author, that in the year 1231 a great persecution arose in Germany
against the so-called heretics, who kept themselves concealed in great
numbers among the papists, in cities, castles and villages, and brought
over to their belief all whom they could turn from their faith; many of
whom were apprehended and convicted in the presence of the clergy and
the people, and that they held the belief of the Waldenses.
He writes further that “Brother Conrad of Marpurg, a monk of the
Dominican order, punished those who were convicted of heresy, according
to the manner prescribed by the ecclesiastical ordinances, namely, with
fire.” _Abr. Bzov., T. 13, Annal. Baron., A. D. 1232, Art. 7._ Also in
the second book of the _History of the Persecutions, fol. 466, col. 3,
4._
“The Waldenses,” writes P. J. Twisck, “suffered severe persecution
at this time, from the papists, and though they sought to conceal
themselves in wildernesses, mountains and deep valleys, yet, their
schools were discovered, their assemblies broken up, and all cruelly
killed, especially in the bishopric of Treves, which state of things
lasted three years.” _Chron., p. 546, col. 2._
NOTE.--From this account of P. J. Twisck, it appears that the above
persecution commenced already in the year 1230, just when the decrees
of Emperor Frederic II. had been issued, and that it continued for
three years, namely, to the close of the year 1233; during which time
doubtless very many believers perished, of whom we shall notice a few
with whom we have met.
NINETEEN PERSONS CALLED WALDENSES, BURNT FOR THE FAITH, IN THE
BISHOPRIC OF TOULOUSE, A. D. 1232.
In the year 1232 the bishop of Toulouse apprehended, in his dominion
or bishopric, nineteen persons, who were said to be heretics, because
they adhered to the belief of the Waldenses, whose confession we have
already shown not to be at variance with ours; all of which persons
the bishop of Toulouse caused to be executed, that is, burnt alive.
_Vignier, A. D. 1232. Hist. Eccles._ Also in the second book of the
_History of the Persecutions, fol. 466, col. 4_.
TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR PERSONS, CALLED WALDENSES, BURNT FOR THE
FAITH, IN A PLACE NEAR TOULOUSE, A. D. 1243.
When the north wind[179] of persecution, which, from the year 1233 on,
had done but little harm in the garden of the true Christians, began
to raise again, A. D. 1243, there were apprehended, near Toulouse,
two hundred and twenty-four persons, called Waldenses, who are to
be distinguished, and were also then distinguished from others, who
carried arms and called themselves Albigenses, but had no communion
with the true Albigenses and Waldenses, both of whom were opposed to
all revenge, professed the same confession respecting suffering and
bearing for the name of Christ.
[179] Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden,
that the spices thereof may flow out. _Solom. S._ 4:16.
These two hundred and twenty-four defenseless and innocent lambs of
Christ, having been apprehended, and refusing to forsake the Great
Shepherd of the sheep, Jesus Christ, and his holy commandments, as also
the faith in his name, were all condemned to death, and burnt alive,
thus offering up a living holy sacrifice, acceptable unto God, A. D.
1243.[180]
[180] This great number of martyred Waldenses, through the
carelessness of some writers, has been mingled under the mire of
certain erring persons, from whence we have drawn them forth again,
though not without labor. An ancient writer says: “I seek pearls in
the mire.”
Concerning these persons, as well as their imprisonment and death, see
_Vignier Hist., Eccl. A. D. 1243_; also, second book of the _History
of the Persecutions, fol. 469, col. 3_, also in an old manuscript
chronicle, same date.
NOTE.--Besides the above authors, P. J. Twisck, also, it seems, makes
mention of these two hundred and twenty-four persons, from the account
of Henry Boxhorn, though he differs somewhat in regard to the time when
this happened, as well as to the number of persons put to death; for,
instead of A. D. 1243, he has it A. D. 1242, and instead of two hundred
and twenty-four, he has _about two hundred_.
However, this difference is easily reconciled, if, first, in regard
to the time, A. D. 1242, is understood to mean the end or close of
said year, and A. D. 1243, the beginning; the number of persons put to
death, _about two hundred_, to mean over two hundred, or two hundred
and twenty-four, as expressed.
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.]
* * * * *
“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.