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. XLVIII.

Whil'st the Dragoons do thus ravage and ruinate the Provinces, causing Terrors and Desolations where ever they come, Orders are dispatched to all the Frontier Countries and Sea-port Towns, strictly to guard the Passa∣ges, and to stop all persons who are departing the Kingdom. So that there was no hope lest of saving themselves by flight. None could pass unless he brought with him a Certificate from the Priest of his Parish, or the Bi∣shop of the Diocess in which he lived, that he was a Roman Catholick. Others are put in Prison, and treated like Traytors to their King and Coun∣try. All Ships of Foreigners lying in the Ports and Havens of the Kingdom are diligently searcht for Passengers; the Coasts, Bridges, Passages unto Rivers, and the Highways are all strictly guarded night and day; and the neigh∣bouring States are imperiously required not to harbour any more Fugitives, and to dismiss or send back again such as they had already received, and At∣tempts were also made to seize and carry away some who had escaped into foreign Countries.

I have lying by me a Letter from Geneva, giving a doleful Account of the poor Refugees, who had fled thither. Possibly the Reader will not be dis∣pleased at the reading of it.

From Geneva, Nov. 1685.

SIR,

IT's a good while ago that the French Protestants began to secure them∣selves both here and in Switzerland, yet it was but very slowly e'er they retired hither, there being not on this side of France those conveniencies for them as in England and Holland. However their number increased with their Persecutions; and this Honour is due unto Geneva, that tho' at first (whil'st we supposed there was not an indispensable necessity upon our Protestant Brethren for their flight) we seemed somewhat cold as to their reception; yet having at last too great cause to believe it, I may speak it without vanity, that Geneva exercised a charity towards these Fugitives which will recommend her to posterity. I shall give you an undeniable proof hereof, and that presently. Ever since the first Troubles at Montau∣ban, and the great consternation of the other Provinces, Geneva never fail∣ed to receive and relieve with Monies and other Supplies all that had re∣course unto her, and for more than two Months together there passed not a day over our heads in which Geneva did not daily receive and supply 30, 50, 80, 90 Person•• of all Ages, of both Sexes, and of all Conditions. But as we had an occasion of satisfaction from the Charity of Geneva, so we must also avow, that it was utterly impossible not to be affected with such a multitude of pitiful Objects as daily presented themselves unto us, and especially since the passages were guarded, some arriving disguis'd, on foot, in a deplorable condition, who would they have left their God might have been as to this World very happy. Women and Maids came to us in the Habits of Men, Children in Coffers packt up as Cloaths, others without any other precaution at all than in their Cradles tied about their Parents necks, some passing this, others that way, all stopping either at the Gates or Churches of the City, with Cries and Tears of Joy and Sorrow mingled together: some demanding, where are our Fathers and Mothers? others, where are our Wives and Children? not knowing where to find them, nor having learnt any News of them from the time they departed from their Houses. In short, every one was so affected with these miserable Objects,

that it was impossible to refrain from weeping. Some had no sooner pas∣sed the first Barricado, but prostrating themselves upon their Knees, sung a Psalm of Thanksgiving for their happy deliverance, tho', poor Crea∣tures, they had not wherewithal to get themselves a Meal's meat, and might have gone to Bed that Night supperless, had not the Lord of his great goodness extraordinarily provided for them. Thus we spent two Months, every day affording us new Adventures, fresh and eminent Ex∣amples of Self-denial, and that divers-ways. I shall give you a few Instan∣ces. Among others a Lady of great quality, the Mother of ten Children, whose Husband, Monsieur d' Arbaud, had revolted from the truth at Nismes; this Lady, I say, forsook eighteen thousand Livers of yearly Revenue, without ever having been able to make a Purse to defray her Journey; and, maugre all the Cares and Endeavours of her Husband and the Bishop, brought with her nine of her Children, and the youngest of them about seven Years of age; yet when she came here she had but two Crowns left her to maintain herself and them. It was but two days since that I bad Adieu to my Lord the Baron of Aubaye, who forsook above five and twenty thousand Livers of yearly Revenue, for the Gospel, and all his Stock was but thirty Pistols. I gave Letters of Recommendation to the Baron of Te∣melac, who is banisht for eight and twenty Years. This Nobleman forsook eight thousand Livers of good Rents, and departed hence with a very small Supply to seek some Employment where ever he can meet it, for his sub∣sistence. My Lord de* 1.1 Bougi departed hence some few days ago with eight or ten Gentlemen for Germany. I cannot reckon unto you an infinite num∣ber of other persons, whose Names are unknown to me. Six or seven came hither about five days since, who seemed to be the Servants of a Comman∣der of Malta, bearing upon his Breast the great Cross. There came also a far greater Troop, who met at the Passes a multitude of poor People with their Wives and Children that had been stopt by the Guards, these force a passage for them with themselves, and conveyed them with their Bag∣gage hither in safety. The City of Lyons hath given illustrious Examples of remorse of Conscience; in particular, no longer than yesterday, we had one, and that a very sensible one. A Woman and her Son, to secure an Estate of an hundred thousand Crowns, had sunk under the temptation, and revolted unto Popery; but they were so tormented in their Conscien∣ces night and day after their Apostasie, that they could have no peace nor rest till they had quitted both their Estate and Habitation. Some others who had miscarried in the same manner, durst not tarry (through the stings of their inraged Consciences) any longer than for the first opportuni∣ty of escaping, and brought with them to this City their Abjuration. This Abjuration of theirs is a certain Paper in which is written the Name of this new Popish Convert, together with the Seal of the Bishop and that of the Magistrate of the place; by vertue of which they be freed from quar∣tering of Dragoons, and are permitted to go and come and traffick when and wheresoever they please. And among our new Converts this Paper is call'd, The Mark of the Beast. I have seen several Copies of them.

But you must not imagine, that all are come unto Geneva. Switzerland hath entertain'd a vaster multitude than we, who have come unto them, and are daily coming from all quarters, some one way, some another, some as if they dropt down from the Clouds, that is from the tops of the Mountains, either of the Franche County, or from those of Chablays; in short, no man can tell how or which way they are come unto them. No longer than yesterday, in despite of all Guards at the several Passes, and dangers of the Gallies, there arrived hither no less than fifty Persons. A tall Chair∣man, who had been a Lacquey, as he was coming from his House, espying Monsieur de Cambiaquet passing over the Bridge, immediately stopt, and

imbraced him in his Livery Coat. Four young Ladies of Grenoble disgui∣sed in Mens. Apparel, after they had lodged four or five days in the Forests and Mountains, without any other Provision than a little Bread, and their Arms, having travell'd only by night, came hither but a few hours ago in this their gallant Equipage. Should I write you all the stories I know, we should never have done.

About a Fortnight since a panick fear of the Dragoons coming into the Land of Gex (where yet are reckoned about 17000. Protestants, though most of them very poor People) had so seized upon their Spirits, that one Morning, we saw at our Gates, five hundred Carts loaden with Houshold Goods, and follow'd with an innumerable multitude of Persons, who went and came from all Quarters. On that side of Switzerland, and of the Moun∣tains, there was yet a far greater power of them, in so much that it af∣frighted all the Country. The Governour came and complain'd of it unto our Magistrates; but they replied, they could not shut the Gates of their City upon his Majesty's Subjects, and had they done it, there had been an unavoidable uproar among the People. However these poor People were desired to depart elsewhere, and not to expose our Commonwealth. To which they readily obeyed.

And in as much as the Governour, a notorious bitter Enemy of the Ma∣gistrates and City of Geneva, though without cause, would not fail to make a foul brabble of this business, and because our Resident was expected in three or four days, we intreated generally, but with a great deal of sweetness, the greatest part of the French to withdraw themselves, as soon as possible, which they did, and of their own accord, without delay; but with a great deal of grief on our part, who lost at this first bout abundance of very godly People, with whose Company we were very much comforted. The Resident being arriv'd told us he had no order to speak about these matters, yea contrariwise, that he was only to treat with them as with particular Friends. But three days after a Letter comes, by which, the King, all in Choler, commands his Resident to be instant with our Ma∣gistrates, that immediately they drive out of the City, all his Rebellious Subjects, and charge them to return unto their respective dwellings. But mark the stinging consequence hereof.

Hereupon the Council is assembled, and after divers Debates they re∣solv'd, though to the great heart-breaking and general sorrow of the Citi∣zens, to make Proclamation, that all the French should immediately be gone. Which was no sooner ordered but observed, yet not without a re∣doubled grief on their hearts, who had not departed the first time, and would willingly have continued.

This Proclamation being published just as we were coming forth from Evening Prayers, it perfectly astonished and over-whelmed those poor Peo∣ple, who reckoned this expulsion as a second banishment from their Native Country.

In the mean while our Resident inform'd the King of the submission of Geneva unto his Orders, and that in the fairest manner, and dispatched al∣so our Magistrates Memorial with reference to the particular Complaints and Accusations of the Governour of Gex, our Magistrates intending a sincere performance of his Majesty's Order, sent the Tithing-men to intreat every one to depart with the first conveniency. This Order Executed with too much severity by the Under-Officers, caused a new uproar among the People. However every one took Boat without delay, dreading worse News and Orders that might inforce them to return to their own Houses. In three days time there departed from us above a thousand Persons. Yet this wrought a very bad effect among the Commonalty of Switzerland, who were not able to penetrate into the Causes moving our Commonwealth to

yield this obedience at this time unto his Majesty. But these is yet some∣thing more Cruel. For the King sends us a thundering Letter, by which he approves the whole procedure of the Governour of Gex, in hindring all Commerce between Gex and Geneva; so that not only no Provisions can from thence be imported into the City, but also none of the Inhabitants of Geneva dare fetch in Herbs or Corn from their Gardens and Barns; yea, over and above, he commands them immediately to expel, out of the City, all Ministers that had been setled in it within three years last past, as a Company of Seditious Fellows, that held private Cabals in Geneva to embroil his Kingdom. And he requires also of them an ac∣count what they had done with his Subjects whom he had ordered them to dispatch back again to their own homes, and that if he had not a sa∣tisfaction in full to all his Commands, he would make them repent that ever they had offended him.

In a word, never had we a Letter, a Letter of this Nature, in such a daring, menacing stile. Truly had it not been for our Magistrates the People, who were exceedingly concerned at it, had quite broken out. The Switzers have a General Assembly this Week. And thus you have a faith∣ful account of our present Condition.

We wait impatiently for the King's Answer to those Letters which in∣form'd him of our ready Obedience unto his Orders. But we fear every thing, because he having once begun to make his demands, sets no bounds to them. The Switzers are hastning to their Assembly, and the People seems very resolute to stand up in defence of their Liberties and Religion. Every one is ready to march at the first Signal. In the mean while the Switzers have been wonderful in their Charity. The Country of Vaux is fill'd in every Corner with French Fugitives. Within these three Weeks there have been reckon'd above 17500. Persons that have passed unto Lausanne. Zurich writ admirable Letters to Berne and Geneva, desiring them to send of those poor People to them, and that they would receive them as their own natural Brethren into their Country, into their Houses, yea, and into their very Hearts.

We long to know, whether the King will not make the same demand unto the Switzers as unto Geneva. But 'tis hoped they'll not bate his Majesty an ace, but assert their own Rights and Soveraignty. Yet there being a Spi∣rit of Bigottry crept in among the Popish Cantons, even in the very face of the Protestants, this troubles a World of People.

Yours, N. N.

Notes

• * 1.1

  One of the mostillustrious Noblemen of Languedoc.