An apology for the Protestants of France, in reference to the persecutions they are under at this day in six letters.

LETTER II.

I Did not fail to wait on my Friend at the appointed hour. Sit down (said he) as soon as he saw me in the Chamber, and let us lose no time in needless Ceremony: I was just putting my Papers in order, by which I would desire you to judge of the Protestants Complaints, and the Reasons that have made them leave their Country: But since you are here, take them as they come to hand.

The first is a Verbal Process of the extraordinary Assembly of the Arch∣bishops and Bishops held in the Province of the Arch-Bishop of Paris, in the Months of March and May, this 1681. It is a Piece which justifies a Truth, that the World will hardly believe: Namely, That whereas the Protestants by Virtue of the Edict had the Exercise of their Religion al∣most every where, they have it now scarce any where. See the proof in the tenth Page of that Verbal Process, where one of the Agents, General of the Clergy of France, alledgeth as so many publick Testimonies of the Piety of their King, An almost Infinite Number of Churches demolish'd, and the Exercise of the Religion pretended Reformed suppress'd. I leave you to imagine what a consternation such a terrible Blow must have put those poor people into; not to mention their Grief to see those Holy Places beat∣en down, whose very Stones they took pleasure in; instead of having the Hea∣venly Mannah shower down at the Doors of their Tabernacles, at this present they are forc'd to go 30 or 40 miles through the worst of ways, in the

Winter, to hear the Word of God, and to have their Children baptized. But let us go on to a second Piece.

Here is a Declaration hath lain heavy upon them, in reference to an infinite number of living Temples, who are ••ar otherwise to be lament∣ed for, by reason of the rigor they are us'd with, than the Temples of Stone that are demolish'd. It is of the thirteenth of March, 1679. Pray read it. It forbids all Popish Clergy-men, whatever desire they have, to turn Protestants; and even all those Protestants, who have forsaken their Religion out of Lightness, or Infirmity; to return to it again, upon better knowledge of the truth, press'd to it by their Consciences, and desiring to give glory to God. This dreadful Edict, will not suffer, that any of them shall satisfie their Consciences, in so important an Affair, under any less penalty, than that of the Amende Honorable, perpetual banishment, and consiscation of their Goods. I beseech you (said I) what doth the Declaration intend, by making Amende Honorable? You have reason to ask, replyed he, it is that you ought not to be ignorant of. Know then, that for them to make Amende Honorable is to go into some publick place, in their Shirt, a Torch in their Hand, a Rope about their Neck, followed by the Hangman, in this Equipage (which is that of the most infamous Criminals) to ask pardon of God, the King, and Justice for what they have done: that is to say, on this occasion, for having dar'd to rep••nt of sinning against God, for having forsaken a Religion which they believ'd Heretical and Idolatrous, and consequently, the infallible way to eternal damnation; and for being willing thence-forward to profess the Prote∣stant Religion, in which only they are perswaded they can be saved. This is, dear Friend, what they in••lict upon all Popish Ecclesiasticks to whom God vouchsafes Grace to discern the true Religion, and upon all Protestants, who having been such Wretches as to forsake it, are a••ter∣wards so happy as to be convinc'd of their Sin; and to repent. They call the first Apostates, and the other Relaps. But Names do not change the nature of things: the Misery is, that all this is executed with the ut∣most rigor. The Prisons of Poictiers, and those of other places are at this present filled with this sort of pretended Relapsed Persons; and it is not permitted to any one to relieve them. What possibility is there then for such as are in like Circumstances, and whose number every day increases, to continue in France?

But the mischief is much increas'd since this Declaration. What was particular to Ecclesiasticks and Relapse Protestants, is now become uni∣versal to all Roman Catholicks. I shewed you the Piece yesterday. It is that very Edict of Iune, 1680, wherein they pretend to confirm the Edict of Nantes. A Blessed Confirmation! The Edict of Nantes, as I have shewed you, allows the Liberty of Conscience to all them who were then Protestants, and to all such as would be afterwards, Inhabitants, or o∣thers.

But▪ what doth this new Edict declare! Our Will and Pleasure is, that our Subjects, of what quality, condition, age or sex soever, now making profession of the Catholick Apostolick Roman Religion, may never forsake it, to go over to the pretended Reformed Religion, for what Cause, Reason, Pretence or Consideration soever. We will that they who shall act contrary to this our Pleasure, shall be condemned to make Amende Honorable, to perpetual banishment out of our Kingdom, and all their Goods to be confiscated. We forbid all Ministers of the said pretended Reformed Religion, hereafter to receive any Catholick to make pro∣fession of the pretended Reformed Religion, and we forbid them and the El∣ders of ••heir Consistories to su••fer in their Churches or Assemblies any such, un∣der penalty to the Ministers of being deprived for ever of exercising any Functi∣on of their Ministry in our Kingdom, and of suppression for ever of the Exercise of the said Religion in that place where any one Catholick shall be received to make profession of the said pretended Reformed Religion. Lord! what a horrible proceeding is this! (cryed I, as soon as my Friend had read it) do they call this confirming of Edicts in France? what a Violence is this to the Consciences of Ministers and Elders, to command them to shut the doors of the Church of Jesus Christ to all their Neighbours who come thither for admission: (and to have this done) by them who are called by God to open the Door to all the World? Is not this to force them to violate the most Essential and Sacred Duty of Christian Charity? In truth, if there were nothing else but this; I do not see how they can stay there much longer with a safe Conscience. They must swallow worse Potions than these (said my Friend) you shall see presently quite other Preparati∣ons. What (replyed I) have they the heart to use thus cruelly those poor Churches within whose Walls any Roman Catholick changes his Re∣ligion? Don't doubt it (said he) they make no conscience at all to ex∣ceed their Commission, whensoever they are enjoyn'd to execute any penal∣ty. I will give you an Example, which will amaze you There is a great Town in Poitou called La Motthe, where the Protestants have a Church consisting of between three and four thousand Communicants: a young Maid of about seventeen years old, who from a Protestant had turned Pa∣pist, had stole her self into the Congregation upon a Communion-day▪ Now you must observe, that the Protestant Churches are full on those days. For they would believe themselves very much to blame, if they lost any Opportunity of partaking at the Lord's Supper. Nevertheless, without considering how easie it was for that young Maid not to be disco∣vered by the Consistory in such a Crowd, and tho those poor people were not at all within the Letter of that rigorous Edict, they have made them un∣dergo all the penalty. The Exercise of their Religion is wholly suppress'd there, and their Minister not allowed to preach in France. This is very cruel (said I to our Friend) and tho it were true that those Ministers and those Elders were guilty upon such an account, why should the whole flock

be punished? Those poor Sheep what have they done? That is very usual for those Gentlemen (answered he:) I have a hundred Stories to instance in. I cannot forbear telling you one, which many of their own Devotees were scandalized at. S. Hippolyte is a place in where all the Inhabitants are Protestants, except the Curate, and it may be, two or three poor wretches, who are not Natives of the place neither. A fancy took the Curate to put a Trick upon the Protestants; for this he chose a Sunday; and the very moment that they came out of the Church, he came and presented himself before them with his Sacrament, as they were almost all come out. You must know that the Church is on the farther side of a Bridge, which must be pass'd over, going and com∣ing. Several of them were upon the Bridge, others had pass'd it, and part were yet on the other side; when the Curate appear'd, all of them, who could possibly, got away and hid themselves: but neither the place, nor the great haste of the Curate would permit all of them to do so. He went up directly to one of the Company, whom he had born an ill will to for some time: he bids him kneel: and the other answering that his Conscience would not suffer him to do it; he gave him a Cuff on the Ear. He that was struck grumbled; and so did two or three who were about him. The Curate went on his way, threatning hard. Next day there were Informations made on both sides: the Curate in his, not complaining of any person but him he had struck, and two or three o∣thers who had grumbled at it. The Friends of the Curate perceiving that he had done the wrong, propos'd an Accommodation. It was by misfor∣tune consented to. Prosecution ceased on each side, and it was believed that there was an end of that business: there was not a word spoken of it in above a year. But the Intendant of Languedoc revived it last Winter, when they thought of nothing less; and of a matter particular to two or three, made it a general Concern of the whole Congregation. He cites them before the Presidial of Nismes, to whom he joyn'd himself. He condemns them to demolish their Church in a Months time. Those poor people go and cast themselves at the feet of the Court; but to no pur∣pose. The King's Council hears and confirms this strange Order of the Intendant, and the Church is rac'd to the ground. The Council which gave this Sentence was the first in which the Dauphine was present. The Report of such an Order being spred among the Courtiers, and all being amaz'd that heard it, a certain person took the liberty to tell the Dauphin, that for the first time he had been at the Council, he had assisted to a great Injustice. What say you to that? said a Duke and Peer, to the Dauphin, who had made no reply to the former. I say, answered the Dauphin, that he may be much in the right. I told our Friend, I had e∣nough of this. You must not be weary, said he, this is but the beginning of sorrows. Let's go on to the rest. Here is, said he, a Little Book

which comes just now to my hand, in it are stitch'd up together, three Acts concerning Schools. The first is of the ninth of November, 1670. It forbids all Protestant Schoolmasters to teach any thing in their Schools, but to read and write, and Arithmetick. The second, which is of the 4th. of December, 1671, ordains, that the Protestants shall have but one only School in any place where they have the publick Exercise of their Religion; and but one Master in that School. The third is of the ninth of Iuly, this present 1681. Look upon them (said he) and give me your o∣pinion. It seems (said I) that the first contains nothing which the Pro∣testants may complain of, at least, if that which I read there be true, namely, that by the Edict of Nantes it is expresly ordain'd, That in the Schools of those of the pretended Reformed Religion, there shall not any thing be taught, but to read, write, and cast account. For according to this, the Edict of 1670 is entirely conformable to that other Edict which is the Law. You are in the right, said I, but they who fram'd the Act, have deceived you, and have made no scruple to ground it upon a matter of fact entirely false. For the Article which speaks of Schools, doth not mention the least word of that restriction, which the Act assures us to be there expressed, namely, of teaching only to read, write, and cast account. See the Article length: it is the 37th particular. Those of the said Re∣ligion may not keep publick Schools, unless in Cities and places where the publick Exercise of their Religion is allowed, and the Provisions which have heretofore been granted them for the erection or maintenance of Colleges, shall be authenti∣cated where occasion shall require, and have their full and entire effect. Where is that express Order? It is expresly ordered to teach only to read, write, and cast account; upon which the Act is grounded. Is it possible (said I) that they should have no sense of the horrid shame which must arise upon conviction of forgery in a matter of fact of this nature? They never stick at so small a matter as that (said he) in the design they have of rooting out the Protestants. Those who are in France dare not open their mouths to discover such kind of Falsities; and Strangers, whom they carry ••air with, will not so far concern themselves as ever to suspect there should be falshood in a matter of fact so easie to be made out; and which they make to be so positively af••irm'd by so great a King. So that they do not fear at all the shame you speak of. After all, they are but pious Frauds, at which, they of the Popes Communion never blush. And what say you (continued be) to that other Act which reduces all Schools to one, in each City and Town where the Protestants have the publick Exercise of their Religion, and that which requires that there should be only one Master in that School. I replyed that it was an excel∣lent way to restore Ignorance, the Mother of the Roman Faith and De∣votion. In truth, says he, the care of one Master cannot go far. Be∣sides there is a Protestant Church which alone hath two thousand Children

of age to be taught. Those poor people have done all they could to ob∣tain of the Council, that at least there might be two Schools in each place, one for Boys, and the other for Girls. But it was to little purpose that they pleaded good manners for it, which such a mixture of both Sexes visibly was offensive to. They were deaf to all their Prayers and to all their Remonstrances. But this is not all yet. In the Execution of this rigorous Act, they have taken away ••rom them that little which was left them. For the Judges of the places will not suffer that any School∣master teach, unless they have first of all approved of him, and receiv'd him in all their Forms. As therefore their approbation is a matter full of invincible Di••••iculties; above all, when they are to give it to a man of merit, and who may do good, it is come to pass by means of these two Acts, that all the little Schools of the Protestants are shut up. From the little Schools they have proceeded to Colleges. You see by the Act of the last of Iuly, which suppresses for ever that of Sedan. They have taken away also the College of Châtillon sur Loin. So that, hereafter the Protestants in France are to lie under worse than Egyptian Darkness. I leave you now to judge whether they are to blame to seek for light in some Goshen. In truth, said I, this is very hard. But if they who inspire into the King such strange Acts, have no respect for Henry the Great and his Edicts, at least they ought to be more tender of the Glory of their own Illustrious Prince, and not to expose him, as they do, to be ranked with that Emperor against whom the Holy Fathers have cryed so loudly. Is it possible they can be ignorant that this method o•• extinguishing the Protestant Religion is exactly the same that Iulian took to extinguish the Christian Religion? I do not think (said our Friend) that they can be ignorant of a truth so well known; especially since one of their eminent Writers hath publish'd the History of the Life of S. Basil the Great, and of S. Gregory Nazianzen. There they might have read in more than one place, that it was likewise one of the Secrets of that Emperor, to ruine the Christians by keeping them from all Improvement in Learning, and to prohibit their Colleges and Schools; and which the Fathers judg'd to be most subtle policy. But their zeal transports them above the most odious Comparisons. They stick not to give occasion for them every moment. I will shew you an Example which will astonish you, I have here light upon the Paper.

They are now come to take the measures of that barbarous and inhu∣mane King who us'd Midwives of his own Religion to destroy the Race of the people of God in Egypt. For by that Declaration of the 28th of February, 1680, It is ordered, that the Wives of Protestants shall not be brought to bed but by Midwives or Chyrurgeons who are Papists. This they make to be observ'd with the utmost rigor, so far that they put a poor woman in prison for being present at the Labour of her Sister,

whose delivery was so quick and fortunate, that there was neither time nor need to call a Midwife.

That, you may in few words understand of what consequence this is to our poor Brethren, I need but acquaint you, that the King of France in his Edict of the Month of Iune, 1680, where he forbids Papists to change their Religion, acknowledges himself, what experience doth but too plainly justifie, namely, that the Roman Catholicks have always had an a∣version, not only against the Protestant Religion, but against all those that profess it, and an aversion which hath been improv'd by the publication of E∣dicts, Declarations and Acts. That is to say, that whatever pretence the Roman Catholicks make to the contrary, they have always been, and still are Enemies of the Protestants; and that the Protestants ought to look to be treated by the Catholicks as Enemies. After this what can they judge of the Design, and Consequences of a Declaration, which puts the Lives of their Wives and Children into those very hands which the King, who makes the Declaration, acknowledges to be hands of Enemies? But far∣ther, the Declaration it self discovers, that one of its intentions was, to make the Children of Protestants to be baptized by Midwives, or by Po∣pish Chyrurgions. And what mischief do they not open a way for by that? The Protestants will hold that Baptism void, which hath been admini∣stred by such hands, they will not fail to make it be administred anew, by their Pastors. This shall pass for a capital Crime in the Pastors and Fa∣thers, and they shall be punished as sacrilegious persons who trample on the Religion in Authority, the Religion of the King: for the most odi∣ous Representations are still made use of. Nay, said I, by this they will likewise claim a right, from the Baptism's being administred by Papists, to make themselves Masters of the education of their Children. You are in the right (said he) and that Article ought not to be forgotten. It is just, will they say, that they should be brought up in the Church which hath consecrated them to God, by Baptism, at least, that they should be bred up there, till they are of age to chuse for themselves: and when they are of age, they will say then, that it is just they should, as well as others, be liable to the same Edict which forbids Catholicks to change their Religion. Is not this enough already to make one forsake such a Kingdom? A Christian for less than this would surely flie to the utmost Parts of the World. But to proceed,

Here is that terrible Decree which fills up the measure, as to what concerns the poor Children. It comes to my hand very seasonably. It is the Declaration of the 17th. of Iune last. This ordains that all the Chil∣dren of Protestants shall be admitted to abjure the Religion of their Fa∣thers, and become Papists as soon as they shall be seven years old: It de∣clares, that after such an Abjuration, it shall be at the choice of the Chil∣dren, either to return home to their Fathers, and there to be maintain'd,

or to oblige their Fathers and Mothers to pay for their Board, and Main∣tenance, where ever they please to live. It adds extreme Penalties to be laid on them, who breed up their Children in foreign parts, before they are sixteen years old. But I pray read over the whole Edict. Upon that I took the De••••aration from our Friends hand, read it, and returning it to him again, could not forbear declaring, that I did not now wonder any more that the Protestants of France were in so great a Consternation. They are much in the right (said I) Discretion and Conscience oblige them to depart out of a Country, in which there is no security for the salvation of their dear Children. They are of too great a value to be so hazarded. What is more easie, for them who have all the power, than to induce such young Children to change their Religion? There is no need for this, to shew them all the Kingdoms of the World and their Glory. A Baby, a Picture, a little Cake will do the business; or if there want somewhat more, a Rod will not fail to complete this worthy Con∣ver••ion. In the mean while, what a condition are their wretched Fa∣thers in, besides the most inexpressible grief of seeing what is most dear to them in the world seduc'd out of the Service and House of God; they shall likewise have this addition of Anguish of having their own Children for their Persecutors. For, knowing, as I do, the Spirit of that Reli∣gion, I doubt not but they will all prove rebellious and unnatural, and renounce all that love and natural respect which is due to them, whom they owe their Lives to.

They'll give Law to their Parents, they will oblige them to make them great Allowances, which they will dispose of as they list; and if their Fathers pay them not precisely at the time appointed, I am sure, no rigors shall be forgotten in the prosecution. No certainly, said our Friend, and I could give you an hundred Instances, if there were need. Even before this merciless Declaration was made, the Goods of Parents were seis'd upon, exposed to sale, to pay for the maintenance of their Children, who had been inveigled from them, and been made Pa∣pists. If they dealt with them so then before the Declaration, what will they not do when they see themselves supported and armed with Royal Authority? But there is no need I should insist farther on the dreadful Consequences of this Declaration. It hath been lately Printed in our Lan∣guage, and Notes made upon it, wherein nothing hath been forgotten. The Book is written impartially: tho I can scarce believe what is express'd in the Title Page, that it was written in French; however, some Galli∣cisms are put in to make you believe it: but the Protestants of that Na∣tion are not us'd to such bold Expr••ssions upon such kind of Subjects: and I doubt much whether they could do it.

If they have reason to fear for the birth, and for the tender years of their Children, they have no less for themselves. Here is a proof of it.

It is the Declaration of the 19th. of November, 1680: By which it is or∣dained, That whenever they are sick, they shall suffer themselves to be visited by the Papist Magistrates. Thus, having made their lives bur∣densome to them, they take a thousand ways to torment them in their Beds, as soon as any Disease hath seised them. It is not henceforth permitted to them either to be sick, or die in peace. Under colour of this Decla∣ration they are persecuted, and all means are tryed to shake their Faith, under the pretence of being ask'd what Religion they will die in. First a Judge presents himself with the awe of his presence, accompanied by one of the King's Sollicitors and two Papist Witnesses. They begin their Work by driving all Protestants, who are with the sick man, out of his Chamber: Father, Mother, Wife, Husband, Children, none are ex∣cepted. After that, they do with the sick person as they list: they draw up a Verbal Process, or such as they like. Lies with them are but pious Frauds. Whatsoever the sick man answers, he hath still abjur'd, if these Gentlemen please to make a conversion of it; and there is no possibility of disproving it. The Verbal Process is drawn up in good Form. If the sick man recovers, and refuses to go to Mass, immediately he is sub∣ject to all the penalties of a Relapse. If he dies and chances to be the Father of a Family, they take away all his Children, to breed them up in the Popish Religion; and his Estate, to preserve it, as they pretend, for the Children of a Catholick Father. Can any one who hath any care of his own salvation, or any affection for his Children, live expos'd to such dreadful Inconveniences, if God offers any means to avoid them?

I am afraid I tire you with the Recital of so many Calamities. Fear not that, answered I, I am resolv'd to know all. You do not consider what you say, replyed he, I should need whole weeks to tell you all. Imagine all the Suprises, all the indirect practices, all the base tricks of Insinuation, and little quirks of Law are put in ure: together with all manner of violence, to accomplish the Work. Neither do those E∣nemies of the Protestants always neglect the Oracles of the Scripture. It says, I will smite the Shepherd, and the Sheep of the Flock shall be scattered. These Gentlemen then, that they may the more easily scatter the Sheep, smite, every where, the Shepherd, and constrain them to fly. They im∣prison one, for having by the Word of God confirm'd some of his Flock, whom the Popish Doctors would pervert: another, for being converted to the Protestant Religion in his youth, long before any Law was made against pretended Apostates. They hire forlorn Wretches to go to the Sermons of the Protestant Ministers, and to depose before a Magistrate, that the Ministers said, that the Church of Rome was idolatrous, or that the Faithful are persecuted, that they spake ill of the Virgin Mary, or of the King. Upon this, without being heard, (and tho it be offered to be made out by the Deposition of an infinity almost of persons of credit,

that the testimonies of these two or three Wretches are absolutely false) Orders are issued out for the seising the Bodies of the Ministers. They are clap'd in Jayl as soon as taken: they are condemn'd to pay excessive Fines: they force them to make the Amende Honorable, they banish them the Kingdom. The Intendant of Rochefort suppress'd one there, upon the most extravagant Deposition that was ever taken. The Deponent ha∣ving, been at the Sermon of that Minister, said, That there was nothing to be found fault with in his words, but that he perceiv'd his thoughts were not inno∣cent. If there are any amongst them so happy as to consound so the false Witnesses, that the Judges are asham'd to use all those rigors; none of the Charges of Imprisonment, or of the Suit are ever recovered against any one. A Minister who may have sixty or seventy pounds a year, and seven or eight in Family to maintain, must be condemn'd with all his in∣nocence to pay all these great costs. I could, upon this Head, tell you a hundred Stories, but that it would be too tedious. I have met both at Paris and in other Provinces many of these persecuted Ministers, who ac∣quainted me with their Adventures, Germany, Holland and Switzerland are full of them, and I am told, there are some of them here in England. Their absence from their Flocks is but too good a proof how hot the persecution is against them. And so let's go on.

You may remember that the Edict of Nantes judg'd it necessary for the preservation of the Estates, and Credit of the protestants, and for the safety of their Lives, to erect Tribunals where supreme Justice might be administred by Judges of the one, and of the other Religion. But all these Tribunals are suppress'd: namely, the Chambers of the Edict of Paris, and of Rouen. It is some years since the Chambres Miparties were suppress'd by the Delaration of Iuly, 1679: so that here is their Fortunes, their Credit, their Lives, all at the mercy of their sworn Enemies. For you have not forgot that the King of France acknowledges, in one of his Declarations, that the Papists have always hated the persons of the Pro∣testants. Judge then if it be safe for them to stay longer in such a King∣dom.

But there is no method proper to ruine them, which is not made use of, that if one fails, another may be sure to take. Synods and Conferences are absolutely necessary, for the Admission of their Ministers, for the Correction of Scandals, for the preservation of Peace in their Congrega∣tions, for the subsistence of their Colleges, and for the support and exer∣cise of their Discipline. At first they kept them with all sort of Liberty. Under Lewis the Thirteenth, they thought fit to forbid them to hold any Synod, unless some Protestant Commissary, who was to be named by the Court, were present. This was observed till the year 1679, when a De∣claration was publish'd, requiring that there should be a Papist Commis∣sary in their Synods. That is to say, Sir, said I, interrupting our Friend,

they will pry into their hearts, and perfectly know where their strength or their weakness lies. If there were nothing but that in it, replyed our Friend, that Declaration would not allarm them so much as it doth. For there is nothing done in their Assemblies, which they are not willing all the world should know. They defie their most mortal Enemies to prove the contrary. Can there be a more undeniable proof of this, than the practice of the Protestant Commissary, who sends to the Court a Copy well attested of all the Results of the Deliberations which are made, while the Synod or Conference is held? What do they fear then, re∣plyed I, from the presence of a Papist Commissary? Because they know that the end of the Court cannot be to discover their Secrets, since they have none; therefore it is that they justly fear, that this Papist Commis∣sary hath been set over them, to create them trouble in the most innocent Affairs, to hinder those Deliberations which are most necessary for the due preservation of their Flocks, to silence those Ministers among them whom he shall perceive to be of greatest Ability, and of Credit, to dis∣hearten one by threatnings, to corrupt another by promises, to sow Dis∣sention and Division among them, and to employ all means possibly to ru∣ine them. These are the just fears which have hindred them till this present, from assembling any Synods with this so destructive a condition, hoping continually that, it may be, God would touch the heart of their King. But perceiving no favourable change, and not being able to sub∣sist without holding their Synods, I learn'd, as I came out of France, that these poor people are resolv'd to run these hazards, and that their Synods are upon assembling in several places. May God vouchsafe to preside in the midst of them by his Grace, and remove far from them all the Evils ••hey have cause to fear. It may be, by their good Examples, and their Religious Behaviour they may convert them, who are set over them for a snare, as it happened to their Fathers in the last Age also. Then was con∣trived the placing of Papist Commissaries, to spie out their liberty. But these Commissaries were so taken with the Modesty, the Piety, the Cha∣rity, the Decency of Order, and the devout Prayers of the first Reform∣ers, that they gave Glory to God, and embrac'd the Religion which they had persecuted,

The Jesuites nevertheless have thought all these Evils of which I have spoken, too slack and gentle. That they may not be at any more trouble, they will do the business once for all. They have contrived to starve all the Protestants: and to effect this, they have made all the means of gain∣ing a livelyhood, to be taken from them, by the Acts of the Council of State, of the sixth of November, 1679, and the 28th. of Iune, 1681. 1. They have turn'd out of all Jurisdictions and Seignuries (which are almost infinite in France) all Protestants who had been admitted Officers in those Jurisdictions. All Stewards, Bailifss, Sollicitors, Officers of the

Exchequer, Registers, Notaries, Clerks, Serjeants and Ushers that were Protestants, of all sorts, throughout the whole Kingdom, are cashiered by virtue of these Acts; they have reduc'd to Beggary thousands of Fa∣milies, which had no other subsistence, but by these Employments. 2. Look upon those two Pieces, which they procured also, for the same in∣tent. The Title of the one is, The Order of the Council Royal of the Fi∣nances (or Treasury) of the 11th. of June, 1680. The other is, An Or∣der of the Council of State of the 17th. of August of the same year. By the means of these two Pieces, the Jesuites have made the Protestants to be kept out of all the Affairs of the Finances, Customs, which they call Traites Forains, of Aids, Gabelles, Taxes of all sorts of Commissions, to which the Edict of Nantes ordered, that they should be admitted in∣differently with the Papists. This second hath taken away the Bread of a vast number of Families more. 3. They every day make the Prote∣stant Captains and Officers (who have serv'd so worthily by Land and Sea) to be turn'd out of their Commands. Those brave Men after they have spent their Estates to advance their Masters Honor, and ventured their Lives a thousand times for his Glory; see themselves shamefully, as so many Cowards, cashiered, without any exception for them who having signa∣liz'd and distinguish'd themselves by particular Actions, had deserv'd ex∣traordinary Pensions. Because they will not be less faithful to God, than they have been to their King: they are resolved Disgrace and Beggary shall be the Reward of their Service. By this, they take away from all the Protestant Nobility the means of maintaining themselves in that Rank in which God by their Birth hath placed them. 4. As to the Merchants, look what the Jesuits have thought upon to ruine them. They have ob∣tain'd an Order of Council of State, of the 19th. of November, 1680, which grants to all Protestants who change their Religion, the term and forbearance of three years for the payment of the principal of their Debts, with prohibition to all their Creditors to bring any Action against them, during that time, upon pain of Non-suit, Noli prosequi, and all Charges, Damages, Costs and Interests. I perceive very well, (said I to our Friend) that this puts those who revolt in a way to secure and withdraw their Goods; and to enjoy in peace the Fruits of their turning Bankrupts. But I do not see how this tends to the ruine of those Merchants in general, who per∣severe in the Protestant Religion. That is (said he, smiling) because you have not so subtle a wit, nor are so quick-sighted as the Jesuits. You know very well that Merchants subsist by their Credit: if their cre∣dit be low, they must fall; there is no more trading for them, their bu∣siness is done. Now do you not perceive, that the credit of all Pro∣testant Merchants is ruined by this Order, which puts them in a way of turning Bankrupts as they please, with all indemnity; and of inriching themselves with those Goods they have been trusted with? Who do you

think after this will be so silly as to take their word? Who can tell, with any certainty, whether they with whom they deal, are persons who will continue in the Protestant Religion? Is there any thing more common than such Changes in Religion now adays? It's enough (said I) I was mistaken, I perceive now very well that the ruine of the Protestant Mer∣chants is unavoidable. Go on to the other Professions. For I see they are resolved that no Protestant shall get Bread among them. You are in the right (said he) you have seen it in many of them, I'll shew it you now in the rest. 5. All Papists who drive any Trade, or exercise any Art, are forbid ••o take any Protestant Apprentice. I have seen the Order, but have it not now by me. By this you see that all young men of the Prote∣stant Religion (who have not means of their own) are reduced to this extremity, either of starving in France, or turning Papists, or forsaking that Kingdom. For the same Order forbids any Protestant who drives or professes any Trade, to have under them any Apprenti••e▪ either Pa∣pist or Protestant, that so they may not be able to do work enough to maintain their Families. 6. The Grand Master and Grand Prêvot have given notice, by Virtue of Letters under the Signet, to all Protestants who had Privileges, whereby they had right to keep Shops, as Chyrur∣gions, Apothecaries, Watchmakers, and other Tradesmen, to forbear using their privileges any longer, and to shut up their Shops, which hath been punctually executed. 7. They have establish'd Societies of Physicians at Rochelle, and in other places, where, as I am assured from good hands, there were none ever before. None but Papists will be received into those Societies. By this, the Jesuits have found out the way, at one stroke to hinder the Practice of all the Protestant Physicians; however able and experienc'd they may be. In so much that the Lives of all sick Protestants are by this means put into the hands of their Enemies. 8. In short, there is scarce now any place in all France where they may get their livelyhood. They are every where molested and hindered from exercising in quiet any Trade or Art which they have learn'd. To dispatch them quite; they require of them not only that they shall continue to bear all the Burdens of the Government, altho they take from them the means of doing it: but also that they bear double to what they did; that is to say, they use a rigor far greater, than what was practised upon the People of God, when they were commanded to deliver the same tale of bricks, and yet had not straw given them as formerly. In effect, at the same time that they will not allow them, of the Protestant Religion, to get a penny: they exact of them to pay the King double, nay, treble, to what they paid before. Monsieur de Marillac, Intendant of Poitou, hath an Order of Council which gives him alone the Power of the Imposition of the Tax in that great Province. He discharges the Papists, who are at ease, and overcharges the poor Protestants with their proportion, who before

that fainted under their own proper burden; and could bear no more. I will tell you farther on this occasion, that the Jesuits have obtain'd an Order of the King, by which all Protestants who change Religion, are exempted for two years, from all quartering of Soldiers, and all Contri∣butions of Moneys which are levied on that Account, which also tends to the utter ruine of them who continue firm in the Protestant Religion. For they throw all the burden upon them, of which the others are eas'd. From thence in part it is, that all the Houses of those poor people are filled with Soldiers, who live there as in an Enemy's Country.

I do not know if the zeal of the Jesuits will rest here: For they want yet the satisfaction of keeping S. Bartholomew's Day, as they kept it in the former Age. It is true, what is allowed them is not far from it. For which is the better of the two, to stab with one blow, or to make men die by little and little, of hunger and misery? As to the Blow (said I to our Friend) I do not understand you. Pray, if you please, explain your self, what do you mean by keeping S. Bartholomew's Day? Monsieur de Perisix, that Archbishop of Paris, who hath writ the Life of Henry the Fourth (answered he) shall tell you for me. There's the Book, the place may be easily found. Here it is •• Six days after, which wa•• S. Bar∣tholomew's Day, all the Huguenots who came to the (Wedding) Feast, had their Throats cut, amongst others, the Admiral, twenty persons of the best qua∣lity, twelve hundred Gentlemen, about four thousand Soldiers and Citizens: afterwards through all the Cities of the Kingdom, after the Example of Paris, near a hundred thousand were massacred. An execrable Action! Such as ne∣ver was, and I hope to God never will be the like. You know then well, con∣tinued our Friend, directing his Speech to me, you know well now what it is to keep S. Bartholomew's Day, and I believe that what I said is no Riddle to you. The Jesuits and their Friends set a great value on them∣selves in the world, because they forbear cutting the Protestants Throats, as they did then. But, Merciless as you are, do you ere the less take away their lives! You say you do not kill them, but do you not make them pine to death with hunger and vexation? He who gives slow poison is he less a poisoner, than he who gives what is violent and quick, since both of them destroy the life at last? Pardon this short Transport (said our Friend) in good earnest I cannot restrain my indignation, when I see them use the utmost of cruelty, and yet would be looked on as patterns of all moderation and meekness. Let me impart to you three Let∣ters which two of our Friends who are yet in France have written to me since I came from Paris. I received the two first at Calis, before I got into the Pacquet Boat; the last was delivered me last night after you went away from any Chamber. You will there see with what Gentleness they proceed in those Countries. He thereupon read to me his Letters, and I have since took Copies of them, and send them here inclosed.

A Copy of the First Letter.

WE are just upon the point of seeing that Reformation which hath cost so much labour and pains, and so much blood, come to nothing in France. To know the condition of the Protestants in the several Provinces of this Kingdom, you need but read what the first Christians suffered under the Reigns of the Emperors Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Maximin, Dioclesian and such like. There are four Troops of Horse in Poitou who live at free Quarter, upon all of the Protestant Religion without any exception. When they have pillaged the Houses of them who will not go to Mass, they tie them to their Horse Tails, and drag them thither by force. The In∣tendant whom they have sent thither, who is their most bitter Enemy, hath his Witnesses ready suborned, who accuse whom they please, of what Crimes they please, and after that cast the poor men into dark Dungeons, beat them with Cudgels, and then pass sentence of death to terrifie them; and afterwards under-hand, send others to try them by fair means, to promise them that their mourning shall be turn'd into joy, if they will but go to Mass. Those whom God gives the grace to resist, die in the Dungeon, through unspeakable anguish. Three Gentlemen of Quality who went about to confirm some of the poor people in their Village, that began to waver, were presently clapt up, Flax put about their Necks, then set on fire, and so they were scorch'd, till they said they would renounce their Religion. There would be no end if I should relate all that is done. This you may be assured of, that the People of Israel were never so oppress'd by the E∣gyptians, as the Protestants are by their own Country-men.

A Copy of the Second Letter.

To make good my promise of giving you an exact Account of the continuance of the persecution which is rais'd against the Pro∣testants in France, I shall acquaint you that they of Poitiers are threat'ned with being made a Garrison this Winter. I say they, the Protestants: For none but they must quarter any of them. Monsieur de Marillac gives himself up wholly to the making of Proselytes. The

Deputies of Poitiers are now here to make complaint of the violences they still labour under. They offer, by a Petition which they have presented, at the cost of their lives, if they are found guilty of any Falshood, or if they do not make out what they say. They set forth, that by the Orders of Monsieur Marillac, the Protestant are dealt with as declared Enemies; that their Goods and their Houses are plundered; their persons assaulted; that the Soldiers are employed as Executioners of these Outrages. That they are quartered upon the Protestants only, that besides the excessive expence they put them to, they exact money of them with dreadful Oaths and Execrations. They knock them down, they drag Women by the hair of the Head, and Ropes about their Necks, they have put them to the torture with Screws, by clapping their Fingers into a Vice, and so squeezing them by degrees, they have bound aged Men, eighty years old, and beaten them, and have misused, before their Eyes, their Children, who came to comfort them: They hinder Handicrafts men from working; they take from Labourers what they use for their Livelyhood; they set their Goods openly to sale, and they clap their Swords and Pistols to their Breasts, who are not frighted with their other Usa∣ges: they drag them in Sheets into their Churches, they throw Holy Water in their Faces, and then say they are Catholicks, and shall be proceeded against as Relapsed, if they live otherwise. It is not permitted to these miserable persons to complain; those who would have attempted it have been seised on, and the Prisons are full of them. They are detained there without any Process being made a∣gainst them, and even without so much as having their Names en∣tred in the Iayl-Books. If any Gentleman speak to Monsieur Ma∣rillac, he answers them, that they should meddle with their own Busi∣ness, that otherwise he will lay them fast. This is a Taste of what they are doing here.

A Copy of the Third Letter.

BEing very busie, it shall suffice at this time to send you a Copy of a Letter; which I just now received from Saintes, con∣cerning the Protestants of this Kingdom; Sir J. P. our common Friend writ it me. He is now making his Tour of France. I in∣treated

treated him to inform himself as well as he could how they treated the poor people in those places he was to pass through, that he might give me a full Account. This is the Letter, dated the last of August, Old Style. I am now going out of Aulnix, where I meet with no∣thing but Objects of Compassion. The Intendant of Rochefort, which is Monsieur Du Muins, lays all waste there. It is the same person concerning whom at the Marquis de Segnelay's we were told so many pleasant Stories last Winter at S. Germain. Do not you remember that they talked much of a certain Picard, who owed all his Fortune to his Wife, and whom the Marquis de Segnelay treats always as the worst of men? That's the Man, he is born to do mis∣chief as much as ever man was, and his Employment hath increas'd bis insolence beyond measure. To this he hath added, to the Protestants grief, all the barbarous zeal of Ignorance. And if the King would let him do it, he would soon act over again the Tragedy of S. Bar∣tholomew. About ten days since he went to a great Town in Aunix, called Surgeres, accompanied with his Provost, and about forty Arch∣ers. He began his Feats with a Proclamation that all the Huguenots should change their Religion, and upon their refusal he quartered his Troop upon those poor people: he made them to live there at discre∣tion, as in an Enemies Country; he made their Goods to be thrown into the Streets, and their Beds under the Horses Feet. By his Or∣der the Vessels of Wine and Brandy were staved, and their Horse Heels wash'd with it; their Corn was sold, or rather given away, for a fourth part of what it was worth, and the same was done to all the Tradesmens Goods: Men, Women and Children were put to the Torture, were dragged by force to the Popish Churches; and so great Cruelty was used towards them that the greatest part not being able longer to indure the extremity of the pain, renounced their Religion. By the same means they forced them to give it under their hands, That they had abjured without constraint, and of their own free choice. The Goods of those who found means to escape, are sentenced to be sold, and to be pillaged. Proud of so noble an Expedition, our good man returns to Rochefort, the place of his ordinary abode, forbids all the Prot••s••ants, who are there pretty numerous, to remove any of their G••ods out of the Town, under penalty of confiscation of what should be seised, and corporal punishment over and above; and

he commands them all to change their Religion in five days. This was done by sound of Trumpet, that no one might pretend igno∣rance. The Term expires to morrow. After this he marched to Moze (it is another great Town in Aunix) where there is a very fair Church of the Protestants, and a very able Minister, there he set out the same Prohibitions, and the same Commands that he had at Rochefort. Upon this a very worthy person of the place, and Elder of the Church, named Mr. Jarry, addressed to him with a most humble Remonstrance; and this cruel and barbarous man made him presently to be clapt up in Irons. A••ter this he quartered his Men upon those of the Protestant Religion, where he exerciseth the same violence which he did at Surgeres. Nevertheless hitherto no one hath made Shipwrack of his Conscience in this place. They suffer all this cruel persecution with an admirable constancy. God of his Mercy support them to the end. All the rest of Aunix is in extreme consterna∣tion. There are likewise Prohibitions made at Rochelle, against the shipping of any Goods. In so much that all they who slie away run a great hazard of carrying away their lives only for a prey. Adieu. I will end mine as Sir J. P. doth his: all your Friends—

Do you intend to conclude there, said I to our Friend? I have a mind to do so (replyed he) tho I have a thousand Insolences and Outrages more yet to acquaint you with. But it is late; and I have produced but too much to justifie the French Protestants who forsake their Country, from any suspicion of impatience or wantonness. You see now what are the Reasonable Means that are used to convert them. Those goodly means which have been employed are, To despise the most Sacred Edict that was ever made by men; to count as nothing promises repeated a hundred times, most solemnly by authentick Declarations; to reduce people to utmost Beggary; to make them die of Hunger, in my opinion, a more cruel death than that by Fire or Sword, which in a moment ends life and miseries together; to lay upon them all sorts of afflictions, to take away their Churches, their Ministers, their Goods, their Children, their liberty of being born, of living, or of dying in peace, to drive them from their Employments, their Honors, their Houses, their native Country; to knock them on the head, to drag them to the Mass with Ropes about their Necks, to imprison them, to cast them into Dungeons, to give them the question, put them to the Rack, make them die in the midst of torments, and that too without so much as any Formality of

Justice. This is that they call Reasonable Means, Gentle and Innocent Means: For these are the Terms which the Archbishop of Claudio∣pol••s useth, at the Head of all the Deputies of the Clergy of France, in the Remonstrance they made to their King, the last year when they took leave of his Majesty. I must needs read you the passage: here is the Remonstrance, and the very words of that Archbishop: Those gentle and innocent means which you make use of, Sir, with so much success to bring the Hereticks into the bosom of the Church, are becoming the Bounty and Goodness of your Majesty, and conformable at the same time to the mind of the divine Pa∣stor, who always retains Bowels of Mercy for these strayed Sheep: he wills, that they should be brought back, and not hunted away, because he desires their salva∣tion, and regrets their loss. How far is this conduct from the rigor wherewith the Catholicks are treated in those Neighbouring Kingdoms which are infected with Heresie. Your Majesty makes it appear, what difference there is between Reason and Passion, between the Meekness of Truth, and the Rage of Imposture, between the Zeal of the House of God, and the Fury of Babylon. In good truth, cryed I to our Friend, after the reading of this passage: this is in∣sufferable, and I cannot forbear taking my turn to be a little in passion. Methinks they should blush to death, who call those Cruelties, which have been executed upon innocent Sheep, Meekness; and that Rigor, and the fury of Babylon which we have inflicted upon Tigers, who thirsted after our Blood, and had sworn the destruction of Church and State. They plague and torment to death more than a million of peaceable per∣sons, who desire only the freedom of serving God according to his Word, and the Laws of the Land, who cannot be accused of the least shadow of Conspiracy, and who by preserving that Illustrious Blood which now reigns there, have done to France Services deserv'd, together with the Edict of Pacification, the love, and the hearty thanks of all true French Men. And we have put to death in a legal manner, it may be twenty wretched persons (the most of which had forfeited their lives to the Law, for being found here) convinced by divers Witnesses, who were the greatest part Papists, of having attempted against the Sacred Li••e of our King, and the lives of millions of his faithful Subjects. Surely they would have had us let them done their Work, let them have rooted out that Northern Heresie, which they were, as they assure us by their own Letters, in so great, and so near hopes of accomplishing. But we had not forgot the Massacre of Ireland, wherein, by the confession of one of their own Doctors, who knew it very well, more than a hundred and fifty thousand of our Brethren, in the midst of a profound peace, without any provocation, by a most sudden and barbarous Rebellion, had their Throats cut by that sort of Catholicks, whose fate they so much bewail.

Altho your Transport be very just, and I am very well pleased with it,

said our Friend to me, I must needs interrupt you; to bring you back a∣gain to our poor Protestants. What say you to their Condition? I say (answered I) that there can be nothing more worthy compassion; and that we must entirely forget all that we owe to the Communion of Saints, if we open not our hearts, and receive them as our true Brethren. I will be sure to publish in all places what you have informed me, and will stir up all persons to express in their favour all the Duties of Hospitality and Chri∣stian Charity. To the end (said he to me) you may do it with a better heart, at our next meeting, I will fully justifie them against all those malici∣ous Reports which are given out against their Loyalty and their Obedience to the Higher Powers. Let us take for that all to morrow seven-night, As you please, said I, so we took leave one of another: and thus you have an end of a long Letter, assuring you, that I ever shall be, Sir, Yours.

FINIS.

Notes

• Art. 1. pat••.
• Mr. God. Hermant, Doctor of the Sorbin. Tom. 1. Book 2 p. 204. and Note•• of the same chap••. p. 625.
• Surl' an. 1572 Edit. Amsterd. p. 30.
• Printed at P••ris cum Privi••••gio Chaz Lio∣nard, In∣primt••r du ••••y. 1680.
• Omahon S. Th. Mag. Disputatio Apolegitica de Iure Regni Hi∣b••rni•• pro Catholicis, n. 20.