A Discourse on the Albigensian Heresy

...of such a kind that they could apply to any other student of this Lyceum Lyceum: a place of higher learning or university. and of any faculty. I have something else, specific and clearly my own; for I have been engaged for several years now in the study of Church History Church History: the academic study of the history of the Christian Church and its institutions., with what success I do not know, but certainly with no small diligence and the greatest dedication. For that you have especially loved this discipline is testified by your disputations and debates original: "disputationes, & concertationes"; formal academic arguments common in early modern universities. held on these very subjects treated in that faculty; it is testified most of all by the fact that, having once been entrusted as a student to your Predecessor, you undertook with him the care of publishing the Papal Documents Papal Documents: official decrees or charters issued by the Pope, often called "Diplomas" or "Bulls." which concern your Order.

And this, without doubt, must most strongly win you over to me and my studies. For I am engaged in that part of history which, if any other, pertains to the glory and dignity of your religious family. For I am about to speak of the Albigensian Heresy original: "Albigensium Haeresi"; a medieval religious movement in Southern France deemed heretical by the Catholic Church, which led to the Albigensian Crusade in the 13th century., that very one which the most holy author and father of your Order Referring to Saint Dominic (c. 1170–1221), the founder of the Dominican Order, or the "Order of Preachers." attacked with the greatest skill, opposed with incredible constancy, and crushed with admirable success. In the conquering of this heresy, since his most holy sons were called, as if to pursue and complete the war of the Lord, they set a most noble and successful example for the others who would later be summoned to tame and wear down the heresies that followed.

These are the reasons which persuaded me to adopt you as the patron for myself and my studies. I wish I had others that might serve to excuse the fact that, with this mediocrity of talent and this thinness of learning, I did not hesitate to voluntarily undertake and demand so great a burden—a task in which the reputation of this Lyceum and College even seems to be at risk.