The Vaudois of Piedmont: A Visit to Their ValleysWorsfold, J. N. (John Napper)
History
The Vaudois of Piedmont: A Visit to Their Valleys
Worsfold, J. N. (John Napper)
Waldenses
that not only did the wretches burn the living bodies of their victims, but
also regaled themselves with their flesh, yea, in the presence of their
suffering fellows! When these pious soldiers of holy church could no longer
slay the Vaudois they burnt their houses and farm buildings, and destroyed
their vineyards, with the fruit-trees and other products of the soil.
Nor was Pianezza content with these horrible proceedings at La Torre and
its immediate vicinity. On the evening of the same day, Saturday, April
24th, Rora was attacked by five hundred men, the day after by a larger
body, the next day by more soldiers still--all in vain. A fourth attack,
like the others, was successfully repelled by their noble captain,
Janavello, who, with a very small body of helpers, inflicted terrible loss
upon the troops, even causing the death of their leader, Mario. These
continuous defeats so enraged Pianezza, that he sent them a message to
attend mass within twenty-four hours on pain of death. They replied, "We
prefer death to the mass a hundred thousand times." On this he assembled a
force of ten thousand to attack their village. Janavello fought like a
lion, but was overpowered by numbers. His wife and three daughters, with
some others, were taken captive. One hundred and twenty-six persons were
put to death, and the scenes of the former week were renewed in all their
horrible atrocity. The news of this frightful massacre sent a thrill of
horror through all that portion of Europe whose sensibilities had not been
drugged by the poisonous teaching of the Church of Rome, viz., that
heretics are malefactors, and as such may be lawfully exterminated like
wild beasts. The representatives of England, Holland, and Switzerland
protested against these doings. Cromwell set an example to all rulers,
whether kings or presidents. His envoy, Sir Samuel Morland, read a despatch
in the presence of Carlo, Emmanuel II., Duke of Savoy, and of his mother,
who, under the instigation of the Romish priests, had caused the massacre,
which contained the following passage:--"If all the tyrants of all times
and ages were alive again, certainly they would be ashamed when they should
find that they had contrived nothing in comparison with these things that
might be reputed barbarous and inhuman." The poetical fervour of Milton
gave forth the following noble invocation:--
"Avenge, O Lord, Thy slaughtered saints, whose bones
Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold!
* * * * *
Forget not; in Thy book record their groans
Who were Thy sheep, and in their ancient fold,
Slain by the bloody Piedmontese, that rolled
Mother with infant down the rocks. Their moans
The vales redoubled to the hills, and they to heaven."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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