Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
He, therefore, by a forced march, proceeded towards that place during the whole, and
was close to it by break of day. His first care was to cut the pipes that conveyed water into
the town, and then to break down the bridge, by which alone provisions from the country
could enter. He then assaulted the place, and speedily possessed himself of two of the
outposts; but finding he could not make himself master of the place, he prudently retreated
with very little loss, blaming, however, Captain Jahier, for the failure of the enterprise.
The papists being informed that Captain Gianavel was at Angrogne with only his own
company, determined if possible to surprise him. With this view, a great number of troops
were detached from La Torre and other places: one party of these got on top of a mountain,
beneath which he was posted; and the other party intended to possess themselves of the gate
of St. Bartholomew.
The papists thought themselves sure of taking Captain Gianavel and every one of his
men, as they consisted but of three hundred, and their own force was two thousand five
hundred. Their design, however, was providentially frustrated, for one of the popish soldiers
imprudently blowing a trumpet before the signal for attack was given, Captain Gianavel took
the alarm, and posted his little company so advantageously at the gate of St. Bartholomew
and at the defile by which the enemy must descend from the mountains, that the Roman
Catholic troops failed in both attacks, and were repulsed with very considerable loss.
Soon after, Captain Jahier came to Angrogne, and joined his forces to those of Captain
Gianavel, giving sufficient reasons to excuse his before-mentioned failure. Captain Jahier
now made several secret excursions with great success, always selecting the most active
troops, belonging both to Gianavel and himself. One day he had put himself at the head of
forty-four men, to proceed upon an expedition, when entering a plain near Ossac, he was
suddenly surrounded by a large body of horse. Captain Jahier and his men fought
desperately, though oppressed by odds, and killed the commander-in-chief, three captains,
and fifty-seven private men, of the enemy. But Captain Jahier himself being killed, with
thirty-five of his men, the rest surrendered. One of the soldiers cut off Captain Jahier's head,
and carrying it to Turin, presented it to the duke of Savoy, who rewarded him with six
hundred ducatoons.
The death of this gentleman was a signal loss to the Protestants, as he was a real friend
to, and companion of, the reformed Church. He possessed a most undaunted spirit, so that
no difficulties could deter him from undertaking an enterprise, or dangers terrify him in its
execution. He was pious without affectation, and humane without weakness; bold in a field,
meek in a domestic life, of a penetrating genius, active in spirit, and resolute in all his
undertakings.
To add to the affliction of the Protestants, Captain Gianavel was, soon after, wounded
in such a manner that he was obliged to keep his bed. They, however, took new courage from
misfortunes, and determining not to let their spirits droop attacked a body of popish troops
with great intrepidity; the Protestants were much inferior in numbers, but fought with more
resolution than the papists, and at length routed them with considerable slaughter. During
the action, a sergeant named Michael Bertino was killed; when his son, who was close behind
him, leaped into his place, and said, "I have lost my father; but courage, fellow soldiers, God
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