A SHORT SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE GERMAN VALDENSES, Which may be found at length in the following German Works: Waldenser Chronick, printed in 1655, probably at Berne. Die Geschichte der Waldenser, Zurich, 1798, by Moser. Kurzer Abriss der Geschichte der Wurtembergescher Waldenser, by Andreas Keller, minister, Tubingen, 1796. Original Briefe, or Original Letters, in the library at Heidelberg. 1655 After the treaty of Pignerol, in 1655, (at which period the history of Bresse terminates,) the affairs of the Vaudois re1685 mained much in the same state till 1685, when the Duke of Savoy was induced by Louis the Fourteenth to revoke all his promises, by a new edict. This edict commanded the demolition of their churches, and the immediate banishment of all pastors and schoolmasters, forbad the education of children in the Vaudois faith, and prohibited the public and private exercise of their religion. Louis the Fourteenth not only pressed 1686 this measure on the Duke; but, in 1686, according to a former promise, sent 14,000 men, under the Marquis de Catinat, to join the Piemontese army, then marching to enforce the obedience of the Vaudois. Catinat,* who led the attack, was repulsed; but, after two other engagements, the Vaudois sued for peace. The Duke determined upon punishing them severely, and condemned 14,000 persons to the prisons of Turin. The remainder either submitted to the mass or fled. By the intercession of the Elector of Brandenburg and the Swiss cantons, the Duke was at length induced to permit those who would not change their religion to leave the country unmolested. The prisons were consequently opened, but only 3000 persons issued from them; the other 11,000 had perished by heat, cold, hunger, and thirst, during their imprisonment, The 3000, immediately on their release, marched into Switzerland; where two thirds remained, and See Burnet's history of his own times, fol. edit. p. 456. |