# Arnald, A Lector At Brescia, After Much Persecution, Burnt At Rome, For His Views Against Infant Baptism, The Mass, Etc., A. D. 1145. 1145 · Historical source Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: ARNALD, A LECTOR AT BRESCIA, AFTER MUCH PERSECUTION, BURNT AT ROME, FOR HIS VIEWS AGAINST INFANT BAPTISM, THE MASS, ETC., A. D. 1145. Source heading; not independently verified In our account of those who opposed infant baptism, in the twelfth century, we made mention, for the year 1139, of one Arnald, a lector at Brescia, in Italy, and stated, that, having been instructed by Peter Abelard, he, besides the doctrine he maintained against the mass and transubstantiation, also taught against infant baptism; on account of which Pope Innocent II. commanded him to be silent. Thereupon he fled into Germany or Switzerland, where for a time he continued to teach. Thence, after the death of the aforesaid Pope, he came to Rome. But obtaining there an incredible number of followers, and being severely persecuted by the Popes Eugenius and Adrian, he fled to the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who delivered him into the hands of the Pope; and thus he was finally, at Rome, placed to the stake, burnt to ashes, and the ashes thrown into the Tiber, lest the people should show him honor. It is recorded that this occurred A. D. 1145, after he had, as is reckoned, strenuously maintained the above doctrine for about six years. Bapt. Hist., page 598, from Baron., A. D. 1139, num. 3, and A. D. 1145, num. 3; also, H. Montan., Nietigh., page 84. Abraham Mellinus, writing of the belief of Arnald, says: “He also taught quite differently concerning the sacrament of the altar, and (notice), of infant baptism, from that which was taught in the Roman church at that time. He doubtless, in this respect, held the views of Peter de Bruis and Henry of Toulouse (of whom we shall speak afterwards), rejecting transubstantiation, and denying that the mass is a sacrifice for the living and the dead, and that (notice again) either baptism or the faith of others saves infants.” Thus far, A. Mell., 2d book, page 425, col. 3. Note.—Abraham Mellinus, who states this concerning the belief of Arnald, was a preacher of the Calvinistic church, in St. Anthony’s Polder, and, consequently, himself an advocate of infant baptism. Nevertheless, he distinctly says of Arnald, whom he recognized as a pious martyr, that he taught quite differently concerning infant baptism, and also that this baptism and the faith of others do not save children, etc., the opposite of which the Romanists maintained. Further Observation.—As regards the manner in which he maintained, promulgated, and inculcated said doctrine, and himself kept it to the end, as well as what happened to him on this account; that is, all the circumstances, and also a summary of the matter, see Otto Friesing, lib. 1, cap. 27, 28, and lib. 2, cap. 20, de Gest. Frid. L. Imp. Gunth. Ligur., lib. 3, de Gest. Frid. 1. Bernhard. Epist., 196, 189, 195. Sigon. de Regno Ital., lib. 11, from A. D. 1139 until 1146. Abent., lib. 6. Annal. Boio Gerhohus Reichersp., lib. 1, de Invest. Antichrist. apud Gretser in Proleg. Script. contra Walden., cap. 4, Tom. 4, Concil. edition 1612, p. 23, compared with Bapt. His., p. 686. --- Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-arnald-a-lector-at-brescia-after-much-persecution-burnt-at-rome-for-his-views-against-infant-baptism-the-mass-etc-a-d-11/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Arnald%2C+A+Lector+At+Brescia%2C+After+Much+Persecution%2C+Burnt+At+Rome%2C+For+His+Views+Against+Infant+Baptism%2C+The+Mass%2C+Etc.%2C+A.+D.+1145.&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AArnald%2C+A+Lector+At+Brescia%2C+After+Much+Persecution%2C+Burnt+At+Rome%2C+For+His+Views+Against+Infant+Baptism%2C+The+Mass%2C+Etc.%2C+A.+D.+1145.%0A%0APage%3A+http%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fstories%2Fmm-arnald-a-lector-at-brescia-after-much-persecution-burnt-at-rome-for-his-views-against-infant-baptism-the-mass-etc-a-d-11%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-arnald-a-lector-at-brescia-after-much-persecution-burnt-at-rome-for-his-views-against-infant-baptism-the-mass-etc-a-d-11%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+1145%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)