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Protestantism in the Waldensian Valleys - James Aitken Wylie

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Several of <strong>the</strong> German pr<strong>in</strong>ces opened <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

States to <strong>the</strong>se exiles; but <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>fluence of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

great enemy, Louis XIV, was <strong>the</strong>n too powerful <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>se parts to permit of <strong>the</strong>ir residence be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

altoge<strong>the</strong>r an agreeable one. Constantly watched by<br />

his emissaries, and <strong>the</strong>ir patrons tampered with,<br />

<strong>the</strong>y were moved about from place to place. The<br />

question of <strong>the</strong>ir permanent settlement <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> future<br />

was beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g to be anxiously discussed. The<br />

project of carry<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m across <strong>the</strong> sea <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ships<br />

of Holland, and plant<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m at <strong>the</strong> Cape, was<br />

even talked of. The idea of be<strong>in</strong>g separated for ever<br />

from <strong>the</strong>ir native land, dearer <strong>in</strong> exile than when<br />

<strong>the</strong>y dwelt <strong>in</strong> it, gave <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong>tolerable anguish.<br />

Was it not possible to reassemble <strong>the</strong>ir scattered<br />

colonies, and march<strong>in</strong>g back to <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>Valleys</strong>,<br />

rek<strong>in</strong>dle <strong>the</strong>ir ancient lamp <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>m? This was <strong>the</strong><br />

question which, after three years of exile, <strong>the</strong><br />

Vaudois began to put to <strong>the</strong>mselves. As <strong>the</strong>y<br />

wandered by <strong>the</strong> banks of <strong>the</strong> Rh<strong>in</strong>e, or traversed<br />

<strong>the</strong> German pla<strong>in</strong>s, <strong>the</strong>y feasted <strong>the</strong>ir imag<strong>in</strong>ations<br />

on <strong>the</strong>ir far-off homes. The chestnuts shad<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

former abodes, <strong>the</strong> v<strong>in</strong>e bend<strong>in</strong>g gracefully over<br />

260

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