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    ^ iftd ^ f m ; o ^ or wtifc i ^| Iiin % ^^ oti ^^ Qr ; Wiffi free in ( Jiury , and a spirit of conciliation among rival prbiessors . Nothing is inore obvious than t ^ at the whole genius of the Arabian policy abd literature in Spain , was one of liberality and charitv , and one which the church

    did not till late see the policy of opposing by all its temporal and spiritual authority . It is singular that the earliest heretics of Europe should be the fe&diest poets : and if it be ( as almost all the

    writers on the subject contend ) clear that the poetry of the South of Europe owed its form and character to the Moorish school , that circumstance alone would lead us to suspect some considerable influence of the same

    school on the character of their theological speculations . The literature of the Vaudois , which certainly belongs to the 11 th century , will not , perhaps , at first view , be admitted to be very closely connected with that of Provence . Vet the

    identity of the language , the vagueness with which the terms of vaudois , Albigeois , &c , were applied , ' and the obscurity in which their respective histories and opinions are involved ,

    would lead me to suspect a much greater affinity , and antiquity of these sectaries , than is usually allowed . The religious poetry of the Vaudois , which has lately been published b y M . Raynouard , would form in itself an

    interesting subject for examination , particularly as furnishing evidence of the real tendency of the opinions of thes ^ heretics , which hitherto we have been compelled to take on credit from their enemies .

    During the violent persecutions of the Pauhcians in the 9 th century , it is certain that a strict alliance existed between them and the Mahometan government ; that they afterwards

    followed its armies ; that in various ways they directed their course into Europe , and , apparently , chiefly by way of Spain , through which they followed the Moorish course to the South of

    France , and were thefe patronized by the Trotibadour courts , and especially by the Counts of Totiloui&e . Here their followers afterwards ' afebxitredthe undefined Htje of AV % ** ° ** £ a ** 4 * were supped to be deeply taiitcd

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    v ^ Manich ^ an Orieutul But ¦•' tie frke spirit tif the TrbubaU dour school , gpd indeed almost every Arabian relation , soon became the object of vehemeBt attack from the church . It wMl n&t b& © eeessary for me to dwell here on the details of the

    blind and , bigoted vyarfare in \ vhich the Christian world was engaged , especially during { he 12 th century , or to point out how gflfecfcuaUy the church accomplished its object . The Crusades wjere the first result of its policy , ami the same zeal was soon

    directed to uprooting the freedom of opinion wEich the Mahometan spirit had encouraged in the countries knmediately subject to its operation . Domestic crusading against free inquiry amon / r Christians , was the proper companion of intolerance towards unbelievers . The gay and smiling plains of Provence and Languedoc

    were soon deluged with blood j and the gay creations of chivalry and poetry flea from the scene of horror . But in the midst of all the fury of the Inquisition , which commenced its Feign of horfors in the native soil of poetry arid romance , we still see the strongest traces yet uneffaced of the peculiar literary spirit which had been

    impressed upon society * We actually find a mock tribunal > not like the old parliaments of love for the decision of knotty points in amatorial casuistry * but one of the same external form , devoted to the investigation and condemnation of theological herdsie ^ Instead of the Teuson being directed , as

    before , to the solution of tender difficulties and equivocal obligations , we have Izarn , the Dominican Inquisitor , bringing forth a refractory heretic , to wrestle with him on / poiiits of faith , and forcing him , uader the pain of burning with more material flames , to confess before the court the

    blasphemy of his creed , and the superior power of persuasion of his fiery antagonist . I do not mean , however , to place thd poetry of these heresy hunters oua tooting . with that of the

    objects of their wrath , and that I may not be mistaken , will give a &peeimeft of the holy l ^^ tt ^^ atyle , & whfch I ' Wfte . ^ ttetrit > ted neitfceif tb elevate xwr depress the flight 6 fM ? nk ^ e . After a fohg ay ^ timent , which had hithertu

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    ^^ NbkcMfi ^^ m . ' £ i&l . £

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1823, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1780/page/3/