8.10.2012 VAUDOIS V - PERSECUTION II

this rather long account is of the second general persecution which took place in the vaudois valleys, starting 1560..
war was therefore declared. the vau families made haste to gather together the things most indispensable for subsistence and to retire with their flocks to the fastnesses of the figh mountains. the pastors everywhere redoubled their zeal and fervour. the religious assemblies were never more largely attended. the army approached. it was about the end of october. the vau valleys set apart a time for fasting and prayer. after the solemnities, an extraordinary celebration of the Lord's supper took, place, which united all the persecuted in one act of holy fellowship. thus, without fear of reakness, but encouraging one another, did 'these por people, as gilles says, prepare,with incredible resolution and cheerfulness, to receive from the hand of God all the afflictions to which it might seem good to him to subject them. not5hing was to be heard from vale to mountain but the psalms and hymns of those who transported the sick, the infirm, the aged, the women and children, to the securest retreats of their roks'. 'so that for 8 days, adds richard, you could see nothing but people passing and repassing on these rugged paths, diligently bearing luggage and little articles of furniture; as in the summer time the ants incessantly run and travel hither and thither, storing away provisions against the evil days; and amongst these worthy people none regretted his property, so resolute were they to await patiently all the good pleasure of God'. the advice of their pastors had even been not to defend themselves by weapons of war, but merely to retire to a place where they might be safe from attack.

the count of racconis, philip of savoy, who came at this tiem to the valleys, wrote to his uncle, philibert, saying, 'these unhappy people persist in their opinions, but they are not willing to take up arms against their sovereign; some of them are going away from the place, others courageously await martyrdom in the midst of their families-a marvellous sight, and very piteous to behold'.

three days afterr, a proclamation was published and put up in all the vilages of angrogna, to the effect that all would be destroyed by fire and sword if the vau did not return to the church of rome. next day, being the 1st of november, 1560, the army commenced its march, under the orders of george coste, count of la trinite, and encamped at bubiano. hastily recruited, and its ranks filled up with adventurers, it wanted discipline; the solkierss gave themselves up to all sorts of excesses, and began to pillage before they had fought. believing themselves already in the country of the vau, they made catholics and protestants indiscriminately the subjects of their autrages. the former, therefore, desiring to secure the maidenly chastity of their daughters from the brutal grossness of that lawless soldiery, did a thing worthy of the most admired times. knowing the rigid purity of the morals of the vau, the strength of their fastnesses, and the devotedness of those who were to defend them, they saw no refuge for their children more safe than these very retreats, and did not hesitate to confide the honour of their families to the virtuaous fidelity of the vau cottages. accordingly, many of them took their trembling wives and children, and left them amongst these heroic mountaineers.

it was surely wonderful to see these young catholic women committed with confidence to the care of the protestants, at the moment when catholicism was marching in arms against them. but this confidence was not misplaced. the vau defended the sacred charge which had been intrusted to them with as much courage and respect as their own families. without for a moment entertaining the thought of making precious hostages of these young people who were in their hands, and of taking advantage of the circumastance against their adversaries, they generously exposed themselves in their defence, concealing them instead of exposing them to danger; and after having preserved them from outrage, they restored them to their friends, without dreaming of any recompense. incredible as this factt may appear, aal the historians of the times, gilles, richard, de thou and crespin make mention of it; and it affords the most beautiful testimony which their adversaries could have rendered to the virtue and generosity of the vau.

on the 2d of november the whole army crossed the pelis, and emcamped in the meadows of st. john. thereafter it advanced towards angrogna, extending its wings over all the hills of the costieres. many skirmishes took place along this great line. the advantage was nearly equal upon both sides; but the little parties left by the vau for defence, found themselves too far separate from each other to act with vigour. they retired, therefroe, still defending themselves, to the more and more confined plateaux of the mountain. many of them had only slings and cross-bows.

but the enemy still ascended. this succession of partial engagements had only re252.last