The History of the Waldenses By J.A Wylie Table of Contents ANTIQUITY AND 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 Chapter 1 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. 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– Chapter 2 Are Suffocated – French Crusaders Cross the Alps–Enter the Valley of Pragelas–Piedmontese Army Advance against La Torre–Deputation of Waldenstart Patriarchs – The Valley of Lucerna–Villaro-Bobbio–Cataneo's Plan of Campaign– His Soldiers Cross the Col Julten– Grandeurs of the Pass– Valley of Prali– Defeat of Cataneo's Expedition. 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 Chapter 3 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. 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 Oecolampadius–His Chapter 4 Admonifiory 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, etc.–Journey of Farel and Saunter to the Synod. 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 Chapter 5 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. 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 Chapter 6 Character of his Army–The Waldenses hold a Fast, etc.–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. THE GREAT CAMPAIGN OF 1561. Mass or Extermination–Covenant in the Valleys–Their Solemn Oath– How the Waldenses Recant–Their EnergetiQ Preparations–La Trinita Advances his Army–Twice attempts to Enter Chapter 7 Angrogna, and is Repulsed –A Third Attempt–Attacks on Three Points–Repulsed on all Three– Ravages the Valley of Rera–Receives Reinforcements from France and Spain–Commences a Third Campaign–Six Men against an Army– Utter Discomfiture–Extinction of La Trinita's Host–Peace. WALDENSIAN COLONIES IN CALABRIA AND APULIA. An Inn at Turin–Two Waldensian Youths–A Stranger–Invitation to Calabria–The Waldenses Chapter 8 Search the Land–They Settle there–Their Colony Flourishes–Build Towns–Cultivato 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. EXTINCTION OF WALDENSES IN CALABRIA. Arrival of Inquisitors in Calabria–Flight of the Inhabitants of San Sexto –Pursued and Chapter 9 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. THE YEAR OF THE PLAGUE. Peace—Re-occupatlon of their Homes — Partlal Famine—Contributions of Foreign Churches—Castrocaro, Governor of the Valleys—His Treacheries and Oppressions—Letter of Chapter 10 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, etc.—Worship conducted henceforward in French. THE GREAT MASSACRE. Preliminary Atacks—The Propaganda de Fide—Marchioness di Pianeza— Gastaldo's Order— Its Barbarous Execution—Greater Sorrows—Perfidy of Pianeza — The Massacring Army—Its Chapter 11 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. EXPLOITS OF GIANAVELLO — MASSACRE AND PILLAGE OF RORA. Ascent of La Combe—Beauty and Grandeur of Valley of Rora— Gianavello—His Character— Marquis di 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 Chapter 12 Persecutor—An Army Raised to Invade Rora—Massacre and Pillage— Letter of Pianeza— Gianavelto'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. THE EXILE. New Troubles—Louis XIV and his Confessor—Edict against the Vaudois —Their Defenseless Condition—Their Fight and Victory—They Surrender —The Whole Nation Thrown into Chapter 13 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. RETURN TO THE VALLEYS. Longings after their Valleys—Thoughts of Returning—Their Reassembling —Cross the Chapter 14 Leman—Begin their March—The "Eight Hundred"—Cross Mont Cents—Great Victory in the Valley of the Dora—First View of their Mountains—Worship on the Mountain-top— Enter their Valleys— Pass their First Sunday at Prali—Worship. FINAL RE-ESTABLISHMENT IN THEIR VALLEYS. Cross the Col Julten—Seize Bobbio—Oath of Sibaud—March to Villaro —Guerilla War— Chapter 15 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. CONDITION OF THE WALDENSES FROM 1690. Annoyances—Burdens—Foreign Contributions—French Revolution— Spiritual Revivals— Chapter 16 Felix Neff—Dr. Gilly—General Beckwith— Oppressed Condition previous to 1840—Edict of Carlo Alberto— Freedom of Conscience—The Vaudois Church, the Door by which Religious Liberty Entered Italy—Their Lamp Kindled at Rome. 1. ANTIQUITY AND 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. THE Waldenes stand apart and alone in the Christian world. Their place on the sufrace of Europe is unique; their position in history is not less unique; and the end. appointed them to fulfill is one which has been assigned to them alone, no other people being permitted to share it with them. The Waldenses bear a twofold testimony. Like the snow-clad peaks amid which their dwelling is placed, which look down upon the plains of Italy on the one side, and the provinces of France on the other, this people stand equally related to primitive ages and modern times, and give by no means equivocal testimony respecting both Rome and the Reformation. If they are old, then Rome is new; if they are pure, then Rome is corrupt; and if they have retained the faith of the apostles, it follows incontestably that Rome has departed from it. That the Waldensian faith and worship existed many centuries before Protestantism arose is undeniable; the proofs and monuments of this fact lie scattered over all the histories and all the lands of mediaeval Europe; but the antiquity of the Waldenses is the antiquity of Protestantism. The Church of the Reformation was in the loins of the Waldensian Church ages before the birth of Luther; her first cradle was placed amid those terrors and sublimities, those ice-clad peaks and great bulwarks of rock. In their dispersions over so many lands–over France, the Low Countries, Germany, Poland, Bohemia, Moravia, England, Calabria, Naples– the Waldenses sowed the seeds of that great spiritual revival which, beginning in the days of Wicliffe, and advancing in the times of Luther and Calvin, awaits its full consummation in the ages to come. In the place which the Church of the Alps has held, and the office she has discharged, we see the reason of that peculiar and bitter hostility which Rome has ever borne this holy and venerable community. It was natural that Rome should wish to efface so conclusive a proof of her apostaey, and silence a witness whose testimony so emphatically corroborates the position of Protestantism. The great bulwark of the Reformed Church is the Word of God; but next to this is the pre-existence of a community spread throughout Western Christendom, with doctrines and worship substantially one with those of the Reformation.