor death shall make us abandon our beliefe Then did the Earl and Legate cause a great fire to be made and cast into it a hundred and fourscore men and women who went in with joy giving God thanks for that he was pleased so to honour them as to die for his Names sake They also told Earl Simon that he would one day pay dear for his cruelties All that saw their valour and constancy were much amazed at it Then did the Earl besiege the Castle of Termes which also at last was taken for want of water yet they within the Castle when they perceived that they could hold out no longer one night quit the place and passed away undiscovered The Castle de la Vaur was also besieged in which there were many godly people Thither came many Pilgrims to the Legate from all Countries and amongst others six thousand Germanes of whose coming the Earl of Foix hearing he laid an ambush for them overthrew and slew them all not one escaping but an Earl that carried the news to Earl Simon After six moneths siege the Castle of Vaur was taken by assault where all the souldiers were put to the sword save eighty Gentlemen whom Earl Simon caused to be hanged and the Lord Aimeri on a gibbet higher then all the rest the Lady his sister was called Girauda was cast into a ditch and there covered with stones And for the rest of the people a very great fire was made and they were put to their choise whether they would forsake their opinions or perish by the flames There were scarce any of them found that would doe the first but exhorting one another they went into the kindled fire of their own accord saith Altisiodore but more probably they were forced into the same where joyfully they resigned up their spirits unto God Some say that they were about foure hundred persons that thus perished by fire After the return of the Earl Remund from the Pope the Legate still fought to entrap him but the Earl would not come againe within his reach Then did the Legate send the Bishop of Tholouse to him who pretended a great deal of love and friendship to the Earl and by his subtilty at last prevailed with him to profer his strong Castle of Narbonnes to them to lodge in as they passed that way but as soon as the Legate and his company were entred they seised upon it and put into it a garison which was a continuall vexation to all his subjects Then did the Legate resolve upon the utter extirpation of Earl Remund and all his house as the head of the Albingenses but presently after this Legate dying Earl Simon was frustrated of this hope About this time the English who now possessed Guienne which bordereth upon the Earldom of Tholouse began to help the Albingenses being stirred up thereto by Reinard Lollard a godly and learned man who by his powerfull preaching converted many to the truth and defended the faith of the Albingenses for which they were so eagerly pursued and constantly suffered Martyrdom And this they did the rather not only for their neighbour-hoods sake or for that Simon Earl of Lecester was a rebell and traitour to their King but because this Remund Earl of Tholouse whom they so cruelly whipped and other wise abused and had now also excommunicated was brother in law to King John For his former wife was Joane sometimes Queene of Sicilie which Joane was Kâ—ng Johns sister and bare to the Earl of Tholouse Remund who succeeded his father both in the Earldome and in his troubles John le Maier much commendeth this Lollard saying that he foretold many things by Divine Revelation which saith he came to passe in my time and therefore he putteth him into the rank of holy prophets And for his learning it is evident by his comment upon the Revelation where he setteth forth many things that are spoken of the Roman Antichrist This worthy man was afterwards apprehended in Germany and being delivered to the secular power was burnt at Collen Anno 1211. A new Legate called Theodosius was appointed to succeed who excommunicated Earl Remund and the Bishop of Tholouse thereupon sent the Earl word that he must depart out of the City for that he could not say Masse whilest an excommunicated person was in the City The Earl returned this answer being netled at his insolency that he the Bishop should presently depart out of his Territories and that upon pain of his life accordingly the Bishop departed and took with him the Canons of the Cathedrall Church with the Crosse Banner and Host and all of them barefooted in Procession Coming thus to the Legates Army they were received as persecuted Martyrs with the teares of the Pilgrims and generall applause of all Then the Legate thought that he had sufficiâ—nt cause to prosecute Earl Remund as a relapsed and impenitent man but first he sought by craft to get him into his power and with his fair flatering letters he at last drew him once again to Arles The Earl had requested the King of Arragon to meet him there When they were both come the Legate commanded them upon the pain of his high indignation that they should not depart but with his leave Whilest they were there the Earl was privately shewed by a friend The Articles of the Legate to which he would enforce him to subscrib which were these 1. That the Earl of Tholouse should presently dismiss and cashiere all his men at Armes not restraining one 2. That he shall be obedient and subject to the Church and repaire all the costs and damages which the Church hath been at 3. That in his lands no man should eat of more then two sorts of flesh 4. That he shall expell out of his territories all the Hereticks and their allies 5. That he shall deliver into the hands of the Legate and of Earl Simon all those persons that shall be named unto him 6. That no man in his lands whether noble or ignoble shall were any costly apparell but black course clokes 7. That All his Castles of defence shall be razed to the ground 8. That no Gentlemen of his shall live in any City or Castle but in country houses or villages only 9. That he shall not levie in his land any taxes or tolls but such as in old time were accustomed 10. That every Master of a family shall pay yearly four Tholousian pence to the Legate 11. That when Earl Simon shall passe through his countries he shall beare their charges 12. That after
shall as Martyrs immediately passe to Paradise hereupon one of Earl Simons great Captains said Monsieur Cardinall you talke with great assurance but if the Earl believe you it will be little for his profit for you and other Prelates have been the causers of all this evil and will be of more if he believe you Then was it resolved that the City should be besieged on the side of Gascon but the Citizens made such a blunt salley that they put their enemies to flight and presently the Earl of Foix coming with new supplies fell upon Earl Simon chased him to the river Garonne where many of his Pilgrims were drowned and the Earle with his horse fell into the river and hardly escaped The Earl Remund caused publick thanksgiving to God for this happy victory Earl Simon being in great perplexity a Bishop bid him be of good comfort for that the Cardinal had sent messengers throughout the world to raise him succours and so he was inforced to wait with much impatiency the coming of these new supplies Anno 1218. There came to him a hundred thousand Pilgrims and he was resolved that they should earn their pardons knowing that at the end of fourty daies they would vanish Whereupon the next morning they were ordered to give a generall assault to Tholouse But Earl Remund perceiving in the night that they were very secure because of their great multitude he sallied out upon them and that with so good successe that ere morning all the field was covered with their dead bodies and the Earl with his men being weary with killing returned into the City to give thanks unto God for his assistance Then did Earl Simon enter into the Castle of Narbonnes to see if he could discerne any way to enter into the City but finding none it much troubled him whereupon two Lords gave him Counsell to come to some honourable agreement yet the Cardinal Betrand told him that there was no need for him so to do To whom one of them answered Monsieur Cardinal pray you where finde you that you should take from Earl Remund and his son that which belongs unto them If I had known as much as I know now I had never taken upon me this business After nine moneths siege the Citizens of Tholouse made another sally killing as many of the crossed souldiers as they encountered with and Earl Simon coming in to the reliefe of his men had his horse shot in the head with an arrow which caused him to run away with him which one of the Albingenses seeing with his Cross-bow he shot him thorow the thigh Simon perceiving that he lost much bloud was labouring to get out of the presse but just at that present a woman discharging an engine from the walls of Tholouse a stone parted his head from his shoulders and thus by Gods just judgement he that had been the deflourer and murtherer of many women was himselfe slaine by a woman Upon his death the Legate and all the Bishops fled never staying till they came to Carcasson the Pilgrims disbanded and returned to their homes and Earl Remund caused a publick Thanksgiving to be returned to Almighty God for this so signall a deliverance Afterwatds at the instigation of the Pope Prince Lewis of France went and besieged Tholouse but finding the business too hot for him he returned without doing any thing of note yet in this iourney he tooke the towne of Miromand wherein he cruelly put to the sword men women and children to the number of five thousand Upon his returne the Legat Bertrand being weary of these warres wrote to Pope Honorius the 3. desiring to be recalled because of his age yet with all he signified a necessity of continuing these warrs Otherwise saith he not only the lands of the Albingenses wil be lost but the Church of Rome itself will be ruined the Doctrin of the Albingenses shaking the authority of the Popes themselves And saith he this war hath cost us very deare for within less then fifteene years there hath dyed above three hundred thousand Crossed soldiers and therefore all wil be lost except these Hereticks be utterly destroyed This occasioned the Pope to send a new Legat Conradus Bishop of Portua Also he granted to all Crossed soldiers that fought against the Albingenses the same in dulgences as to those that went to fight against the Saracens in the Holy land Moreover he tooke King Philip of France into his protection and made peace betwixt him and young King Henry the third of England so that Philip wholly bent himself to roote out the Gospellers Anno Christi 1220. Earl Guido of Monfort son and heire to Earl Simon went against the Albingenses but was soone after slaine by the E. of Sant Giles as he besieged a Castle in Tholouse Then did his brother Almerick besieg the same Castle and swore that he would never depart from it till he had taken it But after a while his hoped-for aides failing him he was faigne to leave the siege and depart After whose departure the Albingenses recovered many places Anno Christi 1221. the young Emperor Frederick by the instigation of the Pope published a cruell and bloody Edict against the Gospellers with in his Dominions where in he damned them with perpetuall ignominy and declared them publick enemies Commanding their goods to be confiscated without redemption and their sons to be disinherited As also that all of them that were apprehended by the Inquisitors or others should be kept in Prison till they were killed with an abomminable death The like punishment he commanded to be inflicted on all such as should aide or assist them Also he tooke away all benefit of appeale from such as were receivers or favourers of them And further he commanded that their houses and the houses of such as should receive defend or favour them either where they have taught or where they have laid on hands should be plucked downe and never more repaired Also the same yeare some of these Albingenses going into Bosina and Dalmatia drew many of the people to imbrace their faith whereupon the Bishop of Collen was sent thither by Pope Honorius as his Legate and required to force them to returne to the Catholick faith as they called it either by perswasion or by the arms of the Crossed souldiers but where neither prevailed he being a weary of the work left it to the Frier predicants to see if by arguments they could convince and convert them Columminus the King assisting them and saith mine Author when they had got footing they burnt with fires those that were obstinate in their Heresies and purged the Churches which were defiled by them Leander de viris illust ordinis praedicatorum Anno Christi 1223. Bartholmew the Bishop of the Albingenses of Tholouse ordeined a Bishop for Bulgary Croatia and Dalmatia where their faith spread so fast that Bishops themselves were drawn
suspected to be of their Religion should be excluded from office bearing that all houses should be pulled downe wherein any of them should be found that all their goods and inheritances should be confiiscated That the like should be done to all that should aid or abett them or that should hinder or not assist the Inquisitors in the execution of their office That whosoever should be suspected of their Heresie should have an oath given him to keep the peace and the Catholike Faith That the houses of such as should be detected of Heresie after their death should be pulled downe That whosoever should refuse to weare the Cross should have his goods seized on c. The same year the Inquisitors were informed that in the territories of Brixia there had lately lived one Guido de Lacha who was much honoured for his austerity and integrity of life but that he dyed out of the communion of the Church of Rome having been infected with Heresie whereupon they ordered his bones to be digged up and burned The Earl of Foix and Comminges and the Prince of Bearne yet remained to be conquered and the Popes Legate thought that the Earl of Tholouse was the fittest person to deale with them whereupon he caused him to write to them to perswade them to embrace the Catholike Faith c. But the Earl of Foix returned answer That he could not forsake his faith in such a time wherein men might think that he did it rather out of feare then from any good grounds and that it was fitter for them to convince him of the truth of their way then to allure him by promises or force him thereto by Armes And that if they brought that world of Pilgrims against him which they threatned he trusted in God that he should make them know the Justice of his cause and repent of the rashnesse of their vow But the Earls subjects fearing that their Lord being aged and without wife and children should leave them to the mercy of the first Conqueror intreated him to come to a composition with the Legat whereupon he began to treat and at last yielded up diverse Castles into the hands of the King of France upon promise that he would rule with justice and equity Anno Christi 1234. the opinions of the Albingenses were much spread abroad in the parts of Spaiâ—â— and other adjacent countries and they had Bishops among them who boldly preached against the Romish errors and especially against Transubstantiation whereupon a Croisado was preached against them and a very great Army of Pilgrims being assembled together were by Pope Gregory sent against them who slew them all with their Bishops seized of their City and plundered them whereby saith Mathew Paris they returned rich and joyfully into their own countries Also about the same time another Army of these Pilgrims went against others of them on the borders of Germany who retiring into a Fenny place for there security were their all slaine But the same yeare the Lord raised up Trancavel the natural son of the Earl of Beziers deceased who was encouraged and assisted by a number of valiant Captaines as Oliver de Fumes Bertrand Hugon de Serrelong Bertrand de villenense Jordaine de Satiat who told him that they would assist him to revenge the outrages done to his father who was deprived of his land betrayed imprisoned and poisoned whereupon he resolved to recover by the sword what was so unjustly taken from him and before the enemies had notice of his designe he took in diverse strong Castles so that the Popes Legate and Bishop of Tholouse were much astonished to see these men stand up for the Albingenses whom they supposed to have been utterly suppressed Then did the Popes agents cause the cross to be preached and the Bishop of Narbonne animated the people of his Diocess to go against them and to make an end of the poor remainder of the Albingenses An army being raised the Popes Legate led it to Tholouse and when the Citizens appeared upon their ramparts he told them that he was come thither for their preservation They thanked him but withall told him that if he did not instantly retire himselfe they would give him the chase And presently came Trancavell who so bravely and valiantly set upon the Legates Troops that he quickly overthrew them and chased them to the very gates of Carcasson and the Legate had much adoe to save himselfe but that which most angered the Legate was that Trancavell found intertainement in some part of Carcasson so that the Pilgrims durst hardly peep out of the City gates and when he heard of any more Pilgrims comming to the Legate he used to meet them to lay Ambushes for them so that usually overthrowing them their designes were marred This man kept the field till the year 1242. and still prevailed against all the crossed souldiers that came against him whereupon Ameline the Popes Legate wrote to the Pope that if he caused not the cross to be preached in many parts of Europe the Church was like to sustain much damage by this enemy For saith he he is more cruell and subtile then any before him But a little before the Bishop of Tholouse was informed of a certain Matron who having her children brethren and friends about her was dying an Heretick whereupon he ran to her and found it even so by the confession of the woman her selfe who desired to die in the faith of the Albingenses and doubted not to be saved then did the Bishop condemne her and delivered her to the secular power who presently carried her forth in the bed wherein she lay sick and burned her Anno Christi 1235. Earl Remund getting from Paris returned into his owne country and forbad the Citizens of Tholouse to company with the Friers predicant and shortly after expelled them the City And the Monastery of Narbonne belonging to the same order of Friers was pulled down by the Albingenses And in June following Pope Gregory the ninth made new Inquisitors against the Albingenses in Arragon and France Anno Christi 1236. King Lewis of France wrote to the Pope that Earl Remund had violated the Covenants which he had made with the Church and had cast the Bishops Clergy and Friers out of Tholouse and brought Hereticks into their roomes whereupon he desired that he might be reduced into order c. And indeed by the power of the Pope and King he was forced to recall the Popish Clergy and to banish the Albingenses and to take upon him the signe of the Cross for the aid of the Holy land by way of Penance for his former deeds The same year many imbracing the faith of the Albingenses be-beyond the Alps Inquisitors were sent against them especially one Frier Robert who caused many of both sexes to be apprehended and when they continued constant in the true faith and would not renounce the same in
Then turning to the people he said Christian brethren and sisters I beseech you be not offended at the Word of God for the torments which you see prepared for me but I exhort you that ye love the Word of God for your salvation and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart for the Words sake which is your undoubted salvation and everlasting comfort I pray you also shew my brethren and sisters which have often heard me that they cease not to learne the Word of God which I taught them according to the measure of grace given to me for no persecution or trouble in this world whatsoever and shew them that the doctrine was no old wives fables but the truth of God for if I had taught mens doctrine I had had greater thanks from men but for the Word of Gods sake I now suffer not sorrowfully but with a glad heart and minde For this cause I was sent that I should suffer this fire for Christs sake behold my face you shall not see me change my countenance I feare not the fire and if persecution come to you for the Words sake I pray you fear not them that can kill the body and have no power to hurt the soul c. Then he prayed for them which accused him saying I beseech thee father of heaven forgive them that have of ignorance or of an evil mind forged lies of me I forgive them with all my heart I beseech Christ to forgive them that have condemned me this day ignorantly Then turning to the people again he said I beseech you brethren exhort your Prelates to learn the Word of God that they may be ashamed to do evil and learn to do good or else there shall shortly come upon them the wrath of God which they shall not eschew Then the Executioner upon his knees said Sir I pray you forgive me for I am not the cause of your death and he calling him to him kissed his cheeks saying Lo here is a token that I forgive thee My heart do thine office and so he was tied to the stake and the fire kindled The Captain of the Castle coming near him bade him be of good courage and to beg for him the pardon of his sin to whom Master Wischard said This fire torments my body but no whit abates my spirits then looking towards the Cardinal he said He who in such state from that high place feeds his eyes with my torments within few dayes shall be hanged out at the same window to be seen with as much ignominie as he now leans there with pride and so his breath being stopped he was consumed by the fire This Prophesie was fulfilled when after the Cardinal was slain the Provost raising the Town came to the Castle gates crying What have you done with my Lord Cardinal Where is my Lord Cardinal To whom they within answered Return to your houses for he hath received his reward and will trouble the world no more But they still cryed We will never depart till we see him Then did the Leslies hang him out at that window to shew that he was dead and so the people departed But God left not the death of this holy man long unrevenged for the people did generally cry out of the cruelty used against him especially John Lesley brother to the Earle of Rothes and Norman Lesley his Cousin fell foul upon the Cardinal for it but he thought himself strong enough for all Scotland saying Tush a fig for the fools and a button for the bragging of Hereticks Is not the Lord Governour mine witnesse his eldest sonne for a pledge at my table Have I not the Queen at my devotion Is not France my friend why should I fear any danger yet he had laid a designe to cut off such as he feared and hated which was discovered after his death by letters and memorials found about him He kept himself for his greater security in his Castle and on a Friday night there came to the Town of Saint Andrews Norman Lesley William Kircaldy John Leslley and some others and on the Saturday morning they met together not far from the Castle waiting till the gate was opened and the draw-bridge let down for the receiving in some lime and sand to repair some decays about the Castle which being done Kircaldy with six more went to the Porter falling into discourse with him till the Leslies came also with some other company the Porter seeing them would have drawn up the Bridge but he was prevented and whilst he endeavoured to keep them out at the gate his head was broken and the Keys taken from him The Cardinal was asleep in bed for all night he had for his bedfellow Mistris Mary Ogleby who was a little before gone from him out at the Postern gate and therefore the Cardinal was gone to his rest There were about one hundred workmen in the Castle which seeing what was done cried out but without hurt they were turned out at the wicket gate Then VVilliam Kircaldy went to secure the Postern lest the Cardinal should make an escape that way The rest going to the Gentlemens chambers who were above fifty without hurting them they turned them all out at the gate They which undertook this enterprise were but eighteen men The Cardinal being awaked with the noise asked out at the window what was the matter Answer was made that Norman Lesley had taken his Castle Then did he attempt to have escaped by the Posterne but finding that to be kept he returned to his chamber and with the help of his Chamberlain fell to barrica-doing up the door with chests and such things Then came up John Lesley and bids open the door The Cardinal asked who was there He answered John Lesley The Cardinal said I will have Norman for he is my friend Content your self said the other with those that are here and so they fell to breaking open the door in the mean time the Cardinal hid a box of gold under some coales in a secret corner Then he said to them Will ye save my life John Lesley answered It may be that we will Nay said the Cardinal sweare unto me by Gods wounds that you will and then I will open the door then said John that which was said is unsaid and so he called for fire to burn down the door whereupon the door was opened and the Cardinal sate him down in his chair crying I am a Priest I am a Priest ye will not slay me Then John Lesley and another struck him once or twice But Master James Melvin a man that had been very familiar with Wischard and of a modest and gentle nature perceiving them both to be in choler plucked them back saying This work and judgement of God although it be secret ought to be done with great gravity And so presenting him the point of his sword he said Repent thee of thy former wicked life but especially
afterwards she recovered so much strength as to get upon her knees and as she was praying to God the bloody enemy dispatched her Giovanni Salvagiot as he was returning from Bagnol after the peace was concluded as he passed by a Chappel because he put not off his hat and made obeysance thereto was murthered and his body left unburied Giovanni Gayo and divers other men women and children hid themselves in a Cave where for a time they continued in safety but at last were discovered by some of these Bloodhounds whereupon they fell upon their knees and begged their lives of them most of the murtherers having been their neighbours and familiar acquaintance and such as had pretended great friendship to them But the mercy of these men proved extreme cruelty For the kindest salute they could afford their old acquaintance was with Swords Musquets and Pistols which the poor people perceiving and not desiring to behold the lamentable misery each of other they kneeled down in a Ring and thrust their heads into Ferne and such like stuffe as they had prepared to lie upon in which posture they were all miserably shot to death and their dead bodies afterwards horribly mangled and cut in pieces Jacob Barral and his wife having been taken prisoners by the Earle of Saint Secondo were three or four dayes after carried forth and having first cut off the womans breasts they shot them to death Antony Guiguo went to Periero with a purpose to change his Religion but it pleased God so to touch his heart that he repented of the resolution and sought to make an escape But as he was flying some Troops of the Marquesse of Galeas caught him and used him most cruelly because he would not yield to go to Masse and as they carried him prisoner towards Praly passing by a Precipice the poor man to avoid his tormentors leaped down from the Rock and so was dashed in pieces Very many others there were which might here have been inserted whereof some were drowned some burnt some slaine with the sword some shot to death some starved some smothered in the Snow some pined some killed with staves some cut in pieces but I am weary with reckoning up their names and I suppose the Reader also is tired with these cruelties yet are their names written in red letters in the Kalender of Heaven though their Popish adversaries would have them written in the dust and whosoever desires to see more may finde a larger Catalogue in Master Moorlands History of the Peresecutions in the Valleys of Piemont CHAP. XLV A true Narrative of the War in the Valleys of Piemont between the Popish and Protestant party upon the occasion of the Massacre IN the former Chapter you have a faithful Narration of what cruelties were exercised against the Reformed party in the Valleys of Piemont from the first arrival of the Marquesse of Pianessa's forces at St. Giovanni which was April 17. 1655. to the 21. of the same by which time they had made such havock of the poor people that there was now onely the little Communalty of Roras which was left entire and untouched But that they also might in all things be made like unto their suffering brethren of the other Churches and that it might appear that the destruction was designed to be universal the Earle of Christophle upon that very day being April 21. sent three hundred Souldiers secretly by the way of Villaro to surprize them of Roras and to put them all to the sword This party being got upon a little hill called Rumer belonging to Roras it pleased God that they were met with by some Souldiers belonging to Captaine Joshua Gianavel whom God raised up at that time as a choice Instrument for the preservation of the poor scattered remnant of his people These Souldiers being but seven or eight of them yet having been beforehand placed in ambuscado at a convenient Post to prevent the inrode of the enemy they fired upon them and plyed them so hard that many of them were killed upon the place and the rest supposing by the great number of bullets that flew about their eares that the men in Ambuscado were sixe times more in number than indeed they were they fled back in great disorder and confusion which the others perceiving they fell upon their Rear and chased them at least three quarters of a League amongst the Rocks and Woods doing notable execution upon them in their flight The Members of this little Church of Roras to take away all occasions of exceptions presented their complaints to the Marquesse of Pianessa who that he might have the better opportunity to deceive and surprize them answered that those of his Souldiers that went to Roras were but Thieves Robbers and Out-lawes that herein had wholly disobeyed his Orders adding that they had done him a singular favour in driving them out of their Countrey and that he would take a course to prevent their being disturbed for the future and hereupon he published an Order whereby he straightly charged his Souldiers not to give them any further causes of complaints nor to molest them in any kind hereafter Yet perfidiously the very next day he sent a party of five hundred chosen men to put his first bloody designe in execution As these men were passing over a little hill of Roras they were so saluted by eleven Musqueteers of the Protestants and six men with slings under the conduct of Captaine Gianavel who had divided them into three Squadrons that the enemy was soone put to flight and this poor handful of despicable men pursued them for an whole League slaying a very great number of them without the losse or hurt of any one of themseves which shews the admirable Providence of God in preserving and prospering those that fight his battels The Marquesse of Pianessa though he had failed this second yet was resolved to make a third attempt and still to deceive them he made new promises and protestations that no injury in the world should be offered them and that in regard of the Intercession of the Earle of Christophle their Lord and Patron he would protect and defend them yet the very morrow after he sent a party of seven hundred men who first seized upon and secured all the passes that none might escape their bloody hands and then most barbarously burnt and destroyed whatsoever they met with thorow all the Communalty of Roras Hereupon seventeen housekeepers whose hearts God had marvelously strengthened and encouraged for their poor Brethrens preservation seeing what they must expect and that nothing but death and destruction waited for them unlesse some admirable providence prevented it as also calling to mind those signal deliverances which God had vouchsafed to his ancient people of the Jewes in their greatest straits they unanimously resolved to cast themselves with their lives and estates into the hands of the same God resting upon his gracious promises and freely