SUPPLEMENT
TO MR. FOX'S ACTS
AND MONUMENTS
OF THE CHRISTIAN MARTYRS.
EXTRACTED FROM
MR. SAMUEL CLARK'S GENERAL
MARTYROLOGY.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
YOU have here presented to thy view
that strange sight, which astonished Moses, (Exod. 3: 3,) a bush burning with fire, and not consumed.
A lively emblem of the church, oft times all on a flame with
the fire of persecu-• tion; and yet, so far from being
consumed, that the blood of the martyrs proves the seed of the
church. And indeed she is the only and true salamander that
can live in the fire. Yet this not by any strength of her own,
but because the Angel of the Covenant, even the Lord JESUS
CHRIST, is in the bush; either to slack the fire, or to strengthen
the bush, and make it incombustible.
In this book you may see, as in a mirror, what has been
the portion of the people of GOD, from the creation hitherto,
viz. through many tribulations to enter into the kingdom of
heaven. Here you have a certain and infallible mark of the true
church of CHRIST,
viz. to be hated and persecuted by the devil and his instruments.
Here you may see what is the constant concomitant of
the gospel, when it is received in the love and power of it,
viz. persecution, according to that of the apostle, Ye became
followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the Word in
much affliction. Neither yet is God an hard master in dealing
thus with his faithful servants. He knows that when afflictions
hang heaviest, corrupt affections hang loosest upon his children.
Yet does not the Lord afflict willingly, nor grieve the children
of men, to crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth;
but he will hereby try who are his in deed and truth; not in
name and profession only.
One thing is very remarkable in this history, that before any great persecution
befel the church, the holy men of those times observed there
was some great decay of zeal, and of the power of godliness;
or some contentions and quarrels amongst the people of God;
or some sin or other, that provoked God against them; and then
God let loose the persecutors upon his own children, to bring
them in unto him: which done, he not only restrains their rage,
but casts the rod into the fire. If judgment begin at the house
of GOD, what shall the end of them be that obey not the gospel
of God f Much excellent use may be made of this history: as
teaching us,
1. That whosoever will take CHRIST,
must take his cross, as well as his crown; his sufferings, as
well as his salvation.
2. That God's children are like stars,
that shine brightest in the darkest night: like the palm-tree,
which proves the better for pressing. Yea, God knows that we
are best when we are worst; and live holiest when we die fastest;
and therefore he frames his dealing to our disposition, seeking
rather to profit than to please us.
3.
That when God exposeth us to persecution, he expects
our speedy and thorough reformation, if we desire the affliction
to be removed. For, as it were to
my
purpose for the finer to put his gold into "the fire, (except
it he there till it be refined; so it were to small purpose
for God to lay afflictions on us, if he should remove them before
we were bettered thereby. Whereas afflictions, like Lot's
angels, will soon depart, when they.have accomplished their
errand.
4.
That we should with patience submit to the afflicting
hand of the all-wise GOD, saying, with the church, / will bear
the indignation of tlie Lord, because I have sinned against
him: considering also that impatience under affliction, makes
it much more grievous. As a man in a fever, by tossing and tumbling,
exasperates the disease, and increases his own grief.
5.
That all that will live godly in CHRIST JESUS must suffer
persecution. It has been
the portion of all the saints, from the creation hitherto.
What son is there whom the Father chasteneth not? One
Son indeed God had without sin, but not without sorrow; for
though CHRIST, his natural Son, was without corruption, yet
not without correction; though he was without crime, yet not
without a scourge. And if they did these tilings to the green
tree, what shall be done to the dry? And behold the wonderful
wisdom of God herein J Who,
by these afflic-iions, separates the sin that he hates, from
the son that he loves; and keeps him, by these thorns, from
breaking over into SATAN's pastures; that would fat him indeed,
but only to the slaughter.
Thine in the Lord,
SAMUEL CLARK.
THE PERSECUTION THE
WALDENSES,
Which began in the-Year 166O.
WHEN the darkness of popery had overspread
the Christian world, so that kings and princes employed their
authority to establish the Romish idolatry, appointing to slaughter
such as denied transubstantiation, adoration of the host, bowing
the knees before it, &c.; this occasioned many Christians
to detest this superstition, as unknown to the apostles and
primitive church. And first of all, God raised up Berengarius,
presently after the year 1OOO, who boldly and faithfully preached
the truth, till about the time that William the Conqueror came
into England.
Whereupon the gospellers were called Berengarians, till about
the year 111O, At which time, notice being taken of their separation
from the church of Rome, they were branded with the name of
heretics. Twenty years after, when they were grown Into a multitude,
they had one Peter Bruis for their most famous preacher, who
taught long and publicly at Thou-louse, under the protection
of earl Hildephonsus. Whereupon they were called Petro-Brusians/
Peter Bruis, in the year 112O, published their tenets in a book
wherein a supplement to fox's he declared both the ground of
their doctrine, and the causes of their separation from the
Romish church.
Twenty years after this, they were
grown into a mighty multitude, about the year 114O, whereupon
the pope of Rome
stirred up his most learned followers to write against them;
and warned princes to banish them out of their territories.
In the year 1147, they had Henry of
Thoulouse for their most eminent preacher, whereupon they began
to be called Henricians. And because they were well read in
the Scriptures, especially in the epistles of St.
Paul, whom by way of eminency, they called
The Apostle, they were called Apostolicks. Shortly after, God raised up Peter Valdo, a
citizen of Lyons,
in France,
who showed himself most courageous in opposing the popish inventions.
He was the more eagerly hearkened unto, because he was in high
esteem for his learning and piety, and his liberality to the
poor. Besides the nourishing of the bodies of men, he also
fed their souls, by exhorting them to seek JESUS CHRIST, and
salvation by him. The archbishop of Lyons
being informed that Valdo not only used thus to instruct the
people; but also boldly taxed the vices, luxury, and pride of
the pope and his clergy, forbade him die same, on pain of excommunication.
Valdo replied, " That he could not be silent in a cause
of so great importance, as the salvation of men's souls;. wh'erein
he must obey GOD, rather than man." Then the archbishop
sought to have him apprehended, but could not effect it; for
Valdo had many friends, and was generally beloved, wherefore
he continued, (though closely,) in Lyons,
three years.
Pope Alexander 3 at length cursed Valdo,
and his adherents; commanding the archbishop to proceed against
them, to their utter extirpation; whereupon they were wholly
chased' out of Lyons. His followers were then, called Waldenses, who
afterwards spread themselves into divers countries. The chief
opinions of the Waldenses,, ye have seen in the former part
of this work.
Valdo himself went into Dauphiny, conversing
in the mountains of the same province with certain rude persons,
yet capable of receiving the truth. His disciples also spread
into Picardy, whence they were called
Picards. Against whom afterwards king Philip took arms, overthrew
3OO gentlemen's houses, and destroyed some walled towns; pursuing
them into Flanders, whither they fled, and causing many of them
there to be burnt to death. This persecution caused many of
them to flee into Germany
and Alsatia, where they spread their doctrine. Shortly after,
the bishops of Mayence and Strasburgh raised up a great persecution
against them, causing 35 burgesses of Mayence to be burnt in
one fire, and 18 in another. At Strasburgh 8O were burnt, at
the instance of the bishop. Yet multitudes of people received
such edification by the exhortations, constancy, and patience
of the martyrs, that in the year 1315, in the county
of Passau, and about
Bohemia, there
were above 8O,OOO persons that made profession of the same faith.
In the year 166O, some of them came
into England,
and were punished at Oxford
in the most barbarous manner. Three years after, in the council
of Tours, in France, pope Alexander 3: made a decree, That these
Gospellers, and all their favorers, should be excommunicated;
and that none should sell them any thing, or buy any thing of
them, according as it was prophesied, Rev. 13: 17- But notwithstanding
all these devices, they had goodly churches in Bulgary, Croatia,
Dalmatia, and Hungary. The popish monks, to make them odious,
and to have the better occasion to persecute them, raised up
many foul slanders of them, as, that they were sorcerers, sodomites,
and the like. That they assembled themselves in the night-time;
and that the pastors commanded the lights to be put out, saying,
" Catch who catch can." They charged them also with
many foul and false opinions. From which accusations, they,
by a public apology, cleared themselves; which they published
both in French, and their own language.
Reinerus, the monk, says of them, That
" amongst all those which have risen up against the church
of Rome, the Waldenses were the most dangerous, in regard of
their long continuance: for some say, this sect has continued
from the time of pope Sylvester, and some say, from the apostles'
time. And because this
sect is more general, and there is scarce any country in which
it has not taken footing j and because it has a great appearance
of piety; (for they carry themselves uprightly before men, and
believe rightly touching God in all things, holding all the
articles of the creed j only they hate and revile the church
of Rome;) and therefore, (says he,) they are easily believed
by the people."
Valdo, notwithstanding all the curses of the pope, continued to publish,
That the pope was antichrist ,
the mass an abomination, the host an idol, and purgatory
a fable. Whereupon pope Innocent 3: in the year 1198y seeing
the other remedies were not sufficient to suppress these heretics,
authorised certain monks, inquisitors, to apprehend' and deliver
them to the secular power. By this means the people were delivered
by thousands into the magistrates' hands, and by them to the
executioners; whereby, in a few years, all Christendom was moved
with compassion, to see all those burnt and hanged,, that did
trust only in CHRIST for salvation.
The pope seeing that this suppressed
not, but rather increased the number of his enemies, sent certain
bishops-and monks to preach in those places of the Waldenses
5 but their preaching converted not any of them from their former
opinions. Amongst those monks was Dominic, a< zealous persecutor
of the saints of GOD, both in word"* and deed; who seeing
himself to be in authority, instituted an order of begging
monks, called after his name Dominicans; which order was confirmed
by the pope, for their zealous assisting him
against the Waldenses. Dominic labored in the inquisition
with such contentment to the popes, that from that time forward,
the monks of his order have always been employed in the inquisition.
The power of these inquisitors was
without limitation; they could assemble the people by the sound
of a bell, when they pleased; proceed against the bishops themselves;
imprison and release without control; any accusation was sufficient
with them; a sorcerer, a whore was a sufficient witness in the
case of pretended heresy. It mattered not who accused, or whether
by word of mouth, or ticket thrown in before the inquisitor;
for process was thereby framed without party, without witness,
or without other law, than the pleasure of the inquisitors.
To be rich, was a crime near to heresy; and he that had any
thing to lose, was in the way to be undone, either as an heretic,
or as a favorer of them: yea, bare suspicion stopped the mouths
of parents, kinsfolk, and friends, that they durst not intercede
each for the other. If
any did but convey a cup of cold water, or a pad of straw to
them that lay in stinking dungeons, he was condemned, and brought
to the same or worse extremities. No advocate durst undertake
the defense of his nearest kinsman or friend. No notary durst
receive any act' in his favor; yea, death itself made not an
end of their punishment, for sometimes they passed sentence
against the bones of the dead, to burn them, it may be thirty
years after the death of the party accused.
Such as were heirs had nothing certain; for if their
fathers or kindred were
accused, they durst not undertake the defense of their own right,
without the crime or suspicion of heresy. The greatest and richest
amongst the people were constrained even to adore these monks
inquisitors, and to give them great sums for the building of
their convents, for fear of being accused of heresy. And the
better to keep the people m awe, these inquisitors would sometimes
lead in-, triumph their prisoners in procession; enjoining some
of them to whip themselves; others to go in their shirts-barefoot
and bare-headed, having a withe about their necks, and a torch
in their hands, for the greater terror to the beholders.
Some of the accused were sent into the holy hand, of
enrolled for some other expedition against the Turks. In the
mean time the fathers inqui-' sitors took possession of their
houses and goods; and when they returned home, they must not
inquire, whether these monks had, in their absence, lain with
their wives,, lest they should be condemned as apostates.
In
the year 12O1, a knight that was one of these Wal-denses, called
Enraudus, whom Henry, earl of Nivers, had made governor of his
land, was accused of heresy, and brought before the pope's legate,
who called a council at Paris against him, consisting of the
archbishops, bishops, and ministers of Paris, who condemned
him for an heretic, and so delivered him to the secular power,
by whom he was burned.
In October, 12O7, in the town of Mont-Royal,
near Carcasson, in the earldom of Thoulouse, there was held
a famous disputation, between Didacus, a Spaniard, friar Dominic,
Peter, of the New Castle,
the pope's legate, and Ralph, his colleague, on the one part,
and Arnold Hot, pastor of the Albigenses, with some other of
his fellow-laborers, on the other part.
The arbitrators were two noblemen, named Bernard de Villa
Nova, and Pernail, of Arras;
and two plebeians, named Raymond Godius, and Arnold Riberia.
The questions disputed upon were these: First, That the church
of Rome is not the spouse of CHRIST, nor an holy church;
but an impure one. Secondly, That their ecclesiastical
polity is not good, nor holy, nor established by JESUS CHRIST.
Thirdly, That mass, as it is celebrated therein, was not instituted
by CHRIST, or his apostles. The bishop undertook to prove the
contrary: but after three days' disputation, he desired fifteen
days to commit his arguments to writing; and Arnold Hot required
eight days to put in his answer.
At the day appointed, the bishop brought
in a very long writing; and Hot desired to answer by word of
mouth, entreating his auditors, That he might not seem troublesome
to them, if he were long in answering so long a discourse. And
it was granted, that he should be heard with patience, without
interruption; and so he discoursed several hours, for four days
together, to the great admiration of all that heard him.
And so ready was he therein, that all the bishops, abbots,
monks, and priests, wished themselves elsewhere. For he framed his answer to each point in order,
as it was set down in the writing, and that with such plainness
and perspicuity, that he gave all that were present to understand,
that the bishop, though he had written much, yet he had concluded
nothing to the advantage of the church of Rome. Then Arnold
requested, That forasmuch as.the bishops and himself, in the
beginning of the conference, were bound to prove whatsoever
they affirmed by the Word of God only; it might now be imposed
upon the bishops and priests, to make good their mass as they
sing it, part by part, to have been instituted by the Son of
GOD, and so used by the apostles. But the bishops were not able
to prove this; whereupon they were much ashamed. Arnold
proceeded to prove, That it was not instituted by CHRIST, or
his apostles. " For (said
he) if the mass were the holy supper, instituted
by our Savior, there would remain after the consecration, that
which was in the supper of our Lord, viz. bread.
But in the mass there is no bread: for by transubstantiation
the bread is vanished; therefore the mass is not the holy supper
of the Lord." The bishops, legates, monks, and priests,
having nothing to answer to these things, retired, and dissolved
the assembly.
Between the years 1176, the time when
the inquisition was first erected, to the year 1228, there was
so great a havoc made of poor Christians, that the archbishops
of Aix, Aries, and Narbonne, being assembled at the request
of the said inquisitors, to confer with them about divers difficulties
in the execution of their offices, had compassion of the great
number that were accused and cast into prison, saying, "
We hear that you have apprehended such a multitude of the Waldenses,
that it is not only impossible to defray the charge of their
food, but to provide lime and stone to build prisons for them;
we therefore advise you to forbear this rigour, till the pope
be advertised, and direct what he will have done in this case."
Yet notwithstanding all this cruelty, there was, in the year
126O, above 8OO,OOO persons, that made profession of the faith
of the Waldenses.
Besides the churches that they had
in Valentinois, where their faith was propagated from the father
to the son; their religion spread also beyond the Alps, into
the valley of Pragela, within the jurisdiction of the archbishop
of Turin, from whence were peopled the Walden-sian valleys of
Piedmont, La Perouse, S. Martin, An-grogne, &c. This valley
of Pragela was one
of the safest retiring places that the Waldenses had, being
environed on all sides with mountains almost inaccessible, into
the caves whereof they retired in the times of persecution.
And although they were weakened on all sides, environed with
enemies, and in danger of being apprehended, if they looked
but out of their doors; yet, there never was any worldly respect
that had power to alter their holy resolution, from the father
to the son, to serve God; taking his Word for the rule of their
faith, and his law for the rule of their obedience. Yea, no
sooner were the infants weaned from their mothers' breasts,
but their parents took care to instruct them in the Christian
faith. Their pastors also did not only preach to them on the
Sabbath-days, but went in the week-days, to instruct them in
the villages and hamlets, not sparing themselves for the roughness
of the rocks, the coldness of the air, and the cragginess of
the country. But whilst they thus busily sought the advancement
of God's glory, and their own salvation, the devil raised up
a persecution against them, in the year 138O, by a monk inquisitor,
called Francis Boralli, who had a commission to inquire after
the Waldenses in Aix, Aries, Ambrun, Vienne, Geneva, Ambone,
Savoy, the Venetian countiy, the principality of Orange, the
city of Avignion, “which commission he received from pope
Clement 7: This monk cited to appear at Ambrun, all the inhabitants
ef Frassiniere, Argentire, and the valley Pute, upon pain of
excommunication: but they appeared not, whereupon they were
condemned of contumacy, and excommunicated. And for the space
of thirteen years, as he caught any of them, he delivered them
up to the secular power to be burnt at Grenoble:
the number of whom was 15O men, divers women, with many of their
sons and daughters, besides about 8O persons of Argentire.
The inquisitors adjudged to themselves two parts of all their
goods, and the third part to the temporal powers. They forbad
all their neighbors also to assist, receive, visit, or defend
them, or to converse with them in any sort, upon pain of being
punished as heretics.
The Waldenses of the valley of Pragela,
in the year 14OO, were assaulted by their enemies, on the side
of Susa, in Piedmont: but most of their assaults proved in vain,
because they retired into the mountains,
hiding themselves in the caves thereof, from whence they
much endamaged those that came to assail them. Their enemies
seeing this, came upon them in the depth of winter, when those
people never suspected it, all the mountains being covered with
snow: thereupon they retired into the highest mountain of all
the Alps, together with their wives and children; the mothers
carrying some in their cradles, and leading others by the hand;
yet the enemy followed them till night, and slew many before
they could recover the mountain; and they which were so slain
had the better bargain: for night coming on, these poor people
being in the snow, without any means to make a fire for their
infants, many of them were benumbed, and in the morning above
8O of them were frozen to death in their cradles, and most of
their mothers died also; besides divers others were giving
up the last gasp. The enemies lay all night in these people's
houses, which they ransacked and pillaged, and so returned to
Susa; but by the
way they met with a poorWaldensian woman, whom they hanged upon
a tree, and so departed.
The Waldenses of the valley of Frassiniere
were greatly persecuted by the archbibhop of Ambrun, in the
year 146O, who made a monk, called John Vayletti, his commissioner
against them; which monk proceeded with such diligence and violence,
that scarce any person could escape his hands, but that he was
either apprehended for an heretic, or a favorer of them; whereby
many papists suffered among the rest. This caused them to petition
king Lewis XL of France,
to stay the course of that persecution. The king thereupon
wrote his letter to the governor of Dauphiny, signifying, That
whereas the inquisitors had daily sent forth their process,
against many poor people in those parts, without reasonable
cause; putting some to the rack, and condemning them for matters
whereof they were never guilty, and which they could not prove
by any witness; and of others they had exacted great sums of
money, and had divers ways unjustly vexed and molested them:
He therefore decreed, That for the time to come, all such process
should be void, and of none effect.
Yet the archbishop did not cease to
persecute them to the uttermost of his power, so that he caused
most of them to flee away.; only James Pateneri stood to it,
averring before the court, that he was unjustly vexed, contrary
to the king's letters; demanding a copy of the proceedings,
that he might right himself by law. The archbishop thereupon
left him, and fell upon those that wanted the like courage,
citing the consuls of Frassiniere, to answer for themselves,
and all the inhabitants of their valley. But they refused, saying,
That they had nothing to say before the archbishop, seeing their
cause was now depending before the king and his council; protesting
against the archbishop's power, and demanding a copy of the
king's letter: but the archbishop, notwithstanding this protestation,
sent them to the fire, without any other indictment. However,
shortly after, the archbishop died, and so ended this persecution,
in 1487.
In the year 1488, pope Innocent 8:
sent Albert de Capitaneis, archdeacon of Cremona,
against these Waldenses, who
craved aid of
the king's lieutenant
of
Dauphiny.
The lieutenant levied troops for his service, And at the archdeacon's
request, led them against the Waldenses, in
the valley of Loyse,
and to colour his proceedings, took a counsellor of the court
along with him. But when they came to the valley, they found
no inhabitants; for they were all retired into their caves,
in the high mountains, having carried their little children,
and all their provision of food with them. Then did the lieutenant
cause much wood to be laid to the mouth of the caves, and set
it on fire, so that some were choked with smoke; others burnt
with the fire; others cast themselves headlong from the rocks, and were dashed to pieces j and if any stirred out, they
were presently slain by the soldiers. There were found within
the caves, 4OO infants stifled in their cradles, or in the arms
of their dead mothers; and in all there perished above 3OOO
men and women; so that there were no inhabitants left in all
that valley. And to prevent the coming of any more of them thither,
the lieutenant gave all their goods and possessions to whom
he pleased. Then he marched against them of Pragela and Frassiniere,
but they, providing for their own safety, attended him. at
the passages and narrow straits of their vallies, so that he
was forced to retire.
After a while, Albert de Capitaneis,
being called to another place, he substituted a Franciscan,
named Francis Ploieri, who in 1489, began anew to inform against
the Waldenses of Frassiniere, citing them to appear before him
at Ambrun, and for non-appearing, he excommunicated them, and
condemned them for heretics, to be delivered to the secular
power, and their goods to be confiscated. This persecution grew exceeding hot, the inquisitor
and counsellor sending as many as they could catch to the fire,
without admitting any appeal; and if any interceded for them,
though the father for the child, or the child for the father,
he was presently committed to prison, and indicted as a favorer
of heretics. In the year 15OO, the president of Provence
made a speech to the assembly of estates to root out these Waldenses:
whereupon they raised an army for effecting of it. But as soon
as the men were in arms, it pleased GOD, by the death of king
Francis, to put an end to that design, whereby the Waldensian
churches in Dauphiny enjoyed peace, and were well furnished
with godly pastors, who held them in the exercise of religion,
though they were in continual danger of being persecuted to
death.
The Waldenses in Dauphiny, many years
before this, being multiplied, so that the country could not
feed them, dispersed themselves abroad into divers parts. Of
these some wept into Piedmont, who lived
in great love with those of Dauphiny; and though they were always
oppressed, yet with hearty love and charity they ever succored
one another; not sparing their lives and goods for their mutual
conversation.
The first persecution in Piedmont was
occasioned by the priests, who complained to the archbishop
of Turin, that these people lived not according to the manner
and belief of the church of Rome; that they offered not for
the dead, cared not for masses, absolutions, or to get any of
theirs out of the pains of purgatory. Hereupon the archbishop
persecuted them, complaining of them to their prince, to make
them odious. But the prince inquiring of their neighbors, heard
they were of a good conversation, fearing GOD, without deceit
or malice, loving plain dealing, and always ready to serve their
prince. He therefore purposed not to molest them. But the priests
ever and anon catching one or other of them, they delivered
them to the inquisitors, and the inquisitors to the executioners;
so that there was scarce a town or city in Piedmont,
where some of them had not been put to death.
The monks inquisitors daily sent out
processes against them, and when they could apprehend any of
them, delivered them over to the secular power. This persecution
lasted to the year 1532, at which time the Waldenses ordered,
That their exercises of religion should be performed no more
in covert, as formerly they had been; but in public, that every
one might know them; and that their pastors should preach the
gospel openly, not fearing any persecution that might happen
unto them. The prince being advertised hereof, was highly offended
with them, and thereupon caused one of his commanders to haste
with his troops into the said valleys, which was performed with
such diligence, that he was entered with 5OO horse and foot,
before they were aware, ransacking, plundering, and wasting
all before them. Then the Waldenses left their ploughs, putting
themselves into passes, and with their slings charged their
enemies with such a multitude of stones, that they were constrained
to flee, and abandon their prey, many remaining dead upon the
ground. This news was presently carried to the prince, and withal
he was told, that these people were not to be subdued with arms,
they knowing better the straits of their country, than the assailants;
and that the skin of one of the Waldenses would cost him the
lives of a dozen of his other subjects; whereupon he used arms
no more against them, but when any of them were caught in Piedmont,
he put them to death.
But shortly after, there happened wars
between king Francis 1: and the princes of Piedmont,
which, through God's grace, turned to the great peace of these
people; which peace continued till pope Paul 3: solicited the
parliament of Turin
to persecute them as heretics. Whereupon the parliament caused
a great number of them to be burnt at Turin.
Then these Waldenses petitioned the king, that they might not
be persecuted for their religion, in which they and their ancestors
had lived for many hundred years. But the king rejected their
petition, commanding them to live according to the laws of the
Romish church; adding, That he did not burn the Lutherans through
his whole kingdom
of France, to let
them amongst the Alps escape. Hereupon
the parliament of Turin
commanded them presently to send away all their
ministers, and receive the
priests to sing mass.
To which they answered, that they could
not receive any such commands, it being contrary to God's Word.
But through God's mercy, the king had other employment elsewhere,
whereby they wanted leisure to persecute those servants of CHRIST,
and therefore they only proceeded by the inquisition, receiving
such as the monks condemned to the fire.
In the year 1555, they increased the
persecution, condemning to the fire Bartholomew Hector, a stationer,
to be executed at Turin;
who died with admirable constancy, and so edified the spectators,
that they wept and compassioned him, justifying him, and praying
for him. At the year's end, the king commanded the parliament
to cause them to do that by force, which they would not be brought
to by words. But the protestant princes of Germany
hearing of this, interceded in their behalf to Henry 2: of France;
who promised to have regard to their request; and indeed they
enjoyed peace afterwards, till the peace was concluded between
the kings of France
and Spain;
and the duke of Savoy
was restored to his estate, which was in the year 1559.
The year after, the pope's nuncio reproved
the duke, for that, with all his power, he had not persecuted
the Waldenses; and that if he did not now endeavor to reduce
them to the Romish church, or to root them out, his holiness
should have cause to suspect he was a favorer of them. Hereupon
the duke presently commanded them to go to mass, upon the pain
of their lives: but they not obeying him, he set upon them by
open force; and yet at the same time caused them to be pursued
by the monks inquisitors; so that a great persecution was raised
against the poor Christians.
Some were taken and
burnt, who showed invincible constancy in all their torments.
But to recite all the outrages, cruelties, and villainies practiced against
them, would be too tedious.
Many fled, and their houses and goods were ransacked and spoiled.
One of their ministers was apprehended, and put to a cruel death;
but he showed such admirable patience therein, as astonished
his very adversaries: some also were taken and sent to be galley-slaves;
yet some, through weakness, yielded to the adversaries, and
were more cruelly handled than those that remained constant
in the truth. The monks also of Pignerol vexed the churches
near them grievously; some they took prisoners, and kept them
in their abbeys. Then they assembled a company of ruffians,
sending them to spoil the churches, and to take prisoners, men,
women, and children. The wonderful manner wherein they were
at length delivered has been related at large < in the preceding
part of this work.
THE PERSECUTION
OF
THE WALDENSES
In
Calabria.
IN the year 137O, the Waldenses of
Pragela and Dau-phiny grew so numerous, that they sent their
younger people to seek some other country to inhabit. In their
travel, they found in Calabria,
some waste and untilled lands; yet fertile, fit for corn, wine,
oil, and chesnuts, and the hills were fit for cattle, and to
furnish them with fuel and timber. They came therefore to the
lords of those places, to treat with them touching their abode
there. The lords received them lovingly, agreed about rents,
penalties, &c and so assigned to them certain parts of the
country. Then they returned to their parents* showing1 how it
fared with them, and so received what they pleased to bestow
upon them; and many of them marrying, they returned into Calabria,
where they built some towns and cities.
The lords of those countries thought
themselves happy in that they had met with such good subjects
as peopled their waste lands, and made them to abound with all
manner of fruits; but principally because they were honest men,
and of good conscience, yielding all those duties and honors
which they could expect from good subjects. Only the priests
complained of them, that they made not
their children priests and nuns;
loved not masses; adorned not their churches with images;
nor went on pilgrimage. Hereupon
the lords feared, if the pope should take notice that so near
his seat there were people that contemned his laws, they might
chance to lose their subjects: they therefore persuased the
priests to be silent, since in other things they showed themselves
honest men, and enriched
the countiy; yea, and
the priests themselves, by their tythes. These lords also stopped the mouths of their
neighbors, who exceedingly murmured, because by no means they
could draw them into alliance with them; and because all that
they had prospered exceedingly. They were wise and temperate,
not given to drinking, dancing, swearing, though living in a
country where the inhabitants were given to all manner of wickedness.
Thus they were preserved in peace by
their lords, till the year 156O. At which time these Waldenses,
resolving to make a public profession of their religion, sent
for two ministers from Geneva.
Pope Pius 4: hearing of this, presently concluded upon their
utter ruin, giving the same in charge to cardinal Alexandrino,
a violent man, who chose two monks inquisitors, of his own humor, and
sent them, first to begin with the inhabitants of St. Xist.
There they assembled the people, gave them good words, promising
that they should receive no violence, if they would accept such
teachers as the bishops should appoint; but if they refused,
they would lose their lives, goods, and honors, and would be
condemned for heretics: and further to prove them, they appointed
a mass to be sung; but the people, with their wives and children,
presently quitted their houses, and fled into the woods.
From
thence the monks went to La Garde, where they caused
the town gates to be locked, and the people to be assembled,
telling them, that they of St. X^st had abjured their religion,
and gone to mass, and that if they would do the like, no man
should injure them. These
poor people, believing what was told them, were content to do
what they would have them; but when they heard that their friends
of St. Xist refused to go to mass, and were fled into the woods,
they were exceedingly grieved, and resolved, with their wives
and children, to go to their brethren. In the mean time, the
monks sent two companies of soldiers after them of St. Xist,
who ran after them as after wild beasts, crying, " Kill!
kill I" and so slew divert.. Such as
could get to the top of the mountain, called to the soldiers,
beseeching them to have pity on them, their wives, and children;
and that if they would not suffer them to continue in their
habitations, at least they would license them to depart, either
by sea or land, whither the Lord would be pleased to
conduct them; beseeching them also, for God's sake, not
to force them to defend themselves. This more enraged the sol-dierSj
who presently assaulted them. Then they so defended themselves
that, by God's assistance, they slew the greatest part of the
soldiers, and put the rest to flight. Hereupon the inquisitors
wrote to the viceroy of Naples
speedily to send some-companies of soldiers to apprehend the
heretics of St. Xist and La Garde, whereby he should do a work
very pleasing to the pope, and meritorious for himself.
The viceroy proclaimed through all
Naples, that all
such banished peisons as would come to fight against the heretics
of St. Xist, should be pardoned all their offences. Whereupon
great numbers resorted to him, and were conducted to the woods,
where they chased these poor people, slaying some, and wounding
others: the rest fled into caves, where most of them died of
famine. Then were they of La Garde cited before the inquisitor,
and many fair promises were made
them, if they
would appear; but, contrary thereunto, thirty of them were
apprehended, and put to the rack. One Charlin was racked with
such violence, that his bowels broke out of his belly; and all
to extort from him a confession, that in the night, the candles
being put out, they committed whoredom, and abominable incest;
yet would he never confess any such wickedness. Another was stripped stark naked, whipt with
rods of iron, drawn through the streets, and burnt with fire-brands. One of his sons was killed with
knivea. Another
was thrown down from a high tower, because he would not
kiss a crucifix. Another was condemned to be burnt alive; and
as he went to the fire, he threw to the ground a crucifix, which
the executioner had fastened to his hands; whereupon they covered
him all over with pitch, and so burnt him. The inquisitor, Panza,
cut the throats of eighty, as butchers do their sheep; then,
causing them to be divided into four quarters, he set up stakes
for the space of thirty miles, and appointed a quarter to be
fastened to every stake. Four of the principal men of La Garde
he caused to be hanged. Another young man, because he would
not confess himself to a priest, was thrown from an high tower.
The viceroy passing by him before he was dead, and hearing him
implore God's mercy, kicked him on the head, saying, "
Is this dog yet living? Take him and cast him to the hogs."
Sixty women were racked so violently, that the cords pierced
into their arms and legs; and being then cast into prison, they
died there: only nine of the handsomest, being delivered to
the fathers of the inquisition, were never heard of after. Many otheis were delivered to the secular power
to be burnt; and if any
interceded
for them, he was presently put to the rack as a favorer of heretics.
Then pope Pius 4: sent the marquis of Butiane, promising that,
if he would wholly clear Calabria
of the Waldenses, he would make his son a cardinal. But he was
put to no great pains to do it, for the inquisitors, and the
viceroy of Naples,
had, by sundry deaths, killed all the men, women, and children.
THE PERSECUTION
OF
THE ALBIGENSES.
THE Albigenses were the same with the
Waldenses, differing only in name, from their habitation in
the country of Albi. Divers of Valdo's disciples going into
this country, and amongst them one Arnold, (from whence they
were called Arnoldists,) labored with such good success, that
in a short time there was scarce any found that would go to
mass. Pope Alexander 3: was much moved to anger hereby, and
therefore he condemned them for heretics, in the council of
Lateran. Yet did they so multiply, that in 12OO, they possessed
many great cities; yea, they had many great lords that took
part with them, as earl Remund of Tholouse, Remund, earl of
Foix, the viscount of Beziers, and others. Pope Innocent 3:
pretended a great desire to reclaim them by preaching and conference;
and thereupon there was a famous disputation at Montreal,
wherein the popish doctors were shamefully baffled by Arnold.
But the pope's policy was thus to rock them asleep, whikt he
raised armies against them to destroy them; the pretended occasion
whereof was this: There was one friar 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 heretics, for the innocent blood of
friar Peter, slain amongst them; promising Paradise to all
that would come to this war, and bear arms for forty days. This
he called The holy war; and gave the same pardons and indulgences
to those that came to this war, as those that went to the Holy
Land against the Saracens.
Then he thundered against earl Remund,
charging all archbishops and bishops through their diocese,
to pronounce him accursed
and excommunicated; and that with the sound of a bell, and extinction
of candles, every Sabbath and festival day, for murdering a
good servant of God. He
also absolved all his subjects from their oath of allegiance;
commanding every good Catholic to pursue his person, and to
take and possess his land. He also wrote to all Christian princes to stir
them up to get this pardon rather by fighting against these
Albigenses, than 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 friar Peter, but that he was slain
by a gentleman, who immediately 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 soldiers, to pour down
their vengeance on him and his lands.
The earl of Tholouse perceived that
he must either prepare for defense, or submit; the latter he
thought the safer, and therefore he went presently to the pope's
legate at Valence, 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 defense than his own innocency.
And that concerning the death of the friar, they should first
have inquired 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 Eheir 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 countermand these soldiers, before they go to make
any further spoil in my territories; for my own person may serve
for a sufficient pledge." The legate answered, " That
he had done well in coming to him, yet he could not send back
the soldiers, except he would put seven of his best castles
into his hands, which should serve for a hostage."
Now the earl, when it was too late,
saw his own folly, in putting himself into the legate's hands,
and thereby making himself a prisoner. But there was no. remedy.
He now must take laws from him that had him in his power; and
therefore he told him, " That both his person and possessions
were at his disposal, beseeching him that his subjects might
receive no damage by the soldiers."
The legate presently sent to put garrisons
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 lawful subjects to
his holiness, in case the earl should falsify his oath to the
pope." The consuls were much astonished, thus to see their
lord divested of all his possessions. But that which most afflicted
them was, to see him led to St. Giles's, to be reconciled to
the church, where the legate commanded the earl to strip himself
stark naked, all but his linen drawers; then he put a cord about
his neck, whereby he led him nine times about the grave, of
friar Peter, scourging him wilh 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 earls, barons, marquisses,
prelates, and all the people." He made him also swear to
be obedient all his life to the pope and the church of Rome,
and to make irreconcilable war against the Albigenses.
Then the legate
made him general of the crossed soldiers, for the siege of Beziers.
The earl knew not what to do; for to conduct an army to fight
against the Albigenses, was to sin against his conscience; and
if he should flee away, it would furnish
them with new
matter of persecution against him and his subjects. In this extremity he staid in the army a few
days, and then went towards Rome,
to reconcile himself to the pope.
Then the army came before the city
of Beziers, provided
all manner of engines for battery, and reared up ladders for
a general escalado. The earl of Beziers
beholding this, and judging it impossible to defend the city, he went out and cast himself down
at the legate's feet, beseeching him not to punish the innocent
with the guilty, which must needs be, if the town was taken
by storm. He told him, that there were in the city a great number
of good Catholics, which would be subject to the same ruin with
the Albigenses. 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 might
do as he pleased. The earl returned again into the city, assembled
the people, and told them that he could obtain no mercy from
the legate, except all the Albigenses would come and abjure
their religion, and promise to live according to the laws of
the church of Rome. The popish party requested the Albigenses to
yield to this; but the Albigenses answered, that they would
not forsake their religion, for the base price of frail life:
that God was able, if he pleased, to defend them; but if he
would be glorified by the confession of their faith, it would
be a great honor to them to die for his sake: and that they
had rather displease the pope, who could but kill their bodies,
than GOD, who would cast both body and soul into hell.
Then the popish party sent their bishop
to the legate, beseeching him not to include them in the chastisement
of the Albigenses; and the best way to win the others, was by
gentle means, not by rigour. The legate grew into great choler
at this, swearing, " That if all the city did not acknowledge
their fault, they should all taste of one cup, without distinction
of religion, sex, or age." And accordingly he summoned
the city immediately to yield to his discretion; which they
refusing, he caused his engines to play, and a general assault
to be given. It was impossible for them within the city to
resist so great a violence, being assaulted by above 1OO,OOO
pilgrims:. so the enemy entered, slew a great multitude, and
set the city on fire, and burnt it to ashes. When the city was
first taken, the priests and monks came forth of the great church,
with banners and crosses,
singing Te Deum Laudamus; but the soldiers, who were
commanded by the legate to kill all, ran upon them, made their
heads and arms to fly about the streets, so that they were all
cut in pieces. In this
city of Beziers, they slew 6O,OOO persons; the pope's legate
saying to the captains and soldiers, " Kill them all, [Catholics
and heretics,] for the Lord knows who are his." Then these
pilgrims were presently conducted to Carcasson, before the forty
days of service, which they had vowed to the church of Rome}
were expired.
The earl of Beziers, when he saw that
he could obtain no favor of the legate, before the city was
taken, left his charge to the bishop, and went to Carcasson,
endeavoring to prepare and furnish it for a long siege; but
the legate's army followed him presently, unto which there came
a new supply of crossed soldiers, out of sundry countries, so
that his army consisted of 3OO,OOO fighting men. Near to the
city of Carcasson, was a town of the same name.
The city was seated on a hill, and fenced with a double
wall, yet the pilgrims thought to take it at the first sight,
and therefore ran with great violence upon the first rampart,
filling the ditch with faggots; but they were beaten back with
such courage, that the ground was covered with their dead bodies.
The young earl of Beziers won much honor in this first encounter,
encouraging his men, and telling them, "That it was better
to die fighting, than to
fall into the hands of
such merciless enemies." The Albigenses, much encouraged
hereby, swore to him, "That they would spend their lives
for the preservation of the city."
The next morning, the legate commanded
a general assault to be made upon the town of Carcasson, which
was two miles from the city, and the people valiantly defended
themselves; but being oppressed with multitudes, the soldiers
entered the town, putting all to the sword and fire, as they
had done at Beziers. Then came the king of ArraGod to the camp,
and told the legate, "That he understood that his kinsman, the earl of Beziers, was in the city,
and that with his leave he would go to him; not doubting but
that he should prevail with him to do his duty to the pope and
church." The legate ,
gave him leave; and the king approaching to the rampart, called
for the earl, who came to him. To whom the king said, "
That he desired to know of him what moved him to shut himself
up in that city against so great an army of pilgrims?"
The earl answered, "That
it was to defend his life, goods, and subjects: that
he well knew that the pope, under pretence of religion, resolved
to destroy his uncle Remund and himself: that he saw the cruelty
which they had used at Beziers, even against the priests themselves.
Adding also, what they had done to the town of Carcasson,
and " that they must look for no mercy from the legate,
or his army) and that therefore he rather chose to die, defending
himself with his subject*, than to fall into the hands of so
inexorable an enemy as the legate was. That though he had in
his city some that were of another religion, yet they were such
as had wronged none, and were come to his succor in his greatest
extremity; and for their good service he was resolved not to
abandon them; and that his trust was in GOD, the defender of
the oppressed: that he would assist them against that world
of ill-advised men, who forsook their own houses, to burn, sack,
and ransack, and kill in their houses, other men, without reason,
judgment, or mercy."
The king returning to the legate, told
him, " That his cousin was much discontented with his former
dealings against his subjects of Beziers and Carcasson; that
he believed, seeing they spared not the Romish priests, their
war was not for religion, but a kind of thievery; and that he
would not yield himself to the discretion of such merciless
men." The legate, after some debate, told the king, "That
for his sake he would receive the earl of Beziers to mercy;
and that with him twelve more might come out with bag and baggage;
but for the rest, he would have them wholly at his discretion;
and, that then they might hope well of his mercy, he being the
pope's legate." The king much distasted this proposition,
yet reported it to the earl of Beziers, who returned answer,
" That he would not come forth upon such unreasonable and
unjust propositions, but would defend himself and his subjects
as God should enable him. Then the legate caused all his engines
to play, commanding " that they should take the city by
storm;" but he was little pleased, when he saw the loss
of a great number of his pilgrims: for they in the city threw
down stones, fire, pitch, brimstone, and boiling water; wherewith
they so galled the assailants, that the earth was covered, and
the ditches filled with dead bodies, which caused a noisome
stink, both in the city and camp. This overthrow caused divers
of the crossed soldiers, having accomplished their forty days'
service, and thereby gained Paradise, to refuse to conquer more,
after so fair a purchase, and therefore they returned home.
The legate being much troubled to see
his army so decreased, thought of this stratagem: He sent for
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 Beziers, and endeavoring
to put him into great fears, and then to persuade him to have
recourse to the legate's mercy; and withal, that he should persuade
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
played 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 here at, cried out, "That he
was betrayed, and that faith was violated with him."
But this prevailed nothing; for he was presently committed
to the guard and custody of the duke of Burgundy.
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 employed 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 days. 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, and others
to Tholouse, whither 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 walls with much fear, lest it should be a stratagem to endanger
them; but finding no opposition, they mounted the walls, crying
out, "That the Albigenses 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 the legate called all the prelates and great lords of
his army together, telling them, " That though it was requisite
that there should always be 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." This charge
was first proffered to the duke of Burgundy, then to the earl
of Ennevers, and to the earl of St. 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 4OOO pilgrims, all the remains
of that huge army.
After this, earl Remund, of Thoulouse,
went to the French king, for his letters of commendation to
the pope, to be by him fully cleared from the death of friar
Peter; and the pope thereupon received him courteously, gave
him full absolution, and declared him sufficiently justified.
Shortly
after, the earl of Beziers died in prison, and earl Simon was
put into possession of his lands; where-- upon all that bordered
upon him began to fear him; for 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 viscounty 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 keep themselves in their garrisons,
when he was weak, by the departure of his pilgrims, they might
set upon him, and reduce him to reason." These messages
gave such encouragement to the gentry, that earl Simon being
gone to Montpelier, they took arms to shake off his yoke, besieging
some of his soldiers in a tower near 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 Cabaret, making his approach thereto
as secretly as he could. Captain Roger, commanding
therein for earl Remund,
was come forth with eighty horse to forage. Boucard, on a sudden,
charged him; but Roger doubled the charge, in so furious a manner,
that he overcame Boucard's party,
and brought him prisoner into
that castle that he came to surprise.
Gerrard, of Pepios, took part with
the Albigenses, so that the war grew hot: and 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 throughout 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 forty towns and castles; and whilst
he waited for these new succors, he surprised the castle of
Beron, where he pulled out the eyes of above one hundred Albigenses,
and cut off their noses, leaving only one with one eye to guard
the rest to Cabaret.
In the year 121O, earl Simon, being
shut up in Carcasson, for want of soldiers, heard that his
wife wa& coming from France, with many pilgrims; whereupon
he went out to meet her. These pilgrims he employed 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 situated in Narbonne* One argument which earl Simon used
to stir up his soldiers to fight manfully against it was, "
For that (said he,) there has been no mass sung in it since
the year 118O, which is now thirty years." Upon the surrender
of the castle, they labored to draw this noble lord to recant
his religion, and turn papist; but finding him immovable, they
shut him up in a close prison, where shortly after he died.
They also took his wife, sister, and daughter, who was a maid,
and other noblewomen, whom they labored to withdraw from the
truth, both by flattery and frowns, by fair speeches and threats;
but when they saw that nothing would prevail, they made a huge
fire, and casting them into the same, burnt them. After his
taking the castle, he caused a friar 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 labor but in vain; for neither
life nor death shall make us abandon our belief." Then
the earl and legate caused a great fire to be made, and cast
into it 18O men and women, who went in with joy, giving God
thanks for that he was pleased so to honor them as to grant
them to die for his name's sake. They also told earl Simon,
" That he would one day pay dear for his cruelties."
All that saw their valor and constancy were much amazed.
After this, the earl besieged 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, quitted the place by night, and passed away
undiscovered. The castle de la Vaur was also besieged, in which
there were many godly people. Many pilgrims came thither to
the legate from all countries; and, amongst others, 6OOO Germans;
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 months
siege, the castle of Vaur was taken by assault, where all the
soldiers were put to the sword, save eighty gentlemen, whom
earl Simon caused to be hanged; and the lord Aimeri on a gibbet
higher than all the rest: the lady, his sister, called Girauda,
was cast into a ditch, and these covered with stones. As for
the rest of the people, a very great fire was made, and they
were put to their choice, " Whether they would forsake
their opinions, or perish by the flames?" There were scarce
any of them found that would do the first; but exhorting one
another, they were cast into the fire, where joyfully they resigned
up their spirits unto God.
After the return of earl Remund from
the pope, the legate still thought to enlrap him, but the earl
would not come again within his reach. Then the legate sent
the bishop of Thoulouse to him, who, pretending great love and
friendship, by his subtilty at last prevailed with him to proffer
his strong castle of Narbonne to them to lodge in, as they passed
that way. But as soon as the legate and his company were entered,
they seized upon it, and put a garrison into it; which was a
continual vexation to all his subjects. The legate still resolved
upon the utter extirpation of earl Remund, and all his house,
as the head of the Abigenses; but presently after, this legate
dying, earl Simon was frustrated of this hope.
About this time, the English, who now possessed Guienne,
which borders upon the earldom of Thoulouse, began to help the
Albigenses, being stirred up thereto by Reynard Lollard, a godly
and learned man; who by his powerful preaching, converted many
to the truth, and defended the faith of the Albigenses; for
which they were eagerly pursued, and constantly suffered martyrdom.
And this they did the rather, not only for their neighborhood's
sake, but because this Remund, earl of Thoulouse, whom they
so cruelly whipped, and had now excommunicated, was brother-in-law
to king John; for his former wife was Joan, some time queen
of Sicily;which Joan was king John's sister, and bore to the
earl of Thoulouse, Remund, who succeeded his father both in
the earldom and in his trouble. John le Mayer much commends
this Lollard, saying, "That he foretold many things by
Divine revelation, which (says he,) came to pass in my time:"
and therefore he puts him into the rank of holy prophets. And
for his learning, it is evident by his Comment upon the Revelation,
where he set 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 Colen.
In the year 1211, a new legate, called
Theodosius, was appointed to succeed, who excommunicated earl
Remund. The bishop of Thoulouse thereupon sent the earl word,
" That he must depart out of the city; for that he could
not say mass whilst an excommunicated person was in the city."
The earl returned this answer, " 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 cathedral church, with the cross,
banner, and host, and went all of them bare-footed in procession.
Coming thus to the legate's army, they were received as persecuted
martyrs, with the tears of the pilgrims, and general applause
of all. Hereupon the legate thought that he had sufficient 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
fair, flattering letters he at last drew him once again to
Aries. The earl had requested the king of ArraGod to meet him
there. When they were both come, the legate commanded them,
upon pain of his high indignation, that they should not depart
but with his leave. Whilst they were there, the earl was privately
showed, by a friend, the articles of the legate, to. which he
would enforce him to subscribe; which were these,
1: That the earl of Thoulouse should
presently dismiss all his men at arms.
2. That he should be obedient to the
church, and' repair all the costs and damages which the church
has been at.
3. That he should expel out of his
territories all the heretics and their allies.
4: That he should deliver into the hands of the legate,
and of earl Simon, all those persons that should be named unto
him. 5: That all his castles of defense should be
razed to the ground. 6: That no gentlemen of his should live
in any city or castle, but in country houses, or villages only.
7: That every master of a family should pay yearly four Thoulousian
pence to the legate. 8: That when earl Simon should pass through
his countries, he should bear their charges. 9: That after his
performance of these things, he should go into the Holy Land,
to fight against the Turk, and never return again into his own
country, but by the leave of the pope, or his legate.
Remund having read these articles, showed them to the
king, who advised him presently to mount on horseback, lest,
seizing upon him, they might the better become masters of all
his' estate, which accordingly he did. The legate wa
