CHURCH HISTORY

The Waldenses During the Time of the Reformation

The Waldenses also felt the influence of the new life that had been awakened in Europe. For a time, however, their religious zeal for the Reformation had abated. They often attended the Catholic services to escape the persecution, and quieted their conscience with the thought that they were remaining faithful unto the Lord in their heart. But the Protestants in Germany showed them that their manner of acting was very wrong, and also Farel, who had come to Switzerland to attend their Synod at Angrogne, admonished them to publicly confess the Name and the cause of the Lord. His word did not miss the right effect, and at the Synod of Angrogne the Waldenses resolved to completely break with Rome and to unite with the Reformation.

Now, however, they also shared in the persecution which had broken out again the Protestants at all places. Roman inquisitors were sent to the valleys, and more than one of the Walden-ses was brought to death by horrible tortures because he would refuse to go to Mass. The Waldenses, who occupied the valleys of the duchy of Savoy (presently a region in southeastern France), finally sent a petition to their duke wherein they pleaded their case and requested the freedom of religion so they might act according to their conscience. This petition did not have the desired result. Personally the duke was not unfavorable towards them, but he could not withstand the pressure that was put upon him from various sources to destroy the heresy. Consequently, soon an army marched to the valleys of the Waldenses under the leadership of Count La Trinitá to compel the Waldenses to submit to the Church of Rome.

The Waldenses held a meeting with their ministers to decide what to do under the trying circumstances. They resolved to remain faithful unto the Lord and to trust in Him, Who alone could deliver them out of the hands of the enemy. Their trust in the almighty God was not made ashamed. The enemy was put to flight and the Waldenses thanked God for giving them the victory. When La Trinitâ saw that he could not subdue the inhabitants of the valleys by force, he tried to persuade them to lay down their weapons by means of nice promises. The Waldenses did not know the unfaithfulness of their enemy and hearkened to him. They negotiated peace, but in the meantime La Trinitâ forced them to pay a war contribution and to send their ministers away. These people did what he desired in the hope that the peace-terms would be favorable for them. The delegates, which the Waldenses had sent to the duke to effect peace, returned without having achieved anything, and La Trin-tiá now proceeded to oppress the inhabitants of the valleys without hindrance. He took possession of their churches for the Roman Catholic worship and ordered the Waldenses to attend the Mass, declaring that every one who would refuse to obey would be punished by death.

On the other side of the mountains were the valleys which belonged to the territory of France, and also there the inhabitants were the victims of much suffering because of the persecution which had broken out against the Protestants under the reign of Francis II. The Italian Waldenses decided to send delegates to their brothers in the faith dwelling on the other side of the mountains, requesting their help in the struggle for the faith. The French Waldenses were willing to do so, and sent their delegates to the Italian valleys to deliberate this matter. They arrived there on 21 January, 1561. On the following day the inhabitants had to decide whether they would attend the Catholic services, or die. Then the delegates of the French Waldenses with those of Italy ascended the hill called the Puy, and with their hands on the Bible and in the presence of the people that had gathered with them, they promised by oath to assist each other in the conflict against Rome’s oppression. All that were present kneeled to beseech God to confirm this oath and to help and deliver them.

Instead of obeying the next day and attending Mass, the Waldenses purged the churches of all things which reminded them of the Roman Catholic worship, and took up arms to drive the enemy away. The conflict was often very severe and bloody. The enemy had much greater forces at their command than the poor inhabitants of the valleys, but the Waldenses had the advantage of knowing every footpath in the rugged region, these being inaccessible for strangers; but above all, they found strength in their trust in the Most High. Before they went out to fight they took refuge in prayer at the throne of grace. Their faith was not put to shame; the enemy was continually driven back, and finally peace was negotiated upon favorable conditions for the Waldenses.

In later years the inhabitants of the valleys were yet horribly persecuted. In the year 1622 Pope Gregory XV established a society for the purpose of propagating the Catholic faith. In the year 1637 a similar society was established at Piedmont (in northwest Italy, a district lying along the foot of the Alps). Notable persons of the court of Savoy joined this society and bound themselves to sweep away heresy wherever they could. They now sought to surprise these courageous contenders for the faith in a crafty way. The duke of Savoy had formed a league with the king of France, and with his consent the French troops soon made their way through the valleys to Italy. The duke now gave orders to the Waldenses to lodge the soldiers. Not suspecting any evil, these people obeyed the duke; and when the entrance to the valleys was now opened by the French troops, the marquis of Pianezza marched at the head of an army out of Savoy to the valleys of the Waldenses. The marquis encountered some opposition, but he entered into negotiations with the Waldenses and in the meantime he also induced them to lodge the soldiers. Still the inhabitants of the valleys did not suspect the shameful deception; they had confidence in the promise that no evil would come upon them, and showed hospitality to those who would soon be their persecutors.

It was the 24th day of April, 1655. On the following day Easter was to be celebrated, and the Waldenses had already made preparations for this solemn day. It was yet very early in the morning when suddenly the tolling of a bell of a near-by Catholic church was heard. The soldiers had been awaiting this signal. Suddenly they attacked the defenseless Waldenses and murdered all who were within their reach. Those that tried to escape to the mountains were pursued and overtaken by the soldiers. Dreadful atrocities were then committed; children were snatched from their parents and murdered right before their eyes. With fierce cruelty the soldiers killed all whom they could get in their power. Old people and the sick, who were not able to leave their beds, were burned in their homes.

Plundering and murdering, the soldiers of Pi-anezza marched deeper and deeper into the valleys of the Waldenses; everywhere the same atrocities were repeated. They finally reached the valley of Rora; where they met with opposition with which they had not reckoned. One of the inhabitants, called Jeanavel, had already suspected for some time that the coming of the strange soldiers did not foretell anything good, and quietly he had taken some measures of defense. When the army of Pianezza now tried to penetrate the valley of Rora, it was attacked at the entrance by the Waldenses, whom Jeanavel had laid in ambush. This caused great confusion amongst the soldiers when taken by such surprise, and they were driven backward and defeated. The marquis, however, did not give up attacking the poor Waldenses. In the long run the little army of the Waldenses was not able to resist the superior forces. Jeanavel’s wife and daughters had already fallen into the hands of the enemy. The marquis sent a message to Jeanavel declaring that, if he would not give up the fight and would not submit to the Catholic church, his wife and daughters would be burned alive. This courageous man replied that he was firmly resolved that nothing could induce him to deny the Lord and His truth. Concerning his wife and daughters, their bodies could be burned, but their souls were eternally saved; he committed them unto the mercy of God. Jeanavel had only a little son left; he carried him over the mountains to one of the valleys in France, and there he entrusted him into the care of his relatives. There he also related to his French brothers in the faith how dreadfully the Italian Waldenses were being persecuted. Help was offered from all sides. Many of the men accompanied Jeanavel to the valley of Rora and joined the struggling army there, so that the Waldenses could resume the conflict with renewed strength and courage. More than once they put their enemies to flight, so that these enemies even testified that it seemed as though God was fighting on the side of their adversary.

In the meantime, in other countries they had heard of the persecution of the Waldenses. Many of the greater powers tried to influence the duke to put an end to that horrible conflict; and finally, although reluctantly, he yielded. Peace was signed, and the inhabitants of the valleys enjoyed rest for some time. Later on, however, we shall see that this peace was not lasting.

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