ness for the correction of my faults, and blessed be his holy name for his merciful visitations; but as to the crimes of which I am accused, the accusations are utterly false, and I solemnly protest that I have never done any such things, and may this solemn assertion be a sentence of condemnation to my body and soul, if I fail in speaking the truth on this subject. I, Paul Roeri, or de Lafranchi, do make oath in the sacred presence of the most high God, before whom all things are naked and open, and before his holy angels, as if I were in the presence of the whole church, that in all my life, I have never made or engraved any money whatsoever, neither taken part in any such business." The conclusion of his letter contained ample declarations that he had been employed solely in the preparation of healing medicines, and was convinced that his persecution arose only from enmity towards his religion.

This period, however, was upon the whole, one of much tranquillity to the Vaudois, though numbers of them were often called out to serve with the rest of the militia upon the frontiers of Piedmont. Charles, count of Lucerne, and Emmanuel his brother, were powerful protectors to the people of the valleys, whom they esteemed for their fidelity and prompt obedience. But these noble friends were removed by death, during the autumn of 1618.

This is a world of changes, and the Vaudois have found it to be so. Shortly afterwards, their

enemies troubled them on the most frivolous pretexts, as will appear from the following anecdote. A skilful carpenter, a worthy man, who had been frequently employed by the Papists, on account of his abilities, died about this time; but when his friends were about to bury him in the Protestant churchyard, they were forbidden, on account of its proximity to the burying place of the Romanists. This was at Campillon, a retired spot, in the vale of Lucerne. It was some time before sufficient assistance could be procured to render the attempt safe, their opponents even threatening to shoot at them from their tower. Although this affair terminated quietly, yet similar attempts were afterwards renewed, and Capel, who was active on the side of the Waldenses, was, for some time, imprisoned by the Inquisition. At this time, the Vaudois frequently appealed to the authority of the dukes of Savoy, and often received protection from them.

CHAPTER VII.

ANNALS CONTINUED, AND ANECDOTES.

Octavia Solara-Books sold at Lucerne-Anna Sobrera-Matthew Celene-Family of Bazan-History of Antoine LegerA season of scarcity-Scenes in Val St. Martin-The dreadful pestilence of 1630-Ancient and modern ministers of the Vaudois.

IN the year 1621, French troops had been raised in Dauphiny and the neighbouring provinces, among whom no Protestants were admitted to serve, except as private soldiers, and these were quartered in the valleys of the Vaudois. This was remonstrated against by the natives, but some of the strangers of superior grade, who had settled among them, wrote so as to prevent their remonstrances from having attention. One of these writers, though admitting the Protestants' doctrine of justification by faith alone, and sometimes joining in their assemblies for public worship, differed from them in his general views and conduct as to religion, as the history of his wife, Octavia Solara, will prove. This is one of the numerous instances that might be given, from these districts, as well as other parts of the world, of the melancholy results of inattention to the Scripture precept, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers."

Octavia was the daughter of a gentleman of ancient and noble family, in the south of Piedmont, who had suffered the loss of all his property, on account of his attachment to the reformed religion. Hoping to regain some of these temporal possessions, the daughter, influenced by her mother, consented to the proposals of a gentleman, which were advantageous as to all worldly considerations. She however first consulted their own pastor, the minister of La Tour, who, as Gilles relates, said to them what he ought, according to the word of God, his conscience, and the duty of his office. This pastor was, apparently, Gilles himself. Yet the inducements proved so alluring, that, after farther consideration, these parties returned to the minister, not to consult him as to what they would do, but to make excuses for what they had done; the young lady declaring that she would not change her religion, but would publicly profess it upon all occasions, even if her life were endangered. But she had no opportunity of giving any public testimony, not being even allowed to retain and use her psalter and other devotional books, except very secretly, and in the absence of her husband. He constantly spoke of her as a sensible and exemplary woman in every respect, except that she would never consent to alter her opinions as to her religion, which he strove to induce her to lay aside entirely.

The result was, that she fell into a lingering and melancholy state of sickness, which carried

her off in the flower of her age; all the remedies applied proved useless in the absence of being able to profess that religion which she felt to be the only source of happiness. Towards the close of her life she was visited by some respectable and pious females, who expressed a hope that God would restore her to health, "No," she answered, “ pray rather that he would take me out of this world, before I quite lose the love of his truth and the small degree of light which is left to me." Soon after she died. This is narrated "as a mirror for those who need one in similar situations.'

On November 2nd, 1627, being the second day of the fair at Lucerne, some silk dealers, from the vale of Cluson, exposed with their other merchandise some religious books for sale, which being seen by the prior of Lucerne, he called in the assistance of the magistrate, and accompanied by a small military force, and several warm opposers of the truth, seized the books and those who sold them, as if they had committed some atrocious crime. The dealers pleaded ancient custom, even in that very place; but the prior, who was young and but lately promoted, refused to listen to them. Others, however, interfered to protect the venders, and prevent the permanent effects of this innovation, on which the prior and his assistants wrote their own account of these proceedings with considerable exaggerations, and numerous mis-statements, which they sent to Turin, whilst no one dared to refute them. It is to