"In the year of our Lord 1163," says the papistic writer Orithemius,"certain heretics of the sect called Cathari," (by which are understood the Waldenses, whose confession of faith we have above shown not to be at variance with the Anabaptists of the present day),"came from Flanders to Cologne, and there secretly abode in a certain barn, near the city. But as they did not come to church, even on Sundays, they were detected by those living near them. Having been brought to an examination therefore, by our mother, the holy church (he means Roman church), they were found to be confirmed heretics." Orith. Chron. Hirsaug. With this he closes. And hence in order to explain the matter more fully, we must of necessity have recourse to papistic writers, though they were the adversaries of these people.
ECBERT'S ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS OF THESE PEO PLE, AS OPPOSED TO THE ROMAN CHURCH
Concerning them, Ecbert, a monk of Schonaugh, who himself disputed with them, writes thus, "Behold, certain perverted, and perverting men (thus he calls good Christians), who had concealed themselves for a long time in hiding places, and had corrupted the Christian faith in many plain and simple people, are at this time so greatly multiplied throughout all the lands, that the Christian church suffers great injury from the very pernicious poison (so he calls the truth of the Gospel) which they everywhere vent against her." Serm. 8, contra Catharos, T. 2. Auctor. Bybl. S. S. Patrum, edition Paris, A. D. 1610, p. 831.
TRITHEMIUS' ACCOUNT OF THEIR EXAMINATION, AND DISPUTATION WITH ECBERT; ALSO OF THEIR DEATH
