MANY GOD-FEARING PEOPLE PUT TO DEATH, IN FLANDERS, ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR VIEWS AGAINST THE ROMAN CHURCH, BY THE COUNT OF ALSACE, A. D. 1182

Magister** John Andriess, P. J. Twisck, H. Montanus, and various other authentic writers, unanimously state, that A. D. 1182, there were put to death, by Count Philip of Alsace, many Christians, who were called heretics because they contemned infant baptism, the sacrament of the altar, and the sacrifice of the mass, etc. See 1. Andr., in his History of the Antiquity of the Faith, letter E. P..I. Twisek, Chron., page 489. H. Montanus, Nietigh., p. 86. Also, Hist. Mart. der Doopsg., A. 8. Also, Martyrs Mirror, printed A. D. 1631, Introduction, p. 52.

MANY CHRISTIANS BURNT IN FLANDERS, A. D. 1183, AND VERY MANY PUT TO DEATH IN OTHER PLACES

For the year 1183 we read of many more such people, who were called publicans (of which name we have already spoken) and whom Philip, Count of Flanders, and William, Archbishop of Rheims, caused, most unmercifully, to be burnt.

Concerning this, Rigordus, an ancient historian of those times, writes as follows for said year, "At this time, very many heretics (thus this papistic writer calls the true Christians), were burnt in Flanders, by the reverend bishop of Rheims, cardinal priest of the title of Sancta Sabina, Legate of the Pope, and by Philip, the illustrious count of Flanders, Rig., p. 168, edit. Weehelian., "The same year," says the above author,"over seven thousand Cottarelli (thus he calls the pious witnesses of Jesus, also called Waldenses and Albigenses), were slain in the province of Bourges, by

* The reader must know that the writers who have given vent in this most odious manner to said testimonies respecting the holy martyrs, were papists.

* Master, or sir; a title of the middle ages, equivalent to the modern title of doctor. he inhabitants of the land, who all united against them, as against the enemies of God.";

Notice here, that they must all have been defenseless people, since so great a number suffered themselves to be put to death by so few people as there were at that time in the small province of Bourges; however, we leave this to God.

The same writer adds also this, "In the same year, Pope Lucius condemned as heretics those who in Italy were called Humilitani, and in France, Poor Men of Lyons (the Albigenses and Waldenses), whereupon, as may well be supposed, no small persecution took place in those hot times.