Bloody Decree of Ilphonsus, or Alphonsus, King of Aragon, in the Year 1194

"Ilphonsus, by the grace of God, King of Aragon, to all archbishops, bishops, and other prelates of the church of our kingdom; to all earls, viscounts, soldiers, and to all the people in our realm and under our dominion, greeting, and good wishes that the Christian religion may be kept whole.

"Whereas it has pleased God to place us over His people, it is right and just that we should constantly, and according to our ability, care for the safety, happiness and protection of that people; therefore, as faithful successors of our ancestors, and as justly obedient to the ordinances of the church, which have judged it good that the heretics should everywhere be rejected, condemned and persecuted, from the face of God and of all Catholics; namely, the Waldenses or Insabbathi (that is, those who do not keep the Sabbaths or holy days of the Roman church), who call themselves Poor Men of Lyons, and all other heretics, of whom there are so many that they cannot all be counted, who have been excommunicated by the holy church, from our whole realm and dominion, as enemies of the cross of Christ, dishonorers of the Christian religion and of our person, and open enemies of our realm, we command them to depart and flee from our kingdom.

"If from this day on anyone receives these Waldenses and Insabbathi, or other heretics of whatever confession, into his house, or hears their harmful preaching in any place, or gives them food, or dares to show them any other favor, let that person know that he has incurred the disfavor of God and of us, that he is punishable for the crime of leze majesty, and that his goods shall be confiscated without appeal. [n417-1]

"And we command that this our decree and perpetual ordinance shall, in every city, castle and village of our kingdom and jurisdiction, and throughout all the lands of our dominion, be read and presented every Sunday to the people for their observance, by the bishops and other rulers of the church, and by our governors, bailiffs, justiciaries and other magistrates, and that on all offenders the punishment named above shall be inflicted.

"Let it further be known: If any person, noble or commoner, finds any of the heretics named above anywhere in our lands, who, after three days' proclamation, knowing this our decree, do not quickly depart but stubbornly remain; and if he inflicts on them every evil, shame and disgrace, death and maiming alone excepted, he shall have no punishment to fear for it, but shall know that he has much rather earned our favor by it, and that his deed is pleasing and acceptable to us.

"We, however, give these infamous heretics, though beyond what they deserve and against reason, a respite until tomorrow, which is All Saints Day, to leave, or to begin leaving, our land. If after that any still remain, we give to each and all of our subjects full authority to rob and plunder them, to beat them with sticks, and to mistreat them shamefully."

This decree was signed with the seal of Ilphonsus, King of Aragon, as well as with the seal of Bishop Regimund of Terragona, of the Bishop of Tiracisca, and of other bishops. The decree itself was made by William de Bassa, the king's notary, in the year 1194. Abr. Mell., 2nd book, folio 444, A, from Fr. Pegna, Direct. Inquisit., part 2, comment 39. Also, Joan. Maviana Prefdt., in Lucani Tudens. [n417-3]

But what kind of execution followed on this decree of Ilphonsus against the poor Waldenses in the kingdom of Aragon is not easy to know, since it seems that the historians of this century have deliberately passed by the cruelty practiced against them, doubtless because they were ashamed of the matter.