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| CHAPTER I. |
| THE WALDENSES—THEIR VALLEYS. |
| Submission of the Churches of Lombardy to Rome—The Old Faithmaintained in the Mountains—The Waldensian Churches—Questionof their Antiquity—Approach to their Mountains—Arrangementof their Valleys—Picture of blended Beauty and Grandeur | [1] |
| CHAPTER II. |
| THE WALDENSES—THEIR MISSIONS AND MARTYRDOMS. |
| Their Synod and College—Their Theological Tenets—Romaunt Versionof the New Testament—The Constitution of their Church—TheirMissionary Labours—Wide Diffusion of their Tenets—TheStone Smiting the Image | [10] |
| CHAPTER III. |
| FIRST PERSECUTIONS OF THE WALDENSES. |
| Their Unique Position in Christendom—Their Twofold Testimony—TheyWitness against Rome and for Protestantism—Hated byRome—The Cottian Alps—Albigenses and Waldenses—The WaldensianTerritory Proper—Papal Testimony to the FlourishingState of their Church in the Fourteenth Century—Early Bullsagainst them—Tragedy of Christmas, 1400—Constancy of the Waldenses—Crusadeof Pope Innocent VIII.—His Bull of 1487—TheArmy Assembles—Two Frightful Tempests approach the Valleys | [19] |
| CHAPTER IV. |
| CATANEO’S EXPEDITION (1488) AGAINST THE DAUPHINESE AND PIEDMONTESECONFESSORS. |
| The Confessors of the Dauphinese Alps—Attacked—Flee to Mont Pelvoux—Retreatinto a Cave—Are Suffocated—French CrusadersCross the Alps—Enter the Valley of Pragelas—Piedmontese ArmyAdvances against La Torre—Deputation of Waldensian Patriarchs—TheValley of Lucerna—Villaro—Bobbio—Cataneo’s Plan ofCampaign—His Soldiers Cross the Col Julien—Grandeurs of thePass—Valley of Prali—Defeat of Cataneo’s Expedition | [31] |
| CHAPTER V. |
| FAILURE OF CATANEO’S EXPEDITION. |
| The Valley of Angrogna—An Alternative—The Waldenses Preparefor Battle—Cataneo’s Repulse—His Rage—He Renews the Attempt—EntersAngrogna with his Army—Advances to the Barrier—Entersthe Chasm—The Waldenses on the point of being Cut toPieces—The Mountain Mist—Deliverance—Utter Rout of the PapalArmy—Pool of Saquet—Sufferings of the Waldenses—Extinctionof the Invading Host—Deputation to their Prince—Vaudois Children—Peace | [43] |
| CHAPTER VI. |
| SYNOD IN THE WALDENSIAN VALLEYS. |
| The Old Vine seems Dying—New Life—The Reformation—TidingsReach the Waldenses—They Send Deputies into Germany andSwitzerland to Inquire—Joy of Œcolampadius—His AdmonitoryLetter—Waldensian Deputies at Strasburg—The Two Churchesa Wonder to each other—Martyrdom of One of the Deputies—Resolutionto Call a Synod in the Valleys—Its Catholic Character—Spotwhere it Met—Confession of Faith framed—The Spirit of the VaudoisRevives—They Rebuild their Churches, &c.—Journey of Fareland Saunier to the Synod | [52] |
| CHAPTER VII. |
| PERSECUTIONS AND MARTYRDOMS. |
| A Peace of Twenty-eight Years—Flourishing State—Bersour—AMartyr—Martyrdom of Pastor Gonin—Martyrdoms of a Studentand a Monk—Trial and Burning of a Colporteur—A List ofHorrible Deaths—The Valleys under the Sway of France—Restoredto Savoy—Emmanuel Philibert—Persecution Renewed—Carignano—PersecutionApproaches the Mountains—Deputationto the Duke—The Old Paths—Remonstrance to the Duke—To theDuchess—To the Council | [63] |
| CHAPTER VIII. |
| PREPARATIONS FOR A WAR OF EXTERMINATION. |
| Pastor Gilles Carries the Remonstrance to the Duke—No Tidingsfor Three Months—The Monks of Pinerolo begin the Persecution—Raidin San Martino—Philip of Savoy’s Attempt at Conciliation—AMonk’s Sermon—The Duke Declares War against the Vaudois—DreadfulCharacter of his Army—The Waldenses hold a Fast, &c.—Skirmishingin Angrogna—Night Panic—La Trinita Occupies theVal di Lucerna—An Intrigue—Fruitless Concessions—Affecting Incidents—LaTrinita Demands 20,000 Crowns from the Men of theValleys—He Retires into Winter Quarters—Outrages of his Soldiers | [77] |
| CHAPTER IX. |
| THE GREAT CAMPAIGN OF 1561. |
| Mass or Extermination—Covenant in the Valleys—Their Solemn Oath—Howthe Waldenses Recant—Their Energetic Preparations—LaTrinita Advances his Army—Twice Attempts to Enter Angrogna,and is Repulsed—A Third Attempt—Attacks on Three Points—Repulsedon all Three—Ravages the Valley of Rora—ReceivesReinforcements from France and Spain—Commences a ThirdCampaign—Six Men against an Army—Utter Discomfiture—Extinctionof La Trinita’s Host—Peace | [88] |
| CHAPTER X. |
| WALDENSIAN COLONIES IN CALABRIA AND APULIA. |
| An Inn at Turin—Two Waldensian Youths—A Stranger—Invitationto Calabria—The Waldenses Search the Land—They Settle there—TheirColony Flourishes—Build Towns—Cultivate Science—TheyHear of the Reformation—Petition for a Fixed Pastor—Jean LouisPaschale sent to them—Apprehended—Brought in Chains to Naples—Conductedto Rome | [104] |
| CHAPTER XI. |
| EXTINCTION OF WALDENSES IN CALABRIA. |
| Arrival of Inquisitors in Calabria—Flight of the Inhabitants of SanSexto—Pursued and Destroyed—La Guardia—Its Citizens Seized—TheirTortures—Horrible Butchery—The Calabrian Colony Exterminated—LouisPaschale—His Condemnation—The Castle ofSt. Angelo—The Pope, Cardinals, and Citizens—The Martyr—HisLast Words—His Execution—His Tomb | [114] |
| CHAPTER XII. |
| THE YEAR OF THE PLAGUE. |
| Peace—Re-occupation of their Homes—Partial Famine—Contributionsof Foreign Churches—Castrocaro, Governor of the Valleys—HisTreacheries and Oppressions—Letter of Elector Palatine to theDuke—A Voice raised for Toleration—Fate of Castrocaro—ThePlague—Awful Ravages—10,000 Deaths—Only Two Pastors Survive—Ministerscome from Switzerland, &c.—Worship conductedhenceforward in French | [123] |
| CHAPTER XIII. |
| THE GREAT MASSACRE. |
| Preliminary Attacks—The Propaganda de Fide—Marchioness de Pianeza—Gastaldo’sOrder—Its Barbarous Execution—Greater Sorrows—Perfidyof Pianeza—The Massacring Army—Its Attackand Repulse—Treachery—The Massacre Begins—Its Horrors—Modesof Torture—Individual Martyrs—Leger collects Evidenceon the Spot—He Appeals to the Protestant States—Interpositionof Cromwell—Mission of Sir Samuel Morland—A Martyr’s Monument | [132] |
| CHAPTER XIV. |
| EXPLOITS OF GIANAVELLO—MASSACRE AND PILLAGE OF RORA. |
| Ascent of La Combe—Beauty and Grandeur of Valley of Rora—Gianavello—HisCharacter—Marquis de Pianeza—His First Assault—BraveRepulse—Treachery of the Marquis—No Faith with Heretics—Gianavello’sBand—Repulse of Second and Third Attacks—Deathof a Persecutor—An Army raised to invade Rora—Massacreand Pillage—Letter of Pianeza—Gianavello’s Heroic Reply—Gianavellorenews the War—500 against 15,000—Success of theWaldenses—Horror at the Massacre—Interposition of England—Letterof Cromwell—Treaty of Peace | [151] |
| CHAPTER XV. |
| THE EXILE. |
| New Troubles—Louis XIV. and his Confessor—Edict against the Vaudois—TheirDefenceless Condition—Their Fight and Victory—TheySurrender—The Whole Nation Thrown into Prison—UtterDesolation of the Land—Horrors of the Imprisonment—Their Release—Journeyacross the Alps—Its Hardships—Arrival of theExiles at Geneva—Their Hospitable Reception | [166] |
CHAPTER XVI.
|
RETURN TO THE VALLEYS.
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| Longings after their Valleys—Thoughts of Returning—Their Re-assembling—CrossLake Leman—Begin their March—The “EightHundred”—Cross Mont Cénis—Great Victory in the Valley of theDora—First View of their Mountains—Worship on the Mountaintop—Entertheir Valleys—Pass their First Sunday at Prali—Worship | [179] |
| CHAPTER XVII. |
| FINAL RE-ESTABLISHMENT IN THE VALLEYS. |
| Cross the Col Julien—Seize Bobbio—Oath of Sibaud—March to Villaro—GuerillaWar—Retreat to La Balsiglia—Its Strength—Beauty andGrandeur of San Martino—Encampment on the Balsiglia—Surrounded—Repulseof the Enemy—Depart for the Winter—Returnof French and Piedmontese Army in Spring—The Balsiglia Stormed—EnemyDriven Back—Final Assault with Cannon—WonderfulDeliverance of the Vaudois—Overtures of Peace | [189] |
| CHAPTER XVIII. |
| CONDITION OF THE WALDENSES FROM 1690. |
| Annoyances—Burdens—Foreign Contributions—French Revolution—SpiritualRevivals—Felix Neff—Dr. Gilly—General Beckwith—OppressedCondition previous to 1840—Edict of Carlo Alberto—Freedomof Conscience—The Vaudois Church, the Door by whichReligious Liberty Entered Italy—Their Lamp Kindled at Rome | [203] |
