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Out of a great mass of petitions and remonstrances, which the persecuted Vaudois have addressed to their sovereigns, from time to time, expostulating with them on their cruelty, and imploring their clemency, I have selected the following, to shew with what manly firmness, tempered with mildness, and Christian meekness, they used to touch upon the subject of their wrongs.

'A supplication of the poor Waldenses, to the most serene, and most high prince, Philibert Emanuel, Duke of Savoy, Prince of Piemont, our most gracious lord.

"Festus, governor of Judea, being required by the chief priests and elders of the people, to put to death the Apostle Paul, answered no less wisely than justly, that the Romans were not wont to put any to death, before they had brought his accusers face to face, and given him time to answer for himself. We are not ignorant, most gracious prince, that many accusations are laid against us, and that many calumnies are cast upon us, to make us objects of abomination to all the Christians, and monarchs in the Christian world. But if the Roman people, though Pagans, were so equitable, as not to condemn any man before they knew and understood his reasons; and if the law condemns no man, (as it is testified by Nicodemus, John vii.) before he hath been heard, and before it is known what he hath done, the matter now in question being of so great concernment, namely, the glory of the most high God, and the salvation of so many souls, we do implore your clemency, most gracious prince, that you will be pleased to lend a willing ear to your poor subjects, in so just and righteous a cause.

First, we do protest, before the almighty, and all-just God, before whose tribunal we must all one day appear, that we intend to live and die in the holy faith, piety, and religion of our Lord Jesus Christ; and that we do abhor all heresies, that have been, and are condemned, by the word of God.

f Morland, p. 227.

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"We do embrace the most holy doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles, as likewise of the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds: we subscribe to the four councils, and to all the ancient fathers, in all such things as are not repugnant to the analogy of faith.

"We do most willingly yield obedience to our superiors; we ever endeavour to live peaceably with our neighbours : we have wronged no man, though provoked; nor do we fear that any can, with reason, complain against us.

"Finally, we never were obstinate in our opinions; but rather tractable, and always ready to receive all holy and pious admonitions, as appears by our confessions of faith.

"And we are so far from refusing a discussion, or rather a free council, wherein all things may be established by the word of God, that we rather desire the same with all our hearts.

"We likewise beseech your highness to consider, that this religion we profess, is not ours only, nor hath it been invented by man of late years, as it is falsely reported; but it is the religion of our fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers, and other yet more ancient predecessors of ours, and of the blessed martyrs, confessors, prophets, and apostles; and if any can prove the contrary, we are ready to subscribe, and yield thereunto. The word of God shall not perish, but remain for ever; therefore, if our religion be the true word of God, as we are persuaded, and not the invention of men, no human force shall be able to extinguish the same.

"Your highness knows, that this very same religion hath, for many ages past, been most grievously persecuted in all places; but so far from being abolished, and rooted out thereby, that it hath rather increased daily, which is a certain argument, that this work and counsel is not the work and counsel of men, but of God, and therefore cannot be destroyed by any violence. Therefore, we beseech your most serene highness to consider, what it is to under

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take any thing against God, that so you may not embue your hands in innocent blood! Jesus is our Saviour: we will religiously obey all your highness' edicts, as far as conscience will permit; but when conscience says nay, your highness knows, we must rather obey God than man: we unfeignedly confess, that we ought to give Cæsar, that which belongs to Cæsar, provided we give also to God, what is due to him.

"There want not those, who will endeavour to incite the generous mind and courage of your highness, to persecute our religion by force of arms. But, O magnanimous prince, you may easily conjecture to what end they do it, that it is not out of zeal to God's glory, but rather to preserve their own worldly dignities, pomp and riches; wherefore, we beseech your highness, not to regard, or countenance, their sayings.

"The Turks, Jews, Saracens, and other nations, though never so barbarous, are suffered to enjoy their own religion, and are constrained by no man, to change their manner of living and worship: and we, who serve, and worship in faith the true and almighty God, and one true and only sovereign, the Lord Jesus, and confessing one God, and one baptism, shall not we be suffered to enjoy the same privileges?

"We humbly implore your highness' goodness, and that for our only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's sake, to allow unto us, your most humble subjects, the most holy Gospel of the Lord our God, in its purity; and that we may not be forced to do things against our consciences; for which we shall, with all our hearts, beseech our Almighty, and all good God, to preserve your highness in prosperity."

This pathetic and strong appeal had no effect. Four hundred men surprised the first Vaudois village of the valley of Luzerna, San Giovanni, in the night; and were followed by a regular army, who dealt most mercilessly with the unhappy Protestants.

1

CHAPTER X.

Evening at the pastor's house-M. Bert-Liturgy of the Vaudois -Interment of the dead-Roman Catholic obsequies-Funeral ceremony at Geneva-English burial service-Synod of Waldensian church-Solemnities of the holy Sacrament-Parochial schools-Names of Vaudois villages-Village pastor's Popu lation-Traits of character-Anecdote-Jean Leger's work— Retrospect-The attestation of Du Petit Bourg-Remonstrance of foreign states-Oliver Cromwell-His protection of the Vaudois-Recommends a general collection in EnglandWrites letters to the Protestant powers, in behalf of the Vaudois -Expostulates with the King of France-Louis the Fourteenth -Cromwell sends an envoy to Turin-Morland's bold and memorable speech to the Duke of Savoy-Shameful treaty of Pinerolo-Its baneful effects-Protest of Swiss AmbassadorCromwell's spirited conduct-Charles the Second-His letter of intercession to the Duke of Savoy-Compact of blood-Milton's ode on this subject.

UPON our return to La Torre, from Villaro and Bobbio, we found an invitation from one of the principal proprietors of this communauté, to join a young party at his house, which had been kindly formed, in compliment to the strangers. M. Bert had also been several times at the little inn, during our absence, to invite us to sup with him. The evening had closed in before we got back; and the good pastor supposing we should have some difficulty in finding Our way in the dark, came himself with a lanthorn to escort. The distance to his house was more than half a mile from our quarters.

us.

My companions wished to go early to the dance, and did not accompany me to M. Bert's. They lost a most interesting conversation. The pastor of La Torre, learned as he is, has not, perhaps, all the deep erudition, and lively talent which distinguished the late moderator, Peyrani; nor were his observations so piquant; but there is a seriousness in his manner, an impressive earnestness in his tone, and such an air and aspect of Christian mildness in his general deportment, that it is impossible not to venerate him. He takes an intense interest in the concerns of his sacred profession; his whole soul is with the holy cause, which he supports by his life and conversation; and no topics of discourse appear so pleasing to him, as those which relate to the true Christian character of his people. M. Bert is engaged in a history of the Vaudois, which will be a most valuable production; and it is earnestly to be hoped, that the restrictions upon the press, and the jealousy, with which every literary work, that proceeds from a Protestant, is regarded by the Sardinian government, will not shackle his performance.

If ever sovereign had a faithful and loyal subject, the King of Sardinia has such in M. Bert. His sentiments, upon the subject of loyalty, are founded upon those principles of obedience and expediency, which his religion inculcates; and in all our conversations, not a word dropped from his lips, which could be construed in a sense injurious to the constituted authorities of his country. The same tribute may justly be paid to the Vertus, and to every other Vaudois with whom I conversed. These amiable people may suffer wrongs, and feel them deeply; but they have too much Christian spirit, or they are too discreet, to express themselves in any manner, that the ingenuity of the most ill-natured, or suspicious, could represent to their disadvantage.

8 Since my excursion to the valleys, the Reverend B. Bridge, Fellow of St. Peter's College, Cambridge, has visited them, and has printed a brief narrative of