Matchlesse crueltie declared at large in the ensuing history of the Waldenses apparently manifesting unto the world the horrible persecutions which they have suffered by the papists, for the space of four hundred and fifty years : wherein is related their original and beginning, their piety and purity in religion, both for doctrine and discipline : likewise hereunto is added an exact narrative of the late bloody and barbarous massacres, murders and other unheard of cruelties committed on many thousands of the Protestants dwelling in the valleys of Piedmont, &c. by the Duke of Savoy's forces, joyned with the French army and several bloody Irish regiments / published by command of His Highness the Lord Protector.

CHAP. VIII.

Theodosius succeedeth the Legat Milon: proceedeth a∣gainst the Earle Remond, excommunicateth him, and frames very violent articles against him: The Earle Remond retireth himselfe from S^t. Giles and Arles with the king of Aragon, lest they should be apprehen∣ded by the Legat: Simon besiegeth Montferrand: Baudoin reuolteth: The king of Aragon allieth him∣selfe with the Earle Simon.

IN the yeere of our Lord 1211. [ 1211] The∣dize gaue the Earle Remond to vnder∣stand, that he should haue what was iust and right touching his affaires, and with faire words perswaded him to come to S^t. Giles. Being there he ript vp the businesse touching the murder of the Monke Frier Peter de Chasteauneuf from the be∣ginning, without consideration of any precedent iustifi∣cation, and excommunicated the said Earle Remond, not as being guilty of the death of the said Monke, but because he had not driuen the Albingenses out of his countrey as he was bound by promise. The Earle Remond hauing felt the blast of the said excommu∣nication, retired himselfe to Toulouze, not speaking a word, before the Legat had meanes to publish the sentence.

The Bishop of Toulouze knowing hee was excom∣municated, sent one to certifie vnto him, that hee was to depart out of the citie of Toulouze, so long as the Masse was singing, because he might not say Masse, there being an excommunicated person within the citie. The Earle Remond being much moued with the audacious boldnesse of the Bishop, sent a Gentleman, one of his followers to tell him, that hee was to de∣part and that speedily out of his territories, vpon paine of his life. The Bishop departed and sent to the Prouost of the Cathedrall Church, and to the Ca∣nons, that they were to depart with them, and that with the Crosse, and the Banner, and the Hoast, and for the greater deuotion, they should goe barefoot and in procession. In this equipage they arriued at the Armie of the Legat, where they were receiued as Martyrs persecuted for the Masse, euen with teares of the Pilgrims, and the generall applause of euery one.

The Legat thought now that he had sufficient cause to prosecute the Earle Remond, as a relapse and impe∣nitent man, but yet he desired much to get hold of him, because if he could once apprehend him, hee would quickly make him to conclude that businesse as the Earle of Beziers did. To this purpose, hee flattered him by Letters, full of testimonies of his great loue towards him, & by this meanes drew him once againe to Arles. The Earle entreated the King of Aragon that he would be there to hinder (if need should be) any foule play that might bee offered. Being come to the place, the Legat commanded the King of Aragon, and the said Earle Remond, that they should not depart the city, without his leaue vpon paine of indignation, and

to be prosecuted as rebells to the Church. Some friend of the Earles vsed the meanes, to giue him a sight of the Articles of the Sentence, which the Legat had a purpose to publish against the said Earle Remond, which were these that follow.

That the Earle of Toulouze shall incontinently dis∣misse and casheere all his men of Armes, not retaining any one of them.

That he shal be obedient, and subiect to the Church, of which he shall repaire the damages, and satisfie all costs and charges.

That throughout all his lands, no man shall eat more than two sorts of flesh.

That he shall expell out of his countries and territo∣ries, all the heretikes and their allies.

That he shall deliuer into the hands of the Legat, and the Earle of Montford, all those that shall bee na∣med vnto him, to doe with them as they please, and that within one yeare.

That no man within his lands, noble or ignoble, shall weare any apparell of great price, but blacke and course clokes.

That all the strong places and castles of defence, be∣longing vnto him, shall be ouerthrowne and laid euen with the ground.

That no Gentleman of his shall remaine or dwell in any City or Castle, but shall make his abode, in the fields and countrey houses, as a villager.

That he shall not leuy in his lands any tolles, but those that haue beene of old time imposed.

That euery master of an house, shall pay yearely to the Legat foure Toulouzian pence.

That when the Earle of Montford, or any of his

people shall passe through his countries, they shall pay nothing for any thing they take or spend.

That hauing performed all things, as aboue, he shall trauell beyond the Seas, to make warre against the Turkes, neuer returning againe into these parts, but by the commandement of the Legat.

That after all these things, the Legat and the Earle of Montfort should restore vnto him, all his Lands and Signories, when it should please them.

These Articles being communicated to the King of Aragon, he found them so vniust, that he would stay no longer in that place, but counselled the Earle of Tou∣louze presently to mount on horse-backe, for feare lest they should ceaze vpon his person, euen to the full execution of those Articles, who it should seeme went about to enrich themselues by his spoyles. And foras∣much as the said King of Aragon had perswaded the said Earle that hee should put no more confidence in the Legat and Earle Simon, hee cast in his teeth his too great facillitie, saying vnto him in Gascongne tongue: Pla bous an pagat, that is to say, They haue well payed you.

The Legat and the Earle Simon being much dis∣contented that this prey had escaped their hands, and knowing that he would no more suffer himselfe to bee abused and ouer-reached by words, they endeuored to get that by force, which either by faire words or foule they could not. Whereupon they went presently and besieged the Castle of Montferrand, into which the Earle Remond had put the Earle Baudoni his brother, with the Vicount of Montelar, Remond of Pierregourde, and Pons Roux of Toulouze, and diuers other valiant men to defend that place, which he knew to be of great

importance. After some breach and assaults, the Earle Simon being out of all hope to winne this place by force of Armes, desired to speake with the Earle Bau∣doni, which hauing obtained, he told him that his bro∣ther made it appeare vnto the world, that he had desire to vndoe him, in that hee had shut him vp in so paltrie a place, which he very well saw hee could not long de∣fend, for that at the arriuall of that world of Pilgrims, which were now marching towards him, hee would quickly know, how great an ouersight it was to locke vp himselfe within so weake a hold: That if he did at∣tend any violent assault of these Pilgrims, there would be no more place for mercie. That if he would yeeld himselfe and the place, hee would leaue it to his guard for the Church, and besides, he would make him, for the time to come, a partner of his conquests, with such aduantage, that hee should shortly bee a greater man, and in greater authoritie than his brother, who had procured vnto himselfe, by his rebellion, his vtter o∣uerthrow. That hee could neuer haue power sufficient to resist the force of so many Kings, Princes and Po∣tentates, who sent their people to this warre, rewarded by their owne zeale, without any charge of the Church. That euery man would commend and ad∣mire this his retreat, besides that happinesse he should gaine vnto himselfe, by consecrating himselfe to the seruice of God and his Church, and acquitting him∣selfe of that people amongst whom there was not any that was not iudged by the Church worthy to be con∣demned to the fire. The Earle Baudoni suffered him∣selfe to bee carryed by the promises and faire speeches of the Earle Simon, and so deliuered vp the place, and put himselfe into Bruniquel, a place very strong which

belonged to the Earle Remond, and promised neuer to beare Armes, but in defence of the Church. These two places drew with them, to the Earle Simons part, the places of Rabasteins, Gaillac, Montague, La Guarda, Pech, Selsas, La Guipia, S^t. Antonin, with other places neere adioyning.

The Earle Remond being much astonished to see himselfe betrayed, and abandoned by his owne bro∣ther, bewayled his misfortunes at Toulouze, where from day to day hee attended to bee inuested; when vpon the surcharge of these euils, hee vnderstood that the Legat and the Earle Simon, had wonne vnto them the King of Aragon, his one and only prop vpon earth, vnder God. The meane to worke it was this: The Legat writ vnto him, that he should winne great com∣mendation, and doe greater seruice to the Pope and to the Church, if he would once againe become a media∣tor for the peace of the Church. And to that end they entreated him to come to Narbonne, where they hoped to lay a good foundation. Hee tooke his iourney thi∣ther, where the first thing they proposed, was, to make some agreement betwixt the Earle of Foix, and the Church, and the Earle Simon. A premeditated designe againe to spoyle the Earle Remond of his succours. Af∣terwards they gaue him to vnderstand, that the Earle Simon desired to liue with him, as with his best kinsman and friend that he had in the world, and for this cause he was very willing to ioyne in alliance with him, if he would be pleased to accept of a daughter of the Earle Simons, to marry with his eldest sonne. And such con∣ditions they proposed vnto him, that he was content that his sonne should marry the daughter of the said Earle Simon; in regard of which alliance, the King of

Aragon, gaue to the Earle Simon the inuestiture of the Earledome of Beziers, which before hee would neuer agree vnto, nor to that of Carcassonne, which he likewise at the same time obtained. But that which did most hurt the Earles of Toulouze, and of Foix, was, that they caused the King of Aragon to sweare, that he would no more fauour the Albingenses, but carry himselfe as a Neuter in this warre betwixt the Church and them.

The Earle Simon hauing gotten that which he desi∣red, that is, to alienate the King of Aragon from the Earles of Toulouze, and of Foix, hee tooke his time to bend his forces both against the one and the other.