atify the longing of their hearts.

Victor Amadeus was faithful to his promise, and not only allowed the exiles
to return to home and faith, but he also consented that some who under the
severity of trial had abjured their faith should be allowed the privilege
of returning to their first and purer creed. In return for this kindness,
as well as in strict conformity with their own patriotic and pious
principles, the Vaudois greatly assisted the Duke of Savoy in his war with
France, is the testimony of Botta in his _Storia d'Italia_. The Count of
Saluzzo also testifies "that they hastened to join the Marquis de Perelle,
_who had not long before attacked them_, and that their skirmishes cost the
enemy, whom they drove from Lucerna, more than a thousand men." Beauregard,
in his "_Historical Memories of the House of Savoy_," says, that "_the
barbets_, by their bravery, made themselves formidable to the French;" and
with regard to the siege of Coni, mentions with special praise the services
of a troop of "eight hundred Vaudois, under the command of a chief
celebrated among them." This chief, no doubt, was Arnaud; but whilst he was
anxious that they should render to their prince every possible help in a
military point of view, the latter sought to carry out his intention of
restoring the Vaudois to their property; but there were great difficulties
in the way.

By the edict of May 23rd, 1694, the ancient rights of the Vaudois are
acknowledged, and the persecuting decrees of January and April, 1686,
revoked. The pope, Innocent XII., tried to invalidate the decree, but the
Senate of Turin confirmed the edict of their sovereign, and prohibited the
bull of the pope.

So, all the prospect seemed fair, and the Vaudois, so long and cruelly
persecuted, might hope for an era of prosperity; for the time and means not
only to cultivate their desolated vineyards, to lead their flocks again to
pasture on their mountain slopes, and rebuild their thatched homesteads,
but also to restore the pure worship of their own and their fathers' God.
But, alas! "put not your trust in princes" was a sentiment which might have
been graven deeply on the memory of the all-confiding, all-enduring
Vaudois.

Victor Amadeus was persuaded by the crafty Louis XIV. to forsake his allies
in the war against France, and become again a vassal of the proud and
perfidious French king. And therefore, while he remains true to the
engagement to protect the ancient inhabi