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When these poor Wretches had signed this Abjuration, and hoped there∣by to be at rest, they were far enough from it; for their Consciences flew in their Faces, and many of them were driven unto despair. Yet their Per∣secutors never ceased tormenting them; they must own and attest it before the World, that they embraced the Roman Religion freely, voluntarily,
and of their own accord, and that no Violence was offer'd them to move or induce them to turn from the Reformed Religion. And if after this they scrupled to go to Mass, to communicate after the Popish way, to tell over their Chaplet of Beads, or if a Sigh escaped from them, indicating their Grief and Sorrow for their great Sin in forsaking the Truth, immediately there were great Fines laid upon them, and their old Guests the Dragoons are sent back again to beat up their quarters, and they must entertain a∣fresh those old Guests, who had wearied them out of their Faith and Life.
I have by me a Letter from Mets, giving an account of the state of the poor Protestants upon their Abjuration; which may not be unacceptable to the Reader.
My Dear F.
YOUR's of the Thirteenth of September is come to my hands, by which I perceive you are well informed of all things relating to those Holy Missionaries, our Dragoons. You cannot for all that imagine what it is to fall into the hands of such Apostles. Of all the Families of Mets, there are left but two Persons which have not subscribed, viz. Madamoi∣selle Goffin, who is a Prisoner in the Nunnery of the Female Preachers, and Madamoiselle Ferry, Sister to Monsieur Le Bachelier the Counsellour, who is also clapt up in the Nunnery of St. Clare. These are the only two Persons who have refused Subscription; yet do not persuade your self into that O∣pinion, that because they have subscribed, therefore they must needs be of the Roman Religion: nay the very contrary is true, for we were never more estranged from it. I shall deal plainly with you, we ought not to be blamed for our weakness in subscribing; for had all the Ministers of France, now exiled the Kingdom, been resident in it, and lain, as we have, at the cruel mercy of Dragoons; I am certainly persuaded, that not five in an hun∣dred could have stood it out, but must have subscribed as well as we. Do not then believe that such as have subscribed have changed their Religion, I can give you full evidence that they were never more zealous for the Re∣formed Religion than now. I know we have too too much neglected your Advices; but the most eminent among us were too secure, even our Mini∣sters themselves, who, because of the profound peace in which we lived, had made Purchaces, and richly furnished their houses with the best of Goods. And if, after all this, we have had the Misfortune to expect that ill Hour and Lot of Subscription, 'twas because there was no means left of saving our selves; and whereas we be condemned for our foolish confidence in those golden Promises, That neither by word or deed we should be in the least hurt upon the score of Conscience; I must reply, it was because, the Passages on the Frontiers being so strictly guarded, we could not possi∣bly escape; for on this side of the Kingdom all were so narrowly watched, that a poor Cat could not meet with an Hole, by which to creep out.
You writ to me concerning Monsieur N. pray when you see him, tell him that Madam N. his Sister-in-law lodgeth at my house, with her Family, and that already three of her Sons are departed the Kingdom. She is one of the sweetest Gentlewomen that may be, the Lord bless and assist her in all her designs. She ran the same risk with the rest, but is little concerned for it. There be daily brought into the Prisons of this City, Persons of Vitry, Chalons, and Sedan, who are Condemned unto the Gallies, or to perpetual Duress. Finally on our side we have no means left us of escaping, so that we must absolutely resign our selves to the will of our God, 'till he open a Door for us. Yet I beseech you, do not believe, that Worldly consi∣derations, as of goods and estates, do detain us here; No, no, could we but have had liberty of departure, we had long e'r this gone away, though
only with our Shifts about us, yea, tho' we had left our Children behind us. But it is not God's will that we should yet quit this place, nay, 'tis his will that we be patient, and that we hinder our Childrens falling into such hands as would educate them in Idolatry, in a false Religion, and in an aver∣sion for our selves also. I must add, that we had no preservative from sub∣scribing, it was wholly impossible to avoid that Subscription against the Protestant Reformed Religion, tho' as yet we are not obliged to go to Mass; but expect once more the Dragoons with their Swords in their hands to drive us to it. We know we have subscribed, but we know also we have not changed our Religion, and through Grace we shall never change it. I may assure you, that so great were our Oppressions, that they might have oblig'd us to have been Turks as well as Papists, and to have wore a Turban, had it been as high again as the Triple Crown. Our wi∣sest Catholicks for these last six Months have told us, That we should short∣ly be of one Religion, but never be of one belief. And they had reason for what they said. For we were never more fixed in our Religion than now. Sometimes, for fashions sake, we go unto their Sermons, but return ex∣treamly dissatisfied with those Discourses, and more confirmed in our first Faith than before. Poor Monsieur de Chevenix lies very ill, the Curate of his Parish was with him to oblige him to Confession; but he positively told him, he would not confess himself to any but God, who alone could forgive him his sins; and not to any mortal creature, who was as much a sinner as himself. Afterwards he was visited by the Archbishop, who would have obliged him to communicate before death, which he also as stiffly refused. The Archbishop acquainted him with the King's Orders, concerning such who being sick refuse to communicate e'er they die. He replied, that he cared not a Rush for them, and that he would never communicate after the Popish manner. I know not what may happen hereafter, but at present he is mending, and I believe he will perfectly recover. But the Ordinances of the King, or rather of the Clergy, are, That the sick shall communicate before death; and in case they do not, their dead Carkasses shall be drawn upon the Hurdle, and then thrown into the Common Jakes, and all their Goods confiscated; and if they recover, they shall however be condemn'd unto the Gallies, and all their Goods confiscated. You may see by this to what a woful pass we are reduced, till the Lord our good God shall be plea∣sed to turn the Wheel better for our advantage. Our whole Family here salutes you: We are wholly busied in gathering in the Vintage, but never with less pleasure, inasmuch as we know not for whom we toil our selves. Monsieur Ancillon hath left Hannaw for Ber∣lin, whither he is called to be their fourth Minister. Madamoiselle Morgue with two of her Sisters are gotten safely out of the Kingdom, after that they had been hid from the Dragoons. Farewel.
Octob. 2. 1686.
I am Yours, E.—
N. B. Monsieur Chevenis, who is mentioned in this Letter, was a venerable and ancient Gentleman, a person of eminent Prudence, illustrious for Learn∣ing and Godliness, and Counsellor to the King in the Court of Metz. He per∣sisted faithful to death; and when dead they dragged most inhumanly his dead Car∣kass upon a Hurdle, and buried it in a Dunghil. He hath a Brother, a very Re∣verend Minister of the Gospel, refugied in this City of London.
There were in that Church 10000 Com∣municants.