It was not until the twelfth century that the Waldenses, and other heretical parties, appear in history as a people exposed to the persecuting edicts of Rome. And even then it seems to have been occasioned, in a great measure, by the great success that crowned the labours of Peter Waldo, whose followers first obtained the name of Leonists, or Poor Men of Lyons; and who, when persecuted, fled to the mountains, and became incorporated with the other inhabitants of the valleys. By this means, the Waldenses were brought into collision with the power of Rome, who, arming against them the civil authorities, proceeded to consummate their destruction and extirpation. At this time it appears, that under the protection and through the connivance of the Counts of Toulouse, the Viscount of Beziers, and many others of the French nobility, a score of the principal cities in Languedoc, Provence, and Dauphiny, were filled with the different heretical parties. But the civil power, and even the more summary efforts of the Inquisition, appear to have been too slow in their operations to meet the wishes of papal vengeance, although persecuted under the agency of Dominic, the chief inquisitor. The Pope was dissatisfied—new schemes were projected, apparently more mild and conciliatory, but under this pleasing exterior was concealed the most abominable treachery. The papal legates proposed holding a public debate, in which the points at issue between the parties should be decided by amicable arbitration. To this reasonable offer the unsuspecting brethren readily consented. The place of conference agreed upon was Montreal, near Carcassone. Two umpires were appointed from each side; those of the Catholics were the Bishops of Villeneuse and Auxerre, and those of the opposite party, R. de Bot and Anthony Riviere. On the part of the Albigenses, a number of the pastors were appointed to manage the debate, of whom the principal was Arnold Hot. He first arrived at the appointed place, accompanied by a number of his friends. He was met on behalf of the papacy, by a bishop named Eusas, the renowned Dominic, two legates of the Pope, and several others of the Catholic clergy. According to Catholic historians, who are very concise and remarkably unanimous in their accounts of this celebrated conference, the points which Arnold undertook to prove were, that the sacrament of the mass was idolatry, that the baptism of infants was unscriptural, that the festivals of the church were heathen appointments,[31] and, finally, that the Pope was Antichrist, and the Church of Rome the harlot mentioned in Revelations. In maintenance of these points, Arnold drew up certain propositions, which he transmitted to the bishop, who required two weeks to answer them, which was granted. At the appointed time the bishop appeared, and read his reply in the public assembly. Arnold requested permission to make a verbal answer, only entreating their patient hearing if he took a considerable time in