Part 72

The words of his account are as follows: “A. D. 1242, the Waldenses had to suffer much from popery, on account of their faith and religion. At this time, about two hundred persons, together with two of their preachers, were apprehended in the bishopric of Toulouse, by the bishop of Narbonne and Albi, and the Seneschal of Carcassonne, and were all burnt alive, continuing steadfastly in their religion.” In the _13th book_ of his _Chronicle, p. 557, col. 1_, from _Henr. Boxhorn, fol. 25_.

SEVERE INQUISITION OF BELIEVERS IN THE COUNTRY AROUND TOULOUSE, A. D. 1251.

At this time there was as yet no abatement of the constraint of conscience exercised over the faith of the orthodox Christians, who had fled from Babylon, and, for the sake of the welfare of their souls, could no longer trust themselves in Romish Egypt. This appeared from the new inquisition, which, by order of the Pope, through appointed inquisitors, suffered the minds of the true believers to have no rest, until they left the Roman territories, or made an oral disavowal, or, remaining steadfast, exchanged their life for a violent death.

Regarding this most wicked and unjust inquisition, I have found the following account:

“In the year 1251, the Pope appointed, or sent, inquisitors to Toulouse, from the orders of the Dominicans and Franciscans, who exercised an inhuman tyranny over the Christians there. The same thing was done at Worms, by Conrad Dorfo and his disciple John, also Dominicans and inquisitors; who, condemning there many innocent men to the fire, were therefore themselves, ultimately, as by the hand of God brought to a very lamentable, though just death.” _Bal. Cent. 4, in Append., ad Richard. Wich., p. 301_, compared with _A. Mell., fol. 470, col. 1_.

CONTINUATION OF THE PRECEDING INQUISITION IN THE YEAR 1252.

That the aforesaid inquisition or examination of the faith did not end with the close of the previous year, but continued also in the succeeding time, is so manifest that proof is almost unnecessary; still, it experienced a brief cessation, caused through the sudden and unexpected death of Peter of Verona, who administered at that time the office of inquisitor.

Concerning this, the abovementioned author relates the following: “In the year 1252, Peter of Verona, inquisitor in Lombardy, justly perished near the city of Milan, on account of his tyranny against the Waldenses, and, twenty-four days after, was canonized, that is, placed on the register of the saints of the Roman church, by the antichrist, the Pope of Rome, Innocent IV.”

NOTE.--In the following year, namely, A. D. 1253, Robert, bishop of Lincoln, was deposed from his bishopric, by said Pope Innocent IV., because he frequently in his preaching, though with discretion, had openly reproved the avarice, ambition, arrogance, and tyranny of the Pope, yea, had expressly written him severe letters, in which he accused him of exhausting almost all England, by unusual taxes, in order to enrich his illegitimate children, nieces and nephews. When the Pope cited him to Rome, he appealed from the papal tyranny to the judgment and tribunal of Jesus Christ, whereupon the Pope soon died. Bal. Cent. 4, cap. 18, _in Roberta Grossoreste ex Annalis. Johan. Buriens. Ranulpho, Mattheo and Fabiano_, compared with _A. Mell., Hist., p. 470, col. 1_.

In the year 1258, the Jacobines and Dominicans, in the bishopric of Cambray, caused a great number of Christians, whom they had condemned as heretics, to be burned alive. _Balens Cent. 4, cap. 26, ad Matt. Paris. Append., p. 315, ex Th. Cantiprat., lib. 2, cap. 56._ Also, _A. Mell., Hist., lib. 2, p. 470, col. 2_.

In the year 1260, Pope Alexander IV. wrote letters to the inquisitors from the order of the Dominicans, in Lombardy and the margravate of Genoa, to persecute the heretics (as they were called) there. Moreover, he decreed that the inquisitors might compel, by excommunication, the secular authorities, whoever they might be, to execute, without delay, the sentence of the inquisitors against those suspected of heresy. Compare the last-mentioned author, in the place cited, with _Bzov., A. D. 1260, Art. 4, ex Decret. Epist. Alexand. 4_.

OF THE MANDATE OF POPE URBAN IV. AGAINST THE WALDENSES AND ALBIGENSES IN LOMBARDY AND AROUND GENOA, A. D. 1262.

The aforesaid distress among the believers, continued on, through the severe inquisition commenced eleven years before, namely, A. D. 1251; for, although the first inquisitors had departed this life, as by the vengeance of God, it did not remain so, since Pope Urban IV. took up the pen to issue bloody edicts against the orthodox Waldenses and Albigenses who were scattered abroad in all parts. These decrees he caused to be proclaimed to his minions, who bore the name of ecclesiastics. This is stated in the following words by an ancient papist: “In the year 1262, Pope Urban IV. made an ordinance against the heretics in Lombardy and in the margravate of Genoa, and sent a copy of it to the order of the Dominicans in said parts, to persecute the Waldenses and Albigenses, who were mostly scattered there.” _Bzov., A. D. 1262, Art. 3, ex Decr. Epist. Alex. 4. Also, A. M., Hist., fol. 470, col. 2._

Thereupon, as it appears, no small persecution arose; but as to the manner in which the same occurred, and the persons who then suffered for the faith, we have not been able to find any account, notwithstanding we have made diligent search. No doubt, it fell chiefly upon the heads of the Waldenses and Albigenses, since they were mentioned by name in the mandate of the Pope.

We deem what we have here shown sufficient for this time; hence we will leave it, without adding any more.

NOTE.--A. D. 1270, eight years afterwards, Peter Caderita and William Colonicus, Dominicans, persecuted the (so-called) heretics in the kingdom of Aragon. _Bzov., A. D. 1270, ex Surita, lib. 2. A. Mell., Hist., fol. 470, col. 2._

In the year 1280, the moon was completely changed into the color of blood; which by many was held to signify the very bloody and lamentable state of the church of God; the more so since at that time, not only a dire persecution prevailed, but also, a destructive crusade, under the sign of the cross, such as was formerly waged against the Saracens, was undertaken the following year, namely, 1281, by the papists, by order of the Pope, against the Albigenses in Spain. Compare the large book of _Christian martyrs, fol. 470, col. 2, 3_, with _Bal. Cent. 4, Append. ad Greg. de Brid. Lington., p. 446_, from _Everildenas_.

SEVERE PERSECUTION OF THE ANABAPTIST WALDENSES IN FRANCE, ABOUT A. D. 1280.

P. J. Twisck, having noticed, in the first part of his _Chronijck_, for the year 1280, the doctrine of the Waldenses, whom he calls Waldois, after their leader, Peter Waldus, finally he speaks of their persecutions, saying: “Matthias Illyricus, in his _Register_ of the witnesses of the truth, says, that he has in his possession the consultations of certain advocates of Avignon, also, of the three bishops of Narbonne, Arles, and Aix, and of the bishop of Alban, tending to the extermination of the Waldois, or Waldenses, and written three hundred years previously; from which it is evident, that at that time and before, a great number of the believers were scattered here and there throughout France.

“We can also infer from the consultations of the aforesaid archbishops, that even as their number was great, so was also the persecution against them very cruel; for at the end of this consultation it is written: ‘Who is so great a stranger in France, as to be ignorant of the damnatory sentence (thus speak these papists themselves) which has now, for a long time, been most justly used against these heretical Waldois (Waldenses); and should we doubt a matter so notorious and common, which has cost the Catholics so much money, sweat, and labor, and has been sealed with so many condemnations and executions of unbelievers (thus he calls the true believers)?’

“Hence appears,” writes Twisck, “what massacres of believers occurred at this time, and what cruelties the subjects of antichrist employed against them. ‘And it can be proven,’ says Boxhorn, ‘even from the testimony of their greatest enemies, that they declared, maintained, and testified in the midst of the fire, that they had received this their faith unaltered, from hand to hand, from the times of the apostles; and they continue even to the present time, having never been entirely exterminated.’” _P. J. Twisck, Chron., p. 606, col. 1, 2._

CONTINUATION OF THE PRECEDING PERSECUTION, A. D. 1283.

Mellinus writes that “A. D. 1283, the Waldenses had again greatly increased in France, as also in other countries throughout Christendom, notwithstanding they had been very cruelly sought out and persecuted up to this time.” In the second book of the _History of the Persecutions, fol. 470, col. 3_, from _Vignier, Hist. Eccl., A. D. 1283_.

FURTHER SPREADING OF THE AFORESAID PERSECUTION, IN WHICH THE WALDENSES WERE BURNT IN GREAT NUMBERS, A. D. 1284.

P. J. Twisck gives the following account for the year 1284: “The Waldois or Waldenses, of whom, since the year 1159, much mention is made, increased at this time more and more, in France and other countries of Christendom, notwithstanding that they were craftily sought and cruelly persecuted, and that all diligence and every means had first been employed, utterly to exterminate them; which greatly astonished certain bishops and advocates of Avignon of that time.” “They were burnt,” he writes, “in great numbers.” _Chron., fol. 611, 612_, from _Henr. Boxhorn, fol. 26_.

GERARD SAGARELLUS, BURNT IN THE CITY OF PARMA, FOR THE FAITH OF THE WALDENSIAN ANABAPTISTS, A. D. 1285.

In the year 1285, there became known, and were proclaimed heretics by the adherents of popery, Gerard Sagarellus of Parma, and Dulcinus of Novaria. Both of them were particularly accused, on account of various articles opposed to the Roman church and her superstitions, with which they were charged, of having fallen into heresy, and having borrowed their belief from the Waldenses, which, writes Abr. Mellinus, is quite presumable.

As to the articles which they confessed contrary to the belief of the Roman church, and on account of which they were called heretics, they are written in the second book of the _Hist. of the Persecutions, fol. 470, col. 3_.

Finally, as Gerard Sagarellus would not depart from, but continue steadfast in, the truth of his Savior, Jesus Christ, he was (in the same year, it is supposed) burnt alive in the city of Parma, by the blood-thirsty inquisitors. _A. Mell., p. 470, col. 3._ Also, _Bal. Cent. 4, cap. 30, in Append. ad Laurent. Angl._

Dulcinus, who, besides the charge of his true faith, was also assailed with great calumnies, was put to death in great steadfastness some years afterwards. However, of this a fuller account will be given for the year 1308.

NOTE.--Since the death of Dulcinus did not occur the year in which Sagarellus died, but long afterwards, we will reserve the account of the same for the proper time and place. Bear this in mind.

HERMAN, ANDREW AND GUILLEMETTE[181] EXHUMED AND BURNT, A. D. 1299.

[181] Wilhelmina.

A. D. 1299, the _Fratricelli_, that is, the Albi-Waldenses, who were called _Little Brothers_, were declared heretics, by Pope Boniface VIII., because their belief was contrary to the Roman church, as we have already shown. Said Pope caused these Fratricelli (or Albigenses) to be persecuted with so much violence that he not only spared not the living, but not even the dead; for he caused one Herman, who had been one of their principal teachers, to be exhumed twenty years after his death, and his bones burnt to ashes, notwithstanding the papists, who were his enemies, had, in his life time, regarded him as a holy man. Thus they did also with the dead bodies of one Andrew, and of his wife Guillemette, who were also greatly noted for their remarkable godliness.

The Fratricelli (or Albi-Waldenses) were nevertheless, though unjustly, accused of many and abominable crimes. Hence, many of the ancients presume that these slanders were invented against them for the express purpose of making them the objects of the hatred and envy of the people; since they [the slanders] were utterly antagonistic to the doctrine which they professed, and with their life. For it is recorded of them, that they called themselves true followers of the apostles, and the true church of Christ, and that they on their part reproved the corrupt morals of the prelates. There were also ascribed to them all the opinions, or articles of faith, of the Waldenses who, as already shown, also rejected infant baptism, the swearing of oaths, revenge towards enemies, the mass, and almost all the superstitions of the Roman church; hence it is probable, that they were of their persuasion and had only given themselves different names, according to the different places where they resided. In the second book of the _Hist. of the Persecutions, fol. 471, col. 2_, from _Trithem., Chron., Hirsaug., A. D. 1299_. Also, _Vignier, A. D. 1298. Hist. Eccl., ex Platina, Sabellico, Mari. Hist. Antonino Bernhardo de Lutzenb. Bal. Cent. 4, Script. Brittan. Append. 2, ad Joan Rufum, page 384_.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE HOLY BAPTISM IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY.

SUMMARY OF BAPTISM IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY.

[The beginning is of the congregations or churches of the Waldenses; concerning whom it is shown that they existed not only in this century, but long before and after, teaching that the baptism of infants is of no avail.

The seventh article of the confession of the faith of the Waldenses, touching baptism, is presented; which treats of their confessing the faith, and change of life. The belief of Dulcinus and his wife Margaret adduced, of whom the papists say, that they were exactly like the Waldenses.

For the year 1315, persons are introduced, whom the papists regarded as heretics, because they held a belief different from that of the Roman church; of which two articles are presented: 1. of baptism; 2. of the swearing of oaths; which is further explained by us. For the year 1218 there is also shown, by way of censure, the confession of the papists.

Certain pious people, called apostate Minorite friars present themselves, who are accused, by Pope John XXII., of five articles, one of which is against the swearing of oaths, and the other four against the papal church and her clergy.

Mention is made, for the years 1319, 1330, and 1365, of the Waldenses, whose confession of faith has, in preceding centuries, been shown not to militate against that of the Anabaptists; a representation of the severity with which the papists then proceeded against them.

John Wickliffe, A. D. 1370 adduces among other things, a certain article, declared to militate against infant baptism; also an article against the swearing of oaths, etc.

For the years 1372 and 1373, mention is made of certain people, who, by John Tilius, are called Turilupins, but by others are declared to have been true Waldenses.

Judicial proceedings (A. D. 1390) instituted against the Waldenses, in the countries on the Baltic Sea; with the statement that people of this profession existed in the Saxon countries full two hundred years before the time of John Huss.

Walter Brute confesses, A. D. 1392, that it is not lawful in any case, to swear, neither by the Creator, nor by the creatures. He also makes a good confession regarding baptism. This is also called the doctrine of W. Swinderby.

J. Mehrning cites a very ancient confession of faith of the Waldenses, which he has had in his own hands; in which it is declared that in the beginning of Christianity no infants were baptized.

Cursory notice of the Thessalian brethren, who agree with the so-called Mennists in all articles of religion; also, of the custom in Thessalia, of baptizing on Whitsuntide; and how Charles, Bishop of Milan, exhorted the teachers, diligently to expound the mystery of baptism to the hearers in order that the confession of the Christian name might become them.

St. Barnabas preaching the holy Gospel at Milan, baptizes in running water. Thereupon mention is made, in a note, for A. D. 1394, of certain people in Bohemia, who sided with the Anabaptists. This is the conclusion.]

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“That the church of the Waldenses,” says Jacob Mehrning, “after her origin in France and her violent persecution in that country, spread far and wide into Bohemia, Poland, Lombardy, Germany, the Netherlands, and elsewhere, and remained there from the twelfth century until the year 1545 (as is recorded in _Bibliotheca Patrum, Tom. 15, p. 300_), teaching the invalidity of infant baptism, is testified to by the histories adduced in the preceding centuries, and may be seen in _Sleidanus Comment. 16, Jac. Mehrn., Bapt. Hist., page 737_, and _H. Mont. Nietigh., page 86_.”

Continuing, J. Mehrning in said place, gives an account of the article of baptism from the confession of faith of the Waldenses, saying: “J. Paul Perrin of Lyons, in his history of the Waldenses, relates their confession, the seventh article of which is as follows: ‘We believe that in the sacrament of baptism the water is the external and visible sign of the invisible power of God, working in us the renewing of the spirit and the mortifying of our members in Christ Jesus; by which also we are received into the holy congregation of the people of God, testifying and declaring, before the same, our faith and a change of life.’” Concerning this, see also _H. Mont. Nietigh., page 86_, extracted from _Charles du Meulin’s_ book of the _Monarchy of the French, page 65_.

Who does not see that in this place the Waldenses expressly say that in baptism they testify and declare before God, their faith and change of life? which was well observed afterwards by Jacob du Bois, preacher of the Calvinists at Leyden, though he endeavored to obscure it by his expositions, _Contra Montanum_, printed A. D. 1648, _pages 162, 163_; but the truth of the command of Christ: “He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved” (Mark 16:16), is stronger and prevails.

_A. D. 1305._--The learned Leonard Krentzheim, in his _Chronicle_, writes the following concerning Dulcinus: “Dulcinus and Margaret founded a new sect or heresy (thus the papists speak) in every respect like the Anabaptists; which continued until A. D. etc.” _P. J. Twisck, Chron., page 646, col. 1._

_A. D. 1315._--D. A. Mellinus gives an account, for this year, of many orthodox Christians, as he calls them, who by the papists were nevertheless styled heretics. He notices several of their articles, which the papists charged as heresy against them, but which we, in order to avoid prolixity, shall not adduce here, save what is brought against them with regard to baptism and oaths.

THEIR VIEWS ON HOLY BAPTISM.

Concerning baptism he writes, that it was reported of them, that they had ridiculed the sacrament of baptism.

But who does not know, that if they ridiculed the sacrament of baptism, they meant it only as far as infant baptism is concerned; for this was the mooted question at that time. However, Mellinus gives his opinion, which does not conflict with ours, as to what was their belief in this matter. His words are these: “As regards the article of the sacrament of baptism (namely, that they should have entirely rejected it), it must not be understood with reference to the true institution of Christ, but to the belief of the papists, who bind the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost to the external water of baptism.”

THEIR VIEWS IN REGARD TO THE OATH.

As regards the oath, the papists charged them with holding that perjury is no sin. “But,” says A. Mellinus, “let us examine these false articles a little more closely.” Coming to the article of the oath, he speaks as follows, in order to demonstrate the falsity of this accusation: “How should they have considered perjury no sin, when the papists themselves (in the _History of the Waldenses_) declare of them, that they were so loth to swear an oath, desiring that they should be believed on their yea and nay, in order to avoid all lying, slandering, perjury, and frivolous swearing?” Thus far. _Mellinus_, in the _2d book_ of the _Hist., fol. 479, col. 1, 2_.

Hence, these people sought to avoid not only false oaths, but all manner of swearing, desiring on this account, to be believed on their yea and nay, in accordance with the teaching of Christ: “Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matt. 5:37.

_The same year as above, A. D. 1315._--At this time, Pope John XXII., issued a papal decree against some apostate (?) Minorites, in which he accuses them of the following points:

“Firstly, that they asserted, that there were two churches; the one, carnal, abounding in the riches, luxuries and lusts of this world, polluted with all manner of sin and shame, and governed by the Pope of Rome and the prelates. The other, spiritual, temperate, pure, virtuous, honorable, and poor; to which latter they and their adherents alone belong.

“Secondly, that they declared the priests of the church, and all her ministers, divested of the jurisdiction and authority of their order, so that they could give neither sentence nor advice, nor administer the sacraments, nor teach the church under them; thus depriving them of all their ecclesiastical power, and that, on the other hand, they boasted that all ecclesiastical authority rested with them alone, since they ascribed the holiness of the spiritual life only to themselves.

“Their third error,” as the Pope says, “agrees with the error of the Waldenses; since they both maintain that men ought in no case to swear, teaching that it is a sin unto death to swear an oath.”

The fourth supposed error, the Pope acknowledges, likewise to proceed from the Waldenses: “That the priests who are confirmed or ordained legally, according to the form or order of the church (as he calls it), if they are laden with any crimes or sins unto death, cannot prepare, nor administer, the sacraments of the church.”

The fifth error, as the Pope says, was, that they said that the gospel of Christ, which hitherto had been covered, nay, almost entirely extinguished, was, at this time, fulfilled in them alone. In explanation of this article, the Pope adds that they said that they ascribed the promise of our Lord, concerning the sending the Holy Ghost, to themselves in such a manner as to exclude the general (the Roman) church from the general apprehension and observance of the holy Gospel.

“But see,” says A. Mellinus, who has recorded this, “how the Pope perverts the meaning of these people; for they never denied that the Holy Ghost, according to Christ’s promise, was poured out richly upon the apostles; but they denied that the Popes of Rome, who called themselves apostolic, and successors of the apostles, had part or lot in the sending of the Holy Ghost.” Second book of the _Hist., fol. 480, col. 1, 2_.

Besides these five articles, the Pope imputed additional errors to these pious people, though he did not mention them all. Hence, it appears that they concurred for the most part with the belief of the Waldenses; and that their belief was opposed, not only to the swearing of oaths, but also to infant baptism, revenge, the sacrament of the altar, the mass, and other superstitions of popery, has already been more than sufficiently shown.

_A. D. 1319._--At this time, Pope John XXII., through his inquisitors, raged mightily against the Waldenses, who made the above-cited confession, which corresponds with that of the Anabaptists. Of their sufferings and end we shall speak afterwards, in the proper place. Concerning this, see _Bzov. Annal., A. D. 1319, art. 10, ex M. S. Bibl. Vaticane_. Also _A. Mell., fol. 480, col. 3_.