the year 1559. EManuel Philibert Duke of Savoy and Successor of Charles having recovered his Estates by the General Peace in the year 1559. was spurred on by the Monks and Regulars of Pignerol to condemn the Vaudois to be burnt and their goods confiscated and given for a recompence to the Instruments of their ruine These poor people seeing themselves upon the brink of ruin and desolation after their recourse to him who has the heart of Kings in his hand by their Prayers Fastings and Humiliations they went and cast themselves at the feet of the Duke of Savoy their Prince and presented an Humble Petition to him tending to this that he would let them live and enjoy a free exercise of their Religion they presented another of the same tenure to the Dutchess his Wife who had a great share in the knowledge of truth and who always shewed a great tenderness for them But it was all to no purpose the Pope and the King of Spain to whom the Duke of Savoy was extreamly obliged because they had contributed their utmost endeavours to re-establish him in his Dominions sollicited this Prince very pressingly to destroy the Vaudois who contrary to his own interests was easily perswaded at the desire of the Monks who continually sollicited him to make War upon them While in the interim they endeavoured to sweeten their Prince and by their humble requests to turn off the storm which threatned them the Soldiers of the neighbouring Towns surprized the borough of St. German by the assistance of the darkness of the night the Protestants of this place in so dangerous a conjuncture thought of nothing but saving their persons the greatest part in their Shirts ran to the neighbouring Mountains except twenty five who being in the houses that were farthest off were by consequence the farthest from this retreat These seeing they had not time to fly cast themselves upon their Knees and making a short but ardent prayer to God in sight of their Enemies went to attaque them with that courage and resolution that they put them all to flight a great many were killed upon the spot and God striking the rest with a pannick fear a great many through their hasty flight fell into the River of Cluson and there perished miserably The Duke of Savoy assisted by the Pope Spain and France raised a powerful Army against the Vaudois and made General of it the Count De la Trinita who seeing this People weakned and shaken with so many furious shocks of Wars and Persecution did not doubt of bringing his designs speedily to his desired effect and to extirpate the Vaudois root and branch He had recourse to Politicks and Stratagems before he would make use of open force in short he sent for the Ministers and Guides of the Churches he exhorted them to lay down their Arms and to bring them to him on the one side he represented unto them the great dangers they were ready to be precipitated into if they did not submit themselves to the will of their Prince seeing the great forces which he had to compel them which it was impossible for them to withstand That the Pope the King of Spain the King of France had engaged the Duke in this War and did lend him their Troops that the General Peace being made they would employ all their forces to destroy them if they would not submit and obey On the other hand he made them specious and advantagious propositions giving them hopes that if they would submit to the will of their Prince they should enjoy peace and live in liberty with all their ancient priviledges Many were shaken and frighted by the treacherous discourse of this Lord who seeing them divided some being willing to submit to save their lives and fortunes to the will of their Prince others being of a different sentiment because of the dangerous consequences they foresaw this submission might draw after it In this dubious estate of their affairs he took his opportunity he laid ambushes for them in several places and having surprized them in small parties he made a cruel butchery without any resistance exercising all sorts of cruelties against these innocent Lambs who were betrayed by trusting to his sugared words This barbarous treachery cast these people into an inexpressible consternation but three hundred of those that escaped from the massacre being assembled together by the favour of the night and being fortified by little and little by their brethren who were diffident of the Counts promises and had saved themselves in the Mountains with this little Troop of the Vaudois God did such wonders as almost seem incredible if we had not seen what their Successors have done in the wars of the year 1655. and 1664. and the last year when seven or 800 Vaudois crossed all Savoy which was then all in Arms and forced several Passes kept by the Regular Troops of France and Savoy and in spight of their Enemies entred into their own Country and there have endured fifteen or sixteen bloody fights which fully perswades us that God is with this people and fought for them and with them without whose wonderful help it was impossible they should have performed such extraordinary exploits The day after this treachery the Count Del a Trinita employed his Army from morning till night in spoyling and ransacking all the places in the Valley of Lucerne of which he had made himself Master after which he marched with seven or eight thousand select men as high as Angrogne towards the place called the Meadow of the Tower where the greatest part of the Families of these poor Vaudois were retired as to the strongest Sanctuary or Azilum they could find in all the Valley of Lucerne He attacqued them in this place by three several ways and gave them no time of respite for four days one assault was no sooner repulsed but he gave another with fresh Troops without gaining any advantage In these assaults he lost two Collonels eight Captains and seven or eight hundred Soldiers The fifth day he being absolutely bent to carry the Post and to this end he made use of Spanish Troops which were fresh and as yet had never been engaged The Spanish Soldiers seeing â—…hey advanced nothing and that they â—…ell like hail mutined against their Officers that were obstinate to continue the attacque The Vaudois having observed the confusion that their Enemies were in fell upon them with so much courage and bravery that they put the whole Army to the rout and they were struck with so great a fear that many of them threw themselves off the rocks into the river of Angrogne and were drowned in its whirlpools they pursued their Enemies the space of two leagues and killed a great number of them To shew that France aided the Duke of Savoy in the War he had begun against the Vaudois D' Aubigni reports in his General History that this Prince having desired the King of France to lend him
Monsieur de Maugiron with ten Companies of Foot and Monsieur de la Motte Gondren with other Troops all composed of pickt and expert Soldiers he says it was granted him and that the Troops were joyned to the Army commanded by Count de la Trinita the Vaudois in sight of this Army reinforced with the Troops of France confiding in the aid Heaven went to force the Fortress of the Borough of Villar in the middle of the Valley of Lucerne that the Duke a while before had built to cut that Pass from the Enemy The Count del a Trinita being strengthned with the Troops of France and some fresh ones sent by the Duke attempted several times to attacque them but in every one of them they were repulsed with considerable loss sometimes they lost 900. men when the Vaudois lost not above 15. The Army of the Duke being extreamly weakned what by continual losses what by desertion of Soldiers who seeing they got nothing but blows in this War deserted in great numbers The Duke sollicited by his Dutchess whom as we have said had some knowledge of the Truth and had a great deal of tenderness for the Vaudois gave them Peace with the free exercise of their Religion by his Letters Patents dated at Cavor the fifth of June 1561. their Goods being restored to them the Prisoners released and those that were condemned to Galleys for their Religion were set at liberty and they were reestablished in all their Rights and Priviledges In the year 1565. four years after this Edict was published at the earnest desire of the Pope a new Order was published through all these Valleys That all the Subjects of the D. of Savoy who within ten days after the publication of the said order did not declare before some of their Magistrates that they would go to Mass should within two months be gone out of all the Estates of the said Duke and at the same time the Magistrates received an express order to make an exact list of all those that would not obey the said Order and send it speedily to his Highness The Protestant Princes of Germany were extreamly sensible of this new Vexation and made by their Letters a great Complaint to the Duke of the bad entreatment of the Vaudois to the Prejudice and contrary to the Tenour of his Letter Patents and desired him to remedy it for the future that they might enjoy the Benefit of his generous Grant the Prince Palatine sent one of of his principal Counsellors in an Embassy to procure peace to these poor People Margerite of France wife of the Duke who was a pious and vertuous Princess and who was very tender of the Vaudois sweetned as much as she could the anger of her Husband who by false reports of the Enemies of the Gospel was much irritated against them The day of St. Bartholomew in the Year 1572. there was made a most cruel Massacre of the Protestants at Paris and in several other places of the Kingdom of France Castrocaro Governor of the Valleys threatned to do as much to the Vaudois of Piemont But whether it was that the Duke of Savoy did not approve of the cruel Butchery which was made of the Protestants of France or whether at the earnest Sollicitations of his Dutchess who as much as possible with her natural Sweetness gained and wrought upon him to shew Mercy and Clemency to the Vaudois he put forth a Manifesto and declared to all his Subjects of the Valleys who for Fear of the Governour were fled that they might return without any Fear or Danger to their own habitations he gave them likewise order that they might receive their Brethren of France assuring them they might live very securely there and he kept his word for even to his Death which hapned the 13th of August 1580. they were not molested but enjoyed a quiet Repose CHAP. IX Of the fifth War against the Vaudois under Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy and chiefly of those of the Marquisate of Saluzzo CHarles Emanuel his Son succeeded him who a little time after the Decease of his Father seized upon the Marquisate of Saluzzo which belonged to the Duke of Savoy Monsieur Del ' Esdiguiers by way of reprisal seized upon the Valleys of Piemont and forced the Inhabitants of these Valleys to take the Oath of Fidelity to the then King of France The Enemies of the Vaudois were not wanting under this pretence to irritate the Duke of Savoy against these poor People to extirpate them when a fit opportunity should offer without considering that they were forced by the powerful arms of the King to take the Oath their Prince having given them no succor War being begun between Henry VI. King of France and Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy about the Marquisate of Saluzzo the King made himself Master of all Savoy in one Campaign which the Emperor and the King of Spain seeing they desired the Pope who was about marrying his Neice to the King of France viz. Mary de Medicis to endeavour to make a peace between these two Princes which he did by the Articles of it the King of France restored to the Duke of Savoy all that he had taken from him excepting Bresse which was exchanged for the Marquisate of Saluzzo The Enemies of the Vaudois as soon as the Duke was at peace abroad were not wanting to sollicite him to make War upon the Vaudois but he considering that his Father had had but ill Success in the War he had made upon them although he was assisted by the Forces of Spain and France would not declare open War against them but permitted them to be disturbed in their Affairs and when the Inquisitors had put any of them in Prison for their Religion and that Application was made to him for their Enlargement he would answer that he did not intermeddle in those Affairs But he acted in another manner with the Vaudois of Saluzzo than with those of the Valleys against those of the Valleys he was content to let their Enemies act but against those of the Marquisate he declared himself an open Persecutor from the time he was absolute master of it for about the end of the Month of Iune 1601. he made an Edict by which he commanded that every one must declare before the ordinary Magistrate that within the term of 15 days that he was resolved to renounce his Religion and to go to Mass with which if he complyed he might not only enjoy his House and Goods but other great Priviledges but for those that were obstinate and resolved to continue in their Religion they absolutely commanded to be gone out of all his Dominions in two Months time and never to return again upon pain of Death and Confiscation of their Goods There were 8 flourishing Churches inthis Marquisate but this Edict being executed with a great deal of rigour all these poor Churches were dissipated for the Faithful seeing that the Duke would not
Marquess of Fleuri had had ill Success in all his designs thought it was requisite to change the General and so the Mraquess was recalled to Court and the Marquess of St. Damian was put in his place who made a Levy of a greater Army than before but with worse Success The Soldiers seeing that in this War nothing could be got but blows the first having carried away all the Booty went only by force to this War and where they found any resistance they turned their backs and fled from the Vaudois their Officers being not able to stay their Flight CHAP. XIX The Second Peace made betwizt Charles Emanuel and the Vaudois by the mediation of the Protestant Cantons in the month of February 1664. which has continued till the year 1686. during which time the Vaudois did signal Service to the Duke of Savoy THE War of the year 1663. having had as ill Success as that of the year 1655. the Duke of Savoy would have been glad of Peace but he durst not ask it of the Vaudois for fear it should shew his weakness or at least he should be obliged to grant them more than he had done by his former Patent granted at Pignerol because of the Advantages they had gained over him For this Prince had drained his Revenues ruined by these Wars a part of his Dukedom lost more than 4000 men and the Vaudois but sixty They durst go no more into the Mountains to seek them and the Vaudois often descended into the Plains to attack their Enemies who being struck with a pannick Fear because of the many Victories of the Vaudois fled before them like a Flock of Sheep before a Troop of hungry enraged Wolfs The Suisse having private notice that the Duke was weary of the War sent an honourable Embassy to to sollicit a peace between the Vaudois and their Prince the Ambassadors came to Turin the 15th of December 1663 and were very well received by the Duke and the whole Court which was not so in the year 1655. after the Massacre nor in the year 1686. when the Duke was leagued with the King of France for the destruction of the Vaudois and to force them to go to Mass as he in the precedent year had forced the Protestants of France This good reception of the Ambassadors made it clear that the Duke was weary of the War and willing to make a Peace after they had had Audience they sent their Secretary to the Valleys to tell the Vaudois that they should send their Deputies to Turin who being arrived there a solemn Promise was made them that during the Treaty there should be no more Acts of Hostility done against the Vaudois The event made it apparent that this promise was only made them to lull them asleep that he might the better surprize them while the Treaty was on foot for by an unheard of Perfidiousness even among the most barbarous Nations notwithstanding this promise made in the presence of the Ambassadors the 21st of the same Month twelve hundred men of the lower Piemont were sent to reinforce the Army under the command of the Marquess of St. Damian and on the 25th at break of day they attacked Tillaret Angrogne Rocheplate and St. German without giving any notice that they would do any thing to the prejudice of the solemn Promise The first and strongest attack was at Tillaret where the Vaudois had like to have been born down with numbers but they of Angrogne sending them in the nick of time an hundred men this seasonable succour did so encourage them that they broke the Enemies Troops commanded by the Count of Bagnols and put them to flight and forced them to fly for safety to the Town and Cittadel of Tour in great disorder they pursued them with so much heat and vigour that many of the Vaudois entred with them pell mell into the Town and came out again without the least damage to the great astonishment of all the world and confusion of their Euemies On the side of Angrogne the Enemies could not make the Vaudois give back one foot of ground for all their furious Assaults but after having done their utmost to make them quit their post after having lost a great number of their men they most shamefully fled the Vaudois pursued them to the Plain and killed a great number of them and encamped afterwards near them upon the Plain where their Enemies durst not molest them All the harm the Vaudois suffered was on St. Germans side which was a very advantageous post and of great importance by the means of which they had till then kept clear the passage betwixt the Vallies of Lucerne and those of Perouse and St. Martin the Enemies unfortunately surprized this place which was not guarded because that Famine had obliged the Country people who believed there was no danger during the Treaty to go and seek victuals for themselves and their Families they killed there a man and two women the rest saved themselves miraculously they burnt likewise greatest part of the houses and cut down or pilled the Bark of all the Fruit Trees The Vaudois had great cause of Joy that day for that they happened to be dispersed in divers places and were not upon their Guard confiding in the solemn promise made at Turin but God not only delivered them out of the hand of their Enemies but gave them a signal victory The Enemies Army consisted of 18000 men viz. 6000 that the Marquess of St Damian had in his Army and 12000 Piemontese that had newly joined him and the Vaudois had but 700 men and on this day the latter lost but 6 men but the first according to their own relation lost fifteen hundred among whom were the Counts of St. Front and de la Trinita and many Officers of Note The Deputies of the Vaudois who were at Turin having received Intelligence of this perfidious dealing against the solemn promise desired the Lords Ambassadors from the Swisse Cantons to present their just complaints to the Duke which they did with a great deal of heat and resentment but that produced only a truce for twelve days which was at several times prolonged and renewed till the Lords Ambassadors had ended and fully concluded a peace and agreement contained in the Patent of the 14th of February 1664. by which the Vaudois were established in a full enjoyment of all their Goods and in the free exercise of their Religion in all places where it had been established by the treaty of Pignerol in the year 1655. But this Patent was no better executed and observed than the former although the Duke had engaged himself by his Letter to the Protestant Cantons the 28th of February 1664. to observe it punctually It 's no easie matter to represent here all the tricks that the Councel of the Propagation made use of to make this peace ineffectual as to the Vaudois it 's enough to say that it had been impossible for them to
defend themselves against so many subtilties and crafty policies of their Adversaries of the Propagation if God who holds the hearts of Princes and Kings in his hand had not changed the heart of Charles Emanuel the Second to favour the Vaudois This Prince having examined the conduct of all their doings began to know that it was without any good ground that the Vaudois were made so odious and calling to mind the great zeal they had testified on divers occasions for his service and particularly in 1638 and 1640 when the greatest part of his Estate was revolted against him and that the Cardinal of Savoy and Prince Thomas his Unkle had made themselves Heads of the Revolt being assisted by the Troops of Spain had seized almost all Piemont and even of the City of Turin it self and besieged Madam Royal his Mother in the Cittadel whither she had fled to save her self and that without the succours of Lewis the XIII his Unkle by the Mothers side and the help of the Vaudois it was probable that this Prince had been deprived of all his Principality In the year 1672. the Duke of Savoy made War upon the Genoeses and the Vaudois served him with so much zeal and courage that this Prince was not content only to praise their Conduct Courage and Fidelity by a Letter which he writ to them the fifth of November the same year but he gave them many sensible marks of his esteem and good-will towards them even to his death which hapned towards the end of the year 1678. Madam Royal his Widow treated them likewise not only with a great deal of sweetness and goodness but she also engaged her self to the Protestant Cantons by a Letter writ the 28th of Ianuary 1679. to maintain the Vaudois in the free exercise of their Religion and in all other priviledges and immunities CHAP. XX. The Ninth War against the Vaudois by Lewis the XIV King of France and Victor Amadeus II. Duke of Savoy with the perfidious treacheries of their Enemies which was the cause of the ruine and dispertion of these poor Churches THE sweetness of peace which the Vaudois enjoyed after the war against Genoua till the death of Charles Emanuel II. and after the death of this Prince under the Regency of Madam Royal his Widow till the year 1685. made them hope to enjoy a durable tranquility under the reign of Victor Amadeus II. who is at present Duke of Savoy and that which flattered them with this hopes was the considerable services they had done him in the year 1684. in the war against those of Mondovi in which they had signalized their courage and zeal for his service This very Prince had given them authentical assurances of his great satisfaction by a Letter that he writ to them on this occasion But they quickly lost their hopes when the Governour of the Valleys made Proclamation about the end of the year 1685 That no Stranger should come and stay in the Valleys above 3 days without his permission and that any that should entertain them any longer should be most severely punished The Vaudois had intelligence of the great violences that were made use of in France to force the Protestants there to change their Religion they had likewise news that that King had cancelled the Edict of Nants and they judged very well that the prohibition that was made them of giving a safe retreat to their Brethren of France was of a dangerous consequence but they did not foresee all the misery that hapned to them since nor all the evils that were prepared for them They were strangely surprized when there was published in the Valleys an order of the Duke of Savoy on the 31st of Ianuary 1686. which did generally forbid the exercise of the Protestant Religion under pain of death and confiscation of all their Goods and their Churches to be demolished and all their Ministers to be sent into banishment all Infants born hereafter to be baptised and brought up in the Roman Religion under penalty of condemning their Fathers to the Gallies it 's impossible to express the grief and fears of the Vaudois at the sight of so surprizing vigorous and unjust order so contrary to their rights and priviledges the forâ—…er orders only tended to the restraining them in narrower bounds but the Ordinance of the 31st of Ianuary entirely deprived them of the exercise of their Religion and liberty of Conscience In this sad condition into which they were plunged by the malice of their Enemies they had recourse to submissions and supplications according to their custom they addressed the Duke of Savoy four times to revoke the Order but they could obtain nothing but some delay that he might be the better prepared to execute the order they saw their misfortune was without remedy and of this they were the more certain when they understood that the King of France who for reasons of state and interest had always protected them and had declared himself the Warrantee of the Patents of 1655 and 1664. had now not only obliged the Duke to pass this Order but had also made his Troops advance towards Piemont for to see the execution of the Order performed The Protestant Cantons being informed of this Order and of the measures that were taken for the execution of it thought themselves obliged not to forsake a people persecuteâ—… upon the score of Religion and that they ought to appear on their behalf on this occasion as well as they had done on the former therefore they resolved in an Assembly held at Basil in the month of February 1686. to send a splendid Embassy to the Duke of Savoy to interceed for the Vaudois These Ambassadors arrived at Turin the beginning of March and made to the Duke their Proposals for the revoking of the late Orders of the 31st of January they shewed the Duke that they were interested in this affair not only as Brethren of the Vaudois making profession of the same Religion but because also the Patents of 1655 and 1664. which this last Order destroyed was the fruits of their former Mediation and they supported their demand with many strong and solid considerations The Court of Turin did not impugn these reasons but thought it was sufficient to tell the Ambassadors that the engagements that the Duke had entred into with the King of France opposed the success of their negotiation This Answer obliged the Ambassadors to give in a Memorial to the Duke to this purpose That the Predecessors of his Royal Highness having engaged their Royal Word to many Soveraign Princes and particularly to the Protestant Cantons for the due observing of the Patents granted the Vaudois such formal and authentical engagements ought to stand good for that the Patents were not meer tolleration for a time but perpetual grants and irrevocable Laws and besides the Patents were granted at the intercession of many Soveraign Princes and according to the Laws of Nations they are eternal
put in Prison making use of the secular power to this end and when they had them there they either let them perish there or else condemned them to Death The Inquisitors likewise by threatnings forced Margarite de Foix Soveraign Lady of the Marquesate of Saluzzo to persecute the Vaudois that were in her Marquisate the Persecution was so great and so cruel that these poor Protestants were forced to leave house and home and to save themselves in the Valely of Lucerne without carrying any thing off but their precious Souls there they stayed five years in this miserable Condition during which time they perpetually plyed the Duke of Savoy with humble Supplications that he would be pleased to mediate for them that they might berestored to their own Country and that the unjust Usurpers of their Lands and Goods might be forced to restore But at last seeing all Prayers and Submissions did serve to no purpose because of the opposition of the Pope the Clergy and above all of the Inquisitors they resolved to take up Arms and to endeavour to repossess themselves of their Lands and Goods and that which gave them the greater courage and boldness to do it was because they were chased out by Force without any order of their Soveraign Lady This Enterprize was attended with a happy Success on a sudden they invaded the Usurpers of their Goods they chased them away and frighted them so that they never attempted more a return and these poor Vaudois after this happy Exploit for at least a hundred years after enjoyed a profound Peace and Liberty of their Religion through all the Marquisate CHAP. VI. Of the Second War against the Vaudois of Piemont by Charles I. Duke of Savoy PHilip VII Duke of Savoy being dead Charles his Son succeeded him This Prince was mightily importuned by the Archbishop and Inquisitor of Turin to deliver over to the secular power his Subjects of the reformed Religion he gave commission to Don Pentaleon Bressour Lord of Rocheplate to war against them in the Year 1534. This Nobleman having chosen 1500. select men out of all the Troops of the Duke when the Vaudois thought themselves most secure having not the least Suspition of their Enemies Intention he suddenly attacqued them surprizing killing and massacring all that came in his way without sparing Age or Sex which caused a great consternation in these Valleys but at last these people resuming their innate courage mustered together and put themselves in so good order that the day following as their Enemies thought of marching on and continuing their Butcheries all along the Valley of Lucerne they charged them so couragiously in the Rear and in the Front and in the Flank that a great number of these Massacrers were killed upon the field others saved themselves by flight leaving behind them the booty and the Prisoners they had taken from the Vaudois When the Duke of Savoy saw that the Skin of a Vaudois cost him twenty Roman Catholicks he would not permit they should be any more persecuted by open force of Arms but that more secret means should be taken as less dangerous to bring this about he established certain Troops of Highway-men and Assassins who laid in Ambuscado in places proper for their design and when the Vaudois descended from the Mountains or went out of the Valleys about their affairs they were presently seized on many for a long time fell into these Snares and became the Prey of those Villains who after they had ransomed them notwithstanding took away their lives by most exquisite torments Catalan Gerard of St. John in the Valley of Lucerne was one of those who fell into their hands he was burnt alive at Revel a City of Piemont and suffered death with an admirable constancy CHAP. VII Of the third War against the Vaudois of Piemont and the Persecution that they suffered from the Parliament of Turin FRancis the First King of France having made himself Master of Piemont and dispoiled the Duke of Savoy of his Principality in the year 1536. as well he as the Pope incited the Parliament of Turin to proceed against the Vaudois as against Pernicious Hereticks in obedience to whom they raised a great persecution imitating in that the Parliaments of France who persecuted those of the Reformed Religion These poor people had recourse to the King presenting him an Humble Petition hoping to obtain some favour from this their new Lord and Master and so much the more because it 's the custom among Princes to pretend a great kindness and tenderness for their new subjects to engage them the more in their service But this did but worsen their condition for the King commanded them to live according to the Laws of the Roman Church telling them that if they did not obey his Order he would severely punish them as obstinate Hereticks telling them that he did not burn them in France to suffer them in the Alpes The Parliament of Turin being encouraged by this severe Answer presently enjoyned the Vaudois to put away from them their Ministers and to receive in their places Priests who should come and say Mass to them They answered it was impossible to obey Orders so contrary to the Word of God that they were willing to give Caesar what appertained to Caesar as they had always done but that they would likewise give to God the things that belong to God and that in this case they were resolved according to the examples of the Apostles rather to obey God than man and rather hold themselves to the Word of God than the traditions of man The King then having many affairs upon his shoulders the Parliament judged it not proper to undertake an Open War against them but they contented themselves to give Orders to the Judges and Magistrates to assist vigorously the Monks and Inquisitors and to burn all the Vaudois that should fall into their hands many laid down their lives this way but with admirable constancy above all Bartholomew Hector who was publickly burnt at Turin in the year 1555. who by an edifying death drew a flood of tears even from the multitude of the Papists and not content only with tears they greatly murmured and made sharp invectives against the cruelty of the Monks and Inquisitors In the year 1557. Mr. Varaille an excellent Minister of Angrougne unfortunately falling into their hands was publickly burned in the Castle-yard singing with a loud voice the praises of God in the middle of the flames even to the last breath This same year Nicholas Sartoris Student in Divinity at Geneva having a mind to visit his Country was taken in the Valley of Auste and accused of Heresie and the enemies of the truth seeing they could not draw him by flattery nor shake him by threats ordered him to be burnt alive and so he died a glorious death CHAP. VIII Of the fourth War against the Vaudois of Piemont by Emanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy after the General Peace in
above 500 so small a number could they have forced the Town if God had not been with them and fought for them and delivered these Massacrers of their Brethren into their hands to revenge the blood they had so inhumanly and without cause spilt Although this war continued but three months it was nevertheless very bloody for the enemies of the Vaudois lost in the several rencounters and battels we have spoke of more than 4000 men of which the greatest part were of the number of the Massacrers who were sent to God in a short time to give an account of their barbarities and cruelties towards these poor Innocents The Vaudois during the whole war lost not above ninety five men reckoning in this number the forty who were killed with Captain Iayer by a signal piece of treachery of which we have spoke above And this is very remarkable that the enemies of the Vaudois never had any advantage over them but by their treachery and perfidiousness in violating the publick Faith and Treaties but when they were upon their guard and fought for the maintenance of their Religion they were always victorious over their enemies and as they maintained the celestial verity contained in the Holy Scriptures so Heaven took them under its protection and defended their Cause God covered them with his Buckler every where where they went and fought for them giving them courage and striking their enemies with confusion and terror otherwise they had never gained so many victories who as I said before were oftentimes more than an hundred to one The Duke of Savoy seeing that neither the Massacre he had made of the Vaudois nor the war that had followed the Massacre had answered his designs and the Consederates expectation was desirous of a peace and was very willing to be sollicited by the Protestant Princes and States to condescend to it for it was probable if he had continued the war three months more he would have been obliged to ask it of those he had been so unjust to His Army was very much weakned and that of the Vaudois was very well reinforced Of the 1200 Irish which in the beginning of the war were planted there 800 were cut off at St. Secundus and the rest either perished of Distempers or in other battels that they fought in afterwards the French Troops were retreated and the Lieutenant Collonel of the Regiment of Bararia and many of his best Officers and more than 200 common Soldiers were killed in this war and besides all this he had lost more than 3000 of his own Troops The Army of the Vaudois when the Peace was made consisted of 1800 men and encreased every day many famous Officers and Protestant Soldiers out of France joyning them in this Holy War and if the Vaudois when they were but between 500 and 600 always were victorious over their Enemies and in spight of all their opposition had recovered all they had lost it might reasonably be hoped that in three months more they might have quite destroyed the Enemies Army or at least have driven them out of the Valleys The Ambassadors of the Protestant Cantons had been a good while at Turin for to assist these poor people they offered their mediation for a lasting peace but the Duke excused himself saying That he had long ago reserred that affair to the King of France and that he durst not take it out of the hands of so great a King That which obliged the Duke to speak so was that he knew the King of France was perfectly linked to him by interest and that he had lent him his Troops and that he being the Umpire betwixt him and the Vaudois he would decide more for his advantage than for that of the Vaudois Monsieur de Servient the Ambassador of the King of France in that Court was the Mediator of peace and Monsieur de Servient knowing that the Ambassadors from Cromwell and the States of Holland were upon their journey to be employed upon that affair and that these two States had made great Collections for the Vaudois and that the Protector of England did very much interest himself in the business the better to please the zealous Protestants of England did precipitate the peace and conclude it before their arrival at Turin There is no doubt to be made but that if these Ambassadors had arrived before the conclusion of the peace that it would have been much more advantagious to the Vaudois than it was they would have obtained a restitution of all that had been unjustly taken from them by the order of Gastaldo and have forced them to demolish the Fort of Tour without suffering the Duke to build another 'T is true that by a private Article they were promised the Fort should be demolished and in effect it was done after the peace but it was but to build another more strong in the place where the Old first was which the Predecessors of the Vaudois had caused to be pulled down and even this was against the promise made to them that they should not build another The Duke gave them a Patent signed at Pignerol the 9th of August 1655. by which he pardoned the Vaudois for taking up Arms against him he established them in their Goods and Priviledges and in a free exercise of their Religion except in some places excepted in the Patent The Ambassador of France and the Ministers of the Duke drew the Patent so for to desend as they said the Honour of his Royal Highness but to defend the honour of their Prince they made innocent Subjects who had been unjustly Massacred and chased out of their Country to pass for Rebels and to be reputed Criminals and they deprived them of certain places which they had enjoyed from Father to Son many ages even before the Dukes of Savoy were Princes of Piemont and in which places they were confirmed by the Concessions and Declarations of the Predecessors of his Highness and which he himself had confirmed in the year 1653. CHAP. XVII Containing the wicked Artifices of which the Enemies of the Vaudois made use of for to compleat the destruction of those that had escaped the Massacre and War of 1655. With the breaking of the Peace of Pignerol THE Duke of Savoy and his Council not being able to destroy the Vaudois neither by the Massacre they had made of them nor by the cruel and continual war instead of letting them live in peace after the treaty of Pignerol as they had promised the Ambassadors the took more cunning and subtile ways but which were not less dangerous and diabolical for to destroy the remainder of these poor distressed Innocents The first artifice their enemies made use of to destroy them was to set them together by the ears about the Charitable Collections that were made for them in foreign Countries by spreading round about a report of a great abuse pretended to be committed in the distribution of the mony to this
to gain so many Victories over their enemies which were expert and tryed Souldiers as we have seen they have done to the 15th of July when they fought alone without the aid or assistance of any foreign help and that which is considerable they had to do with their Prince whom the emissaries of the Pope had armed against them only in hatred of their Religion Their Prince was assisted by the King of France and the D. of Bavaria of which the one was his Brother-in-law and the other his Cousin-geâ—…man The Vaudois were not the hundredth part of his Subjects and Estates The Prince and all his other Subjects were armed against them and notwithstanding they gained no advantage but on the contrary they were foyled and in most occasions most shamefully put to flight The Protestants of France hearing of the cruel Massacre that was committed upon their Brethren of Piemont made extraordinary prayers to God for them and large Collections to assist those that had escaped Some Provinces celebrated a Fast for them and that of Cevenne celebrated one by order of the Synod assembled at Sale in the month of June 1655. Upon the News that was divulged that those that had escaped the Massacre were re-entered into the Valley and defended themselves there couragiously many Officers and Soldiers of Cevenne and the lower Languedoc went to the succour of their Brethren who in little Companies by several ways got into the Valleys and so the Army of the Vaudois that had not been till the 14. or 15. of July above 600. men consisted of 1800. the 17th or 18th of July The Lord of Combies of the City of Anduse in Cevenne was of the number of those that went to succour their Brethren and because he had had considerable imploys in the Armys of the King of France he was by general consent chosen General of the Army after the example of those of the lower Languedoc and Cevenne many Soldiers out of the Delphinate came and joined them in the Vallies The Army being two thirds stronger than it was it was resolved in a council of War to go and force the Town and Fort of Tour they departed at night the 18th of Iuly for this expedition and they arrived the day following before day within a mile of Tour where they halted till day break and then Monsieur Combies sent some to view the Fortifications of the Fort and those that were sent made a report to the General that the place was impregnable against a greater Army upon which Monsieur Combies ordered to sound a retreat being apprehensive of ill success in his first design But Captain Bertin who was of a contrary opinion would not retreat with his Company but desperately assaulted the Town he was soon followed by the rest of the Vaudois and some two or three French men this Captain who was a Townsman of Tour knew all the weak places about it and presently broke through the Wall near the Convent of Capuchius before the Enemy took the Alarm made himself Master of the Borough and of the Convent which he burnt down to the Ground and there is no doubt to be made that if all the Army of the Vaudois had followed Captain Bertin but that they had taken the Fort notwithstanding the Succours that Maroles Governour of Lucerne brought as soon as he had News of the attempt Monsieur Combies having seen what Captain Bertin had done was much concerned that he had sounded a Retreat And here ends the War of the year 1655. which was followed by a cruel Massacre that was made of the Vaudois in the month of April in the same year but before we speak of Peace it 's necessary that we make some Reflections upon this War CHAP. XVI Reflections upon the War in the year 1655. and of the ensuing Peace made at Pignerol by the mediation of the Ambassador of France and the Ambassadors of the Protestant Cantons IT 's certain that the Duke of Savoy had no better nor more faithful Subjects than the Vuudois who always followed their Prince as well in his wars abroad as at home They never took up arms but when they would force their Consciences and deprive them of the free exercise of their Religion This appears in this that every time that war was made upon them they were commanded first to renounce their Religion and go to Mass and that they let alone in peace all those that obeyed and gave them several priviledges and immunities all the crime the Vaudois for which they were so severely handled was because they would not abandon their Religion which they had received from Father to Son from the time of the Apostles and was in every thing conformable to their Doctrine Those that escaped out of the Massacre had just reason to take up Arms the Enemies had unjustly murdered the Fathers and Mothers of some the Wives and Children of others some had lost their Brothers and Sisters and they would have done the same to them if they had fallen into the hands of these cruel Butchers So much Blood unjustly spilt cryed to Heaven for vengeance and God would make use of the hands of those that escaped to revenge it as the event shewed by the victories they gained over their Massacrers and by the great slaughter they made of them though they were inferior in number and that which is more they were driven from their own Houses Goods and Country against the Laws of Nature and Nations which orders that every one enjoy his own in quiet if he have committed no crimes that make him unworthy of it Now these poor people had committed no crime they were of the Religion they professed before the Dukes of Savoy had any thing to do with Piemont and besides it was confirmed to them by divers grants and priviledges If God had not been willing to re-establish them in their Country would he have given them courage to return without being recalled by their Prince after having been driven out by a cruel Massacre and a puissant Army When Captain Ianavel returned home which was about fifteen or twenty days after he was driven from Roras he had but about 200 men and they had established in the Valleys 1200 Irish all Soldiers there were besides that 3000 men of the old Troops of the Duke of Savoy and all the Inhabitants were Papists so that there were more than an hundred against one But though their Enemies were in so great a number and were Masters of the Country Ianavel notwithstanding returned and not barely content to make excursions but they carried away a good Booty from Lucernette which was a place full of the Enemies and scituate between the Towns of Lucerne and Bobiane where the Duke had strong Garrisons If God had not given the Vaudois courage how would they have undertaken the enterprize of St. Secundus where there were 800 Irish and 650 Piemonteses in garrison strongly fortified and intrenched and they were not
upon these poor people as well by the body of the French Army as by the Detachment commanded by Melac that not being convenient for an Abridgment as this is it 's sufficient to say that the French did yield in nothing to the Cruelty Barbarity and Inhumanity of the Savoyards and Piemonteses but that which was the most astonishing was they exercised these infernal Cruelties upon people that had submitted to the orders and decrees of their Soveraign and against people that had laid down their arms and made no kind of resistance The Army of the King of France was encamped in a part of the Commuâ—…ty of Pramol called Rua about half a League from Peumian whither a part of the Communities of Pramol St. German Prarustin and Rocheplate were retreated to the number of 1500 persons men women and children the Vaudois who had so valiantly defended themselves against Villevielle seeing that the French that were encamped at Rua might fall upon them in the Rear quitted their post and put themselves into Peumian where there Brethren where and while they consulted upon the measures to be taken to defend themselves against the French who prepared themselves to come and attack them some Inhabitants of the Valleys being gained to the Enemies party came and told them that the Valleys of Angrogne and Lucerne had submitted themselves to the will of their Prince who had been gracious to them and had given them the benefit of the Edict of the 9th of April they likewise told them that none but themselves stood out and that it was impossible for them to bear the whole burthen of the war and that it was better now while it was proffered to accept of an advantageous peace This news daunted the Vaudois and made them resolve to send their Deputies with a Drum to the General of the French army to compose all matters this General who desired no better told him that the intention of his Royal Highness was to pardon them and promised them positively as well on the behalf of the Duke as of his own life and liberty with permission to return without any danger to their houses and estates provided they would speedily lay down their arms and as to what the Deputies said that they were afraid that the French being enraged at what happened at St. German should revenge themselves upon the Vaudois when disarmed he made great protestations with horrible Oaths That if all their Army went by their houses they would not kill so much as a Chick This agreement being made Catinat kept with him one of the Deputies and sent the rest to tell the Vaudois what was done and to oblige all those that were fled into the Mountains to surrender themselves the day following being the 25th of April at Peumian that every one might return to his own home after they were informed of the peace While the Vaudois gathered together at Peumian the dispersed Families Catinat gave notice of this Capitulation to Don Gabriel who sent him the same day a Courier which passed through Peumian and assured the Vaudois that were there that he was the Messenger of Peace and the day after at his return he told them that Peace was concluded they were so perswaded and secure of it that the day before they laid down their arms confiding entirely in the promises of Catinat in this estate they expected news of the Confirmation of it at Peumian but this French General observed no better the Treaty with the Vaudois that were assembled at Peumian than the General of the Duke's army did with those of Angrogne for he sent thither a Captain of the Garrison of the Fort of Perouse followed by many Dragoons he was well known to the Vaudois who afresh reiterated the assurances of Peace but they were fraudulent assurances as were those of the Generals in conclusion he put the men in one quarter and the women and children in another the French Troops being come the same time told the men they had orders to carry them back to their own houses and made them march four and four these poor people being constrained to leave their Wives and Children exposed to the Discretion of the Soldiers were conducted not to their houses as it was promised but to Don Gabriel who was encamped upon the Mountain of Vachere who ordered them to be carried Prisoners to Lucerne while they treated the men thus they experienced all that Fury and Brutality is capable to inspire enraged and insolent Soldiers with these Barbarians were not content to rob them of all their Money but they likewise violated many women and maids with circumstances that are an abomination to nature and massaceed those that fled to save their honour Catinat was not present at what was done at Peumian he left the conduct of that affair to some Officers that he might not be obliged to hear the just complaints of the Vaudois about their breach of promise and more than barbarous perfidiousness or else that he might not be spectator of the design that was upon these poor distressed people but howsoever it was it 's certain that except those women that were killed and those that escaped by flight the persecution of these Monsters and saved themselves in the neighbouring wood from the danger of the shot that was made after them to stop them all the rest were dragged into divers Prisons with monstrous Inhumanity The Valley of Perouse being reduced by the Capitulation of Peumian one part of the Fr. Army quitted that Valley and marched to joyn the Army of the Duke which was encamped upon the Mountain of Vachere and then it was that from all sides they gathered together the dispersed Vaudois and dragged them into several Prisons and Castles under pretence that they carried them to his most serene Royal Highness to beg his pardon but that which affected these poor people the more sensibly and made them the greatest object of compassion was that at their most earnest entreaty and tears they refused to put whole Families together they separated the Father from his Son and the Husband from the Wife that they might not have the means to comfort and help one another their Enemies were not content to violate the publick Faith of the Treaty and Oaths which always were counted sacred among men but they violated the Bonds of Nature and Blood to the end they might be less able to undergo the evils intended them there was a great number of Young Boys and Girls which they did not imprison but dispersed into several houses though Piemont not through a motive of equity or compassion but to make them change their Religion and to bring them up in the Roman Superstition and by this means to quite alienate their affections from their Fathers and Mothers There was yet a great number of Vaudois who had not surrendred and had not been taken prisoners those of Villar Bobbi and some other places of the Valley of Lucerne would not
Marquess of Parelle who came from the Valley of St. Martin passed St. Juliane a Mountain which was then believed to be inaccessible and he was in a condition to attack the Vaudois from above this obliged them to quit Bobbi and place themselves among the Woods and Rocks The Marquess of Parelle and the Count of Brichanteau having possessed the Posts that the Vaudois had quitted sent to them in their Fastnesses divers persons to exhort them to yield and offered them the pardon of their Prince One part of these poor people being sorely harrassed and pressed with famine and other miseries laid hold on the proffer but they lost their liberty as well as the rest there were some also who surrendred themselves to the Governour of the Fort of Mirebouc upon promise that he made them of life and liberty but this Governour paid their confidence with a rigorous imprisonment Those who had posted themselves in the Mountain of Vandelin after having fought manfully for some time suffered themselves at last to be seduced by the Count de la Roche Governour of the Valleys he did promise them positively by a Writing under his Hand that they should return to their Houses without the least molestation but they had no sooner quitted their Post than he made them be seized on and imprisoned taking from them the Paper he had signed with his own hand The ill treatment they gave those that surrendred was the cause that there was a little party of Vaudois who chose rather to suffer famine and all sorts of miseries among the Woods and Rocks where they had hid themselves than to put themselves into the hands of their enemies The General sent a part of his Troops after them to seek them out they found some who were massacred in the endeavouring to make their ascape others were presently hanged upon the Trees others were carried Prisoners to Lucerne and afterwards cruelly hanged among whom was Monsieur Leidet a Minister in the Valley of St. Martin who died a most Christian death Those that fell not into the hands of their enemies led a languishing life among the Woods and Rocks where they had hid themselves living on Roots and wild Herbs that they gathered on the Mountains and in this sad condition some remained one month and some two The enemies of the Vaudois having by their perfidiousness and treachery killed more than three thousand of them and deprived above ten thousand of their liberty and taken and dispersed above two thousand Children they thought they had finished their design and fell to confiscating all the Goods and Lands of the Vaudois CHAP. XXI Containing a just diffidence of a part of the Vaudois which was the cause of their preservation Their courage and firm resolution to defend themselves which procured them a safe retreat out of the Duke's Dominions with Letters of safe Conduct ABout the end of the month of Iune the French Army and the Bandit's of Mondovi retired the Vaudois that would not hearken to the fraudulent propositions of peace that were offered them nor confide in the deceitful promises of their enemies being not so straitned by the Army of the Duke which alone staid behind in the Valleys came out of the places where they had hid themselves to seek for Victuals to sustain their languishing life there were about fourscore in the Valley of Lucerne and fifty in that of St. Martin with some Women and Children As soon as they were assembled together they seized upon an advantagious Post that their enemies had quitted after that they made several excursions into the Plain and allways carried off good store of booty and provisions They beat upon several occasions many detachments of the enemy killed a great number of the Savoyards that were come to inhabit in the Valleys and did for some months such bold and couragious actions that they put their enemies under Contribution and forced them to furnish them with Victuals to hinder their excursions into the Plain The Court of Turin having to no purpose employed force to chace them out of Valleys made them under hand an offer of safe conduct and Hostages for the security of their safe retreat out of the Country Those that brought this proposal to the Vaudois did not avow that they acted by order of the Court of Turin on the contrary they told them they spoke without any directions from thence but on their own heads and promised them that they did not doubt but to procure them passports and hostages by their own interest in that Court but it 's certain that this was not transacted without leave of the Court for besides that no one particular person durst of his own head intermeddle in the affair the safe conducts that were after expedited shewed clearly that all was done by order of the Court the Vaudois refused to hearken to these propositions whether it was because they had no confidence in their promises or because they were resolved to dye or release their Brethren out of Captivity Death being more sweet to them than life as long as their Brethren groaned under the Chains of their Enemies in Prison to oblige the Vaudois to accept of these offers they were told that the Duke of Savoy had declared that as long as they were in arms he would not release the Prisoners but they were positively promised that as soon as they were gone out of the Country their Brethren should be set at Liberty The Vaudois considering that their Resistance might furnish their Enemies with a pretence of detaining the Prisoners thought themselves obliged to retire out of the Dominions of the D. of Savoy It was at last agreed that they should go out of the Valleys with their Wives and Children Arms and Baggage in two Troops or Brigades their charges to be born and conducted safe into Switzerland at two several times by a Captain of his Royal Highnesses called Perret with passports in due form that for the security of of the first Troop there should Hostages be left in the Valleys in the hands of the second who should keep them till they had certain intelligence of the safe arrival of the first at the place agreed on and after that the first Troop should be safe arrived that Captain Perret should give an Officer of his Kindred for Hostage till the second Troop should be arrived there in safety If the Vaudois that treated with Don Gabriel and with Catinat had had these precautions and had not laid down their arms but taken Hostages for the performance of the promises that were made them they had not been imprisoned by thousands neither had their Children been taken away and their Wives and Daughters violated The Vaudois that were in the Valley of St. Martin did almost the same that those had done who were in the Valley of Lucerne for though they were fewer in number they notwithstanding defended themselves with so much courage and resolution that they forced their Enemies to
of the Prophecy It 's said in the same Prophecy that after these three days and an half the spirit of life coming from God shall enter into them and they shall live again and that great fear shall seize upon them that shall see them and that they shall hear a great voice from Heaven saying to them ascend hither and they shall ascend up to Heaven in a Cloud and their Enemies to their great confusion shall see them this was exactly fulfilled in respect of the Vaudois who after three years and an half were as it were revived again and freed from the miserable estate and condition into which they were reduced by the furious malice of their Enemies for the Prisoners were set at liberty the Banished were recalled home and all by order of their Prince re-established in their Country in a better condition than ever In the year 1686 the Duke of Savoy at the earnest entreaty of the Protestant Cantons freed out of Prison the greatest part of the Vaudois but it was only to send them into banishment in a strange Country but those whom he set at liberty the last Iune were sent home in peace and had greater priviledges and advantages given them than ever He promised to Cloath those that he set at liberty in the year 1686 which notwithstanding he did not but those that he freed after three years and an half he cloathed very well he excused himself to them was sorry for what had passed imputed the cause of all their suffering to the King of France The Duke of Savoy and his Predecessors these two hundred years past have applied themselves with all their power to dispeople these Valleys of Protestants as we have sufficiently related above But after the three years and an half there has been an extraordinary care taken to people them again with Protestants for the Duke has not only re-established the Vaudois as well Prisoners as Exiles but he has given free leave and encouragement to the Protestant Refugees of France to come and inhabit the Valleys The Duke of Savoy and his Councel made use of the wickedest methods imaginable to destroy the Protestant Religion in these Valleys but after the death of the Witnesses viz. after the three years and an half he did not only give free exercise of Religion in the Valleys but even in Turin it self the Capital City of his Dominions And this miraculous change happened almost in an instant to the great confusion of their Enemies who looked upon them as lost men This shews evidently that the re-establishment of the Vaudois was the work of Heaven and not of men for so the Prophecy says that the spirit of life shall enter into them and they shall live again The Author of the Fifth Empire Printed at the Hague by Meyndert Vytwert closes with our Opinion and discourses excellently to our purpose concerning the three years and an half of the death of the two Witnesses I hope it will not be troublesome to give them his own words out of the 13th Chapter of his Book The time says this excellent Author that the two Witnesses should remain in the state we have represent them in the precedent Chapter is limited to three days and an half after which they shall be revived These three days and an half are prophetical days as 1260 days are and every day must be taken for a year it 's not easie to determine whether the three years and an half after the death of the Witnesses should commence after that the Edict of Nants was cancelled and revoked and the Ministers of France condemned to perpetual banishment or when the Faithful of the Valleys of Piemont who from the time of the Apostles have maintained and concerted the truth among them were driven out of their Country after which the Author gives his sentiment in these words It 's probable that these three years and an half should commence when the Churches of Piemont were destroyed which were the visible conservers of the Truth that was always preached and professed among them and after three years and an half were most gloriously re-established for the Vaudois were not totally driven out of the Valleys till about the end of October 1686. Then those that were hid in the Caverns and Rocks and Woods coming out of their safe and hidden retreats after that the Army of France was retreated and that the Troops of Mondovy and other places of Piemont were returned into their own Country seized upon some advantagious Posts in the Valleys of Lucerne and St. Martin and made excursions upon their Enemies and forced them to furnish them with Provisions and all things necessary and their Enemies not being able to chace them out of those advantagious Posts granted them Letters of safe conduct to go into Switzerland Before the banishment of these we cannot say that the Vaudois were killed and dead for that they made their Enemies pay contribution Now they were established by order of their Prince in the beginning of Iune 1690. three years and an half after their total dissipation for this was only one month after the three years and an half that were past so the Prophecy speaks not of their re-establishment till this time be compleated and that which is to be considered more exactly is that in the month of May the Vaudois began to revive the spirit of God then entring into them for having this month received succours from the Allies as well of Men as Mony instead of their Enemies chasing them they chaced their Enemies out of their strong holds and so we see in them the Prophecy fulfilled of the 11th Chapter of the Revelation in the time set down by the Penman of that Holy Mysterious Book The Churches of Piemont being the root of the Protestant Churches they have been the first established the Churches of France Hungary and other places being but the branches shall be established in due time God will not stay to do his own work to the shame and confusion of his Enemies the thing will come to pass in the re-establishment of the Protestant Churches that hath been done in the re-establishment of the Churches of Israel those of Judah returned first out of Captivity though they were the last that were transported but God did not stay long to deliver the rest though at different times and on different occasions The same thing without doubt will come to pass in respect of the Christian Churches that groan under the captivity of Antichrist God will deliver them speedily he has already delivered the Mother and he will not long leave the Daughter behind he will finish what he has gloriously begun and not leave his work imperfect he will gather together the dispersed Churches and bring back to the Fold the Sheep that have gone astray then Israel and Judah shall dwell together in peace none shall be able to give them the least disturbance Since the Vaudois were re-established in the Valleys by order of their Prince they have chaced the French out of them have beaten the Marquess of Feuquiers and slain 1500 men of his Army among whom were two Colonels forty Captains and a great number of subalterne Officers They have sometimes defeated two hundred sometimes one hundred fifty Dragoons of the King of France taken several Conveys that were going to the Army commanded by Monsieur Catinat have made many excursions into the Delphinate and have carried away a good booty and several Prisoners one may say without any hyperbole that the Vaudois in one Campaign have endamaged the French more than all the Allies with their great Armies The great services that they have done the Duke of Savoy without doubt will oblige him to augment their priviledges and all the Allied Princes to make a firm and lasting treaty between the Duke and the Vaudois in case that peace be made between France and the Allies of which the Protestant Princes will be guarantee I have only extended the History of the Vaudois till the beginning of October 1690. If they perform any considerable action hereafter I will continue their History if God give me life and health to whom be all honour and glory world without end Amen FINIS