Demonstration of a Plain Distinction Between the Albigenses and Their…

The writer last mentioned, going on to the violence and trouble the Albigenses suffered from the papists, ecclesiastics as well as seculars, mentions Raymond, count of Toulouse, and the count of Turenne, saying: That they went to Peter, the cardinal and legate of the pope, in order that they should kill or slay the heretics (the Albigenses), if these were not converted to the Roman church by the cardinals' preaching. When they had arrived at Toulouse, they made the citizens swear an oath that they would name all the Albigenses they knew. Many of them were now betrayed, and among these also Peter Moranus, one of their chief men. When he was examined, he freely confessed his faith; and he was at once condemned as a heretic, and all his property confiscated. Introduction, page 51, columns 1 and 2, from Baron., in the year 1178, number 2.

NOTE. From the eight arguments mentioned above, but especially from this last demonstration, it appears beyond dispute that a great distinction must be made between the Albigenses and their magistrates, as well as the citizens among whom they lived in the cities; so that whenever resistance, war or conflict is spoken of, in which the inhabitants of this or that city or place engaged, it is to be understood throughout of the magistrates and their soldiers, who guarded those cities or places, and also of the common citizens; but not of the true Albigenses, since these, according to their faith, as has already been sufficiently stated, exercised no revenge or resistance against anyone, but lived peaceably under their magistrates, to whom they also paid their taxes, as was proper.

However, so that we may not give offense to our fellow believers, if any should hold a different opinion in this matter, although we have explained it sufficiently, we shall bring forward the chief confessors who suffered in the besieged cities for the doctrine of the Albigensian religion, not as infallible witnesses, but as incidental matters; which the kind reader will please regard as having been done by us from no other motive than Christian prudence.