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 was much1 troubled that he had lost his prey, and despairing to do any thing more by subtilty, he resolved to set upon him by force; and thereupon he besieged the castle of Mont-ferrand, where Baldwin, the brother of the earl of Thoulouse, was governor. Baldwin, pretending inability to defend the place, yielded it up, and, abjuring his opinions, turned papist.

 

 The earl of Thoulouse, seeing himself thus betrayed by his brother, lamented exceedingly; but a greater mischief soon after befel him; for the legate and earl Simon won from him, by their subtilty, the king of Arragon, his only prop, under God. And by this means they agreed, That the king of Arragon's daughter should be married to earl Simon's eldest son; in consideration whereof, the king of ArraGod invested Simon in the earldom of Beziers; and now they intended jointly to besiege Thoulouse. For which end, the bishop of Thoulouse was sent to levy soldiers in France, and at his return hasted to Thoulouse. Which earl Remund hearing of, sallied out of the city with 5OO horse, and some foot, and marched to the brjdge which goes over the river Garonne, aot far from Thoulause, hoping either to gain it, or to break it down; but being overpowered by multitudes, be was forced to make a retreat, and the enemy pursued him to the very gates of Thoulouse. Earl Remund, seeing their insolence, sallied out again with a greater strength, and charged them so gallantly, that he beat them back to the bridge; which being but narrow, he slew almost all of them there; and took Aimery, the son of earl Simon, prisoner. Earl Simon hearing of this loss, hastened with all his army to the city, and gave a furious assault to it; but the ditches were soon filled with the dead bodies of the enemy, beaten from off their scaling-ladders; and the earl himself was beat from off his horse. In the midst of this assault came the earl of Champaign, soon •enough to be well beaten for his welcome. Earl Simon, finding such stout resistance from the citizens, caused his vpilgrims to spoil the orchards, gardens, and vineyards about the city; which being perceived, the president of Argeves issued out of the city suddenly, and slew a great number of the pilgrims; and on another part, the earl of Foix slew as many as he could meet with. The earl of Bar, seeing the disorder of the popish army, cried out, *' A Bar! a Bar!" but the citizens of Thoulouse charged him so bravely, that, being discomfited, he was fain to flee amongst the rest. After this victory, earl Remund}.returning to Thoulouse, caused.public thanks to be returned unto God for the same.

 

 Earl Simon, after this, led his army into the country of the earl of Foix, who was now.sick, where he took' some towns. The legate, with another part of the army, went to Roquemaur, and in his way took the tower of Cassus, caused above 1OO men, that were found therein, to be -barnt alive, and levelled the tower to the earth.

 

Earl Remund, being much afflicted for the loss of his ancient friend, the king of Arragon, studied how he might regain him; and for that end propounded a match between his only son and the king of Arragon's daughter; which motion the king readily embraced; and so their amity was revived.

 

 Not long after, the king of ArraGod sent a letter of defiance to earl Simon, who sent the same all over CHRISTendom, to stir up pilgrims to assist him for the destruction of the king, who (as he said) was now become the captain of the Albigenses. And in the mean time the pope's legate, raising an army in France, went speedily into the earldom of Foix, and took some towns, putting all to the sword, without distinction of sex or age; and taking also St. Anthony's, he caused thirty of the principal men to be hanged, after he had granted them their lives.

 

 In the year 1213, Peter, king of Arragon, with a great army besieged Muret, a strong town, situate upon the river Garonne, near Thoulouse; there were in his army the earls of Thoulouse, Comminges, and Foix. The night following, the popish bishops sent two friars to him, desiring him to take pity on the church, and not to undertake the defense of the heretics; but they labored in vain, for the king would not desert them j whereupon they prepared the next day to give him battle, and whilst Simon Montfort was encouraging his soldiers, the bishop of Thoulouse carried a crucifix in his hand, whereupon the captains alighting, adored it. Then the bishop of Comminges, getting upon a high place, took the cross in his hand, and blessed the army, promising forgiveness of all sins to all that died in that quarrel. Hereupon Simon divided his army into three battalias, and so joining battle, they fought gallantly on both sides, till the king of ArraGod was slain, and some thousands of his army. The Albigenses attributed this loss to God's judgment upon the human confidence of the king, who trusted too much in his great munbeis, and was feasting, whilst his enemies were plotting. After this victory, the pope's agents sent their letters into divers countries, for a new supply of pilgrims, utterly to root out the heretics.

 

 Earl Simon was now so puffed up, that he summoned the earls of Thoulouse, Foix, Comminges, and the prince of Bern, to deliver to him the keys of those cities and castles which they possessed. They returned no answer, but each of them betook himself to his own territories, to provide the best they could for their affairs. Earl Remund retired to Montallon, and wrote to them at Thoulouse, that, understanding the bishop of Arras was coming with an army against them, and that he was altogether disabled to defend their eity, he advised them, that they should make the best terms they could. In the interim, the earls of Foix, Comminges, and the prince of Bern did what they could to infest the enemy's armies. Upon the former advice, the citizens of Thoulouse sent some deputies to earl Simon, to proffer him the keys of their city, whom he received honorably, and presently wrote to Lewis, son of king Philip, that the city of Thoulouse was offered to him; but his desire was, that he should x come and have the honor of taking it: the prince went thither immediately, and had Thoulouse delivered to him. Yet the legate resolved that the pillage of it should be given to his pilgrims, and the city dismantled, which was presently executed, though contrary to the promise made to the citizens.

 

 Then earl Simon besieged the castle of Foix, but having lain ten days before it, he found to his cost, that the place was not to be won by him: for whereas earl Simon's brother quartered at Varilles, the earl of Foix dislodged him, and slew him with his lance, putting all his men to flight. News hereof being brought to earl Simon, he swore that he would drive the earl of Foix behind the Pyrenean mountains. But presently he had intelligence, that an army of the Arragonois and Catalunians were come into the earldom of Beziers, threatening to be revenged on him for the death of their good king; whereupon he raised his siege in haste, and marched thitherwards. But the earl of Foix, who knew the passages better than he, lay in ambush for him in a place fit for his turn, and suddenly setting upon his pilgrims, slew a great number of them; only earl Simon, with a few others, escaped, and went to Carcasson; but before he came thither, the Arragonois were gone, else they might easily have discomfited him. Yet shortly after they returned again, and earl Simon was soundly beaten by them, so that he was forced to shut himself up in Carcasson, till he had a new supply of pilgrims.

 

 Shortly after came Remund, son of earl Remund, out of England, (where he had been bred under his uncle king John) with an army, and quickly made himself master of the city of Beaucaire, and almost famished them that held the castle, so that they yielded it to depart with their baggage. There earl Simon lost 1OO gentlemen, that he had placed in ambush near the city, whom young Remund in a sally cut to pieces.

 

 In the year 1214, the legate called a council at Mont-pelier, for renewing of the army of the church, and to confirm the authority of earl Simon; where they declared him to be prince of all the countries conquered from the Albigenses; which title was confirmed to him by the pope also; who styled him, " The active and dexterous soldier of JESUS CHRIST, and the invincible defender of the catholic faith." But whilst earl Simon was in the council receiving this new honor, a rumour was heard in the city, and a messenger brought word that the people, hearing earl Simon was there, betook themselves to their arms, purposing to kill him; whereupon he stole away by the walls of the city on foot, without any company, and so escaped; so that in one hour he saw himself honored as a GOD, and fleeing, disguised, for fear of the multitude.

 

 In 1215, there was a council held by the pope at Lateran, where they gave the inquisitors such power against the gospellers, that poor people were every where horribly tortured, that were but suspected of heresy. Friar Conrade, of Marpurg, the pope's inquisitor, if he but suspected any of heresy, used to try them by the judgment of red hot irons; and such as were burned by the irons, he delivered as heretics to the secular power, to be burnt in the flames; whereupon most of those that were accused, were by him condemned to be burnt, few escaping the hot irons: insomuch, as noble, ignoble, clerks, monks, nuns, burgesses, citizens, and countrymen, were, under the name of heresy, (by too headlong a sentence of the inquisitor,) on the same day whereon they were accused, cast into the flames, no appeal or defense doing them any good.

 

 By the same council, earl Simon had the fore-mentioned lands of the Albigenses confirmed to him, and thereupon he hastened to the king of France, to receive investiture. When he had received it, being attended with 1OO bishops, and an exceeding great army of pilgrims, he hastened to make himself lord of all those countries which the pope gave him. So that all men trembled at his approach, and with this great army he took divers places, using great cruelty, putting men, women, and children to the sword. Then he marched to Thoulouse, purposing to pillage and raze it to the ground: but by the way, his wife sent him word, that he must speedily come to her relief, being besieged in the castle of Narbonne, by the earl of Thoulouse. By this time many of his pilgrims were returned to France.

 

 Earl Simon hastening to the relief of his wife, and being come before Thoulouse, the people, by frequent sallies, made that place too hot for his abode. The legate, perceiving that he was much astonished at it, said to him, " Fear nothing, we shall quickly recover the city, and then we will destroy all the inhabitants; and if any of our pilgrims are slain in fight, they shall, as martyrs, immediately pass to paradise." Hereupon, one of earl Simon's great captains said, " Monsieur Cardinal, you talk with great assurance, but if the earl believe you, it will be little for his profit; for you, and other prelates, have been the causers of all this evil, and will be of more, if he believe you." Then it was resolved, that the city should be besieged on the side of Gascoign; but the citizens made such a blunt sally, that they put their enemies to flight; and presently the earl of Foix coming with new supplies, fell upon earl Simon, chased him to the river Garonne, where many of his pilgrims were drowned, and the earl, with his horse, fell into the river, and narrowly escaped. The earl Remund caused public thanksgiving to be given to God for this happy victory.

 

 In the year 1218, there came to earl Simon, J OO,OOO pilgrims, and he was resolved that they should earn their pardons, knowing that at the end of forty days they would vanish. Whereupon the next morning they were ordered to give a general assault to Thoulouse. But earl Remund perceiving in the night that they were secure, because of their great multitude, he sallied out upon them, and that with such good success, that ere morning, all the field was covered with their dead bodies, and the earl with his men being weary with killing, returned into the city to give thanks unto God for his assistance. Then earl Simon entered into the castle of Narbonne, to' see if he could discern any way to enter into the city; but finding none, it much troubled him: whereupon two lords gave him counsel to come to some honorable agreement. But the cardinal Bertrand told him, there was no need for him so to do. To whom one of them answered, " Monsieur Cardinal, pray you, where find you that you should take from earl Remund, and his son, that which belongs unto them If I had known as much as I know now, I had never taken upon me this business."

 

 After nine months' siege, the citizens of Thoulouse made another sally, killing as many soldiers as they encountered with; and earl Simon coming in to the relief of his men, had his horse shot in the head with an arrow, which caused him to run away with him; which one of the Albigenses seeing, he shot him through his thigh with his cross-bow. Simon, perceiving he lost much blood, was laboring to get out of the throng, but just at that present, a woman discharging an engine from the walls of Thoulouse, a stone parted his head from his shoulders; and thus, by God's just judgment, he that had been the deflourer and murderer Of many women, was himself slain by a woman. Upon his death, the legate and all the bishops fled, never staying till they came to Car-casson; the pilgrims disbanded, and returned to their homes; and earl Remund caused a public thanksgiving to be returned to Almighty God for this so signal a deliverance.

 

 The legate Bertrand, being weary of these Avars, wrote to pope Honorius 3: desiring to be recalled, because of his age; yet withal he signified a necessity of continuing these wars. Otherwise, (says he,) not only the lands of the Albigenses will be lost, but the church of Rome itself will be ruined, the doctrine of the Albigenses shaking the authority of the popes themselves: and (says he,) this war has cost us very dear; for within less than fifteen years, there have died 3OO,OOO crossed soldiers; and therefore all will be lost, except those heretics be utterly destroyed.

 

 In the year 122O, earl Guido, of Montfort, son and heir to earl Simon, went against the Albigenses, but was soon after slain by the earl of St. Giles, as he besieged a castle in Thoulouse. Then his brother Almerick besieged the same castle, and swore, that he would never depart from it till he had taken it: but after a while, his hoped-for aids failing him, he was forced to leave the siege, and depart. After whose departure, the Albigenses recovered many places.

 

 In the year 1221, the young emperor Frederick, by the instigation of the pope, published a bloody edict against the gospellers within his dominions, wherein he declared them public enemies; commanding their goods to be confiscated, without redemption, and their sons to be disinherited: as also, that all of them that were apprehended should be kept in prison, till they were killed with an abominable death. The like punishment he commanded to be inflicted on all such as should aid or assist them. He slso took away all benefit of appeal from such as were receivers or favorers of them. And further, he commanded that their houses, and the houses of such as should receive, defend, or favor them, either where they have taught, or where they have laid on hands, should be plucked down, and never more repaired.

 

The same year some of these Albigenses going into Bosnia and Dalmatia, drew many of the people to embrace their faith; whereupon the bishop of Cologn was sent thither by pope Honorius, as his legate, and required to force them to return to the catholic faith; but he being weary of the work, left it to the Friars Predicant. The king assisting them, they burnt with fires those that were obstinate in their heresies.

 

 In 1223, Bartholomew, the bishop of the Albigenses of Thoulouse, ordained a bishop for Bulgary, Croatia, and Dalmatia, where their faith spread so fast, that bishops themselves were drawn to be of their opinion. Whereupon the pope's legate wrote to the archbishop of Roan, to meet with other bishops at a council at Sens, against the said Bartholomew.

 

 In 1226, the legate commanded all that were able to bear arms to sign themselves with the sign of the cross, against the earl of Thoulouse and his people. At his preaching, a great multitude of prelates and laymen took upon them the sign of the cross, yet more for fear of the king of France, than induced by the justness of the cause. But the king of France being signed with the cross, would not take upon him the expedition, unless the pope would forbid the king of England to move war against him; which the pope accordingly did. King Henry 3: of England, upon receipt of the pope's letters, assembled his nobles to consult with them what he should do: at which time there was one Mr. William Pierpoint, who constantly affirmed before the king, " That if the king of France took upon him this expedition, he should either never return alive, or else should meet with as great confusion as might be, both of his person, estate, and followers."

 

 The king of France, having settled his affairs at homey together with the legate, appointed a day for the crossed soldiers to come to a rendezvous, with their horses and arms at Lyons, from whence, at the time appointed, he began his expedition with an huge army, which was accounted invincible. In the army there were reckoned 5O,OOO knights, and men at arms on horseback, besides an innumerable company of footmen. Then the legate puHiekly excommunicated the earl of Thoulouse, putting all his favorers and lands under interdict. The king, with his glittering and terrible arms, on Whitsun-Eve, came to Avignon, the first city in Thoulouse, purposing to destroy the whole land of the earl, from one end to • the other, and utterly to root out the inhabitants thereof j yet very cunningly the king and the legate sent to the citizens, only desiring passage through the city. The citizens consulting together, returned answer, that they suspected fraud, neither would they admit them into the city; whereupon the king, in a great rage, swore, that he would not depart thence till he had taken it.

 

 The citizens valiantly defended themselves, so that the siege lasted long. The earl of Thoulouse, before the coming of the French army, had withdrawn all kind of victuals, together with the women, children, and cattle, into places of safety: hereupon the king's army fell into great wants, so that multitudes perished by famine. Their horses and beasts were also starved; for the earl had caused all the meadows in the whole country to be ploughed up, so that they had no fodder, but what was brought out of France: and their wants daily increasing, many legions went out of the king's camp to seek for food; but the earl of Thoulouse, with a flying army, lay in ambush many times for them, and cut off multitudes of them. They also that lay in the siege before the city, were miserably wasted by darts, and stones shot in engines from the walls by the citizens, and a general famine overspread all. The king and legate were confounded, "to think what reproach it would be to them, and to the church of Rome, that so gallant and numerous an army should undertake such an expedition, and be able to effect nothing-. Then the chief princes and captains, being treary of the long siege, solicited that a general storm might be given, hoping by their multitudes to oppress the citizens; which being resolved upon, such a multitude of armed men thronged upon the bridge that goes over the river Rhone, that the bridge breaking under them, 3OOO of them were drowned. Presently after, as the French were one day at dinner, the citizens, discovering their carelessness, sallied forth, and violently setting upon them, slew 1O,OOO, without any loss to themselves. The king of France commanded the dead bodies to be thrown into the river, affording them no other burial.

 

 Then he removed his siege to a farther distance, and to prevent the like attempts, caused a ditch to be cast up between the city and his camp; and the legate, with his prelates, not knowing how otherwise to revenge themselves, anathematized the earl of Thoulouse, and all his subjects: but, whom they cursed, the Lord blessed.-for shortly after, he sent a very great plague into the French camp, so that king Lewis, to escape the same, retired himself into the neighboring abbey of Mont-pensier, where he resolved to remain till the city should be taken. Unto whom came Henry, earl of Champaign, desiring to be dismissed, having now served forty days; but the king denied his request. To whom the earl said, "That having performed what he enjoined, he neither might nor would be stayed any longer." The king, being very angry hereat, swore, that if he departed, he would waste his whole land with fire and sword; yet the earl, according to his former resolution, went his ways; and shortly after the Lord struck the king with sickness, whereof he died. The legate and great captains concealed his death for a month together; and in the interim sent messengers, laboring to draw the citizens to a composition; and commissioners being sent to the camp, the legate persuaded them to resign up their city to him,.upon promise, that they should enjoy their lives, estates, and liberties, in a better manner than they had formerly. But they answered, that they would not live under the power of the Frenchmen, whose pride and insolence they had often tried. After a long parley, the legate desired,.that himself and the prelates might be admitted into the city, swearing with a great oath, that he had continued the siege so long, only that he might seek the salvation of their souls. The citizens giving credit to his promise, not suspecting his treachery, after mutual oaths given on either side, admitted him with the prelates and their followers, into the city: but contrary to their oaths, the Frenchmen followed, violently rushing into the city, when the, gates were open, and, seizing upon the citizens, they bound them, plundered their houses, and slew many; and having thus by treachery made themselves masters of the city, they brake down the walls. During this siege, there perished more than 22,OOO of the pilgrims, by famine, sword, pestilence, and other ways; and so the rest returned to their own homes.

 

 In 1228, pope Gregory, being implacably bent to root out the Albigenses, stirred up the young king of France against them; who sent a great army into Provence, utterly to destroy them; which army, hearing that the earl of Thoulouse was in the castle called Saracen, purposed to besiege him, as being there shut up. But the earl having notice of their intent, lay in ambush in a wood, through which they were to pass; and when they were come to the place, he assaulted them, and after a bloody fight, slew many, took 2OO knights, and about 2OOO men at arms. That summer the king of France sent three armies against them, all which were either put to flight, or taken and imprisoned by the said earl.

 

 Yet the same year, Imbert, of Beavim, went against them with a great army of crossed soldiers, amongst whom were three archbishops, every one with the pilgrims of his jurisdiction. The earl of Thoulouse was feign to shut himself within the walls of Thoulouse, where he was strongly besieged by the pilgrims, who also wasted and spoiled his country and harvest, far and near on every side. The siege continuing, the citizens suffered great famine; and when they were brought to this extremity, the abbot of Grandsylve went from the pope's legate, to offer peace to earl Remund, and the Thou-lousians. Some of the earl's captains dissuaded him from it, knowing the perfidiousness of the papists; but the cries of the hungry multitude prevailed, so that a truce was agreed upon for certain days; and earl Remund, upon the day appointed, went to the place, where the peace was to be concluded. But when he came thither, the abbot persuaded him, that it was necessary the agreement should be perfected in the presence of the queen-mother, who was regent of France; and pawned his faith to him, that if he would go to her, he should return in safety. The earl, overcome by these promises, assented; and Meaux was the place chosen by the queen for their meeting. But as soon as earl Remund came thither, contraiy to all oaths and engagements, he was made a prisoner, and had a guard set upon him, that he might not start aside j and instead of a treaty, he must submit to whatever should be enjoined.

 

In 1229, divers councils were held against the Albi-genses: one at Thoulouse, the acts whereof were proclaimed in that city by Romanus, the pope's legate: another at Narbonne, where more cruel decrees were made against them: a third at Beziers, exceeding in rigor both the former; and amongst the rest an oath of abjuration, whereby all persons, males at fourteen years old, females at twelve years old, were to abjure all heresy, as they called it, and to swear that they would keep the faith, and defend the catholic church, and persecute all the opposers of the same; and that all that took not this oath within 15 days, should be held suspected of heresy, and proceeded against accordingly.

 

 In 1232, queen Blanche, and the pope's legate, so over-awed the earl of Thoulouse, that they caused him to make cruel edicts against his own subjects of the Albi-gensian religion: " That they should be persecuted, searched out, and taken: That whosoever could apprehend any one of them, should have a mark for each of them so taken: That all that were suspected to be of their religion should be excluded from bearing office: That all houses should be pulled down, wherein any of them should be found: That all their goods and inheritances should be confiscated: That the like should be done to all that should aid or abet them, or that should hinder, or not assist the inquisitors in the execution of their office: That whosoever should be suspected of’ their heresy, should have an oath given him to keep the peace, and the catholic faith."

 

 The earl of Poix and Comminges, and the prince of Bern, yet remained to be conquered; and the pope's legate thought that the earl of Thoulouse was the fittest person to deal with them: whereupon he caused him to write to them, to persuade them to embrace the catholic-faith. But the earl of Foix returned answer, " That he could not forsake his faith at such a time, wherein men might think that he did it rather out of fear,’than upon any good grounds; and that it was fitter for them to convince him of the truth of their way, than to allure him by promises, or force him thereto by arms: and, that if they brought that world of pilgrims against him, which they threatened, he trusted in GOD, that he should make them know the justice of his cause, and make them repent the rashness of their vow." But the earl's subjects, fearing that their lord, being aged, and without wife and children, should leave them to the mercy of the first conqueror, intreated him to come to a composition with the legate; whereupon he began to treat, and at last yielded up divers castles into the hands of the king of France, upon promise that he would rule with justice and equity.

 

 In 1234, the opinions of the Albigenses were much spread abroad in divers parts of Spain, and other adjacent countries; and they had bishops among them who boldly preached against the Romish errors, and especially against transubstantiation: whereupon a croisado was preached against them; and a very great army of pilgrims, being" assembled together, were sent against them by pope Gregory, who slew them all, with their bishops, seized on their cities, and plundered them. About the same time, another army of these pilgrims went against others of them on the borders of Germany, who retiring into a fenny place for their security, were there all slain.

 

The same year the Lord raised up Trancavel, the natural son of the earl of Beziers, deceased; who was encouraged and assisted by a number of valiant captains, who told him, that they would assist him to revenge the outrages done to his father, who was basely deprived of his land, being betrayed, imprisoned, and at last poisoned. Whereupon he resolved to recover by the sword, what was so unjustly taken from him; and before the enemies had notice of his design, he took divers strong castles; so that the pope's legate, and the bishop of Thoulouse, were much astonished to see these men stand up for the Albigenses, whom they supposed to have been utterly suppressed. Then the pope's agents caused the cross to be preached; and the bishop of Narbonne animated the people of his diocese to go against them, and to make an end of the poor remainder of the Albigenses.

 

 An army being reused, the pope's legate led it to Thoulouse, and when the citizens appeared upon their ramparts, he told them, "That he was come thither for their preservation." They thanked him, but withal told him, " That if he did not instantly retire himself, they would give him the chase." And presently came Trancavel, who so valiantly set upon the legate's troops, that he quickly overthrew them, and chased them to the very gates of Carcasson; and the legate had much ado to save himself: but that which most angered the legate, was, that Trancavel found entertainment in some part of Carcasson: so that the pilgrims durst hardly peep out of the city gates. And when he heard of any more pilgrims coming to the legate, he used to meet them, and to lay in ambush for them; and often overthrowing them, their designs were frustrated. This man kept the field till 1242, and still prevailed against all the crossed soldiers that came against him; whereupon Ameline, the pope's legate, wrote to the pope, that if he caused not the cross to be preached in many parts of Europe, the church was like to sustain much damage by this enemy: " For (says he,) he is more cruel and subtle than any before him."

 

 But a little before, the bishop of Thoulouse was informed of a certain matron, who having her children, brethren, and friends about her, was dying an heretic; whereupon he ran to her, and found it even so by the confession of the woman herself; who desired to die in the faith of the Albigenses, and doubted not to be saved. Then the bishop condemned her, and delivered her to the secular power, who presently carried her forth in the bed wherein she lay, and burnt her.

 

 In the year 1236, many embracing the faith of the Albigenses, beyond the Alps, inquisitors were sent against them, especially one friar Robert, who caused many of both sexes to be apprehended; and when they continued constant in the true faith, and would not renounce the same, in the space of two or three months, he caused fifty of them either to be burnt or buried alive.

 

 In 1239, the king of France having garrisoned divers castles within- the country of the Albigenses, which greatly oppressed them, they betook themselves to arms, besieging those garrisons; whereupon they sent to the king of France, craving that present aid might be sent them,. Then the king of France sent the lord John, of Belle-mont, with an arnfy to aid them; who, coming into that country, besieged the strong castle of Montreal, and at last took it, with divers others, belonging to the Albigenses; whereby they were suppressed for that time. But the year after, the earl of Thoulouse took arms again, and assaulted the earl of Provence, who presently sent to the French king for aid; and the French troops that were about Avignon, hastened to the relief of the earl of Provence. Which the earl of Thoulouse hearing of, he lay in ambush in their way, and suddenly setting upon them, slew many, and dispersed the rest; and the war so prospered in his hand, that in a short space he recovered to his former dominion above twenty castles from the French, and the earl of Provence, and sharply punished his rebels.

 

 About the same time, the citizens of Milan being provoked thereunto by the pope and emperor, burnt many of the Albigenses, who were their fellow citizens.

 

 In 1241, the earl of Thoulouse continuing his wars against the earl of Provence, almost beat him out of his country; so that the earl of Provence was obliged to send to the kings of England and France, (who had married two of his daughters,) to mediate for him; and they, writing to the earl of Thoulouse, obtained peace for their father-in-law.

 

 In 1242, the bishops of Narbonne and Albium, and the steward of Carcasson, apprehended 2OO of the Albigenses, in a certain castle of Thoulouse. All these, upon examination, adhering constantly to the true faith, without wavering, were cruelly burnt in the flames. And in the year following, there were 224 more of them likewise burnt. Shortly after, it pleased God that great contentions arose between the pope and the emperor, whereby the gospellers enjoyed some breathing time from their former miseries. But in 127O, Peter Cadarita and William Calonicus, were sent as inquisitors from the pope, into the kingdom of Arragon, severely to punish those that had embraced the faith of the Albigenses; and amongst others they condemned Arnaldus Castlebonius, the viscount, and his daughter Brmesenda, countess of Foix. They also decreed their memory to be detestable, commanding their bones to he digged out of their graves, and Jto be burned: they also called Roger, nephew of Ermesenda, into judgment for the same crime.

 

 In 1281, there was a great persecution raised against the gospellers in the county of Albi, by one William de Gourdon, captain and president of Carcasson, under Philip, the French king; who, by a proclamation, commanded all the Albigenses to be extirpated, and driven out of their dens and lurking-holes; and all such as favored, or concealed any of them, to be utterly rooted out: as also, that the innumerable multitude of their children, which would not be reduced to the catholic faith, and unity of the church of Rome, should not be admitted into the city of Realmont, or the territory thereof, nor to any honor or office. That such, likewise, as favored or concealed any of them, should be banished for ever from the city of Realmont, their goods confiscated, and their children excluded from all honors and dignities. Yet, notwithstanding the severity of this edict, God hid and preserved many of them, even in Realmont itself, though many of them fled into Arragon and Sicily, where they might enjoy more freedom of conscience.

 

 In 1285, Gareldus and Segarellus, of Parma, preached and spread the doctrine of the Albigenses in Parma, and in many cities of Lombardy; whereupon pope Honorius, by a public edict, condemned their doctrine, and commanded them to be rooted out.

 

 In 1315, the friars inquisitors raised a great persecution against the gospellers in Passau, in Austria, and burnt many of them; who continued constant in the faith, and took their death very cheerfully. Amongst the rest, one of them that were burnt at Vienna confessed, that there were 8O,OOO of them in Bohemia and Austria at that time. Their chief ministers were, Bartholomew Faustus, James Justus, Bonnatus, William, and Gilbert; one of whom, James, was murdered between two walls the merciless inquisitors; Bennatus was burnt alive; Or William, Gilbert, and Bartholomew, were condemned after their death. The house where they used to preach was pulled to the ground, and all that adhered to them were anathematized.

 

 In 1322, Walter Lollard (from whom our English professors were called Lollards) was taken at Collen, where he had privately preached, and through God's blessing, drawn many from ignorance and errors, -to embrace the truth, and persisting in his opinions, was condemned and burnt alive.

 

Yet notwithstanding all the cruelties used against the professors of the truth, their enemies could never prevail to a total extirpation of them, but they still lay hid like sparks under the ashes, desiring and longing to see that, which now, through God's grace, their posterity do enjoy, viz. The liberty to call upon God in purity of conscience, without being forced to any superstition or idolatry. And so they instructing their children in the service of GOD, the Lord was pleased to preserve a church amongst them, till the dispersing of the gospel in a more general way, by the ministry of Luther and his fellow-laborers. At which time the Albigenses received with greediness the doctrine of the gospel, and so became more eminent in their profession of piety, than they were formerly.