CROMWELL'S LETTER TO LOUIS XIV. 233 effected by some mode of exchange, if possible, and if not, that at least they may be taken under your patronage and protection. There are other reasons of state which might induce your majesty not to neglect the Vaudois, but I would not wish so great a king to be influenced by any thing, but his regard to the faith pledged by his ancestors, and by his own piety, and royal benevolence and magnanimity. Thus the honour and praise of so glorious an act will be entirely your own, and your majesty will propitiate the grace and favour of the Father of Mercies, and our Lord Jesus Christ, whose name and doctrine you will vindicate against such nefarious and inhuman proceedings. "Given at our court at Westminster, this 26th of May, 1658" * Copy of the original Latin Letter. "Serenissime, potentissimeque Rex, "Meminisse potest majestas vestra quo tempore inter nos de renovando fœdere agebatur, quod optimis auspiciis initum multa utriusque populi commoda, multa hostium communium exinde mala testantur, accidisse miseram illam convallensium occisionem; quorum causam undique desertam atque afflictam vestræ misericordiæ atque tutelæ summo cum ardore animi ac miseratione commendavimus. Nec defuisse per se arbitramur majestatem vestram officio tam pio, immo verò tam humano pro ea qua apud Ducem Sabaudiæ valere debuit, vel auctoritate, vel gratia: nos certè aliique multi principes ac civitates, legationibus, literis, precibus interpositis, non defuimus. Post cruentissimam utriusq; sexus omnis ætatis trucidationem, pax tandem data est, vel potius inducta pacis nomine hostilitas quædam tectior: conditiones pacis vestro in oppido Pinerolii sunt latæ ; duræ quidem illæ ; sed quibus miseri atque inopes, dira omnia atque immania perpessi facilè acquiescerent, modo iis, duræ et iniquæ ut sint, staretur; non statur; sed enim earum quoque singularum falsâ interpretatione variisque diverticulis fides eluditur ac violatur; antiquis sedibus multi dejiciuntur, religio patria multis interdicitur, tributa nova exiguntur, arx nova cervicibus imponitur, unde milites crebrò erumpentes obvios quosque vel diripiunt vel trucidant: ad hæc nuper novæ copiæ clanculum contra eos parantur; quique inter eos Romanam religionem colunt, migrare ad tempus jubentur; ut omnia nunc rursus videantur ad illorum internecionem miserrimorum spectare, quos illa prior laniena reliquos fecit. Quod ego majestatem vestram obsecro atque obtestor, fieri ne siverit: nec tantam sæviendi licentiam, non dico principi cuiquam (neque enim in ullum principem, multo minus in ætatem illius principis teneram, aut in muliebrem matris animum tanta sævitia cadere potest) sed sacerrimis illis sicariis ne permiserit; qui cùm Christi Servatoris nostri servos atque imitatores sese profiteantur, qui venit în 234 CHARLES THE SECOND. Cromwell also despatched a letter to the Swiss cantons, plainly signifying his own readiness to go all lengths, in conjunction with them, for the benefit of the Vaudois; and warning them, that they were bound, by every consideration, of interest, as well as feeling, to see that the most ancient stock of the reformed religion be not destroyed, in the rẻmains of its old faithful professors, lest the next blow should fall upon themselves. Unfortunately for the Vaudois, Oliver Cromwell did not live to render them farther assistance; he died in the same year that these last letters were written; and, in him, they lost their most zealous and powerful protector. Charles the Second suspended the annual pension, arising from that part of the collection made in England, in 1655, which Cromwell had put out to interest, and did not protest against the continued persecutions of their sovereign, with that earnestness and spirit, which might have enforced attention. But even this prince, attached, as he was, to the hunc mundum ut peccatores servaret, ejus mitissimo nomine atque institutis ad innocentium crudelissimas cædes abutuntur: eripiat majestas vestra, quæ potest, quæque in tanto fastigio digna est posse, tot supplices suos homicidarum ex manibus, qui cruore nuper ebrii, sanguinem rursus sitiunt, suæque invidiam crudelitatis in principes derivare consultissimum sibi ducunt. Vestra verò majestas regni sui fines ista crudelitate fœdari ne patiatur. Meminerit hos ipsos avi sui Henrici protestantibus amicissimi dedititios fuisse, cùm Diguierius per ea loca, quà etiam commodissimus in Italiam transitus est, Ducem Sabaudiæ trans Alpes cedentem victor est insecutus: deditionis illius instrumentum in actis regni vestri publicis etiamnum extat; in quo exceptum atque cautum inter alia est, ne cui postea convallenses traderentur, nisi iisdem conditionibus quibus eos majestatis vestræ avus invictissimus in fidem recepit. Hanc fidem nunc implorant avitam à nepote supplices requirunt : vestri esse quàm cujus nunc sunt, vel permutatione aliqua, si fieri possit, malint atque optarint; id si non licet, patrocinio saltem miseratione atque perfugio. Sunt et rationes regni quæ hortari possint ut majestas vestra convallenses ne rejiciat; sed nolim aliis rationibus ad defensionem calamitosorum quàm fide à majoribus data, pietate, regiaque animi benignitate ac magnitudine tantum regem permoveri. Ita pulcherrimi facti laus atque gloria illibata atque integra vestra erit, et ipsum patrem misericordiæ ejusque filium Christum regem, majestas vestra, cujus nomen atque doctrinam ab immanitate nefaria vindicaverit, eo magis faventem sibi atque propitium per omnem vitam experietur. Westmonasterio ex aula nostra Maii die 26, anno Domini 1658." CHARLES THE SECOND. 235 Roman Catholic faith, could not entirely forget what was due from the king of a Protestant nation, to the Waldensian sufferers; and the copy of a letter is preserved, which he addressed to the Swiss cantons, in answer to their request, that he would use his intercession in favour of their brethren in the valleys. This letter is a curious specimen of the effect, which a just and righteous cause, supported by public opinion, could have, even upon the thoughtless and unsteady mind of Charles the Second. "Mighty, respected, and noble sirs, our right good friends, "It is with great pleasure that we have received your letters of the 11th of June past; and as we have nothing more deeply at heart, or more agreeable to our minds, than to reestablish, and renew the ancient affection, which the reformed churches entertained for ourselves and our ancestors, and to deserve a continuance of it, we will do all in our power, and upon every occasion, as you have recommended us, to soften the calamities, and prevent, by our intercession with the Duke of Savoy, the dangers which threaten them. For this reason, as soon as we shall send our minister to that court, we will not fail to make use of our entreaties and interest with the duke, our cousin, in their favour and for their relief, to the end, that in future he may treat them with the mildness they hope for; and that they may exercise their religion with security and confidence. In the mean time, if any opportunity shall offer to promote their views, we shall, from our heart, do all we can towards the preservation and safety of those, who are so closely united to us by the sacred ties of a common faith. "Given at our court at Hampton, the 14th of July, 1662, and in the fourteenth year of our reign. (Signed) "Your good Friend, "CAROLUS REX"." u Translated from the copy preserved in Leger's work. 236 COMPACT OF BLOOD-MILTON'S ODE. In 1664 and 1665, the council of extirpation, at Turin, was proceeding so openly in its designs, for the total destruction of the Protestant families in the three valleys, that memorials were again and again presented to the French king, by the different Protestant ambassadors at that monarch's court, and the name of the English minister, Hollis, appears at the foot of several documents of this nature. But they were not worded in the strong and indignant language which distinguished the remonstrances of Cromwell, and they were treated with the contempt which feeble manifestoes deserve to receive. France and Savoy had a perfect understanding upon the subject, and the fiat went forth for blotting the name of the Vaudois from the face of the valleys of Luzerna, Perosa, and San Martino, as it had already been effaced from that of Frassinière, and from the Marquisate of Saluzzo. Most providentially the compact of blood was dissolved in the year 1690, and the Vaudois are still bearing witness to the truth, in the settlements of its first professors. It was during the dreadful persecution, of which I have been speaking, that Milton wrote the following sonnet. "Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints whose bones SONNET 18. CHAPTER XI. A festive party-Alpine dance-Rustic beauty-Return to Turin -Delightful recollections of the Vaudois-General observations -Loyalty of the Protestants of Piemont-Gratitude of the Sardinian government—Ancient Waldensian church—Gradual advance of Romish corruptions--Christianity as it was in the primitive church-Progressive departure from it-Steady resistance and integrity of the Waldenses. THE time passed so imperceptibly with the good pastor of La Torre, that it was late before we remembered, that we were engaged to look in upon the little festive party, which was collected at the house of one of the family of the Vertus. M. Bert's son and daughter, and one of his English pupils, had set out long before us, and I began to fear, lest I should have the appearance of forgetting the early habits of these simple mountaineers. My venerable friend quieted my scruples, by assuring me, that upon occasions like the present, amusements were extended till long past midnight. We found the house to which we were invited, as full as it would hold. All the principal families of. La Torre were assembled together, young and old, and the largest room was set apart for the use of the dancers. One or two adjoining apartments were employed as rooms, to which the company might adjourn for refreshments, or conversation. In the most complete sense of the word, it was a rustic assembly, where all was good humour, cheerfulness, and frankness. The music consisted of a flute, and a couple of violins the dances were those of the country; the refreshments were a thin wine, and cakes; and the dress was principally the costume of the Alps. One or two young girls, and among them the charming girl to whom the younger |