CHAP. III.

Peter Waldo of Lyons not the founder of the Vaudois Church-he opposes the Romish errors and corruptions-translates the Scriptures-is excommunicated -flies to Bohemia-the Waldenses are persecuted-edict issued against them by Pope Alexander-their increase-establishment of the Inquisition-progress of that iniquitous court-the Waldenses are the first objects of its cruelty-sufferings of the Albigensesthey are protected by Raymond, Count of Toulouseproceedings of Innocent against Raymond-first Crusade against the Albigenses-dreadful slaughter of these faithful servants of Christ-treachery and cruelty of the Crusaders-total destruction of the inhabitants of Beziers-siege of Carcassone-cruelty of the Earl of Montfort.

ABOUT the year 1160, Peter Waldo, a rich merchant of Lyons, attached himself to the

Waldenses*, at a period, happily, when the Papal hierarchy began to put its threats in execution against all who questioned its infallibility. The extensive mercantile engagements of this great and good man, gave ample opportunities of conversation with strangers on the idolatries of the Romish Church: and his influence and riches enabled him with more boldness to take a decided part in opposing its usurped authority. Having clearly seen, from a careful perusal of the Scriptures, the only way of salvation through faith in the righteousness of Christ, he was exceedingly desirous of communicating the same knowledge of divine truth to others. For this purpose he abandoned his mercantile pursuits, distributed his wealth among the poor; and, while they flocked to him to partake of his alms, he laboured to impress upon their minds the

* From what has been already stated, it must be evident that Peter Waldo was not the founder of the Waldensian Church. He was indeed, as we shall immediately see, its great patron and supporter, but from no part of his history can it be gathered that its origin is to be ascribed to him. We do not meet with his name in history previous to the year 1160, whereas it has been shown that the Church of Piedmont was separated from that of Rome long before that period, and its members well known by the name of Waldenses.

paramount importance of eternal concerns.

But

the ardent desire of Waldo to instruct the ignorant, did not stop here. The Vulgate Latin Bible was the only edition of the Scriptures at that time in Europe, and very few of the people being capable of reading it, this zealous reformer was led either to translate it himself, or procure it to be translated, into the vulgar tongue; thus having the honour of being the first who gave the word of God to the people in any modern language of Europe.* He also maintained, at his own expense, several persons who were einployed to recite and expound his translation to the people; and hence, most probably, proceeded the opinion that he was the founder of the Waldenses,-an opinion which the Roman Catholics were glad to encourage; for it has ever been their object to represent the Waldenses as a sect of recent date, and to vindicate the antiquity of their own superstitions.

Being thus provided with copies of the Scrip

It was not the whole of the sacred volume, however, but parts of it only, which were at this time translated into the French language. The first entire Bible in the French language was translated and printed by Robert Olivetan, a native of the valleys, at Neufchatel, about the year 1535.

tures in their own language, the opponents of the Romish hierarchy were encouraged to declare themselves with greater boldness, and enabled to prove that the doctrines of their adversaries were in direct opposition to the divine word. The consequences of this may be easily imagined. So long as Waldo and his friends confined themselves to mere declamation against the errors of the Papal See, the thunders of Rome were suspended; but so soon as they employed that invincible engine, the Scriptures in the vulgar tongue, they were immediately anathematized and excommunicated. The Archbishop of Lyons had already, in 1172, peremptorily forbidden the new reformer "to teach any more, on pain of excommunication, and of being proceeded against as an heretic ;" and Waldo having replied, "that, though a layman, he could not be silent in a matter which concerned the salvation of his fellow creatures," Pope Alexander III. anathematized him and his adherents, and commanded the Archbishop to proceed against him with the utmost rigour. Waldo was therefore compelled to leave Lyons; and so fierce was the rage of the Romish adherents against him, that he had to become a

wanderer for the rest of his life. He took refuge at first in Dauphiny, with an intention, probably, of finding his way to the secluded. valleys of Pragela or Angrogna, among the Waldenses of Piedmont. But finding that to be impossible, from the rage of persecution in those places through which he had to pass, he retired for a short time to Picardy, where his labours were attended with the most abundant success. Being driven also from thence, he proceeded to Germany, carrying with him the glad tidings of salvation; and at length he settled at Bohemia, where he died, after having been engaged for nearly twenty years in publicly instructing the people. His doctrines, which were evidently those of the Bible, spread extensively in Alsace, along the Rhine, and in many other places; and appear to have so harmonized with those of the Waldenses in the valleys of Piedmont, that, not without reason, they and his followers were henceforward considered the same.

Enraged at the rapid spread of doctrines which struck at the very root of Popery, the supporters of that Antichristian system had recourse to fire and sword, as the surest method of ridding themselves of adversaries so danger

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