Chapter I: Preface

This work--which is a reprint of the Sixteenth Book of the HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM--is exclusively occupied with the subject of the Waldenses. It describes succinctly the conflicts they waged and the martyrdoms they endured in defence of their faith and their liberty, and is published in the present form to meet the requirements of those who take a special interest in this remarkable people.

Recent events in Europe have brought the Waldenses into prominence, and thrown a new light upon the grandeur of their struggle and the important and enduring issues which have flowed from it. To them, in a very particular manner, are we to trace the constitutional liberties which Italy at this hour enjoys. In the eventful year of 1848, when a new constitution was being framed for Piedmont, the Waldenses made it plain to the Government that there would not be standing-room for them within the lines of that constitution, unless it embraced the great principle of freedom of conscience. For that principle they had contended during five hundred years, and nothing short of it could they accept as a basis of national settlement, persuaded that any other guarantee of their liberties would be illusory. Their demand was conceded: the principle of freedom of conscience--the root of all liberty--was embodied in the new constitution, and thus the whole inhabitants of Piedmont shared equally with the Waldenses in a boon which the struggles of the latter had been mainly instrumental in securing.

Not only so: in process of time the constitution of Piedmont was extended to the rest of Italy, and the whole Italian nation is at this hour sharing in the fruits which have sprung from the toil and the blood, the unswerving faith, and the heroic devotion of the Waldenses. Nor is their work finished even yet. They have understood the end for which they have been preserved through so many ages of darkness and conflict, and have energetically thrown themselves into the evangelisation of modern Italy, and doubtless these ancient confessors are destined to win, in the land where they endured so many dark sorrows, not a few brilliant triumphs, and by the labours of the present to add to the obligations which Christendom owes them for the services of the past.

J. A. WYLIE.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE WALDENSES--THEIR VALLEYS. PAGE

Submission of the Churches of Lombardy to Rome--The Old
Faith maintained in the Mountains--The Waldensian
Churches--Question of their Antiquity--Approach to
their Mountains--Arrangement of their Valleys--Picture
of blended Beauty and Grandeur 1

CHAPTER II.

THE WALDENSES--THEIR MISSIONS AND MARTYRDOMS.

Their Synod and College--Their Theological Tenets--Romaunt
Version of the New Testament--The Constitution of their
Church--Their Missionary Labours--Wide Diffusion of their
Tenets--The Stone Smiting the Image 10

CHAPTER III.

FIRST PERSECUTIONS OF THE WALDENSES.

Their Unique Position in Christendom--Their Twofold
Testimony--They Witness against Rome and for Protestantism--
Hated by Rome--The Cottian Alps--Albigenses and Waldenses--
The Waldensian Territory Proper--Papal Testimony to the
Flourishing State of their Church in the Fourteenth
Century--Early Bulls against them--Tragedy of Christmas,
1400--Constancy of the Waldenses--Crusade of Pope
Innocent VIII.--His Bull of 1487--The Army Assembles--Two
Frightful Tempests approach the Valleys 19

CHAPTER IV.

CATANEO’S EXPEDITION (1488) AGAINST THE DAUPHINESE AND
PIEDMONTESE CONFESSORS.

The Confessors of the Dauphinese Alps--Attacked--Flee to Mont
Pelvoux--Retreat into a Cave--Are Suffocated--French
Crusaders Cross the Alps--Enter the Valley of Pragelas--
Piedmontese Army Advances against La Torre--Deputation of
Waldensian Patriarchs--The Valley of Lucerna--Villaro--
Bobbio--Cataneo’s Plan of Campaign--His Soldiers Cross the
Col Julien--Grandeurs of the Pass--Valley of Prali--Defeat
of Cataneo’s Expedition 31

CHAPTER V.

FAILURE OF CATANEO’S EXPEDITION.

The Valley of Angrogna--An Alternative--The Waldenses Prepare
for Battle--Cataneo’s Repulse--His Rage--He Renews the
Attempt--Enters Angrogna with his Army--Advances to the
Barrier--Enters the Chasm--The Waldenses on the point of
being Cut to Pieces--The Mountain Mist--Deliverance--Utter
Rout of the Papal Army--Pool of Saquet--Sufferings of the
Waldenses--Extinction of the Invading Host--Deputation
to their Prince--Vaudois Children--Peace 43

CHAPTER VI.

SYNOD IN THE WALDENSIAN VALLEYS.

The Old Vine seems Dying--New Life--The Reformation--Tidings
Reach the Waldenses--They Send Deputies into Germany and
Switzerland to Inquire--Joy of Œcolampadius--His Admonitory
Letter--Waldensian Deputies at Strasburg--The Two Churches
a Wonder to each other--Martyrdom of One of the Deputies--
Resolution to Call a Synod in the Valleys--Its Catholic
Character--Spot where it Met--Confession of Faith framed--
The Spirit of the Vaudois Revives--They Rebuild their
Churches, &c.--Journey of Farel and Saunier to the Synod 52

CHAPTER VII.

PERSECUTIONS AND MARTYRDOMS.

A Peace of Twenty-eight Years--Flourishing State--Bersour--A
Martyr--Martyrdom of Pastor Gonin--Martyrdoms of a Student
and a Monk--Trial and Burning of a Colporteur--A List of
Horrible Deaths--The Valleys under the Sway of France--
Restored to Savoy--Emmanuel Philibert--Persecution
Renewed--Carignano--Persecution Approaches the
Mountains--Deputation to the Duke--The Old Paths--
Remonstrance to the Duke--To the Duchess--To the Council 63

CHAPTER VIII.

PREPARATIONS FOR A WAR OF EXTERMINATION.

Pastor Gilles Carries the Remonstrance to the Duke--No
Tidings for Three Months--The Monks of Pinerolo begin
the Persecution--Raid in San Martino--Philip of Savoy’s
Attempt at Conciliation--A Monk’s Sermon--The Duke Declares
War against the Vaudois--Dreadful Character of his Army--The
Waldenses hold a Fast, &c.--Skirmishing in Angrogna--Night
Panic--La Trinita Occupies the Val di Lucerna--An
Intrigue--Fruitless Concessions--Affecting Incidents--La
Trinita Demands 20,000 Crowns from the Men of the
Valleys--He Retires into Winter Quarters--Outrages of his
Soldiers 77

CHAPTER IX.

THE GREAT CAMPAIGN OF 1561.

Mass or Extermination--Covenant in the Valleys--Their
Solemn Oath--How the Waldenses Recant--Their Energetic
Preparations--La Trinita Advances his Army--Twice
Attempts to Enter Angrogna, and is Repulsed--A Third
Attempt--Attacks on Three Points--Repulsed on all
Three--Ravages the Valley of Rora--Receives Reinforcements
from France and Spain--Commences a Third Campaign--Six Men
against an Army--Utter Discomfiture--Extinction of La
Trinita’s Host--Peace 88

CHAPTER X.

WALDENSIAN COLONIES IN CALABRIA AND APULIA.

An Inn at Turin--Two Waldensian Youths--A Stranger--Invitation
to Calabria--The Waldenses Search the Land--They Settle
there--Their Colony Flourishes--Build Towns--Cultivate
Science--They Hear of the Reformation--Petition for a Fixed
Pastor--Jean Louis Paschale sent to them--Apprehended--
Brought in Chains to Naples--Conducted to Rome 104

CHAPTER XI.

EXTINCTION OF WALDENSES IN CALABRIA.

Arrival of Inquisitors in Calabria--Flight of the Inhabitants
of San Sexto--Pursued and Destroyed--La Guardia--Its
Citizens Seized--Their Tortures--Horrible Butchery--The
Calabrian Colony Exterminated--Louis Paschale--His
Condemnation--The Castle of St. Angelo--The Pope, Cardinals,
and Citizens--The Martyr--His Last Words--His Execution--
His Tomb 114

CHAPTER XII.

THE YEAR OF THE PLAGUE.

Peace--Re-occupation of their Homes--Partial
Famine--Contributions of Foreign Churches--Castrocaro,
Governor of the Valleys--His Treacheries and Oppressions--
Letter of Elector Palatine to the Duke--A Voice raised for
Toleration--Fate of Castrocaro--The Plague--Awful
Ravages--10,000 Deaths--Only Two Pastors Survive--Ministers
come from Switzerland, &c.--Worship conducted henceforward
in French 123

CHAPTER XIII.

THE GREAT MASSACRE.

Preliminary Attacks--The Propaganda de Fide--Marchioness
de Pianeza--Gastaldo’s Order--Its Barbarous Execution--
Greater Sorrows--Perfidy of Pianeza--The Massacring
Army--Its Attack and Repulse--Treachery--The Massacre
Begins--Its Horrors--Modes of Torture--Individual Martyrs--
Leger collects Evidence on the Spot--He Appeals to the
Protestant States--Interposition of Cromwell--Mission
of Sir Samuel Morland--A Martyr’s Monument 132

CHAPTER XIV.

EXPLOITS OF GIANAVELLO--MASSACRE AND PILLAGE OF RORA.

Ascent of La Combe--Beauty and Grandeur of Valley of Rora--
Gianavello--His Character--Marquis de Pianeza--His First
Assault--Brave Repulse--Treachery of the Marquis--No Faith
with Heretics--Gianavello’s Band--Repulse of Second and
Third Attacks--Death of a Persecutor--An Army raised to
invade Rora--Massacre and Pillage--Letter of Pianeza--
Gianavello’s Heroic Reply--Gianavello renews the War--
500 against 15,000--Success of the Waldenses--Horror at
the Massacre--Interposition of England--Letter of
Cromwell--Treaty of Peace 151

CHAPTER XV.

THE EXILE.

New Troubles--Louis XIV. and his Confessor--Edict against
the Vaudois--Their Defenceless Condition--Their Fight and
Victory--They Surrender--The Whole Nation Thrown into
Prison--Utter Desolation of the Land--Horrors of the
Imprisonment--Their Release--Journey across the Alps--Its
Hardships--Arrival of the Exiles at Geneva--Their
Hospitable Reception 166

CHAPTER XVI.

RETURN TO THE VALLEYS.

Longings after their Valleys--Thoughts of Returning--Their
Re-assembling--Cross Lake Leman--Begin their March--The
“Eight Hundred”--Cross Mont Cénis--Great Victory in the
Valley of the Dora--First View of their Mountains--Worship
on the Mountaintop--Enter their Valleys--Pass their First
Sunday at Prali--Worship 179

CHAPTER XVII.

FINAL RE-ESTABLISHMENT IN THE VALLEYS.

Cross the Col Julien--Seize Bobbio--Oath of Sibaud--March to
Villaro--Guerilla War--Retreat to La Balsiglia--Its
Strength--Beauty and Grandeur of San Martino--Encampment on
the Balsiglia--Surrounded--Repulse of the Enemy--Depart for
the Winter--Return of French and Piedmontese Army in
Spring--The Balsiglia Stormed--Enemy Driven Back--Final
Assault with Cannon--Wonderful Deliverance of the Vaudois--
Overtures of Peace 189