Chassanion writes, that when the Count of Montfort had taken the city of Chastelnau d’Ari, fifty persons were found in it, who would rather be burnt alive than return to the papistic religion. Compare Chassau., lib. 3, cap. 16, with A. Mell., 2d book, fol. 457, col. 1.
OVER FOUR HUNDRED PERSONS CALLED INDUTI, OR ALBIGENSES, BURNT FOR THEIR FAITH, AT LAVAUR, OR VAURUM, A. D. 1211.
Previously we stated, that the Albigenses, whose confession we showed to be good and Scriptural, were called by various names. Besides those names already explained, they were also called Induti, or Vestiti, that is, the clothed, or covered, either because they had to cover or conceal themselves on account of persecution, or for some other reason.
This, at least, is certain, that they are compared by Mellinus, 2d book, page 443, col. 3, to the Albigenses, called Perfecti; who were also styled, as he shows, Boni homines, that is, good men, because they, as it seems, were good and upright in their walk. Very many of these good, upright, and not less believing people, were burnt for the faith, as heretics, suffering it innocently and patiently, in the city of Lavaur, also called Vaurum, about the year 1211. Their number, according to ancient chronicles, amounted to over four hundred.
Nicholas Bertrand quotes the following from the papistic chronicle of William de Podio Laurentii: “Simon, count of Montfort, hastened with the Lord’s (the Roman Pope’s) army, to lay siege to the fortress or city, of Vaurum, which Amerius, lord of Montreal and Laurack, brother of the lady Geralda, had undertaken to defend for her sake. Within there was no small number of those heretics called Induti, who did not always reside there, but had congregated at that time from distant countries.”
“The army of God, therefore,” he writes, (namely, the army of the Pope) “encompassed the fortress, or city, and gave the besieged no rest night and day. Those within perceiving, . . . surrendered unconditionally to the beleaguers.”
He then goes on to relate how they dealt with those who had guarded the city, or fortress, and coming then to the abovementioned people who, to live according to their faith, had resided quietly and peaceably among the other inhabitants, he says: “The heretics called Induti, that is, clothed, about three hundred, others write, over four hundred, he caused to be burned alive. Nich. Bertrand de Gest. Tholosan., fol. 27. The lives of the common people, however, were spared upon certain conditions.
A large fire was made of wood, says Robert Altissiodorensis, and the choice was given to all, either to turn from their errors (so he speaks, after the manner of the papists), or to be burnt alive; whereupon a great number, over four hundred, as stated, were found who were so obstinate in their error (as he calls their true faith) that they would rather be burnt than confess the Roman Catholic faith. Chronol., page 106. Also A. Mell., 2d book, fol. 456, col. 2, 3.
Commencement Proper of the History of The Martyrs of This Century.