The Waldenses : or, Protestant valleys of Piedmont, Dauphiny, and the Ban de la Roche

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~ PRINCETON. N. J.

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Preface

The Work here presented to the reader, is the fifth of an illustrated series of volumes, which, under the auspices of public favour, the Author has now happily brought to a close. The illustrations consist of seventy-two highly finished steel-plate engravings, from original drawings taken on the spot, as stated in the Introduction. The scenery of the Valleys of Piedmont and Dauphiny, is from the pencil of Mr. Bartlett. The route of Henri Arnaud across the Alps, was successfully explored by Mr. Brockedon in person, for the express object of illustrating that portion of the work which treats of the Expedition ; and it is only necessary to add, that the pencils of Stanfield and Harding have also contributed to the undertaking. Thus supported, the Work has gone on prosperously, from its first commencement, eighteen months ago, and will very shortly be translated into the French and German languages.* All, indeed, have admired its pictorial embellishments ; many competent judges have commended its impartiality ; and if any of our readers beyond the Alps have fancied that, on careful investigation, they detected a party-spirit pervading these sketches of the Protestant Waldenses, the imputation is so very unmerited, that it may be readily overlooked and forgiven.

The Author of the present Work is no controversialist in matters of theology ; and, had he been hardy enough to appear in so critical a position, he would undoubtedly have chosen some better vehicle for its display, than the pages of a work so exclusively devoted to the Picturesque. Wide and varied intercourse with society abroad ; the personal friendship of enlightened Catholics at home ; and a becoming deference and respect for all whose religious sentiments may differ from his own, have taught him to be uniformly guarded in his language, averse to the fostering of narrow-minded prejudices, and cautious of drawing hasty or harsh conclusions. If, therefore, he has offended any sensitive individual by quoting from long accredited historians — Catholic as well as Protestant — he can only regret that the truth should be of such a nature as to give offence to any one. For, if his views or statements be in strict accordance with the great standard authorities on this subject — as they certainly are — they must be true ; because the truth of these authorities — though often impugned — has never been invalidated.

With respect to the actual condition of the Waldenses, the Author's testimony is fully corroborated by all who, like himself, have visited them in their native Valleys. He has freely sympathized with them in their misfortunes, and expressed a hearty desire to see them invested with the rights and privileges of their fellow-subjects : he has deprecated, in their behalf, all religious persecution, all political intolerance; he has dwelt with admiration on their private virtues, their fervent piety, their exemplary lives, their patriotism, their loyalty, their patient endurance of many privations. But, if he has only done this, he has only done what every enlightened Catholic of the present day will thank him for having done ; for there are, he is willing to believe, thousands professing that creed, who would rejoice to see the long persecuted Waldenses finally emancipated from the ban of religious distinction, and freely admitted, with themselves, to a full participation in all the rights and privileges of the State. The extinction of ancient prejudices, the abolition of oppressive edicts, and the

* The French translation, by M. De Bauclas, will be completed in a few days. b

PREFACE.

unbiassed recognition of those rights which all Roman Catholic subjects enjoy under Protestant Governments, is all to which the Waldenses so ardently aspire ; and an edict to this effect would be hailed as a voice from heaven. Of better times there have been recent omens ; 1 and the people, still looking to their King with unshaken loyalty and confidence, continue their earnest prayer : —

His Sardinian Majesty, Charles Albert — as we have repeatedly shown in the work before us — is very favourably disposed to his Waldensian subjects ; and there can be little doubt that, if their emancipation could be accomplished by a mere fiat of the Crown, the line of invidious demarcation, which has so long and painfully divided his subjects of the Valleys from those of the Plain, would be speedily thrown down. His encouragement of literature and science — his patronage of the fine arts — his promotion of every measure tending to advance the national glory — his personal notice of meritorious individuals, and many particular instances of favour evinced towards the Waldenses themselves, — all combine to show that he is at heart a wise and enlightened Sovereign, who is desirous that all his faithful subjects should enjoy equal privileges. His ministers, too, are well known to be men of liberal minds — tempering justice with mercy — and warmly participating in the generous views of their royal Master. But, unhappily, all this flow of kindly intentions has been hitherto counteracted — or greatly modified in its effects — by a strong undercurrent of bigoted church policy, studious misrepresentation, and popular prejudice. For this however, the inferior clergy must not be exclusively blamed : they are but the subordinate instruments of a System, and no more answerable for what they do, than the soldier, who, in strict obedience to his general's order, is called to perform some painful and revolting service. It is the Hierarchy which has so often defeated the kindly intentions of former Sovereigns — which has had its emissai-ies in the council, the closet, the confessional — and that has so often placed a sword in the royal hand, which, if left to itself, would have extended towards the unfortunate Waldenses a " sceptre of mercy."

There is, in fact, only one hope left for the Waldenses, but that hope is fixed on a strong basis — it rests on the inflexible justice of their enlightened Sovereign. To him, under Providence, they look for the removal of all their hereditary burdens ; for the final abolition of all political distinctions ; and from him they implore an act of emancipation. In this they are joined by the prayers of all good men, among whom there is but one wish — namely, that the future line of conduct towards the Waldenses may illustrate the force and spirit of this ancient maxim — ■

WILLIAM BEATTIE.

2, Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, December, 1837.

1 A very recent anil most pleasing trait of royal beneficence was evinced by the king in behalf of a Waldensian officer, who died in garrison at Aoste. In this case, his majesty, with a magnanimous disregard of ancient precedent, not only granted to the deceased soldier the privilege of a grave among his Protestant kindred, but settled a pension upon his disconsolate widow. We have this anecdote from the best authority.

2.3 Virg. JEneid, I. & II.