A General Martyrology, Chapter 44
CHAP. XLIV. A Narrative of the bloody cruelties which were exercised against the Protestants of the Valleys of Piemont during the heat of the late Massacre in April, Anno 1655.
UPon Saturday April 17, 1655. whilst the deputies of the Protestants were by the subtilties of Pionessa, detained at Turin, as you heard before, there arrived a great Army at St. Giovanni, which was now, with La Torre, and all the lower parts unpeopled, and in a sad and lamentable condition; this Army continued there for some hours, and in the dusk of the evening fell into La Torre, where they met with none of the Protestants, only about eight or ten persons, not thinking of an enemy, were seeking up and down for something to satisfie their hunger; but so soon as they came near to the Convent they were saluted with a volley of shot, which killed Giovanni Combe, and hurt Peter Rostain, whereupon the rest, seeing the danger fled for their lives.
The next day being the Sabbath, the enemy ranged about through the Communalties of La Torre, Popish crueltyand St. Giovanni, plundering and pillaging all before them; and the day after, heir number being encreased, to about Fifteen thousand, they set upon the Protestants in several quarters amongst the little hills of St. Giovanni, and La Torre. But the poor people, being prompted thereto by the Law of Nature,The Protestants defend themselves. stood upon their own defence, and the enemy was vigorously opposed on every side; in one place by Captain Jahier, and in other places by the Officers of St. Giovanni, Angrognia, Roccapiatta; and their Troops. Tuesday April 20. The Popish Army made three several attempts to take away the Bell of St. Giovanni, and to burn the Church; but those of the poor people in arms did so couragiously resist them, that they were driven to a shameful retreat, with the loss of about Fifty of their men; and had not their Cavalry defended the Plain, they had been utterly routed: But of the Protestants party there were onelyonly Two slain, upon whose dead bodies they basely revenged themselves.
Wednesday the 21. which was the fatal day to the Protestants, the Marquess of Pianessa held the Deputies of the Valley of Lucerna in parley till noon, and then entertained them with a large Dinner, and sent them away with many fair promises, that there should be no hurt done to any except those of St. Giovanni and La Torre, as being the places specified in the Order of Gastaldo;Popish subtilty. but for the rest, if they would but quarter a few Troops as a token of their obedience, and that but for a short time, they might be fearless of the least inconvenience. Hereupon the Agents of Angrogna bestired themselves to perswade their own party from making the least resistance; the same did the Agents of Villaro and Bobio: But no sooner were those Troops entred, but they put all to fire and sword, slaying all they met with that had but the likeness of mankind, and that in the most barbarous manner they could possibly devise: As you may see by this extract of a Letter written by some of those poor Protestants, wherein they thus write; The Army having gotten footing, became very numerous by the addition of a multitude of the neighboring inhabitants, who hearing that we were given for a prey to the Plunderers, fell upon us with an impetuous fury: To these were added a great number of Out-laws, Prisoners, and other Offenders, who thought hereby to have saved their souls, and filled their purses: We were forced also to receive five or six Regiments of the French Army, besides some Irish (to whom as it was said, our Country was promised) and several other Troops of Highway-men, and Vagabonds, under a pretence of coming into the Valleys only for fresh Quarters.
The multitude being licensed by Pianessa, encouraged by the Monks, and led by our wicked Neighbors, Barbarous cruelty.fell upon us with such violence on every side, and in so treacherous a manner, especially in Angrognia, Villaro and Bobio (to whom Pianessa had plighted his troth, that if they would but quarter one Regiment, they should be secure from all harm) that in a moment of time all was turned into a confused heap, and the inhabitants constrained after skirmishes that they made in the way, to fiye for their lives, together with their Wives and little children; and that not onelyonly the inhabitants of the Plains, but of the Mountains also, who had otherwise been certainly betrayed and surprised. Yet was not all their diligence sufficient to preserve very many of them from destruction; for in many places they were hemmed in on every side, that there was no way left for their flight, but they were most inhumanl… massacred. In one place they cruelly tormented One hundred and fity Women and Children, and afterwards chopped off the heads of some, and dashed out the brains of others against the rocks: Multitudes of Prisoners they took; and such of them from fifteen years of age and upward who refused to go to Mass, they hanged up some, and nailed the feet of others to trees, with their heads hanging downwards, all which they constantly endured. Mr. Gross, one of the Pastors, with some of his Family they sent to Turin: They made such havock of all, that there were neither any Cattel or other Provision left in the Valley of Lucerna; Yea, in the Communalties of St. Giovanni, La Torre, &c. a Franciscan Friar and another Priest set fire on houses and Churches that they left not one of them unburnt. In these desolations the Mother was bereaved of her sweet Childe, the Husband of his dear Wife. Those which were richest amongst us are forced to beg their bread; yea, they are weltring in their own blood, and deprived of all outward comforts; and whereas there were some Churches in St. Martino, that were always formerly as a Sanctuary to the persecuted, they are now commanded to quit their dwellings, and every soul of them presently to depart without any respite, and that under pain of death.
The pretence of these strange Massacres and cruelties are, that we are Rebels to the Duke's commands in not p…forming a pure impossibility by immediate departing from our Habitations in Bubiana, Lucerna, Fenile, Bricheras, La Torre, St. Giovanni, and St. Secondo. As also for our frequent petitioning his Royal Highness to take pity upon us. To conclude, Our beautiful and flourishing Churches are left desolate, and that without remedy, unless the Lord work miraculously for us, &c.
The truth is, the cruelties which were there excuted would exceed the belief of any man, were they not so fully proved, by the formal attestations of eye witnesses, by the wofull crys of so many desolate and poor wretches who have been miserably robb'd of their Relations, Houses, Lands, and all other comforts; yea, by the formall oath of one of the chief Commanders of the Army that acted these cruelties, signed with his own hand in the presence of two authentick witnesses, and the voluntary confession of one of the Soldiers, who told some of his Comrades that many times, during the heat of the Massacre, he had surfetted with eating the boiled Brains of the Protestants.
The Declaration of Monsieur du Petit Bourg, first Captain of the Regiment of Gransey, subscribed with his own hand at Pignerol, Nov. 27. 1655. in the presence of two other Commanders.
I Sieur du Petit Bourg being commanded by Prince Thomas to go, and joyne my self with the Marquesse of Pianessa, who was then at La Torre; upon my departure I was requested by the Ambassador to speak to the Marquesse, and to use my endeavour to accommodate the troubles which were amongst those of the Religion in the Valleys of Piemont, which accordingly I did, entreating him with much earnestnesse that he would give way thereunto, and I doubted not but I should be able to effect it: but he refused this my request, and that divers times, notwithstanding all the endeavours I could possibly use to perswade him thereto; and instead of the least mitigation, I was witnesse to many great violences, and extreme cruelties exercised by the Bandets, and souldiers of Piemont upon all sorts, of every age, sex, and condition, whom I saw massacred, dismembred, hanged up, burnt, and ravished, together with many horrid confusions, which I beheld with horror and regret: and without any distinction of those that resisted, and such as resisted not, they were used with all sorts of inhumanity, their houses burnt, their goods plundered; and when prisoners were brought before the said Marquesse, I saw him give order to give them no quarter at all, saying, his Highnesse was resolved to have none of the Religion within his Dominions. And whereas in his Declaration he protests that there was no hurt done to any but during the fight, nor the least outrage committed upon any persons that were not fit to beare Armes: I will maintaine that it is not so, having seene with my eyes many persons killed in cold blood: as also women, aged persons, and young children, miserably murdered, &c.
The attestation of divers persons of honour, and integrity, who were for the most part eye, and eare witnesses of the ensuing barbarous cruelties which were exercised upon diverse members of the Evangelical Churches in the Valleys of Piemont in the late Massacre 1655.
Sarah Rastignole des Vignes, about sixty years of age,Women tipt up. being overtaken by divers souldiers, was commanded to say her prayers, and when she had done they bade her say Jesus Maria, which the poor woman refusing, one of the souldiers thrust a sickle into the lower part of her belly, and ript her up to the navel, and then dragged the poor creature upon the ground, being half dead, till another came and cut off her head; the daughter in Law of this poor woman who hid her self in the snow for two dayes after without any succour, was an eye-witnesse hereof.
Martha Constantine of Giovanni, after that she had seene several others most cruelly put to death, was her self, first ravished,Base cruelty. and afterwards had her Breasts cut off, and part of her Privities by some of the souldiers, who fried them, and set them before some of their Comrades, making them believe they were Tripes, but when they had eaten a good part, they told them what they were, which caused a quarrel amongst them; and they that had eaten them were so sick, that some of them died soon after. This was certified by a Papist to one Andrea Javel of Einachia.
A man of Thrassaniere being taken prisoner, received divers stabs in the soles of his feet,Horrid cruelty. and in his eares by two of the souldiers, who afterwards cut off his privie members, and then applied a burning candle to the wound, frying it with the flame thereof, that so the blood might be stopped, and the torments of that miserable creature prolonged. Then tore they his nailes off with burning pincers to force him to renounce his Religion: But when nothing would do, they tyed one of his legs to a Mule, and dragged him thorow the streets till he was almost dead, and then binding a …ord about his head, they twisted it with a staffe till his eyes and braines dropped out, and then cast his carcasse into the River.
Peter Simond of Angrogna about eighty years of age, was tyed neck and heeles together, and so violently thrown down a fearful Precipice, but by the way, falling upon a cragged branch of a Tree, he there hung in a most languishing condition for divers days together (a most lamentable spectacle to behold) being neither able to help himself, nor capable of receiving help from others, the Precipice being inaccessible.
Esay Garcino of Angrogna, of ninety years old, had first his body cut, and hacked in small pieces, and then his head chopped off.
The wife of Daniel Armand of La Torre, had her body torne and cut in pieces, and the parts of it strawed along the high-way, and hung upon the hedges.
Captain Pola of Plancalier took two poor women of La Torre, and with his Fauchin ript up their bellies, and left them grovling upon the Snow in this sad and lamentable condition till they died.
The souldiers of Bagnols cut off, first the nose, then the fingers, and lastly the hands of a very old, and decrepid woman, and so left her languishing in this woful condition, not having so much as an hand to feed her self with, till she died.
They took also many little children, and tender infants, and flung them down the steep Rocks, whereby they were dashed to pieces.
Magdalen Bertino of La Torre they stripped stark-naked, tied her head between her legs, and threw her down one of the Precipices.
Mary Reymonde… of La Torre, a lame woman, was found in a Cave with all her flesh sliced off from the bones, and chopt as small as herbs to the pot.
Magdalen Pilot of Villaro being exceeding decrepit, and blinde with old age, was cut in pieces in a Cave near Castelus.
Anna daughter to Giovanni Charboniere of La Torre had a long stake thrust into her privities by some of the souldiers, who each man in his turne carried her upon their shoulders till they were weary, and then stuck the end of the stake into the ground, and so left her hanging in the aire: A terrible spectacle to every one that passed by.
Giovanni Andrea Michialin of La Torre being taken Prisoner, escaped miraculously, having first seen three of his children torn in pieces limb from limb before his eyes, and the fourth, being about six weeks old, snatched out of the mothers Arms, stripped of its swadling cloaths, and its brains dashed out against the Rocks.
Jacob Perrin, an Elder of the Church of Villaro, and David his brother being taken Prisoners in their Beds, were carried to Lucerna, and cast into the Marquesses Prison, where they were most barbarously and cruelly handled, the bloody Souldiers stripping off the skin on their Arms and Legs, in long slices like leathern points, till the flesh was left quite bare: after which they were miserably starved to death in the same Prison, and their Carcasses left to rot there.
Giovanni Pelanchion, a young man about twenty five years old, having been taken Prisoner, made an escape; but being taken again by the Souldiers, they tyed one of his Legs to the taile of a Mule, and so dragged him through all the streets of Lucerna; and because the poor wretch sometimes lifted up his hands and head, through pain and anguish that he suffered by the grating of his body against the ragged flints, the bloody and mercilesse villains batter…d and bruised his body with stones and brick-bats, crying, that he was possessed with the Divel which kept him from dying. After which they cut off his privy members, and crammed them violently down the poor Creatures mouth, and down his throat to stop his breath, and at last chop't off his head, and so drawing him to the Rivers bank, they left him there unburied.
Magdalen the daughter of Peter Fontana, a beautiful Girle about ten years old, being taken by some of these lecherous Brutes, because her body was uncapable of being forced in an ordinary way, they tore her in so inhumane a manner, that afterwards she was found half dead, wallowing in her own blood.
A poor woman apprehending her danger, having a sucking child in the Cradle, took the child and Cradle upon her head, and fled: some of the Souldiers seeing her, pursued; and she perceiving that she was like to be overtaken, left her Cradle in the way, supposing that those Butchers could not have such hearts of Adamant as to hurt her innocent babe, and so hid her self in the cleft of a Rock not far off: But these hell-hounds finding the Infant in the Cradle, took it out, and tore it in pieces, and afterwards finding the Mother, they first ravished her, and then cut off her head, and left her dead body upon the Snow.
At Villa Nova the daughter of Moses Long, about ten years old, as she was slying upon the Snow, some Souldiers of Piemont took her, broached her upon a Pike, and roasted her alive with a fire made upon a broad stone: and after a while they cut off a slice of her flesh, intending to have eated it; but finding it not well roasted, their stomacks would not serve them to eat it.
Jacopo Michelino, one of the chief Elders of the Church of Bobio, being taken Prisoner, had his two hands tyed to his privy members, and so hung upon a Gate in a shameful posture; but the shame was nothing to the torments, the whole weight of his body hanging upon so tender a part, which caused most exquisite and almost incredible pain: and this they did to force him to renounce his Religion; but when this prevailed not, they took him down, and carried him away amongst other Prisoners: And afterwards having with incredible constancy endured a world of other cruelties, he at last exchanged this life for a better.
Peter Gros, during the time of his imprisonment, saw two of these poor Protestants of La Sarcena, hanging in a most hideous manner, meerly by their privy members, and their hands tyed behind them, till their very bowels were almost torn out, and so at last they dyed with horrible pain and anguish.
Giovanni Rostagnal of Bobio, being eighty years old, had his Nose, Ears, and other parts of his body cut off, and so he was left languishing upon the Snow for a long time, till at last he gave up the Ghost.
Daniel Salvagio and his Wife; Giovanni Durant, Daniel Revel, Lodwick and Bartholomew Durant, all brothers, and Paolo Reynaud, being taken by the Souldiers, had their mouths and throats stuffed with Gunpowder, and then setting fire to it, their heads were torn all to pieces.
Jacob Di Rone, a Schoolmaster of Roras, being stript stark naked, after they had torn off his Nails with Pincers, and made a thousand holes in his hands with a Daggers Point, they dragged him by a cord fastened about his middle through the Bourge of Lucerna, and at every step he took, one Souldier on one side cut off a piece of his flesh with a Fauchin, and another on the other side gave him a great blow with a staffe, crying, What sayst thou now Barbet? wilt thou go to Masse? To which the poor creature with admirable constancy, as long as he was able to speak, answered, Much rather death than the Masse; dispatch me quickly for the love of God. A while after came a notorious cut-throat, who as soon as he saw him, cryed out, Lo, here is the Minister of Roras, withal giving him a deadly blow athwart the head with a Back-Sword: From thence they dragged him to the Bridge, and cutting off his head, they threw him into the River of Pelis.
Paolo Garnier of Roras being taken by these murderers, they first violently pulled out his eyes, then cut off his privy members, thrusting his yard into his mouth, and in this posture they exposed him to publick scorn for several days together; afterwards in a most inhumane manner they flead him alive, and then cutting his skin in four parts, they hung it in the windows of foure of the principal houses of Lucerna.
Daniel Cardon of Roccappiata being taken by some of the Souldiers, they cut off his head, took out his brains, and frying them in a Pan, eat them up; they cut open his breast also, and were taking out his heart to fry and eat that, but that they were frighted by some of the poor peoples Troops that were coming that way.
Margaret Revel of La Cartere, aged eighty five years; Mary Di Pravillerm, aged ninety years, and blind, both of S. Giovanni, were taken, and in a most barbarous manner were both burned alive.
Madona Lena, aged eighty years, and blind, and Jeanna Batzan, aged ninety years, both of La Torre, were used in the like cruel manner, and burned
A widow of La Torre, who had lain very sick for three years together, was taken by some of these bloody villains, together with one of her daughters, and were drawn upon a Carr through the streets of La Torre, and as they passed along, some of these blood-hounds stabbed their bodies with Pitchforks, others bruised them with flints and stones, and then they threw them into the River of Angrogna, where they threw stones and bats at them till they dyed.
Paolo Giles of La Torre, as he fled for his life, was shot into the neck by one of them, after which they slit his face through the chin and nose, and when they had slain him, they left his carcasse to be eaten by the dogs.
Some of these Murderers having taken eleven men at Garcigliana, heated a great Furnace red hot, forced these poor creatures to throw one another into it, and when it came to the last man, they themselves threw him in also.
These sons of blood pursued, and hunted out multitudes of these poor Protestants amongst the Rocks and Mountains, by the traces of their bleeding legs and feet, which were cut and mangled with the ice, and flints which they met with in the way, and having found them, basely murdered them.
Michel Gonet of Lucernetta, aged ninety years at least, was burnt alive by the Mountains of Bobio, whither he had fled to hide himself.
Bartholomew Frasche of Fenile, was taken by the Souldiers, and after they had slashed and mangled his legs, they thrust a poysoned knife through his heels, and in this woful plight they dragged, and threw him into the common Prison at Turin, where he lay in continual torment till he dyed.
Giovanni Baptista Oudri, an Old man, was cruelly murthered at La Sarcena, after he had been barbarously abused by them.
Magdalena La Peire, a woman of about thirty five years of age, being pursued by these Villains, and knowing what measure she should meet with if she fell into their hands, chose rather to throw herself down a dreadfuly Precipice, whereby she dyed.
Margeret Revella, aged about eighty five years, together with Marie Di Pravillerm, about ninety years old, and blind, were both burnt alive.
Mary Davi was basely murdered by them.
Michel Bellino, with Anna Di Pol Bochiardino, and a servant of theirs, were beheaded.
The daughter of Peter Mallonat, a Councellor of Saint Giovanni, together with her brother, an infant of eight months old in her Arms, were rolled down a steep hill, and two days after they were found dead upon the Snow.
One Giovanni, with his wife and child, were hurled down a mighty Rock, the mother holding the child in her Arms, and three days after they were found dead; only the child was alive, and clasped so fast in the dead Mothers Arms, that they had much ado to get it out.
Joseph Chiairet, having received a wound in the flight, was flayed alive, and his grease taken out of his body: The like was done to Paolo Carniero.
Mattheo Turin was massacred at Lucernetta, and his body devoured by dogs.
Margeret Saretta was stoned to death, and her dead body cast into the River.
Cypriano Bastia was cruelly starved to death, and his body cast to the dogs.
Antonio Bertino, had first his nose, paps, and privities cut off, and then his head cleft in twain.
Two Children were first murdered, and then burnt to ashes.
Joseph Pont was first wounded in his back, and then had his body cut off in the middle.
Daniel De Maria being found in a place where he had hid himself, and lay sick, had first two of his children murdered before his eyes, and then himself barbarously slain.
Judith, a widow of eighty years old, was dragged up and down upon the ground, and at last had her head cut off.
Three Infants of Peter Fine were stifled in the Snow.
A maid that was an innocent, was first stripped stark naked, and then had a long stake driven through her belly, whereof she dyed.
Luce the wife of Peter Besson, being near the time of her lying down, as she fled for her life, was so affrighted with the shreeks of some that were massacred, that she fell in travel upon the Mountains where she was, and afterwards was found dead with the new born infant, and two other sucking children lying by her.
Francis, the son of Mr. Gros a Minister, being taken, had his body cut into small Gobbets, whilst he was alive, and that in the presence of his wife; and then they took two of his small children, and most inhumanely murdered them.
The Sieur Thomas Margher being forced to flye from his house, being an Elder of La Torre, was miserably starved to death with hunger and cold.
Judith Ravelin, with her seven children, were all barbarously murdered in their beds.
Anna, a widow of about seventy five years old, was cut in pieces by the souldiers.
The wife of Gaspar Fayol, being taken, was forced to labour hard for them by cutting down the corne, and at last as she was so at work, they came behind her, and cut off her head.
Jacob Rosseno refusing to say Jesus Maria, was first cruelly beaten with cudgels, and clubs; and having received several shots in his body, they at last clave his head.
Two children, both of them dumb, were most unmercifully murthered.
Susanna, the daughter of P…olo Giacquin, resisting a souldier that would have ravished her, and by chance pushing him down a rock, was hewed in pieces by others of them.
Giovanni Pullius, a poor Pesant of La Torre, being taken by the Souldiers, after all manner of reproaches, and scorns cast upon him by the Friers, and others, in words, and actions, was by the command of the Marquesse of Pionessa dragged by the hangman to a place near the Convent, where the Marquesse commanded the hangman to place the ladder against a tree, and to prepare for his Execution, at which time the Monks, and Priests ceased not to use all the arguments which the Devil and their own wicked wits could possibly furnish them with, to shake the Faith, and Constancie of this poor creature; yet could they not prevaile; yea by all his gestures, and expressions he shewed the inward joy of his soul that he was counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ: and though they oft pressed him to remember the sad estate that he should leave his children and family in, yet he alwayes answered that it was his hearty Prayer to Almighty God that his children might follow their fathers steps, and die like himself: whereupon the Priests seeing all their labour lost, assisted the Hangman to end this poor mans life, and hasted to turn him off the ladder.
Sieur Paolo Clement, an Elder of the Church of Rossana, was shortly after brought by the Monks and Priests to this same place, and shewed the dead body of the other, thinking thereby to scare him from his Principles, and profession: but he answered them with undaunted courage, that they might kill the body, but could never be able to prejudice the soul of a true Believer. He told them also that God would assuredly avenge the innocent blood that they had spilt: and so having by some ejaculations prepared to resigne up his soul unto God, he desired the Hangman to do his work: three or four dayes after the Marquesse of Pianessa coming that way, one of the souldiers discharged a Musquet at his dead body, whereupon there gushed out a streame of fresh blood, which the Marquesse observing, said to some about him, This blood cries for vengeance: Afterwards they took both these dead bodies, and hung them up naked by one foot neer to La Torre, and when any prisoner of the Protestants passed that way, they forced him or her to go and kisse their Privities, that they might put alike scorne both upon the living and dead: But by reason of the multitude of bullets that were shot thorow them by the souldiers, they at last fell to pieces.
Daniel Rambaut of Villaro, having a numerous family, was taken, …nd carried to Paysana with divers others of his Neighbours, where he was cast into prison, and after awhile was importunatly set upon by the Monks, and Masse Priests, both with promises, and threats, to pronounce Jesus Maria; and when they could not prevail, the Tormentors first cut off his fingers one by one, and then his hands, and lastly gave him a deadly wound in the stomack, and then they dragged his carcasse to the Rivers side, and left it to be devoured by Dogs, and wilde Beasts.
Peter Chabriolo being taken by the Souldiers, they hung a great quantity of Gunpowder about his body, and then giving fire to it, tore him all to pieces.
Antony the sonne of Samuel Calieris, a dumb, and innocent creature, was inhumanly butchered as he was sitting by the fire side.
Peter Moninat, and his wife, lying both of them extreme sick, were murthered by the Souldiers, who finding in the same house one of their children a poor infant, lame and impotent, they cut off its legs, and so left it in that miserable plight: they had also another poor girle, who had been dumb from her cradle, which not long after was found starved to death for want of sustenance.
Daniel Benech of Villaro was taken by the Souldiers, who cut off his nose, eares, and other parts of his body, till they had slain him, and then they left the mangled pieces upon the hedges, and bushes in the same place. Two of his children were also stifled in the Snow.
Mary the Widow of Daniel Pelanchion of Villaro, being taken by the Souldiers, after they had basely abused her, they almost shot her to death, and then threw her into the River: But this poor woman being not quite dead, with much pains, and hard shifts, got out of the River again, hoping to be somewhat revived by the warme Sunne which she laid her down in: but some of these bloody Villains spying her, they fastened a rope to her feet, and dragged her to the Bridge, where they hung her up by the legs, and so shot her to death, afterwards leaving her stark naked upon the Rock.
Mary the wife of Daniel Monino was taken by the souldiers, who having broken her jawes in pieces, they gave her a deep cut in the neck, so that her head was halfe off, and so they left her in that languishing condition, till after extreme torments endured for divers dayes together, she at last yielded up the Ghost.
Mary the Widow of David Nigrino (a poor beggar of Villaro) together with her daughter who was an Innocent, were both inhumanly massacred in the Village of Bozza, and their dead bodies were thrown into the Woods.
Susanna the Widow of Samuel Bals of Villaro, was by the Souldiers basely abused at their pleasure, and afterwards they shut her up between two stone walls, where she was miserably pined to death.
Susanna the wife of Jacob Calvio being sorely wounded by the Souldiers, after which flying into a Barne to hide her self, the Souldiers perceiving it, set fire on the Barne, and burnt her to ashes.
A child of Daniel Bertino, who had been dumb, and an Innocent from the womb, was burnt in a Barne at Balmedaut.
Paolo Armand, being extreme sick and weak, was by these Barbarians hacked in pieces.
Andrea Bertino, a very old, and lame man, had his breasts first cut off, and then was cruelly murthered by these bloody villains, who to testifie their malice against him for his constancie in Religion, after he was dead they cut out his bowels, and with their Halberds hacked his body in pieces.
Daniel the sonne of David Michialino, being taken by the Souldiers, after much other cruel usage, had his tongue pulled out with great violence and torments.
Constantia Bellione had her body hacked, and mangled in most parts thereof, and then was shot to death with several bullets in her bowels: and after she was dead they cleft her head with a Hanger.
Judith Mondon was beaten to death in a savage manner with clubs and staves.
David Paglias, and Paolo Genre endeavouring to fly, each of them having a little infant in his armes, being at last tired, and out of breath, were overtaken by the Souldiers, and both men and infants inhumanly murthered.
Micheli Genre, a young man of Bobio, was thrown off the Bridge of La Torre, where, as he was praying with his hands lifted up to heaven, he was partly stoned, and partly drowned.
David Armand was knocked, and beaten about the head with an hamer till he died.
Jacob Baridono, being taken prisoner at Villaro, and from thence carried to La Torre, after the Tormentors had sufficiently, and cruelly afflicted him with burning Matches between his fingers, his lips, and other parts of his body, till with intolerable paine he died, they caused his dead corps to be carried out by two of his fellow-Prisoners, and by them to be thrown into the river Pelice: but thinking that too honorable a burying-place for an Heretick, they forced them to fetch it out again, and to lay it on the rivers brink, where, after they had exposed the same to all manner of ignominies, it was at last eaten up by Dogs.
Margeret the wife of Joseph Garniero, Courage and Constancy.having received a shot in one of her brest, as she was giving suck to her little child with the other, was yet so couragious that with many pathetical expressions she exhorted her husband to endure the Crosse with patience, and to hold out to the end; neither did she desire any favour of the murtherers, but onelyonly that they would spare the life of her innocent Babe: which accordingly they did: but withal gave the mother another shot in her body whereof she died, and afterwards the infant being found alive in the dead mothers armes, was miraculously preserved.
Isaiah Mondon having a long time hid himself in the cleft of a rock, where for many dayes together he had nothing but a few leaves of unwholsome Herbs to eat, was at last found out by the Souldiers, and most unmercifully handled by them: and from thence they drave him towards the Town of Lucerna, being almost half dead: at last when the poor creature could march no further, he fell down upon his knees, and beseeched them to dispatch him speedily, which accordingly they did; for partly with their Swords, and partly with their Pistols, they put an end to his miserable life, crying out in a scoffing manner, Kill the Barbet, kill the Barbet, who refuseth to become a Christian.
Giovanni Barrolino and his wife were cast alive into a poole, and often plunged, and thrust under the water with staves, and pitchforks, and at last were dispatched with stones and brickbats.
Mary Revel receiving a shot in her body, fell down in a manner dead, yet afterwards she recovered so much strength as to get upon her knees, and as she was praying to God, the bloody enemy dispatched her.
Giovanni Salvagiot as he was returning from Bagnol, after the peace was concluded, as he passed by a Chappel, because he put not off his hat, and made obeysance thereto, was murthered, and his body left unburied.
Giovanni Gayo, and divers other men, women, and children hid themselves in a Cave, where for a time they continued in safety: but at last were discovered by some of these Bloodhounds; whereupon they fell upon their knees, and begged their lives of them, most of the murtherers having been their neighbours, and familiar acquaintance, and such as had pretended great friendship to them: But the mercy of these men proved extreme cruelty: For the kindest salute they could afford their old acquaintance was with Swords, Musquets, and Pistols: which the poor people perceiving, and not desiring to behold the lamentable misery each of other, they kneeled down in a Ring, and thrust their heads into Ferne, and such like stuffe as they had prepared to lie upon, in which posture they were all miserably shot to death, and their dead bodies afterwards horribly mangled, and cut in pieces.
Jacob Barral and his wife having been taken prisoners by the Earle of Saint Secondo, were three or four dayes after carried forth: and having first cut off the womans breasts, they shot them to death.
Antony Guiguo went to Periero with a purpose to change his Religion; but it pleased God so to touch his heart, that he repented of the resolution, and sought to make an escape: But as he was flying, some Troops of the Marquesse of Galeas caught him, and used him most cruelly because he would not yield to go to Masse: and as they carried him prisoner towards Praly, passing by a Precipice, the poor man to avoid his tormentors, leaped down from the Rock, and so was dashed in pieces.
Very many others there were which might here have been inserted, whereof some were drowned, some burnt, some slaine with the sword, some shot to death, some starved, some smothered in the Snow, some pined, some killed with staves, some cut in pieces: but I am weary with reckoning up their names, and I suppose the Reader also is tired with these cruelties: yet are their names written in red letters in the Kalender of Heaven, though their Popish adversaries would have them written in the dust: and whosoever desires to see more, may finde a larger Catalogue in Master Moorlands History of the Peresecutions in the Valleys of Piemont.