The bloudy rage of that great antechrist of Rome and his superstitious adherents, against the true church of Christ and the faithfull professors of his gospell. Declared at large in the historie of the Waldenses and Albigenses, apparently manifesting vnto the world the visibilitie of our Church of England, and of all the reformed churches throughout Christendome, for aboue foure hundred and fiftie years last past. Diuided into three parts ... / All which hath bene faithfully collected out of the authors named in the page following the preface, by I.P.P.M. ; Translated out of French by Samson Lennard.

THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF THE ALBINGENSES.

CHAP. I. Who the Albingenses were, what their beleefe, who were comprehended vnder the name of Albingenses, at what time and by whom they haue beene instructed, in what esteeme their Pastors haue beene, by whom and in what Councell condemned, how they haue increased, what Cities and great Lords haue taken their part: For what doctrine the Papists haue hated them and persecuted them to the death.

THe Albingenses, which we are to speake of in this Hi∣story, differ nothing at all from the Waldenses, in their beleefe: but they are onely so called of the Countrey of Albi, where they dwelt, and had their first begin∣ning. The Popes haue con∣demned them as Waldenses; the Legates haue made

warre against them, as professing the beleefe of the Waldenses; the Monkes Inquisitors, haue formed their Proces and Indictments as against Waldenses: The people haue persecuted them, as being such, and themselues haue thought themselues honored by that title, vpon the assured knowledge that they had of the puritie of their doctrine, being the selfesame with the Waldenses:* 1.1 In respect whereof, many Historiographers call them Waldenses. Wee therefore will distinguish them, not by their beleefe, but by the places of their abode, and by the particular warres which they haue endured for the space of aboue fiftie yeeres. Vnder this name, wee comprehend all the subiects of the Earles Remonds of Toulouze, father and sonne, and the subiects of the Earles of Foix and Comminge, and all those that haue taken part with them, that haue fought for their Religion, and suffered the selfesame per∣secutions.

They receiued the beleefe of the Waldenses, a little after the departure of Waldo from Lion: The instru∣ments that were imployed in this worke, were Peter Bruis, one Henry, one Ioseph, one Esperon and Arnold Hott; of whom they were afterward called Pierrebrui∣siens, or Petrobrusiens, Henrisiens, Iosephists, Esperonists, and Arnoldists: but aboue all the rest, Henry and Arnold trauelled in the Countrey of Albi, and that with so good successe, that in a short time there were found but a few, and in some places not any, that would goe any more to Masse, affirming that the sacrifice of the Masse was onely inuented to enrich the Priests, and to make them to be more esteemed in the world, as ma∣king the Body of Christ by their words, and sacrifi∣cing him to God the Father for the sinnes of the liuing

and of the dead; which was an impietie, destroying the sacrifice of the Sonne of God, and annihilating the merit of his death and passion. There were many that gaue eare to their reasons in the diocese of Rhodes, Ca∣hors, Agen, Toulouze and Narbonne,* 1.2 because the Do∣ctors that taught amongst the Waldenses were learned men, conuersant in the reading of the holy Scriptures, whereas on the other side the Priests, who studied no∣thing more than the sacrifices of the Masse, and how to receiue their oblations for the dead, were altoge∣ther ignorant, and therefore contemned of the people.

Pope Alexander the third, being much mooued with anger because he saw many great Prouinces to shake off the yoke of the Romish Church,* 1.3 and to dispence with their obedience, condemned them for Heretikes in the Councell of Latran.

Neuerthelesse, they were in such a manner multipli∣ed, that in the yeere 1200. they possessed the Cities of Toulouze, Apamies, Montauban, Villemur, Saint Antonin,* 1.4 Puech Laurence, Castres, Lambes, Carcassonne, Beziers,* 1.5 Narbonne, Beaucaire, Auignon, Tarascon, the Count Ve∣necin; and in Dauphine Crest Arnaud and Monteil-Amar.

And which is more, they had many great Lords, who tooke part with them, that is to say, the Earle Re∣mond of Toulouze, Remond Earle of Foix, the Vicount of Beziers, Gaston Lord of Bearne, the Earle of Car∣main, the Earle of Bigorre, the Lady of Lanaur, and diuers others, of whom we shall make mention in their due place. And besides all these, the Kings of Ara∣gon and of England, haue many times defended their case, by reason of that alliance that they had with the Earle Remond of Toulouze.

The doctrines that they maintained against the Church of Rome, were these:

• 1 That the Romish Church is not the holy Church and Spouse of Christ, but a Church watered with the Doctrine of Deuils; That Babylon which Saint Iohn hath described in the Apocalypse, the mother of forni∣cations and abominations, couered with the bloud of Saints.
• 2 That the Masse was not instituted by Christ, nor by his Apostles, but that it is the inuention of men.
• 3 That the prayers of the liuing profit not the dead.
• 4 That Purgatorie maintained in the Church of Rome, was a humane inuention, to glut and satisfie the couetousnesse of the Priests.
• 5 That Saints are not to be praied vnto.
• 6 That Transubstantiation is the inuention of men, and an erroneous doctrine: And that the adoration of the Bread is a manifest Idolatry.

And that therefore they were to forsake the Church of Rome, wherein the contrary was affirmed and taught, because a man may not bee present at the Mas∣ses, where Idolatry is practised, nor attaine saluation by any other meanes, than by Iesus Christ, nor trans∣ferre vnto the creatures the honor that is due to the Creator, nor say of the Bread, that it is God, and adore it, as being God, without the incurring of eternall dam∣nation, for Idolaters shall not inherit the Kingdome of Heauen.

For all these things affirmed by them, they haue beene hated and persecuted to the death.

CHAP. II. Pope Innocent the third of that name, made shew of a de∣sire to winne the Albingenses to the Church of Rome, by preaching and conference. A famous disputation at Montreal. To what end the Pope permitted disputa∣tion in matter of Religion.

POpe Innocent the third of that name, seemed to be carried with a desire to re∣duce the Albingenses vnto the Church of Rome, by preachings and reasons, or to oppresse them and vtterly root them out, by violence of armes, and by crueltie of pu∣nishments.

But before he would come to extremities, he thought it necessary, for the better iustification of his procee∣dings, to begin with words, and afterwards to come to blowes. Hee sent therefore amongst them certaine Preachers, who endeuoured to draw them by gentle perswasions.

* 1.6See here how the Compiler of the treasure of Histo∣ries speakes of those times.

When there came newes (saith he) to Pope Innocent the third, that in his Prouince of Narbonne, the traiterous Heresie was spread abroad, not onely amongst the poore, but Earles, Barons and Knights; he sent the Abbot of Cisteaux, and two Monkes with him, to preach a∣gainst those disloyall buggerers. When they had trauelled some little way, preaching throughout the Countrey, they came to Mompelier, where they met with a worthy man that was Bishop of Cestre. This honest man, asked the Abbot of Cisteaux, what hee

did there. He answered that the Pope had sent him thither, against those Sodomites, but that he could not conuert them. This good man was nothing a∣stonied at it, but he still maintained the worke of the Lord valiantly, and went on foot to giue good ex∣ample to others, and they stayed and went on foot with him. Afterwards the Abbot returned to the Chapter, or generall assembly, but the Bishop and the two Monkes, passing a long time through the Countrey and preaching, they conuerted many of the meaner sort of people, but of the great ones and richer sort, there were few or none, that returned to the true faith.

The Abbot came backe into the Countrey, and brought with him another Abbot, and diuers Monkes, and came all on foot; whereupon the Bi∣shop of Cestre began to thinke with himselfe how to returne into his Countrey, but dyed by the way.

The Monkes who preached throughout the Countrey, found the Princes so obdurate in their malice, that they resolued to stay no longer there, but returned into their Countries, except one good man, who was called Frier Peter of Chasteauneuf, who continued preaching with one of his com∣panions.

When the Albingenses knew the intention of the Pope, which was, to pretend that he was not the cause, why they whom he iudged to be wanderers, did not returne to the bosome of the Church of Rome by gen∣tle meanes, and force of reason, they began to thinke that it stood them vpon to maintaine their beleefe by such conference, otherwise they should giue occasion to the aduersaries to thinke, that there was in their Re∣ligion

some weaknesse, if there were not any Pastor that would take vpon him the defence thereof. It was therefore concluded amongst the Albingenses, to giue the Bishops to vnderstand, that their Pastors, or any one of them for the rest, were ready to maintaine their beleefe by the word of God, prouided that the conference were well ordered and moderated; that is to say, that there may be moderators, that are men of authoritie, both on the one side and the other, that may haue wherewithall to hinder all tumult and sedi∣tion. Prouided also, that it be in a place, vnto which there may be free accesse, and the place secured for all persons that may assist, or be present at the said con∣ference. Moreouer, that there bee some matter or subiect chosen by common consent, not to bee giuen ouer before it be determined; and that he that cannot defend it by the word of God, is to bee reputed and held to be vanquished.

* 1.7The Bishops and Monkes did all allow of the said conditions. The place was Montreal, neere Carcasonne, the time, in the yeere one thousand two hundred and six. The Arbitrators agreed vpon by the one part and the other, B. de Villeneufue, and B. Auxerre for the Bi∣shops: and for the Albingenses, R. de Bot, and Antony Riuiere.

Arnold Hott was the Pastor for the Albingenses,* 1.8 ac∣companied with those that were accounted fit for such an action: He was the first that arriued at the place and day assigned: Afterwards came the Bishop Eusus, and the Monke Dominique a Spaniard, with two of the Popes Legats, that is to say, Peter Chastel and Racul de Iust, Abbot of Candets, P. Bertrand Prior d' Auteriue:* 1.9 as also the Prior de Palats, and diuers other Priests and Monkes.

* 1.10The Theses or generall questions proposed by Ar∣nold, were these: That the Masse, with the Transub∣stantiation, was the inuention of men, not the ordi∣nance of Christ, nor his Apostles.

That the Romish Church is not the Spouse of Christ, but the Church of tumult and molestation, made drunken with the bloud of Martyrs.

That the policie of the Church of Rome, is neither good, nor holy, nor established by Iesus Christ.

Arnold sent these Propositions to the Bishop, who demanded a respit of fifteene dayes to answer, which was granted him. At the day appointed, the Bishop failed not to appeare, with a long and large writing. Arnold Hott desired to bee heard by word of mouth, saying: That he would answer to all that was contai∣ned in the said writing, intreating his auditorie that it might not be troublesome vnto them, if he were long in answering to so long a discourse. It was granted that he should bee heard with attention and patience, and without interruption. He discoursed at diuers houres, for foure dayes together, and with such admiration of those that were present, and readinesse for his part, that all the Bishops, Abbots, Monkes and Priests had rea∣son to desire they had beene elsewhere. For he framed his answer according to the points set downe in the said writing, with such order and plainnesse, that hee gaue all that were present to vnderstand, that the Bi∣shop hauing written much, had neuerthelesse conclu∣ded nothing, that might truly turne to the aduantage of the Church of Rome against his Propositions.

Afterwards Arnold made a request, that forasmuch as the Bishops and himselfe in the beginning of their conference, were bound to proue whatsoeuer they

affirmed by the onely word of God, it might bee im∣posed vpon the Bishops and Priests, to make good their Masse, such as they sing it, part by part, to haue beene instituted by the Sonne of God, and sung in the like manner by his Apostles, beginning at the en∣trance, vnto the Ite Missa est, as they terme it: but the Bishops were not able to proue, that the Masse or any part thereof, was ordained in such an action, either by Iesus Christ, or his Apostles. With this the Bishops were much discontented and ashamed. For Arnold had brought them to the onely Canon, which they pretended to be the best part of their Masse, touching which point he proued, That the holy Supper of our Lord was not the Masse. For if the Masse were the holy Supper instituted by our Sauiour, there would re∣maine after the Consecration all that which was in the Supper of the Lord, that is to say, Bread: but in the Masse there is no bread; for by Transubstantiation the bread is vanished away; therefore the Masse (saith he) without bread, is not the holy Supper of the Lord, for there is bread.

• Iesus Christ brake bread, The Priest breakes the body not the bread.
• S^t. Paul brake the bread, The Priest breakes the body not the bread.

Therefore the Priest doth not that which Christ Ie∣sus hath done, and S^t. Paul.

Vpon these Antitheses which Arnold made touch∣ing the Supper of the Lord, and the Masse, to proue that it came not from Christ nor his Apostles, the Monkes, Bishops, Legats and Priests retired them∣selues, not being willing to heare any more, and fea∣ring lest they should worke such an impression in those that were present, as might shake their beleefe touching the Masse.

* 1.11The Monke of the Valley Seruay, endeuoureth to bring this action into suspition, affirming that at what time the Hereticall Iudges exceeded in number, seeing the badnesse of their cause, and the wretchednesse of their disputation, they would not (saith hee) giue any iudgement thereof, nor deliuer their writings to their aduersaries, for feare lest they should come to light, and render to the Heretikes their owne. But how should two Legats of the Pope, the Bishops, Abbots, Monkes and Priests, put themselues into any such place, where they could bee thus ouercharged with number? This Monke saith in the same place, that the principall Arch-heretikes came to the Catholikes at the Castle of Montreal, to dispute with them. So that they held then the Castle, and therefore there was no occasion of doubt, or any such violence. And further∣more, how could it be that the Bishops should request the moderators to giue iudgement in a point of dispu∣tation, when they hold that there needs no other sen∣tence than the Popes, who cannot erre? Againe, how did the Monke know that the Albingenses were ouer∣come, if there were no iudgement or sentence giuen against them? There were, about the same time, many other disputations, as at Serignan, Pannies, but this was onely to delay the Albingenses from further procee∣ding. For in the meane time whilest the Bishop of Tou∣louze, and the Bishop of Onezimonde disputed at Pa∣mies, and the Popes two Legats, with Arnold at Mon∣treal, B. of Villeneufue, Arbitrator and Moderator for the Bishops, signified, That there could bee nothing determined or agreed vpon, by reason of the com∣ming of those Armies that were to fight vnder the badge of the Crosse. This was the subtiltie of the

Pope,* 1.12 to entertaine them in conferences touching mat∣ter of Religion, that in the meane time he might pre∣pare great Armies, to roote out (if hee could) both themselues and their Religion.

CHAP. III. The end of the disputation touching Religion, it was not long continued by the Pope and his Legats. The presence of the Pope to publish the expedition against the Albin∣genses. The Earle Remond humbleth himselfe before the Popes Legat, he is whipped by the Legat, and depri∣ued of his Earledome of Venessin by the Pope, hee is made chiefe Leader of the Armie of those that fought vnder the badge of the Crosse, at the siege of Beziers.

* 1.13NOw when Pope Innocent had prepared his Armies of the Crosse, and had disper∣sed them here and there about the Countries of the Albingenses, there were no longer any disputations, except it were with Fire and Faggots, the chiefe disputers be∣ing the Executioners, and the Monkes Inquisitors, the Harpies or rauenous birds, which the Pope made vse of, for the extirpation of the Albingenses. The pretence of this so famous an expedition was made against the Earle Remond of Toulouze, about the death of a cer∣taine Iacobin Monke, who was slaine by the Albingen∣ses: For the Pope tooke from thence occasion to send throughout all Europe Preachers to assemble men to∣gether, to take vengeance of the innocent bloud of Frier Peter de Casteauneuf, who had beene slaine by the Heretikes, promising Paradice to whomsoeuer would

come to this warre and beare armes for fortie daies. This warre he called the holy warre, and for which he gaue the selfe-same Pardons, the selfe-same Indulgen∣ces, as he did vnto those who went to the warres of the holy Land, for the conquest thereof. He likewise ter∣med it, the warre for the Crucifixe, and the Army of the Church. And as for the Earle Remond, heare with what termes he thundered against him in his Bull. We ordaine (saith hee) that all Archbishops and Bishops,* 1.14 are to denounce, throughout all their Dioceses, the Earle Remond accursed and excommunicated, as be∣ing murderer of a good seruant of God, and that with the sound of the Bell, and the extinction of Candles, euery Sunday and Festiuall daies. Wee promise more∣ouer to all those that shall take armes, to reuenge the said murder, forgiuenesse of their sinnes, seeing that these pestilent Long Slops seeke nothing else but to take away our liues. And forasmuch as according to the Law of the holy Canons, faith is not to be kept to him that keepes not his faith to God, we would haue all to vnderstand, that euery man that is bound to the said Earle by oath of fidelitie, societie, alliance, or other∣waies, by the Apostolicall authoritie, is absolued from any such bands; and it shal bee lawfull for euery Ca∣tholike man, not onely to pursue the person of the said Earle, but also to hold and possesse his land, &c.

And as touching the Albingenses, see how hee handleth them.

Wee therefore admonish you more carefully, and exhort you more speedily, as being a matter of great necessitie, &c. That yee endeuour to vnderstand by all the meanes that God shall reueale vnto you, and studie

to abolish the Hereticall prauitie and these Sectaries, and that more seuerely then the Sarasines, impugning them with a strong hand, and a stretched-out arme, as being worse than they, &c. Driuing them out of the field of the Lord, taking from them their lands and li∣uings, in which (the Heretikes being banished) let Ca∣tholike inhabitants be substituted in their roome.

The Pope writ to all Christian Princes to frame themselues for the obtaining of that pardon against the Albingenses, that they obtained, if they passed beyond the Seas against the Turkes; and particularly the author of the Treasure of Histories saith, That the Pope in∣treated King Philip and diuers Barons, that they would vndertake with him that enterprise against the Here∣tikes, and get their pardons: And that the King an∣swered that hee was to bee excused, by reason of his warres with the Emperour Otho, and King Iohn of Eng∣land Of the Barons (saith hee) there were many that yeelded to the enterprise, for their pardon.

The Earle Remond, being aduertised what was plot∣ted against him in Europe, at the instance of the Pope, sent vnto him, humbly beseeching him not to con∣demne him, before he had heard him speake, assuring him that he was no way culpable of the death of Frier Peter de Casteauneuf, and that it was sufficiently verifi∣ed that the murderer was fled to Beaucaire: hee com∣plained of the malice of his enemies, who had made false informations against him, touching the said mur∣der: But all was in vaine, for before his excuses came to Rome, the troopes of the Croises, that is, those that beare the badge of the Crosse vpon their coat-armour, were come to powre downe their vengeance vpon him and his lands, that is to say, the Duke of Burgundy,

Earle of Enneuers, the Earle of S^t. Paul, the Earle of Auxerre, the Earle of Geneua, the Earle of Poitiers, the Earle of Porests, and the Earle Simon of Montfort. The Lord of Bar, Ginchard of Beauieu, and Ganchier of Ioigui. As also the Ecclesiasticall persons, who had le∣uied in their Diocese a number of Pilgrims and wan∣dering people; they were the Archbishop of Seus, the Archbishop of Rouan, the Bishop of Clermond, the Bishop of Enneuers, the Bishop of Lizieux, the Bishop of Bayeux, and the Bishop of Chartres, with diuers o∣thers;* 1.15 euery Bishop with the Pilgrims of his iurisdicti∣on, to whom the Pope promised Paradice in Heauen, but gaue them not one peny vpon earth, onely hee did let them know, that in such a warre there were more blowes than pardons. This Leuy of Pilgrims or wan∣dering persons,* 1.16 was in the yeere 1209. There was now a necessitie either of opposing violence against vio∣lence, or to come to submissions. The latter was thought the more easie, but yet dangerous. For to yeeld himselfe to the discretion of his enemies, was to bring himselfe into the danger of his owne ruine. The Count Remond therefore came to Valence, before the Popes Legat named Milo.

Being entred the toile, he began to excuse himselfe, saying: That it seemed strange vnto him, that so great a number of men should come in armes against him, that vsed no other armes to defend himselfe, than his owne innocencie; that hee was much wronged by those that perswaded the people that hee was guiltie of the death of the Monke Frier Peter of Casteauneuf; that before they had thus moued Heauen and Earth, as it were, they should haue enquired of the truth of the fact, and not condemne any before he were heard:

That he had there many witnesses of the death of the said Monke, slaine at S^t. Giles, by a certaine Gentle∣man, whom the said Monke pursued, who presently retired himselfe to his friends at Beaucaire: That this murder was very displeasing vnto him, and therefore he had done what lay in his power, to apprehend him, and to chastise him, but that hee escaped his hands: That had it beene true which they laid to his charge, that hee had embrewed his hands in that bloud, yet the ordinary courses of iustice were to be taken against him, and not to haue wrecked their anger vpon his subiects that were innocent in this case. And therefore (saith he) to the said Legat, forasmuch as vpon an as∣sured trust and confidence, armed onely with the testi∣monie of a good Conscience, I am come to yeeld my selfe vnto your hands, what need is there any more of the imployment of these Pilgrims or wandering peo∣ple, against him whom they had in their owne power? That it was promised him, that when his honestie should bee knowne, they that were in armes to fight a∣gainst him, would defend him: And therefore he hum∣bly intreated the said Legat, to send a Countermand to his Souldiers before they approched any further into his lands and territories, promising to iustifie himselfe of whatsoeuer was laid to his charge, in such a manner, that the Pope and the Church should rest contented: That his owne person might serue for a sufficient pledge for the performance of these his promises.

The Legat answered that the Earle Remond had done well in presenting himselfe before him, and infor∣ming him of his innocencie, whereof he would aduer∣tise his Holinesse, and become an Intercessor for him; but yet the businesse was of such an importance, that

he durst not rely onely vpon his owne knowledge, much lesse send backe his Souldiers of the Crosse, that had cost so much labour, and lost the gathering toge∣ther, except hee would giue such assurances of his words, as might take away from the Pope and the Church, all shew or shadow that hee may hereafter deale falsely with them that put their trust in him. And therefore hee should not thinke it a difficult matter to deliuer into his hands, seuen of the best Castles he had in Prouence (that is to say, in the Count Venessin, which was then annexed vnto Prouence) which should serue for an Hostage.

The Earle Remond knew well the error he had com∣mitted, by putting himselfe vnder the hatches, but it was too late to bee readuised, because the counsels which the Legat gaue him, were as commands. Hee knew himselfe to be a prisoner, and that hee must now receiue the Law of him, into whose power he had vn∣wisely cast himselfe; and therefore he made a shew of great willingnesse to obey to whatsoeuer was prescri∣bed by the Legat, acknowledging that both his person and his processions were at the seruice of his holy Fa∣ther, onely beseeching the Legat, that his subiects might receiue no more damage by the Souldiers. The Legat promised all the fauour that hee desired in this regard, and presently sent to the Countie Venessin, Ma∣ster Theod. Canon of Gennes,* 1.17 to put a Garison into the Castles and places of importance in the said Countie, and to giue commandement to all the Consuls of the Cities thereof, to make their repaire presently to the said Legat; before whom being come, they were giuen to vnderstand, that the Earle Remond had deli∣uered vp his Castles to the guard and power of the

Pope, for proofe of his fidelitie to the Church, where∣of they were to be aduertised, to the end likewise that they from thence forward, should acknowledge them∣selues to bee the lawfull subiects of his Holinesse, in case the said Earle Remond should doe any thing a∣gainst the oath of obedience which hee had made to the Pope and to the Church of Rome, in which case, as already in those times they were discharged of all oaths of fidelitie giuen in times past to the said Earle, and his lands were confiscated to the Pope. The Consuls be∣ing much astonished to see their Lord thus stript of all his lands and possessions, could not refuse in the pre∣sence of himselfe, to doe whatsoeuer the said Legat required at their hands. But that which did afflict them most, was, that they saw the Earle Remond conducted to S^t. Giles, where he was reconciled to the Pope, and to the Church, with these ceremonies that follow. First, the Legat commanded the said Earle Remond to strip himselfe starke naked, without the Church of S^t. Giles, hauing onely to couer his nakednesse, a close paire of linnen breeches, the rest was all bare, head, feet, and shoulders. Then he put a Stole (which Priests weare about their necks) vpon his necke, and leading him by the said Stole, hee made him to goe nine times about the graue of the deceased Frier Peter de Chateau∣neuf, who had beene buried in the said Church, scour∣ging him with rods, which the Legat had in his hand, as long as hee went about the said Sepulcher. The Earle Remond demanded satisfaction for this extraor∣dinary penance, for a sinne which he had not commit∣ted, for he had not killed the Monke: The Legat an∣swered him, That notwithstanding hee had not killed him, nor caused him to be killed, yet forasmuch as this

murder was committed, within his territories, and hee had made no pursuit after the murderer, this murder was deseruedly imputed vnto him, and therefore that hee was to satisfie the Pope and the Church by this his humble repentance, if hee desired to be reconciled to the one and to the other. It was therefore necessary he should likewise bee scourged in the presence of the Earles,* 1.18 Barons, Marquises, Prelates, and all the people: He made him to sweare vpon the Corpus Domini, (as they call it) and certaine other reliques, which were brought thither for that purpose, that he should all his life time, bee obedient in all things to the Pope and the Church of Rome; and that he should make perpetuall, mortall and vnreconcileable warre against the Albin∣genses, vntill they were either vtterly exterminated, or brought to the obedience of the Church of Rome, which to performe, hee hauing solemnly and perforce sworne, the Legat to honor him the more, and to bind him to doe what he had sworne, made him Captaine and Leader of the Souldiers of the Crosse, for the siege of Beziers: Which he did, to the end hee might driue the Albingenses into despaire, euer to be defended by him, who hauing abiured their Religion, had now power and charge to persecute them.

CHAP. IIII. The perplexitie the Earle Remond was in, after his recon∣ciliation: The siege of Beziers: The intercession of the Earle of Beziers for his Citie: The intercession of the Bishop auaileth nothing: The taking of Beziers, what, and with what crueltie.

THe Earle Remond was much perplexed about that charge that was giuen him for the conducting of the Armie of the Souldiers of the Crosse before Beziers. For to carry himselfe as an enemie a∣gainst the Albingenses, was to doe against his consci∣ence, and to fight against those whose part hee had ta∣ken vntill then, as a principall motiue and Captaine. This was to binde himselfe to the perpetuall seruitude of the Pope and his Legats. On the other side, if hee should goe about to flye, and to forsake the Armie, this were to furnish them with new matter of persecution; for in such a case they might iustly pursue him, as a per∣fidious, relapsed and per••ured person, and that if hee should bee apprehended, hee should bee in danger of loosing his life, goods and friends altogether: And yet doing that which the charge the Legat laid vpon him, bound him vnto, he must be an instrument of the losse of Beziers, and the totall destruction of the subiects of his Nephew the Earle of Beziers, and his Nephew himselfe. In this extremitie and anguish of spirit, hee chose rather to stay in the Armie for certaine daies, and afterward tooke his leaue of the Legat, and went to Rome, to humble himselfe before the Pope, which could not bee denied him. In the meane time they

made an approch to the Citie of Beziers, the Rammes, Slings, Frames, Shedbords, and other engines of warre were prouided to giue a generall escalado, setting to the walls of the Citie so great a number of Ladders, that it was impossible to resist the furious assault which the Pelerins made with all the force and power that they had.

The Earle of Beziers went forth of the Citie, and cast himselfe downe at the feet of the Legat Milon, cra∣ning mercie for his Citie of Beziers, and humbly be∣seeching him not to inflict the same punishment vpon the innocent and the nocent, which without all doubt must needes come to passe, if Beziers should be taken by force (which was easie to be done by so great, and so puissant an Armie, such as was then ready to scale the walles in euery part of the said Citie) that there would be great effusion of bloud on both sides, which might be auoided: That there were within Beziers a great number of good Romish Catholikes that would be subiect to the same ruine, contrary to the intention of the Pope, whose desire was onely to chastise the Al∣bingenses: That if it pleased him not to spare his sub∣iects for the loue of themselues, that he would yet haue regard vnto him, to his age and profession, since the losse would light vpon himselfe, being in his minoritie, and a most obedient seruant to the Pope, as hauing beene brought vp in the Romish Church, and in which he would both liue and die. And if hee tooke it ill that such persons as were enemies to the Pope, had beene tolerated within his territories, it ought not to be im∣puted vnto him, because hee had no other subiects but those which his deceased father had left vnto him; and that in his minoritie, and afterwards in that little time

wherein he had beene master of his owne goods, hee could not as yet, by reason of his incapacitie know this euill, nor minister the remedy, though it were his purpose so to doe; but yet his hope was in time to come, to giue all contentment that might be, both to the Pope and Church of Rome, as an obedient sonne both of the one and of the other.

* 1.19The answer of the Legat was, That all his excuses preuailed nothing, and that he must doe as he may.

The Earle of Beziers returned into the Citie, and assembled the people together, giuing them to vnder∣stand, that after he had submitted himselfe to the Le∣gat, hee mediated for them, not being able to obtaine any otherthing at his hands, but pardon, vpon condi∣tion that they that made profession of the beleefe of the Albingenses, should come and abiure their Religi∣on, and promise to liue according to the Lawes of the Church of Rome.

The Romish Catholikes intreated them to yeeld to this so great a violence, and not to be the cause of their death, since the Legat was resolued not to pardon any, if they liued not all vnder one and the same Law.

The Albingenses answered, That they would not forsake their Religion for the base price of this fraile life; That they knew well that God was able to defend them, if it pleased him, and that if he would bee glori∣fied by the confession of their saith, it should bee a great honour to them to die for righteousnesse sake; That they had rather displease the Pope, who could destroy their bodies onely, than God who could cast both body and soule into Hell fire: That they would neuer be ashamed, or deny that Religion, by which they haue beene taught to know Christ and his righte∣ousnesse,

or with the danger of an eternall death, pro∣fesse a Religion which doth annihillate the merit of Christ, and burieth his righteousnesse; and that there∣fore they would couenant for themselues as they could, and promise nothing contrary to the duty of true Christians.

This being vnderstood, the Romish Catholikes sent their Bishop to the Legat, humbly to intreat him, that he would not include in this chastisement of the Albin∣genses, those that were alwayes obedient to the Church of Rome, of whom he that was their Bishop had cer∣taine knowledge, being likewise assured that the rest were not altogether past hope of repentance, but that they might be wonne by gentle meanes, best befitting the Church, which tooke no pleasure in the effusion of bloud.

The Legat herewith grew into extreme choller and passion, swearing and protesting with horrible threats, that if all they that were in the Citie did not acknow∣ledge their fault, and submit themselues to the Church of Rome, they should all taste of one cup, and with∣out respect of Catholike, sex, or age, they should all be exposed to fire and sword. And incontinently he com∣manded that the Citie should bee summoned to yeeld it selfe to his discretion; which they refusing to doe, hee caused all his engins of warre to play, and com∣manded an assault and generall escalado to bee made. Now it was impossible for those that were within, to resist so great a violence, in such sort,* 1.20 that being thus assaulted, by aboue a hundred thousand Pelerins, in the end (saith the Compiler of the Treasure of Histories) they within vere vanquished, and the enemie be∣ing entred slew a great multitude, and afterwards

set fire to the Citie, and burnt it to dust.

The Citie being taken, the Priests, Monkes, and Clerkes came forth of the great Church of Beziers, called S^t. Nazari, with the Banner, the Crosses, their holy-water, bare headed, attired with the ornaments of the Church, and singing, Te Deum laudamus, as a signe of ioy that the Towne was taken, and purged of the Albingenses. The Souldiers who had receiued com∣mand from the Legat to kill all, ranne in vpon them, brake the order of their procession, made the heads and armes of the Priests to flie about, striuing who should doe best, in such a manner, that they were all cut in pieces. To excuse this crueltie, disallowed by some of those that were spectators, they haue inserted into the Historie these reports; that is to say, That the Pelerins were incensed against the inhabitants of Be∣ziers, because they had cast ouer the walls of the Ci∣tie, the booke of the Gospels, crying vnto them, See there the Law of your God; whereupon the Souldiers grew to this resolution, to kill all those they should find within the circuit of Beziers, that so they might be sure not to spare those that had thus blasphemed. But how could the Albingenses doe any such thing so impious against the Gospell of our blessed Sauiour, considering that one of the principall causes for which they had forsaken the Church of Rome, was because the Gospel of Christ Iesus, was, as it were buried a∣mongst them, & the people forbid to reade it. And be∣sides one of the great crimes, which they laid to the charge of the Earle Remond, was, because hee carried alwayes about him the New Testament. To this they added a miracle, and that was, that Beziers was taken vpon the day of Marie Magdalen, because (say they)

heretikes speake ill of Magdalin in their law:* 1.21 Thus speakes the compiler of the Treasure. Now this im∣posture is so deuillish, that I hardly durst commit it to paper, and yet notwithstanding the Monke of the Valleis Seruay, sets it downe at large without doubts or scruples, though the very thought thereof would make the haire of any man that hath but the least sparke of pietie to stand on end.

Now the citie being burnt, razed and ransacked, the Pilgrims who thought they merited Paradise by this sacceige and effusion of bloud, were speedily con∣ducted to Carcassonne, before the forty daies of fight, which they had vowed to the Church of Rome, were expired, because then they were permitted euery man to depart to his owne home.

CHAP. V. The Siege of Carcassonne, the taking of the towne or Borough of Carcassonne: An assault and generall Escalado giuen to the citie: A great number of the soldiers of the Crosse slaine: The Intercession of the King of Aragon for the Earle of Beziers, to no pur∣pose: A stratagem for the taking of the Earle of Be∣ziers: The flight of the people of Carcassonne, by what meanes: The taking of Carcassonne.

THe Earle of Beziers, when he saw that he could obtaine nothing of the Legat in fauour of the city of Beziers, hauing left this charge to the Bishop, to make triall whether he by any meanes could obtaine pardon for those poore inhabitants, and in the meane

time, because he knew very well that hauing taken Be∣ziers, he would not suffer the city of Carcassonne, to continue in peace, because being strong by nature, the Legat knew there was no store-house for the warre, nor better place of repose for the Soldiers than that was; he was counselled to retire himselfe thither, and speedily to cause it to be furnished, with whatsoeuer was fit to maintaine a long siege. He put himselfe ther∣fore into Carcassonne, being accompanied with his most faithfull attendants.

He was followed, as it were, foot by foot, by the Legats armie, vnto which there came new Croises or soldiers of the Crosse; that is to say, the Bishop of Agenois, the Bishop of Limoges, of Bazades, of Co∣hors, and the Archbishop of Burdeaux, euery one, with the Pilgrims of their owne Diocesse. There like∣wise arriued the Earle of Turaine, Bertrand de Carda∣illac, and the Lord of Bastlenau, of Montratier, who conducted the troopes of Querci, and of all these troopes the chiefe Leader was the Earle of Dunoy: There came also a great number of Prouenceaux,* 1.22 Lom∣bardes, and Germaines, and that in so great a number, that the army of the Legat Milon, rose to the number of three hundred thousand fighting men, when he came before Carcassonne.

The situation of Carcassonne is in this manner. There is a city, and a Bourrough or towne. The city is seated vpon a little hill, enuironed with a double wall: the towne is in the plaine, distant from the citie about two miles. At that time the city was accounted a place of great strength; and in this city there dwelt a great number of Albingenses. The Pilgrims thought to haue taken it at the first sight, for they ran with

great violence vpon the first Rampier, and filled the ditch with fagots; but they were beaten backs with such courage a nd resolution, that the ground was co∣uered with the dead bodies of Pilgrims, tound about the citie.

The young Earle of Beziers, Lord of Carcassonne, wonde great honour in this first daies enc••4ter, en∣covraging his subjects and telling them, that they must remember the vsage of those of Bezie••s; that they were to deale with the same enemies, who had chan∣ged the siege not the humour, nor the will to extirmi∣nate them if they could; That it was farre better for them to die fighting, than to fall into the hands of so cruell and mercilesse enemies. That for his owne part, he made profession of the Romish Religion, but yet he saw very well, that this warre was not for Religi∣on, but a certaine robbery agreed vpon, to inuade the goods and lands of the Earle Remond and all his; That they had greater cause to defend themsel••es than he, who could loose no more but his goods and his life, without change of his religion, but they might loose that, and besides the exercise of their reli∣gion too; Thanke would neuer abandon them in so honourable an action, which was to defend them∣selues against the inuasions of their common chemies, masked with an ontward appearance of pietie, and in affect true theenes.

The Albingenses being much animated by the speech of this young Lord, swore vnto him, that they would spend their goods and their liues, for the pre∣seruation of the citie of Carcassonne, and whatsoener did concerne the said Lord. The next morrow the Legat commanded an assauit, and generall escaindo

to bee made vpon the Borough of Carcassonne. The people that were within, very valiantly defended themselues; but the ladders were so charged with men, and so neere the one to the other that they tou∣ched one another, insomuch that they forced those within from the walls, and so entred the towne, ca∣rying themselues towards the inhabitants thereof, af∣ter the same manner as they had dodne before to those of Beziers; for they put them all to the sword and fire.

Whilest those things were in doing, and king of Ara∣gon arriued at the army of the Legat; and were first to the rent of the Earle Remond, who was constrained to giue his assistance at this siege against his owne Ne∣phew. From thence he went to the Legat, and told him that hauing vnderstood, that his kinsman and Earle of Seziers was besieged within Carcassonne, hee was come vnto him to doe his best endeuour, to make the said Earle to vnderstand, what his duty was towards the Pope and the Church, which hee presumed hee should the more easily doe, because hee knew well, that the said Earle, had alwaies made profession of the Romish religion.

The Legat gaue him leaue, to vndertake what hee had said. The king of Aragon, made his approach to the Rampiers. The Earle of Beziers came to pariey with him. The king of Aragon desired to know of him, what had moued him to shut vp himselfe within the citie of Careassonnes against so great an Army of Peleri••••. The Earle answered, that it greatly stood him vpon, ha∣uing so necessary and so iust cause, to defend his life, his goods, and his subiects; That hee knew well that ••nder the pretence of religion, the Pope had a purpose

vtterly to ouerthrow the ••a••le Remond his vncle, and himselfe; That he found by that mediation which he had made for his subiects of B••ziers. the Romish Ca∣tholikes whereof the would not receiue into grace and fauour, neither had spared the Priests themselues, who were a ll cut i n peeces euen adorned with their Priestly ornaments, and vnder the banner of the Crosse: That this example of cruell impietie, added vnto that which had passed in the towne of Carcassonne, where they were all exposed to fire and sword, without distinction of age or sex, had taught him not to looke for any mercy either at the hands of the Legat or his Pelerins: And that therefore he chose rather to die with his sub∣iects defending himselfe, than to bee exposed to the mercy of so inexorable an enemy as the Legat was; And that notwithstanding there were within the city of Carcassonne diuers of his subiects that were of a con∣trary religion to that of the Church of Rome, yet they were such a kinde of people as had neuer wronged any, that they were come to succor him at his greatest extremity, and for this their good seruice, he was resol∣ued not to abandon them, as they had promised for their part to expose their liues and goods for his de∣fence to all bazard and danger whatsoeuer: That his trust was in God (who is the defender of the oppres∣sed) that he would bee pleased to assist them, against that world of men ill-aduised, who vnder the colour of meriting heauen, haue forsaken their houses, to burne and pill and sacke and ransacke, and kill in the houses of other men, without either reason, iudgement or mercy.

The King of Aragon returned to the Legat, who assembled together diuers of his great Lords and Pre∣lates,

to heare and vnderstand what the King of Ara∣gon would relate vnto him, who rold him that hee found the Earle of Beziers his kinsman much discon∣tented with the former proceedings against his sub∣iects of Beziers, and the Towne of Carcassonne, which gaue him reason to beleeue, that forasmuch as they had not spared the Romish Catholikes, nor the Priests, that it was not a warre vndertaken for the cause of Religi∣on; but vnder the colour of Religion, a kind of thee∣uery; that his hope was, that God would giue him the grace to make him know his innocencie, and the iust occasion he had to defend himselfe; that they should no longer hope they would yeeld themselues to their discretion, because they saw their discretion was no o∣ther, but to kill as many as should yeeld themselues thereunto; And that therefore if it would please the Legat, to grant vnto the Earle of Beziers and his sub∣iects some tollerable composition, that gentlenesse and mercy would sooner ioyne the Albingenses to the Church of Rome, than extreme crueltie; and that a∣boue all, they should remember that the Earle of Be∣ziers was young, and a Romish Catholike, who might doe good seruice for the reducing of those that did any way relie or put their trust in him.

The Lgat answered the King of Aragon, that if hee would retire himselfe a little, they would consult toge∣ther of that which should be fittest to be done.

The King being recalled, the Legat gaue him to vn∣derstand, that for his sake, and in consideration of his itercession, he would receiue the Earle of Beziers vn∣to mercie, and with him some dozen might likewise come forth with their bag and baggage, if hee thought good; but for the people that were within the Citie of

Carcassonne, they should not depart, but at his discreti∣on, whereof they should hope well and haue a good opinion,* 1.23 because hee was the Popes Legat, and that they should all come forth naked, men, women, maids, children, without shirts, or smocks, or other couering, to hide their nakednesse: Also that the Earle of Beziers should be deliuered to sure guard, and all his goods to remaine to the future Lord of that Countrey, which should be chosen for the preseruation there of.

The King of Aragon, though he saw this composition to be vnworthy the proposing to the Earle of Beizers, yet neuerthelesse thought good to discharge his office herein, to whom the Earle of Beziers answered▪ That he would neuer come forth vpon conditions so seaso∣ned, and so vniust, and that hee was resolued to defend himselfe with his subiects, by such meanes as it should please God to giue vnto him.

The King of Aragon retired himselfe, not without shew of the great discontent he receiued by this vniust proceeding. The Legat hereupon commanded all his engins of warre to play, and that they should take the Citie by force. But it was a spectacle little pleasing vn∣to him, for hee was an eye-witnesse of the losse of a great number of his Pelerins. For they of the Citie threw downe such a quantitie of great stones, with fire, and pitch, and brimstone, and boyling water, and gauled the assaylants with such infinite numbers of arrowes, that the earth was couered, and the ditches filled with the dead bodies of the Pelerins, which cau∣sed a wonderfull noysome stench, both in the Camp and in the Citie. This rude vnwelcome ouerthrow caused many of his Souldiers of the Crosse to forrage and seeke for booty abroad, as hauing accomplished

their tear me of fortie daies, during the which they had gained Paradice, and refusing to conquer any more, after so faire a purchase, for feare they should change their former felicitie for blowes.

The Legat being much troubled to see his company reduced to so small a number, and being without hope to take that place so important to harbour him, that hereafer should haue the conduct of the Armie of the Church; he bethought himselfe of a stratagem, which he effected, and it was this: He sent for a certaine Gen∣tleman well-spoken, that was in the Armie, telling him that it was in his power to doe a notable peece of ser∣uice to the Church, whereby besides the reward hee should receiue in Heauen, he should in this life bee re∣compenced according to his merit. And so hee told him that he was to approch as neere as he could to the ••ampiers of the Citie of Carcassonne, and there make some signe to those that were besieged, that he desired to haue some parley with them, and to speake with the Earle of Beziers; as his kinsman and seruant, to whom hee had some thing to say, that might redound to his great honour and benefit, and all that were within Carcassonne, & that then he should straine his wits, and doe his beft endeauour to put him into feares, and to perswade him to haue recourse vnto his mercy, and withall, to worke him by perswasions, promises and oathes, with execrations (of which he being the Popes Legat had power alwaies to acquit and discharge him) to bee content to bee conducted by him to the Legat, with ass••rance to bring him backe againe safe and sound into Carcassonne.

This Gentleman played his part so well, that hee brought with him the said Earle of Beziers, to speake

with the Legat, where the young Earle told him, that if hee would bee pleased to carry himselfe with greater mildnesse towards his subiects, hee might easily re∣claime them as he would himselfe, and winne the Al∣bingenses to the Church; that the composition which was offered them, was dishonorable, and ill-befitting those that were to haue their eyes as chaste as their thoughts, and that his people would rather choose to dye, than to be brought to so great a shame; and there∣fore hee humbly intreated him to bee more mercifull vnto them, promising to perswade his subiects to ac∣cept of any other condition more tollerable.

The answer of the Legat was: That they of Car∣cassonne might determine with themselues, as they thought best, and that he in the meane time should take no care for them, for hee was now his prisoner vntill Carcassonne were taken, and his subiects had better learnt their duty.

The Earle being much astonished hereat, protested and auerred that he was betrayed, and faith was viola∣ted, and that hee was come thither vpon the word of a Gentleman, giuen with oathes & execrations, that he would conduct him backe safe and sound into the City of Carcassonne, But being demanded who and where that Gentleman was, this yong Earle was taught that it was no wisedome to leaue his Citie, vpon the war∣rant of simple words onely. Hee was committed to the guard and custodie of the Duke of Burgongue.

The inhabitants of Carcassonne hauing vnderstood of the imprisonment of their Lord, brake out into teares, and were strucken with strange astonishments, inso∣much that they now thought of nothing so much, as how to escape the danger they were in; but all meanes

of escape (to the outward appearance) were taken a∣way, for they were shut vp on all sides, and the trenches full of men. But one among the rest told them, that he did remember, that he had heard some ancient men of the Citie say, that there was in Carcassonne a certaine vaut or channell vnder the ground, great and capable, insomuch that men might walke in it vpright, & many together, which continued to the Castle of Cameret, in Cabiaret, about three leagues from Carcassonne, and that if the entry thereof might be found, God had pro∣uided for them a miraculous deliuerance. Hereupon all the Citizens were imployed ab•••••• ••hi•• se••rch of the vaut, except the guard, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••pon the Ram∣piers. At the last, the mouth or en•••••••••• thereof being found, they all began this iourney through it, about the beginning of the night, with their wiues and children, carrying only with them, some victuals for a few dayes. This remoue and departure accompanied with out∣cries and gronings,* 1.24 and sorrow to leaue their houses and moueables, furnished with al manner of goods and furniture, to betake themselues to an vncertaine course to saue themselues by flight, leading with them their infants, & old decrepit people, with the pittifull skree∣chings and outcries of women, was a most heauy and lamentable spectacle. They arriued the next morrow at the said Castle, and from thence they dispersed themselues here and there, some to Aragon, others to Catalongue, others to Toulouze, and other Townes that tooke part with them, whither it pleased God to con∣duct them.

The morrow after in the morning the Pelerins were all strangely astonished, for that they had heard no noise all that night, but much more because they saw

no man stirring that day. They came neere to the walls, but yet with some doubt, fearing lest it should be a baite to draw them within the toyle, but yet neuer∣thelesse finding nothing that might make them any way distrustfull, they mounted the breach, entred the Citie, and cryed out to the Armie, that the Albingenses were fled. The Legat speedily sent to make publike Proclamations, that no man should ceaze vpon any body in his owne right, but that all should bee carryed to the great Church of Carcassonne, from whence af∣terwards all things should be brought and sold for the benefit of the Pelerins, rewarding euery one according to his merit. And so it was done, and the Earle of Be∣ziers committed to prison in one of the strongest Towers of Carcassonne.

CHAP. VI. The Legat Milon establisheth a Captaine of warre for the Church; the Earle Simon of Montfort accepteth the charge: The Earle Remond is absolued by the Pope: The Earle of Beziers dieth: The King of Aragon dis∣pleased with the Earle Simon: Diuers reuolt from his obedience: He demandeth of the Prelats a new supply of the Souldiers of the Crosse.

THe Citie of Carcassonne being in the pos∣session of the Legat, hee resolued with himselfe to make it a Towne of warre, an Arcenall against the Albingenses, and presently hee assembled all the Prelats and great Lords which were yet in his Armie, to take counsell how hee might make it a place fit to maintaine

a warre of long continuance in time to come. Besides, he gaue them to vnderstand, that notwithstanding he•• thought it very necessary, that there should bee alwaie•• in the Armies of the Church, a Legat of his Holiness•• to giue authoritie to whatsoeuer should passe, yet ne∣uerthelesse it was likewise necessary that there should be a secular Captaine of the warre, one that was puis∣sant, wise, valiant and fearefull, absolutely to command all occurrences, and to expedite all affaires concerning the warre, by his prudent guide and gouernment, it not belonging to the capacitie of Ecclesiasticall per∣sons to leade Armies, or to make warre; and tha•• therefore they should consult with themselues, to ca•••• their eyes vpon some one of the Lords of the Crosse, to whom the conquered Countries might be commit∣ted, and the care for the direction of this holy warre, vntill it might be otherwise determined by the Pope.

This charge was first offered to the Duke of Burgon∣gue, afterwards to the Earle of Enneuers, and to the Earle of S^t. Paul, who did all refuse it. Which the Legat seeing and perceiuing it would be a difficult mat∣ter to agree in the nomination of a Captaine, with one mutuall consent they named two Bishops, with the Abbot of Cisteaux, Legat of the Apostolike Sea, and foure men of Armes, to whom they gaue power to choose him, that hereafter should leade the Armie of the Church.

They named the Earle Simon of Montfort neere Pa∣ris, notice whereof being giuen vnto him, hee excused himselfe, alledging his incapacitie and vnhabilities; but in the end he accepted of it, after that the Abbot of Cisteaux had laid his commandement vpon him, en∣ioyning him by vertue of obedience, to accept of the

said nomination, whereupon hee promised (saith the Compiler of the Treasure of Histories) to doe his best endeauour to vex the enemies of our Lord,* 1.25 for so they tearme the Albingenses.

The Earle Simon of Montfort, being Generall of the Armie of the Church, made his abode at Carcassonne, with foure thousand of his Pelerins, which as yet re∣mained of that great Leuy of three hundred thousand men. Montreal, Fauiaux and Limons, contributed great summes of money for the Garison. For they were not to harbour those Pilgrims that were not bound to any seruice, their time of fortie daies being expited; but such Souldiers as were well affected for the guard of that place.

In this meane time, the Earle Remond of Toulouze, went to King Phillip Dieu-donne, to get his letters of Commendation to the Pope, to the end he might bee fully cleered and iustified touching the death of the Monke, Frier Peter de Chasteauneuf, of the which hee was iniustly forced to confesse himselfe guilty, onely because the murder was committed within his territo∣ries, for which the Legat Milon had imposed an vn••ust penance vpon. From the Court of the King of France, he trauelled to Rome, where he did immediatly receiue his absolution of Pope In••ocent the third, as if it had beene ready and prouided for him. The Pope receiued him with all the curtesie that might be, giuing him for a present, a rich Cloke, and a Ring of great price, and granting vnto him full remission and absolution touch∣ing the said murder, and declaring that he held him in this regard sufficiently iustified.

The Earle of Beziers being prisoner at Carcassonne, dyed shortly after, the Earle Simon of Montfort was

put in possession of his Lands, not without great su∣spition of poison. The Earle Simon made shew to be much grieued therewith, and caused him to be inter∣red in the great Church of Carcassonne, with great pompe, and with his face vncouered, to the end that none of his Subiects might afterwards doubt of his death. Presently after he made challenge to the inhe∣ritance and whole estate of the said Earle, by vertue of those donations which the Legat of the Pope had conferred vpon him, and that charge that was laid vp∣on him for the Church.

In pursuit whereof, hee demanded of the King of Aragon, the inuestiture of the Earledome of Be∣ziers, and the Citie of Carcassonne. The King of Aragon would not yeeld thereunto, bewraying much discontent, to see this house ouerthrowne vnder a pre∣tence of Religion. The like discontent did the Duke of Bourgongue shew, at what time the charge of the Generall was offered vnto him, saying,* 1.26 That hee had Lands and Lordships enough without the accepting of those of the Earle of Beziers, and the spoiling him of his goods, adding therewithall, that he had alreadie suffered wrong enough.

All the bordering neighbours of the Earle Simon, began to feare him, vpon a report which he gaue forth, that at the spring following, he would haue a great Ar∣mie of Pelerins a•• his command, and that then hee would chastise those, which had not acknowledged the authoritie wherein the Church had placed him. Castres sent vnto him the Keyes of tho•••• Citie, by some of their Bourgesses. The Castle of Pa••ies was yeelded vnto him, euery one submitted themselues to his command, round about Carcassonne, and the Vi∣countie

of Beziers. But he receiued a back-blow in the middest of his prosperitie, which was a presage vn∣to him of some euill. For the King of Aragon, kee∣king secretly the Gentlemen of the Vicountie of Be∣ziers, in breath, encouraged them to bring vnto equall termes this petty-tyrant, who was brought in for the good of another, saying, That if he were not constrai∣ned to haue alwaies a world of Pilgrims for his con∣quests, he would abuse this his rest, to take heart to in∣uade the goods of all those that are neere adioyning, vnder a pretence of that charge hee hath from the Pope: but if he once knew how dangerous, it would be for him, to want his Souldiers of the Crosse, hee would be better aduised, considering that it is not possi∣ble, that he should alwaies haue so great a number of Pilgrims, that should alwaies make him fearefull; for there must be time for the leuying of them, time for the conducting of them from farre Countries, and if he should make no vse of them within fortie daies of their arriuall, hee would be more weake than before, after the expiration of their Pilgrimage: That to hurt and hinder him, there can be no better course taken than to keepe themselues locked vp in their Garrisons at the comming of the Pilgrims, and at their depar∣ture when they were weake, to set vpon him on euery part; that at the last he will be so weary of his great trauels, that he will thinke he hath bought at a deare rate, the good which he beleeued he had gotten by the title of a Donation of those that had nothing to giue. The King of Aragon added hereunto that he had ne∣uer heard of any so vniust a vsurpation, for if this war were made to take away the goods and liues of the Al∣bingensens, by what title had the Legat confiscated the

goods of the Earle of Beziers, who had alwaies liued, and also died in the beleefe of the Church of Rome? That he therefore perceiued, that the greatest crime they could finde in the said Earle, was, that they found him to be young, and no way powerfull. That if God gaue him life, he would make it appeare, that he loued the Earle of Beziers, and that he was his Kinsman, and would likewise shew himselfe a true friend, to those that had any feeling of those wrongs and outrages that were offered him. Those hopes to be succoured by the King of Aragon, gaue heart and courage vnto those, that with great impatiency bare the dominion and power of the Earle Simon of Montfort,* 1.27 in such sort, that the said Earle being one day, gone from Car∣cassonne to Montpelier, he found at his returne, that di∣uers had taken Armes, to shake off their yoake, ha∣uing besieged certaine of his Souldiers in a Tower neere to Carcassonne. He speedily made his returne to succour them, but too late, for not being able to passe a Riuer called Sarasse, and being gone to Carcassonne to passe by the bridge, the Tower was taken before hee came. This small affront brought him into some con∣tempt, and gaue heart to others, to offer the like. A∣bout this time, Captaine Boucard for the said Earle Si∣mon at the Castle of Seissac, attempted the surprise of the strong Castle of Cabaret, whereof mention hath beene made heretofore; for this end and purpose, he made his approach vnto the said Castle, as closely as he could. Captaine Roger, who was within the said Castle, for the Earle Remond was come forth with fourescore horse, to forrage and seeke for bootie: Bou∣card vpon the sudden, and vnlooked for, charged him, and had well-neere discomfited him; but Roger hauing

taken knowledge of the enemy, doubled the charge vpon him in so ••u••ious a manner, that he ouercame the troops of Boucard, and brought him Prisoner to that Castle, which he said he came to surprise.

At this very time, Gerard of Pepios, tooke part with the Albingenses, and seized vpon Puisorignier, and the Castle of Menerbe. Now the warre began to grow very cruel••, for (if it be true that the Monke of the Val∣lies Sernay hath written) Gerard caused the eyes of all the Souldiers of the Earle Simon, which he could take to be pluckt out, and cut off their eares and their noses with their vpper lip, & sent them all naked to the Earle Simon of Montfort, leauing one for a guide vnto the other, with one eye. On the other part, whensoeuer the Earle Simon was victorer in any place, he caused a great fire to bee made, and cast into it as many of the Albingenses as he could take. All they of the Romish Church did as much, that bare Armes for the Albin∣genses; for William of Rochford, Bishop of Carcassonne, caused the Abbot of Cisteaux to be slaine, meering him neere vnto Carcassonne, his body being found murde∣red with six and thirtie wounds, and the Monke which accompanied him, with foure and twentie.

Then the Citie of Carcassonne (saith the Monke) and the Souldiers that were in it, were stricken with such feare, That they had little hope to defend themselues but by flight, for they saw themselues (saith he) enuironed on all sides with infinite enemies. From these miseries, which did much moue the patience of the Earle Si∣mon, hee tooke occasion to write, to all the Prelats throughout Europe, that if in the Spring following, he were not assisted with new succours of Pilgrims, it was impossible for him to hold out, for his enemies

finding his weaknesse, tooke the aduantage thereof: witnesse that after the last departure of the Pilgrims, he had lost aboue forty townes & Castles, of which the people had before brought him the keyes, and were now all reuolted from him and the Church, being be∣yond his power to remedy it for want of men. Hee therefore intreated them in the name of God, to giue their helping hand, otherwise he must be enforced to yeeld vp the rights of the Church and the Countrey altogether.

Now matters thus standing, the Earle Simon atten∣ding new succours, tooke the Castle of Beron neare Montreal, where he caused the eies of aboue a hundred Albingenses to bee pulled out, and cut off their noses, leauing onely one with one eye to bee a guide to the rest, and to conduct them to Cabaret. This stirred vp the Albingenses in such sort,* 1.28 that had not succours in∣stantly come, they had shut him vp on euery side.

CHAP. VII. New succours of Pilgrimes come to the Earle Simon, con∣ducted from France by his Wife; The Earle Simon by them recouereth the Castles of Menerbe and Termes, and the Towne De la Vaur: The Earle Re∣mond is cited before the Legat; He refuseth to appeare: Folquet the Bishop of Toulouze ouer-reacheth him; causeth him to lose the Castle Narbonnes: The Legat Milon dieth.

IN the yeare one thousand two hundred and ten,* 1.29 the Earle Simon being shut vp (saith the Treasure of Histories) within Carcas∣sonne, for want of Pilgrims, he vnderstood

that the Countesse his Wife, came from France, and brought with her a great number of Pelerins, which gaue him great comfort, and he went out to meet her.

A pleasant warre it was, wherein Priests leuied the Souldiers, and a woman conducted them to the warres.

The Pelerins were imployed in the recouerie of the Castle of Menerbe, a place very strong by nature, vpon the Frontiers of Spaine. This siege was procured by the intreatie of Ameri, Lord of Narbonne, and the In∣habitants thereof, who complained that alwaies in for∣mer times this place had beene as a thorne in their feet: They yeelded themselues for want of water, to the discretion of the Legat, who caused the Pilgrims to enter the place with the Crosse and the Banner, and singing Te Deum laudamus. The Abbot of Vaux would needs preach to those that were within the Ca∣stle, and to exhort them to acknowledge the Pope, and to sticke to the Romish Church; but they not stay∣ing till he had ended his Discourse, they all of them cryed out,* 1.30 saying. We will not forsake our faith, we reiect the Romish, you labour but in vaine, for neither life nor death shall make vs to abandon our beleefe. Vpon this answer, the Earle Simon and the Legat, commanded a great fire to bee made, and cast into it a hundred and fortie persons, as well women as men, who went into it with ioy, giuing thankes vnto God for that it pleased him to doe them the honour, to suffer and to dye for his names sake. Thus did these true Martirs of Christ Iesus finish their fraile liues in the midst of the flames, to liue eternally in heauen; And thus did they tri∣umph ouer the Legat of the Pope, resisting him to his face, and threatning the iust iudgement of God vpon

the Earle Simon, and that one day hee would pay dearely for his cruelties, howsoeuer he seemed now to commit them scotfree, yet he would pay for all when the bookes should be opened. There were a number of Priests and Monkes, that did exhort them to take pitty on themselues, promising them their liues, if they would liue according to the beleefe of the Church of Rome: There were only three women that accepted of the condition, that is to say, to liue by abiuring their religion; all the rest died constantly, but they were vanquished by the allurements of the mother of Ri∣chard de Marsiac.

After this expedition,* 1.31 the Earle Simon besieged the Castle of Termes in the same territorie of Narbonne, a place that seemed impregnable by any force of man. It was taken for want of water, not by any capitulati∣on: but because hauing had along time a great want of water, it rained and they dranke of the water which fell into their Cisternes, not sufficiently purified, where∣upon they fell into diuers diseases. Seeing therefore themselues brought to such an estate, that if they had beene driuen to fight, they had had no power to make resistance; they resolued one night to quit the place; which they did not being descried by any: The soul∣diers of the Bishop of Chartres made entrie as soone as they perceiued they were all departed, and there set vp the ensigne of their Bishop.

Amongst other reasons which the Earle Simon vsed,* 1.32 to animate his Pilgrims, this was the most pregnant, that this place was the most execrable of all the rest, because there had beene no Masse sung there since the yeare 1180. that is to say for the space of thirty yeeres.

* 1.33The Castle Vetuille de la Vaur, much troubled the Earle Simon. It was besieged with new troopes of Pilgrims, which a little before came from France, whi∣lest the siege was at Termes, that is to say, the Bishop of Chartres,* 1.34 of Beanuais, the Earle of Dreux, and the Earle of Pontieure. This place was vpon the riuer of Agotte, about fiue leagues from Carcassonne, towards Toulouze, whereof the sister of Aimeri, Lord of Mont∣real whose name was Gerande, was Lady. The Legat had taken from the said Lord of Montreal all his places, which was the cause why he put himselfe into the city de la Vaur to defend his Sister. There were within this place many honest men: There came Pilgrims from all parts to the Legat: From Normandie the troopes being conducted by their Bishops, especially by him of Lifieux; and there came also vnto him six thousand Alemans. The Earle of Foix being aduertised which way they came, went and lay in ambuscado for them, where he ouerthrew them all, not any escaping, but a certain Earle, who at the first encounter, ran away to carry newes to the Earle Simon, who pursued the Earle of Foix with foureteene thousand men, but in vaine, for he had before retired himselfe to Mongiscard.

After six moneths siege, the city de la Vaur was ta∣ken by assault, where all were put to the sword, except fourescore gentlemen, whom the Earle Simon caused to bee hanged and strangled, and Aimeri was hanged vpon a gibber, higher than all the rest; and the Lady of Lauar, was cast aliue into a ditch, and therein coue∣red with stones.* 1.35 One onely act of humanity wee reade was done by the troopes of the Earle Simon; and that is, that a gentleman vnderstanding that there were in a house diuers women and children sicke, hee begged

them of the Generall, and they were granted vnto him; who conducted them safe and sound out of the citie, not being offered by any man the least indignitie that may be.

These were the principall places that the Legat tooke in the yeere one thousand two hundred and ten.* 1.36 We must now returne to the Earle Remond of Tou∣louze, who at his returne from Rome with letters of fa∣uour from the Pope, gaue the Legat Milon to vnder∣stand, that he was reconciled vnto the Pope, and had receiued from him his full absolution, and that he had bestowed vpon him some presents.* 1.37 In the meane time the matter is otherwise set downe in the Treasure of histories, for there it is said, That the Pope writ to the Bishop of Rhodois, to Master Miles, and Master Theo∣dosius, that if the Earle could purge himselfe sufficient∣ly before them, of the death of Frier Peter, and the he∣resie for which he was suspected, that they should giue him his purgation.

This clause gaue authority againe to the Legats, to heare the said Earle, touching the aforesaid businesse, which was to bring him backe againe to the beginning of all his misery. The Earle Simon pressed the Legat to proceed in the fact of the Earle Remond, either to absolue, or to condemne him, to the end he might know, whether he should hold him for a friend or for an enemie of the Pope and of the Church, to be at peace with him, or to make war against him.

The Legat Milon commanded him to appeare in his owne person, because he would know once for all,* 1.38 how he and his subiects liued with them, that is to say, with the Earle Simon and the Church.

The Earle Remond answered, that neither he nor his

Subiects had any thing to doe with them, that he had made his agreement and reconciliation with the Pope, which the Legat could not be ignorant of, to whom he had shewed the Bulles, and therefore hee intreated them to forbeare any farther to disquiet him, The Earle Simon and the Legat writ vnto him againe, that it was very necessary, that he should make repaire vnto him to fulfill the contents of the Bulles. He answered that he had rather take the paines to goe to king Philip of France, and to the Emperor, yea to Rome, to the Pope himselfe, to complaine of the wronges they did vn∣to him, than to put himselfe any more into their hands.

When the Legat saw that he could not winne him by Letters, he resolued to play the fox and to winne him by subtleties. They sent vnto him Folquet Bishop of Toulouze, and instructed him how hee should cary himselfe to deceiue him: This was a capable instru∣ment for the premeditated treason. He went therefore to the Earle Remond, insinuated himselfe into his fa∣uour, with fained protestations of his desire to serue him, and his great griefe to see so little loue betwixt the Legat and himselfe, wishing that it were in his power to stand him in any steed therein, though with the losse of his owne bloud, and offering vnto him all loue and assistance: That he had far greater reason to procure the preseruation of his good, than any o∣ther person whatsoeuer: That he would aduise him as a friend, to take from the Legat all pretence of su∣spition: That when he had once shewed himselfe con∣fident of him, they would no longer doubt of his fi∣delitie; and that euen now a faire occasion was offe∣red, to binde the Legat and the Earle Simon vnto him,

and that was, that whereas he knew they were shortly to come to Toulouze, if he would offer vnto them his Castle Narbonnes to lodge in, it would be an excellent testimony of that confidence hee had in them and binde them to loue him. The Earle Remond being thus guiled by this Bishop, offered them his castle: They accepted thereof, and presently placed therein a great garrison. The word was no sooner slipt the Earles mouth, but he was sure he should repent it, but it was now too late to recall it. He cursed his owne impru∣dency, and his friends and subiects, his too great fa∣cility; for he saw them incontinently to fortifie his Ca∣stle, that it might serue them for a canesson and bridle for his owne subiects: As also from the time of their entrance into that place, he found that they grew bold to speake all the ill they could of the Earle Remond, and that with open mouth; saying that he had mocked the Pope, giuing him to vnderstand that which was false, and promising that which he would neuer performe, insomuch that he was as great an heretike as he was before his abiuration.

That in the ruine and punishment of the Earle Re∣mond, the destruction of the Albingenses did consist: but on the contrary, though the ground were couered with the dead bodies of the Albingenses, if the Earle Remond should remaine, they would alwaies bud and spring vp againe, and therefore it was resolued to exter∣minate and vtterly to destroy the house of Remond from the bottome to the top. But when men purpose that which God hath otherwise disposed, they come many times short; So it was with the Earle Simon, who was frustrated of this hope, by the sudden vnexpected death of the Legat Milon, which changed the face of

the affaires of the said Earle Milon: for he was faine to spend many yeares in the ruinating of that house of the Earle Remond and his adherents, which hee had promised to doe in a few daies.

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.* 1.39 Tho∣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, ••s 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.

CHAP. IX. The Earle Simon besiegeth Toulouze, makes a spoile and is beaten, he raiseth the siege: Aimeri is taken prisoner: The Earle of Toulouze is succored, and by whom: The Earle Simon makes warre with the Earle of Foix, who goes in person to speake with the Legat, but obtaines nothing: The King of Aragon animateth the Earle of Foix, and his sonne Roger, and intercedeth for them in vaine.

THe first attempt that the Earle Simon made, after his alliance with the King of Aragon, was the siege of Toulouze, being strengthned with a great multitude of Pilgrims, which the Bishop of Toulouze went to leuy in France, whilest the Legat Thedize, and the Earle Si∣mon did delay the Earle Remond, vnder the shadow of a treaty of peace with him. Being arriued at Montan∣dran,

vpon the borders of Garonne, neere to Toulouze,* 1.40 the Earle Remond made a sallie out of Toulouze, with fiue hundred horse, and footmen a great number, and came as farre as the bridge, in hope to gaine it, or to breake it downe.

There was at that bridge a great fight, and many there died both on the one side and the other. In the end, the Earle Remond sounded a retreat, whereupon the enemie tooke heart, passed the bridge, and pursued the Earle Remond, euen to the gates of Toulouze: The Earle Remond made so sudden and so furious a rein∣counter vpon them, that he beat backe his enemy vnto the bridge, which was not large inough to receiue them, so that they were almost all slaine before they were at the foot thereof. Aimeri the sonne of the said Simon of Montfort, was taken prisoner.

The Earle Simon seeing this losse, and his sonne ta∣ken prisoner, animated his Pilgrims to the combat. They endeuoring to be reuenged of this ouerthrow, ranne into the ditches, set vp their ladders, but they were valiantly repulsed. The ditches were filled with the dead bodies of the Pilgrims, and the Earle Simon was beaten from his horse. In the middest of this con∣flict, arriued the Earle of Champagne, with a great num∣ber of Pilgrims, and he came in good time to bee well beaten. The Earle Simon commanded them all to goe to the spoile, whereupon the Pilgrims ranne into the Vineyards, Orchards and Gardens, cut downe all trees that bare fruit, plucked vp the Vines by the roots; at what time the President of Ageues came forth of Toulouze, with a great number of the inhabitants there∣of, who seeing them to spoile their possessions, ranne vpon the Pilgrims with violence, scattered here and

there through the fields, and slew a great number of them. On the other side the Earle of Foix conducting some troopes of horse and foot, slew as many as hee met with. The Earle of Bar held his troopes in better order, and seeing the disorder especially of those that were flying away, hee cryed out, a Bar, a Bar; which the inhabitants of Toulouze vnderstanding, charged them so brauely, before any of them could gather themselues vnto him, that he was discomfited with the rest. The Earle Remond retired his troopes into Tou∣louze, and commanded solemne thankes to bee giuen vnto God, for so admirable a victorie ouer his enemies.

The fame of the Earle Remonds victories being spread abroad, there came vnto him diuers succours, from all the parts round about him, for they were all weary of the troopes of the Pilgrims, and willingly offered both their goods and their liues to driue them out of the Countrey.* 1.41 The Earle Simon being in some scarsitie of victurall, because the wayes whereby they should be releeued, were stopt, was constrained to raise his siege. And besides the Earle of Chalons, the Earle of Bar, and certaine other Germaine Earles, reti∣red themselues,* 1.42 their quarantaines or fortie daies being expired; but yet he would not bee altogether idle that Autumne: Hee therefore marched into the Countries of the Earle of Foix, to refresh the rest of his Armie, and to possesse himselfe of some places. Hee went as farre as the Towne of Foix, made spoyle of all that was about it, and then set fire to the Towne. Being at Panies, the Legat tooke the one halfe of the Armie to accompanie him to Roquemaure, where hee went to passe the winter, and in his way being in the Earle∣dom

of S^t. Felix of Caraman, he tooke the Tower of Cassas, and about one hundred men therein, and caused them all to be burnt aliue, and laid the place leuell with the ground. In the meane time the Earle Simon ruina∣ted the Countries of the Earle of Foix, as long as the said Earle kept his bed, being visited with a grieuous sicknesse, during the which, his seruants that were a∣bout him, durst not tell him of his losses; that is to say, of Pamies, Sauerdun, Mirepoix and Prissant, which had beene likewise battered, a place very strong neere Carcassonne. Being recouered of his sicknesse, and vn∣derstanding what hauocke the Earle Simon had made of his houses, and what ruine his poore subiects had endured, he went to the Armie, and desired to speake with the Generall, and thus hee deliuered his minde vnto him.

* 1.43The inconstancie of tottering fortune (my ma∣sters and most renowned Lords) is the cause why I am not astonished to see my selfe thus infinitely af∣flicted by this cruell Step-mother. I haue heretofore braued mine enemies, fought in the field amongst those that would resist my power, entertained the great and mightie Monarches as my friends: None haue threatned me, much lesse offended me, neither could my sword euer beare it. I haue beene imploy∣ed in publike negotiations, which carry with them, as their attendants, infinite discommodities, neither haue I gotten any dishonor thereby, and I should haue held my labor ill imployed, if they had not bin vpon worthy occasions, neuer hauing desired to bee accounted an honest man, by those vnworthy and vniust meanes that some men purpose vnto them∣selues. For he that is not an honest man, but because

other men should know him to bee so, and that hee might be the better esteemed after knowledge taken thereof: he that will not doe good, but vpon conditi∣on that his vertue may be knowne by other men, he is not the person from whom any great seruice can be expected. Wee must (saith the Maxime) goe to war out of dutie, and attend the reward which is ne∣uer wanting to all honorable actions, be they neuer so secret; yea, euen our vertuous cogitations, being the onely contentment which a conscience well or∣dered receiueth in it selfe for well doing. Hauing therefore (my masters and friends) my courage still lodged in a firme and assured place, against all the assaults of Fortune, & my conscience cleere in this, that I neuer gaue you any occasion to rise vp against me, I haue made no doubt to appeare before you in this assembly, and to bring with me my head, not my treasures, to expose them to the mercy of the Souldier, or my commodities, to plant them as Bar∣riers about my lands and territories, which you haue begunne without reason to bring into a lamentable estate, to be iudged by your Counsell, and according thereunto, to condescend to that which shall be de∣termined. For I had rather neuer to haue beene borne, than to furuine my reputation, neither can I suffer that honor and glory, which in my yonger yeeres I haue iustly wonne, to be extinguished. Haue you euer knowne me to be an enemie to the Realme of France? If it be so, let me lose both life and ho∣nour, with shame and dishonour. And who dares speake it to my face? Haue I conspired against the Church? What haue I done, that any man should haue that conceit of me? And doe you thinke, that

for the poore remainder of this fantasticall imagina∣ry life which I haue to liue, I will lose the essentiall life, and purchase to my selfe, to please any mans ap∣petite, an eternall death? The wise men of the world haue proposed to themselues a more honourable and iust end, to so important an enterprize. There is no man of honour that chooseth not rather to lose his honour than his couscience. It is that which I hold to bee the dearest lewell within my Cabinet. Keepe me I pray you in that range which the Kings of France haue giuen mee, that is, to bee thought faithfull, as they haue heretofore censured me, when they haue had occasion to deale in the affaires of my House, to the end (saith he) that being offended, I be not constrained to defend my selfe, and to offend you, which shall bee much against mine owne will and intention.

And this by oath I vow vnto you.

Roger the sonne of the Earle of Foix was much af∣flicted with the submission of his father, as being an action too base for the greatnesse of their house. The King of Aragon did likewise distaste it. For notwith∣standing he were allied to the Earle Simon, yet hee did not feare to let him vnderstand, that he could not ap∣proue of his vsurpations vnder the pretence of religion.

The Earle Simon on the other side,* 1.44 loud voice.

That the conquests were iust and lawfull: that he had his right from the Pope: that there was no o∣ther purchase, but that which hee wonne with the sword: that hee had an Armie to answer whomsoe∣uer should oppose himselfe against it, were it the King of Aragon, and of strength sufficient to defend himselfe against whomsoeuer.

The King of Aragon writ to the Earle of Foix, that forasmuch as the Legat, and the Earle Simon had decei∣ued him, in not restoring those lands and places, which they had promised him to restore, that hee should no longer put any trust in them, since the intent of the Earle Simon was too well knowne. That is, that hee endeuored to make himselfe great and rich with the goods of another, vnder a pretence of Religion, if his ambition and auarice were not staied, by the com∣mon armes and intelligence of those, whom hee had already spoyled of their goods, and of all others that doe but vnderstand, that hauing begunne with their neighbours, hee will likewise desire to follow that course without end, the couetous desires of men be∣ing endlesse. That he knew very well that hee did not seeke his alliance, out of any desire hee had to be ho∣noured thereby, but onely to hinder him from succo∣ring those whom he desired to strip out of all they had. He likewise exhorted by letters, Roger the sonne of the Earle of Foix, to fortifie himselfe against the vniust vsurpations of Montfort, otherwise euery man would laugh at him; that the Earle Somon was but weake, accompanied with a few Pilgrims, ready out of discon∣tents to retire themselues: that he should therefore en∣ter the field, and hee should quickly finde who would assist him.

The Earle Remond being much afflicted with the alienation of the King of Aragon, by the marriage of his sonne with the daughter of Simon of Montfort, thought it necessarie to doe his best endeuour to re∣gaine him, by another mariage. He offered therefore his only son and heire in marriage to a daughter of his; vnto which motion, the King of Aragon yeelded his

consent. The Earle Simon was much displeased here∣with.* 1.45 The Monk saith, That this marriage made the King of Aragon very infamous, and much suspected, conside∣ring that the Earle of Toulouze, was a manifest persecu∣ter of the Church.

The King of Aragon knowing the murmurings of the Earle Simon, did not feare with open mouth, to publish his purpose and intent to defend the Earle of Toulouze, and of Foix. That the one was his Brother in Law, the other his Subiect. That he did assure him∣selfe of a day, that God would giue them, to make him repent his vniust conquests.

The Earle Simon being aduertized of the threats of the King of Aragon, intreated him to blot out those bad impressions, which he had conceiued of him, and that he would make him the iudge, and stickler of the difference that was betwixt him and the Earle of Foix: The Earle of Foix on the other side, intreated the King of Aragon to yeeld thereunto; who obtained of the Earle Simon the restitution of all his Lands and Terri∣tories, except Pamies. Which exception, when his sonne Roger vnderstood, he presently said hee would none of that; but he knew very well how to recouer that with his sword, which very vniustly he had taken from him by foule play, and false pretences. Where∣vpon he entred the field, foraged, tooke his occasions seasonably, and bestowed his time with such incredi∣ble diligence, in all his exploits, that he made the Ar∣mie of the Crosse to feele the bloudy effects of his va∣lour. On the other side, the Earle of Toulouze tooke the aduantage of the time, nourisheth those sparkles of diuision, seekes to win the loue of the Earle of Foix, and they make betweene them and their allies, a league

offensiue and defensiue, against the Earle Simon their common enemy, and assemble themselues at Toulouze, to binde it by oath, and so they prepare themselues for the warre, euery one contributing according to his abilitie towards an action of such importance.

CHAP. X. The siege of Castlenau d'Arri: the retrait of the Earle Simon: The Earle of Foix offers him battaile: The King of Aragon intercedeth for the Earles of Tou∣louze, of Foix, and Comminge; he writeth for them, to the Councell de la Vaur, and obtaineth nothing. The King of Aragon defies the Earle Simon, they make leuies both on the one side and the other; but the Earle Simon aduancing himselfe, takes diuers places.

* 1.46THE first exploit of this warre which the Confederates vndertooke, was the siege of Castlenau d' Arri, whether they mar∣ched in this order. The Vauntgard was conducted by the Earle of Foix, and Prince Roger his sonne. The maine battell by Remond Earle of Toulouze. The rereward by the Prince and Lord of Bearn. This Armie was composed of fiftie thousand foot, and ten thousand horse, and besides that, the Citie of Toulouze was furnished with a good and strong garrison, and all munitions and instruments of warre. The Earle Simon put himselfe into Castlenau d' Arri. The situation of this place was good, and the Castle one of the best; and there were in the Citie ma∣ny Souliers and great Captaines, and great store of munition for a long siege. The Earle of Foix made his approach, lodged himselfe neere the rampiers,

where hee framed many fabricks. In the meane time the enemy sallied forth of the Cittie, and put them∣selues very rudely and resolutely vpon an Army of the Vauntguard, but they were with such courage re∣pulsed, that diuers remaining dead within the tren∣ches, the rest retired to bethinke themselues of a better course. The Subburbs were taken by the besiegers. The Earle Roger was there wounded with a stone, cast from the Citie by one of their Engines. The Earle of Toulouze incamped himselfe vpon a little hill, right ouer against the Castle, intrenching and enuironing himselfe with railes and barriers. The Prince of Bearn lay on the other side of the Citie. The Armie of the Albingenses increased daily, vpon a report giuen forth that the Earle Simon was there sh••t vp, so great a desire had euery one to see his ruine. And because there were too many of the Albingenses at this siege, it was thought good that the Earle Remond should take a part of the Army to surprize certaine small holds and Castles, which were somewhat disaduantagious to the Army. He tooke Puylaurens, Albi, Rabasteins, Gaillac, Montagut, and Sauerdun.

The Earle Simon began to see his ouer-sight, to suf∣fer himselfe to be inclosed within Castlenau d' Arri, and that inasmuch as hee was the Generall, it was fit hee should be at libertie, to prouide for all other places de∣pending vpon his authoritie. He left within the place, Guy de Leuis, called the Marshall of Faith, and to the end he might slip out the better, he caused a sally to be made vpon the besiegers, ingaging certaine troops, whilst he in the meane time might make his escape.

The Earle Remond being aduertised of the depar∣ture of the Earle Simon, was much offended there∣with,

with, more for shame, than for any ill hee conceiued thereof: because the report had beene euery where spread abroad that the Generall was in the Cage, and that he should not come forth but bare-headed, the halter about his neck, and begging mercy. They com∣plained one of another. The Earle of Foix, that they had left him without succour in so dangerous a flight. The Earle Remond, that he would put himselfe into so great danger, without knowledge giuen vnto any.

In the end they resolued to raise the siege, because of Winter, and a great leuy of Pilgrims marching to∣wards them, whose liues the Earle Simon did not greatly tender, because hee had the Popes Bull, that whosoeuer should lose his life in that warre, should goe presently to Paradice, as neat from all sinne, as a Hen-roost from ordure. The Earle Simon was strange∣ly puft vp with pride, making himselfe merry with that great preparation of warre, altogether vnprofitable to the Albingenses, especially that they had suffered him to make an escape, being twelue to one. Vpon this retrait, they in Castlenau would needs follow the Ar∣mie; but it cost them deare. For Roger made a furious returne vpon them, killing many of them, and beating them backe euen to the gates of the Citie.

The Monke of the Valley Sernay tells this Fable; That notwithstanding there were a hundred thousand fighting men in the Armie of the Albingenses, yet they of Castlenau d' Arri went forth to their Vintage, and gathered their Grapes as if there had beene no enemy before the Citie, and that their seruants went to water their Horses, halfe a league from the Citie, the Albingenses not daring to charge them. See here the truth of a Monkish Historiographer. So likewise

when he falls into outrages, they are without measure or end. In this Discourse he growes very chollerick, against one Sauari of Mauleon, President to the King of England at Guienne, who had conducted some troops before Castlenau d' Arri, in fauour of the Albin∣genses, he cals him Infidell, Expugner of the Church, a dangerous poyson, a wicked forlorne person, enemy to God, the Prince of Apostacy, artificiall in cruelties, the author of all peruersenesse, a diabolicall man, nay the Deuill himselfe. Doubtlesse he had either giuen him a hard chase, or his stile is very Monkish.

After this retreat, all the Lords of the Albingenses retired themselues into their quarters. The Earle of Foix vnderstanding that the Earle Simon was gone to Pamies, where he much troubled his Subiects, he de∣parted from Toulouze with two thousand men, and came to the gates of Pamies, offering battell to the Earle Simon, but he would by no meanes harken there∣unto, finding his Pilgrims too weake. And doubting that at the Spring following the Albingenses would take the field; the Earle Simon all the Winter thought of nothing so much, as to strengthen the places which he held, to maintaine the sieges. Among the rest being desirous to prouide for Faniaux, a place of great im∣portance; Roger perceiuing it, lay in Ambush in such manner, and to such purpose, that he discomfited all those that brought either victuals or munitions.

In the meane time, the Earle Simon, who doubted nothing so much as the King of Aragon, caused the Le∣gat to write vnto him, that he should no more meddle with the affaires of the Albingenses, except he would intangle himselfe in the same miseries with them, and include himselfe in the same excommunication. He

likewise caused Philip King of France to write vnto him, intreating him not to fauour those that were ene∣mies to the Pope and to the Church: The Legat like∣wise caused him to write to the Pope, touching the same matter.

These intreaties of the Pope, and the French King, were vnto him as expresse Commands, and there∣fore when the Earle of Foix, Toulouze and Comminge, pressed him to assist them, he told them he would doe it; but it was fit hee should first doe his endeuour to obtaine that by gentle and peaceable meanes, which by warre could not be obtained without danger. That the Legat was in counsell with all those of his part, that he would write vnto them, and that if hee could not obtaine what he desired by Letters, he would en∣force them to do him reason by Armes. He writ there∣fore to the said Councell, beseeching them to end these deadly warres, enterprised vnder a pretence of Religion, offering for the Earles, their obedience to the Pope and the Church of Rome, but yet that they should neuer promise any peace before restitution was made vnto the said Earles, of all their lands and goods. The Councell de la Vaur returned this answer.

We haue vnderstood the requests that heretofore you haue made in the behalfe of the Earle of Tou∣louze,* 1.47 his son & his Counsel, the Earle of Foix, and of Comminge, & the Lord of Bearne, wherein you name your selfe the humble & deuoted son of the Church; for which wee giue thankes to our Lord God, and to your Highnesse. Assure your selfe, that in respect of that loue you beare to the Church, wee giue our best attention vnto them with our eares, and receiue them with gladnesse from our hearts; but touching

the answer we are to make to your Greatnesse, and the request made by the Earle of Tolouze, his Coun∣sell and his sonne, we certifie you that the cause and denotation thereof belongs to our Soueraigne Fa∣ther, hauing reserued it to his Holinesse. You may call to minde if you please, the infinite offers, grants and graces, which our holy Father the Pope hath offered vnto him, after innumerable cruelties and horrible outrages. You may likewise remember the kinde entertainment, which hee found in the Archbishoprick of Nerbonne, by the Abbot of Ciste∣aux, & Legat at Montpelier two years since; as also the offers which were made vnto him, which he would not accept of: Which grace and fauour he so much scorned, that he made it appeare confidently, and with all oft, that he was not only enemy to God, but to his Church, for which cause he hath deserued to be banished for euer from God, his Grace, and his Church. Touching the requests of the Earle of Foix, Comminge, and Lord of Bearne; they haue in∣fringed the oathes giuen by them, and in stead of ac∣commodating themselues to that kinde and courte∣ous admonishment, they are filled with that abomi∣nable heresie, for which to their great shame and ig∣nomie, they were excommunicated. And this is all the answer wee can giue to the demand of your Greatnesse. Giuen at La Vaur 15. Kalend. Febr. 1 2 1 2.* 1.48

The King of Aragon being much moued with this answer, sent againe to the Counsell, demanding truce for the said Earles, vntill they had receiued an answer from the Pope, but it was denied.

The Earle of Foix was well contented, that the

Councell had yeelded nothing to the requests of the King of Aragon, because he must haue beene engaged by promise ••or him, that he should acknowledge his tenure of the Pope and the Church of Rome; And which was more, seeing that the King persisted in this opinion, that such promises were to bee made, to re∣obtaine their goods, to the end they might neuer en∣gage themselues for that they could not performe, knowing that the King of Aragon, the Earle of Tou∣louze, and Comminge, were assembled at Toulouze to prouide for their affaires, he came thither; and thus he spake vnto them.

* 1.49

Sir, and you my Masters & Friends; Forasmuch as ambition can teach men both valour and tempe∣rancy, and auarice can plant in the heart, of a Shop∣boy brought vp in the shade and in idlenesse, an assu∣rance to depart from his houshold harth, and to commit himselfe to the billowes of the Sea, and the mercy of angry Neptune in a small and fraile vessell, it shall be great weaknesse, and litherly negligence in vs, who by the renowned Acts of our Trophees are knowne euen to the Confines of Arabia, if we shall now come by a seruile and treacherous acknow∣ledgement to ouerthrow the Tables and Registers of our valours so highly eleuated. No, no, mine arme shall neuer consent thereunto, we are not now in bondage. I and my sonne chuse rather to make triall of the inconstant hazzard of warre, than to bring vpon vs and ours so great and so notable an infamy. And therefore, for the honour of God quit vs of that shame, that men take no notice of our la∣mentable estate, mourning & sighing after our losses, like Distaffe-bearers. If we must needs bow, let it be

when we haue first done the parts of good and braue Captaines. It is an aduenturous and high enterprise, (you will say) but it was resolued vpon by your selues, Que ie voy maintenant les ressors qui lui donnent le branle de sa cheute. Fare ye well. Sir, We yeeld not our consent in any thing; Come what come may.

The King of Aragon was much moued with this discourse of the Earle of Foix, wherein hee layeth an imputation vpon him, that hee was the cause of their ruine, because he had animated them against the Legat and the Earle Simon, and that now hee left them as a prey, by procuring a peace worse than a bloudy warre. You haue Sir (saith hee) opened a doore to our ene∣mies, to tyrannize ouer vs, if they had accepted of it, and to a glorie more great, than they could hope to attaine by Armes, for we had beene all their Subiects, without any other charge, than your owne instant re∣quest. As for my selfe (saith he) I had rather haue giuen my selfe the stab, than to haue drunke of that cup. And after many examples produced by him of those that haue changed a miserable life for a present death, killing themselues before they would serue for Tro∣phees to their enemies, he continued his discourse as followeth.

For mine owne part, I had rather follow these great Spirits, than hauing so often giuen testimony of my valour for another, preferre life before honour by be∣ing lazie and negligent in a businesse that concernes my selfe. And though Fortune deny me all meanes, to make opposition against that wrong that another shall offer mee, yet my courage will neuer giue way, that I should make my selfe the speech of the people,

or a triumph for men more vnworthy than my selfe. This their deniall of what you demanded, doth com∣fort me, and it vpholds our honor, for we must either haue broken our faith, or played the Cowards like needy beggers, and liued a life more cruell, more in∣tollerable, than any torment of Phalaris; like misera∣ble men yeelding our neckes to the yoake of the ene∣mie, and confessing our selues beaten, sell our owne libertie, and our childrens after vs, and that for euer. Good God what a blow were this Sir? For asmuch therefore as the tempest is growen so great, and wee are driuen to so extreme a necessitie, imbrace vs in your armes, be our head, seruing vs for an example, a watch-tower, a conduct: So shall we engage our wills and our liues, to shew our selues your most humble seruants in time of need, and valorous Souldiers when occasion shall be offered. And though I be now worne with yeares, yet neuer had I greater courage or better resolution.

The Earle Remond on the other side, intreated the King of Aragon not to abandon their cause, offering vnto him both his goods and his life, to fight vnder his authoritie.

The King of Aragon being ouercome with these intreaties, and moued with compassion towards the afflicted, in the end tooke armes, and sent this ticket of defiance, to the Earle Simon by two Trumpetters. Indeuour without delay to execute the will of the Pope, or to fight with your Lord, and if you fall into my hands, you shall pay for it. It is your dutie, and I will haue it so, and I rather desire it, than to put my selfe to the charge of a great Army for your ruine.

The Earle Simon made good vse of this Letter of

defiance, for hee sent it into diuers parts of Europe, shewing by the Bishops and Monkes that preached the Croisade, that the care was not now for the Earle of Toulouze, Foix, Comminge, or the Prince of Bearne, but for a puissant King, who had made himselfe the Generall of the Albingenses, and that if he were not assisted extraordinarily, the cause of the Church was at an end; and therefore he entreated all good Christi∣ans, especially the King of France, to giue his best as∣sistance in these holy warres, and extreme necessitie.

On the other side, the King of Aragon writ to the King of France, that the Earle Simon of Montfort had a spirit puffed vp with high conceits, farre exceeding both the capacitie of his vnderstanding, and his forces; That al his intentions were no other than plaisterings, vnder the pretence of Religion, and in the meane time he intended nothing so much as to bee a King in deed, and Simon by name. He beseecheth the King by Letters and by his Agents, that hee would not in∣terpose himselfe in this warre, neither on the one part, nor the other. Which he obtained of the King, inso∣much that it troubled him to see his Subiects continu∣ally drawne to the shambles of this warre of the Al∣bingenses, vnder a pretence of the Popes pardon, and to see so many of his great Lords his Kinsmen so vex∣ed by the Earle Simon. When the Earle Simon vnder∣stood, that the King of France was made a Neuter, he was much afflicted therewith, hauing now no other recourse but to the threats of the Legat to excommu∣nicate him, if he should proceed any farther. The Le∣gat sent him an Ambassage and Letters. The King of Aragon returned this answer; Goe speedily and tell your Master that I will come and see him, and giue

him an answer with ten thousand fighting men, and will him to defend himselfe, for I will teach him to play with his Peere.

* 1.50Euery one makes preparation. The Earle Simon sent into France, to the Archdeacon of Paris, and Ma∣ster Iaques de Vitri, to preach the Croisade. The King Phillip Anguste would not haue this Leuy to bee made in his Realme: but yet neuerthelesse, there went a great number from Auuergne, Normandie, and about Lion. The Pilgrims arriued before the King of Aragon had prepared his Armie, which gaue great aduantage to the Earle Simon, for hee tooke in the meane time Graue, came into the Earle dome of Foix, tooke Tudelle of the Albingenses,* 1.51 and slew all that hee found in it, without distinction of age or sex, besieged S^t. Antonin, and tooke it, and caused thirtie of the principall of that place to bee hanged and strangled, and that in cold bloud, and after he had granted them their liues, and permitted the Conuent of Monkes that was in that place, to be sacked and ransacked. He besieged Penes, and receiued it by composition, as he did likewise Mar∣mande: He ceased vpon the Castle of Biron neere the Sea. The Earle Simon caused Martin Alquay to bee tyed to the taile of a horse, and to be dragged through his Armie, and afterwards hanged him, because he had before deliuered vp the place to the Earle Remond. Moreouer, the Castle Sarrazin and Agen were yeelded to the Earle. Moissac opened the gates to the Souldi∣ers of the Crosse, and all this did the Earle Simon, be∣fore the King of Aragon or his Armie did appeare.

CHAP. XI. The exploits of the Earle Simon before the King of Ara∣gon had prepared his Armie: The King of Aragon would come to no composition with the Earle Simon, being weakned: The Citie of Muret taken by the King of Aragon: Battell giuen: The King of Aragon is slaine, and his Armie dissipated.

IN the yeere of our Lord, one thou∣sand two hundred and thirteene, and the thirteenth of September, the King of Aragon with the Earle Re∣mond of Toulouze, Remond Earle of Foix, and the Earle of Comminge, and Prince of Bearne, appeared in the field with their Armie, composed of seuen thousand horses, and thir∣tie thousand foot. They tooke Muret a little Citie vp∣on the borders of the Earledome of Foix, seated vpon Garonne, but they tooke not the Castle. The Earle Si∣mon was of opinion, that that was the place where the Armie of his enemies should waste and spend it selfe, because the Castle was good and strong, and that if he made resistance for sometime, it would of it selfe bee scattered and ouerthrowne. Hee therefore put him∣selfe into that Castle, with some small number of his most expert and valorous Souldiers, and furnihed it with munition, and gaue by his presence such assu∣rance vnto the besieged, that they thought themselues inuincible, of such power is the good opinion that the Souldiers haue of their Captaine, to confirme those that are most weake.

There were some that began to enter into conside∣ration

of the proceedings of the King of Aragon, in that he would not accept of a composition so aduan∣tagious for himselfe and the Lords of the Albingenses, as the Earle Simon had offered him, when hee saw the inequalitie of their forces. For the Earle Simon had not aboue seuen hundred men on foot, and fiue hun∣dred horse. It is not good to assault a man, that hath no hope to escape but by armes, for there is not a more violent Schoole-mistris than necessitie. But the King of Aragon thought it no time to smoothe and to flat∣ter, after so many insolent brauados against his Lord, of which the Monke hath noted some;* 1.52 as where hee saith, that hee writ certaine letters vnto him, without any salutation, containing these tearmes, that if hee continued in his obstinate defiance, hee returned the defiance vpon himselfe, and that from thence forward he held not himselfe bound to doe him any seruice, and that hee doubted not, by the helpe of God, to defend himselfe against him and his confederates.

The King of Aragon hauing these insolent speeches engrauen in his memorie, thought him vnworthy of any grace or fauour in this his weaknesse, especially imagining that this his submission might onely bee to auoid this dangerous shocke, and to attend his Pil∣grims, that hee might afterwards be more insolent than before: that at other times when the Earle Simon was in his greatest height, followed with a hundred thou∣sand men, it was his manner alwayes to scoffe at the submissions of the Earle Remond of Toulouze, and of Foix, and that it were therefore great weaknesse not to returne like for like: that he would afterwards mocke them, if they should haue compassion of him that ne∣uer had pitty of any: that since hee had so long time

taken his pleasure to prouoke the Lords to bee his ene∣mies, hee should haue furnished himselfe with greater numbers of Souldiers, and such as might haue more sollid pay than the Popes pardons, that might not leaue him at his greatest need, nor bee perswaded like Pilgrims, that there was nothing more to bee gained: for hee that hath gotten Paradice (as the Pope would make men beleeue in his Bulls) hath nothing else to get but blowes if he desire any thing more, as they vse to doe who continue in this warre after their quaran∣taines, their fortie dayes are spent.

The King of Aragon therefore thought it was fit he should take his aduantages against a man so malicious and so insolent. But none can promise himselfe the victorie, but the eternall, who is the God of warre, for neither the number of men, nor the equipage or furni∣ture can giue the victories, but onely God, who many times maketh his power to appeare in the weaknesse of men.

Their Armies were ranged in this manner. The Earle of Foix, and his sonne Roger, lead the Vaunt∣gard of the Armie of the King of Aragon, consisting of three thousand horse, and ten thousand foot, bow∣men, and Pikemen, which were the surest armes in those times. The Earle Remond of Toulouze comman∣ded the battell, assisted by the Earle of Comminge, and the Prince of Bearne, wherein there were aboue foure thousand horse, and twenty thousand foot, without any reereward.

The Vauntgard of the Earle Simon was conducted by Guy de Leuis Marshall of the Faith, consisting of fiue hundred horse, and three hundred foot. The Earle was in the battell with a thousand horse, and foure hun∣dred

men on foot, almost all French, without any reereward.

The King of Aragon made his turnes and returnes in the head of his Armie; which was thought to bee a great ouersight, because the Generall of an Armie must not carry himselfe like a Captaine of Arquebu∣ziers, not runne his Curuets to be seene, because in the losse of him, consists the losse of the battell, and the Countrey which he defends; but hee is to keepe him∣selfe in the heart of the Armie, to direct by his iudge∣ment, as occasions fall out, the whole body of the Ar∣mie, which is not to stirre but by his command and di∣rection. The Earle Simon quite contrary, came downe from the Castle of Muret with a slow pace, shut vp (as it were) and in good order: The King of Aragon see∣ing him, thought hee came rather to cast himselfe downe at his feet, than to fight. The King of Aragon had lodged his Armie in a place very aduantagious and fauourable. They ioyne battell, and presently the Vantgard of the Earle Simon was almost cut in peeces, and it went so ill with him and his, that it seemed vnto him that that was the place whither God had called him, to pay with vsurie, for all his fore-passed cruelties and insolencies, to his owne shame; when the King of Aragon in the head of his Vauntgard approched for his totall ruine and destruction; for being come neere to an ambush of foure hundred Harquebu∣siers which the Earle Simon had placed in certaine old decayed houses, he was wounded to death, and fell from his horse. Whereupon they fell presently into such a disorder and astonishment, that doe what the Earle Remond of Toulouze, of Foix and Comminge, what they could to stay this cowardly Armie, they

could preuaile nothing with them, but were enforced themselues to follow the trace, and to commit them∣selues to the hazard and euent of this shamefull re∣treat, flying directly to Toulouze. The Earle Simon taking the aduantage of his victory, and following the chase, euen to the gates of Toulouze, slew so many men in this dayes fight, that himselfe was moued with compassion, grieuing for the hard hap of his Lord the King of Aragon, and causing a search to bee made a∣mong the dead, commanded him to be interred, not in the ground which they call holy, because hee was ex∣communicated, but in a field nere to S^t. Granier.

The Bishops, Priests and Monkes, which were with∣in the Castle of Muret, from whence they might behold from farre the euent of this daies iourney, haue had a Monke that giues them the whole commendati∣ons of this so renowned a victory,* 1.53 affirming that it was obtained by the benediction which the Bishop of Comminge gaue to the Army with the Crosse, pro∣mising to the Pilgrims Paradice, without any paine of Purgatory, and that if they died in that fight, they should all be receiued into heauen as Martyrs. As al∣so hee saith, that all the Ecclesiasticall persons that were within the place, retired themselues to a Church all the time of the Combat, and that they praied with such ardency, that they seemed by their crie rather to houle than to pray.

He that writes the History of Languedoc saith,* 1.54 that they got the aduantage because they had receiued the benediction from the Bishops, and had adored the wood of the true Crosse in the hands of the Bishop of Toulouze.

On the other side, the Albingenses acknowledged

that they saw herein an extraordinary proofe of the iudgement of God, in that the king of Aragon, attri∣buted at that time, more to his owne power and pro∣uidence, than the helpe and succours of the eternall God. But yet for all this, they lost not their courage, though they had loft in this iourney, fifteene thou∣sand fighting men, neither did they dispaire of the iu∣stice and goodnesse of their cause, it not being the first armie that hath beene discomfited in a iust quar∣rell, nor the first bad cause, that hath beene maintai∣ned with victory. So foure hundred thousand men of Israel, were beaten by twenty six thousand of the children of Beniamin, who maintained a bad cause, and slew in two battells two and forty thousand men. Iudge 20.* 1.55 So the Philistins being vncircumcised Ido∣laters, got the better in two battells against the Israe∣lites, and slew of them, thirty foure thousand men, and tooke the Arke of God. So Ionathan was slaine by the Philistins. So Iosiah who was zealous of the ser∣uice of God,* 1.56 receiued his deadly blow fighting against the king of Egipt at Megiddo. So king Iohn hauing an armie of sixty thousand men, was discomfited and taken prisoner by the Prince of Wales, who had not aboue eight thousand men, notwithstanding the cause of the king of France were very iust, defending him∣selfe against his enemie, who assaulted him in his owne countrey.

The warre of the Albingenses encreased; for the Earle Simon thought it was necessary hee should pur∣sue his enemies being halfe dead and ouerthrowne, and the Albingenses for their part, knew that they must of necessi••ie defend themselues, or bee vanquished and brought into thraldome.

CHAP. XII. Pope Innocent the third, sent against the Albingenses a new Legat named Bonauenture. Prince Lewis the sonne of Philip tooke on him the Crosse, and caused Toulouze and Narbonne to be dismantled, and the walles laid euen with the ground.

THe Earle Simon being puffed vp with this victorie, sent one to summon the Earle of Toulouze, Foix, and Comminge, and the Prince of Bearne, to deliuer vnto him, the keis of those cities and castles that they pos∣sessed, and that they should subscribe to what it plea∣sed the Legat, or resolue miserably to perish.

He receiued no answer, but euery one betooke him∣selfe to his owne territories, there to prouide the best they could possibly for their affaires. The Earle Re∣mond retired himselfe to Montauban, and writ to those of Toulouze, from whence he was but then departed, that he vnderstood that Rodolph the Bishop of Arras was comming with a great number of Pilgrims, and therefore, forasmuch as he saw, that they had no meanes to defend their city, against so great a force, that they should treat and grow to some composition with the Earle Simon, reseruing only their hearts vnto himselfe, vntill God should giue meanes, to free them from those miseries wherein they were plunged, by the insatiable auarice of their common enemie. In the meane time, he, the Earle of Foix, Comminge, and the Prince of Bearne, did their endeuours to trouble and to infest the enemies Armies, with all the power they

could for their common good. The citie of Toulouze deputed six of the principall men of the city, to offer to the Earle Simon, the keies of Toulouze. He receiued them honourably and commanded them not to de∣part from him without his permission. In the meane time, he writ to Lewis the sonne of king Philip, that since the battle of Muret, they of Toulouze offered to yeeld themselues vnto him, but his desire was that he should haue the praise of that conquest being onely worthy of himselfe. King Philip his father would not heretofore permit, that he should war against the Al∣bingenses, because he had promised the King of Ara∣gon, to carry himselfe as a neuter betwixt both, but now hearing of the death of the said King of Aragon, he suffered him to goe. The Prince being at Toulouze, the citie was deliuered into his hands, and presently, the Legat, hauing assembled the Bishops of his ranke, it was concluded that the pillage should be granted to the Pilgrims, and that the city should be dismant∣led, the Castle of Narbonne excepted; which was in∣continently executed, contrary to the promise which had beene giuen them, that nothing should be altered within the citie. This good vse did the Earle Simon make of the presence and forces of Prince Lewis, for otherwise, he durst not haue enterprised the saccage and dismantling of this goodly and great citie, with∣out the endangering of his fortunes, were his forces neuer so great.

At this very time arriued Bonauenture the Popes new Legat, and of those that tooke on them the Crosse the Bishop of Beauuois, the Earle of Saint Paul, the Earle of Sauoy, the Earle of Alençon, the Vicount of Melun, Mathew de Montmorenci, and other great Lords

that accompanied him. The Legat seeing so many Pilgrims, began to feare lest Prince Lewis should di∣spose of diuers places which the Albingenses held, to the preiudice of the Popes authoritie, vnder whose name all those conquests were made; for the auoiding whereof he sent vnto all those places that held for the said Albingenses, the absolution and safeguard of the Church, in such sort that the Prince thinking to make an assault vpon any of them, they produced their abso∣lution, and shewed that they were vnder the prote∣ction of the Church. And this Legat grew so auda∣cious as to tell Prince Lewis, that since he was become a souldier of the Crosse, he was subiect to his com∣mands, because he did represent the person of the Pope, whose pardons he was come to obtaine, by obeying ••••e Church, not by commanding as the sonne of a King, reproching him besides, that the King his father made no account to contribute to the extirpa∣tion of the Albingenses, when the time and season ser∣ued and there was best opportunity: but now after those victories miraculously obtained, he came to gleane the eares of that glory, which was due vnto those only that had prodigally spent their liues for the Church. The Prince dissembled this audacious bold∣nesse. Narbonne was dismantled by the agreement of the said Prince, which neither the Legat nor the Earle Simon, would not haue durst to enterprise without his presence. The Bishop of Narbonne did what he could, to hinder the dismantling of it, affirming that it did much import, that a place in the frontiers of Spaine should bee preserued with the walles and rampiers thereof: but the Earle Simon and the Legat were very instant to the contrary, & they obtained their desires.

Here endeth the good fortune of the Earle Simon, for in the end of this leuy of Pilgrims which Prince Lewis brought with him, he had enough to doe to de∣fend himselfe from blowes; notwithstanding the Al∣bingenses were also wearied with continuall warres, and visited from time to time with new expeditions, inso∣much that they sunke vnder the burthen of them. Now forasmuch as this warre changeth countenance in the person of the chiefe Leaders, and that from hence forward we shall speake more of the sonne of the Earle Remond of Toulouze another Remond, and of Roger the sonne of the Earle of Foix, then of the old Earles: We here make a second booke of the actions of the children succeeding their fathers miserably af∣flicted only for that they had; for in effect there was not any of these great Lords, that was dese••••edly as∣saulted for Religion, for many times they had their re∣course to the Pope, as to the fountaine of all their euills, and in all respects to a poore remedy, neuer bringing with them from Rome, other thing than good words, with very dangerous effects.

The end of the first booke.

THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF the WALDENSES, called AL∣BINGENSES, containing the warres which they maintained after the yeare one thousand two hundred and thir∣teene, vntill they were vtterly exterminated.

CHAP. I. The warre is renewed against the Earle of Foix: the Ara∣gonians make hostile incursions vpon the Lands of the Earle Simon: he is discomfited by the Earle of Foix: Simon is called into Dauphine: The Legat Bonauen∣ture perswades the Earle of Foix and of Toulouze to goe to Rome: they further their cause nothing at all: the sonne of the Earle Remond came from England thither, but in vaine.

THE Prince Lewis sonne of Philip King of France,* 1.57 his quarantine or fortie daies being expired, retired himselfe, not without much discontent, to see, in those warres against the Albingenses, so much tyranny. The Earle Simon endeuored to get a pardon

for those last Pilgrims come from France against the Earle of Foix.* 1.58 Hee besieged the Castle of Foix, but with his great losse; for there died before it many gal∣lant men. Hauing laine before the Citie ten daies, hee raised his siege, finding to his great cost that the place was inexpugnable. The Earle Simon his Brother kept his quarter at Varilles: the Earle of Foix vnlodged him, slew with his Lance the said Brother of the Earle Simon, and put to flight his whole troope. This was a counterpoise to Monfort his prosperitie, which had made him ouer-insolent. And as one vnhappy chance comes seldome alone, euen then when he did grinde his teeth against the Earle of Foix, swearing that hee would make him flie ouer the Pereney mountaines; a messenger brought him tidings of the arriuall in the Earledome of Beziers, and about Carcassonne, of di∣uers troopes of Arragonians, and Catalans, who put all they met to sword and fire, saying, That they would reuenge the death of their good King Alphonsus: Hee was therefore aduertised, that if hee did not speedily succour them, the whole Country would be lost. He departed therefore from Foix with great diligence. The Earle of Foix,* 1.59 who better knew the streights and by-waies of his Country than he, stopped his passage, and lay in ambush for him in a place so fitting for his ouerthrow, that he slew a great part of his troopes, without any Alarum. Hee saued himselfe with a few of his people. Being come to Carcassonne, it was well for him, that he found not a man to speake a word vn∣to, for the Arragonians had retired themselues; Where∣as had they attended his comming, they might easily haue discomfited him, considering the small number that were with him. At this very time, other Letters

were brought vnto him, whereby he was called into Dauphine, where there was one Ademar of Poitiers, and one Ponce of Monlaur, who hindred the passage of the Pilgrims, who came downe by the Riuer Rhosne, and were conducted by the Archbishops of Lion, and Vi∣enne. There were likewise the Cities of Monteil-Ai∣mar and Crest Arnaud, who tooke part with the Albin∣genses, who were a great hindrance to the Pilgrims. Simon came to treatie and composition with Ademar of Poitiers and Monlaur, not hauing power to encoun∣ter so many enemies.

Againe, he was giuen to vnderstand, that the Arra∣gonians were returned about Carcassonne; and thither he came and was well beaten, insomuch that he was constrained to shut vp himselfe within Carcassonne, hauing not wherewithall to keepe the field, before hee had new supply of Pilgrims to succour him. Seeing at the last that he got nothing of the Earle of Foix by armes, he had recourse to his ordinary wiles and sub∣tilties, hoping to worke his ruine, vnder a pretence of amitie. He caused therefore the Legat Bonauenture to write vnto him, that he had compassion on him, for that he was so obstinate in so great a warre, to his great charge, and the losse of the bloud of his Subiects, which if he would he might end in a short time, by ta∣king his iourny to Rome, & declaring his innocency to the Pope; that he would giue him his best assistance as far forth as possibly he could, to procure the restitution of all his Lands. But yet it was very necessarie that the Church should haue some gages of his fidelitie, that is, that he should deliuer into his hands the Castle of Foix, the one & onely meanes to take away all shadow and shew of false play, and that incontinently after his re∣turne

it should be restored vnto him with the rest of his houses.

He suffered himselfe to be cheated and gulled by these promises, deliuered vnto him the Castle of Foix, and tooke his iourney to Rome: but if he went a foole thither, a foole he returned. For the Legat had written to Rome, to the Conclaue and to the Pope, that the Earle of Foix was one of the most dangerous Here∣tiques that was amongst the Albingenses, a man of great courage and valiant, and most to be feared: that if he were subdued, the Earle of Toulouze would be much weakned; that he had gotten from him the meanes to doe any hurt, by obtaining by faire words those pla∣ces, which the Church would neuer haue gotten by armes, namely the Castle of Foix, and that they were to take heed that they made no restitution of his lands, which if they did, it would bee impossible that the Church should euer bring the Albingenses to their vt∣ter ruine. The Pope was willing enough to ioyne in his ouerthrow, but because hee came vnto him with submissions, he feared least it might bee a meanes to hinder others from euer putting any confidence in the Pope. He was prodigall of his Crosses, his Bulls, and his Words, but in effect he commanded his Legat, that he should not restore vnto him those places, vntill hee had giuen good proofes of his obedience and iustifica∣tion. Presently vpon his returne hee addressed him∣selfe to the Legat, to enioy the effect of his faire pro∣mises. The Legat gaue him to vnderstand, that his hands were bound by the Pope, because there were some clauses in his Bulls that did binde him to a new proceeding, and to know in good earnest what his in∣nocency was; but yet he should assure himselfe of his

affection, and that he should not attribute to him, if he receiued not his full content, and that he would doe his best endeuour to make loue and friendship betwixt the Earle Simon and himselfe. The Earle of Foix, by little and little with-drew himselfe, fearing to be arre∣sted, walking about the fields and houses of his Sub∣iects (as for his owne, they were all in the hands of the Earle Simon:) There he cursed his owne facilitie, to suffer himselfe to be gulled by a Priest, bites his fingers for anger to see himselfe so blockishly abused, after so many trickes and stratagems plaid against him. The Earle of Toulouze, and the King of Aragon, resolue to make a leuy of their Subiects, and presently to build a Fort at Montgranier, a place very strong by nature. In a few daies they made it a place of defence by the means & labours of their poore subiects, who bewailing their own miseries & their Lords, trauelled day & night very willingly, to bring the work to an end. This place being built, he put therin a garison, & left there his son Roger. The Earle Simon besieged it, & in the end took it by fa∣mine. The cōposition was, that Roger should not beare armes for one whole yeare against the Church. An Ar∣ticle that troubled much this valiant Lord. For he with∣drew himselfe for the same yeare into a house, where he counted the moneths and the daies, till the time was expired wherein he might either die valiantly in fight, or vanquish his enemies. And to this purpose he ma∣ny times conferred with the sonne of the King of Ara∣gon lately slaine, how he might carrie himselfe to finde a meanes to be reuenged of his Fathers death.

The Legat Bonauenture in the meane time, vseth the same subtletie with the Earle Remond of Toulouze; He perswadeth him to goe to Rome, to determine his af∣faires

with the Pope more peaceably, than with the Earle Simon,* 1.60 especially because he was charged with the death of his owne Brother, the Earle Baudoin, ta∣ken in the Castle d'Olme, in the Country of Cahors, be∣cause he had there borne Armes against him; an action that had made him odious both to God and men, and which his enemies did exaggerate, to the end they might stirre vp the Pilgrims, to take vengeance on him, saying, That at the very point of death they had denied him a Confessor, and that the said Bodoin pray∣ed vnto God that he would raise vp some good Chri∣stians to reuenge the wrong done vnto him by his bro∣ther, as by another Caine.

The son of the Earle of Toulouze, named also Re∣mond, vnderstanding that his Father was to take his iourney to Rome, he went with letters from his Vncle, the King of England, to the Pope, intreating him to doe iustice to his brother in Law. The young Lord had beene brought vp vntill then in England, where he could no longer spend time, seeing his Father op∣pressed with warres and continuall trauels, he there∣fore resolued to vse his best endeuours for his deliue∣rance, either by composition or by armes. The cause of the Earle Remond was debated before the Pope. There was a Cardinall that maintained,* 1.61 that great wrong had beene offered those Lords, who had many times giuen of their best lands to the Church, to wit∣nesse their obedience. The Abbot of S^t. Vberi also tooke their part, with great courage and resolution. The Earle Remond likewise defended his owne cause, charging the Bishop of Toulouze, with many outra∣ges, and that if hee had beene constrained to defend himselfe, he must accuse those that had driuen him to

that necessitie, for had he not made resistance, he had long agoe beene vtterly ouerthrowne. That the Bishop of Toulouze had many times caught vnto him the fai∣rest of his reuenewes, and being neuer satisfied, did still continue to vex him, parting his goods with the Earle Simon of Montfort; and that their onely auarice had beene the cause of the death of ten thousand men of Toulouze, and of the pillage of that faire and great Citie, a losse which could neuer be repaired. The Char∣terie of Lion did also shew vnto the Pope, that the Bi∣shop of Toulouze had alwaies kindled the fire, and warmed himselfe at the flame.

Arnaud de Villemur did also present himselfe before the Pope, demanding Iustice, for that the Legat and the Earle Simon had inuaded his lands, he knew not where∣fore, since he had neuer bin but obedient to the Church of Rome, relating at large the euils, murders, saccages, robberies, burnings, which the said Legat and Earle, vnder the cloake of the seruice of the Pope and the Church, had done; and therefore it was necessarie that that maske should be taken away, which would otherwise turne to the dishonour of the Pope and the Church, and some speedy course should be taken, for the establishing of peace, and procuring the good of the Church.

Remond of Roquefeuil of the Country of Querci,* 1.62 related also many villanies committed by the said Earle of Montfort, beginning with that which had beene done against the Earle of Beziers, whom he cau∣sed miserably to die in prison, inuaded his Lands, and ruinated his Subiects, and so proceeded to all that had passed against the other Lords, who were constrained to defend themselues against his violences.

The Pope was much moued with these outrages and would willingly haue done some iustice, but that it was told him, that if hee should cause the Earle of Montfort, to make restitution of that which was ta∣ken for the seruice of the Church, that he should not from hence-forward, finde any that would fight ei∣ther for the Pope or the Church: As also, that if hee should determine the restitution, yet the Earle Simon had reason, not to giue ouer his hold, vntill hee were fully satisfied for his trauels and expences.

The Pope returned these affaires to the Legat, com∣manding him in generall termes, to restore the Lands to all those that shewed themselues faithfull to the Church, and as touching the sonne of the Earle Re∣mond, his pleasure was,* 1.63 that that Land that the Earle Remond had in Prouence, that is to say, The Earl dome of Venisse should be reserued either in part or all for the maintenance of his sonne, prouided that he gaue good and assured testimonies of his loyaltie and good con∣uersation, shewing himselfe worthy of diuine mercy.

They being returned, demanded of the Legat the execution of their Bulls, requiring the restitution of their Lands. The Legat answered, that he had certaine restraints, for the determining whereof there needed some time; that therefore they should in the meane time shew fruits worthy their amendment, and that then they should receiue what the Pope had decreed, otherwise not.

When the Earles saw how they were deluded, they resolued to come to blowes.

CHAP. II. Remond the sonne of the Earle Remond tooke Beau∣caire: The Bishop of Tholouze betrayeth the Citizens of Thoulouze: The Earle Simon vseth the Inhabi∣tants of Tholouze very ill: They defend themselues to his confusion: A new expedition: Remond taketh Thoulouze: Simon of Montfort comes thither, and after many combats, he is in the end slaine with a stone cast by a woman: His armie is put to flight.

THe first exploit of warre of Remond, the the sonne of the Earle Remond, was the taking of Beaucaire, where hee made himselfe Master of the Citie: afterwards hauing almost famished those in the Castle, the Earle Simon being no way able to succour them, made a composition for those that were within it, that is, that they should depart, onely carrying with them their baggage and necessary furniture. The Earle Simon lost at that place a hundred Gentlemen, which he laid in ambush, neere the Citie, which they within perceiuing, made a salley forth, and cut them in peeces. The young Earle Remond wonne great renowne at this siege, and gaue the Earle Simon to vnderstand, that his sonne Aimeri should haue in this young Lord, a thorne in his foot, that should make him smart as much, as in his time he had giuen cause of trouble and vexation to his father. The Earle Montfort went from hence to rauage and make spoile at Thoulouze. The Bishop was gone thither before, and told the Consuls and Princi∣pall of the Citie, that they were to make their appea∣rance before the Earle Simon. They went vnto him,

but to their great losse, for they were no sooner come before the Earle, but hee commanded them all to bee bound with cords; whereof some taking notice, that had meanes to escape to the Citie, an alarme was giuen within the Citie, so hot, that before his arriuall all the people were in armes: but being entred by the Castle Narbonne, they recouered certaine Towers which were yet remaining, and put themselues into certaine places, and hauing already begun to pillage neere the Castle Narbonne, the people fortified themselues, and gaue the chase with such violence to those Boot∣haylers and Fire-houses, who had already set fire on some houses, that they draue them to the Castle of Narbonne. The Earle Guy came vpon the very instant of this combat, to the succour of his brother the Earle Simon, but after he had fought a while, hee was faine in the end to flye to his brother. A great part of the peo∣ple of the Earle Simon were enforced to retire them∣selues to S^t. Steuens, and the Tower of Mascaro, and the Bishops house, where a great number were slaine. The Bishop, who knew that he had beene the cause of this misfortune, hauing counselled the Citizens to make their appearance before the Earle Simon, and the Earle Simon to cease vpon them, still continuing his treasons, went forth of the Castle Narbonnes, ranne in∣to the streets, crying out vnto the people to pacifie themselues, for the Earle determined to end these dif∣ferences with mildnesse and gentlenesse, and that they should not refuse the wayes of peace. He alleadged so many matters vnto them, that in the end they gaue care vnto him, and were willing to hearken to a recon∣ciliation, seeing themselues dismantled and brought vnder the subiection of a Castle & strong garrison, and

knowing too well, that at the first succours of the Pil∣grims, their Citie would be exposed to pillage. When they were to know the conditions of their peace, the first Article was: That the Earle Simon would yeeld to nothing, before all the Inhabitants had carryed their armes to the Towne-house. This point was hardly ob∣tained, but at the last they yeelded vnto it: which be∣ing done, the Earle Simon caused his people to make their approch, and so being seazed on the Towne∣house against a people disarmed, and hauing conuayed their Armour to the Castle Narbonnes, hee imprisoned the principall men of the Citie, and caused them to bee sent out of Thoulouze whither hee thought good, being so vnciuilly vsed, and with such inhumane cruel∣ties, that a great number died by the way. Thus was Toulouze dispeopled of it principall Inhabitants, and the rest put to their ransome, whereby the Earle Simon did greatly inrich himselfe. And shortly after retur∣ning from the Countrie Bigorre, where hee could not take the Castle of Lourde, he discharged his choller vp∣on this poore Citie, permitting it to be pillaged by his Pilgrims, and then caused the rest of the Towers that were yet about the Citie to be beaten downe.

In this meane time, the poore Earle of Toulouze was at Mountauban, who vnderstanding of the bad vsage of his miserable subiects, for certaine moneths could not but bewaile their lamentable estate with sighs and teares.

At this time, that is to say, in the yeere one thousand,* 1.64 two hundred and fourteene,* 1.65 the Legat held a Councell at Montpelier, for the renewing of the Armie of the Church, and to confirme the authoritie of the Earle Simon. The Monke of Sernay saith, that he was there

declared Prince of all the conquered Countries of the Albingenses,* 1.66 and that by a common consent, they sent Barnard Archbishop of Ambrun to the Pope, to peri∣tion his Holinesse, in the name of the Prelats who were present at that Councell, that the Earle Simon of Mont∣fort might by him be pronounced Lord and Monarch o•• all the conquered Countries of the Albingenses, which was done.

The Councell sent vnto him to come and receiue this dignitie of Prince and Monarch. He entred into the Citie, and being in the Church of our Lady des Ta∣bles, where the Prelats of the said Councell were to pronounce their sentence in fauour of the said Mont∣fort, they heard a rumor in the Citie. They sent to know what the matter was: It was told them, that the people had vnderstood, that the Earle Simon of Mont∣fort was within the Citie, and that thereupon they be∣tooke themselues to their armes, purposing to kill him, as being their capitall enemie. He was aduised to steale away along by the walls of the Citie, and to saue him∣selfe, for feare left the whole Councell suffered with him. He went therefore on foot, without companie, lest he should haue beene knowne at the Gate, and so he escaped this great danger. So that he saw himselfe in one houre honored almost as a God, chosen and sa∣luted Prince and Monarch, and to flie disguised, and to hide himselfe like a base scundrell, for feare of the rascall people.

In regard of the resolution of this Councell, the Pope euer writ vnto him,* 1.67 as to a Monarch, stiling him, The actiue dexterious Souldier of Iesus Christ. The in∣uincible defender of the Catholike faith. And in the yeere one thousand two hundred and fifteene,* 1.68 he sent

him a Bull, dated the fourth of the Nones of Aprill, by which hee giues him authoritie to keepe all those lands hee had gotten vnder his power, granting vnto him the reuenues, profits and power to administer iu∣stice, considering (saith the Pope) that you neither can, nor ought to make warre at your owne charge. This the Popes bountie of another mans purse, in a businesse where he had nothing to giue, made him to goe to the King of France, to bee inuested into the Dukedome of Narbonnes, the Earledome of Toulouze, together with all the lands, which the Souldiers of the Crosse had conquered and taken from those they call Heretikes, or the Protectors of them, which he obtai∣ned of the King to hold in fee. The Monke saith,* 1.69 it was not possible for him to relate the honor which was donne vnto him vpon his way going to France, there being neither Citie nor Towne through which he passed, where the Clergie and people came not to see him, crying out, Blessed is hee that comes in the name of God. For such and so great (saith he) was the deuout Religion of the people towards him, that there was not any that thought not himselfe happy to touch the hem of his garments.

In the yeere one thousand, * 1.70 two hundred and six∣teene, hee returned from France with an hundred Bi∣shops,* 1.71 who had caused this expedition of the Crosse to bee preached in their Bishoptikes, being resolued with this great Armie to make himselfe Master, Prince and Monarch, of all those lands which the Pope had giuen him. And to make it apparant that he had not treated or made any agreement with Girard Ademe∣mar, or Guitaud Lord of Monteil-Aimar, nor with Ai∣mar of Poitiers, but vntill such time as hee had power

to deuoure them, he passed the Rhosne at Viuiers, and besieged Monteil-Aimar. Guitaud or Girard made great resistance; but when the Inhabitants saw the great Ar∣mie of Pilgrims, they entreated their Lord to come to composition, for feare lest the Citie should be pillaged. Which hee did, though it were with the losse of his Castle. From thence he went and besieged the Tow∣er of Crest-Arnaud, belonging to Aimar of Poitiers. He that commanded within, did yeeld it vp out of cowardlinesse, for otherwise it had beene impossible the Pilgrims should haue taken it. Afterwards the Earle Simon gaue a daughter of his to a sonne of the said Poitiers, and there was peace concluded betwixt the said Poitiers and the Bishop of Valence, against whom hee had a long time before made cruell warre. A little before, the Earle Simon had married one of his sonnes to the daughter of Dauphin of Viennois, and an∣other to the Countesse of Bigorre. All which alliances did fortifie him much against his enemies. All men trembled before him, and with this great Armie of Pilgrims that followed him, he tooke Pesquieres neere to Nysmes, and Bezonce, and put all to the sword hee found within, not sparing the women. Hee tooke his way to Toulouze, to pillage and to raze it, and to seeke the Earle of Toulouze, euen to the center of the Earth, if he were there to be found; at which time hee recei∣ued letters from his wife, aduertising him that hee should speedily come to deliuer her from the hands of the Earle of Toulouze, who had besieged her in the Castle Narbonnes, that hee was very strong and had all the people at his deuotion, who had reciued him with great applause, crying out with a loude voice, Long liue the Earle of Toulouze. That he was accompanied

with his Nephew, the Earle of Comminge, Gaspar de la Barre, Bertrand de Iorda, Engarrand of Gordo, Lord of Caraman, Armand de Montagu, and Estephe de la Valette, all braue and valiant men and well accompanied.

This was about the end of the yeere one thousand two hundred seuenteene,* 1.72 that the Earle Remond en∣tred into Toulouze, the Drumme beaten, the Ensignes displayed, and the Trumpets sounding. The people pressing to cast themselues downe at his feet, to em∣brace his legges, and to kisse the hem of his garment, and killing as many as they found in the Citie, that tooke part with the Earle of Montfort. Whereas, had the Earle Simon come directly to Montauban, at his re∣turne from France, the Earle Remond could not haue told what to haue done, but he stayed at Monteil-Aimar and Crest Arnaud, and Besince, and Pasquieres, and made delaies about the mariages so long, that the Earle had time to gather his troopes together, and to prepare himselfe for a strong assault. In such sort, that when hee was aduertised that hee was at Toulouze, the greater part of his Pilgrims were returned into France. But yet it was necessary hee should goe to Toulouze with those forces that he had: for his wife was in dan∣ger to be lost. And hee that had beene the death of so many women and children, was doubtfull what would become of his, falling into the hands of his enemies.

The Earle Remond created an officer, which they called Vignier, or Pro••ost, to whom all were bound to obey, vpon paine of death. This was the first Vignier that was established at Toulouze. His charge was to prouide for the defence of the Citie, to keepe the Moates or Ditches cleane, to repaire the breaches, to

appoint to euery one his quarter, and his Captaine, e∣specially in times of combat. There came from all parts, troopes of succours to the Earle Remond of those that desired consideration for the violencies of the Earle Simon.

The Earle Guy was one of the first in the combat, for his brother the Earle Simon, but he was beaten and put to flight: The Archbishop of Aix, and of Armag∣nac, with their Pilgrims retired themselues without fight. The Earle Simon being come, made shew to besiege Toulouze: but the frequent issues of those that were within, gaue him to vnderstand, that it was not for his good. He assembled therefore the Prelats and Lords, to take aduise of what was to bee done. The Legat perceiuing the Earle Simon somewhat asto∣nished, said vnto him.

Feare nothing, for in a short time wee shall recouer the Citie, and put to death, and destroy all the Inhabitants; and if any of the Souldiers of the Crosse shall die in this pursuit, they shall passe to Paradice as Martyrs, and hereof they shall assure themselues. To whom one of the great Captaines answered, Monsieur Cardinall, you talke with great assurance, but if the Earle beleeue you, it will be little for his profit. For you and all the o∣ther Prelats, and men of the Church, haue beene the cause of all this euill and ruine, and will bee yet more if he beleeue you.

It was no time for Monsieur the Cardinall to bee offended with this audacious reply, but he must needs sup vp this censure. The resolution was, that there should be no more any assault giuen, but that the Citie should bee besieged on the side of Gascongne. For which cause the Earle of Montfort caused one part of

his Armie, to passe the Riuer Garonne, towards S^t. Sou∣bra, now they within the Citie made so blunt a salley, and to such purpose, that they put their enemies to flight. During this combat, came the Earle of Foix with his fresh troopes, as well of his subiects, as Na∣uarreans and Catalans, who violently set vpon the Earle Montfort, pursuing him euen to the brinke of Ga∣ronne, where with affrightment and precipitation, they cast themselues in heapes into their Boats, and many were drowned in the Riuer. The Earle Simon also fell in, all armed, with his horse, and hardly escaped.

The Earle Remond caused a generall assembly to bee made at S^t. Saornin, wherein hee exhorted the people to giue thankes vnto God for this happy be∣ginning of victorie, which they had obtained against their enemies, which was a testimonie of Gods loue, and that they should hope for better: hee exhorted e∣uery one to giue their helping hands to build and to prepare, and to cause their warlike engins to play a∣gainst the Castle Narbonnes, because this place being last by the enemie, their totall ruine must needes fol∣low, and being once recouered by them, they should be in safetie. In a very short time were their woodden engins to cast stones, their Slings, their Mangonnels to dart their Arrowes, their Fowlers, Crossebowes and other Instruments which were in vse in those times prepared, and all of them mounted against the Castle Narbonnes; which made those to tremble that were within.

The Earle Montfort being at Montolieu, tooke coun∣sell how to carry himselfe in this tedious siege, and a∣gainst enemies so animated. The Bishop of Thoulouze said vnto him, to comfort him, tha•• hee was to take a

good heart vnto him, for Monsieur the Cardinall had sent letters and messengers throughout the world, to giue him succours, and that shortly he should haue so many people, that hee should not want power to doe what he would. The abouenamed Robert de Pequigni answered him, that hee spake his pleasure, and that if the Earle of Montfort had not beleeued him nor any such, hee had beene in those troubles that now hee was, but hee had beene at peace within Toulouze, and that hee was the cause of that danger they now were in, and of the death of so many people as were conti∣nually slaine by the wicked counsell that hee had giuen.

After many combats, the winter grew on, and stay∣ed the course of the besiegers, who withdrawing them∣selues to couert where they could about Toulouze, expected with good denotation, and much impatien∣cie, new succours of Pilgrims. The Earle Remond on the other side, inclosed the Citie with a Rampier, and fortified himselfe against the Castle Narbonnes, and prepared to receiue the Pilgrims whensoeuer they should present themselues vnto them. In this meane time hee sent his sonne to seeke for succours. In the end, about the Spring time, in the yeere one thousand two hundred and eighteene,* 1.73 there came to the Earle Simon, an hundred thousand Souldiers of the Crosse, and to the Earle Remond, great succours from Gas∣congne, conducted by Narcis de Montesquiou. As also the young Remond of Toulouze, and Arnaud de Villemur brought vnto him goodly troopes. This great multitude of Pilgrims being come, the Legat and the Earle Simon thought good they should earne their pardon, knowing that at the end of fortie daies, this

great cloude of Pilgrims would vanish. They there∣fore commanded them, instantly to giue a generall scalado, which was deferred to the next morning, by which time they had other worke to doe; for the very first night of their arriuall, putting their confidence in their great multitude, they kept no good guard. Which the Earle of Toulouze perceiuing, made a salley out vp∣on them, and that with so good successe, that the next morning all the field was couered with dead bodies. The Toulouzains being wearie with killing, returned to giue thankes vnto God for his assistance.

The Earle Simon entred the Castle Narbonnez, to descrie whether from thence there were any way to in∣uade the Citie, but finding none, it much troubled him, whereupon two of his Lords of the Crosse, gaue him aduice to come to some honourable agreement. The Cardinall Bertrand told them, there needed no speech of that, and that the Church could saue them in despite of them, if they spake any thing to the ad∣uantage of the Albingenses. One amongst them an∣swered: And where finde you (Monsieur Cardinall) that without cause and reason, you should take from the Earle Remond and his sonne, that which belongs vnto them. If I had vnderstood as much as I now know (saith he) I had neuer made this voyage.

The whole Countrie was enemie to the Earle Simon, which was the cause of the famine in his Armie; but on the contrary, there was within Toulouze all plenty and abundance. Tpon S^t. Iohn the Baptists Eue, be∣times in the morning, the troopes of the Earle Remond went forth of Toulouze, crying out Auignon, Beaucaire, Muret and Toulouze, killing as many as they encoun∣tred. A Souldier ranne to the Earle Simon and told

him that the enemie was come forth; to whom he an∣swered, that he would first see his Redeemer, and then see his enemie. Diuers others came vnto him, crying out, Wee are vndone, if no man will come out and command the Armie which did flie before the Tou∣louzains. He againe answered, that he would not stirre a foot from the Masse, though he were there to die, be∣fore hee had seene his Maker; insomuch, that had not the Priest that sung the Masse clipt and curtolled it a little, for feare lest his eares should haue beene clipt, he had beene taken or slaine before the Altar. Heare what Noguiers saith:* 1.74 At this so violent a shocke, the Earle Simon being moun••ed his horse, his horse was wounded in the middle of his head with an Arrow, which the horse feeling, got presently the bit betweene his teeth, in such sort, that Montfort could neuer stay him, but hee carryed him here and there in dispite of himselfe, which a Souldier of the Citie seeing, assuring himselfe of him, shot him with his Crosse-bow through the thigh, with which wound Montfort lost great store of bloud, and finding himselfe much pay∣ned therewith, entreated the Earle Guy his brother, to leade him forth of the presse, to stench his bloud. In the time whilest hee was talking with his brother, a stone out of a sling or engine, whereout stones or ar∣rowes were darted, which a woman (thinking nothing let flie) hit Montfort, yet talking with his brother, and parted his head from his shoulders, so that his body fell dead to the ground. It was (saith he) a wonderfull thing, and thereby may his successors consider, that they maintained an vniust quarrell, not to punish those that were wandred from the faith, for that had beene a thing very commendable and commodious; but to

oppresse his owne vassals, heaping on them miseries vpon miseries, to rauish women and their daughters, to the end they might vtterly ruine and confound them all, especially doing the duty of vassals, and to retaine the goods of another, who though hee were an Here∣tike, as Monifort supposed, yet neuerthelesse in the twinckling of an eye, he might be better aduised, and amend his life. But as I thinke (saith hee) a couetous desire to raigne blinded him, which wee may easily iudge, by the bad vsage, oppressions and extortions which he executed against the innocent people of Tou∣louze, who honored him, cherished, and wished him prosperitie, as to their Lord. This skirmish and dis∣comfiture was in Iune, the day after the feast of S^t. Iohn the Baptist, in the yeere 1218.* 1.75

Thus you see how Noguiers, the Historiographer of those times hath spoken of this man, as of one that was caried with passion and vnsatiable couetousnesse: But that which was worthy the obseruation, is, that he was not ouerthrowne, but at that very instant, when by three diuers Councels, he had beene proclaimed the Monarch of his conquests, the Captaine of the Ar∣mies of the Church, the sonne, the seruant, the fauo∣rite thereof, the defender of the faith. Adored of the people, scared of the great, the terror of Kings. Thus you see,* 1.76 that as that ambitious Paracide Abimelech was slaine with a peece of a Mill-stone which a woman cast from a Tower, which brake his skull; so this destroy∣er of the people, ruiner of Cities, deuourer of the states of other men, was slaine with a stone from a sling, flung by a woman,* 1.77 as some Historiographers haue obserued.

On the the other side the Monke cryes out in this

manner:* 1.78 who is hee that can write or heare (saith hee) that which followeth? that can recite it without griefe? that can lend his eares without sighs and gro∣nings? who, I say, will not dissolue and consume away to nothing, seeing the life of the poore to be taken a∣way? he, who being laid in the dust, all things are tram∣pled vnder foot? and by the death of whom all is dead? Was he not the comfort of the sorrowfull, the strength of the weake, a refreshing to the afflicted, a refuge to the miserable? He had some reason to speake thus; for he being dead, all his Armie was dissolued and scattered abroad. The Legat Bonauenture had one∣ly leasure to tell Aimeri of Montfort, that hee was na∣med by him and the Bishops that were present, Suc∣cessor of the conquests and charges of his father the Earle Simon, and instantly they betooke them to their heeles, flying with all the Bishops of the Crosse to Carcassonne, not staying in any place, so great was their astonishment, fearing to bee pursued. The Pilgrims disbanded themselues, saying they were no longer bound to any fight, their fortie daies being almost ex∣pired. In the time of this confusion, the Earle Remond fallied out of Toulouze, and gaue so furious a charge vpon the Enemie, that he made them to forsake their trenches, and slew a great number of Pilgrims, who were without conduct, and without courage, insomuch that they killed and cut in pieces all that were in the Campe of Montelieu, and did a great deale of hurt and hinderance to those that were incamped at S^t. Sobra: There remained the Castle Narbonnes, which as yet held for the Legat. Aimeri of Montfort as speedily as he could gather as many of his troopes together as he was able, in this so great a rupture and confusion, and

making haste to the Castle, got out the Garrison by a false doore, and so fled after the Legat, carrying the bo∣dy of his father with great speed to Carcassonne. And it was well for him, that the Earle Remond pursued him not, for the feare thereof was sufficient to kill the Pilgrims that accompanied him. But the Earle Re∣mond retired himselfe with his troopes, to prouide for the preseruation of the Citie and the Castle Narbonne, vnto which the enemie had set fire when they left it. Moreouer, he caused the Bell to bee tolled,* 1.79 to gather the people together, to giue thankes vnto God in their Temple, for the happy and miraculous victorie which they had obtained, for that this audacious Cyclops was ouerthrowne, that had exposed them many times to pillage, razed their walls, beaten downe their ram∣piers, destroyed their Towers, violated their wiues and daughters, killed their Citizens, cut downe their trees, spoyled their land, and brought their whole Countrey to extreme desolation.

CHAP. III. The Earle Remond recouereth all that the Earle Simon had taken from him in Agenois: The Earle of Foix takes Mirepoix from Roger de Leni: The Earle of Comminge his lands, which one named Ioris, detained from him: An aduantagious encounter for the Albin∣genses in Lauragues: Expeditions of small effect after the death of the Earle Simon. The Prince Lewis tooke Marmande, and returned into France, hauing summo∣ned Toulouze to yeeld it selfe.

THe Earle Remond followed the victory, making himselfe Master of the Castle of Narbonnes, and fortifying it against the Pilgrims, which hee knew very well would come the yeere following, in the meane time hee sent his sonne into Agenois, who brought vnto the obedience of his father Condon,* 1.80 Mar∣mande, Aguillon, and other places adioyning. On the other side, the Earle of Foix besieged Mirepoix, sum∣moned Roger de Leni to restore it vnto him, telling him that hee was not now to hope any longer in the Earle Simon, for he was dead: that it must content him that he had now long enough and vniustly kept that which was his. That if he changed his patience into furie, he would lose both his life and Mirepoix altogether. It troubled much the Marshall of the Faith (for that was the vaine title which the Legats had giuen him) to yeeld vp this place; but in the end he deliuered it into the hands of the Earle of Foix.

The Earle of Comminge had also his right of one Ioris, to whom the Legats had giuen all that the Soul∣diers of the Crosse had taken in his Countries; for he tooke them all from him, yea, life and all.

At the spring of the yeere following,* 1.81 1219. Alma∣ric or Aimeri of Montfort, came into Agenois, with some troopes of Souldiers of the Crosse, to recouer that which his father had there possessed, and for this cause hee besieged Marmande. The young Earle Re∣mond of Toulouze, went to succour the besieged, when the Earle of Foix writ vnto him that hee had gotten a great bootie in Lauragues, both of people and beasts, but he feared hee should not bring it to Toulouze, and

not be fought withall by the way, by the Garrison of Carcassone, and therefore hee entreated him to succour him. Young Remond tooke his iourney towards him, and came in so good an houre to the Earle Foix, that being vpon the point of losing his booty, being fol∣lowed by the Vicount of Lautrec, and the Captaines Faucant and Valas. Being come to the combat,* 1.82 the said Foucant and Valas encouraged with a loud voice their Pilgrims, saying, that they fought for Heauen and for the Church: The young Earle Remond hearing it, cryed vnto his as loud as he: Courage my friends, for we fight for our Religion, and against theeues and robbers, vnder the name of the Church: They haue robbed enough, let vs make them vomit it vp againe, and pay the arrerages of their thefts, which they haue heretofore freely committed. And hereupon they gaue the Charge. The Vicount of Lautrec fled, Fou∣cant was taken prisoner, and all their troopes cut in peeces. Seguret a Captaine and professed robber was taken and hanged in the field vpon a tree. Thus victo∣rious, and laden with bootie, they came to Toulouze with their prisoners and cattell. The siege of Mar∣mande continued, but vnprofitably, and without any aduantage. For Almaric hauing caused a generall as∣sault to be made, the inhabitants defended themselues with such valour and resolution, that the ditches were full of the dead bodies of the Pilgrims. This was at that time when the great expedition of Prince Lewis arriued, who brought with him thirtie Earles. An ex∣pedition for the leuying whereof, the Legat Bertrand

writ in these termes to King Philip: Faile you not to be in the quarters of Toulouze for the whole moneth of May, in the yeere 1219. with all your forces and

powers, to reuenge the death of the Earle Montfort, and I will procure that the Pope shall publish and preach the Croisade, or expedition of Christians, throughout the world, for your better aid and suc∣cours.

Thus you see how the Legat commands the King of France. His sonne arriued at Marmande, and summoned those within to yeeld. They compound with him, and he promiseth them their liues. Almaric complaines thereof, saying, That they were not wor∣thy of life, that tooke away his Fathers. He assembleth the Prelats, declareth vnto them the discontent which he receiued by this composition, in that life was gran∣ted vnto those, who were the murderers of his Father. The Prelats were all of opinion, that notwithstanding the word giuen, they should all die. Prince Lewis his will was, that the composition should hold. Almaric neuerthelesse, caused his troopes to slip into the Citie, with charge to kill all, men, women and children. They doe it, whereat the Prince being offended, de∣parted from the Legat and Almaric, and passing a∣long summoned those of Toulouze to yeeld. They defend themselues against him. Hee receiueth newes of the death of his father, which caused him to retire. Thus you see all the effects of this great expedition, which should haue buried all the Albingenses aliue, and vanished without any assault giuen.

CHAP. IIII. The warre of the Albingenses changeth countenance, be∣cause of the death of Pope. Innocent the third; of the change of the Legat; the death of the Earle Remond of Toulouze; of the disease of Remond Earle of Foix, and the Lady Philippe de Moncade, mother to the Earle of Foix, and of the Monke Dominick.

THe Legat Bertrand Bonauenture, being weary of the long labours of this warre, and perceiuing that therein the danger was greater, than either the pleasure or the profit, tooke oc∣casion vnder a pretence of his de∣crepit age, to retire himselfe to Rome; euen at that time, when Pope Innocent the third being departed, Pope Honorius his successour, who had not managed this warre by his authoritie, from the beginning thereof, knew neither the importance thereof, nor what directi∣on to giue, and therefore had need to be enformed by his Legat, touching the meanes of the continuance thereof, and the commoditie that might arise vnto his Seat. Bonauenture entreated him to depute another Legat, and told him, that the necessitie of this warre was such, that it concerned not onely the losse of all those Lands of the Albingenses, which were conque∣red, because they might be easily recouered by them, if no opposition were made, but also the ruine of the Church of Rome, because the Doctrine of the Walden∣ses and Albingenses, did directly shake the authoritie of the Popes, and ouerthrow the Statutes of the Church:

That this warre had beene very chargeable, and cost them deere, for within the space of fifteene yeares and lesse, there had died aboue three hundred thousand souldiers of the Crosse, that at diuers times had come to end their liues in Languedoc, as if there were not enough else-where to burie them, or as if there were a necessi∣tie in those times, to be borne in France, and to dye en∣countring the Albingenses. That all this would be lost, if they continued not to spend and weaken them, vn∣till they were vtterly destroyed. The Pope delegated one named Contat, who went thither.

Now albeit Almeric were very valiant, yet he had not gotten that authoritie which his Father had, who had made himselfe, at the charges of the Albingenses, a great Captaine, loued of the Souldier, of an admira∣ble valour, patient in affliction, inuincible in his tra∣uels, diligent in his enterprises, fore-seeing and proui∣ding, for the necessities of an Armie, affable; but of an vnreconcileable enmitie against his enemies, be∣cause he hated them onely to haue their goods, and that he could not haue but after their death, which he procured and hastned as much as he could, and that vnder the mantell of a plausible pretence of religion. His sonne was a true inheritor of the hatred of his fa∣ther; but slow and sluggish, louing his ease, and no way fit for an action of great importance. Besides, he was depriued of the Monke Dominique, of whom his Father had made very profitable vse: for lodging him in the conquered Cities, he gaue him in charge to fi∣nish that destruction by his inquisition, which he could not doe by warres.* 1.83 He died in the yeare 1220. the sixt of August, so rich that notwithstanding he were the author of an order mendicant, that is to say, of Ia∣cobin

Monkes, or Iacobins, yet he made it knowne be∣fore his death, that a scrip well ordered was better than a rent ill assigned; for hee left many houses and much goods, shewing thereby that he vsed his scrip but for a shew and outward appearance of pouertie; but in effect he thought it good, to haue wherewithall to liue else-where, witnesse the Protection which the Earle Simon gaue him a little before his death, whereof this is the tenure.

Simon by the Grace and prouidence of God, Duke of Narbonnes, Earle of Toulouze, Vicount of Licestre, Beziers, and Carcassonne, wisheth health and dilection. We will and command you to haue a speciall care to keepe and defend the houses and goods of our most deare brother Dominick, as our owne. Giuen at the siege of Toulouze,* 1.84 Decemb. 13.

The death of this Monke was a great comfort to the Albingenses, who had persecuted them with such vio∣lence, but yet they were more weakned by the death of the Earle Remond of Toulouze, the Earle Remond of Foix, and the Ladie Philippe of Moncade, Wife to Re∣mond Earle of Foix.

The Earle Remond of Toulouze died of a sicknesse, much lamented of his Subiects, if euer man were. He was iust, gentle, valiant and couragious, but yet too easie to giue eare vnto those that gaue him counsell for his ruine. Hee was carried at the first by a true loue and charitie onely towards those his Subiects, that made profession of the Religion of the Albingenses, but afterwards hauing beene basely and dishonorably handled by the Legats of the Pope, he knew both the crueltie of the Priests, and the falshood of their do∣ctrine, by those conferences that had beene in his pre∣sence

with the Pastors of the Albingenses. His Epitaph was written in two Gascon verses.

Non y a home sur terre, per grand Segnor que fous. Qu'em iettes de ma terre, si Gleisa non fous.

He that writes the Historie of Languedoc, saith, That he died a sudden death, and that hee was carried into the house of the Friers of the Hospital S. Iohn, and that he was not buried, because he died an excommunicate person. There was shewed not long since at Toulouze a head, which some did beleeue was the head of the Earle Remond, which was said to be alwaies without a sepulture; but there is no likelihood that he that died amongst his owne, and being Ruler ouer them, should not haue so much credit after his death, as to bee put into a Sepulcher: that he that by his valour had re∣stored all his Subiects to their houses,* 1.85 and their Citie to it former greatnesse, he whose death they lamented as a Father, should be cast out like a Dogge. It is nei∣ther true nor hath it any resemblance of truth, that they should deny him this last office of charitie, which they haue not refused to bestow vpon their greatest enemies, for it was neuer heard of that the Albingenses haue denied sepulture vnto any.

As touching the Earle of Foix, Remond, he was a Prince of whom the Historie giues this testimony, that he was a Patron of Iustice, clemency, prudence, va∣lour, magnanimitie, patience and continency; a good Warriour, a good Husband, a good Father, a good House-keeper, a good Iusticer, worthy to haue his name honoured, and his vertues remembred through∣out all generations. When this good Prince saw that he was to change the earth for heauen, he defied death with

an assured constant carriage, and tooke comfort in for∣saking the world, and the vanities thereof, and calling his sonne Roger vnto him, hee exhorted him to serue God, to liue vertuously, to gouerne his people like a Father, vnder the obedience of his Lawes, and so gaue vp the ghost. His Wife the Lady Philippe of Mon∣cade, followed him shortly after, not without suspition of poyson, by some domesticall enemy of the Albin∣genses, whose religion she professed with all deuotion. A Princesse of a great and admirable prouidence, faith, constancy, and loyaltie. She vttered before her death many excellent sentences, full of edification, as well in the Castilian tongue, as the French, in contempt of death, which she receiued with a maruellous grace, fortifying her speeches with most Christian consolati∣ons, to the great comfort and edification of all that were present, and in this estate she changed her life.

All these deaths made a great alteration in the wars of the Albingenses, both on the one side and the other.

CHAP. V. Almaric of Montfort restored to King Lewis the eight, the conquered Countries of the Albingenses: the siege of Auignon: the King appointeth a Gouernor in Lan∣guedoc. The warre continues against the Albingenses: Toulouze is besieged: a treatie of peace with the Earle Remond and the Toulouzains.

ALmaric of Montfort had not the fortune of his Father in the warres of the Albingenses. For he had neither King Philip Auguste, who per∣mitted the leuie of the Pilgrims, nor Pope Innocent

the third to appoint them. Moreouer, there was neither Citie nor Village in France, where there were not wi∣dowes and fatherlesse children, by reason of the pas∣sed warres of the Albingenses. And besides all this, the Prelats were many times put into great feares, by those cruell combats that were ordinarily made, and many of them left behinde them their Miters, and some Abbots their Crosses. The speech of the expe∣ditions of the Crosse was not so common. This was the cause why Almaric did not long enioy his conque∣red Countries, wherewith being much afflicted, hee went into France,* 1.86 and deliuered vp vnto Lewis the eight of that name, King of France, all the right that he had to the said Countries, which the Pope, the Councels of Vaur, Montpelier, and Lotran had gran∣ted vnto him: and in recompence thereof, King Lewis created him Constable of France,* 1.87 in the yeare 1224.

To put himselfe into possession, King Lewis the eight came into Languedoc, and comming to the gates of Auignon, he was denied entrance, because profes∣sing the Religion of the Albingenses, they had beene excommunicated, and giuen by the Pope to the first Conquerour: for then Auignon was no chiefe Citie of the Earldome of Venessin, as at this present, but be∣longed to the King of Naples and Sicily. The King be∣ing much moued with this deniall, resolued to besiege it, which continued for the space of eight moneths, in the end whereof they yeelded themselues about Whit∣sontide, in the yeare 1225.* 1.88

During this siege, almost all the cities of Languedoc, acknowledged the king of France, by the mediation of M^r. Amelin, Archbishop of Narbonne. The King established for Gouernour in Languedoc, Imbert

de Beauieu, and tooke his way to France: but hee died by the way at Montpensier in September, in the yeare 1226.

The young Remond, Earle of Toulouze, was bound by promise to the king, to goe to receiue his absolu∣tion of Pope Honorius, and afterwards he should giue him peaceable possession of all his lands: but the death of the king in the meane time happening, he saw the Realme of France in the hands of king Lewis, a childe and in his minority, and the regency in the pow∣er and gouernment of his mother. Hee thought that hauing to deale with an infant king, and a woman re∣gent, he might recouer by force that which he had quit himselfe of by agreement. He therefore resolued to take armes, being encouraged thereunto, by the succours of the Albingenses his subjects, who were in great hope to maintaine their part in strength and vigor, during the Non-age of the King of France, but they were deceiued in their proiect. For though Lewis the ninth were in his ninoritie, yet he was so happie as to haue a wise and a prudent mother, if euer there were any. For King Lewis the eighth, before his death, had appointed her the Tutrix or Gardianesse of his sonne, and Regent of the Realme, knowing very well her great capacity and sufficiency. Besides Imbert de Beau∣ieu maintained the authority of the king in Languedoc, tooke armes, and made opposition against the Earle Remond, and the Albingenses. The Queene sent him diuers troopes,* 1.89 by the helpe whereof he recouered the Castle de Bonteque, neare to Toulouze, which was a great hinderance to Imbert and his portizans. All the Albingenses that were found within the Castle were put to death; and a certaine Deacon, with others that

would not abiure their Religion, by the commande∣ment of the said Imbert, Amel the Popes Legat, and the aduise of Guyon Bishop of Carcassonne, they were burnt aliue,* 1.90 in the yeare 1227. suffring death with ad∣mirable constancy.

The more the persecution increased, the more the number of the Albingenses multiplied, which Imber of Beauieu perceiuing, he went to the Court to let them vnderstand, that without succours, he could no longer defend the countrey, and the places newly annexed to the Crowne and patrimony of France, against the Al∣bingenses and the Earle Remond. In the meane time whilest he was absent, the Earle Remond tooke the Castle Sarrazin, one of the strongest places that Im∣bert had in his keeping, and holding the field did much hurt to his enemies.

Imbert came from France,* 1.91 at the spring of the yeare one thousand two hundred twenty eight, accompa∣nied with a great Armie of the Crosse, in which there was the Archbishop of Bourges, the Archbishop of Aouch and of Burdeaux, euery one with the Pilgrims of their iurisdiction.

The Earle Remond retired himselfe into Toulouze where he was presently shut vp, and all the country round about, euen haruest and all spoiled and wasted. Being brought to this extremitie,* 1.92 the Abbot of Grand∣selue, named Elias Garin, came from Amelin the Popes Legat, to offer peace to the Earle Remond and the Toulou zains. He was receiued with great ioy, offering peace and plenty to those that were almost famished, and wearied with warre. Neuerthelesse the wisest a∣mongst them, who better foresaw the euent of things, knew well enough that so soone as they had gotten

the Earle Remond into their hands, they would make vse of him to persecute them, that they would esta∣blish the inquisition and kindle their fires againe, and so vtterly destroy them both bodies and soules: but the reasons of these men were ouercome by the impor∣tunate cries of the common people almost famished, who could not see the time wherein they were fettered with the halter, that should strangle them. Besides the enemie wanted not people in Toulouze, that were wil∣ling to terrifie the Earle Remond saying, that he was not now to deale with Americ of Montfort, but with a king of France, who had power sufficient to ouerthrow him: that continuall feuers kill men, and long warres would at the last burie them all. The Earle Remond passed his word to the Abbot to be at a certaine day at Vasieges, there to resolue vpon that which was to bee done, to bring the peace to a perfection. In the meane time a truse was agreed vpon with the Toulouzains, for certaine daies. The Earle Remond came at the day to the place appointed, and so did the Abbot of Grandselue. After much discourse and communica∣tion touching a peace, the Abbot made him beleeue, that it would be for his greater aduantage to bee in France, than in that place; and that forasmuch as the businesse concerned the King, that it was necessary that the Queene-mother being Tutrix vnto him, and Regent of France, should be present, and that more would be done in a few daies, than in a whole yeare, the businesse requiring so many iournies and goings and commings, which peraduenture would bee long and vnprofitable: and so pawned his faith that here∣by he should receiue all contentment. Being vanqui∣shed by these promises, he consented to come into

France, whethersoeuer the Queene-mother should ap∣point. Meaux was the place she made choise of, and his time was appointed. He came thither, but he was no sooner arriued, but he repented, and acknowled∣ged his great ouersight, in that he had giuen credit to the words of a Priest, especially knowing that his deceased father, had alwaies sped so ill by trusting to those that hold this for a maxime, that Faith is not to be kept with Heretikes, or their fauourers. That he be∣ing held for such a one, had no reason to looke for bet∣ter successe.

There was therefore now no more question of trea∣ties or communications, but of submission to what∣soeuer should be enioyned him. He had now no lon∣ger freedome of speech, but he was carefully guarded, for feare least he should fly to the Albingenses. The Historiographer of Languedoc,* 1.93 though in other mat∣ters much animated against the Albingenses, yet hee could not write of this without commiseration, so la∣mentable was the condition of this Lord. These are his words.

It was a lamentable thing (saith hee) to see so braue a man, that was able, for so long a time, to make resistance against so many people, to come in his shirt and his linnen breeches, bare foot to the Altar, in the presence of two Cardinalls of the Church of Rome, the one the Legat in France, the other the Legat in England. But this is not all the ignominious punishment that was inflicted, but he notes besides, that of so many conditions of that peace, euery one of them (saith he) had beene suf∣ficient for the price of his ransome, if the king had beene in the field making warre against him.

CHAP. VI. The Articles of the treatie of the Earle Remond of Tou∣louze, with the Popes Legat, Amelin, and the Queene mother of Lewis the ninth, King of France.

IT was an easie matter to finish this treatie,* 1.94 because the Articles were proposed to the Earle Remond, with this condition, that they should be signed by himselfe without reply.

Article 1. That after the Earle Remond, shall haue asked pardon, according to the order appointed, that is to say, bareheaded, barefoot, in his shirt, with a torch in his hand, for all that he had done against the Church; he shall promise to defend the faith, and driue away all Heretikes, out of his lands and territories.

Article 2. That hee should pay to the Church as long as he liueth, euery yeare three Markes of Siluer.

3. That he should giue once and incontinently the summe of six thousand Marks of Siluer for the repa∣rations of the Cities, Castles and houses, that had beene either by himselfe or his father destroyed and ruinated during the warres past.

4. That he should giue for the reparation of Mou∣stier and the maintenance and nourishment of the Monkes of Cisteaux, two thousand Markes of Siluer.

5. For the Monkes of Cleruaux, fiue hundred Markes of Siluer.

6. For those of Grand Selue, and the reparation of their Moustier, a thousand Markes of Siluer.

7. For the Church of Belle Perche, three hundred Markes of Siluer.

8. For the reparation of the Castle Narbonnes, six thousand markes of Siluer, and that the Legat should keepe it for ten yeares in the name of the Church.

9. For the maintenance of foure Masters in diuini∣tie, two Doctors of the Canon Law, two Masters of Art, and two Masters Gramarians, who should reade euery one in his quality, euery day, to such schollers as should come to Toulouze, the summe of foure thou∣sand markes of Siluer, whereof euery Master in Di∣uinitie should haue twenty fiue Markes of Siluer by the yeare, for the terme of ten yeares, the Doctor of the Law should haue fifteene Markes by the yeare, du∣ring the space of ten yeares: The Master of Artes, ten Markes.

10. That he should take the Crosse, at the hands of the Legat, to goe beyond the seas, to make warre against the Turkes and Sarazins, and should goe to Rhodes, where hee should stay for the space of fiue yeares, from whence he should bring a certificat from the great Master of Rhodes.

11. That from thenceforward, hee should enter∣prise nothing against the Church.

12. That he should make warre against the Earle of Foix and his allies, neuer making peace with them but by the leaue of the Legat.

13. That he should ouerthrow and demollish, all the walles, towers and fortresses of Toulouze, as the Legat shall ordaine and appoint.

14. That he should vtterly subuert and pull downe from the bottome to the top, thirty fiue cities or Ca∣stles, of which these that follow should bee of the

number, that is to say, Fauiaux, Castelnau d' Arri, la Bastide, Auignonnet, Pech Laurence, Saint Paul, La Vaur, Rebasteins, Guaillac, Montagut, Hautpec, Verdun, Castel Sarrazin, Montauban, Agen, Sauerdun, Condon, Aute∣rine, and others that shall be named vnto him by the Legat, which hereafter he shall not reedifie without his leaue.

15. That if any of his, hold any fortresse, he shall cause him to raze it, or otherwise make warre against him at his owne proper costs and charges.

16. That he shall deliuer into the hands of the Le∣gat, Penne d' Agenes, and all the other places before mentioned, for the terme of ten yeeres, which if hee cannot recouer and enioy, he shall winne by warre. And if within the space of two yeares he cannot make himselfe Master thereof, he shall make his voyage be∣yond the seas, as hath beene said before, and yeeld his right of the said Penne to the Templers, procuring them to come ouer to conquer it; which if they will not vndertake, it is the Legats pleasure, that the king of France doe conquer it; And if he will not hold it, hauing taken it, that he cause it to be vtterly razed and ouerthrowne, in such sort, that it bee impossible euer hereafter to reedifie it.

17. That for the accomplishment of all this, he is to yeeld himselfe prisoner at the Lonure in Paris, into the hands of the king, from whence he shall not de∣part, vntill he haue first caused a daughter of his, to be brought to Carcassonne, and committed to the cu∣stody of the king, in the hands of such as shall be de∣puted thereunto.

18. That he shall likewise deliuer to the said Legat, the Castle Narbonnes, and Penne d' Agenes, and the other

places. That he shall cause the walles of the citie, that are ouer against the Castle Narbonnes to be demolished and beaten downe, and the ditches that were betwixt them to be filled vp, to the end that a man may passe and repasse freely without feare of any thing; and that all this should be done, before hee went out of prison. All which being performed, the Legat gaue him his absolution and deliuered it in writing.

Thus you see the conditions of the treatie of the Earle Remond, with the Popes Legat. The Reader may iudge, what, and how great the troubles and afflicti∣ons of this Prince were: but this was but the begin∣ning of miseries to the poore Albingenses, for from hence did the great persecution proceede, whereby they were vtterly rooted out, as it will appeare hereafter.

CHAP. VII. Pecuniary penalties laid vpon the Albingenses: The Earle Remond constrained to make statutes against the Al∣bingenses: A Councell at Toulouze against the Al∣bingenses, wherein they were forbidden the reading of the Scriptures: other constitutions against them: The Earle Remonds daughter brought to Paris.

THe subiects of the Earle Remond, being aduertised of this dishonourable and disaduantagious treatie of their Lord, were much displeased and grieued therewith, to see themselues vpon the very brinke of their totall destruction; because that thereby their owne Lord was bound to doe his best

endeuours for their extirpation; and they saw besides that a new heire, their sworne enemie.

First, for the more easie payment of those summes,* 1.95 which he was bound to pay to the Conuents, and o∣thers, they cause him to ordaine, that euery one of his subiects, that make profession of the beleefe of the Albingenses, shall furnish him with a Marke of siluer. Which was to perswade him, that he should not thinke this imposition to be strange, because the Albingenses onely were to pay the said summes: As also by this meanes they made proofe of all his sub∣iects; for as soone as they found any that refused to pay the said Marke, it was a kinde of inquisition, whereby to take notice of all those that afterwards were to be persecuted. And that they that persisted in their Religion, should bee punished and condem∣ned to death, their goods confiscated, their last wills and testaments to be of no force, so that their children nor any of the kindred should euer recouer their inheritances.

That their houses should bee vtterly razed and destroyed.

Item, hee ordaineth that all they that shall denie the Inquisitors their houses, granges and woods, or shall defend the Heretikes, deliuer them when they should apprehend them, and refuse to giue aid and assistance to the Inquisitors, or to defend them when they shall require it, or shall not vse their best endeuours to keepe those that are taken by the said Inquisitors, shall be corporally punished, and their goods confiscate.

Item, that they that are suspected of Heresie, shall sweare to liue in the Catholike faith, and abiure

their Heresie, and if they shall refuse to doe it, they are to endure the same punishment that the Here∣tikes doe. That if after the oath taken, it doe ap∣peare, that they haue receiued, fauored, or counsel∣led any Heretike, they shall vndergoe the punish∣ment that the Councell hath ordained.

Item, we ordaine (saith he) that if it shall appeare that any that hath offended, shall die an Heretike, and that it shall bee lawfully proued before the Bi∣shop; that all his goods be confiscated, and that the houses wherein they shall inhabit, after the treatie of peace made at Paris, or shall dwell in hereafter, shall be vtterly razed.

Thus you see what they caused the Earle Remond to ordaine, and to seale vnto, and at the same time they began to destroy and ouerthrow by peecemeale, those they could neuer make to staggar in grosse, being vnited together.

Moreouer, to giue the better authority to the In∣quisition, they called a councell at Touiouze in the yeare 1229. whereat the Archbishop of Narbonnes,* 1.96 Bourdeaux, Auch, and diuers other Bishops and Pre∣lates were present, wherein amongst other Articles that were concluded vpon, this one shewes by what Spirit, these Prelates were led.

* 1.97We forbid (say they) the permission of the bookes of the old and new Testament to all Lay people, except per∣aduenture they will haue the Psalter or some Breuiarie for the Diuine office, or the Prayer booke of the blessed Virgin Marie for deuotion. Forbidding expresly that they haue not the said bookes turned into the vulgar tongue,

Pope Gregory the ninth did also make constitutions,

at the same time against the Albingenses; and especially because he would stop the mouthes, of the Pastors of the Albingenses, who discredited their humane inuen∣tions. He ordained that all and euery one of the Lay-people, of what quality or office soeuer should be inter∣dicted from preaching.

King Lewis the ninth, made also statutes, confor∣mable to those of the Earle Remond, as also the Empe∣ror Frederick which we produce not, that we may not weary the reader, and so much the ••a••her because all of them proceeding from one source, hee that hath seene the one, hath seene al: for they al tend to no other end, but to make the Kings, Princes, Emperours and Potentates of the world, to seale and set to their hands to whatsoeuer they found fitting, to persecute those that resisted the ordinances of the Popes, neither did they dare to refuse to doe it, vpon paine that the selfe-same constitutions should be executed against them.

Now after the treatie made with the Earle Remond, hee remained a prisoner vntill the payment of the summes specified therein; and in the meane time, Master Peter de Colmieu Vice-Legat, tooke his iourney to Toulouze, to bring the Citie vnder the obedience of the King, and caused the Walls to be razed, and the Towers to bee beaten downe, to the end they might haue no more meanes to rebell against the King. He brought likewise to the Queene-mother Ioan the only daughter of the Earle Remond, being of the age of nine yeeres, to the end she might bee brought vp with her, vntill she were of yeeres sufficient to marry Al∣phonsus, brother to King Lewis. The remouall of this young Princesse did much afflict the subiects of the Earle Remond, for seeing that this change of do∣mination

would bring with it an alteration of their peace, as it came to passe.

CHAP. VIII. The Earle Remond of Toulouze solliciteth the Earle of Foix, to range himselfe vnder the obedience of the Pope: What practises he vseth to make him forsake the part of the Albingenses, and hee suffereth himselfe to be handled by the Popes Legat.

THe Earle of Foix, of Comminges, and the Prince of Bearne, were yet to be conque∣red, or wonne by practises. The Legat Colmieu thought the Earle Remond a fit instrument to worke the latter of the two, and therefore he commandeth him to write to the Earle of Foix, That he should follow his example, or re∣solue miserably to perish. Hee writ vnto him in louing termes: That the vnion that had alwaies beene betwixt their houses, did binde him to procure their good as his owne, that if he did not yeeld himselfe into the bosome of the Church of Rome, hee saw such a tempest like to fall vpon him, that it must needs ouerwhelme him: That ha∣uing so great an enemie as a King of France, hee could not possibly stand out: Hee therefore entreated him to receiue his counsell, and withall, the gift that hee bestowed on him, for a farther proofe of his loue, that is, if hee would con∣forme himselfe to this submission, to the Pope and the Church of Rome, hee would hold him from this day for∣ward, quit of that homage which hee anciently did vnto him for the Earledome of Foix. Hee likewise entreated him to procure the like submission from the Earle of Comminge, and the Prince of Bearne.

The Answer of the Earle of Foix was, That hee could not forsake his part nor his beleefe, in a time wherein hee should giue men occasion to thinke that hee had more feare than reason, and that it was necessary for so fruitfull a change, such as they expected of him, that the truth should ouercome, not the allurements of promises, nor the vio∣lence of armes: That he would see that world of Pilgrims come that was threatned, and he did trust in God, that hee should make them to know the iustice of his cause, and de∣plore the temeritie of their vow.

The Earle Remond was not satisfied with this an∣swer, much lesse the Legat, who found another way to winne him vnto them. And that was, that there were within his lands and territories, and about the said Earledome, subiects of his, who being frighted with an apprehension of their ruine, should intreat him to haue compassion both of himselfe and his poore subiects, who should doubtlesse be ouerthrowne by this last violence. And at the very same time, hee caused the Earle Remond of Toulouze, to write to the principall men of the Countries of the said Roger Earle of Foix; that there was an excellent opportu∣nitie offered their Lord, if hee made not himselfe vn∣worthy thereof by his obstinacie: that it was the one∣ly meanes to make them liue in perfect peace: that they should perswade him, whilest the occasion and time serued, before the expedition of the Crosse were on foot.

The subiects of the Earle of Foix, partly for their owne interest, partly for feare, lest their Lord being strooken in yeeres, without wife and children, should leaue them to the mercie of the first Conquerour, if he should depart this life without a lawfull heire; they

ioyned together in humble supplication to their Lord, at the instant reasons and perswasions of the said Earle of Toulouze. They obtained by their requests and teares, that which the Earle of Toulouze could not by threats, prayers nor promises: for hee promised them, that hee would treat with the Legat for their peace, and would accept thereof for their good and con∣tentment.

The Pope was aduertised of the intention of the Earle of Foix, and therefore hee ioyned with the first Legat in the Earledome of Foix another, that is to say, the Cardinall of S^t. Ange, accompanied by the Arch∣bishop of Narbonnes, de Folae, Guillaume de Torration, Bishop of Couserans, Bernard de la grace, Peter Abbot of Bolbonne, Iohn Abbot of Comelonge, William Abbot of Foix, Peter de Thalames, the Legats Lieutenant, Lamkert de la Tour, and diuers others. Being arriued at S^t. Iohn de Berges, in the Earledome of Foix, there ap∣peared also the Earle of Foix, with the Nobilitie and principall men of the Land.

The Legat related to the Earle of Foix, the great contentment that the Pope had,* 1.98 to heare that after so many combats and bloudy warres, there was hope to finish them in peace: that he was come to conclude that, and to bring it to effect, that was begunne in be∣halfe of the Pope: that there remained nothing but to know what his resolution was, and to receiue from him the promises and oathes of fidelitie to the Church, which are requisite in such a case.

The Earle Roger replyed to the Legat and the rest that were present, as followeth.

Messieurs, I haue long since bid Rhetorick a dieu, hauing made profession to pleade my cause, and to

make my entries with engins and speares, which must be my excuse, if like a Souldier I vtter my intentions. My Couzen, the Earle of Toulouze, hath procured (for which I thanke him) that my enemies will now be pleased with reason, to heare the causes of our le∣uies, and why wee haue taken Armes, which to this present would neuer be granted; as also hee desireth that we should giue ouer the pursuit of those that de∣sire to wrong vs, vpon an assurance (saith he) that the King of France shall maintaine euery one with Iustice and Equitie. Truly, I confesse, that I neuer desired a∣ny thing more than to maintaine my libertie, being as yet (as it were) in the swadling clouts of my free∣dome. Our Country owes onely one simple homage to the Earle of Toulouze, for raising it to an Earldome, but it acknowledgeth no other Master but my selfe: and as for the Pope, I neuer offended him; for he hath neuer demanded any thing at my hands, as a Prince, in which I haue not obeyed him. Hee is not to inter∣meddle with my Religion, since euery man is to haue it free. My Father hath alwaies recommended vnto me this libertie, to the end that being setled therein, though the heauens shake I might looke vpon them with a constant and assured countenance, and a per∣swasion that they could neuer hurt me. Nothing trou∣bles me but this: For in consideration that the Earle of Toulouze holds mee discharged of that homage, which he pretends to belong vnto him, I am ready lo∣uingly to imbrace the King, and to doe him seruice in the same condition, vnder the dependance of my o∣ther rights, which maintaine me in Regall authoritie in that Country. It is not feare that makes me stagger or yeeld to your desires, and that constraines me to

humble my will and desires to the earth, or dunghill-like to submit my selfe to your appetite, but being prouoked by that benigne and generous feare of the miseries of my Subiects, the ruine of my Countrey, the desire not to be accounted mutinous, braine-sicke, and the fire-brand of France, I yeeld my selfe to this extremitie; otherwise I would bee as a wall without breach or escalado, against the brauest of mine ene∣mies. I giue you therefore a gage of my affection, for the good of the peace in generall. Take my Castles of Foix, Mongaillard, Montreal, Vicdesos, Lordat, whilest that I yeeld him that homage that you demand.

As for the Earle of Comminge, and the Prince of Bearne, it was impossible they should continue firme in their resolutions, to make resistance, being destitute of these two props, the Earles of Foix and Toulouze: For they were but weake, both in money and men. Be∣hold then the end, to the outward appearance of the Albingenses,* 1.99 when in the yeare 1234. there arose a cer∣taine bastard of the Earle of Beziers, who tooke armes for the Albingenses, or craued their assistance, to re∣uenge the death of his deceased Father.

CHAP. IX. The last warre of the Albingenses by Trancauel, Bastard of the Earle of Beziers: The progression thereof: The last expedition, leuied against the Albingenses: A trea∣tie betweene the Legat Amelin, and the said Tran∣cauel: The end of the warre.

* 1.100MAtthew Paris an English Writer saith, That in the yeare 1234 the warres began againe against the Albingenses, and that there came a great Army of the Crosse against them, yea, that they lost aboue a hundred thousand men all at once, with all their Bishops that were in that battell, and that none escaped.

He was no doubt mis-informed; For the Historio∣grapher of Languedoc, who relateth all that passed in those times, hath made no mention thereof, neither is it likely that he would haue forgotten so famous a vi∣ctorie ouer the Albingenses, whom hee hated to the death. True it is, that at what time the Earle of Tou∣louze, of Foix, Comminge, and the Prince of Bearne tooke part with them, and were their Leaders; Tran∣cauel the Bastard of the Earle of Beziers deceased, did not appeare, but as a priuat man of small importance, but when the Albingenses were destitute of all support, there were that awakned this Souldier, and made him to know, that if he would haue any feeling of the out∣rages done vnto his Father, depriued of his lands vn∣iustly, betraied, imprisoned, and poysoned, that they would giue him the best assistance they could. Where∣vpon he tooke the field, said, That he would reuenge

the death of his Father, and win that by the sword that had beene taken from him by in-iustice. Hee was assisted by a number of valiant Captaines; that is to say, Sieur Oliuier de Fumes, Bertrand Hugon de Serre∣longue, Bernard de Villeneufue, Iordain de Satiat, all braue Leaders, who had a number of men at their command; and before the enemy tooke any notice of his designe, he seased vpon the Castles of Montreall, Saixac, Montolieu, Limous, and others.

Peter Melin the Popes Legat, and Bishop of Tou∣louze, being much astonished to see those that tooke part with the Albingenses, whom he thought to bee vtterly buried, to spring vp againe, hee had presently recourse to the ordinary meanes of the Pope and his Agents, that is, presently to cause the pardon of sins to be preached, to whomsoeuer would fight vnder the banner of the Crosse, a kinde of pay of lesse value, but more common in those times. The Archbishop of Narbonnes animated also the people of his Diocesse to goe to make an end of that poore remainder of the Albingenses that were left.

These Priests with their troopes, presented them∣selues before the gates of Carcassonne. The Citie re∣ceiued them, but when they came to the Towne the gates were shut against them. Amelin made a speech vnto those that shewed themselues vpon the rampiers, telling them that he was come thither for their preser∣uation. They thanked him, but they told him withall, that if he did not instantly retire himselfe, they would giue him the chase. Vpon this conference came Tran∣cauel, who set so hotly and valiantly vpon the troope of Pilgrims that accompained the Legat, that he cha∣sed them, beating and killing them, till he came to the

gates of the Citie of Carcassonne, and the Legat had enough to doe to saue himselfe: but that which offen∣ded him most, was, that the gates of the Towne were opened to Trancauel, who lodged therein, and made it his principall retrait, from whence he euery day hurt and hindred the Pilgrims of the Citie, in such sort, that they hardly durst come forth of the gates. And when∣soeuer he heard of any troopes of Pilgrims to come, he went to meet them, laying ambushes for them, and many times ouerthrew them before they could ioyne themselues to the Legat.

This man kept the field,* 1.101 vntill the yeare 1242. be∣cause when any Pilgrims were required to goe against a Bastard of the diseased Earle of Beziers, euery one did beleeue the forces that were leuied within the Principalitie, might suffice for the destruction of so weake an enemie: but Amelin writ to the Pope, that if in good earnest he cause not the expedition of the Crosse to be preached in many places of Europe, that the Church was like to receiue a great losse by this last enemy, who had reuiued the part of the Albingenses, and was more cruell, and more subtill, than any other that had maintained them vnto this time.

Innocent the fourth caused the expedition of the Crosse to be published in diuers parts of Europe. Tran∣cauel being aduertised, that a very great Army of Pilgrims was prepared to come against him, finding himselfe not strong enough in the Towne of Carcas∣sonne, retired himselfe to Realmont, whither the Pil∣grims followed him and besieged him. He couragi∣ously resisted them, and hauing many times discomfi∣ted the Pilgrims, in the end Amelin seeing there was nothing to bee gotten of a man, whom when they

thought him fast shut vp, would be many daies iour∣ney from them, gathering new forces, he entreated the Earle of Foix to vse his best endeuours, to bring him to some peaceable designe, and to treatie with him; which he performed with such successe, that he promi∣sed neuer to beare Armes, either against the Legat or the Church of Rome. Here you see the last attempt which wee finde the Albingenses haue made, and the last expedition of Pilgrims leuied against them. All the pursuit against them afterward, was made by the Monkes the Inquisitors, who kindled their fires more than euer; And so taking this poore people dis∣armed, and singling them out by retaile, it was impos∣sible for them any longer to subsist. And if at any time they hapned to set vpon the Inquisitors, it was but to giue them a more sensible apprehension of their ex∣treme violencies, whereof we haue a notable example in the Chapter following.

CHAP. X. Many Monkes Inquisitors, and Officers of the Inquisition slaine, and for what cause: Pope Innocent the fourth vseth the Earle Remond disgracefully: The Earle Re∣mond goes to Rome, and why: He takes his iourney to Rhodes, dies at Milan.

IN the yeare one thousand two hun∣dred fortie three,* 1.102 the Earle Remond hauing satisfied his pecuniary penal∣ties, and being returned to his Sub∣iects; certaine of the Country com∣plained of the vniust proceeding of the Monkes Inquisitors, who without any difference

intangled in such sort all sorts of people, that there were not almost any that they condemned not either for Heretiques, or Fauourers; or Kinsfolke, or allies of Heretiques; not being content to proceede against those that made publike profession of the beleefe of the Albingenses, in such sort, that vnder the cloke of the Inquisition office, they committed strange theeue∣ries This accusation against the Inquisitors was before the Earle Remond, in the presence of fiue Inquisitors, and foure Officers of the Inquisition, that is to say,* 1.103 before William Arnaldi, Monke Inquisitor, and two other Iacobin Monkes; Also one Remond de l'Escriuain Arch deacon of the Church of Toulouze, and the Pri∣or of Auignonnet de Cluze, and Peter Arnaldi, Notarie of the Inquisition, and three other of Auignonnet, in the Diocesse of Toulouze.

The Monkes Inquisitors would reply, and make some vse of that which had beene informed, to frame their inditements against those that had thus accused them, to the impeachment of their honour, terrifying them with threats, which made those that had thus moued their patience, to enter into consideration with themselues, that since they must fall into the snare of the said Inquisitors, and so be vtterly vndone, it was better for them to deliuer themselues this once, and that they should teach others to carry themselues more aduisedly. So growing still more eager and vio∣lent in their discourse, they came to blowes. But the Monkes Inquisitors and their Officers were ouermat∣ched, for there were slaine (as the Historiographer of Languedoc reports) nine, that is to say, The fiue Monks aboue specified, and the foure Officers. True it is, that this Writer doth aggrauate the Fact, and hee

would haue men beleeue, that it was a premeditated treason, wherein he shewes himselfe to be partiall and passionate.

The Earle Remond did very well make it appeare, that he was no way consenting to this riot, for hee made an exact search and inquirie after the Authors of this sedition, but yet doe what he could, he could not free himselfe from suspition. The same Historiogra∣pher saith, that the atrocitie of the fact, constrained the Authors to take Armes, and to beginne againe a kinde of warre; but there is not any Writer that makes mention thereof; and therefore to be confidered of before it be beleeued. Pope Innocent the fourth came to Lion about that time. He sends out his thunder-bolts against the murderers, and hee looked not vpon the Earle Remond with a good countenance, who was vn∣ciuilly reiected in that request that he made vnto him, touching a dispensation for the marriage of his Cou∣sin Beatrix, daughter of the Earle Berenger, Earle of Prouence.

The same Historiographer saith, that in the yeere 1247.* 1.104 the Earle Remond tooke his iourney to Rome, that he might bee permitted to burie the bones of his father in holy ground,* 1.105 and that it was denied him, be∣cause he died an excommunicate person. He likewise saith,* 1.106 that in the yeere one thousand two hundred for∣tie nine, when the Earle Remond purposed to take his voyage to Rhodes, hee died at Milan of a continu∣all feuer.

CHAP. XI. Alphonsus brother to the king S^t. Lewis taketh possessi∣on of the goods of the last Earle Remond of Tou∣louze: The persecution continueth against the Albin∣genses, vnto the time that the Gospell was receiued in France, and then the greatest part of those places where the Albingenses inhabited presently receiued the re∣formation.

THe change of their Lord altered the condition of the Albingenses, for the Earle Remond being departed this life, Alphonsus brother to the king S^t. Lewis, tooke possession of all the lands, goods and reuenues of the said Earle, and consequently all the ill will that the Pope and other ecclesiasticall per∣sons bare to the house of the Earle of Toulouze did cease. And as touching the places which he was to yeeld vp contained in the treatie, there needed no far∣ther speech of that, because Alphonsus being free from all suspition of falshood to the Pope or the Church, he peaceably enioyed whatsoeuer belonged vnto him. But one hand washeth another; and therefore as by those warrs that the Church vndertooke against the Earle of Toulouze, Alphonsus was become Master of the goods of the Earle Remond, so was he bound, to doe his best endeuours, that the Pope might be honou∣red in his countries. For this cause hee strengthned the Inquisition, witnesse the Monke Rainerius, who was Inquisitor in the yeare 1250.* 1.107 who hath left vs in writing the whole forme of their proceeding, where∣of

we haue the transcript in the second booke of the history of the Waldenses.* 1.108 Pope Alexander the fourth authorized the said Inquisition by letters which wee haue in our hands.

The continuance of this persecution, by the said Inquisition is proued in the yeare 1264. by the con∣stitutions of Pope Clement the fourth.* 1.109 Also in the yeare 1276. vnder Iohn the two and twentieth;* 1.110 they were persecuted with all manner of rigour, witnesse the letters of the said Pope against them. And by this record that followeth, it appeareth that in the yeere 1281. vnder Martin the fourth,* 1.111 there was a persecu∣tion moned in the quarters of Albi, and that there were at that time a great number that made profession of the Religion of the Albingenses.

AN EXTRACT OF THE Priuiledges of the Citie of Realmont.

To the honour of God the Father, the Sonne and the Holy Ghost, creator of all things, visible and inuisible, and of the glorious mother of God, who only hath destroied all heresies.

WEE William de Gourdon, Captaine, and President of Carcassonne and Beziers, doe make knowne vnto all men, that we command in the name of our most excellent Lord Philip by the grace of God, king of France; neere the Castle of Lombes in the Diocesse of Albi, called Realmont, for the exaltation of the Ca∣tholike

faith, and the extirpation of all wicked he∣resies, and the benefit of our Lord the King, and his subiects, that the dens and lurking corners of all that either ioyne in beleefe with Heretikes, or fa∣uour them to bee quite rooted out by this Colo∣nie all and at once, and that by the command and authoritie of the King.

And as for the innumerable numbers of children of Heretikes and fugitiues, because the peruersitie of Heretikes is so damnable, that we are not onely to punish themselues but their posteritie; Wee or∣daine that the children of Heretikes which of their owne will and good motion shall not bee reduced (forsaking their errors) to the purity of the Catho∣like faith, and the vnitie of the Church, shall not be admitted to the citie of Realmont or the territorie thereof in any fort whatsoeuer, to any place of ho∣nour or publike office. Which shall likewise be ob∣serued against the fugitiues for heresie, who before their departure shall not of their owne accord wil∣lingly be reclaimed. Also they that shall giue cre∣dit vnto Heretikes, concealing them or fauouring them, after they are made knowne and declared to be such by the Church, shall be banished for euer from the citie of Realmont, and all their goods con∣fiscated, and their children wholly excluded from all honours and publike dignities, except some one amongst them doe make knowne such Heretikes, and doe ioyne in the search and inquisition of them.

Thus you see the very last instrument which hath come to our hands for the proofe of the persecution against the Albingenses. Though it be very certaine that they haue beene continually persecuted by the

Inquisition, though their enemies could neuer preuaile so farre against them, but that they still lay hid like sparkles vnder the ashes, desiring once againe to see that which their posteritie hath enioyed, that is the li∣berty to call vpon God in puritie of conscience, with∣out any constraint to yeeld to any superstition or Ido∣latry, and so secretly instructing their children in the seruice of God, the fruit of their pietie, tooke life againe, when it pleased the Lord that the light of his Gospell should appeare amongst the palpable dark∣nesse of Antichrist, for then many of those places that had made profession to receiue the faith of the Albingenses, haue receiued with greedinesse the do∣ctrine of the Gospell, and namely the city of Real∣mont, where the precedent thunderbolts were darted, and notwithstanding that great distance of time, du∣ring the which they appeared not, yet the eternall God hath not giuen ouer his worke, and to make manifest that he can preserue his faithfull, euen in the middest of the confusion of Babylon as Diamonds in a dung∣hill, wheat amongst the straw, gold in the middest of the fire. And notwithstanding the enstruction haue not passed from the father to the sonne, vntill the time of the restauration, yet the goodnesse of God ceaseth not to be wonderfull, in that many of those places where this first dew of Gods grace hath fallen, haue beene abundantly enriched with his heauenly benedictions in these latter times; An excellent prouocation dou∣bly to obliege them to loue the truth which hath bin freely manifested vnto them, and to bring forth fruits worthy thereof. As it should be an extreme griefe to those places that haue neglected and reiected it, that God hath abandoned them and left them to their

owne sence, euen in that darkenesse which they loued, reuenging the contempt of his word, by the ignorance thereof, and suffering those to perish in their error, that haue preferred it before the truth.

CHAP. XII. The conclusion of this History of the Albingenses.

IT is an easie matter to gather by the con∣tents of this History of the Albingenses, that the people inhabiting in the Countrey of Albi, Languedoc, and diuers other places neere adioyning, haue made profession of the selfe-same Religion, that they haue that elsewhere were called Waldenses, and the rather because their ad∣uersaries themselues haue affirmed, that they haue persecuted them as Waldenses. As also that the greatest troubles that haue lighted vpon them, haue beene pro∣cured by the Priests, whose corruptions they haue de∣scryed and discouered their abuses, maintaining a∣gainst the Church of Rome, the Gospell of Christ Ie∣sus in it puritie, refusing to yeeld to those Idolatries that bare sway in those times; but aboue all, detesting the Masse, and the inuention of Transubstantiation, shaking the authoritie of the Popes dominion, as being abusiue and tyrannicall, hauing no resemblance of the well-befitting humilitie of the true Pastors of the Church, or conformitie to the doctrine and vocation of the Apostles, but rather an excesse and ryot, befit∣ting those that loue the world and perish with the world. By which libertie which they tooke vnto them∣selues

to reprehend those that beleeued the right of all redargution to belong onely to themselues, they haue beene charged with diuers faults, and condemned for rash inconsiderate people, prophane secular persons, who had thrust themselues into the office of teaching, when with silence they should rather learne. And the Popes not being able to winne them to the obedience of their commands, nor to conuince them of error by the word of God, they haue persecuted them by their Monkes Inquisitors, who haue deliuered to the secular Magistrate, as many as the said Monkes could appre∣hend, and forasmuch as this way was somewhat too slow to cut them off, and to see the end of them, the Popes haue drawne their swords against them, haue armed their Cardinals and Legats, and driuen to these bloudy warres the Kings and Princes of the earth, giuing Paradice for a recompence to whomsoeuer would beare armes against them, and aduenture his life for the extirpation of them for fortie daies together. Many great Lords haue beene desirous to know the cause of that vnreconcilable enmitie of the Pope, a∣gainst their subiects, and hauing perceiued that passion carried those that were offended for the truth, they haue maintained their cause, being grounded vpon this reason, That when they should bee conuinced of this errror by the word of God, they would giue the glory vnto God. From hence haue proceeded those cruell warres wherein a million of men haue lost their liues. In the meane time, euen then when it seemed that all truth was buried in the ground, and that the Dragon had ouercome, God raised in diuers of those places, where this grace had beene knowne and recei∣ued, many goodly Churches wherein his name is pure∣ly

inuocated, maugre the Deuill and all his adherents. To God therefore, who hath begunne to destroy the sonne of perdition by the blast of his Spi∣rit: To the Sonne of God who hath bought vs with his precious bloud, bee all honour and glory, for euer and euer. So be it.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iaques de Ri∣beria, in Col∣lectaneis vrbis Tolozae.
• * 1.2

  Iaques de Ribe∣ria in his col∣lections of the Citie of Tou∣louze.
• * 1.3

  Claud. de Rubis in his History of the Citie of Lion. Lib. 3. pa. 269.
• * 1.4

  1200.
• * 1.5

  Hologaray in his History of Foix.
• * 1.6

  The Comp. of the Trea∣sure of Histo∣ries in the yeere 1206.
• * 1.7

  This disputa∣tion was the most famous, that hath bin betweene the Albingenses, & the Bishops and Priests.
• * 1.8

  Chassagnon ma∣keth mention in his first booke of the History of the Albingenses pag. 72.
• * 1.9

  Also Iaques de Riberia in his collect of the Citie of Tou∣louze.
• * 1.10

  This disputa∣tion was sent me from the Albingēses, by M^r. Rafin Pa∣stor of the Church of Realmont in old Manu∣scripts.
• * 1.11

  The Monke of the Valley Seruay, in his Hist. of the Albing. chap. 5.
• * 1.12

  Hilagaray in his Hist. of Foix, pa. 126.
• * 1.13

  So tearmed because euery one that vn∣dertaketh the iourney, weares on his Cassocke or Coate-ar∣mour, the badge of the Crosse.
• * 1.14

  A Bull giuen at Latran in the yeer 1208.
• * 1.15

  Pelerins.
• * 1.16

  1209.
• * 1.17

  The Monke of the Valley Seruay in his History of the Albin. cap. 11. fol. 23.
• * 1.18

  Hilagarey in his History of Foix.
• * 1.19

  Chass. in his History of the Albingen. pag. 107.
• * 1.20

  The Treasure of Hist. in the taking of Be∣ziers Paul Aemil. pag. 517.
• * 1.21

  The Treasure of hist. in the taking of Be∣ziers. In the hist of the Monke Pet. of the Valleis Ser∣uey, of the Albing. ch. 18.
• * 1.22

  Chassagnon in his hist. of the Albing. lib. 1. pag. 112.
• * 1.23

  The Mo••••c of the Valley Sernay, Chap. ••0. Du Hall••n in his History of France, touch∣ing the siege of Carcas∣sonne.
• * 1.24

  Chass. lib. 2. chap. 14 pag. 121.
• * 1.25

  The Treasure of Histories in the Treat. of Albingen∣ses.
• * 1.26

  Chassing, pag. 126.
• * 1.27

  The Monke of the Valley Sernay. Chap. 33.
• * 1.28

  Chass. pag. 136.
• * 1.29

  1210.
• * 1.30

  The Monk of the Vallies of Sernay, chap. 47. Chass. lib. 3. chap. 7.
• * 1.31

  Termes. The Lord of Tho∣lo in the hist, of his time pa. 459.
• * 1.32

  The Monke of the Valleis Sernay ch. 51. and so for∣ward,
• * 1.33

  La Vaur.
• * 1.34

  Chass. lib. 3. pa. 141. Ologarei in hist. of Foix. pag. 129.
• * 1.35

  Chass. lib. 3. pag. 150.
• * 1.36

  1210.
• * 1.37

  The Treatise of hist. in the treat. of the Albing.
• * 1.38

  Chass. lib. 3. pag. 129.
• * 1.39

  1211.
• * 1.40

  Chas. lib. 3. ch. 14 pa. 162.
• * 1.41

  Chass. lib. 3. chap. 14. pag. 169.
• * 1.42

  The Monke of the Valley Sernay. Chap. 79.
• * 1.43

  Hologoray in his Hist. of Foix. pag. 133.
• * 1.44

  Holag. pag. 133.
• * 1.45

  The Monke of the Valley Sernay, Chap. 67.
• * 1.46

  Ho••agary in his hist. of Foix.
• * 1.47

  The Monke of the Valley Sernay, fol. 113.
• * 1.48

  1 2 1 2.
• * 1.49

  Holagaray in his hist. of Foix
• * 1.50

  The Monke of the Valleis Sernay. Chap. 83.
• * 1.51

  Chass. chap. 17. pag. 177.
• * 1.52

  The Monke of the Valleis Sernay. Chap. 126.
• * 1.53

  The Monke of the Valleis Sernay, chap. 127.
• * 1.54

  The History de Lang. fol. 12.
• * 1.55

  Iudge 20. 1 Sam. 4.
• * 1.56

  2 King. 23
• * 1.57

  1213.
• * 1.58

  Hologaray in his Hist. of Foix, pag. 157.
• * 1.59

  Id••••. fel. 158.
• * 1.60

  The Monke of the Valley Sernay. Chap. 133.
• * 1.61

  Idem. Chap. 152.
• * 1.62

  Chass. lib. 4. Ibid.
• * 1.63

  The Monke of the Valleis Sernay, Chap. 152.
• * 1.64

  1214.
• * 1.65

  See Paulus Aemil. in the life of Philip Ang.
• * 1.66

  The Monke of the Valleis Sernay, chap. 146.
• * 1.67

  The Monke of the Valleis Sernay, chap. 148.
• * 1.68

  1215.
• * 1.69

  The Monke of the Valleis Sernay, Chap. 153.
• * 1.70

  1216.
• * 1.71

  The Monke of the Valleis Sernay, Chap. 161.
• * 1.72

  1217.
• * 1.73

  1218.
• * 1.74

  Noguiers in his Hestory of Toulouze. lib 3. chap. 10.
• * 1.75

  1218.
• * 1.76

  Iudges 9.
• * 1.77

  Chass••lib. 4 c. 11.
• * 1.78

  The Monke of the Valleis Sernay. Chap. 165.
• * 1.79

  Chass. lib. 4. c▪ 11. pag. 222.
• * 1.80

  Holagar••y in his history of Fom. 162.
• * 1.81

  1219.
• * 1.82

  Chass. lib. 4. chap. 13.
• * 1.83

  1220.
• * 1.84

  After the Hi∣storie of the Monke of the valley Sernay.
• * 1.85

  Holaga. pag. 164
• * 1.86

  Inuentory of Serres, in the life of Lewis the eight.
• * 1.87

  1224.
• * 1.88

  1225.
• * 1.89

  The History of Languedoc, sol. 31.
• * 1.90

  1227.
• * 1.91

  1228.
• * 1.92

  Hist of Lang. fol. 33.
• * 1.93

  The Hist. of Lang. fol. 34.
• * 1.94

  These articles are to be foūd in the Bibli∣oth of Peres, Tom. 7.
• * 1.95

  These statutes of the Earle Remond are to be found in the booke of Raemerius, De modo exami∣nands Hereti∣cos. fol. 130.
• * 1.96

  1229.
• * 1.97

  The seuenth Article of the Councell of Toulouze.
• * 1.98

  Holagaray in the life of Ro∣ger Earle of Foix.
• * 1.99

  1234.
• * 1.100

  Matthew Paris history of England, in the yere 1234.
• * 1.101

  1242.
• * 1.102

  1243.
• * 1.103

  The History of Languedoc, Chap. 4. sol. 40.
• * 1.104

  1247.
• * 1.105

  The hist. of Languedoc, fol. 41.
• * 1.106

  1249.
• * 1.107

  1250.
• * 1.108

  In this hist. of the Walden∣ses. ch. 2. lib. 2.
• * 1.109

  1264.
• * 1.110

  1276.
• * 1.111

  1281.