The Waldensian Church in the Valleys of Piedmont, Ed. by Mrs. Matheson (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 Excerpt: ...the pastor, Antoine Leger, the historian's uncle, from Constantinople, and to apply to those friends in every time of need, their Swiss co-religionists, for ministers to supply the place of those whom death had taken from them. This brought about a great change in the Vaudois Church, not only in assimilating her ritual to that of the Genevan, but also in introducing the French language instead of that of their native Italian. "We own we feel this to be a matter of regret, as well as the substituted title of "Monsieur le Ministre" for the simple and affectionate appellation of "Barba," so suited to the tastes and manners of the primitive Church of the Valleys. But such changes were the natural effects of the afflictive circumstance which obliged the Vaudois Church to apply to her sister of Geneva for the help so promptly and courageously rendered by her intrepid ministers. CHAPTER X. THE PEESECUTIONS OF THE PROPAGANDA, AND THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE VAUDOIS VALLEYS BY THE ARMIES OF FRANCE AND PIEDMONT. 1637 the short reign of Victor Amadeus I. terminated with his life, and the Duchess Christina, sister of Louis Xiii., was nominated regent during the minority of her son, Charles Emmanuel n. Unlike her relative the good Princess Margaret, Christina evinced from the first a spirit of persecution against her Vaudois subjects. Nothing seems to have softened the heart of this cruel bigot. Even when the men of the valleys, ever ready in the defence of their lawful sovereigns, espoused the cause of her son, of whom the guardianship was disputed by his uncles, and took up arms in his defence, she showed neither gratitude nor compunction. One sentence had gone out against them, which no services on their part could repeal; and a ...