Abridgment of the Book of Acts and Monuments by Timothy Bright, Volume 1 · Book 7 · Account 7
The hiſtories of the perſecutions and warres againſt the Waldenſes, in the valleies of Angroigne, Lucern, S. Martin Perouſe, and other in the countrie of Piedmount from the yeere 1555. till the yeere 1561.
ALbeit theſe people had before this time, certaine to preach the word of God, & miniſter the ſacraments vntounto them priuatly: yet in the yere of our Lord 1555. in ye monethmonth of Auguſt, the Goſpel was openly preached in Angroign: for which cauſe, they built thē a church in ye mids of Angroign: wherin aſſemblies were made, & ſermons preached. It happened at yt time, that one Ioh. Martin of Griqueras, a myle from Angroign, which vaunted eueryevery where, that he would ſlitte the miniſters noſe of Angroign, was aſſaulted with a wolfe, which bit of his noſe, that he thereof fel madde.
The yéere 1556. the miniſters of the valley of S. Martins, preached openly. At that time, certaine Gentlemen of the valley of S. Martin, took a good mā (Bartholomew a bookbinder) priſoner, as he paſſed by the valley, who they ſent by & by to Turim, and there, with a maruellous cōſtancy, after he had made a good confeſſion of his faith, he ſuffered death. And moreouer, they of the Parlement of Turim, ſent one named the Preſident of S. Iulian, aſſociating vntounto him one named de Eccleſia, and others, to hinder their enterpriſe, admoniſhing them in the Kinges name, and the Parlament of Turim, to returne to the obedience of the Pope, vponupon paine of loſſe of goods, and life, and vtter deſtruction of their town: & withal he recited vntounto thē ye pitiful deſtructiō of Merindoll, and Cabriers, and other Townes néere about, in the Countrey of Prouence. To whom they anſwered, that if it were ſhewed in anie point by the worde of God, wherin they erred, they were ready to be reformed, & ſo remained conſtant, notwithſtanding, they receiued great vexatiōs frō ye preſident: inſomuch, that they with one accord preſented a briefe confeſſion of their faith, with an anſwere to certaine interrogations, made by the preſident touching the Maſſe, Auricular confeſſion, Purgatory, Councels, &c. requiring that ſéeing it is permitted to Turkes, Saracens, and Iewes, to dwell quietly in the faireſt citties of Chriſtendome, they might be ſuffered to inhabite the deſolate mountaines and valleis, hauing their whole religion founded vponupon the true word and Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt. Theſe articles returned to the Kings court, where they remained a whole yéere without any anſwere made: during which time they of the valleys liued in great quietneſſe: whereby the number of the faithfull ſo increaſed, that throughout the valleies, Gods word was truely preached, and his ſacraments duly adminiſtred, and no maſſe ſaide in Angroign, nor in diuers places.
The yere following, the preſident of S. Iulian returned with his aſſociates, to Pigneroll, & ſent for thither the chief rulers of Angroign, and of the valley of Lucerne: that is, for 6. of Angroign, & for two of eueryevery pariſh beſide: ſaying vntounto them, that their confeſſion was found to be heretical: & that therfore the K. commanded them to returne to ye obedience of the church of Rome, vnderunder paine of loſſe, both of life, & goods: enioyning them moreouer, to giuegive him anſwere within 3. daies: from thence he went to the vallie of Lucern, & threatned them greatly. But this notwithſtanding, they perſiſted conſtant, and deſired that their confeſſion might be amēded by the word of God, if any fault were, and they would yeld thereunto. With which anſwere the Preſident was not cō tent. Now, at the ſame ſeaſon, the princes of Germanie, & certain of the Switzers,Suitzers ſue for the valley. ſent vntounto the French K. deſiring him to hauehave pitie of thoſe churches: ſo that from that time, for 3. yeres after, the people were not moleſted by any of the K. officers: but yet they were ſore vexed by ye monks of Pigneroll, and the gentlemen of the valley of S. Martin.
At the ſame time, a Miniſter of Angroign, named Geffrey Variala, Geffrey Variala.was taken at Berge, going to viſite thoſe churches, and from thence carried to Turin, and there put to death.
A few daies after, a miniſter of the valley of Luſerne was taken priſoner at Suſe, and ſoone after ſent to Turin, where he was condemned to be burnt, but the hangman at the time of the execution, fained himſelfe ſicke, and conueied himſelfe away, and ſo did another ſerue them, wherevpon the miniſter was committed againe to priſon, where after long and painefull endurance, ſeing the priſon dore open, he eſcaped and returned to his cure.
Now foure yéeres being paſt, Anno 1559. there was a peace concluded, betwéene the French king and the king of Spaine: wherevpon, the countrie of Piedmount, certain towns excepted, were reſtored to the Duke of Sauoy: vnderunder whoſe regiment, the foreſaid Churches, and all other faithfull people of Piedmont continued in great quietneſſe: the Duke himſelf being contented they ſhould vſe their former religion. But the Pope and his Cardinals coulde not beare it, and the popes Legat, who followed the Court, perſwaded the Duke by all meanes, not to ſuffer this people: ye people foreſéeing their danger, wrote to the Duke with cō mon conſent, ſhewing, that the cauſe why they were ſo hated, was their religion: which they deſired to be tried by the word of God: but it is not certaine, whether this aduertiſement were deliuered to the Duke or not: for, in the monethmonth of March following, there was great perſecution rayſed among the poor Chriſtians which were at Carignon: among whom, there were certaine godly perſons, taken, & burnt within 4. dayes after:Perſecution. that is to ſay, one Mathurine and his wife, and Iohn de Carquignan, dwelling in the Valley of Lucern, taken priſoner as he went to the market of Pigneroll. Many at that time fled away: others fearing the crueltie, returned to the church of Rome.
Within few dayes after, the Churches of Lelarch Meroun, Meane, and Suſe, were woonderfully aſſaulted. The miniſter of Suſe, and Mean, among others were taken, who was put to death in the fire. Of Larch and Meroun, ſome were ſent to the galleyes, other ſome yealded,Thoſe that yelded, more cruelly handled then thoſe that were conſtant. and ſome fled away. It is certainly knowen, that ſuch as yelded were more cruelly handled than they that continued conſtant.
The beginning of this horrible perſecution, roſe of Proclamations made in al places, that none ſhould reſort to the ſermons of the Lutherans, but ſhould liue after the cuſtome of Rome, vponupon paine of the forfeyture of their goods, and to be condemned to the Gallies for euer, or to loſe their liues. Thrée of the moſt cruell perſons that could be found, were appointed to execute this commiſſion.
The firſt, was one Thomas Iaconel, a Sodomite, and a monſter againſt God and nature. He was a Monke, an Inquiſitor of the Romiſh faith, and a falſe Apoſtata.
The ſecond was Collaterall Corbis, who (after their refuſals of going to maſſe) vſed to burne them within 3. daies. But it is certainly reported, that ſéeing the conſtancie, and hearing the confeſſion of the poor martirs (féeling a remorſe and torment in his conſcience) he gaue ouer, and proteſted he would meddle no more. The 3. was the Prouoſt de la Iuſtice, a cruel, and crafty wretch.
In that ſeaſon, one named Charles de Comptes, of the Valley of Luſerne, and one of the Lords of Angroigne, did write vntounto the Commiſſioners, that they ſhoulde vſe ſome lenitie towardes them of the Valley of Luſerne: by reaſon whereof, they were a while more gently entreated then the reſt: but the Monkes of Pigneroll, with certaine ruffians about them, did torment, and burne, and ſent to the gallies, ſuch as were of the churches néere vntounto them.
The gentlemen of the Valley of S. Martin, intreated their tenants very roughly, commaunding them to returne to the maſſe: and aboue the reſt, two ſpecially, Charles Truchet, and Boniface his brother: who the 2. of Aprill before day, (with a number of Ruffians) ſpoyled a village of their Subiects, called Reuclaret, and certaine of the retinue tooke a Miniſter of the ſame valley priſoner, which was come out of Calabria, and was going to viſite the poore people of Reuclaret, and led him priſoner to the Abbey, where, not long after, he was burnt, with another of the Valley of S. Martin. The 3. night after, they of Pragella, ſent about 400 to diſcomfite the companie of the Trouchettes, & to reſtore thoſe that were fled, to their houſes: which they did, putting them to flight, with the only loſſe of one man.
This Charles Trouchet and his brother, did ſo incenſe the Duke againſt the poore people, with falſe reportes, that they perſwaded the Duke to builde fortreſſes in the Mountains, and to place gariſons. The people withſtood the Commiſſioners, and ſent certaine to the Duke: and immediatlie after, the Commiſſioners ſent alſo to the D. Court, being at Nice, to inflame his anger more againſt them. But God otherwiſe ordeyned: for, the Trouchets being at Nice, went to ſea with diuers noble men: and immediatly were taken priſoners by the Turkes, put into the gallies, ſore beaten wt ropes: & long time after (denying their nobilitie) were ſent home hauing paid 400. crowns for their ranſom. Some ſay, that the D. himſelf was almoſt taken, but ſure it is, that hée fel ſick ſoone after.
In April next following, by meanes of the L. of Raconis, who was preſent at a ſermon néer Angroign, they put vp 3 ſupplications, one to the D. another to the duches, the 3. to D. councel: wherin were debated the points of their religiō: they offering to reforme what was the wed by Gods word to bee amiſſe. After this, the perſecution ſéemed to be ſtaied for a litle while. In Iune next following, the L. Raconis, & the L. of Trinity, came to Angroign, to perſwade the people to put away their preachers, & to receaue the maſſe: which if they would doe, they promiſed to pacifie the D. and to be a meanes to ſtay the perſecution? but the people refuſed ſo to do. Wherupon, exclamations were made, & perſecutiō began to be more furious on eueryevery ſide: amongſt others the monks of Pigneroll were moſt cruell,Cruel Monks. who ſent out a company of hired Ruffians, that ſpoiled all they could lay hold on, & led away men, women, and children, captiues to the Abbey, where they were moſt pittifully tormented.
At the ſame time, alſo they ſent a band of the fame Ruffians by night to the miniſters houſe of S. Germaine, in the valley of Perouſe, where they tooke him, and ſore wounded him, and pricked him behind with their halbards, to make him haſten his pace: at that time alſo many they ſlue, many they hurt, and many they brought to the Abbey, and there kept them in priſon, & cruelly handled them. The miniſter, after long impriſonment, they roſted at a ſmall fire:The miniſter roſted. when half his body was burnt, he confeſſed, and cried on the Lord Ieſus with a loude voice. Now, foraſmuch as the miſery was great, and theſe ruffians, to the number of 300. had made great ſpoyle, that no man coulde dwell there in ſafetie: it was demāded of ye miniſters, whether it were lawful for men to defend thēſelues againſt theſe ruffians, or no: the miniſters anſwered, it was lawful: warning thē in any caſe, to take héed of bloodſhedding. This queſtion being once diſſolued, they of the valley of Luſerne, and Angroign, ſent certaine men to them of S Germane to ayd them againſt the ſupports of theſe monkes.
In the monethmonth of Iuly, they of Angroign being in a morning at harueſt, vponupon the hill ſide of S. Germain, perceiued a company of ſouldiers ſpoyling them of S. Germain, and doubting they would goe to Angroign, made an outcry. The people of Angroign aſſembled themſelues vponupon the hill and ſome ran to S. Germain, ouer the hill, & ſome by the valley. They yt went by the valley met the ruffians comming from S. Germ. laden wt the ſpoile which they had gotten: & being but 50. ſet vponupon 20. wel appointed, & gaue thē ye ouerthrow. Then paſſing ouer ye bridge, being ſtopped, ye enemies were faine to take the riuer of Cluzon, where diuers were ſlaine: many drowned, and ſome eſcaped very hardly, and ſuch a ſlaughter was made of them, that the riuer was died with the bloud of them that were wounded and ſlaine, but none of the Angrognians were once hurt: if the riuer had béen as great as it was woont commonly to be, there had not one man eſcaped aliue.
The next day following, the commaunder of S. Anthony de Foſſeaw came to Angroigne, accōpanied with diuers gentlemen, ſaying: he was ſent by the duke, commanding them to put away their miniſters: which they refuſed to doo. From thence he went to the abbay of Pignorell, where hée and Iaconiell cauſed a number of the poore inhabitants of Campillon: and of Feuill, which be of the valley of Luſern, to be takē priſoners: ſpoyling them of their goods; driuing away their cattle, and forcing them to ſweare, &c. Therevppon, they wrote vntounto the Lord of Ranconis, declaring vntounto him the procéedings of the commander.
After this, there were many commandements, & iniunctions, giuen to baniſh ye poore Valdois, with the doctrine of the Goſpell: and in the end of October, next following, a rumor went, that an army was leuied to deſtroy them. And there were indéede certaine handes leuied ready to march at an houres warning, and thoſe malefactors which heeretofore were fled, or baniſhed for any offence were now again called home, and pardoned: ſo that they would take thē to their weapons, and goe to deſtroy the Waldois. They in ye meane time, by the councell of their Miniſters, fell to faſting, and prayer, and carried all that they could, of their ſubſtance, vp to the mountaines, prayſing God, and ſinging Pſalmes vntounto him.
The firſt day of Nouember, Angroign (by proclamations and writings ſet vp in eueryevery place) was expoſed to fire and ſword. The ſecond of Nouember, the armie approched to the borders of the Valley of Luſern, and certaine horſemē came to a place called S. Iohn, a litle beneath Angroign: then the people returned into the mountaines: certaine of S. Iohns perceiuing that the horſemen not onelyonly ſpoyled their goods, but alſo caried their fellowes away priſoners, ſet vponupon them: ſo they retired to Bubian, where their campe then was, and not one of them of S. Iohns ſlaine or hurt.
It happened at the ſame time, that two of the foreſaid horſmen, being ſore amazed, galloped before ye reſt towards the army, being ready to march towards Angroign, crying:The wicked fly where none perſecuteth. they come, they come: at whoſe cry the whole army was ſo aſtoniſhed, that eueryevery man fled his way: & they were all ſo ſcattered, that the captaines that day were not able to bring them into order againe, and yet no creature followed them.
On the ſaturday morning the army muſtered in the medow ground néere to Angroign: they of Angroigne had ſent certaine to kéepe the paſſages, and ſtop the army that they ſhould not enter, if it were poſſible: the number was but few, who perceiuing their enemies prepared to fight, prayed firſt of all to God to aſſiſt them. When they perceyued their enemies comming toward them, the combat began and endured a long time in the paſſages of Angroigne. At length the Waldois perceyuing themſelues oppreſſed with the multitude of their enemies, retyred to the toppe of the mountaines, where they defended themſelues till night. When they had found a place where they might withſtand their enemies, ſtill purſuing them, they turned themſelues and ſlue diuerſe of them, and hurt many.
When the euening came, the enemies reſted, & went about to encāp thēſelues, there to reſt al night. Which things when the Angroigniās perceiued, they fell to praier, but the enemies flouted them: then the people deuiſed a policie, to ſend a drum into ye valleis hard by: & as they were making their praier vntounto God, & the drum ſounded in the valley, the Lord of Trinitie cauſed his ſouldiers, which were about to encāpe themſelues, to remoue thence: which was a great refreſhing to the poore people. Many of the enemies that day were ſlaine, & many hurt, of the which very few eſcaped: of the Angroignians that day were but thrée ſlaine, & one hurt, who was after healed well againe. The L. of Trinitie, after ward, placed gariſons there, & much moleſted ye Angroigmans: & after they had cōmended thēſelues to god by praier, they ſent vntounto them of Perouſe, & of S. Martin, and of Pragella for aid, ſent them all the helpe that they were able.
The next day after, there came letters to Angroigne frō the L. of Trinitie, in which he excuſed the outrage that was doone: and required them to ſhew themſelues obedient to the Duke. They againe cōplaining of their wrongs, offered thēſelues wt all obedience to be reformed by ye word of God, where they had erred, beſéeching him, and all the Lords of Piedmont, to be their interceſſors to the duke in this behalf.
VponUpon Munday being 4. of Nouember, the L. of Trinitie ſent his army to Villers, & Tailleret: the leſſer cōpany aſcended toward Villers: the people ſéeing their enemies approch, after they had with praier cōmēded thēſelues to God, ſtrongly withſtood them, & ſlue many: many alſo were hurt, & ſome fled. The other cōpany aſcended toward Tailleret, & although they of ye place were but few in nūber, & that part of ye army greater, yet making their praiers, & commending their cauſe to God, they likewiſe defended thēſelues valiātly. In the meane ſeaſon, they of Villers emboldned by their late victory, came to aſſiſt their neighbors, & being aſſembled together, couragiouſly purſued their enemies, & put them to flight. In this purſuit, it chaunced that this poore people by an ambuſh of their enimies, which came another way, were ſuddenly encloſed, and like to be deſtroied: but yet by Gods helpe they all eſcaped, and onelyonly thrée hurt, which were ſoone cured again: on the enemies ſide there were ſo many ſlaine, that they lay together by cartlodes. The ſame day alſo 17. of Roccapiata put to flight a great number of the inhabitants of Sanſon, néere to Roccapiata, that went thether, and ſpoiled a rich man there, of all that he had.
After that the L of Trinity had receiued the requeſt, and letters of the Angroignians, he ſent his ſecretary Gaſtant, to moue the people, to proſecute a ſupplication to the Duke, promiſing that he would returne with his armie. In which, while they of Angroign perceiued, that a part of the armie, aſcended the hil of Tailleret, and the other part had already gottē the way, which led to the medow of Tower (by which meanes, they of Angroign might eaſily be encloſed) they ſent certain to kéep the way: who encountering with their enimies, obtained the victorie, not one of them being ſo much as hurt that day. This trechery, the Lord of Trinity excuſed, putting the fault in them of Tailleret, who had ſlain certaine of his men in the high way.
The 9. of Nouember he vſed the like communication, as before, touching an agréement: ſending for certaine of Angroign, to that intent, as he pretended: whom he perſwaded, in token of obedience, to laye downe their armour, &c. Which when they had done, he falſified his promiſe, his ſoldiers in the meane time ſpoiling their armour.
A few daies after, he ſēt his ſecretary Gaſtāt, to Angroign, to make a ful reſolution of ye agréement, yt the people of Angroign ſhold ſue for grace to ye Duke, in yt they had taken vp armour for their defence, & yt they ſhould humbly beſéech him to giuegive thē liberty to continue in their religion they profeſſed, &c. Whervnto they of S. Ioh, of Roccapiata, of S. Bartholomew of Perouſe, wt other of the valley of Perouſe, agréed. Now while they were treating of this agréement, the L. of Trinity vexed cruelly them of Tailleret, pretending the cauſe, for that they came not to this agréement: for which cauſe, his ſouldiers ſpoyled and ſacked moſt lamentably diuers daies together. Al which being done, the L. of Trinity cauſed the chiefe of the people to aſſemble together, and demanded 20000. crowns toward the charges of the Dukes maintenāce of his army, againſt thē in time paſt. But by the means of his ſecretary Gaſtant, who was promiſed an 100 for a bribe, 4000. were cut of: ſo they graunted 16. thouſand, whereof the Duke releaſed the one halfe.
The poore people being required to pay the 8000. preſently, were faine to ſell that they had for a little to make a ſumme: and although the money were paide, yet the army retired not but demāded anew, & forced them to promiſe the payment of 8000. crownes: which the Duke releaſed. This done, he went about to ſlea their miniſters, but chiefly the miniſter of Angroign, whom, when they could not gette, they ſpoiled his houſe and burnt his bookes, and ſpoiled 40. houſes in Angroign, broke their milles, and carried away the corn and meale, which they found there: and, to be ſhort, the practiſes of cruelty ſhewed vponupon the poore people continually, was very ſtrange: as for example, they tooke at Tailleret, Odul Gemet, Odull Gemer.a man of ſixtie yéers of age, and put him to a cruel death: for when they had bound him, they tooke a kind of thing, called in French Eſcarboth, and put them to his nauell, couering them with a diſhe, which within ſhort ſpace pearced into his bellie, and killed him.
The meſſengers which were ſent to the Duke, after they had béene detained there 6. wéeks, and cruelly handled, notwithſtanding the miſeries ſuſtained before, brought a new commaundement, that al muſt go to maſſe: wherevppon, they ſent, and declared their diſtreſſe to them of ye ſame profeſſion in Daulphin: who hearing therof, ioyned themſelues together in league, for maintenance of the trueth: for which cauſe, certaine of the miniſters, and elders of the Church of Daulphin, were ſent to the valley of Luſern: who arriuing there at euē, at the village of Boly, word was brought, that ſuch as would not go to maſſe, ſhold be condēned to be burnt, or ſent to ye gallies, which whē they heard, they exhorted one another, ſaying: let vsus now make ſolemne proteſtatiō, yt wée wil vtterly forſake ye falſe religion of the pope, & that we wil liue and die in the conſtant profeſſion of Gods holy worde, and trueth. Let vsus go tomorowe to the temple to heare the word of God: and after this, let vsus caſt downe all the Altars and Idols to the ground. To this euerie man agréeed: and in the very ſame houre in which they were appointed to anſwere the commandement, they performed their agréement, both at Bobie, and at Villiers: whether as they went, they encountred a band of ſouldiers, and put them to flight, the 7. of Feb. In the meane time, the L. of Trinitie (after he had cōmitted diuers outrages) being ſore beaten of the Angrognians, & diuers of his men ſlain, eſpecially one of great authoritie in the D. court) blewe a retrait, & deſcēded to Angroign, and there (ye people being fled to the medow of Tower) burnt 1000. houſes, & made great ſpoyle. Where, although they oftentimes aſſayed to ſet fire on the two temples, and the Miniſters houſe, yet could they not fire them.
Afterward, the Lord of Trinitie burnt Roſa,Roſa deſtroied and deſtroyed it with fire and ſword. But the Angroignians had afterwards ſuch a hande of the aduerſaries, that they put them to flight, with great ſlaughter. There was one of 18. yeres of age, and but ſmall of ſtature, which alone ſlue the Lord of Monteil, Maſter of the Campe, as it was tolde to the K. Another ſimple man threw downe Charles Truchet, with the ſtroke of a ſtone, and a young man leapt vponupon him, and ſlue him with his owne ſword, which was four fingers broade, and claue his head in ſunder. This Truchet was one of the principall authors of this warre, and their chiefe enemie. The Angroignians purſued them more thā a mile, and made great ſlaughter.
The 18. of Februarie, the L. of Trinitie not ſatiſfied wt burning, & deſtroying the greateſt part of townes & cities, endeuoured to burne and ſpoyle all the little Villages roūd about, pertayning to the ſame: where his, were againe by a fewe, diſcomfited, through the power of God. And when the enemies at any time reſted them, the Angroignians prayed to God, which feared the enemies more, then any thing els.
The 18. of March, the L. of Trinitie, with an armie of ſixe or ſeuen thouſand, aſſayled them again, with the gentlemen of the countrey: but God gaue them victorie, after they had cried 3. or 4 times, help vsus O Lord. The captain of this band was named Baſtian, of Vergil, a man very experte in feates of warre. He, at the taking of his iorney threatned to doe great things that day: his hoſtes hearing that, ſaid, Mō ſieur, if our religion be better then theirs, we ſhall hauehave the victorie, els you ſhall not preuaile. Shortly after, the Captain was brought again into his Inne, ſo wounded, and ſo féeble, that he was not like to liue: then ſaid his hoſtes vntounto him, Monſieur, it is now wel ſéene that their religiō is better than ours. After that, being aſſayled againe, they manfully defended themſelues, and had almoſt ſtricken the L. of Trinitie with an harquebuſh, for the ſhot brake the wand which he bare in his hand, who ſéeing his Soldiers in ſuch great numbers ſlaine, he wept bitterly. The next day, one of the principal captains of the armie, ſurrendred his charge to the L. of Trinitie, ſaying vntounto him, that he woulde neuer fight againſt this people any more, and ſo departed.
In that combat there were but 2. of the Waldois ſlayn, and 2. hurt. Through the whole countrey of Piedmount, eueryevery man ſayd, God fighteth for them: and the Souldiers themſelues confeſſed,God fighteth for his people. they were ſo aſtonied, that they could not ſtrike. Moreouer, they ſaid, that this people neuer ſhot, but they killed, or hurt. Some others ſaid, that the miniſters (by their prayers) coniured, or bewitched them, yt they could not fight. And in trueth, ſuch was the ſucceſſe of this people, that only 14. of them were ſlaine in all theſe conflictes.
The 19. of March, there was a hot ſkirmiſh at Angroign: for 3. companies of ſouldiers went thither to burn al that remayned: but they were manfully reſiſted, ſo yt they, ſéeing the loſſe of their men, retired. After yt, the L. of Trin. endeuored by all falſhood to deſtroy the poor people. It fel out, yt the L. of Raconis, ſeming to be ſory for this war, ſent an honeſt man, named Fran. Gilles, to the medow of Tower, to take aduiſe how hee might beſt further the agréement, who hauing conſulted with the miniſters & rulers, and returning home was murthered by two of Angroigne: which greatly greeued the Waldois, who wrote to the Lord of Raconis, excuſing themſelues, and declaring how it gréeued them: promiſing that they would execute vponupon them ſuch Iuſtice as was méet in ſuch a caſe. The L of Raconis writ vntounto them againe, requiring that the offenders might be deliuered vntounto him: whereunto they anſwered: that vponupon 3. conditions they ſhould be deliuered. 1. That they ſhould not be cōpelled to doo any thing againſt their conſciences,Conditions. & as touching religion nothing ſhould be ſpoken to thē, but out of ye word of God. 2. That ſpedy iuſtice ſhould be done on thē, & therafter, this ſhold be no preiudice to ye liberties & priuiledges of Angroign. 3. That the execution ſhould be vponupon the borders of Angroign, for example: this was accepted, and the offenders deliuered, which did redound greatly to the commendation of the Angroignians.
After yt the L. of Trinity had greatly vexed them, and yet could not preuaile, the rulers of the Waldois requeſted earneſtly the Lorde of Raconis, to preſent a ſupplication,Supplication to the Duches of Sauoy. which they had made to the Duches of Sauoy: wherein they declared ye equity of their cauſe, proteſting al due obedience to ye Duke, their ſoueraign Lord: & if it might be proued by the word of god, that they had held any error, they would (wt humble ſubmiſſion) receiue correction, & be reformed: Hūbly beſéeching her grace, to appeaſe the diſpleaſure that the D. had conceaued againſt them, by the vntrue ſurmiſes of their aduerſaries: and if in any thing they had offended, they craued his moſt gratious pardō. About this time, the L. of Trinitie was in danger of death by ſickneſſe. Soon after the ſupplication was deliuered, the duches ſent an anſwere to ye Valdois, by the L. of Raconis, of hard conditiōs: as, that they ſhould baniſh their miniſters, receiue the maſſe, & ſuffer no more preaching: & yt the D. would at his pleaſure make fortreſſes all the country ouer: which when they vnderſtood they made requeſt vntounto her againe, that theſe conditions might be moderated with certaine other demaunds for their libertie: and aboue all, they beſéeched her to take pittie on them, and that they might not be compelled to doo any thing againſt their conſcience, &c. After which ſupplication viewed and read of the Duches,Libertie granted to the Waldois. ſhe ſo perſwaded the Duke, that anſwere was made according to their mind, preaching permitted with frée libertie, their goods reſtored, and fréedoms, liberties, general and particular reſtored. Yet ſo, that Maſſe ſhould be ſaid in all the pariſhes of theſe Valleis, & no man compelled to come to the ſame: the captiues were alſo reſtored, that were ſent to the gallies, and reaſonable ranſome taken for the priſoners of the Waldois: and ſo, through the meanes of the Ducheſſe, the poore Waldois hauehave béene quiet vntil this day.
Anno 1526. a certaine Iew in Conſtantinople, was conuerted to the faith, which when the Turkes knew, they ſlue him, and caſt out his dead body, not ſuffering it to be buried: which lay 9. or 10. daies incorrupt keping colour and freſhnes, as if it had not béene dead, with a pleaſant & delectable ſauour: which when the Turkes behelde, they buried the bodie themſelues, being greatly aſtonied thereat.
The end of the ſeuenth Booke.