k mercy from those whom he had
come to destroy. His petition was granted, and he was allowed to depart
with the news of the defeat and destruction of his companions.

After this humiliating repulse, the invaders sought to attack the vale of
Angrogna, as being the heart and centre of the valleys, and the place of
refuge and defence to their threatened inhabitants.

Indeed, the Vaudois, unable to contend with the enemy's troops in the
plains, had betaken themselves (as many as could) to that natural fortress,
the Pra del Torre, which God had provided in the upper part of the Val
Angrogna. I shall have much to say about this sacred and glorious spot--the
more than a Thermopylae to these Christian heroes, ennobled by a bravery
equal to that of the Spartan, but radiant with brighter memories. But here
I only digress to add that the invaders' attempt to get possession of this
valley from the heights of Roccamanente were happily frustrated. The
Vaudois had to endure a severe contest, for which they prepared themselves
by prayer. Their enemies, with their leader, seeing them on their knees,
ridiculed their piety and threatened their destruction. But Le Noir of
Mondovi, himself having raised his visor on account of the heat, and to
show his contempt for his adversaries, was mortally wounded between his
eyes by an arrow. His companions were so terrified that they retreated with
great loss. The enemy, however, irritated and ashamed, renewed the attack
from another position on the side of Rocciaglia. They sought to enter the
Pra del Torre by a narrow defile. At this moment a _thick fog_ so confused
them that they were afraid to move lest they should run into danger. The
Angrognians, emboldened by this interposition of Providence, issued forth
from their retreats, and by means of their knowledge of the locality cut
off the escape of their enemies, and forced them over the precipitous rocks
into the foaming torrent, where large numbers perished, including a man of
gigantic size named Saquet, whose eventful death has caused the pool in
which he fell to be called Tompi Saquet.

After similar attempts in other parts of the valleys, during which time
much blood was shed, this first of the great persecutions, which had lasted
a year, ended in 1489, by Charles II., Prince of Piedmont and Duke of
Savoy, who felt ashamed of the cruelties which were inflicted.

FOOTNOTES:

[C] Monastier gives some very interesting information on the persec