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
no other purchase but that which hee wonne with the sword that hee had an Armie to answer whomsoeuer should oppose himselfe against it were it the King of Aragon and of strength sufficient to defend himselfe against whomsoeuer The King of Aragon writ to the Earle of Foix that forasmuch as the Legat and the Earle Simon had deceiued him in not restoring those lands and places which they had promised him to restore that hee should no longer put any trust in them since the intent of the Earle Simon was too well knowne That is that hee endeuored to make himselfe great and rich with the goods of another vnder a pretence of Religion if his ambition and auarice were not staied by the common armes and intelligence of those whom hee had already spoyled of their goods and of all others that doe but vnderstand that hauing begunne with their neighbours hee will likewise desire to follow that course without end the couetous desires of men being endlesse That he knew very well that hee did not seeke his alliance out of any desire hee had to be honoured thereby but onely to hinder him from succoring those whom he desired to strip out of all they had He likewise exhorted by letters Roger the sonne of the Earle of Foix to fortifie himselfe against the vniust vsurpations of Montfort otherwise euery man would laugh at him that the Earle Somon was but weake accompanied with a few Pilgrims ready out of discontents to retire themselues that he should therefore enter the field and hee should quickly finde who would assist him The Earle Remond being much afflicted with the alienation of the King of Aragon by the marriage of his sonne with the daughter of Simon of Montfort thought it necessarie to doe his best endeuour to regaine him by another mariage He offered therefore his only son and heire in marriage to a daughter of his vnto which motion the King of Aragon yeelded his consent The Monke of the Valley Sernay Chap. 67. The Earle Simon was much displeased herewith The Monk saith That this marriage made the King of Aragon very infamous and much suspected considering that the Earle of Toulouze was a manifest persecuter of the Church The King of Aragon knowing the murmurings of the Earle Simon did not feare with open mouth to publish his purpose and intent to defend the Earle of Toulouze and of Foix. That the one was his Brother in Law the other his Subiect That he did assure himselfe of a day that God would giue them to make him repent his vniust conquests The Earle Simon being aduertized of the threats of the King of Aragon intreated him to blot out those bad impressions which he had conceiued of him and that he would make him the iudge and stickler of the difference that was betwixt him and the Earle of Foix The Earle of Foix on the other side intreated the King of Aragon to yeeld thereunto who obtained of the Earle Simon the restitution of all his Lands and Territories except Pamies Which exception when his sonne Roger vnderstood he presently said hee would none of that but he knew very well how to recouer that with his sword which very vniustly he had taken from him by foule play and false pretences Wherevpon he entred the field foraged tooke his occasions seasonably and bestowed his time with such incredible diligence in all his exploits that he made the Armie of the Crosse to feele the bloudy effects of his valour On the other side the Earle of Toulouze tooke the aduantage of the time nourisheth those sparkles of diuision seekes to win the loue of the Earle of Foix and they make betweene them and their allies a league offensiue and defensiue against the Earle Simon their common enemy and assemble themselues at Toulouze to binde it by oath and so they prepare themselues for the warre euery one contributing according to his abilitie towards an action of such importance CHAP. X. The siege of Castlenau d'Arri the retrait of the Earle Simon The Earle of Foix offers him battaile The King of Aragon intercedeth for the Earles of Toulouze of Foix and Comminge he writeth for them to the Councell de la Vaur and obtaineth nothing The King of Aragon defies the Earle Simon they make leuies both on the one side and the other but the Earle Simon aduancing himselfe takes diuers places THE first exploit of this warre which the Confederates vndertooke Holagary in his hâ—st of Foix. was the siege of Castlenau d' Arri whether they marched in this order The Vauntgard was conducted by the Earle of Foix and Prince Roger his sonne The maine battell by Remond Earle of Toulouze The rereward by the Prince and Lord of Bearn This Armie was compofed of fiftie thousand foot and ten thousand horse and besides that the Citie of Toulouze was furnished with a good and strong garrison and all munitions and instruments of warre The Earle Simon put himselfe into Castlenau d' Arri. The situation of this place was good and the Castle one of the best and there were in the Citie many Souldiers and great Captaines and great store of munition for a long siege The Earle of Foix made his approach lodged himselfe neere the rampiers where hee framed many fabricks In the meane time the enemy sallied forth of the Cittie and put themselues very rudely and resolutely vpon an Army of the Vauntguard but they were with such courage repulsed that diuers remaining dead within the trenches the rest retired to bethinke themselues of a better course The Subburbs were taken by the besiegers The Earle Roger was there wounded with a stone cast from the Citie by one of their Engines The Earle of Toulouze incamped himselfe vpon a little hill right ouer against the Castle intrenching and enuironing himselfe with railes and barriers The Prince of Bearn lay on the other side of the Citie The Armie of the Albingenses increased daily vpon a report giuen forth that the Earle Simon was there shut vp so great a desire had euery one to see his ruine And because there were too many of the Albingenses at this siege it was thought good that the Earle Remond should take a part of the Army to surprize certaine small holds and Castles which were somewhat disaduantagious to the Army He tooke Puylaurens Albt Rabasteins Gaillac Montagut and Sauerdun The Earle Simon began to see his ouer-sight to suffer himselfe to be inclosed within Castlenau d' Arri and that inasmuch as hee was the Generall it was fiâ—hee should be at libertie to prouide for all other places depending vpon his authoritie He left within the place Guy de Leuis called the Marshall of Faith and to the end he might slip out the better he caused a sally to be made vpon the besiegers ingaging certaine troops whilst he in the meane time might make his escape The Earle Remond being aduertised of the departure of the Earle Simon was much offended therewith more
to be beaten downe In this meane time the poore Earle of Toulouze was at Mountauban who vnderstanding of the bad vsage of his miserable subiects for certaine moneths could not but bewaile their lamentable estate with sighs and teares At this time that is to say in the yeere one thousand two hundred and fourteene Sec Paulus Aemil. in the life of Philip Ang. the Legat held a Councell at Montpelier for the renewing of the Armie of the Church and to confirme the authoritie of the Earle Simon The Monke of Sernay saith that he was there declared Prince of all the conquered Countries of the Albingenses The Monke of the Valleis Sernay chap. 146. and that by a common consent they sent Barnard Archbishop of Ambrun to the Pope to petition his Holinesse in the name of the Prelats who were present at that Councell that the Earle Simon of Montfort might by him be pronounced Lord and Monarch of all the conquered Countries of the Albingenses which was done The Councell sent vnto him to come and receiue this dignitie of Prince and Monarch He entred into the Citie and being in the Church of our Lady des Tables where the Prelats of the said Councell were to pronounce their sentence in fauour of the said Montfort they heard a rumor in the Citie They sent to know what the matter was It was told them that the people had vnderstood that the Earle Simon of Montfart was within the Citie and that thereupon they betooke themselues to their armes purposing to kill him as being their capitall enemie He was aduised to steale away along by the walls of the Citie and to saue himselfe for feare lest the whole Councell suffered with him He went therefore on foot without companie lest he should haue beene knowne at the Gate and so he escaped this great danger So that he saw himselfe in one houre honored almost as a God chosen and saluted Prince and Monarch and to flie disguised and to hide himselfe like a base scundrell for feare of the rascall people In regard of the resolution of this Councell the Pope euer writ vnto him The Monke of the Valleis Sernay Chap. 148. as to a Monarch stiling him The actiue dexterious Souldier of Iesus Christ The inuincible defender of the Catholike faith And in the yeere one thousand two hundred and fifteene he sent him a Bull dated the fourth of the Nones of Aprill by which hee giues him authoritie to keepe all those lands hee had gotten vnder his power granting vnto him the reuenues profits and power to administer iustice considering saith the Pope that you neither can nor ought to make warre at your owne charge This the Popes bountie of another mans purse in a businesse where he had nothing to giue made him to goe to the King of France to bee inuested into the Dukedome of Narbonnes the Earledome of Toulouze together with all the lands which the Souldiers of the Crosse had conquered and taken from those they call Heretikes or the Protectors of them which he obtained of the King to hold in fee. The Monke saith The Monke of the Valleis Sernay Chap. 153. it was not possible for him to relate the honor which was donne vnto him vpon his way going to France there being neither Citie nor Towne through which he passed where the Clergie and people came not to see him crying out Blessed is hee that comes in the name of God For such and so great saith he was the deuout Religion of the people towards him that there was not any that thought not himselfe happy to touch the hem of his garments In the yeere one thousand two hundred and sixteene The Monke of the Valleis Scrnay Chap. 161. hee returned from France with an hundred Bishops who had caused this expedition of the Crosse to bee preached in their Bishoprikes being resolued with this great Armie to make himselfe Master Prince and Monarch of all those lands which the Pope had giuen him And to make it apparant that he had not treated or made any agreement with Girard Adememar or Guitaud Lord of Monteil-Aimar nor with Aimar of Poitiers but vntill such time as hee had power to deuoure them he passed the Rhosne at Viuiers and besieged Monteil-Aimar Guitaud or Girard made great resistance but when the Inhabitants saw the great Armie of Pilgrims they entreated their Lord to come to composition for feare lest the Citie should be pillaged Which hee did though it were with the losse of his Castle From thencé he went and besieged the Tower of Crest-Arnaud belonging to Aimar of Poitiers He that commanded within did yeeld it vp out of cowardlinesse for otherwise it had beene impossible the Pilgrims should haue taken it Afterwards the Earle Simon gaue a daughter of his to a sonne of the said Poitiers and there was peace concluded betwixt the said Poitiers and the Bishop of Valence against whom hee had a long time before made cruell warre A little before the Earle Simon had married one of his sonnes to the daughter of Dauphin of Viennois and another to the Countesse of Bigorre All which alliances did fortifie him much against his enemies All men trembled before him and with this great Armie of Pilgrims that followed him he tooke Pesquieres neere to Nysmes and Bezonce and put all to the sword hee found within not sparing the women Hee tooke his way to Toulouze to pillage and to raze it and to seeke the Earle of Toulouze euen to the center of the Earth if he were there to be found at which time hee receiued letters from his wife aduertising him that hee should speedily come to deliuer her from the hands of the Earle of Toulouze who had besieged her in the Castle Narbonnes that hee was very strong and had all the people at his deuotion who had receiued him with great applause crying out with a loude voice Long liue the Earle of Toulouze That he was accompanied with his Nephew the Earle of Comminge Gaspar dela Barre Bertrand de Iorda Engarrand of Gordo Lord of Caraman Armand de Montagu and Estephe de la Valette all braue and valiant men and well accompanied This was about the end of the yeere one thousand two hundred seuenteene that the Earle Remond entred into Toulouze the Drumme beaten the Ensignes displayed and the Trumpets sounding The people pressing to cast themselues downe at his feet to embrace his legges and to kisse the hem of his garment and killing as many as they found in the Citie that tooke part with the Earle of Montfort Whereas had the Earle Simon come directly to Montauban at his returne from France the Earle Remond could not haue told what to haue done but he stayed at Monteil-Aimar and Crest Arnaud and Besince and Pasquieres and made delaies about the mariages so long that the Earle had time to gather his troopes together and to prepare himselfe for a strong assault In such sort that when hee was
our selues any superioritie but out of that brotherly loue and charitie we beare towards you The Father of our Lord Iesus Christ hath imparted vnto you an excellent knowledge of his truth more then to many other people and hath blessed you with a spirituall benediction So that if you persist in his grace he hath in store greater treasures for you which he will enrich you withall and make you perfect that you may grow to the full measure of the inheritance of Christ The subscription of the letter is Oecolampadius wisheth the grace of God the Father by his Sonne Iesus Christ and his holy Spirit to his welbeloued brethren in Christ which they call Waldenses Martin Buoer writ vnto them at the same time this letter following BLessed be the Lord God and our louing Father who hath preserued you to this present time in so great knowledge of his truth and who hath now inspired you in the search thereof hauing made you capable and fit to do it Behold now what the nature of true faith is which is that so soone as it knowes in part any sparke of the diuine light it preserueth carefully the things that are giuen vnto it of God Saint Paul is an example vnto vs who in all his Epistles shewes the great care that he hath had to procure the glorie of God And doubtlesse if we pray with a good heart that the name of God be sanctified and his kingdome may come we shall prosecute nothing with such diligence as the establishment of the truth where it is not and the adnancement thereof where it is alreadie planted The rest of this letter is hereafter in the booke of the persecutions of the Waldenses Vigneaux in his Memorials of the Waldenses fol. 4. One onely thing doth especially grieue vs that our imployments at this time are such about other affaires that we haue no leisure to answer you at large as we desire c. Le Sieur de Vigneaux who was a Pastor of the Waldenses in the vallies of Piemont hath written a Treatise of their life manners and religion to whom he giues this testimonie that they were a people of a holy and godly life and conuersation well gouerned great enemies to vice but especially their Barbes for so they called their Pastors And speaking of those of his owne time he saith We liue in peace in these vallies of Piemont and in loue amitie one with another we haue commerce together neuer marrying our sonnes to the daughters of those of the Church of Rome or our daughters to their sonnes yea our manners and customes please them so well that such as are masters and call themselues Catholickes desire to chuse their men seruants and maid-seruants rather from amongst vs then themselues And they come also from faire to seeke nurses for their children amongst vs finding in ours more fidelitie then in their owne And as touching the doctrine for which the Waldenses haue bene persecuted It appeareth by the Historie of the Estate of the Church p. 337. they do affirme saith he that we are to beleeue the Scriptures onely in that which concerneth our saluation not any way depending vpon men That the Scriptures containe in them whatsoeuer is necessary to saluation and that we are not to beleeue any thing but what God hath commanded vs. That we haue one onely Mediatour and therefore we are not to inuocate Saints That there is no Purgatory but all such as are iustified by Christ go to eternall life They approue of two Sacraments Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. They affirme that all Masses are damnable especially those that are said for the dead and therefore are to be abolished That all humane traditions are to be reiected as not being necessary to saluation That singing and often rehearsall of diuine Seruice fasts tyed to certaine dayes superfluous seasts difference of meates so many degrees and orders of Friers Monks and Nuns so many benedictions and consecrations of creatures vowes pilgrimages and the whole confusion and great number of ceremonies heretofore inuented are to be abolished They deny the supremacie of the Pope and especially that power that he vsurpeth ouer ciuill gouernment and they admit of no other degrees then Bishops Priests and Deacons That the Sea of Rome is the true Babylon and that the Pope is the fountaine of all the euils in these dayes That the marriage of Priests is good and necessary That they that heare the word of God and haue the true knowledge thereof are the true Church vnto which Christ Iesus hath deliuered the keyes to let in the flocke and to chase away the wolues Behold here saith Vinaux the doctrine of the Waldenses which the enemies of the truth haue impugned and for which in those times they persecuted them as their enemies themselues do witnesse Viret speakes of the Waldenses as followeth Viret of the true false religion lib. 4. chap. 13. p. 249. The Papists saith he haue imposed great crimes and that very wrongfully vpon those ancient faithfull people commonly called Waldenses or the poore people of Lions frō Waldo whose doctrine they followed by which they make it appeare that the Pope is Antichrist and that his doctrine is nothing else but humane traditions contrary to the doctrine of Christ Iesus For which cause they haue dealt against them as the ancient Painims did against the Christians accusing them that they killed their owne children in their assemblies The Author of the Historie of the reformed Churches in France writeth thus The Ecclesiasticall History of the reformed Churches of France tom 1. lib. 1. p. 35. The Waldenses saith he time out of mind haue opposed themselues against the abuses of the Church of Rome and haue in such sort bene persecuted not by the sword of the word of God but by all kind of violence and crueltie as also by a million of calumnies and false accusations that they haue bene enforced to disperse themselues into what parts of the world they could wandring through desart places like poore sauage beasts the Lord neuerthelesse preseruing the remnant of them in such sort that notwithstanding the fury of the whole world they were still preserued in three countries farre distant one from the other that is Calabria Bohemia and Piemont with the bordering parts thereabout from whence they haue bene dispersed into the quarters of Prouence about two hundred seuentie yeares since And as touching their religion they haue alwayes auoyded the Papall superstition For which cause they haue bene alwayes vexed by the Bishops and Inquisitors abusing the power of secular iustice in such sort that it is an euident miracle of God that they should be able to continue Iohn Chassagnon writes as followeth Iohn Chassagnon in his Historie of the Albigeois p. 25. It is written of the Waldenses saith he that they reiected all the traditions and ordinances of the Church of Rome as vnprofitable and superstitious and
as from his friend that if he did not acknowledge his fault he would be in great danger of his life Copin answered him that his life was in the hands of God and he would neuer desire to preserue it to the preiudice of his glory and forasmuch as he had but two or three paces to walke in his iourney to heauen his hearty prayer vnto God was that he would be pleased to giue him the grace not to turne back Some few daies after he was examined by a Monke Inquisitor in the presence of the Bishop who tormented him a long time with sweet and gentle perswasions endeauouring to winne him by faire words to the abiuration of his beliefe but Copin alwaies conuinced him by the word of God alleadging vnto him that if he should be ashamed of Christ Iesus or deny him before men Christ would be ashamed of him and deny him before his Father in heauen The Monke ended his disputation with these and the like threatning speeches Goe thou waies thou cursed Lutheran to all the diuels in hell and when thou shalt be tormented by those vncleane spirits thou wilt remember those good and holy counsels which we haue giuen thee to bring thee to saluation but thou haddest rather go to hell then to reconcile thy self to our holy mother the Church It is long agoe saith Copin that I was reconciled to our mother the Church After many violent incounters they caused his wife and a sonne of his to come vnto him promising him liberty and to depart with them if hee would amend his fault by confessing it They suffered his said wife and sonne to sup with him in prison which time he spent in exhorting them to patience the wife for that shee should want a husband the childe a father but yet should assure themselues that God would be their father and more then a husband and for his owne part he was not bound to loue either wife or children more then Christ that they should hold it to be no small happinesse that it hath pleased God to do him that honour as to be a witnesse vnto his truth with the losse of his life and that he hoped that God would be so fauourable vnto him as to giue him strength to endure all manner of torments for his glory He committed to the care and charge of his wife his sonne and his daughter which they had in marriage enioyning her to bring them vp in the feare of God He commanded his sonne to obey his mother for so he should drawe downe vpon him the blessing of God he prayed them to pray for him that God would be pleased to strengthen him against all temptations and so hauing blessed his sonne and taken leaue of his wife they were dismissed out of prison and he locked vp where he was before His wife and child shedding fountaines of teares and crying out in such a lamentable manner as would haue moued the hardest hearts to compassion This good man not being content with what he had said vnto them by word of mouth writ vnto her this Lettre following the originall Copy whereof shee deliuered vnto vs written and signed with the hand of the said Copin the superscription whereof was this To my louing Companion Susan Copin At the Tower of Lucerna MOst deare Companion I haue receiued much comfort by your comming into this place and so much the more by how much the lesse I expected it And I thinke it was some comfort to your selfe that you had the meanes to sup with me as it came to passe but yesterday being the fifteenth of September in the yeere 1601 being Saterday I know not the cause why this was permitted but all things are in the hand of God and whatsoeuer were the cause I doe not thinke we shall euer eate together againe And therefore pray vnto God to be your comforter and put your trust in him who hath promised neuer to forsake those that trust in him You are wise and therefore gouerne our house in such sort that you keepe our children Samuell and Martha in obedience whom I command by that authority that God hath giuen me to be faithfull and obedient vnto you for then God will blesse them For the rest be not grieued concerning my selfe for if God haue appointed that I am come to the end of my daies and that it pleaseth the Almighty God that I shall render vp my soule which hee hath long time lent me my trust in him is that out of his abundant mercy hee will receiue it into heauen for the loue of his Sonne Christ Iusus by whom I belieue that our sinnes are blotted cut euen by his precious death and passion And I begge at his mercifull hands that he will accompany mee vnto the end by the powerfull assistance of his holy Spirit Bee alwaies carefull to pray vnto God and to serue him for so God will blesse and serue you Take no care to send me any thing for these three weekes and then you may send me if you please some money to pay the Iaylor and some thing else to succour me if I liue till then Remember also that which I haue often told you that is that God prolonged the life of King Ezechias for fifteene yeeres but that he had prolonged mine a great deale more for it is a long time agoe that you haue seen me in a manner dead and neuerthelesse I am yet aliue and I hope and hold for certaine that hee will still preserue mee aliue vntill my death shall be better for his glory and mine owne felicity through his grace and mercy towards me From the Prison at Ast Sept. 16. 1601. The Bishop of Ast was much troubled what to determine concerning this poore man For if he should let him goe they feared a scandall and that many would gather heart and courage to speake with a loud voice against the Romish Religion On the other side there was a clause in the treaty made betweene his Highnesse and the Waldenses which cleared him from all offence in these words And if any question shall bee mooued vnto them touching their faith being in Piedmont with other his Highnesses Subiects it shall be lawfull for them to answere not incurring thereby any punishment reall or personall Now he was asked the question and therefore to be quit from blame But the Bishop would not haue it said that hee had committed him to prison vniustly To the end therefore that his death might not bee imputed vnto him and it might not be thought that he sent him away absolued he sent his indictment to Pope Clement the eight to vnderstand what course hee should take herein It could neuer be knowne what answere the Bishop had but shortly after hee was found dead in prison not without some appearance that he was strangled for feare least if he should haue been publikely executed he might edifie and strengthen the people by his confession and constancy After his
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
his workes and to the poore creature reasonable and vnreasonable sensible and insensible Reasonable as to men hee-Saints and shee-Saints that are departed out of this world Vnreasonable and to Images carrion or reliques His workes are the Sacraments especially the Sacrament of the Eucharist which headoreth as God and as Iesus Christ seruing things blessed and consecrated and forbidding the worship of the onely God The second worke of Antichrist is that he robbeth Christ of his merit with all the sufficiency of grace righteousnesse regeneration remission of sinnes sanctification confirmation in grace and spirituall nourishment and imputeth and attributeth it to his authority and to the forme of words and to his workes and to Saints and to their intercession and to the fire of Purgatory drawing the people from Christ and his conduct vnto the things aboue-named to the end men should not seeke the things of Christ nor by Christ but trust only to be saued by the works of their hands and not by a liuely faith in God and his Sonne Christ Iesus and his holy Spirit but by the will and workes of Antichrist for so he teacheth that all saluation consisteth in his workes The third worke of Antichrist consisteth in this that he attributeth the renewing by the holy Ghostto an outward dead faith and baptizeth children into that faith and that by it wee haue the Baptisme and the regeneration and therein hee giueth Orders and Sacraments and in it he groundeth all Christianity which is repugnant to the Spirit of God The fourth worke of Antichrist is that hee hath ordained and placed all Religion and Sanctity of the people in the Masse and hath patched together many ceremonies whereof some are Iudaicall some Heathenish some Antichristian To the hearing whereof leading the congregation and the people hee depriues them of their spirituall and Sacramentall food and separateth them from the true Religion and the Commandements of God and withdrawes them from the workes of mercy by his Offertory and by his Masse he setteth the people in a vaine hope The fift worke of Antichrist is that hee doeth all his workes to the end hee may bee seene of men that he may solace himselfe in his vnsatiable auarice that he may make gaine of all things and doe nothing without Simony The sixt worke of Antichrist is that hee giueth way to all open and apparant sinnes without any Ecclesiasticall sentence neither doth hee excommunicate the impenitent The seuenth worke of Antichrist is that hee neither ruleth nor defendeth his vnity by the Word and power of the Spirit of God but by the secular power and hee addeth vnto his ayde things spirituall The eight worke of Antichrist is that hee hateth and persecuteth and putteth to death the members of Christ These are in a manner the principall workes which he doth against the truth for all of them can by no meanes bee written or numbred Let it suffice for this present that wee haue noted the more generall and shall likewise set downe by what workes this iniquity is couered First and principally by an outward confession of Faith whereof the Apostle sayth They confesse they know God with their mouthes but they deny him in their hearts Secondly hee couereth his iniquity by length of time and in that he is maintained by certaine Sages and religious Monkes and Virgins and Nunnes and Widowes and other women of austere life As also by the people without number of whom it is said in the Reuelation And power was giuen vnto him ouer euery Tribe and Language and Nation and all the Inhabitants of the Earth fell downe and worshipped him Thirdly hee couereth his iniquity with the spirituall authority of the Apostles against which the Apostle saith We can doe nothing against the truth and power there is none giuen vs to destruction Fourthly he couereth his iniquity with many miracles of whom the Apostle saith 2 Thes 2.9 Whose comming is after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders and with all deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse Fifely by outward holinesse prayers fastings watchings and almesdeeds against which the Apostle saith Hauing the appearance of godlinesse but denying the power thereof Sixtly he coueroth his iniquity with certaine words of Christ and the writings of ancient Fathers and with Councels which they doe so farre forth obserue as that they may no way hinder their wicked liues and pleasures Seuenthly by the administration of the Sacraments viz. of Penance by which they disgorge and vomit vp all their errours Eightly by corrections and verball preachings against vice for they say and doe not Ninthly they couer their iniquity by the vertuous life of some that liue dissemblingly others truly For the Elect of God who will and doe that which is good are detained as in Babylon and are as gold wherewith Antichrist couereth his vanity not permitting them to serue the onely God or to put their trust in Christ alone or to embrace the true Religion These things and diuers others are as the mantell or cloake of Antichrist wherewith he couereth his lyes and malice to the end he may not be reiected as a Pagan and vnder which he proceedeth dishonestly and like a whore We are now to shew both out of the Old and New Testament that a Christian is bound by the Commandement of God to separate himselfe from Antichrist For the Lord saith in the 52. of Esay 11. Depart ye depart ye goe ye out from thence touch no vncleane thing goe ye out of the middest of her be ye cleane that beare the vessels of the Lord For ye shall not goe out with hast nor goe by flight c. And the Prophet Ieremy Chap. 50.8 Remoue out of the middest of Babylon and goe forth out of the Land of the Caldeans and be as the hee-goates before the flockes For loe I will raise and cause to come vp against Babylon an assembly of great Nations from the North Countrey and they shall set themselues in army against her from thence shee shall be taken And Numbers 16.21 Separate your selues from among this Congregation that I may consume them in a moment And againe in the 26 verse Depart from the Tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs least ye be consumed in all their sinnes And again Leuit. 20.24 I am the Lord your God and haue separated you from other people Yee shall therefore put difference betweene cleane beasts and vncleane and you shall not make your soules abominable by beast or by fowle nor by any manner of liuing thing that creepeth on the ground which I haue separated from you as vncleane Againe in the 34. of Exodus Take heed to thy selfe lest thou make a Couenant with the inhabitants of the land for feare lest when they goe a whoring after their Gods and doe sacrifice vnto their gods and one call thee and thou eate of his sacrifice And thou take of their daughters vnto thy sonnes and their
daughters goe a whoring after their gods and make thy sonnes goe a whoring after their gods This is likewise manifest in the New Testament Iohn 12. That the Lord came into the world and suffered death to the end he might ioyne all the children of God in one And for this truth of the vnity and separation of others it is said Matth. 10.34 Thinke not I am come to send peace on earth I came not to send peace but a sword For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in law against the mother in law And a mans foes shall be they of his owne houshold And this diuision hee hath commanded saying If there be any that forsaketh not father and mother for my sake c. Againe Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheepes clothing Againe Beware of the leuen of the Pharises Againe Take heed lest any seduce you for many shall come in my Name and shall seduce many And therefore if any one shall say vnto you heere is Christ and there is Christ beleeue him not And Reuel 8.4 he admonisheth with his owne voyce and commandeth all that are his to goe out of Babylon saying Come out of her my people that you be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues For her sins haue reached vnto heauen and God hath remembred her iniquities The Apostle affirmeth the same 2 Cor. 6.14 Be ye not vnequally yoked together with vnbeleeuers for what fellowship hath righteousnesse with vnrighteousnesse and what communion hath light with darkenesse And what concord hath Christ with Belial and what part hath he that beleeueth with an Infidell And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols And therefore goe out of her and separate your selues from her saith the Lord and touch no vncleane thing and I will bee vnto you in the place of a father and you shall bee vnto mee as sonnes and daughters saith the Lord. Againe Ephes 5.7 Be not yee therefore partakers with them for yee were sometimes darkenesse but now are yee light in the Lord. Againe 1. Cor. 10.20 I would not that yee should haue fellowship with deuils yee cannot drinke the cup of the Lord and the cup of deuils And againe 2. Thes 3.6 Wee command you brethren in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ that ye withdraw your selues from euery brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which he receiued of vs. For your selues know how ye ought to follow vs And in the 14. verse And if any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man and haue no company with him that he may be ashamed And Ephes 5.11 Haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse And 2. Tim. 3.1 This also know that in the last dayes perillous times shall come And Verse 5. Hauing a forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof from such turne away By these places aboue repeated the malice of Antichrist doth manifestly appeare So it is likewise commanded by the Lord that we separate our selues from him and to ioyne our selues to the holy City Ierusalem And therefore we that haue knowledge of these things the Lord hauing reuealed them vnto vs by his seruants beleeuing this reuelation deliuered in the Word being admonished by the Commandements of the Lord to separate our selues from him inwardly and outwardly because we beleeue him to bee Antichrist and haue conuersation and vnity of will and sincere intention purposing to please God that wee may be saued by the ayde and assistance of our Lord wee ioyne our selues to the truth of Christ and of his Spouse how little soeuer it be in the eye of the world so farre foorth as our vnderstanding shall direct vs. And therefore we haue determined with our selues to make knowne to the world what are the causes of our departure and what our congregation is to the end that if the Lord shall giue the knowledge of the selfe-same truth they that haue receiued it should loue it together with our selues And that if peraduenture they be not sufficiently illuminated they may receiue comfort and assistance by this meanes and be watered by the dew of heauen And if this grace bee giuen more abundantly and in a higher measure to any other wee desire in all humility to bee better instructed by him intreating our faults and defects may bee amended These things then that follow are the causes of our separation Be it knowne to all in generall and euery particular person that the cause of our separation is for the essentiall verity of Faith and the ministeriall The Essentiall verity of Faith is the inward knowledge of one true God and the vnity of Essence in three persons which knowledge flesh and bloud hath not giuen As also for the decent and conuenient seruice due to one onely God for the loue thereof aboue all things for sanctification and the honour thereof aboue all things and aboue all names for a liuely hope by Christ in God for regeneration and inward renouation by faith hope and charity for the merit of Iesus Christ with all sufficiency of grace and righteousnesse for the participation or communion with all the Elect for remission of sinnes for holy conuersation and for the faithfull accomplishment of all the Commandements in the faith of Christ for true repentance for perseuerance vnto the end and for life euerlasting The Ministeriall verities are these The outward Congregation of Ministers with the people subiect in place time and truth by the ministry of the truth aboue mentioned directing establishing and preseruing the Church the said Ministers by faith and an integrity of life shewing themselues obedient and giuing themselues couragiously to the practise and vsuall cariage of our Sauiour ouer the flocke The things which the Ministers are bound to doe for the seruice of the people are these The Euangelicall Word the Sacraments annexed to the Word which certifie what the intention and vnderstanding hath beene confirme the hope in Christ and in the faithfull the ministeriall communion of all things by the Essentiall verity And if there be any other ministeriall things they may all bee referred to the abouenamed But of these singular verities some are essentially necessary to the saluation of man others conditionally They are contained in the twelue Articles of our Faith and in diuers writings of the Apostles For Antichrist hath long since raigned in the Church by diuine permission The errours and impurities of Antichrist are these that is to say diuers and innumerable Idolatries against the Commandements of God and of Christ by a seruice giuen to the creature and not to the Creator visible and inuisible corporall and spirituall vnderstanding or sensible naturall or made and framed by some art and vnder the name of Christ or hee saints or shee-saints or reliques which creature is serued by faith by hope by gestures by