Synodicon in Gallia reformata, or, The acts, decisions, decrees, and canons of those famous national councils of the reformed churches in France being I. a most faithful and impartial history of the rise, growth, perfection and decay of the reformation in that kingdom, with its fatal catastrophe upon the revocation of the Edict of Nants in the year 1685 : II. the confession of faith and discipline of those churches : III. a collection of speeches, letters, sacred politicks, cases of conscience, and controversies in divinity, determined and resolved by those grave assemblies : IV. many excellent expedients for preventing and healing schisms in the churches and for re-uniting the dismembred body of divided Protestants : V. the laws, government, and maintenance of their colleges, universities and ministers, together with their exercise of discipline upon delinquent ministers and church-members : VI. a record of very many illustrious events of divine providence relating to those churches : the whole collected and composed out of original manuscript acts of those renowned synods : a work never be extant in any language.

SECT. XXX.

But because there were yet many which could sustain themselves, other Methods of Oppression must be invented. To this end they issued out an Edict from the Council by which the New Converts, as they call them, were discharged from paying any of their Debts for three Years.

This for the most part fell sore and heavy upon the Reformed; who having had a more particular tie of interest and business with these pre∣tended Converts, because of their Communion in Religion, were reckon∣ed their chiefest Creditors. By this Order they had found the Secret to recompence those that changed, at the charge of those who continued firm; and this they did likewise by another way. For they discharged the New Converts of all Debts, which those of the Religion had contracted in Fel∣lowship with them. So that the poor Protestants must pay all. Horrible In∣justice! Cruel, hellish Oppression!

Add to this, The Protestants are prohibited to sell, or alienate their Estates, on any pretence whatsoever, the King disannulling and vacating all Contracts and other Acts relating to that Matter; if it did not appear, that after these Acts, they had stayed in the Kingdom a whole Year: so that the last Remedy of helping themselves with their Estates in extream necessity was now wholly taken from them.

There remained yet a Sheet-Anchor for the poor Protestants, and that was all which was left them to save themselves in this storm, to retire into other Countreys, where they might get their living by their labours, since it was not permitted them in France. But the King by repeated E∣dicts forbad them to leave the Kingdom upon very severe Penalties. This rendred their case desperate; for they saw themselves reduced to that hor∣rible necessity of being starv'd to death, to die of famine.

And yet the cruelty of their Enemies did not stop here. For there re∣maining some gleanings in the Provinces, tho' very few, and those as thin, lean and blasted as the Ears of Corn in Pharaoh's Dream. The Intendants in their respective Districts had express order to load the Reformed with Taxes, which they did in this manner: Either by laying upon them the Tax of the new Catholicks, who were discharged thereof on favour of their conversion, or by laying exorbitant Taxes, which they call Duties; that is to say, He, who in the ordinary Roll was assessed at forty or fifty Livers, was charged by this Imposition with seven or eight hundred. Thus had they nothing more left, for all was a Prey to the griping Covetousness and brutish Cruelty of Inhumane Intendants. They levied their Taxes from them by the effectual quartering of Dragoons upon them, or by close Imprisonment; from whence they were never freed, till such time as they had paid down the utmost farthing.