The Views of the Ancient Waldenses Against

WAR

Their departure from Lyons, their wandering about in foreign countries and cities, their innocent and patient suffering, their steadfastness to death, and all this without any resistance, retaliation, or self-defense, showed plainly enough what faith they had, and by what spirit they were moved.

But in order to treat this subject properly, we will add here what they believed in this matter, and what they stated, either themselves or in the name of others.

In an old parchment book, thought to have been written three hundred years ago by a certain priest called Reinerius, various matters are brought as charges against the Waldenses, which he, in one place, groups under three articles, each of which he then divides into sections. In the tenth section he says, "That the pope and all the bishops are murderers, because of the war that they carry on." Bapt. Hist., page 617. B. Lydius, 3. Tract of the Faith of the Waldenses, page 85, column 1, Article 10.

This he gives as an article of the faith of the Waldenses, calling it, however, an error or heresy; but how can he, who has not learned otherwise, speak differently?

Jean Paul Perrin Lionnoys, or his translator, also charges the Waldenses with the following, which agrees well with what goes before: "Seventhly, (he says) that they (the Waldenses) held that the pope commits mortal sin when he sends men out to make war upon the Turks; and that those likewise commit mortal sin who obey him in waging war against the heretics." History of the Waldenses, first part, first book, chapter 3, page 6, column 1.

Who cannot see that this article of the Waldenses opposes war and everything that can be called warfare? Indeed, in such a way that it does not allow it at all.

For if one should look for a just cause to wage war, how could he find one more just than against the Turks? However, it is unjust against all men; but we speak by way of comparison. How could one find greater reason to wage war than against those whom he considers heretics? For of such it was customary to say that they were worse than murderers, since murderers kill only the body, but these, it was said, kill souls. Nevertheless the Waldenses reproved the pope for such action, indeed, declared that by it he committed mortal sin; and so did those who allowed themselves to be used as instruments by the pope for this purpose.

What the translator adds (book 1, part 1, Hist. Wald., chapter 4, page 11) by way of explanation, though it serves much more to obscure the matter, we pass by, as unworthy of consideration, and as something that will fall of its own accord.

Indeed, it seems that the Waldenses not only held that they themselves might not wage war or kill anyone, but that they also denied the right of secular authorities who wanted to be called Christians to kill, even if the persons they should put to death were criminals. Concerning this, we find in P. J. Twisck's Chronijk that the "Poor Men," "Insabbathi," or "Waldenses," taught that no judge who would be a "Christian" might put anyone to death, not even a criminal. Chron., page 534, column 2, and page 535, column 1, from Chron. Seb. Fr., folio 202, and Aeneas Sylvius. [n385-2]

Moreover, in the account of Gabriel Prateolus and Guilielmo Reginaldus, who have noted down the accusations regarding the doctrine of the Waldenses, this charge is also found against them: Article 17. "They (the Waldenses) teach that no judge may condemn anyone to any punishment; and to this end they bring forward what is written: 'Judge not, that you be not judged.'" A. Mell., second book, folio 434, column 1, Elench. Haeres., Title Paup. de Lugd. Calvin Turcismi, book 2, chapter 5. [n385-3]

As for what G. Prateolus and G. Reginaldus add by way of accusation, we let them answer for it. It is enough for us that in this they came very near the truth; but they went too far with what the Waldenses understood about capital punishment, namely, that authorities may punish no one with death. This they applied to every kind of punishment, as though the Waldenses had censured the authorities for punishing anyone, even a great offender, in any way; and we are not aware that the Waldenses ever opposed this in any formal article, unless some individual among them held such views.

In the meantime it appears, from the last testimony as well as from those before it, how exceedingly afraid these people were of punishing anyone with death; so that they not only wanted to be clear of it themselves, but also spoke against it in the secular authorities. Still more did they reprove open warfare, in which not only a few but very many are killed, and this for trifling reasons. Since this is so, we will go on to other points of their faith, which they had in common with the Baptists.

NOTE. That the Albigenses also, who were one with the Waldenses, were defenseless, peaceable, and meek people, living quietly under certain papistic authorities, who protected them. See, among others, Introduction, page 50, column 2, and page 51, column 1, from Baron. in Annal.