Opinions relating to the antiquity of the Vaudois Church—Sources of information—Two opinions—Its derivation from the apostles, and pure descent to the present time—Supposition of its having received its name and origin from Peter Waldo—The Vaudois Church part of the ancient Italian Church—Life of Claude, Archbishop of Turin
Dissolving views—College of Pra del Tor—Barbes and their scholars—Teaching strictly evangelical—Character of the Barbes—Word of God generally studied—MSS. given by Léger to Cromwell’s ambassador—Some preserved at Geneva—Noble lesson—Summary of the belief of the Vaudois Church—Ordination past and present—Biographical sketch of Peter Waldo
Dissemination of the gospel by the Barbes—Number of converts—Missionary pedlars—American ballad—Pierre and Henri de Bruys—Their preaching and imprisonment—Martyrdom of Pierre—Death of Henri—Vaudois Troubadours—Stefano Cereghino’s visit to Torre Pellice—Some account of the Cereghini family
Albigensian crusade Refugees in the valleys—Obligation to emigrate—Young emigrants at Turin—Offer of settlements in Calabria—Preparations—Farewells—Arrival—Progress of the colony—Industry and good manners of the colonists—Great numbers of the Reformed Church—Report of the Reformation—Send for a pastor—Louis Pascale—His ministry—Letters—Imprisonment and martyrdom—Cruelties and fraud—Final destruction of the Calabrian and other Italian colonies
Colonies of Provence Froissard’s Vaudois de Provence—Origin uncertain—Colony founded in 1495—Beneficial change in the manners of the natives—Industry and prosperity of the colonists—Persecutions under Francis i.—Advocates in Parliament and elsewhere in their favour—Edict of Mérindol—Lord of Alnec—Case of the rats—Fresh edict—Reluctance of the landlords to prosecute Children of Mérindol—Persecutions of Oppède—Fresh edict—Assembly in the desert —Cruelties—Annihilation of the colonies—Remorse and death of Francis—Trial and acquittal of Oppède—His dreadful death
Saturus of Carthage baptized in his blood—The Vaudois Church baptized in her blood—Thread of the history resumed—Abundance of matter—Persecutions in Europe—First persecution in the valleys, 1400—Flight to the mountains—Rally of the Vaudois, and dispersion of the invaders—Persecution of 1488, under De Capitaneis—Defeated at Pra del Tor—Tompie Saquet—Peace—Vaudois children—Superstition—Declension and exhaustion of the Church
The Reformation—Messengers sent from the valleys to the Reformers—Answer of Œcolampadius—Synod of Champforans—Farel—Proceedings—Translation and printing of the Bible in French—Revival of religion in the valleys—Building of temples—Mountain stream
Changes in the political world—Charles iii. persecutes the Vaudois—Requires their services against Francis—Occupation of the valleys by the French—Notices of martyrs—Catelan Girardet—Martin Gonin—Nicolas Sartoire—Geofroi Varaille—Barthélemi Hector—Present times—The Madiai—English travellers—Escape of Pastor Gilles and his companion—Martyrdom of the Mathurins—Cloud of witnesses
Restoration of the Duke of Savoy—Cruel edict—Preparations for war—Petitions to the duke and duchess—Ravages of the Commune of Riclaret—Martyrdom of the pastor of San Germano—The Pope insists on war—La Trinità’s attacks and defeat; negotiates—Cruelties committed in the valleys—The “Maiden’s Rock”—Sympathy of the Protestants—Compact with the Vaudois of the Clusone—Fresh attack—“Flying Company”—Defeat of the foe–Rejoicing—Panic and retreat of the invaders—La Trinità’s threats and sickness—Peace offered by Emmanuel Philibert—Effects of war—Desolation—Scarcity—Help from abroad—Elector Palatine’s letter—Massacre of St. Bartholomew—Letter—Inroad of the Monks—Octavia Sollara—Copin—Two penitent pastor—Passage of the French army—Plague—Death of twelve pastors—Other ministers arrive—Introduction of the French language
Death of Victor Amadeus—Enmity of the Duchess Catherine—Propaganda—Edict of banishment from Saluzzo—Vaudois in arms—Edict of exile from Luserna—Léger and his flock—Marquis di Pianezza enters the valleys with his army—His artifice to gain possession—Succeeds—Slaughter of the Vaudois—Milton’s sonnet—Cruelties—Petitbourg’s evidence—Lamentations—Léger’s history of the slaughter—Quotation from Dr. Gilly—The defence of Rorà by Janavel and his companions—Repeated defeat of the enemy—Pianezza attacks Rorà with ten thousand men—Cruelties—Noble defence—Margaret Garniero—Janavel’s escape—His answer to Pianezza—Crosses the mountain—Meets with Jahier—Taking of San Secondo—Janavel wounded—Death of Jahier—Other commanders—Cromwell’s sympathy—Morland’s remonstrance—Disadvantageous terms of peace
The treaty of Pinerolo—Incessant internal persecution—Revocation of the Edict of Nantes—Strangers banished from the valleys—Forced baptism of children—Revocation or death—Vaudois in arms—Successes—Lay down their arms—Repetition of enormities—Fourteen thousand thrown into prison—Cruel treatment—Permitted to emigrate—Hardship and loss by the way—Benevolent reception at Geneva—Efforts in their behalf by the Bernese agents—The imprisoned pastors—Settlement of the Vaudois in Switzerland—Offered help from other States—Desire of the Vaudois to return home—Meeting Henri Arnaud—House of his descendant Janavel—Meeting at Bex—Kindness of the Governor of Aigle—Departure to Germany —Day of general humiliation fixed for their final departure
Congregating of the Vaudois at Prangins—Prayer—Departure Crossing the lake—Difficulties of their march—Bridge at Salabertrand won—Sabbath—On Mount Sei—Enter the valleys—Oath of Sibaoud—Vaudois hymn—Retire to the Balsille—The French arrive—Depart to “come at Easter”—Preparations—Attempt at Capitulation—Beat back their assailants—Bombardment—Retreat by night—Difficulty of the road—Offers of peace from the duke—Joy of the Vaudois—Return of the other exiles—Fresh persecution—Banishment of Arnaud and others—Notice of Arnaud’s death and tomb—Victor Amadeus at Bobbio Cemetery—Fresh persecution and penalties—The Vaudois emancipated under the French—Napoleon and Peyrani—Return of the king—The old pains and penalties revived
State of the Vaudois Church under the French—Prosperity unfavourable—Friends of the Vaudois—Felix Neff—The hospitals—M. Geymet’s letter—College—Church and professors’ houses—Schools—Moral training—Catholic church and monastery—Charles Albert’s visit—Reception—Fountain—Marquis d’Azelio’s petition in favour of the Vaudois—25th of February, letters patent proclaimed the emancipation—Joy and Illumination—Fête of the new constitution at Turin
Present state of the Waldensian Church at Turin, Genoa, Nice, Favale, Florence, Rome, Naples, Sicily, etc., etc.—Its missionary efforts throughout Italy—Synod of 1854—New Church at Pra del Tor
