Volume 2

The ceremonies and religious customs of the various nations of the known world. Together with historical annotations, and several curious discourses... / Written originally in French, and illustrated with a large number of folio copper plates ... designed by Mr. Bernard Picart ... Faithfully translated into English, by a gentleman some time since of St. John's College in Oxford.

Date:
1733-1739
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The ceremonies and religious customs of the various nations of the known world. Together with historical annotations, and several curious discourses... / Written originally in French, and illustrated with a large number of folio copper plates ... designed by Mr. Bernard Picart ... Faithfully translated into English, by a gentleman some time since of St. John's College in Oxford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    273/460 (page 225)
    fome other Calamity, he had lèverai fine Tracts of Ground given him, of which the other had been difpoflëffed ; and at the fame Time was allured, that whatever Conquefts he might gain over the Albigcnfès, a confiderable Part of them Ihould be his own. This new-created General of the Church, although animated by Prelènts of fo va¬ luable a Nature, and by Promifes that flattered equally his Intereft and Ambition, was, neverthelefs, fome Time before he attempted any Thing ; by which means the Albigen- Jes had an Opportunity of recovering and fortifying themfelves. He was a brave Man, had great Experience, was active, and, to crown all, was attended by good Fortune ; but the CruJadoSy who had made a V ow to ferve only forty Days, withdrew themfelves at the Expiration of that Time. The 3 Year following, his Lady and his Adherents brought a ftrong Body of Crufa- dos to his Afiiftance: Thelè he employ’d with great Condudt and Succefs, and by their Help reduced all fuch Places as refufed to fubmit to him. The ftrong Caftle of Menerbey which had firft dared to refill: the Power of his Arms, was the find that was carried by Force, and all its Inhabitants were put to the Sword, The City of Lavaur met after¬ wards with the fame Fate; it was belieged, taken, and facked, and the Slaughter here was as general as at Menerbe. Count de Montfort fucceeded in all his Enterprizes, Vic¬ tory followed him wherever he went, and all Things feem’d to confpire the Ruin of the Albigenfes, when two very unexpected Events had like to have recovered them all they had loft, and to have ruined the Catholic Party. Raymond Count of Fouloufe was gone to Rome, in order to reconcile himfelf to the Pope, which he effected. Among other Conditions, he was required to drive the Albi- genfes out of his Territories. This he gave his Word to do ; but being returned to his Dominions, and called upon to perform his Promife, he firft had Recourfe to Delays ; but afterwards finding he had no farther Excufe to make, he declared in exprefs Terms, he could never prevail upon himfelf to do it, fince he Ihould thereby be forced to de¬ populate his Country. Upon this Refufal the Pope’s Legate excommunicated him, and commanded Count de Montfort to declare War againft him. Count de Foix was included in the lame De¬ claration, and Promile was made to the General of the Church, that he Ihould be in- vefted with the Demefnes of thofe two Princes, in cafe he could diipoflèfs them thereof. Count de Montfort encouraged by thefe mighty Promiles, which were capable of fatisfy- ing a yet more ambitious Mind than his, fince they tended to make himabfolute Sovereign of the greateft Part of the South of France, immediately took the Field. He foon became Mafter of every Hold or Place that was not capable of making a vigorous De¬ fence. He forced the two Counts to quit the Field, and to throw themfelves into the ftrong Holds, in order to defend them ; but as the beft fortified Place muft at laft fur- render when unaffifted by an Army in the Field, the Ruin of thefe two Princes was in¬ evitable, had it not been prevented by an unforefeen Accident. 4 \ The King of Arragon, who hitherto had either endeavour’d to mediate a Peace be¬ tween both Parties, or fided with the Crufados ; whether it were that he could not bear to fee the Count of Toulouje his Brother-in-Law ftripp’d of his Dominions, or that he thought it his Duty not to fuffer the Count de Foix, who was his Vaffal, to be oppref- fed ; or from an inward Difcontent, at his having been forgot in the Divifion propo- fed to be made of the Spoils of thefe two Princes ; declared in their Favour, at a Time when it was leaft expe&ed, and abandoned Count de Montfort. * a )2IO« This /