Waldenses, in the midst of the darkness of popery,[199] began to lift
up their hands more and more, in the Flemish countries, and to combat
with the power of the word of God the errors of the Roman church, and
to reject principally papal authority, the mass, transubstantiation,
pilgrimages, the invocation of saints, purgatory, infant baptism,
the swearing of oaths, revenge towards enemies, etc., as we stated
concerning the belief of the Waldenses, in the account for the eleventh
century; the prince and king of darkness, through the instrumentality
of his satellites, laid his hands on them, and ultimately brought the
matter so far that very many who would in no wise, neither for life nor
for death, apostatize, were condemned to be burnt alive, which was also
done with them; and thus they endured the trial of their faith with
great steadfastness, in the fire, at Donau, in Flanders, in the year
1421. Wherefore the captain of the faith, Jesus Christ, shall hereafter
eternally crown them, as pious champions, with the unfading crown of
honor, according to his promise: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I
will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10.
[199] The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them
which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up.
Matt. 4:16.
Of the sacrifice of these friends, mention is also made in the second
book of the _History of the Persecutions, p. 577, col. 4_, where
it says: “At Donau, in Flanders, A. D. 1421, a great number was
discovered, who professed the doctrine of the Waldenses, many of whom,
remaining steadfast, were burnt alive.” Also, _Vignier, Hist. Eccl., in
the year 1421, ex Monstrelets_.
NOTE.--Whether those of Dort, in Holland, were also guilty at this
time, of the blood of the saints, we have not been able to ascertain;
nevertheless, the Lord severely chastised them in this year, 1421, so
that, through heavy floods, the city became an island, and was deprived
of seventy-two villages that lay round about, and were all swallowed up
in the water.
Hence, the following inscription is found carved on the outside of the
Speuy Gate of said city, over the arch, in blue stone:
“_All land and water which here you see, were
Seventy-two parishes, chronicles state,
Swallowed by water’s resistless power;
Thousand four hundred seventy-one by date._”
This event is so generally known, and has been described by so
many authors, that I deem it unnecessary to add anything by way of
confirmation. A sad thing for the place of our birth. NOTE.--_A. D.
1423._--At this time, writes P. J. Twisck, Henry Gruenfelder was burnt
for the truth, in the city of Regensburg, in Germany; and shortly
after, in the same city, Henry Rathgeber. _Chron., p. 787, col. 1_,
compared with _Georg. Pac., cap. 11_.
_A. D. 1425._--About this time Peter Torea was executed at Speyer, in
Germany, and others in Roman countries; because they confessed the
truth and opposed the Roman superstitions. Compare the last mentioned
_Chron., p. 788, col. 2_, with _Georg. Pac., cap. 11_.
_A. D. 1427._--At this time, Jerome Savonarolo, of Ferrara, preached
throughout Italy that the Pope was the antichrist; for which he was
burnt at Florence. He wrote some meditations on the 51st and 80th
psalms, in which he reproves the tyranny of the Pope and his clergy,
saying that they are the boars and wild beasts of the field, which,
according to the words of David, have devoured and utterly destroyed
the Lord’s vineyard, and wholly subverted the church of God. In the
last mentioned _Chron., p. 762, col. 2_, compared with _Georg. Pac.,
cap. 11_.
WILLIAM WHITE, FATHER ABRAHAM OF CHOLCHESTER, AND JOHN WADDON, BURNT
FOR THE FAITH, AT NORWICH, IN ENGLAND, A. D. 1428.
When the light of the Gospel began to break forth with power also in
England, so that some persons not only believed and adhered to, but
also taught and propagated the truth of Christ, the Romanists, proving
themselves children of darkness, evinced their old nature towards these
people, inasmuch as they informed the King of England, then only a
child of six years, of this matter, aiming to provide against it.
Thus it happened A. D. 1428, that this child-king, induced by the
fathers and heads of the Roman church, immediately resolved to give
orders to the officers appointed thereto, to apprehend these persons
and all who were of their persuasion, in order that they might be
punished according to the laws of England.
COPY OF THE LETTER OF KING HENRY VI., TO JOHN EXTOR, AND JACOLET
GERMAINE, GOVERNORS OF CHOLCHESTER, TO APPREHEND WILLIAM WHITE AND HIS
ADHERENTS.
“Henry, by the Grace of God, King of England and France, Lord of
Ireland, to his beloved friends, John Extor, and Jacolet Germaine,
Governors of the Castle at Cholchester, greeting:
“Be it known unto you, that, perfectly relying on your fidelity and
prudence, we have charged you, both together and each separately, to
arrest and apprehend William White, priest, and Thomas, chaplain,
formerly at Settling, in the county of Norfolk, and William
Northampton, priest, and all others that are suspected of heresy,
whoever they may be, and wherever they may be found, whether in free
cities or without; and to send them, as soon as you have apprehended
them, to our nearest jails or prisons, until we shall have given orders
for their release.
“And, therefore, we charge you strictly to keep a close surveillance
on the aforesaid persons, and to faithfully observe the above in the
manner stated before.
“We likewise command and charge each and all of our justiciaries, who
have the care of the common peace, as mayors, margraves, bailiffs,
constables, and all our other faithful officers, by the contents
of these presents, that they render you, both together and each
separately, good assistance, and help and advise you to execute the
preceding command, as becometh them.
“In witness of this, we have ourselves caused our letters patent to be
executed, and have signed them at Westminster, the sixth day of July,
in the sixth year of our reign, coinciding with A. D. 1428.” See _John
Fox, Angl., p. 607_.
In old records we find that by virtue of this commission of the King,
John Extor, who was one of these commissaries, shortly afterwards
apprehended six persons at Bungay, in the bishopric of Norwich, and
delivered them into the custody of William Day and William Rowe,
constables of the city of Bungay, to be brought within ten days to the
castle of Norwich.
“The names, however, of these six persons,” writes John Fox, “owing
to the age of the writing, had almost entirely faded out, so that
they could not well be read, except three or four.” But what further
transpired with them, and what sufferings or death befell them, we do
not find clearly expressed.
In the meantime there were also apprehended and brought to Norwich,
three eminent and virtuous men, namely, William White, formerly a
priest, Father Abraham of Cholchester, and John Waddon, who, after
preceding examination, made confession of the following articles:
CONFESSION OF FAITH OF SAID THREE MARTYRS, TOUCHING THEIR BELIEF
AGAINST THE ROMAN CHURCH.
1. “That the children of Christians are sufficiently baptized in the
blood of Christ, and, hence, need not be baptized with water.
2. “That no tithes need be given to the pastors of the Roman church.
3. “That marriage properly consists in the consent or agreement of
union between man and woman (with rejection, as it seems, of the
superstitions which the Romanists are wont to observe in connection
with it).
4. “That auricular confession is not necessary, and that one need not
go and confess to the priests, but to God alone; since no priest has
power to forgive a sinner his sins.
5. “That no priest has power to make the body of Christ, or to
consecrate it in the sacrament of the altar; but that after the words
are pronounced, there still remains purely material bread, just as it
was before.
6. “That each and every Christian believer is a priest before God.
7. “That no one is bound on pain of damnation to observe lent or any
other fast days commanded by the Roman church.
8. “That the Pope is the antichrist, and his prelates disciples of
antichrist; and that the Pope has no authority to bind or loose on
earth.
9. “That it is lawful for all Christians to perform bodily works on
holidays, except sins.
10. “That it is lawful for priests to marry.
11. “That the excommunications and ecclesiastical punishments decreed
by the prelates are not to be regarded.
12. “That in particular cases it is not lawful to swear.
(NOTE.--This article seems not to have been recorded correctly by the
notary; for it appears that these people prohibited the oath not only
in particular cases, but in any wise, seeing the following martyress,
Margaret Backster, pronounces these men faithful preachers of the word
of God, and confessed herself, that one might not swear at all, neither
by God, nor by, etc.)
13. “One ought not to go on pilgrimages.
14. “That no worship at all is to be bestowed upon images, the
crucifix, Our Lady, or any other saint or saintess.
15. “That the holy water consecrated by the priest in the church, is
not holier or more efficacious than any other river or spring water;
because the Lord blessed all waters together after their creation.
16. “That the death of Thomas Becket (archbishop of Canterbury), was
neither meritorious nor holy.
17. “That relics consisting in bones of the dead may not be worshiped,
exhumed, placed on altars in the church, or inclosed in chests.
18. “That prayers made in every place are equally acceptable to God.
19. “Saints should not be worshiped, but God alone.
20. “That bells and hand-bells in church, are instituted for no other
purpose than to fill the purses of the priests.
21. “It is no sin to oppose the commands of the (Roman) church.
22. “That the (true) Catholic church is only the congregation of the
beloved children of God.”
These are briefly the principal articles which they together
unanimously maintained, and whereupon they also suffered death,
inasmuch as they, after severe examination and manifold torments,
refusing to apostatize, were condemned to be burnt alive; which also
took place with them, namely, first with William White, in September,
1428, in the city of Norwich, and then with father Abraham, and John
Waddon, who, having commended their souls into the hands of God,
offered up a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable unto God.
ACCOUNT OF THE IMPRISONMENT AND DEATH OF SAID MARTYRS.
Concerning the imprisonment and death of William White, as also of
father Abraham and John Waddon, we find the following account in the
writings of John Fox: “William White, who instructed these people in
the light of the Gospel, in the county of Norfolk, for the space of
about four years, until he, as already stated, was apprehended by
virtue of the aforesaid letter of the King, and brought before William,
bishop of Norwich, by whom he was convicted and condemned on these
and other articles, thirty in number, was burnt alive in the city of
Norwich, in the month of September, A. D. 1428, under King Henry VI.,
then but a child of six years.
“Having arrived at the stake, and about to open his mouth to address
and admonish the people, and to confirm them in the truth, one of the
bishop’s servants struck him on the mouth, thus compelling him to
remain silent.”
Thus did this godly man receive the crown of martyrdom, and ended this
temporal life, to the great sorrow of all pious Christians in the
county of Norfolk. His aforesaid wife, Johanna, who, according to her
feeble ability, followed in the footsteps of her husband by scattering
said doctrine everywhere, and confirming many in the truth of God, had
to suffer much on this account, in the same year and from the same
bishop, as Thomas Walden himself confesses, who, besides others, was
present at the examination and condemnation of said William White.
About the same time there were also burnt the aforesaid father Abraham
of Cholchester, and John Waddon, priest, on account of the same
articles mentioned above. Besides these, very many other godly men
were most cruelly put to death. Second book of the _History of the
Persecutions, fol. 582, col. 4_, and _fol. 583, col. 1_, from _John
Fox, in Actis Guil. White_. Also from _Bal., in Guil. White, in Append_.
SPECIAL ACCOUNT OF WILLIAM WHITE, TOUCHING HIS DOCTRINE, SUFFERING AND
DEATH.
[Illustration: WILLIAM WHITE BURNED AT NORWICH, ENGLAND.]
In the fifteenth book of the _Chronijck van den Ondergang, page 788_,
are found the following words: “William Wicht, or William White, a
learned, upright, honest, and eloquent man, a priest in England,
forsook his ministry, and published the Gospel, by writing, preaching,
and teaching, saying: ‘that forgiveness of sins must be obtained from
God Almighty alone; that the unmarried life of the Pope and his clergy
was the very satanic state, and a severe captivity of antichrist; and
that the hooded, striped and shaven clergy were the mercenaries and
servants of Lucifer.’”
But upon being apprehended, he renounced his doctrine, A. D. ----.
Subsequently, however, he became re-established, and pious, and
stronger, in the doctrine, and very boldly suffered burning for his
confession, at Norwich, in England, A. D. 1428. Compare this with
_Hist. Andr. Hondorf, fol. 35. Vincent. Cal., fol. 134. Georg. Pac.
cap. 11._
NOTE.--Three years previous to the death of this martyr, A. D. 1425, a
miserable persecution was raised by the Romanists against some orthodox
Christians; concerning which the following account is found, for the
year 1425: “About this time, Peter Torea was executed at Speyer, in
Germany, and many others in the Roman countries; because they confessed
the truth or opposed the Roman superstitions.” _Georg. Pac., cap. 11_,
compared with _P. J. Twisck, Chron., page 788_.
MARGARET BACKSTER, IMPRISONED UNTIL DEATH, OR PUT TO DEATH IN PRISON,
IN ENGLAND, A. D. 1430.
According to old chronicles, about A. D. 1430, a godfearing woman,
named Margaret Backster, was apprehended in England, for the truth of
the Gospel of Christ; and as she would not apostatize, it seems, she
was imprisoned until death, or put to death in prison; which, though it
has remained partly hidden before men, God will make manifest in that
last, great and terrible day; so that those who have secretly suffered
for the name of Christ, shall then be openly rewarded and crowned; and
those who have secretly shed the blood of the saints, shall be banished
with open shame from the face of God, to be tormented, as they have
tormented others, yet without ceasing, for ever and ever. Rev. 14:11.
“Then shall we discern between the righteous and the wicked.” Mal.
3:18; Wis. 5:1,2; Matt. 5:46.
CONCERNING THE ACCUSATIONS BROUGHT AGAINST THIS WOMAN, WE HAVE FOUND
THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT IN OLD WRITERS.
Margaret Backster, wife of William Backster, was accused by Johanna
(wife of Cleveland), of divers articles, as, of having told her, that
she should not swear at all, neither by God, nor by Our Lady, nor by
any saints or saintesses.
Again: That she, the deponent, upon being asked by Margaret Backster,
what she did every day in church, answered, that she knelt before the
crucifix, repeated five Pater-nosters, and read as many Ave Marias in
honor of Our Lady. Whereupon Margaret replied: “You do very wrong in
kneeling or praying before such images as stand in the church; for God
dwells not in such churches, nor will he come down from heaven; neither
will he give you any more a reward for such prayers, than a taper which
is placed under the cover of the font, can give light at night, to
those that are in the church.”
Again: Said deponent, Johanna Cleveland, being asked by Margaret, what
she believed respecting the sacrament of the altar, said, that the
sacrament of the altar, after the consecration, is the true body of
Christ, in the form of bread. Whereupon Margaret said to her: “Your
belief is vain; for if this sacrament were God and the true body of
Christ, there would be a countless number of gods, since a thousand
priests and more, make a thousand such gods every day, and then eat
them.”
Again: She said she knew for certain, that the vengeance of God would
speedily come upon the Bishop of Norwich, and others, who had caused
the death of father Abraham, William White, and John Waddon, faithful
preachers of the word of God, and of many other godly men with them.
She also declared, that she had seen how one of those servants of
Caiaphas smote William White on the mouth or lips, when he was about to
be put to death, and wanted to address the people, and admonish them
for the last time; and that he (that servant) stopped his mouth, so
that he could not at all declare the will of God. From _John Fox, Hist.
Angl._
Then follow various other articles, believed and confessed by her, in
opposition to the belief of the Roman church, and militating against
images, the power of the priests, the forty days’ fast, pilgrimages,
the mendicancy of the monks, too numerous to mention.
These, then, are the principal and most remarkable things extracted by
John Fox from the old records concerning Margaret Backster; but since
in said records no mention was made as to what befell her after these
accusations, or what became of her, he did not venture to state it;
however, it is supposed, as some write, that they put her to death
secretly in prison, or imprisoned her until death, since no mention is
made of her penitence or apostasy. Second book of the _Hist. of the
Persecutions, fol. 583_, from _Joh. Fox, Angl., page 610_.
NOTE.--_A. D. 1431_, one Paul Craus, in Scotland, was apprehended by
Bishop Henry, because he rejected auricular confession, the invocation
of the saints, the idolatrous sacrament, etc. And as he would not
depart from the truth confessed, he was finally sentenced to the fire,
and burnt on the thirtieth of June, of the same year. Compare _Vinc.
Cal., fol. 368. Georg. Pac., cap. 11. Herm. Mod., fol. 274_, with the
_Chron. van den Ond., page 796_; also, _A. Mell., fol. 584, col. 1, ex
Hist. Scoticae, lib. 17_.
_A. D. 1436_, five years after, one Thomas Rhedonensis, a Frenchman,
out of Christian zeal, went to Rome, hoping there to preach the pure
doctrine of Christ. But when he found the opposite there, and noticed
the great abominations, hypocrisy, and pomp, he could not forbear
reproving the cardinals and ecclesiastics for their ungodly life,
saying, that they ought to live modestly and virtuously like Christ and
the apostles. By this he speedily drew upon him the envy and wrath of
said persons, so that he was led before Pope Eugenius, and there cast
into prison; where he was greatly tormented, yea, ultimately, sentenced
to the fire, and burnt. Compare the last mentioned chronicle, _page
800, col. 2_, with _Vinc. Cal., fol. 145. Georg. Pac., cap. 11_.
_A. D. 1439_, there was condemned as a heretic, in the council of
Basel (where the feast of the Conception of Mary was instituted and
established), a certain upright man, named Augustine de Roma; but as to
what happened to him after said condemnation by the council, has not
been mentioned by the writers from whom we have quoted this. See the
authors cited above. Also, _P. J. Twisck, Chron., page 808_.
_A. D. 1450_, Alanus Chartetius wrote a book respecting the fruits
reaped by the church from the unmarried life of the priests; by which
he greatly reproved and censured the abuses in the church of the
Romanists. See further on. In the same year, Peter de Luna opposed
the Pope and the ecclesiastical power, and openly wrote against them,
and was therefore also condemned as a heretic. From _Joh. Munst.,
fol. 182_. There were also at this time, many learned men, who
discountenanced purgatory, confession, letters of indulgence, the
mass, vigils, etc.; which, to all appearance, caused them much misery
according to the body; but as we have not found the particulars in
regard to it, we will pass them by. Compare the account of _Fortalius
Sidæus_ with the last mentioned chronicle, _page 823, col. 2_, at the
foot, and _page 824, col. 1_, at the top.
VERY MANY CHRISTIANS CALLED WALDENSES, PUT TO DEATH AT EICHSTÆDT, IN
GERMANY, A. D. 1457.
After the church of God in Germany had enjoyed peace for a season,
so that she, as it appears, began to grow, flourish, and increase,
the thorns of persecution immediately arose over her; inasmuch as in
the year 1457, particularly in the bishopric of Eichstædt, through
the envy of the Romanists, her meetings were broken up, the believers
apprehended, and all who remained steadfast, sentenced to death; who,
in great numbers, from love to their Savior, and especially for the
salvation of their own souls, gave their bodily life unto death, thus
sealing with their blood, the truth which they had confessed at baptism
before many witnesses; for which the Lord, hereafter, shall give to
them, as triumphant conquerors, palms into their hands, place crowns
upon their heads, and put a new song of praise into their mouths, so
that for all their suffering they shall rejoice, shout, and be glad
forever.
Touching the offering up of these friends of God, we have not been able
correctly to ascertain it, namely, whether they perished by water,
fire, or the sword; except that they were put to death for the doctrine
of the Waldenses. Of their suffering and death, mention is also made in
the second book of the _Hist. of the Persecutions, fol. 590, col. 4_,
from _Vignier Hist. Eccles., A. D. 1457_.
The abovementioned author, or his printer, has made a chronological
error, putting A. D. 1475 instead of A. D. 1457. Then follows: “A. D.
----, a great number of Christians professing the doctrine of the
Waldenses, were discovered and apprehended in the bishopric or within
the jurisdiction of Eichstædt, in Germany; very many of whom were put
to death.”
This year, 1457, P. J. Twisck fixes as the date of this event, though
he does not make mention of their death, but only of their severe
persecution. _Chron., page 829, col. 2_, calling the scene of their
persecution Richstadt, instead of Eichstædt.
NOTE.--_A. D. 1465._ At this time, Laurence Valla, a man of great
learning, vigorously attacked the power and supremacy of the Pope,
placing his salvation in the eternal merits of Christ. He reproved
the vows and the lasciviousness of the monks, yea, declared publicly,
that the Pope was the originator of all wars and dissensions; as also,
that he had for sale not only worldly, but also spiritual goods, yea,
even the (so-called) Holy Ghost. On account of this he was driven into
banishment, and resided at Naples, where he died. _Chron. van den Ond.,
p. 841, col. 1_, from _John Munst., fol. 192, Georg. Pac., cap. 11_.
_A. D. 1470._--John de Wesalia (that is, John of Wesel) now taught
at Worms, that all believers are saved by pure grace, through faith
in Jesus Christ; and that the supremacy of the Pope is not to be
regarded. He defended matrimony, and the dispensation of the Supper
(called the Sacrament) under two forms, that is, with bread and wine.
Human institutions, as fasts, letters of indulgence, feast-days,
pilgrimages, extreme unction, confirmation, auricular confession and
satisfaction,[200] he utterly rejected. In short, he was regarded as a
heretic, and, in the year 1479, condemned and burnt at Mentz. Compare
_Joh. Munst., fol. 196. Chron., Fra., fol. 91_, with the account in
the _Chron. van den Ond., page 847, col. 2_. Others, however, make
mention only of the burning of his books. See _A. M., fol. 597_; this
the intelligent reader can easily distinguish, and, when necessary,
reconcile.
[200] Or Penance imposed by the priest.--_Translator._
Again: Same year as above. George Morgenstern wrote and taught at this
time against the errors of popery and the manifold attires of the
monks. He said that the world was full of monks, but that scarcely in
one out of a hundred could a little virtue be found. Whether the monks
and other priests received this in good part, we may readily judge,
though we have learned nothing in regard to his suffering. Compare _P.
J. Twisck, Chron., page 847, col. 1, with Catal. Test. Verit., fol.
884_.
STEPHEN, AN ELDER OF THE WALDENSES, BURNT FOR THE FAITH, AT VIENNA, IN
AUSTRIA, ABOUT A. D. 1471.
About the year 1471, an awful persecution arose in and around Bohemia,
against the old, orthodox Waldenses, whose orthodox confession we do
not deem necessary to relate again. This persecution was excited by
Johanna, the widow of King George of Bohemia, who, notwithstanding the
death of her husband, earnestly solicited the princes of the realm,
everywhere to exterminate not only those who were called Bohemian
Brethren, but also the old Waldenses.