King of France as follows: “All the opposers of our faith, commonly
called Publicans, having been compelled to come forth from their
hiding-places, were brought before the court, and, upon the law being
applied to them, convicted of heresy, and, hence, were cast into the
fire and burnt alive.” _Philippidos, lib. 1._
Roger of Hovedon adds, for the end of the year 1182, that the King
of England, Henry II., notwithstanding there were very many of these
Publicans, that is, Waldenses or orthodox Christians, in his land, he
would in no wise tolerate them, but commanded that they should likewise
everywhere be burnt, as in France.[163] _Annal. part 2, at the close of
the year 1182._
[163] The reader must know that the writers who have given vent in
this most odious manner to said testimonies respecting the holy
martyrs, were papists.
As to the belief of the Waldenses and Albigenses, who were also called
Publicans by their enemies, it has already, in their own confession,
been shown not to militate against the confession of the Anabaptists;
as we have said once for all, and to which we here again call attention.
MANY GODFEARING PEOPLE PUT TO DEATH, IN FLANDERS, ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR
VIEWS AGAINST THE ROMAN CHURCH, BY THE COUNT OF ALSACE, A. D. 1182.
Magister[164] John Andriess, P. J. Twisck, H. Montanus, and various
other authentic writers, unanimously state, that A. D. 1182, there were
put to death, by Count Philip of Alsace, many Christians, who were
called heretics because they contemned infant baptism, the sacrament
of the altar, and the sacrifice of the mass, etc. See _J. Andr._, in
his _History of the Antiquity of the Faith, letter E. P. J. Twisck,
Chron., page 489_. _H. Montanus,_ _Nietigh., p. 86._ Also, _Hist.
Mart. der Doopsg., A. 8_. Also, _Martyrs Mirror_, printed _A. D. 1631,
Introduction, p. 52_.
[164] Master, or sir; a title of the middle ages, equivalent to the
modern title of doctor.
MANY CHRISTIANS BURNT IN FLANDERS, A. D. 1183, AND VERY MANY PUT TO
DEATH IN OTHER PLACES.
For the year 1183 we read of many more such people, who were called
publicans (of which name we have already spoken) and whom Philip,
Count of Flanders, and William, Archbishop of Rheims, caused, most
unmercifully, to be burnt.
Concerning this, Rigordus, an ancient historian of those times, writes
as follows for said year: “At this time, very many heretics (thus this
papistic writer calls the true Christians), were burnt in Flanders, by
the reverend bishop of Rheims, cardinal priest of the title of Sancta
Sabina, Legate of the Pope, and by Philip, the illustrious count of
Flanders. _Rig., p. 168, edit. Wechelian._
“The same year,” says the above author, “over seven thousand Cottarelli
(thus he calls the pious witnesses of Jesus, also called Waldenses and
Albigenses), were slain in the province of Bourges, by the inhabitants
of the land, who all united against them, as against the enemies of
God.”
Notice here, that they must all have been defenseless people, since so
great a number suffered themselves to be put to death by so few people
as there were at that time in the small province of Bourges; however,
we leave this to God.
The same writer adds also this: “In the same year, Pope Lucius
condemned as heretics those who in Italy were called Humilitani, and in
France, Poor Men of Lyons (the Albigenses and Waldenses), whereupon,
as may well be supposed, no small persecution took place in those hot
times.
This decree, it seems, was first published, or else renewed, A. D.
1184, or, as others state, A. D. 1185. according to the account of
Mellinus, _2d book, fol. 443, col. 2_.
DECREE OF POPE LUCIUS III. AGAINST THE WALDENSES, ETC., WHO ARE CALLED
BY VARIOUS NAMES.
In the year 1184, or, as others write, 1185, Pope Lucius made a decree
in the city of Verona, in the presence of the Emperor Frederick, which
reads as follows:
“In order to eradicate the wickedness of various heresies that have
begun to manifest themselves in many countries throughout the whole
world, the power of ecclesiastical discipline must be called into
requisition.
“Therefore, relying on the presence and power of our most beloved
son, the Roman Emperor Frederick, we, with the common advice of our
brethren, as well as of other patriarchs, archbishops, and many
princes, who have assembled here from different parts of the realm,
have, by this general resolution of our present decree, set ourselves
against the heretics, who from various errors have received various
names, and by apostolical authority, through this our constitution,
have condemned all heresies by whatever name they may be called. First,
the Catharists and the Patarini, and those who falsely and fictitiously
call themselves Humiliati (humiliated ones) or Poor Men of Lyons; as
well as the Passaginians, Josephists, Arnoldists; all these we lay
under an everlasting curse.
“And since some, having a form of godliness, but denying the power
thereof, as the apostle says, have assumed the authority to preach,
though the same apostle says, How shall they preach, except they be
sent? all those to whom this is forbidden, or who, not being sent,
presumptuously dare preach, secretly or publicly, without authority
from the apostolic see, or consent from the bishop of the place; and
all who believe otherwise or do not fear to teach otherwise than the
Roman church preaches and maintains, in regard to the sacrament of the
body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, or to baptism (namely, infant
baptism), or to the confession of sins, that is, auricular confession,
or to marriage, and other sacraments of the church; and, in general,
all those who will not condemn those as heretics whom the Roman church,
or any bishop in his bishopric, with the advice of his clergy, or, in
case of the decease of their own bishop, the clergy themselves, with
the advice of the neighboring bishops, have declared as such, all
these, I say, we bind with the bond of an everlasting ban. Likewise
those who take them into their houses, and defend them, and all who
uphold said heretics, fostering in them the heretical wickedness,
whether they be called _Consolati_, _Credentes_, _Perfecti_, or by
whatever other similar name, we include them all in this sentence of
condemnation.”
Thus far, the decree of Pope Lucius. We will now give some explanation
of a few strange names that occur in the same. As regards the common
names of the Waldenses, of which mention is made in the decree of
Lucius, namely, that they were called Catharists, Patarini, Humiliati,
Poor Men of Lyons, Passaginians, Josephists, Arnoldists, etc., these
we have already sufficiently explained. There remain therefore to
be explained only their special distinctive names, as _Consolati_,
_Credentes_, and _Perfecti_. _Consolati_, that is, comforted; by this
name were called those who had recently come into the church, and were
not yet firmly established in the faith.
_Credentes_, that is, believing; by this name were called those who
were confirmed in the faith, and had increased in it to a considerable
extent.
_Perfecti_, that is, perfect; by this name were called those who
applied themselves to faith and godliness to the full extent of their
ability, so that they seemed to be perfect therein. These were also
called _Boni Homines_, that is, good men.
The most of this can be gleaned from Alanus, who wrote at the close
of the twelfth century, namely, A. D. 1194. In _edit. Paris, A. D.
1612, p. 110_. Also, _Abr. Mell., 2d book, p. 443, col. 3_. Thus, the
diversity of names does not indicate a diversity of people or faith,
but simply the lesser or greater perfection in the faith in those who
together were but one people.
BLOODY DECREE OF ILPHONSUS, OR ALPHONSUS, KING OF ARAGON, AGAINST THE
WALDENSES, PUBLISHED A. D. 1194.
“Ilphonsus, by the grace of God, King of Aragon, to all archbishops,
bishops, and other prelates of the church of our kingdom; to all earls,
viscounts, soldiers, and to all the people in our realm and under our
dominion, greeting, and good wishes that the Christian religion may be
maintained entire.
“Whereas, it has pleased God, to place us over his people, it is right
and just that we should constantly, and according to our ability, care
for the safety, happiness and protection of said people; therefore,
as faithful successors of our ancestors, and as being justly obedient
to the ordinances of the church, who have deemed it well, that the
heretics should everywhere be rejected, condemned and persecuted,
from the face of God and of all Catholics; namely, the Waldenses
or Insabbathi (that is, those who do not observe the Sabbaths or
holy-days of the Roman church), who call themselves Poor Men of Lyons,
and all other heretics, of whom there are so many that they cannot
all be enumerated, who have been excommunicated by the holy church,
from our whole realm and dominion, as enemies of the cross of Christ,
dishonorers of the Christian religion and our person, and open enemies
of our realm, we command them to depart and flee from our kingdom.
“If from this day on, any one shall receive said Waldenses and
Insabbathi, or other heretics of whatever confession, into his house,
or hear their pernicious preaching in any place, or give them food,
or dare show them any other favor, be it known to the same, that he
has incurred the disfavor of God and of us, that he is punishable for
the crime of _leze-majesty_, and that his goods shall be confiscated
without appeal.
“And we command that this our decree and perpetual ordinance, in
every city, castle, and village of our kingdom and jurisdiction, and
throughout all the lands of our dominion, shall be read and presented
every Sunday to the people for observance, by the bishops and other
rulers of the church, and by our governors, bailiffs, justiciaries, and
other magistrates, and that upon all offenders the aforesaid punishment
shall be inflicted.
“Be it further known: If any person, noble or ignoble, shall find
any of the aforementioned heretics anywhere in our lands, who, after
three days’ proclamation, knowing this our decree, do not speedily
depart, but obstinately remain; and shall inflict upon them every evil,
ignominy, and disgrace, death and maiming alone excepted, he shall have
to fear no punishment for it, but shall know, that he has much rather
merited our favor thereby, and that his deed is pleasing and acceptable
to us.
“We, however, give these infamous heretics, though above their deserts
and against reason, a respite till to morrow, which is All-saints-day,
to leave, or to begin leaving, our land. If thereafter any do still
remain, we give to each and all of our subjects full authority, to
rob and plunder them, to beat them with sticks, and to maltreat them
shamefully.”
This decree was signed with the seal of Ilphonsus, King of Aragon, as
well as with the seal of Bishop Regimund of Terragona, of the Bishop of
Tiracisca, and of other bishops. The decree itself was made by William
de Bassa, the King’s notary, A. D. 1194. _Abr. Mell., 2d book, fol.
444. A. from Fr. Pegna Direct. Inquisit., part 2, Comment 39._ Also,
_Joan. Mariana Prefat., in Lucani Tudens_.
But what sort of execution followed upon this decree of Ilphonsus
against the poor Waldenses in the kingdom of Aragon, it is not easy to
know, since it seems that the historians of this century have purposely
passed by the cruelty exercised against them, doubtless because they
felt ashamed of the matter.
ORIGIN OF THE INQUISITION AGAINST THE WALDENSES AND ALBIGENSES, BY POPE
INNOCENT III., A. D. 1198.
A. D. 1198, Innocent III. became Pope in the place of Celestine. At his
consecration he applied to himself the words which John the Baptist
spoke of Christ: “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the
friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth
greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.”
Upon these words Innocent addressed his bridesmen, the cardinals,
archbishops and bishops as follows: “And am I not the bridegroom, and
every one of you a friend of the bridegroom? Yea, I am the bridegroom;
for I have the noble, rich, and highly exalted, yea, the honorable,
pure, gracious, and holy Roman church for my bride, who, by the
ordinance of God, is the mother of all the faithful, and the supreme
mistress over all the churches. She is wiser than Sarah, more prudent
than Rebecca, more fruitful than Leah, more agreeable than Rachel, more
devout than Anna, purer than Susanna, more valiant than Judith, more
beautiful than Edessæa. Many daughters have gathered great riches; but
she has excelled them all. I have espoused her sacramentally. This
bride has not been wedded to me portionless, but has given me her
rich dowry, namely, the fullness of spiritual and of temporal power.”
_Innocent. 3_, in _Consecra. Pontif., Serm. 3, page 19_.
Pope Innocent III. was the first who instituted the office of the
inquisition, with ordained inquisitors; to which end he also wrote a
letter, in the first year of his popedom, on the first day of April,
to the archbishop of Auxitana; in which he greatly complains of the
enemies of St. Peter’s Shiplet, as he calls it, and then speaks as
follows:
“We desire that you and your fellow-bishops, by your prudence, shall
guard the more vigorously against this malady (meaning the doctrine of
the Waldenses and Albigenses), and oppose it the more strenuously, as
you see the more reason to fear that the sound part of the body may
become infected by the disease; lest by such contagions, which spread
gradually like a cancer, the minds of the faithful become infected by a
general corruption.
“Therefore we send you brotherly love, and charge you most earnestly
by this apostolic letter, that you do your utmost, to exterminate
(all) heresy, and to banish from your province all those that are
contaminated therewith; and that against them and all those who are
contaminated therewith, or have any fellowship with them, or who are
openly suspected of having familiar intercourse with them, you do not
only exercise all the rigor of church discipline, without intervention
of appeal, but also, if necessary, subdue or punish them by the power
of the material sword, by princes or by the people.”
On these words the papistic commentator remarks, in the margin: “Up to
this time, no inquisitors had yet been sent or appointed by the Pope.”
In the same month, namely on the 21st of April, 1198, twenty days after
the writing of the first letter, Pope Innocent III. wrote another
letter, not only to the abovementioned Bishop of Auxitana, but also to
the archbishops of Aix, Narbonne, Vienne, Arles, Ebredun, Tarragon,
Lyons, etc., and at the same time appointed one Reinerius and one Guido
as his commissaries or inquisitors, to apprehend those who sought to
escape the dominion of the Roman church. The contents of the letter
were directed against the Waldenses, and commanded that they should be
caught, as little foxes that spoil the vineyards. Finally he commands
them to be driven out of the country. _Epist. de Cretal., lib. 1, pages
56, 57, edit. Colon._
In the following month, namely on the 13th of May, Innocent wrote
still another letter for the same purpose; in which he again commanded
that the little foxes should be caught, and promises to send the
inquisitors, adding:
“We pray, admonish, and entreat you all together, in the name of the
Lord, and charge you, unto remission of sins, that you receive them
(the inquisitors, Reinerius and Guido), kindly, aid them manfully and
vigorously, and lend them a helping hand by good counsel and with the
deed.
“But, as brother Reinerius, for urgent and important matters of the
church, has first, by order of the apostolical see, gone to Spain, we
will and command nevertheless, that you archbishops and bishops, draw
the spiritual sword, when requested so to do by said brother Guido,
against the heretics whom he shall name to you; but let the lay power
confiscate their goods, and banish them from the country, and thus
separate the chaff from the wheat.
“Furthermore, to all who in this great difficulty which now threatens
the church, shall faithfully and devotedly assist her in maintaining
the Christian faith, we grant the same indulgence, pardon, or remission
of sins, which we have granted to all those who go on a pilgrimage to
St. Peter’s or St. Jacob’s church. Given at Rome, on the above day, A.
D. 1198.” _Page 98._
FIVE MEN AND THREE WOMEN BURNT AT TROYES, IN CHAMPAGNE, A. D. 1200; AND
SOME EXPELLED FROM METZ.
About two years after Pope Innocent III. had issued those three bloody
letters, for the persecution and suppression of the true, defenseless
Christians, who were commonly called Waldenses, but by their enemies or
persecutors, Publicans and sinners, it came to pass, in the last year
of the twelfth century, namely A. D. 1200, that in the city of Troyes,
in Champagne, there were apprehended, by order of the Pope and the
reigning authorities, eight persons, five men and three women, who made
the same confession as was stated above with regard to the Waldenses,
contradicting the authority of the Pope, infant baptism, the swearing
of oaths, the office of criminal authority, and whom the papistic
author of the large _Chronicle of the Netherlands_ calls _Popelitatnos_.
However, these persons were not accused by the papists of any evil
works, but simply on account of their faith; in which faith they
desired to remain steadfast unto death, without, in any wise departing
from it. Hence they were all sentenced to the fire, in said year, and
offered up their bodies unto God as a burnt-sacrifice, having commended
their souls into his hands.
THE EXPULSION OF THE CHRISTIANS FROM METZ, AND THE BURNING OF THEIR
BOOKS.
At the same time, many Christians at Metz, who professed the same faith
and were called Waldenses, were shamefully expelled from Metz, and
their books burnt, because they had translated the Holy Scriptures into
their mother tongue.
The papistic author of the large _Belgic Chronicle_, upon the authority
of the ancient historian Albericus, calls them a Waldensian sect, and
says: “That certain abbots were sent to preach against them; who burnt
some books translated from the Latin into their mother tongue, and thus
extirpated said sect. _Mon. Nuciensis Magn. Chron. Belgicum, edit.
Frankfort, A. D. 1607, page 189._
This serves to confirm the preceding narrative. We will now conclude
our account of the persecutions which occurred in the twelfth century,
and proceed to the thirteenth century.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE HOLY BAPTISM IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY.
SUMMARY OF BAPTISM IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY.
[The thirteenth century is commenced with the thirteenth and last
_Centuria_, with which the Magdeburg Centuriators have concluded their
Ecclesiastical History; which is, as it were, a mournful farewell air,
on account of the lamentable desolation caused by the Pope of Rome, in
the worship of God. Several Roman superstitions mentioned, which were
commanded as solemnly as the word of God, and are called the baptism of
necessity, the baptism by women, heretics, etc.; also, how to baptize a
child that is in danger of death.
Some strange passages from Thomas Aquinas, touching infant baptism;
added decree of the bishops of Nemansa, as to how to deal with a child,
concerning which there may be doubt of its having been baptized aright;
also the formula of words to be used by the priest over the child.
Explanation that all this was done to gain respect for infant baptism,
among the common people.
Of the true baptism, and how God, in the midst of these storms,
preserved his church.
The followers of the doctrine of Peter Bruis and Henry of Toulouse,
who, in many respects, concurred in the belief of the Anabaptists of
the present day, increase to such an extent, A. D. 1206, that in the
provinces of Languedoc, Narbonne, Gascony, but few people were found
who did not adhere to their doctrine; also the three articles of their
doctrine against the Roman church.
The ancient Waldenses again appear, A. D. 1218, and, though
excommunicated by the Pope in the bull of the Lord’s Supper, declare
against the swearing of oaths, taking the life of evil-doers, the faith
of the Roman church, ungodly priests, the Pope.
Circumstantial account, that these people, A. D. 1230, were so
numerous, that one traveling from his country to Milan, could lodge
every night with one of his persuasion.
The increase of the Waldenses in France and Flanders, is again stated
for, A. D. 1238.
Statement, for 1242, that they not only confessed their belief with the
mouth, but also suffered for it.
Thirty-eight years after, namely, A. D. 1280, it is shown, that their
doctrine had penetrated not only into Lombardy, but even into Sicily;
several articles of their doctrine described in full.
Their increase in various countries of Christendom is again shown, for
the year 1284, as a proof that notwithstanding the persecutions raised
against them, they did not diminish.
A certain doctrine of Alexander, namely: that baptism must be
administered on confession of faith; whereupon the Waldenses and
Albigenses are introduced once more, for the last time, and it is
stated that they considered infant baptism of no virtue.
Conclusion, being Jacob Mehrning’s reply to Mellinus, respecting
baptism.]
* * * * *
This is the century, writes Jacob Mehrning, with which the Magdeburg
Centuriators have closed their church history, etc. Concerning this
time they write in the preface as follows: “This is the calamitous
time, in which the Roman Pope exalted his might to the highest, in the
occidental churches, and the Turk his power, in the Orient; where,
then, the divine and pure doctrine became most abominably adulterated
in every respect.
Yea, the ground of doctrine, and all external ceremonies, as well as
all points of doctrine,--all these, without reservation, the Pope of
Rome would have under his control; in consequence of which such a
blindness and darkness arose among men, that almost all of them took
upon them the yoke, submitting whatever they spoke or wrote, with
more fear to the judgment of the Pope, than of God himself, or of his
church. Rules were established, by which all controverted articles
were to be decided and judged; namely, the corrupted writings of
the fathers, and the decrees or resolutions of councils. The word
of God entirely lost its honor, dignity and credit; yea, it was
thenceforth accepted only as far as the opinion of the fathers and
councils allowed. Moreover, the word of God was no longer expounded
from the Holy Scriptures, but according to the apprehension of their
own imagination, etc. Besides, too much concession was made to the
heathen subtleties of Aristotle; yea, with such folly, that the obscure
writings of this heathen were introduced into the schools, brought into
the pulpit, and mixed with the articles of faith, etc. _Jac. Mehrn.
Bapt. Hist., p. 717, from Cent. Magd. XIII, chap. 13._
As regards infant baptism, because the same was much contradicted, yea,
utterly rejected, at this time, by the Waldenses and Albigenses, those
of the Roman church, in order to provide for this, and to maintain
it, ordained various things, called _baptism of necessity_ (private
baptism), _baptism by women, baptism by heretics_.
The Madgeburg Centuriators quote the following (_chap. 6, fol. 242_)
from a synodal book, written jointly by some bishops, at Nemansa, A.
D. 1251: “We command, that an infant, just born and in peril of death,
so that it can not be brought to the priest, be baptized by the men
present, whether in warm or in cold water, but with no other liquid,
and this in a wooden, stone or other vessel. But if there be no men
present, let the women who are there baptize the child, or even the
father or the mother, in case there be no one else present, to baptize
the child.” _Bapt. Hist., pp. 727, 728._