TotheLastDropofOurBloodAStoryofGovernmentandReligion

ByAnnBurke

RevisedEdition

Worldrightsreserved.Thisbookoranyportionthereofmaynotbecopiedorreproducedinanyformormannerwhatever,exceptasprovidedbylaw,withoutthewrittenpermissionofthepublisher,exceptbyareviewerwhomayquotebriefpassagesinareview.

Theopinionsexpressedinthisbookaretheauthor'spersonalviewsandinterpretationoftheBibleanddonotnecessarilyreflectthoseofTEACHServices,Inc.

Theauthorassumesfullresponsibilityfortheaccuracyofallfactsandquotationsascitedinthisbook.Unlessotherwiseindicated,allscripturequotationsarefromtheNewKingJamesVersion,Copyright(c)1984byThomasNelson,Inc.,Nashville,Tennessee

CoverdesignbyAnthonySchmidtCoverphotobywww.istockphoto.com______________________________

Copyright(c)2006,2011TEACHServices,Inc.ISBN-13:978-1-57258-709-0(Paperback)ISBN-13:978-1-57258-977-3(ePub)

ISBN-13:978-1-57258-757-1(Kindle/Mobi)LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2006930931

Publishedby

DedicationForKen,whomadethiswritingpossible

andInmemoryofTom,whobelievedinfreedom

ThankYouI am grateful to Pastor E. L. and our Italian friends, especially Hannah, for my tour of historic

Waldensian sites; to Pat, Robert, and Cindy at LLT for their hospitality and the free use of space,historicalmaterials,andequipmentwhenIfirstbeganmyresearch;toBill,Rob,Hal,andJulie,fortheirvaluedhelpinthegatheringprocess.

I'malsoindebtedtoJanice,Colleen,Marilyn,andTrishformakingavailabletomesfromthevaultattheHeritageRoom;toGerri,R.H.,Melinda,Susi,andMattforreadingwithakeeneye;toKenandDanforresolvingtechnicalproblemsandcomingupwithpertinentobservations;toSabrinaforallowingmetotalkabout"mybook."

IwishtoacknowledgeJeremy,Tony,andRobertformakingavailabletheirprofessionalskills,andfriends,unlistedbutnotleast,forencouragingandsupportingmeintheirownspecialway.

Finally, I'd like to remembermymother and fatherwho (though they are resting now) planted theseedsthatwouldspringuphere,alongtimeago.

TableofContentsCover

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Foreward

Chapter1

Chapter2

Chapter3

Chapter4

Chapter5

Chapter6

Chapter7

Chapter8

Chapter9

Chapter10

Chapter11

Chapter12

Chapter13

Chapter14

Chapter15

Afterward

AppendixA

AppendixB

AppendixC

Notes

TEACHServices,Inc

AWordBeforePerhapsIshouldtellyouattheoutsetthatwhilethebookyouhaveopenedisabouthistory,itisnota

history. I have gleaned a few facts frommore exhaustive sources, but this little volume is, at best, asketch.Allthatbeingsaid,ifyouwouldliketotraveltoanotherplaceandtime,ifyoucaretoreconstructsomescenesas theymayhavehappened, ifyouhaveaconcernfor issuesof freedomandfaith,pleasereadon.

Youhavepickedupabookaboutpeople.Inthechaptersthatfollow,historywillsometimeswearawhite bonnet, and fact a mountainman's boots. It is my privilege to present to you theWaldenses, aminority whose story echoes like a call among their native Alps, its poignant warning resounding towhereweare.

AnnBurkeYucaipa,California

Chapter1Where the west of Italy approaches the east of France a snow-topped Alpine range rises like a

monumental fencebetweenneighbors.To thewest,mountainousslopesconcealhighvalleysbefore thelandgentlesout into theplainsofFrance.To theeast,valleysarehiddenamong themountainsslopingtowardthewideplainofPiedmontinnorthernItaly.[1]

AmongthehighPiedmontvalleyssomethirtymileswestofTurinisasectionofrockycountryknownas"theWaldensianvalleys."[2]ThepresentdaytownofTorrePellice,onceknownasLaTorre,issituatedatthejunctionoftwoofthesevalleys.[3]ClimbingfromTurinontheplaintowardTorrePellice,onefeelsthe aloofness and hurry of city life falling away. Mulberry and acacia trees dot the upland pastures,torrentsrushshoutingfromamongthehills,andchaletsperchalongthemountainsides.[4]

As late summer sun ripens the last fruit of the seasonand turns the terracedgrapevines russet andgold,thevalleysaretranquil.ShopsinTorrePellicecloseforatimeoutintheafternoon.Windowboxesofgeraniumssplashredalongthequaintoldstreets.Amountaintorrentrunsunderabridgeatoneendoftown,andbeyondacornfieldattheother,distantAlpslinethehorizon.[5]

The peace is almost palpable here.Whowould imagine that, on the plain, rumors of a holywaragainstthevalleypeoplehadatonetimerumbledlikethunder?Whowouldguessthatfortheirpreferenceoffaithfamiliesinthisvalleyhadbeenforcedtofleeorfight?[6]

Theyearis1487.TimeandagaininhabitantsofthehighvalleysonbothsidesoftheAlpshavefeltthe heavy hand of repression, and no doubt the children have heard the stories from their parents.Sometimestherepressionhastakentheformofunjusttaxesorplunderingwithinthelaw.Sometimesithastakenthedarkformofviolence.[7]

Thereasonfortherepressionisnosecretontheplains:Anillegalreligiousminorityisworkingoutofthemountains.Waldensian(orVaudois)[8]missionarieshavenotonlycrossedtheAlps,theyhavescattered their unauthorized teachings throughout Europe. missionaries have not only crossed theAlps,theyhavescatteredtheirunauthorizedteachingsthroughoutEurope.[9]

In the brisk air of late summer, two hikers climb the hill to what was then La Torre. (For thepurposeofseeinghistoryupclose,let'ssaythatyouandIarethosehikers.)Atthetopawomanandayounggirlarecrossingacobblestonepavingnearthecenteroftown.Washedclothinghangsfromastout stickplacedacross their shoulders.Their cheeksare red fromamountainbreeze, their handsfromstreamwater.[10]

"GowithGod,Maria,"someonecallsfromashopdoor."Andyoutoo,mysister."AsMaria reaches us, she slows and stops.We notice her strong, high forehead and fine facial

features.Sheisatallwomanwithdarkhairthat,ifletdown,wouldlieinwavesonhershoulders.The

girlismuchlikeher.[11]

Arewestrangersintown?Marianodscourteously.Andwouldwepleasetocometosupper?Wefollowthetwototheedgeofthevillagewhereinviewoftheirstonechaletalargehump-like

configurationrisesfromamountainridgeskirtingLaTorre.Ourhostesscallsitthe"Castelluzzo."[12]

Enteringthecottage,wemeetMaria'shusbandMartinoandatallsonwhohasbroughtthefamily'scowfromthemeadow.Smallerchildrencominginfromtheirplayventureascloseastheydare.Theyarebright-eyed,theselittleones.Quicklytheirshynessmeltsaway.[13]

Before themeal (cheeseandmilk from thecow,pears from the smallhillsideorchard,andhardcountrybreadfromthegrainofanearbyfield),[14]asheadofthehouseholdMartinoaskstheblessing.

"MaytheGodwhoblessedthefiveloavesandtwofishesforhisdisciplesinthedesert,blessthistableanditsprovisions,"[15]heintonesasthoughhehasdoneitmanytimes.Aftersupper,apparentlyassuredthatwearefriendlytowardtheircustoms,Martinoandtheolderchildrengatheraroundtheclearedtable.Bycandlelighttheybendoverawornpocket-sizednotebook.Closeby,theyoungrepeatshortpassagesfromittotheirmotherwhiletheolderchildrenmemorizeandrehearselongsections.Frombenchesoutsidethecircleoflightwelookon.

Whatisthistinyvolumethatsoengrossesourhostfamily?Forittocontainmuch,thehandwritingmustbeminiscule!Isthisbookdesignedforconcealment?

Theglancesweexchangesuggestourthinking:ThelittlenotebookcontainsScriptureforbiddenthecommonpeople.WeareentertainedbyafamilyofWaldenses![16]

WhydidpeoplelikeMariaandMartinoneedtohidetheScriptures?Whymighttheynotgoopenlyand teach? Andwhowere theWaldenses anyway? Accustomed as we are in reality to a twenty-firstcenturytimeandplace,youandImustseekanswersintherecordsofhistory.

SomesayweneedtogobackonlyasfarasPeterWaldo(roughlythreehundredyearsbeforethetimeofMariaandMartino)tofindWaldensianroots.[17]Butthereisanotherstronglyheldopinionaswell.[18]

Onevoiceinsistentuponalongerhistoryis thatoffamedWaldensianpastorandmilitaryleader,HenriArnaud.

"TheVaudoisare,infact,descendedfromthoserefugeesfromItaly,"Arnaudalleges,"who,afterSt.Paulhadtherepreachedthegospel,abandonedtheirbeautifulcountryandfled,likethewomanmentionedin theApocalypse, to thesewildmountains,where theyhave to thisdayhandeddown thegospel fromfathertoson..."[19]

ArnaudalludestotheearlycenturiesA.D.whenChristianswereperceivedasathreattotheRomanEmpireanditsestablishedpaganreligion.Wavesofpersecutionensued. [20]Oneday,asArnaudwouldhaveenvisionedit,Christiansfleeingtheemperor'swrathspiedinthedistancearangeofsnow-coveredmountains.Fromthatdayon,themountainsbeckonedthem.

Reachingatlastanetworkofhigh,fortress-likevalleysatthebaseoftheAlps,therefugeespointedoutrocksformakingcottages,hillsforfarming,torrentsforwater,andmeadowsforgoatsorcows.Theybrokeintosmiles.Inthisremotespot,whowouldcarehowtheyworshipped?

IfallthishappenedinthewayArnaudbelieved,theearly"Waldenses"(originally"inhabitantsofthevalleys")werehome.Likeseedsbornealongonthewind,theywouldplantthemselvesandgrow.[21]

Latercenturiesbroughtchange to theRomanEmpire.Anedict inA.D.313 is said tohave issuedtolerationforChristians,andwithinadecade,fourthcenturyemperorConstantinehimselfprofessedtheChristianfaith.[22]

Atnewsoftheemperor'schoiceofreligion,nodoubtmanyChristianswereecstatic."Justimagine,"theymusthavesaid,"howGod'skingdomwillflourishnow!"

ThisappearstohavebeenpreciselywhatConstantinehadinmind.[23]

Againstthehumofreadingandrecitationweremainsilent,perhapsrecallingthefacesofMariaandherdaughterinthevillagestreet, theclear-eyedchildrencominginfromplay,orthetallyouthstandingwithbowedheadbeforethemeal.CertainlynoneofusseatedinMariaandMartino'sstonecottage can guess that within a short time an official document will circulate. It will accuse theWaldensesofposingathreattotheChristianworld.

As thedocument circulates itwill become the talk inmanycountries.ThegroundaWaldensianfoot touches (so itwill be said) ispolluted.Theairheor shebreathes is tainted.Wherever, and inwhatevercountry,aWaldensianprayerarisestoGod,pollutionarisestoo.Thespiritualpollutionofheresy.

Todisposeofthethreat,thedocumentwillassert,requiresseveremeasures.IftheWaldenseswillnotrenouncetheirseductiveworshipandteaching,theymustbe"crushedlikevenomoussnakes."[24]

Theconceptofareligiouspurgewillgaininpopularity,andwithinmonthsplansforitwillhavebeenputinplace.ThevalleysonbothsidesoftheAlpswillbeitsfocalpoint.[25]

But on this evening in late summer as a homemade candle laps on the cleared table andCastelluzzo rises like a sentinel against the first stars, the village of La Torre is quiet. The valleypeoplewhosehospitalitywesharecanstillworkandplaytogetherinpeace.Inpeacetheycangathertostudyfromalittlebookthatsays,"Go...andpreach."[26]

Chapter2It seemsunlikely that thepurgingof anygroup resultswholly froman immediate cause.Perhaps a

purgecanbecomparedwithahurricanethathasstrengthenedovertimeandhasmadelandfall.Thewindsthat sweptdownon theWaldensianvalleys in1488were like that.Theyhadbeengaining strength forcenturies.

Ifhewasanythingatall,fourth-centuryRomanemperorConstantinewasachildofhistimes.HisstepintoChristianityhadnotremovedhimfarfromthereligiousphilosophylongsubscribedtoamongpaganemperors:astheemperorgoes,sogoestheempire.Perhapsthiswouldexplainwhyastheheadofstateheconvenedageneralcouncilofchurchbishopsandcommencedtopresideatithimself.[1]

At the council, more than one significant action was recorded. For one thing, the emperor highlyrecognizedtheRomanchurchbishopofthattime.[2]Foranother,booksofacontendingreligiousfactionwent up in flames. The council declared that believers in those "other" books were enemies ofChristianityand,assuch,deservingofcivilpunishment.[3]

Politicalwheelswere turning.And as they turned, observant citizensmay have noticed that as inearlier times,offensesagainst thereligionof theemperorhadbecomecrimes.Threats to theemperor'sreligion of choice had turned into threats to society.The only differencewas that now the establishedreligionwasnotpagan.ItwasChristian.[4]

InaclimateofenforcedChristianity,itwouldseemthatChristiansaboveallotherswouldhavebeenhappy.Butnotallwere.OnewhowasnothappywasamanbythenameofVigilantius.SomewouldcometoseehimasanearlyleaderoftheWaldenses.[5]

Vigilantiuswastroubledbysomechurchteachingsandpracticesthathesawascompetingwiththeprimitivegospel.Whataboutcelibacyandasceticism?Vigilantiusasked.Shouldthosethingsbeexaltedabove other Christian values? And what about praying to the dead?Was that scriptural?What aboutrelics?Whataboutvigils?Whataboutallegedmiraclesasproofs?

Vigilantiusdidnot take lightly thedecision toprotest.He spent several years in travel, conferringwithpeoplewhoseopinionshevalued.Hesearched theScripturesforhimselfandspent largesumsintranslatinganddistributingthem.Whenfinallyhespokehismind,atleastonechurchchampionwaslivid.[6]

"I havemyself before now seen themonster,"wrote church scholar Jeromeof aman he had oncecalled "the holy presbyter Viglilantius,"[7] "and have done my best to bind the maniac with texts ofScripture...But he went away...and taking refuge between the Adriatic and the Alps of King Cotius,declaimedinhisturnagainstme."[8]

Not satisfied with an in-church solution, Jerome contacted the state. He asked that Vigilantius beturnedoverforbanishmentordeath.[9]Indoingsohemerelycitedthecivilpenaltiesagreeduponat,orfollowing, Constantine's church council.[10] But in this case there was one problem. Vigilantius was

nowheretobefound.TheAlpsshieldingtheWaldensianvalleyshaveaspecialnameoftheirown:"theCottianAlps,"or

asJerometermedthem,"TheAlpsofKingCotius."ThenamereferstoanearlykingwhotookrefugeinthehighvalleyswhenotherrulersweresubduedbyRome.TakingtheircuefromJerome,somescholarsbelieveVigilantiusbecameapowerfulfourth-centuryforceworkingoutofthesevalleys.[11]Insearchofevidence for his influence in the area, one can simply fast-forward to the ninth century when, likeVigilantius,anoutspokenchurchbishopfromTurinbeganprotestingcertainpopularreligiouspractices.Claudecalledhisteachingspuretruth.[12]

Likefogintothenearbyvalleystherumorssifted:ThebishopinTurinhaddenouncedthevenerationofcrosses.Thebishophadspokenoutagainsttheintercessionofsaints.Thebishophadpreachedagainstpilgrimagesandpenance.Withoutquestion,someofthevalleypeoplemadethethirty-milejourneydowntoTurinjusttoseeandhearforthemselves.Andwhattheyhadheardwastrue.[13]

Ifitseemedtothevalleypeoplethattheirhistoricfourth-centuryteacherhadreturned,theywerenotthe only ones to think of it. Claude's enemies declared that he was infected with the "poison" ofVigilantius.[14]

TothechurchhierarchyinRome,thecommotionatthefootoftheAlpsmaynothavebeenhighonthelistofconcerns.[15]Afterall,among the feudalstatesofWesternEuropeduring thispartof theMiddleAges,onebindingsocietalforceexisted:thechurch.[16]Inaddition,acuriousthinghadhappenedwithinthechurch-staterelationship:Inthefourth-centuryaheadofstatepresidedoverachurchcouncil;intheeighththeheadofthechurchcrownedtheemperor.Withsuchadevelopingshiftinpowertheremusthavebeenmuchtooccupychurchleaders.[17]

ButthecircleofripplescreatedbyClaudeandotherfreethinkerskeptwidening.Busyastheywere,thehierarchybegantopaymoreattention.Bythemid-eleventhcenturydenouncedandanathematized[18]

fortheirreligiousprotests,somechurchbishopswerefindingitnecessarytoheadforthemountainsthathadonceshelteredVigilantius.OtherssetoutforlandsbeyondtheAlps.[19]In1096,thesameyearthatthechurchbeganaseriesofmilitantcrusadesagainsttheMuslimsinPalestine,PopeUrbanIIfoundtimetowriteandsealanofficialdocumentknownasabull.

Urban'sbullboreawarningforsociety:JustoverthemountainsonthewesternslopeoftheAlpswasavalleyinfestedwithheresy.[20]OntosuchastagenearthebeginningofthetwelfthcenturystrodeyoungPeterdeBruys.

It isaSaturdaymorning,and in theFrenchvalleyaccusedofheresy,anopen-airmeeting is inprogress.Surroundedby forest,agreenslopeprovidesanaturalamphitheater forayoungpreacherandhiscongregation.Almostasclearlyashiswords,thispreacher'seyesspeak,hishandsalso,andhiswholebody.

In calling his followers to worship on the Sabbath still honored by Celtic Christians, a groupknownas thePaulicians, and the churchof theEast, deBruyshasgonecontrary to themainstreamchurchinhispartoftheworld.Andthatisnottheonlywayinwhichhedisregardstheauthorityofthe

westernchurch.Onthisbriskmorning in thehighvalleyacross themountains fromPiedmont,he isdenouncinginfantbaptism,thevenerationofcrosses,andthesacrificeofthemass.Heiscallingforsorrowforsinandforholyliving.Heisassertingthatthechurchhierarchyiscorruptedbywealth.

"TheScripturesareourauthority!"deBruysdeclares.Thepeopleonthegrassbeforetheyoungspeakerscarcelytaketheireyesoffhim.Theymaynot

realize that just as thebishopClaude'smessagehad resembled that of his predecessor,Vigilantius,nowdeBruys'teachinginmanywaysresonateswithClaude'spuretruth.21Theydorealizethatthemanbeforethembearsasolemnmessage.Theybelievehim.

De Bruys was followed by the dissident Henry of Lausanne, thought to be his disciple. AnotherprotestingvoicebelongedtoArnoldofBresciawhodenouncedtheunionofchurchandstate.Thechurch,Arnoldmaintained,was a spiritual body having no businesswith eitherwealth or secular power.HedescribedtheCollegeofCardinalsas"aplaceofbusinessandadenofthieves."[22]

Onehastowonderattheoutspokennessoftheseandotheractivistpreacherssomuchinharmonywitheach other as to have been called "principle leaders of theWaldenses in ancient times."[23] Is it anymarvel that responding church councils in 1119 and 1134 thundered against both the heresy and theheretics?[24]Andthethreatswerenotallempty.DeBruysandArnoldwerebothexecutedbyburning.[25]

But just as springtime each year filled the Alpinemeadowswith daisies andQueenAnne's lace,patchesoffreethinkingkeptspringingup.Itwasasifcouncilsandbullsandburningsonlyscatteredtheseed.Destroytheteachingsoftheheretics?OnemightaswelloutlawthedaisiesinMay.[26]

Undauntedbyechoesofchurchpronouncements, somewherearound1170amerchant in thecityofLyons,Francebecameconvictedthatheshoulddisposeofhiswealth,liveliketheapostles,andpreach.Somecallhim"Valdes"or"Valdesius."ManypeopleknowhimasPeterWaldo.[27]

Waldobelievedinthecalltopreach--thecallofanyChristiantopreach."Webishopsaresupposedtodothepreaching,"anarchbishopadvised.ButWaldoandthoseattractedbyhisteachingrespectfullydisagreed."PreachingbelongstoanyonewholiveslikeadiscipleofChrist,"theysaid.[28]

Waldoobviouslycherishedanotherstrongbeliefaswell:TheHolyScripturesdidnotbelongonthehigh shelf. They should be in the hands of the people, in the language of the people.Accordingly, bycandlelightbentoverthePsalms,theGospels,andmanyotherbooksfrombothTestaments,Waldobegantotranslate.[29]

Thoughhemayhavebeenan independent thinker,Waldowasnotat firstadissident.Hehopedhischurchwould see light inhis ideas.Hehopedhecouldworkwithinhis church.Witha few followersknown as the "Poor," he set out forwhat is thought of as the first great church council:ThirdLateranCouncil,inRome.[30]

The year is 1179. There is an air of victory in the assembly. Increasing in self-awareness, thechurchseemsonthevergeoffreeingitselffromimperialpower.Onlyonefearappearstoplaguethehierarchy--anaggingapprehensionregardingheresy insouthernFrance.This is themoodasWaldo

andhisfriendsarriveattheLateranBasilica.Theyarehumblydressedbyanybody'sstandard,andnoticeablyso inasettingrepletewithrich

robesandarchitecturalmarvels.Astheyclimbthestepstothebasilicaandlookaround,WaldofingersthesmallhandwrittenbookofScripture,whichinagestureoftrusthewillpresenttothepope.

Receiving the curious little group politely, the pope commends them for their intentions.At thesametime,headvisesthemthatthematterofpreachingisfortheirlocalbishoptodecide.That,theyknow,isnotthebestofnews.Worseistofollow.

InapublicgrillingWaldo'sdelegationiscalledontodemonstratetheirknowledgeofScripture.Intheirnervousness,perhaps,theyansweraquestionunadvisedly.Thecrowdroarsinderision.[31]

Waldoandhisfriendssetoutonthelongroadhome."At least," theyconsoleoneanother in thebestvoices theycanmuster,"--at least,wewerenot

excommunicated."[32]

If only theyhadknownof it,Waldoandhis companionsmighthave taken stillmore courage fromsomethingtheinterrogatorhimselfwouldwrite.

"Thesepeoplehavenosettleddwellings,butgoaroundtwobytwo,barefootedanddressedinwooltunics,"Mapwould report. "They ownnothing, sharing everything in common, after themanner of theapostles.Naked,theyfollowanakedChrist."

Whetherheknewitornot,theinquisitor'sdescriptionofthePoorwasstrong,evenpoetic.Andhisstatementaboutthemwouldgrowstrongerstill.MovingadroitlyfromthepresenttothefutureMapwouldcontinue,"Theirbeginningsarehumbleintheextreme,fortheyhavenotyetmuchofafollowing,butifweshouldleavethemtotheirdevicestheywillendupbyturningallofusout..."[33]

Athomeagain,withtheScripturesinhandWaldoandthePoorpreached.[34]Predictably,induetimeWaldowasforcedtofleehishomeland.Buthisdisappearancehardlydeterredhiscritics.Theysimplyturnedtheirattentiontohisfollowers.[35]

With theCouncilofVerona,convened jointlyby thepopeand theemperor in1184, thePoorwereaddedtoalistofschismaticmovements.Alongwiththeirofficialcondemnationcameasetofrulesfordealingwithheretics.

The decree, Ad abolendam, provided for a church trial followed, where necessary, by civilpunishment.Penalties includingexcommunication, lossofproperty,andexileweredeemedappropriatenotonlyforhereticsbut foranyonewho listened to theirpreachingorprovided themwith lodgingandfood.Thecouncilstoppedshortofcallingforthedeathpenalty.[36]

Perhapsinanticipationofthetimewhenchurch-statejusticewouldfunctionmoresystematicallythanitdidatthattime,Waldo'sfollowersfannedoutoverterritoryfromnorthernSpaintonorthernItaly.Manyclimbed the hills into the high valleys of Piedmont to join the free thinkers already sheltering in theheights.[37]

Among thehills,Waldo'sdisciplesbuilt theirowncottages, terraced their slopes, and staked theirvines. Like minority believers before them, they would learn to love the white Alps standing like a

fortressagainstthesky.Onasummerevening,possiblytheygatheredinthebackroomofavillageshop.[38]

"'Godismyhelper,'"[39]theymaywellhavequotedsolemnlyfromWaldo'sPsalms.Ifthetrendofthetwelfthcenturygaveanyindication,theywouldneedallthehelptheycouldget.

Chapter3Whenthirty-seven-year-oldInnocentIIIbecamepopein1198,dissidentgroupssuchastheWaldenses

werespringingupthroughoutEuropelikethewildwhitetruffleofPiedmont.[1] Itseemedthatwherevertheindependentsfled,theycarriedthesporesoftheirbeliefs.HearingofacaseinwhichtwoWaldenseswerepreachingfromBiblessuchasWaldo's--andmakingconverts--theyoungpontiffaddressedtheissueofthevernacularScriptures,carefullyatfirst.

Thedesiretounderstandthesacredwritings,Innocentaffirmed,waspraiseworthy.Theproblemwasinspeakingwithoutauthorityandindespisingthewarningsofthepriests.Moreover,theScriptureshadsuchdepthsthatnoone,howeverwelleducated,couldunderstandthem,hesaid.

The laypreachingwenton.Moving frompersuasion toaction, Innocentasked foran inquiryandacorrectionoferrors.The"correction"amountedtoanorganizedburningofthevernacularBibles.[2]

As timewentby it becameclear that thepope'sgoal encompassed farmore than the regulationofBible study. Said to have believed that the Christian church should manage civil affairs, Innocentappearedtobemovinghisofficetowardthatofanabsolutemonarch.[3]Thetrenddidnotbodewellforminoritygroups.

"Youshallexercisetherigoroftheecclesiasticalpoweragainstthemandallthosewhohavemadethemselves suspect by associating with them,"[4] the pontiff directed his bishops with regards to aWaldensian-likecultureinAlbiontheFrenchsideoftheAlps.[5]In1208,justalittleoveracenturyfromthe time when de Bruys began to preach in southern France, Innocent's full-scale crusade against theAlbigensescommenced.Inaclassicexampleofchurch-statecoalition,itengagedthearmiesoftheFrenchking.[6]

TheAlbigensian purging lasted for twenty years.Meanwhile a philosophywas gaining ground inEurope:Thehereticmustdie.[7]

In a high valley on the Piedmont side of the Alps, children follow amountain torrent past theorchards,figtrees,andmulberriesofthelowerhillsides.Upanduptheyclimb,tothehighermeadowswiththeirviewoftheglisteningpeaks.Atlast,whilethefamily'sgoatsgraze,thechildrenpicniconbreadandcheese.Afterwardthey lieamongwildflowers tallenoughto lookdownon theirupturnedfaces.[8]

Astheyclimbupongreatrocks,shout,andlaughattheirechoes,itisclearthevalleychildrenarenotconcernedabout thecarnage justover thewhitemountaintops. Indeed, theymaynotknowof it.Butsurelytheirparentsdo,someunshavenfugitivehavingescapedthroughanAlpinepasstobringtheword. And at night mothers tuck in their tired little goatherds with more solicitude; fathers lingerlongeratprayersandsayasoftergoodnight.Fortheyknowthatwhatcomestootherscancometothem,soonerorlater.

Whatcomestootherscancome.SevenyearsintoInnocent'scrusade,atanassemblyknownasFourthLateranCouncil,anotherofficial

action against dissidentswas taken.[9] The action, known asDeHaereticis (OfHeretics) stated: "WedecreethatallthosewhodaretotakeontheministryofpreachingeitherinprivateorinpublicwithouthavingbeenauthorizedbyeithertheHolySeeorthelocalbishop,aretobeexcommunicated.And,intheeventthattheyfail,forthwith,torepent,theyshallbesubjecttofurtherpunishmentaccordingtolaw."[10]

Composed of over 400 bishops and 800 other ranking delegates from all the countries inwesternChristendom,thecouncilhadrephrasedchurchdogmatotargetthedigressionsofminoritiessuchastheWaldenses.InshadesofAdabolendamthenewdecreeprovidedatribunalforthesuppressionofdissentandcalledforimpenitenthereticstobeturnedovertosecularauthorities.[11]

Whether or not the death penalty for heretics received official sanction at Fourth Lateran,[12] theAlbigensianpurginghadforallpracticalpurposesdefinedtheouterlimitsofpunishment.Inlightofthedeterioratingsituation,adelegationofWaldenses--sixfromtheFrenchsideoftheAlpsandsixfromtheItalian--heldaclandestinemeetingatafarmhouseinthefoothills.

Candlelight flickerson the facesof thedissidentsgatheredarounda largekitchen table. In theshadowyroomwherenoonejests,themoodisnotgrim,butearnest.

The groups represented have had a few differences in matters of faith and practice, but DeHaereticishastargetedthemequally.Nowasneverbeforetheycravethecomfortofsolidarity.Butaretheybrothersandsisters?Thatisthequestion.Howbigaretheirdifferences,andhowbasic?

Voicesriseandfallaroundthetable.Thedelegatesdiscussauthorityandthesacraments,thetwomostdivisiveissuesofthetime.Rome,onespeakerasserts,haschosenthewayofauthority,thepowerofwhichliesindependenceonthesacraments.Thereisahumofagreement,andthediscussionmovestothesubjectofmission--themissionofeverybeliever.

Itismission,onesuggests,thatbindsthedissidentgroupstogether.Realcommunity,heasserts,isbornofmissionratherthanpower.Anderror,anothervoiceisquicktoadd,mustbemetbypersuasion,neverforce.

Softamen'scirclethetable,andascandlesburnlow,onallmajorpointsconsensusisreached.There is a prayer. A shuffling of chairs. Delegates rise from the table and embrace solemnly.

Thoughnoonespeaksthewords,thethoughtispalpable:Thesebrothersmaynevermeetagain.[13]

EveninthewakeofDeHaereticis,thirteenth-centurydissentersinMilanonthenorthernplainwereallowedtoconstructameetingplaceonapieceofmunicipalpropertyoutsidethecitywalls.Somecitiesoftheplainfreedjailedheretics.Othersoustedthemayorswhoroundedthehereticsup.Clearly,thespiritofreligiousindependencethathadtakenrootearlyoninnorthernItalyhadnotdiedout.Itstillcoloredpoliticsontheplain.[14]

"Areyou,"onecitizenmightaskanother,"aGhibellineoraGuelf?"Bythattheymeant,"Whatkindofsocietydoyoufavor--secularorclerical?"Optingforclericalruleindicatedmorethanthepossessionofpersonalfaith.Itmeantacceptingchurchcontrolateverylevel,politicalaswellasreligious.TheGuelf

partyfavoredsucharule,buttheywereheldatbaybyastrongGhibellinepresence.Somethingwastochangeallthat.[15]

Inanswertothesimple,evenimpoverishedlifestyleofmanydissenters,thechurchhadcreatedtwoorders of mendicant, or begging, friars. These orders, the Dominicans and the Franciscans, werecomposedofthefollowersofDominic(describedas"violent,"knowntohaveadvisedInnocentIII)andFrancisofAssisi(renownedforhisdevotiontonatureandthesimplelife).[16]

Unlikesomereclusivemonks,thefriarsbuilttheircentersnearcitywalls.Theymadefriendsinthecities of the plain. They involved themselves in politics. They showed compassion. They taught.Reassured by the friendly friars,many people began seeing the church as less authoritarian andmoregospel-centered.Theyrelaxedtheirindependence.[17]Atthesametimetheirviewofreligiousminoritiesbegantoblur.Thedissidentsseemedunnecessarilycritical.Couldtheynotjustblend?

In this changing climate Ghibelline politics faltered and the Guelf party with its plank of churchauthoritymoved in.[18]Dissidents in the area began going underground, somemoving far away, othersheadingforthehighvalleys.[19]

Itwaswell that theywent.Notonlyhad thepolitical landscapechanged innorthern Italy,but thenpopeGregoryIXfavoredthedeathpenaltyforheresyandRomanEmperorFrederickIIagreedwithhim.[20]

TheWaldenseshadnowayofknowinghowthroughoutEuropetheprogramfordefendingChristiansocietyfromreligiousdeviations[21]wouldgrowinvigorandscope.TheycouldnotseeitgoingdowninhistoryastheInquisition.[22]Butonethingwasbecomingincreasinglyclear:Toallintentsandpurposes,heresywasaboutthesameastreason.[23]

As the name suggests, the Inquisition was about inquiry.[24] In essence, Guelf partisans or friarsdoubling as investigators reported anyone whose belief (public or private) differed from the officialdoctrineofthepope.[25]Theseoperativesreportedtheirfindingstoabishopwhopunished,banished,oranathematizedtheoffenderashesawfit.Ifhesawcapitalpunishmentas"fit,"hereferredthecasetocivilauthorities.Thesystemworked.[26]

In1224Frederickcomposedfourgraphicedictsagainstheresyandaddressedthemtovirtuallyeverynon-hereticintheempire.[27]Takingcaretodivideresponsibilitiesproperlybetweenecclesiasticalandsecular authorities, he directed that incorrigible heretics should be "burnt to death" and the penitentimprisonedindefinitely.Hisrationaleforbecomingsoactivelyinvolvedisclear:

"The care of the imperial government,"wrote Frederick, "committed to us from heaven, and overwhichwepreside,demandsthematerialsword...againsttheenemiesofthefaith...."[28]Likeothersbeforehim,hewarnedanyonewhoinanywayassistedaheretic.Theywouldlosetheirproperty,hesaid,andleavetheirchildrenwithoutinheritance.[29]

About the middle of the thirteenth century, a powerful method of interrogation was added to theinquisitor's bag of tools. In the bull Ad extirpanda, Pope Innocent IV directed that, failing to gainconfessionsbyothermeans,inquisitorsshouldusetorture.[30]Stilltheheresyspread.

Waldensian records from the period are sparse. There is, however, in the documentation ofinquisitorsenoughtohelproughoutapictureoftheminorityandthetimes.[31]About1270ananonymousinquisitordescribedwhathelookedforandhowhedistinguishedahereticfromtherankandfile.

Thehereticswereplain,unassuming,peaceablepeople,hesaid.Theyneverlied,swore,orcheated.Theystayedclearofdancesandtaverns,butusedtheirtimetowork,study,teach,andpray.[32]

ThroughoutEuropethesearchforsuchpeoplecontinued.In1312itcametoPinerolo,atownnotfarfromLaTorre inoneof thehighvalleysofnorthern Italy.[33]Thenewspassed fromperson toperson,makingitswayintothehighcountrywhereperhapsitwasfirstwhisperedandfinallyspokenaloudbeforethewide-eyedchildren.

TheburningstakehadcometoPinerolo.Itwasthatnear.

Chapter4LikeElFeur,anelderlyAustrianmadetowearthecrossofpenitentsandbetrampledbythefaithful

atthestepsofthechurchbeforegoingtothestake,[1]thefirstPiedmonteseknowntobeexecutedwasawoman.[2]Herburningdidnotsignalimmediatepurgingofthenearbyvalleys.Yetwhocouldsayitwasnotasignalofsorts?

Wepicturethemorningoftheburningasbeinglikemanyanother,sunrisegildingpeakstothewest,birdschirpingaboutcottagesintheoutskirtsofPinerolo,cartsbumpingalongearlyinthestreet.Itwas,perhaps,amarketday.

Midmorning,alocalnamedGiovanniapproachesthecenteroftown.Heisonhiswaytodisposeoftheeggshecarriesinabasketoverhisarm.

Withhis freehandGiovannicrosseshimselfashepassesthechurchwithitsstatueof thevirginbeside the entrance. His step is brisk. His eyes are merry. Quite likely he is anticipating goodconversationsandearlysellinginthesquare.

Passingsmallplacesofbusinessalongtheway,Giovannigreetseachshopkeeperwithawave.Tosomehecallsagreeting.

"Goodmorning,Thomas.""Goodmorningtoyou,Giovanni."But as he nears themarketplace,Giovanni slowshis pace.A question passes over his face.He

cockshisheadasthoughlisteningandthenstrideson.Indeed,acrowdhasgatheredwhereheusuallysellshiseggs.Bythetimehereachesthespot,the

excitementseemstobehigh.Giovannicraneshisnecktosee."Is thisaholyday?"heasks themanclosest tohim,aswithonehandheattempts toshieldhis

eggs.Beforethemancananswer,Giovanniappearstocatchsightofasortofroughscaffolderectedinthemarketplace.Inthecenterofthescaffoldisapole.

Alittleprocessionisapproachingthescaffold.Onequietfigure,awomaninblack,hasherhandstied.Monks escort her behind and before. To the rear follow a friar, a bishop in religious garb, acommoncitizen,and the localheadofstate.The inquisitors takeelevatedseats, theheadofstatealowerone.

Thecrowdquietsasthehereticisledtothestake.Whensheispositionedwithherbacktoit,shefacesGiovanni.Herfaceiscalm.

Theceremonyisashortone.Apsalm,amass,thelightingofthefire.Giovanniturnsaway.Seeminglyheedlessofhiseggshepushesthroughthecrowdofnoblesand

peasants.Hisbreathcomesinlittlegasps.Pasttheshops...Pastthechurch...Giovannicrosseshimselfwithhisfreehand.

"Giovanni,youhavenotsoldtheeggs!"awomanexclaimsasatlastheturnsandentersasmallhouse.

Giovannidoesnotanswerher.Bending,heretchesagainandagain.[3]

If the fourteenthcenturyhaddawned likeothercenturies inEurope, it seemedboundnot to remainlikethem.Notyethalfwayintothecentury,EnglandandFrancebeganaprotractedwarthatweakenedtheeconomiesof both countries.Meanwhile changing social structuresprecipitated civil unrest throughoutmuchofEurope.Peasantsrevoltedagainstlords,workersagainstrichmerchants.Ifwarwerenotenough,droughtand floodand famine swept the land.Worstof allwas theepidemic that tookawayaboutonefourthofthepopulationofEurope.TheycalledittheBlackDeath.[4]

Inspiteofall,fourteenth-centuryItalygavebirthtoaperiodofrenewedenthusiasmforart,literature,and learning known as theRenaissance.[5] Itwould seem that during times of somuch change, hardlyanybodywouldhaveworriedabout theWaldenses.Butassystematicefforts to round themupattested,somedid.[6]OnewhoworriedwasPopeJohnXXII.EspeciallywhenwordreachedhimthatassembliesoffivehundredWaldensiandelegatesweremeetingfromtimetotimeintheremotevalleyofAngrogna.[7]

Whetherornothisnumberswerecorrect, thepope's intelligencewascredibleoverall.OftenwhenSeptembermists dampened the hills around La Torre,[8]Waldenses from the valleys and beyondmadetheirwaydownthevillagestreet.TheyturnedneartheplacewheretheTorrenteAngrognasangunderalittle bridge at the edge of town. It was the time of the Waldensian synod. These delegates--all theWaldensianpastorsandasmanylaypersons--wereontheirwaytothemostshelteredpra,ormeadow,intheWaldensianvalleys.

Sometimes in the shadow of great rocks, sometimes in the sunshine, past pastures and cottages,through wooded slopes and high meadows, the delegates climbed into the mountains.[9] At last theyenteredagreenbasinattheheadoftheAngrognavalley.ItwasthePradelTorno,otherwiseknownas"thePra."

CornfieldsandpasturescoveredtheslopesofthePra,andchaletsdottedthevalley-sides.HereonahillsidenotfarfromasmallstoneschoolforWaldensianpastors,thedelegatescongregatedhappily.[10]InviewoftheAlpsrisingwhiteagainstblueinthedistance,theypraisedtheMakeroftheeverlastinghills.

Though the synodwas undoubtedlymemorable forworship in a safe and beautiful spot,[11] it waslargely an organizationalmeeting.Under the leadership of a "moderator," theWaldenses reviewed theaffairsoftheirchurch.[12]Theysetapartnewpastors,orbarbas,[13]bythelayingonofhands.Andtheypairedeachyoungmanwithamentor.Inviewof thenewbarba's firstassignment,severalyearsasanitinerantmissionary,[14] thesementorswere selected from among seasonedbarbaswho knewwell theroadto thesouthernmost tipofItalyandperhaps the thoroughfarescrisscrossingGermany,Bohemia,orAustriaaswell.[15]

Alittlebreezestirsthemeadowgrasses,andafewautumnflowersstillbloomnearcottagesintheAngrognavalley.InthePraanassemblyofseveralhundredisseatedonaslope.Beforethemarowofstrong-looking youngWaldenses kneel in the slanting sunlight. They bear themselveswith dignity--

thesedark-haired,fine-featured[16]candidatesfortheworkoftheWaldensianbarba.Butiftheirbacksareasstraightaslarchtreesoftheforest,theirheadsareloweredreverently.

A hush falls over the congregation. Though no one talks of it now, each prospectivebarba hasmemorized all of the chapters of Matthew, John, and the New Testament epistles. Each has alsocommitted to memory much of the writings of Solomon, David, and the Prophets.[17] Some havemasteredskillsinmedicineandsurgery.[18]Othersareexpertlinguists.InadditiontostudyingunderWaldensianteachers,somehaveattendedtheseminariesofLombardy,ortheSorbonne,asfarawayasParis.Allareproficientatatrade.[19]

Experiencedbarbassolemnlyplacetheirhandsontheyoungmenwhileoneofthebarbasoffersaprayerofconsecration.Aspatchesofshadefromautumncloudspassovertheassembly,themomentofordination passes. Thewords of the prayer die away.But on that hillside in autumn, the solemnitylingers.Thecallingofthebarbaisnottoadvancement.Everyoneknowsthat.Thecallingofthebarbaistoservice--andinsomecases,death.[20]

ItissaidthatthelongingtoevangelizewasalwayswiththeWaldenses.Asoneinquisitorobserved,"Not one of them, old or young,man orwoman, by day or by night ever stops learning and teachingothers."[21]Thesameinquisitor,quotingabelieverhehadquestioned,providedthisinsight:"[O]newhohasbeenastudentforaweekteachesanother."[22]

ButtheWaldensiancommunitywasmadeupofrealpeople.ConfrontedwiththeInquisition,notallrespondedinthesameway.Whilemanystoodsturdilyforthefaiththeirfathershadprized,[23]othersbentorsnapped.Infuriatedbyharmdoneto those theyloved, theyreturnedevil forevil.Suchwas thecasewhen residents of the valley of Angrogna suspected a local priest of informing against amuch-lovedorganizerandbarba.Onthisoccasion,someofthevalleypeopleforgotahistoryofpacifism.TheyforgottheSermonontheMount,longcitedasadirectiveagainstviolenceonanylevel,andthebarbas' timelycounselagainstrevenge.Findingandseizingtheunfortunatepriest,theykilledhim.Theincidentwasnotanisolatedone.[24]

ThespontaneousvengeancetakenbysomeWaldensesmusthavetroubledthosedeeplycommittedtonon-violence. Surviving Waldensian poetry reveals not only what many Waldenses believed aboutviolence,butthewaytheysawthemselves,andthewaytheywishedtobeseen.

"IfthereisanygoodmanwholovesandfearsChrist,Whodoesnotcurse,orswearorlie,OrcommitadulteryorkillorstealfromothersOravengehimselfonhisenemies,TheysayheisWaldensian(vaudes)andworthyofpunishment."[25]

TheWaldenses felt bonded to Christ's persecuted followers of the first three centuries. The truechurchsuffers,theywerefondofpointingout;itdoesnotcausesuffering.[26]

Buteven ifsomeof theirnumberhadbetrayedcherishedvalues, theWaldensianmovementdidnotfalter.One reason for thiswas thework of the ubiquitous itinerantbarba. For all their perseverance,

alongwith packs loadedwithmerchandise and scripture, the traveling barbas carried their humanity.Probablyfewifanyrecordsdojusticetotheirpersonal loneliness.Becausetheywereoftenunmarriedandfarfromtheirownfamiliesaswell,interludesofhospitalityatWaldensianhomesalongthewaymusthavebeenparticularlysweet.[27]

Purposelyarrivingatoneofthesehomesafterdark,thevisitingbarbaswouldeatanddrinkandstudytheScriptureswithsympathizerswhoslippedinonebyonewhileadesigneewatchedthedoor.[28]ThebarbasexplainedtoallwhogatheredaroundthemthattheBibleistheinspiredwordofGodandthatithascompleteauthority.Mankindislostinsin,thebarbassaid,butfreesalvationcomesbyJesusChrist.TheyexplainedthatfaithalwaysworksintheChristisn'slife.Itworksbylove.[29]

Afteraneveningofsuchteaching,eventhechildrenwholistenedcouldexplainwhattheybelieved.[30]Andthetiredtravelerscouldgototheir"fineroomwithafireplace...andtwobeds."[31]

During the few days that they remained in a given village, the barbas were unknown by name.Because they leftas theyarrived--indarkness--theyweresometimescalled"preachersof thenight."[32]

Butinspiteofchurch-statesurveillance,theysometimesworkedbydayaswell.A day's journey out of Apulia near the tip of Italy's "boot" two peddlers mix with the motley

assortmentofpilgrims,beggars,friars,andknightsheadingnorth.Ifthepeddlersappeartravel-worn,thatdoesnotdrawattentiononthethoroughfare.Neitherdo

their coarse, common garments.[33] The only thing remarkable is the bond between the two. Theyounger appears to shoulder two packs, and paces his steps to those of his older companion. Theycouldpassforfatherandson.

In a village just off the thoroughfare the peddlers attract customers by taking from the packssamples of fabrics, trinkets, and jewelry. Some buyers purchase and move on. As others linger tocompareandbargain,theyoungerpeddlerlowershisvoice.

"Ihavebetterjewelsthanthese,"hesays,motioningtowardhiswares.Thecustomerslookupfromthemerchandise.Eyebrowsrise."Showus!"firstoneandthenanothervillagerpleads.Theyoungmerchantglancesathiscolleague,whonodsalmostimperceptibly."Ifyoupromisenottobetrayme,Iwillgiveyousomeofthem.Ihaveapearlsobrilliantthata

man,byit,maylearntoknowGod--andanothergemsosplendidthatitkindlestheloveofGodintheheart."[34]QuietlythepeddlerbeginstotalkofJesus,thepearlofgreatprice,andthesimplegospelofScripture.[35]

Asthegroupthinsmorenoticeably,lingeringcustomerscrowdincloser.Whenonlyafewremain,theyoungpeddlerreachesintohispack.Fromithetakesasmall,hand-copiednotebookandplacesitinreachinghands.[36]

"Whowerethosemen?"thevillagersaskeachotherwhenthetwopeddlershavegone.Someofthelocalsspeculate.Butnobodyknowsforsure.[37]

The fourteenth century closed with two firestorms--one a noisy crisis of leadership in the state

church,theotheratimeofterrorforheretics.Withrespecttothefirst,rivalpopeslaidclaimtotheoffice,excommunicatingeachotherandleavingfollowersofstatereligionatalosstoknowwhomtoobey.Withrespecttothesecond,amilitantFranciscanbroughthiscampaignofviolencetothehighvalleys.[38]

Chapter5Inadditiontoimprisoningsomanyhereticsthatnewprisonshadtobebuilt,[1]FranciscoBorellihad

alreadysentagreatmanymen,women,andchildrentotheirdeathswhenonChristmasDayof1400heappearedunexpectedlywithamilitaryforceintheWaldensianvalleyofPragelas.Panicbrokeout.Valleypeoplesnatcheduptheirchildren,theirsick,andtheirelderly,andcarryingthemontheirshoulders,fled.Somewereabletooutdistancetheirpursuers;somewerenot.Thosewhosurvivedstumbledon.

Withthecomingofnightandasafe,impenetrableshieldofdarkness,thefugitiveswanderedanicyvalley,SanMartino.In timetheyreachedasummit that to thisdaygoesbythenameof theAlberge,orRefuge. The mountaintop was a refuge from the church's inquisitor. It was a refuge from the state'smilitary.Itwasnotarefugefromthecold.Dawnwouldrevealthehandsandfeetlosttofrostbiteandthebodiesofmothersandbabiesinthesnow.[2]

Butnotalloflifewasconflictandhorror,notevenfortheWaldenses.ThoselookingforathingofbeautyinthosetroubledyearsfinditinthestoryoftheDominicanVincentFerreri,senttothevalleystopreach.

Judging by the sun's emergence over the mountains, cows and goats have been milked andbreakfastsservedupincottagesalonganarrowvillagelane.Workers,someofthemhavingstartedontheirwaytoshopsandvineyards,havecongregatedin thevillagecenterwhereanofficialvisitor isholdingforthagainstheresy.Themonkdoesnotlackforfervor.

But perhaps the valley people notice that theman's face is gentler than hismessage.When atlengthhepauses,alocalfarmerspeaksup.Hewantstoexplainhisconcerns,hesays.

TheDominicanlistenscourteously.Heisstilltherewhenthesunisoverhead,thoughbythenthegrouphasdwindled,stilldiscussingthepeople'sobjectionsandhearingabouttheirneeds.

PerhapsFerreriandhishearerswill longremember thisday.But theyhavenowayof knowinghow longotherswill remember. It never occurs to them that in the heavyhistory of the Inquisitiontherewillremain,likeabluebellpressedbetweenpages,mentionofamonkwhocametopreachandstayedtolisten.[3]

Early in the fifteenth century the rival popes either resigned or were deposed, bringing to itsconclusiona forty-yearconflict.Butevenwithanewpopeelected, the statechurchhadaproblem: Inuniversities andwithin the church itself it hadbecome respectable toquestion church authority.[4] OnenotablequestionerwasaBohemianpriestandprofessornamedJanHus.

Huswasamanof fervor.Hewasalsonotable forhis teachingor,as somewouldsay,eloquence.Confidentthathewasnotpromotingheresy(forhowcouldteachingsfoundintheScripturesbeheresy?)he joined heartily in an English-born movement to popularize the study of Scripture. The reformmovementledbyHuswouldbecalled"thegreatestspiritualupheavalofthecentury."[5]

AsnewsofHusandhispowerful teaching reached theAlpinevalleys, itmusthave seemed to thevalleypeople that a voice like that of John theBaptist had spoken.Amanof international stature hadespousedafaithliketheirs!ThencamenewsofthemartyrdomofJanHus.Whatnowwouldhappentothecausetheyloved?

TheWaldensesneednothaveworried.OnoneoccasiondrivenfromPraguetowandertheBohemiancountryside, Hus had declared to a crowd of followers, "The wicked have begun by preparing atreacheroussnare for thegoose.But if evenagoose...hasneverthelessbroken through their toils,otherbirds,soaringmoreboldlytowardsthesky,willbreakthrough...."[6]

From theWaldenses' pointofview,Huswouldprove right.Thekingdomofheavenwould remainunshaken even when the Baptist was dead.[7] In a move toward solidarity, Hussites and BohemianWaldensesdialogued,andWaldensianinterpretationsofScripturetookholdamongHussites,particularlythoselivingnearsomeWaldensiancommunitiesinsouthernBohemia.

ButoneWaldensianbeliefdidnot takeholdamongHussites.ThatwasWaldensianpacifism.Withemblazonedchalicesontheirflags,Hussiteforcesphysicallyresistedthechurch'scrusadesinBohemia.Theyfoughtforanendtothechurch'ssecularpower.Theydidbattleforthefreedomtopreach.TheywenttowarfortheprivilegestheybelievedbelongedtoallmembersofthebodyofChrist.[8]

News from the battlefront reachedWaldenses throughout Europe. Even pacifists listened eagerly,daringtodreamthatfreedomofconsciencewouldprevail.[9]ButtherewaslittletoencourageWaldensesofthehighPiedmont.FromtheChristmasDaymassacreonwardthearchbishopandinquisitorsofTurinworkedtosubduetheothervalleys.[10]Foratimetherewerenomasskillings,onlyfearfulharassments--anambushhere,akidnappingthere,aburningwhenavalleypersonventuredoutontotheplain.[11]Andthereweredarkrumorssetfreetocirclelikealpinebirds:TheWaldensesworshippedtheirpastors.Theyweresexuallypromiscuous.Mostshockingofall,theyweresorcerers.[12]

It is obvious that not everyone took these accusations seriously.Someendorsements came, in fact,fromhighplaces.Onearchbishopcalledtheheretics'lifestyle"irreproachable."Aninquisitordeemedit"chaste."AhistoricchurchmannamedBernard,whilehatingtheirheresy,hadsaidoftheirfaith,"NothingismoreChristian."AndoneEuropeankingadmitted,"ThesehereticsarebetterChristiansthanwe."[13]

Itwould seem that the tongue-in-cheekWaldensianpoetwas right: If someonewouldnot curse orswearorlieorcommitinjustice,heorshewascalled"Waldensian"andoughttobepunished![14]Aftercenturies of relative freedom, in this theWaldenses of thevalleys had joined those inmorepopulatedareas:[15]Persecutionwasafactoflife.

Themountainhamlethasnotyetstirredtolifenorthegraylightcreptinamongtheridgesasasingle figure slips from a cottage doorway, staff in hand. Through the night mist the man movesgingerlydownaslope.Atlengthheenterstheprivacyofalittlewood.

Heisonlyslightlybent,thisWaldensianfarmerofthehighvalleys.Itishishandsthatshowbesthismanyseedtimes,thecyclicaltillingofhisground,andtherhythmofhisharvests.Hefindshisspot.Layingasidehisstaff,hekneelswhereanevergreenhasfallen,andmakingoftheloghisbench,leans

withhiselbowsonit.The woods are as still as woods are before dawn. The oldWaldensian prays silently until the

birdsongsstart,thenreachesforhisstaff,rises,andwipeshischeeksonhissleeve."'...asweforgiveourdebtors,'"herepeatsaloud.Underthelightingskyheclimbsthehillhome.

[16]

AmongtheAlpinecommunitiessomeWaldenses,nodoubtinfluencedbyadmirationfortheHussites,found themselves rethinking their stance on pacifism. Didn't ancient Israel fight their enemies? Didn'tGideon and his three hundred rout the Philistines?[17] In due time news of a building WaldensianresistancereachedPopeInnocentVIII,whowasworried.[18]

Reminiscentofhisthirteenth-centurypredecessorInnocentIII,InnocentVIIIpreparedtowriteabull.Theoutrage,asheputit,wasthatbypracticinga"simulatedsanctity,"hereticswereseducingthesheepofthefold.Inaburstofreligiouszealhedeclaredthatiftheydidnotrepudiatetheirerror,theyshouldbe"crushedlikevenomoussnakes."[19]

Thegraphicwordswritten, thepontiff sentyoungarchdeaconAlbertCattaneo tocontactalldukes,princes, and kings in territories whereWaldenses could be found, informing them of his invitation toemploytheirmilitaryinthecauseoftruth.RulersneartheWaldensianvalleyswereurgedtoassistinthecampaigntothefullextentoftheirarmies'capabilities.[20]

But while eager to enlist the strength of kings, the pope did not fail to recognize the strength ofcommoncitizens.Hedidnotoverlookthepowerofthemajorityorthatofagoodincentive.Andofalltheincentivespossible,permissionandpardonseemedbestsuitedtogainingtheparticipationhesought.Heproceededtomakesomeoffers.

Allpersonswhotookupthecrossagainstheretics,Innocentdeclared,shouldbereleasedfromanycontracts favoring theWaldenses. If theywere servants ofWaldenses, theymight (indeedmust) leavetheiremployers.TheywerefreetotakeWaldensian-ownedpropertyforthemselves.Andtheywouldbeforgivenalltheirsins.

If thesepropositionswereposted inavillagesquare,as theyprobablywere, local illiteratesmusthaveclusteredaroundcitizenswhocouldread.AtthegenerosityofInnocentsurelytheeyesofsomegrewlarge--whetherwithgreedorfear.WordspreadthatwhereveraWaldensianfoottouchedtheground,thesoilwasfoul.WhereveraWaldensianbreathed,theairwastainted.WhereveraWaldensianprayerarose,therearosethespiritualinfectionofheresy.[21]

IfitistruethatontheItaliansidegovernmenttroopshadalreadyfacedoffwiththevalleypeople,[22]

preparationsbeganforthealloutassault.OntheFrenchasontheItalianside,citizensflockedtoswelltheranksofthemilitary.[23]

Whilearmiescongregatedon theplains,[24] in remoteAlpinevillagesandhamletsWaldenseswentabout their daily work. Probably they had heard the rumors of war, and in certain valleysmenwerereadying their slingsandmaking shieldsof skinscoveredwithchestnutbark.[25]Meanwhile the valleypeoplehadleftoffmeetingopenlyinthegreatout-of-doors.

OnamountainsideaboveLaTorre,bytwo'sandthree'sthevalleypeoplefollowapaththroughtheforestafterrain.Wetleavesandmudmakelittlenoiseunderfoot,sothatthepeoplemovealongalmostsilently.Atlastglancingbeforeandbehind,theyturnoffthewoodedpathontoasmalleronebywhichtheydescendasteepbank.YoungerWaldensesassisttheolder.

Not far down the mountainside an opening appears in the side of the mountain. Bending, onebelieverafteranotherenterstheopeningandprogressesalongalowtunneltoafamiliargrotto.Watertricklesdownthewallsof thecaveas theWaldensesenterandstraightento their fullheight.At theceilingwheretwolargerocksdonotquiteclosethegapastripofgrayskyisvisible.

"Youarehere,brother!""Andyou,myfriend!"AWaldensianpastorbeginstoencouragehisflockasworshipperscrowdintothesemi-darkness.

Nobody dares sing aloud at any time. But these who have found the world hostile find the earthfriendly.Withthestrongarmsoftheearthaboutthem,thepeoplesoftlyrepeattheLord'sPrayer.[26]

Thebelieversreturnedtotheirhomeswithlittleinclinationtoindulgetheirfears.Therewasfartoomuch to do. They began assembling provisions for flight--hammocks for the sick and elderly, warmclothingforthechildren,cookingutensils,weapons,food.

Astormwascoming,relentlessinitsfury.Soontheywouldfindthemselvesbendingintothewind.[27]

Chapter6Nighthasfallen.Inthemoonlight,darkfirsstandwitnesstocandlelightcreepingfromarounda

cottagedoor.Beyondthefirs,springpasturesarestillunderheavysnow."WetruebelieversoftheValChisone..."aselectedpenmanbeginsaletterrepresentingWaldenses

fromtheupperChisonevalleyinDauphiny,thenpartofFrance.ThepeopleofthisvalleyhavedecidedtotaketheirappealtoCattaneohimself.[1]Buthowshalltheyaddresshimandhiscolleagues?Whatshalltheycallthedignitariesplanningtheirslaughter?

Thedocumentmustbedeferential.Allagreeonthat."We truebelieversof theValChisoneask thatyou,Reverendsand IllustriousLordships,not let

yourselvesbedeceived...and thatyoushouldnotproceed toourcondemnationwithouthaving takencognizanceofthetruth."

ThereisapauseastheWaldensesaffirmtheircourteousbeginning.Buteventhoughtheletterisdeferential,itmustnotbecompromising.Theydecidetodescribethemselvesas"authenticbelievers,""obedientandfaithfulsubjectsoftheking."TheycautionCattaneoandhisassociatestobewarelestthinkingtodowell,theycommitthesortofcrimeofwhichSt.Paulwasatonetimeguilty.[2]

Sentencesareacceptedorrejected.Revisionfollowsrevisionuntilatlast,perhapsbythelightofdawn,theworkiscomplete.Itiscopiedinahandbefittinganimportantdocumentandcommittedtotwodelegateswhobeginthehikeouttodeliverit.

BeingfromthePoValleywherethelanguagewasdifferentfromthatofDauphiny,Cattaneomayneverhavereadthewrittenappeal.Wouldithavemadeanydifference,onewayortheother?Notlikely.Thechurchhadspoken;themilitarywasready.Cattaneo'sarmywouldmarchahead.

Early in1488amilitary force swelledbya largenumberofcriminals seekingabsolutionclimbedtowardafamousAlpinepass.[3]TheColdeMont-GenevrehadchangedbutlittlesinceHannibalandhisarmy are believed to have crossed the Alps into Italy before the time of Christ.[4] The slopes stillsparkled. The snow of the pass still crunched beneath a traveler's boots. Having crossed the pass, adivisionundercommandofoneHugoLaPaludaccessedtheupperChisonevalley.

ThesackingofChisonewouldsignalattacksinneighboringvalleystothewest.Waldenseswhocoulddosofledhigherintothemountainsorintoothervalleystofindshelterwithfriends.Some,weakening,gave themselves up in exchange for immunity. Some tried to resist. In the valleys of Argentieres andVallouisemanyfellunresisting.[5]

WhenthepeopleofVallouiseknewofsoldiersenteringtheirvalley,theyactedatonce.Almostasiftheyhaddrilledforit,theyroundeduptheirherdsandplacedtheiryoungandtheireldersinroughcarts.Then taking utensils and asmuch food as possible, theymade for a ruggedmountain known asMontPelvouxandthehugecavetheyknewwashalfwayupitsface.

Theinvadersgavechase.Stragglersnevermadeituptheincline.Waldenseswhodidfiledacrossaplatformof rockoverlooking thevalleyandonebyonestooped toenter theneckofavast, irregularlyshapedgrotto.

Thevalleypeoplehadprovisionstolasttwoyears,CattanowouldwriteinhisMemoirs.Theyalsohadwaterfromthecave'scoldspringsandapositionfromwhich,hadtheywishedto, theymighthavehurledanypursuerfromthecliff.Theirpursuers,asitturnedout,understoodthat.ClimbingtheoppositefaceofMt.Pelvoux, the soldiers lowered someof their numberby ropesonto theplatformbefore thecave.

Itisthoughtthatthebelieversfromthisvalleystillcherishedpacifism.Inanycase,theydidnotcuttheropes,astheymighthavedonetodeliverthemselves.WhilescoresofthepeopleofVallouisehuddledwithinthecave,thesoldierspiledupwoodatthecave'sentranceandsetfiretoit.[6]

Onebyone,valleyswithnamesthatsoundedlikewindinthegrasses,brooksthatwouldsinginthesummer, andmeadows thatwould cover their scarswithwildflowers grewquiet.[7] You "would havethought," one historian wrote of valleys like Chisone, Vallouise, and neighboring Argentiere andFreyssineres, "that the plague had passed along the track over which its march lay: it was only theinquisitors."[8]

InthehighvalleysofPiedmontontheItaliansideoftheAlps,itwouldbeanotherstory."The Piedmontese are sometimes said to be stubborn, slow to change, and fiercely proud of their

heritage,"a traveler tonorthern Italywouldobserve roughly fivecenturies from the timeofCattaneo'scampaign.[9]HadshespokenofthePiedmontWaldensesinparticular,itseemsshecouldnothavesaiditmuchbetter.EvenaWaldensianwriterdescribingtheirstruggleforfreedomandtheirloyaltytothefaiththeyhadchosenspeaksoftheir"stubborn"resistance.[10]

Whatever one calls it, a threadof perseverancemust have run through these peoplewhowrestledproductivityfromstonyhillsidesandbundledupagainsttheautumnmistwhileflowersstillbloomedinthe higher meadows. But to do all this--and wrestle with mainstream ideology besides? Surely thatrequiredsomethinglikethenativerockintheircharacter,somefirewarmingthemfromwithin!

Cattaneoseemsnottohavecountedonthatfire.CertainthatthepeacefulpeopleofthehighPiedmontwouldbenomatchforhisarmedmen,Cattaneo

dividedhistroopsthereintoseveralparties.Ifitistruethathiscombinedforceswere18,000strong(notcountingthe"innumerablemultitude"ofvolunteers),[11]itislittlewonderthatbythetimetroopsarrivedatthejunctionoftheLusernaandAngrognavalleys,thetownofLaTorrewasempty.Soldiersoccupieditwithout incident while others, passing by the landmark Castelluzzo, made their way up the valley ofLuserna.

ThroughfarmlandandorchardswateredbythePelliceRivertheinvadingarmyprogressed.ReachingthetownsofVillaroandBobbioamongthefieldsandwoodsofthevalleybottom,theyfoundthemalsolargelyevacuated.Suchvictoriesastheyhadwereovertheunarmedandinvalids.

BreakingawayfromtheLusernatroopstofollowafootpathbehindBobbio,adetachmentofseven

hundredbeganclimbingtowardasummitfromwhichtoaccesstheWaldensianvalleyofPrali.Cattaneo'splancalledforthisgrouptosweepPrali,covertheWaldensianvalleysofSanMartinoandPerosa,andmeetupwithhimandhismenintheAngronavalley.Theretheywouldcelebratetheirconquests.

Insinglefiletheclimberspressedupthemountainside,sometimescominguponisolatedcottagesorlittleclustersofthemalongthetrail.Allweredeserted.Atonepoint,ifamandaredlookbehindhimhecouldscanthePiedmontplainstretchingwideandgreenintheeast.Hecouldcountthewhitepeaksonthehorizonorlookdownwherethetrailfellawaytoheightsalreadyputbehindhim.Longsince,Bobbiohadbecomeadot,thePelliceathinlineofsilver.

But thesemenwerenot sightseers. If thegloryofvictoryhadbeenmissing thus far, inprospect itwaitedontheothersideofasnowysummit.Theypushedahead.

MeanwhileCattaneoandtheAngrognaattachmentwereclimbingtowardthePra.AsCattaneomusthaveguessed,manymissingWaldenseswerealreadyshelteringthere.[12]Butsomewerestilljourneyingtowardit.

Carrying their sick and elderly, their kneading troughs, ovens, and cooking pots, valley peoplewhohavenotyetreached thePraclimbsingingupa familiarpathwhile lookoutsarmedwithbowsand arrows keep an eye on Cattaneo's men. Above the people's singing they shout, "Go! Go!" ButCattaneo'smenaregainingonthevalleypeople.

When the distance between people and soldiers has shrunk perilously, the lookouts call to thewomenandchildrentotakeshelterinaprotectedhollow.Thesingingfades.Waldensianarrowsfly.

Theinvadersareshoutingnow.Thesoundoftrampingandbattlecriesreachesthehollowwheremotherspulltheirchildrencloseandprayaloud.

"OGodofourfathers,helpus!OGod,deliverus!"Atroopcaptainhearingtheircriesuttersanoath."Mysoldierswillgiveyouyouranswer!"heyells,Goliath-like.At that moment a Waldensian arrow finds its mark. The captain falls. Defenders chase the

survivingtroopsallthewaytotheplain.[13]

Fromamountaintopsevenhundredfightersstudiedawidevalleylyingsereneundersnow.Hillsidestreams joined at a river threading the valley floor, and here and there across the plain nestled thescatteredcommunitiesofPrali.

On command, swift as an avalanche and potentially as deadly, the attackers plunged down themountainside andmoved out onto the plain. But they hadmiscalculated on two counts. They had notrecognizedthetolltheirclimbhadtaken.AndtheyhadnotreckonedonthemenofPrali.

Whenthefightingwasover,onlyoneinvaderhadsurvived."Goback,"aspokesmanorderedhim."TellthosewhosentyouthatWaldensianmenhavethecourage

tofightfortheirfamiliesandfaith."[14]

Following a rugged path upward, Cattaneo and his detachment climb oncemore into the highvalleyofAngrogna.Theypasseasilythespotwhereontheirfirstattempttotakethevalleythecaptain

fell.Thistimenotonehereticclimbsabovethem.Notonelookoutpeersfromaridge.Notonearrowfliestheirway.

Cattaneo's men speculate aloud as to where the Waldenses might be. Undoubtedly they havereachedtheirdestination,Cattaneotellsthem.Bynowtheyareallintheirnaturalfortress,hesays.

Among the great rocks in the higher reaches of Angrogna the men climb. Tall chestnut treesoverhangthepaththatwindsitswayupthevalley,dapplingtheirjourneywithshade.FaraboveLaTorretheyreacharavinethroughwhichamountainstreampasses.DeterminationglintsinCattaneo'seye.HehasreachedthenaturalgatewaytothePra.Heandhismenenterit.

From their position in the stronghold, theWaldenses hear the yells of soldiers in theonly passleading to or from thePra.[15] On trembling legs the very young and the feeble run for cover. Thestrongtakeuptheirweaponsandpreparetofighttothedeath.

ThecloudissmallandlightwhenaWaldensianfighter firstpoints itoutabove thesummit thatcrowns the Pra, but it quickly grows and darkens. As the shouting in the pass grows louder, theblindingmistbeginstodescend.IndarkbillowsitrollsdownthesideofthemountainandwhiletheWaldenseslookonspeechless,itsettlesintotheravine.

"ItwasthehandofGod!"thevalleypeoplewillmarveloverandover--butnotjustnow.Thereisnotimetowaste.Fanningoutoverthefamiliarmountains,theyloosenlargerocksfromtheslopesandsendthemcrashingintothefogbelow.[16]

Afterthissecondrouting,Cattaneo'sarmydidnotreturnenmasse.Butforayear,suspensehungoverthevalleys.Peopleworking in the fieldskept theirweapons at handand started at noiseson thepath.Waldensian homes burned. Fields were stripped of their yields. Believers met with violence. TheWaldensesfoughtback.

Intimeasympatheticdukeputastoptotheharassment,declaringthathe"hadnotsofaithful,andsoobedient subjects as the Vaudois."[17] The sixteenth century found the valleys so much quieter that atraveler passing through them might have thought their inhabitants had been absorbed into the statereligion. But when in 1517 an inquisitor came there to persuade and to raise money for building St.Peter's,hefoundapeoplestillsureofwhotheywere.

"We have no need of the pope's pardon," they responded to the inquisitor's offer of indulgences."Christissufficientforus."[18]

Thatsameyear,unbeknownsttothevalleypeople,amonkinGermanywasbecomingsureofwhohewas aswell. The sound of his hammerwould reach as far asLaTorre, and the theses he nailed to achurchdoorwouldhaveafamiliarring.[19]

Chapter7LikeWaldoandHusbeforehim,theGermanmonkMartinLuther[1]wishedforareformationwithin

thechurch.WheninOctoberof1517hepostedninety-fiveargumentsagainstthesaleofindulgencesonthechurchdoorofWittenberg,hesawhimselfasupholdingthereputationofthepope.Lutherwascertainthatwhenchurchleadersknewoftheabusesheprotested,theywouldsupporthisbidforchange.[2]Butatleastoneacquaintancesawthematterinadifferentlight.

"You are attacking the power of the church," a cautious bishopwarned. "The thing is above yourstrength."HecounseledLuthertokeepquiet.[3]

Timewould justify thebishop's fears.ToLuther'sutterastonishment, in less thanayear thedebatehadmovedfromthematterofindulgencestothequestionWaldenseshadbeenpointingoutforcenturies:"What is the sole infallible authority for Christians?"[4] Luther held out for the Scriptures, and theReformationinGermanywasunderway.[5]

NotuntilthechurchrejectedhisteachingdiditoccurtoLutherthathewasnotthefirsttoinsistonScriptureashisauthority.[6] "Withoutknowing itwhat Ihavebelievedand taughtup tonowisentirelyHus,"[7]hemarveled."Ishallbecondemned...andcalledaWaldensian...."[8]

Obviously,someamongtheWaldenseswerethinkingthesamething.In1526twobarbascrossedtheAlpstolearnfirsthandaboutthemovementofwhichLutherwasapart.TheyoungerbarbawasMartinGoninofAngrogna.Whenhereturnedhome,hebroughtwithhimabundleofReformationliterature.[9]Insomerespects,theWaldensianchurchwasripeforit.

During the time of relative peace followingCattaneo's campaign, a slide toward compromise hadbecomeevidentamongtheWaldenses.Outoffearofpersecution,somewerefindingitexpedienttoattendbothmassandconfessioninthestatechurch.

"Caveofrobbers,mayGodconfoundthee!"thesecovertWaldensesaresaidtohavemutteredastheyentered,inthiswayattemptingtojustifyactionsoutofharmonywiththeirbeliefintheatoningdeathandfree righteousnessofChrist.Thehidingof their religious identitybrought safetyandprivilege to thosewhopracticedit.Italsobroughtthemspiritualfeebleness.Waldenseswho,likeGonin,wereattractedtotheboldnessoftheReformmovementmusthavecovetedareturntoboldnessintheirownchurch.[10]

WithinadecadeofGonin'sjourneyacrosstheAlps,overtheobjectionsofaminoritycommittedtocertain long-cherishedWaldensian distinctives, theWaldensian body began integrating with the largerReformmovement.[11]Notmanyyearsintotheblendingprocess,returningfromavisitwithreformersinGeneva,Goninwasarrestedonchargeofspying.Clearedofthecharge,hewouldhavegonefreeexceptthatduringanightsearchhisjailerfoundlettersfromreformerssewnintohiscoat.

Thechargeofheresywasworsethanthatofspying.Toavoidapublichearingandanoutpouringofsympathy,Gonin'saccusersdrownedhimatnight.Hewasthirty-six.[12]

Anotablepro-ReformWaldensianactivisthadfallen.ButReformationliteraturekeptstreamingintoItaly. And while there were those who still resisted the abandonment of some Waldensian practicesmaintainedforcenturiesagainstgreatodds,theWaldensianchurchcontinuedtomovetowardReformedorganization and theology.[13] And in the Piedmont valleys an extraordinary situation favorable to theWaldenseswastakingshape.

ItallstartedwhenadisputebetweenthekingofFranceandthedukeofSavoyresultedinFrance'sseizureofPiedmontandoccupationofmostofSavoy.[14]Noone,leastofalltheWaldenses,couldhaveforeseensoldiers fromGermanyandSwitzerlandcomingalongwith theFrenchandcalling themselves"Lutherans."ThatLutheransoldierswouldhelpcondemnedhereticsescapewhilethegovernmentstoodbyhelpless,orthatintheconfusionoftheoccupationReformedchaplainswoulddaretopreachopenlyinTurin--these developments the Waldenses would have found unimaginable. But such things werehappening.[15]

The valley people saw a moment of opportunity. Taking advantage of a surge of interest in theirteachings,thepeopleofAngrognabuiltthefirstWaldensianchurch.[16]

Farmers in clean shirts, women in white bonnets and fringed white shawls, artisans andshopkeepers,shepherdsandscholars,oldpeopleandchildrencrossthethresholdofthemodestlittlemeetinghouseinAngrogna'smainvillage,SanLorenzo.

There will be no need for secret meetings in the houses of their barbas, the Waldenses tellthemselves,noneedtoslipawayattwilightintothewoods.[17]Theyhavebuilt theirciabas[18] largeenough to hold the crowds now flocking from the valleys and the plain to hear the Reformationteaching.

If their church's thatched roof, earthen floor,andwoodenbenches[19] havedrawnderision fromsomelocals,thevalleypeopleareundaunted.Theyholdtheirshoulderssquareastheywalkdownitscenteraisle.Whatifthereisnobelltowerorcarvedpulpit?Whatiftherearenoceremonialcandles?Whenallhave taken theirplaceson therudebenches,at the frontof theroomaWaldensianpastorrisesfromachairandbeginstoread.[20]

"'Oh,givethankstotheLORD,forHeisgood!ForHismercyenduresforever.'"[21]

It is a day of high praise in San Lorenzo. The valley people's faces glow like candles. TheWaldensianpastor'svoiceringslikeabell.

The first Waldensian church would soon be followed by another, higher in the valley, and thenanother,discreetlylocated,forthebelieversofLaTorre.Theideaofconstructingchurchestookwings.InremotevillageshereandtheretheWaldensesofPiedmonterectedtheirmeetinghouses.[22]Theycouldnotknow that the following year a government representative from Turin would arrive in the valleys, anofficial-lookingorderinhishand.Citizenswererequiredtosubmittothestatechurch,theorderread.All

worship besides that of the authorized churchmust cease.Minorityministersmust be handedover--orelse.

With a showof fresh resolve, the valley people refused to be intimidated. Instead, they set out topresent the moderation of their reforms in a carefully written statement to the government in Turin.OfficialsthereforwardedittoParisforexaminationbyscholars.

TurindidnothearfromParisuntilthefollowingyear,butthemessage,whenitcame,wasplain:TheWaldenseshadnotbeenclearedofheresy.

Encouragedbytheconclusionofthescholars,thegovernmentdispatchedanotherordertothevalleys.Thisonewastimespecific.TheWaldensesweretohandovertheirministersandschoolmasterswithinsevendays,itsaid.[23]

Sevendays cameandwent, and thevalleypeoplemadenomove.Turinwas ready.Therewasnotown,survivorssaidlater,wheresomeofthebelieverswerenotputtodeath.Alistofthedeadincludednamesofordinarypeople.PeterGeymarali...MariaRomano...MagdalenFoulano...SusanMichelini...

AsiftheWaldensesdidnotwanttowasteoneexampleofcourage,alongwitheachnamesomeonehad recorded themannerofdeath.[24]Toold storiesofWaldensianmartyrsnewoneswereadded.Allwouldbecherishedandpasseddowntochildrenandgrandchildrenlikeaninheritance.

Therewas the story ofCatelanGiardet of Lucernawho took two stones and struck them togetherbeforehisexecution."Youcannomore,byyourpersecutions,destroyourChurch,"Giardethaddeclared,"than I can crush these stoneswithmyhands."[25] The story ofGeoffrayVaraglia, son of a persecutor(himself a priest-turned-preacher)who at age fifty came to pastor a group inLucerna. Just before thewoodwastorchedathisburninginthepublicsquareofTurin,Varagliahadbeengrantedalastrequest:tospeaktothespectators.Hisfinalsermonhadsilencedthosewhocametojeerandleftonlookersasking,"Howcome?"[26]ThestoryofJacob,abarbawho,gaggedatthestake,couldspeakwithonlyhiseyes.Aftertheburning,thejudgehaddeclaredhimselffinishedwithheretictrials.Andonememberoftheroyalfamily,aCountRacconigi,haddecidedtobecometheheretics'friend.[27]

"LordGod,FatherEternalandOmnipotent,"numerousWaldensianmartyrsaresaid tohaveprayedbeforetheflamesovercamethem,"weconfess,beforeThydivinemajesty,thatwearemiserablesinners,incapableofanygood.Havepityuponus,HolyGod,FatherofMercy,andpardonoursins,fortheloveof JesusChrist,ThySon, our onlyRedeemer."[28] Suchwas the prayer thatwould have echoed in thereveriesofthosewhoheardit,mournersandexecutionersalike.

LeavingbehindtheInquisition-controllednorth,WaldensiancolonistshadbegunsettlingthesouthernregionsofCalabriaandApuliaatleastasearlyasthefourteenthcentury.[29]Onsunnyhillsandplainsinthe toeof Italy's "boot" theyhadbuilt communities,plantedvineyardsandolivegardens, andpasturedtheir livestockwhere thesouthwindsblew.Compared to the rocky terracesof thenorth, thecolonists'newhomewaslikeaPromisedLand.

It is said that the landlordsofCalabriawerehappy tohave thenorthern immigrantson their land.Theirfarmerswereexpert.Theircropsprospered.Theypaidtheirdebts.Theonlyonestocomplainwere

thepriests.Thepriestswerefirsttonoticethatthenewchildrenhadforeignschoolmastersandthattheirparents

neverwentonpilgrimages.Theyneverbroughtacandletothevirgin'sshrineorevenpurchasedamasstohelptheirowndead.Thepriestsaresaidtohavewonderedifthecolonistshadsomedifferentreligion,perhapsareligionunfriendlytothechurch.

Locallordslistenedtotheclergy,butinviewoftheabundancetheincomingfarmershadbroughttothearea,theyconvincedthepriestsnottocomplainttooloudly.(Therewere,aswell,thegrowingtithes,paidasrequiredfromtheimmigrants'harvests.Noone,noteventheclergy,wouldwantthatchanged.)[30]

Perhapsthecolonistswerenoteagertochangetheirsituationeither.Impressedwiththeirsettlementsand farming, the wealthyMarquis of Spinello had offered to cede them land where they might plantvineyards and build cities.On a hill overlooking the sea he had let thembuild awalled town,whichbecauseofitswalltheycalledLaGuardia.[31]

Undisturbed and content, the southernWaldenses did not urge their opinions upon their neighbors.Theyandtheirdescendantspracticedthissortofdiscretionforroughlytwohundredyears.[32]AndthentothenorththeReformationbrokeout.

Thesixteenth-centurycolonistslearnedofextraordinarythingshappeninginEurope'sreligiousworld.Withvisitingpastors camenewsof thevalleypeople in thenorth.Theywerebuilding churches.Theywere standing tall. Suddenly the colonists began to see their discretion in a new light. It looked likecowardice.[33]

Longing todo theirpart in theReformmovement, theWaldensesofApuliaandCalabriaasked formore than the rotating pastorswho, up till that time, hadkept themconnectedwith their people in thenorth.Theywanted leaderswhowouldstaywith them,stir themwith theirpreaching,and revive theirsouls. InGiacomoBonelli, StephenNegrin, andGiovanLuigi Pascale, a native of Piedmont, they gotwhattheywanted.[34]

"Alas!"Pascale'syoungPiedmontesewife,Camilla,hadsighedwhenhetoldherhehadvolunteeredforCalabria."SoneartoRomeandsofarfromme!"[35]

Camillamightwellhavesighed.Inatugofwarbetweentwopowerfulneighboringnations,FranceandSpain,Spainhadwonout,andSpain'sreligiouslyzealousPhilipIIfoundhimselfpositionedtodothethinghewouldhavelongedtodo:helpreturnEuropeexclusivelytothemainstreamchurch.

TheCounter-ReformationPhilipandothersspearheadedwasamovementemphasizingstrictnessindoctrine,renewedchurchauthority,andamoreaggressiveInquisition.Nosurprisethen:anewlyformedbranchoftheInquisitionwouldsoonbescouringthesouth.[36]

Chapter8ThetreatythatendedthewarbetweenFranceandSpainhadfreedalmostallofSavoyandPiedmont

fromoccupation.HavingsidedwiththeenemiesofFrance,theyoungdukeofSavoyreturnedfrombattle,servicemedalsglintinginthesunlight.NowthatPiedmontwaslargelyhis,thequestionwas--whatshouldhedowithit?[1]

Waldensesintheareawerehopeful.WhattheyknewofEmanueleFilibertowasencouraging.ForonethinghewasmarriedtoaProtestantsympathizer.[2]PerhapstheduchessMargaretwouldturnouttobeasortof"QueenEsther"[3]forthem,andFilibertoabeneficentruler.

Asitturnedout,thevalleypeoplewouldnotbedisappointedinMargaret.ButwhereFilibertowasconcerned, therewasone significanthitch. InharmonywithPhilip II's vision for the church, the treatybindingFilibertocontainedaclausethatrequiredhimtodestroyallheresyinhisterritory.Lestheshouldforget to carry through, inquisitors, ambassadors, and even a representative of the pope kept the issuebeforehim.

Personally,Filibertoappearstohaveinclinedtowardreligioustolerance.Butconfrontedbymenofstrongpoliticalwill,hefellintostepwithPhilipII.[4]Almostprophetically,theyear1560beganwithaseriesofviolentearthquakesinthevalleys.[5]

InFebruaryFilibertorestrictedWaldensianworshiptospecifiedareasinthemountains.Atthesametimeheleviedafineonthecrowdscomingfromadistancetohearthe"Lutheranpreachers"--onehundredgold crowns for a first offence, and asmuch as life at thegalleys for a second.Toughas thevisitors'regulationswere, a stiffer penalty facedReformed andWaldensian believerswho declined to show achangeofheart.Theywouldbeincarceratedorexecutedbyburning.[6]

In response to theduke'sorders, soldiersbegan theirworksouthwestofTurinandmade theirwayacrosstheplain.Asnewsofconfiscation,arrest,torture,anddeathfounditswayintothehighvalleys,thevalleypeopleunderstoodonethingperfectlywell.Theywerenext.[7]

Above thesnowline, ina stablewhere thebreathandbodyheat fromcowsandgoats lessen thechill,alittlegroupofWaldensianleadersassembles.[8]

"Surely,"someonereflectsaloud,pullinghiswoolcapetightabouthim,"wecannotbecondemnedbeforebeingheard.Noonecanbecondemnedwithoutahearing,noteventheworstcriminal."

"Wehaveallfastedandprayedinourhomes,"someoneelsesuggests."NowwemustcallupontheLordtogether."

WithoutawordtheleadersgototheirkneeswhereeachinturncallsonGodtointervene.[9]AnoldmanweavessomeofaPsalmofDavidintohisprayer.

"'"[I]fithadnotbeentheLORDwhowasonourside,

Whenmenroseupagainstus,Thentheywouldhaveswallowedusalive,...ThentheswollenwatersWouldhavegoneoveroursoul."'"[10]

Astiffwindrisesandwhistlesabout the stable. In theircorner the livestockshuffle.Thestablefillswithgruffamen's.

TheWaldensesdidmore thanpray.Theycomposed three statements--one for theduke,one for theduchess,andonefortheduke'scouncil.

"Showus,"theypetitionedtheduke,"whaterrorsyouaskustorenounceonpainofdeath.Youwillnothavetoaskusasecondtime."Totheduchesstheywroteoftheirsufferings,andtothecouncilofthatbody'ssolemnresponsibility.Ifthebloodofoneman,Abel,theyreasoned,criedoutloudenoughtoreachtheearsofGod,howloudwouldthebloodofawholenationcryout!AWaldensianpastorconveyedthestatementstogovernmentheadquarterswhilethevalleypeoplesettledintowaitforaresponse.[11]

InfluencedbyLutheransoldierswithwhomheserved,youngGiovanLuigiPascalehadabandonedhismilitarycareertostudytheology.Obviously,theex-soldierhaddonewell,forbythetimehearrivedin the southern Waldensian colony of Calabria, he was already author, publisher, New Testamenttranslator,andbooksellerfortheWaldenses.[12]

But itwasPascale's preaching that stirred theWaldensesof the south as theyhadnotbeen stirredbefore.Itwasasiftheirnewpastorhadafireinhisbones.[13]Ashestoodbeforethemwithaworncopyofscriptureinhishand,Pascalespokewithouttheatrics.[14]Hisdarkeyesseemedtopiercethemthrough.

Ifthecongregation'szealburstintoflame,sodidtheapprehensionofthepriests.Areligiousminorityneatlyconfinedwasonething;areligiousminorityenticingthepopulacewassomethingelseentirely.[15]

AstheInquisitioninthesouthwentintoaction,theWaldensianpastorscameunderscrutinyfirst.Onlymonthsintohisministryinthecolonies,Apulia'spastor,Bonelli,wenttothestake.[16]Pascale'sassociate,Negrin,endedupinprisonwherehestarvedtodeath.[17]Pascaletoowasincarcerated.

InthenorthernvalleysAprilhascome.Thoughthefamiliarpeaksarewhiteasever,theWaldensesknowthatpatchesofsnowinthepasturelandswillsoonbeshrinking,andhereandthereinthevalleybottoms,wildflowerswillbecomingup.[18]

Thevalleypeoplecannotalwaysliveindread.AWaldensianchildgoesskippingalongamountainpath. A youngwoman fingers yarn for a new dress. Shepherds, discussing the best pastures on thelowermountains,shadetheireyestolookup.Beforelongtheywillleadtheirflocksanddrovesthere,theysaytoeachother.Juneisnotfaraway.[19]

ButifearlyspringliftedthespiritsoftheWaldneses,itdidnottakeawaytheuncertaintiestheyfelt.Theywere impatient for news from the duke. For thatmatter, sowere their enemies.Anticipating theduke'sresponse,monksfromPinerolopaidatroopofplundererstobeat,kill,andpillageinthehillsandvalleys.Opportunistic landownersalreadyknown tohaveattempted theseizingofaWaldensianpastor

arrivedbeforedaybreakatRioclaret,valleyofthe"clearstream."Withthebeatofdrumsandthebreakingopenofdoorstheyawakenedresidentsthere.

Shrieksofthefirstvictimsawakenedneighborsfartherupthevalley,whofledintheirnightshirtsupthemountainside.Forthreenightstheserefugeescampedinthesnowwhilebelowintheirlittlehomestheinvadersmadethemselvescomfortable.

"Youcancomebackwhenyou'rereadytogotomass,"theplundererscalled.[20]

AnolderpastorattemptingtogoupandencouragethedisplacedWaldenseswascaughtandexecutedbyburning.Butnotalleffortstohelpthemfailed.Hearingoftheirsituation,apastorintheFrenchvalleyofPragelas[21]setoutacrossthemountainswithfourhundredvolunteers.NowandagainastheycoveredthedistancebetweenPragelasandRioclaret,theydroppedtotheirkneesandprayed.

EveningisapproachinginRioclaret.Theweatherhasbeengloomyallafternoon.Withthestepsofmen who have hiked long and eaten little, the pastor and his four hundred are just entering theoccupiedcommunitywhen,asifoncue,theskyoverheadgrowsdarker,andthecloudsdumprainintorrents.

Thestormisofthesortthatmakesgrownmenflinch.Aslightningilluminatesthevalley,thundercrashesnearby,thenrollsandreverberatesuntilitseemstoshakethemountains.Tothetravel-wornmen of Pragelas the downpour is like reinforcements from the Almighty. Energized, they chase themaraudersintoneighboringravinestowanderinthenight.[22]

Melting snowswere still foaming in themountain torrents, and on lower hillsides the vineswereputtingoutclustersoflittlegreengrapeswhenatimeofreligiousdiscoursebeganinthevalleys.Inthebriskairofspringtime, throughmisty,vine-coveredhillsandpastfieldsfragrantwithspices thevalleypeoplemadetheirwaytotheCiabaschurch.

If theCounter-Reformation'syoungdebater,AntonioPossevino,wasarticulateandimpassioned,sowastheWaldenses'ownyouthfulScipioneLentolo.Inaway,theCiabasdebateswouldserveasasortofdress rehearsal for a series of "great debates" held a few months later before Catherine, then rulingFrance.

On one occasion the duke's cousin,CountRacconigi, slipped in to listen to the fiery preaching ofLentolo and apparently liked what he heard.[23] Presented with an outline of the Waldensian faith,Racconigi discreetly showed it to the duke, who passed it on to the pope.[24] But whatever hopesRacconigi,theduke,ortheduchessmayhavehadforreconciliationbetweentheWaldensesandthestatechurch,theywouldproveunfounded.

"The dignity of the church requires that everyone submit himself to her constitutions, disputingnothing,"camethereplyfromPiusIV."[T]hedutyofmyofficeistoproceedwithallrigouragainstthosewhodonotchoosetobeinsubjectionthereto."[25]

In the south of Italy, Giovan Luigi Pascale's ordeal in first one holding place and then anotherfamiliarizedtheyoungpreacherwithextremesofcoldandstenchandsometimesshackles.Ashewasablehewroteletterstothepeopleheloved.[26]

"Icantestifythatwithalittlebreadandwaterthebodycanbesatisfied,"PascalesentwordtohisflockinCalabria,"whereasthesoulwillneverhavesatisfactionuntilitfindsfoodwhichnourishesthehopeofeternallife...."Then,asifknowinghewouldnotstandbeforethemagain,hecounseled,"[G]ototheplacewhereyoursoulisfed...."[27]

TohisdearCamillastill inPiedmontPascalewroteofanaffection that"growswith thatI feel forGod."[28] "May God, who has honored you greatly in your life of service," he told her in a sort ofbenediction,"comfortyouinthespiritinsuchawaythatyoumaybeabletoovercomeanytrialinyourlife."[29]

InSeptemberof1560PascalediedpubliclyonascaffoldbeforethecastleofSant'AngeloinRome.[30]"IampreparedtodieforChrist,"hehadwrittentobelieversinCalabria,"andnotonlyonce,buttenthousandtimesifitwerepossible."[31]PerhapshehadsensedthatafterhisashesweredisposedofintheTiber,[32]theInquisitionwouldturnitsattentiontothem.

AndbySeptemberthematterinPiedmontwassettled.Discourseanddebatehavingachievednothing,FilibertohadassignedsomeonetooverseetheWaldensiansituation.CountCostadellaTrinitawas,asthedukeputit,towield"anironrodtothepraiseandhonourofGodandthestabilityofourstate."

TheWaldensessawtheblowcoming."Wewishtoobeyreligiouslyall thedecreesofYourHighnessbutwhereconscienceforbids,Your

HighnessknowswemustobeyGodratherthanmen,"theysentwordtotheirduke.[33]

Chapter9Asauthoritieshadnodoubtanticipated,thesoutherncolonistsbereftoftheirpastorswerelikesheep

without a shepherd.Threatsof thegalleysor the stakeconvinced those inApulia to return to the statechurch.Late in1560CardinalAlessandrino (laterPopePiusV) sent twoDominican inquisitors to thecolonyofCalabriatopersuadethepeoplethereaswell.[1]

In the town of San Sisto themonks addressed an assembly ofWaldenses. Theywished to do thepeople no harm, they explained gently, but it had come to their attention that theWaldenses had beenharboringLutheranteachers.Theseteachersmustgo.

Nodoubtwithoutraisingtheirvoices,theinquisitorscontinued.TheWaldenseswouldhavenothingtofeariftheywouldobeythelawsofthechurch.Butiftheydidnot,theywouldprobablybecondemnedasheretics.Andthatwasaverdictthatbroughtthelossofpropertyandlife.

Thepersuasivespeechended,themonksinvitedtheWaldensestoattendmass.Sometimelaterthechurchbellrang.[2]

Asaltbreezeblowsacrosstheland,andseabirdscalloverheadasthetwoinquisitorsenterthewalled town of La Guardia by the sea, locking the gates behind them. They call an assembly ofWaldenses, who drop their work promptly and hurry from all directions. The people's eyes arequestioningastheywaitforthemonkstospeak.

"Your friends from San Sisto," one monk explains quietly, "have renounced their errors andconfessedtheirsin.Thismorningtheywenttomass."

ThepeopleofLaGuardiaturntoeachotherwithhorrorintheireyes.Canitbe?Theinquisitorscontinueasthoughtheyhavenotnoticed.Inamanneragreeableifnotsolicitous

theylayouttheirproposalofpeace.IftheWaldensesofLaGuardiawillonlydoastheirbrothersandsistersinSanSistohavedone,notoneofthemwillsufferviolence.

Thepeopleexchangeglancesagain.Theyarenotslowwitted.Howeveragreeablethemanneroftheinquisitors,clearlythisisanultimatum.

TheWaldensesofLaGuardiahavealwaysmeanttobestrongundercoercion.Theystillwishtobestrong.Butthenewsoftheirbrothersandsistershasstunnedthem.Ithasweakenedtheirresolve.

Abelltolls.Theinquisitorsturntoapproachanearbychurch.Withshouldersdroopingandeyesdowncast,theWaldensesofLaGuardiafollowtheminside.

Assoonasthemassended,thegatesofLaGuardiawereopened,andthetruthcamethroughthem:TheWaldensesofSanSistohadnotgonetomass.Asmanyaswereablehadfled.[3]

Authorities from the government in Naples, Spanish soldiers, bloodhounds, convicts hoping forabsolution--allwereenlistedintheworkoftheInquisition.[4]FromtherockysummitsoftheApennines,Waldensian fugitivescalleddown to theirpursuers forpermission toemigrate, takingwith themonlya

fewnecessities.Theyrecalledthemanyyearstheyhadlivedpeacefullyinthelandandbeggednottobeforcedtodefendthemselves.Butforthosewhoresistedthestatechurch,exilewasnotanoption.Onlyareturntothechurchcouldavertanattack.[5]

Inoneoftheirsporadicattemptsatself-defense,someWaldenseskilledaboutfiftysoldiersaswellastheSpanishgovernor.Theywereimmediatelystricken.Foronething, theyhadbreachedthecodeofnon-violencetowhichtheirgroupstillsubscribed.Foranother,theyweresurethedeathofthegovernorwouldbeavenged.Theywererightaboutthat.AnewinfluxofrecruitshunteddownandkilledmanyoftheWaldensianfugitives.Amongthewoundedlefthidingamongtherocksof themountains,manymoresuccumbedtostarvation.Intheseways,byandlarge,thecolonistsofSanSistoperished.[6]

OnJune5,1561,thetownofSanSistoburnedtotheground.TheseasidetownofLaGuardia,wherethe believers had wavered and afterward hated their weakness, was destroyed as well. Some of thecolonists were themselves set afire like torches. Somewere sold as slaves. Others were confined indungeonswhereropesboundthemsotightthattheirfleshdecayedwhiletheylived.

AtatownknownasMontaltosomeofthecolonistsweretortured.OnJune11thatsametownbecamethesceneofaWaldensianmassacre.[7] It isestimatedthatoveraspanofelevendays2,000Waldenseswere executed, 1,600became slaves, and thosewho retractedbegan an extensiveprocessof religiousreeducation.[8]Theatrocitiesdidnotgounrecorded.

"IhavenowtoinformyouofthedreadfuljusticewhichbegantobeexecutedontheseLutheransearlythismorning,beingtheeleventhofJune,"wroteaservanttohismaster."And,totellyouthetruth,Icancompareittonothingbuttheslaughterofsomanysheep....IcanscarcelyrefrainfromtearsasIwrite;norwasthereanyperson,afterwitnessingtheexecutionofone,couldstandtolookonasecond."

Theservantwenton,"Themeeknessandpatiencewithwhichtheywenttomartyrdomanddeathareincredible.Someofthemattheirdeathprofessedthemselvesofthesamefaithwithus,butthegreaterpartdied in their cursed obstinacy. All the old met their death with cheerfulness, but the young exhibitedsymptomsoffear...."[9]

Perhapsasagraphicwarning,thebodiesfromMontaltowerequarteredandexhibitedonpikesalongtheroadleadingoutof townforadistanceof thirty-sixmiles.AfewWaldensesescapingtheknife, thefire,andthegalleyflednorthtobringtheawfulnewstothehomevalleys:ThecolonyatCalabriaisnomore.[10]

AsLaTrinita'sarmyof3,000marchedtowardthevalleysinnorthernItaly,theWaldensestherewereambivalent as to what course they should take. They pondered the New Testament principle of civilobedience.TheyreflectedonOldTestamentexamplesofwarfare.Atlastthepastorsandvalleyleadersagreed that they should not defend themselves with weapons. Instead they should all climb into themountainstrongholdsandwait.[11]

Waldensianresidentsofvillagesandfarmingcommunitiesbegintheirclimbupthenarrowpathsthrough thewoods.Theycarry their sickonhammocks swungbetween the shouldersof strongmen.Boys and girls manage the family herds. Mothers carry babies or provisions. Fathers push carts

loadedwith clothing,moreprovisions, and cookingpots.Even the elderly ploduphill,willing theirfrailbodiestowardthePra.[12]

If someone looksbackatacottage leftbehind, it isnot for long.Someoneelseup thepathhasbegunapsalm.

"'TheLordismylightandmysalvation;WhomshallIfear?TheLordisthestrengthofmylife;OfwhomshallIbeafraid?'"[13]

As the valley people climb higher,more voices join in. In a short time thewoodland fills withmusic.[14]

While the Waldensian families settled themselves in the mountains, their leaders received acommunication fromsomepastorspresumablyoutside their territory.Thedecisionnot to takeuparms,thesemensuggested,didnotappearjustified.Inprotectingwivesandchildren--surelyaworthycause--thevalleypeoplewouldnotberesistingthecivilpowerinviolationofScripture,but thepowerofthepope,theysaid.

Fortheleadersitwasanentirelynewslant.Believingthepopetobetheheadofafalsesystemofworship,theyfeltnoobligationtohim.Theydecidedtofight.[15]

OnOctober31anorderpostedinthevalleyofAngrognacalledonallresidentstoreturntothestatechurchorsubmittoextermination.OnNovember1LaTrinita'sarmycameintoview.[16]

Amonganestimated18,000Waldenses in thevalleysonlyabout twelvehundredwerearmed.Thevalley people humbled themselves before God and celebrated the Lord's Supper.[17] The next day LaTrinita's forces camped in themeadows near the entrance to the Angrogna valley. Into that valley hewouldmarchtwelvehundredofhismen.

Thefirstdayoffightingconsistedofskirmishes lastinginto theeveningwhen,wearywithfighting,bothsidescamped for thenight.As in the twilight someWaldensian fighterskneltonamountaintop topray, soldiers from La Trinita's camp hooted at their silhouettes against the pale sky. Hardly had thetauntingfadedwhenthesoundofadrumfromanearbyvalleywaftedintotheenemycamp.

Beforeacommandcouldbegiven--orperhapsinspiteofcommands--LaTrinita'ssoldiersbegantoflee,flingingawaytheirarmsastheywent.Withinhalfanhourtheylostwhattheyhadgainedbyawholeday'sfighting.Theycouldnothaveknownthatachildfindingadrum,perhapsamonghisfather'sthings,hadbeenhappilybeatingit.[18]

Following the inglorious retreat of his men, La Trinita must have realized that the mountaineers'couragefarexceededthatofhismen.ButtheWaldenseswerebyandlargeatrustingpeople.Heseemstohavedecidedtomakethatworkforhim.

Inaspotshelteredbyrockandforest fromtheNovemberwind,Waldensianleadersstandstiffly,their eyes fastened on La Trinita, who nods to them courteously.What does he want, this militaryleaderwiththefriendlydemeanor?Whyhashecalledforthismeeting?

"Itisouropinion,"thecountbegins,clearinghisthroat,"thatwhathashappened,hashappenedforwantofcommunicationbetweenthedukeandhispeople."Whiletheleaderswaitsoberly,hescanstheir faces. "I believe that if the duke's soldiers have sometimes gone beyond their bounds, it isbecause theyhavemetwith suchresistance.And Ibelieve thatourgoodprince, theduke,wouldbegladtohavethiswholeunpleasantbusinessoffhishands."LaTrinitastrokeshischin,andavertshiseyesfromtheearnestfacesbeforehim."Butforthattohappen,weneedafewconciliatorygesturesonyourpart."[19]

Scarcely stirring, the Waldenses watch the man who has led the charge against them. TheNovemberwindsingsthroughtheforest.Againstthewind,thevoiceofLaTrinitadroneson.

AllthatnighttheWaldensianleadersponderedtheproposal.Accordingtothecount,alltheyhadtodotoshowtheirreasonablenesswasdeposittheirarmsinaspecifiedlocation,allowthecelebrationofthemassinaWaldensianchurchinAngrogna,andpermitLaTrinitatovisitthePradelTorno.

ThepastorsandsomeotherleadingWaldensesobjected.Tothemthemasswasanevilpractice.Howcould theydesecrate their churchwith an idol substitute for theLord'sSupper?As for givingup theirarms,theydoubtedthewisdominit.Otherswereinclinedtomakeafewconcessions.Beforemorningamajorityhaddecidedthematter:theWaldensesofPiedmontwouldtryforpeace.[20]

Oncethearmsweredeposited,themasswascelebrated,andthevisittothePradelTornowasmade,totheirsurprisetheWaldensesfoundthemselvesfacedwithafewmoreconcessions.Theywouldneedtosend representatives to theduke'sheadquarters, at that time inVercellion theplain, andmakea treatywiththeduke.Itwouldstrengthentheirpositioniftheyraised20,000crownsfortheduke'sarmy.Anditwould pacify the duke if they sent their pastors away. They could always bring them back after thenegotiations--sotheargumentwent.

AgaintheWaldensianleaderswrestledwiththeissues.Adecisionmighthavebeeneasytocomebyhad they not longed somuch for peace.Theywanted their children to growup as free as calves in ameadow,theiryoungmenandwomenasfruitfulasvineyardsontheslopes.Butsendtheirpastorsaway?Thatwouldbewrong,someargued.

In the end more insistent voices carried the day. At the sight of thirty-fourWaldensian delegatessettingoutfortalkswiththeduke,someobserversshooktheirheadssadly.Itwouldcometonogood,theysaid. Even the most hopeful wept when their pastors set out for Pragelas beyond the icy summits ofwinter, a trainofwomenandchildrenescorting themas far as theydared.The rocksof themountainsechoedwiththepeople'scrying.[21]

Withinaweekoftheirrepresentatives'departureforVercelli,thevalleypeoplemaywellhavebegunscanning theroadfor their return.Buteacheveningwhentherosymountaintopsfaded, theyreturned totheirhomeswithoutaglimpseoftheirfriends.

Having received a portion of the payment money and having pillaged and brutalized widely, LaTrinitaandhistroopsendedtheiroccupation.Beforeleaving,theydestroyedthepeople'swinterstoresofwine,corn,andoilandbrokeinpiecestheirmills.

Withtheirherdsalreadysoldtoraisethestipulatedsumofmoney,thevalleypeoplemusthavefeltasenseofhelplessness. Itwasas ifLaTrinitahadleft themwithapartingword:"Withoutmyhelp,youstarve."Butwhywouldhesaythatwhenpeacewasimminent?Whataboutthepeace?

AsweekspassedtheWaldensesscannedtheroadmoreurgently.Fromtheir lookout theycouldseesnowyslopessparklinginthesunshineand,inthedistance,thefamiliarwhitepeaks.ButonthenarrowroadfromVercellitherewasnosignoftheirfriends.

SoldiersbasedinnearbyCavourstillprowledthevalleys,sackingemptyWaldensianhouses."Giveus food!" theyordered the fewWaldenseswho remained aswell as those recently returned from theirmountain hideouts. Incidents of rape and torture multiplied. On top of all of this, the soldiers wereconstructingafort.Littlewonderthateachdaythepeople'slevelofanxietyrose.Whataboutthepeace?[22]

Andthenaftersixweeks,someonespottedtravelersapproachingontheroadfromVercelli.Thevalleypeoplehurry to the lookoutpoint.They shade their eyesagainst the snowglareand

peer.Whenatlasttheirrepresentativescomeclearlyintoview,thepeopleobservethewaytheywalk,andasthelittlegrouparrives,theysearcheachface.

There is no need to search long. In the grim countenances of the travelers the story iswrittenplain:Thereisnotreaty.Thereisonlyanotherorderfromthegovernment.TheWaldenseswillsubmittothestatechurch,ordie.[23]

The valley people stare at one another in disbelief. So this is what their compromises haveachieved!Verywell.Theywillcompromisenomore.

"We have donewrong," theywill sendword to their pastors beyond the snow-covered summits."Pleasecomehome!"

Wading the drifts of winter, the exiled pastors came home--home to a people who had had theiridentityback.Theywouldno longerdisgrace theirancestors, theWaldenseshadresolved.Theywouldnotbartertheirsouls.Andtheywouldnotselltheirchildrenintospiritualslavery.Maybetheywould,andmaybetheywouldn't,die.Butiftheydiddie,theyhadmadeuptheirmindsforsure:Theywoulddietrue.[24]

Chapter10AswordoftheWaldenses'plightspread,expressionsofsympathyfromotherProtestantspouredinto

thevalleys.FrenchProtestantsshowedspecialconcern,fortheywerelivingunderthreatofpersecution,too.Hopefulofanalliance,representativesfromthePiedmontvalleyofLusernatraveledthroughheavysnowtotheFrenchvalleyofPragelastoproposesolidarity.

In shadesofa farmhousemeetingmore than threecenturiesbefore, the twogroupsassembled, thistimeonasnowyplateaufacingthewhitemountains.Theretheytookanoathtosupportoneanotherinthecomingstruggle.ThenthebrothersfromPragelastraveledtoLusernatoreaffirmtheirpromisesthere.[1]

ThePelliceRiverglintsintheJanuarysunlight.[2]Nestledamongfieldsandwoodsneartheriver,thevillageofBobbioseemsnearlyasquietasthevalley'sgnarled,browngrapevineswaitinginthesnowforspring.DelegatesfromPragelasstandwiththosefromLusernaonalowhilloutsideoftown.Theyarejoinedbylocalheadsoffamiliesontheirkneesatthefringeofthegroup.

This meeting cannot have occurred at a more appropriate time. Only the evening before, aproclamation from thedukehasgivenhisWaldensiancitizens twenty-fourhours toappearatmass.Twenty-fourhours.Thevalleypeoplehavetriedtoimaginewhatthenextshowdownwillbelike.Soontheywillknow.

"InthenameoftheVaudoisChurchesoftheAlps...weherepromise,ourhandsontheBible,andinthepresenceofGod,"aWaldensiandelegatebeginsaloudasamurmuringattheedgesoftheassemblysubsides, "that all our valleys shall courageously sustain each other inmatters of religion...." Thespeaker'sbreathbillowsbeforehimintheclearair.

"WepromisetomaintaintheBible,wholeandwithoutadmixture,"theoathcontinues,"accordingtotheusageofthetrueapostolicchurch,perseveringinthisholyreligion,thoughitbeattheperilofourlife....

"Wepromiseaidandsuccortoourpersecutedbrothers,notregardingourindividualinterests,butthecommoncause;andnotrelyinguponman,butuponGod."[3]

AttheendofthevowthereisamomentofsilenceonthelittlehilloutsideBobbio.Itisasifnoonewantstomovefromtheplace,thecloseness,andtheresolve.

Nextmorningbythelightofdawn,agroupofWaldensesenteredwhathadoncebeenoneoftheirownlittlechurches.Nowoccupiedbythestatechurch,itwasdecoratedforwhatwasintendedtobetheirfirstmass.

Initiallythepeoplemusthavestoodamazedatthetransformationoftheirplainmeetinghouse.Theninaflurryofactivitytheypulleddownallthecandlesandimages,tookdownthecrucifix,andgathereduptherosary.Whentheworkwasdone, theirpastorwenttothefrontandpreachedaprotestsermon.TheWaldensianresistancewason.

It is said thatWaldensianactivistswenton toattack theduke'snewfortand light fires instrategicplaces.Forfearofthemahomogenousbandofmagistrates,monks,andsoldiersontheirwaytoheartheconfessionsofthehereticsholedupinatownforsafety.

Ten days and one surrender later, the Waldenses allowed the group to leave, escorted to theirdestinationsbytwoWaldensianpastors,thebestpossibleguaranteeofsafetytheycouldhave.

WhatevertheWaldensianactivistsdidintheiruprising,andhoweverrightorwrongtheyweretodoit,theyhadmadetheirpoint.Filibertowasreadytomakehisaswell.

ThewarbeganinFebruaryandcontinuedthroughApril.Somewivesanddaughtersofneighborsfromthestatechurch tookrefugewithWaldensianfamilies in theirnaturalcitadel,ThePra,[4] aswaveafterwave of recruits--noblemen on horseback, archers, farmers equipped with picks and swords, foreigntroops,andvolunteersseekingbooty--assailedthehighlands.TimeaftertimetheWaldensesdrovethemback.[5]Atlastconvincedbythecostofhiscampaign(andnodoubtbythepersuasionofMargaretandRacconigiaswell)Filibertooptedforpeace.

ThedocumentsignedatCavourwasnot, fromtheduke'sstandpoint,a treaty.Onedoesnotmakeatreatywithone'ssubjects.FromtheWaldenses' standpoint, itwasnotapardon.Onedoesnotacceptapardonwhenoneprofessesnowrong.TheagreementbecameofficialonJune5,1561,thedaythatinthecolonyofCalabriathetownofSanSistoburnedtotheground.[6]

The peace at Cavour permitted the Waldenses of Piedmont to build churches and hold worshipservices at specified locations in thehighvalleys.Outside their area, though theymight speakof theirfaithinprivateconversations,theywerenotallowedtopreachandpracticeitpublicly.

Withoutadoubt,theWaldenseswerehappy.Theyhadgainedmuchfromtheagreement,notablylifeitself.Butsurelyitmusthaveoccurredtosomeofthemthatwheretherighttocarrytheirmessagewasconcerned,theparchmentgrantingthemtheirfreedomimprisonedthemaswell.[7]

IfinthesightofboththeWaldensesandFilibertothenewsituationfellshortoftheideal,inthesightofthepopeitwasanoutrage.[8]Athissummons,Filibertowenttoexplainhisactions.

The popewas astonished, he declared, that the dukewould agree to let heretics live freely in hisstate!AndhewasimmenselyconcernedaboutFiliberto'sexampletootherrulers.ThekingofNapleshadcompetentlydisposedofhereticsinthesouth,hesuggested.Thecomparisonwasclear.

Givenhisopportunitytospeak,thedukewasready.Herecounteddefeatafterdefeatinthemountains.Hedescribedthestateofhistreasury,whichwashemorrhaginglikesoldiersintheravines.Whenhewasfinished,Filibertowaitedrespectfully.Thepopehadnothingmoretosay.[9]

In latespringaWaldensianfamily leavingthePrafollowstheshoutingAngrognadownhill.Thefather carries a sick child over his shoulder. In the absence of the eldest son, the next-to-eldeststeadies the grandmother. Two other children clutch themother's hands. At last they approach theclearingwhere in better years the family had built a cottage under a chestnut tree, planted cherrytrees,stakedgrapevines,andputinasquarepatchofcorn.

Attheedgeoftheclearingthelittlegroupstopsshort.Thechestnutandcherrytreesarefallen,the

vinesaredown,andthehometheyleftinhasteonafrigidmorningisasmall,coldpileofnativerockandashes.

Theman'sshouldersfallwhilethetallson,thegrandmother,andtheyoungerchildrenstandwithopenmouths.Thewomansinksquietlytotheground...

Shehasbeenastrongwoman.Itshowsinthehandswithwhichshecoversherface.Itshowsinhersturdyframerockingbackandforth.Suchawomanwillreboundfromthesightofthatchestnuttreecutdownbefore its time.Shewill recover from finding the cherry treesaxedbefore their fruit.Thecottageshewillhelpherhusbandbuildagain.

Butthemissingson.Itwilltakeyearsforthewoundsuponthelandtoheal,longerstillforthoseupontheheart.[10]

AboutthistimefugitivesfromCalabriabeganarrivinginthevalleys.Likethosetowhomtheycameforcomfort,theyweredestitute.SympatheticProtestantsfromotherpartsofEuropetookupcollectionsandsentrelieftothemall.[11]

As it turnedout,Calabrian survivorshad fled to thebestpossibleplace.While religiousconflictsrockedFranceandsovereigns throughoutEuropevigorously tookup thecauseofCounter-Reformation,theCavour-protectedenclave rested fromwar.Even if thecalmwas relative, even ifWaldenseswerestilllocallyharassed,andeveniftheyfeltrepercussionsfromtheongoingreligiouswars,anuneasycalmwasbetterthannocalmatall.Itwouldcontinuefornearlyahundredyears.[12]

Sunandrainandvigorouslaborbroughtseasonalcropsbacktothevalleys.Chaletsspranguphereandtherealongthebanksofstreamsandyoungorchardsblossomedlikehope.[13]WhenaducaledictinJuneof1565orderedProtestantsoutsidethehighPiedmonttoreturntothestatechurchwithintwomonthsorgetoutofthecountry,anotherinfluxofProtestantsmovedtowhathadbecomeaWaldensian"ghetto"inthehighlands.[14]Thatsameyear,anewdeputygovernorarrived.

Unliketheduke,CastrocarowasnotcommittedtotheCavouragreement.FortwentyyearsworkingoutofafortaboveLaTorre,heusedrepressivemeasuresandarbitraryarrestsinhisattempttoreturnthevalleystothestatechurch.[15]

"Wewish the promise [atCavour]made to them [theWaldenses] to be inviolable," the duke sentwordtoCastrocaro.Repeatedly,onlearningofaviolationofCavour,heandtheduchessintervened.[16]

In addition to dealing with a governor who levied oppressive taxes, listened in on synods, andconductedsearchesintheir territory,[17]sixteenth-centuryWaldensesofthehighPiedmontvalleysfacedanotherchallenge:theneedtodefinetheirpostwarstructure.

AsthevalleypeoplelookedaroundatProtestantcommunionsoutsidePiedmont,theycouldnothelpnoticingatrend.InthecityofGenevatightlyorganizedpastorspracticallydirectedcityaffairs.InFranceProtestantscalledHuguenotsatthistimehadtheirownpoliticalparty.Inlightofallthis,andinlightoftheirpeculiarsituation,howshouldtheWaldensesofPiedmontviewtheirrole?Whenthevalleypeopleattemptedtoanswerthatquestion,theydidnotallseealike.

Fortunately for theWaldenses of the high valleys, they had a history ofcovenant.A covenant had

united them in war; it could keep them together in peace. In the spirit of the hilltop meeting outsideBobbio, thevalleypeopleworkedoutamissionpolicyandorganizationalplan.Bothweresimpleandfocused.

TheWaldensianchurchwouldbea"freeunionofcongregationsandbelievers,boundtogetherbyacommoncommitmenttosolidarity."Mission-wise,itwouldseektoadvancetheChristiancommunity,notdevisesocialpolicy.TheWaldensesofPiedmontdecidedtoleaveitatthat.[18]

Outsidetheghetto,untouchedbythepeculiarproblemsfacingreligiousminorities,ordinarycitizensboughtandsold.Kingsdreamedofnewboundaries.Youngpeoplesanglovesongs.DuringthesixteenthcenturyacomposernamedPalastrinapraisedGodinnewmassesandmadrigals.AnartistwhompeoplecalledRaphael decorated a set ofVatican apartments.And one namedMichelangelo painted religiousscenesontheceilingoftheSistineChapelinRome.[19]

Butreligiousminoritiesofthesixteenthcenturylivedinahostileworld.In1572somewherebetweenseventyandahundredthousandProtestantsinParisandseveralotherlocationswerepurged.[20]

Wordof theSaintBartholomew'sMassacrespread to thehighPiedmontvalleyswhereCastrocaro,whoseeffortstoconverttheWaldenseshadnotbeenassuccessfulashewished,sawinthecleansingagoodthing.Hethreatenedtoimitateit.

AgainFilibertostoodindefenseofCavour.Byhisorder,allcitizensfleeingthevalleysforfearofCastrocaromight return, andneither theynor theirhomeswouldbe touched.Moreover, inevidenceofsomething more than an obligation to keep one's word, he permitted the valley people to shelterProtestantsfleeingFrance.[21]

In1574theWaldensesmournedthedeathofMargaret,their"QueenEsther,"whomtheycreditedwithpersuadingFilibertotoletthemworshipintheirmountains.In1580theylostFilibertoaswell.Strangeasitmayseem,givenhischeckeredrecord,theWaldensesregardedthedukeasamanofhonor.Intheendhehadmadeapromisetothemandkeptit.[22]

Itsoonbecameclearthatthenewduke,Charles-EmanuelI,exhibitedlittleofhismother'sProtestantsympathyandonlyfitfulawarenessofhisfather'spact.[23]DebatersfromthestatechurcharrivedinthevalleyofLuserna.Withtheirfailuretopersuadecommunityleaderscamearashofciviledicts:

Therewouldbefiveyearsfreeoftaxesforconvertstothestatechurch.Waldensianfuneralprocessionsmustconsistofnomorethansixpersons.CommunitycouncilseveninpredominatelyWaldensianareasmustconsistofamajorityfromthestate

church.AnyWaldensianpastorpreachingoutsidehisspecifiedterritorywouldbesubjecttothedeathpenalty.TheWaldenseswereannoyed.Butwhensomeoftheirchildrendisappeared,enticedorabductedby

Counter-Reformation operatives, they were outraged. In one instance, the eight-year-old son of aprominentWaldensiandisappearedwhilehis fatherwasaway,and thevalleypeoplecame to thedukewith their grievance. But Charles-Emanuel wanted no part in a dispute involving the Counter-Reformation.Itwasbeyondhiscontrol.Theboyneverreturned.[24]

NeartheendofthecenturyanedictinneighboringFrancegranteditsHuguenotsevenmoregenerousprivilegesthanCavourhadaccordedtheWaldensianenclave.ButwhileFrance'sEdictofNantesmadeitexpedientforCharles-Emanueltomaintainacertaintoleranceinhisterritoryaswell,itbroughtnorealserenity to the valleys. Worn down by threats and promises, penalties and rewards, some of theWaldensesrenouncedtheirfaith.[25]Othersstoodasunmovableasthebouldersontheirhillsides.Intheyear1601,BartholomewCopinfromLucernawasoneofthese.

HavingtakensomemerchandisetothefairinthecityofAstinPiedmont,Copinfindshimselfoneeveningatatablewithsomeothermerchants.Theinniscongenial,thearomasdelightful.AgainstahumofconversationthemenatCopin'stabletalkofgoodsandprices,weatherandpolitics.

DuringthecourseoftheeveningamerchantgesturinginthedirectionofthemountainsdropsaremarkabouttheWaldenses.Ahintofscorntingeshisvoice.AsCopinglancesaroundthetablewheresomeofhisassociatesaregrinning,hisfacechanges.

"IknowtheWaldensesappearstrangetomanypeople,"hesuggestsmildly,"buttheyonlymeantofollowtheauthorityofScripture."

Tableconversationstopsabruptly.AlleyesturntowardCopin."Areyouoneofthem?"someonequeries,lookingathimclosely."Yes.""DoyounotbelievethatGodistrulyinthecommunionwafer?"Copinhesitatesforonlyamoment."No."ThenextdayCopinwassummonedbeforethebishopofAst.WhenCopin'swifeandsonwerepermittedtovisithiminprison,hedidnot,ashisinquisitorhoped,

relent.Instead,heusedthetimetopreparethemforwhathesensedwouldcome."Mywell-belovedconsort,SusannaCopin,"hewouldwritesubsequentlytohiswife,"Idonotthink

weshalleattogetheranymore....[B]eseechGodtobeyourcomforter,andputyourtrustinhim,whohathpromisednevertoforsakethosethatdependonhim."

Notlongafter,BartholomewCopinwasfounddead,apparentlystrangled.Hisbodywasbroughtfromtheprison,andasentencewasreadoverit.Thenitwasthrownintothefire.[26]

Withoutdoubtthevalleypeoplehopedthatforthemthenewcenturywouldbebetterthanthelast.Butin1622DePropagandaFide(theSocietyforthePropagationoftheFaith)cameintobeing.Significantlyfor the Waldenses, its name would be extended to include et Extirpandis Haeretics (and theExterminationofHeretics).[27]

InAugustof1629floodsandhighwindsdestroyedmanyWaldensianhomesandsomemajorcrops.[28]ThefollowingMaythebubonicplagueenteredthevalleys.Itragedallsummer,subsidedduringthewinter,andbrokeoutagainthenextspring,diminishingthepopulationbymorethanhalf.

Nofamilywasuntouchedbythedeadlyillness,andsomewerecompletelywipedout.Whilecropswitheredinthefieldsandfruitonthevines,thevalleypeoplewentaboutthesoberbusinessofdisposing

ofthedead.Bodieswereinterredatsuchaninflatedcostthatsometimesafamilyhadtosellitsfarmtosecurearespectableburialforlovedones.Somebodieswereburnedtoashesinsidetheirtorchedhomesbecausenoonedaredtotouchthem.Obviously,thosewhoministeredtotheillanddyingdidsoatgreatrisk.OutofsixteenWaldensianpastorsinthevalleysonlytwosurvived.[29]

IfseverelossresultingfromnaturaldisasterswasnotenoughtroublefortheWaldensianvalleys,in1650abranchofDePropagandaFideappearedinTurin.[30]Itmayhaveoccurredtosomeofthevalleypeoplethatthingscouldgetevenworse.

Chapter11Mid-seventeenth century Waldenses lived in an era when Protestants themselves had become

involved in the power game. Intent on advancing the kingdom of heaven politically, they too had putarmiesintothefield.

Word out of France had Louis XIV heading a centralized church-state society and repressing anyProtestantforcesinParliamentoramonghisnobles.ItwassaidthatinEnglandCharlesIhopedtogoverninthesameway.ThencamereportsofadissidentrevolutioninEngland,andnewsthatCharleshadbeenbeheadedandaProtestantadoptingthetitle"LordProtector"washeadofstate.[1]

Closertohome,afifteen-year-oldhadbecomethedukeofSavoy.Hismother,Christine(sisterofaFrenchking,granddaughterofawomanimplicatedintheSt.Bartholomew'sMassacre,andsister-in-lawofEngland'sill-fatedCharles),actuallyheldthereinsofpower.Shewouldremaininfluentialevenafterhersoncametomaturityand,infact,throughoutmuchofhisreign.PeoplecalledherMadamaReal.[2]

OverthemountainsfromFranceandintothehighPiedmontthenewskeptcoming.AllegedlybecausetheHuguenotcommunityconstituteda"statewithinastate," thoseFrenchProtestantswhoseprotectionshadinsomewaysparalleledthoseoftheWaldensesofPiedmontwerelosingprivilegesintheinterestofcentralcontrol.AstheylearnedoftheshrinkingHuguenotfreedoms,thevalleypeoplemusthavewatchedtheir Royal Madam with apprehension. Considering her French connections and her brother-in-law'srecentfate,howwouldshedealwithherProtestants?[3]

ThatcoercionfollowedprotestjustaspeacefollowedsubmissionwasagivenfortheWaldenses.ItwasaspredictableascloudsmovinginlandfromtheAdriatictodroptheirmoistureontheAlps;assureasthetorrentsofsnowwaterrushingthroughthevalleystowardarivercalledPo;ascertainasthesurgeofthemightyPoitself,bentonreachingthesea.[4]Seventeenth-centuryWaldensesknewthefactsaboutresistance.Buttheyknewsomeofthemonlyfromtheirparentsandgrandparents.Theyknewthemasoneknowsastoryoftentold.

To be sure, the post-Cavour generation of Waldenses had experienced coercion. They had livedthrough the disappearance of children known to turn up later in a convent,monastery, or the home ofsomeonecommittedtothestatechurch.[5]TheyhaddealtwithactivistwomenfromDePropagandaFideexploitingfamilydifferencesandbusinessreversalstopromiseadvantagesforthosewhowouldconvert.[6]TheyhaddonebusinesswithMontediPieta,alendingorganizationshowingtheirborrowersnomercyunlesstheypromisedtoattendmass.[7]

ThenewWaldensesunderstoodwhat itwas tobelong to aghetto.Theyknewwhat itmeant tobeeconomicallyandreligiouslybound.Whattheydidnotknowwashowitfelttohavetheduke'sultimatumbearingdownuponthemandLaTrinita'sarmywaitingforthego-ahead.Theyhadneverchasedattackingsoldiersthroughtheravines.Andtheywerenotawarethatforcesfromwithinchurchandstatewereeven

theneyeingthemcloselyandconsideringtheexterminationofalltheProtestantsintheAlps.Given the limits of the Waldenses' knowledge, and given that repeated influxes of refugees had

renderedtheirlandunabletosupportitspopulation,itdoesnotseemstrangethatsomeofthemventuredtosettleoutsideCavour-protectedboundaries.Andtheygrewbolderyet.Theybuiltthemselvesachapeloutthere.

To officials in Turin theWaldenses' behavior smelled of "colonization" and "conquest." The dukeorderedthelittlemeetinghousedemolished.TheWaldenseserecteditagain.[8]

IncidentsbetweenthegovernmentandtheWaldensesmultiplied.AuthoritiesfrettedaboutthenumberofcitizensconvertingtotheWaldensianfaithandthenumberofWaldenseswho,havingoncerenouncedtheirfaith,returnedtoit.WaldensesworriedwhentheirFrench-speakingpastors--menwhohadcometotheir aid when most of their own pastors died of the plague--were ordered out of the country. Theyignored the order. Because friars were known to have abductedWaldensian children, theWaldenseschafedwhentheRoyalMadampurchasedpropertyformonasteriesintheirvalleys.Reminiscentofearlierresisters,Waldensian activists disturbed masses, burned houses, and physically removed some of thefriarsfromtheirland.[9]

InTurin thepressurebuilt. In1650, thesameyear that theCouncil for thePropagationof theFaithcame to Turin, the government withdrew all Waldensian privileges, and an official named AndreaGastaldoreceivedsomeinstructions.ItwashisjobtoforceWaldenseslivingoutsidethetoleratedlimits,evenincertainterritoryinhabitedbyWaldensesforcenturies,tomovetohighervalleys.[10]

AsGastaldodidnotatonceinsistuponthemove,theWaldensesinquestionstayedwheretheywereandwaited.Someoftheirancestorshadbentquietlyunderpressure,theymusthaverecollected.Othershadrisenupandfought.Stillareligiousminorityand,asalways,stepchildrenofthestate,whatshouldtheydo?

Three years went by. Then in an ill-conceived attempt to rid the valleys of friars, Waldensianextremistsburneddownamonastery.Oneofthoseinvolvedwasthewifeofaforeignpastor.[11]

Given thedelicacyof their situation,prudentWaldenseswerealarmed.Theypromised to send theSwisspastorandhisoffendingwifebacktoSwitzerlandandagreedtoprovideanotherbuildinginplaceof the one that burned. Appeased, the duke lifted all faith-related convictions, even permitting theWaldensestovisittheirsickoutsidetheboundaries.Thefollowingyearherenewedtheseconcessions.

WithGastaldo'sominousorderseeminglyaverted,Waldensesoutsidethepermittedareaplantedtheirfieldsandtendednewlambsintranquility.Cropsgrewandmatured.Undertheslantingraysofautumnsunthevalleypeoplegatheredthemin.Then,eightmonthsaftertherenewedconcessions,Gastaldoreceiveddirectionstoenforcehisdecree.

Including residents of the long-establishedWaldensian towns of San Giovanni and La Torre, thedecree stipulated, anyone unwilling to join with the state church had three days to move to higherlocations. They had twenty days to sell their vacated property to followers of the state church.Disobediencewouldbepunishablebyconfiscationofpropertyanddeath.

Snow clouds grew dark over the valleys. Thewindmoaned around the eaves of cottages built todiminishthefreezingcold.Waldensesfromtheareasinquestionlistenedtotheorderinstunnedsilence.ItwasJanuaryof1655.[12]

Close to two thousandWaldenses start out in rainand sleet in response toGastaldo'sorder.[13]

Theyincludetheyoungandtheaged,thehardyandtheill.Notoneremainsathometoabandonfaith.Fording torrents and struggling up steep, slippery pathswith asmany possessions as they can

carry,thedisplacedpeoplemaketheirwaytowardthehighervalleys.Perhapstheycanreturnhomelater,theyencouragethemselves.Surelytheirpastorswillspeakwiththedukeandrightwhateveriswrong.

Perhaps overcomeby fatigue and cold along themountain trails, some refugees take shelter incaves or forests.Othersmake it to the cottages of friends and to tables loadedwith polenta,milk,butter,androastedchestnuts.

Below,WaldensianpastorstraveltheroadtoTurin.Theyintendtoassurethedukeofhissubjects'obedienceandpleadforareversalofthedecree.Theyaredeniedahearing.[14]

If,asitissaid,theduke'searhadbeen"poisonedbyfalsehood,"whatfollowedwouldhaveseemedtoverifyanystorieshehadheard.Withinoneweekoftheevacuation,apriestinoneoftheemptiedareaswasmurdered.RumorhaditthatapastorbythenameofJeanLegerwasbehindtheact.Bymid-summerLegerwouldbedeclaredinnocent,andsomewouldbelievethatthemurderincidentsmackedofintrigue.[15]Butbeforetheacquittal--infact,bythemiddleofApril--anarmyunderthecommandofoneMarquessofPianezzawasreadytoexecutealong-consideredplan.[16]

Pianezza'sarmy,likethoseassembledagainsttheWaldensesincenturiespast,wasamix.RegimentsfromFrance,Germany,Italy,andBavariajoinedanIrishcompanydisplacedbyProtestantoperationsinIrelandandnumerousvolunteersfromPiedmontwhocamealongforthebooty.[17]Undoubtedly,motivesfortheattackvaried.ButitislikelythatmanysharedtheopinionofFabrizioTorre,thepriestwholaterdescribedeventsonandaroundthedaysomelatercalled"PiedmontEaster."[18]

"Itisnotamatterofwar,"Torreexplained,"butratherofexterminatingamultitudeofenemiesofGodandrebelsagainsttheirprince."Torredescribedtroopsfullofcourageandfaith"huntingdownthewildbeasts of hell with such butchery that to escape death by steel they rushed headlong with wives andchildrenintothevalleyswheretheysawnothingbutfireandslaughter."[19]

Torre's report would not have contradicted that of Pastor Leger who saw the devastation of theLuserna valley as worse than that experienced by Judea in the days of the Old Testament prophetJeremiah.TheAngrognavalleyaswellwasturnedtorubble.ThePradelTornofellwithoutresistance.[20]

And the countrywasworse than pillaged.At a signal from the hill of Castelluzzo the killing hadbegun. Not content with dispatching their victims speedily, soldiers invented methods of torture andkilling.When itwas all over, on thehighestmountains and in caves andholes of the rocks, survivorswandered,childrencriedforfood,andoverhillandvalleylaydismemberedbodies,unprotectedfromthe

wildanimals.[21]

"'O that my head were waters,'" cried Leger, borrowing the words of Jeremiah, "'andmy eyes afountainoftears,thatImightweepdayandnightfortheslainofthedaughterofmypeople!'"[22]ButLegerdid not merely weep. In the presence of notaries-public, he began gathering depositions from thesurvivingvalleypeople.Fromtheiraccountshecoulddocumentthewaratrocities.Hewouldneedthisevidenceinhis"warcommunique."[23]

Friends counseled Leger to showmore restraint in his writing, and as a consequence, he sent anabridged letter to Holland, England, Germany, and Switzerland. But the unspeakable grief of theWaldensiansurvivorscouldnotbeeditedout.Theletterbegan:"BrethrenandFathers.--Ourtearsarenomoretearsofwater,butofblood..."[24]

Leger'sletterrousedEngland'sProtestant"LordProtector,"OliverCromwell.Hedeclaredadayofprayer and fasting in churches across England and urgedministers to go to the homes of the people,receivingdonationsforsurvivorsinthevalleys.HealsocalledonotherEuropeanstatestojoinhiminapplyingpressureonSavoy.

Findingitself inthecrossfireofpublicoutrage, thegovernmentofSavoyattemptedtominimizetheWaldensian issue.ButDutchprinterswere flooding themarketwithstoriesof torture in thevalleys. InEnglandsomeonehadwrittenaballadaboutthepoorpeopleofPiedmont,andithadcaughton.Indeed,publicopinionhadbecomeagreatwaterfallleapingovertherocks.Therewasnoturningitback.[25]

ForallthediscomfortassociatedwithbecomingEurope'svillain,Savoyrejoicedthatalongstandingprobleminthemountainshadbeensolved.ThecathedralinTurinhousedapublicrecantation,withfortyrepresentativeWaldensesandtwopastorsrenouncingtheirfaith.Terror-strickensurvivorscameinlargenumberstobeinstructedinthestatereligion.AndPianezzaorderedcelebrationsinsubmissivevillages,displayingineachsuchvillagetwosignificantemblems:thecross,andthesovereign'scoatofarms.[26]

ButinthemountainvillageofRorawheretwenty-fivefamiliesstill lived,the"problem"remained.Tosolve it,Pianezzafirstsentoutanorder. If thepeopleofRoradidnotwant therestof theirhousesburned,theirtreesaxedandthemselvesexecuted,withintwenty-fourhourstheywouldattendmass.ThefamiliesofRoradeclined.

NextPianezzasentsoldiers.Beforeitwasoverhewoulddispensethreedivisions(orabout10,000men)todealwithafewruralfamilies.[27]Thatwasbecauseafarmerwiththespiritofalionlivedinthatfertile valley. His namewas Giosue Gianavello. Captain Gianavello it would become inWaldensianannals.[28]

Repeatedly,withthehelpofasmallbandGianavellodefendedRora.Yetintheendhewasnotableto save all his neighbors. At last, withmany of thewomen and childrenwounded, slain, or taken asprisonersofwar (among theprisoners,hisownwifeanddaughters),Gianavello facedwhatmusthavebeenthegreatestchallengeofall.

"Iexhortyouforthelasttimetorenounceyourheresy,"GianavelloreadsahandwrittenultimatumsignedbytheMarquessofPianezza."Thisistheonlyhopeofobtainingthepardonofyourprince."

TheburlyWaldensianreadson,hismouthsetgrimly.Reachingapartoftheletterthatdetailstheprojecteddeathofhiswifeanddaughtersifhewillnotagreetorenounce,heswallowshard.Therewillbenotormentsomitted,theletteradds,shouldPianezzagethishandsonhim.

TheWaldensianpatriotwastesnotimeinreplying."Yourthreatscannotcausemetorenouncemyfaith; theybut fortifymein it."hewrites inbold

letters.Hewillexperiencethemostbarbarousdeath,hesays,ratherthangiveuphisfaith.Asforhiswifeanddaughters--andherethecaptainpausesandwipeshiseyesonhissleeve--heisplacingtheirsouls,andhisown,inthehandsofGod.[29]

What had begun as an attack on the Waldenses was about to turn into guerilla warfare in themountains.MensuchasGianavelloandBartolomeoGiaheriwhomGianavellomet in lateMay[30] hadcometoseetheCounter-Reformationasmorethanaverificationofreligiousdoctrine.Theysawitasasystemofviolence.Andinthecivilgovernmentthatshouldhavebeentheirprotectortheyrecognizedtheexecutioner.

HowshouldtheyrelatetothecourtofSavoy--ascitizenswhomustbetoldwhattobelieve?Asenseofdestinycameuponthevalleyfighters.TheydecidedthattheywouldansweronlytoGod.[31]

That"amoraleofdesperation"senttheWaldensianguerillasout,spreadingdreadintheirattemptstogetfoodandrecoverpillagedpossessions,doesnotseeminconceivable.Thesemenhadlosteverything.Theirhomeswererubble.Theircattlewerelooted.Theremainsoftheirfarmstheyhadnotthehearttorestore.What they did still have--albeit scattered and diminished--was a church. They had a God towhom they prayed bothmorning and night. And they had an ethic requiring them to shed no innocentblood.[32]

Yearsbefore,theWaldenseshaddevelopedalogofortheirchurch,alightedlampencircledbystarswiththewords,Luxlucetintenebris.[33]ThatlamphadflickeredintheAprilstorm.ButifGianavelloandhislikehadanythingtodowithit,itwouldnotgoout.[34]

Chapter12AsearlyasJuneayoungEnglishdiplomatbythenameofSamuelMorlandarrivedattheducalpalace

ofSavoy.Tohisaudiencewiththethentwenty-one-year-olddukeandhismotherMorlandcarriedaletterfromEngland'sheadofstate.TheletterwaswritteninLatin,addressedtothe"MostSerenePrince"andsigned,"Oliver,Protector."[1]

Inadditiontothepersonalcorrespondence,Morlandcarriedaspeech,alsoinLatin.BothdocumentsweretheworkofOliverCromwell'sLatinsecretary,avision-impairedbutarticulatecivilservantwhoseconvictionsabouttheWaldensianmassacre,likethoseofCromwell,randeep.[2]

Whether one saw the Protector as ruthless or fearless, England's Cromwell was a man with asubstantialmilitaryrecord.WhenhevowedtoputastoptoviolenceinthevalleysevenifhehadtosailhisshipsovertheAlpstodoit,peoplelistened.[3]YetthecorrespondenceCromwell'senvoydeliveredtotheducalpalacewastheepitomeofrestraint.

Tactfullytheletterbroughttotheduke'sattentionGastaldo'sorderandthesubsequentslaughterinthevalleys.Hundredsof families, itpointedout,were still inhidingon snow-coveredmountains.Withoutintervention, theymight shortlyperish.Onbehalfof theseandallprofessorsof theReformedfaith, theletterpledforreparationandtherestorationofancientrightsandprivileges.[4]

Unliketheletter,thespeechwaspassionate.[5]Morlandhadcometotheduke'spalacebywayofthevalleys,andthedevastationwasfreshinhismind.Evenso,inpresentingthespeechheappearstohavefelt theneedtotonedownsomeofthesecretary'sexpressions.[6]Ofrapeandcannibalismandoldmenburnedalive,theProtector'ssecretaryhadsparedhislistenersnothing.

Whentheorationwasfinished,itwastheRoyalMadamwhospoke.Cromwell,sheobserved,mayhavebeenmisinformed.Itwasremarkablehowmalice inducedpeople torepresent thechastisementofsubjects insucha"blackandugly"way!Butshewouldpardonhersubjects,shesaid.Morlandshouldconvey to theProtector that theWaldenseswould receive"privilegesandgraces"enough tosatisfyhiswishes.

Hispresentationover,theEnglishenvoysettledintoawaittheduke'swrittenreply.Duringthislullhe was not allowed to speak with any Waldenses, but he did confer several times with the Frenchambassador, who seemed committed to discouraging Protestant states from getting involved in theWaldensianissue.ThisambassadorcounseledMorlandtogivetheProtectoramildlystatedreport.

Finally,withwordoftheRoyalMadam'sresponse,theduke'swrittenreply,andanattachedstatementsummarizingtheWaldenses'offencesandidentifyingthemasunmanageablerebels,MorlandleftTurin.Bythis time itwasmid-July.[7]Meanwhile,perhaps relievedof composing letters and speeches, theLatinsecretaryseemstohavebeenathisseriousavocation--writingverse.

Awork-in-progressliesonthedeskbeforethesecretary.Hisdarkeyesareintenseashecomposes,

scratchesoutaphrase,andproceedsagain."Avenge,OLord,thyslaughteredsaints,whosebonesLiescatteredontheAlpinemountainscold..."TheLatinsecretarynodsapprovingly.Hewillkeepthoselines.As he continues, from time to time the secretary lays down his pen and stares, apparently at

nothing.Butwhenhereturnstohiswriting,itisasifrealpeopleappearuponthepage.PeoplelikethewifeofPaulParisawhoaftertherestofherfamilyhasbeencutinpiecesisthrown,babeinarms,fromahigh rock--possibly theCastelluzzo.OrAnnMalanot,whowithan eight-month-old infant isrolleddownamountainside.[8]Betweenpauses,thesecretarybendscloseoverhiswriting.

"Forgetnot:inthybookrecordtheirgroansWhowerethysheepandintheirancientfoldSlainbythebloodyPiedmontesethatrolledMotherwithinfantdowntherocks.TheirmoansThevalesredoubledtothehills,andtheyToheaven...."[9]

At last, squinting, the Latin secretary examines his work from beginning to end and appearssatisfied.Tothefinishedsonnetheaddshisname.JohnMilton.

InAugustafterMorland'svisit,SavoymadeatreatywithareluctantJeanLegerandseventeenotherWaldensiansigners.Becauseofthedevastationintheirvalleys,thepeoplewouldreceiveafive-yeartaxexemptionbutnootherreparations.Theywouldbegrantedamnestyfortheirallegedoffencesandhavearighttotheirowncommunities.Theywouldevenbeallowedtoliveincertainplacesfromwhichtheyhadbeenexcluded,withonestipulation:theycouldnotworshipthere.(Infact,underthenewsettlementtheWaldenses'worshipareaswouldbemorerestrictedthanbefore.)

Suggestiveoftheongoingthreatofreligiousaggressionunderthenewtreaty,constructionofalargepentagon-shaped citadel, the "Fortress of Maria," began above La Torre about two weeks after thesigning.Inashorttimecannonsoverlookedthetownanditssurroundingcountryside.[10]Butperhapsnomorecouldbeexpectedofadocumentwithanameimplyingnotcitizenrightsbutsovereigngenerosity.Thoughsomecalledtheagreementthe"TreatyofPinerolo"forthetownwhereitwassigned,itwasalsotitledthe"PatentsofGrace."[11]

Gianavelloandhisarmedbandwerenotimpressed.Afterall,soldiersgarrisonedintheswiftlybuiltfortaboveLaTorrehelpedthemselvestowhatevergoodsthesurvivorsstillhad.Theysetfiretocrops.They beat up unprotectedWaldenses. They raped andmurdered at will.[12] For all his interest in theWaldensiancrisis,Cromwellhadnotreinforceddiplomacywithmilitaryaction.Fullyconvincedthathewas"theswordoftheLord,"Gianavellotookmattersintohisownhands.

Attacksoccurred, followedbyuprisingand in timeoutrightwar.[13]Fora fulleightyearsand thensome,thewarbetweentheguerillasandthegovernmentcontinued.Therewasnowinner.Inthefaceofstalemate,negotiationsfinallyproducedtheprospectofpeaceoncertainconditions.TheWaldensesmet

insynodtodiscussthem.Why, argued those who vigorously opposed the conditions, should they pay the government an

indemnity?WhyshouldtheypermitGianavelloandhiscohortstobesentintoexile?Andwhyshouldtheyallowadelegatefromthegovernmenttoattendalltheirsynods?

Others,longingfortheendofwarandareturntoworkandworshipasusual,arguedjustasfervently.Whyshouldtheyliveconstantlyinfearandupheaval?Whyshouldthenewgenerationgrowupknowingnothingbutwar?

IntheendtheWaldensesacceptedthetermsofthePatentsofTurin--another"pardon"forallbutthefightersfacingexile,anotherdocumentgrantingreligiousfreedom,moreorless.[14]

The years of conflict had taken their toll on the valley people.While theRoyalMadam had diedduringthetalks,leavingtheduke,amoretemperateruler,tocarryon,thequietthatfollowedthewarlefttheWaldenses "outwardly safe," but "inwardly worn out." Gianavello and his chief men were gone.PastorLeger,earlieraccusedofanumberofseriouscrimes,hadseentheblowcomingandescaped.Thecommon people remaining were forced to tolerate a court representative at every synod. What hadseemedsoharmlessatthetimeofthediscussionsnowremindedthemthat,thoughtheterrorofwarmightbeover,theirautonomyasachurchwasgone.[15]

If it is true that"aman'sownmountainswillnevercease tospellhome,"[16]LegerandGianavellolongedfortheCottianAlpsfortherestoftheirlives.AndwhilethegovernmentinTurinmightremovethemfromtheWaldensianvalleys,itcouldneverremovethemfromtheWaldensiancause.

Leger found time apart from pastoring in exile to write about his people--their antiquity, theirdoctrine,andtheirsuffering.ForitsunrestraineddetailingofthePiedmontEaster,hisHistoriegeneraledesEglisesEvangeliquesdesValleesduPiemontwouldbe calledoneof themost dreadful books inexistence.[17]FromaninninGenevaanotherexilewrote,too.

TheinnkeepersitsatatableintheemptyinnwhenthemoonishighovertheSwissAlps."[K]eepthelinesofcommunicationbetweenthevariousvalleysopenatalltimes,eveninwinter,"

he scrawls, his head bent over a pile of scattered pages. By candlelight hewrites of storing food,destroyingbridges,firingweapons,andunitingtheWaldensianpeople.

"Thepastors...shouldleadyoungandoldtopledgefaithfulnesstoGod,"thesolitarywritergoeson,lipspursed,"totheirchurchandtotheirpeople,tothelastdropoftheirblood."[18]

Though theWaldenses of Piedmont may not need his simple manual of war tactics and ethicsimmediately,Gianavello'sinstinctsarestrong.Thepeacehispeoplehavebeenwillingtobargainforwillbetemporary.AssureasstormcloudsrollingintotheAlpinevalleysaftersunshine,persecutionwillreturn.[19]

Itwasinmostwaysaheadytimeforseventeenth-centuryLouisXIVofFrance.Hiseconomygrew,his military shone, and his personage increasingly illuminated Europe. "The Sun King," people werecallinghim.ToLouis,whobelievedhimselfdivinelyappointedwithauthorityevenovertheconsciencesofhissubjects,thetitlemaynothaveseemedoverstated.

"Onelaw,onefaith,oneking"characterizedLouis'philosophy.[20]WhichsuggeststhatFrance'slargenumber ofHuguenots, protected for the better part of a hundred years by theEdict ofNantes,were afigurative finger in his eye. As long as they persisted in their peculiar brand of religion, there were,withoutdispute,twofaithsinFrance.

Louiscouldnotmakepeacewiththesituation.Somesuggestthathecouldnotmakepeacewithhisconscienceeither,andthatfollowingtheadviceofhisconfessor,heboredownupontheProtestantsasameansofatoningforhissins.[21]

ForseveralyearsLouissenthisdragoons[22]intoHuguenotcommunitieswherewith"alittleselectbrutality"theymademanyconverts.ButotherHuguenotspersistentlyheldtotheirownfaithand,inLouis'opinion,madethebigstepnecessary.In1685,thesameyearasthepublicationofGianavello'smanual,LouisrevokedtheEdictofNantesandproclaimedFrenchProtestantismextinct.

Perceptivelyignoringtheirmonarch'scommandtostaywithinthecountry,hundredsofthousandsofHuguenotsfledFrance.SomewenttoProtestantHolland,England,andGermany.NotafewendedupinPiedmont.[23]

Though inexperienced,VictorAmadeusIIhadat leastone thinggoingforhim.As thenewdukeofSavoy,hewashavingnotroublewithhissubjectsinthemountainousregionwestofTurin.Waldensianmenhadfoughtbravelyinhisarmy,andonlyrecentlyhehadwrittenthemaletterofthanks.Nodoubttheduke'slettertohisvalleypeoplewasstillfreshinhismindthedayaFrenchambassadorappearedatthegateofhispalacebringingamessagefromhisuncle,LouisXIV.

ThemessagefromhisuncleLouisremindedthedukethataninordinatenumberofProtestantslivednearthemutualborderofFranceandSavoyinthehighPiedmontvalleys.Louiswantedsomethingdoneabout that. In short, hewanted his nephew to take the samemeasures in Piedmont as he had taken inFrance.[24]

Perhapsthemeetingbetweentheambassadorandthedukeranlong,withtheFrenchmanpressingforsomewordofcompliancefromtheduke.Butwhetherfromprincipleorsheerobstinacy,VictorAmadeusmadenopromisesthatday.

TheSunKingwasnotpleased.Notabouttobeputoffbyastriplingnephew,hesentmoremessages.Hewould be glad, he explained, to provide the duke all the help he needed to carry out "so pious adesign."Thenmovingdeftlyfrompersuasiontothreat,headdedthatifthedukepreferrednottodealwiththevalleys,hewouldcleansethemhimselfandinsuchacaseannexthemtoFrance.

NowLouishadhisnephew'sattention.TheresultingagreementprovidedforFrenchtroopstoassistthedukeineitherconvertingthevalleypeopletothestatereligion,orexterminatingthem.Thefirstinklingof trouble probably came to the Waldenses on January 31, 1686 when the duke issued a decree indeference,asheexplainedinthepreamble,tothe"GloriousMonarchofFrance."

Nodoubtthevalleypeoplerecognizedthattheduke'spreamblewasasymbolicwashingofhishands.Butwashedorunwashed,thehandofVictorAmadeushadsignedalistofdemandsthatmadethemcatchtheirbreath:

Under pain of death and confiscation of property, theWaldenseswere to discontinue forever theirformofworship.

Waldensianchurchesweretoberazed.Waldensianpastorsandteachersweretoconverttothestatechurchorleavethecountrywithinfifteen

days.Babiesandchildrenweretobebaptizedandeducatedinthestatechurch.Propertiesofthoseleavingthecountryweretobesoldonlytopersonsloyaltothestatechurch.Alltheancientprivilegesweretoberevoked.The foregoing rules were to pertain to Protestant foreigners as well as longtime residents of the

Piedmontvalleys.[25]

WithstrickenfacestheWaldensesofPiedmontdiscussthegovernmentultimatum.Oldermenandwomencanstillrecollectthemassacrethoughthesharpmemorieshavefaded.Theyoungdonotevenremember it. Waldensian children cling to their mothers' skirts while the grownups talk in hushedvoices.

"Whatiswrong,Mama?"thechildrenplead."Therearesomebadlaws,"themotherstell theminsoothingvoices."Butourdukelikesus.We

willtalktoourduke."Thevalleypeopletriedeverydiplomatictactictheycouldthinkoftogetthedecreereversed.They

remindedthedukeoftheirloyalty.TheyremindedhimoftheprivilegesgrantedthematCavour.Whattheyfinallygraspedwasthefact thatVictorAmadeushadforgottenneithertheir loyaltynorCavour.Hehadsimplymadeapoliticallyexpedientchoice.

Havingfailedtodissuadetheduke,theWaldenseslookedaboutfortheProtestantsofEuropewhohadrisenupinindignationafterthemassacrein1655.ButmuchofEuropewassilent.Cromwellwasdead.ThoseProtestantswhodidattempttointercedefortheWaldensesfailedtomovetheduke.AsFrenchandSavoyanarmiesreadiedforanattack,SwissProtestantenvoysbeggedtheirPiedmontbrothersandsisterstoemigrate.

"Exileisbetterthandeath!"theyurged.TheWaldenseslookeddumblyateachother.ShouldtheydoastheirSwisssympathizersadvised,and

build new lives in a strange land?Should they leave the homevalleyswithout even a gleam from theWaldensianlamp?Orshouldtheydefendthemselves?

TheWaldensian church in the highPiedmont valleys had a grave decision tomake.No one couldmakeitforthem.Andnoonewouldhelpthemfightiftheychosetostay.Theywereontheirown.[26]

Chapter13WithhisHuguenotfatherandWaldensianmother,PastorHenryArnaudhadcometothevalleysasa

teenagershortlyafter thegreatmassacre.Gianavelloandhisguerillaswere in theirheyday,andas thevalley bottoms caught and held rain in springtime, the impressionable Arnaud soaked up news of thefighting. Stories of Gianavello became a part of him. Later trained both as pastor and soldier, in thewrenchingdecisionof1686Arnaudissaidtohavethrownhisinfluenceonthesideofresistance.[1]

Thedecision to resistwasnot easilycomeby.WithSavoyanandFrench troopsalreadypoised innearbyPinerolo,andSwissnegotiatorsparleyinginTurinfor timeandtheWaldenses' releasefromthecountry,themajorityofthevalleypeoplewereeagertogo.Butsomeclungtothehopethattheymightyetplead for and obtain religious freedom. Another group wanted to defend themselves. In the end thispositionprevailed.

No doubt a number of factors influenced the reversal in majority opinion. For one thing, theemigrationpermittheyfinallyreceivedinstructedthevalleypeopletolaydowntheirarmsandgointhreeseparatecompaniesdepartingonthreedifferentdays.

TheWaldenseswerecautious.Whyshouldtheymakethemselvessovulnerable?Whatwastokeepthetroopsalreadygatheredforbattlefromcuttingtheirthroats?Wasthepermitmerelyasnare?

It is also said that in a passionate speech appealing toWaldensian history and promises from theScripturesArnaudtipped thebalancesofmajorityopinion.Forwhateverreasons, thevalleypeoplebyandlargedecidedtorejectthepermit,remaininthelandoftheirfathers,andleavetheoutcomewithGod.

But if theWaldenseswereconvinced that theyshouldstayanddefend thehomevalleys, theSwissdelegateswerenot.Beforeleaving,someofthemtriedunsuccessfullytodissuadeArnaudandhisearnestfriendsfromtheirplan.WhentheycouldneitherbuymoretimefromthedukenorconvincetheWaldensestodepartthecountry,theywenthome.[2]

MonthshadpassedsincetheinitialJanuaryedict--monthsheavywithanguishanddisagreementaboutwhat course to take. Now nearing Easter, the Waldenses prepared to meet whatever awaited themtogether. They assembled a fighting force comprised of 2,500menwith arms and began to repair olddefenses.[3]

"LordJesus!Youwhohavesufferedanddiedforus,"ArnaudprayedaloudatachurchinAngrogna,"grantusgracetosufferanddieforYou."

"IcandoallthingsthroughChristwhostrengthensme,"thevalleypeopleresponded.[4]

April20wastheduke'sfinaldeadlineforcomplianceorexile.OnApril21,throughoutthevalleystheWaldensesheldcommunionservices,manyofthemoutofdoors.[5]

LateAprilhadbroughtbriskwindsandnoisy,tumblingtorrentstothevalleysofthehighPiedmont.Clouds piling up over the mountains held promise of meadows alive with cornflowers and poppies,

larkspursandbuttercups.[6]ItwasthetimeofyearwhenaWaldensianboylookedtwiceatafaceinatrimwhitebonnetandsawabeautyhehadoverlooked.[7]Butnotthisspring.ThisspringWaldensesyoungandoldwerepreoccupied.Andnowonder.

Foralltheirconviction,thevalleypeoplewerenotreadytocontendwiththe10,000better-preparedinvaders fromSavoy andFrance.Waldensian fighters lacked training and leadership, not tomention aplan.IneveryrespecttheywereunreadytocontendwithGeneralCatinat,oneofFrance'smostpromisingmilitaryminds. TheWaldenses needed amiracle in the spring of 1686. Instead therewas a three-dayblitzkrieg.

Asalmosthourlynewplumesofsmokeroseandspreadintheskyoverthevalleys,onebyonethehistoric strongholds fell.Notall theenemies'victorieswerewonbymight.Waldensian fightersatonepostwereadvisedthattheirbrothersinotherlocationshadsurrendered.Oftenrepeated,thistactichelpedtoweardowntheWaldenses.Finally,allhopesdashed,theyhoistedthewhiteflagofsurrender.

ThreedaysofhorrorandtheWaldensianresistancehadbeenbroken.[8]Forthosewhoremembered,itmust have felt like 1655 all over again. In some instances the sweep through the valleys had turnedsadistic.Eye-witnesseswouldtellofvictimsnamedandnameless--awomanatthepointofdeliveringachild;PaulMegle,sickinbed;engaged-to-be-marriedMaryRomain;awomannamedJaimonate...[9]

Whenitwasallover,corpsesdangledfromtreesintheforestwhileprisonersropedtogetherinlongcolumnsmarched throughasteadyrain.[10]Fromapopulationofabout14,000Waldenses inPiedmont,1,600 were dead and at least 2,000 had gone over to the state church. In those mournful humanprocessions moving toward the castles, fortresses, and prisons of Piedmont another 8,500 could beaccountedfor.Stillothers,amongthemPastorArnaud,hadescaped.[11]

Abovethecarnage,grief,anddesolation,theAlpinepeaksroseliketheonlyearthlyconstantsintheWaldenses'lives.

"Whatevermendo,"someonehassaid,"themountainsareinnocent."[12]

Inacantonfarfromhishomevalleys,aWaldensianpastorwalksaloneunderthestars.Hisheadisdown.Hisstepsareslow.Moonlightmakesof theSwissAlps large, loomingshadows,andalittlenightbreezestirsthegrassesbesidethepastor'spath.Onandonhetrudges,notlookingup.

Hasheledthepeoplewrong?Hadtheynotforsakenalltheirsins?Wasthedevastationhisfault?WherewastheinterveninghandofGod?AtlastArnaudtiltshisheadtolookupatthestarsandmouthsoneurgentword."Why?"[13]

ItwaswellforArnaudthathecouldnotseethecircumstancesofhisincarceratedfriends.Foulair,rankandinsufficientfoodandwater,crowding--theseinthemselveswouldhavetendedtodiseaseevenwithout the filth, lice,extremes in temperature,and largeworms thatsometimesgnawedat thestrickenwhiletheystilllived.

Andtherewas thesorrow.Theprisonerswerenotonlymiserableandhomesick,butmanyof themdidnotknowwhathadbecomeof theirchildren.Otherswhoseyounghadaccompanied themtoprisonwereforcedtowatchthemdie.[14]Isitanywonderthatwhenintheautumntheopportunitytoconverttostatereligioncamearoundagain,only3,845remainedalivetochoose?

Thosewhoopted tochange their religionwerereleasedfromprison.Theywouldberesettled inapartoftheduke'sterritoryknownasVercelli.Fortunatelyforthe2,719whostillrefusedtochange,Swissenvoyscametotheiraidagain,negotiatingtheirdeparturefromSavoy.

Thedukeagreedtoletthesepersistentonesgowithtwostipulations:thathecouldkeepthepastorsashostagesinTurin,andthattheemigrantswouldnotremainnearhisborder.Theyweretogoasfarnorthaspossible.

Accompanied by Savoyan escorts and Swiss guards, the first column of prisoners departing thecountryfiledoutunderaJanuarysky.Ithadbeenoneyearsincetheirkindofworshiphadbeendeclaredillegal.Since theday theyhadcelebratedcommunion in spiteof the law,how theyhadchanged!Nowpoorlycladandalmostskeletal,theyshiveredinthecoldsunlight.TheAlpstoweredintheirpath.Theywenttowardthem.[15]

In all, thirteen groups ofWaldenses fromvarious holdingplacesmade theirwayover theAlps toGeneva before themiddle ofMarch.Hundreds died along theway, some at the very gate of freedom.Typically, at Geneva a crowd turned out to welcome the survivors. City council leaders, ProtestantpastorsincludingArnaud,eventheoldwarriorGianavelloappearedamongthegreeters.Theygatheredtheweakened,bedraggled,frostbittenWaldensesintotheirarmsandviedwitheachothertotakethemtotheirhomes.[16]

TheWaldensianemigrantswerefree.IntheirnewsurroundingstheycouldworshipGodinanywaytheypleased.Theywere grateful to their benefactors.Theywere grateful toGod. In time their frameswouldbegintofillout,andtheirstrengthwouldreturn.Butsomethinginsidethemwouldnotentirelyheal.Andwhen they prayed, theywould kneelwith their faces toward the home valleys and themountainswheretheirfallenlovedonesslept.[17]

Rulers in Europe were tiring of the aggression of France's Louis XIV. An alliance promoted byProtestantWilliamofOrangefromtheNetherlandsmettodiscusstheblockingoftheSunKing'sadvance.

Ascoalitionmemberssawit,theirchallengewasbiggerthanmerelyregainingabalanceofpowerintheregion.TheybelievedthatfreedomwasatstakeandthatlefttotheirdevicesLouisandhisadvisorswouldworktheruinofbothpoliticalandreligiousfreedom.Asthecoalitionpreparedforintervention,theyspokeofwinningoverLouis'youngnephew,VictorAmadeus,theWaldenses'duke.[18]

SincetheWaldensianpurging,thedukehadsufferedpoliticallyamongtheProtestantstatesofEurope.Evenonthedomesticfront,postwarproblemshaddoggedhim.ByearlyMayaftertheAprilwar,aboutathousandWaldensianchildren,orphanedorseparated(someforcibly)fromtheirparents,hadbeenfoundamong the ruinsand in thewoods.Tattered,hungry,and large-eyed, theyarrivedwith their rescuers intownsatthefootofthemountains.SucharefugeeproblemhadbeenundreamedofinPiedmont.Whatto

do?Fortunatelyfortheduke,kindheartedmembersofthestatechurchreceivedmanyofthesewaifsinto

theirfamiliesaseitherservantsorfamilymembers.Thoughtheywould,ofcourse,educatethechildrenintheirownreligion,stilltheiractsofcompassionsparkledlikestarsoverthemountains.[19]

But ifonepostwarproblemhadgoneaway,not allhad.Byautumn, in spiteofCatinat's efforts tocombthemountainsforsurvivors,scrawnyWaldensianmenhadbegunemergingfromforestsandcaves,ravines, and crags in themountains.Banding together, they raided communities for food and supplies,withoutdoubtbringingfearanddreadtolocalcitizens.[20]

InsecrecyVictorAmadeushadsentnegotiatorstospeakwiththeInvincibles,asthesemountaineerscame to be known. If they would leave his territory, he said, they could have a safe conduct toSwitzerland.TheInvinciblesthoughttheysawanopportunityintheoffer.Stilltheywerewary.

"Wewantourfamiliesreleasedfromprison,"theyresponded."Wewanttogowithourweapons,andwewantaSavoyanhostagewithustoguaranteeoursafety."

The duke had quietly acquiesced,[21] and with the departure of the Invincibles one more postwarproblemwent away. But even then, and even after his prisons had been largely emptied of religiousprisoners,theduke'swar-relateddistractionsremained.

For one thing, Victor Amadeus could not bring himself to trust the thousands of "converted"WaldensesamongthericefieldsofVercellinearerthesea.[22]ReportsofvisitorsfromtheSwisssideoftheAlpstroubledhim.[23]Asforthevalleys,despitehiseffortstorepopulatethemtheydidnotrecoverwell fromdevastation.Pilesof rockmarked the siteofWaldensiancottages.Vineswentunattended. Itwasasifitsnewownersdidnotknowtheland,andthelanddidnotknowthem.[24]

Truetotheiragreementwiththeduke,Swissauthoritiesproddedtheirrecoveringgueststomovefarfrom their homeland--to Germany, or to the New World. Some did.[25] But many resisted. An oldinnkeeper in Geneva began entertaining serious-looking visitors in his home. Some said that he andArnaudwereplanningsomething,andtheywantedtobearoundwhenithappened.

The restlessnessof such exilesworried theSwiss.Asnegotiators forWaldensian emigration, theyhadmadepromisestotheduke.Theyknewhismindontheissueoftheirguests'return.Andtheyknewthemind of his uncle Louis. Twice they succeeded in interceptingWaldensian patriots set on leaving thecountryandfightingtheirwaybackhome.[26]

TravelingtoHollandintheautumnof1688,Arnaudvisitedwithanti-FrenchcoalitionleaderWilliamofOrange,whoofferedsuppliesandfinancialaidinsupportofaWaldensianreturn.Butthetimetoreturntothevalleysmustbechosenwisely,Williamcounseled.Thepatriotshadbeenintoomuchofahurry.

Arnaudappearstohaveleftthatvisitwithaplan.Hewouldwait.Hewouldwatchtheinternationalsituation.Whenitwastimetoreturntothevalleys,hewouldknow.

Bylatesummerofthefollowingyear,revolutioninEnglandhadbroughtArnaud'sProtestantfriend,William,toEngland'sthrone,effectivelymovingEnglandintothecoalitionagainstFrance.Clearly,acrossEurope the Sun King was losing his brilliance. But one of the political trouble spots was Piedmont.

WilliamsentemissariestoArnaudwithaplanforanexpeditionintothearea,inessenceaguerillawar.A sense of the working of Providence came over Arnaud. He and his colleagues finalized their

strategies.ItwasAugustof1689.Anditwastime.[27]

Onabalmyeveninginlatesummer,athicklywoodedareaneartheshoreofLakeGenevaisfillingupwithmen.By the time themoon ishigh, thewoodsrustlewith thequietmovementsofsomeninehundred,allarmed.

PastorArnaudaddressestheblendedgroupofWaldensianandHuguenotvolunteers.[28]Ifanyoneisafraidoftherackandthegallows,hetellsthem,theyshouldturnback.Iftheywishtogoon,theyshouldsweartofightfaithfullytothedeath.

As he speaks, theWaldensian pastor glances at a little book he carries. It isGianavello's warmanual,theoldsoldierhavingsentitalongthoughatseventy-twohecannotgoonthemission.

Arnaudandtheninehundredkneelandprayinthewoodsatthelake'sedge.Alowvoiceandthesoundofwaterlappingfillthenight.Therearemutedamen's,footsteps,andtheswishoffifteenlittleboatspushingofffromland.[29]

Chapter14The campaign Arnaud would describe in his book La Glorieuse Rentree[1] spanned about nine

months.[2]ThecommandounitbeingsixtypercentWaldensianandonehundredpercentProtestant,ithasbeen described as "a Protestantmini-army, carrying out itsmission in the great anti-French battle."[3]

BecausefundsfromHollandprovidedthemenwithmusketsandbayonets,theyworeorangeribbonsontheirjacketsandcapsinhonorofWilliam,"PrinceofOrange."[4]Indeed,theymusthavelookedlikemerechessmenonthepoliticalchessboardofEurope.ButinthethinkingofHenryArnaudnothingcouldhavebeenfurtherfromthetruth.

Onemarvelsatthetenacityofthisman,onceagainreadytotakeonFranceandSavoywithasmallProtestantforce.Where,afterall,wastheguaranteethatthecoalitioncountriescouldactuallyovercometheFrenchmilitary?AndhowcouldArnaudandhisfewhundredeverhopetobeattheoddsthemselves?

These questions did not appear to troubleArnaud. To him themissionwas about only one thing:restoring thegospel light toPiedmont.Hewasconvinced the returnwasGod'swill. Ifheandhismenwerefaithfulinprayerandrepentance,successwouldcome.[5]

Takinghostagestoprotectthemselvesfromattackandleavingtheirwoundedandexhaustedbehind,thevolunteersfocuseddoggedlyontheone-hundred-thirty-miletrekoverthemountainstotheWaldensianvalleys.[6]Suchwastheirpacethat theyspannedonehundredtwenty-eightofthosemilesineightdays,neithersnownorfogdeterringthem.OveracenturylaterNapoleonwouldmarvelatthefeat.[7]TheymettheirfirstsignificantresistanceonaSeptembernightwhen,descendingasteepslopetowardaswollenDoraRiver,theyobservedthecampfiresofaFrencharmyjustbeyondtheonlybridge.[8]

The men move gingerly down the hillside under cover of darkness. Will no twig betray theiradvance?Willtheirsmallband,likeOldTestamentGideon's,[9]surprisethelargeforcelyinginwait?

"Whogoesthere?"ThebarkofaFrenchofficerbreaksthesilence."Friends,iftheyareallowedtopasson."Thevolunteerspausewheretheyareandwaitforaresponse."Kill!Kill!"theyheartheFrenchshouting.Theyhavetheiranswer.Astheycreepclosertothebridge,Arnaudurgesthemtopray.Suddenly the Waldensian-Huguenot fighters are caught between fire from the army across the

bridgeandanambushingdetachmentbehind.Theyfallflat.Theyareontheirstomachsbetweenenemyforceswhenoneofthevolunteersspringsup.

"Courage!Thebridgeiswon!"heyells.Inaninstant,theothersareontheirfeet."Courage!Thebridgeiswon!"Theshoutmultipliesandechoesfromthenearbymountains.Heads

down,thevolunteershurlthemselvesforwardoverthegroaningbridge.[10]

Intwohoursthefightingwasover.Themoonhadrisen,andinitslightthemengatheredasmuchof

theenemy'sfoodandarmsastheycouldcarryanddestroyedtherest.Blastsofburningammunitionrangamongthemountains.Trumpetsblared.Volunteersthrewtheircapsintotheilluminatedsky.

"ThanksbetotheLordofhosts,whohasgivenusthevictoryoverourenemies!"theyshouted.[11]

It had been an evening of mortal fear and high conquest. The adrenaline during battle and theexultation after had left the volunteers spent. Ordered tomarchwhile themoonwas bright, they keptfallingdowntosleepattheendofeachopenfield.Therearguardrousedthem.Upintothemountainsthelittlearmyclimbed,movingsouthinthemoonlighttowardPragelas.[12]

Nextmorning,sixhundredmuddyandtatteredvolunteers[13]werecrestingamountaintopwhileawayto the south a high rangewas coming to light.As one by one its peaks began to glow, theWaldensesrecognizedtheirownskyline.Inthanksgivingandconfessionofsinsthemenwenttotheirknees.[14]

Theadvancethroughthehomevalleyswasalmostuneventfulintermsofresistance.Buteachfamiliarclusterofhills,eachpass,andeachclearstreamwasitselfanevent.Andwhenthemendiscoveredoneoftheir littlesanctuariesstillstanding, theydeterminedtoworshipinit.LikethevalleypeopleinBobbiomore thanacenturyearlier theycleared the tinymeetinghouseof images.Piling theirweaponsoutside,halfofthesoldiersentered.Theothers,crowdingaroundthedoor,joinedtheopeningpsalm.[15]

"'OGod,whyhaveYoucastusoffforever?'"chantsixhundredvoicesatthelittlechurchcradledamongtheAlps.

"'WhydoesYourangersmokeagainstthesheepofYourpasture?'"[16]

Climbing upon a table Arnaud prepares to read. His soldier's hat is removed, and his head isslightly bowedover a tattered copyof Scripture.He resembles only a pastor here, never a fightingman.

"'Manyatimetheyhaveafflictedmefrommyyouth...,'"hebeginsinastrongvoice."'Theplowersplowedonmyback;They made their furrows long....'" (Now the pastor pauses--and now his voice vibrates with

emotion.)"'TheLORDisrighteous;Hehascutinpiecesthecordsofthewicked....'"ArnaudlaysdownhiscopyoftheScripturesandinhisinimitablestyleexhortsthemen.Toclose

theservice,sixhundredvoiceschanthissermontext."'TheLORDisrighteous;Hehascutinpiecesthecordsofthewicked....'"[17]

InthehushoftheAlpinemorningthewordsriselikeaprayer.[18]

Butarriving in theirhomevalleys,worshiping ina littlechurch thathadsurvived the1686sweep,dividing the spoils of the new residentswho fled before them--not one or all of these completed thehomecomingmission.Astheirpastor,Arnaudwasconcernedforthevolunteers.Becausetheyhadmetsolittleresistanceweretheybecomingoverconfident?Weretheylosingcohesivenessandpurpose?Hemusthave understood, even if they did not, that to destroy his small armywas theFrench generalCatinat's

settled design. Though they had reached the home valleys, they had not yet possessed the land. Thegreateststruggleofalllayahead.[19]

AtthelittlehilloverlookingBobbio,thesitewhereWaldensianforefathershadpledgedfaithtoGodandeachother,thepastorgatheredhismenandpresentedthemwithanoath.[20]

"God,byhisgrace,havingbroughtushappilybacktothelandofourforebears..."Arnaudreadtheoathtothevolunteers."Wepastors,captains,andotherofficers,swearandpromisebeforeGod...tokeepunionandorderamongourselvesandnottodisuniteourselvesfromoneanother...

"AndwesoldierspromiseandswearthisdaybeforeGodtoobeytheordersofourofficers,andtocontinuefaithfultothem,eventothelastdropofourblood..."[21]

Themen took the oath. Thatwas in September.But cold, loneliness, and unprofitable skirmishingwerewearingdowntheHuguenots.Whiletheytoowereexilesforfaith,theWaldensianvalleyswerenot,afterall,theirvalleys.TheirancestorshadnotpledgedfaithaboveBobbio.Moreover,theybegantoloseconfidence in the successof theventure.Beforewinter's fresh snows, theHuguenotsdeserted, leavingArnaudtocarryonwithfourhundredmen.[22]

ArnaudknewhewasinnopositiontocontendwiththeFrench.Hetookhislittleremnanttoanaturalrefuge above a villageknownasBalziglia.Theprecipitousmountain,QuatreDents, couldbe stronglyfortified,Gianavello had emphasized during planning sessions.Accordingly,Arnaud'smen constructedwallsandditches,cellarsandhuts,andsettledinforwinter.FromtheirfortifiedpositiontheywereabletoresistoneFrenchattack.ThensnowcloudsclosedinoverBalziglia,andearlysnowsbegantofall.

"Have patience till Easter!" the French general admonished before withdrawing until a morepropitioustime.

Throughoutthewinterof1689-1690thelittleWaldensianarmycampedoutontheirmountain.Surelynoenemycouldreachthemuntilspring.[23]Determinedthathistroopsshouldnotlosemoralethroughthecold and lonelymonths,Arnaud began to preach. Besides daily devotions and occasional communionservices,everySundayandThursdayhewarmedthemenwiththeWord.Asenseofcallinggrewinhisisolatedarmy,adeterminationtoprevailintheinevitablecontest,comespring.[24]

Butinordertoprevail,thefightersmusteat.Appointeesdescendedthemountaintoraidabandoned--and sometimes populated--villages. But cabbages, beets, and corn prepared without fat or salt couldnourish them only so long. They foraged in chestnut groves and apple orchards andmade sorties intoFrenchvalleysforsalt,butter,andlivestock.Clearly,theWaldensianarmywasinanotherfightfortheirlives.Anenemyhadreachedthemafterall.Itwashunger.

ArnaudwouldneverforgettheunexpectedFebruarywarmingthatrevealed,undermeltingsnownotfar from theirencampment, fieldsof ryeandoats. In thosecrops, twonearbymillshandily restored toworkingorder,andalltheprovisionstheywereabletogather,hewouldseethehandofGod."HeavenhathdeclareditselfinfavouroftheWaldenses,"hesaid.[25]

BytheendofAprilCatinatbeganpositioningtroopsintheareaofBalzigliawhilefromtheirperchintheheights thelittleWaldensianbandlookedon.If theycouldnotcount the4,000fightingmen,at least

theymust have known theywere up against a host. OnMay 2 sensing that attackwas imminent, theyreadiedthemselvesatthefirstsignofdawn.Enemysoldiersawoketoamalechorussingingatfullvoice.

"'LetGodarise,LetHisenemiesbescattered;LetthosealsowhohateHimfleebeforeHim...'"[26]

Themusicmusthavebeenuncannilysolemn,especially inretrospect.As later thatmorningFrenchandSavoyansoldiersattemptedtoscalethemountain,thickcloudsdumpingamixtureofrain,hail,andsnowdampenedtheirpowderandrenderedtheirweaponsuseless.ASavoyanofficerwouldrecounttheincident.

"WhenwethoughttogoatlastandmakeourselvesmastersoftheVaudois,"hereflected,"thereraisedonasuddensohorribleafog,andsoextraordinaryastorm,thatapartofthearmy...thoughtthatheavenvisiblyinteresteditselfinthepreservationofthislittlepeople,whoseemedtohavetheelementsattheirdisposal."[27]

Seizing the opportunity, theWaldenses launched a counterattack, killing andwoundingmany.Thentheytookrefugeintheirfortress.IftheyassumedtheFrenchwouldcomeagain,theywereright.

When they returned, the French were armed with cannons. This time easily breaking through theWaldenses' fortifications, they advanced up the mountainside, pushing the volunteers, now low onammunitionandwithoutfoodandwater,towardthesummitofaspuronthemountain.[28]

Nightandathickmistsettledin.Thoughthefinalassaultwouldhavetowaituntilmorninglight,theFrenchwereexultant.Theirjobwasasgoodasdone.[29]

The foggrowssteadily thickeraboutBalziglia,makingof themountainand thegorgebelowanalmost inscrutable darkness. The Waldenses are surrounded. While below them soldiers warmthemselvesaroundtheirbivouacfires,themenhuddleonabuttressandwaittodie.

Andthenavolunteercaptainnativetotheareahasanidea."Iknowthisterritory,"hetellsthemen."Aprecipiceleadingdowntoaravineisouronlypossible

escaperoute.Butwithheaven'sprotection,ifyoufollowmeIcangetyouoffthismountain."Thevolunteershavenothingtolose.Sliding,crawling,clingingtotreebranchesandfeelingwith

theirfeetforfootholds,allexceptforafewwoundedmaneuvertheirwaydownthetreacherousrouteinthefog.Stillhidden,theypassbetweenthebivouacfires.[30]

Buthavingfledtheultimatefortress,wherecouldtheWaldensesgonext?Theobviousanswerwastheplacewhere their ancestorshad sooften taken refuge.Pursuedat somedistanceby theFrench, thevolunteersbeganhikingcovertlythroughspringsnows,acrossthemountainstotheAngrognavalleyandthePra.

In the face of fatigue, hunger, cold, and the danger of slipping and falling to their death along themountainousway, the little army pressed on. They reached the Pra at last to discover a circumstanceeverybitasamazingasthefog.Representativesofthedukemetthemwithtalkofatruce--andfood.

Afterallthebattlestheyhadfoughttoreachthisplace,itispossiblethatatfirstthevolunteersweretooastonished tospeak.Certainly theywouldhavehadnowayofknowing that theEuropeancoalitionagainstFrancehadbeenwinningthedukeovertotheirside.[31]

"Events show that it isGodwhohasdoneourbusiness forus,"Arnaudwouldadmit, claimingnocreditforthehappyturnofevents."ThisistheworkofGod,tohimalonebetheglory."[32]

InearlyJuneof1690,a fewdays following thearrivalofArnaudandhisvolunteers inAngrogna,VictorAmadeusorderedtheFrenchtroopsfromhisterritoryanddeclaredwaronFrance.ThenhefreedthepastorsincarceratedinPiedmontsince1686.

FromSwitzerlandandGermanyWaldensianexilesbegantheirjourneyhome.Attheduke'sinvitation,ProtestantswhohadfledpersecutioninFrancecamealong,too.[33]

Itwouldbepleasanttoclosethissketchofhistoryasoneclosesastorybook,withthereturnedexilessingingsongsofpraiseandrebuildingtheircottagesandchurches.OnewouldliketoendthestorywithaWaldensianboytossingpebblesintoafamiliartorrent,alittlegirlposinginhermother'slacecap,andatallyouthwadingthemeadowgrassesofhome,pickingdaisiesforthegirlheloves.Itistemptingtomakean"ending"oftheGloriousReturn.

Butaswonderfulasthehomecomingmusthavebeen,thevalleypeople'sexperiencewithintolerancewasnotover.True,weaponsoffireandswordwouldnomoreterrorizetheminanyorganizedfashion.[34]

Butdiscriminationwouldfollowthemwheneverchurchandstateworkedasone.FornearlythreemorecenturiestheWaldenseswouldwalkthroughpatchesoflightandshade.[35]

In half a decade realignedwith that "Most christian [sic] King," his uncle, Victor Amadeus soonfoundhimselfagainunderpressuretodestroyhisWaldensiancommunity.HappilyfortheWaldenses,thistimehedeclined.ButinanegotiationbeneficialtoSavoy,in1698heagreedtosendawaytheHuguenotshehadsorecentlywelcomedtohisland.

ThreethousandProtestantshadtogo,amongthemHenryArnaud.ItwasundoubtedlyabitterpillforArnaud,amanone-halfWaldensianbybloodandentirelysoatheart.ItmusthavebeenabitterpillfortheWaldensesaswell.InthetownthatwasonceLaTorre,Arnaud'sstatuestandstothisday.[36]

By the end of the fourth decade after the return, the valleys again resembled a ghetto.[37]Multipleruleskept thepeopleawareof theirstatusassecond-classcitizens.Waldensianprofessionalswerenotpermittedtoworkoutsidethevalleys.Waldensescouldnotserveontowncouncils.Theywereforbiddentoworkonstatechurchholidays,and,worseyet,madetocovertheirheadswhenareligiousimagewascarrieddownthestreet.

But if those thingswerepainful,mostpainfulof allwas theongoingdisappearanceofWaldensianchildren.Thoughatthistimeitwasillegalforthestatechurchtoremoveayoungchildfromadissidentfamily,itfrequentlydidso.Andoftenbythetimethebureaucracyhadprocessedtheparents'complaint,the child had reached an age atwhich removalwas legal.The valley peoplewere not unaware of animposing structure that had gone up in nearbyPinerolo.Theywere sure itwas housing their pre- andearly-teens.[38]

The early years of repatriationwere over.And theWaldenses had long since grasped the reality:Theywerehome.Buttheywerenothomefree.

Chapter15WithNapoleon'stimescameariftinchurch-stateunity[1]andaresultinginterludeoflibertythatbroke

upon the valley people like the startling blue where autumn's clouds part. The Pinerolo home forWaldensian children closed. AWaldensian churchwent up outside the "ghetto." Choice of one's faithbecameaprivateratherthanacivilmatter.

Butwhentheriftbetweenchurchandstatebegantomend,thelargechildren'shomeopenedagain.AWaldensianpastorwroteadissertationabouthispeoplewithouttheapprovalofacensorandhadtoflee.Abarricadewentuptohidethe"offlimits"Waldensianchurch.

Again the Waldenses took up the struggle of maintaining a minority faith under a faith-basedgovernment.[2]ThenonaFebruarydayhalfwayintothenineteenthcenturyanotherbrightshaftoffreedombrokethroughtheclouds.Inaclimateofgrowingliberality,thegovernmentagreedtogranttheWaldenses"civilandpoliticalrights."[3]

HavingleftTurininthenight, twocouriersonhorsebackapproachthevalleys.It ismorningasoneofthemgallopsintoLuserna.Anditismarketday.Thecourierreinsinhishorseattheedgeofacobblestonesquare.Headsturnathisarrival.

"TheWaldensiansareadmittedtotheenjoymentofall thecivilandpoliticalrightsofourothersubjects!"themessengercries.

At first there is silence. Merchandise slips from the hands of shoppers, and people weep andembrace. Then hastily clearing the tables and forgetting their buying and selling, merchants andbuyersreturntotheirvillages.

As in times of imminent danger, the valley people's first thought is to worship together. Withtremblinghands theydressandhurry to theirchurcheswhere impromptuspeechesmingle thanks toGodwithappreciationtotheirthenking,CarloAlberto.Thatnighthundredsofcelebratorybonfiresblazeontheheights.[4]

TwodaysaftertheWaldensesreceivednewsoftheirrights,crowdslinedthestreetsofTurinaswithabannerdeclaringtheirgratitudesixhundredWaldensesheadedaparade.Whentheparadeenteredthecity squarenear an ancient holdingplacewheremanyWaldensian ancestors hadwaited for execution,evenspectatorssensedthedrama.Thecrowdwentwild.

"LonglivetheWaldensians!"theyshouted,theirvoicesrisingovertheirapplause.Thevalleypeoplebaskedintheglowofcivilequality.Nodoubtsomepreparedtobuylandoutside

the old boundaries, others anticipated training for professions anywhere they chose, and still othersdreamedofholdingpublicofficesjustlikeanyoneelse.Itwasalmosttoogoodtobelieve.Theghettowasgone!

But in their excitement the Waldenses had nearly overlooked the second of two clauses in the

Declaration.Astheireuphoriawaned,itswordsappearedbolderonthepage:"Nochange,however,ismadeastotheexerciseoftheirworshipandtheirownschools..."[5]

Thevalleypeoplereadandre-readthewords,thenlookedatoneanotherinconsternation.Coulditbe?

Itcould.Howevermarveloustheirnewcivilrightsmightbe,inmattersofpersonalfaithitwastrue:Theywerestillasubculturewithasub-freedomafterall.[6]

Asthesecondclauseinthe1848civilrightsstatementsuggests,theWaldenseshadbeenconstructinganetworkofone-roomschools.Assistedby twoablesupporters,anAnglicanpreacherandanEnglishmilitaryofficer,thevalleypeoplehadpersevereduntileachtownhadamiddleschoolandthevalleysatlargea"college."[7]Thecollegeseemstohavehadthegovernmentworried.

Whatofficialsare thought tohavefearedwastheexpansionof liberalism,an ideologyresponsiblefortheadvancementofcivilrights."Afreechurchinafreesociety"--thatwaswheretheliberalagendaseemedtobeheaded.AsaWaldensiancollegecouldeasilybecomeabreedingplaceforsuchthinking,thegovernmentwascarefultokeeptheinstitutionunderwraps.

Besideslimitingthenumberofstudentsandlecturersatthecollege,censoringthebooks,restrictingthescopeofthesyllabus,andapprovingallthestaff,thechurch-statesystemrequiredthatobserversfromnearbyPinerolohaverightofaccess.TotheWaldensesthiswassupervisionalaseventeenthcentury.[8]

Andnoneofit,accordingtothecivilrightsdocument,waschanged.Asmuchasthevalleypeoplerejoicedintheirnewcivilrights,atleastsomeofthemwererestless.

Whataboutfreedomtowitnesstoone'sfaith?Wasnotthatacivilright?[9]"Eitheryouaremissionaries,oryouarenothing,"theirofficerfriendhadwrittenin1848,chidingthemforwhathesawascontentmentin the ghetto. Improving their own situation, focusing on their own revival--thiswas not enough, theirfriendinsisted."Youmustgetmoving,oryouwillnotbeabletobearthelightofyourowncandle."[10]

Thesewerestrongwordsfromtheirchampion,buttheyseemtohavemadetheirpoint.Whenin1849the state suggested a sort of deal in whichWaldenses would gain advantages in exchange for certainsupervision,theleadersrejectedit.

"TheWaldensianChurch...mustadministeritselfinanabsolutelyindependentmanneraccordingtoitsprinciples," the Waldensian Board declared in a written statement. "[L]imitations by the state to itsactivityandtothedevelopmentofitsinternallifewouldcompromiseitscharacterasachurchandwouldrepresentanattempttodestroyit,"theysaid.Theydidnotmentionthattheywereorganizingforoutreach.[11]

Under an Italian constitution specifying only one state religion, nineteenth-century Waldensianmissionarieswent out, risking banishment, handcuffs, or prison for their efforts. Christian booksellersknownascolporteurswereimportanttotheoutreacheffort.Theirmonthlyreportssuggestthatincommonwiththeirearlypredecessors,thebarbas, thecolporteurswerewellacquaintedwithabuse,weariness,andisolation.Butlikethebarbastheyalsoknewthemeaningofpersistence.

ProtestantsstreamingintoItalyjoinedtheWaldensiancolporteursintheirmission.[12]Whenin1870

another significant rift in church-state unity occurred in Italy, the optimism of theWaldenses and theirfriendswas almost boundless.[13] For several decades church-state separation prevailed.[14] But therewasnoguaranteeofperpetualfreedomoffaith,andtheoppositiontoitwasstrong.

On the one hand, the former state church began organizing people for political action. Workingthroughtheconstitution,theyhopedtocreateareligiousdemocracy.[15]Ontheotherhand,fascistdictatorBenitoMussolini(thoughobviouslyinvolvedinanon-Christianphilosophyhimself)apparentlydecidedthatheneededthesupportofthatchurch.

Thoughsaidtohavebeenawareofthepaganaspectsoffascism,thechurchentertainedunionwiththefasciststatebasedonsuchpointsastheyheldincommon.Respectforfamilyandthetraditionalvaluesofsocialstructureprovidedissuesofthissort.Thechurchandfascismsharedsomemutualadversaries,too.Neitherwasatpeacewithliberalismandsocialism.

A few shared values, a fewmutual enemies--it was enough. In 1929Mussolini and one CardinalGasparrisignedanagreementbetweentheVaticanandthestate.OfthisdevelopmentPiusXIobserved,"WehavegivenbackGodtoItalyandItalytoGod."TheWaldensescouldhardlyhaveseenthingsinthesamelight.[16]

The "Concordat," as the agreement was called, brought back a privileged religion whilemarginalizingItalianWaldensesandotherProtestants.[17]Perceivedastraitorstothecauseofthenation,Italian Protestants were not, according to this reasoning, real Italians.[18] Italy's "religious unity,"Mussolini declared in an address given in Rome in 1934, "is a great strength of her people. Tocompromise it or even to allow the slightest fissure in it is to commit a crime against her nationalgreatness."[19]

However their head of state understood national greatness, theWaldenses understood that under agovernmentcommittedtoreligiousunity,akindof"thoughtpolice"tooknotesontheirsermons.TrailingWaldenseswho traveledoutside the country, these informers listed their contacts and reported them toItalian embassies or consulates. Prayer meeting in a Waldensian home required a permit. As forWaldensianoutreach,ithadbeenvirtuallyquenched.A"dignifiedprudence"hadtakentheplaceofthat.

ButtherewerenothoughtpoliceatthelittlesurvivingchurchofCiabashiddeninthewoodsneartheentrance to the Angrogna valley. Pastors, peasants, and young people could meet there for fearless,uninterrupted"theologicaldays."Andevenastheircivilrightsweresystematicallytrampled,bybonfiresandparadeseveryFebruarytheWaldensesremindedthemselvesandtheworldthattheystillbelievedinthoserights.[20]

Theyearis1943.TheplaceisaWaldensiansynod.Likesomanyof theirancestors,Waldensianrepresentativeshavedecided tocomposea statement.Thisonewilladdress the issueof churchandstate.TheWaldenseshavenotapproachedtheirtaskwiththethoughtofmakingsomenewdeclaration.Theysimplywishtoreaffirmalltheyhavestoodforinregardstofreedomofconscience.

"ThisChristianchurchmustruleitsownaffairsonanabsolutelyindependentbasis,accordingtoits own principles," reads the declaration, reminiscent of the one written in 1849. "This Christian

churchmustnotlooktothestateforadvantages."As their forebears have done, the delegates choose their words carefully, opting for simple

language.Itcarriesbestthefreightofcenturies."ThisChristianchurchadvancescompletefreedomofconscience,ofworship,andofwitnessfor

all,"thewritersinsist,andasifalludingparticularlytospiesandaccusations,"ThisChristianchurchreaffirms that any state interference...would undermine its autonomy, distort its nature, andcompromisetheintegrityofitsministry."

Thestatementendswithasummarythatmayaswellhavebeenwritteninblood."TheWaldensianChurchconsidersthatindependencefromthestateandcompletecivillibertyare

indispensableforfulfillmentofitsmandatefromGod."[21]

Obviously,tothetwentieth-centuryWaldensesofItaly,dignifiedprudenceisnotenough.Religiouslibertyisawhitepeakinthedistance.Itcallsthemtoclimb.

In 1948 ItalianWaldenses[22] and other Protestants welcomed a new constitution that emphasizedequality "withoutdistinctionof religion." It appeared togiveminority religions full freedomunder thelaw.Buttherewasaloophole,andapoliticalpartycomingintopowerinItalythatsameyearspottedit:Someoldregulatorypolicieshadnotbeenstrickenfromthebooks.

What followedboreno resemblance to religious freedom.Meetingswerebrokenup.Peoplewereforbiddentoworshipintheirownhomes.Afterall,arguedtheChristianDemocrats,howcoulderrorbetreatedasequalwithtruth?[23]

IfsuchreasoningechoedthatoftheancientemperorConstantineitshouldnotbesurprising.Andiftwentieth-centuryminorities persisted in the independence ofVigilantius, that should not be surprisingeither. In the age-old conflict over religion and government, two ideologies had always been at issue.One,thatGodhasgivenHischurchtheoversightofsociety;theother,thatHeasksHischurchtobeaninfluencewithinsociety,andtoofferindividualsachoice.[24]

In1956,onlyafewyearsaftertheChristianDemocratslosttheirstrongmajorityinParliament,anewConstitutional Court cracked open the door to religious freedom in Italy. In the 1960's, the CatholicChurchatSecondVaticanCouncilmadeofficialanapproachthatopenedthedoorevenwider.Accordingto the new approach, the term heretic would be abandoned. Intolerance would be condemned.[25] Ashistoricallyforcehadbeenknowntofollowpersuasion,[26]nowdialoguewouldfollowforce.

ThoughWaldensian leadersnoted thechanging religiousclimatewith interest, theyunderstood thatbetweenthemandthestatechurchatheologicalgulfremained.Atitsdeepest,perhaps,thatgulfwasstillaboutauthority.Claudewouldnothavebuiltabridgeacrosssuchagulf.NeitherwouldVigilantius.

All thatbeing true, the statechurchhadbegunencouragingpeople to read theBible.And theyhadextended the hand of friendship. Waldensian commentators saw no change of objective in the newcamaraderie,buttheymusthaverejoicedthattheCounter-Reformationastheyhadknownitappearedtobeover.[27]Onlyoneimmediateproblemremained.

According to the constitution in Italy, the relationship ofminority churches to the governmentwas

regulatedbylawsbasedonagreementsbetweeneachchurchandrepresentativesofthestate.Whattodo?TheWaldenses still wanted no part of any partnership with the state. They felt no need to be state-certified. But they did sense a need for a legal guarantee of freedom and for that reason decided tonegotiate.

Inthe1970'sItalianWaldensesandMethodists(whowouldsoonjointoformonechurch)begantalkswith thegovernmentof Italy.Anagreementguaranteeing their religious freedomcameonFebruary21,1984, more than sixteen centuries from the time the Roman Empire under Constantine began movingtowardunitywiththeChristianchurch.TheItalianparliamentpassedtheagreementintolawinAugustofthatsameyear.[28]

ThetrainoutofPineroloclackstoastopattheendoftheline.Beforeitandonbothsides,hillsrisesteepandlushunderabroodingsky.Asmallrailwaystationdignifiesthespot,andaroadupthehillbehindthestationsuggeststhatthismaynotbetheendofthehabitableworld.Thefewremainingpassengersalight.Weareamongthem.

"Follow the road there," the conductor directs in studied English, pointing. We thank him inAmericanEnglishandlookabout."Theroad,"anarrowpaving,anglessteeplyupwardtowardTorrePellice,thepicturesquevillageonceknownasLaTorrenestledinthefoothillsoftheItalianPiedmont.Itpromisestobeatourist'sdream.

Butastwenty-first-centurytravelers,wehavenotcomeheremerelytophotographaquaintstreetflankedbyrowhouseswithwindowboxesofgeraniums.Wehaven'tcrossedtheAtlanticjusttowatchamountainstreamdescendgurglingunderabridgeattheedgeoftown.We'vecometoclimbthesamehillsidesunderthesamestretchofskyasdidtheancientWaldenses.Wearenearlythere.

Halfwayupthehilltothevillage,wefeelthegrayofthecloudsdistillinginmist.TheSeptemberairhasachillinit.Panting,wesetdownourtravelingbags,thenliftthemagainandtrudgeon.

It is market day in Torre Pellice. The whole population appears to be milling about in acobblestonesquare.Fromastreetcornerwesurveytablescoveredwithbrightgoodswhilearoundusswirl themarket-goers, every bit as bright. Even if we could understand their language,wewouldprobablyhearnotaleofancestors.Infacesbentovernewwinterjacketsandthicksocks,thereisnosuggestionthatsoldiersonareligiousmissiononceoccupiedthisspot.That,shadingtheireyes,theyscannedlocalhillsidesforhereticsisnotatallimpliedbysmallpotsofgeraniumsalongtherailingofthebridge.

FromthebridgewewatchtheTorrenteAngrognahurryingovertherocksonitswayfromtheAlpstotheplain.Howmanystoriescouldthisrivertellifitcouldtalk?Weaskourselvesthequestionbutwillneverknowtheanswer.

Whatweknow is thatnowbothProtestantpastorsandCatholicpriestscanpreach in this townand then chat in the street as friends.[29] (PastorLegerwould have loved it.)We knowaswell thatwherematters of conscience are concerned, the right to bewrong is a precious thing. And faith issomethingtocherish.Tothelastdropofourblood.

AWordAfterThoughthestatechurchresponsibleforpersecutingtheWaldensespracticedthepurgingofheretics

for hundreds of years,[1] it by no means had a corner on intolerance. Leaders of the ProtestantReformation, having felt the ire of religion in power, sometimes turned on those who rejected theirdogma.[2]Christians in theNewWorld,escapingreligious tyranny in theOld,attempted to regulate theindividual conscience centuries after colonial policies necessitated the establishing of Providence, asmallcolonywherereligiousminoritiescouldliveinpeace.[3]

RogerWilliams,founderofProvidence,hadbelievedthatreligiousmattersarebetweenanindividualandGod.HecalledProvidencehis"livelyexperiment,"intendedtodemonstratethatpeopleofdifferentreligionscanlivetogetheringoodfaith.[4]Asfortheprotectionoftruth,Williamswasadamant."[I]tdoesnotneedtheprotectionofthesword,norcanitbefurtheredbythesword.God'sSpiritalonecanrevealit,and God's power alone will preserve it," he said.[5] United States founding father James Madisonconcurred.Heobserved,"Religionflourishesingreaterpurity,withoutthanwiththeaidofgovernment."[6]

In thedeclarationsof these twohistoricAmericansonecanalmosthearechoesfromthestillmoredistantpast.

"Mykingdomisnotofthisworld,"[7]declaredJesusChrist,implyingaprincipleofseparationattheoutsetof theChristianera.He said somethingelse, too: "If anyone thirsts, lethimcome."[8]Clearly, aswordofstateinthehandofthechurchcanneverimproveonthat.

AppendixA:TheMerchantandtheName

Ifyouwere to lookupWaldenses in anydictionary,youwouldbe likely to findas Idid that theybelonged to aChristian sect of dissenters originatingwith PeterWaldo, a twelfth-centurymerchant inLyons,southernFrance.[1]ThatWaldoandhisfollowers,knownasthePoor,orthePoorofLyons,endedupprotesting issues in themainstreamchurch isamatterofhistory.[2]Yetaswehaveobserved in thisbook, some historians have turned up evidence of Waldensian-like teaching long before Waldo everarrivedonthescene.WeretheearlierteachersWaldensestoo?Thequestionislongstanding.[3]Rorenco,priorofSt.RochinTurin(1640)providessomeinsight.

AfterinvestigatingWaldensiandocumentsintheducalarchives,RorencoreportedthattheWaldenseswere"notanewsectintheninthandtenthcenturies...."Perhapstheninth-centurydissidentbishopClaudehad "detached them from the church," the prior speculated.[4] In still earlier records, Reynerius theInquisitor(1250)[5]declaredthatthesectoftheLeonists(atermnineteenth-centuryhistorianJ.A.WylieappliedtotheWaldenses)wasdangerousbecauseitwas"thesectthatisofthelongeststandingofany."[6]

EvidentlyReynerius,wholivedonlyabouteightyyearsafterthetimeofPeterWaldo,wasfamiliarwiththeWaldenses'claimtoahistoricfaith."[S]omeavertheirexistence,"heobserved,"fromthedaysofSylvester"--bishopofRomeduringthereignoffourth-centuryemperorConstantine--"andothersfromtheverytimeoftheApostles."[7]

If likeReyneriuswe take seriously references to an ancientWaldensianorigin,wemayverywellwonder:WhataboutthemannowcommonlybelievedtohavefoundedtheWaldensianmovement?WhyishisnamesomuchlikethatoftheWaldenses?HistorianGeorgeStanleyFaberhasproposedananswer.

Faber'sresearchbroughthimtotheconclusionthatWaldoreceivedhisnamefromaplace.KnownasValdis,Vaudra,orValden,itissaidtobeintheFrenchbordercountrywhereWaldo'sfamilyresidedandwherehewasborn.

Thenameanddescriptionofthearea,Faberexplains,fitthe"ValleydistrictoftheancientVallensesor Leonists."He describes theVallenses as "those primeval LeonistswhomReinerius notes to be theoldestofallknownsects,[who]occupiedtheValleysoneithersideoftheCottianAlps."[8]

"Either by birth, or by origin, or by early inhabitation, thewealthymerchant [PeterWaldo]was aValdensisorVaudesorVaudois,"Faberconcludes,perhapswithoutstretchingtheevidencetoofar.Thenhe goes on to suggest, "[B]ut the full occupation of successful traffic, and the consequent increase ofworldlyopulence...hadchokedtheword..."[9]

HereFaberalludestotheconversionstoriessurroundingthewealthyWaldo.If,asthestoriesgo,heexperiencedaradicalconversioninthecityofLyons,andif,asFabertheorizes,hehadoncebeenayoungmanoffaith,onewouldhavetoassumeabackslidinginbetween.Faberdoes.

ButwasWaldobybirthandearlyreligioustrainingWaldensian?Didhegotothecity,makeitbig,andthenhearthecalltodiscipleship?[10]IsthestoryofWaldothatofamancomingbacktothefaithofhisroots?

Wedon'tknow.Faberappearsconvincedof it.Andhe isnotalone inbelieving thatWaldogothisnamefromthevalleysand the faithheaccepted there.[11]Allofwhichbrings tomind thedefinitionofWaldenses as people of the valley.[12] Perhaps it is more significant than is widely recognized. It iscurioustothinkthatWaldoandhisfollowerscouldcarryanameassimpleandhistoricasthis.

AppendixB:TheOtherWaldenses

Accordingtoadiarydated1392,bythelatefourteenthcenturyinquisitorsweresearchingfor"MostWanted"Waldensian leaders in Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Germany, Bavaria, Czechslovakia, andPoland.[1]Clearlyby this time thenameWaldenses referred tobelievers like theChristiansof thehighvalleys,nomatterwheretheyturnedup.Andtheywereturningupallover.

It is obvious that the valley people had not confined themselves to hideouts in themountains. Byvariousandinnovativemeans,theirmissionarieshadcarriedtheirteachingsfarandwide.[2]Someearlyhistoriansbelievedthatmanyanancientminstrelwasamanoffaithwhosesongwasasermon.[3]

Inadditiontodeliberateoutreach,itislikelythatpersecutionhadplayedapartinthedispersionofdissent. TheWaldensian-likeAlbigenses on the French side of theAlps,[4] said by Frenchwriter andphilosopherVoltairetohavebeenamongthefirstChristiansofGaul(BelgiumandFrance),arethoughttohavederivedpartlyfromearlyChristiansknownasPauliciansfleeingGreekpersecution.

Passing throughThrace,Bulgaria,Germany, and Italy,manyof thePaulicianshad come to aplacecalledAlbiontheFrenchsideoftheAlpswheretheyaresaidtohaveblendedwith"faithfuldisciplesofJesusChrist"alreadyinthearea.[5]Itisnotinconceivablethatotherdissentingcellsgrewthisway.

Inoldhistories,one findsnumerousWaldensianorWaldensian-likegroups listed. (Thespellingoftheirnamesmayvaryfromauthortoauthor.)TheJosephists,Henricians,Petrobrussians,Berengarians,and Arnoldists were named for their leaders, the Lombards, Thoulousians, Albigenses, BohemianBretheren,andPicardsfortheirlocations.

ThePatareniens(orPaterins)werenamedfor theLatinPati, indicatingsuffering; thePassagenes,forthefactthattheywanderedlikepassengersthroughtheworld.TheTurlupins,whosenamesuggestedlivingwithwolves,presumablywerenotalwayswelcomeinsociety.[6]

Some titles attatched to theWaldenses--like Arians, Gnostics, Cathari, and Sodomites--confusedthemwith groups having beliefs distinctly different from their own. Other names such asChaignards(dogs) in France, or Gazares (excrable or wicked) in Germany openly reviled them.[7] The nameInsabbatati, a possible allusion to believers' disregard for Roman festivals or, as some believe, thekeepingoftheseventh-day(Saturday)Sabbath,wasperhapsalsointendedasridicule.[8]

Becauseof a remarkableunityonmajorpoints amongmanyof thedissentinggroups, some simplycalledalldissentersWaldenses.[9]Butnineteenth-centuryBaptisthistorianDavidBenedictspokeof"thepeopleproperlycalledWaldenses."(Emphasissupplied.)

True Waldenses, as Benedict saw them, were people of simple faith, moral people, peopleunmotivatedbythepoliticalstrugglesoftheirtime.[10]Seventeenth-centuryWaldensianpastorJeanPaulPerrinhadsaidofthemthatthey"puttheirtrustinthelivingGodalone,"andtookastheirrule"thelawof

theLord."[11]

"The fact that there were dissidents, who never were in communion with Rome, is beyond allcontradiction,"[12] wrote historian Robert Robinson in his late-eighteenth-century EcclesiasticalResearches.Robinson raisesan importantpoint. Ifdissentingminorities suchas theWaldensesexistedduring the early centuries A.D., and if (as the author believes) they derived their common faith andpracticefromprimitiveChristianity,itfollowsthatthehierarchyofRomehaddepartedfromthem,ratherthantheotherwayaround.

Clearly,bywhatevernames,alineofChristiansdeterminedto"puttheirtrustinthelivingGodalone"has spannedmany centuries. And the words of nineteenth-century historian J. A.Wylie take on largesignificance."TheChurchoftheReformation,"hesaid,"wasintheloinsoftheWaldensianChurch..."[13]

AppendixC:EarlyWaldensesandtheSeventh-daySABBATH

Over the centuriesmanyhave showedan interest inhow theWaldenses related to the seventh-daySabbath. Is it true, as some have said, that among the earlyWaldenses were some who honored thatancientday?Likegleanersamong thevineyardsof thehigh slopes, studentshave searched througholdhistories,peeringatthispassageandthat,discardingoneandholdingontoanother.

Whenin the lateeighteenthcenturyhistorianRobertRobinsonspokeof thefollowingnamesatonetime given theWaldenses:Sabbati, Sabbatati, Insabbatati,or Inzabbatati, he touched on a contestedissueanddescribeditassuch.

"[O]nesaystheyweresonamedfromtheHebrewwordsabbath,"Robinsonexplains,"becausetheykept the Saturday for theLord's day."Another says, theywere so called because they rejected all thefestivals, or sabbaths, in the low Latin sense of the word, which the Catholick church religiouslyobserved. A third says...they were called so from fabot or zabot, a shoe, because they distinguishedthemselvesfromotherpeoplebywearingshoesmarkedontheupperpartwithsomepeculiarity."[1]

Robinsonseriouslyquestionedthoseshoes!Why,heasked,wouldpeoplehunteddownbyinquisitorsplace an identifying mark on their shoes? In truth, Robinson found all of the foregoing theoriesunconvincing.Thosewhocameupwiththem,hesuggested,were"ledastraybysoundwithoutattendingtofacts."[2]Hemayhavebeenright.

Fortunately, those seeking evidence for seventh-day Sabbath observance among some of the earlyWaldensesarenotdependantuponLatinterms.OnereferencetothepracticecanbefoundinthesecondtractofauthorJohnBrereleyPriest'searly-seventeenth-centuryTheProtestantsApologiefortheRomanChurch.

"[T]heWaldensesheldsundryconfessedgrosseerrours,"Prieststated,"asnamelytheirdenyallofallJudgmenttobloud,andoftheSabboth."[3]Later inthesamecentury,anauthorcommittedtodefendingtheChurch of England against the "Sabbatarian-Novelty" listed some groups said to have at one timehonoredtheseventhday.AmongtheseisadissidentcellcoveredinAppendixB:TheOtherWaldenses:

"InSt.Bernard'sdayes,"Dr.Fr.White,L.,BishopofElyexplained,"it ['theseventh-daySabbath']wascondemnedinthePetrobusiani."[4]Clearly,thispassage,comingintoprintfivehundredyearsfromthe time of the early-twelfth-century dissident Peter de Bruys, recalls the Sabbath-keeping of hisfollowers.

Dr.Whitewouldnotbethelasttomentionthecelebrationoftheseventh-daySabbathamongsomeoftheWaldenses. Nineteenth-century historian J. L. Mosheim in his two-volume Ecclesiastical HistoryobservedthatthePasaginians(alsolistedinAppendixB:TheOtherWaldenses)"hadtheutmostaversion

tothedominionanddisciplineofthechurchofRome;...andcelebratedtheJewishsabbath."[5]

Withoutadoubt,theresearchgoeson.Theauthorofthissmallsketchmakesnoclaimtohavingallthefacts.ButitisheropinionthatunlikethefalseaccusationsoftenleveledattheWaldenses,[6]theassertionthatsomecelebratedtheseventh-daySabbathhastheringoftruth.Afterall,theseChristianswereknownfortakingtheScripturesratherthantraditionastheirauthority.[7]IfnoneofthemhadeverrememberedtheSabbathdaytokeepitholy,[8]onecouldonlywonderwhynot.

NotesChapter1

[1]J.A.Wylie(1808-1890),HistoryoftheWaldenses,aphotographicreproductionofthesixteenthbookofhisundatedHistoryofProtestantism (Middletown, ID:CHJPublishing), 25, 26;W.S.Gilly,prefacetoJaneLouisaWillyams,AShortHistoryoftheWaldensianChurchintheValleysofPiedmont(London:JamesNisbetandCo.,1855),vi.

[2] This is said to be a relatively small area, situated betweenMountCenis andMountViso. SeeSophiaV.Bompiani,The ItalianWaldenses (NewYork:A. S.Barnes andCompany, 1899), 48; J. T.Headley,HistoryofthePersecutionsandBattlesoftheWaldenses(NewYork:JohnS.Taylor,1850),7.Wylie(25)placestheWaldensianvalleysinthatpartoftheAlpinechainbetweenTurinontheItaliansideandGrenobleontheFrench.HeplacestheentrancetothevalleyssomethirtymileswestofTurin(11).

[3] La Torre or simply Torre is situated at the junction of the Luserna andAngrogna valleys (seeWylie, 11, 40). The Luserna Valley is now known as the Pellice Valley. See Prescot Stephens, TheWaldensianStory(Lewes,Sussex:TheBookGuildLtd,1998),160.ForTorreasthepresentdayTorrePellice, compare "Torre," Stephens 172-174 with its reference under "Torre Pellice" in the GeneralIndex,374.

[4]Wylie,11-14;MaxKnight,Return to theAlps (NewYork:McCallPublishingCompany,1970),26.

[5] Descriptions suggested by Carolyn Bates, "Italy's Piedmont," Gormet magazine (New York,September,1996),92,andbytheauthor'svisittoTorrePellicein1996.

[6]Foroneexampleofthis,seeChapter5.[7]GeorgioTourn andAssociates,YouAreMyWitnesses, translated and expanded from I Valdesi

(Torino,Italy:ClaudianaEditrice,1998),46.[8]Wylie(31)usesVaudoisandWaldensesinterchangeably.InhisstoryoftheVaudois,Brayclearly

references the Waldensian people. Compare with Robert Robinson, Ecclesiastical Researches(Cambridge: Francis Hodson,MDCCXCII), 423; Peter Allix referenced in the preface to Dr. Bray,HistoryoftheVaudois,compiledwithotherworksinHistoryoftheAncientChristians(Philadelphia:GriffithandSimon,1847);reprintedinGallatin,TN:ChurchHistoryResearch&Archives,1991),275;Bray'sprefacetoHistoryoftheVaudois,inAncientChristians,283,284.

[9]Wylie,19,20,22;Tourn,38-40.[10]E.G.White,notesoftravelfromHistoricalSketchesoftheForeignMissionsoftheSeventh-day

Adventists, 226-249, in a compilationbyBillSherman, "Visit theWaldensianValleyswithMrs.E.G.White" (Wildwood, GA: Morningstar Ministries), 9. For late-nineteenth-century time frame, see thecompilation Index. The author assumes that doing laundry as per travel notes had not changed for

centuries.[11]SeeJeanLeger'sdescriptionoftheWaldensianpeople,quotedinBompiani,45.[12]Wylie, 11; sketch inWylie, 13.Wylie (40) describes La Torre as having "the shadow of the

Castelluzzocoveringit."[13]SeeIbid.,52.[14]SomeofPiedmont'scropscanbefoundinBates,93;Wylie,40;Bompiani,50.[15]Tourn,41.[16] For more on the "little notebooks" which included not only Scripture but Christian poems,

sermons, and treatises on Christian living, See Tourn, 50. Stephens also speaks of the "little pocketBibles" thatwouldpass from family to family in a community.Waldensianparents,Stephens explains,tookseriouslytheeducationoftheirchildren,wholearnedearlyontomemorizeScriptureintheirownlanguage.SeeStephens,71.Author'snote:InrealityWaldensianfamiliesofthisperiodwouldhavebeenfarmorecautiousinthepresenceofstrangers.

[17]Stephens(1)obviouslysubscribestothisview.[18] Willyams, 8-13; Waldensian historian Jean Leger (1669), referenced in Tourn, 123; Bray,

Vaudois,Book I, in Ancient Christians, 289, 291; Wylie, 73; Robert Baird, Protestantism in Italy(Boston:BenjaminPerkins&Co.,1847),14.Nineteenth-centuryhistorianGillybelievedthatfrom"veryremoteperiods" therehasbeenan independentbrandofChristianity in thevalleysoneach sideof theAlps.SeeGilly'sprefacetoWillyams,vi,vii.SeealsoAppendixA,"TheMerchantandtheName"andAppendixB,"TheOtherWaldenses"inthisbook.

[19] Henri Arnaud, quoted by Christian Edwardson, Facts of Faith (Nashville, TN: SouthernPublishingAssociation,1943,reprintedMiddleton,ID:CHJPublishing,1993),121.

[20]SeeBray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,298,299;MichaelGrant,Editor,TheBirthofWesternCivilization(NewYork,Toronto,London:McGraw-HillBookCompany,1946),237,238,240,329.Forreferencetotheearly-second-centuryreligiousfeelingthatculminatedinemperorworship,seeHistoryofDogma, quoted in J.N.Andrews andL.R.Conradi,History of the Sabbath (Washington,D.C.;SouthBend,Ind.;NewYork,N.Y.:Review&HeraldPublishingAssociation,1912),316.

[21] SeeAlexisMuston,The Israel of the Alps,Vol. I, translated by JohnMontgomery (Glasgow,Edinburgh, London, NewYork: Blackie and Son, 1858), 10, 12.Muston here uses the nameVaudoisratherthanWaldenses.Refertonote8.

SeealsoArnaud,TheGloriousRecoverybytheVaudois,quotedinEdwardson,120;SamuelMiller,RecommendatoryLetter forWaldensianpastorJeanPaulPerrin'sHistoryof theWaldenses, inAncientChristians,2;Robinson'sEcclesiasticalResearch,423;Bray,referencingAllix,inhispreface,Vaudois,inAncientChristians,275;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,288;WilliamJones,HistoryoftheWaldenses,Vol. I (Printed for the author. London:Gale& Fenner; T.Hamilton;Ogles,Duncan&Cochran;W.Button&Son,PaternosterRow;Edinburgh:Oliphant,Waugh,andInnes;Glasgow:AndrewandJ.M.Duncan,1816),372.

[22]Grant, 320, 329; Uriah Smith, Daniel and the Revelation, revised edition (Nashville 8,Tennessee:SouthernPublishingAssociation,1944),427;AndrewsandConrdi,383.

[23]AndrewsandConradi,382;Schaff,quotedinAndrewsandConradi,383.[24]Wylie,31-33.[25] Ibid., 33, 34; Bray,Vaudois, Book I, inAncient Christians, 303, 304; Stephens, 105. Among

sources,datesvary.[26]TheNewTestamentversecitedhereisMark16:15.

Chapter2[1]AndrewsandConradi,391;Schaff,quotedinAndrewsandConradi,391.[2]ThiswouldhavebeentheRomanbishopSylvester.Astimepassed,Waldenseswouldprotestthat

there had been no authentic pope from the time of Sylvester and onward. Civil offices, they insisted,shouldnotbeheldbypreachersof thegospel.SeeB.G.Wilkinson,TruthTriumphant (Brushton,NY:TEACHServices,Inc.,1994),216;Wylie,17.

[3] Schaff, quoted in Andrews and Conradi, 392. Even the edict granting religious toleration toChristianshadbeenintendedonlyforthosetheemperorconsideredbelieversinthe"legitimate"Christianreligion.AndrewsandConradi,383.

[4]Constantinewouldnotbethelastrulertoattemptthemarriageoftwokingdoms,oneworldly,andonenotofthisworld.LaterinthecenturyTheodosiuspromisedtovisit"bythestrokeofourauthority"allwhodiffered from themainstreamchurch.And in the sixth century Justinian reasoned thathewas "theVicegerent of the Almighty to rule the world and bring it all to the service of Christ." See ThomasHodgkin,quotedinEdwardson,37;DomJohnChapman,quotedinEdwardson,41.

[5]Faber,citedinWilkinson,63;Gilly,quotedinWilkinson,75.[6] W. S. Gilly, Vigilantius and His Times (London: Seeley, Burnside, and Seeley, 1844), 6-8;

Wilkinson,71-73.[7]Gilly,8.ForJerome'scontributiontothethinkingofhistime,seeWilkinson,70,71.[8]Jerome,quotedinWilkinson,72.[9]Wilkinson,74.[10]Schaff,quotedinAndrewsandConradi,392.[11]Gilly,inprefacetoWillyams,ix;BompianiquotedinEdwardson,119;Gilly,329,334;Wylie,25.[12]Jones,Vol.I,363,368;FormoreonClaude'sbackgroundandbeliefs,seeAdamBlair,Historyof

theWaldenses, Vol. I (Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black; London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown,Green,andLongman,1833),127;Muston,Vol.I,8,9.

[13]Jones,Vol.I,369-371.[14]MaximaBibliothecaVeterumPatrum,Vol.14,quotedinWilkinson,75,76;Gilly,inprefaceto

Willyams,ix,x.Nineteenth-centuryWaldenseswouldestablishapublishinghouseandnameitClaudianainhonorofClaudeofTurin.SeeTourn,173.

[15]Wylie,23.

[16]WorldBookEncyclopedia,Vol.13,2000edition (Chicago:WorldBook, Inc.)524-526;WorldBook,Vol.13,2004edition,522.

[17]WorldBook,Vol.13,2004edition,524.ForthecrowningofCharlemagneasEmperoroftheWestby Pope Leo III, see Blair, Vol. I, 126, 127; Reader's Digest Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary,VolumeOne,(Pleasantville,NewYork;Montreal:TheReader'sDigestAssociation,Inc.,1987),301.

[18]Formallypronounceddamnedbyachurch.SeeReader'sDigestIllustrated,VolumeOne,70.[19]Willyams,16,17;Wylie,7,9.SeealsoWylie,16.[20]Wilkinson,235,236.[21]Dr.Fr.White,L.BishopofEly,inATreatiseoftheSabbathDay,TheSecondEdition(London:

PrintedbyRichardBadger,1635),8;Stephens,19;Wilkinson,237.Said tohaveenteredEurope fromAsiaMinor,thePauliciansweresocalledbecauseof theirwishto liveaccordingto the instructionofPaul.SeeWilkinson,207.

[22] David Benedict, General History of the Baptist Denomination, Vol. I (Boston: Lincoln &Edmands,1813.ReprintedinGallatin,TN:ChurchHistoryResearch&Archives,1985),112.

[23] Benedict, Vol. I, 112. Compare Perrin's mention of Henry in Waldenses,Book I, in AncientChristians,25.

[24]Wilkinson,241.[25]Ibid.,238,243.Bernard,AbbotofClairvaux(thoughtoneofthemostcommandingchurchfigures

ofhistime),attemptedtostopHenry'sworkbyimprisonmentanddeath.SeeWilkinson,239,240.[26]Foralookatthepurgingandspreadofthedissidents,seeBompiani,53,54.[27]Tourn,12,13;ChurcharchivesinCarcassonne,France,fromapolicereport,quotedinTourn,11;

Stephens,1,12;Wilkinson,245.[28]Tourn,16.[29]Stephens,76,77;Wilkinson,245,246;Tourn,13,14.[30]Tourn,14,16,18.[31]Tourn,17;WalterMap,quotedinTourn,19,20;Stephens,80.[32]Tourn,17.Excommunicationentailslossoftherites,privileges,andfellowshipofachurch,and

ineffect,of thehopeofgoing toheaven.SeeReader'sDigest Illustrated,Vol.One,587;World Book,Vol.13,2000edition,526.

[33]MapquotedinTourn,19,20.[34]Tourn,17,18.[35]Wilkinson,246.[36]Tourn,19,Stephens,21,22.[37]Stephens,22;Wilkinson,246.Amanuscriptbelievedtobefromthe12thcentury,saysBompiani

(53,54),extendsWaldensiancolonizationtoBavaria,France,Germany,andbothnorthernandsouthernItaly."Notbeingsatisfiedwithbeinghiddenincavesofthemountains,"shequotesoneinquisitor,"theyhadtheaudacitytosowtheirfalsedoctrineintheplains."There,saysBompiani,theywereknownunder

variousnames.SeealsoAppendixB:TheOtherWaldenses.[38]SeeTourn,41.[39]Psalm54:4.

Chapter3[1]BatesspeaksofthepungentfragranceofPiedmont'swhitetruffleinautumn.See"Italy'sPiedmont,"

inGourmetMagazine,September,1996.[2]Stephens,25,77.[3]Tourn,24.[4]OliverJ.ThatcherandE.H.McNeal,quotedinEdwardson,126.[5]WhilesomelinktheAlbigenseswithagroupknownastheCathars,othersclearlydistancethem

fromtheCatharsandlinktheminsteadwiththeWaldenses,knowntodiffertheologicallywiththeCathars.SeeAppendixB:TheOtherWaldenses.

[6]Wylie,23,26;Tourn,24.[7]Tourn,26.[8]"Ireturnedtothemeadow,"writesKnightofhistimeinthehighcountry."Itsgrass,asIlaydown,

halfburiedme.Theflowerswereatalevelwithmyeyes,somelookingdownonme."SeeKnight,28.[9]Tourn,26.[10] From "Acts of the Fourth LateranCouncil," inH.Denzinger, ed., Enchiridion Symbolorum...,

quotedinTourn,28.[11]Tourn,26;Stephens,36,37.[12]CompareStephens,37,44withTourn,26.[13]AnaccountoftheBergamomeetingin1218canbefoundinTourn(26-28)andStephens(40-43).[14]Tourn,29,30;Wylie,7,9.[15]Tourn,29,30;Stephens,56,57.[16]Tourn,24,30-33;Jones,Vol.II,90;Stephens,57.[17]Tourn,32;Stephens,57.[18]Tourn.,30.[19]Ibid.,33,34,36,37;Stephens,57.[20]Stephens,44.SeealsoJones,Vol.II,93.[21]Stephens,45.SeealsoTourn,38,39.[22]Headley,20,21;Stephens,44-47;Tourn,33;Millerletter,inAncientChristians,7;Jones,Vol.II,

90.OftheInquisitionasamachineStephens(47)observes,"That theInquisitionwassuchaneffectiveforceofrepressionwaslargelyduetoitsbureaucraticefficiency.Therewasawell-developedsystemfortheinterchangeofdocumentsandforco-operationamongstthenetworkoftribunalsthatcoveredwesternEurope.Withcarefulpreservationandindexingofrecords,theorganizationconstitutedakindofmedievalInterpol[InternationalCriminalPoliceOrganization]."

[23]Stephens,45.

[24]Stephens,45,46.[25] Disciples of the peaceful Francis as well as followers of themilitant Dominique became, as

Tourn(33)putsit,"mercilesspoliceagents."Stephens(44)seesinthis"exerciseininhumanity"onthepart of the Franciscans a betrayal of the principles of their founder. Formore onDominique, refer toJones,Vol.II,92.

[26]Stephens,44;Jones,Vol.II,92,93;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,300.[27]Jones,Vol.II,93,94.[28]Jones,Vol.II,94.[29]Ibid.[30]Stephens,46.[31]Tourn,38,52.Foranexampleofanearlyinquisitor'sobservationsoftheWaldenses,seeBray,

Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,297.[32]Stephens,73.[33]Tourn,46.

Chapter4[1]Tourn,42.[2]Ibid.,46.[3]TheexecutionsceneisadaptedfromadescriptionofsuchscenesintheSpanishInquisition.Many

individualsbelongingtothestatechurcharesaidtohaveabhorredtheexecutions.SeeJones,Vol.II,105.[4]WorldBook,Vol.13,2000edition,528.[5]Reader'sDigestIllustrated,Vol.Two,1420.[6]Tourn,39;Wylie,27,29.[7]Wylie,14.AccordingtoWylie(27), thispopeorderedinquisitorstothevalleystocarryoutthe

lawsoftheVaticanagainstheretics.Wedonotknowhowsuccessfultheinquisitorswere.Butfromthistime on almost every pope, by the notice he took, verified the heretics' numbers and testified to theirdispersion.

[8] QuotingWaldensian pastor Jean Leger, Blair (Vol. I, 221, 222) explains that sometimes theseannualsynodsconvenedinotherhighvalleys,Septemberbeingtheusualtime.Intimesofpersecution,hequotesLegerassaying,thesynodswereheldwhenwintersnows"deprivedtheirenemiesofcouragetogoandsearchthemout."SeealsoRobertBaird,TheModernVaudois,inAncientChristians,471.

[9]Muston,Vol.I,18;Wylie,14,15,19,27;Perrin(BookII,inAncientChristians,79)callsthePradelTornotheWaldenses'"strongestplace."

[10]Stephens,67,68;Muston,Vol.I,18,footnote7;Tourn,59;Wylie,14.Spellingsvary.Foruseoftheshortername,the"Pra,"seeWylie,15,94.

[11]Wylie,15,19;Blair,Vol.I,222.[12] Muston, Vol. I, 20; Blair, Vol. I, 221, 222. The "moderator" held the highest office in the

Waldensiancommunion.Wylie,19.

[13]"Uncles."Tourn,58;Stephens,66,69.[14]Wylie(20)saystheytraveledforthreeyears;Stephens(69)sayssixtoten.[15]E.H.Broadbent,ThePilgrimChurch (London:Pickering& InglisLTD,1931), 100;Stephens

(69)saystheytraveled"incredibledistances."Tourn(39,40)listsareaswhere"mostwanted"Waldenses(presumablybarbas)werehunted.

[16]Bompiani,quoting"oneoftheirownhistorians,"45.[17]Perrin,Waldenses,BookI,inAncientChristians,49.[18]Stephens(70)observesthatwhile theseoccupationswouldhelpdisguise thebarbasandcover

their expenses, theywere above all ameans bywhich pastors could respond to Christ's instructions:"Healthesick."SeealsoWillyams,21,22;Broadbent,100.

[19]Muston,Vol.I,18-20;Stephens,69;Wylie,20,22.[20]Wylie,20;Stephens,69;Willyams,39.[21]Tourn,41.[22]Ibid.[23] In appeals to their sovereigns from time to time, the Waldenses routinely claimed that their

religionhadbeenpasseddownfromtheirfathers.SeeWillyams,9;Wylie,73.Duringmedievaltimes,theWaldensesconsideredtheeducationofchildreninthefaithtobeofprimeimportance.SeeStephens,71.

[24]Tourn,49;Stephens,58,92.Fortheirpacifistposition,seeStephens,91,95;Broadbent,98.[25]FromTheNobleLesson,aWaldensianpoemquotedinStephens,87.[26]Stephens,91.[27]Travelanddangerwouldhavemadehomeresponsibilitiesdifficultifnotimpossible.SeeBlair,

Vol. I, 219. Compare Broadbent, 100; Willyams, 22; Muston, Vol. I, 20. Waldensian historian Legerdescribedthebarba'slifeinthreeshortlines:"Asimpleandsincereconformitytothesacredword;/Aholylifeandconversation;/Persecution,andtheCross."QuotedinWillyams,18.

[28]Stephens,67,68.[29]Muston,Vol.I,20,21.[30]Bray (Preface toVaudois, inAncientChristians, 280) says ofWaldensian children of amuch

latertime:"[N]orcanyoueasilyfindamongthemsomuchasachild,whomifyouquestionconcerningthefaithwhichtheypofess[sic]cannot...giveareasonofthehopethatisinhim."

[31]FromtherecordofthetrialofPierreGriotinGabrielAudisio'sLebarbeetl'inquisiteur,quotedinStephens,68.

[32]Stephens(67)attributes thephrase toGabrielAudisio,authorofLesVaudoisduLuberon.SeealsoTourn,40.

[33]Wylie,23;Stephens,69.[34]FromadescriptionbythefamedinquisitorReinerusSacco,quotedbyWillyams,35,36.Compare

Wylie,22.[35]Tourn,40.SeetheNewTestamentstoryofthepearlinMatthew13.

[36]Wylie,22;Stephens,66.[37]Tourn,40.[38]Stephens,53,55;Wylie,30;Tourn,46,48.

Chapter5[1]Stephens,53,55.CompareTourn,48.[2]AntoineMonastier,citedinWylie,30;Wylie,30,31;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,302,303.[3]Tourn,48.[4]Stephens,96.[5]JohnWycliffeofEnglandiscreditedwiththeemphasisonScripturethat,spreadingtoBohemia,

inspired Jan Hus. Both men spoke from within the church. In the teachings of both, the Waldensesrecognizedtheirownideas.SeeStephens,96,97;Tourn,56.

[6] J.H.Merled'Aubigne,Historyof theReformation,Volumes I-V (NewYork:RobertCarter&Brothers,1857),30.

[7]SeeIbid.[8] Stephens, 97, 98; Tourn, 57, 58. Compare Handbook of Church History, Vol. II, quoted in

Edwardson,148.[9]Stephens,99;Tourn,57.[10]Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,303.[11]Wylie,31.[12]Wylie,17;Willyams,25;Tourn,43;Stephens,56,75;TheNobleLesson,quotedinStephens,87;

Perrin,Waldenses,BookI,inAncientChristians,25,26.[13]Willyams(26,27)quotesSeysselandReinerus[optionalspellingofReynerusorReinerius].For

ClaudeSeysselasanarchbishop, seeStephens,109.ForReinerusasan inquisitor, refer toWylie,10.ThekingWillyamsquotesisLouisXII.

[14]FromTheNobleLesson.SeeChapter4.[15] Bray, Vaudois, Book I, in Ancient Christians, 298, 299, 303. For accounts of persecutions

elsewhere, seePerrin,Waldenses,Book II, inAncientChristians, 94-123.This account is subdividedintocategoriessuchas:"TheWaldenseslivinginGermany,andthepersecutionstheythereunderwent;""TheWaldensesdwellinginAustria,andtheirpersecutions;""TheWaldensesdwellinginCalabria,andthepersecutionsthattheysuffered."Thelistgoeson,withthepersecutionsspanningcenturies.

[16]"TheLord'sPrayer"fromwhichthisWaldensianquotesisfoundintheNewTestamentbookofMatthew, Chapter 6. For a glimpse ofWaldensian prayer habits, see Bernard Gui, quoted in EmilioComba,History of the Waldenses of Italy, translated by Teofilo E. Comba (London: Truslove andShirley,7,St.Paul'sChurchyard,1889),259.Creditedwithwritingatrainingmanualforinquisitors,Guiissaidtohavebeenamongthemostfamousinquisitors.SeeStephens,46.

[17]SeetheOldTestamentbookofJudges,chapters6and7.[18]Stephens,104,105.

[19]Wylie,31,32.[20]Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,303,304;Wylie,32;Stephens105.[21]Wylie,32,33;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,303,304.[22]Historiansdifferas to the timingofcertainbattles in thisperiod.CompareStephens,104,105;

Tourn,61,62withWylie,33,34,47,48-51.ThisnarrationfollowsWylie'ssequence.[23]Wylie,31-33;Tourn,61,62;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,304;Stephens,105.[24]Wylie,34.[25]Ibid.,47.[26]SeeComba(257,258)forinsightsintoWaldensianservices,theiruseofcavesintimesofdanger,

andtheiroverallcaution.QuotingoneSt.Hilarius,Jones(Vol.II,444)providesthisobservation:"Itisilldoneofyoutofallin

lovewithwalls.ItisilldoneofyoutoreverencethechurchofGodinbuildingsandstatelyedifices;itiswrongtorestinthesethings....Givememountains,forests,pits,andprisons,asbeingfarsaferplaces;foritwasinthesethattheprophetsprophesied...."

[27]Wylie,34.Chapter6

[1]Tourn,62;Stephens,105.Fortheintendedrecipientoftheletter,refertoComba,quotedinTourn,64.SeeStephens(160)for"Pragelato"asanothernamefortheupperChisonevalley.Callingitthevalleyof"Pragelas,"Wylie(37,38)pointsoutthatitwasthesamevalleyattackedonChristmasDayof1400.

[2] Quoted portions are attributed to Giovanni Campi and Giovanni Desideri, WaldensianrepresentativesquotedinComba,HistoiredesVaudois,andagaininTourn,63-64.Theallusionto"St.Paul" calls tomind his persecution ofChristians prior to his conversion toChristianity. See theNewTestamentaccountinActs22:4-8.

[3]Tourn,62;Stephens,105,106.[4]Stephens,105;Knight,31.[5]Stephens,105-107;Wylie,35;Tourn,62.Tourn(63)adds thatamong thosewhoescaped,some

wouldfinallyjoinotherWaldensiancommunities,eitherinPiedmontorinthefarsouthofItaly.[6]Wylie,35,36;Tourn,62,63.SeealsoHeadley,21.[7]Headley,21.[8]MustonquotedinWylie,37;Stephens,106;Tourn,62,63.[9]Bates,91.[10] "The Waldensian Valleys," a small unpaged booklet obtained in Torre Pellice in 1996 and

"paged"fornotationpurposes,4.[11] Bray, Vaudois, Book I, in Ancient Christians, 304; Perrin, Waldenses, Book II, in Ancient

Christians,78;Wylie,33,34,40;Broadbent,101.[12]Wylie,40-44,46,47;"TheWaldensianValleys"(10,11)describesthetworoutesleadingupthe

valley,onereachingthePra,saidtohavebeenabaseofresistanceinlaterwars.

[13]Wylie,47,48;Perrin,Waldenses,BookII,inAncientChristians,79.(Perrinhasthearrowstrikethecaptaininthethroat;Wylie,betweentheeyes.)Broadbent(101)paintstheinvasionofthevalleyswitha broad brush. "Then the peasants began to defend themselves," he explains, "and...drove back theattackingforce...."

[14]Wylie,44,45;"TheWaldensianValley,"12-14.[15] SeeWylie (46) for his description of the "strongest refuge which their [theWaldenses'] hills

afforded."[16]Wylie,48-50.[17]JeanLeger,quotedinWylie,52;Wylie,51-53;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,304,

305.[18]Stephens,109,110.IntheRomanCatholicchurch,anindulgence,underspecifiedconditions,is

believedtopartiallyorcompletelyreleaseapersonfrom"divinetemporalpunishment"thatmayremainafter theguilt of a sinhasbeen forgiven.SeeReader'sDigest Illustrated,VolumeOne, 859, 860 andWebster'sNewWorldDictionary, ThirdCollegeEdition (Cleveland&NewYork: Simon&Schuster,1988),689.

[19]Seed'Aubigne,96-99.Chapter7

[1]BorninEislebenandgrowingupinMansfeldt,atagetwenty-oneLutherhadenteredtheconventofthehermitsofSt.Augustine.Seed'Aubigne,50,55-57.

[2]d'Aubigne,96.ComparewithStephens,11,97,111.[3]d'Aubigne,100.[4]Ibid.,108,109,111,112;Wilkinson,253.[5]TheReformationwasamovementthat,aimedatreformingtheRomanCatholicchurch,endedup

establishingtheProtestantchurches.ConsultWebster's,NewWorldDictionary.Accordingtod'Aubigne(71),thewholeReformationissummedupintheactofLutherwhenheturnedhiseyesfromRometotheHolyScriptures.Seealsod'Aubigne,113.

[6]Stephens,111.[7]MartinLuther,fromalettertoSpalatin,quotedinGonnet/Molnar,AdlibrumAmbrosiiCatharini

Responsio,April1521,againinStephens,111.[8]MartinLuther,quotedinGonnet/Molnar,againinStephens,111.[9]Stephens,112,113.[10] See Wylie, 16, 55; Monastier, quoted in Wylie, 55; Oecolampadius, quoted in Wylie, 57;

Stephens,115,127.[11]Tourn,65,66,68,70;Stephens,118-126.[12]Bompiani,120,121;Stephens,123,127,129;Wylie,66.[13]Stephens,125,126,129.[14]SavoywasanareaintheFrench-ItalianbordercountryruledbytheHouseofSavoyfromthe11th

century. It grew to encompassNice in France andPiedmont in Italy. SeeReader'sDigest Illustrated,VolumeTwo,1490.Forthevalleys'locationinPiedmont,seeWylie,9;"TheWaldensianValleys,"1.TheFrenchking's twenty-threeyearoccupationof thevalleysiscoveredinWylie,70;Tourn,78;Stephens,129-131.

[15]Tourn,78.[16]Stephens,130-132.[17]Ibid.,74;Wylie,61,62.[18]Literally,"bigshed."Stephens,132.[19]Ibid,131,132.[20]Tourn,81.[21]Psalm136:1.[22]Stephens,131,132;Tourn,80,81.[23]Stephens,134.[24]Muston,quotedinWylie,67-70;Stephens,134,135.[25]Bompiani,121;CompareBray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,307;Wylie,65.[26]Bompiani,123-125;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,310;Stephens,135;Wylie,67,

68;Tourn,82;ScipioneLentolo,quoted inT.Gay,ed,ManoscrittodellaBibliotecadiBerna,codicil716,againinTourn,83,84.

[27]Bompiani,126.The"CountofRacconis,"inBompiani,or"PhilipofSavoy,countdeRaconis"inWylie(79)appearstobe"countFilippodiRacconigi"inStephens(143)or"Racconigi,aroyalprince"inTourn(92).Forcontinuity,"CountRacconigi"isusedherethroughout.

[28] Bompiani, 123. As recently as the late-nineteenth-century, according to Bompiani (123), thisprayercontinuedtobeusedinWaldensianservices.

[29] Wylie, 104-107; Stephens, 58, 59. Emigrating from both Provence in southeast France, andPiedmontinnorthernItaly,Waldensiancolonistsmovedsouthinwaves.SeeWylie,106;Stephens,59.

[30]Perrin,Waldenses,BookII,inAncientChristians,96,97;Wylie,104-108.[31]Wylie,105.CompareTourn,87.[32]Wylie,106-108;Tourn,87.[33]Wylie,108;Tourn,87,88.[34]Wylie, 108, 109.See alsoTourn, 87, 88;Stephens, 140.Differences among authors shouldbe

recognized.Forexample,Tourndoesnot specifyApuliaas thecolony towhichBonelliwasassigned;Stephens does. Perrin (Book I and Book II ofWaldenses in Ancient Christians, 48, 97) introducesStephenNegrinasPaschale'sassociate;TournandStephensdonot.

[35] For Camilla as Paschale's fiancee, see M'Crie, referenced in Wylie, 109; Bompiani, 135;Willyams,60,61.ForCamillaasPaschale'swife,consultMuston,ed.,Letterediuncarcerato,quotedinTourn,90.ThisletterfromPaschaletoCamillabegins:"ToCamillaGuarino,mybelovedandhonorablewife."Itissigned,"YourhusbandandbrotherinJesusChrist,G.L.Paschale."

[36]Tourn,82,83,100;Stephens,140-142;Wylie,109.Achurchcouncilknownas theCouncilofTrentprovidedtheguidelinesfortheCounter-Reformation.SeeStephens,150.Chapter8

[1]Tourn,82,83;Stephens,142.[2]Wylie,70,71.[3]SeetheOldTestamentbookofEsther.[4]Wylie,71;Stephens,142;Tourn,83.[5]Muston,Vol.1,240.[6]Stephens,142;Wylie,71.[7]WaldensianhistorianLeger,referencedbyWylie,72.[8] SeeBaird,Modern Vaudois, inAncient Christians, 467, for the proximity of the stable to the

kitchenandsleepingroomofaWaldensiancottage.Inlateryearsatravelertothevalleysfoundpeoplemakinguseofanimalheatforwarmth.SeeE.G.WhitenotesoftravelcompiledinSherman,"Visit theWaldensianValleys,"11.

[9]Wylie,72.[10]Psalm124:2,3.[11]Wylie,72-77;Leger, referenced inWylie,73."ThebloodofAbel"refers to theOldTestament

accountofthefirstmartyr.SeeGenesis4.[12]Tourn,88.[13]Wylie,109.SeetheOldTestamentbookofJeremiah,Chapter20.[14]OfWaldensianpreachingatamuchlatertime,Bairdobserves,"Theirmodeofpreachingisvery

affectionateandpersuasive;butlittleexcitementisproduced,andgreatsimplicityoffaithisdisplayed...."SeeBaird,ModernVaudois,inAncientChristians,467.

[15]Wylie,109.[16]Stephens,140.[17]Perrin,Waldenses,BookI,inAncientChristians,48.[18]SeeWylie,11;Knight,26."Themountainssqueezedtheflowerylandbetweenthem,"Knightsays

oftheAlpinevalleys.[19]Baird,ModernVaudois,inAncientChristians,467.[20]Muston,Vol.I,240,241;Richard,quotedinMuston,241;Wylie,79;BlairII,270,271.[21]Wylie(79)identifiesthisvalleyasthe"valleyofClusone."Stephens(160)speaksofthe"upper

Chisone(orPragelato)valley."Variationinnamesiscommon,perhapsbecausemorethanonelanguageisrepresentedinthearea.

[22]Muston,Vol.I,241,242.[23]Tourn,91,92.CompareWylie,79,80.TheauthorplacestheCiabasdebatesinthespringof1560

fortworeasons.Wylie(79)hasthemfollowingtheAprilincidentatRioclaret.AndTourn(92)saysthatthegreatdebatesbeforeCatherineofFranceoccurred"afewmonths"afterthoseatCiabas.Itwasafter

"discourse seemed to go nowhere" (Tourn, 92) that in September the duke appointed someone to takemilitarymeasures.

[24]Stephens,143.[25]Quoted inMuston,again inStephens,143.For insight into thepositions takenbyFiliberto, the

duchess,andRacconigi,seeStephens,142,143;Tourn,92,95.[26]Stephens,140;Wylie,111,112.SeeexamplesfromMuston'scollectioninTourn,89,90.[27]FromA.Muston,ed.,Letterediuncarcerato,quotedinTourn,89.[28]Wylie,111,112.[29]Muston,ed.,Letterediuncarcerato,quotedinTourn,90.[30]Stephens,140;Wylie,117-120.[31]Wylie,112.[32]Ibid.,120.[33]Stephens,143.Tourn(92)referstothecountasGiorgioCosta.PrecedentfortheWaldenses'reply

toFilibertocanbefoundinaNewTestamentstory.SeeActs5:29.Chapter9

[1]Stephens,141;Tourn,88.[2]Perrin,Waldenses,BookII,inAncientChristians,97,98.[3]Wylie,113;Perrin,Waldenses,BookII,inAncientChristians,98;Blair,Vol.II,305.[4]Tourn,88,89;Wylie,114,115.[5]Perrin,Waldenses,BookII,inAncientChristians,98;Wylie,113-115.[6]Wylie,114,115;Perrin,Waldenses,BookII,inAncientChristians,98,99.[7]Tourn,89;Wylie,115;Perrin,Waldenses,BookII,inAncientChristians,100;Stephens,141.[8]Stephens,141;Tourn,89.[9]Froma letter tooneAscanioCaraccioli,quotedbythehistorianM'Crie,quotedagain inWylie,

116.[10]Ibid;Perrin,Waldenses,BookII,inAncientChristians,99,100.[11]Stephens,143;Wylie,82.See1Peter2:17;Psalm83.[12]Wylie,82,83.[13]Psalm27:1.Thevalleypeoplemayhavesungpsalmssuchasthisoneforencouragement.[14]Stephens,143.[15]Stephens,144;ScipioneLentolo,quotedinTourn,92,93.FortheWaldenses'viewofthepope

andthesystemofreligionherepresented,seePerrin,Waldenses,BookI,inAncientChristians,40.[16]Wylie,82.ThedebaterPossevino (Chapter8)accompaniedLaTrinita'sarmyaschaplain.See

Tourn.92.[17]Wylie82,83.TheWaldensesbelievedthattheLord'sSupperremindedthemnotonlyofthedeath

ofChrist,butalsooftheircallingtobebrokenandpouredoutforHim.SeeBroadbent,99.[18]Wylie,83,84.Comparethe"minorskirmishesandraids"inStephens,145.SeealsoBlair,Vol.II,

276.[19]Perrin,Waldenses,BookII,inAncientChristians,85;Wylie,84,85.[20] Wylie, 85. For theWaldensian view of the mass, see Perrin,Waldenses, Book I, in Ancient

Christians,42.[21]Wylie,85-87;Perrin,Waldenses,BookII,inAncientChristians,85,86;Stephens,145.[22]Wylie,85-89;Perrin,Waldenses,BookII,inAncientChristians,86.[23] Wylie, 89. Perrin (Waldenses, Book II, in Ancient Christians, 86) reveals that during their

extended timewith the duke theWaldensian representativeswere actually imprisoned. Stephens (145)saysthatthedelegateswereheldhostageuntiltheyhadpubliclyrenouncedtheirfaith.

[24]Wylie,89.SeealsoWylie,86.Chapter10

[1]Wylie,89,91.ThevalleyofPragelasisalsoknownasValChisone.ThecovenantmadetherewasarenewalofanearlieronebetweentheWaldensesofPiedmontandDauphine,insoutheastFrance.SeeP.Gilles,quotedinTourn,98.Reader'sDigestIllustrated,VolumeOne,437.

[2]Seefold-outmapin"TheWaldensianValleys."[3]Wylie, 91, 92. This agreement formalized in the community of Puy, nearBobbio, is sometimes

referredtoas"theCovenantofPuy."ItisdatedJanuary21,1561.[4]Stephens,145;Tourn,94;Wylie,92,93.[5]Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,312,313.TheWaldensesaresaidtohaveexhibited

exceptional bravery during this time. A "flying column" of musketeers who knew the mountains wellhastened from place to place to meet the intruders. On one occasion when La Trinita's men wereretreating, a pastor of the flying column shouted for hismen to spare the lives of thosewho could nolonger fight. This would have been in harmony with the Waldensian ideal calling for no reprisals,plundering,orunnecessarykilling.SeeWylie,93-101;Stephens,145,146;Tourn,94,95,andJanavel's(Gianavello's)warmanual,quotedinTourn,126.

OnememorablestoryfromthewarwithLaTrinitahassixmusketeersdefendingtheentrancetothePrafromthenarrowgorgethroughwhichtheTorrenteAngrognaflowed.Fromabove,othersaidedtheireffortbyrollinglargestonesdownontotheattackers.WhenobserversdownstreamnoticedtheAngrognachangingcolor, theysaid,"Thereflows thebloodof theVaudois!"But theywerewrong.ThatnightLaTrinitawithdrewfromthevalleysandnevercamebackagain.SeeWylie,100,101.

[6]Tourn,89,95,96;Stephens,146;Wylie,101.[7]Stephens,146,147.[8]Wylie,101;Stephens,148.[9]P.Sarpi,quotedinTourn,98,99;Stephens,146.[10]Wylie,121.[11]Stephens,151;Wylie,122.[12]Stephens,150;Tourn,100.

[13]Wylie,122.[14]Stephens,150.[15]Ibid.,151,152;Tourn,108.Thoughtheexactlengthoftime"Castrocaro"(SebastianoGrazioli)

wasinofficeisinquestion,hisdemandingbehaviorisnot.WylieattributesCastrocaro'sappointmentasdeputygovernor tohis acquaintancewith theduchess,whomhehad convincedofhis affection for theWaldenses.WyliealsonotesCastrocaro's friendshipwith theArchbishopofTurin,whomhepromisedthat he would try to convert the Waldenses. Once made governor in the valleys, Wylie observes,Castrocaro "forgot his professions to the duchess, but faithfully set about fulfilling the promise he hadmadetothearchbishop."SeeWylie,122,123.

[16]Stephens,152,153.InanincidentparallelingoneintheOldTestamentbookofEsther,Castrocarowasdirected toescorthome fromdetainment inTurinapastorhehadaccusedof apoliticalplot.SeeStephens,152.

[17]Tourn,108.[18]Ibid.,103-105.Italicshavebeenomittedfromthequotation.[19]Reader'sDigestIllustrated,VolumeTwo,1070,1223,1394.[20]SamuelSmiles,quotedinEdwardson,17.[21]Bray,VaudoisBookI,inAncientChristians,313,314.[22]Stephens,153-155;Wylie,125;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,313,314.Formore

onthepositionofMargaretregardingtheWaldenses,seealsoTourn,92.[23]Stephens,156;Baird,Protestantism,348.[24]Stephens,158.(Forthetimeframe,referto155,whichcitestheyearofFiliberto'sdeath.)Baird

(Protestantism,348)saysthattheabductionofWaldensianchildreninordertoconvertthemtothestatechurchwas"permitted,ifnotsanctioned"bythestate.

[25]Stephens,157-159.CompareHuguenotrightsdescribedinStephens,157,withWaldensianrightsnotedinStephens,146,147;Tourn,96.

[26]Jones,Vol.II,311,312;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,317.[27]Wylie,132;Stephens,171;Bompiani,54;Webster'sNewWorldDictionary,481.[28]Wylie,127-129.[29] Stephens, 167, 168; Wylie, 127-129; Tourn, 111. Here Tourn places the original number of

pastorsatthirteen.Stephens(167)andWylie(129)tellofonepastor,PierreGillesofLaTorre,wholostfoursonstotheplague,yetbydayandnightcontinuedtocomfortthedyingandbereaved.

[30]Stephens,171;Wylie,133;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,subheading,327;Baird,Protestantism,349.Chapter11

[1]Tourn,115,116;Stephens,169,170.[2]"RoyalMadam."SeeStephens,169.Theyoungduke'smother,Christine,andherconnectionsare

discussedinWylie,130,131;Tourn,116;Stephens,170.

[3]Stephens,170.[4] See Erla Zwingle, "Po, River of Pain and Plenty," National Geographic (Washington, D.C.:

NationalGeographicSoct.,May,2002),100,108;Bray,BookI,inAncientChristians,318.[5] P. Gilles, Histoire ecclesiastiques des Eglises Vaudoises..., II, quoted in Tourn, 112, 113;

Stephens,158;Baird,Protestantism,348;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,329.[6]Wylie,133,134;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,327-330.[7]Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,330.[8]Tourn,116,117.SeealsoBray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,330.[9]Stephens,172;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,329.[10]Stephens,172.[11]Tourn,117;Stephens,172,173.[12]Stephens,173;Wylie,134,135;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,332.[13]For theestimateof two thousandpersons,Wylie (135)cites JeanLeger, theWaldensianpastor

andmoderatorwhowouldbecometheiron-locationreporterandhistorianaswell. InStephens'words(173),"morethanathousandfamilies"respondedtoGastaldo'sorder.

[14]Stephens,173;Wylie,135,136.[15]Wylie,136.SeealsoStephens,173,174.Thebringingof suchanaccusationwouldhavebeen

congruentwiththeallegeddesignsofdePropagandaFideetExtirpandisHaereticis.SeeBray,VaudoisBookI,inAncientChristians,329.

[16]Stephens,174;Tourn,117;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,327,329,330,331.[17] Wylie, 137; Stephens, 174; Bray, Vaudois, Book I, in Ancient Christians, 333; Baird,

Protestantism,349.[18]SeeTourn,118.[19]StephensheredrawsuponaletterquotedbyE.Balmas:LaRelationedellaguerravaldesa,and

byArmand-Hugon:StoriadeiValdesi/2,chapter8.ThemanuscriptisfoundintheBraidenseMuseuminMilan.SeeStephens,175.

[20]Blair,Vol.II,393,407;Stephens,174.[21] For details of the massacre of Saturday, April 24, 1655, see Blair, Vol . II, 392-407; Leger,

referencedinWylie,141;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,334-336;Baird,Protestantism,349, 350. Without graphic description, Tourn (118) explains simply that the unarmed were "torturedsadisticallyandmassacred."

[22]Jeremiah9:1.SeeBlair,Vol.II,406.SeealsoLegerquotedinWylie,144.[23]Tourn,119;Baird,Protestantism,350,351;Wylie,144.[24]BlairII,407,408.CompareWylie,145.[25]Tourn,119,120;Stephens,179-182;Baird,Protestantism,350,351.[26]Tourn,118;Stephens,175,176.[27]Blair,Vol.II,413,414;Wylie,154,155.

[28]Wylie,150;Blair,Vol.II,414;Stephens,176;Tourn,118,119;Bompiani,112.AsStephens(176)explains,GianavelloisalsoknownasJanaval.SeeTourn,118.

[29]PortionsfromthelettersofPianezzaandGianavelloaretakenfromLeger,quotedinWylie,155,157.Formoreon theWaldensian captain, seeBlair,Vol. II, 414;Wylie, 149-158;Bompiani, 111,112.Bray's account (Vaudois, Book I, in Ancient Christians, 339) indicates that Gianavello's wife anddaughterswere kept alive in order that hemight bemanipulated by threats.HereBray also speaks ofGianavello's effort to take hostages as ameans of negotiating their return. That effort, he says, failed.Wylie(157)speaksofGianavello'ssaving"fromthewreckofhisfamily"hisinfantson,whomhecarriedtoarelative'shomeinaFrenchvalley.

[30]Blair,Vol.II,418;Bompiani,113.GiaheriandJahierarethesame.CompareWylie,157,158.[31]Tourn,119.[32]Stephens,177;Wylie,158. In laterwritings,Gianavellowouldemphasizesparingof"innocent

blood,"bywhich,accordingtoStephens(177),heevidentlymeanscivilians,ortheunarmed."[A]boveeverythingelse,"hewouldurge,"avoidshedding innocentblood, lestGodbeangeredagainstyou."G.Janaval,"MemorieedavvisidatialliReligionari," inBollettinodellaSocietadeStudiValdesi,n.49,46ff,quotedinTourn,126.

[33] "The light shineth indarkness."SeeBompiani,quoted inEdwardson,119.Tourndescribes theemblemsimilarly,asacandlestickandthewordsInTenebrisLuxsurroundedbysix,andlateron,sevenstars.

[34]Wylie,158.Chapter12

[1] See Oliver Cromwell's letter, published in W. S. Gilly, Narrative of an Excursion to theMountains of Piedmont (London, 1827), and quoted in Tourn, 124, 125. ForMorland's visit and itstiming,seeStephens,184,186.Stephens(184)picturestheengravingofaspaciouscomplexataplaceknownasRivoli,whereCharlesEmanuelIIandhismotherreceivedtheEnglishambassador.

[2] Wylie, 145, 146; Stephens, 180, 182, 183, 186; Miller letter, prefacing Perrin,Waldenses, inAncientChristians,6.

[3]SeeReader'sDigestIllustrated,VolumeOne,409,410;Headley,22.Giventhereligious-politicalthinking of his day, Cromwell would have detected no parallel between the suffering endured by theProtestantsofthevalleysandthatinflictedonCatholicsduringhisowncareer.SeeStephens,180.

[4]RefertotheletterquotedinTourn,124,125.[5]Stephens,186;Wylie,146.OftheenvoyssentfromProtestantstatestopleadtheWaldenses'cause,

England'sMorlandisthoughttohavebeenoneofthemostvigorous.SeeBaird,Protestantism,350,351.[6]Stephens(footnote,186)explainsthatbycomparingthedraftrecordedinMasson'sLifeofMilton

with thespeechaspreserved inMoreland'sHistoryof theEvangelicalChurchesofPiemont, one canspotMorland'srevisions.StephenscreditsEsterMenasce:MiltoneIvaldesiforfirstdrawingattentiontothem.

[7] Stephens, 186, 188.At some point--perhaps surreptitiously beforeMoreland's departure--LegergaveMorlandimportantWaldensiandocumentsforsafekeeping.MorlanddeliveredthemtothelibraryattheUniversity of Cambridge. Leger placed others in the public library inGeneva. SeeWillyams, 23;Wylie,144.QuotedpassagesarefromStephens.

[8]Wylie(146)indicatesthattheCastelluzzowasasiteofmartyrdomsinthe1655massacreandthatMiltonreferstoitinhiswork.Heobservesofthissingularmountainprojectionthatthereis"notanothersuchmartyr'smonumentinthewholeworld."Blair(Vol.II,418)revealsthatafterthreedaystheinfantgraspedinthearmsofParisa'swifewasfoundalive.Foradditionalspecificsofthemassacre,seeBlair,Vol.II,418;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,335.

[9]Milton'ssonnetisquotedinWylie,147.[10]Tourn,121122;Stephens,190,191;Wylie,161;Bray,Vaudois,BookI, inAncientChristians,

348.[11]Tournrefers to thedocument'sprofessed"grantsofmercy."SeeTourn121.Stephensnamesthe

documents"PatentsofGrace"or"TreatyofPinerolo."SeeStephens,190,193.[12]Tourn,122;Bray,Vaudois,BookI,inAncientChristians,348;Stephens,193.[13]Stephens,190,193,197;Tourn,122.[14]ThePatentsofTurinweresignedinFebruaryof1664.SeeTourn,123;Stephens,198.[15]Stephens,196,198;Tourn,123;CompareWylie,162.QuotedpassagesarefromTourn.[16]MargaretThal-Larsen,"HillsofHome,"SierraClubBulletin,June,1954,quotedinKnight,29.[17]Wylie, 144, 162. Leger's book appeared inMay of 1669 in Leyden, a city in SouthHolland,

Netherlands. See Tourn, 123; Leger's dedication, prefacing his book. For the city's location, refer toReader'sDigestIllustrated,VolumeTwo,965.

Roughlyadecadeearlier,in1658SamuelMorlandhadputoutanillustratedvolumeinsomewayssimilartoLeger's.PerhapshereceivedthedetailsfromLeger.SeeBompiani,142.Morland'sHistoryoftheEvangelicalChurchesOf theValleys ofPiemont, printed byHenryHills, "one ofHisHighnefs'sPrinters" in London, attemptedwhatMoreland called "amost naked and punctualRelation of the lateBLOUDYMASSACRE,1655."Quotationsarefromthetitlepage.

[18] FromGianavello's 1685manual on guerrilla warfare, taken fromBollettino della Societa deStudiValdesi,quotedinTourn,125,126.

[19]Toobservetheaccuracyofhishunches,seeTourn,121,122.[20]Tourn,127;Stephens,199.[21]Wylie,163;Bompiani,86.[22]Aheavilyarmedtrooper.SeeReader'sDigestIllustrated,VolumeOne,511.[23]Stephens,199,201.CompareTourn,127,128;Wylie,174.QuotedpassageisfromStephens.[24]Stephens,199,201;Wylie,163.(ForthelocationoftheWaldensianvalleyswithrespecttoTurin,

seeWylie,11.)[25]Wylie,163,165;Stephens,201;Bompiani,86,87.QuotedpassagesarefromStephens.

[26]Stephens,201,202;Wylie,166,167;Tourn,129.Chapter13

[1]Stephens,202.[2]Tourn,129,131;Stephens,201,202;Bray,Vaudois,BookII,inAncientChristians,361-366.[3]Wylie,167;Stephens,203.[4]Bompiani,88.HereArnaud'sprayerisparaphrased.TheresponseoftheWaldensesistakenfrom

thewordsoftheApostlePaulinhisNewTestamentlettertotheChristiansinPhilippi.SeePhillippians4:13.

[5]Stephens,202;Wylie,167.[6]Knight,26.[7] "Val Pellice," a travel booklet obtained by the author in Torre Pellice during 1996, features a

Waldensianmaideninthehistoricwhiteshawlandbonnet.[8]Tourn,131;Stephens,203;Wylie,167,168.[9]Bray,Vaudois,BookII,inAncientChristians,376-378.[10] Tourn, 131; Stephens, 206, 207. A time discrepancy between Tourn and Stephens may be

accounted for by Bray (Vaudois, Book II, in Ancient Christians, 382, 383) when he states that theWaldenseswere"carriedthenintoprisonatdiverstimes,andasfastastheysurrenderedthemselves,orweretaken."

[11]Stephens,206,207.Figuresdifferfromauthortoauthor.See,forexample,Tourn,131;Arnaud,quotedinWylie,170.

[12]QuotingMaxKnight,65.[13]BasedonStephens,206,214.[14]Taken fromArmand-Hugon,StoriadeiValdesi/2, inStephens, 207;Bray,Vaudois,Book II, in

AncientChristians,383,384.InthecitadelofTurinwheretheWaldensianpastors--therewerenine--andtheir families were detained, conditions were better. The duke's confessor came around with soup,medicine,andevenmoneyforthem.Doctorswereavailablewhentheywereill.Stephens,208.

[15]Tourn,133,134;Stephens,206,208;Bray,Vaudois,BookII,inAncientChristians,385;Wylie,165,170.InthesereferencesBrayandWyliehavetheprisonersleavinginDecember.Allofourauthorsagreethatitwasinthedeadofwinter.

[16]Wylie,172;Stephens,209;Tourn,133,134;Bray,Vaudois,BookII,inAncientChristians,385,386.

[17]Wylie,174,175.[18]Stephens,212;Tourn,136.[19]Stephens,208-210.[20]Tourn,131;Stephens,204,205,208,209,includingE.deBroglie,quotedinStephens,205.[21] Stephens, 209. Tourn (132) calls them "unconquerables" and attributes the duke's behind-the-

scenesmediationwiththesementotheSwiss.

[22]Stephens,211;Tourn,132.Fortheirpart,theWaldensesofVercelliweresaidtobe"asorrowfullot."SeeTourn,134.

[23]Muston,Vol.II,22,23;Wylie,175;Stephens,211.[24]Wylie,175;Tourn,132.[25]Stephens,210,211.[26]Tourn,133,135;Stephens,210,211;Wylie,175.[27]Stephens,212;Tourn,136,137;Wylie,176.[28]Stephens,214.Forreferencestoamixedvolunteerarmy,seeTourn,137;Stephens,219.[29]Tourn,137,139;Stephens,214;Wylie,176,177.Stephens(214)tellsusthatsomeonehundred

twentyvolunteerswereapprehendedbeforereachingthelakeside.TheseweredeliveredovertoSavoy.Thenumberofactualparticipantsvariesfromwriter towriter.Wylie(177)placesthenumberof thosewhocrossedthelakeateighthundred.Chapter14

[1] SeeStephens, 212, footnote.Arnaud's bookwas published in 1710 according toWalterC.Utt,Home to Our Valleys (Pacific Press Publishing Association: Mountain View, California; Omaha,Nebraska; Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, 1977), the author's Preface. Tourn (137) observes that "TheGloriousReturn"isoneofthemostwidelyknownsegmentsofWaldensianhistory.

[2]ThecrossingofLakeGenevaoccurredonAugust17,1689.SeeTourn,137.Stephens(221-223)placestheirarrivalinAngrognainlateMayofthefollowingspring.

[3] Tourn, 137, 139. Stephens (215) explains that Arnaud's small army was divided into twentycompanies, six consisting of Huguenot refugees and fourteen of Waldensian. Quoted passage is fromTourn.

[4]Stephens(216)describesthemaswearinghelmets,andgivestheofficerssilverandgold-trimmeduniformswithfeatheredmusketeers'hats.ComparewithTourn,139;Wylie,180.

[5]Tourn,139;Stephens,213,214,225.FormoreonArnaud'sblendof"pietyandpatriotism,"seeWylie, 177. Stephens (214) explains that Waldensian fighters like Gianavello considered prayer andrepentance integral tactics of war. Defeat, incarceration, or exile, when they experienced them, camebecauseoftheir"manysins."

[6]Tourn,137.[7]Stephens,215,216.Fordetailsofthebeginningofthemarch,seeHeadley,34-38.[8]Thiswas"thebridgeofSalbertrand."Stephens,216,217;Tourn,137;Headley,40.[9]ThestoryofGideon'ssmallarmy is found in theOldTestamentbookofJudges,beginningwith

Chapter6.[10]Wylie,180;Headley,40-43;Stephens,215-217;Arnaud,quotedinStephens,217,218.[11]Headley,44,45;Bray,Vaudois,BookIII,inAncientChristians,415,416;Wylie,180.[12] Bray,Vaudois, Book III, inAncient Christians, 416. Stephens (215) makes plain the general

directionofthemarch.

[13]Skirmishesbeforereachingthebridgeaccountedformorelossesthandidthemajorbattleitself.Stephens,218;Tourn,137;Wylie,180.

[14]Wylie,181;Stephens,218.[15]Wylie,182.[16]FromPsalm74.[17]FromPsalm129.[18]ThetextsusedinthishistoricworshipservicecanbefoundinWylie,182.[19]Stephens,219;Tourn,139.Theterm"possessingtheland"comesfromtheOldTestamentstoryof

Joshua leading the ancient people of Israel into the Promised Land. It meant doing whatever wasnecessary to establish a presence, specifically overcoming the land's occupants. See Joshus 1:11 and13:1.

[20]Stephens,219;Wylie,185.[21]ErnestoComba,StoriadeiValdesi,3rded.,quotedbyTourn,141;Bray,Vaudois,Book III, in

AncientChristians,420,421.[22]Stephens,219.Tourn(139)estimatesthenumberofvolunteersremainingat300.[23]QuotationbasedonMonastier,citedinWylie,189.SeealsoStephens,214,219,221;Tourn,139;

Wylie,187-189;Bray,Vaudois,BookIII,inAncientChristians,422.[24] Tourn, 140;Wylie, 189. For evidence of an ancient practice replaced, seeAppendixC:Early

WaldensesandtheSeventh-daySabbath.[25]Stephens,221;Bray,Vaudois,BookIII,inAncientChristians,422,423,425;Wylie,189,190.[26]Stephens,221,222.ThewordsofthehymnaretakenfromPsalm68.[27]QuotationfromBray,Vaudois,BookIII,inAncientChristians,434.[28]Bray,Vaudois,BookIII,inAncientChristians,439;Stephens,222;Wylie,191.[29]Tourn,140.[30] Tourn, 140;Wylie, 192, 193; excerpts from a letter written to the French and signed by one

BrovilliD'Herville,inBray,Vaudois,BookIII,inAncientChristians,440;Stephens,222.[31]Stephens,222,223;Wylie,195;Tourn,140.[32]Arnaud,quotedinStephens,226.[33] Stephens, 223;Tourn, 140;Bray,Vaudois,Book III, inAncient Christians, 453. For the year,

refertoArnaud,datedcorrespondanceinBray,Vaudois,BookIII,449,450.Withintwoyears,accordingtoStephens(227),almostalltheWaldensianexileshadreturned,alongwiththousandsofHuguenots.

[34]Wylie,196.[35] For thismetaphor I am indebted to J. T.Headley. SeeHeadley, 12. TheWaldenses officially

receivedfreedomtoworshipandevangelizein1984.SeeStephens,327.[36]Stephens,231,232.Arnaud'sstatueispicturedinStephens,226.In1721ArnauddiedinGermany

whereheservedaspastorandModeratorforexiledChristianslikehimself.SeeStephens,240.[37]Tourn,147.

[38]Stephens,245,246;Tourn,147,149,150;Bompiani,46,47.AccordingtoStephens(245,246)theageatwhichachildcouldbelegallypersuadedorabductedwastenforgirlsandtwelveforboys.Tourn(150)placesthelegalageforenticementatfourteenforboysandtwelveforgirls.AphotographofthespaciousPinerolobuildingknownasOspiziodeiCatecumenicanbefoundinStephens,246.Chapter15

[1] By 1797Napoleon Bonaparte wasmaking hismark as a deft politician and themost brilliantgeneralaround.SeeReader'sDigestIllustrated,VolumeTwo,1127.In1798anotherFrenchgeneralbythenameofBerthiermadechurch-statehistorywheninthenameofrepublicanismheledaFrencharmyintoRome,declaredthepope'stemporalreignended,andtookthepopecaptive.SeeE.B.Eliott,quotedinEdwardson,57-59.SeealsoSmith,291.

[2]Tourn,154-159;"TheWaldensianValleys,"19.[3]Comba,quotingthe1848DeclarationofEmancipation,quotedagain inTourn,167.Tourn(165)

saysthattheWaldensianBoardpetitionedtheking,followedbyapublicreferendumthatshowedadrifttoward change. Stephens supplies additional details.He tells of oneMarquessRobert d'Azegliowho,saysStephens,petitionedforbothWaldensesandJews.AccordingtoStephens(279),D'Azeglio'spetitionwassignedbymanyparishpriestswhopersonallyfavoredWaldensianemancipation.

In a book published in 1843 a priest from Turin had apparently voiced the feelings of manyindividualsinthestatechurch."TheWaldenseswereattimescruellypersecuted;we...shouldconfessitpublicly...so that we may be moved with all the more love to indemnify them for the wrongs of ourancestors,"hewrote.SeeGioberti,quotedinArmand-HugonandtheninStephens,280.

[4]Tourn,165,166;Stephens,280,281;Wylie,203.Thequotationcomesfromthe1848DeclarationofEmancipation,quotedinComba,quotedagaininTourn,167.

TothisdayvalleyWaldensescelebratetheendoftheghettoandtheacquiringofcivilandpoliticalrights with lighted beacons on the evening of February 16th. See the booklet, "Waldensian HistoryMuseum"(obtainedin1996inTorrePellicebytheauthor),SectionV.

[5]Stephens,280,281.SeealsoTourn,165,166.Thequotation is from theDeclaration,quoted inComba,quotedagaininTourn,167.

[6]"WaldensianHistoryMuseum,"SectionVI.[7] The two supporters mentioned here were Charles Beckwith, an English military general, and

WilliamStephenGilly,anAnglicanminister.See"WaldensianHistoryMuseum,"SectionVI;Stephens,260,270,272;Tourn,160-165."TheWaldensianValleys"(3)countstheschoolsexistingduringatwo-yearperiod,1848and1849, suggesting that at the timeof the emancipation theywere still growing innumber.

[8] Stephens, 273. (Compare with 198.) The quoted slogan is attributed to one Count Cavour, apoliticalfigurewithliberalleanings.SeeStephens,279,286.

[9]Tourn,173.[10] Beckwith, January 4, 1848, to theWaldensian vice-moderator, quoted in J.P.Meille,General

Beckwith,HisLifeandLaboursAmongsttheWaldensiansofPiedmont,andagaininTourn,166,167.For the situation their friend Beckwith addressed, see Tourn, 148, 164. See also "The WaldensianValleys"(19)whereitisacknowledgedthatthevalleypeopleofthistime,withsomeexceptions,were"closedupandturnedinonthemselves."

[11] Tourn, 171-173;"TheWaldensianValleys," 19, 20. TheWaldensian response is taken from theDeclarationof theWaldensianBoard,quotedinG.Peyrot,Rapporit trastatoechiesa inPiemontneltriennio,1849-51,quotedagaininTourn,179,180.

[12]Tourn,171,174-178;"WaldensianHistoryMuseum,"SectionVI.[13]Stephens,293,294,306.[14]Tourn,193.[15]Stephens,307.[16]Stephens,311;Tourn,196.[17]SeeTourn,196,197;"WaldensianHistoryMuseum,"SectionVII.[18]Stephens,314,315;Tourn,196,197;"WaldensianHistoryMuseum,"SectionVII.[19]BenitoMussolini,inanaddressgivenonMarch18,1934,quotedinTourn,198.[20]Stephens,313-315.WordswithinquotationmarksareattributedtoStephenswiththeexceptionof

"theologicaldays,"inwhichStephens(315)usesaWaldensianphrase.[21]FromActsoftheWaldensianSynod,Italy,1943,n.13,quotedinTourn,199.[22]As inearlier times,notallWaldenses remained in theAlpineareaoreven in Italy.During the

exileofthelate1600'safewhardyWaldensesattemptingtoescapepersecutionhadmadetheirwaytotheNew World. See Stephens, 211; Tourn, 186. Then, in the 1840's motivated by economic necessity,Waldenses emigrated to France, Switzerland and the Near East. Severe crop failures in the 1850'soccasionedemigration toUruguay. In the1890'sothersmoved toArgentina.SeeTourn,186,235,239,247;"TheWaldensianValleys,"20.

EventuallyasplintergroupfromUruguaycame toNewYork, latermoving toMonett,Missouri. In1893 some two hundred Waldenses settled in North Carolina where they named their community"Valdese."Others settled in locations across theUnitedStates.Texas,Utah, Illinois, andNewYork inparticularbecame"home"forWaldensianimmigrants.SeeTourn,186,187.

[23]QuotedmaterialfromArticle3ofthepost-warconstitutionassummarizedinStephens,324.Forthenewconstitutionandsubsequentreality,seeStephens,324-326.

[24]ManualofChristianDoctrine,quotedinEdwardson,261.ComparewithRevelation22:17.[25]Stephens,326-329.[26] For examples of this sequence, refer to Chapter 3 in which young Innocent III tried first to

persuadeandthentocorrect;Chapter8inwhichdiscourseanddebateprecededmilitaryaction;Chapter9 in which the colonists of the south were first entreated, then persecuted; and Chapter 10 in whichmissionariesfromthestatechurchemployeddebateforthepurposeofconvertingcommunityleaders,butfailingthere,introducedcivilpenalties.

[27]Stephens,329-331.[28]Ibid.,326,327;Tourn,292,293.Itmaybeofinterestthatwithinadecadeorso,mostWaldenses

who settled in North America joined with other bodies of faith, usually those within the circle ofReformedchurches.OneexceptionisaWaldensiancongregationinNewYorkCity.SeeTourn,187.

[29]Tourn,293.AWordAfter

[1]Wilkinson,251;PhilippusvanLimborch,quotedinEdwardson,128-130;Edwardson,131;WylieandMuston,quotedinEdwardson,132,133.

[2] "Dr. Beck," whose history Andrews and Conradi quote (636, 637), reported that Anabaptistssuffered at the hand of Catholics and Protestants as well. He is backed up by early-fifteenth-centuryscholarErasmus,whoacknowledged, "They [theAnabaptists] are tobechiefly recommended for theirblamelesslife,yettheyareoppressedbytheothersects,aswellasbytheorthodox...."FromalettertothearchbishopofTolouse.SeeAndrewsandConradi,638.

In her book God and Government (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982), 16, Ann Weisstouchesthesortofreasoningunderlyingallthis:ProtestantreformerJohnCalvin,sheexplains,believedthatforitsowngoodthestateshouldnottoleratereligiousdissent."Thepunishmentsexecuteduponfalseprophets, and seducing teachers, do bring down the showers ofGod's blessings upon the civil state,"Calvinisquotedassaying.

[3] GeorgeWashington in a letter written to the Baptists of Virginia, quoted in ThomasArmitage,HistoryoftheBaptists,andagaininEdwardson(152)declared,"Ihaveoftenexpressedmysentimentsthatanyman,conductinghimselfasagoodcitizenandbeingaccountabletoGodaloneforhisreligiousopinions,oughttobeprotectedinworshipingtheDietyaccordingtothedictatesofhisownconscience."In1798ajudgeusedWashington'sletterinthetrialofacitizencalledintocourtforworkingonSunday.SeeEdwardson,151.Foralookatthestruggleagainstreligiouslegislationintwentieth-centuryAmerica,seeNathanielKrum,CharlesS.Longacre,ChampionofReligiousLiberty (Washington,D.C.:ReviewandHeraldPublishingAssociation,1959),69-86;Weiss,116.

ForthestoryofRogerWilliams'banishmentfromtheMassachusettsBayColony,hiswintryjourney,andhisarrivalat theshorehecalledProvidence,seeMarkAmmerman,RogerWilliams (Uhrichsville,Ohio:BarbourPublishing, Inc.,1995),144-178.FormoreonWilliamsand the legalbiasagainstnon-Christians,Catholics,Jews,andothersinthechartersandconstitutionsofcolonialAmerica,seeWeiss,16-20.

ThelocationofwhatisnowthecityofProvidencecanbefoundinReader'sDigestIllustrated,Vol.2,1359.

[4]Weiss,16-18.[5]RogerWilliams, quoted inAmmerman, 200.Williams spoke out against theMassachusettsBay

Colony's attempt to put in place and enforce an Oath of Fidelity and unified church discipline. Themagistrates, it issaid, listenedtoWilliams,buthisargumentsirkedthem."Didn'theknow[Ammerman

suggeststheirthinking]thattheseweredangeroustimesandthatastrongerhandwasneededatthehelmofgovernment?Theydidn'twanttotakeawayfreedoms,theywantedtoensurethemforthefuturebypullingthingstogetherduringthistimeofcrisis."SeeAmmerman,144,146.

[6]Weiss,33.[7]John18:36,KJV.[8]John7:37.

AppendixA:TheMerchantandtheName[1]See,forexample,Reader'sDigestIllustrated,VolumeTwo,1844.[2]Tourn,11-19;Stephens,9,chaptertitle.[3]Willyams(8-13)describesvariousviews.[4]Wylie,10,11.FindtheoutspokenchurchbishopClaudeinChaptertwoofthisbook.[5]Ibid.,10.[6]Raynerus,quotedinAllix,193.CompareWylie(10)inwhichtheinquisitorReyneriusisquoted.

(Clearly,oneinquisitor,variousspellings.)WithrespecttoWylie'sapplication,seealsonote8.[7]Dr.Maclaine,footnoteinBenedict,Vol.I,111,112;Benedict,Vol.I,110;Reinerus(theinquisitor),

quotedinBenedict,Vol.I,110.Sylvesterisidentifiedinthefootnote.[8]Faber,452,453,458;Benedict,Vol.I,107.Benedictconfirmsthat"theWaldensianheresy"isthe

oneconsideredbythechurchtobetheoldestandmostformidableofheresies.SeeBenedict,Vol.I,106.FortheWaldensianvalleysinrelationtotheCottianAlps,returntoChapter2.

[9]Faber,459.InthispassageFaberusesothernamesgiventheWaldenses.RefertoMillerletterinPerrin,2.

[10]SeethestoryofthemanTourn(12,13)callsValdesius.[11]Willyams, 12; Jones,Vol. II, quoted in Edwardson, 120;Miller letter prefacing Perrin, 2;Dr.

MaclainefootnotedinBenedict,Vol.I,111;Muston,Vol.I,18.[12]MillerletterinPerrin,2.

AppendixB:TheOtherWaldenses[1]Tourn,39.[2]Wylie,22,24,25;Bompiani,52-54.[3]Wylie,20;Willyams,42.[4]The"oldAlbigenses"didnotdiffer fromtheWaldenses infaith.SeePerrin,Historyof theOld

Albigenses,BookI,inAncientChristians,129.CompareWylie,26;Blair,Vol.I,220.[5]Voltaire,quotedinWilkinson,216;Baird(quoted),Protestantism,17.ThePauliciansaresaidto

date fromaboutA.D.660.SeeMiller letterprefacingPerrin,Waldenses, inAncientChristians, 1, 2.Baird(Protestantism,17)datestheirimmigrationtothelatetenthandearlyeleventhcentury.

[6]Perrin,Waldenses,BookI,inAncientChristians,24,25;PerrininLuther'sForerunners,1624,quoted in Edwardson, 124, 125; Miller letter prefacing Perrin,Waldenses, inAncient Christians, 2;Benedict,Vol.I,112.RegardingtheArnoldists,Wilkinson(243)quotesthehistorianMilmanassaying,

"TheWaldenseslookuptoArnoldastooneofthespiritualfoundersoftheirchurches."[7]Perrin,Waldenses,BookI,inAncientChristians,25.Stephens(35)separatestheWaldensesfrom

the Cathars. Of the famed inquisitor and author, Bernard Gui, Stephens (46) observes, "Unlike manyinquisitorswhowereinclinedtofluffthedistinctionbetweenWaldensesandCathars,he[Gui]carefullyliststhedistinguishingfeaturesofthetwosectsandprovidesseparateformulasforrecantation."

[8]Benedict,VolII,413,414.SeeAppendixC:EarlyWaldensesandtheSeventh-daySabbath.[9]MillerletterprefacingPerrin,Waldenses,inAncientChristians,2;Perrin,Waldenses inAncient

Christians,24,25;Benedict,Vol.I,112,113.[10]Benedict,Vol.I,132,133.[11]PrefacetoPerrin,WaldensesandAlbigenses,inAncientChristians,xvi,xvii.[12]Robinson,440.Seealso:Allix,192,193,quotingRaynerus;Baird,Protestantism,14;Willyams,

12, 13; Bray, Vaudois, Book I inAncient Christians, 289, 290; Arnaud, quoted in Edwardson, 121;PrefacetoBray,Vaudois,inAncientChristians,275;Broadbent,97,98;Gilly,prefacetoWillyams,vi,vii;Wilkinson,251;Benedict,Vol.I,106,112.

[13]Wylie,24.SeealsoWylie,9.AppendixC:EarlyWaldensesandtheSeventh-daySabbath

[1]Robinson,303,304.InquotingfromRobinson,theauthorhasretainedsomeoftheelementsoftheoldwriting,butmuchofthecontemporaryspellingaswellascapitalizationanditalicswheretheywouldbeindicatedtodayaresupplied.

[2]Ibid.[3] John Brereley Priest, The Protestants Apologie for the Roman church. Divided into three

Severall Tractes, orDeuided into three feuerall Tractes (PermiffuSuperiorum,AnnoM.DC.VII, or1608),Tracte2,Cap.2,338.TheWaldenses'denialof"Judgmenttobloud"mayhavehadreferencetotheirrefusaltoacknowledgepurgatoryandthepowerofthechurchtodetermineoutcomesforthedead.SeeBernarddeFontcaude(writinginthelatetwelfth/earlythirteenthcentury),referencedinStephens,38.Oritcouldhavepointedouttheirallegedobjectiontocapitalpunishment.SeeCistercianscholarAlaindeLille,alsoreferencedinStephens,38.

[4]White,L.BishopofEly,8.SeealsothefrontcoverofWhite'streatise.InquotingfromWhite,theauthorhasupdatedsomeofthespelling.PeterdeBruys,forwhomthedissidentcellwasnamed,appearsinChapter2ofthisbook.

[5]JohnLaurenceMosheim,EcclesiasticalHistory,Vol.I,(Baltimore:PhoenixN.Wood&Company,1832),333.

[6]Theywerealleged, forexample, tohavepracticed incest,wifesharing,andworshipofpastors.SeePerrin,Waldenses,inAncientChristians,26,27.

[7]"FortheruleoftheirobediencetheyhadthelawoftheLord...."SeePerrin,PrefacetoWaldensesandAlbigenses,inAncientChristians,xvi.Wylie(73)speaksof"theonlyinfalliblestandardtheyknew,theWordofGod."

[8]RefertoExodus20:8-11.

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