A particular account of the present persecutions and inhumane oppression of the Protestants in France

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iCtbrary

KINGSTON. ONTARIO

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A Particular

ACCOUNT

Of the PRESENT

AND

Inhumane OPPRESSIONS

OF THE

Proteftants

I K

FRANGR

Printed in the Year 1689,

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An ezaB account of the Cruel Opprejfions and Per-
fecutions of the French Protefiants.

THE Cruelties exercifed of late on the Proteflantsin
France^ do appear fo deteftable co all, who have not
divefted therafelves of Humanity, that no wonder,
the Authors of them, ufc their utmoft endeavour to
leOen, what they cannot conceal. Were not this
worfe than barbarous ufuage, ? project of a long contrivance, a
Man might for Charity's fake (uppofe this their palliating is, to
be an acknowledgment of their own difpleafuue at it. However,
their boldnefs is inexcufable, who (hall endeavour to impofeon
the World in matters known ; not by Gaz.etfs and News-letters,
but by an infinite number of Fugitives ; of all Conditions •, who
have nothing left but Tears and Miferies to bring along with
them into Forreign Nations. 'Tis certainly too barbarous
to opprefs innocent People in their own Country , and after-
wards to ilifle their Complaints in other places where they are
driven ; and by this means deprive them of a corapaiTion which,
the bare inllindls of Nature never refufe to the miferable. Yet
this is the courfe our Pc-riecutors of France have held; their
Cruelty muft be attended with Impoftures , that the mifchiefs
which they have aded may pafs undifcovered.

1 think we fhould be much to blame, if we fuffer them to go
on in this fecond defign, as they have done in the firft ^ and there-
fore we fhall choofe fome principal Inftances, whereon wefhali
make fuch Reftedions, as thereby to judge with greater evidence
and exadtnefs on the whole proceeding. And as we (hall offer no-
thing but what fhall beperfedly true-, fo we fliall advance nothing
in our reflections, but what all the world of reafonable people will

allow. , , , ,

To begin with matters of Fad : There's no body but knows,
That a while after his prefent Majefty of France came to the
Crown there arofe in the Kingdom a Civil War -, which proved
fo Iharp and defperate, as brought the State , within an hairs
breadth of utter mine. 'Tis alfo known, that inthemidft of
allthefe Troubles, thofe of the Reformed Religion, kept their
Lovaltvinfo inviolable a manner, and attended it with fuch a
' A 2 Zeai

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Zeal and extraordinary fervour, that the King found himfelf ob-
liged to give publick marks of it, by a Declaration made at St.
Germdins, iu the year 1652. Then as well at Courr, as in the
Field, each {trove to proclaim loudellche dcferts of the Refor-
mifts ; and the Queen IMothcr her felf, readily acknowledged,
Thnt they had preferved the State : This is known by ail, but
'twill hardly be believed, though it be too true, what our Ene-
mies themfelvs an hundred times tld us j and which the icquel
h?s but too flirewdly confirmed, that this was precifely, the prin-
cipal and mofl elTential caufe of ourruinc; and of all the mif-
chicfs which we have fmce fuffered. Endeavours were pfed to
envenom all thefe important Services in the Kings andhisMinr-
Iters minds, by perfwading them, that if inthisoccalion, this
party could conTerve the Sate ; this Ihewed, they could liketvife
overthrow it, fiiould they have ranked themfelves on the other
fide •, and nfighc flill do it, when fuch alike cccafion fhould offer
it felf. that therefore this party mult be fnppreired, and the
good they have done no longer regarded ; but as an indication
of the mifchief, which they may one day be capable of doing.
This Diabolical reafoning^ which hinders Subjects from ferving^
their Prince^ to avoid drawing on themfelves chaftifements, in
ilead of recompences, was relifhM as a piece of moft refined
Policy. For as foon as the Kingdom was fetled in peace, the
defign was advanced of deltroying the Reformifts \ and the bet-
ter to make them comprehend that their Zeal had ruined them,
the Cities which hsd (hewed molt of it, were firft begun with.
Immcdiatly then, on flight pretences, they f:ll oniJork-/, Mon-
tanban^ 2ir\d MilUn -, three Town, where thofeofthe reformed
Religion, had moft fignalized themfelvs for the interrelts of the
Court •, Rochel underwent an infinite number of prefer iptions,
AfontaitbaH and Millan were fackt by the fouldiers. But thefe
l^eing but particular Itrokes and mere preludes, which decided
noth'ing, they tarried not long before they made appear the great
and general Machines,they were to ufe in the carrying on of theic
hitendcd defign to the laft extremity. 'Twill be a difficukmat-
ter to giveanexaft account of thefe fcveral methods : for never
huma^ie malice produced fuch multiplicity of them; everyday
brought forth new ones for twenty years together. To take only
noticeofthcchiefof them i which were, Firil, Law Suits fa
Courts of Juftice. Secondly, Deprivations from all kinds of
Offices and Employs ; and in genaral, of aU ways of fubfiftance.

Thirdly,

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Thirdly, The infradicn of Edidls,under the notion ofEyplicatx-
ens of them, fourthly, New Laws and Orders. Fifthly, Juggles
■ ' amufing tricb. Sixthly, The animating of People, and infpi-
ring them with hatred againft us. Thefe are the moll confide-v
rable means, which the perfecutors have employed to attain
their ends, during feveral years ; I fay during feveral years y
for what they defigned, being no eafie matter, they needed there*
fore time, to order their Engines ; not to take notice of theii*
Traverfes and Interruptions by forrain Wars ; yet whofe fuccefs
have not a little contributed to encreafe their Coinage, and con-
firm them in the defign which they had againft us.

The firft of thefe means has had an infinite extent, We Ihould
begin with the recital of all the Condemnations of Churches j
orfuppreflicns of exercifes of Religion, and all the other vexa-
tions which have happened by the eftablKhing of CommilTaries 5
this was a fnare dexteroufly laid immediately after the Treaty
of the Princes^ the King under pretence of repairing the EdiA
of Nams^ fent them in the Provinces. The Roman Catholick
Commiflary was every where his Majefties Intendant •, who was
befure a fit man for the purpofe, armed with the Royal Autho-
rity, and who was well inftrudled in the fecret aim. The
other, was either fome hungry Officer, a Slave to the Court, or
fomepoor Gentlemen, who had ufally neither intelligence requi-
fite in rhefe fort of affairs, nor the liberty of fpeaking his Senti-
ments. The Clergy had Set them up ; He was there ambulatory
Spirit. The Synodicks were received before them as formal par-
ties in allour affairs ; the aflignations were given in ther name,
the profecutions alfo ; and as well the difcords of the Commif-
faries, as the Appeals from their Ordinances, muft be finally de-
cided in the Kings Councel. fcij • Ih

Thus in general, all the rights of th e Churches , foVthe exercifes
of Religon,the burying places,and all fuch dependancies,were cal-
led into a review, and confequently, expofed to frelli purfuits of
the Clergy, and the ill intention of the Judges. In which there was
not the leaft dram of Equity ^ for the Edi^^ having been onpe ex-
ecuted, according to the intention of him that made it, there
needed no fecond touches ; it being moreover, wholly unlikly
thofeof the reformed Religon^ who had been ever in the King*
dom the fuffering party, could ufurp any thing therein ; and ex-
tend its limits beyond what belonged to them. But there we.ie
other defigns in hand than the providing againft the Contraven-
tions

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tions '.and therefore by this order, the greateft parfc of the
Churches cited forthe juftiyfing of their rights, faw therafelves
foon condemned one after another by decrees of CouncU, how
good and fufficient foever their Titles and Defences were.
Scarcely pafsM a Week wherein thefe kind of Decrees were
not made-, and if it happned, that the modefty of the Judges
faved any of them, by the great evidence of their right, as this
fometicnes happned •, befides that, the number was fmall, in com-
parifon of thofe condemned, the Judges often received order to
condemnthem, when they fhewed they could not in Confcience

do it.

But the OpprefTions of this kind, did not termmate in the bare
condemnation of Ciurches j for particular perfons had their
parr. In ordinary and civil affairs, where the matter concerned
a piece of Land, perhaps, a Houfe, a Debt between a Roman
Catholickand a perfon of our Religion ^~ Religion was to be fure
always one of the chief heads of the accufation ; The Monks ,
the EmilTaries, the Confeilbrs, and all the whole tribe of chat
Crew, intereflcd themfelves in the affair. In Courts of Juftice,
all the cry was, / plead againfi an Heretick^ I have to do with a
Man of a Religion odiom to the State •, and which the King would
have extirpated. By this means, there was no longer an> Juftice
to beexpedled, few Judges were proof againfl: t'lis falfe Z.al,
for fear of drawing the fury of the whole Cabal againft him, or
palling for a favourer of Hereticks. 'Tis no: to be imagined
how many unjuit Sentences thefe forts of Preju iiceshave i^iven,
in all the Courts of the Kingdom ; and how many Tiens Fami-
lies have been ruined by 'em : when any one complained, tnean-
fwer was ready. Ton have your remedy in yonr own hands-, why do
yon not tnrn Catholick.

Yet all this had been nothing, had the Perfecntion kept here,
and not proceeded tofaften on the Reputation, the LibTcy,and
even the very Lives of perfons, by a general inundation ( as a
man may term it) of criminal Procefles. Writings were Printed
at P^n>, and fent from thence to all Cities and Pariihes of the
Kingdom , which impowered the Curates, Churchwardens and
others, to make an exadt enquiry into whatfoever the pretended
Reformifts might have done, or faid, for twenty years paft, as
well on th€ fubjedl of Religon as otherwife, to make Inform-
tion of this before the Juftices of the place •, and punilh them
without remifllon. So have we feen for feveral years, in execu-
tion

K 5 )

tlon of tliefe Orders, the Prifons every where fifl'd mth thefe
kind of Criminals ; neither were falfe witnefTes lacking • and
that which was mofl horrible, was^ that chough the Judges were
convince4 they were Knighcs of the Poft, yen they maintained
them, and carry'd them through fuch points, as they knew to be
untrue. They condemnned innocent and veituous perfons to be
whipt , to the Gallies, to baniftment and publicic Penances.
And if a Spark of Honor or Confcience, at any time hindred i hem.,
yet there was always at lead an impunity for the falfe witnefTes,

This kind of Perfecution fell chiefly on MiaiHers ; for of
a long time they might not Preach, without having for Auditors,
or to fpeak better, Obfervators, a Troop of Pricfts, Monks
Miflionaries, and fuch kind of People, who made no fcruple to
charge them with things, v/hich they not fo much as thought of ;
and turn ethers into a contrary meaning. They alfowent fofar
astodevine the thoughts, to make Crimes ; fcr as focn as ever
any MiniHer fpake of E^yftj Pharaoh^ the Ifraelites^ of good or
bid people, (as 'tis difficult not to fpeak of thefe matters, when
they explained the: Scripture •, Thefe Spies never fail to report,
that by -E^y-pt^ and the wicked, they meant the Catholicks, and
by the ff/aelnesj the pretended Reformift. The Judges concernd
themlelves in this, and what is moft ftrange, the Minifters of
State ihemfelves refpedled thefe interpretations of thoughts, ss
evident proofs. On thefe grounds, the Magiftrates filled the
Prifons wi.h.. thefe kind -of poor People, keeping them therein
for whole years together, and often inflided en them feveral cor-
poral penaUies.

'Tis alt^dy fcen by this fird kind of pcrfecuricH; what were
the ufages fhewedin France to the Reform ifts before they csme
to thcutmolt violence. But we (hall fee them appear more, in
v.'hgt'we'have to add, touching the privaticn of Offices and Em-
ploys- and in general, of the meanes cf gaining a Livelihood ;
which is the fecond way we mentioned, that has been ufed to
efre(ft our ruin. 'Tis not hard to eomprehend, ih.u in a great
Kingdom, as Frarice is, where the Proteftants were difperfed
overall parts, there were an infinite number, who could not fub-
fifl; nor maintain their Families, but by the liberty of ferving the
publick, either in Offices, Arts, Trades, or Faculties, each ac-
cording to his Calling, i/f»^r)^,the great, v/^s fo well convinced
of the neceflity and Juftice of this, that he made it an exprefs
Article, the moItdiftin(ffe perhaps and formal, of all contained in

bis

hh Edlft r and tlisret arc 'twas here the pcrfecutors thought theffl-
nivcs obiiged to ufc their utmoft endeavoj^rs. In this regard,
ihcy began vvih the Arts and Trades ; which under feveral pre-
tences, they rendredalmoftinacceffible to the Proteftants, by the
flitliculcies of arriving to the raafterlhip of them, and by the ex-
£iiriveExp3nces,thcyrauft be at to be received therein, there
ojing no candidate, but was forced, for this purpoffe to maintain
l,aw Suiis, under the weight of which, they for the moft part
fell, not behig able to hold them out. Bat this not being fuffici-
ent, by a Declaration made in 1669. they were reduced to one
third, in the Towns where the Proteftants were more in number
than the other Inhabitants 9 and they were forbidden to receive
any therein till this diminuiion was made, which at oneftroke
excluded all the pretenders •

Some time after they abfolately drove all the Reformift from
the ConfulOiips, and all other Municipal Officers of the Cities,
.which was in effed the depriving them of the Knowiedg of their
Proper Aftairs, and Interefts, to inveft wholly the Catholtcks

with them* , , . ,

In 1680, the King iffued out an Order which deprived thi -
in general of all kind of Offices and Employs, from the greiitciL
to the fmalleft : They were made incapable fo much as to excrcife
any Employ in the Cuftom-Houfes, Guard, Treafury, or Polt-Offi-
ces; to be Meflengers, Coach-Men, or Waggoners, or any
thing of this nature.

In the year 16S1, by a Decree of Council all Notaries, At-
torneys, SoUicitors and Sergants making Profeflion of the Re-
formed Religion, were rendred uncapable throughout all the
Kingdom. A Year after, all Lords and Gentlemen of the Refor-
jned Religion were ordered to difcharge their Officers and Ser-
vants of the faid Religion, and not make life of them in any ^afc
without other reafon than that of their Religion.

In 1(583, all Officers belonging to the Kings Houfhold^ .md
thofe of the Princes of the Bloud, were alfo rendred uncapable
of holding their Places: The Councilors and other Officers of
^y^, and Chambers of Accounts, and thofe of Senefchalfhip,
Bailywicks, and Royalties, Admiralty, Provoftfhips, and Mar-
fhaPs Courts, Treafury, Excife, and others, who belonged to the
Toll-Offices, and fuch like bufmeQes, were ordered to leave rheir
Places in favour of the Catholicks.

In 1684, all Secretaries belonging to theKmgand Great Offi-
cers

ccrs ot fraNce, as well Titulaty, as Honorary ones, and their
Widows, were deprived by a Revocation of all their Privi^
ledges of what nature foever they were. They alfo deprived all
thole that had purchafedany Priviledges for ihe exercifingofany
Profeflions, as Merchants, Surgeons, Apothecaries, and Vin-
ners, and all others, without exception.

Nay, they proceeded to this excefs, that they would not fnffer
anyMidwivcs of the Reformed Religion to do their Office, and
exprefly ordained for the future, our Wives (hould receive no af-
fiitance in that Condition, bu: from Roman Cacholicks. 'Tis
not to be exprelt how many particular Perfons and Families they
reduced every where, bythefe Itrange and unheard of Methods^
to Ruine and Mifery. Bat becaufe there were yet many which
could fuftainthemfelves ; other Methods of Oppreffion muft be
invented: To this end they iffued out an Eclidl from the Council,
by which the new Converts,as they call them, were difcharged
fromany Paymentsof their Debts for three yeers. This,forthe
moft part, fell on theReforniiils, who, having hadamorepar i-
cular Tyeof Intrefland Afiair with thefe pretended Conver.s,
becaufe of theirCommunion of Religion, were reckoned amongft
their Chief Creditors : By this Order they had found the fecrcn
to recompenfe thofe that changed, at the charge of thofe who
continu-ed firm : and this they did likewife by another way ; for
they difcharged the Converts of all the Debts which thofe of the
Religion had contracT:ed in common, which by confcqucnce fell
on the reft. Add to this, the Prohibition to Sell or Alienate their.
Eftates on any pretence whatever, the King annulling and break-
ing all Contracts, and other Ads relating to that Matter ^ if it
did not appear, that after thefe A(fts, they had ftaycd in the
Kingdom a whole Year : fo that the jaft Remedy of helping
themfelves with their Eftates in extream NeccfTity, Vv^as taken
from them. They deprived them likewife of another, which
feemed the only one remaining ; which w^s, to feck their bread
elfewhere, by retiring into other Countries, there to get their
Living by Labour, fi nee this was not permitted them in Fr(mce^
By repeated Edids the King forbad them to leave his Kingdom,
on fevere Penalties, which drove them to the laftDefpair ; fince
theyfaw themfelves reduced to the horrible Neccftky of dying,
with hunger in their own Countrey, without daring to go to live
elfevVhere. But the Cruelty of their Enemies ftopt not here,
for there yet remained fome Gleanings in the Provinces, though
very few.and as thin as thofe in Pharaoh'^s Dream. The Xntcn jaots

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in their Diflricts bad order to load the Reformed with Taxes,
which they did, either by laying upon them the Tax of the New
Catholicks, who,were difcharged thereof on favour of their Con-
v.erfion j or by laying exorbitant: Taxes jwhich they called Duties •,
that is to fay, he who in the ordinary Roll was afleffed at For-
ty or Fifty Livers^ was charged by this Impoficion, at feven or
eight huiidred. Thus had ihey nothing more left, for all 'was
a Prey to the Rigour of the Intendants. They raifed their Taxes
by the eflcftual quartering of X>r^^oo«j, or Imprifonment, from*
whence they were not freed till they had paid the utmoft Far-
thing.

Tlicfc were the two fuft Engines or Machines which the Clergy
made ufw ofagaind: us : To which they added a Third, which we
have nennsd the Infradions of the Edid of Nantes^ under pre-
tence of Explication. Thofe who would know their Nutnber
and Quality, need only read the Books written andpublifhed on
this Subjedi, as well by the Jefuit Menier, an Author famous for
his Illufions, as by one Beanard^ an Officer in the Prefidial
Court of Befier in Langnedoc. There you will find all the turns
which the meaneft and molt unworthy Sopbifiry could invent,
to elude the cleareft Texts of the Edidt, and to corrupt the
Sincerity thereof. But becaufe we do here give you only a brief
Account of our Troubles, we will content our felves with ob-
ferving fome of the principal, ifluing from this Fountain. What
was there, for Example, more clear and unquellionable in the
Edid: than this, riz,. That 'twas given with an Intention to main-
tain thofe of the Religion, in all the Rights that Nature and Civil
Society give to Men. Yet in i68 1, there came out an Edidl,that
Children might at the Age of Seven years, abjure the Reformed
Religion, and imbrace the CathoUckj, under pretence, that the
Edid did not precifely mark, that at this Age they fliould conti-
nue at their Parents Difpofal. Who fees not that this was a
nieer trick, feeing that on the one hand, the Edift forbad to take
Uie Children from their Parents by force, or fair means : and on
the other hand,the Ed'iCt fuppofed and confirmed all the Natural
Rigfits, of which, without Controverfy, this is one of the
mole inviolable. Was there ever a more manifeft Infradlion of
theEdidthanthat, which forbad thofe of the Proujhr:t Reli-
gion who had palfed over to the Roman^ to ramn to that they
had lefc, under pretence, that the Edid did not formerly give
them in exprefs terms this Liberty. For when the Mi^ permits
• gene-

generally ail the Kings Subjefls Liberty of conrcience, and for-
bids the perplexing and troubling them, and offering any thing
■contrary to this Liberty : Who fee not that this Exc^puon,
touching the pretended Relapfers, is fo far from being an Expli-
cation of tht Eclid, that 'tis a notable violation of ir.

Whereunto we may add the Charge given to the Rar.an-Citt'hc^
llckj, not to change their Religion, and inibracc the Reformed -
For when the Edid gives Liberty of Confcience^it does it in pro-
per Terms, for all thofe who are, and fhall be of the faid Religi-
on. Yet if we believe the Clergy, this was not Hcmy the
Great's meaning, intending only to grant it to thofe, who made
Profeffion of it at the time of his making his Edid. That of
Karnes gave alfo to the Reformed, the priviledges of keeping
fhiall Schools in all Places where they had the Exercife of their
Religion:, and by this term of Small, or Little Schools, accord-
ing to the common Explication, thofe were always underftood,
where one might teach Latine and Humanity- -This is the fence
which has been ever given in all the Kingdom, to this ExprelTion ;
and which is ftill given, when ic concerns the Roman Catholicks.
Yet by a new Interpretation, this permiflion was reftrained'to
the bare Liberty of teaching to Read and Write : as if the Re-
formed were unworthy to learn anymore; and this on purpofe
to tire out the Parents, and drive them to this extremity, either
not to know what to do with their Children, or be forced to
l^nd them to the Roman Catbolkkj for Education.

The Edid gave them the liberty in all places where they had
Churches^ to Inltrud publickly their Children, and oiheis, in
what concerns Religion ^ which vifibly eltablilh'd the Right ef
teaching them Thoh^j, feeing their Theology is nothing elfc
but this Rehgion. And as to CoUedges, wherein they might bs
Inftrnded in Liberal Sciences, the Edict promifed Letters Pattents
in good form. Yet 'twas fuppofed the Edid gave no right to the
Reformed to inftrud them in Theology^ nor to have CoUedges i
and on this Suppofition, Three Academies were ccndefuned^ all that
remained. That of Sf^^«, although grounded upon a particular
Edidl, was fnppreftas the reft, and even before them.

But we muft go further, and feeing we have undertaken to fliew
in^this Abridgment, the principal things they have done to ex-
ercife our Patience, before they came to the utmoft Fury. We
are not to pafs over the new Orders, or new' Laws, which were
to us as fo many new Inventions to torment us. The firft of

B 2 theie

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thefe Orders, which apjjeared, was touching the manner cf Bii-
rya]s,and interring the Dead.Tne number of Attendants tvere re-
duced to thirty perfons, in thofe places where theExercife of
oar Religion was adu^lly Eftablifhed ; and to ten, where ic was
not : Orders werealfo iifued out, to hindcrthe commimication of
Provinces wirh one another, byCirculary Letters,or otherwife
tiiough about iMatters of Alms and difpofjl of Charity. Prohibi-
tions were Jii'vc wife made of hoMinjf Collcquies in the interval of
Synods, excep.in^g in two Qifes, the providing for Churches de-
'itituteby the deadis of their iMinilter-s, and the corredion of
fome Scandals. They iikew]fe took away from thofe places, al-
lowed by the EGiL% which they c&U'd Exercifes de fief^ all the
I\I.irks of the Temple-., asthc Bcli^the Pni|fit,'rind other things
of this Nature. Tncy were like wife forbidden to receive their
Miiiiiters in Synods to have any deciding voice there, or to note
them in the Catalcguc of thofe that belongM to Churches. Others
forbad the finging of Pfaims in private Houfes ^ as alfo, fome that
commanded them to ceafe fmging even in their Temples when
the Sacrament paf^'d by, or at the time of any Prcceffion. Others
were made to hinder Marriages, fuch times as were forbidden by
the Romijii Church. Others forbad Minillers to preach any
where, except in the place of their ufual Refidence. Others for-
bad their fetling in places, unlefs fentby the Synods, though the
Confillories had calPd them thither according to their ufiial forms.
Others were made to hinder the Synods from fending to any
Churches more Miaifters than were there in the preceding Synod.
Others, to hinder thofe that defignM for the Miniflry, to be Edu-
cated in Forreign Univerfities . Others banifh'd all Forreign Mi-
nifters, though they had been ordained in the Kingdom, and
fpent there the greateft part of their Lives. Others forbad Mini-
fters, or Cardinals for the Miniflry, to refide in places where
Preaching was forbidden, or nearer than fix Miles of them.
Others forbad the People to aflemble in the Temples, under
pretence of Praying, Reading, or Singing of Pfalms, except in
the prefence of a Minifter, placed there by the Synod. One ri-
diculous one was made, to take away all the backs of the Seats in
the Churches, and reduce them all to an exaft uniformity. Ano-
ther, to hinder the Churches that were a little more rich, to allift
the weaker, for the maintenance of their Minifters, and otherne-
celTities. Another, to oblige Parents to give their Children,who
changed their Religion, great Penfions. Another, to forbid Mar-
riages

riages betwixt Parties of different Religions, even in the cafe of
fcandalou5 Cohabitation. Another, to prohibit thofeof the Re-
ligion, from that time, to entertain in their Houfes any Dome-
Iticks or Servants thai were Roman CathoHcks. Another, which
made them uncapiiblccf luingTurcrsorGn^rdiair- ^ ^ndconfe-
<]uently, put nlithcMino/SjU'hofc F,i.hcrs died in the Profcfilor.
cdht'PyotcffafH Religion, unkr tlie Power and Educdtion of
Roman CathoHcks. Another, forbid ding Mi nifters nnd Eiders ro
.hinder any of their Flock, either dirccflly, or indirc(rHv, to cm-
brace the 'j^^w/«« Religion, or to difiwade them from it. Ano-
tiier, forbidding Jews snd Adahomnans to embrace the Reformed
Religion ; and the Minifters, cither to inftrucf^, or receive them
into it. Another, fubj:(fling Synods to receive fuch Rom.^.n Catho-
//cj^Commiliaries as flrould be fjnt them from the King, with nn
exprefs Orderto do nothing but in their prerence. Another,
forbid Jing the Confiftcries toaffemble ofcner than once in fifteen
day% and in prefence of a C^//j^//c^Commi{rary. Another, for-
biddi. g ConliHories to afTift, on pretence of Charity to the Poor
Sick Ptrfons of their Religion •-, and ordaining that the Sick
fhojld be carried into their Hofpitals, ftridly forbidding any
Man to entertain them in their Houfes. Another, confifcatiug, in
favour of Hofpitals, all the Lands, Rents, and other Profits, of
what nature foever, which might have appertained to a condem-
ned Ciiurch. Another, forbidding Minillers to come nearer than
three Leagues to the place where the Priviiedges of Preaching
was in queftion or debate. Another, confifcated to the Hofpi-
tals all the Revenues and Rents fet apart for the maintenance of
the Poor, even in liich Churches as were yet ftanding. Another,
fubjedting iick and dying perfons to the necelTi y of receiving
Vifits, fometimes from Judges, CommilFaries, or Church- War-
den s ; fometimes, of Curates, Monks, MilTionaries, or other
Ecclefiafticks, to inducethem to change their Religion,or require
ofthemexprefs Declarations concerning it. Another, forbid-
ding Parents to fend their Children before fixteen years of Age,
to travel in Forreign Countries, on any pretence whatfoever.
Another, prohibiting Lords or Gentlemen to continue theexer-
cife of Religion in their Houfes, unlefs they had firft produced
their Titles before the Commiifaries,and obtained from them a
Licenfe to have preaching. Another, which reftrained the right of
entertaining a Minifter to thofe only, who were in pofTelhon of
their Lands ever fince the EdiB oiNams^ in a dired or collateral

Line,

Line. Another, which forbad Churches called BailUge^ to receive
into their Temples any of another Bailywick. Another, which
enjoyned Pbpfitians^ Apothecaries^ and Chirurreons^ to adverdfe
xhQ Curates 01 Magiflra^es of the Condition oiiickPi-oiefiams^
.t\ut the ^fa^ifir*ttei oi:, Curates might vific them. But amongft
all thefc new Laws, thoH; which have mo.lt ferved the Defign
and Intention of the Clergy,have been on one hand, the prohibi-
tion of receiving into their Temples any of thofe who had chan-
ged their Religion, nor their Children, nor any Roman Catholkk^
of what Age,'Scx, or Condition foever, under pain of forfeiting
their Churches, and the Minifters doing piiblick: Penance, with
Baniflimentand Confifcation of their Eftates \ sndon the other
lide, the fetting up in all the Temples a particular Bench for the
Catholicks to fit on •, for by this means, as foonas any one refol-
ved to change his Religion, they needed only to make him do ic
in private, and to find him the next morning in the Temple, to
be obferved there by the Catholkhj^ who were in their Seat.
Immediately Informations were made, and afterwards Condem-
nations, in all the Rigour of the Law. The Roma?i Catholicks
needed only to enter into the Temple, under pretence, that they
had a place there, and then they flip in amongft the Crou i, and
immediately this was a Contravention to the Declaration, and
an unavoidable Condemnation. ' Tis by this means they have de-
ftroyed an infinite number of Temples and Churches, and put
into Irons a great number of Innocent Minifters •, for Villains
and falfe Witnefles were not wanting in this occafion.

All thefe Proceedings were fo violent, that they muft needs
make a ftrong ImprelTion in the Reformifts Minds, whereunto
thefe things tended. And in efFed, there were many of them,
that bethought themfelves of their Safety, by leaving the King-
dom, fome tranfported themfelves into one Kingdom, and fome
into another, according as their Inclinations led them. But this
was what the Court never intended, for more than one reafon ;
and therefore to hinder them, they renewed from lime to time
this degree, which we have mentioned, which ftri<!l;ly prohibited,
under the moft fevere Penalties, any to depart the Kingdom
without leave ; and to this end they ftridlly guarded &11 Pallages
on the Frontiers. But thefe Precautions did not anfwer their
Expedations ; and 'twas better to blind the People, by hopes of
abating this rigorous ufage at home •, and to this end, in 1669, the
King revoked feveral violent Decrees, which produced the Ef-

fed

( 13)

fed cvp^ded. For though the Judicious faw well enough, that
ihis Moderation fprang not from a good Principle, and that, in
the S>qucl, the fame Decrees would be put in Execution, yet the
molt part imagined they would ftill confine themfdves within
feme Bounds in cui; regard, and that they would not pafs to a to-
tal D.ftiufticn.

We have often drawn the fame Conclufions from the feveral
Verbal D.ciarations which came many times from the Kings own
Moutli, tiiat he pretended not to indulge us, but he would do us
perfect Jiiil ice, and let us enjoy the Benefits of the Edids in their
whole Extent -, that he would be very glad to fee all his Subje<?ls
re-united to the CathoUck, Religion, and would, for the effecting
this, contribute all his Power, but there fhould be no Blood flied
during his Reign, on this account, nor any violence exercifed..
Thefeprecife and re-iterated declarations gave us hopes,the King
would not forget them ; and efpecially, in eilential matters, he
would let us enjoy the efFeds of his Bounty and Equity. 'Twas
the more expe<fted by a Letter he wrote to the Eledor of Bran-
denhnrr ; the Copies of whi(jh, the Minifters of S^ate took care to
difperfe through the whole Kingdom.. His Majefty alTured him,
that he w is well fatisfied with the Behaviour of his Prctefiant
Subjects : From whence he drew this natural Conclufionj that he
intended not then to deftroy us.

To which we may add the managements ufed fometimes in the
Council, v^'here Churches were confervcd, at the fame time when
others were ordered to be demolifhed ;, to make the World be-
lieve, they obferved meafures of Juftice ; and that thofe which
they condemned, were not grounded on gocd Titles. Sometimes
they foftned feveral too rigorous Decrees ; other times, they
feemed not to approve of the Violences offered by the Intendancs
andMagiftrates, even to the giving of Orders to'modcrate them.
In this manner did they hinder the execution of a Decree made
in the Parliament of -^i7//f«, which enjoyned thofe of the Refor-
med Religion to fall on their Knees when they met the Sacra-
ment. Thus did they flop the Profecutions of a puny Judge of
CharemQ?2^ who ordered us to ftrike cut of our Liturgy a Prayer
which was compofed for the Faithful, that groaned under the Ty-
ranny of Antichrift. 'Tis thus alfojjhat they did not extrcamly
favour another Perfecution which began to come general in the.
Kingdom againft the Miniflers, under pretence of obliging them
to take an Oath of Allegiance, wherein ocher Claufeswere in*

fcrted.

( 14 ) ^

ferted coiTirary to what Miniftersowe.to tl'eir Charges and R--
liglcn! 'Twasthusaifo they fuipcnded ths execution of fcm^
Edifts, which "themfelvcs had procured, as well to tax the iV.i-
nift:ei-s,asto oblige tbem to refide precifely in the place where
they excrcifcd their Miniftry. With the fame defign, the Syndic's
of the Clergy had the art to let the principal Cnurches of the
Kingdcni to be at refl: for many years without diilurbance in their
Aflanblies-, whii'Ittliey in the mean time defolated all ihcfe in
tne Ccunrrey. They fufpended alfo the condemnation of the
Univerf)tiGs, and refcrvcd thtni for Jaft. k was aifo in this view,
that at Ccuit, the fiiil: feemed urable to believe, and at laft^ not
tcapprcveof the exceHes which ens Ma-nlUc^ an Intendant of ,
Po/ro;^, committed in his Province : a man poor and cruel, more 'V-
ft to prey on the High-ways,thantobeInrendantofa PreTir.ce;
thcugh indeed they hTad a CJanfc ezsprefly to make thefe Expedi-
tions'. But amouglt all thefe Illufions, there's none more remark-
able than five or fix, which will net be improper here to take
notice of : The firft was, That at the very time, when at the
Ccurc.thcy iflued out all the Decrees, Declarations, and Edicfts,
width we have fpoken of here before, and which they caufed to
ieputinexecuiion with the greateft rigour, at the fsme time
that they interdidcd their Churches, demolilbed their Temple?,
depr ived particular perfons of ihcir CiTjcesand Emplcymienis,
reduced people to Poverty and Hunger, imprifcncd ihcm, loaded
them with Fines,banilh'd them ; and in a word,ravag'd a'mcfl: allj
the Intendants,Governours5Magiftrates,and other Girc rs in Pa^
n>, and over all the Kingdom, coolly and gra\'ely gave cut, the
Kinghad not the leaft intention to touch the Edidof xV^»;j,but
v/euld mofl; Religioufly obferve it. The feccnd was. That in the
fame Edidt which the King publifh'd, to forbid Rorran CathoUckj
to imbrace the Reformed Religion, which wrs in the year
1682. That is to isy, at a time when they had already greatly
advanced ihe work of our DeIlru(flion •, they caufed a formal
Claitfe to be inferred in thefe terms. That he ccnfirv.ed the Edift
o/Nar.tes, as much as tt wm-, or ponid he needful. The third. That
in the Circular Letters which the King wrote to the Bifhops and
Ir.tcndants, to oblige them to figniiie the Pafboral Advertif ment
of the Clergy to our Confiftories, he tells them in exprefs terms,
That his Jr:hntion was not^ that they flwnld do any thifia that might
/ttefr>vt Mp-,n what had been gra? ted to thojeofthe Rcforthed Rdigio?}
h the Eat its and Dec Uratf ens mad^ tn their fareur. The fourth.

That

( '5 )

That by an expreG Declaration pbhlifliM abont the later end of the
year 1 68+, the King ordained, Th.u Mmifiers pmtld»ct remain in
the fame Church above three years, nor return to thefrfl] within the
f^ace of Twelve ; and that they jhotdd be thm tranflated from Church
to Church-, at leafl twenty League i diflant from the other •, fuppodn^
by a manifcit confcqucnce, that his defign WciS yet to pei-mic the cx-
ercifc of Religion to the Miniftcrs in the Kingdom for 12 years ac
leaft : Though indeed, they at that Moment dcfign'd the Revocati-
on of the Edid^ and had rtroiv'd it in x.\\QCouNctl. Tne Fifth con-
lifts in a Reqneftprefentedto the King, by the AITembly of the
Clergy at the fame time that they were drawing an Edich to revoke
that of Nams, and put it into the hands of the Procurer General
to frame it ; and in the Decree which was granted on this requefb,
the Clergy complain'd of the mifreprefentations which the Mi>
nifters are won: £0 make of .he i?(7/«^« Church, to which they at-
tribute Dofl:rines which they do not hold, and befeech his Ma-
jefty to provide againft it. And alfo exprefly declared, that they
did 'not yet dcfire the Revocation of th^ EdM, upon which the
King by his Decree exprefly forbai the Miniders to fpeak either
good or hurt, dirediy or indircvliy of the Church of Rome in
their Sermons-, fuppofing, as every one may fee, that 'cwas his
Inrention ftill to let them Preach ; Were ever fuch Illufions
known ! But was there ever any greater than this which they
put in the very EdiH: we fpeak of ? The King after having cancel-
led and annul'd the Edith ofN'antes^znd all that depended thereon,
after having interdided for ever all publick Religious Exercifes,
heaifofor ever banifhM ail the Miniflers from hisKinj^dom, and
exprefly declares, that his will is, that his oiher Subjecls, v*rhr>
are not willing to change their Religion, may rema"n where they
are in all Liberty, enjoy their Eftates, ?nd liv:; with the fame
Freedom as heretofore, without any Moleilation on prctenrc of
their Religion, till it fiiall plcafe God to enlighten and convert
them. Thefewere Amufements and Snares to entrap them •, as
it has fince appeared, and it ftill appears every day by the horrible
ufagesthey fuffcr, and of which we fliall fpeak in what follows.
But we fhall lirft mention a preparatory Machin, which the
Perfecutors have not failed to imploy to effed their Defign, and
which we have reckoned to be the Sixth in order. It confifts in
difpofmg infenfibly the People by degrees to defire our Deftrudi-
on, to approve of it when done, and to dimini(h in their Mind
the Horror which naturally they rauft have at the Cruelties and

C In-

Ci6)

rnjtifticesof our Pcefeciitors Contrivance. For this pnrpofe fe-
veial means have been ufed, and the commonelt have been the
Sermons, of the Miflionaries and other Controverilil Preachers,
uith which the Kingdom had been for fome years llockt, under
the Tide of '^ioyal Mijfions. There were fitting Ycnths chofen
for this purpofe, who have fuch an Education given them, which
was fo far fiom making them Moderate, as rather enflamed them ;
fo that 'tis eafie to comprehend what A(ftors thefe are, when they
not only foiiml them felves upheld, but faw themfelves moreover
il'Con,and had exprefs Orders to infpire their Hearers with Cho-
ler» And fo wcl! did they rxquit themfelves hei.ein, that 'Cwas
not their fault if Popular Em.motions liave not followed thereon
in great Cities, yea in P^ru ic felf, had not the prudence of the
Magiflrates hindred them. To the Preachers we muftjoynthc
Confcllbrs and Dircd\ors of Mens Confciences, the Monks, the
Curates, and in general, all the Ecclefiafticks from the higheft to
the loweft •, for they being not ignorant of the Courts Intention
in this matter, every one ftrove to ibewmoft Zeal, and Averfion
to the Reformed Religon, becaufe every one found his Intreft
lay therein •■, this being the only way to raifeand eftabhfli his For-
tune. In this defign of animating the People i there paft few days
wherein the Streets did not ring, as well with the publication of
Decrees, Edidls, and Declarations againfttheProteltants, as alfo
with Satyrical and Seditious Libels ^of which the People in the
Towns o{ France are very greedy.

But thefe things ferved only for the meaner fort or-pronle, and
the Perfecutors had this Mortification to fee this Ddigii difappro-
vedby all thofewho were a degree above the Mobile. Where-
fore they imployed the Pens of feme of their Authors, who had
acquired any Reputation in the World ^ and amongft' others, that
of the Author of the Hiftory of Theodofim the Great, and that
of Mr. Maimhurg^ heretofore a Jcfuite. Hepubliflied his Hifto-
ry of Calvin:////-,' of which he has fmce had the leifuce to repent,
by the fmartand pertinent Anfwers which have been given him ;
Their Example has been followed by feverai oihers; 2nd Mow
fienr Arnnnd^ who will always make one in thefe mattets, would
not deny himfelf the fatisfadion of venting his Cholerj and at
the fame time endeavour, to recover the Favour he has loft ac
Court. But although his Apology for the Catholicks was a Work
as full of Fire and PaiTion as the 5^^of Jiherafelves could Wi/h, yet
\was not agreeable,becfiufe his pe"rfon was notjhe was fo ill gratifi-
ed

edfor itjthat he complained thereof to the Archbifhopof !^^/;;i^
in a Letter, the Copies whereof were difperfed over all Tark*
Amongft other things, he exaggerated his Misfortune, and com-
pared himfeif with another, who for much lefs Services, received
twenty thoufand Livers as a Reward from the King. This
more and more (lie wed the Charader of the Perfon. However,
they needed not him, not wanting violent Writers, amongffc
whom we mult not forget one Mr. Soulier^ formerly (as they fay)
a Taylor t and at prcTent, Author of the Hillory of the EdtBs of
Pacification ^ nor Mr. Nicole, once a great Ja^^fe/iifl, and now a
Profelyteof the Archbifhop's of /"^m. Author of the Book en-
tituled, Protesfafits Convinced ofSckifm : nor the Author of the
Jonrnal dcs Scavants, who, in his ordinary Gazets, highly affirms^
That the CathoUck Fanh mult be planted by Fire and Sword ;al-
ledging for the proof thereof, a King of Norway, who converted
the Nobles of his Countrey, by threatning them, To flay their
Children before their Eyes^ iftheyvjonld not confent to have them
Saptiz^ed, and he Baptised thef?}felves. For a long time we have
feen in Paris^ and elfewhere, nothing but fuch fort of Writings ;
to fuch a hcig' -t was PafTion come.

WhiPlt all thefe thing; wiiic'i we have here oblerved, were
done in France^ they by great fteps advanced to their end. 'Tis
not to be imagined, the Reformed negleded their common In-
trells,or did not all that refpecfted a juftand lawful Defence. They
frequently fent from the furtheft Provinces, their Deputies to the
Courts they maintained their Rights before the Council ; thi-
ther they brought their Complaints from all parts. They em-
ployed their Deputy-General to foUicIte their Intrefts, as well
withthe Judges and Minifters of S:ate, aswith the King himfelt*.
Sometimes alfo, they pref^nted general Addrcfles, in whicl^ they
expofed their Grievances, with all the Humility and Defe-
rence that Subjeds owe their Soveraigns. But they, were fofar
from being heard, that their Troubles were (till increared,"aricl
their fecond Condition became worfe than the firlt. The laft
Petition, prefented to the Kinghimfelf by the Deputy General^
ia March 1684, was expreft in Terms moft fubniinive, and molt
capable of moving Pity, as every one may judge, having been
fmce Printed ; andyet it produced no other Fruit, but tlie halt-
ningofwhat they had long refolved i namely, to ufe open force
to accomplifh our Ruine.

This was effectually done fome Months after, and executed in

C 2 a manner

a niaiiaei la te-iiible and violent, that, as we faid in the beginning,
there arc few ia Europe., how diflant foever from the notice of
the common Accidents of the World, who have not heard the
Report of it; but 'tis certain, the Circumftances aie not known
to all •, and therefore we fhall give an account of them in few
Words, if it be but to ftop the mouth of their Impudence, who
publiihM abroad. That no Violences have been offered in France ^
and, the Converfions there made, were with free Confent. At
firfl;, they took this meafure, to (Quarter Souldiers in all ihe Pro-
vinces, almoft at the fame time, and chiefly Dragoons, which are
the moll; Refoluce Troops of the Kingdom. Terror and Dread
marched before them, and as it were by confent, all France was
filled with this News, That the King would not longer fuffer any
Hiigonots in his Kingdom ; and, that they muil rcfolve to change
their Religion, nothing being able to keep them from ir.

They b.^gan with Bearn^\N\\ti<i the Dragoons did their firft Ex-
ecutionsjthefe were followed foon after in Fiigh and Lqvq Guicnne^
Xantoi'7nc^Aiimx^PoitH;)High Langiiedoc^ nvarets^2ind Daiiphine j
af.ervviiich, they came to Liomis, Cevennes^ Low Langnedocy
Vrovencc^ Falees^ and the Country of Geix ; afterwards they fell
on the re 11 of the Kmgdomy Normandy^ Bonraoigne^ Nivernoix^
and Berry ; the Countries of Orleans^ Tonrain^ AnjoHy Bntany^
Champagne^ Picardy^ and the Ifle of France^ not excluding I?aris
it felf, which underwent the fame Fate : The firlt thing^the In-
tendants were ordered to do, was, to Summon the Gifics and
Commonalties. They alTemblcd the Inhabitants thereof, who
profefi; the Reformed Religion, and there told them, 'Twas the
King's pleafure they fhould, without delay, become CathoUcks ;
and if they would not do it freely, they would make them do ic
by force. The poor People, furprifed with fuch a Propofal, an-
fwered, They were ready to Sacrifice their Eftates and Lives to
the King, but their Confeiences being God's, they could not ia
that manner difpofe of them.

There needed no more to make them immediately bring the
Dragoons, which were not far off. The Troops immediately
feized on the Gates and Avenues of the Cities •, they placed
Guards in all the Paflages, and often came with their Swords in
their hands, crying, Kill, Kill, or elfe be CatboUcks : They were
quartered on the Reformilts at Difcretion, with a ftrid Charge,
that none Ihould depart out of their Houfes, nor conceal any of
their Goods or Effe(^s, on great Penalties, even, on the Catho-

C 19 )

inks, that fhould receive or affifl them in any manner. The firfb
nn^Voif-"" ?'"^ '? ^^"^7^^"g^-»P^ovif]ons thc Hoiife afforded,
and taking from them whatever they could fee. Money, Rin^s
Jewels and in general, vvhatfoever was of vaJue. After this'
ncy pillaged the Family, and invited, not only the CathoUcis of

lornfelnr^l ?u^^^' i'^' Neighbouring Cities and Towns,
to come and buy the Goods, and other things which would yield

Sdnd^'^^H '^ '''' 'f!\'\'^^^- P-ibn.,\nn^e^to
VVicKednef. or Horrour which they did not puc in pradlice, to

crvs'?nd^^h ^^rrK^;'.^'^-^S^°" A^^i^^ a^houLdhid ou'
crys and a thoufand blafphemies, they hung Men and Women by

the hair or feet on the Roofs of the Chamber, or Chimney-hooks

andfmoak'c them with Whifps of wet Ha^ tUI tTy wS

onger able to bear It J and when they had taken them down, if

They threw them into great Fires kindled on purpofe .and mlled
tliem^npt out till they were half Roafled. TC/tyed Ropes un-

fent to h,C,thol.cks. They ftript them nakedVand after haWn^
offered them a 1000 infamous Indignities, the^ ftuck the™ 'vkh

anc lometimes vyith red hot Pincers took them bv the Nofe onH

cS!i^o": ^rthet!^:Tf\"^''^^ p^°'*^ -^-™

^, . ^.' . ' '^"2t tlie Cries of thefe poor Wrerrhe<; ^^a^ ,'n
this condition calPd on God fnr i^ic A^a 'i .^^

them to let them froT? i. ? ^'^^ Affiftance, conflrained

fleeninfT fpvpn r^r «• ul^ j' -^Djuration. They held them from

hem ?fi„tr° d D S ^^d=ys, relieving one another, to watch

p„,i V^ r '-^^y' ^"" i^^^P them wakin>» Thev rhrfn,

w y hoIdinTTver".^'^^^4' ="^ '°™""^^<J tJemV^^:
wher'enn hi L ^ *^"^- "«=^'^ '^«"!« Wrr.ed downwards

had^:S oSrSenc«""y;'r^''°'?' ^''"h^'"^F°- CreamS
or Wompn ,ho,t " f ■• " ''^^y f°""'' 2»y Sick, either Men
qA« D^eafe, rtP'i''!!'?''^''''''^''"P"^d with Fe^v.rs, or
Qtiier Difeafes, they had the Cruelty to bring twelve Drums

founding

( ^o)

founding an Alarm about their Beds for whole Weeks together
without Intermifllon, till they had promisM they would change.
\i happened in fome places, that they tyed Fathers and Husbands
to the Bcd-PcHs, and before their Eyes, forced their Wives and
DJughtciS. Jn another place. Rapes were publickly and general-
ly peiuiitted for many hours together. They pluckt ofFthe Nails
frcm t'px Hands and Toes of others ; which could not be indured
vvichcuL iucolleiable Pain. They burnt the- Feet of others. They
blew up Men and Women with Bellows, even till they were
ready to bur ft.

if after thefc horrid Ufages, there were yet any that refufed to
turn, they Inipiifcncd them i and for this, chofe Dungeons dark
and noyfom, in which ihey e.xerciledon them all forts of Inhu-
manity. In [be mean time they danolifned their Houfes, defola-
ted their Hereditary Lands, cut down their Woods, and fcized
their Wives and Children, to imprifon them in Monafteries.
Whentht Souldiers had devoured and confumcd all in a Houfe,
the Farmers of their Lands furniflft them with Subfiftance ; and
10 rc-imburfe them, they fold by Authority of Jrftice the Fonds
oftheirHofts, andputthemin poneffion thereof If fome, to
fecure their Confciences, and to efcape the Tyranny of thefe fu-
rious Men, endeavoured to fave themfelves by Flight, they were
purfued, and hunted in the Fields and Woods, and were fhot at
like Wild Beafts. The Provofts rode about the High-ways, and
the Magiftrates of places had Orders to ftop them without excep-
tion. They brought them back to the places from whence they
fled, ufing them likePrifonersof War. But we muft not fancy,
that this Storm fell only on the common fort ; Noblemen and
Gentlemen of the beft Quality were not exempted from it. They
had Souldiers quartered upon them in the fame manner, and with
the fame Fury as Citizens and Peafants had.They plundered their
Houfes, wafted their Goods, razed their Caftles, cut down their
Woods, and their very Perfonswere expofed to the Infolence
and Barbarity of the Dragoons, no Icfs than thofe of others.
They fpared neither Age, Sex, nor Qiiality ; wherever they found
any unwillingnefs to obey the Command of changing their Religi-
: on, they pradifed the fame Violences. There were ftill remaining
fome Officers of Parliament, which underwent the fame Fate,after
having been firft deprived of their Offices ; and even the Military
Officers, who were ad^nally in Service, were ordered to quit their
poft and Qiiarters, and repair immediately to their Houfes, there

to

( 21 )

to fuffer the like Storm, if to avoid it, they would not became
CathUnkj' Many Gentlemen, and other Perfons of Quality, and
many Ladies of a great Age and Antient Families, feeing all
thefe Outrages, hoped to find feme Retreat in Fans^ or at the
Co irt •, not imagining the Dragoons would come to feek them fo
ilea Dt he King'.-, pre fence ; hue this hope was no lefs vain than all
iherefl; for immediaLiy tb.ere was a Decree of Council, which
commanded them to leave Paris in fifteen days, and return with-
ou: delay to their own Houfes \ with a Prohibition to all Perfons
to en:ertain or lodge them in their Houfes. Some having attemp-
ted to prefent Addrelles to the King, containinz Complaints of
ihefe cruel Ufages, humbly befeeching his Majcfty to (lop the
Courfe thereof, received no other Anfwer than that of fending
tx\Qm.loi\\Q Baft He.

Before we proceed any further, 'twill net beamifs to make
fome Remarks : The firit (hall be, that almoft every where, at
the Head of thefe Infernal Legions, befides the Commanders and
Miliiary Officers, the Intendantsalfo, and the Bilhops, marched
every one in his Diocefs, with a Troop of Midionaries, Monks,
and other Ecclefiafticks. The Intendants gave fnch Orders as they
thought molt fitting to carry on Convei fions, and red rain natural
Pity and CompaiTion, if at any time it found a place in the hearts
of Dragoons or their Commanders, which did not often happen.
And as for the Biihops, they were there to keep open Houfe, to
lec^-ive Abjurations, and to have a general and fevere Infpedion,
that every thin^!, might pafs there according to the Intentions of
the Clergy. The iccond thing obfervable, is. That when the
Dragoons had made fome yield, by all theHorrours which they
prr-cftifed, they immediately changed their Quarters, and fenc
them to thof^ who ftill perfevered. This Order was obferved in
this manner even to the end •, infomuch that the lad, that is to fay,
thofe who had (hewed the greateit Conftancy, had in fine, quarte-
red on them alone all the Dragoons, which at tlic beginiiing, were
equally difpers'd amongft all the Inhabitants of the place .v which
was a Load impodibh to be fullained.

A third Remark which we (hall make, is, That in almofl: all.
the confiderable Cities, they took care, before they Cent Troops
thither, to gain by means of the Intendants, or fome other private
way, a certain number of People, not only to change their Religir
on themfelves, when.it (hould be feafonable ; bi.t a-lfo, to slliiV
them in perverting others. So that when the Dragoons had fuO]-
ciently done their part, the Intendant, with the.Bifliop, andth?

(, 22 ;

Commr^nder of the Forces, again aflembled thefe mirerable In-
habicaiKS, already ruined, to exhort them to obey the King, and
become CathoUckj -, adding thereto moft terrible Threats, that
they might over-awe thera, and then the new Converts failed not
to execute what t'ley had promifed •, which they did with the
more fiicccfs, becaufe ihe People did yet put fome kind of Con-
fidence in than.

A fourth Obfervation is. That when the Mafter of the Houfe,
thinking to get rid of the Dragoons, had obeyed and figned what
they wculd, he was not freed from r.hem for all this j if his
Wife, Children, and the meaneft of his Domefticks did not do
the frme thing i^nd when his Wife, or any of his Children, or
Family fled, tricyceafed not to tormenc them, till he had made
them return: which often times bemg impoITible, the change of
their Religion did not at all avail them.

The Fifth is. That when thefe poor Wretches fancied their
Confciences would b: at reft, by Signing fome Form of an Equivo-
cal Abjuration offered them ; a liitle while after, thefe cruel men
came to them again, and made them Sign another, which plunged
them into fuch depths, as call them into the utmoft defpair. Nay
further, they had the boldnefs to make them acknowledge. That
they imbraced the Roman Religion of their own accord ^ with-
out having been induced thereunto by any violent means. If after
this, they fcrupled to go to Mafs, if they did not Communicate,
It they did not tell their Beads •, if by a Sigh efcapsd from them,
they iignified any unwillingnefs, they had immediately a Fine laid
upon them, and they were forced to receive again their old
Guefts. .

In fine, for a fixth Remark ; As faft as the Troops ravaged m
this manner the Provinces, fpreading terrour and defolation in all
parts:, Orders were fent to all the Frontier Countries, and Sea-
port Towns, to guard well the Paflages, and {top all fuch who
pretended to efcape from France, So that there was no hope of
thefe poor Wretches fxving themfelves by Flight. None^ were
permitted to pafs, if he brought not along with him a Certificate
from his Bifhop -or Curate, that he was a Catholick. Others
v/ere put in Prifon, and ufed like Traytors againit their Country.
All ftrange Veflels lying in the Ports were fearched \ the Coalts,
Bridges, PafTages to Rivers, and the High-ways were ftridtly
guarded both Night and Day. The Neighbouring States were
alfo required not to harbour any more Fiigilives, and to fend back

again

^ 23 ;

sgain fuch as they had already received. Attempts were alfo
made to fcize on, and carry away fome, who had cTcaped into
Fcrreign Countries.

WhiPft all this was a^ingin the Kingdom, the Court were con-
fultingtogive the laft ftroak ; which confided in repealing the
EditftofA''4«ffj; muchtime wasipent in drawing up the matter
and form of this new Edid. Some would have the King detain
alltheMinifters, and force them as they did the Laity, to change
their Religion, or condemn them to perpetual Imprifonment.
They alledged for their reafon, that if they did not do it, they
would be as fo many dangerous Enemies againft them in Forrcign
Niitions. Others, on the contrary, a tfirm'd, that as long as the
Minifters continued in France^ this their prefence would encou-
rage the People to abide in their Religion, whatfoever care might
b: taken to hinder them ; and that fuppofing they fhould change,
they would be but as fo many fecret Adverfaries nourifhed in the
bofom of the Church o^ Rome •, and the more dangerous on the
account of their knowledge and experience in Controverfial Mat-
ters. This laft reafoning prevailed ; 'twas then refolved on, to
ban iih the Minifters, and to give them no more than fifteen days
time to depart the Kingdom. As to what remained, the Edift-
was given to the Procurer-General of the Parliament oi Paris^
to draw it up in fuch form as he fhould Judge moft fitting. Bnt
before the publifhing of it, two things were thought necefTary tot ;j;,,,i<^>*V
be done \ The Firft, to oblige the Afiembly of the Clergy, fepe-'^ ' - "
ratelyto prefenttothe King a Requeft concerning the Matter
above mentioned ; in which alfo they told his Majefty, that they
defired not at prefent the repealing the Edid of Names ; and the
other, to fupprefs in general all kind of Books made by them of
the Reformed Religion, and to ilTue out an Order for that pur-
pofe. By the firft of thefe things, the Clergy thought to fhelter
themfelves from the Reproaches which might be caft on them, as
the Authors of fo many Miferies, Injuftices,and Oppreflions which
this Repeal would ftill occafion : And by the other, they pretend-
ed to make the Converlions much more eafie ( as they ftyled"
them ) and confirm thofe which had been already made, by taking
from the People all Books which might inftrud, fortifie> and
briiig them back again.

^ Inline, this Revocative EdUdo^'Tslarttes was Signed andPub-
lifhed on rW/^^^, being the 8f^. of O^ober, in the year 1685,.
'Tis faid^ the Chancellor of France fhewed an extream joy in

D - Sealiii^

Sealing it •, but it laacd not long, this being ihe lait thing he did ;
for as iboii as b.e came home from Fount ainhleau^ he fell fick,
and died within.a few days. 'Tis certain, that this Man's Policy,
rather than his natural Inclination, induced him in his latteryears
t0 become one of our Perfecutors.

The Edid WIS Regiftred in tlie Parliament of Paris^ and im-
mediately after in the others. It contains a Preface and Twelve
Articks, In the Preface, the King fnews that Henry the Great's
Grandfather did not give the Edidt, and Lewis his Father did not
confirm it by his other Edid of xV/Z/wfj, but in the defign of en-
deavouring more effedually the re-union of their Subjeds of
the pretended Reformed Religion, to the C^^fc(?//c^Church ; and
that this was alfo the defign which he had himfelf at his firll
coming to the Crown. Tnat'tis true, he had been hindred by the
Wars, which he w?s forced to" carry on againft the Enemies of
his S.ate ; but that ac prefent bjing at Peace with all the Princes
ci Europe J he wholly gave hiaifeif to the making of this re-union.
That God having given him the Grace of accomplilhing it, and
feeing tlie greatelt and belt part of his Subjects of the faid Religi-
on had imbraced the CathoUcl^ one, thcfe Edidts of Nams and
Nifmes confequently became void and ufelefs. By the firll Arti-
cle he Supprelfes and Repeals them, in all their extent •, and or-
dains that all the Temples which are found yet {landing in his
Kingdom, (hall be immediately demoliflied. By the Second, he
forbids all forts of Religious Aifemblies, of what kind foever.
The Third, prohibits the Exercifes of Religion to all Lords and
GentlemenofanyQjiality, under Corporal Penalties and Confif-
cation of their Eftates. The Fourth, baniflies from his Kingdom
all the Minifters, and injoyns them to depart thence within Fif-
teen days after the Publication of this EdiA, under the Penalty of
being fent to the Gallies. In the Fifth and Sixth, he promifes Re-
compencesand Advantages to the Minifters and their Widdows,
who fhould change their Religion. In the Seventh and Eighth,
he forbids the Inllrucling of Children in the pretended Reformed
Religion, and ordains, that thofe who fhall be born henceforward,
fhall be baptized, and brought up in the CathoUck^ Religion, en-
joyning Parents to fend them to the Churches, under the Penalty
of being Fined 500 Livers. The Ninth, gives four Months time
to fuch Perfons as have departed already out of the Kingdom, to
return ; otherwife, their Goods and Eftates to be confifcated.
The Tenth, with repeated Prohibitions, forbids all his Subje(fts

of

C ^5 )
of the r?.id Religion to depart out of his Reahn, thcy,their Wives
and Children, or to convey away their Effeds, under pain of the
Gallies forthe Men, and of Confircation of Body and Goods for
the Women. The Elv^venth, confirms the Declarations heretofore
made againft thofe that Relapfe. The Twelfth declares, that as
to the reft ofhisSubjeds of the faid Religion, they may, till God
enlightens them, remain in the Cities of his Kingdom, Countries,
and Lands of his obcdience,there to continue their commerce and
enjoy their Eftates without trouble or moleftation, upon pretence
of the fbid Rfligiorj^ on condition,that they have no Jjfen.blies un-
der pretext of I^rayinr^oi: exercijlfig any religion Worjlnp whatever.
In order to put this Edid in Execution, the very fame day that
it was Regiftred and Publiflied at Paris^ they began to demolifh
the Church of C/^<?re;7ro«. The eldeflMinifter thereof was com-
manded to leave P^r/V within tweniy four hours, and immediate-
ly to depart the Kingdom. For this end, they put him into the
Hands of one of the King's Footmen, with orders, not to leave
him till he was out of his Dominions. Flis Collegues were liitle
better treated ; they gave them forty eiaht hours to quit Parisy
and then left them upon their Parole. The reft of the Minifters
were allowed fifteen days j but it can hardly be believed to what
Vexations and Cruelties they were all expofed- Firft of all, they
neither permitted them to difpofe of their Eftates nor to carry a-
way any of their Moveables or EfFecls •, nay, they difputed them
their Books and private Papers, on pretence,that they muft juftifie
their Books and Papers did not belong to the Confiftories wherein
they fervM'jWhich was a thing impofliblCjUnce there were no Con-
fiftoriesthat then remained. Bclide, they would not give them
I'tSVv Co take along with them either Father or Mother, Brother or.
Sifter, or any of their Kindred, though there were many of them
Xjinriii. Dec-yM 9.r.^ii Poor, which could net fubfift but by their
means % they went fo far, as even to deny them their own Chil-
dren, if they were above Seven Years Old i nay, fome they took
from them,that were under that Age, and even fuch as yec hang'd
upcn their Mothers Breafts. They refufedthem jVurfes for thur
new born Infants, which the Mothers could not give Suck. In
fome Frontier Places they ftoppcd and Imprifoned them, upon
divers ridiculous pretences; they muft immediately prove, that
they were really the fame Pe fons which their Certificates men-
tioned •, they were to know immediately, whether there were no.
Criminal Procefs or Informations againft them-, they muft pre-

D 2 fently

(26)

fcntly juftifie, tbat they carryed away nothing that belonged to
their Flocks •, fomJtimes after they had thus detained and amufed
them, they were told, that the Fifteen day es of the Edidtwere
expired, and that they (hould not have Liberty to retire, but mult
go to the Gallies. There is no kind of Deceit and Injullice which
they did not think of to involve them in Troubles.

As to the reft, whom the Force of Perfecution and hard Ufage
conftrained to leave their Houfes and Eftates, and to fly the King-
dom, it is not to be imagined what dangers they cxpofed them to.
Never were Orders more fevere or rnore ftrid, thenthofc that
were given again ft them. They doubled the Guardes in Pofts, Ci-
ties, High waycs, and Foards, they covered the Country with
Souldii es, they Armed even the Peafants to ftop thofe that pafTed,
or to kill them •• They forbad all the Officers of the Cuftoms to
fufferany Goods, Moveables, Merchandize, or other Effects, to
pafs. In a Word, they forgot nothing that could hinder the flight
of the prefecuted, even to the interrupting almoft all Commerce
with Neighbouring Naiions. By this means they quickly filled
all the Prifons in the Kingrom-, for the fear of the Dragoons,
the Horror of feeing their Confciencs forced, and their Chil-
dren taken away, and of living for the future in a Land where
there was neither Juftice nor Humanity for them, obliged every
one to think of an efcape, and to abandon all to fave their Per-
fons. All thefe poor Priibners have been fince treated with un-
herd of Rigours, fhut up in Dungeons, loaded with heavy Chains
almoft ftarved with Hunger, and deprived of all Converfe, but
that of their Perfecutors. They put many intoMonafteries, where
they experience none of the leaft Cruelties •• Some there arefo
happy as to dye in the mideft of their Torments, others have at
laftfiink under the Weight of the Temptation, and feme by the
extraordinary Affiftance of Gods Grace, do ftill fuftain it with an
Heroick Courage.

Thefe have been the Confequences of this new Edid: in this
refped ; but who would not have belived that the Twelfth Ar-
ticle would have fhekrcd the reft of the Reformed; that had a
mind ftill to ftay in the Kingdom,fince this Article exprefly afTures
them, that they may live there, continue their Trade, and injoy
their Eftates, without being troubled or molefted upon pretence
of their Religion. Yet fee what they have fince done, and yet do
to thde poor Wretches. They have not recall'd the Dragoons
and other Soldires which they difpatched into the Provinces be-
fore

fore the Edi(fl^. On the contrary, they to this day commit wk!.
greater fury the fame Inhumanities, which we have before repre-
fented : befides this, they have marched them into Provinces,
where there were none before, as Normandy^ Picardy^le Berry ^
Champaign ^ Nivernoif^ Orleans ^ Belejfoisj and the Ifle of France.
They do the fame Violence there, exert the fame Fury they do in
other PiOvinces. Paris it felf, where mechinks, this Article of
the Edid (houid have been heft obferved, becaufe fo near the
King's prefence, and more immediately under the Government of
the Court ^ Paris., I fay, was no more fpared than the reft of the
Kingdom. The very day that the Ediifl was publifhed, without
more delay, the Procurer-General, and feme other Magiftrates,
began to fend for Heads of Familif!s to come to their Houfes.
There they declared to them, that 'twas abfolutely the King's
Will that theyfhould change their Religion, that they were no
better than the reft of his Subjeds, and that if they would not
doit willingly, the King would make ufe of means, which he had
ready, to compel them. At the fame time ihey banifh'd by Let-
ters under the Privy-Seal, all the Elders of the Confiftory, toge-
ther with fome others, in whom they found more of Conftancy
and Refolution i and, to difperfe them, chofe fuch places as were
moft remote from Commerfe ; where they have fince ufed them
with a great deal of Cruelty •, fome complyed, others are yet un-
der Sufferings.

The diligence of the Procurer-General and Magiftrates, not
fucceeding fo fully as they wifh'd, though Threats and Menaces
were not wanring j MoHnpenr Seignelay., Secretary of State, would
alfo try what influence he could have witliln his Divifion at Paris.
For this end, he got together about five, or fix fcore Merchants,
and others, into his Houfe -, and after having fhut the doors, forth-
with prefented them with the form of an Abjuration, and com-
manded them in the King's Name to Sign it ; declaring, that they
ftionldnotftir out of Doors till they had obeyed. "The Con-
tents of this Form were, not only that they did renounce the He-
refy of C4/t;m, and enter into the CathoHck Church, but alfo,
that they did this voluntarily, and without being forced or com-
pelled to it. This was done in an Imperious manner, and with
an Air of Authority •, yet there were fome chat dared to fpeak,
but they were fharply anfwered. That they were not to difpute ir,
bot to obey : So that they all Sign'd before they went our.

To thefe Methods they added others more terrible, as Prif^ns,

a^ual

C.28 )

aclual fuzing of their Effeds, and Papers ; the taking awaycf
their Children, the reparation of Husbands and Wives, ,and .in
line, the great Method, that is to fsy. Dragoons and Gnards.
' Thcfe ^at moft firmly ftcod out, they fent to the 5*/?./^, aiid to
the For? P Eveque ; they confined them to their own or others
Houfes, where they lay concealed for fear of Difcovcry ^ they
plundred thofe of many others, not fparing their perfons, juftas
they had done in other places.

Thus the nth. Article of the £^'»^/-, which promifed fome re-
laxation, and a fhadow of Liberty, was nothing but an egregi-
ous deceit to amufe the credulous, and keep them from ihinking
to make their efcspe, a fnare to catch them with the more eafe.
The Fury ftill kept its ufual courfe, and was heated to fiich a de-
gree, that not content with the Defolations in the Kingdom, it
encred even in:o Orange^ a Soveraign Principality, where iheKing
of Right has no Power, and taking Miniflers away from thence
by foKC, rtmovM them into Prifons. Thither the Dragoons
were lent, who committed all kind of mifchief 5 and by force
conftrained the Inhabitants thereof , both Men, Women and
Children, and the very Officers of the Prince to change their
Religion. And this is the ftate of things in the Year, 1685. and
this is the accomplifhment of the dealing which the Clergy has
ihew'd us three years fince, towards the end of their Paftcral
Letter ; Ton mufi ex^eU inifchiefs mort dreadful and intollerable^^then
all thofe^ ■which hitherto your Revolts andSchifms have drawn down
■ ufonyou. And truly they have not bin worle than their words.
_-^i-^« ^^^ -rnme in the Kinedom-Who ftill ccn.inue {irm,and
tlieir Pt.,r..-Jtions are ftill continuM to tnerfu T.-.crc ere lavented
every day new torments, againft thofe whom foicc has made to-
change their Religion, becaufe they are ftill obferved to figh, and
groane under their hard fervitude \ their hearts detefting what
their mouths have profcft, and their hands figned . As to fuch that
have efcaped into Forreign Countries, who are at leaft 150000
Perfons, their Eftates are Confifcated \ this being all the hurt
which can be done to them at prefent ; I fay, at prefent ■, for 'tis
not to be queftioned, but our Perfecutors are contriving to ex-
tend their Cruelties farther. But we muft hope in the Compani-
ons of God-, that whatfoever Intentions they may have in deftfoy-
ing the Proteftant Religion in all places, he will not permit them
to efiea their defigns. The World will furely open lis Eyes, and
this which they now Come from doing with a high hand, and a

worfe.

( 29 )

pvorfe than barbarous Fury, will fhew, not only the Teoteflantt^
but the wife nnd circumfpedl: Cathollckj^ what they are to exped,
both one and the other, from fuch a fort of People. ^^

Ineiedt, he that Ihall give himfelf the leifure to rcflijfon the
matters of Fa(ft which we come now from relating, which are
things certain, and adcd in the face of the Sun, he flrall fee, not
only the Prof f/?^»f J fuppreft, but the King's Honour fullied, his
Countries damnitied, all the Princes of Europe interefled, and
even the Pope himfelf, with his Church and Clergy, (hamefully
difcredited.

For to begin with the King himfelf : What could be more con-
trary to his Dignity, than to put him upon breaking his Word,
and perfwading him,that he miglit with a fafe Confcience,violate,
rcvokeand annul fo Solemn an Edidt as that of Names.

To palliate in fome fort the violence of this proceeding, they
make him fay in this new Edi<fl, That the befi andgreateft part of
the RefornPd Religion^ hoA imhracedthe Catholicks^ and therefore the
Execution of the EdiEh of Nantes, and rvhatfoever elfe has been done
in favour of the fame Reli'Tion^ rcm.tins void. But is not thi» an
Elufion unworthy of his Majifty ; feeing, that if the belt and
greateft partof hisSubjeds of the Reformed Religion have im-
hracedthe Catholick^^ they have done it by force of Arms? and
by the cruel and furious Oppreffion which his own Troops have
laid upon them.

Perhaps, one might thus fpeak ;FIad his Si]bje(fts changed their
Religion of their own free will, although that in this cafe too,
the Priviledges of the Edid continue for thofe that remain. But
after having forced them to change, by the horrible Inniiiiianities
of his Dragoons-, after having deprived them of the Liberty
which the Edi(ft gave them ; to fay coldly, that he only revokes
the Edi(ft,becaufe it is now ufdefs,is a Raillery unbelting fo great
a Prince 5 for 'tis as much as if he faid, that he was indeed obliged
to continue to his ProteiUnt Subjeds all the Priviledges due to
them ; btit having himfelf overthrown them by a major force, he
finds himfelf at prefent lawfully and fairly dif-ingaged from this
Obligation : Which is juft as if a Father, who himfelf had isut his
Childrens Throats, ihould glory in the being henceforward freed
from the care of nourifhing and protedting them. * Are other
Kings wont thus to exprefs themfelves in their EdiSlrs ?
m What they make him moreover fay, to wit, That Henry the

■ Great J his Grandfather^ ^avc only the Edi^ of Nantes to the Pr»'

■ - ' tefiants^

I

( 30)

tefiafitSy th.^t he mi^ht better ejfeCt their Rt-nnhn to the Roman
CloHrclo \ Tnat Lewis the i^th. alfo, bis Father, had the fame de-
fign,wheD he gave the Edift oiNtfmes ; and that he himfel f had eii-
tredthe&n at his coming to the Crown, is but a pittiful Saho,
But fuppofe ( feeing they are willing we Ihouid do lb ) the truih
of this difcourfe ; and take we it fimply, and according to the
Letter, in the fence wherein they give it us, what can we conclude
thence, but thcfe following Propofitions : That Hemy the
G^^2.U 2Xi& Lewis the ivh. gave only the Edids to our Fathers
to deceive them, and with an intent to ruine them afcerwards
wiLh the greater eafe, under the Mask of this Fraud. That not
being able to do this, being hindred by other affairs, they have
committed this important Secret to his prefent Majefty,to the end
he fhould execu:e ic when he met with an opportunity. That his
prefent Majefty cntring into the thought of this at his firft coming
to ihe Crown, he only confirm'd the Edids and Declarations of
i64'5,and i652,with other advantagious decrees to the Reformed
Religion, but to impofe on them the more finely ( lay fnares ia
their way) or if you pleafe, crown th«m, as they crown'd, of
old, the Sacrifices : That all that has been done againft them,fince
theVeaceofthePiVfw<?J5 till this time, according to the Abridg-
ment which we have made of it, has been only the execution ota
projedt, but of a projed far more antient than we imagine, feeing
we mult date it from the Edidl of Nantes, and afcend up to
Henry the Great : Inline, That what has been till now, has been
a great Myftery, but is not one at prefent ; feeiug the King by
this new Edid, difcovers it to all the World, that he may be ap-
plauded for it. ' , , ^ . ^

Will it not be acknowledged, that the Enemies ot franceyvtho
are willing to difcredit the Condud of its Kings, and render them
odious to the World, have now a happy opportunity. Henry the
Great gives his Edid to the Frotefiants with the greateft folemni-
ty imaginable^ he gives it tothemasaRecompenccoftheir Ser-
vices i he promifes folemnly to obferve it j and, as if this was not
enough, he binds himfelf thereunto with an Oath ^ he executes it
to the utmoft of his power, and they peaceably eDJoyed it to the
end of his Reign : Yet all this is but a rneer Snare, for they are to
beDragoorxM at a proper time : But being himfelf furprized by
Death, he could not do it, but leaves it in charge to Lawis the
i^th. his Son. Lewis the Thirteenth alcends the Throne, ifTues
cut his Declaration immediately, that he acknowledges the Edid

of

bf Nantes as perpetual and irrevocable, it needing not a new Con-
firmation, and that he would Religioufly obferve every Article
of it, and therefore fends Commifrioners to fee it adlually execu-
ted. When he begins a War, he protells he defigns ijrot at Re-
ligion, andinefFiA he permits the full Liberty of it, in'thofe very
Towns he takes by Aflault : He gives his Edicl of Ntpnes^ as
the Edici of a Triumphant Prince, yet declares therein he under-
ftands that of Nantes fhould be inviolably kept, and ihows himfelf
to the laftasgood as his word. But this is only intended to lull the
Proteftants aileep, in expectation of a favourable occafion to de-
ftroythem. Z-fip/if. the Fourteenth, at his comming to the Crown
confirms the Edi&^^ and declares, That he will maintain the Re- *
foFmed in all their Priviledges ; he afterwards affirms in another
Declaration, how highly he is fatisfied in their Services^ and
mentions his defign cf making them to enjoy their Rights. But
this is but a meer amufewent, and an artifice to intrap them, the
better to colour over the proje(ft of ruining them at a convenient
time. What a Charader now of the Kings of France will this
afford, to its Enemies, and foreign Nations ; and what confi-
dence do they think, will be henceforward put in their promifes
and Treaties ^ for if they deal thus with their own Subjedls, if
they carefs them only to mine them, what may Strangers expe(fb
from'em. Confider we a while what they make the King fay,
Tnat at his firft coming to the Crown, he was in the defign v/hich
he now comes from executing. They would fay without doubt,
from the time he adlually took in hand the Reins of Government ;
for he was too young before, to enter perfonally on any defign
of :his nature : he entered thereon; then prefcifely at the time,
when the Civil Wars were ended. But what does this mean, but
that he undertook this defign, at the very time when theProteft-
ants came from rendring him the molt important Service Sub-
jedlj were ever capable of. Tney came from rendring him the'
hig'-eit teftimonies of Loyalty,when the gresteft part of his other
Subjcds had t-'kn up Arms againfl: him. Tney had vigoroully
oppofed his Enemies progrefs; rejeded the moft advantagious
offers, kept Tti)7vn for him, yea whole Provinces^ received
his Servjnts and Officers into their Bofoms, when ihey could
not find fafety elfewhere ; facrificed their Eftates to him, their'
Lives, their Formnes, and in a word, done all with fuch a
Zeal, as becomes faithful Subjects in fo dangerous a conjund^are-.
And this is the time when the King enters on the defign of de--

E • ftroyin^

^ 32. ;

{Iroyingand exiirpating them. This fo confirms the Truth of
what we Taid in the beginning, that it puts it> out of all queftion
that the projed of their deftrudion was grounded on the Services
they had |;cndred the King. Do Cbriftian Ethics allow thefe mofb
iinchridiait Policies? Is iu not a flrange thing, that we mull be
taught this important Secrec,and all Eiirop befides ? For although
ihe Vroteflants have done nothing in this occafionbut their Duty,
it could never be imagined their Duty fhould be made their
Ci'imej and their Ruine ihould fpiing from whence iliould come
their Safety. God has brought Light out of Darknefs ; but the
unchritian Politicks of France^ on the contrary, have brought

^Darknefs out of Light. However, they cannot deny, but that in
this new Edid, the King is made to-fay, He has emred c7i the dejtan
to defiroy the Proteltant Party, in the very time wherein they have
f,gnnliz?danddifiifiyitijlj^dthemfelves with or eat Succefs, for the In-

■ trefi of the Crown, Which will furniih, perhaps, matter enough to
thinking Men for Reflexion, as well within, as without the King-
dom \ and will fhew them what life is made of ServiceSjand what
Reconipence is to be expeded for them.

But wefhallfay no more of the ExpreiTionsofthenewEdid,
but rather confider the Ma ter of it. Was ever a worfe and har-
der ufage, than that which we have fuffered for the fpace of twen-
ty years, which have been imployed in forming the late Tempeft
which has fallen upon us. It has been a continual Storm of De-
crees, Edids, Declarations, Orders, Condemnation of Churches,
Defolationof Temples, Civil and Criminal ProcefTes, Imprifon-
lUents, Banilhments, Penances, Pecuniary Mults, Privation of
Offices and Employs, depriving Paren:s of their Children,
and all thofe other Perfecutions which we have already briefly
fumm'd up. , We were told on one hand, that the King would
continue to us the Edidt of A'^^/f^J, and he delivered himlcif on
feveral Occafions to that efFedl : and on the other hand, we were
madetofufier inourEflates, our Reputations, our Perfons, our
Families, in our Religion, and our Confciences, and allby unjuft
and indired ways, by unheard of Inventions, by OpprefFions, and
publick Vexation, and fomerimes underhand dealings •, and all
this under the Veil of the King''^ Authority, and becaufe this was
his good pleafure. We know very well the Authority of Kings,
and the Refpedl and Submiffion with which we fhould receive
their Orders. And therefore have we, during all thefe unfuppor-
tai>Ie Ufages, a Faxience, and an Obedience fo Remarkable,

that

^ 33 ;
that it has been the Admiration of the CathoUcks thtmCdwcs^ our
Countryrticn. But, it muft be acknowledged, that tliofe who put
hisM^jcllyondiealingthus with us, or have iifed his Name and
Authority for this,could not do him otherwiie a greater difhonour
than they have done. For afer all, thofe King^ who would have
themfeives efteem for their Juftice and Equity, Govern not their
Subjedts after this manner. Tney are no: for putting all to an un-
certainty, filling all places wih Lamentation and Terrour. They
feck no: their Saiisfadtion in the Teirs and Groans of their inno-
cent people •, nor are they pleafed with keeping their Subjects in
a perpetU2l agitation; they love not to have their names mentioned
with terrour, nor meditate continual defigns of extirpating thofe,
who give conllant and unquellionable proofs of their loyalty;much
lefs,to invent ciu^l pro je^s^vihkh like Mines, in their time,niall de-
ftroy their own natural Subjetis ; for what clfe have been thefe flie
and equivocal Declarations^ Counter-Orders, and revocativf EdiUs.

There.are three things very remarkable, in this whole Affair ;
The firft is, that as long as they have been only in the way, the
true Authors of the Perfecution have not concealed themfeives,
but the King as much as they could : 'Tistrue, the Dxrecs,
Edids, and Declarations, and other things, w.nt under the
Name of his Majefly ; but at the requeft of the Agents, and
Fa(^prs for the Clergy : And whil'ft they were bufied in thefe Mat-
ters, the King declared openly his Intention of maintaining the
Edi6?randthat 'twas Abules which he defign'dto corred. . The
Second is, That when they came to the lafi: Extr|micies, and to
open Force, then they have concealed themfeives as much as they
could, fetfoith the King at his full length. There was nothing
heard but thefe kind of Difccurfes, The Kingwillhave h fo^ the
Kin^has taksnh inhand^ the Ktng proceeds further than ,the Clergy
defres. By thefe two means they have hsd the Addrefs. to be
only charg'd with thelefier parts of the Cruelties, and to lay the
mofliviolent and odious part at the King's door. The third thing
which we Ihould rem.ark, is, That the better to obtain their ends,
the/haveraade it their bufinefs to perfwade the King, thatthi^
Work would crown him with Glory •, which is a horrid abufe of
his Credulity, an abufe fo much the greater, by how much they
would not have themfeives thought the Authors of-this Council j
and when any particular perfon of them is ask'd this day, What
they thinkjofit^ there are few of them but condemn it.

Ineffedl, what more. falfe an Idea could they give to bis Maje-

E'2 Ify.

( 34 )

n;vofGoli-v,then to make it confift in fcurprifing apoor People,
difoera ove? all his Kingdom.and living fecurely under his Wing5
and ihe Remains of the Edi<ftofAr^K(«i and who could not ima-
gine there were any Intentions of depriving themof the Liberty
ofthcirConrciene5,of furprizing and overwhelming them in an
Inftant with a numerous Array, to whofe difcretion they are de-
livered'- and who tell them that they muft, either by fair means
or foul 'become Rom^n Catholicks, this being the Kings will and
nleafure .What a falfer Notion of Glory could they offer him.than
the putinE him in the place of God, making the Faith and Re-
ligion of Men to depend upon his Auchority and that hence for-
ward it muft be Gud inhis Kingdom, Idc^j l,el,veMa,fi Jam fer.
rLdedofit, hut I ieUew, hccmfc the KmsrfOHUkavemcd,,t ;
Vhich to fpe'ak properly, i's, that I believe nothing, and that rie
heaTM or a y^n', or whatever the King pleafes. What falfer
Idea of Glory, then to force from Mens Mouths by Vo.lence,
and a long Series of Torments ; a Profcffion, which the Heart ab-
hors and for which onefighs night and day, crying, contmualiy
f^r.'nd for Mercv. What Glory is there in inventing new ways
of?erfecn ion, unknown to former Ages, which ndeeddo not
hvineDeathaongivith them, but keep Men ahve to luffer, that
thevmv overcome their Patience and Conftancy by Cruelties,
whTcSTbove Humane Strength to undergo ? What Glory _.s
There in not contenting themfelves to force .thofe who remam in
his Kingdom, but to lorbid them to leave it, andkeepthemun-
^ir,Sk Servitude, viz.. both of Soul and Body ? What glory
fsthere n keeping his Prifons full of innocent Perfons, whoare
chaS with no other fault, thanferving Godaccord.ng to he
bpfhoftheirKnowledge,andfor this to be espofed to the Rage
nf the Draaoons or condemed to the Gallies,and Executionson
Bodv an^ Good" Will thefe Cruelties render his Majefties Name
rtX !n his Hiftorv,to the Catholick or proteftant World .-'
^° B?t we mould be7ery loath to exaggerate any thing which may
violate die refpea due to fo great a Prince; but we do not
rt?^k It a fai u e in our Duty, f^rly to reprefent how fer tjiefe ^ ^-
tdPoUtiS'avereallyJn'terfsMhisHonour^i^n^^^^^^^^

SfStSresSl-him^^xryS^^^^^
f^^fconfidefatl^n" Notto fpeak here of the great number^ of

^ 35 ;

l?errons of all Ages, Sexes and Q^ualitics, which they have cu£
off from it by their fierce Tempers, although perhaps this Lofs
be greater, than they are willing to imagine. Its certain, that
trance is a very Populous Country , but when thefe Feavorifii
Fits fhall be over, and they (hall in cool blood confider what they
have done, they will find thefe Diminutions to be no matter of
Triumph ; for 'tis not poflible, that fo many Subftantial People,
fo many intire Families, whodiftinguiftthcmfelves in the Arts,
in the Sciences, Civil and Military, can leave a Kingdom without
one day being mifled : at prefent, whiifl: they rejoyce in their
Spoils, poflcis themfelves of their Houfes and Eflates, this lofs
is not felc ^ 'tis recompenfed by booty, but it will not be always
fo : Neither thall we infift here on that almofl general Interrup-
tion of Traffick, which thefe molt Vnchrifltan Perfecutors have
caufed in the principal Towns of the State •, although this
be no fmall mifcbief : The Proteftants made up a good part
of the Trade, as well within t\\Q Kingdom as without, and
were therein lb mixt with t!ic Catholicks, that their Affairs
were in a manner infeparable. They dealt as it were in Com-
mon, when thefe Oppreflions came upon them-, and what
Confufions have they not produced? How many indullrious
meafures have they broken ? How many honeft defigns have they
not difappointed ? How many Manufactures ruined ? How many
Bankrupts made ? and how many Families reduced to Beggary /
But this is what the Oppreflbrs little trouble themfelves about ?
they have their Bread gained to their Mouths, they live in w^an-
tonnefs and eafe ; and whillt others dye with Hunger, their Re-
venues are afcertain'd to them. But this hinders not the Body of
theEftate tofuffer, both in its Honour and Profit ; and we may
truly fay, that Four Civil Wars could not have produced fo much
Mifchief, as time will Ihew to fpring from this Perfecution.

But we will leave the confequence of this affair to time, and on-
ly fay, That the Edidt o^ Names, being a fundamental Law of the
Kingdom \ and an agreement between two parties, by a recipro-
cal acceptation under thepeacable Reign oi Henry the Great,
by the publick Faith, and by mutual Oaths, as we have already
feen; this muft certainly be of ill example to theintreltof the
State: That after having made a thoufand infradions of it, it
mult be at length revok'd, cancel'dand annul'd, at the motion
of a Cabal^ who abufc their intreft ; and hereby make them-
felves fit for enterprifing, and executing any thing. After thi^

Vio,

Violation, what can henceforward be thought firm and inviolable
in Frame. 1 fpeak not of particular mens afFairs,bnt of general e-
ftablilhments, Royal Companies, Courts of Juflice, and all other
ranks of men interefted in Society, even the very riglits of the
Crown, and form of Government. There are in the Kingdom a
great mmy thirking men,I mean not your PoeLS-,and fuch like kind
of Flatterers^ who make Ferfes^ Orations^ Panegyruk^ and Sermons
to for P.refermems2.x\^ Benefices ; but I fpeak of folid aud judicious
perfons, who fee into theconfcquences of things •, and know well
how to judge of themjfiiall we think that thefe men,fee not what is
too vifible, that the Stare is peircM through and through, by the
fame blow given the Proteflants; and that fuch an open revocaticn
of the Edik^ leave's norhing firm or facred.It's to no purpofe to al-
ledge diftindtions in the matter,and lay t hat the pretended reform-
ed Religion, was odious to the S:ate, and therefore was thus un-
dertaken. For not to mention the dangeroufnefs of the example,as
ro the general averficn to our Religion in the minds of the Catho-
lickif it is certain, that excepting the FaBion of the Bigots, &q what
they call the Pnrgators of the Fatth^ neither the Commons nor great
P^5p/^,haveany animofityagainftus ; but on the contrary do be-
moan our misfortunes. Not to touch farther on this, who knows
not what an eafie matter it is to run down any Caufe, or render it
odious or iijdifRrent in the minds of the Peeple. There are never
wanting reafons and pretences in matters of this nature j one party
is fet up againft another -, and that is called the State, right or
wrong, which is the prevailing one .• like as in Religion, not the
beft and honeftefl:> bHttkefowerfulleFi^ and boldeji part^ are termed
the Church. We muftnot judge of thefe things then from their
matter, but their form. Now if ever there was, fince the World
ftood, a matter authentick and irrevocable, it. was the £^/^/ of
Nantes •, To revoke and cancel it, is to fet up ones felf ;above our
obligationstoGod,aswellastoMen j 'tis to declare openly, that
there are no longer any ties or promifes in the world. And this is
no more than the wife will eafiiy comprehand, and I doubt not but
they have done it already.

Some perhaps may make an objedion on this occafion, which
'twill be good to anfwer, which is, that as the Edi^^ confider il
how we wilK is become only a Law of State by Henry the Great's
Authority, fo it may likewife be revok'd and annuPd by Ltwis the
14/ /? his Grandfon andSuccellbr.For thefe things may be ended by
the fame means they have been begun, li Henry the Great has had

the

( 37 )

the power to change the Form of governing the State, byintro-
ducing a new Law, why h:.s not Letvis the i^th the fame power to
al.er this form, and annul whatfoevcr his predecefTor has done?
Bjt this Objedion will foon hz anfwercd, by confrJering it is buile
upona falfe principle and offers a filfer ccnfequencc. It is not tlve
fingle Authority ol Henry the Great wliich has eltabli Vd the Editi
The Edii} is aD:cree of his Jiiftice, and an accord or tranfaclion
that pad between the CuthoUch and the Reformifis^ Anchoriz'd by
the publick Faiih of the whole Eftate, and feal'd wi:h the feal of
an Oath, and ratified b/ the Exccurioaof it-, no?/ this renders
the Edi[i inviolable, and fets it above tht; reach of HemysSuz-
cefTors ; andtherefore they can be only the D.pjficaries and Ex-
ecutors of it, and not the r^Iafters to make it depend on their wills.
Henry the Great never employed the force of Arms to make the
C^?^o//c^/ confent to itj and though fiace his death, under the
minority of Lfip/j the i3f/;,there have bin AiTembliesof the States
General, the£^/i^has remained in full force; 'twas then, as we
have already faid, a fundamental Law of the Kingdom, which the
Ring CO dd not touch. But fuppoling this were not a work ground-
ed on the bare Authority of Henry ^v;hic\i is falfe,it does not there
fore follow, that his prefsnt Maj:lly can revoke it. The Edi^ is a
Royal Promife, whicli Henry the Great made to the Reformifls of
his Kingdom, as well for himieif as his Succeflbrs for ever ; as we
have already feen •, and confequsntly this is a condition or heredi-
tary Debt, charged on himfelf and Pofterity. Moreover, it is
not true, that Henry the Great has changed any thing in the Go-
vernment of the State, when he gave Liberty of Confcience to
his Subjedts •, forthisLiberty is matter of right, and more invi-
olable than all Edidts, feeing that it is a right of Nature. He
has permitted a publick exercife of the Reformed Religion ; but
this exercife was efteblifhed in the Kingdom befoie his EdiQ^
and if he has enlarged the Priviledges of the Reformed, as with-
out doubt he has, he did net do it withouttheConlsnt and Ap-
probation of the State ; and has herin viohted no:hing of his
lawflill engagements. Bu; 'tis no: the fame with Lewis the i4f«.
who of his own pure Authority, makes a real and fundamental
Change, againft the concurrence of one part of his Eftate, and
without the confulcing the other ; hereby violating his own En-
gagements, thofe of his Kingdom, and even Laws of Nature
too. In fine, if we confider what means have been ufed to ar-
rive at the Revocation in queftion, how Ihall a man not acknow-
ledge

< ^8 )

ledge the State is fcnfibly interefted therein . They are not €on-
tented to fupprefs the Religious AiTemblyes, and to null the Pro-
teftants privilcdges by unjuft Decrees ; but they alfo fend them
Soldiers todifpte pints of Relimn with them -, They are Sack't
like People taken by AiTaulc, forced in their Confcieixes ; anol
for this purpofe. Hell it felf is let loofe upon thep ^ and this ic
the effe^s of a Military-, and Arbitrary Government ^regkUtedmi-
therhy Juliice^ Reafon^ nor Humanity. Can it be though, that
Frdnce will be at eafe in this manner, or that wife people will
think this an equitable way of governing? There needs only ano-
ther defing, another paffion to fatisHe, another vengeance to ex-
ecute ; and then, wo be to them who Ihall oppole if j fonhe.
Dragoons will not forget their Office.

Tothefc two Reflcdions, which refped the fr^w^ King and
his St lie?, we may add a third, which will have regard to the
InteieftsofKings, Princes, and other powers of Eur ape,. 2s well-
of one as of other Religion. We Hiall not be much miftaken,.
if we fay , tbat they have a common and general concern herein ;
inafmuch as thefe skilful Artifts in mifery, do as much as they can,
to trouble the good underftanding that is betwixt them and their
People. We are perfwaded, that their wife and juft Government
xvill, in this refped, put them beyond all fear : but this hinders .
not examples of this nature, from being always mifchievous, and
naturally tending to beget in the minds of the Vulgar, ( who com-
monly judg only of things in general ) fufpiiions and diftrulls of
their Soveraigns, as if they dreim';! of nothing but devouring
their Subjects, and delivering thera up to the Difcreuon, or ra-
ther, the Fury of their Soliders, The greater moderation and
Juftice that Princes have, the lefs they are ob'.iged to thofe who.
furniOi people with matter for fuch dangerous thoughts, which
may produce very ill EfFcdts.

Befide,is it not certain, that the Princes and States of ^/z^-^/*^,
cannot without a great deal of pleafure fee Fr<7nce^ which makes
fo great a Figure in the affairs of the World, and gives them fb
powerful an influence, now put her felfinto fuch a condition, as
that nojuH Meafures can be taken from her ? For after fo fcan-
dalous and publick a violent of the word of three Kings, and
of the publick Faith, what Gerdit canbegivenfor thefiiture, to
lier Promifes or Treaties .^ It will not befufficienttofay,that
tbey will have no force but what Intreft infpires ; but that they
will hereafter depend on the Incereft or Capricioufnefs of a fort

of"

C39)

of Heady People, that will give nothing either to the Laws of
Prudence or Equity, but manage all by force. If they have had
the power, to do wiLhin the Kingdom what they have lately put
in execution, what will tiiey not do as to affairs wichoiit ? If
tliey have not fpared there own ccuntry-men, with whcm they
had daily Commerce, v;ho were ferviceable to them, will they
fpare the unknown ? Will they have more refped to Truces or
Conventions of four days Tianfadion, than to an Edicfl of an
hundred yeaiis continuance, and that ihe moft Auguft and Solemn
that ever was; which yet they made no other ufe of then to
amufe a People, and to involve them more furely in an utter De-
folationi* Methinks they have refolvM to bring things' to this
pafs, That there being no more Faith to be had in France^ all her
Neig'ibours fhouldbe continually upon their Gaurds sginfther,
and the more fo when ihe promifes^ then when fhe threatens 3
more in Peace then in War ^ 9:> that the:e is no more hopes of
being at quiet, but what the Surety of Hoftages, or the diminu-
tion of her Forces can give.

This being fo in refped of all Princes and States in general,
what may the Proteftant Princes and States in particular think*
bat that ic is the defign of Fyance to mine them all, and to make
no (lop till (he has devoured them. Every body knows, that the
Proteftant Princes underftand their Intcrcfts well enough, to be
able to-difcernthem through the Clouds, wherewith they would
cover them ; and'cisnot doubtedbut they fee, that this is a be-
ginning or JEIFay, which France expeds- Ihortly to give the lafi:
ih-.oak to. The Court there has fuffered it felf to be poflefsM
wiih grofs Bigotry, and afalfeZeal of Catholicifm. 'Tis the
GeniHs a-U-mode •, each there is become a perfecutor, even to
Fire and Sword ; and there are fome perfwaded, that this fhall
weigh down the Ballance. Vain Glory is no fmall Ingredient in
this defign, Policy hasher Profpedts, and Mylteriesinit too -,
and as thefe Profpecls have no Bounds, fo- her Myiteries want
not invifible Springs, and furpriilng ways> which ilie willjoyn
when Ihepleafes to the Power of Arms. She thinks the Seafoii ^
is ripe, and ihe needs only to dare. The eafinefs ihe has found in'
making Conquefts and Converfions f^ells her Courage, and al=^
ready fome talk of nothing but a further progrefs in fa fair a way =
^Tis to be hoped that Proteftant Princes and States will fronu
thence draw their juft Conclufions.

As to Catholick Princes and States^ they have too fagaciou-?
Judgements, not to fee how much they ftiarg ia this Affair, 's

will be mide ufc of te break the good onderftanding which is be-.
tvvixt them and the Fvotefiams by amufngtbofe with the fair pre-
text of ihQ Catholick Religion^ and cuuningly infpiring thefe with
Jealoufies of a general defign to deftroy them. If the CathoUck
Princes and States remove not thefe fufpicions,if they fufferFrrf^re
Hill to aggrandize her fclf by licr pretended Zeal for Catholkifm,
which at the bottom is but a Mask:, they may already be alTured,
that they are lolt. It will fignifie little to fay, We are good Cat ho-
licksaiW€4Lz6 yon^ this will not fecure them from Dragoons^ all
that will not take the Yoke fhiU be Heretkks ; nay, worft than an
Heretick ; for now the greatefl Herefie is not to fubmit : 5p^/»,
Germany and Italy already know this in fome meafure.

But will it not be thought a Paradox, if to all that that we have
faid, we add, That the Pope himfelf, and the whole Body of the
the Roman Churchy find themfelves fcnfibiy interefted in the Per-
fecutionof us. And yet we will fay nothing herein, but what is
evidenL Truth, and which the wife It of the "^man Catholkks mult
agree to. For is it not the worft Character that can be given of
the1(o^man Clergy, to reprefent them as an Order of Men, who
not only cannot endure any thing that is not fiibje<ft co them in a
Religious, but alfo in Civil Society •, as Men that are not content
to Anathematize all that difpleafe them; but defign nothing fo
much as to exterminate them, not only to exterminate them, but
alfo to force their ConfcieHces, and infpire their Opinions, and
propagate their way of Worfhip by the knockitig Arguments cf
Swords and Staves ; as an Order of Men who have neither Faith
nor Juftice, who promife only to deceive, who for a while curb
their Fury only, that afterward they may the mare infult, that in
Peace as well as War contrive only to overturn and deftroy, that
make Alliances only to furprize, and finding themfelves more
Powerful, deny thofe they have furprifed , the Liberiy to
efcape. Thefe are the exad Features and Colours by which
the ^<7^4« Clergy may be eafily known, if we judge of them by
the Pcrfecution in France^ the like whereof was never feen to
this day •• The ty^gyptians and j4Jfyrians once perfecuted the Ifra-
elits, but forced them not to embrace the Worlhip of their Idols ^
they contented themfelves with making them Slaves, without do-
ing violence to their Confciences. The Heathens and the ^^^-ipj
peifecuted the Primitive Chriftians, forced their Confciences in-
deed, but they had never granted them an Edi^, nor by perfecu-
ting them did violate the Publick Faith , nor hindred them
to make their efcape by flight* The Aniam cruelly perfecuted

ihe

( 41 )

the OrthccToT, but befides that, they went not fo far, as to make
the common i'ortof People fign formal Abjurations*, there was
no EdiU or Concordat e between the two Communions. Innocent
the 3^. by his Croyfades^ perfecutedthe Waldenfes^^nd Albi^enfes^
bur. thefe People alfo had no Edt^. Entannel^ King of Portugal,
furioufly perfecuted the Jews^ but he gave them leave to depart
out of his Kingdom, and they had no Edi^l-. Ic was the fame
with thofe Remains of the y^(7or/, who had fettled themfelves in
fomc Cantons of the Kingdom of GranAdA^ they were defeted in
a War, and commanded to retire into the Country from whence
their Anceftors came. In the laft Age the Duke o? Alva exerci-
fed dreadful Cruelties upon the Proteftants of the Seventeen Pro-
vinces, but he did not hinder them from flying, nor viloated any
Edid; and atthe worft. Death was their Releafe. Thelnquili-
tion is tothisday in S^ain and Italy, but they are Countries, in
which no Religion, befides the Roman^ was ever permitted by
Edi(fls, and if the Inquifitots may be accufed of Violence and Cru-
elt, yet they cannot be convidled of Perfidioufnefs.

But in this laft Perfecurion of fr^«c^, there are Five things that
fti ike the Mind with Horror, they make the Confciences and Re-
ligion of Men to depend So'veraignly upon the Will of a King,
theT^-voilate a Faich Authentickly fworn to, they force men to be
Hypocrites, and wicked, by feeming tb embrace a religion which
they abhor-, they prohibit all Flights or retiring out of the King-
dom 5 they do not put to Death, but preferve Life to opprefs it
Wich longer Torments. If after this the Court oiKome and iis
CIergy,difperfed over the rcii of Enrope, difcUim not fo odious
andfocriminalaCondud; if they condemn it not, it will bean
indeliable Scain to the Honour of their Religion. Not only Pro-
teftants^ who are of a different Communion, but alfo an infinite
Buraber of their own CathoMs, will be mightily fcandaliz'd there-
at : Bay, even the Tterkj and Jem and Pagans will rife up in Judge-
ment againft them. They may already know what they have bin
condemned of, in what pafled in the Council oi Co?. jinnee, couQtxv.-
ing John Hh/s^ and Jerom of Pra£tf€^ whcm they put to Death,
notwithftanding the fafe Condu(ft of the Emperor Si^o^ifmnnd ;
but there is fomething greater here : There only Two. Men were
concerned, here more then 1 50000. thole they put to Death, and
if they had done the fame to thefe, they would have embraced
their Death with Joy and Comfort. TThe Council thought its Au--
thority greater than Sigifmnn^ds^ but there crnnot be prodiKed
®ae above that which has eftabliftied ouc Edi<^. .

We are not ignorant of the different Methods which the Per-
fccucors taketo fhelter themfelves from pubiick Condemnation.
Some take a fpeedy coiirfe to deny the Fad jand to perfwade
the World, That Force andP^ioUnce have hadnofiare in the Convtr-
jlons^ but that they voeref'.ft^ calm, and volnntary ;, and that if there
^v.'-^'-f^;/)' Dragoons concenred therein^ "'twas becanfethe Reformed
themfelves dejired them J that they wight have a handfom pretence t<f
chaaje their Ti^ligion. Wa5 there ever feen fo much Impudence ?
What will they'not deny, who can deny what's done in the Face
of theSun, and what a whole Kingdom from one end of it to
the o:her hath fecn, and to this day fees ? For in the beginning of
the year i685. w'.iilelll am corapofirg this fad Rehearfal, they
conciune toexercifa in V ranee the fame Rage, that ended the pre-
ceeding year, the fame Dragoons both in Cities and Countries ex-
ecute the fame Fury againft fome lamentable Remains of Prote-
ft ints, who will not fall down and worlhip.

They are ufed like Rebels in their Perfons^ in their Eftates, in
their VVivcs, and in their Children ; and if there be any difference,
'tisin this, that their fufferiiigs are Hill increafing. Yet if we
will believe the Clergy, haranguing the King, and the Bifliop
o( f^alence theh Speaker, he tells his Majefty how miraculous hj^
Reign is, feeing fuch infinite numbers of Ccnverfionsare.made
to the Roman Church, without violences and Arms ^ much lefs
faith he, by the force of your Edi^s^ as by the example of your
exempla-ry Piety. If we will believe the greateft part of the Ab-
jurations which thefe poor Opprelb people, are forcM to make
they fpeak indeed the fame fence, viz.. That they have done this
without being conflrain'^d thereto. Thus is the Credulity of ihe
pubiick impos'd on : They have Seeds of Impofture fown at their
Feet, which are to grow with the time, Pofterity who fnall fee
thefe Records, will believe they contain the truth ; Here, fay they,
is what has bin told the King, who mull not have falfhoods offer'd
him : Here is the proper ads and deeds of thofe that were con-
verted. Why will not then Pofterity believe it, feeing that at
prefent, there are indeed people impudent enough, or to fpeak
better, paid well enough to publifh it in ftrange Countries ; and
there are found credible perfons enough to bdieve it. But I pray
.what likelihood is there, that a 150000 perfons. already gone out
of France, without any thing conftraning them to it, fhouidleave
their Hoiifes, their Lands of Inheritance, their Effe^s, andfeve-
ral their Wives and Children, for to wander about the World,
and lead a mifrable Life for a humour. Is there any likelihood
t'./ that

( 43 )

thatPerfonsofaualityof both Sexes, who enjoyed 10, i-t, -^c 30^
thouland Livers per anmtm, would abandon iheie their Fftarcs
not only for themfelves, but for their Succeflbrs^ expofe~them.
felves to the perils, and Jncommodioufnefs of long Journevsand
reduce themfelves in a manner to Beggary ; which is a condition
the moft infuportable m the world to perfons of QuaJi.y : and
all this wuhout any reafon, without any occafion ? VV^hatlikelv-
hood that thc-fe isothoufand perfons v7ho have already efcapM
^me of 'ra into Sw:tz,erUnJ^ others in:o Germany , fora- iuLo
DemiarK^ oihers in:o H.lUnd, feme into SweddanA and others
into England, and fome into America, without feeing or knowing
one another yet have agreed to tell the fame lye, and to fav with
one voice, Tnat the Pro.eftants are crueUy perfecuted in France
|nd that by unheard of Severities they are forcM to change theit
RehgLcn^alcho there's no fudi matter? Is it likely that the Em-
baffaaor. and Envoys of Foreign Princes, /hould lye all of them in
confort,ia telling them this news,wherein there is no truth > But I
pray,if m France ih^P.-oteJlnnts rh«s voluntarilv,and without con-
t:i^^lChan^etbczrReLau.f^^^ that the Dragoom are callM in onlv
as their ^..^Fnf«^i whence happens this iofirtct and aenerakuar'd
on the frontiers 10 hinder Peoples departure ? How is it that tfee
Prifons of the Kingdom are cram'd with Fugitives ftopt by the
way. Whence is it that thofe who have changM, are watrhM with
fuch great care to hinder their flight , to tiie%bliging them to de-
pofit films of money to fecure them from die fufpiticn of it '^ This
muft be an Epidemical Difteraper that has ilizei on ins Majeili.^
Subjeas, that.fhall make them fly thu. without *.afon? But i^.
not this a fine cover, to fay that the Proteflants have tliemfdves
^U d in the Dragoons, to have the better pretence to <:^4ange their
Religion ? It IS about ten, or more years fince there was a B.nk fee
uptotraffickforSouls. Mr.P./^Aasfor a long tim^.beenVhe

f r\\ rtr'r "'"'r'^^l^ Infamous Trade of purchaflngCon-
verts. Thefe Converfions have of late been the only v/ay of gain-
ing applaufe, and recompences at Court, andina word a niean^
of railing ones Fortuiae ; and yet we muft be told, that in ftead of
h Inlf^T''''^ by thefe eafie way., we had rather chooffthe
tdFus vZ%7^lur' '' ""^ Y\'^ P^"^S'd. At leaft let any one
lii nntT -l ''^^^'^^^ P'^^^"^^^ ^^^^^°t^fy ^°^'erfions,the Pe^
pie not willing togo to Mafs, they have been obligeH to fend them
Troops, and ufe them with the fame feverity as before

AJtTJ\ aK^^^^I^^^^^'^^^^ an untruth, that others have un-
dertaken to defend thefe Violences, as being natiially of the ge-

(44)

nuine Spirit of the Catholick Church j and for this pnrpofe, they
have continually in their mouths that palTage of the Gofpel, ccm-
pile mr^rf, compel them to come in, and the perfecution which
the Orthodox of ^/Wci^ofFer'd the Donattfi^^ &c.

Were this a placetodifxjute againft thefe furious Divines,iwe
could ealiiy Ihow 'em the vanity of thefe allegations ; but we
fhall rather ask 'em, whether the Jews and Pagans had agreed
upon ao Ediift with the Apoftles, when our Saviour fays to.
them, contfel them to come tn. Has Sc. AHgufiin ever Wrirteh^'
for he is cited In this matter, That we ought to be perfidious to-
wards thofe whom we efteemas Hereticks^ when we promisM to
live with 'em like Brethren and fellow Citizens. The Donatifls,
had they any Edicts which (hould (helter'em from the infults of the
Orthodox ? If we yield to this deteftable Divinity, what will be-
come of all us Ciiriftians ? For in fhorc, the Papifi is as much
a. Heretic\to the Protefiaritt^ as the Proteflants are to the Papifi j yet
they live together in peace, on the Faith of Alliances, Treaties
and Promifis. But thefe y^ublick Pelts as much as in them lies,
have brought all things into confufion, and a State of War. They
arm the Catholicks againfl the Proteftants,teachingthe Caiholicks
by this example, that their Religion obliges him to bfetray and ihr-
prife the Proteftants, when they can do it unpuniflied ; and knock
out their Brains if they will not chang their Religion. They arm
the Proteflant againft the Catholick; for after all, what Peace
and Society can we have with Per;ple, who not onely make no
Confcience to break their Faith; bit on the contrary, make it a
cafe of Confcience to break it, when they fhall find Cccafion,
Thus have they by their Dragoons defolated a Kingdom, snd
plundered above a loo thoufand Families. Do we thiuk this me-
thod, ispleafingto him, whom we both own to be the Amhof
ofour Faith ^ he has faid, That he wllmt fujfer Hell Gates torii-
inehis Church 'j hMt he has notfaid, he will open Hell Gates for
the propagating his Church. Now if there were any thing that
looks like the Gates of Hell, it is the Perfecution of Frrf»c<.

Whatfocver Antipathy there may be between the See of Rome-
and us, we will not believe that the prefent Pope has hadahy
part, or that the Storm has feUen on us from. him,. Wc know he
is a mild Prince, and his temper leads to more moderate Councils
jhan thofe of his Predeceflbrf:^ Moreover we know, the Clergy
of France do not always confult him in what they undertake j and
we have had often offered to as, what has been done zgdln^Rome,
to miui.i m to fnbmic our felve* to the King's will in thefe othej

other

(4r)

matters • and how fmall a deference is pafd to i:s Authority. So
that we hope the Pop; himfclf , confidering us ftfll as Men and
Chiiftians, will condole us, and blaiie the m:thods ufed againft
us, hadheno other rcafon t^an the intrefl of Religion. Perhaps
cneday^ tt wiUhe our t urn tobUn.e that which will be taken again^i
hint'

However 'tis certain the ProteHants of France are tbe nioi^
fit obje^ of publick compaflion, the world ever knew. 5cme
figh and lament under a hard Slavery, which they would willingly
change for Irons in Algiers or Turkie. Fox there they would not
ht^rctAioimti Mahometans^ and might ftill entertain force hopes
ofL'bcr y by the way of ranfora. Others are wandriug about
ilrarvge Countres, ftript of there Eflates, feperated in all proba-
bility, foe c-v^(Jr from their Parents, their Relations and Friends,
whom they have left h the moft doleful condirion imaginable.
'Husbands have left tleii Wives, and Wives their Husbands
Fathers their Children, and Children their Fathers. We have
fecn our Eftates vanifh in a momentj our honefi: ways of living,
our hopes, our Inheritances.

We have fcarcely any thing left us but our miferable Lives 'and
they are fupported by the Charity of our Chriflian Brethren,

Yetamongftall thefe Affli(flions We are not deftiture of Com-
fort J we, if ever any did, d) ir.iely fiiffer f ):■ Ccufcicncefakc :
the Malice of our Perfecutors not being ahie to cl a ge us with
the lea/l Mifdcmeaneour We have fcrvfd onr King and the State
with Z?al and Faithfu'nef.. We have fubiniited to tie Laws an^
toMagiftrares ; andfor our fellow Citizen , tl.cy have no r. -a onto
complainofus. Wc hive for Twenty years ogct'.crfuffcred with
an unexemplary Patience all thofc furious and drcadfuH Storms a-
forcmentioned. And when in Vtvaretz. and C^^^/f^;??/, fome have
thought thcmfclves bound in Confcience to pr.*ach or. the Ruin^so?
their Temples illegally deraolifht, their fmall number, which were
but a handful! of Men Women and Children, has only fervcd to
ftir up more the Refignarion and Obedience of our whole Body.
In thefe latter Storms we have been like Shec^, inoc.nt and vv'ithotit
Defence. We then comfort our fdves in the Jullice of our Cau[e, and
our p.'ccable Deportment under it.

Butwc comfort our felves likewifein the Chrifiian Companioe
{hewed us by Forrein Princes, and moreef ecially ofhis Majefty of
EngUndy who has received us into his Countries, fuccoured and re-
lived us^and recomended our d'ftreffed Conditions to all hi? Sisbjedts;

and

C46 0

and we h^v.fifouijci in them not only new Mafters, or- theAfE^aions
of.flewFriaid?y;b^i: or;i-eaV,Paren^s apj; ^etheren. And asthefe
Bowtls oftoma^raiipnluvpbeen a^^l^^^
ilialt hevcrlpfeHic Remembrance ojit^an^ iiQpe we nor our Cniid-
dim ffiall 'ever do any thing/by Goas G race, unworLby any .ofTrhc^e

their Prote'dions. _ r, v"!- rrj' v

All our AfRidion then is to fee our ReUifon .oppreOed m the
Kingdon oiFrance • fo many Churches wherein Goa was daiJy f<^rved
according-to the fimplicty of the GofpeUdemoiifiied, fp.many Fbcks
difperfed/fo many poor Gonlciencesfighinga'-dgroaniniunder their
Bondage vfo many Children deprived of the law W Education of
their Parciits •• But we hope that at length toe fume Godwhoheard
"heretofore the Sghs of his People in. the Servitude of <^;/;^ will
-.Ho- bearo at tbis time the Cries of his Fajthav! Sei var^ts Wc call not
f^r Tier rr^mHeaven.ir^ ^>V f^'-'^o Refillerjce, we on\.y pray that
Goi vvould -touch the Hear.ts.ot our Perfecutors, that they m^iy repent,
and be ftved together with u?.' We entreat flch adehvemcc, as he
in hisWifdomni.^tl think fitting. ^ j .. ■ r u-

However 'twili be no Offence to God nor Good Men to leave this
Wri.inc to the World, asa Proteftation made_ before him and them
againftthefe Violences; more cfpeciaily agamft thcFdidof I68c,
containning the Revocation of Nans, it being m its own nature in-
violable, irrevocable and unalterable. We may, I fay, complain ar
roongft other things aga^nll the worfe than inhumane. Cruelties cxr
crcifed m dead Bodies, when they are drag d along the$rrcat5a
the Horfe Tayls, and.dig'd out,and dcny<d Sepulchers^. We cannot
but complain of the CruelOrders to part with onr Cnildren,and ftiffci:
them to be baptiM, and brought up by our Enemies But above
all, agair^ft the impious and detefbable pradife now m vogiie,pf
making J^cligion to depend on the Kings pleaful^:, on the wiUoU
Mortal Prince, and of treating Perfeveratice in the Faith with the
odious name of Rebellion •• This isto make a God of Man and to rua
back into the Hea^hcnini Pride and flattery amongft the Romans-, or
an authorinng of Atheifmor grofs Idolatry. In fine we commit
our Complaints, and aU our Interefts into iheHandsoftha? Provi.
dence,whchbringsGoodouLofEvill,and.hich is above the Un-

derflanding of Mortals, whofc Houfes are in the DuLt.

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