Anno 1627.
The Insolent Revolt of the Rochelois.
EVERY one verily beleeved, considering the Peace concluded with the Spaniards and Hugonots: That France which had a long while like a floating Vessel been Weather beaten, would now cast An∣chor in a quiet setled Harbour: It was every mans hope, now to injoy the fruits of so many labours, and that the Clouds passing away would make room for Serene Calms: But just as it was go∣ing to this Port, the Hugonots and most of the neighbour Princes, appeared on the shore to prevent its settlement on Land: They raised new stirs, they cast up Shelves of sand upon one another, and beat the Waves with such violence and fury, that the end of one storm was but the beginning of another, and that a greater then the former. Those of Rochel having been of late accustomed to live in an insolent licenti∣ousnesse, could not indure to see the Articles of Peace which the King had accorded to them, put in execution; and Rebellion had taken so deep rooting in their minds, that the yoke of Obedience was become insupportable to them; they could not per∣mit, that the Rules of Commerce, observed over all France, should be taken no∣tice of amongst them. The cutting off of that absolute authority which they had made use of, in the Isles of Ree and Oleron, and other places bordering upon their City was looked on, as an outrage; the excercise of the Catholique Religion be∣ing settled amongst them, was esteemed as a great slavery, and as a rigorous con∣straint imposed upon that whereof they made profession. They complained of those Souldiers in Fort Lewis, and the Isles of Ree and Oleron, left there only to pre∣vent their relapsing into their former insolencies, as a most insufferable tyranny. They resented his Majesties Commissaries Acts in order to the execution of the Treaty, as so many unjust attempts upon their Liberties, and would needs have it be believed, that the continuation of Fort Lewis, was a breach of those promises, which had been made to them. These were the Chief complaints which they every where spred abroad; These were the Griefs which filled their Manifests; These were the Motives which they made use of to perswade the rest of the Hugonot Towns, to revolt, to form themselves into a Commonwealth, and to obtain that by force from his Majesty, which with Justice they could not expect: But these complaints were