DURING A SECOND VISIT TO THE VAUDOIS OF PIEMONT. WITH AN INTRODUCTORY INQUIRY INTO THE ANTIQUITY AND PURITY OF THE WALDENSIAN CHURCH, AND SOME ACCOUNT OF THE COMPACTS WITH THE ANCIENT PRINCES OF PIEMONT, HOUSE OF SAVOY, IN VIRTUE OF WHICH THIS SOLE RELIC OF THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH IN ITALY HAS CONTINUED TO ASSERT ITS RELIGIOUS INDEPENDENCE. BY WILLIAM STEPHEN GILLY, M.A. PREBENDARY OF DURHAM. "Thou small, but favour'd spot of holy ground! "Where'er we gaze, above, around, below, "What rainbow tints, what magic charms are found! "Rock, river, forest, mountain, all abound: "And bluest skies that harmonize the whole. "Beneath, the distant torrent's rushing sound "Tells where the volumed cataract doth roll, "Between those hanging rocks, that shock, yet please the soul." LONDON: PRINTED FOR C. J. G. & F. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD, AND WATERLOO-PLACE, PALL-MALL. ADVERTISEMENT. In his endeavours to promote the cause of the Vaudois, the Author has received assistance from persons, to whose names he would gratefully assign a distinguished place in this volume, were he permitted to disclose them. Such indeed is the interest which has been excited, and displayed in behalf of the little community, which forms the connecting link between the Primitive and Reformed Churches, and such are the signs of the times, in this case at least favourable to truth, that he is persuaded the day is not far distant, when the Waldensian Church will become TOTIUS ITALIE LUMEN. He has, therefore, entered into details, |