se 20344 229 CHAPTER X. Evening at the pastor's house-M. Bert-Liturgy of the Vaudois -Interment of the dead-Roman Catholic obsequies—Funeral ceremony at Geneva-English burial service-Synod of Waldensian church-Solemnities of the holy Sacrament-Parochial schools-Names of Vaudois villages-Village pastor's-Population-Traits of character-Anecdote-Jean Leger's workRetrospect―The attestation of Du Petit Bourg-Remonstrance of foreign states-Oliver Cromwell-His protection of the Vaudois-Recommends a general collection in EnglandWrites letters to the Protestant powers, in behalf of the Vaudois -Expostulates with the King of France-Louis the Fourteenth -Cromwell sends an envoy to Turin-Morland's bold and memorable speech to the Duke of Savoy-Shameful treaty of Pinerolo-Its baneful effects-Protest of Swiss AmbassadorCromwell's spirited conduct-Charles the Second-His letter of intercession to the Duke of Savoy-Compact of blood-Milton's ode on this subject. UPON our return to La Torre, from Villaro and Bobbio, we found an invitation from one of the principal proprietors of this communauté, to join a young party at his house, which had been kindly formed, in compliment to the strangers. M. Bert had also been several times at the little inn, during our absence, to invite us to sup with him. The evening had closed in before we got back; and the good pastor, supposing we should have some difficulty in finding our way in the dark, came himself with a lanthorn to escort The distance to his house was more than half a mile from our quarters. us. My companions wished to go early to the dance, and did not accompany me to M. Bert's. They lost a most interesting conversation. The pastor of La Torre, learned as he is, has not, perhaps, all the deep erudition, and lively talent which distinguished the late moderator, Peyrani; nor were his observations so piquant; but there is a seriousness in his manner, an impressive earnestness in his tone, and such an air and aspect of Christian mildness in his general deportment, that it is impossible not to venerate him. He takes an intense interest in the concerns of his sacred profession; his whole soul is with the holy cause, which he supports by his life and conversation; and no topics of discourse appear so pleasing to him, as those which relate to the true Christian character of his people. M. Bert is engaged in a history of the Vaudois, which will be a most valuable production; and it is earnestly to be hoped, that the restrictions upon the press, and the jealousy, with which every literary work, that proceeds from a Protestant, is regarded by the Sardinian government, will not shackle his performance. If ever sovereign had a faithful and loyal subject, the King of Sardinia has such in M. Bert. His sentiments upon the subject of loyalty, are founded upon those principles of obedience and expediency, which his religion inculcates; and in all our conversations, not a word dropped from his lips, which could be construed in a sense injurious to the constituted authorities of his country. The same tribute may justly be paid to the Vertus, and to every other Vaudois with whom I conversed. These amiable people may suffer wrongs, and feel them deeply; but they have too much Christian spirit, or they are too discreet, to express themselves in any manner, that the ingenuity of the most ill-natured, or suspicious, could represent to their disadvantage'. 1 Since my excursion to the valleys, the Reverend B. Bridge, Fellow of St. Peter's College, Cambridge, has visited them, and has printed a brief narrative of The three or four hours, which I spent with M. Bert, were passed in discussing matters connected with the church his visit. I am proud to find, that this gentleman has borne favourable testimony to the accuracy of my statements, and the following extract from his interesting pages will place the character of the Vaudois, and of their present excellent moderator, M. Bert, in the very highest point of view. "I travelled," says Mr. Bridge, "with M. Bert from Turin to La Tour, and spent three or four days with him and his family. During my stay our conversation turned chiefly upon the present state of the Vaudois population, and the relation in which they stand to the Sardinian government. M. Bert often directed my attention to the mountainous and confined situation of the district which they inhabit: a situation which precludes them from all possibility of bettering their condition by making any great progress or improvement in agriculture, manufactures, or commerce. He occasionally adverted to the restrictions under which they laboured, and to the privileges of which they were debarred by the Sardinian government; but I think it right to state, that upon every occasion of this kind, his observations were always accompanied by expressions of pious resignation to the dispensations of Providence, and of thankfulness for the inestimable blessing enjoyed by the Vaudois, in the free and unrestrained exercise of the religion of their ancestors. "I had but few opportunities of making any observations upon the present state of religion among the Vaudois, except such as occurred to me during my short residence in M. Bert's family, and in a few transient visits to his more immediate friends and relations. But I think I ought not to omit to mention that I attended M. Bert in the public service of his Church, in the examination of his Catechumens, and in his family devotions; and that upon all these occasions, the same spirit of rational piety, the same cheerfulness, the same calmness and resignation, were uniformly displayed in the conduct and manner both of himself and his hearers." P. 3-5. "In common conversation the Vaudois display a remarkable cheerfulness, and a particular abstinence from querulousness. Of this I had a very striking instance in M. Bert and his friends. M. Bert himself is a person of great natural quickness; M. Meille, the pastor of the adjoining parish of St. Jean, is a person of rather a solemn turn of mind; with these two gentlemen I had long and close conversations, and I had occasional intercourse with two or three other of M. Bert's friends. On all these occasions frequent opportunities were given them, if they had been so disposed, of inveighing against the Sardinian government; but during the whole of our communications not a syllable to this effect ever escaped them. In the course of our conversation some of them, (but more especially M. Meille,) occasionally shewed great anxiety of mind both in countenance and manner: but they always gave vent to their feelings by saying, We will wait with patience the appointed time,' or by using words to that effect. I did not particularly inquire into the meaning of this expression, but I have reason to think that they sometimes alluded to the expected charities from Eng history of the Vaudois, and the pecuniary condition of the clergy. It grieved me to find that an unsuccessful appeal had been made to England on the subject of the royal pension, which was first withdrawn in the year 1797, and that the memorial, signed by himself and other pastors, had produced no favourable result. But the fears, which this excellent man mildly expressed, lest the humble church of the valleys, had been overlooked by the English hierarchy, were ungrounded, for the unwearied attempts of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, to obtain the res toration of the pension, have been warmly supported from time to time by the episcopal bench. The anxiety which the Bishop of London, in particular, has displayed upon this subject, and his repeated applications to government, entitle him to the warmest gratitude of the Vaudois. His lordship is still their advocate with his Majesty's Ministers, and it is impossible, that the representations from so high a quarter can fail of ultimate success. M. Bert expressed himself as explicitly as M. Peyrani on the advantages, which he conceived would result, if the ancient discipline of the Waldensian church could be restored, in its pure episcopal form, but he saw no chance of this, unless they could be enabled to educate their youth at home". The restoration of the college of Angrogna offers the only probable means, of promoting a return to their original uniformity of ecclesiastical practice and ritual. At present, either the Liturgy of Geneva, or Neufchatel, is land, and sometimes to the part which the Waldenses (and their descendants, the Vaudois) have borne, and which they still expect them to bear, in the grand scheme for the propagation of true Christianity among mankind." P. 15. See Postscript to Second Edition. Note to Second Edition. "Ubi enim aut jucundius morarentur quam in patria, aut jucundius continerentur quam sub oculis parentum? aut minore sumptu quam domi?" Plinius. Lib. iv. Epist. 13. 15 INTERMENT OF THE DEAD. 207 read in the churches, according to the discretion of the pastor, but that of Geneva, which is a beautiful production, is principally followed. It is certain that the ancient Vaudois had a Liturgy of their own, and that it was in use in the sixteenth century, for in a confession of faith, dated 1535, the thirteenth article, speaking of the Lord's Supper, has this expression, "Les terms de nôtre Liturgie," &c. The rituals which are adopted, in conformity to their intercourse with Switzerland, have a service for the communion, and different forms for certain days and seasons. There is also a marriage service, and a baptismal service, but no burial service, unless it be one short prayer. For many years the Protestants of Piemont were not permitted to bury their own dead, or to follow as mourners, but now that this law is remitted, and that six of the family, or friends, are graciously allowed, by the government, to follow their friends to the grave, it is extraordinary that they should adhere to the cold and heartless customs of the Swiss, instead of making one of the most awful duties as impressive, as it is melancholy. England seems to be the only country, where the remains of the dead are consigned to their last home with becoming decency and feeling. In Popish countries upon the Continent, those who loved the deceased most dearly in life, are the first to abandon his remains. They confide to strangers the entire care of the funeral, and hired followers, or confraternities, who take upon themselves this duty, are left to see it discharged. The consequence is, that nothing can be more thoroughly disgusting than a funeral ceremony. At first the body is fantastically decorated and dressed, and placed upon a gorgeous bier; in this state it is borne through the streets, with the head nodding to the motion of the bearers, in hideous inanity. A frightful-looking procession of men, covered from head to foot by a dress worn only upon 0 See Appendix, No. 6. |