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into Times past, and evidently shews, by many convincing Proofs, this terrible Contagion before us, is the heavy Rod of an over-ruling Power, to chastise these People for their former barbarous Persecutions.
For, from Pontius Pilate the Governor of Jerusalem, and our Saviour's Judge, a Native of Vienne in Dauphiné, (whose House they still show to Strangers, at present possess'd by private Families) they have continued down almost to these present Times, to crucify their Christian Brethren.
The Waldenses, and Albigenses, were the first of these Provinces that suffer'd for the Truth and Purity of their Doctrine; and tho', at Times, they had destroy'd above a Million of them, yet there still arose others, to promote and ripen those early Seeds of Reformation; whose Opinions, after some Ages, were brought into England by John Wickliff, thro' the Affinity between the Kings of England and the Earls of Tholouse, and the Neighbourhood of their Territories to Guienne, then in English Hands.
The following Persecutions in these Southern Parts of France, were under Charles the Ninth; where, in a few Days, they destroy'd a Hundred Thousand People: At what Time, the said King founded, and richly endow'd, an Hospital in the City of Arles, (one of the present infected Places in Provence) in Consideration of their active
