Twelfth Century
Testimony of Ancient Writers, Regarding the Virtuous Life of the Waldenses
Above all things it is astonishing that the most violent opponents of the Waldenses, who accused them the most on account of their faith, could nevertheless find nothing to censure in their life, even though great attention was given to this point. It is true that some, out of deadly hatred against these people, spread many lies in order to tarnish their reputation; but they were immediately contradicted by their own associates, who had somewhat more regard for the truth.
Jacob de Riberia, who allowed himself to be used as a persecutor of the Waldenses, says: "That for a long time they lived in Narbonne, or Gaule Narbonnoise, in the bishoprics of Albi, Rhodes, Cahors, and Aix la Chapelle; and that at that time those who wished to be called ecclesiastics and bishops were held in little esteem, because nearly all those priests were either unworthy or illiterate. So it was easy for the Waldenses, he says, to gain the ascendancy among the people by their eminent learning." Hist. of the Wald., first part, first book, chapter 5, page 21, from Jac. Rib., in his account of the city of Toulouse. Chassagnon, in his History of the Albigenses, page 27.
Reinerius, a Dominican friar and cruel inquisitor against the Waldenses, trying to defame them because they often read the holy Scriptures, said: That when the Waldenses wanted to display their learning, they brought forward many things about purity, humility, and other virtues, showing that sin must be shunned, and quoting for this the words of Christ and His apostles.
He also adds that they taught, from the Gospel and the writings of the apostles, what the followers or disciples of Christ must be like, saying: "That those alone are followers of the apostles who follow their lives." In conclusion he says: "That the pope, the bishops, and the clergy, who possess the riches of this world and do not follow the holiness of the apostles, are no rulers of the church of Jesus Christ." Same page, from Reinerius' book, De forma Heret., folio 98.
Their extraordinary virtue is also very plain from Reinerius' tract on the manners of the Waldenses; indeed, it is astonishing how well this writer, who had no other intention than to say the worst of them, indeed, to brand them as heretics, set out their virtue, so that the papists should rightly feel ashamed over it; for these are the words of the man who was their inquisitor: "It can also be seen from their manners and their words that they are heretics; for their manners are modest and grave; they show no pride in their clothing, for they wear neither costly nor very shabby clothing; they engage in no commerce; they avoid lying, swearing, and cheating, but support themselves by the labor of their hands, as craftsmen. Their teachers are weavers and shoemakers, who do not heap up great riches, but are content with the necessities of life. The Lyonists (the Waldenses) are also chaste, temperate in eating and drinking, and do not frequent taverns, and so on." Bapt. Hist., pages 646, 647.
Concerning the way the Waldenses prayed, the following is found in an ancient papist book: "The Waldenses keep this manner in praying: they bow down with bent knees upon the ground, leaning against a bench or something suitable for this purpose. So, with bent knees and body bowed down, they usually continue in prayer as long as it would take to repeat the Lord's prayer and the amen thirty or forty times. This they do every day with great reverence." Again: "They say, teach, or have no other prayer than the Lord's prayer, or the paternoster. The angelic Salutation, or the Ave Maria, they condemned." Bapt. Hist., page 647.
Among other things, the ancients mention some of the Waldenses who are called apostles, teachers, angels, and brothers; but who nevertheless received their names not because of their nobility, high birth, or great worldly learning, but, to all appearance, on account of their virtue. For as to their birth and their standing in this world, they were very humble; their names were: Nicholas of Poland; John of Poland, a peasant's son; Walrich of Hardeck, a shoemaker by trade; Conrad of Gmund, in Suabia, a peasant's son; Simon of Salig, in Hungary, a tailor by trade; Herman of Mistelgen, a peasant's son, and a blacksmith by trade.
"But," says the writer who accuses them, "they lead this kind of life and walk; first, they fast three or four days in the week, living on bread and water unless they have to do very hard work; then the chief among them see to it that their subjects appear before them. (If by the terms chief and subjects are meant teachers and common people, or master tradesmen and servants, or the like, there is no ambiguity.) They pray seven times a day; the oldest (among them) begins the prayer." Bapt. Hist., page 649.
These and similar testimonies about the virtues of the Waldenses, even from their bitterest accusers, show that they were very merciful, virtuous, and God-fearing people, and that they were therefore greatly slandered by those who tried to maintain the opposite about them. But how unjustly some have proceeded in accusing these people, with regard to their faith as well as to their life, of this we will presently give some account.