Waldensians

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

or Waldenses, a body of reforming French Christians. They took their name from Peter Waldo, a merchant of Lyons, who became a reformer and preacher about 1170. Waldo appears to have troubled himself less with the doctrines of the church than with abuses that had crept in. Himself wealthy, he gave all that he had to the poor. He caused the four Gospels to be translated into French for the use of the common people. Later he and his followers denied the authority of the church and were driven to take refuge in the Alpine country on the border line between Italy and France. They were detested by the various popes as teachers of false doctrines and were dreaded by various monarchs as teachers of dangerous theory. At the instigation of local enemies they were subjected to horrible persecution. The tale of atrocities, the butchering of women and children, sounds more like an account of an Indian massacre than like Christian warfare. Not to mention lesser persecutions, Francis I ordered their extermination in 1541. In 1685, at the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Louis XIV ordered them to accept Catholicism or leave. In 1689 they were able to repulse an army of 22,000 Frenchmen. From time to time influential friends were not wanting. Milton interested Cromwell in their welfare. William, Prince of Orange, interceded for them. The sect has persisted to the present day. They are Calvinists. A Presbyterian form of church government has been adopted, They are a simple people engaged chiefly in the cultivation of vineyards and the rearing of cattle. They number about 20,000. They reside within the borders of Italy but speak the French language. See Albigenses