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CONTENTS.

BOOK I.

HISTORY OF THE ALBIGENSES, THOSE OTHER GLORIOUS WITNESSES TO THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY, AGAINST THE ANTICHRIST OF ROME, CONTAINING THE TEDIOUS WARS AND TERRIBLE PERSECUTIONS WHICH THEY SUFFERED FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY.

I. Who the Albigenses were. Their Faith. Who were comprehended under the name of the Albigenses. The time when, and the persons by whom, they were instructed in their Faith. The credit and esteem manifested for their Pastors. Condemnation of them by Pope Alexander III. and the Council of Lateran. The increase and multiplication of those Witnesses. The Cities and Rulers who coalesced with them. Their doctrines, for which the Popes hated and persecuted, and the Papists murdered the Albigenses. II. Pope Innocent III. made show of a desire to reduce the Albigenses into subjection to the Court of Rome by preaching and conference. The famous dispute at Montreal. For what end the Pope permitted controversial debates in matters of Religion.-III. The Disputes concerning Religion terminated in Wars commenced by the Pope. Pretences of the Pope for publishing the Crusade against the Albigenses. Earl Remond submitted and humbled himself before the Pope's Legate, who having been scourged by Milo, the Papal Legate, at the grave of a persecuting Friar, he was deprived of the Earldom of Veniscin by the Pope, and then made General of the Crusaders at the Siege of Beziers.-IV. The perplexity of Earl Remond after his pretended reconciliation. The Siege of Beziers. The intercession of the Earl of Beziers for his city totally unavailing. The storming, capture, and conflagration of Beziers.-V. The Siege of Carcassone. The capture of the town. The general assault upon the city. Many of the Crusaders slain. Ineffectual interposition of the King of Arragon for the Earl of Beziers. The knavish stratagem of the Pope's Legate to secure the Earl of Beziers. Flight of the people of Carcassone, and complete conquest of the deserted city.—VI. The Legate Milo appointed Earl Simon of Montfort General for the Church. Earl Remond obtains the Pontifical Absolution. Death of the Earl of Beziers. Displeasure of the King of Arragon with the wickedness of Simon of Montfort. Revolts from his jurisdiction. Simon's requisitions for new armies of Crusaders against the Albigenses.-VII. New hosts of Crusaders join Simon of Montfort, conducted from France by his wife. With their aid Simon re-conquered the Castles of Menerbe and Termes, and the city De la Vaur. Earl Remond cited to appear before the Legate, who refused to obey the summons. He was deceived by Tolquel, the Popish Prelate of Toulouse, through which he lost the Castle of Narbonne. Death of Milo, the Pope's Legate. VIII. Theodosius succeeding Milo, as the Pontifical Legate, proceeded against Earl Remond. Excommunication and most violent articles against Earl Remond by Theodosius. The King of Arragon and Earl Remond withdrew from St. Giles and Ailes, that they might not be made prisoners by the Legates. Siege of Montferrand by Simon. Revolt of Baudoin. The King of Arragon joined in alliance with Earl Simon of Montfort.-IX. Earl Simon besieged Toulouse. After committing great ravages among the Vineyards, Simon was defeated, and raised the siege. Aimeri was taken prisoner. Succour of the Earl of Toulouse. Earl Simon made war with the Earl of Foix, who could obtain no redress from the ungodly Roman Legate. The King of Arragon encouraged the Earl of Foix, whose son in vain interposed on his behalf.-X. The Siege of Castelnau d'Arri. Retreat of Simon of Montfort. The Earl of Foix offered Simon battle. The King of Arragon interceded for the Earls of Toulouse, Foix, and Comminge, and wrote on their behalf to the Council at de la Vaur, but to no purpose. The King of Arragon bid defiance to Earl Simon. Levies were made on both sides; but Simon advancing, took several places.-XI. Exploits of Earl Simon, before the King of Arragon had prepared his Army. The King of Arragon refused to come to any treaty with Earl Simon, who was weak. The taking of the city of Muret by the King of Arragon. The battle in which the King of Arragon was slain, and his army routed.-XII. Pope Innocent III. sends a new Legate, named Bonaventure, against the Albigenses. Prince Lewis, Philip Augustus's son, took upon him the Cross, and caused Toulouse and Narbonne to be dismantled.

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CONTAINING THE HISTORY OF THE LATTER WARS AND PERSECUTIONS OF THE

ALBIGENSES FROM THE YEAR 1213, TILL THEIR UTTER SUPPRESSION.

I. The War was renewed against the Earl of Foix. The Arragonians make incursions into Earl Simon's territories. He is defeated by the Earl of Foix. Bonaventure the Legate persuaded the Earls of Foix and Toulouse to go to Rome. They do no good there. Earl Remond's son went thither from England, but to no purpose.-II. Earl Remond's son took Baucaire. The Prelate of Toulouse betrayed the citizens of Toulouse. The inhabitants of Toulouse received very ill treatment from Earl Simon. They defended themselves to his confusion. A new Expedition. Remond recaptured Toulouse. Simon of Montfort went thither, and after several battles, was slain by a stone thrown by a woman. His army was put to flight.-III. Earl Remond recovered all that Earl Simon had taken from him in l'Agenois. The Earl of Foix re-took Mirepoix from Roger de Leni. The Earl of Comminge regained the lands which were detained from him by Joris. An advantageous re-encounter for the Albigenses in Lauragues. Expeditions of small effect after the death of Earl Simon. Prince Lewis took Marmande, and made his return into France, having summoned Toulouse to surrender.-IV. Alteration made in the War of the Albigenses, occasioned by the death of Pope Innocent III. Change of the Legate. Death of Remond, Earl of Toulouse. Sickness of the Earl of Foix, the Lady Philippe de Moncade his mother, and the Monk Dominic.-V. Almarick of Montfort resigns the countries taken from the Albigenses, into the hands of King Lewis VIII. Siege of Avignon. The King sets up a Governor in Languedoc. The War against the Albigenses renewed. Toulouse besieged. Treaty of Peace with Earl Remond, and the people of Toulouse.-VI. Articles of the Treaty betwixt Re mond, Earl of Toulouse, and the Pope's Legate Amelin, and the Queen mother of Lewis IX. King of France.-VII. Pecuniary penalties laid upon the Albigenses. Earl Remond forced to make decrees against them. A Council at Toulouse against the Al. bigenses, in which they were prohibited the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Other constitutions against them. Earl Remond's daughter carried to Paris.-VIII. The Earl of Toulouse solicits the Earl of Foix, to submit himself to the obedience of the Pope. Practices he made use of to draw him off from the party of the Albigenses. How he suffered himself to be managed by the Pope's Legate.-IX. The last War of the Albigenses carried on by Françavel, a natural son of the Earl of Beziers. Progress thereof. The last Expedition levied against the Albigenses. Peace concluded between Amelin the Legate and Trançavel. End of the War.-X. Several Monks, Inquisitors, and offi. cers of the Inquisition slain. Pope Innocent IV. treated Earl Remond very disgracefully. He took a journey to Rome. He went to Rhodes, and died at Milan.-XI. Alphonsus, King Lewis's brother, took possession of the goods of Remond, Earl of Toulouse. The Persecution continued against the Albigenses, until the Gospel found admittance into France, and then the greatest part of those places wherein the Albigenses dwelt, readily received the Reformation.-XII. Conclusion of this History of the Albigenses.

BOOK III.

PRECIOUS REMAINS OF THE DOCTRINE AND DISCIPLINE OF THE OLD WALDENSES AND ALBIGENSES, AND THEIR NOBLE TESTIMONY AGAINST THE ROMAN ANTICHRIST.

I. Ancient Confession of the Faith of the Waldenses, copied out of Manuscripts, bearing date Anno Domini 1120, nearly four hundred years before the time of Luther or Calvin, and twenty before Peter Waldo.-II. Catechism of the Ancient Waldenses, for the instructing of their Youth.-III. Brief Exposition of the Waldenses and Albigenses upon the Apostles' Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Sacraments. -IV. Ancient Confession of Sins, commonly used amongst the Albigenses and Waldenses, translated out of their own language.-V. What the Albigenses and Waldenses taught touching Marriage.-VI. What the Waldenses and Albigenses taught touching the Visitation of the Sick.-VII. The Discipline under which the Waldenses and Albigenses lived, extracted out of divers authentic Manuscripts, written in their own language several hundred years before Luther or Calvin. VIII. A Treatise of the Old Waldenses and Albigenses, concerning Antichrist, Purgatory, Invocation of Saints, and the Sacraments.-IX. A Treatise of Tribulations.-X. The Noble Lesson, written in the language of the Ancient Inhabitants of the Valleys, in the year 1100, extracted out of a most authentic Manuscript, a true original whereof, is to be seen in the public Library of the University of Cambridge.

129

HISTORY

OF THE

OLD ALBIGENSES.

BOOK I.

HISTORY OF THE ALBIGENSES, THOSE OTHER GLORIOUS WITNESSES TO THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY, AGAINST THE ANTICHRIST OF ROME. CONTAINING THE TEDIOUS WARS AND TERRIBLE PERSECUTIONS WHICH THEY SUFFERED FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL, IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY.

CHAPTER I.

Who the Albigenses were.-Their faith.-Who were comprehended under the name of the Albigenses.-At what time, and by whom they were instructed in their faith.-In what credit and esteem their pastors have been.-By whom, and in what council condemned.-How they have multiplied and increased.-What cities and great lords have sided with them.-For what doctrine the Popes hated, and put them to death.

THE Albigenses, who are treated of in this history, did not differ from the Waldenses in faith, but were only so called from the country of Albi where they dwelt, and whence at first they derived their original. The popes condemned them as Waldenses. The legates made war upon them as professors of the faith of the Waldenses. The monks inquisitors formed their process and indictments as against Waldenses. The people persecuted them as such, and they themselves looked upon that title as an honour, being very well assured of the purity of their doctrine, as the same with that of the Waldenses. In respect whereof, several historians call them Waldenses. We shall distinguish them therefore not by their faith, but by the place wherein they lived, and by the particular wars that they suffered for above fifty years. Under the name of Albigenses, we comprehend all the subjects of the earls Remond of Toulouse, both the

b

a Rainerius de forma hæreticandi.

b James de Riberia, in Collectaneis urbis Toloza.

17

129

father and the son, the subjects of the earls of Foix and Comminge, and all those who adhered to their party, who fought for their religion, and underwent the same troubles and persecutions.

They received the faith of the Waldenses, a little after the departure of Waldo from Lyons. The instruments who were employed in that work, were Peter Bruis, Henry, Joseph, Esperon, and Arnold Hot, from whom they were afterwards called Pierrebruisians or Petrobruisians, Henricians, Josephists, Esperonists, and Arnoldists. But Henry and Arnold principally laboured in the country of Albi, and with such success, that within a little time there were found but few, and in several places not any, who would go any more to the mass; saying, that the sacrifice of the mass was only invented to enrich the priests, and to make them the more esteemed and regarded in the world, as being able by their words to make the body of Christ, and to offer him up as a sacrifice to God the Father, for the sins both of the living and the dead. Which is a piece of wickedness and impiety, that in effect destroys the sacrifice of the Son of God, and makes the merit of his death and passion of none effect. There were many in the dioceses of Rhodes, Cahors, Agen, Toulouse, and Narbonne, who gave ear to their reasons and persuasions, because the doctors who taught amongst the Waldenses were learned men, and well skilled and versed in the holy Scripture. But the priests on the contrary, who applied their study to nothing else but the sacrifice of the mass, and to receive the oblations for the dead, were ignorant, and therefore contemned and slighted by the people.d

Pope Alexander III being much moved and incensed, because several great provinces did cast off and reject the yoke of the court of Rome, and withdrew their obedience from it, condemned them as heretics in the Council of Lateran.

Nevertheless they multiplied and increased to that degree, that in the year 1200, they possessed the cities of Toulouse, Apamiers, Montauban, Villemur, Antonin, Puech Laurence, Castres, Lambes, Carcassone, Beziers, Narbonne, Beaucaire, Avignon, Tarascon, the country of Veniscin; and in Dauphiny, Crest, Arnaud, and Monteil-Aimar."

Moreover, they had many great lords who sided with them, Remond earl of Thoulouse, the earl of Foix, the viscount of Beziers, Gaston lord of Bearn, the earl of Carmain, the earl of Bigorre, the lady of Lauar, and

c

Here is the like inadvertency with respect to the Albigenses, as we observed with respect to the Waldenses; his deriving as well these as the former from Waldo of Lyons. With reference to both, the truth of history in short is thisThat as in the Valleys of Piedmont, the primitive christianity was derived down to Claudius Archbishop of Turin, who maintained the purity of doctrine in the ninth century against the innovations of Rome, and who transmitted down the same to his disciples, and they to succeeding generations to this day-so in the neighbouring parts, in France, in the eighth century, the purity of christianity in opposition to the idolatry of the church of Rome, was strenuously maintained under Charlemagne; and from the holy men of that age the lamp of pure doctrine was handed down to Bertram, from him to Berengarius, from him to Peter Bruis, from Peter Bruis to Waldo, from Waldo to Dulcinus, from him to Marsilius, from him to Wickliff, from him to Huss and Jerom of Prague, and from their scholars, the Fratres Bohemi, to Luther and Calvin.

a James de Riberia in his Collections of the City of Toulouse.

• Claudius de Rubis in his Hist. of the City of Lyons, l. 3, p. 269. Holagaray in the History of Foix.

several others, of whom mention shall be made in their proper place. Besides all which, the kings of Arragon and England often took upon them the defence of their cause, by reason of their alliance with Remond earl of Toulouse.

The doctrines that they maintained against the court of Rome were these:5

I. That the Romish church is not the holy church, and spouse of Christ, but that it is a church filled with the doctrine of devils-That Babylon, which John described in the Revelation, the mother of fornications and abominations, gorged with the blood of the saints.

II. That the mass was not instituted either by Christ, or the apostles, but is the invention of men.

III. That the prayers of the living are unprofitable to the dead.

IV. That purgatory, as held and maintained in the church of Rome, is a human invention, to serve the avarice of the priests.

V. That the saints ought not to be invocated.

VI. That transubstantiation is an invention of men, a false and erroneous doctrine; and the adoration of the bread, manifest and downright idolatry.

Therefore that we must forsake the church of Rome, wherein the contrary was affirmed and taught, because we cannot be present at the mass, wherein idolatry is used and practised, nor expect salvation by any other means than by Jesus Christ, nor transfer that honour to creatures, which is due to the Creator, nor call bread by the name of God, and worship it as such, without incurring eternal damnation, because idolaters shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

For all these things affirmed by them, the papists hated, persecuted, and put those " WITNESSES" to death.

CHAPTER II.

Pope Innocent III. made show of a desire to reduce the Albigenses into subjection to the Court of Rome by preaching and conference. The famous dispute at Montreal. For what end the Pope permitted controversial debates in matters of religion.

POPE INNOCENT III. was desirous to recover and reduce the Waldenses under the power of Rome, either by preaching and conference, or else entirely to destroy and root them out by force of arms and cruel punish

ments.

Before he came to extremities, he thought it convenient, and even necessary, in order to justify his proceedings, first to begin with words, and afterwards fall to blows. He therefore sent certain preaching friars among them who might endeavour to win them over by gentle arguments and persuasions.

Ibidem. James de Riberia, ut supra.

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