Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
The arrival of these troops turned the scale in favour of the Protestants: and the papist forces,
though they fought with the most obstinate intrepidity, were totally defeated. A great number
were killed and wounded, on both sides, and the baggage, military stores, etc., taken by the
Protestants were very considerable.
Captain Gianavel, having information that three hundred of the enemy were to convoy
a great quantity of stores, provisions, etc., from La Torre to the castle of Mirabac, determined
to attack them on the way. He, accordingly, began the assault at Malbec, though with a very
inadequate force. The contest was long and bloody, but the Protestants at length were obliged
to yield to the superiority of numbers, and compelled to make a retreat, which they did with
great regularity, and but little loss.
Captain Gianavel advanced to an advantageous post, situated near the town of Vilario,
and then sent the following information and commands to the inhabitants.
1. That he should attack the town in twenty-four hours.
2. That with respect to the Roman Catholics who had borne arms, whether they
belonged to the army or not, he should act by the law of retaliation, and put them to
death, for the numerous depredations and many cruel murders they had committed.
3. That all women and children, whatever their religion might be, should be safe.
4. That he commanded all male Protestants to leave the town and join him.
5. That all apostates, who had, through weakness, abjured their religion, should be
deemed enemies, unless they renounced their abjuration.
6. That all who returned to their duty to God, and themselves, should be received
as friends.
The Protestants, in general immediately left the town, and joined Captain Gianavel with
great satisfaction, and the few, who through weakness or fear, had abjured their faith,
recanted their abjuration and were received into the bosom of the Church. As the marquis of
Pianessa had removed the army, and encamped in quite a different part of the country, the
Roman Catholics of Vilario thought it would be folly to attempt to defend the place with the
small force they had. They, therefore, fled with the utmost precipitation, leaving the town
and most of their property to the discretion of the Protestants.
The Protestant commanders having called a council of war, resolved to make an attempt
upon the town of La Torre.
The papists being apprised of the design, detached some troops to defend a defile,
through which the Protestants must make their approach; but these were defeated, compelled
to abandon the pass, and forced to retreat to La Torre.
114