A compleat history of the most remarkable providences both of judgment and mercy, which have hapned in this present age extracted from the best writers, the author's own observations, and the numerous relations sent him from divers parts of the three kingdoms : to which is added, whatever is curious in the works of nature and art / the whole digested into one volume, under proper heads, being a work set on foot thirty years ago, by the Reverend Mr. Pool, author of the Synopsis criticorum ; and since undertaken and finish'd, by William Turner...

CHAP. CL. The Sufferings of the Reformed in the Kingdom of France.

THE Sufferings of the Reformed in the Kingdom of France, within the Revolution of a few Years, have been so great, and attended with so many Remarkable Providences, that tho' we can∣not pretend to give our Reader a full Idea of them here, that being reserved' till the Publication of the Two last Volumes of the Edict of Nants it self; yet we cannot but take notice of a few Parti∣culars, which were Transacted within the Bounds of Lower Languedoc, and that may in the mean time serve for a Specimen of the same.

1. When the Parliament of Toulouse, and other Parliaments in France laboured to destroy the Pro∣testant Churches; God was pleased to raise up a Lawyer named Claude Brousson, who with much Zeal and holy Boldness sollicited the Parliament of Toulouse on their behalf, but being at last through the Violence of the Persecution forced to go out of France in the Year 1683. after he had run through many Dangers there, he did yet from thence forward labour according to his Ability, for the De∣fence, Edification, and Consolation of his distressed Brethren: Lausanne in Switzerland was the prin∣cipal place of his Residence, and though he had not been bred in the Study of Divinity, yet by assi∣duous Application, and the blessing of God upon his Labours, he Composed and caused to be Printed, several small Pieces adapted for the Use of the afflicted Churches, &c. and which he took care to have dispersed up and down France and elsewhere continually: As the extraordinary Ministers of God's Word, were pleased to come often to confer with him, concerning what both the one and the other of them had done for advancing the Lord's Work; and that on the other hand, he found he had not now as also for some time past the same liberty as formerly, to disperse his Writings in France by the Post, he was sollicited by his Conscience to return thither also, in order to do what he could for the Promotion of God's Glory, and had always these Words upon his Spirit, Ezek. 13.4, 5. O Israel, thy Prophets are like the Foxes in the Desares. Ye have not gone up into the Gaps, neither made up the Hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the Battel in the day of the Lord. And that other Text in Judges 5.23. Curse ye Meroz, [said the Angel of the Lord], &c. Wherefore he at length determined to go thither, and in order thereunto, made up several Bales of those Writings he had got Printed, and which he judged most proper for the advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven; he did suppose he might be able to find out a way to convey those Bales into Languedoc, and that when he found himself in the Heart of the Kingdom, he might disperse the said Writings with more Facility then he could have done during his abode in Switzerland; but the Ways of God are not like nor Ways, nor his Thoughts like our Thoughts. But whatever be proposed hereby, the Danger he should expose himself to, was very ter∣rible; for as he had had some share in the management of the Affairs of the Reformed Religion in France before the entire Desolation of their Churches, some of those Disorders which happened in the Year 1683, in Dauphine, Vivares, and Cevennes, were partly, tho' he were innocent, imputed to him; and the Zeal also which he had manifested divers ways during his Exile, for the Truth, Ser∣vice of God, and the Consolation of his desolate Church, had more and more irritated the Court, Clergy, and Jesuits against him. So that he clearly saw he could not return into France without ex∣posing himself to extream Danger; But the Motions of his Conscience were more vigorous than all the Considerations in the World; wherefore he prepared himself for this dangerous Journey, by fre∣quent Fastings and continued Prayer.

And as he had resolved to go into France in company with some other Servants of God, and that he saw the departure of one and another was deferred for Reasons that savoured too much of human Prudence; He felt in himself a Fire which consumed him without intermission, and which at last threw him into a slow Feaver, which most People thought to be Mortal, but whereof they knew not the cause; he saw now clearly that God would infallibly make him die on't, if he did any longer withstand the Motions of his Spirit; wherefore he concluded with himself, that if he must die, it were much better he went into France and died there, in following the Motion of his Conscience, than to pine away elsewhere and die without the discharging of his Duty. In order whereunto he met the other Servants of God who were willing to depart without any more delay, and they divided them∣selves into several Companies, because of their number, among whom were the Brethren Vivers, Lapiere, Serein, Boisson, Dombres, Poutant, Papus, &c. Brousson was still very weak, and much wasted; but God confirmed him in his Health while upon his Journey; he entred France in compa∣ny with Mr. Debruc, an ancient Minister, who for some time had Refugiated himself in Switzerland; they had not been long in France, but Debruc finding himself in eminent Danger, departed again out of the Kingdom; however, the rest afore-mentioned continued to instruct the People according to Op∣portunity and their Abilities; but many Months were not elapsed, when two of them, viz. Boisson and Dombres, after they had preached the Gospel in Cevennes with extraordinary success, suffered Mar∣tyrdom with unshaken Constancy; they went to the place of Punishment singing God's Praises; but least the Faithful and Roman-catholicks themselves might be edified by their pious Demeanour and Exhortations at the time of their Death, they ordered the Drums to Beat all he while, which has been a frequent Practise with them on several occasions.

2. About the same time, a young Man of about Seventeen, whose name was Soveirain alias Oliver, suffered Martyrdom at Mompellier with that marvellous Constancy, that the Intendant sometime after taking occasion to Discourse upon this Subject with Monsieur de Villeveille, Colonel of one of the

Regiments that had been for a long time in Cevennes and Langued••c to hinder such Assemblies of the Reformed, he told him, If the God whom these People serve be the same with that whom we adore, we run a risque of being one day very miserable.

But notwithstanding any present Remorse, on went the Fury of these Men, and among others the Soldiers seized a young Man in Cevennes, whose name was Roman, a Student in Divinity, and who had for a considerable time preached the Gospel there; they carried him to the Castle of St. John de Gardonnenques, where he was sentenced to die; but here Divine Providence interposed, for the Night before the Day wherein he was to suffer, a young Maiden who served in the Castle as Chamber-maid, having passed the Guards that were asleep before the Room wherein he was looked up, found a way through the Window to cut the Cords wherewith he was Bound, and so he made his escape; next Day, when none of the Prisoner was to be found, Monsieur de Montvaillant to whom the Castle be∣longed, and who was of the number of the pretended new Converts, was accused of setting him at liberty. But the young Woman camein of her self, and freely confest, she was the Person without the Intervention of any other, who had freed him, because she believed him to be innocent, and so ought to have compassion upon him; for which Fact she was sentenced to be Whipt by the common Hangman, and to perpetual Imprisonment, in a place called Sommieres, where if alive, she is to this Day.

But to return to Brousson, when he had got to Cevennes, and found he could not find a way where∣by by to get those Pieces he had Printed before in Switzerland into France, and which he hoped he might have been able to have got dispersed through the Kingdom; he immediately fell to instruct and com∣fort some of his Brethren by short Exhortations, in Reading and Expounding to them the Holy Scri∣pture, or in dispersing one way or another, those small Writings which he had composed for their in∣struction, and of which he made many Copies: Some Months after his arrival in France, that is, in December 1689, being with a small Company of the Faithful upon one of the high Mountains of Ce∣vennes covered with Snow, and in a Cottage, where he had dwelt for some Days with several of his Brethren; all these Faithful entreated and adjured him in the Name of the Lord, to preach the Go∣spel, and to administer the Lord's Supper unto them; Vivens who was also with him in the same Cortage, exhorted him to the same thing.

It is true, Brousson had found himself disposed of a long time, to Labour by Writing according to his ability, to advance the Kingdom of God; but on the other hand, he had not yet entirely forsaken his secular Imployment; for during his Exile, he had from time to time exercised the Function of his old Profession of Advocate, though with some regret, and so far as was necessary for the subsistence of himself and Family, having been dispossest of all his Estate before. Though at the same time he had not yet applied himself publicly to Preach the Holy Gospel. Wherefore being stirred up by the unanimous Exhortations of his Brethren to preach the Word of God, and then to administer unto them the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper; he told them he now clearly saw God had put that into their Hearts, and that he had a call to consecrate himself to his Work and Service in a more particu∣lar manner then he had done till that time, wherefore he prayed to God with his whole Hear, that he would be pleased to grant unto him those Graces that were necessary for so great a Work: But before he began his Preaching, Brother Vivens sought God in a very fervent Prayer, that he would be pleased to grant him the assistances of his Holy Spirit, that he might Labour faithfully and successfully in so holy and excellent a Work; which being ended, Brousson said, Well my Brethren, is it then your desire that I should preach the Word of God to you, and also administer the Holy Sacrament? To whom when the Faithful had made answer, That they ardently desired it; he added, That since it was the Will of God that he should preach the Gospel and administer the Lord's Supper unto them, he also Prayed with all his Heart, that the Lord would vouchsafe the saving Aids of his Holy Spirit unto him, and continually increase of Grace, to the end he might for the remainder of his Life, Labour successfully to the Glory of the great God, the Advancement of his Kingdom, and for the Salvation and Consolation of his chosen Ones: Then having himself made his Prayer of Consecration, he entred upon Preaching and Administring the Or∣dinances unto them.

Brouss••n in the beginning of January 1690, having need of a Companion took Henry Poutant along with him, as Vivens did Papus, and so they left the high Mountain where they had endured great Hardships and parted, Brousson going from Desart to Desart through C••vennes and Lower Languedoc to preach the Gospel: And tho' there were a great many Soldiers in that Country who moved Night and Day to hinder such Assemblies, yet that did not prevent their being frequently held in the Desarts. Brousson for the first two Years had a great many of them, sometimes three or four Meetings a Week, till at last the ill state of his Health and Stomach which he had lost by continual Labour forced him to ab∣stain for some Months; but the extream Desolation whereunto the People of God were reduced af∣fected him to that degree, that he could not moderate his Zeal, so that after he had taken some Re∣pose in one place, his manner was to traverse a large Country, and to keep Meetings almost at every League's distance, according as he found it necessary for the Instruction and Consolation of the Peo∣ple; Nay many times before he rested in any one place, he held ten, a dozen, fifteen, to twenty As∣semblies; sometimes it so happened, that for fifteen Nights together he kept Meetings every other Night, and yet made use of some part of the intermediate Night to go from one place to another. In the ordinary Assemblies he was obliged to speak eagerly for the space of three Hours, and when the Sacrament was administred for four or five Hours and an half, in the various Exercises of Divine Worship. Besides these continual Labours he made three long Prayers every Day, one in the Morning, another at three in the Afternoon, and a third in the Evening, for the Consolation of Families he came to as he passed from place to place, or for such who took care of him in the Desarts, and for those of other faithful Families who could be present at these particular Exercises; and these Prayers were also many times accompanied with an Exhortation: He also every Lord's Day performed two religious Exercises, one in the Morning, and the other in the Afternoon, with the Faithful who knew the place of his retreat, and who could come to Pray to God with him, and hear the Reading and Ex∣pounding

of his Word, or the Reading of some one of his Sermons, which Reading was also attended with an Exhortation.

He did not content himself with Preaching the Gospel, Viva voce, but he Preached it also by Wri∣ting: for the Night he employed to keep great Meetings, or to travel from Place to Place, and the Day after having taken a few Hours Repose in the Morning, he spent incessantly in making Copies of his Sermons, which he composed upon the most Important Matters of Salvation, in relation to the State the Church of God was then in, in France; and in Opposition to the Errors, Superstitions, Idolatry, and Tyrannick and Antichristian Rule, that took place in the Romish Church; which he took Care to have dispersed in Towns and Villages, where he could not go himself to Preach. He also Transcribed Copies of several Letters, or Prayers, which he Composed for the Edification of the Peo∣ple, and which he sent also to several Places: For this purpose he always carried a little Board with him, which serv'd him to write upon in the Woods, upon his Knees, and which he called the Wilder∣ness-Table; insomuch, that when the ill State of his Body, or the over-great Fury of his Enemies, hindred him to continue Holy Assemblies, God gave him the Comfort to labour for the Salvation of the People, in a way, sometimes, more efficacious and extensive, than if he could have Preached to them in Person: Besides which, he also laboured from time to time, to defend the Truth by other Writings, which he sent to the Court, in Justification of the Doctrine which he Preached; and to serve at the same time for an Apology for the other Servants of God, who Preached his Word in France, and for the People that met together to serve God, and hear his Word. Which yet had so little ef∣fect, that besides the daily Outrages of the Soldiery, there was an Order Published in the Year 1691, wherein was promised Five thousand Livres, to any one that should take Vivens and Brousson, dead or alive: At which Vivens being somewhat transported with Indignation, thô otherwise of unblamable Conversation, of which even the Intendant himself, Monsieur de Bavile, who hath made so many Mar∣tyrs in Lower Languedoc, Cevennes, Vivares, &c. bare Testimony, when he said, That he would not judge that same Man, they were so transported against him, that having taken one named Valdeiron, who was of the Number of those that accompanied him, the Violence offered him, and the fear of the hor∣rible Punishment prepared for him, made him shew them the Cave where Vivens had hid himself; which they immediately surrounded with Soldiers, in February 1692: the poor Man, after he had prayed thrice, resolved to sell his Life as dear as he could, and so killed three of the most adventu∣rous Men that drew nearest the Cave; at last, he was killed. There were three Men in the Cave with him, who could have defended themselves much longer, and destroy'd many of their Enemies; but the Governour of Alais, who Commanded the Soldiers, offering them Life, if they would surrender, they accepted of the Conditions: But for all this, they were some Days after most injuriously hanged at Alais, contrary to the said Capitulation.

It's true, Brousson did not approve of this immoderate Zeal in his Brother Vivens, and the rest; and therefore he proposed, for his part, to combat against his Enemies with the Sword of the Spirit only, which is the Word, and so continue his Ministry as before; and holding a Meeting one time in the Wood of Boncoviran, where there happened to be a Person remarkable for his Quality, who drew near him, through the midst of the People, and such being rarely then seen in the like Assemblies; this Assembly was discovered, and some-body said, He had seen a Person of Quality there: upon which Information, six Persons of Quality in those Parts were seized, viz. the Barons of Fous and Agremont, Mon. de Sanzet, Mon. de Gajans his Son, Mon. de Dommesargues, and Mon. de Fesse; for every one of which one might be bold to affirm, that since the Desolation of the Churches, they had never been in any of those Religious Assemblies; but right or wrong, they would have it so: and thereupon Mon. Dommessargues, and Gajans, were Condemned to the Gallies upon this Account, and the rest sent to the Min••s at Lyons.

But Br••••sson's gentle Carriage did not at all abate the Rage of his Enemies, but after the Death of Vivens, all the Choler of the Government was levelled at him; and they said, provided he could be destroy'd, all would be quiet in the Province: and from henceforward he was surrounded with an Army of Enemies, who incessantly thirsted for his Blood, and who sought for him Night and Day, with utmost Fury: But besides this great Number of declared Enemies, he was also exposed to the Perfidy of false Brethren; as there are always a great Number of Reprobates, who love the Ways of Iniquity, and give themselves to the Devil, for the least Reward or Profit, and who are more afraid of the Reproaches of Men, than of the Judgment of God; the Intendant was continually putting forth an Order, that promised a great Sum of Money to whomsoever should take, or kill him: And among others, there was one published, and set up every-where, in the Month of July, 1693, wherein was Five thousand Livres promised, to whomsoever, that would, by a Letter to the Post-Master, discover the Place where he might be seized: promising withal, upon his Faith and Honour, no Man should ever know, who it was that gave that Information: and adding, that after Brousson were taken, he that should give such Information, should have no more to do, than to go to the Post-Master, to whom he had sent the Letter, and he would pay him the Five thousand Livres, without enquiring who he was. There was almost no place wherein there was not some new Judas, who would sell himself to the Devil by seizing of him; it may well be judged, there now could have been no greater Danger for a Servant of God, than to go from place to place, to instruct and solace the People, and so put his Life into the Hands of a great many Persons, seeing the Assemblies, were very numerous and frequent: but God upon this occasion was pleased to make known, how wonderful the Care was he took for the Pre∣servation of those that fear him, who do not put their Trust in an Arm of Flesh, but their whole Con∣sidence in him

But to be a little more particular upon this Head: You are to Note, that there was a certain Per∣son of Aulas near Du Vigun, in Cevennes, whose Name was Gautier, with whom Brousson had been a Fellow-Student formerly, at Nismes; As this Gautier was a profane and wicked Person, but yet one that pretended himself to be of the Number of the New Converts, and who had also formerly been a Student for the Ministry; he was from time to time carried covertly into the Fort of St. Hipolite,

as a Prisoner for Religion; and there he related to the Faithful, who were really Prisoners for having been taken at Religious Meetings, the pretended Miseries which himself had suffered for a long time, to the end he might oblige those poor People to discover to him all that they knew. After he had done a World of Mischief in the Prisons, in this fashion, and had thereby got sufficient Instructions about Brousson, he treated with the Magistracy about seizing him. But that he might have the better Success in his Design, there was leave given him to hold Assemblies himself, and to Preach the Gospel; as he was a Person that had some good Measure of Learning, and who manifested much Zeal and Courage for the Truth, for he feared nothing; his Meetings were many times very numerous, and many of those who laboured sincerely for the Salvation of the People, began very often to frequent it; But he thought sit to spare them, that he might, as he thought, give more considerable Blows, and for which he was promised a greater Reward; wherefore he informed himself very diligently concerning Brousson, saying, he had a great desire to see and confer with him, in order to know, whether he would advise him to continue his Meetings, or go out of the Kingdom. When Brousson was adverti∣sed hereof, he said, he suspected that Man, that he had already understood that their Persecutors had sent false Brethren into the Prisons, for to discover the Secrets of such as were true Prisoners for the Gospel; that Gautier was got out of St. Hipolite Fort, no-body knew how, and that if he had true Zeal for the Church, he should have no occasion to consult any-body, upon the Message he sent him, since the People heard him with delight. That he must needs know, that Brousson had reason to be mistrustful of all such as he did not know throughly, and yet notwithstanding he had not heard of him but of late days, yet he ceased not to desire pressingly, to see him in his Retreat. In the mean time, a certain young Man, that had persevered in the Truth, and who had been often with Brousson, and who happened to come into some Meeting where this false Pastor was; conducted him to the House where Brousson then resided: But as the young Man went in first, and that Brousson reproached him, that he had betray'd him; the young Man went presently out again, and told the Traytor, That Brousson was not in that House: However, he conducted him in, and brought him to another Room than that Brousson was in; and from whence Brousson drawing nigh to hear what he said, he under∣stood, notwithstanding all his Disguise, he was a false Brother; and this he made known to his Friends. Some time after this, that same Wretch went to keep a Meeting in Lower Languedoc, near St. Geniez, to which Assembly he invited the most faithful of those Parts, who were surprised to see at some distance from him, eight or ten Men in Cloaks, whom they knew not, and who in appearance were Soldiers: He presently told them, he had prepared a little Sermon for them; but that seeing the Assembly was not numerous, he would content himself to make an Exhortation and Prayer; which he did very accu∣rately. When he had done, he told them, He was one of those Pastors who had Refugiated them∣selves in Switzerland; and that the other Ministers that remained in that Country, had sent him to in∣form himself of the Carriage of such as Preached the Gospel unto them. These poor People having hereupon testified how much they were satisfied therein; the Wretch said, he blessed God for it, with all his Heart. But he from thence forward took Care to know exactly, all the Places of their Retreat, and as those poor People did not know then, where they stood, he charged a Woman that was there, to let Broussen know, That a Man of Note was come into France, about the Affairs of the Reformed, and was very desirous to see him; and he sent a Person on purpose to that same Woman every Week to know the News. It would be too tedious to relate all that followed, and the many Circumstances of this Business; it's enough to tell you▪ that there was so clear a Discovery of this Wretches being a Mini∣ster of Satan, that after he betray'd in Cevennes, one of our Brethren, who, with him, drank the Waters of Pommazet, he was constrained to take off his Mask, and to go at the Head of Soldiers, to see for Brousson. As he had made discovery of many Things, the Intendant gave common Proof thereof, by bestowing liberally upon him of the Goods of such as were accused by him. But at the last, as the End of these false Prophets is like their Works, this new Judas being terrified one Day, threw him∣self into a River, between Vigan and Ganges, where he was drowned, tho the River was not deep. There were a great many more of these perfidious Wretches, that sold themselves to Satan, for to de∣stroy Brousson, and who were paid for searching continually for an opportunity to seize him. It was affirmed, that the Intendant should boast after Vivens's Death, That he had Eight hundred of them in the Cevennes, or Lower Languedoc: it's most certain, he had one in pay through all the Cities, Towns, and Villages there; there were also Rewards bestowed upon all the Officers and Soldiers, for all God's Servants taken by them, and for other faithful Ones, whom they took upon the Account of Religious Assemblies; And as Brousson was at that time looked upon by the Government, as the principal Author of those Assemblies, and as the Person who fomented them, which he could not do himself; it was said, Five or Six Months before he went last out of France, that he had then cost the Province Eight hundred thousand Livres: And tho' by the Order published against him, there were no more than Five thousand Livres promised him, who should discover him, it was afterwards verbally given out, that they would give Ten thousand Livres, to whomsoever should deliver him up, or take him: And at last it was said, they would give a much greater Sum; which extreamly animated both Soldiers, and false Brethren, to look after him.

But that which Brousson in some, sort had most reason to fear, was the Zeal itself of the People; for from the time that he came to any place, the great desire which the poor People had, to pray to God, and hear his Holy Word, was he Cause that those who knew of his Arrival, could not forbear to com∣municate the same to other faithful Friends, tho' under the restriction of concealing it. These told it to others, recommending also Secrecy to them, 'till at last it came to be communicated also to some false Brethren, whose evil Designs God alone could know: all which put together, made Brousson be in continual Dangers; insomuch, that he was ordinarily constrained to make his Sojourning in Desarts and Caves, where for all that, he was continually pursued by his Enemies. He had Death continually before his Eyes, and even the cruellest of Deaths: for the Magistrates were much more incensed against him, than against all the other Servants of God; but God strengthned him always with his Grace: It seemed to him a thousand times, that the Way of Escape was fully precluded, and the most inhu∣mane

Martyrdom did an infinity of times stare him in the Face, and dispose him to prepare to suffer, as if Sentence had been already pronounced upon him; but yet God was pleased from time to time, to shine with some Rays of Hope upon him; and then he was perswaded, that the Almighty would never suffer him to fall into the Hands of those cruel Oppressors, who would prepare unheard of Tor∣ments and Punishments for him; but in a little while after would he return again into Darkness and Alarms. It happened also many times to him, as it did of old to Job and David, viz. That God scared him in Dreams, and terrified him through Visions; but then he said within himself, My Life is in the Hands of God; if he will have me die, none can hinder it: wherefore he went to preach the Gospel, as he had engaged; and then he exposed himself to great Dangers, but God preserved him through his Wisdom, and according to his great Mercy; he was in the fiery Furnace, which was heated seven times hotter than it used to be; but God preserved him through •• continued Miracle of his Providence.

In the mean time, he lived in a very sorrowful and wretched Captivity, according to the World; he had not the liberty, for four Years, and five Months, to travel by Day, and he was always for∣ced to Journey in the Night, unless it were upon some particular Occasions, whereof the great Dan∣gers he was exposed to, made him travel by Day: he hath been sometimes in the City of Nismes, keeping Meetings, when his Enemies at the same time knew he was there, and made several Searches for him; but his ordinary Dwelling was in the Woods, upon Mountains, in Caves, and the Hollows of the Earth; and he lay oftentimes upon Straw, Dung, Faggots, under Trees, in Bushes, Clefts of Rocks, and upon the Earth. In the Summer he was wasted with the Heat of the Sun, and in the Winter he suffered many times extream Cold, upon Mountains covered with Snow and Ice, having nothing wherewith to cover him in the Night, and most commonly not daring to make a Fire in the Day-time, for fear the Smoak might discover him, and yet not adventuring to go out of his Hiding-place for to enjoy the Heat of the Sun, for fear he should discover himself to his Enemies, or false Friends: he was also sometimes exposed to Hunger and Thirst, and often to intolerable, and even mortal Fa∣tignes; all which put together, was the reason, that in all the Pictures made of him, which the Ma∣gistracy took care to scatter every-where, that he might be known to the Soldiery, and such as designed to betray him, they represented him among all God's Servants, as one much Sun-burnt, and his Body very meager and spare: but all these miseries were to him sweet, when he considered that he suffered them for the Glory and Service of God, and for the Consolation of his poor People; and that same poor People also, when they considered the Calamities and Dangers whereunto he was exposed conti∣nually, in labouring for their Salvation and Consolation; and that on the other hand, he made Refle∣ction upon the Innocence of his Conversation, and upon the Grace which God gave him to preach his Word with Simplicity, Purity, and Evidence, he could not withdraw from these Religious As∣semblies, but that they first threw themselves upon his Neck, kissed him, and wished him a thou∣sand Blessings; and God at the same time made him also taste in his Mind, ineffable Consolations; but above all, he knew not how to express those Comforts he felt in the Holy Assemblies, and particu∣larly in those where he administred the Lord's Supper.

In the mean time, he had daily Experience of a very remarkable thing, which the rest of God's. Servants did doubtless experience as well as he; and that is, that thô he were surrounded with an Army of Enernies, who ran about, and made continual Search after him to take him, yet while he was in these Religious Meetings, and opened his Mouth to call upon the Name of the Lord, to sing his Holy Praises, and to preach his Word, he had commonly as calm a Mind, as if he had been in a free Country; and the like Tranquility he also enjoyed, when he took his Pen in Hand, to labour for the Advancement of God's Kingdom, and for the Consolation of his desolated Church; and if God shall be pleased to favour him with Life and Means to publish some Works, which he has composed in the midst of so many Dangers, and which he sent to the Court for to vindicate the Doctrine which he preached, the Reader will doubtless be surprized, that amidst so many Troubles, he could be possest with a Mind so calm, as to write Things of that nature; but God perfecteth his Strength in the Weakness of his Children. On the other hand, he had the Comfort to be a Witness of all the Won∣ders which God did for the Salvation of his poor People, he could not but admire the Graces he be∣stowed on so many faithful Servants, which he raised up daily in an extraordinary manner, who were weak and contemptible in the Eyes of the Flesh, but whom he strengthned by his Spirit; whereby he accompanied at the same time his Word with a wonderful efficacy, and of which many from time to time sealed the Truth by their own Blood, with an unshaken Constancy; thô they were pleased to Honour him so far, as to look upon him as their Brother, and Colleague in the Work of the Lord, and that they esteemed him also, as a Person to whom God was pleased to give greater Degrees of Light, than to many others, and that he edified then by his Conversation; yet he never compared the Graces which they had received of the Lord, with those which it pleased God to bestow upon him, but that he found very great matter of Humiliation administred to him, and that he esteemed those faithful Servants of God, much more excellent than himself; he saw plainly, that God was pleased to lay up Treasures in Earthen Vessels, that it was his Spirit which made those dumb Ones to speak, which drew forth Praises from the Mouths of those little Babes, and which made those mystical Stones to cry out.

One Night as he was going towards a place which he had appointed for a Meeting, as he drew nigh unto it, be heard the Voice of a Person, who spake in the midst of the People; whereupon he drew somewhat nigher, and finding that he who spoke prayed to God, he fell down upon his Knees, as 'tis a constant usage in the Religious Meetings of France, and there be heard a long and excellent Prayer, wherewith he was much edified: when it was ended, he drew nigh to the Person that pray'd, and he found him to be a young Man, and a poor Trades-man; to whom he said, Brother, if you be disposed to make some Exhortation to the People, you may proceed. Alack, replied that poor Trades-man, how hould I do it? I can neither Write nor Read. Some time after, this young Man, as he went from place to place, to pray for the Consolation of the People, being taken with another young Man, na∣med

Compan, who, together with him, did what he could, in that kind, for the Peoples support; they were both of them condemned to the Gallies, and suffered their Punishment, boldly confessing the Name of the Lord.

I have noted before, that Brousson had made choice of Henry Poutant, for his Guide and Compa∣nion, in the Work he was engaged in, who was a young Man of about Five and twenty Years old, full of Zeal and Piety, and of unblamable Life, and who having learnt to write in the Woods, while he was with Brousson, he put him upon Copying his Sermons, as he had done himself, and to disperse them in such Places where himself could not go to preach the Gospel. But as he had Copied about a Dozen, and that he saw that Brousson, who had declined in his Health, was then sick at Nismes, he told him, he was very desirous to go and visit their Brethren from place to place, and read his Sermons unto them: which Proposal being well liked of by Brousson, he recommended him to the Grace of God: and so Poutant went from place to place, labouring every-where for the Instruction and Comfort of his Brethren; when he had got together some faithful Ones, he began with the Confession of Sin, then sung a Psalm; after which he pray'd again the second time, to implore the Aid of the Holy Spirit in the succeeding Exercise; then he read some Chapter in the Scripture, and some Sermon, the reading whereof was followed by a warm Exhortation which he made to those that were present, upon the Things which they had heard; and lastly, he concluded the whole with an excellent Prayer, which he made with admirable servour of Spirit: as Brousson found that God bestowed a particular Bles∣sing on his Labour, he told him, when he returned to him, That he ought to continue his Work: it was what himself greatly desired; but finding Brousson somewhat re-established in his Health, and that he was now in a Condition himself to go and preach the Gospel in Person, as he had constantly done by Writing, during the time of his Sickness, by sending up and down Copies of his Sermons among the Faithful; he had some regret to abandon Brousson, knowing the need he had of his assistance: for Poutant knew perfectly well all the Country; whereas another faithful Friend, whom Brousson had pitched upon for his Companion, and who had already been some time with him, did not know it near so well; but Brousson told him, he had rather want his assistance, than that the People should be deprived of the Edification which they might receive by his Labours, and that God who knew the sincerity of his Intentions, would take care of him: insomuch, that being separated from him, after that Brousson had again recommended him to the Grace of God; God hath since that time done great things by his Ministry.

Brousson, on his part, set himself again to gather Meetings; but as he found himself still very fe••ble, he could not from thence forward, but every Eighth Day, or thereabouts, exercise his Fun∣ction: in the mean time he found the Zeal of the People much inflamed, during his Sickness; whe∣ther arising from the fear they had of being deprived of the Comforts which God gave them in Times past, or that from the great Number of Copies of his Sermons, Letters, and Prayers, which he took care to disperse amongst them, during his Sickness, and which had been read by Persons of Quality, and other wealthy Ones, who 'till that time would not frequent the Religious Assemblies; the Zeal of the most Cold, and the Courage of the most Fearful, had been influenced and raised up, it matters not to determine; but Persons of Quality, and others, who 'till then had testified less Zeal for the Truth, came now to give Glory to God in the Holy Assemblies, in the midst of all the People; in∣somuch, that afterwards it was one of Brousson's greatest care, to prevent the Assemblies becoming too numerous, to the end they might not make too much Noise, and that the People might not be expo∣sed to too great Evils: however these Assemblies made so much Noise in the Kingdom, that the Peo∣ple of other parts, where those who preach'd in Cevennes, and Lower Languedoc could not go, were edified and strengthned; Brousson also sent as far as possibly he could, Copies of his Sermons, Letters, and Prayers, to give part of those Instructions and Consolations to them afar off, which God by his Ministry bestowed upon the People of Cevennes, and Lower Languedoc. He was seconded in the same good Work by Papus, of whom you have heard somewhat before, and who was saved by Di∣vine Providence, when Vivens was killed: for he had been gone but a Minute out of the Cave where Vivens was invested; on him God had bestowed the Spirit of Prayer in a great degree: he had be∣fore the Death of Vivens, begun to labour for the Consolation of the People, by excellent Prayers, and this he continued after his Death, and went from place to place to keep small Meetings, where he read the Holy Scriptures, and some of the Sermons afore-mentioned, and of which he had desired Copies; besides whom, there was another young Man, whose Name was Ʋzes. about twenty Years old, who having got together ten or a dozen of the same Sermons, got them by Heart, and went also to repeat them from place to place, and to comfort the People by Praying amongst them.

But what is more surprising than any thing hitherto related is, that God was pleased to raise up the young Maidens, for to labour for the Salvation and Comfort of that distressed People, one whereof was called Isabel Redostiere, about eighteen Years old, the Daughter of a Country-man that lived at the foot of the Mountain Liron; and the other Pintarde, about sixteen or seventeen, the Daughter of another Peasant, near St. Hipolite. They did not take upon them to administer the Sacraments; but they went asunder from Place to Place, and Desart to Desart, to keep Meetings, where they exhorted the People out of the Word of God, to be converted, sanctified, be zealous for God, come out of impure Babylon, to give Glory to God, and serve him in purity of Heart, according to his Commandments, and to be faithful to him unto Death; and at the same time edisying, comforting, and strengthning the People, by ardent and excellent Prayers.

Redostiere coming to know that Broussin, with some other faithful Friends, that accompanied him, were upon an high Mountain, she came thither to see them, with another faithful Maiden, that was elder than herself, and who usually kept her Company; in whom Brousson, and his Friends, observed such a Character of Modesty, Humility, Simplicity, and Piety, that ravished them with admira∣tion. When she happened to be in the same part of the Country where Brousson was, she would of∣ten come to see, and to confer with him about Religious Matters, and especially she came frequently to those Assemblies where he administred the Lord's Supper; and Brousson hath always testified, that

she was filled with the Grace of God. After this same Maiden had for about two Years laboured for the Salvation and Support of the People, she was taken and carried before the Intendant, who said unto her, So, are you one of those Maidens who concern themselves in Preaching? I have, replied she, given some Exhortations to my Brethren, and have pray'd to God with them, when occasion hat ser∣ved; if you call that Preaching, I have Preached. But do not you know, said the Intendant, that the King hath forbidden it? I know it well, said she again, my Lord; but the King of Kings, the God of Heaven and Earth, hath commanded it; and I am obliged to obey him rather than Men. Then the In∣tendant proceeded, and told her, She deserved Death, and that she ought not to expect any other Treatment than that which others had already suffered, who had been so adventurous as to preach against the King's Orders. But she made him answer, She was not disinay'd at that, and that she was fully resolved to suffer Death, for the Glory and Service of God. After many such Discourses, the Intendant seeing this young Maiden dispos'd to suffer Martyrdom, did not think fit to put her to Death, for fear, without doubt, least the Constancy of this young Maiden should produce a quite contrary Effect to his Intentions; he therefore contented himself, to sentence her to a perpetual Imprisonment; where she is still, in the Tower of Constance, in A••guemortes, with several other Women, and faithful Maidens.

The other Maiden, whote Name we told you was Pintarde, laboured 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on her part, in the Work of the Lord. Brousson had several times an opportunity to confer also 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her, and to joyn with her in many an excellent Prayer she made to God, that she for the most part drew out of the Psalms, and those Old Prophets, which agreed exactly to the then State of the Church of God in France, and which she delivered with very great fervency. One Night as Brousson drew nigh to a place, where he had appointed a Meeting to be in the Neighbourhood of St. Hipolite, he heard her make a Controversial Sermon, or Discourse, with great strenuousness. She oftentimes kept Meetings, where she prenched the Word of God, and where she made excellent Prayers; and this she continued two Years, or better: But at last this good Maiden fell into the Hands of her Enemies also, with whom the Intendant had much the same Discourse as that already mentioned with the other Maiden; but finding she was also very ready to go and suffer Martyrdom, he contented himself to condemn her to perpetual Prison; where she is still in the Castle of Sommieres.

These two holy Maidens had not been long Imprisoned, but that God was pleased to raise up in Low Cevennes, three other Maidens, who also edified the People much by their excellent Prayers. One of them among the rest, and whom, perhaps, it's not fit I should name, did many times Extempore, pray for Half an Hour, and Three Quarters of an Hour, wherein she very pathetically brought in, and applied several Texts of Scripture; insomuch, that at the very same time she spake to God, and called upon his Holy Name, the also instructed, edified, comforted, and strengthned her Brethren. She had sometimes, at Nismes, four or five Meetings in a Day, consisting of thirty, forty, and fifty Persons each, 'till at last being surcharged with Labour, for the People would never let her alone, but followed her in the very Streets, she was at last constrained to go elsewhere.

While Brousson wan at Nismes, Monsieur Gu••on, an ancient Pastor of Cevennes, and one who had Refugiated himself in Switzerland, came into France again, and had an Interview with Brousson, in the Country, not far off from the said place, whither Brousson was retired, because of the Noise made of his holding Meetings there, as were also several others. He was pleased to tell Brousson. That it would have been more to purpose, to go from Family to Family, to instruct the People, than to hold great Meetings. To whom Brousson answered. That he had divers times examined that matter, that be had well weighed it, that if be should content himself to go from Family to Family the thing would doubtless make less Noise and at the same time be performed with less Danger to himself, and to the People, and to all such as Preached the Gospel; but that the Harvest was great, and that the Number of Labourers was very few; and that in the single Country of Cevennes, and Lower Languedoc, where God was pleased to Honour him and his Brethren, to labour in his Vineyard, that there there great Numbers of People, who must perish for wane of Pastors; that they could not edisie the Hundredth part of them, if they contented themselves to go from Family to Family; that it would be much better, that those poor People should expose themselves to some Sufferings in this World, for to be eternally happy in Heaven, than to reserve the Repose and Advantages of this World, and to be eternally miserable in Hell; that in the mean time we should not be surprized that we are exposed to Persecutions, when we would labour in the Work of our Salvation; that all the Cospel does sufficiently prepare us for all that. That moreover, if the People exposed themselves to some Danger to go and hear the Word of God, the Danger whereunto the Servants of God exposed themselves by Preaching the same, was yet much more terrible; but in the mean time, they used all the Prudence they were capable of; that when they were obliged to keep sometimes Meetings in the Cities, they did it with much Caution and Circumspection; but that ordinarily they kept them in the Country and in such places as were most remote from the Concourse of Men; and finally, that the holding of Religious Assemblies was expresly recommended to us in the Word of God, to the end, either, that every one might give Glory to God in the Presence of his People, or that the Religious Assemblies of the Faithful might be edisied, supported, and mutually comfort∣ed, by the publick Testimonies they shall'd give of their Piety and Considence in God; or that in these holy Assemblies they might partake of the Seals of God's favour and relation to them, and of the Pledges of their Salvation; or lastly, because that was the Means whereby God was in a particular manner to be met with, by the efficacy of his Spirit, and wherein be communicated abundance of Grace and Consolation to the Faithful.

In the mean time, this old Pastor would not savour of these Reasons, and so would keep 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Meet∣ings, but contented himself to see some Friends in particular: But his Prudence proved to be no Fence to him; for some few Days after his Arrival, as he was walking in a Chamber, a Roman Catholick Woman, who lodged in the same House, and who heard him walk, having seen him through the Key-hole, informed against him, so as that he was taken and carried before the Intendant; who after much Discourse with him, presented him with a Letter of Apology, which Brousson had writ to the Intendant some time before; and wherein, after having fully justified his Conduct by the Word of God, he put before his Eyes, the terrible Judgments he had reason to fear, in a Kingdom where they

had done such great Outrages to the Glory of God, by abolishing every-where his holy Service, and where they daily made his poor People suffer such great Evils, when they would meet together in the Name of his holy Son Jesus Christ, to meditate on his Word, call upon his holy Name, and sing his Praises.

The Intendant asked him, If he approved of the said Letter? Guion, who was affected therewith, told him, Have a care that what is noted in that Letter, do not befal you. It was said, that the Inten∣dant asked him further, Whether he did approve of Brousson's Conduct? And that he should answer, He did approve of it; and that if he were at liberty, he would do the same himself. They made him a ten∣der of his Life, if he would change his Religion: But he made answer, That he did not return into France, to be unfaithful to his Master. But they would not put him to Death publickly, and there∣fore they carried him to the Cittadei of Mompellier, and executed him by Beat of Drum, to the end no-body might hear what he said before his Death. And this Martyrdom happened in July, 1693; and their Rage proceeded so far, as to pull down the House in Nismes, where he was taken, which was a very good one.

About two Months after, one Paul Colognac, called Dauphine, from a place near St. Hipolite, a young Man about 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Years old, began to preach the Gospel, from place to place, and from De∣sart to Desart; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Work he incessantly continued for three or four Years in Cevennes, and Lower Languedoc: But he was also taken at Nismes, where he was discovered by a naughty Woman, who was come from St. Giles, and who having voluntarily abandoned the Truth a long time before the Desolation of the Protestant Churches in France, did afterward give Tokens apparently of a sincere Repentance for her Fault. It was pretended by them, that this young Man was in Company, when an Apostate Minister, whose Name was Bagards, was killed in Cevennes, and who was become a no∣torious Persecutor, leading and commanding himself the Soldiers, when they searched after the Reli∣gious Assemblies, and the Ministers of the Gospel, for to take them dead or alive. This same Apo∣state was an Execration to all the People. The last time he had preached, he pronounced an Ana∣thema, Maranacha, against all such as should forsake the Profession of the Truth; when for all that, he did himself, not many Days after, become one of the first who abjured it for a Pension: Where∣fore all the People, and even the Roman Catholicks themselves called him Maranatha; it's from a Shep∣herd he became a revenous Wolf, who committed greater Ravage in the Sheep-fold of the Lord, than his old Enemies; which made some young Men transported with Zeal and Indignation, as it was with Elias of old, kill him upon the Road.

Brousson did not indeed approve of the Fact, and he had not heard say, that Colognac had been pre∣sent when the Fact was committed, and so since that time he had seen Colognac several times, for the space of two Years, and he had always appeared to him to be a very prudent Person, and of a pure and holy Life, full of Zeal and Godliness; they examined and tortured him, and when they had done, went to break him alive upon the Wheel, in a place called Massilergues, near de Lunel, where he had kept the last Meeting; they left him alone two or three Hours after they had broken him, but he never ceased during all that time, to sing the Praises of God, or to speak the most holy and pious Things imaginable; they have affirmed themselves, they had never perhaps made any of the Faithful suffer greater Torments, than this Servant of God, and that none ever had manifested greater Piety and Constancy of Mind, than he had made to appear; to the last Gasp.

But in the mean time, while these Tragedies were acting, they made continual search for Brousson, the great Fury which the Government made to appear against him, proceeded, in that the Zeal of the People was raised up in a singular manner, and that they looked upon Brousson as the principal In∣strument, whom God made use of to illuminate them. In the Month of February, 1693, he had held an Assembly, which gave them sufficiently to understand, how far the Zeal of this poor People was inflamed, and which greatly provoked them. This Assembly had been held between Brigon, Vallence, and St. Maurice: Brousson had given strict Charge to those who were to give the People No∣tice, that they should invite none but such as were the Faithful, of the Neighbouring Villages; in the mean time, for all the Care that was taken to engage them to keep the Matter secret, and to call to∣gether none but the Faithful of the Neighbourhood, it could not be prevented, but that a great Num∣ber of Persons came thither from D'Ʋzes, which was two Leagues and a half distant from the place of Meeting; and from Nismes, which was four Leagues, and from several other Towns and Villages, which were very near as far distant; insomuch, that Brousson knew some of Thirty five Towns and Villages in this Assembly. As those who were come from far, were necessitated to travel in the Day∣time, that they might be timely enough in the Meeting, which was held about Ten at Night, the Assembly was by that means discovered, and the Enemies took to their Arms, and a Troop of these Murderers, commanded by a notorious Apostate, whose Name was Darcis, being concealed in a Wood, through which they judged several of the Faithful were to pass, in order to go towards Ʋzes; a Company of these poor People, consisting of Men, Women, Youths, young Maidens and Children, fell into the Ambush laid for them, and thô they carried no manner of Arms, when they came to this Wilderness; and offered no manner of Injury to any Body, yet these Assassines and Murderers fired six or eight Fuzees upon this unarmed and inoffensive Company; one of which killed a poor Peasant, who was a pious Man, and lived near Coulourges.

Several others were wounded; but no Complaint durst be made thereof. All the rest di∣spersed themselves, except about Forty, who were taken: And among them were some worldly Persons, who having but lately frequented the Religious Assemblies, did not stand the Test; some others were condemned to the Gallies; and about Twenty Women and Maidens made appear great Constancy, and so were banished to Carcassonne. In the mean time, the Massacre was appro∣ved and rewarded by the Government.

Some Months after this, the Soldiers committed another Murder, with most horrible Circumstances: Having discovered a Meeting in a Village, near Sammiere, a Soldier seeing a Woman who came from the Assembly, and who with a Key opened the Door of her House, in order to go in, he shot at her,

with his Fuzee, and wounded her through the Body. He might have suffered the Woman to have gone into her House, and then have taken her, without shooting: But the Orders given, were to shed innocent Blood. When the poor Woman was wounded, she fell; but being afterwards raised up, and having taken the Key, to try to open the Door, the Soldier ran to her, and cracked her Scull with the But-end of his Musket; but she lived about two Years longer, and during all that time she comforted continually her Husband and Family, and spake such Godly Things to them, that all of them burst into Tears.

Some Days after her Death, the Intendant de Baville, happening to go to Sommiere ordered the Soldier to be brought before him; and instead of manifesting an horrour for the barbarous and hellish Action he had perpetrated, and punishing this Villain as his Crime deserved; he contented himself to ask him, If the Woman whom he had killed, had left any Children? And this Villain having answered, That she had left several, and also Sons who were already grown up. He said to him, So much the worse for thee; these Children may revenge their Mother's Death; thou oughtest to have a care of them.

The Government would have had the People know, it approved of the Massacres, as being done by Order, the Peoples Zeal having driven them to a Rage; and because Brousson was one of those, to whom God vouchsafed the favour to labour amongst them with success, the Magistracy redoubled their Diligence, and neglected nothing for the apprehending of him and in order thereunto, they did more especially take a particular Care to discover the Places of his Retreat. After the holding of that great Meeting already mentioned, the Intendant being informed, there was a likelihood that he was with∣drawn into a great Wood, which is between the Towns of Ʋzes, Alais, and Bagnols; and in the midst whereof there is a little Mountain called Quonquet, wherein are divers Caves; and believing that it would Rain, and that then Brousson not being able to keep in the Word, must be forced to re∣tire to the Caves: As soon as it began to Rain, he sent six Companies to invest those Caves, and to make a strict Search in those Parts.

Brousson was quickly advertised of the March of those Troops, who gave out they had another De∣sign; wherefore, instead of going towards the Caves, he went far remote from them: The Soldiers were all Night in the Field, and endured very great Fatigues, through the greatness and coldness of the Rain, so that many of them sickned and died thereupon. The Rain for the two first Nights was not very great; but Brousson was in the mean time to endure very great Hardships, having been con∣strained to lie in Bushes, and on the wet Ground: But the third Night, there fell very heavy Rain, and as he was necessitated to spend that same Night under a Rock, he was in a most miserable plight, having nothing for all the Night to cover him, to lie upon, nor to wrap about his Legs. Next Day, as he found himself benumb'd with Wet and Cold, he told a faithful Friend, that kept him Company, That he must go to the Neighbouring Village, to dry and warm himself a little: But when they were got our of their Den, and had gone forward about thirty or forty Paces, they observed on one side of them, in the thick Wood, a Detachment of a Dozen Soldiers, with a Sergeant, advancing towards them, and not above a Pistol-shot from them, so that they had scarce time enough to go back again, and to hide themselves in a Bush: In a little while after they heard a great Number of Enemies, who by the same Path marched also very near to them, by Defiling; they reckoned in all One hundred and four; when they gave over Reckoning, because they found them halt near them: They were four Companies of such as searched for Brbusson; and the Officers stopped them, to consult together, whether they should make any further Search: Brousson was not above a Stone's-throw from them, and the place where he was, was very dangerous, by reason there were there some Rocks which might serve for an Hiding-place, and so be more liable to be searched, and that there were in these four Com∣panies, a great many People who knew the Country very well, and who had also Dogs to find out Brousson in the Woods. In the mean time Brousson would not remove further, for fear of being disco∣vered; whereupon he fell upon his Knees to pray, and God was pleased to strike his Enemies with Blindness; and so they went no further that way, but divided into several Companies, and went to surround and search all the adjacent Villages and Barns, and particularly the Village where Brousson was minded to go.

It may be easily judged, that during all the time he was in France, to labour for the Salvation and Comfort of his Brethren, and which was for four Years and five Months, that he saw himself often in such Dangers, as this now mentioned, and even sometimes in greater; but to give an exact Relation of the Miseries, Fatigues, and Dangers he has been exposed to, during that time, would be too te∣dious; but the principal Design herein, has been to make known the great Wonders which God hath done, and does still do, in Cevennes and Lower Languedoc, to give his People such Instructions and Comforts as were needful, in the deplorable State they were in. Every body may well think, that a Servant of God, against whom the Enemies of the Truth were so enraged, hath been continually in fearful Dangers; and that his Preservation amidst the Flames of this horrible Persecution, hath been a continual Succession of Miracles; he passed like a Lamb through the midst of a Troop of ravenous Wolfs; he held frequent Meetings in the midst of an Army of cruel and furious Enemies, who search∣ed for him Night and Day; and never found him, thô their Search had been a thousand times, God having always brought their Designs to Confusion: He many times lay in such Houses where the Sol∣diers went from time to time to search; but God never suffered them to go thither, while he was in the place; thô they went about continually, and laid Snares for him every-where, Thanks be to God, no ill did betide him; he held some Hundreds of Meetings, great and small, but, blessed be God, none of them was ever surprized; many of them have been, at times, discovered. And God, who governeth all things by his Wisdom, permitted it for divers ends; but after all, none of those Assemblies have been surprized by the Enemy: He hath always experienced what the Holy Ghosts says, in the Prophecy of Isaiah, chap. 4. v. 5, 6. And the Lord will create upon every Dwelling-place of Mount Sion, and upon her Assemblies, a Cloud and Smoak by Day, and the shining of a flaming Fire by Night: for up∣on all shall be a Defence. And there shall be a Tabernacle for a Shadow, in the Day-time from the Heat, and for a Place of Refuge, and for a Covert from Storm, and from Rain.

Lastly, The Fury of his Enemies coming to increase more and more; insomuch, that at length he had no liberty almost left him, to labour for the Salvation of the People; and considering on the other side, that almost all the Places of his Retreat were discovered; that in the mean time, they had resol∣ved to bring four Regiments more into that Country, for the entire Suppression of the Meetings; that having divers times endeavoured to go into another Country, he could not execute his Design, because his Picture being dispersed up and down, every-where, he could not travel but by Night; and that he must have a place of Retreat, every two or three Leagues, for to rest himself, upon the approach of Day; which he could not propose to have without that Country, where God had for a long time honoured him with Preaching the Gospel; that his Health was also so impaired, that from thence forward he could do but little for the Instruction of the People, Viva voce; that besides, his Family whom he had left in Switzerland, now for a considerable time, and wanting his assistance, were reduced to great Misery; that his only Son, who was yet young, was also deprived for a long time, of the Education he stood in need of; that on the other hand, he had in his possession, some Religious and Pious Works, which he hoped to get Published, and which he thought, with the Lord's assistance, might contribute to the Edification of good Souls, and to the Advancement of the Kingdom of God; that in the mean time, there were still in Cevennes, and the Lower Languedoc, divers Servants of God, whom he had raised up extraordinarily, and who laboured for the Salvation of the People; that he left behind a great many Copies of his Sermons, and other Writings, which might serve for the instructing and strengthning of that poor People; and that when he should get out of France, if God were plea∣sed to honour him so far, he might still labour other ways for their Consolation, as in effect he quickly begun and continued.

He was at last constrained to make Choice of this last: And therefore he left the Kingdom of France in December, 1693, and the Seventeenth of that Month arrived at Lausanne; from whence he had departed, July 22. in the Year 1689.

And thô his Picture was sent up and down to all places, God who conducted him safe into France, lead him out again, to the end the might tell his great Wonders in Sion.

I shall give some few Instances more of French Cruelty, from a Book Entituled, Martyrs in Flames. Printed for Mr. Crouch, at the Bell in the Poultry. And so conclude this dis∣mal Scene of Sorrow.

3. THE Dragoons that Quartered with Monsieur Solignac, at Montauban, (says the fore-said Au∣thor) made his Dining-Room a Stable for their Horses, thô the Furniture thereof was valued at a Thousand Livres; and forced him to turn the Spit, 'till his Arm was almost burnt, by their con∣tinual throwing Wood on the Fire.

They beat an Old Man almost to Death, to force him to go to Mass, whilst the constant Martyr, to his last Breath, cried, He would never do it: And only requested, they would dispatch and make an end of him.

4. Monsieur de Garrison, one of the chief Men of the City, and an intimate Friend of the Inten∣dant, went and cast himself at his Feet, imploring his Protection, and conjuring him to rid him of the Troopers, that he might have no force put upon his Conscience; adding, That in recompence of the Favour he begged of him, he would give him all he had: Which was to the value of about a Million of Livres. But all his Intreaties were so far from prevailing, that he ordered him, for Terror, to be worse used than the rest, by dragging him along the Streets.

5. Some of the lustiest Soldiers took their Landlords, or others in the House, and walking them up and down, continually tickled, and tossed them about like a Ball from each other, without giving them the least Intermission, and keeping them in that Condition three Days together, without Meat, Drink or Sleep.

6. Isaac Faim, a Citizen of Negreplisse, was hung up by the Arm-pits, and tortured a whole Night by pinching and tearing off his Flesh with Pincers, thô thereby they were not in the least able to shake his Constancy.

7. They made a Fire about a Boy of Ten Years of Age, who with Hands and Eyes lifted up to Heaven, cried, My God, help me: And when they saw the Lad resolved to die, rather than re∣nounce his Religion, they snatch'd him from the Fire, when he was at the very point of being burnt.

8. In divers places they have endeavoured to tire out the Patience of the poor Protestants, and over∣come their Constancy, by applying red hot Irons to the Hands and Feet of Men, and to the Breasts of Women.

9. At Nants they hung up several Women and Maids by the Feet, stark naked; and others by the Armpits, exposing them to the publick View: Which is certainly the most exquisite Suffering to the Modesty of the Fair Sex.

10. Children of four or five Years old were kept from Meat and Drink, 'till they were ready to famish; and were then brought to their Parents by the Dragoons, who swore bloodily, That except they would recant, they must prepare themselves, to see their Children languish and die in their presence. If it happen that any by their Patience and Courage stand our, the Soldiers go and acquaint their Commanders, That they have done all they could, but without success: Who in a barbarous and surly Tone answer them, You must return upon them, and do worse than you have done: The King Commands it. Either they must turn, or I must burst and perish in the Attempt.

11. Thirty two Companies of Foot, with an Intendant, and the two Bishops of Agen and Peri∣guex, entred the City of Bergerack, and sending for Two hundred of the principal Citizens before them, told them, That the King's express Will and Pleasure was, they should all go to Mass; and that in

case of Disobedience, they had Order to compel them to it. To which the Citizens unanimously answer∣ed, That if they were so resolved, they had nothing else to do but to prepare themselves to receive the Pu∣nishment they should inflict. Whereupon Thirty two Troops more of Horse and Foot marched into the Town, who were all quartered upon the Protestants, with express Command, not to spare any thing they had, and to exercise all manner of Violence upon them, 'till they had extorted a Promise of Conformity to their Wills. These Wolves thus encouraged, flew instantly upon these innocent Sheep, rending and worrying them in such a manner, as the Relation thereof cannot but strike horror and amazement.

On one hand the Child cries with the languishing Tone of one ready to die, Ah my Father! Ah my Mother! What shall I do, I must die, I can endure no longer. The Wife on the other hand cries, Alas! my Heart fails me, I faint, I die. Whilst their cruel Tormentors are so far from being touch∣ed with Compassion, that from thence they take occasion to torment them afresh, and to renew their Tortures, affrighting them with their Hellish Threats, accompanied with execrable Oaths and Curses, crying, Dog, Bougre, what wilt thou not be converted, wilt thou not be obedient? Dog, Bougre, thou must be converted, we are sent on purpose to convert thee:

12. A young Woman was brought before the Council, in order to oblige her to abjure the Truth, which she boldly and manfully refusing, was remanded back to Prison, where they shaved her Head, and singed the Hair from other parts, and stripping her stark naked, led her through the Streets of the City, where many a Blow was given her, and Stones flung at her. After this they set her up to the Neck in a Tub full of Water, where when she had been a while, they took her out, and put upon her a Shift dipped in Wine, which as it dried and stuck to her sore and bruised Body, they snatcht off again, and then had another ready dipt in Wine to clap upon her. This they repeated six several times; and when by this inhumane Usage her Body was grown very raw and tender, they demand∣ed of her, Whether she did not now find herself disposed to embrace the Catholick Faith? As they term their Religion. But she being strengthned by the Spirit, and love of him for whose Name's-sake she suffered all these Extremities, undauntedly answered, That she had before declared her Resolution to them, which she would never alter; and that tho' they had her Body in their power, yet she was resolved never to yield her Soul to them, but keep it pure and undefiled for her heavenly Lover, as knowing that a little while would put an end to all her Sufferings, and give a beginning to her Enjoyment of Eternal Bliss. Which Words further enraging them, and despairing of making her a Convert, they fastned her to a Gibbet by the Feet stark naked, with her Head downward, and there let her hang in that ignominious po∣sture 'till she gave up the Ghost.

13. There was an old Man in the City, who having been long kept Prisoner in a deep Dungeon, for the Protestant Profession, was brought at length before the Judges, with Vermine and Snails crawl∣ing upon his mouldred Garment, who seeing him in that loathsome Condition, said to him, How now, Old Man, does not your Heart begin to relent, and are not you willing to abjure your Heresie? To which he answered, As for Heresie, I profess none; but if by that word you mean my Religion, you may assure your selves, that as I have thus long lived, so I hope, and am resolved, by the Grace of God, to die in it. With which Reply they being incensed, grew rougher with him: Dost thou not see, said they, that the Worms are ready to devour thee? Well, since thou art so resolved, we will send thee back again to the loathsome place from whence thou camest, that they may dispatch thee, and ••••sume thy obdurate Heart. To which he replied in the words of holy patient Job, I know that after Worms have eaten this Body, that in my Flesh I shall see God. And having so said, he was remanded back to his Jail.

14. Some Dragoons quartered with a Person whom they could not pervert, they forced him to dance barefoot upon the sharp Points of Glass; which when they had continued so long as they were able to keep him on his Legs, they laid him on a Bed, and stripping him stark naked, rolled his Bo∣dy from one end of the Room to the other, upon the sharp Glass, 'till his Skin was stuck full of the Fragments; and returning him to his Bed, sent for a Surgeon to take out all the pieces of Glass out of his Body, which was not done without frequent Incisions, and horrible and extream pain.

15. Another having the unwelcome Company of these villanous Soldiers, and having suffered ex∣treamly by them with the utmost Constancy, one of them looking earnestly on him, told him, he dis∣figured himself, with letting his Beard grow so long: who answering, That they were the Cause of it, who would not let him stir out of Doors to go to the Barber. The Dragoon replied, I can do that for you as well as your Barber: telling him, he must needs try his Skill upon him; and so fell to work: but in∣stead of shaving him, flead all the Skin off his Face. One of his Companions coming at the Cry of this poor Sufferer, and seeing what he had done, seemingly blamed him for it, and said he was a Bun∣gler; and then said to his Host, Come your Hair wants cutting too: And thereupon begins in a most cruel manner to pluck the Hair, Skin, and all off his Head, and flead that as the other had done his Chin. Thus making a Sport and Merriment, of the extream Sufferings of these miserable Wretches.

By these Inventions they endeavour to subdue their Courage, telling them, The King will have obedient Subjects, but neither Martyrs nor Rebels; and that they have order to convert them, but not to kill them.

Let us conclude with a Prayer used by these blessed Souls, in the Agony of their Spirits.

O Great GOD, who from thy heavenly Throne dost behold all the Outrages done to thy People, haste thee to help us! Great GOD, whose Compassions are infinite, suffer thy self to be moved by our extream Deso∣lation! If Men be insensible of the Calamities we suffer! If they be deaf to our Cries, not regarding our Groans or Supplications, yet let thy Bowels, O Lord, be moved, and affect thee on our behalf. Glorious GOD, for whose Name's-sake we suffer all these things, who knowest our Innocency and Weakness, as well as the Fury and Rage of our Adversaries, and the small Support and Help we find in the World; behold we

perish, if thy Pity do not rouze thee up to our Relief. It is thou art our Rock, our God, our Father, our Deliverer: We do not place our Confidence in any, but in thee alone. Let us not be confounded, because we put our Trust in thee. Haste thee to our help, make no long tarrying, O Lord our God, and our Re∣deemer. Amen.

Thus far for Martyrs in Flames.

I would proceed in the History of the Martyrdom of the French Protestants, but that, as I said in the beginning of this Chapter, the Third and Fourth Volumes of the French Book of Martyrs (a History of the famous Edict of Nantes) are now preparing for the Press: Which Four Volumes, including the First and Second already Publish'd, contain an Account of all the Persecutions that have been in France, from the beginning of the Reformation (there), down to this present time; comprehending the Reigns of Henry III. Henry IV. Lewis XIII. and Lewis IV. the whole Work faithfully Extracted from all the Publick and Secret Memoirs, that cou'd possibly be procured, by that Learned and Judicious Di∣vine, Monsieur Bennoit. Printed first in French, by the Authority of the States of Hol∣land, and West-Friesland; and now Translated into English. Printed for John Dun∣ton, at the Raven in Jewen-street, who alone has Queen Mary's Royal Priviledge, for the Publishing of it.

THE First and Second Volumes of this French Martyrology, already Publish'd, having fully an∣swered the Expectations of the Curious, it has occasion'd several Gentlemen to desire a speedy Publication of the whole Work. And 'tis not doubted, but that such a Seasonable Work as this is, (which has been Patronized by the States of Holland, and born a Second Impression there in a few Weeks) will meet with answerable Encouragement here, seeing Her Majesty's Royal License for the Printing of it, and the Expectations of so many Great Persons as have desir'd it in our own Language, will not a little recommend it to the English Nation.

As for the Author, his Preface to the First Volume does yet promise fairer Things, as his Corre∣spondence for the carrying on so Great a Work, extending to such distant Places, his Access to so ma∣ny Publick and Private Libraries, as well as to the Cabinets and Studies of the Exacter sort, where Fugitive Pieces secure themselves. His Assistances by Manuscripts and Collections, especially those of the Learned and Ingenious Monsieur Tesserau, and the Memoirs he left at his Death, with other Helps, which will best appear in the Work itself.

If History be properly Consecrated to preserve to Posterity the Remembrance of Things the most remarkable that fall out in the World, it cannot be deny'd, but that the deplorable End of the Liberty which the Protestants enjoy'd so long a time in France, is one of the most Memorable Accidents that merits to be taken in hand, for the Information of succeeding Ages. There is not any thing in that Revolution which does not deserve particular Reflections; upon whatever Circumstance a Man fixes his Mind, he shall find enough to exercise his Thoughts, either in wondring at the Malice and Fury of those that were the Authors of it, or in admiring at the Patience of those that were invelop'd in it. It is not to be imagin'd, what has pass'd in that Kingdom upon this occasion, especially within these last Thirty Years. It was very necessary therefore, to establish Things in their true Light, and to collect into a History, all the sorrowful Accidents of this Revolution, (we having, as yet, no faithful Collection extant) to the intent, that thereby a durable and perpetual Monument might be erected, of a Catastrophe worthy to be Eterniz'd in all its Circumstances, and therein an Account given of all the Martyrdoms and Persecutions, which, in France, have befallen those, who for these Fourscore and ten Years have lived in that Kingdom, under the Faith of the most solemn Edict that ever was publish'd.