OF THE FIRST DECREE OF EMPEROR FREDERIC II., AGAINST THE DEFENSELESS ALBIGENSES AND WALDENSES, ABOUT A. D., 1230.
Mellinus relates, from Abraham Bzovius, who completed the _Annals of Baronius_, that Emperor Frederic II., at the request of Pope Gregory IX., issued his decrees against the Albigenses; however, under different names given them by the Emperor, saying: ”(_Petr. de Veneis lib. 1, epist. 27._) Here commence the chapters or articles of the constitution of the Emperor against the Patarini (Waldenses). He then adds some other names which do not properly belong here.
“Men, as well as women, whatever name they may bear, we sentence to perpetual infamy, that neither oath nor faith shall be kept towards them; but we banish them, and order that their goods be confiscated, never more to be returned to them.
“We likewise ordain by this decree that all officers, burgomasters, and rulers, in whatever office they may be, shall, for the defense of the faith, publicly swear an oath that they will, in good faith, and to the best of their ability, endeavor to expel from the districts under their jurisdiction, all heretics indicated to them by the church.
“But if any temporal lord, having been requested and admonished thereto by the church, shall be found negligent in purging his land from heretical wickedness, let him be warned that, one year after the admonition, we shall give his land for a prey to all Catholics, who, after they shall have driven out the heretics, shall possess the same without molestation, and preserve it in the purity of the (Catholic) faith.
“We also banish those who believe (the Waldenses and Albigenses), or receive them into their cities or houses, protect or favor them, ordaining: That if any one having been noted as being in communion with these believers, does not satisfy the church within a year, he shall be considered infamous from that time on.
“We add here that one heretic may convict another, and that the houses of ..., or of their harborers, protectors, and favorers, or where they have taught or imposed hands upon other, shall be demolished, never to be rebuilt. Given.”