Plain Perosa and Saint Martino are on the North of Lucerna Angrognia and Roccapiatta situated in such sort that the Valley of Perosa is at the lower end and on the East are the Valleys of Saint Martino and Pragela The Valley of Perosa is about six miles long and it s distributed part in the mountains and part in the Plains and very fruitful hills At the lower end of it are the Communalties of Porte Saint Germano and Villaro In the middle Pinachia and in the higher part that of Perosa where is the City and Citadel of Perosa whence the Valley takes its name The Valley of Saint Martino is eighth miles in length on the West of the Valley of Perosa included between the Valleys of Lucerna and Clusone in the highest part of the Alps which border upon the Valley of Queyras containing eleven Communalties viz. Rioclaret Faet Rodoreto Salsa Macel Maneglia Chabrans Traverses Bovile and Saint Martino which gives the name to this Valley This indeed is the poorest yet the strongest of all by reason of its situtation In these Valleys before the late horrid Massacâ—â—â— 1655. there were fourteen Churches of the Protestants which Coâ—â—â—â—â—ed two Classes or Colloques and those two Classes one Synod for their Ecclesiastical Government The one was the Colloque of Lucerna consisting of the Churches of Saint Giovanni La Torre Villaro Bobi Rorata and Angrognia to which was annexed that of Roccapiatta which is between the Valley of Lucerna and Perosa situated upon those little hills which separate the two valleys The other was the Colloque of the valley of Perosa and Saint Martino containg four Churches in the valley of Perosa viz. Villaro Saint Germano which made but one Church Pinachia La Cappella and Pramoh in the valley of Saint Martino were three Churches viz. Villa Secca Maneglius Prasi The Church of Saint Giovanni contains within it a very fair Plain and little hills very fruitful and abounding with Corn Vines Chestnuts Figgs Olives and other fruits but it wants Pastures and Woods so that they have not many Cattel but only some Oxen to till the ground and to carry their wine to Turin and other places to sell. This Church hath annexed unto it Lucerna Lucernetta the Vineyards of Lucerna Fenile Bubiana and Bricheras In the City of Lucerna the third part of the Inhabitants were Protestants In Lucernetta and the Vineyard of Lucerna almost all the Inhabitants professed the Reformed Religion time out of mind Fenile is lower on the other side of the River Pelice towards the South being a more fatt and fertile soil than any place in St. Giovanni in all sorts of Fruit and Grain Bubiana as to the Plain is like to Fenile and neerly adjoyning to it but the Protestants have often been driven out of it so that what they possessed was mostly in the hills where they have little Corn Wine but abundance of Chestnuts So that the inhabitants which were about fifty Families were generally poor living by their hard labour and by their profit which they made of wood which they carried to sell to the towns of Babiana and Lucerna The hills of Bricheras where there have been alwayes Protestant Families are like those of Saint Giovanni The Church of La Torre is the same for situation and quality with that of Saint Giovanni containing one Plain where is the Town of La Torre and hills adorned with the same kind of fruits as those of Saint Giovanni The Church of Villaro adjoyns to that of La Torre but is a little higher towards Dauphine containing a little Plain where is the Town and the hills adorned with Vines and Chestnuts The Church of Bobio is near to that of Villaro being a little higher towards the Mountain on the West but as fertile as that of Villaro and being environed with many Mountains and having fat Pastures the Inhabitants had many oxen Kine and smaller Cattel together with milk and wool in abundance as also they had many Chestnuts which being cleansed and dried they sold or exchanged for other Commodities The Church of Rorata is a little Valley situated on the other side of the River Pelice on the West of Lucerna being bounded by the Mountains of Villaro It abounds in Pastures and is very fruitful especially in Chestnuts The Church of Angrogna is North-West to that of St. Giovanni towards Perosa in a Mountainous Countâ—y but fruitfull in Chestnuts Corn and Pastures environed with fruitfull Mountains which yielded good Pastures in the Summer season The Church of Roccapiatta contains four parcels viz. that of Roccapiatta St. Bartholomeo Perustine and La Inverso delle Porte In these three latter there grow abundance of rich Wines Chestnuts and other good fruits In Roccapiatta they have Corn Pasture and Fruits but no Wine The Church of Villaro and St. Germano is situated in the lowest part of Perosa about a mile from Pignorolio the West and North part of Villaro on this side the River Clusone belong to the King of France and St. Germano to the Duke of Savoy on the other side of the said River which running through the whole length of the said Valley separates the Kings Territories from those of the Dukes These two places of Villaro and St. Germano contain a little Pâ—ain on both sides the River the rest is in hills yielding Corn Wine and Fruits The Church of Pinachia is within the French Dominions adjoyning on the VVest part to that of Villaro and contains a fair and beautifull Plain on the North-side fenced with pleasant hills On the VVest is the Town and fort of Perosa on the South the River Clusone and some hills but scarce any Plain at all It abounds with Corn Wine Nuts Grass and other Fruits The Church of La Capella is on the VVest of that of Pinachia in the upper end of the Valley of Perosa on the West it joyns to the Valley of Pragela which belongs to the King of France On the East to the Citadel of Perosa It hath several very fruitfull hills in it It hath annexed to it Pomare and Inverso del Perosa and some other small Villages called Le Mean making a little Communalty at the foot of the Valley of Pragela The Church of Pramol is situated on a Mountain between the Valleys of Lucerna and Perosa at the feet whereof grow a few 〈◊〉 and good Fruits In the highest part is Corn and much wood and Pasture ground The Church of Villa Secca is at the lowest part of the Valley of St. Martino where there is almost no Plaine but where the river Germanasco takes its course the Hills which lie South from the said River are very cold so that there grow no Vines but those on the North which lie open to the South-sun are hot and so have many Vines In general it s tolerably fruitful in Corne Fruits and Pasture The Church of Maneglia which is on the West part of
the Laird of Sheld was converted by it and his eyes ran down with such abundance of tears that all men wondred at it Presently news was brought to Wischard that the plague was broke out in Dundee which began within four dayes after he was prohibited preaching there and raged so extreamly that it s almost beyond credit how many died in twenty foure houres space This being related to him notwithstanding the importunity of his friends he would needs go thither saying They are now in trouble and need comfort Perhaps this hand of God will make them now to magnifie and reverence that Word of God which before they lightly esteemed Coming to Dundee the joy of the faithful was exceeding great and without delay he signified that the next day he would preach and because most of the inhabitants were either sick or imployed about the sick he chose the East-gate for the place of his preaching so that the whole were within and the sick without the gate His text was Psal. 107. He sent his Word and healed them c. wherein he comfortably intreated of the profit and comfort of Gods Word the punishment that comes by the contempt of it the readinesse of Gods mercy to such as truly turn to him and the happinesse of those whom God takes from this misery c. By which Sermon he so raised up the hearts of those that heard him that they regarded no death but judged them more happy that should then depart rather than such as should remain behind considering that they knew not whether they should have such a Comforter with them He spared not to visit them that lay in the greatest extremity and to comfort them He provided all things necessary for such as could take food the Town being very bountiful to them through his instigation But whilst he was thus busying himself for the comfort of the afflicted the Devil stirred up the Cardinal who corrupted a desperate Popish Priest called John Weighton to slay him And on a day the Sermon being ended and the people departed suspecting no danger the Priest stood waiting at the bottome of the stairs with a naked dagger in his hand under his gown but Master VVischard being of a sharp piercing eye seeing the Priest as he came down said to him My friend what would you have and withal clapping his hand upon the dagger took it from him The Priest herewith being terrified fell down upon his knees confessed his intention and craved pardon A noise being hereupon raised and it coming to the ears of those which were sick they cryed Deliver the Traytor to us or we will take him by force and so they burst in at the gate but VVischard taking him in his armes said VVhosoever hurts him shall hurt me for he hath done me no mischief but much good by teaching me more heedfulnesse for the time to come and so he appeased them and saved the Priests life When the plague was almost quite ceased he took his leave of them saying that God had almost put an end to the battel and that he was now called to another place for the Gentlemen of the West had written to him to meet them in Edinburgh where he should dispute with the Bishops and should be publickly heard which he willingly assented to but first he went to Montrosse to salute the Church there where he sometimes preached but spent most of his time in private meditation in which he was so earnest that night and day he continued in it during which time the Cardinal again conspired his death causing a letter to be sent to him as if it been from his familiar friend the Laird of Kinnur desiring him with all possible speed to come to him for that he was taken with a sudden sicknesse In the mean time he had provided sixty men armed to lie in wait within a mile and na hall of Montrosse to murther him as he passed by that way The letter coming to his hands by a boy who also brought him an horse to ride on accompanied with some honest men his friends he set forwards but suddenly stopping and musing a space he returned back again which they wondring at asked him the cause to whom he said I will not go I am forbidden of God I am assured there is treason Let some of you go to yonder place and tell me what you finde which they doing found out the treason and hastily returning back they told master Wischard of it whereupon he said I know that I shall end my life by that blood-thirsty mans hands but it will not be on this manner The time approaching wherein he should meet the Gentlemen at Edinburgh he took his leave and departed by the way he lodged with a faithful brother called James Watson of Inner Gowry in the night time he gat up and went into a yard which two men hearing privily followed him There he walked in an Alley for some space breathing forth many sobs and deep grones then he fell upon his knees and his grones increased Then he fell upon his face Those that watched him hearing him weeping and praying in which posture he continued near an hour then getting up he came to his bed again Those which attended him making as though they were ignorant of all came and asked him where he had been but he would not answer them the next day they importuned him again saying Be plain with us for we heard your mourning and saw your gestures then he with a dejected countenance said I had rather you had been in your beds but they still pressing upon him to know something he said I will tell you I am assured that my warfare is near at an end and therefore pray to God with me that now I shrink not when the battel waxeth most hot When they heard this they fell a weeping saying This is small comfort to us Then said he God shall send you comfort after me This Realme shall be illuminated with the light of Christs Gospel as clearly as any Realme since the dayes of the Apostles The house of God shall be built in it yea it shall not lack in despite of all enemies the top-stone Neither will it be long before this be accomplished Many shall not suffer after me till the glory of God shall appear and triumph in despight of Satan But alasse If the people shall afterwards prove unthankful then fearful and terrible shall the plagues be that shall follow Then went he forward on his journey and came to Leith but hearing nothing of those Gentlemen that were to meet him he kept himself private a day or two then did he grow very pensive and being asked the reason of it he said What do I differ from a dead man but that I eat and drink Hitherto God hath used my labours for the instruction of others and to the disclosing of darknesse and now I
respect they bore both to his person and Mediation And withall Master Morland was requested to go to Turin where by the Dukes Order he was entertained with all outward demonstrations of Civility and respect imaginable during his abode there Master Morland after a while pressed for his dispatch and had it and so according to the Lord Protectors Order he went to Geneva There was Collected in England and Wales towards the relief of these poor souls the full summe of thirty eight thousand ninety seven pounds seven shillings and three pence the greatest part whereof was at several times transmitted to them and what remained being about nine thousands pounds was put out to Interest that so both the Principal and the Improvement might be disposed of for their best advantage and further to shew what effects the Lord Protectors intercession had I finde that presently after the King of Sweden the King of Denmark the States of the United Provinces the Prince Elector Palatine the Elector of Brandenberg the Duke of Wittenberg and many other Protestant Princes and States did either by their Letters to the Duke of Savoy or otherwise declare their deep resentment of the bloody Massacre especially the Lantgrave of Hessen wrote most zealously in their behalf They had also many Consolatory Letters written to them from sundry particular Churches viz. From Franckfort Zurick Hanaw Flushing Middleburgh c. and large Contributions according to their respective abilities Divers Commissioners also were sent from England and Holland to joyne with those of the Evangelical Cantons for the procuring a well-grounded peace for those poor people but before they came the Switzer Ambassador had concluded a Treaty with the French Ambassador and betwixt them they had hudled up a Peace the woful effects whereof these poor people were quickly sensible of and to this day they labour under heavy burdens laid upon their shoulders by their Popish Taskmasters they forbid them all manner of traffique for their sustenance they rob them of their goods and estates they drive them from their ancient habitations and force them to sell their Birth-right for a messe of Pottage They banish their Ministers that the Shepherds being gone they may the more easily devour them they ravish their young women and maidens they murther the innocent as they passe along the high-wayes upon their occasions they continually mock and revile them and threaten another Massacre sevenfold more bloody than the former Through the malice and subtilty of their Popish adversaries their Valleys are no other than a Dungeon to which the Fort of La Torre serves as a door whereby at their pleasure they may let in a Troop of murtherers utterly to destroy and extirpate those innocent people and notwithstanding all those large supplies that have been sent them from England and other States yet so great are the necessities of those poor hungry creatures and so grievous are the oppressions of their Popish adversaries who lie in wait to bereave them of whatsoever is given them that some of them are yet ready ever and anon to eate their own flesh for want of bread their miseries are more sad and grievous than can be expressed they are dying even whilst they live When that which was collected for them is once spent they must inevitably perish unlesse the Lord in whose hand are the hearts of Princes shall incline the heart of their Prince to pity these his poor harmlesse and faithful Subjects who are so farre from thoughts of Rebellion that could they but enjoy the freedom of their Consciences in peace they would be the first that would be ready to sacrifice their lives for the good and safety of his Royal Highnesse How long Lord Holy just and true c. Rev. 6.10 If any desire to see a fuller account of these things together with the Letters and Transactions about them they may finde them fully and faithfully set down by Master Samuel Morland in his History of the Evangelical Churches in the Valleys of Piemont Here place the Eleventh Figure CHAP. XLVII A brief Description of Piemont and the Valleys thereof PIemont is so called because it is situated à pede montium or at the feet of the Alps which separate Italy from France It 's but a little spot of earth yet very pleasant and of incredible fruitfulnesse It 's bounded on the East with Millan Montferrat and the Common-wealth of Genoa on the South is the Mediterranean Sea On the West and North part it hath the Alps for a Bulwark by which it is separated on the VVest side from Provence and Dauphine and on the North from Savoy and the Countrey of Valley It 's almost all covered with high mountains and watred with four great Rivers viz. Po Tanaro Stura and Dora besides which there are about twenty eight Rivers more great and small which render it exceeding fruitful in Cattel Wine Corne Hay Nuts and many other fruits in great abundance The principal Valleys are on the North part those two Aosta and Susa on the South side Stura and some others and in the midland Lucerna Angrogni◠Roccapiatta Pramol Perosa and Saint Martino The Valley of 〈…〉 been and still is a part of Dauphine as farre as La Capella which is situated at the lower end thereof and divides it from Perosa which was the ordinary passage of the French Armies into Italy These Valleys especially that of Angrognia Pramol and Saint Martino are strongly fortified by nature by reason of their many difficult passages through Rocks and mountains as if from the beginning it had been designed by the all-wise God to be as a Cabinet wherein he would keep some rare Jewel Those Valleys of Piemont which have been for some hundreds of years inhabited by the Waldenses are Lucerna Perosa and Saint Martino Lucerna contains fifteen miles in length the highest Communalties thereof viz. Bobio Villaro and La Torre are for the greatest part mountains but Lucerna Saint Giovanni Fenile Campiglione and Garcigliana though they have both on the North and South side a little of the mountains yet they extend themselves into a very fair Plaine Angrognia is but a little Valley on the North side of Lucerna as also Rorata and Vallon which are on the South side of Lucerna wholly within the mountains So is also Roccapiatta and Pramol which are enclosed between the Valleys of Lucerna and Perosa The Communalty of La Torre took its name from an high Tower which stood upon a little hill near Bourg But Francis the first King of France considering how prejudicial it might be to the affairs and interest of France and the safety of Pignorole he caused it to be demolished But the Duke of Savoy rebuilt it Anno 1652. which afterward served as a slaughter-house of many poor innocent souls Bricheras which is joyned to the Valley of Lucerna is on the East of Angrognia and Saint Giovanni and on the South of Roccapiatta almost all in the