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. XLII.

They began with Bearne, in this Province the Dragoons first exercised their skill in Persecuting. Soon after the storm breaks out in the High and Lower Guienne; from thence it rides post unto Xaintongue, Aunix, Poictou, the Upper Languedoc, Vivaretz, and Dolphiny. Then they roar and ravage in Lionnois, Sevennes, and the Lower Languedoc, Provence, and in the Valleys of Piedmont, and the little Country of Gex. Afterwards they fall with a most horrid rage upon the rest of the Kingdom, upon Normandy, Burgun∣dy, Nivernois and Berry, the Provinces of Orleans, Tourain, Anjou, Brittain, Champagne, Piccardy and the Isle of France, not excluding Paris it self, which underwent the same Fate with the other Protestants.

The first thing the Intendants were to do, according to their Orders and Instructions, was to summon the Cities and Commonalties before them; and when those Inhabitants which professed the Reformed Religion were as∣sembled, they then very gravely acquaint them, That it was his Majesty's pleasure they should without delay become Roman Catholicks, and if they would not do it freely, they would make them do it by force. These poor People, surpriz'd with such a proposition, answer, That they were ready to sacrifice their Lives and Estates to the King, but their Consciences and Souls being not their own but Gods, they could not in any wise dispose of them.

There needed no more to bring in the Dragoons upon them: these armed and booted Apostles are at hand; they seize immediately on the Gates and Avenues of the Cities, they place their Guards in all the Passages, and brandishing their naked Swords, the Cry is, Kill! Kill! or else turn Catho∣licks! They be quartered on the Protestants at discretion, and are strictly charged by their Officers to let none go out of their houses, nor to hide and conceal their goods or effects, on great penalties. The Catholicks also are threatned in like manner, in case they should receive, harbour, or assist them. The first days are spent in consuming those Provisions the house afforded, and plundering them of Moneys, Rings, Jewels, and whatever was of any esteem or value. Then they set to sale all the goods of the Family, and invite the Papists not only of that place, but also those of the neighbour Towns and Cities to come and buy them. And be sure they could sell them cheap pennyworths, and give them a very good Title.