A General Martyrology, Chapter 46
CHAP. XLVI. A brief account of the Intercessors to the Duke of Savoy in the behalf of these poor people, and the successe therof.
UPon the first supplication of that terrible Order of Gastaldo, which was a forerunner of the Massacre, the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland, being their near neighbours, and therefore could soonest take notice of it, wrote their Letters to the Duke of Savoy in the poor peoples behalf. To which the Duke of Savoy shortly after gave a complemental, but cold answer, which was little better than a plaine denial of their request, and mediation.
April the 29. being the Lords day, newes of the horrible Massacre was brought to the Council of Zurick, who immediately gave Order for a Publick day of Humiliation through all their Territories, as also for making a Collection for their relief: resolving to give notice of this doleful newes to their Protestant friends; and amongst others, they wrote to the States General of the united Provinces, acquainting them with the sad condition of this poor people, intreating them to consider of some expedient for the accommodating their affairs.
May the fifth they sent Monsieur Gabriel Weis, Captaine General of Berne as their Deputy to the Duke of Savoy, who in very respectful termes requested him to re-establish those who had survived the Massacre in their ancient priviledges, the free exercise of their Religion, and for the enlargement of their Prisoners, delivering him a letter to the same purpose. The answer which the Duke (or rather his Mother) gave, was, that though they were not obliged to give an account of their actions to any Prince in the world, yet out of respect to the amity which they had compacted with his Masters the Cantons, they had given order to the Marquesse of Pianessa to acquaint them with the truth of those affairs: and shortly after when Major Weis spake with the Marquesse, he laboured to justifie all his proceedings, and to lay the load upon the backs of the poor people, protesting that he never intended to force their Consciences, and that all the reports about such strange cruelties exercised towards them were meer forgeries, &c.
Major Weis replyed that the Massacre was so notorious, that it could not be denied, and that their right of habitation in those places was founded upon Justice, being granted to them by the Dukes Predecessors, and purchased by them of the present Duke for six thousand Ducatoons. The Marquesse answered that all those Grants were upon condition that the Romish Religion should be freely exercised amongst them, which yet they would never suffer. Master Weis still pressing their sad condition, and the necessity of finding an expedient for accommodation, &c. the Marquesse desired him to apply himself to the poor people, and to cause them to desist from Hostility, which would be the way to obtaine favour from the Duke: and no marvel though he moved this: For about this time (through Gods mighty assistance) these poor people began so to prevaile, that their enemies began to fear what the successe might be, and therefore the Marquess laboured to get the sword out of their hands by such a stratagem as this.
Major Weis went to Perosa, propounding these things to the poor people: who returned humble thanks to the Cantons for what they had already done in their behalf; and said, that if the six Evangelical Cantons would engage that the Treaty should be carried on upon honest and honorable termes, they were ready to hearken to it; Otherwise they were resolved never to trust those who had so oft deceived them, and whose principle was, that Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks.
With this answer Master Weis returned, and sued for the enlargement of the Prisoners, or that at least he might be suffered to speak with them: but neither the one nor other would be granted; whereupon he returned to his Masters, and upon his report to them, being discouraged from any farther proceedings, they resolved to expect what would be done by other Princes, and States.
May 1655. Letters were brought to Oliver Lord Protector of Enland of this doleful newes, whereupon he invited all the people of England to seek the Lord by Humiliation, and Prayer, and withal, moved them to a liberal Contribution for the succour of these poor souls. He sent also Master Samuel Morland as his Envoy to the King of France, and Duke of Savoy to meditate on their behalf. He wrote also to the King of Denmark, to the States of the United Provinces, and to the Evangelical Cantons of the Switzers, requesting all their Mediations in the behalf of these poor people.
May the twenty sixth 1655, Master Morland set out on his journy, and June the first he came to the King of France at La Fere, to whom he delivered the Lord Protectors Letters, wherein he solicited his Majesty to improve his power, and interest with the Duke, that the cruel Order of Gastaldo might be recalled, and the poor people restored to their ancient liberties, and habitations. The King of France three dayes after returned an answer to the Lord Protectors Letter, and Master Morland proceeded in his journey to the Court of Savoy, and arrived at Rivole, where the Court was, June the 21. and demanded audience as the Lord Protectors Envoy, which accordingly was granted: and at his appearing he made a speech in the behalf of the poor people, and delivered the Lord Protectors Letter.
Madam Royal, the Dukes Mother answered, That she could not but extremely applaud the singular charity of his Highnesse the Lord Protector towards their Subjects, whose condition had been presented to him so exceeding sad, and l…mentable, as she perceived by Master Morl…nds discourse it was; yet withal she could not but extremely admire that malice should proceed so far as to clothe their fatherlike chastisements of their rebellious Subjects with so black a character, thereby to render them odious to all their neighbouring Princes, and States with whom they desired to keep a good understanding, especially with so great and powerful a Prince as the Lord Protector. Adding that she doubted not but when the truth of all passages should be made known to him, he would rest satisfied with the Dukes proceedings. Yet for his Highnesse sake they would pardon their rebellious Subjects, and grant them such priviledges, and graces, as should shew to the Lord Protector how great a respect they bore both to his person, and Mediation: And withall Master Morland was requested to go to Turin, where by the Dukes Order he was entertained with all outward demonstrations of Civility, and respect imaginable during his abode there.
Master Morland after a while pressed for his dispatch, and had it, and so according to the Lord Protectors Order he went to Geneva.
There was Collected in England, and Wales towards the relief of these poor souls the full summe of thirty eight thousand, ninety seven pounds, seven shillings, and three pence, the greatest part whereof was at several times transmitted to them; and what remained, being about nine thousands pounds, was put out to Interest, that so both the Principal, and the Improvement might be disposed of for their best advantage: and further to shew what effects the Lord Protectors intercession had, I finde that presently after, the King of Sweden, the King of Denmark, the States of the United Provinces, the Prince Elector Palatine, the Elector of Brandenberg, the Duke of Wittenberg, and many other Protestant Princes and States did either by their Letters to the Duke of Savoy, or otherwise, declare their deep resentment of the bloody Massacre, especially the Lantgrave of Hessen wrote most zealously in their behalf. They had also many Consolatory Letters written to them from sundry particular Churches, viz. From Franckfort, Zurick, Hanaw, Flushing, Middleburgh, &c. and large Contributions according to their respective abilities. Divers Commissioners also were sent from England, and Holland to joyne with those of the Evangelical Cantons for the procuring a well-grounded peace for those poor people: but before they came, the Switzer Ambassador had concluded a Treaty with the French Ambassador; and betwixt them, they had hudled up a Peace, the woful effects whereof these poor people were quickly sensible of; and to this day they labour under heavy burdens laid upon their shoulders by their Popish Taskmasters: they forbid them all manner of traffique for their sustenance: they rob them of their goods, and estates; they drive them from their ancient habitations, and force them to sell their Birth-right for a messe of Pottage: They banish their Ministers, that the Shepherds being gone, they may the more easily devour them: they ravish their young women, and maidens, they murther the innocent as they passe along the high-wayes upon their occasions: they continually mock and revile them, and threaten another Massacre, sevenfold more bloody than the former: Through the malice and subtilty of their Popish adversaries their Valleys are no other than a Dungeon, to which the Fort of La Torre serves as a door, whereby at their pleasure they may let in a Troop of murtherers utterly to destroy and extirpate those innocent people: and notwithstanding all those large supplies that have been sent them from England, and other States, yet so great are the necessities of those poor hungry creatures, and so grievous are the oppressions of their Popish adversaries, who lie in wait to bereave them of whatsoever is given them, that some of them are yet ready ever and anon to eate their own flesh for want of bread: their miseries are more sad, and grievous than can be expressed; they are dying, even whilst they live: When that which was collected for them is once spent, they must inevitably perish, unlesse the Lord in whose hand are the hearts of Princes, shall incline the heart of their Prince to pity these his poor, harmlesse, and faithful Subjects, who are so farre from thoughts of Rebellion, that could they but enjoy the freedom of their Consciences in peace, they would be the first that would be ready to sacrifice their lives for the good, and safety of his Royal Highnesse.
How long Lord, Holy, just, and true, &c. Rev. 6.10.
If any desire to see a fuller account of these things, together with the Letters and Transactions about them, they may finde them fully and faithfully set down by Master Samuel Morland in his History of the Evangelical Churches in the Valleys of Piemont.
Here place the Eleventh Figure.