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WALDENSIAN  RESEARCHES 


DUftlVO     \ 


SECOND  VISIT 

TO  THE 

VAUDOIS  OF  PIEMONT. 

*ITIt    illf 

BmODDCTORV  IKflDtRV  INTO  THE  ANTIOUITY  AND  PrRITV 

of  TKK 

WALDENSIAN    CHURCH, 


■VS  iM-UVPI    or  THE  rOHPACTI  WITH  THE    tVnVlrT  nklVrRI  or    PEKHOHT, 
«H>  Tim  rHEAffin  BETVEO  THK  EHOtUH  tKlT^mVHEIT  4hD  THE 

B«v«i  »r  H4TaTp  ih  riHTui  or  vhich  thii  irle  iKLir  or 

THH    rHlHlTITE  rHCErB    IE    ITJLT    HAI  rol^TlHVEP 
TO    AliEHT    IT!    HELiaiOVI    lEDErEH  DEVCC- 


BY 

WILLIAM  STEPHEN  GUJ,Y,  M,A. 


ill.  Hit  ^vDiw'd  ^Ml  rtf  hiHir  [mjilil  ' 
WlH  nlDftn*  *■»*,  abat  nMaw  i'llVn>  art  Kmn  1  ' 

fc^t,  li— *ifclT>T|  nuvlKIIIIlt  ■]!  «t>Hi>l>1    : 

fe^paa.  *«  diBUnI  (nrr-il'*  Aitfitiii  pi-mil 
TfDi  «bn  tfw  loluannt  fvttrvi  tVkih  n-ri, 


I, ON  DON: 
PRINTED  FOR  C.  J.  G.  &   I-.  lUVlNCiro^. 

11.  r.ti  L's  nirMcii-t ABii. 

mil  ■  *Ti,iir  ii'i  rn<  1..  rvi.i.M.ii  i.. 


i  a  \   2  U  1  H  .  -^  .  r 


r 


f  1  '■ 


f  '     '       '.I      T  ■    ■  1  ■'■.       . 


LONDON: 

CILBERT  ft    BIVlSaXaM,   PRINTERS, 
■T.  JOHN'S  ■out BE. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


In  hU  cndtuvuurs  to  promote  the  cause  of 
the  Vaudois,  tlie  Author  has  received  assist- 
ance from  persons,  tu  whose  names  he  would 
gratcfiilly  assign  a  distinguished  place  in 
this  volume,  were  he  permitted  to  disclose 
them.  Such  indeed  is  the  interest  which 
has  been  excited,  and  displaced  in  behalf  of 
ihe  Utile  community,  which  forms  the  con- 
necting link  I>ctwcen  tlie  Primitive  and  Re- 
fonned  Churches,  and  such  arc  the  signs  of 
the  times,  in  this  case  at  least  favourable  to 
truth,  that  he  is  persuaded  the  day  is  not  far 
distant,  when  the  Waldeusian  Church  will 
become 

TOTIUa    ITALIiG    LUMEN. 


He  has,  therefore,   entered  into   details, 

a2 


IV 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


which  might  otherwise  be  thought  too  pro- 
lix, that  every  thing  may  be  put  on  record, 
which  is  likely  to  illustrate  events  in  eccle- 
siastical history,  the  importance  of  which 
cannot  fail  to  be  appreciated  by  the  Pro- 
testant world. 

The  Italian  mode  of  spelling  the  Vaudois 
villages  has  been  used  for  the  moat  part  in 
the  following  pages,  as  La  Torre,  not  La 
Tour;  Maneglia,  not  Maneiiie ;  that  the 
reader  may  avoid  the  common  mistake,  and 
bear  in  mind,  that  the  Vaudois  arc  Italians, 
and  not  SiotM,  that  they  arc  inhabitants  of 
the  Alpine  Valley*  of  Piemont,  and  not  of 
the  Pays  de  Vaud  in  Switzerland. 


Ftb.  14,  1831. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTORY 

PA  OS 

Eupiuy  into  the  Antiquity   and  Purity  of  the  Waldeniiui 
Cbnrch I 

SECTION  I. 

The  tnditkHU  klwayi  cturent  among  the  Wildcniw  themaelvM    39 

SECTION    II. 

The  Kcoad  argoment  in  favour  of  the  antiquity  of  the  Walden- 
■ian  Church  mta  upon  the  lituation  of  the  country 48 

■ECnoM    III. 

The  tntimoDj  of  Hbtory,  gathered  from  the  advenariea  of  the 
Waldeiuei,  or  from  iDdifferent  eariy  writen 77 

SECTION    IV. 

The  Punty  uf  the   Waldensiao  Church,  and  the  teitimony  of 
theu  own  UocunWDti 133 


Cll.iPTER  I. 

Olijectiuf  m)- Jounuy.  Kouie  by  Calaie — Amieiw — Paris — Jura 
Mountain*  —  Cicnvva —  (,'hiimbery —  Mont  CcniH  —  Turin — 
Pinrrulo  U>  La  Torre.  Recejition  in  the  Valleyx.  San  Mar- 
gania.    Ubscrvatious  on  Vauduii  chaiactcr   1^7 


CONTENTS. 


CHAiTER  II. 

System  of  PuUic  EducaUou  ('<intnl  Schools.  UbtilAcIn  in 
the  way  of  IiuUuctioD.    Hamlet  Schools  aoi)  ^ceneiy 192 

CHAPTER  HI. 

Church  ecrvice  of  the  Vitudois.  Cnmpamon  between  the. Sundiiy 
«ervicts  of  th«  axljr  OiriBtian  and  Waldcnsion  Churches. 
Rcinarkg  on  the  Liturgies  now  U(«d  in  the  ViJleys.  Obeerv- 
ance  of  the  Lord'a  day.    Intend  duties  of  Vauduis  Clergy,,  SI7 

CHAPTER  IV. 

TIn  Office  of  Pa8t«ur>ChapelBiii  to  the  ProlMtaot  Ambaiaadora 
at  Turin.    Silk-worms.    'Hrats.    Sen  Giovaani.    Aagrogna  2*7 

CHAPTER  V. 

BuuiaiMt  to  Tagliaretta,  and  an  attempt  to  explore  the  Cavern 
afCuteHnwi Ml 


CHAITER  VI. 
The  Hospital.    The  Grammar  School 306 

CHAPTER  VH. 

ViUar  and  it*  bamleti.  Hamlet  Readen.  Uunpowder  plot  at 
VUlar.  PrrseDI  liarmouy  betirecn  I'Totcitants  and  Roinaa 
CathuUcs.  Tbt  old  Soldier  of  LIoim.  I'be  Virgin  of  the 
polar.  Bobi.  Ruiiui  of  the  Fort  nf  Sibaud.  The  VaiidoM 
I*aator'»  Charne.    The  hen  Jahicr.    (ktarla  Solars.,,.,.  3U 

CHAPTER  VUI. 

Exciutioa  to  Ror*.  Face  of  (he  Coniitry.  Oboerraiionii  on  tbe 
Extent  of  ihe  Vaudint  TrrriloTy.  I,u«crua.  The  former 
Sofoini;!  and  jimtnt  Prmpect*  of  Rora.  The  Silvo  Cup 
of  Victor  Amadw.    Tlic  Pirc-fly 351 

t 


P 


^^^^^^^^^^^^CONTENTS^^^^^^^^^ 

■ 

^H                                CUAPFER  IX.                                            ^^1 

^^BTW  oaw  Chanfa  of  Sua  Gionnni.    RoMraintR  impowx)  at  lb* 
^^B    RMlanifaw  of  Ika  nouMof  SaTOf,  in  1814.    tiirlti' School 

^^H 

^H                               CHAi'l'ER  X. 

^1 

^^%IAMMM  M  4*  BilUmxJon  ol  wraie  of  the  aii(ient  Inili- 

^^H 

CnAl'iER  XT. 

^1 

K— ■»■  to  Ibt  Upper  Valkra.    The  Cot  Julicn.     Alps  uid 
A^iM  Ptotoakww-      The  (icTiiuiaurn.     I>nli.    ADecdol^. 
bdorcUo.    MmncI.    Tie  Bain.    Muti^lia.    Pmro.    VtUa. 

393             ^^^1 

CIIAI'IER  XII. 

HjAapOMbUlbtVaBdoitftiun  udOftetn  of  the  Talk  for 

^^^^1 

^*                             CHAPTER  Xni. 

1         Tniu  gf  CbaiacUr.     IVa  dal  Tor.  and  ibc  ucuat  College  of 

43S            ^^H 

^B                            ClIAKIKR  XIV. 

^^■Imm;  to  Val  Quint,  and  Val  FTMnynik*.    Pdii  NrfT.    The 
^^m   pMM  gf  iIh  Col  de  la  Croii     IV  D«rgerk  do  Pra.    Tlie 
^^V   fhiBW  Montet.    Pnaclunft  on  tlu  MoiuuaiM-    San  Vena. 

■^^H 

^^1                             CIIAPTI':U  XV. 

^Hmb  to  PiHMMl  by  Uriant^M  and  the  Paa*  nf  Mont  U«ncvrt. 
F       Ti  III       The  VelUr  of  Pt>([DU'    lliePerftdy  of  LouiaXIV. 
H          Mid  Vittm  AnuiUe  in  ifao  extenDinatuMi  of  the  WnhliiiMie  of 
1          ValPn^eU.  Tbe(;ai Albngim.  FenertnUo.   Al.Coiiroiirdr. 
^^^   Ihrln^Tiir—  Cooooarde.  anil  anecdeUa  of  tb«  late  Aloikntor 

471            ^^H 

VIII  CONTENTS. 

PAOB 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

FencatreQe.  Peron.  Pomantto.  llie  Gnve  and  Efnt^h  of 
PefTBnL  Second  Vint  to  the  Valley  of  San  Mutino.  Pont  de 
la  Tow,  and  an  attempt  there  at  aManinaiion.  San  Germano. 
Memoriala  of  EngUsh  buried  then.  Roccapiatta.  Prams- 
tino.  Retain  to  la  Tone.  Reflectiooa  upon  the  preaent  and 
past  condition  of  the  Waldenalaa  Church  in  France  and  Italj  490 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Second  attempt  to  explore  the  Cavern  of  Cutelluno 508 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Departure  from  Hm  VaUeyi.  Appcnntnwnt  of  the  Soffiagan 
Putora  of  MbbbcI  and  Rodoret.  Infloence  of  the  PoUgnac 
Adminiatiatioa  felt  in  the  Vallera.  Vandois  tribute  to  their 
Engliah  bene&ctora  during  the  French  domination.  General 
obeervations  aa  to  the  Religiona  Spirit  which  prevails  among 
the  Vaudoia.    Establiahment  of  the  Vandois  College 517 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  Treaties  by  which  Pmonal  and  Religions  Rights  ought  to 
have  been  secured  to  the  Vandois 533 


DIRECTIONS  FOR  PLACING  THE  PLATES,  HAPS.ftc 

TkPiBcifacPndBlTor i.  ..PnaHiflmi 

Diignn  in  iUnwntiMi  of  wcieiit  Room  Btai  orar  tha  Cotdu 

A^ Io>»,^M 

Pic-waQe  of  Ltgeft  HemonDdum  utd  Signattn  N 

Hip  ofCoiiiin;  of  Andcnt  and  Modern  Waldouc^  {ata»  lai  rf 

/■<«*•««-»  JOH*») IN 

CmuUibbo  &an  San  Maiguia    Ifll 

IV  Entnnceinio  L>  Torre Ml 

Bridge  in  hamlet  of  Bui  Hngarita SSI 

Tbe&idfeofViUai 3H 

Prali  in  the  Vajlajr  of  Sm  HuUn     4M 

CdUVejUa 441 

l*«i»a 4M 

TbcBakegUa 4W 

CeacuJe  of  Biidcnt 4M 

A  VandoM  Paai  OQ  the  Oermuiuet ^ 4W 

Ca*ciBorOallci7CifCaBteauH HI 


KEBATA. 
rw  lU.  lliw1«udl»,/brNadiBlarM4MMnlth. 

I"        ti.jii  runiiiniiiiiJMiMiiiiiij 

tv>. >, /braulinMmak*. 

—  M*.  —  It.  /«r  li  r«4  Ira. 
(It, M, /u- IM  r«4  »0. 

*U.  —  lll,Bc>i>, /brMtlwBTMd,nW<tlkalTBaJ. 

IM.-^    4,  ^  IsnrotflUt. 

IVi.  ^—   ■.  /«■  pcribim  r»rf  c^Avn. 

-^  4J1.  ^—  M,  ^  dHcriptlra  f«<  ntmt. 

H4.J4I,M0,ngM.aDdFi5f,L».>'dilF(«ana<IMPw. 


WALDENSIAN  RESEARCHES. 


INTROOrCTORY  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  ANTIQUITY  AND 
PURITY  OF  THE  WALDENSIAN  CHURCH. 

Is  the  summer  of  1829,  in  company  with  part  of 
my  fitmily,  1  re-visited  those  scenes  in  the  valleys 
of  Picmont,  which  had  made  so  deep  an  impression 
u])on  my  mind  six  years  before. 

Perhaps  it  would  be  thought  more  wortliy  of 
the  sacred  cause,  which  is  so  identified  with  the 
X'audois,  to  write  a  history  of  the  Waldensian 
Church  in  regular  order,  than  to  introduce  it 
piece-meal,  in  the  fonn  of  a  personal  narrative. 
This  may  Im;  done  at  some  future  period,  but  now, 
having  an  immediate  object  before  me,  the  taste 
iiiid  temper  of  the  times  must  be  consullcd,  and 
infitrmation  must  be  conveyed  through  channels, 
by  which  it  is  likely  to  be  received  by  those  for 
wbdiii  it  is  intended.  Volumes,  of  the  character 
wliich  this  is  meant  to  assume,  tuid  their  way 
more  rapidly  into  the  hands  of  general  ri-aders 
than  those  of  ecclesiastical  history,  and  as  E  am 

K 


WALDBNaiAN    RGSItARrUES. 


anxious  to  make  the  WaWeuses  thoroughly  known, 
not  only  to  the  theological  student  and  the  I 
more  erudite,  but  also  to  persons  of  ordinary  pur- 
suits, I  have  chosen  to  re-appear,  like  Sclieha- 
rasade,  in  the  Arabian  Nights,  with  a  continuation 
of  my  former  entertainments.  I  will,  however,  ^ 
take  care  that  these  entertainments,  mixed  up  as 
they  must  be  with  adventures  of  the  dead,  andfl 
anecdotes  of  the  lining,  shall  he  instrxictive,  upon 
one  of  the  most  important  of  all  topics  to  a  Christ- 
ian enquirer,— the  transmission  of  the  pure  faith 
from  the  apostolic  times  to  our  own.  'J'hey  shall 
be  useful  also  to  him  upon  another  ]>oint  of  view, 
tliey  shall  shew  that  the  beautiful  life,  which 
history  assures  us  was  led  by  the  early  Christians, 
is  nut  uncommon  among  many  of  his  fellow-crea- 
tures, who  are  at  this  moment  acting  their  parts 
upon  the  stage  of  human  existence. 

The  primitive  Church !  The  one  little  lamp 
and  its  light,  sliining  in  the  middle  ages !  The 
struggles  of  the  first  Reformers, — Protestantism, 
in  its  uncompromising  firmness  and  integrity  I — 
What  a  crowd  of  ideas  rusli  into  our  minds  when 
wc  Uiink  of  these  ! — How  we  tiy  to  imagine  the 
scenes,  the  characters,  the  events  of  antiqui^>  J| 
when  Christianity  was  at  its  pmrest  and  simplest 
degree,  then  to  trace  its  course  through  the  dark 
epochs  of  Romish  usuqration,  till  it  emerges  into 
clear  day  again,  at  the  lera  of  the  Reformation ! — 
Many  of  the  images,  which  we  conjure  up  when 


i 


VALDEKS1.%N    Rr.SEARCimS. 


mding  of  the  past,  are  realized  before  the  eyrs  of 
tboM,  who  hare  opportunities  of  seeing  the  W'al- 
daudan  Church  in  her  mountain  hold, — so  wonder^ 
ftiDy  are  the  past  and  the  present  combined  in  her 
form,  wasted  though  it  is.     In  her  we  find  the  line 
cirriitd  up  to  a  period  suHkiently  remote  to  con- 
nect her  witli  the  apostolical '  succession.     We 
tnce  the  creed  and  the  local  habitation,  if  not  the 
nary  tiame  of  this  Alpine  Church,  from  age  to  age 
tqnranis,  until  we  reaeh  a  date  which  satisfies  us. 
that  having  early  embraced  the  primitive  faith,  she 
has  retained  it  amid  the  surrounding  darkness,  as 
its  only  foitttful  dctmsitary  :  and  having  done  this. 
We  discover  the  simple  8cr\'ices,  the  primitive  in- 
stituiions,  and  the  traits  of  Christian  character, 
correKpond  with  thofic  tliat  may  be  collected 
the  i»agfs  of  Justin  Murt>T  and  Tertullian. 
Christian  xirtue  in  the  al>stract,  perfectly  though 
it  Bi^  be  described,  leaven  but  a  feeble  impression 
<■  the  mind,  unless  it  be  embodied  in  a  narrative. 
TV  parables  of  the  Gospel  are  for  this  reason 
■nag  the  most  effective  of  all  the  lessons  that 
■etaoghL     It  is  Christian  priuci{)le  working  in 
^  iodiridual.  whose  path  of  life  we  can  distinctly 
''Uowtfaroagh  the  vicissitudes  of  this  world,  which 
^Utcution,  and  multiplies  examples.  Wherever 
^  adhriduaJ  picture  is  wanting,  and  no  feelings 

'  Apo«b>iic4l,  in  Tetmlliu)'*  muk  o(  ibe  von],   "  Nucootu 
**  Mtnc^MM  apu«UilK-U  drpuUplut  ut  »obale«  apoiloiicaruiB 
^^ttuntn."    Tertul.df  Pnr*. 
It  2 


■  Chi 


WAI.nES*ST\N   BESEABCirES. 


I 


are  awakcnttl  in  behalf  of  some  one,  whose  portrait 
is  made  to  stiind  ^vcll  out  of  its  frame,  the  praises 
of  virtue  and  the  annals  of  the  Church  fall  too  M 
often  upon  dull  ears.  Some  considerations  of  this 
sort,  which  I  happened  to  see  well  discussed  in  a 
periodical  work  of  the  day,  (hut  which  I  have 
not  at  hand  to  cite,)  persuaded  me  to  adopt  this 
mode  of  publication,  when  in  my  desire  to  stir  up 
Protestant  feeliog,  I  was  wavering  between  the 
project  of  a  history  of  the  Waldensian  Church, 
and  the  narrative  of  a  second  visit  to  the  Vaudois. 
I  was  reminded  that  all  historical  records,  which 
exhibit  no  prominent  character  for  the  excitement  a 
of  our  pcmonal  sympathy,  fail  of  commanding  ge- 
neral interest  The  mind  must  undergo  the  relief 
of  being  diverted  from  the  class  to  the  individual, 
from  the  scene  to  the  actors.  ^Ve  are  not  con- 
tent \vith  the  detail  of  things  achieved,  vrc  seek 
acquaintance  with  the  performers.  It  is  human 
nature  we  must  see,  there  must  be  a  social  glow 
im|)arted  to  the  perusal.  We  want  not  only  a^ 
series  of  names,  but  a  delineation  of  character" 
appended  to  each.  It  is  the  man  we  desire  to 
survey ;  the  fellow-creature  moved  to  effort  by  ex- 
traordinary circimistances,  as  it  is  possible  yreM 
may  be  moved,  and  acting  as  we  may  be  called 
upon  to  act,  in  public,  in  private,  at  his  post  in 
society,  among  strangers,  by  liis  own  Sre-sidc, 
and  in  the  bosom  of  his  family.  Those,  who 
would  not  give  themselves  the  trouble  to  wade 


i 


WAI.DKN51AN    ROF.ARCHEA. 

volume  bearing  tliu  title  of  Ecclpsiaslical 
Uiftiory,  will  eagerly  read  tlie  |H;rs»nal  relatioii 
uf  a  traveller,  who  has  explored  the  regions  where 
L'hrUtiatt  martyrs  have  bled,  and  where  humble 
servants  of  Christ,  breathing  the  niartyn^'  S|>iril, 
itill  live ;  and  may  cveu  he  persuaded  to  accom- 
puiy  him,  cheerfully  enough,  in  his  occasional  .en- 
deavours to  unravel  the  entaugtett  threads  of  an- 
cient chroniclers. 

Having  a  second  time  visited  the  spot  where, 
IS  AUix  has  forcibly  expressed  it,  "  the  purple  of 
Rome  has  been  so  deeply  dyed  in  the  hliKKl  of  the 
aintB,"  and  where,  as  one  of  their  enemies  has 
nid,  **  All  means  have  been  employed,  Irom  time 
lo  time,  to  rout  out  the  Waldeniies,  and  yet,  con- 
tnty  to  the  opinion  of  all  nu^n,  there  ttiey  still  re- 
noin  conquerors,  or  at  least  invincible '," — I  tlieru- 
fure  resume  my  former  tale,  and  puqmse  fully  to 
aUisfy  the  curiosity  of  the  many  entiuirers,  who 
■tfll  aak,  >\Tio  are  the  Wuldenscs  t  Where  do 
Uwjr  dwell !  Are  they  natives  of  the  Stviss  Can- 
tow,  or  are  tliey  French  or  Italian  borderers  ? 
Arc  tbcy  Calvinisis  or  Lutherans  ?  Are  they  de- 
scendants of  adventurers  and  innovators  from  the 
East,  or  are  they  aborigines  ? 

The  Waldenses  arc  neither  Swiss  nor  French, 
iJlcy  aru  Italians,  and  are  so  named  (hy  a  comipt 
change  uf  the  r  into  ir)  from  tlie  mountain  vaU 


'  ('bu<l«  Suytad. 


6 


WALDGNSIAN    REfHABCllES. 


leys  which  they  inhabit,  on  tlie  eastern  side  of  the 
Cdttian  chain  of  Alps,  between  Mount  Viso  and 
Mount  Gene^Te.  Pincrolo  is  their  nearest  pro- 
vincial town ;  Turin  is  their  nearest  capital,  and 
they  are  subjects  of  the  King  of  Sardinia.  The 
terms,  Vaudois  in  French,  Vallenses  in  Latin,  Val- 
desi,  or  Vallesi  in  Itahan,  and  Waldenses  in  Eng- 
hsh  ecclesiastical  history,  signify  nothing  more  or 
less  tlian  "  Men  of  the  valleys  ;"  and  as  the  val- 
leys of  Piemont  have  had  the  honour  of  producing 
a  race  of  pco]>lc,  who  have  remained  true  to  the 
faith  introduced  by  the  first  missionaries,  who 
preached  Christianity  in  those  regions,  the  sjiio- 
iiyiiis  Vaudois,  Valdesi,  and  W'litdeiLses,  have  been 
adopted  as  the  distinguishing  names  of  a  reli- 
gious community,  laithful  to  the  primitive  creed, 
and  free  from  the  corruptions  of  the  Church  of 
Home. 

Long  before  the  Roman  Church,  (that  new  sect, 
as  Claude,  Bishop  of  Turin  in  8t0,  called  it,) 
stretched  forth  its  arms,  to  stitle  in  its  Antfean 
embrace  the  independent  flocks  of  the  Great  Shep< 
herd,  the  ancestors  of  the  \\'aldenses  were  wor- 
shipping God  in  the  hill  countries  of  Piemont,  as 
their  posterity  now  worship  him.  For  many  ages 
they  continued  almost  unnoticed.  There  was 
nothing  to  draw  them  into  notoriety.  The  early 
history  of  Piemont  is  avowed  by  all  writers  to  be 
the  most  obscure  of  any  state  in  Eurojic.  Mura- 
tori  has  declared  that  all  his  researches  were  in 


4 


VALDENSUK  HESEARCHES. 


Tain,  till  he  arrived  at  periods  comparatively  late. 
No  wonder  then  that  the  most  unobtrusive  and 
Temotc  of  all  the  natives  of  Piemont,  should 
escape  general  observation,  till  penM;(-utioii  brought 
them  in  sight.  Composing  scattered  congregations, 
at  a  distance  from  the  busier  scenes  of  superstition 
and  controversy,  and  jicacefully  abiding  in  their 
•ober  faith  and  customs,  and  departing  not  at  all 
from  that  which  had  bei^n  handed  down  from 
fiithcr  to  son,  the  "  Men  of  the  valleys'  little 
thought  tliat  their  name  and  their  belief  M'ould 
one  day  'become  a  proverb  and  a  bye-word  among 
those,  who  should  turn  away  (rom  sound  doctrine, 
■nd  hate  such  as  shouhl  retain  it.  When,  at 
Id^tb,  it  came  to  their  cars,  that  others  had 
yidded  a  forced  or  willing  assent  to  the  strange 
domination  of  a  foreign  spiritual  mistress,  these 
mounliiiueers  protested  against  such  jurisdiction, 
and  finding  safety  in  their  wild  glens,  preserved 
their  fidelity  unimpaired. 

In  processoftimc,  after  the  extermination  of  the 
Albigenses,  who  were  of  the  stock  of  the  primitive 
Christians  of  Gaul,  and  when  the  Waldenscs 
composed  the  only  organized  church '  in  Kurxipe, 
which  refused  to  submit,  even  in  form,  to  the  papal 
foko,  their  name  was  malignantly  n.scd  by  tJteir 
eoonies,  as  if  it  were  synonymous  with  heresy  of 

*  BdiiBvi,  in  Um  ifiirtMnth  oeamty,  apologiud  for  applying 
d»  tona  "  Cktm-'b"  lo  Hum.  II*  knew  it  wouM  be  tittiann 
to  Ibe  PiBttnirt'i  but  uuth  forced  it  Croni  him. 


8  WALDENSIAN   KESBARCIIBS. 

cverj-  kind,  and  of  the  worst  kind.  Hence  sever 
llomish  authors  and  editors,  to  blacken  their  repu- 
tation, have  resorted  to  the  artifice  of  emplopng 
the  term  Waldenses  in  the  titles  of  ancient  contro- 
versial works,  which  were  UTitten  not  against  them, 
but  against  the  enemies  and  opposers  of  Christ- 
ianity itself. 

The  Waldenses  of  Piemont  are  not  to  be  re- 
garded as  the  successors  of  certain  reformers,  who 
first  started  up  in  France  and  Italy  af  a  time» 
when  the  corruptions  of  the  Roman  Church  and 
priesthood  became  intolerable,  but  as  a  race  of 
simple  mountaineers,  who  (rom  generation  to 
generation  have  continued  steadily  in  the  faith 
preached  to  their  forefathers,  when  the  territory, 
of  wliich  their  valleys  fonn  a  part,  was  first  Christ- 
ianized.  Ample  proof  will  be  given  of  tltis>  as  I 
proceed,  and  without  attempting  to  fix  the  exact 
period  of  their  conversion,  I  trust  to  be  able  to 

■  The  Jvsait  GreUn,  fcr  exaiii[4o,  haa  Uken  tliis  liberty  viUi 
tlie  worki  of  Ebnml  de  Beihunv,  Benaftrd  of  Fons  Calkliu, 
Enacn^rd,  and  Reincriu,  bIio  wrote  a^nst  Heretics  iu  tli« 
twolflh  aod  thirtoeoth  <-ciituri».  Tlic  moxt  fUgitiotu  imUnoe  of  ^ 
Oretwt's  maligiitty  &ppe&n  in  hb  Edition  of  the  Htxlc  of  Enncn-  H 
|ud.  The  tea]  title  waa  "  0|>uM;Dlum  conxn  hvrctico*,  qui 
dicunt  et  rredunl  muuduni  istum,  et  omDia  visibdia  aon  esie  • 
Dta  factu,  *m1  Kftbolo.'*  (S«<:  BiM.  Pair.  Paraiis.  torn.  4.  p. 
1235.)  Or,  "Tre«t>wiig«in*ttko«:  whoNiyiwdbcliurvthatdii* 
world  and  all  thingt  miblc,  ircn  not  tnodc  by  God.  but  l>y  the 
Dcvd." — "  CoDtn  Waldenses,"  is  the  faeadiof  which  Gretser  has 
tdofud More  of  this  beicalW. 


4 


rALDBNSIAK    BKSEARCBBS. 

the  fact,  tliat  this  Alpine  tribe  embraced 
die  Gospel,  as  it  was  first  announced  in  all  its 
puriti)-,  and  continued  true  to  it,  in  tlic  midst  of 
almost  gencrat  ajiustacy.  Nothing  is  more  to  be 
regrettt-d  than  the  mistakes  which  have  been  made 
upon  this  point,  even  by  Protestant  authors '.  In- 
stead of  connecting  the  I*riniitive  and  Rcfonned, 
or  Protestant,  Cliurches  by  means  of  the  Wal- 
donses,  who  really  remained  unchanged,  attempts 
baTe  been  made  to  date  Ibeir  appearance  from  the 
arrival  of  religious  innovators  in  Europe,  and  to 
give  an  Oriental  origin  to  the  first  formidable  ad- 
VRsaries  of  Rome.  This  is  countenancing  the 
pretensions  of  the  Latin  Church  to  Catholicity,  and 
to  Unchangoahlencss  from  the  beginning  of  the 
Gospel  kingdom.  It  cannot,  therefore,  be  too 
often  repeated,  that  the  Reformation  did  not  ^ring 
oat  of  strange  doctrines,  or  out  of  tenets  intro- 
duced into  Europe  from  the  East,  in  the  eleventh 

*  Sir  JuBM  Maclcinlofh  i«  on?  of  iht  very  few  hiaioriaiis 
lAo  taw  done  justicv  lo  tlua  sabjcct.  anil  to  Ut«  claimi  of  the 
WildeMn.  "  With  the  down  t^f  History,"  ny%  be,  "  w«  diV 
ccKcr  tonw  umple  ChriatUm  in  the  volley*  of  llic  My*,  witurc 
Ifaejr  Mill  esiat  uailer  ih«  ancieat  oBine  of  VbikIou,  wbo,  by  the 
lifbt  of  the  New  TcUuneni  saw  Ibc  ntinionlitiBTy  coBtnit  tn> 
iwidM  (Mriljr  of  i>ruoiiiTctlm«.Mid  the  vic«tof  ibegotgeoits 
•ad  aifMnal  hieratchji  wfaicfa  Hirrounded  then.  They  were  «n 
«tt  nuch  diRiD(iiJiheiI  from  othen  bj  ojiiHioiu,  u  bj  tlw  pursuit 
of  ■  man  Innocent  anil  Kvete  Ufv."  llUlixy  of  EnKtaml,  by 
tbt  kifbt  Has.  StT  J.  Mwiintoth,  in  Liinlncr'a  CiiUiuK  Cycto* 
fmda.    VoLi.p.331. 


10 


WAI.DBN8IAK   HBSBARCIIES. 


or  twelfth  century,  but  from  good  seeds  of  apos- 
tolical Christianity  miraculously  jTreserved  in  wilds 
and  gtcns,  wbeii  ritic^i  and  capitiiU,  and  the  high 
places  of  the  earth,  were  infected  with  the  heresies 
of  the  Pontificate. 

To  make  myself  better  understood,  T  must  ad- 
vert to  that  which  two  eminent  living  historians. 
Dr.  M'Crie,  and  Mr.  Sharon  Turner,  have  lately 
advanced  upon  this  subject. 

The  former,  in  his  "  History  of  the  Progress 
and  Suppression  of  the  Reformation  in  Italy,  in 
the  sixteenth  century," — and  in  its  sequel,  '*  The 
History  of  the  Progress  and  Suppression  of  the 
llefonnalion  in  S|>ain,  in  the  sixteenth  centurj-," 
appears  to  ascribe  the  religious  movements,  of 
which  he  treats,  to  an  impulse  given  by  strangers, 
instead  of  tracing  the  cause  upwards  to  seed ' 
originally  sown  in  the  native  soil  of  Italy  and 
Spain,  but  trodden  down  in  most  parts,  until  cir- 
cumstances enabled  it  to  spring  up  and  produce 
fruit.  Dr.  M'Crie's  two  works  are  monuments  of 
rcseai'ch ;  but  might  he  not  have  looked  to  an 

'  "  At  for  the  WaldewJes.  pve  roe  \tttii  (o  call  ttK!m  the  "My 
sccil  of  the  Pftaiiuve  am)  |>un^  Clirivtiiin  C'harcb,  bvin^  those 
who  have  hvca  *o  a|iticld  by  iIm;  vonderTuI  [>rovidci>cc  of  God, 
tiiat  ndthcf  ihcM  numlxTrleu  »lonii>  am)  icmpcria,  wherrby  the 
wliok  ChristJaD  irorid  hath  bcni  shaken,  i>Dr  llioie  IioctBiIb 
peraecutioiu  wLich  have  been  h>  directly  n'laed  sgaiant  th^m, 
have  ItiTfi  ahle  to  prevail  upon  ihem  lo  yield  n  voluntnry  »ub- 
Dtiauofi  U>  the  Rouun  tyranny  aiid  idolairy."  Beta,  Iconca  v(< 
ronuu  docUiDK  ct  virtute  illtwtrium. 


LbENSIAN    RCSEARCBBS. 


11 


earlier  period,  and  li»ve  pointed  to  the  fair  banner 
of  iDdcpendencc,  which,  »mn\\  thgu^h  it  was, 
wavefl  upon  the  mountain  heights  of  Barrian  ', 
Vandcliii,  and  KestriL>res,  in  defiance  of  papal 
usur[iatioii,  at  the  very  time,  when  the  pontiff  of 
Rome  were  triumphing  over  the  movements  of 
BTCTsion  and  dbcontent,  winch  had  heretofore, 
been  displayed  at  Milan  and  Turin,  and  In  the 
other  cities  of  the  plain  1 

*'  Soon  after  the  bishops  of  Rome  had  secured 
the  obedience  of  the  Italian  clergy,  (writes  Dr. 
Al'Crie,)  and  silenced  the  op]K>sitlon  which  arose 
troDi  Tunu,  their  attention  was  called  to  a  new 
dav  of  opponents.  Thost;  Christians  known  in 
Urtory  by  the  several  names  of  >' audois,  Walden- 
Bcs,  and  Albtgenses,  who  condemned  the  corrup- 
tioos  by  which  the  Church  was  now  every  where 
infected,  penetrated  tlirougJi  the  Alps  into  Italy, 
and  bad  already  in  tlie  year  1 180,  established 
tliemselves  in  Lombardy  and  i'uglia,  where  they 
received  frccjueut  visits  from  their  brcthreu  in  other 
countries  *." 


'  la  ibc  CoBVL  Prii).  Imp.  certain  licretJa  ir«  oiled  BarrinL 
Mifbt  ilicy  not  kaw  been  so  named  rroia  ihii  niotintaui  in  lliu 
VaHry  of  Uicenie  T    S«e  DO).  Pair.  4.  para.  i.  p.  797. 

*  HhHiotj  of  the  PrtjfiiTeM  and  Suppnuiun  of  tbe  Rerocmnlion 
■a  Italjr,  b  llie  aialMnlb  rcniury,  poge  3. 

If  I  do  not  ntituailwnutii]  this  ablo  writer,  be  agaiti  Imiu  to 
amiar  aiMniom  IB  hii  llMtorroTtbe  Suppraukiit  of  ifae  Refor- 
■uuim  ia  Spain.  "  It  ta  well  kaown  lltni  theae  euly  Rafoniicfi 
had  ftwd  ibcir  ubude  in  llw  «gullicra  pcovincva   ot  FnuKX, 


u 


WALOCNSIAN    BESEAaCUtS. 


In  this  iwssage,  the  learned  historian  speaks  of 
the  Wuldcnsuii  as  "  a  new  class  of  op|>oneiits"  to 


when  llieir  mulliplted  gT«BUjr  in  the  llth  aud  I3(h  eentnrie*,'* 
p.  28.  "  Fixed  llicir  ilIxhIcE"  The  Altii^ciMS  wen:  nntiim,  1 
ibould  Niy,  aiifl  not  tcttlm  in  France.  Ttiry  derired  their 
ori^n  from  llie  Gjula,  who  were  iim  convened  iu  (hat  repoti. 
The  AllH^OMa  did  not  come  to  reform  tlie  RotnanitU,  but  the 
Romnnisls  intruded  upon  llie  AllMgentc-s,  Agiiiii :  "  Id  con- 
Kqncnco  of  ihit  coniicxiwi  between  ibc  two  countries,  sofoc  of 
the  Vauido««  l»d  crossed  the  Pyrciwc*,  and  cstaUishcd  ihem- 
MilMstn  S|>ain  as  early  03  tlie  middle  of  the  l'2tbcemurf,"  |).33. 
Some  Vauduix  might  ttien  hav-e  cmaed  ll»e  frontier*,  but  was 
not  the  teliicliinec  which  the  S|)iiutjrds  di*pla)T(l  in  rpcciviog 
the  Roman  Lilorgy,  when,  m  Dr.  M'Crie  obtwrvcB,  '*  the  inno- 
vatioD  wa>  warmly  opp<»*d  by  (be  clergy,  DObQity,  aud  peoftlc 
at  large,"  (p.  24.)  proof  eoougb  that  Um  bosulity  to  Rome  was 
of  native  growth  in  Spain  ?  Dr.  M'Crie  it  too  well  read  in 
Spaui^  history  to  hare  omitted  to  notice,  that  Spain  lotiR  coa- 
tinucd  indeiWRdeot  of  Rome.  See  pp.  7 — 28.  It  is,  therefore, 
the  more  to  be  regretted,  that  he  did  oot  connect  the  lulu  of  the 
primitive  and  reformed  opinions.  So  divided  are  authors  upoi) 
■ubjects  of  this  kind,  that  Mariana  baa  recorded,  thai  a  man  of 
great  pote  in  his  day  maiutaiued,  that  the  Albi^utcs  did  not 
go  into  S]iain  from  Prance,  but  from  Spain  into  France.  See 
Mariaoa  Prcf.  in  I.ucam  Tudensem.  Apad  Bib.  Patr.  lom.  4. 
p.  SSI.  We  gather  the  prcraleiice  of  AUngcmiaii  and  Wal- 
dcDiuan  priaciptes  fiotn  these  contradictory  derivations  of  their 
origin.  I.uca»  Tudcusis  himself  says,  ilut  Aniald,  wlio  wu  a 
native  of  Brescia  in  Looibordy,  and  Houritbed  about  I  \40,  came 
from  Gaul  to  sow  the  tares  of  heresy  in  iSpam.  See  Bib.  I'atr. 
vol.  4.  p.  70€.  It  is  much  more  likely  that  Aritaldr  who  tra- 
velled for  infonuBlion,  and  abo  bad  studied  divinity  uadev  the 
oeMinted  Abdard,  went  into  Sjialn  to  confer  with  some  of  the 
lurimitjvc  chnrcbes  rcauining  in  thai  country.     Mariana  sjK-aka 


I 


VALDP.NSIAN   RESEARrilES. 

the  l.atin  CIiurIi,  and  making  them  one  with  the 
Albifjenses,  represents  them  as  "  penetrating 
through  the  Alps  into  Italy."  In  other  wurJs, 
he  calls  them  emigrants  from  France. 

That  the  Alhigenses  and  Waldenscs  were  es- 
Bcntially  one  in  matterB  of  faith,  fur  (iod  did  not 
leave  himself  without  witnesses  on  either  side  of 
the  Alps,  1  am  willing  to  allow,  but  I  cannot  con- 
cede so  much  as  to  admit,  that  the  valleys  of  Pie- 
mont,  or  the  other  regions  cast  of  tlie  Alps,  were 
indebted  to  France  for  the  spark  which  rc-kindlcd 
the  pure  flame  that  brightened  Italy.  Neither 
would  1  assent  to  the  theory,  which  woidd  people 
France  at  the  same  period  with  Reformers  migrat- 
ing from  Italy.  Ivach  country,  at  that  time,  re- 
tained in  its  bosom  the  elements  of  its  own  re* 
gL>ncnttiou.  Voltaire  was  well  informed  upon  this 
•object. 

'  La  confession  auriculairo  n'etait  point  re^e 
IX  huiti<ime  et  neuvi^me  sicclcs,  duns  les  pays 
^•delit  de  ta  Loire,  dans  le  Languedoc,  dans  les 
Alpes:  /Mcuin  s'en  plaint  dans  ses  lettres.     Les 


gf  the  AlbiscDHS  uodei  tlie  name  of  CAdaci,  (Pref.  ad  Lneam 
"twimatm.  Ilib.  Pair.  ruL.  4.  p.  581.)  In  llie  Spicflcfiiini 
Dachait,  (vol.  9.  p.  154.)  iHue  b  the  fonn  of  Xhe  election  o(  a 
BUiop of  (be  Cadnrci.  A.D.  999,  in  wbicb  not  the  v«r7  ilightcst 
alUttioa  b  made  lo  pepal  juradtction,  or  to  any  cOBaection  witli 
llw  Laim  Cliurcli,  on  the  oontraTy,  the  cnJer  for  tha  election 
■nad  tlitaclljr  from  ihc  iojtbI  tod  woleaiiMical  anthaaln*  of  the 


BIAN    RESRARrHFil. 


I 


peuples  de  ces  contrees  serablent  avoir  eu  toOjoiirs 
quclques  (lis]>ositions  k  s'cn  tontr  aux  iisa|;cs  do  la 
primitive  Eglise>  et  a  rejeter  les  dogmes  et  les 
coutunies,  que  I'KgUse  plus  tteiidue  jiigea  con- 
venable  d'adoptcr. — Ceux  qu'on  appellait  Maiii- 
cbeens,  ceiix  qu*on  appellait  depuis  Vaudois,  lUbi- 
geuiti,  Lollard<),  et  qui  repanirent  si  souvent  sous 
tant  d'autrcs  noms,  c'tait-nt  des  rezfe*  de»  pre* 
miers  Cfitviiens  des  Gaulet,  attaches  a  plusieurs 
ancieiis  usages  que  ta  Cour  Romaine  changea 
depuis,  et  h  des  opjuions  vaj^ucs,  que  cette  Cour 
constata  avec  le  tems.  Par  cxcmple,  ccs  premiers  ^ 
Chretiens  n'avaient  point  connu  les  images. — C'est 
une  chose  assuz  remarquable,  ijue  ces  hommes 
prcsqu'  inconnus  au  rcstc  du  nioiide,  aycnt  per-  j 
sever«S  constanmieiit  de  tcms  imincmoriel  daiis  ■ 
des  usages,  qui  avaieut  change  partout  ailleurs '." 
I  cannot  cease  to  regret  that  it  did  not  fall  witliin 
the  plan  of  such  a  patient  investigator  as  Dr. 
!'Crie,  to  enquire  into  this  fact,  (at  which  the 
ench  historian  has  only  hinted,)  for  whereas.  In 
his  first  work,  he  seems  to  attritiute  tlie  progress 
of  ItaUau  reformation  to  missionaries,  or  fugitives 
penetrating  through  the  Alps  into  Italy;  in  his 
second,  he  leaves  it  doubtful,  whether  he  be  not 
inclined  to  derive  the  Albigcnsian  doctrines,  which 
he  had  before  identified  with  those  of  the  Wal- 
denses,  from  on  origin  neither  Italian,  nor  French, 


AdtliUona  i  t'llbtoin:  Geni-ralc,  l3aM>.  pp.  57.  71. 


WALDENSIAN   RESEARCHES.  U 

nor  Spanish  *.    It  is  injurious  to  Protestantism, 
and  to  the  principles  of  the  Reformation,  to  sup- 

'The  lamejuUiceuiiot  done  by  Sir  James  Mackintosh  to  the- 
AlbigeoKS  u  to  the  Waldenses.  This  learned  writer  has  con- 
founded the  Albigenses,  in  principles,  with  the  Manicheans, 
and  in  extraction  with  those  "  separatists  from  the  Eastern 
Church,  who  had  been  driven  into  the  west  by  the  persecuton 
<if  the  Byzantine  govemmenL"  See  p.  322.  vol.  i.  of  Hiu.  of 
Eag.  in  Laidnet's  Cyclopsdia.  Considering  the  ibil  which  I 
have  bad  to  encounter  in  sifUng  truth  from  error,  and  the  diffi-  i 
cultKs  which  occurred  at  every  step,  even  when  my  whole  at- 
•lention  has  been  given  to  this  one  branch  of  Ecclesiastical 
History,  I  cannot  wonder  that  the  general  historian  should 
occasionalty  get  wrong  in  an  enquiry,  which,  as  Dr.  M'Crio 
ajM,  requires  that  an  author  should  have  recourse  to  the  tedious 
process  of  examining  canons  of  councils,  and  not  only  the  mtun 
substance  of  books,  but  their  prefaces,  and  dedications,  with 
epiiitolary  correspondence,  and  all  the  minutiBt  ofcarly  lit(;rature. 

Two  recent  jjiiblications,  which  I  havo  just  seen,  promulgate 
the  s^mc  errors  with  respect  to  the  origin  of  the  Albigenscs,  and 
speak  of  them  as  a  sect,  and  the  production  of  the  1 2th  century. 

"  Albigenses,  in  Church  history,  a  sect  or  party  of  reformers, 
about  Thoulouse  and  Albigeois  in  Langiiedoc,  who  sprung  up  in 
the  llJlh  century."— Encyclopa-dia  Britannica,  seventh  edition, 
parte.     Published  August  1830. 

"  From  the  labours  of  Waldo  and  his  asEOciatcs  there  sprang 
up  an  imntenscbody  of  Christians,  averse  to  the  corrupt  doctrines 
of  the  Church  of  Rome.  They  existed  in  Picardy  under  the 
appellation  of  Picards,  and  in  the  south  of  France,  from  the 
Pyrenees  to  the  Alps,  under  that  of  Albigcoses."  Sims's  Me- 
morials of  Oberliu,  with  an  introductory  sketch  of  the  History 
of  Christianity  in  France. 

Waldo  made  his  first  appearance  in  1 1  GO,  and  died  in  1 179. 
The  Albigenscs,  or  the  Rccuxants  of  Thuulonsu,  Gascony,  and 


I 


16  WALDEKSIAN   HBARaRCHRS. 

pose,  that  there  ever  was  a  period  when  the  true 
Church  was  entirely  supplanted  in  Europe  by  tbat 
of  Rome  :  aiid  it  weakens  the  cause  to  speak  either 
of  the  Albigciises  of  the  south  of  France,  or  of  the 
Waldenses  of  Hemont,  as  descendants  of  emigrants 
or  settlers  from  other  lands,  or  as  being  of  no 
earlier  antiquity  than  the  eleventh  or  twelfth 
century.  AUix,  who  had  thoroughly  investigated  -M 
the  question,  bitterly  lamented  the  inadvertency 
of  such  Protestant  authors,  as  had  suffered  them- 
selves to  be  caught,  as  he  expressed  it,  by  the 
sound  of  words,  and  by  tliat  calumny  of  the 
Romanists,  which  affected  to  call  these  Churches 
new  churches.  He  ^vill  not  admit  that  the  Albi- 
geuses  sprang  firom  the  Waldenses,  or  the  Wal- 
denses from  the  Albigenses,  or  that  cither  com- 
nmnity  was  indebted  to  strangers  for  their  re- 
formation, after  having  been  infected  by  the- 
corruptions  of  Rome.  Ho  insists  in  his  two 
laborious  enquiries  into  the  history  of  these  an- 
cient Churches,  that  each  was  the  continuation  of 
an  ori^ual  stem,  the  one  having  been  planted  in 
Narbonesc  Gaul,  and  tlie  other  in  Picmont,  at  no 
very  distant  date  from  the  times  of  the  Apostles. 

Had  the  author  of  the  Histories  of  the  progress 
and  suppression  of  the  Reformation  in  Italy  and 
Spun  followed  this  opinion,  and  taken  up  the 

Languedoc,  ate  mentioiwd  in  ibc  Cations  of  tli«  Council  of 
Toan,  hcM  tn  1 133,  and  iu  lliowc  of  the  CouiKtl  uf  TlioakMBr, 
hckt  in  1 1 19 :  toora  tban  fbtty  yexn  bcrore  Woldo  wu  hcnni  < 


I 


WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHES.  17 

tbread  of  his  very  interesting  relation  from  an 
earlier  period,  and,  instead  of  pursuing  the  steps 
of  those  who  contend  that  the  *'  Vaudois,  Wal- 
denses,  or  Albigenses  fixed  their  abode  in  the 
southern  provinces  of  France,  where  they  mul- 
tiplied greatly  in  the  eleventh  and  twelfth  cen- 
turies," had  he  shewn  how  their  numbers  began 
to  be  greatly  diminished  in  those  centuries,  he 
would  indeed  have  undertaken  an  arduous,  but  a 
most  thankworthy,  and  Invaluable  work '. 

'  It  would  be  goJDg  out  of  my  present  course  to  trace  the 
Albtgeniei  lo  the  mn  of  the  first  converaion  of  Qaul,  but  1  shall 
be  (br^Tcn  the  digresaion  for  Bhewiug  what  was  the  opinion  of 
theirantiquity,  at  thetime  when  they  were  wasted  by  persecution, 
■ad  finally  eitenninated  under  that  truculent  executioner  Simon 
de  Montfort. 

The  best  authority  upon  all  these  questions  is  the  earliest ;  and 
there  is  still  in  existence  the  curious  narrative  of  the  Chaplain 
of  Dc  Montfort,  who  accompanied  this  lord  in  the  murderous 
cnnade  against  the  Albigenses,  A.D.  1206.  The  original  copy 
of  this  narrative  was  in  Latin,  and  it  was  tntnslatcd  into  French 
in  the  year  1569,  with  the  very  charitable  and  christian  motive, 
1)  the  translator  did  himself  the  honour  lo  avow,  of  perauading 
(he  rourt  of  France  to  do  unto  the  Huguenots  of  that  day,  aa 
the  unsparing  Simon  had  done  unto  the  lieretics  of  Laugucdoc 
in  his  lime,  v\z.  to  destroy  them  utterly  by  lire  and  sword.  The 
bibw  ing  lines  at  the  beginning  of  the  work,  and  in  praise  of  it, 
are  a  specimen  of  the  spirit  in  which  it  was  written : 

1 ,  Tout  cela  (jue  commet  la  secle  Gmeuoise, 
l/hcretiiiue  Albigeois  anoit  plus  lost  rumniis: 
Kott  nieurtrc,  soit  Inruin,   soil  trjhisuii  d'uniis, 
I>i)l,  opininliiw,  impictc  cl  noise. 
r 


18 


WALDCNSUV    RESEAEaiES. 


Mr.  Slmron  Turner,  one  of  the  most  profound, 
and  at  the  same  time  Oxe  most  philosophic  of 


9.  L«  Comte  d*  Mont-fort  pftrram^  Frao^oife 
A  Mle  le  domteurde  I'Albi^obwuhHQis: 
Ton  Henry*  d«  Valois,  mois»o)a»«ur d'ennemii, 
(0  Soibui)  domtiira  lliereue  OnuloMe. 

3.  Ton  liare  luy  appretult  qne  Hont-rort  eouoye 
Cliiutb  par  le  feu  I'Albigeois  d«»uoyc, 

Et  le  rend  ud  Mont  Fort  de  I'Eglbe  Romaine. 

4.  Par  Ivsmcssnetmoyenx,  quel' AlbigeottmntiD 
Finnt,  il  punira  le  Catuiniste :  nfin 

Qa'un  mcsme  vice  soit  puul  de  mesne  peine. 


our  M 


AH  Romi«h  writers  tiptin  ll>c  prioeiple  that  novoltica  in  point 
oi  Christian  doctiioe  &re  r^;htly  conudered  fallacies  in  point  of 
tnith,  are  uiiwilluig  to  admit  morB  thiui  ihcy  can  help,  upon 
the  antiquity  cither  of  the  Albigpcnsian  or  Wnldcnsian  Cborch. 
Powerful  then  muct  have  been  the  force  of  truth  wbich  ooa- 
■tntned  the  original  author  of  tbb  record,  aud  the  traniklor,  to 
tmert,  without  any  qualification,  aach  an  histotical  &ct  as  the 
following  :  "  CtUe  Tolose,  mais  toute  Dolose,  A^  sa  premiers 
fbndation,  ninsi  qu'on  aflerme  pen  souvcnt,  on  jamais  n'a  eat£ 
nette  de  ceste  pesic  ou  d^il«stable  pestilence  d«  ceste  hcretique 
pffavite,  cspandue  succcsH?ement  par  le  venin  d'  iofidelib:  super- 


*  Hr.  Sliinm  Tamer  hai  tboi  tumrnnl  up  hii  Dbsmailani  oa  tbt  naiacrc 
W Ku  BaKhaluiiu'w  (lIclKn  or  EUubrth,  p.  333.  chap.  3U.) — "  Frum  the  pr«- 
ttfiof  fw\i',  ii  ii^ran  IliM  ihe  clilcf  auilion  ut  ihc  llm  pan  of  ihrw  bh^ 
matt  nrr  Ihr  Uukt  D'Aiijuu.  tflrmanli  tlrnijr  III.  and  the  Duke  ds 
GuUc"  The  rrry  mm  viiUinir  burn  wlikli  1  tnuMttibe  tht  Ubci  atwrt,  ma 
dtdlcUcJ  10  lltnry  de  Valaii,  Duke  D'Aiyou  in  IMS,  Gnu  jrm  brfdn  Ibc 
■■— iir  ;  and  In  the  Eplitle  Dedicilorr,  li*  ttttnoA  author  tlnoglj  iiiwa 
mtnda  rhe  frince  id  Irallau  the  rallgl'lui  iciil  of  Si.  Dominic  uid  Ut  diaciflt^ 
■nd  IP  eiletminal*  htrcHn,  not  hemjr  wiljtt  ^S  cmj  paMblr  UHWUi 


1 


I 


1 


WALDEKSIAN   ftESEARCHIS. 


19 


modem  historians,    has   gone  farther  than   Dr. 
M'Cric,  and  has  not  only  searched  beyond  the 


,  dca  fen%  aas  athtat  *."  IliU  dty  of  ToulouM,  or 
Dolorou*  city,  bu  nerer  been  clear  of  tliis  dvUaUble 
I  faiiiatec  aa  it  is  con«tiuttly  affirmed,  (hb  poinonouN  bcrvajr, 
-wbicb  has  cmitied  (he  vcnotn  of  its  Hiiperstilioas  infidelity  from 
&)licT  to  ton.  Id  r218  thra,  the  loitdate  tnenUoDcd  in  this 
nanuire  o(  the  exploila  of  Siiaon  de  Montroit,  it  was  the  fut^ 
I  nly  Rccim)  optDion  of  tbc  day.  tlie  tradition  collec(«d  npoa 
ike  ipot,  tbat  (he  optniooa  C8ll«d  Albit^cnsiaa,  or  befctkal,  by 
At  Chncfa  of  Rome,  hiwl  riom  lime  iiniiM:aiunal  been  ifac  prc- 
nSiag  IKMU  of  the  capital  of  the  province.  Certainly,  they  hul 
'  cbuifed  from  the  Gnt  preaching  of  Chrtttianily  in  Gaol, 
the  naiivet  of  LaagUMloc  and  Provence  did  not  decline 
I  A(t  apoaioUcal  doctrtnea  till  they  were  seduced  by  tlie  arti< 
\,m  (iMvedby  the  power, of  tboa*  »ho had  ncdnd in  their 
liq^  ktad,  or  in  their  {bfebaad*,  the  maifc  or  the  nunc  of  Ibe 
■*  In  whom  it  was  (•tvcn  to  make  wai  with  the  uinU  and 
!  toofoooiDa  them."  "  A  licresy  natural  to  TouIouh"  ta  another 
ci|rMakw  of  the  aaave  oncivnt  author,  tlte  muulc  of  Vans  8er» 
Hy,  with  wboBi  crery  opinion  at  varianoe  with  the  pajxal  nyaten 
i«  bowy.  and  who  haa  aUo  (uniahed  n*  with  n  ttDgnlar  lea- 
tianay,  that  the  nune  doctriaea  were  as  "  natund"  lo  aome  of 
Iha  AJpitM  uibe*  a»  tn  iboM  of  the  South  of  France  f ,  "  Inatil- 
kw  CH  Uo^pAnnM  anx  ardllea  dca  ■implo :  que  li  (e  ooq»  de 
Jlw-Cbrol  coolenoit  on  My  la  gmndttur  dca  moou  dca  Alpca, 
B  watt  eM6  d^  cOMommi  Ct  an^anti  par  ccut  qui  I'  entaont 
■aDpf."  It  ia  deal  that  a  atmile  of  this  kind,  in  alluaion  to 
Ikr  Bamiih  dngma  of  the  real  preaBnce,  and  drawing  iu  oooi- 
fanon  baa  lbs  AJpa,  and  not  figm  (be  Fyreneea,  tlte  nxmiv 


4n  htiptfk.  M  Omh  4(  ixUt  Simm  <U  MM-fon.     OwitH 
4nV«IUnlnMj.  IUk i«  IMniM  da  tawiHi.  P.  a. 

c2 


20 


WXtnEXSIAS    KEseARCIIFS. 


I 


caiifiiics  of  Kun)|)e  for  the  seeds  of  Waldcnsian 
tloctrines,  but  by  a  strange  mistake,  has  spoken  of  1 
the  Waldenses  themselves.  Italians  by  extraction 
and  hication,  as  if  thoy  were  inhabitants  of  Swit- 
zerland, "  of  the  I'ays  de  Vaud '."  His  theory 
upon  the  subject  of  the  Reformation  in  Europe  is 
so  nearly  akin  to  that  of  Gibbon,  who  followed  in 
the  track  of  Miiratori  and  Moshcim,  that  I  will 
first  fpvc  an  analpis  of  Gibbon's  sentiments 
before  I  notice  those  of  Mr.  Turner. 

Always  most  subtle  and  sarcastic  when  the  re- 
ligion of  the  cross  is  to  be  discussed,  the  author  of 
the  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman  Empire  begins 
the  fifty-fourth  chapter,  in  which  he  professes  to 
treat  of  the  first  enfranchisement  irom  papal  do- 
mination, with  a  classification  of  religious  and 
national  character.  The  Christian  natives  of  Syria 
and  Egypt  he  supposes  to  have  abandoned, their 


tains  Dcarcsl  to  th«  AlbigenMF,  was  borrowed  from  the  Wa|. 
denies,  w  nt  any  ntte  from  their  nd|^boan  of  Proi-ence  or 

'  The  passage  in  wlilch  this  mitlake  occurs  runs  thus,  **  ThcM 
opinion«  eUim  for  itic  Vniirfois  n  disTinrtion  from  those  vho  held 
doctriiMM  less  Scriptural  and  rational.  The  Pay^  de  Vaud  baa 
been  always  distini^tAed,  enn  to  our  own  times,  for  a  vir* 
laoirt  ■implicity,*'  Btc— ffiWory  ofBnyland  daring  the  middtt 
Aytt,  Vol.  V.  bootc  *ii.  cb.  3.  p.  1 34.  Tlic  inhabitanU  of  the 
Payi  d«  Vaud,  in  Switxcitond,  of  which  UiUKiniie  is  Uic  c«pital, 
ve  called  Vaodois,  and  bavc  often  bc«i)  confounded  trilb  tlie 
ProteMant  nntives  of  the  Vaui,  Valle,  or  VaUeys  of  PiemoDt, 
in  Italy,  alto  called  Vaudois. 


VALDENSIAK   RESEARCHES. 

ii?e»  to  lazy  and  contemplative  devotion ;  those  of 
Home  to  have  aspired  to  the  dominion  of  the  workl 
A  second  time,  and  tliose  of  Greece  to  have  con- 
samed  their  wit  in  tlie  disputes  of  metaphysical 
iheulogy.  At  length,  "  about  the  middle  of  the 
ceventh  century,  a  branch  of  Manicha'ans  was  se- 
lected as  the  victims  of  spiritual  tyranny ;  their 
piti«DCe  was  exas]ierated  to  despair  and  rebellion, 
and  theirexile  from  the  Ha^t  scattered  overtlic  Wtist 
the  seeds  of  the  Ilefomiation '."  The  mention  of  the 
Manichseans  leads  the  historian,  rather  abruptly, 
to  nuke  some  enquiry  into  the  doctrine  and  his- 
tory of  the  Paulicians.  It  is  not  clear  by  what 
rhain  of  evidence  Mr.  Gibbon  managed  to  graft 
tite  Paulicians  upon  the  Manicha:an  stock,  but 
tfter  ohsL-nin^  that  "  the  numerous  sects  nere 
finally  lost  in  tlie  odious  name  uf  Municha-'ans,"  lie 
klU  of  a  reformer,  named  Constantine,  who,  iu 
his  bumble  dwelling  at  ManansUs,  at  the  foot  of 
Hoant  Taurus,  received  the  present  of  a  Testa^ 
ment  from  a  Sv-rian  captive,  about  the  year  G60. 
Attaching  himself  to  the  study  uf  this  cherished 
hook,  the  mountaineer  became  inspired  with  a  pe* 
coliar  reverence  for  the  writings  of  St,  Paul,  atid 
fanprcsscd  a  few  ardent  fellow-students  with  a 
nmiluT  devotion.  The  silence  of  their  favourite 
■{Mstle  and  guide,  upon  the  spurious  doctrines  of 
ibc  Eastern  Churches,  induced  these  zealous  men 


'  GibUm.  Vol.  V.  |>.  SaO. 


32  WALDBKSUN    UESKAKCHES. 

to  renounce  their  fonner  errors,  and  to  separate 
from  establishments  wliich  had  overwiiclmed  the 
country  with  fables  and  superstitions.  "  The 
name  of  tlie  Paulicians  is  derived,  by  their  enemies, 
from  some  miknown  and  domestic  teacher ',  but 
I  am  confident  that  they  gtoricd  iu  their  affinity 
to  the  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles." 

Without  entering  into  any  enquiry  into  the 
peculiar  creed  of  these  Paulicians  of  the  East,  we 
will  cast  a  glance  at  the  ground,  upon  which  Mr. 
Gibbon  and  Mr.  Sharon  Turner  assume  the  Pau- 
licians to  have  been  tlie  originators  of  the  Refor- 
mation in  Europe. 

A  mountaineer  is  accidentally  directed  to  the 
study  of  Scripture,  and  comparing  the  supersti- 
tions of  his  Church  with  the  word  of  God,  he  re- 
nounces communion  with  that  Church,  and  be- 
comes a  reformer.  Now  granting  (or  a  moment 
that  every  branch  of  the  Christian  Church  had 
become  equally  corrupt,  and  that  there  was  no 
succession  any  where  of  pure  doctrine  and  dis- 
cipline, is  it  necessary  to  travel  out  of  Europe 
into  Asia,  in  quest  of  persons  who  should  be  able 
to  reform  the  Church  ?  Might  not  the  same  natu- 

'  GiUioo  rdl  bto  some  ooofaabn  of  Danes  and  dales  upon 
lliit  subject.  The  term  Pnuliciiint  if  mun;  likelj  to  buve  been 
dented  from  Paul,  the  bcrcticiil  Bi9Ju>]>  of  Antivcb,  at  a  mnr.h 
earlier  period,  sgainut  who4c  ofiinions  the  |i«tn'incial  (yiiod 
(irumted,  in  au  ifpisik  |itcM:i<iv(l  lu  tLe  tercnlh  bouk  uf  Eus*- 


I 

I 


WALDENS1AN    RKSEAKCIIES. 


ss 


lal  and  ninple  process  take  place  in  the  West  as 
rell  us  in  the  East '  ?  Througli  sevcu  or  eight 
of  beautiful  but  deceptive  narrative,  Mr. 
Gibbon  conducts  his  PauUcian  teachers  (whom  he 
snts  in  one  place '  as  condemning  the  me- 
and  opinions  of  the  Manichxaus,  and  in 
another  place  *  as  holding  two  of  the  most  unor- 
thodox of  tlie  principles  of  the  Manichieans)  into 
the  regions  of  Hontus,  Armenia,  and  the  adjacent 
pro>inces,  arms  them  and  their  followers  agninst 
their  im{ierial  sovereign,  unites  them  in  alliance 
with  the  Saracens,  and  finally  reduces  them,  aA«r 
many  alternations  of  success  and  defeat,  to  a  hand- 
fiil  of  malcontents,  whom  Constantino  Coprony- 
mus  translated  from  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates 
to  Constantinople  and  Thrare.  "  By  this  cmi- 
gnitioD,"  he  proceeds,  "  their  doctrine  was  intro- 
duced and  diffused  in  Europe*." — "  And  in  the 
banning  of  the  thirteenth  century  tlicir  pope,  or 
primate  (a  manifest  corruption),  resided  in  the 
confines  of  Bulgaria,  Croatia,  and  Dalmatia,  and 
pnremed  by  his  vicars  the  filial  congregations  of 
France  and  Italy '."     Having  advanced  thus  for 


'  ll  nay  be  ptored,  by  refermco  to  ihc  canooi  or  conndls, 
dial  corrupUiaa  flnt  found  their  way  inlo  the  Chunili  rrom  ilie 
Eut,  «Dd  that,  wiUi  tome  (ew  Dxoeptiofit,  the  Boropewi 
Chaidm  leBUUDcd  pan  bn^  aiUst  thoM  of  Atia  had  cmbnAed 

■  Ibid.  p.  SU. 

'  Ibid.  p.d:», 


•  OMm,  Vol.  V.  p.  A32. 

*  lfaid.p.&31. 


I 


24  WALDENSIAN   RESRARrnCS. 

Upon  tbc  authority  of  Matthew  Paris ',  as  quoted 
by  Ducange,  and  having  lent  his  pages  to  the 
monstrous  inconsistency,  that  the  independent 
Churches  of  France  and  Italy,  which  refused  obe- 
dience to  a  foreign  bishop  of  Rome,  yielded  sub- 
mission to  a  distant  stranger  of  Hulgaria,  Gibbon 
is  unwilling  to  stop,  and  imagines  three  roads  by 
wliich  his  Paulician  reformers  may  find  their  way  J 
into  the  heart  of  Europe.  I.  By  accompanjing 
the  French  and  German  caravans  on  their  joimiey 
back  from  Jerusalem,  by  the  course  of  the  Da- 
nube, and  by  disguising  their  names  and  heresy. 
II.  By  serving  under  the  Byzantine  standards, 
and  by  being  transported  into  the  Greek  provinces 


I 


I 


I 


*  Dn  Plenis  quotes  MhuImiw  Paris  in  a  very  difiiereal  »eiue, 
aod  speaks  of  tli«  Albig«i»tsD  sod  Freuch  Refoniwre  making 
praeelym  of  the  Bulgarians.  "  Mattbew  Pans  satlh  further, 
ihai  xhtj  ipread  iheraselret  su  fur  as  into  Bidgaiia,  Crontia,  and 
Dalmntiu,  and  these  lixik  such  root,  that  tliejr  drew  unto  then 
many  BUhopc,  and  thither  came  ono  Bortholomctr,  from  Car- 
cassoiM,  in  the  country  of  Narboone,  in  France,  itnto  whom 
they  all  flocked,  aud  ho  ei«ated  Bisliotis  aud  ordained  C)iun.-lH». 
tliese  words  are  takra  oat  of  tlie  letters  tliai  tlie  Cardinal  of 
Port,  the  Pope's  legate,  wrote  to  the  ArchbiiJiu]i  of  Rome,  full  of 
abashment,  and  he  callcth  him  «Bti-popc,  vithuut  impolii^  unto 
him  any  other  crime  or  doctrim; ;  namely,  because  this  Bartho-  I 
iomcw  re'«Btablisbed  the  order  of  the  Churches  anew  in  thoM 
countries,  and  laboured  to  set  true  pastors  in  the  place  of 
Mw."  $cc  Lenonrd't  tnnsbtion  of  Da  PIcssis's  Mvilciy  of 
Iniquity,  51st  Progrtnion.  Tic  passage  in  Matthew  Paris, 
referred  to  by  Gibbon  uid  Du  Plesais,  oocuis  nib  aniio  1223, 
page  319. 


WAtDES'SIAX   RRSRARCIIBS. 


i  of  Italy  and  Sicily.     III.  By  entering  the  republic 
of  Venice  as  merchants  and  traders  ■. 

There  is  no  snare  into  which  learned  men  may 

not  fall,  who  run  after  a  derivation.     In  such  a 

pursuit  they  often  chase  an  ignis  fatum  tliruugh 

'treacherous    and  uncertain   ground,  rather  than 

IbDow  a  plain  and  secure  path.     The  discussions 

of  Munttori  and  Moshcim ',  u|K>n  the  connection 

ibotween  the  Oriental  and  the  French  and  Italian 

mfferers  for  conscience  sake,  had  fastened  upon 

the  mind  of  this  historian,  and  without  pausing 

to  reflect  upon  the  absui-dity  of  making  an  cla- 

lionite  search  among  strangers  for  that,  which 

Stay  be  easily  ftiund  at  home,   he   hurried   on 

hH  he  arrived  at  the  notable  discovery,  that  the 

first   spark  of  the    Reformation  was    kindled   in 

Langnedoc  and  Provence  by  Pauliciaiis,  whom  he 

liad  taken  the  trouble  to  bring  from  the  waters  of 

the  Euphrates  to  those  of  the  Rhone  and  Ga- 

romie.    "  It  was  in  the  country  of  the  Albigeois, 

b  the  soutliem  provinces  of  France,  that  the  Pau> 

Sdans  were  most  deeply  implanted  *." — "  Tlio  vi- 

'  OMmn.  Vd.  V.  (>.  534. 

'  Wc  Me  not  to  complain  so  raucti  of  ftturatari,  «  Roouniit, 
M  of  HoabchD,  n  Prot«»lant,  for  hu  leaning  lo  prejudiced  ap»- 
■iHM  vpOD  ihia  mbject.  No  thanks  arc  due  to  Mo^i«im  fur 
waijh^l  which  he  has  thrown  upou  the  history  of  Albigentei  or 
WildBMca.  He  tpcak*  of  then  M  "  wcU"  that  roM  np  in  the 
iltmilh  and  iMclfik  ccDtnrics,  anil  m  very  justly  ccnrarcd  for 
hm  nuy  iDacLimoes,  by  hit  but  edtton. 

'  OUm»,  Vol  V.  i>.  335. 


98 


WAIDESSUN   RESGAKCIIF^ 


I 


I 


sll>lc  assemblies  of  the  Pauliciaiis  or  Albigcois, 
were  extiqiated  by  fire  and  sword,  and  the  bleed- 
ing remnant  escaped  by  flight,  concealment,  or 
Catholic  conformity.  But  tlie  inmible  spirit 
which  they  had  kindled  still  lived  and  breathed  in 
the  western  world.  In  the  State,  in  the  Chiu'ch, 
and  even  in  the  cloister,  a  latent  succesKion  was 
preserved  of  the  disciples  of  St.  Paul,  who  pro-  A 
tested  against  the  tyranny  of  Rome,  embraced  the 
Bible  as  the  rule  of  faith,  and  purified  their  creed 
from  all  the  visions  of  the  Gnostic  theology '." 

Such,  according  to  Mr.  Gibbon,  was  the  origin 
of  Protestantism '  and  of  the  Heformation,  and  of  I 
the  Bible  rule  of  laitb,  and  we  have  to  thank  emi- 
grant Paulicians  for  these  blessings,  and  not  the 
succession  of  fkitliful  men,  who  were  found  at  dif- 
ferent times  and  jilaces,  from  age  to  age,  some 
more  particularly  in  Italy,  and  some  in  France, 
opposing  themselves  to  corruptions,  as  they  arose 
in  the  Christian  Churches  of  Europe,  recording 
their  testimony  to  the  truth,  in  pages  which  have 
Iwcn  transmitted  to  us,  and  continuing  tlie  holy 
line  that  connects  the  first  and  the  nineteenth 
centuries. 

But  what  say  Gibbon's  authorities  as  to  the  pe- 
riod of  the  arrival  of  these  Paulicians  from  the 


I 


'  Gibbon.  V«l.V.  p.535.  f 

'  Mr.  Bn»rning,  in  fai»  htttorj  of  Ibe  BuctHDOU,  hat  added 

one  more  to  Um  Dumber  of  those  «bo  hare  followed  Gibbon  in 

Itia  cnuucous  nUianent.     Sec  Vol.  I.  p.  1|  2,  i, 
9 


i 


WALDENSIAN   RESEARCUES. 


asr 


;  T  Let  ua  see  if  it  was  not  considerably  pos- 

Fterior  to  the  promulgation  of  doctrines  avowed  in 

I  Jtaly,  of  the  very  saine  kind  as  those  afterwards 

[avowed  by  the  persecuted  Aibigonses  and  ^Vat- 

denses. 

Mosbeim  confesses  "  It  is  difficult  to  fix  the 

I  precise  period  when  the  PauUcians  bt^an  to  take 

ixeAige  in  £uro{ie;    it  is  however  certain,  from 

tbc  must  authentic  testimonies,  Uiat  a  con^dur- 

'  able  number  of  that  sect  were,  about  the  middle 

of  this  century  (the  eleventh),  settled  in  Lom- 

bardy,  Insubria,  and  princi}>ally  in   Milan ;  and 

that  many  of  them  led  a  wandering  life  in  France, 

Gennany,  and  other  countries '."     Mosheim  then 

does  not  pretend  to  fix  an  earlier  date  than  about 

Ibc  middle  uftlie  eleventh  century,  1050.    Mura^ 

tori,  whom  Mosheim  and  Gibbou  both  follow  and 

die,  uses  the  term  Manicha^ns,  when  be  speaks 

of  these  wondering  refurmcrs,  and  the  earliest 

iate  that  be  attempts  to  assign  for  the  introduc- 

lian  of  their  opinions  into  Italy  and  France  is 

1037.     Having  Brst  broadly  stated  tJiat  the  seeds 

of  Moukhorism  began  to  be  scattered  in  Italy 

aficr  tlie  year  1000 ',  be  proceeds  to  relate,  upon 

.  the  testimony  of  Rodulphus  Glaber,  (lib.  3.  chap.  8.) 


'  HoilMim,  C«nliirf  xi,  pan  >L  chap.  &.  Mosheira'a  earliett 
uUlmnty  dlml  ii  Slom-la,  vhu  lived  about  lite  year  1325 :  be 
HkU,  *'  We  miglil  rerer  lo  Glaber  Rodul/."  Glaber  itourisbcd 
I  h  dw  ikTCBlh  cniliirr. 

'  MurBlMi  DbwdaiM)  Sojugesinta,  torn,  5.  p.  02. 


W4LPBNSUN   KfiliBAUCitES. 


that  ".about  the  year  1027,  this  wild  heresy  was 
brought  into  Gaul  by  a  certain  woman  who  came 
out  of  Italy  '."  Notliing  cau  be  more  vague  than 
tliis  kind  of  evidence,  but  taking  the  period  here 
assigned  for  the  arrival  ofthePaulician  lleforracrs, 
between  1000  and  1027,  wc  will  set  against  it  the 
authorities  adduced  by  Altix^  in  the  eleven  first 
chapters  of  his  Remarks  upon  the  Ancient  Church 
of  I*iemont,  upon  which  he  thus  observes,  "  This 
being  laid  down,  I  say  we  have  already  found  a 
body  of  men  in  Italy  before  the  year  102ti,  who 
believed  contrary  to  the  opinions  of  the  Church 
of  Rome,  and  who  highly  condenuied  their  errors; 
a  body  of  men  which  sent  its  members  about  m 
divers  places  to  oppose  themselves  to  the  super- 
stitions that  reigned  throughout  all  the  West." 
P.  UO. 

This  is  not  the  place  for  doing  more  than 
touch  upon  the  evidence,  upon  which  1  am  pre- 
pared to  shew,  tliat  native  Italian  preachers  anil 
writers  professed  the  very  opinions,  for  which  tlio 
Waldenses  suffered  in  after  days,  long  before  the 
remotest  date,  which  can  in  any  way  be  applied 
to  the  introduction  of  Paulician  doctrines.  The 
Romish  historians  and  a|iologists  may  bring  ten 
thousand  Oriental  Reformers  into  any  province  of 
Europe,  if  they  please,  but  we  shall  prove,  by  and 
bye,  that  the  pure  tenets  of  the  Apostles  were  pre- 
served m  our  own  cguarter  of  the  globe,  and  that 

■  Itnd.  p.  83. 


I 


WAT.nRNSUN   RKSP.ARC[t>:s. 


29 


Rntne  was  controverted  indignantly  without  any 
aid  from  the  East.  It  is  therefore  a  matter  of 
deep  regret,  that  so  able  an  enquirer  as  Mr. 
Sharon  Turner,  and  one  so  candid  and  friendly 
to  truth,  should  have  been  captivated  by  the  same 
th4?ory  which  led  Gibbon  astray,  and  that  he 
'Bfaould  have  pursued  it,  In  his  investigation  of 
the  historj'  of  ihc  WaldenseH,  and  the  origin  of 
the  Reformation,  till  he  brought  it  to  the  same 
end. 

lo  a  chapter  cntitletl  "  History  of  the  Principal 

Attacks  on  Papal  Christianity,  from  the  8lh  to  the 

14th  Century ',"  Mr.  Turner  seems   to  give  the 

I  phce  of  honor,  not  to  the  assertors  and  vindicators 

lufPHroitive  Christianity,  as  it  had  tieen  cherished 

'by  the  descendants  of  those  who  had  received 

it  from  the  early  successors  of  the  Apostles,    in 

Europe,  or  from  those  who  preached  it  before  it 

iwaM  corrupted,  but  to  Astatic  and  Mohamedan 

[censors.    "  The  progress  of  the  Arabian  imposture 

[first  disturbed  the  deep  serene,  in  which  both  the 

prints  and  the  people  were  with  equal  sincerity, 

llwcanse  with  equal  ignorance,  and  with  equal  sa- 

:tion,  reposing.     From  the  hour  of  its  porten- 

tou   birth,   Mohamedan  ism,  notwithstanding  its 

own    absurdities,    was    the    unceasing  censor    of 

perverted  Christianity ;    it    fiercely   accused  the 

'  Miliar;  orEBiclawl  flurmg  the  Middle  Ages,  Vol.  V.  book  7. 


i^ 


30 


vAtDRtraiftM  RRSBoemft 


Christian  world  of  idoiatrj'  and  infidelity,  of  folly, 
KUjicrslition  aiid  imposture '." 

The  spurious  Christianity,  which  the  Moslems 
witnessed  in  some -regions,  deserved  to  be  so  ac- 
cused, hut  the  sincerity  and  zeal,  with  which  the 
true  servants  of  Christ  censured  the  errors  of  the 
Papal  system  in  the  West,  were  at  least  equal  in 
'd^ree  to  tlie  fierceness,  with  which  it  was  as* 
sailed  by  the  followers  of  the  Prophet  in  the 
East,  and  this  passed  at  the  same  juncture  of 
time.  "  It  was  at  least  a  chronological  infe- 
rence," Mr.  Turner  continues,  "  that  after  Moha- 
medanism  had  been  established  in  Asia,  Africa, 
and  Spain,  and  after  the  crusades  and  other 
intercourse  had  brought  it  fully  to  the  con- 
sideration of  Europe,  reforming  opinions  abound- 
ed in  its  vicinit)',  and  rapidly  spread ;  and  a 
strong  dissatisfaction  arose  at  the  wealth,  pomp. 
and  luxur}'  of  the  papal  hierarchy.  The  sciences 
cultivated  by  the  S|Kinish  Arabs  drew  inquisitive 
men  from  all  parts  of  Europe  to  their  cities  and 
schools,  and  these  were  among  the  foremost  in 
diiTusing  new  ideas  among  their  contemporarieii. 
Gerfaert,  one  of  these  students,  in  the  tenth  cen- 
tury *,  was  bold  enough  to  call  the  Pope  Anti- 

'  n»d.p.  118. 

'  For  |)roof  ibal  Europe  did  not  wani  Arabian  inatroclkxi  to 
niuc  her  ag>iii»t  Romidi  |>ride^  tec  Lcger't  Account  of  the  Pro- 
UMoritaUu)  Uitlio|)B  agtioM  the  T^udj  ot  Home,  9th  C«Dtiiiy. 
p.  137. 


I 


I 


irAU)ESSIAN   RGSBABOIES. 


SI 


chriBt.     It  was  from  the  schools  in  France  nhich 
be  had  planted,  tlmt  Derengarius  arose,  who  at- 
tacked transubstantiation  in  the  succeeding  age  '." 
"  That  the  establishment  of  tlie  Moliamedans  in 
Spain  had  a  direct  etTecton  the  minds  ofmnnyof  the 
Spanish  Christians,  cannot  be  doubted '."  Granted, 
bat  as  so  great  stress  is  here  hiid  upon  the  opinions, 
which  are  said  to  have  spread  in  Spain  after  the 
Mohaniedan  con<iuc8ts,    I  take  the    opportunity 
,  of  remiucUng  my  readers,  that  Vigilantius,  who 
twM  ordained  priest  at  Barcelona,  in  Spain,  di»- 
'  tinguishcd  himself  two  hundred  years  before  Mo- 
hamed's  name  was  known,  by  protesting  against 
some  of  those  very  corruptions  of  which   Mr. 
Sharon  Turner  speaks,  viz.  against  the  veneration 
Lof  reHcs  and  images,  and  the  adoration  of  saints  \ 
and  similar  abuses,  which  were  in  his  time  in- 
CRaang  in  the  l%astem  Churches,  and  which  have 
iHDce  been  sanctioned  by  that  of  Rome.    Upon 
the  subject  of  papal  and  pontifical  usurpation,  it 
^H  a  clear  point  in  history  *,  that  the  episcopal 

'  ttid.  f.  ISO.    Udicr  a«  Sue.  Ecc.  chip.  2.  p.  51—63. 
that  tlie  novel  Romidi  doctrine  of  the  real  pretaiirc  was 
bj  luJbtn*  and  Anglo-Saxoas  in  Uw  lOUi  ccnturf. 
t  Scotut  dbpatcd  it  ui  tlie  9lh. 

*  rbid.  p.  121. 

*  Jotons  cxmlra  Vigil.  Epitu  53.  ukI  Diin(»l.  apod  BIU 
Mi^  lom.  9.  put  2.  p.  eeO. 

■  Bm  Ocddci*  DiiaeTUtioa  on  tbc  Papal  Supremacy,  chiofljr 
vidi  iriaikm  to  itw  Ancienl  Spanuh  GmrcL.  HuocUaueow 
Tncts.  To(-  i- 


33 


WAIDEXSIAN    RESBARCnES. 


hierarchy  of  Spain,  uuder  the  Gothic  pi 
hef<]rc  the  Moorish  conquests,  was  not  only  in-t 
dependent  of  att  foreign  jurisdiction,  but  was  sub- 
ject to  the  crown,  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
episcopal  hierarchy  in  England  is  now.  And  as 
to  images,  the  Spaniards  were  so  far  from  deriWng 
their  hatred  of  idolatry  from  the  Moors,  Oiat  pre-fl 
Tiously  to  the  invasion  of  those  barbarians,  the 
S]>anish('liurdi  was  entirely  free  from  the  pollution 
of  image  worship.  It  was  forbidden  by  the  Council 
of  Eliberis,  A.D.  305,  Canon  36,  to  have  any  pic- 
tures or  representations  of  adorable  beings  in 
churches.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add,  that 
episcopal  arrogance  and  assumption  of  inordinate 
power  were  declared  to  be  marks  of  Antichrist, 
without  any  lights  derived  from  Arabian  teachers, 
and  tliat  too  by  some  of  the  popes  themselves. 
The  Council  of  Chalcedon,  said  Gregory  I.  in 
one  of  his  epistles,  A.D.  595,  oBbrcd  this  honour 
(the  title  of  Universal  Bishop)  to  the  bishops  of 
Rome,  but  it  was  refused,  lest  they  should  appear 
to  be  arrogating  '  episcopacy  to  themselves  alone. 


'  II  b  a  titular  proof  of  caretemneaa  in  Mosbeim  that  b« 
has  spoken  of  tbe  Waldenses  as  a  new  sect  that  arose  ia  the 
tStlicuiilury,  in  lut  notice  of  tlie  origin  of  llie  Wuldciues,  vol.  Z. 
part  2.  chap.  5.  section  x. ;  whvrea*  in  vol.  2.  part  '2.  diap.  2.  he 
awipis  tbem  a  concptcuoas  pan  stmon^  the  opponents  of  papal 
supreraaev  in  ihc  seventh  century.  The  whole  paatage  U  SO 
much  to  the  piMiii  upon  the  qiiesiioniu  which  iTeatnretodectiin 
aiTK>lf  Bt  isHie  nitli  Mr.  'Hinier,  that   I  intcri  ti  at  leat;ili. 


I 

I 
I 
I 


WALDBNSIAN    RESEARCHES.  33 

*Ud    taking   it   away   from    the    rest    of   their 
brethren'. 

I  can  readily  agree  with  the  opinion  "  that  Leo 
the  imperial  iconoclast  was  urged  to  his  resolution 
of  destroying  the  images  in  the  Christian  churches, 
by  a  native  of  the  country  which  the  Saracens  were 
occupying'";  that  Claude,  the  Spaniard,  afterwards 
bishop  of  Turin,  the  zealous  destroyer  of  images, 
might  have  leamt  by  his  intercourse  with  the  Mo- 
hamedans  in  Spain  to  abominate  more  and  more  the 
Qse  of  images  for  purposes  of  worship ;  but  I  am 
■Dxious  that  the  readers  of  such  statements  should 

"  Tlie  ancient  Britons  and  Scots  persisted  in  the  maintenance 
of  their  ifttgioui  liberty ;  and  neither  the  threats  nor  promigea 
of  the  le^te  of  Rome  couM  engage  them  to  submit  to  the  de- 
crees and  authority  of  the  ambitious  pontiH',  as  appears  mani- 
fesdt  from  the  twtimony  of  Bctle,  The  churches  of  Gaul  and 
Spdiii  altriburtd  as  much  authority  to  tho  bishop  nf  Rome,  as  tlicy 
thought  suitable  to  llieir  own  dignity,  anU  coiisisteut  willi  their 
intt'iesis:  even  in  Italy  liis  snjircme  authority  wa-:  obstinately 
KJfCted,  since  the  Bishop  of  Ravenna,  and  other  prelates,  re- 
fused an  implicit  obedience  to  his  orders.  Besides  all  this, 
Diultitudes  of  private  persons  expressed  publicly,  ajid  without 
iLe  leant  hesitation,  their  abhorrence  of  the  viet'S,  and  |iarlii-nl.irly  . 
of  the  lordly  ambition  of  the  Roman  iioiitilfs :  anil  it  is  highly 
pT'ibdl'le,  t!i3t  the  Vuldcnscs,  or  Vaudois,  had  already  in  this 
cmlury  (tliL'  7th),  retired  into  the  valleys  of  I'iemonl,  that  they 
might  be  more  at  liberty  to  oppose  the  tyranny  of  lliuse  imperious 
prcldten." 

■   Baron.  An.  vol.  «.  p.  90.  Sub  An. .';'.(.;. 

'  Turner's  llisloiy  of  Kngl  imi  during  die  Middle  A;res,  vol.  5. 
p.  l-Iii. 


S4 


WALDEN'SIAN    RESEARCHES. 


have  it  brought  to  their  recollection,  that  many 
years  before  Leo  was  Iwrn,  or  the  Saracens  were 
instructed  by  the  Koran,  European  bishops,  Marti 
of  Tours,  in  the  fourth  centurj',  and  Serenus ' 
Marseilles,  in  the  sixth,  were  demohshing  images, 
with  a  hatred  of  idolatry  sufficient  for  the  edifica- 
tion of  the  Christian  churches  in  the  West ;  and 
that  Claude*  was  first  moved  to  vindicate  the 
majesty  of  the  Most  High,  by  lessons  learnt  from 
Scripture^  and  not  from  the  example  or  the  m- 
Btructions  of  Arabian  metaphysicians.  The  power- 
ful impulse,  the  incipient  suggestions  proceeded 
from  his  study  of  the  truth,  where  only  it  is  to 
be  found,  in  the  Bible.  This  is  the  account  which 
Claude  gave  of  himself;  and  his  own  contempora- 
ries, so  far  from  attributing  his  attack,  upon  what 
he  considered  idobtrous  rites,  to  any  influence 
which  Moharaedan  doctors  might  have  had  upon 
his  mind,  ascribed  his  doctrines  to  an  erroneous 
interpretation  of  Scripture,  which  they  alleged  he 
pretended  to  quote  without  being  scholar  enough 
to  understand '. 


:;i 


■  Epis.Orcg.  1.  Liber.9.  Ep.9. 

'  "  In  tu]ipatt  of  hi*  pHncipul  un«t,  C)atid«  could  pkad  ifae 
authority  of  one  of  the  most  vcocrablc  counctb  of  bb  auan 
vtiurcb,  wtikh  ordained  (h«t  then  ihould  bo  tM>  picturet  m 
ChnrcUc*,  and  Uiat  MHhiag  »ti«ll  be  pdnted  on  the  walU  which 
iDi^t  be  mnbippcd  or  adorvd."  Dr.  M'Cne's  Hbt  of  Ptvg, 
ud  Sup.  of  llcfomiation  in  .Spain,  p.  9. 

*  Dutigalus  resp.  adv.  CUud.  Tuuc  Bib.  Pair.  ton.  d.  pan  3. 
p.  W>6~895. 


WALDEKSIAN    RESEAaCHES. 


96 


Mr.  Turner,  in  the  continuation  of  his  hypo- 
thf&is,  ob&cn'cs,  "  What  Claude,  of  Turin,  failed 
Xo  accunijtlish,  wus  attempted  in  the  twelfth  cen- 
tury by  those  persons,  who,  under  various  names, 
of  Mhicti  the  most  celebrated  were  the  Albigcnses 
mad  lh(->  Waldeniies,  the  Cathari  and  the  Paterini, 
m  the  very  period  when  the  predominance  of  the 
pa{ial  monarchy  seemed  to  be  most  lirmly  csta- 
blisheit  in  Kurope,  began  to  prepare  the  human 
mind  to  overthrow  it.     This  great  and  beneficial 
ehange  originated,  as  usual,  from  the  humblest 
source,  and  was  made  principally  operative  by  the 
wrerity  of  persecution.     It  had  also  an  original 
connection,  both  in  locality  and  intercourse,  with 
the  A-nibian  conquests '." 

Mr.  Tunier  next  introduces  the  same  tale,  which 
Gibbon  has  told  so  beautifully,  of  the  Manicheeans 
and  the  Fauiicians  in  Annciiia,  and  concludes  thus, 
"  It  is  ^reed  by  the  best  historians,  that  they  were 
trmoaplonted  into  Thrace,  that  they  penetrated 
into  Bidgaria,  that  they  were  introduced  into  Italy 
and  France,  and  under  various  nume5i,  of  which 
the  yUbigenses  is  the  most  prominent,  spread 
through  Europe.  It  wa.i  in  the  eleventh  centaty, 
that  bring  again  attacked  in  Thrace,  they  nugrated 
into  Lombardy,  I-'rance,  and  Germany*." 

The  references  which  Mr.  Turner  gives,  as  to 


*  HiMiM?  of  eiglMd  (hiricig  ibc  Middle  Ago,  m>I.  &  p.  123- 
'  Ibkl.  p.  196, 

n2 


»(> 


WALDRNSIAN   RESEAKCIIKS. 


his  authorities,  are  to  Petrus  Siculiti:,  Gibbon, 
Mosheim,  Mr.  Jones's  History  of  the  Waldenses, 
aiid  Mariana.  Petrus  Siculus,  who  flourished  in 
the  nintli  ciMiturj',  is  cite<i  for  the  history  of  the 
PauUcians,  while  they  were  yet  in  Armenia  or 
Thrace.  Mariana's  t«itimo»y  goes  no  further 
than  to  state,  that  the  Albigenses  were  thought 
by  an  ancient  writer,  to  have  entered  France  out 
of  Spain,  and  Mr.  Turner  reasons  upon  it,  thai 
"  it  is  not  unlikely  that  as  the  Paulicians  had  beea 
nursed  among  the  Saracens  in  Asia,  some  of  their 
emigrations  took  shelter  in  Saracen  Spain  '.'*  Mr. 
Jonc^  professes  to  liavc  collected  from  Gibbon 
and  Mosheim,  the  account  which  he  gives  of  the 
Paulicians  in  his  history  of  the  Waldenses.  Gibboo 
and  Mosheim,  both  derive  their  principid  autho- 
rity from  Muratori,  and  Muratori,  as  I  have  al- 
ready shewn,  page  27,  has  nothing  but  vague  e\'i^ 
dence  to  adduce.  Upon  such  foundation  rests  the 
history  of  the  migration  of  the  Paulicians  intoB 
Europe  in  the  eleventh  century.  In  the  subse-" 
quent  progress  of  this  enquiry,  wherein  Mr.  Sharon 
Tunicr  speaks  of  the  Waldenses,  he  does  justice'^ 
to  the  noble  views  and  feelings  which  they  enter- 
tained,  and  shews  by  reference  *  to  their  "  Noble 
Lesson,"  that  they  did  not  combine  the  Paulician 
or   Manichffian    errora   with    their   purer    senti-. 


I 


'  History  of  Buglam)  during  the  Middle  Agrs,  p.  137.  in  a 
ngtc  ■  Ibid.  p.  131. 


WALDBSM.VN    RESKARCIIKS. 


It 


'V^ents  of  Christianity.     It  is  that  part  of  his  his- 

•*^ory  only  in   which    he  derives  the  VValdenses 

Croni  "  I'aiilician  ancestors,"  which  I  an>  dispos^-d 

Vo  question,  and  which  I  am  confident  he  will  do 

liis  subject  thi-  jiistic<'  to  review  with  the  same 

candour,  which  he  has  shewn  upon  other  matters 

€>f  investigation. 

"  As  their  I'aulician  ancestors  had  incurre<I  the 
hostilities  of  the  Grecian  hierarchy,  so  these  Albi- 
lenses  and  VValdenses  had  to  endure  a  persecution 
as  ferocious  from  the  Homaii  pontiff'".  "  It  may 
be  tliouffht  straii<!C  that  llie  opinions  of  the  VVal- 
dnues.  some  so  just,  should  have  sprung  from  a 
little  comer  of  Armenia,  and  in  the  mind  of  a 
Manicha*an '." 

Itis  to  these  and  similar  pass:i^es  that  I  feel  con- 
strained to  offur  my  objections,  becjiuse  1  think  it 
strange,  and  injurious  to  the  cause  of  Protestant- 
am,  and  bcnelicial  to  that  of  Romanism,  Co  call 
the  opinions  of  the  W'aldenses  new  to  Europe  in 
eleventh  century,  and  to  seek  out  of  our  own 
er  of  the  globe  for  the  origin  of  attacks  on 
Papal  Chruilianity.  That  Europe  wanted  no  foreign 
agents  to  give  an  impulse  to  the  public  mind  against 
the  corruptions  of  Rome,  and  that  IU>me  had  never 
tatrodnccd  the  least  of  her  corruptions  without 
rooBiig  some  indignant  spirits  in  opposition  to 
her,  win  BufBcicntly  ap[>car  from  that  which  I  am 
tmteaiDg  to  explain. 

'  HiMDt7arEB|UiKliluRu|;tlieMtil<llv  AgWip.  I'M. 
*  I)iid.p.l37. 


I 


WALDENSIAS    RESE^^RCHES. 

I  h;:ve  now  brouglit  the  matter  under  discussion 
to  this  point.     The  opjwnents  of  the  Wnldense* 
in  tlic  eleventh  and  tivetfth  centuries  endeavoured 
to  prove,  that  their  refusal  to  be  in  communion 
with  the  church  of  Rome,  arose  out  of  some  new 
and  strange  doctrines  brought  by  wandering  in- 
novators from  the  l-'ast.     The  charge  is  reiterated 
by  subsequent  Romish  controvcrsiaUsts,and  though 
the  first  authorities  for  the  allegation  did  not  esta-J 
bUsli  it  by  a  sufficient  chain  of  evidenci%  yet  it  has 
been  repeated  firom  time  to  time,  until  it  has  been  ■ 
believed  by  several  of  the  most  able  of  the  Pro-B 
t(!Stant  historianii.     This  misrepresentation  is  tofl 
be  contradicted,  and  it  is  to  be  shewn,  that  the 
Waldenses  stood  in  no  need  of  strangers  to  en-fl 
lighten  them  ;  that  they  were,  at  the  very  time  in 
question,  enjoying  a  radiance  of  spiritual  light, 
which  had  continued  to  .shine  upon  them  for  many 
generations,  and  wliicli  enabled  them  to  keep  fire© 
from  the  bondage  of  the  bishops  of  Rome.  ■ 

The  facts  which  favour  the  assumed  antiquity 
and  purity  of  the  \\'aldensian  Church,  are,  j 

I.  The  traditions  always  current  among  the 
Waldenses  themselves. 

II.  The  situation  of  their  countrj-. 

III.  The  testimony  of  history  gathered 
their  adversaries,  or  from  indiffurent  and 
jttdiced  early  writers. 

IV.  The  testimony  of  their  own  documents. 


1  fW>ml 

UDprc-l 

nts.       I 

J 


VALDENSUN    RESEARCHES. 


89 


SECTION  I. 

niE  TEADITIONS   ALWAYS  CURRENT   AMONG   THE 
WALDENSES    THEXISRLVE8. 

It  is  providentially  fortunate,  tliat  these  tradi- 
liuns  have  been  preserved  for  the  most  part  in 
the  pages  of  writers  opimsed  to  the  Waldenses : 
they  might  otherwise  have  been  disputed.  The 
few  Waldensian  documenta  uhich  have  escaped 
destruction  would  not  have  sufficed  to  satisfy  the 
incredulous  upon  this  point  Of  these  few,  ttie 
-  Nobla  Ley^on  ','  a  poem  of  the  date  A.D.  1 100, 
presents  the  following  proof  of  the  opinions,  which 
the  Waldenses  of  that  early  period  entertained  of 
the  autiquity  of  their  Church. 

•*  Now  after  the  Apostles,  were  certain  teachers, 
who  went  on  teaching  the  way  of  Jesus  Christ 
Saviour.  Some  of  whom  are  found  at  this 
Iffcsent  day,  but  they  arc  known  to  very  few."' 

After  a  few  lines  describing  the  life  and  con- 
rersatloQ  of  such  teachers,  the  poem  proceeds, 
"  Such  an  one  is  called  a  Vaudois"  (Vaudes). 

A  manuscript  treatise  of  the  same  date  as  that 
of  an  ancient  catechism,  which  is  also  dated 
A.D.  1100,  speaks  of  the  Waldenses  as  having 

'  MoK  gf  tbn  Talunlili-  Tccfml  hcTuin«r.    Svc  |m^  132. 
II  4 


40 


WALnemiAN   RfSEARCHES. 


maintained  the  same  doctrines,  "  from  time  im- 
memorial, in  continued  descent  from  father  to  son, 
even  from  the  times  of  the  Apostles." 

Transcripts  of  these  treatises  are  to  be  found  in 
the  first  Book  of  Lager's  "  I  fistoire  de  I'EgUse 
Vaudoise."  The  originals  were  entrusted  to 
Samuel  Morland,  and  by  him  de]>osited  in  the 
library  of  the  University  of  Cambridge,  ai^er  Ms 
return  from  the  valleys  of  Kemont,  in  1658.  I 
am  awure  that  the  period  of  these  treatises  is 
somewhat  contested,  and  that  AUix,  who  felt  as- 
sured of  the  antiquity  of  the  Nobla  Ley^on,  was 
himself  inclined  to  believe  that  the  others  were  not 
written  before  the  middle  of  the  I3th  century. 

It  may  be  granted  that  some  of  the  identical 
copies  from  which  Legcr  transcribed  were  not  writ- 
ten before  the  middle  of  the  13th  century, (1 250), or 
even  the  Hth ;  but  there  is  strong  internal  evidence 
to  prove,  that  these  treatises  contained  passages, 
which  had  previously  formed  part  of  religious 
manuscripts  preserved  among  the  Waldenses  at  a 
perioti  more  remote.  For  example,  one  of  the 
treatises  in  question  enumerates  the  various 
corruptions  of  the  Roman  church ;  it  alludes  to 
the  doctrine  of  the  real  presence,  and  to  the  ado- 
ration of  tlic  Vii^n  Mary,  and  of  saints.  But  it 
does  not  make  mention  of  the  terms  transul>- 
stantiation  or  canonization  ',  nor  does  it  speak  of 
the  service  of  the  rosary. 

'  "  luia  canoauaiigoi:*  coatemuuul."    So  wrote   Keinenu 


I 


I 


■mtrtKNSIAN   RMRARCIIl'3. 


The  term  transiibstanriation,  hitherto  imknown, 
introduced  and  established  by  jiope  Innocent 
*he  Third ' :  the  rosary  was  invented  by  the  inqui- 
sitor Dominic  ;  at  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth 
cmtury.  Such  notorious  and  oflcnsive  abuses,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  institution  of  the  horrible  tri- 
bunal of  the  inquisition,  which  was  co-eval  with 
tbcni,  could  scarcely  have  failed  to  And  a  place  in 
treatises  professedly  vn-itten  upon  such  subjects, 
batt  those  treatises  been  originally  composed  pos- 
terior to  these  audacities  against  the  undtrrstaiuling 
md  religious  rights  of  men. 

!■  have  Leger's  authority  for  relating,  (see  book 
L  p.  153.)  tiiat  the  French  historian  Dc  Serrcs, 
oodcr  his  notice  of  the  year  1223,  said  that  ho 
had  in  his  library  an  old  manuscript  niitteo  in 
Gothic  characters  upon  parchment,  which  set  forth 
the  reasons  of  the  VValdenses  for  refusing  com- 
munion with  the  Roman  church.  This  nianu- 
ccript  made  mention  of  pulsatory,  images,  the 
invocation  of  saints,  the  sacrifice  of  the  mass, 
irmaMbatami'uUion,  the  authority  and  decrees  of  tho 
pope,  he.     Hence  1  should  conclude,  that  as  ttio 


CBwcrnimg  the  Vimloii  in  I3A0.  Ai  nrithrr  of  Uma  triMJWi 
caUuB  tba  muxm  \em,  it  n  to  bo  infetred  ihat  they  mm  com- 
|aed  hrftm  it  came  bto  um.  The  lint  papal  boll  in  which  iho 
«ad  nuanimtna  ocean  wm  in  1 165. 

■  Ed.  AlbmioBi  de  Kaduifutia,  lib.  3.  p.  973.  Tnnnib- 
ibBtntloD  <mt  mulv  an  ankle  or  faith  b;  the  cmiiicil  of  Latenui, 
19 1& 


ITALneKSIAN   ResBARCHES. 


I 


Walden&cs  took  the  earliest  notice  of  this  corrupt 
doctrine,  after  it  was  formally  proinulgatod  by  J 
pope  Innocent  the  Third  under  that  term,  that 
treatises  upon  kindred  subjects,  which  n\ade  no 
mention  of  it,  were  composed  at  an  earlier  period 
of  time. 

Robert  Obvetan,  a  native  of  the  valleys,  who- 
translated  the  Bible  into  French  in  1535,  ad- 
dressed his  book  to  the  Vaudois  Church  in  these 
terms.  "  It  is  to  thee  I  present  and  dedicate  this 
precious  treasure,  in  the  name  of  friends  and 
brethren,  who  ever  since  they  were  blessed  and 
enriched  therewith  by  the  apostles  and  ambassa- 
dors of  Christ,  have  still  enjoyed  and  possessed 
the  same."  Morland,  p.  17. 

A  petition  presented  to  Philibert  Emanuel, 
duke  of  Savoy,  and  prince  of  Piemont,  by  the 
Waldenses,  in  1550,  contained  the  fo]tomnga»> 
sertion ' :  "  We  likewise  beseech  your  royal  high- 
ness to  consider,  that  this  religion  we  profess, 
is  not  only  ours,  nor  hath  it  been  invented  by 
men  of  late  years,  as  it  is  falsely  reported,  but 
it  is  the  religion  of  our  fathers,  grandfathers,  and 
great  grandfathers,  and  other  yet  more  ancient 
predecessors  of  ours,  and  of  the  blessed  martyrs, 
confessors,  prophets  and  apostles,  and  if  any  can 
prove  the  contrar)',  we  are  ready  to  subscribe,  and 
yield  thereunto."    Leger  relates  tliat  all  the  pe- 


i 


4 


Modaiul.  p.  23». 


waLiknsian  keseaxches.  43 

titioDS  and  addresses  (^  the  Vaodois  to  their  sore- 

Teigns,  from  the  earliest  times,  contained  a  sentence 

%o  the  same  effect,  stating  that  they  had  beai  in 

the  enjoj'TOent  of  the  liberty  of  conscience  "  da 

ogni  tempo,  da  tempo  inunemoriale,'  frtmi  time 

immemorial.     L^er,  b.  i.  p.  158. 

The  traditions  of  which  their  enemies  hare 
made  mention,  and  inscribed  npon  their  cootro* 
Tersial  pages,  or  public  deeds,  sre  quite  as  ex- 
press. 

Bernard  of  Clairvaux,  who  died  in  1 153,  speaks, 
b  his  65th  and  66th  Sennons  upon  the  Canticles, 
of  the'Nonconformists,  who  were  then  disturfotng 
the  Latin  Church.  He  confounds  separatists 
from  Rome,  and  perverters  of  scriptural  truth, 
under  the  common  chat^  of  heresy ;  but  in  one 
of  his  descriptions  he  seems  to  hare  had  his  eye 
open  the  Churches  of  Piemont,  while  he  mingles 
all  kinds  of  calumny  with  their  real  opinions. 

"  They  are  rustics,  and  laymen,  and  thoroughly 
contemptible.  What  heresy  has  not  its  heresi- 
arch  ?  The  Manichxans  had  Manes  for  their 
leader  and  instructor ;  the  Sabellians,  Sabellius ; 
the  .\riaDS,  Arius ;  the  Eunoraians,  Eunomius ; 
the  Nestorians,  Nestorius.  Thus  all  other  pests 
of  this  sort  are  known  to  have  had  each  its  own 
master,  from  whom  it  derives  its  origin  and  name. 
But  by  what  name  or  title  will  you  distinguish 
these  i  By  none,  since  they  did  not  receive  it  of 
men  (fancy  not  tliat  they  received  it  by  revelations 
2 


WALDENSrAN    RRSEARCItKH. 


from  Jesus  Christ)  but  rather,  aiirf  beyond  all  doubt, 
(as  the  Holy  Spirit  predicted)  by  tlie  instigation  and 
fraud  of  denls  speaking  lies  and  forbidding  to 
marry.'*  m 

"  I  am  aware  tbey  boast  that  they  and  they^ 
alone  are  the  body  of  Christ..    Tht-y  boast  that 
they  are  the  successors  of  the  Apostles,  and  call 
themst'lves  Apostolicals.*    Bernard,  Ser.  OG. 

This  is  exactly  wliat  the  AVaIdcn<u;s  have  al- 
ways said  of  themselves,  that  tbey  are  not  secta- 
rians— that  they  derive  their  faith  from  no  here- 
siarch — that  they  have  adhered  to  the  primitive 
doctrine,  in  regular  succession  from  the  Apostles. 
ApostoHcals  is  the  term  which  the  Prior  Rorenco 
applied  to  the  Waldenses,  the  innneraorial  natives 
of  the  valleys  of  Piemont. 

The  next  testimony  which  I  sliall  adduce,  is  that 
of  Ecbert,  a  writer  who  flourished  A.D.  1160,  and 
whose  evidence  corresponds  very  closely  with  that 
of  the  Waldenses  themselves,  which  I  have  inserted 
above,  "  that  they  were  known  to  very  few."  "  Be- 
hold, there  have  been  some  secluded  men,  per- 
verse, and  perverters,  wlio  during  many  ages,  have 
in  their  lurking  places  and  obscurities,  corrupted 
the  Christian  faith  of  simple  men  '.' 

Reinertis  the  inquisitor,  who  lived  a  century 
afterwards,  records,  "  These  (the  LeonisLs  or 
Waldenses — be  used  the  term  synonymously)  are 


4 


\ 


Bib.  pBlr.  torn.  13.  p.  898. 


WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHES.  45 

t^e  most  dangerous  of  all  heretics,  for  three  rea^ 
^bons :  First,  because  this  sect  is  of  the  longest 
duration,  for  some  say  that  it  has  continued  to 
Courish  since  the  time  of  Sylvester,  others  from 
'She  time  of  the  Apostles '." 

Sylvester  was  bishop  of  Rome  in  317,  and  this 
passage  in  Reinenis  singularly  corroborates  the 
authenticity  of  the  Nobia  Ley9on.  In  that  poem 
it  is  intimated,  that  the  disincUnation  of  the  Wal- 
denses  to  all  religious  communion  with  the 
Romish  Church  was  owing  to  corruptions,  which 
b^ian  under  Sylvester.  I  refer  to  the  passage 
b^inning  "  All  the  popes  which  have  been  from 
Sylvester  to  this  present  day,  &c." 

Later' polemical  writings  and  public  documents 
have  borne  witness  to  the  currency  of  the  same 
tnulition.  A  bull  of  Pope  Innocent  in  1487, 
anathematises  "  the  Waldenses  who  have  for  a 
ktigtk  of  time  endeavoured  in  Piemont  to  ensnare 
the  sheep  belonging  unto  God'." 
The  monk  BeUidere,  in  his  inquisitorial  reports, 


'  Bib.  Pair.  torn.  13.  p.  299. 

'  It  w  lintrular  thai  the  very  term  "jam  dudum,"  which  a 
pope  in  1487  applied  to  the  prevalence  of  non-conrormity  with 
Rome,  ID  Piemont,  had  been  prcvioualy  apphed  to  the  enigtence 
of  a  limilar  hereiy  in  Prance  by  pope  Alexander  the  3d.,  to  long 
back  as  1167,  in  the  council  of  Toura,  "  damnanda  hroreais 
<IBK  jam  dudum  emersit."  The  council  of  Lateral),  1179,  de- 
Monces  it  as  old,  deeply  rooted,  and  widely  extended. 


M 


WALDEKSIAN   HBSEARCHES. 


laments  that  "  these  heretics  have  been  found  at 
all  periods  of  history  in  the  valley  of  Angrogna'. 

Marcus  Aurelius  Korenco,  the  grand  prior  oi 
St  Roch,  when  he  was  commissioni-'d  to  nioke  en- 
quiries conccrniiif?  tht-m,  under  the  title  of  "  A 
Narrative  of  the  Introduction  of  Heresy  in  the 
Valleys  of  Piemont ',"  dehvered  in  a  return  which  f 
stated,  that  "  thtKio  Apostohcats  as  they  called 
themselves,  were  of  an  origin,  of  which  nothing 
certain  could  be  said,  furthemiore  than  that 
Claude  miglit  have  detached  tliem  from  the 
Church  in  the  eighth  ccntur}',  and  that  they  were 
not  a  new  sect  in  the  ninth  and  tenth  centuries." 
If  this  be  true,  what  becomes  of  the  theory,  that 
the  Paulician  emigrants  of  the  eleventh  century 
were  the  founders  of  the  ^\'aldensian  sect  ? 

Claude  Seys5el,(A.D.  1500,)  archbishop  of  Turin, 
spoke  of  Ihcni  as  "  the  Vaudois  sect,  which  origi- 
nated Hith  one  Leon,  a  devout  man  in  the  ttme  of 
Constantine  the  Great  *." 

Cassini,  an  Italian  priest,  testifies  that  he  found 
it  handed  domi,  that  "  the  Vaudois  were  as  an- 
cient as  the  Christian  Church '." 

Campian  the  Jesuit  collected,  that  "  they  were 
said  to  be  more  ancient  than  the  Roman  Church  K" 

Such  are  the  testimonies  which  the  friends  and 


I 


•  U^r.d.  j.p.  149. 
Ibid.  pp.  15.171. 


■  Ibid.  pp. 

■  lliid.  pp.  15.  171 


49. 169. 


IbNl.  pf.  1.5.  144.  173. 
tbid.  p.  15. 


WALPRNSIAN    RR9RARCHKS. 


4r 


sdrersaries  of  the  \\'a1denses  render  to  the  fact, 

it  vos  traditionally  held  among  them,  that 

"Ihcir  origin  was  coeval  with  the  first  introduction 

of  Christianity  in  the  valleys  of  Piemont.    "  And 

^B  it  not  extraordinary,"  as  the  hii^torian  Lcgcr 

"  that  it  has  never  once  happened,  that  any 

of  the  dukes  of  Savoy,  or  their  ministers,  should 

tve  offered  the  least  contradiction  to  the  pretcn- 

of  their  Vaudois  subjects  T    Again  and  again 

has  been  asserted  by  them,  '  We  are  descend- 

its  of  those,  who  from  father  to  son  have  pre- 

Bfvcd  entire  the  a)}ostolical  faith  in  the  valleys 

which  we  now  occupy.'    Their  pretensions  have 

been   passed   over  in  silence.     They  have  been 

Ijjiifiercd  to  repeat  their  deman<ls  from  reign  to 

cigu,  and  to  cany  them  to  the  feet  of  their  »ovc- 

: — '  Permit  us  to  enjoy  that  free  exercise  of 

our  religion  which  we  ha^e  exercised  from  dme 

out  of  mind,  and  before  the  dukes  of  Savoy  bc- 

ie  princes  of  Piemont.'     I  have  still  the  copy 

""of  B  remonstrance,  in   which   I  myself  inserted 

these   very   words,    *  Dinanzi  che   li    Uuchi  di 

iToya  fossero   l*rincipi   di    Piemont^,'   &c.  &c. 

end  which  the  President  Truchi,  the  ablest  man 

in  the  state,  has  endeavoured  to  answer  in  every 

[Dther  point  but  this ;  he   never  dared  to  touch 

upon  our  antiquity.     And  formerly,  in  the  year 

flSiO,"  Leger  continues,  "  when  Emanuel  Pliili- 

beit  was  told,  that  his  Waldcnsian   petitioners 

jvofessed  the  faith,  which  had  been  handed  down 


is 


WALUBNStAN   RESEARCHES. 


to  them  by  their  forefathers  from  the  time  of  the  i 
martyrs,  aiid  aitostles,  would  that  great  prmcoj 
and  his  court  have  enduR-d  to  be  so  told  by  these  i 
poor  people,  if  there  had  been  one  particle  of  J 
truth  to  be  discovered  to  the  contrary,  by  tliei 
ministL-rs  of  his  royal  liighness,  or  by  bis  eccle- 
siastics, or  if  any  of  them  could  have  maintained 
the  reverse,  and  shewn,  that  they  did  not  descend , 
from  father  to  son  from  the  times  of  the  martyrs, 
and  confessors,  and  holy  Apostles '  V 


SECTION  II. 


THB  SECOND  ARGUMKNT  IN  FAVOUR  OF  THE  AKTK 

OP    THB     WALDBNSIAN    CHURCH    RESTS    UPON    THE! 
SITUATION   OP  THE   COUNTRY. 

Tliere  is  an  Alpine  region  upon  the  frontiers  of ' 
France  and  Italy,  which  has  been  long  inhabited 
by  a  race  of  Christians,  who  have  persevered  in 
asserting,  from  age  to  age,  that  their  Church  has 
continued  the  same  at  all  periods  of  ecclesiastical 
history ;  that  it  has  never  acknowledged  the  ju- 
risdiction of  the  Roman  pontiff,  and  that  it  is  a 
pure  branch  of  the  ancient  primitive  Church :— sod 


'  Leger.  <t.  i.  p.  164. 


WALUF.NStAN    KKSBARCHES. 


ai 


who  have  reiterated  in  the  ears  of  their  princes  the 
i^lplhtablc  and  imrcbuttcHl  boast,  "  Our  religion 
i  the  religion  of  our  forefatherSj  dwelling  in  the 
tallcys  which  we  now  occupy,  before  you  and  your 
[dlfaftsty  were  establislicd  in  Piemont." 

Now  is  there  any  thing  in  the  situation  of  the 
[ulleys,  which  renders  it  probiible,  that  the  Gospel 
preached  there  at  an  early  jjeriod  !  They  lie 
within  the  direct,  the  nearest,  and  the  most  easy 
line  of  communication  between  those  Italian  and 
Gallic  provinces,  which  we  know  to  have  been 
christianized  in  the  second  century  at  the  latest. 
Tradition  says,  tliat  the  apostle  St.  Paul  went  Irom 
RoRK!  to  Spain  by  this  line  of  communication. 
Whether  he  did  or  not  will  most  probably  ever 
remaiu  on  open  question ;  but  this  is  certain,  that 
there  were  ver)-  frequent  journeys  made  by  tlie 
etrly  Christians  from  Home  and  Rtilan  ',  and  from 
the  dtics  which  lay  between  these  capitals  of  Italy, 
li)  Lyons,  and  to  the  South  of  France.  They  would 
oatunUly  take  the  most  practicable  and  frequented 
nod,  and  one  of  these  traversed,  or  skirted  the 
twiitory  of  the  Waldenses,  whose  ancestors  were 
therefore  likely  to  receive  a  knowledge  of  the  Gos- 


'  TVa*«IW»  ftam  Milan  would  purauo  their  mute  ihrongli 
Tmm,  tod  tiir  Ttl)ej«  or  Prrou  and  HrageU,  ■nd  ovm  Mount 
Otamn.  Thaut  (ran  Rome  w*mM  uIh  the  nine  roitnc,  or 
mi  0^  iIk  Ibritime  Alp*.  Tb«  Utter  woaU  oondncl  ibea 
I  Proftnee  ud  Danphinr,  wlicre  a  ImDi-li  of  the  Widilen- 
k  Cfcnrcli  Amifiditd  iilt  the  rri^  uf  Loua  X  [V, 

K 


so 


WALDENStAN    RESEARCHES. 


pel  from  wayfaring  believers,  who  travelled  by  the 
passes  in  the  immediate  vicinit)'  of  their  habita- 
tions; or  from  zealous  missionarics.who  would  turn 
out  of  their  way  to  preach  reclemption  to  the  more 
remote  and  secluded  mountaineers' .  . 

Another  probability  is  found  in  the  pen<ecution  1 
which  raged  under  Marcus  Aurelius  Astoninus, 
and  which  drove  many  of  the  Christian  fugitives  ■ 
fivm  Milan,  on  one  side,  and  from  Lyons  and 
Vienne  on  the  other,  to  the  Alpine  retreats,  which 
lay  at  a  nearly  equal  distance  from  those  scenes 
of  cruelty.  This  persecution  raged  most  6ercely 
in  the  year  168,  according  to  some ;  and  in  177 
or  179,  according  to  others. 

It  is  recorded  that  Irenaius,   who  was  after* 
wards  Bishop  of  Lyons,  was  despatched  to  Rome, 
from  Lyons,  while  he  was  yet  a  Presbyter,  to^ 
communicate  the  state  of  that  Gallic  Church  to  i 
the  brettiren  at  Rome '.    Irenieus  *  himself,  there- 
fore, a  disciple  of  Polycarp,  who  was  the  hearer  of 


■  "  Wc  know,"  say*  Neaii<l«r,  "  Trom  U»e  account  ot  Plby  to 
TVajan,  froca  the  notice  in  Clemens,  and  from  the  letations  in 
Justin,  that  in  many  neigh boutIioo«U  there  were  country  co«u> 
munilies  of  Clirmiana  very  earlir.  Origcn  saya  expresaly,  that 
many  mnde  n  point  of  going  through,  not  only  iIm  tom»,  bat 
h«  CHft«(  nil  iravXdc-  The  great  Dumber  of  Xi^nrmnrpt,  at 
partknUr  neighbourhoods,  also  prows  ihi*."  See  Rom's  rain- 
aUe  «'Otlc  on  Pro^ieiaiTe  Christianity,  p.  154. 

*  Eusebiiu.  5.  4. 

'  Jeroaie  call*  Imtsits,  "  Vir  Apostoliciu."     Baail  Bptilcs  «f 

him  as  u  lyy^  tmt  atv^raXmr  yintfitroc- 


1 
I 


i 


WilLt>EXSIAX    RESEARCnES. 

I  the  Apostle,  might  have  trodden  the 
n  paths  of  the  Vaudois,  in  his  journey  to 
the  metropolis  of  the  world,  and  might  have 
preached  that  a]H>stotic  fjiitli,  which  ahided  pure 
in  the  wilderness,  when  it  hecamc  corrupted  in 
cities.  There  is  a  temptation  to  fix  upon  this 
Father,  as  a  person  not  unlikely  to  have  hcen,  by 
himself  or  his  clergy,  the  first  herald  of  the  Gos- 
pel to  the  natives  of  our  subalpine  valleys,  which 
h  qmte  irresistihlc.  His  diocese  extended  to, 
tad  perhaps  comprised  the  chain  of  mountains, 
■mong  which  the  forefathers  of  the  Vaudois  dwelt '. 
His  sentiments  were,  in  a  peculiar  degree,  those 
which  the  \Valdenses,  on  either  side  of  the  Alps, 
tiBTD  pereevcriiigly  maintained.  This  ap]>ear8  in 
hifl  Of^iosition  to  all  doctrines  which  could  not  he 
supported  hy  Scripture,  and  which,  resting  as  he 
■aid.  (quotijig  I  Tim.  i.  4.)  upon  "  fables  and  end- 
leas  genealogies,  minister  questions,  rather  than 
godly  edifying'."  It  appears  in  his  opposition 
also  to  every  tradition,  wliich  could  not  be  dis- 
tinctly traced  to  the  Apostles ' ; — in  his  dccla^ 
ration  that  Scripture  alone  is  sufficiently  clear 
■nd  perfect  for  our  instruction  in  the  faith  * ; — 
in  his  accusations  against  those,  who  made  use 
of  bsBges  and  pictures  for  purposes  of  worship, 


'  Stt  Pifi.  CnitcB  llinor.  ChnMiol.  Sub  An.  3~4. 
'  ImBu  coam  H«r.  Pnrfatio.  lib.  i. 

*  tWd.  lilL  iii.  mp.  3. 

*  na.  Fng.  Eb.  ii.  cap.  47. 

i:2 


53 


WAL1>ENSIAN    HESEABCHES. 


and  who  invoked  angels  and  beatified  spirits ' ; 
—and  above  all,  in  bis  opinion,  that  the  Bishop 
of  one  Church  has  no  right  to  lord  it  over  other 
Churclies,  or  to  interrupt  the  harmony  of  the 
luiiversa!  body  of  Christ,  by  obstinate  attempts 
to  iiitrodiiCL-  unifiirmity  of  discipUnu '.  He  sbar|)ly 
reproved  Victor,  the  Roman  pontiff,  in  the  name 
of  his  brethren  of  Gaul ',  sa)^  Eusebius,  and  in  a 
^nodical  epistle,  for  disturbing  the  peace  of  the 
church  by  a  presumptuous  endeavour  to  settle  the 
paschal  controversy  by  his  authority  *. 


I 


'  Imuna  contra  Uatt.  Pnefulio,  lib.  i.  34  ;  and  Ub.  li.  57. 
)  Euscbiiu,  lib.  V.  24. 

*  Thirteen  Gallic  Bishops  were  present  at  tbe  Synod  hM  t^ 
IrcDKut.     Stt  Cave,  193. 

*  1'bc  TopcctTul  lettcn  which  were  occaiiODally  tddnned  by' 
Iremeui,  ami  other  proviiKiBl  prrlalea,  to  tb«  Bishopa  of  Rome, 
h»n  been  tmimphaDtl;  adduced  b;  Pepiils  w  so  ntoy  prooA 
of  KubmiMion  to  (be  PonUfical  cbur.  They  were  nothing  men 
than  what  might  be  expecled  toward*  midenta  at  tlie  metropolis 
of  theenipirc.  The  Icttcre  for  inrotina lion  and  couokI,  which 
the  Bishops  of  Durham  and  Wiochutcr  tomelimcs  write  to  the 
Bishop  of  LoDdOR,  might,  with  equal  pn^ety.  be  cited  a*  «vi* 
deDce  of  the  supremacy  of  the  Bt^op  of  London. 

The  questioo  of  Primacy,  whicb  the  Romau  Pootifla  auc- 
ceeded  in  making  a  question  of  Supremacy,  wa*  well  nodentood 
in  lh«  ciitly  limes  to  refer  to  notbmg  more  than  the  r«nk  or  Btn> 
tion  of  dimity,  not  the  power  of  jurisdiction,  which  was  asannwd 
upon  difiercot  occaaions;  and  this  depended  upon  tiM  rank  of 
episcopal  cities  in  the  scale  of  ndiions  and  pfovinocs.  Ileoce, 
wlten  it  was  referred  to  the  Counril  of  Turin  lu  397,  to  decide 
upon  the  primacy  lictwceu  the  Bisliop  of  Atles  and  Vienoe, 


I 


WALDENSIAN    RRSBARaiES. 

Not  wishing,  however,  to  push  that  part  of  my 
bfpothcsis  too  lar,  which  supposes  the  inhabitants 

'  the  valleys  to  have  been  christianized  in  the  time 
rf  Irena^is,  1  will  consent  to  give  their  conversi()n 
A  later  date,  and  to  assign  the  event  when  times 
wwe  more  Givourablc  to  the  extension  of  the  Gos- 
pel, and  when  communication  was  more  easy  and 
(rpquent  between  the  Christians  of  France  and 
Italy.  We  will  take  the  fourth  century-.  It  is 
qake  early  enough  for  our  purpose,  and  the  eventa 
of  tiiis  ar&  are  in  supjMrt  of  the  argument,  which 
rests  upon  tlie  situation  of  tho  Valleys  of  Pie- 
noDt 

Id  the  fourth  century  flourished  Hilary,  the 
Gallic  Bishop  of  Poitiers,  and  Ambrose,  the  Italian 
Bishop  of  Milan,  hotli  eminent  men,  who  are 
known  to  have  made  repeated  journeys,  the  one 
horn  Gaul  to  Italy,  and  the  other  from  Italy  to 
GauL 

The  Council  of  Aries,  in  the  year  31i,  brought 


I  fw>  tkoc     Let  him  take  tba  rank  wboM  city  n  Iht 

— unpalw  of  the  pnniiiM,    "  Qui  «x  tu  odprobBveiit  kinm 

we  mdrapoliin.  is  toliui  provincis  honoiTen  pranatui 

Sec  SiMDondi  Galliv  Concilia,  torn.  i.  p.  28. 

TIm  pnDMcy  of  the  Biilxip  a(  Rome  aro*e  fiom  hii  contnexion 

«teh  Ihe  c^lal  of  tlio  rmpirc,  aad  it  «u  willingly  and  quietly 

(OMcBrfed.     WhM)  ihe  ual  of  CRipire  traa  XnnttanA  to  Coo- 

ttaslinaple,  llte  Bi*liop«  o(  Rome  and  Couttantioople  urere  de- 

daid  lo  bo  eqnaj ;  and  toon  ancrraTdA  began  ibe  conlrovanie* 

aatopiiorilj  ti)  nnk,  whicb  andol  in  ((uiiu»unipiionofHpnnRt 

fmMakm,  wiiidi  liaa  divided  CdriatMiduni. 


M 


WALDEKSIAN    RESEAftCRBS. 


Bishops  and  Priests  across  the  Alps,  firom  Cisalpine 
Gaul  aiid  Italy  to  the  banks  of  the  Rhone.  The 
Councils  of  Milan,  in  34ti  and  351,  invited  the 
Gallic  cler^'  to  traverse  the  mountain  passes  from 
Aries,  Embrun,  Vienne,  and  Lyous,  and  the  inter- 
mediate  neighbourhood.  ^ 

In  379  a  Council  was  held  ut  Aquileia,  in  the 
north  of  Italy,  at  which  ecclesiastical  delegates, 
of  different  orders,  attended  from  Lyons,  Grenoble, 
Orange,  Marsdlles,  and  Nice '.  And  in  397  a 
Council  was  convoked  at  Turin,  at  the  request  of 
the  Gallic  Bishops,  to  decide  some  questions  con- 
cerning the  Churches  of  Vienne,  Aries,  Marseilles, 
and  other  Churches  of  the  five  Provinces  west  of 
the  Alps*. 

Here  we  have  mention  of  direct  intercourse  be- 
tween the  Cler^'  uf  France  and  Italy.      How 
many  uf  these  may  have  been  moved  by  the  Hpiritf 
of  proselylism,  to  preach  Christ  wherever  they 
went! 

That  the  path  of  some  of  them  led  immediately 
through  part  of  the  Vaudois  district  there  can  be  no 
doubt.  The  Council  of  Turin  at  least  must  have 
invit(-tl  many  to  choose  that  route.  "  This  road," 
said  a  writer  of  the  foiutli  century  *,  when  speak- 
ing of  that  which  conducted  over  Mount  Genevre, , 
or  the  Cottian  Alps,  "  is  the  central,  the  most  i 


Flcurf,  Lir.  i8. 

See  Stunondi  GnllisB  Concilia,  tom. 

Anunian.  Maicd.  lib.  xv. 


27. 


WALPENSIAN    RKSEARCHBS. 


» 


imodious,  aud  the  most  ct-lebratcd  of  all  the 
that  lead  out  of  Gaul  into  Italy." 
Seeing  then  that  there  are  traces  enough   of 
frequent   communication   hetween  the  Christian 
inhabitants  of  the  countries  cast  and  west  of  the 
AJps,  in  the  fourth  century,  let  us  further  examine 
the  probahility  that  their  course  did  actually  ap- 
proach the  region  of  our  enquirj*.     We  will  fix, 
tor   example,    upon    the   ecclesiastical   delegates 
who  were  to  find  their  way  from  Lyons',  Vienne, 
Grenoble,   Orange,  Aries,  Marseilles,  and  Nice, 
to  Turin,  Milan,  or  Aquileia,  and  take  Gap  as  a 
meui  point  between  these  cities.     Gap  is  nearly 
tquidistaQt  from  I^yons,  the  most  northern,  and 
from  Marseilles  and  Nice,  the  most  southern  of 
the    group.     We  will   suppose  a  straight  line  to 
drawn  on  the  Map,  Irom  Gap  to  Milan,  through 
which  it  was  necessary  to  pass  on  the  route  to 
kquileia.     Tliis  iniaf^nary  line  will  be  found  to 
directly  over  the   Cottian  Alps,  through  the 
mlleys  of  Piemont  and  Turin,  to  Milan.    And  not 
ily  so,  but  it  will  be  found  to  intersect,  at  dif- 
ent  points,  the  real  line  of  communication,  or 


TlMn  WM  aaoUwr  ami  >  nearer  tomi  rrom  Ljron  to  Milan 

lltt  Oniui  Alps,  01  Utile  Si.  Beraaril,  and  by  the  Val 

4'Aortc ;  bat,  aoconiing  to  Ammianui  Marcellinu,  llib  doe*  txn 

I  to  have  been  m  generally  itud,  at  tlic  period  ander  dncns- 

,  M  tkM  orer  tks  Couian  Alp*. — "  Media,  compoDdiaria, 

iBC  cilebrii,"  is  ibc  otMemtion  of  that  author,  lib.  xv. 


M 


WALDBKSUN    RESEARCHES. 


great  Roman  road ',  which  extended  from  Milan 
across  Mount  Gcncvrc,  the  Cottian  Alps,  to  Gap ', 
the  ancient  Vapincum,  and  wtuch  then  branched 
off  into  other  military  roads,  towards  the  north, 
to  Vicnne  and  Lyons,  and  towards  the  south,  to 
Aries  and  Marseilles. 

In  the  Itinerary  of  Antonine  most  of  the  dis- 
tances from  Italy  to  the  Gauls  are  measured  from 
Milan  (Mediolanum) ;  and  Bergicr,  in  his  learned 
and  invaluable  History  of  the  Great  Roads  of  the 
Roman  Empire,  devotes  much  of  his  attention  to 
that  road  nhich  crossed  the  Cottian  Alps,  as  the 
grand  (utvcd  way,  which  funned  the  line  of  commu- 
nication between  Italy,  the  Gauls,  Spain,  and 
Britain  *. 

Some  of  the  measurements  in  Roman  miles,  of 
which  Berber  makes  express  mention,  will  not  be 

'  Set  the  uDnexed  diagrnm. 

*  Oap  it  tiill  ibc  point  of  juDCtion  when  muiy  excctlcnt  mo- 
detn  roads  meet,  and  from  i>benc«  traveUers  from  Spain  and  the 
South  of  Prauce  ptocoed,  who  deiire  to  take  adrantage  of  the 
noble  rod,  which  Kopolcon  made  onr  the  Atpa  into  Ita^  by 
Brian^on,  the  Moant  Generre,  the  Cot  Scstrierc,  PcncstrrJIes, 
and  Turin.  The  Sardinian  Gorerament  liaa  suiTcred  it  to  fall 
into  dtlapidaticD  o«i  the  Itnliau  tide,  and  it  has  there  become  m> 
conTcnicnt  forcank^cf,  but  pcnooi  on  honebAic^  would  find  it 
a  much  nrarcf  aikd  more  pictamquc  route  from  Lyons  and  Gnt- 
noUe,  to  fiill  into  tfab  io«d  at  Drian^oa,  and  to  go  by  Mount 
GenevTv  to  Turin,  than  by  Mount  Ceob. 

*  Uergier,  Hii.d«t  Or.  Chrmiiude  rBinpircRoantn,  lib.  iii. 
c  31.  34.  36. 


v*;-tu-f 


.*-" 


.f 


i. 
'I 

■  v 


& 


^^^ 


VALDEN8UN   BESBABCHB8.  57 

^liou^t  out  of  place  in  this  part  of  my  discussion, 
mDasoiuch  as  they  will  shew,  that  Christian  messen- 
gers, pilgrims,  or  missionaries,  making  journeys 
firom  Italy  to  France,  Spain,  or  Britfun,  would  be 
brought  into  communication  with  the  men  of  the 
"valleys,  by  means  of  the  principal  and  central  pass 
in  Gaul,  which  certainly  skirted  their  territory,  if 
h  did  not  intersect  it. 

From  Milan  to  Aries  (Arelate)  by  the  Cottiau 

Alps,  Mount  Genevre      .     .     .    .     h.  p.    411 

From  Milan  to  Gap  >  (Vapincum)  by  ditto  .     255 

>  Fram  HiUn  to  Gap,  Bccording  to  tbe  Itinerary  of  Aato- 


Froai  Milan  to  Ticinum  (Pavia) h.  r.  22 

To  Laumellam       .     .    (Lomello) SS 

To  Rigomagui       .     .    (Tiino) M.  p.     36 

Quadrats     ....     (Creacentino) 16 

Taurini (Turin) 31 

Ad  Finea     .     .     .    .    (  ) 16 

Scguaio (Suia) 24 

Ad  Mania    .     .     .     .    (  ) 16 

After  Ad  Martis  the  Charta  Peutingeriana  placea 

Gadaone  (Cesane) m.  p.     8 

BrigaDtia(Brianqon) 6 

DriganUa     ....    (Briaa^on) 18 

Rama (  ) 18 

Embrodanufn    .     .     .     (Embrun) 17 

Caturigea     ....    (Chorgea) 16 

Vapincum     ....     (Gap) 12 

Thii  Itinerary  brin^  the  Cottian  road  through  the  valley  of 
tbe  Dora,  and  no  to  Siisa ;  in  which  caK  it  would  have  skirted 
tbe  valleys  only  ;   and  travellers  out  of  Gaul,  on  reaching  Ce- 


I 


58  WALDENSTAK   RBSEABCHBS. 

From  Milan  to  Vicnne,  by  the  Cottian  Alps 
aiul  Gap 409 

From  Milan  to  Leon  (Le^one)  in  Spain,  by 
Cottian  Alps,  Gap,  and  Aries     ....  1330 

From  Milan  to  Boulogne  (Gessoriacus,  or 
the  Ictius  of  Julius  Caesar)  and  the  Bri- 
tish Coast,  by  the  Cottian  Alps,  Gap,  and 
Vienne 914 

Thiis  not  only  did  a  practicable  pass,  as  early 
as  the  fourth  century,  carrj'  wayforiug ',  or  pro- 

aoc.  or  G>dM)oe,  would  have  tiiroed  to  the  left  at  Cesane  to- 
wards Suu,  initcad  of  cniwing  ihe  Col  S««tnere,  which  would 
Uave  ukcn  tUem  ilirou|>fa  the  valleja  of  Pra^la  and  Perosa. 
It  u  dU&cuU  to  nj  wli»t  are  lite  names  by  whkb  Finb,  and  Ad 
Uinia,  are  now  known.  If  w«coalil  bctieve  Ad  Marti*  lobe 
Ad  Mania  Oc«1uiu,  or  Orclum,  and  Ocelani  to  be  the  UaMSBz, 
near  Feue«Ui;tle«,  by  which  D'Anville  *  coutends  that  ChMT 
made  ha  inarch  towards  Mount  Geoevre,  we  should  then  ban 
lo  lc*d  ■  ridgo  ot  the  CoL  SMtrierc,  befofc  ««  «ouU  brinp  an 
anii^  coDveniently  bya  route,  which  (bouM  embrace  Fen«U(dle 
and  Susa.  But  Cnsar  might  advaoce  towards  the  Alps  by 
Ihe  valley  of  Pragda,  aod  the  Cottian  road,  so  called,  which  was 
made  Jifteiwitni*,  in%ht  take  ttnother  dirertion.  "ntii,  howercr, 
is  cvrtain,  thai  Cecanc,  or  Gadaono,  through  which  Uic  great 
Roman  road  undoubtedly  ran,  it  withto  one  day's  journey  of  anj 
pBK  of  the  nlleys  of  our  research.  I  have  myself  walked  to 
Ftocttrelle  bom  Cesane  in  aevea  hours. 

'  In  pasting  over  laouiiUiinous  and  difficult  countries,  whoe 
InTellefs  deviate  occaaionally  from  tbc  morv  frequented  roads, 
aod  take  to  the  foot-peths,  the  neeesaity  of  employing  guidca 
presents  another  cbauoel  of  convernon.     The  eairly  Cbristiiiis 

"  9m  D'AmiUt'*  DnantidMH  jk  33. 


VrAlJtEKSIAN   SBSBARCHK9. 

aeiyting  Christians,  who  were  on  thtnr  road  to  and 
frma  the  western  Churches,  to  the  immediate 
Tridniiy  of  the  ancestors  of  the  Vaudois ;  but  that 
Tery  route  which  was  the  most  commodious,  and 
the  most  freijuentcd  by  travellers,  who  had  occasion 
to  cross  the  barriers  of  Gaut,  intersected  or  touched 
i^n  their  countr}'.  We  cannot  mistake  t)ic  track, 
or  its  lines  of  communication.  In  one  place, 
Bergier,  who  is  the  ver}'  best  authority  upon  the 
Aocient  Roman  Roads,  calls  the  paved  way,  which 
traversed  mount  Genevre,  "  the  roost  admirable 
of  all  the  roads  that  connected  Gaul  and  Italy," 
because  it  extended  almost  diametrically  from 
Uifaui  to  the  sea  at  Boulogne,  (Lib.  3.  c.  36.)  to 
the  length  of  01  i  miles,  and  because  it  distributed 
its  branches  towards  all  (he  regions  in  subjection 
Id  the  cuipire,  to  Sp^ ',  Britain,  &c.     In  another 

|Ngplg«lBd  di«  Oospnl  a*  di«y  mmt  from  place  to  placr,  hy 
■MUoflhciTcondiKltin,  tritli  wbom  tbcyconTrntcittiytbemy. 
*  Then  era  many  reasons  to  bclion  ibat  »omc  intrfrouree 
iMk  place  iKlvtcD  ike  rally  Spanish  and  WaMenoan  Cliurdiec. 
TW  Paton  uf  tlie  i^leys,  tlve  Frovcn^il  faa^wgt,  nn<l  the 
Kpanitlt  lugua^  beu  &  mron;:  afiiniiy.  The  aacicDl  Vaudoia 
IraiiMs  were  «rrilt«i  in  theoM  Qolhtc  chanKtcr.aildaneof  ib«in 
%utca  ibe  Spaauh  B»hop  Isulon:.  Few  itiHties  would  Uinw 
OMK  Uffn  upon  ibe  (^Tadaal  eitiocUon  of  tlie  primitire  CIiutcIws 
m  Eompe,  by  the  pop^  tfaati  the  ttady  of  Sponbli  IliMory, 
Tbe  ariifion  wliich  were  aaod  lo  implant  Romuiiiiii  in  Spain 
■uuld  be  utiainf,  if  Ibe  accoania  were  not  iotemugled  with 
■MM  uT  the  most  hotrible  details  in  all  history.  In  l(Ki2, 
Hnnnahw,  Iting  of  Armgon,  wm  imtucnl  lo  inke  an  oath,  and 
U>  faind  hinacU'utd  kiscuctreuora,  to  tbc  inunMsof  tba  Rmniah 


GO 


WALDENSUK    RESRARCHRS. 


place,  he  speaks  of  the  original  projector  of  that 
part  of  it,  which  traversed  the  mountain  ridge, 
as  having  done  a  sennce  to  the  world,  by  the 
utility,  expencc  and  skill  of  an  undertaking,  which 
opened  a  passage  across  the  ^Vlps,  and  became 
more  commodious,  and  occupied  less  time,  than 
any  other,  (Lib.  3.  c.  31.) 

lie  takes  care  also  to  enable  us  to  identify  it 
by  ascribing  its  commencement  to  "  Cottius, 
prince  of  the  region  which  is  now  known  under  the 
name  of  Piemont,"  and  by  placing  it  on  the  ctiain 
of  mountains,  which  lies  between  the  Maritime  and 
Graian  Alps ;  and  he  describes  it  as  having  been 
constructed  with  vast  piers,  paved  with  stones 
b«st  adapted  for  the  purpose,  and  Hnished  with  all 


dcrgy,  by  Dialed ictioos  to  this  effccL  "  Whotoerec  of  tboce 
who  Bball  come  aOer  me  shall  violate  thi«  regal  and  pnatifical 
decree,  may  Almi^ty  Ood  de])rir«  tbem  or  their  crown  ia 
iliit  wocUl,  and  in  tbu  workl  to  come,  may  they,  in  company  with 
Dstbon,  Abiniin,  and  Judas  the  iraitor.  be  consigned  to  ibe 
lowest  hell,  and  there  suffer  ll>e  paina  of  etemai  &re  for  erer  and 
ever."  The  penalties  of  this  malediction  were  to  be  incurred  if 
the  It  ings  of  Amkj^on  should  •uHci'  any  but  monks  of  the  monat* 
Icty  of  St.  John  to  be  elected  bishop*  of  Amgon  1 !  I  Concil.  Leb. 
9.  p.  1174. 

,  Lebbceni  says,  that  Hugo,  the  pope's  legate,  wcceeded  m  ob- 
:  a  repeal  of  the  andeol  laws  of  Catatonia,  in  1064 ;  bat 
COnU  nut  prcrail  upon  the  Catalans  to  nlioliih  the  use  of  the 
Gothic  Liturgy.  Concil.  9.  p.  1 180.  Mariana,  on  the  contrary, 
Uitt  lib.  9,  relates  tl»t  Ihi*  legale  was  mote  fbclunate  in  the 
yi»T  IOCS,  and  liul  the  Gothic  service  was  then  Mipcncded  by 
ihe  Romish  rites. 


WALDENSIAN    RESBARCIIBS. 


tfl 


lat  regard  to  the  choice  of  materials ',  and  the 
form  of  arran^ng  them,  which  distingtiished  the 
noblest  Iloman  enterprises  of  the  same  kind,  (ibid. 
^C  19.  31.) 

Having  thus  shewn,  that  the  country  of  the 
AVatdenses  lay  in  the  direct  ]>ath  of  many  ufthose 
I  messengers  of  the  Gospel,  who,  at  early  periods, 
were  journeying  *to  and  fro  among  the  Churches  of 
the  Weot,  and  might  therefore  have  received  the 
Gos]>el  in  its  apostohcal  purity,  1  will  now  adduce 
some  local  arguments  of  another  kind  in  support 
of  the  tradition,  that  the  primitive  faith  has  been 
handed  down  from  father  to  son,  in  the  valleys  of 
I^emont,  in  the  simphcity  with  which  it  was  fir:st 
embraced. 

If  the  cross  was  planted  among  our  Subalpines  in 
either  of  the  four  first  centuries,  here,  if  any  where, 
u  it  was  originally  set  up,  so  it  was  Ukely  to  rc- 
min.  To  the  refinements  of  the  great  capitals, 
in  the  eastern  and  western  empire,  and  to  the  in- 
elioation  of  the  carnal  mind  for  the  gorgeous  and 
attractive  ceremonies  of  pagan  worship,  to  the 
philosophy  of  the  Greeks,  to  the  subtle  disqui- 
■itions  of  the  schoolmen,  and  the  angry  conflicts 


'  For  Dcfgier's  dcKription  of  raaunati  aod  mode  of  conAnic- 
lion,  used  byUie  RvmBn*,  tee  Lib.3.de  I'Hul.  dmOr.  CberaiBS. 

■  puaagii  ind  Puat^oi,  or  the  inbabilaoU  of  ibe  pnaet, 
fimn  Ike  Latin  word  pMNcinn,  i»  ono  of  tba  t»mm  gi*rn  by 
•abeni  ■albora  to  ihe  WsldoHn.  See  GloMwium  Medho  Latini* 
Uli»— «itb  mbo  patio'/iuin.     llcr,  Iruuilo*,  vulgo  ponafe. 


TfALDEXiTIAN    RfSEAItCIIES. 


i 


of  contToveisialists,  to  the  influence  of  the  im- 
perial court  over  the  minds  of  some  of  the  Christ- 
ian prelates,  to  the  ambition  of  others  of  the 
priesthood,  and  to  their  introduction  of  splendid 
and  pompous  rites,  may  be  attributed  the  gradual 
departure  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  Churches  from 
the  purity  of  the  apostolical  institutions.  In  a 
secluded  region,  however,  amidst  a  poor  and 
thinly  scattered  population,  whose  means  are 
limited,  and  where  ]>as-toral  tastes  and  manners  are 
the  very  reverse  of  the  inhabitants  of  plains  and 
cities,  there  are  few  opportunities  of  bringing  these  \ 
corrupting  influences  in  conflict  with  the  simplicity 
of  the  Gospel.  The  objects  of  our  research,  let 
it  be  remembered,  arc  not  only  mountaineers,  but 
borderers,  and,  occupying  a  position  on  the  great 
barrier  bet^veen  France  and  Italy,  have  continued 
to  dwell  verj-  much  apart  from  the  interests,  habits,  f 
and  customs  of  either  country.  Much  that  we 
gather  fixim  the  niitings  of  the  ancient  authors, 
goes  to  shew,  that  the  Christians  of  the  hill  coun- 
tries adhered  to  their  primitive  creed  and  discipline, 
long  after  the  in-dwellers  of  towns  and  cities  had 
consented  to  innovations.  Ambrose  of  Milan,  who 
was  a  great  advocate  for  sacerdotal  celibacy,  ob- 
ed,  in  one  of  his  discourses,  when  he  was 
ressing  this  point,  that  he  was  the  more  urgent 
upon  it,  because  it  had  not  escajied  his  notice,  that 
"  in  some  of  the  more  retired  places,  the  clergy 
continued  to  marry  and  to  have  children,  and 


1 


WALDENSIAN   RESKARCHRS. 


63 


stifled  their  conduct  u|>on  the  plea  of  ancient 

Hutom '." 

Hilary,  of  Poitiers,  made  it  a  matter  of  bitter 

itation,  that  the  inhabitant!)  of  citii-H  should 

led  astray  by  the  cttptivatiou  of  outward  objects* 

and  that  there  should  be  no  security  against  it, 

but  in  remote  and  secUtded  spots,  "  I  caution  you, 

beware  of  antichrist.     The  pernicious  love  of  walls 

has   seduced   you:   you  profanely   venerate  th« 

Church  of  God  as  if  it  consisted  of  constructions 

'  aod  edifices,  and  here  you  expect  to  lind  yoiu*  peace. 

Can  it  be  doubted  that  this  will  he  the  strong  hold 

of  antichrist !  To  roe  mountains,  and  forests,  and 

I  hkes,  and  carerrts,  and  guifd,  are  lar  more  safe  : 

'for  in  these  the  prophets,  either  dwelling  among 

'  them,  or  condemned  to  them,  prophesied  in  the 

Spirit  of  God'.- 

Gretser,  the  editor  of  Reiner's  work,  "  Contra 

'  Hercticos,"  is  loud  against  Du  I'lessis,  for  asserting 

in  his  work,  on  the  Mystery  of  Iniquity,  Uist  the 

i  parity  and  simplicity  of  the  ('liristiun  doctrine  were 

tfieserved  among  tlic  defiles  of  the  Appenincs,  the 

fPyrence*  and  the  Alps,  when  they  were  no  longer 

to  be  found  in  the  modem  Babylon  and  its  depen- 

Gretser  will  not  allow  that  mountains 

[md  vaUcya  present  a  soil  favourable  for  the  cul- 

tiration  of  the  Gospel'.     Reiner,  himself,   how- 

'  Ambtm.  df  Oflicii*.  lib.  I .  c.  50. 

*  MtlH-.  LHm  nmira  AnxeBtiiim,  a.  13. 

*  BBl  Pau.  Toai.  13.  i>rol(«.  cap.  8,  p.  396. 


64 


ffALPRKStAN    RRSCARCHRS. 


i 


ever,  by  the  very  arguments  which  he  uses  to  con- 
finn  his  own  case,  and  to  uphold  the  glorious 
character  of  the  Church  of  Rome,  strengthens  our 
position.  "  Observe,"  said  he,  **  that  second 
mark  of  the  true  Church,  the  splendour  of  it»  divine 
services  in  the  ornaments  about  the  sanctuaries, 
in  the  vestments  of  the  clergy,  in  the  sacred  vessels, 
in  the  music,  in  the  lights,  and  festivals ;  all  these 
the  heretics  reject  '.*'  I 

It  was  for  the  sake  of  these,  that  an  ambitious  ' 
and  vaiu-glorious  clergy  introduced  so  many  ab- 
surd and  unscriptural  usages  into  the  Latin 
Church.  The  Churches  of  the  Alps  not  having  I 
tlic  means  of  gratifying  ambition  and  vanity,  were 
less  over-run  by  the  promoters  of  pontifical 
pomp,  and  less  overlaid  with  religious  superfe- 
tations,  with  the  trumpery  and  "  furniture  of 
paganism*."  In  fact,  it  would  seem,  from  the 
omission  of  all  mention  of  these  valleys  of  Pie- 
mont,  in  some  of  the  diocesan  divisions,  and 
surveys,  which  are  preserved  in  ecclesiastical 
records,  that  there  was  a  period,  when  they  en- 


'  Rcimrai  Contra  Hivreuco*.  cap>.  1.  Bib.  Patr.  toon.  13. 

*  "  His  obacura  and  bumble  dwelling,  remote  from  Uie  9catai 
of  pomp  and  ambition."  Mr.  Shanoi  Turatr  raenlioos  dii* 
anMag  the  cause*  which  produced  a  refoniwr  in  the  Eati,  and 
led  to  ih«  teronnalion  in  ibe  Vi'at.  It  u  to  the  obacvnty  of  the 
Waldmirt,  uiul  thtii  mnotencM  from  iKtroox  of  pomp  and  am- 
bilion,  that,  under  G<xl,  we  are  jnctmfd  to  atinbute  their  long 
prearrralion  of  Gospel  timplicity. 


V\U)BK8IAN    HESBARCIIEI., 


lirely  escaped  the  notice  of  the  Papal  see '.  In 
the  dissertation  of  Pctnis  de  Marca,  on  the 
pnmacy  of  Lyons,  and  other  primacies,  the  pro- 
vince  of  tht;  Cottian  Alps  is  not  allotted  to  any 
tUoceae  whatever,  although  ever)-  other  region  in 
Gaul  and  Italy  ts  assigned  to  a  metropolitan  see. 
Lab.  Con.  10.  537—547. 

In  progress  of  time,  when  universal  conformity 
became  the  grand  object  of  the  Bishops  of  Rome, 
ud  they  endeavoured  to  force  their  corruptions 
upoa  the  little  flocks  that  desired  to  remain  inde* 
pendent  of  them,  the  strong  holds  and  inaccessible 
wOds  of  the  valleys  of  Piemont  presented  a  secure 
Rtnat  &om  the  arm  of  violence.  Even  the  power 
nf  ondtnit  Rome,  with  Cicsor  at  the  head  of  the 
Lcyonortcs,  could  not  capture  a  prince  of  this 
ooBDtry,  vihen,  relying  upon  the  intricacy  of  its 
fiBOtt  and  the  impervious  nature  of  its  hiding- 
^H|K0e,  be  chose  to  take  up  his  retreat  amidst  rocks 
md  BDOWs,  and  there  to  maintain  his  indcpen- 


■  "  In  ihf  middle  agw,  u  (he  bisbopriclu  of  riemoot  were 
b  JfauH  Malta,  none  of  which  suffered  (he  incuinbcnU  (o 
OBBM  Knponl  dotninion,  excqit  in  partiiuUr  oues  oa  ihcir 
■>■  Iari«ht|a,  and  nol  always  xh^rv,  it  if  cny  lo  infer  that  *fi»- 
opacj  iu  Piamuui  wa»  DM  DMtOTially  injarioin  to  tii*  UiertiM 
of  the  paBpl«."     HolnoKw's  Ecclesiattical  ReiekrcbeB,  p.  4A3. 

'  **  CoUiu*  Kilaa  in  u^uttiti  lucnt,  inviaqtie  loconim  a*pe> 
MH«  gi»6mu."     Ammmn.  Mnrcell.  Ub.   15.     "  Soldi:"  Uiia 
fonl  ia|ilica,  iluu  «ti«n  othri  diicA  were  rontfpmti,  Couiot 
I  mSetj  in  the  Mroo;;  hotda  o(  ilic  nllcyi. 
P 


66 


WALDENStAN    RRSRARCRKS. 


During  my  late  visit  to  this  territory,  holy  to  the] 
Protestant,   as   Palestine  to   tlie  descendants 
Abraham,  1  have  often  enjoyed  a  "  Pisgah  view 
of  the  crags  and  forests,  which,  like  so  many  cities! 
of  refuge,  served  as  sure  places  of  safety  for  Vau-I 
dots  fugitives :  but  with  this  difference,  wHei 
the  Israelitish  cities  of  reluge  were  for  the  man>] 
slayer,  these  have  been  for  such  as  fled  from  the 
shctlders  of  human  blood.     The  local  advantages 
aHbrdod  in  these  valleys  to  a  religious  community, 
that  may  have  reason  to  dread  the  assaults  of  an 
enemy,  constitute,  in  the  literal  sense  of  llie  word 
"  an  asylum"    fortified  by  the  God  of  nature.  S 
Whether  the  eye   of  the  traveller  looks  down 
from  Castelluzzo.  Vachera,  or  Galmont,  from  the^ 
Col   de  la  Croix,  or  from   that   of  St.  Julicn  \M 
it  rests  in  every   direction  upon  glens,  through 
which  it  would   be  madness  for  a  stranger  toB 
hope  to  6nd  his  way.     The  entrance  to  each  of 
these  is  commanded   by   some    mountain    ridges 
or  projecting  points,  where  watchmen  might  give 
timely  notice  of  the  pursuer's  approach ;  and  the 
signal  for  flight  would   be   followed   by  escape 
through  one  or  other  of  a  multitude  of  tracks ;  thoH 
very  number  of  which  woidd  of  itself  be  perplexuig. 
By  one  the  ftigitive  would  wind  bis  way  throngh  a 


'  All  amhore  tgnx  in  opinioii,  that  Julius  CcFsar,  in  his  ini 
tkm  of  Gaul,  crom«l  the  Alps  betweeu  Mount  Ceitia  and  '. 
Vbo.     May  not  the  Onl  St.  Jalien  of  ibe  VaiKloa  ha*e 
ib  name  from  the  Itomnn  ^ncnl  ? 


VALDEXSIAN    RBSBtRCRRS. 


67 


libyrintli  of  patha ;  by  a  second  he  would  pene- 
trate into  the  darkness  and  complexities  of  a  forest, 
where  rocky  beds  of  torrents,  caverns  of  unknown 
depth,  thick  foliage,  intertwining  branches,  and 
boilow  trunks  of  aged  trees,  would  defy  any  thing 
short  of  a  numerous  force  to  make  effectual  search, 
more  especially  in  former  times,  before  tlicsc  val- 
leys were  thinned  of  their  natural  sylvan  produc- 
tna,  to  make  way  for  the  grain  or  plantations  of 
man.  By  a  third  he  would  tly  to  muuntain  tops, 
vhere  frequent  clouds  and  mists  would  sliroud 
liim  irom  the  intruder's  eye.  By  a  fourth  he  would 
tfeed  his  way  along  ttic  banks  of  precipices,  which 
would  turn  any  bead,  but  a  mountaineer's,  dizzy 
irith  ai&ight ;  and  where  no  foot,  but  one  sure  as 
that  of  the  chamois,  could  be  planted  with  safety. 
At  the  very  time  of  my  \-ifiit  to  these  p^rts,  two 
men,  who  were  pursued  by  carbineers,  despatched 
in  c]tie8t  of  them  by  the  government,  defied  all 
atatnpta  to  apprehend  them ;  and  the  year  before 
Biy -arrival,  a  wretched  woman,  the  victim  of  op 
pvesion.  Hal  from  h(.T  persecutors  with  an  infant 
dnld  at  her  breast,  and  remained  for  many  weeka 
tmdiaeovered,  although  the  search  was  closely  con- 
taned  by  the  authorities  of  tlic  districL  Thus, 
even  in  these  present  times,  now  that  the  country 
haa  been  well  explored,  and  is  better  known,  it 
mmld  be  rashness  to  assail  the  population,  were  it 
delernuncd  to  resist  aggression,  without  a  force 

v2 


G8 


WALUBNStAN    RESRAncilES. 


]arge  enough  to  invest  the  whole  territory,  and  to 
thread  every  cleft  and  brake.  What  then  must  it 
have  been  when  none  but  the  main  ]msscs  were 
familiar  to  any  but  the  natives  t  The  resources 
for  the  subsistence  of  life  are  as  abundant  as  the 
hiding-places.  In  summer,  strawberries,  and  other 
wihl  fruits,  and  in  autumn  the  providential  chcsnut 
supply  food  to  the  band  that  seeks  it.  Id  the  winter 
or  spring  who  would  encounter  the  perils  of  chasing 
a  native,  whose  kiiowte<lge  of  tlic  snows  and  tor- 
rents would  enable  him  to  lead  liis  pursuer  tocertain 
destruction  ?  The  astonishing  presen-ation  of  the 
Vaudois,  during  a  series  of  thirty-seven  persecu-  V 
tions,  sufficiently  attests  the  inaccessibiUty  of  these 
glens. 

Every  mountain  country  of  the  same  descrip* 
tton  is  equally  formidable  to  pursuers,  and  fa- 
vourable to  the  pursued.  There  is  a  branch  of  the 
Waldensian  Cliurch  yet  existing  on  the  French 
side  of  the  Alps  in  Val  Frassini^,  which  baffled 
all  the  attempts  of  the  government  under  Louis 
XIV.  and  Louis  XV.  to  reduce  it  to  conformity. 
In  the  few  months,  which  are  not  winter,  the  royal 
troops  ravaged  the  main  \illage  and  hamlets,  and 
chased  the  natives  to  the  rocks  and  glaciers,  with- 
out being  able  to  exterminate  them.  The  return 
of  snow  and  cold  obliged  the  assailants  to  return, 
the  inhabitants  re-took  possession  of  their  soil,  re- 
constructed their  dwellings,  and  setting  a  watcli 


I 

I 


I 


WAUMBUUN   RESGARCHCS. 


69 


upon  tlie  only  accessible  approach,  uboile  in  peace 
antil  the  persecution  recommenced  with  the  open 
wotther  nnd  o(ien  paths. 

Such  beiug  the  charucter  of  the  country  of  the 
Vaudois  ',  a  natural  fastness  and  bulwark,  it  is  not 
unreasonable  to  ask  those,  who  believe  that  God 
never  would  Icare  himself  without  a  witness,  with> 
s  pure  visible  Church  existing  Komcwhere,  to 
some  value  to  the  tradition,  that  here  was 
fiilded  and  fed  that  little  {lock,  which  remained 
faJthTul  to  its  Shepherd,  when  other  slieep  were  fol- 
lowing rapacious  liirclings*.  "  1  dare  affinn,"  said 
the  late  moderator  Peyran,  in  a  letter  addressed 

ft  to  Cardinal  Pacca.  and  written  in  a  spirit  worthy 
of  the  best  ages,  "  I  dare  aflimi,  without  any  fear 
of  contradiction  from  persons  who  arc  welt-in- 
brmcd,  and  oi^n  to  conviction,  tliat  the  >'audois, 

P  tbe  only  people  who  have  at  all  times  opposed 
themselTcs  successfidty  to  the  itomun  PontiA',  arc  a 
mtracle  of  Grace  and  Providence;  of  Grace,  in  that 
they  have  been  sustained  in  their  behef ;  of  Provi- 

*  Bt  pOKcipuc  in  Gdlliain  CMalpiiuni,  et  inter  AIpe*  utii  lulii- 
Bsam  ntfugiam  ronl  natti.     1'htiiinu*,  Ilkt.  \sh.  6. 

*  •*  Tlii*  olao  Bill  ho  of  use  lo  streoetfacii  tke  futh  of  Protw. 
IMM,  who  will  patcei*e  UtU  Qod.  aocotdbK  W  bia  proaiw. 
knh  aetef  left  binuelf  wKbuut  wiuicna,  tu  Uaviag  fnaenwi  in 
tfc«  boMDi  of  these  ChurcUca  nio*l  illaairiuiu  |in>fc«Min  of  Uw 
Cbratiui  nlifpon,  vhidi  Xbey  tieU  in  tbu  mbc  imrity  wiili 
wtiidi  ttetr  prtdoccMoia  liad  reocitcd  thic  pncioiM  pl«dp  (roai 
the  kaiidi  of  iImmc  apuaiaUcal  mm,  wliu  Ant  |ilaiii«d  Uwie 
ClMudka  aiiM»(  the  Alji*  uhI  PyrMKiui  Muuiihun*."    Alli»< 


70 


VtfnBtWJtK  RESFAUCflES. 


dt-nce,  in  tbat  ihcy  have  been  preserved  from  de- 
struction '." 

In  addition  to  the  reasons  derived  from  their  lo- 
cality, which  I  have  just  assigned  in  support  of  the 
probability,  that  the  >''audois  continued  in  tlie  un- 
disturbed profession  of  the  primitive  faith  adopted 
by  their  forefathers,  I  must  not  omit  to  state  what 
Lcger,  their  native  historian,  has  said  upon  the  sub- 
ject. The  first  attempts  to  force  the  N'audois,  as 
a  community,  into  the  arms  of  the  Roman  Church 
were  made  by  the  house  of  Savoy.  The  princes 
of  this  line  did  not  come  into  possession  of  Fiemont 
til)  the  eleventh  or  twelfth  century.  At  that  pe- 
riod a  reigning  chief,  taking  advantage  of  the  divi- 
sions that  prevailed  in  Piemont,  and  of  the  weak- 
ness of  the  little  sovereignties  under  the  Counts  of 
I,Dceme,  the  Mai'quis  of  Saluces,  and  other  feudal 
lords,  made  himself  master  of  the  valleys  and  the 
adjoining  provinces.    Previously  to  this  change  of 

'  Tbe  ProtesUnt  cause  is  mdobted  to  the  Rer.  TIuxbu  Smt, 
one  of  Uie  moBt  disinterested,  well-judging,  and  cooMUatlirieade 
tfac  Vaudouevet  bad,  for  coUectiofand  publishini;  iIk  letiere  of 
Pcyraii.  btr  ^lodcniloT  ttt  tbe  V'audois,  in  n  volume,  entitled 
"  Hitloncid  Defence  (>f  the  Vaudoii  or  WiildenxM,by  Jean  Ro- 
dolphe  Perran."  Tba>r^meiitsaiid  cbain  of  historical  evidence 
oontained  hi  Uih  wOffc  are  a  very  low«r  of  slreD^I).  1  {)*dly 
cmbnec  the  o|)|»tt(iiutf  of  ucknowled^ng  niy  obl%stk>ns  to  IL 
If  Mi.  Simit  woald  pnblUb  a  new  cdiiion  of  Pnynui's  leiten  in 
the  fann  of  AD  English  translation,  he  would  do  justice  to  ibc 
character  of  that  exiraofdinaiT  man,  and  to  tbe  cauw  of  which 
lie  maa  at  once  the  onumeni  and  su  pport. 


4 


WAtI>BXSUN    HESEARCUeS. 


71 


f 


clynas^,  the  inhabitants  of  the  valU^ys  had  cx{)e- 
rimccd  every  kind  oC  indulgence;  from  ihuir  sovd- 
reigns,  who  were  unwilling  to  molest  thenj  for  their 
retif^on's  sake.     I-'irst,  because  they  were  them- 
selves  well-inclined  towards  doctrines,  which  were 
built  upon  the  ijcripturcs  only;  secondly,  because 
the  tnoHensivc  and  simple  manners  of  tlie  "  Men  of 
the  v-alleys"  conciliated  their  affection ;  and  thirdly, 
because  it  was  to  tlieir  interest  to  tolerate  and  pro- 
tect them;  for  if  they  had  been  persecuted  and  ex- 
termiuutc<),  who  would  have  been  found  to  supply 
their  places,  and  to  people  those  more  inhospitable 
{Murts  of  the  higher  mountains,  which  are  covered 
with  snow  seven,  eight,  and  sometimes  nine  months 
la  Ibe  year;  whicii  were  formerly,  more  than  now, 
■ifagtod  by  wolves  and  twam ;  which  are  ahnostiuac- 
Marible  and  impenetrable,  and  where  nothing  but 
the  most  incessant  labour  can  render  the  soil  pro- 
dactiTe  7    S)>ota  like  these,  so  ni^^Hl  and  imper- 
TJous,  BO  elevated  and  rude,  would  have  no  attrac- 
tioD  for  others,  if  the  native  population  were  driven 
away,  therefore  the  predecessors  of  the  Dukes  of 
Savoy,  whoso  possessions  were  but  small,  had  too 
much  consideration  for  their  rents  and  imitosts,  to 
buard  the  loss  of  them  by  persecuting  a  bardy 
and  industrious  race  of  subjects.     In  support  of 
this  last  view  of  the  case,  Leger  adduces  the  fol- 
lowing facts.    "  All  the  heads  of  families  of  the 
commune  of  Chubran,  in  the  valley  of  St  Martin, 
baring  been  cut  off.  about  thirty  years  ago,  the 


72 


WAU>ENSIAN    EESEARCUBS. 


whole  place  was  deserted,  and  neither  the  sot^ 
reign  nor  the  seigneurs  coult]  find  persons  disposed 
to  re-people  it :  and  yet  ttiis  is  one  of  the  most  fa- 
vourable communes,  and  the  least  laborious  of  tlie 
valley  of  St  Martin,  and  abounds  in  vines,  ches- 
nuts,  fruits,  and  com.  The  communes  of  Traversa, 
San  Martino,  and  Faetto,  are  for  the  same  reason 
nearly  reduced  to  a  ilesert,  and  not  a  Roman  Ca^ 
thohc  can  be  found  to  accept  the  best  lands  be* 
longing  to  them,  although  they  are  well  provided 
with  buildings.  No,  not  even  when  they  are  of>  | 
fered  for  notliing,  and  with  the  further  advantage 
of  being  exempt  from  the  payment  of  taxes '." 

I  have  already  alluded  to  the  language  of  the 
pctitlutis  and  remonstrances  of  the  Vaudots,  ad- 
dressed to  their  princes,  in  which  they  urge  their 
antiquity  as  a  religious  community,  their  rights  aa 
a  body,  and  the  enjoyment  of  certain  privileges,* 
long  before  the  house  of  Savoy  ruled  over  Plemont 
In  the  Interinatian^  of  an  edict,  dated  1584,  the  pro- 
amble  speaks  of  the  privileges '  confirmed  to  the 
men  of  Lusema.  Bubiana,  and  La  Torre,  and  the 
other  communes  of  the  vaileys  of  Lusernu,  &c.  b; 


I 


'  Lcgn,  lliMoire  Gtnerale  de«  Egtiscs  VawkHMB.  Liv.  i.  < 
36. 

*  "  liUeriiiatiom,"  a  m  legal  lenn  familiar  to  the  Iawj«» 
Turiot  nml  n^ifics  the  fioal  ratificalioi)  aaict  the  ngn  nunui 

'  •'  S.  A.  confimw,  TuUe  k  Uberbt,  iaiiuunita,  rraachitie 
piT¥i!e^."     Asionishii^!    Ifaat  ruch  ihuokl  liam  been 
from  absolute  priaces  ttt  llioc  i-iuly  pcnodG ! ! 


WALPKNSIAN    HESEAHCHKS. 


the  ancestors  of  the  ruling  Duke  of  Savoy,  and 
amoug  others  it  cites  edicts  of  the  years  1448, 
1452,  14tiO,  1473,  U99.  1509,  15(i2,  and  1582  >. 

In  another  edict,  dated  1602,  there  is  a  sentence 
to  this  cfiect,  "  not  having  been  able  to  eradicate 
heresy  entirely,  particularly  in  the  valleys  of  our 
dominions,  where  vie  arc  obliged  to  tolerate  it." 
"  Non  c  stato  pcro  possihile  di  sradicarla  afiatto, 
Binie  nelle  vaUi  del  nostro  Dominio,  dove  siamo 
iastretti  tolerarli'." 

Now  ttie  only  mference  which  we  can  draw  from 
the  expres^on,  "  dove  sianio  Btati  astretti  tole- 
nrii,"  "  vrherc  wc  arc  obliged  to  tolerate  it,"  is 
that  the  first  prince  of  the  house  of  Savoy, 

10  made  himself  master  of  the  valleys,  bound 
himself  and  his  successors,  by  solemn  contracts, 
to  respect  the  religious  independence  of  the  in- 
habitants, and  therefore  it  was  that  the  Vaudois  so 
often   recurred  to  the  uncontradicted   assertion. 


*  See  "  Raccolta  Ae  gl'  «diui  et  oJue  ptovitkHii  dell'  Alteixe 
RwK  deUi  ScrcniMimi  Dnchi  di  Sanoia,  di  Icmpo  in  tcrapo 

iiilgftlG  Bofitit  gl'  occorrcnii  <lcllc  rslli  di  I.ocrrnn,  TctiMa  e 
Maniso,  UtTO  anoesK  di  S.  Baitoloineo,  Pnniitiiw,  e  Hoc- 
e  deir  nitre  Icrre  del  marchMaio  di  Saluno,  e  dd 
pKnonb!.  In  TociDu.  M.DC.LXXVUI.  Per  Gio.  SuiiUldo 
di  S.  A.  R.  c  d«U'  dliutmsiiua,  St  ecccUenUaiimk 
Thia  collection  wa*  lent  n*  tkraugh  Utu  kbdnen  of 
MB  miBBnt  italannwt,  wbo  once  oocapwd  a  high  poM  nndv  Uw 
Sttdiaian  govcniiiKiit. 

*  Baooolu,  p.  i4. 


74 


VfALDBSStMl    R£SEARCUES. 


1 
1 
1 


*'  Our  fathers  have  professed  this  religion  in  the 
valleys  from  time  immemorial,  and  long  before  the 
ruling  dynasty  was  established  in  Piemont." 

Muratori '  confirms  this  view  of  the  subject  by 
confessing,  that  he  could  gather  little  more  Irom 
the  scanty  records  of  the  early  history  of  Piemont 
than  this, — that  in  the  middle  ages  the  principality- 
was  constantly  passing  under  different  sovereigns, 
and  that  the  people  took  advantage  of  these  changes 
to  obtain  grants  iarourable  to  their  rights  and 
privileges. 

There  is  another  proof  of  the  inalienable  rights 
which  the  natives  of  the  valleys  possess,  and  of  the 
claims  they  have  to  consider  themselves  a  privi- 
leged and  ancient  religious  community,  viz.  in  the  j 
style  which  runs  through  all  the  edicts  to  which  I  1 
have  made  allusion,  and  in  all  the  answers  returned 
by  the  Dukes  of  Savoy  to  the  petitions  of  these 
people.  Their  country  is  called  "  the  vallets»" 
distinctively.     They  themselves  are  spoken  of  as 

"  THE  MEN  OF  THE  VALLEl'S,"  "  UUOMIM  DELLB  VALU," 

and    "  OUR  faithful  subjbcts  op  the  vai.i-kys," 

"  FEDEU    SL'DDITE    NOSTRI    DELLB   VALU."      "  ReLU- 

cioNARU,"  Religionists,  is  another  peculiar  appel- 
lation apphed  to  them;  so  that  they  have  been 
constantly    regarded   as  a  distinct  race,  whose 

*  Muntori  lom.  xi.  Prttfal.  ia  Cbroo.  Ast.  and  totn.  xxiS, 
I'nnlikl,  in  IluU  Munteitcr. 


I 


WALDRRSIAN   RRSBAKCHCS. 


75 


pretensions  have  been  matter  of  notoriety,  aad 
publicly  and  legally  recognized  from  age  to  age '. 
At  the  same  time  the  court  of  Savoy  ha»  taken 
especial  care  to  limit  its  unwilling  concessions,  and 
its  reci^nition  of  Waldensiaii  rights  and  claims,  to 
the  people  of  one  district  Its  language  has  been 
tuch  as  this,  "  We  do  not  refuse  to  tolerate  the 
Men  of  the  valleys,  in  the  profession  of  their 
ancient  faith ;  but  we  have  no  toleration  for  noii- 
Rmfonnists,  who  live  beyond  certain  boundaries, 
they  are  not  Vaudois,  nor  are  they  entitled  to 
Vaadois  privileges.  We  are  resolved  to  shew  no 
indulgence  tft  thom."  The  severity  with  which 
an  other  **  heretics"  in  Piemont  have  been  treated, 
compared  with  the  forbearance  shewn  to  the  Vau- 
dois, proclaims  a  state  of  things  in  every  degree 
pecutior  to  the  latter,  and  utterly  unaccountable. 
mleu  we  look  to  compacts  of  great  antiquity,  and 
of  the  most  solemn  obligation,  for  a  solution  of  tlie 
difficulty.  The  exclusiveness,  and  the  very  re- 
luctance of  the  indulgence  in  favour  of  the  Vau- 
dois, bespeak  a  vested  and  prescriptive  right, 
which  has  been  asserted  by  them  time  out  of  mind. 
Cfaristiatu  professing  >\'aldensian  principles  have 
been  exterminated  in  all  the  regions  contiguous  to 
the  three  valleys.     Here  only  they  have  continued 


'  A  work  puMnhed  in  1683,  umler  ibe  tide,  "  ThcaUun 
Suiuum  B«gic  Cvhiliulina  SabaadMt  Dqcj*,'  alalcs  ibal  tmlia 
•40O  pan  M,  tecared  (wnoDa]  and  rcligiuw  freedom  to  Ibr 


76 


WALOBNSIAN    EESBARCIIRS. 


to  hold  up  their  heads  and  to  plead  the  validity  of 
treaties.     Eight  hundred  thousand  soids,  separa- , 
dsts  from  the  Roman  Church,  formed  a  population 
professing  the  faith  of  the  reformed  Church,  in 
the  Alpine  provinces  of  Hncrolo,  SaltuKzo,  Dau- 
phin^ and  Provence,  in  the  year   1550.      The 
20,000  Vaudois,  are  the  only  remnant  that  is  left! 
Up  to  a  cert^n  jieriod,  (the  persecution  of  1655,)  M 
there  were  villages  and  hamlets  in  the  valleys  * 
where  no  admixture  of  Roman  Catholic  families 
had  ever  been  known.    The  whole  population  were 
professors  of  the  primitive  religion.     In  this,  too,  ■ 
the  book  of  edicts  confimis  the  statements  of  the 
Vaudois  historians,  and   the   voice  of  tradition. 
**  Secondly,  His  Royal  Highness  consents,  that  in 
those  places  only  where  all  the  inhabitants  are 
heretics, '  dove  sono  tutti  heretici,"  they  may  con- 
tinue to  elect  syndics,  procurators,  notaries,  &c.  as 
they  have  done  hitherto."    Edict  of  March  1602 '. 
Another  order  of  the  year  16-16,  gives  directions, 
to  have  mass  celebrated  even  in  those  communes 
where  there  are  no  Catholics  *.      In  this  manner 
the  very  ordinances,  which  were  issued  to  keep  the 
Vaudois  in  check,  seem  to  bear  witness  to  the  fact, 
that  certain  districts  had  been  peopled   imme- 
morialjy  by  a  race,  who  never  were  in  communion 
with  tlie  Roman  Church,  and  which   ^verc  ex- 
empt even  from  tlie  presence  of  Romanists. 


I 


i 


Kaccolta  d<-el*  EditU.  p.  18. 


Ibid.  p.  80. 


WAtfiRSsiAN   RKSF.ARCneS. 


W 


SECTION  III. 


From  these  inferential  ailments  in  support  of 
the  antiquity  of  the  Wutdensos,  I  proceed  to  notice 
the  direct  testimony  of  History  in  favour  of  my 
_    hypothesis. 

VtHB  TBSmtOiry  of  BISTOBY,    CATnGRBD    PKOM    Tns 

H  AD\'EaSARIES    OP    TUB    WALDF.NSES,    OR    PKOM    IN- 

H  D11TEK£NT   BARLV   VTRrTERS. 

I  Either  the  pages  of  history  have  not  been  en- 
^  riched  by  any  Waldensjan  authors  of  a  very  early 
date,  or  if  there  were  any  annals  written  by  native 
chroniclers,  previously  to  tlie  year  1000,  they  have 
accidentally  perished  amidst  the  devastations  com- 
mitted in  the  valleys,  or  they  have  been  purposely 
dottroyod'by  their  enemies.  I  am  inclined  to 
■dopt  the  latter  opinion,  for  these  reasons.  It  is 
tu  from  improbable,  that  the  monks  llelvidere 
and  Rorenco,  who  made  their  inquisitorial  visits 
to  die  Tolleys,  and  delivered  official  reports,  touch- 
'mg  the  antiquity  of  the  Waldensian  Church,  had 
more  than  tnulition  for  their  authority,  when  they 
■greed  in  statin;;  that  "  heretics  had  been  found  at 
■n  periods  of  history  in  the  valley  of  Angrogiia,"and 
that  **  nothing  certain  co\dd  be  said  of  the  Waldcn- 
tes,  furthermore  tlian  that  they  were  not  a  new  sect 


T8 


ITALDENSIAN   RBSBAllCHES. 


I 


I 


in  the  ninth  and  tenth  centuries."  It  is  very  likely 
that  they  had  access  to  documents,  which  they  did 
not  permit  the  world  to  liear  of  any  more.  The 
suspicion  is  confirmed  by  tlmt  wliich  Claude  Seissel, 
Archbishop  of  Turin,  said  of  them  about  the  year 
1300.  "  The  V'audois  sect,  which  originated  with 
one  Leon,  a  devout  man  in  the  time  of  Constan- 
tine  the  Great,"  &c.  Eveiy  scrap  of  paper,  and 
every  book  upon  which  the  harpies  of  oppression 
coidd  lay  their  hands,  during  the  various  pcrso- 
cutions  of  the  Vaudois,  were  seized  and  sent  to 
Turin,  and  nothing  was  permitted  again  to  see  the 
light,  which  did  not  please  the  court  and  the  priest- 
hood. Hence  the  noble  and  learned  author  of 
'*  Essai  sur  les  Ancienncs  Assemblees  Nationales  de  ■ 
la  Savoye,  dn  Piemont,  et  des  Pays,  qui  y  sont  ou  " 
lurent  annexees,"  has  said  in  his  introduction,  that 
no  history  is  less  known  tlian  that  of  Savoy  and 
Piemont ;  and  speaking  of  Guichenon,  whom  be  M 
mentions  as  "  le  plus  connu"  of  all  the  historians 
of  these  countries,  he  calls  him  a  courtier  and  a 
mercenary  imter,  who  did  not  dare  to  write  a  line 
which-  had  not  passed  and  re-passed  through  the 
crucible  at  Turin.     See  p.  3,  4.  ■ 

Leger,  the  Vaudois  historian  of  the  seventeenth 
centurj',  declared  that  there  was  no  artifice,  no 
exertion,  no  expence  spared  by  the  enemies  of  liis 
church,  both  in  quiet  and  troublesome  times,  to 
efface  all  records  of  the  ancient  Vaudois  &om  the 
face  of  the  earth ;  and  added,  that  ader  he  himself 


idA. 


i 


WAI.DKNSIAN    RBSKABCnKS. 


I 


lad  searched  every  where,  and  had  collected  wliat 
be  conld  relating  to  the  antiquity  of  the  Walden- 
ae^  erery  hook  and  every  morsel  of  paper  was 
taken  away  lirom  him  during  the  massacres  of  1G55, 
and  canied  to  Turin  '.  Not  the  least  scrap  was 
Irfl  to  him,  and  it  was  hy  inercdihle  pains  that  he 
was  able  to  gather  tlie  materials  of  his  history,  from 
r^cs  that  were  preserved  in  the  neighbouring  pro- 
Tinccs  of  France.  An  affecting  memorandum  of 
the  i^liadon  of  which  L(^cr  complains  in  his 
hktory,  is  preserved  to  one  of  the  pages  of  an 
old  Italian  Bible,  now  in  the  possession  of  tlie  Dean 
of  Winchester.  It  was  lager's  own  Bible,  and  in 
it  be  traced  these  melancholy  Unes  with  his  own 
bands. 

**  Qncsta  S.  Biblia  e'  V  unico  tesoro  che  di  tntti 
wia  beni  ho  potuto  riscampare  dagl'  orribile  mas* 
sscri  0  incom|>arabUe  tnccndie  che  la  cortc  di 
Torino  ha  fatti  eseguir  nelle  valh  di  Piemonte  d<-*i 
IttU.ce  per  questo  (oltre  che  vi  sono  piu  nottule  di 
mia  mano)  mccommando  et  commando  a  miei  figli 
di  conservnrla  come  una  preciosissima  reliqua,  e  di 
_tansnietterla  di  mano  in  mano  alia  loro  posterita. 
"  GiovASNi  Legbbo^  Pastore." 


This  holy  Bible  is  the  only  treasure  nhich^ 
of  all  my  goods,  I  was  able  to  rescue  from  the 
riblc  massacres,  and  unparalleled  destructious 


'  Ufcr,  Hnlnirr  Ae»  Ef lii 


VAiidAiw*.  Uv.  i.  CMp.  4. 
2 


80 


VAf.rtKMSIA*!   RRi^ARrHF^. 


which  the  court  of  Turin  put  in  execution,  in  the 
valleys  of  Picniont,  in  1655,  and  for  tliis  reason 
(besides  ttiat  there  are  in  it  many  small  remarks  in 
my  own  hand-writing)  I  recommend  and  command 
my  children  to  preserve  it  as  a  most  valuable 
relic,  and  to  transmit  it^  li-om  hand  to  hand,  to 
their  posterity. 

"  John  Leger,  Pastor." 


The  title-page  of  this  Bible  runs  thus : 

"  La  Sacra  BibUa,  tradotta  in  Lingua  Italiana.^ 
e  commentata  da  Giovanni  Diodati,  di  Nazionc 
Lucchese,  Seconda  Editione  migliorata  ed  accres- ' 
ciuta  con  I'aggiunta  di  Sacri  Salmi  mesd  in  rime 
per  lo  medesimo.     Per  I'ietro  Chovet,  Mrwxi.i." 

By  the  kindness  of  the  Dean  of  Winchester  I 
have  been  enabled  to  present  my  readers  with  a 
fac  simile  of  this  curious  memorandum. 

It  is  a  singular  thing  that  the  destruction  or 
rapine,  which  has  been  so  fatal  to  Waldensian 
documents,  should  have  pursued  them  even  to  the 
place  of  security,  to  which  all,  that  remained,  were 
consigned  by  Morland,  in  1658.  the  library  off 
the  university  of  Cambridge.  The  most  ancient 
of  these  relics  were  ticketed  in  seven  packets,  dis-  M 
tinguishcd  by  letters  of  the  alphabet,  from  A  to 
G.  The  whole  of  these  were  missing  when  I  made 
enquiry  for  them,  in  1823.  What  these  precious 
records  were,  may  be  seen  by  a  reference  to  the 
catalogue  ^vcn  in  "  Morland's  History  of  the 


J 


F^l 


I 


t-> 


v« 


2  ^  f  H 


'■I 


I 
^ 

s 


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5* 


.5»  ^  - 

$  r  -  * 

^  r  E  2 

I  i  J  ^ 


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I 


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>■ » 


I 


\ 


WAl.nttNSlAN    KKSEABtlHKN. 


SI 


I 


I 


Evangelical  Churches  of  the  Valleys  of  Picmont." 
r.  95—98. 

Under  these  circumstances,    we  must  search 

^tnoDg  the  works  of  authors,  who  ilid  not  write 

professedly  of  the  Waldcnses,  for  traces  of  their 

existence    as    an   indcixindent    Church,   at    i>c- 

riods  anterior  to  the  twelfth    centur}',   the  era 

^vhich  is  fixed  upon  hy  their  mlversaries,  or  by  ill- 

infarmcd  Protestant  histurianti,  for  their  Hrst  ap- 

(>eanuice  as  tmpugners  of  the  Romish  faith.    Hap- 

'^Qy  Iho  search  nil)  not  be  in  vain,  and  in  annals 

mad  treatises,  sufficiently  ancient  for  our  |>ur{K>se, 

^bere  are  found  incidental  or  direct  allusions  to 

«  body  ofC'hristians,  dwelling  in  districts  border* 

inf^  apon  the  Alps,  and  protesting  against  the  cor- 

nqitioiia  or  usurpations  of  the  Latin  Church,  wliiuh 

leave  not  a  doubt  that  the  ancestors  of  the  Vau- 

dois  Were  the  Non-conformists  so  descriljed. 

Alcuin,  in  one  of  his  epistles  ',  which  was  writ- 
ti!D  about  the  year  700,  complains,  that  the  doc- 
trine of  auricular  confession  was  not  then  received 
in  the  Churches  of  Languedoc  and  of  the  Alps. 
Tiui  corresponds  exactly  with  tlic  representation 
of  one  of  the  main  points  of  difference  ui^ed 
■ith  so  much  force  in  the  "  Nobla  Ley^on,"  of 
IW  WaUenses.    "  The  priest  asketh  him  if  he 


'  I  Ukm  thb  npon  the  aullmrily  of  VntUiK**  "  MA'aion% 
inJmimQrwnim,-  Ed.  of  I7G.%  I2iw>.  I  hnvc  not  l>c<rn 
<^  IB  flad  Ihr  pumgc  to  which  Volluin;  nllodca. 


WALDRNSrAN    RBSBARaiFTS. 


has  committed  any  sin.     He  answers  in 
words,  and  buyctli  of  the  priest  absolution, 
they  are  but  sadly  confessed  who  are  thus  lauity, 
and  will  certainly  be  deceived  in  such  absolution, 
and  he  that  niaketh  him  believe  it,  fiiuneth  morr_ 
tally."  1 

Jonas,  Bishop  of  Orleans ',  in  the  epistle  pre- 
fatory to  his  work,  "  Ue  Cultu  Imaginum,"  sdj 
dressed  to  Charles  the  Bald,  in  640,  and  in  the 
body  of  this  work,  speaks  of  Italian  Churches, 
which  he  accuses  of  heterodoxy,  because  they 
refused  to  worship  images,  and  raves  against 
Claude,  Bishop  of  Turin,  for  encouraging  the  peo- 
ple of  his  diocese  in  their  rejection  of  image  wor- 
ship, and  their  separation  firom  that  which  he 
called  CathoUc  unity.  The  valleys  of  Piuniont 
were,  at  that  period,  under  the  episcopal  jurisdio-^ 
tion  of  Claude  \  ^ 

Dungalus  %  about  the  same  time,  810  or  841, 
wrote  a  treatise,  under  the  title  of  "  An  Answi 
to  the  pen'erse  opinions  of  Claude,   Bishop 
Turin."     In  this,  and  in  the  fragments*  which  are 
still  extant  of  Claude's  own  works,  may  be  found 
an  ample  account  of  this  prelate's  opposition 


J 


i 


*  Bibiioth.  Pair.  PariiiM,  1634,  lom.  i*.  p.  53^—594. 
'  In  tocoe  accounts  oTCbuiIc,  he  bcallcdBuhopof  Turin  and 

Erobnin.  ThcTatlcjrsof  Piemonl  lie  betv«en  Turin  aod  Embtwi. 
»  Ibid.]..  154.  198. 

*  Soc  Bib.  I'atr.  laoi.  L  ii.  Mabillon  An;ik-iMa,  and  Bib. 
Labbei. 


TTAIJWSSUN    RBSKARCMES. 

Mm  growing  errors  uf  the  Latin  Church,  and  of  the 

rrligiouK  sentiments  of  tlio  |MX)t)Ie  who  looked  up 

to  bim  for  instruction  and  sanction.    Claude  died 

between  838  luid  841,  and  during  a  life  of  great 

actinty,  and  more  especially  when  he  ruled  over 

tho  see  of  Turin,  protested  against  the  authority 

of  tradition  when  unsupported  by  Scripture,  and 

pledged  himself  to  promulgate  nothing,  but  that 

which  was  consistent  with  the  doctrines  and  lUn- 

cipline  of  the  primitive  Church  '.     He  raised  tlie 

laugh  of  scorn  against  superstitious  articles  of 

fiuth.    which  were  of    modem   invention.      He 

spumed  with  his  feet  the  images  of  saints,  and 

the  pretended  rchcs  of  holy  men  of  old.  and  he 

had  the  sagacity  and  the  boldness  to  ask  his  ad- 

Tcnvies,  "  Why  do  not  the  wornhipjiers  of  the 

wood  of  the  cross,  in  conformity  with  tlieir  newly 

adopted  principles,  adore  chaplets  of  thorns,  be< 

auae  Christ  was  crowned  with  tliorns ;  or  spears, 

becsnsc  Christ  was  pierced  with  that  weapon  I 

Or  why  do  they  not  fall  down  before  the  image  of 

an  OSS,  because  Christ  honoured  that  animal  by 

riding  upon  it  ?'*   How  httic  did  Claude  then  inm- 

pnCf  and  how  far  were  the  first  promoters  of  such 

cfTon  from  suspecting,  that  the  time  would  come, 


*  WUc  HaiMle  was  hrtinj;  up  bii  voice  in  hisdiocttse  of  Tiria 
im^wonfaip,  Afobardin  m«  doing  th«  nunc  tn  hb 
I  oTLjons.    See  )ii«  Trealiie  agvinst  Pictar»,  Rdii.  u  H. 
Tba  ptimilive  CbMrcliemslaiKl  wcsiof  tfaeAlpamiuL 
I  twM  aadn  one  or  nilwr  of  Une  Hi<bop«. 
oS 


84 


WAI.DBNSIAN    ltIWRAIlCIf>:ft. 


when  Uic  vilest  of  these  fooleries  should  grow  out ' 
of  that  mischievous  departure  from  the  simplicity  { 
of  the  Gospel,  which  began  with  directing  towards  I 
an  outward  emblem  that  adoration,  which  is  duoj 
to  God  alone !    Among  the  Koman  Cathohc  fes-1 
tivals  there  was,  if  tliere  is  not  still,  a  commemo-l 
ration  called  the  "  Feast  of  Asses" — "  asinaria] 
festa,"  in  which  an  ass  was  led  in  procession,  covcr-J 
ed  M-ith   sumptuous  trappings,  aud  before  which 
hymns  and  anthems  were  sung  in  real  or  moct 
solemnity.     Tlie  church  itself  was  the  scene  o( 
these  profanations,  and  the  nave  and  the  choir] 
were  desecrated  by  the  presence  of  the  animal,  and 
his  more  brutish  conductors '. 

It  is  the  concurrent  voice  of  several  historians,^ 
that  the  *'  Men  of  the  valleys"'  were  not  unmoved 
by  the  examples  of  their  metropolitan,  Claude.     1 
have  already  shewn  that  the  monk  Korenco  at-  j 


'  Mr.  Sbaroo  Turner  has  ^no  a  faiihfu]  accoont  o(  tbn  ab»> 
minable  fotiral  in  liis  Hiitory  of  England  during  Ui«  kltildle 
Ago,  vol.  V.  book  rii.  ch.  ii.  He  cit»  as  Ills  niiibority  Da 
Cange,  Glon.  ii.  403;  and  Millin's  account  of  it  from  lJ» 
Hianl,  composecl  by  au  Archbithop  of  Sens,  wbo  died  iu  122*3 
Tike  enlarged  Patu  editiou  of  Du  Cang«'s  Glossary,  1733, 
btca,  at  aomc  length,  that  after  ibe  taasa,  whicb  was  celebrated' 
DttlmtiutiTal,  thc{>ric4t,inRlcnilorexclaimiBg.  "  Ite,  mutacat,' 
w  usual,  brayed  thrc«  times  *.  Volube  hai  recorded,  that 
■lufled  mt  vm  {Kcterved  with  great  reverence  in  tlie  churcli 
Notre  DaiDc  de*  Orgucs,  in  Verona.    See  Add,  a  THUu  Ge 

■  SMSaktcsMiFeMun  AkUNnn.  *fi.BI.  P.4S3. 


U9 

ted'fl 


IWALDRNSrAN    RRSEARCtlCS. 


85 


tnhDtcd,  what  hv  calls,  their  first  schism  to  the  in- 
sti^tions  of  Chiutlc,  and  to  his  preachings  and 
writing  against  the  introduction  of  images,  the 
adoration  of  the  cross,  and  the  invocation  of  saints. 
Genebmrd,  in  his  chronological   notices   of  the 
tenth  and  eleventh  centuries,  shews  that  the  %'cs- 
Xiges  of  Claude's  "  new  sect"  still  remained  in 
those  ages.     But  Claude  himself,  in  answer  to  the 
diargc  lulducod  against  him,  of  promulgating  no- 
velties in  religion,  declared,  "  I  teach  no  new 
,  but  I  keep  myself  to  the  pure  truth,  and  I 
pcHiist  in    opposing,  to  the   uttermost,  all 
irrstitions  and  schisms '." 
Upon  another  occasion,  when  this  great  man 
fclt  it  nccessaf)'  to  justify  his  belief  and  practice, 
as  to  the  invocation  of  saints,  he  explained  himself 
thin.     "  One  man  cannot  be  made  holy  by  the 
holiness  of  another,  or  prudent  by  the  prudence 
of  another,  or  wise  by  tlie  wisdom  of  another; 
there  is  no  imparting,  or  communicating  these 
qoalities.     But  by  the  contemplation  of  these  in- 
conununiaihle  virtues,  hy  emulation  we  may  be- 
come enibued  with   a  similar  spirit."     lie  then 
qooCod  a  passage  from  Augustin,  dc  vera  Reti- 
gionot  cap.  55.  to  this  effect,  "  Our  ruUgiun  is  not 
to  be  a  worsliip  of  dead  men.     The  pious  of  other 
iay%  are  to  be  honoured  for  tlie  imitation  sake. 
Bod  are  not  to  be  adored  religiously  ^"     Such 

'  Bib.  PaU.  tois.  i.  Puraii*.     Epii.  CIwmI.  m1  Thvoderotnini. 
'  See  HKbiUoii  Veten  Ana.  [>.  91. 


« 


WAL1>ENS]AN    RB5EARCUES. 


TTcre  the  sentiments  of  the  Bbhop  to  whom  tho  j 
Vaudois  rendered   canonical   submUsion  in   the 
ninth  century.    How  absurd  tlicn  to  pretend  that] 
these  and  similar  sentiments  were  unknown  ia 
Europe  till  they  were  introduced  by  strangers, 
from  the  East,  in  the  eleventh  century,  and  that] 
they  were  not  ojienly  avowed  by  any  rcUgiouaJ 
community,  before  the  twelfth  centuiy. 

Atto,  in  the  year  945,  governed  the  see  of  Ver-j 
ceil,  which  lies  between  Turin  and  Milan.     Th»| 
epistles  of  this  Bishop  are  still  preserved.     In  somftl 
of  them  he  speaks  of  persons  who  had  deserted] 
the  holy  mother  Church  ;  and  his  mention  of  their] 
vicinity  to  his  own  diocese,  and  of  ))oints  of  dtffi:r« 
ence  resembling  those  maintained  by  the  W&1-] 
denses,  direct  our  eye  at  once  towards  the  quartcryJ 
where  tradition  places  the  little  lamp  of  truth,] 
which  was  never  extuiguished,  or  left  untrimmed.^ 
"  Atto  to  all  the  Stithful  in  our  diocese.    Ahsl 
that  there  shotdd  be  many  in  your  parts  who  hold  I 
our  divine  services  in  derision.   Alas  for  the  mtser> 
able  viTctches  who  have  separated  from  our  holy 
Qtother  Church,  and  from  the  priesthood,  througbj 
M'hoin  alone  you  can  attain  unto  salvation '." 

lu  the  year  1025,  half  a  centurj-  before  Beren- 
garius  was  pronounced  to  be  a  preacher  of  strange 
doctrines  (the  Givourite  ctuuge  of  the  Latin  Church 
against  all  who  dissent  from  her,  thus  Claude  was 


SpidtegiuiD  Uddwni,  rgl.  nii.  p.  UO)  1 1 1. 


WAUJESSIAS   aESEARCltCS. 


of  forming  a  Dew  sect  in  the  ninth  century, 
Berengarius  in  the  eleventh,  and  the  \N'aldenses 
io  the  tweliUi ;  and  yet  in  each  case  these  new 
doctrines  were  the  same  which  were  to  be  traced 
np  lo  the  primitive  ages) — a  synod  was  held  at 
Arras,  in  which  it  was  represented  to  Bishop  Ge- 
rard, who  presided,  that  "  certain  persons  had 
come  from  the  borders  of  Italy.andhad  introduced 
heretical  dogmas  '-■*    And  what  were  these  ?   Pre- 
diriy  the  same  which  the  Vaudois  have  always 
anmed.    They  are  jumbled  together  with  extras 
figances,  hut  the  principal  charges  amounted  to 
this :  "  That  the  accused  had  endeavoured  to  per- 
T«t  the  discipline  of  the  Church,  to  explain  the 
nature  of  a  certain  justification,  by  which  alone 
men  can  be  saved,  to  prove  that  l)aptism  is  of  no 

rpail,  unless  the  after  life  of  the  baptized  corre- 
l^nd  with  the  spiritual  object  of  the  Sacrament, 
that  Chriiit  is  not  carnally  present  in  the  Eucha- 
rist, that  there  is  no  virtue  in  altars,  bells,  relics, 
Umbi  ot  the  dead,  and  none  in  the  wood  of 
tbe  cross,  or  in  the  pictures  or  images  of  the 
Hints  *."  Such  in  1023,  and  at  a  public  tribunal, 
'  «H  shewn  to  be  the  rel^otis  perauasion  of  here- 
tics frvm  the  confines  of  Italy. 

About  the  year  1050  Petrus  Damianus  addressed 
letters  to  Adelaide,  Countess  of  Savoy  and  Duchess 


■lhid.fBl.xiS.  p.  «-«3. 


88  WALDKNeiAV    KESBARmes. 

of  the  Snfialpiru,  complaining  that  the  clergy  of  het 
dominions  did  not  observe  the  ordinances  of  the 
Church'. 

Seventy  years  afterwards  we  again  find  inddental 
mention  of  a  schism  in  Italy,  which  hears  on  the 
face  of  it  the  strongest  marks  of  probability,  that 
the  territory  of  the  Waldenses  was  the  seat  of  thia- 
schism. 

The  Chronicon  of  the  monastery  of  St.  Tron 
was  written  by  the  Abbot  Rodolphe,  between  the 
years  1 108  and  1 136  * ;  and  in  this  it  is  stated,  tliat 
there  was  a  land  in  Italy,  which  the  chronicler  de- 
sired to  visit,  when  he  crossed  the  Alps,  and  made 
a  journey  to  Rome.  He  had  heard  that  it  was 
polluted  by  an  inveterate  heresy  concerning  the 
body  and  blood  of  our  Lord.  "  Pneterea  /<rrra« 
ad  quam  ulterius  disposuerat  peregrinari,  audicbat 
pollutam  esse  invetorata  hsered  de  corpore  et 
sanguine  Domini '."  The  terms  "  tenant"  "  poUa- 
tarn,"  and  '*  inpeterata"  imply  three  things :  firsts 
that  it  was  a  whole  region  which  was  affected  by 
doctrines  which  tlie  good  abbot,  whose  admiration 
of  the  faith  and  discipline  of  the  Latin  Church  car* 
ried  him  to  Rome,  believed  to  be  heretical.  He 
knew,  no  doubt,  that  Berengarius  of  France,  and 
his  followers,  liad  propounded  doctrines  against  the 
real  presence,  but  here  in  Italy  a  whole  people 
declared   themselves  against  it,  and    this  raised 

■  See  Oper.  Dam.  p.  566. 

*  SpidlegNin  Dacbetii,  voL  vii.  p.  4J>5.  *  IbkL  p.  493. 


i 


I^ALDBSSIAN    KRSCARCIIBS. 


89 


"hh  curioa'ty.     Secondly,  they  imply  that  the  evil 
liad  spread  wide,  and  was  of  deep  root,  polluting 
the  soil,    and   thirdly,  that   it  was  of  verj'   old 
standing;  that  it  was  inveterate,  at  that  period, 
viz.  in  the  year  1124  or  1125,  when  Rodulphe 
Ltvas  at  Rome.     The  passage  to  which  I  allude 
contains  some  obscurities ;  and  it  may  be  thought 
)«  little  too   bold    to  assert  positively,  that  the 
itry,  of  which  Kodolphe  made  mention,  was 
[ibat  of  the  N'audots   of  Piemont,  but   the  ad- 
'  toeates  of  the  Papal  system  arc  welcome  to  the 
Directions  which  may  arise  out  of  this  difficulty. 
If  it  was  not  the  sub-alpine  region  of  Piemont, 
where  this  heresy,  spoken  of  by  Rodolpbe,  was  of 
[deep  root  and  long  continuance,  then  there  was 
[ionic  otlicr  province  in  Italy,  besides  that  of  the 
Vuidois,  where  an  obstinate  diHbrence  of  opinion 
I  frcvailed  upon  one  of  the  most  important  tenets 
of  the  Latin  Church ;  and  this  point  at  least  is 
otabtishcd,  that  a  main  article  of  the  creed  of 
Iho  Reformers,  which,  it  is  alleged,  was  intro- 
duced as  a  novelty '  into  Kurupu  in  the  eleventh 
century,  was  finnly  seated,  and  had  been  long 

*  Jouum  Scotiu  bod  agitated  ibU  (lucuioii  nrarly  two  hniw 
I  jwm,  bthn  Bcrengarina  dbcimcU  it.     Scolut  died  ia  884. 
t  u  BccQoni  of  111*  writing*,  SpinL  DMrlicrii,  *oL  ii.    In  the 
rof  Dimndw  to  llcory  I.  King  of  France,  in  1050,  that 
eonpbiDed  tlut    DcranyMiiu  had  iairodnoed  an  old 
henty  lo  nMMkra  tinxji,  "  antiqvu  hareaea  modemia  leinpanbus 
tsrtnduccMlo.'*    Coodl.  Lab.  torn.  ti.  p.  1061. 


90 


ntCHES. 


firmly  seated,  not  in  the  breasts  of  a  few  indnT- 
duals,  a  few  Berengarians,  but  in  the  bosom  of 
an  entire  population  in  some  part  of  Italy,  at 
a  period  early  enough  to  upset  all  the  pretendetl 
stories  of  new  sects  and  unheard-of  doctrines. 
Nothing  can  be  gained  to  the  Romanists  by  de- 
nying tliat  Rodolplic  had  an  eye  to  the  VVal- 
denses:  most  probably  he  did  not  know  them 
by  name,  but  the  narrative  that  he  gives  of  his 
journey  proves,  that  he  had  heard  of  a  country  in 
Italy,  where  Christians  professed  a  faith  different 
from  his  own,  and  denied  the  real  presence,  in  the 
sense  of  the  Roman  Church ;  that  he  desired  to 
\'isit  it,  when  he  was  on  that  side  of  the  Alps  where 
it  lay,  but  that  the  state  of  his  health  and  Qnanccs, 
and  fear  of  danger,  prevented  him,  and  therefore 
he  returned  straight  home  from  Rome  to  St.  Tron. 
There  is  not  a  word  in  the  Abbot's  Journal  to  de- 
signate the  geography  of  the  region  in  question, 
save  this,  that  while  he  was  in  Italy  it  was  desira- 
ble to  complete  the  object  of  his  journey,  and  to 
investigate  the  particulars  of  a  prevailing  heresy 
in  tl]e  land  where  it  flourished.  It  does  not  even 
appear  that  he  himself  knew  exactly  where  the 
region  was  situated '. 

'  Tbe  whole  of  the  paxtage,  whkh  u  cxccniingtv  amb^oaa, 
excejit  as  lo  ili«  one  fiaci  of  ■  wkolc  n^gion  in  lisly  brtog  polluted 
by  inrclenle  hcmy,  !»«  within  the  coiT>{«sa  of  a  («w  lines :  — 
■'  Cnnique  vigiUns  nocle  aliqaaudo  jaceret,  el  die  in  Eccksiia 
solus  Uonuc    resident,  dHi^ntt  cnra  et  lollkilo  reinwtalwt 


I 


I 


a 


i 


WALPENSIATt    RBSEARrKKS. 


01 


Towards  the  year  1 140,  Bernard,  Abbot  of  Clair- 
raux,  having  received  a  letter  from  Evervinus  of 
Cologne,  concerning  some  heretics  of  that  place, 
took  occasion  to  compose  a  long  invective  against 
such  as  prcsimied  to  oppose  themselves  to  the  d(^- 
mas  of  the  Latin  Church.  With  the  usual  artifice 
of  monkish  writers',  who  have  a  passion  for 
reviling  all  who  disagree  with  them,  he  contrived 
to  mix  up  truth  and  falsehood  togetlier  in-  one 
heterogeneous  compound,  and  confounding  every 
denomitmtion  of  C^hristians  at  variance  witli  Rome 
under  tJie  common  name  of  heretics,  to  ascribe 

tBimo,  qua  i>eregru)a(ionii  turn  fuiuct  iolentio,  et  de  ea  nn- 
IilB  relt^iMi*  viti»  (|uiil  in  ilincn:  diittt'iMCt  ab  ris.  Sollici- 
hUiat  Miim  eum  hoc  non  pamm  ad  «a  <|un  cogiUTcmt,  ti  nwnt 
tzplenda.  miirtit  oi  j:iin  tunepU  furrant  neeeaaiu.  Pnctrmi 
lafTMR  wl  qujm  ulloiua  dicpoinent  pcfcgriiuri,  udicbat  pollB- 
tsm  MM  inwteniu  bsreai,  do  cocpore  et  sanguine  Domini,  sed 
eC  d«  cobulio  aniow  sii»,  «t  corum  qui  ubi  fuenol  ooumiMt 
Btbil  aliud  nudienit  a  relipou*  vuia,  uiti  quod  docni  didicent 
«B  Bcclmulica  dttclplina  et  librit  cominnnibu*  tain  nobis  ijnam 
n&L  Super  boc  accrcvent  r.i  putw  janKladum  in  cIiidp  qaam 
phywd  Krimt  ciatinin  n]>p«UaTP,  ra  cum  gTL-ssum  «  peretrin* 
pBsi,  ei|uture  etuini  tiuo  couuuuo  cructaiu  luxi  aiaelMt." 
8[HC-  Oac  tMD.  7.  pL  493.  Hie  relaiion  prococdi  to  tUte,  tbat 
Rijdolplw  ictunwd  (tnigbt  hoaw. 

'  It  ha*  ercf  hoea  the  mliee  and  ibc  wisdom  of  tbe  Churdi 
uT  RrOOM  to  paint  all  wbo  era  diuAected  lo  bendf  under  tfae 
tflatcoloura;  Manidurans,  Ariant,  Novntun*,  Pnuticiaiw,  were 
wmaB  that  bccaiM  oiImhjs  to  CUnslian  can  at  a  rcr;  caily  pe- 
hud  ofCbnitiaa  history,  and  it  was  thcrcfon:  a  sate  waj  of  reo- 
dmag  noD-«otironniaU  auspecteil  and  otmoxious  to  brand  thein 
wuli  theae  Btijjins*. 


WALtffNSIAN    BESEARCBBS. 


the  extravagances  of  any  one  sect  to  them 
But  in  spite  of  this  disingenuous  dealing,  bH 
suffered  a  statement  to  escape  him,  to  which  1 
have  already  made  reference,  [p.  43.]  but  wbici 
must  again  be  brought  forward  as  belonging  l^t£ 
mately  to  this  parcel  of  evidence.  In  substance  il 
is  this.  "  There  is  a  sect  which  calls  itself  aftei 
no  man's  name,  which  affects  to  be  in  the  dircd 
line  of  apostolical  succession,  and  rustic  and  nai 
learned  though  it  is,  yet  it  contends  that  we  ari 
wrong,  and  that  it  only  is  right.  It  must  deriv^ 
its  origin  from  the  devil,  since  there  is  no  other  exi 
traction  which  we  can  assign  to  it '."  We  than! 
him  for  this  admission.  He  gives  his  valuable  te* 
timony  to  the  very  fact  that  we  are  so  anxious  t( 
establish.  Wliether  they  were  the  Waldenses  ol 
whom  he  was  speaking,  or  others,  it  matters  noti 
it  is  enough  for  us  to  know  that  in  the  time  of  thg 
learned,  industrious,  and  enquiring  Romanist, theril 
was  an  ancient  community  in  Europe,  avowing 
sentiments  in  opposition  to  Rome,  such  as  thij 
Waldenses  have  ever  avowed — such  as  Protestanti 
now  maintain,  and  who  yet  acknowledged  no  here 
siarch,  no  chief,  or  founder,  whose  memory  theq 
held  in  honour,  or  to  whose  tenets  they  subscribed 
as  did  the  Manich^eans,  the  .Ariaiis,  the  Sabclliani 
Nestorians,  &c.  What  then  becomes  of  the  fabti 
of  the  Paulicians,  or  other  fathers  of  tlie  Reform* 

1 

*  [tcnijinl,  Serrnu  tup.  Cant.  66.  1 


WALHEKSIAN   RBSBARCnCS. 


93 


tioTi,  whum  (Gibbon  and  Moslicim,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  GlabcT  and  Muratori,  transported  from  Asia 
into  France  and  Italy  i    Bt^rnard,  >vlio  was  bora 
towanls  the  latter  end  of  the  eleventh  century, 
had  upportuuitics  enough  of  ascertaining  the  truth, 
if  the  first  seeds  of  the  Waldcnsian  heresy  had 
been  sown  by  foreign  hands  in  the  eleventh  ccn- 
tary.     But  not  a  word  of  this.    On  the  contrary, 
be  attests  the  existence  of  a  commitnity,  which 
boasted,  that  it  called  itself  after  no  man's  name, 
bfcausc  it  was  of  apostolical  descent.   lie  does  not 
indeed  speak  of  the  country  of  this  community, — 
bat  his  simple  mention  of  it  confirms  our  belief 
in  the  probability,  ttiat  the  Vaudois,  iu  the  very 
eu-licst  times,  put  in   their  claims  to  he  consi- 
dered a  pure  branch  of  the  primitive  Church,  and 
idbsed,  as  they  do  now,  any  other  appellation 
diao  that  which  belonged  to  them,  as  members  of 
Christ's  universal  Church,  or  as  inhabitants  of  the 
rolleys.     Better  evidence  of  the  Scripturid  purity 
of  their  fiiith  cannot  be  adduced,  for  sectarians  or 
tchismatics,  properly  so  called,  in  general  make  no 
^■l^nise  of  their  origin,  as  separatists  from  an  es- 
tablished Church,  or  from  the  larger  body,  but 
take  a  pride  in  calUng  themselves  after  the  author 
of  their  opinions  or  head  of  their  party.  The  VVal- 
denscs,  adhering  fi^m  age  to  age  to  the  primitive 
&jth,  have  for  that  reason  rejected  any  distinctive 
appellation.  In  Uke  manner,  while  many  sectariaus 


WALDRNSIAN  RESBAROIES. 


bare  openly  professed  sentinmnts  of  the  wildest 
and  most  extravagant  character,  the  Waldcnses 
have  never  pleaded  guilty  to  any  one  of  the  un- 
scriptural  opinions,  which  have  been  imputed  to 
them.  Fanatics  in  general  have  no  objection  to 
the  denttmitiation  which  most  nearly  describedj 
thorn.  However  offensive  it  may  be,  it  is  a  soe| 
of  persecution  of  which  they  are  proud,  and  in 
progress  of  time  the  term  is  accepted  on  their  port 
witli  the  same  readiness,  with  which  it  is  applied 
to  them  by  their  adversaries.  But  the  men  of  tha 
valleys,  conscious  of  tlieir  own  ortliodoxy,  and  atit^ 
minuting  the  extravagant  folly  of  fanatics,  quite  as 
much  as  the  Romanists  did,  would  never  conseid 
to  have  any  name  applied  to  them,  but  their  own." 
Hence  even  the  most  ferocious  of  the  edicts,  which 
were  issuc<l  against  them  in  the  days  of  [lenecution, 
never  styled  them  by  any  term  worse  tluin  "  herel 
tics,"  or  "professors  ofthe  pretended  reformed  rela 
gion."  This  forbearance  on  the  part  of  their  so- 
vereigns and  their  advisers  '  is  a  clear  proof,  that 

'  Although  tlve  jtuMic  uuthoritici  were  (hut  tpnriiig  in  (he 
terms  which  they  applied  (o  the  Vaudois,  in  the  acta  aod  onti- 
nSDcei  of  the  principality,  yet  Romish  writers  und  cootrovcf- 
■ialisls  have  uot  Kfirained  from  loading  tbeiD  with  every  *P}>«ll 
btioB  (not  the  voobukry  of  heiety.  I  coDsiderthis  to  be  aoo- 
Iker  tcstitnofiy  in  &i-our  of  tite  antiquity  of  the  WaMennan 
ChuTch,  and  of  its  succcufal  oppoHtwn  to  the  usurpaltoiu  uf 
Rgme.  Whenever  any  nttManee  was  toadt  to  the  new  corrop- 
tions  of  that  Uiurcli,  rt  was  attiibutod  lu  Waldvnaui  ur^in ;  Bad 


I 


WALDEKSIAX   RESBARCnES. 


whatever  vbtionary  or  monstrous  tenets  may  have 
been  adopted  by  other  dissidents  from  Rome,  the 
non-conforming  Church  of  the  Alps  has  continued 
to  be  as  sober  in  its  articles  of  faith,  as  the  "  sect" 
contemporary  with  lleriianl  of  ('lairvaux,  which 
disclaimed  all  connection  with  any  but  apostolical 
founders. 

In  the  year  1183,  four  years  after  the  I-atcran 
Council  under  Alexander  III.  in  which  the  ^Vlbi- 
gniBes  were  ajiathematiscd,  their  goods  pro- 
DOaoeed  to  be  confiscated,  and  their  persons  con- 
teiiued  to  slavery ',  Po|)c  Lucius  published  a  huU 
igunst  the  heresies  and  heretics,  which,  as  that 
document  set  forth,  "  had  sprung  up  in  roost  parts 
of  the  world,"  and  had  obtained  difTerent  names 
from  the  several  false  doctrines  which  they  pro- 
is  Uw  **  GUimriuinul  Scri]>tot«i  niRliopet  infiin«  I^tiaHatU," 
VI  Sod  Uut  ereiy  appellatioa  by  wbich  icbiuMitici  were  known, 
M  iu  tjounytn  tti  WaUenMS. — e.  ^. 

*•  Bwmi  llatnincs" — "  Rdnerua  cotilra  Valdcnw*  ait,"  *c. 
l^  Balgui"— "  Caihiui  qui  liikiD  nai  can  ValdatiMbua." 

'  Cuhari"— "  Liiain   poKmodiim  dklj  VtJdenaiuixi  Secui* 


**  InutibaUU  et  Sabtatatl'*— "  Hterctki  Valdciniuin  AmocIv 
Swara.- 

iMMklK**—"  Hwrrtict  ^ni  diu  VBldcnK*." 
UcdmBOHi-'-"  Sifc  Valdcran.-* 

*  hopnn  dc  LncduDO" — "  IlKnt)ci(|iil  vulgo  VBl(l«n*es,*'A<;. 
"  pMNfini"— ■*  Huraiid  VsUeiuititn  SccUiii." 

*  PucihRr— "  Dicli  prwu-rea  llentUci  VaMcMiam  SceUriL" 
'  Rnntii''— ■*  llvrrtid  VBk[«n*iuiii  Anecbe.** 

'  Sta  Condi.  Ut.  torn.  10.  p.  l&Vi. 


WAtDP.S-aiAK    KESBARCnsa 


lessed.  This  bull  declared  "  all  Catliari,  Patcrini, 
and  those  who  called  tlicmiHilves  the  humble  or 
poor  Dieii  of  Lyons,  and  Passagini  (i.  e.  men  of  the 
valleys,  fipom  tlieir  mountain  passes,  as  I  have 
shewn  p.  61,  note.)  to  lie  under  a  perpetual  ana^ 
thcma ;"  and  it  especially  denounced  those  "  wha 
taught  any  opinions  concerning  the  Sacrament  of 
the  body  and  blood  of  Christ,  Baptism,  the  remt^ 
sion  of  sins,  matrimony,  or  any  other  Sacrament* 
of  the  Church,  differing  from  what  the  holy  Church 
of  Rome  doth  preach  and  observe."  It  also  en^ 
joined  "  every  archbishop  or  bishop,  either  in  hia 
own  person  or  hy  his  archdeacon,  to  visit,  once  oe 
twice  in  the  year,  the  parishes  in  which  it  is  re* 
ported  that  heretics  dwell '."' 

Again,  in  the  year  1194,  Alphonso,  King  ofAr- 
Xagon,  and  Martiuess  of  Provence,  issued  a  public 
edict "  commanding  and  charging  the  X^aldenses, 
Insabbatati,  who  otherwise  are  called  the  poor 
men  of  Lyons,  and  all  other  heretics,  to  depart  out 
of  his  kingdom  and  all  his  dominions*." 

Now  wliat  do  we  infer  from  these  complaint* 
of  the  prevalence  of  opinions  hostile  to  the  Homaa 
Church,  in  which  express  mention  is  made  oC 
Watdenscsl  Not  that  which  Pope  Lucius  III. 
would  have  had  the  dtipes  of  the  pontificate  to 
believe,  that  they  were  "  heresies  lately  sprung 


I 


■  ConciL  Ub.  lorn.  10.  p.  1737. 
'  Bib.  Pair.  torn.  13.  p.  230. 


WALDESSIAS   RESEARCUBS. 


dr 


m  all  parts  of  the  world,"  but  that  thoy  were  the 
lingering  doctrines  of  the  Primitive  Church,  which 
at  diu  latter  end  of  the  twelfth  century  were  still 
cherished  by  some  few,  at  least,  in  all  parts  of  the 
world, — and  which  the  Romanists  had  hitherto 
found  It  difticult  to  supplant  by  the  substitution 
of  their  own  i>crver8totis  and  fables.  Kot  that 
anti-papal  novelties  were  now  first  spreading  in  all 
parts  of  the  world ;  but  that  the  papacy  began  to 
fisd  itself  strong  enough  to  enforce  those  corrup- 
tions of  its  own,  in  diverse  quarters,  which  had  long 
been  pushing  truth  out  of  the  way.  The  opinions 
held  by  recu&ants  concerning  the  sacraments,  con- 
trary to  those  of  Rome,  were  in  accordance  with 
A»  smple  articles  of  the  apostohcal  (aith,  H-hile 
those,  which  the  mistress  Church,  supported  by 
booted  emperors  and  imbecile  princes,  was  at- 
tempting to  thrust  upon  the  nations  of  Euro[>e. 
were  unscriptural  creeds,  which  rendered  the  cross 
bmtlienaomc  or  contemptible. 

Endeavours  were  made  to  shew  that  the  Albi- 
gonaes  were  of  recent  appearance  at  the  time  of 
the  I^emn  Council,  in  1I7U.  Hut  in  1168'  the 
Council  of  Tours  had  sjwken  of  the-  contagion  as 
h«Tn^  spread  long  ago,  far  and  wide,  and  in  the 
parts  about  Thoulouse,  Gascony,  and  in  many 
cither  provinces.  Simitar  attempts  were  hazarded 
to  describe  the  AValdeuscs  and  Poor  Men  of  Lyons 


'  Sec  Con.  Lam.  tarn.  10.  p.  1410. 
H 


WALDEN8IAN   KBSBARCHBS. 


as  the  same  sect,  and  to  make  it  believed  that 
they  were  so  named  from  Waldo,  of  Lyons,  who 
began  his  reforming  career  in  1 161,  and  termiuated 
it  in  1 1 79.  But  can  any  tiling  be  more  absurd  than 
to  suppose  tliata  religious  faction,  originating  about 
twent)'  or  tiventy-two  years  previously  to  the  bull 
of  Lucius  111.,  could  have  so  spread  "inmost  parts 
of  the  world  '"  as  to  occasion  the  meeting  of  "  pa- 
triarchs, archbishops,  and  many  princes,  from  se- 
Teral  parts  of  the  world*,"  "to  dc\-isethe  best  means 
of  putting  it  down  'l"  In  the  present  age,  with  all 
the  aid  of  printing  and  rapid  communication,  would 
it  be  easy  to  extend  any  religious  innovation,  so  | 
as  to  make  it  influential  and  formidable  through- 
out the  world  nithin  a  space  of  twenty  years,  un- 


I 


'  See  b«U  of  Lucius,  in  1183,  Concil.  Lab.  torn.  10.  p.  1737.' 

*  It  hu  bMn  kfitrmed  tlut  tbe  ordcti  of  the  Fnociscam  ind  \ 
DomiDicMi)  were  tni>litutc«l  to  iilcncc  th«  Waklenies.  Sccj 
Bib.  Wu.  torn.  4.  p.  ii.  p.  739. 

*  Tbe  oath  wbich  wu  about  this  tane  administered  lo  ifl] 
"  lungs,  prioces,  goveraor^,  eaili,  barona,  cod&uIs,  and  | 
of  cities",  ID  coDimunion  with  tbe  Latin  Churdi,  ¥nu  that  "  tbey  J 
would  poverfolly  and  efi<«tuaUy  asuM  the  Church  against  heie^  I 
tics  and  tbctr  acooaiplkcs,  and  cndcaTonr  faiihrully  to  exacutt' 
tbe  ccclcsiulkiJ  and  impctisl  sUtutes  coocernln^  the  ntattca 
theitin  nwDtioncd."  See  Coac.  Lab.  10.  M'SJ,  Ignc 
seculai  officers  wtre  not  likElv  to  undcntaDd  what  was  1 
against  scriptural  tratb,  and  what  was  not,  coosequeDllj  tb«] 
defgy  pTOC«cd«l  npidiy  after  tbts,  in  rooting  out  tbe  simple 
eerricta  of  Chaicbes,  indepeodeul  hitliertu  of  Rome,  and  in  ea>  , 
labltshins:  the  maa*  luul  nit  it«  coocMnitunt  nmuiMMMis. 


WALI>ENSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


90 


were  backed  by  the  force  of  anns  ?  Could 
tiiis  Iiave  beeij  done  then  at  a  period  when  com- 
miinication  and  intercourse  were  impeded  by  a 
thousand  obstacles  unknown  to  the  existing  gene- 
rations ! 

The  fact  is,  that  the  council  of  prelates  and 
pfinces,  and  the  papal  bull,  were  cnipIoyc<l  to  ex- 
tinguish the  few  bright  sparks  that  were  left  of  the 
flame  of  trutl)  kindled  by  the  Primitive  Church. 

Up  to  this  period,  and  still  later,  the  lire  was 
kept  alive  in  those  regions,  which  were  at  a  dis- 
ulocc  firom  the  jealous  eye  of  the  triple  crowned 
usurpor,  and  remote  from  i>cats  of  government 
where  his  influence  prevailed.  In  the  strong 
holds  of  the  valleys  of  l^eraont  It  continued  to 
bom  most  brightly  for  reasons  which  1  have  stated 
above — there  it  never  «as  snicitherfd.and  the  name 
of  it^  vi^laiit  guardians  became  synonymous  for 
aD  that  was  most  feared  and  abhorred  by  the  Latin 
ecclesiastics. 

The  contradictory  statements  of  the  haters  of 
the  mnaining  light  of  the  Primitive  Church  are 
eridence  of  the  sliame,  to  which  it  had  long 
continued  to  put  those  who  loved  darkn<?ss  rather 
than  light.  "  It  is  a  heresy  just  sprung  tip," 
•aid  Pope  Lucius,  in  his  bull  of  1183.  "It  is 
powerful,  public,  and  every  where  allowed," 
and  the  twenty-seventh  canon  of  the  Lateran 
Cooninl  in  1179.  "  It  shewed  itself  Jong  ago, 
tnd  is  DOW  spreading  like  a  cancer,  in  all  the 


too 


WAI,DE\SIAN   RF-SGARCRRS. 


regions  round  about  Thoulousc,  in  Gascony,  and 
in  very  many  provinces,"— is  the  complaint  of  the 
fourth  canon  of  the  Council  of  Tlionlouse  in  1 163. 
"  It  is  busily  agitating  the  questions  of  the  real 
presence,  infant  baptism,  and  the  validity  of  our 
sacerdotal  orders," — is  the  declaration  of  the  third 
canon  of  the  Council  of  Thoulousc  in  1119. 
**  It  is  new "  said  the  abbot  of  Pons  Calidus,  in 
1140.  "  It  is  old,"  said  bis  contemporary  Ecbert. 
"  It  is  contemptible,"  said  Bernard  of  Clairvaux, 
who  flourished  about  the  same  period.  "  It  is 
formidable,"  said  one  of  Bernard's  correspondents. 
"It  was  a  novelty  in  the  12th  and  13th  cen- 
turies," said  the  monks  Reiner  and  Mariana 
and  Gretser.  "  It  was  not  a  new  heresy  in  the 
lOth  century,"  said  the  Prior  Rorenco,  "  but  only 
the  continuation  of  the  heresy  of  the  preceding 
ages." 

Having  traced  the  Waldenses  through  the  8th, 
9th,  10th,  1 1th,  and  12th  centuries,  I  have  now 
brought  the  enquirer  down  to  an  epoch,  when 
more  formidable  and  systematic  engines  were  set 
to  work,  to  root  out  the  last  adherents  to  the  pri- 
mitive forms  and  creeds  of  the  Christian  Church. 
In  the  quaint  and  sarcastic  language  of  Berenga- 
rius,  "  the  world  had  long  began  to  see  in  thi 
bishop  of  Rome,  non  solum  pontificcm  scd  pompi-'' 
ficem,  et  pulpiiicem" — not  only  the  pontifical,  but 
the  pompous  and  aspiring  character.  After  the 
successful  crusade  against  the  .Albigenses  and  the 


1^ 


i 


WALDEN8IAN    RBSRARCUKS. 

remains  of  the  A|>ostolic«l  Christians  in  France, 
between  I20S  auti  1218,  the  ecclesiastical  histo- 
rians and  polemics  in  the  interests  of  the  po|)e, 
began  to  give  their  attention  more  carefully  to  the 
subject  of  uon-couformity,  and  to  declare  war 
against  difTcrciit  Iradies  of  the  disaffected,  and  to 
anathematize  them  by  name,  as  far  as  locaUty  or 
arowed  religious  sentiments  might  render  it  pos- 
able  to  classify  them.  The  dissidents  of  the 
MOth  of  France  liad  rendered  themselves  suWi- 
oently  conspicuous  to  be  brought  under  the  ap- 
peOatioD  of  Alhigenses,  cither  because  Alhi  was 
tbe  centre  of  the  country  where  the  religious  con- 
Itict  raged,  or  because  the  council  of  Alhi,  or  Con- 
Cereticc  of  AIbi  in  1179,  first  invited  the  notice 
of  the  papacy  to  the  strong  feeling,  which  mani- 
fested  itself  in  Languedoc,  against  the  encroach- 
ents  of  the  Latin  clergy.  But  it  was  no  easy 
er  to  enrol  the  recusants  under  distinctive 
in  other  regions.  Tlie  opponents  of  Rome 
Were  to  be  found  ever)-  where,  intermixed  with 
the    population.      They    were    in   Spain ',    and 


'  Oaddc*  ku  ibcwii  in  hk  Mucdliuwoui  TracU,  toL  U.  thai 
to  fOfl*  bcU  i^t  lipgooM-D  ot  Konie  Kitd  lli«ii  uiucriptural 
IMVcfSOM  oT  lh«  Inilli  is  greater  tcom  than  the  nriy  Charchcs 
rf  Sfwin.  H«  aiaeru  iliat  Ihc  Ootbic  Utnr^,  used  in  Spttin  till 
ifaMl  lOftO,  conUined  nuOiing  like  ibe  Tttbles  of  the  Mnnl, 
mi  that  ra  Uw  ouiom  of  fcft;r  Sjrnodf,  ot  DUioaal  aiid  provin- 
cU  Coancik,  held  in  succcMton,  Trooi  tiMt  of  Elilxm  in  305, 
•alt  word  it  lo  be  fuuitd  in  Mippongrpii(»lMipRiuwj. 


102 


WALDEMSUN  KESEASCUES. 


Porttigal  from  the  PjTcnees  to  Gibraltar — 
the  three  books  of  the  Spanish  writer,  LnO 
Tudensis,  "  On  the  Controversies  concemil 
another  Life,  and  on  Heretical  errors,"  compost 
between  the  years  1330  and  1240.  So  thicli 
were  the  impugners  of  Rome  interspersed  amci 
his  countr)-nicn,  that  l^ucas  had  no  other  commt 
name  for  them  but  the  prostituted  term,  heret) 
When  Mariana,  however,  came  to  repubUsh  thd 
hooks  four  hundred  years  after%vards,  he  chose ' 
entitle  them  "  The  three  books  of  Lucas  Tudcu 
against  the  errors  of  the  Aibigenses."  Not  a  wo 
is  said  about  the  Aibigenses  tluroughout  the  who 
of  the  ori^nal,  but  the  interpolation  was  mad 
"  because,"  says  Mariana  in  the  Epistolary  dedie 
Uon  and  in  the  Preface, "  the  ^Vlbigenses  were  d 
sect  which  flourished  contcmporar}'  with  Lucas ' 
Those,  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  read  this  woi 
and  observe  how  fondly  Lucas  dwells  upon  tl 
presumed  opinions  of  Isidore,  the  Spanish  saU 
how  he  laments  that  Spanish  enthusiasm  shou 
be  cooled,  and  should  not  burst  out  in  an 
against  the  enemies  of  the  Catholic  faith  * — h< 
he  declaims  against  heretical  conventicles — 1| 
pubHc  disputations  of  heretics ' — their  profanatii 
of  the  parish  churches  *, — the  arrival  of  Axnaldl 


■  Bib.  pair.  torn.  4.  Pariwin,  1624.  p.  575,  581. 
•  Ibiil.  p.  fi93.  *  Ibid.  p.  694. 

'  Ibid.  p.  703. 


WALDEK9IAN   BIUEAKCUE9. 


103 


^NUD  and  the  transactions  at  Leon ', — will  per- 
oave  that  the  mind  of  Lucas  %vns  occtipii>(l  by  tho 
conaidvratiun  of  Spaiiiiih,  and  not  of  ^Ubigcusiau, 
or  foreign  non-conforraity. 

That  the  discontent  was  as  general  in  other 
countiies  as  in  France  and   Spain,  especially  in 
Belgium  and  Genmuiy,  against  Papal  insolence 
and  unholiness,  will  equally  appear  from  the  tracts 
vrhicli  issued  from  the  pens  of  Kbrard  de  Buthune 
of  Flanders  (fl.  1212),  of  Bcniard,  Abbot  of  Fons 
Calidos    (fl.   1146),   of  Ermengard,    and    Ever- 
rinus  of  Cologne,  the  correspondent  of  Bcniard  of 
Clnirvaux  (fl.  1 140),  who  did  all  that  in  them  lay 
reconcile  their  contemporaries  to  the  Roman 
Ljroke,  and  to  inflame  them  against  such  as  made 
lit  their  religious  duty  to  uphold  the  simplicity  of 
I  the  Gospel,  and  to  expose  the  falsehoods  of  the 
itAtin  Church.     But  for  the  very  reason  that  the 
.  champions  of  the  truth,  and  the  asscrters  of  pri- 
I  mitive  Culli  and  discipline,  were  thus  intermingled 
every  where  with  the  population  of  tho  countries 
where  they  lived  and  preached,  and  that  there  was 
u  r^ion  but  one  (the  valle>'5  of  Picmont)  where 
Bomish  errors  had  not  crept  into  the  public  eccle- 
siastical constitutions,  these  writers,  like  Bernard 
of  Clairvaux,  spoke  of  Rome's  adversaries  under 
the  common  name  of  heretics,  or  under  the  still 
more  obnoxious  term  Manicha^ans.     Gretscr,  the 


t  Bib.  Pair.  lom.  4.  Pari*iU,  \6U,  p.  70(i. 


104 


WALDESSIAN    RBSEABCItES. 


editor  of  the  works  of  Ebrard,  of  Bentard  of  Fona 
Calidus,  and  of  Ermengard,  emblazoned  them  all 
three  as  a  triad  who  wrote  "  against  the  sect  of 
the  Waldenses."  There  is  not  the  leiist  proof  to 
be  adduced  from  internal  evidence  that  either 
Ilcniard  or  Ermengard  had  enlisted  themselves 
expressly  against  "  the  men  of  the  valleys."  Ber- 
nard's work  should  liave  been  called  "  Adversus 
Inobedientes  Ecclesise  Romanse';'  or  "Trea- 
tise against  those  who  refuse  to  submit  to  the 
Church  of  Rome.'  It  is  almost  wholly  occupied 
by  remonstrances  with  those  who  questioned 
the  authority  of  the  Pope,  and  of  the  popish  clergy, 
and  shews  clearly  enough,  that  Rome  had  no  Utile 
trouble  in  reconciling  the  public  mind  to  her  pre- 
tensions, even  in  the  middle  of  the  twelfth  century. 
Gretser's  malignant  hatred  of  the  Waldenses  is 
dispbyed  pre-eminently  in  the  substitution,  whtcfa 
he  has  hazarded  in  hts  edition  of  Ermengard's 
book.  Ermengard  wrote  "  against  those  who  say 
and  believe  tliat  this  world,  and  alt  things  visible, 
were  made  not  by  God,  but  by  the  Devil."  His 
first,  chapter  is  headed,  "  God  is  the  Creator  of  all 
things ;"  his  second,  "  There  are  not  two  Gods  *." 


'  The  beanls  of  the  thitt  lint  chapttr*  tuad  thus.  I.  "  Con- 
tn  hoc  quod  dkunt  Don  f«*c  obcdk-oduni  suinmo  Ponliftct  aliiivc 
Pnetalis.  11.  Dt^  ()i^iilale  PrnUtonim,  quod  eis  sit  (Ivfcrcn- 
duinetoh^dwtidiiin.  Ill.Coameo*  qui  d«trabuat  nctoribu* 
aDimiiram."     Bib.  PUr.  torn.  iv.  p.  1197. 

*  Bib.  P«U.  loffi.  i*.  (>.  Ii36. 


WALDKNSIAN    RCaRARCMCS. 


105 


^  There  is  some  slight  authority  for  the  insertion  of 
I  the  name  Walctenscs  at  tlic  head  of  Ebrard's  work, 
[but  it  is  very  slight.     "  Liber  anlibjeresis"  was  the 
[style  used  by  the  author  himself  for  his  book ;  and 
[■in  the  twenty-sixth  chapter ',  "  concerning  various 
I  heretics  and  ttieir  opinions,"  he  has  enumerated 
ity  sects  of  heretics,  to  neither  of  whom,  how- 
Fever,  does  he  assi^  either  country  or  habitation ; 
[kut  the  twenty-fifth  chapter,  "  against  those  who 
called    Xabatati,"   begins    in    this   manner: 
\*  There  are  some  who  call  themselves  VallenseSf 
because  they  dwell  in  the  valley  of  I'ears ;  these 
hold  the  A|>OKtles  in  derision,  and  would  rather  be 
called  Xabatenscs,  from  Xabata,  than  Christian, 
from  Christ"     In  the  fourth   paragraph  of  this 
chapter,  Ebrard  addresses  the  objects  of  his  vitu- 
pemtion  by  the  same  name ;  "  all  these  things  are 
objected  to  you  by  Solomon,  Oh,  ye  Vallenses  *.' 
It  is  singular  enough  that  this  author,  who  lived 
so  near  the  time  of  Waldo  (t1.  121*2),  and  was  most 
probal>ly  contemporary  with  him,  not  only  makes 
not  the  slightest  reference  to  that  Ueformer  as  tho 
founder  of  ttie  sect  of  the  Vallenses,  but  spells  the 
name  witli  a  V  and  with  two  L's,  using  neither  a 
W  nor  a  D  in  the  word,  which  he  assuredly  would 
have  done,  had  he  considere<l  the  "  men  of  the 
vineys"   to   have  been  named  Wuldcnscs,  from 

*  Bib.  Pitr.  tool.  i*.  p.  1173.     Ebrsnl,  in  hii  Urt  of  Iwntica, 
kM  MM  me  qrlUbIc  about  Uie  Paulictsnit  of  MMhein  and  Gib- 

*  rbiil.  p.  1 168. 


106 


WALDENSIAN    &K5EAKCIIES. 


Waldo.  But  no;  with  an  imperfect  notion  of 
these  people,  who  were  called  after  the  place  of 
their  abode,  but  which  place  was  unknown  to 
him,  a  native  of  the  lowlands  of  Flanders,  he  brings 
a  figurative  derivation  to  his  aid,  and  supposes,  or 
pretends  to  suppose  them  to  have  obtained  their 
appellation  from  their  affected  choice  of  a  poor 
and  sorrowful  hfe '. 

At  length,  when  it  was  thought  absolutely 
ccssary  that  Rome  should  give  some  account  of 
the  several  Churches  or  Congregations,  by  whom 
her  supremacy  and  infallibility  were  questioned,  a 
champion  arose  about  the  year   12o0,  and  pro- 

'  I  cannot  leave  Ebnird  and  the  VallcnMG,  and  his  editor 
GreUer,  without  drawing  attenliim  to  the  exUaordinary  sbiAi  to 
which  monkish  writers  nre  put  to  mnke  out  their  cue,  and  to 
blacknt  the  reputation  of  all  sacb  u  nfmt  "  the  mark  of  th» 
beast."    "  Waldeuses"  U  syiWHiymoug  with  Grelsct  for  the  tiatt 
of  heretics.     Mauiclievau^,  DiabotbU,  aud  Waldenset,  \hej  aie 
all  tbc  nine  with  him ;  but  when  the  crafty  Jesuit  fiodi  some 
reosoD  to  believe  thiit  Tope  I.ncias  the  Thin),  io  hbbull  of  IK 
maide  allusion  to  Uw  Vallcnsea,  he  thinks  that  this  early  i 
tion  of  ft  community  in  the  twelftfa  contury,  whom  in  ftDolher 
work  h«  has  accased  of  being  a  sect  new  to  tlie  ifairteenih  cen- 
tury, nill  not  accord  with  Uis  hypotlicni*,  and  ihvrefarc  he  pna^ 
tcods  that  they  were  so  calWd,  not  ftom  their  cotuilrr.  but  l^^ 
way  of  presage  and  foreknowledge  of  their  obstinate  unbelief, 
"  they  obtained  theit  appellation,  aud  were  called  Vallenscs  t^ - 
lesson  of  a  certain  presage  of  the  fattire,  namely,  ftom  ibe  det^] 
TtJIcy,  from  the  profundity  and  thick  cUrkncsi  of  error,  in  which 
ibey  were  to  be  invol<red  •." 

■  Sm  Bib.  Fattuin.  mm.  h.  TimlH.  (d  Tnct.  Bcmrdi,  p.  1 196. 


WAUOtHSlAN    USBARCr 


107 


imed  to  maintain  tlic  cause  of  the  sovereign 
pontiff  against  all  who  had  disputed  bis  authority. 
He  boasted  that  he  entered  the  lists  armed  at  alt 
poJDts,  and  that  having  been  a  heretic  himself,  no 
one  could  give  a  statement  of  their  several  creeds, 
and  describe  their  strong  holds  and  hiding  places 
so  well  as  he. 

The  name  of  this  polemic  was  Reincrus.    His 
IVeatise  against  Heretics  ',  is  the  text-book,  or 
ifdver,  from  which  more  recent  controvensialists 
dnw,  whenever  they  desire  to  shoot  a  poisoned 
arrow  against  the  ancient  W'aldenses,  and  in  lact 
lie  is  the  earlitrst  writer  who  attempted  to  give  any 
thing  like  a  distinct  or  detailed  history  of  the  finn 
of^Njsition,  which  Rome  experienced  from   this 
quarter.     But  after  all,  it  was  only  an  attempt; 
for  whether  it  was  from  malice  or  ignorance,  such 
a  confused  medley  of  names,  creeds,  and  charac- 
ters, was  never  yet  Jumbled  together  iu  any  one 
■^psdae.    All  the  errors  of  all  the  sects  are  ascribed 
^^Bcach.     Distortions,  misrepresentations,  and  ex- 
aggerations, crowd  every  page.     Nothing  is  too 
abturd  for  separatists  from  the  Latin  Church  to 
betiere,  and  nothing  too  abominable   for  them 
to  practise,     lie  assails  tlieir  reputation  with  all 

*  ■*  Bdaeri  ordiaii  Prailieatortim   Liber  cgnin  Waldeucs 
Hantiew :"  (orh  is  the  title  of  th«  book  by  its  editor,  Ontmr. 
**  OpwculitHi  (1«  llmvticJs,'  wu  the  wigiral  Utle.    Iltb.  Patr. 
UH.p.  39S. 


108 


WALDENSIAN    BESBARCHES. 


the  iuveteracy  awd  incousistcHcy  of  hLs  prototype, 
Bernard  of  Clain'aiix,  who,  in  the  same  paragraph, 
describes  the  non-conformists  who  had  incurred 
his  displeasure,  as  being  most  Christian  in  their 
profession  of  fdth,  and  most  blameless  in  their 
life  and  conversation ',  and  yet  as  concealing 
under  this  outward  guise,  the  vilest  dissimulation 
and  hj-pocrisy. 

But  the  mighty  power  of  truth  prevailed,  in  de- 
fiance of  Reiner's  prejudices;  and  in  the  inci- 
dental relations  which  stole  from  him,  we  fmd  tes- 
timonies in  Savour  both  of  the  antiquity  and  purity 
of  the  Church  of  the  Alps,  and  not  only  of  tt,  but 
of  other  Churches  in  the  north  of  Italy,  which  are 
absolutely  amazing.  Was  it  fatuity,  was  it  can- 
dour, was  it  a  secret  attachment  to  the  people, 
whom  he  had  deserted  and  betrayed,  or  was  it 
that  controlling  and  presiding  providence  of  God, 
which  laughs  the  enmity  of  the  wicked  to  scorn, 
and  forces  them,  in  spite  of  themselves,  to  work 
out  his  designs,  which  constrained  this  ajxistate  to 
write  down,  in  the  midst  of  his  calumnies,  so  many 
valuable  facts  relating  to  the  people,  in  whom  the 
Protestant  world  takes  so  deep  an  interest  ? 

Reiner,  in  this  work  of  his,  speaks  of  himself  as 
having  been  a  prelate  in  some  Church  not  in  com- 
munion with  Rome. 


'  Opera  Bcnianli,  mjkt  Cunlica,  Sernto  Ut.  p.  761. 


VAUnKSIAN   R>»P.ARCIIBS. 


109 


n,  the  friar  Uoincr,  formerly  an  hacresiarch, 
but  now,  by  the  grace  of  God,  an  unworthy  priest 
of  the  order  of  preachers ',  compiled  this  tract." 
It  is  divided  into  ten  chapters. 

1.  A  commendation  of  the  Christian  Faith  of 
the  Roman  Chm'ch. 

2.  >Vho  is  a  heretic ! 
S.  The  cause  of  heresy. 

4.  On  the  sects  of  ancient  lieretics. 

5.  On  the  sects  of  modern  heretics. 

6.  The  names  of  the  different  sects. 

7.  How  these  sects  may  be  recognized. 

8.  How  the  heretics  should  be  examined. 

9.  How   they   insinuate    themselves   into  the 
IHendship  of  the  great 

10.  How  they  should  be  punished. 

In  these  divisions  of  his  subject  the  inconsistency 
of  the  renegade,  and  the  blunders  of  the  unuilling 
witness,  arc  manifested  in  an  ec^ual  degree  \ 

The  poor  Men  of  Lyons  and  the  t-eonists  are 
represented  in  the  fifth  chapter  as  being  the  8ame> 
and  composing  a  sect  of  modem  heretics '. 

'  Bib.  Patr.  lorn.  siu.  p.  39S. 

*  For  exunple,  lie  diargcd  Iterelics  firel  with  rejtctinf  "  all 
tfa«  SttcnroanU,"  p.  298  ;  and  aftcnnrdi  vitli  "  adroinulering 
«Im  Sacninmt*  in  th*  ralgu  utnguit,"  p.  900. — "  Tbs  hmtka 
an  faoBd  m  fvw  ewutXntt,"  a  )ua  aaicnioii  in  one  plaot.    Ibid. 

p.  Vn. — "  Tbcn  ia  icucdy  an;  coaiiUj  wkeic  ili«7  an  not,** 

ia  hia  (aofnagc  in  anolbu  place,  p.  399. 

*  lUd.  p.  XH).    "  S«ctn  pBupcrom  de  Lngduno,  qol  riian 
Lndato  dkutur." 


WALDCNfttAK   KP_<(I! ARCHES. 

In  a  preceding  chapter,  the  Leonists  are  said  to 
be  the  most  pernicious  of  all  the  sects,  for  three 
reasons. 

I.  Because  they  are  the  most  ancient;  more 
ancient  than  the  Manichieans,  or  Arians,  deriving 
their  descent  from  the  time  of  Pope  Sylvester,  ac- 
cording to  some  ;  from  the  times  of  the  Apostles, 
according  to  others. 

II.  Because  tJiey  are  more  universally  spread 
over  all  countries. 

in.  Because  they  have  the  character  of  being 
pious  and  virtuous ;  because  they  believe  in  all  the 
articles  of  the  Apostles'  Creed ;  and  are  guilty  of 
no  other  crime  than  that  of  blasphemy  against  the 
Roman  Church  and  Clei^ '. 

The  Waldenses  arc  mentioned  by  name  but 
once,  and  then  very  briefly :  but  ever)-  internal 
evidence  goes  to  prove  that  the  Waldenses,  the 
Leonists,  and  the  Poor  Men  of  I^yons,  were  con- 
founded together,  either  ignorantly.  or  for  purposes 
of  his  own  by  Reiner. 

Of  Peter  Waldo  he  does  not  speak  by  name, 
when  he  traces  the  origin  of  the  Poor  Men  of 
Lyons ;  but  relates  the  story  of  a  zealot  of  Lyons, 
who  dinded  his  goods  among  the  indigent,  and 
became  the  founder  of  a  sect '. 

Was  it  that  he  had  not  the  hardihood  to  repre- 
sent the  Leonists  in  one  page,  as  a  sect  which 


'  Bib.  Fau.  tom.  siii.  p.  299. 


*  Ibid.  p.  300. 


WALDEN31AN    BBSEARCIIES. 


Ill 


pretended  to  great  antiquity  and  in  the  next  to  dc- 
rirc  them  from  W^aldo,  who  belonged  to  the  gene- 
ration before  himself!  Or  did  he  allude  to  the 
story  that  was  current  ages  before  his  time  in 
Lyons,  that  a  mcnit>cr  of  that  Church  opposed 
himself  to  the  pride  of  the  hierarchy  ?  Philich- 
dorffius  speaks  of  a  Valdo,  or  \''atdis,  who  flourished 
as  8  Reformer  in  the  seventh  century '. 
Be  this  as  it  may,  the  Leonists  and  Wahlenscs 

^  strongly  identified  in  the  pages  of  Reiner ; 
every  subsequent  ecclesiastical  historian  has 
taken  it  for  granted,  tliat  the  "  Men  of  the  Valleys" 
were  thus  designated  by  him. 

Did  tlic  Poor  Men  of  Lyons,  the  Lugdunists,  or 
Leonists '  of  Reiner,  assume  that  they  were  as 
iDcient  as  the  times  of  Sylvester,  if  not  of  the 
Apostles  t     So  did  the  Waldenses. 

Did  the  Leonists  derive  their  name,  in  all  pro- 
bability, from  "  one  Leon  ?"  I  have  already  shewn 
that  this  was  predicated  of  the  \N''aldenses  by  Ko- 
renco  and  Claude  Scysel,  and  Grctser  himself  was 
»ot  a  Uttlc  diiiconccrtcd  by  the  statement  in  the 
C?Uronicon    of  Abbas   Ursbergensis,  anno  1*212, 

'  BSk  PkU.  tom.  liti.  p.  283. 

'  RdaeriH  «u  not  Uto  only  writer  of  tbe  ihirln-nlh  n-nlvry 

^n  ^ofcv  of  tfac  Poor  Mgd  or  Lyons,  Leonists,  and  ^Vahkoscs, 

«■  Ika  mate.    "  Vsklcosn  mtc  Lngduiwusn."    See  Chronicoa 

QdM.  At  Paj'Laureos,  Ptsftilio ;  sod  Glooariiun  Latin,  sub 

*«t>*,  pMsini. 


2 


112 


WALDKNSIAN    RESEAIICHRS. 


wbich  represents  the  Paupercs  de  Lugduno,  as  aiu 
•'  ancient  order,  which  arose  m  Italy  long  ago '." 

Did  the  Lconists  of  Reiner  affimi  of  the  Koman 
Church,  that  it  cut  itself  off  from  tlie  body  ofT" 
Christ  under  l*op«  Sylvester'?    A  similar  chaise 
is  brought  against  her  in  the  Noble  Lesson  of  the 
Waldenses,  dated  1100.  A.D. 

Did  the  Leonists  believe  in  all  the  articles  of 
the  Apostles'  Creed,  and  contend  Uiat  those  only 
were  binding  upon  the  conscience  of  Christians  I 
The   Waldensies   would  never  subscribe  to  any 
other. 

Was  the  moral  character  of  the  Leonists 
unimpeachable?  (lleiner,  ca^.  vii.)  The  Wal- 
denses  ha\-e  escaped  all  imputations  of  imino> 
rality  *. 

It  is  clear,  from  these  coincidences,  tlmt  Ilciner 
must  be  considered  as  an  historical  witness  to  the 
antiquity  of  the  Waldcnscs.    And  though  his  ac- 

'  Bib.  Pair.  lotn.  xlu.  p.  ti.  p.  728. 

*  Itnit.  p.  300.  Reiner,  uid  &fl«r  him  other  Roroanists,  han; 
inBinnated  that  the  Waldenses  objected  to  Sylvecter,  berattsr  h 
wu  luuler  hiiu  tliat  itie  Cliurch  was  united  to  ibc  Slate,  ami 
obtained  her  lemporalilict.  Tbe  r«al  objection  conusted  to 
SflreJd«r  being  the  first  bbfaop  who  imiued,  at  poiats  of 
oecetsily,  apon  needteai  adjmicls,  corporals  pallf,  unctioos. 
&c.  &c.  Ac. 

*  PuadiD,  in  hil  Anoals  of  Burgundy,  1566,  nyt,  thni  in  the 
(CTcnl  ancient  htturics  wliicli  he  had  oonsullcd,  tbe  Wald«aues 
aiv  acquitted  of  idl  crime 


W.H,I>EVSIAJJ    RESEARCHES. 


113 


cnunt  of  the  heretics  of  the  day  is  perplexed  in  an 

extreme  dejrree,  it  makes  more  for  the  Protestant 

than  for  the  Romish  cause. 

•  Theretsan  awkwardness  inopposing  truth,  which 

wilt  always  continue  to  embarrass  party  writers  hkc 

Reiner,  and  his  editor,  Gretser,     For  some  reason 

or  other,  most  probably  because  his  personal  re- 

warchcs  had  not  extended  to  the  remote  seat  of 

this  Alpine  church,  Reiner  did  not  give  the  Wal- 

deofCBthat  distinct  place  in  his  treatise,  which  will 

otiify   tho  present  enquirer  touching  his  own 

ktiowlodge  of  their  valleys.    But  he  has  lell  traces 

of  them,  enough  to  render  it  a  matter  of  surprise 

that  there  should  be  such  a  perverse  reluctance 

OD  the  port  of  our  adversaries  to  admit  the  anti- 

^^■U^  of  the  independent  church  of  the  valleys  of 

^^leraont:  more  especially  when  it  is  remembered 

that  he  puts  it  beyond  all  doubt,  that  there  were 

churches  in  other  parts  of  Italy  that  had  long  pre- 

KQted  a  most  formidable  front  to  the  intrusive 

dergy  of  the  Vatican.     I  may  abo  throw  out  by 

the  way,  that  it  is  much  more  Ukely  that  a  race  of 

iitountaineers,   secluded  from  the  world,  should 

Imtc  preserved  the  purity  and  simplicity  of  the 

priniitive  church,  thaii  tlmt  they  should  suddenly 

Weone  scripture-readers  and  reformers  in   the 

twelfth  century,  after  liavuig  been  overwhelmed 

n  the  darkness  that  prevailed  during  the  ninth, 

tenth,  and  eleventh  centuries. 

^^Itcn  Roman  Catholic  polemics  boast  of  the 

I 


lU 


WALDENSUN    RESEARCHES. 


universality  of  the  Latin  church,  and  complain  of 
the  novelties  which  sprung  up  in  opposition  to  it 
for  the  first  time  in  the  eleventh,  say  some,  in  tbe 
twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries,  say  others,  we 
would  direct  them  to  the  ]>ages  of  their  own  Rei- 
ner, and  there  they  will  find  what  sort  of  Chris- 
tian establishments  the  Romish  Clergy  and  parti- 
sans had  to  put  down  before  they  could  erect 
their  own  constructions.  Numberless  branches  of 
the  primitive  church  they  had  to  destroy  :  multi- 
tudes of  disobedient  congregations  they  had  to 
force  into  unwilling  conformity,  from  the  Garonne 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Po,  on  one  side,  and  fi^m  tbe 
very  Tiber  to  the  Rhine  on  tlie  other,  before  Rome 
could  be  considered  one  and  supreme. 

Reiner  has  rc-conled,and  his  relation  is  confirmed 
by  the  numerous  authorities  which  the  industry 
of  Muratori  collected  ',  tliat  there  was  scarcely  a 
principal  town  or  district  in  the  north  of  Itafy, 
or  in  the  south  of  France,  which  did  not  con- 
tain large  bodies  of  men  protesting,  in  the  name 
of  Christ  and  his  Apostles,  against  the  doctrines 
and  imjKKiitions  of  the  Latin  pontificate  *. 

Could  a  systematic  and  wide  spreading  resist- 
ance, such  as  the  following  statements  of  Reiner 
represent  to  liavc  been  in  action  in  the  middle  of 
tbe  thirteenth  century  *,  have  been  the  growth 

'  See  Manlori,  Distcitution  RO. 

■  RcincntR,  Bib.  PaU.  tom.  xiii.  p.  299.  304. 

*  I  bavo  BMiinMd  I2fl0  w  a  inMiuiu  date,  ami  have  itoi  lakca 


WALUENSIAN    RKSB ARCHES. 


115 


o(  a  single  age  1  And  identilied  as  it  is,  in  all 
its  miu-ks  aiid  characteristics,  with  the  resistance 
which  the  Christians  of  the  purer  a;ras  offered 
to  the  corruptions  that  began  to  make  head  in 
their  day;  could  it  be  otherwise  than  a  ray  of 
that  true  Gospel  spirit  which  bad  never  ceased  to 
be  in  operation  against  error  and  against  the 
working  of  the  mystery  of  iniquity  ! 

"  The  Catholic  teachers  are  not  as  zealous  in 
die  diffusion  of  their  true  doctrine,  as  the  pcrfidi- 
oas  Loonbits  are  in  spreading  their  false  tenets  *." 

"  Divided  as  they  arc  against  themselves,  they 
ire  tmited  together  against  the  church,  like  Sam- 
na's  foxes,  whose  tails  were  tied  together  while 
$mit  faces  looked  different  ways  *." 

"  In  all  the  states  of  Lorahardy  and  Provence, 
(the  Waldenses  lay  between  the  two)  and  in  other 
tingdonu  and  lands,  the  heretics  have  more 
idiools  than  the  theologians,  and  more  auditors  : 
ttwjr  faold  public  disputations,  and  convoke  the 
pttople  to  soiumn  discussions;  they  preach  in  the 
narket-f) laces,  and  in  the  fields,  and  in  private 
luHlies,  and  there  is  nnb(Hty  who  dares  to  prevent 

•drantagc  of  the  mention  of  in  inquisitor,  naiDed  Rrintr,  in  llw 
liall  of  Pope  Innocent  III.  in  1 199  ;  which,  if  be  bt  (he  ubm, 
■iiiiH  aury  ibe  a(;e  of  thi*  wiIbl-u  up  lo  a  fwfioil  tuott  uii-ful  lo 
■y  kypWheti*.  I  uo  iocliucd  lo  think  tliat  ibcic  were  two  of 
te  mnie.  who  fiK^ned  u  iiM|uiiiitors.  Tba  Itrinn  wliom  I  ban 
I  hnkA  one  certain  date  in  hU  «o*k,  that  of  1230.  Sse 
VI. 
'  Raaernt,  Bih.  Pair.  tnra.  liii.  p.  299.  *  Ibid. 

tS 


116 


W.\LDENSUN    RESBAROKRS. 


them,  on  account  of  the  power  and  numbers  of 
those  who  favour  them '." 

"  In  my  examination  of  heretics,  and  according' 
to  a  computation  nuide  by  them,  1  find  there  are 
forty-one  schools  in  the  diocese  of  Padua,  ajid  tea 
in  a  place  called  Clemmate'." 

"  These  also  arc  the  places  where  the  heretics 
have  churches  and  schools,"  &c.  &c.  kc  And 
then  he  proceeds  to  make  a  calculation  of  forty- 
two,  the  names  of  which  are  princijKilly  German; 
one  of  them,  Emsempach,  he  particularly  mentions, 
because  the  heretics  had  a  Biifu>p  there*.' 

"  Tlicy  have  translated  tlie  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments into  vulgar  tongues,  and  so  teach  and  learn 
them.  I  myself  have  seen  and  heard  a  clownish 
laj-maTi  who  could  repeat  the  whole  of  the  Book 
of  Job  by  heart,  word  for  word,  and  many  who 
were  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  whole  of  the 
New  Testament  *." 

"  'I'hcy  reject  whatsoever  is  taught,  if  it  is  not 
-demonstrable  by  a  text  in  tlie  New  Testament*." 

"  The  aforesaid  orders  ai'e  constituted  by  a 
Bishop,  or  by  licence  from  a  Uishop  *." 

"  Impute  it  not  to  me,  reader,  that  I  shall  call 
them  churches,  but  rather  to  them  who  so  desig- 


*  Rcinmif,  Bib.  Putr.  Tliuacconnti^:tcr«cxtirtly  «itU  that 
gitea  oT  the  inllmiocc  of  oon-coofoniiity  in  Spaiu,  by  Lucas 
Tudenns,  i  coatcmporary  of  Rdiier.  Ibid.  torn.  n.  part  u. 
p.  694.714. 

*  Ibid.  Vd.  p.  399.    *  IbMl.    *  Ibid.     '  llwl.    *  Ibid.  p.  304. 


WA1J>KNS1AN    RKSKARCHIll. 


I 


I 


Bate  them.  The  church  of  Scnsano,  the  church 
If  Contorczo,  the  church  of  Bagnolo,  the  church 
Of  Florence,  the  church  of  Spolcto,  the  church  of 
Ilioulouse,  the  church  of  Albi ',"  &c. 

Surely  there  is  but  one  inference  to  be  drawn 
fix^m    this   mention  of  episcopal  and  sacerdotal 
Orders,  of  churches,  of  schools,  of  translations  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  of  public  convoca- 
tions and  disputations,  of  doctrine  brought  to  the 
ri^^  test  of  Scripture,  of  dissentient  bodies  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  Italy,  France,and  Germany  in  1250, 
of  "  heresy"  thas  active,  oi^nized.  wide-spreading, 
mnd  confumiablc  in  its  faith  and  discipline  to  the 
principles  laid  down  by  the  Apostles.    There  is  but 
CKie  inference  to  be  drawn  from  it,  viz. :  that  it  was 
of  old  standing,  and  not  of  recent  date,  a  relic  of 
««rly  establishments,  not  a  new  production  ;  that 
m%  was  handed  down  from  the  primitive  ages  of 
pure  Christianity,  and  was  not  hatched  in  a  day. 
*a"he  good,  which  I  have  thus  assigned  to  the  se- 
^Daxmtists  from  Rome,   is  picked  out  of  Heiner'a- 
;  it  is  intermixed  with  accusations  of  divers 
;  but  there  it  is,  and  so  many  sound  and 
^Scriptural  opinions  could  not  have  been  held  by 
who   merited  the  black  appellations  which 
iTC  been  given  to  them  by  their  enemies :  ene- 
'wnies  who  confessed,  at  the  same  time,  that  the 
'^mmt  that  could  be  said  of  them  was,  that  "  they 
IvlMphemed   the    Romish   church  and  clergy  *." 


■  Bib.  Pur.  urn.  xiii.  p.  304. 


>  Ibid.  |>.  ^taio. 


118 


WALI^NSIAN 


Reiner  is  vague  and  confused  in  his  details;  he 
fails  when  he  attempts  to  define  Uic  creed  of  any 
one  of  his  seventy  sects  of  heretics ;  he  never  clears 
the  way  Ix-fore  him;  he  leaves  his  reader  to  arrive 
at  what  conclusions  he  can  as  to  the  essential  dis- 
tinctions of  the  alleged  schisms ;  but  it  is  plainly  to 
be  collected  in  his  writings,  that  Rome  was  as- 
sailed in  all  quarters,  in  the  middle  of  the  thir^ 
teenth  century,  by  malcontents,  whose  organiza- 
tion and  opinions  bore  every  mark  of  the  ancient 
Apostolical  stock '. 

The  method  which  Allix  has  pursued,  in  his 
History  of  the  Churches  of  Piemont,  is  to  shew 
that  in  the  ecclesiastical  history  of  every  century, 
from  the  fourth  centurj-,  which  he  considers  a 
period  early  enough  for  the  enquirer  after  Ajtos- 
tohcal  purity  of  doctrine,  there  are  clear  proofs 
that  doctrines,  unlike  those  which  tlie  Romish 
church  holds,  and  conformable  to  the  belief  of  the 
A\'aldensian  and  Reformed  Churches,  were  main- 
tained by  theologians  of  the  north  of  Italy  down 


'  Mnlthcw  Parix  li^s  nxortlvd  >  fmct,  whkb  »  strongly  illav- 
traiive  of  the  dctcnnimxl  opptMition  oindc  to  tbe  uMirpalions  of 
die  Pap*l  See  at  the  peiiod  which  I  have  been  considering. 
Coftrod,  King  of  Sicily,  b«ia)>  accuwil  Uy  ibe  Pope  of  indiffcr* 
Mice  to  tbe  Churrb,  in  pcrmiuing  the  i>peit  {irofession  of  heiesy 
in  some  of  bis  dominions  in  the  notUi  of  luly,  replied,  lliat  il 
was  im|MyuibV  lo  prevetit  it,  that  the  popular  voice  farotim!  it. 
and  that  the  public  prruchin^  of  ibe  non-cotifonntUs  could  not 
be  put  down,  eiilter  at  Mantua,  Bietciu,  or  MiUn.  M«L  Pans, 
AdditaiBCnu,  p.  126. 


WALDBRIUN   MMUBnigS.  119 

to  the  period,  when  the  Waldenses  firet  came  into 
notice.  Consequently  the  opinions  of  the  Wal- 
denses were  not  new  to  Europe  in  the  eleventh  or 
twelfth  centuries,  and  there  is  nothing  improba- 
ble in  the  tradition,  that  the  Subalpine  Church 
persevered  in  its  int^rity  in  an  uninterrupted 
coiii3e  from  the  first  preaching  of  the  Gospel  in 
tiie  valleys. 

In  imitation  of  this  plan,  1  have  transcribed  the 
cbief  of  the  errors  imputed  by  the  Friar  Reiner  to 
tlie  Waldenses  and  other  recusants  contemporary 
'With  himself;  and  in  a  parallel  column  I  have  in- 
■crted  a  citation  from  some  Italian  author,  who 
fived  previously  to  the  twelfth  century,  containing 
^  corresponding  doctrine,  to  shew  that  the  great 
controversies  which  agitated  men's  minds  in  Rei- 
xer's  time,  were  not  the  inventions  of  modem  in- 
novators, nor  were  they  of  foreign  extraction,  but 
liad  exercised  the  minds  of  native  Christians  in 
countries  bordering  upon  the  Alps  from  very  re- 
mote periods.   In  a  third  column,  I  have  set  down 
the  corresponding  sentiments  of  the  Waldenses, 
as  avowed  by  them  in  their  Noble  Lesson  of  1 100, 
or  in  expositions  of  a  date  nearly  coeval ;  and  in  a 
fourth,  the  opinions  published  by   the  Vaudois 
church  in  later  times,  so  as  to  connect  the  modern 
Waldenses,  the  Waldenses  of  1 100,  and  the  Chris- 
tiaas  of  the  north  of  Italy,  at  periods  antecedent 
to  the  last-mentioned  lera. 


ISO  WALDEtlflUN   RESBARCBBS. 

SameofSeiMei'imarkiofhtrety  Opuuant    cormpoMUmj 

ditcovertd  in  the  opinions  pro-  these,  at  advanced  by 

feued  by   separalitts  from  writert  and  theologia 

Rome  M  1250,  and  stigma-  viouily  to  the  fwelf. 

tized  at  novelties.     See  Bib.  ttay. 
Pair.  vol.  >iii.  p.  300. 

I.  "  Tbey  ipeak  erO  of  the  1.  "  Duriog  the  who 
Roman  Chiuch  and  Clergy,  of theagitatknioflhiiqi 
and  say  that  the  Pope  u  the  from  the  beginniag  of  i 
cauw  of  all  the  eiron  in  the  now,  our  predecenoraai 
cbnrch.  telves,  with  all  our  petqil 

*'  They  refow  obedience  to  avoided  all  commnaioi 
the  Pope  and  Prelates.  Rome !" — Seeletteroftli 

'*  They  >ay  that  the  Roman  Bishops  of  the  north  of  1 
Chnrch  is  the  whore  of  the  the  Emperor  Hsurice,  i 
Apocalypse."  explaining  their  refusal  t 

mit  to  the  Roman  Pootifl 
An.  A.  D.  590. 

"  Our  public  calunit 
to  be  attfibnted  to  Po 
ambition." — EpiiL  Oiegi 
"  At  that  city,  wh« 
things  are  venal,  and  ap 
ca)  letters  may  be  boug 
money." — Ratherios,  Dii 
Verona,  A.  D.  933.  See 
Dach.  V.  2.  p.  231. 

"  How  profligate  ia  the 
body  of  shorn  priests. "- 
p.  218. 

"  The  Clergy  maintain! 
the  Ambrosian  church  of 
ought  not  to  be  subject 
laws  of  Rome,  and  thi 
Roman  Pontifi'hBd  no  ri{ 
exercise  jurisdictioa  inllu 


WA1J)RNSIAN  RESEAaCHBS.                     ISl 

Opmioms  i(f  tk*  ardent  Wal'  Opinions  of  modem  WaUnttn, 

dauet,  eoUtcted  from  tkmr  collecledfrom  Pro/estumi  ^f 

'^Noblal^^fM,"  dated  1 1 00,  FaUk,  tutd  Cateekitrnt,  pnb- 

amd  from  Tnatitet  ^f  the  litMtd  n  lattr  tima. 
mme  period,  that  ok  Amti- 
cJkritt,  ^.  prtterved  in  Mor- 
t^Mi  and  Legtr't  Hittoriet. 

I.  **  Antichritt  u  a  delnnoD,  1.  "  By  what  mark  knowett 

VFfaieli  btdea  the  truth  of  nln-  thou  perrene  doctnoe  ? 

tioo  in  sabsUntial  and  minute-  "  Wh«i  it  tcacheth  contnry 

rial  Boatlen.     It  is  bbehood  it-  to  Taith  and  hope ;  tncb  ia  klo- 

•elf,  io  opposition  to  the  troth,  iatry  of  wverat  sorli,  towards  a 

<30evMtg    and    adorning   itself  reasonable,  Hnsible,  visible,  or 

Wth   m  pretence  of  piety  snd  invisible  creature. 

faeaatj.     loiqaity,  thus  quaU-  "  When  priests,  not  knoiriiig 

fied,  with  aU  the  ministers  there-  the  iotention  of  Christ  in  the 

vK,   gra*t  and  nialt,   is   that  Sacraments,  say,  that  the  grace 

'■rhicb   is  called  Antichrist,  or  is  included  in  the  external  cere- 

Babjkm,  the  Man  of  Sin,  the  monies,  and  persuade  men  to 

Son  of  Perdition."  the  participation  of  the  Sacra- 

**  The  hdy  Church  b  become  ment,  without  the  truth   and 

.«  Bynagogne  <A  pn>6igates."  without  faith.    David  hates  the 

**  Now  it  is  evident,  as  well  church  or  congregalion  of  such 

wo  the  Old,  as  in  the  New  Tes-  persons,    saying,    I    hate    the 

■ameot,  that  a  Christian  stands  church  of  evil  men."^ — From  a 

Iwand,  by   eipress  command  very  ancient  Catechism,  stU)  in 

fiven  to  him,  to  separate  him-  use  among  tlie  Vaudois. 
wetffrom  Antichrist"— Walden- 
aisn  Treatise  on  Antichrist. 


\ 


ISS  WALDENSUN   EBBBABCHU. 

Sowu  ofRaner't  ntarkt,  tfc.       OpoMta  comtpondutg,  jv. 

That  it  <raa  dbgracefal  Out  ■ 
church,  which  had  alvayi  betM 
free,  ghould  dow  submit  tc 
another  church."— See  Peu. 
Damiani  Epiiit.  ad  Hitdebrao- 
dnm,  A.D.1059.  Dud.  Oper. 
p.  417. 

2.  "  They  maintajn  that  tbe  ^-  "  ^^  ^bi>1  foibida  ni  b 
Ftipe  and  all  tnahopa,  who  en-  contend  with  wcular  ims 
eoorage  wan  and  violence,  Rom.  xij.  and  1  Peter  iu.: 
(propla  bella)  aie  homicides."    ^^^  J^^  >d  cfwtempt  of  tboi 

and  of  othet  ezhortationa  a 
Scripture,  the  malignant  ud 
the  wicked  endeavout  to  inqili' 
cate  the  clergy  in  wan,  if  aa> 
in  their  owu  peram,  yet  by  tb 
agency  of  thoie  whom  thq 
employ  to  fight  ibeir  battlei. 

"  Wherefore  the  Ueued  Am- 
broM  lajB,  let  iu,  the  cleigy 
have  nothing  to  do  with  wan 
because  the  soul  it  our  pecnUa 
charge,  and  not  the  body 
'  Put  up  again  thy  sword  inli 
his  place,  said  our  Lord,  fb 
alt  they  that  Uke  iht  awonl 
shall  perish  with  the  awonl 
Christ  would  not  permit  ai 
apostle  to  commit  homicide 
e*en  in  a  righteous  cause*  am 
none  can  innocently  use  cania 
weapons,  or  permit  otben  t 
use  such  for  them."  Att« 
Bishop  of  Vecceil.  950.  <  Spicil 
Dadi.  viii.  p.  55, 56. 


WALDBNaUN   RESBARCHU.  1|S 

OpiHioiuo/AMMntWaldenieM,   Opi*ioiu  of  Modem  W(ddtiun, 


2.  ■*  Like  thoae  who  now  per-       2. 

■ecvte, 
"Vno  ongbt  to  be  Christians  hot 

uctiot  so: 
A  nd  in  this  they  are  to  be  sboini- 

nled, 
Tor  that  they  penecute  and  im- 

psiioothe  good. 
Tor  it  is  no  where  found 
"That  the  saints  entered  into 

GVoflict  or  persecuted." 

Nobis  Leyfon. 


1S4  WALDBNSIAN    RESBASCHKS. 

SomeofHemer'tntarks,  OptJmmM  corrtipomdatjf, 

3,  "  Tbey  say  of  the  sacra-  3.  "  Do  not  reckon  npon  ob- 
mentoTpenance,  that  none  can  taming  any  abwlntioo  during 
beabaolvedbyebadpriesL  They  your  mortal  career,  for  wboao- 
contend  that  hea?y  penancei  ever  should  proTeas  to  hsTe  the 
ought  not  to  be  imposed,  and  power  of  extending  it  to  you 
urge  the  example  of  Christ,  would  be  decetviog  you.  Since 
who  said,  '  go  and  sin  no  ycu  ha*e  sinned  against  God, 
mora.'  "  from  him  only  yon  are  lo  look 

for  paidon."  Ambrose,  Biaht^ 
of  Milan  in  the  fourth  century. 
See  Ad.  Virg.  lap.  cap.  8. 

"  Sbe'drew  nearto  the  foun- 
tain-head, taking  npon  bendf 
the  charge  of  her  own  repent- 
ance. She  did  not  sedc  it  fiom 
James.  She  did  not  >sk  of 
John.  She  did  not  appeal  to 
Peter.  She  addressed  beradfto 
him  only,  Jesus  Christ,  saying, 
Lord  have  mercy  on  me."  Ser- 
mon of  Laurentius,  Bishop  of 
Milan  in  507.  See  Hal»L 
Analecta,  p.  56. 

4.  "  They  say  that  the  4.  "  It  has  not  escaped  my 
church  has  erred  in  forbidding  observation,  that  in  some  of  the 
the  clergy  ttf  marry,"  moat  retired  places  the  clergy 

discharged  the  duties  of  the 
ministry  and  priesthood,  apd 
had  children,  which  they  de- 
fend upon  the  plea  of  ancient 
custom."  Ambrose,  Bishop  of 
Milan,  1  lib.  de  officiis.  cap.  50 


VALDEKSIAN    RfSBARCHES. 


4 

Opauont  of  Modern  WaHtnf&i 

3.  "  It  is  pcTvcne  doctrim 

to  aliribute  efficacy  to  man,  oi 

And  tbc  pricM  pwdoBi  tbem  to  hb  wordi,  or  to  Ui*  auilioriiy 

be  Amy  good  or  bad.  or  to  taj  ibat  God  r«  Naiislkd 

L^yutf  hi>   bontl*   vyon   tbeir  by  toliifying  the  covctoii*  u- 

b«ad>,    atxl    aMunii^    tbem  mony  of  [iriesta," 

iluU  tbey  arc  abtolvoJ.  "  Giacc  and  mniuionof  )iM 

Bat,  aks,  lh«y  are  but  iniper*  can  only  be   looked  tot  by  i 


t^AMeimut  WaUtatet, 
*c. 

3.  **  And  tbn>  be  buyclli  t>r  hi* 
prios  abtolulion. 


fccily  coiir*»ed. 


lirin;;  faith,    and   true   repent 


Awl  will  certainly  be  deceived  anc«,  Mvin^,  '  rq>cn(  yc,  and 
m  andi  abaolution.  believe  in  the  Ooapel.' "  Andenl 

AnA  he  that  makclli  them  be-  Cuecbism  now  in  use. 

ticTC  it,  MDDilh  mortally. 
For  1  daie  afirm  it  to  ba  trae, 
lliat   aD  the  (npe*  who  have 
from  Sylnater  to  llie 
[■MMt  time, 

all  canlinala,  btthapa,  nb- 
bota,  and  ibe  like 
Ran  tw  power  to  panlon  or 

afaKiWc  one  mortal  ain. 
Tia  Ood  akmc  wbo  jKudou, 
MkI  bom  Otbar" 

NoUa  Uys'^U' 

4.  ■  Marmge  ii  good,  Itoly,       4-  The  Wafclcnaian 
haMMmble,  iuttituled  of  God   the|ircu-nt<layealer  freely  iau 

and  ought  not  to  be  Uie  manicd  itul*. 
{iphibiml  to  any  yenaa,  |in>- 
(idcd  tbut  there  be  no  hiniler- 
aace  ((lectlied  by  the  word  o( 
Ood.'  Aneieot  ConfEMiou  of 
raiUi. 


ISB  WALDBNSIAN  RBSBAECHSS. 

Somt  o/Remer't  marks,  i^.        Ofmncmt  camtpoDdimg,  fv 

Tht  letter  of  Ratheriiu,  £ 
■hop  of  Verona  in  933,  conUi 
some    indigiuDt    obwrratio 
■gai&at  thoM  cleigy  who  pt 
suted  in  nuiryiug,  coatnu; 
the  Canotu.     See  Spicil.  D 
cherii.  2.  p.  169,  170.  172. 
"  You  pennit  the  clergy 
your  church,  of  whaterer  ord 
they  may  be,  to  have  wiTce, 
if  they  were  uoder  the  uoctii 
of  lawful  matrimony."    L^ 
of  Petnis  Damianus  to  Eur 
bertus,  Bishop  of  Turin,  abo 
the  year  1050.  SeeDam.Opi 
p.  559.  opua.  18. 

It  ii  clear,  therefwe,  that  ll 
opinion  of  many  of  the  na 
dotal  order  was  then  again 
this  rigid  enactment  of  tl 
church,  and  that  aome  lefdai 
obedience  to  it '. 

5.  ■*  They  assert  that  any  5.  The  liturgy  of  the  cbnn 
doctrine  which  is  preached,  and  of  Milan,  called  AmbroM 
cannot  be  jaowed  by  Scripture,  had  the  psalms  and  other  sen 
should  be  hdd  as  fkbulous.         tural  passages  rendered  into  tl 

"They  say  that  the  Holy  Italic  lan^age.  See  AUi 
Scriptnre  is  as  effectaal  in  the  Churches  of  Piemont,  p.  39. 
nigar  as  in  the  Latin  tongue.         "  That  no  man  believe  tfa 

"  They  officiate  and  adminis-  God  is  not  to  be  prayed  to  e 
ter  the  sacraments  in  the  migar  cept  in  one  of  the  three  lai 
tonf^e."  guages,  because  man  will  I 

1  The  9lh  nnon  of  Iht  Litmn  coandt,  twld  in  I13B,  i*  a  fulminUi 
■galut  mch  Prinu  tt  pcmttcd  in  iniiUiniany ;  uid  ii  dtn  ihc  gMflmcnW 
Onfarj  VIL  Urbui.  and  Pucbal.  The  pfscdn  nhieh  required  tbew  n 
OEMln  prohiWdoni  *m  tridndj  of  loog  ituding,  aud  a  siaiicr  of  ancwat  > 
tOBlnte  conuatHMk 


WAlDEHSTAIf  BZ8BARCRBS.  127 

Mu^ilMCMat WoUtiuM,   Ofiimmuo/ModnnWiUtUiuet, 


5."Wehavealway*account-  5.  "  Thf  true  Catholic  uid 

(d,  u  an  unspeakable  abominft-  Apoatolic  faith  is  that  contain- 

twD  before  God,  all  thooe  bu-  ed  in  the  twelve  articles  of  the 

naa    iaTcntions  which  are    a  Apostles'  Creed."    Catechism, 

preiudice  to  the  liberty  of  the  "WeoughttoreceivetheHoly 

V"^  Scripture  as  the  coustant  rule 

The    Hoi;    Scripture    con-  of  our  life  and  faith ;  and  to 

taioeth  sufficient  doctrines  con-  belteTe  that  the  same  is  fully 

ceming  discipline,  and  not  only  contained  in  the  Old  and  New 

■heweth  how  tvery  one  in  par-  Tesument.''      Confession     of 

ticular  ought  to  lire,  but  also  Faith  published  in  1655. 

what  ought  to  be  the  union,  ^11  the  services  of  the  Vau- 

miscnt,  and  bond  of  loye  in  j^,;,  church  are  performed  in  a 

Ibe  communion  of  the  faithful."  ij,|^g  language. 
Ancient  Confesnon  of  Faith. 


1S8  WALOENSIAN   BBSBABCHBS. 

iSmm  cfReaer'i  marks,  4^.        OptMont  atmtpumdvi^,  ^ 

heard  in  whatevei  tongne 
ma;  pray,  and  if  he  be  i^ 
eous,  he  will  have  his  petit 
granted."  62  Can.  of  Coi 
cil  of  Frankfort,  A.D.  7 
aigoed  by  Italian  Biatiopt. 

6.  "  They  Bcorn  all  canoni-       6.   "  Holy  Rachel,  that 

zations,aad  the  vigiU  of  saints,    the  Church  or  wisdom,  hid  > 

**  They  despise  images,  and  consecrated     images,    becai 

relics,  and  call  the  holy  cross  the  Church  does  not  ackno 

nothing  but  a  piece  of  wood."      ledge  vain  imaginations,  or  i 

vain  representations  of  image 
Ambrose  of  Milan,  de  fug,  si 
lib.  5. 

"  What  is  so  unworthy  u 
venerate  a  piece  of  wood  I 
work  of  our  own  bands.  I 
them  learn  wisdom  from  tl 
who  think  that  it  is  neit] 
GODtiacy  to  nature  nordi^^ 
ful,  to  adore  stones,  and  toi 
plore  aid  from  images  whi 
have  no  perception.  Ibid. 
ofBciis.  lib.  i.  cap.  26. 

"  We  owe  no  religious  w 
ship  to  those  who  are  depan 
from  this  life,  because  Ui 
lived  religiously."  Claude,  I 
^op  of  Milan,  A.D.  840.  £ 
Mab.  Analecta.  p.  36. 

**  God  commands  us  to  b« 
our  cross,  not  to  worship  i 
Itud.  Bib.  PaU.  torn.  iv.  p.  If 


WA1DEN8IAN   RESEARCHES.  129 

^^immn  tjfAtKJent  Waidentes,    Opiniont  of  Modem  Waldenset, 

ire.  4-c. 


6.  «  He  fotbade  urvice  unto      6.  "  That  those  vho  are  al- 

■doU."     Nobia  Leyfon.  ready  in  possession  of  eternal 

"  The  woik    of   Antichrist  life  by  their  faith  and    good 

femxtM    the  worship  properly  works,ougbttobecoDaideredas 

doe  to  God  alone,  by  giving  it  saints  and  glorified  persons,  and 

CO  the  creature,  to  saints  de-  to  be  praised  for  their  virtues, 

^xMed,  to  images,  carcases,  and  and  imitated  in  all  good  actions 

reUcs,  to  things  senseless,  and  of  their  life,  but  neither  wor- 

iuetitiUe.''    Treatise  on  Anti-  shipped  nor  prayed  unto,  for 

<^uisL  God  only  is  to  be  prayed  unto, 

and  that  through  Jesus  Christ." 
Confession  of  1655. 

"  Dost  thou  adore  or  wor- 
ship any  other  thing?  No.  Be- 
cause of  the  commandment, 
thou  shalt  wonhip  the  Lord 
thy  God,  and  him  only  shall 
thou  serve."  Catechism  now  in 
use. 


K 


WALDBN8IAN   SBSBARCHES. 

Sbwe  nfRtimer't  imtrit,  %v,       OpMmt  eomipeudmf,  ^. 

7.  "Thcydonoi  bonoatthe       7,  ''TVreltwe  vkcn  ilteuD* 

Kpdtchivs  of  the  ainU,  and  dentood  that  Uw  pioas  bidMip 

Uiej  deny  that  maises,  prayera,  (Ambrose  of  MUan)  bad  for- 

,  or   obUiioiiA,   can    prafit  the  bidden  hoaouT  to  be  pMd  U 

dewJ."  the  grarv*  of  depaned  beUn^ 

era,  lest  itshoukl  seem  to  be  ia 
imiUiioD  of  the  supcnthiiNM 
practices  of  the  Genlilea,  afae 
willingly  abetained.'  Quoted  as 
a  reoonl  of  (he  opiakxi  of  Am- 
broM;  bbhop  of  Milan,  Cunf. 
Aug.  lib  vi.  cap.  i. 


8.  "  They  maiut^n  thai  it  it  8.  Cbronuitiui,  bishop  of 
sinful  tu  lake  an  oath,  and  cite  Aquilria,  in  the  lifUi  ccotny, 
Matthew,  V.  34.  s^^atnat  all  maintaiiuKl  that  the  Gospel  for- 
nreaiiog.'*  bids  all  kinds  of  Hwearing.   See 

Setm.  2.  p.  168.  and  Bib.  Pair, 
tora.  5.  p.  978. 

**  Since  all  osths  are  (or- 
bidden  to  Cbriitians,  it  is  h^;U} 
reprehensible  that  pTieatadMMld 
compel  others  to  do  that,  vhidi 
Iheyoi^ht  to  amid  ihemselm. 
Per  Chritt  nys,  I  say  unto  yoa 
swear  not  at  all."  Atto,  bishop 
of  Vereeil,  A.D.  9.50.  SpiciU 
Dachcfii. 


toI^^^O. 


WALDBN8UN   BKSEAECHE8.  ISl 

^^pmiomM  fff  Ammt  WaUen-  Ojmioiu  of  Modem  Walden- 
Mf,  Ifc.  tei,  ^c. 

7.  "  the  priett  pnKniiea  him       7.  "  A  dead  fBith  ii  to  be- 

^asrdon,    and  telb  falie  tales,  Ueve  in    other   things   besides 

iliiiiil  saTing  maw  for  him  and  Christ :  that  is  to  ny,  in  relics 

Skm  anceston."    Nobis  Ley^n.  of  the  dead,  in  worehip[Mng, 

"The  enmandimpiiritiesof  honouring,     and    seiring    the 

.ADtichrist,  are  pilgrimages,  ob-  creature  by  [layers,  by  fasting, 

■atioas,  ssciifices  of  great  price,  by  sacrifices,  by  donatioua,  by 

cafabcstioDS  of  masses,  reipers.  offerings,    by  pilgrimsgea,  by' 

wigila,inleTcessioDs,  deliverances  invocations,  dtc."  Ancient  Ca. 

Aom  purgatory."    Treatise  oq  Schism  now  in  use. 

.AnlichrisL 

"They  pretend  that  every 
fSBithful  man  ought  to  help  the 
«S«pwted  by  prayers,  fasts,  alms, 
^fcsxl  masses."  Dicsm  of  purga- 
««y. 

»-  "  TU  old    Uw  forbiddeth       8. 

only  to  foreswear, 
''^new  saith,  swear  not  at  all. 
*»d  let  thy  speech  be  yea  and 
"••y."     Nobia  Ley^on. 


K  2 


132  WALDENSIAX    RBSEATtrHES. 


SECTION  l\. 

THE    PURITT   OP  THE   WALDENSIAN   CHURCH,    AND    THE 
TESTIMONY  OF  THEIR  OWN  DOCUMENTS. 

The  only  fair  and  correct  estimate  which  can  be 
made  of  the  doctrine  and  discipline  of  a  religious 
community,  is  that  which  is  fonned  upon  their 
own  documents  and  declarations — "  Judge  of  us, 
not  from  the  articles  of  faith  which  our  enemies 
have  drawn  up  in  our  name,  but  from  those  which 
we  ourselves  have  deliberately  framed,  of  which 
we  have  signified  our  approbation,  and  which  we 
have  solemnly  and  publicly  avowed."  This  is 
what  every  Christian  body  has  a  right  to  demand, 
and  the  Waldenses,  happily  for  their  own  sates, 
and  for  the  cause  of  truth,  can  point  to  treatises, 
to  confessions  of  faith,  to  catechisms,  and  other 
instruments  of  unquestionable  authenticity,  and  of 
great  antiquity,  by  which  they  are  willing  to  be 
tried.  "  These,"  say  they,  "  contain  the  senti- 
ments of  OUT  forefathers,  and  our  own — they  are 
of  seven  hundred  years  standing  at  the  least,  and 
herein  is  be  found  a  plan  exposition  of  the  belief, 
the  discipline,  and  the  morahty  of  the  Waldensian 
Church.  "  The  Noble  Lesson,—"  The  Ancient 
Confession  of  Faith," — "  The  Catechism  of  the 
Ancient  Waldenses,"— and  "  The  Treatise  of  An- 


WALDEN5IAN  RE6EABCHES.  138 

t^ichrist',"  are  the  principal  documeuts  to  which 
^LH  appeal  is  made. 

These  are  believed  by  the  Vaudois  themselves  to 
L>eIong  to  the  beginning  of  the  12th  century,  and 
Co  have  been  composed  between  1100,  and  1120. 
The  dates  were  found  on  some  old   parchment 
cropies,  which  were  saved  from  destruction  during 
C:he  persecutions  of  the  seventeenth  century.  Com- 
petent judges,  admitting  the  antiquity  of  some, 
friave  been  inclined  to  question  the  age  of  others 
«3f  these  MSS.  but,  after  having  given  my  best  at- 
tention to  the  subject,  I  cannot  come  to  any  other 
c=onclusion  than  this ;  if  any  of  the  copies,  bearing 
ipon  the  face  of  them  the  dates  1 100  and  1 120.  con- 
in  internal  evidence  that  they  were  written  in  the 
■3th  or  14th  centuries,  they  also  contain  internal 
[troof  of  consisting,  in  part,  of  transcripts  from 
BISS.  of  an  age  quite  as  remote  as  any  for  which 
^e  would  contend.     It  is  likely,  that  some  of  the 
t  rcatiseswcreoriginallycomposedinlI00andll20; 
t.  hat,  from  these,  transcripts  were  occasionally  matle 
^t  after  periods,  which  contained,  in  addition  to  their 
«=>riginal  matter,  certain   interi)olations,  such  as 
«3i>-isious  of  Scriptural  passages  by  cliuiitur  and 

'  See  Leger't  Kistoire  dcs  Egliscs  Vaudoises,  and  MurldndK 
*•  Hittof;  of  ihc  Evangelical  Church(.'g  of  tiic  \'ulli;ys  of  Pie- 
luont,"  for  copies  of  thcK  exixjsitioits.  Il  is  th(.Tu  HUtud  tlial 
'-iBal  cojiici  of  very  uiiciccit  aiipuuriiiicc  have  U-cii  jircsurvcd, 
■uh  ddti*  noted  upon  u-dch,  some  ot  I1U<>,  olliuis  of  ilH^, 
«h:urili6. 


13* 


WAI-DRMSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


verse,  which  came  into  use  at  after  periods.  It  is 
also  possible  that  other  slight  characteristics  d 
later  times  may  have  found  their  way  into  nai 
copies  fi-om  time  to  time,  accordingly  as  they  wen 
multiphetl  at  diflercnt  inten'als.  It  is  not  con- 
tended that  all  the  MSS.  bearing  the  date  110(| 
were  the  identical  and  original  documents  of  tb^j 
year.  All  that  wc  maintain,  as  to  the  dispntet} 
parchments,  is  this,  that  instruments  of  the  same 
name,  purport,  and  descrijition  as  those,  which 
are  now  referred  to  for  a  faithful  expo^tion  o| 
Waldensian  principles,  were  promulgated  at  tl 
beginning  of  the  twelfth  century. 

1  have  already  shewn,  (page  40)  that  the 
of  Ajitichrist,"  and  that  on  "  The  inrocatioii 
«  Saints,"  bear  this  internal  evidence  of  thcii 
antiquity,  that  professing  to  point  out  the  e\'ils  oj 
the  Roman  Church,  they  are  silent  upon  those  foof 
glaring,  but  more  recent,  abuses,  the  estahlishmei^ 
of  the  inquisition,  the  invention  of  the  service  d 
the  rosary,  transubstantiation,  and  canonizattod 
"  The  Noble  Lesson"  sjwaks  for  itself — it  preset 
its  own  date,  1100,  and  the  name  of  the  people 
whom  it  was  composed,  thus  : — 

"  Bfeibren,  give  e«  to  k  noble  lesaou. 
One  llimisaml  and   one  hnndrccl  years  are  kcroni|)lr 

«ii>ce  it  wai  wnttcn  "  wc  ore  in  lh«  last  lients." 
—  Such  an  one  u  tenned  »  Vaudois,  (Vxadu.) 
And  they  arak  ocntuon,  by  Ita  und  by  decetl, 
To<lcprivchunDrtbat  wUiclilKfuiaobUuiiol  f>y  hit  labour. 


WALDENSIAN    RCSKA8CHBS. 


US 


Some  objection  has  been  made  even  against  the 
Ic^ctl  date  of  this  document.     It  is  s^d,  that  the 
itatioD,   "  We  are  in  the  last  times,"  is  tsken 
frum    1  John   iL    18.    and   therefore    the   eleveu 
hundred  years  must  be  reckoned  not  from  the 
liirth  of  Christ,  but  from  the  age  of  the  Epistle, 
which  cannot  have  been  written  cariier  than  68 
A.D.     If  there  be  any  thing  in  this  sort  of  olyec- 
tion,  we   may  a:^e,  that  the  citation,  not  I>eing 
hteral,  is  as  likely  to  be  from  Actsii.  17.  2  Tim. 
ill  1.  Hebrews  i.  *2.  I  PeL  L  5.  20.   2  Pet  iii.  Z. 
or  from  Jude  18,  as  from  St.  John's  Epistle,  and 
that  upon  this  principle  we  are  justified  in  con- 
tending for  OS  early  a  ilate  as  1130,  computing 
from  the  period  alluded  to  in  Acts  ii.  1 7. 

The  passage,  however,  is  not  to  be  considered 
a  quotation  from  any  one  particular  ps.ssage,  but 
an  allusion  to  Christ'd  first  coming,  which  was  to 
prepare  us  for  his  last  coming.  It  was  one  of 
tbow  modes  of  writing  down  the  year  from  the 
loeaniation,  wliich  was  not  uncommon  :  and  to 
this  we  may  add,  that  considering  how  the  chrono- 
logical arrangement  of  Scripture  has  perplexed  Ihc 
most  learned  among  theologians,  it  is  absurd  to 
n^iposc  that  the  humble  and  obscure  M^aldensian, 
wtw  composed  the  Noble  l^esson,  meant  to  dale 
hii  poem  from  the  year  in  which  one  of  the  canon- 
ical books  was  written,  instead  of  dating  it  at  large 
occording  to  the  year  of  our  Lord. 


136  WALDBKSIAN  RESEARCHES. 

The  exact  antiquity  of  the  Noble  Lesson  niay 
continue  to  be  a  matter  of  doubt,  but  of  its  authen- 
ticity, and  of  that  of  the  other  documents  %v)uch 
go  with  it,  there  can  be  no  dispute.  Morland, 
who  brought  copies  of  them  to  Englimd  in  1658, 
gives  the  following  account  in  his  History  of  the 
Churches  of  Piemont,  of  the  motives  which  in- 
duced him  to  make  researches  after  those  valu-' 
able  MSS.,  and  of  his  success. 

"  Some  days  before  my  setting  out  for  Savoy  *, 
the  late  Lord  Primate  of  Ireland,  (Archbishop 
Usher)  sent  for  me  on  purpose  to  his  chamber, 
and  there  gave  me  a  very  serious  and  strict 
charge,  to  use  my  utmost  diligence  in  the  enquiry 
after,  and  to  spare  no  cost  in  the  purchase  of  all 
those  MSS.,  and  authentic  pieces,  which  might 
give  any  light  into  the  ancient  doctrine  and  dis- 
cipline of  those  Churches,  adding  there  was  nothing 
in  the  world  he  was  more  curious  and  impatient 
to  know,  as  litinj;  a  point  of  exceeding  great 
weight  and  moment  for  stopping  the  mouths  of 
our  popish  adversaries,  and  discovering  the  foot-  | 
steps  of  our  religion  in  those  dark  inten-als  of  the 
eiglith,  ninth,  and  tenth  centuries.  This  serious  M 
injunction  of  that  reverend  and  worthy  man, 
together  with  mine  own  real  inclinations,  caused 


i 

1 


I 


'  On  his  minion  rrucn  Cromw«tl  to  iW  <lukc  of  Savoy,  to  u 
tciccdc  in  behalf  oT  ibr  pcff«ciited  \'audoit. 


d 


WALDBXSIAM    BESEAECHES.  1S7 

Co  zne  leave  no  stone  unturned,  nor  to  lose  any 
opportunity  during  my  abode  in  those  parts,  for 
ftJie  real  effecting  this  thing,  and  ahhoi^  the 
pope's  emissanes  had  already  gathered  the  more 
crhoice  clusters,  and  ripe  fruits,  yet  I  met  at  least 
'writli  the  grape  gleanings  of  the  Tintage,  I  mean 
divers  pieces  of  antiquity,  some  whereof  had  beoi 
^  long  time  buried  under  dust  and  rubbish,  others 
fcad  been  scattered  about  in  the  Tallejrs,  some  here, 
3iDe  there,  in  desert  and  obscure  places,  and  without 
a  angular  providence  had  never  come  to  light" 

Morland  brought  to  England  the  MSS.  so  col- 

Locted,  and  deposited  them  in  the  library  of  the 

KJniversity  of  Cambridge.      He    represents  the 

S'oble  Lesson  as  a  poem  written  on  parchment, 

the  language  of  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  the 

"^aHeys,  in  a  very  ancient,  but  excellent  character. 

31e  speaks  of  another  MS.  the  letter  of  which  was 

•^most  worn  out,  but  bearing  internal  evidence  of 

~laring  been  written  at  least  600  or  700  years 

Ijefore  (before  1658). 

It  is  to  be  deeply  regretted,  that  there  is  no 
longer  an  opportunity  of  examining  these  vener- 
able documents.  AUix '  had  seen  them,  and 
found  no  reason  to  doubt  their  authenticity ;  but 
tbey  have  since  disappeared  from  the  library  to 
which  they  were  so  carefully  consigned.  I  made 
I'lKiuiries  for  tliem  at  Cambridge,  on  my  return 

'  Sec  ChuTnli<;8Df  I'ii'iii'iiii,  |>.  I>>-1. 


138 


WALPENSUN   RKSCAKCUES. 


from  the  valleys,  after  my  first  visit  in  1823,  aiij 
found  that  a  great  number  of  the  most  ancient 
and  valuable  had  been  withd^u^vn.  Nobody  could 
tell  how  or  when.  The  Noble  Lesson  is  one  of 
those  which  is  missing.  A  transcript  of  the  orif 
ginal,  and  an  Knglish  translation  is  preser>'ed  in 
Morland's  volume,  but,  what  is  of  more  conse- 
quence, a  copy  of  great  antiquity  is  still  existing 
in  the  hbrary  of  the  University  of  Geneva. 

L^r ',  the  Waldensian  historian,  speaks  of 
this  precious  relic,  as  being  "  written  on  parcb^ 
ment,  in  the  old  Gothic  letter."  I  have  received 
the  favour  of  a  fac-«imile  of  the  seven  first  lines  of 
the  copy  preserved  at  Geneva,  which  is  bound  up 
in  a  small  hook  containing  some  other  Waldensian 
treatises  of  a  very  early  period.  M.  Le  Paste 
Bourris,  the  librarian,  is  the  person  to  whom 
am  indebted  fur  the  lac-siinile.  He  transmitted 
it  to  me  in  the  spring  of  the  present  year,  1830, 
through  my  friend,  Mr.  Burgess,  the  English 
chaplain  at  Geneva,  and  I  insert  an  exact  imita- 
tion of  it,  that  the  learned  in  these  things  nia<q 
liave  an  opportunity  of  judging  of  the  sera  in 
which  this  copy  was  transcribed.  Either  it  is  not 
the  same  of  which  Lei;er  made  mention,  or  lio 
misapplied  the  term  Gothic,  which  is  a  character 
of  very  different  form. 


1 


'  Hiatoire  des  ^lisett  Vaudoises,  Liv.  I.  (».  96. 


WALDBN9IAN   RESBARCHES.  138 

^'^  C-Mfucvc  *^tr  m?tt«lp<-NACT.a 
littv  litf  lint  <r«(-  «n^  ^yh  <n)M7dntP_ 
NOBLA    LcT^X. 

0  Trajtcs  entede  tinft  oobia  leoion 
Sovet  d«T«  T«Umr  etMar  en  oioa 
C  no*  vtji  Bq'it  iDot  or  p'«  dul  chavo 
Mol  ctntM  d'orin  cur  d'  bou  obu*  far 
C  OOB  ve^e  atfst  mot  dela  fin  ipprat 
Ben  ha  n3  ccet  ann't  npU  eDtierm't 
Qa»  To  wTpU  loni  cm  tea  &1  iettr.  tep. 

I  will  defy  the  impudence  of  the  devil  him- 
^sdf,"  said  Mix ',  "to  find  the  least  sliadow  of 
[Uanichietsm''  in  the  "  Nohic  Lesson  :"  and  I  take 
[jipon  myself  to  add,  that  not  one  word  can  he 
iibund  in  this  faithful  witness  of  the  religious  opi- 
of  the  early  Waldenses,  which  savours  of 
Ibetcrodoxy,  fanaticism,  or  extravagance.  It  is  a 
[itoem  coiiipo&cd  in  rliyming  vcnie,  to  facilitate  its 

Wmg  k-anit  by  heart,  and  is  a  summor}-,  as  Legcr 

liaii  represented  it  to  be, 

1.  Oftbebhitory  of  UiecHraiion. 

2.  Of  tlu-  italn  »r  lite  wofld  t>vfuR  ibe  dtia^ 

3.  or  tlw  ilalc  of  llie  woM  from  Uk  dclogr  to  the  liiiK  of 

Abrnliatn. 

'  Chwdia  of  PiniUMii,  p.  181. 


1W> 


WALDKNSIAN    RKSEAaCHES. 


4.  Of  Uic  patriarchal  uid  Monk  dbfiQimtion«,taw«,  polity, 

morals,  &c 
A.  Of  the  «iaa  of  the  Israelites,  and  the  jad^nwDla  of  God. 

6.  or  David,  ai>d  other  good  king*  and  prophfls. 

7.  Of  the  caplirity  io  Babyloo. 

8.  Of  the  return  from  Babylon. 

9.  Of  the  advent  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  a  parallel  Wlween  the 
Law  and  the  Goapel. 

10.  Of  the  mouoa  of  tlte  apMiln,  the  descent  of  the  Holy 
Ghoot,  and  primitirc  Church. 

1 1 .  Of  the  g:Toas  erorrs  of  tlie  papacy,  the  simony  of  the  priett- 
liood,  Riiuaes  and  prayere  for  the  dead,  tlie  imposiutcs 
ofabKitution,  and  the  abioe  of  the  power  of  the  keys. 


^^^  "  Thus,"  says  Lcger,  "  the  poem  is  certainly  aii 
I  abridgetncDt  of  the  history  and  doctrine  of  the 
I  Old  and  New  Testament,  and  was  composed  for 
I  practical  and  controversia]  purposes  in  relation 
both  to  faith  and  morality,  and  those  wise  Barbes, 

Iotir  ancestors,  desired  to  place  this  treasure  of 
divinity  in  the  hands  of  their  people  in  a  me- 
trical form,  to  render  tlic  perusal  of  it  more  agree- 
able, and  that  the  young  might  the  more  easily 
impress  it  upon  their  memory  '." 

We  will  now  try  the  religion  and  morality  of 
L  the  ancient  Waldeuses  by  this  test — and  ha\'ing 
shewn  how  tliey  rejectetl  the  abuses  of  the  Church 
dominant,  we  will  bring  forward  passages  from 
the  Noble  Lesson  in  attestation  of  their  strict  ad- 
hesion to  the  essential  doctrines  of  the  Gosjicl. 


■  u^,  lit.  t.  p.  ao. 


WALDENSIAN   RBSEAECHE8.  J41 

XTie   Trinity  .  .  "  The  honor  of  God  the  Father  should  be  his 
first  moving  principle. 
He  should  also  implore  the  aid  of  his  gloriouB 

Son, 
And  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  ligfau  lu  to  the 

right  way. 
These  three,  the  Holy  Trinity,  as  being  but  one 
God,  should  be  worshipped. 
C>s-s^aal  Sin. .  .  How  came  this  evil  to  eater  into  mankind  ? 

Because  Adam  unned  at  the  Srst  beginning, 
he  brought  death  upon  himself  and  all  his 
posterity. 
HedrtnpUon.  .  .  But  Christ  hath  redeemed  the  good  by  his 

death  and  passion. 
F»*«  Will  .  .  ,    God  ga»e  man  a  power  of  doing  good  or  e»il, 
but  commanded  bim  to  do  the  good  and 
abstain  from  the  evil. 
'•^v  lod  the        Christ  changed  not  the  law,  that  it  should  be 
Ciospel.  abandoned. 

But  renewed  it  that  it  might  be  better  kept. 

'^^  ptiim He  ordained  baptism  as  a  means  of  salvation, 

and  commanded  the  apostles  to  baptise  the 
nations.     Then  began  the  regeneration. 
^ith  and  Works.  The  Scripture  saith  and  it  is  evident. 

That    if  any  man  loves  the  good,  he   must 

needs  love  God  and  Jesus  Christ. 
Such  an  one  will  neither  cuise,  swear,  nor  lie. 
Neither  will  he  commit  adultery,  nor  kill. 
Nor  will  he  defraud  his  neighbour. 
Nor  will  he  avenge  himself  of  his  enemies. 
"^««us  Christ.    .    Then  God  sent  the  angel  to  the  Virgin  of 
royal  descent,  saying,  the  Holy  Ghost  shall 
overshadow  thee. 
VIh  birth.  .  .  .   Tliou  shalt  bear  a  son,  whom  thou  shall  call 
Jesus. 


^P            142 

WALDENSUN   RESEARCHES.              ^^^^H 

^^^ 

He  shall  save  his  people  fram  their  lin*.            ^M 

^^^1 

And  tbcK  were  many  mitActcs  nbcii  the  Lotd 

^^^B 

wasboni. 

^^H             Crucifixion.  ,  . 

,   The  Jews  were  tbey  wbicb  cnicieed  him. 

^^H             Resuirectiou.  . 

He  rote  a^in  the  third  day  out  of  the  gn'n. 

^^H               AaoeD«ion.  ,    . 

Tlien  our  Saviour  ascended  bio  glot^r. 

^^H             D««cctitofHoly 

At  the  feut  of  Penlecwt  he  tent  them  the 

^H                    Ghost. 

Holy  Ghosl. 

^^H            SctqitnrM. .  ■ 

.  Ifwe  would  love  Clirist  and  know  bis  doc(rTDl^ — 

^H 

We  ought  to  waicli  aud  to  read  the  SctipturBs. 

^^H              Miabtiation  of 

This  they  ought  to  do  who  itre  pMlora. — 

^H                 tbcWonl. 

Tbcy  ought  to  prrach  to  the  people  and  pray 

^^1 

with  ihem. 

^H 

And  feed  them  oftea  with  divine  doctrine.          ^M 

^^^K 

And  nidter  sinnen  by  discipline. — 

^^^M 

That  IS  by  dedatiog  that  lltey  ought  to  repeal. 

^^^m 

Tbat  they  fast  and  ghx  alms,  and  pray  wiib 

^^^H 

fisrrent  he«ns, 

^^^^ 

F<ir  by  these  means  the  soul  finds  salraljon. 

^^M           Maniage.  .  .  . 

That  he  keep  firm  the  marriage  tie,  that  noble 

^^a 

eoDtnct. 

^^^H 

T\m  oU  law  bad  power  to  annul  nuiri^e,          ^ 

^^^H 

And  to  grant  bills  of  divorce ;                             ^M 

^^^H 

But  the  new  bw  saith,  urfaat  God  hath  joined    ^M 

^^ 

let  no  man  put  asunder.                                 ^H 

^^M              Such  are 

some  of  the  leading  topics  discussed 

^H          in  the  Noble  Lesson.                                              fl 

^H              In  the  Treatise  of  Antichrist,  co-eval  with  the   H 

^^1          Noble  Lesson — t)ie  doctrines  of  justification,  sane-    H 

^H          tification,  and  salvation  through  Christ  alone,  are  J 

^H          propounded 

with  more  emphasis.                         ^^M 

^H            Silfitionduo' 

"  Be  it  known  that  the  came  of  our  aooHW^^H 

^^^^^     Chant  akxie. 

"1 

WALDENSUN   RE8EABCIIES.  14S 

nice  of  the  faith,  and  by  naaoa  of  ow  in- 
mrd  kaowledge  of  the  only  true  God,  and 
the  unity  of  the  divino- etience,  in  Uiree 
Penoos,  which  knowled^  flesh  and  blood 
cannot  aflbrd — for  the  linng  h(^  tbrongfa 
Christ  in  God — for  regenetation  and  the 
inwaid  renewing  by  faith,  hope,  and  charity 
— for  the  merit  of  Jenu  Christ,  with  the 
all-aufficiency  of  his  gtace  and  righteona- 
nesB — for  the  commuQion  of  saints,  for  the 
remlasion  of  tins — foi  a  holy  convenatkm," 
ThcChnreh.  .  .  The  mintiterial  truths  are  these,  the  outward 
congT^ation  of  the  pastors  with  the  people 
hk  couTenient  places,  and  time  to  instruct 
them  in  the  tnilh  by  the  ministiy,  and 
leading,  establishing,  and  maintaining  the 
Church  in  the  truths  aforesaid. 
He  things  which  the  ministers  are  obliged  to 
do  for  the  service  of  the  people  are  these^ 
the  preaching  of  the  word  by  the  Ooqiel— 
the  administiation  of  the  sacraments ', 

The  forms  of  ordination,  and  the  number  of 
**^ers  are  not  mentioned,  either  in  the  Noble 
^■^sson,  or  in  the  Treatise  of  Antichrist,  but  in  an 
^*d  MS.  concerning  discipline,  we  find  the  follow- 
**>g  clauses. 

"  And  afterwards  having  good  testimonials  and  being  well 
^proved  of,  they  are  received  with  imposition  of  hands. 


'  In  several  of  the  MSS.  it  is  declared  that  the  Waldenses  be* 
^**«ed  in  two  s.icramt'nis  only,  Baptism  and  the  Supper  of  the 

(■Old. 

2 


144  WALDBXSIAN  RESBAKCRBB. 

"  AmODg  otber  privileges  which  God  hath  fins  t 
nnta  »  this,  to  choose  the  governors  of  the  people,  * 
Id  their  aeverat  offices,  according  to  the  direraity  of  ll 
the  iinilj  of  Christ,  according  to  the  aposde'i  exam 
this  caiue  left  1  thee  in  Crete,  that  thon  ghouldeat  aei 
the  things  that  are  wanting,  and  ordain  eldets  in  ne 
I  had  apptunted.' " 

This  quotation  evidently  implies  that 
cient  Waldenses  had  degrees  in  the  sa 
orders. 

The  successive  generations  of  the  Wa 
from  the  sera  in  which  these  expositions 
and  discipline  were  composed  to  the  prese 
have  maintained  the  same  opinions,  an 
avowed  them  from  time  to  time  by  put 
and  instruments. 

In  the  year  1556,  they  presented  a  coi 
of  &ith  to  the  parliament  of  Turin,  in  whi 
thus  explained  themselves '. 

1.  "  We  believe  in  all  that  is  written  in  the  Old 
Testaments,  and  which  ii  briefly  comprised  in  the  Apostl 

2.  We  acknowledge  and  receive  the  holy  sacraments 
by  Jesus  Christ,  according  to  the  true  meatiiag  of  t 
tution. 

3.  We  approve  of  all  that  is  contained  in  the  Crei 
tioned  by  the  four  &rst  general  councils  of  Nice,  Coast 
Ephesus  and  Ch^cedon.  We  also  believe  in  the  Creec 
nasius. 

4.  We  abide  by  the  Ten  Commandments  of  God, 

■  Leger.  Liv.  I.  p.  106. 


WALDBNSIAN    ItE8RARrHt:S. 


143 


vl»«  Iwtntnth  elu{)Mr  of  Exodas,  ami  in  ike  fifth  cbaptvr  of 

iferanOfDj. 
^1.  We  yt«lil  ubcdience  to  our  luperiDn  pla<vd  OT«r  at  by 
awl  wv  drain  lo  milNnil  to  ibein  in  all  ichich  b  nol  res- 
at  In  ibv  coaimandmcDU  Oif  God,  wbo  U  laverci^  Lotd 
MMter  of  us  sll.     In  tliis  religion  oiir  fiillwre  and   mothers 
k.'ve  oonlinned  for  maDj  ceiiluriet,  iJways  [irotesting  ihut  ihcy 
I  ready  to  (onake  tli«ir  ccron  if  it  could  be  iihevn  iliat  tltej 
ibmor." 


In  16.53,  a  confession,  the  same  in  substance, 

^^rii  published  by  the  Vaudois,  during  the  pcrse- 

^S'Wtions  of  that  yt-ar :  in  this  they  declared,  "  We 

^Mm  igree  in  sound  doctrine,  with  alt  the  Ileformed 

^I^ninicheB    of  France,  Great   Britain,   the    I»w 

^I^^oontries,  Germany,  Switzerland,  Bohemia,  Po- 

l^Bd,  Hungary,  and  others,  as  it  is  represented  by 

'dmn  in  their  confession,  as  also  we  receive  the 

^^^mfession  of  Augsbui^li,  as  it  was  published  by 

«t»e  authors  of  it," 

This  manifesto  was  accompanied  by  the  follow- 
nag  dniial  and  disavowal  of  the  sentiments  imputed 
to  them  by  their  adversaries. 

**  Beiitg  Kcioed  of  holding,  1 .  Thai  Ood  u  ibo  aathor  of  im. 
2.  Tliat  God  ii  not  omnipotent. 
■^  All  Christ  maa  not  iinpec<-at)te. 

^-  TW  Stam  Chriil  being  upon  Uie  crew  fell  into  dri:|iaif. 
^  1W  nan  b  IHte  a  nock  or  Mone  in  Um  actioiu  where* 
***>!«  it  moved  by  the  Holy  SpiKl  for  hia  own  lalration. 

''•  IWt  aixn  aecoanl  of  prtdetfinaiion  il  u  an  iadiStnai 
^■hetbertieDtf  walloriU. 
'■  1W  good  works  are  not  luceaiary  to  ulration.  ,^ 

L 


146 


WAIDEKSUN  RESEASCneS. 


8.  Tlut  Rpcnttnrc  nnd  coDtciuon  of  itnt  sre  Absolnteir  con* 
demncd  among  n«. 

9.  Thkt  Ristingvand  other mortificaiionaoiighttobe  rejecUdf 
and  that  we  toftv  live  diBol«W)y. 

•   10.  That  it  M  lawful  for  ever;  one  to  interpret  the  Scripture 
aeoorcttng  to  hit  own  mind,  anil  iIk  molioiu  of  his  own  •piriu 

1 1.  Tbot  the  Church  mij  Call  abnlotcly,  and  be  mluced  to 
notliing;. 

1 2.  Hiat  baptism  is  not  at  all  nccMsary. 

13.  Thai  in  tb«  Sacraiucnt  of  tbe  Lord*B  Slipper.  «e  Iibtc  no 
real  cDmrooniou  witli  Jesus  Christ,  bal  only  in  fif^urc  or  type. 

14.  That  we  iitrd  not  luboiil  oimtlws  to  kiti^,  princes,  or 
augiatntcs,  noi  yield  obedirnc«  to  them. 

15.  Because  we  do  not  prajr  to  the  Virgin  Mary  and  the 
SaintB,  we  are  aecated  of  dnptung  them,  wbcreas,  on  the  con- 
trarr,  we  account  ihvm  to  be  happt  and  worthy  of  (miiM;  and 
imitation :  and  do  tlie  more  especially  entcnn  ibc  glonoaa 
Viigin,  the  Ueuol  uboTc  all  other  women. 

All  theM  ihittg;^,  being  falwly  imputed  to  us,  are  belil  to' 
betetical  and  damnable  by  our  Chun:b» :  and  we  do  aitb 
our  hearts  denounce  analberaai  a^niit  all  those  who  maititain 
and  bold  the  tame  '*" 


I 


tioj^, 
H  all  ^ 


From  these  and  similar  sentiments,  from  opi- 
nions held  to  be  orthodox  by  the  joint  consent  of  | 
all  the  reformed  Churches  in  Europe,  the  Vaudois 
of  the  present  day  have  not  departed.  In  wit- 
ness of  this,  I  refer  to  the  latest  publications  of 
the  \\'atden8ian  clergy,  to  tlieir  catechisms  and 
books  of  instruction',  to  the  Letters  of  tht;  late 


'  ScclheHisioryby  Morland,p.70,7). 

*  Recent  c«Tillcr«  hare  accu&ed  the  preaent  Waldeoscs  of 

holding  opinioos  ioconatMent  viih  the  doctriiK  of  the  Trinity. 


WALDBNSIAX    IlKSBARCniS. 

Moderator  Peyran,  and  Iiis  Historical  Defence  of 
the  Waldenscs—  to  the  eloquent  work  of  Timoleon 
Pcjrad,  the  Moderator's  nephew,  now  pastor  of 
Maneille,  entitled  '*  Considerations  sur  les  \''audois, 
on  les  Uabitans  des  Vallees  dti  Picinont,"  printed 
in  1S25, — and  to  the  plain  and  simple  statements 
contained  in  a  recent  publication,  "  Notice  sur 
rEtat  actuel  des  Egliscs  Vaudoises  Protestantes, 
des  \'allecs  du  Pieniont,"  supposed  to  have  been 
written  by  one  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  living 
dogy  of  this  ancient  Church.  I  refer  also  to  the 
"  LiTTe  de  FaraiUe"  of  M.  Bert,  the  pious  and 
dbtinguiKlied  pastor  of  La  Tour,  just  published  at 
Geneva.  These  all  cite  triumphantly  the  ancient 
confessions  and  expositions  of  their  forefathers, 
■ubscribe  their  names  to  those  venerable  docu- 
ments, from  which  I  have  selected  the  extracts 
abofe,  and  continue  to  uphold  the  reputation 
of  their  Church,  the  only  relic  of  the  primitive 
Church  in  Italy. 

The  late  Moderator  PejTan's  defence  of  his 
eouDtnmen,  against  the  false  charges  of  Arianism 
and  Manicbaeism,  contains  a  passage,  which  1  am 

Ttte  Miomiaf  it  csinetcd  (nxa  oae  of  iImu  eatecbimt  now 

•*  Jesui  Chrat,  at  il  Diev  ou  Homme! 
II  «t  mi  Dun,  «t  >rai  llonniM." 

Jen*  CTifiit,  b  he  OoA  w  Mail  T 
Ha  il  *pnr  Gnd,  mkI  *ctt  Man. 
t.  2 


U. 


*-      * 


US 


WALDENSIAN    KKSBARCHRS. 


tempted  to  translate,  and  to  lay  before  my  readers, 
for  the  sake  of  its  indignant  refutation  of  a  calumny, 
which  has  never  had  the  least  foundation  in  truth. 
"  1  come  now  to  the  odious  accusation  of  Arian- 
ism  and  Maiiicha--ism.  which  has  been  so  oflen 
renewed  ajtainst  our  forefathers,  and  as  often  re- 
butted, to  the  honour  of  their  faith  and  innocence. 
And  here  1  might  expose  those  base  artifices 
which  have  been  employed  to  confound  the  Vau- 
doLS  with  the  Arians  and  Manichseans.  Even  the 
titles  of  books  have  been  cliangcd,  that  the  world 
may  be  persuaded,  tliat  there  is  no  difference  be- 
tween our  principles  and  the  tenets  of  those 
heretics  of  uld  Lucas  Tudcnsis  wrote  against 
divers  sects,  and  entitled  his  book  *  Concerning 
another  Life,  and  Controversies  of  Faith :'  and 
behold,  the  Jesuit  Mariana,  to  make  it  appear 
that  the  book  was  written  against  none  but  the 
Albigenses,  was  pleased  to  send  it  into  the  world 
under  this  name,  '  Against  the  Errors  of  the 
Albigenses.*  Ebrard  de  Bethune  composed  a 
treatise  against  the  Manichteans,  which  he  simply 
called  '  Antihseresis.'  And  what  does  another 
Jesuit  do  with  this  ?  Orctser  boldly  changes  the 
title,  and  publishes  it  as  a  work  '  Agaiust  the 
Vaudois,"  in  order  that  posterity  might  believe 
that  the  \''audois  were  the  Manichjeans  whom 
Ebrard  had  refuted.  But  the  Vaudois  and  the 
Albigenses  were  neither  Manicha:ans  nor  Arians 
at  the  beginning  of  the  twelfth  century.      This 


1 


A 


WAL[>I:N:)IAN    KtJtliAKt  IlKS. 


U!) 


irs  on  tliu  face  of  that  ancient  monument  of 

***eir  faith,  the  N<iblc  Lcs&on,  composed  in  the  year 

^  loo.     lu  that  exposition  uf  their  faith  is  found 

*^  *:iough  to  clear  them  from  the  double  calumuy — 

*^r  it  contains  a  subscription  to  the  doctrines  of 

_  "^e  Old  Testament,  which  the  Manicha-ans  ro- 

'^t*el«d,  aud  an  acknowledgment  of  the  divinity  of 

*^i*  Son.    '  As  we  adore  the  Holy  Trinity.'     Is 

*^  «:u8  the  language  of  Arians  1    Nor  were  the  Vau- 

*-«  «i8  Atanicharans  or  Arians  when  they  published 

ir  Catechism  or  Formularj-  of  Faith,  in  the 

Lpe  of  a  dialogue,  in  the  year  1100;  for  there 

e  find  a  scheme  uf  faith  built  upon  the  Old  and 

ew  Testaments,  which  is  in  direct  opposition  to 

^Sac  onpiety  of  the  Manichxans,  and  upon  the 

*-iodhcad  of  the  Son  and  tlie  HolyUhost,  wliich  is 

TBiiance  with   the  blasphemy  of  the  Arians. 

I'ere  the  Vaudois  or  Albigenses  Manichseans  or 

nans  when  SL  Bernard  said  in  the  twelfth  cen- 

■^*J|fy,  '  All  heresies  have  their  author — the  Nesto- 

iis  have  Nestorius  for  theirs,  the  Manicha^ans 

irc  Manes,  and  the  Arians  Anus,  but  this  sect 

TC  none  to  call  themselves  after  V 

"  They  were  not  .Arians  or  Manichieans  when 

I^X'illJam  of  Puy-I^urens  said  of  them, '  There  are 
**»My  heretics;  tlicre  arc  the  Arians,  the  Mani- 
^Ittwis.  and  the  Vaudois;  they  are  all  hostile  to 
*be  Catholic  faith,  but  they  are  op|Kwied  to  each 
^rther,  and  the  lust  named  dispute  witt)  uncom- 
■      Won  subtlety  against  the   Manicha-ans."     Thei 


150 


WALDBNSIAN   RGSEARCUBS. 


were  neither  Arians  nor  ManJchfeans  in  the  cele- 
brated  conference  at  Montreal,  when  their  theo-  ™ 
logians  maintained  against  the  Bishop  of  Osma  js 
and  the  Romish  doetors,  not  the  abominations  of^^ 
Manes,  or  the  blasphemies  of  Arius,  but  these  two  «=* 
cardinal  positions,  that  the  faith  of  the  Roman -«:s 
Church  had  become  corrupt,  and  that  the  ina.iac:^  i 
was  neither  instituted  nor  celebrated  by  Jesus^K- 
Chmt 

"  They  were  not  Arians,  nor  were  they  Mani- 
cheeans,  when,  after  baring  refused  to  ob«y  tb^ 
council  of  Lombes,   ^tiu.  f]  they  published  tha«^ 
famous  Confession  of  Faith,  which  still  appears 
among  the  acts  of  that  council,  and  which  is  a 
rejection  at  once  the  most  exphcit  and  solemn  of 
the  errors  of  both '." 


RECAPITULATION. 

In  the  preceding  pages,  I  have  endeavoured 
shew  the  ground,  upon  which  the  Waldenscs  rest 
their  claims  to  be  considered  a  pure  branch  of  the 
primitive  Church,  and  that  my  readers  may  have 
the  whole  of  the  ai^umeut  under  one  view,  the 
following  is  a  recapitulation  of  the  main  points. 
I.  Immemorial  tradition,  v.  p.  39 — iS. 
•  II.  The  situation  of  the  valleys  favourable  f(H- 


'  S«e  Peyifta's  Defence  of  ihv  WaldvnM;}.  edited  by  Mr.  Siou. 


IAN   RftffiAHCHeS. 


151 


*  early  rwpptton  of  th«  (iospcl,  and  for  the  pre- 
fK-ratJon  of  it  in  its  pristine  purity,  T.  p.  *8 — 70. 

III.  The  continued  enjoyment  of  religious  pri- 
ilc'ges  and  rights,  in  virtue  of  treaties  so  ancient 
-■nd   obligatory,  as  to  imply  that  they  were  ob- 

ined  before  the  influence  of  the  papal  sec  was 
Hs  height,  V.  p,  70 — 77. 

IV.  The  incidental  mention  of  an  Alpine  com- 
Tnnnity  in  non-conformity  with  the  Latin  Church, 
found   in   authors   of  the   eighth,   ninth,   tenth, 
eltventh,  and  twelfth  centuries,  v.  p.  77 — 95, 

V.  The  complaints  of  the  papal  authorities  and 
controversialists  of  the   twelfth    and  thirteenth 
pentnries,  against  the  extent  and  lonp-statiding  of 
(heWaldcnsian  "heresy,"  v. p.  9.5—118. 

VI.  'ITie  strict  conformity  between  the  opi- 
'•ions  of  the  ancient  and  modem  Wakienses,  and 
''Kkc  of  the  theologians  of  the  north  of  Italy, 

j»«*ft)rc  the  Italian  Churches  of  that  region  aub- 
»»tlrdto  the  jurisdiction  of  Rome,  v. p.  118— !31. 

VII.  Tlie  documents   of  the  Waldenses  them- 
•^"IfM,  some  of  which  are  coeval  with  the  year 

on,  V.  p.  132—160. 


*^  Wahiemmn  yfSS.  deposited  htj  Morfand  In  the 
Library  of  the  Vniverxilij  of  Cnmhridge. 

Since  the  preceding  pages  went  to  press.  I  have 
*i^in  made  inqniries  concerning  the  venerable 
documents  which  I  found  to  be  missing  in  1823, 


152 


WAtDENSlAN    UKSKAHCBKS. 


and  I  have  again  ascertained  that  they  are 
longer  in  the  place,  where  they  are  said  to  hai 
been  dejiosited. 

No  traces  whate^'cr  remain  of  more  than  Iburtf 
out  of  the  twenty-one  volumes  stated  by  Morlari 
to  have  been  presented  by  liim  to  the  Cambridd 
University  Library,  in  August  1658.  The  MSfi 
which  have  disappeared,  are  tlie  most  precious  4 
the  whole,  being  tlie  oldest,  and  tliosc  which  est 
blished  the  fact  of  the  conformity  between 
doctrine  and  discipline  of  the  ancient  and  pr 
Waldenses.  The  verj'  writings  which  Archbishojj 
Usher  was  so  anxious  to  obtain,  as  "  being  of  ei| 
ceedinj^  jrreat  weight  and  moment  for  stopping  td 
mouths  of  our  Popish  adversaries,  and  discoveriij 
the  footsteps  of  our  religion  in  those  dark  intd 
vals  of  the  eighth,  ninth,  and  tenth  centuries.**   j 

Co])ies  of  some  of  them  have  been  preserve* 
as  I  before  remarked,  in  the  works  of  MorlaiS 
and  Leger,  but  it  is  not  only  grievous,  but  sonu 
what  strange,  that  the  pieces  of  greatest  vain 
should  be  missing  from  the  collection.  Not  I 
clue  remains  by  which  they  can  be  traced,  and 
am  informed  that  it  is  the  opinion  at  Cambridgl 
cither  that  the  seven  volumes  in  question,  (thoq 
distinguished  by  the  letters  A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  (S 
were  never  sent  by  Morland  to  Cambridge  witi 
the  rest,  or,  that  if  sent,  tticy  were  clandestine|| 
withdrawn  or  destroyed  during  the  reign 
James  li. 


VUUHBtSUN    RKSEARCHKS. 


153 


As  to  the  first  supposition,  Morland  is  so  ex- 

»^^**ss  in  his  represuntatioii,  many  tinns  repeated 

his  book,  that  the  whole  lot   and  parcel  of 

rare  and  authentic  Treatises,  composetl  by  the 

icient  inhabitants  of  the  valleys  of  Piemont," 

'^as  presented  by  him  as  a  free  gift  to  the  Cam- 

[bridge  library,  that  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  doubt 

liis   correctness,  more  particularly  since  he   not 

only  declared  in   print  that  he   had   given   the 

ontire  collection  to  the  university,  but  he  added 

also  in  confirmation  of  his  previous  statement,  that 

ftherc  they  were,  and  there  they  were  to  be  seen. 

"  The  true  originals  of  ail  of  which  arc  to  be  seen 

in  the  public  library  of  the  famous  university  of 

Cambridge."  pjige  t»5.  of  Morland's  History  of  the 

Churches  uf    PiL>mont.      iUlix,    who    published 

■•*  Some  Uemarks  upon  the  Ecclesiastical  History 

of  the  Ancient  Churches  of  Piemont,"  in  1G8I>  or 

1690,  made  mention   of  these  documents  (the 

documents  now  missing)  in  terms  which  lead  the 

reader  to  suppose,  that  he  had  consulted  them  at 

Cambridge,  or  at  least  that  he  knew  they  were 

there  safe  in  the  place  where  they  had  been  con- 

Bgned     "  But  beyond  this  we  have  a  piece  dated 

■fter  the  year   1 100    of  our   I^ord,  entitled    the 

Noble  Li-s&on,  which  is  in  the  public  library  of 

tile  university  of  Cambri<lge,  given  by  Sir  Samuel 

iMorhuid  in  the  year  ItiJiS,"  page   175.—"  The 

IHeatleraen  of  the  university  of  Cambridge,  who 

haTe  in  tlieir  custody  the  MSS.  of  divers  pieces  of 


I5t 


WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


the  Waldenses,  and  amongst  them  an  old  MS.  of 
some  books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  (con- 
tained iu  volumes  K  and  F)  give  mo  a  fair  occa^- 
sion  to  make  this  comparison,"  tic.  page  184. 

The  opinion  now  held  at  Camlmdge  is,  tlmt 
there  is  no  proof  that  the  lost  MSS.  were  ever 
coDfided  to  the  unirersity.  There  can  be  little 
doubt,  it  is  said,  that  Morland  intended  to  senck 
the  whole  collection  to  Cambridge,  and  therefor© 
he  stated  in  his  work  that  they  might  be  seen 
there — but  from  some  circumstance  or  other  thej' 
may  never  have  arrived,  for  there  is  no  mention 
or  memorandum  of  them  in  any  catalogue  that 
can  be  found,  although  several  catalogues  do 
make  mention  of  the  H  volumes  which  remain.  _ 
It  is  also  contended  at  Cambridge,  that  the  obser-  — ■ 
vations  of  Allix  do  not  go  the  length  of  assertin, 
that  he  himiMrlf  hod  consulted  the  MSS.,  but  con— :^ 
tain  nothing  more  than  a  loose  remark,  liiizard 
upon  the  credit  which  he  attached  to  Morland 
own  statement  of  their  being  to  be  seen  in  tt^ 
uni^'crsity  library. 

The  other  ground  which  is  taken  up  at  Cank  - 
bridge,  is  this.     If  the  lost  MSS.  ever  did  arri^*^ 
at  their  destination,  they  very  soon  disappeared  -- 
most  probably  during  the  reign  of  James  II.    The 
reason  assigned  for  this  suspicion  rests  upon  the 
precautions  taken  by  Tomiison,  afterwards  arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  who,  having  cause  to  fear 
that  the  papists  were  ransacking  the  libraries  at 


WAI.REN8IAN   RKSRARCnES. 


155 


Cambridge,  and  destroying  or  removing  what  was 
offensive  to  them,  liad  attested  copies  taken  of 
the  valuable  MSS.  in  Corpus  Christ!  College 
relating  to  the  Reformation. 

Such  are  the  conjectures  afloat  in  relation   to 
tlic  matter  in  question. — The  real  fa£ts  in  elucida- 
tion of  it  are  these. 
■   .\  catalogue  of  the  universit)-  library  printed  in 
"690,  says  nothing  about  any  of  the  Morland 
AlSS.      But  tliis  is  no  authority,  because    it   was 
cropied  from  one  compiled  before  he  made  the 

rssent  of  his  collection. 
Another  made  in  IIUS,  speaks  of  the  14  vohimes 
Vanly  which  yet  remain,  those  from  H  to  W. 

Ill  1794,  N'ajhniith  completed  a  catalogue  of 

le  MSS.  in  the  university  librar)*,  at  which  tirao 

BVen  volumes  of  the  Morland  MSS.  and  the  box 

^f  papers  marked  X  were  missing,  and  it  would 

■weem  from  the  following  extract  from  Narfsmith'a 

catalogue,  that  nobody  had  any  knowledge  of  the 

manner  in  which  they  had  disappeared. 

^    "  Ko.  112—125. 

V    "  Fourteen  thin  paper  books  in  folio  (now  bound 

in  Rvc  volumeii)  containing 

^ft    "  Original   papers  relating  to  the  Waldcnses, 

'     particularly  to  the  massacre  of  1635,  collected  by 

Sir    Samuel    Morland.   the   Protestant    envoy    in 

1665  la  the   duke   of  Savoy,     Sir   Samuel    has 

eiisiderable  part  of  them  in  his  History 


156 


WALUENSIAN    RCSFAKCIIF.6. 


Pietnont,  to  which  he  has  prefixed  a  catalogue  of 
the  AfSS.  From  thU  catalogue  it  appears  that 
the  collection  originally  consisted  of  21  volumes, 
and  a  box  of  papers,  severally  marked  with  the 
letters  of  the  alptiahet.  Seven  volumes  and  the 
box  arc  now  wanting ;  the  fourteen  remaining  we 
shall  describe  in  the  words  of  Sir  Samuel  Mor- 
land's  catalogue,  witli  such  slight  alterations  as 
the  present  state  of  the  MSS.  reciiiires.  The 
volumes  marked  A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  G,  are  wantbig." 
Such  being  the  state  of  the  case,  and  since  the 
lost  MSS.  were  missing  from  the  librai-y  in  1791, 
and  ni  1753 — and  no  light  was  thrown  at  either   ] 


of  these  periods  upon  the  manner  in  which  they 
had  been  removed,  I  fear  all  trace  must  now  be 
considered  as  entirely  gone,  and  nothing  but 
accident  will  clear  up  the  mystery  which  bangs 
about  them. 


i 


i 


CHAPTER  I. 


Ohftdi  ofmif  JoitnKi/.  RotUt  by  Calaii — Amitms — Paris — Jun 
Mmimtuhu  —  Gttuta  —  Chambery— Mont   Catif— Turin — 
Pfmmlo  lo  La  Torrr.      Reception  in  iht  tetUeyi.     San   Mvr- 
'  ganta.     ObterttUwns  on  t'andoit  charuatr. 


Tre  object  of  my  second  visit  to  the  Vatidois  was 
threefold.  First,  and  principally,  I  was  desirous 
of  judging,  apoii  personal  obsen'ation  and  enquiry, 
how  certain  tiums  of  money  placed  at  ray  disposal 
might  be  best  employed,  not  only  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Watdensian  Church,  but  for  the  advantage 
of  the  Protestant  cause  at  liirgc,  in  this  its  only 
■troDg  hold  in  Italy.  "  The  men  of  the  valleyiT 
hftve  a  claim  upon  our  interest,  not  merely  as 
descendants  of  the  ancient  Waldciises,  but  as  bor- 
derent  and  occuptcre  of  some  of  the  most  important 
Alpine  passes  between  France  and  Italy,  on  the 
chain  that  connects  Mont  Cenis  and  Mont 
Vise:  and  what  is  more,  as  maintaining  the  ex- 
lordinar)*  position  of  a  frontier  Church,  and  a 
litive  Church,  upon  the  verj-  point  where,  as 
beacons  and  signal  stations,  they  may  be  of  the 
greatest  use.     Tlie  faith  of  the  first  centuries,  and 


15S 


WAU>ENSIAN    RESEAKCUBS. 


the  forms  of  early  Christianity,  like  visions  of  de- 
paKcd  loveliness,  hnvt:  lingered  here  among  these- 
mountaineers,  when  they  fled  from  other  regions. 

Extmoa  per  ilios 
JiMtitia  excedens  lenu  resugia  tech. 

And  thus  is  the  ^ot  from  which  it  is  likely  that 
the  great  Sower  will  again  cast  his  seed,  when  it 
shall  please  him  to  permit  the  pure  Church  ol 
Christ  to  resume  lier  seat  in  those  Italian  states^ 
from  wliich  pontiflcal  intrigues  have  dislodged  her. 
I  was  therefore  anxious  to  be  upon  the  ground 
again,  and  to  ascertain  what  institutions  might  be 
established  or  strengthened,  to  serve  as  a  base^ 
from  which  lines  of  communication  may  be  ex- 
tended, and  movements  conducted  upon  a  greater 
scale  at  some  future  and  more  favourable  period. 

My  second  object  was  to  see  how  far  that  aid 
had  proved  effectual  which  had  already  been  ex- 
tended to  the  Vaudois,  and  to  examine  into  the 
condition   of  the  hospital '   and  schools,   which 

'  The  rollowing  extracts  frocn .  the  Report  of  the  LondoM 
Committee,  publisbed  March,  1930,  will  shew  tlie  amoant  and 
the  appropriatioa  of  t!i«  motiej  collected  io  behalf  of  the  Vaudou, 
after  th«  puUic  appeali  made  in  1834. 

No.  I.  Makes  meatioo  of  the  sma  total  nbcd  anoog  the 
Reformed  Churcho,  for  the  Hospital,  The  contdbutions  from 
Ftaocc,  Swiixcrlnnd,  Denmark,  Sweden,  and  tome  of  the  Ger- 
man Kl«te«  Kx;ro  rcmilicd  at  once,  aod  made  up  the  sura  of 
105,000  francs.  (4,200/.)  The  amount  of  the  Englbh,  Prujwian, 
and  Dutch  Hibecriplions  was  fuiMled. 

No.  II.  Contains  a  detailed  account  of  the  money  (7,303f. 
2 


WALDENSIAN   RESKARCHES.  159 

'e  been  founded  and  endowed  by  funds  raised 
:fae  Protestant  countries  of  Europe,  principally 
England. 

4^,)  which  has  been  raised  in  the  British  dominions,  through 
exertions  of  the  London  Committee,  for  the  several  purposes 
ein  expressed,  in  aid  of  the  Hospital,  and  of  General  and 
listerial  Education. 

"he  Government  payment  to  the  Vaudois  pastors,  of  277f. 
uilly,  called  the  Royal  stipend,  and  restored  in  1627,  is  not 
loded  in  this  account. 

No.  I. 

THE  HOSPITAL. 

'  This  Institution,  comprising  the  Establishment  in  chief  at 
Tour  in  tlic  Valley  of  Lucerne,  and  the  Dispensary  at  Pomaret 
lie  Valley  of  I'erousc,  owes  its  origin  to  public  subscriptions 
cd  unODg  the  Protestant  states  of  Euroi>e,  [since  1834.] 
t  of  tlic  sums  so  collected,  the  Vaudois  received,  in  capital, 
nit  lOj.OOO  frincs.  The  remainder  was  jilaced  in  the  public 
da  of  Kn^'lund,  Prussiii,  and  Holland;  and  the  Interest  is 
lilted  annually,  fur  the  maintenance  of  the  Hospital  and  Dis- 
itary. 

>f  ihc  lO.*), 1)011  fninca  received  by  the  Vaudois  tliemselvcs, 
account  liaii  Ik-vu  L'ommunicult'd  to  the  following  effect,  in 
ml  nuniUiis  : 

I'nniii. 

'urchiisi'  of  an  estate  at  La  Tuur,  consisting  of 
about  !j><  jouniuiix  or  arres,  with  farm-house  and 
buii<Iiu);s,  and  yielding  an  annual  rent  of '2000 
fr-ncs 5t»,00O 

Paicha><G  of  a  building  and  vineyard  at  La  Tour, 
which  lias  since  been  converted  into  a  house  and 
gaiden  for  the  hospital — in  addition  to  an  an- 
nuity to  the  proprietor  of  460  friinca 4,000 

Furniture  and  uutlittingof  the  hospital 5,000 


t60  WALDEN9IA.N   RBSEARCHRt. 

I  may  confess  titat  I  set  out  with  sangii 
expectations  upon  this  subject;  and  if  I  did 
hope  to  find  that  the  sums  of  money  remitted 

Purchuc  of  ■  houM  mt  Pomarel,  lo  Krve  hr  ■  <lis- 

penwyi  with  charges  Tor  farnitaTr.outfiuing.  Sic,  I6,( 

EKpc^Mi  of  collggling  the  above,  travelling  expenses  ^ 

of  the  Vaudoia  agent,  &c.  &c,  extending  tbronj^b  ^^ 

two  or  three  yan I6,C 

Balance  iDnsted  in  a  mortg^ 8,C 

Total....  10i£,C 

IXCOMB   or   TUB    nmpITAL. 

Receipts  front  EogUnd  annually,  (1201.  for  hos- 
pital, 30i.  for  dispensary ,)     I50t  01 3,7 

Fiom  PniMia,  ditto    diuo,    IdOLot •••  3,7 

From  Holland S,i 

Rentof  Hoapital  tsUteatUtTmir i,a 

lotereat  of  8,000  Cranca  ODtDortgage 3 

Total....    i$.3 

No.  II. 

ABSTRACT  o/fV  TRFASURER"iJ  ACCOUNT,  /row 
EttabluhmenI  of  ike  Lokdox  Vavdoik  CoHiiiTTBKifJ 
S6lA,  1825,)  to  the  31st  of  Dtcembtr  1829. 

« 

I.^MOKET  tX  TUB  BktTISH  ruMM. 

IMMMt 

0.OOO(.  3  per  Cent.  ConMb i;.  150    0 

SOOf.  3  per  Cent.  Reduced  ....       34    0    0' 
1,20(U.  31  per  Cents. 42     0     0 


£.216 


WALDTMSTAN   RESEAncRRS. 


161 


"*«    "Valleys  had  been  expended  there,  in  a  manner 
'i'^^lj  to  please  all   parties  equally,  yet   I   felt 

^^^1  2. — ANXDAL    PAYMtXTS. 

■P^                                                                   £.  «.  d. 

™^«^i  the  Sappofi  of  Ui«  HonpiUl  ai  Lb  Tour-*  120  0  0 

I                      Ditto.            of  the  Ditpensary  at  Pomaret    34  0  0 
*^^*'  the  Edaculion  of  Young;  Penocu  intended  for 

*1ms  Htnistry   30  0  0 

For   the  Support  of  Four  Girls'  ScbooU  of  Indonry     40  0  0 

kuiij  u>  M.  Combe  4  0  0 

£.214    0    0 


3. — rasAsoKCR  d^dx  CAsn  accocxt. 

*  -    Stibgcf^itlou  niaed  in  ihe  Bntisb  Dominiona : 

£.    I.    d.  £.    $.    d. 

'*««4!i»Bd  for  llo^NtaJ  and  Oenertl  ^^ 

I^wjuMe* JlSl  13    9) 

**c<i»Mi  fof  Edttcalioo  of  joung  V    MH  U    0 

>*«n)ailiitende<lfoftli«Hiiu*tr7  635  18    7\ 

*«C«i«d  for  School* 699  19     8-^ 

^     ■btaraat  oa  Stock. 

fcrihe  Tear  1 826 150    0    8N 

Ditto.       1827   309    fi    0/ 

Ditto.       1828 216    0    Of      "J^l    S    » 

taao.      1839 316    0    OJ 

OaiMd  by  Sde  of  Eicbetiner  Dilli  to  tlie  Year 

I83<i 6  10     2 

nrccir«d  for  the  pajmenl  of  M.  Combc'a  An- 
■uiiy  of  4L  a-yor,  aa  mentiooed  in  tli«  K  eport 
of  Jme  l»ih.  1837    86  17    6 

£.730-2     7     4 


163  WA1.PB\S1AN    RESEARCHES. 

assured  that  tlicy  had  been  appropriated,  so  as 
do  credit  to  the  disinterestedness  of  those  to  wboE 
they  had  been  coniided. 

4. — TKKASVRKX  C*-  ox  CAMt  ACCOtlXT. 

1.  ByUtePuKhucorStock    £.5974    $ 

3.  Tmnamiued  to  the  Vdlep,  by  onkr  • 

of  die  Committee: 
luremittnncctfor  I82f>,  prci^wiu/jr   £.     t.     d. 

to  tboir  final  adjasttnent 136     0     0 

Ditto,  dilto,  Tor  18-37 184  10     0 

Ditto,  ditto,  for   1836,  q/>(T  the 

6d>1  adjtMtment 214     0     0 

Ditto,  ditto,  for  1829,  ditto,  ditto  214     0     0 
Paid  to  the  Offinn  of  the  IMe, 

ID  JuiM  1826,  for  a  special  Pnr- 

poH  of  Education ;  a^^reed  npon 

betmen  the  said  Officm  aod 

Mmki.  Sims  and  PUwlerleath      87    2    0 

834  12 

3.  DisbunwnieRta  : 

lotbc  Yore  1824.  1825,  1824!,  for 

AdTertitemmu  io  a   rariety  oT 

Nempapere,   printing  CirciUan, 

Hiaiorical  Accounts  of  ibe  Vsu- 

doi>.   Notice*  of  Aledingf,    Ac. 

«c.:  StatioD«7,  &C.  See.  &c. ..  186  13     8 
In    1827:    the  principal    item    of 

which  m  the  Kll  for  priotiag  the 

Report  of  Juiie    19tli.    1827, 

to^tbcf  with    iIm!  Lnt  of  Sub- 

Kiibcn 23    3  10 

— .  209  16 

Caniedfonrwd--*-  JL  7018  14 


VAI.Dt:K8IAN    RESRAKrHRS. 


noble  proof  was  displayed  of  the  benevolent 
ind  upright  feelings  prevailing  among  the  \''audois, 
rben  the  British  government,  at  the  intercession 
I"  the  London  Vaudois  Committee,  restored  the 
oyal  stipend  in  the  year  1827,  after  more  than 
wenty  years'  suspension.  A  communication  was 
ben  insdc  to  them  to  this  effect :  "  You  will  again 
eceivc  the  British  stipends  which  were  witlidrawn 
luring  the  war  which  so  long  interrupted  the  in- 
ercourse  between  England  and  the  continental 
Ftates,  and  277/.  wilt  be  remitted  annually  to  be 
livided  as  before,  between  the  thirteen  pastors  of 
Jie  Waldcnsian  Church."    This  would  have  given 

^^m  Brangfatronnrd....  7018  14    S 

B^^R8 ;     tbe   priDcipal    item   of 

•Well  u  «  Bill  of  ill.  9$.  for  Uie 

purchase  of  a  Cmc  of  Butgicai 

ll<lMWlll.  riiinlili[^i    1i      Tor 

tlk»aMofOieHoq>itftUtUTQur  40  II     3 

*      tSSO:     the   principa]   Itcfa    of 

Witicb  is  a  BiU  for  a  Caae  of  Stir- 

(tical    ttutnunnits,     Fteighta)!;e, 

lot  tbe  uac  of  the  InHnuaty 

.P<WMi«t    30 


I    II 


70  13     3 


Balaitce  in  the  handa  of  Um  Treatum,    De- 
eibti'  31at,  1820;  of  which  a  pan  hu  bren 
I  for  Sprcial  Purpoaw,  by  oftlet  i»f  the 
and    lOOJ.   3  pei  Cc-nL   CouoU 
b««B  added  to  ihr  Ctt-nenl  Fand . .  312  19 


£.7308    7     4 


m2 


i&i 


VAUIBHSIAN    KKSKARrtlKS. 


I 
4 


about  21/.  10  each  pastor.  They  met  in  synod, 
and  came  to  the  following  resolution  :  "  We  are 
to  receive  6,800  francs  a  year  from  the  English 
government.  We  will  not  divide  the  whole  of  it 
among  ourselves,  but  we  will  reserve  part  of  it  for 
pi^lic  purposes.  We  fi'ill  take  300  francs  each, 
instead  of  523,  and  we  will  devote  the  remainder, 
amounting  to  2,900  francs,  towards  the  main- 
tenance of  aged  or  incapacitated  pastors,  and  the 
widows  of  pastors,  and  towards  the  appointment 
of  two  additional  pastors  in  ttic  more  remote  dis- 
tricts, where  the  ministerial  functions  are  at  present 
inadequately  dischai^d  for  want  of  labourers  in 
the  harvest."  Thus  did  these  good  men  throw 
Uieir  mites  into  the  treasury  of  the  temple,  and 
make  a  voluntary  sacrifice  of  not  less  than  one 
seventh  of  their  scanty  incomes ;  for  not  one  of 
the  pastors  receives,  with  his  recent  augmentation, 
more  than  60/.  a  year,  and  much  more  than  half 
of  this  is  derived  from  English  bounty ;  \iz,  finro 
the  royal  stipend  paid  by  our  government,  and 
firom  the  national  grant,  paid  by  the  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts. 

The  third  object  which  I  had  in  view,  was  to 
make  myself  more   fully    acquainted    with    the 
general  condition  and  character  of  the  Vaudois,  .^a 
and  of  the  state  of  the  \\''a)deusian  Church,  than 
I  had  done  during  my  first  short  visit,  and  to  cor — ^ 
rect  some  of  the  erroneous  opinions  which  hav< 
been  formed  upon  these  subjects. 

With  these  intentions  I  was  anxious  to  makr 


I 


WALDENSIAN    K(>EAKCI)E8. 


I6a 


ifefce  Best  of  my  way  to  the  valleys  with  my  family 

j»arty,  and  to  t-mploy  my  three  months'  abst-nce 

froiu    England  entirely  in    this  service,  without 

truming  aside  unnecessarily  either  to  the  right  or 

XjO  the  left.     I  can  truly  say,  in  the  wordt;  of  one 

^^hotn  it  is  an  honour  to  take  for  a  guide,  that 

••  though  I  certainly  did  not  shut  my  eyes  to  the 

clifiTercut  objects  of  interest  and  beauty  near  which 

KXiy  route  carried  mc,  that  I  never  went  out  of  my 

^ivay  in  pursuit  of  such  objects,  and  went  no  where 

•where  1  had  not  something  to  perform,  or  which 

ras   not  in  the  direct  road  to  sonic  iicene  con- 

VBCcted  with  my  proposed  researches." 

We  embarked  on  board  the  Brocklebank  steam- 

l,  near  London-bridge,  on  Wednesday  morning 

fix  o'clock.  May  27,  IS29,  expecting  to  land  at 

-oUis  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day.     But  we 

not  only  the  disappointment  of  delay,  hut  the 

coQTcnicnce  of  bad  weather  to  encounter,  and 

-id  not  reach  Calais  till  seven  o'clock  on  Thursday 

ling,  after  a  miserable  passage  of  thirty-seven 

ann,  instead  of  our  promised  agreeable  trip  of 

bItc     The  well  known  route  from  the  coast  to 

ris  by  Abbeville,  Amiens,  and  Chantilly,  offered 

<  o  new  subject  to  write  upon,  further  than  this  : 

^^^int,  coutrar)'  to  ex[iectation,  we  found  some  in- 

^-«rcst  oven  in  that  part  of  om-  journey,  which  is 

'Visually  thought  dull  and  tiresome.     We  fancied 

'^e  saw  an  appearance  of  contentment  and  enjoy- 

tncnt  in  the  French  peasantry,  and  to  our  eyes 

•cTenil  of  the  lianilctfi  had  an  air  of  t-omfort  as 


166 


WAI.DRNSIAN    RESEAKCUES. 


well  as  prcttincss.  I'tic  general  aspect  of 
country  may  fairly  be  pronounced  lo  be  unattr 
tive :  but  when  you  catch  a  glimpse  of  a  charmti 
village,  like  that  iK-tween  N'ouvion  and  Abbe\'il 
which  stands  nestling  among  trees,  with  its  nc 
church  and  spire,  and  with  every  cottage 
rounded  with  a  garden  or  orcliard,  you  travel 
through  the  day  in  good  humour  with  the  peoj 
and  the  landscape.  The  same  may  be  said  of  1 
village  of  Flixcourt,  and  the  town  of  Percpii^y,  01 
the  road  to  Amiens,  both  situated  on  the  banks  d 
a  stream,  and  inviting  you  to  be  pleased  with  yori 
exairsion.  At  Amiens  we  obser\'ed  much  to  sa 
the  mind  at  work.  We  arrived  there  on  Sati  ' 
evening,  and  stayed  through  the  Sunday,  ci 
ing  to  find  a  Protestant  congregation  and  Prot 
tant  service. 

But  the  three  hundred  gentlemen's  houses, 
the  rustic  population,  which  gave  importance 
the  refonncd  Church  in  this  neighbourhood  in  tlJ 
sixteenth  century,  have  scarcely  left  a  wreck  b4 
hind  them.  Ver)-  few  native  Protestant  fa 
are  remaining  in  this  city  or  its  vicinity,  and 
visit  to  the  catliedral  taught  us,  that  the  intluet 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy  is  neither  small 
uiiinfiuential  at  Amiens.  At  mass  and  at  ve 
the  interior  of  this  fme  gothic  building  was  crowded 
Men,  women,  and  children,  of  all  orders  and 
grees,  presented  an  appearance  of  almost  rapt 
votion.  The  singing  of  the  ves{>er's  hymn  by 
whole  assembled  multitude,   and   the  preacbii 


WALOi;.NSlAN    RESEARCHES. 


167 


<3f  an  eloquent  canon,  n'ho  evidently  carried  the 
feelings  of  his  licarers  with  liiin,  wore  to  us  addi- 
tional proofs  that  religion  is  on  the  advance  in  this 
fiart  of  France  st  least.     A  spirit  of  enquiry  is 
^>road,  many  arc  seeking  for  the  peace  which  the 
'wrorld  cannot  give  ;  and  when  they  discover  that  it 
is  not  to  be  obtained  before  a  i>aiDting.  a  relic,  or 
a.  crucifix,  they  will  seek  for  it  where  only  it  is  to 
l»e  found.     Over  against  a  shrine  in  the  cathedral 
containing  a  picture  of  Christ  on  the  cross,  a  tablet 
presented  this  inscription  to  the  eye,  "  Tronc  de 
la  restauration  du  crucillx  miraculeux."      I   did 
not  learn  the  exact  history   of  the  miraculous 
crucifix,  but  I  saw  many  of  the  credulous  put 
vooey  into  the  box ;  and  I  witnessed  enough  to 
understand  that  the  iaith  of  the  Vatican  ia  "sem- 
per eadem,"  or  "  worse  and  worse,"  as  the  Irish 
student  construed  it ;  and  that  it  will  continue  to 
be  open  to  the  reproach  of  being  idolatrous,  so 
long  as  those,  who  make  a  gain  of  the  sujierstitious, 
MQgn  miraculous  vinue  to  objects  of  sense,  and 
pretend  that  prostration  before  a  certain  picture, 
or  a  certain  wooden  cross,  which  papal  rites  have 
caosecnited,  is  more  meritorious  than  prostration 
before  a  picture  or  a  cross,  which  the  Church  has 
Dot  pronounced  to  be  miraculous. 

At  no  great  distance  from  the  cathedral,  there 
b  ■  small  tavern  or  wine  house  with  this  sign, 
"  A  la  grace  de  Dieu."  When  a  pricstliood  sets 
the  example,  and  invites  attendance  at  particular 
thfines  or  altars,  under  the  fabulous  pretence  that 


L. 


168 


WALDCN'SIAN    RKSEARCHBS. 


such  spots,  being  the  scenes  of  preternatural 
Testations,  arc  hatlonred  by  an  unasual  portion  q 
sanctity,  no  wonder  tliat  vintntTS  and  taven^ 
keepers  should  have  recourse  to  blasphemous  sigq 
posts,  and  to  similar  expedients  to  attract  notice^ 
We  arrived  at  Paris  on  Monday  night,  June  Isl 
and  there  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet  Colon<| 
Beckwith,  whose  long  residence  in  the  Vallejl 
during  the  lust  autumn  and  winter,  enabled  him  tt 
form  a  most  accurate  estimate  of  the  present  coq| 
dition  and  wants  of  the  Vaudois.  He  was  so  gooj 
8S  to  let  me  transcribe  bis  notes  u|K>n  the  state  dj 
public  instruction,  the  hospital,  the  resources  fl| 
the  imstors,  and  other  matters  connected  with  tbi 
object  of  my  journey ;  and  I  should  be  doing  injud 
tice  to  this  judicious  and  zealous  friend  of  ti^ 
cause,  were  I  not  to  state,  how  much  I  am  iq 
dcbtcd  to  him  for  the  information  and  suggestioqi 
with  which  he  favoured  me.  Unlike  some  of  nn 
countrj'men  who  have  visited  the  Valleys,  he  d^ 
not  come  away  disappointed  and  dissatistied,  4| 
not  6ndiag  the  \^audois  far  above  all  human  b^ 
ings,  in  the  scale  of  \irtue  aud  religion  ;  but  hi| 
judged  of  them  fairly,  according  to  their  advaii 
tagcs  and  disadvantages,  their  lights,  their  meani 
and  opportunities,  and  their  local  and  statistic  po^ 
tion  in  society.  1  have  infariably  found,  that  th' 
who  have  seen  most  of  tlie  Vaudois,  and  who  ha' 
had  opportunities  of  mixing  with  them,  beyoi 
tlie  hasty  visit  of  a  few  hours  or  days,  have  coi 
away  adoring  the  Providence  which  has  presenri 


A 


>KNSIAN    RrSFAItCIIES. 


169 


'^Ptn ;  deeply  impressed  with  the  merits  of  a  com- 
lunity,  which  hns  n-Uiincd  so  much  of  anciont 
-simplicity  and  primitive  purity,  in  spite  of  all  the 
«liAirulties  by  which  they  are  surrounded ;  and 
scknowlfdging  the  imjiortancc  of  a  helping  hand 
to  trim  the  light,  which  has  shone  so  long  in  that 
TecMB  of  the  Alps,  and  to  lift  up  the  hands  that 
liang  down,  and  the  feeble  knees. 

We  were  glad  to  proceed  on  our  journey  to- 
wards the  place  of  our  destination,  after  a  week's 
stay  in  the  French  capital;  but  instead  of  travelling 
into  Italy  by  Lyons,  we  directed  our  course  to- 
"wards  Geneva.  Some  of  the  schemes  which  1  had 
in  contemplation,  relative  to  an  improved  system 
(rf  education  for  the  Vaudois,  rendered  it  neces- 
mry  to  consult  persons  resident  at  the  universities 
of  Geneva  and  Lausanne,  previously  to  my  arrival 
io  ihc  Valleys.  We  travelled  by  Fontainbleaii, 
Bens,  Dijon,  and  Poligny,  and  crossed  the  Jura 
mountains,  but  had  not  the  gratification  of  gazing 
upon  the  lakes  of  Switzerland,  and  the  glories  of 
Mont  Blanc  on  our  descent.  The  weather  was  so 
bad,  that  we  could  scarcely  see  a  yard  beyond  the 
honai  beads. 

June  ISth.  It  was  some  disappointment  to  6nd 
that  the  vacation  had  commenced  at  Geneva,  and 
that  tlic  Vaudois  students  had  retunied  to  their 
lumes.  Thre4!  of  them  are  receiving  their  cdu- 
catioa  here ;  and  it  would  have  been  satisfactory 
to  have  had  an  opportunity  of  obsening.  upon  the 
spot,  what  cfll'ct  is  produced  upon  the  minds  and 


170 


WAtDKNSUN    KKSKAKCHrS. 


manners  of  these  yonng  mountaineers,  by 
in  a  gay  city,  and  mingling  witii  persons,  mai 
whom  profess  religious  opinions,  which  are  n- 
strict  accordance  with  the  doctrines  mainy 
in  their  own  pure  Church.  ^ 

There  have  been  complaints  of  the  d^cnerai 
the  Vaudois.  Ktherebeanytnithinthisrepn: 
may  we  not  attribute  it  in  a  great  degree  to 
foreign  education  which  their  clci^  receive, 
period  ofyouth  the  mostcritical  of  alt?  Accordit 
the  present  state  of  things,  the  young  men  intei 
for  holy  orders  must  necessarily  go  to  Switzei 
for  instruction.  They  have  no  means  of  obtai 
sufficient  knowledge  in  their  native  valleys.  1 
are  unprovided  with  books,  and  instructors, 
they  are  tempted  to  Genera  and  I>ausannc 
certain  exhibitions  of  the  value  of  about  600  fir 
a  year  each,  which  have  been  founded  by  h 
fectors  in  1  lollaiid.  I  do  not  presume  to  speak  o 
academies  or  imiversities  of  Switzerland  as  sc 
of  dissipation,  or  of  bad  example  :  but  I  can  r 
no  hesitation  in  expressing  my  opinion,  that 
habits,  new  wants,  and  wishes,  and  new  opin 
injurious  to  native  simplicity,  cannot  but  b( 
quired  by  lads  who  leave  their  rustic  and  secli 
habitations  on  the  mountains,  and  pass  the  gn 
part  of  seven  or  eight  years,  from  fifteen  and 
teen  years  of  age,  in  a  foreign  town.  Fern 
the  Vaudois  pastors  were  educated  at  home 
when  the  college,  or  establishment  for  educi 
at  Angrogna,  of  whatever  kind  it  may  have  I 


WAtDENSUN   RESEABOIES. 


171 


■was  destroyed,  tlic  candidates  for  ordination  had 
"no  other  resource  than  to  betake  themselves  to 
Svi'itzcrland. 

The  evils   of  the  present  system   have  been 
eloquently  deplored  by  a  Vaudois  writer,  Krexzi, 
who  published  a  liistory  of  the  Vaudois  about 
thirty-five   years  ago,    and   who  devoted  many 
paj^  of  his  book  to  the  consideration  of  a  plan, 
wliicfa  miglit  obviate  the  necessity  of  expatriat- 
ing his  young  countrymen  at  the  most  danger- 
ous crisis  of  their  lives.     It  was  simply  this ;  that 
the  Vaudois  should  petition  their  friends  in  Hol- 
land to  make  some  slight  change  in  the  destination 
of  the  grants,  which   are  voted  to  enable  their 
youth  intended  for  ortlers  to  receive  a  theological 
education,    l^^t  the  amount  be  remitted  immedi- 
ately to  the  valleys,  and  let  there  be  added  to  it 
that  of  the  annual  stipend  paid  to  the  master  of 
the   Latin  school  at  La  Tour.     These  together 
>rou1d  enable  the  Vaudois  to  have  a  more  com- 
]^tftt.Mit  establishment  of  their  own,  and  to  appoint 
two  or  three  professors,  who  mif,'ht  preside  over 
%hc  studies  of  tlic  young  men  destined  for  ordina- 
tion. The  expense  of  journeys,  and  of  the  charges 
innured  over  and  above  the  600  francs  a  year 
provided  for  them  in  Switzerland,  would  then  be 
spared,  so  that  they  might  set  the  value  of  the 
cost  saved  aghinst  the  loss  of  the  aimual  exhibi- 
tions, and  receive  an  education  at  once  chea{>cr 
and  safer. 


172 


WALHENSfAN    RKSEARCHKS. 


The  enchanting  banks  of  Lake  LciD»ii  threatened 
to  be  the  Capua,  which  should  detain  us  in  idleness 
and  enjoyment,  and  divert  us  from  our  purjuwe  of 
hastening  to  Piemont  without  unnecessan-  loss  of 
time.  For  who  can  saunter  in  the  gardens,  mea- 
dows, or  corn  fields,  which  run  down  to  the  margin 
of  the  lake,  or  glide  along  in  a  boat  upon  its  bright 
blue  waters,  without  being  strongly  tempted  to 
prolong  bis  stay,  and  to  enjoy  that  unrivalled 
prospect  of  sylvan,  pastoral,  and  mountain  scenery, 
which  delight  bis  eye  in  this  favoured  spot !  On 
the  Swiss  side  of  the  lake  there  arc  moral  as  well 
as  natural  charms,  which  gladden  the  heart :  good 
government,ricbcidtivation,and  secure  possession, 
are  conspicuous  in  every  object.  Not  so  on  the 
Savoy  shore ;  there  you  miss  the  beautiful  villas 
which  grace  the  other  bank — there  you  see  long 
tracts  of  marshy  and  poorly  productive  land.  At 
Geneva  even  the  line  of  fortifications  tells  a  tale 
of  happiness  and  comfort.  The  foss,  and  slopes  ' 
down  to  it,  the  scarp  and  counterscarp,  are  con- 
verted into  hay  fields  or  flower  parterres,  and 
realize  the  scriptural  image  of  every  man  convert- 
ing his  weapons  of  warfare  into  implements  of 
husbandry  or  domestic  use. 

June  I5th.  From  Geneva  we  went  toT^usanne 
in  a  steam-boat  ;  my  business  there  was  soon 
concluded.  I  was  desirous  of  conferring  with  Mr. 
Cheesbrough,  the  exemplary  and  highly  respected 
English  chaplain,  and  with  M.  Monab~tier,  a  Vaudots 


WALDRNSIAN    RRtiRAR(  IIKS. 


ITS 


liy  birth,  and  one  of  the  professors  of  the  academy. 
These  gentlemen  have  been  the  kind  friends,  and 
1  may  say  the  kind  protectors,  of  the  two  sons  of 
<he  late  moderator  Peyran,  for  several  years  past, 
'while  the  elder  lias  been  pursuing  his  studies,  and 
the  younger  learning  a  trade  at  Lausanne.     The 
latter  in  his  humble  station,  by  lu's  good  conduct 
and  assiduity,  has  shevrn  himself  well  worthy  of 
the  kindness  which  has  been  extended  towards 
him,  and  has  been  enabled  by  aid  of  English  con- 
tributions to  put  himself  in  the  way  of  securing  a 
maintenance  sufficient  and  creditable,  though  it 
be  in  a  line  of  life  which  contrasts  strongly  with 
the  more  refined  pursuits  of  his  accomplished 
&ther.  The  elder  brother,  at  the  recommendation 
of  "  the  officers  of  tlic  table,"  as  the  board  of 
ecclesiastical  authority  is  called  among  the  Vau- 
doEs,   has  since   been  appointed   master   of  the 
grammar-school  at  Pomaret,  established  in  May 
last. 

L'pon  my  consulting  M.  Monastier,  the  excellent 
MuuatiUer,  as  1  have  often  heard  him  called,  on 
the  subject  of  my  enquiries  as  to  the  best  means 
of  benefiting  the  Vaudois,  he  gave  me  informs- 
tion  and  advice,  to  which  I  attach  great  value. 
His  affection  for  his  native  country',  his  thorough 
icquaintanre  with  its  condition,  and  his  long  ex- 
perience as  on  instructor  at  Lausanne,  where  the 
greatnf  number  of  Vaudois  candidates  for  orders 
are  educated,  render  him  a  judicious  counsellor  in 


iJ_5. 


174 


WALDKNSIAN    RCSnABOIRS; 


I 


I 


questions  touching  the  education  of  the  VaudotsT 
Ho  agrees  in  the  main  witli  Urezzi,  and  it  is  his 
opinion,  that  the  system  requires  improvement  at 
the  fountain  head ;  that  if  it  be  indispensable  that 
the  Vaudois  youth  should  have  their  theological 
education  completed  in  Swity-erland,  the  founda- 
tion should  at  all  events  be  well  laid  at  home : 
and  that  they  should  not  be  sent  away  {rom  the 
paternal  roof,  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen,  seven- 
teen, and  eighteen,  nor  should  they  pass  so  many 
years  in  their  academical  career,  as  must  now  be 
the  case,  so  long  as  they  come  ill  prepared  to 
begin  their  course  of  higher  studies.  "  But  how," 
said  he,  "  can  this  be  managed,  according  to  the 
present  state  of  things  ?  There  is  but  one  Latin 
school  in  the  valleys,  that  at  La  Torre.  The 
master  is  poorly  paid,  by  a  salary  which  does  not 
amount  to  1000  francs  a  year.  He  has  no  assist- 
ance, and  must  encounter  all  the  drudgery  off 
teaching  little  boys  their  first  elements,  and 
urging  on  the  elder  scholars.  He  has  neither 
the  time  nor  the  facilities  of  advancing  knowledge 
beyond  a  certain  point.  He  has  not  the  command 
of  books,  or  of  any  of  the  materials  of  superior 
education."  M 

M.    Monastier  ftirther  stated,  that  he  did  not    . 
know   of  any   better  plan   for  ameliorating  the 
general  condition  of  the  Vaudois,  than  this,  that 
the  friends    and    protectors  of  the  Watdensian 
Church  should  combine  their  efforts,  and  establish 

3 


WAI.DBN8IAN    nESRAItCHRS. 


175 


sn  institution,  where  cfKcient  instruction  may  be 

^iven,  not  only  to  the   young  people  who  are 

^tended  for  the  ministry,  but  to  those  also  who 

-MTV  destined  to  be  the  regents  or  masters  of  the 

Ullage  schools.     By  this  means  general  improve- 

inent  will  be  secured,  and  they  who  are  to  preside 

over   education  will  he    well  groimiled  in  those 

linuiches  of  knowledge,  which  are  most  essential 

for  e  population  like  that  of  the  valleys. 

We  returned  to  Geneva  from  Lausanne  by  the 
none  conveyance  that  brought  us  thither  tJic  day 
before,  a  steam-boat  It  would  be  endless  to 
describe  the  innumerable  and  varied  beauties 
presented  to  the  eye  during  the  passage  from  one 
end  of  the  lake  to  the  other. 


"  A  bictidinf;  of  nil  buutia,  Mro&mi  and  d«IU, 
Kniit,  foliage,  crag,  wood,  coro-lickl,  mouoUin,  vime." 


The  strong  contrasts,  between  snowy  summits 
and  verdant  plains,  inaccessible  rocks  scarped  with 
ice  in  the  distance,  and  in  the  foreground  the 
iMibitations  and  productions  of  man  betokening 
comfort  and  taste,  would  have  kept  us  in  a  state 
of  indescribal)!e  enjoyment,  if  a  contrast  of  another 
kind  had  not  marred  it.  It  is  grievous  to  turn  the 
eye  from  the  Swiss  to  the  Savoy  side  of  the  kke. 
The  one  Iwamcd  and  brightened  with  all  that 
denoted  the  happiness  of  a  contented  people, 
floorishing  under  the  blessings  of  free  institutions; 


176 


WALDESSIAN   RESEARCHES. 


the  other,  as  I  have  before  mentioned,  di5ip^ 
no  improvements,  few  or  no  trading  vessels, 
small  craft  in  its  creeks,  no  country  retreat 
wealthy  citizens,  no  indication  of  prosperity. 

June  1 7th.  The  same  comparison  forced  il 
upon  us  when  we  left  Geneva,  and  took  the  i 
to  Chambcry,  by  Luisct  and  Aix.  As  £oon  aa 
crossed  the  barrier,  and  had  passed  out  of 
Swiss  into  the  Sardinian  states,  pauperism 
mendicity,  dirt  and  discomfort,  scanty  product)) 
and  inferior  cultivation,  proclaimed  the  chang 
masters  more  than  that  of  soil.  And  how  ca 
be  otherwise  ?  The  people  are  taught  to  look 
to  the  rewards  of  industry,  for  their  gratificatii 
but  to  the  frequent  recurrence  of  holidays  . 
church  festivals,  when  it  is  penal  to  work.  ' 
labours  of  the  field  are  suspended,  that  the  ] 
cessions  in  honour  of  some  canonized  sfiint  i 
be  crowded,  and  hymns  of  joy  are  raised  in 
streets,  while  want  and  misery  are  broodini 
home. 

Our  journey  on  the  I8th,  from  RumiUy  to 
Jean  Mauricnne,  lay  through  to%vns  and  viUaj 
whoiie  whole  population  was  poured  out  in  hon 
of  a  day,  wliich  seems  to  be  highly  djstinguis 
in  the  Roman  calendar.  The  houses  every  wl 
were  decorated  with  boughs  of  trees,  tapestry, 
substitutes  for  tapestry ;  long  arrays  of  pri 
and  their  attendants  frequently  obliged  our  ] 
tilions  to  pull   up,  and  at  Chambery 


WAtmWSIAN   RESKARrmtS. 


177 


detrained  for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  because 

tll^     official  gentlemen,  whoKO  business  it  was  to 

exsunbe  our  passports,  were  engaged  like  the  rest 

in  Celebrating  the  fete.     The  transport  or  hilarity 

of    ^)i>  occBiUoti  had  so  intoxicated  tbe  man  of 

oflSce,  whos4t  inspection  and  permission  were  ne- 

c«»»«ry  to   the   continuance  trf  our  route,  Uiat 

"'^en  he  saw  my  party  described  in  the  passport 

■*    an  ecclesiastic   travelling   with   his   wife,   he 

excited   a   loud    laugh  among  his  colleagues  at 

(he  idea  of  a  married  clergyman,  and  humorously 

*r  insolently  contrived  to  word  the  billet  which 

he  gave  me  in  exchange  for  my  passport,  so  as 

^  tnake  it  contain  un  affronting  equivoque. 

If  these  tilings  were  calculated  to  raise  unjilca- 
■*tit  sensations,  two  obsen'ations  served  to  remove 
*^hcni ;  roost  of  Uie  children  and  young  people  of 
*U  degrees,  whom  1  saw  going  or  coming  out  of 
^e  churches,  carried  books  with  them,  an  indict 
^*^n  tliat  cducjition  is  on  tlic  advance  in  the  Sar- 
'■**Uan  dominions.     The  attention  i>aid  by  order 
•*«  government  to  the  convenience  of  travellers,  was 
**4otl)er  gratifying  consideration.  There  was  nothing 
^oublesomc  or  offensive  in  the  search  made  by 
^hc  custom-house  ofitcers ;  and  a  printed  bulletin 
J^As  put  into  my  hands,  which  was  an  L'ffectual 
l!^Urd "against  any  imposition  on  the  part  of  the 
^«      T^oitniasters.      It    fully   described   the   distances 
ft\     "Qm    place    to    place    between   Chambery  and 

I 


178"  WALDEVSIAN   RESGARi 


I 


Turin,  and  the  number  of  borscs  which  each  stage 
required. 


Rtiitia  d'  achtxnge.         Pottt.  Obtervaliotu. 

Cbamberr  i  MaotmeilUn        2  3  ou  4  cbenax  dn  10  Oc. 

aa  30  AfT. 
MouUneaian  i  JAalWremt      Ij    mIcd. 


m 


4 


Lans  \e  bourg  li  Monl  Ceon  3  3  on  4  cbevaux  da  1  Mu 

au  30  Oc 

Our  {lassage  of  the  Alps,  by  Mont  Ccnis,  was 
made  under  the  most  favourable  circumstances  of 
season  and  weatlicr ;  but,  upon  the  whole,  the 
impression  led  upon  my  mind  was  by  no  means  -^^^^ 
equal  to  that  when  1  entered  Italy  in  Janoan-  "i^—x 
1823.     Putting  aside   the  force   of  anticipation^  M^ma, 
and  the  intense  interest  one  takes  iu   being  a^       a 
spectator,  for  the  first  time,  of  the  wonders  aDit»  «-mw\ 
the  beauties  of  which  much  has  been  read,  ther^rrx^^nfl 
is  an  inseparable  association  in  the  mind  betweeirx'^>^en 
Alpine  grandeur  and  Alpine  dUiiculties.      Thord^^ 
keen  wintry  air,  and  the  scene  bounded  on  eacH'=>-«»w=^ 
side  by  icy  fragments,  or  by  pines  fringed  will  f  ^i'^^**''* 
frost,  and  the  road  covered  with  snow,  aceordec»'^£»"*^*" 
then  more  naturally  with  ray  preconceived  notionixxo*ons 
of  the  subUmc  and  formidable  Alps,   than    tb*^'^    '"^' 
green  slopes,  and  smiling  foliage,  and  tlio-  w; 
sunny  atmosphere  which  now  greeted  us.     M 
companion's  sensations  iverc  the  same ;  she  toe*' 


WALnEXSrAN    RESEAHrnKS. 


ns 


"^roj!  somcwiiat  disapimintcd ;  all  v/as  too  easy  and 
^otnfortablc  to  Ix;  Alpine.  Besides  this,  the  un- 
■Btde  but  picturesque  wooden  bridges,  which  were 
looM'Iy  flung  over  the  torrents  six  years  ago, 
lure  been  taken  down  and  replaced  by  solid 
arches  of  stone,  which  act  in  an  inverse  ratio 
upon  minds  bent  on  the  secure  or  the  im]>o«ing. 

We  arrived  at  Turin  on  Saturday  the  20th  of 
June  The  hotel,  at  which  we  took  up  our  abode, 
looked  Into  the  Grande  Piazza,  and  the  scenes, 
which  *rc  witnessed  next  day  under  our  windows, 
were  true  to  the  accounts  which  are  usually  given  of 
s  Sunday  on  the  continent.  In  one  part,  soldiers 
wen  paraded  and  marched  off  to  tlioir  posts.  In 
■nothcT,  a  rclifpous  procession  eiLtendcd  its  Unes 
from  one  side  of  the  square  to  the  other.  Here 
a  fellow  who  presided  over  a  blacking  stall  was 
holding  forth  upon  the  excellency  of  his  com- 
modity, with  all  the  earnestness  and  fluency  of  a 
•enator.  There  a  qiiack-iloctor  had  collected  a 
crowd  by  the  sound  of  his  trumpet,  and  was  dis- 
{MOsing  his  advice  and  his  medicine  out  of  a  four- 
wheeled  open  carriage  drawn  by  one  horse.  At 
one  moment  be  was  haranguingin  stentorian  tones, 
which  could  be  heard  distinctly  in  our  room :  at 
another,  blowing  a  blast  with  his  tnimpet  scarcely 
more  loud.  We  saw  him  draw  the  tooth  of  one 
patieot,  and  dress  the  wounds  of  another,  as  much 
to  the  asofuement  as  to  the  e<litication  of  the  by- 
ttnoden.     Not  fhr  from  him  a  conjuror  was  cxer- 

s2 


180 


WALDBNSIAN    RFSRARntBS. 


cbing  his  lan|^  and  his  inn^enuity,  and  tempting 
idlers  away  from  the  parade,  the  procession,  and 
tlie  empiric.    The  clamours  of  these  rivals  for 
public  applause,  the  buz  of  voices,  the  rattling  of 
arms,  and  the  sound  of  military  music,  mingled 
strangely  with  the  bctis  calling  to  Church,  and 
with  the  channting  of  the  priests  in  procesaon. 
No  where  is  religion   more  ostentatious,  or  even 
more  obtrusive  than  at  Turin,  and  yet  the  whole    ^ 
of  the  Lord's  day  presents  the  spectacle  of  a  fair,  ,^— 
rather  than  that  of  a  holy  convocation,  and  gl. 
were  we  to  think,  that  one  day  more,  and  th' 
short  distance  of  less  than  thirty  miles,  woulc3 
bring  us  to  the  valleys,  and  restore  us  to  a  sta 
of  things  more  resembhng  those  to  which  wo  ai- 
accustomed  at  home. 

On  Monday,  the  22nd  of  June,  after  havin; 
had  an  interview  with  Nfr.  St  George,  the  British 
charg6  d'afTatrcs,  who  had  just  returned  from 
Torre,  full  of  admiration  of  the  \''audois,  and 
kind  intentions  towards  them,  we  left  Turin  at 
about  one  o'clock,  and  taking  a  course  south-west, 
through    Nona,  Pinerolo,    and  Bricherasio,   we 
reached  I^  Torre  at  seven.     1  cannot  adequatehr 
describe  my  feelings,  as  1  approached  the  well 
remembered  spots,  which  are  almost  as  dear  to 
me  as  my  native  soil.    As  the  mountains  ncared 
upon  us,    after  travelling  the    long  plain,  and 
straight  hue  of  road  which  extends  from  Turini 
to  Pinerolo,  it  was  more  like  the  sensation  ol 


1 


WALDBSSIAN-   BKSEARCUES. 


181 


returning  home  than  of  guing  to  renew  old  ac- 

qiuuntanceship.  But  when  Castelluzzo  broke  upon 

my  view,  and  the  chiu'ch  of  San  Giovuuni,  the 

first  Protestant  %-ilIage,  rose  before  me,  and  when 

a  hltlc  afVeruords  ttie  bridge  of  La  Torre  came  in 

light,  my  emotions  were  such  as  any  one  on  earth 

might  txny.     I  had  one  by  my  side,  who  under- 

MocnI  and  participated  in  the  feelings  of  the  mo- 

inent.     If  pure  and  unmixed  happiness  was  ever 

felt,  it  was  on  tliat  evening,  when  I  found  myself 

a^in  witliin  the  sacred  Umits  of  the  Felice  and 

the  Closone,  the  seat  of  Christ's  Church  from  the 

primitive  times  to  the  present.  We  drove  through  ' 

La  Torre  to  the  hamlet  of  San  Margarita,  and 

^were  received  by  the  pastor  of  La  lorre,  M.  Bert 

^ind  his  family,  most  kindly  and  heartily.     It  U 

impossible  to  say  how  kindly.     Arrangcmeuts  had 

feeen  made  to  accommodate  us  in  the  house  of 

W.  Bert,  and  sweet  was  the  sleep  we  enjoyed  in 

v>oe  of  the  clean   and   comfortable  apartments, 

~>Nrhich  we  were  invited  to  consider  our  own  during 

^3ur  stay  in  the  vallej's-    VVith  that  deUcacy  which  ■ 

l>elongs  to  the  \'audois  character,  everj'  wish  and 

^ffant  of  ours  had  been   anticipated:  and  tliose, 

■^ho  know  by  experience  the  inconveniences  and 

deprivations  of  which  KnglJMh  travellerK  luive  to 

oonplain  in  the  best  furnished  hotels  out  of  Britain, 

win  comprehend  the  pleasure  we  felt  at  finding  a 

provision  of  linen,  and  of  basins  and  water  vessels, 

Ample  aod  cajtacious  enough  for  the  most  luxu-, 

*  s  2 


WALDflNSIAM   RBSBAfUrHKS. 


rtoiis  ablutions.  Another  mark  of  attention  to 
their  guests'  supposed  tastes  and  habits  was  con* 
spicuotis  in  the  room,  which  M.  and  Madame 
Bert  had  assigned  to  my  especial  use.  It  was  the 
pastor's  own  study,  well  stocked  with  books,  having 
a  window  opening  ujion  one  of  the  loveliest  scenes 
in  nature.  Many  were  the  happy  tranquil  hours 
which  I  enjoyed  in  this  Uttle  room,  turning  over 
the  time-worn  volumes  of  my  host,  and  his  ances-  h 
tors,  and  reading  interesting  treatises  of  authors  " 
of  other  days,  whose  names  have  long  since  i)assed 
into  obUvion  ;  or  gazing  upon  the  mountains,  and 
the  beautiful  vales  they  enclosed,  and  listening  to  fl 
the  wild  notes  of  a  shepherd  boy,  whose  daily 
occupation  was  to  watch  a  few  sheep  and  goats 
upon  a  neighbouring  hill,  and  whose  song  still 
rings  in  my  ears  as  one  of  the  most  melodious 
sounds  I  ever  heard.  The  sketch  which  faces  tins 
page,  was  taken  fixtm  the  window  of  tlie  study^j 

Domesticated  thus  with  a  Vaudois  family,  Uvi^ 
as  they  lived,  keeping  their  hours,  and  established 
in  the  midst  of  mountains  and  mountaineers,  the 
time  which  we  passed  here  may  safely  be  pro- 
nounced to  be  among  the  happiest  of  our  life. 
We  breakfasted  early,  dined  at  two  o'clock,  rising 
from  table  immediat*:ly  that  the  dinner  was  over, 
and  supped  at  nine.  Our  dinners  consisted  gene- 
rally of  potage,  a  small  piece  of  beef  or  veal,  not 
remarkable  fur  fatness  or  flavour,  poultr)-,  trout 
tcfuight  in  the  Pctice,  and  some  preparations  of 


ous      I 


i 


u 


< 


WALDRNSlAS  HKSKARCIIKS. 


183 


m^,  rice,  vegetables,  or  pastrj'.    The  substantial 
dish  at  supper  was  a  flawing  bowl  of  milk  rich  as 
cream,  or  of  custard  pudding  with  some  preserved 
fhiiL    At  first  the  supply  of  meat  was  somewhat 
scanty,  and  the  table  %vas  spread  ivith  the  frugality 
and  simplicity  of  a  hermitage;  but  whet)  our  hostess 
tiad  made  her  silent  obscoations  ugion  our  ap- 
petite, sharpened  by  exercise  and  fine   air,  she 
provided  accordingly,  and,  I  am  afraid,  put  herself 
to  no  small  inconvenience,  for  meat  cannot  be 
procured  with  any  rcjrularity  in  the  licinity  of 
La    Torre.     These  repasts,  and  particularly  the 
nippers,  scasoneti  by  the  conversation  and  kind 
fettentioQS  of  the  family,  and  by  the  demands  of  a 
kmg   evening  walk,  were  enjoyable   beyond  all 
j^cription. 

^San  Margarita  continued  to  be  our  head-quarters 
Ebr  two  months,  and  from  this  spot  we  made  our 
bxcursions  in  every  durection,  until  we  had  visited 
every  one  of  the  fifteen  Vaudois  Communes,  and 
kite  greater  nunilwr  of  the  hamlets  into  which  they 
bre  divided. 

Tlie  first  few  days  after  our  arrival  in  the  valleys 
were  spent  in  dehcious  leisurely  enjoyment  of  the 
lovely  scenery,  and  of  the  new  situation  in  which 
•mc  found  ourselves.  The  hamlet  of  San  Mai^rita 
is  about  half  a  mile  from  the  village  of  La  Torre, 
^taio  great  distance  from  the  central  school,  the 
Vttrch,  the  hospital,  and  the  Latin  school.  We 
jmild,  thercforej  first  visit  the  places  connected 


m>' 


WAI.UKNSIAN    KESKAKCUBS. 


-n."M#> 


with  sonic  of  my  enquiries,  and  afterwards  ramble 
among  the  secluded  delis  and  chesnut  groves  in 
their  vicinity,  and  thus  employ  our  mornings 
fully  and  agreeably.  Our  host's  bouse  is  his  own 
property,  and,  with  the  aspect  of  a  farm-house  or 
large'  Swiss  cottage,  had  all  the  comforts  of  a  farm- 
house, being  situated  in  a  farm-yard,  and  supplied 
with  the  produce  of  a  few  acres  which  lay  conti- 
guous to  it  Sorae  rich  meadows,  shaded  with 
fruit-trees,  and  well  irrigated  by  streamlets,  led  by 
artificiul  channels  from  tlie  mountains,  and  sloping 
down  to  the  banks  of  the  Pelicc,  were  at  hand  to 
invite  to  walk,  when  we  were  in  the  mood  to  take 
exercise  without  having  any  object  to  draw  us  be>  ■ 
yond  the  precincts  of  the  little  domain  ;  and  here 
we  loitered  away  many  of  those  hours,  which  we 
should  have  called  idle,  had  they  not  been  in  the 
society  of  some  of  Mr.  Uert's  family  or  friends, 
from  whose  conversation  we  were  able  to  gather 
much  of  the  information  we  required.  The  plea- 
I  sure,  however,  of  our  first  ramble  was  a  Utile  di»> 

^  turhed  bythe  sight  ofone of thoseforniidabte vipers, 
which  aboimd  in  the  chain  of  mountains  between 
Piemont  and  Dauphine,  so  much  so,  tliat  at  certain 
seasons  of  the  year,  men  from  Turin  and  Milan 
make  it  their  business  to  collect  them  for  medicinal 

.  purposes.  I  was  advancing  through  a  plantation 
of  willows  to  the  edge  of  the  torrent,  and  in  stoop- 
ing down  to  avoid  a  bough,  I  disturbed  a  viper 
coiled  upon  it  close  to  my  face. 


I 


WAU)ENS1AN    aESEAHCHlfS.  18ft 

The  Itay  and  corn  harvest,  and  that  gay  and 
importaut  time  when  the  produce  of  the  silk-worm 
is  coi]cctC(l,  were  calling  the  whole  rustic  popula- 
tion uito  full  activity,  and  gave  us  ample  oppor- 
tunities of  mixing  with  the  peasantry,  and  seeing 
tbem  under  all  those  circumstances  which  call  the 
diaracter  and  ])4;culiaritieii  of  a  people  into  action. 
The  grass  and  grain  had  yielded  an  abundant 
increase,  and  the  sciuwn  was  farourahle  for  secur- 
ing tliem;  but  the  mulberry  trees  had  failed  in 
Che  early  part  of  the  year,  and  the  silk  worms,  for 
^trant  of  tiullicient  aliment,   had  in  many  cases 
Ooade  so  poor  a  return,  that  great  distress  was 
%iie  consequence.      One  poor  family,  who  lived 
us,  had  expended  more  in  the  purchase  of 
ulbcrrj-  leaves  than  their  bilk  sold  for,  and  the 
«3)snppointment  was  lamentable ;  but  the  tale  of 
%heir  deprivations  which  resulted  from  it,  was  told 
-^vithout  the  least  repining,  although  their  hut  was 
.^most  stripped  of  its  scauty  funiiturc  to  raise  the 
sent,  which  their  cocoons  were  expected  to  pro- 
duce. 

Improvements  fmd  their  way  but  slowly  to  such 

Tetired  comers  of  the  world,  as  those  in  which  w© 

were  sojourning;   therefore,   the   implements  of 

laabaodry,  and  the  use  of  them,  as  far  as  wo 

ibserved.  belonged,  like  the  Church  of  the  Vau- 

Aois,  to  primitive  times.     The  scythes  and  spades  ! 

were  cumbersome  and  ill  adapted  fur  the  deK|»at<-h 

uf  work ;  the  auimals  principally  employed  in  the 


186 


fTALDRN'StAM   RESEARCHIK. 


fields  were  milch  cows,  whether  to  draw  the 
plough  in  seed  time,  or  the  waiti  at  har%-est.  The 
forks  were  for  the  most  part  of  wood,  split  so  aj  ■ 
to  form  the  prongs,  with  a  cross  bar  or  wedge  to 
keep  tJicm  distended.  But  thc-rc  was  another 
observation  of  a  more  interesting  nature  still, 
which  reminded  us  also  of  patriarchal  times :  the 
gcntlcnc&s  and  docility  of  tliu  cattle,  and  the  ktnd- 
I  ness  with  which  they  are  treated  and  managed. 
The  kine,  sheep,  and  goats  are  not  driven,  bat 
led,  and  become  as  familiar  and  tractal)te  as  dogs; 
they  obey  the  voice  and  movements  of  the  liand, 
come  singly  from  the  flock  when  their  names  are 
catted,  and  iltu.stratc  the  scriptural  passages,  **  He  4 
calletli  Ills  uwu  sheep  by  name,  and  leadeth  them 
out"--"  One  little  ewe  lamb,  which  lay  in  his  ■ 
bosom."  1 

Two  or  three  days  after  our  arrival  m  the 
valleys,  the  pastors  of  Bobi,  Villar,  San  Giovanni,  I 
Rent,  and  Angrogna,  and  the  master  of  the  Latin 
school,  called  upon  us.     I  had  not  seen  some  of 
these  worthy  men  when  I  was  here  in  182.1,  but 
among  such  frank  and  warm-hearted  people,  ac- 
(juaintancbship  is  soon  made ;  and  as  they  knew  I' 
did  not  ask  them  questions  out  of  mere  curiosity, 
they  were  good  enough  to  permit  me  to  ascertaia 
their  opinions  on  several  matters  connected  with 
my  journey.     In  some  instances,  travellers  have 
returned  from  the   Vaudois  dissatisfied  at  finding 
them  reserved  and  uncomumnicalive.     But  they 


i 


WALDESSIAN    RESEAncnES. 


187 


might  recollect  that  questions  as  to  income,  reli- 
gious opinion,  and  the  conduct  of  government, 
when  put  by  strangers,  whose  object  is  not  inteU 
ligible,  are  not  altogether  agreeable.  The  opjKir- 
tuuities  which  1  enjoyed  of  acquiring  tlie  confi- 
detice  of  these  mountaineers,  promoted  my  views 
in  every  respect.  I  was  received  in  the  family 
of  one  of  their  most  respected  and  intelligent 
fitstorB;  and  I  seldom  stirred  from  place  to  place, 
but  in  the  company  of  some  one  who  understood 
the  patois  of  the  country,  and  was  well  known  to 
Uit*  nativea.  If  I  shall^  therefore,  appear  to  sjicak 
of  them  in  the  tone  of  one,  who  thinks  himself 
Cktniliar  with  their  habits  and  sentiments.  I  may 
Ikosst  that  I  obtained  this  knowledge  by  associat- 
CKig  with  them  at  their  own  abodes,  and  [>artaking 
^^{  their  repasts ;  by  accompanying  them  to  their 
4Scl(la  and  pasturages,  and  by  twing  the  companion 
^:»f  »ome  of  their  journeys  and  adventures.  It  was 
Vaot  only  in  the  presbyteries,  and  churches,  and 
^9*chooU,  that  I  studied  their  character,  but  in  the 

I^ut  and  clifilet,  by  the  side  of  the  husliandman 
^nd  the  vine  dresser,  and  of  the  shepherds  and 
ftierdsnen.  and  hunters  of  their  AlpH. 
The  impression  left  upon  my  mind  is  decidedly 
dvotirable.    There  were  lights  and  shadows  in  the 
fiicture,  but  the  former  prevailed.    As  for  example,' 
if  I  witnessed  amusements  to  which  their  ancvs- 
tun  strongly  objected,  I  could  not  hut  perceive  tliat 
theso  were  conducted  with  a  degree  of  decency 


r 


P 


188  WALHEKSIAS    RESEARCHES. 

and  propriety  very  rare  in  other  re^ons.  No 
drunkenness,  or  quarrels,  or  loose  language  dis- 
grace their  hours  of  hilarity.  There  is  no  open 
and  shameless  rebellion  against  divine  or  biunan 
la^vs,  and  the  sins  which  call  for  admonition,  are  ^»'x: 
the  perpetration  of  individuals,  and  not  general  Mi^g-; 
enough  to  leave  a  stigma  upon  whole  villages  orro  t 
hamlets.  I  saw  no  indication  of  that  profligacy^r^h^ 
which  results  from  passions,  which  young  men  'armi  j 
too  many  countries  seem  to  avow,  rather  than  tc^u^ 
di^uise. 

At  their  devotions,  they  display  a  seriousi 
which  is  cjuite  exemplary ;  and  though  the  LordV'fvtTs 
day  is  not  professedly  consecrated  to  the  sam*«naQ)e 
number  of  services  as  with  us,  yet  there  are  fe^  ^sw 
1  among  them  who  are  not  regular  attendants  a^B    at 
I  church.      The    average   congregation    of    even^rry 

parish  rarely  falls  short  of,  and  generally  exceed. 
\  the  amount  of  half  the  populatioa.    Scarcely 
instance  is  known  of  a  young  person  declining  ' 
receive  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  aft 
he  has  arrived  at  the  proper  age;  and  the  solew-~ 
prepiiration,  which  is  made  for  the  commimic»J 
speaks  forcibly  in  attestation  of  the  pains  whi* 
are  taken  to  impress  the  youthful  mind  with  it 
importance. 

But  whether  it  is  that  extravagant  notions  have 
been  formed  of  the  ^'■audois,  and  that  being  sup — ■ — 
posed  to  be  exempt  from  all  human  defects,  their  "^ 
fellings,  when  discovered,   have  been  perversely 


WAI.nr.NflIAN    RF8R,*nrHES. 


189 


I ;  or  wliether  they  have  been  more 
rigidly  and  nicety  weighed  chatt  other  people,  cer- 
tain it  is,  that  if  they  have  been  overrated  by 
•ome,  they  have  been  underrated  by  others,  and 
advantage  has  bwn  taken  of  the  errors  of  indi- 
viduals, to  misrepresent  the  whole  community. 
If  it  could  be  shetvn  that  some  members  of  the 
Waldensian  Church  have  fallen  ten  times,  where 
they  have  only  fallen  once,  and  that  the  numWr 
of  admitted  delinquents  could  be  multiplied  ten- 
fold. I  would  still  subscribe  to  the  opinion  which 
three  recent  travellers  have  put  on  record.  "  In 
trinciples,  habits,  and  manners,"  says  Mr.  Bridge, 
I  they  approach  more  nearly  to  the  primitive 
irofessors  of  Christianity  than  any  other  coro- 
ntntity  of  Christians  now  existing." — "  I  have  no 
lesitation  in  saying,"  says  Mr.  Jackson,  "  that  I 
hink  the  Vaudois,  even  in  their  present  circum- 
tances,  the  most  moral  people  in  Europe." — 
'  They  have  the  honour  to  be  ranked  as  soldiers 
)f  Jesus  Christ,  with  that  remiumt  of  the  noble 
prmy  of  martyrs."  Such  is  the  witness  of  Mr. 
Plonderleath — my  testimony  is  the  same.  TTie  first 
opinion  which  I  adopted  in  18*23,  is  my  deliberate 
Knd  confirmed  opinion  in  1830. 

The  reader  will  sympathize  witli  mc,  when  1 
relate,  after  this  declaration,  that  two  events  oc- 
corred  while  I  was  in  the  valleys,  during  my  late 
which  were  of  a  nature  to  shake  a  casual 


190 


WALDRKSIAH 


!KS. 


1 


obaen'er's  estimate  of  the  \''audoi8  character.  Or 
man  committed  suicide,  and  another  murdc 
The  sensation  excited  tlirough  every  cominm 
was  terrible.  There  was  not  a  man  but  felt  that 
the  virtuous  reputation  of  his  community  was  at 
stake;  nothing  Uke  it  had  occurred  for  ages.  I 
was  present  when  tlie  remains  of  the  suicide  were 
committed  to  the  grave.  The  funeral  took  place  the 
day  after  the  fatal  deed,  and  before  the  cause  and 
circumstances  had  been  fully  ascertained  by  Ic] 
process.  The  gloom  was  det-p  and  universal. 
great  concourse  attended ;  and  the  spectators  of 
the  last  ceremony  appeared  as  if  they  had  not  tbd 
courage  to  look  each  other  in  the  face.  An  evt* 
dent  shock  had  been  given  to  all.  Happily,  it 
was  clearly  established  upon  inquiry,  that  the  poor, 
Tictim  of  his  own  violence  was  insaue^and  tlieiw 
but  not  till  then,  a  weight  seemed  to  be  removed 
from  every  man's  heart  and  conscience.  Some  of 
the  Roman  Catholics  indulged  in  severe  and  sar* 
castic  observations  at  the  expense  of  the  suicide 
and  his  religion.  "  What  is  the  Protestant  faith 
worth,"  said  they,  "  if  its  people  first  run  iuto 
excesses  which  unsettle  their  minds,  and  then  flji 
to  the  refuge  of  the  grave  from  the  agonies  of 
conscience  ?  The  confessional  would  have  pre- 
vented the  last  guilty  act  at  least,  and  the  pri< 
would  have  given  absolution  and  comfort 
same  time." 


WAtDBNSIAN   RESEARCHES.  191 

Of  the  murderer,  I  am  unable  to  speak  posi- 

tivel^i  either  in  defence  or  extenuation.     He  fled 

as    soon  as  the  crime  was  committed,  and  the 

parfcicniars  of  it  had  not  been  ascertained  when  I 

came  away.     It  was  said,  however,  to  have  re- 

nllt^^d  from  a  quarrel,  in   which  the  manslayer 

was    not  the  a^ressor. 


CHAPTER    II. 


Sgtlem  of  Public  Education.     CtiUral  School*.     Obttacitt  ii^% 
the  way  of  I/tstructiiin.     Hamlet  SchooU  and  Scenery. 

The  first  subject  to  which  I  desired  to  give  my^^T 
attention,  was  the  state  of  education,  and  the  waj^d^y 

was  greatly  smoothed  for  me  by  Colonel  Beck 

with,  whose  personal  inspection  of  every  schooljs^,.^^ 
during  his  long  residence  in  the  valleys,  had  ens 
bled  him  to  make  some  accurate  notes  upon  th^*^ 
manner  in  which  the  schools  are  conducted.    Th^?" 
following  he  was  kind  enough  to  allow  me  to^ 
transcribe. 

PUBLIC   ISSTROCTION. 

"  The  system  of  public  instruction  is  canietS 
on  among  the  Vaudois,  in 
I  Grammar  School, 
15  Great  Schools, 
126  Small  Schools*. 

'lliese  small  schools  vary  in  number  with  the  mean*  of  nip- 
porting  them.  According  to  the  report  of  the  TaUe  in  1826, 
there  were  then  on);  76  open.  !n  1829,  when  1  waa  in  ibe 
nlleyi,  the  number  reported  to  me  was  1 13. 


WALDBN8IAN    ai>SlUacUES. 


1&3 


4  Girls'  Schools,  supported  by  tbe  London 

committee, 
4  Girls'  Schools,  suppoited  by  individuals, 
^oDtainin;:^  ui  round  numbcTS,  4500  children,  of 
whom  the  smaller  half  consists  of  girls. 

The  15  great  schools  ought  to  be  held  ten 
months,  but  trom  the  small  stipends  of  the  school- 
masters, and  fruni  the  circumstance  of  the  child- 
ren's being  employed  in  various  ways  by  the 
imrcnts,  many  of  them  are  held  only  for  five  or 


••  The  smaller  schools  are  held  for  five,  (very 
few)  four,  and  three  montb.s.  In  Lad  weather 
these  schools  are  filled  with  children ;  but  in  open 
■winters,  the  parents  send  the  elder  children  '  en 
P&ture'  with  the  sheep  and  goats,  so  that  these 
children  receive  an  imperfect  education  for  four 
or  three  mntcr  months. 

"  These  schools  are  directed  by  schoolmasters, 
some  of  whom  siwak  Trench  tolerably  well,  and 
inite  a  pretty  good  hand,  but  in  general  they 
xeither  speak  French  well,  nor  write  well.  They 
<ai\  read  French,  but  have  a  very  imperfect  know- 
ledge uf  that  language.  The  greater  part  of  them 
are  in  tbe  habit  of  speaking  patois,  and  tliere  are 
■no  means  of  learning  French  grammatically  in  the 
vmllcys.  They  can  all  cypher  a  bttle,  but  have 
no  books  of  arithmetic,  slates,  or  slate  pencils. 
"  These  schoolmasters  teach  by  means  of  s 
isll  spelling-book  called  a  '  Carte,"  Ostervald's 

o 


194 


WAI.l>KNStAN    RESEARCHES. 


Catechism,  the  New  Testament,  and  Bible.  They 
set  copies  upon  detaclicd  sheets  of  paper  in  round 
aod  small  hand,  and  sums  in  the  four  first  rules  of 
arithmetic  from  memory ;  these  the  children  work 
out  also  on  sheets  of  paper,  but  this  mode  of  teach- 
ing 18  too  expensive  for  the  parents,  so  that  the 
children  are  obliged  to  stop  imtil  the  parents  can 
afford  to  purchase  more  paper. 

*'  The  children  generally  speaking,  particularly 
in  large  schools,  are  arranged  by  classes.     Th' 
master  sets  a  lesson  to  each  child,  and  they  com 
up  in  succession ;  but  where  the  school  is  uumerou 

this  cannot  be  more  than  twice  or  thrice  in  the  day 

The  children  idle  away  the  rest  of  their  time. 

"  \Vhen  the  small  schools  are  closed,  many 
children  frequent  the  great  schools  for  some  time 
longer. 

"  During  the  winter  also,  many  persons  prefer 
sending  their  children  to  the  great  schools,  where 
they  learn  to  write  and  cypher  better;  but  the 
system  of  instruction  is  the  same  as  in  small 
schools. 

"  Notwithstanding  all  these  defects  and  obstacles, 
the  children  in  the  course  of  years  learn  to  read 
their  catechism,  a  book  of  1*23  pages,  and  the 
Bible,  with  considerable  fluency ;  they  know  a 
good  deal  of  their  catechism  by  heart,  write,  a 
few  very  well,  and  the  greater  part  very  tolerably, 
and  make  some  progress  in  arithmetic,  but  pro- 
bably not  much. 


WAU>RNSt*N    RKSKARCHBS. 


Other  systems  of  education,  if  tliey  were  pei^ 
nutted,  would  bring  on  the  children  much  faster, 
but  in  the  present  state  of  the  country' ',  and  of 
the  population,  it  would  be  difficult  to  carry  them 
into  effect-     The  greatest  defect  of  the  present 
tystem  is,  that  the  means  used  to  teach  French  do 
not  effect  the  object  so  as  to  enable  the  population 
to  read  and  listen  to  the  Scriptures  with  the  profit 
that  is  desinible.     There  does  not  appear  to  be 
any  immediate  remedy  for  this ;  first,  on  account 
of  the  expcDM  of  forming  masters,  the  want  of 
beans  to  pay  these  masters,  and  the  difficulty  of 
teaching  a  foreign  language  to  peasants  who  are 
Occupied  in    supplying   their    daily   wants   in  a 
country  where  there  are  no  books  written  in  the 
dialect  spoken  by  its  inhabitants.     The  wants  t^ 
^Ymmti  schools  arc  New  Testaments,  slates,  and 
«]at£  pencils ;  of  the  Litter  there  arc  none  in  Pic- 
VMont,  and  they  miglit  probably  be  supplied  cheap- 
t  from  England,  by  way  of  Genoa." 
The  grammar  school,  of  which  Colonel  Beck- 
th  speaks,  is  maintained  principally  by  contri- 
butions from   Holland,  and  so  are  the  great  or 
crcntral  schools,  and  the  small  or  hamlet  schools. 

The  benefactions  received  from  Holland  in  1829, 
^unounted  to  OiiOO  francs,  or  about  .184/.,  and  It 


i: 


*  llMVHuloiaiuepipbibitedbjfwedictofgoicninMDt,  iavad 
Jal5  IBS6,  from  having  nny  cnmmiltf^  n(  tboir  own  (or  tlu 
nt^slsdon  of  pahlic  iml/iKlion,  and  (nta  uiing  any  *j«ten  of 
^uinal  iutroMion. 

o3 


IW 


WAI.DKN8IAN    RI-ISKARCHES. 


eirx^l 


was  announced  to  (he  table,  that  the  annual  con- 
tributions from  that  country  in  future  would  not** 
exceed  this  sum.    Some  years  the  grant  had  beer 
nearly  1000  francs  more  '. 

Of  the  grammar  school,  I  shall  speak  more  af'.^&  i 
lar^  by  and  byi;.  The  four  girls'  schools,  main-fK^ii 
taincd  principally  by  the  I^ndon  Vaudois  Comfnot 
mittee,  and  the  four  private  girls'  schools,  supq(Kj]| 
ported  by  benevolent  individuals,  will  also  h^:M  b, 
mentioned  in  the  course  of  my  relation.  At  prc»' 
sent,  the  order  of  my  narrative  requires  that 
should  notice  tliosc  called  the  great  and  the  si 
schools.  Each  parish  contains  one  of  the  forme 
and  as  many  of  the  latter  as  are  thought  neccs 
according  to  its  population  and  situation.      Tl 


'  The  appropriBtKin  of  tbc  9600  francs. 

In  aid  oflhepooigeMnilly.of  ibe  ISVaudoia 

P»t^« IdU 

To  Widows  of  Paslora   290 

To  pnnicuUr  Ejects  of  boonty 140 

To  retired  Pastora 400 

To  a  uiapended  Pastor 260 

To  a  Dojena,  oc  Senior  Pwtion    450 

To  LattD  School-mutrre  650;  Rewards  30  ••  680 

To  I5Grtntand  113  Smalt  ^hoola 3456 

To  Hospital    3500 

Giatuilks  to  Pastors  of  Pr^i  uul  ftlaneitle, 

and  casus  Uiea    ..*•* fH 

Total.... 9^. 


WALnE\SIAN    RESEARCHES. 


197 


Dutch  yearly  allon-ance  to  the  great  schools  varies 
from  55  to  155  francs  each — to  the  small  schools 
from  12  to  iS  francs ;  and  these  stipends  to  the 
masters  are  increased  hy  sonic  small  contributions 
from  each  commune.  The  greatest  payment 
which  is  made  at  present  to  any  of  the  ma.<itent  or 
regents  of  the  15  central  schools,  who  are  in  fact 
the  persons  upon  whom  the  burthen  of  instruc- 
tion rests,  is  400  francs,  or  16/.  a  year,  viz.  to 
the  regent  of  La  Torre ;  and  this,  !  believe,  in- 
I  eludes  his  salary  as  catechist  and  reader  in  the 
church.  The  regent  of  Rodoret  receives  no  more 
j  than  128  francs  annually.  Some  of  the  ma^titers 
'  of  the  small  schools  live  with  the  inhabitants  of 
Hthe  hatnlets  in  which  they  teach,  one  day  m  one 
fcottagc,  and  one  day  in  another ;  but  with  such 
poor  pittances,  it  is  not  an  object  of  ambition  to 
fche  young  men  of  the  rising  generation  to  qualify 
Lhetnselves  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  public 
Instruction. 

It  is  highly  honourable  to  the  Waldenses,  that 
took  the  lead  in  promoting  that  system  of 
eral  education,  which  is  extending  itself  more 
r  less  in  every  state  in  Europe.    Their  pastors 
ve  not  only  always  recommended  and  assisted 
the  instruction  of  children  of  all  degrees,  but 
synodical  acts  of  the  Vaudois  Church  have, 
II  time  to  time,  rendered  it  im|>erative  upon 
the  cnmmonity  to  provide  meanR  of  religious  and 
rlcmcntar)'  education  for  all  the  children  capable 


198 


WALDENSIAN    RE5EAAcrnS. 


of  Tcceiving  it.  Nearly  two  hundred  years  ago 
Leger  stated,  "  All  the  churches  arc  obliged  tc:*^ 
have  a  sufficient  number  of  schools,  well  regijlated,  -C»i 
wherein  the  fundamental  principles  of  religion  ar^»~^ 
to  be  taught.  But  since  there  is  little  or  no  com— «ac! 
merce  in  this  country,  it  is  not  expected  that  manj^cj 
of  the  children  should  leara  to  write ;  in  fiut^^r^ 
there  are  very  few  who  can  write  their  nami 
although  most  of  them  can  read  well,  and  are  wi 
versed  in  a  kuowledge  of  the  Holy  Scriptures." 

Now,  however,  since  education  has  taken  gnmt 
strides  in  this  quarter,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  and 
the  demands  of  the  ago  require  that  even  the 
village  schools  of  the  Waldeuses  should  be  placed 
upon  a  more  effective  footing,  it  becomes  a  ques* 
tion,  whether  some  means  cannot  be  demised  of 
preparing  the  masteni,  and  perfecting  them  in 
those  branches  of  instruction  which  they  are  ex- 
pected to  undertake,  before  they  are  entrusted 
with  the  difficult  task  of  conducting  schools,  in 
which  a  language  different  from  the  mother  tongue 
of  the  scholars,  is  the  medium  of  communicating 
knowledge.  My  own  observations  agree  with 
those  of  Messrs.  Acland,  Bntccbridgc,  Sims,  and 
Jackson,  who  have  strongly  pointed  out,  in  their 
publications  concerning  the  Vaudois,  the  necessity 
of  creating  a  new  order  of  school-masters,  and  of 
establishing  a  system  in  which  they  may  be  trained 
to  the  duties  of  their  vocation.  The  Dutch  com- 
mittee most  considerately  raised  a  piuse  for  the 


I 


WALDENSIAN    lUfSKARCUES.  109 

~«r^'«ss  purpose  of  maintaining    an   institution, 
wherein  the  regents  might  be  instructed  in  the 
tuutino  of  scliool  management;  but  while  1  was 
at  La  Torre,  a,  letter  was  received  from  Holland, 
announcing  the  painful  intelligence,  that  tliis  sub- 
sidy could  be  continued  no  longer.     One  of  the 
resolutions  which  the  officent  of  the  table  adopted 
in   18"iG,  was  to   this  effect: — "  A  donner  telle 
«tendue  et  direction  a  I'ecole  Latine,  qu'elle  puisse 
ser\'ir  au  meme  terns  a  la  formation  dcs  regens  et 
■naltres  d'ecole."    It  has  not  yet  been  carried  into 
execution  for  want  of  fiinds,  but  certainly  no  bet- 
ter plan  «;cms  to  present  itself,  than  one  which 
shall  economically  combine  a  better  elementary 
course  of  study  both  for  those  intended  for  the 
xninistry,  and  for  those  who  are  to  be  the  village 
^aochers. 

The  time  of  the  year  was  not  favourable  for  my 
visits  to  the  schools.  The  small  ones  were  all 
closed,  and  the  great  schools  were  held  very  irre- 
gularly at  a  season,  when  the  children  are  princi- 
ftiUy  occupied  in  the  fields,  and  in  the  mountain 
putarages,  tending  the  flocks  and  herds,  or  in 
collecting  the  produce  of  the  silk-worma.  The 
school  of  La  Tone  being  near  at  hand,  we  watched 
our  opportunity,  and  found  the  master  and  some 
of  his  scholars  at  study.  There  were  twenty-two 
boya  and  girb  present,  the  eldest  might  be  al>out 
■Xteen,  the  youngest  about  seven.  In  the  months 
when  the  attendance  is  most  regular,  the  numbers 


300 


WALDENSIAN  ItRSEAKCUeS. 


are  above  100.  A^  many  as  130  have  been  as-  —4 
sembled  U^etlicr,  but  tbe  room  is  by  no  means  ^SM 
large  enough  to  accommodate  so  many  with  any  "%C' 
dc|;ree  of  comfort  or  convenience.  It  is  fitted  np^ifj 
with  forms  and  desks.  One  boy  was  busy  with  a.as 
sum  in  the  rule  of  three.  I  heard  a  little  girl  of^oi 
eight  years  of  age  read  tn  the  catechism — she^s 
read  tolerably  welt;  but  when  1  asked  if  sbe^C! 
thoroughly  understood  what  she  read,  the  mastenr-^ 
shook  his  head.  The  catechism  was  in  French  ^ 
and  upon  my  enquiring  of  the  master,  if  he  ex- 
plained it  in  the  patois  of  the  country,  he  repUc 
that  he  had  been  brought  up  in  France,  and  did  not 
understand  the  potois. 

The  vernacular  tongue  of  the  Vaudois  b  a  bar< 
barous  dialect  between  Latin,  French,  and  Italian, 
more  like  the  Spanish  perhaps.  The  language  of 
the  state  is  Italian,  and  that,  in  which  they  receive 
instruction  is  French,  without  the  means  at  present 
of  acquiring  it  grammatically.  It  is  astonishing 
therefore  that  a  population  should  be  grounded  and 
rooted  in  a  faith,  the  knowledge  of  which  is  com- 
municated to  them  under  every  possible  impedi- 
ment ;  and  it  is  hard  to  determine  how  the  diffi- 
culties of  having  to  learn  the  principles  of  religion 
in  a  language,  not  tlie  spoken  language  of  the 
province,  are  to  be  met.  Colonel  Bcckwith  and 
Mr.  Sims  have  benevolently  provided  copies  of 
the  Gospels  of  St.  I.uke  and  St.  John  in 
and  in  the  ^'audois  dialect,  (o  be  printed 


French    S 
for  the     I 


LDBNSIAN    RKSEARCUES. 


201 


[itse  of  the  schools  and  parishes.     But  the  dialect 

"or  patoiii  of  the  Vaudois  varies  so  much  in  the 

three  rallcys,  that  I  am  inclined  to  think  the  best 

thing  is  to  discourage  the. use  of  it  as  much  as 

possible,  and  promote  a  more  general  adoption  of 

French,  as  tlio  only  language  in  which  religious 

books  can  be  obtained,  while  Protestant  works  in 

Italian  are  so  strictly  prohibited  by  the  govem- 

menL     This   was  the  opinion   of  the  synod  in 

18S2.     One  of  its  articles  imposed  it  as  a  duty 

upon  the  jiastors  to  converse  in  Trench  with  their 

Hocks,  in  order  to  fauiiharize  them  with  the  lan- 

,  goage  of  their  elementary-  treatises  and  church 

'  Services.    The  indefatigable  and  judicious  Uberlin 

cmrcame  difliculties  of  the  same  nature  in  his 

mountain  parish  of  the  Ittm  de  la  Roche,  by  per- 

■MidiDg  his  people  to  reconcile  themselves  to  the 

crol]oquial  use  of  the  French,  instead  of  the  harsh 

p^stois  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed.     The 

V'atulois  have  been   gradually  adopting  the  lan- 

^■■•ge  of  France  for  two  hundred  years;    their 

fe**aintbers  uobly  and  perseveringly  led  the  way, 

^'hw-n  they  first  received  into  their  churches  minis- 

***■»  who  understocKl  neither  the  Waldensian  nor 

^*^    Italian  tongue,  after  tlie  sweeping  pestilence 

^■»ich  carried  off  almost  all  their  native  pastors, 

***<i  we  may  hope  that  the  present  race  will  shew 

*HuaI  perseverance  and  docility. 

The  master  of  the  achool  complained,  justly 


20ii 


WALDBN»IAN    RKSEAKCHES. 


enough,  of  the  obstacles  which  were  thrown  in  th' 
way  of  the  due  performance  of  his  duty ;  in  the  u 
certain  attvudaiice  of  his  scholars,  interrupted 
they  are  by  the  neceasity  of  Itudhtg  emplojiuent  i 
husbandry,  and otiierwise,  in  the  occasional  seveht 
of  the  weather,  in  the  total  want  of  maturiaU  t' 
cany  on  the  work  of  education,  and,  above  all,  k» 
the  prohibition  of  mutual  instruction.     The  go- 
vernment is  so  jealous  on  the  subject  of  education, 
that  it  is  absolutely  forbidden  to  hare  any  recoime 
to  those  expedients,  by  which  the  master  may 
have  the  assistance  of  his  own  scholars,  and  of 
that  intellectual  niachiner)',  which  Dr.  Bell  has 
introduced  into  the  national  schools  of  our  own 
country. 

The  elementary  books  used  in  the  schools  of 
the  Vaudois,  were  there  enough  of  them,  and 
could  they  be  thoroughly  learnt,  are  well  calcu- 
lated  for  the  puqiose  of  instruction;  they  are 
simple  and  intelligible,  and  if  the  scholars  clearly 
understood  the  language  in  which  they  are  com- 
posed, (the  French)  they  would  greatly  facilitate 
their  progress.  The  first  book  is  a  little  treatise, 
entitled,  "  L'A,  B,  C,  pouir  les  Enfans  du  premier 
age."  It  contains,  like  our  own  spelling-books, 
first  the  letters,  and  then  uords  of  one,  two,  three 
and  more  syllables  in  succession ;  next,  short 
prayers  for  before  and  after  meat,  and  for  entering 
and  leavmg  church ;  the  Lord's  Prayer,  tlie  Creed,    . 


I 


WALDEKSIAN   ftBSEARCIIES. 


soa 


And  Ten  Commandments ;  tlien  a  brief  catechism. 

And  concludes  with  a  few  occasional  prayers.    Thia 

is  of  recent  introduction.     Before  it  was  adopted, 

a  tract  of  the  same  kind,  but  containing  longer 

pmycn,  and  st-veral  ]>agcs  of  instructions  in  verse, 

was  used.     Two  other  Uttle  books  were  put  into 

±he  hands  of  children  more  advanced — the  one 

entitled,    "  Deux  Catechlsmes   (amihcrs    par  de- 

vnaiides  ct  r^jwust-s,  extr^menient  conrtes."     The 

otYier,  **  Abrcgd  de  I'Histoire  Sainte  et  du  Cat^ 

crhisme.  par  J.  F.  Ostervald."    The  practical  and 

doctrinal  parts  of  these  treatises  arc  sound  and 

rfTrthodox.  in  the  acceptance  which  the  EngUsh 

^!^hurch   attaches  to   the  word.     Touching  the 

«:S>octrine  of  the  Trinity,  the  flrst  contains  this  ex- 

j:»«sition:— 

'*  Who  is  your  Saviour? 
Jesus  Christ. 
VTio  is  Jesus  Christ  ! 
"Xlie  only  Son  of  God. 

Ss  Jesus  Christ  God  or  man  ?  «rik 

Vie  is  very  God  and  very  man.' 
"~rhe  second  contains  the  same. 
The  third  expresses  itself  thus  : 
■" '  Are  there  many  Gods  T 
^o ;  there  is  but  one  God. 
Is  there  only  one  person  in  the  Godhead  ? 
There  are  three  persons. 
How  do  vou  call  them  ! 
The  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  IIolv  Ghost. 


«M 


VAI.DEKS1.4N    RBSBARrnES. 


If  there  are  three  persons,  are  there  not 
Gods? 

No. 

Wherefore ! 

Because  there  is  but  one  only,  and  the  sam 
essence." 

The  fourth,  or  Ostervald's,  (Jbcnsses  tliis  im 
portant  topic  in  this  manner. 

"  i  low  do  yoii  know  that  Jesus  Clirist  is  of  tb< 
same  nature  with  God  liis  Father  ? 

**  Saint  John  says,  '  In  the  beginning  was  ih 
Word,  and  the  Word  was  with  God,  and  the  Woi 
was  God.'     And  St.   Paul   says,  '  Christ  who  i 
over  all,  God  blessed  for  ever.* " 


Ji 


Such  are  the  lessons  taught  in  their  element 
books  to  the  young  Vaudois,  and  therefore  I  wd 
not  surprised  to  get  the  following  brief  and  intel — - 
ligent  answer  from  a  boy  of  eleven  or  twelve  yeaT-=- 
of  age,  to  whom  I  put  the  qtiestion — "  Wlio  ir-»^is 
Jesus   Christ  r— "  He  is   God '."     Those,   wh*-  ^o 


'  T%«  Catechbm  used  by  the  more  xlnnced  sclvolan  coi 
tliM  this  explanation,  on    that  fiindiunctilnl  doctrine  of 
Primitive  and  Protestant  Churchea.  Jusdficatioa  by  laitli 
Jesiu  Christ. 


L 


AMtji  du  Ca/icKiane,  S*clim  14. 

Qu'cil-ce  que  la  foi  justiRaDteT 

Celle  par  Liqudle  noit*  lomincy  jtultfivs  devani  Dien. 


WALDBNSIAN    RESEARCIIBS. 


205 


Icnovr  what  liberties  luivc  been  taken  9C  Geneva 
with  the  Catechism  of  Ostenald,  in,^ine  of  the 
iMta  reprints,  wherein  all  that  vindicates  the  God* 


CotntuM)!  noui  justiA«-t<«De  dcTanl  Dieu  T 

En  cmbnumnt  «t  oouk  appliqaunt  hi  juUice  (le  JfnitChrid. 

Qa'cDleiuUx-voua  pttr  Ik  jqbikv  de  Ji-Rii«  Chrbl  ? 

Le  nt^te  (1«  toa  obcUMnoe  et  de  u  mort,  ]>u  laquelle^  if 

appaJM  Dieu  vni-cn  naut  vt  cxpiv  ium  pcrhta, 

Qa'nt'ce  ilonc  qu'cmbraucr  lajiutice  <lc  J6MS'ChTi3tT 

Cot  ctvin  qu*il  r»l  mort  poilr  noiis. 

Qvs  li^iAe  le  nwi  tip  jmrifirr  T 

IMcUicr  juste  celni  (|u'on  ttnait  pour  coupkbl«.  fl 

Coameat    oout    i]ui  Kxanm  pGclieun    |>ouvi>i»-notn  tin 
k  *trrl«Ti<  jUitM  devtuit  Dicn  t 
■  Now  po  tonunc*  pai  d£clar^-i  ju»lo  cd  nons-tndnct,  toiot  en 

I  CoaUBenl  juttei  en  J£Mi-Chnu  T 

^  CcMqBoUjnrtiire  da  JiswCbfwteat  foilciiAm. 

^^^Canunent  Mt-elle  Taite  nJttnt 

^^^  C^cat  c|u'elle  ooua  eat  imputte  per  (•  {Tan  qoe  noua  ctoioH 

Qn'«Bt-««  i  dire  cela? 

O'ott  i]ue  Dieu  imkis    pnrtlonw  tons  nos  p^hih.  «t    nana 
no  le  droit  ft  la  vie  6Unielte  pour  ramourde  Jeaua-CbtiM, 
r|n«  nous  croMms  en  InL 
Qu«la  aonl  Im  Actv*  de  la  Ibi  jaitilnnte  ? 
H  J  en  a  ^iiatre  principnut. 
^nel  eU  le  premier  ? 

Ceat  de  taruir  el  de  craire  que  Jfaaa  eat  le  Fib  de  Dten,  ct 
^t«t  •'tent  fiul  fiU  df  niomini!,  il  a  Tail  et  aotiffrrt  tout  ce  qui 
^^ait  nlcBiiro  poor  noiu  acquCiir  le  aalut. 
QwJ  eat  le  Mcond  I 
Caal  da  reooun't  A  Ini  et  de  cbcrdwr  tout  n&tre  lalul  en  lui. 


I 


306  U-ALUCNSIAN    OBSEARCilES, 

hea<l  of  Jesus  is  omitted,  will  be  glad  to  find 
the  copies  of  Ostcrvald,  in  use  among  our  Prot 
ants  of  tlie  valleys,  are  the  genuine  copies.  The 
are  not  editionii  mutilated  like  tliat  of  Puschoud 
published  in  1814,  in  which  the  catechumen  i 
taught  to  respect,  but  not  to  adore  the  Son  ^ 
God ;  but  they  still  hold  him  forth  to  the  worshi| 
of  youth,  as  very  God  and  very  Man.  The  trad 
entitled  "  Deux  Catechismes  familiers,"  is  firom , 
impression  of  the  year  1759. 

Alt  things  considered,  I  know  not  of  a  more 
traordinary  phenomenon  than  that  presented 
the  Vaudois,  when  a  view  is  taken  of  the  state 
of  public  instruction  and  its  results.  You  have  t 
small  population  sharply  watched  by  a  jealom 

QikI  est  le  troiai^Bw  ? 

Celt  <1«  Doui  appliqucr  tovt  cc  qu'il  ■  hit  et  aoufiert,  cotm 
ai  aoitt  I'anous  fait  et  aoufien  eo  ooa  propres  penoDnes. 

Quel  est  le  quatri^nie  T 

C'est  de  nous  asuirvr,  que  puis  que  nous  xraas  to«it  oA 
r«coura  a  lui.  Dku  nou*  fen  grace. 

ComnwDt  sommM-noiM    msmiiis  d'£trc  it^a*  co  gnce 
MGOuraiit  k  J^s-Chrwt  t 

Patce  qu«  le  Seigwaf  a  ^iclut  qnll  ne  njetlen  poini  c 
qui  ront  k  lut  '. 

Quel  ktranti^  nout  reviml-t1  d«  ecue  usimnce  ? 

L«  lentiment  de  noire  |«ut  arcc  D'km,  l'csp£nnce  dn 
cUrael. 

Snr  qnoi  est  foiMlc«  cette  utaraiicc  ? 

Sar  In  promeMM  d«  TEraugik.    Croi  el  Ui  aeru  no 


WALDKHSIAK   BBSBARCIIES. 


207 


government,  driven  up  into  a  corner,  beset  on 
three  sides  by  ucighbours  whose  religion  is  widely 
different,  witli  very  imiwrfect  means  of  arriving 
at    a,  clear  knowlctlgc  of  the   fundaincntol  doc- 
trines of  their  Church,  and  yet  remaining  true 
to    it,  in  spite  of  the  temptations  aiid  menaces 
to  -which  they  are  exposed.    There  is  nothing 
on    the  principle  of  emulation,  reward,  or  other 
excitement    to    urge    the    masters   on ;    the    ful- 
filment of  their    bare  duty,    and   the   ordinary 
routine  of  drudgery,  is  all  tliat  can  be  expected  of 
them.  A  good  system  of  inspection  might  provoke 
to  xeal  and  activity,  but  how  can  you  hope  even 
for  this,  where  the  pastor  of  the  parish  is  almost 
•l>e  only  one,  who  knows  what  education  ouglit  to 
"^a  and  where  all  else,  with  few  exceptions,  arc 
Peasants  in  every  sense  of  the  word.    And  yet  the 
^ildrcn  of  these  people  do  pick  up  more  than  a 
■"istttering  of  religious  knowledge-     They  learn 
^CQough  to  render  tliem  a  fair  match  for  those  who, 
^    the   spirit  of  prosclytism,   olten    attempt   to 
•^duoe  them  from  tlieir  faith  by  the  sophistries  of 
^^  Komish  superstition,  and  seldom  or  never  has 
''^rebccn  on  instance  known  of  a  V'audois  deserts 
^*^  hts  Church  from  conviction.     How  well  they 
***  fortified  by  lessons  of  moral  duty,  let  their 
*^*eniarics  testify,  «hu  have  long  ago  abandoned 
**e  attempt  to  impugn  their  reputation  for  uncor- 
*^pUble  virtue  and  integrity. 

It  is  under   the   persuasion  that  there  is  no 


208 


WALDENSIAN    RCSEAKCHES. 


^ 


danger  to  b(^  apprehended  from  a  laxity  of  mo' 
that  1  have  never  yet  seen  occasion  to  lanii 
the  intermixture  of  bo)'s  and  girls  in  the  V 
schools,  so  much  as  some  do.     For  purposes 
improved  female  instruction  it  is    advisable 
separate  them,  if  you  can  obtain  the  means 
doing  so,  and  the  institutions  for  girls,  which 
been  established  by  the  London  Committee,  an 
by  some  kind-hearted  individuals,  wiW  go  a  greii 
way  towards  giving  a  nc»'  impulse  to  tliat  peculii 
education  which  the  sex  requires.    But  on  tl| 
score  of  morals,  I  should  not  think  it  intperatif 
to  have  scjiarate  rooms  for  boys  and  girls,  w^ 
associate  together  in  the  labours  of  tlie  fiei 
who,  in  each  other's  company,  watch  the  fl' 
on  the  mountains  and  the  cattle  in   the  plai 
without  ever  giving  rise  to  any  suspicion  t 
their   intercourse   ought   to   be   interdicted, 
what  then  is  the  nicest  sense  of  decency  to 
afraid,  white  they  are  under  the  eye  of  a  co 
teacher  and  superintendant  ? 

Although   the   small  schools  were   not  o 
during  any  part  of  my  residence  in  Piemont,  y 
was  anxious  to  see  the  spots  where  they  w< 
held,  and  this  led  me  to  some  sequestered  nooS 
and  corners  of  mountain  scenerj',  which  I  shou 
not  othenvise  have  explored.     The  description 
those  schools  belonging  to   La  Torre,   which 
examined,  will  suffice  for  the  whole. 

The  commune  of  La  Torre,  consists  of  t 


WALDES'SIAX   RESEARCHES. 


209 


I 


I 


ril>^  village  known  by  that  name,  and  of  nine 

Hafc*»^Iets,  or  "  qunrtiers."    The  viUage  is  s  long 

'**'««t,  running  nearly  parallel  with  the  river  Pe- 

^o^.   and  the  hamlets  are  picturesquely  situated 

^^^    tlie  mountain  sides,  which  slope  down  to  the 

f*«:h  vale  tlwtjugh  which  the  river  or  torrent  flows. 

*<*    the  eye,  (so  clear  is  the  atmosphere)  these 

"**ri]els  appear  to  be  at  no  great  distance  from 

*^*<^ll    other  and  from  the  village,    but    many  A 

'•"•sajy  step  must  he  taken   before  they  can  be 

''*•*;  hed.     Several  of  them  are  high  up  on  the 

'■fountain  steeps,  and  can  only  be  approached  by 

■'^^ry  rugge<l  paths.     They  are  separated  also  in 

''^any  cases  by  ravines  and  torrents,  which,  at 

^^^v^aia  seasons,  when  the  snow  or  waters  are  deep, 

'•*>der  communication  wiih  the  main  village  ditB- 

^'^It  and  precarious.     There  are  times,  therefore, 

^vH^n  the  children   belonging  to  these   hamlets 

*''oulJ  liave  no  instruction,  if  it  were  not  provided 

*^*"  them  at  hand,  and  hence  the  establishment  of 

">*ae  smaller  schools,  which  are  usually  conducte*! 

"y  some  of  the  better  etlucated  peasantry  of  the 

*l**arter,  who  think  themselves  well  paid  if  they 

■•c«ive  from  20  to  23  francs,  for  the  three  or  four 

^'■»nths  which   tliey  devote  to  this  occupation. 

'*Uj  number  of  scholars,  in  those  hamlet  schools 

**f  Iji  Torre,  may  amount  to  about  350.     The 

"'^psi,  at  Roussaing.  receives  fifty-five,  and  tho 

^niallcst,  at  Bonnetti,  twelve.     The  school-rooms 

^nniill  and  cheerless,  for  the  mo»tt  [>art  unglazcd. 


210 


WAIDENSUS   BESEABCHnS. 


having  paper  iiul>stituted  for  glass,  with  scarcely 
any  desks  or  seats  in  them,  and  wamied  by  rude 
stoves  or  grates  which  mtist  fill  them  with  smoke. 
The  most  capacious  does  not  exceed  sixteen  feet 
square. 

But  wnttched  as  they  are  to  the  eye,  some  of 
thc-se  humble  tenements  have  been  consecrated 
to  the  noblest  purposes,  and  have  been  among 
the  means  of  keeping  alive  the  pure  spark  of  truth, 
when  it  was  well  nigh  cxtinguishtnl  in  other  places. 
In  the  days  of  persecution,  when  the  more  acces- 
sible lowlands  of  the  Vaudois  were  oremm  by 
their  destroyers,  it  was  here,  in  these  remote 
cabins,  that  the  tittle  lamp  was  trimmed,  and  that 
jnen  girt  up  their  loins  for  the  spiritual  and  tem- 
poral conflict  which  they  had  to  encounter.  Here 
the  young  were  instructed,  and  the  mature  and 
the  aged  were  exhorted  to  abide  true  to  their  pro- 
fession. That,  which  was  a  school-room  during 
the  week,  was  the  sanctuary  on  the  Lord's  day ; 
and  the  pastor,  driven  out  of  his  church,  was  glad 
to  find  an  altar  and  a  congregation  on  summits, 
which  were  too  impervious  for  the  enemy  to  ap- 
proach with  impunity.  I  have  now  an  edict  of 
the  year  1050  lying  before  me,  by  which,  in 
violation  of  all  former  grants  and  pnvil<^>s,  the 
Vaudois  were  forbidden  to  exercise  or  teach  their 
religion  in  any  part  of  the  commune  of  La  Torre 
near  Lusenia,  and  were  compelled  to  flee  for 
refuge  to  aerial  hamlets,  which,  like  Tagliaretta, 


I 


WALDEX'SIAN    jlKREARCHRS. 


Sll 


nnetU,  and  Borel,  are  on  tlie  steepest  slopes  of 
mouiitaui.  Sacred  therefore  are  thu  walls, 
'hich  by  uo  great  stretch  of  the  imagination,  wc 
.y  imagine  to  have  received  the  people  of  God, 
CO  tliey  were  driven  from  (heir  more  pleasant 
itations  on  the  sunny  banks  of  the  Petice,  and 
is  every  path  that  leads  to  them  ;  for  here 
ground  was  occasionally  dusputed  inch  by  inch, 
crag  was  a  watch-tower,  every  tree  a  battle- 
Vent,  and  by  dint  of  the  sword  was  the  whole 
■»untain-side  dcfend(?d,  as  one  of  the  last  strong- 
holds of  religious  liberty.  There  is  this  interest 
•D  pursuing  any  enquiry  in  the  territory  of  the 
Walflenses.  The  scenery  through  which  your 
P>^h  lies  is  not  only  of  the  first  order,  but  not  a 
wcfe  or  grove,  in  the  higher  regions,  is  without 
H*  tale  to  vindicate  the  claim  of  the  country  to  be 
ww^aidcred  the  most  storied  in  all  Europe. 

But  imposing  as  is  the  effect  produced  by 
*''ading  on  holy  ground,  where  martyrs  and 
ckaitipions  of  the  faith  have  bled  or  striven,  it  is 
■  **licf  to  direct  one's  steps  from  these  seenes, 
*Mch  upcak  to  l}ie  fiercer  passions  of  our  nature, 
to  tbose  where  the  eye  and  the  mind  may  take 
•cii*  recreation  together,  and  where  the  landscape 
I*  So  inviting,  that  nothing  is  wanting  to  the 
MCQe  before  you  to  make  the  heart  dance  witli 
JT*  Such  were  M)me  of  the  smiling  dales  in  the 
**wr  quarter  within  an  hour's  walk  of  San  Mar- 
IPWita.     Wc  frequently  carried  a  small  basket  of 

p2 


212 


WALPBNSUN    RKSF.ARCHES. 


provisions  with  us,  and  wandered  among  ttiem  in 
the  full  enjoyment  of  their  exquisite  beauty. 

June  26th.     Our  excursion  to  Pralebrou^,  ui 
quest  of  the  school  there,  delighted  us  with  the 
sight  of  a  profusion  of  wiUl  flowers  and  fruits ;  and 
fiehls  waving  with  grain, — a  perfect  realization  of 
the  Hebrew  poet's  splendid  image, "  Thou  visitest 
the  earth  and  blessest  it — thou  makest  it  very 
plenteous.     The  little  hills  rejoice  on  every  side: 
the  valleys  also  stand  so  thick  with  com,  they 
laugh  and  sing."    Our  path  lay  across  two  bridges 
flung  over  the  Felice,  and  along  L'Knvors,  towards 
the  western  limits  of  La  Torre.     The  mountain- 
side on  our  lef^  rose  in  gentle  acclivities,  and  its 
summit  was  a  blaze  of  rhododendrons.     The  pic- 
turesque rocks  of  Castclluzzo  were  in  full  view  to 
our  right.     The  towering  peaks  of  Barrian,  and 
St  Julien,  were  just  seen  melting  into  distance 
before  us,  or  piercing  the  clouds,  accordingly  as 
tlic  light  fell  upon  them.    In  the  foreground  were 
meadows,  orchards,  parterres  of  wheat,  and  groves   ^ 
of  chesnuts,   gracefully  intermingled,  with   here  -^^ 
[  «nd  there  a  venerable  and  gigantic  oak  or  wal-  -^— .- 
nut-tree,  extending  its   soUtary  branches  over  nm-rn 
cascade  or  rinilet.  which  chased  its  way  into  tbe^^e 
main  stream.     We  were  never  out   of  sight  oiw*r 
sound  of  the  Felice,  of  its  rapids  or  its  foaminp^g 
waters.     In  the  midst  of  this  glowing  landscape^£3, 
the  cottages  of  I*ralcbrou6  just  peeped  out  froir — a 
the  foliage  in  which  they  were  embowered,  an —  d 


fcrf 


Valdrmsian  rkskarches. 


313 


looked  more  like  a  petted  hamlet  in  the  vicinity 
of  an  ICnglish  park,  than  the  dependency  of  a 
Commune,  many  uf  whose  inhabitants  are  miser- 
ably destitute  in  the  midst  of  plenty ; — so  poor, 
c^Mervx-d  Mr.  Jackson,  that  tliey  ought  not  to  be 
sked  to  contribute  even  to  tlic  pureliasc  of  a 
Bible. 

"  Sic  vos  non  vobis  - — ■  !"  The  fact 
is.  that  the  industrious  Vaudois  families,  after 
having  brought  s|H)Ls  like  these  to  the  highest 
{litch  of  cultivation,  arc  elbowed  out  by  Koman 
Oilholic  settlers,  or  become  too  ntmierous  for  the 
narrow  boundaries  to  which  they  are  conBned. 
"'  Kos  habitans  sont  comme  entasses  les  uns  sur 
aulrcs  par  la  loi  biirbare,  tpii  defend  aux 
stans  de  s'etendre  au  dela  de  a>rtaine5 
Itmites."  This  account,  which  they  give  of  them- 
selves, is  too  true.  Although  every  span  of  land 
that  can  he  made  to  yield  increase  is  in  a  rich 
state  of  tillofcc,  yet  the  territory  produces  less 
than  the  demand,  and  hundreds  of  the  Protestant 
population  are  yearly  sntferers  from  want  and 
faungcr,  notwithstanding  abundant  liarvcsts,  and 
bountiful  returns  of  seed  sown. 

So  long  back  as  the  year  lOA.^  a  RuppticatoTy 
letter  uf  the  inhabitants  of  the  vulluys  explained, 
tUat  there  were  not  the  means  within  the  boun- 
daries of  employing  or  maintaining  the  natives 
of  the  soil.  It  is  for  this  reason,  the  Kupcr- 
aliundance  of  population  in  the  richer  part   of 


314 


WALDENSIAN    RE8BARCIIBS. 


the  valleys,  that  there  is  considerably  more  db-l 
tress  in  such  parishes  as  Le  Torre  and  San 
Oermuno,  than  in  the  higher  and  more  sterile 
districts  of  Prali  and  Rodoret,  where  there  is 
no  temptation  for  strangers  to  make  themselves  j 
masters  of  the  httle  mheritances  of  the  Waldei 
The  Vaudois,  who  is  reduced  to  the  necessity ! 
of  alienating  his  property,  has  no  resource  left. 
PubUc  employments,  and  official  stations  of  the 
lowest  kind,  must  he  given  to  Roman  Catholics : 
and  the  law  not  only  prohibits  his  making  any  pur- 
chase of  land  on  the  other  side  of  the  limits,  butj 
even  im|>oses  a  penalty  (in  violation  of  the  16th] 
article  of  the  edict  of  1561,  which  [lermlts  the  Vau*1 
dois  "  to  stay,  go,  and  come,to  buy,scll,  and  traffit^j 
in  any  of  his  highncss's  dominions,")  at  the  will 
the  sovereign,  if  he  carry  on  any  trade  or  handi- 
craft out  of  the  boinidaries.  This  law  is  not 
rigorously  executed,  hut  still  it  exists,  and  cramps 
enterprise  and  industry.  The  farms  and  vineyards 
are  for  the  most  part  too  small  to  require  the 
labour  of  more  than  the  owner's  femily.  Under 
these  circumstances,  every  acre  of  land  within  the 
Vaudois  limits,  which  passes  into  the  hands  of  a  . 
stranger,  is  an  injury  to  the  IVotestant  part  of  the  - 
community  of  a  most  serious  nature. 

\Vhilc  1  am  speaking  of  Vaudois  landscapes-4 
and  cultivation,  I  cannot  withhold  an  observations 
which  occurred  to  me  on  the  day  of  our  walk  te 
l*ralebroue.    Wc  passed  through  several  meadot 


J 


WALDHNSUN    Bi':sl-:ARCHKS. 


Slfi 


■^rherc  they  were  making  hay.    But  nothing  out  of 
Kngluiut  is  Ukc-  tlie  huymaking  of  our  own  country. 
There  is  not  the  same  fragrance  or  exhilarating 
«flecL      With   us  it  is   more    Hke  a  field-sport 
than   a  lahour.      M'hethcr  the    grasses    abroad 
are  coarser  and  less  odoriferous,  or  wlictlicr  the 
mode  of  spreading  and  drj-ing  the  herbage  is  dif- 
ferent, certain  it  is  that  nowhere  as  in  England, 
if  the  hay-field  a  field  of  such  perfuine  and  fresh- 
ness,    Neither  is  it  elsewhere  tliat  we  see  the  gay 
and  blithesome  gang  of  haymakers,  who  cheerily 
ply  their  work  as  if  every  load  they  secure  wore 
their  own  property.  The  Vaudots  peasants,  whom 
weuw  occupied  In  cutting  or  gathering  the  pro- 
^ce  of  their  meadow  lands,  looked  resigned  and 
contented,  ralhcr  tliun  cheerful  and  hglil-hearted ; 
and  when  they  accosted  us,  it  n-as  not  with  the 
arch  smile,  and  humourous  joke  of "  mcrr)'  Eng- 
land," but  with  the  "  bien  bon  jour"  of  softened 
and  subdued  spirits. 

In  the  course  of  one  of  our  rambles,  a  poor 
man,  who  was  engaged  ui  some  work  in  the  fields, 
begged  tliat  we  would  assist  him  with  a  small  gift, 
and  pleaded  the  urgency  of  his  wants.  Mr.  Amodee 
Bert,  the  pastor's  second  sun,  who  happened  to 
hv  with  us,  expressed  great  indignation  at  this  act 
of  mendicity,  and  declared  that  he  had  never 
before  witnessed  any  thing  of  the  kind.  Upon 
mentioning  it  to  his  father,  the  wortliy  pastor 
himself  was  evidently  vexed  that  such  a  circum- 


216  WALDENSIAN    RllSEARCHES. 

stance  had  occurred.butuponstatiugthe  petitioner's 
name,  he  confirmed  his  tale  of  distress,  and  assured 
us  that  the  poor  peasant  had  a  large  family,  and 
had  suEfered  greatly  from  indigence,  which  no  in- 
dustry could  prevent  He  added,  that  the  indiscreet 
generosity  of  some  of  our  countrymen  had  taught. 
several  of  his  flock  to  beg,  who,  before  they  saw 
almsgiving,  as   Englishmen  sometimes  give,  ha^ 
never  practised  or  imagined  such  a  mode  of  seek. — 
ing  relief. 


CHAPTER    III. 


CImrek  terrkt  of  the  fuuttois.  Camporiaam  bctwem  Sumlay 
ttTviteM  of  the  etttly  Ckrittian  and  Wtildfitiitin  Cfmrcket. 
Rtmmrkt  on  lU  Liturgiet  irar  hmH  in  tin  I'alUjft.  Ohienant* 
^Lor^t  lUif.     Pattamt  diilut  o/ fmuioit  Clergy. 

Jvst  S8th.  I  was  impatient  for  the  6rst  Sunday 
in  the  valleys,  and  was  di-sirous  of  observing  in 
nhat  respect  the  X'audota  appear  to  have  abided 
by,  or  departed  from  the  customs  of  the  Fritnitive 
Churches,  in  their  manner  of  keeping  the  Lord's 
p^gr,  both  iu  lliu  place  of  public  worship,  and 
■  otherwise.  The  nominal  hour  for  the  Church 
iervice  to  begin  was  nine  o'clock,  but  there  did 
not  seem  to  be  any  ^reat  punctuality  as  to  time, 
and  when  I  entered  the  church,  or  temple,  as 
the  Vsudois  sanctuaries  are  called,  to  distinguish 
them  from  those  of  the  Roman  Catholics,  I  found 
tho  master  of  the  central  school  officiating  and 
reading  a  chapter  of  the  Bible  to  a  very  small 
congregation,  and  the  pastor  not  present.  In  the 
mean  time  many  people  were  loitering  in  the 
cburcb-yurd.  or  in  the  approaclies  to  it,  and  in- 
dividuals kept  dropping  in,  but  the  seats  were  not 
lillly  occupied  till  Mr.  Bert  made  his  appearance. 


218 


WAI.DFJ;S[AN    RESEARCHRS. 


which  he  did  whtm  thu  Scripture  reading  was 
about  half  finished.  The  same  practice  prevails 
in  otlier  Vaudois  parishes.  It  may  proceed  from 
two  causes:  from  the  di^nce  which  many  of  the 
people  have  to  come,  and  the  desire  that  some 
sort  of  devotional  exercise  should  be  going  on 
with  the  earliest  attendants,  before  the  oom- 
mcnceraent  of  the  more  solemn  duties  of  prayer 
and  thanksgiving ;  or  from  the  little  interest  which 
is  taken  in  a  service  not  always  well  |ierformed. 
Tbc  unseemly  habit  has  at  all  events  become  bw 
general,  and  the  difference  of  attention  when  this 
functionary  is  engaged,  and  wlien  the  pastor  takes 
his  part,  is  very  perceptible.  The  readers  are  in 
fact  very  often  incompetent  to  the  task  of  doing 
justice  to  the  sacred  passages,  which  it  is  their 
office  to  recite:  but  the  appointment  to  such 
ofltee  is  as  old  as  the  earliest  establLsliments  men- 
tioned in  ecclesiastical  history,  and  we  recognize 
traces  of  the  antiquity  of  the  Waldensian  Church 
in  this,  and  other  peculiarities,  which  somewhat 
offend  our  prejudices.  In  old  times,  before  learn- 
ing was  as  common  as  it  Is  now,  congregations 
listened  with  marked  attention  to  the  word  <rf 
God,  when  it  was  rehearsed  in  their  ears,  and  bad 
no  rigid  criticism  for  the  voice,  or  the  manner,  or 
the  ill-placed  emphasis  of  the  reader.  But  now, 
when  almost  every  one  can  read  for  himself,  fas 
tidiousness  comes  into  action,  and  an  unbecomi 
delivery  of  the  sacred  text  offends,  and  the  half- 
instructed  scboohnuster,  or   catcchist  is  thought- 


WALDBNSIAN  EESEARCUES.  219 

but  an  indifferent  substitute  for  the  better  educated 
pastor. 

When  the  regent  had  arrived  at  the  conclusion 
of  two  chapters,  and  the  reflections  of  Ostervald 
annexed  to  them,  Mr.  Bert  opened  his  book  of 
prayer,  the  old  litui^  of  Geneva,  and  the  order 
of  the  service  proceeded  as  follows,  very  impres- 
sively on  the  part  of  the  minister,  and  with  cor- 
responding devotion  on  that  of  the  congregation. 

1.  A  short  exhortation  to  confession. 

2.  A  form  of  supplication  and  confession  com- 
bined. 

3.  A  psalm  sung. 

4.  Prayer  before  the   sermon  :  extempore,  or 
precomposed. 

5.  The  sermon  preached  from  memory. 

6.  A  long  form  of  prayer  for  all  orders  of  men, 
Ck)T  persons  in  authority  especially. 

7.  The  Lord's  prayer. 

8.  The  apostles'  creed. 

9.  A  psalm  sung. 

10.  A  benedictory  address,  and  exhortation  to 
almsgiving. 

11.  The  final  benediction. 

The  whole  of  the  service  did  not  occupy  more 
than  one  hour  and  a  half,  and  this  is  all  the  public 
Sunday  duty  in  which  the  pastor  of  La  Torre, 
or  any  of  the  N'audois  pastors,  is  expected  to 
take  part.  Out  of  church,  the  pastoral  cares  are 
very  laborious.  The  afternoon  service,  which  is 
short,  IS  performed  by  the  regent,  whose  regular 


220 


WALDENSIAN    KCSEAECttCS. 


1 


office  it  is  t<)  reaiJ  the  Scripture  lessons  of  the 
Illuming,  to  lead  tht;  psalmody,  and  to  read  the  J 
prayers  in  the  afternoon  :  to  read  aiso  the  Thursday 
service,  and  to  deliver  a  word  of  exhortation  at 
funerals,  when  the  pastor  docs  not  attend.     I 
cannot  make  any  concealment  of  the  difficulty  I 
iind  in  reconciling  myself  to  the  functions  of  this 
officer  of  the  >S'aldensian  Church.     It  is  of  very 
ancient  appointment,    hut  the    little   veneration 
which  the  ]>eoplc  have  either  for  the  office,  or  the 
services  at  which  he  presides,  is  the  best  ai^iunent  | 
tor  its  abolition  or  modification.     It  is  very  well 
that  a  reader  or  catechist  should  be  nominated  to  M 
supply  the  place  of  the  pastor,  during  illness  or 
unavoidable  absence,  but  there  can  be  no  reason 
that  he  should  relieve  him  in  the  performance  of 
services,  which  he  could  undertake  without  any  % 
great  fatigue  to  himself,  and  with  infinitely  more 
edification  to  his  flock.  M 

The  psalmody  of  their  Church  has  great  charms 
for  the  Vaudois,  and  all  present  Join  in  singing 
with  more  earnestness  perha]>s  than  harmony. 
Here  again  the  regent,  to  my  ears,  took  a  part 
ranch  more  conspicuous  than  agreeable.  He  sung 
lustily,  and  with  all  his  might,  but  1  could  not 
pniige  either  his  voice  or  his  selection  of  mwdc, 
and  I  missed  the  oi-gan,  now  rendered  useless, 
which  at  my  former  visit  helped  to  drown  some  of 
the  discordances.  Once  or  twice  during  the  two 
months  I  remained  in  the  valleys,  I  heard  congre- 
gational singing  which  gave  nie  pleasure ;  want 


I 

1 


TTAtDENSIAK   HnSE»nriTE». 


221 


of  BciencG  was  made  up  by  warmth  of  feeling,  but 
the  tunes  are  generally  so  very  dismal  and  mono- 
tonous, as  to  leave  not  only  an  unpleasing  but  a 
melancholy  impression.     I  could  only  fancy  that 
these   were   the    mournful    notes  descriptive  of 
sorrow  and  suftering,  which  the  poor  victims  of 
oppresuon  used  to  raise  in  their  asylums  among 
the  rocks  and  forests,  when  they  iled  before  the 
sword  of  the  destroyer. 

Upon  the  whole,  the  reader  will  find  in  this 
description  of  the  nature  and  unlcr  of  administra- 
tion in  the  public  worship  of  the  Vaudois,  (it  is 
auMwIy  the  same  in  all  the  Waldensian  temples)  a 
strong  resemblance  to  that  which  was  in  use  in 
%he  time  of  one  of  the  most  ancient  Christian 
fathers,  whose  writings  are  consulted  for  authority 
in  matters  of  early  ecclesiastical  history.     It  will 
not  be  thought  uninteresting  to  compare  Jnstin 
Martyr's  account  of  the  meetings  of  Christians,  on 
the  Lord's  day,  with  that  which  I  have  just  related. 
"  And  on  the  day  called  Sunday,  there  is  an 
assembling  together  of  all  who  dwell  in  the  cities 
and  country,  aud  the  memoirs  of  the  apostles,  and 
the  writings  of  the  prophets  are  read  as  long  as 
circumstances  will  (lermit.  Then,  when  the  reader 
has  ceased,  the  president  delivers  a  discourse,  in 
which  he  admonishes  all  present  to  the  imitation 
of  these  good  tilings.     Then  we  all  rise  together 
and  pray,  and  as  we  before  said,  prayer  being 
ended,  bread  and   wine  and    water  are  brought. 


WALDEKSUN    tteSCARCHES 


and  the  prt^sident  offers  prayers  in  like  manner, 
and  thanksgivings  according  to  his  ability,  aoi'\ 
,  the  people  express  their  assent  by  sayinjr  amen  f 
and  the  distribution  of  that  over  which  the  thanks-J 
giving  has  been  pronounced  takes  place  to  each,^ 
I  itnd  each  ]iurtake8,  and  a  portion  is  sent  to  Uu 
absent  by  the  deacons.  And  they  who  are  wealthy] 
and  choose,  gnve  as  much  as  they  respectivelj 
deem  fit."   See  "  some  account  of  the  \Vritin<rs  and^ 
Opinions  of  Justin  Martyr,"  by  the  Bishop  of  Lin- 
coin,  p.  88.  The  resemblance  extends  to  the  simple 
form  of  administering  the  sacrament  adopted  by  the 
Waldenses,  and  to  the  poor  box,  which  is  always! 
placed  ready  to  receive  the  contributions  of  the 
charitable  after  the  final  exhortation. 

"  In  Justin's  account  of  the  Christian  .\ssem-' 
blies,"  observes  the  bishop,  "  we  find  mention  of 
a  president,  deacons,  and  a  reader." 

TcrtulUan's  testimony  of  the  religious  customs 
preTatling  in  his  time,  are  equally  to  the  point. 
"  We  come  together  for  the  piiqjose  of  offering 
our  prayers  unto  God.  Wc  pray  for  the  emperors, 
for  their  officers,  and  for  all  that  are  in  authority ; 
we  pray  that  the  course  of  this  world  may  be 
peaceably  ordered,  and  the  consummation  of  all 
things  may  be  deferred.  We  come  together  for 
tlic  purpose  of  reading  the  Holy  Scriptures,  when 
the  circumstances  of  the  times  appear  to  call  for 
any  particular  admonition,  and  for  the  careful  dis- 
cussion of  any  particular  topics.     Of  this  at  least 


VALDKN3IAN    RlrSEARHIRS. 


2-23 


sure,  that  our  faith  will  be  nourished,  and 
our  hope  clcvaietl,  and  our  confidence  confirmed 
by  listening  to  the  words  of  Scripture,  and  tliat 
the  Christian  rule  of  life  will  be  impressed  upon 
us  with  increased  effoct,  through  the  inculcation 
of  the  Holy  Scriptui'cs." — llishop  of  Lincoln's 
Ecclesiastical  History  of  second  and  third  cen- 
turies, illustnited  from  the  writings  of  Tertullian, 
p.  .151. 

The  Bishop's  remark  u]K)n  this  passage  is  too 
raluable  to  he  omitted.  "  It  is  evident,"  says  he, 
"  that  none  of  the  objects  which  Tertulltan  here 
CQunicmted  could  have  been  obtained,  if  the 
prayers  had  been  olfered,  and  the  Scriptures  read 
in  a  tong^ie  to  which  the  majority  of  persons  pre- 
Seal  were  strangers."" 

Now  it  is  satisfactor}'  to  have  it  in  my  poorer  to 
state  in  this  place,  that  the  practice  which  pre- 
vailed  in  the  second  and  third  centuries,  of  reading 
Scripture,  and  of  offering  up  prayers  in  a  living 
aod  intelligible  language,  was  cherished  by  tJio 
ancestors  of  the  Waldenses,  as  the  Waldenscs 
dieriiih  it  DOW,  in  those  dark  ages,  when  the  in- 
tolerance of  the  Latin  Church  interdicted  the  use 
of  Scripture  in  vernacular  tongues,  and  inflicted 
a  ritual  in  an  unknown  tongue  upon  all  the  rest 
of  Christendom.  Among  the  manuscripts  rescued 
from  destruction  by  Sir  Samuel  Morland  in  1655, 
wore  the  Proverhs  of  Solomon,  the  Book  of 
Eccksiastes,  the  Four  Crospels,  the  Book  of  the 

t 


224 


VALI>ENSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


Acts  of  the  Apostles,  and  eight  of  St  PauTs 
Epistles,  all  in  the  old  Waldensian  language. 
These  were  written  on  parchincnt,  some  bearing 
the  marks  of  having  been  composed  350  years 
before,  (before  IG55),  and  others  "  at  least  six  or 
seven  hiindre<l  years  ago."  That  is,  according  to 
Sir  Samuel's  opinroo,  in  the  tenth  century.  If 
then,  in  those  ignorant  and  gloomy  periods,  the 
tenth,  eleventh,  and  twelfth  centuries,  the  Wai- 
donses  had  copies  of  the  Scriptures  in  their  native 
tongue,  vre  may  readily  believe  that  they  possessed 
such  previoiuily  to  the  tenth  century,  and  that 
they  have  preser\'ed  this  privilege  through  tlie 
course  of  successive  ages,  from  their  first  reception 
of  the  Gosiwl  to  the  present  time '. 

I  must  here  be  |>crmittcd  to  insert  an  observa- 
tion relative  to  the  antiquity  of  the  Noble  Lesson, 
which  I  omitted  to  make  when  I  was  discussing 
the  question  at  length.    (Section  4,  p.  138.) 

After  all  the  valuable  parchment<i  and  papers, 
which  were  collected  in  the  three  valleys  of  La- 
sema,  Perosa,  and  San  Martino,  had  been  com- 
mitted to  the  charge  of  Morland,  and  by  him  con- 
signed to  the  University  Library  at  Cambridge, , 


I 
I 


*  Perrio,  wlio  paUitltRd  liis  History  of  the  WaldeoscB  in  161S,. 
relstn  that  be  hnd  in  hi*  fo»tmoa  »  New  TestauMii  m  p«rcli-  ~-  «4 
mcnt,  in  ihc  WRldenaMD  lao^a^,  veiy  well  written,  though  mcs' 
a  vrry  sncient  \etuj.     }*^ct  mtkc*  lOMitioti  of  an  aunenV^V 
VaudoM  Dible  which  lie  rogtiil  in  lh«  mounUiu  of  the  VmKj 
CiiMxie. 


WALDENSIAN    BE^EAKCHES. 


225 


Lcgcr,  the  modcratoj*  and  the  historian  of  the 
Vaudois,  found  in  tlie  valley  of  Pragela  a  thick 
parchment  volume,  containing  several  treatiKCs  in 
the  Woldenstan  Unguagc.  This  volume  he  gave 
to  Mr.  Gerard,  Principal  of  the  College,  and  the 
Hhrarian  of  the  lihrar)'  of  Geneva,  and  took  his 
receipt  fur  it.  dated  November  10,  1662.  Among 
other  tracts,  the  volume  contained  a  copy  of  the 
celebrated  "  Nobla  Lcjrfon,"  that  which  is  now  so 
carefully  prt-served  at  Geneva,and  cuncerniiig  which 
M.  Jean  Senebier  entered  the  following  note  in  his 
Catalogue  Itaisonne  of  the  Genevan  MSS. :  "  Je 
crois  ce  MS.  du  12  siecle ;  I'ecriture  ct  le  htngagc 
confinnent  cette  opinion."  Mow,  if  this  copy  con- 
tains such  internal  proof  of  its  antiquity,  we  have 
the  greater  reason  to  attach  value  to  Sir  Samuel 
Morlaod'ti  opinion  uf  the  ages  of  those,  whicli  he 
presented  to  the  Cambridge  Library,  but  which 
•re  now  unfortunately  missing. 

A  word  now  upon  the  subject  of  the  l-iturgical  ser- 
vice of  the  Waldensian  Church.  The  liturgies  now 
in  use  arc  those  which  the  Vaudois  have  adopted  iu 
consequence  of  their  connexion  with  Switzerland. 
into  which  connexion  they  have  been  drawn  by 
having  no  institution  of  their  own  for  the  theolo- 
gical education  of  their  candidates  for  orders,  and 
no  libraries,  except  the  small  private  collections 
of  individuals,  and  by  their  iiiahiUty  to  obtain  any 
religious  books,  conformable  with  the  Protestant 
I    laith,  except  such  as  are  iu  the  French  Uinguagc. 


226 


WALDeSSIAN   HESSARCIIES. 


But  had  they  at  any  periml  of  their  history  s 
lituigy,  which  could  properly  be  called  their  own, 
peculiar   to  the  Waldensian  Church,  and  com- 
posed in  the  Waldensian  tonpic  ?    There  is  every 
reason  to  think  they  had,  and  I  will  briefly  explain 
why.     When  they  were  obliged  to  have  recourse 
to  I''rancc  and  Switzerland  to  provide  them  with 
reformed  ministers,  to  supply  the  places  of  their 
own   native  pastors,   thirteen   of  whom   out  of 
fifteen  were  victims  of  the  plague  of  1630,  they 
permitted  those  pastors  to  introduce  the  Hturgies 
of  Switzerland  into  the  \N'aIdensian   Churches. 
This  scarcely  would  have  been  allowed  had   the 
Waldenses  of  that  period   been  accustomed  to 
extemporaneous  prayer;  and  certainly  not,  had 
their  abhorrence  of  forms  of  common  prayer  been 
equal  to  that  of  some  of  our  own  congregations, 
who,  in  their  zeal  to  keep  at  the  greatest  pos»ble 
distance  from  Rome,  have  discarded  every  thin^ 
that  the  itoman  clergy  practise.     In  a  Vaadois 
congregation,  composed  of  persons  hostile  or  even 
unused  to  "  hook  services,"  there  might   have 
been  some  scene,  like  that  so  humorously  described 
by  Sir  Walter  Scott  in  his  Tales  of  a  Grandfather- 
The  rash  experiment  of  tiying  how  the   High 
Church  at  Edinburgh  would  receive  the  English 
liturgj*,   so    exasperated  the  Presbyterians,    that 
stools  and  other  missiles,  flung  at  the  liciul  of  the 
officiating  minister,  soon  determined  the  question 
of  book  or  no  book. 


VAUnnNSIAN    RKSKAIICIKLS. 


227 


I 


>thertraceofthe  use  offormularies  among  the 
aucicnt  Waldciutcs  is  to  be  found  in  the  place,  which 
(»ccon)iug  to  all  the  documentary  evidence  that  re- 
mains), was  given  to  the  recital  of  the  Lord's  Prayer 
and  Creed,  and  Ten  Commandments,  in  their  ad- 
ministration of  Divine  service,  as  well  as  in  the  nu- 
laerous  articles  or  confessions  of  faith,  which  have 
been  drawn  up  by  them  at  various  periods  of  their 
history,  and  more  especially  in  their  reception  and 
adoption  of  the  Athanasian  Creed,  which,  according 
to  the  testimony  of  Leger,  "  they  were  very  careftil 
to    make  their  children  learn."    That  hitttorian 
txma  preserved  in  his  pages  the  version  of  this 
C^TCod,  in  tlie  old  Waldensian  language,   which 
l:»^Bii    thus:—*'  Quaquelque  volesser  fait   salT, 
<S«Tant  totas  cosas,  ^  de  ncccssita  tenir  la  Fd 
^Il^atolira,  laqual,"  &c.      Leger  has  also  furnished 
-Kxs  with  a  confession  of  faith,  iu  answer  to  a  fulmi- 
nadng  edict  against  them,  presented  to  the  l*ar- 
liwUBUl  of  Tmin  in  1550,  in  which  they  protested 
*hMt  they  believed  tn  the  Creed  of  Atlianiviius. 
^at  better  evidence  still  of  their  hereditarj'  attach- 
"ieni  to  "  forms  of  prayer."  and  of  their  use  of 
^"ttlO,  is  drawn  from  one  of  the  documents,  which 
■i^klrily  hu  not  been  lost  out  of  the  (Jniveniity 
^-'briry  at  Cambridge. 

**  Ed  acciochd  ognuno  vegga  chiaramente  cid 
^1^  crediamo  in  que»to  capo,  nggiugniamo  qui  le 
'^^'Nlealuie  esprcssioni  che  si  trovano  nclla  pre- 
BW*at,  die  facdamo  svanli  la  communionc  nella 

«2 


nostra  Litiirgia,  o'  fonna  di  celcbrar  la  santa  cen: 
e  nel  nostro  Catechisnio  publico,"  &c. 

"  Now  to  the  end  that  evei^'  one  may 
clearly  what  our  belief  is  as  to  this  point,  we  ha 
here  inserted  the  very  expressions  of  that  prayeTi 
which  we  make  use  of  before  the  Communion, 
tlicy  arc  written  in  our  Liturgy,  or  form  of  cele*' 
brating  the  Holy  Supper,  and  in  our  public  Cate- 
chism." 

A  Liturg}'  of  their  oicn  is  manifestly  alluded 
in  this  instrument  of  1655,  xvhich  is  not  one  of  tb 

several  formularies  introduced  from  Switzerland 

In   reference   to  tlic    words    "  our    Catechism,^ 
they  quote  from  the  Catechism  composed  in  th"- 
twelfth  century  by  some  of  their  Barbcs.     In  botf^ 
cases,  therefore,  I  should  say,  that  the  term  oihm 
applies  to  that  which  was  peculiarly  WaldensiaHH 
I  liave  only  to  add,  that  there  is  yet  extant  in  tkTi 
library  of  Geneva,  a  copy  of  a  Liturgy  in  t*K 
Waidensian  language.     Unfortunately  it  escaporf 
my  recollection  when  I  was  at  Geneva,  that  tlth 
relic  was  to  be  seen  there.     I  did  not  consult  \i 
myself,  and  must  therefore  give  the  words  of  om 
who  has.    "  In  addition  to  these  MSS.,  there  is     [ 
a  short  Liturgy  in  the  Vaudois  dialect,  a  small 
octavo  on  vellum,  bound  in  crimson  velvet.  \w 
it,  and  thought  it  quite  complete."      Jackson's 
Remarks  on  t)ie  Vaudois  of  I'iemont.     Appenilis> 
p.  276. 

Of  the  litui^s  now  used  in  the  valleys,  ibt- 


WALOKNSlAN    KKSUARCHKS. 


229 


Genevan  is  read  by  seven  of  the  i>a.stors,  the 

NeurchatL>l   by  six,  and  the   I-aiLsanne  by  two. 

Thus  it  depends  u|h>ii  the  optiun  uf  the  minister 

to  adopt  which  he  pleases :  in  one  or  two  cases, 

the  Genevan  and  Neufchatcl  are  read  by  the  same 

psstor,  accordingly  as  it  suits  his  fancy;  and  the 

r^ent  of  a  parish  will  frequently  rehearse  prayers 

on  a  Sunday  aftcmoon,  or  Thursday  morning,  out 

of  a  ritual  different  from  that  which  his  pastor 

preftrs.     Tliis  want  of  uniformity  is  not  conimeud- 

ablc    although    the   three    forms   are  essentially 

alike  in  doctrine,  and  do  nut  greatly  var)'  in  the 

■  order  of  the  ser^  ice. 

I  must,  however,  be  particular  in  stating,  that  the 
Genevan  liturgy  used  by  M.  Bert  and  some  others, 
is  not  the  modem  but  the  old  edition  of  1 7M ;  and 
this  I  think  it  necessur}*  to  mention,  lest  it  should 
be  supposed,  that  the  clerg>'  of  the  Waldensian 
Church  are  falling  into  the  errors  of  the  "  vener- 
able company  of  pastors"  of  Geneva,  who  have 
suffered  recent  copies  of  the  ritual  to  he  published 
with  sweeping  expurgations  of  all  the  passages, 
tliat  Wen*  in  op]K)«ition  to  the  "  Keglcmenl*  of 
hlay  3,  1817.  The  object  of  this  regulation  was 
tiu  prescribe  silence  respecting  the  manner,  in  which 
the  Son  partakes  of  the  Godhend  of  tlic  Father, 
and  the  manner  in  which  the  Moly  Spirit  operates 
upon  the  human  mind,  and  to  forbid  any  explana- 
tion of  the  diMTlrines  of  original  sin  and  predesti- 
aatkuL    So  completely  did  this 


WALPENSUN    KE-SEARCHES. 


take 


the  eOect  of  secuUrizitig  tlm  Gospel,  as  the  lat« 
moderator  Peyrani  expressed  it,  "  U  a  secul 
TEvanf^le,"  that  in  a  late  reprint  of  the  tittn|E7« 
even  tlie  wonls,  "  nes  dans  la  corruption,' 
suppressed  as  beii]g  too  dogmatical.    It  is  not  casjl 
to  apologise  for  the  "  venerable  company,"  nor  to' 
explain  the  fears  which  have  moved  them  to 
such  a  step ;  but  that  they  may  be  heard  throtL 
their  principal  and  apologist,  M.  Cheneviere,  pro- 
fessor of  Theology  in  the  Universit)'  of  Geneva,  I 
will  transcribe  the  accoimt  which  he  has  given  of 
the  matter,  in  a  pamphlet  entitled,  "  Precis  des— 
Di^-bats  Theologiques,  qui  depuis  quelques  annec!^ 
ont  agitc  la  vitle  de  Geneve."  ■ 

"  Tons  ^taient  egalement  penetres  de  la  n6ce»3 
siti-  d'eloigner  de  semblablcs  disputes  dc  la  chair^ 
chretienne,  de  s'.tttacher  non  aux  termes  mab  3 
Tesprit  de  VEvangile,  d'aimer  et  d'entrctenir  l^ff 
paix.  Ce  fut  dune  cet  esprit,  et  avec  I'assent^- 
mcnt  des  diverses  parties,  que  fut  redig^  Ic  regl^^ 
ment  du  3  Mai,  1817,  dont  le  considerant  consthiae^ 
en  effet  bi  partie  essenticllc.  Le  void  dans  sod  j 
cntier. 

"  La  compagnie  des  pasteurs  de  I'Eglisc  de 
Geneve  pen6tr«^e  d'  un  esprit  d'  humiiitc,  de  psii 
et  dv  charity  chr6liennc,  et  convaincuc  que  les  ctr- 
Constances  oil  se  trouve  I'Eglise  confiee  a  scs  soins, 
exigent  de  sa  part  des  mesures  de  sagessc  et  de 
prudence,  arr^tc,  sans  porter  aucun  jugement  sur 
Ic  ibnd  des  questions  suivanlcti,  ct  sans  Kcncr  en 


wALneNstAN  nesRAROirn. 


sai 


aucuDe  maoiere  la  liberie  des  opinions,  de  faire 
prendre,  soil  aux  proposans  qui  demanderont  i 
£tre  consacrcs  au  saint  minist^re,  soit  aux  ministres 
q(ii  aspireront  a  exercer  dans  I'Kglisc  de  Geneve 
Ics  Tunctions  pastorales,  rcngagcmc-nt  dont  void 
U  tcneur :  '  Nous  promettoDs  de  nous  abstenir, 
tant  que  nous  residcrons  et  que  nous  prScherons 
^■idans  les  eglises  du  canton  de  Geneve,  d'^tablir, 
^^8oit  par  un  discours  entier,  soit  ]>ar  une  partie  de 
discours  dirigce  vers  ce  but  notre  opinion  : 

**  1'.  Sur  la  manivrc  dont  la  nature  divine  est 
unie  a  la  personnc  de  Jesus  Christ 
"  2'.  Sur  le  peciie  origincL 
"  8*'  Sur  la  maniere  dont  la  grfice  opere,  ou 
■or  la  gr&ce  efRciente. 

**  4*.  Sur  la  predestination. 
•  *'  Nous  promettons  ausai  de  ne  point  combattre 
dam  des  discoura  publics  I'opinion  de  quctque 
pastcur  ou  ministre  sur  ces  matiercs.  Kniin  nous 
DOU8  engageons,  si  nous  sumines  conduits  a  emettre 
notre  pensee  sur  I'un  de  ccs  sujcts,  a  le  fairc,  sans 
obondcr  dans  notre  sens,  en  (!;vitant  les  expressions 
itrangdrcs  aux  Saintes  Kcritures,  et  en  nous  ser- 
vant, autant  que  possible,  des  termes  qu'elles 
eraploicnt-" 

This   defence   and    cxposiUon    of   the   objects 
which  the  "  venerable  company"   had   in   view, 
when  they  proniulj-atcd  their  memorable  regula- 
L      tion,  was  published  in  the  year  1824  by  the  Genevan 


2:)3 


WAT.ni»t^A!r  RKliKAIKiflU. 


Within  th«  last  two  years  it  has  been  judged 
expedient  to  suppress  the  R^glement,  and  it  is  no 
longer  enforced.  The  candidates  for  holy  orders, 
whom  the  faculty  of  Tlieology  at  (>eneva  now 
admit  into  the  sacred  office,  are  not  obliged  to 
enter  into  any  such  engagements.  They  are 
simply  required  to  declare  their  belief  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  to  take  the  \Vord  of  God  for  the  rule 
of  their  faith  and  conduct  At  the  examinations 
previously  to  ordination,  a  thesis  is  presented, 
and  if  approved  in  point  of  style  and  composition, 
it  is  published  with  tlic  profes-sor^s  imprimatur  to 
the  following  effect :  "  The  faculty  of  Theolt^ 
having  examined  this  th^is  permit  it  to  pass;  but 
^vithout  expressing  any  opinion  as  to  the  proposi- 
tions therein  contained.**  Such  is  Geneva,  and 
its  thcoI(^cal  consistency  at  the  present  time. 
Its  pastors  are  for  the  most  part  unwilling  to 
declare  themselves,  and  its  professors  of  divinity 
refiise  to  commit  themselves  or  their  students  to 
any  decided  line  of  faith  ;  its  press  presumes  upon 
this  laxity,  and  the  result  is,  that  the  litui^es;, 
catechisms,  and  confessions  of  faith,  which  the 
reformed  Churches  of  Franco,  and  the  primitive 
Church  of  the  Valleys,  might  formerly  recrave  with 
confidence,  are  now  so  disfigured  by  the  several 
suppressions,  that  their  original  tendency  is  scarcely 
recognizable.  It  is,  therefore,  with  a  jealous  eye, 
that  those  who  have  hitherto  looked  with  joy  to 
the  little  lamp  of  the  wilderness,  now  sec  its  oil 


WALPBSSUN    RE^BARCtlES. 


233 


supplied  from  such  vessels.  Hitherto  no  evil  has 
accrued,  llie  desks,  and  pulpits  of  the  cburclies 
of  the  talleys,  still  present  to  the  enquirer's  hand 
the  time-worn  and  timc-hononrcd  books  of  prayer, 
whose  title-pages  bear  the  date  of  other  and  of 
better  days.  But  when  these  venerable  copies 
shall  be  mouldering  an-ay,  from  whence  .shall  faith- 
ful counterparts  be  obtained ;  or  who  shall  Kay» 
that  error  will  not  creep  into  the  sanctuaries  of 
the  Waldenses,  under  the  cover  of  new  editions, 
and  reprints  *. 

Another  peril  threatens  the  Vaudois.    At  pre- 
sent the  orthodoxy  of  the  living  pastors,  and  the 
sage  counsel  and  surveillance  of  fathers  may  keep 
their  sons  true  to  the  faith  of  the  ancient  AValden- 
ses,  albeit  that  they  study  at  Geneva.    But   in 
tlie  course  of  another  generation  or  two,  should 
Genevan  divinity  be  equally  liberal,  and  the  Vau- 
ttiHs  youth  still  be  tempted  to  accept  the  exhi- 
bitions at  Geneva,  when  those  at  Lausanne  are 
filled  up,— (l  ought  to  state  here,  that  by  far  the 
j;rcater  majority  of  young  men  intended  for  the 
AValdcnsian  ministry  are  educated  at  Lausanne) — 
im  there  not  every  reason  to  fear  that  some  leavening 
may  take  place,  and  little  tliough  it  be  at  first,  that 
It  may  eventually  leaven  the  whole  lump  ? 

Of  what  is  it  that  the  Vaudois  make  their 
honourable  boast  ?  And  why  is  it  that  the  name 
<if  this  mountain  congregation  is  so  dear  to  all 
the  Churches  t  Not  for  their  sufferings  merely,  or 


234  WALDKKBIAN    KhlSEAKCHKS. 

for  the  persecutions  that  they  have  frequently 
endured ;  but  for  their  witness  to  the  truth  in  all  ^ 
its  bearings.     The  valleys  of  Piemont  are  of  do  " 
further  importance  to  Chri^jtendom,  than  as  baring 
produced,  from  one  generation  to  another,  since 
the  dawn  of  ecclesiastical  history,  and  as  contino-   ■ 
ing  to  produce,  a  race  of  confessors,  wlio  have    ~ 
never  yet  denied  tlic  Lord  who  Iwught  them.  And   ^ 
what  are  the  proofs  of  their  perseverance,  and  the   " 
evidence  of  their  fidelity  ?  The  Noble  I^csson,  and 
the  ancient  catechism  of  the  twelfth  cenlur}-,  and  ^ 
the  manifestos  and  confessions  of  faith  from  age 
to  age,  wliich  have  been  signed  at  the  cost  or  ^ 
hazard  of  life,  and  have  been  handed  down  from 
father  to  son,  as  an  inheritance  more  precious  than 
the  wealth  of  provinces.     The  >''audois  are  too- 
deeply  compromised,  by  the  articles  and  clauses- 
of  these  well  known  documents,  to  depart  one  inch.^ 
from  the  post  of  unflinching  duty,  which  they  haves: 
hitherto   held.     No  questionable  orthodoxy,   nc^ 
diluted  divinity,  no  reserve  ou  matters  of  doctrine ', 


'  Id  proof  of  the  diiUin^  tind  wiiltcriDg  dfccu  produoed  by  thi 
decbioDS  of  "  ili«  Vcnvrablc  Company  of  Puton"  of  GeacT&« 
1  beg  to  relvr  mv  rudcn  ui  one  of  tho  lut  trark*  of  Uie  *— ntfit^ 
and,  1  bcl>ovc,  piou*  and  ortliodoz  C'«llcriei.  pco&wor  of  Hafare^ 
aDdofSacredCnticisiniD  UKilDii«rwiyQfOetieTa,'*DeL'0 
auUi«ikiic  et  diviiK  du  Noureau  Testaraenl,'*  pablubcd  1829 
Tbe  fonfth  chapter  contdni  qiMstiotu  ivbtive  to  the 
dMractcr  and  object  of  each  Gospel.  In  the  <lisciuaioa  upon 
Um  Gospel  of  Sl  John,  one  couki  batdly  inacioa  by  what 

3 


] 


^4LDEN8IA!t   RESSARCHES. 


235 


DO  timid,  wavering  declarations,  no  engagements 
•to  abstain  from  hnndliiig  disputed  questions  nill 
do  fur  them.  The  dvsceiidiintK  of  men,  who 
chanted  the  hymn  of  the  ancient  Barbes  of  Pie- 
mont,  and  magnilied  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  adored 
God  the  Son,  ai>d  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
mourned  over  the  havoc  of  original  sin  in  the 
metrical  strains  of  l<a  Nohia  Leyfon,  (see  p.  141) 
must  not  sign  away  their  ancestors'  Christianity  at 


iBgeniuty  tbe  author  could  avoid  londiing  upon  Uiom  possagm, 
Vblch  MMrt  (lie  Godhi-ad  of  our  Lord  Jem  Clirat,  and  which 
wc  il«  di>>lingut*liiRg  feature*.  I  transcribe  Uk  sentcncca  which 
■■  if  ibcy  auut  Ind  to  a  fair  grapfrfing  with  ibe  Mbject, 
'a  wM  be  fWD  how  det«nutiied  i]i«  proftnor  is  to  Ay  from  it. 
*■  Mai*  ce  i|iii  ditliaguc  mrtuut  ton  livtc  dc  ccux  dc  Liic,  Marc 
ct  MBltbtcn,  c'nt  le  caradire  Doufinti  dont  it  rcTct  lea  enKigne* 
noM  do  SautntT.—— Ce  n'ptt  plus  on  docteur,  ce  u'e»i  plna 
■a  pfO|lM(o  ipii  parto  aiix  horamea  ea  lew  laDgtie,  cMt  Ic  Fib 
ila  Dieu  qui  bit  eiticridiv  le  UDKage  da  c>el  doat  3  eu  dcaoonda, 

Mail  oA  il  M(uble  teapirar  ukofg. Admmi^  itatmti,  mu^ri- 

Bonk,  rfconciliatioa  de  la  tcne  et  du  dd,  tacrifice  augbuit  de 
rAgaean  de  Dieo,  tellea  aont  ks*  loochiuilet  actiwa  placeea  aur 
le  pfemier  plan  de  eet  angnate  tableau.  tJnion  du  Pin  et  dn 
Fill,  diftne  elBcace  d«  )*Eapnt>Saiot.  mysUrieui  aUmea  dea  coo- 
■eila  de  Dim  1— Jean,  oiuqaemeDt  ocnip^  de  nooiiirar  daiw 
J<taa  Cbriel  le  Priore  dr  U  vie,  ct  File  b  dc  Dien,  aemUc  mUmt 
dc  voir  efl  lot  le  fila  dc  Marie. — Lvs  truti  pn-mkra  frang^liMes 
ajani  voulti  faire  HiiitMre  de  ta  Nature  humainc  du  Cbiitt, 
Jnn  «WI  voulu  coniacTvr  leaica  k  sa  nature diTJne.'—TbMe 
^m  ait  tlie  nroDgPRt  fenttioenta  expiened  in  ihr  whole  panagw,  not 

^^P  ime  of  wIikIi   dcvekif««  Uie  tnyalef;  «/  godliiKM. — (tod  Maoi^ 

I  Eol  in  tbe  Dedi. 


2;l6 


WALDBNSUK   aESEAKCHRS. 


tlie  iuvitetion  of  GenciTin  liberality,  nor  must  they 
be  suspected  of  doing  so. 

The  IV'yraiiis,  mid  the  Berts,  aad  the  5Ius- 
loiis,  aud  the  Vin^ons,  and  the  Monasticrs,  and 
tlie  Rostaings,  and  other  Dotables  of  the  present 
day,  whose  names,  under  the  hands  of  their 
forcfatliers,  are  emblazoned  on  declarations  of 
adherence  "  to  the  sound  doctbines"  of  all  the 
Kefonned  Churches  of  Kuro[»e,  (see  p.  145)  are 
pledged  for  themselves  aud  their  posterity  to  sub- 
scribe to  the  eternal  truths  of  God,  "  even  as 
their  ancestors  have  done  from  the  days  of  the 
A[>of;tles,'  and  to  be  proof  against  temptations  as 
well  as  perils.  It  should,  therefore,  become  a 
question,  how  far  the  children  of  Watdenses  who 
are  still  taught  to  approach  their  Redeemer  as 
"  very  God  and  very  Man  ;"  who  leani  in  the  wonls 
of  their  catechism,  that  Jesus  Christ  "  is  of  the 
same  nature  with  the  Father,"  and  who  are  taught 
by  tliat  catechism  to  cite  Scripture  in  explanation 
of  the  eternity  uf  this  union,  can  be  consistently 
eutrii&ted  to  the  charge  of  professors  of  Theology, 
whose  avowed  opinions  are  hostile  to  any  discus* 
sion  of  the  subjecL  Considering  that  it  is  impera- 
tive upon  the  Vaudois  themselves,  and  upon  those 
who  have  gazed  witli  admiration  upon  the  "  Ught 
shining  in  the  darkness,"  upon  llie  Golden  Candle- 
stick of  the  Alps,  that  has  never  yet  been  removed, 
to  devise  some  plan  which  may  avert  the  danger 
tluU  impends  from   connexion  with  Geneva, — 1 


WAI.DES8IAN    BRSEARCI[F.S. 


«ST 


undertook  the  duty  and  obloiguy  of  thifi  task,  the 
result  of  which  I  shall  communicate  in  the  due 
course  of  my  narrative.    (See  Chapter  X.) 

I  have  before  observed,  that  although  the  public 
church  scnicc  of  the  Vaudois  clergy  is  light,  their 
pastoral  charge  out  of  church  is  sufBcicntly  bbo- 
riods.  The  preparation  for  delivering  their  sennons 
from  the  pulpit,  meraoritcr,  is  more  or  less  burthen- 
some,  according  to  their  several  abilities ;  but  the 
duty  of  visiting  the  sick  and  aged  presses  hard 
upon  all  of  them,  especially  upon  those  who  dwell 
hi  the  more  mountainous  parishes.  There,  the 
comicientiuus  pastor's  work  is  never  ended.  His 
labour  cncreases  with  his  zeal  r  the  earnestness  of 
his  exhortations  renders  the  object  of  his  spiritual 
concern  more  desirous  of  seeing  him  again  and 
^lun,  and  he  himself  at  the  same  time  is  propor- 
tionably  moved  to  further  exertions.  My  inter- 
course with  these  worthy  men,  and  the  corres- 
pondence which  1  held  with  some  of  them  uimn 
this  subject,  enable  me  to  say  confidently,  that  I 
believe  they  seldom  spare  themselves,  but  are 
perpetually  at  the  call  of  their  Hock,  in  the  hour 
of  sorrow  or  sickness.  I  cannot  resist  the  tcmpta 
tion  of  giving  extracts  out  of  some  letters,  which 
1  received  in  reference  to  this  point,  tltey  will  best 
explain  how  this  pastoral  duty  is  regarded  and  per- 
formed, by  the  several  writers. 

1.  "  One  of  my  most  precious  and  pleasing  cwcu- 


238 


W,\I.DRNS|,\N    RBSBARCHRS. 


patioDS  is  to  visit  those  who  are  confined  to  their 
homes  by  age  or  illness;  not  only  when  I  am 
summoned,  but  whenever  1  think  I  can  put  in  a 
word  of  consolation,  I  hasten  to  the  discharge  of 
this  sacred  duty.  In  general,  the  salubrity  of  Uic 
air  and  the  simple  life  which  my  people  lead,  keep 
the  numbers  low  on  the  sick  list ;  but  these  causes, 
on  the  other  hand,  increase  the  ranks  of  the  aged, 
and  give  me  enoujifh  to  do,  for,  as  you  well  know, 
many  of  the  habitations  are  at  such  a  distance 
from  my  presbyterj-,  that  it  is  no  easy  task  to 
make  my  rounds  as  often  as  I  ought. 

2.  "  It  is  my  great  comfort,  that  I  have  not  been 
totally  unsuccessful  in  carrying  joy  and  peace  to 
the  dwellings  of  the  afflicted.  The  scriptural 
pasKi^  read,  and  the  prayer  offered,  have  been 
apparently  accompanied  with  blessed  results,  praise 
to  Him,  who  has  granted  His  blessing  tlirough 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  in  many  cases ;  and  I  have 
ob»cr\-cd  that  several  of  those,  who  at  one  time 
were  not  such  as  I  could  have  wished  them  to  be, 
have  had  their  hearts  touched  during  their  mala- 
dies, and  after  being  graciously  restored  to  health, 
have  become  more  pious  and  more  religiously 
attentive  to  their  duties. 

3.  "  I  make  a  point  of  visiting  the  sick  of  m^ 
parish  invited  or  unimitcd,  for  then  is  the  itcason 
of  soflened  hearts  and  tender  consciences,  the 

'  mollia  tempora  fandi.'  Upon  these  occasions  I 
adapt  my  conversation  and  prayers  to  (he  circum- 


WILDEKSIAN   RESBARCII«. 


2.19 


stances  of  their  cases,  and  never  docs  any  ministry 
produce  fruits  more  satisfacton-  to  myself.  1  could 
mention  the  names  of  persons  who  have  put  off 
the  old  roan,  and  put  on  the  new  man  ailcr  the 
image  of  Him  that  created  them,  and  I  take  care 
not  to  lose  tlie  Influence  which  I  have  acquired  by 
their  bed-sides. 

4.  **  My  ministry  in  this  department  is  chiefly 
exercised  among  the  aged;  and  when  it  is  known 
that  1  am  going  to  read  or  to  pray  in  the  houses 
of  any  of  my  grcy-lieaded  brctiircn,  their  chambers 
present  au  edifying  spectacle  of  fiiends  and  neigh- 
boars  coming  in  to  kneel  down  with  us,  and  to 
invoke  the  presence  of  the  Holy  SpiriL  When 
the  sick  require  to  be  comforted  with  the  word  of 
God,  I  think  the  master  of  the  great  school  is 
Bent  for  more  frequently  than  myself;  perhaps  it 
ia,  because  some  of  their  houses  are  so  far  from 
cnine,  or  in  consideration  of  my  great  age. 

6.  "  MyChurch  is  composedof hamletafardistant 
from  each  other,  and  many  of  them  high  up  on 
the  acclinties  of  the  mountain:  nevertheless  1  feel 
it  to  be  a  sacred  duty,  and  dear  to  my  heart,  to 
obey  every  summons,  at  whatever  hour,  or  under 
-whate\-er  circumstances  they  may  be  made,  and  to 
bagtcn  to  the  side  of  those,  who  desire  the  presence 
and  consolations  of  their  friend  and  pastor.  1 
hope  I  myself  pruiit  upon  such  occasions.  1 
endeavour  not  to  lose  the  influence  which  is  inva- 
riably gained  atWr  such  visits.  I  sec  them  on 
every  .opportunity,  and  exhort  them  to  redouble 


240 


WALhCNSIAN   RR8SARCHE8. 


their  submission,  their  obedience,  their  love  to- 
wards Him  wlio  kills,  and  who  makes  alive.     Inde-  1 
ptndcnt  of  the  word  of  God,  touching  the  comjp- 
tion  and  misery  of  man,  my  own  experience  and 
my  observations  con\incc  inc,  that  we  arc  &ai), 
pcn-erse,  and  corrupt  beings,  else  so  many  good 
resolutions  made  on  the  bed  of  sickness  would  not 
so  soon  be  fur<;ottcn.     I  lio])e  many  of  my  flock 
keep  the  vows  which  they  made,  when  they  fear 
lest  their  souls  are  going  down  to  the  grave — -but 
I  know  at  the  same  time  that  they  canntit  b^ 
true  to  their  most  solemn  engagements  without^ 
help  from  above.    May  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  giv^ 
me  and  imne  the  strength  that  we  require. 

6.  "  In  general  those  who  are  ill  signify  a  d( 
to  see  me.    The  prayers  which  I  offer  up  on  sucl^ 
occasions  are  for  the  most  part  extempore,  adapteiS 
to  the  occasion.     If  my  visit  is  expected,  ther^ 
are  many  present  to  join  in  supplications  tu  God 
for  the  invalid.     I    endeavour  to  con\'iiice   tho 
sufferer  of  the  vanity  of  all  earthly  things,  and  the 
insuflicicQcy  of  all  human  succour.     I  direct  fais 
thoughts  to  the  price  that  was  paid  for  his  re- 
demption, and  remind  him  that  there  is  none  otiier 
name  under  heaven  given  among  men  but  that  offlj 
Jesus  Christ,  whereby  we  must  be  saved.      I  have 
seldom  attended  a  dying  man,  without  having 
reason  to  think  that  he  considered  that  to  die  was 
gain'."  4 

>  ScTcral  Vamlois  PaMon  otadc  similaT  obacrratioat  upan 
iliB  awful  tub^t. 


J 


WALDESSUN    KKHEARCHBl. 


2il 


> 


I 


1  had  an  opportunity  of  vritncssing  the  manner 
in  which  these  interesting  ditties  are  conducted. 

Atr.  Bert  hnd  mode  an  appointment  to  pray 
with  a  venerable  parishioner,  whom  the  weight  of 
yean  was  bringing  gently  down  to  the  grave,  on 
this  first  Sunday  after  my  arrivaL  At  his  invita- 
tioD  I  accompanied  him.  I  felt  that  it  was  good 
for  mc  to  be  tltere.  The  dying  man  was  supported 
in  his  bed  by  some  attentive  children  or  grand- 
children, and  seemed  more  like  one  who  was  to 
give,  than  to  receive  exhortation  and  comfort. 
After  a  word  or  two  from  his  pastor,  he  took  up 
his  parable,  and  continued  it  with  a  strength  of 
voice  and  an  earnestness  of  manner,  which  evinced 
a  fbretast4>  of  heaven.  There  was  neither  rapture 
nor  presumption  in  any  thing  tliat  fell  from  his 
mouth ;  but  an  expression  of  humble  coofideace 
in  his  Redeemer's  love,  and  of  dependence  on  the 
promises  of  God,  which  denoted  him  to  be  in  full 
powessioD  of  that  peace,  which  passcth  undcr- 
■tanding.  Mr.  Bert  .■;poke  of  me  to  the  old  man 
a*  an  English  clergyman  ;  he  desired  my  prayers. 
and  promised  to  remember  me  in  his.  "  I  am 
dghtj'-Uiree  years  of  age,"'  said  he,  "  and  my 
testimony  of  God's  graciousness  and  mercy  is  moro 
than  that  of  Oa^id.  I  have  never  been  forsaken 
nen  in  my  unrighteousness :  God  is  with  me  in 
my  old  age,  though  1  have  too  often  gone  astray 
from  him,  both  in  youth  and  age." 

The  silent  respect  with  which  the  pastor  of  La 


348 


WAI.DENSIAK    RBSBARCHfiB. 


Torre  listened  to  this  old  man,  and  the  very  tact 
of  his  saying  so  little,  and  being  a  listener,  until  i 
he  raised  his  voice  in  tbanksj^ving,  for  the  cooso-j 
lacioD  that  was  bestowed  from  above  upon  the! 
expiring  saint,  sjioke  more  for  his  own  piety  tliaa , 
the  most  copious  and  fervent  address^  which  he] 
could  liave  delivered. 

From  Christmas  to  ^\Tiit3unday,  the  pastors 
deliver  a  sermon  on  TImrsdays,  and  the  solemn 
preparation  for  the  reception  of  communicaols  at  j 
the  Lord's  table,  four  times  during  the  year,  occu-  fl 
pying  nearly  the  whole  of  eight  weeks ;  the  castom 
of  going  to  every  hamlet  once  at  least  in  the 
course  of  the  year,  and  assembhng  all  the  inha- 
bitants for  the  purpose  of  i^uestioning  them  as  to 
their  spiritual  condition  and  want^ ;  and  tlic  weekly 
catechising  both  in  the  church  and  at  the  presby* 
tery,  during  appointed  seasons,  are  services  which 
not  only  bring  the  cleT^ry  into  regular  commuiii- 
catiun  with  their  flocks,  but  are  of  a  nature  to 
remove  the  opinions,  which  might  otlierwise  be 
formed,  of  the  lightness  of  their  pubUc  and 
scribed  duties. 

One  of  the  younger  pastors  has  undertaken 
to  open  his  chiurh  for  a  third  Sunday  service, 
at  which  he  reads  the  prayers  and  Scriptmv 
himself,  and  gives  a  familiar  explanation  of  some 
scriptural  passage.  I  heartily  wish  tliis  good 
example  may  be  followed  generally,  it  would  be 
more  likely  than  any  thing  else   to  render  the 


m 


WXLlllt?CSI*N    RESKARCTIES. 


2*» 


Lord's  day  what  it  ought  to  be, — a.  day  not  only 
of  rest,  but  of  holy  rest  aud  solemn  convocation 
before  the  Lord, — and  to  bind  the  Vaudois  to  a 
more  sacred  regard  of  the  Sabbath  than  is  at  pre- 
sent observed.  I  am  persuatlcd  that  nobody,  who 
has  been  in  the  valleys,  can  accuse  our  Protestant 
brethren  there  of  profaning  Sunday,  as  it  is  pro- 
faned among  ourselves,  by  entertainments,  which 
employ  our  ser\-ant.<s  from  morning  till  night,  and 
by  those  Hcentious  scenes  which  disgrace  the  streets 
of  almust  everj- populous  town  in  Kngland. 

The  VaudoLs  do  not  make  regulations  to  guard 
the  sanctity  of  the  day,  as  we  do,  and  profess  to 
hallow  it,  while  they  vnlually  desecrate  it ;  of  this 
they  are  not  guilty.     But  tJiey  certainly  indidge 
Ibemselves  in  amusements,  which  are  inconsistent 
wtth  the  si>int  of  an  institution  mercifully  intended 
to  bring  as  into  closer  communion  with  God.   Their 
favourite  game  of  bowls  is  not  suspended.     The 
ttrata,  or  firing  at  marks,  is  pursue<l  with  eager- 
ness, when  they  can  meet  the  expense  of  it :  and 
AtT  the  hours  of  public  worship,  the  remainder 
of  the  day  is  spent  mure  like  a  festival  than  a 
Solemnity.   This  the  friends  of  the  Vaudois  would 
fi^adiy  see  corrected.     There  is  much  to  be  said 
in  extenuation   of  their  lax   olwervance   of  the 
Lord's  day  ;  hut  still  nobody  can  justify  it,  who 
lias  lerious  opinions  of  the  necessity  of  devoting 
ourselves  one  day  in  seven  to  seeking  God  with 
«II  oar  hetots  and  minds.     The  practice  of  all 

sS 


WALDESSUN   RESF.AKCIIES. 


iiTOUiid  thciii  hiuWen  ur^d  in  excuse— and  the    -m 
duty  of  glorifying  God  by  cheerfulness  and  mirth,  _^ 
so  long  as  no  intemperance  or  revelry  disturbs  thc-^H 
serenity  of  their  deportment.     But  the  best  aiyu    " 
ment  in  their  favour  is  ihe  example  of  many  ofthc- 
early  Christians,  who  may  perhaps  have  handedV 
down  to  them  a  practice,  which  partook  of  ther 
leaven  of  Paganism,  and  made  the  line  too  faint 
between  holiday  and  holy-tlay. 

"  From  incidental  notices  scattered  over  Ter- 
tullian's  works,  we  collect,"  says  the  Bishop  of 
Lincoln,  "  that  Sunday,  or  the  Lord's  day  was 
regarded  by  the  primitive  Christians  as  a  day  of 
rejoicing."  In  our  own  country,  the  day  of  public 
worship  was  observed  with  so  Uttle  strictness  in 
the  time  of  the  Reformers,  that  an  act  was  passed 
in  the  reign  of  lidward  VI.,  not  to  suppress,  but 
to  regulate  Sunday  sports.  Subsctiuent  acts, 
which  absolutely  have  the  effect  of  legalizing  some 
games  and  recreations,  were  enrolled  under  the 
government  of  James  L  and  Charles  I.  That 
spiritual  improvement,  and  field,  or  in-door  sports 
arc  consistent  one  with  the  other,  is  no  easy 
matter  to  prove,  and  it  must  remain  equally  hard 
to  reconcile  the  conscience  to  that  sort  of  liberty, 
which  is  in  direct  violation  of  the  precept,  and  the 
object  for  which  one  day  in  seven  was  set  apart 
for  sacred  purposes,  6rat  by  the  Jewish,  and  after- 
wards by  the  Christian  Church. 


If  we  are  to  sanctify  the  day  in  earnest,  it  can.^:;| 


4 

I 


WAtDEXSIAN   RESEARcneS. 


its 


ooly  be  done  by  honouring  the  Lord  the  whole  day, 
•?  by  not  doing  thine  own  ways,  nor  finding  thine 
own  pleasures,  nor  speaking  thine  own  words '." 

The  evening  of  my  lirst  Sabbuth  in  the  valleys 
was  closed  as  it  should  be.  Mr.  Bert  assembled 
his  household  to  family  prayer ;  a  cliapter  of  the 
Testament  was  read,  a  hymn  was  sung,  and  the 
Divine  blessing  and  protcetion  were  implored. 
Our  host  and  his  family,  the  female  servant  as 
well  as  liis  children,  joined  in  the  Scripture  lesson, 

'  "  Tbe  uatuir  or  tfaese  aoleain  duties  uxki%  suf^ttntly  lo 
iadiGSle  th«  Buatm  in  wliicli  we  ought  to  Npend  tUo  iaigi:  pot- 
iftm  of  lliBtilay,  which  cutinol  be  dnwlcd,  m,  at  IcmI,  which 
Dncr  is  ilcTDlcil  to  tbe  |>uUic  ttnrioe  of  the  fanctdsry.  How 
oiUf  I*  ■hocked  sbould  w(>  have  been  by  the  iocotuiRlcot  tondiict 
bf  out  Lord's  dtKipIes,  had  we  Touod  ili«ia  tuiJiiii|{  Tonb  from 
Itanr  nttmncni,  frotn  ibat  spot  hallowed  bj  their  Savioat'B 
|ma*Bc«,  to  miii^le  id  the  Kiund  uf  wotldly  buitncM,  oi  in  *cci>«s 
mi  ftnotily  and  amiiwincfit,  or  in  thr  hn<inl«  o(  nnhallowi>d  and 
KviAlj  plmnue.  Ara  ihMn  theit  any  among  oa,  who,  after  per- 
ttMouttf  the  pultltc  servict*  of  the  dty,  ihiak  ibemMlvea  mititled 
Cu  siMnd  the  fcmainder  of  it  cntirdy  in  siM^h  ■  manner  as  may 
litat  auil  their  inlrrt«M,  ihvir  oonT^niimcv,  tlicir  pleaiurv,  and 
feci  ihat  thvy  arc  tbu«  flagrjintly  traiMgr««ii^  the  solemn 
inuDd  of  Ilim,  who  balh  wholly  Mnctificd  it  to  hinisdfF 
Bat  bow,  it  i*  often  «aid,  how  ia  the  whole  length  of  the  day  to 
to  niiMURied  in  rehKiOHs  eierciMa  1  It  Jt  lo  be  spent  in  the  ab- 
•tnetkNl  ffoai  all  anjoyment,  rrom  all  recretttioa,  from  all  pl«n- 
SMtablt  sauenicni  i  Thi*  ijiiouon  i*  generally  put  by  tiioae 
who  feel  the  Sabbatlt  lo  be  an  intolerable  buiden,  who  knAw 
■Dthing  of  rcli^Kin  but  its  empty  formt,  who  gi(i>  nothing  of 
icQpoM  serrice  lo  God,  but  what  tli«y  dare  out  witlihotd." — 
Irvim't  Sirwmu,  Prwivked  im  the  Ttrnpit  Vhnrck,  L^dm. 


246  WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHES. 

verse  by  verse,  and  1  thought  I  never  heard  ^ 
French  sound  so  well,  as  when  it  was  recited  by  — 
the  servant  with  the  Italian  pronunciation^  and  ^ 
even  with  a  slight  patois  termination  of  final  —M 
Towels. 

For  example,  the  34th  verse  of  John  iii.  ws 
read  as  if  annonce  was  a  word  of  three,  and  don 
of  two,  syllables. 

"  Car  celui  que  Dieu  a  envoye  annonce 
paroles  de   Dieu:  car  Dieu  ne  lui  donne  poini 
I'E^rit  par  mesure." 

The  patois  version  of  the  same  verse  runs  thus 

"  Perque  quel  que  Diou  ha  mand^  annoncia 
parole  de  Diou,  perque  Diou  I'i  donna  p&  le  Spri — "t 
per  mesure." 

In  reading  the  metrical  lines  of  the  Psalms  <»-^ 
David,  the  Vaudois  almost  always   sounded  th«? 
final  mutes,  especially  if  it  helped  the  rhythm  ;  as 
Chaucer  meant  the  word  yarde  to  be  pronounced 
in   the  second   of  those  beautifiilly   desciiptiTe 
lines — 

"  Her  yellow  hair  wits  braided  ia  a  tresB 
Behind  her  buck,  a  yardil'  lunjf  I  guess." 


Patlfar-Cktipetaiu  le  the  Ptolettanl  AmhaMtadort 
Silk-worwu — TinUa~—Sim  Giotatati.  AMgrogiia. 

to  July  4.  My  brother  arrived  at  La  Torre, 
domestic  party  was  further  increased  by  the 
n  of  iM.  and  Madame  Bonjour,  the  son-in- 
daughter  of  M.Bert.  M.  Bonjour  occupies 
■rtant  station  of  chaplain  to  the  three  Pro- 
Ambassadors  at  the  Court  of  Turin,  the 
,  the  Pnissian,  and  the  Dutch,  and  no  man 
re  qualified  to  fill  it.  But  for  tliis  appoint- 
the  Protestants  resident  in  Turin  would  not 
Jie  benefit  of  public  sersicc.  It  is  prohibited  to 
•ate  the  rites  of  the  reformed  Churclies  except 
!  privileged  house  of  a  foreign  minister;  and 
irec  Ambassadors  not  only  give  a  gtii>end  to 
lapUin  of  1000  francs  each,  but  pennit  the 
e  to  be  performed  in  the  French  language, 
ccording  to  the  forms  usually  adopted  in  the 
hes  of  the  valleys,  and  provide  a  room  large 
;b  for  the  uccomraodation  of  a  numerous 
HpUion.  I  should  pronounce  the  movement, 
Hed  to  this  appointment,  to  be  one  of  the 


WAtnESSlAS   RKSBARTHES. 


most    important    in    rvgard  to  the    Protestan^z. 
cause,  which  has  taken  place  iii  Italy  for  manj^ 
ages.     It  involves  concessions  and  recognitions, 
the  ext«nt  of  which  was  not  perhaps  coutemplatal 
when  tliey  were  first  made. 

I'he  ministers  of  the  Protestant  powers  above 
mentioned,  having  re:jolvcd  to  nominate  a  cleigy- 
man,  who  shoidd  be  the  common  chaplain  of  the 
three  legations,  fixed  upon  M.  Bonjour,  who,  pre- 
viously to  his  new  charge,  was  the  master  of  the 
Latin  school  at  La  Torre,  and  in  the  line  to  sue* 
ceed  to  one  of  the  first  Vaudois  parishes  that 
might  become  vacant.     It  was  of  consequence^ 
therefore,  to  him,  that  his  appointment  to  the 
chaplaincy  at  Turin  should  not  throw  him  out  o^ 
the  order  of  saccession,  or  vitiate  his  claim  to  fill" 
up  a  vacancy  in  the  Waldcnsian  Church.    There- 
fore, when  the  Count  Waldboui^  Truckses,  the 
Prussian    minister,  wrote  to  the   officers  of  the 
Table,  27th  June,  1827,  to  request  that  body  to 
sanction  the  choice  of  himstif  and  colleagues  in 
the  election  of  M.  Bonjour,  they  signified  their 
provisional  approltation,  and  guaranteed  the  rights 
of  that  clergjinan,  until  the  meeting  of  the  next 
Waldensian  synod.     When  the  synod  assembled 
in  the  following  year,  September  1828,  the  matter 
was  brought  formally  before  the  assembly,  ani^ 
became  the  subject  of  the  18th  article.  " 

"  It  having  been  proposed  to  this  assembly  tc=3 
take  into  consideration  the  application,  made  b^— 


J 


WALDKKSIAX    RtiSEARCHES. 


2*9 


the  ministers  plenipotentiary  of  the  Protestant 
powers  at  the  court  of  Turin,  to  the  Table  in 
June  1827,  that  the  ministry  of  M.  Honjour  should 
be  exercised  in  their  chapel,  the  synod  resolves 
that  the  decision  made  in  regard  to  this  applica- 
tion by  the  Table,  on  the  6th  of  July,  1827.  was 
just  and  equitable.  The  synod  sanctions  it,  and 
recognises  the  ministry  exercised  by  M.  Bonjour 
at  Turin,  as  much  as  if  it  were  exercised  in  the 
valleys,  and  guarantees  to  liim  the  full  [lossession 

Pof  his  rights  in  relation  to  the  other  pastors,  to 
'  lits  junioni,  and  to  the  Vaudois  Church :  at  the 
same  time  it  resolve!;,  that  as  M.  Bonjour  enjoys 
the  advantages,  he  must  also  participate  in  the 
chaises  imposed  upon  the  body  of  pastors." 
After  this  resolution  of  synod,  M.  Bonjour 
adopted  the  style  of  Pasteur-Chapelaine,  and 
Under  this  character  he  is  notr  addressed.  But 
the  importance  of  the  proceedings  depends  upon 
the  joint  recognition  of  the  Protestant  ambassa- 
dors, the  Waldensian  Church,  and  the  Sardinian 
poveniment.  No  synod  can  be  convoked  without 
the  king's  permisHion,  nor  lic-ld  but  in  the  presence 
of  the  intendant  of  the  province,  who  represents 
the  sovereign,  and  whose  duty  is  to  take  care  that 
nothing  illegal  is  done.  When  the  acts  of  the 
svnod  ha%'e  passed,  without  any  veto  on  the  part 
^H  of  the  intendant,  their  validity  and  legality  is 
^B  tacitly  acknowledged  by  the  government.  This 
f      tnnsaction.  therefore,  must  be  considered  as  a 


250 


WALDENSIAN    RB8SARPHK9. 


great  step  gained.  The  Protestant  ambassadors 
desirt-  to  have  a  cliaplaiii  to  oHiciate  for  them  at 
Turin ;  tliey  make  application  to  a  Christian  com- 
munity, which  they  rt^ard  as  an  oi:^nised,regulac, 
('liurch.  The  appUcatiuii  is  received  and  grantedj^ 
and  the  transaction  is  enrolled  with  all  the  ne- 
cessary fonnuiaries,  in  which  the  king's  represen- 
tative takes  part  When  the  moderator  addressed 
the  synod,  before  it  was  dissolved,  he  had  reason 
enough  to  congratulate  them  upon  the  matter, 
and  1  am  glad  to  be  able  to  record  his  senti- 
ments. 

"  Such  a  proceeding  is  not  only  an  act  of  con- 
descension on  the  part  of  their  excellencies,  the 
['rotcstant  ambassadors,  but  it  has  the  efft^ct  of 
recognising  the  rights  of  our  Church,  in  relation 
to  M.  lionjour,  and  his  rights  in  relation  to  our 
Church.  We  perceive  in  it  one  Uuk  more  in  the 
tie  which  exists  between  us,  our  benefactors,  and 
our  Church." 

M.  Bonjour's  visit  to  his  lathcr-in-lav  threi 
me  into  confidential  intercourse  with  a  person, 
whose  station  at  Turin,  and  whose  intimate  ac- 
quaintance with  every  thing  connected  with  the 
ministenal  and  scholastic  interests  of  the  commu- 
nity, rendered  him  a  most  valuable  adviser  and 
ally,  and  I  sot>n  detenniued  to  consult  him,  and 
to  respect  his  opinion  upon  every  project  which  1_ 
bad  in  contemplation. 

Kvery  thing  combined  to  make  this  week  one  of 


WALDENSIAN    RESKaKCHKS.  351 

interesting  of  those,  which  we  spent  in 
La  Torre.  It  was  tlie  han-eist-hume  of  the  pro- 
duce of  our  host's  silk-worms,  and  his  friends  and 
neighbours  came  to  felicitate  him  upon  the  occa- 
aon,  and  to  assist  the  family  in  collecting  and 
pr^iaring  the  cocoons,  or  silk  balls,  for  the  pur- 
dtaan*.  The  merry-makiug  upon  such  events  is 
one  of  the  festivities  peculiar  to  the  country,  the 
recollection  of  which  is  sweet  upon  the  memory. 
When  it  was  supposed  that  the  insects  had  per- 
formed  their  work,  the  silk  balls  were  carefully 
taken  from  the  faggots,  or  brush  wood,  to  which 
tbey  hod  been  suspended,  and  bn)ught  down  to 
the  fonn  yard,  where  tlivy  were  picked  and  sorted 
by  a  lively  group  seated  in  a  circle,  whose  occu- 
pation it  was  to  separate  them  from  the  outer  web, 
or  film,  and  to  throw  tlieni  so  cleaned  into  one 
large  basket.  This  was  the  last  process  before 
they  were  ready  for  the  market,  and  then  nothing 
remained  but  to  weigh  and  sell  them. 

The  party,  whose  services  had  been  volunteered 
for  the  purpose,  dined  with  us,  and  the  pastor's 
niodcBt  mansion  runj:  ^vith  the  soimds  of  mirth 
and  good  humour.  'I'be  laws  of  hospitality  re- 
quired tliat  I,  as  a  stranger,  should  have  the  seat 
of  honour,  and  the  seat  of  honour  was  the  host's 
chair  at  the  head  of  the  table,  which  said  as  much 
as  "  you  arc  master  hert-."  The  task  of  helping 
the  guests  to  the  principal  dish  fell  in  consequence 
Id  my  tot,  and  ihi»  soon  made  me  feci  at  home 


253 


WALDRSSUN    RIISEARCIIES. 


vfith  every  one  of  the  party.  J  had  seen  the 
Vaudois  in  their  more  serious  moods,  and  now  1 
vrm  to  be  a  listener  and  a  looker  on  during  their 
honr  of  convivial  unreserve.  The  innocent  joke 
and  the  harmless  jest  went  round,  and  now  and 
then  the  favourite  topic,  the  martial  spirit  of  their 
ancestors,  l>anislied  H^tcr  themes  for  a  moment, 
and  the  men  elevated  their  voices,  and  the  females 
changed  countenance,  while  the  mention  of  a  pass 
or  defile  brought  to  recollection  the  name  of  a 
Jahier  or  a  Janavet  of  other  davs.  There  is  a 
pride  which  the  >'  Men  of  the  Valleys"  feel  in  allud- 
ing to  the  deeds  of  their  forefathers,  which  is 
perfectly  irrepressible  ;  their  brows  contract,  and 
their  indignation  kindles,  and  their  lips  quiver  at 
the  slightest  reference  to  the  cruelties  inflicted  by 
the  scourges  of  their  country  in  the  seventeenth 
century ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  by  an  effort  of 
submission  or  forbearance,  whicli  contrasts  strongly 
with  these  bursts  of  resentment,  they  betray  the 
least  possible  emotion  when  any  allusion  is  made 
to  their  present  wrongs;  and  yet  this  does  not 
proceed  from  apprehension  of  the  consequences 
of  any  imprudent  ebullition,  or  from  want  of 
contidence  either  in  one  another,  or  in  the 
strangers  who  arc  admitted  into  their  company. 
It  happened  to  me,  many  times,  to  have  opjiortu- 
nities  of  remarking  the  extraordinary  frankness 
which  prevails  among  them,  when  they  associate 
together ;  they  have  no  resen'c  upon  subjects  the 


WAI-DKN-StAN    KESBARCnRS.  353 

most  important,  but  express  themselves  to  each 
other  aa  openly,  as  if  it  were  the  last  thing  in  the 
woHil  to  be  betrayed,  or  to  think  it  necessary  to 
have  secrets,  t  received  a  letter  from  one  o(  the 
pastois,  the  contents  of  which  the  writer  certainly 
would  not  have  been  pleased  to  havu  had  expu&cd 
to  any  eye  but  mine — and  yet  he  sent  it  by  a  lad 
unsealed :  as  if  he  could  not  have  suspected  tliat 
any  hand  but  my  own  would  open  it  This  tells 
weU  for  the  whole  community,  and  the  observation 
does  not  arise  out  of  one  or  two  instances,  in  which 
this  mutual  confidence  was  manifested,  but  from 
repeated  proofs  of  it  Hospitality  is  the  virtue 
of  mountain  countries.  Wherever  I  was  in  the 
nlleys,  I  received  visits,  and  the  visitors  coming 
from  some  distance,  were  invariably  invited  to 
stay  and  take  their  repast,  whether  sufficient  pro- 
vision were  made  or  not  for  the  additional  mouths ; 
and  the  same  unreserve,  of  wliich  I  have  been 
^>eaking.  characterised  every  circle. 

A  wotd  now  upon  the  management  of  the  silk- 
worms. Raw  silk  is  not  only  the  Ktaple  commo- 
dity of  l*iemont,  but  some  of  the  best  comes  from 
the  valleys  of  Luserna  and  Pcrosa,  and  it  is  one  of 
the  greatest  resources  which  the  Vatidois  powewk 
Lalandc,  who  in  his  entertaining  volumes  entitled  / 
*•  Voyage  en  Italic,"  occupied  more  than  two ' 
Inndnd  pages  with  a  description  of  Picmont, 
pit  suffered  the  scene  of  Waldunsian  story  to 
■■capo  his  personal  observation.     But,  as  if  by  an 


2A4 


WALt>EN6MK    RESEAHCHES. 


after-thought,  he  lent  one  little  coraer  to  the 
valley  ol'  Liisema,  and  cited  that  which  M.  Ber- 
nouilU  had  written  u[>on  it ;  and  it  would  seem. 
that  the  three  points  which  fastened  upon  M. 
Bemonilli's  memorj-  were,  the  state  of  the  roads ; 
the  kidnapping  institution  at  Fincrolo,  for  the 
instruction  of  Vaudois  children  in  the  Roman 
Catholic  religion ;  and  the  amount  of  silk  prodtKed 
in  the  valley.  "  \''cry  near  I-uscma,"  said  he, 
"  are  two  villages,  the  one  called  St.  Jean,  the 
other  La  Tour.  In  the  last  i  saw  one  of  the  most 
condderable  filatures  in  Italy ;  the  quantity  of 
cocoons,  as  they  informed  me,  amounted  to  2000 
^roubs.  or  SO.OOOlbs.  weight,  and  the  filature  of 
tEese  cocoons  lasts  till  the  end  of  September.  I 
remarked  that  they  turned  the  wheel  with  the 
;  foot,  and  not  with  the  hand,  as  I  have  seen  in 
I  other  filatures,  by  means  of  a  handle  which  they 
.  turn  alternately,  first  with  one  hand  and  then  with 
the  other.  The  advantage  which  they  have  here 
in  turning  witli  the  foot,  and  not  with  the  hand, 
couMsts  not  only  in  their  moving  the  reel  more 
rapidly,  but  in  directing  the  movement  which  acts 
upon  the  cocoon,  and  of  stopping  it  when  neces- 
sary." 

The  filature  at  La  Torre  is  no  longer  to  be 
found ;  and,  among  other  deprivations,  thcVaudots 
are  the  poorer  by  the  loss  of  that  manufactoiy, 
which  employed  hands  enougli  to  reel  50,000lbs. 
weigtit  of  silk  in  the  year.     This  great  work  is 


I 

4 


WALDBNMAN   SCSEABCHES.  255 

DOW  amdocted  mt  nnen^  There  is  a  taaO. 
coDGem  of  the  kind  Jtt  San  Geimano  in  Val  Pmxa, 
but  it  caoDot  compete  with  that  mentioDed  by  iL 
fiemouilU,  although  the  same  distjict  still  sopjdies 
the  milk  Kith  a  very  great  quaotitr  o(  the  raw 
materiaL 

The  eggs  of  the  stlk-wonn,  the  bcNidiyx,  or 
phalena  mori,  produce  their  larre  about  the  end  of 
April  or  the  begiDoing  of  May.    By  good  manage- 
ment it  is  possible  to  accelerate  the  derelc^ineDt 
of  the  worm,  by  placing  the  e^^  in  a  stoTe-room, 
the  temperature  of  which  should  be  raised  gra- 
iltially  in  the  course  of  twelve  days  from  6i'  to  82*. 
This,  how«-er,  is  more  a  matter  of  experiment 
than  of  common  practice.     The  egg  is  about  the 
size  of  a  small  pin's  bead,  and  when  the  animal 
first  issues  from  the  shell,  it  measures  about  onc- 
Ibrtieth  of  its  full  grown  length,  and  weighs  only 
the  hundredth  part  of  a  grain.      It  undergoes 
Gve  changes  or  moultings,  and  in  a  month  it  has 
attained  its  full  size,  and  the  rapid  increase  of 
^>ue-fifth  of  an  ounce,  or  ninety-five  times  its  own 
^i^-eight,  from  the  time  it  came  firom  the  egg. 

A  further  calculation  has  established  the  remark- 
able fact,  that  the  silk-worm  is  so  roracioas,  as  to 
v^onsume  in  thirty  days  more  than  an  ounce  of 
leaves,  or  five  times  it«  own  weight,  when  it  ix  at 
its  greatest  size.  This  voraciousnt-sN  not  only 
slenders  the  silk-wonn  an  expensive  and  difficult 
^animal  to  rear,  unless  the  supply  of  food  is  ample. 


256 


WAIDSNSIAN    RESEAKCIIKS. 


but  exposes  it  to  iliscases  which  often  prove  fatal : 
hence  in  years  when  the  leaves  of  llic  mulbcrrj"- 
tree  are  scatity  or  of  a  bad  quality,  the  peasants 
lose  their  stock,  or  secure  it  at  a  heavy  cont,  uod 
are  disappointed  of  one  of  their  principal  hopes. 
This  was  the  case  in  many  instances  within  our 
obser^-ation  in  1829.  The  poor  woman,  whom  I 
before  mentioned,  raised  as  much  silk  (fifty  pounds) 
as  sold  for  sixty  francs ;  but  her  mulberry-leaves 
cost  her  nearly  as  much.  It  requires  twtilvo 
pounds  weight  of  leaves  to  feed  the  number  of 
worms  necessary  to  produce  one  pound  weight  of 
silk  cocoons. 
[T/  The  temperature,  which  the  silk-worms  demand, 
I  is  another  provision  which  the  ho\'el  of  a  \'audoi9 
peasant  cannot  always  command.  In  fact,  such 
nice  attention  and  unremitting  care  are  needful  to 
reap  tlic  harvest,  when  the  worms  are  perfonning 
their  last  operations,  that  they  keep  watch  night 
and  day  to  prevent  any  mishap,  and  to  secure  the 
cocoon  at  the  precise  time  when  it  is  completely 
formed.  When  the  insect  is  full  grown,  and  has 
fed  himself  into  working  order,  he  begins  that 
'  process  which  prepares  him  for  a  new  state  of 
existence,  and  which  supplies  man  with  the  richest 
and  softest  material  for  dress  or  ornament  "  As- 
suredly," as  Reaumur  says,  "  he  must  have  been 
taught  to  perfonn  his  task  by  some  great  Master." 
He  first  encloses  himself  in  a  loose  web  of  the 
slightest  tissue ;  this  occupies  one  day.     On  the 


WALDENStAN    RESEABCHES. 


iin 


•7^ 

When  tlic  aiiinml  is 


I 

I 


second  day  he  draws  a  more  rugular  and  a  closer 
line  of  circumvallation.  On  the  third  day  he 
finishes  the  outworks  of  his  ball,  and  conceals 
himself  within  the  veil  of  silk.  The  cocoon  is  then 
complete  to  the  eye  of  the  observer,  but  the  arti- 
ficer  in  the  interior  is  still  busy,  and  he  goes  on 
toiling  for  seven  or  eight  days  more. 

Then  ts  the  critical  time. 

supposed  to  have  finished,  and  to  be  in  a  state  of 

torpor,  the  silk  balls  should  be  taken  down  from 

the  branches  on  the  frame  work,  to  which  they  are 

Suspended,  and  exposed  to  a  degree  of  heat  which 

«nll  kill  the  incarcerated  workman  ;  utlierwtsc,  he 

■%TiU  recover  his  energies  after  a  certain  interval, 

mad  damage  the  silk  by  working  a  hole  out  of 

fcia  prison-house,  to  asMime  his  new  but  short- 

%ved  character  of  a  moth,  to  breed  and  die.     The 

finest  nod  strongest  cocoons  are  kept  to  perpetuate 

%he  stock.    The  rest  are  prepared  for  sale  by 

'vrleoring  away  the  outer  web  or  film,  as  I  before 

viescnbed,  and  in  this  form,  and  about  the  size  of 

m.   pigeon's  egg.  they  are  ready  for  the  market 

"Very    few  growers   rciA  off  thetr  own    cocoons ; 

*Jiis  operation  forms  a  separate  concern.    The 

cocoons  fetch  about  one  franc  and  a  quarter  per  lb. 

more  or  less,  acconling  to  their  quality. 

Next  for  the  filature,  or  mode  of  winding  the 
«Qk  into  threads  fit  for  use,  from  the  silk-worm  balls. 
This  is  done  by  throwing  the  cocoons  into  water 
iwftriy  boiling  hot,  and  keeping  them  in  constant 


368 


W.\LDCKSIAN    RBSBARtllES. 


4 


I 


motion  :  the  ends  arc  tlicn  detached  from  the  balls 
by  means  of  wisps  of  birch  or  rice  straw,  and  are 
gradually  wotind  off  by  machinery  upon  a  reel, 
which  nnitinp  the  fibres  of  four  or  five  balls  into 
one  thread,  form  a  skein  of  sufficient  strength  and 
thickness.  The  single  threads,  as  they  are  drawn 
out  from  the  cocoons,  are  by  far  too  fine  and  deli- 
cate for  use,  and  the  akill  of  the  rceler  depends 
upon  the  nicety,  with  which  he  joins  the  fibre  of 
one  cocoon  to  that  of  another,  before  it  is  ex- 
hausted, for  those  near  the  end  of  the  ball  have 
not  more  than  a  quarter  of  their  fiill  thickness. 
|~— -  The  art  of  combining  the  fibres  of  tlie  cocomts, 
and  of  twisting  a  thread  of  sufficient  substance, 
was  looked  upon  as  a  mystery  of  the  most  pro- 
foimd  nature,  and  great  precautions  were  taken 
for  many  years  to  confine  it  within  tlie  walls  of 
the  Fiemontese  manufactories.  The  wretched 
policy  of  the  Sardinian  government,  and  the  pei^ 
severance  of  an  English  merchant,  led  to  the  pro- 
mulgation of  the  secret.  About  a  hundred  years  ^ 
ago,  when  persecution  drove  many  of  the  I*rotcst-  — ^ 
ant  inhabitants  of  the  valleys  of  Perosa  and-fi 
Pragela  to  seek  refuge  in  foreign  countries,  some^^ 
of  them  fled  to  England.  The  account,  which  on^^ 
of  these  emigrants  gave  to  Mr.  John  Lorobe,  ot'-^ 
the  wonderful  performances  of  the  machinery  usec:^ 
in  Piemont,  induced  that  enterprising  specolato"— "T 
to  take  a  journey  across  the  Alps,  and  to  rirrtmiiii^  r 
the  reels  with  his  own  eyes.     This  was  done  at  ik.  -w 


% 


mOlBBRIAN    RRSBARCnES. 


inconsiderable  personal  risk,  for  he  not  only  ob- 
tained access  to  the  forbidden  objects,  but  he 
mado  such  drawings  of  them,  us  enabled  bim  to 
giveorders  for  the  construction  of  similar  machines, 
on  his  return  to  Kngland.     The  model,  which  is 
itill  shewn  in  tJie  Tower  of  London,  and  the  silk 
mills  which  were  in  process  of  time  erected  at 
Deri>y,  and  in  other  parts  of  England,  were  the 
fruits  of  Mr.  Lombe's  adventurous  spirit,  and  ori- 
ginated in  a  communication  made  by  a  Vaudnis 
cafferer  for  the  trutli's  sake.  The  reader  will  pardon 
this  long  history  of  the  silk-worm  and  its  produc- 
tion, for  the  sake  of  the  concluding  anecdote ;  but 
tihcre  needs  no  apology  for  adding  Vincent  Bournes' 
beautiful  lines  on  the  bombyx,  by  way  of  helping 
"the  memon,'  of  those,  who  would  like  to  remember 
%he  principal  passages  in  the  life  of  that  cx'traor- 
«iiiiary  insect,  whose  appetite  requires  60,000  times 
%tB  primitive  weight  in  vegetable  substance,  during 
its  brief  existence  of  one  month ;  and  which  takes 
Yen  days  only  to  weave  a  thread,  which,  if  drawn 
«ut  in  length,  would  reach  the  extent  of  six  English  I 
voiles. 


BOHBYX. 

Km  «b  Apnli*  boaibjrx  rxcluditur  ovo. 

R«ptilii  tiipM  corporc  vermiculut. 
FnmditMi  hinc  mori,  vol*os  dum  fiat>diiUu&, 

Gnatnter  inctunbcM.  dani  utirlur.  nliL 
Ci  mil  I  lido  mI  justnm  cum  }»m  malnniil  ■rritm, 

bn|Ml  Utifici  •Uminc  tc>,tot  opitt : 

s2 


WD 


UAL-nRMSIAN    RBSRARCHES. 


Filaque  condenuns  6lif,  orbcm  tmplicat  oibi. 

Et  MoBim  in  gyris,  condilut  ipM  Ulet. 
ItiqtM  cadi  tereieiB  fonoBin  ae  coUigit,  undo 

Egrediens  peuau  papilionb  habet : 
Fitqne  parent  landeoi,  foeUimqae  repoah  in  oris  ; 

Hoc  ikmtini  rxtrnmo  monerc  faDctua,  obit. 
Quotquot  in  bac  nostra  spirant  animalia  teira, 

NuUi  eat  vel  btetiar  tiu,  vel  ntilior. 

The  annual  fair  of  La  Torre  was  held  this 
on  Wednesday,  July  1st;  and  this  gave  me  the 
advantage   of  observing  the   Vaudois    cltaracter 
under  a  new  aspect.     In  their  churches,  in  their 
schools,  in  their  fields,  tn  their  lainiiies,  in  their 
hours  of  convivial  gladsomencss,  I  might  expect 
to  find  them  in  character  with  themselves ;  and  the 
remarks  whicli  the  preceding  pages  contain,  are 
thrown  together  as  the  result  of  my  two  months' 
obciervation,  and  not  as  the  hasty  expression  of  my 
first  week's  obsen-ation  only.     I  confess  it  was  with 
some  degree  of  apprehension,  lest  any  thing  dis- 
graceful should  occur  upon  an  occasion  so  trying  t' 
morals,  that  1  determined  to  mingle  in  tlic  tlu-on^^ 
which  now  crowded  the  usually  quiet  street  of  L^> 
Torre.     I  could  not  forget  our  KnglLsh  fairs,  ov 
their  demoralizing  effects.    Nothing  could  be  more 
picturesque  than  the  whole  scene.     As  I  walked 
from  the  hamlet  of  San  Margarita  to  the  miun 
village,  not  only  was  the  road  filled  with  nio>-in^ 
objects,  with  buyers  and  sellers  in  their  %'anom 
costumes,  and  arrayeil  in  their  best  apparel,  but 


A 


wjaj}K.sstA\  tifxBAMansk 


the  sides  of  tlie  acclivities  on  each  side,  and  the 
mountain  paths  also  were  alive  with  the  gathering 
together  of  the  people,  approaching  in  merry 
groups,  or  individually,  towards  the  same  spot. 
Peasant.H  from  the  plains  of  I'iemont,  and  strangers 
from  the  French  frontier  swelled  the  crowd ;  and 
the  street  was  so  densely  occupied,  that  it  was  no 
easy  matter  to  push  on  to  the  wider  part  of  the 
village  dignified  hy  the  name  of  Piazza,  where  the 
wares  and  merchandise  were  exposed  to  sale. 
Beyond  this,  towards  the  bridge  thro^vn  over  the 
Angrogna  torrent,  which  tumhhrs  into  the  IMice, 
and  as  far  as  the  road  that  divides  off  to  San 
Giovanni  and  Lusenia,  the  whole  space  on  each 
side  was  allotted  to  those  who  had  brought  their 
mnles,  asses,  sheep,  goats,  and  cows  to  market. 
These  animals  and  some  of  their  wild  looking 
owners,  the  mountain  stream,  and  grove  of  ches- 
mits  on  its  hanks,  its  long  wooden  bridge,  the 
water>mill,  theCalholic  church  and  Maison  Curiale, 
when  seen  from  the  spot  from  which  the  annexed 
sketch  of  the  entrance  into  Im  Torre  wa.s  taken, 
[ifesented  a  striking  foreground  to  the  fine  distant 
prcMpcct,  breaking  in  over  the  village,  and  closed 
by  Costelluzzo  to  the  lefl,  and  by  the  rocky  heights 
of  Tagliarctta  and  Vaudelin  in  the  centre  and  to 
wsrds  the  right.  Few  persons  can  enter  La  Torro 
without  feeling  that  as  soon  as  they  have  crossed 
its  bridge,  tliey  are  in  a  new  country — that  which 
tbcy  have  Ici't  behind  them,  even  San  Giovanni, 


262 


VAT.T)BNS1A!(    RBSBARaiBS. 


belongs  to  the  great  plain  of  l^emont,  but  now 
they  arc  in  the  valleys :  mouutains  enclose  them 
on  each  side,  and  they  are  more  and  more  waHed 
in  by  rock  and  cHfT,  the  further  they  advance. 
The  roaring  Pelice  is  seldom  lost  to  the  eye  or  «ar; 
its  noisy  tributary  streams  are  crossed  at  short 
intcr\'als.    There  is  no  longer  the  undulating  latul- 
scape,  with  green  or  variegated  slopes,  and  exten- 
sive levels  of  lowland,  where  abundant  com  and 
grass  attest  the  bounty  of  nature ;  but  there  is  the 
abrupt  and  broken  ground,  there  is  rock  coptendiDg 
iwith  soil,  and  the  elements  with  man.    The  eaith 
still  pours  forth  her  riches  in  places,  but  it  is  only 
in  places :  the  field,  or  ridge  waving  with  grain,  is 
immediately  contiguous  to  a  mass  of  crags  torn 
.  from  the  crest  that  breaks  the  clouds,  or  to  a  bed 
of  sand  or  stones  brought  down  with  the  waters. 
These  features  increase  and  become  more  marked 
as  you  ascend  this  or  any  Alpine  iikUey  ;  patches 

iof  cultivation  become  thinner  ;  the  vine,  the 
nut,  and  the  chcsniit  give  way  to  the  pine — ihiii  ■  i 
too  at  last  disappears,  and  a  wilderness  of  cliff^'^F, 
assuming  a  thousand  formidable  or  grotesqu^^MC 
forms,  proclaims  that  such  wild  places  are  only  foK'^H 
the  occasional  retreat,  and  not  for  the  habitatioi^r4 
of  man.  The  pathways  that  lead  to  these  rock^  ^ 
summits  narrow  as  they  ascend  ;  rugged  and  moi 
Tuggjed  is  ever}'  access :  at  last  the  traces  of  foo 
steps  disappear:  the  adventurer  makes  his  wa^aay 
over  a  debris  tliat  has  {alien  from  above,  and  teh^Eir 


WALDBSSIAN    KESIUJICHE*.  d63 

that  more  maj  yet  &11  and  crush  him ;  the  preci- 
pice appears  to  yawn  for  hhn ;  but  the  very  danger 
IB  inviting,  and  he  urg:es  on  his  onward  pace,  not 
only  to  see  more  of  these  stem  dominions  of  the 
eagle  and  the  vulture,  but  because  he  has  a  plea- 
sure in  sounding  his  own  courage,  in  tiding  the 
strength  of  bis  nerves,  and  proving  to  himself  and 
to  others,  that  he  is  not  to  be  outdone. 

By  some  ofthe  least  arduous  of  these  paths,  many 
of  the  people,  and  some  ofthe  cattle  had  come  to  the 
lair  of  La  Torre,  anxious  to  obtain  the  amount  of 
their  rents  or  taxes,  or  of  some  money  demand, 
by  selling  a  mule,  a  cow,  or  a  few  sheep  or  goats. 
1  know  that  some  of  these  traffickers  came  fifty 
miles  at  the  least,  and  crossed  the  main  chain  of 
the  Alpine  barrier  between  France  and  Italy,  to 
carry  back  thirty  or  forty  francs  into  Provence  or 
Dauphine,  and  that  this  journey  is  risked  every 
year  for  the  same  purpose. 

In  the  booths  I  recc^ised  the  cottons  of 
Manchester,  and  the  hardware  of  Birmingham, 
and  was  made  to  smile  by  the  earnestness  with 
which  I  was  assured  that  some  paltry-  kni\-es  and 
Bcissars,  of  the  ver^-  worst  and  hastie<>t  manufac- 
ture, the  refuse  of  our  own  markets,  were  "  real 
English."  But  the  hardware  of  the  cotitinciit  is, 
generally  speaking,  so  very  inft-rior  to  our  own. 
that  it  is  no  wonder  to  hear  a  bLide  {iufffd  oH*, 
which,  bad  as  we  might  consider  it,  riitcs  high  in 
value  above  the   common   articles  of  the  same 

a 


B64 


WALDBMSIAN    RigiftAKrHES. 


sort  of  Fraiic4>  and  Italy.  Coarse  woollen  cloths, 
•tftd  wearing  ap{mre)  of  all  kinds,  commoditi<>s  of 
househol<i  use,  implements  of  husbandry  and 
handicraft,  fruit,  vegetablcfs,  and  com,  were  the 
princijml  things  exposed  to  sale.  A  few  toy-staUs 
were  decorated  in  their  most  attractive  array  to 
teiase  longings  and  heart-burnings  among  the 
Vaudois  cliildrcn,  who  accompanied  their  parents 
'  to  the  fair.  There  was  also  some  display  of 
finei-j-,  and  gawdy  ribbons,  and  embroidered  hand- 
kerchiefs of  silk  and  gauze,  were  suspended  in 
alluring  tines  to  tempt  the  daughters  of  ranicy, 
and  to  tuni  the  beads  of  the  damsels  of  the  moun- 
tains. 

One  little  trait  of  character  pleased  n>e  exces- 
sively. I  observed  the  eye  of  a  boy  of  ten  years 
of  age  resting  with  admiring,  perhaps  with  wishful 
gaze,  upon  the  treasures  of  one  of  the  toy  stalls. 
He  was  the  son  of  a  pastor,  and  I  desired  him  to 
tell  me  what  he  would  like  to  have  among  the 
glittering  and  amusing  objects  before  him.  He 
modestly  dechned  making  any  choice.  In  vain  IHd 
urged  him  to  select  something.  He  could  not  he*i.^c 
tempted  to  accept  my  offer.  At  last  I  bought  anr^H 
Enghsh  knife,  and  put  it  into  his  hand ;  he  ther  ^p^ 
burst  into  tears,  and  it  was  nilli  the  utmost  diFtBtf- 
ticulty,  and  only  at  the  command  of  one  of  hb  ^fis 
relations,  that  he  could  be  persuaded  to  put  S^  it 
into  his  pocket.  The  secret  of  his  tears  and  ri-  w  '>• 
luctance  was  this.    He  was  fearful  lest  his  longiu^VV 


WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHKS. 


look  shoulf]  liave  been  mistaken  for  a  mode  of 
asking,  and  his  fine  spirit  was  racked  by  the  idea. 
1  had  other  opportunities  of  noticing  this  noble- 
minded  boy.  Ite  seemed  a  lovely,  and  a  tender 
plant,  not  long  for  this  world,  —and  I  fear  that  he 
U  now  only  to  be  remembered  among  the  number 
of  those  regretted  objects,  wliose  display  of  early 
talent  and  feeling  is  the  presage  of  an  early  death. 
His  parents  have  already  been  bereaved  of  chil- 
dren untimely  cut  off.  The  hectic  colour,  and 
delicate  appearance*  of  this  lad,  gave  but  little 
hope  of  his  arriving  at  maturity.  Perhaps,  while 
my  heart  warms  at  the  recollection  of  him,  his  is 
cold  in  the  grave. 

The  fair  did  not  have  the  effect  of  removing 
any  of  my  predilections  in  favour  of  the  Vaudois 
population.  Unlike  our  English  faim,  it  was  a 
mart  of  business,  not  of  anmsement.  There  were 
no  ahows,  and  nothing  to  lead  to  not  or  levity.  I 
saw  no  intemperance,  I  heard  no  offensive  lan- 
guage :  1  witnes84?d  no  act  of  rudeness,  or  aelf- 
forgetfulness.  Crowded  as  the  fair  was  with 
strangers  as  well  as  natives,  this  speaks  in  honour, 
not  only  of  the  Protestant  community,  in  the 
midst  of  whom  it  was  held,  but  of  all  whom  it 
congregated  togttther. 

I  should  have  liked  to  have  seen  that  feittival, 
which  was  formerly  the  pride  of  the  Vaudois.  the 
"Tirata,  or  exercise  of  the  rifle ;  when  the  men  of 
the  valleys,  young  and  old,  tried  their  skill,  by 


266 


WALDENSIAN    RBSEAMCUBS. 


shooting  at  a  mark,  and  kept  up  the  sport  in  the 
true  spirit  of  emulation  and  nationality.  Far  from 
defending  its  practice  on  a  Sunday,  as  was  usualljr 
the  custom,  I  yet  lament  its  total  discontinuance, 
and  cannot  understand  the  policy  of  a  government, 
which  looks  with  jealous  eye  U])on  the  martial 
pursuits  of  that  part  of  its  population,  which  is  on 
the  frontier  of  France,  and  holds  some  of  the  most 
important  passes  on  the  borders.  The  Waldenses 
have  always  been  a  warlike  tribe,  and  though  they 
have  resisted  the  unrighteous  aggressions  of  their 
sovereigns  upon  their  religious  and  personal  liber* 
tics,  they  have  ever  been  distinguished  as  faithful 
subjects,  attached  to  the  old  d)*nasty,  and  utterly 
unwilling  to  countenance  invasion  from  abroad, 
or  revolt  at  home. 

Had  the  Protestants  of  the  Alps  flashed  a  gun, 
as  a  signal  of  their  readiness  to  join  the  malcon- 
tents  in  1831,  there  would  have  been  an  end  of 
the  reigning  branch  of  the  House  of  Savoy.  The 
constitutionalists  at  Turin  and  Genoa,  aitd  tbe'^^.e 
insurgent  regiments  at  Alexandria,  sup|>orted  by^^.y 
the  hardy  mountaineers  and  unerring  marksmena^BT  -.a 
of  the  three  valleys,  could  not  have  been  puV.K:it 
down.  But  the  Vaudois  would  not  embrace  tb^»^ 
favourable  opportunity  of  redressing  their  griev— ' 
ances:  they  are  loyal  upon  principle,  they 
obedient  to  the  powers  that  be,  from  high  motit 
of  reUgious  duty,  and  they  once  more  gave 
sioD  to  their  ungrateful  rulers,  to  applaud  tbec^^M"' 


WALnSNSIAN    RESKARCnES. 


267 


i^Ofitri  ben  diletti,  e  fideli  sudditi  delle  VaUi," 
"  Our  wcll-bcloved  and  faithful  subjects  of  the  val- 
le>-s;''  and  to  tr)*  again  the  extent  of  their  forbear- 
ance andfitibmission,  by  the  imposition  of  new  and 
mure  galling  vexations.  The  principal  fortress, 
upon  the  extensive  line  of  border  between  Mont 
Cenis  and  Mont  Viso,  is  FencstrcUo.  This  and 
the  passes  of  Mont  Genevre,  and  of  the  Col  de 
la  Croix,  as  wt-U  as  that  across  Mont  Viso,  by 
which  Francis  the  First  descended  into  I*icmont, 
are  completely  within  the  grasp  of  the  Vaudois. 
The  fortress  of  Fencstrellu  might  defy  a  besieging 
army  for  months ;  but  the  martial  peasantry,  who 
tire  in  its  vicinity,  and  who  know  every  approach 
that  leads  to  it,  and  every  stone  upon  its  walls, 
who  have  constant  opportunities  of  telUng  the 
towers  thereof,  and  marking  well  its  bulwarks, 
■igfat  ansemble  irom  the  three  valleys  in  a  single 
aight,  and  make  themselves  masters  of  it,  before 
ftven  their  intentions  could  be  known.  And  what 
is  to  prevent  their  doing  so,  and  throwing  this 
key  of  Piemont  and  themselves  into  the  arms  of 
the  French,  should  they  be  so  disposed,  in  case  of 
a  rupture  between  France  and  tlie  king  of  Sardinia, 
lould  the  latter  continue  to  act  towards  them 
upon  liis  present  narrow  policy  ? 

It  is  quite  astonishing  that  a  race,  so  faithful 
to  their  princes  from  reli^ous  principle,  and  so 
important  to  them  from  their  frontier  position, 
sliould   be  so  little  valued  and  tntsted.     Their 


^ 


268 


WALDbKSlAy    KIWBAHCHeS. 


favourite  amusement,  the  tirata,  lias  been  virtiuil1)H 
prohibited.  The  government  has  not  said,  yon 
Khali  no  longer  have  your  f&te  days,  and  fire  at 
your  targets,  and  crown  tlie  tictor,  and  carry  him 
in  procession  with  music  and  shouts,  hut  it  has  so 
shackled  tlie  sport  with  expensive  regulations  and 
vexatious  accompaniments,  that  it  is  graduallv 
becoming  ol>solete.  Leave  must  first  be  obtained 
of  tbo  commandant  of  Pinerolo ;  then  there  must 
be  the  presence  of  an  officer,  and  a  certain  number 
of  carabineers,  under  pretence  of  keeping  order, 
where  it  never  was  known  that  order  was  di»> 
turbed,  or  that  a  single  quarrel,  or  act  of  drunken- 
ness or  misconduct  had  occurred.  Add  to  this, 
the  ctiarge  upon  the  quantity  of  gunpowder  ex- 
pended, and  the  cost  attendant  upon  the  necessary 
formalities,  and  it  will  be  clear  enough,  that  there 
is  nearly  an  end  of  the  tirata.  There  is  scarcely 
a  cottage  or  a  hovel,  whose  owner  is  master  of  a 
gun,  which  does  not  display  a  block  of  wood,  of 
the  size  and  resemblance  of  a  Stihon  cheese,  which 
has  scr\'ed  as  a  mark,  and  yet  contains  a  ball  in 
I  or  near  its  centre,  as  a  proud  raemorial  of  the— ' 

^^  V  skill  of  one  of  the  family.  I  have  delighted  many 
^^B  j  a  peasant  by  noticing  this  trophy  of  unerring  aim, 
^^  (  and  by  asking  the  history  of  the  triumphant  day 
m  \  in  which  the  prize  was  won.  And  this  is  the 
^^  generous  race  who  are  treated  with  worse  than 
^^1  n^lect,  because  a  Jesuit  at  court,  or  a  royal  c^U' 
^^B        fessor,  can  whis)M.T  into  the  ear  of  majesty,  that- 


WALURNSIAN    AeSKARrHBS. 


2G9 


tbey  are  rebels  against  the  authority  of— the 
bishop  of  Konie. 

An  historian  of  indefatigable  research,  anil  who 
is  therefore  inexcusable  for  his  misrepresentations 
upon  this  subject,  has  lately  added  one  more  to 
the  scr^'ileij  of  tbe  Latin  Church,  who  have  s]wkcn 
of  the  Vaudois  in  the  language  of  a  Doniiuican. 

About  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century," 
says  he,  "  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  the  '  poor 
men  of  Lyons'  penetrated  into  the  valleys  of 
I'iemont,  where  they  were  cherished  in  obscurity 
till  the  time  of  tlie  Keformation,  and  were  then 
exchanged  in  a  great  measure  for  the  creed  pub- 
licly taught  at  Geneva."  This  writer  is  thoroughly 
aware,  for  the  bulls  of  the  Bishops  of  his  own 
Church  (few  of  which  can  have  escaped  his 
enquiring  and  jwnctrating  eye)  have  informed 
bim,  that  at  the  beginning  of  the  eleventh  century, 
these  peculiar  doctrines  were  making  Popes  and 
IVelates  tremble  for  their  authority,  and  that 
Ketnont  was  their  seat  of  long  and  deep-rooted 
establishment.  Me  knows  too,  much  better  than 
any  writer  of  the  Hcformed  Church  can  tell  him, 
for  he  has  access  to  documents  which  wo  have 
not,  that  those  doctrines,  though  they  were  "  che- 

hed  in  obscurity'  till  the  time  of  tbe  Iteforma- 

on,  were  the  cause  of  martyrdom  to  thousands 
and  tens  of  thousands,  who  were  destroyed  by  fire 
and  sword  at  tlie  command  of  the  Clements,  and 
Innocents*  and  Benedicts  of  the  Vatican,  who 


370 


TTAtDENSIAN   HESEARCHES, 


I 


bleftsed  those  irho  cursed  them,  and  absolved  those' 
from  all  sin  who  slew  them.     He  knows,  for  b 
has  read  it  in  the  memorable  "  bull  of  Innocent 
VIII.,    for  the    extirpation    of    the    Waldenses," 
which  is  cited  at  length  in  two  of  the  books,  which 
he  professes  in  his  marginal  notes  to  have  con- 
sulted, that  the  doctrines  which  he  affects  to  call 
obtaire  till  the  time  of  the   Refonnation,   were 
"  publicly  preached"*  in  Piemont   "  long  ago" — 
long  before  Luther  or  Calvin  were  bom.     Did  he 
not  know  also,  when  he  spoke  of  an  event,  which 
he  terms  one  "  which  by  Protestants  has  been 
called  the  massacre,  by  Catholics  the  rebellion, 
of  the  ^^audois,'■  that  the  Vaiulois  never  acted 
on  that,   or  any  other  occasion,   but   upon  the 
defensive ;   that  they  never  advanced,  under  a 
hostile  banner,  to  dispute  the  supreme  authority    - 
of  their  rulers  in  any  matters  but  those  of  con-   - 
science,  and  that  they  never  took  up  arms  but  in  ■ 
vindication  of  rights  and  privileges,  which   were  ^ 
guaranteed  to  them  under  the  most  solemn  com- 
pacts ?    "  We  will  submit  in  every  thing,  but  in 
acts  of  religious   apostacy — we  will  obey  you  in- 
all  things,  where  we  can  reconcile  oar  duty  to- 
wards oar  God,  and  our  duty  to  you."    This  has 
ever  been  the  language  of  the  Vaudois  to  thetrfl 
princes  ;  and  when  tJie  historian  of  whom  1  com- 
plain, stained  his  pages  by  his  ungenerous  and 
unnecessary  imputations,  no  man  had  bt-tter  oppor- 
tunities than  himself  of  ascertaining  that  thcVaudois 


WALDENSIAK    RESEABCDES. 


271 


hare  bet'n  driven  by  despair  to  repel  aggression,  but 
hare  never  committed  the  crime  of  rebellion  '. 


The  heat  was  so  great,  and  there  was  so  much 
to  keep  our  attention  engaged,  during  the  whole 
of  the  second  week  after  our  arrival  at  1^  Torre, 
that  We  made  no  distant  excursions :  but  the  even- 
ing walks,  in  which  we  indulgetl,  were  as  delicious 
as  bnlltiutt  weather,  and  all  the  combinations  of 
rural  and  pastoral  scenery'  could  make  them.  Two 
strolls  in  particular  have  left  an  agreeable  impres- 
siuii.  which  not  even  the  grander  character  uf  the 
higher  valleys  can  efiacc.  The  one,  through  the 
vineyards  and  com-lields  of  San  Giovanni  to  the 
house  of  M.  Meilte,  the  late  pastor  of  San  Gio- 
vanni; and  the  other,  to  the  preiibytcry  uf  An- 
grogna,  and  to  the  shady  groves  of  magnificent 
walnuts  and  chesnuts  in  its  vicinity. 
^^  M.  Mcillc  has  won  tlie  heart,  and  rirettcd  the 
^TstcKUi  of  every  stranger  who  has  visited  him. 
From  the  Count  Waldbourg  Truckses,  (whose 
lung  residence  at  the  court  of  Turin,  as  Prussian 
I  envoy,  gave  him  frequent  opportunities  of  study- 
ing the  V'audois  character,  and  whose  patronage 
of  the  Vaudois  is  honourable  both  to  himself  and 
to  them,)  to  tlie  humblest  pilgrim,  who  has  made 
his  acquaintance,  and  written  or  ^>oken  of  him, 
&I.  MeiUe  has  been  an  object  of  equal  veneration. 
'Thai  warm  devotional  feeling,  which,  some  have 

'  See  IdBganl't  EngUsd,  lol.  xi.  clup.  3. 


272 


VALDENSIAN    RBSBARCIIES. 


thought,  may  be  looked  for  in  rain  among  the 
generality  even  of  those,  who  have  the  reputation 
of  it,  has  not  been  tiis|)utcd  in  the  person  of  this 
minister.     It  is  certainly  impossible  to  converse 
with  him,  without  bringing  away  the  conWdion 
that  you  have  been  talking  with  one,  whose  whole 
soul  is  under  the  influence  of  vital  religion.     The 
loss  of  an  only  son  has  manifestly  been  sanctified 
to  him:  but  though  the  lines  of  a  wounded  spirit 
are  traced  broadly  in  his  countenance,  there  are 
no  marks  of  a  broken  heart,  or  of  a  mind  which  is 
soured,  or  rendered  austere  by  the  affliction.    Hii 
face  beams  with  benignity — his  manner  is  tranquil 
and  winning  in  the  extreme.     It  was  observed  of 
him  by  one  traveller,  "  He  has  all  the  toumure  of 
the  ancient  Moravians — ^he  is  not  far  from  the 
kingdom  of  God."  He  lives  upon  his  owu  property,, 
which  perhaps  is  larger  than  often  falls  to  the  lotzff'^st 
of  a  Waldensian  pastor.     His  house,  a  wcll-buil 
and  substantial  habitation,  stands  in  the  rich  plainr 
of  San  Giovanni,  and  commands  a  view  of  the^^  ? 
imposing  heights,   which   rise  above   Angrogn 
Lusema,  and  La  Torre.     It  is  not  exagge 
to  call  it  a  paradise,  occupied  by  a  patriarch, 
good  man  dwells  among  his  own  people,  andjr 
having  surrendered  the  charge  of  a  large  parish  » 
his  time  is  principally  employed  in  superintending 
the  cultivation  of  his  vines  and  corn,  and  pasture 
lands,  and  in  that  humble  preparation  for  another 
State  of  existence,   to  which  the  husbandman's 


WALDBNSUN   RRSBARCBBSp 

Kimple  life,  aod  tho  mountaineer's  contemplations 
are  well  adaptetl. 

M.  Weillc  was  among  the  number  of  those  to 
whom  I  submitted  aiy  projects,  before  I  made 
them  koown  to  the  Vaudois  pastors  at  large. 

AAcr  the  smiling  and  open  rale  of  San  Giovanni, 
which  throws  out  almost  every  production  of  the 
Italian  soil  in  the  richest  luxuriance ;  where  the 
soil  yields  at  three  different  heights,  com  below, 
grapes  between,  and  mulberries  above ;  wher^^  the 
reapers  are  shaded  from  the  sun  by  the  broad 
feaves  of  the  vine,  latticed  along  the  trees,  and 
diqMsed  in  the  most  graceful  festoons  over  their 
beads,  and  where  the  rills,  and  streamlets  of  arti- 
ficial irrigation,  preserve  freshness  and  verdure 
in  the  meadows,  even  in  a  bvirning  summer,  the 
hamlets  of  Angn^^a  offer  contracts  of  another 
kind.  Here  the  bold  acclivities,  the  rushing  waters, 
and  the  sylvan  glories  of  the  scener}*,  among  which 
the  cottages  of  Chabrazza,  Seringa,  and  San  Lau- 
rent are  constnictcd.  prepare  you  for  what  you  are 
to  expect,  when  you  ascend  to  the  more  elevated 
regions  of  this  commune,  which,  eomuicucing  where 
the  softer  features  of  San  Giovanni  end,  break  oA' 
fa^  degrees  into  the  wild  and  rugged  (wints  of  La 
Vachera,  Cella  Veglia,  and  the  Seiran  Alp. 

Angrogna  lies  more  to  the  north  ihiin  La 
Torre  oiul  Son  Giovanni,  and  extends  along  a 
ralley  lamous  in  Waldensian  history.  The  pres- 
bytery of  the  |Kistor  of  Angrugiia  is  in  the  hamlet 


u 


m 


WALDEN3IAN    RESBARCUES. 


of  San  Laurent,  at  no  great  distance  £rom  bis 
church.     We  were  not  expected,  and  as  we  ap> 
proachcd,  we  were  joined  by  a  few  of  the  pastors 
neighbours,  whom  the  loveliness  of  the  evening 
had  drawn  out,  and  who  swelled  the  party  into  a 
company  rather  too  large,  we  thought,  both  f< 
his  apartments,  and  for  his  supper-board.     Tbi 
former  objection  was  soon  remedied.     M.  I'ejTot; 
with  the  philosophy  of  a  peripatetic,  in>ited  us  to 
take  a  ramble  with  him.  and  with  the  usual  irre- 
sistible pro|)ensity  of  a  descendant  of  a  long  line  of 
Waldensian  clmmpions,  talked  of  former  achiere- 
ments  as  he  conducted  us  to  defiles,  which 
countrjTiicn  had  well  defended,  or  to  spots  wherr 
the  blood  of  the  slaughtered  had  left  a  damning 
stain,  in  the  memor)'  at  least,  which  never  can  be 
effaced.    Not  that  be  chose  these  scenes;  but  vrtiai 
part  of  Angrogna  is  without  them  ?     lie  led  us 
the  brink  of  a  tremendous  looking  precipice,  whi 
still  goes  by  the  name  of  the  Roche  Simon,  fron^ 
the  miserable  death  which  was  there  inflicted  upoi^ 
an  aged  victim  of  fanatical  cruelty.     In  the  mas — 
sacre  of  1655,  Hetro  Simondi  refused  to  go  tc 
mass.     He  was  eighty  years  old,  and  he  mildly 
appealed  to  the  oppressors :  "  W(mld  you,"  sakf 
lie, "  when  I  have  exceeded  the  age  of  man  br 
ten  years — ivould  you  think  the  better  of  me,  for 
purchasing  a  few  months'  longer  existence  by  aa 
act  of  apostacy  i     Would  you  think  a  trembhii" 
convert  hke  myself  worth  having  ?     My  forced  re- 


WAtDBKSIAN    KR.5e, ARCHES. 


carnation  can  add  nothing  to  your  cause."  Prose- 
lyting zeal,  however,  was  too  fervent  to  listen  to 
reason.  The  old  man  was  brought  to  this  rock, 
and  flung  from  its  top.  Unhappily  for  him,  a  tree 
upon  a  projecting  ridge  caught  him,  and  he  re- 
mained suspended  on  its  branches,  beyond  the 
reach  of  help,  till  death  relieved  him  from  his 
lu^fering  and  terrific  punishment. 

We  saw  but  little  of  Augrogna  on  this  occasion : 
but  we  saw  and  heard  enougli  to  desire  to  devote 
a  day  at  lea-it'lo  exploring  its  venerable,  and 
storied  barricades,  and  we  agreed  to  take  the  first 
opportunity  of  ascending  its  mountain  paths,  and 
penetrating  the  recesses  of  rock  and  forest,  where 
the  youthful  Waldcnscs  were  taught  to  cherish 
the  faith  of  their  ancestors — and  where  the  manly 
[orms  of  hardy,  but  half^armed,  peasants  stood  the 
Aodt  of  the  mailed  chivalry  of  France  and  Pie- 
Diont 

On  our  return  to  the  presbytery,  we  enjoyed  a 
which  Apicius  would  have  praised,  had  he 
prepared  for  it  by  such  a  walk  as  we  had. 
Fruit  in  abundance,  baked  cakes,  not  unlike  the 
girdle  cakes  of  the  north  of  England,  curds,  and 
th»  sausage  nf  Pincrnlo,  sent  us  home  as  well 
pteued  witli  the  good  cheer,  as  with  the  legendary  i 
Ion  of  our  host.  A  young  lady  from  Geneva,  I 
Mademoiselle  Kobin,  was  one  of  the  party  at 
Angrogna,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  the  plea»nreB  of 
the  n-ening,  as  nuirh  as  she  added  tn  it  by  her 

t2 


/ 


I 


I 


276  WALDENSUN    RBSEARCHESt 


wit  and  good  humour.    On  our  way  home  we  met 

a  band  of  young  Roman  Catholics  on  the  bridge 

of  La  Torre,  who    wen;    practising  Llie  \'espcrs 

hymn.    At  the  same  moment  myriads  of  fire-flies 

were  flitting  in  the  air,  and  lending  their  not  feeble 

aid  to  give  the  fiiiishing  effect  to  our  evening's        a 

recreation.  ^1 

The  pastor  of  Angrogna  has  two  churches  under      -j^ 
his  charge,  »t  which  he  ofliciatcs  every  Sunday ;     j    •  ■ 
the  one  at  San  Laurent,  the  other  at  Serre,  higher  -»^x 
np  the  valley.     Both  churches  are  in  wretched^£»^ 
condition,  particularly  the  latter,  and  it  reqmrejg:^  ^-^^ 
no  small  degree  of  attention  to  the  interests  of  «=»of 
religion,  to  keep  this  Trotestant  commune  up  t(*»»to 
the  standard  of  its  fonner  repntation.     There  I- . 
an  active  proselyting  Romish  priest  in  the  parisla 
who  exerts  himself  to  the  utmost  to  diminish  tli  m'  At- 
Vaudois  flock,  antl  to  increase  his  OH'n.    I  le  spare 
no  arts  to  attain  his  object ;  he  has  recourse  Q 
vexatious  expedients  to  harass  the  pastor  and  li^ 
congregation  ;  he  lays  complaiuts  against  tliem  fa 
alleged  transgressions  of  the  penal  statutes ; — h^Cbc 
watches  narrowly  to  see  that  no  work  is  doiu-  c^«wi 
the  festivals  of  the  Roman  calendar ;  he  maTsh^=^s 
processions,  and  leads  them  round  the  '*r"Tr'tnr-  "' 
temple  durijig  hours  of  senice,  singing  and  vo — *J- 
ferating  to  the  interruption  of  the  pastor,  wh(^  tf 
sometimes  forced  to  stop  for  ten  minutes  togetl»*-'i; 
till  the  noisy  crowd  has  passed. 

The  number  of  Protestants  in  Angrogna  is  aboiff 


k 


VALIlItNaiAN  R£SR  VRCHItS. 


277 


2,100.  The  Humanists  amount  to  l\vv  luindred. 
Tlie  central  school  t&  situated  tiear  the  temple, 
and  is  open  ten  months  during  the  year ;  besides 
which  there  arc  thirteen  small  schools,  containing; 
from  fifteen  to  sixty  scholars  each,  open  iihout 
four  months  in  the  twelve.  Mr.  Sims  has  iusti- 
tuli-d  a  girls'  school  in  thispiirish,  M-hich  has  heen 
of  such  essential  service,  in  directing  the  atten- 
tion of  the  inhabitants  to  the  importance  of  nn 
improved  system  of  female  education,  that  it  is 
greatly  to  be  ho)>fd  it  will  he  cuiitiuucd.  In  the 
summer,  the  pastor  frequently  preaches  to  the 
Hhepherds  and  others  of  his  people,  who  watch 
tbeir  ftocki>  and  henis  upon  the  green  ridges  of  the 
Seiran  and  Infemet  Alps. 

A  Very  cursory  view,  or  enquiry,  will  shew  tiie 
(IK'at  difference  between  the  highly  favoured  San 
Giovanni,  and  its  neighbouring  commune  An- 
fTof^.  The  former  is  not  only  the  wealthiest 
village  in  ]>ossession  of  the  Waldenses.  but  it 
is  aiKo  the  l>cKt  situated  for  all  the  purpu.se5  of 
pastoral  duty.  I'Ving  in  the  plain,  its  l»ud  is  of 
the  very  finest  t|uality ;  its  hamlets  arc  at  no  great 
dtltiuice  from  each  other,  and  its  roads  and  paths 
in  the  best  condition.  Add  to  this,  its  population 
B  almost  entirely  Protestant.  Out  of  1650  souls, 
there  are  not  more  than  six  or  seven  Roman 
LCatbolic  families.  The  contiguity  of  the  hamlets 
VW  San  Giovanni  renders  fewer  schooU  necessary 
to  this  {tarisli,  than  to  any  other.     There  is  one 


ST8 


WAIDP.NSIAN    RBSRARCHRS. 


^ 


Mie 


L 


central,  and  only  four  small  schools;  but  these  are 
so  conveniently  situated,  tliat  the  pastor  assured 
me,  he  did  not  know  of  a  single  child  belosgtng 
to  his  congregation,  who  had  rcachctl  the  8^  of 
six,  without  beinfi  placed  under  a  course  of  educ»' 
tion.  The  girls'  school  in  this  commune,  estab- 
lished by  the  London  Committee,  is  one  of  the 
most  interesting  and  promising  institutioiui  of  its 
kind.  1  shall  have  great  pleasure  in  spe-aking  of 
it  more  at  length,  when  I  come  to  this  part  of  my 
subject 

San  Giovanni  is  the  extreme  village   of  thi 
Vaitdois  on  the  Turin  side  of  the  valley  of  I 
eenia,  and  therefore  more  exposed  to  aggKsaoirm^  «o 
and  temptation  than  any  other.     Its  situation  is^  b 
such,  that  it  will  not  admit  of  being  placed  withir-^  ^ 
the  lines  in  a  defensive  point  of  view,  and  ther&r:^^- 
fore  we  do  not  find  that  it  ever  occupied  an  import^=^ 
ant  place  in  the  military  history  of  the  Vaudoi^K 
The  later  edicts  of  the  princes  of  Picmont,  ai]«/ 
dukes  of  Savoy,  have  denied  its  claim  to  be  con- 
sidered one  of  the  privileged  communes  of  th; 
ancient  Waldenscs.     How  then  has  it  maintained 
its  religious  integrity,  and  continued  its  name  and 
character  of  Vaudois  up  to  the  present  hour! 
Humanly  si^eakJiig,  there  is  but  one  way  of  solv- 
ing  the  question.     Persecution   and   intolerance 
quicken  and  exasperate  religious  ardour,  and  de- 
termined spirits  are  rendered  more  resolute  by 
opposition. 


ITALDEMSl.lN    fiESRAftmBS. 


279 


The  inhabitaiiLs  of  San  Giovanoi   have  ever 
I  exiM>scd  to  the  first  brunt  of  hostilities.   The 
Rword  of  the  crusaders,  who  have  marclie*!  against 
the  valleys  at  the  war-whoup  of  Rome,  has  always 
beet)  first  dipped  in  the  blood  of  this  devoted 
|)opulatioa.     The  incendiaries  Hung  their  torches 
into  the  habitations  of  this  exposed  viUage,  and 
burnt  tboro  to  the  ground,  as  the  be^nuing  of 
atrocities.     The  remnant  of  the  sufferers,  having 
no  chance  of  deftmdin;;  themselvts,  unless  against 
Iho  vanguard  of  their  enemies,  were  obliged  to  fly 
to   the  remoter  asylums  of  their    brethren,  and 
carried  with  them  the  remembrance  of  their  flam- 
ing dwellings,  their  ravaged  fields,  and  slaughtered 
wives  and  children.    They  were  forimhten  to  have 
a  cburch,  or  to  hold  public  religious  assemblies ; 
they  met  together  in  secret,  with  zeal  increased  a 
hundred-fold.     Schools  were  prohibited  :  they  in- 
structed tlieir  cliildren  at  home,  and  every  hearth 
inraa  an  altar,  where  the  youth  of  San  Giovanni 
vrerc  taught  to  swear  eternal  hatred  of  apostates 
and  apostasy.    To  this  day,  their  church  and  their 
achools  are  snflered  rather  than  permitted ;  witness 
the  screen  before  the  door  of  the  temple,  erected 
by  themselves,  as  the  only  condition  upon  which 
the  government  would  consent  to  ^ink  at  that, 
vtuch  is  pronounced  to  be  a  violation  of  the  edict 
against  building  any  Protestant  churches  beyond 
the   boundaries.    (See  Chap.  IX.)      But  all  the 
«nmily  and  the  power  of  the  parli-pretre,  could 


280 


WAtTXntSIAN   ItesRAItCHES. 


I 
I 


not  separate  llie  people  of  San  (iiovanni  from  tlieir 
legitimate  and  ancient  connection  with  the  primi- 
tive Church  of  the  AIjw ;  antl  as  they  were  near  to 
the  strong  Imlds  of  Angrogiia  and  \'andelin,  they 
fled  from  tile  storms  that  threatened  them,  and 
returned,  when  tlie  tempest  was  over,  more  in- 
veterate recusauts  than  ever. 

I  do  not  hke  to  pronounce  upon  the  sort  of 
faith  or  religious  perseverance,  which  is  nursed  in 
war,  and  kept  ahvc  by  animosities.     It  may  par- 
take too  much  of  the  spirit  which  endeavours  to 
put  it  dou-n.    It  must  indeed  lose  in  meekness  what 
it  gains  by  conflict :  and  when  the  fiercer  and  more 
angr)'  passions  have  been  kept  continually  upon 
thc  jar,  as  tliey  have  been  by  the  oppressions  ani 
vexations  practised  against  the  inliabitants  of  SaizrisH 
Giovanni,  Ctiristianity  is  not  likely  to  assume  i 
mildest  or  purest  form.     Great  reason,  tberefo 
have  the  admirers  and  well-wishers  of  the  Vaud' 
to  look  with  pitj'  upon  the  blemishes,  which  the 
may  occasionally  discern  in  the  white  shield 
the  valleys,   and   they  should    assist  in   washi 
them  out,  and  not  turn  away  in  disgust  or  disa' 
pointment  from  that,  which  is  inseparable  frt^ 
their  present  condition  and  past  liiHtor}-. 


n%IlSi«X     niT     7CK£    mi.k:LXX     OS      S*     UJUt.«AAl,XA. 


ifTiMut  )»X^f  itW  W» 


Mtrwrtion  lo  Tagl'mrtUa.,  mtd  an  altempi  lo  t»j'tort  tht  Cavtrn 
of  Ciutelluxto. 


July  6.  A  KKKKKKHixG  muming,  and  a  clear  atmos- 
lihcre,  euticed  us  to  maku  tliu  attempt  of  exploring 
the  rocks  of  Castclluzzo,  in  search  of  the  celebrated 
CRvem,  which,  according  to  Leger,  aiforded  an 
■sylum  to  three  or  four  hundred  Vaudois,  during 
ope  of  the  rifest  periods  of  iiersecution.  Its  situa- 
tioD  is  described  as  being  so  peculiarly  favouniblo 
to  the  purpo4ie,  thai  one  only  can  enter  it  at  a 
time,  and  yet  it  is  spacious  enough  in  ite  interior 
to  receive  abundant  supplies,  besides  having  the 
farther  advantiige  of  containing  a  spring  of  water 
of  its  own.  A  peasant,  uametl  Grant,  who  accom- 
fianiod  Mr.  Acland  in  his  fatiguing,  and  often 
har^rdous  adventures  in  the  mountains,  undertook 
to  be  our  guide  to  the  spot,  and  we  set  out  five 
in  party,  Mrs.  <.«illy  on  a  pony,  which  was  to 
carry  her  as  far  as  the  accent  would  permit,  my 
brother,  M.  Amadee  Ilert,  the  guide,  and  myself. 
To  thv  eye,  Castelluzzo  was  not  liu-  off,  though 


283  WALDBN8IAN   BESEAIICHBS. 

its  cUfTs  appeared  at  an  elevation  which  it  would 
be  aspiring  to  reach ;  but  it  required  double  the 
time,  which  wc  calculated  would  he  sufficient  for 
the  excursion :   so  deceptive  are  all  mountain  dis- 
tances.    The  cool  fragrance  of  the  air,  and  the 
natural  beauty  and  romance  of  the  scenery,  would 
not  suffer  us  to  give  a  moment's  admission  to  any 
apprehensions  that  the  endeavour  to  attain  the 
ridge  of  the  cliff  might  be  too  much  for  unprac- 
tise<l  lowlanders.     In  vain  did  our  friends  assure 
us,  that  when  the  sun  should  be  well  up,  w& 
should  repent  of  our  imdertaking,  and  abandon  it 
in  despair.    We  trusted  to  the  shade  of  tlie  grftves 
which  covered  the  mountain  side,  and  commcncetl 
the  journey  in  high  spirits  and  expectation. 

Our  path  lay  in  the  direction  of  the  Bigliom 
torrent,  which,  in  spring  and  autumn,  pours  dawn 
its  impetuous  flood  from  Vandelin  to  the  PeUce, 
but  at  this  season  had  not  much  water.  A  pro- 
fusion of  gigantic  walnuts  and  chesnuts  stretched 
their  branches  over  its  broken  and  rocky  bed, 
and,  for  the  first  hour,  we  had  no  great  reason  to  ^ 
complain  either  of  the  abruptness,  or  ruggedness  of  fl 
the  ascent  The  slopes  were  beautifully  coloured 
with  com  in  various  stages  of  ripeness,  for,  -in 
these  regions,  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  walk  will 
I  bring  you  to  spots,  where,  from  the  difference  of 
[soil  and  situation,  the  grain  is  here  of  a  bright 
ilden  hue,  and  there  as  green  as  the  foliage 
'which  waves  above  it    The  scattered  cottages  bad 


I 

I 
I 


I 


WALDBSSIAN-   RESCABrBBS. 


283 


not  only  clusters  of  graix-s  hanging  about  the  roofe 
and  eaves,  but  had  also  each  its  little  vineyard 
and  orchard  by  its  side,  where  the  vine  was  not  of 
the  dwarfish  species  like  that  of  France,  but  clam- 
bered Iron)  tree  to  tree.  The  depths  and  solitude 
of  the  groves  were  brolcen  by  these  objects  rising 
tnwxpcctedly  upon  the  sight,  and  were  echoing 
moreover  with  the  songs  of  birds,  and  presenting, 
to  the  fancy  at  least,  enchanting  images  of  rustic 
enjoymcnl  in  the  midst  of  that,  which,  at  a  dis- 
tance, looked  Uke  one  vast  forest,  bordered  by  m 
crest  of  rock.  Alas,  that  these  scenes  should  have 
witnessed  so  much  contention  and  sutt'ering  I 

When  we  approache<l  towards  Tagliaretta,  the 
Bleeps  became  rough  and  threatening :  more  like 
a  succession  of  terraces,  which  can  only  be  sur- 
■KKintcd  by  scrambling  over  fragments  of  Btone* 
or  by  winding  your  way  circuitously  by  that 
whidi  resembles  a  stair-case  more  than  a  path. 
Tbe  motion  of  the  pony  became  here  so  uneasy, 
from  his  having  to  step  over  and  up  such  rugged 
ground,  that  Mrs.  Gilly  begged  to  walk ;  but  the 
guide  assured  her,  that  unless  she  consented  to 
break  the  journey,  by  riding  as  far  as  it  was  safe, 
it  was  impossible  that  she  could  encounter  the 
firtiguc  and  the  heat  of  the  day.  After  arriving  at 
TagUaretta,  we  were  on  land  in  which  every 
foot  had  been  the  scene  of  action,  of  sanguinary 
conflict,  of  daring  enterpriHes,  surprisals,  assaults, 
and  defenccrk.  ThiH  hamlet,  with  I'uy-Cairtcl,  Ilua. 


384 


WALDBNtlAN  RESBARCHBt. 


Kiavou]u,    Cu^U  Kossiiia,  and   iMaiianda.   all   of 
n-liich  fiud  a  place  in  the  old  maps  of  Lt^r  and 
Morland,   and   in   the   ven'  accurate   new  map, 
which  Mr.  Acland  designed  for  his  translation  of~ 
Henri  Arnaud's  "  Kentr6e  Glorieuse  des  Vauduis ," 
(and  which  could  not  have  been  drawn  but  by  one 
well  acqiiaintfd  with  the  localities  of  the  countrvV 
constituted  what  was  formerly  called  the  commune 
of  Tagharetta,  the  holy  ground  of  La  Torre. 

At  different  periods  of  Waldensian  history,  when 
the  courts  of  Turin  and  Rome  determined  to  make 
new  efforts  to  extinguish  the  Ught  of  truth,  there 
used  to  issue  etiicts,  from  time  to  time,  which  not 
only  forbade  the  exercise  of  any  religion  but  that 
of  the  Latin  Church,  except  among  the  remote 
craggs  and  thickets  of  the  higher  valleys,  of  the 
valleys  within  the  valleys,  but  commanded  mass 
to  be  celebrated  in  the  lower  <listricts.  The  people 
of  those  parts  naturally  protested  against  such  an 
invasion  of  their  rights,  and  pleaded  the  vahdity 
of  solemn  treaties  and  ancient  compacts.  Some- 
times their  remonstrances  were  heard,  but  when 
evil  counsels  prevailed,  then  the  mandate  «ras 
peremptorj-,  and  the  troops  of  the  duchy  of  Savoy 
were  ((uartered  in  the  main  lillages  to  enforce  the 
papal  will.  It  is  not  \vithout  reason,  that  I  have 
so  often  ascribed  the  sufferings  of  the  Waldensian 
Church  to  aggressions  instigated  by  the  evil  genius 
of  Rome.  There  is  scarcely  an  instance,  in  which 
the  stern  contests,  or  holy  wars,  into  which  the 


I 


L 


WALDBNSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


285 


Vaadois  were  forced,  did  not  grow  out  of  the 
seeds  of  evil,  out  of  the  dragon's  teeth,  sown  by 
cardinal  legati-s  and  iiuncius,  delegated  Ity  tbe 
po|>es  to  stir  up  the  ^vrath  of  the  dukes  of  Savoy 
against  the  recusants  of  the  valieys.  Let  tbe 
reader,  whether  Roman  ('atholic  or  Protestant, 
reflect  upon  the  tendency  of  this  one  specimen  of 
the  numerous  edicts  in  my  possession,  and  1  shall 
not  lie  accused  of  doiuft  wrong  to  the  Cliurch  of 
Rome,  when  1  afiinn,  that  the  lintels  of  the  Vati< 
can  are  sprinkled  with  the  blood  of  every  Vaudois, 
who  died  in  defence  of  his  rcUj^on.  "  Charles 
Emiuiucl,  by  the  grace  of  God,  duke  of  Savoy, 
prince  of  Piemont,  &c.  In  conformity  with  the 
brief  published  by  his  holiness,  our  Lord,  Pope 
Gregor)'  XV.  and  with  our  desire  to  promote  the 
sacred  wishes  of  his  Holiness,  we  commaud,"  &c. 
Then  follows  one  of  those  penal  enactments, 
which  drove  unhappy  men  to  desi>cration,  and 
converted  scenes  of  peace  into  an  arena  of  fright- 
ful conflict 

Away  went  the  inhabitants  of  the  vale  to  the 
mountain  asylums.  Ready  to  sacrifice  all  bat 
I  their  religious    integrity, — they   fled  from   their 

BMs  rather  than  go  to  mass,  and  led  their 
'pleasant  humes  in  possession  of  the  soldier)-. 

So  long  as  the  troops  found  plunder  enough  in 
the  deserted  houses  and  fields  to  satiate  their 
lapaciQ-,  tlte  fugitives  were  left  unmolested  to 
share  the  scanty  supply,  which  their  brethren  of 


WALDENSiAN    RESEARCH ES. 


the  upper  hamlets  divided  with  them.  Bat  when 
no  booty  was  left  to  keep  them  in  good  humour, 
they  would  then  scatter  themselves  in  small  bands, 
and  make  predatory  incursions  with  all  the  liceD* 
tiousness  of  brigands,  and  seek  for  plunder  in 
places,  which  were  intended  to  be  exempt  from 
their  molestation.  So  dreaded  were  these  marau* 
ders,  that  even  the  ll4>maii  Catholic  ramilies  sest 
their  daughters  to  the  mountain  hamlets  of  die 
Protestants  for  protection.  The  unoffending  tu- 
tives  of  those  hamlets  naturally  considered  tbit 
they  were  justified  in  resisting  such  a^^ression. 
But  their  conduct  was  misrepresented  at  Turin : 
they  were  accused  of  opiiosing  the  troops  in  the 
exercise  of  their  duly,  of  not  respecting  the  royal 
standard  and  the  forces  of  their  Uege  lord. 

Then  came  some  ruthless  ordinance  which 
drove  them  to  despair :  they  were  commaDded  lo  H 
deliver  up  all  their  chddrcn  to  be  baptixud  by  the 
Romish  clei^ — to  surrender  the  heads  of  JamiKes 
as  hostages — to  demolish  their  churches,  (the 
furious  edict  of  the  year  16^,  commanded  the 
instant  destruction  of  six  churches,  those  of 
Villar,  Pramol,  and  San  Germano,  among  the 
number,) — to  receive  the  troops  at  free  quarters, 
even  in  the  most  impoverished  hamlets  on  the 
Alpine  ridges.  Before  the  order  coidd  well  be 
published,  the  soldiers  were  in  full  march  towards 
the  quarters  which  hud  generally  been  respected: 
whfthcr  they  were  come  to  kill  and  to  take  [ 


rJiiiDBNSIAIf   RESBAnCllBS. 


SB7 


lion,  or  what  were  tlieir  intentions,  was  scarcely 
lerstood.  The  presence  of  an  unpitying  enemy, 
dicing  towards  their  last  retreats,  pnMhiced 
Iterate  resolutions  of  selT-defence ;  and  tho 
rtched  peasants  found  themselves  driven  to  the 
k  resource  of  the  oppressed,  and  man  stood  by 
p,  in  the  front  of  sonic  narrow  pass,  to  drive 
t- spoiler  from  his  prey. 

(t  was  thus  that  loyal  subjects  were  forced  into 
iflict  with  the  troops  of  their  sovereign,  and 
t  a  tierce,  and  unsparing,  guerilla  warfare  began 
luge  between  the  peasantry  of  the  mountains, 
I  the  trained  militia  of  the  principality,  headed 
i^e  best  commanders  of  the  day. 
put  the  question  naturally  arises,  how  could 
C-armed,  and  ignoble  peasants,  surrounded  on 
tiddes  by  hosts  of  fighting  men,  renowned 
pughout  Europe  as  the  infantry  of  I^emont, 
)r  could  they  maintain  their  ground  against 
|)  fearful  odds,  and  why  is  it  that  the  Church 
Ibe  Valleys  has  not  long  ago  been  blotted  out 
IB  the  face  of  the  eartli  .'  The  Vaudois  liad 
Jbrtresses  into  which  they  might  retire  when 
B  pressed;  no  magazines,  no  walled  towns^ 
|K:astIcs  bristling  widi  cannon ;  they  had  no 
Ibuy  Inderis,  who  were  men  of  war  from  their 
■h,  and  schooled  in  the  rules  and  stratagems 
trar;  they  liad  no  nobles,  or  feudal  barons, 
ler  whose  chieflainship  they  might  be  enrolled, 
I  whose  personal  influence  could  keep  tliem 


S88 


WALUENSIAN    RE&EASCUKS. 


together,  antl  direct  tlieir  counsels.     There  wa 
neither  rank,  nor  rewards  of  price  or  distiDctioii 
to  stimulate  them  to  enterprise,  and  to  give  ont 
man  a  place  of  eminence  among  his  fcIlowH  ;  no  -^ 
not  a  stimulant  was  there,  to  whicli  the  aspirii^^ 
combatant  looks,  who  is  moved  by  the  ordinax^-^ 
considerations  which  make  the  hero.     And  y^^ 
these  were  the  men,  who  jeoparded  their  lir^^ 
unto  the  death  in  the  high  places  of  the  Seld,  acye/ 
offered  themselves  willingly  for  the  people.    Agaiu 
and  again  did  the  fiat  go  forth  for  their  utter 
destruction.     It  was  no  relcudng,  nor  want  of 
inclination,  nor  tender  mercy  on  the    part  of 
tlieir   enemies,    that  they  were  not  destroyed; 
w-itness  the  tucfy-riglu  enactments  which   were 
put  iu   force  against  them,  between   the  years 
1561  and  168(i :  which  were  intended  to  extermi- 
nate, and  which  did  waste  and  reduce  them.     lEJ 
was  the  avowed  object,  the  professed  intention,' 
tlic  impious  plot  to  eradicate  them.     "  Wishing 
by  every  means  in  our  power  to  eradicate,  to  bury 
the  heresy" — "  In  our  zeal  for  the  Holy  Catholic,] 
Apostolic,  and  Roman  faith,  desiring  to  pluck  up 
the  tares" — so  ran  the  edicts,  aud  such  was  tbej 
intention.      \Vhy,  then,  was  it  not  carried  into ' 
effect  T    How  could  a  handful  of  mountaineers ! 
escape  from  the  vengeance,  that  threatened  theirj 
total  overthrow,  and  which  achieved  the  dowa&lU 
of  tlieir  brethren  in  other  parts !     Because  it  waft] 
the  will  of  God,  that  they  should  be  left  as  a  renwj 


WALDF-KSIAN   RESEARCHES. 


289 


nant — because  it  was  written  in  the  counsels  of 
heaven,  that  they  should  continue  an  a  miracle  of 
Di^nne  Grace  and  Providence. 

Blind  must  he  be,  who  does  not  discern  the 
fiogcr  of  God  in  the  prescn-ation  of  the  Vaudois. 
There  is  nothing  like  it  in  the  history  of  man. 
The  tempest  of  persecution  has  raged  against 
them  for  seven  hundred  years,  and  yet  it  has  not 
swept  them  away,  hut  there  they  are  in  the  land 
of  their  forefathers;  liecause  the  Most  High  gave 
onto  the  mcu  of  the  valleys  stout  hearts  and  a 
resolute  spirit, — because  he  made  them  patient  of 
hunger  and  tliirst,  and  nakedness,  and  all  manner 
of  afiSictioiL 

It  was  a  natural  wish  to  desire  to  see  the 
strong  holds,  and  the  mountain-keeps,  which  the 
Almighty  permitted  to  become  scenes  of  defeat  to 
the  mighty  men  of  vuloiu*,  who  were  commanded 
to  go  up  to  the  battle,  and  to  slay  "  the  people  of 
the  Lord."  When  1  saw  the  field  of  contention, 
and  remembered  the  material  of  which  the  adverse 
parties  was  composed,  1  had  no  difficulty  in  be- 
lieving the  extraordinar)'  tales,  which  are  told  of 
victories  gained  under  circumstances,  which  almost 
realised  the  Scriptural  promise, — "  five  of  you 
■hoU  chase  an  hundred,  and  an  hundred  of  you 
•hall  put  ten  thousand  to  flight,  and  your  enemies 
shall  fall  Iwforc  you  by  the  sword.  And  the  sound 
of  a  shaken  leaf  shall  chase  thcin,  atid  they  sliall 


I 


290  n'AI.DKNSLVK    RESCARCIIKS. 

ftcc,  as  fleeing  from  a  swurd,  and  they  shall  fall 
when  none  pursueth." 

When  once  the  enemy  diverged  from  the  roads 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  valley,  and  mounted  the 
acclivities,  notliing  like  regularity  could  be  {»©• 
served  in  their  line  of  march.    They  had  to  make 
their  way  over  hrokcn  ground  as  well  as   they 
could ;  each  man,  at  places,  depending  upon  his 
own  agility  and  presence  of  mind,  for  the  means 
of  extricating  himself  from  the  perils  of  torrents 
and  precipiecs.     Every  facihty  was  afforded  for 
interruption,  and  none  for  progreRs.    Many  of  the 
assailants  were  unused  to  mountain  combats,  and. 
all  of  them  imjwded  rather  than  assisted  by  the- 
niles  of  regular  warfare.     They  were  embarrassed 
by  the  impossibility  of  keeping  in  their  ranks,  of ' 
supporting  or  being  supported  by  their  comrades. 
An  ambuscade  was  ready  to  receive  them  in  every 
thicket,  by  peasants  who  understood  every  kind  of   ^ 
furtive  annoyance.     If  they  crossed  a  ravine,  they 

were  assailed  from  above  by  all  sorts  o^f  missiles 

If  they  arrived  at  a  defile,  or  narrow  pass,  th^ 
hardy  fen  who  defended  it,  prompt  at  shiftin^^ 
their  gniimd,  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  dispute-^ 
their  advance,  as  long  as  their  strength  was  equ&J 
to  the  straggle,  and  then  to  retreat  and  rally  ».< 
the  next  spot,  which  they  considered  more  dc=- 
fensilile.  When  the  troops  attempted  to  pui=s1> 
boldly  up  a  slippery  steep,  they  were  attackc?-d 


WAIDENSIAN    ROrARaiES. 


391 


with  stones  act  in  motion  by  the  slightest  touch, 
and  rolling  everj'  thing  before  them.  After  they 
had  scaled  one  height,  they  found,  to  their  dismay, 
that  a  succession  of  such  impediments  had  to  be 
surmounted :  no  level  gained,  no  position  occupied, 
put  an  end  to  their  toiU.  The  peasantry,  if  forced 
to  yield  one  point,  instantly  made  for  another,  and 
the  weary  pursuer  discovered  that  his  strength 
aod  liis  spirits  were  exhausted,  without  having 
any  thing  more  to  boast  of,  as  the  price  of  his  toils, 
than  a  few  hovels,  which  had  already  been  aban- 
doned by  their  inhabitants,  and  ran^ckcd  of  their 
miserable  contents.  In  fact,  the  mountaineer  in 
hig  wild  mode  of  warfare,  relinquishes  his  post  the 
motneot  he  finds  it  untenable,  and  then  leads  his 
foe  a  wearisome  chaise  from  ridge  to  ridge,  till 
whole  battalions  arc  disorganised,  and  reduced  to 
the  necessity  of  retreating,  or  of  continuing  the 
contest  with  the  certainty  of  defeat. 

To  the  nature  of  these  localities,  all  in  favour  of 

the  defenders  of  the  soil,  we  must  ad<i  the  manner 

in  which  the  assailants  were  armed.    It  was  during 

Ihe  scventectli  ceiittiry,  and  part  of  the  sixteenth, 

that  our  Subalpines  so  often  repulsed  the  elite  of 

Kemont,  and,  at  that  period,  regular  trooptt  were 

So   encumbered   by   the   ofTetisivc  and  defensive 

■vcapons  which  they  bore,  that  it  was  quite  impoR- 

■itiWi  that  their  movements  could  be  mHde  with 

mxn  Aegree  of  celerity.     Imagine  a  body  of  men 

rug^  eminuiice.  themscl^ 


29*2 


W.\].DF,NSIAN  RESEARCHES. 


r 

9 


accoutred  iti   like  manner,  or  led  by  an 
equipped   after  the   fashion   of  Uie  Ritt-mast 
Dugaid  Dalgetty  ;  >vitli  buff  coat  and  jack-boot 
Steel  back  and   brcast-platc,  plate   sleeves,  and 
head-piece ;  and  anned,  not  with  the  Ught  bayonet 
and  firelock  of  the  present  day,  but  with  the  pon-j 
dcFOus  arcpieliuss,   the  awkward    matchlock 
caliver,  and  tlicir  necessary  accompaniments 
match,  the  bandileer,  and  the  rest.     Every 
char;ge  of  their  cumbrous  pieces  must  have 
the  work  of  lime,  even  on  level  ground;  but  whea^ 
they  came  to  be  impeded  by  iip-hill  difficu!ti£ 
their  advance  could  have  carried  but  very  Itttlaj 
terror  to  an  unencumbered  peasantry,  who  coul 
make  deadly  use,  from  their  places  of  conccalmen^| 
of  the  veiy  weapons,  which  were  all  but  unservice 
able  in  the  hands  of  troops,  scrambling  over  bmkt 
ground,  and  fainting  under  the  weight  of  tha^ 
which  they  had  to  cany.    The  droppmg  fire,  firs-  t 
from  one  quarter,  then  from  another,  and  ever^y 
shot  telling,  and  multiplied  by  the  echoes  of  tlk<? 
mountain,  carried  terror   to  the   hearts  of  li»« 
bravest.     In  vain  they  raised  their  voices  to  en- 
courage one  another,  and  shouted  for  the  battle : 
if  a  momentary  triumph  appeared  to  exhilarate     . 
them,  and  the  mountaineers  fled  before  them,  it    1 
was  but  to  draw  them  into  some  ambuscade ;  to 
lead  them  breathless,  and  in  broken  order,  to  some 
narrow  and  precarious  defile,  on  the  edge  of  a  pre- 
cipice, when  the  fugitives  would  turn  round  upon 


M 


WALDBNSUN   RBSE.lRCIies. 


293 


their  pursuers,  and   man   griippUng  man,  would 
make  the  welkin  ring  with  the  yells  of  terrified 
I     wretches,  tumbling  into  the  pilfs  below,  or  flying 
;     in  confusion  from  the  fate  of  their  companions. 
It  was  then  that  the  work  of  death  began.     None 
could  ntlly  the  troops  when  once  they  turned  their 
backs  in  flight.     The  agile  mountaineers  had  no- 
thing to  do  hut  to  pursue  and  to  slay ;  and  who 
can  wonder  if  a  frightful  vengeance  was  wreaked 
.     upon  the  aggressors  t 

r  Thus  even  the  flower  of  veteran  armies,  which 
I  boasted  of  having  been  led  to  victory  against  the 
f  chivalry  of  France  and  Germany  in  the  plains  of 
Lombardy,  were  discomfited  by  hunters  of  the 
I  Alps,  and  by  shepherds  and  goatlierds,  who  be- 
f  Ifeved  that  God  was  with  them,  and  who  lefl  their 
sbeejifolds,  and  the  hleatiiigs  of  their  flocks,  to  en- 
counter the  pcriU  of  battle,  rather  than  surrender 
their  personal  and  religious  rights.  Harassed  by 
marchings  and  counter-marchings,  the  troops  and 
their  commandere  became  weary  and  disgUKtcd 
with  the  service.  The  counsellors  of  the  prince 
gladly  sought  for  some  plea,  upon  which  they 
miglit  extricate  their  tiovereigu  and  his  captains 
from  a  disgraceful  conflict ;  and  then  they  remem- 
bered, that  levies,  and  treaties  of  the  most  bind- 
ing nature,  guaranteed  to  the  Vaudois  the  uninter- 
Topted  iMWuession  of  their  valleys,  and  the  free 
exercise  of  tlieir  religion.  The  forces  were  con- 
•eqiiently  recalled,  old   privileges  were   rati6ed, 


F 


20t  WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHES. 

sacred  riglits  were  rccogiii^,  and  the  Waldeusiut 
Church  had  rest, — till  firesh  orders  came  from 
Rome  to  vex  it 

From  till;  hamlet  of  Tagliaretta,  we  descended 
into  a  deep  ravine,  and  then  mounted  again  towards 
Kiavoula  and  Rua.     From  the  latter,  where  wc 
were  obliged  to  leave  the  pony,  we  had  a  fine  view 
of  the  mountain  pasturages  of  La  Cea,  which  at 
this  time  were  full  of  cattle.     After  resting  our- 
ftctves,  for  about  half  an  hoar  at  a  chalet,  and 
enjoying  the  refreshment  of  some  rich  milk  and 
cream,  we  again  crossed  a  niviivc  of  considerable 
depth,  and  then  commenced  the  more  arduous 
task  of  climbing  the  rocks  of  CastelUizzn.  Hitherto 
wc  had  bt^cn  in  the  midst  of  cultivation  of  some 
sort,  aud  though  we  occasionally  traversed  tracts, 
which  man  had  not  yet  been  able  to  subdue 
beneath  the  spade  or  the  hoe,  the  soil  was  for 
the  most  part  productive  of  something ;  but  now 
tlie  scene  changed  entirely,  and,  without  a  tree  t<>— 
shade  us,  wc  toiled  vip  a  rocky  acclivity  under 
scorching  sun,  and  upon  a  burning  surface.     Thi 
steep  was  closed  in  by  a  cliff,  which  rose  ulm< 
peipendicularly  from  its  base,  and  terminated  i 
that  tower-like  sunnnit,  which  has  therefore 
tainetl  the  name  uf  O^stelluzzo ;  but  tliough  w^ 
strained  our  eyes  to  discern  tlic  means  by  whicb 
we  were  to  proceed,  we  discovered  none,  until  w^" 
arrived  close  toiL     >Ve  then  perceived  a  narroiff" 
ledge,  proJL-cLing  from  the  face  of  the  rock,  but 


WAI.DRNS1AN    KESRAKCIIES. 


Jrond  enough  to  udinic  one  at  a  tinio  to  ascend 
lizzy  path,  and  overliauging  the  depth 
below.  This  was  formidable — and  we  enquired 
of  our  guide  with  no  little  anxiety,  if  this  were 
the  only  approach  to  the  place  of  which  wc  wero 
in  quest  Grant  assured  us,  that  by  this  we  must 
continue  our  route,  or  retrace  our  ateps,  and 
return  home.  It  was  one  of  those  Alpine  path- 
ways, by  which  the  peasants  of  Tagliaretta  and 
Bonetd  had  often  eluded  their  adversaries :  for 
Woo  be  to  the  fool-hardy  pursuer,  who  would 
venture  to  plant  liis  foot  on  this  track,  with  an 
ly  in  his  front,  or  above  hun,  resolved  upon 
luting  the  passage. 
W'e  ascended  in  perfect  safety.  The  guide  led 
the  way — my  brother  followed.  My  wife  held 
Bt  by  a  leathern  belt  which  was  round  my  waist. 
Mr.  Amadee  Bert  brought  up  the  rear;  and  glad 
enough  ^vere  we,  when  we  had  cleared  the  ledge, 
kgain  we  had  to  clamber  up  another  height,  or 
ipid  slope.  Kfont  Vandetin  was  to  our  right, 
and  on  the  craggs,  which  overhung  our  line  of 
march,  we  saw  goats  peeping  down  upon  us,  as  if 
curious  to  know  what  wc  wanted  by  invading 
their  aerial  domains.  This  part  of  the  ascent  waa 
(aiiguing,  but  not  at  alt  dangerous.  But  the  heat 
of  the  day  was  by  this  time  intolerable,  and  we 
were  all  almost  expiring  under  thirst,  and  the 
((larc  of  the  sun  reflected  from  the  masses  of 
rock>  by   wluch   wc  were  surrounded.     \Vc  had 


2!^ 


WAUttNSlAN   Hl^^iAJlCUItK. 


P 


brought  no  watif  r  with  us,  for  Grant  had  promi^ 
us,  that  we  should  find  a  spring  at  the  very  point 
wliich  we  hati  now  attained.  The  disappointment 
was  too  great  to  be  described,  when  we  reached 
the  spot,  and  found  the  fountain  dry  1 

Again  we  toiled  on  towards  the  ridge  that  soared 
above,  and  never  shall  I  forget  the  bright  vision 
that  burst  upon  us,  when  we  attained  it.  As  if  by 
magic,  the  arid  and  stony  surface,  over  which  we 
had  been  dragging  our  wearj-  steps,  was  succeeded 
by  one  of  those  verdant  pasturages  of  the  Alps, 
which  the  crest  of  the  mountain  concealed  from 
our  view  ;  in  fact,  we  had  scaled  the  nim)>art,  and 
were  at  once  transported  to  an  ampliitheatro  of 
rich  grass,  on  the  western  side  of  the  ridge.  Cows 
and  sheep  were  grazing  round  their  keepers ;  the 
lowing  of  the  cattle,  and  the  voices  of  men  and 
boys,  greeted  our  ears ;  and  for  a  moment  we  foi^ 
our  thirst  and  fatigue,  in  the  channing  prospect 
that  broke  so  suddenly  u[K>n  us. 

When  we  made  our  wants  known  to  Che  shep- 
herds, they  went  in  search  of  another  spring,  in 
one  of  the  cliffs  of  Mont  Vandelin.  It  was  at 
some  distance,  and  we  waited  impatiently  for  their 
return.  But  again  we  were  disappointed.  This 
supply  had  also  failed,  and  we  were  almost  in 
despair.  The  cows,  which  were  depasture<l  here, 
were  not  in  milk  i  but  one  of  the  boys  bethought 
him  of  an  expedient  to  reUeve  us.  He  set  up  a 
loud  shout,  and  made  the  surrounding  mountains 


WALmmUN    RESLAUCHCS. 


297 


echo  with  his  ahriTI  and  prolonged  notes.  Pre- 
sently we  saw  goats  tiiishing  down  the  stet^iw,  and 
galloping  towards  us  in  all  directions.  It  was  the 
boy's  sba^y  flock,  which,  faithful  to  his  voice, 
obeyed  the  well-known  summons,  and  soon  filled 
our  leathern  cups  with  their  milk.  The  beverage 
was  not  such  as  to  quench  our  thirst,  hut  it  allayed 
it ;  and  never  was  there  a  more  gratefid  supply. 
Seated  on  the  green  stvard,  we  shared  the  contents 
of  our  basket  with  the  boy  and  liis  companions, 
who  had  so  kindly  volunteered  tlieir  assistance; 
and  after  n'posing  for  about  an  hour,  and  oniusing 
oureclvcs  with  the  conversation  of  these  children 
of  nature,  we  proceeded  in  search  of  the  memor- 
able cavern. 

But  I  must  not  omit  to  mention  the  interest 
we  took  in  questioning  the  boys  as  to  the  religious 
instruction  which  they  had  received.  They 
were  about  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  of  age,  and 
bad  been  in  the  habit  of  attending  the  hamlet  and 
central  schools.  Their  answers  were  accurate 
satisfactory ;  and  they  stated  that  it  was  so 
■iranged  among  themselves,  tliat  although  the 
»t«r  part  of  the  summer  was  spent  among  their 
tie  on  tilts  mountain,  or  in  the  chalets  near  at 
band,  yet  they  seldom  absented  themselves  from 
church  two  Sundays  together,  but  took  it  by 
turns,  m  their  families,  to  descend  to  the  vale 
below  at  the  hour  of  public  service.  Their  ap- 
pearance was  as  wild  and  uncouth  as  imagination 


SOS 


WALDBKSIAN   RBSBARCIIES. 


TO 

4 


call  paint,  but  there  was  nothing  rude  in 
curiosity  at  the  sight  of  strangers,  or  shy  or 
awkward  in  their  manner  of  accosting  or  replving 
to  us.  Thoy  presented  a  striking  contrast  with 
the  clownishness  of  the  peasant  boys  of  our  own 
country. 

We  had  taken  Castelluzzo  in  reverse  by  a  c 
cuitous  patli,  and  nottntbstanding  the  assurances 
of  our  guide,  that  this  was  the  right  way  to  ap- 
proach the  spot,  where  we  might  expect  to  find, 
the  cavern,  yet  I  entertained  doubts  of  our  succi 
Most  of  my  informants  had  described  it,  as  &r 
tradition  enabled  men  to  form  an  opinion  of  ii 
situation,  as  licing  half  way  domi  the  perpeni 
cular  face  of  Casteihizzo,  as  it  is  seen  from  t: 
road  between  I^  Torre  and  \'inar,  and  overhang- 
ing the  hamlets  of  Bonetti  and  Chabriole.  ^Vl 
were  now  much  above  this  supposed  site,  and  iar 
at  tJic  back  of  it  Grant's  notion  was,  that  some* 
where  near  the  pasturage,  where  we  had  taken  oi 
refreshment,  we  should  discover  a  commuiiicatioi 
which  would  lead  down  to  the  cavern.  Tbfl 
shepherds  confirmed  this  idea,  and  conducted  uf 
to  an  opening  in  the  rock,  which  had  eveiy  ap- 
pearance of  a  subterraneous  passage,  dcsccndiug 
into  the  bowels  of  the  mountain  ;  and  it  answered 
in  part  to  Leber's  representation  of  an  entrance, 
which  would  admit  one  person  only  at  a  time. 
One  of  the  boys  entered  first  with  a  lamp,  which 
we  had  brought  for  the  puqwse.     The  o|>erimg 


:1 


Ii 


WAI.PBM8IAK   RRfRAllCHBS. 


399 


jgig.  not  unlike  the  moutli  of  a  well,  which  bad 
broken  in,  and  at  the  depth  of  about  six  feet, 
there  was  an  horizontal  passage,  about  three  feet 
wide,  wliich  had  a  gentle  inclination  downwards. 
My  brother  and  1  foltowud  the  boy  one  after  the 
other,  but  we  soon  came  to  some  obstruction  in 
tlie  natural  formation  of  the  rock,  or  occasioned 
by  the  (ailing  in  of  large  blocks  from  above,  wliich 
prevented  our  further  progress. 

After  making  every  attempt  to  discorer  another 
passage,  we  gave  up  all  hope  of  finding  an  entrance 
to  the  cavern  from  this  quarter ;  indeed,  1  am 
persuaded  that  it  could  not  have  been  here,  for 
the  s|)ot  would  have  been  betrayed  at  once,  being 
cotic«alud  neither  by  a  thicket,  nor  by  crags,  but 
manifesting  itM.-lf  by  its  yawning  mouth. 

But  though  the  disappointment  was  vexatious, 
in  not  finding  any  trace  of  that  which  we  were 
keeking,  yet  the  glorious  prospects  around  much 
more  than  re|)aid  us  for  the  fatigue  of  the  day. 
The  shepherds  assisted  us  in  climbing  to  the  high- 
est point  of  Castelluzzo ;  it  was  a  calm  still  afler- 
Doon  when  wc  reached  it ;  the  heat  of  the  day  hod 
suniewhat  subsided,  and  there  was  not  that  Hicker- 
ing  and  dazzling  haze  in  the  atmotiphere.which  often 
cndiBrrasscs  the  sight  in  sultry  weather.  Seated 
upon  the  pinnacle  of  the  rock,  which  comniands 
a  view  of  the  whole  valley,  both  above  and  below 
La  Torre,  we  gazed  on  the  encliaiiting  scene,  first 
I      with  inexpressible  rapture,  and  afterwards  with 


300 


WALiiKN'lirAN   REkRARCIIEK. 


F 


P 


iUose  sensations  of  littteucss  aiid  inferiority,  to 
which  no  man  can  be  imensible,  who  finds  himself 
in  the  midst  of  the  vast,  the  spacious,  and  the 
enduring.  Our  eyes  wandered,  on  one  side,  over 
the  plains  of  Pii-niont  to  those  of  Lombardy, 
faintly  discerned  in  the  distance.  Turin  was 
plainly  marked  on  the  map  before  us,  and  the 
marble  fn)nt  of  tlic  Supcrga  glittered  under  the 
rays  of  the  western  sun.  The  Po  was  S4?en  wind- 
ing his  course  towards  the  north-cast,  and  receiv- 
ing the  waters  of  many  of  his  tributary  streams 
and  torrents,  ^^'e  could  distinguish  nearly  the 
whole  Une  of  Vaudois  territory  towards  the  plain, 
and  many  of  the  towns  and  viUiiges  which  once 
were  Protestant,  but  have  since  been  forced  into 
conformity  with  Rome.  Looking  over  the  Mar- 
quisate  of  Saluzzo ',  it  was  melancholy  to  behokJ 
Cavour,  and  Paesana,  and  Bar^,  and  Gaming-  fl 
lionc,  and  Penile,  and  Hubtana,  and  the  rich  vales 
which  formerly  added  their  numerous  population 
to  the  Waldensian  Church,  now  reduced,  Ukw- 
each  of  tbeise  towns  seen  in  the  dibt^uice,  to  m 
speck  upon  the  earth. 

'  Several  edicte  of  tlie  jmn  160^3,  <l«Kribe  die  M«n]iii»lc 
of  Saluzzo,  as  peopled  in  Rreat  part  by  prorcMon  nf  ihe  W«Un- 
sian  taitU.  An  edict  of  the  ItSlh  Dec.  16'2'J,  signed  Chada 
Enunuel, rcpreMutii  llu;  cxk-tit  of  ncin-confgnnilj  10  besucb, » 
to  prevail  not  only  at  Cacvana,  Vnviola,  aud  otlM^r  place*  aboot 
Sahiizo,  but  even  aa  far  south  as  Droi«ro,  Cwnglio,  Arcef^to. 
and  tl)c  valley  of  Msira. 


ISIAN   RESBARCIIRS.  301 

Such  were  the  remoter  objects  on  which  we 
glanced  from  our  elevated  watch-tower,  tnime- 
diately  beneath  us,  to  the  left,  were  tlic  lovely 
scenes  of  San  Giovanni  and  La  Torre,  embroid- 
ered with  vineyttrds,  corn-fields,  and  meadows; 
and  here  and  there  shaded  with  groves  and 
thickets,  an<l  spread  over  a  surface  varied  by  hills, 
knolls,  and  undulating  slopes ;  and  watered  by  the 
Pclice,  the  Angrogna,  Uiglionc,  and  otlier  torrents, 
and  by  those  artificial  clmnnels  which  wind  along 
the  sides  of  the  mountain,  and  descend  into  ilie 
plains  in  refreshing  rills  and  streamlets.  To  the 
right,  we  saw  Villar  and  its  hamlets,  part  of  Bobi, 
and  the  dark  glens  of  Val  Guichard,  and  the 
whole  of  L'Enver^,  and  the  park-like  beauties  of 
Pralebroue.  L'Envcrs  is  the  shady  side  of  the 
chain  of  mountains,  enclosing  Va!  Felice  to  the 
south ;  and  where  it  is  not  clothed  with  natural 
forests  of  alder  and  birch,  it  is  variegated  with 
rliododcudrons  and  flowering  shrubs,  the  former 
of  which  were  in  full  blossom  at  this  time,  and 
covering  the  ground  hke  a  mantle  of  crimson.  In 
bold  contrast  with  the  habitations  of  man,  and 
the  work  of  his  hand,  and  with  the  lovelier  fea- 
tures of  nature,  were  the  tremendous  cha.sms  and 
fields  of  rock,  which  glared  upon  us  in  the  nearer 
Ticinity  of  Coslelluzzo.  From  the  immediate  point 
where  we  were  perched,  we  looked  down  into 
the  liheer  depth  of  a  precipice ;    profound  guUs 


302 


WALDENSTAN    RESKARCnES. 


F 


and  ravines  yawned  on  every  side,  and  the  whole 
scene  was  bounded  by  an  indented  line  of  moon- 
tain,  one  peak  rising  above  another  in  splendid 
confusion,  amonp  which  the  lowering  heads  of 
Mont  Viso  and  ^'isolet,  and  of  the  Cols  St.  Julian 
and  D'Abries,  were  most  conspicuous. 

I  may  confidently  affirm,  that  nothing  on  earth 
is  to  be  compared  wth  the  effects  produced  upon 
the  mind  by  the  view  of  mountain  sccnerj'.  Wc 
enjoyed  it  upon  this  occasion  to  perfection.  It 
was  not  only  the  natural,  but  the  historical  map 
of  the  Waldenses,  and  of  the  Church  of  the  Alps, 
which  had  been  spread  before  us,  and  numberles 
reflections  crossed  our  minds,  each  of  which  added 
to  the  interest  of  our  excursion,  and  sent  us  home 
full  of  "  solemn  thinkings." 

We  retraced  our  steps  in  part,  and  returned  by 
the  narrow  ledge,  which  had  conducted  us  to  the 
summit  of  Castelluzzo.  The  descent  was  woisc 
than  the  ascent,  but  fortunately  our  heads  did  not 
fail  us.  It  rarely  hapjtens  that  a  pathway,  by  which 
a  guide  will  take  upon  himself  to  conduct  you,  is 
so  narrow  or  slippery  as  to  be  absolutely  perilous 
to  wary  steps ;  the  sight  of  a  precipice  is  bad 
enough,  but  the  adventurer  ought  to  know  whe- 
ther his  head  will  stand  it  or  not ;  if  it  will,  there 
are  few.  places  winch  a  steady  foot  may  not  run 
the  risk  of  crossing,  without  hanng  any  great 
matter  for  boasting.    1  was  at  tirst  ratlier  nenoas 


WAI.DF.KSIAN    RSSEARCHIK 


OD  my  wife's  account,  but,  when  1  saw  that  there 
HfS  no  apprehension  of  her  turning  dizzy,  my 
fears  abated. 

Grant  was  rather  piqued  at  our  ill  succes!;  in 
reganl  to  tlio  cavern,  and  offered  to  conduct  us  to 
auothcr  part  of  Castetluzzo,  but  lower  down,  where 
he  felt  certain  we  should  hare  better  fortune.  It 
would  not  take  us  much  out  of  our  way.  he  said,  as 
we  Diigbt  descend  the  mountain  in  that  direction ; 
and,  therefore,  we  agreed  to  accompany  hint.  Ha 
took  us  round  by  the  foot  of  the  peak,  from 
whence  we  had  enjoyed  our  glorious  view,  and 
then  by  a  thicket  to  the  edge  of  a  precipice.  This 
overlooked  the  face  of  the  clilf,  which  common 
txmdition  assigned  to  be  that  wherein  the  cavern 
mn  situated.  He  directed  us  to  look  down  the 
rock,  which,  for  some  hundred  feet,  was  as  |>cr- 
pendicular  as  a  wall,  and  pointetl  to  a  spot,  whtdt 
he  pronounced  to  be  the  mouth  of  the  cavern. 
Wc  were  still  incredulous.  For  how  was  it  pos- 
lible  for  any  human  being  to  reach  it  1  We  were 
oUiged  to  hold  each  otliurs  hands  and  roUars,  and 
(o  Btntch  our  bodies  aud  necks  to  tho  utmost 
over  the  precipice,  or  we  could  not  even  sec  the 
phee  who's  it  was  said  to  be. 

Grant  allowed  that  he  had  never  been  in  it  him- 
•cdC  but  protested  that  he  knew  persons  who  hod. 

But  how  ?  we  asked — for  t*.)  our  eyes  there  wai 
dot  the  slightest  bold  for  man's  baud  or  foot. 


SM 


W4l,t>RHSIAN 


fARCHES. 


He  explained,  that  the  de-scent  was  achieved 
by  stooping  over  the  projecting  crag  on  which  we 
stood,  and  catching  hold  of  the  rough  points 
the  cliff,  and  so  letting  yourself  down  till  yc 
should  come  to  a  sort  of  tunnel  or  thininey,  bj 
which  it  was  easy  to  descend,  one  at  a  time,  int 
the  cavern. 

But  how  were  women,  and  children,  and  aged 
fugitives,  to  perform  this  exploit,  which  we  con- 
fessed oureelves  utterly  afiraid  to  attempt  ? 

Grant  supposed  that  there  had  been  a  secor 
entrance,  which  was  now  lost,  but  most  pcrtins 
ciously  insisted,  that  by  the  very  means  which  hi 
had  •  descnbed,  acijuaintances  of  his  had  fount 
their  way  to  the  cavern,  lie  also  directed  our 
attention  to  an  immense  block  of  stone,  which 
appeared  as  if  it  had  fallen  from  the  rocks  above 
at  no  great  distance  of  time,  and  which  certainly 
did  seem  to  have  rendered  the  approach  more 
difficult  than  formerly.  "  If,""  said  ho,  "  you  could 
obtain  a  good  sight  of  the  face  of  tlio  cUlT  imme- 
diately umk-r  this  overhanging  crag,  you  would 
perceive  that  the  achievement  is  not  so  irapractic> 
able  as  you  may  imagine."  We  leant  over  th«fl 
precipice,  and  went  to  the  verge  of  prudence  in 
our  endeavour  to  ascertain  the  tact,  but  without 
coming  to  any  conclusion  upon  the  question,  and 
we  gave  up  the  enquiry  for  the  present,  with  the 
determination  to  come  to  the  spot  again,  provided 


1 


WALDENSIAN    RESEARCBBS.  305 

with  rope  ladders  and  other  implements  to  &cili- 
tate  the  search. 

We  pursued  our  way  back  to  San  Margarita. 
by  Borel  and  Copia,  fatigued  certwnly  by  our 
day's  work,  but  gratified  beyond  all  expectation. 


CHAPTER   VI. 


The  ffotpilak—  The  Grammar  Sckeol. 


r 


1 


The  vicinity  of  the  hospital  to  San  Mar^^ta 
gave  me  frequent  opportunities  of  visiting  this  in- 
stitution ;  and  as  the  times  at  which  1  made  my 
visits  were  irre^Iar,  and  oflen  unexpected,  I  had 
the  satisfaction  of  hclieving,  tJiat  the  good  order, 
which  I  found  to  prevail  there,  was  notliing  more 
tlian  a  specimen  of  the  uniform  attention  paid 
the  wants  and  comforts  of  the  ummtt^s. 

The  first  steps  towards  establishing  an  hospital 
for  the  express  reception  of  Vaudois  patients,  wis 
taken  in  the  year  18*24,  when  a  [H-tiliun  was  ad- 
dressed to  the  king  of  Sardinia  by  the  officers  of 
the  Table,  soliciting  his  majesty's  permission  (o 
purchase  a  house  and  tand  in  the  commune  of  Lt 
lorre.  which  might  serve  as  an  asylum  for  ibe 
aged,  infirm,  and  sick  of  the  Vaudois  |>opulatioa. 
This  boon  haviug  been  granted,  and  with  it  the 
royal  sanction  to  nominate  a  commission  for  the 
administration  of  the  institution,  the  Table  neu 
applied  themselves  to  the  equally  important  coo- 


WAI-DENSIAS   R»U<KAKniES. 


307 


[ 


I 


sidcration  of  the  ways  and  means  of  setting  it  on 
foot.  The  result  of  their  deliberation  was,  to 
make  a  public  appeal  to  the  Protestant  Churches 
of  Kurope.  It  was  nobty  answered  by  some  of 
them  ;  and  as  I  liave  before  stated  (sec  note,  p. 
159.)  105,000  francs  were  raised  in  France,  Swit- 
zerland, Denmark.  Sweden,  and  the  German  states, 
which  were  remitted  to  tlio  valleys  at  once ;  and 
with  part  of  this  sum  they  purchased  the  house, 
which  has  since  been  converted  into  a  hospital ; 
and  a  farm,  which  is  also  in  the  commune  of  La 
Torre,  and  which  yields  an  annual  rent  of  about 
BOOO  francs.  The  tiubscriptions  in  Kngland, 
Prussia,  aud  Holland,  being  carried  to  a  much 
greater  amount,  it  was  prudently  resolved,  by  the 
committees  who  had  the  management  of  them, 
to  invest  the  capital  in  the  public  funds  of  the 
countries  where  such  subscriptions  were  raised, 
and  to  remit  the  interest  by  yearly  or  half  yearly 
payments,  to  the  hospital  commission  at  La  Torre. 
This  has  been  done,  and  the  establishment  in  chief 
at  La  Torre,  and  the  dispensarj-  at  Poinaretto  in 
Val  San.  Martino,  enjoy  the  benefit  of  an  income 
from  abroad,  to  the  amount  of  400/.  a-year :  viz. 
lAO/.  from  England,  150/.  from  Prussia,  and  100/. 
from  Holland,  besides  the  rent  of  the  farm,  and 
about.  13/.  a-year  upon  a  nii)rt4;8{{C :  in  alt  nearly 
500/.  per  aimum.  Among  other  brnefactiom  to 
lhL<«  hospital,  the  late  emperor  Alexander  of  Russia 
pFcaented  it  with  4000  francs. 

L 


p 


WALl>P.N<tIAN   RESEAmmes. 


Tlie   building  is  admirably    situated    for    the 
puq>o<v  to  which  it  is  assigned.     It  is  in  the 
hamlet  of  Copia,  on  the  high  road  between  La 
Torre  nnd  Villar,  and  verj'  near  the  Protestant 
church  of  the  former.    It  is,  therefore,  in  a  direct 
line  of  communication  with  the  most  populous  of 
tlie~  Vaiiduis  villages,  and  in  tlie  centre  of  the 
population  of  the  valley  of  Lusema,  amounting  to 
9,800  souls,  or  half  the  whole  Protestant  co 
munity.     The  house    itself,  consisting  of  twel 
rooms,    the  smallest  about   sixteen    feet  square' 
is  of  a  handsome  exterior,  and  stands  within  an 
inclosure  of  about  two  acres.     A  better  site  couH 
not  liave  been  chosen ;  it  is  somewhat  ele 
perfectly  detached  from  other  buildings,  and 
the  advantage  of  a  fine  supply  of  running  water, 
besides  two  large  pools  or  reservoirs,  which  minister 
very  considerably  to  the  convenience  and  cleanli- 
ness of  the  establishment.     The  ground,  which 
forms  what  we  should  call  the  garden,  is  very  pro- 
ductive, and  is  divided  into  allotments,  which  yield 
corn,  fruit,  vegetables,  and  wine, 
r~    So  airy  and  charming  is  the  situation,  that  the 
first  view  dissipates  all  our  notions  of  an  hospital. 
but  upon  entering  the  house,  and  walking  throi^i 
the  rooms  which  are  allotted   to  the   patient<>, 
nothing  is  missed,  which  is  supposed  to  be  essen- 
tial to  an  institution  for  tlie  relief  of  malady  anii 
disaster.     The  rooms  were  kept  clean  and  well 
ventilated.     The  bedsteads  were  of  iron,  and  no 


1 

an 
;  could 
;vatad 

Qdhdfl 


WAt.HKNslAN    llf.SEAKCnKS. 


300 


greater  number  of  Ihk)i>  wore  placed  in  each 
chamber,  tliaii  tbu  space  nuuld  conveniently  ad- 
mit. I*roper  regard  was  paid  to  the  separation  of 
male  and  female  patients.  In  short,  there  was 
every  symptom  of  the  strictest  observance  of  all 
ihat  was  necessary  to  render  the  establishment 
creditable  to  the  directors,  and  benclicial  to  the 
unfortunate  objects  who  claimed  its  protection,  in 
regard  to  aliment,  economy,  and  treatment. 

The  Commission  of  the  hospital,  coniposL-d  of  a 
president,  Ircasiirer,  secretiry,  and  fivu  members, 
are  in  char{>e  of  the  concern,  and  issue  such  orders 
from  time  to  time  as  they  may  consider  proper, 
hut  the  internal  management  is  in  the  handii  of 
the  physician,  M.  Coucourde,  who  for  the  |K>or 
nltry  of  500  francs  a-year,  and  rooms  in  the 
boose,  with  such  other  advantages  a&  the  garden 
and  rations  may  afibrd,  gives  his  principal,  I  may 
ny,  his  whole  time  to  the  establishment,  and  con- 
ducts it  with  a  degree  of  tenderness  and  rt-gula- 
nty,  which  apeak  well  for  his  heart  and  judgment. 
Under  the  physician  are  a  ward-kecpcr,  who  ro- 
ooves  150  fnmcs,  and  the  matron,  who  is  paid 
190  francs  a-year,  fur  their  services,  wilh  lioard 
and  lodging.  The  surgeon  has  an  annual  atip«.>nd 
of  ^00  francs,  and  lor  this  he  visits  tlu:  boii]Htail 
at  stated  periods,  and  as  often  as  his  preatroMT 
b  required. 

The  hospital  hat  convenient  aceominod«tion  for 
CDiutceD  |tatieols,  and  ifac  diipeosary  at  I'ouiarutto 


age, 
thdrl 


for  eight ;  and  the  average  expenditure,  indf 
deDt]y  of  the  salaries,  is  at  the  rate  of  one  franc 
or  tcn-pcncc  a  day  for  each  patient,  inctudir 
charges  for  food,  medicine,  fuel,  and  wine.  [i 
the  coui-se  of  the  year,  about  two  hundred  persons' 
are  admitted  at  the  two  houses.  The  complaints 
most  common  to  the  sufferers  arise  from  old  age, 
inflammation,  accidents,  rheumatism,  and 
\  fevers,  brought  on  by  cold,  and  poor,  and 
living.  To  those  who  have  subscribed  to 
institution,  it  will  be  gratifying  to  learn,  that  theirl 
alms  could  not  have  been  better  bestowed ;  thai 
the  quantity  of  good  effected,  at  little  cost,  is  bo>fl 
yond  what  the  most  sanguine  could  have  expectedffl 
and  it  is  so  appreciated  in  the  valleys,  that  many 
a  blessing  is  invoked  Ujwn  the  straii^rs,  who  have 
contributed  to  its  foundation  and  eudotvment. 
"  Oh !  sir,"  said  a  patient  to  me,  who  was  but  just 
recovering  from  a  long  anil  painful  disorder,  **  bad 
it  not  been  for  our  brctliren  of  other  lands,  Im 
should  at  this  moment  have  been  a  hopeless  suf- 
ferer, and  writhing  under  agonies,  for  which  I 
could  have  obtained  no  cure  in  ray  hut  u|>on  the 
mountain ;  for  how  could  the  surgeon  have  attended 
me  as  often  as  my  malady  required  him,  at  such  a 
distance  from  his  homo,  and  without  any  expecta- 
titm  of  being  remunerated  for  his  trouble  T  ^ 

In  addition  to  the  annual  remittance  of  I50C^ 
the  London  Vaudois  Conunittce,  at  the  request  of 
that  watchful  friend  of  the  Vaudois,  Mr.  Bridge,  have 


WALDENSIAN    RCSeARCHtnt. 

sent  two  cases  of  surreal  iniitrunients,  of  English 
tnanufacture,  to  the  valleys — one  for  the  use  of  the 
hospital,  the  other  for  the  dispensary  ;  and  they 
have  also  defrayed  the  expense  of  a  wann  bath. 

It  would  be  doing  injustice  to  the  managers  of 
this  medical  establishment,  if  I  did  not  add  to  these 
statements,  that  the  shape,  in  which  the  daily  and 
monthly  accounts  are  kept,  is  one  of  the  most 
perfect  models  of  accuracy  and  perspicuity  which 
1  ever  examined.  The  number  of  patients  ad- 
mitted, dismiss4Hl,  and  retained,  with  their  names 
and  pnriiihes,  the  character  and  treatment  of  their 
disorders,  and  the  description  and  quantity  of  diet 
and  medicine  admimstered  to  thcm,are  inserted  in 
printed  forms,  which  furnish  the  inspector  with  a 
complete  knowledge  of  what  is  going  on  '. 


T1»  fint  mu  thtia : — 

Cahier  do  VUite. 
Vtiiui  da  moil  an  18 


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VALDEHSIAN   KESEARCUES. 


313 


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■Jlil|  »l  T 

UOUJUp^tl 

-Mlnlliiid  up 

S    2 

a     a. 

II11IIJ111I     V\     .>|l 
lHJIllnl!ll«9(l 

314  WA1.PKN8UN    RESBARCUeS. 

The  farm  belonging  to  the  hospital  is  a  nice 
compact  estate,  tying  in  a  rin<!-fcncc,  as  wc  should 
say  in  England,  and  well  irrigated  hy  one  of  those 
artificial  streamlets  brought  from  the  mountains, 
vrhicli  add  so  much  to  the  beauty  and  productive- 
ness of  the  laud.  It  Is  about  fifty-six  journeaux, 
or  acres,  in  extent,  and  )ields  grain  of  all  kinds, 
timber,  grass,  and  wine,  being  laid  out  in  those 
parterres  or  strips,  common  to  the  country,  which, 
when  the  corn  is  ripe,  present  the  picturesque 
appearance  to  the  eye  of  one  lat^  field  of  many 
colours.  This  property  is  not  immediately  coq- 
ttguous  to  the  hospital  itself,  but  it  is  sufficiently 
near,  and  lies  to  the  right,  abutting  upon  the  road 
as  you  come  from  La  Torre  to  San  Marguita. 
It  stretches  up  towards  the  hamlet  of  Ravadirc, 
where  the  ground  begins  to  swell  into  a  bold  accli- 
vity, and  the  farm  buildings,  standing  in  the  midst 
of  fine  spreading  trees,  give  it  a  more  imposing 
appearance  when  seen  from  a  distance,  than  a 
nearer  inspection  will  realize.  The  name  by  which 
it  is  known,  is  Des  Airals  Blancs,  and  many  s 
pleasant  nunble  did  I  enjoy  over  its  grounds, 
taking  an  interest  in  every  sheaf  that  was  tiound, 
and  in  every  h>ad  of  corn  that  «as  carried,  as  if 
the  prosperity  of  the  establishment,  to  which  it  be- 
longs, depended  solely  upon  the  produce  which 
Des  Airals  Blanci*  might  yield. 

The  Grammar  School,  as  well  as  tlic  tiospital, 


WAtPRNSUN   R»:aP.ARrHES. 


313 


was  so  near  otir  residence,  that  it  was  in  my  power 
to  make  frequent  visits  to  it  without  the  least  in- 
convenience. A  pleasant  walk  conducted  to  it, 
either  by  the  road  which  led  to  the  church,  or  by 
the  groves  and  vincyanis  on  the  banks  of  the 
BigUone.  This  latter  lengthened  the  distance  a 
little,  but  the  shade,  and  the  refreshing  sight  of  the 
vines  and  clusters  of  grapes  hanging  in  festoons  and 
in  rich  profusion,  were  tempting  enough  to  draw 
me  in  that  direction  even  in  the  heat  of  the  day. 

There  is  no  house  appropriated  to  this  SchooL 
It  is,  at  present,  held  in  the  Presbj-tery  of  La 
Torre,  close  to  the  l^rotestant  church,  and  it  is 
one  of  the  defects  of  the  system  of  public  instruc- 
tion in  the  valleys,  that  the  only  provision  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  Latin  or  Grammar  School,  at  the 
time  of  which  I  am  speaking,  was  a  small  stipend 
from  Holland,  towards  the  payment  of  a  master. 
This  amounted  to  no  more  than  G50  francs  effite- 
ticet,  or  780  livres  neut^es ;  to  which  the  Dutch 
committee  kindly  added  thirty  francs,  to  be  distri- 
buted among  the  schulars  liy  way  of  rewarding 
roerit.  Without  a  fixed  habitation  for  the  estab- 
lishment, witii  so  small  a  salary  for  the  instructor, 
and  without  any  of  those  advantages,  which  ore 
eaaential  to  the  well-being  of  an  institution,  sap* 
posed  to  be  for  the  encouragement  of  a  classical 
and  religious  education,  it  is  almost  ridiciUuus  to 
call  it  by  the  imposing  name  of  a  "  Latin"  or 
"  Grammar  School"    Having  investigated  its  coo- 


316 


WALDISHSIAN   RISBARCBeS. 


dition,  I  could  not  but  stnilu  at  Brezzi's  account 
"  U  y  a  de  plus  deux  ecoles  Latioes,  od  les  jeunes 
gens,  qui  embrassent  la  carriere  apostoUque,  ap- 
prennent  \e  Latin,  ct  un  peu  du  Grcc,  apres  quoi 
ils  {wsseut  dans  tes  academics  de  Lausanne,  de 
Geneve,  et  de  Bile,  pour  y  finir  letirs  etudes." 
Even  the  second  Latin  School,  such  as  it  was,  that 
is,  the  stipend  for  asccoud  Latin  schootniastcr,  in 
tlie  upper  valleys,  had  disappeared  before  my 
arrival,  for  the  benefactions  from  Holland  had 
fallen  off  so  considerably,  as  to  force  the  Table  (o 
discontinue  the  appointment,  for  want  of  funds 
necessary  to  its  support. 

A  fatality  seems  to  have  attended  every  endeft- 
vour  to  improve  the  home  education  of  the  youn|^ 
Vatidois,  who  are  designed  for  the  sacred  and  higher 
professions.  The  college  of  Angrogna  is  no  more  : 
so  complete  has  been  its  destruction,  that  we 
have  nothing  but  tradition  for  the  truth  of  its 
having  ever  existed.  Of  what  nature,  aud  how 
maintained,  and  how  conducted,  none  can  tell— 
every  nicmoria!  but  its  name  has  departed,  and 
we  know  no  more  of  it  than  this — that  youth  in- 
structed in  the  deepest  recesses  of  the  valley  of 
Angrogna,  were  sent  to  the  different  churches  and 
colonies  of  the  Waldenscs,  to  preach  the  pure 
faith  of  the  primitive  churcht-s.  That  schools  of 
a  superior  order  were  instituted  from  time  to 
time,  we  learn  fnim  the  edicts  that  were  publisht^ 
against  the  Vaudois  by  their  JchIuuk  rulers.     Oiu? 


W*U)BNSMN   RfSFARCRBS. 


of  tliein,  dated  ](;0'2,  cotnmandcd  such  schools  to 
be  shut,  tuidcr  pain  of  death ;  another  permitted 
tbem  to  be  held  within  the  assigned  Uniits;  a 
third  fuhninated  confiscation  and  banishment 
a^dinst  an  instructor  of  Val  Duhlonc,  whoso  suc- 
cessful method  of  instruction  seems  to  have 
attracted  the  angry  notice  of  the  government. 
Tlie  annual  salary  of  20A  which  Oliver  Cromwell, 
at  the  persuasion  of  Milton,  allotted  towards  the 
maintenance  of  the  "  chief  school  of  the  ^'alleys," 
WBS  witlidrawn  at  the  restoration  of  Charles  II. 
Another  benevolent  attempt,  to  sustain  a  system 
of  effective  instruction  for  the  Vaudois,  was  made 
by  Sharpe,  archbishop  of  York,  in  1709;  when 
he  urfjrcd  queen  Anne  to  make  provision  for  the 
schoolmasters,  as  well  as  for  the  ministers  of  the 
valleys.  Thin  alsf)  failed.  Again  tn  1*78,  His 
late  majesty  (ieorge  Hi.  issued  lettcnr-patent,  em- 
powering the  Protestants  of  the  valleys  to  solicit 
contributions  through  the  parishes  of  England,  "  to 
en^le  them  to  maintain  the  ministers,  churches, 
and  tchooU."  The  sum  raised  was  only  sufficient 
to  make  a  small  increase  to  the  allowances  of  the 
clergy. 

After  all  these  endeavours  and  plans  for  the 
amelioration  of  public  instruction  in  this  quarter, 
it  is  lamentable  to  think,  that  the  poor  resources 
that  remained  should  be  still  further  reduced, 
and  that  nothing  should  have  been  left  for  the 
encouragement  of  young  penions,  who  show  talent 


318 


WALORNSUN    RBSEARCITBS. 


and  inclinution  fur  hip;1ier  studies,  than  a  pittance 
for  the  maintenance  of  one  teacher,  and  twenty- 
five  shillings  to  be  distributed  in  prizes.     Holland 
has  generously  contributed  to  the  utmost  of  her 
means.    There  is  reason  to  fear,  that  late  political 
events  may   dry   up  some  of  the  sources,  from 
whence  her  bounty  has  hitherto  flowed  to  the 
valleys  ;  and  if  so.  the  central  and  hamlet  schools 
muKt  be  diminished.     The  tetter  addressed  by  the 
Dutch  committee  to  the  officers  of  the  Table  in 
1829,  concluded  with  this  affecting  observation : — 
"  You  will  perceive  by  this  cxposi^,  that  it  is  im- 
possible for  us  to  subsidize  the  Latin  school  at 
Pomaretto  any  longer ;  we  are  seriously  afflicted 
by  our  inability  to  contribute  further  towards  it,  be- 
cause we  well  know  the  necessity  of  tliat  establish- 
ment :  and  oiu*  regret  would  be  greater,  if  we  had 
not  reason  to  hope,  tliat  our  brethren  in  England 
will  be  able  and  willing  to  supply  the  dcflciency.' 
Their  hope  has  been  fulfilled.    Since  my  return 
from  the  valleys,  a  representation  has  been  made 
to  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  Parts,  by  the  London  Vaudois  CooH 
mittee ;  and  that  venerable  body  has  appropriated 
the  sum  of  28/.  or  30/.  a-year  towards  the  re-estab- 
lishmentoftheLatin  School  at  Pomaretto.  To  this, 
12/.  has  been  added  out  of  private  funds,  and  the 
elder  son  of  the  late  moderator  Peyrani,  at  the 
express  recommendation   of  the  officers  of  the 
Table,  was  appointed  master  in  May  last ;  and  I 


I 

f 


4 


WALDBNSIAN    M 


;hes. 


310 


Iiave  been  assured  by  several  letters  since  received 
from  the  Moderator  of  the  valleys,  that  he  is  dis- 
charginj;  tliu  duties  of  his  oflkc  with  zea)  and 
credit  to  himself.  I  believe  he  is  residing  in  the 
house  occupied  by  his  father,  and  should  f  ever 
revUit  the  valleys,  I  know  of  no  greater  pleasure 
that  I  can  receive  there,  than  to  find  the  son  dweU- 
ing  on  the  i)|>ot,  where  old  Kodolphc  I'cyrani  first 
inspired  tuc  with  enthusiastic  admiration  of  the 
Waldenaian  character,  and  to  be  told  that  he 
attempts  to  follow  his  lather's  steps,  though  he  is 
far  behind  him  in  taleuts  and  acquirements ; 

S«]uitun|iM!  paUrtn  non  pnMiliiii  tM)iii(. 


With  such  inadequate  provision,  as  I  hare  been 
describing,  for  imparting  chi&sical  and  elementary 
theological  knowledge  to  the  Vaudois  youth,  I  did 
not  make  ray  first  visit  to  the  school-room  of  Mr. 
Monasticr,  the  Latin  master  of  La  Torre,  with 
any  sanguine  expectation  of  fmding  much  uitcrcst 
taken  by  the  instructor  in  the  duties  of  his  voca- 
tion, or  any  great  proficiency  on  the  part  of  his 
pu|)iU.  What,  thouglit  I,  can  be  expected  of  a 
professor  of  Latin,  Greek,  and  Sacred  literature, 
whose  salarj-,  at  the  utmust,  is  33/.  a-year,  out  of 
which  he  is  liable  to  have  to  pay  rent  for  bis 
haliitatiou  and  lecture-room  i  Would  a  scholar — 
would  a  man  of  any  pretensioiui  undertake  the 
drudger)'  of  teaching  fur  such  a  remuneration  t 


320 


WALDEMSUN   RBSGABCHES. 


Or  if  he  does  ]>ay  proper  attention  to  his  charjje, 
is  it  possible,  that  with  all  the  zeal  in  the  world, 
he  can  prepare  hi»  boys  sufHciently  to  enter  upon 
the  higher  course  of  studies  at  Lausanne  or 
Geneva?  It  b  not  likely  that  the  most  studious 
can  he  pushed  on,  under  the  present  system  ia 
the  valleys,  so  as  to  be  able  to  compete  wiUi  their 
fellows,  upon  their  6rst  arrival  at  the  Swiss  univer- 
sities, or  that  any  Vaudois  youth,  of  eighteen  or 
twenty,  educated  in  his  own  country,  can  acqutn* 
the  degree  of  knowledge,  which  other  young  men 
of  tlie  same  age  are  sup|)Osed  to  be  capable  of 
attauiing.  Books,  and  every  intellectual  aliment 
are  wanting.  I  doubt  whether  there  is  a  globe,  a 
box  of  mathematical  instruments,  a  good  lexicon, 
or  the  requisite  for  pursuing  any  one  scientilic 
enquiry,  to  be  found  iu  all  the  three  valleys. 

Unreasonable  then  would  he  be,  who  looks  for 
much  in  the  Grammar  School  of  La  Torre,  as  it  is 
now  constituted ;  but  I  was  most  agreeably  sur- 
prised by  finding  the  master  >veU-infomied,  zealous, 
active,  and  successful  in  his  labours,  far  beyond 
any  thing  which  I  was  prepared  to  expect.  I 
have  put  together  in  this  place  the  result  of  my 
several  ohsen'ations  at  different  times.  The  school 
consisted  of  twenty-two  hoys,  whose  ages  varied 
from  nine  to  fifteen  and  a  half.  These  were  divided 
into  five  classes :  all  of  whom  are  regularly  in- 
structed in  religion,  and  read  the  Scriptures  at 
Stated  times. 


I 


WAIDEKSUN   RESCAROTES. 


3*1 


The  fifth,  or  lowest  class,  besides  writing  and 
arithmetic,  learn  the  I-atin  grammar. 

The  fourth  are  taught  out  of  an  easy  collection 
of  I^atin  sentences,  called  Chrestomathia. 

The  tliird  enter  upon  the  more  diHicult  passages 
in  the  Chrestomathia,  Plncdrus's  fables,  and  the 
Greek  grammar. 

The  second  leam  the  Greek  grammar,  Caesar, 
Quintus  Cartius,  and  (hid. 

The  first  class  read  Cicero,  Sallust,  Livy,  Virgil, 
Horace,  and  Greek  Testament,  and  geography. 

1  did  not  sec  any  of  these  authors  except  in  the 
shape  of  collections,  and  select  passages ;  and  there 
were  no  dictionaries,  but  such  as  were  lent  by  the 
mafftcr.  The  art  of  prosody  and  scanning  did  not 
form  part  of  the  routine  of  instruction.  The  price 
of  books  is  a  heavy  tax  and  drawback  upon  the 
,  ntstk  scholars  of  the  valleys,  and  it  is  for  this 
retson,  that  they  have  no  authors  entire.  Almost 
lU  die  books  in  use  come  from  Lausanne,  and  the 
in^KMt  at  the  custom-house  is  heavy.  The  first 
cost  of  a  Greek  grammar  is  three  francs ;  a  Latin 
grammar,  two ;  the  Chrestomathia,  three ;  the 
selection  from  Livy,  Sallust,  and  Cicero,  three  and 
three  qnartf!rs ;  a  dictionary,  nine.  The  duty  and 
curiage  add  materially  to  these  charges. 

The  geographical  instruction  communicated  to 
these  lads  is  contained  in  a  thin  duodecimo,  which 
presents  the  merest  outline,  but  M.  Monaxtier  has 
taken  great  pains  in  drawing  up  and  writing  out  a 

T 


r 


VAIDENSIAN   RESEARCHES. 

system  of  his  own,  which  the  boys  a^y  for  their 
use.  ^ 

The  hours  of  attendance  are  from  seven  to  ten, 
and  from  two  to  four  in  the  summer ;  and  Irora 
eiglit  to  eleven,  and  from  two  to  four  in  winter. 
It  must  be  remembered  that  all  the  scholars,  e:^! 
cept  two  or  three  who  board  with  M.  Monastier, 
come  daily  from  some  distance,  from  the  vl 
and  hamlets  of  La  Torre,  from  Villar,  San  G'v 
vanni,  and  Angrogna.  At  the  time  of  which  I 
speaking,  tliere  were  none  from  Rora  or  Bobi,  ta 
Val  Lusema,  two  only  from  Villar.  and  two  from 
Angrogna;  not  one  from  the  valleys  of  Penm 
and  San  Martino.  San  Giovanni  and  I«a  Torre 
supplied  the  greatest  number.  The  reason  is; 
that  the  parents  cannot  often  aiford  to  pay  for  the 
board  and  lodgings  of  their  children  away  from 
home,  and  such  only  attend  the  grammar-school, . 
who  can  go  and  return  the  same  day.  And  pi 
the  sum  for  which  M.  Monastier  would  funwt 
bed,  board,  and  washing,  is  only  20  francs  a  month, 
reckoning  ten  months  to  the  year,  and  charging 
nothuig  fur  vacations. 

Under  all  these  disadvantages  I  was  surprised 
to  find  how  well  the  boys  were  grounded.  What- 
ever they  leanit,  they  had  learnt  well.  It  was  my 
favourite  practice,  befbrc  tlie  school  broke  up  fut 
the  summer  holidays,  to  stroll  up  to  tlic  presby- 
tery, and  to  sec  M.  Alonastier  and  his  scholars  at 
their  stuilies.     They  answeretl  my  questions  with 


WALDEN5TAN   RESEARCHES.  323 

great  good  humour  and  readiness,  without  the 
least  shyness,  and  did  credit  both  to  their  master 
and  to  themselves.  I  was  particularly  pleased 
with  a  boy  of  the  first  class,  only  eleven  and  a  half 
years  old,  Pierre  Meille  of  San  Giovanni,  who 
construed  Virgil,  in  a  passage  to  which  I  turned 
at  random,  and  replied  to  some  mythological  and 
grammatical  questions,  which  I  put  to  him,  with 
aD  acciuracy  which  shewed  that  he  had  lost  no 
time.  Another  boy,  Paul  Cafiarelli,  repeated 
rules  from  the  Greek  grammar,  which  he  had 
leamt  some  time  back,  as  fluently  as  if  they  had 
been  the  lesson  of  yesterday.  These  were  satis- 
hctatj  proofe  that  the  foundation  is  well  laid,  and 
made  me  regret  the  more,  that  the  master  and  his 
promising  pupils  had  not  more  of  those  advantages, 
iriiich  are  indispensable  to  the  prosperity  of  such 
•B  establishment. 


y2 


CHAPTER  VII. 


FiOaramd  iu  hamlelt.  llandtt  Readtr*.  Gmpowder  pUt  i 
flihr,  Pretent  hamuMf  l>tiK*m  Protettantt  and 
CtalMcM.  Tht  otd  .talJier  of  LioiM,  The  yirgm  ^  lir 
PmttT.  Bohi.  Ruin*  of  Ibe  Fort  of  SibmA.  Tttt  Vtm^h 
PMMtar't  Charge.     The  hero  JaMer.     Octmia  Seian. 


-4 

1  ■gjim^h*  'I 


July  7 — 11.  This  week  was  spent  in 
excursions  to  various  quarters  of  the  Val  Lusent£ 
The  pastors  of  Villar  a^id  Bobi  had  put  us  in 
requisition,  and  from  their  presbyteries  we  found 
our  way  to  some  of  the  retired  hamlets  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  valley.  The  road  to  Bobi 
far  practicable  for  a  carriage,  but  our  only 
of  travelling  from  the  time  we  arrived  at  La  T 
was  on  a  pony  or  mule,  or  on  foot. 

On  our  way  to  Villar,  west  of  La  Torre,  we 
visited  the  small  school  of  the  hamlet  of  Theynaad, 
held  in  an  out-building  belonging  to  a  farm, 
property  of  M.  Bonjour's  family.  The  room 
about  fourteen  feet  square;  and,  in  the  winter, 
between  forty  and  fifty  children  of  the  hamlet 
congregate  together  in  this  small  space.  They- 
naud,  the  first  hamlet  after  crossing  the  Carofratn* 
torrent,  the  boundary  stream  between  Villar  and 


md, 

'4 


is.         1 


SB'  ftd.M.1 


VALDEKSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


325 


La  Torre,  is  the  most  fertile  of  the  eleven  "  qtiar- 
ticrs"  iuto  which  Villar  is  divided^  and  occupies 
the  space  between  the  ucctivity  of  the  mountain, 
and  the  river  Pelicc.  At  this  season  of  the  year 
it  vras  offering  a  rich  promise  of  cont  and  wine. 
Above  it,  and  to  the  nortli-wcst,  and  oti  the 
wood-crowned  heights,  which  terminate  in  rockjr 
pri»;ipices,  is  Chialmis,  a  picturesque  hamtet, 
where  t]ic  land  is  kept  in  a  fine  state  of  produc- 
tiveness by  the  "  canals  d'aiTosage,"  supplied  by 
the  torrent  Rospardo.  These  artificial  streamlets 
•re  under  regulations,  which  provide  thai  each  farm 
ihall  have  an  equal  hharc  of  ihc  benefit  derived  from 
them.  The  main  cut  extends  in  a  winding  direo-i 
tion  from  the  torrent,  along  the  whole  length  of* 
the  region  which  requires  irrigation,  and  from  this' 
sundry  smaller  canals  arc  funned  and  so  managed 
M  to  convey  the  water  into  each  field.  The  pro- 
prietor to  whom  the  fiehls  belong,  is  iwrmittcd  to 
draw  the  stream  into  bis  land  for  a  certain  time 
only*  else  the  main  supply  would  soon  be  ex- 
hausted in  dry  weatht;r,  and  his  neighbours  would 
be  injured.  The  process  of  diverting  the  water 
into  different  parts  of  a  field,  the  whole  of  whidi 
Un  on  a  slope,  b  contrived  by  means  of  a  broad 
tinplemont.  not  unlike  a  spadu,  whicli  ttm)ws  it  off 
ill  the  direction  ri-'tjuircd. 

Chiabuis  has  a  small  school,  where  about  for^ 
idiotan  assemble  in  the  winter,  and  it  has  also  a 
building  which  they  call  an  ancient  church,  but  In 


\ 


SS8 


■WALDESSIAS   BE8EARCHES. 


i 


Buch  a  dilapidated  state  at  present,  that  it  is  not 
weather-tight  Here,  m  the  troublesome  times 
the  seventeenth  century,  the  Protestants  of  tha 
eastern  part  of  \ii.\ar  used  to  meet  for  public  wor- 
ship. Those  of  the  western  quarters  found  their 
way  to  a  still  more  elevated  hamlet  called  Bezz^ 
where  they  served  God  after  the  manner  of  their 
fathers  in  a  fabric,  dignified,  like  this  of  Chialmis, 
with  the  name  of  a  church.  In  tlie  former  of  these 
sanctuaries,  to  which  the  hearts  of  the  people  stiQ 
cling  with  fond  veneration,  the  r^eut  of  VIQar 
reads  prayers  every  S\mday  afternoon  during  the 
year,  and  at  each  of  these  "  Eglisr s  Annex^es,"  in 
the  winter  months,  the  school-masters  perfiinn 
tlic  morning  service  of  tlic  Lord's-day  at  nine 
o'clock. 

In  those  provisions  for  the  instruction  of  the 
peasants,  and  for  the  gatlicring  together  of  the 
people  in  prayer,  even  though  it  be  without  the 
presence  of  the  shepherd  of  the  flock,  and  under 
the  guidance  of  an  inadequate  sutwtitutc,  we  trace 
the  salutary  practice  of  the  early  Churches.     As 
Christianity  spread,  the  number  of  public  readers 
was  increased;  and  it  was  wisely  thought  expe- 
dient, that  the  Scriptures,  and  "  Memoirs  of  the 
Apostles,"  and  other  pious  works,  should  be  opened 
to  the  poor  and  ignorant  of  the  remotest  and  most^ 
obscure  parts  by  every  possible  means.     Where™ 
it  could  not  be  done  well,  it  was  to  be  done  indif- 
ferently— r^her  than  be  left  undone ;  and  hence 


WALDBNSIAN   RBSEARCHBa. 


the  oflSce  of  reader  was  frequently  undertaken  by 
men  of  ver)-  moderate  acquirements-  If  there  be 
any  supercilious  scoKer  who  is  inclined  to  succr 
at  the  practice,  1  would  fain  convey  him  to  the 
ruined  chapel  of  Chialniis  or  lie/.z6,  in  the  stormy 
months  of  January  or  February ;  and  were  he  to 
behold  a  group  of  devout  mountaineers  kneeling 
on  the  cold  wet  floor,  and  only  half  sheltered  from 
the  rain  or  snow,  beating  in  at  the  roof  and  the 
onglazed  windows,  I  would  answer  for  his  being 
moved  to  better  thoughts  by  the  sight,  even  though 
the  most  ignorant  of  the  readers  should  be  lead- 
ing the  service.  Where  the  pastor  can  be  present, 
neither  the  recital  of  the  prayers,  nor  the  reading 
of  the  Scripture  passage  ought  to  be  left  to  the 
regents;  but  in  the  more  mountainous  districts, 
where  he  cannot  find  his  way  to  the  people,  nor 
tbey  to  him,  it  is  most  wisely  and  piously  ordered, 
that  those,  who  hunger  after  the  word  of  God, 
should  not  go  miPcd.  Happy  would  it  be  for  tbe 
members  of  our  own  Establishment,  in  some  of  the 
extenare  parishes  which  1  could  name,  if  there 
were  church  officers,  under  the  character  of  readers 
or  catechists,  who  should  be  authorised  to  assem- 
ble the  inhabitants  of  farms  and  cottages,  which  are 
remote  from  the  parish  church,  and  read  such  part 
of  tbe  Church  service  as  might  be  thought  conve* 
nient. 

Mr.  Gay,  the  pastor  of  Villar,  observed  to  me, 
when  I  was  conversing  with  htm  upon  the  con- 


32S 


WAi.DKSSUN    RBffiARCUBS. 


I 


4 


(lition  of  his  parishioners,  that  the  inhabitants  of 
the  mountain  or  higher  hamlets,  were  more  devout 
than  those  of  the  vale.  MUar  is  a  populous  com- 
mune, and  may  be  regarded  as  a  iair  specimen  of 
a  Vaudois  parish,  both  as  to  its  localities,  produc- 
tions, and  moral  condition.  It  extends  on  each 
side  of  the  Pehce  almut  three  miles  il)  length,  aod 
its  hamlets  are  spread  north  and  south  upon  the 
acclivities  of  the  mountains,  which  conttne  tlus 
part  of  the  valley  of  Lusema.  Corn,  wine,  chesnutf, 
and  other  fruits,  are  as  abundant  as  the  nature  of 
a  varying  soil  by  rock  and  river  side  will  admit 
Fish  in  the  streams,  and  game  in  the  woods,  add 
something  to  the  resources  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  great  complaint  here,  as  in  most  other 
Vaudois  parishes,  is  the  increase  of  population, 
without  a  corresponding  increase  of  the  means       . 
of  subsistence.      Its   present  population  is  about  fl 
2,300;  the  increase  in  the  last  seven  years  has 
been  100.     From  280  to   300  of  the  people  of 
ViUar  are  Roman  Catholics,  and  the  number  a! 
these  has  recently  augmented  to  the  amount  of 
about  fifteen   every  year.    The  families  of  the 
custom-house  officers,  fi-onticr  guard,  ant)  others 
in  the  civil  or  military  service  of  the  government, 
account  for  this  augmentation.     In  the  Memoircs 
of  Morel,  printed  in  1550,  the  number  of  persona  ^ 
professing  the  Waldensian  faith  is  stated  to  be  V 
800,000.    This  must  include  not  only  the  Vaudois 
of  l^emont,  and  the  Protestants  in  the  marquisate 


WALDEHSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


329 


bf  Satuzzo  and  province  of  Suza,  but  their  brethren 
also  on  the  other  side  of  the  Alps,  in  Provence 
and  Dauphinc.  In  1501,  a  process  was  instituted 
against  the  Waldenses  by  the  archbishop  of 
Embrun,  and  the  commission  reported,  that  in 
the  Alpine  towns  and  villages  of  the  dioceses  of 
.  £mbrun  and  Turin,  there  were  more  than  50,000. 
In  the  treaty  between  Henry  IV.  and  the  Churches 
of  the  Valleys.dated  1592,  the  proportion,  between 
the  Protestants  and  Roman  Catholics  of  the  val- 
leys, nas  stated  as  a  hundred  to  one.  In  1826, 
Mr.  Bridge  found  the  numbers  to  be,  Protestants 
18,729,  Roman  Catholics  2,880.  In  1829,  the 
latter  had  increased  to  3,320.  In  round  numbers 
therefore,  the  present  proportion  is  only  as  six  to 
one.  The  number  of  Barbcs,  or  Pastors,  in  tho 
sixteenth  century,  was  110. 

Few  places  suffered  more  from  religious  feuds 
than  Villar,  during  the  conflicts  that  raged  from 
1A61  to  1690.  A  church,  not  like  the  small  sanc- 
tuaries of  Chialmis  and  Hczx^,  but  of  large  dimen- 
sions, with  tower  and  belfi^'.was  utterly  demolished. 
It  was  built  so  as  to  point  north  and  south,  and 
waa  said  for  this  reason  to  have  been  an  object 
peculiarly  marked  for  destruction.  A  more  terri- 
ble act  of  vengeance  was  intended  for  the  present 
temple,  and  its  conaregation,  about  a  century  ago, 
which  resembled,  both  in  its  machination  and  dis- 
covery, the  gnnpowder-trcason-plot  of  our  own 
cuuntry.     Formerly  there  was  a  convent  which 


r 


I 


8M  WALDBSSIAN    RESEARCHES. 

stood  at  no  groat  distance  from  thi 
church,  and  the  scheme  was  to  pUoe  gunpomlcr 
under  the  foundations  of  the  church,  and  to  lay  a 
train  from  it  to  the  convent,  which  was  to  be  fired 
when  the  Vaudois  population  were  assembled  at 
the  hour  of  Divine  service.  A  Vaudois  woman 
received  an  anonymous  scrawl  from  &omt:  humane 
friend  of  the  other  religion,  advising  her  not  to  ga 
to  church  on  the  day  fixed  for  the  execution  of 
the  plot — this  led  to  its  detection. 

The  Protestant  and  Roman  Catholic  inhabitants 
of  Villar  are,  at  present,  living  leather  without 
any  display   of  animosity,  and    I  am  quite  per- 
suaded, that  alt  the  natives  of  this  part  of  Piemont 
would  rcf^rd  each  other  with  feelings  undisturbed 
by  any  religious  differences  of  opinion,  if  the  penal 
statutes  and  inabihties  were  removed.     I  delight 
in  recording  a  proof  of  the  good-will  which  pns  ■ 
vails  between  the  two  parties,  and  which  is  seldom 
interrupted,  except  by  the*  meddling  of  the  cur^ 
The  municipal  council  of  Villar,  which  administers 
the  affairs  of  the  place,  is  composed,  as  in  the 
other  communes,  of  five  members,  of  whom  three 
must  always  be   Roman  Catholic.     ^Vhen   the 
syndic  or  principal  member  is   Protestant,  the 
syndic  adjoint  or  depute,  must  be  Roman  Catho-  - 
lie,  and  the  reverse.     But  with  this  majority,  the  « 
council  agreed  to  allow  100  Cranes  a  year  to  the^ 
Protestant  school-master,  or  regent  of  the  central 
school.    The  vote  of  the  municipal  body  was  noc 


I 


4 


■BBeAitcnes. 

into  eficct,  because  the  superior  authorities 
tasued  a  veto.  This  council,  upon  another  occa- 
sion, expressed  its  willingness  to  make  the  grant  of 
B  piece  of  ground  belonging  to  the  commune,  for 
die  site  of  u  building  for  a  girls'  school ;  the  school 
to  be  built  by  the  London  Committee.  But  the 
committee  could  not  accept  the  offer  for  fear  of  a 
prohibition,  when  the  work  might  be  half  finished. 
During  the  whole  period  of  the  French  govern- 
ment, when  the  Vaudois  were  under  the  sceptre 
of  Napoleon,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  religious 
and  civil  rights,  there  was  no  instance  known  of 
discord  arising  out  of  Protestantism  or  Romanism, 
and  in  no  case  did  a  Vaudois  visit  upon  a  Roman 
Catholic  the  injuries  or  the  affronts,  which  he  had 
preiiously  received.  This  was  the  more  extraor- 
dinary', because-  the  recollection  of  the  horrible 
plot,  concocted  by  the  cure  of  Is.  Torre,  as  related 
in  my  first  Narrative,  was  yet  fresh  in  the  memory 
of  several  who  were  destined  to  destruction.  I 
may  take  this  opportunity  of  mentioning,  that  the 
Aouable  Odetti,  the  good  Catholic  who  was  the 
Vievis  of  defeating  it ',  was  still  living  in  1829. 
-A  peasant  in  my  hearing  sung  a  song  in  patois, 
which  contained  the  history  of  this  plot,  and  its 
providential  discovery ;  but  there  was  no  appeid 
in  it  to  angry  or  vindictive  passions. 

The  objects  at  \  illar,  which  the  traveller  will 
find  himself  inclined  to  regard  with  peculiar  inter- 

I  Hm  Nunuifc  of  an  Eu:urawn  to  tbe  Vauilon,  Cbaj>.  V. 


8S3 


WAtDBNSlAN    BESEARtllES. 


est,  besides  those  which  I  have  already  mentioned!, 
are  the  girls"  school  endowed  by  the  London  Com- 
mittee— the  palace,  as  it  is  called,  a  large  building 
on  the  road  to  Bob),  constructed  by  the  Savoyards 
who  came  to  take  possession  of  the  confiscated 
lands  of  the  Vaudois  in  1686 — the  school  at  Subi- 
asca,  built  at  the  expense  of  that  generous  bene- 
fector  of  the  Waldensian  Church,  Count  W'ald- 
boui^  dc  Truckses — the  school  at  Puys,  a  liandet 
on  L'Envers,  established  by  Colonel  Beckwith,  a 
name  connected  with  some  act  of  benevolence  in 
every  parish  of  the  valleys — the  school  of  Buffit, 
remarkable  for  the  striking  beauty  of  its  situation, 
•'  situe,"*  as  it  was  truly  described  to  me,  "  dans 
unc  vaste  prairie,  bonlce  au  midi  dc  magnifiqiKS 
chataigniers," — and  the  romantic  abode  of  the  old 
soldier  Giraudin,  on  the  banks  of  the  Liossa  tor- 
rent, which  &]ls  into  the  PeliCe  from  the  south. 
We  visited  this  latter  spot  in  the  cool  of  the  even- 
iog,  after  enjoying  the  pastor's  hospitality,  and  the 
society  of  as  many  of  his  friends  as  he  could  seat 
at  his  table,  where  the  same  unreserved  and  uiKa- 
bearted  manners  were  manifested,  which  I  have 
before  described. 

We  expected  to  find  one  of  those  lovely  glens      - 

in  which  nature  reigns  supreme,  without  any  ot ^ 

the  intrusive  improvements  of  man.    Whether  it    ~ 

is,  that  there  is  not  the  taste,  or  the  means  suffi 

eient  to  give  that  fuiishcd  character  to  landscape 
which  we  are  in  the  habit  of  admiring  in  England^, 


4 


WALDEKSIAN    RESEARniES. 


333 


by  planting,  laying  out  walks,  and  otherwise,  or 
whether  the  beauties  of  the  natural  scenery  are 
enough  of  tlicmsclvcs  to  satisfy  the  natives  of  the 
valleys,  certain  it  is  that  ornamental  gardenhig. 
and  the  cultivation  of  pleasure  grounds,  do  not 
form  the  study  of  the  Vaudois.  Here,  then,  we 
were  not  a  httle  surprised  to  find  that  ever}'  pes- 
sible  advantage  had  been  taken  of  the  local  capa- 
bilities, and  that  a  spot,  naturally  beautiful,  had 
received  all  the  improvement  which  could  be 
introduced,  without  disturbing  its  original  features. 
The  venerable  proprietor  of  the  little  domain  had 
lenred  in  the  army,  and  had  risen  to  the  rank  of 
captain,  before  the  withering  edict  was  renewed 
by  the  restored  house  of  Savoy,  which  closes  the 
door  of  promotion  upon  the  VaudoLs.  Captain 
Giraudin  liad  seen,  in  his  campaigns,  the  modes 
which  are  adopted  in  other  countries,  of  giving 
that  helping  hand  to  nature,  which  none  but  men 
f>f  taste  can  apply  successfully.  On  his  return  to 
his  native  valley,  he  resolved  to  amuse  his  declin- 
ing years  by  practising  the  lessons  which  he  had 
Icamt :  and  could  his  "  Sabine  farm,"  with  its 
fountain,  and  rivulet,  and  overhanging  rocks,  and 
the  contentment  that  reigns  there,  be  transported 
to  Windsor  or  >^ersaille8,  the  richest  jewel  in  the 
royal  crowns  of  England  and  France  would  not 
be  too  much  in  exchange. 

With  singular  felicity  there  is  not  a  tree  or 
ihrub  cither  left  or  planted  in  a  wTong  place,  there 


334 


WALDEKSIUi   BSSBABCTfES. 


\ 


is  not  a  feature,  which  he  has  added,  too  fomuil, 
too  pretty,  or  in  any  degree  out  of  character  with 
the  wild  and  noble  scenery  by  which  he  is  sur- 
rounded.    He  has  diverted  a  branch  of  the  Liossa 
torrout,  he  has  formed  rills  and  cascades,  he  hu 
trained  his  vines,  arranged  his  Sower4>eds,  walled 
iq>  his  little  terraces,  enlaq^cd  or  contracted  his 
grottos,  led  his  paths  through  groves  and  brakes 
of  small  extent,  and  has  accomplished  his  designs 
with  such  a  masterly  hand,  that  it  almost  pro- 
voked us  to  attempt  to  discover  some  Cault.     All 
ithis  has  been  done  by  his  own  manual  labour;  f 
he  has  built  a  cottage  adjoining  his  own,  in  whidi 
tlie  whole  of  the  carpenter's  and  mason's  work   M 
was   wrought  by   himself.    The   break-water  in 
miniature  erected  against  the  winter  floods  of  the 
Liossa,  which  might  otherwise  sweep  away  the 
fruits  of  his  toil  and  taste,  consist  of  stones,  eveiy 
'  one  of  which  was  placed  there  by  himself;  and  in 
,  this  charming  spot  he  dwells  in  the  garb  and  with 
1  the  simple  manners  of  a  peasant,  but  nith  the 
\  mind  and  the  enjoyment  that  princes  might  envy '. 


I 


'  Fendou'a  beautiful  piciara  tok  boforc  me,  as  we  re^MMd 
aBMog  tint  Dune*  of  rock  which  onthmg  the  I  inwii.  mhI 
gu«d  Dpon  the  M  man'!  Cufj-land.  "  Tdenuu.-(|uc  futwqn 
de  voir,  arcc  uac  appaiODOe  de  nutique,  tool  ce  <iiii  pcut  charnKt 
I«t  jeux.  Oa  n'y  vo^t  ni  or,  oi  argent,  ni  maibrr,  nt  cotocuies, 
ni  tableaux,  a\  statues ;  celte  grotte  6to«l  taitt^  daas  te  roc,  to. 
Toutos  iildnea  dt!  tucatlle«,c(dr  rcxjuiltra  ;  rlleeioil  lapii*^  d'un^ 
jcaoc  ngxit  qtii  tUndoit  scs  brancbes  aouplea  ^ilmDcal  de 


I 


WALDENSUN    KESEARCriKS. 


335 


Before  we  left  this  little  paradise,  M.  Giratulin 
inrited  us  to  enter  his  cottage,  and  to  taste  his 
wine.  The  flavour  of  the  juice  by  no  means 
accorded  witli  tlic  delicious  aspect  of  the  grapes, 
as  they  hung  in  purple  clusters  from  the  tendrils, 
and  the  interior  of  the  habitation  was  as  much 
tuilikc  the  scenery  out  of  doors  as  a  hovel  is  un- 
like a  palace ;  nothing  that  we  saw  bespoke  com- 
fort or  attention  to  the  delights  of  "  home,  sweet 
home,"  save  an  old  family  Bible  lying  open  upon 
a  table.  Some  magic  wand  seemed  to  have  been 
applied  to  tease  and  astonish  us.  Was  the  owner 
of  this  cabin  the  man  of  refined  taste,  who  had  but 
jast  realized  to  our  sight  the  refreshing  dreams  of 
the  groves  of  Cal^'pso,  or  the  hanging  gardens  of 
Babylon  i  Such,  however,  are  the  Vaudois  ;  simple- 
minded  peasants,  cultivators  of  the  soil,  kcejicrs  of 
sheep,  vine  dressers,  whose  joy,  like  the  Scripture 
men  of  old,  is  to  dwell  under  their  vines  and 
their  fig  trees '. 


cotit.  Des  foDtaioe*,  cooluilc*  a*ec  nn  doux  mimnun 
d»  pii*  wmtt  (fananuiUK*  ct  <1«  viobttMh  fiiniioicnt  eo 
I  ficox  dM  liMiii  atom  puns  ot  atiui  ckm  qm  le  ciutal : 
nilka  Smts  miiMuiU  enailkMeni  1m  upU  v«rU  doDt  Ut  ftoOa 
4loit  ennraDDte.'' 

*  In  pwig  lo  mod  returning  from  VHu,  we  pMaed  m  ilirine 
cmOed  "  L«  PUari.'  «  "  I'iiori  T&vi^,"  bnnuKirotitljr  no  tunocd 
ia  nonory  of  liie  icalluit  cofenel,  who  pojcected  himNtT  beliiod 
It  duini;  die  heat  of  an  uq^aKemeBt  wktcb  vat  fought  here  in 
Um  tgwhrtioaajy  war.  I  ueutiou  Uii«  >f*ia,  u>  espUui  that 
"  Tlw  nrgin  of  tbt-  I'lllar,"  »  one  of  tbe  nuinetouii  diuioctiuus 


S86 


WALHiNfilAN   RBSBARCHES. 


h 


July  8.  We  rose  very  early  in  the  monuug, 
and  pursued  our  way  to  Bobi  before  the  son  was 
too  hot  for  the  journey.  Bobi  is  the  last  Vati- 
dois  commune  towards  the  west  and  south-west, 
at  the  foot  of  the  ^cat  Alpine  chain  which 
separates  Piemont  from  Dauphine.  It  is  so  finely  f 
situated,  and  presents  such  a  scene  of  complicated 
grandeur  and  beauty,  that  it  defies  all  description. 
Nor  can  it  be  represented  faithfully  by  the  pencil, 
for  the  village  is  so  embowered  among  trees,  that 
1  know  of  no  point  of  ^iew,  unless  it  be  a  bird's- 
eye  view,  from  whence  a  true  drawing  can  be 
made.  Bobi,  in  fact,  is  so  completely  in  the  midst 
of  one  vast  grove  of  chesnuts  and  walnuts,  and 
under  tlie  shelter  of  the  gigantic  rocks  which  over- 
bang  it  on  two  sides,  that  although  the  sky  was 
without  a  cloud,  and  the  sun  shot  his  fiercest 
rays  upon  the  earth,  yet  we  spent  the  greatest 


nndvV 

ttto  Ae  1 


by  whicb  the  Madooiu  is  hoDooied,  in  con«qtienc«  of* 
■aid  to  have  been  perfonii«d  on  a  young  giH,  who  feU  into  As 
Po,  UhI  who  was  inarvellouily  otmI  from  drowning  by  the  ioKc 
TCDtion  of  "  the  noiber  o(  God"  hcreeir,  in  the  ynr  1644.    Ob 
the  tpM  near  the  bonks  of  the  riTer,  mhtn  the  Virgin  irti  «««■ 
inierpociof  bor  serrico  on  tbat  occuion,  a  chnrcb  was  bailt, 
viib  a  maible  columo,  on  which  the  ininck  wat  enblamied. 
Many  liinilaf  reprmuiiations  were  painted  in  other  pwta,  and 
the  "  Virgin  of  the  PDlar,"  became  a  brarite  old  raini,  under  >. 
iww  Duac,  to  the  ileroai  PicmonUcc    Among  other  plaices  ■C- 
was  determined  to  erect  a  fhrine  near  Villar,  ai»d  the  nobl^ 
Tavi^re  had  reasoo  to  be  ^mteful  lo  llie  piety,  which  pcovideil  ^ 
■bidd  and  lnickl«t  for  liiin  in  the  stone  wilUofthit  hiding  placr- 


J 


V.ILDEN5IAN    RESEARCHES. 


337 


part  of  the  day  in  sauntering  about,  shaded  hy  the 
trees  as  wc  walked,  or  resting  ourselves  in  the 
f^ottos  which  abound  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  village.  The  land  is  also  so  well  irrigated, 
that  the  verdure  was  more  like  that  of  early  spring 
than  of  burning  July. 

Refreshed  by  the  siglit  and   sound   of  many 
waters  gushing  and  brawling  under  our  feet,  or 
leaping  from  the  rocks  in  cascades,  we  accompa- 
nied the  pastor  tn  the  hamlet  of  Sibaud,  and  to 
the  remains  of  the  ancient  fort  where  a  detach- 
ment  of  the    Vaudnis    perfonned   one  of  their 
great  exploits,  under  Henri  Arnaud,  in  the  year 
1689.     The  spot  is  well  calculated  to  assist  the 
iuMgination.  and  to  add  effect  to  Arnaud's  nar- 
Tatire.      It  overlooks   ttic   main  village  from  a 
pnctpitous  cliff,  and  is  reached  from  below  by  a 
path  winding  among  crags,  or  shaded  by  the  thick 
Giluige  of  chesnuta.    "  From  behind  that  thicket." 
aid  our  conductor,    "  my   countrymen  rushed 
tipoa  their  adversaries.   The  fort  was  taken  sword 
ni    hand.     The  Duke's  soldiers  leaped  IVom  the 
»aJU  and  windows,  when  they  found  the  place  no 
«*nger  tenable.      Down  that  declivity  they  fled 
•■^lain,  with  tJie  exiles  at  their  heels  in  fierce  pur- 
■*»it.  Many  of  them  tumbled  over  the  cliff;  others 
**«jght  by  the  projections  of  the  rocks,  or  clung 
***  the  roots  and  branches  of  trees,  and  there  re- 
''^^iined  till  the  slaughter  was  over.    Uut  upon 


338 


WALDENSIAN    RF^EARCHBS. 


by  At. 
as  wasfl 


nhole,"  added  the  pastor,  "  though  the  day  was 
nobly  won,  it  was  not  a  day  to  which  we  can  It 
with  unmixed  exultation.     Bobi  was  thea  id 
hands  of  the  Savoyards,  to  whom  the  court 
granted  the  con6scated  lands  of  the  Vaudois, 
the  Wctors  disgraced  themselves  by  pillaging 
houses." 

We  explored  an  old  building,  which  is  nc 
used  as  a  baru,  and  found  our  way  into  a  vaultc 
chamber,  which,  it  is  easy  to  believe,  was  the 
dungeon  where  the  Count  dc  Sibaud  confineil^ 
some  Vaudois  prisoners,  before  his  defeat  by  Ar- 
naud.  It  was  without  any  light,  but  such  as 
admitted  by  the  door,  and  a  hole  broken  tht 
the  wall,  and  was  entered  by  passing  through 
another  stone  chamber  of  the  same  dimcusiona;. 
Ill  the  roof  were  two  wooden  staples,  perforated 
as  if  for  ropes  or  chains  to  pass  through  tlicni. 
Our  imagination  was  immediately  busy  in  assigD- 
iug  a  use  to  which  these  staples  were  put.  Tbejf 
could  be  for  nothing  less  than  to  coiiGne,  pertispi 
to  torture,  the  miserable  mraates  of  the  ccU.  Fuli 
of  these  and  similar  fancies,  we  searchetl  tlie  walls, 
to  see  if  we  could  not  find  the  names,  perhaps  tbt 
lamentations,  of  some  unhappy  victims  who  had 
languished  here.  We  did  not  discover  any  thing 
to  confirm  our  suspicions,  and  perhaps  the  next 
stranger  who  pursues  the  uivestigation,  will  be 
able  to  solve  the  mystery,  and  to  report  that  the 


rALDENSIAN*    RF-SEARCHFJl. 


839 


tale-fraught  staples  liave  been  recently  fixed  tliere 
for  purposes  mucli  more  harmless  than  we  were 
inclined  to  suppose. 

Some  of  my  countrymen,  who  have  nsited 
these  scenes,  have  judged  a  Uttle  too  harshly  of 
the  pastor  of  Bobi,  and  others  of  his  sacred  pro* 
ftssion,  who  seem  to  take  pleasure  in  contemplat- 
ing the  warlike  character  of  the  Vaudois  of  fonner 
times,  and  in  recounting  their  achievements.  For 
my  own  part,  Uiougli  I  look  upon  every  appeal 
to  the  sword  as  an  event  to  be  exceedingly  de- 
plored, as  one  in  which  man  is  reduced  to  a 
condition,  wherein  tlie  line  between  guilt  and 
innocence  is  scarcely  to  be  discerned,  yet  I  can- 
not condemn  the  Waldcnsian  clerg)'man,  who 
takes  an  interest  in  relating  the  deliverances 
Toiich5tafed  by  Almighty  God,  in  favour  of  tlie 
Church  of  tlie  Alps,  through  the  valour  of  the 
Jahiers,  and  the  Janavels,  and  the  rVrnauds  of 
their  day.  His  feelings  are  those  of  the  scribes 
and  chroniclers  of  Israel,  who  penned  the  narra- 
tires,  and  kept  up  the  recollcctiou  of  the  mighty 
deeds  done  by  David,  or  Gideon,  or  Joshua. 
The  hand  of  the  Lord  has  also  been  with  the 
Vaudois,  and  so  long  as  the  men  of  the  present 
generation  give  God  the  praise,  for  the  victories 
obtained  by  their  forefathers,  we  cannot  require 
of  them  to  be  silent  upon  subjects  of  such  deep 
concern. 

At  the  same  time,  I  reverence  that  mild  »nd 
/2 


F 


I 


3*0  WAl-DKNSIAN    EESEARCnnS. 

Christian  spirit,  which  would  take  seasonable 
poitunities  of  reminding  the  descendants  of  the 
lierous,  that,  though  it  may  be  permitted  to  the 
to  dwell,  with  occasional  delight,  upon  the  scrvic 
rendered  to  the  Waldensian  Church  by  those  who 
have  bled  for  her,  yet  the  prevailing  sontimci 
ought  to  be  that  of  thanksgiving,  and  humiliatio 
before  God,  who  has  so  long  found  a  place 
her,  from  the  fury  of  the  dragon,  even  though  it 
be  in  the  wilderness.    It  should  be  accompanietl  I 
also  by  fri.-(]uent  meditation  upon  the  nature  of  J 
that  f^th,  which  requires  such  sacrifices  on  the] 
part  of  its  professors. 

Whatever  pleasure  Mr.  Muston,  the  pastor  of 
Bobi,  may  fmd  in  describing  "  how  fields  were 
won,"  I  can  bear  witness  that  there  is  an  enjoy- 
ment of  another  kind,  in  which  he  indulges  latgelj: 
that  of  watching  over  his  {)Coplc  with  a  parent'? 
eye.  Few  parish  ministers  know  more  of  their 
flock  than  he  does,  or  are  more  beloved,  and  I 
rejoice  in  tliis  opportunity  of  adding  my  testimony 
to  that  of  Mr.  Jackson,  who  speaks  both  of  Mr- 
Muston,  and  his  neighbour,  Mr.  Gay,  as  "  attai- 
tive  ministers  of  the  Gospel."  The  accurate  and 
very  detailed  statements,  which  these  two  pastors 
gave  me,  in  writing,  of  the  condition  of  UkIt 
parishes,  leave  no  doubt  as  to  the  zeal  with  whicb 
they  dischai^  their  duties,  and  the  watchfiilncss 
which  they  exercise  in  the  cure  of  souls. 

The  constitution   of  the  ^\'aldensian  Church 


WALUBNStAN    RESEAKCIIF^. 


341 


assigns  to  each  pastor  a  particular  and  a  detinite 
charge.    The  scene  of  his  exertion  is  marked  out; 
a  territorial  division,  it  imrochial  station  in  the 
strictest  sciisc  of  the  word  is  allixed ;  and  with  a 
hahitation,  aiid  a  "  rural,"  or  piece  of  glebe  as  we 
should  call  it,  small  though  it  be,  allotted  to  him, 
he  is  entnist^^'d  with  the  spiritual  care  of  the  ]H>uple 
of  the  same  faith  with  himself,  who  occupy  the 
village,  hamlets,  and  chdlets  within  the  line  of 
demarcation,  which  bounds  his  fold.     With  %'ery 
few  exceptions,  where  the  Vaudois  clergyman  is 
first  placed,  there  he  is  likely  to  remain  for  life. 
His  stipend,  his  residence,  and  his  charge,  con- 
thiuing  the  same,    his  duties,   and   his  earthly 
recompence  are  at  once  understood,  and  if  his 
heart  he  in  the  cause,  which  he  undertakes  to 
serve,  he  employs  himself  forthwith  and  evermore 
in  taking  that  oversight  of  his  flock,  which,  upon 
the  principle  of  lixed  rciiidence,  and  parochial  dis- 
tribution, it  is  binding  U|>on  his  soul  to  exercise 
diligently.     Such  charge  and  responsibilities  be- 
come mure  or  less  heavy,  according  to  the  nnmher 
uf  the  population,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  is 
l^ead  over  the  surface  of  the  territory  to  which 
the  pastor  iii  appointed '.     In  the  case  of  Mr.  Gay, 


*  "  Nol  iWanychanf^ortunriwcircitmiUanc^BCBn  vury  tlw 
cMauial  MCrednoB  of  miuiatcrid  oblipiuoa,  uor  lici^ticii  tbe 
CNlna,  whicti  mit  uuplieil  in  (IkU  «ni|itiat>r  charge  of  Uie  chiaT 
abcfilicn],  '  frcil  nij  aliceih'  Yrl  a  iiit«r«ilyof  place*or*rMoH 
mmj  fi-iHlcr  oenmaty  iliflcrciit  dr;grcrtor  cicnkni  aud  endliniiKe 


Mt 


WALDRNSIAK    KESBAKCHBa. 


pastor  of  Villar,  ami  of  Mr.  Muston,  pastor 
Bobi,  the  cliarge  is  necessarily  laborious.  Tb« 
one  having  a  congregation  or20O0,  and  the  other 
of  17tK>,  dwelling  in  hamlets  which  are  detached, 
always  difficult  of  approach,  and  sometimes  inac- 
cessible, we  cannot  hesitate  to  ascribe  the  character 
of  the  true  pastor  to  each  of  them,  if  we  Hnd  them 
praying,  preaching,  catechising,  rebuking,  ad- 
monishing, and  comforting,  in  the  name  of  Christ 
cnicificd,  not  only  in  their  churches,  and  in  the 
habitations  near  their  presbyteries,  but  in  the  dis- 
tant dwellings  also  of  their  people ;  in  the  cotta^ 
upon  the  hill-sides  and  steeps,  and  in  the  chSlets 
u|]on  the  mountain  pasturages.  An  Eoglisk 
clei^'man  accompanied  the  pastor  of  Bobi  in  a 
morning  walk,  towards  some  of  the  hamlets  of  his 
parish,  which  lay  north  of  the  village. — "  We  wane 
out,"  said  he,  "  ascending  and  descending  from 
eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  till  past  six  in  the 
evening,  being  exposed  the  whole  time  to  a  bum- 
1^^  ing  sun.  However,  tliank  God,  I  have  not  suffered 

^^1  from  the  expedition  :  niff  companion  seemed  »ot  to 

^^L  iuipe  the  mosl  dhfaiit  notion  0/  beittg  tired  '.'*     Doei 

^^M  not  this  speak  volumes  in  testimony  of  the  Wal- 

^H  dcnsian  minister's  habitual  toil  and  labour,  which 

^^ft  ur  the  miniatrf  of  Chriai,  for  the  accomplbbmeiit  of  thoae  { 

^^B  cmb  wbicb   ail   hare  in  vKti."^Biiiht^  Bloafirldt   CAofy*, , 

^H  IftW.  p.  U. 


WALDBNSIAN    RraKARCHRS. 


S4d 


liad  inured  him  to  fatigue.  The  ground  over 
which  the  two  clergj'men  then  walked,  was  but  a 
Ten*  small  part  of  the  parish,  which  extends  on 
that  side  to  the  summit  of  the  Col  JuHen.  It 
branches  off  on  the  south  towards  Mont  \''iso, 
and  on  the  west  it  ascends  to  the  very  crest  of 
tlio  Cols  do  la  Croix  and  Malaure,  and  the  lofty 
ridge  which  separates  Piemont  firom  France. 

1  gathered  these  interesting  particulars  relating 
to  the  l^ruLestant  congregation  of  itobi.  Twelve 
hundred  present  themselves  at  the  Lord's  table, 
and  are  considered  regular  communicants. 

It  is  rarely  that  any  of  the  Hock  absent  them- 
selves from  public  service,  for  more  than  two  <«■ 
three  Stuidays  together. 

There  is  not  a  single  instance  of  any  of  the 
Protestant  population,  who  desert  tho  public  as- 
semblies entirely. 

tlvery  child  in  the  parish,  of  sufficient  age,  is 
reccivmg  education. 

The  number  of  Roman  Catholics  is  between  70 
and  80.  Half  of  these  are  strangers,  custom-house 
officers,  soldiers,  charcoal  burners  in  the  forests, 
•od  tlieir  families. 

Nearly  ever)*  family  has  a  New  Testament,  and 
one-third  of  the  families  have  Bibles.  There  are 
63  subscribers  to  the  Auxiliary  Bible  Society, 
from  5  to  40  sous  each. 

There  is  a  register  of  the  names,  habitation, 

t,  and  condition  of  every  one  of  his  flock,  kept 


31i 


WALDEMSIAN    RESEAKCHeS. 


by  thf  jMLstur,  and  altered  froni  time  to  time,  as 
the  occasion  may  require. 

These  assuredly  are  the  outward  indications  at 
least  of  a  good  pastor ;  God  only  knows  the  secret 
and  true  condition  of  tlie  heart,  but  when  man 
forms  his  opiiiiou,  it  must  be  from  such  signs  as 
these.  "  The  parson  in  his  circuit,"  is  one  of  the 
views  which  (leor^e  llerliert  directs  us  to  coiH 
template,  when  we  would  fonn  our  estimate  of  the 
pastoral  character.  No  man  can  render  such  an 
account  of  his  congregation,  as  that  which  I  have 
just  exhibited,  from  the  Speculum  Gregis  of  Bobi, 
without  being  very  frequently  and  diligently  on 
hii>  circuit. 

Mr.  Muston  is  Moderator  Adjoint  of  thcVaudots, 
and  consequently  member  of  the  Table,  ex  oflScio. 
He  is  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  present 
|KK>ition  and  wants  of  the  Waidensian  Church, 
and  it  is  to  him  that  the  synod  has  entrusted  the 
difiicult  charge  of  drannng  up  articles  and  regula- 
tions, for  the  improvement  of  the  little  communitv', 
which  are  to  be  submitted  to  the  next  assembly. 
I  consulted  him  tipon  every  measure  which  1 
thought  might  be  beneficial,  and  calculated  to 
promote  the  object  of  my  journey  to  the  valleys. 

Mr.  Muston's  book-shelves  contained'  many 
volumes,  which  belonged  to  an  ancestor  of  his, 
M.  Appia,  who  was  ordained  in  I<ondon  about  a 
century  ago ;  and  among  them  some  of  the  English 
divinity  and  ecclesiastical  lustor)'  of  that  day.    lie 


1 


WAtDEKSlAN    RHSEAKCIICS. 


315 


reads  English  himself,  but  does  not  speak  it;  and 
it  offers  a  goodly  prospect  for  the  spiritual  interests 
of  the  Vaudois,  that  several  of  the  pastors  make  s 
study  of  our  language  and  literature,  and  entertain 
a  high  opinion  of  the  theology  of  the  Knglish 
school  of  divinity.  I  have  hcanl  it  observed  more 
than  once,  in  the  valleys,  that  the  works  of  the 
British  divines,  next  to  the  Bible,  are  the  main 
support  of  the  Protestant  cause. 

1  enquired  of  the  pastor  of  Bobi,  if  he  and  the 
Cure  are  upon  firiendly  terms  ?  "  W^e  are  not  very 
sociable,'*  was  his  frank  reply,  "  but  we  Uve  upon 
terms  of  harmony.  When  he  first  caroe  into  the 
parish,  1  expressed  a  wish  that  we  might  meet  occa> 
sionally,  and  confer  upon  theological  subjects;  but 
he  instantly  put  a  bar  to  this,  by  telling  me  in  plain 
words,  that  as  he  did  not  mean  to  tr)'  to  make  a 
proselyte  of  me,  and  as  I  should  certainly  not 
be  able  to  convert  him,  we  had  better  avoid  all 
religious  discussion." 

Madame  Muston  is  lineally  descended  from  the 
heroic  Jahier,  and  with  all  her  extreme  simplicity 
uid  gentleness  of  manner,  she  was  evidently 
pleased  when  I  alluded  to  this  true  nobility  of  her 
extraction.  Jahier  was  the  com[>anion  in  arms  of 
Jaoavet,  or  Gianavello,  whom,  in  the  language  of 
one  of  those  who  has  piously  recorded  his  fe-ats  in 
1655,  "  God  raised  up  in  those  daj's,  as  a  choice 
instrument  of  his  own,  for  the  preservation  of  the 
poor  scattered  remnant  of  his  people."    Jahicr's 


8M 


WALDRKSIAN   HBUABCHrS. 


fiunc  was  not  inferior  to  that  of  his  comrade.  We 
romantic  adventures,  terrible  onslaughts,  and  suc- 
cessful surprisals,  would  fili  a  vohinie,  and  would 
be  well  worthy  of  the  pen  of  the  translator'  of 
Henri  Arnaud's  '*  Rentrte  Glorieuse.'' 

Jahier  died  with  his  face  towards  the  enemy, 
and  with  his  hand  upon  his  sword,  and  two  of  his 
SODS  with  liini,  in  an  engagement  with  a  body  of 
horse  in  the  vale  of  San  Giovanni.   The  character 
of  this  patriot  is  thus  sunnncd  up  in  one  of  the 
histories  of  the  massacre  of  1655 :  "  He  was  taost 
worthy  of  remembrance,  and  his  fame  to  be  re-  ■ 
nowned  to  all  posterity,  especially  for  his  great 
piety,  zeal  for  the  service  of  God,  and  the  protec-  M 
tion  of  his  poor  afflicted  Church  and  members ;  a  " 
man  whom  all  the  terrors  of  death  and  ten  thou- 
sand  torments  could  never  aflright  or  make  to  V 
deny  his  Master.     Bold  as  a  lion  in  all  his  enter- 
prises, but  meek  and  humble  as  a  lamb  in  the  ■ 
midst  of  his  victories ;  always  hfting  up  his  hands 
towards  heaven,  from  whence  deliverance  came, 
and  reciting  sweet  and  comfortable  |>assagesofthe 
ijcrijiture,  wherein  he  was  versed  to  admiration,  to 


'  It  would,  inde«d,  reqqire  the  expenence  of  moBntain  ww 
fare  lo  give  eSecl  lo  a  record  oi  (liis  kind ;  ukI  m  Mr.  Aclaod  li«i 
been  penonalljF  initiated  in  "  huir-bmincd  rDterpriMa,"  and 
"  picturcKiuc  forages  tlirough  roounuin  n^ions,"  among  the 
Guerillas  of  Spuin,  and  hnx  RiomTrr  traversed  every  inch  of 
Vaudotf  icnitoiy,  wbo  could  beller  undertake  it, "  Ann  nad  iIh 
mao  I  aing,"  than  himeelff 


I 


WALDEKSMN    RESBARCUES. 


347 


the  great  encouragemeut  of  all  hU  foUowers,and  the 
strengthening  of  their  faith  upon  all  occasions." 

Such  was  the  ancestor,  of  whom  the  pastor's 
wife  of  Bobi  lias  reason  to  be  proud,  and  whom 
she  resembles  in  meekness  and  humility  of  temper, 
and  fn  the  endurance  of  suficring;  she  is  often 
tried  by  ill  health,  and  I  have  seen  her  exert  bcr- 
Bclf,  as  she  did  on  the  day  of  our  ^'isit  to  the  pre»' 
bytery,  when  everj'  effort  to  appear  cheerful  was 
put  forth  iu  the  midst  of  acute  bodily  pain.  Her 
door,  like  that  of  Madame  liert  at  La  Torre,  Is 
constantly  open  to  the  distressed  wanderer;  and  I 
speak  as  a  witness,  when  I  add,  that  no  petitioner 
goes  unrelieved  from  the  houses  of  the  Vaudois 
clergy.  Some  dole  of  alms  is  sure  to  be  received, 
whsn  appeals  are  made  to  their  charity;  and  be  it 
remembered,  that  the  mendicants  who  beg  in  the 
vallej's  are  all  strangers. 

The  mention  of  Madame  Muston's  honourable 
descent  from  the  hero  Jahier  reminds  me  of  an 
observation,  which  may  not  unfitly  be  introduced 
in  this  place.  There  are  no  distinctions  among 
the  Vaudois  beyond  that  of  pastoral  and  magiste- 
riml  precedency.  All  the  Vaudois  give  place  to 
their  clerg)*  and  syndics  and  elders.  I  could  hear 
of  no  scigneurial  rights  or  privilrges ;  gentle  and 
nmple  arc  mei^ed  in  one.  "  Each  man  ts  the 
son  of  his  own  deeds."  Family  pride  is  conse- 
quently entirely  out  of  the  question ;  and  the 
individual  wlm  has  ratitcd   himbelf  by  his  lalt^nts 


348 


WALDENSIAN    HRSRARCHeft. 


or  industry  above  his  former  station,  or  that  of 
his  kindred,  displays  no  leaven  of  vanity.  Hv 
speaks  of  Iiis  brothers  or  his  sisters  who  may 
chance  to  l>e  in  a  humbler  state  of  life,  without 
the  least  disguise,  and  he  talks  of  the  "  patcmaJ 
house,"  be  it  the  merest  hovel,  with  all  the  af- 
fection of  hereditary  attachment.  1  noticed  tno 
striking  instances  of  this.  A  pastor  pointed  to 
a  cabin,  "  There,"  said  he,  "  I  was  bom,  and 
there  my  forefathers  have  lived  for  generations 
— my  heart  beats  at  the  sight  of  iL"  A  \Valden- 
sian,  who  had  left  the  valleys  early  in  life,  anti 
had  accumulated  a  comfortable  independency  cS 
his  own,  besides  acquirinj:;  some  }>roperty  with  his 
wife,  conducted  me  to  a  humble  farm  house,  and 
with  a  generous  expression  of  complacency,  sjioke 
of  the  enjoyment  which  he  felt  in  revisiting  the 
sacred  hearths  of  bis  ancestors. 

There  is  no  great  man  to  throw  the  rest  of  the 
N''audois  in  shade.  There  is  not  a  cliateau,  or  tilla,  M 
in  the  three  vallej-s,  which  would  answer  to  our  no-  ™ 
tionsofagentlemau'sseat, which  is  occupied  by  one 
who  moves  in  the  higher  circles  of  society  at  TuHd. 
It  is  many  years  since  tlie  Vaudois  could  enume- 
rate any  of  noble  birth  '  among  the  professors  of  M 

'  Tlte  btstorian  Lc^r,  tneDttona  in  lu>  >utobiogm4iy,  Utat 
his  father's  FMnily  wus  noble,  aud  that  by  liis  modtec's  vdc, 
through  ihe  Laurens,  tlic  Ruttaitu,  iiml  titc  Paicals,  he  cooM 
shci*  a  sacerdotal  line  of  VhimIou  |>HtOTS  for  400  Jttn . 
more.    Leger  wa&  bom  in  )61£. 


VAT.DEVSIAN    RGSKARCneS. 


31!) 


tbcir  5uth.  Oilles,  the  Waldcnsian  historian,  in 
his  annals  of  the  year  I6I7,  makes  mention  of 
one,  wlioKu  melancholy  tate  he  describes  at  some 
length.  This  was  the  Lady  Octavia  Solara,  tlie 
daughter  of  a  nobleman  of  ancient  and  illustrious 
family,  which  had  long  been  distinguished  for  its 
zealous  adherence  to  the  Protestant  tenets.  The 
father  of  this  lady,  alYer  having  suffered  greatly 
from  persecution,  was  stript  of  all  his  lands  and 
property,  and  took  refuge  with  his  wife  and 
children  in  the  valley  of  Lusema  : — "  Apres  avoir 
souffert  la  confiscation  de  toutes  ses  Seigneuries, 
ct  autrcs  biens  a  cause  d'icelle  Religion."  The 
beauty  and  tirtues  of  Octavia  attracted  the  notice 
of  the  Count  de  Cavour,  a  man  of  great  wealth 
and  influence  at  the  court  of  Turin,  who  promised 
not  only  to  res(iect  her  religious  opinions,  and  to 
permit  her  to  enjoy  the  free  exercise  of  her  reli- 
gion, but  engaged  to  exert  his  interest  for  the 
restoration  of  the  confiscated  properly  of  the 
family,  if  she  would  marry  him.  Contrary  to  the 
expostulations  of  the  pastor  of  La  Torre,  who 
fort-saw  and  predicted  the  result,  she  accepted  the 
count's  hand.  Soon  after  their  marriage,  he  used 
every  means  in  his  jtower  to  force  her  to  conform 
to  the  Church  of  Rome.  He  took  away  her  Bible 
and  Psalm  Book,  and  her  otlicr  books  of  devo- 
tion; he  prevented  her  having  any  comnmnication 
with  a  spiritual  comforter  of  her  own  faith,  and 
drove  her  into  a  state  of  tow  melancholy,  which 


360 


WALDRNSIAN    RESRARCRES. 


cut  her  off  in  the  flower  of  her  }tnith.  A  short 
time  before  she  died,  a  female  friend  expressed  a 
hope  that  she  might  yet  recover.  "  Pray  not  for 
my  recovery,"  said  the  nohlc  lady,  "  but  implore 
the  Almighty  to  receive  me  while  I  am  yet  true 
to  my  crucified  Saviour,  and  before  weakness  of 
mind  or  body  shall  reduce  me  to  a  condition,  in 
which  I  may  be  so  lost  as  to  deny  the  Lord  who 
bought  me." 

I  wish  to  correct  an  error  which  appears  in  the 
notice  of  Bobi  in  my  first  narrative.  I  have  there 
Sud,  the  break-water  constructed  to  protect  the 
Tillage  from  the  violence  of  the  winter  torrents, 
was  erected  by  the  aid  of  subscriptions  raised  in 
Holland.  Mr.  Mustou  shewed  me  a  boob  of 
accounts,  which  goes  like  an  heir-loom  with  the 
presbytery  of  Bobi,  from  which  it  appears  that  it 
was  built  by  means  of  English  contributions,  after 
the  fatal  inimdation  in  the  year  1740.  The  sum 
remitted  from  England  was  42,383  francs,  or  aljout 
2503/.,  according  to  the  ^alue  of  money  and  ex- 
change at  that  time.  Tliis  money  was  expended 
in  making  the  digue,  or  mote,  which  still  rcmatus, 
and  in  assistingthe  sufferers  who  had  been  injured 
by  the  flood. 

The  central  school  of  Bob!  was  not  open,  nor 
were  any  of  the  small  schools,  when  we  visited  the 
village ;  but  at  Co).  Beckwith's  girls'  school,  we 
fouitd  several  of  the  children  industriously  and 
usefully  employed. 


I 


1 


CHAPTER  VIIJ. 

KxtuTtiim  to  Ron.  Fart  ofllt  Country.  Otaerrations  m  lit 
S^nU  ^  liu  i'awhii  Territory,  lutenta.  Tbt  former 
Si^fkrimgi  mnd  prtttnl  Frotpntt  of  Hora.  The  Siieer  Cup 
^  llttiir  MinMdU.      The  Firr-Jly. 

Jtrtr  10.  Rorais  the  most  southern  village  of  tho 
whole  V'audois  tenitory,  and  lies  on  the  chain  of 
mountains,  which,  rising  from  tlic  rale  of  the 
Pelice,  swell  and  sink  in  irrcgtilar  elevations,  till 
they  form  the  lofty  ridge  which  separates  the 
valley  of  Lnscnia  from  that  of  the  Fo.  I  had  not 
visited  this  eagle's  nest  in  1823,  and  the  whole 
of  the  country  on  the  otlicr  side  of  Lufierna  was 
ucw  to  me. 

From  the  extreme  confines  of  Ilora,  the  furthest 
point  south,  or  from  the  summit  of  the  mountain 
line,  which  separates  the  volley  of  Lusema  from 
the  valley  of  the  Po,  to  the  summit  of  the  Col 
Alhergian,  llie  furthest  point  north,  the  extent  of 
the  present  V'audois  country,  measured  in  a  straight 
line,  is  about  twenty  mites,  according  to  the  scale 
Laid  down  in  Mr.  Achmtl's  nmp  of  the  valleys,  and 
twenty-four  miles,  according  to  that  in  Mr.  Briilge's 


A^ 


352 


WAtDENSIAN    RESEABCUBS. 


map.  From  east  to  west,  measuring  firom  tbe 
confines  or  Prarustino  to  the  summit  of  the  Col 
d'Abries  above  Prali,  which  bounds  the  Walden- 
sian  district  on  the  side  of  France,  the  distance 
on  Mr.  AcUnd's  map  is  sixteen  miles,  and  on  Mr. 
Bridge's  twent)'.  It  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  lay 
down  the  scale  accurately,  for  I  know  of  no  map 
published  at  Turin,  where,  if  any  where,  we 
should  expect  to  find  the  most  correct  deUneation 
of  the  country,  which  is  fcuthftil  in  all  its  parts. 
The  lai^  chart,  drawn  by  Giuseppe  Momo,  and 
printed  in  1819,  is  the  best;  but  it  is  by  no  means 
free  from  mistakes,  as  I  have  ascertained  by  obser- 
vations on  the  spot,  with  the  chart  in  my  hand. 
Comprising  all  the  continental  dominions  of  the 
king  of  Sardinia,  it  docs  not  allow  room  enough 
to  the  prorace  of  Pinerolo,  of  which  our  valleys 
constitute  a  part,  to  admit  of  those  minute  dclinca- 
tions,  which  would  help  us  to  make  a  map  of  uni- 
form accuracy.  The  best  guidance  is  to  consult 
conjointly  the  old  maps  of  Leger  and  Morland, 
and  the  recent  maps  of  Bridge  and  Acland ;  with 
these  in  his  hand,  the  traveller,  or  reader,  will  be 
able  to  understand  the  face  of  the  country  cor- 
rectly enough.  The  map  which  accompanies 
this  volume  is  on  Giuseppe  Momo's  scale,  with  a 
few  alterations  in  the  range  of  the  lesser  mountains, 
and  in  the  position  of  the  Vaudois  villages,  made 
in  conformity  with  my  own  observation  compared 
with  the  four  maps,  to  which  I  have  just  alluded. 


i 

1 


VALDBNSIAN    EESEARCnFJ. 


353 


If  we  take  twenty-two  miles  as  the  greatest 
length  of  the  Protestant  valleys,  according  to  thcir 
present  limitation  from  north  to  southland  eighteen 
miles  as  their  grcate<>t  breadth  rn>m  ea.st  to  west, 
we  cannot  be  far  from  the  mark.  But  if  the  traveller 
should  calculate  his  time  of  exploring  the  territory 
by  these  distances,  he  would  be  wofuliy  mistaken. 
The  suHacc  varies  greatly  every  quarter  of  a  mile; 
rapines,  precipices,  mountains,  torrents,  and  forests, 
turn  the  {ledestrian  out  of  his  course,  or  impede 
his  pace.  The  direction,  in  which  the  valleys  may 
be  most  easily  traversed,  and  which  will  take  in 
the  greater  part  of  the  population,  is,  from  east 
to  west-ftouth-wcst,  about  seventeen  miles  in  a 
Straight  line,  that  is,  from  the  confines  of  San 
Giovanni  tb  the  frontier  of  France  on  the  Col  de 
la  Croix,  above  the  Alpine  ]>asturage,  called  the 
Bci^ric  du  Pra.  This  line  of  march  would  con- 
duct the  traveller  with  the  course  of  the  Pelice, 
through  the  populous  communes  of  San  Giovanni, 
La  Torre,  Villar,  and  Uobi.  To  Bobi  the  road  is 
tolerably  good,  passable  evi-n  to  a  carriage,  if  it  be 
tfrung  and  will  bear  rough  jolting ;  from  thence  to 
the  French  l>order,  it  is  only  practicable  for  mule- 
teers and  pedestrians.  The  time,  required  to  go 
fnnn  point  to  point  in  this  direction,  for  ordiiuiry 
walkers,  is  about  nine  hours :  of  this  it  takes  four 
hours  to  ascend  from  Bobi  to  Pra.  There  is, 
however,  no  one  part  of  the  Vaudois  territory, 
from  which,  in  case  of  a  "  gathering,"  a  ileet-footed 

A  a 


864 


WALnRXSTAX  RESEARCHES. 


"  Malisc,"  might  not  "  speed  forward  with  the 
fiery  cross,"  and  reach  any  other  part  in  twelra 
hours,  and  perhaps  in  less. 

The  sliortest  way  fronii  I^  Torre  to  Rora,  is  to- 
cross  over  to  L'Envers,  and  to  climb  the  steeps  at 
ouce :  but  wishing  to  see  Lusema,  1  took  the  lower 
and  mure  circuitous  road  by  tiiat  town.  It  did  foi^ 
merly,  and  I  believe  it  does  now,  give  the  title  ofi 
count  to  a  Picmontese  noble,  and  it  is  still  a  walled  • 
town,  but  of  no  great  strength,  and  most  of  the  ■ 
ramparts  arc  in  a  state  of  dilapidation.  It  stands 
very  picturetiquely  on  an  eminence,  at  no  great 
distance  from  the  river,  backed  by  mountains,  and 
its  whole  vicinity  is  ornamented  by  woods  and 
trees  of  noble  dimensions.  These  shade  the  road 
which  leads  to  Rora,  till  the  land  rises  beyond  the 
line  of  great  trees.  The  aspect  of  the  Combe ', 
then  becomes  more  and  more  savage.  Some  at 
tlie  clilfs  to  the  right  are  composed  of  a  roagfa 
species  of  slate,  which  is  used  for  purposes  of  tiling, 
and  most  of  them  assume  every  grotesque  and 
fanciful  appearance  of  which  rock  is  ca[>able.  To 
the  left,  the  torrent  called  Luscmetta,  rolls  thun- 
dering aU>ug,  uver-crsgs  and  debris  fallen  &om  tbfl 
mountains,  and  ever  and  anon  breaks  into  cata- 
racts in  a  profound  gulf,  which  deepens  as  yoa 
ascend.     The   road  is  pretty  good  till  you  get 


'  A  vmlicj  mllrd  in  by  mouiilaia  and  chSk  ;  the  tntra 
in  lUlUii,  antl  coathf  in  Koglnh,  mean  ilw  Mine. 


WALDEN8IAN    RESE.^RcnES. 


3S5 


beyond  the  hamlet  of  Fu.sinc,  it  then  becomes 
rugged  and  exceedingly  steep ;  and  after  you  pass 
Leg  Vernais,  you  find  yourself  so  completely  im- 
prUoDcd  by  precipices  on  one  side,  and  by  rocks 
nearly  per}]cndicular  on  the  other,  and  iu  your 
front,  that  you  begin  to  think  you  must  have 
mistaken  the  path,  and  that  there  is  no  further 
prt^resR  to  be  made.  I  was  alone  when  I  first 
explored  this  quarter,  and  could  not  help  asking 
myxli  in  despair, — where  can  Kora  be  ?  In  vain 
I  looked  almut  for  some  peasant  to  guide  me. 
Thero  seemed  to  be  no  possible  approach  to  any 
nlhgc,  in  the  line  upon  which  I  was  moving.  A 
projection  of  the  rock  concealed  tlie  track  from 
me.  But,  upon  advancing  a  little  fiirther,  I  came 
to  a  zig-zag  path  called  a  toumiquel,  which  axconds 
the  mouutain,  "  parvis  componcrc  magna,"  like 
the  road  across  Mont  Ccnis.  But  in  places  it  was 
not  only  climbing  up-hill,  but  literally  upstairs, 
by  steps  cut  in  Uic  rock. 

The  traveller,  who  will  not  only  dra^  his  weary 
way  to  the  principal  village  of  thta  commune,  but 
will  also  clamber  to  its  rock<built  hamlets,  to 
Kuinero,  and  Arone,  and  Les  Founiaisses,  and  to 
the  cliffs  called  I^  Brie,  and  Roccarossa,  and 
others,  too  many  to  name,  will  find  it  no  diiliruU 
matter  to  believe,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Rora 
w<ere  able  to  defy  their  oppressors  for  many  days 
together,  and  for  a  short  time  to  resist  assaults 
made  by  ten  times  their  numbers,     l^nhappily  for 

AaS 


sua  WdDKNRTAN   RKSKARCHES. 

Rora,  its  sititation  is  such  as  to  tempt  a  gallac 
liand  of  mnuiitainecrs,  determined  upon  the  defec 
sivc,  to  rely  upon  its  strong  hotd.s  and  lastnc 
Watch  towers  and  battlements,  as  it  were  in  t\ 
natural  face  of  the  chffs,  which  give  them  the 
semblance  of  a  line  of  fortresses;  passes,  where  1 
or  three  only  can  advance  abreast ;  barriers  alrcadj 
more  than  half  constr\icted  by  masses  of  lOck, 
if  placed  there  by  the  hand  of  Providence  for ' 
purpose:  and  situations  formed  for  ambascsde^^ 
have  often  persuaded  the  people  of  Rora  that  ther] 
position  was  impregnable ;  and  hence  the  despentri 
combats  which  took  place,  in  the  17th  centurr, 
between  a  handful  of  peasants  and  the  troops  of] 
Pianessa  and  Christophel.     Isolated  as  Rora  4 
these  conflicts  all  ended  unsuccessfully,  howerer 
manfully  the  posts  were  contested  for  a  time. 
The  defenders  of  the  village  fell   side  by  ^^ 
While  fighting  men  were  left,  the  enemy  wis 
driven  back :  but  numbers  prevailed,  and  twice  in 
one  reign  did  the  Duke's  soldiers  march  ovw  the 
dead  body  of  the  last  of  its  defenders,  to  iMlIage 
the  ill-fated  Kora,  and  to  massacre,  and  inflkt 
worse  horrors  upon  its  women  and  children,  who 
became  the  prey,  first  to  their  worst  passions,  and 
afterwards  to  their  swords ! 

If  the  people  of  Rora  were  formerly  renowned, 
as  a  warhke  community  who  preferred  death  to 
the  mass,  they  are  now  likely  to  enjoy  the  praise 
of  all  the  Churches,  as  a  Christian  cougregation 


WALDF.N8UN    RESEAKPHRa. 


35T 


distiuguisliL-t)  fur  tlieir  great  advancement  in  tlie 
knowledge  of  the  Gospel.  Their  pastor,  M. 
Monastier,  brother  to  the  master  of  the  grammar- 
school  of  I>a  Torre,  and  nephew  of  the  excellent 
Monastier  of  Lausanne,  ii>  exerting  himself  faith- 
fully for  the  improvement  of  his  flock.  He  has 
^litablished  a  third  Sunday  service  in  his  Church, 
at  which  he  gives  a  familiar  exposition  of  some 
Scriptural  passjige,  and  has  invited  many  of  his 
Hock  to  attend  the  family  devotions  in  his  own 
house. 

The  temple  of  Ilora  is  a  wretched  building,  too 
small  for  the  population  of  about  800:  and  its 
i«ftiiation,  near  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  haa 
exposed  the  congregation  and  minister  to  some 
very  unpleasant  interruptions  by  the  Itomish 
Cur^.  He  pretended  that  the  voice  of  the 
preacher,  and  of  the  singers,  was  heard  in  his  own 
Buictuary,  to  the  disturbance  of  the  faithful  there, 
and  obtained  an  order  to  have  the  hour  of  the 
Protestant  service  changetl,  and  to  begin  at  eight 
in  the  morning,  to  the  great  inconvenience  of  those 
who  attend  from  a  distance,  particularly  in  the 
winter.  The  injunction  was  meant  to  be  a  virtual 
prohibition  of  any  morning  service,  in  violation  of 
anrient  rights  and  grants,  which  guarantee  to  the 
Vaudois  the  unintemipteil  and  free  exercise  of 
their  religion.  Hitherto  the  order  has  been  some- 
what evaded,  thanks  to  the  irregtdarity  of  clocks 
and   watches.     But   Providence   makes  goiid  to 


358 


TTALDEIWIAS    !IBSEARCHE8. 


grow  out  of  L'vil.  The  effect  of  the  Care's  med- 
dliiiji  has  been  to  stir  tip  a  zcaloas  spirit  among 
the  Protestants  of  Rora.  Siihscriptions  have  been 
set  on  foot,  plans  have  been  designed,  and  it  is 
probable  that  ere  long  a  new  temple  will  rear  its 
head  at  Rora,  larger  and  better  situated,  where 
the  congregation  may  ai>semb1c  more  comfortably 
to  themselves,  and  without  the  risk  of  giving 
umbrage  to  their  sixty  Roman  Catholic  neigh- 
bours. I  saw  the  spot  destined  to  be  the  site  of 
the  new  building,  and  a  list  of  contributors,  ^''a^- 
dois,  and  English,  and  others;  and  this,  I  trusi, 
will  be  so  increased  in  a  few  years,  as  to  enable 
M.  Monasticr  to  have  the  first  stone  of  the  temple 
laid. 

The  presbytery  is  but  an  indifferent  one.  But 
it  commands  some  fine  mountain  views.  The 
upper  windows  look  u|)on  the  cra^;^  points  of 
Mont  Frioiant,  which  are  covered  with  snow 
eight  months,  and  are  sunburnt  the  remaindCT  o( 
the  year. 

It  was  in  Rora  that  ^'^cto^  Amadee,  the  scour^ 
of  the  Vaudois,  took  refuge,  when  the  French 
marctu^d  an  army  into  Piemont  at  the  bqjrinning 
of  the  last  century.  Strange  that  the  oppressor 
should  tly  to  the  oppressed,  the  wolf  to  the  kid  for 
succour,  and  6nd  protection  in  a  \-innge.  which 
had  suffered  in  a  more  than  ordinary  degree  under 
the  tyranny  of  himself  and  his  predecessors  I  Was 
it  that  he  relied  more  upon  the  honour  of  the  Vau- 


I 


WALOB.\SIAN    BB8BABCUE3. 


sao 


dws,  or  more  upon  their  sacred  principle  of  loyalty, 
Uiaa  upon  tliut  of  his  other  subjects  ?  Was  it  that 
there  were  noasylums,  or  no  such  inacccs.sible  glens 
in  other  momilain  regions,  which  called  him  king  ? 
Or  was  it  that  some  cunning  Ahithophel  whispered 
to  him,  that  his  pursuers  would  never  dream  of 
eearcliiog  for  him  among  the  people,  whom  he  had 
most  deeply  injured,  and  whom  he  had  chastised 
with  whips  and  Kcoriiions  I  lie  it  as  it  might,  ho 
found  that  which  he  sought,  concealment  and 
protection.  A  Vaudois  received  him  kindly,  and 
kept  his  secret  faithfully.  Had  the  man  proved 
a  belrsycr,  he  might  liave  received  his  house 
^U  of  gold  as  the  price  of  the  royal  fugitive. 
The  reward  of  liis  fidelity  at  the  king's  hand,  was 
a  present  of  the  king's  silve^  drinking  cup,  and 
some  paltrj'  permission  to  enclose  a  cemetery. 
>VbcD  did  Roman  legates  jiermit  Vaudois  to  find 
real  favour  id  the  sight  of  the  house  of  Savoy  ? 
Ho  s>er\-iccs,  no  loyalty  could  atone  fur  the  crime 
of  Don-conlbrmily. 

The  familyofthe  king's  protector  have  fallen  into 
poverty.  Some  ten  years  ago.  so  great  was  the  dis- 
tress of  one  of  them,  that  a  few  francs,  a  few  ten- 
|>enny  pieces,  were  wanting  to  meet  the  ui^ency  of 
bis  necessities.  Was  there  nobody  to  remind  htm^ 
that  he  had  the  drinking  cup  of  Victor  Anuidee  in 
bb  possession,  emblazoned  with  the  royai  arms,  and 
to  t«U  him,  that  were  he  to  present  himself  at  the 
pohwb  of  the  reigning  sovereign,  and  to  hold  ui> 


S60 


WALDEK8IAH   BESEABCOES. 


that  token  of  a  niunarcli'!!  debt,  that  promissory 
note  of  recompense  for  value  received,  it  would 
act  as  a  talisman,  and  till  the  heart  of  the  des- 
cendant of  \''ictor  Amad^c  with  gc-ncrous  iutentions 
towards  the  descendant  of  that  prince's  protector ! 
Perhaps  he  was  so  advised :  but  who,  with  the 
brand  of  Vuudois  on  his  forehead,  would  be  so 
sanguine,  so  credulous  as  to  go  to  Turin  upon 
such  an  errand  ?  No,  no  \  The  mountaineer  dare 
not  even  entertain  the  thought  But  something 
must  be  done  to  relieve  immediate  distress.  The 
silver  cup  was  taken  to  Pinerolo,  and  sold,  or 
pawned  for  twelve  francs!  1 !  What  a  reflectioD 
upon  the  donor  and  his  successors !  Could  it  hsre 
been  hoped,  that  there  breathed  in  the  heart  of 
any  of  them  the  slightest  sentiment  of  kindness 
towards  the  Waldensian  ('hurch,  the  peasant 
would  have  star^'ed,  one  must  think,  before  be 
would  have  parted  with  such  a  relic.  At  all  events 
he  would  have  fovmd  some,  aye  hundreds,  among 
his  countrj-mcn,  who  would  have  filled  the  cup 
with  francs,  had  they  sold  house  and  land,  and 
given  them  in  exchange  for  it.  The  Vaudois 
arc  loyal,  in  the  spirit  of  religious  submission  to 
the  powers  that  be,  hut  there  can  be  little  loVe 
mingled  with  their  obedience.  I  tried  to  find  out 
what  had  become  of  the  cup,  and  how  the  pur- 
chaser had  disjMised  of  it,  but  without  success. 

It  was  late  in  the  evening  before  I  lell  Rora  on 
my  return  to  San  Niargaritu.    A  bright  moon,  and 


1 


HAN   RfiSRAKAirRS. 


mi 


a  clear  starry  sky,  and  the  balmy  air  of  Italy, 
tempted  mo  to  walk  leisurely,  and  to  enjoy  the 
serenity  of  the  hour.  When  1  reached  the  groves 
about  Lusemn,  I  was  rejoiced  by  the  sight  of 
myriads  of  fire-flics,  that  most  capricious  and 
beautiful  of  all  the  wonders  of  the  insect  world. 
Lalunde,  in  hts  "  Voyage  en  Italte,*  has  dwelt 
with  delight  upon  the  impression  produced  on  his 
mind,  when  he  saw  the  fire-fly  for  the  first  time. 
"  The  first  spectacle."  says  he,  "  which  announced 
a  change  of  climate,  was  that  of  those  luminous 
insects  called  '  lucioles,'  or  '  luccJoli ;'  it  was  on 
the  15th  of  June,  a  lovely  night,  when  the  air 
appeared  to  be  on  fire  with  these  little  phosphoric 
animals,  which  are  unknown  on  our  side  of  the 
Alps.  1  saw  them  sparkling  by  millions :  the 
meadows,  the  trees,  the  hedges,  the  roads,  were 
studded  with  them,  as  with  so  many  diamonds, 
more  lively,  and  infinitely  more  numerous,  than 
the  glow-worms  which  we  have  in  France." 

Lalandc  could  not  have  been  more  animated  by 
the  Tistun  than  1  was.  The  brilliant  lights  which 
they  emit,  their  rapid  flitting  motion  through  the 
air,  and  the  cheerfulness  which  they  impart  to  the 
•pirits,  by  engaging  us  to  watch  for  their  playful 
illuminution,  are  quite  indescribable.  There  is  no 
difficulty  in  catching  them;  and  1  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  carrying  one  home  with  me,  and  gazing  at 
its  mysterious  lamp  without  doing  it  that  injury. 


p 


362  WALDEMJUN    RBSBABCIIES. 

which  the  pi>or  butterfly,  and  too  many  other 
beautiful  insects  experience,  as  the  penalty  they 
arc?  condemned  to  pay  for  the  ephemeral  enjoy- 
ment of  their  splendid  exterior.  1  placed  it  on  » 
book  in  a  dark  room,  and  could  distinctly  read 
the  wonis  which  were  within  the  rays  of  its  light 
But  the  light  was  not  so  bright,  as  when  it  was 
on  the  wing  and  in  quick  motion ;  it  was  more 
mellow,  and  like  that  of  the  glow-worm,  in  its  state 
of  rest,  but  I  did  not  perceive  it  to  be  in  any 
degree  intermittent.  The  light  proceeded  from 
the  tail  or  lower  part  of  the  body,  and  the  pbo$> 
phoric  segment  is  not  above  one-fourth  of  its 
whole  dimension.  Its  antenna;  were  filiform,  and 
the  sq^cnts  of  the  abdomen  terminated  in  folded 
papilUe,  lapping  over  each  other.  It  was  a  little 
more  than  half  an  inch  in  length.  ■ 

It  is  not  easy  to  account  for  the  silence  of  the 
ancient  poets  upon  this  most  extraordinary  insect. 
Its  rapid  movements  and  vivid  sparkling  beauty, 
the  season  and  hour  and  place  of  its  appearance 
are  all  poetical,  and  bow  it  could  have  escaped  the  ■ 
notice  of  Anacreon  and  Horace,  and  their  tunefnl 
brethren,  is  a  question  which  will  continue  to  puzzle 
the  imagination  of  the  critic  and  entomologist. 
Some  have  fancied  that  the  fire-fly,  like  tlie  orange- 
tree,  was  not  known  in  Greece  and  Italy  in  early 
times ;  tliat  it  is  one  of  those  new  animals,  with 
tlK-  production  of  which  Nature  amuses  herself 


I 
I 


I 


I 


WAI.DRN8UK    KKSEAKCF 


363 


-occasionally  in  her  fantastic  moods.  I  hare  seen 
this  conjecture  discussed  in  one  of  the  periodical 
works  of  the  day,  but  I  forget  in  which. 

It  is,  however,  an  error  to  suppose  that  the  fire- 
flies were  unknown  to  the  ancient  Greeks  and 
Romans.  AriNtotle  mentions  them  under  the 
name  wvyoXaniaia^,  and  dibtinguislics  them  from 
the  glow-worm,  by  saying  that  these  were  winged, 
the  others  not '.  I'liny  also  speaks  of  them,  and 
talk  them  "  cicindcis:,"  and  takes  care  to  describe 
them  as  having  wings,  and  thus  differing  Irom  the 
glow-worm.  The  Greeks,  he  says,  called  them 
"  lampyridcs."  Pliny  admires  the  benigni^  of 
Nature*,  which  has  bountifully  produced  these 
brilliant  insects,  to  encrease  the  beauties  of  the 
lovely  Kcason,  in  which  they  usually  make  their 
appearance. 

'  Amtotic'*  HaC  Ani.     Lib.  iv.  nip.  I. 

>  ••  Lucent  igniiun  modo  nociu,  latcrum  et  cluninm  cokm 
Unpyiidn,  iiu&c  jwnnaram  hiaiu  refulgvntet,  duik  T«ro 
cwnprcMu  uliurobratn;,  nun  ante  niaiura  paUiU,  aut  poU  d«< 
wcU  cotttfkvm."    Plin.  Uh.  ii.  cap.  34. 

"  Alque  €fiuB  fe  •od«in  ano  rM  nignum  illiot  iMinriiBtis, 
et  bonin  mioois  cununune,  lucenles  ntpsraper  itrra  CKindeiK. 
lu  BppoUutt  n»ii>-i  KiilUntet  volulu*— Gt»ci  v«ro  UiopycidM 
incnsdibili  bco^oituU:  Ntflurs."     Lib.  xviil.  cap.  G6. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Tie  arv  CAvrcA  of  Son  Giopaiuti.  RtttratuU  imftoted  al  tht 
BettoratianoJ' Uit  Hoiue t<f  Samn/,  n  1SI4.  Oirit'  Sckootat 
San  Gumtnni.     t'tmak  EductUio*  in  lie  I'aJleft. 


The  third  Sunday  after  my  arrival  in  the  valleys, 
(July  1*2)  I  uttendud  public  service  at  the  churcb 
of  San  Giovanni.  The  venerable  pastor,  M. 
Mondon,  used  the  old  Genevan  lituqty ;  hb 
prayer  before  the  sermon  was  extempore,  and 
was  poured  furtli  with  a  considerable  decree  of 
devotion.  The  principal  object  of -his  sermon, 
from  Acts  x.  2,  was  to  promote  a  local  charity. 
The  appUcation  of  the  clause  "  with  all  his 
house,"  was  enforced  with  great  judgment  aud 
feeling,  especially  where  the  preacher  explained 
that  there  can  be  no  true  sjjirit  of  public  piety, 
where  religious  duties  are  neglected  at  home; 
and  that  we  must  begin  by  managing  our  domestic 
afiairs  with  prudence  and  economy,  or  we  cannot 
hope  to  have  the  means  of  answering  tliose  de- 
mands upon  our  benevolence,  which  put  Christ- 
ian sincerity  to  the  test.  M.  Mondon  is  not  far 
from  fourscore  years  of  age,  and  he  is  one  of  those 


VALDENSIAX   RFSKARCneS. 


S65 


Vaudois  clergjtnen,  who  have  often  crossed  the 
Alps,  at  al)  hazards,  to  be  the  bearers  of  spiritital 
comfort  to  the  forlorn  remnant  of  the  ancient 
Waldensian  Church  of  Dauphine.  Previously  to 
the  year  1786,  the  Protestants  of  the  Val  Queiras 
and  Val  Frassynit^ru,  could  only  obtain  the  suc- 
cours of  the  Church  by  stealth.  Terrible  penalties 
were  inflicted  on  those  who  administered,  and  on 
those  who  received,  the  sacraments  otherwise  than 
after  the  ritual  of  Rome,  and  it  was  to  "  feed  the 
sheep"  in  these  remote  folds,  that  M.  Mondon, 
and  others  of  his  brethren  of  the  valleys,  made 
frequent  journeys  into  France.  When  the  new 
Protestant  Church  of  Frassyuiere  was  consecrated 
■  few  years  ago,  M.  Mondon  was  present.  He  had 
traversed  the  barriers  of  France  and  Italy,  to  enjoy 
the  cheering  sight  of  a  new  order  of  things,  and  to 
behold  the  members  of  the  little  community,  with 
whom  he  had  often  prayed  in  private,  offering  up 
their  praises  and  supplications  to  Almighty  God 
publicly,  and  in  a  sanctuary  of  their  own. 

This  aged  pastor  yet  retains  the  vivacity  of  hia 
earlier  days ;  his  maimer  in  the  pulpit  was  both 
expressive  and  impressive,  and  he  had  all  the 
appearance  of  being  deeply  in  earnest.  It  is  said 
that  he  is  severe  and  inflexible  U]>on  some  points, 
where  it  would  be  better  to  yield  and  to  conci- 
liate, to  bear  and  to  forbear.  Whether  this  be 
the  case  or  not,  I  do  not  choose  to  take  u[K)n  my* 
•elf  to  determine.     I   cordially  subscribe  to  the 


366 


WALOBKSIAN   BESRARCHRS. 


P 


sentiments  expressed  by  an  English  friend,  wbo 
wrote  to  me  thus,  from  the  valleys :  "  For  myself, 
I  only  wish  to  benefit  the  Vaudois  population.  It 
is  not  my  province  to  be  a  bearer  of  etil  report. 
Whatever  defects  may  exist,  I  feel  how  much  a 
body  of  men  dosierve  respect,  who,  like  their  fore* 
fathers,  have  constantly  opposed  the  enonnoos 
corruptions  of  Rome." 

The  church  of  San  (liovanni,  spacious  thou^ 
it  is,  was  nearly  full,  and  a  heart-stining  sight  it 
was,  to  behold  such  a  congr^iation  of  W'aldenaes 
gathei*ed  together  in  a  parish,  from  which  perse* 
cution  has  so  often  chased  the  brethren :  and  m  a 
sanctuary,  which  the  Komish  clergy  have  used 
thdr  utmost  viidcavours  to  put  down.  It  is  a 
noble  liuilding,  perhu|)s  the  most  hand.some  and 
substantial  in  the  valleys,  in  form  resembling  a 
horse  shoe,  about  100  feet  long  and  60  nide,  vefy 
lofty,  Urge  enough  to  contain  2000  penions,  and, 
with  the  exception  of  a  strong  echo,  well  calculated 
for  the  purposes  to  which  it  is  adapted.  Like 
most  churches  on  the  continent,  it  is  fitted  up 
with  scats  and  benches  open  to  all.  'I'here  are 
no  pews,  those  worst  introductions  of  the  worst 
times,  whether  you  consult  taste,  utility,  or  {ucty, 
and  irhich,  with  the  exception  of  a  very  few  new 
churches  in  England,  continue  to  be  the  disgrace 
and  deformity  of  our  sacred  buildings.  Even 
many  of  our  cathedrals  have  admitted  ttiem.-^' 
\Vherever  pews  occupy  the  whole  or  the  greater 


I 


WAtDENSUN    KKSKARrBRS. 


367 


portion  of  the  8[»icc  in  ctmrchcs,  it  is  as  much  as 
to  ny,  **  Here  the  privileged  may  come  to  hear 
the  word  of  God,  but  there  is  not  room,  or  there 
is  not  accommodation  for  the  poor,  that  they  may 
have  tiie  Gospel  preached  to  ihem — it  would  be 
inconvenient  to  the  few  to  throw  open  the  house 
of  God  to  the  many." 

It  is  the  glory  of  tJic  Roman  Catholic  Churches^ 
that  they  receive  all  who  enter  them,  upon  a  foot- 
ing of  equality,  anil  it  iii  cheering  luid  edifying  to 
gaze  ujKin  the  multitudes  that  &U  them,  kneeling, 
or  sitting,  or  standing  side  by  side,  as  they  may 
chance  to  go  in  and  to  place  themselves;  high 
and  low,  rich  and  poor,  one  with  another ;  and 
were  individual  inclinations  and  interests  to  be 
sacrificed  to  public  considerations,  and  were  our 
own  parish  churches  to  be  entirely  thrown  open,  as 
*'  free  sittings,"  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  Sunday 
eoogregations  of  the  Establishment  would  soon 
become  what  they  ought  to  be '. 

The  histoiT  of  the  new  Waldensian  Church  at 
San  Giovanni  is  mcmomble.  Many  have  been 
the  straggles  between  the  Roman  Catholic  and 


'  In  proof  or  this,  a  iatpi  chapel,  railed  Uie  QalUee,  al  tbe 
'.  «kI  of  the  CaUwdnil  of  Durtiam,  biu  brvn  fitted  up,  a«  a 
Am  clupel,  for  Sunday  eraainc  »enice,  during  iiic  tummer  tea- 
Mo.  flu  Krai  cutaer  take*  faU  aeal,  the  tradeHun  and  hii 
eB|)lojer,  tli«  aerranl,  the  wnrkman,  aod  hit  maiter,  ibe  peuul 
■■d  An  pntrj  of  lliv  ncighli'iurliood,  fit  by  each  Other  M  M- 
ciahnt  ■•}  dopOM  al  them,  and  no  trkcrc  in  tbiTc  a  dmuc 
I  toinwgMioii  in  profMrnkm  t<>  lU  mx. 


368 


WALDBNSIAN   RESCARCHRS. 


r 


Protestant  interests  in  this  commune, 
ministers  of  the  dukes  of  Savoy  and  kings  ol 
Sardinia  have  insisted,  that  Sau  Giovanni  is  not 
within  tlie  privileged  limits  of  the  volleys;  and 
obstinate  have  been  the  claims  on  one  side,  and 
the  refusals  to  concede  them  on  the  other.  At  lasU 
in  the  seventeenth  century,  there  was  a  sort  of 
compromise.  The  Protestants  of  this  commune 
were  permitted  to  erect  a  temple,  not  within  thdr 
own  parish,  but  just  upon  the  edge  of  it,  in  one  of 
the  hamlets  of  Angrogna,  and  hitlicr  they  conti- 
nued to  resort,  till  Piemont  was  annexed  to 
France.  The  inhabitants  of  San  Giovanni  then 
built  for  themselves  this  new  church,  in  the  centre 
of  their  population,  and  at  the  cost  of  about  60,000 
francs;  and  great  %vcre  the  rejoicings  and  the 
congratulations  thereat.  But  when  the  king  of 
Sardinia  was  restored  to  his  Picmontesc  dooii* 
nions  in  1814,  the  evil  spirit  of  Rome  pounced 
like  a  hawk  upon  its  prey  in  the  valleys,  and  the 
court  was  advised  to  issue  an  edict,  which  at  ooce 
reduced  the  \^audois  to  their  former  degraded  and 
oppressed  condition,  in  violation  of  the  trea^  of 
Paris '«  which  guaranteed  all  their  rights  of  person 


*  An.  XVI.  "Thchigh  cootnctinepowtTB,  d«&in>asof  bwy- 
tng  in  entire  oblivioo  Uie  dinenUDos  wltich  tmre  Bgiutad 
Europe,  declsre  tnd  promise,  that  no  iiMlittdaal,  of  whaterer 
rank  or  cooditioa  he  muy  be.  In  the  countries  miOKd  md 
ceded  by  the  praent  treaty,  rti^ll  he  proaecalad,  diMiubed,  or 
«olMt«d,  in  his  pereon  or  pioperty,  under  any  prrlext  irbalcvtr,' 


WALDKN8IAN    RKSRARCIIF.S. 


3r>o 


I  proiwrty  to  th«  inhabitants  of  the  ceded  and  re- 
■ed  prorinccs.  Amonfcotherinftictions,  tlicclos- 
of  thenewchurchofSan  Giovanni  was  peremp 
\y  commanded;  an  appeal  was  made  to  the  Pro- 
ant  ambassadors  at  llic  court  of  Turin,  and  the 
yer  of  the  petitioners,  supported  by  the  remon- 
tnccsofthe  representatives  of  the  kings  ofEng- 
1,  Nethurlands,  and  I*russia,  more  especially  of 
latter,  so  far  prevailed  as  to  obtain  a  auspcn- 
I  of  the  order,  and  the  church  now  continues 
n  by  sufferance.    The  letter'  of  the  Intondant 


••  HoXStEVK, 

**  S.  E.  le  Comte  Vidut,  R^ot  pour  S.  H.,  le  S^eretalM 
Inlirieiir,  par  m  leun  ia  tiois  OcL  (Ivmicr,  en  mc  inns- 
aiU  let  PitcnU  RoTst*  da  30  Sep.  prt-ci-deikt,  concerruiBt 
VwaitM,  ne  charge  de  donoer  pluHctin  diapoaitiom  pour 
clintkm,  ponni  Inquellei  il  y  a  ccHe  de  fairc  e\om  \t» 
IIm  |Mr  In  m^iim  bali*  bora  de  limitcs  &x6t*  par  Ic*  Edits, 
loia,  qui  out  iti  rcmisci  en  vi^ueiir  p«r  I'EdK  dn  SI 
Ccftt  i  vou>,  Monsieur  le  Modjratcur,  que  je 
MiMK  pour  i'ea^culion  de  cetle  diapotiUoo.  Veuillei  en 
per  de  nttc,  et  tn'iiutrutte,  an  pluiAt  pomble,  dei  meuiRt 
vou*  mm  priMs  ptmr  (}u<-  jc  ]iiii«e  en  rendre  compic  an 
terial  d'Etal,  en  m'iniliqaani  en  m^tae  tcmi  cotix  des 
lies  qui  ae  UouTeDt  dani  ce  eaa.  Agr^i,  Moaiicur,  de* 
imcM  de  la  liaote  ealime  et  cooud^ralioD  arec  lai)i>elle  j'ai 
msur  d'itre,  Mt.  ie  Moderateur, 

"  Voire  Irca  de«Oue  et  UH  ob.  aer. 

I"  Ckotti. 
"  PigiKrot  le  35  Sw.  1814. 
8.— Je  peme,  (gu'll  tuffit  de  ne  pliia  ouvrir  le  temple  Uli 
Jeftlimilm,  d'u«tHt  aux  moyen*  dr  laat  ii-niui  ai]|«ur«,  rl 
Db 


I 


Vl^  WAI.DEN8IAN    RESEARCHES. 

of  the  province  of  Pinerolo,  the  Count  Crotti, 
addressed  to  the  moderator  of  the  Vaadois  on  this 
subject,  explained  the  rigid  restraints  which  the 
court  of  Turin  intended  to  put  upon  the  Vaudob, 
as  one  of  the  first  enactments  of  the  restoration, 
and  the  firat  fruits  of  papal  influence, — of  the  inter- 
ference of  a  foreign  bishop,  directing  independent 
sovereigns  how  to  treat  their  native  subjects. 

If  priestly  intrigue  did  not  so  often  guide  the 
court  of  Turin,  the  Vaudois  would  enjoy  some 
tranquillity',  for  it  does  not  appear  that  the  sere* 
rities  which  vex  them  originate  in  the  royal  breast, 
or  in  any  of  the  members  of  the  government. 
They  invariably  grow  out  of  e\i\  counsel  whispered 
into  the  king's  ear  by  the  jealous  clei^  of  the 
Latin  Church.  .^  presbytery  has  at  length  been 
built  for  the  pastor  of  San  Giovanni,  near  the 
church,  an  indulgence  which  was  long  revised  in 
accordance  with  the  advice  of  the  royal  confesMmi 
It  is  a  well-built  and  comfortable  habitation,  hot 
the  garden  is  verj-  small  and  unprotected.  M. 
Mondun,  iu  his  humorous  style,  compared  the 
presbytery  and  its  dependencies  to  the  handsome 

de  pr^venif  ceux  de  votre  religion  de  TeDdroit  i^xu-  wa$  anm 
cboisi,  tan*  vn  Tcnir  k  des  |>ul>lical!oi»  ()ui  pourruKOt  fxiic  dc 
Ik  peine  &  jJuKietm.  Je  vout  prircott  ccpeodant,  Mr.  le  Hodt- 
rtleur,  dc  rouloir  bien  mc  fain:  unc  rfpooK  detaillee  dn  job 
de  la  clolUTG,  i]uidaieradadi;niiefjoiirdeTotr«riuiuaii,KGM  ■}«■ 
jc  puisae  reodrc  corapie  au  plui6t  au  Bureaa  d*Eut,  poar  lo 
afiiuras  intfriuurrft,  dc  IVi^lion  dea  otdna,  qui  n'ool  £te 
Uwimis  pai  la  kurr  dii  'i  OrU  sus-^noacK-," 


4 


WALDENSIAM    HESRARCHFJI. 


3TI 


form  of  Ulysses  clothed  in  a  b^^^ar's  dress.  His 
observations  upon  the  commandnicntfi  of  the  dc- 
caloj^ie  in  his  church,  written  on  pasteJjoard,  were 
equally  piquant.  "  On  scrait  porte  h  croire," 
said  he,  "  qu'ils  participent  k  ta  nature  dc  1a 
substance  qui  les  porte :  le  papier  se  dechire  si 
facilement." 

M.  Mondon  takes  much  delight  in  the  girls' 
school  which  lias  been  established  in  his  parish, 
and  pays  great  attention  to  it 

It  was  many  days  before  I  had  an  opportunity 
of  visiting  eitlier  of  the  four  girls'  schools  instituted 
by  the  London  Committee,  because,  at  the  busy 
•easoQ  of  collecting  the  cocoons  of  the  silk  worms, 
hay-making,  and  harvest,  the  children  were  not 
regular  in  their  attendance.  That  of  San  Gio- 
ranni  was  the  first  to  resume  its  activity,  and  to 
give  roe  on  opportunity  of  judging  of  its  useful- 
ncM.  It  is  situated  within  a  few  minutes'  walk 
of  the  church  and  presbytery,  and  is  approached 
in  that  direction  by  meadows  and  fields,  which 
command  tine  prospects  of  that  which  Leger  has 
truly  called  the  lovely  Costi^re  of  San  Giovanni. 
The  reader  must  not  wonder,  that  I  should  so  fro- 
qomtly  make  allusion  to  the  beauties  of  the  land- 
aespe  in  this  region  ;  perliaps  I  saw  it  with  a  very 
favouring  eye,  for  in  truth  I  was  in  a  mood  to 
ergoy  all  around  me.  and  to  exclaim — 

**  Thmn  it  crcrjr  wlieiv  iM^uly,  aud  every  «beT«  bg;bl." 
Bb  2 


fe 


STS  VAt.DF.NSI.\N   BESEABOIES. 

The  "  CufiticTe"  is  the  sunny  side  of  the  vallc)', 
to  distinguish  it  from  "  L'Envers,"  which  faces  the 
north. 

The  approach  to  this  spot,  (which  is  not  the 
fixed  seat  of  tlie  littlu  establishment,  for  there  ue 
not  the  means  of  providing  more  than  a  salary  for 
tlie  school-mistrcss,  who  must  procure  a  room  for 
her  use  out  of  the  sti|}ciid)  from  La  Torre,  is  first 
through  a  Nineyard  to  the  right,  al^er  crossing  a 
stream,  nnthln  half  a  mile  of  tlie  church,  and  by 
a  path  which  traverses  com-lietds,  aud  conducts 
to  a  farm  in  the  occupation  of  the  father  of  the 
young  woman,  Pauline  Muston,  who  is  the  teacher. 
The  chamber,  appropriated  to  the  use  of  h«self 
and  scholars,  is  sufiiciently  large  and  air>- ;  and  for  ■ 
all  the  purposes  of  health,  cleanliness,  and  coo-  ' 
vcnience,  a  Initter  choice  could  not  have  been 
made>  than  the  site  both  of  the  farm  and  the  room 
itself.  f 

When  the  children  b^an  to  assemble  widi 
more  regularity,  I  made  several  visits  to  this 
school,  and  had  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with 
the  manner  in  which  it  was  conducted.  The 
mistress  seemed  to  take  real  interest  in  her  charge, 
and  the  cliildren  bad  made  quite  as  much  progress 
as  could  be  expected  from  their  age  and  several 
abilities.  Some  were  at  needlework,  some  mark- 
ing, and  others  knitting,  and  white  these  were  at 
their  employments,  one  of  the  scholars  was  read- 
ily to  them  out  of  the  New  Testament     The 


A 


VAIOENSIAN   RESEABCtlBS.  373 

average  number,  about  twelve,  was  not  so  great  as 
I  should  have  looked  for.  Twenty-eight  had  been 
entered  upon  the  list  in  the  course  of  the  ksC 
twelve  months;  but  I  could  collect,  that  the  system 
ba<l  not  yet  been  tried  long  enough  to  secure  the 
cvutidence,  or  to  remove  the  prejudices  of  the 
people,  who  seem  to  prefer  the  old  plan  of  sending 
their  daughters  to  the  central  and  hamlet  schools. 
There  arc  reasons  for  this.  It  is  supposed  there 
that  female  teachers  ore  not  so  competent  to  in- 
struct as  the  masters.  The  very  great  poverty, 
which  is  exiicrienccd  in  sonic  of  the  families,  oc- 
csHions  an  inability  to  provide  their  children  with 
the  materials  for  work  in  the  girls'  school,  without 
which  it  would  be  useless  to  send  them.  This 
will  in  future  be  obviated  in  part,  by  au  allowance 
made  by  the  London  Conmiitlcc,  for  the  express 
purpose  of  8uppl}-ing  the  schools  with  such  ma- 
terials. There  is  soitlc  reluctance  also  arising  out 
of  the  superior  neatnciis  and  cleanliness  exacted 
of  those,  who  now  attend.  The  appearance  of  the 
■cbolars  of  the  girls'  school,  being  somewhat  above 
that  of  the  generality  of  cliitdren,  makes  the  ill- 
proTided  ashamed  of  joiniug  their  ranks.  Tliese 
objections  will  wear  off  in  the  course  of  time:  the 
good  example,  and  habits  of  attention  to  personal 
and  household  neatness  will  spreiul  by  degrees, 
Bttd  the  gre-at  advantage  will  be  appreciated  of 
having  tlieir  young  feiuiiles  instructed  in  a  manner 
more  becoming  their  sex,  and  in  being  directed 


H 


1 


ft 


374  VALDCN'SIAN    RCSEARriTBS. 

at  an  early  age  to  the  study  of  things  necessary  to 
make  them  useftil  in  their  families.  In  a  rustic 
and  mountain  pi>pulation,  like  that  of  the  Vaudais, 
these  considerations  are  commonly  too  much  ne^* 
lected,  and  the  peculiar  training,  which  girts  ought 
to  receive,  is  left  to  chance.  It  >vas  to  correct 
this  evil,  and  to  give  them  opportunities  whicb 
they  had  never  before  enjoyed,  that  these  new 
institutions  were  dcvLscd. 

The  Countess  Fontana  was,  I  believe,  the  first 
person,  who  applied  a  benefaction  for  the  especial 
object  of  improving  the  state  of  female  education 
in  the  valleys.  This  lady  devoted  200  francs,  or 
8/.  a-year,  towards  the  i>ayment  of  a  school-miittieu 
for  the  commune  of  San  Giovanni,  and  to  the 
judicious  and  warm-hearted  friend  of  the  Wal- 
densian  Church,  Mr.  Bridge,  treasurer  of  the 
London  Vaudois  Committee,  grateful  thanks  are 
due,  for  the  zeal  with  which  he  directed  tlie  alliea- 
tion  of  the  committee  to  this  important  object.  It 
was  mainly  owing  to  his  representation,  that  those 
resolutions  were  adopted,  which  ted  tothc  appropfi* 
ation  of  40/.  a-year  towards  the  endowment  of  four 
girls'  schools,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1826,  viz.  four 
pounds  annually  to  that  of  San  Giovaiuii,  to  make 
the  stipend  13/.,  aided  by  the  contribution  of  the 
Countess  Fontana ;  and  12/.  each  to  the  school  at 
Villar,  to  that  of  San  Gcrmano,  in  the  valley  of 
Perosa,  and  to  that  of  Clots,  in  the  commune  of 
Villa-secca,  in  the  valley  of  San  Martino.     These 


I 


WALDRNSIAN    RESEAHCHB9. 


375 


are  situated  in  the  must  central  spots  that  could 
be  found' :  but  there  is  still  a  great  want  of  similar 

'  Tbe  following  extrici,  from  tW  Report  of  tbo  London  Coo- 
iaitte«,  pabtiihed  Maicb  1830,  will  pat  the  reader  in  posMuion 
of  fnrtber  partictilBn  reUung^  lo  the  liiree  acboob  endowed  by 
Uw  Committee,  at  Villar.  San  Gemtano,  and  CloU: — 

"  ViOar,  tihiaUd  nnrty  in  ihe  centre  of  the  Valley  ofLveertw. 

"  It  wa»  tboi^t  that  die  gnW  tchool  in  tlii*  rtllage  would  be 
nmvenieDt  for  such  u  might  choote  to  attend  from  Bobr,  and 
Ibe  western  hamlets  of  La  Tour  and  Rom.  A  girii'  icboo)  is, 
bowerer,  now  iniiituted  at  Uobi,  try  Colonel  Beckwith :  and  tlte 
inh^tanU  of  Rora  fiiid  (hcinitelre*  too  remote,  or  too  poor,  to 
■and  their  chiklKU  tu  Viltar. 

"  Tbe  miatrcts  i*  the  widow  Laurenial.  Th«  achool-room  » 
noted  Bt  40  fnnca  pei  annum,  and  ii  tmall  and  incontenient : 
but  then!  are  di£i;ulti«*  iii  tlic  way  of  enlarging  tbe  prevent 
rooo).  or  buitdiiig  ■  new  one. 

*■  Tba  population  doriviitjE  benefit  from  this  tchool  ia  (hut  of 
ViUiu  ouljr— flboui  2000.  The  greaifet  ODmb«r  on  ihe  liat  liaa 
been  36. 

"  The  foregoing  lutonuxtt  will  ibaw  that  Roni  b  the  only 
nUago  in  the  valiej  of  tuccroe,  which  haa  not  the  advantage  of 
«  glilt'  acbool :  and  it  n  eamettly  to  be  wiibed  tbat  one  could 
!      b*  pfovided  for  that  mountainou*  and  toclutted  cooidimm, 

h.  "  Si.  GermaiM,  m  lite  VaUey  o/Perouie. 

"  Tbe  ridntty  of  tbu  Tillage  to  Roclieplatle,  Ptaruilin,  and 
PraiDot,  poioltd  it  out  at  a  fit  ipot  for  one  of  iheae  tcbooU. 
The  fagged  patbi  of  Pramol  are  alnuMt  improcticahle  for  child- 
'      na  in  bad  weather;  and  tlioae  who  uUenii  ili«  school  ara  cbicAy 
\      Bstme  of  St.  Octmain,  whose    popubtuHi   is   1000.     Tbe 
I       miatnas,  tbe  widow  Lung,  pays  60  fnuica  for  the  rent  of  her 
apMtnicnU.    She  is  uitkfatigaUe,  iuhI  capable — an  example  of 


376 


WAL.DENai&N    RKSEAUCHP^. 


institutioiui  iu  niaiiy  parts  of  the  valleys ;  wbidi 
arc  cut  off  by  distance,  or  other  difBciUties  of 
access,  from  the  benefits  of  those  which  are  now  in 
operation.  I  have  already  mentioned  that  Colonel 
Bcckwith  has  established  a  girls'  school  at  Bob!. 
It  was  opened  in  the  presence  of  the  pastor  and 

Uie  aort  of  tLiMiher  who  u  required  for  theu  institttlioas,  TW 
number  of  tckolart  in  ntlendance  bas  U  no  lime  exceeded  30, 
and  arcragc*  r2. 

"  As  it  is  not  likely  that  the  tahabtuols  of  tl>e  haratets  af 
Pramol  will  be  able  tu  render  the  school  al  Si.  Cemutn  «t- 
viceable  to  Ibemsrives,  it  ti  to  be  hoped  ibnt  tome  r>c3iis  will  be 
foand  of  prtimolJng  female  education  in  that  iiuarter. 

"  The  School  at  Clots,  in  ike  Valley  of  St.  Martin. 

**  Tlijt  was  meant  Iu  exleiKl  ilx  tisefulnew  to  the  otbcT  hamlets 
of  VillcMcbe,  and  to  Pomarel  od  one  side,  and  to  Rtclaret  and 
San  Martin  on  the  other,  including  a  [Kjpulation  of  n>ore  than 
SOOO;  but  it  is  fourtd  to  attract  ooite  but  (hoK  wl»o  are  in  the 
imtaedble  neighbourhood.   Tlie  average  number  of  chiMren,!!. 

"  Tbc  »cliool-ioom  is  airy  and  well  situated  ;  and  bdd  by  the 
miitrcn,  Miidame  Brelsi,  at  a  rent  of  30  fiancs.  As  a  ceotnl 
■pot,  it  is  the  best  that  could  be  found  for  the  district  for  wUcli 
il  was  intended ;  but  the  Itamlet*  in  this  region  are  so  KaUered, 
w  distant  rmm  each  otber,  and  so  difficult  of  access  at  eatain 
■MMMU  of  the  year,  that  il  cannot  be  expected  lo  be  nun 
attended. 

"  The  Tillages  in  the  remoter  part  of  this  valley.  Ha 
Macel.  llodotct,  and  Prat,  cotitaiolng  a  population  of  24O0,  ate 
ftntirely  cut  oS*  by  distance  from  the  benefit  of  either  of  the  in- 
StiiulioQi  which  have  hitherto  been  ntablttlwd  ;  and  it  will  be 
for  tlic  committee  to  consider  whether  any  thing  can  be  done 
to  pbm  Ibis  iodi^it,  and  coRi|Kiraliirety  neglected  dittrict  vpga 
an  tmpfoTnl  syntcro.'* 


WALOENSIAN   RESEARCHES. 


377 


eldere,  after  a  suitable  prayer  and  address  to  the 
mistress  and  children,  on  the  2nd  of  Januar)',  1829. 
Similar  establishments  were  set  on  foot  through 
the  exertions  made  by  Mr.  Sims,  at  La  Torre, 
Aogrogna,  and  Frarustino;  but  1  am  afraid  that 
the  two  latter  are  likely  to  be  discontinufnl  for 
want  of  funds  necessary  to  support  them.  It  will, 
indeed,  be  grievous,  if  such  blessings  must  be 
withdrawn,  after  they  have  been  experienced  and 
appreciated.  That  at  La  Torre  is  extremely  well 
regulated  and  managed. 

The  following  are  the  regulations  by  which 
these  schools  are  conducted. 

The  mistresses  must  be  qualified  to  teach  read- 
ing, writing,  needlework,  knitting,  and  the  works 
necessary  to  the  duties  of  the  sex.  Salary,  300 
francs  u-year. 

The  number  conveniently  admissible  at  p-ach 
school,  is  supposed  to  be  twenty-five,  but  it  is  not 
strictly  limited. 

All  classes  of  children  are  eligible  for  admission, 
but  none  should  be  received  without  the  appro- 
bation of  the  pastor. 

The  children  of  the  vilUiges  and  hamlets  in  the 
viciuity  of  those,  where  the  school  is  held,  are 
admissible. 

In  summer,  the  school  hours  are  from  8  to  It, 
and  ffftm  1  to  4.  In  tlic  winter,  from  9  to  12, 
and  from  1  to  3. 

The  success  uf  the  insstitutions  depending  ujh)ii 


378  WALDEN8IAN   KBSEASCRBS. 

the  Divine  blesnng,  the  school  must  b^in  and 
end  vrith  prayer  every  day. 

One  child  shall  be  reading  a  portion  of  Smp- 
ture,  while  the  rest  are  engaged  in  needlework,  &c 

The  work  of  one  day  in  the  week  shall  be  de- 
voted to  the  benefit  of  the  hospital  or  dispensary, 
the  materials  for  such  work  being  provided  for 
the  purpose. 


CHAPTER    X. 


i(mm4  im  lit  Iittt«r<itkm  ^  Mar  AjT  iAc  owini  /m1*> 
tmliMuijflke   fandou. 

Aptcr  spending  three  weeks  in  the  vaXiey  of 
Lnsema,  1  was  anxious  to  make  a  circuit  of  the 
upper  valleys  of  San  Martino  and  Perosa,  witli 
the  intention  of  coofening  with  the  pastors  there, 
upon  the  projects  which  1  had  now  well  considered, 
in  concert  with  those  of  the  lower  valleys  to  whom 
1  had  communicated  them. 

M.  Bonjour,  the  pasteur-chapelain,  who  was  en- 
tirely in  my  confidence,  offered  to  accompany  me, 
to  exjilain  the  objects  I  liad  in  view,  and  the  pro- 
posed destination  of  the  funds  placed  at  my  dis- 
pouL  These  were  not  any  part  of  a  pubUc  tmb- 
■cription,  but  private  funds,  over  which  I  bad  the 
■ole  control,  and  which  I  mif^bt  appropriate  in  sucb 
manner,  as  should  apiM.-ur  to  inv  to  be  must  bene- 
ficial to  the  Protestant  cause  m  the  valleys  of  Pie- 
mont 

After  much  reflection  and  long  deliberations 
.witli  persons  competent  to  give  an  opinion,  1  wan 


380 


W.tLDENSIAN    RKSKAKCriltlS. 


f 


encouraged  to  hope  that  a  scheme  which  com- 
bined the  endowment  of  a  college,  with  tlic  resto- 
ration of  an  uniform  church  service  and  discipline ', 
upon  old  Waldensian  principles,  would  be  sanc- 
tioned and  promoted,  not  only  by  the  Vaudois 
pastors  indiridually,  but  also  by  the  oificera  of  the 
Table,  in  their  official  capacity,  as  the  constituted 
authorities  of  the  community,  and  by  the  people 
at  large.  In  this  there  was  nothing  new  w 
offensive  to  common  prejudices,  it  was  simply  a 
recurrence  to  the  ancient  order  of  things,  and  a 
response  to  the  public  voice,  which  had  long  said, 
"  Give  us,  if  possible,  our  former  institution*— 
those  institutions  which  made  our  '  Zion  the  city 
of  God,  and  the  mountain  of  his  holiness.'  " 

The  means,  which  1  had  at  command  were  suffi- 
cient to  lay  a  foundation,  and  to  promise  success, 
provided  the  plan  should  meet  ^vith  approbation, 
and  be  well  seconded  by  the  \''audois  themselves. 
There  were  those  reasons  for  sup[)osing  that  it 
would  be  well  received. 

The  Vaudois  had  formerly  a  college  of  their 
own,  to  the  recollection  of  which  they  still  hold 
with  national  fondness,  although  not  a  vestige  of 
its  existence  remains.     It  has  oflen  been  in  con- 

'  The  1 1th  article  of  the  synod,  hctd  Septenibec  1 828,  was 
to  ibe  Tollowtng  dTcct :  "  a  commantcation  having  been  made 
to  Uh  synod  touchiDg;,  '  un  projct  de  diacipUne  eed&wutiqite.' 
Roolved  diat  ibis  project  be  revised,  and  ptoenicd  at  the 
MjiI  tjnod."     Thus  lltc  iftictUMi  bod  been  wUvwly  ugilated. 


WALnRNfllAN  RRSEARritRS. 


381 


templation  to  restore  it,  l>iit  there  has  never  yet 
been  any  helping  hand  to  enable  them  to  do  so. 
When  the  Waldenses  were  in  treaty  with  Henry 
IV.  in  159'2,  at  the  time  of  the  annexation  of  the 
province  of  l*inerolo  to  France,  it  formed  one  of 
the  articles,  "  that  His  Majesty  should  be  pleased 
to  found,  erect,  aud  maintain  a  college  for  the 
instructioD  of  the  youth  in  their  own  valleys." — 
Brezzi,  to  whom  I  have  often  alluded,  pressed 
this  object  upon  his  countrymen,  and  their  bene- 
factors, about  forty  years  ago,  with  all  the  clo- 
t}ueDce  and  ai^iment  which  he  could  employ, 
and  about  eight  years  ago  a  similar  project  >vas 
handed  about  tlie  valleys. 

An  institution,  (call  it  by  what  name  you  will, 
a  college,  or  a  superior  school,  in  the  modest 
terms  suggested  hy  the  Vaudois  themselves)  re- 
established upon  a  comprehensive  system,  might 
give  a  stir  to  the  whole  body,  and  miglit  also  pro- 
duce an  impulse,  not  only  in  the  immediate  rid- 
nity,  but  also  in  other  parts.  For  tins  purpose,  it 
niust  be  so  conducted,  as,  1st.  to  give  a  sound  pre- 
paratory education  to  the  young  men  intended 
for  holy  orders ;  2dly.  to  train  school-masters : 
and,  :idly.  to  instruct  youth  destined  to  other  pro- 
feflsons,  in  such  branches  of  knowledge  as  may 
be  necessary  to  their  success  in  life. 

Brezzi  attributed  the  alleged  degeneracy '  of  the 

'  TImw  who  complain  most  of  thr  dcgrncnry  of  Ow  Vaii. 
,  gaard  llicir  obMrvaliont,  t»y  adxling,  ibai  ii  ia  %a  compjuiton 


S82 


WALDBNStAN  ftRBAttrlffiS. 


Vaudois,  to  the  foreign  education  of  their  clergy, 
and  to  their  banishment  from  home  at  an  early 
age.  Legcr  in  1662,  and  Timoleon  PeyranJ",  in 
his  pamphlet  puhUshed  in  1825,  ascribed  it  to  a 
departure  ^m  that  ancient  discipline,  which  bad 
the  effect  of  keeping  up  both  clergy  and  laity  to 
the  high  mark  of  primitive  simplicity. 

Each  of  these  writers  has  recommended  a  re- 
newal of  those  ccclcsiajitical  regulations,  which 
had  tlie  effect  of  preserving  sanctity  of  life  and 
conveTBation.    "  It  is  necessary/'  says  the  latter, 


I 


with  the  oM  WaklenMs,  >nd  not  with  other  Chrirtiitts,  this 
the  prcMnt  Vandob  tink  in  eattmatioB.  "  Tfacn  falota."  aid 
Bnud,  "  are  inevitabk  to  human  wwfcmw.  Pctbapt  ««  an 
falliog  into  tlu:  commuci  error  of  nippoaiog  thai  onr  aoectlDn 
were  »o  much  better  than  ounelTCS.  But  I  may  proclain,  that 
Knrope  docs  t>ot  produce  a  pMple  of  such  good  faith,  umptidtj, 
and  kind  •hearted  ness  as  the  Vaudoi* :  th«y  entertain  a  veiMcatxn 
tot  religioD,  aiid  a  puttty  of  naorala,  which  are  not  to  be  fiMad 
amOD^  anjf  other  Chnttiana." 

"  If  the  Vaadois  have  degenerated,  it  b  from  the  viniM  tt 
thdr  anccators :  compared  with  other  oatioua,  they  are  eqnal  to 
ihctn,  or  rather  they  e\cel  th^m  io  the  regularity  of  their  lim 
and  conduct."    CooaJdiTations,  &c.  par  T.  Petnni. 

'  TimoleoD  Peyrani^  work,  Conaidiraiion*  *ur  lea  Vaadoii, 
gives  a  curious  tnataoce  (kau  Thuanui,  of  the  origiD  of  the  first 
law-iuit  among  the  V'audoi*,  arising  out  of  educaitoo  by 
straogcn,  A  peasaot  who  was  a  tittle  tkher  than  his  brethren, 
sent  bis  »oii  to  the  university  of  Turin.  The  yoting  man,  upon 
hb  return  to  the  valtep,  penuiidod  hb  father  to  pn»ecnt«  a 
neighbour  fot  the  recovery  of  the  amount  of  some  damage 
to  his  land  bv  ibe  man's  cattle. 


I 
I 
I 


VAUtEWStftK    RESEARCHES. 


383 


"  to  put  in  force  some  articles  of  our  ancient  dis- 
dpUne :  the  relaxation  of  these,  and  the  want  of 
that  sun'eiUance  which  formeriy  kept  us  in  order, 
account  for  much  of  that  which  is  illaudable." 
This,  then,  must  be  considered  the  second  deside- 
ratum, that  the  Moderator's  visitations  be  con- 
ducted with  more  r^ularity  and  authority. 

The  present  ecclesiastical  government  of  the 
Vaudois,  is,  in  some  degree,  like  tliat  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  but  more  relaxed  and  indulgent. 
Anciently  it  was  episcopal ' ;  a  fact  which  is  traced 
in  some  of  their  documents,  and  more  particularly 
in  the  writings  of  their  adversaries, — -Reinerus  for 
example  [seep.  116].  That  tliis  jurisdiction  has 
been  banished  from  them,  was  their  misforttme 

'  Tbe  Vaudois,  Itke  the  netnbere  of  tli«  taiXj  Chunrli,  ue 
cwnmoti  people.  Cat  off  from  the  du^DCtiou  and  lasuriet 
afweitty,  Aoj  are  alao  removed  from  iu  tcfoptation*.  It  is  for 
this  Ruon  tfa«r  cbsrch  goveminent  coBlmuea  to  be  popular.  It 
m  Boat  probaUo,  Ibat  evea  whiia  Ibeir  ecclewankal  polity  WM 
cpboofMl,  tbat  theh  buhop  poaaeaced  no  powcn,  esoept  liiOM  of 
ardinBlfon  ami  ccnsvrc,  indcjM-Mlcnily  of  the  Synod.  Hsnoc 
dwif  biiliopa  mak«  no  figure  in  kbtory.  At  prctent  thrir  oiodp- 
nlor  don  not  awn  ordain,  nor  does  )i«  Mem  to  eierctw  any 
■niliority,  anleaa  in  ooojunclkia  with  ibe  Table,  at  tlie  Synod, 
■a  ptcanlent. 

Eacb  chairb,  by  iti  own  coniistoTy,  composed  of  tntniater, 
dcMOn,  ajid  (--Iden,  muiMgcs  it*  own  alfatn  in  ordinary  matters, 
and  nenr  reccirea  a  puUr,  but  by  it*  own  conaent  In  tome 
ama,  indeed,  paiWiea,  for  pnce-aake,  have  actjnieaccd  id  ^ 
paiatnrau  madt  by  iha  Tabk  and  Synod,  srben  thiy  wm  not 
MkagctbcrtollKaraatHfactMMi,  but  itill  iJMir  cooaeoi  was  inptied. 


r 


iitii  WALDENSIAN    RSSEARCRES. 

and  not  their  choice.     It  is  not  exactly  known  at 
what  time,  or  by  what  means,  the  original  polity 
was  changctl ;  hut,  at  the  latter  end  of  the  I^ 
and  the  beginning  of  the  I7th  century,  we  6nd 
the  Moderator  of  their  Church,  as  the  chief  eccle- 
siastical minister  was  then,  and  is  now  called, 
ordaining  by  the  imposition  of  hands,  and  visith^ 
each  parish  every  year,  and  censuring,  or  approT- 
ing,  and  reporting  to  the  Synod.   The  clei^"  from 
France  and  Switzerland,  who  supplied  the  places 
of  those  whom  the  plague  had  cut  off,  were  not 
friendly  to  the  rigid  superintendence  of  the  Mode- 
rator.   The  visitations,  by  degrees,  became  little 
more  than  matter  of  form  :  the  young  men  edu- 
cated in  Switzerland  are  now  ordained  in  Switzer- 
land, and  recognised  by  the  officers  of  the  Table 
first,  and  by  the  Synod  aA^rwards,  and  tlien  com- 
mence their  functions,  as  their  serrices  may  be 
required,  or  vacancies  in  the  churches  may  occur. 
Exlucation  at  home,  ordination  at  home,  and  a 
^stem  of  church  government  upon  the  principles 
which  their  best  authors,  and  most  esteemed  lixing 
pastors  recommend,  would  be  followed  by  many 
other  things  M-hich  are  allowed  to  be  de^rable. 

A  third  de^deratum  is  a  uniform  Church  service 
or  fommlary.  Anciently  the  Vaudois  had  a  litnrgj* 
of  their  own ;  they  now  adopt  the  books  of  prayer 
in  use  among  the  Swiss  Churches.  There  can 
be  no  inroad  upon  public  opinion,  or  great  inno- 
vation, in  attempting  to  introduce  a  litui^-,  which 


I 


WALDENSIAN    RRSBARCnEfl. 


889 


shall  be  common  to  all  their  congregations.  The 
VaudoU  with  whom  1  was  in  communicittion. 
thought  it  would  be  a  boon  worthy  of  acceptance, 
to  procure  a  liturgy  to  be  compiled  by  members 
of  the  Waldeosian  Church,  and  to  print  a  quan- 
tity  of  copies  suftictent  for  gratuitous  circulation 
among  die  liimilics  of  the  three  valleys,  with  a 
certain  number  of  larger  type  for  the  churches'. 

It  WHS  naturally  a  great  object  witli  me,  not 
only  to  obtain  the  generul  consent  of  the  Vaudois 
for  the  iotroduclion  of  an  unifonn  liturg)',  but  tliat 
this  litui^  should  be  formed,  in  part  at  least,  after 
the  model  of  that  of  the  Church  of  England '. 

In  this  I  felt  that  I  was  supported  by  the 
opinions  of  some  of  the  ablest  and  most  judicious 
divines  of  the  Protestant  body.  Ostcrvald,  whose 
name  is  dear  to  all  the  Kefurnicd  Churctu^s  in 
Europe,  when  he  was  constdted  upon  the  design 


*  ■*  Uany  ccrt»nly  with  tot  «  fixed  liturgy  of  thdr  own,  uni 
Jiwffcow  of  MBBjr  little  itn|;ul«ritie*  wUch  hare  cnf4  m." 
BCMtbiid^'*  uUbentic  d«taiU  of  Uw  VsldeMM,  p.  1 38. 

*  I  did  imt  tecominetid  the  Vaudob  clergy  to  adopt  llw 
EMfflnh  l-iliir^  rnlJirly,  l>ul  to  Ke  vital  jurt  uf  it  migbl  he 
■■cTnI  and  cdiryiRg  ■inong  ibcaiMlvM,  i»  conjunction  <riih  |ian« 
ef  the  ttlnqri*!!  now  in  um,  am)  iliui  ui  compile  a  formulary 
wliidi  mif^tit  be  gcMsmlly  approved.  Iktr.  Sinn  liwl  prrpurcd 
Uw  way  (at  tfaia,  by  rirciil^tiiig  a  tliMt  cooiaininj;  |iniyrni  «mJ 
calWcn  rRKn  th«  tngUUi  ritual,  (niislaled  into  (-'rrncb.    ThtM 

nry  much  ailmirrd. 

cc 


walhenstak  rcsrarchrs. 


P 


f 


of  introducing  a  litur^cal  service  into  the  Geniun 
and  Swiss  ('hiirchcs,  which  should  bear  some  con- 
formity with  that  of  the  Enghsh  Church,  dccUred 
that  he  entirely  approved  of  it,  "  For,  by  such 
means,"  said  he, "  it  is  reasonable  to  think,  that  a 
uniform  hturgy  may  in  time  be  admitted  into  all 
the  Protestant  Churches,  which  would  indeed  be  a 
most  noble  and  useful  work." 

At  one  period  of  our  history,  an  opportunity 
presented  itself  of  establishing  a  form  of  worship, 
as  near  as  ]>ossible  to  that  of  the  Church  of 
England,  in  the  dominions  of  the  king  of  Prusaa, 
which  was  lost  in  a  manner  almost  unaccountable. 
It  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  mention  the  circum- 
stance here '. 

At  the  bcj^nning  of  the  last  century,  the  reigning 
king  of  Prussia,  by  the  advice  of  Dr.  Ursinus,  an 
eminent  dinne  of  Berlin,  with  the  title  of  bishop, 
and  Dr.  Jablouski,  first  chaplain  to  the  king,  an) 
senior  or  superintendent  of  the  Protestant  Church 
in  Poland,  meditated  the  design  of  introductug  a 
liturgy  into  the  royal  cha{)el  and  catlufdral  church, 
and  then  to  leave  it  free  to  the  other  churches, 
to  adopt  it  or  not  at  the  pleasure  of  the  ministets 
and  congregations.  For  this  purpose  a  translation 
of  the  English  liturg)'  was  made,  in  preference  to 


I 


I  For  tbe  history  of  thb  prorceding,  fM  Newrooe's  life  of 
Aichbiahop  Shsrp.  Vol.  I.  p.  403—449.      Vol.   II.  Apt«mbx 


Sftd. 


all  others,  and  two  copies  were  sent  by  order  of 
the  tdng  of  Prussia,  one  to  the  queen  of  England, 
(Anne)  and  the  other  to  the  archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, Dr.  Tennison  ;  with  the  request  that  the 
Knglish  hierarchy  would  give  their  opinion,  as  to 
the  correctness  of  the  translation,  and  the  expe- 
diency of  the  proposed  measure.  A  gi'acious  and 
sitis&ctory  reply  was  received  from  Queen  Anne ; 
but,  strange  to  say,  no  answer  was  given  by  the 
archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  no  notice  was  taken 
on  the  part  of  the  EngUsh  Church.  It  is  supposed, 
either  that  the  copy,  and  the  letter  which  accom- 
panied it,  were  not  delivered  at  I^ambcth,  or  tluit 
Dr.  Tennison  took  longer  time  to  consider  of  the 
matter,  tlian  suited  the  impatience  of  his  Fnissian 
iD^esty.  This,  however,  is  certain,  that  the  king 
was  excec<lingty  offended  at  the  apparent  neglect, 
expressed  his  disgust  at  the  indifference  ntanifested 
by  the  clergy  of  England,  and  suffered  the  matter 
to  drop. 

But  Dr.  Jablouski,  whose  heart  was  set  upon 
the  measure,  (and  whose  wishett,  to  use  his  own 
solemn  protestati<m,  "  proceeded  neither  trum  a 
denre  of  change,  nor  any  other  carnal  motive,  but 
from  conviction  of  its  utility,  and  from  a  sincere 
desire  to  glorify  (iod,  and  to  edify  his  Church,") 
would  nut  give  up  the  design,  and  he  therefore 
opened  a  correspondence  u|Kin  the  subject  with 
Sharp,  archbishop   of   ^ork,  in    1710,   through 

cc2 


3)18 


WAtDENSTAN   RESKARCHeS. 


the  mcilium  of  Dr.  Sraalridge,  afterwards  biab^ 
of  Bristol '. 

Archbishop  Sharp  was  the  very  man  to 
warmly  into  an  alfuir  of  this  kind,  for  "  no  niaii," 
said  Ills  biographer,  "  had  a  more  tender  concern 
for  the  Iterormed  intt-Tcsts  abroad,  nor  was  more 
careful  to  preserve  the  beauty  and  order  of  the 
Church  of  England,  that  it  might  be  a  standing 
pattern  for  all  other  Protestants."  In  conjuDCtkm 
with  this  distinguished  prelate.  Dr.  Sprat,  bishop 
of  Rochester.  Dr.  Robinson,  bishop  of  Bristol,  and 
after%vanls  bishop  of  Ixindon,  Mr.  Males,  who  had 
been  a  <rrcat  deal  among  the  Reformed  Churcbn 
in  France  and  Germany,  and  was  well  acquainted 
with  the  sentiments  uf  foreign  Protestants,  and 
some  of  the  queen's  ministers,  endeavoured  W 
redeem  the  opportunity  which  bad  been  lost  some 
years  before. 

The  afTair  was  discussed  in  the  despatches,  which 
were  sent  lixim  the  courts  of  Ixtndon  and  B^lia 
A  letter  received  about  this  period,  171 1,  from 
Baron  Prinzen,  director  of  ecclesiastical  affairs  at 
Berlin,  explained,  that  the  king  of  Prussia  and  bb 
clergy  had,  at  one  time,  been  exceedingly  aaxioas 


■  "  I  hope,"  mkI  Smalridge,  "  in  a  tcUcr  to  Um  Archbtsbof^'' 
wriUcD   GJipfctsly  upoD  thit  subject,   "  your  grace  ii 
basie  to  town,  and  1  am  sure  jrou  will  maJte  ibe  more  hutc, 
yon  think  thai  hy  beinR  here,  j-ou  can  exp«di(«  a  woric,  io  «lucb  ] 
tke  hoDOur  oT  your  owu  Charcb.  luxl  lli«  vdificatioB  of 
Cliurches  Kcm  to  bv  so  miich  int«resl«(t." 


WAT.nKNSlAM    RESEAKCHES. 


389 


(o  establish  a  close  union  betweiii  their  Churches 
aud  the  Church  of  K»^lan(I>  and  that  although 
tiieir  overtures  had  hitherto  been  neglected,  they 
continued  to  entertain  the  same  favourable  dis- 
positions. This  led  to  a  conference  between  the 
Prussian  minister  in  London  and  Mr.  Secretary 
SL  John ;  and  matters  seenieil  to  be  in  a  fair 
train,  for  the  latter  directud  the  Britiah  ambassador 
at  Berlin,  to  assure  the  king  of  Prussia,  "  that  the 
Engh'sh  clergy  were  zealous  in  the  cause,  and  that 
if  former  overtures  met  nith  a  cold  reception  Irom 
any  of  tliat  body,  such  behaviour  was  directly 
contrary  to  their  general  inclination,  anil  tn  their 
avowed  sense,  as  ap{)eare{l  evidently  from  the 
attempt  which  the  Ix>wer  House  of  Convocation 
mailc  some  years  iv^o,  to  join  with  the  bishojw,  in 
promoting  a  closer  correspondence  between  the 
two  Churches." 

Unfortunately,  however,  the  time  had  gone  by, 
many  of  the  Prussian  clei'gy  ha<l  taken  deep  of- 
fence, first  at  the  indifferenee  nianift^ted  in  Eng- 
land towards  their  proposal  of  ailopliug  the  English 
liturg)- ;  and,  secondly,  at  some  injiuUcious  zeal, 
which  was  displayed  by  the  friends  of  the  measure, 
in  forcing  other  fonns  U|>on  them,  which  were 
not  equally  acceptable.  Queen  Aiine,  the  king  of 
Prussia,  and  archbishop  Sbar|>,  died  within  a  few 
tiionths  of  each  other,  and  then  the  plan  fell  to 
the  ground  entirely  '. 

'  The  failMic.  Ml  the  Itrei  Uui4iicr,  wu*  UM-nlictl,  tii  M   buMt, 


p 


390  WALCBNSIAN   RESEARCHR8. 

Dr.  Jablouski  was  honest  and  discreet  througb- 
out  the  whole  affair,  from  the  first  to  the  last. 
His  principal  anxiety  was  for  the  introduction  of 
the  lituT^cal  service,  under  the  persuasion,  th^ 
when  that  was  secured,  the  congregations  wouU 
be  brought  o%'er  by  degrees,  and  reconciled  to 
other  things,  whicli  then  seemed  unusual  aud 
strange  to  them. 

His  reasons  for  recommending  the  Ei^lish 
Uturgj'  to  his  countrymen,  as  the  basis  of  their 
own,  were  those  by  which  I  was  moved  in  my 
advice  to  the  Vaudois :  1st  "  That  it  was  the 
most  perfect  of  any  used  in  the  Reformed  Churches; 
2nd,  That  it  was  for  the  most  part  taken  &om  the 
best  antiquity ;  3rd,  That  the  Church  of  Neufchatel 
hatl  succeeded,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  the 
people,  m  ordering  their  public  worship  after  the 
English  manner,  though  somewhat  shorter  ;  4tl3, 
That  the  word  of  God  ought  frequently  to  be  read 
during  Divine  service,  and  tlio  method  of  the 
English  Church  is  excellent  in  this  respect,  where 
ill  the  public  prayer,  the  Old  Tcstameut  is  read 
once  a  yeiu-,  the  New  tlunec  times,  and  the  Psalms 
once  a  month." 

One  of  tliis  eminent  man's  observations  applies 

ihe  Pnnouun  resideul  id  Enj^Uud,  to  the  juilouty  or  ihc  Boo* 
conformist  p«ny.  "  On  the  olha  baml,"  nid  be,  "  Um  Whigs, 
■Iw  FrcsbyuriftRt,  ibe  Ind^ictulcnts,  and  all  the  other  boo- 
cftnroroiitiU  would  took  upou  this  coofortuity  wkh  jjicftl  concern, 
»%  wcakuning  *ih1  dinnnin^-  iheir  p*r<lF-*' 


WALDBHSIAN   RESEARCHES.  Sfll 

peculiarly  to  that  part  of  the  Vaudois  service,  to 
which  I  have  alluded,  with  some  regret,  in  Chap- 
ter III.  "  That  reading,  which  is  among  us,  is  not 
looked  upon  as  a  part  of  the  service,  and  is  only 
heard  by  those,  who,  through  mistake,  come  into 
Church  a  little  too  early,  and  is  done  without 
devotion  or  respect,  only  to  fill  up  the  void  time, 
till  the  minister  comes  in  and  interrupts  it" 


CHAPTER  XL 


P 


I 


P 


£arMr»ion  Fo  the  tapper  yaUtry*.  Tht  Coi Mien.  Mpti 
Jlpint  i^rodaclioMt.  The  Oermatauta — Praii — AaetiHr- 
Rodorttio.  Mautt.  Tit  Uahi—ManfgliQ.  />«rm>.  filU* 
Steea — PramoL 

July  13.  With  thi>  intentiuiis,  which  I  have  stated 
in  the  preceding  Chapter,  we  set  out  on  foot  from 
Bobi,  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  on  our  way 
for  the  valley  of  San  Martino,  by  the  pass  of  the 
Col  Julicn,  or  Guiliano. 

The  journey  was  considered  too  fatiguing  for 
Mrs.  Gilly,  and  leaving  her  with  the  amiable  family 
at  San  Margarita,  my  brother  and  1  slept  the  pre- 
ceding evening  at  the  presbj'tery  of  M.  Klustoo, 
and  were  joined  at  day-break  by  M.  Bonjour,  and 
a  guide,naniedMelli,who  had  accompanied  Messrs. 
Brockedun  and  Magratb  in  some  of  their  explo- 
ratory visits  to  the  passes  of  the  Alps  in  thia 
quarter '. 

I 

'  I  wy  much  rt^t  tliat  Mi.  Brockedoo  has  wot  wt  iDw- 

traled  Any  [xut  of  thi*  line  cuuutt^,  in   th«  nine  Myle  in  wkidi 

he  has  brooghl  olbrr  Alpine  fvginns  into  notice     Tlw  fiMky 

of  his  views,  and  tbc  exaci  tlclincalion  of  Uic  ronntr;,  in  his 


1 


WAtneRStAN    ReSEARCIIRS. 


n&s 


The  nsccnt  of  the  mountain  commenced  imm(^- 
diatcly  from  Bobi.  Our  route  ky  nearly  due 
north,  and  as  in  the  case  of  almost  all  tracks  over 
the  higher  mountains,  wc  followed  the  Unc  of  a 
torrent,  which  rises  on  the  Col  JuUen,  and  falls 
into  the  Pelice.  After  i)assing  through  some  small 
gTBSs  fields  shaded  with  chcsnut-trees,  we  pursued 
our  way  by  an  abrupt  and  steep  path,  towards 
I*uy.  or  Poi.  To  our  left,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
torrent,  rose  the  conical  and  aspiring  Mont  Bar- 
nan,  upon  whose  sides  nature  and  man  seem  lo 
have  had  a  terrible  conflict  But  the  latter  has 
at  length  prevailed,  and  has  built  his  habitation, 
and  sown  Im  com  on  s]K>ts,  where  even  the  soil 
would  he  carried  away  by  the  elements,  but  for 
the  walls  and  terraces  which  are  erected  at  im- 
mense labour  to  protect  them.  Seen  at  a  distance, 
the  cabins,  and  the  winding  paths  which  lead  to 
them,  and  the  plots  of  land  under  cultivation, 
appeared  to  be  upon  the  very  edge  of  precipices, 
and  the  latter  «o  small,  as  scarcely  to  be  wortli  alt 
the  risk  and  toil  by  which  they  are  rendered  pro- 
ductive. Most  probalily  we  were  deceived  by  the 
great  sjtncc  which  lay  between  us  anil  these  objects. 
They  were  picturesque  beyond  all  description. 

But  while  we  indulge  our  admiration  at  the 
nght  of  cliiT-buiit  cottages,  and  patches  of  grain 


wmpa  at  Ui«  end  of  Mch  namlwr,  render  liia  work  oiw  tt 
uulity  III  ibaw  wbo  bt««  occuioa  lo  coaiMtt  it. 


k 


394  WALDKNSIAN    BBSEABCHES. 

ill  situations,  where  none  but  animals  of  the  chase 
have  a  natural  claim  to  the  ground,  we  cannot  but 
condemn  the  policy,  which  lias  driven  an  indus- 
trious population  to  seek  resting  places  in  such 
wilds,  instead  of  inviting  them  to  descend  Into  tbs 
plains,  and  to  employ  their  enterprising  spirit 
where  it  would  have  a  more  meet  reward. 

Almost  ever}'  hundred  yards,  as  we  advanced, 
brought  us  to  a  cliange  of  scene.  At  one  time  the 
liring  rock  was  under  our  feet,  and  suspended  over 
our  heads.  At  the  next  moment  a  rood  of  green 
herbage  or  ripening  wheat  rcUcved  the  eye.  Now 
a  bare  surface,  and  there  a  grange,  with  a  group 
of  huts.  Thus  it  continued,  a  succes»on  of  ver- 
dure and  aridity,  until  wc  had  passctl  beyond  Puy 
and  Annagliere.  At  l*uy,  there  is  a  small  old 
church,  whose  roof  abutted  upon  our  path,  and 
upon  which  wc  sat  for  a  few  minutes  to  take  breath. 
J-'rom  Armogliere  wc  descended  into  a  deep  basin, 
or  amphitheatre  of  rocks,  at  the  bottom  of  which 
the  torrent  was  nishing,  even  at  this  time  of  the 
year,  with  great  nipidity,  though  with  no  vast 
body  of  water.  Again  we  ascended.  At  a  grange 
called  Moulin  de  Pontet,  we  were  shewn  a  prec^ 
pice  down  which  a  mule  tumbled,  but  without 
doing  himself  much  injury.  It  was  supposed  that 
the  load  on  his  back  saved  his  bones.  Above  us. 
to  tlie  left,  were  the  heights  of  Mendron,  of  which 
Arnaud  took  possession,  before  his  bold  attack 
upon  Sibaud.     The  steeps  were  here  extremely 


1. 


WALDRKSIA!!   KBSEARCHES. 


399 


precipitous,  but  some  of  ttiem  were  covered  with 
ber&age,  and  we  looked  with  terror  at  a  woman 
cutting  grass,  and  at  an  old  man  leading  his  cow 
to  feed,  where  we  supposed  it  scarcely  possible 
to  plant  the  foot  in  safety. 

At  no  great  distance  Droni  Giauzarant,  the  tor- 
rent divided.  We  took  the  left  hand  branch,  and 
in  one  of  the  most  desolate  parts  we  met  a  woman, 
who  asked  us  if  we  knew  the  owner  of  a  )M:n-knife, 
which  she  had  found  eight  months  ago.  In  answer 
to  our  en(|uiry,  why  she  imagined  that  we  might 
be  able  to  say  who  had  lost  it,  she  said  she  had 
been  told  the  knife  was  made  in  England,  and 
belonged  to  an  Englishman.  Every  stranger  in 
these  regions,  whose  appearance  denotes  bim  to  be 
above  the  rank  of  a  peasant,  is  supposed  to  be 
from  England.  When  the  stupendous  rocks  of 
Gamircugna,  and  those  called  Les  Aiguillets  de 
Julien  came  in  sight,  wc  fancied  that  we  were  on 
ground  which  might  be  defended,  for  some  time  at 
least,  against  any  force  that  could  be  brought 
against  it ;  and  it  was  here  that  a  body  of  Piemontese 
troops  were  posted  to  dispute  ihe  entrance  of 
Amaud's  men  into  tlic  valley  of  Lusema.  But 
they  Were  panic  struck  at  the  Arst  charge  of  the 
patriots,  who  liad  rendered  themselves  so  formid- 
able at  thi>  bridge  of  iSalabertrnnd,  [^see  Aclond's 
translatiun  of  Ilentree  Glorieuse,  ]>ages  65 — 79,3) 
and  Hcd  after  ftring  a  few  volleys,  which  killed 
one  Vaudois.     Tlie  spot  where  he  was  buried. 


r 


896 


WALUENSIA?*    RBSKARCIIKS. 


under  a  rock  at  [^s  l^aiitiscts,  was  pointed  oiit  to 
US,  as  the  grave  of  a  hero. 

Amidst  the  ever-varying  scenery  on  this  day"« 
route,  after  toiling  over  the  niugh  iieti  of  the  tw- 
rcnt,  wc  came  to  a  baiik  of  rhododi-ndrons,  00" 
which  we  reposed  for  a  few  minutes,  and  tlien 
pushed  our  way  up  an  acclivity,  which  seemed  to 
have  no  end.  If  the  tales  of  our  guide,  and  the 
anecdotes,  which  he  had  to  tell  in  illustration  of 
almost  every  striking  feature  of  the  moimtain.  hai 
not  been  of  some  assiiitaiice,  wc  should  have  r^ 
pented  of  our  hard  day's  work,  before  we  had  half 
complettnl  it.  We  arrived  at  the  chalets  of  Julien, 
adcr  four  hours  walking,  and  there  breakfasted^ 
and  although  the  interior  of  these  summer  had 
are  not  at  all  inviting  in  point  of  cleanliness,  w» 
were  glad  to  be  under  the  shelter  of  their  roo&, 
from  the  burning  heat  of  the  sun.  The  Alp 
Jutien  is  just  under  the  Col  of  the  same  nantev 
and  is  one  of  those  rich  pasturages,  to  which  yoo 
find  youn^^lf  transported,  as  I  have  observed  in 
another  place,  as  if  by  magic,  after  having  appa- 
rently left  all  verdure  far  behind  you.  To  these 
spots  tlie  cattle  are  driven,  and  remain  with  the 
owners  and  their  families,  for  three  or  four  UKinth: 
I  coimted  fortj'  cows  and  ten  sheep,  and  was  tdi 
that  many  hundreds  are  fed  on  this  and  the  ncigl 
Louring  Alps,  which  lie  on  this  side  of  the  c 
that  divides  Piemont  from  Dauphinc. 

I  liavu  licre  used  the  word  Afp  in  its  proper 


1 

OOB 


J 


TALDENSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


397 


and  original  acceptation,  derived  as  it  is  from  a 
Celtic  tenn,  which  does  not  signify  mountain 
heif^ht,  but  mountain  herbage.  Alp,  or  Atpen, 
as  Simter  has  shewn,  is  grass-land  on  the  higher 
mountains,  on  which  the  "  herbage  is  not  cut, 
and  made  into  hay  for  winter  use,  but  is  fed  off  by 
flocks  and  herds  sent  to  depasture  there :~  hence, 
"  zu  alp  faren,"  is  to  lead  cattle  to  the  mountain 
pasturages,  in  which  they  remain  near  tlie  sum- 
mits for  tlic  Uiree  summer  months  '. 

With  tliis  meaning  attached  to  the  word,  many 
of  the  slopes  near  the  summits  in  the  Vaudois 
territory  are  so  called ;  as  the  Infemet  Alp,  the 
Pis  Alp,  the  Croscna  and  Koussa  Alps.  It  is  on 
such  verdant  height^i,  that  vegetJUion  ascends 
much  above  the  snow  Une,  and  that  the  traveller 
fre<)uently  crosses  patches  of  snow,  and  many 
tracts  of  arid  stu-iace  less  favourably  situated,  be> 
fore  he  comes  to  the  green  spots  of  which  1  am 
speaking.  Here  different  grasses,  clover,  and 
heaths,  (and,  I  believe,  I  may  add  the  violet.) 
flourish  in  fertile  soil,  warmed  by  the  sun's  rays, 


I  Jmw  Simlori  Vd«in  et  Alptum  doacnptio,  p.  175.  See 
•bo.  Piocop.  lib.  I.  de  belto.  Goc  p.  186.  Ed.  1607.  EnMailiL 
ad  Oiouj.  ■((Nqr,  |>ai;e  Ai.  Ctuuta  Gni^onw  And.  an.  1323. 
lOB.  3.  Hill.  Dvlpb.  p.  503.  and  oUirr  pungcs,  <iu>oled  tub 
Alpea,  in  Glo«a.  Med.  ct  Inr.  LaiiniUlii,  lo  ihew  Uic 
Ding  ordid  won)  Alp.  In  Uip  ninth  pan  of  tlie  new  ciliiion 
Eacyclopttdi;!  Bntoiuiica,  under  ttii^  word  Alpo,  a  note 
obMtffl*,  "  KMne  author*  dcmv  Alp  Trmb  Alb,  m  wnloul  hei^" 


1 


p 


WALMtNSlATt   RF.«EAHCnFS. 

and  moistened  by  snow  water,  seven  thonsand  fe« 
and  upwards  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

The  chalets  on  the  Alp  Jtilicn  were  by  no 
means  so  picturesque  to  the  eye,  as  mast  of  the 
Swiss  chalets,  as  those  on  the  Wengem  Alp,  for 
example ;  here  they  are  built  of  stone,  but  then 
of  the  trunks  and  hmbs  of  the  pine,  so  disposed 
as  to  be  equally  pleasing  to  the  eye,  and  proof 
again^it  weather.  But  glad  enough  were  we  to 
lie  down  upon  the  bard  seat,  and  to  quench  oar 
thirst  with  milk  in  one  of  these  hospitable  cabins, 
before  we  proceeded  to  climb  towards  the  elevated 
ridge  that  separates  the  valley  of  Luscma  froM 
th»t  of  San  Martino,  and  the  commune  of  Bob! 
from  Fraii. 

This  last  ascent  was  not  performed  till  past 
eleven  o'clock :  it  was  consequently  under  a  flaro- 
ing  sun  tliat  we  scrambled  up  the  Col  Julien,  and 
more  than  once  did  wc  stop  to  rest  our  weary 
limbs.  One  of  our  party  was  so  overcome  by 
heat  and  fatigue,  that  whenever  we  stopped  for  a 
minute  or  two,  he  lay  down  and  instantly  feO 
asleep.  Before  we  gained  the  summit  we  wen 
joined  by  four  robust  peasants,  whose  bare  heads, 
and  arms,  and  legs,  and  rapid  advance  upon  us, 
made  us  wonder  what  brought  tlicm  there.  They 
were  crossing  the  mountain  to  cut  grass  on 
other  side. 

Sultry  as    the  weather    was,    yet    tlie    snow 
was  still  lying  in  places  screened  from  the  sun's 


I 


1 


WAI,niMSIA(fl   SKSTARntRit,  30& 

rays.  When  wc  reached  the  s]>ine  of  the  moun- 
tain, the  aspect  of  the  country  waa  totally  differ- 
ent on  the  other  side.  The  steep  by  which  we 
had  ascended  was  without  a  tree;  the  one 
which  we  had  to  descend  was  at  lirst  bare  d 
all  rotation  for  some  hundred  yards,  but  be- 
yond tliis  there  were  forests  extending  along 
tho  sides  of  the  declivities,  and  plots  of  rich 
herbage  enamelled  with  flowen.  On  one  bank  I 
counted  seven  different  sorts.  The  rapidity  of 
the  descent  towards  I'rali  was  such,  that  we  found 
it  necessary  to  proceed  with  caution ;  but,  in  the 
meantime,  the  four  peasants  set  off  at  quick  pace, 
and  were  fur  away  and  bu&ily  employed  cutting 
the  grass  for  which  they  came,  long  before  we  had 
reached  the  t)ottom  of  the  first  steep.  This  region 
is  very  productive  of  that  which  sen-es  as  winter 
fodder  for  tlic  cattle,  for  wc  fell  in  with  several 
groups  of  mountaineers,  who  had  collected  some 
large  bundles  of  long  grass  mixed  with  moss,  with 
which  they  were  plodding  their  way  home ;  and 
to  judge  froni  the  distance  wc  walketl  before  we 
cante  to  any  habitations,  they  must  have  had 
much  ground  lo  traverse  ere  they  arrived  at  tho 
place  where  they  began  to  cut  it. 

Having  traced  our  way  to  the  summit  of  the 
Col  Julien  by  the  course  of  a  torrent,  we  descend- 
ed towards  the  habitable  part  of  the  commune  of 
Prali,  by  means  of  a  similar  pcuide ;  and  first  on  one 
side  of  the  (icmmnasca,  and  then  on  tho  other,  we 

3 


MO  VALDSMSIAN   RBSBARCHES. 

journeyed  on  by  Uie  hamlets  of  RJba,  Jounlaine, 
i^uraicrs,  Oi^iurs,  aud  Mulzotti»  till  we  reached 
Guigot,  the  hamlet  where  the  Protestant  church 
aud  presbytery  stand.  Prali,  or  the  i'rals,  Les 
I'rali,  U  the  name  of  the  cummuiie,  aud  there  sra 
two  hamlets  which  are  so  called, — one  high  up 
towards  the  soxirce  of  tlie  Gemiaiiasca,  and  the 
other  below  Guigot  (jiuigot,  as  bein»  the  central 
aiid  largest  village,  is  called  La  \'ille>  and  is  M 
marked  in  some  of  the  mai>s. 

It  was  two  o'clock  before  we  arrived  at  the 
presbytery,  aud  thoroughly  tired  we  were.  Sfl 
much  so,  that  while  Madame  Peyrani  was  kindly 
and  busily  employed  in  preparing  dinner,  mf 
brother  and  I  enjoyed  a  hearty  siesta.  i 

The  day's  march  had  been  somewhat  bard,  fot 
the  heat  was  excessive,  and  tl)e  descent  so  rapid 
as  to  shake  us  from  head  tu  foot  But  it  was  a 
day  of  great  interest  We  had  crossed  a  umuD' 
tain  at  a  high  elevation,  and  had  had  opportu- 
nities  of  noticing  the  jiecutiaritics  of  two  uf  those' 
traxisversal  valleys  which  exhibit  most  of 
Alpine  features,  and  have  been  acted  upou,  in 
greater  or  less  degree,  by  the  force  of  water, 
was  interesting  to  trace  the  two  streams  on  each 
side  of  the  mountain  ;  the  one  from  its  juuctioo 
with  the  Pelice  to  its  source  — the  other  from  its 
first  rill  Co  the  impetuous  rapids  and  deep  pools 
of  the  Germanasca.  We  saw  the  infant  condition 
of  the  latter,  when  he  was  nothing  more  than  a  fee- 


I 
I 


J 


WALDRS'SUN    RllSF.ARrHRS. 


401 


ble  pish  from  a  bed  of  snow.  Foltomng  the  little 
litrcamlet,  wc  camo  to  u  ri-nt  in  the  rocks,  where 
others  joined  it :  presently  there  was  a  second 
meeting  of  the  waters,  and  then  another,  and 
another,  till  tlie  channel  became  more  marked 
and  dvfuicd,  and  at  length  occupied  the  breadth 
of  a  mighty  rushing  torrent. 

Another  agreeable  occnpation,  as  we  ascended 
and  descended,  was  to  notice  the  distribution  of 
vegetation.  In  the  nine  hours  spent  between 
Bobi  and  Guigot,  we  had  seen  hrst  the  gradual 
disappearance  of  the  lai^r  trees,  till  nothing 
was  left  but  dwarf  shrubs,  and  then  again  the  ns 
appearance  of  foliage,  and  trees  of  different  species. 
^A>  Bobi,  the  chesnut  and  the  walnut  arc  the  giants 
'of  the  wood :  on  the  other  side  of  the  Col  JuHen, 
the  pine  rises  supreme  above  the  rest.  As  we 
climbed  the  mountain,  ever}'  sort  of  grain  vanished 
by  degrees  from  our  sight :  as  we  approached  the 
opposite  vale  again,  wheat,  and  barley,  and  oats, 
greeted  us  on  our  way ;  but  not  any  in  a  state  of 
ripeness.     The  hues  of  gold  were  entirely  gone : 

Sd  we  were  in   a  new  climate.     The  vultey  of 
n  Martino  is  a  month  or  six  weeks  behind  that 
of  Lusema. 

A  very  little  experience  and  observation  will 
Hpn  teach  the  traveller  to  conjecture,  from  the 
^tpcarance  of  vegetation,  the  probable  height  of 
the  mountains  which  he  has  ascended,  or  the 
rlevation  above  the  sea  of  the  valleys  which  he 

ud 


MS 


TTALDENSIAN    RESE.UtCnES. 


is  traversing.  lie  will  see  no  oaks  beyond  3,300 
feet,  or  thereabouts.  The  chesDUt  seldom  ascends 
above  2,400.  The  vine  not  more  than  1,700. 
The  olive  and  orange  iviU  only  grow  at  the  foot  of 
the  Alps,  and  principally  near  the  coast.  The  faircb 
and  the  pitch  pine  will  flonrish  at  an  elevation 
of  4,500  feet ;  but  the  beech  stops  at  atraut  4000. 
Of  fruit-trees,  the  cherry  may  be  cultivated  as 
high  as  any ;  at  3000  feeL  The  aider  ranges  to 
6000— the  rhododendron  as  high.  The  dwarf 
willow  can  bear  the  greatest  altitude.  Barley, 
oats,  and  wheat,  will  sometimes  grow  at  upwards 
of  5000  feet.  Some  of  the  finest  pasturages  are 
found  at  7000 ;  and  there  are  many  herbaceous 
plants  and  grasses  which  can  bear  the  elevation 
of  7,600  feet. 

Another  way  of  judging  of  the  probable  height 
above  tho  sea,  is  from  the  animals  which  are  seen. 
The  highest  summits,  and  the  titost  pointed  tops 
of  rock  or  ice  are  not  too  elevated  for  the  bouqoe* 
tin.  The  chamois  does  not  ascend  so  high  as  the 
bouquetin  ;  but  he  never  finds  his  way  into  the 
plains.  He  is  only  to  be  seen  on  very  lofty  ridges 
and  acclivities  in  the  vicinity  of  the  snow  line. 
The  marmot  and  white  hare  fretiuent  the  slopes 
of  mountains,  which  are  below  the  favourite  hauntsfl 
of  the  chamois.  The  fox  does  not  tike  to  mount 
higher  than  where  he  can  find  brakes  and  thickets 
to  conceal  Inni.  The  vulture  and  the  eagle  share 
the  domains  of  the  chamois ;  and  the  ptarmagau 


WXtDBHSUN    nESEARCHr^. 


iCS 


^mtB  of  the  marmot ;  while  th«  heath-cock  and 
tbe  i^ousc  osiiiru  no  higher  than  the  pitic  forests. 
The  pheasant  is  found  in  great  abundance  in 
almost  all  the  woody  heiglits,  which  rise  imme- 
diately above  the  valleys. 

In  our  journey  over  the  Col  Julien,  we  fre- 
quently heard  the  shrill  cry  of  the  marmot,  and 
saw  one  of  them.  Hut  in  vain  did  we  keep  an 
anxious  look-out,  under  the  hope  of  catcliin^  a 
view  of  a  ctiainois :  Melli  thought  he  espied  a 
young  one,  but  if  he  did,  we  were  uot  so  lucky. 
Nor  were  we  favoured  with  the  sight  of  eagle  or 
vulture ;  though  we  were  so  entirely  within  their 
ngioa,  that  a  crag  was  pointed  out  to  us,  where 
David  David,  a  celebrated  sportsman,  had  de- 
stroyed  a  nest  and  captured  the  mother  bird.  He 
shot  at,  and  wounded  tlie  eagle  herself,  but  could 
Dot  approach  nearer  the  nest,  than  to  apply  to  it 
■nd  its  contents  a  bunch  of  Hghted  straw  nt  the 
end  of  a  long  pole. 

Our  HwsXa  antl  dinner  at  the  prenhj-tcry  restored 
lo  us  our  alacrity :  and  in  the  evening,  we  walked 
with  M.  Pe}Tani  by  tbe  banks  of  the  Germanasca 
to  the  lower  I*r<di,  where  we  called  upon  some  of 
Uio  pastor's  fhcnds,  and  enjoyed  tlic  conversation 
and  &ank  manners  of  the  veritable  Vaudois  of  this 
remote  commune.  Prali  in  called  the  fmareni  of 
the  Waldensian  parishes.  It  is  fenced  in  hy  rock 
and  forest.     It  lies  directly  under  the  great  chain 

the  Alps.  It  is  often  seven  and  eight,  and  even 
nd  2 


«0* 


VAtDRNSIAN    KESEAKCHES. 


nine  monthB  under  siiow.  Its  protluctiuns  are 
few  and  precarious,  exi>osed  as  the  whole  com- 
mune is  to  avalanches.  It  has  no  mulberry 
trees,  no  chesnuts  no  vines.  Wheat,  IjarleVi 
and  oats,  grow  in  tlie  more  fertile  parts  of  its' 
long  narrow  deHle,  but  there  is  neither  abundance 
nor  certainty  in  the  crops.  And  yet  the  poemt 
though  it  is  called,  I^U  is  not  tlie  commuae 
where  most  wretchedness  is  found.  The  native 
pitpulation  has  been  less  intruded  upon  by 
strangers;  and  the  increase  less  than  in  many 
other  parts  of  the  valleys :  their  wants  are  few : 
their  ludiits  of  frugality  and  abstinence  secan 
them  enough  of  tlie  absolute  necessaries  of  life, 
and  with  these  they  are  contented.  It  is  an  ob- 
servation, which  1  have  made  before,  but  which  t, 
may  again  rqMiat,  that  the  most  sterile  di.stricts 
the  Waldensian  territory,  are  not  those  where 
sufferings  of  poverty  are  most  felt. 

The  Protestant  church  of  "  this  doleful  nll^, 
as  a  late  traveller  called  It,  and  doleful  indeed 
looks,  the  central  school  and  the  presbytery  art' 
all  sort}-  buildings  ;  the  pastor  has  dune  what  he 
could  to  improve  his  own  habitation,  and  to  obtaiii 
the  means  of  putting  the  school  and  church  ia 
sufficient  repair,  but  he  has  hitherto  been  unsuc- 
cessful. 

M.  Peyrani  is  the  son  of  Ferdinand  Peyrani, 
late  |iastor  of  Pramol ;  and,  according  to  the  usual 
regulations,  should  have  exchanged  this  laborious 


M 


WALDENSIAIl    RESEAIU'lIBS. 


105 


and  remote  niouiituiii  cure,  for  a  parUh  in  one  of 
the  other  valleys.  Something,  however,  occurred 
to  disappoint  liini,  and  perhaps  to  vex  him,  but 
he  has  submitted  to  the  disappointment  for  peace 
sake.  I  hud  reason  to  ex]KJct  that  the  soh  of  the 
Wuldemiian  clergyman,  who  expressed  himself,  in 
his  letter  to  tlie  Society  for  Promoting  Christian 
Knowledge  '.  so  plainly  on  the  subject  of  the  an- 
cient institutions  of  the  Waldenses,  would  be 
pleased  with  the  statement  which  M.  Bonjour  had 
to  lay  before  htm,  and  so  it  proved. 

July  14.  We  rose  at  an  early  hour,  and  ac- 
companied by  M.  Poyrani,  we  crossed  the  Oer- 
roanasca,  and  ascended  toward  the  mountain  called 
Galmont,  on  our  way  to  the  other  parish  under  his 
charge.  Hodoretto.  This  is  four  or  five  miles  distant 
from  liis  habitation,  and  being  only  approached 
by  steep  heights,  and  deep  ravines,  imposes  heavy 
and  difttcult  duties  upon  him.  Hitherto  Prali 
with  Ilodurctto  as  an  annexe,  and  Massel  with 
Maneglia  annexed  to  it,  have  been  served  by  two 
pastors,  though  the  parishes  require  four,  because 
there  have  been  no  means  of  paying  four  ;  and  for 
this  reason  it  has  been  customary  to  offer  the 
putors,  who  have  been  so  burthened,  the  choire 
of  less  onerous  cures  in  the  other  valleys,  when 
vacancies  have  taken  place.  This  excursion  would 
have  given  me  sufficient  evidence,  had  I  wanted 


'  'S«c  Namu««  of  ■»  Cxcuimuu,  ttc.  |>.  3.  4lh  Eibl. 


WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHrS. 


such,  of  the  labours  of  a  Waldensian  minister; 
more  particularly  in  the  winter.  The  acchvities,  ■ 
which  wc  had  to  mount,  must  be  absolutely  formid- 
able, when  the  ground  is  slippery  from  ice,  snow, 
or  wet :  and  some  of  the  paths  arc  so  narrow,  and 
shelving,  as  they  overhang  the  precipices,  that  it 
requires  long  habit,  or  the  utmost  caution,  to 
traverse  them  in  safety.  Loitering  a  Uttle  behind 
my  companions,  I  lost  sight  of  them,  but  foUoning 
in  the  track,  I  came  to  a  spot  where  the  footing 
seemed  to  be  so  insecure,  and  the  gulf,  which 
yawucd  bclotv,  so  appalling,  tliat  I  [uiused,  and 
looked  around,  to  see  if  there  were  no  other  pn- 
sagc.  It  was  not  till  I  had  ascertained  that  it  was 
the  only  {lath,  that  I  ventured  to  proceed  by  k.  fl 
And  yet  this  n-as  after  some  little  practice  had 
inured  me  to  such  mountain  horrors. 

In  tlic  pine  grove  on  the  mountain  side  fadng 
Y-the  hamlet  of  Lower  Prali,  where  is  the  Roman 
^  Catholic  church,  and  directly  opposite  to  thai 
btul{ling,  M.  Peyrani  shewed  us  a  noble  fir-tree,  i 
and  upon  it  a  cross  cut  d(;e])ly  in  the  bark.  **  Tbis 
emblem  uf  her  faith,"  said  the  pastor,  "  was  made 
by  a  itoman  Catholic  woman,  whose  flocks  and 
chfilet  are  on  the  Alp,  immediately  above  us.  The 
church  below  is  the  nearest  to  her  pasturage,  and 
here  she  comes,  as  fR-qucntly  as  she  can,  at  the 
hour  of  mass,  and  kneeling  before  tbis  cross,  and 
within  view  of  the  sanctuarj',  where  she  knows 
the  priest  is  of&ciatinj;  before  the  altar,  she  offers 


TAIDKNSIAN    RBSEASrHRS. 


407 


up  her  devotions,  and  enjoys  all  the  consolations 
of  her  religion."  The  Protestant  clergyman  re- 
lated the  anecdote  with  every  feeling  of  respect  for 
such  sincere  and  simple  piuty,  and  I  am  sure  that 
wc  heard  it  with  equal  sympathy.  There  is  not  a 
tale  of  WaldensJan  constancy  or  dcvotedness  to 
the  trutli,  which  1  have  recorded  with  more  plea- 
sure, than  I  note  down  this  simple  trait  of  Christ- 
ian character  in  a  member  of  the  other  Church.    _ 

On  Galmont  we  visited  the  spot  where  the 
Vaudois,  under  Arnaud,  hail  a  camp,  and  the 
wood,  wherein  the  sick  and  the  wounded  were 
concealed.  Galmont  is  strong  by  nature,  and  was 
rendered  more  impregnable  by  two  redoubts,  or 
entrenchments,  which  the  jmtriots  threw  up.  I 
paced  the  smaller  of  the  two,  of  an  oval  form,  and 
found  it  to  be  about  100  yards  in  circumference. 
This  memorable  height  commands  a  fme  view  of 
the  defiles,  in  which  Frali  and  Rodoretto  are 
situated :  the  one  on  the  banks  of  the  Gemianasca, 
the  other  on  a  torrent  which  flows  into  the  Gcr- 
manasca.  Our  route  from  Galmont  to  lludoretto 
lay  tlirough  a  wood  of  iirs,  iu  which  there  were 
some  very  fine  acacias. 

Rodoretto  is  a  poor  village,  situated  in  a  hollow 
of  the  mountains:  the  church  and  central  school, 
like  those  of  Prali,  are  miserable  buildings.  The 
celebrated  Legcr,  moderator  and  historian  of  the 
Vaudois,  was  one  of  M.  Peyrani's  predecessors  in 
the  cure  of  Prall  and  Rodorelto.     In  u  memoir  of 


408  WAI.1>KNSIAN    Rb'SEAKCHKS. 

Iiis  oH'ii  life,  printed  at  the  end  of  his  htstonr  <rf 
the  Vautlois  Churches,  there  is  an  animated  notice 
of  his  first  appointment  to  this  double  cure.  "  It 
was  ill  September  1(>*J9,  that  I  was  sent  to  take 
charge  of  the  Pnili  and  Roiloretto,  in  the  highest 
and  tlie  coldest  of  all  the  valleys,  which  is  usually 
coveretl  with  snow  eight  or  nine  months  in  the 
year,  with  an  injunction  to  preach  four  times  a  ^ 
week." 

The  memoir  proceeds  to  state,  that  one  Sunday, 
when  he  was  going  from  Prali  to  Kodoretto,  in 
the  month  of  February,  he  was  caught  in  a  snow 
storm,  and  suffered  so  dreadfully  from  the  cold 
that  he  was  frost-bitten,  and  attacked  by  an  im- 
posthume,  which  nearly  cost  him  his  life. 

Alter  having  spent  an  hour  at  Kodoretto,  wo 
proceeded  towards  Massel,  by  Guardiol  and  Fon- 
tana  :  our  path  lay  parallel  vnth  the  torrent  that 
tumbles  into  the  Germanasca,  and  o0ered  one  of 
the  fintst  \iews  of  a  mountain  gorge  I  ever  SBW. 
The  waters  were  at  a  great  depth  below  us, 
thundering  and  foaming  in  a  succession  of  caU> 
racts  from  rock  to  rock.  The  opposite  steeps 
were  well  covered  with  wood.  The  cliffs  to  our 
left  rose  in  some  places  perpencMcularly,  and  con- 
tained many  grottos  and  rarcrrts  of  considerable 
beauty.  A  *'  canal  d'arosoge,"  or  aqueduct,  rao- 
ning  in  a  line  with  the  path,  was  most  ingeniously 
contrivetl,  so  as  to  convey  the  water  in  part  bv 
wooden  trough.<:,  supported  by  piles  of  stone,  and 


WALDBN8UN   RESBARCUES. 


409 


^»as  as  much  desening  of  notice,  as  some  of  those 
maj^uittcciit  constnicttons  of  the  KoDians,  which 
contiuue  to  be  the  wonder  of  succeeding  genera- 
tions. This  humble  and  useful  work  displayed 
the  utmost  ingenuity  and  perseverance  on  the 
part  of  its  constructors,  and  was  extremely  pictu- 
resque to  the  eye. 

Nobody  should  visit  the  valley  of  San  Martino, 
without  taking  this  route  to  or  from  Koiloretto. 
It  is  much  more  worth  a  day's  journey  than  many 
of  the  scenes  in  Switzerland  and  Italy,  which  oc- 
casion so  much  talk.  The  torrent,  at  its  junction 
with  the  Germanasca,  is  the  fuie^it  wat4:r-fall  in  the 
valleys,  considering  the  height  from  which  it  falls, 
and  the  body  of  descending  water. 

In  tlie  winter,  the  snow  renders  this  pass  very 
dangerous :  and  a  few  years  ago,  a  pastor  would 
have  been  lost,  who  slip]>ed,  and  rolled  down 
towards  the  gulf  below,  bad  he  not  fortunately 
been  accompanied  by  persons,  who  were  able  to 
catch  hold  of  him  before  he  was  precipitated  into 
the  vortex. 

I^eaving  the  romantic  path  by  the  torrent  side, 
we  advanced  towards  Guardiol  by  a  rocky  accUvity, 
which  was  empurpled  with  lavender.  At  Fontatta, 
the  syndic  of  the  commune,  who  resides  there, 
bailed  UB  in,  and  would  not  Buffer  us  to  decline 
bis  hospitable  offers  of  refreshment.  Perhaps, 
tiowevcr,  we  should  have  |)ersisted  tn  going  on 
without  stopping,  had  he  not  urged  us  to  visit  a 


410 


WALDBNSl.tN    BESKARCUBS. 


new  school-house,  which  was  then  building  under 
the  benevolent  auspices  of  Colonel  Beckwith.         m 

From  Fontana,  we  had  a  long  and  weary  way  " 
before  we  could  reach  the  top  of  the  mountain, 
which  divided  us  from  the  valley  in  which  Massel  | 
and  its  hamlets  are  built  But  the  summit  gained, 
wc  hud  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  much  of  our 
route  would  tlien  be  through  a  forest,  where  we 
should  be  protected  from  the  burning  rays  of  the 
sun.  Belbre  we  begau  our  descent,  M.  Peyran! 
directed  our  attention  to  the  pretty  looking  hamlets 
of  Le  Coupe,  and  Didier,  and  Sanforan,  and  Le 
Serre,  on  the  lei),  and  to  Champs  de  Salse,  Robers, 
and  (Jrangc  Didicrs,  on  the  righL 

We  arrived  at  Massel,  about  two  o'clock,  after 
passing  through  that  alternation  of  woodland, 
mendowland,  com-lields,  and  rocky  glens,  which 
relieves  weariness,  and  keeps  tlie  spirits  and  cario- 
sity continually  on  the  alert.  M 

M.  Tron,  a  proprietor  of  a  lai^  tract  of  moon- 
tain  land,  whose  name  Bgures  in  Vaudois  history, 
as  Trono  of  Mus&cl,  received  us  hospitably  in  his 
new-built  house,  wtiicli  is  a  habitation  of  much 
larger  dimensions,  and  of  better  appearance,  than 
we  should  ex]>cct  to  fnid  in  tins  remote  comer. 
While  every  preparation  was  making  by  Madame 
Tron,  to  entertain  a  hungry  party  of  four  or  five 
unexpected  visitors,  the  moimtain  Laird  escorted 
us  to  the  famous  IlaUi,  or  Balceglia :  the  scene  of 
one  of  the  most  extraordinary  defences  in  modem 


VALDBNSIAN  RESEARCltES. 


411 


warfare.  A  narrow  defile,  and  a  road,  steep, 
rugged,  and  in  many  places  Almost  imi>a&sable, 
except  to  men  on  foot,  letl  to  this  position,  whioh 
no  less  than  20,000  French  and  Fiemontese  troops 
were  employed  to  surround,  with  the  intention  of 
cutting  off  the  retreat  of  a  few  hundred  Vaudois, 
and  of  compelling  them  to  surrender. 

Our  curiosity  was  excited  to  the  utmost  to  ex- 
plore a  spot,  whi(;h  was  tlescrilwd  in  the  despatches 
of  the  officers  who  commanded  the  royal  forces, 
as  a  natural  fortress  projecting  between  the  Guig- 
nivert,  on  one  side,  and  the  Col  de  Pis  on  the 
other,  the  highest  mountains  in  this  region,  and 
fomiiniif  the  point  of  an  angle,  the  sides  of  which 
Were  two  wild  torrents.  This  citadel  of  living 
rock,  rose,  it  was  sai<l,  in  the  Hhapc  of  a  cone,  and 
was  broken  towards  the  top  by  three  distinct 
points,  each  of  which  had  a  plateau  at  its  foot, 
which  might  serve  as  a  retreat  when  the  Vaudois 
should  be  driven  from  the  one  below  it.  The 
upper  part  was  called  the  Portin,  and  the  lower 
the  Baki,  or  castle.  Before  the  French  ventured 
to  niukc  the  attempt  of  taking  it  by  assault,  the 
whole  country  was  invested  by  a  cordon  of  troops, 
and  the  storming  party  consisted  of  4A0  veterans, 
nipportcd  by  700  militia. 

Aniaud  himself  described  the  Balsi  as  "  a  lofty 
and  very  steep  rock,  (see  Acland's  translation  of 
Amaud,  p.  147)  rising  by  three  different  terraces, 
on  the  top  of  each  of  which  was  a  small  flat  space. 


412 


W&LDGNSIAN    RBSBARCirBS. 


in  which  a  sort  of  barrack  had  been  excavated 
It  posM-ssed  also  three  springs.  Intrcnchmcots 
had  bccu  constructed  here,  pierced  with  loop- 
holes. Each  post  was  provided  with  a  large 
store  of  stones,  to  hurl  on  the  heads  of  the  assail- 
ants." Long  before  we  arrived  at  the  hamlet  of 
Balceglia,  which  is  at  the  foot  of  this  natural 
fortress,  we  distinguished  the  three  rocky  points, 
and  formidable  character  of  the  position.  Tbe 
lower  terrace  also,  or  BaUi  itself,  was  plainly 
marked,  and  is  at  present  the  site  of  one  cottage. 
A  mural  precipice  rLies  from  tlie  torrent  to  the 
platform  on  which  tho  oottagc  stands.  After 
stopping  a  few  minutes  at  tbe  hamlet,  where  tbe 
natives  seemed  highly  pleased  with  the  interest 
we  seemed  to  take  in  the  celebrity  of  their  name, 
we  crossed  an  Alpine  bridge,  and,  by  a  very  steep 
and  tortuous  path,  we  reached  the  first  terrace. 

1  suppose  my  expectations  were  raised  too  high, 
for  I  confess  I  felt  some  disappointment  at  not 
finding  traces  of  the  barracks  that  were  excavated, 
and  of  the  intrenchmcnts,  and  other  proofs  of  tbe 
terrible  conflict  maintained  here.  Hut  I  forgot 
that  it  was  140  years  ago,  and  that  time  most 
have  swept  away  many,  if  not  all  such  memorials. 
1  should  not  have  been  led  to  believe  that  this 
spot  was  once  the  retreat  of  four  or  live  hundred 
fighting  men,  who  liad  thrown  up  artificial  ramp* 
arts,  had  I  not  been  assured  by  history  and  tradi- 
tion, that  such  was  the  case  :  so  entirely  bad  the 


I 


i 


WALDENtnAN    RESRARCIIES. 


irft 


face  of  every  inch  of  ground,  where  soil  could  be 
foand  or  broiiglit,  been  changed  by  cultivation. 
It  was  nmnifest  that  a  better  position  for  defence 
could  not  be  chosen,  but  there  was  no  proof  to 
the  eye  of  its  having  been  employed  as  such. 

It  was  too  late  in  the  day  to  think  of  climbing 
to  tlie  upper  terraces,  and  had  there  been  tiraCi 
M.  Tron  lu^sured  us  that  he  should  have  dissuaded 
us  from  the  attempt,  unless  we  had  been  Wtter 
pre]>ared,  with  sliocs  nailed  and  spiked  for  the 
purpose,  and  unless  he  liad  previously  seen  how 
our  heads  could  bear  such  an  adventure.  It  was, 
indeed,  a  frightfully  precipitous  steep  to  think  of 
ascending.  I  saw  a  woman  cutting  grass  at  a 
great  elevation,  and  apparently  in  a  very  exposed 
spot  above  us  ;  and  enquired  how  she  could  ven- 
ture, where  it  would  be  hazanlous  for  us.  He 
replied  very  significantly,  "  Habit  and  necessity 
are  her  guides  and  safeguard." 

We  retraced  our  steps  back  to  M.  Tron's  house, 
determined  to  come  again  to  the  Balsi. 

In  the  evening,  we  bade  adieu  to  our  kind  enter- 
tainers, and  directed  our  steps  towards  the  pres- 
bytery of  M.  Timoleon  Peyrani,  at  Maneillo,  or 
Maneglia,  where  we  were  to  sleep,  and  a  toilsome, 
dragging  way  it  provi^  After  passing  the  Borgo 
di  Bobcrt,  we  advanced  by  the  edge  of  precipices, 
till  the  path  led  us  down  to  the  bed  of  the 
river.  We  then  had  to  perfonn  the  remainder  of 
the  journey,  for  three-quartcnt  of  an  hour,  by 


:i 


414 


WALOENSIAS   RBSEARCttBS 


r 


scrambling  up-hill,  and  never  in  my  life  was  I 
more  exhausted  than  when  1  reached  Maneglia 
at  nine  o'chwk.  1  could  scarcely  speak,  t  men- 
tion this  to  record  the  remedy.  My  cordial  wh 
a  lump  or  two  of  sugar  steeped  in  brandy.  The 
effect  was  almost  instantaneous.  Afler  this  I  en- 
joyed a  good  supper,  thanks  to  the  kindness  of 
Madame  Peyrani,  and  did  not  regret  that  I  had 
been  fourteen  hours  on  foot  this  day.  Boojov 
and  my  brother  were  not  less  sensible  of  the 
effects  of  the  day's  march  than  I  was ;  but  as  for 
M.  Peyrani,  he  strode  onwards  from  morning  till 
niglit,  with  an  erect  and  stately  pace,  recotmted 
his  tales,  indulged  in  his  dry  humour,  and  planted 
the  soles  of  his  feet,  as  firmly  on  the  ground, 
when  he  arrived  at  his  brother's  presbytery,  as 
when  he  left  his  own,  fresh  from  his  breakfast. 

July  15.  I  was  stiff  and  feverish,  and  every 
joint  ached,  when  they  calletl  me  this  momii^,  at 
day-break,  and  gladly  would  1  have  folded  my 
arms  for  a  little  more  sleep  ;  but  we  Iiad  another 
long  day's  journey  before  us,  and  it  was  neoessaiy 
to  bestir  ourselves. 

M.  Timoleon  Peyrani,  pastor  of  Maneglia  and 
Massel,  was  not  at  home  when  we  arrived  last 
night :  but  he  came  in,  nllcr  we  liad  retired  to  bed. 
and  I  was  introduced  to  him  for  the  first  lime 
this  morning.  I  had  been  anxious  to  make  his 
acquaintance,  not  only  as  the  brother  of  our  friend 
of  Prali,  and  nephew  of  the  lalc  nuMlcrator,  but  as 


4 


4 

i 

4 


WALOEVSIAN   RKSEARCttES.  415 

the  author  of  an  energetic  work  on  the  Vaudois 
Church  and  Character,  worthy  of  his  tiistinguished 
family.  His  manner  is  modest,  and  at  first  intro- 
duction he  is  somctvhat  reserved,  but  his  conver- 
Batioii.  when  he  warms,  is  that  of  the  gifted  author 
of  "  Considerations  sur  Ics  Vaudois."  I  felt  sure 
of  bis  cordial  approbation  of  niy  pbns,  after  read- 
ing  the  piquant  and  characteristic  introduction  of 
bis  book,  ("  De  Vahlcnsium  doctrina  Theses,  quas, 
Deo  juvantc,  tucri  conabitur  Timoleon  Pe)Tan,") 
and  his  many  eloquent  praises  of  the  ancient  in* 
stitutions  of  his  country.  M.  Bonjour  explained 
my  intentions  to  bim,  and  once  more  I  had  the 
satisfaction  of  hearing  them  approved. 

The  presbytery,  church,  and  central  school  of 
Mane^lia,  like  those  of  TraJi  and  Kodorctto,  are 
such  OS  denote  the  scanty  resources  of  a  commune, 
which  is  situated  on  one  of  the  rugged  and  less 
productive  slopes  of  the  u)){K>r  valleys. 

Baissc  is  the  proper  name  of  the  bamlct  which 
is  tlie  residence  of  the  pastor,  and  here  again 
Colonel  Beckwitb  has  made  provision  for  putting 
the  central  school  in  a  better  condition.  If  I 
nroeniher  right,  be  has  enabled  Maneglia  to  con- 
struct a  new  building.  1  should  liavc  licon  more 
anxious  to  deilicale  part  of  the  funds  at  my  difr* 
posal  to  similar  purposes,  if  1  bad  not  conceived 
it  to  be  better  policy  to  devote  them  to  a  cause, 
which  nobody  lias  yet  undertaken  to  promote. 

The  girls*  schools  are  in  the  homU  of  the  Londno 


41« 


WAr,DR?mAS    RBSRARmrS. 


Committee,  and  objects  of  concern  to  Mr.  B 
The  salaries  of  the  schoolmasters  arc  under  the 
immediate  eye  of  the  Dutch  Committee ;  the  pas- 
tors' stipends  have  been  considered  by  the  ICngliifa 
government,  and  by  the  Society  for  the  Propa- 
gation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts.  Colonel 
Beckwith  has  given  his  attention  to  the  rcpain 
of  the  school-rooms,  and  the  foundation  of 
Collie  became,  therefore,  an  affair  to  which  I 
felt  that  I  might  iisefiilly  give  my  principal  con- 
sideration, and  thereby  assist  the  Vaudois  in  cb- 
taining  that  on  which  they  have  long  set  tbdr 
hearts. 

After  breakfast  we  took  our  departure  frora 
Baisse,  and  descended  towards  Ferero,  by  the 
romantic  glens  of  Cliahrau?^  As  we  left  the 
higher  regions,  we  again  came  into  the  laud  of 
the  vine,  and  the  chesnut,  and  the  ivalnut.  Perero 
is  a  small  town  on  the  (icnnanasca,  and  the  popu- 
lation is  entirely  Roman  Catholic ;  how  it  came  to 
be  so,  I  did  not  learn  :  it  is  the  only  insLinre  in 
the  valleys  of  the  kind :  but  not  in  any  of  the 
Protestant  conmuuies,  were  we  more  Mndly  w< 
comed  than  here.  With  the  addition  of  the  two 
Feyranis,  who  resolved  to  accompany  us  to  Villa- 
Sccca,  we  were  now  sue  in  party ;  but  the  moment 
we  entered  Perero,  we  were  hailed  in  by  a  Roman 
Catholic  surgeon,  who  invited  some  of  his  neigh- 
bours to  join  us,  and  placed  a  repast  before  us,  on 
the  strength  of  which  we  might  have  proceeded 


I 


H 


VAIOSKSMN    RESEARHIES. 


till  night.  The  kindness  and  genuine  frankness 
with  which  the  three  Vaudois  clergymen,  and  the 
English  strangers,  (whose  I'rotcstantism  was  known 
to  have  brought  them  here.)  were  received  by 
these  memlwrs  of  tlie  other  community,  added 
one  more  to  the  many  convictions  on  my  mind, 
that  there  is  no  reason  why  Protestant^  and 
Roman  Catholics  should  not  dwell  togetlier  amic- 
ably, wherever  pains,  and  pcnahics,  and  disabili- 
ties for  religion  sake  are  removed. 

From  i*ercTO  wc  proceeded  to  Villa-Secca, 
the  parish  of  M.  Rostaing,  the  present  Mode- 
rator ;  the  son  of  the  late  pastor  of  Bobi,  at 
whose  suggestion  tlie  Vaudois  conveyed  the 
wounded  French  over  the  borders.  On  the  emi- 
nence to  our  right  we  saw  Faetto,  and  to  our  loft 
San  Martino,  which  gives  the  name  to  the  valley. 
VUla-Secca  is  situated  on  the  slope  of  the 
mounuin  above  the  hamlet  of  Clots.  The  house 
where  Leger  was  bom,  and  the  church  of  \'illa- 
Secca,  with  the  presbytery,  are  at  no  great  dis- 
tance from  each  other,  and  having  visitea  each  of 
these,  we  descended  again  with  the  Moderator  to 
Clots,  where  [  had  the  gratification  of  finding  the 
children  of  the  girls'  school,  busily  at  work  in  a 
nice,  clean,  airy  room,  looking  tidy  and  cheerful, 
and  the  pictures  of  health.  The  more  I  saw  of 
these  establishnienbi,  tlio  more  I  felt  convinced 
that  they  will  prove  a  great  benefit  to  the  Vaudois 
population.    The  name  of  Rostaing  will,  I  trust. 


1^ 


1 


4X8 


VALOKV-JIIAN    BBSBARCHES. 


long  continue  to  find  a  diiitinguished  place  in  the] 
chronicles  of  the  W'aldcnscs.  The  present 
of  the  family  is  Moderator.  His  son  is  pastor 
Prarustino,  and  has  the  reputation  of  being 
of  the  most  active  and  pious  minister  of 
valleys.  One  of  the  Moderator's  daughters  waaj 
at  th^  girls'  school  at  Clots,  when  I  made  my 
visit  to  it.  Having  reason  to  be  pleased  with  the] 
proficiency  of  the  children,  I  gave  a  few  firancs  lal 
be  divided  among  them  by  way  of  reward.  M.I 
Rostaing's  daughter,  with  a  spirit  wortiiy  of  oli 
Rostaing,  of  Bobt,  gave  her  share  to  a  school- 1 
fellow,  to  enable  her  to  buy  a  pair  of  shoes. 

Our  party,    increased  by  the   Moderator,  M.j 
Jalla,  pastor  of  Pomarctto,  and  the  eldest  son  of  ^ 
the  late  moderator  Pcyrani,  dined  at  Clots,  in  tha, 
house  of  the  widow  Bert     A  salad,  an  omelet,- 
and  some  sausages,  composed  the  dinoer:  and 
over  this  frugal  meal  we  discussed  the  matteis 
which  had  brought  us  together,  and  once  more  I 
had  an  opportunity  of  studying  the  Vaudois  cha- 
racter in  their  hours  of  convivial  unreserve. 

At  four  o'clock  we  left  Clots,  and  crossing  the 
river  which  runs  through  the  ^'alley,  we  ascntded 
the  Combe  Garin,  on  our  route  to  PramoL  All 
the  party,  like  a  guard  of  honour,  and  with  the 
kind  object  of  shelving  us  attention,  accompanied 
us  far  up  the  mountain,  under  a  scorching 
and  by  rough  and  ruf^^ed  paths,  until  we 
Ricluretto,  the  oH/texi-  of  Villa-Secca.     Here  tfc 


WALOKSSIAN    BBSF.ABCHES. 


410 


Moderator  took  advantage  of  an  elevated  spot, 
and  pointed  out  to  tnu  the  whole  extent  of  his 
laborious  cure ;  the  hamleta  of  which  stretch 
along  on  each  side  of  the  Germanasca,  and  mount 
up  to  the  hrows  of  the  hills  wliich  enclose  the 
valley.  Within  the  nearer  prospect  we  saw  Lay- 
rasse,  Troussier,  San  Martino,  the  three  Clots, 
and  Bovitla.  Far  away  to  our  left  we  distinguished 
the  Col  de  Pis,  and  its  cascade,  Gnignevert,  and 
Albergian.  To  the  right  Pomaretto,  and  the 
heights  above  Perosa.  Those  views  were  not 
only  interesting,  inasmuch  as  they  presented  the 
loveliest  and  most  magnificent  sc-cncry  to  the  eye, 
but  in  the  accurate  judgment  which  they  enabled 
me  to  form  of  the  face  of  the  country.  I  had 
now  seen  from  different  mountain-heights  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  vallej'S  of  Luscrna  and  San 
Martino.  The  Moderator,  the  three  Peyranis, 
and  M.  JalLa,  took  leave  of  ns  at  Riclaretto,  and 
M.  Bonjour,  my  brother,  and  1,  pursued  our  way 
to  Pramol  bv  Mont  La/are. 

We  reached  the  summit  of  Lazarc  at  seven 
o'clock,  and  would  that  I  could  describe  the  l>eauty 
of  that  evening  scene.  Wo  looked  down  upon 
the  handets  of  Pramol  and  San  Gcrmimo.  We 
found  ourselves  upon  one  of  those  Alps,  where 
the  green  sward  was  ns  soft  M  a  carpet,  and  the 
air  was  perfumed  wilh  the  odorircrous  herbs,  which 
grew  there  in  prnfusion.  It  was  tbt.'  huur  when 
the  cattle  were  collecting  together,  to  move  homo* 

ec  a 


430 


WAl.DRN<tIAS'    ReSEARrilES. 


P 


tvards,  and  tlie  sounds  of  the  loiring  herds 
bleating  flocks  mingled  pleasingly  with  the  voic 
of  the  shepherds,  and  the  tingling  of  the  she 
bells.  The  girls  and  women,  who  were  attend 
ing  their  florks,  were  at  the  same  time  busil 
plying  the  distaff.  The  sensations  of  pleasui 
produced  by  this  scene  of  mountain  and 
life,  were  perfectly  indescribable. 

An  accident  which  befell  mc,  as  we  were 
scending  towards  Pramol,  dissipated  some  of 
agreeable  reveries.  My  foot  slipi>ed,  and  fidliii 
with  some  \iolcncc  upon  my  hand,  I  dislocalejj 
my  middle  finger.  My  brother  and  M.  BonjonTr  I 
set  it  again  immediately,  and  cutting  a  couple  of 
splinters  out  of  one  of  the  walking  poles,  the  finger 
was  put  into  a  secure  position,  and  with  my  neck- 
cloth for  a  sling,  we  arrived  at  the  presbytery  of 
M.  Vin9on,  at  eight  o'clock,  where  we  were  re- 
ceived by  himself  and  his  young  wife,  with  that 
cordial  and  friendly  welcome  which  made  us  fed 
at  home. 

July  16.  Paramolo,  or  Pramol.  Kever  did  1 
witness  more  appearance  of  contentment  and 
peace,  than  M.  Vin9on  seems  to  enjoy  in  his 
mountain  parish.  His  pru$bi,-tery  is  the  abode  of 
domestic  affection,  and  I  think  I  may  confidently 
add,  of  happiness,  although  his  income,  until  the 
late  increase  by  the  restitution  of  the  stipend  from 
England,  could  not  have  exceeded  that  of  Gold- 
smith's country  curate.     He  is  a  great  favourite 


WALDBNSIAN    nESEARCflES. 


421 


among  his  flock,  and  in  testimony  of  their  respect, 
they  have  lately  built  hiin  a  very  comfortable 
habitation,  at  the  cost  of  about  7000  francs,  or 
280/.,  close  to  his  church,  wliicll  is  also  in  a  state 
of  decent  repair.  Every  English  traveller,  mIio 
has  vi&ited  I'raniol,  has  spoken  in  terms  of  esteem 
and  admiration  of  tliis  pastor:  I  was  therefore 
prepared  to  tike  him;  but  there  was  an  air  of 
comfort  and  cheerfulness  in  his  dwelling,  and  of 
gt)od  maTiagement  in  the  regulation  of  his  parish, 
which  sent  me  home  more  than  ever  enamoured 
of  the  character  of  the  Christian  minister,  who 
lives  in  the  midst  of  his  family  and  his  tlock,  with 
all  his  wishes  and  wantii,  his  hopes  and  his  ex- 
pectations, his  cares  and  his  anxieties,  brought 
within  one  narrow  and  dear  circle. 

Maitame  Vinson,  a  fair  Swiss,  had  lived  ax 
governess  in  luighind  aiul  Ireland :  in  Ireland 
with  the  family  of  an  Archbishop,  but  leuving  all 
vain  aspirings  Iwhind,  she  has  brought  to  these 
remote  valleys  many  of  those  English  habits 
which  give  a  chann  to  domestic  life.  An  English 
lady.  Miss  Burroiiglis,  with  good  judgment,  and 
the  most  charitable  intentions,  thought  she  could 
not  do  better  for  this  part  of  the  valleys,  tlian  to 
place  a  well  stocked  medicine  chest  under  the 
chai^  of  Madame  Vinson,  who  has  by  this  means 
been  enabled  to  di8]>ense  to  the  necessities  of  many 
of  the  Mck  and  aiUng,  who  would  otherwise  have 


433 


P 


WAUnVSUH    RSSBARcnSS. 


gone  unrelieved.  In  this,  and  other  charges  which 
5he  has  taken  u]>on  herself,  this  amiable  vrooian 
is  completely  the  clergyman's  wife.  Her  turo 
blooming  boys,  one  of  ii\''e  and  a  half,  aad  the' 
other  of  three  and  a  half,  are  so  well  taught,  under 
her  maternal  instruction,  that  when  the  elder,  is 
play,  menaced  the  younger  with  a  stick,  the  latter 
exclainied,  "  What,  will  you  be  like  Cain,  and  k31 
your  brother  ?" 

Pramol  realized  our  notion  of  an  Alpine  riOttiP, 
as  much  as  any  in  the  vatlc}'s.  U  is  situated  in  ■ 
Jeitile_l>asin,  nearly  at  the  top  of  a  mountain,  from 
which  you  command  a  splendid  view  of  the  vale 
of  the  Clusone,  and  the  plains  of  Piemont.  Its 
hamlets  arc  scattered  in  sight  of  the  knoU  <m 
which  the  church  and  presbytery  stand,  and  the 
variety  of  the  productions,  which  grace  the  land- 
Scape,  make  as  perfect  a  picture  as  the  imagtna- 
tion  can  fancy. 

if  I  could  venture  to  point  out  one  spot  sborc 
another  as  the  scene  of  tliat  rustic  felicity,  which 
is  the  theme  of  romance  and  poetry,  1  shoultt  fix 
upon  that  which  is  inhabited  by  M.  ViofoD,  and 
his  family.  A  young  couple,  with  their  three 
lovely  chiklrcn,  two  boys,  and  an  uifant,  the  veiy 
image  of  health,  have  here  had  their  lots  cast  tc^e- 
ther  among  the  wild  beattties  of  nature,  and  are  id 
possession  of  that  which  they  call  enough:  ban 
been  separated  for  many  years  aflvr   their 


I 


WXlfiSHSIAS    HR8BAKCHHS. 


49$ 


declarations  of  attachment,  they  are  now  united, 
and  fulfilling  their  mutual  vows  of  affection  and 
duty. 

^^'c  should  have  gone  from  Pramol  to  San 
Gennano  and  Prarustino,  to  lay  our  proposals 
before  the  only  two  pastors  whom  I  had  not  yet 
seen ;  but  my  dislocated  finger  was  some  incon- 
venience, therefore  we  determined  to  return  di- 
rectly to  I^  Torre.  Crossing  the  RussigUa  torrent, 
which  runs  through  a  deep  glen,  we  ascended 
towards  La  Vachera,  by  some  fine  woods  and 
pasturages,  and  from  the  lofty  heights  that  sepa- 
rate Pramol  from  the  communes  of  Angrogna 
and  Prarustino,  we  looked  down  upon  Roccapiatta, 
San  Bartlmlomeo,  San  Sccondo,  and  the  plains 
far  beyond  Pinerolo.  It  was  a  combination  of 
rock  and  wood,  corn-fields  and  lineyards,  of 
mountain  and  vale,  and  of  green  pastures  by  the 
water  side,  seen  under  the  influence  of  an  evening 
san.  We  passed  through  several  of  the  hamlets 
of  Angrogna,  and  arrived  at  San  Margarita  in 
time  to  take  our  places  round  the  supper  table. 

I  gained  much  by  this  journey  to  the  upper 
TaOeys.  I  had  travcriied  on  foot  the  whole  length 
of  the  valleys,  and  in  such  a  direction  ns  to  give 
toe  a  good  idea  of  the  localities  of  all  the  parishes 
and  hamlots.  I  had  become  acquainted  with 
notables  of  the  community,  and  had  learnt  their 
sentiments  upon  many  imporunt  topics.     1  bad 


424  WALDEN8IAN    RESEARCHES. 

seen  the  manners  of  the  pastors,  and  prindpal 
inhabitants,  and  of  the  poorest  peasants,  under 
different  circumstances.  My  favourable  opinions 
are  all  strengthened.  If  there  were  some  few 
things  which  vexed  me,  there  were  many  which 
gave  me  pleasure. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


PrapotnU  to  ike  Fmulou  Pattort  ami  Offiettt  of  thi  Tahlc 
Jar  ike  eitaUuAmtnt  iff  a  CoUegt  in  tkt  f'alLyt. 


Hatuig  now  visited  thirteen  out  of  the  fiflet-n 
Waldensian  parishes,  and  conversed  with  all  the 
pastors  but  two,  and  most  of  the  principal  Uuty,  I 
felt  that  I  was  competent  to  form  a  pretty  fair  eati- 
mate  of  the  wants  and  wishes  of  the  community, 
and  that  I  might  put  down  upon  paper  the  pro- 
posals that  I  had  to  make.  It  was  an  object  to 
have  my  plan  so  stated,  as  that  each  of  the  pastors 
might  have  an  opportunity  of  reflecting  upon  it, 
and  ginng  his  ojiinion  more  deliberately,  than 
when  he  had  only  an  outline  explained  in  conver- 
sation to  guide  him.  1  therefore  employed  myself, 
after  my  return  from  the  excursion  related  in  the 
last  Chapter,  in  drawing  up  some  resolutions, 
which  were  shaped  and  modified,  with  the  assists 
ance  of  those  of  my  Vaudois  friends,  who  were  at 
hand.  Having  done  this,  the  paper  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  perusal  of  their  brethren,  as  I  had 
opportunities  of  communicating  with  thum,  and 
received  their  fmal  sanction  and  signatures,  under 


426 


WALDEKS1AK    RE8BARCUES. 


the  forni  in  vrliich  I  now  present  it  to  mj 
readers.  Upon  one  occasion,  ten  pastors  were 
present,  after  tlie  paper  had  been  signed  by 
them  separately,  and  these,  having  again  cod» 
dercd  the  subject,  in  a  body,  siguifieil  their  jcnnt 
consent  by  signing  a  second  time  in  testimony  of 
their  full  approbation.  It  will  be  supposed  tliat 
sonic  of  my  resolutions  produced  obserratioDS; 
and  that  explanatioiis  were  asked,  and  amendmenta 
proposed ;  these  I  have  noted,  so  that  those  who 
desire  to  be  in  full  possession  of  all  that  relates 
materially  to  the  scheme,  will  not,  I  trust,  be  dis- 
appointed. 


ProposaJs  submitted  to  the  connderatUm  of  the  patten 
of  the  Waldensian  Cftttrch,  July  1829. 

"  The  Waldensian  historians,  and  writers,  and 
otlicrs,  who  complain  that  the  V'audois  of  the 
present  day  have  departed,  more  or  less,  from  tlie 
purity  and  simplicity  of  tlieir  ancestors,  attribute 
it  to  two  causes :  First,  To  the  imjierfect  system  M 
of  education  in  the  valleys,  which  obliges  the 
students  of  theology  to  expatriate  themselves 
eight,  ten,  and  sometimes  twelve  years  \  at  the 
hazard  of  their  morals,  and  of  their  religious  prin- 
ciples, and  at  very  considerable  expense ;  a  prac- 


■  "In  the  prcMnt  state  t>t  thlngi,  youit^ Vaadois oAen qnil 
thdr  bonKs,  Tat  Swiuvrinnd,  bofon  they  are  sixteen  yean  of 
age." — Note  by  M.  Bonjour. 


I 


WALDENSIAN    BESEARCUES.  427 

tice  which  necessarily  results  from  the  want  of 
means  to  obtain  instruction  at  home  suitable  to 
any  of  the  higher  professions.  Secondly,  To  the 
relaxation  of  the  ancient  discipline,  particularly 
of  the  ancient  surveillance  of  the  Moderator,  who 
formerly  used  to  visit  all  the  churches  once  a 
year,  that  he  might  report  accordingly '  to  the 
synod. 

"  There  is  also  great  complaint  in  the  Walden- 
sian  communes,  that  the  churches,  families,  and 
individuals  experience  a  general  want  of  books  of 
devotion,  both  for  public  services,  and  for  private 
use. 

"  Under  these  circumstances,  I  propose,  (upon 
certain  conditions,  and  under  certain  r^ulations,) 
to  apply  funds  at  my  disposal  to  the  endowment 
of  a  school,  or  college,  which  shall  serve  for  the 
instruction  of  young  persons  intended  for  the 
ministry,  for  regents,  schoolmasters,  &c.  &c.,  and 
which  shall,  as  far  as  it  is  possible,  be  equally 
bene6cia1  to  the  three  valleys.  In  the  promotion 
of  this  object,  I  engage  to  furnish  five  thousand 
francs  towards  building  a  house  for  the  proposed 
establishment,  provided  that  the  Vaudois  will 
themselves  give  the  site,  within  the  commune  of 
La  Torre. 

"  To  give  a  stipend  of  1500  francs  a-year  to  the 
ht.*ad-inastcr. 


(28 


WALDEN8UN    KBSBAItCUeS. 


"  To  give  ten  exhibitions  of  100  francs  each  to 
students  of  the  ten  communes,  situated  at  the 
greatest  distance  from  La  Torre. 

*'  To  make  these  permanent  endowments,  if  the 
college  goes  on  satisfactorily. 

"  To  make  a  communication  of  these  intentions 
to  the  London  Vaudois  Committee,  and  to  the 
Dutch   Committee  *,    under   the    hope  that  the 


'  The  idea  of  uniiing  the  fuiKl>  of  the  grammar-scbool  wiib 
thote  of  die  college,  »u  nol  only  utton^ly  tecontDnxled  bj  M. 
llon«£t!cr,  of  Launnnc,  "  Arast  tout,"  said  br,  "  pour  mtdn 
lea  moycni  d'instnictioo  eBkacc*,  il  fsudroil  Ics  nfunir;"  ImI 
some  few  yean  ago,  a  plan  of  a  iimilar  oaturc  waa  in  agilation. 
&ikI  a  l«tt^  was  addressed  to  llie  Rit»-prefect  of  Pincrolo,  to 
the  fulloKing  eflect ; — 
Stx, 

*'  Tfae  autlioritiea  of  the  Vaudob  conmonei  feel  the  neoetait; 
of  hnrin^  a  colkge  of  ibnr  own  in  their  ralleyt,  iq  which  nch 
JDSlTUCtioD  may  be  imparted  to  their  youth,  as  their  aevenl 
destinatioos  may  require.  IBefore  they  nndertalce  a  cooceni  of 
this  kiad,  they  have  enquired  into  the  uature  of  their  resmiccts, 
and  calculated  the  expenses.  They  lequire  three  profesHMs, 
ihc  first  to  teach  the  clemenU  of  the  Ftcnch  language,  <raliQg 
and  iuithmetk;  tlie  Koood,  mathemalic*:  the  Ihtnt,  Belles 
Loltrcs,  Latin,  and  Greek. 

The  first  ought  to  have    700  fruica  a-year. 

Thewwid  900 

Tliethinl 1000 

11600 
For  rent  of  a  honae  •  •  • 400 

3000  fnocs- 


WALDENSUS   RESP.ARCnES. 


429 


former  may  supply  the  means  of  raJdng  a  salary 
for  a  second  master,  and  that  the  latter  may  con- 
sent to  transfer  the  stipend  and  serriccs  of  the 
master  of  the  pammar-school  of  La  Torre,  to  the 
proposed  college,  by  which  a  third  mastership  may 
be  established '. 

"  To  enter  into  a  farther  correspondence  with 
the  benefactors  of  the  Vaudois  in  Holland,  and  to 
reqoest  that  the  sum  of  750  francs  per  annum, 
now  allowed  to  Vaudois  students  at  Lausanne  and 
Geneva,  at  the  rate  of  70  francs  a-year  each,  may 
be  assi^ed  in  augmentation  of  the  ten  exhibitions 
at  the  coUq»o  of  La  Torre,  or  to  increase  that  num- 
ber, when  the  students  now  in  the  cnjo}7nent  of 
these  gratuities  shall  hare  finished  their  studies. 

"  To  assign  2000  Irancs  for  the  purchase  of 
books,  of  my  own  choice,  for  the  use  of  the  students 

•'  Towvds  ikU  tarn  of  3000  fnact  mtnind,  we  tan  1000 
fnma  niBiiiBy  traa  BoUmmI,  vhidi  bmj  be  apiilMl  to  ihe 
parpoM;  nd  «e  propMe  to  fi>  ■  dnrse  vpm  Ike  Vkuilaii 
coMwaiMi  to  niM  Um  mnauufer.  Ui  Tow  ia  xhm  pUoe  vben 
the  imitiitwn  ibould  be  establbtird ;  tnil  two  iccltMrtici  ibould 
•iwa^  fiO  lite  oOce  of  mcoimI  and  dtird  ynkman,'  Ac, 

Tim  plan  (kited,  from  an  ma-wStinfatm,  I  bcSerc,  oa  the  part 
of  gm-m)Hi«at,  to  nnctioa  ibc  propoMd  isode  of  nMiof  ibe 
nooej. 

■  The  LoadoB  CooiaHttea  hw  Ih*  a&ir  nader  coMidMalioD. 

The  Dutch  Conmiitcc  bare  been  ^plied  lo,  bat  dediae 
E  tonrnhif  aay  aaioa,  and  prefer  kc«pnig  Uw  fomamu-tAmA  m 
I      m  •epania  ccnecm. 


430 


WAIDENSIAS  ftRSEARCITES. 


of  the  proposed  establishment ;  under  the  expecta- 
tion tliat  the  pastors  will  contribute  from  their 
own  stock  of  books  towards  the  foundation  of  a 
library '. 

"  I  cngan;e  also,  to  assign  500  francs  annnally  to 
the  Officers  of  the  Table,  to  enable  them  to  meet 
the  expenses  of  annual  visitation, — 

To  the  Moderator  -    -    -    -    200 

To  the  Moderator  adjoint    -     150 

To  the  Sc-crctar>' of  the  Table    150 

upon  condition  that  they  visit  the  college  twice  a 

year,   and  that  they  also   visit  the  parislies  as 

heretofore. 

"  To  assign  also  1300  francs  annually,  in  eqnal 
allotments,  to  the  pastors,  to  enable  them  to  meet 
the  casual  wants  of  the  poor,  or  of  the  schools  of 
their  several  parishes,  upon  condition  tluit  they 
deliver  a  report  in  writing  to  the  Moderator,  every 
year,  in  answer  to  the  queries  proposed  at  his  visi- 
tation. 

"  To  defray  the  expense  of  printing  50  copies  in 
quarto,  of  a  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  for  the  use 
of  the  churches;  such  book  of  prayer  to  coulain 


I 
I 


'  Since  tny  return  to  Engliuid,  a  bctievolrtil  pii^tc  of  the 
Eogliah  Churth  hat  wggntcd  the  idea  of  making  it  koowk  to 
BMglutd,  ibai  pnMnt*  of  booke  «iil  be  *eiy  Moepuble  \o  die 
rnfsnt  iiuuiution.  Utmn.  Riviogtoo  hxn  Mgiiified  tlKir  wfli- 
tn^itcM  to  »c«ii«  Btiy  books  that  may  be  Mnt  to  th«ir  can, 
citlicr  itt  St.  Piiul  a  Cliurch  Yitrd,  or  Wntciioo  Pbcv. 


VALOEN8IAN   RBSEABCHE9.  481 

public  and  private  prayers,  to  be  composed  by  a 
commission  of  pastors ',  chosen  by  myselC  upon 
the  basis  of  the  English  liturgy,  and  the  three 
liturgies  now  in  use,  namely,  the  liturgies  of 
Geneva,  Lausanne,  and  Neufchatel. 

"  To  have  2000  copies  of  the  same  printed  in 
12mo.  or  8vo.  for  the  use  of  famihes  and  in* 
dividuals." 


Copy  of  the  tignalures  of  all  the  pattort  of  the 
Waldeiuian  Church  tn  approbation  of  the  above. 

"  I  will  do  all  in  my  power  to  second  the 
views  of  Mr.  Gilly;  but,  considering  my  ad- 
vanced age,  and  numerous  pastoral  functions,  it 
is  with  reluctance  that  I  decline  to  subscribe  to 
the  obligations  imposed  upon  the  Moderator.  1 
must  leave  these,  and  the  advantages  attached  to 
them,  to  my  colleagues,  who  are  younger  than 
myself,  and  to  my  successor. 

"  Alex.  Rostaing, 
"  Moderator  and  Pastor  of  Ville  Seche." 

'  t.  Thii  Comniiuion  to  be  compoied  of  Vaudois  paiton. 

2.  The  litur^  not  to  be  introduced  Into  the  churches,  until 
the  body  of  putora  have  apprOTed  of  the  compilation  of  the 
commission. 

3.  Then  to  engage  to  utc  thb  liturgy,  and  no  other. 

4.  The  majority  of  paston  will  decide,  tuid  cogagt-  fur  the 
wbtile  budy. 

Nutet  by  J.  Vih^uh, 


WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


"  I  approve  of  the  plan  proposed  with  lii 
and  sincere  gratitude, 

"G.    MUSTON, 

"  Pastor  and  Moderator  Adj.' 

"  With  lively  gratitude,  and  on  the  conditions 
to  which  I  have  put  my  name, 

*'  J.  Vinson, 
"  Pastor,  and  Secretary  to  the  Tabic' 

D.  Timoleon  Peyran,  pastor  of  ManeiUe 

Masscl. 
Jn.  Jaqs.  D.  Jalla,  pastor  of  PomarcU 
J.  Rodolphe  Peyran,  pastor  of  PralL 
J.  D.  Monnet,  pastor  of  St.  Germains. 
Cesar  Augte.  Rostaing,  pastor  of  Pranistin. 
J.  P.  Bonjour,  Pasteur-chapelain. 
P.  Bert,  pastor  of  La  Torre. 

F.  Peyrot,  pastor  of  Angrogna. 
David  Mondon,  doyen  and  pastor  of  St.  ieaxT 
Josue  Meille,  retired  pastor. 
Franc.  Gay,  pastor  of  Villar. 

G.  Monastier,  pastor  of  Rora. 
J.  J.  Bonjour,  ordained  1829. 
J.  Revel,  minister. 
Paul  Goantc,  retired  pastor." 

Before  I  left  the  valleys,  I  addressed  a  letter  to 
theOfficers  of  the  Table,  in  which  I  stated,that  hav- 
ing consulted  the  pastors  of  the  Vaudois  Chureh. 


VTALDRNSUN    RrSEAfttllKS. 


iS3 


» 


upon  tlie  appropriation  uf  cf.'rtain  funds  placed  at 
my  disposal,  I  should  remit  tlie  sum  of  4300  francs 
annually  to  the  valleys,  subject  to  fluctuations 
in  exchange,  and  reductions  of  interest,  and 
otherwise,  for  the  purposes  above  mentioned, 
together  with  5000  francs  towards  the  building  of 
the  college,  and  2000  francs  for  books,  as  soon  as 
the  preparalorj'  steps  should  be  taken  to  accom- 
plish the  objects  in  view.  1  also  named  the  com- 
mission for  the  compilation  of  the  hturgj' :  viz. 
M.  Kostaing,  Moderator;  M.  Muston,  Moderator- 
adjoint;  M.  Vinson,  Secretary*  to  the  Table;  M. 
Bert,  late  Moderator,  and  president  of  the  hospital; 
and  M.  Uonjour,  Pastcur-chapcloin  to  the  Protes- 
tant ambassadors  at  Turin.  'I'his  letter,  and  the 
engagements  therein  contained,  were  witnessed 
and  approved  by  the  pastors,  Miistoii,  Vin^-on, 
Bert,  Gay,  l*eyrot,  Bonjour,  Timoleon  Peyran, 
Mouastier,  Revel,  and  J.  J.  Bonjour,  who  happeneil 
to  be  present  when  it  was  written. 

Much  correspondence  has  since  passed  betM'een 
the  Table  and  myself,  on  the  manner  in  which 
the  plans  are  to  be  carried  into  execution;  but  I 
must  reserve  that  which  I  have  to  add  on  this 
subject,  till  the  conclusion  of  my  narrative.  I 
cannot,  however,  withhold  the  mention,  in  this 
place,  of  the  disinterested  conduct  of  the  Officers 
of  the  Table,  'i'hey  have  declined  accepting  the 
5O0  francs  oflered  towards  defraying  the  expense 

tiual  vibitalions,  and  have  beggt-d  that  it 


434  WALDENSIAN    BBSEARCHES. 

may  be  appropriated  to  some  public  object.  The 
reduction  of  the  four  per  cents.,  in  which  the 
money  destined  for  the  promotion  of  the  plan 
was  invested,  has  already  reduced  the  annual 
amount  of  interest,  and  will  still  further  reduce  it 
The  saving  of  this  sum  of  500  francs  will,  however, 
prevent  any  diminution  of  the  stipend  of  the  head 
master,  of  the  ten  exhibitions,  &c.,  for  the  present, 
at  least 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Ttmtt  </  ClmntUr,~Pra  del  Tor.  and  the  ateitnt  Cotlege  of 
lAe  VmtdMM. 

The  effects  of  tlic  accident  on  Mont  Lazare  obliged 
me  to  suspend  my  excursions  for  a  week,  and  the 
time  was  spent  agreeably,  and  beneficially,  I  hope, 
in  sauntering  about  the  immediate  vicinity  of  La 
Torre,  and  in  making  acquaintance  with  the  pea- 
sants, as  I  hapixiucd  to  find  them  in  the  fields  or 
in  their  cottages.  Some  of  tiicse  had  never  been 
&r  from  their  homes,  others  had  ser^'ed  in  the 
aimy  uudcr  Napoleon,  ami  the  prejudices  of  my 
brother,  s  lieutenant  in  the  navy,  were  terribly 
sborked  by  hearing  the  prsi&es  of  the  late  Emperor 
of  the  French  proclaimed  by  veterans,  who  liad 
fought  in  campaigns  under  hisbanner.  TheVaudois 
are  naturally  of  a  warlike  tuni.  but  they  love  their 
native  haunts  better  than  any  thing  in  the  world, 
and  there  are  many  instances  of  officers  returning 
to  the  humble  occupations  of  their  forefktlicrs, 
when  they  might  have  risen  to  distinction  under 
foreign  princes.  The  more  I  irilt-rmixed  with 
,ttu»«  people,  the  greater  reason  did  1  find  to  be 

rfS 


lA. 


436 


WALOKNSIAN    KESKAKI-HRH. 


pleased  with  the  genuine  simplicity  of  their  dia- 
racter.  The  proofs  of  mutual  kindness,  and  for- 
bcarance,  which  came  under  my  observation,  would 
fill  many  pages.  1  should  say  ihcy  are  abnost 
incapable  of  practising  disguise  or  dissimulatioa. 

When  any  of  them  came  to  state  their  com- 
plaints or  wants  to  M.  or  Madame  Bert,  the  tale 
was  told  at  once  without  circumlocution  or  ex^- 
geration.  If  it  was  to  ask  a  favour,  the  request 
was  made  in  the  tone,  and  with  the  face  of  one 
who  felt,  that  there  is  no  shame  in  one  human 
being  making  his  distress  known  to  another.  I 
select,  as  an  instance,  a  poor  woman  who  had 
incurred  some  small  debts,  during  a  lung  illness, 
which  she  could  not  pay.  She  stated  her  esse  to 
the  pastor,  and,  at  his  desire,  she  did  the  same  to 
me.  I-Icr  open  countenance,  and  frank  explsoft- 
tion,  without  the  least  whining  or  weeping,  were 
niore  peniuasive  than  tears,  and  pleaded  her  cause 
successfully. 
r^  A  grievous  loss  befel  a  peasant  during  this 
Week,  which  gave  me  a  still  better  opportunity  vt 
observing  the  Vaudois  character  under  calannlr. 
His  corn  had  been  cut  and: ~ gathered,  and  Ute" 
whole  of  it  stacked  near  his  cabin.  By  some 
carelessness,  his  wife,  in  heating  her  oven,  set  fire 
to  some  strsw,  which  communicated  with  the 
stack,  and  very  soon  ever^-  sheaf  was  consumed, 
and  with  it  a  great  part  of  the  dwelling  and  its 
contents.    This  occurred  In  the  hamlet  of  Co|Na,s 


VALOeSStAS   USBABCaSK  437 

sliort  distance  from  M.  Ben's,  and  I  wit- 
nssMd  the  whole  scene,  the  barning  pmrnses, 
the  ready  assistance  given  to  extiflgtash  the 
flames,  and  the  condnct  of  the  husband  and  his 
CiuUy  w\{e,  during  the  progress  of  the  lire,  and  the 
impending  consumption  of  their  httle  aU.  The 
woman  was  the  picture  of  grief ;  her  cotintcnaoce 
expressed  bitter  ftclf-condemnation :  nobody,  how- 
ever, reproached  her,  and  her  ^rrow  did  not 
paralyze  her,  she  worked  like  the  rest  to  put  out 
the  lire.  Tbe  husband  cabnly  directed  others, 
and  toiled  himself,  under  the  hope  of  saving 
part  of  his  property;  and  as  he  stood  on  the 
roof,  hurling  water  on  that  part  of  hii  cottage 
which  had  not  yet  become  a  prey  to  the  flames,  I 
kuked  in  wondering  admiration  at  the  unagitated 
figure  and  countenance  of  the  man,  whose  sum  of 
earthly  possession  appeared  to  be  peruhing  before 
btt  e^es.  \Vhen  he  afterwards,  at  my  desire,  gave 
ne  an  account  of  the  amount  of  his  loss,  the  eftt- 
mate  appeared  to  me  to  bt:  below  the  mark,  to 
little  was  he  disponed  to  make  (he  worst  of  hi> 
mbfortune,  or  to  magnify  the  damages. 

July  22.  To  the  I'ra  del  Tor,  under  the  hope 
of  finding  some  vestiges  of  the  college,  or  at  least 
of  examining  whether  there  might  yet  remain  any 
**  veterum  monumciita  %'irnrum."  which  should  ei»- 
hie  us  to  speak  confidcatly  as  to  the  spot,  where  dw 
ancient  Vaudois  Baibes  trained  their  pupils  in  the 
doctrine  of  tbe  first  centuries,  during  tbe  daHceit 


4SS 


WALDRMtUN    ftSSKAKCRES. 


periods  of  Romish  thraldom.  The  exact  pUce^] 
where  these  iDstructtons  were  given,  is  not 
factorily  pointed  out  in  any  of  the  Waldc 
authors,  which  I  have  had  an  opportunity  o{  i 
suiting.  Legcr's  description  is  too  vague  to 
lis  to  detennine,  whether  he  spoke  of  a  builAntfl 
where  the  instructors  and  their  scholars 
together,  or  only  of  the  region  where  th^ 
their  meetings.  "  This  place,"  said  he,  spealdnf^ 
of  the  Pra  del  Tor,  "  is  a  hollow,  ua  creur,  ewfi- 
roncd  by  mountains,  situated  to  the  west  of  L* 
Vachera,  and  cannot  be  approached  except  with 
much  difficulty,  and  by  a  path,  excavatird  in  pUc«s 
out  of  tlie  rock,  running  along  the  edge  of  the 
Angrogna  torrent ;  it  is,  however,  capable  of  con- 
taining a  great  many  people.  It  was  here,  that 
during  the  thick  darkness  and  most  cruel  perse- 
cutions, the  ancient  barbes,  or  pastors  of  the  ral* 
leys,  continued  to  hold  their  preachings,  aod 
presen-ed  the  college,  where  they  instructed  tboK 
whom  they  prepared  for  the  ministry'." — Page  |^ 
Uv.  1.  1^ 

Gilles  describes  the  Pra  del  Tor,  as  being  "  a 
track  of  grass  land,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  valley 
of  Angrogna,  and  separated  from  the  lower  distrkt 
by  st\ipendous  rocks,  which  fortify  it  on  all  aides, 
and  comprise  witliin  their  outworks  se\-cral  ham- 
lets, a  large  number  of  isolated  edifices,  good  pos- 
sessions, and  fruit  trees  of  several  kinds.  The 
path  to  it  is  very  narrow,  lying  among  the  rocks 


WALDBS3I.4N    RE9BARCtIES.  439 

by  the  torrent  side.  This  busin  is  well  ])copled  in 
summer,  but  not  so  in  winter." — Gilles,  p.  141. 

Brezzi  states  plainly,  that  the  scene  of  study 
was  a  cavcni.  "  The  cavern,  which  served  for 
tile  academy  of  our  venerable  barbes,  where  they 
sowed  and  cottivated  the  principles  of  theur  pure 
and  blameless  religion,  and  whence  they  spread 
them  through  the  world,  is  still  in  existence,  it  is 
the  cavern  of  the  famous  Pre  tin  Tour,  in  the 
parish  of  Angrogna."  (Bracebridgc's  translation, 
p.  142.) 

The  tradition,  which  heli>ed  Brezzi  to  give  this 
location  to  the  college,  did  not  assist  u&.  We  set 
out  for  the  I'ra  without  ha\ing  been  able  to  col- 
lect any  legendary  information,  on  which  we  could 
rdy  for  guidance  to  the  precise  5pot,  which  had 
thus  been  consecrated  to  the  noblest  purposes  of 
religion. 

By  way  of  varying  our  walk,  we  did  not  go  by 
the  eastern  bank  of  the  Angrogna  torrent,  and  by 
St.  Laurent,  but  by  the  old  tower  of  La  Torre  and 
the  hamlets  of  Simonde  and  Roussaiugs.  Nothing 
remains  of  the  once  formidable  fortress,  wliicb 
used  to  keep  the  jicople  of  La  I'orre  in  chock,  bat 
its  walls.  A  vineyard  and  a  corn-field  occupy  the 
ground  where  ramparts  and  ba-stions  once  frowned 
defiance,  and,  in  summer  evenings,  it  is  odeii  the 
recreation  of  the  young  people  of  the  vicinity  to 
ascend  to  the  hill,  which  was  formerly  planted  with 


SKARCHRS. 


cannon,  and  to  sit  and  ga7X>  upon  the  noble  lan^ 
scape  below,  under  the  foliage  and  trellises. 

From  the  heights  opposite  to  Angrogna,  we  saw ' 
tlic  fuiL-st  |>art£  of  that  commune  to  great  adran- 
tage,  and  when  we  descended  into  the  rale, 
through  which  the  torrent  dashes  along,  we  eo* 
joyed  that  inexpressible  pleasure,  which  lovers  of 
scenerj'  experience  in  a  leisurely  stroll  through 
groves  and  meadows,  which  occasionally  opeo 
upon  "  hills  whose  heads  touch  heaven."  The 
brown  crags,  and  the  bright  green  pastures,  which 
were  kept  in  a  beautiful  state  of  verdure  by 
irrigation  and  the  shade  of  branching  trees,  r 
lieved  us  from  the  glare  of  the  sun.  The  waters  < 
the  torrent  partook  of  the  everchanging  charact 
of  the  scener;-,  now  white  and  foaming,  as  it  swvi 
its  course  in  a  broad  sheet  over  its  broken  bed. 
and  then  dark  and  deep,  sometimes  sleeping  in 
pools,  playing  in  cascades,  or  plunging  down 
Steeps,  and  rushing  through  channels,  which  can 
only  be  crossed  by  those  frail  bridges  which  add 
so  much  to  the  "  beautiful  horrors"  of  these 
^i'egions.  There  were  few  glens  so  lonely  in  which 
we  did  not  find  a  cottage  decorated  witli  its  little 
orchard,  and  swarming  with  children.  ^ 

This  kind  of  scenery  continued  until  we  passed™ 
over  to  the  right  bank,  by  a  very  narrow  and 
elevated  stone  bridge ;  the  aspect  of  the  country 
there  became  wilder  and  wilder,  the  defile  closed 


*•' 


^  nciOtti 


r  bwG,  m»A  an 
ue  torrirnt.      In  u 

1 i^irf 


WALDBNSIAN    RRSRARCBES. 


441 


ID,  and  vie  soun  found  ourselves  approaching  to- 
wards that  circumvullation  of  rock  and  muuntain, 
within  which  the  Waldenses  have  so  often  betaken 
themselves,  as  to  a  citadel  of  safety.  Leger  has 
well  described  iU  The  immediate  access  to  it  is 
nigged,  narrow,  and  conBnetl  on  one  side  bycUfis^ 
which  rise  abruptly  from  their  base,  and  on  the 
other  by  the  waters  of  the  torrent.  In  many 
places  the  channel  of  the  river  occupies  the  greater 
part  of  the  defile ;  upon  the  whole,  liowcver,  I  did 
not  think  it  so  impregnable  as  fame  has  repre- 
sented it  to  be. 

The  amphitheatre,  or  basin,  into  which  the  defile 
opens,  is  justly  called  the  Pra  del  Tor,  or  meadow  of 
the  tower.  At  first  sight,  all  the  acclivities  seem  to 
be  fortified  with  castles,  and  battlemented  walls  ; 
the  rocks  assuming  those  appearances;  but  though 
it  is  so  fenced  in  by  rock,  there  are  spots  of  the 
softest  hcri)age.  Of  the  two  sketches  which  Mrs. 
Oilly  took,  the  first  gives  a  fair  representation  of 
the  castellated  crags,  which  might  almost  cheat 
you  into  a  belief  that  you  sec  a  strong  line  of 
liHtKsses;  and  the  second,  the  view  of  Cclta 
Veglia,  delineates  the  verdant  character  of  several 
of  its  sunny  banks.  These  opposite  features  of 
nature  are  symbolical  of  the  ehequered  history  of 
this  sequestered  spot.  When  no  violent  edicts  were 
issued  to  disturb  its  repose,  it  was  the  scene  of 
pastoral  innocence  and  religious  meditation.  But 
when  the  mandate  went  forth  to  compel  the  Vau- 


442 


WALDBtlSIAN    RF-if  ARCHES. 


dois  to  conform  to  the  Latin  ritual,  it  became  a 
field  of  blood. 

It  must  have  been  a  soul-stirring  t^ij^ht,  to 
behold  on  one  side  the  royal  troops  approaching 
from  the  lower  valley  in  all  the  pride  and  pomp  of 
war,  filling  up  the  defiles  with  their  hundreds  and 
tens  of  hundreds,  and  armed  as  fighting  men  thm 
were,  with  their  glittering  breast-plates  of  steel, 
with  their  arquebusses,  and  morions,  and  halberts, 
and  making  the  rocks  reverberate  with  their  shoots, 
and  with  the  music  of  their  clarions  and  trumpets; 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  to  see  a  few  resohrte 
mountaineers,  wedged  finnly  side  by  side,  occupy- 
ing the  pass  in  silent  order,  and  solemnly  wait- 
ing the  onset  of  their  adversaries.  On  some  of 
the  pinnacles  above,  stood  the  most  venerable  of 
their  pastors,  raising  their  hands  to  heaven,  and 
imploring  help  from  the  King  of  Kings.  On  others 
the  feeble  and  the  grey-headed  were  watching  the 
moment,  when  a  slight  movement  would  set  masses 
of  rolling  stones  in  motion,  and  carry  destruction 
into  the  crowded  ranks  of  tlie  assailants.  Behind, 
in  the  asylums  of  this  mountain  keep,  were  the 
women  and  children,  whose  safety  depended  up<m 
the  fortitude  which  their  husbands,  brothers,  and 
fathers  should  display  in  the  shock  of  battle.  If 
any  voice  was  lieard  from  the  little  baiKl,  whose 
bodies  formed  the  barrier  of  the  pass,  it  was  the 
sound  of  psalmody ;  their  brave  spirits  were  still 
further  excited  by  the  hymns,  which  their  barbcs 


VTALDRNSUX   RKSRARcnRa. 


had  tauglit  them  to  cliant  in  the  hour  of  periL 
Reader,  be  nqt  incredulous,  when  you  hear  of 
thu  marvellous  exploits  which  were  performed 
on  days  of  couflict,  when  the  nerves  of  the  "  men 
of  the  valley's"  were  strung  to  the  utmost,  by 
every  consideration  that  can  steel  the  heart  and 
strengthen  the  arm.  Wrongs  inflicted,  injuries 
threatened,  and  religious  fervour  burning  Hke  tire, 
were  incentives  which  nothing  could  cool.  Wonder 
not  then,  that,  upon  one  occasion,  seven  thousand 
men  were  brought  up  in  vain  to  carry  this  formid- 
able potution  by  assault.  For  four  days,  company 
^after  company  pressed  on  to  the  charge :  and  at 
'  last  retreated  from  the  Thermopylie  of  the  valleys, 
witlinut  deriving  either  honour  or  advantage  from 
tlie  attack. 

We  were  utterly  unsuccessful  in  our  enquiry 
after  the  cavern,  or  chamber  in  the  rocks,  which 
ser\'ed  as  the  lecture-room  for  the  young  Vauduis 
ofthe  14th  and  Idth  centuries.  Equally  disappointed 
were  we  in  our  search  after  some  ruin,  that  might 
bear  the  marks  of  having  been  the  edifice  wherein 
sacred  studies  liad  been  pursued.  Not  one  stono 
remains  upon  another,  which  our  most  daring 
imagination  could  venture  to  ennoble  as  a  relic  of 
riic  ancient  college  of  the  Vaudois.  There  waa 
no  legend  on  the  spot,  no  lingering  tradition 
which  we  could  trust  as  our  guide,  in  short,  we 
came  away,  without  being  able  to  flatter  oiiraelves 
that  we  had  planted   our  feet   in    the  halls  or 


444 


WALDEHSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


I 


grotto  of  the  barbes  of  old.  That  Uie  Pn 
Tor  was  the  scene  of  their  most  splemn  convoca- 
tions, and  that  somewhere,  within  the  sanctuaries 
enclosed  by  the  magnificent  mountains  which 
rose  in  panorama  above  us,  they  instructed  their 
youth,  there  can  be  no  doubt ;  it  is  exactly  the 
theatre  of  such  doings.  Whether  they  soufjht  for 
safety,  for  concealment,  or  for  opportunities  of 
contemplation,  here  they  had  it.  It  is  in  the  very 
ceutreof  the  valleys :  every  thing  around  is  stamped 
with  the  seal  of  the  Creator's  greatness  and  eter- 
nity. Objects  of  unrivalled  grandeur  and  sul>- 
limity  appeal  to  the  eye  and  to  Ute  (ancy.  The 
Pra  del  Tor  is  like  one  vast  monastery,  where 
every  thing  combines  to  invite  to  meditation,  study, 
and  devotion.  Its  solitudes,  its  groves,  its  waten, 
its  beautiful  and  gigantic  features  possess  all  the 
fascination,  by  which  contemplative  minds  are  sup- 
posed to  be  most  aHcctcd. 
• 

PrsMntiorem  con^wriniUB  Deum 
Pti  iDvias  TUpM,  fera  per  Ju^, 
Clivosque  prKHiptos.  sonanu* 
Inter  aquas,  DetDorunKiue  nocleni. 

It  is  the  belief  of  the  Roman  Catholics,  quite  as 
much  as  of  the  Vuudois  themselves,  that  this 
region  is  famous  in  the  ancient  history  of  the 
Waldensian  Church ;  and  therefore  it  is  that  they 
are  now  so  anxious  to  make  it  their  own,  and  to 
triumph  in  the  honst,  that  the  place  which  was 


I 


■ 

I 
I 


I 


J 


WALDENSIAN    RESKARCHBA. 


U6 


I       rei 


formerly  desecrated  by  heretics,  is  now  consecrated 
by  Romish  piety.  A  veiy  handsome  little  churcli, 
neatly  built,  was  just  ready  to  be  dedicated  to  some 
saint  in  the  Latin  calendar,  when  we  were  there, 
and  every  effort  was  made  to  proselytise  the 
natives  of  the  hamlet.  The  church  is  about  forty 
feet  by  twenty-six  ;  the  ceiling  is  painted,  and  the 
decorations  arc  in  good  taste.  It  stands  on  ground 
which  belonged  to  a  Protestant,  who  was  unwilling 
to  alienate  it,  and  especially  for  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  intended  ;  but  he  bad  a  hint  given 
to  him,   which  reduced  him  to  submission,  and 

ngre !  malgrc!  the  poorfeltow  was  obliged  to  sur- 
render t)ie  inheritance  of  his  fathers  upon  Ahab's 
terms.  This  proceeding  is  mortifjing  to  the  Pro- 
testants, but  it  speaks  in  honour  of  the  antiquity 
of  the  Vaudois  Church,  and  its  traditionary  college. 
There  would  not  be  so  much  anxiety  to  occupy  the 
Pra  del  Tor,  or  to  build  there  an  expensive  church, 
but  for  its  ancient  reputation. 

We  relumed  to  San  Margarita  by  the  lower 
hamlets  of  Aiigrogna,  and  by  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  torrent. 


f 


Jmtnug  to  Vat  QiMtriu,   tatd    Val  Frtusynten.      Fefix  S^. 
The  pattet  of  Ihe  Col  dt  U  Crms.     The  Bergtrie  dm  Pra. 
The  CkamaU  ffuiaeT.     Preacitmg  m  dk  Hommtmu. 
Vera*.     Arvievx.     DormiUeute. 


In  the  course  of  this  work,  I  have  made  firequent 
mention  of  the  ^Valdenscs  of  DaupKine  and  Pro- 
vence. They  were  for  the  most  part  exterminated 
under  the  reign  of  Francis  I.  of  France.  "  What," 
said  that  monarch,  in  one  of  his  moments  of  zeal- 
ous attachment  to  the  Pope,  and  compliance  with 
bis  wishes,  "  shall  I  exert  all  my  in6uence  to  de- 
stroy the  Lutherans  in  Germany,  and  suffer  heresy 
to  flourish  in  my  own  dominions  T  The  carnage 
committed  by  his  orders  was  frightful ;  but  some 
of  the  proscribed  found  refuge  in  mountains  covered 
with  snow  three  quarters  of  the  year,  where  the 
rage  of  the  elements,  dreadful  as  it  is,  was  less 
destructive  than  that  of  man.  De  Thou,  the  his- 
torian, gives  a  deeply  interesting  account  of  a 
remnant  of  the  Waldenses  inhabiting  the  savage 
wilds  of  Val  Frassyni^re  in  the  sixteenth  century. 
According  to  his  representation,   the  natives  of 


y 


VALDENSIAN    RBSRARCIIES. 


447 


this  district  were,  in  their  mora]  and  religious 
cultivation,  amidst  such  scenes  of  desolation  and 
squalid  wretchedness,  as  the  mind  can  scarcely 
imagine,  an  example  for  the  most  civilised  people 
in  Europe.  (See  Thuani  Hist.  Lib.  27.)  AUix 
speaks  of  the  storm  of  Papal  fury  which  swept 
this  tract  of  country  in  the  fifteenth  century'. 

1  had  long  entertained  a  strong  desire  of  explor- 
ing the  Alpine  valleys  in  the  French  territory, 
where  the  last  traces  of  t)ie  \\'aldenscs  of  that 
re^on  were  left.  This  feeling  was  greatly  in- 
creased by  learning  tliat  a  branch  of  the  venerable 
stock  yet  survived,  and  that  families  were  to  be 
found,  both  in  >'al  Frassyniere  and  in  Val  Queiras, 
which  have  remained  true  to  the  primitive  faith 
from  father  to  son,  even  to  the  present  age,  though 
the  sword  had  been  sus[>ended  over  their  heads 
from  the  reign  of  Philip  Augustus,  of  atrocious 
memory,  to  that  of  LouLs  XVI.  Hut  these  valleys 
are  so  remote  from  all  the  common  routes,  so 
repulsive  from  their  situation  among  the  highest 
and  bleakest  of  the  French  .Alps,  that  I  almost 
despaired  of  ever  finding  my  way  to  them. 
I        A  short  time  before  my  second  journey  to  I*ie- 

r         '  Allis  quuiM  from  ihe  HSS.  cooUined  in  Vol.  O.  of  Ibc 

!     Murland  Colleciioo,  ««  p.  3U.   Tho  lort  MSS.  mtut tborafen 

htarc  bran  Mfe  in  ihe  t  iiiverui;  Ijbrarjr  of  Canfandg*  n  1689, 

•nd  tlw  conjtclute,  i)>si  MwIumI  omitlcd  to  tend  tbii  |xirbMi 

of  the  Wuldrasnn  [xtpcn,  f*lU  U>  llie  gtouiML 


418 


WALDBNSIAV    RR^ARCHtiS. 


inout,  the  kiiidness  of  Mr.  Fnuicis  Cunningham 
had  put  me  in  (lossesigun  of  somu  particulars, 
which  made  mc  resolve  to  cross  from  the  rallevs 
of  Piemont  to  those  of  Dauphine,  and  to  extend 
my  rcse-arches  among  the  descendants  of  the 
\'uudois  of  France,  who  had  escaped  the  cni- 
sades  of  Francis  I.,  and  the  dragonades  or 
Bourbonadet,  as  they  ehould  be  called,  of  Lonis 
XIV.  and  XV.  About  seven  years  ago,  Felix 
Neff,  a  young  Swiss  clergyman,  full  of  zeal,  and 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  religion,  heard  of  the  ei- 
istcnce  of  these  scattered  sheep  of  tlic  wilderness, 
and  penetrated  to  the  most  secluded  of  their 
retreats.  One  of  these,  Dormilleiise,  is  the  highest 
habitable  spot  in  Europe,  a  village,  whose  site  is 
stolen  from  rock  and  glacier,  and  so  inclemently 
situated,  and  so  perilous  of  approach,  that  at  the 
sight  of  it  the  beholder  immediately  identifies  it 
with  the  history  of  martyrs,  "  of  whom  the  world 
is  not  worthy,"  of  wanderers  "  in  deserts  and  in 
mountains,  and  in  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth." 
One  of  the  accounts,  which  was  transmitted  to  me, 
of  this  extraordinary  spot,  and  of  the  self-denying 
N'efT,  who  transported  himself  from  the  lovely 
banks  of  the  kke  of  Geneva,  to  labour  here  in  his 
Master's  cause,  contained  the  following  descrip- 
tion : — 

"  The  valley  of  Frassyniere  was  the  only  one 
left,  where  the  persecuted  could  find  shelter.  The 
most  hardy  retired  to  the  very  edge  of  the  glacier. 


I 


p 


VAUnniAM  RESBARCnRS.  449 


aiid  there  built  the  villaj^u  of  Dormilleuse,  which 
looks  as  if  it  were  suspended  from  the  mountaJQ 
side,  like  an  eagle's  nest,  and  serves  as  a  citadel 
for  the  residue  of  that  afflicted  people,  who  have 
been  prescn-ed,  without  any  intermixture  with 
strangers,  to  this  day.  Many  a  time  it  hn.s  been  an 
asylum  for  those  who  have  been  obliged  to  flee 
from  the  valleys  of  Pienioiit.  Without  schools, 
and  without  a  pastor,  but  with  a  few  copies  of  the 
Scripture,  the  inhabitants  cherished  an  imperfect 
knowledge  of  the  faith  of  their  ancestors,  with  the 
assistance  of  such  instruction  only  us  the  Vaudois 
dei^,  from  the  Italian  side  of  the  Alps,  could  gi?e 
tbem  occasionally." 

The  Latin  poet  who  commemomted  the  enjoy- 
ments and  innocency  of  the  golden  age,  imagined 
that  the  noblest  virtues  might  be  spontaneously 
cherished,  without  laws  or  rottraints.  It  is  for  t)ie 
Christian  historian  to  record,  that  in  an  iron  age 
of  persecution,  and  in  a  climate  where  there  are 
no  kindly  and  spontaneous  productions,  there  an 
afflicted  race. 

"  Spnite  >aa  ttM  \efe  fidem  recmmqiw  eolebttt." 

In  this  condition  Neff  fo\md  the  natives  of  Dor- 
milleuse;  and.  besides  these,  he  discovered  other 
families  in  the  ncighbouringmounlains,  who,  with- 
out having  the  benefit  of  any  regubir  ministry,  or 
■piritual  su]]erintendcnce,  had  persevered  in  calling 


4S0 


WAIDENSIAN    RESEASCHES. 


I 


themselves  members  of  the  Primitive  Church,  vrhh 
a  sort  of  traditionary  afTectton  for  the  creed  i^ 
their  forefathers.  They  were  dispersed  in  seven- 
teen or  eighteen  of  the  most  remote  >-il)ages.  and 
over  an  extent  of  country  fifty  miles  in  diameter. 
First  in  one,  and  then  in  another,  the  missionary 
took  up  his  habitation,  as  he  thought  he  might  be 
most  serviceable,  and  five  yeim  he  spent  thus  in 
teaching  and  preaching,  literally,  fixim  house  to 
house — in  administering  the  sacraments,  in  train- 
ing schoolmasters,  and  in  helping  to  ciWUzc  a  race, 
who  were  more  like  the  mild  and  docile  savaf^ 
of  the  southern  islands,  than  inhabitants  of  any 
part  of  refined  France.  The  exertions  and  the 
success  of  this  apostle  of  the  Alps ;  his  perils  amid 
sno^Ts  and  precipices ;  his  noctmTial  labours  with 
peasants,  who  were  forced  to  toil  for  their  sub- 
sistence by  day,  and  therefore  implored  him  to 
read  and  pray  with  them  at  night;  bis  journeys, 
where  he  was  obliged  to  be  attended  by  yoon^ 
men,  who  cut  steps  in  the  ice  with  axes  before  he 
could  proceed ;  his  ministration  in  places  where 
the  congregation  was  comi>osed  of  persons,  some  , 
of  whom  came  twenty,  thirty,  and  forty  miles  to  f 
hear  the  Gospel  fix)m  his  lips ;  hisconsumingxeal. 
till  his  strength  sunk  under  labours,  which  werv 
on  a  scale  above  the  ordinary  powers  of  boily  or  ' 
mind, — these  must  form  the  substance  of  a  separare 
volume,  in  which  1  lio|>e  to  record  events  which 


WALDENSIAK    RRSP.ARCHKil. 


will  place  the  name  of  NefT '  id  not  uiiruvouralile 
comparison,  beside  those  of  Swortz,  and  Oberlin, 
and  Heber. 


■  '*  The  wotk  of  a  preacbCT  id  the  Alp>  iMcmblcs  ibot  of  a 
miMMoary  bidod^  Mra^a,  The  iimmi  bsrbarous  of  all  my 
vaUeyt  are  tl>oae  of  Fnusyni^re :  agricatlUK,  arcliiteclure,  all 
i*  to  be  tat^ht.  Many  boiuM  are  without  a  cblronry,  ami 
almort  widiMit  a  window.  The  whole  family,  (or  Mven  monUo, 
live  near  the  miinure  of  the  cow->be<i  or  stabk,  whicli  U  cleoDcd 
out  ouly  ooce  a  year.  Their  clothca  and  Uwir  diet  are  a«  coarae 
and  diny  a*  their  dvelling.  Bread  k  baked  only  ooce  a  year; 
il  n  of  pure  rye  nnsifWI :  and  if  tbi*  bread  coaitr  (o  an  end  before 
tfac  tiiac,  they  bake  cake»  upoa  ibe  cbdets,  aa  tlie  caatema  do. 
—Ob  Ibat  part  of  ibe  vaU«y  called  La  Conb,  the  horuon  is  ao 
bomded,  that  for  six  month*  they  never  ko  tl>e  aun.  On  my 
bM  airival,  ao  uiicirilii«d  were  Ibc  inhabiLanti,  that  at  the  ai^t 
of  a  (irangcr,  the  pcasanta  fled  into  their  houMS  like  rnatmoti. 
My  first  difficulty  wm»  to  be  nndcrslood  by  ihcm,  for  which  pur- 
pOM  I  leanit  tlkeir  patois. — The  Eth  thing  I  fouod  attractive  to 
dwm  was  mutic,  of  which  i  iau);ht  llMm  tome  of  the  first  prin- 
e^lei.  They  bad  no  idea,  I  obterred,  of  watering  ilieir  neadowa. 
I  proposed  to  than  to  open  a  canal  for  tbi*  purpose.  Tbty 
mm  pleased  with  (he  idea  of  makio^  one,  and  we  agreed  that 
we  wokU  begin  tbc  work,  l^rly  next  momiitg  I  aisetnbled  the 
men,  and  diilribiiled  the  work — mywif  selling  the  eaample.  We 
bad  to  erect  dip»ci,  eight  feet  bif;li  in  some  places,  and  to  pierce 
through  beds  of  rook.  Al\er  some  hard  labour,  «•  were  !•• 
warded  by  seeing  the  water  Dow  to  the  meadows  amid"!  shouU 
of  joy  fruoi  alL — I  dctcrmiiKd  to  tana  a  Khool,  which  sbouU 
oMnpriie  the  mo«t  intelligent  and  brtl  disposed  young  raea  of 
my  diffcrenl  cbtircbes.  Wo  dtrided  the  day  into  lliiae  rlatiri. 
Ihe  6nt  from  dawn  lo  breakfaK  at  eleven  o'clock,  the  steoMl 
fron  noon  lo  tun-arl,  dte  ihiid  I'ram  tapper  till  eteven  at  nighl^- 
b  all  fourteen  hoaia  a  day.     Reading,  wiiting,  grammar,  arith- 

eg  2 


F 


I 


45*2  VAI.T>BN8IAN   RESEAIICRES.' 

When  I  made  known,  to  my  Vaudois  firiencb, 
my  intention  of  going  to  the  ancient  seats  of  the 
Walclensos,  on  the  ottier  side  of  the  Alps,  and  to 
the  scene  of  N'e0"8  labours,  they  were  able  to  give 
me  that  information,  concerning  the  exact  situa- 
tion and  distance  of  the  places,  which  I  had  in  ram 
sought  to  obtain  from  other  quarters.  Several  of 
the  |>astors  had  visited,  and  ministered  in  all  the 
Anllages  in  the  valleys  of  Quciras  and  Frassynidre, 
where  Protestant  fainihes  were  to  be  found ;  and  Id 
a  small  map  which  M.  Muston,  of  Bobi,  delineated 
for  me,  every  hamlet  and  torrent  was  laid  down 
so  accurately,  that  I  felt  confident  I  should  have 
no  difficulty  in  traversing  the  country-.  But  when 
Mrs.  Gilly's  determination  to  accompany  me  was 
communicated  to  them,  they  thought  that  the 
inconveniences  and  difficulties  of  the  journey  | 
would  prove  too  formidable  to  her.  The  distance 
to  Domiilleuse,  over  a  track  of  land  every  inch  of 
which  was  mountainous,  was  represented  to  be 
more  tlian  twenty  hours,  or  about  sixty  miles  from 
Bobi .  This  was  not  reckoning  the  deviations  right 
and  lefl,  which  it  would  be  necessary  to  make 
to  visit  San  Vcran,  Fousillard,  and  An'icux.  The 
whole  route,  they  said,  must  be  performed  on  foot, 
or  on  saddle,  for  not  a  wheel  had  ever  impressed 

ni«tic,  gvognipby,  ntid  miittc,  are  our  itndiM,  alvays  tx^ning 
find  endiitj;  wilh  reJigious  instruction.  S<wn«  of  ibem  <*ere  le 
•TBCnuii,  ()iat  Uiey  did  not  kaow  there  wen  oiber  vnnrnuk*."— 
Extrneit  frtmt  NefT*  Jovrnalt. 


I 


I 

t 


WALI>£SSIAN    RESKARrHES.  4^3 

its  mark  in  some  of  the  hantlets  which  we  proposed 
to  visit,  and,  in  many  places,  neither  horse  nor  mule 
could  go  in  safely  ;  but  my  wife  was  resolved  to 
make  the  attempt,  and  on  the  25th  of  July,  we 
rose  at  half-past  two  in  the  morning,  and  set  out 
from  San  Margarita,  on  our  intiTcsting  journey, 
with  my  brother,  and  Grant,  who  had  b«cn  our 
guide  to  Castelluzzo. 

It  was  necessary  to  make  some  provision  against 
the  want  of  accommodation  which  we  were  likely 
to  experience,  and  the  rough  weather,  which  every 
body  encounters,  more  or  less,  in  his  passage  over 
the  higher  mountains.  For  this  reason,  besides 
the  pony  which  carried  Mrs.  Gilly,  we  hired  an  ass 
to  convey  our  luggage,  which  I  will  describe  for 
the  sake  of  other  travellers,  who  may  be  dis- 
posed to  make  similar  excursions.  Three  large 
cloaks,  one  of  which  was  water-proof;  a  water- 
proof  bag,  (these  articles  we  foimd  to  answer  the 
purpoiic  most  faithfiilly,  and  against  some  pitiless 
storms  they  stood  proof)  ;  an  inflated  air  bag,  to 
serve  as  a  seal  or  pillow  ;  some  tea,  sugar,  choco- 
late, biscuits,  and  brandy.  Without  these  we  could 
not  have  pursued  our  journey,  for  in  some  places 
we  expected  to  find  nothing  but  the  sour  wine 
and  the  black  rye-bread  of  the  country.  To  this 
list  of  things,  absolutely  indis[K>nsalile,  we  added 
the  equally  necessary  changes  of  linen  and  clothes, 
and  a  basket  containing  book»  and  drawing  nia- 


454 


<WALI>gttSlAi4    KBRARnlBS. 


terials.    Three  staves  shod  with  iron  completal 
our  preparations. 

Our  first  stage  was  Bobi.  There  we  breaibfastad 
at  the  presbyter^',  and  at  seven  o'clock  we  were 
fairly  embarked  on  our  expedition,  and  ascending 
the  first  steeps  which  lead  to  the  passage  of  the 
Alps,  by  the  Col  de  la  Croix.  I  have  crossed  the 
Alps  at  several  points,  but  I  know  of  no  defile 
which  answers  more  entirely  to  the  idea,  which 
tlie  mind  loves  to  picture,  of  a  mountain-pass  than 
this.  Whether  you  look  upon  the  objects  in  the 
distance  before  you,  or  at  those  immediately  aboot 
you,  as  you  advance,  or  whether  you  turn  your 
eye  back  upon  the  valley  which  you  are  leaving 
behind,  the  whole  scene  forms  a  combination  of 
unsurpassable  beauty  and  subhmity. 

We  were  fortunate  in  the  weather  on  the  lirst 
day,  and  the  four  seasons  seemed  to  present  them- 
selves in  succession  before  us.  In  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  Ilobi,  the  aspect  was  autumnal,  the  com 
was  cut,  and  perfectly  ripe ;  a  Uttle  further  up  the 
^-alley  they  were  hay  making,  and  the  com  was  yet 
green ;  at  about  three  hours  from  Bohi,  we  saw 
spring  flowers  in  their  first  bloom,  the  nolet  was 
just  peeping  out  from  a  warm  bank,  on  which  the 
snow  had  but  lately  melted,  and  on  the  summit  of 
some  of  the  mountains  we  beheld  icy  pinnacles 
and  mantles  of  snow.  The  Felice,  whose  windings 
we  followed  during  the  greater  part  of  the  ascent. 


I 


»A1 


It 


WALDENSIAN    UliSKARCHPJ. 

had  made  a  channel  for  himself  through  some  of 
the  most  soft  and  ini'iting,  and  some  of  the  most 
savage  scenes  in  nature;  and  from  delicious  dells 
and  cascades,  which  murmured  under  clusters  of 
magnificent  chesnut  trees,  we  were  transported  to 
fields  of  rock,  where  the  river  thundered  in  cata- 
racts, and  pursued  his  wild  course  at  the  foot  of 
crags,  from  which  it  was  frightful  to  look  down 
apon  his  waters. 

We  were  sitting  under  the  shade  of  a  chesnut, 
and  Mrs.  Gilly  was  sketching  one  of  those  rude 

pine  bridges,  which  look  as  if  they  were  thrown 
up  in  a  hurry,  and  were  only  meant  to  last  for  a 
day.  when  we  were  joined  by  a  venerable  peasant, 
with  a  wallet  on  his  back,  whose  holiday  garb  bore 

e  cut  of  "  anid  lang  Byne.*'  His  coat,  waistcoat, 
nd  breeches  were  of  a  red  brown  ;  lie  had  lappets 
to  his  waistcoat,  and  broad  cut  steel  buttons  to  his 
coat ;  a  cocked  hat  of  enormous  dimensions,  and 
a  pig-tad  of  corresponding  length  and  thickness, 
completed  his  costume,  and  when  he  seated  him- 
self by  our  side,  we  felt  glad  of  the  chance  which 
threw  us  in  the  way  of  such  a  representative  of 
other  days.  He  asked  us,  if  we  were  the  strangers 
who  were  going  to  \a\  Queiras  and  Val  Fras- 
syniere,  to  visit  the  remnant  of  the  Woldenses  in 
those  parts.  When  we  answered  him  as  he  ex- 
pected, he  told  us  that  he  himself  was  a  native 
of  San  Veran,  and  a  descendant  of  the  ancient 
uis  of  Duuphine, — that  he  had  been  to  visit 


456  vrALOKNSIA-N'   rksi-:arcu£&. 

some  relations  at  San  (iiovanni,  and  was  now  on 
his  return  honit'.  There  was  an  air  about  the  old 
man,  which  said,  "  i  am  an  object  of  respect  in 
Ithe  eyes  of  these  strangers,"  and  the  feeling  gave 
I  Inim  confidence  and  eloquence.  He  amused  Ds  m 
with  anecdotes  of  former  times,  and  I  gathered 
from  him,  that  he,  tike  his  father  and  grandfather, 
and  remote  ancestors,  had  been  baptized  by  a 
Romish  priest,  and  compelled  in  his  youth  to  per- 
fonn  outwardly.  "  But,"  said  he  "  we  were  Pro- 
testants at  heart;  we,  and  some  of  our  neigh- 
bours, used  to  meet  secretly,  and  read  a  Bible, 
which  was  concealed  in  the  roof  of  the  house;  and 
when  the  \'audois  minister  came  to  visit  us  froin 
these  valleys,  we  received  the  sacrament  at  his 
hands,  and  were  exhort?d  to  persevere  in  our  iiutfa, 
and  to  hope  fur  better  days ;  and,  thank  God,  they 
came  at  last  The  edict  of  Louis  the  Sixteenth 
gave  us  liberty  of  conscience,  and  then  we  avowed 
ourselves.  The  priests  kept  it  a  secret  from  as 
as  long  as  they  could,  and  it  was  many  months 
before  we  learnt  that  we  had  nothing  to  dread 
religion's  sake." 

Our  new  acquaintance  accompanied  us  as  fur  u 
Pra,  and  there  we  parted ;  but  we  saw  him  again 
at  San  Veran. 

rThc  picturesque,  the  romantic,  the  pastoral,  and 
the  classical,  united  to  make  this  day's  excursion 
deserving  of  a  marked  place  in  our  joumaL  la 
one  place,  our  path  was  turned  by  an  enormous 


I 

1  OS    « 

iiths  M 
[for  J 


W.U.DENSIAN  ncsBAitrites. 


457 


rock,  to  the  top  of  wliicli  a  peasant  had  contrived]  [ 
to  cBrry  soil,  and  to  make  a  garden,  which  wash 
irrigated  by  a  canal,  connected  by  wooden  troughs, 
sup|)ortcd  on  beams  and  rafters.     It  Mas  litenUty \ 
a  hanging  garden.     At  another  place,  a  hamlet  in; 
a  singularly  wild  position,  appeared  to  suspend  its', 
frubins  from  the  face  of  a  clitf,  like  a  mural  montH  i 
ment  on  the  walls  of  a  church,  in  deep  relieC 
Again,  after  scrambling  over  a  rocky  and  sterile 
tract  of  ground,  we  came  suddenly  upon  a  field  of 
hay.  or  upon  a  flock  of  sheep,  browsing  on  a  green 
spot,  the  oasis  of  the  glen.    We  scaled  some  of  the 
heights  by  stcjis  hewn  ont  t)f  the  rock :  on  one  we 
saw  in  the  turn  of  the  path  immediately  above  us, 
a  groupe  of  figures,  whose  long  poles  and  hatchets 
in  their  hands,  gave  them  tlic  appearance  of  men 
who  were  planted  there  to  dispute  our  passage. 
They  were  wood-cutters  and  charcoal-burners. 

This  defile  has  the  traditionary  honour  of  being 
that  by  which  Hannibal  crossed  the  Alps  into 
Italy,  and  .Julius  Caesar  into  Gaul.  The  former 
is  supported  by  feeble  evidence^the  latter  has 
more  probability  for  its  foundation.  A  mountain, 
at  no  great  distance  from  this  pass,  and  witliin 
nght,  is  still  called  the  Col  Julien.  Francis  the 
First  is  another  name  of  renown  connected  with 
the  pass  of  the  Col  dc  la  Croix.  Perhaps  some  of 
tlie  detachments  of  that  monarch's  army  may  have 
'  descended  into  INcmont  by  this  route,  in  the  inva- 
Lirion  of  1515;  but  it  ib  certain  tliat  the  main  body 


I 


458 


WALDEKSIA!*   RESBARCUE& 


P 


marched  by  the  pass  of  the  Argentierc.    The  diffi- 
culties of  this  passage  of  the  Alps  do  not  Ije  eo 
much  within  the  compass  of  the  defile  betw 
Bobi  and  the  summit  of  the  Col,  as  on  the  Frcocli 
side,  between  the  Chateau  Queiras  and  Giullestre 
there  the  pass  of  the  Guil  presents  obstacles 
insuperable  to  a  mass  advancing  with  such  a 
as  an  annament  requires. 

'Die  fort  Miraboco  is  now  dismantled.    It 
in  tlie  very  narrowest  part  of  the  defile- 
little  of  it  remains.      It  never  could  have 
strong  enough  to  resist  a  force  detenuiaed  u 
taking  it  by  assault    Its  guns  only  commaiided 
space  of  ground  which  might  be  traversed  in  a  ti 
few  minutes,  and  the  assailants  would  be 
the  walls  of  the  fort  before  many  discharges. 

Near  the  ruins  there  is  a  fine  waterfall,  and  an 
interesting  spot  called  the  Mal-Mort,  where  a  ter- 
rible conflict  took  place  between  the  Vaudots  aod 
their  oppressors.  It  was  here  that  we  met 
miserable  looking  way-faring  man,  whose  reply 
our  salutation  was  made  in  a  melancholy  tone^ 
which  seemed  to  say,  "  There  can  be  no  good  day 
to  me !"  He  did  not  b^,  but  his  appeju-ance  cried 
"  date  obolura,"  more  imploringly  than  his  voice 
could  hare  done.  Sterne  would  have  made  some- 
thing of  the  incident 

We  reached  Pra,  or  the  Bergcrie  du  Pra,  the 
fihccpfold  of  the  meadow,  as  it  ts  sometimes  called, 
at  half-past  eleven.     On  this  Alp  there  is 


i 


WALDENSIAS    RESEARCHES. 


450 


opened  for  the  reception  of  travellers,  during  the 
summer  months,  and  a  stntion  of  carabineers,  and 
of  custom-house  ofTicers,  of  the  king  of  Sardinia. 
We  had  appointed  to  make  this  our  resting-place 
for  the  day  and  night,  in  order  to  be  present  at 
the  service  and  sermon,  which  M.  Bonjour  was 
to  deliver  next  morning  to  the  herdsmen,  shep- 
herds, and  tliuir  families,  who  are  depasturing 
their  cattle  on  these  mountains.  Pra  is  a  basin  or 
hollow  of  an  oval  form,  and  about  two  miles  in 
length.  It  produces  some  corn,  potatoes,  and  grass, 
and  is  enclosed  by  elevated  masses  of  rock,  and 
green  slopes,  on  which  are  some  rich  pasturages, 
but  the  cattle  are  called  home  and  folded  at  night, 
to  protect  them  from  the  wolves.  These  summits 
are  terminated  towards  the  south  by  the  snowy 
peaks  of  Mont  Viso.  On  the  whole  range  ofthe 
Alps,  there  is  not  an  elevation  which  is  mure  pre- 
eminently a  mountain,  in  character  and  aspect, 
than  Mont  Vjso.  It  rises  to  a  towering  height  far 
above  all  others  in  the  same  branch,  and  is  distin- 
guished by  its  white  pinnacle,  soaring  proudly  to 
the  skies,  bo  that  be  it  seen  in  what  direction  it 
may,  it  cannot  be  mistaken.  Mont  Blanc  and  Mont 
Rosa,  are  considerably  more  lofty,  and  arv  also 
strongly  marked  ;  but  there  is  an  aspiring  beauty 
in  tJie  form  of  Mont  Viso,  which  secures  recog- 
uition,  and  admirntion  in  a  superlative  degree. 
I  believe  its  suniniit  has  never  yet  been  reached. 
There  arc  different  accounts  of  iU  height ;  some 


460  VALDESSUN    RPJEAKCSU. 

place  it  as  low  as  9378  feet ;  others  have  rec 
it  as  high  as  13,828.     Brockedon  calls  it 
than  12,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 
from  the  Supcrga,  or  from  any  of  llie  hills 
Turin,  anil  viewed  comparatively  with  Mont  Bl 
and  Mont  Rosa,  the  sjicctator  will  not  hesitate 
pronounce  for  the  greatest  elevation  which 
been  assigned  to  it. 

It  is  no  easy  matter  to  reconcile  the  many  dt 
culties  opposed  to  the  conjecture,  that  Hannibal 
entered  Italy  by  the  passes  of  Mont  >'iso ;  but  cev 
tainly,  if  the  appearance  of  the  Alps,  as  described 
by  IJry,  and  the  view  of  Italy  from  the  summit 
the  pass,  as  mentioned  by  Polybius,  could  decidv^ 
the  question,  all  travellers  who  have  had  oppot^ 
tunitics  of  inspecting  the  difTerent  routes  attiH 
buted  to  the  Carthaginian  army,  would  give  ihi 
sufirages  in  favour  of  this.  The  description 
the  Alps  (as  seen  from  the  French  side),  that  is, 
of  the  barrier  ridge,  of  the  main  chiun,  "  altitudo 
niontium,  nivesque  ccelo  prope  immist^e."  answers 
to  the  realities  of  Mont  Viso  to  the  very  letter: 
and  the  view  of  the  plains  of  the  Po,  and  the  mu- 
nificent and  extensive  prospect  which  opens  upon 
the  eye,  from  the  highest  spine  of  the  pass,  belong 
exclusively  to  the  region  of  Mont  Viso ;  fur  at  the 
foot  of  this  mountain  the  Fo  rises,  and  is  seen 
flowing  through  a  rich  country  till  it  is  lost  to 
the  horizon '. 

'  Tbts  i|<i(suofl  is  Jttj  ftbl)  ditc-uMcd  in  a  icccol 


4 

i 


WALDENSrAK    RESEARCHES.  4C1 

!  little  inn  of  Pra,  where  we  took  up  our 
quarters,  is  the  favourite  resort  of  sportsmen,  whom 
the  fascinntion  of  danger,  and  the  inspiring  pur- 
suit of  the  chamois,  invite  to  this  part  of  the 
mountains.  Mr.  W.  Coke  was  here  for  fourteen 
days,  and  left  a  good  name  behind  him,  as  a  keen 
and  intrepid  lover  of  the  chase.  He  and  his 
party  kilted  about  Bve  and  forty  chamois,  if  I  was 
rightly  informed,  for  chamois  are  not  very  plentiful 
lierc. 

I  am  led  to  suppose,  that  of  all  diversions  the 
pursuit  of  the  chamois  is  by  far  the  most  alluring. 
Its  perils  seem  to  add  cliarms  to  it;  and  it  is  a  well 
known  fact,  not  only  that  the  professed  chamois- 
hunter  generally  llnds  a  gnivc  at  last  among  the 
precipices  which  he  dares,  but  that  he  takes  no- 
thing less  into  account,  and  speaks  of  it  as  an  event 
for  which  he  is  fully  prepared.  The  guides,  who 
accompany  strangers  through  tlic  Alpine  valleys, 
arc  fond  of  recounting  tlie  hair-breadth  escapes, 
and  daring  feats,  which  have  come  to  their  ears ; 
and  if  it  is  heart-stirring  to  listen  to  these  tales,  I 
can  easily  imagine  with  what  glee  the  youthful 
adventurer  will  engage  in  such  enterprises. 

Excitement  is  as  necessary  to  some  minds  as 
food  to  the  body,  and  among  the  hardy  peasantry 
of  the  Alps,  there  must  be  many  ambitious  and 

**  niinnibd**p*«Meeof  llic  Aipa.by  u  nM>nilwTor  ibr  I'nrvrnily 
of  Cunbrwij^." 


WALDENSUN    RSSBAftTUES. 


r 


craving  spirits,  which  long  for  some  stronger  emo- 
tions than  those  of  every  day  \\(e,  and  wiU  brave , 
any  thing  rather  than  not  find  them.     The  cha-' 
mois-hunter  experiences  tht-m  supremely.     The ; 
sport  carries  liim  to  scenes  of  unrivalled  magtufi- 
cenoe.    As  he  traverses  regions  untrodden  nmk 
Kkely  by  any  foot  but  his  own,  he  exults  in  the 
proud  feeling,  that  he  only  of  all  mankind  ius 
breathed  that  air,  and  beheld  the  lonely  sublimititt 
that  0{>cn  u[>on  liim.    He  may  fancy  that  he  is  lod 
of  all  he  surveys,  and  that  the  6elds  of  ice  and 
plains  of  snow  arc  all  his  own.    He  may  exdaim. 


"  CrMtion's  heir,  the  wortd,  tbe  worid  m  amm." 


1 

hbisl 


Who  has  ever  met  a  hunter  of  tlie  Alps,  with 
staff  in  his  band,  and  his  ritle  slung  across  Im 
shoulder,  and  watched  his  liglit  and  active  step, 
and  gallant  bearing,  without  feeliog  a  certain  de- 
gree of  inferiority,  and  envying  the  elasticity  of  his 
frame,  and  the  joyousness  of  his  spirits  ! 

I  have  seen  chamois,  but  never  in  their  wiU 
state.  The  animals,  which  1  had  an  opportuiu^ 
of  examining,  were  confined  in  a  large  yard  at 
Chateau  Blonay,  near  \'evay,  in  Switzerland;  and 
the  activity,  with  which  they  spnmg  up  a  wall,  and 
balanced  themselves  upon  the  slightest  projections, 
gave  me  an  idea  of  their  powers.  The  hard  homy 
points  of  the  feet  of  Uio  chamois,  and  the  curva- 
ture of  his  horns  backward,  enable  him  to  adhere 


WALDENSIAN   RESEARCHES. 


463 


e  of  a  rock  where  the  eye  can  scarcely 
discern  a  resting  place,  and  his  leaps  arc  like  short 
flights.  With  such  surprising  agility  docs  he 
bound  from  point  to  point.  The  chamois  does 
uot  oflen  herd  in  large  flocks ;  it  is  rare  to  see 
more  than  eight  or  ten  together,  and  they  are  so 
(juick  of  sight  and  hearing,  that  the  sportsman 
must  patiently  watch  his  opportunity,  make  long 
detours  to  be  in  a  favourable  position  for  a  shot, 
climb  terrillc  heights  to  get  above  them,  and 
expose  himself  for  days  and  uights  before  he  can 
hoi»  to  secure  the  S[)oil.  The  eagerness  of  the 
pursuit  often  takes  him  along  narrow  ledges,  by 
the  edge  of  horrible  precipices,  ajid  over  crevices 
and  tota'ring  crags,  which  he  dare  not  tacc  again 
on  his  return,  when  his  ardour  is  cooled;  and  it  is 
upon  such  occasions  that  lives  are  lost. 

Our  accommodations  at  Pra  were  none  of  the 
best,  for  the  house  was  full ;  and  I  do  not  mean  to 
reveal  the  secrets  of  the  chamber  in  which  we 
were  lodged,  or  the  companionship  amidst  which 
we  went  to  rest.  The  intelligence  of  tlie  sermon 
hod  brought  persons  from  Uie  French  as  well  as 
the  Italian  side  of  the  mountain,  to  Pra,  and  every 
comer  of  the  inn  was  filled.  A  large  granary  was 
spread  with  straw,  and  here  many  of  the  party 
slept. 

Sunday,  July  2C.  The  morning  was  threatening, 
the  clouds  were  low,  and  the  wind  high,  therefore, 
instead  of  performing  the  service  in  the  open  air,  as 


u 


WALDBSSIAK   BESEAKCHES. 


is  generally  the  case,  at  the  mountain  preachi: 
the  granarj'  of  the  Pra  was  ])repan-'d  for  the  solem- 
nity. At  nine  o'clock,  a  man  ascended  the  roof  of 
the  auberge,  and  blew  a  loud  and  long  blast  with 
a  conch-shell, — this  he  repeated  at  halF-past  nine, 
and  at  ten.  The  summons,  1  was  told,  might 
heard  at  a  great  distance.  After  the  first  blail, 
we  saw  people  approaching  from  different  quarten, 
and  this  picturusque  gathering  continued  for  more 
than  an  hour.  The  service  then  commenced, 
and  never  did  I  behold  a  mure  attentive  congre- 
gation. M.  Bonjow's  text  was  frum  Isaiah  liL  7. 
— "  How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet 
of  him  that  bringeth  good  tidings,  t}iat  publisbelh 
peace,  that  bringetli  good  tidings  of  good,  that 
pubUsbeth  salvation,  that  saith  unto  Zion,  thy 
God  reignetli."  The  sermon  was  eloquent,  aj^ro- 
priate,  and  touching.  It  was  delivered  with  great 
animation  and  feeling,  and  seemed  to  make  a 
lively  impression  upon  his  hearers.  The  preacher's 
allusions  to  the  deliverances  of  .Almighty  God, 
and  his  presen'ation  of  the  Vaudois,  and  to  the 
advantages  of  amoimtaiu  Ufe  ',  in  a  religious  point 
of  view,  and  to  removal  from  the  temptations  of 


I 


'  Semler  has  observed,  with  great  tnilh,  that  mounuiMcn 
tre  IcM  addicted  to  the  g;n>*etlia|;  abniKliiies  of  ion^  wonltip, 
than  other  people.  How,  mde«d,  can  the  mX  mnd  ag' 
nLrjecu  by  which  lh«j'  arc  suirotindnl,  suffer  thetn  lu  accept  watf 
perinhable  work  of  man'*  hand*,  u  lh«  repreacDiatire  of  the 
Grrat  and  El«Rta1  Being  who  called  tho«f  objects  into  «si>t«>ce. 


iaeen       , 
in(up,H 

ptaarfl 


WALOE.S-SUS    KFJEAaCtlBS. 


165 


the  world,  were  calculated  to  sink  deep  into  the 
heart ;  and  not  less  so,  his  appeals  to  consciences, 
which  had  from  early  youth  been  awakened  by 
those  means  of  grace,  which  the  Lord  had  vouch- 
safed in  an  especial  degree  to  the  Waldensian 
Church. 

Our  ascent  of  the  Col  de  la  Croix  from  Pra  was 
tnadc  under  torrents  of  rain,  an<l  such  gusts  of 
wind,  that  wc  were  frequently  obliged  to  stop  for 
some  time  beueath  the  shelter  of  a  rock,  for  fear 
of  being  blown  down  the  side  uf  the  mountain. 
Two  rrenchmcn  whom  we  met,  advised  us  not  to 
proceed ;  but  having  once  mounted  towards  the 
ridge,  we  were  obliged  to  advance  as  well  as  we 
could,  for  there  was  not  even  a  hut  to  receive  as 
between  Pra  on  the  Italian,  and  La  Monta  on  the 
French  side.  The  state  of  the  weather  rendered 
the  descent  difficult  and  even  hazardous;  the 
path,  running  in  pUices  along  the  lace  of  a  sheUing 
slope,  was  so  narrow,  broken,  and  sUpper)',  tluil  I 
thought  it  unsafe  for  Mrs.  Gilly  to  ride,  and  she 
•was  obHgcd  to  walk  the  greater  part  of  the  way. 
The  time  of  crossing  the  Col,  from  Pra  to  La 
Monto,  was  about  two  hours  and  a  half,  that  is  to 
My,  we  were  occupied  so  long  in  going  over  the 
extreme  sumntit  of  the  Al|>s,  from  one  side  to  the 
other  of  the  frontier  line  ;  but  the  real  a&cent  and 
descent  of  the  main  chain  should  be  calculated 

eobi  to  La  Monta,  or  about  seven  hours" 
it  walking.     The  traveller  is  still  waUcd  in 
iih 


» 


466 


WALDENSIAN    RESKARCIIES. 


by  mountains  after  leaving  La  Monta,  but  as  btl 
follows  the  course  of  the  Guil,  through  transversa] 
valleys  to  Guillestrc,  the  worst  of  the  passage 
is  over  when  the  Col  is  surmounted. 

When  Strabo  said,  that  it  would  require  fiw 
days  to  reach  the  summit  of  the  Al|>s,  be  «k 
speaking  of  very  slow  progress,  and  must  hare 
been  reckoning  from  the  plains  at  the  foot  of  the 
&n>t  steeps  to  the  very  summit;  and  even  so, 
must  have  taken  the  Alpine  range  at  its  grcUeit 
breadth.  Simlcr,  who  published  his  work  in  ISli, 
observing  upon  Strabo's  statement,  remarked,  Unt 
in  his  time  it  would  require  several  days  to  ga 
from  the  plains  to  the  top  of  the  Alps ;  but  added, 
that  climbing  the  ridge  only,  the  passage  ini|^ 
possibly  be  achieved  in  one  day.  "  We,"  said  be, 
"  when  we  talk  of  the  ascent  of  the  Alps,  speak  of 
the  crest  of  the  mountain,  where  all  is  cold  ood 
sterile;  when  we  have  arrived  at  this  point,  tba|H 
we  say,  wc  begin  to  climb  the  summit,  *  den  btrg 
angm\'" 

It  does  not  enter  into  my  present  plati  to  detail 
all  the  particulars  of  my  journey,  in  search  of  those 
embers  of  ancient  Protestantism,  or  rather  of  the 
primitive  churches,  which  yet  remain  in  the  moun- 
tain recesses  of  Dauphin&  I  found  so  much  to 
interest  me,  that  it  would  require  much  moiv 
room  than  is  lefl  in  this  volume,  to  give  a  satis<j 

>  Sjmlrri  Val.  (loM-rip.  p.  185. 


WALDENSIAK    RFSRARrHRS. 


467 


► 


factory  narrative  of  it.  It  will  be  enough  to  add 
here,  that  we  went  into  most  of  the  villa^s  and 
hamkts  where  Ncff  had  laboured,  and  never  shall 
I  foi^et  the  proofs  which  we  witnessed  of  the 
strong  devotional  feeling,  and  pure  Christian  spirit 
implanted  among  the  Protestant  families,  in  Val 
Queiras  and  Val  Frassyniere.  Neff's  name  is  bo 
rcYerettccd,  that  it  cannot  be  pronounced  without 
producing  a  sigh  or  a  tear,  and  a  blessing  upon 
his  oiemorv. 

After  stevping  at  Abnes,  tvc  crossed  a  mountain, 
and  visited  Molinos,  Picrre^rossc,  Foussillard,  and 
'6kn  V'eran.  In  the  two  latter,  Protestant  churches 
have  lately  been  erected.  From  these  remote 
places,  where  they  had  never  before  seen  a  female 
sbove  the  condition  of  a  peasant,  or  dressed  other- 
wise than  io  coarse  woollen,  we  descended  again 
towards  the  Guil,  and  passed  a  night  at  Chateau 
Queiras.  The  next  da/s  walk  took  us  to  Airieux, 
Chalp,  and  Brunichard.  At  Arvieux  there  is  a  Pro- 
testant church ;  and  at  Chalp  the  clei^yman.  M. 
Herman,  resides  who  succeeded  Mr.  Neff,  and  «ho 
is  the  only  minister  who  officiates  among  the  scat- 
tered congregation,  in  the  valleys  of  ijuciras  and 
Frassyni^e,  between  Dormilleuse  and  Foussillard ; 
the  two  arc  nearly  (ive-and-forty  miles  distant.  He 
m  scarcely  ever  at  home,  and  takes  up  his  habita- 
tion for  a  week  tr^ether,  now  at  one  hamlet,  and 
then  at  another.  M.  Herman  was  absent  when 
we  were  at  Arvieux.     The  day  before  our  arrival 


168 


WAI.nRN!lUN    RC-^EARCHE.^. 


\m  wife  liad  taken  in  a  forlorn  woman,  a  stranger, 
and  her  three  children.  The  wanderer  was  coo- 
fint'd  the  same  night,  and  thus  five  were  hospitably 
harboured.  Our  path  to  GuiUestrc  was  through 
a  defile,  where  there  is  barely  room  for  the 
torrent ;  the  path  itself  in  many  places  is  hcini 
out  of  the  perpendicular  face  of  rocks,  whose  sam- 
mtts  rise  to  the  vcrj-  clouds.  No  mountain  pass 
that  I  have  seen  equals  this  in  gloomy  horrors 
I  should  say  its  tremendous  attractions  exceed 
those  of  the  valley  of  (>ondo,  in  the  passage  of  the 
Simplon. 

On  the  fourth  day  after  our  de^iarture  &tRD 
Pra,  we  found  ourselves,  for  a  few  hours,  on  tlie 
high  road  between  Embruu  and  Brian^oa,  bol 
at  t^  Roche,  we  crossed  the  Durance,  and 
ascended  towards  the  Val  Frassyni^re.  We  visited 
Palous,  Frassyniere,  Violin,  Mensals,  and  Donnil> 
leuse ;  the  three  last  are  peopled  entirely  by 
^Jrotastants ;  the  whole  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
population  of  Violin  and  Mensals  was  converted  by 
M.  NefF.  No  Dormilleusian  ever  bowed  his  knee 
before  an  imago  of  the  Roman  Church.  The 
village  of  DormiUeuse,  in  its  situation  at  the  foot 
of  the  glacier,  in  its  impregnable  position,  and  in 
its  desolate  and  savage  asjiect,  luiswercd  all  our 
high-wrought  expectations.  And  so  did  the  [>eopIf. 
At  Pfllons.  a  young  man,  who  accompanied  us 
from  GuilUstrc,  made  it  known  that  I  was  a  Protes>_ 
tant  clergj'iuan.  The  inhabilanls  left  their  ht 


i 


WaLDENSIAN    REKKAaCHBS. 


tea 


and  tlicir  work  in  the  tields,  and  flocked  round 
me  to  entreat  nic  to  prcuch  to  thcni.  The  same 
at  Frassyniere,  Violin,  and  Oomiillcuse.  1  pleaded 
my  imperfect  knowledge  of  Krcncli,  and  tliey 
reluctantly  gave  up  the  point. 

Tbe  scene  was  overpowering.  We  had  been 
deeply  moved  at  Val  Queiras,  but  tlie  continued 
excitement,  added  to  the  fatigue,  was  too  much 
for  our  spirits,  and  we  felt  the  consequences 
severely. 

We  did  not  sleep  at  Dunnilleuse — in  truth  there 
wns  not  a  place  where  we  could  have  laid  us  down 
with  jiny  hope  of  repose.  We  took  up  our  lodging 
at  l<a  lireiisie,  a  village  near  the  Durance. 

Tills  visit  to  the  Protestants  of  Dormilletise, 
and  of  the  valleys  uf  (jueira-s  and  Frassyniere,  1 
may  pronoiuice  to  hare  been  intensely  interesting, 
as  well  as  instnictive.  It  confinneil  my  belief,  that, 
when  the  primitive  Churches  were  supplanted 
by  the  Roman  Church  in  the  plains,  there  were 
branches  of  the  old  stock  which  still  llo\irished  in 
the  remote  mountain  hamlets.  Some  few  of  tlicse 
have  survived.  But  the  sight  of  them,  and  of  the 
peattered  settlements  of  the  Waldensian  remnant 
m  Dauphine,  has  lel'l  me  in  greater  admiration 
tiian  before,  when  I  reflect  that  the  Church  of  the 
Valleys,  and  its  liftccn  united  panshefi,  should  have 
been  able,  not  only  tu  trscape  extemiinution,  but  to 
pre»>cnt  a  front,  and  to  make  conditions  for  them- 
M;lve&,  and  tu  i^ucceed  in  their  demands  of  being 


490 


WALDENSUK    RESEARCHES. 


recognised  as  an  independent,  oi^anised,  and  regi^' 
lariy  constituted  Church,  through  the  most  din^fni 
ages  of  intolerance,  and  in  the  very  midst  of  enemies 
leagued  to  destroy  it  The  non-conformists  of 
Dauphine  dwelt  in  a  country  which  was  quite  as 
defensJhle  as  tlie  valleys  of  Luserna,  San  Maitino, 
and  Perosa: — but  Donnilleuse  is  the  ouly  village 
there,  which  never  received  a  RomLsh  priest,  and 
vrhosc  inhabitants  would  not  confonn  even  out- 
wardly. The  shield  of  God  is  the  first  and  princqia) 
cause  to  which  we  attribute  the  protection  of  the 
Vaudois  of  I^iemont ;  but  the  secondary  cause  is 
the  obligation  uf  Kolemn  treaties,  by  which  the 
princes  of  the  house  of  Savoy  pledged  tliemsdves, 
on  their  first  possession  of  the  territory,  and  from 
time  to  time  alterwanls,  to  respect  the  personal 
and  religious  rights  of  the  "  Men  of  the  VaUeys;' 
of  men  who  resisted  the  jurisdiction  of  Rome,  and 
who  were  members  of  an  ancient  independent 
Church,  long  before  the  house  of  Savoy  reigned 
in  Pieniont.  These  were  the  treaties,  as  1  hare 
maintained  in  the  Introduction,  by  which  the 
dukes  of  Savoy  were  bound  to  tolerate  tbeia. 
"  astretti  toterar/i,"  and  were  prevented  from 
eradicating  them '. 

■  Sm  page  73. 


In  Ike  <  uune  of  my  JDumry  llimugh  die  nlleri  of  Qv 
KDcl  FraMytiipic,  I  cDijuircd  in  »ain  f«r  MRS.  awl  iincitmt  (io(»-_ 
rMHU.     Nit  a  {wper  of  the  leiut  value  did  I  set. 


CHAPTER   XV. 


itttuT%  lo  rUmmt  by  BrianfoM  a*d  the  Paat  of  lUml  Genevre — 
CtMtne—The  yalUy  of  Pragela—The  perfidg  o/  LouiiXlV. 
and  t'ietor  Amadt'e  in  the  exItmHitintion  of  the  Waldentetof  Vol 
Pragela — The  Col  AlUTgiaK—Fenettretle — M.  CoucoHtde 
— BarlkolomciK  CtmcouTiU,'~and  atuedotet  of  the  late  Mode' 
rotor  Peyramo. 

July  30.  Instead  of  returning  to  Piemont  by 
the  way  we  came,  and  re-crossing  the  Col  de  la 
Croix,  we  determined  to  take  the  route  to  Brianf  on. 
Cesane,  and  Fenestrelle,  for  the  purpose  of  seeing 
the  pass  of  Mont  Genevre,  and  the  remains  of  the 
old  Roman  road  over  the  Cottian  Alps ',  and  of 
visiting  the  valley  of  Pragela,  where  there  were 
six  Waldensian  churches,  till  the  exterminating 
edict  of  Victor  Aniadee  completed  the  devasta- 
tion which  Louis  \IV.  had  begun. 

Our  track  from  La  Bressie,  where  the  Durance 
"  wide  and  fierce  came  roaring  by,"  was  in  the 
line  of  road  laid  down  in  the  Itinerary  of  Antoninc ; 
but  1  could  not  satisfy  myself  that  the  distances 
are  there  correctly  given.    llama  is  stated  in  the 

'  Set  [lag*.'  Ili. 


t72 


WAU)£NfilAN    RESI'IARCMKS. 


Itinerary  to  be  eighteen  miles  from  Biigaiitio 
(Briaii^oii),  but  we  were  not  three  hours  in  vralking 
from  Koiichcs,  the  village  which  is  directly  opg^^^ 
site  to  tlie  ancient  station,  said  to  be  the  Ramfl^^H 
the  Honimis,  to  Brianfou.  Rama,  iu  the  same 
Table  of  Antonine,  appears  to  be  nearly  cqai- 
distant  from  Brian^on  and  Kmbrun  —  whereas, 
according  to  present  measurement,  the  tliSerence 
is  very  great. 

Near  Saint  Martin  a  peasant  accosted  us,  aod 
told  us  of  the  terrors  of  a  glacier  near  by,  wbeie 
the  cold  is  so  intense,  that  any  body  who  should 
venture  to  cross  it  would  die-  In  the  times  of 
I  lannihal,  Polybius,  and  Livy,  the  ignorant  nativeti 
entertainud  strangers  with  the  same  marvellous 
talcs  of  the  inaccessibility  of  the  snowy  mountains 
in  these  regions. 

The  approach  to  Brian^on  is  magnificent.  The 
town  and  its  main  fortress  occupy  a  fine  p<>sitioii 
on  a  rocl{,  at  the  bottom  of  which  the  Durance 
rolls  his  foaming  waters;  and  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river,  a  line  of  bfistions  and  battlcnicntcd 
walls  extent  to  the  summit  of  a  mountain. 

It  was  here  that  hundreds  of  English  prisoners  of 
war  were  detained  during  the  reign  of  NajJoleon, 
and  many  a  heart  sickened  under  the  rigoius  of 
captivity,  and  the  disappointment  of  hopp  deferred, 
amidst  some  of  the  most  glorious  scenes  in  nature. 

We  did  not  malic  any  stay  at  Brian^on.  The 
archives  of  the  Bui^ndian  kingdom,  and  records 


4 


WALDENSUN   RRSEARCIIES. 


47S 


that  would  have  served  to  illustrate  the  military 
historj-  of  the  Cotlian  Alps,  were  formerly  pre- 
served in  this  frontier  keep ;  but  when  the  duke 
jjf  Savov  burnt  the  town  in  one  of  the  forays  of 
1602,  tliey  were  all  destroyed  in  the  conflagratiou. 
Travellers  are  too  much  disposed  to  run  in  each 
others'  footsteps,  and  to  confine  their  attention  to 
the  well  known  regions  of  the  Alps ;  but  it  woold 
smply  repay  the  tourist  to  make  Brianyon  his 
bead-quarters,  and  to  explore  from  thence  the 
attractive  and  romantic  country  which  lies  within 
a  day's  journey  of  it.  The  scenery,  as  described 
by  Brockedon  and  others,  is  of  the  very  first 
dcscri|>tion.  The  historian  would  gather  infor- 
mation relative  to  some  of  the  most  interesting 
events  in  border  history,  and  die  naturalist  end- 
amusement  in  the  quarries  and  forests.  There 
mre  no  less  than  2,700  species  of  aromatic  and 
other  plants  to  be  found  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Durance.  The  sportsman  would  not  only  find 
partridges  and  pheasants,  but  might  occupy  hts 
time  in  the  nobler  pursuit  of  the  wolf,  the  bear, 
and  the  chamois. 

An  event  which  occurred  near  Brian9on  will 

«  some  notion  of  the  incidents,  which  embUi7.«n 

lOuntain  life  and  field  sports  in  thc.s«  regions. 

A  peasant,  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  had 

taken  up  his  summer  qoarters  iu  a  chAlet,  and 

depasturing  his  flocks  on  one  of  the  rich  Alps 

which  overhang  the  Durance.     The  oldest  boy 


474 


WALD£KSIAN    RESEABCBES. 


was  on  idiot,  about  eight  years  of  age,  the  secooa 
was  live  years  old  and  dumb,  and  the  youngest 
was  ail  iufant.  It  so  happened  that  the  iniiuit 
was  left  one  morning  in  charge  of  his  brotben, 
and  the  three  had  rambled  to  some  distance  froin 
the  chAlet  before  tbey  were  missed.  Wht-n  the 
mother  went  in  search  of  the  little  wanderers,  sbe 
foand  the  two  elder,  but  could  discover  no  traces 
of  the  baby.  The  idiot  boy  seemed  to  be  in  a 
transport  of  joy,  while  the  dumb  child  displayed 
every  s}'mptom  of  alarm  and  terror.  In  vain  did 
the  terrified  parent  endeavour  to  collect  what  bad 
become  of  the  lost  infant.  The  antics  of  the  one, 
and  the  fright  of  the  other  explained  nothing 
The  dumb  boy  was  almost  bereft  of  his  sensea^ 
while  the  idiot  appeared  to  have  acquired  an  un- 
usual degree  of  mirth  and  expresMon.  He  danced 
about,  laughed,  and  made  gesticulations,  as  if  be 
were  imitating  the  action  of  one,  who  had  caught 
up  something  of  which  he  was  fond,  and  bugged  it 
to  his  heart.  This,  liowevcr,  was  of  some  slight 
comfort  to  the  poor  woman,  for  she  imagined  that 
some  acquaintance  had  fallen  in  with  the  childreDf 
and  had  taken  away  the  infknL  But  the  day  and 
night  wore  away,  and  no  tidings  of  the  lost  child. 
On  the  morrow,  when  the  parents  were  pursuing 
their  search,  an  eagle  flew  over  their  heads,  at  the 
tight  of  which  the  idiot  renewed  liis  antics,  and 
the  dumb  boy  clung  to  his  tather  with  the  shrieks 
of  anguish  and  affright     Tlie  horrible  truth  then 

2 


i 


I 


WAI.MNSIAH    ftmBAttrHltS. 


47fi 


burst  upon  their  minds,  that  the  miserable  infant 
had  been  carried  off  in  the  talons  of  a  bird  of 
prey  : — and  that  the  half-witted  eWer  brother  was 
delighted  at  his  riddance  of  an  object  of  whom  he 
was  jealous. 

On  the  morning  in  which  the  accident  \mp- 
pened,  an  Alpen  yager 


I 


"  WboM  joy  wii  in  lh«  wttdcrnea — lo  iHvalhc 
**  The  diSkult  ait  of  lh«  loixl  nKninUin'i  lop," 


Ixad  been  watching  near  an  eagle's  nest,  under 
the  hope  of  shooting  the  bird  upon  her  return  to 
her  cyry.  Afler  waiting  in  all  the  anxious  perse- 
verance of  a  true  sportsman,  he  beheld  the  monster 
slowly  winging  her  way  towards  the  rock,  behind 
which  he  was  concealed.  Imagine  his  horror, 
when,  upon  her  nearer  approach,  he  heard  the 
cries,  and  distinguished  the  figure  of  an  infant  in 
her  fatal  grasp.  In  an  instant  his  resolution  was 
formed, — to  fire  at  the  bird  at  all  hazards,  the 
moment  she  should  alight  upon  her  nest,  and 
rather  to  kill  the  child,  than  leave  it  to  be  torn 
to  pieces  by  the  horrid  devourer.  With  a  silent 
prayer  and  a  steady  aim,  the  mountaineer  poised 
his  rifle.  The  ball  went  directly  through  the 
head  or  heart  of  the  eagle,  and  in  a  minute  after- 
wards, Uiis  gallatit  hunter  of  the  Alps  had  the 
unutterable  delight  of  snatching  the  child  from 
the  neiit,  and  bearing  it  away  in  triumph.     It  was 


476 


WALDENSIAN    KESBABcaBS. 


i 


dreadfully  wounded  by  the  eagle's  talons  in  one  of 
its  anns  and  sides,  but  not  mortally ;  and  within 
twenty-rour  hours  after  it  was  lirst  missc-d,  be  had 
the  satisfaction  of  r<?storing  it  to  its  mother's  arms. 

Onthe  Frenchsideofthemouiitain.theroadovcT  ^ 
Mont  Genevre  into  Italy  ih  still  as  good  as  when  ■ 
Buonaparte  completed  it,  and  gave  it  the  name  of 
"  La  Route  d'Espagne  en  Italic."  That  which  was 
but  a  mule-path  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  cen- 
tury, is  now  a  noble  road,  thirty  feet  wide,  which 
ascends  the  face  of  the  mountain  by  traverses,  and 
measures  about  six  miles  from  the  foot  of  the  first 
steep  in  the  territory  of  France,  to  Ccsane,  the 
frontier  Italian  town,  at  the  bottom  of  the  decU- 
vity  on  the  other  side  of  this  Alpine  chain.  We 
were  four  hours  and  a  quarter  in  going  from 
linan9on  to  Ccsane,  and  again  we  were  uufurtimatc 
in  the  weather.  As  if  in  sympathy  with  the  wild 
scenery  of  the  Pass,  the  sicy  was  first  dark  and 
lowering,  and  tlien  poured  forth  all  its  fury.  Wc 
ascended  and  descended  Mont  Genevre  in  a  starm 
of  wind  and  rain. 

On  the  highest  part  of  the  passage,  we  stopped  to 
look  at  an  obelisk,  (55  feet  high,  which  was  erected, 
with  au  inscription  in  Latin  and  French,  in  honour 
of  Napoleon.  The  inscription  was  def;iced  by  the 
Austro-Sardinian  army,  which  entered  France  bv 
this  route  iu  1815;  and  though  the  late  French  , 
government,  under  Louis  XVIII.  and  Charles  ^fl 
had  not  the  magiianiniity  to  restore  it,  it  is  to  be 


4 
I 


WA1.DENSIAN    KE5EARCIIE3. 


hoped  that  the  ministers  of  the  present  king  u-iU 
shew  better  taste  and  judgment,  and  not  grudge  the 
imperial  engineer  the  honour,  which  he  ought  to 
sliare  with  Cottitis  and  Augustus,  as  the  projector 
of  one  of  the  nobleKt  roath  in  Kurope,  and  one 
which  presents  the  shortest  and  easiest  passage 
across  the  Alps. 

The  rain  poured  down  in  sucli  torrents,  that 
we  passed  the  custom-house  on  the  hne  of  demar- 
cation, without  obsening  it,  or  being  observed  by 
the  officers  there.  This  proved  to  Iw  very  unfor- 
tunate. 

>Vhen  we  crossed  the  Col  de  la  CroLx,  we  were 
uoprovided  with  the  necessary  forms  to  legalize 
the  admission  of  our  Piemontese  pony  and  as& 
into  France.  A  native  of  La  Monta,  hearing  of 
our  dilemma,  most  kindly  volunteered  to  be  our 
caution,  or  security ;  but  the  rcgiilations  of  the 
Oouaue  ret|uircd  that  wo  should  present  ourselves, 
and  the  paper  signed  by  this  gentleman,  at  tho 
French  aistom-house  on  Mont  Gene\-re.  Wo 
passed  it  in  the  storm,  and  thus  unwittingly  ex- 
posed M.  Gerard  to  the  ]M>naltics  of  the  unfulliltcd 
conditions.  On  our  return  to  La  Torre,  we  wrote 
to  explain  the  nuitter,  and  thought  that  all  was 
right :  but  let  the  reader  conceive  my  shame  and 
distress,  when  I  received  a  letter,  six  months  after 
I  had  been  at  home,  acquainting  mc  that  M. 
Gerard  had  been  condemned  to  pay  a  Hne  of  110 
francs,  for  our  default,  besides  all  the  trouble  and 


478 


VAIDESSIAN    RRSKARCHES. 


oneaaness  occasioned  by  the  proceedings  against 
him.  The  worthy  nma  took  a  journey  from  Ia 
Monta  to  La  Torre,  to  state  the  case  to  M.  Bert, 
and  to  ask  for  the  address  of  the  straug<ers  in 
whose  cause  lie  had  thus  suffered.  Pecuniaiy 
reparation  was  all  that  I  could  make:  but  I  record 
the  circumstance  in  gratitude  for  the  kindness 
which  this  French  genttcmau  extended  to  a  party 
totally  unknown  to  him,  and  at  his  own  risk.  I 
mention  it  also  as  one  of  those  incidents  growing 
out  of  border  regulations,  which  frequently  pror« 
so  vexatious  and  harassing  to  travellers. 

We  arrived  at  Cesane,  cold  and  wet,  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  took  up  our  lodging 
at  a  filthy  and  miserable  inn,  which,  bad  as  it  w^ 
was  the  best  in  a  town  which  seemed  to  be  peo- 
pled by  contrabandists  and  outlaws.  We  never 
liked  ourselves  less,  whether  in  regard  to  oar 
accommodation,  or  the  suspicious  characters  amoi^ 
whom  we  found  ourselves  thrown.  There  was 
no  other  a{iartnient  with  a  Hre  in  it  than  the 
kitchen  of  the  imi,  which  was  soon  filled  with  a 
parcel  of  strange-looking  fellows,  who  examined 
us  and  our  baggage  with  a  species  of  curiosity, 
which,  to  say  the  least,  was  unpleasant;  hut  there 
was  no  help  for  it.  We  dried  our  clothes  as  well 
as  we  could,  and  at  night  were  shewn  into  a  room, 
which  was  open  to  tlic  elements  in  more  places 
than  one,  where  we  passed  some  slet^plcss  hours 
till  ilay-brcak. 


4 


_d 


WAtDENSIAN    KESP.ARCIIRS. 


479 


Glad  were  vie  to  leave  Ceeane  at  the 
first  dawn  of  light;  though  iu  justice  to  the  people 
of  the  inn,  I  must  odd,  that  they  did  their  utmost 
to  make  us  comfortalile,  but  the  cold,  dirt,  and 
stench  of  the  place  were  intolerable. 

After  passing  the  Col  Sestriere,  by  a  road  which 
was  made  as  good  as  that  over  Mont  Genevre,  by 
Napoleon,  but  is  now  suffered  by  the  king  V  Sar- 
dinia to  foil  into  a  wretched  state,  we  entered  the 
valley  of  Pragela. 

Nothing  in  despotism  or  diplomacy  was  ever 
more  infamous  than  the  transactions  by  which  tho 
hihabitants  of  this  valley  were  deprived  of  their 
religious  rights.  They  originally  formed  part  of 
the  Waldcnsian  community,  and  by  virtue  of  the 
same  ancient  treaties,  wen-  iH.-rmitted  to  enjoy  the 
free  exercise  of  their  religion.  hi  one  of  the 
WOTS  between  the  French  and  Piemontese,  the 
valleys  of  Pragela  and  Pcrosa  were  wn-sted  from 
the  dukes  of  Savoy,  and  annexed  to  the  crown  of 
France;  but  the  Protestants,  until  the  reign  of 
Louis  XIV'.,  remaineil  in  quiet  possession  of  their 
former  privileges.  These,  indeed,  were  held  so 
Eacred,  that  they  were  repeatedly  made  the  subject 
of  express  com[)acts;  and  the  French  monarchs 
pledlged  thenisiflves,  and  their  Bucoeasors,  to  the 
perpetual  observance  of  them  on  their  own  part, 
and  to  guarantee  their  oliservancc,  in  case  of  cet» 
iton.  "  All  their  franchises,  liberties,  immunities, 
and  privilqEcs,  butli  ancient  and  niudem,  sliall  be 


480 


WALDRNSUN    RESEARCHES. 


confinucd  to  them,  in  the  same  manner  a*  of  right 
tbey  have  enjoyed  them  heretofore.     And  if  oL  ^| 
any  time  it  shall  happen  that  his  majesty,  or  his  ^* 
successors  shall  be  constrained  to  surrender  them 
to  the  jurisdiction  of  any  other,   they  shall  be 
transferred  with  the  same  conditions  and  privi-      . 
leges  that  shall  be  granted  to  them  by  the  prcstmt  H 
treaty,  together  with  their  ancient  privilege*  and 
immunities,  whicli,  by  the  said  transfer,  shall  neither 
be  changed  nor  altered  in  any  sort  whatever." 

Such  was  the  obhgation  of  the  treaty  of  Henij 
IV.  of  France,  signed  1st  November,  1592,  upon 
tlie  Holy  Bible  t     The  treaty  was  again  solemnly 
renewed,  and  the  Most  High  God  was  invoked  as 
a  witness  to  it  by  Henry,  on  the  25th  of  March, 
in  the  following  year.     His  son,  Louis  XHl.,  coo* 
finned  it  in  the  camp  of  MousUer,  in  the  month 
of  June,  1630 '.     Where  was  the  faith  of  kings, 
when  the  son  of  one  of  these  monarchs,  and  the 
grandson  of  the  other,  when  Louis  Bourbon  trans* 
ferred  the  inhabitants  of  V'a!  Pragela  to  the  Duke , 
ofSavoy.in  1713,  not  only  without  the  conditinus 
so  sacredly  guaranteed,  but  with  ike  express  siipu- 
lotion,  that  the  Protestants  of  the  ceded  valley 
bhould  be  deprived  of  all  those  religious  privilegca 
and  rights,  to  which  his  predecessors  had  pledged^! 
themselves  and  him  ?     The   WaldeAees  of  the  ^ 
valley   of  Pragela   have   been   exterminated,    in , 
conformity  with  a  secret  compact  made  belwccn] 

'SecTol.  J.  Morl&ud  MSS.  b  the  Cambnilce  libnr;. 


4 
I 


WALDEMSUy  KLSEAKCHES.  481 

Louis  XIV.  and  Victor  Amadre,  hut  in  violatiun 
of  the  most  binding  treaties  between  the  Buurbons 
and  the  Waldcnses.  And  where  are  the  Bourbons 
now  ?   Righteous  art  thou,  O  Lord ! 

What  adds  to  tlie  infamy  of  tliis  di't'd  of  oppres- 
sion and  petjury,  is  the  fact,  tliat  previously  to  its 
execution,  the  kinfi  of  Sardinia,  Victor  Amud^e, 
had  engaged,  in  a  treaty  betwwn  himself  and 
Queen  Anne,  sifted  in  1704,  to  leave  the  inha- 
bitants of  \a.\  Fragelii,  "  ht  the  five  erercise  of 
their  religion,"  should  that  valley  be  ceded  to  him 
by  France.  Victor  srjjned  this  compact,  and  five 
years  afterwards  wrote  a  letter  to  the  British 
sovcreif^i,  giviti;?  his  royal  word,  not  only  tli;it  the 
rights  of  the  Protestants  of  this  region  should  he 
observed  "  oHt  nj  regard  to  the  engagements  of  the 
treaty"  but  that,  fuf  iuT  Majesty's  siike,  "  every 
attention  .should  be  paid  to  her  royal  plea.sure 
upon  the  subject  of  the  inhaliitunts  of  the  valley 
of  Pragela."  But  the  moment  tlie  transfer  was 
made,  he  sent  his  troops  into  the  devoted  territory, 
and  compelled  every  I'rotcstant  to  renounce  his 
faith,  or  to  expatriate  hiniself.  The  cries  of  the 
banished  and  the  imprisoned  at  leu^li  reached 
the  ears  of  Mr.  Iledjrcs,  the  British  aiubassador  at 
Turin.  This  was  in  tlic  year  I7;27.  Mr.  [h-diies 
presented  a  memorial  to  the  kill};  of  Sardinia,  and 
made  strong  remonstrances  in  behalf  of  the  com- 
plainants, lie  recited  the  article  of  the  treaty  of 
1 704,  the  promises  given  to  Queen  Aimc,  and  the 


WALDEXSIAN    RFISF.ARCBES. 


[^obligation  of  ancient  engagements ;  and  he  pr 

lis  expostulations  %vith  an  importunity,  which 
[last  put  tlic  court  to  their  shifts ;  and  the  foUowit 
*i$  the  substance  of  the  ans\rer  which  he  receircdj 
"  The  kinj;  of  Sardinia  cannot  fulfil  the  proi 
given  to  Queen  Anne  in  1704,  with  rc<;ard  toAe^ 
inhabitants  of  the  valley  of  Pragela,  because  he  a 
hound  by  the  seventh  article  of  the  treaty  nude 
at  Turin  in  1696,  between  the  king  of  France  and 
himself,  not  to  tolerate  the  Protestant  religron  in 
any  of  the  pnninces  ceded,  or  to  be  ceded, 
France '."  Such  was  the  ])crtidy  of  ilctor  Amadf 
Mr.  Hedges  was  recalled  soon  after  recei^g 
specimen  of  diplomatic  treachery ;  his  sue 
faik-d  to  csiKJUse  the  cause  of  the  injured  Protest- 
ants with  the  same  zeal ;  the  work  of  extcrminatioo 
went  on,  and  it  has  been  executed  so  effectually, 
that  every  vestige  of  the  \\''aldcnsian  Churdi  ^^ 
effaced  in  the  valley  of  Pragela.  fl 

As  we  passed  through  the  lovely  glens,  wher* 
the  sanctuaries  of  our  own  faith  once  stood,  we 
frequently  enquired  if  any  Protestants  were  left. 
Not  one !  was  the  invariable  reply.  The  inhabi- 
tants dare  not  avow  the  religion  of  their  fore- 
fathers; but  I  was  assured  by  persons  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Clusonc,  that  there  are  mady 
secret  adherents  to  the  ancient  persuasion.    One 


■  Ste  (he  rorrefponclcncc  of  Mr.  Hedges  in  ilii!  Suia  ftfa 
Office. 


WALDENSIAN    RESEAKCUES.  483 

informant  acquainted  mc,  tliut  a  relation  of  his 
in  these  parts  had  begged  for  a  Bible  or  New 
Testament ;  and  another  related,  that  the  peasants 
who  go  into  the  Val  San  Martino,  from  the  Val 
Pragela,  for  work,  very  frequently  attend  service 
at  the  Vaudois  churches.  The  vicinity  of  the 
fortress  of  Fenestrelle  rendered  the  success  of 
bayonet  conversion  more  easy,  than  it  would  have 
been  in  many  other  dbtricts. 

It  was  a  melancholy  journey  through  this  valley, 
notwithstanding  the  grandeur  of  the  landscape,  for 
we  could  not  forget  that  every  hamlet  had  been 
the  scene  of  recent  oppression.  In  our  excursion 
through  the  valleys  of  (juciras  and  Frassyiiiere,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Alps,  we  saw  that  the  people 
of  God  were  not  forsaken ;  but  here  wc  might  have 
desponded,  but  for  that  recollection,  at  the  siglit 
of  persons  whose  grandfathers  had  been  forced  to 
allow  their  children  to  be  baptised  according  to  the 
forms  of  a  Church  which  they  believed  to  be  in 
error.  *'  In  this  valley,"  obser\ed  Perrin  '  in  1618, 
"  there  are  at  this  day  six  goodly  churches,  every 
one  having  their  piistor,  and  every  pastor  having 

'  Thit  extract  i*  horn  a  tr»iJsUlion  of  Porriii,  iii  a  book  called 
"  Luther'i  Fure-niniicr« ;"  auU  I  ^Uilly  ukc  thU  opportunity  of 
thunking  the  unknown  rrifnil,  who  n'lii  it  inr,  wiiti  ilii'  fdllowing 
note: — "  An  individuai,  unknown  to  Mr.  Oilly,  who  hi*  lalHy 
rend  hi*  viiii  to  the  Wnlilcnspii.  ■rnds  him  a  verv  warrr  hiHtOTical 
hook  of  ihal  intrrettinf;  conimunily."  I  had  oftrn  triMl,  hui  iin- 
■ucceufylfy,  to  pick  up  thii  rate  tulumc. 

li-i 


48i 


WAIOKNSIAX   RBSEARTHRS. 


divers  villages,  all  filled  with  those  who  have  de- 
scended from  the  ancient  VValdcnses.  They  arc 
churches  truly  Protestant  time  out  of  mind.  Thdr 
old  people,  (and  some  are  about  a  hundred  yean 
old,)  hare  never  heard  from  thoir  fathi:rs  or  grand- 
fathers, that  mass  was  ever  snng  in  their  cornitnr. 
And  though  perhaps  the  Archbishop  of  Turin  may 
have  caused  it  to  be  sung  in  the  said  valley,  the 
inhabitants  have  no  knowledge  of  it.  and  there  is 
not  any  amongst  them  that  makes  profession  of 
any  other  faith  or  belief,  tlian  the  canfcssicm  of 
which  we  have  been  speaking."  ^^' hat  a  change.' 
Now,  there  is  not  a  living  creature  in  all  these 
\nllages  ^rho  dares  refuse  to  go  to  mass ! 

The  Chisone  was  to  our  right,  and  beyond  it 
rose  a  chain  of  mountains,  which  separates  the 
valley  of  San  Miirtino  from  that  of  Pnigeta.  Above 
the  rest  towers  the  lofty  and  picturesque  Col  Alber- 
gian,  or  Albergo,  so  called  in  memory  of  one  of  the 
most  terrible  events  which  the  Waldensian  histonr 
recounts.  In  the  autumn  of  HOO,  the  non-coD- 
fomiists  were  attacked  from  the  side  of  Susa,  but 
repulsed  their  adversaries.  On  Christnias-<lay,  they 
were  surprised  by  the  advance  of  an  overwhelming 
force,  and  were  obliged  to  fly  from  their  houses, 
and  to  take  refuge  in  tlie  caverns  and  hollows  of  fl 
the  mountains.  The  next  morning,  eighty  infants,  " 
and  many  of  their  mothers,  were  found  dead  among 
the  rocks.  Many  others  were  so  benumbed  with 
cold,  that  they  never  recovered  the  use  of  tli 


I 


WALDENSIAN   RESEARCHES.  485 

limbs.  When  the  new^  of  this  dreadful  catas- 
trophe reached  the  ears  of  the  enemy,  the  moun- 
tain was  called,  in  unfeeling  jest,  the  Albergo,  or 
**  lodging-house  of  the  heretics." 

After  traversing  the  whole  length  of  the  valley 
of  Pragela,  and  passing  through  the  villages  of 
Traversa,  Choucherons,  Sutiere,  Fraisse.and  Pour- 
miere,  we  arrived  at  Fcnestrcllc,  in  seven  hours 
from  Cesane,  and  were  most  hospitably  received 
there  by  M.  Coucourdc,  a  Vaudois  resident  in  the 
town.  After  a  week  of  no  common  fatiyue,  and 
some  "  adventures  sufficiently  disagreeable  in  the 
advent,  but  full  of  poesy  in  the  remembrance."  as 
Mr.  Gait  expresses  it,  it  was  an  unsjieakable  luxury 
to  Bnd  ourselves  in  clean  aimrtmcnts,  and  enjoy- 
ing the  refreshing  attentions  of  a  family,  who 
understand  the  value  of  well  ventilated  rooms, 
and  the  use  of  cold  water. 

M.  Coucourde  enjoys  some  place  under  govern- 
ment at  Fenestrellc,  a  favour  rarely  extended  to 
a  Vaudois,  hut  by  his  long  services,  and  well 
knoum  fidelity,  he  has  rendered  himself  so  worthy 
of  notice,  that  he  is  not  likely  to  be  removed.  Mis 
father  held  the  same  situation,  and  ingratiated 
himself  with  a  furuier  sovereign  t)y  some  signal 
serx'ice;  but  all  the  royal  influence  was  not  suf- 
ficient to  obtain  the  restoration  of  a  daughter  who 
was  kidnapped,  and  taken  to  a  convent.  In  vain 
did  the  parents  imph)re,  and  the  king  protest,  the 
sacerdotal  power  was  stronger  than  the  royal,  and 


480 


WALDENStAN    EESEABCBES. 


the  girl  remained  shut  up  within  moDastic  wi 
till  the  French  authorities  superseded  the  house] 
or  Savoy,  and  released  her.  Strange  to  say,  shej 
diwi,  under  very  suspicious  circumstances,  soonl 
after  reaching  the  paternal  abode.  The  history 
of  the  whole  family  Ls  full  of  interest.  The  wife' 
of  M.  Coucourdc  was  the  daughter  of  the  mode- 
rator Peyrani.  His  brother  is  now  physician  to 
the  hospital  at  La  Torre,  after  ser^'ing  with  re- 
putation iu  the  medical  statT  with  the  French  army 
in  Spain.  His  eldest  son,  Bartholomew,  was  edu- 
cated by  his  grandfather  Peyrani,  and  has  already 
expencncod  many  of  the  sad  vicissitudes  of  tifb. 
He  studied  at  Turin,  and  passed  examination  for  a 
surgeon's  diploma ;  but  as  soon  as  he  was  (|uaUfii-d 
to  practise,  his  course  was  arrested  by  the  wither- 
ing edict,  which  closes  the  door  of  the  honourable 
professions  against  the  \'audois.  He  next  entemi 
a  mercantile  house  at  Turin.  The  house  ^liled; 
and  when  we  visited  hui  father  at  Fenestrelle,  we 
found  him  there  an  uuwilUng  and  melancholy 
idler,  who  would  gladly  devote  himself  to  any  em- 
ployment which  he  could  obtain.  He  earnestly 
requested  that  1  would  endeavour  to  recommend 
him  as  travelling  compaiuon  to  some  gentleman, 
to  whom  he  might  be  useful  as  a  rmgutst  and 
wcrctary.  Since  my  return  to  Knglaud,  I  receiviKl 
a  letter  from  him,  dated  Marseilles,  in  which  he 
infonned  me,  that  he  was  picking  up  a  prccariqia 
Mibsisteoce  there,  as  notary's  writer. 


WALDBN8IAN   RE8BAECHBS.  487 

A  traveUer  from  the  valleys  has  spoken  of 
Bartholomew  Coucourde,  as  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting persons  he  had  long  met  with '.  To  me 
he  was  the  same,  and  bis  anecdotes  and  reminis- 
cences of  that  extraordinary  man,  his  grandfather 
Peyrani,  were  deeply  moving,  and,  I  may  add, 
heait-rending.  M.  Peyrani  was  scarcely  ever  free 
from  pain.  His  headaches  were  acute,  and  of  fre- 
quent reciurence,  yet  they  rarely  disturbed  his 
vivacity  and  good  humour,  or  interrupted  his  in- 
cessant studies  and  labours ;  whatever  he  read,  or 
heard  repeated,  he  remembered,  and  his  memory 
was  a  treasure-house  of  such  inexhaustible  re- 
sources, that  he  was  able  to  draw  upon  it  without 
the  least  apparent  effort.  His  knowledge  was 
consequently  profound  and  various ;  but  perhaps 
it  would  have  been  happier  for  him,  had  his  talents 
not  been  of  the  highest  order,  for  he  bad  all  that 
carelessness  about  the  ordinar}*,  hut  necessary, 
concerns  of  domestic  life,  which  is  too  often  the 
defect  of  great  genius. 

His  private  aflairs  were  in  confusion ;  he  never 
could  refuse  to  give  others  assistance,  however 
urgent  his  own  condition ;  his  books,  and  the  public 
demands  upon  his  attention,  diverted  his  thoughts 
from  his  own  wants,  and  those  of  his  children ; 
and  he  lived  and  dic<l  in  a  state  of  the  most  de- 
ploridile  poverty.     But  in  the   midst  of  all   his 

'  BratcbriJiTtr'y   Vulheiilk-  Dl-uIIi  of  the  Valdt;»m,  |i.  41. 


488  WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHES. 

destitution  of  the  comforts,  and  even  of  the  con- 
veniences of  life,  he  was  not  only  in  correspondence 
with  some  of  the  first  men  in  Europe,  but  his 
humble  dwelling  was  frequently  honoured  by 
people  of  distinction,  who  came  out  of  their  way  to 
discourse  mth  him.  The  Count  Crotti,  lutendant 
of  the  province,  was  very  fond  of  his  conversation, 
and  once  took  him  in  his  carriage  to  Pinerolo,  and 
having  introduced  him  to  the  episcopal  palace, 
provoked  a  theological  discussion  between  the 
Moderator  of  the  Vaudois,  and  the  Roman  Catholic 
Bishop  of  the  diocese. 

A  military -officer  of  high  rank  and  accompUsh- 
ments,  who  prided  himself  upon  the  address,  nith 
which  he  could  discuss  most  topics,  heard  of  Pey- 
rani's  renown  as  a  controversialist,  and  sought  an 
opportunity  of  entering  the  lists  with  him.  Tlie 
aged  pastor  was  victor  in  every  tilt.  At  last  the 
general  determined  to  try  his  strength  on  ground 
which  he  considered  entirely  his  own,  the  principles 
and  science  of  Gunnery.  But  here  also  he  found 
Peyrani  equally  upon  his  guard;  and  confessed 
with  great  candour,  tliat  he  was  more  than  a 
match  for  him.  One  more  anecdote  is  sufficient 
to  shew  the  estimation,  in  which  he  was  held,  and 
the  general  opinion  of  his  abilities.  When  he  died, 
it  was  said,  exultingly,  by  a  Roman  Catholic  divine 
of  some  eminence — "  Now  Peyrani  is  dead,  we 
shall  soon  succeed  in  making  the  valleys  our  own  I" 
This  person  understood  the  value   of  Peyrams 


VALDEN8IAM    HBSEARCHK8.  489 

genius  and  inflnence,  but  he  little  knew  the  dif- 
ficulty of  converting  the  Vaudois,  nor  did  he  take 
into  account  the  number  of  able  and  zealous  men 
in  the  Waldensian  Church,  who  yet  remain  to 
uphold  the  cause  of  Protestantism. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


Fenetlretlt.  Ptnua.  J'omaTetto.  The  Grate  and  Epilapi  ^ 
Peyrani.  Second  t'uit  to  the  J'alUy  of  San  Alartimo,  Pool 
de  la  'Jour,  and  attempt  at  aitatiinalion.  Sa»  Germana. 
MemoriaU  of  EngUth  buried  there.  JloecajMatla.  Prana- 
tino.  Jtelurn  to  la  Torre,  R^eeliont  upon  the  prett*!  and 
pati  eoadition  of  the  ft'aldentian  Church  in  Franee  amd  Italy. 


1st  August.  After  having  been  permitted  to  in- 
spect the  fortress  of  Fenestrelle ',  where  we  gazed 
with  admiration  on  its  covered  way  of  4800  steps, 
and  its  140  hrass  cannon,  but  grudged  the  Eng- 
lish treasure  with  which  it  was  built ;  we  bade 
farewell  to  our  amiable  host,  and  proceeded  to 
pay  a  second  visit  to  the  valley  of  San  Martino, 
under  the  guidance  of  M.  Bartholomew  Cou- 
courde.  We  followed  the  high  road  till  we  ar- 
rived at  Perosa,  and  then  turned  off  to  the  right, 

'  There  are  WTeral  state  prisotteri  in  this  fortress.  One  it  > 
coloDel  who  was  implicated  ia  the  political  moTemeuts  of  18^1. 
Another  is  a  French  priest,  who  finds  an  asylum  tather  than  a 
prison  here,  af^r  having  violated  and  murdeied  a  young  giri  be- 
longing 10  bis  parish. 


WALOBNSIAN    RESEARCHES.  491 

towards  Pomaretto,  by  the  same  path  which  I 
had  taken  in  the  winter  of  1823.  The  country 
now  appeared  under  a  new  aspect,  and  as  1  gazed 
upon  the  smiling  vineyards  and  rich  corn-fields, 
with  which  the  mountain  ^des  were  covered,  I 
could  not  hut  ask  myself,  "  Is  this  the  Pomaretto, 
which  1  thought  a  dreary  spot,  when  I  first  visited 
itr 

Before  we  entered  the  village,  we  made  a  pil- 
grimage to  the  new  church  and  church-yard ;  but 
I  find  it  impossible  to  describe  our  reflections  as 
we  stood  over  the  grave  of  Peyrani,  surrounded 
by  his  son  and  grandson,  and  nephew,  Timoleon 
Peyrani.  Six  years  have  but  just  passed  away 
since  my  inter%'iew  with  him,  and  now  the  sods 
that  cover  him  have  nearly  sunk  to  the  level  of 
the  ground ;  the  letters,  that  were  faintly  traced 
upon  his  rude  tomb-stone,  are  almost  obliterated, 
and  in  a  few  years  nothing  will  remain  to  mark 
the  place  where  his  ashes  repose  :  so  neglected  is 
the  spot  which  is  called  the  cemetery  of  Pomaretto. 
Two  Knglish  travellers  have  already  recorded  his 
simple  epitaph  in  their  pa^es,  and  one,  Mr.  Brace- 
bridge,  has  given  a  sketch  of  the  ground  where  he 
slee]>s.  But  I  cannot  refrain  from  making  it  a 
thrice-told  tale,  and  transcribing  the  inscription, 
which  is  fast  fading  away,  on  the  small  rough 
stone,  which  does  not  even  stand  upright  above 
the  grave,  but  totters  over  it,  and  will  soon  fall  to 
pieces.    "  J.  It.  L.  S.  Pcyran,  PaaLcur  et  Mode- 


492  WALDENSIAN    BESEARCUBS. 

• 

rateur  ne  le  11  Dec.  1752,  Mort  le  26  Avril,  1823." 
The  initials  represent  Jean,  Rodolpbe,  Louis, 
SamueL  The  words  are  not  placed  in  cpita^hic 
order,  but  run  according  to  the  number  of  letters, 
that  could  be  huddled  together  on  the  breadth  of 
the  stone '.  Near  by  repose  the  bodies  of  the 
moderator's  brother,  Ferdinand  Peyrani  of  Pra- 
mol,  and  of  his  daughter  Madame  Coucourde. 
Equally  perishable  stones,  and  feding  inscriptions, 
distinguish  the  places  where  they  are  deposited. 

The  church-yard  is  unenclosed.  It  is  small, 
and  nothing  separates  it  from  a  vineyard  and 
corn-field,  but  it  is  picturesquely  situated,  and  com- 
mands some  very  interesting  views. 

'  Measures  have  been  taken  to  erect  a  marble  tablet  within  the 
porch  of'  the  church,  io  memory  of  the  late  Moderator  Peyrani, 
with  the  following  inscriptioD  : — 

S.    M. 
;IOHANNIS  RODULPHI  LUDOVICI  SAMUELIS  PEYBAM. 
Qui,  post  vitam  aliorum  Don  sui  omnino  studiosant, 
/«.■■.  rSalutis  1823, 

Ecclesice  Vallensis  Presbyter  et  Moderator, 

Literis  Humanis  et  Saciis    apprime    Doctus, 

Nequaquam  glorians  uisi  in  Cruce  Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi, 

In  Patriam  et  Religionem  iatemerata  fide  notus, 

Aoimo  erga  Omnes  benevolus, 

OperibuE  ingenii  non  autem  praemiia  felix. 

Ne  bene  merenti,  cui  vivo  deeraat  fere  omnia, 

Deesset  etiam  m<»luo  tumulus, 

Hoc  tandem  poeito  marraore  curdvtt 

Alienigeoa. 


WALDENSIAN   RESEARCHES.  493 

The  church  of  Pomaretto  is  a  handsome  new 
building,  calculated  to  hold  1000  persons,  which 
was  lately  erected  at  the  cost  of  more  than  16,000 
francs,  to  which  the  late  Emperor  Alexander  and 
his  mother  contributed.  On  the  pediment,  there 
is  this  inscription : — 

Ce  temple  b  et£  conitniit  aouB  le  regne  de  notre  gracieux 
SouTerain  Ctwriei  Felii.  David  RJbet  Entrepreneur.  L'aa  de 
■alut  1828. 

I  grieve  to  add,  that  it  has  nearly  been  the 
ruin  of  the  poor  fellow,  David  Ribet,  whose  name 
appears  as  the  builder,  lie  contracted  to  finish 
it  for  11,598  francs,  and  the  materials  of  the  old 
church  ;  and  such  was  his  zeal  for  the  honour  of 
his  religion  and  of  his  parish,  that  he  persevered 
in  completing  it  in  the  most  substantial  style, 
though  it  was  evidently  a  losing  concern.  The 
consequence  was,  that  it  cost  him  16,402  francs : 
and  the  4,800  francs  expended  above  his  con- 
tract, is  a  sum  far  beyond  that,  which  a  person  of 
his  scanty  means  can  conveniently  meet.  He  bait 
been  assisted  by  some  small  contributions  in  Po- 
maretto and  elsewhere,  but  the  deficit  remains 
very  large  and  pressing. 

After  inspecting  the  dispcnsarj'  of  Pomaretto, 
where  the  surgeon,  M.  Droghero,  conducted  us 
through  the  nice  clean  apartments,  which  are 
fitted  up  for  the  reception  of  nine  patients,  we 
were  received  with  a  honrty  welcome  at  the  pres- 


WAUIENSAN    RIHKAIICHB!). 


b\tery,  by  HI.  Jalla,  who  insisted  upon  our  dii 
with  him,  though  our  party  was  by  this  time 
swelled  to  eight  or  ten,  by  Abends  who  met  us  at 
Perosa,  and  came  with  us  into  Pomarptto.  These 
kind  attentions  were  exceedingly  gratifjing;  and 
we  never  left  one  i-illage  or  entered  another,  in  oar 
journeys  through  the  Vaudois  communes,  with- 
out lieing  accompanied  by  scTcral  of  the  warm* 
lieart^d  inhabitants,  who  seemed  to  adopt  this 
moiJe  of  shewing  us  ci%'ility.  It  was  pleasing  to 
obst-rvc  how  hospitably  these  companions  of  our 
walk  were  hailed  in  with  ourselves  to  the  boasts 
where  we  stopped,  and  how  readily  they  accepted 
the  invitation,  without  appearing  to  think  for  i 
moment  that  they  were  intruders. 

M.  Jalla  is  one  of  those  unassuming  tillage  p>^ 
tors,  who  steal  into  the  hearts  of  their  people  by 
modest  worth,  and  genuine  benevolence.  His 
acts  of  kindness  to  the  sons  of  his  predecessor 
have  been  countless. 

In  the  afternoon,  Mrs.  (>iliy  and  I  proceeded, 
by  the  communes  of  Villa  Sccca  and  Perero,  to 
Masse],  where  we  were  entertained  at  the  bouse 
of  M.  Tron.  My  brother  was  unwell,  and  returned 
to  Im  Torre  from  Pomaretto. 

Next  morning,  August  2,  we  found  our  way  to 
the  Balceglia,  and  at  the  foot  of  an  immense  fir 
tree,  near  the  spot  from  whence  the  French  artS- 
lery  played  upon  the  Vaudois,  who  defended  the 
first  position,  or  lower  terrace,  Mrs.  Gilly  sketched 


I 


4 


WAtOF.NSIAN   HESEARCrtF.fi. 

the  Striking  objects  before  us.  Below,  on  our 
right,  were  seen  the  village  of  Balceglia,  with  the 
bridge  and  mill :  on  the  left  was  the  bridge  by 
which  the  enemy  attempted  to  cross  the  torrent, 
and  to  attack  the  chateau.  The  three  points, 
occupied  Kucccssively  by  the  Vaudois,  rise  one 
above  the  other  in  strongly  marked  lines,  and  so 
rugged  and  precipitous  is  the  ascent  to  each,  that 
H  is  no  wonder  that  the  assailants  were  so  long 
kept  at  bay.  The  \'audois  escaped,  when  they 
could  hold  out  no  longer,  by  a  (>ath  over  the 
Guignivert,  which,  under  any  other  circumstances, 
it  would  have  been  frenzy  to  attempt 

On  our  way  back  from  the  Balceglia  to  MosBcl, 
the  descent  in  places  was  so  abrupt,  that  the  pony, 
which  carried  Mrs.  Gilly  was  held  back  by  two  or 
three  men,  to  prevent  his  tumbling  headlong  down 
the  steep.  The  attentive  kindness  of  M.  and 
Madame  Tron  would  have  been  fitifHcient  to  tempt 
us  to  stay  several  days  under  their  roof,  b\it  we 
had  promised  to  pay  a  visit  to  I'ralJ,  and  we  so 
far  kept  our  word,  as  to  pass  one  night  at  the 
presbytery  of  M.  l*eyrani,  having  found  our  way 
there  by  crossing  the  Salso  mountain  from  ^fBS8el, 
by  Fontana  and  Guardiol :  but  we  were  both  so  ill, 
and  suffering  so  severely  from  the  effects  of  our 
rough  jouniey  into  Dauphin^,  as  to  be  apprehensive 
of  the  consequences  of  being  laid  up  in  this  remote 
village.    We  therefore  rose  early  on  tlic  morning 


40R 


WAI-flRNSUN    RRSKARCniUi. 


of  the  3ct  of  August,  and  took  leave  of  the  pastor 
and  his  kind-hearted  wife,  aflcr  having  had  scarcclj 
any  conversation  with  them.  In  passing  the  cas- 
cade of  Rodoret,  my  wife  exerted  herseU^  and 
made  an  endeavour  to  take  a  drawing  of  it,  but  it 
was  finished  afterwards  from  recollection,  and  can- 
not therefore  hoast  of  being  correct  in  all  iti 
features. 

The  scenery  in  Val  R!artino  changes,  frcqnentlT 
and  rapidly,  from  the  moKt  harsh  and  rugged 
aspect  to  that  of  the  most  attractive  beauty.  St»- 
pendous  cliffs  and  terrific  precipices '  give  place 
to  verdant  and  flowery  spots,  and  a  turn  of  the 
mountain  path,  by  the  torrent  side,  would  bring 
us  out  of  a  deep  cleft  of  rock,  where  our  feet  were 
bruised  by  the  stones,  to  a  bank  of  lavender,  or 
a  green  plateau  of  hcrby  grass,  soft  as  a  carpet; 
or  to  a  sunny  nook,  where  the  little  propcrtr  of 
corn  land  is  cultivated,  like  the  patriarchal  inhe- 
ritances of  the  ancient  tribes  of  Israel,  by  fhtbo' 
and  son  from  generation  to  genemtion.  The 
Germanasca ',  whose  waters  we  followed,  was  of 

'  The  pony  which  carried  Mr*.  Gilly,  would  alvavs  |m^ 
M  near  ihe  edge  of  these  precipices,  at  to  rctidcT  it  not  a  liuk 
aUnuing.  Our  fpikk  aoid  il  wmc  impooiUc  to  pivt«nt  it;  tbe 
animal  eojoTcdtlKcutT«i)ttifatrthat  nine  from  the  ^Ifbirloa. 

*  In  l]>e  coune  of  our  journey  ihb  day,  and  partimilarly  luar 
PetCTO,  we  were  tormemwl  by  a  Ibjt^  0y.  wbR-h  liad  idl  tte 
TOracrty  and  vrnooi  of  Virgira  A«ilut,  and  tevtnnj  io  haunt  the 


I'll 


thn  TDi-'fi    b 


Thf 


'.!    Mr.    r    ;i,     ku^ 


_^ii. 


CJ.ACA'S     •>     XA»«a^T.    T4.L     J.      l:  Ll.     .  t: 


WALDEN9IAN   RESBARCdBS. 


49T 


the  same  changing  cliaracter.  The  deafening  roar 
of  his  flood  almost  stunned  us  in  some  places, 
and  soon  aftenvards,  we  came  to  a  deep  still  pool 
of  azure  blue,  where  he  seemed  to  rest  for  a  while, 
before  he  pursued  his  impetuous  course  again, 
and  where  we  felt  that  we  could  be  tempted  to  sit 
for  hours  with  Isaac  Walton's  Angler,  or  poor 
Sir  Humphrey  Davj-'s  Salmonia,  in  our  hand,  and 
enjoy  the  repose  of  the  scene. 

As  we  passed  through  C  tots  we  took  the  opportu- 
nity of  looking  into  the  girls'  school  again,  and  then 
pursued  our  way  to  Perosa,  by  the  common  route 
over  the  Pont  de  la  Tour.  This,  however,  is  not 
the  rude  construction  of  which  we  read  in  Loser's 
work,  nor  is  it  on  the  same  spot ;  but  it  Is  a  conve- 
nient stone  bridge,  somewhat  nearer  to  Pomarctto 
than  that  which  the  hLstorian  thus  describes : — 
"  The  valley  of  San  Martino  is  often  rendered 
inaccessible  by  the  snow,  and  cannot  be  entered 
except  by  a  cled  in  the  rocks,  which  is  called  l.a 
Pont  de  la  Tour,  and  is  only  wide  enough  for  the 
channel  of  the  river,  or  rather  the  wild  torrent, 
Germannsra,  above  which  there  is  a  bridge  thrown, 
at  a  very  great  elevation.  This  abuts  on  each 
side   upon  the  frightful   rocks,  from   wliich  the 


uma  lott  ot  KpQt,  the  graves  and  itrj  bttnlu  of  the  Oennaiiatai  *, 
1lM6nikiaBiln«ck  of  Utcponj  wensabMilaiely  \Mbed  ia  blood 
nadcriubit*. 


*  Omsk.  Lib.  X  U*. 

ik 


498 


WALDKNSIAN   HESEAHcnSS. 


mountains  rise,  which  close  in  the  valley,  and  out 
of  which  a  path  lias  been  hewn  uith  great  difB- 
culty.  Just  wide  enough  for  the  passage  of  a  horse 
or  mule.  \\'hcn  the  bridge  is  taken  away,  and  it 
is  very  easy  to  remove  it,  it  is  impossible  to  enter 
the  valley ;  and  should  intruders  be  so  hardy  as 
to  attempt  to  replace  the  bridge,  a  few  women 
would  be  able  to  prevent  them,  by  rolling  frag- 
ments  of  stone  upon  them  from  the  rocks  above '." 
The  annexed  sketch  represents  this  formidable 
pass,  over  which  the  Alpine  bridge  of  Leger  was 
suspended;  but  the  narrow  path  has  been  vndened, 
and  strengthened  by  masonry  work,  so  that  what 
was  formerly  a  mule  path,  is  now  a  tolerably  good 
carriage  road,  as  far  as  Perero.  In  the  darkest 
part  of  the  pass,  a  murderous  attack  was  mado 
upon  a  native  of  Villa  Sccca  some  years  ago.  The 
assassin  stabbed  him,  and  aAcr  rifling  hts  pockets, 
left  him  for  dead.  In  this  condition  he  was 
found,  and  restored  to  consciousness,  and  event- 
ually to  health  ;  but  the  poor  man's  mind  was  so 
aflccted,  that  he  never  aftenvards  dare  move  from 
hia  own  door  alone.  The  robber  was  a  neighbour 
of  his,  who,  being  a  Roman  Catholic,  fled  to  an 
asylum;  but  liaving  begged  pardon  and  made  his 
peace  with  his  intended  victim,  he  was  soon  per- 
mitted by  the  laws  to  be  at  large,  as  if  nothii 
had  happened. 


I 


*  Leger,  Lir.  1.5. 


WALnF.K»AK  RESBARCneS. 


490 


We  dined  at  Pcrosa  at  tire  house  of  M.  Drog- 
hero,  stii^eon  to  the  dispensary,  where  a  hat^ 
party  of  Vaudois  were  invited  to  meet  us  by  our 
entertainer;  and  though  our  host  and  one  or  two 
of  the  guests  were  not  Protestants,  yet  the  conver- 
sation was  as  unreserved,  and  Waldensian  afiairs 
were  as  much  the  subject  of  conversation,  as  if  we 
were  all  of  one  mind.  The  >*audois  are  universally 
heht  in  the  highest  esthnation  by  their  neighbours 
of  the  mistress  Church,  and  mutual  contidcuce 
subsists  between  them ;  a  fact  which  is  equally 
creditable  to  both  parties. 

From  Pcrosa.  we  followed  the  bonks  of  the  Clu- 
sonc,  and  took  up  our  quarters  for  the  itight  at  the 
presbytery  of  M.  Monet,  pastor  of  San  Germane. 
August  4,  San  Germano. .  This  is  a  lovely  vil- 
lage on  the  Clusonc,  containing  about  1000  Pro- 
testants, and  350  or  400  Roman  Catholics.  It 
has  one  central  school,  and  nine  small  schools  in 
the  liamlets,  which  are  picturei«|Ufly  spread  upon 
the  acclivities,  which  rise  towards  Pramol  on  one 
side,  and  Rocca-piatta  on  the  other.'  Its  venera- 
ble pastor  is  gently  descending  into  the  vale  of 
years.  Formerly  he  had  the  church  of  Val  Queiras 
under  his  charge ;  and  Madame  Monet  is  a  native 
of  Arvicux,  who  was  baptized  by  a  Romish  priest, 
and  obliged  during  her  youth  to  conceal  her  reh'- 
gious  sentiments.  She  amused  us  with  tales  of 
L  the  times  when  the  Waldenses  of  Val  (juejras 
I       used  to  meet  in  cellars,  aiul  caverns,  and  lonely 


500 


WALDKNSIAN    RC&EARCUES. 


places,  to  pray  and  read  the  Scnptures  t<^etlier. 
She  tiersclf  had  been  present  amidst  such  congre- 
gations, and  remembered  when  a  watcli  used  lo 
be  set,  and  a  line  of  scutinuls  pUnted  themselves 
in  comnuinication  with  the  place  of  meeting,  so 
as  to  guard  against  surprise.  Speaking  of  the 
religious  customs  of  the  ^Valdenscs  of  Val  Queiras, 
she  told  me  that  they  a!\vays  knelt  when  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  received,  and 
when  the  Ten  Commandments  were  recited  '. 

After  visiting  the  girls*  school,  conducted  by 
Madame  Long,  daughter  of  the  late  M.  Gcymei, 
pastor  of  La  Torre,  where  we  were  extremely 
gratified  by  the  progress  H'hich  the  children  were 
making,  (one,  a  child  of  six  years  of  age,  had  made 
twelve  shirts,  and  was  then  knitting  a  pair  of 
stockings),  wc  next  directed  our  steps  to  tbe 
church,  a  spacious,  clean,  and  convenient  building, 
suitable  to  a  congr^ation  of  ten  or  eleven  hundred 
people. 

San  Germano  being  at  no  great  distance  from 
Pinerolo,  and  so  communicating  with  Turin  by  a 
good  road,  is  the  spot  to  which  the  English  fre- 
quently bring  the  bodies  of  their  friends,  who  die 
in  tlic  capital  of  Piemont,  for  burial.  It  was, 
therefore,  with  no  common  interest  that  I  read 
the  memorials  of  several  of  my  countr)'men,  whose 

'  *  1 1mt«  oatiued  to  ftatc  in  chap.  iii.  p.  319,  that  the  Ten 
CommaiiMlnieiita  are  always  recited  in  tbe  chuTcfaes  of  the  rallcTS 
of  Picmont  during  difine  serrice. 


I 


I 


WAtDENSIXN   BESeARCTISS. 


501 


remains  repose  witliJii  this  Protestant  sauctuar}'. 
Among  others,  there  is  an  affecting  inscription  on 
B  tablet,  near  the  grave  of  the  two  children  of  Mr. 
<.'harU>8  liutiham,  who  died  at  Turin  in  1814.  M. 
Munet  shewed  me  a  letter  from  the  atUicted  father, 
which  it  was  torturing  to  read.  From  tlie  church  we 
went  to  the  cemetery  of  San  Germano — one  of  the 
most  beautiful  spots  in  all  the  world,  and  walled  in, 
a  privilege  not  often  conceded  to  the  Vaudois.  It 
is  surrounded  by  wahiut-trccs,  within  si^ht  and 
sound  of  the  Ciusone  on  one  side,  and  of  the  vil- 
lage church  and  bells  on  the  other,  and  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  of  all  that  is  most  pleasing  to  the 
senses.  San  Germano  itself  is  embosomed  among 
mountains;  and  when  we  risited  its  romantic 
Scenes,  the  air  was  soft  and  balmy,  and  every  thing 
announced  that  we  might  deUver  ourselves  up  to 
the  full  enjoyment  of  an  Italian  climate.  Just  as 
we  entered  the  cemetery,  I  saw  Jjefore  me,  upon  s 
pillar  supporting  the  porch,  an  English  epitaph  in 
memory  of  the  father-in-law  of  Mr.  Casbome,  the 
early  friend  of  my  school-boy  and  college  days.  1 
VTBS  not  aware  that  he  was  buried  liere,  and  the 
accidental  sight  of  his  tomb  raised  a  variety  of 
mingled  emotions  not  easy  to  be  rcRtraincd. 

"  Beneath  this  stone  are  deposited  the  remains 
of  Capel  Loft,  who  was  lord  of  the  manors  of 
Troston  and  Stanton,  in  the  county  of  Suffolk, 
I-^gland,  bom  in  l^indon,  25th  November,  1752, 
(bed  at  Moncaliere,  26th  May,  182i." 


503 


WALDSNSIAN   RKSBAROIBSu 


Our  road  to  I*a  Torre  lay  through  San  Bartboli>- 
meo,  and  Prarustino,  by  a  beautiful  patb,  shaded  by 
cbesnuts,and  over  a  richly  diversified  country.  We 
were  accompanied  by  M.  Monet,  and  the  Modeta* 
tor,  and  the  latter  introduced  me  to  his  sod,  M.  C 
A.  Rostaing,  the  pastor  of  Prarustino.  This  young 
clergyman  answered  my  expectations  in  crety 
respect.  He  is  active,  well-informed,  and  devoted 
to  the  duties  of  bis  calling.  His  flock  are  sensible 
of  the  vaUte  of  such  a  pastor,  and  are  building  a 
good  bouse,  wliicb  he  is  to  occupy  imder  the 
name  of  the  "  Maison  de  Consistoire."  The  old 
presbytery,  a  small  and  dilapidated  building,  is  at 
Rocca-piatta,  and  when  the  Protestants  of  Pra- 
rustino asked  permission  of  the  superior  autbori- 
tics  to  erect  a  residence  for  their  minister,  in  a 
more  convenient  and  populous  part  of  the  parish, 
a  Romish  confessor  whispered  objections  into  the 
princely  ear.  and.  one  of  the  highest  magistrates 
of  the  state  condescended  to  write  upon  the  peti- 
tion, "  Non  mi  piace."  This  breath  of  royal  dis- 
pleasure dissipated  the  hopes  of  the  people  of 
Prarustino;  btit  it  was  intimated  to,  or  understood 
h"}  them,  that  although  they  miglit  not  build  a 
new  presbytery  for  their  Waldensian  pastor,  they 
might  erect  a  "  Maison  de  Consistoire"  for  them- 
selves, and  allow  him  to  take  up  his  abode  in  it 

The  church  of  I*rarustiiio  has  lately  been  com- 
pleted, and  is  a  very  handsome  building.  U  b  large, 
and  has  all  the  character  of  a  sanctuary,  and  pre- 


« 


WALDES'SUN   RESEAHCBES. 


MS 


ecnts  to  view  on  the  Lord's  day  the  richest  orna- 
ment of  which  n  ChrUtijui  temple  can  boast — a  hill 
<KMtgregation.  The  cemetery  is  at  no  great  distance 
from  the  church,  and,  from  its  unenclosed  ground, 
commands  one  of  the  finest  prospects  in  Fiemont. 
The  meandering)!  of  the  Clusono  and  the  PcUce, 
and  the  rich  lands  through  which  they  wander, 
arc  seen  to  great  advantage,  with  Turin  and  the 
Suporga  in  the  extreme  distance.  W^crc  I  a 
Vaudois  pastor,  Pmru&tino  should  be  my  choice. 

"  Ille  lerrarara  mihi  pnclcr  omnes 
Aogalu*  Ttdd." 

There  are  not  indeed,  here,  the  grander  and 
more  imposing  forms  of  mountain  majesty,  hut 
cottages  lialf  concealed  amidst  luxuriant  foliage, 
fair  fields  of  com,  streams  that  murmur  through 
groves  and  glades,  where  the  grass  is  always  ver- 
dant, even  in  sultry  weather,  and  an  undtiJating 
Buriace,  which  sometimes  swells  into  lofty  hills ; 
tlicse  form  such  a  lovely  picture  of  enjoyment, 
and  apparent  repose,  as  I  have  seldom  seen  In 
other  places.  And  here,  too,  I  believe  there  is  tbo 
moral  attraction  of  an  orderly  and  devout  flock, 
who  are  wiited  to  their  pastor  by  the  firmest  of 
all  bands — affection  and  respect  There  arc  only 
forty-five  Roman  Catholics  in  the  parish,  and  roost 
of  these  arc  strangers,  or  settlers  of  recent  date. 
The  Protestants  in  Prarustino,  San  Bartholomco, 
and  Rocca-piatta,  amount  to  ahout  1800.     There 


50( 


WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


is  a  church  attaexee  in  the  latter.  One  central 
school,  nine  hamlet  schools,  and  a  girls'  school, 
instituted  by  Mr.  Sims,  which  I  hope  wiH  be  con- 
tinued, occupy  much  of  the  attention  of  the  young 
]>astor,  from  whom  we  parted  with  every  senti- 
ment of  esteem  and  admiration. 

We  reached  1^  Torre,  on  the  evening  of  the 
4th  of  August,  hy  a  path  through  the  woods  which 
lie  between  Prarustino  and  San  Giovanni ;  and 
happy,  indeed,  were  wc  to  find  ourselves  again 
within  the  walls  of  M.  Bert's  comfortable  and  hos- 
pitable dwelling,  ailer  eleven  days  altsence,  and  no 
small  fatigue  and  discomfort. 

This  journey  into  Dauphine,  and  my  return  by 
the  valleys  of  Pragela,  San  Martino,  and  Perosa, 
carried  me  into  the  fastnesses  of  the  ancient  Wal* 
denscs,  both  on  the  French  and  Italian  side  of  the 
Alps,  and  excited  new  emotions  and  new  sym- 
pathies. I  have  now  planted  my  foot  in  every 
village,  which  is  most  sacred  in  Waldcnsian  his- 
tor)' ;  and  have  surveyed  most  of  those  spots,  which 
in  their  seehision  or  natural  strength,  have  been 
the  asylums  of  the  persecuted.  And  what  an  illus- 
tration do  they  present  of  the  inscrutable  tvisdoro 
of  Providence,  in  the  different  fate  of  primitive 
C'hui'ches  built  upon  the  same  confession,  com- 
posed of  people  of  not  dissimilar  habits  and  dis- 
positions, and  established  in  provinces,  where  the 
face  of  the  country  and  its  resources  are  nearly 
the  same !    Let  tlie  reader  carrj  his  eye  over  the 


I 
I 


I 


IDKMilAN   RESEARCHKS. 


505 


map  which  delineates  tlie  scat  of  the  old  Wal- 
dcnscs.  The  Subalpine  congregations  on  the 
French  frontier,  who  dwelt  in  the  mountains  which 
deboucho  upon  the  Durance  and  the  Gull,  were 
scattered  before  the  sword  and  torch,  after  the 
revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantes,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  rery  small  remnant :  but  this  remnant 
that  escaped  is  now  again  takiug  root  downward, 
and  bearing  fruit  upward. 

The  W'aldenses  of  tlic  Bdarquisate  of  Saluzzo 
have  utterly  come  to  an  end :  those  of  whom 
tile  historians  of  the  sixteenth  centur}*  spoke,  -as 
a  light  miraculously  prc«er\*ed  from  time  imme- 
morial. Charles  Philibert  signed  the  warrant  of 
their  extermination  in  1003.  They  had  settle- 
ments  as  far  south  as  Acceglia  and  Drovcro,  and 
in  the  hamlets  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Matra,  but 
not  a  vestige  of  them  now  renmins. 

The  six  Churches  of  the  valley  of  Pragela,  the 
two  near  Susu,  Moana,  and  Mathic,  luid  the  congre- 
Rations  on  the  northern  banks  of  the  Clusone,  which 
in  communion  with  their  brethren  on  the  op- 
posite side,  between  Fenestrelle  and  Pioerolo,  were 
BO  important  as  to  become  the  objects  of  express 
and  solemn  treaty  with  Henry  IV.,  and  his  son 
Louis  XIII '.  At  the  {leriod  of  t)ic  fearful  niana- 
crcs  of  Hi55,  and  long  anerwards,  tlio  Churchei 
of  Pragela  not  only  had  rest,  but  were  enjoying 


■  See  (■(>.  479,  480. 


506 


WALDENSiAN   RESBARCKES. 


such  prosperity,  that  Lcgcr  described  their  con- 
ditiou  in  glowing  terms  like  these,  "  I  have  not 
yet  mentioned  the  beautiful  and  extensive  r&lley 
which  lies  contiguous  to  that  of  Pcrosa,  and  of 
San  Martino,  where  the  Gospel  truth  has  c\'tr 
been,  and  is  now  preserved  in  all  parity  by  the 
grace  of  God,  in  six  glorious  and  flourishing 
churches,  where  there  has  never  been  any  inier- 
mixture  of  Roman  Catholics,  save  one  priest,  who 
lives  at  Mantoules,  and  has  nobody  to  be  present 
at  mass  with  him,  except  his  clerk,  and  a  few  oc- 
casional passengers,  imless  some  Jesuits  have  htdy 
been  sent  by  the  Conncil  for  the  extermination  of 
heretics,  from  the  nest  at  Fcncstrclle-  Thanks  be 
to  God,  these  Churches,  under  the  protection  of 
the  kings  of  France,  have  not  suffered  the  borriUe 
persecutions,  which  hare  been  inflicted  on  their 
brethren  in  the  vicinity :  but  God  has  spaied 
them,  as  he  did  those  of  the  valley  of  Queiras,  on 
the  side  of  the  valley  of  Lusema,  that  they  might 
ser\-c  as  an  asylum  for  the  fugitives  from  the 
dominions  of  the  duke  of  Savoy." 

But  these  Churches  were  spared  no  longer  than 
the  beginning  of  the  last  century,  their  candlesticks 
were  then  removed. 

Thus  the  light  was  extinguished  on  aD  sides  of 
the  three  valleys  of  our  more  particular  enquiry; 
and  he  who  looks  on  the  chart  of  the  Waldcnsiao 
territory,  will  find  one  little  spot  only,  where  the 
primitive  Church  has  ever  been  permitted  to  survive 


I 


WALDENSIAK    Rh^SRARCHBSL. 


507 


in  a  visible  fonn,  amidst  the  chances  atui  changes 
which  proved  destructive  to  all  around.  And  the 
Ciiurcli  of  the  Alps  has  been  reduced  even  here  in 
her  once  strong  hold,  and  we  have  to  mourn,  with 
Leger,  over  the  diminished  number  of  her  pastors. 
That  historian  aflinns,  that  previously  to  the  spoli- 
ations, which  deprived  him  of  many  valuable  docu- 
ments, he  had  MSS.  in  his  own  possession,  which 
recorded  acts  of  synod,  by  which  it  appeared,  that 
in  the  valleys  of  Lusema  and  San  Martino,  the 
Vaudois  clergy  were  formerly  much  more  numer- 
ous than  they  are  now.  He  then  makes  mention 
of  Rodoret  and  Macel ',  and  Faetto,  of  Taluc, 
Rcvangie,  Titgliaretta,  Bczze,  Val  Guichard,  and 
Combe  dcs  Cbarbunniers,  as  having  been  dis- 
tinct cures  with  separate  pastors  '.  Such  has 
been  the  work  of  extermination  in  these  regions, 
under  princes  like  Louis  XIV.  of  France,  and 
Charles  I'hilibort,  and  Charles  Emanuel,  and 
Victor  Amadec,  of  Savoy ;  and  yet  these  were  the 
sovereigns  who  were  called  by  their  paraj^ites,  the 
lathers  of  their  people !  Their  paternity  was  like 
that  of  Saturn,  who  devoured  his  children. 

'  I  aliaU  bsn  lo  tliew  presently  thnt  pulare  hnw  beta  pro- 
vided recently  for  the  cum  of  Iloilofct  and  Macel,  SM  p.  &19. 
'  Ugef,  Itv.  L  la 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

[  ntfmjtf  to  explere  tke  Ciaient  of  Cattrtlaxao. 

August  5 — 14.  The  period  of  our  delightful  re^ 
deuce  in  the  valleys  was  now  drawing  fast  to  a  close, 
and  we  regretted  much  that  we  could  accept  but  few 
of  the  many  invitations,  which  were  sent  us  from 
our  fHends  in  the  neighbourhood  of  La  Torre.  M, 
Muston,  the  Syndic  of  La  Torre,  and  his  interest- 
ing wife,  whose  delightful  conversation  and  nativf 
grace  would  adorn  any  station  in  life,  would  not 
uufTcr  us  to  depart  without  giving  them  a  day, 
and  we  met  almost  all  our  acquaintances  of  the 
Val  Luscma  at  their  table.  Wc  ahio  made  an- 
other e.xcursion  to  Prarusdno,  San  Gerroano,  and 
Pramoi.  At  the  latter  place  we  were  the  guests 
of  M.  and  Madame  Vinson,  and  we  shall  write 
down  among  the  pleasautcst  <lays  of  our  life,  those 
which  we  spent  in  their  most  agreeable  socie^. 
The  pastor's  apiar)',  and  httle  terraced  garden, 
and  modest  library,  arc  yet  before  my  eyes ;  and 
long  shall  I  remember  the  discourse  wluch  I  held 
with  him,  as  we  descended  the  rugged  steeps 
which  led  from  his  Alpine  parish  to  the  vale  of 
the  Clusone. 


WALDBHSIAN    RRSAERCUES. 


509 


I  could  not  bid  adieu  to  these  mountain  scenes 
witliout  making  a  second  attempt  to  discover  the 
cavern  of  Castelluzzo ;  and  M.  Bert  having  seen 
two  persons,  named  Chanforan  and  Uicca,  natives 
of  Bonctti,  the  hamtct  immediately  under  Castel- 
luzzo, who  professed  to  have  found  their  way  into 
the  cavern  in  their  youth,  we  put  them  in  requisi- 
tion as  guides;  and  at  live  o'clock  in  the  morning 
of  the  I4tb  of  Augxist,  my  brother  and  I  set  out 
upon  an  expedition,  for  which  we  made  better 
preparations  than  before.  We  were  accompanied 
by  M.  Bonjour,  M.  Revel,  a  Vaudois  who  is  settled 
in  Holland,  but  who  was  then  on  a  visit  to  his 
native  valleys,  by  my  servant,  and  the  afore-named 
peasants.  ^Ve  veere  provided  with  a  strong  rope 
ladder,  made  by  my  brother,  with  a  s[)ade,  a  pick- 
axe, hatchets,  lanterns,  and  cords,  and  directed 
our  steps  towards  the  mighty  rock,  in  whose 
bosom  the  grotto  was  supposed  to  be,  by  Copia 
and  Bonctti.  At  BonetU  we  inspected  the  re- 
mains of  an  ancient  church,  part  of  which  is  now 
used  as  a  hamlet  school.  A  large  archway  has 
the  appearance  of  having  formed  ]>art  of  an  aisle, 
and  bears  marks  of  greater  antiquity  than  any 
otiier  construction  which  I  have  noticed  in  these 
parts.  In  the  interior  of  the  sacred  ruin,  a  noble 
vine  occupies  the  place  where  the  pulpit  probably 
stood.  The  numerous  small  churches,  which  are 
jttill  found,  more  or  less  dilapidated,  in  the  upper 


WALDENSUN    RESEARCITICtL 

hamlets,  confinn  the  assertions  of  Lcger ',  and 
give  sanction  to  the  tradition  that  140  barbes 
formerly  ministered  in  the  Waldensian  Church. 

Making  a  detoiir  by  Bore),  we  arrived  at  the 
same  spot  to  M'hich  Grant  had  conducted  us  on 
tlic  6th  of  July  *,  and  which  he  represented  to  be 
the  place  from  which  the  descent  into  the  caveitt 
mitst  be  made.  Nothing  presented  itself  to  the 
eye,  which  gave  the  slightest  idea  that  the  waH 
of  rock,  down  which  we  looked  with  shuddcrii^ 
gaze,  contained  an  accessible  liiding  place,  laige 
enough  to  admit  400  people. 

Chauforan  and  Ricca  pulled  off  their  shoes  aod^ 
stockings,  stripped  off  their  upper  garments,  and 
looked  as  if  they  were  rallying  their  courage  for  an 
exploit     Two  yoiuig  {icasants  who  had  joined  us, 
the  one  twenty  years  old,  the  other  sixteen,  sigm- 
fied  their  intention  to  follow  the  two  elder  moon- 
tainecrs,  at  all  risk ;  and  the  coolness  with  which 
they  stood  over  the  precipice,  and  moved  along  its 
dizzj'  edge,  satisfied  us,  that  they  had  nerve  enoi^ 
for  any  thing.    When  the  guides  were  ready  fiw 
the  descent,  they  addressed  their  countrymen,  M.      n 
Bonjour  and  M.  Revel,  and  told  them,  that  they  fl 
would  not  dare  to  go  down.    "  Then  what  will 
our  friends  do  ?"  said  they.    "  They  are  English,"  ^ 
replied  Clianforan,  "  and  will  break  their  necks,  ^ 


I 


•  Seep.  fi07 


•  S«o  Ch«p»er  V. 


WALOBNSIAK    RESEARCHES. 


611 


rather  tlian  turn   back."    The  complimont  was 
more  to  my  brother's  taste  than  to  mine. 

Presently  the  four  mountaineers  disappeared. 
How  tliey  sustained  their  footing,  and  to  what 
projecting  points  they  clung,  I  could  not  imagine. 
I  looked  down,  but  the  cliff  projected  so  much, 
that  I  could  not  distinguish  the  means  of  thtnr 
descent  Presently  we  heard  shouts  Irom  below, 
ami  a  voice  directed  us  to  lower  the  rope  ladder, 
which  wo  had  previously  attached  to  a  fragment 
of  rock,  large  enough  to  sustain  any  weight.  The 
lailder  was  let  down,  and  made  fast  at  the  other 
end  by  the  men  Ix-'low.  My  brother  was  the  first 
of  our  party  to  descend  by  it.  I  went  next.  Our 
precautions  were  so  well  taken,  that  I  found  the 
descent  more  difficult  than  dangerous  :  but  I  con- 
fess, that  when  I  found  myself  sus]>cnded  tietwecn 
heaven  and  earth,  by  a  swinging  staircase  of  rope, 
which  the  sharp  points  of  the  rock  might  cut  in 
twain,  the  sensation  was  any  thing  but  en>'iable, 
Tlic  ladder  di<l  not  hang  straight,  but  followed 
the  irregular  hncs  of  the  face  of  the  cliff,  which 
liad  given  hand  and  foot-hold  to  the  peasants  who 
led  the  way.  At  the  depth  of  about  twenty  feet  I 
found  the  ladder  resting  upon  a  sort  of  shelfl 
From  this  shelf  the  ladder  hung  tn  an  angular 
direction,  and  next  lay  along  a  rough  sloping 
ridge  like  a  camel's  back ;  and  then  depended  per- 
pendicularly, rocking  with  great  violence.  At 
about  filly  feet  from  the  top,  there  was  a  8L*cond 
7 


518 


WALDEKSUN    RESEABOIEa. 


shelf,  and  this  attained,  I  perceived  a  sort  or 
tunnel,  or  chimney,  in  the  cUflf;  but  the  ladder 
was  not  long  enoiigh  to  roach  to  the  bottom  of  it, 
and  with  the  assistance  of  Ricca,  who  was  planted 
there  to  help  me,  1  let  myself  down,  much  after 
the  fasliioii  of  a  climbing  boy  descending  a  cluin- 
ney.  This  achieved,  the  grotto  was  attained  with-  ] 
out  much  further  difficulty. 

The  risk  which  the  men  encountered,  who ' 
descended  without  the  rope  ladder,  consisted  in' 
passing  Irom  ledge  to  ledge,  where  the  bold  was 
very  slight  and  insecure.  What,  tlien,  must  have 
been  the  horrible  nature  of  the  persecution,  which 
comj>ellcd  women  and  cliildren  to  trust  themsclrcs 
to  the  perils  of  such  an  enterprise!  It  is  probable, 
however,  that  ropes  had  been  before  used  to  fad* 
litate  the  descent,  for  I  observed  several  places, 
wliich  looked  as  if  they  bad  been  indented  by  the 
friction  of  cordage.  fl 

My   servant  came  down   after  me,  then  M. 
Bonjour,  and  after  him  M.  Revel :  and  ne\'er  did 
I  see  people  more  delighted  than   they  seemed  ^ 
to  be.  ■ 

We  found  the  cavern,  so  called,  to  be  an  irre- 
gular, rugged,  sloping  gallery,  in  the  Ihce  of  the 
rock,  of  which  the  jutting  crags  above  formed  the 
roof.  At  one  end  also  there  was  a  projection  of 
clifl',  which  sheltered  it  on  that  side  from  the 
weatlwr.  The  gallery  is  wide  enough  to  be  secure. 
In  some  |)arts  the  edge  overhangs  the  depth  below 


I" 


^•^^gmml>v  tr- 


n  nUii-r  rwpacOk  0  to 


•iX  fiiiuu^ti  lot  : 
W(f  rvldprii    mwki    of  ft 


ti. 


in  I 


WAUUtNSIAN   RRSRARCHRS. 


913 


perpendicularly  :  at  others  it  slieivcs  gently  down- 
wards, but  in  all  directions  it  is  quite  inaccessible, 
except  from  above,  and  by  the  tunnel,  down  which 
we  descended  ;  and  which  will  only  admit  one 
'person  at  a  time.  Some  shrubs  and  rock  plants 
grow  in  the  gallery,  which  in  some  degree  shelter 
it  from  the  south,  to  which,  in  other  respects,  it  is 
entirely  open.  In  the  front,  and  to  the  right,  as 
you  stand  with  your  back  to  the  rock,  it  is  ex- 
posed to  no  annoyance  from  assailants;  but  to  the 
lef\,  it  is  in  some  slight  degree  open  to  a  firo  of 
musquetry  from  neighbouring  cliffs,  which  com- 
mand it. 

The  terra  cavern  docs  not  exactly  apply  to  It 
It  does  not  penetrate  deep  enough  into  the  rock, 
■nd  it  is  perfectly  light  in  every  part.  'Hie  an- 
nexed sketch  is  an  attempt  to  represent  its  appear- 
ance, and  will  help  the  reader  to  comprehend  my 
detcription;  but  the  point  from  whence  it  was 
taken,  was  not  near  enough  for  the  purpose  of  an 
exact  delineation. 

We  discovered  evident  marks  of  a  fountain. 
The  spot  from  which  the  water  issued  was  still 
moist,  and  most  probaldy  there  is  a  constant  How 
in  less  suttr^'  months.  But  I  could  not  satisfy 
myself  that  the  galler)'  would  afford  an  asylum 
for  so  many  as  300  or  400  fugitives ;  nor  did  we  Und 
any  relics  of  other  days,  though  we  searched 
diligently,  and  used  the  implements  we  brought 
with  us  in  turning  up  and  sounding  the  mirface. 


ftii 


WAI.DEN8UN   RRSBARCHES. 


We  saw  no  marks  of  smoke  or  fire,  nor  any 
like  the  oTcns  of  which  the  historian  speaks.  Now 
then  for  the  question.     Is  this  the  caTem  meo- 
tioncd  by  Leger'? 
Jt  answers  to  his  description  in  many  partic 
1.  In  its  sittiatton  on  Mont  Vandclin. 
3.  In  being  near  the  hamlets  of  Bonctti 
Cliabriol. 

3.  In  its  capability  of  sheltering  a  great  numb 
of  people. 

4.  In  containing  a  fountain. 

5.  In  its  productions. — shrubs  and  plants. 

6.  In  its  access  by  a  tunnel  or  chimney. 

7.  In  its  admitting  one  only  to  enter  at  a 

8.  In  its  being  defensible  by  one  against  mi 
Cbatiforan  said,  that  he  once  scniniblcd  down  the 

cliff  from  the  gallery,  but  that  it  was  a  bravado  of 
imminent  danger,  which  nothing  could  induce  turn 
to  hazard  a  second  time,  and  that  it  was  uttei^H 
impossible  to  ascend  to  it  in  the  same  direction.  ^1 
The  arguments  against  its  being  Legcr's  caverti^ 
are  these  : —  ^| 

1.  There  are  no  vestiges  of  its  harin*?  be«n 
enlai^d  or  improved  by  artificial  means,— ^"  Tail- 
lee  par  art."  ^M 

2.  It  no  longer  answers  to  the  description  o^^ 
being  vaulted,  and  formed  like  an  oven, — "  \'auti: 
en  forme  d'une  four."    The  form,  however, 

>  lir.  i.  p.  9. 


WALOENSIAM    RKSEAJICHKS. 


fil5 


I 


I 


ve  been  changed,  from  tbe  falling  in,  or  docom- 
position,  of  the  cliff. 

S.  There  arc  no  chinks  or  loo)>-hoIcs,  or  any 
thing  which  serve  for  "  fenestres  on  sentinelles." 
On  one  side,  that  which  1  have  described  aa  being 
somewhat  exposed  to  the  fire  of  an  enemy,  there 
is  the  appearance  of  a  recent  lall,  and  here  it 
is  possible  that  there  n»uy  have  been  the  "  fentcs 
dans  le  roclier,"  of  which  Lcgcr  makes  mention. 

4r.  There  are  not,  and  cannot  have  been,  any 
chambers, — "  il  y  a  quelque  chambres.'' 

5.  There  are  no  ovens,  or  reaemblancc  of  ovens, 
"  un  four  pour  cuire  du  pain.'*  But  there  are 
large  blocks  of  rock,  which  may  have  answered 
tbe  purpose,  before  they  fell  from  their  places. 

One  of  the  peasants  incautiously  set  fire  to  soum 
of  the  dry  leaves,  which  caused  a  great  blaze,  and 
left  traces,  which  future  explorers  of  tbe  cavern 
may  imagine  to  be  proofs  in  favour  of  the  tra<lition, 
which  ennobles  it. 

Tbe  only  discover)'  we  made  was  that  of  a 
vipet's  skin. 

After  remaining  about  an  hour  in  the  gallery, 
and  Inscribing  our  names,  or  initiabi  in  the  rock, 
we  aNcendcd  by  the  same  means  by  which  we  came 
down  :  and  though  we  could  not  feel  conBdent  tluit 
thifl  was  the  "  Mer^-eillense  Cavenie ',"  of  which 


'  I  Inuwcribe  Lrf^'i ilrorfiption :  "(^c«t  aunitnioaUs  nAnt 
■ilt£.  mir  BM  poisle  dc  ta  montagna  An  VKndebii  oA  M 
toil  mean  nne  loen'ttlltnM'  tncc  <le  b  letnite,  que  rAulettt 

l1  2 


.dOL. 


516 


WALOENSIAN   RESEARCHES. 


we  had  come  in  search,— yet  we  were  pleased  with 
our  perfonnancc,  and  felt  jmrnd  of  haviDg  accoi 
plishcd  a  feat  of  some  difficulty. 

Bonjour  and  Reve]  were  id  high  glee,  and  C! 
foran  declared  that  be  would  preserve  the  Btp- 
franc  piece,  which  I  gave  him  to  the  end  of  his 
life,  as  a  memorial  of  the  day's  achievemenL  We 
reached  San  Margarita  on  onr  return  at  one 
o'clock — having  been  occupied  eight  hours  in  t 
adventure. 

de  b  Nature  j  *voil  pr^paW«  pour  mettn  bm  enfiuM  ioMmrt 
iMIe  hrngeci  la  raHed«  leunenn«mis,duu  Wplti«p««da 
Mlr^mti^i,  «t  coRimofit  c«s  [xiuvrts  tid^lei  sVn  aoni  ^mihIqi 
Cot  unv  fnindc  cuivcnw  vn  un  emre-detu  dc  U  montasne,  n 
plat^t  du  mcba  de  Vandelip,  loute  Uillea  dans  le  rocher,  rt  fu 
la  nature,  et  pat  I'ari,  n  peu  prfa  roode  ct  voutec  en  (bnac  d*n 
four,  »i  (pscwtitc  qu'elle  petit  cOBlenir  300  ou  400  penooDM 
mftins  il  y  a  del  tente*  <lani  1«  rocber  qui  tervcnt  de  feaHOtt 
Mntincllo  toat  nucmble  ;  il  y  a  qucJqnca  cliainbre%  nnc 
footaine.  el  mJowa  quelqne*  arim»,  ct  un  Tottf  poar  cvire  i* 
pain,  et  de  pins  Von  y  roi(  eococedn  pieces  dune  matu  ■  pjtnr 
exln^enMDl  vieille*,  et  da  pieces  d'annmre :  tl  «m  abaolunm 
impaiiiUc  d'y  cntrtr  qur  par  un  nrul  troa  par  le  bttnt :  OB  ■*} 
|>rut  dcvalcr  qii'aiic  teulc  pcrsonnc  a  fois.  qai  M  ceille  p« 
cettc  fente,  par  do  pciHs  d«fTf«  cotipf*  d«ia  ce  n>cW,  ik 
aorte  qu'uM  senle  pcrsonnie  y  esuuii  deduia  seulemeiit  am  bm 
[uque  <wi  hallebaide,  >e  peut  defeiidre  conire  nne  unn^ 
entifae."     Lir.  i.  p.  9. 


ooDea^H 


CHAPTER   XVni. 

OeftartuTi:  frum  the  f'alleyt — Aypaiatment  of  the  SuffragaH 
I'lulurt  of  Munel  and  HotUfrct — Injlunnce  of  the  Poligitae 
.htminiitration  ffU  in  the  I'allegi — f'audaii  tribute  to  their 
Unj'lith  bimfiuturt  daring  the  French  dominatiom—dciural 
iJufrralioHt  a*  to  the  A'lVJ^iutu  Spirit  xhifh  fireeaiU  amoitg 
the  I'audiiii — Etiabtithiacnl  u/lhe  t'audoU  College. 

At'tiUST  16 — 20.  A  few  (lays  before  our  (li'tmr- 
ture,  a  large  party  of  pastors  met  at  I.a  Torre. 
Tliey  cainu  to  take  leave  of  us.  It  was  upon  this 
occasion  that  an  address  to  the  kin^^,  drawn  up 
with  legal  nicety,  was  read  and  considerLKl,  pray- 
ing his  majesty  to  take  the  case  of  his  Vaudois 
subjects  into  consideration,  and  to  repeal  those 
enactments  which  are  injurious  to  their  personal 
and  religious  rights.  The  jK-tition  was  tcm|)erately 
worded,  and  after  having  been  carefully  discussed, 
and  cautiously  weeded  of  every  expression,  which 
ua-s  likely  to  offend,  it  was  unanimously  approved 
by  all  present.  The  intention  was  to  submit  it  to 
the  Officers  of  the  Table,  who  were  to  assemble 
un  the  10th  at  San  Gcnnano,  and  with  their  sanc- 
tion to  obtain  the  signatures  of  alt  the  notables, 
and  then  to  present  it  to  the  king  of  Sardinia. 


fil8 


WALVENSIAN    SESBARCHES. 


On  the  20th  of  August,  we  said  farewell  to 
fiifntLs  at  San  Marjiarita,  and  reluctantly  turoedl 
our  backs  upon  the  delightful  spot,  where  wc  had 
passed  so  niaiiy  happy  days.    To  M.  and  Madame 
Bert,  to  their  three  daughters,  Madame  Bonjour, 
Julia,  and  Nancy,  and  to  their  son  AmaHee,  and^H 
to  M.  Honjour,  wc  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude,  which 
can  never  be  repaid.     During  the  whole  time  ofj 
our  abode  witli  them,  it  seemed  to  be  their  prii 
cipal  anxiety  to  study  our  wishes  and  to  antic 
them,   aiid  from  every  branch  of  the  family  wa 
received  attentions  which  will  endear  them  to  us, 
as  lung  us  wc  live.     The  separation  was  not  with- 
out  tears;  and  many  along  look  did  wc  turn  upon 
them,  while  they  were  yet  in  sight,  watching  the 
progress  of  the  carriage  as  it  conveyed  us  away. 
At  Turin  we  experienced  similar  attentions  from 
&I.  Bert's  elder  sou,  Eugene,  who  is  married 
an  English  lady  of  good  family.     I  regret 
nmeh  tliat  her  coufmemciit  at  the  time  prevented 
my   making   her  acquaintance.      I    lament  also 
that  I  saw  but  little  of  M.  Vertu  and  his  son,  the 
friends  of  my  firvt  visit :  our  stay  at  Turin  was  so 
short. 

Jiist  before  we  reached  Pinerolo  on  oiir  journey 
homewards,  we  met  the  Moderator,  the  Moderator ' 
atljoint,  the  Secretary,  and  the  two  lay  members 
of  the  Table,  Messrs.  Brezzi  and  Poetti,  who  bad 
come  from  San  Genuano,  to  give  us  their  puling 
salutations.     This  mark   of  kindness   was  most 


from 
d  t^ 

M 

Ik 
so 


REREAHCHES. 


919 


gratifying..  They  sent  me  away  with  the  pleasing 
intelligence,  that  at  their  meeting  the  day  before, 
they  had  come  to  the  resolution  of  nominating 
M.  J.  Hevel  to  the  cure  of  Massel,  and  M.  J.  J. 
Bonjour,  brother  of  my  friend,  "  the  Pasteur- 
Chapelain  "  to  that  of  Rodoret,  as  suffragan  pas- 
tors. These  two  parishes,  which,  for  more  than 
two  hundred  years,  have  been  served  by  the  pastors 
of  Mao^lia  and  Prati,  for  want  of  sufficient  funds 
to  maintain  ministers  of  their  own,  will  now  liave 
each  its  separate  pa.<tnr,  and  one  more  benefit  is 
thus  conferred  by  England  upon  the  Waldensian 
Church.  The  stipend  of  each  will  be  1000  francs, 
derived  from  the  royal  grant,  restored  by  the 
English  government  in  1827.  I  stated  in  tbe 
beginning  of  my  narrative ',  that  it  was  the  inten- 
tion of  the  thirteen  >'8udois  pastors  to  make  per- 
sonal sacriBces  for  the  sake  of  the  community  at 
Urge ;  and  that  among  other  deductions  from  the 
sum  of  277/.  which  is  annually  remitted  from  this 
country  to  bu  divided  among  them,  tbey  bad 
determined  to  allot  2000  (Vanes  towards  tbe  ap- 
pointment of  two  additional  cures,  Massel  and 
Rodoret  This  is  now  carried  into  effect ;  and  the 
Moderator  and  bis  colleagues  were  desirous  that  I 
should  have  in  my  possession  a  copy  of  the  instru- 
ment, by  which  these  appointments  were  formally 
made  by  the  Table.     May  God  bless  tbe  ministry 


■  Sec  !>.  1R3,  164. 


520 


iTAtRESSlAK   RKSEARCUBS. 


tesaii 


of  the  nc-w  pastors,  to  his  own  glory,  aud  the  good 
of  his  people  1  ^^H 

But  there  was  another  piece  of  informatioiic^^ 
a  very  different  nature,  which  the  members  of  the 
Table  had  to  communicate.  They  told  me,  ihat 
the  change  of  the  French  ministry,  and  the  tidings 
of  Prince  Polignac's  nomination  as  prime-minister 
of  Charles  X.  had  so  strengthened  the  Jesail 
party,  and  the  enemies  of  the  Protestant  cause  iq 
Italy,  that  they  could  not  take  upon  themsdi 
to  advise  their  countrymen  to  petition  the  king 
that  juncture  of  time.  They  must  wait,  they 
for  a  more  favourable  opportunity.  I  did  them 
injustice.  I  thought  at  the  moment  that  this  ms 
a  proof  of  strange  timidity.  But  events  have  jus- 
tified their  opinion,  and  have  proved  that  they 
were  right  in  entertaining  fears  of  Bourbon  in- 
fluence, and  in  considering  that  there  could  be  no 
ho|)e  for  them,  or  for  the  oppressed  in  Italy,  so 
long  as  despotic  principles  had  the  ascendancy  in 
France. 

I  add  with  feelings  of  the  deepest  mortiBcatioa, 
that  I  found  it  to  be  a  very  general  opinion  smcn^ 
the  ^'audois,  that  the  members  of  the  English 
govemincnt  had  ceased  to  be  their  mediators,  and 
were  not  so  friendly  to  their  liberties,  as  in  former 
times.  The  Vaudois  have  certainly  been  over- 
looked of  late.  .At  the  Congress  of  Vienna,  and 
at  Turin,  the  English  ambassadors  have  not  advo- 
cated their  cause  with  the  same  zeal  as  the  repre- 


WALDENStAN   RBSBAUCUBfl. 


521 


xentaUves  uf  the  king  of  Prussia,  more  pi-rhaiis 
from  a  want  of  right  information  as  to  their  con- 
dition, than  from  any  unfriendly  spirit. 

With  a  dchcacy,  however,  peculiar  to  themselves, 
the  Vaudois  pastors  and  others  refrained  from  re- 
prt^'hiiig  England  with  ncf;lect,  although  I  per- 
ceived that  they  no  longer  looked  with  confidence 
to  any  British  interposition  in  their  behalf.  They 
are  tliankful  for  the  benefactions  they  have  re- 
ceived, and  do  not  suffer  political  unkindness  to 
extinguish  feelings  of  gratitude  for  private  favours. 

Two  extraordinar)'  proofs  have  been  given  of 
the  affection,  with  which  these  excellent  people 
have  continued  to  regard  England,  even  imder 
circumstances  when  a  different  spirit  might  have 
l)ecn  cxpcctetl ;  or,  to  say  the  least,  when  it  was 
almost  heroic  on  their  part  to  manifest  feelings  of 
attachment  to  us. 

When  the  Vaudois  clergy  petitioned  Napoleon' 
to  organize  them,  and  to  grant  them  the  same 


'  Napoleon  never  lotl  Mgbt  of  ibe  Chnrcb  of  the  ValtrjFi  attar 
be  btKl  once  lornt  to  takt  an  inivroi  is  il«  fate.  I  have  Um 
cop;  or  ID  Older  iig:tMil  by  hin  ■!  Moscow,  in  1812,  by  whictt 
bedirectedane^igCfltVawlouPu1oriobeBUf(>enile«i.  Sinn^* 
thai  lh«  U)Tad«r  of  Rusua,  in  tb«  palace  of  tbe  Cnn,  duwU 
,  bBCnaocrninf  himMlf  wiUi  tbe  aihin  of  a  unall  pwWk  u  ilw 
iMBOto  wBdf  of  Pianmt,  and  ibal  ibe  ProtetUat  nprtaenlalina 
of  "  Ihe  DefcDdcT  of  llic  Faitb,"  thouU  tot^ti  tiw  WaUkmta 
at  ihr  amfttaa  of  Vienna !  TIm  tiHirprn  Crmnwcll  and  Dwim- 
paflr  have  hh  a  twilcr  Ichod  Miind  litem  in  regard  lo  Uic 
Vawloi>,  ih^o  ibc  odvocuiea  uf  Icplinacy. 


522 


WALDBNSIAN   RBSE&RCBBS. 


alluwanccs,  wliich  were  mado  to  tliu  Roman  Ca- 
tholic clergy  of  the  French  empire,  the  animosity 
of  the  Kniperor  against  tlic  Kiigtish  'was  known 
to  be  at  its  highest  pitch,  and  yet  they  liad  the 
spirit  to  eul<^ise  their  old  benefactors.  "  The 
VaudoiSr'*  said  the  language  of  the  addrc>s$,  "  wq^dd 
not  have  been  iu  existence,  but  for  the  reformed 
states,  and  but  for  Great  Britain  in  particular. 
'ITie  guncrosity  of  that  nation  has  been  extended 
to  us  for  moi'c  than  100  years.  To  her  we  owe 
the  stipends,  without  which  the  services  of  our 
pastors  could  not  have  been  continued.  But  un- 
fortunately we  have  now  &llen  under  the  di»* 
pleasure  of  our  ancient  benefactors,  and  the  king 
oi  England  tuts  withdrawn  his  succour  in  conse- 
cjuencc  of  our  annexation  to  France." 

Again,  on  the  day  of  the  great  festival,  in  OcL 
1805,  when  the  liberties  of  the  Waldensian  Church 
under  the  French  government,  were  proclaimed, 
M.  Bert  preached  at  La  Torre,  before  the  IVefect, 
and  the  assembled  multitudes  of  French  aud  Ita- 
lians, who  were  present  to  celebrate  the  event.  This 
excellent  man  bad  then  the  virtue  and  moral 
courage  to  pay  tills  honourable  tribute,  from  the 
pulpit,  to  the  nation,  which  was  at  war  with  bis 
new  friends  ami  benefactors.  "  But  while  we  are 
congratulating  ourselves,  and  praising  Got!  for  the 
benefits  to  be  enjoyed  under  our  new  conditian, 
let  us  not  be  guilty  of  the  culpable  ingratitude  of 
forgetting  the  source,  from  whence  former  kind- 


I 

I 


I 


WALDBHBIAN    RESEARCHES. 


628 


ness  dowed.  I^t  us  chcrisli  u  grateful  recollec- 
tion or  our  ancient  beucGictors.  Strangers  to  po- 
litical feelings,  piety  demands  of  us  an  honourable 
mention  of  the  nation,  which  hus  so  uden  be* 
Iriendcd  us :  and  who  M-ill  blame  us  for  it  V 

Alas,  this  ^)od  man  little  thought,  that  within 
nine  years,  the  Vaudois  would  a^'ain  be  reduced 
to  their  former  dc^^dation,  and  that  KngUind, 
forgetful  of  the  humhie  Church  in  the  wildernet>s, 
would  raise  no  voice  in  her  behalf,  tliougfa  a  word 
would  sufUce. 


Should  the  tendency  of  my  obser\'alion8  in  the 
foregoing  pages,  seem  to  lean  too  much  to  the  sidn 
of  eulog)',  1  beg  that  it  may  be  remembered,  that 
my  professed  object  has  been  to  describe  the 
general  character  of  the  >''audois,  and  to  conmiond 
their  cause  to  tlie  Protestant  world.  For  this 
reason,  I  have  abstained  from  pointing  out  the 
errors  of  individuals,  wherein  the  opinions  of  u  few, 
and  not  of  the  many,  are  involved ;  and  though 
many  incidents  of  an  unpleasant  nature,  and  traits 
of  evil,  did  not  escape  mc  during  a  residence  of 
two  months,  yet  1  fett  that  it  was  not  my  busiuesH 
to  give  them  a  place  in  my  note  book  '. 

*  tf  I  had  cnlrrcd  nl  Urge  intoMne  "  untoward"  diffcrcncM, 
wliicli  iuT«  iiputcd  t)ie  tDiadi  of  aeveral  pereont  in  one  o(  tbe 
[MnilHsor  Val  Uuscnia,  anl  kIiicIi  have  lionBed  Ui*  lubjccl  hi 
ptngmpli*  iu  Engluli  iMtw«(M|cn  uid  laaguiacs.  I  eiMht  noi 
tian  uJi*&eil  albti  niykclf  or  mj  raadcn,  m  lti»  pMtia  cob- 


524 


WALOBNSIAN    RESEARaiBS. 


I'here  arc,  however,  interrogatories  wlilch  have 
been  put  to  me  in  conversation,  and  to  wbich 
answers  may  be  expected  in  prinL 

To  the  main  ]>oint,  to  the  one  cardinal  and  all- 
important  question,  I  am  prepared  to  give  a  direct 
reply,  without  any  circumlocution.  Is  the  Wal- 
densian  Church  *'  a  congregation  of  faithful  men, 
in  which  the  pure  word  of  God  is  preached,  and 
the  sacraments  duly  mlministered,  and  in  which 
there  is  tlic  confession  of  '  One  Christ,  very  God 
and  very  man,  who  truly  suffered,  was  crucified, 

c«me(l,  becaikie  it  i>  dif&culi  for  a  ttrangor  to  um«  at  tbt  ml 
tMTit)  of  a  caae  of  that  nalure,  or  lo  make  audi  a  tImUiBiMi  m 
shall  be  accurate  in  all  iti  paita.  Coafincd,  >•  I  bdin*  Iboa 
difoonccs  to  be,  to  one  only  of  the  fifteen  WaHtinwiii  Cgift- 
iiMDea,  it  b  beU«r  lo  be  bilcnt  atto^h«r  as  to  the  circumataBui 
which  hsTe  ptoduced  tli«in,  and  the  iworiweai  whicfa  tbey  haft 
CMsed,  to  the  titUc  comer  when  they  prenH,  tbao  to  gm  then 
'  a  Ibrinal  place  in  my  nanstirt',  and  to  to  lead  aome  naAtn  to 
Inaginie,  that  the  whole  commanity  has  taken  part  in  them.  I 
had  rreqaesi  opportuniliea  of  convening  with  one  of  the  perMM, 
who  wnt  pfincipalty  coocemed  in  the  qaettions  which  baic 
been  nited,  and  I  entertain  great cctecm  for  his  te<J  and  piety: 
but  I  had  mtson  to  think  that  hr  m«  not  always  guided  by  IW 
beatjud(;iacDU  The  indindual,  too,  ofwhocecosdactaad  «■■»• 
menta  he  complained,  aa  being  inconsiiteot  with  those  of  a  tne 
Viiuduit,  t*  aged,  much  beyond  the  years  of  man,  and,  ncconliag 
lo  the  natural  course  of  things,  lie  cauixrt  long  cxmtniue  la  6R 
a  station  where  hit  infliMnce  b  alleged  to  be  injarioaa.  I  have 
•aid  tfana  mnch,  in  reply  to  thoa«,  who  undcrnond  my  allnaiom, 
and  who  might  ebe  have  been  inclined  to  ask  why  t  ba««  been 
tdcnt  upon  a  (ubjecl,  which  ha*  produced  cuuMknUc  agiiaiau 
in  the  circle  where  it  haa  been  discussed. 


I 


WALDENSIAN    nKSEABCIIES. 


JSM 


dead  and  buried,  to  reconcile  his  Father  to  us,  and 
to  be  a  sacrifice,  not  only  for  original  guiU,  but 
also  for  actual  sins  of  men  T  "  Yes !  In  proof  of 
the  truth  of  this  assertion,  I  refer  to  my  Intro- 
ductory- Inquiry  into  the  Antiquity  and  Purity  of 
Um  Waldensian  Church '.  The  Liturgy,  which  has 
been  lately  composed  by  a  commission  of  pastors, 
in  which  the  Moderator-adjoint  has  taken  an 
active  part,  and  which  will  be  printed  and  published 
as  soon  as  it  has  been  submitted  to  the  synod, 
will  sufficientJy  prove  to  the  world,  that  the  modem 
Waldenses  adiierc  to  the  tenets  and  confessions  of 
faith  of  their  ancestors — ond  that  the  orthodoxy 
of  a  Church  is  to  be  tried  by  its  professed  articles 
of  faith,  and  public  acts,  and  not  by  the  acts  or 
opinions  of  individuals. 

Other  queries  have  been  proposed,  which  I  do 
not  undertake  to  notice,  because  different  persons 
would  put  their  own  construction  both  upon  the 
question  and  answer.  Remembering,  however, 
the  words  of  the  Author  and  Finisher  of  our  faith, 
"  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them"^and  calling 
to  mind  the  dehnitiou  of  one  of  his  apostles,  "  The 
fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace,  long-suffering, 
gentleness,  goodness,  faith,  meekness,  temperance," 
I  may  afiirm  lliat  in  tlie  Christian  world,  titere  is 
not  a  community,  where  these  indications  of  Gos|»el 
purity  arc  more  manifest. 


'  S«e  Section  t«  |».  132,  &t. 


WAtnrWItAl*   RESr^^ttTHW. 


For  the  satisfaction,  however,  of  those,  who  tnsh 
for  a  statement  of  facts,  and  not  of  vague  opinions, 
I  can  state  that  to  my  own  knowledge,  in  many 
Vauiiois  houses  and  cottages,  the  Bihie  is  read  as 
devoutly,  and  conversation  takes  as  serious  a  turn, 
and  family  prayers  are  conducted  as  r^ularlr,  as 
the  most  [)ious  mind  could  wish :  and  that  there  a 
an  increasing  invitation  to  exercises  of  dcrotion, 
which  if  some  few  regard  as  "  righteousness  oveN 
much,"  many  more  estimate  and  a])prove.  In 
every  religious  society  there  wilt  be  some  to  pro- 
mote, and  sorhe  to  dissuade  from  manifestations 
of  piety,  which  offend  the  world  because  they  are 
so.  No  wonder  then,  tliat  this  should  be  the  case 
even  in  the  valleys  of  Piemont ;  and  that  the  tcnn 
"  momier,"  should  occasionally  disturb  the  Iiar- 
mony  of  those  regions,  where  we  might  have 
hoped  that  all  would  have  l>cen  of  one  mind. 

I  am  not  blind  to  the  defects  which  exist  among 
the  Vaudois, — and  it  was  for  this  reason,  that  when 
I  was  entrusted  with  the  disposal  of  a  pri^'aie  fund 
for  their  benefit,  I  thought  it  right  to  apply  it  in 
such  a  manner,  as  should  strengthen  the  weak 
hands, — and  be  of  sen-ice  in  a  religious  point  of 
view.  A  college,  or  superior  school,  where  young 
men  intended  for  holy  orders  may  be  grounded  in 
the  true  principles  of  the  Waldensian  Church,  ai>d 
where  all,  who  arc  likely  to  611  influential  stations 
in  the  valleys,  may  receive  the  love  of  the  truth ; 
— a  revived  system  of  ecclesiastical  discipline,  con- 


I 
I 


WAT.DKNSIAN   RBSBAROIE!!. 


SS7 


sistcnt  with  ancient  practioe.-^aiKl  an  uniform 
liturgy,  may,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  have  the 
effect  of  providing  a  remedy  against  errors,  which 
might  otherwise  creep  in. 

I  am  happy  in  being  able  to  report,  that  the 
proposals  which  I  ramie  to  the  Pastors,  and 
Notables,  and  to  tlie  Table,  and  which  were  ac- 
cepted, before  I  took  my  departure  from  the  val- 
leys, arc  likely  to  be  carried  into  effect,  so  as  to 
meet  my  views  in  every  respect.  Had  it  been 
otlierwise,  I  should  ha%'e  been  under  the  necessity 
of  withdrawing  the  offers  which  were  made : — and 
even  now,  should  it  ever  happen,  whicli  (rod  for- 
bid, that  the  inhabitants  of  the  Valleys  should 
cease,  from  choice  or  compulsion,  to  bo  "  a  con- 
gregation of  Ciitlilul  men,"  in  the  sense  presumed 
by  the  Confessions  of  Faith,  promulgated  by  the 
ancient  Waldensian  Church,  the  funds  destined 
to  the  Vaudois  college,  will  be  apjilied  to  uphold 
the  true  Protestant  cause  in  some  other  part  of 
the  world. 

Since  my  return  to  England,  many  tetters  have 
passed  between  the  Moderator  and  myself,  in 
regard  to  the  final  arrangements  rchiting  to  the 
college.  There  was  a  natural  anxiety  expressed 
on  the  part  of  several  of  the  communes  to  have 
tlic  establishment  fixed  witliin  their  own  bounda- 
ries, and  a  noble  rivalry  has  been  displayed  in 
conseriuence.  Among  others,  the  parishes  of 
Pramol  ami  San  Cjermano  offered  to  Ond  some  of 


52S 


WA1.DESSIAN    RCSKARCUES. 


the  materials  for  the  building,  and  to  be  at  the 
expense  of  the  labour  and  carriage  of  materials, 
provided  the  college  should  be  erected  in  San 
Gennano,  upon  a  piece  of  ground  tendered  gra- 
tuitously by  a  proprietor  of  that  tillage.  Five' 
proprietors  of  San  Giovanni  offered  to  give  sites: 
and  a  lai^  subscription  towards  the  cost  of  the 
building  was  volunteered  by  the  inhabitants  of  San 
Giovanni,  on  condition  that  the  institution  should 
be  placed  on  their  territory. 

These  generous  offers  were  embarrassing:  but 
at  length  the  Officers  of  the  Table,  and  the  Pas- 
teur-Chapelaiu,  invited  a  commission,  consisting 
of  pastors  and  notables  from  each  valley,  to  con- 
fer with  them,  and  to  decide  upon  the  site  of  the 
proposed  establishment.  They  came  to  the  reso- 
lution that  the  territory  of  La  Torre,  the  place 
which  I  had  originally  chosen,  was  the  fittest  spot, 
(particularly  now  that  a  I^tin  school  is  established 
at  I'omaretto  for  the  valleys  of  Perosa  and  San 
Martino,  and  endowed  principally  by  the  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts, 
and  partly  out  of  the  fund  at  my  disposal),  and 
recommended  that  a  house  in  La  Torre,  called 
the  "  Maison  des  Vallees,"  should  be  purchased 
by  the  assistance  of  public  contributions  in  tbe 
valleys,  for  the  reception  of  the  professors  and 
students. 

Until  the  completion  of  the  purchase  and  trans- 
fer of  this  building,  it  was  proposed  by  the  com- 


I 


I 


4 


WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHES.  529 

mission  to  accept  an  offer  of  the  proprietor,  and 
to  apply  &n  adjoining  house  of  his  to  the  use  of 
the  institution.  A  letter^  which  I  received  the 
beginning  of  this  year  (1831),  requested  that  I 
would  signify  my  assent  to  these  resolutions;  I 
have  done  so,  with  the  intimation  that  the  stipends 
of  the  Principal,  and  of  the  ten  exhibitioners, 
might  be  considered  to  commence  from  the 
first  of  January,  in  the  present  year,  by  half 
yearly  payments  in  advance.  Remittances  have 
been  made  to  the  Moderator  to  carry  this  into 
immediate  effect,  and  I  trust  that  before  this 
sheet  issues  from  the  press,  the  first  lectures  will 
have  been  given. 

But  it  is  yet  doubtful  whether  the  institution 
will  continue  to  be  fixed  at  La  Torre,  for  the 
patriotic  inhabitants  of  San  Giovanni  have  since 
made  a  new  proposal.  They  have  offered  to  erect 
a  building  entirely  at  their  own  expense,  (in  the 
centre  of  an  acre,  or  an  acre  and  a  half  of  ground,) 
which  shall  contain  as  many  rooms  as  the  "  Maison 
des  Vallees,"  if  we  will  acquiesce  in  their  petition 
to  have  the  college  placed  within  their  parish.  This 
proposal,  reduced  to  a  written  form,  they  have 
handed  about  the  valleys,  and  have  fortified  it 
with  the  signatures,  in  approbation,  of  more  than 
two-thirds  of  the  principal  members  of  the  Wal- 
densian  community.  I  have  just  received  this 
interesting  document,  and  if  it  perplexes  me  to 
know  how  to  reconcile  conflicting  opinions  and 

H  m 


.530  WALDENSIAS    RESEARCHES. 

wishes  on  the  subject,  it  is  exceedingly  gratiMnj; 
to  find  that  the  project  is  so  highly  valued  as  to 
iKconic   an   apple  of  generous  discord.     If  the 
Table  aud  the  Commission  should  be  inclined  t^ 
sanction  the  views  of  the  inhabitants  of  San  GioH 
vanni,  it  will  not  be  easy  to  refuse  my  suffrage ; 
but  there  are  many  prudential  reasons  to  be  a^H 
signed  against  it  Among  others,  the  jealousy  witir 
which  the  government  has  alwaj-s  r^arded  even' 
thing  new  in  tliis  commune,- — witness  tile  order  to 
close  the  new  church  in  1814,  and  the  uowillii^ 
permission  which  was  aftenvards  granted  for  its 
re-opening.     The  Consistory  and  civil  autboritif 
of  the  parish  have  produced  "  Patentes  RoyalesJ^ 
which,  it  is  said,  authorise  Ihem  to  have  establtsEi 
mcnts  for  pubUc  instruction.     But  these  are  only 
concessions,  and  matters  of  grace   and  especial 
favour,  which  if  one  absolute  sovereign  may  grant. 
another  may  withhold ;  and  not  being  acknowledg- 
meuts  and  confirmations  of  privileges,  claimed  as 
rights  by  the  people  of  San  Giovanni,  in  common 
with  the  rest  of  the  Vaudois  communes,  it  seems 
hazardous  to  risk  the  prosperity  of  the  infant 
institution  by  placing  it  on  disputed  ground.        M 
For  the  present,  it  will  have  a  location  in  the 
house,  vrhich  has  been  offered  provisionally  at  La 
Torre,  and,  under  the  name  of  "  L'Ecole  Supe- 
ricure,"  (in  its  present  humble  character  it  cannot 
aspire  to  that  of  a  collie,)  will  be  governed  by 
the  following  reflations : — 


r  us 
lislf^ 


WALDP.N8IAN    HtlSEAHCllKS. 


A3 1 


1.  The  institution  is  ciitablishi-d  for  the  benefit 
of  Protestant  youth,  who  havo  made  some  pro- 
gress in  the  Grammar-school  of  La  Torre  or 
Poniarctto,  or  elsewhere. 

2.  So  long  as  circumstances  will  not  admit  of 
the  appointment  of  more  than  one  professor,  the 
Principal  will  be  required  to  undertake  to  give 
instruction  in  French,  Latin,  Italian,  and  Greek, 
—History, — and  Religion,  according  to  the  con- 
fessions of  Faith  of  the  Waldensian  Church. 

3.  The  Commission,  or  its  Delegates,  are  charged 
with  the  examination  of  young  persons  desirous  of 
admission  to  "  L'lCcoIe  Superieure,"  that  it  may 
be  ascert^ned  whether  they  are  capable  of  pur- 
suing  studios,  requisite  to  quahfy  them  for  the 
various  professions. 

4.  The  students  admitted  into  the  institution 
must  be  capable  of  attending  the  fint  course  of 
lectures,  which  will  resemble  those  of  Uie  first 
class  of  the  college  of  Lausanne. 

5.  For  ten  students,  to  be  elected  out  of  the  ten 
Vaudois  parishes  most  remote  from  La  Torre, 
there  will  be  exhibitions  of  100  francs  each  per 
annum.  If  either  of  the  parishes,  which  ore  entitled 
to  an  exhibition,  should  not  produce  a  claimant 
quali6ed  to  receive  it,  the  unappropriated  exhibi- 
tion will  be  offered  in  succession  to  the  parishes 
less  distant  frum  La  Torre,  according  to  a  cycle 
pre-determined. 

6.  The  exliibitions  will  be  granted,  after  exa- 

H  m2 


532 


WALDCNSIAN 


mination,  to  the  most  desemng  of  the  candidate 
from  the  several  parishes,  which  are  to  enjoy  the 
light  of  nominating  claimants.  H 

7.  If  candidates  for  the  same  exhibition  should 
prove  equal  in  merit,  it  vriU  be  awarded  to  the 
most  necessitous. 

8.  All  the  students,  and  exhibitioners,  who 
attend  the  lectures  of  the  institution,  whether 
they  re^de  with  the  professors  or  not,  will  be 
required  to  submit  to  the  rules  which  shall  be 
adopted  for  its  regulation. 

9.  The  students  must  attend  public  service  in 
church  every  Sunday.  Besides  which  they  must 
be  present  at  a  particular  service  within  the  insti- 
tution, which  will  be  composed  and  appointed  by 
the  Commission.  ^m 

10.  Everj'  student  mustdaily  attend  at  the  hoB^ 
of  prayer,  and  must  be  present  in  class,  at  a  S 
turo  lecture,  which  will  be  given  every  day, 
in  the  original  language  of  the  Old  or  New  Te 
ment,  or  in  the  French  or  Italian  tongue,  or  in 
copies  of  the  "  Lcngua  Valdesa." 

May  the  venerable  pastor,  M.  Bert,  under  whose 
roof,  and  by  whose  assistance,  this  institution  was 
planned,  and  may  the  members  of  the  Commiasioii, 
who  have  carried  it  so  far  into  effect,  be  permitted 
to  live  to  see  it  sssiune  the  character  and  designa- 
tion, which  our  hopes  anticipate ! 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


The  Trtaliet  If  tMek  /VrwMo/  ami  Kelifpmu  Itigitt  <MgAf  r» 
kut  hem  tteund  to  l Ac  t'aidou. 


After  my  return  to  England  from  my  second 
visit  to  the  valleys  of  Piemont,  [  thought  it  right 
to  make  another  effort  in  behalf  of  tlie  Watdensiiui 
Church,  and  to  address  a  memorial  to  his  Majesty's 
minister!),  explanatory  of  the  present  condition  <4 
the  Vaudois,  and  the  infraction  of  solemn  treaties, 
by  which  the  king  of  Sardinia  is  pledged  to  the 
British  government  to  presen-e  tlie  rights  of  the 
Vaudois  inviolate. 

We  have  heard  a  great  deal  lately  of  the  ob- 
ligation of  certain  ancient  engagements  between 
the  crown  of  Engbind  and  other  states ',  and 
h&ving  it  in  my  power  to  shew  that  coniiHtcts', 


'  "  trnpfCNid  It  •!!  liniM  wiUi  ihc  oeceuity  of  rccpocling  (ha 
f&illi  of  natioul  enfagvoicnls." — A'tn^'t  Sptrek,  1830. 

*  I UH  indebted  lo  Mr.  Hawkiitt,  of  ibc  British  Muieutn,  for 
patting  me  in  poMC*>ian  of  pap«n,  ialui!li  fini  duvctcd  nij  Kt- 
IHttioD  to  ihcM  ttcatin.  But  fui  llii*.  I  believe  the  cxitfcaoa 
of  ■■cli  tretlin  would  hare  been  forgotten. 


u 


534 


WALDESSIAM   RESEARCHES. 


1 


efjualty  .strong,  bind  the  court  of  Sardinia  to  lea 
the  VaudoU  in  the  uninterrupted  eojoyment 
immemoriat  privileges,  and  the  kings  of  England 
to  gtiarantec  tlicir  security,  I  therefore  embraced 
the  opportunity  of  submitting  the  matter  to  the 
consideration  of  the  Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign^ 
Af&irs.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  coi 
pondence  that  passed  upon  the  subject  : — 


"  To  the  Right  llomurahU  the  Karl  of  Aberdee^ 
Secrefartf  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs. 

"  Mr  Lord, 

"  I  nxnt  reapectfuTly  bef;  lekve  to  nAmit  (lie  ctv 
"  Vaudois  tu  your  U)tiJshi[i's  contkleratSoo ;  w^ich  his  i 
"  govcmmral,  noder  the  utimininmtion  of  the  lal«  Eari  at 
'•  LJTOpool,  bonovmt  nJUi  jte  attebtioa  and  protectioa.  ha 
"  the  ncoUecUoD  of  the  eocoimiieraent  which  I  ihea 
"  10  bring  the  Bubjoct  oada  notice,  which  now  penaMia  i 
"  hope  for  (li«  same  indulgeoce. 

"  Bui  should  anj  other  apolo^  be  dcetncd  accMniy.  1 
"  be  allowed  to  urge  the  circamsuace  of  m;  being  Secreiuy  i 
**  the  '  Vaudoif  Comniittee,'  U  Mtociation  nhich  baa  cbaised 
'*  itself  with  the  duty  of  mauagiug  certain  fundi  ntsed  (or  the 
"  relief  of  the  Vaudois,  and  which  hat  the  hooour  of  nuung 
"  u]ion  its  li»t.  His  Grace  tlie  Archhiabop  of  Cutabnry,  aad 
"  vcfcml  dtstin^uJKhid  mcmbeis  of  both  bouses  of  PariiaanenL 
"  I  do  not,  bowcrei.  profess  to  addTesi  yaut  lordship  ander  ibe 
•'  sanctioD  of  that  body,  bat  I  cun  confidently  refer  your  lord- 
'*  ship  to  the  Afchbiihopof  Canterbury,  or  to  any  other  manbei 
"  of  the  cocnmttlcf,  id  leslim(»iy  of  the  stroog  interest  whkfc 
*-  hu  been  excited  in  Ihit  ctninUy  in  fatout  of  the  Vaudoit. 


WALDBNSIAN    RESKARCHES. 


535 


"  I  have  lately  tprat  B  connderable  time  among  ibetn,  vntit- 
ing  every  village  aail  hamlet,  ami  have  Ibui  had  opfMitanttics 
of  galhering  iDCDranatiOD,  wliich  could  ooljr  be  obtained  by 
hnng  upon  the  apot,  nnd  by  obMrving  how  the  ■yvleni  of 
0)>f)reuion  worka,  and  id  wbal  nuaner  it  ihratlona  lo  com- 
plete lli«  destnictioD  of  a  Church,  which  b  the  origin  of  every 
Relbnned  Church  in  Europe. 

"  Ilic  accompanying  MeoMTial  will  explain  lo  yoai  totdihip 
the  prrwiit  afBicting  cooditiOD  of  theae  ProteiOiat  wbjecU  o( 
tiM  Icing  of  Sardinia,  who,  known  nnder  the  name  of  Vaudoia 
or  Waldeiises,  inhabit  three  Picmontcw  vnllcyi  on  (be  llalun 
uAe  of  the  Alp*.  Although  they  have  conHantly  tulTenM] 
udn  intotenble  grierancei,  they  have  j«M  cbim*  lo  eapecial 
antmities and  priillegM :  firtt,  upootbe&tdiofooiiceMKKU 
(nnied  to  their  anceatorm'  u  original  poittsson  of  the  nil, 
and  profctiing  the  r«bgion  which  b  now  roumtnincd  there, 
hHif;  before  the  bouse  of  Savoy  obtained  the  (ovcrcignty  of 
Piemont ;  and,  secondly,  upon  the  strength  of  IreatJo  and 
engagements  made  with  fotvign  powcn  in  (heir  t>ehalf.  Ii 
wu  to  pmerve  this  moat  ancient  aiock  from  rain  (which  baa 
very  truly  been  conaidered  the  coonecting  link  between  the 
Piimilive  and  Reformed  Cbnrcbea),  that  the  Vaudots  hav« 
bc«n  invited,  at  drilcrcnt  period*  of  history,  to  appeal  lo  the 
Protestant  Hates  of  Europe,  when  lliey  have  bad  any  con- 
plainU  to  raalte,  and  Oiat  every  Protesunt  ataie'  has  inler- 
poaed  to  protect  iheni  in  some  thape  or  other.  '  It  is  hard,' 
laya  an  historian  upon  this  subject. '  to  funith  a  like  example 


*  TW  IVJM  ClKur  ralMiiH  blwpaNd  bi  ISM:  md 

Tht  r  n       I  im-    -•'T  till  •  -^   ''-  "-'1 "■-f'--^  •<-'• 

OtHMl  of  ibe  Uaktd  pMflne^  lb*  Xla(  cf  FnoMw  A(  Btac  pfawMbB, 
■toUa<tni««rKaM,a^**Uii«orDnaMk.blMft:  and 

Kat  WihB  10..  mA  th*  Sum  Ovntnl  oTiW  tlited  PtnliKWk  !■  IIMl 

n*lMH|«U«M  In  lot,  b4  \m  IMt^  aitd  ibi  Vawbfa  ban  mUM- 


636 


VALDENSUM   RESEARCHES. 


of  (ke  hannooy  and  mutual  eooieot  of  >o  manj  diffut  M- 
tiotis  and  »(au»,  in  anv  one  ifaias  whadoerer  rclalin^  to  reli> 
gion  '■'  Tilt  conceni  monifatnl  for  the  Vau(lo<«  ha*  bt«n 
M  strong,  that  thcit  ovi>  gixemmcRl  has  odoutlcd  tbcir  riefal 
ofnppcal,  bikI  the  right  of  roreign  powers  to  iDlerpoae. 
ngtti  to  OUT  ona  country,  1  may  humbly  Tcnture  to 
■pen  the  authority  of  copies  of  conespoodeiiM  twcMiwd 
the  offices  of  yonr  lonUhip's  department,  and  to  ibe 
Paper  Office,  Ihnt  thr  ^cn-ancct  of  the  Vaudon  ha««  rndf" 
failed  to  attract  Ute  syniiwthy.  aixil  to  exercise  the  medotiai 
of  the  En^iah  govemmeDt,  at  eiery  period  of  its  lustory,  «h« 
ila  couniteb  have  bera  directed  by  ProUMant  mioinen. 
"  Among  lite  very  paiticuktr  tostiincea  of  Intetpoaition  on  the 
part  of  the  Englbh  gorvmHWDi,  permit  mc  to  entreat  yov 
krd:diip's  attention  to  the  foltowing.  ^M 

"  \a  1G40,  the  envoy  from  King  Cbarl«s  I.  to  the  conrt  o^* 
Turin,  fixed  his  reakleoce  at  La  Tour,  the  priiKipal  rillace  of 
ilitt  Vaudoi*.  that  hb  prcacncc  anwngH  them,  and  bia  ofipor- 
luihica  tluraby  of  obuinii^  correct  btelligenoe,  niffal  p*a 
Ibcoe  to  bii  medklkn. 

"  Fifteen  years  aftenratdt,  a  miniaUr  extraordinkry  «■* 
Kut  from  Euglaod  to  the  Duke  of  Saniy,  the  sok  object  of 
wboite  miasion  was  to  mediate  between  the  Duke  and  his  Pb>- 
tcstftftt  >nhj«cts. 

"  It  was  about  the  same  time  that  the  head  of  the  exiitiog 
English  goveinmeut,  not  only  intitcd  the  •onrrigns  of  swy 
Protestant  kingdom  to  Like  part  inth  him  in  espousing  ihe 
vause  of  the  Waldcti«cs,  upon  th«  principle  of  community  of 
t^i~^ioiis  interests,  but  he  abo  appealed  to  the  French  monarch, 
aod  insisted  that  France  was  boutuJ  by  trealiea  to  w»  JMtica 
dune  to  tbe  WahUittes.  Thi»  wa*  in  roAjrencc  to  ilie  irestj 
of  1592,  and  tbc  confircnulion  of  it  in  1630  ;  by  which,  when 
the  \'audois  and  tbctr  lands  were  incorporated  with  Fiancv, 
the  French  kings  obliged  themselves  and  their  tuccssaors  for 

■  HotiuHi.  p.  eatL 


WALIIENSIAN    RESBARrHCS. 

"  mt  to  maintain  ilic  ancient  libcrtitx  of  the  Vaudow. 
"  cbuN  ran  thus  : 

*■  >  And  ir  it  thould  happen  at  uy  tin?,  that  hU  majctty  ' 
"  or  hit  tncceaton  should  be  conMniMed  to  nimadet  ihcm  to 
"  die  juritdktton  of  any  olber.  tli«y  ftl>all  be  Iraatferrrd  tnlh 
"  Um  Munc  condition*,  pnTile^,  and  ()ualilic&rio>n«.  that  ahall 
"  be  friMed  to  Ihcm  by  the  prrwnt  treaty,  together  with  their 
"  ancient  piiT)l«(i;eB  and  immunilka,  wkich  by  auch  Iraiufer 
"  iliall  neitlRT  lie  cbanfed,  i«neired,  doc  altered  in  any  tray 
"  nbntpvct.' 

"  Tlifl  fruit  oTihii  mcdialion,  on  tlie  part  of  tb«  English  govem- 
"  HMtnt  in  1655,  was  a  solemn  compact  aigiwd  hy  the  dnke  of 
"  SsToy  in  faninr  of  hit  Vaudou  sab^ecla,  and  gvannleed  by 
"  Ibe  ambaaaador  of  Ibe  luo;  of  France,  and  the  ambawadoni 
"  of  the  Reforai«d  Canton*  of  Swiint^Ml.  But  the  compact 
**  WM  aooB  violated,  <uul  in  auorcr  to  a  Idler  from  the  Siriat 
**  Cwtow  to  Chatira  II.  about  the  year  1666.  rvquestinc  hit 
"  majealy'i  tnieffereoce.  the  king  promiied,  *  We  will  lto«n  our 
"  heart  do  alive  can  toward*  tbepreaerratioo  and  tafely  of  ihoM^ 
"  who  Bit  ao  cloaely  uiuted  to  u*  l>y  tbo  tacred  l>a  of  a  cooinoB 
**  faith.'  There  it  wnry  leaaoo  to  believe  that  the  ptomtfed  in- 
••  letCTMioa  of  CharlM  11.  wa>  bat  feeble  i  for  at  ibis  cmii  than 
"  commenced  a  syatain  of  taore  effMtual  pervectitioo,  vUeh  ttm- 
"  tinned  to  deprive  the  Vaadoin  of  their  taiids  and  |«0])erty, 
"  lo  conlinc  them  viihin  mon;  n.iiTuw  limit*,  and  greatly  to  rr- 
"  duce  their  numben.  'I1ii«  o]>p<T>aioa  became  more  and  mora 
"  icvere,  until  l)i«  noo-ioterrcTcnce  of  the  Bngli*h  gonsmmeat 
"  under  Jamea  11^  and  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nanlea  !■ 
"  France,  gaw  the  duke  of  Savoy  an  opportuuiiy  of  making  a 
"  new  attempt  to  eilerinin>te  the  Vaudoit.  The  greater  part  of 
"  their  population  was  massacred  :  and  of  the  remainder,  nBie 
"  vara  obliged  to  oonforai  lo  RoBMiam,  arut  the  rest  were  drtren 
**  &on  llieir  b«bil«lioiii.    This  look  place  in  16^ 


HmttIV.  .rrra-c*- 


538 


WALOBKSIAK   RESEARCHEa. 


"  Whhin  a  few  je»n  aftenratds,  the  courage  and  coodnct  of 
"  ibr.  Vauilois  refugeea,  who  were  aided  by  William  III.,  CMhlad 
"  them  tu  rrpoueu  thcawelrei  of  •oma  part  of  ibnr  aDC»l  nA- 
'*  UcBienU,  and  id  1690,  ifae  Waldcnsc*  were  once  man  iodabted 
"  to  the  Eitgltsh  gorenuHcnt,  and  recovered  their  {Kditical  exi«- 
"  cnce. 

"  YoHT  lon]sbq>  will  lake  »me  iaiecMC  in  teadiog  the  ncconnl, 
**  whicb  an  hbtoriiin  of  tbat  day  given  of  the  dccianre  coodort 
"  of  lli«  English  CDToy,  who  managed  the  affair.  '  The  duke  of 
"  Savoy  granted  a  very  full  edict  in  favour  of  tbe  Vaado««^ 
**  tealflrint  their  former  Ubenie*  and  priiik^ea  to  ibeai,  which 
"  the  lord  Calway  took  care  to  have  jnil  in  the  most  cMphatieai 
*'  wordi>,  and  pat»cd  with  bU  tbe  fonsalitica  of  law,  to  vafce  il  M 
"  effectual  as  laws  and  promises  can  be :  yel  every  ctep,  tbit 
"  wai  made  io  that  affair,  went  a^ut  the  grain,  and  waa  n- 
"  torted  from  him  by  ihe  ioti;rceMioo  of  tbo  hin^.  Bad  ibe  Suica, 
•'  and  by  tbc  lord  Gnlwmy**  seal'.' 

"  The  nm«  sealout  attention  to  tbe  grievani^es  of  the  Vmt- 
"  doii  was  again  shewn  in  the  ttciet  treaty  of  Tuiia,  in  1704, 
"  between  queen  Anne  and  the  duke  of  Savoy;  and  il  also  ap- 
"  peaied  in  the  face  of  tbe  conespoodence  between  those  powera 
"  in  1709.  In  the  coarae  of  ihntcomspondencc,  and  in  aon- 
**  vertalioo  with  the  anittaMiidor  Chctwynd,  the  dnke  admitted 
"  ilial  be  was  bound  both  by  treaties  and  ptomiMS  to  give  islia- 
"  fiictioD  to  England  on  (hia  tobjeeL 

"  Unfortuoatcly  for  the  Waldemea,  the  adminiitntiooc,  whid 
*■  immediately  snccecded,  did  not  watch  the  execution  of  these 
"  treaties  and  engagen>eota  with  Mifiicient  vigtbinoc,  or  they  did 
"  Bot  press  the  question  with  v^ur.  It  is  certain  that  one 
"  popttloua  valley  was  wreated  from  the  ProtcataDts,  and  the 
"  inhabitant*  vrerc  compelled  to  abJDTC  their  faith,  dttrtog  tbe 
**  period  of  this  iMilnees ;  but  in  the  midu  of  the  evil,  the  ugv 
*'  meot  which  I  am  humbly  usisg  with  your  iofddup,  (nanely, 

'  BuitM'*  Biauty  sf  hb  Own  TloMft  ««L  IL  fi.  I7&     VaL  t#L  *t  ITBl 


< 


u 


WALPBNSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


lliBl  ilirrc  era  ampU)  groundi  and  precn)«nts  for  inloqxtniioa 
b;  rirttie  oftlMUM,)  dethrei  strength  rioin  IIm  Unt(iisf;«  and 
cooduct  of  the  Btiticb  tninhler,  Mr.  Ilnlget,  at  tbe  conn  of 
Turiq.  He •Irongly proUisloiI  againsttbe  infractiofioflrealicii, 
and  be  wrote  repeated  leltrre  to  hb  own  fnorerBment,  impior- 
inf;  ihcnt  to  be  mare  in  eameM.  to  inslnict  bim  to  inaMt 
upon  tlie  observance  of  en^fagentenif  with  the  Vaudoia,  aod 
pledging  hnoaclf  that  it  onljr  required  to  be  in  earnest  to  cany 
the  foiat. 

"  lie  ffAUnt'iDf  extracts'  from  tbe  despatches  of  Mr.  Hedges 
in  1727,  ate  so  nuHi  to  llw  parpoae,  end  *o  applicnMc  to  tJie 
present  stale  of  tbiiiEi,  (hat  I  tmsl  jmir  Uitdihjp  will  p&idon 
my  UoabliB^  jrov  with  them. 

"  '  I  beliere,  if  the  Marquis  U'Aix.  (Sardinian  cnroy  in  Ixin- 
doB.)  perceived  aa  caroeAtneas  in  England  of  having  thb  aflkir 
tentedicd,  it  would  rery  much  facilitate  it.'  June  '21,  1727. 
"  '  I  cannot  bat  be  of  opiniou,  (bat  one  greul  reason  of  the 
ecMiiis  I  meet  with  here  on  those  s«bj«cts,  arises  chiefly  fium 
the  litlle  waroth  with  which  it  is  urged  to  the  Marquis  D'Atx, 
at  London,  and  a*  tliey  are  point*  by  no  waya  afirecaUe  to 
tlie  king  of  Sardinia,  1  do  not  douU  but  be  lufurau  hu  maMer 
that  we  ban  lll«m  ool  so  much  at  bean,  as  to  obligv  him  to 
cnaku  many  •hwiliou  in  either  case.  For  the  traatias  an  *0 
«3i|N<aH  with  icfwd  to  (h«  Protestants,  that  they  cannot  possi- 
bly have  any  ihtng  to  say  in  defence  of  their  present  bebanour 
to  them.'    Ai>gua23,  1727. 

•■  *  The  Marquis  dc  St.  Tbonuu  owned  (o  me  the  banUups 
that  tbe  inhabitants  of  those  vnlteys  lulwared  under;  but 
pUwIsd  in  excuse,  that  llkey  were  obliged  not  to  uiSfet  tl>e 
tmw.itfi  cf  llw  Protestant  religion  in  them  by  the  treaty  made 
with  France  Ibr  lb>  caiaion  of  those  valleys  iu  exchange  fat 
the  valley  of  Barcdioaetts :  but,  as  1  had  carefully  lookud  over 
that  treaty,  and  OouM  find  in   it  no  one  word  relating  to  the 


I  Its  Iha  AvM  arKr.  a«d|M.  b  tlw  SIM.  IVa  CMn. 


540  WALDENS1AN    RKSKARCHKS. 

"  not  ■ufftrin;  llie  I'rotMtaDl  reltgion,  but,  on  UkC  coBlnry.  ir 
"  it  mppeared  to  me,  a*  your  Grace  will  tee  bjr  ■  copy  of  ibe 
"  aitjcle  enclosed,  ib«t  ibe  inhabiuiits  ttiould  be  mainUined 
**  inviolably  in  M  Ibeir  pririlegc*  and  immunities.  I  told  fain 
"  I  could  not  poKsibiy  imagiiMt  it  *ns  captiblc  of  rccvinn^  ur 
"  Hicb  cMisuucltoo.  I  then  told  bim  that  I  could  not  but  be 
"  cstiemdy  surprised  at  the  little  attention  that  wa«  sbcwn  to 
"  Uif  Mnjctly'i  inletcecuon,  rouK  dbd  u\  soliu  k  TaanTtu, 
"  which  •  could  not  ponibly  be  mciandentood.'  Augoat  30, 
"  1:27. 

"  ■  I  can  aasure  yoa  that  lalLing  firmly  to  thetn,  aod  tbai  by 
"  penorat  ofauthoritv,  and  who  iWy  think  are  able  loroalngoed 
"  their  word*,  it  the  only  wuy  of  obtaining  ihc  moat  jost  Hrf 
"  reaaooable  demands  at  tbt«  court;  and  nothing  but  gnat 
"  atettdtoeaaon  oui  side,  and  iaaiiling  stnmgly  on  out  tmties, 
*'  and  the  kim;  of  Sardinia's  promise*,  caa  ptcacne  the  Pro- 
"  tenuints  or  tlie  valleys  from  lare  and  certain  deatmctioo.  7\c 
"  inveteracy  sgaitut  our  religion  It  incredible,  and  if  it  be  not 
"  supported  with  some  warmth,  since  it  is  attacked  wilii  so 
**  much,  it  must  give  way  to  superior  power.'  Nomobct  a, 
*■  1727. 

"  It  H  impoitant  to  explain  to  your  loritbip,  ihst  iwriag 
"  the  pTOgnaaa  ot  these  negocialtons.  the  king  of  Safdinia  laand 
"  the  defence  of  bis  proceedings  against  the  Protestants  of  the 
"  valley  of  Pra^ela,  upon  the  plea,  that  the  iahafcitaata  of  ihM 
"  valley,  wen  not  tht  Watdeiutt  wboae  privileges  he  was  booMl 
"  by  treaty  to  respect.  '  As  to  the  Vaudois,'  (ot  Waldeoses  of 
■*  the  valleys  of  Lucerne,  Perouse,  and  St.  ftlartin,)  the  king  awl 
"  bit  ministers  declared  that,  '  it  was  a  different  case  with  them, 
"  that  whatever  just  grievances  they  had  should  be  icliewd,' 
"  '  that  ihen:  was  no  objecttun  agtunst  the  free  pfofcMioB  aad 
"exercise  of  their  religion.'  Letters  June?,  and  August 30, 
'•  1727. 

"  Uy  lord,  h  is  to  these  WaMenses',  to  the  few  who  now 

•  or  Hmkhil 


I 


WALnRNfilAS    RESEARCnRS. 


541 


F 


nataia  in  IhoM  Kcioas,  wbm  the  Wulilcnuui  Church  once 
CODMlml  of  800,000',  ibat  I  entiv»  your  altcntion.  Up  lo 
this  iBOmcnl  Englivh  ai<l  uid  mediatwo  baw  bmn  uiummcntil 
in  pToU-cting  them  from  the  •evrral  ■t^g'^wiOM,  which  have 
IhnalcncdthriroTctthcow,  anil  nnk»tl)«T can  stDI  look  lo  tlin 
qmrtM  for  succour,  there  m  every  iciuon  to  dmil,  ftofii  the 
fMiMBl  upect  or  hoWility.  with  which  they  uC  rcgwtlcd,  (hat 
ihcir  nanM  will  be  cAicmI  from  the  ludory  of  the  ninctcccitli 
ceaUiy. 

"  Yoor  lordiihip  may  yet  be  the  meant  of  redreMing  the 
Injury  dooo  to  the  Vaudoia  in  1614,  when  tbty  were  placed 
nnder  their  old  yoke,  witlioal  any  Mitable  «lTort  to  liffala  H* 
heuvy  bnrtkeu.  They  vrere  thru  overlooked  ;  their  cluon 
and  their  coodttion  cacHped  the  notice  of  tlie  Britiah  goteriH 
mcni,  at  a  tinie  when  ihoie  wn»  tlie  ^^rraiat  ttadiiieat  lo  do 
juttice  to  such  a  cauie.  1  »Uall  be  puniouod  for  tliruwiiig  out 
thb  obaerratwn,  by  the  production  of  the  following  an«wer, 
which  the  Eiul  of  Liverpool  |i:ai-e,  when  an  appeal  waa  mada 
to  hi>   lofdUiip  in  belialf  of  othei  Proteatant  HiffierH^   la 

I8ii'. 

**  '  The  ioTariable  object  of  iho  Bii(i»h  soremmcnt,  and  that 
of  its  alltei,  baa  always  been  to  preaen'c,  and  upon  ever; 
conveoieiit  occasioo  to  maintain,  the  principle*  of  loleruioB 
m  natter*  of  religion,  with  fnU  liberty  of  comdence,  and  in 
iu  hut  corroapandcnce  with  the  court  of  Pnnop,  it  b»  |tut 
farwud  theaa  principles  u  the  foniidation  of  its  policy.' 
"  Throughout  the  whole  of  this  letter,  1  hafe  been  nwn  su- 
iova  to  Ml  amhoiiliea  before  your  tordabip,  hkI  to  tcnanl  ny 
view  of  tke  lubject  by  the  «4uiciioD  of  ofunioos,  that  are 
likely  to  have  weight  with  your  lordship,  than  to  obtnade  nj 
own  reasoning.  Ihtnhtv,  m  coackuion,  I  bt%  Im«*  10 
uiaacnbe  from  the  ropons  of  the  ptoceedinga  of  the  Houh  of 


•  UiIm  A)*iMpmte«m«IPn«f  aodlMI;. 

•  AAmiIw dmHb «  NiiMS. 


542 


WAI.DENSIAN    RRSEARCUES. 


Lords,  ID  April  bnt',  the  very  ■trikini;  lukguage  of  ibo  ] 
Arcbbisbop  of  Canterbury,  wlien  liis  Gnce  was  mpptmaf 
tbait  the  lime  mi^t  come,  when  the  exotions  of  the  Scadary 
of  Sut«  for  Forcign  Aflain  would  be  necovy  (a  the  pfotec- 
lion  of  Proti!«taDt  iniefettt  abroad.  '  Tbo  Arehlwlwjp  of  Ca»- 
tetburr  said,  that  do  adviser  or  minister  of  the  CtovB,  wbe 
could  not  eotcT  into  the  news  of  the  Itiog  for  tbe  tnaiiu^ 
nitooc  of  ibe  true  profeHtoa  of  tfae  Qosfel,  xad  of  the  Pro- 
tcHani  reformed  religion,  could  rant  the  king  to  foUil  tin 
oblations  imposed  upon  him.' — *  Let  him  call  the  attentioa 
of  their  lordships  to  the  Secretary  of  Sttle  ku  Foreap 
AJIaira.  He  apfirejiended  one  of  die  gn*t  caose*  of  the  ■!> 
portance  of  this  eoontry  on  the  coatineut  to  be  iU  snpiMn  of 
ProtcUant  state*  in  crvry  pari  of  Europe,  and  not  only  of 
Protestant  states,  but  (which  was  of  equal  importance,  both 
at  maintaHiiBg  il»e  imu  ]>ntfcsMO«i  of  tlw  Gospel,  and  a*  iadt- 
cative  of  the  power  nf  England)  of  ihoae  Uttle  bodies  of  Pn* 
tettants  which  were  foniKl  In  luge  stales,  and  of  which,  the 
members,  surrounded  by  ikt  seahHU  disciples  of  the  Chnrdi 
of  Rome,  naturally  loolieil  to  this  country  for  protection,  sad 
in  tine  of  danger  *ought  refuge  in  the  influence,  the  inier- 
cession,  or  the  power  of  the  Secretary  of  State  for  Poreigii 
Afiairs.  He  would  not  menlkn  names,  but  he  must  be  al- 
lowed (o  say,  that  n  former '  Secretary  of  Stale  for  Foreign 
ABitirs,  with  whom  ho  had  had  the  hoitouT  of  being  aequsiole^ 
nnd  with  whom  he  had  had  frequent  comraunicatiom,  hid 
told  him,  that  hit  intercession  as  Foreign  Secretary  had  often 
been  succetsful  in  behalf  of  oppressed  bodies  of  Prweatsiitt 
on  the  coniinenL  He  would  not  pu^  thb  mailer  AMbcr, 
but  would  content  hinuelf  with  obserring,  that  m  many  fore%n 
states  there  were  large  coogrc^iations  of  Protestants,  with 
de^  attached  to  them,  who  required  our  eve  aiMJ  protec- 
tion.' 

■  D»ia|ti)w<kbHc>lnA|afl,  ia>ll,<ntb«CMhiific4w«i>«. 
*  H(.  Cuming. 


WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHES.  543 

"  The  Memoria],  to  which  I  now  moM  reapectfiiUy  lolicit  your 
"  lordship's  attention,  will  shew  bow  greatly  the  Vaudws  aad 
"  their  clergy  stand  in  need  of  your  ioterceuicMi. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
My  Ix>rd, 
Your  lordship's  most  faithful  and  obedieot 
humble  servant. 


William  Stepheh  Oillt. 


COLLtOE.  DuSHAKi 

aetJt  Nim.  IB19. 


"  To  the  Right  Honourable  the  Earl  of  Aberdeen, 
Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairt. 

"  The  Memoria)  of  the  Rev.  W.  S.  Gilly,  Prebendary  of  Durham, 
"  in  behalf  of  the  Vaudoit,  or  Waldensea,  Protestant  subjects 
"  of  hii  Majesty  the  King  of  Sardinia : — 

"  SnEWETH, 

"  That  the  Vaudoia,  composing  an  organtied  Church,  and  being 
"  the  moat  ancient  of  all  Protestant  comronnitie*,  are  at  this 
"  time  sutfering  oppresnion,  such  as  no  other  body  of  Protestants, 
"  and  no  other  body  of  separatists  ftom  an  established  Church, 
"  under  any  govemotent  in  the  civilized  world,  are  exposed  10. 

"  That  such  oppression  grow*  out  of  ancient  edicts,  or  of 
"  present  acta  of  authority,  which  prevent  the  free  exercise  of 
"  theti  religion', — prc^ibit  the  acquirement  of  property  beyond 

'  Sd  IUc  U  NoTTmber  lul,  1890,  ■  Vauddi  puur  *u  qncftioacd  bjr  ■ 
prmlTKtal  latboricj  u  to  the  mo  iplein  of  liutractiiiD  wUch  H  u  pwifBwJ  M 
•dopt  ia  (bt  ralkjft  sul  «>i  Uld  that  lltnliglfl  Itetaiu  woold  bm  b>  f«r- 
mitted- 


5U 


WALDKNSUN    RKSK ARCHIES. 


■  ildined  and  narrow  linit*,— compel  lo  obsdvanccs  eontraij^ 
'  to  tUc  dicuu*  of  conscience — fortMd  ibe  exerciM  oTce 
'  profcMMMs, — sepanie  cliiUlteo  from  tlieif  parents,  ua<JcT  ufai- 
'  buy  prelcnccR,  oml  arc  iu  violalion  of  »oI«mn  engageaKnti 
'  bctwciTO  their  soreraigtis  aitd  themsdvc* ' ,  aod  of  treaties,  by 
'  which  ibe  dukes  of  Savoy,  snd  the  kings  of  Sanlinia,  h*w 
'  pted^  tbemelTes  to  EngtaiMl,  and  to  other  Uates,  lo  respect 
'  the  libcriieK  uud  pHvikges  of  the  Vaodob.  That,  these  pie*- 
'  nttaut  uilmit  of  the  follow  n^  exposition,  and  are  of  a  natttfv  In 
'  coll  (<>i  the  mcdiatioD  of  h»  msjesiy'i  gurcnuDcnt  in  bcUf 
'  of  tlic  Vaudois  '. 

"  I'he  Vaudon  hare  had  do  other  charge  alltfcd  against  tea 
'  in  justiKcalion  of  the  eoacdnents  eoforcwd  to  their  prefndice*, 
'  bui  their  adherence  to  the  Pn>i£»tant  reli^n,  whose  jiiiiftiini 
'  haring  nothing  in  the  tcucti  of  their  cncd  to  shake  tlKir 


I 


•  S«  f.  73. 

■  Ehd  In  timet  whtn  lb*  dclilt  oT  tubJccU  wtn  nodi  Icb  i 
(h(]r  an  now,  ih<  Vmiduii  pnjwd  Is*  nliff  ■•  aa  act  af  ji^iitu  aad  ad  at 
pxt.  ■■  Wc  nnnot  br  Juclj  ^(frivtd  tt  that  wbicb  ■sntrc.  ike  Uw  af  w- 
dMM,  and  the  [WMculOB  of  nuuijr  i«m.  s!v*  w  Wi" — "  TowUac  *'■■"  ri^* 
■c  bavt  iiciihn  irctlvt4  (hrn  fraoi  ihe  diilui  *t  Stnay,  aga  boa  aoj  Mhn 
pr3nrv  in  ihf  wnrld,  bni  wt  hivr  thrm  ftvm  God*  aad  wc  tiav«  <itfujMi  Atm 
■>  our  hinh<ri|lii  from  lather  u  md.  bffon  rw  ika  dokci  of  Smj  | 
Picinoiit^  and  the  triilti  U>  wc  anoM  find  ihm  aajr  one  at  i 
make  a  gtanl  (br  tbt  Nnil  InlniduUkin  thcnof,  M  IhM  IW  WsiW  if  Ikt  i 
anrimr  winrtiQiu  irrr*  anir  otbar,  tbjin  to  lMt«  to  «<tr  fiMifillifi  ilic  i 
III  thr  rtfcritr  oT  ilixi  rrligion  which  ihty  bad  nnivtd  tl  tbch  I 
F(iJiian<>rMitrh  iftfttt, 

'  "  Do".  inGod't  ninu.conld  K  happen,  that  Ithniit  Ml)  f— ll  a*  iili  aa 
ihnr  pan,  they  iboDld  Icac  ihiir  iiKhti.  aiid  be  rtdacvd  H  tbair  andcBi  MM*  if 
■crtUude  t  How  etiuld  a  nrn  chaiig*  uf  MiTtrtii^ir,  iW  ^alf  i(  wbkk  ^^ 
iiffi«*  u  ID  pralRl  all  (Killing  prime  ri|tbi4,  ban  prodactd  M>  aaaatenB  a  ar 
umorphoili  r  B]r  nhat  bulitj  hu  the  >«fUfali«  «f  (be  Kins  tt  I 
been  fuilovcd  b;  M  drcadlbl  a  coiuequRKv  aa  ihc  dcfuadaUon  oT  bia  I 
iiiiIiIhIi,  whib  nu  liiBlUr  tStrt  mat  fniaai  bj  Itw  iiiiWaaiim  af  iW  Bur 
boni  to  Fiancp,  nor  by  that  of  ibr  ochc*  mmnigat  In  coasnlcl  alw  (wwail; 
united  id  France,  but  aAcrwardi  i^ii  diUBcmbcrtd  I"  — CouM  M  Aiaa't 
rani|.|itti.  p.  23. 


I 


WALDENSUN    RESEARCHES. 


*'  otedieBCe  to  Ibeir  nutural  wvercigiK,  caniiot  be  susfieclcd  of 
"  a  divided  ordoabirul  alkgiance,  In  (he  Actual  atate  of  thio|^, 
**  wlmi  a  more  cqvinbb  and  mild  mtem  of  f^«rnnent  pn> 
"  vailt  in  doiott  ttaj  atale  in  Burope,  aiut  e&peciallj  in  coub- 
"  Iriet  coDliguotu  to  that  of  tbe  Vaudots,  and  under  Mrercign) 
"  in  tbe  doaest  alliance  wilh  tlie  king  of  Sardinia,  Uicy  mast 
"  natnnlly  cooipaie  their  own  grievance*  and  degradation*  with 
"  tlie  bappior  condition  of  other  subject*,  and  fed  (bcm  accre- 
"  rated  b;  the  comparison.  More  especially  when  they  Ndect, 
"  Uiat  Enf;Uod,  to  which  they  have  liittierto  been  aocwtormed 
"  to  look  Tot  protection,  ha*  Mt  a  benevolent  example,  and  by 
"  yielding  to  the  petition*  of  h«r  Roman  Catltotic  tuhjecta,  bu 
**  added  to  hts  powera  of  remoBrtninre,  and  giren  beraelf  a  new 
"  right  to  interpose  in  favoarofProttatitnt*,  who  are  complaining 
"  not  of  political,  but  of  civil  nivd  pcnonni  dcpriratioo*. 

"  Tlie  Vaudott  are.  at  tbit  period  of  gvoenl  aoMtioratioB, 
"  auffering  under  the  revival  of  BiMtniy  adicU ',  which  do  not 
"  in  «ay  degree  accord  wKh  the  principle*  of  legubtion,  which 
"  er«n  die  raoat  poirerTuI  monarch*  in  Borope,  and  (uch  ai  are 
**  independent  of  any  chuitent  and  compact*  with  tbi-ir  people, 
"  have  ndopted  as  the  btt*i*  of  their  government.  In  tbe  I9tb 
"  century,  the  Vaudoit  arc  rrpliMcd  under  a  aystcm  which  had 
"  it*  commencement  in  llie  dark  a);e* ;  and  ihia,  after  having 
"  been  put  in  full  pu*tea*ion  of  reltKiou*  aad  perwnal  rigliti  in 
**  cooHMn  whh  the  red  of  tbeif  countrymen,  and  after  eojbytng 
"  anch  fi^U  lor  aeveral  Tcarn.  TYiey  are  that  tlie  only  people, 
**  who  iMtead  of  benefiting  by  ihc  rc*toralion  of  the  hovae  of 
"  Savoy,  and  by  other  political  change*  cfiecicd  during  late 
"  event*,  huv.^  suffered  in  tbeif  peraom,  propeity,  and  oonaciennu 

"  It  will  appear  (bm  what  your  memoridiu  hia  to  ilalc,  that 
"  the  cue  of  tlie  Vandoi*  >*  not  one  wherein  the  actnal  arfmJ' 


■  Wtel  IW  hb^  of  Sardlaia  «u  itMwvd  la  M*  iWom  !■  1  Bt  4.  fdndpaDr 
hf  tm  Milan  tf  t^tmii,  W  tmaai  u  mUk,  bf  whkli  h*  ntitnl  tU  iW 
bMlMvM  *mI  r«Mhm  tMcMwato  oUdi  h*a  »»n  pM  ia  fen*  by  lib  |n4»- 
>,  baa  dM  jwr  147ft— Cm  ry**- 
NO 


5W 


WALDCXSIAN    HESEAHcnes. 


iii>lrolion  or  the  law,  toAens  ibe  rigoruu*  Icller  of  tbc  law,  bj 
its  lenity,  foriMwuBce,  and  tndnlgvnoc ;  twt,  on  the  cootntr, 
it  b  It  caM,  idi^Tem  th«  pr^tical  eoforceineot  of  ttvere  edicts 
eitcods  «v«i  beyood  tii«  wordiof;  a&d  mnuiiofr  of  llMat.  It 
a  at  ihH  juncture,  and  und«T  ibe  exwiitgocdcrof  itiiit|«,MKk 
at  to  rvuUtc  the  direat,  'and  now,  whcrc-u  my  (ktha  did  Wb 
you  with  n  heavy  yoke,  i  wil)  add  to  your  j-oke  '.* 
*'  Time  which  hat  soCtened  other  erib,  baa  Kodcred  the  htai 
fate  of  the  Vaudob  Mill  hardtff,  and  many  of  Uie  edicts,  «Im4 
are  referred  to  in  the  nbjoiaed  BUtement,  have  been  enlnnd 
in  a  nunncr  vhich  the  original  pcomulcaiora  never  tnlcnded.' 


.itt:  thJ 
!«)(»«■ 

I  toado- 

Leir  *allni|j^ 

ring  F>otia^^| 

KOtenM^H 


I.  TlieVaudois  are  confined  by  edict,  to  certain  Itmitt: 
nay  aot  inherit,  purebase,  acquire,  or    posseaa 
b^ond  ariiitniry  lines  or  di-raartatioit. 

Tbia  edict  openttea  to  their  injuiy  by  re«tricling  them  to  a  do- 
trietvbicb  I*  io&ufficieni  for  tlieii  tubaislcnco.    Their  pupnttoea 
h  too  ^real,  in  |Nt>porU04i  to  the  iwoduciioo  of  itieir  *allni|j| 
and  while  tbey  tbciDaclrc*  nrc  prohibited  froon  Mquiring  | 
eJMtrhere,  Itoman  CatbolicB  are  eacoursgcd  by  tbe 
to  settle  withio  theii  limits,  and  so  to  decrease  their  reaottrccfc 

It  alTccts  tlie  tenute  of  pKuperiy  acquired  before  tbe  laie  rM»- 
lation  of  the  hou«e  of  Savoy,  while  tbe  Vandob  enjoyed  ftm- 
Ir^M  in  common  with  the  rut  of  their  countrymen. 

1'hc  edict  is  not  permitted  to  sleep,  but  it  n  put  id  action  al 
the  sug]{eation  of  individuals,  who  (icquciilly  provoke  the  gonn- 
nicut  to  ikcu  of  oppresMon  ajcainst  tbe  VawJou.  Thna.  ia 
November  l&'ll,  an  otdet  was  issued  at  Pignerol  *,  reviving  a 
former  order,  aixl  commanding  four  Vaudoia,  *bo  bad  cabb- 
lishcd  themscivcg  there,  "  dugtnmbrare,"  to  begone,  to  mnon 
with  all  their  ^oods.  and  Itireatcoing  all  with  the  confiscaikin  of 


'  ■*  That  iprcin  of  narrl  tad  puny  pmicaliaa  mlikfa  Infficti 
but  nol  nunyrdom."^ — >laelrim4itjL. 

'  A  tmn  Bidiin  ■  Itut  inilc,  ofUxir  limm. 


P 


WALDENSIAN    R£!«IIAHCUES. 


property  who  thould  permit  Vandoia  to  take  np  their  abode  wiUi 
them.  TItis  oniet  waa  admwtrd*  tutpmJtd,  not  rvvoked,  upon 
the  exercue  of  etpedal  ioUnut,  but  ibe  dread  or  it  ttill  baogt 
onr  the  panic* '. 

Hm  edict  b  of  itMlf  GODtniTy  to  ejiprc«  itipulatioiu,  and  a& 
Wfgntnlioa  of  the  law  upon  which  it  ia  praicndcd  to  be  fonaded. 
That  law  picacribed  the  Limils  Tor  preachtog,  aud  buildinj- 
chiuchea,  and  holding  religious  anembUea;  but  did  bM  preicnhe 
the  limiu  of  habiution,  or  of  the  tic4|uireiiicnl  of  property.  On 
the  contrary,  it  cxprcMly  ttatcd,  tfaut  thoec  who  bad  property 
beyond  th«  ptmcfibed  limit*  appointed  for  proachiDg,  &c.  might 
TMum  to  their  dwallinf^  I)y  the  8th.  0th,  llth,  and  30th, 
articlea  of  the  enactment  in  qnealton,  the  limiU  of  habitation 
WCK  eitended  to  all  (he  towns  and  place*  appcrUining  to,  and 
adjacent  to  the  three  valloya. 

In  violation  of  thcac  aiticlcai  the  (diet,  against  which  the 
Vaodoi*  hare  to  coinpUiji,  wat  flnt  put  in  force,  and  it  baa 
been  revived  in  violation  of  a  more  recent  aud  memorable  tnwty  ', 
which  ctMlnrctl  thiil  in  the  countriea  afleeted  by  thai  treaty,  no 
indivxliiol  »boatd  be  dnturlicd  in  hia  pcraon  oc  property,  under 
any  pretext '. 


*  Th*  Vuidw*  hiIki  lit*  M  Turin,  m  linn  by  uiftnnn  ddIj, 

•  Tlrii  n^Ki  hH  bnn  ibly  thcMlli  kf  A*  Couiil  Dtl  Pone,  In  >  paM- 
lAtrAetlikut  "  Tht  Ctoffaia  BawaalfUKni  o(  the  VaadoU." 

'  rvMTr  y/w«t,  MMiray.  iiii. 

tW pnambli  ifok>  of  ik*  *•  aqod  doin  M Mrialairi  cb*  tM(  ^^ndMi 


"Atl  It.  Theb^f«atiacdi«fank*,dHlnniu>but7la(MllicotA<4Mdw 
^■■B^iBi  mill  li  111  I  nlmrlt  riofi.  llrrtirr  iilfriri'  t  TfrMni  tillTlil»il. 
•TwhMtVR  tank  «•  aindlli«  ha  hij  b«,  la  lb*  naatiim  ndortd  Ml  vHtt 
hf  At  rOMM  MBIT.  itiM  b*  fmtaati,  BwaitiJ,  w  mbit$t  Im  M>  r»nm  tr 


dol  uMiaa.  hi!  mmttmt»»  «Uhn  U  an;  of  Ib*  uMncdaf  pu4n,  m  *o  inj 
imiiiiai,  Bbkh  bM  tnfi  in  nlM.  ar  (m  vtj  iMbn  imum,  ttcrpl  &■ 
Jcbw  L-iit^nJ  iDH«rttla>*Hn>li.  antnpMtwtwtuWtoarf^tyiii 

An.n.     WirtiMl  i—ll«  ■a^a>««ifarWlMblK»ailJw»lita«  by  rrowb 
N  II  2 


k 


VAtDENSUX   RESKATtCRfES. 

II.  VaBdoisueDOipnBultedloptactbeupliyucuiH'ii 

or  wlracau*. 

Thia  prohibition  bran  hani  upon  inuy,  ^ito  prerkmdj  to  the  j 
rasuraiJon  in  1814,  had  qutlified  thanwtvn  for  theae  profa  i 
lioBt,  and  bud  exercised  ttwrin  MOceaifoOj. 

III.  la  the  fomation  of  the  munidpal  councils  of  the  Vsndoii 
COOmuiKG,  snflictent  regard  is  not  paid  to  the  rvbdire  pofxi* 
kikiD  or  to  quali&c&lion,  but  the  majorit;  ia  alwaya  nade 


•nbi«(ti  in  cho  Ulv  tlrpuinirnlt  of  Brlgfum.   tiMl  of  tin    left  b«k  of  At 
RKtnr,  tni  iht  At]",  bryond  Ihi  inciml  limia  of  Pnaec,   aad  (iliidi  av*  ] 
(MM  M  belong  W  b«i.  (hill  be  guuaniecd  W  tb*  pMwhmt*. 

"  L(  Fu»n  Da  Bnrannta. 

(Signed)  "  CjXTLEKEitaa, 

AaiKDCCX, 

CATncjJtTi 

CatKLC*  STSSkKT,  LkoL-O**.' 

Trrofy  ^  Piait,  SOU  AW  18IS. 
"  An.  8.   All  the  diipoiickH  of  ihc  tMUy  of  PaiK  «ril>*  30di  Maj,  IMI, 
Ktalhe  10  the  rauiuia  ceded  bj  Uui  utwtj,  AM  tqiuUjr  ap^  w  ibe  n-u^ 
Hiitlmiw  and  Aidkti  caltd  bjr  (be  prwtM  Bmtjr. 

"  Cun-Eaa^QM, 
WttuaiatOM, 

RlCIIBLiaC.' 


OrvrsI  TVm^  t^xrf  ia  Covm*  ■>'  IMM.  J<m  9.  IVIA. 

"  An.  103.     Tbr  InlubiluiU  of  Itw  couiilHc*  mir>  ntamn  ■arfv  IW 
nient  of  the  Holy  Sec.  in  «inwi|iiriKe  nt  Ihr  •tipolMioo*  of  riMigiiM.  rfal 
•qjojr  ihr  benifli  of  ihi  I6th  anideof  ilkc  Dnty  oTPariiofSMi  Maj,  ISIl 

"  AH  iciiuiiitioiu  made  by  indiilduitt  in  tItIuc  of  a  dlle  aduwtrfaiJ  m 
legal  by  ihe  eiudng  tiwi,  aie  lo  lie  i-anBldcnd  ai  good." 

UpMi  Ibe  Mine  pcincijilii,  ihe  Vaiidint,  who  rtlurard  undn  the  ga*csnaat 
of  IW  kiiigaTSirdinii,  tboutd  enjoy  ihc  brarfllorihe  hok  aitlda. 

■  A  ptitiion  ni  pmanird  To  Ihr  king  of  Sardinia  In  1818,  ptajii^  Ua  M 
repeal  ihii  edin.  The  aiuoei  Infmiuul  Ibe  Vaudau,  Ihal  ihey  wan  at  ttatj 
10  ueniK  the  fralrtaima  at  apothrcaty.  aichiMci.  lunrty*!,  <r  aajr  rtii. 
vhich  did  UDI  re<|uSr«  ilici  laiiira,  tti  drjcrte  at  the  aaivenaty  -  Am  b  la  iah 
Aey  air  tCill  eicluded  fran  all  (he  highai  ftifwiiiiii 


I 


B 


WainUtSIAN    RESEARCH^. 

lo  «wsi>L  of  Roman  Calliolics,  in  the  proportkip  of  thre^ 
Sftbi,  or  of  twO'  ibinls. 

Tbc  tnjuriout  rSbci  ot  tlii*  Male  of  thinp  ti  fdt  in  tbe  tui* 
«)u«l  wJiBJnirtraiion  of  Jiubce,  and  in  tbc  adiuiiaion  of  Roown 
Catkolict  of  Ibe  loweat  (lMcn|iuou  iuto  ibe  ntuucip*!  bodies 
of  M)me  d(  ibe  Vaixlou  coamuncK,  wbcra  the  popubtiaa  being 
itbiMMi  i-niircl;;  PnMctunt,  nono  of  tlw  oihu  rcligioa  ara  found 
lo  (jLc  oHtcc  but  Uiu  iliilcraU;  and  UD6t. 

Thii  i>  conirar;  to  the  accond  article  of  tlie  tn»fj  of  1602, 
whkb  regulated  the  electiona  of "  sjitdica,  connciUot*,"  Sec  4cc. 

IV.  TIm  Vuudiii*  arc  <:i>inp«Ucd,  "  cb4in«  le*  fhu*  particulien," 
to  abtliiin  from  work  uniioi  pmalty  of  G»c  mm)  impriaoo- 
ment,  ih>*  unl*  uo  dajr*  of  gnM  fntivals,  kept  by  the  RomMl 
C'uboiic  (church  ut  Urge,  but  on  other  hoUdaya,  at  tbe  arbi- 
trary  will  of  the  cures  of  tbc  Kvcnil  parithea.  Tbcy  are  in- 
lermpled  iu  ibeir  own  religioua  t«rvke«,  and  a-v  fon.-cd  lo 
joia  in  loiuc  of  the  obwrvancct  of  the  Roman  Catholic*,  at 
tk*  pleawrc  of  th«  curia. 

Each  of  lh4:w  exaclioiu  u  «ri  iofiat-iioo  of  general  and  parti- 

cuUr  ttipuUtiitna,  according  to  wbicb,  tbe  free  ezetciao  of  ifaetr 

Rligioo,  ibe  right  of  oonacicBce^  and  exemption  from  aatuling 

M.  «r  cortributiag  to,  Roman  Catholic  arnicoa,  were  invariaUy 

■ad  cxpnailj  gnaud  to  iha  Vaudoi*.    Tbe  grioTaac*  eonairti 

for  th«  tooat  port  in  tbe  indeftaitc  ukI  iU-underalood  natuiv  of 

thr  exaction*:  if  tlt/tj  wvrw  tcpiliLed  by  law,  ifaejr  niiKhi  be 

bomo  more  <-^i«ly,  liui  ihe  local  petty  autboriliea,  and  the  cur<«, 

an  allowod  to  decide  |in>  arbitno  upon  ihnc  matter*.    For  tt- 

anple, — 1.  Very  recently  a  youog  nw  waa  impriaoBcd  three 

moBika  for  pulling  on  hta  bat  aAer  lb*  boat  had  paMMJ  him  in 

fnctmou,  in  one  of  the  Vaudoia  villagea,  and  •ooiMr  than  Ihe 

I      nffiriilinE  pricat*  ibouglit  be  oogbl  lo  have  replaced  it.    3.  tht 

I       tvi  of  a  parish  intcmiptEd  ibe  aerriL-e  of  a  Vaudoia  rbntcb, 

I        upon  pretence  UuU  ibc  congit^lkKt  nru  Mni^mg  m  h>iid  aa  to 

L ■ 


6M 


WALDBNSIAN    RBSEARCIICS. 


distntb  tlie  d«vDtioas  of  hi«  ovn  flock.     He  oflenrttrd*  obuuBed] 
an  order,  that  the  time  of  Protestant  acrricc  sboutd  be  cbuigcd, 
sod  fUcd  ■[  sn  iucoiiTeDicnt  hour. 


V.  Every  tcni|>Utiofi  i*  beld  out  to  induce  tbc!  Vaodms  to 

don  thnr  religion,  and  the  penally  of  death  is  «mc«(4 
•gninst  such  as  would  diacuade  a  VaudoM  from  twaiag 
Rotnan  Catbolic. 


It  it  a  just  tnattet  of  complaint,  that  cttmmals  vho  abjnnil 
ibeiT  faith  fhould  rcceitc  pardon,  and  that  olhcre  who  sigQ  iher 
MbjuiatioQ  ahontd  be  declared  to  be  exempt  for  five  yeart  froa 
laxo  imd  impoats,  and  frona  all  charges  real  and  penonaL,  by 
an  unrepealed  edict,  bearing  date  Jan.  36,  164*2  ;  but  can  any 
thing  be  mote  ineuatisient  with  the  tpnit  of  toleraiioa,  than  that 
a  Vaudoii  miititbT,  who,  in  the  cxcrcite  of  hit  functioos,  cnde^ 
vonra  to  confirm  llie  failh  of  a  Protestant,  wavering  towards  Ro- 
iDani(.in,  should  be  still  subject  to  sucb  an  enacoaeiit  a»  thiiT— 
"  Ha  royal  higliness  inhibits  those  of  the  preiendcd  refonacd 
feligion  from  diverting  or  dissuading  any,  whoMCvn-  he  be,  t/ 
the  said  religion,  who  wouUl  turn  Catholic,  under  the  aaiae 
pennltT  of  death,  giving  it  in  charge  particularly  to  the  minisiBS 
of  the  said  pretended  religion  invMdably  to  oboerre  the  abore-iaid, 
upon  pain  of  answering  ibe  same  tn  ihdr  own  persona." — Older 
of  Ouastaldo,  Jan.  27,  1655. 


1 


any  of 


VI.  The  Vaudois  are  forbidden  to  print  any  books  withia  any  of 
the  king's  duminiotu. 
The  Satdinian  government  permits  the  Vaudois,  under 
eeomnhip  and  regulations,  to  import  books  that  are  mpiind  for 
their  religious  instruction  and  serrices,  but  brbidt  the  use  of  a 
pieta  under  sny  regnlaliona.  The  con>«<|i>eDrc  is,  tiial  Iha  ex- 
pense arising  from  conveyance,  freight,  aiid  duties,  in  whGltM 
to  the  prime  cost  of  foreign  books,  is  ao  heavy,  that  it 


WALDBN5IA.V    HKSEAItaies. 


to  ■  prohibiiMa '.  Thcro  are  bmide«  w  many  tliSKalUcs  in 
pumi;  bookt  through  the  iKOTJDciut  and  dutricl  ctiitam-hoBiM, 
after  they  have  beeu  clexmt  hI  ibe  (ronlicr,  wA  nt  Tunn,  that 
nntU  lhi»  grierancc  ii  miligalcd,  the  Vaiidois  cannot  be  aaid  to 
enjoy  the  free  cxcrciM  of  th<ar  religion. 


VII.  The  Vaudois  are  forixdden  to  intradace  any  •yMem  of 
nulual  ioUniclion  in  their  ichool*. 

VIII.  Mrxr<l  tnarringm  between  ProteitaDls  ind  Rotnan  Cfttlto- 
ho,  are  proliibiU'd— and  when  Iboy  occur,  the  paitie*  are 
)>uiiisbed,  the  union  diuolved,  and  the  progeny  deelucd  to 
be  illeftitiraate. 

A  marnagc  of  this  kind,  between  a  V'audoi*  and  a  Itotnin 
Catholic  was  lately  celebrated  in  Krance.  When  ibe  couple 
afler«anl«  relumed  and  teitlcd  in  a  Vaudois  comraaoo,  Um 
marriafe  was  pronounced  to  be  iUe)>al,  and  the  bmband  was 
contniucd  to  ptnoa. 

IX.  Sinee  the  reitorstian  of  ihahoweof  Saroy  in  1914,  the 
BomsD  Catholic  clergy  have  elained  the  illegitimate  chiJ- 
drta  of  Vaudois  vonwn,  as  children  of  the  State,  and 
separaliDg  inlaoti  from  ibdr  tnotben  by  focee,  have  lenl 
them  to  an  institution  at  Pigncrol. 

This  grienncc  i>  intolerable  under  any  fofm,  but  it  is  rendered 
aMm  so  by  hanng  no  Isw  to  sanction  it.  Wlien  Uioae  who 
proceed  to  tear  childnrn  from  their  pnrrntit  are  aaltcil  10  shci* 
ibe  authoriiy  upoo  which  they  act,  they  plead  amdml  Mojie. 
Il  it  rendered  still  more  UDeodurable  by  ibe  coattnKlton  of  iha 
term  illegitimate.    See  No.  VIII. 

t  DuB  Ac  B1U(  iKirly  matt  MB*  wrf  taniboirw  gnrnf  M  dir  Vagfcli, 
■key  had  107  km  BIbln.  la  tetenl  plasni  "htn  I  ukri  If  rtitT  ««r*  w*ll 
p»ppB«d  wiih  ih*  Itairtui*!,  ilM  wwatn  wen  war);  ibt  mmt—"  Ta.  ibanlu 
M  Am  Briikit  and  Ttnlfo  RiU*  SociMf ."  Dm  dKy  «ra  >CUI  tuDrnubl}  4m. 
tiMierbMkfsriroMMa. 


But  the  Vandois  are  Uill  fanbif  aggrifTcd  by  thb  batbaioic 
pntctice,  inuroiKfa  u  it  b  «  rioluioo  of  tli«  I5ti>  mnide  of  dw 
Pbtcnt  of  1 655,  which  prorided  thai  Vamlot*  cbtldim  ihonk)  art 
be  taken  from  th«ir  parenU,  to  be  tnitnjclcd  in  the  RoHl* 
Catholic  failh,  cvcti  by  Ukcir  own  cooacoi,  till  ihe  males 
tw«lre,  and  the  feaiales  ten  jean  of  age,  and  to  the  fnore  rK«Bl 
Edict  of  1 794 : — **  We  renew  our  otden  to  prevent  die  taSoag 
away  of  chtldivn,  with  a  view  of  obltginf;  them  to  embrace  the 
Catholic  rdigion,  and  those  childreo  who  han  been  token  awiy 
nanbercitored." 

In  tpite  of  tboae  edict*,  children  are  now  taken  away, 
under  the  pretence  of  their  being  illegitimate.  Two  lajnenl^ie 
casea  of  thia  aort  occurred  in  oae  commune  last  year  one  of 
them  was  attended  by  circumitances  which  canaed  a  geaml 
(enMikm.  A  mother  refuted  to  deliver  up  her  biboi,  and  fl«d 
with  it  to  the  mountains,  where  «he  was  parmed  bycatabiwen 
iteapatcbed  for  that  pnrpoce.  For  many  weeks  abe  Ihcd  a  i 
aUe  life  among  ibe  rocks  aud  forests,  flying  from  place  W  j 
until  the  sDlTGrings  of  the  mother  and  child  exdled  the  | 
the  auihoritita  who  signed  the  onk-r  for  the  pursuit.  The  < 
was  wilbdiawn,  bat  not  revoked,  and  the  woman's  Umn 
anxiety  continue,  white  slie  remains  expoied  to  the  utme  aevcri^. 

Such  bcjttg  the  grievances'  of  which  the  Vaudors  have  JasUj 
to  conplaio,  DOtwitbUKBding  the  many  engagement*  which  have 
been  nade  with  iheo  by  their  soransgna,  and  notwithaUBdnj 
tbe  treaties  and  the  promiMa  by  which  the  dukes  of  Savoy,  and 
the  kings  of  Sardinia,  have  pledged  themaehm  to  Engtaad  i 
to  other  Prutestaoi  slates,  to  respect  the  liberties  and  pr 
of  the  VaudoB,  Yoar  meraorialist  humbly  ptayetb,  that 


nroj,  BDD 

prmkg^H 
hatihM^ 


of  lb*  SanllnUn  goicmiDRiL    Il«  bow  ran  poefl*  be  aM  to  tn««  tha  bm 
enrturoflhrirrrlipoD.  Trhri  ■«  itrhwnilftTir  ntilrfnliniiw^i  nf  ii  iiirtw,  ■<  , 
IVwa  biiing  kHmIi.  ohtre  anilMl  ioiliwdsB  a  intradiKvd  i  wfaa  are  I 
10  mfai  powlyiiiin.  who  are  ufoml  m  Ac  inntnvfiM  tl  airta,  ad  i 
to  law*  conuiufldiDg  tbcm  lo  do  ntvcrtw  la  alj^Wi  nbkk  ihnf  i 
aiinloal 


WALUBNSIAN    RESKAHCHES. 


condition  maybe Uk^nimoconsiilcnt ion, — ami  that  hi* Sardinian 
aajeMy  mair  be  urged  to  repeal  all  rdUti,  which  are  coolrarf  to 
tbow  prinoiplc*  of  lolcralion,  which  it  baa  been  the  iotariable 
object  of  the  Briljah  governmeDt  aud  of  lU  all»e»,  to  piuerve  us 
dM  finnMlatioa  of  their  policy '," 

JVofr. — SooM  of  the  grievaiicea  eniiiDeraled  in  ibis  metnoriaJ, 
runned  the  »ub*tunce  of  two  petition,  the  one  pteaenied  to  Ion) 
William  Rcntinrlt,  commander  of  tbo  Britith  force*:  and  the 
oihcf  to  the  Coonl  dc  Buboa,  miliUrr  govcnor  of  Picmont,  and 
general  of  the  Austrian  tioopa  in  1814. 


At  tbe  sHtne  time  that  I  sent  this  letter  and 
memorial  to  the  earl  of  AbiTtleen,  I  afUlrestsixl 
copies  of  tlicm  to  the  duke  of  Wellington. 

The  duke  required  me  "  to  point  out  the  treaties, 
which  exist  between  his  majesty  and  the  king  of 
Sardinia,  rcspcctitij;  the  Vaudois." 

In  my  reply  to  his  grace,  I  was  obliged  to  con- 
fess that  I  could  not  point  out  these  treaties,  but  1 
urged  that  1  had  pven  sufficient  evidence  of  the 
existence  of  such  treaties,  by  referring  his  majesty's 
government  to  the  declarations  of  Mr.  Hedges, 
the  Britiiih  envoy  at  the  court  of  Turin,  in  1 727, 
contained  in  his  official  correspondence  with  the 
sccretJirieit  of  state  at  tliat  period. 

i  received  a  second  note  from  the  dulcc  of 
Wellington,  stating,  that  "  The  Duke  was  in  hopes 
that    when    Mr.   Gilly  mentioned  treaties    with 


DtTknriM  of  (he  Biktth  (MtraMnii  1>  ISIl^ 


n 


■ 


554  VALDEKSIAN    ltES£AKCUES. 

the   king  of  Sardinia,  he  could  stnt«  what  they 
were.*  m 

I  was  afraid  there  was  an  end  of  the  matter,  ™ 
and  that  the  nicnibi^rs  of  govcmnieat  were  glad 
to  get  rid  of  the  question ;  but  I  did  them  wrong 
by  the  apprehension,  for  soon  afterwards   I  was 
honoured  with  the  following  communication : — 


Forngn  Offiet,  Qtk  Jammary,  1830. 
,  Sm, 

I  am  directed  b;  ihe  ««ri  or  Aberdeen  to  acVnowlcdpe  tW 
receipt  of  your  lelter  of  the  26th  of  NovcmWr  Iwt,  eaclotiag  • 
roemoriul  on  the  juibject  of  the  gticvances  of  wliich  the  Viadaii 
mibivcts  of  hi*  Sknlinian  Mojotiy  have  to  cotnpUin.  1  am  to 
ocquaiDt  Tou  that  tbc  ■tiiteiiici>t«  contaiDcd  m  your  letter,  and 
in  its  cnclowrc,  hare  been  takra  into  coDsideration  by  his  Ha> 
jesty't  ^vemment,  with  a  view  to  the  adoption  of  Mich  racftaana 
as  may  be  in  their  |)ower  tot  tlie  parpose  of  obttining  some  aai^ 
lioniiiun  of  tbe  condition  of  the  Vaadok. 
1  xm.  Sir, 
Your  moat  obedient  humble  aemiH, 

DcVGLAa. 


I 

I 
1 


I  bad  the  honour  of  being  known  to  Lord 
Dungla.s  before  this  correspondence,  and  the 
cause  of  the  Vaudois  stands  indebted  to  his  lord- 
ship in  a  much  greater  degree  than  I  am  at  liberty 
to  exphiin. 

Shortly  after  I  received  the  communication  from 
the  Foreign  Office,  I  had  the  satisiaction  of  hearing 
from  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbun',  that  Lord 
yVbcrdeen  was  sincerely  desirous  of  serving  the 

2 


VALDENBIAN   RESEARCHES.  555 

Vaudois ;  but  still  I  was  fearful  that  I  had  left  the 
case  weak  by  my  inability  to  point  out  the  treaties 
to  which  I  had  alluded.  I  therefore  took  a  jour- 
ney to  London,  and  went  to  the  State  I'aper 
Office,  where,  if  any  where,  the  treaties  or  copies 
of  them  were  likely  to  be  deposited.  No  custodian 
of  valuable  documents  has  ever  shewn  more  readi- 
ness to  promote  the  objects  of  persons,  who  require 
his  assistance,  than  Mr.  Ijemon,  deputy  keeper  of 
the  state  papers.  I  have  often  had  reason  to  feel 
obliged  by  his  urbanity  and  patient  attention,  and 
gladly  do  1  take  this  opportunity  of  recording  an- 
other instance  of  the  kind  manner,  tn  which  he  is 
in  the  habit  of  rendering  his  intimate  knowledge 
of  the  contents  of  his  ufhce  useful  to  the  interests 
of  literature  and  truth. 

After  some  search  Mr.  Lemon  produced  the 
identical  document  itself,  not  a  copy,  but  the 
original  treaty  to  which  Mr.  Hedges  bad  referred. 
Archimedes  himself,  when  he  solved  liis  problem, 
did  not  exclaim  tunrtKn.  "  1  have  found  it,"  with 
greater  delight  than  I  did,  when  1  held  the  treaty 
in  my  band,  and  saw  the  sign  manual  and  great 
seal  of  "  V,  Amedc." 

The  fourth  article  of  this  treaty  concluded 
August  II,  1704,  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
duke  of  Savoy,  begins  thus: — "  His  Royal  Highness 
binds  himself  to  confirm,  ami  hereby  does  confuin, 
the  secret  article  of  the  treaty  of  Oclolier,  16i>0, 
relative  to  the  Vaudois."  It  then  recites  the  treaty 


556 


WALDENSIAN   RESEARCnES. 


between  the  king  of  England,  the  States  General. 
and  the  duke  of  Savoy,  dated  the  Hague,  Oct.  2<U 
1690,  in  which  the  following  clause  occurs: — '*  Que 
Son  Altesse  Rxjyale  remet  et  conserve  cux  (se 
sujets  Vaudois)  leurs  en&ns,  et  posterity  dans 
possession  dc  tous  et  cliacun  /eurs  ancient 
^dits,  coututofs,  et  jtrivileges.  tant  pour  Ics  habit 
tions,  negoce,  et  exercise  de  leur  religion,  que 
pour  toute  autre  chose."     "  His  Koya]  Highness 
restores  *  aiul  secures  to  the  Vaudois,  their  child- 
reu  and  posterity,  the  possesion  of  a//  Uteir  anciest 
rig/iti,  customs,  and  privilcget,  in  regard  to  their 
habitations,  traffic,  the  exercise  of  their  religion, 
and  other  claiais." 

The  reciprocal  engagement  on  the  pait  ofGi 
Hritain  was  to  guarantee  to  the  duke  of  Saroy  thel 
possession  of  certain  territories,  ceded  by  the 
Emperor  of  German)-,  on  the  confines  of  the 
Milanese.  fl 

I  immediately  addressed  lellurs  to  the  duke  of^ 
VN'ellington  and  the  eai'l  of  Aberdeen,  to  ioform 
their  Lordships,  tliat  the  treaty  which  I  had  been 


ireatfl 

.-theV 


'  1  hmv«  now  in  my  poaMssion  ibe  cofiy  of  an  edict  oT  Victor 
AonwUe,  tbtol  Turin,  May  ^i,  1694,  in  which  be  *UUi.  dial 
in  eoaformity  vjtlt  Ibe  in^Unccs  of  the  king  of  Eitglaud,  and  <t 
ibe  States  Geoeral  of  the  United  Provinc«»,  be  had  rciniUxUd 
tb)!  Vaudoit  In  the  full  po«eswon  of  all  theii  peraonal,  civil,  and 
rcligioas  righti,  and  that,  fot  himself  and  fab  Micmaon,  be  pnw 
tnised  tbom  th«  niiinteTniptMl  enjoyment  uf  itU  ihcir 
pritilcgMand  |>TcrOigAtiTCS,  without  aoy  ucepUua  shateKf. 


PL 


WALDENSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


desired  to  point  out  is  deposited  in  the  State 
Paper  Office,  and  I  described  its  conteats.  Events 
of  the  first  importance  to  Europe,  and  great 
changes  have  since  taken  place,  and  attention  has 
been  di%'ertcd  from  the  concerns  of  tl«i  poor 
Vaudois  to  affairs  of  more  pressing  moment  But 
1  cannot  take  leave  of  the  subject,  without 
exi>ressing  my  grateful  conviction,  that  the  late 
administration  meant  to  espouse  the  cause  of 
the  Vaudois  in  earnest.  I  have  been  assured 
that  Lord  Aburdeen  had  begun  a  paper  upon  the 
subject  before  he  left  office,  and  that  the  day 
before  he  gave  up  the  seals,  he  expressed  his 
regret,  that  he  had  not  been  able  to  finish  tU 

It  is  a  subject  of  great  anxiety  to  know  what 
course  his  successor  will  pursue ;  but  trusting  to 
tlie  righteousness  and  justice  of  the  caust-,  1  am 
confident  it  will  eventually  succeed.  The  system 
of  non-intervention,  which  governs  our  present 
counseU,  ought  not  to  be  a  bar  in  the  way  of 
exercising  that  interference,  which  it  is  our  duty 
and  right  to  exercise,  by  virtue  of  the  most  solemn 
trcaticjt. 

At  present  the  question  stands  thus. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  valle)^  of  Luserna,  Pe- 
roaa,  and  Sao  Martino,  and  of  the  partit  immedi- 
ately adjacent,  lay  claim  to  the  free  exercise  of 
their  religion,  and  to  the  uninterrupted  enjoyment 
of  property  acquired  by  tlicm,  by  virtue  of  imme- 
morial right     This  right  ha&  been  admitted  from 


558 


WALOKKSIAN    RESEABCHES. 


■aac 

SDb-f 


time  to  time  by  the  dukes  of  Savoy,  and  princvs 
of  Piemont,  and  in  the  very  edicts,  which  have 
been  issued  to  restrain  Prottf&tantisni,  and  to  keep 
the  \N'aldcnscs  in  check,  express  mentiou  has  ben 
made  of  the  liberties,  privileges,  and  prerogatives, 
of  the  natives  of  tlie  three  valleys ;  and  compacts 
have  been   cited,  which  ratified   these  Ubertit-s. 
For  example,  an  order  of  Kmanuel  Philibert  of 
the  loth  of  January,  1561,  begins  tlius:     "Beit 
kno^vn,  that  we,  having  examined  the  privileges, 
immunities,  exemptions,  and  concessions   made, 
and  confirmed  by  our  most  illustrious  and 
cellent  ancestors  to  our  faithful  and  beloved  sob-) 
jects  of  the  valleys,  &c.,  do  approve  and  confirm  the 

same." Anot]ier  dated  3rd  of  January,  ISM, 

recites  several  aucicnt  edicts  in  favour  of  the  men 
of  the  valleys,  and  one  iu  particular,  publi&Iied  bv 
Duke  Louis  in  1448.  The  celebrated  restnuniog 
ordinance  of  1602,  contains  this  exception:  **  Wefl 
prohibit  the  exercise  of  the  said  pretended  religion, 
every  where  within  oiu*  dominions,  except  in  the 
limiLs  where  it  is  graciously  tolerated,  viz.  in  the 
valleys  of  Lusema,  San  Martiuo,  and  Pervsa." 
In  the  answers  which  Charles  Emanuel  gave  tofl 
the  memorials  of  the  Vaudois  in  1602  and  1603, 
M-hen  there  was  so  much  alarm  excited  bv  the  seve- 
rity exercised  in  the  marquisate  of  Saluzzo,  it  was 
expressly  stated,  that,  "  in  confonnity  with  audent 
custom,"  the  heretics  of  the  three  valleys  should 
enjoy  their  pri\Tleges  without  any  interruption. 


"  In  dette  tre  \'a]U  non  gli  sara  data  molestia."  I 
hare  alluded  in  another  place  to  that  extraordinary 
passage  in  the  edict  uf  12th  June,  1602,  jn  which 
the  reigning  duke  acknowledged :  "  It  is  not 
possible  for  us  to  eradicate  them  in  tlie  valleys, 
because  we  are  bound  to  tolerate  them  there." 
Bound  by  what  ?  By  the  obligation  of  ancient 
compacts.  Hut  at  last  bad  counsels  prevailed, 
and  out  of  compliance  with  the  bishop  of  Rome, 
the  dukes  of  Savoy  did  attempt  to  root  the  Wal- 
denses  out  of  the  three  valleys,  where  their  per- 
sonal and  religious  rights  bud  been  so  solemnly 
guaranteed ;  and  they  would  have  destroyed  them 
root  and  branch  in  1655,  had  it  not  have  been  for 
the  interposition  of  England,  and  of  other  Prote:^ 
tant  states.  Again  was  the  death-warrant  signed 
by  Victor  Amadee  in  1G86,  but  the  sword  was 
taken  out  of  his  hand  by  William  III.,  and  the 
States  General  of  Holland :  and  the  solemn  treaty 
between  the  duke  of  Savoy  on  the  one  part,  and 
Kngland  and  Holland  on  the  other,  in  t6i>0,  and 
a  second  treaty  with  Kngland  in  1704,  formed 
on  the  basis  of  that  of  1690,  constitute  the  ground 
upon  which  ICngland  has  obtained  the  right  of 
interposing  in  behalf  of  the  Protestants  of  the 
valleys. 

The  Count  del  Pozzo,  a  Piemontese  nobleman, 
who  has  held  the  highest  oflices  in  the  state,  and 
to  whom  the  V'audois  arc  indebted  for  the  most 
luminous  exposition  of  their  wrongs,  and  for  the 


560 


WALDRNSIAN    RESEARCHES. 


must  generous  defence  of  thi.>ir  cause,  irluch  has 
yet  been  published ',  maintains  that  England  has 
ohtaincd  a  further  right  of  interference  by  the 
Kith  article  of  the  treaty  of  Paris,  which  all  the 
special  pleading  in  the  world  cannot  set  aside. 

I  cannot  better  conclude  my  appeal  in  favour  of 
this  ill-Ufied  community,  than  in  the  strong  Un- 
guage  of  the  Count  liiraself.  "  The  fact  is,  that 
no  Protestants  now  exist  in  Europe  in  so  low,  so 
degraded  a  condition  as  the  Vaudois;  that  they 
are  now  still  more  secretly  harassed  by  some 
fanatics,  than  they  were  before  tiie  French  domi- 
nation, on  account  of  the  ascendancy  gained  anew 
after  the  restoration  of  1814,  by  the  court  of 
Rome,  the  Jesuits,  and  the  Parti-pr^trc.  Ne*-cr 
did  they  stand  in  more  urgent  need  of  EngUiDd's 
interference,  never  could  England  interfere  with 
greater  justice  and  efficiency." 


*  "  Tbc  ootnpkie  Bn&iici|)itk)n  of  ilw  PntesUnt  Vaadab 
PietDont,  adrocaicd  in  a  ttnmg  and  UBUU«ct*lile  nipuncttt,  ntd 
Bubmiltecl  to  the  dake  of  Weltinglon  by  tbeti  coantiyman.  Count 
Kerdtuand  del  Potto,  late  Iklaiire  dei  Reqiteste,  and  flfst  |i*«- 
■ident  gf  the  imperial  court  ot  Oenoft," 


TUB   BMD. 


4 


CiLRRBT  ft  RinxoTov,  rriBKn,  Si.  John*!  Sivur, 


.( 


3  2044  021   029  3(