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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of L'Histoire Des Vaudois, by J. Bresse et al.
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: L'Histoire Des Vaudois
+       From Authentic Details of the Valdenses
+
+Author: J. Bresse et al.
+
+Release Date: January 17, 2012 [EBook #38601]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK L'HISTOIRE DES VAUDOIS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+
+AUTHENTIC DETAILS OF THE VALDENSES
+
+MILNER'S CHURCH HISTORY OF THE VALDENSES, IN PIEMONT AND OTHER COUNTRIES
+
+WITH ABRIDGED TRANSLATIONS OF "L'HISTOIRE DES VAUDOIS" PAR BRESSE,
+
+Illustrated by Etchings
+
+"Vous etes de nos peres que nous ne connaissons pas."
+
+Reply of a Vaudois peasant to an Englishman.
+
+1827.
+
+
+     "The Waldenses are the middle link which connects the
+     primitive Christians and fathers with the reformed, and by
+     their means the proof is completely established; that
+     salvation by the grace of Christ, felt in the heart and
+     expressed in the life by the power of the Holy Ghost, has
+     ever existed, from the time of the Apostles to this day, and
+     that it is a doctrine marked by the cross, and distinct from
+     all that religion of mere form or convenience, or of human
+     invention, which calls itself Christian, but which wants the
+     spirit of Christ."
+
+
+CHARLES, LORD BISHOP OF LLANDAFF, THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED BY PERMISSION,
+WITH AN EARNEST HOPE, THAT THE CAUSE OF PURE CHRISTIANITY, AND THE
+DISTRESS OF HER PROFESSORS IN A DISTANT COUNTRY, MAY OBTAIN SOME
+ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM ONE MORE HUMBLE EFFORT TOWARDS THEIR SUPPORT.
+
+
+
+
+HISTORICAL DETAILS OF THE PAST SUFFERINGS OF THE VALDENSES,
+
+AND OF THE STATE OF THESE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANS IN PIEDMONT AND OTHER
+COUNTRIES
+
+After the late interesting publications of Allix, Jones, Gilly,
+Acland, and other writers, it may appear at the present time somewhat
+presumptuous, as well as unnecessary, to lay before the public any
+further details connected with the history of these excellent and
+primitive Christians; but as some of the Vaudois manuscripts and works
+are very scarce, and but little known in England, more particularly
+those of Peyran, Henri Arnaud, and Bresse, it may be desirable (even
+under the certainty of many repetitions) to give some short extracts
+from these curious documents, if only with the view and under the hope
+of keeping alive in the breasts of the people of this favoured isle that
+charitable zeal, which has again manifested itself, and is of such vital
+importance to the political and religious welfare of our noble though
+impoverished protestant brethren.
+
+As the Valdenses most evidently are a part of the dispersed flock of the
+original Church of Christ, it becomes a matter of the highest interest
+to trace out their history from the earliest periods, and to observe
+how sedulously under the severest persecutions they have not only upheld
+their faith in its own purity and truth, but how gloriously they have
+continued to resist the growing corruptions of the Romish faith.
+
+Scattered over the face of the earth, we find almost every where these
+primitive Christians under the various denominations given to them-of
+Cathari, or "the Pure," Paulicians, Petrobusians, Puritans, Leonists,
+Lollards, Henricians, Josephists, Patarines, Fraticelli, Insabati,
+Piphles, Toulousians, Albigenses, Lombardists, Bulgarians, Bohemian
+brethren, Barbets, Walloons, &c.
+
+We not only find many colonies of these people in the eastern and
+western parts of Europe, but even in Africa and America, whither they
+emigrated to escape from oppression and massacre.
+
+After the most cruel and wanton persecutions, we observe this oppressed
+people reduced in number by barbarous massacres, and at length driven
+out of their own purchased territories, because they would not submit
+to innovations and changes in their established religion; but in a few
+years we again find a remnant of them under their pastor, Henri Arnaud,
+led back into their native country almost in a miraculous manner to
+expel their savage oppressors, thousands of whom fled before this
+reduced but noble band of self-taught warriors.
+
+Many refugees took up their abode in the Rhetian Alps, and a great
+number, after various edicts, were allowed to settle in the Duchy of
+Wirtemberg, where some of them were visited by the writer of these
+pages, for the express purpose of inquiring into their wants and
+privileges.
+
+Before the days of Wickliffe, and other reformers, we can trace the
+Vaudois by their sufferings; they were branded and burnt as heretics,
+because they would not conform to the doctrines of men, and the edicts
+of the Roman pontiffs: their steady adherence to the principles of their
+own faith, and obedience to the will of their Creator, rendered them
+instrumental to the reformation, which afterwards took place, and by
+which, in this country, the pure religion of our ancestors was restored.
+It is even probable that this separated flock of true worshippers are to
+be the means, under heavenly guidance, of not only preserving, but also
+diffusing, the light of the gospel and its healing beams over the most
+remote parts of the earth.
+
+A.D.
+
+251 It would appear that the title of Cathari, or "_the Pure_," was
+first given to the followers of Novation, a Romish pastor, who set the
+example of resisting the early corruptions of the Papal dominion, and
+that Puritan churches existed in Italy upwards of 200 years.
+
+590 Nine Bishops rejected the communion of the Pope, as heretical, and
+this schism, we are told by another author, began even in the year 553.
+
+604 On the death of Pope Gregory, Boniface III. styled himself
+"universal Bishop," and the worship of images became general; but long
+before this period, in the fourth century, Socrates the historian speaks
+of the Novations having churches at Constantinople, Nice, Nicomedia, and
+Coticaeus in Phrygia, &c. as well as a church at Carthage, the doctrines
+and discipline of which, we find that Dionysius, Bishop of' Alexandria,
+and Fabius, Bishop of Antioch, approved of.
+
+660 Some persons have supposed that the Valdenses have derived their
+name from Petro Valdo, but Reinerius Sacco, an inquisitor who lived 80
+years after Valdo of Lyons, admits that they flourished 500 years before
+the time of this celebrated reformer, i. e. about the year 660. Some
+of these Valdenses, like the Novations, we find called Puritans, or
+Gathari; when Paulinus, Bishop of Aquilaeia, and other Italian Bishops,
+condemned the decrees of the second Council of Nice, which had confirmed
+image worship.
+
+817 Claude, Bishop of Turin, (and of the Vallies of Piedmont inhabited
+by the Valdenses,) was zealous against this idolatrous practice, and
+bears witness that the gospel was preserved amongst these mountaineers
+in its native purity and glorious light. Genebrand and Rorenco (Roman
+Catholic writers) have owned that the Patarines* and inhabitants of
+Piedmont preserved the opinions of Claude during the ninth and tenth
+centuries.
+
+     * Patarines, so called from Pataria, a place near Milan,
+     where those Vaudois who took part with the Bishop of Milan
+     against the Roman Pontiff, Nicholas II., held communion
+     together. See the Sermon of Archbishop Wake, preached for
+     the relief of the Vaudois, A.D. 1669, at St. James's
+     Westminster.
+
+1026 Thus before 1026, and 500 years previous to our own reformation,
+says Dr. Allix, we discover a body of men called Patarines, Valdenses,
+or Cathari, whose belief was contrary to the doctrines of the See of
+Rome. In 1040, the Patarines were very numerous at Milan, (Voltaire
+speaks of them in his General History, 1100 chap. 69.) In 1100, the
+Valdenses became well known by the "Noble Leycon," and another work,
+entitled "Qual Cosa Sia l'Antichrist."
+
+1140 A little before this year, Everrinus (of Stamfield, diocese of
+Cologne) addressed a letter to the famous St. Bernard, in which is the
+following passage:--"There have lately been some heretics amongst us,
+but they were seized by the people in their zeal and burnt to death,
+these people in Germany are called Cathari; in Flanders, Piphles; and in
+France, Tisserands." Towards the middle of the twelfth century, a small
+body of these Valdenses, called Puritans and Paulicians, came from
+Germany, and 1159 were persecuted in England. Some being burnt
+at Oxford, Gerard their teacher answered for them, that they were
+Christians, but Henry the Second ordered them in 1166 to be branded
+with an hot iron, and whipped through the streets. Thirteen Valdensian
+families had certainly emigrated to England about this period.
+
+1178 Gretzer the Jesuit (who published the book of Reinerius) admits
+that the Toulousians and Albigenses condemned in 1178 were no other 1181
+than the Valdenses. In the decree of Pope Lucius III. against them, they
+are called Catharists, Josephists, and Heretics. Another decree was made
+against them in 1194, by Ildefonsus, King of Arragon: and Bale, in his
+old Chronicle of London, mentions "one 1210 burnt to death tainted with
+the faith of the Valdenses."
+
+1215 Council of Lateran against Heretics.
+
+1230 to 1350 Supressio in France
+
+1240 Some further territory in Piedmont was about this time purchased
+and paid for by the Valdenses, to the amount of 6000 ducatoons.
+
+1259 The Patarine Church of Albi (in France) whence these Vaudois were
+called Albigenses, consisted of 500 members, that of Concorezzo more
+than 1500, and of Bagnolo 200. The Bishop of Vercelli complained much of
+these people, whom he denominated Cathari and Patarines. The English,
+at the time they had possession of Guienne (in 1210), began to help the
+Valdenses, who stood forth to defend their faith, headed by Walter and
+Raymond Lollard.
+
+1322 According to Clark's Martyrology (page 111), we find Walter was
+burnt at Cologne in 1322: which was two years before the birth of
+Wickliffe. A cotemporary historian says, that "in a few years half the
+people of England became Lollards." And Newton, in his Dissertation on
+the Prophecies, (1 vol. 4to. page 631,) says, "part of the Wal-denses
+took refuge in Britain." Even Theo. Beza says, "as for the Valdenses,
+I may be permitted to call them the seed of the primitive and pure
+Christian church."
+
+1400 In 1400 began the first severe persecution against the Vaudois, on
+account of their faith, which may be found related by Bresse, together
+with their subsequent misfortunes, down to the era of the treaty of
+Pignerolo in 1655, the most interesting details of which history are
+translated and abridged in another part of this work.
+
+1685 The Duke of Savoy, at the instigation of Louis XIVth, revoked his
+promises, and the following year condemned 14,000 Vaudois to the prisons
+of Turin, the rest either fled or became Catholics. By the intercessions
+of the Protestant countries, these miserable prisoners were released,
+but their numbers by hardships and cruelty were reduced to 3000, who
+took refuge in Switzerland and 1687 elsewhere, in 1687; from whence a
+part of them effected that intrepid return into their own Vallies, so
+well described by their Colonel and Pastor, Henri Arnaud, in "La Rentree
+Glorieuse" of 1689.
+
+1698 Eight years after they were again exiled to the number of 3000, in
+consequence of an article in the treaty between France and Savoyin
+1698: these were the same who with the veteran Arnaud amongst them, took
+refuge in Germany, and were solemnly received as subjects to the Duke of
+Wirtemberg, with the promise of the free exercise of their religion for
+ever.
+
+1797 The pension from England, which had been granted by Cromwell, and
+confirmed by Queen Anne, was this year discontinued.
+
+1799 A body of Vaudois from Wirtemberg emigrated to America, and joined
+those 1600, who, in Arnaud's time, had settled near Philadelphia.
+
+1800 Piedmont fell under the yoke of France.
+
+1814 The King of Sardinia restored to his throne, refused to grant any
+privileges to the Vaudois beyond those they enjoyed before the French
+revolution.
+
+1825 Present state of the Vaudois, as described in the Letters now
+published, &c.
+
+
+
+
+ABRIDGED TRANSLATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE VAUDOIS
+
+By J. Bresse
+
+Minister of the Walloon Church
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
+charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though
+I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries, and all
+knowledge; and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains,
+and have not charity, I am nothing: And though I bestow all my goods
+to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not
+charity it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long and is kind;
+charity envieth not, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not
+behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
+thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
+beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth
+all things. Charity never faileth, but whether there be prophecies they
+shall fail, whether there be tongues, they shall cease, whether there
+be knowledge it shall vanish away. And now abideth faith, hope, and
+charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity."
+
+But the greatest of these is charity! What words are these which I have
+just quoted? Christians, of all countries, of all sects, and of all
+communions! do you recognize in them the religion of your hearts? You
+do, or you are but hypocrites, and no true friends to the gospel.
+
+O ye senseless fanatics! who have dared for ages, to divide, inflame,
+and overturn the world; to arm son against father, and brother against
+sister, for the sake of opinions, not necessary to their happiness, or
+at best of little importance. Ye persecutors, who beneath the veil of a
+religion, whose essence is charity, have believed that homage was to be
+rendered to your Creator, by immolating human victims on his altars, and
+committing the most horrible atrocities. Ye, who make religion consist
+in vain ceremonies, and the gospel a rampart for the defence of your
+base interests, come forward before the tribunal of charity, and if it
+be yet possible, let this admirable sentence penetrate your hearts. "Now
+abideth faith, hope, and charity; these three, but the greatest of
+these is charity!" Try every action of your life by this sentence of the
+apostle. And as the pilot has ever before his eyes the compass to direct
+his course through the ocean, let this sublime picture of charity be the
+invariable rule of your actions and opinions, and the very soul of your
+whole conduct. Far from me be those useless distinctions of sects and
+parties, by which some would excuse the sin of intolerance, and the fury
+of fanaticism: for me, there exist neither Protestants, nor Catholics,
+nor Lutherans, nor Calvinists, nor Moravians, nor Anabaptists; I own to
+no other title, than that of Christian; no other religion than that of
+Christianity. Every man who practices its duties is my brother, whatever
+may be his particular opinions. It would be easy to demonstrate that
+this reasoning is derived immediately, from the fundamental maxims of
+the gospel; and the evils which a contrary belief have occasioned, prove
+that it is of the greatest importance. No true Christian can deny this,
+since it is confirmed by every line of his code. But who is a true
+Christian? He who lives in charity; / he who practises it as did St.
+Paul. This is the true touchstone of our religion. He who shrinks from
+this test bears it not, is not a Christian. "He is nothing," to use the
+words of the Apostle.
+
+It is upon these principles that I beg all that I have advanced in the
+history of the Vaudois may be judged. If I have expressed myself warmly
+against their enemies, it is only when they have violated the first
+duties of Christianity; then I neither wish or ought to spare them, for
+truth, in the judgment of an honest man, is one and immutable. He ought
+to purchase it, to use the words of the gospel, to publish and defend
+it, at the price of all he has in the world. I have nothing to do with
+Catholicism, but with the excesses which Catholics have committed. If
+I have anathematized the ministers of the Inquisition, it is because so
+execrable an establishment does not exist under heaven. The sun may well
+have withdrawn his light in horror, when he first illuminated the dark
+and bloody walls of this abominable tribunal! And they dare to assert
+that it is established for the propagation of the Christian faith. What
+a horrible blasphemy is this! We may ask of the most ardent partizans
+of the Propaganda,* whether Jesus had recourse to an Inquisition? if the
+Apostles used such a means of extending their doctrine, or proving the
+faith of their brethren? Did the first preachers use tortures to force
+men to adopt their creed? Did not Jesus, himself say to those who
+remained with him, when others fled--"And ye! will ye also go away?"**
+Is this the expression of a persecutor? or can the infernal rules of the
+Inquisition be founded upon the feelings which dictated this question?
+
+     * The College of Propaganda fide, in Rome, is synonymous
+     with the Italian Inquisition.
+
+     ** John, chap. vi. ver. 67.
+
+Nay! is there in the whole of the sacred Scriptures, one single line or
+word which can excuse persecution for the sake of religion? If there is,
+let it be produced, and I will on the instant make full reparation
+to this host of executioners and fanatics. But if the precepts of
+Christianity tend to recommend to us the love of God and of our
+brethren, it follows that the Inquisitors and their adherents, have
+been Christians in name only, and that their conduct has tended to the
+discredit of true religion and greatly injured the cause of Christ; for
+light and darkness are not more different than a true Christian, and
+a bigoted fanatic. I have more than once remarked, in the course of my
+history, that we should rather accuse the Inquisition, than the House of
+Savoy of the atrocities committed on the Vaudois. If the latter deserves
+censure, it is for want of courage to oppose the perfidious and criminal
+instigations of this bloody tribunal. The frightful tyranny of Rome, at
+that time, may be considered as an excuse; and our history will show to
+what excesses the anti-christian policy of that proud court was led.
+And as the picture of such cruelty is disgusting, it will be pleasing to
+turn from it to the mildness which reigns in the present government....
+
+It is for the Vaudois youth that I have undertaken this work, though
+I trust that those of more mature age may find it both interesting and
+instructive: it will recall to their minds anecdotes of their ancestors,
+which their fathers have often repeated to them; and their deepest
+feelings must be excited at the recollection of their forefathers, who
+have fallen beneath the axe of fanaticism for the sake of the gospel.
+The families of Mondons, Arnauds, Legers, Janavels, and many others
+still existing will read with emotion the exploits of their virtuous
+ancestors; their children will pronounce with reverence these names
+which have been an honour to our country; they will learn to repeat the
+most remarkable passages of our history. Enjoying from their earliest
+years the light of the gospel, their zeal will be inflamed by the
+sublime sentiments such examples inspire; and their first ambitious
+desires will be to imitate them. How well Shall I be rewarded for my
+labour, if such be the effect of this work; the most ardent wish of my
+heart will have been accomplished, and I shall not have lived in vain.
+
+Here let me repeat what I have said in my prospectus. The history of
+the Vaudois occupies, perhaps, the most interesting point of time in
+Christian history. Confined amidst the mountains of Piedmont, adjoining
+Dauphine, they have there preserved the Christian doctrine and worship
+in evangelical purity and simplicity, whilst the most profound darkness
+covered the rest of Europe. It is from the Apostles or their immediate
+successors, that they have received the gospel, and from that time
+their faith has never changed; it is now the same as it was before the
+reformation. The existence of these few thousand Vaudois is therefore
+most interesting to all Christian nations. Many authors have written
+before me, but their works are scarce, and their style often nearly
+unintelligible, from their antiquity; nor do any of their works contain
+a complete history. Those to whom I have alluded in my prospectus, are
+Perrin, Gilles, Leger, Arnaud, and Boyer.
+
+Perrin wrote the "Histoire des Vaudois et Albigeois," printed at Geneva,
+1618, 2 vols. 12mo. The work only carries down the annals of the
+Vaudois to 1601, and it is now extremely rare; it contains many valuable
+documents, which would be sought for in vain elsewhere, as the author
+was allowed to examine the manuscripts of the Synod of the Vallies. He
+was a minister of the church at Lyons.
+
+P. Gilles, pastor of the Vaudois church at La Tour, is the author of
+"Histoire Ecclesiastique des eglises reformees recueillies en quelques
+vallees du Piemont autrefois appellees eglises Vaudoises," chez de
+Tournes, 1648, 1 vol. 4to.; this comprises the period from 1160 to 1643;
+containing interesting annals of the persecutions in the author's time;
+but the style is still less agreeable than that of Perrin.
+
+Jean Leger's history is entitled "Histoire generate des eglises
+evangeliques de Piemont ou Vaudoises," printed at Leyden, 1669, 1 vol.
+folio, goes as far as A.D. 1664; it is full of learning and piety,
+giving many facts to be found no where else; and the interest is
+increased from the circumstance of his having himself taken an important
+part in the events he describes. Still he enters into those tiresome
+details, for which the taste of that age is so much to be blamed.
+
+The work of Henri Arnaud is the "Histoire de la rentree glorieuse de nos
+ancetres dans leur patrie," in 1 vol. 8vo. without date. The event he
+relates occurred three years after the expulsion of the Vaudois, that
+is in 1690. This is a most precious and interesting little work, for the
+author himself was at the head of his countrymen, and the vivacity and
+force of his narrative render it very attractive to the lovers of truth,
+though it must be confessed that his style, as he says himself, in his
+dedication to Queen Anne, is wanting in that polish which is so much
+admired in these times. This work was originally composed in two parts,
+of which the latter must have contained an account of the war between
+Piedmont and France, in which the Vaudois were actively engaged; this
+last part was unhappily never printed, and the manuscript remains
+undiscovered; any information respecting it would be very important
+to the completion of the third part of my work. Henri Arnaud died in
+Wirtemberg, where this manuscript probably would be found.
+
+The last of the Vaudois histories is by Boyer, under the title of Abrege
+de l'Histoire des Vaudois, 1 vol. 12mo., La Haye, 1691; it goes down
+to 1690, and though written with judgment, is defective in many points,
+both in the historical parts, and with regard to the doctrine and
+manners of the Vaudois.
+
+     * The author here states his obligations to Mons. Certon of
+     Rotterdam, pastor of the reformed church, and to some
+     others, from whom he had received manuscripts. He then gives
+     some other particulars, not interesting to the general
+     reader, and proceeds as above.--T.
+
+I pass over other histories of the Vaudois, in English and Dutch, as
+well as other references to them in more general works, as for instance,
+Gekendorf in his history of the reformation, Ruchat Basnage, &c. &c. as
+they are probably derived from the above sources, and are only more or
+less carefully compiled....
+
+Though I must not repeat here the evidences of the antiquity of the
+Vaudois, I cannot refrain from remarking that it is from the vallies of
+the Vaudois that the first sparks of that reformation have arisen, which
+has drawn back a great part of Europe to the purity of the gospel. It is
+extremely probable, that Calvin himself was of Vaudois origin, for there
+are still several families of this name in the vallies, from whence we
+believe his to have emigrated to Picardy. It is certain, that in the
+preface which this great reformer prefixed to the first French bible
+ever published; he acknowledges himself bound by the ties of kindred to
+the translator, one of our most celebrated "barbes," or pastors, named
+Olivetan, which makes it probable that Calvin had obtained from the
+Vaudois the doctrine which he afterwards preached at Geneva, and
+elsewhere. It is equally certain, that long before the reformation there
+were many persons who followed the doctrine of the Vaudois in Germany,
+Hungary, Bohemia, &c.; indeed the Vatitiois of this last country,
+as well as those of Alsace, sent their youth into our vallies to be
+educated as pastors. It is known also that the celebrated Lollard who
+laboured with such zeal to diffuse the Vaudois doctrines in England, was
+not only a native of our vallies, but preached in them for a length of
+time with great success.* We may also assert that it is by means of the
+Vaudois that the reformation was introduced in the United Provinces.
+
+     * The Lollard tower in London takes its name from one of the
+     disciples of Lollard, who in the age of intolerance was
+     confined there.
+
+The Vaudois of Provence, Languedoc, and Dauphine also, originally sprang
+from our val-lies, and when their numbers had increased greatly at
+Lyons, they were persecuted by the Archbishop of that city, Jean de
+Belle Maison, about 1180, and retired into Picardy, under Peter Valdo,
+where they received the name of Picards. Here Philip Augustus, king of
+France, resolving to extirpate them, caused 300 gentlemen's houses to be
+razed to the ground, because the owners had embraced the tenets of the
+Vaudois. Forced again to leave their newly found country, these Picards,
+or Vaudois of Lyons, (also called poor of Lyons,) retired principally
+into the United Provinces of Holland, and there spread the knowledge of
+the truth. It was in the Low Countries that the Vaudois first took the
+name of Walloons, and that the first confession de foi (articles
+of belief) was drawn up by the celebrated martyr Guido Brez. This
+confession was first printed in 1561, addressed to Philip II. of Spain,
+in 1562; it was confirmed by the synod of Anvers, 1585, and finally
+adopted by that of Dordt. The above is sufficient to prove that
+the Vaudois church is the parent of all those which have arisen in
+Protestant Europe, and particularly of the churches of the United
+Provinces, as well Dutch as Walloon. Why do the Roman Catholics and the
+Protestants mutually hate each other? Why do they look upon each other
+with harshness and severity? It is, because instead of going to the
+source of their religion, the gospel itself, they content themselves
+with examining those streams, of which the waters have been rendered
+impure, by the admixture of human opinions: it is because they appeal to
+the confessions of faith of the heads of their sect or party, instead of
+seeking what really constitutes the essence of the Christian faith, and
+what ought to be the rule of our faith and practice, by means of the
+specific declarations of Jesus Christ and his apostles. It is because
+they generally adopt self-interest for their guide, instead of shielding
+themselves under that universal spirit of charity, without which there
+can be no real Christianity, and because they entirely forget that
+religion does not consist in words, but in virtue.
+
+The nature of my employments, and the interest of the great cause which
+I serve, have often called forth my reflections on the evils it has been
+my task to describe; and however earnestly I have searched for remedies,
+as well as for the discovery of their origin, my meditations have
+continually brought me back to the same point. Let it be remembered
+that it is a Vaudois who speaks, a Vaudois, who, like his countrymen,
+absolutely recognizes no other religion than that of Christianity, and
+who believes that the unhappy distinctions of Catholics, Lutherans,
+Reformed, Calvinists, &c. &c., have done a thousand times more harm
+to the cause of the gospel, than all the manouvres of the wicked and
+unbelieving.
+
+The thing is evident as to natural religion, for in examining history,
+we find that in no case has any one ever attempted to prescribe rules
+of belief to others, but that each receives what nature hath taught him,
+and nothing more.
+
+Nor is there more obscurity in the point, as to revealed religion;
+not that religion of which opposing sects have given such different
+descriptions, but that which is to be found in the beautiful lessons
+of Jesus and his apostles. It is from these alone, we must judge of
+Christianity. And every one who is willing to undertake this important
+examination, without prejudices, will allow that nothing is more simple,
+more easy, than Christianity; and that the great truths which form its
+basis, are clear enough to be within the reach of the most confined
+understandings.
+
+We must therefore conclude that many of the opinions which have so
+long sown discord, and still continue to produce dissensions among
+Christians, are by no means founded on points essential to Christianity;
+nay, the traces of several of them are scarcely to be found in the
+sacred writings.
+
+What then are the fundamental articles of our faith, of which the belief
+is necessary to the character of a true Christian? Read the discourses
+of Jesus and the apostles to their converts, and you will have a full
+answer to the question. (See the quotations at the end of the Preface.)
+These articles of belief are but few in number, and if every Christian
+had religiously observed them, we should not see so many sects
+attacking one another, or the disciples of the mildest of masters, hate,
+persecute, and massacre each other, in the most barbarous manner. Such
+are the dreadful consequences a trifling error may produce in such a
+case. Such is the essence of the Christian faith, and the opinions
+which have been added to it, are not only useless, but dangerous. Every
+Christian must render an account of his belief to God alone, and it is
+his duty to found that belief solely of the express declarations of
+the gospel, without attending to the subtleties with which men have
+endeavoured to obscure them. The most crafty theologian cannot find one
+single line in the holy scriptures, which could give to any person or
+council upon earth, a right to impose a formula of belief on others.
+This pretended right which the court of Rome, and after it, so many
+reformed churches have wished to exercise, is no other than a manifest
+usurpation, and not only of the rights of man, but of God himself, who
+is our only judge, since to him alone we must all give an account of our
+faith. The gospel is the sole immutable rule of faith, and the Supreme
+Being has left to each person its explication, according to his talents
+and advantages; since it was not his object, as some have supposed,
+merely to propose to us such and such truths for our belief, but to
+render us more mild, humane, modest, and virtuous; and consequently more
+happy. It is for this reason that St. Paul does not hesitate to place
+charity, which he calls the union of all virtues, above faith, which
+is but a single act of the mind, without any merit whatever, unless it
+influences our sentiments and our conduct. "And now abideth" (says the
+apostle) "faith, hope, and charity, these three, but the greatest of
+these is charity."
+
+Such have ever been, and still are the principles of the Christians of
+our vailles; the gospel is their sole and immutable judge; they have
+paid no attention to the sects which have arisen around them; nor has
+any one of them attempted to impose upon is brother his own belief, as
+the rule of his faith. The words heresy and orthodoxy are almost unknown
+to them; nor do they know what a dogma is, for they find not this word
+in the holy scriptures, and their first rule is to adhere closely to
+them both in words and deeds.
+
+It is true that the Vaudois have departed more or less from their former
+simplicity, since the reformation; they have been forced to use the
+books of the reformed, and to send their youth to be educated in foreign
+colleges. They use, for example, the catechism of Osterwald, because
+there is no means of printing others, in the country; but I hope once
+more to bring to light the catechism which our ancestors used in the
+twelfth century, the original of which is in the library of Cambridge.
+By substituting it for that of Osterwald, we should return to the usages
+of our ancestors. To complete the desired change, it would only be
+necessary to establish a small college or seminary in the vallies, for
+the education of those who are intended for the church. I have now
+only to intreat that it may not be taken amiss if I have laid so little
+stress on the Reformation. As a Vaudois I cannot consider it of that
+importance, which it is of in the eyes of the reformed, but I consider
+it as a revolution of the greatest interest, both from its civil and
+religious effects, and that whatever were the intentions of some of the
+reformers, they merit the title of benefactors of the human race. We owe
+to them in great part, the progress of science, reason, and philosophy,
+as well as the first foundations of civil and political liberty, so
+nearly allied to religious independence. Without them the whole of
+Europe might still have groaned beneath the Papal yoke. But though they
+merit our gratitude, let not that gratitude degenerate into idolatry,
+or allow of their opinions being placed on an equality with the gospel.
+Luther, Calvin, Wickliffe, Zwingle, OEcolampadius, &c. were but men
+capable of being deceived like ourselves. Let us listen to their
+lessons, but remember that our sole legislator is Jesus, and that we are
+wanting in respect and gratitude to him, if we take any other title than
+that of Christians. Whoever thou mayest be, reader, into whose hands
+this book may fall, let me recommend to you the interests of the most
+consoling of all doctrines, of that doctrine by which we are told that
+true religion is this,--"to visit the fatherless and widows in their
+affliction, and to keep ourselves unspotted from the world." Allow me to
+exhort you to search for the knowledge of this divine religion, only
+in the sacred writings, which ought alone to be the rule and invariable
+compass of our course. Thus you will bring back all the Christian sects
+to the standard of the gospel, and inflame all hearts with that charity
+and philanthropy which form the essence of Christianity. Thus you will
+render this simple but useful maxim more dear to all mortals;--To do
+unto others as we would they should do unto us.
+
+By this means you will destroy all factions, because each member of
+a state will be happy, that all those who are not enemies of the
+government, should thus enjoy the same privileges. By this means you
+will contribute to restore to Christianity all its splendour and its
+power; you will be the benefactors of your family, of your country, of
+the world. The wicked man, the bigot, and the false devotee, will hate,
+nay, even persecute you; but you have only to retire beneath the shadow
+of your own conscience, to render all their machinations abortive. The
+calm satisfaction which this will afford you, will amply make amends
+for the momentary pangs which calumny and injustice may excite in your
+breasts, and if ever mankind shall recognise true merit, it is to you
+alone they will erect statues.
+
+Utrecht, 4th October, 1794.
+
+
+
+
+NOTES TO PREFACE.
+
+The principal passages where the fundamental truths of Christianity are
+expressed with the greatest clearness, are the following.
+
+Gospel of St. John, chap. iii. ver. 36.; iv. 25, 26, 29, 39, 42; vi. 69;
+x. 24, 26; xx. 30, 31; xi. 27. Gospel of St. Luke, chap. xxiv. Acts of
+the Apostles, chap. ii. 22; iii. 18; iv. 10,12; v. 29, 32; viii. 5, 12,
+37; ix. 20, 22; x. 42,43; xi. 14; xv. 7, 19; xvii. 1, 9; xviii. 4, 6,
+27,28; xxvi. 22.
+
+There can be no other fundamentally essential articles of the Christian
+faith, or any of which the belief is necessary to the being a good
+Christian, except those of which Jesus and his apostles required the
+belief from the persons they received into the bosom of Christianity.
+All that has been added since, is nothing more than alloy, as impure in
+itself, as pernicious in its effects.
+
+This Preface has been translated literally, with the omission of one
+or two passages, of little interest to those ignorant of the author's
+family and connections.
+
+
+
+
+HISTORY OF THE VAUDOIS.
+
+
+
+
+PART THE FIRST.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I. DESCRIPTION OF THE VAUDOIS VALLEYS
+
+The valleys which the Vaudois have raised into celebrity, lie to the
+west of Piemont, between the province of Pignerol and Briancon, and
+adjoining on the other side to the ancient Marquisate of Susa, and that
+of the Saluces, The capital, La Tour, being about thirty-six miles from
+Turin, and fourteen from Pignerol. The extent of the valleys is about
+twelve Italian miles, making a square of about twenty-four French
+leagues. The valleys are three in number, Luzern, Perouse, and St.
+Martin. The former (in which the chief town is now Catholic,) is the
+most beautiful and extensive, and contains the five parishes of Rora,
+St. Jean, La Tour, Villar, and Bobbi, through the three last of which
+runs the rapid Pelice, which has its source near the Pra Alp, and throws
+itself into the Po.
+
+The Valley of Perouse is about twelve miles long, chiefly mountainous.
+It is traversed by the river Cluson, and the villages* on the Italian
+side of that river, (Pinache, Rivoire, Great and Little Doublon, and
+Villard,) as well as its chief town Perouse, are entirely inhabited by
+Roman Catholics. The Vaudois at this time possess only Pramol, Pomaret,
+and St. Germain.
+
+     * All those villages were once Vaudois.
+
+Between the valleys Luzerne and Perouse, is the parish Prarustin,
+comprehending Roche Platte, and St. Barthelemi, which belong to neither
+of them.
+
+The Valley of St. Martin is scarcely wider than the bed of the torrent
+Germanasque, which runs through it, and extends from the Valley of
+Perouse to that of Queiras in Dauphine; it contains the parishes of
+Pral, Ma-neille, and Ville Seche, of which the former is so elevated,
+as to be covered with snow during nine months in the year. The other
+parishes contain each several small villages, and Perrier, which is the
+capital of the whole valley, is now inhabited by Catholics alone. This
+valley, which was the scene of the heroic defence of Arnaud's band,
+is environed by lofty mountains, and rugged rocks, forming the most
+formidable natural defences; indeed the only passage into it for
+wheels,* is by a bridge, not far from Perouse, and this pass is so
+narrow that a few men might defend it against a large force.
+
+The authors of poems and romances, in giving their enchanting
+descriptions of pastoral life, have excited a deep feeling of regret in
+sensitive minds, that the originals of their pictures are no where to be
+found. But I can console these friends of virtue, by shewing them where
+they may find what they have sought in vain in other parts of the world.
+And this happy asylum of innocence is no other than the valley of St.
+Martin. I have known there shepherdesses in every sense of the word, as
+amiable and interesting as the heroines of these romances. And if the
+delightful author of Estelle and Galatee had lived among them as I have
+done, he might have added many a lively tint to his portraits, the more
+charming as it would have been copied from nature and truth. But let
+it not be thought that my shepherdesses resemble the smart wives and
+daughters of our citizens then, indeed, they would have little interest
+in my eyes. Imagine virtue without pretensions or vanity, grace without
+frivolity, and amiability devoid of coquetry, and these set off by that
+true modesty which their simple habits inspire, and you have a true
+picture of my Vaudois heroines.
+
+     * The translator saw no wheeled carriage in this valley, and
+     doubts if one of any description could now be used there.
+
+     ** He writes at Utrecht.
+
+Had I been born a poet, they should have formed the subject of my lays.
+The churches in the Valley of St Martin, as well as those of the other
+valleys, were formerly much more numerous. In the whole we have now but
+thirteen parish churches, though in the ancient records, examined by
+Leger, mention is made of ten other parishes to which pastors were
+attached; these are now annexed to the thirteen. In the valley of Cluson
+or Pragela, which adjoins those of St. Martin, and Perouse, were no
+less than six flourishing Vaudois churches, as late as 1727, when in
+consequence of the exchange of territory between France and the House
+of Savoy, all those who remained faithful to their religion, were forced
+into exile.* The Vaudois were also very numerous in the valleys of
+Queiras, Mathias, and Meane, until entirely extirpated there by Duke
+Charles Emmanuel in 1603. As they were in the Marquisate of Sa-luces, in
+1633, where they had many churches.
+
+     * Many hundreds went to Holland.
+
+Five villages, and the town of Luzerne, formerly attached to the parish
+church of St. Jean, have also been taken from them, in the valley of
+Luzerne; indeed, it is known that the Vaudois had churches in 1560, in
+Turin, Pignerol, and Quiers.
+
+Notwithstanding that the Vaudois have been established in some of the
+places I have stated above, from time immemorial, and have had great
+possessions in others: they are now entirely confined within the three
+valleys mentioned in the beginning of this chapter, and there exists an
+edict rendering them incapable of purchasing beyond these limits. It is
+to be hoped that their fidelity and attachment to their sovereign, will
+be rewarded by a restoration to the rights which his other subjects
+enjoy, and that the goodness of the reigning prince, will lead him to
+consider it a duty, to reinstate them as soon as circumstances permit,
+in the full possession of those privileges which the claims of nature
+and society so loudly demand.
+
+The population of the three valleys may amount to 16,000 or 17,000
+souls,* which would give about 3000 for the number capable of bearing
+arms; it does not appear, however, that in the various persecutions
+our ancestors had ever more than 1500 men in the field, the rest being
+necessary for the defence of their own territory. By these feeble means
+has the God of armies effected the wonderful events which I am about
+to relate; and so extraordinary are they, that they might well appear
+incredible, did not the most authentic proofs exist of them.
+
+     * Vide population in 1820, about 22,000.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II. NAME OF THE VAUDOIS
+
+As to the name of the Vaudois, it might be sufficient to answer from the
+authority of that judicious critic, Theodore* Beze,** and Coug-nard,***
+advocate of the parliament of Normandy. That the Vaudois have received
+their name from the valleys they inhabit. The names of Waldense or
+Valdense in Italian, and Valdensis in Latin, are thus derived from the
+same root, vale, valle, and vallis, a valley, as Vaudois is derived from
+vaux, the word for valley, in their ancient patois.****
+
+     * Beza, the editor of the famous bible of Geneva, and friend
+     of Milton.
+
+     **  Portraites des hommes illustres, p. 985.
+
+     *** Traite touchant la Papesse Jeanne, p. 8.
+
+     **** The Vaudois language seems as ancient at least as the
+     Provencal, and very similar: it would be interesting to
+     trace their origins and distinctions. Vide French work on
+     the Provencal poets and troubadours, and Sismondis languages
+     du midi de l'Europe.
+
+In the same way the inhabitants of the plain of the Po are called
+Piemontese or Piedmontese, Pedemontani, and those of the mountains,
+generally Montagnards. This word Vaudois, which they first acquired from
+their geographical situation, they have preserved as a token of their
+religion in all countries, as the Vaudois of Provence, and of Bohemia,
+and the Walloons of the Low Countries. Since the Reformation the names
+of Lutheran, Calvinist, and Reformed, have served to distinguish all
+those who rejected the papal doctrines, and the inhabitants of our
+valleys, the only people who have never been affected by these opinions,
+have alone retained their original name of Vaudois. I must, however,
+observe, that it is against their own wish that they have ever received
+it; the name of Christian was too precious in their eyes to have been
+willingly, on their part, exchanged for any other. As we find in the
+letter which they addressed to OEladislaus, king of Bohemia, they style
+themselves "the little flock of Christians, falsely called Vaudois." It
+has been pretended and even by those who have written our history, such
+as Perrin, and Gilles, that the name is derived from Peter Valdo, which
+can by no means be the case, as it is allowed on all hands, that this
+famous reformer of Lyons was not known before 1175, while we have
+ancient MSS. in the Vaudois language, dated 1120, and 1100, in the
+former of which are stated the differences between their church and that
+of Rome, and in the latter the word Vaudois is used as synonymous with
+virtuous Christian.
+
+In the MS. dated 1100, and entitled La Noble Leicon, (of which there
+exist two original copies, in ancient Gothic letters, one at Cambridge,
+and the other at Geneva,) is this passage.
+
+     Que sel se troba alcun bon que vollia amar
+     Dio et temar Jesu Krist
+     Que non vollia maudire, ni jura, ni mentir,
+     Ni avoutrar, ni ancire, ni peure de l'autry
+     Ni venjarse de li sio ennemie *
+     Illi dison quel es Vaudes e degne de morir.
+
+     * Ennemio murir, another reading.
+
+Whoever is a good man, and wishes to love God, and fear Jesus Christ,
+who will neither speak ill of his neighbour, nor swear, nor lie; who
+will neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor steal, nor avenge himself
+of his enemy; of him they say, he is a Vaudois, and worthy to die (of
+death.)
+
+The opinion of Theodore Beze is given in these words. Some have believed
+that the Vaudois had for founder, (of this sect,) a merchant of Lyons,
+called Jean, surnamed Valdo, in which they are mistaken, since this John
+was so surnamed from being one of the first among the Vaudois.
+
+But not to give more importance to these things than they are worthy of,
+let it be remarked, that it is not in the name that they bear that the
+Vaudois take a pride. We as well as our ancestors, esteem ourselves
+happy and render thanks to God in that he has pre-served in our valleys
+the evangelical doctrine in all its purity, without any mixture of human
+opinions. We rejoice that the Supreme Being has deigned to choose our
+country, to preserve there the torch of truth, and that it has been
+the beacon to which other nations have come to seek the light that has
+enlightened them.* We are proud of never having been reformed; but that
+it is at our school that the reformers have been instructed, as they
+themselves avow. We rejoice finally in this that our valleys are the
+mother church of all Reformed and Protestant Churches. These are our
+titles; these are our testimonies.
+
+Every one knows that Luther and Calvin commenced their labours in 1517
+and 1536, while we have a confession of faith dated 1120.**
+
+     * The Vaudois' state seal bears a candle, with rays,
+     surrounded by clouds; motto, Lux in Tenebris.--T.
+
+     ** The noble Leicon, quoted above; vide extract at the end
+     of Bresse.
+
+It is almost needless to add the testimony of our enemies; Pope Pius II.
+known by the name of Aneas Sylvius before his election, and author of a
+history of Bohemia, printed by Anthony Bons, in which he says, they (the
+Bohemian heretics) have embraced the impious doctrine of the Vaudois, of
+that pestilential faction long ago condemned, whose doctrines are,
+that the Bishop of Rome is not superior to others; that there is no
+purgatory; that prayers for the dead are useless; that worship should
+not be rendered to the images of God, and the saints, &c. &c. To this
+testimony I must add that of Claude de Seyssel, bishop of Marseilles,
+and afterwards of Turin, celebrated in the reigns of Louis XI., Charles
+VIII., Louis XII., and Francis I., in whose reign it was thought no
+one could be so likely to bring back the Vaudois to the Roman Catholic
+faith, and he was in consequence made Bishop of Turin. The following,
+taken from a book written by him, expressly against them, shows all that
+he could find to complain of in their doctrine. They (says he of the
+Vaudois) will receive only that which is written in the Old and New
+Testaments; nay, they say that the Roman pontiffs, and other bishops,
+have degraded the sacred text, by their doctrine and false comments;
+they deny the power of absolution, celebrate no saints' days, and
+pretend that they alone possess the true evangelic and apostolic
+doctrine; they despise the indulgences of the church, detest images,
+teach the words of the evangelists and apostles in the vulgar tongue,
+and affirm that there is no power which can forbid the right of
+contracting marriages, and say that mass was not celebrated in the time
+of the apostles, &c.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III. ANTIQUITY OF THE VAUDOIS FAITH
+
+We find in St. Paul's epistle to the Romans, written from Corinth,
+chapter xv. verse 24, that it was the intention of the apostle to
+go into Spain, and to pass through Italy on his way. Now if St. Paul
+afterwards performed this journey, he must necessarily have passed
+through the valleys, as they lay on his road to Spain at that time, and
+he would have preached the gospel in them, as he did wherever he went.
+From this, it is fair to conjecture that the Vaudois have received
+their doctrine from St. Paul himself; and if this is thought too bold an
+assertion, we have reason to suppose that his doctrine may have reached
+them during his lifetime, as it seems to have been propagated by his
+followers throughout Italy, before he left Rome; for in concluding his
+epistle from Rome, to the Hebrews, he says, "Salute all them that have
+the rule over you, and all saints, they of Italy salute you." He does
+not say they of Rome, as the number of Christians rapidly augmented
+in the capital, and they were nearly all dispersed by the persecutions
+under Nero and Domitian, it is extremely probable that some parties of
+this host of fugitives should have taken refuge among our mountains, in
+the time of the immediate successors of the apostles.
+
+But to descend to a period of greater certainty, it is allowed by
+all that the whole of Italy embraced Christianity in the time of
+Constantine,* and therefore the Vaudois doctrines may be considered
+the same as those of the Universal Church, by which we do not find
+any superstitious rites or customs to have been adopted till the sixth
+century; nor are the dangerous and revolting dogmas of the court of
+Rome, and its flagitious practices to be traced before the end of the
+eighth. All that belongs to the doctrine and practice of the modern
+Roman communion was until then unknown, as is clearly proved by the
+testimony of Juellus Daitle, Dumoulin, &c., and indirectly by the
+partizans of Rome, Baronius, Enuphius, Platina, &c.
+
+These innovations, and particularly the adoration of images,** were
+loudly condemned by the churches of England, France, Germany, and the
+east.
+
+     * St. Augustine relates, that Constantine sent a band of
+     troops, after his victory over Maxentius, to destroy the
+     statue of Jupiter Peninus, in the temple of Mont S. Bernard,
+     (now the site of the modern convent,) and gave them his
+     golden thunderbolt as a reward.--T.
+
+     ** Established by Pope Adrian I.; vide Storia dei Pontefeci.
+
+Which condemnation was confirmed by the council convoked by
+Charlemagne,* at Frankfurt-on-the-Main, in 794. The Bishops of Italy
+also proclaimed their discontent in a letter which they addressed, by
+means of Photius, to the patriarchs of the Greek churches. Baronius, who
+gives this letter, subjoins the following answer of the Patriarchs.**
+"We have received a synodal epistle from Italy, in which the
+inhabitants lay to the charge of their bishop an infinity of crimes and
+perverseness; among other things, the tyranny he wishes to exercise over
+them, and they call us, with tears, to the defence of the church." Here
+again let it be remarked, that as long as the superior church retained
+its purity, the Vaudois did not secede from it. It was the court of Rome
+that began with innovations, not they. Of this so many proofs press upon
+me, that I scarcely know which to choose. At the end of the eighth,
+or beginning of the ninth century, flourished Claude, bishop of
+Turin, whose diocese embraced not only our valleys, but Dauphine and
+Provence.***
+
+     * Vide Histoire de Charlemagne, by
+
+     ** It should here be remarked, that the Vaudois recognize
+     for orthodox the decisions of the four first great councils
+     of the Church, Nice, Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalce-
+     done, the last of which was held in 451; and that they
+     recommended the reading of the fathers of the first five
+     centuries.
+
+     *** Piemont making then part of France, it did not pass
+     under the sway of the house of Savoy till the twelfth
+     century.
+
+He opposed himself so strenuously to the innovations of the court
+of Rome, that his doctrine has been since called calvinistic by his
+enemies.* Illyricus makes the following mention of him in his Catalogue
+Test. Veritatis, lib. 9. "Claude, Bishop of Turin, lived in the time
+of Charlemagne and Louis the Pious, of whom he was the intimate friend,
+even before he became Bishop; he strenuously opposed, (both by preaching
+and writing,) the adoration of images, of relicts, and the cross,
+invocations to the saints, pilgrimages, the precedence of the Pope, &c.
+He treated the Pope himself with great severity, loudly condemning the
+profit which he made by the poor superstitious people, whom he drew to
+Rome on pilgrimages."
+
+In the fragments that remain of this courageous Bishop, which are cited
+by Leger, Part I. p. 137, he combats with great vigour, the abuses above
+mentioned, and proves that it was not his wish to establish any new
+sect, but to preserve the doctrines of the apostles in their original
+purity.** We cannot, therefore, doubt his having used his utmost
+exertions in his own diocese, of which our valleys formed a part.
+
+     * Genebrand Chronic, Liv. 3.
+
+     ** The title of the Bishop's work, of which fragments are
+     cited by Leger, is Apologeticum rescriptum Claudii Episcopi
+     adversus Theodemirum Abbatem. And after a careful
+     examination of these fragments, and some of the Vaudois MSS.
+     I am inclined to think that the latter are no more than a
+     development of the former; for there is the same connection
+     of ideas, and the arguments are placed in the same order; so
+     that the writings of Claude seem to have been the text on
+     which the Vaudois amplified, which is natural, as the Bishop
+     addressed men of education and learning, and had not
+     occasion to use so many arguments and explanations as the
+     Vaudois writers had, who wrote for the illiterate and the
+     multitude.--Note by Peyran.
+
+Indeed we have the fullest evidence that the Vaudois preserved the
+purity of their faith during the ninth and tenth centuries. To prove
+this fact, it will be sufficient to give a single quotation from the
+missionary Marco Aurelio Rorenco, Grand Prior of St. Roch, at Turin,
+whose work is entitled Narratione delle Intro-duzione delle heresie
+nelle valli de Piemonte, Turin, 1632.* Speaking of the doctrine of
+Claude, which this author is pleased to call heresy, he says--"This
+doctrine continued in the valleys all the ninth and tenth centuries;"
+and again, "that during the tenth century no change took place, but the
+old heresies were continued." In order to feel the full force of the
+above citation, we must call to mind that Rorenco** had been for ten
+years a missionary, directly sent out to the Vaudois, with orders to
+search into the origin of their doctrine; and that writing with the
+approbation of the clergy of Turin, he was little likely to favour the
+Vaudois.
+
+     * He also wrote Memorie Historiche, Turin, 1645.
+
+     ** Rorenco says in another place, that it is impossible to
+     say with certainty at what period this sect took root in the
+     valleys.--p. 60 of Nar. del Introd.
+
+In the eleventh century, Lambertus, a Catholic and friend of Gregory
+VII. writes thus: "The court of Rome has so completely stifled all
+charity and Christian simplicity, that almost all good and just men
+believe that the reign of Antichrist, of which St. John speaks, is
+already commenced." John the Fifth, who reigned before this period, has
+been called by cotemporary writers, the most wicked of men. In these
+unhappy times the Vaudois did not venture to preach any where but in the
+woods and highest mountains, except in their most remote villages, such
+as Macel and Pral, &c. In the eleventh century, Berenger, so celebrated
+for his knowledge and virtues, was condemned by two councils, convoked
+by Pope Leo IX., and was forced to retract what he had written against
+transubstantiation, &c. by Pope Nicholas. He lost no time, however,
+in protesting against this forced recantation, and persevered in his
+doctrine till his death, in 1091. Now the belief of Berenger, (says an
+ancient author,) the same as that of the Vaudois, was so well preserved
+in the valleys, that to call a man a Berengerian was the same as calling
+him a Vaudois. Peter de Bruys,* a priest of Toulon, whose doctrine
+was precisely similar, succeeded Berenger, and preached in Languedoc,
+Provence, and Dauphine, particularly at Gap and Embrun, a few hours
+distance only from the Vaudois valleys; his disciples were called
+Petrobrusians, and he was martyred at S. Gilles, 1124.
+
+     * His disciples after his death, published a book,
+     declarative of his reasons for opposing the Roman Catholic
+     Church; a copy of which, in ancient Gothic characters, is
+     extant in the library of Cambridge.
+
+Henry de Bruys, and Arnaud de Bresse now took up the cause, and extended
+the Vaudois doctrines in Lombardy. Of the disciples of the former, St.
+Bernard, who wrote in 1120, bears this testimony, "that they
+prided themselves in being the true successors of the apostles, and
+conservators of their doctrine."
+
+Arnaud de Bresse fell a victim to the cruelty of the Roman clergy in
+1155, being first crucified and then burnt. He was succeeded by his
+zealous disciple Esperon. Rorenco in the work above cited, says, that
+we must by the names of Vaudois, Esperonites, Henricians, Petrobrusians,
+Arnaudites, and Apostolicals, understand one and the same sect, which is
+a sufficient proof of the identity of the doctrine of the Vaudois, and
+that of these zealous preachers. The celebrated Peter Valdo, a rich
+inhabitant of Lyons, openly professed the Vaudois doctrine in 1175.
+He abandoned all his possessions, gave himself up entirely to the
+promulgation of the gospel, had the bible translated into the vulgar
+tongue, and instructed the people publicly in the streets, commencing
+with the thesis, that we must obey God rather than man. He refused
+submission to the Pope and his bishops; exposed the scandalous lives of
+the monks; and refuted the doctrine of the mass, purgatory, adoration
+of images, and prayers for the dead. At the instance of Pope Alexander
+III., Valdo was driven from Lyons, with most of his disciples. A great
+part of them retired either to Lombardy, or (as an ancient writer
+observes,) into Cisalpine Gaul, and among the Alps, where they found
+a perfectly secure retreat, (tutissimum refugium.) That is among the
+valleys of Pragela, Meane, Saluces, &c., and we must pay great attention
+to this expression, since it appears natural that these valleys should
+be their surest place of refuge, being already peopled with Vaudois,
+who professed the same doctrines. Other disciples of Valdo withdrew to
+Picardy, Germany, Bohemia, and the Low Countries. I must here remark,
+that even those who in contradiction to the above chain of evidence,
+assert that the Vaudois derive their name and doctrine from Peter Valdo,
+must allow them to have been established in the valleys at least fifty
+years before the ancient counts of Savoy obtained the sovereignty of
+their country; for it appears in the history of the house of Savoy, that
+the first who began to make conquests in our country, was Thomas, son of
+Humbert, who had previously accompanied Louis, son of Philip Augustus,
+king of France, in his expedition against the Vaudois and the Albigenses
+of Provence. Hence we have every possible right to the possession of our
+country, in which we were established before our sovereigns.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV. ANTIQUITY AND PURITY OF THE VAUDOIS DOCTRINE, PROVED BY
+THEIR OWN WRITINGS
+
+As the Vaudois have been accused of being Manicheans, Arians, and
+Cathares,* we shall be but doing our ancestors justice to appeal to
+their own writings. In the preface to the French Bible, which they
+printed at Neuchatel, in 1535, the Vaudois render thanks to God that
+having received the treasure of the gospel from the apostles or their
+immediate successors, they had always preserved to themselves the
+enjoyment of this blessing. In proof of which it appears by the noble
+Leicon, dated 1100, that they had rejected and continued to reject all
+traditions, nor had ever received other doctrines than those contained
+in the Holy Scriptures.
+
+     * From Cathari, white, pure.
+
+The treatise on Antichrist, dated 1120, proves the same point; as does
+that against the invocation of saints, which must have been written in
+the sixth century, since it calls this error a doctrine then in the
+bud, and we know that it took its rise at that period. So in all the
+confessions of faith given at divers times, the Vaudois profess to have
+received their tenets from father to son, from the time of the apostles.
+Rorenco himself has preserved one of their petitions to the Duke of
+Savoy, dated 1599, in which they say, that it is not within a few
+hundred years only that they have had knowledge of the truth, and that
+no one could be ignorant of their having taught the same tenets for 500
+or 600 years, that is, when they openly declared against the abuses of
+Rome, under their Bishop, Claude. The Vaudois of the valleys Mathias and
+Meane* made the same declaration, (nearly in the same words,) when they
+were forced in 1603 to quit their country, for refusing to obey the
+order of Charles Emanuel, to abandon their faith. Finally in all their
+memorials, petitions, and letters, they have never failed to repeat the
+same thing, praying to be left in the enjoyment of that religion, which
+they had professed time immemorial even before the Dukes of Savoy
+were princes of Piemont. The authenticity of these petitions, &c. is
+unquestionable, since they have been printed, together with the answers
+to them, by order of the court of Turin, and are more than 100 in
+number.
+
+     ** The Vaudois of these valleys formed one body with those
+     of Luzerne, Perouse, and St. Martin.
+
+
+Section II. Evidence of Protestant Writers
+
+To the internal evidence of the writings of the Vaudois themselves,
+we must now add that which is to be found in the works of Protestant
+authors, and first in those of the celebrated Theodore Beze, who thus
+speaks of them* "These are the people who have always preserved the true
+religion, without allowing any temptation to pervert them. The Vaudois,"
+says he, in another place, "are so called from their residence among the
+valleys and fastnesses of the Alps, and may well be considered as
+the remains of the purest primitive Christian church. Nor has it
+been possible to draw them within the pale of the Roman communion,
+notwithstanding the horrible persecutions exercised against them. At
+this time they have churches flourishing, as well in doctrine as in
+examples of a truly innocent life. I speak particularly of those of
+the Alpine valleys, of whom some are subjects of the king of France, and
+others of the Duke of Savoy."
+
+     * The expressions are sempre, al solito, da equi tempo,
+     immemoriale, conforme all* antico soli to, conforme a loro
+     antiche franchizie. The collection is printed at Turin,
+     1678.
+
+     ** Portraits des hommes illustres.
+
+Ileidanus* asserts, "that from the most remote antiquity they have
+opposed the Roman Pontiff, and have always held the purest doctrine."
+
+     * Historia Caroli Quinti Imp. lib. xvi. p. 534.
+
+Esron Rudiger affirms that the Vaudois existed at least 240 years
+before John Huss, which agrees nearly with Bishop Claude. L'Histoire
+ecclesiastique des Eglises'reformees de France, printed in 1558,
+confirms the above assertions. Amyraut, Drelincourt, Basnage, Ruchat,
+Jurieu, Werenfels, and many other writers of the reformed church, give
+the same opinion.
+
+
+Section III. Testimony of Roman Catholic Authors.
+
+Among the principal evidences in favour of the Vaudois, I must here
+refer to the large collection of edicts respecting them, published
+by the court of Turin. It is deemed unnecessary to recapitulate their
+dates. The Monk Belvedere, chief of a mission, sent to convert the
+Vaudois in 1630, in his answer to the College of Propaganda fide,*
+excuses himself for not having converted a single person, because "the
+valleys of Angrogna have always, and at every period, been inhabited by
+heretics."--Again, Reynerus Sacco, expressly appointed by the court of
+Rome, Inquisitor against the Vaudois, goes still farther than Belvedere;
+and in a book he published against them, calls them Leonists, from
+one of their ministers named Leon, who lived in the third century; he
+affirms that no sect was so pernicious to the church as the Leonists;
+and this for three reasons: 1st. Because it was the most ancient of all;
+some deriving its origin from the time of Pope Sylvester (the fourth
+century), and others from the Apostles themselves. 2ndly, Because it was
+the most extensive, there being scarcely any country into which it had
+not penetrated; and, 3dly, That instead of inspiring horror as other
+sects did, by their frightful blasphemies against the Divinity, it had
+a great appearance of piety; since its members "lived justly before
+men, believed rightly on God, and received the Apostles' Creed; but they
+blasphemed against the Roman church and clergy."**
+
+     * Relatione al consiglio de Prop. Fid. Turin, 1636.
+
+     ** Bibliotheque des Peres, de Gretserus Traite contra les
+     Vaud.
+
+The most obstinate opponents of the antiquity of the Vaudois must give
+way before the authority of Claude de Seyssel, Archbishop of Turin, who
+has this passage in his book against us, printed by privilege of Francis
+the First of France: "The sect of Vaudois," says he, "took its origin
+from one Leon, a truly religious man, who, in the time of Constantine
+the Great, detesting the extreme avarice of Pope Sylvester, and the
+lavish expenditure of Constantine, preferred living in poverty, with
+simplicity of faith, to the reproach of accepting a rich benefice with
+Sylvester. To this Leon all attached themselves who thought rightly
+of their Creed." The same author, after having made useless researches
+after the commencement of the Vaudois sect, concludes with these
+remarkable words: "That there must be some important and efficacious
+reason why this Vaudois sect had endured during so many ages. Again; all
+kind of different attempts to extirpate them have been made at different
+times, but they always remained victorious, and absolutely invincible,
+contrary to the expectation of all."
+
+The reader will observe that this expression, "during so many ages," was
+written by Seyssel in 1500.
+
+I have already quoted Rorenco, one of the most zealous of the
+missionaries sent against the Vaudois; his family still remains in the
+valleys. One of his descendants bearing the title of Count of La Tour,
+in his Memorie Historiche, addressed to the Duke Victor Amadeus, allows
+that the Vaudois doctrine was not new, in the time of Claude, many
+persons having opposed the Roman See before him; he also asserts that
+their doctrine remained the same in the 11th and 12th centuries.
+Rorenco will not, however, allow that the doctrine was derived from the
+Apostles, but avows (which nearly amounts to the same thing) that there
+is no ascertaining when it was first received in the valleys.
+
+In fine, Samuel Casini, a Franciscan monk, says positively, in his work
+entitled Victoria Triomphale, printed at Coni, 1510, that "the errors of
+the Vaudois consisted in not admitting the Roman to be the sacred mother
+church, or obeying her traditions; although he could not, for his own
+part, deny that they acknowledged the Christian church, and had always
+been and still continued to be members of it."
+
+Now it seems to me hardly possible, after these proofs, that anyone
+should venture to deny the truly Apostolic succession of the Vaudois
+church; but as some people have supposed that the Vaudois, after
+receiving the opinions of the court of Rome, have subsequently been
+reformed, like all those who are called Protestants; let them say when
+and where the Vaudois reformation took place; and let them also account
+for the silence of all historians on such an event! But as long as the
+testimony above quoted, of Catholics, Protestants, Vaudois; nay, of
+the very edicts of their princes, and their own petitions and replies,
+exists, I shall consider it as proved that the Vaudois church, having
+received the Gospel in the earliest days of Christianity, is the parent
+of all the reformed churches, and has _never herself been reformed_.
+
+These truths having been established by such incontestable proofs, it
+remains only to give a sketch of the manners of the Vaudois, and the
+discipline of their churches, before we come to the historical part of
+my labours.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V. MANNERS OF THE VAUDOIS
+
+In religion, theory is nothing without practice, and of all species of
+knowledge none requires less speculation than that of the Gospel. Its
+Divine Author has declared, that the religion which he came to announce
+to us consists not in words, but in virtues, which important declaration
+at once defines the spirit of Christianity, in placing charity even
+above faith. However this great truth may be forgotten by many of the
+Christians of these days, or rendered nugatory by the pretensions of
+their teachers, it is not the less incontestable at the tribunal of
+reason and revelation, and let us hope, for the good of humanity, that
+it will soon prevail over the vain phantoms which have been substituted
+for it throughout the greatest part of Europe. Yes, indeed! I delight in
+believing that the march of knowledge is a guarantee of this, and that
+we are approaching that happy time when a man will not be required
+to prove he is a Christian, merely by repeating, like a parrot, the
+articles of belief, which have been drawn up by the chiefs of the sect
+to which he belongs, when it will not suffice alone coldly to admit some
+Evangelical truths, but when those who call themselves Christians will
+acknowledge--"That pure religion is this, to visit the fatherless and
+widows in their affliction, and to keep themselves unspotted from
+the world."* It cannot be too often repeated, that this is real
+Christianity.
+
+And such have ever been the sentiments of the Vaudois, never have they
+been known to waste, _in pernicious disputes or useless discussions_
+that time which might have been employed in good works; and thus, by a
+natural consequence, they have formed a Christian society of virtuous
+conduct and irreproachable morals.
+
+     * Epistle of St. James, chap. i. ver. 22.
+
+We have above quoted that remarkable passage of the Inquisitor Reynerus
+Sacco, in which he has borne witness in favour of our ancestors. We will
+add the testimony of Claude de Seyssel, who affirms that, "for their
+lives and moral behaviour, the Vaudois are without reproach before men,
+and do their utmost endeavours to keep the commandments of God." The
+respectable French historian, De Thou, says that "the Vaudois keep the
+commandments of the decalogue, and allow among them of no wickedness,
+detesting perjuries and imprecations, quarrels, seditions, and all
+debaucheries, usury, &c. &c."
+
+The Cardinal Baronius bears witness to their chastity, and Thuanus
+(also a Catholic historian) adds to this, "that they are such scrupulous
+observers of honour and chastity, that their neighbours, though of
+a contrary faith, intrusted them with the care of their wives and
+daughters, to preserve them from the insolence of the soldiery."
+
+This occurred in 1560, when the troops of Count de la Trinite were
+quartered at La Tour, and the Vaudois had retired to the mountains. It
+was then also that a young girl, to escape the pursuit of a soldier,
+preferring her honour to life itself, precipitated herself from the
+summit of a rock. An English monk, quoted by Boxhornius, also gives an
+example of the purity of Vaudois manners, in the answer of a young woman
+to the solicitations of her lover; "God forbid, O young man, that
+I should love thee so much as to become eternally miserable for the
+gratification of thy wishes."
+
+This admirable purity is still respected in the valleys, and,
+notwithstanding the corruption of the age, we must look through a long
+series of years to find one or two females who have not observed it.
+Those who have fallen are become the objects of universal contempt.
+The very children point at them, and a whole life of virtue is scarcely
+sufficient to obtain for them the oblivion of their fault. Compare this
+with the manners of other Christian nations.
+
+Let us now turn to Vigneaux, who was well qualified to judge of Vaudois
+morals, having been forty years a pastor among them, and having made a
+large collection of their ancient writings, which he translated: from
+his work "On the Lives, morals, and religion of the Vaudois," I extract
+the following, "They are a people of fidelity in their promises, of
+irreproachable lives, and are great enemies to vice;" and of his own
+time he adds, "We in these valleys of Piemont live in peace and concord
+with the others, but we do not connect ourselves in marriage with the
+Catholics. For the rest, our manners and morals are so approved by them,
+that they prefer taking servants from among us to themselves;* and
+some come from a great distance to choose nurses for their children,
+considering them more faithful than their own."
+
+     * Still the case in the valleys in 1825.
+
+The order of the French government, in 1592, to M. de Birague, governor
+of Saluces, to massacre the Vaudois, drew forth the following testimony
+from one of the council of that town: "That his majesty must assuredly
+have been misinformed as to these poor people, who were good men, and
+did him honourable and faithful service, living peaceably with their
+neighbours; with whom indeed there was no fault to find, except their
+religion." To all these testimonies there is one other to be added,
+of still more weight, namely, that of all the edicts which have been
+_successively_ published by the court of Turin against the Vaudois; in
+no one is the smallest reproach to be found on the score of probity,
+good faith, or morals. This silence becomes an invaluable avowal from
+those who eagerly sought some pretext to give a colour to the horrible
+persecutions they authorized.
+
+Is it not astonishing, after this, to find the Vaudois calumniated by
+Albert de Capitaxis, Rubis, &c. as the first Christians were by the
+Pagans? Paradin* and Girard, however; may be cited in reply. They assert
+that the Vaudois were not guilty of any of the horrible crimes of which
+they were accused; but only of having freely inveighed against the
+corruption and vices of the priests and friars, and thus excited their
+mortal hatred....
+
+     * Annales de Bourgogne, par Guillaume Paradin, Lyons, 1566.
+
+But we may well despise this slander, and consider what has been the
+cause of their real purity of manners. The ecclesiastical discipline,
+which has always been in great vigour, may be assigned as the cause, as
+it has induced the continual study of, and meditation upon the sacred
+writings. And here I must be pardoned another extract from an ancient
+author. "All the people," says he, "of either sex, and of whatever age,
+cease not to learn and teach; the labourer at his daily task either
+teaches his comrade or learns of him, and the evening is spent in the
+same instructions, even without books. He that has learnt for one week
+teaches others for the next, and if any one excuses himself from want
+of memory, he is told that even one word every day will amount to many
+sentences at the end of a year, which in many years will form a fund of
+knowledge." "I have heard with my own ears," says this author, "one
+of these poor peasants repeat the whole book of Job by heart, without
+missing one word; and there are others who have the whole of the New
+Testament at their fingers' ends. Do any of them lead an evil life?
+they are sharply rebuked, according to their discipline, and told the
+Apostles lived not thus, nor must we who imitate them." Reynerus Sacco
+again confirms this by saying, "The Vaudois know the whole of the New
+Testament by heart, and much of the Old, (in their own language,) nor
+will they hear any thing else," saying, "that all sermons which are not
+proved by the Scriptures are unworthy of belief."
+
+This then has been the foundation of Vaudois morality, they knew no
+other rule of faith than the Gospel, and, as far as possible, adapted
+their sentiments and conduct to it. The sacred duty of an historian
+compels me to allow, that the effects of human frailty have sometimes
+shown themselves among them. Leger, who wrote more than a century
+ago, thus allows also, that "the Vaudois, his cotemporaries, no longer
+possessed that great sanctity and detachment from the world which
+distinguished their ancestors. But I must add," he continues, "that,
+compared with other reformed nations, there is none which surpass them
+in zeal for the word of God and constancy to their faith, at the peril
+of their lives and fortunes; as well as in simplicity, innocence,
+sobriety, and industry. For they abstain from cards, dice, gambling, and
+swearing, and have a horror of drunkenness, and even of dancing. So that
+if any one falls into a vicious life, he is esteemed infamous. Law-suits
+have been from time immemorial unknown among them; but, according
+to Thuanus, the first took place in the 16th century, owing to the
+litigious disposition of a young man, who had gained a smattering of law
+at the college of Turin, and sued his neighbour for having suffered some
+goats to browse among his cabbages."
+
+However much it may cost me to avow it, I must in my turn allow that
+the Vaudois have degenerated since the days of Leger; law-suits are
+beginning to become common among them, and luxury and card playing
+are insensibly introduced; nay, there are even some families who live
+without labour, a thing formerly unknown.* The zeal for religion has
+also cooled in those parishes adjoining Piemont. But these blots in the
+morals of my compatriots are perhaps inevitable to human weakness, which
+cannot approach perfection: perhaps, too, we are carried away by the
+common mania of believing our ancestors ever better than ourselves. I
+remark this both for Leger and myself.
+
+     * Qui vivent dans l'oisivete, et donnent parla un exemple
+     pernicieux.--Perhaps this is translated in too favourable a
+     sense.
+
+What we can loudly proclaim is, that still in all Europe there does
+not exist a people of such good faith, simplicity, frankness, and
+kind-heartedness, as the Vaudois of the present day. They preserve a
+respect for religion, a love for their duties, and a purity of opinions
+and morals which may in vain be sought for among other nations called
+Christian; and these virtues are joined to so much modesty, that they
+appear perfectly natural, and never ostentatious. What a touching and
+sublime spectacle do these people present to every kind heart and good
+understanding which contemplates them! They are good husbands, good
+fathers, kind friends, and good citizens, and have always, even in
+the midst of their persecutions, shown the greatest fidelity to their
+princes. Nay, even have, after an interval of a few days only, turned
+in their defence those arms which they had used against them, in the
+preservation of their lives and religion.
+
+During the long course of persecutions they have sustained,
+notwithstanding the perfidy with which they were treated, and the
+horrible tortures which they underwent, they have never given way to
+vengeance, and have contented themselves with repelling force by force.
+So that no instance is to be found, in their history, of a defenceless
+enemy having been ill used, or of their having violated their promises,
+even while treated with systematic perfidy. Nor have they ever shed
+blood, except when their absolute safety obliged them. If so many
+virtues, so many good qualities, are sometimes mingled with weaknesses,
+we must attribute it to the imperfection of human nature; observing that
+it is only some individuals who are worthy of reproach, and that the
+mass of society is (humanly speaking) irreproachable. It would,
+perhaps, be possible to clear off these faint stains, if the ancient
+ecclesiastical discipline was again enforced; and it is in aid of this
+object that we have consecrated the next chapter to its description.
+Happy, thrice happy should I be, if this, or any part of my work, should
+tend to draw any of my countrymen (still more than at present) into
+the path of life. If this whole people, by drawing daily nearer to the
+Eternal One, should ever render themselves worthy to have it said of
+them--"This is the patience of the faithful, behold them who keep the
+commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."
+
+Note.--Having had the opinion of my friends, the commissioners of the
+Walloon Synod, upon my MS. and this having been thought too bright a
+picture of the Vaudois morals by one of those gentlemen who had never
+visited the valleys, I thus replied to one of them:--"I am not surprised
+that my picture of the manners of my countrymen should appear to you too
+highly coloured. But if you had lived some years among these excellent
+people, as I have done, and then in a country where the corruption of
+manners is as great as it is here, and in the towns in Switzerland, you
+would not think so. For, although we may be degenerated from the purity
+of our ancestors, I protest to you, that it is only those parishes
+immediately adjoining to Piemont which have incurred this reproach. In
+all the rest, their kindness of heart, frankness, benevolence, and zeal
+for religion, would enchant you. I have more than once visited all the
+parishes, and have resided in most of them, being acquainted with a
+great many of their inhabitants; and, by all this experience, I am
+confirmed in the belief that there does not exist, in our days, a people
+in morals so pure, life so irreproachable, and piety so exemplary, as
+the Vaudois."*
+
+     * The author's sister is still living in the valleys, and is
+     the wife of one of the most exemplary pastors.--T.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI. ON THE DISCIPLINE OF THE VAUDOIS CHURCH.
+
+That the Vaudois have preserved until the time of the Reformation the
+doctrines of the primitive church, as described in the epistles of
+the Apostles, has been acknowledged by Luther, Melancthon, Bucer, and
+AEcolampadius, in the different letters which they addressed to our
+ancestors. And it was by their advice that the latter relaxed somewhat
+from the ancient severity of ecclesiastical government, fearing that it
+might estrange persons otherwise desirous of embracing their belief; and
+others, who having fallen into error, preferred abjuring their creed to
+exposing themselves to the shame of public punishment. I cannot think,
+however, that these changes have proved advantageous, and Melancthon
+himself confesses, he cannot disapprove of the former strictness, and
+wishes it had been adopted in the Protestant churches. It is certain
+that the total abolition of all discipline among the latter has been
+pernicious to good morals. Let us examine the methods taken by the
+Vaudois to preserve them uncorrupted.
+
+
+Public Worship, &c.
+
+The public worship was always celebrated in the Vaudois language till
+1630, when a pestilence swept off the whole of the barbes,* then fifteen
+in number, with the exception of two, who were inefficient from age.**
+In consequence, pastors were invited to come from France and Geneva;
+as these knew neither Vaudois nor Italian, they preached in French, a
+custom which still continues, (though the churches have long been served
+by Vaudois,) but though few families speak French habitually, there is
+no one who does not perfectly comprehend it, all their books being in
+French; and consequently the children always receive their instruction
+in that language. They make use of the Swiss liturgy, not having it in
+their power to print one of their own. In the holy sacraments the bread
+was, until 1630, broken into three parts, and the water thrice sprinkled
+in baptism, in remembrance of the Trinity.
+
+     * Barbe, the ancient word for pastor.
+
+     ** Gilles and Gros, two retired pastors, only remained.
+
+The parishioners, without exception, assembled at the house of their
+respective elders, for communion, which was celebrated four times a
+year; when before Easter, and sometimes before Christmas, each person
+was required by his pastor to give his reasons for his faith, and if
+one was passed over, it was esteemed an affront. Oh virtuous people! why
+hast thou not persisted in this laudable custom, so well calculated to
+perpetuate thy happiness, and maintain thy zeal for religion? Before the
+time of the plague above mentioned, the pastors each year were subject
+to a visit from the moderator and two members of the synod, who, after
+minute inquiries, made their report to the synod. The foreign clergy
+would not submit to this ordinance, and though it has been since
+re-established, these perquisitions have not been made with the same
+strictness.
+
+The ancient pastors were also accustomed to invite the censure of their
+consistory once a year, upon any thing they might disapprove; and, after
+general consultation, the first of the elders freely gave his opinion of
+the conduct of the pastor. Ecclesiastical punishments were also severe;
+a murderer, adulterer, or lewd person, could only be reconciled to the
+church after having given unequivocal proofs of repentance, and a long
+exclusion from the sacrament. Such persons were also obliged to appear
+publicly in the church, (the number of times being regulated by the
+extent of guilt,) and after sitting on a seat apart, stand up at the end
+of the service, while the pastor announced that a person was permitted
+to make public reparation for his fault. The penitent then implored
+aloud the pardon of God, and his brethren, for having set them so bad an
+example, and promised amendment; upon which the barbe announced to him
+the remission of his sin, on the part and in the name of the Almighty,
+and concluded by an exhortation to the people. This custom is
+authorized, nay, prescribed by the Gospel, as one of great utility. I
+must however repeat, sins of this nature are still extremely rare in
+the vallies. Games of hazard were never permitted, and dancing was so
+strictly forbidden, that the wife of a pastor was publicly censured for
+having been present at a May-day dance in Luzerne, though she did not
+herself take part in it. "There are also," says Leger, "ordinances
+against blasphemy and swearing; but during the twenty-three years I have
+been minister, and twelve moderator, no one instance of the kind has
+ever occurred; and I am convinced in a whole century here one should not
+hear the name of God taken in vain."
+
+The consistories in each parish are composed of the pastor, the elders,
+and the deacon: * no one is admitted among the elders without a very
+strict examination; the dignity lasts for life, unless forfeited by
+unworthy conduct. In important cases the heads of families are called
+in to the assistance of the consistory, who decide by the majority of
+votes. There were besides other councils, called colloques,** composed
+of the pastors and one or two ancients from every church, who met once a
+month in each valley to take cognizance of those differences which were
+not finally arranged at the consistories. From the colloques an appeal
+might be made to the synods; but disputes were sometimes settled
+by choosing arbiters, and exacting a promise of obedience to their
+decision. By these means was every dispute terminated, for it was
+absolutely forbid, under any pretence, to have recourse to courts of
+law.
+
+     * Who acts as churchwarden.--T.
+
+     ** Literally parliaments.
+
+How consistent these rules were with the spirit of primitive
+Christianity may be seen, by referring to the sixth chapter of St.
+Paul's epistle to the Corinthians.
+
+The synods were the most solemn and general councils of the Vaudois,
+and were formerly held every year, (but now every second year,) at each
+parish in turn, excepting the four most remote.* They consist of the
+pastor and two elders from every parish, together with a commissioner
+from the sovereign, who, however, is not allowed to speak in the
+discussions.** This assembly forms a court of dernier resort to all
+others, appoints pastors and schoolmasters, and creates a moderator,
+adjoint, and secretary; who, under the name of La Table, form a
+committee for the management of affairs, until the meeting of the next
+synod. But the synods do not assume the right of interfering in matters
+of faith.*** Indeed, I find that all the articles of belief, and
+declarations of faith by our ancestors, have been drawn up in special
+general assemblies, consisting not only of pastors and elders, but
+also of such heads of families who could attend. As, for example, the
+articles d'union des vallees, in 1571.
+
+At the opening of their synods the pastors preach in turn, and it is
+then only that the Catholics permit the members of their church to
+attend such sermons, which they do in great numbers.****
+
+     * An ancient Vaudois manuscript, of 1587, asserts that 140
+     barbes once assisted at a Synod in the valley of Laus, in
+     the Pragelas.
+
+     ** L'intendant de la province envoye de la part du
+     government.
+
+     *** This perfect liberty of conscience is a natural result
+     from the Vaudois maxims, before stated, and proves them
+     equally devoid of superstition and fanaticism.--Note by
+     Bresse.
+
+     **** Vid. anecdote of the elder Moudon of S. Jean
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII. OF THE BARBES OR PASTORS
+
+This name, which originally signified _uncle_, was generally given to
+those persons treated with any particular respect and reverence, and was
+used to distinguish the pastors, until the calamity of 1630, mentioned
+above. "These barbes* were," says Leger, "models of all virtue, pious,
+humble, innocent, mild, and peaceable; as well as diligent, laborious,
+and vigilant in their office; faithful labourers in the Lord's vineyard;
+they consecrated all their time and talents to the care of souls;
+exposing themselves to reproaches and persecutions, nay, even death
+itself in defence of the truth; despising the vanities, luxuries, and
+honours which the world offered to them. In a word, they fulfilled
+to the utmost every duty of nature and society." Among them many were
+married, others remained single, on account of the changes of abode then
+so often necessary to keep up a correspondence with distant countries;
+particularly (since the twelfth century) with Bohemia, Germany, Gascony,
+Provence, Dauphine, Languedoc, England, Calabria, and Apulia. Our barbes
+visited each of those countries in turn, preaching and animating the
+courage of their brethren; and the money necessary for their journeys
+and support while absent, was furnished them from the valleys.
+
+     * The Catholics use the word Barbets, as a term of reproach
+     for the Vaudois.
+
+Besides preaching, they occupied themselves in making copies of the Holy
+Scriptures, for the use of their flocks; many of them studied medicine
+and surgery, an occupation the more laudable as medical men have always
+been very scarce in the valleys, only one residing even now in the
+valley of St. Martin, and none in that of Luzerne, except the apothecary
+of the Catholic town of that name. It is true that the frugal manner of
+life among the Vaudois renders their assistance little necessary; and
+well acquainted as were our ancient barbes with the simples, with which
+our country abounds, they found among them almost all the remedies
+required.
+
+There were some of these venerable men, who, like the apostles, applied
+themselves to mechanical arts, but the most particular object of their
+care was the instruction of youth, and especially those intended for
+the church. In the most ancient times, the studies of the latter were
+confined to the learning by heart the gospels of St. Matthew and St.
+John, and the epistles; with a good part of the writings of Solomon,
+David, and the prophets; after which on presenting good testimonials,
+they were admitted into the ecclesiastical order, by the imposition of
+hands.*
+
+     * Vide Note at the end of this chapter.
+
+Not only the inhabitants of the valleys, but the youth of distant
+countries came to have the instructions of our barbes. For Illyricus,*
+the Papist author before quoted, affirms--"I find that it was common,
+nay, customary, for Bohemians to travel from their country to their
+Valdensian preceptors in Lombardy, as if to some school or college for
+the sake of studying divinity."
+
+The History of Alsace (lib. i.) makes a similar statement, with regard
+to the Alsaceans preparing themselves for holy orders.
+
+The cavern, which served for the accademia of our venerable barbes,
+where they sowed and cultivated the principles of their pure and
+blameless religion, and whence they spread them through the world, is
+still in existence; it is the cavern of the famous Pre du Tour in the
+parish of Angrogna. Besides this sacred college, there was, and still
+exists in each parish, one or more schools, where the children of
+both sexes are instructed in writing, reading, arithmetic, and sacred
+music,** well as in the elements of religion. There are also two latin
+schools, where those destined to the study of divinity learn Latin, and
+a little Greek, previous to their removal to Lausanne or Geneva.
+
+     * Catalog, test, veritat. cap. 15.
+
+     ** It is much to be regretted that an attempt to put these
+     schools upon the Lancaster system, has been rendered
+     abortive. After the revolt in Piemont, in 1820, though no
+     Vaudois was engaged in it, the government (attributing this
+     event to the increase of knowledge) absolutely forbad this
+     rapid mode of instruction.
+
+Note.--How different is this instruction from the method pursued in our
+days; it sufficed then to have studied the Christian religion in the
+gospel. But now a minister of the gospel must pass the flower of his
+youth, in learning sciences which certainly do not render him a more
+zealous and virtuous Christian, than he would have been had he studied
+alone at the school of Jesus. Now, for four or five years he is to groan
+beneath the study of languages:* then he goes on to the study of the
+belles lettres; and then to philosophy, of little use indeed to him, and
+indeed injurious, as it is taught at some universities. See here,
+ten years of labour and expense! and for what? To gain a knowledge of
+subjects which have no connection with the science of happiness. Ten
+years, during which, the youth who has devoted himself to the preaching
+of the gospel, has scarcely heard mention made of it; or if he has, only
+as a necessary part of his studies; while he should have made it his
+principal object. After this comes theology, which surely ought to
+consist in the simple, but fundamental and thorough knowledge of
+revelation; the proofs which establish its truth; and above all, the
+duties which it recommends. Is this the method of study in the colleges?
+By no means. It is not the gospel which they teach; it is the various
+opinions of commentators, and heads of sects, on different passages of
+the sacred writings. Is this to conform to the spirit of religion? is
+it not, on the contrary, to engage one's self in that pretended wisdom,
+that futile science it so much reproves? Let me be allowed freely to
+say, that I consider the manner in which the Christian religion
+is taught and learnt in our days, as the principal obstacle to its
+progress. The gospel has no need of all this paraphernalia of science,
+to affect the feelings or judgment.
+
+     * Latin, Hebrew, Greek, French, and Italian.
+
+It possesses in itself all that is necessary to produce these happy
+effects. I have only to cast a glance back upon our good ancestors, when
+our barbes studied the Bible alone, to be confirmed in my opinion.
+Is there now among the nations regarded as the most enlightened, any
+example of a society, which has attained to such a degree of perfection?
+Surely, if the answer is in the negative, we must not deny the source of
+the superiority of the ancient Vaudois over other nations, and even over
+the Vaudois of the present day. It is true that the studies of our young
+divines have not always been so simple. Logic, together with Italian,
+French, and Latin, were added, but still there was nothing like the
+present course of study. I deny not that all these sciences, (with which
+it is wished to adorn divines,) may be very useful in the countries
+where they are taught; as France, Germany, England, Switzerland, and
+the United Provinces; but I believe all this apparatus of learning to be
+totally useless in our valleys, and that it is consequently in vain
+to condemn so many youths, destined to the priesthood, to such heavy
+expense and waste of time;* and every enlightened person will be aware
+of the cruelty of awakening these young men to the pleasures of learning
+and science, when on their return to their homes, they must abandon them
+from poverty, want of time, and their isolated situation. For to whom
+can they communicate their sciences? to the Vaudois? they understand the
+gospel alone, and are indifferent as to the rest.
+
+     * L40. a year at least.
+
+It must be remarked that the object of this note regards the Vaudois
+alone, and that it has been added with a view of drawing their attention
+to the establishment of a college, of which the author has drawn up
+a plan, which will be added at the end of the history. When it is
+considered what important objects may thus be obtained by a very small
+comparative sacrifice of money, it is hoped the benefactors of the
+Vaudois will turn their attention to it, and that some influence might
+be exerted by the British government to obtain the necessary permission,
+at the court of Turin.--Vide calculations of the expense by a traveller,
+in 1825.
+
+
+
+
+PART THE SECOND.
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+Those who are ignorant that our annals are marked by blood and misery,
+will be surprised to find that the history of these virtuous and simple
+Vaudois, worthy of the admiration of mankind, is little else than a
+series of calamity. Nor will they be able to reconcile the barbarity
+and ferocity, with which they have been persecuted, with the candour
+and innocence of these victims. One word is sufficient to explain the
+horrible enigma; mistaken zeal is blind to the duties of religion and
+nature. Can we call those reasonable beings, who, while claiming the
+privileges of the human race, utterly forgetful of humanity, massacre
+thousands of their fellow-creatures in cold blood. Why is it that the
+potentates of the earth have constituted themselves judges of an affair
+which regards God alone? Or who has given them a right to treat as
+heretics, those who think differently from themselves, or to pour out
+their blood before the altars of God?
+
+It was at the end of the fifteenth century that these scenes commenced;
+for previously, though the victims of secret intrigue, the Vaudois had
+suffered no open persecution. It was reserved to the Inquisition to work
+their ruin. A Spanish priest named Dominic, came to France to preach
+against the Vaudois of Albi or Albigenses; and succeeded so well that
+his order received the title of the preachers. He established himself
+at Toulouse, and thence dispatched his spies in all directions to make
+_perquisitions_ for those suspected of heresy, and punish them.*
+
+     * Vide Llorente istoria della Inquisition passim; it is
+     translated; the statement which this learned Spaniard gives,
+     who was himself once a chief officer of the holy office, and
+     has been since entrusted with all its registers, perfectly
+     bears out the sketch given by Bresse.--T.
+
+Gregory IX., then Pope, soon perceived the advantage he might derive
+from such missionaries, and authorised the Dominicans in France and
+Spain, and the Franciscans in Italy, to make inquisition (inquirere)
+after heretics; as well as to try, convict, and punish them. Such is the
+origin of the Inquisition, a tribunal so execrable, that it threatened
+to drown the human race in blood. Its principal seat was at Rome, and
+on the model of that, was established at Turin, that famous council, De
+Propaganda fide et extirpendis hereticis, which we shall hereafter call
+the Propaganda. This council began by declaring the Vaudois unworthy of
+communication with other Christians, ordered the confiscation of their
+property, the demolition of their houses, even the cutting down of
+their trees; sent to all princes and sovereign lords, to require them
+to search for and deliver up such heretics to the Inquisition; inflicted
+heavy penalties on those who concealed them; and conferred the third
+of their property on the informers, who pointed out their retreats.
+But these measures were too weak; the court of Rome aimed at the utter
+extirpation of this unhappy people, and committed to its ministers,
+the power of delivering over to the secular arm, that is, of putting
+to death without mercy, all those they considered heretics. Nay, these
+ferocious missionaries pronounced sentence against corpses which had
+been buried twenty and thirty years; dragged them from their tombs to
+flaming piles, and confiscated the possessions of the families to which
+they belonged.
+
+A father was forced to give evidence against a son; a sister against
+a brother; a wife against her husband; the bonds of nature, blood and
+friendship, were esteemed as nothing, to the objects of the Inquisition;
+even those suspected of heresy were rigorously punished, if they could
+not procure witnesses to swear to their innocence. The accused was
+ignorant of the name of his accuser, nor was he allowed any advocate,
+except such as might be chosen by the Inquisition. One witness alone
+was sufficient for condemnation to the torture, and even where the crime
+could not be proved, the victim was never acquitted, but his name was
+branded with infamy, and remained inscribed on the registers of this
+relentless tribunal.
+
+I content myself with referring my readers to l'histoire de la religion
+des eglises reformees, by Basnage, 1725, 4to., where they will discover
+ample proof that the above statement is not overcharged; and find
+extracts of the acts of the Inquisition of Toulouse, erected against the
+Vaudois and Albigenses.
+
+I cannot however refrain from transcribing some of the Articles which
+have served as rules to the inquisitors in the persecutions of our
+ancestors.
+
+
+Some of the rules followed by the Inquisitors in their proceedings
+against the Vaudois:
+
+That no one can be received as a penitent or admitted to absolution, if
+guilty of directly or indirectly concealing a heretic.
+
+That no one, after having been given over to the secular power, be
+permitted to justify himself before the people, lest by his explanations
+it should appear to the simple that injustice had been done him; and if
+he should escape, the Catholic religion be thereby injured.
+
+That no one condemned before the people shall be pardoned, even should
+he retract, and promise conversion; for a sufficient number of these
+heretics could never be burnt, if they were suffered to escape on such
+pretexts; because these promises being only drawn from them by the
+fear of torments, would not be observed, and if they should promise
+conversion before the people, and death be then inflicted, the people
+might think them unjustly treated. Therefore it is best never to let
+them speak before the people.
+
+That during examinations, the Inquisitor should always have a book
+open before him, appearing to have therein registered, a quantity of
+depositions, and, indeed, the whole life of the heretic.
+
+Inevitable death must be placed before his eyes, if he refuses to
+confess and renounce his heresy. If he answers--"If I must die, then, I
+prefer to die in my own faith," his execution must be hurried on as much
+as possible, and _mercy never shewn_.
+
+No attempt should ever be made to convince heretics by the Scriptures,
+for they pervert them with such dexterity, as often to confound the most
+learned men, who attempt to answer them, and thereby they become more
+hardened.
+
+A heretic must never be answered categorically; and in an interrogatory
+several questions should always be given at a time; so that in whatever
+way he may answer, he may be replied to, to his confusion.
+
+If there are any who protest they never were guilty of the Vaudois
+heresy, they must be admonished, that there are proofs sufficient to
+convict them; promising them in ambiguous terms, that they may hope for
+pardon on a free confession; many will then confess, with the hope of
+saving their lives.
+
+Such were the Rules of the Inquisition, at the end of the eleventh
+century.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I. THE VAUDOIS QUIT THE VALLEYS IN THE FOURTEENTH AND FIFTEENTH
+CENTURIES.
+
+We have already stated, that when Valdo and his disciples were driven
+from Lyons, towards the end of the twelfth century, many settled in
+our valleys. In consequence about 150 years afterwards, the population
+becoming excessive, many families withdrew to Provence, where they
+built Cabrieres, Merindol, Lormarin, and other villages. Others went to
+Paysanne, Biolet, &c., villages in the Marquisate of Saluces; and some
+retired to Meane and Mathias, near Susa. But the most considerable
+colonies formed at this time, sought an asylum in Calabria, and Apulia;
+where they first built the town called Borgo d' Oltramontani,* near
+Montalto, and fifty years afterwards (on the increase of new settlers)
+San Sisto, Vacarisso, Argentine, and St. Vincent. The Marquis of
+Spinello also allowed them at last to build on his lands, near the sea,
+the fortified town of Guardia, which soon became a flourishing place.
+
+     * Foreigner's Town.--T.
+
+About the year 1400, a persecution arising in Provence, many Vaudois
+returned to the valleys, and thence, accompanied by others of their
+brethren, directed their course to Naples, in the neighbourhood of which
+they founded successively the little towns of Moulione, Montavato, La
+Celia, and La Motta.
+
+About 100 years after this some Vaudois of Frassinieres (then making one
+body with those of the valleys) went to inhabit the town of Volturara,
+near those above mentioned, which was the last considerable emigration
+at this period.
+
+All these little colonies were regularly instructed by pastors, who
+travelled from town to town for that purpose. Our barbes even possessed
+houses at Florence, Genoa, and Venice, in which last city were
+6000 Vaudois.* There were even numbers in Rome itself, who lived in
+concealment.
+
+Although the Vaudois of Val Louise, and two other places in Dauphine,
+were persecuted in 1380,** this calamity did not extend into Piemont
+till 1400, when all the inhabitants of Pragela were forced to fly to the
+highest mountains, where about eighty women and children died of cold.
+After the massacre of all who fell into their hands, the persecutors
+pillaged their houses, and carried their booty to Susa.
+
+     * The barbe Gilles, who visited them, affirms this.
+
+     ** Under Pope Clement the Seventh.
+
+This persecution was far exceeded in severity by that in the Valley
+of Luzerne, excited by the monkish missionaries in 1476. These men,
+notwithstanding the four edicts confirmatory of the privileges of the
+Vaudois, published by the Dukes Louis and Amadeus and Duchess Jolante,
+from the years 1448 to 1473, procured bulls of great severity against
+them, from the inquisitor, Aquapendente, and Campesio, bishop of Turin,
+in 1475. Many Vaudois in consequence fell beneath the hands of the
+executioner, and among them the barbe Jordan Tertian was burnt at Susa;
+and Rouzier, Chiamp, Ambroise, and Hian, also suffered martyrdom in
+other places.
+
+In order to add force to the above bull, the Duchess Jolante issued,
+in 1476, her Latin edict, (still extant,) directing the magistrates of
+Luzerne, Cavour, and Pignerol, to use every means to bring the Vaudois
+over to the Catholic faith; and, in case of resistance, to execute the
+inquisitorial bulls against them.
+
+In this edict, the Duchess herself gives evidence of our antiquity; I
+had almost said, apostolical succession, since the words are, "to make
+them enter (venire) into the bosom of the Roman communion," and not
+re-enter.
+
+Clement the Seventh may be regarded as the founder of the most monstrous
+empire which has ever existed, exciting the flames of persecution
+against all those who refused to acknowledge him as supreme head of
+the church. Innocent the Eighth proceeded upon the same plan; taking
+advantage of the brutal ignorance of the age, to lay the world at his
+feet, and to dictate supreme laws to nations and their sovereigns.* The
+bull of the latter Pontiff,** addressed to Albert de Capitaneis, papal
+nuncio at the court of Charles Duke of Savoy, is too important to pass
+unnoticed. The Pope complains that "the followers of that pernicious and
+abominable sect of malignants, called Pauvres de Lyon, or Vaudois, say
+and commit many things contrary to orthodox faith, offensive in the eyes
+of God and pernicious to their own souls." In consequence of which, (and
+thinking himself obliged by the duties of his office absolutely to root
+out this accursed sect and all contaminated by it,) Innocent, through
+his full power, orders "all bishops, archbishops, vicars, and others
+possessing ecclesiastical office, to obey his inquisitor, and to take
+up arms with him against the said Vaudois, in order to tread them under
+foot, as venomous serpents, and thus fortify the people confided to them
+in the profession of the true faith." He then recommends to all--"to
+neglect nothing, and employ their best endeavours for such a holy
+and necessary extermination of the said heretics." And exhorts all
+sovereigns and princes "to take the shield of orthodox faith, and to
+lend him and all bishops, &c. &c. their assistance, to the end that they
+may exterminate and entirely destroy all these execrable heretics."
+
+     * A title frequently used by the Popes is "servant of
+     servants."
+
+     ** Bearing date, Rome, 1477.
+
+The Roman Pontiff proceeds, "to order all preachers to preach this
+crusade, to excite and inflame the faithful to destroy this pestilence
+by force and arms; to absolve all the crusaders, contributing by their
+arms or otherwise to this holy extermination, from all ecclesiastical
+censures and sentences. He grants to all the crusaders a dispensation
+for all irregularities. He recommends to all inquisitors to make
+composition with all those who have goods or possessions unjustly
+acquired, provided they will employ them for the extermination of the
+heretics. And he gives to all persons fighting against the latter full
+indulgence and remission of all the sins they may have committed; and
+this pardon is to extend even to the moment of their death."* He also
+gives to the crusaders "the right to take possession of all goods of
+heretics, moveable and immoveable. The missionaries shall command all
+those in the service of these heretics to leave them, and to obey our
+apostolical commands, under pain of excommunication. All those who have
+any debtor promise due to these Vaudois shall hold themselves as free
+from it, and discontinue all commerce with them. All those disobedient
+to these commands shall be deposed from all their orders, rank, and
+dignities, whatsoever they may be; and the ecclesiastics shall lose
+their benefices, the laity their honours, titles, fiefs, and privileges,
+becoming infamous, and incapable hereafter of holding any office or
+employment."
+
+     * Articul o mortis.
+
+Such is this series of horrible maxims, subversive alike of all justice,
+humanity, and religion.*
+
+     * The MS. of this bull is in the library at Cambridge.
+
+This bull, which was followed by an apostile from the Legate, almost as
+long, and signed by two notaries of Pignerol, authorized by the Duke
+of Savoy, to publish it in all his territories; was the cause of _eight
+hundred thousand_ Vaudois being put to death in different parts of
+Europe. Leger vouches for this fact; can any terms then be sufficiently
+severe for the cruelty of this monster Innocent VIII.
+
+To return, the nuncio Capitaneis, furnished with the Pope's letters
+patent, having engaged the Duke of Savoy, the King of France, and other
+neighbouring princes to furnish troops for the extermination of the
+inhabitants of the valleys, about 18,000 men were assembled, besides
+5 or 6000 Piemontese volunteers, eager to obtain both the pillage
+of the valleys and full remission of their sins.
+
+In order to ensure success, this army was divided into several corps,
+and attacked at once Angrogna, Luzerne, Perouse, and St. Martin, as well
+as Pragela, where, after many cruelties committed, they were repulsed
+by the inhabitants. The chief attack was made in the Valley of Angrogna,
+towards Roccal Mag-nol, where the Vaudois were prepared to receive it;
+some of the advanced guard had armed themselves with a kind of long
+wooden cuirass, which defended the men, and from which the arrows
+rebounded; and under this living rampart the second rank made good use
+of their long cross-bows, but were on the point of yielding to
+superior numbers; when one Revel, indignant at the insulting shouts
+and imprecations of Lenois, who commanded the enemies, shot him with
+an arrow, upon which his troops were struck with a panic and fled. The
+French and Savoyards, irritated by this defeat, made another attack
+on the side of Angrogna, but though at first successful, they were
+afterwards repulsed. One of their captains, Saquet, falling from a rock
+into the torrent Angrogna, the spot was called by his name more than a
+hundred years after.
+
+In the attack upon Pral, of 700 men, who engaged the Vaudois near
+Pommiers, one ensign alone escaped, whom the Vaudois pardoned, that he
+might carry the news of this defeat to the rest of the army. The attacks
+in other quarters having had no better success, all open hostilities
+ceased, although desultory incursions were made into the valleys for a
+year afterwards, which did great mischief, in keeping up an alarm and
+preventing the cultivation of the land.
+
+Philip the Seventh, Duke of Savoy, at length resolved to put an end to
+the war, and sent a bishop to treat with the Vaudois, at Pra Ays-suit;
+the only condition being, that they should come to Pignerol, where his
+court was, to ask pardon. This was assented to, and the Duke granted a
+general pardon, on receiving a sum of money; he allowed that he had been
+ill informed; confirmed their former privileges, and affirmed that he
+had not such good, faithful, and obedient subjects as the Vaudois.
+
+It was on this occasion that Philip VII. desired to see the children,
+it having been reported among the vulgar, that the Vaudois children were
+born with one eye in the midst of the forehead, and four rows of black
+teeth: a striking instance of the ignorance in which Piemont was plunged
+at that time.
+
+The favour of their prince did not, however, defend the Vaudois from the
+persecutions of the inquisitors, who, from the convent near Pignerol,
+took many prisoners, either by force or stratagem, and seldom allowed
+them to escape death. By their intrigues they prevailed upon Marguerite
+de Foix, widow of the Marquis de Saluces, to drive all the Vaudois from
+her territory, in the year 1500. These poor exiles, after taking
+refuge for five years in the valley of Luzerne, and making incessant
+supplications for permission to return, at length suddenly attacked
+their enemies sword in hand, and gained possession of their homes,
+where they remained unmolested during the greatest part of the sixteenth
+century.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II. THE REFORMATION.
+
+Every one knows that the commencement of the sixteenth century was
+marked by the change in religious opinions throughout Europe which
+produced the Reformation; nor need I here specify the names of the
+reformers, or enumerate their labours in different countries, from
+Luther's public acts, in 1516, to the assemblage formed by Cranmer in
+England, of Bucer the martyr, Fagius, and others, about the middle of
+the century.
+
+Our barbes had, in 1526, sent barbe Martin and others, to hold a
+conference with the reformers Zwinglius, OEcolampadius, and Bucer, and
+had returned with many eulogiums on the constancy and simplicity of the
+Vaudois. Luther, though at first no friend to the Vaudois, admitted,
+upon better information respecting them, that they were most improperly
+styled heretics, and expressed his admiration of the courage with which
+they had renounced all human systems, in order to be guided solely by
+the light of revelation. Calvin also took a lively interest in them,
+and held their doctrines in high estimation. To the eulogiums of the
+reformers were added, however, some rebukes on what they esteemed
+errors in church discipline, and some German ministers returned with the
+barbes, to consult on their amendment. The strictures of the reformers
+rested on points of doctrine not specified by our histories; too much
+lenity shown towards feeble persons, who attended mass from fear of
+persecution; and lastly and principally, "that the Vaudois had not
+celebrated their worship with sufficient publicity for some years."
+
+I must be permitted to say, that even these, reproaches appear to me
+ill founded. Our ancestors would have been indeed blamable had they
+concealed their faith; but, on the contrary, they defended it at the
+price of their property and lives. All that can be said is, that their
+external worship was not so regular as in our days; because, as a means
+of security, they often worshipped God only in caverns and forests, and
+in their private houses.
+
+When our barbes had communicated to their brethren the observations of
+the reformers, an assembly was convoked to discuss them, at Angrogna, on
+the 12th of September, 1532, which was attended from every part of the
+valleys. The result was a new confession of faith, though it appears
+the assembly was not entirely unanimous, for two pastors and some others
+were of opinion (and with reason) that it was better to adhere to the
+old confessions, and particularly that of 1100.
+
+I would go farther and say, that these confessions of faith, so frequent
+since the Reformation, have been pernicious.
+
+Is it not an act of folly or vanity to dare to form confessions of
+faith, other than the Apostles' creed? I do not hesitate, therefore, to
+blame our Vaudois for having thus departed from the wise maxims of their
+forefathers.
+
+The spirit of this document, and the publicity with which the Vaudois
+resolved in future to celebrate divine worship, greatly astonished their
+enemies. The monks, who had been sent into the valleys to collect the
+revenues of their cures, and to convert the inhabitants, despaired of
+their undertaking, and returned in great ill-humour. But their hatred to
+the Vaudois was too inveterate to allow them to remain idle; and having
+put in force every stratagem, they at last succeeded in their plots so
+far as to induce Duke Charles to begin a new persecution.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+Many Vaudois, to escape the last persecutions, had withdrawn from their
+country to Merindol, Cabrieres, and Lormarin, in Provence, where they
+lived undisturbed until 1534; when the bishops of this country, making
+researches for heretics, seized these unhappy people, and finding them
+to be Piemontese, wrote to the inquisitor and to the archbishop of
+Turin, at whose instigation the Duke consented to appoint Pantaleon
+Bressour, lord of Rocheplatte, director of the war against the Vaudois.
+Bressour, provided with letters patent, went to examine the Vaudois
+prisoners in Provence; and from them learned not only who were the
+barbes who came from the valleys to instruct them, but the names of
+almost all the families there. From this information, he formed two
+lists., viz. one of declared, the other of suspected heretics, which he
+presented to the inquisitors; he was soon armed with fresh powers, by
+the edict of Quiers, (dated August, 1535,) to seize all whom he knew
+to be Vaudois, and to force them to enter into the Catholic faith, or
+undergo the punishments they deserved. Civil and military officers, and
+all other subjects were enjoined to obey the requisition of Bressour for
+assistance, under a heavy penalty.
+
+Having chosen 500 men from the Duke's whole army, this leader attacked
+the Vaudois, who had not the slightest suspicion of the violation of
+the peace, and massacred them without any distinction of age or sex,
+spreading consternation throughout the valleys. The following day, as
+they marched into the Val de Luzerne, with the intention of continuing
+the carnage, our Vaudois suddenly attacked them in front, rear, and
+flank, and succeeded in destroying most of these assassins, the rest
+took to flight, abandoning their prisoners and booty. Perrin (the
+historian) attributes this victory, in great measure to the slings,
+which the Vaudois used at that time with the greatest dexterity, and
+which formed their principal weapon. Blanche, countess of Luzerne and
+Angrogna, complained in vain of this perfidious invasion: two days
+afterwards appeared letters from the Duke, forbidding the inhabitants of
+the valleys to assemble in arms, under a penalty of one hundred silver
+marks. Bressour, however, contented himself with seizing those Vaudois
+who were mingled among the Catholics in Lower Piemont, and soon filled
+his castle, the prisons and Convents at Pignerol, and the inquisition at
+Turin, with prisoners. After they were tried by the inquisitors, vicar,
+and assessors, part of them were condemned to the flames, and the rest
+to several years imprisonment. There were some indeed whose fate was
+never known.
+
+The Duke, seeing that these persecutions made no impression, and having
+remarked that, in open warfare, "the skin of a Vaudois always cost
+fifteen or twenty of his best Catholics," by his letters, forbid them to
+be further molested on any pretence whatever.
+
+My readers will see that he was here actuated by a political motive*
+Francis the First, king of France, having demanded a passage for his
+army destined for the reconquest of the Milanese, the Duke thought
+proper to refuse, and consequently to employ all his forces to protect
+the frontiers. It was therefore necessary to engage the Vaudois to
+defend their passes, through which the French could have directly
+penetrated. However, notwithstanding all resistance, the enemy soon
+forced their way through Savoy into Piemont; and, after bearing their
+part in the sufferings of the war, the Vaudois remained under the
+government of the French for twenty-three years.
+
+They were during that time little disturbed on account of their faith,
+although some individuals occasionally fell victims to the fanaticism
+of the inquisition. Catelan Girardet, of St. Jean, was burnt at Revel
+in 1535; as he was led to execution he took up two pebbles, and,
+rubbing them together, thus addressed his persecutors: "You hope by
+your persecutions to destroy our churches; you will no more obtain your
+object than I can destroy these two stones in my hands." After which
+he submitted to his fate with admirable resignation. In 1536, the barbe
+Martin Gonin, of Angrogna, as remarkable for his learning as for his
+piety, was seized at Grenoble, on his return from Geneva, and thrown
+into the Isere for his perseverance in the faith.
+
+The Vaudois at this time resolved on publishing the Bible, having
+only the New Testament and some books of the Old, which were sparingly
+scattered among them, This they accomplished at the expense of 1500 gold
+crowns, paid to the printer at Neuchatel, who undertook the work. The
+translation was made by the barbe Robert Olivetan, with the assistance
+of his relation the celebrated Calvin. Though some say, that the version
+of Lefevre d'Estaples, prepared a few years before, served them for a
+model; it is certain that this translation of Olivetan's was used as the
+basis for almost all those since published. It was revised and reprinted
+by the academy of Geneva, in 1588.
+
+We have mentioned the commencement of the persecutions of the Vaudois in
+Provence, in 1534; they were revived in 1540, by the parliament of Aix
+citing the inhabitants of Merindol to appear before them; when they
+refused to do so on account of, the danger they would be exposed to,
+they were condemned to the loss of their lives and possessions. The
+execution of this barbarous sentence was deferred till 1545, when
+Cardinal Tournon obtained permission to proceed by force of arms;
+Minier, president of the parliament and lieutenant of the king, was the
+principal executioner; having marched from Aix on the 16th of April, he
+commenced by burning the villages of Pepin, La Motte, and St. Martin,
+and massacred all the inhabitants, sparing neither age nor sex. On
+the 17th, he ravaged and burnt Lormarin, Ville-Laure, Treizemenes, and
+Genson. On the 18th, he set fire to Merindol, when he put to death a
+child, the only one remaining of its inhabitants. And, finally, on the
+19th, this monster destroyed the town of Cabrieres, where 800 victims
+scarcely satiated his thirst for blood. The assassins under Minier's
+command even extended their cruelties to infants yet unborn, in a manner
+too shocking to relate.
+
+Those who escaped from this horrible carnage fled to the valleys and
+to Geneva; but, after some years, returned to take possession of their
+property. While these scenes were acting in the south of France,
+Pope Paul III. excited the parliament of Turin to similar acts in the
+valleys, then under the French dominion. To a petition for mercy, the
+only answer returned by Francis the First was, that if they did not
+conform to the laws of the Roman communion he would punish them as
+obstinate heretics, since he did not burn such persons in France to
+tolerate them among the Alps. They were then enjoined to send away their
+barbes and receive Roman Catholic priests to celebrate the mass.
+
+The Vaudois replied courageously, that it was impossible for them to
+obey such commands; that they were always ready to render unto Caesar the
+things which belonged to Caesar; but that they would render unto God
+what pertained to him, however dearly such obedience might cost them. No
+doubt, at another time, this would have excited a general persecution,
+but Francis had too much to do to employ his forces against them. The
+parliament, therefore, contented itself with individual persecution, and
+ordered all judges and magistrates vigorously to assist the officers of
+the inquisition, and to commit to the flames all the Vaudois who might
+fall into their hands. In consequence many suffered, and among them one
+Hector, a bookseller, who was burnt 1555, in the square of the castle at
+Turin, and behaved with great heroism.
+
+Until this time the houses of the barbes had served for the churches
+of their flocks; but they were now considered as too small, and it
+was decided to build temples:* the first erected was St. Laurence, at
+Angrogna; but others were built in val Luzerne and val St. Martin in
+the same year, 1556. It was also about this time that they began to send
+students to foreign universities, which relieved the barbes, who were
+much employed now, but also decreased the number of young divines, as
+comparatively only a few could support the expense.
+
+     * Temple is the word always used by the Vaudois for church.
+
+The number of pastors having at length greatly diminished, recourse was
+had to Switzerland to fill up vacancies.
+
+Two commissioners were sent this year, on the part of the king, to
+command all to go to mass; but after a tour in the valleys they were
+convinced that their threats and promises were equally ineffectual, and
+returned with the intelligence that the Vaudois were determined to
+resist to the last extremity. This information was transmitted by the
+parliament to Francis, whose answer was received the year after, 1557,
+and consisted of a peremptory order to all the Vaudois to receive the
+mass, under penalty of confiscation and death; and to send twelve of the
+principal inhabitants and all the pastors immediately to the prisons of
+Turin, to receive the condemnation they deserved. The Vaudois to this
+replied much as before, with unshaken resolution. And though the
+parliament of Turin cited a great number by name to appear before them,
+none presented themselves.
+
+Two barbes perished this year by the hands of the executioner. Sartoris,
+who was seized and burnt at Aosta, and Varaille, who suffered the same
+horrible fate at Turin. He was the son of Varaille who commanded
+the troops against the Vaudois in 1488, and had been a monk and
+a missionary; but the arguments used by his opponents, during his
+discussions with them, having at length made a strong impression upon
+his mind, he renounced the Catholic faith, though he was in the suite of
+a nuncio in France, retired to Geneva to complete his studies, and then
+served as pastor the church of St. Jean, till, yielding to an invitation
+to visit the brethren at Busque, he was seized at Barges on his return.
+
+The intercession of the Protestant princes of Germany procured repose
+for the Vaudois till 1559.
+
+When peace was signed and Duke Emanuel Philibert regained most of his
+territories, and concluded a marriage with Margaret of France, sister to
+King Henry. They at first seemed favourably disposed to the Vaudois,
+who now again fell under the Piemontese dominion. But the Duke was
+so pressed by the Pope's nuncio, the King of Spain, and some Italian
+princes and prelates, that a fresh edict was obtained from him against
+our ancestors.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+This edict, dated Nice, 1560, was appointed to be carried into execution
+by Raconis, the inquisitor-general, and Thomas Jacomel, and the
+provost-general of justice, under the direction of Philip of Savoy, lord
+of Raconis, and George Coste, Count de la Trinite.
+
+These delegates commenced their task at Carignan, where they burnt a man
+and his wife for refusing the mass; but the other Vaudois, determining
+to remain faithful to their religion, retired into the French territory.
+The commissioners, after committing some excesses by the way, attacked
+the parishes of Mathias and Meane, which they cruelly ravaged, and
+actually burnt the pastor on a slow fire.
+
+The Vaudois, favoured by some of the nobles, again petitioned the
+Duchess to have compassion on their situation; which petition the court
+forwarded to the Pope. The answer was as follows: "That the Pontiff
+would by no means consent to any discussion respecting the articles of
+faith; that every person must submit blindly to all the ordinances of
+the Papal chair; and that mild treatment having proved useless,
+recourse must now be had to vigorous measures, and to force of arms if
+necessary."
+
+In the mean time a desultory species of warfare was carried on, during
+which, attacks were made on Villar and Pinache, and a desperate assault
+on St. Germain by a troop of 300 robbers, kept in the pay of the monks
+of Pignerol.
+
+After the answer of the Pontiff, Anthony Pousserin, commander of
+the order of S. Antonio di Fossano, made a tour through the valleys,
+preaching to the Vaudois and exhorting them to receive the mass, and
+dismiss the barbes. Petitions were again vainly sent in, and finding
+there was no hope of peace, the Vaudois, after holding a council-general
+of the heads of families, celebrated a public fast, and removed the
+feeble and old, as well as most of their goods, to the houses in most
+elevated situations. The army at length appeared in November, 1561,
+under the command of the Count de la Trinite.
+
+It was at this time that the Catholic inhabitants of La Tour sent their
+wives and daughters for protection to the Vaudois on the mountains, as
+before mentioned, with a request that they would take care of them as
+long as the army remained at La Tour.
+
+The Count having garrisoned the chief towns in the valleys, and made
+successive attacks in different quarters of the passes, which all proved
+futile, pretended an eager desire to treat; and for that purpose it was
+arranged at Angrogna, that deputies should be sent to the Duke, and a
+truce agreed upon in the interim. The Count, indeed, asserted in the
+most barefaced manner, that the recent attacks were made without his
+knowledge. No sooner were the deputies departed than the Count required
+the inhabitants of two hamlets to surrender their arms; thus surprised
+they obeyed, and retired to Angrogna. An old man of 103 was massacred,
+having been found concealed; and his grand-daughter, to escape the
+affronts of the soldiers, threw herself down a precipice. After ravaging
+the Val de Luzerne, the Count promised to withdraw his troops on payment
+of 8000 crowns. He hesitated not, however, to remain after the payment
+of this sum. After committing some ravages and great cruelties, the army
+was ordered into the plains below the valleys.*
+
+About this time the deputies returned with the edict of the Duke, dated
+10th of January, in which he declares, that having considered all the
+privileges and immunities of the Vaudois, he now confirms them by this
+present edict, and commands all officers, civil and military, to observe
+them to the letter.**
+
+     * One Geiraet was absolutely put to death by the wounds
+     inflicted by quantities of the scarabeus stercorarius,
+     confined under a vessel placed on his stomach.
+
+     ** Cited in the second page of the original collection.
+
+It now seemed that the utmost wishes of the Vaudois were accomplished;
+but, nevertheless, on the 7th of February the army re-entered the val'
+Luzerne, and after a general attack upon Angrogna, which was repulsed,
+burnt many hundred houses and barns, carrying away what they could. The
+Vaudois this night took possession of the strong post of Pre du Tour,
+abandoning their position at Angrogna, which was seized some days after
+by the Count, and a regular attack made upon them from it, as well as
+from the side of val Perouse and val St.
+
+Martin. These three simultaneous attacks all failed, with great loss to
+the enemy. The Vaudois, who had only two men killed and as many wounded,
+terminated the day by thanksgivings to God, who had thus preserved them
+from total destruction.
+
+After the entire destruction of the village of Rora, the Count retired
+to recruit his army; but, in the middle of March, again took possession
+of Angrogna, with forces amounting to six or seven thousand men.
+
+The Count de la Trinite next called upon the inhabitants of Taillare to
+give up their arms, promising not to molest them if they did. They had
+the weakness to consent, and the very next night a large division of the
+enemy massacred _all_ they could find in the village, and proceeded to
+take up a position for a third attack on the Pre du Tour, supported by a
+strong body, which made a simultaneous attack from Angrogna.
+
+On the arrival of those who had gone by Taillare at a narrow pass, near
+Pre du Tour, they were for some time held in check by only six Vaudois,
+three of whom occupied the pass, while the others rolled down rocks and
+stones from above, until a reinforcement came up and forced the enemy
+to retreat. The attempt from Angrogna was equally unsuccessful, and the
+enemy was even pursued to the castle of La Tour.
+
+It would have been easy to have killed many more of the fugitives, had
+not the barbes, with the ardent benevolence of true Christians, given
+strict orders to act only on the defensive, and on all occasions to
+spare the effusion of blood.
+
+On this memorable occasion the Vaudois had but four killed and wounded,
+which the enemy has never contradicted, though the behaviour of the
+defenders of Pre du Tour made a great impression on them; one officer
+declaring, that in no war had he ever seen soldiers so dismayed as when
+they were led against the Vaudois; and another, bringing the remains
+of his company to the Count, absolutely refused again to engage in such
+expeditions. It must be remarked, that among the reinforcements of the
+Count were ten companies of infantry and some other troops, all composed
+of picked men, sent by the King of France at the request of the Duke.
+
+These successes, added to the illness of the Count de la Trinite, and
+the intercessions of the Duchess Marguerite, induced the Duke again to
+offer peace, and demand deputies from the Vaudois, whose noble firmness
+is recorded by Daubigne, a French historian. Chassincourt, who was
+appointed to meet them, rudely demanded, "How dare such wretches as you
+treat with a prince against whom you have made war? or how can such
+poor ignorant shepherds, who deserve a gibbet for your folly, have the
+assurance to contest religious points with a great prince, advised by
+men of learning and authorized in his belief by the whole world?"
+
+"Sir," replied the most aged of the deputies, "it is the goodness of our
+prince who has called us, which gives us the assurance to appear before
+him. Our resistance has been just, since it was compulsory, and God has
+approved it by the wonderful assistance he has afforded us: nor have we
+fought for worldly wealth, but purely for conscience sake; and that when
+we found our prince endeavouring to put an end to the true service of
+God, and actuated not by his own will (as we charitably believe) but by
+that of others, while executing with regret the commands of the Pope.
+With respect to the simplicity, with which you reproach us, God hath
+blessed it, since the most humble instruments are often the most
+agreeable to him, and he can elevate the most ignoble for his own good
+purposes: the counsels of the Spirit are sufficiently wise, the hearts
+He excites sufficiently courageous, and the arms which He strengthens
+vigorous enough. We are ignorant, and affect no other eloquence than to
+pray with faith. As to the death you threaten us with, the word of our
+Sovereign is dearer than our lives; at all events, he who has the fear
+of God in his heart fears not death."
+
+Chassincourt is said to have been so struck with this reply, that he
+changed his faith, and many were led by it to interest themselves for
+the Vaudois, so that peace was granted them by an edict, dated Cavour,
+June, 1565, in which their privileges, &c. were all confirmed, and not
+only the free exercise of their religion permitted, but communication
+and commerce with the states of his highness. In consequence, the
+Vaudois again took possession of their villages, houses, and lands;
+owing their restoration, in great measure, to Philip de Savoy, lord of
+Raconis.
+
+Many families were, however, entirely ruined, and more reduced to the
+greatest distress. The pastors of Geneva generously undertook to solicit
+subscriptions for them among the reformed churches; and the celebrated
+Calvin distinguished himself by his zeal and charity; so that they
+received considerable assistance from the Palatinate, Wirtemberg, Baden,
+Strasbourg, and the Swiss and Provencal Protestants.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+Notwithstanding the above mentioned formal treaty of Cavour, signed on
+the part of the Duke Emanuel Philibert, by his cousin, Philip de,
+Savoy, and by the principal people in the valleys, for the Vaudois;
+notwithstanding the many solemn promises, (so often repeated,) that they
+should not be again disturbed, another edict appeared, bearing date at
+Turin, June 10th, 1565, (only five days afterwards,) which authorised
+the seventh persecution.
+
+It merits notice, from the false principles and fanaticism which it
+displays; independent of the reckless perfidy to which it owes its
+existence. After a short preamble, it runs thus:--"And seeing that the
+support of such a sect would excite the anger of God against us; and
+that public tranquillity and repose cannot exist in a country where
+there are two kinds of religion; and being resolved to maintain the
+ancient Catholic faith, &c. Nevertheless, not wishing to have recourse
+to rigour against our subjects, but to use clemency and humanity; We,
+by the advice of our good council, publish this our irrevocable
+order.--That all those who will not live according to the said
+Holy Catholic faith, do quit our states, within two months from the
+publication thereof; in which case we permit them to dispose of their
+possessions and goods. But all those who disobey this order, continue
+to dogmatise, or sell the forbidden books of this sect, will incur the
+penalty of death, and the confiscation of all their property."
+
+To every virtuous and honourable man, who reflects on this edict, it
+must appear subversive of every principle of nature, religion, and of
+policy, even without considering the perfidy of it.
+
+This frightful tyranny owes its origin to the Inquisition, the very name
+of which makes me shudder with horror.
+
+Sebastian Gratioi, a colonel of Militia, had, by intrigues, obtained the
+office of Governor of the valleys, and was eager to gratify his hatred
+of the Vaudois, which had been excited by the dishonour of having been
+their prisoner, though he was well treated. His first act of vengeance
+was the persecution of Gilles de Gilles,* Humbert, and Lentule, all
+barbes, of whom the latter was forced into exile, and the first dragged
+to Turin, where every means was used to induce him to desert his faith,
+in vain.
+
+     * He wrote a History of the Vaudois.
+
+The persecution also extended to Lower Piemont, where the fiscal
+general, Barberi, conducted it. Coni was the first town which suffered;
+and here the Vaudois had already endured much, for seven years
+preceding, since the peace of 1559; for during the war they were
+employed against the French. All who remained faithful to their
+religion, were now either driven into banishment, or imprisoned; those
+alone remaining in possession of their goods who received the mass. The
+village of Carville, where great numbers of Vaudois lived, was treated
+in the same way; and all who resisted condemned to the galleys.
+Imprisonments, and numberless horrible cruelties, took place also
+in other districts, wherever Vaudois were to be found. As soon as
+intelligence of these persecutions was received in Germany, the Electors
+of Saxony and of the Palatinate, united in complaining to the Duke of
+Savoy of his conduct; and in consequence the most solemn assurances were
+given to their envoy, that the Vaudois should no longer be harassed. But
+no sooner had he departed, than Castrocaro recommenced his severities;
+and among others, ordered all those of the valley of Luzerne, not
+natives, to depart in twenty-four hours, under pain of death. Such was
+the fanaticism of the time, that not the slightest scruple was made of
+breaking faith with those whom they were pleased to call heretics.
+The Elector of Palatine, indignant at such conduct, wrote again, very
+energetically to the Duke of Savoy, in 1566, expressing his bitter
+complaints, and exculpating the Vaudois from the calumnies spread
+against them.* The demands of the generous Frederic, added to those of
+the duchess herself, at last procured them repose until 1571.
+
+     * A copy of this letter is to be found in Leger.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+In 1570, another decree was published, forbidding the Vaudois to
+assemble together, under a fine of one hundred crowns; their refusal
+of obedience to this order, which so clearly violated their privileges,
+greatly irritated Castrocaro, who was particularly enraged at the recent
+construction of the fort of Mirabouc, on which depended the only issue
+of the val Luzerne towards France, and would undoubtedly have proceeded
+to great extremities against the inhabitants of Bobbi, had he been
+allowed. Strict searches were also made after some of the Vaudois, who
+were accused of having assisted the Protestants in France; until Charles
+the Ninth requested the Duke of Savoy to forgive them, as he had already
+done his own Protestant subjects.
+
+In 1571, at a general assembly of the heads of families, six articles,
+called "the articles of the union of the valleys," were drawn up; the
+object of which was to bind themselves by still more solemn ties to
+persevere in their religious faith, and in obedience to their prince,
+when his orders were not contrary to their conscience. The news of the
+massacre of St. Bartholomew, in that same year, gave them the utmost
+disquietude, and the more so, as Castrocaro manifested his intention to
+inflict the same punishment on all the French refugees he could find;
+until he received the Duke's order to desist.
+
+A sudden attack was made about this time by order of the parliament of
+Pignerol, upon St. Germain, in val Perouse, by Charles de Birague, an
+officer in the French service; but he was repulsed, after taking five
+Vaudois prisoners, who were hanged by the Papists.
+
+Peace was soon after concluded; and in consequence of Henry the Third
+passing through Turin, on his way from Poland, to take possession of
+the crown of France, the town of Pignerol and the valley of Perouse
+were restored to the Duke of Savoy, from whose territory they had been
+separated by Francis the First.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+Before we proceed further it is necessary to give some account of the
+Vaudois of the marquisate of Saluces, who chiefly inhabit the valley
+of the Po, the most northern part of the marquisate, and only separated
+from the val de Luzerne by mount Viso, at the foot of which that noble
+river takes its source. We have already mentioned the colonies sent
+here from the valleys at the beginning of the fourteenth century; these
+increased into numerous flourishing churches, among which those of
+Praviglielm, Biolet, Bietonet, and Dronierwere the principal ones, in
+1561; when they had no less than nine barbes distributed among these and
+other towns.
+
+They had experienced only partial persecutions till 1572, when, (being
+then under the French government,) after the dreadful day of St.
+Bartholomew, M. Birague, governor of the marquisate, received an order
+to put the chief Vaudois to death, and particularly those whose names
+were transcribed in an accompanying list. On referring to the council,
+after much discussion, the archdeacon remarked, that false reports could
+alone have changed the sentiments of the king, who had before commanded
+that his Protestant subjects should be treated with lenity; and he
+advised that a representation of their good conduct should be sent
+back, with a request for further orders. The courier charged with this
+despatch met another, bearing an edict revoking the former one, and
+requiring only that the Vaudois should not be allowed the public
+exercise of their religion. In consequence, many who had fled returned,
+and were reinstated in their possessions.
+
+All persecution was then suspended till 1588, when the Duke of Savoy
+took possession of their country, and, in 1597, exhorted the Vaudois to
+receive the mass by every means in his power; they replied firmly, but
+dutifully, like peaceful subjects, and the threatened persecution was
+suspended till 1601. When Charles Emanuel became absolute master of the
+marquisate, in exchange for Bresse: he published an edict, commanding
+that every Vaudois, who did not declare his intention of receiving the
+mass in fifteen days, should leave the country within two months,
+and never return, under pain of confiscation and death. Let the
+compassionate imagine the distress of these unfortunate Vaudois, when
+they found that nothing could diminish the rigour of this decree; they
+were forced to abandon all their property and retire, some to France,
+and others to Geneva and the valleys. Those of the church of Praviglielm
+were alone flattered with the hopes of an exception in their favour; yet
+they too were forced to fly suddenly, leaving their wives and children;
+but some time afterwards, upon a threat of retaliation if any harm
+happened to them, they were allowed to return. They remained till 1633,
+visited occasionally by a pastor from the valleys, in the greatest
+secresy; when, on the reception of an order (from Duke Victor Amadeus,
+similar to the one issued by Emanuel Philibert in 1565,) they too were
+driven into perpetual banishment, and thus perished the last trace of
+the Vaudois church in the marquisate of Saluces, where it had flourished
+for three centuries.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+Charles Emanuel having succeeded his father Emanuel Philibert,
+Castrocaro, governor of the valleys, was, for his many enormities,
+imprisoned for life; and, in 1582, the young prince issued an edict,
+confirming the ancient privileges and usages of the Vaudois; a list of
+them is included in this document of the dates' of these former edicts,
+being 1448, 1452, 1466, 1473, 1499, 1509, all, it will be observed,
+preceding the Reformation. For some years the Vaudois enjoyed some
+repose; but Charles Emanuel, being afterwards occupied by the war in
+Provence, the French army, under Les-dequiere, entered the valleys
+in 1592; and, after some resistance, possessed himself of the town of
+Perouse, and the castles of La Tour, Mirabouc, Cavour, &c. During which
+time the Vaudois, having taken arms, sent a deputation to the court
+to inquire what they should do, and were recommended to submit to the
+enemy, as there were not forces sufficient to oppose him effectually.
+The campaign was concluded on the return of the Duke, and, after an
+engagement at Salabertran, each army retired to its respective country.
+In 1593, Charles Emanuel retook some of the forts, and took up a
+position near Luzerne, on the southern bank of the Pelice, while the
+enemy occupied the opposite side. A truce was then concluded till 1594,
+when the Duke took Bri-queiras; and, in 1595, Cavour, and Mirabouc, the
+only remaining forts in the hands of the French; on this occasion the
+inhabitants of the valleys assembled at Villar, to felicitate him on
+his victories, and received the most flattering assurances of his
+protection. Indeed, the preceding year, an edict granting them full
+pardon for their submission to the French had appeared. This did not,
+however, prevent the Roman Catholic clergy from persecuting all who fell
+into their hands. One Coupin, an elder, was seized at Aste, and dying in
+prison, his body was publicly burnt.
+
+Such acts did not satisfy the enemies of the Vaudois, who, in 1602,
+succeeded in obtaining from the Duke a public repeal of former
+immunities. The principal clauses in this edict were:--That the Vaudois
+should not perform any religious act beyond the limits of the valleys
+Luzerne, Perouse, and St. Martin, on pain of death:--that they should
+maintain there neither public nor private schools:--that no marriage
+should take place between those of different communions:--that no
+Catholic should assist at the Vaudois worship:--that no Vaudois should
+dissuade others from attending mass, or reply to the missionaries sent
+for their conversion:--that all Vaudois should be incapable of holding
+any public employment whatever:--that no Catholic, under pain of
+confiscation, should sell or hire to a Vaudois either goods or lands.
+
+It will be observed that this edict, under the appearance of preventing
+the extension of heresy, acted as a severe persecution on those of the
+marquisate of Saluces, as well as of Bri-queiras, Fenil, Campillon,
+Bubiana, and the town of Luzerne.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+In consequence of this edict, the Count Charles, lord of Luzerne, the
+governor of Turin, and the archbishop of Broglia, arrived at Luzerne,
+as commissioners for its execution, accompanied by numbers of monks
+and jesuits: having ordered the heads of families before them, they
+commanded all who would not receive the mass to quit the town. Very few
+were weak enough to comply with this condition. At Bubiana, Campillon,
+and Fenil, where they next proceeded, they made no more proselytes,
+and ordered all Vaudois to depart within five days, under pain of
+confiscation and death. From these towns some of the chief people
+were sent to Turin, where Valne Boule was presented to the prince, and
+pressed by him to receive the mass; but, on refusal, was dismissed
+with kindness. The others promised all that was asked of them, and soon
+repented of having done so. At Perouse the archbishop had no better
+success than elsewhere, and the governor of Turin falling into disgrace,
+the Count of Luzerne was pressed to use his influence in favour of the
+Vaudois. By his means the edict of Nice was obtained from the Duke,
+in 1603; by which the religious exercises of the Vaudois were freely
+permitted within the valleys, and they were allowed to trade with the
+Catholics and to hold public employments.
+
+Nothing of importance occurred till 1613, when, in consequence of the
+war in Montferrat, all the subjects of the Duke, and particularly the
+Vaudois, were summoned to defend the frontiers. The next year the same
+thing happened, (war having been declared against the king of Spain,)
+and the post of Verceil was committed to the guard of Vaudois. These
+duties were so well performed as to obtain the marked approbation of the
+prince, and the assurance that he would not forget their services. The
+poor ignorant Catholics, among whom they marched in these wars, were so
+prejudiced against them that they fled at their approach, believing them
+to be heathens, and that they had one eye in the forehead, and four rows
+of black teeth, with which they used to devour their own children, &c.
+&c.* Those who had the courage to stay in their houses, trembled at the
+very sight of a Vaudois.
+
+     * In 1825, a Catholic priest, educated at the episcopal
+     college of Lugano, asked his Protestant guest if he had been
+     baptised.--That guest was the Translator.
+
+In the year 1622 a decree appeared, by which the inhabitants of St. Jean
+were ordered to shut up the church, built there a few years before, and
+a payment of six thousand ducats required from the three valleys. At
+the same period Pope Gregory XV. granted to the Duke the tenth of all
+ecclesiastical revenues. In gratitude for this bounty, more vigorous
+measures were taken against the poor Vaudois. Those of Praviglielm were
+banished by the prefect of Saluces; and a great number in the valley
+of Barcelona, dependent on the Cardinal de Savoy, were driven thence in
+1625, and fled into the south of France, or Piemontese valleys.
+Although the decree only mentioned the church of St. Jean, a regiment of
+infantry, in the val de Perouse, forced the inhabitants to demolish six
+of their churches, and then made a perfidious attack on St. Germain.
+
+The report of this treatment having spread into foreign countries, an
+ambassador extraordinary from Great Britain arrived at Turin, in 1627,
+to intercede for the Vaudois. He received a promise that they should not
+be any longer molested, and returned in October, having recommended
+them to the protection of some of the nobility. The following year,
+the French army having shown a disposition to attack the frontiers,
+the passes were placed under the defence of the Vaudois; who so well
+defended them, that no enemy penetrated into Piemont. A convent of
+capuchin monks was this year founded at Luzerne, by two of the noble
+family of Rorenco, lords of that place and La Tour, which has since
+taken a great part in our history.
+
+In 1629, another ambassador came from England, named Carlisle, who
+earnestly interceded for the Vaudois, and obtained the most honourable
+testimonies in their favour. But though the court was well disposed
+towards them, the implacable clergy always found means to evade its
+benevolent purposes. One of their contrivances was, to disperse a great
+number of monks through the valleys; but these, upon reference to the
+court, were at this time withdrawn.
+
+The Vaudois were also this year again called upon to defend the
+frontiers against a threatened attack, on the part of the French; but
+a truce having been concluded, it was not till 1630 that the enemy
+actually advanced by Susa and reduced Pignerol. The inhabitants of the
+valleys, after some hesitation, consented to submit, on being summoned
+to do so by Marshal Schomberg; but on condition that no one should be
+forced to bear arms against the Duke. A violent plague, this year,
+made great ravages, and most of the pastors fell victims to it. Charles
+Emanuel also died about the same time, and Victor Amadeus I. having
+succeeded him, peace was signed between Piemont, Spain, and France, by
+the articles of which the town of Pignerol and the val St. Martin were
+retained by the latter.
+
+From this time till the death of Victor Amadeus the First, in 1637,
+tranquillity remained nearly uninterrupted, except by the violent
+writings of Rorenco, and the monk Belvedere, which were subsequently
+refuted by Gilles, pastor of La Tour, and author of the history of the
+Vaudois.*
+
+     * Printed at Geneva, 1644.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+Before we enter upon the dreadful tragedy which took place in the
+valleys during the regency of the Duchess Christina, sister to the
+king of France, (which succeeded the reign of Victor Amadeus;) it
+is necessary to call the attention of the reader to the state of the
+valleys at this period. For years, the continual partial and individual
+persecutions had held them in a state of alarm, even in the midst of
+peace, and now they had suffered most severely by pestilence, and were
+reduced to want or poverty by the great scarcity of provisions which
+succeeded it. After a calm of thirteen years, under the regency, what
+must have been their dismay to hear that councils, for the propagation
+of the faith and extirpation of heresy, had been established in all
+Catholic countries, after the model of that at Rome; and that one was
+now instituted at Turin, in 1650.
+
+This establishment was divided into two bodies of supporters; the
+archbishop being the head of the male, and the Marchioness di Pia-nezza
+of the female, devotees.
+
+The eagerness of the ladies engaged in this pious enterprise can hardly
+be imagined, they sent forth spies to promote dissensions in private
+families, offered money to new converts, and even penetrated into the
+prisons to make proselytes. To support their expenses, they went round
+even to the shops and inns to collect contributions. The secular arm
+also assisted them, if required, in their labours to deserve the plenary
+indulgence for all their sins granted them by the court of Rome.
+
+The council of men formed still greater designs, in the execution of
+which they were indefatigable, and sent spies and missionaries into the
+valleys, who were always at hand to excite quarrels, rebellion against
+church discipline, and even to carry off women and children from the
+Vaudois, and attack the pastors. They cited the principal people to
+appear before the tribunal at Turin, whence they scarcely ever escaped
+without having been imprisoned, ill treated, or nearly ruined; nay,
+often were they condemned to confiscation and banishment. Such were
+the means used by the Propaganda to harass the Vaudois. An unfortunate
+accident happened in 1603, which gave them more power of doing mischief.
+A convent of monks had been some years established at Villar, when an
+infamous traitor, whom they had engaged in their service, undertook to
+excite the Vaudois to expel these missionaries; having persuaded the
+wife of the pastor Manget to further the plan, she had influence enough
+to induce her husband, and two others of the name of Pellene, to call
+an assembly, where this subject was discussed, and the project of Manget
+highly disapproved of and censured. The wife of Manget made a false
+report of the decision to the two young Pellenes, who succeeded that
+very evening in driving out the monks and setting fire to the convent.
+It may well be supposed that the inquisitors did not lose so favourable
+an opportunity; and the fact having been represented in the blackest
+colours to the Duchess Regent, they obtained five or six thousand men,
+under the command of Count Tedesco, who marched immediately with orders
+to surprise and burn down the town of Villar.
+
+In the mean time Leger, then moderator of the valleys, with the
+principal members of his own and the neighbouring churches, repaired
+to the chief magistrate at Luzerne, and protesting the innocence of the
+assembly, and even the parish of Villar, offered to bring the offenders
+to justice. The Count Tedesco nevertheless proceeded to Villar, and made
+his attack; but a storm of rain prevented the muskets of his soldiers
+from going off, and the Vaudois then having given every where the alarm,
+the approach of darkness induced him to return to Luzerne without having
+accomplished his purpose.
+
+The Propaganda being thus defeated, had recourse, in 1654, to a still
+more sanguinary plot for the destruction of the Vaudois, by means of
+the French army under Marshal Grance. The court of Savoy had offered to
+provide this army with winter quarters in our valleys, at a much
+less sum than had been demanded elsewhere, in consequence, the troops
+appeared before Pignerol, demanding their quarters; in the mean time,
+the monks and other agents of the Propaganda had artfully persuaded
+the Vaudois, that it was contrary to the intention of the Duchess, that
+these troops had entered her states, and excited them to take up arms.
+The main body of these forces was already before the fort of La Tour,
+and all the inhabitants of the val de Luzerne were drawn up to oppose
+them, when Leger, the moderator, throwing himself at the feet of the
+Marshal, explained the trick played upon him, and requested he would
+suspend hostilities until a written order could arrive from the Duchess
+Regent for the cantonment of the troops. This was assented to, and
+on the arrival of the order, on the morrow, the army quietly took
+possession of their quarters.
+
+This plot was afterwards more fully proved by two officers in De
+Grance's army,* and its details were lodged with the other MSS. by
+Leger, in the Cambridge library.
+
+     * One named De Petit Bourg.
+
+A year had scarcely elapsed when another motive was added to the zealous
+labours of the propaganda, which was the wish of establishing in the
+valleys those Irish whom Cromwell had banished in consequence of the
+massacres they had committed among their Protestant countrymen.
+
+This eager desire to obtain possession of the valleys, and all that the
+Vaudois possessed in them, excited a series of intrigues, which ended
+in an order to Gastaldo, auditor of Luzerne, to enjoin and command the
+Vaudois inhabitants of Briqueiras, S. Second, Bubiana, Fenil, Campillon,
+Luzerne, St. Jean, and La Tour, to abandon those places within three
+days, or receive the mass, under pain of death and confiscation of their
+property.
+
+What makes this step still more cruel and unjust, if possible, is, that
+it took place in the winter of 1654, when Charles Emanuel II.
+had, by an edict of 3rd December, just confirmed all their privileges,
+&c.* In this, and in the one of the preceding year, they were mentioned
+as faithful and obedient subjects; nay more, at the very time the
+lawyers were employed in verifying the original charters, the last
+decree was about to be enrolled, and the sum of money exacted on these
+occasions had long been paid.
+
+It will easily be imagined that no time was lost in sending deputies to
+Turin, and trying every means to obtain a mitigation of this dreadful
+sentence. These deputies were amused by an affected deliberation on
+their petition, and were referred sometimes from the Duke to his mother,
+sometimes from the Duchess to the Marquis di Pianezza, and from him
+to the Propaganda, till they received information on the 16th of April
+(though they were promised a final audience on the 17th) that the
+Marquis was already at Luzerne with his forces, and that they had better
+provide for their own safety.
+
+Thus, by a series of base treachery, duplicity, and cruelty, was the way
+prepared for those dreadful massacres, which have cast so foul a stain
+on the reign of Charles Emanuel the Second.**
+
+     * This seems to have been necessary every new reign, these
+     confirmations being personal acts of the sovereign.--T.
+
+     ** Which excited the compassionate muse of Milton.--T.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+It was on the 17th of April, 1655, that the Marquis di Pianezza entered
+the valleys with an army of 15,000 men, composed of the troops of the
+Duke, four French regiments, one German corps, and 1200 Irish.
+
+On the 18th, this army ravaged the parishes of St. Jean and La Tour.
+On the 19th, they even attacked them in quarters to which the order of
+Gastaldo (to abandon their possessions) did not extend; the enemy was
+repulsed, notwithstanding his immense superiority of numbers; and, on
+the 20th, vainly attempted to burn the church of St. Jean.
+
+In consequence of this spirited resistance, Pianezza had recourse to
+the most infamous treachery. Having sent to demand a conference, he
+protested to the deputies that his only object was to enforce the order
+which had been given by Gastaldo, and that the parishes not falling
+within it might rest secure of peace, if, in sign of their obedience,
+they would permit a regiment of infantry and two troops of cavalry to be
+quartered in their territory for two or three days.
+
+The deputies who, unsuspicious of treason, judged of the Marquis by
+themselves, assented, though M. J. Leger and some other pastors greatly
+suspected the measure.
+
+The before mentioned troops no sooner entered, than they seized the
+strong points round each village, and (regardless of entreaties that
+they would remain in the lower villages) pressed forward to the highest
+positions. Meanwhile they were followed by the whole army, in divisions,
+which marched in different directions against Angrogna, Villar, and
+Bobbi, and upon the last bulwark of defence, the Pre du Tour; this last
+force laid the country they passed through waste by fire and sword;
+and in consequence, the error being now perceived, most of those who
+inhabited the right of the Val de Luzerne, passed the mountains in the
+night, and took refuge in the Val de Perouse. The inhabitants of the
+other side of the valley were almost all obliged to remain, having no
+means of retreat,* the passage being completely closed against them. The
+enemy after gaining entire possession of the valleys, pretended to have
+no intention of remaining there more than a few days, and exhorted the
+Vaudois to recall their fugitive brethren, which some had the weakness
+to do, trusting to the assurance given them that no harm should befall
+them. Such was the situation of affairs when, on the 24th of April,
+the signal was given from a hill near La Tour, called Castellas, for a
+general massacre, which extended through the whole valley, and began at
+the same instant neither age nor sex were spared; every refinement of
+cruelty which the malice of demons could invent was put in practice.
+
+     * Behind the mountains in their rear was a Catholic country.
+
+The very mention of these horrors excites too much disgust to allow of
+a detail of them. Violation, mutilation, and impalement were mere common
+atrocities; many were roasted by slow fires; others cut in pieces while
+alive, or dragged by mules, with ropes passed through their wounds; some
+were blown up by gunpowder placed in the ears and mouth; many rolled off
+the rocks, with their hands bound between their legs, among precipices,
+where they were abandoned to a lingering death; children were carried
+on pikes, and women.... But let us not dwell longer on these infernal
+barbarities.* They are detailed in Leger, and the names of many of the
+sufferers, and the evidence of eye witnesses there recorded. The number
+who perished in the Val Luzerne alone, amounted to 250, besides children
+and others, whose names have not been collected, and the men who fell
+sword in hand; for nearly all the victims of these cruelties were women,
+children, and old people. But the mere recital of the numbers destroyed,
+cannot suffice to give an idea of the miseries endured, we must add the
+horrors encountered by the survivors, wandering in utter destitution
+among the mountains, in terror and want, after witnessing the murder and
+outrages committed on their dearest relatives and friends.
+
+     * The translator has spared the feelings of the reader by
+     omitting many of the horrors mentioned by Bresse.
+
+     ** Leger, chap. ix. second part.
+
+Will it be believed, that the Marquis di Pianezza, shortly afterwards
+published, in the name of the government, a manifesto, justifying these
+barbarities, and even declaring that the Vaudois had deserved greater
+punishment.
+
+In addition to this, appeared an edict under the name of Charles Emanuel
+II., dated 23rd May, 1655, one month after the massacre, by which he
+condemns to exile all the principal persons of the Vaudois, setting a
+price on their heads, "because they had rebelled against his supreme
+authority, and opposed in arms the forces of the Marquis di Pianezza."
+
+Such is in general the blindness of those who misunderstand the true
+spirit of the gospel, that after having violated its clearest precepts,
+there is no sort of artifice which they do not use in order to give a
+colour to their crimes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+The very day on which this massacre was perpetrated, in various parts of
+the Val de Luzerne, the Count Christophe, Seigneur de Rora, a member of
+the Propaganda, sent 400 or 500 men to surprise Rora, and put all the
+Vaudois they should find there to the sword; although they were included
+in the promise of Pianezza, "that no harm should befall them." This band
+of assassins had reached the summit of Mont Rummer, from whence they
+were about to rush down upon Rora, when they were perceived by Joshua
+Janavel, who had retired there for refuge. With only seven others he
+took up an advantageous position, and falling upon the enemy with
+great spirit, forced them to retire; killing no less than fifty in the
+pursuit. On the news of this defeat, the Marquis sent to say that
+these troops had not acted under his orders, and were robbers, whose
+destruction he was pleased to hear of. On the very next day, Pianezza,
+notwithstanding, sent 600 men to make another attack, by the hill of
+Cassulet. Janavel was again fortunate enough to discover them from a
+distance, and assembled twelve men, armed with pistols and cutlasses,
+muskets, or slings. This feeble force he divided, and placing a party in
+three places of ambush, once more repulsed the enemy, who retired with
+the loss of sixty men.
+
+The Marquis di Pianezza had again the effrontery after this, to send a
+message by Count Christophe to his vassals, to assure them that the
+late attack was made by mistake, and owing to a false report; and on
+the following day, a third party, of 900 men, was detached for the
+destruction of Rora. The intrepid Janavel attacked them at Damasser, and
+drove them back upon Bianpra, where, owing to a perfect knowledge of the
+mountains, the Vaudois attacked them in their march, and converted their
+retreat into a shameful flight, in which great numbers perished, owing
+chiefly to the cattle and other plunder they were endeavouring to carry
+off with them. The Marquis now became furious, and assembling all
+the troops within distance, ordered no less than 8,000 men, for the
+destruction of a village composed of only twenty-five families. Three
+divisions were formed, and a rendezvous given, at which they arrived
+two hours too late, except the corps of Captain Mario, who, thinking his
+force sufficient, formed his men into two divisions, and attacked the
+Vaudois near Rummer. These brave men had the good fortune to take up
+a position where their flanks and rear were well covered, and made so
+vigorous a resistance, that the enemy again retired, leaving sixty on
+the field, besides others who perished in their flight. Mario himself
+fell into a chasm, from whence he was extricated with great difficulty;
+and when languishing under a painful illness at Luzerne, he declared
+that he already felt the fires of hell within him, in consequence of the
+people, houses, and churches, which he had caused to be burned. He died
+amidst agonies of pain and remorse.
+
+To return to the heroic party of Janavel, which consisted of only
+seventeen persons, they soon discovered another division of the enemy on
+the side of Villar, climbing the mountains to attack them in the rear,
+and immediately seized on an advantageous position. The advanced guard,
+sent to reconnoitre, mistook them for their own people, and approached
+so near, that on firing, the Vaudois each brought down his man, which
+struck so much terror into the survivors, that they fled back to the
+main body, and spread such a panic among them, that the whole army
+commenced a retreat. The Vaudois again followed and killed great
+numbers; after which they assembled to thank God for the memorable
+deliverance he had granted them.
+
+Three days after this event, the Marquis di Pianezza, ashamed of such
+ill success, sent another message to Rora, enjoining every one to go
+to mass within twenty-four hours, if they wished to avoid immediate
+sentence of death, and prevent their lands being laid waste, and their
+houses razed to the ground.
+
+Rather death than the mass, was the unanimous reply of the inhabitants.
+
+It may well be imagined that the Marquis was not satisfied with it. He
+now ordered 10,000 men to march to the reduction of Rora, and divided
+them into three corps, one of which took the road from Luzerne, and the
+others by Bagnol and Villar. Janavel hesitated not to attack the last of
+these divisions, and succeeded in killing great numbers, when being
+informed that the other divisions had gained the post where the
+twenty-five families of Rora had taken refuge, and seeing himself
+overcome by numbers, he escaped with his brave companions, into Val
+Queiras, taking with him his son, who was only seven years old.
+
+It is needless to harrow the feelings of my readers with a detail of
+the dreadful fate of Rora; suffice it to say, that none of the horrid
+tortures to which their countrymen were condemned on the 24th of April,
+were omitted here; nearly all the victims were old or infirm, women,
+and children. And lest any stragglers should ever return to their once
+beautiful home, the houses were all burnt, and no vestige of cultivation
+left around them.
+
+Yet even this was not enough to glut the vengeance of Pianezza; Janavel
+had escaped--and the Marquis did not hesitate to use the most unworthy
+means of getting him into his power. He wrote to him, urging him to
+renounce his heresy, as the only means of obtaining mercy for himself,
+and his wife, and his daughters, who had been taken prisoners. In case
+of non compliance, he was threatened that they should be condemned to
+the flames, and that so high a price should be put on his head, that he
+could not escape; in case of his capture no torture should be spared to
+punish his rebellion. Janavel's simple reply was, that "no tortures were
+horrible enough to induce him to abjure his faith, which the threats of
+the Marquis only served to confirm; and as to my wife and daughters,"
+he adds, "Providence will not abandon them; if you are permitted to put
+them to death, the flames will only destroy their bodies, while their
+pure souls will soon accuse you before the throne of the God of the
+universe."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+Janavel returned from Dauphine, after having remained there a short
+time, and collected the Vaudois who had also taken refuge in that
+province. He made, another attack, in hopes of taking some prisoners,
+whom he might exchange for his wife and daughters, but being
+unsuccessful, he proceeded to join Captain Jayer, who had put himself
+at the head of those who had escaped the massacres. They very soon after
+took the town of St. Second, by assault, and put the Irish garrison of
+800 men to the sword, as a punishment for the barbarity with which they
+had acted on the 24th of April. The Piemontese by their own avowal,
+lost from 500 to 600 men, in this action; but the Vaudois had only seven
+killed and six wounded. The houses and churches were burnt, and some
+booty retaken; but the women, children, and old people, were not
+insulted.
+
+After some other successes, in which great numbers of the enemy fell,
+and many severe combats, Janavel found himself posted at An-grogna, with
+300 men, while the rest of his troops were engaged in an expedition
+to the Val Pragela; the enemy here attacked him 3000 strong, but he
+defended himself, in a good position, from morning till two o'clock in
+the afternoon, when they retired, losing 500 men in the retreat. Jayer
+now coming up, the pursuit was pressed farther, most unfortunately, for
+Janavel received a severe wound, and Jayer, misled by treachery, was
+surrounded, and lost his life, together with 150 brave men, one only
+escaped, who returned with the melancholy news in the night.
+
+Notwithstanding the consternation which this disaster occasioned, the
+Vaudois, under the command of Jacques Jayer and Laurens, now amounting
+only to 550 men, courageously marched from La Vachere to meet the enemy,
+who attacked them with 6000 men; but were repulsed, with the loss of
+more than 200, and of the Vaudois only two were killed, one of whom was
+Captain Bertin.
+
+The beginning of July was marked by the arrival of the moderator, J.
+Leger, who had made a long journey, with the hope of interesting the
+French and other Protestants for his countrymen. Colonel Andrion, of
+Geneva, also joined them with one of his captains, and a soldier; he had
+served already with honour in France and Sweden, and now came to assist
+the cause of the unfortunate Vaudois.
+
+Having pointed out some negligence in their manner of encamping, and
+sent out picquets, this officer received intelligence of an intended
+attack, which must have destroyed the little force of the Vaudois, had
+it been made unexpectedly: after a most severe combat of ten hours, when
+Les Barricades was the only post they could make good against the
+enemy, they at last obtained a victory; in great measure by rolling down
+fragments of rock, when their ammunition was expended.
+
+The enemy lost nearly 400 in killed and wounded; and to add to the
+pleasure occasioned by this success, Mons. Descombier, a French officer,
+who had served with great distinction, arrived on the 17th July, with
+some other French Protestants. He was immediately elected commander
+in chief, and a corps formed of from sixty to eighty French gentlemen,
+under the command of M. Feautier.
+
+These circumstances filled the Vaudois with the most lively hope, and an
+attack upon La Tour was resolved on; on the 19th they marched there by
+day-light, and would certainly have got possession of the town, if
+Mons. Descombier had not been dissuaded from the assault, by the French
+soldiers he had sent to reconnoitre. On their report of the strength
+of the place, he sounded a retreat; but captains Belin and Peyronel
+resolved to proceed, and, making a vigorous attack, pierced the
+wall, and entered the town, when the citadel immediately offered to
+capitulate. At this moment troops poured in from Luzerne, upon their
+rear, when captain Janavel (now for the first time in the field since
+his wound) sounded a retreat, and brought off the party with the loss of
+only one man.
+
+Besides the engagements above mentioned, there were many others, in
+which the Vaudois obtained advantages; indeed they universally behaved
+with such heroism, that M. Descombier declared they fought like lions.*
+
+     * Bresse here gives the names of those who most
+     distinguished themselves.
+
+A very short time after the attack on La Tour, the court of Turin
+published a truce, which was not broken till the peace. We shall pursue
+the negociations after a few remarks, which appear necessary at this
+point of our history.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+The news of the severity with which the Vaudois had been treated having
+now been spread throughout Europe, had awakened the sympathy of all the
+Protestant powers; the British ambassadors extraordinary have already
+been mentioned, and we must not here omit, that, on the publication
+of Gastaldo's proclamation, in 1655, the Swiss cantons interfered in a
+similar manner. The only reply to the statement of the fidelity, &c. of
+the Vaudois, being a complaint of their great insolence, particularly as
+manifested on Christmas day, 1654; thus grounding their conduct on some
+ridiculous masquerading which took place on that day, and which was
+afterwards allowed by Gastaldo himself to have been conducted by
+Catholics. So much for the reasons given for driving the Vaudois from
+their ancient possessions beyond the three valleys. The further order
+for the massacre has been (it will be remembered) justified by their
+self-defence on that occasion, when attacked, even within the bounds
+assigned for their allowed possessions.
+
+On receiving the news of the massacres, the Swiss cantons proclaimed
+a solemn fast, wrote the most affecting and pressing letters to other
+powers, and made a general collection for their unhappy brethren;
+deputing at the same time Colonel de Wits to press their intercession at
+the court of Turin. This envoy was referred by the court to the Marquis
+de Pianezza; and, after a vigorous representation of the injustice of
+the court towards the Vaudois, he returned without having gained his
+point.
+
+The cantons resolved nevertheless to send another solemn embassy, and
+wrote pressing letters to the United. Provinces, and to the protector of
+England,* entreating these powers to assist them in the defence of their
+innocent and most undeservedly persecuted brethren.
+
+     * See copies in Leger.
+
+Mons. de Wits arrived at Turin for the second time, in the beginning of
+July, (the period of the successes before mentioned,) closely followed
+by four other Swiss envoys. His object was eluded by the court; and
+the reply given was, that the king of France having offered himself
+as mediator for these rebels, the affair could not be taken out of his
+hands. The four other envoys arrived on the 24th, and were graciously
+received; they presented a memorial, justifying the Vaudois, and
+bitterly complaining of the cruelties exercised towards them; even using
+the words "so cruelly oppressed." After many pressing entreaties for an
+accommodation of differences, a Mons. Gresi, counsellor of state, was
+sent to the envoys with papers, tending to calumniate the Vaudois,
+and justify their persecutors; they were allowed, (notwithstanding the
+transactions with the king of France,) to go to the valleys, for
+the purpose of examining into their present state. The next day they
+accordingly went to Pignerol, then in the hands of the French, and were
+soon met by the French ambassador, M. Servient, the Count Truchis, the
+senator Perraquin, the prefect Ressau, the prior M. A. Rorenco, and some
+other agents of the Duke, as well as the deputies from the valleys, at
+the head of whom was M. J. Leger, the moderator.*
+
+     * Afterwards, in his banishment, he wrote his valuable
+     History.
+
+Under the auspices of these gentlemen negociations of peace were entered
+into on the 3rd of August, 1655.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+On the 18th of August, articles of peace were finally concluded. In the
+intermediate time, Mons. de Wits had received letters from the English
+envoy extraordinary, Morland, requesting him to delay the conclusion
+of the treaty, hoping himself to arrive in time to take part in the
+business.
+
+The details of the negociations can hardly at this time excite much
+interest; the agents of the Duke were most imperious in their demands,
+choosing always to treat the Vaudois like obstinate rebels, and
+notwithstanding the protestations of these oppressed people, the treaty
+was entitled a "patente de grace", and in the preamble they were
+represented as "culpable in having taken up arms," and said to be
+pardoned by the "sovereign clemency" of their prince.
+
+The Vaudois, by the second article, were required to give up possession
+and the right of habitation in the villages beyond the Pelice; that is,
+in Luzerne, Luzernette, Fenil, Cam-pillon, Bubiana, Briqueiras, &c. (It
+will be recollected that they were established in all these places
+long before the house of Savoy possessed any authority in Piemont.)
+An exchange of prisoners was agreed to, but many there were who never
+returned to their homes, and many children were detained. The fifteenth
+article is singular, as marking the spirit of justice dealt to them,
+when the non violation of a right is esteemed a favour. "No person of
+the pretended reformed religion shall be forced to embrace the Roman
+Catholic apostolic faith: children shall not be taken away from their
+parents during their minority; that is, the boys before the age of
+twelve, the girls before that of ten." A secret article respecting the
+demolition of the fort at La Tour was eluded by the court.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+Of all the potentates who interested themselves for the Vaudois, Oliver
+Cromwell showed the greatest zeal. He is known to have said, that
+nothing ever so affected him as the news of the massacres of the 24th
+of April; and to have declared to the Duke of Savoy, "that if he did not
+discontinue his persecutions, he would cause a fleet to sail over the
+Alps to defend the Vaudois."
+
+It is certain, that as soon as he heard of the horrors of April and
+May, 1655, he ordered a general fast, and collection for the Vaudois,
+throughout England, Ireland, and Scotland, to which he personally
+subscribed L2000. He also wrote to many princes in their favour,
+particularly to the kings of Denmark, Sweden, and to the States General
+of the United Provinces, and sent Morland as his envoy extraordinary
+to the court of Turin, charged also to deliver a letter to the king of
+France on the same subject.
+
+In answer to this, Cromwell was assured that the French troops had been
+employed without the orders of their court, which greatly disapproved of
+their interference; and was well content with the fidelity of the French
+Protestants.
+
+Morland, on his presentation at the court of Turin, made a most eloquent
+and ardent appeal to the Duke, boldly stating the horrible outrages
+which had been committed, and the innocence of the sufferers. He was
+well informed of all the facts from M. J. Leger, whom he had met at
+Lyons. Yet the court, in the answer to Cromwell's letter, dared to
+express its surprise, "that the malice of men had presumed so to
+misrepresent the mild and paternal castigation of the rebels," as to
+excite the odium of the other courts of Europe.
+
+Besides Morland, Mr. Douning and Mr. Pell were sent from England to
+assist at the negociations; but on finding that the treaty was already
+concluded, while they had been consulting with the Swiss Protestants,
+they returned to England and Sir Samuel Morland to Geneva.
+
+It was owing to the absence of these gentlemen, as well as that of
+the Dutch ambassador, that the terms granted to the Vaudois were so
+unfavourable.
+
+Morland, having been informed of the miserable poverty to which almost
+all the Vaudois were reduced, the want of provisions, and particularly
+the inability of the pastors to support themselves or to obtain a
+salary, made such representations as to induce Cromwell to make an order
+in council, dated Whitehall, May 18th, 1658,* stating, "That report
+having been made to us by our commissioner and committee for the affairs
+of the poor Vaudois churches, upon the information relative to the state
+of the said valleys, given them by Sir S. Morland, &c. &c. it is ordered
+that the money, which remains from a collection made for them, shall be
+applied as an annual stipend, as under:
+
+     To M. J. Leger,
+     who has always supported the interests of the valleys, L100
+     To eight ministers in the territory of Savoy,          L320
+     To three ditto in the territory of France               L30
+     To one head schoolmaster                                L20
+     To thirteen other schoolmasters                         L69
+     To four students of theology and medicine               L40
+     To a physician and surgeon                              L35
+
+     Annual amount                                 Sterling L614"
+
+These annual stipends, thus derived from the residue of the
+subscriptions left in England, which amounted to upwards of L12,000.**
+were paid very regularly until the restoration of Charles the Second;
+when that prince declaring that he had nothing to do with the orders
+of an usurper, or the payment of his debts, the valleys were entirely
+deprived of them. It is needless to make any observation on this
+injustice--injustice not only to the Vaudois, but to the British nation,
+whose humane generosity was thus defeated in its purpose, and whose
+contributions were seized without a shadow of reason.
+
+     * Three years after the first mission of Morland,
+     consequently a large sum had been paid out of the
+     collection, for present use. Of this large sum, it has been
+     asserted, that the government of Geneva possessed themselves
+     of a great part, to repair their fortifications.--T.
+
+     ** Jones says, L38,241 1s. 6d.--T.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+We have now the agreeable task of recording the bounties of the United
+Provinces, ever celebrated for their philanthropy. No sooner had they
+received information of the disaster in the valleys, than they wrote
+to the courts of England, France, and Turin, as well as to the Swiss
+cantons, and deputed M. Van Ommeren, a deputy of the States General, to
+confer with the Swiss cantons, and to carry their joint complaints to
+the Duke of Savoy. In the mean while a general fast, and the order
+for collections in every town and village, seconded the zeal of
+the government, and Amsterdam was distinguished by its generous
+contributions, which furnished our ancestors with the means of
+rebuilding their houses, and churches, and recultivating their land.
+
+From the Swiss cantons M. Van Ommeren went to Geneva, to confer with the
+British envoys, Morland, Pell, and Douning; and thence to Paris, where
+he urged the king to take into consideration the complaints of the
+Vaudois against the treaty of Pignerol, just concluded, and in which he
+had appeared in the character of a mediator, by means of his minister M.
+Servient. A person of confidence (M. de Bais, marechal de camp) was in
+consequence sent to inquire into the truth of the facts. He obtained
+at a meeting of the principal Vaudois, at La Tour, in March, 1656, a
+justificatory recital of the complaints of the valleys, a letter to the
+king of France, and another to M. Le Serdigences, governor of Dauphine,
+with which he sought redress at the court of Turin; but his object was
+defeated by the agents of the Propaganda, who so contrived to disguise
+the truth, that he seemed suddenly to have lost all that insight into
+the affairs of the Vaudois, which he had obtained by his visit to the
+valleys. The king of France was, however, so touched by the letter of
+the Vaudois that he was about again to intercede, when the intrigues of
+the same agents had the effect of convincing him that the statements of
+the Vaudois were without foundation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+Charles Gustavus, king of Sweden, replied with great warmth to the
+letter which Cromwell addressed to him in favour of the Vaudois,
+testifying the horror he felt at such cruelties, and his desire to
+support the cause of the Gospel with the same energy as the Protector.
+
+This king also wrote to the court of Turin, earnestly to request that
+the Vaudois might not be disturbed in their possessions and privileges;
+and soon after desired that M. J. Leger should be sent to him, that
+he might receive from him all necessary details, and take efficient
+measures for the re-establishment of the Vaudois. A premature death
+unfortunately put a stop to his benevolent intentions.
+
+The elector Palatine acted similarly in writing to Turin.
+
+Frederick William, elector of Brandenburg, interested himself in the
+most lively manner, corresponding with the other Protestant courts on
+the subject, and offering a general collection.
+
+The landgrave, William, of Hesse Cassel, exhibited the same spirit of
+charity, and acted with equal energy.
+
+The republic of Geneva showed great interest in the affair, and indeed
+every one of the reformed churches of Europe wrote the most touching
+letters, evincing their great interest and compassion for their brethren
+of the valleys.
+
+So many proofs of the kindness and respect shown to our ancestors,
+by the most wise and enlightened governments, would suffice for the
+eulogium of this unfortunate people, were not the details of their own
+conduct amply sufficient to place them in their true light; nor can the
+unrestrained malevolence, to which they have been exposed, withhold from
+them the admiration and esteem of all good men.
+
+The Vaudois had scarcely began to enjoy the repose which was granted
+them, when their implacable enemies had again recourse to the same
+system of intrigues, which had so often been resorted to against them.
+But, for the moment, we will not follow them any farther, lest the
+minds of my readers should be wearied with this tale of suffering, they
+require to be relieved for a time from the contemplation of these dark
+plots of malevolence and fanaticism, before they return to the scenes
+which we have yet to lay before them.
+
+Alas! a cloud of misfortune seems to have hung over all the Vaudois
+historians:--Gilles de Gilles was persecuted, as we have seen above; the
+indefatigable J. Leger (the same moderator already mentioned) finished
+his great work in exile, and died in Holland; and our author, the
+virtuous Bresse, after experiencing the most cruel injustice at Geneva,
+was forced by circumstances to establish himself at Utrecht, where he
+died before the publication of the last part of his work, which it had
+been the project of his life to accomplish, and to which he had devoted
+himself since the sixteenth year of his age.--Note by the Translator.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's L'Histoire Des Vaudois, by J. Bresse et al.
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