About 200. years ago, this people is said to come out of the country of Piedmont, to inhabit in Provence, in certain villages destroyed by wars, and other desert places, wherein they used such labour, and diligence, that they had abundance of corn, wine, oil, almonds, with other fruits. They had of long time refused the Bishop of Romes authority, and observed ever a more perfect kind of doctrine, then others, (delivered unto them from the Father to the son) ever since the year 1200. In the year 1530. §1530understanding that the Gospel was preached in certain towns of Germany, and Switzerland, they sent thither two learned men, that is, Georgius Maurellus, 1borne in Delph, and Petrus Latomus, 2a Burgundian, to confer with the learned ministers in the doctrine of the Gospel. Which done, as they returned through Burgundy, Petrus Latomus was taken at Dijon, and cast into prison: Maurellus escaped, and returned to Merindoll, with books and letters, which he brought with him from the churches of Germany: Whereby they being instructed, sent for the most ancient brethren, and chiefest in knowledge in all Calabria, and Apulia, to consult with them, touching the reformation of the Church. Whereby the Bishops were so moved, that they raged greatly against them. Among other, there was one John de Roma, a Monk, who was most cruel:3 and among other his cruelties, he used to examine them ⟨p. 481⟩thus: he filled boots with boiling grease, and put the boots upon their legs, tying them backward to a form, with their legs hanging down over a small fire, and so examined them: thus he tormented very many, and in the end most cruelly put them to death. The first whom he thus tormented, were Michellotus Serra, 4and William Melius, 5with a number mo. But Gods vengeance fell heavily upon him, for first he was condemned for this cruelty, by the high court of parliament of Provence: and avoiding that sentence by flying to Avignon, he was stricken with such a horrible disease, that no man durst come nigh him, alive or dead. He did so horribly stink when he was dead, there was none would come near him to bury him, but a young novice newly come to his order, caught hold with an hook upon his stinking carrion, and drew him into a hole, which was made for him hard by.
ABout 200. yéeres ago, this people is said to come out of the coūtry of Piedmount, to inhabit in Prouence, in certaine villages destroyed by warres, and other desert places, wherein they vsed such labour, and diligence, that they had aboundance of corne, wine, oyle, almondes, with other fruits. They had of long time refused the Bishoppe of Romes authoritie, and obserued euer a more perfect kind of doctrine, then others, (deliuered vnto them from the Father to the sonne) euer since the yéere 1200. In the yéere 1530. §1530vnderstanding that the Gospel was preached in certaine townes of Germany, and Switzerland, they sent thither two learned men, that is, Georgius Maurellus, 1borne in Delph, and Petrus Latomus, 2a Burgundian, to conferre with the learned ministers in the doctrine of the Gospell. Which done, as they returned through Burgundie, Petrus Latomus was taken at Dyion, and cast into prison: Maurellus escaped, and returned to Merindoll, with bookes and letters, which he brought with him from the churches of Germanie: Whereby they being instructed, sent for the moste auncient brethren, and chéefest in knowledge in all Calabria, and Apulia, to consult with them, touching the reformation of the Church. Whereby the Bishops were so mooued, that they raged greatly against them. Among other, there was one Iohn de Roma, a Monk, who was most cruell:3 and among other his cruelties, he vsed to examine them ⟨p. 481⟩thus: he filled bootes with boyling greace, and put the bootes vpon their legges, tying them backeward to a forme, with their legges hanging downe ouer a small fire, and so examined them: thus he tormented very many, and in the end most cruelly put them to death. The first whom hée thus tormented, were Michellotus Serra, 4and William Melius, 5with a number mo. But Gods vengeance fell heauily vpon him, for first he was condemned for this crueltie, by the high court of parlement of Prouence: and auoiding that sentence by flying to Auinion, he was stroken with such a horrible disease, that no man durst come nigh him, aliue or dead. He did so horribly stinke whē he was dead, there was none would come néere him to burie him, but a yoong nouice newly come to his order, caught hold with an hooke vpon his stinking carrion, and drew him into a hole, which was made for him harde by.
- 1Georgius Maurellus.
- 2P. Latomus.
- 3A cruel monk.
- 4Michellotus Serra.
- 5Will. Melius. The vengeance of God.Wil. Melius. The vengeance of God.
