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Protestantism in the Waldensian Valleys - James Aitken Wylie

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<strong>in</strong> va<strong>in</strong>.<br />

In 1692 <strong>the</strong>re were twelve churches <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>Valleys</strong>; but <strong>the</strong> people were unable to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> a<br />

pastor to each. They were ground down by military<br />

imposts. Moreover, a peremptory demand was<br />

made upon <strong>the</strong>m for payment of <strong>the</strong> arrears of taxes<br />

which had accrued <strong>in</strong> respect of <strong>the</strong>ir lands dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>the</strong> three years <strong>the</strong>y had been absent, and when to<br />

<strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong>re was nei<strong>the</strong>r seed-time nor harvest.<br />

Anyth<strong>in</strong>g more extortionate could not be imag<strong>in</strong>ed.<br />

In <strong>the</strong>ir extremity, Mary of England, <strong>the</strong> consort of<br />

William III granted <strong>the</strong>m a "Royal Subsidy," to<br />

provide pastors and schoolmasters, and this grant<br />

was <strong>in</strong>creased with <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>creased number of<br />

parishes, till it reached <strong>the</strong> annual sum of £550. A<br />

collection which was made <strong>in</strong> Great Brita<strong>in</strong> at a<br />

subsequent period (1770) permitted an<br />

augmentation of <strong>the</strong> salaries of <strong>the</strong> pastors. This<br />

latter fund bore <strong>the</strong> name of <strong>the</strong> "National<br />

Subsidy," to dist<strong>in</strong>guish it from <strong>the</strong> former, <strong>the</strong><br />

"Royal Subsidy." The States-General of Holland<br />

followed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> wake of <strong>the</strong> English sovereign, and<br />

made collections for salaries to schoolmasters,<br />

297

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