vatican-assassins-by-eric-jon-phelps

Chapter 10Further, he gave the American Colonies a taste of real freedom and protected theProtestants of France. Of Cromwell’s protection of the Vaudois we read:“In June of this year came the news of the persecutions in the valley ofPiedmont. Six Catholic regiments, three of which were Irish, wereappointed to drive the Vaudois from their homes in mid-winter. Thecruelties, the inhuman barbarity, that marked the proceedings against thepoor Protestants, are well known. ‘Villages were burned to the ground; menwere hewn in pieces: children’s brains dashed out against the rocks, andwomen impaled naked — a hundred and fifty females were beheaded, andtheir heads used in a game of bowls.’ When the news of the atrocitiesreached Cromwell, he burst into tears — they were the saints of God whothus suffered, and all his compassion was roused within him. On that day(January 3, 1655) he was to sign the treaty with France, which had for along time been under contemplation; but he immediately refused, declaringthat negotiations should proceed no further until the king [Louis XIV, whoseJesuit confessor would later cause him to revoke the Edict of Nantes] andCardinal Mazarin, the prime minister, would pledge themselves to assisthim in saving the Vaudois Protestants . . . A day of fasting and humiliationwas appointed, and a collection ordered to be taken in all the churches. Thecontribution amounted to over 37,000 pounds, showing how deeplyProtestant England was stirred by the persecution of the PiedmonteseChristians. It is said that Cromwell, in a burst of passion, replied to someobstacles that were mentioned as interfering with his plans, that ‘he wouldsail his ships over the Alps, but that he would put a stop to thepersecution.’ . . . War with France, nay, with the whole world, if necessary,he would wage, but this persecution of the children of God should cease.The king of France at length yielded, and word was sent that the Duke ofSavoy had granted an amnesty to the Vaudois, and restored their ancientrights. Mazarin, who, in fact, ruled France, had brought this about, for hestood in deadly fear of Cromwell. It is said that he always turned pale whenhe heard his name mentioned. Oliver was the champion of Protestantismthe world over, and he wished it so understood: he would defend itwherever his arm could reach . . . He also took pains to let the Popeunderstand, that he knew him to be at the bottom of the unnaturalpersecution, and if he did not beware, he would see his ships in the harborof Civita Vecchia, and hear the thunder of his cannon around the Vatican.[It was for this reason that the calculating rage of the Jesuit General wouldreach our hero through the Protector’s personal physician. Doctor GeorgeBate, while on his deathbed having confessed to his series of mercurypoisonings of our beloved example of godliness and zealous Englishpatriotism, was the Serpent who “extirpated the infamous heretic,” OliverCromwell. {7} ]The Jesuits – 1642 - 1658