to a great extent in Alsace, among the Waldenses, who were one people
and of the same faith with the Albigenses. But the prince of darkness,
unable to endure this great light, exerted every means to extinguish
it, so that in said year, in Strasburg alone, about a hundred persons,
men as well as women, were burnt alive on the same day, for this
confession, by the servants of antichrist, particularly through the
bishop of that city.
Concerning this, the papistic writer H. Mutius writes: “A. D. 1212 a
heresy arose in Alsace, by which noble and ignoble were led astray.
They maintained that it was lawful to eat flesh every day throughout
the whole year, and that there is as much excess in the immoderate
eating of fish, as of any kind of flesh.” Again: “That they do very
wrong who forbid marriage; since God has created all things, and
everything may be used in a holy manner, with thanksgiving.”[170]
[170] What the Waldenses held with regard to infant baptism, the
mass, and transubstantiation, has been previously shown.
“This, their opinion,” he writes, “they maintained very firmly, and
many believed them. Moreover, they did not hesitate (hear how the
papists speak), to revile the most holy lord, the Pope, because he
prohibited ecclesiastical persons from marrying, and bade them abstain
on certain forbidden days from some kinds of food. The Pope of Rome
therefore commanded that these people should be made away with and put
to death. Hence, about a hundred were burnt together on the same day,
by the bishop of Strasburg. _H. Mut., Chron. lib. 19._
Bruschius, in his history of the Monasteries of Germany, relates, that
at the same time, thirty-five, or, as others read, thirty-nine persons,
inhabitants of Mentz, were brought to Bingen, and there burnt alive for
the doctrine of the Waldenses; and at another time, by the same bishop
of Mentz, eighteen others for the same confession. Also _A. Mell., 2d
book, fol. 457, col. 3_; also _P. J. Twisck, Chron., p. 526, col. 1_,
from _Guil. Merulae Tijdt-thresoor, fol. 800_.
CRUEL MODE OF INQUISITION OVER THE DOCTRINE OF THE WALDENSES, OR OF
THOSE CALLED HERETICS, A. D. 1214.
In the year 1214, Conrad of Marpurg, a Dominican friar, was appointed
by Pope Innocent III., grand inquisitor of the faith over all Germany,
and sent by him closely to search out and examine such as were said
to have strayed from the faith of the Roman church. This commission
he carried out with such cruelty for full nineteen years, that an
incredible number of persons, declared heretics by him, were put to
death, partly by fire and partly with the sword. Trithemius speaks of
the manner of this inquisition, saying: “That this inquisitor, Conrad
of Marpurg, used to try the heretics (the true Christians), by giving
them a red-hot iron into their hands, and to deliver all those that
were burnt by it as heretics unto the secular judge, to be sentenced
to the fire.” Hence it came that only very few escaped, but that all
who were once accused and brought to him for examination were, without
mercy, condemned by him as heretics to be burned.
“There were some,” he writes, “who held that he condemned very many
innocent persons, because the red-hot iron, finding none without sin,
although they otherwise had never been tainted with any heresy, burned
almost every one that took it.” _Trithem. Chron. Hirsaug., A. D. 1214_
and _1215._ Also _A. Mell., 2d book, fol. 459, col. 3_; also _fol. 466,
col. 4_.
THE PRECEDING INQUISITION CONTINUED.
This was the most cruel and dreadful time which one could live to
see; for this entire infernal inquisition, which was carried on with
red-hot iron and other intolerable means, had penetrated even into the
Netherlands, so that there, not less than in Germany, this tyranny was
carried on in the same manner, and even worse.
I cannot forbear here to inform you, though with a terrified and
shuddering heart, of what I have found with respect to this matter, in
a certain account which has just fallen into my hands, as it were, for
this occasion. Marcus Zueris van Boxhorn, author of the _Nederlandtsch
Historien_, in his first book, p. 23, printed A. D. 1649, at Leyden,
and dedicated to the H. M. Lords States, gives the following account
with reference to it:
_The trial by red-hot iron._--If a person charged with holding
sentiments contrary to the doctrine of the Roman church, from fear of
a cruel death, denied it, the accused was delivered into the hands and
custody of a priest, who was to find out the truth. Before making the
trial, then commonly called _the ordeal_, they together spent three
days ostensibly in fasting and prayer. This done, they went together to
the church, where the priest, in his sacerdotal attire, placed himself
in front of the altar, upon which he laid a piece of iron, first
chanting the song of the three children in the fiery furnace: “Praise
the Lord, all his works,” etc., and then pronouncing a blessing over
the altar, and the fire in which the iron was to be laid. The iron,
while heating on the coals, was repeatedly sprinkled with holy water,
and in the mean time mass was read. When the priest took the wafer into
his hand, he adjured the accused, praying meanwhile (ostensibly) to God
that by his righteousness he would discover the truth of the matter,
using among others these words:
_The priest’s prayer over the red-hot iron._--”‘Lord God! we pray thee
that thou wouldst clearly manifest the truth in this thy servant; thou,
O God, who hast in former times done great and wonderful signs by fire,
among thy people; who didst deliver Abraham, thy son, from the fire of
the Chaldeans, by which many perished; who didst preserve Lot, thy
servant, when Sodom and Gomorrah were justly laid in the ashes by the
fire; who, in the sending of the Holy Ghost by the light of fiery and
flaming tongues, didst separate the believers from the unbelievers;
grant us the grace, while we make this trial, that through this red-hot
fire we may discover the truth. If this, thy servant, who is now being
tried, is guilty, let his hand be seared and burnt by the fire. But
if, on the contrary, he is innocent, let him not be hurt by the fire.
Lord God, to whom all secrets are known, however hid they are, fulfill,
by thy goodness, the expectation of our confidence and faith, while
we make this examination; that the innocent may be acquitted; but the
guilty detected and punished.’
“When the priest had uttered this prayer,” writes _M. S. Boxhorn,
p. 24_, “he again sprinkled the red-hot iron with holy water, and
pronounced this blessing over it: ‘The blessing of God the Father, and
God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, come down upon this iron, that by
it we may be enabled to pronounce a true judgment.’”
_How the iron was given into the hand of the accused._--This having
been said, the flaming iron was given into the hand of the accused, who
had to carry it nine paces. The hand was then closely wrapped up with
cloth by the priest, and sealed, for three days, at the end of which it
was inspected. If it was wounded, the accused was judged to be guilty;
if not, he was acquitted.
O, cruel inquisition! by which not only men, but even God was tried and
tempted to the utmost. “Thou shalt not,” says Christ, “tempt the Lord
thy God.” Matt. 4:7.
_Another examination, by hot water._--Sometimes also a kettle with hot,
boiling water was used, into which the accused had to thrust his hand
up to the elbow, in order to ascertain his guilt or innocence. This
procedure was called _Ketel-vang_, in the ancient Netherlands, and
particularly in the Friesian statutes and laws.
_The trial by cold water._--Likewise, and for the same purpose, the
cold and consecrated water of the canals or rivers was used. The
accused were cast into it, and from the sinking or floating of their
bodies, the righteousness or unrighteousness of their case was judged.
This mode was carried out in the following manner at that time: A
priest, one of the judges, went with the accused, and a great train
of others, to a deep canal, ditch, or river, near by; and standing on
the shore or brink, he adjured the water with these words: “I adjure
thee, O water.” However, first he gave the accused a cup of holy water
to drink, saying: “This holy water be for a test to thee this day.”
Turning then to the water, he exclaimed: “I adjure thee, O water, in
the name, etc., who created thee in the beginning, and would have thee
serve to meet the necessities of man, and be separated from the waters
above.” He then adjured the water again in the name of Christ, and then
in the name of the Holy Ghost, and finally in the name of the Holy
Trinity; and this, with such hard, stern and severe words that I am
shocked, and afraid in my very soul to repeat them.
“Thereupon followed,” writes M. S. Boxhorn, “several additional solemn
adjurations (these, however, he does not relate), which, when the
priest had finished, the accused was stripped stark-naked, and cast or
driven into the water. If he sank, he was considered innocent; but if
he floated, he was forthwith condemned and punished by fire, as being
guilty.” _Page 26._
If any one should desire to read a full account as regards said
papistic adjurations over the water, let him consult _M. S. Boxhorn,
Nederlandtsch Hist., 1st book, pp. 25, 26_.
THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE TRIALS WERE COMMENCED IN THE NETHERLANDS,
ABOUT THE YEAR 1215.
Before bringing persons to the trial with red-hot iron, hot or boiling
water, or in cold rivers, which was called the severest or extremest
examination, milder means were employed, especially in the Netherlands;
however, with such intricacies, and so many snares, that an honest
soul, that would act candidly, and without dissimulation, could not
escape, but was in danger of losing his life.
The above-mentioned Boxhorn, describing the manner of examination
used at that time against the Vaudois, who also belonged to the Poor
Men of Lyons, and were at that time one people with the Albigenses
and Waldenses, but afterwards differed with them in various articles,
relates: That the Dominicans, a certain order of monks, were at that
time sent by the Pope here into the Netherlands, as inquisitors; who,
in order to well execute their office as it were, had put in writing a
certain mode of examination, which literally read as follows:
_Examination._--“When any one in the Netherlands is brought before the
judge, suspected and accused of heresy, he shall first be asked: Why
are you apprehended? Does any one know of your imprisonment? Have you
not learned from any one the cause of your apprehension? If he say: I
do not know; answer him: They say that you, seduced by certain teachers
who keep themselves concealed, have, to a considerable extent, departed
from the Christian faith, as it is publicly taught in this country and
elsewhere, throughout all Christendom. Let him answer as well or as
much as he will, and let forthwith an oath be demanded and put to him,
unless his youth does not admit of his swearing. Before he takes the
oath, these words shall be spoken to him: See, you are to swear here,
that you will tell in all sincerity the truth as it is known to you,
concerning yourself as well as others in regard to whom you will be
questioned. If he refuses to swear,[171] he shall be suspected so much
the more.
[171] From this it is quite evident that said people had an aversion
to the swearing of oaths. But some one may say: This has reference
to adjuring their belief. To this it may be replied, that the oath
demanded here did not aim at anything further than the telling of the
truth, as the preceding words declare.
“See well to it also, that he have no reason to say that he was
compelled by threats or otherwise to swear; but if he is ready
willingly to take the oath, present these words to him:
_The oath administered by the inquisitors, near the chapter-house
of Utrecht, to those who at that time were called heretics._--“I,
N. N. N., swear to God Almighty, my lord of Utrecht (or otherwise)
and the lords present in his stead, that I will tell the pure truth,
without fear, of all matters known to me, concerning which I shall be
questioned here; not only in regard to myself, but also to others. So
help me God and his holy mother, in my last hour.” _Boxhorn, Nederl.
Hist., p. 15._
In this manner the inquisitors proceeded, and then observed the
following mode of examination, which it seems they had to employ as
their fundamental rule, against those who were called heretics:
“If he is not known to you (says this rule) question him thus: What
is your name? Where were you born? Who was your father? Again: How
often have you confessed to the teachers of the heretics, who secretly
circulate that they have come into the world in place of the apostles,
to go from place to place, preaching the Gospel?[172]
[172] It seems that these inquisitors thought that these people also
observed auricular confession; which is a grave misapprehension,
seeing their confession avowed the contrary.
Again: “How long have you resided here? How old were you when you began
to give audience to these heretics? When did you last confess to them?
For whom did you take them? Do they also wear crowns [the tonsur] and
the priestly garb? What penance did they impose on you? Did they not
charge you to say an _Ave Maria_? Did you believe that it was in their
power to forgive your sins? Who first directed you to these heretics?
To how many heretics have you confessed? What was the name of the
first? the second? the third? etc.
“Did your parents also hold this heretical belief? How often have you
received the body of Christ? Have you also confessed to our priests?
Have you also confessed to them, that you hold this heretical belief?
Why did you not confess it? How often have you heard them teach? where
first? in what houses, or places? in what room or chamber? by day or at
night? in the morning or evening? Who were there besides you? What did
your teachers preach respecting purgatory? Is there a purgatory? How
many times a day do you pray for the souls of your parents, friends,
and benefactors? What alms have you given for them? How many days have
you fasted for them? How many masses have you had read for them?
“Can you say the _Ave Maria_? Say it. Can you say any prayers to
the saints? Do you believe, that the holy Mary, and other saints,
are acquainted with our distresses, and that they are filled with
compassion on this account, and pray for us? Who is the patron of
your parish? When is his day celebrated? Have you properly celebrated
him? What kind of a saint is it? Is it an angel? or a martyr? or a
confessor? or an apostle? or a virgin? or a widow? What did you bring
as an offering on their feast-day? Have you chosen for yourself a
certain apostle? Who is your apostle? “What do you hold with regard
to the worship of the holy cross? the nails? the crown of thorns? the
spear? and the images of the saints?
“Have you ever journeyed to Rome, to obtain forgiveness of your
sins? Have you sprinkled yourself with holy water? Have you tasted
the consecrated salt? Have you consecrated twigs and tapers in your
house? Have you done this with a pure and upright heart, as do other
Christians, who by your people are called _Strangers_? or have you
done it merely for appearance’ sake, so as not to be detected in your
heresy? Tell the simple truth.
“Do you not believe that St. Martin has become a saint, and that his
holy soul is now in the kingdom of heaven? Will you drink in the name
and to the remembrance of St. Martin? Do you know any hymns to the
honor of God, or his holy mother? and so forth.
“Say, finally: Will you desist with all your heart from your errors,
and separate yourself from the heretics, and henceforth have no
fellowship with them? If so, then swear thus:
_The second oath administered by the inquisitors to those who were
at that time called heretics; which none of the true martyrs ever
swore._--“I, N. N. N., swear an oath, to God Almighty, my lord, bishop
N. N., and the lords present in his stead, without any dissimulation,
that henceforth I will go no more to the people that call themselves,
etc., and will have fellowship neither with them nor with their
leaders, teachers, etc., as long as they remain heretics. Moreover, I
forswear (see what papistic tricks these are), all manner of unbelief
that is contrary to the open faith taught and maintained everywhere in
the holy Roman church and in Christendom. And that I will also submit
to penance for my transgressions, when and as it shall, though in
mercy, be imposed upon me. So truly help me God and his mother, in my
last hour.” _Boxhorn, page 18._ Concerning the examination, see _page
15–17_.
NOTE.--Who does not see, beloved reader, that these were snares from
which the pious could not extricate themselves without losing their
lives? for it was certain that the Poor Men of Lyons, in those times,
whether called Vaudois,[173] Waldenses, or Albigenses, did not swear
at all; which, especially as regards the Waldenses and Albigenses, has
been distinctly proved in our previous explanation. This, then, was the
first snare which they could not escape.
[173] That the very odious name _Vaudois_, was given the Poor Men of
Lyons, need offend no one; since Christ himself and his holy apostles
were often called evil and opprobrious names, by their adversaries.
In the second place, by the form of that oath it was proposed to them,
that they should forsake their entire religion, faith, and worship,
and join themselves to the Roman church which they held to be worse
than Babylon. How could this be done by them with a good conscience?
In no wise. This snare, therefore, they could likewise not escape.
What, then, had they to expect? Nothing less than certain death; yea, a
cruel, ignominious, and accursed death, though blessed for those who,
remaining steadfast, suffered it. I will say nothing now of the cruel
and horrible manner of inquisition, by red-hot iron, hot water, as also
in open rivers;[174] which generally followed upon the examination just
stated.
[174] For further information respecting the method of the
inquisitors, see our account of the martyrs for the year 1301, etc.
What heathen or barbarians have ever acted thus? It is true, they
put the pious witnesses of Jesus to death in a very painful manner;
however, that was the end of it; and, besides, sometimes means remained
by which it was possible to escape death, and yet keep the faith. And
we nowhere read, that they ever had such a mode of inquisition over
matters of faith; but the Romanists, who call themselves Christians,
were not afraid or ashamed of it.
Certainly, here one or the other, either the body or the soul, had
to be sacrificed by the martyrs; for if they would save the body, by
forsaking the faith, which they, in their conscience, recognized as the
genuine, yea, the only and eternal truth, they were in danger, yea,
fully assured of losing their souls; on the other hand, if they sought
to preserve their souls, by their good confession, and by forsaking the
superstitions of popery, they had to lose their bodies, and this by
the most cruel, horrible, and miserable death; which, according to the
custom at that time, was to be placed alive into the flames until death
ensued.
In this manner, very many, yea, almost a countless number, of pious
Christians, called Albigenses and Waldenses, perished in those times;
who, constrained by the love of Christ, to hold fast the confession
of their faith, willingly exchanged this earthly for the heavenly;
suffering here the tabernacle of their body to be dissolved, in order
to have a building with God, a house not made with hands, eternal in
the heavens. 2 Cor. 5:1.
We will now see, what persons perished for the faith, in that cruel
inquisition, particularly under the test of red-hot iron, not in the
Netherlands, but in Germany, where it first originated.
ABOUT EIGHTY PERSONS CALLED WALDENSES, BURNT FOR THE FAITH, AT
STRASBURG, A. D. 1215.
Now, when the throne of antichrist began to suffer much detriment
through the doctrine of the Waldenses, and infant baptism, the swearing
of oaths, the secular power and dominion, the authority of the Pope
of Rome, the mass, purgatory, absolution or forgiveness of sins by
the so-called clergy, pilgrimages, visitations of the holy sepulchres
prayers, or sacrifices for the dead, and other things pertaining to
popery, were opposed by them, they saying, that these things ought to
have no place in the true church of Christ; it came to pass, A. D.
1215, that this cruel man, Conrad of Marpurg, of whom it was stated,
for the year 1214, that he had been sent into Germany, as grand
inquisitor, by Pope Innocent III., apprehended over eighty persons,
both men and women, who were called Waldenses and made the same
confession. They were also examined, concerning their faith, in that
horrible manner of which we have already spoken, namely, by taking a
red-hot iron into their bare hands; and having all of them endured it
patiently, and remaining steadfast, they were finally condemned to be
burnt alive as heretics; which was done to them all on the same day, at
Strasburg, in said year of their apprehension, A. D. 1215.
Of this the papistic writer Trithemius gives the following account: “At
this time, namely A. D. 1215, there were very many who were heretics
secretly, men as well as women, who spread divers strange errors
throughout all Germany, France, and Italy; of whom great numbers were
apprehended and burnt alive. For in said year more than eighty were
apprehended in Strasburg, at the same time, among whom but very few
were found innocent; for if any of them denied the heresy,[175] Conrad
of Marpurg, the Pope’s inquisitor, would try them by giving them a
red-hot iron into their hands, and deliver all those that were burnt by
it, to the secular judge, as heretics, to be sentenced to the fire.”
_Trith. Chron. Hirsaug._ Also, _A. Mell., 2d book, fol. 459_. _C._
Mellinus calls these martyrs Waldenses, _fol. 457, col. 3_; and their
confession he has shown, _fol. 446, col. 1, 2_.
[175] It is necessary here to understand that by the word _heresy_
those people did not mean their orthodox faith; but all that could
truly be called heresy; and this they then disavowed; whereby this
inquisitor, (to all appearance) though he was very crafty, was
greatly misled.
SEVERAL CHRISTIANS BURNT FOR THE FAITH, AT TOULOUSE, A. D. 1215.
About that time, Pope Innocent III. had advised Dominic, that by means
of constant preaching and disputation he should wondrously execute the
office of inquisition, which he had entrusted to him, namely, against
the so-called heretics; and that he should reconcile to the Roman
church those who should ostensibly become converted; but should justly
condemn such as remained refractory, that is, steadfast in their faith.
_Sixtus 5, in Diplom. instit. Festi S. Petri Mart._
Dominic discharged his inquisitorial office so energetically in
the city of Toulouse, against the heretics mentioned, that is the
Christians called Waldenses, that several who had been cast into
prison, were, by his advice, delivered to the secular judge, to be
burned. For, when in those times people could not be overcome by way
of argument, with the word of God, they began to dispute with fire and
sword against them; and then it was an easy matter to conquer them, not
in regard to the truth, but in regard to their bodies and lives. This
was also the case with these pious people of Toulouse, who would rather
lose their lives than forsake the truth; which they confirmed in the
flames by their death, having commended their souls into the hands of
God, in the year of our Lord 1215.
The papist Theodoric, in his biography of Dominic, makes mention of
these martyrs, saying: “When he (Dominic) was preaching, at this
time, in the parts of Toulouse, it happened that some heretics were
apprehended in that city and were convicted by him; whom, when they
would not return to the Catholic church, he delivered to the secular
Judge. When they had been condemned to be burnt.” _Theod. in vita
Dominici, citate Bzov. ad A. D. 1215, Art. 11, 12._ Also, _A. Mellinus,
2d book, fol. 460, col. 4_.