MarginaliaGod taketh the hartes from hys enemyes. fled away by the playne, crying that all was lost. It was certainly reported that if the Waldoys had pursued the army, as they might easily haue done, the campe had that day bene chased out of Luserne. The poore people lacked no courage so to do: for albeit they had neither eaten nor dronken all that day before, and had sore traueled and fought:MarginaliaGod geueth courage to the poore Waldoys. yet they said, that if they had but a little refreshed themselues with a morsell of bread, and a glasse of wyne, they durst take vpon them to enter into the campe of their enemies.

Within a few dayes after, they of Angrongne were aduertised by the lord of Trinities letters, that he fully determined to cut downe their trees, and vines, and destroy their corne beyng on the ground: and furthermore, þ^t two fortes should be builded at Angrongne. The day was assigned, & horsemen appoynted, with all speede to execute this mischieuous enterprise. The poore people thought þ^t they should be assayled as sore as euer they were, and fight as hard as euer they did before. But God preuēted this cruel attempt.MarginaliaThe mischieuous purpose of Trinitie, stayed by the prouidēce of God. For the night afore that this should be executed, the lord of Trinity receiued certaine letters from the Duke, whiche stayed this enterprise. They of the medow of Tour, beyng aduertised that the lord of Trinity did now entend to sende ordinaunce to beate down the bulwarkes which were made of stones: they made a bulwarke of earth, which was in compasse, aboute v. C. pases: which they might easily see frō Luserne. They of the medow of Tour told the lord of Trinities men, that if they brought any artillery, they shoulde not so soone cary it awaye agayne, and shortly the ordinaunce was sent backe agayne.

MarginaliaThe Waldoys send a supplication to the Duchesse. About this season, the chiefe rulers and Ministers of the Waldoys requested earnestly the lord of Raconis, to present a supplication which they had made to the Duchesse of Sauoy. For they had intelligence that she was sore offended that her subiectes were so cruelly handled. In þ^e which supplication they declared the equitie of her cause, protesting all due obedience to the Duke their soueraigne Lord:MarginaliaThe Waldoys offer to be iudged by the word of God. and if it might be proued by the pure word of God that they held any errour they would with all humble submission, receiue correction and be reformed, humbly beseeching her grace to appease the displeasure which the Duke had conceyued against them by the vntrue surmises of theyr aduersaries: and if there were any thyng wherin they had offended hym, they most humbly craued his gracious pardon.

MarginaliaThe L. of Trinitie sore sicke. About this tyme the lord of Trinity, by sicknes, was in great daunger of his lyfe. Soone after the supplicatiō was deliuered: the Duchesse sent an answer to the Waldoys, by the said Lord of Raconis. The effect therof was, that she had obteyned of the Dukes grace all that they demaūded in their supplication, vpon such conditions as the sayd lord Raconis would propound vnto them.MarginaliaAn other supplication sent to the Duchesse. But when they vnderstoode that the sayd condicions were very rigorous, they sent an other supplication vnto the Duches, wherein they humbly besought her grace to be a meane that þ^e sayd condicions and Articles might be moderated: which Articles here follow.

First, that they should banish their Ministers.

Secondly, that they should receyue the Masse and other ceremonies of the Romish church.

Thirdly, that they should pay a raunsome to the souldiours for certayne of their men which they had taken.

Fourthly, that they should assemble and preach no more as they were wont to do.

Fiftly, that the Duke would make fortresses at his pleasure, in all that countrey, with other like thinges.

MarginaliaThe supplication to the Duchesse. The people made humble request in this their last supplication, that it would please the sayd Duches to geue the Duke her husband to vnderstand, how that these conditiōs were straunge and rigorous. And as for their partes, although they had good triall of their ministers, that they wer good men and fearyng God, of sound doctrine, of good lyfe and honest conuersation, yet neuerthelesse they were contēted so to do if he would geue leaue to some of thē to remain: requestyng this, that it might be permitted vnto them to chuse some other good Ministers in their places, before they departed lest that their Churches should remain without Pastors.

MarginaliaThe conditions whereunto the Waldoys did agree and consent. Concernyng the Masse and other Ceremonies of the church of Rome, if the Duke should cause them to be ministred in theyr parishes, they neither would, nor could withstand the same, and for theyr part, they would doe no iniury or violence to those that should minister them or be present therat: notwithstāding they besought him, that they might not be constrayned to be present themselues, at the ministration therof, or to pay any thing to þ^e mayntenāce of the same, or els to yeld either fauour or consent therunto.

As touchyng the raunsome which was demaunded of them for their prisoners, consideryng the extreme pouerty that they were in, and the great calamities and damages which they had suffred, it was to them a thyng vnpossible. Yea if hys highnes were truly informed what losse they had susteyned by burnyng, spoyling and sackyng of their houses and goodes, without all mercy or pity, he would not only require of them no such thyng but as a gracious and mercyfull Prince, he would succour and support them, that they might be able to mayntayne their poore families, whome they nourished (as they were bound to do) to the seruice of God and their sayd Lord and Prince: and therfore they desired that it might please hym that their poore brethren remayning in captiuitie and prison, and such as were sent to the Galleys for the profession of their religion, might spedely be deliuered, and set at liberty.

As for their assembles and preachings, they were contented that they should be kept only amongst themselues, in their accustomed places & in other Valleys aforesaid, where any assemble of the faythfull should be, which were desirous to heare the preachyng of the Gospell.

Touchyng þ^e Fortresses, for as much as by those which were already made, they had suffered great molestations and troubles as well concernyng their goodes, as also their religion: they were assured that if he should builde vp newe Fortes, they should neuer be hable to abyde the troubles, miseries, and calamities, that woulde folow therupon, and therfore they most humbly desired the sayd Duchesse to bee so good and gracious vnto them, as to obteine of the Duke that he would except their persons in the stede of Fortes: and that, seyng those places were by nature and of them selues strong and well fortified, it myght please their sayde lord the Duke, to receiue thē into hys protection and sauegard: and by the grace and assistance of God, they woulde serue him them selues for such Walles, and Fortes, that he should not neede to builde any other. And because many of those which dwelt neare about them, had robbed & spoiled them, not onely of their houshold goodes and such other thynges, but also driuen away their cattell: that it myght please hym to geue them leaue to recouer the sayd goodes, by the way of Iustice, and to bye agayne that whiche the souldiers had sold, and that for the same price, for the which it was solde.

Brieflye, they also besought their sayde Lord, & it myght please hym to bee so gracious vnto them, as to graunte thē a confirmation of all theyr franchises, immunities, and priuileges, as well generall, as particular, giuen vnto them as well by hym, as by his predecessours: and likewise of those whiche, as well they, as their anciters had bought of their Lordes, and to receiue them as his most humble and obedient subiectes, into his protection and safegarde.

And because in tyme past, in thee stede of good and spedy Iustice, all iniquitie was committed by those that had the administration of iustice in their Valleys: & for asmuch as their purses were emptied and punished rather then the malefactors: that it might please hym to geue order þ^t such iustice myght be done amongst them, wherby the wycked might be punished with all seueritie, and the innocent defended and mainteyned in their right.

Finally, for asmuch as diuers of this poore people, (beyng astonished at the commyng of the army, and fearing lest they should not onely be spoyled of all their goodes, but also they with theyr wyues and children, be vtterly destroyed) made promise agaynst their consciences, to lyue according to the traditions of the Church of Rome: they were meruelously troubled and tormented in spirit, and did nothing but languish in that distresse.MarginaliaTorment of cōscience in sliding from the truth. Wherfore they humbly besought the sayd Duches to take pity vpon them, and to obtein that they might not be compelled to do any thyng agaynst theyr conscience: and moreouer, that it myght please the Duke to permit them, to lyue in liberty and freedome of conscience: also, that all theyr poore brethren, banished for the cause of religion, might returne home to their houses: and that all confiscations and penalties made agaynst them, myght be abolished. And for theyr part they promised to geue all due reuence and honor to God and hys holy word, and to be true and faythfull subiects to theyr Lord and Prince. Yea more then any other. Vnderneath the sayd supplicatiō, there was written:

Your faythfull and humble subiectes,
the poore afflicted of the Valleys of
Luserne, Angrongne, S. Martin, and
Perouse, and generally all the people
of the Waldois, which inhabite the
countrey of Piemont.

After that this supplication was viewed and read of the sayd Duchesse, she so persuaded with the Duke, that aunswer was made with these conditions declared in these Articles followyng.