The Vaudois of Piedmont A Visit to their Valleys   By: J. N. (John Napper) Worsfold

[Illustration: MAP OF THE VALLEYS OF PIEDMONT

STANFORD'S GEOGL. ESTABT. LONDON. ]

THE

VAUDOIS OF PIEDMONT:

A Visit to their Valleys,

WITH A SKETCH OF THEIR REMARKABLE HISTORY AS A CHURCH AND PEOPLE

TO THE PRESENT DATE.

With Map of the Valleys.

BY

REV. J. N. WORSFOLD, M.A.,

Vicar of Christ Church, Somers Town, London.

"TRITUNTUR MALLEI REMANET INCUS."

LONDON:

J. F. SHAW & CO., 48, PATERNOSTER ROW.

1873.

PREFACE.

An eminent living scholar, Dr. Tischendorf, has remarked, that in these days there is need of "little books on great subjects." It was something of that feeling which led me to the idea of supplementing the large and learned works of Muston, Monastier, Gilly, and others, by a pocket volume, so small that the tourist might not feel it an incumbrance, and yet so comprehensive, that those who have not the leisure for larger works, might obtain useful knowledge of the Waldenses.

Whether I shall have succeeded in this aim the public must judge.

I may, however, add that the absorbing nature of my parochial work has prevented my doing justice to the subject, from a literary point of view, and, therefore, I must ask my readers to kindly think of it merely as an earnest desire to diminish somewhat of the lack of information which I have discovered even among educated and benevolent persons, with regard to the history and ecclesiastical character of the Vaudois.

And, secondly, to evoke help towards their work generally, but especially to call out contributions, by means of which a MEMORIAL CHURCH may be erected near the site of the ancient college of the Vaudois, at Pra del Tor, Val Angrogna, and so still further illustrate the accuracy of the ancient motto of the Vaudois, "The hammers are broken, the anvil remains."

"TRITUNTUR MALLEI REMANET INCUS."

13, Oakley Square, N.W., July, 1873.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. Page THE JOURNEY AND ITS MOTIVE 1 5

CHAPTER II.

THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE VALLEYS, AND TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES 6 8

CHAPTER III.

ORIGIN AND ANTIQUITY OF THE WALDENSES AS A DISTINCT COMMUNITY 9 13

CHAPTER IV.

CREED AND ORGANIZATION OF THE WALDENSIAN CHURCH 14 22

CHAPTER V.

THE BEGINNING OF PAPAL PERSECUTIONS 23 27

CHAPTER VI.

THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF THE WALDENSES FROM THE RISE OF THE ROMAN INQUISITION TO THAT OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION 28 37

CHAPTER VII.

PEACE BETWEEN FRANCE AND SPAIN INITIATES THE SECOND GREAT PERSECUTION OF THE VAUDOIS. THEIR LOYALTY AND THEIR CONDITION DOWN TO A.D. 1655 38 44

CHAPTER VIII.

"THE BLOODY PASCHA" LOYALTY EVEN BEYOND THE POWER OF PERFIDY AND PERSECUTION TO QUENCH. REVOCATION OF THE EDICT OF NANTES. THE CRIMES OF LOUIS XIV. INVOLVES THE VALLEYS IN TROUBLE, EVEN GREATER THAN BEFORE. TREACHERY OF GABRIEL OF SAVOY. EXILE 45 51

CHAPTER IX.

RORA AND JANAVELLO 52 62

CHAPTER X.

THE VALLEYS REGAINED UNDER HENRI ARNAUD 63 89