ANOTHER PERSECUTION OF THESE PEOPLE IN THE

PRINCIPALITY OF MECKLENBURG, NEAR

MOOREN, A. D. 1509

A. D. 1509, old writers state, that the aforementioned old Waldenses, on account of the envy of the pope and papists, could no longer.enjoy their liberty in confessing and practicing their true belief, in the principality of Mecklenburg, near Mooren. See the last-mentioned chronicle, page 937,col. 2, ex Catal. Test., fol. 902.

NOTE. A. D. 1509.-At this time, Nicholas Rus vigorously taught and wrote against the pope, saying: 1. That letters of indulgence were nothing but subtle deceptions to rob the plain and simple people of their money. 2. That the pope does not have as much power as people suppose. 3. That the popes, cardinals, bishops, and prelates were leading lascivious lives, etc. 4. That saints ought not to be invoked.* This Nicholas had many hearers in the principality of Mecklenburg, but from necessity, because of the papists, was soon compelled to leave the place. He went to Wismar, but there also he had no abiding place. See the authors last mentioned, for the year 1509.

A. D. 1510.-Bernhard Liblinensis taught and wrote at this time: 1. That it is impossible that the whole world should obey a single man, as is the pope. 2. That the popes themselves were not of one mind; for the one prohibits that which another has instituted to be observed. 3. That therefore it is sufficient to believe in Christ, and to obey Him alone. Chron. van den Ondergang, page 939, eol. 2, compared with Catal. Test., fol. 911. However, what befell him as punishment from the pope on this account, is not stated.

A. D. 1512.-John Picus, John Hilton, and others, vigorously spoke at this time against the abuses of popery, severely reproving their (the popes) life, deeds, and doctrine. However, what they suf-

*This fourth article the writers enumerate as the third.