Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

Notes vppon the storie of Merindoll aboue recited.

THus hast thou heard (louing Reader) the terrible troubles, & slaughters committed by the Bishops and Cardinals againste these faithfull men of Merindol, whiche for the hainous tirannie and example of the facte moste vnmercifull, maye be comparable with any of the first persecutions in the primitiue Churche, done either by Decius, or Dioclesianus.

Nowe, touching the sayd storie and people of Merindol, brie∣fly by the way is to be noted,* 1.1 that this was not the firste time that these men of this countrey, were vexed, neither was it of late ye∣res, that the doctrine and profession of them began. For (as by the course of time, and by auncient Recordes it maye appeare) these inhabitaunts of Prouince, and other coastes bordering about the confines of Fraunce, and Piemont, had their continuance of aun∣cient time, and receiued their doctrine first from the Waldenses, or Albigenses, which were (as some say) about the yeare of oure Lord 1170. or (as other doe recken) about the yeare of our Lorde 1216. whereof thou haste (gentle reader) sufficiently to vnderstād,* 1.2 reading before, pag. 230. Item, pag. 260 Item, pag. 267. &c.

These Waldenses, otherwise called Pauperes, de Lugduno, beginning of one Petrus Waldus, Citizen of Lyons, as is before shewed,* 1.3 pag. 231. by violence of persecution being driuen oute of Lions, were disparcled abroad in diuers countreis, of whom some fled to Massilia, some to Germanie, some to Sarmatia, Liuonia, Bohemia, Calabria, and Apulia, diuers strayed to the Coun∣treis of France, especially about Prouince, and Piemont, of whōe came these Merindolians, aboue mentioned, and the Angrogni∣ans

with others, of whom now it foloweth likewise (God willing) to discourse.* 1.4 They which were in the countrey of Tolouse, of the place where they frequented, were called Albij, or Albigenses. Against the which Albigenses, Frier Dominicus was a great do∣er, labouring and preaching against them 10. yeres together, and caused many of them to be burned, for the which he was highly accepted, and rewarded in the Apostolicall Court, and at lengthe by Pope Honorius the 3. was made Patriarch of the blacke gard of the Dominicke Friers.* 1.5 Ex Antonino part. 3. tit. 19. cap. 1.

These Albigenses, against the Pope of Rome, had set vppe to them selues a Bishop of their owne, named Bartholomaeus, remai∣ning about the coastes of Croatia, and Dalmatia, as appeareth by a letter of one of the Popes Cardinals, aboue specified, pag, 261. For the which cause the Sea of Rome tooke great indignation a∣gainst the sayde Albygenses,* 1.6 and caused all their faithfull Catho∣lickes and obedienciaries to their Churche to rise vp in armour, and to take the signe of the holy crosse vpon them, to fight against them. An. 1206 by reason wherof great multitudes of them were pitifully murdered, not onely of them about Tolouse, & Auinion in France (as is afore to be seene, pag. 273.) but also in al quarters, miserable slaughters and burnings of them long continued, from the raigne of Fridericke 2. Emperour, almost to this present time, through the instigation of the Romane Popes.

Paulus Aemylius the French Chronicler in his 6. booke, wry∣ting of these Pauperes de Lugduno,* 1.7 and Humiliati, and deuiding these two orders from Albigenses, reporteth that the two former orders were reiected of Pope Lucius 3. And in their place, other two orders were approued, to witte, the order of the Dominicke Friers, and of the Franciscanes. Which seemeth not to be true, for somuch as this Pope Lucius was 20. yeres, before Innocent 3. and yet neither in the time of Pope Innocent, the order of the Dominicke Friers was approued, but in the time of Pope Hono∣rius the 3. who was 40. yeres after Pope Lucius. Again, Bernardus Lutzenbergensis, in Catal. haeret affirmeth, that these Pauperes de Lugduno,* 1.8 or Waldenses began first. an. 1218. Which if it be true, then must the other report of Aemylius be fals, wryting of the sect of Pauperes Lugdunenses, to be refused by Pope Lucius the 3. who was long before this in the yeare of our Lord. 1181.

Among other authours which wryte of these Waldenses, Io∣an. Sleidan. Lib. 16. intreating of their continuance and doctrine,* 1.9 thus wryteth of them. There be (sayeth he) in the French Prouince a people called Waldoys. These of an auncient trade and custome among them, doe not acknowledge the Bishop of Rome, and euer haue vsed a manner of doctrine somewhat more pure, then the rest, but especially since the comming of Luther, they haue encre∣sed in more knowledge and perfection of iudgement. Wherefore they haue beene oftentimes complained vppon to the kinge, as though they contemned the Magistrate, and would moue rebel∣lion, with other suche matter falsely surmised against them, more of despite and malice, then of any iust cause of truthe. There be of them certaine Townes and Villages, among which Merindoll is one. Against these Merindolians sentence was geuen, fiue yeares past, at Aix, being the high tribunall seate or iudgement place of Prouince, that all should be destroied without respecte of age or persone, in such sort, as that the houses being pluckt downe, the Village shoulde be made plaine, euen with the grounde, the trees also should be cut downe, and the place altogether made desolate and desert. All beit, though it were thus pronounced, yet was it not then put in execution, by the meanes of certaine that perswa∣ded the king to the cōtrary, namely one William Bellay, who was at the same time, the kings Lieutenaunt in Piedmont. But at the last, the 12. day of April. an. 1545. Iohn Minerius President of the Counsell of Aix, calling the Senate, reade the kings letters, com∣maunding them to execute the sentence giuen &c.

* 1.10Moreouer, concerning the confession, and the doctrine of the sayde Merindolians receiued of auncient time from their forefa∣thers the Waldenses, thus it followeth in the sayd boke and place of Iohn Sleidan.

At last (sayeth Sleidan, after he had described what great cru∣eltie was shewed against them) when the reporte hereof was bru∣ted in Germanie, it offended the mindes of many: and in deede, the Suitzers, who were then of a contrary Religion to the Pope, entreated the King, that he woulde shewe mercy to suche as were fled. Whereunto the saide king Fraunces, made aunswere in thys wise: pretending that he had iust cause to doe, as he did, inferring moreouer, that they ought not to be carefull, what he did within his dominions, or how he punished his offendours, more then he was about their affaires.* 1.11 &c, Thus hard was the king against them notwithstanding (sayeth Sleydan) that he, the yere before, had re∣ceaued from the sayde his subiectes of Merindoll, a confession of their faith and doctrine. The Articles whereof, were, that they, ac∣cording to Christian faith, confessed, first God the father, creator of all things: The sonne, the onely Mediatour and Aduocate of mankinde The holy spirite, the comfortour, and instructour of all truth. They confessed also the Church, which they acknowledged to be the felowship of Gods elect, wherof Iesus Christ is the head. The ministers also of the Churche they did allowe, wishing that such which did not their duety, should be remoued.

And as touching Magistrates, they graūted likewise the same to be ordeined of God, to defend the good,* 1.12 & to punish the trans∣gressours. And how they owe to him, not loue onely, but also tri∣bute, and custome, and no man herein to be excepted, euen by the example of Christ, who paied tribute himselfe. &c.

Likewise of Baptisme, they confessed the same to be a visible, and an outwarde signe, that representeth to vs the renuing of the spirite, and mortification of the members.

Furthermore, as touching the Lordes Supper, they sayde and confessed the same to be a thankesgeuing, and a memoriall of the benefite receaued through Christ.

Matrimonie they affirmed to be holy and instituted of God, and to be inhibited to no man.

That good workes are to be obserued & exercised of all men, as holy Scripture teacheth.

That false doctrine, which leadeth men away from the true worship of God, ought to be eschewed.

Briefly, and finally, the order and rule of their faith, they con∣fessed to be the olde and newe Testament, protesting that they be∣leeued all such things as are contained in the Apostolike Crede: Desiring moreouer, the King to geue credite to this their decla∣ratiō of their faith, so that whatsoeuer was informed to him to the contrary, was not true, and that they would well prooue, if they might be heard.

And thus much concerning the doctrine and confession of the Merindolians out of Sleidan: and also concerning their des∣cent and ofspring from the Waldenses.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Gospellers of Merindoll came first of the Waldenses.
• * 1.2

  Vid. supra pag. 230. &c.
• * 1.3

  Vid. supra pag. 231.
• * 1.4

  Waldenses how and of whom they first began.
• * 1.5

  Dominicus Pa∣triarch of the blacke Fryers, e∣nemie to the Waldenses.
• * 1.6

  Vid. s••pra pag. 261.
• * 1.7

  Ex Paul. Ae∣mylio lib. 6
• * 1.8

  Ex Bernard Lutzenberg.
• * 1.9

  See the story of Sleidan.
• * 1.10

  This confession worthy of per∣petual memory, you shall see more largely set out, in Henr. Pantaleon, wry∣ting of the de∣struction of Ca∣briers and Me∣rindoll, and also in the French storye.
• * 1.11

  Ex Ioan. Sleda∣no. ••ib. 16.
• * 1.12

  The confes∣sion & faith of the Wal∣denses in Merindoll.