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That Peter Waldo and the Waldenses haue left bookes which make proofe of their beliefe, and what they are.
THat Waldo left something in writing vnto vs, it appeares by that which Math. Illyricus saith, that he hath certaine parchments of his, which shew him to be a learned man.
The Author of the Historie of the Estate of the Church giues this testimonie that followeth. Waldo at the same time (saith he) made a collection in the vulgar
tongue of sundry passages of the ancient Fathers, to the end he might defend his opinions not onely by the au∣thoritie of the holy Scripture, but also by the testimonie of the Doctors against his aduersaties.
About fortie yeares since le Sieur de Vignaux Pastor of the Churches of the Waldenses in Piemont, writ as fol∣loweth in his memorials that he made: Of the beginning, Antiquitie, Doctrine, Religion, Manners, Discipline, Persecutions, Confessions, and progresse of the people called Waldenses, I that write (saith he) can witnesse, that being sent vnto these people to preach the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ, which I did about some fortie yeares together, I had no need to take much paines to win them from the ceremonies of the Church of Rome, nor to roote out of their minds the Pope, the Masse, Purgatory, and such other things, wherein they were a long time Do∣ctors before my coming, although the greatest part of them knew neither A nor B.
It is to this seruant of God to whom we are much bound for the multitude of bookes written by the Wal∣denses. For as oft as he lighted vpon any, he gathered them together and kept them carefully, which he did the more commodiously, for that, as he saith, he conuersed with them almost for the space of fortie yeares, which was about some fourescore yeares past. For it was about the end of his dayes that he deliuered to some particular persons his said Memorials, which he had gathered tou∣ching the Waldenses, and all those ancient bookes which he had collected in their vallies, touching the substance of which he thus speaketh. We haue, saith he, certaine an∣cient bookes of the Waldenses, tontaining Catechismes and Sermons, which are manuscripts written in the vul∣gar tongue, wherein there is nothing that makes for
the Pope or poperie. And it is wonderfull, saith he, that they saw so clearely in those times of darknes, more grosse then that of Egypt.
Le Sieur de Saint Ferriol, Pastor in the Church of O∣range, being carried with an holy curiositie, gathered to∣gether many of the said bookes, which he shewed to le Sieur de S. Aldegonde, who made mention of them in his first table, wherein he saith that there are other manu∣scripts written in a very ancient letter in the Library of M. Ioseph de la Scale.
Now all the bookes hereunder mentioned, being deli∣uered vnto me to furnish me with proofes for this Histo∣rie, I will reduce into this Catalogue.
First we haue in our hands a new Testament in parch∣ment in the Waldenses language, very well written, though with a very ancient letter.
Also there is a booke intituled the Antechrist, which thus begins, Qual cosa sia l' Antechrist, en datte de l'an mille cent & vingt.
In the same volume there are contained diuers Ser∣mons of the Pastors of the Waldenses.
With a Treatise against sinne, and the remedies to re∣sist sinne.
Also a booke entituled, The booke of Vertues.
In that volume there is another Treatise with this in∣scription, De l'enseignament de li filli: that is to say, of the Instructions of children.
A Treatise of Mariage.
A Treatise entituled, Li parlar de li Philosophes & Do∣ctors, that is, sentences of Philosophers and Doctors.
All which bookes are written in the language of the Waldenses, which is partly Prouenciall, and partly Pie∣montaine. All of them sufficient to instruct their people
to liue well, and to beleeue well: the doctrine of all which bookes being conformable to that which is taught and beleeued at this present in all the reformed Churches.
From hence we conclude, that that doctrine that hath bene maintained in our times against humane inuen∣tions, is not new but to those that haue buried it wilfully, or whose ancestors haue detested it, out of their ignorance of the goodnesse thereof; there being found diuers wri∣tings, and that in great number, which make good that for these foure hundred and fiftie yeares the doctrine of the reformed Churches is the selfesame which for many ages hath bene buried by ignorance and ingratitude.
Which our aduersaries themselues haue in some sort auouched, when they say and confesse, that that doctrine which they call new, is but the substance of the errors of the ancient Waldenses, as may appeare by their owne wri∣tings, from whence we haue gathered that which remai∣neth, in the Chapter following.
In the former Chap.
Historie of the Estate of the Church. p. 307.
Ibid. p. 3.
In his first table. p. 153.