former rental.[451] On one occasion at least, discouraged by the
annoyance to which their religious opinions subjected them, a part of
the Vaudois sought refuge in their ancient homes, on the Italian side of
the mountains. But their services were too valuable to be dispensed
with, and they soon returned to Provence, in answer to the urgent
summons of their Roman Catholic landlords.[452] In fact, a very striking
proof both of their industry and of their success is furnished by the
circumstance that Cabrieres, one of the largest Vaudois villages, was
situated within the bounds of the _Comtat Venaissin_, governed, about
the time of their arrival, by the Pope in person, and subsequently, as
we have seen, by a papal legate residing in Avignon.[453]

[Sidenote: They send delegates to the Swiss and German reformers.]

The news of an attempted reformation of the church in Switzerland and
Germany awakened a lively interest in this community of simple-minded
Christians. At length a convocation of their ministers[454] at Merindol,
in 1530, determined to send two of their number to compare the tenets
they had long held with those of the reformers, and to obtain, if
possible, additional light upon some points of doctrine and of practice
respecting which they entertained doubt. The delegates were George
Morel, of Freissinieres, and Pierre Masson, of Burgundy. They visited
Oecolampadius at Basle, Bucer and Capito at Strasbourg, Farel at
Neufchatel, and Haller at Berne. From the first-named they received the
most important aid, in the way of suggestions respecting the errors[455]
into which the isolated position they had long occupied had insensibly
led them. Grateful for the kindness manifested to them, and delighted
with what they had witnessed of the progress of the faith they had
received from their fathers, the two envoys started on their return. But
Morel alone succeeded in reaching Provence; his companion was arrested
at Dijon and condemned to death. Upon the report of Morel, however, the
Waldenses at once began to investigate the new questions that had been
raised, and, in their eagerness to purify their church, sent word to
their brethren in Apulia and Calabria, inviting them to a conference
respecting the interests of religion.[456]

[Sidenote: They furnish means for publishing the Scriptures.]

A few years later (1535) the Waldenses by their liberal contributions
furnished the means necessary for publishing the translation