Of the extent to which they spread in the countries of Europe, Benedict thus speaks:—
“In the thirteenth century, from the accounts of Catholic historians, all of whom speak of the Waldenses in terms of complaint and reproach, they had founded individual churches, or were spread out in colonies in Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Bohemia, Poland, Lithuania, Albania, Lombardy, Milan, Romagna, Vicenza, Florence, Veleponetine, Constantinople, Philadelphia, Sclavonia, Bulgaria, Diognitia, Livonia, Sarmatia, Croatia, Dalmatia, Briton and Piedmont.”[883]
And Dr. Edgar gives the words of an old historian as follows:—
“The Waldensians, says Popliner, spread, not only through France, but also through nearly all the European coasts, and appeared in Gaul, Spain, England, Scotland, Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Saxony, Poland, and Lithuania.”[884]
According to the testimony of their enemies, they were to some extent divided among themselves. Dr. Allix quotes an old Romish writer who says of that portion of them who were called Cathari:—
“They are also divided amongst themselves; so what some of them say is again denied by others.”[885]
And Crosby makes a similar statement:—
“There were several sects of Waldenses or Albigenses, like as there are of Dissenters in England. Some of these did deny all baptism, others only the baptism of infants. That many of them were of this latter opinion, is affirmed in several histories of this people, as well ancient as modern.”[886]
Some of their enemies affirm that they reject the Old Testament; but others, with much greater truthfulness, bear a very different testimony.[887] Thus a Romish inquisitor, as quoted by Allix, bears testimony concerning those in Bohemia:—