A General Martyrology, Chapter 21

A General Martyrology · Chapter 21

p. 102CHAP. XXI. The Persecutions of the Waldenses, which began Anno Christi, 1160.

WHen the darkness of Popery had overspread the Christian world, so that Kings and Princes imploied their Authority to establish the Romish Idolatry, appointing to slaughter such as denied Transubstantiation, Adoration of the Host, bowing the knees before it, &c. this occasioned many Christians to detest this superstition as unknown to the Apostles and primitive Church.The f…st Reformers▪ And first of all God raised up Berengarius, presently after the year one thousand, who boldly and faithfully preached the Truth, and against the Romish Errors, continuing his Ministry, till about the time that William the Conqueror came into England, whereupon the Gospellers were called Berengarians, till about the year 110. At which time common notice being taken of their separation from the Church of Rome, and their disagreeing from so many of their Tenents, they were branded with the odious name of Hereticks, And twenty years after, when they were grown into a very great multitude, they had one Peter Bruis for their most famous Preacher, who taught long, and publickly at Tholouse, under the protection and favour of a noble Earl, called Hildephonsus, whereupon in those parts they were called Petro-Brusians. For Peter Bruis, Anno Christi, 1120. published their Tenents in a book called Anti-Christ, wherein he declared both the ground of their Doctrine, and the causes of their separation from the Romish Church.

Twenty years after this, they were grown into a mighty multitude about Anno Christi, 1140. whereupon the Popes of Rome now began to lay about them for their Extirpation: For which end he stirred up his most learned followers to write against them; and warned Princes to take heed of them, and to banish them out of their Territories.

p. 103Anno Christi, 1147. they had Henry of Tholouse for their most eminent Preacher, whereupon they began to be called Henericians; and because they were well red in the Scriptures, especially in the Epistles of St. Paul, whom by way of eminency they called the Apostle, alleadging Texts out of him, nnd would admit of no Testimonies for the proof of Religion, but only out of Scripture, they were called Apostolicks. And shortly after God raised up Peter Valdo a Citizen of Lions in France, Peter Valdo.who shewed himself most couragious in opposing the Popish inventions, withal taxing divers other innovations which were crept into the Church of Rome, and he was the more eagerly hearkened unto,Charity. because he was in high esteem for his Learning and Piety, and his liberality to the poor; for besides the nourishing of their bodies, he did also feed their souls, by exhorting them to seek Jesus Christ, and salvation by him. The Arch-Bishop of Lions being informed that Valdo used thus to instruct the people,Popish malice. boldly taxing the vice, luxury, and pride of the Pope, and his Clergy, forbad him the same upon pain of Excommunication, and proceeded against him as an Heretick; Valdo replied,Christian courage. that he could not be silent in a cause of so great importance, as the salvation of mens souls, wherein he must obey God rather then man: Then did the Arch-Bishop seek to have him apprehended, but could not effect it, Valdo having many great friends, and being generally beloved, whereby he continued (though closely) in Lions three years.

Pope Alexander the third being informed that divers persons in Lions questioned his soveraign Authority over the whole Church, cursed Valdo, and his Adherents,Pope Alexander raiseth persecution. commanding the Arch-Bishop to proceed against them by Ecclesiastical censures to their utter extirpation; whereupon they were wholly chased out of Lions. Valdo and his followers were called Waldenses, which afterwards spread themselves into divers Countries and Companies.

The opinions of these Waldenses for which they were so declaimed against, and cruelty persecuted by the Romanists, were these.

1. That holy oyl is not to be mingled in Baptism.

2. That all such prayers are superstitious and vain which are made over the oyl, salt, wax, incense, boughs of Olives and Palms, Ecclesiastical garments, calices, Church-yards, and such like things.

3. That time is spent in vain in Ecclesiastical singings, and saying the Canonical hours.

4. That flesh and eggs may be eaten in Lent, and that there is no merit in abstinence at such times.

5. That when necessity requires, all sorts of persons may marry, Ministers as well as others.

6. That auricular confession is not necessary.

7. That Confirmation is not a Sacrament.

8. That Obedience is not to be performed to the Pope.

9. That Ministers should live upon Tithes and Offerings.

10. That there is no difference between a Bishop and a Minister.

p. 10411. That it is not the dignity, but deserts of a Presbyter that makes him a better man.

12. That they administer the Sacrament without the accustomed form of the Roman Church.

13. They say that Images are to be taken out of Churches, and that to adore them was Idolatry.

14. They contemned the Popes indulgences, and say, that they were of no vertue.

15. They refused to take any oath whereby they should be enforced to accuse themselves, or their friends.

16. They maintained their Ministers out of their own purses, thinking it unreasonable that such should be diverted from their studies, whilst they were forced to get their livings with their own hands.

17. They held that the Miracles done in the Church of Rome, were false Miracles.

18. That the Religion of the Frier Mendicants was invented by the Devil.

19. That the Pope of Rome was not to be obeyed.

20. That whoredom and stews were not to be permitted under pretense of avoiding Adultery and Rapes.

21. That there is no Purgatory wherein the souls of the deceased are to be purged before they be admitted into heaven.

22. That a Presbyter, falling into scandalous sin, ought to be suspended from his office till he had sufficiently testified his Repentance.

23. That the Saints deceased are not to be worshiped, and prayed unto.

24. That it matters not for the place of their burial, whether it were holy or no.

25. They admitted no extream unction amongst the Sacraments of the Church.

26. They say, that Masses, Indulgences, and prayers do not profit the dead.

27. They admitted no prayers, but such as did correspond with the Lords prayer, which they made the rule of all their Prayers.

28. Lastly, Though their adversaries charged them with holding, that every lay-man might freely preach to the people, yet they had Bishops, and orders amongst themselves; as the Order of Bulgarie, the order of Druguria,; and they who were their Ministers were ordained thereunto, though they were not of the Romish Institution, as Nicolus Viguierius, and others report of them.

God… Providence. Persecution spreads the Gospel. King of France persecutes them.Valdo himself went into Dauphiney, conversing in the mountains of the same Province with certain rude persons, yet capable of receiving his belief: his Disciples also spread into Picardy, whence they were called Picards: against whom afterwards K. Philip (enforced by the Ecclesiastical persons) took arms, and overthrew three hundred gentlemens p. 105houses that followed their part, and destroied some walled Towns, pursuing them into Flanders, whether they fled, and causing many of them there to be burnt to death.

This persecution caused many of them to flie into Germany, and Alsatia, where they spread their Doctrine; and shortly after the Bishops of Mayence and Strasburg, raised up a great persecution against them, causing five and thirty Burgesses of Mayence to be burnt in one fire, and eighteen in another▪ who with great constancy suffered death.

At Strasburg eighty were burnt, at the instance of the Bishop; yet multitudes of people received such edification by the exhortations, constancy, and patience of the Martyrs, that Anno 1315. in the County of Passau, and about Bohemia, there were above eighty thousand persons that made profession of the same faith.Many burnt.

Anno Christi 1160. some of them came into England, and at Oxford were punished in the most barbarous and cruel manner as ever were any Christians for Religion-sake before the time,The spreading of the Gospel. as you may see in my English Martyrologie. And three years after in the Council of Turon, or Towers in France: viz. 1163. Pope Alexander the third, made a decree, that these Gospellers, and all their favourers should be excommunicated, and that none should sell them any thing, or buy any thing of them, according as it was fore-prophesied, Rev. 13.17.

But notwithstanding all these devises they had goodly Churches in Bulgary, Croatia, Dalmatia, and Hungary. Malicious slanders.The Popish Monks to make them odious, and to have the better occasion to persecute them, raised up many foul slanders of them, as they were sorcerers, buggerers, &c. that they assembled themselves in the night time, and that the Pastors commanded the lights to be put out, saying, Qui potest capere, capiat, catch who catch can, whereupon they committed abominable incest, the son with the mother, the brother with the sister, the father with his daughter,Vindication. &c. they charged them also with many foul and false opinions: from which accusations they by a publick Apology and vindication cleared themselves, which they published both in French and their own language.

Rainerus the Monk saith of them, that amongst all those which have risen up against the Church of Rome, the Waldenses were the most dangerous, in regard of their long continuance, for some say, that it hath continued from the time of Pope Silvester; and some say, from the Apostles time; and because this Sect (saith he) is more general, and there is scarce any Countrey in which it hath not taken footing: and because it hath a great appearance of piety, for they carry themselves uprightly before men, and believe rightly touching God in all things, holding all the Articles of the Creed, only they hate and revile the Church of Rome, The greate enc…ease of the Waldenses.and therein (saith he) they are easily believed of the people.

Cesarius saith, that this Heresie so encreased, that in a short time it infected usque ad mille civitates, a thousand Cities. Parsons saith, that they p. 106had an Army of seventy thousand men to fight for them; yea, they were so spread in Germany, that they could travel from Collen to Milan in Italy, and every night lodge with Hosts of their own profession.

Hereupon the Pope hath always used all his art for their utter extirpation, by his Thunder-bolts, Curses, Canons, Constitutions, Decrees, and whatsoever else might make them odious to Kings, Princes, and people,Popish rage and malice. giving them over to Satan, interdicting them all Communion and society with others, making them incapable of any charges, honours, profits, to inherit lands, to make wills to be buried in Church-yards, yea, confiscating their goods, dis-inheriting their heirs, and where they could apprehend any of them, they condemned them to be delivered to the secular power, their houses to be razed, their lands and goods to be confiscated, commanding Kings, Princes, Magistrates, Consuls, and people, to make an exact inquisition, to shut the City-gates, to ring the Toll-bell, to arm themselves, to apprehend, kill, or use any other violence to them, giving to their Accusers a third part of their Estates, condemning all favorers of them to the same punishment.

Anno Christ, 1163. came some of these godly persons to Collen in Germany out of the parts of Flanders, where they secretly remained for a time in a barn near the City:Five burnt at Collen. But the diligence of the Popish Clergy found them out by their not coming to their Church, and so caused, them, to be apprehended, and brought before them; and after examination because they constantly adhered to the truth, and would by no means be brought to recant the same, they condemned them, and delivered them to the secular power: who carrying them out of the City, (being four men, and one young woman) they first bound the four men to a stake, and set fire to them: The people much pitied the young woman, and would fain have saved her, hoping that the burning of her companions would have wrought her to a recantation; but she perceiving their drift, strugled out of the hands of those that held her, and voluntarily leaped into the fire, whereby she was burned with them. Godfridus Monachus.

A bloody Edict against the Waldenses.Anno Christi, 1194. Aldephonsus King of Arragon (probably by the instigation of Pope Celestine, and mis-information of his Clergy) published this evil Edict against them.

Aldephonsus by the grace of God King of Arragon, &c. to all Arch-Bishops, Bishops, and the rest of the Prelates of the Church in his Kingdom, to Earls, Vicounts, Knights, and all the people of his Kingdom, and to all that are in Authority, health, &c. Because God would have us to be over his people, it is a worthy and just thing that we take continual care as far as in us lies of the salvation, and defence of them: Wherefore being imitators of our Predecessors, and in obedience to the Canons, we judge that all Hereticks cast out of the sight of God and of all Catholicks, are to be condemned, and persecuted every where, namely the Waldenses, or poor men of Lyons, whereof there is no number, who being cursed by his holy Church: We also command to depart, and flie from all our Kingdoms, and places within our power, as enemies to the Cross of Christ, our selves, and this Kingdom. Therefore from this day forward p. 107shall presume to receive the foresaid Waldenses into their houses, or to hear their doleful preaching, or to give them meat, or any other relief, let him know, that he hath incurred the indignation of God, and of us, and that he shall be punished as a Traitor, and all his goods shall be confiscated without remedy or appeal. And this our Edict we command to be published upon Sundays by Bishops, and all Rectors of Churches, &c. through all our Dominions. And we command that the foresaid punishments be inflicted upon all Transgressors of it by our Bailyffs, Justices, &c. And if any of the foresaid naughty, people whether noble, or ignoble, shall presume to stay three days after the publication hereof, and not hast their removal, we will, and command all men to bring upon them all mischief, disgrace, and agrievance (except death, or cutting off their members) which shall be gratefull and acceptable to us, neither shall they fear any punishment for the same, &c. But this same Aldephonsus that made this cruel Edict by the just retribution of God, the very next year lost part of his Kingdom to the Moors, and his son having also fifty thousand of his men slain in one battel. Hoveden.

The Popelings exercising such cruelty against the Gospellers,They defend themselves by Arms. they began to defend themselves by arms, repelling force with force: and when, being overpowred by multitude, they could defend themselves no longer, they left their places, and became souldiers abroad, and many of them became very helpfull to our King Henry the second in his Wars, when he was molested about Arch-Bishop Beckets death: Also our King Richard the first at his return out of the Holy land, (as they called it) made good use of them (who though they were cursed by the Pope, yet were they blessed by God) for the recovery of his right, and for the defence of his people.

Valdo notwithstanding all the curses of the Pope, continued to publish, that the Pope was Anti-Christ, the Mass an abomination,Valdo's Zeal and Courage. the Host an Idol, and Purgatory a fable: whereupon Pope Innocent the third, Anno, 1198, seeing that the other remedies were not sufficient to suppress these Hereticks, as he called them, authorized certain Monks Inquisitors, who by process should apprehend and deliver them to the secular power, by a far shorter, but much more cruel way then was used formerly; for by this means the people were delivered by thousands into the Magistrates hands, and by them to the Executioners, whereby in a few years all Christendom was moved with compassion, to see all those burnt and hanged, that did trust only in Christ for salvation.

The Pope seeing that this suppressed not, but rather increased the number of his enemies,Sang…i… Martyrum, semen Ecclesia. sent certain Bishops and Monks to preach in those places of the Waldenses, but their preaching converted not any of them from their former opinions.

Amongst those Monks was Dominick, who was a zealous persecutor of these Saints of God both in word and deed,Dominicans instituted. who seeing himself to be in Authority▪ instituted an Order of begging Monks, called after his name Dominicans, which order was confirmed by the Pope, for their p. 108zealous assisting of him against the Waldenses, and this Dominick laboured in the inquisition with such contentment to the Popes, that from that time forward the Monks of his order have always been imploied in the inquisition.

The power of these Inquisitors was without limitation, they could assemble the people by the sound of a bell when they pleased, proceed against the Bishops themselves,Inquisitors begun, An. Chri. 1176· they could imprison and release without controul: Any accusation was sufficient with them: A sorcerer▪ a whore was a sufficient witness in the case of pretended Heresie: It mattered not who accused, or whether by word of mouth, or ticket thrown in before the Inquisitors: for process was thereby framed without party,Injustice. without witness, or without other Law, then the pleasure of the Inquisitors.

To be rich was a crime near to Heresie, and he that had any thing to lose, was in the way to be undone, either as an Heretick, or as a favourer of them: yea, bare suspition stopped the mouths of parents, kinsfolk, and friends, that they durst not intercede each for other. If any did but convey a cup of cold water,Prodigious cruelty. or a pad of straw to the poor Saints that lay in stinking dungeons, he was condemned as a favourer of the Hereticks, and brought to the same or worse extremities.

No Advocate durst undertake the defence of his nearest kinsman, or friends: no Notary durst receive any Act in his favour; yea, death it self made not an end of their punishment, for sometimes they passed sentence against the bones of the dead, to dis-inter and burn them, it may be thirty years after the death of the party accused.

Such as were heirs had nothing certain, for if their fathers or kindred were accused they durst not undertake the defence of their own right, possess their own inheritance, without the crime or suspition of Heresie. The greatest and richest amongst the people were constrained even to adore these Monks Inquisitors, and to give them great sums for the building of their Convents & houses, for fear to be accused of Heresie.

And the better to keep the people in aw, these Inquisitors would sometimes lead in Triumph their prisoners in their processions, enjoyning some of them to whip themselves, others to go in their shirts bare-foot and bare-headed, having a With about their necks; and a torch in their hands for the greater terrour to the beholders, seeing persons of all estates and sexes in so miserable a condition.

Some of these accused persons were sent into the holy Land, or enrolled for some other expedition against the Turks and Infidels, where they were to serve for a certain time at their own charge: in the mean time these Fathers Inquisitors took possession of their houses and goods, and when they returned home, they must not so much as enquire whether these Monks had in their absence lain with their wives, lest they would be condemned as back-sliders, and unworthy of favour.

Anno Christi, 1201. A gallant Knight that was one of these Waldenses, called Enraudus, whom Henry, Earl of Nivers had made Gonour of his land,A Knight burned. was accused of Heresie, and brought before the p. 109Popes Legat, who called a Common Council at Paris against him, consisting of the Arch-Bishop, Bishops, and Ministers of Paris, who after examination of witnesses, condemned him for an Heretick, and so delivered him to the secular power, by whom he was burned in the flames. Chron. Rol. Altissiodorensis.

In Octo. Anno Christi, 1207. in the Town of Mont-royal near Carcasson in the Earldom of Tholouse, A Disputation between the Popelings and the Waldenses.there was held a famous disputation between Didacus Bishop of Oxon, a Spaniard: Frier Dominick; Peter of the New Castle, the Popes Legat, and Raph his Colleague on the one party, and Arnold Hot, Pastor of the Albingenses, with some other of his fellow-labourers on the other party: The Arbitrators were two noble men, viz, Bernard de villa nova, and Pernail of Arras; and two Plebians, viz. Raimond Godius, and Arnold Riberia, The Questions disputed upon were these: First, that the Church of Rome is not the Spouse of Christ, nor an holy Church, but an impure one, and instructed by the Doctrine of Satan. Secondly, That their Ecclesiastical Polity is not good, nor holy, nor established by Jesus Christ. Thirdly, That the Mass, as it is celebrated therein, was not instituted by Christ, or his Apostles. The Bishop undertook to prove the contrary: but after three days disputation, he desired fifteen days to commit his Arguments to writing; and Arnold Hot required eight days to put in his Answer.

At the day appointed the Bishop brought in a very long writing; and Hot desired to answer by word of mouth, intreating his Auditors that he might not seem troublesom to them, if he were long in answering so long a discourse; and it was granted that he should be heard with patience without interruption, and so he discoursed for divers hours four days together, to the great admiration of all that heard him, and so ready was he therein, that all the Bishops, Abbats, Monks, and Priests, wished themselves elsewhere: For he framed his answer to each point in order, as it was set down in the writing, and that with such plainness and perspicuity, that he gave all that were present to understand, that this Bishop, though he had writen much, yet had he concluded nothing that might truly turn to the advantage of the Church of Rome against his Assertions: Then did Arnold request, that forasmuch as the Bishops, and himself in the beginning of the conference, were bound to prove whatsoever they affirmed by the Word of God only, it might now be imposed upon the Bishops, and Priests to make good their Mass as they sing it, part by part, to have been instituted by the son of God, and so used by the Apostles, &c. But the Bishops were not able to prove that the Mass, or any part of it was so ordained or used, whereupon they were much discontented, and ashamed. Arnold proceeded to prove that it was not instituted by Christ or his Apostles.The Popelings bafled. For (said he) if the Mass were the holy Supper instituted by our Saviour, there would remain after the consecration, that which was in the supper of our Lord, viz. Bread: But in the Mass there is no bread; p. 110For by transubstantiation the bread is vanished, therefore the Mass is not the holy Supper of the Lord: &c. The Bishops, Legats, Monks, and Priests having nothing to answer to these things, retired themselves: not being willing to here any more: and fearing least these Gospellers should work such an impression on the hearts of those that were present, as might shake their beliefe touching the Masse, they dessolved the Assembly. Nich Vignerius.

Between the years 1176. which was the time when this Inquisition was first erected, to the year 1228. there was so great a havock made of poor Christians, that the Arch-Bishops of Aix, Arles, and Narbonne, being assembled at the request of the said Inquisitors, to conferre with them about divers difficulties in the execution of their offices,Horrible cruelty. had compassion of the great number that were accused & cast into prison, saying, We hear that you have apprehended such a multitude of the Waldenses, that it is not only impossible to defray the charge of their food, but to provide lime and stone to build prisons for them, we therefore advise you to forbear this rigour till the Pope be advertised, and direct what he will have done in this case, &c. Yet notwithstanding all this cruelty, there was in the year 1260. according to the report of George Morrel in his memorials,The number of the Waldenses. p. 54. above eight hundred thousand persons that made profession of the faith of the Waldenses.

Besides the Churches that they had in Valentinois, where their faith was propagated from the father to the son, their religion spread also beyond the Alps into the valley of Pragela, within the jurisdiction of the Arch-Bishop of Turin, from whence were peopled the Waldensian Valleys of Piedmont, La Perouse, S. Martain, Angrogne, &c. This valley of Pargela was one of the safest retiring places that the Waldenses had, being environed on all sides with mountains almost inaccessible, into the caves whereof they retired themselves in the times of persecution: and though they were weakned on all sides, environed with enemies, and in danger of being apprehended if they looked but forth of their doors; yet was there never any wordly respect that had power to alter their holy resolution from the father to the sonne,Their godly lives. to serve God, taking his Word for the rule of their faith, & his Law for the rule of their obedience: yea, no sooner were the infants weaned from their mothers breasts, but their parents took a singular delight to instruct them in the Christian faith.

Good Pastors.There Pastors also did not only preach to them on the Sabbath daies, but went in the week daies to instruct them in the villages and hamlets, not sparing themselves for the roughnesse of the rocks, the coldnesse of the ayr, and the cragginesse of the country, where they were fain to climbe up high mountains to visit their flocks.

There was also holy Discipline exercised amongst them: The people praied with fervency at night when they went to their rest, and in the morning before the went about their labour: They had Schools wherein their children were taught and nurtured.

B…t whilest they thus busily sought the advancement of Gods glory and their own salvation,Persecution raised. the devil raised up a persecution against them. p. 111Anno 1380. by a Monk Inquisitor, called Francis Boralli, who had a commission to enquire after the Waldenses in Aix, Arles, Ambrun, Viene, Geneva, Aubone, Savoy, the Venetian County, the Principality of Orenge, the City of Avignion, &c. which commission he received from Pope Clement the seventh.

This Monk cited to appeare before him at Ambrun, all the Inhabitants of Frassiniere, Argentire, and of the valley Pute upon pain of excommunication: but they appeared not, whereupon they were condemned of contumacy, and excommunicated:Popish cruelty▪ and for the space of thirteen years, as he caught any of them, he delivered them up to the secular power to be burnt at Grenoble, the number of whom was an hundred and fifty men, divers women, with many of their sons and daughters; besides about eighty persons of Argentire.

The Inquisitors also adjudged to themselves two par…s of all their goods▪ and the third part to the temporal powers: they forbad all their bordering neighbours also to assist, receive, visit, or defend them or to converse with them in any sort upon pain of being attainted, and punished as favourers of Hereticks, &c.

The Waldenses of the valley of Pragela, In Pragela.Anno 1400. were assaulted by their enemies on the side of Susa in Piedmont: but most of their assaults proved in vain, because these Waldenses retired into the high mountains, hiding themselves in the caves and hollow places thereof, from whence they much endamaged those that came to assail them. Their enemies seing this, came upon them in the depth of winter, when those poor people never suspected it, all the mountains being covered over with snow:Popish malice. and thereupon they retired into the highest mountain of all the Alps, together with their wives and children, the mothers carrying some in their cradles, and leading others by the hand: yet the enemy followed them till night, and slew many before they could recover the mountain: and they which were so slain had the better bargain: for night coming on, these poor people being in the snow, without any meanes to make a fire for their infants, many of them were benummed,Infants starved to death. and in the morning above eighty of them were frozen to death in their cradles, and most of their mothers died also, and divrese others were giving up the last gasp: The enemies lay all night in these peoples houses, which they ransacked and pillaged, and so returned to Susa, but by the way, meeting with a poor Waldensian woman,Popish cruelty. they hanged her upon a tree, and so departed.

The VValdenses of the valley of Frassiniere, Frassiniere▪were greatly persecuted by the Arch-Bishop of Ambrun, Anno 1460. who made a Monk called John Vayleti his Commissioner against them, which Monk proceeded with such diligence and violence, that scarce any person could escape his hands, but that he was either apprehended for an Heretick, Popish cruelty.or a favourer of them, whereby many Papists suffered amongst the rest, which caused them to petition King Lewis the eleventh of France, by his authority to stay the course of that persecution:The King forbids the persecution. and thereupon the King wrote his Letter to the Governour of Dauphine, signifying, that whereas the Inquisitors had daily sent forth their processe against many p. 112poor people in those parts without reasonable cause, putting some to the rack, and condemning them for matters whereof they were never guilty, and which they could not prove by any witnesse: and of others they had exacted great sums of money, and divers waies had unjustly vexed, and molested them: he therefore decreed that for the time to come all such processe should be void, and of none effect, nor any wrong done to them in body, goods, or good name, except there were any that obstinately maintained and affirmed any thing against the holy Catholicke Faith.

Yet the Arch-Bishop continues it.But the Arch-Bishop was so far from ceasing the persecution upon this Edict, that he grew more violent by reason of the last clause, pretending that he did not any thing contrary to the Kings precept, seeing they which were cited, appeared not to justifie themselves, &c. He also suborned many Priests, which were his own Officers, to depose, that all they which had petitioned the King were VValdenses: Popish malice. Slanders.He also hired one John Pelegrin to accuse them for assembling themselves in dark places to commit whoredom, &c. and then he sent to the Court to justifie himself from the complaint made to the King against him, that he had persecuted the Waldenses rather out of covteousness to get their goods, then out of zeal to the Catholick Faith: but this single witness prevailed but litle, seeing there were many other who deposed, that they had never seen any such villany amongst the Waldenses, nor any the least appearance of the same.

Yet did not the Archbishop cease to prosecute them to the uttermost of his power, so that he caused most of them to flie away, only one James Pateneri stood to it, averring before the Court that he was unjustly vexed,Ja Pateneri contrary to the Kings Letters, demanding a copy of the proceedings, that he might right himself by Law: …hereupon the Archbishop left him, and fell upon those that wanted the like courage, citing the Consuls of Frassiniere to answer for themselves, and all the inhabitants of their valley: But they refused, saying, that they had nothing to say before the Archbishop, seeing their cause was now depending before the King and his Council,The Arch-Bishops cruelty. protesting against the Archbishops power, and demanding a copy of the Kings Letter: But the Archbishop, notwithstanding this protestation, sent them to the fire, without any other indictment.

Yet the Lord left not this cruelty long unrevenged, for shortly after the Archbishop died by the stroak of Gods justice,Gods judgement on persecutors. and so ended his Persecution▪ Anno Christi 1487.

One villany of the Inquisitor Valeti may not be forgoten, which was this: When he examined any of the Waldenses, Whether he beleeved that the bread in the Sacrament, after the consecration, was changed into the reall and naturall body of Christ which hung upon the crosse? If the Waldenses answered, No; he set down his answer thus, That he beleeved not in God. When he asked, Whether we ought not to pray to Saints?Popish lies. If they answred, No; he set down, That the railed upon, and spake evil of the Saints. When he enquired, Whether we p. 113ought not to pray to the Virgin Mary in our necessities? If they answered No; he set down, That they spake blasphemy against the Virgin Mary, &c.Gods providence. And by Gods providence these Records were kept in the Arch-bishop of Ambruns house, till the City and their Records fell into the hands of the Protestants an hundred years after, and so God brought all their knavery to light.

Anno 1488. Pope Innocent the eight sent Albert de capitaneis, Arch-Deacon of Cremona against these Waldenses, who craved aid of the Kings Lieutenant of Dauphine, against them. This Lieutenant for his service levied troops of men, and at the Arch-Deacons request,Popish subtilty led them against the Waldenses in the valley of Loyse, and to colour his proceedings with a pretence of justice, he took a Counsellour of the Court along with him. But when they came to the valley, they found no inhabitants, for they were all retired into their Caves in the high mountains, having carried their little children, and all their provision of food with them. Then did this cruel Lieutenant cause much wood to be laid to the mouths of the caves, and set it on fire,Barbarous crueltie.. so that some were choaked with smoak, others burnt with the fire, others cast themselves headlong from the rocks, and were broken in pieces; and if any stirred out, they were presently slain by the souldiers.

In this Persecution,A girevous persecution. there were found within the Caves four hundred infants stif…ed in their cradles, or in the arms of their dead mothers: and in all, there perished above three thousand men and women at that time, so that there were no inhabitants left in all that valley: And to prevent the coming of any more of them thither, the Lieutenant gave all their goods and possessions to whom he pleased.

Then did he march against the Waldenses of Pragela, and Frassaniere, but they, providing for their own safety, attended him at the passages and narrow straits of their vallies,The Lieutenant repulsed. so that he was forced to retire.

After a while Albert de Capitaneis, being called to another place, he substituted a Franciscan named Francis Ploieri, who Anno 1489. began anew to informe against the Waldenses of Fressaniere, citing them to appeare before him at Ambrun, and for non-appearing, he excommunicated them, and condemned them for Hereticks, to be delivered to the secular power, and there goods to be confiscated; and in this judgement, their assisted one Ponce, a certain Counsellour of Dauphine. These men afterwards caught two of their Pastors [Francis Gerondin, and Peter James] who being asked why the Waldenses increased so fast, and spread so far; they answered,Plain dealing. Because the Popish Priests live so dissolutly, and because the Cardinals are so covetous, proud and luxurious, it being commonly known that there is neither Pope, Popish uncleannesse.Cardinall, nor Bishop, but keeps his whores, and few or none but had their youths for Sodomy besides; And therefore it is easie for the Waldensian Pastors to perswade the people, that their religion could not be good, whose fruits were so bad, &c

This Persecution grew exceeding hot, the Inquisitor and Councellor p. 114sending as many as they could catch to the fire without admitting any appeal: and if any interceded for them, though the father for the childe, or the child for the father, he was presently committed to prison,In Dauphine. and indicted as a favourer of Hereticks.

Anno 1594. Anthoni Fabri, and Christopher de Salience had Comissions sent them from the Pope,The weaknesse of a woman. to commence suit against the Waldenses in Dauphine, who apprehending the widow of one Peter Berand, they imprisoned, and oft examined her, and thereby drew from her whatever she knew of the Assemblies of the Waldenses, of the persons that frequented them, and of the places and times of their meeting, which afterwards brought great trouble to the said Churches of Christ, and of gain to the Inquisitors.

King Lewis the twelfth succeeding King Francis, Anno 1598. the inhabitants of Frassaniere petitioned him to take some order for the restitution of their goods, which by the Inquisitors were deteined from them. The King referred it to his Chancelor, who procured a Commissary from the Poppe, and Commissioner from the King, to be sent down to examine the businesse; These accordingly, having examined divers witnesses against the Waldenses, The innocency of the Waldenses.and finding their innocency, did at last absolve them; the Kings Commissioner publickely professing, that he desired to be but as good a Christian as the worst of those of Frassaniere were: and returning to the King, they made report to him of that which they had done: The King thereupon ordered that the goods of the Waldenses should be restored▪

When the Kings order came to Ambrun, it was the opinion of most men, that seeing most of these goods were in the possession of the Arch-Bishop, that therefore he should give a good example in begining to restore them, but the Arch-Bishop answered, that the goods which he held were annexed to his Arch-Bishoprick,Popish subtilty and injustice. and incorporated to his Church and, therefore it was out of the Kings jurisdiction, and he did not beleeve that the King would meddle therein: Yet being willing to please the King, he profered to restore them their Vineyards, provided that the Lords of Dauphine would restore the goods which they had; but there was not one that would restore what they had so unjustly gotten, so that the poor people where wholly frustrated of their expectation.

Then did the summon the Arch-Bishop and those refusers before the King, but these great ones having more friends and favour at Court, then the poor people had, their excuse was admitted, which was, that they could not restore the goods, before the Pope had absolved those of Frassaniere from the sentence of excommunication. Anno 1560. The President of Provence made a speech to the assembly of Estates to root out these Waldenses: Whereupon they raised an Army for the effecting of it; but as soon as the men were in Arms, it pleased God,A speciall providence. by the death of King Francis, to put an end to that design, whereby the Waldensian Churches in Dauphine enjoyed peace, and were well furnished with godly Pastors, who held them in the exercise p. 115of religion, though they were in continuall danger of being persecuted to the death for the same.

The Waldenses in Dauphine, many years before being multiplyed, so that the countrey could not feed them, dispersed themselves abroad into divers parts, whereof some went into Piedmont, In Piedmont.who lived in great love with those of Da…phine, and though they were alwaies oppressed with troubles, yet with hearty love and charity, they ever-succoured one another,Love. not sparing their lives and goods for their mutuall conservation.

The first Persecution in Piedmont were occasioned by the Preists, who complained to the Arch-Bishop of Turin, Popish malice.that these people lived not according to the manner and belief of the Church of Rome; that they offered not for the dead, cared not for Masses, Absolutions, or to get any of theirs out of the pains of Purgatory, &c. Hereupon the Arch-Bishop persecuted them, complaining of them to their Princes to make them odious: But the Prince enquiring of their neighbours, heard that they were of a good conversation, fearing God, without deceit or malice, loving plain dealing, alwaies ready to serve their Prince with alacrity, &c. He therefore purposed not to molest them: But the Priests and Monks gaining nothing by their belief, charged them with an infinite number of calumnies,Slanders. and ever and anon catching one or other of them, they delivered them to the Inquisitors, and the Inquisitors to the executioners,Persecution in Piedmont. so that there was scarce a Town or City in Piedmont, wherein some of them had not been put to death.

At Turin one of them had his bowels torn out of his belly,Cruelty. and put into a bason before his face, and then was he cruelly martyred,

At Revel in the Marquisat of Saluces, one Catelin Girard being on the block whereon he should be burnt,Cat. Girard. requested his Executioner to give him two stones, which he refused to do, fearing least he would throw them at some body, but he protesting the contrary, at last they gave him two stones, which he held in his hands, and said, When I shall have eaten these stones, then shall you see an end of our Religion, for …hich you now put me to death, and so he threw them on the ground, and died cheerfully.

Thus they burnt many of them in the fire, till Anno 1488. and then they resolved to assault them by open force, because they saw that otherwise they should never be able to extirpate them: besides,Popish malice. their constant sufferings converted many to the faith. Hereupon they levied an Army of eighteen thousand men, besides many inhabitants of Piedmont, who ran to the pillage from all parts. These marched all at once to Angrogne, L…cerne, La Perouse, &c. They raised also forces in Dauphine, where with they over-ran the Valley of Pragela, so that they being put to defend themselves, could not assist their friends in Piedmont. But the enemy by this division of his forces, being weakned, was every where beaten, especially in the Valley of Angrogne, where the VValdensians having been informed of the levies of their enemies against them, prepared themselves to receive and resist them, keeping p. 116the strait passages, where few men might defend themselves against many.

They defended themselves with long Targets of wood, whereby they covered themselves from the hurt of their enemies arrows. Whilst they were thus bickering with their enemies, the women and children upon their knees cried out, O God help us. The enemies made themselves merry with this fight,Prayer. and amongst them, one Capt. Saquet, who as he was imitating the woman,Profanenesse. A just judgement. was slain, and tumbled down into a very deep valley.

Another Captain, crying out to the women in derision, was killed with the shot of an arrow in the throat. Hereupon the souldiers betook themselves all to their heels, and the greatest part slew themselves, by tumbling down from the rocks.

Another providence of God was this, that the enemies approaching to the stongest entrance by nature, might their have fortified themselves,A specall prouidence. and so made themselves masters of that Valley: But God sent so thick a cloud, and dark a fog, that they could scarce see one another, whereby they wanted opportunity to discover their advantage, and therefore departed: which the VValdenses seeing, couragiously pursued them,Gods judgement on persecutors and by that means the enemy being dispersed, and not seeing which waies they went, the greatest part fell headlong down the mountains, quitting their arms and booty which they had gotten at their first entrance into the Valley, by which means the Waldenses recovered it again,

Then it pleased God to move the Princes heart (which was Philip the seventh, Duke of Savoy; and Lord of Piedmont) with pity towards these poor people,Gods mercy. saying, That he would not have that people which had been alwaies true, faithfull and obedient to him, to be unjustly destroyed by Arms; being content that twelve of the Principall should come to him to Pignerol to crave pardon for all the rest, for taking arms in their own defence, without his authority: These he entertained lovingly, forgiving all that was past, during the warre. And having been informed that all their children were born with black throats,Slanders. with foure rows of teeth, and all hairy, he caused some of them to be brought to him, and seeing them fair and perfect creatures, he was much displeased with himself for beleeving so easily the reports which were brought to him against them, giving command that none should hereafter molest them, but that they should enjoy all the priviledges which they rest of his subjects in Piedmont did.

Notwithstanding which, the Monks Inquisitors daily sent out processe against them, lay in wait for them, and as they could aprehend any of them, delievered them over to the secular power. This Persecution lasted to Anno. 1532. at which time the Waldenses ordered that there exercises of religion should be performed no more in covert, as formerly they had been, but in publick, that every one might know them,Zeole and courageth. and that their Pastors should preach the Gospell openly, not fearing any persecution that might happen unto them.

p. 117The prince being advertised hereof, was highly offended with them, and thereupon caused one of his Commanders to hast with his Troops into the said Vallies,Persecution renued. which was performed with such diligence, that he was entred with five hundred horse and Foot, before they were aware, ransacking, plundering and wasting all before them. Then did the Waldenses leave their ploughs, putting themselves into passes, and with their slings charged their enemies with such multitudes of stones, that they were constraned to flie, and to abandon their prey, many remaining dead upon the ground.

This news was presently carried to the Prince, and withall he was told, that these people were not to be subdued with Arms, they knowing bettter the straits of their Country, then the assailants, and that the skin of one of the Waldenses would cost him the lives of a dozen of his other subjects: where upon he vsed Arms no more against them, but as any of them was caught in Piedmont, he put them to death, if they changed not their belief.

Notwithstanding with rigour, they persisted in their resolution,Constancy. and that things might be carried on in the better order, they assembled out of all their Vallies to Angrogne, Anno 1535. viz. the heads of all their families, with their Pastors, where they heard that their brethren of Provence, and Dauphine had sent two of their Pastors, George Morrell, and Peter Masson into Germany, to confere with Oecolampadius Bucer, and others, about their relief, which they had held from father to son, time out of minde. Where also the Germane Divines acknowledged that God had been very mercifull and gracious to them, in preserving them undefiled,The antiquity of the Faith. in the midst of so many superstitions which had defiled all Christendom under the tyranny of Antichrist; encouraging and exhorting them not to bury those Talents which God had given them: onelyonly they blamed them for delaying so long to make a publick profession of their adhering to the Gospel▪ and causing it to be preached publickly, leaving the success to God, &c. Then were the Letters of Oecolampadius and Bucer, which they sent to them, openly read, together with the Propositions and Articles of Religion which they had agreed upon, which were all approved, signed and sworn to by all the assistants with one consent, to perform,Unity. observe, beleeve and retain amongst them inviolably, as being conformable to the Doctrine which they had been taught from their fore-fathers for many hundred years, and all taken out of the Word of god.

When this Agreement came abroad to the ears of the Priests, they were much astonished, despairing to see these people reclaimed and brought back to the Church of Rome; whereupon they retired from amongst them without speaking a word.

The Waldenses, because they had only the New Testament and some books of the old, amongst them in the Waldensian Tongue,Zeal. resolved speedily to send the whole Bible to the Press, all their books hitherto being but Manuscripts, and those but a few. They sent therefore p. 118some to Newcastle in Suitzerland, where they gave 1500. Crowns in gold to a Printer, who brought to light the first Impression of the Fre…ch Bible that was seen in France. The first French Bibles printed.They sent also to Geneva to make a large supply of books fit for the instruction of the people; but their messenger, as he passed over the hill de Gap, was apprehended for a spy by the Lord of Champelion, and as soon as they knew him to be a Waldensian, they sent him to Grenople, where he was first imprisoned;One of them drowned. and then in the night drowned in the river, least he should speak of his belief before the people.

Shortly after there happened warres between King Francis the first, and the Princes of Piedmont, which, through Gods grace, turned to the great peace and quiet of these poor people;A speciall providence. which peace continued till Pope Paul the third sollicited the Parliament of Turin to persecute them as pernicious Hereticks: Whereupon the Parliament caused a great number of them to be burnt at Turin. The Pope stirs up persecution.Then these Waldenses petitioned the King that they might not be persecuted for their Religion, in which they and their Ancestors had lived for many hundred years. But the King reiected their petition, commanding them to live according to the Laws of the Roman Church, upon pain of being punished as Hereticks: adding, that he did not burn the Lutherans through his whole Kingdom of France, to let them amongst the Alps escape.

Hereupon the Parliament of Turin commanded them presently to send away all their Ministers, and receive the Priests to sing Masse. &c. Courage.To which they answered, that they could not receive any such commandment, it being contrary to Gods Word, whom they would rather obey then men.A special providence. But through Gods mercy, the King had other imploiments elsewhere; whereby they wanted leasure to prosecute these servants of Christ, and therefore they only proceeded by the Inquisition, receiving such as the Monks condemned to the fire.

Bar. Hector.Anno 1555. They increased the persecution, condemning to the fire Bartholmew Hector a Stationer, to be executed at Turin, who died with admirable constancy, and so edifying the spectators, that they wept and compassionated him, justifying him in their speeches, and praying for him. Hereupon the Parliament resolved wholly to extirpate them, and for that end sent two men with authority, either to reform, or root them out.

These persons went first to Perouse, where by Proclamation in the Kings name, they command all to go to Masse upon pain of loosing their lives.Persecution. renewed. Then they went to Pignorol, where they cited many to appear before them: and amongst others, a poor simple labouring man appeared, whom the President commanded to have his childe re-bapzed by a Priest: The man requested respite to pray to God before he answered him,Profanenesse. which with great laughter was granted: Then falling down on his knees, he prayed unto God, and when he had done, he said to the President; I will cause my child to be rebaptised, upon condition that you will give me a bill, signed with your own hand, p. 119that you will discharge me of the sin which I shall commit hereby,Prudence. and bear one day before God the punishment and condemnation which should befall me for the same, taking this iniquity upon you and yours: The President hearing this, commanded him out of his presence, and pressed him no further.

The President framed diverse Indictments against sundry persons in the Vallies, and collected whatsoever he thought might hurt them: and going to one of their Churches, he caused a Monk, that he brought along with him, to preach in the presence of the people; and when he had ended, the people desired that some one of their Pastors there present might answer his discourse, but that was denied by the President, whereupon there was such a murmur amongst the people, that the President, without any more speech, gat him away to Turin, where he reported all to the Parliament, and withall told them, that if they sought by violence to reclaime this people, they were resolued to defend themselves; and that the places of their abode, were of such strength, that it was a work for a King of France to root them out. Thereupon, this report and the Indictments were sent to the King, who having other occasions, returned no answer that year: Only the Inquisitors proceeded as they could catch any, to deliver them to the secular power.

At the years end, the King commanded the Parliament to cause them to do that by force,Popish malice. which they would not by words be brought to. Then did the Parliament send the President again to Angrogne, where he commanded them in the name of the King, to go to Masse upon pain of forfeiting their lives and goods; but they answered, that they could not obey such commands against the command of God. Then he commanded that twelve of the Principal of them, together with all their Ministers and Schoolmasters, should presently yeeld up their bodies to the prisons of Turin, &c. They answered, that they could not obey that command or appear at Turin, because they should thereby endanger their lives. The Parliament was so incensed at this answer, that as many as they could apprehend, they burnt, amongst whom was Jeffery Varnegle Minister of Angrogne, Anno 1557. by whose death the people that were present were much edified, seeing his constancy of invocating God to the last.

The Protestant Princes of Germany hearing of this great Persecution, interceded in their behalf to King Henry the second of France. The German Prince interceds for them.Who promised to have regard to this request of theirs, and indeed they enjoyed peace afterwards, till the peace was concluded betwixt the Kings of France and Spain, and that the Duke of Savoy was restored to his Estate, which was Anno 1559. The year after, the Popes Nuntio reproved the Duke, for that with all his power he had not persecuted the Waldenses, and that if he did not now endeavour to reduce them to the Romish Church, or to root them out, his Holinesse should have cause to suspect that he was a favourer of them.Popish malice. Hereupon the Duke presently commanded them to go to Mass, upon the pain of their p. 120lives: But the not obeying him he set upon them by open force, and yet at the same time,A great persecution. he caused them to be pursued by the Monks Inquisitors also: So that a great Persecution was raised against the poor Christians: Some were taken and burnt, who shewed invincible constancy in all their torments and death.

To recite all the outrages, cruelties and villanies practised against them, would be too tedious: Many fled, and their houses and goods were ransacked and spoiled: One of their Ministers was apprehended, and put to a shamefull and cruell death, but he shewed such admirable patience therein, as astonished his very adversaries. Some also were taken and sent to be Gally-slaves: Yet some, through weakness, yeelded to the adversaries, and were more cruelly handled then those that remained constant in the truth.Humane infirmity.

Three of the most cruel persecutors of these faithfull servants of Jesus Christ, were, first Thomas Jacomel a Monk, an Apostate, that had renounced the known truth, and persecuted mortally and maliciously the poor Christians against his own conscience: he was a whoremonger, and given over to all villanies, and filthy living, a Sodomite, &c. his delight was to spoil, rob, and torment the captives of these Waldenses. The second was a collaterall, called Corbis, who in the examination of the prisoners was very rigorous, and burnt many of them: but in the end feeling a remorse in his conscience, he protested that he would meddle with them no more: The third was the Provest of Justice, who lay in wait in the high waies to apprehend them when they went abroad in the morning, or as they went to the Market.

The Monks also of Pignorol vexed the Churches near about them grievously,Popish malice. some they took prisoners, and kept them in their Abbies: then they assembled a company of Ruffians, sending them to spoil the Churches, and to take prisoners, men, women, and childen; of whom some by torments they forced to abjure, others they sent to the Galleys others they burnt.

The gentlemen of the valley of S. Martin vexed their tenants grievously: spoiling some of their goods, imprisoning others, and vexing them by all means: Two of those gentlemen getting some Ruffians to them in the night time, set upon a village called Renclaret, which the Inhabitants perceiving, fled into the mountains covered with snow, naked, and without victuals: in the morning these villains took a Minister of that Valley, who was coming to visit these people of Renclaret, and burnt him: but three nights after they of Pragela, pitying their friends of Renclaret, A speciall providence.sent four hundred men against the Ruffians, who fought with them, and without the losse of one man, put them to flight, and restored their friends to their houses.

A year after, one of these gentlemen called Truchet, with a company of Ruffians, arrested the Minister of Renclaret, as he was at his sermon: but the people were so moved at his outragious dealing, especially the women, that they had almost strangled Truchet, and so canvased the rest of his company, that they had no minde to come any more.

p. 121Shortly after they took another Minister as he was going to preach in a parish a mile from his house, but the people hearing of it, speedily pursued them, and recovered their Minister again; but when the villains saw that they were like to lose their prey, they so wounded him, that they left him for dead.Treachery.

The Monks of Pignerol sent some Ruffians by night to the Ministers house of S. Germain, who were conducted by a Traitor that knew the house, and formerly had frequented it; this fellow knocking at the door, and the Minister knowing his voice, opened the door, but perceiving himself to be betrayed, he fled at a back-door, yet was quickly taken, and sorely wounded, notwithstanding which, they pricked him with halberds to hasten his pace, as they carried him away: they also slew and hurt many others: The Minister, after sore imprisonment,Prodigious villany. endured a cruel death with much constancy: at his death the Inquisitors caused two poor women that they kept in prison, to carry faggots to burn him, and to say to him their Pastor, Take this, thou wicked Heretick▪ in recompence of that naughty Doctrine that thou hast taught us: To whom he replied, A… good women, I have taught you well, but you have learned ill.

In brief, they so persecuted these poor people, that they forced them to forsake their houses, and to fly into the mountains, loosing all their estates, so that many that had lived well, and relieved others, were now fain to crave relief and succour of others.

The Monks with their Troops of Ruffians continued thus to molest and persecute these poor people, They asked of their Ministers, Whether it were not lawfull for them to defend themselves against such violence? The Ministers answered, that it was, only they advised them to avoid blood-shed as much as might be. This question being resolved, they of Luserne and Angrogne sent some to aid their friends of St. Germain against the Monks.

In June, divers of these Waldenses went out into the country to reap their harvest, and in sundry places were all taken prisoners,A miracle of Mercy. not knowing of each others calamity, but God so wrought, that miraculously they all escaped out of prison, to the great astonishment of their adversaries. At the same time also, others who had been long in prison, and longed for nothing but death, through Gods providence, were delivered after a wonderful sort.

In July, they of Angrogne being at their harvest on the hill side of St. Germaine, perceived a company of souldiers that were spoiling the inhabitants of St. Germain; whereupon they made an out-cry, upon which the people of Angrogne ran presently thither-ward, some by the valley, others over the mountain: they which went by the valley being above fifty men, met with the spoilers, who were a hundred and twenty men well appointed, with whom they fought, and gave them a great overthrow; some were hurt, others drowned,A special providence. and but few hardly escaped; not one of Angrogne being hurt in the fight.

The Monks were so affrighted with this defeat, that they ran away p. 122from their Abbey to Pignerol, to save their Reliques and Images, which they carried thither; and if the Ministers would have suffered their people to have attempted it, they might easily have freed their brethren which were imprisoned in the Abbey.Popish subtilty.

After this these Monks, being assisted by a Captain, took many of the inhabitants of the valley of Luserne prisoners, spoiling their goods, driving away their Cattel; and in the end ransomed them for great summs of money.

About this time a Gentleman of Campillan promised his Neighbours that if they would give him thirty Crowns,Popish dissimulation and perfidiousness. he would secure them against trouble; but when he had got the money, he caused some souldiers to come to his house, and in the night sending for the poor men which suspected no danger, he trayterously endeavoured to deliver them into the hands of their mortal enemies: but God, who succours his in their greatest necessity, discovered to one of them the danger they were in, whereby they all fled, and escaped.

Then were strict commands sent through all the Country to banish all the Waldenses, together with the Gospel, out of the mountains and vallies of Piedmount; but the people still desired that they might have leave to serve God purely according to the Rules of the Word.

In the end of October, a rumour was spread abroad, that an Army was raising wholly to destroy them: yea, and such malefactors as were in prisons or banished, were pardoned, upon condition that they should take arms to destroy the Waldenses: Hereupon the Ministers met together to consult what was to be done in so great an extremity. And first they enjoyed a general and publick Fast to seek unto God for Direction,Fasting and Prayer. and in the end concluded that they should not defend themselves by arms, but that forsaking their houses, and taking their best movables with them, they should retire unto the high mountains, but if their enemies pursued them thither, that then they should take such advise as God should please to give them.

This Counsel all the people submitted to, and for eight days space, were as busie as Ants in summer, to remove their goods and provisions, which though they did in great danger, yet with great courage and alacrity, praising God and singing Psalms, every one cheering up another. But other Ministers hearing of this resolution, wrote to them that they thought it strange that in such an extream necessity, they should not rather resolve to defend themselves against violence, proving that it was lawfull for them so to do, to defend the true Religion, and the lives of themselves, wives and children, knowing thar it was not the Duke, but the Pope that thus stirred him up against them.

During this time, their Adversaries cryed nothing, but To the fire with them, to the fire with them, and presently by proclamations set up every where, Angrogne was exposed to the fire and sword: The Army also approached to their borders, and the people retired into the mountains: But when they saw some horse-men not only spoiling their goods, but taking some of their brethren prisoners, they came p. 123back, and set upon them, in which bickering some of the enemies were slain, and the rest retired to their camp; not one of the Waldenses was slain or hurt. But two of these horsemen that fled, galloping away before the rest, when they came neer to the Army, cryed out, They come, they come: Whereupon the whole Army was so astonished,A special providence. that every man fled away, none pursuing, and the Captain could not all that day get them into order again.

The next day the Army under the Lord of Trinity, was mustered in a meddow, near to Angrogne; They of the Town had sent some to stop the passages that the Army should not enter, and in the mean time they retired into the meddow of Toure, not expecting the Army so soon, so that there were but few that kept the Passages, but when those few perceived their enemies preparing themselves to fight, they all fell down upon their knees, praying earnestly unto God to pity them, and not to look on their sins,Power of Prayer. but on the cause that they maintained, to turn the hearts of their enemies, and so to worke that there might be no effusion of bloud, but if it were his will to take them, their wives and infants out of this world, that it would please him mercifully to receive them into his Kingdome. Their prayers being ended, they perceived their enemies to come through the Vines to win the top of the mountain: Whereupon the combat began in divers places, and continued untill night: The poor Waldenses being but few, and only armed with slings and cross-bows, were much oppressed by the multitudes of their enemies, so that at last they retired to the top of the mountain, where they defended themselves till night. But having found a place where they might withstand their enemies, they turned again and slew divers of them.

At Even the enemies began to encamp themselves, which the Waldenses perceiving, they fell to prayer, desiring God to assist and succour them, for which the enemies flouted and laughed them to scorn.Profaneness. The poor people devised to send a Drum into a valley hard by; and as they were at prayer, the Drum beat up in the valley; whereupon the Lord of Trinity caused his souldiers to retreat, which was a great advantage to the Waldenses, who were weary, thirsty,A special providence▪ and in great perill if God by this meanes had not given them some rest: Of the Waldenses there were but three slain, but many of their enemies, and more hurt, of whom few recovered.

This combat much encouraged the Waldenses, and as much terrified their enemies, who in their retreat, burnt many houses, and destroyed the Wines that were in the Presse.

Then did the Lord of Trinity encamp in the vally of Luserne, by a Village, the people whereof had alwaies hated the Waldenses, and much rejoyced at this hurt that was now done to them, but they were paid back in their own coyn, being all destroyed by the Army.A just reward.

Then did the Lord of Trinity place four Garisons in four severall Fortresses, so that the poor Waldenses found themselves in a sea of troubles: Whereupon they first betook themselves to prayer,Prayer. then p. 124sent to their friends for aid, who sent them all that they could make. Then did the Lord of Trinity send his Army to Villars and Tailleret: The lesser part went towards Villars; the people seeing their enemies approaching, called upon God with fervent prayer, then set upon their enemies, slew some, hurt others, and the rest fled. The other company going towards Tailleret, they of that place were but few in number, yet making their prayers to God, and commending their cause to him, they set valiantly upon their enemies; during which bickering, they of Villars, encouraged by their late success, came to help their friends, and set so lustily upon their enemies, that they put them to flight: but in the pursuit of them they fell into an ambush, and were environed by their enemies, yet, through Gods mercy, they all escaped without the losse of one man;A speciall providence. on the enemies side there were so many slain, that they were laid together by whole Cart-loads.

Another party of the enemies going to spoil a rich mans house, some of his neighbours, not being above seventy, set upon them, put them to flight, took away their Drum, and recovered their booty from them.

Then did the Lord of Trinity send to them, telling them how much the Duke and his Dutchesse favoured them,Popish subtilty and promised himselfe to mediate for them that they might live in peace: But whilest by these pretences, he sought to make them secure, he sent part of his Army to get the hill of Tailleret, and another part had already gotten the way that led to the meddow of Tour, whereby the Angrognians might have been easily enclosed; but they perceiving it, immediatly sent some to encounter with their enemies, who gat the victory, pursued them to their camp, and slew very many of them, without the losse of one man.

The Lord of Trinity cunningly excused this attempt, and sent to them to draw up a supplication to the Duke, which was accordingly done, wherein they promised to render all honour and reverence unto God, according to his Word, and all due obedience to the Duk, &c. But in the mean time Trinity grievously vexed them of Tailleret, Perfidiousness,upon pretence that they had not presented themselves to treat of this agreement, taking their arms from them, and causing them to ask pardon on their knees.

But presently after news was brought them, that the enemies had gotten to the top of the mountaine, and had taken all the passages, whereat they were sore amazed, and ran with all speed to defend their wives and children: some they saved, but the most of their goods were already in the enemies hands, who at this time did them much mischiefe.

Yet after this, the Lord of Trinity sent word again to them that were fled, that if they would return, he would receive them to mercy: The poor people most of them trusting to his promise, returned, but the next morning the enemies came to apprehend them and their Ministers,Papist trechery p. 125besetting the place on every side: Then they that were swift of foot, escaped, all the rest were taken; yet God miraculously delivered them: for an old man that could not run so fast as the other, was espied by a souldier,A notable story. who ran with a naked sword to have slain him, the old man seeing the iminent danger, caught him by the legs, overthrew him, and drew him by the heels down the hill; the souldier cryed, Help, help, this villain will kill me;A speciall providence. hereupon his fellows ran to his rescue; but in the mean time the old man escaped; and the rest seeing what the old man had done, though they had lost their weapons, yet took heart of grass, and with stones and slings, drave away their enemies, and thereby they all escaped.

The next day the souldiers went again to Tailleret, robbing, spoiling, and carrying away all that they could find, but most of the people were retired towards Villars; Then did the souldiers range all about, and took divers prisoners, whom they used cruelly,Barbarous cruelty. and one souldier bit off one of their ears, saying, I will carry the flesh of this wicked Heretick with me into my Country: They found also two women, the mother and the daughter, in a cave, whom they wounded to death: and in another cave, an old man of an hundred years old, with his grand-daughter of eighteen years old that fed him; the man they slew, the maid they would have ravished, who flying from them, tumbled down the mountains, and died.

About the same time there was one John Martin that made his boasts every where, that if he could meet with the Minister of Angrogne. he would slit his nose; but shortly after a wolf met him, and setting upon him, bit off his nose, whereupon he ran mad, and died miserably.

A certain souldier promised the Lord of Trinity to bring to him the Minister of Tailleret, and accordingly never ceased till he found him,Gods judgement on persecutors. but as he was pursuing of him, some out of the mountains rescued the Minister, and slew the souldier with stones.

These souldiers were so extream abusive to women, that many Papists that lived by,Uncleannesse. sent their daughters into the mountains to the Waldenses to preserve their chastity.

Then did the Lord of Trinity promise, that if they would pay him eight thousand Crowns, he would with-draw his Army, and be gone; They being desirous of Peace, sold their Cattel to raise the money,Popish Perfidiousness. but when he had received it, he continued his Army there still.

Then did the Lord of Trinity require them to send away their Ministers till the matter were determined before the Duke, or else by his Army he would force them to it; whereupon by mutual consent they agreed, that the Ministers should with-draw for the present,Their Ministers sent away. till the Army was retired, which was not done without great sighs, and lamentations and tears. At that time there fell an extraordinary snow, so that the people with great difficulty, were fain to make way for their Ministers to pass. But the Army hearing that the Ministers were gathered together, they sent out a company of harquebushers to apprehend p. 126them, who came but one hour too late to have taken them: Then did they search every cave, house and chest, to seek them; whereby they robbed the poor people of all their best things. Then did they beset the Ministers house of Angrogne, to whom the Lord of Trinity had promised safety, but it pleased God that he escaped; the souldiers pursued him into the mountains, but could not overtake him; whereupon they plundred his house, burnt his books and writings, and so returned.

The next morning command was given to the Rulers of Angrogne within twenty four hours to deliver up their Minister, or else Angrogne should be put to fire and sword; They answered that they knew not where he was, for the souldiers had driven him over the mountains. Then did the souldiers burn houses, break the mils, spoil the people, and do all the mischief they could, and so departed.

The Lord of Trinity left Garisons in the Fortresses, and caused the poor Waldenses to maintain them, who, not content with their wages, pillaged and robbed all about them; and having taken fourteen men, they bound them, and were leading them away prisoners, but their wives and children pursued them so fiercely with stones,Cruelty. that they were glad to let their prisoners go, and had much ado to save themselves. Two others that they caught, they hung up by the heels and hands, and having tormented them almost to death, at last released them for a great sum of money. Another Garison in the night went to Tailleret, brake in at the windows and tops of houses, spoiling all, and took also fourteen prisoners, whom they bound two and two together, and were carrying them to the Fortress, but two of them getting loose, so valiantly assaulted the souldiers, and beat them with stones, that they forced them to let go their other prisoners. Yet two others they took, and carried them to the Fort; one was but a child, whom the Captain strangled with his own hands; the other was sixty years old,Barbarous cruelty. whom they bound, and took a crature that lives in horse-dung, and put into his navel, covering them with a dish, which in a short space did eat into his belly, and killed him.

The Waldenses were in great perplexity, by reason of these Garisons, but especially for the want of their Ministers: whereupon they resolved to call them back, yet to have preaching only in private, because they would not imbitter the souldiers, till their messengers returned from the Duke. These messengers were cruelly handled at the Court, and at last sent back with a command that they should entertain Priests to say Mass, &c. When this Report was made to their brethren that sent them, there was wonderfull lamentation, weeping and mourning. Then did they send two of their Ministers to the Church of Pragela, to shew them of the pitifull condition of the Churches in Piedmont, and to ask their advice, how to prevent the danger: and in the next place they all fell to prayer,Prayer in danger. and having long called upon God for counsel and direction in so great a strait; they resolved upon debate, that the people in Piedmont and Dauphine should joyn in a League together, p. 127wherein they promised, through Gods grace and assistance, to maintain the pure preaching of the Gospel, and administring the holy Sacraments, to yeeld obedience to their superior, so farre as they were commanded by the Word of God, and one to be aiding and assisting to the other; that none should conclude any thing touching the estate of Religion,A League. without the consent of the rest of the Vallies.

During this Treaty, all the housholders were required to be present at Masse, and such as would do it, should live in peace, but such as refused should be condemned to be burnt, or sent to the Gallies, so that the people were constrained to fly, die, or renounce the Gospel: The first they would have chosen, but could not do it by reason of the great snow; Whereupon they exhorted one another saying, We shall be all called for to morrow, to renounce God, and to return to Idolatry, let us therefore make a solemn protestation, that we will live and die in the confession of Gods holy Word; let us in the morning hear a sermon, and then cast down to the ground, all the Idols and Altars:A good resolution. and to this all agreed.

In the morning they put their resolutions into execution, beating down the Images, and casting down the Altars: Then they went to Villars to do the like there; but by the way they encountred with a band of souldiers, who where going to spoil a village,Images demolished. and to fetch away the inhabitants prisoners: These souldiers seeing them so ill provided, mocked them, and discharged their guns at them; but they taking courage, with stones beat the souldiers, pursuing them to the Fortresse. Then did they go to Villars, and having destroyed the Idols and Altars there, they returned to besiege the fortresse, demanding the prisoners that were therein.

The Judge, with many Gentlemen, came that day to enroll their names that would go to Masse, but se…ing the resolution of the people, they fled into the Castle, where they were besieged for ten daies: Then did the Captain of To…r go with a company of souldiers, thinking to raise the siege; but by those which kept the passages, some of them were slain, the rest were driven back again: Then came they back with three bands, which caused a furious fight, wherein many of the souldiers were slain and hurt, and not one of the besiegers was hurt.A speciall providence.

The Waldenses attempted often to have taken the Fortresse; but without Ordinance it was impossible: also the Lord of Trinity was come back with his army, and the next day would have raised the siege: But it pleased God that very night that the souldiers in the Castle, desired leave to depart, with bag and baggage, which was easily granted to them: and the souldiers whi…h before had so cruelly persecu- the Ministers, were now fain to request them to protect their lives, and to conduct them to a place of safty, which the Ministers did willingly, and the souldiers were very thankfull for it: that night the Fort was razed to the ground.

p. 128The next day the Lord of Trinity cunningly sent to them of Angrogne, Popish subtilty.that if they would not aid the other, they should be gently dealt with, but they knowing his fraud, agreed with the rest to defend their Religion with their lives, and that no one should make an agreement with out the consent of the rest. Then did the Lord of Trinity assay with his Army to enter into the borders of Angrogne by certaine streights, but the people having raised up some breast-works, valiantly defended themselves and offended their enemies. Trinities souldiers being weary, fresh ones were brought in their stead, so that the fight endured untill night, wherein many of the enemies were slain, more hurt, and but two of the Waldenses; and so the battell ceased for the present.

The next day the Army marched towards Angrogne five severall waies, and there were none to resist, but only a few that kept the Watch, who valiantly fought for a space, but seeing themselves in danger to be inclosed, they retreated to an high place, where the combate was renued with greater fiercenesse then before: The Lord of Trinity seeing the losse of many of his men, sounded a retreat, and went to Angrogne, but the people were fled into the medow of Tour; therefore he burned and spoiled all before him: He also oft set fire upon the two Churches, where the word used to be preached,A special providence. but could not burne them, and so he did to the Ministers house, and yet it remained whole.

Amongst them of Angrogne, there were but two that were enemies to the word of God, and they were both slain that day.

Then did the Lord of Trinity send some to burn Rosa; but the souldiers were driven back four daies together, by them that kept the passages; whereupon he sent his whole Army, yet they valiantly withstood them from morning till night; At last a party gat behinde them, over a mountaine, so that the poor people seeing themselves environed, saved themselves by running through the midst of their enemies, and others of them gat into the rocks. The enemies being entred Rosa destroyed all with fire and sword: The people fled by secret waies toward Luserne, wandring all night upon the mountains full of snow, laden with their stuff, carrying their infants in their arms, and leading others by the hand with great pain and travell:Gods Providence. They of Luserne seeing them, ran to them, praising God for their deliverance; and they all were very chearfull, notwithstanding their extremities.

Shortly after the Lord of Trinity went to Luserne by three waies; they which kept the passages resisted their enemies valiantly, but when they saw themselves assaulted on every side, they fled into the mountains. Then did the souldiers sack and burn the houses, staying all they could finde: When they which were fled to the mountains saw their houses on fire,Joy in tribulations. they praised God, and gave him thanks, that thus accounted them worthy to suffer for his Name: Then did the souldiers pursue them to the mountains, but after they had called upon God, a few of them beat back their enemies, whereupon the Army retired.

p. 129They in the meddow of Tour, perceiving a company of souldiers burning the rest of the houses in Angrogne, they sent six harque-bushiers against them, who from the higher ground, discharging all their guns together, the souldiers ran all away, when none pursued them.

Shortly after, as the Watch was hearing a Sermon, they spied a company of souldeirs marching up the hill, whereupon they ran to encounter them, and easily discomfited them: But whilest they pursued the chase, some cried to them, that another company was entred into the meddow, whereupon they left the chase: or else not one of their enemies had escaped.

Presently other companies came other waies, which the Ministers and people seeing, were much discouraged, and therefore they fell to prayer, and ardently called upon God, with sighs and teares untill night. And whereas seven spies were sent before the souldiers,Prayer in danger. there went out five of the Waldenses against them, and took some, and chased the rest: Then went out eight more against the whole company, and pursued them with an undaunted courage from rock to rock, and from hill to hill, and then went out twelve more, who joining with the other, made a great slaughter of their enemies.

Another company from Luserne, having a Minister with them, as they used alwaies to have; after they had made their prayers to God, set upon another company of souldiers, whose hearts were so taken from them, that they presently fled: One of the Waldenses, a very young man, carried a greate staff in his hand,Speciall providences. with which he laid so lustily at his enemies, that he brake his staff, and slew many of them, he also brake four of their own swords, in pursuing of them: Also, a boy of eighteen years old, slew the Lord of Monteil, Master of the Camp, which much dismaid the enemies: Another threw down Charles Truchet, and then leaped upon him, and slew him with his own sword; upon which all the rest fled, and were pursued till night hindred.

The Minister seeing the great effusion of bloud, and the enemies flying, cried to the people that it was enough, and so exhorted them to praise God: They that heard him obeyed, and fell to prayer. In this battell they gat much armour, which was a great advantage to them afterwards. Thanks were returned unto God in every place, every one saying, Who sees not evidently that God fighteth for us.Thanksgiving▪

Presently after, the Lord of Trinity returned to burn the Villages, but especially to pursue the poor people in the mountains. And one company with many horsemen ascended the mountain of Comb by an unsuspected way, where were no Warders; but they which were next, seeing them, called upon God for aid, and though they were but thirty in number, yet they valiantly beat them back twice; many of the enemies were slain, and not one of the Waldenses. Trinity seeing his men thus beaten back, sent out most of his Army to assist them,A speciall providence. which were about one thousand five hundred men: And there came p. 130about a hundred to help the Warders: The combat was very cruel; at last the poor men were fain to retreat with the losse of two of their men; at this the enemies exceedingly rejoyced, blowing their trumpets and triumphing: but the people crying all together to the Lord, returned again, with greater violence, assaulting them with their slings; So that the enemies being weary, rested themselves, and the while the Waldenses betook themselves to prayer, which more affrighted their enemies then any thing else.Prayer.

Then did the souldiers charge again furiously, but by the hands of a few they were driven back; yea little children, fervently calling upon God, threw stones at their enemies, as also did the women: Such as were unfit for war kneeled on the ground with their faces towards heaven, crying,The enemies every where beaten. Lord help us. Then came one running that brought word, that the Angrognians were coming to help them, which the enemies hearing, presently retreated.

Another party of the Army of an hundred and fourty, went another way; but by seven men they were strongly resisted and driven back: A third party was met by the Angrognians and driven back.

The Lord of Trinity intending to be revenged upon them in the meddow of Tour, assembled all the Gentlemen of the country, and an Army of about seven thousand: and when the poor people saw them coming, glittering in their harnesse, and so many in number, they were at first astonished, but pouring out their prayers unto God to succour them,Prayer in danger. and to have regard to the glory of his Name, &c. They marched to encounter with their enemies, and seasonably by the way, they met with some aid that was coming to them from Luserne, so that uniting themselves, they soon discomfited their enemies.

The Captain of the enemies had in the morning promised to do great matters that day, but in the evening he was carried back, weak and wounded, and not like to live: Whereupon a Papist said to him, Monsieur, there religion is beter then ours.

Another part of the Army set upon an house in a passe, wherein were but five men, yet they lustily defended it, drave out their enemies that had entred, and kept the place, till some of their friends came to relieve them.

Another half of the Army, assaulted another Bulwork on the side of the mountaine; And they within suffered them to come very near, but then with slings and guns, they slew many of them, others rouled down great stones, which killed divers, so that when they had attempted all waies to take it, they were forced to retire; the Lord of Trinity weeping to see his men slain so fast, and at last, having lost very many of his men, he was forced to retreate; many of the Army crying out, God fighteth for them, and we do them wrong.

In all that conflict there were but two of the Waldenses slain, and two hurt;A speciall providence. whereas they never shot at their enemies but they killed some, and sometimes two at one shot: The souldiers confessed that they p. 131were so astonished that they could not fight: Others said, that the Ministers by their prayers, conjured and bewitched them. It was a wonderfull work of God, that shepherds and cowherds should encounter with so mighty a power of strong and brave souldiers▪ well furnished with ammunition, and themselves having nothing but slings, stones, and a few harquebushes, and yet should beat them, and in all those fights, they lost not above fourteen men.

Shortly after a company of souldiers went to Angrogne to destroy the Vines, &c. and mocking the Waldenses, they said,Scorners punished. that they were valiant men behinde their bulworks, but if they came into the plain, how they would beat them: Then came thirty of the Waldenses, and set upon them in the plain, and fought with them a long time, hand to hand, slew many of them, and at last forced them to run away, and that with the losse of one only man of their own.

The night after, some thought that it would have been an easie matter to take the Lord of Trinity, and to have spoiled his whole Army, but the Waldenses would not do it, least they should offend God, and passe the bounds of their vocation, intending only to defend themselves.

Then did Trinity betake himself to his old shifts of entertaining a treaty for agreement; but in the Interim, Subtilty. Per…idiousnesse.he sent a company of Spaniards one way, and other companies other waies, to surprise the meddow of Tour. The Spaniards were entred the meddow, before they were perceived: but when the people spied them,The Spaniards …epulsed. they betook themselves to prayer, then winded their horns, and so prepared for resistance: The first that opposed themselves were but twelve men, who yet stoped them in a Passe, and others rolled down stones from the mountains upon them, whereby many of the Spaniards were slain, the rest were forced to retreat.

Shortly after the Ministers and chief Rulers of the Waldenses, requested the Lord of Raconis to deliver a petition, which they had drawn up to the Dutches of Savoy, wherein they declared the equity of their cause, protesting all due obedience, &c. ▪ and at last, through Gods mercy, they came to a good agreement, and according to the promise of God, all things turned to the best to those that feared him, that were called according to his purpose.

After the death of the Duke and Dutchesse of Savoy, Charles Emmanuel their son succeeded,Peace obtained who maintained them in peace according to the treaty formerly made: Yet the Inquisitors were alwaies watchfull to apprehend one or other of them: and amongst others, one Bartholmew Copin of Luserne, being at Ast in Piedmont, with his Merchandize, and at evening supping with some other company,Bar. Copin one began to speak much to the disgrace of the Waldenses for their Religion. Copin thought that he was bound not to be silent when he heard such blasphemies: Whereupon he began to argue in their defence. Are you then a Waldensian, said the other to him? he answered, Yea. Zeal.And do you not beleeve that God is in the Host? No, said Copin ▪ p. 132Fie upon you, said the other, what a false Religion is yours? My Religion, said Copin, is as true, as it's true that God is God, &c. The next morning Copin was called before the Bishop of Ast, who told him, that he must either recant the opinions he held over night, or be punished: Copin said, he had been provoked to that discourse; yet he said nothing but what he would maintaine with his life: Adding that he had some goods, and a wife and children, yet he had lost the affections that he bare unto those things,Christ best of all. neither were they dear to him, to the prejudice of his conscience. Yet said, that behaving himself honestly, he ought not to be molested▪ when he came about his merchandize, the Turks and Jews being permit…ed to come to Fairs without molestation. Notwithstanding which the Bishop presently sent him to prison. The next day the Bishops Secretary went to him, professing great love, and telling him, that except he acknowledged his fault, he was in great danger of his life: Copin answered, That his life was in the hands of God, and he desired not to preserve it to the prejudice of his glory; and having but a few paces to walk in his journey to heaven, his hearty prayer to God was, to give him grace not to turn back.

Some few daies after he was examined by an Inquisitor in the presence of the Bishop, who exceedingly tormented him with sweet and gentle perswasions,Tentation. by fair words seeking to draw him to an abjuration: But Copin alwaies convinced him by the word of God: alleadging that if he should be ashamed of,Constancy. or deny Christ before men, Christ would be ashamed of, and deny him before his heavenly Father. Then said the Monk, Go thy waies thou cursed Heretick to all the devils in hell, and when thou shalt be there tormented by them, thou wilt remember this good and holy counsel that we have given thee, &c.

After many violent encounters, they caused his wife and son to come to him, promising if he would confesse his fault, he should have liberty to depart with them; They suffered them also to sup together, which time he spent in exhorting them to patience,His exhortation to his wife and children telling them that God would be more then a husband and father to them: for his own part he was not bounde to love wife or childe more then Christ; and that they should esteem it their happiness, that God was pleased to do him the honour to be a witnesse to his truth, with the losse of his life, &c. He enjoyned his wife to bring up his children in the fear of God: his son he commanded to obey his mother, he desired them to pray for him, that God would strengthen him against all tentations, and so taking leave of his wife, and blessing his son, he dismissed them, his wife and son shedding fountains of tears, and crying out in so lamentable a manner as would have moved the hardest hart to compassion.

The Bishop knew not well what to do with him: If he let him go, he feared a scandall, and that many would be encouraged by his impunity: If he punished him, he offended against the agreement betwixt the Duke and the Waldenses. And thereupon he sent his indictment to the Pope, to know his pleasure. Shortly after Copin was found dead in prison,Copin murthered it appearing manifestly that he was strangled: p. 133and after his death, he was condemned to be burnt, which was accordingly executed.