their Brethren yet being perswaded this order was the effect of some misrepresentation of them by their Enemys to his Highness they betook themselvs to their usual course of supplications and humble remonstrances and presented four requests to the Duke of Savoy to obtain the revocation of this order But gaining only some time in the execution of it they saw their misfortune was without remedy And they were more confirm'd in the assurances of their miserys when they understood the King of France who on politic reasons had always protected them and even declared himself the gardante of the patents aforementioned had not only oblig'd the Duke to issue forth this order but that his most Christian Majesty had caused his Troops to advance to Piemont to see it executed Then it was that the Vaudoises began to think of defending themselvs from the Invasions of these Forreigners and not to dye like Beasts or fools In the mean time the Evangelic Cantons being inform'd of this order and the measures taken for it's execution believ'd themselvs no waies oblig'd to forsake a people persecuted for mere Religion and that they ought to appear on this occasion as heretofore It was resolv'd then in an assembly held at Baden in the month of Feb. 1686. to send again Embassadors to the Duke of Savoy to intercede in the behalf of the Vaudoises who arriv'd at Turin in the beginning of March and offered their request tending to the revocation of the order set forth in the 31 of Jan. They shew'd That the Evangelick Cantons were interessed in this affair not only as being of the same belief as the Vaudoises but for that the Patents of 1655 and 1633. which this order annul'd were the fruits of their mediation and they accompany'd these their demands with several solid Arguments The Court of Turin pretended not to answer their reasons thinking it enough to tell the Embassadors that the engagements of the Duke of Savoy with the King of France were directly opposite to the success of their negotiation Which oblig'd the Embassadors to remonstrate in a memorial for this purpose That his Royal Highness's Predecessors having given their Royal word to several States and particularly to the Evangelick Cantons for the executing the Patents granted to the Vaudoises he could not renounce such formal engagements because these Patents were not mere Tollerations but perpetual Concessions and inviolable laws and for as much also that they having been granted at the request of several Princes they be according to the law of Nations lasting Monuments of publick faith in that the words of Princes should be Sacred and inviolable They also shew'd that several politick respects should induce the Duke of Savoy to maintain the Vaudoises in their priviledges That it consisted not with his justice and bounty to suffer his Countries to be fil'd with blood and slaughter by destroying a people who implored his grace and Clemency and who had done nothing deserving these severities But neither the reasonings of the Embassadors nor their pressing sollicitations nor the letters of intercession which several Protestant Princes wrote again in favour of these poor people produced any effect They serving only to confirm the Embassadors in their belief of the engagements wherein the Duke of Savoy had entered with the King of France to destroy the Protestant Religion All this while the Vaudoises were ignorant of what past in Turin They knew nothing of the Embassadors being at Court nor their Transactions because care was taken to stop two Messengers in their passage who were to carry the news into the Vallys It 's true indeed they knew sometime after by a common report that these Embassadors were at Turin to demand the revocation of the order of the 31 of January but they could hear nothing certain touching the effect of their Negotiation They durst not go themselvs to Turin since the time allowed them was expired and for that the Court had refused a safe conduct which the Embassadors had desired for the deputies of the Vallys appearance to sollicit their own affairs as was practis'd in former occasions However the Vaudoises had fortified themselvs with some Retrenchments in their Country and stood on their guard to hinder the entrance of the Troops most of which were already encamped at the foot of the Vallys The Duke of Savoy return'd answer to the Embassadors proposals by the Marquess of St. Thomas one of his Ministers of State who has the management of Forreign affairs and who swore to them that the Duke could not revoke this order he not being the master of this affair He also protested to them as from the part of his Highness that provided the order was executed the Duke would not refuse to enter into some expedients He also shew'd them that on their account the Vaudoises should have leave to depart the Country and dispose of their estates The Embassadors thinking the Vaudoises having neither Officers nor Troops could not sustain a war against two such powerful enemies as the King of France and the Duke of Savoy who were united for their destruction They imagin'd then that to avert the Tempest with which these poor people were threatned they ought to sollicit their departure and disposal of Estates But forasmuch as before they could enter on this Negotiation they must consult those of the Vallys the Embassadors therefore got leave of the Court of Turin that they might take a Journey thither for which purpose they had a Letter from the Duke to the Governor of the Vallys The Embassadors arriv'd there the 22 of March and the next Morning caused an Assembly of the people's Deputys to be summon'd to whom they declared what they had done In fine they shewed them that in the condition they were in depriv'd of all hope of succour they had no other part to take but that of leaving their Country provided it could be obtain'd with the disposal of their Estates and if they would accept of this proposal they would offer it as from them The Vaudoises deputys greatly surpriz'd that they must expect no succour in an occasion wherein they hoped all the Protestant States would concern themselvs answer'd the Embassadors they were sensible they could not do better than to follow their advice but before they could resolve on an affair of this importance they must consult a general assembly In the mean time the Embassadors return'd to Turin where they inform'd the Marquess of St. Thomas of the success of their Journey who assured them this Negotiation was very agreeable to the Court. They afterwards desired a pass-Port to bring thither some of the inhabitants of the Vallys with the determinations of this Assembly But this was refused them under two pretences the first that the Duke of Savoy would have no Vaudoise to be seen following his Court and the other was that he would not have it thought that what he did was out of any other respect than the gratifying the Embassadors
which several give the name of a Vally by reason of it's great extent was not wholly in the hands of the Vaudoises They were Masters in the Vally of Peirouse only of some places which depend on the states of Piemont for this Vally is divided between the French King and the Duke of Savoy but they held all the Vally of St. Martin which is stronger than any of the rest by it's situation They had fortify'd themselvs in each of these Vallys by several Retrenchments of Wood and Stone Being about 2500 men able to bear Arms having chosen their Officers from the most considerable Persons of their own Countrey there being no Forreigners amongst them and they thus expected the Enemy with great resolution But as on one hand they had no regulated Troops nor experienc'd Officers and on the other there were several Vardoises who had bin corrupted or fal'n off from their resolutions during the Negotiation so it is not to be marvel'd at if they took not all necessary precautions One of the greatest faults they committed was their undertaking to keep all their Posts For had they abandoned those at the farthest distance and retired into the Retrenchments within the Mountains ther 's no likelyhood they could have bin attackt with any success The 22 of April being the day appointed for the Onset the French Army commanded by Catinat Governor of Casal marcht two hours before day by Torch-light against the Vallys of Peirouse and St Martin keeping along the River of Cluson being the French King's Country Catinat drew out a Detachement of Foot commanded by Ville-Vielle a Lieutenant Colonel who having past over the River on a Bridge entred into the vally of Peirouse Piemontoise He possest himself of St. Germain a Village which the Vaudoises had forsaken and came and insulted over a Retrenchment not far off wherein there were 200 men The Vaudoises after some resistance quitted this Post and betook themselvs to another which lay more advantagiously In the mean time a new Detachment of Horse and Dragoons having in like manner past the River came to the assistance of the Infantry who had began the fight They did all they could to gain the Vaudoises Retrenchment which they thought no hard task seeing they were six to one but they found here such vigorous defence that having lost a great many men they Retrench'd themselvs within Pistol shot Both partys held continual firing for 10 hours but in fine the Vaudoises issued out from their Trenches with their Swords in their hands surprizing the French who did not expect such a bold action and drove them into the plain beyond Cluson where by good hap they found a Bridg which sav'd them from drowning There were in this Rencounter above 500 French kil'd and wounded and amongst the rest several Officers of note and the Vaudoises on their side lost but two men and had some few wounded The relation which the contrary party has wrote on this subject intitled an account of the war against the Religionarys called Barbets agrees touching the great loss the French made saying the Vaudoises fought so desperately as forced the French to an unhandsome retreat beyond Cluson In this defeat Ville-Vielle betook himself to the Church of St. Germain with 70 Soldiers and some Officers who being summon'd to surrender himself on terms of good Quarter he refused and shew'd great resolution tho' several of his people were kil'd The Vaudoises had certainly forced him to yeild had not the approaches of the Night and the weariness of that day's exercise induced them to give over Having therefore left a guard at the Church door the rest went to seek some refreshments Ville-Vielle was carry'd off at break of day by the assistance of some Troops which the Governour of Pignerol had sent secretly in the night The Vaudoises then return'd to their Retrenchments expecting to be again attackt but the Enemy altho recruited by fresh forces contented themselvs with Encamping about Pistol shot distance without firing on either side for two days together Whilst things thus past in Peirouse the body of the French King's Army advanced from Cluson to the Fort of Peirouse When Catinat drew out a Retrenchment of Horse commanded by Melac which having past over the River on two Bridges went wheeling about to gain the high grounds which separate the Vally of St. Martin by a Village named Rioclaret But those who commanded in this Vally not expecting to be attackt after their offers of compliance with the terms of the Edict especially considering the day denoted for their departure out of this Vally was not come They therefore had not put themselvs into a condition of defence neither did they make any resistance whereupon they chose to lay down their Arms and to implore the pitty and compassions of the Victors But the French being enraged at what had past at St. Germains contented not themselvs with burning ravishing and plundering but Massacred without distinction of age and sex with unheard of fury all those whom flight could not save from their cruelty Catinat having ravag'd all the Countrey of Rioclaret in the most barbarous manner imaginable left some Troops in the Vale of St. Martin and traverst with the main body of the Army the Mountains which separate this Vally from that of Peirouse and went and encampt without finding any resistance in the vally of Peirouse where the Souldiers Massacred all those who fell into their hands without sparing men women or children In the mean time the Detachment which Melac commanded having encampt one night on the risings of the Vally of St. Martin entered through several parts into this Vally directed by the Vaudoises who were so wicked to lead them thro unknown ways to all others but only the inhabitants of the Countrey He left in all places where he past the marks of an unheard of fury and went and joyned himself to the rest of the Army which lay encampt at Pramol We shall not give here a particular account of the crueltys exercis'd in these occasions and several others but content our selvs in reciting in the sequel of this relation some instances which may make us judg of the rest We must of necessity break off the relation of what the French did in Peirouse seeing there happen'd such things in the Vallys of Lucerna and Angrogne which should be first taken notice of The Duke of Savoy's Army being come to the plain of St. John the 22 of April were drawn out into several bodys which attackt diverse Retrenchments which the Vaudoises had in the Vallys of Lucerna and Angrogne The Vaudoises not being able to withstand the Enemy's Cannon in such places which likewise lay open to the Horse were forced after some resistance to abandon part of these Retrenchments and to betake themselvs to a Fort more advantagiously situated near Angrogne to the number of 500 men The Enemy having burnt all the houses which they came near they afterwards
Imprimatur GILB IRONSIDE Vice-Cancel Oxon. Novemb. 30. 1688. AN ACCOUNT OF THE LATE PERSECUTION Of the PROTESTANTS in the VALLYS OF Piemont By the Duke of Savoy and the French King In the Year 1686. Never before Publisht OXFORD Printed at the Theatre for John Crosley 1688. TO THE READER IT is to be hoped the Gentlemen of the Church of Rome here at home will give over expecting we should fall in love with either their Religion or good natures if they allow us the liberty of reflecting on their ways of making Converts abroad and That they will at length be ashamed of their attempts against a Church on which they could never yet fasten the least colour of these deceits and crueltys It 's very hard and even contrary to the ingenuity of Human Nature and more to the principles of Christianity to be unconcern'd at the sufferings of those who are not only men as well as our selvs but members too of the same mystical body Our Church enjoyns us to pray for all those who in this transitory life are in trouble sorrow need sickness or any other adversity But how shall we do this if we must take no notice have no compassionate regards to those who suffer on the sole account of a Religion which they dare not relinquish out of terror of conscience and unfeign'd love of the truth Till those of the Church of Rome do sincerely abominate these principles and practises they must not take it ill if they be often put in mind That these usages of those who differ from them in opinion do unavoidably put a man on choosing to lye at the mercy of Turks and Heathens who tho equally zealous yet happily differ from them in this That a man may live under them tho he be no Mahometan An account of the Persecution of those in the Vallys of Piemont IT 'S not our present design to give a large and particular relation of whatever has hapned on this occasion seeing what we shall briefly declare will shew That there was never a more cruel and unjust persecution than this lately exercis'd on the inhabitants of the Vallys of Piemont on the sole account of their Religion The Churches of the Vallys of Piemont or of the Vaudoises as they were commonly call'd were the ancientest of all those who drew their original from the Apostles whose doctrine they have ever taught and follow'd They had no need of Reformation having never partaken of the errors and Idolatrys wherewith the Romanists have infected the Christian Church The simplicity of their manners agreed so well with that of their doctrins as has forced their Enemys to confess that this has especially contributed to their preservation They did not content themselvs with a bare not entring into an Idolatrous and superstitious communion but took all proper occasions to declare their abhorrence of it with as great courage and freedom of mind as any of the ancient Reformers who have all on full enquiry approv'd of their doctrins as very agreeable to the Apostolic simplicity It 's no marvel then if these Churches have been ever the object of the Popish rage and fury if Popes have publish'd crusado's and engag'd several Princes against them if several famous Inquisitors have employ'd at all times whatever their devilish malice cou'd invent to exterminate these poor people and if the Council de propaganda fide extirpandis hoereticis have omitted nothing for the obtaining their design But here we cannot enough admire the especial providence of God in his particular protection of these Churches seeing maugre all these violent persecutions the perfidiousness and treacherys wherewith their Enemys have ever recompens'd their fidelity not withstanding 27 or 28 invasions which their Religion has drawn on them and the Massacres which have so many times bathed the Vallys with the Bloud of the Vaudoises yet has God still preserv'd them by the continual turns of his providence All Historians even those of the contrary party are agreed that these Churches were in an immemorial possession of the exercise of their Religion before they were under the government of the Dukes or Earls of Savoy for it was only in the year 1233 that Thomas Earl of Savoy became Master of the Town of Pignerol and the Vallys of Piemont under pretence the race of the Princes of Piemont was extinct It is also certain the Vaudoises submitted themselvs to the Earls of Savoy whence his present Royal Highness is descended on condition of being maintain'd in all their priviledges And in effect it 's on this foundation that these Earls being become Princes of Piemont have maintain'd and confirm'd the Vaudois Churches in the exercise of their Religion and their other rights and priviledges They have granted them for this end from time to time several authentic concessions especially in 1561 1602 and 1603 which having been verifi'd and entered in the senate and chamber of Turin in the year 1620 by means of a considerable summ of money which the Vaudoises had paid for this purpose as appears from the authentic act these concessions therefore past into the form of an irrevocable deed and perpetual and inviolable law whose execution was enjoyn'd by several solemn decrees of the Dukes of Savoy from the years 1638 1649 1654 and 1655. The Council de propaganda fide which is oblig'd by it's foundation title and oath to procure the ruin of those she terms Heretics observing with extream regret the calm which the Vaudoises enjoy'd by means of these patents took all possible measures to trouble it To this end the Council which then consisted of the principal Ministers of the Court of Savoy taking advantage from the minority of Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy caus'd to be publish'd in the Month of January 1655 an order which oblig'd all the Inhabitants of the Vallys to quit the plain in 3 days and to retire into the Mountains on pain of death cou'd they not make it appear they were become Catholics The Vaudoises obey'd this order as unjust and cruel as it was but their obedience which took away all pretences from their Enemys cou'd not preserve them from that horrid Massacre in 1655 of which posterity will freely speak as an action the most in human and perfidious mention'd in any writing This Massacre was likely in all appearance to have cut off all the Vaudoises but there were many of them who escaping-out of the hands of these Butchers resolv'd to defend their lives They executed then this resolution with such Vigor and Courage that they put their executioners to flight in several rencounters till the Protestant Princes and States became mediators in their behalf These generous protectors having heard of this dreadful Massacre were not contented to open the Bowels of their charity and benificence but interposed earnestly for them with the Duke of Savoy by their intercessions The Evangelic Cantons amongst others sent for this reason four Embassadors to the Court of Turin
They were then obliged to send into the Vallys the Secretary of the Embassy to fetch these people's determinations The Secretary found the people assembled at Angrogne the 28 of March being much divided in their resolutions for if on the one hand they saw the dreadful consequences of this War so on the other the dangers and insuperable difficulties in departing the Country which supposing they could do without any danger yet they could not without great regret leave their Estates and Country to travel to Forreign parts where they must lead a vagrant and uneasie life In fine they agreed to send a memorial to the Embassadors of the dangers and difficulties which hindred their passage and to write them a Letter sign'd by nine Divines and eight of the Laity in which having entreated them to reflect on these obstacles they declared they would remit themselvs to their prudence and conduct On this Letter the Embassadors endeavour'd to obtain leave for the Vaudoises to leave the States of Piemont and to dispose of their goods But the Duke of Savoy to whom the proposal was carried sent word to them that before he could give a positive answer to what they desired he expected the people of the Vallys should send Deputys to him with full power to make him those submissions which were due to him and to beg leave of him to withdraw from his States as a favour which they implored of their Prince The Embassadors might well be surpriz'd at this alteration of the Scene having bin refused the safe conduct which they had a little before requested to bring the Vaudoise Deputys to Turin They had binseveral times told that the grant of a Retreat to the Vaudoises should be wholly in consideration of the Embassadors Whereas now it must not be the Embassadors who demand the leave as a proposal coming from them but it must on the contrary be the Vaudoises who make this request themselvs This contrary course was not without some reason For the Council of propagation who manag'd this affair had without doubt these two several considerations The one that they wou'd not have the Embassadors named in the permission of departure that they might have less right to demand the execution of the things promised to the Vaudoises The other that the Vaudoises alone requesting this permission as a grace or favour they might impose on them such conditions as they pleas'd and lastly that the Vaudoises making the submissions which the Duke required they must appear in the condition of supplicants and consequently lay down their arms otherwise they cou'd not be receiv'd as such But however it was the Embassadors being desirous to take away all pretence from the Vaudoises Enemys took the safe conduct and sent it by the secretary of the Embassy who assembled the people for the naming their deputys But as on the one hand there were several who never design'd to leave their Country so on the other the suddain march of their Enemys filled them with suspicions and contrary opinions so that the resolutions giv'n into their Deputys prov'd quite different For some were for requesting the permission of retiring from the Country and disposing of their estates and others for petitioning that they might have the free exercise of their Religion and enjoyment of their other rights and priviledges These Deputys being come to Turin the Embassadors thought it not fitting they shou'd appear at Court thus divided they sent them therefore back again to the Vallys to be united and labour'd in the mean while to get a farther delay Their Enemys apprehended with great satisfaction the divisions about leaving the Country and were so well perswaded this wou'd be an infallible means to ruin them that they sent persons expresly amongst them to keep up this contrariety of determinations It 's also to be presum'd they had devised this expedient touching the departure as a means to disunite the Vaudoises To make then the greater advantage of the different resolutions of these people their Enemys altered again their design They had lately before declared they expected first that the Vaudoises themselvs shou'd sue for leave to depart and to offer their submissions The Vaudoises had not made these submissions nor presented their petition for a departure there being several amongst them who never yet resolv'd to leave the Country neither did the Embassadors sollicit the permission of departure but a delay as appears from a letter which they wrote to the Marquess of St. Thomas the 8 of April 1686. However to compleat the division of the Vaudoises to destroy them with greater ease there suddainly issued out unknown to the Embassadors an edict of the 9th of the same Month of April which granted to the Vaudoises a pardon and leave to retire out of the Countrys of Piemont But to the end we may the better judg of the design of the Council of propagation here 's a copy of this edict translated out of Italian The Divine Providence in setting Princes over the people has put into the hands of the former the distribution of rewards and punishments that the hope of the first may encourage the good and the fear of the latter restrain the wicked Nothing but vengeance ought to fall from us on the heads of the people of the Vallys of Lucerna who are of the pretended reformed Religion seeing it's apparent they have not only obstinately disobey'd our order of the 31 of Jan. last but moreover hardned themselvs in their crime and fall'n into the excesses of an enormous and execrable Rebellion Yet our natural clemency surpassing their crime and not contenting our selvs with the Fatherly forbearance with which we have for so long time expected in vain their repentance we wou'd also leave it again to their own will who have hitherto bin wickedly resolved the choice of an happy or miserable condition and open to 'em again the dore of our mercy in the manner following wherto if they do not submit by a ready obedience they must impute to their obstinacy the punnishments they shall incurr without remission from our provoked patience And therefore in confirmation first of our declaration of the 31 of Jan. last we have by vertue also of these presents of our own certain knowledg full power and absolute authority and by the advice of our Council commanded all our subjects of the Vallys of Lucerna making profession of the Reformed Religion to lay down their arms and return to their habitations in the term hereafter prescribed We also command them to make no more assemblys and publick meetings on any account whatever to the end that according to our intention the judges may have free passage and the Father missionarys and other religious persons may return to the Churches whence they have bin driv'n And it being unreasonable that the Religious missionarys Catholicks and Catholickis'd shou'd suffer by any dammages they have receiv'd by those of the pretended reformed Religion we therefore
of Turin hath promis'd to deliver the Ministers but wou'd not fix the time As yet they are disperst with their familys which consist of forty seven Persons into three Prisons or Castles where they be strictly kept and exposed to several incomodiousnesses and miserys without any appearance of their libertys And thus you have an abridgement of what has past that is most considerable on the occasion of the dissipation of the Churches and Inhabitants of the Vallys of Piemont There needs no more to shew there was never any persecution more unjust and violent As to these poor People themselvs they hope that all the Reformed states will look with an eye of pitty on their sufferings and have some feeling of their griefs They are the remains of those Mother Churches that can claim the greatest and purest antiquity who from the bottom of their Alps had enlightned a great part of the Universe But they are such sad remnants and those reduced into so small a number and such a deplorable condition that we cannot behold either their diminution or their misery without being pierced with extream sorrow They implore then the protection of Kings and Princes and Protestant states and in fine of all true Christians They entreat them by the remembrance of what Christ has done and suffered for them to give ear to the sorrowful crys of the oppressed and to continue their charitable exhibitions to a remnant whom God has delivered from both a corporal and spiritual bondage By which means they shall be enabled to pray without ceasing for their Benefactors that God wou'd reward their charity with uninterrupted peace health and plenty in this life and with immortal glory in the world to come His Royal Highness of Savoy's letter to the Inhabitants of the Vallys To our most dear and faithful subjects of the Vallys of Lucerna Peirouse St. Martin and parts of Prarustin of St. Bartholomew and Rocheplate The Duke of Savoy Prince of Piemont King of Cyprus c. Most Dear and faithful Subjects HAving taken very kindly the zeal and readiness wherewith you have provided us Men who have served us to our entire satisfaction in the occasions which we have had with the Genoises we are therefore willing to give you this present testimony of it assuring you we shall not lose the remembrance of it that you may find in all necessitys the benefits of our Royal Protection as you shall more particularly understand from the Count and Intendant Boccaria whom we have commanded to declare more fully to you our thoughts in this matter and who is to take an account of the Officers and Soldiers who were kil'd or remain Prisoners to make to us a report of them that we may not be ignorant of their condition In the mean time these presents will serve you for an assured testimony of our satisfaction and Prayers to God to defend you from all evil From Turin the 5th of November 1678. sign'd C. Emanuel To the Commonaltys of the Vallys of Lucerna St. Martin Peirouse Prarustin St. Bartholomew and Rocheplate The copy of a letter written to the Count Boccaria by his Royal Highness My Lord and most Dear c. THE Men whom the Commonaltys of the Vallys of Lucerna c. have so well serv'd us that being willing to testify to them our satisfaction we therefore have directed to you the letter subjoyn'd to this that you may deliver it to them and may more fully express to 'em the good will we bear them Requiring you likewise to assure them that when ever their needs require we shall have a particular regard to their affection and at the same time do you take a note of the Officers and Soldiers who were kil'd or taken Prisoners to make a report to us thereof that we may take order accordingly Thus remitting to your care whatever more is necessary to signify our satisfaction and pleasure in their zeal and readyness we beseech God to preserve you At Turin the 5th of November 1672. sign'd C. Emanuel To the Count Am. Boccaria Councellor of State and superintendant General of the Vallys The order of Don Gabriel of Savoy in favor of the Inhabitants of the Vallys Don Gabriel of Savoy Marquess of Rive General of his R. Highness's Army both of Horse and Foot. The Officers here below mentioned of the Vallys of Lucerna having given such proofs of their zeal for his Royal Highness's service in all occasions which have offered especially in the commotions of this Province That we think our selvs oblig'd to give them this testimony to the end that in other exigencys wherein his Royal Highness's service shall be concerned they may be encoraged to continue these proofs of their zeal And therefore by vertue of the authority which we have from his Royal Highness we permit the below-mention'd to wear and carry Arms provided they make no ill use of them And we command all those depending on our orders of General that they neither give nor permit to be given them any trouble for so doing this being his Royal Highness's will and pleasure Given at Mondovi the 29th of Sept. 1681. FINIS