Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
is a father to us all."
Several skirmishes likewise happened between the troops of La Torre and Tagliaretto,
and the Protestant forces, which in general terminated in favour of the latter.
A Protestant gentleman, named Andrion, raised a regiment of horse, and took the
command of it himself. The sieur John Leger persuaded a great number of Protestants to
form themselves into volunteer companies; and an excellent officer, named Michelin,
instituted several bands of light troops. These being all joined to the remains of the veteran
Protestant troops, (for great numbers had been lost in the various battles, skirmishes, sieges,
etc.) composed a respectable army, which the officers thought proper to encamp near St.
Giovanni.
The Roman Catholic commanders, alarmed at the formidable appearance and increased
strength of the Protestant forces, determined, if possible, to dislodge them from their
encampment. With this view they collected together a large force, consisting of the principal
part of the garrisons of the Roman Catholic towns, the draft from the Irish brigades, a great
number of regulars sent by the marquis of Pianessa, the auxiliary troops, and the independent
companies.
These, having formed a junction, encamped near the Protestants, and spent several days
in calling councils of war, and disputing on the most proper mode of proceeding. Some were
for plundering the country, in order to draw the Protestants from their camp; others were for
patiently waiting till they were attacked; and a third party were for assaulting the Protestant
camp, and trying to make themselves master of everything in it.
The last of them prevailed, and the morning after the resolution had been taken was
appointed to put it into execution. The Roman Catholic troops were accordingly separated
into four divisions, three of which were to make an attack in different places; and the fourth
to remain as a body of reserve to act as occasion might require. One of the Roman Catholic
officers, previous to the attack, thus haranged his men:
"Fellow-soldiers, you are now going to enter upon a great action, which will bring you
fame and riches. The motives of your acting with spirit are likewise of the most important
nature; namely, the honor of showing your loyalty to your sovereign, the pleasure of spilling
heretic blood, and the prospect of plundering the Protestant camp. So, my brave fellows, fall
on, give no quarter, kill all you meet, and take all you come near."
After this inhuman speech the engagement began, and the Protestant camp was attacked
in three places with inconceivable fury. The fight was maintained with great obstinacy and
perseverance on both sides, continuing without intermission for the space of four hours: for
the several companies on both sides relieved each other alternately, and by that means kept
up a continual fire during the whole action.
During the engagement of the main armies, a detachment was sent from the body of
reserve to attack the post of Castelas, which, if the papists had carried, it would have given
them the command of the valleys of Perosa, St. Martino, and Lucerne; but they were repulsed
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