Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 3.djvu/131

 CRUSADES AGAINST DOLCINO. 115 The winter of 1305-6 put to the test the endurance of the her- etics on their bare mountain-top. As Lent came on they were re- duced to eating mice and other vermin, and hay cooked in grease. The position became untenable, and on the night of March 10, compelled by stern necessity to abandon their weaker companions, they left the Parete Calvo, and, building paths which seemed im- possible over high mountains and through deep snows, they estab- lished themselves on Monte Rubello, overlooking the village of Triverio, in the diocese of Yercelli. By this time, through want and exhaustion, their numbers were reduced to about a thousand, and the sole provisions which they brought with them were a few scraps of meat. With such secrecy and expedition had the move been executed that the first intimation that the people of Triverio had of the neighborhood of the dreaded heretics was a foray by night, in which their town was ravaged. We do not hear that any of the unresisting inhabitants were slain, but we are told that thirty-four of the Apostles were cut off in their retreat and put to death. The whole region was now alarmed, and the Bishop of Yercelli raised a second force of crusaders, who bravely advanced to Monte Rubello. Dolcino was rapidly learning the art of war ; he made a sally from his stronghold, though again we learn that some of his combatants were armed only with stones, and the bishop's troops were beaten back with the loss of many prisoners who were exchanged for food.* The heretic encampment was now organized for permanent oc- cupation. Fortifications were thrown up, houses built, and a well dug. Thus rendered inexpugnable, the hunted Apostles were in safety from external attack, and on their Alpine crag, with all mankind for enemies, they calmly awaited in their isolation the fulfilment of Dolcino's prophecies. Their immediate danger was starvation. The mountain-tops furnished no food, and the remains of the episcopal army stationed at Mosso maintained a strict blockade. To relieve himself, early in May, Dolcino by a clever stratagem lured them to an attack, set upon them from an am- bush, and dispersed them, capturing many prisoners, who, as be- fore, were exchanged for provisions. The bishop's resources were* exhausted. Again he appealed to Clement V., who graciously Hist. Dulcin. (Muratori IX. 430-2).