The present state of the Protestants in France in three letters / written by a gentleman at London to his friend in the country. Gentleman at London. 1681 Approx. 95 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 18 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A55723 Wing P3274 ESTC R29406 11096100 ocm 11096100 46344 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A55723) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 46344) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1428:21) The present state of the Protestants in France in three letters / written by a gentleman at London to his friend in the country. Gentleman at London. [6], 28 p. Printed for John Holford, London : 1681. "The first shews the privileges granted them by the Edict of Nantes. The second sets forth the injustice that is done them and the cruelties that are used to force them to renounce their religion. The third vindicates their innocence and their loyalty." Reproduction of original in the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign Campus). Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng France. -- Edit de Nantes. Reformation -- France. France -- Church history -- 17th century. 2007-01 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-01 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-06 Elspeth Healey Sampled and proofread 2007-06 Elspeth Healey Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE Present State OF THE PROTESTANTS IN FRANCE . In Three LETTERS . Written by a Gentleman at London to his Friend in the Country . The First shews the Privileges granted them by the Edict of Nantes . The Second sets forth the Injustice that is done them , and the Cruelties that are used to force them to renounce their Religion . The Third vindicates their Innocence , and their Loyalty . LONDON , Printed for John Holford , Book-seller in the Pall-Mall over against S. Alban's-Street . 1681. TO THE READER . I Am under a necessity of begging Excuse for what follows : because it will come short of the Title-Page , which promises three Letters . The Truth is , the third was in a manner ready ; when so many fresh Instances of the Barbarity used to the poor Protestants in France , came to my hands : that I found my self obliged either to defer any account for some time ; or else to publish these two Letters by themselves : But I must confess I was not long in taking my choice . For I saw it so requisite to say something presently : that I resolved out of hand to publish these my two first Letters . The Enemy has been so industrious as to way-lay these poor people : and whilst they will not suffer them to live in France , they endeavour to prevent their subsisting any where else . Amongst some they are represented as Enemies to the Religion establish'd ; however , they profess the same Faith , and desire to be esteemed as Brethren . Amongst others they are made to appear a mix'd multitude , part Protestant , part Papist : whereas it is as impossible for any number of Papists , or indeed almost any to thrust themselves in amongst them undiscovered ; as it would be for a Black amongst Whites . Their Ministers are such as have had their Education amongst them , well known and approved , before admitted to that Office ; strictly observed , and under a careful Discipline after admission : their people well acquainted and observed among themselves , as is usual for such as are under a persecution , or the jealous eye of their Superiors . Besides greater care cannot be taken , than is by the French Churches , to whom the recommendation of all that come over is remitted , to see that their Attestations and Testimonials are true and substantial : and I hope the Printed Advertisement has already given satisfaction in this point . But that nothing may be wanting to augment the misery of these poor Fugitives , and render them at the same time worse than unprofitable to their Brethren : It is suggested to the common people , that they come to take the Bread out of their Mouths , by over-stocking those populous Manufactures , which seem already rather to be overcharged , and by surfeiting the Land with people . Which Objection , if we consider strictly according to interest , comes not up to any weight or consideration . For many of the Manufactures they bring over , are such as we had not before , and by consequence of the greatest and most unexceptionable benefit to us . Others , tho not wholly new , yet bring so great improvement to those we had already of the same kind : that they do in a manner create a new Manufacture . There are likewise that give help to a full Trade that wanted hands before to supply it . And now if any are so unfortunate , as to bring over such as we are more than fill'd with already : I would beg , that as men we would consider the common Laws of Humanity , and let necessity take place of inconvenience , and as Christians , to have especial regard to those that are of the Houshold of Faith. Now that we should be over-peopled , I think there is no danger ; when no considering man but will allow that our Nation wants more than a million of people , and that no Country is rich but in proportion to its numbers : for multitudes create scarcity , and that industry . But be the politick consideration what it will ; never was there greater objects of Christian Charity and Compassion , than these poor people . 1. If we look upon the privileges of mankind , we shall find them here infringed to the scandal of our being . Men not only forced to renounce their thoughts , and say the contrary to what at the same time they declare themselves to believe ; but having by violence Holy Water cast upon them , and dragged at a Horse-tail to Mass , they shall be pronounced Roman Catholicks , and made to suffer as Relapse , if they dare renounce what they never consented to . They are neither permitted to live at home , nor to go abroad . The Holy and Religious Duty ( as the Papists account it ) of Confession is prostituted to Oppression , and polluted with the intermixture of secular Concerns . For the Confessors now in France conjure their Penitents , upon pain of Damnation not to conceal any Debt they owe to a Protestant , and when revealed , immediately they attach it in the Debtors Hands , under the same penalty . 2. If we consider them as they are Protestants of France , never had people greater privileges , better settled , nor upon juster grounds ; of which the first Letter will abundantly convince any reasonable person . And yet it will appear by the second Letter , that no people were ever reduced to a more miserable Estate , and lived . But that which ought to move an Englishman in all diversities of his passion at once is , not only that they are of our Communion , or that our Kings are Garantees for the Edict of Nantes ; but that we are in a manner punished in them . For a great inducement to this inhumane Usage , not only seems to be , but is really owned by them , to be from the rage they have conceived against us for preventing their bloody and hellish Designs by the exemplary punishment of some Popish Traytors . Nay , if they durst for shame speak out , I am sure they would tell us , That since they could not execute their malice upon English Protestants , they are resolved to wreak their Revenge upon the French , and scourge them for our sakes . THE Present State OF THE PROTESTANTS IN France . LETTER I. YOu are not at all mistaken ; I can now easily satisfie you in what you desire to know concerning the Protestants of France . One that is a Friend to us both , who is lately come thence , hath fully acquainted me with the condition they are in . I saw him the day after his arrival , and found him ordering his Books , and loose Papers , which were just opened . After our first Salute , I ask'd him what they were . They are , said he , French Books ; and those Printed Sheets , are the new Edicts , Declarations , and Acts which the King of France hath lately publish'd against the Protestants of his Kingdom . I am very happy , said I , in lighting on you at the opening of your Papers . I was extremely impatient of knowing , with some certainty , what it was drove so many of them from their Native Country ; and I perceive , by the care you have taken to collect all the pieces which concern them , that I could not have met any one who might better satisfie my curiosity . They come hither in Troops almost every day , and the greatest part of them with no other Goods , but their Children . The King , according to his accustomed Goodness , hath had pity on them , so far as to provide means whereby they may be able to gain their Lively-hood ; and amongst other things , he hath ordered a general Collection for them throughout the Kingdom . We were all resolved to answer the charitable Intentions of our Gracious Prince , and were beginning to contribute freely . But to tell you the truth , we were extremely cooled by certain Rumors . It is confess'd , that their King is very earnest to make them embrace his Religion : but they assure us , that he uses none but very reasonable Means , and that they who come hither with such Outcries , are a sort of People not gifted with much patience , who easily forsake their Native Country , being dissatisfied , that their merit , as they conceive , is not sufficiently rewarded . Besides , they are represented to us very much suspected in the point of their Obedience and Loyalty . If we may believe many here , they have been very factious and rebellious ; such as in all times have struck at the higher Powers both in Church and State ; which , you must needs see , would not be much for our purpose in these present Conjunctures . In truth , this is intolerable , ( cry'd our Friend ) I cannot endure that the Innocence of these poor people should be run down at this rate : I perceive Father La Chaise is not content to persecute them in their own Country with the utmost cruelty , but trys all ways to shut up the Bowels of their Brethren in foreign parts : he endeavours to ruine , and to famish them every where ; in England as well as France : A Hatred so cruel , and , if I may so say , murderous , agrees not so well with the Gospel of the Meek Jesus , whose Companion Father La Chaise styles himself . For , he came not to destroy men , but to save them . Let this Jesuite alone , said I , and his Emissaries , I do not doubt but he hath too much to do in all the Affairs of Protestants . But tell me ingenuously , do they give just cause to them of France , to quit their Country as they do , and are they persons whom the State and the Church may trust ? You your self shall be Judge , said he , and that you may be fully inform'd of the Cause , I will give you a particular Account of the State of these poor People . But before I speak of the Evils they have suffered , it is fit you should know , what it is that they have right to hope for from their King , and from their Countrymen ; you will then be more affected with the usage they find . You cannot but have heard of the Edict of Nantes . Here it is , said he , ( taking up one of the Books that lay upon the Table . ) It is a Law which Henry the Fourth confirmed to establish their Condition , and to secure their Lives and Privileges , and that they might have liberty freely to profess their Religion . It is called the Edict of Nantes , because it was concluded of at Nantes whilst the King was there . It contains 149 Articles , 93 general , and 56 particular . You may read it at your leisure , if you please : I will only observe some of them to you at present . Look , I pray , ( said he ) on the sixth general , and the first particular Article . Liberty of Conscience , without let , or molestation is there most expresly promised , not only to them who made profession of the Protestant Religion , at the establishment of the Edict , but , ( which is principally to be observed ) to all those who should imbrace and profess it afterwards . For the Article saith , that Liberty of Conscience is granted for all those who are , or who shall be of the said Religion , whether Natives or others . The seventh general Article grants to all Protestants the right of having Divine Service , Preaching , and full exercise of their Religion , in all their Houses who have Soveraign Justice : that is to say , who have the privilege of appointing a Judge , who hath the power of judging in Capital Causes , upon occasion . There are a great many Noble Houses in France which have this privilege . That seventh Article allows all Protestants who have such Houses , to have Divine Service and Preaching there , not only for themselves , their own Family and Tenants , but also for all persons who have a mind to go thither . The following Article allows even the same Exercise of the Protestant Religion in Noble Houses which have not the right of Soveraign Justice , but which only hold in Fee-simple . It is true , it doth not allow them to admit into their Assemblies above thirty persons besides their own Family . The ninth Article is of far greater importance : it allows the Protestants to have , and to continue the exercise of their Religion in all those places where it had been publickly used in the years 1596 , and 1597. The tenth Article goes farther yet , and orders that that Exercise be established in all places where it ought to have been by the Edict of 1577 , if it had not been ; or to be re-established in all those places if it had been taken away : and that Edict of 1577 , granted by Henry the Third , declares , that the Exercise of the Protestant Religion should be continued in all places where it had been in the Month of September that same year ; and moreover , that there should be a place in each Bailywick , or other Corporation of the like nature , where the Exercise of that Religion should be established , tho it had never been there before . These are those places which since have been called , with reference to the Exercise of Religion , The first places of the Bailywick . It follows then from this tenth Article of the Edict of Nantes , that besides the Cities and Towns in which the Exercise of that Religion ought to be continued , because they had it in the years 1596 , and 1597 , it ought to be over and above in all those places where it had been in the month of September in the year 1577 , and in a convenient place of each Bailywick , &c. altho it had not been there in that Month. The eleventh Article grants also this Exercise in each Bailywick , in a second place where it had not been either in the Month of September , 1577 , or in the years 1596 , or 1597. This is that which is called The second place of the Bailywick , in distinction to that other place of the same nature , which is granted by virtue of the Edict of 1577. When Henry the Fourth sent Commissaries into the several Provinces to see his Edict put in execution , there was scarce found any considerable City or Town where the Commissaries did not acknowledge that the Exercise of the Protestant Religion had no need to be confirm'd , or re-established , because it had been used there in some one of the three years above-mentioned : in so much , that there were whole Provinces which had no need of those two places , granted out of pure favour , I mean , the two places of each Bailywick ; all the Cities , and all the Towns of those Provinces claiming that Exercise by a better Title . This is it which made the Bishop of Rodes , ( Monsieur Perifix ) afterwards Archbishop of Paris , in his History of the Life of Henry the Fourth , to say , that that Prince by his Edict of Nantes granted to the Protestants Liberty of Preaching almost every where . But he granted them farther , the means and full power of breeding up , and teaching their Children . Read , as to that , the thirty seventh particular Article . It declares , that they shall have publick Schools and Colleges in those Cities and Places where they ought to have the publick Exercise of their Religion . The Edict having secured , as you see , the Exercise of the Protestant Religion , secures also the condition of them who should profess it , to the end that they might , without any molestation , each one according to his quality , follow those Trades , Employments and Offices which are the ordinary means of mens Livelyhood . Indeed , the thing of it self speaks this . For it is plain that they do not grant in good earnest the free Exercise of a Religion , who debar the persons that profess it the use of means necessary for their subsistence . Nevertheless for their greater security , Henry the Fourth hath declared to all Europe by his Edict , that he would not that there should be any difference , as to that point , between his Protestant and his Papist Subjects . The thirty seventh general Article , as to that is express . This it is : We declare all them who do or shall make profession of the pretended Reformed Religion , capable of holding and exercising all Conditions , Offices , Honours , and publick Charges whatsoever , Royalties , Seigneuries , or any Charge in the Cities of our Kingdom , Countries , Territories , or Seigneuries under our Authority . The fifty fourth Article declares , that they shall be admitted Officers in the Courts of Parliaments , Great Council , Chamber of Accounts , Court of Aids , and the Offices of the general Treasurers of France ; and amongst the other Officers of the Revenues of the Crown . The seventy fourth Article puts them in the same state with their Fellow Subjects , as to all publick Exactions , willing that they should be charged no higher than others . Those of the said Religion pretendedly Reformed ( saith the Article ) may not hereafter be overcharged or oppressed with any Imposition ordinary or extraordinary , more than the Catholicks : And to the end that Justice might be done and administred impartially , as the Edict explains it self , the 30th . 31st to the 57th Articles set up Chambers of the Edict in the Parliaments of Paris and Roan , where the Protestant Counsellors ought to assist as Judges : and Chambers Miparties in the Parliaments of Guienne , Languedoc and Dauphine , consisting each of two Presidents , the one Protestant , the other Papist , and of twelve Counsellors , an equal number of each Religion , to judge without Appeal , ( exclusive to all other Courts ) all Differences of any importance which the Protestants might have with their Fellow Subjects as well in Criminal , as in Civil Matters . In short , this great Edict forgets nothing which might make the Protestants of France to live in peace , and honor : It hath not fail'd even to explain it self , as to the Vexations which might be created them , by taking away or seducing their Children . For , read the eighteenth general Article . It forbids all Papists of what quality or condition soever they may be , to take them away by force , or by perswasion against the will of their Parents : As if it had foreseen that this would be one of the ways which their Persecutors would use , to vex and ruine them . But the 38th . Article goes farther yet : That Wills , that even after their death , Fathers shall be Masters of the Education of their Children , and consequently of their Religion ; so long as their Children shall continue under Guardians , which is by the Laws of France till the 25th year of their Age : It shall be lawful for Fathers , who profess the said Religion , to provide for them such persons for their education , as they think fit , and to substitute one or more , by Will , Codicil , or other Declaration made before Publick Notaries , or written and sign'd with their own hand . You perceive then plainly , continued our Friend , that by this Edict King Henry the Fourth made the condition of the Protestants equal almost in all things to that of his other Subjects . They had reason then to hope that they should be allowed to exercise their Religion , to breed up and instruct their Children in it , without any disturbance ; and that they should have as free admission to all Arts , Trades , Offices and Employments as any of their Fellow Subjects . This is very clear , said I , and I am much obliged to you for explaining to me what this famous Edict of Nantes is , which I had heard so much discourse of . But they who have no affection for the Protestants tell us , that it is a Law which was extorted by violence ; and consequently , is not to be kept . I will not stand now ( said our Friend ) to examine whether that consequence be good ; you cannot but perceive that it is dangerous . But I dare assure you that the Principle from whence it is drawn ; namely , that the Edict was extorted by violence is very false . I would not have you take my word for it . But I will produce an unexceptionable Witness . It is the Archbishop of Paris ; he who writ the Life of Henry the Fourth . That one Witness is worth a thousand ; for he was a declared Enemy of the Protestants . According to him : The general Peace was made , the Ligue extinguish'd ; and all persons in France had laid down their Arms , when this Edict was granted in favour of them . It is ridiculous now , to say , that it was extorted by violence , there being then no party in all the Kingdom in a condition to make the least attempt with impunity . Moreover , that Prelate could not forbear owning expresly what it was mov'd the King to grant them that Edict : It was the sense of the Great Obligations he had to them . See the Book it self ; read the Passage . The Great Obligations which he had to them would not permit him to drive them into despair ; and therefore to preserve them a just ballance , he granted them an Edict larger than any before . They called it the Edict of Nantes , &c. Indeed the Obligations he had to them were not small . They had testified an inviolable Loyalty to him in all his Troubles . They had spent freely their Lives and Fortunes to defend his Rights , and his Life against the Princes of Lorrain , who made so many Attempts to keep him from the Throne of his Ancestors , and to usurp his place . Had it not been for their Valour , and their Loyalty , the Crown had gone into the hands of Strangers ; and ( since we must speak out ) had it not been for them , the Blood of the Bourbons would not this day have been possessed of the Throne . The Edict of Nantes then , was the Effect and the Recompence of the Great Obligations which King Henry the Fourth had to his Loyal Protestants , and not as is slanderously reported , the fruit of any violence , gained by force , and granted against the hair . But farther , the Law of Nature and common policy might challenge such an Edict for them as well as Gratitude . It is true , that Soveraign Magistrates are appointed by God to preserve the publick peace , and by consequence , to cut off , or prevent , as much as in them lies , whatever may disturb it : It is true also that new Establishments in matters of Religion may cause great troubles in a State , and that there are Religions which have Maxims so pernicious , that when Magistrates are of a different opinion , or but so much as tolerate such a one , their Lives and their Kingdoms are never in safety . But Henry the Fourth found the Protestant Religion wholly establish'd in the Kingdom when he came to the Crown : Besides , he who had so long profess'd it , knew perfectly well that it had none of those dreadful Maxims , which makes Princes and States jealous ; that on the contrary , in it , Loyalty and Obedience of Subjects to Soveraigns of what Religion , and what humor soever , was to them an Article of Faith , and an obligation of Conscience . He knew that Protestants , by their Religion were peaceable men , who sought but to serve God according to his Word , and were always ready to spend the last drop of their blood for the service and the honor of their King. But he knew also that the zeal of the Romish Clergy always animated the Popish Common People against them , and that they would be sure to fall upon them , unless he took them into his protection . The Law of Nature then did not permit him to abandon to the rage of the multitude so many innocent persons ; and common policy warned him to preserve so many faithful Subjects for the State , so capable of supporting it on occasion , as he had so freshly experienc'd . It being certain , that had it not been for them , the Pope and the Ligue had ruin'd the whole Kingdom ; But it was not possible , either to defend them from the fury of the People , or to preserve them for the service of the State , if he had granted in favour of them any thing less than the Edict of Nantes : so that this Edict in truth was to be ascribed to common Equity and Prudence no less than Gratitude . But , said I to my Friend , do you believe that the Grandson of Henry the Fourth is bound to make good what his Grandfather did ? I do not doubt it at all ( answered he ) otherwise there would be nothing secure or certain in Civil Society ; and wo be to all Governments if there be no Foundation of publick Trust . 1. For if ever Law deserv'd to be regarded by the Successors of a Prince , it is this . It was establish'd by a Hero , who had recovered the Crown for his posterity , by his Sword : and this Establishment was not made but after mature and long deliberations , in the calm of a profound Peace , obtained and cemented by many and signal Victories . That Hero hath declar'd expresly in the Preface of the Edict , that he establish'd it in the nature of an irrevocable and perpetual Law ; willing , that it should be firm and inviolable ; as he also saith himself in the 90th . Article . Accordingly he made all the Formalities to be observed in its establishment , which are necessary for the passing of a fundamental Law in a State. For he made the observation of it under the quality of an irrevocable Law , to be sworn to by all the Governors and Lieutenant-Generals of his Provinces , by the Bailiffs , Mayors , and other ordinary Judges , and principal Inhabitants of the Cities , of each Religion , by the Majors , Sheriffs , Consuls and Jurates , by the Parliaments , Chambers of Accounts , Court of Aids , with order to have it publish'd and registred in all the said Courts . This is expresly set down in the 92d . and 93d . Articles . Was there ever any thing more authentick ? 2. The same Reasons which caused the Establishment , remain still , and plead for its continuance . 1. The Family of Bourbon preserved in the Throne . 2. The Law of Nature and common Policy . 3. The two Successors of Henry the Fourth look'd not upon themselves as unconcern'd in this Edict . Their Word , and their Royal Authority are engaged for its observation no less than the Word and Royal Authority of its Illustrious Author . Lewis the Thirteenth confirm'd it as soon as he came to the Crown by his Declaration of the 22d . of May , 1610 , ordering , that the Edict of Nantes should be observed in every Point and Article . These are the very words . Read them ( said he ) shewing me a Book in Folio , called , The Great Conference of the Royal Ordinances and Edicts . I read there in the first Book , Title 6 , of the second Part of the Volume , not only the Article he mention'd , but also the citation of nine several Declarations publish'd at several times by the same King , on the same subject . Lewis the Fourteenth , who now Reigns , ( says our Friend ) hath likewise assured all Europe by his authentick Edicts and Declarations , that he would maintain the Edict of Nantes according to the desire of his Grandfather , who had made it an irrevocable Law. He himself acknowledges and confirms it himself anew ; by his Edict of June , 1680 , where he forbids Papists to change their Religion . There it is ; pray take the pains to read it . Lewis by the Grace of God , King of France and Navarre , to all persons to whom these Presents come , Greeting . The late Henry the Fourth , our Grandfather , of Glorious Memory , granted by his Edict given at Nantes in the Month of April , 1598 , to all his Subjects of the Religion pretended Reformed , who then lived in his Kingdom , or who afterwards should come and settle in it , Liberty of professing their Religion , and at the same time provided whatsoever he judged necessary for affording those of the said Religion pretended Reformed means of living in our Kingdom , in the Exercise of their Religion , without being molested in it by our Catholick Subjects : which the late King , our most Honored Lord and Father , and we since have authorised and confirmed on other Occasions , by divers Declarations and Acts. But this Prince is not content to tell what he hath formerly done , in confirmation of the Edict of Nantes ; read some Lines a little lower , and you will see that he repeats again his former Ingagements . We declare , that confirming as much as is , or may be needful , the Edict of Nantes , and other Declarations and Acts given in pursuit of it , &c. That is to say : That by this new Edict he signs once more the Edict of Nantes , and for a more authentick confirmation of that important Law , he ratifies together with it , and seals with his Royal Seal all the Declarations which had already confirmed it . If all this is not sufficient to render His Word Sacred and Inviolable , there is nothing in the World can do it : all things are lawful , and it is to no purpose to talk of any Obligation , or of any Bond in humane Society . They cannot make void , or break the Clauses of an Edict so well deserv'd by the Protestants , so just and so wise in it self , so solemnly establish'd , so religiously sworn to , and so often , and so authentically confirm'd by three Kings , without shaking all the Foundations of publick Security , without violating , in that Act , the Law of Nations , and filling the World with fatal Principles , which by ruining all mutual Faith among men , render Divisions in States incurable ; and consequently immortal . Dear Sir , said I , I am much pleased with what you have inform'd me . O how I shall dash them out of countenance , who hereafter shall compare the condition of our Papists in England with that of the Protestants in France . There is no sort of good usage but what is due to these in their own Country ; of which they have deserved so well by preserving that Family which now reigns there . What have they not a right to hope for under the protection of an Edict so authentick ? But our Papists in England have they ever deserved a like protection ? Hath there ever been pass'd any Act of Parliament in favour of them , like to this Edict ? On the contrary , have not there been pass'd 1000 against them ? And not one , but upon the provocation of some Sedition , or open Rebellion . You need but review the Fundamental Laws of the Land now in force against the Pope , against the Jesuits , Seminary Priests , and in general against all the Papists . There is decreed justly against them all the contrary that by the Edict of Nantes is promised to the Protestants . You are much in the right ( said our Friend ) when you use the word justly on this occasion : Princes and Protestant Magistrates cannot look upon , nor by consequence , treat Papists otherwise than as declared and mortal Enemies of their Persons , and of their States . They may disguise themselves as they please : But in truth , every Papist is a man who takes the Pope to be the Soveraign Head of the Universal Church , and believes that on that very account , there is no Prince , nor King , nor Emperor who is not subject to his Censures , even to Excommunication . Now who knows not that it is a general Maxim of that Religion , that they ought to treat all excommunicated persons , as common Pests ? Upon this all Subjects are dispensed with from their Oaths of Allegiance to their Princes , Kingdoms are laid under Interdicts ; and they are no way obliged to keep faith with Hereticks . This is the original and damnable Cause of the many Conspiracies that have been made against the Sacred Lives of our Kings : And if you will search our Histories , you will find none of the forementioned Acts ever passed but upon some previous provocation given by the Papists Insolence , or Rebellions : of the Massacres in France and Ireland , wherein they of Rome have so triumph'd , and of the general consternation into which so lately our Nation was cast . They would fain perswade us , that these pernicious Maxims are peculiar to the Jesuits and some Monks : But a little Treatise , called , The Difference between the Church and Court of Rome , proves undeniably , that it is the judgment of all true Papists . I could produce other invincible authority , if this point were here to be proved . There cannot then be too great caution against such persons : whatever they pretend , they do not design simply the exercise of that Belief which their Conscience dictates to them , they grasp at the Power , and aspire at Dominion : they design , whatever it cost them , to have their Church reign once more here in England . There is nothing they dare not attempt , nothing they are not ready to act , that they may compass it . They are implacable Enemies who wait but for an opportunity to cut our Throats : and we must needs be very senseless and stupid , if after so many proofs as they have given us of their desperate malice , we should repeal those Laws which tie up their hands . You are much in the right , I replyed , but let us leave them for the present , and return to our Protestants of France . You have shewed me their Rights , now let me understand their Grievances . I am willing to do it , said he ; but it is a little late : and if you please , being somewhat weary with my Journey , we will defer it till to morrow . I will expect you here in my Chamber at the same hour you came to day . I told him with all my heart . And as our Conversation ended there , I think it not amiss to end my Letter also , intending in another to let you know the present condition of those poor People . I am your , &c. LETTER II. I Did not fail to wait on my Friend at the appointed hour . Sit down ( said he ) as soon as he saw me in the Chamber , and let us lose no time in needless Ceremony : I was just putting my Papers in order , by which I would desire you to judge of the Protestants Complaints , and the Reasons that have made them leave their Country : But since you are here , take them as they come to hand . The first is a Verbal Process of the extraordinary Assembly of the Archbishops and Bishops held in the Province of the Arch-Bishop of Paris , in the Months of March and May , this 1681. It is a Piece which justifies a Truth , that the World will hardly believe : Namely , That whereas the Protestants by Virtue of the Edict had the Exercise of their Religion almost every where , they have it now scarce any where . See the proof in the tenth Page of that Verbal Process , where one of the Agents , General of the Clergy of France , alledgeth as so many publick Testimonies of the Piety of their King , An almost Infinite Number of Churches demolish'd , and the Exercise of the Religion pretended Reformed suppress'd . I leave you to imagine what a consternation such a terrible Blow must have put those poor people into ; not to mention their Grief to see those Holy Places beaten down , whose very Stones they took pleasure in ; instead of having the Heavenly Mannah shower down at the Doors of their Tabernacles , at this present they are forc'd to go 30 or 40 miles through the worst of ways , in the Winter , to hear the Word of God , and to have their Children baptized . But let us go on to a second Piece . Here is a Declaration hath lain heavy upon them , in reference to an infinite number of living Temples , who are far otherwise to be lamented for , by reason of the rigor they are us'd with , than the Temples of Stone that are demolish'd . It is of the thirteenth of March , 1679. Pray read it . It forbids all Popish Clergy-men , whatever desire they have , to turn Protestants ; and even all those Protestants , who have forsaken their Religion out of Lightness , or Infirmity ; to return to it again , upon better knowledge of the truth , press'd to it by their Consciences , and desiring to give glory to God. This dreadful Edict , will not suffer , that any of them shall satisfie their Consciences , in so important an Affair , under any less penalty , than that of the Amende Honorable , perpetual banishment , and confiscation of their Goods . I beseech you ( said I ) what doth the Declaration intend , by making Amende Honorable ? You have reason to ask , replyed he , it is that you ought not to be ignorant of . Know then , that for them to make Amende Honorable is to go into some publick place , in their Shirt , a Torch in their Hand , a Rope about their Neck , followed by the Hangman , in this Equipage ( which is that of the most infamous Criminals ) to ask pardon of God , the King , and Justice for what they have done : that is to say , on this occasion , for having dar'd to repent of sinning against God , for having forsaken a Religion which they believ'd Heretical and Idolatrous , and consequently , the infallible way to eternal damnation ; and for being willing thence forward to profess the Protestant Religion , in which only they are perswaded they can be saved . This is , dear Friend , what they inflict upon all Popish Ecclesiasticks to whom God vouchsafes Grace to discern the true Religion , and upon all Protestants , who having been such Wretches as to forsake it , are afterwards so happy as to be convinc'd of their Sin ; and to repent . They call the first Apostates , and the other Relaps . But Names do not change the nature of things : the Misery is , that all this is executed with the utmost rigor . The Prisons of Poictiers , and those of other places are at this present filled with this sort of pretended Relapsed Persons ; and it is not permitted to any one to relieve them . What possibility is there then for such as are in like Circumstances , and whose number every day increases , to continue in France ? But the mischief is much increas'd since this Declaration . What was particular to Ecclesiasticks and Relapse Protestants , is now become universal to all Roman Catholicks . I shewed you the Piece yesterday . It is that very Edict of June , 1680 , wherein they pretend to confirm the Edict of Nantes . A Blessed Confirmation ! The Edict of Nantes , as I have shewed you , allows the Liberty of Conscience to all them who were then Protestants , and to all such as would be afterwards , Inhabitants , or others . But what doth this new Edict declare ! Our Will and Pleasure is , that our Subjects , of what quality , condition , age or sex soever , now making profession of the Catholick Apostolick Roman Religion , may never forsake it , to go ever to the pretended Reformed Religion , for what Cause , Reason , Pretence or Consideration soever . We will that they who shall act contrary to this our Pleasure , shall be condemned to make Amende Honorable , to perpetual banishment out of our Kingdom , and all their Goods to be confiscated . We forbid all Ministers of the said pretended Reformed Religion , hereafter to receive any Catholick to make profession of the pretended Reformed Religion , and we forbid them and the Elders of their Consistories to suffer in their Churches or Assemblies any such , under penalty to the Ministers of being deprived for ever of exercising any Function of their Ministry in our Kingdom , and of suppression for ever of the Exercise of the said Religion in that place where any one Catholick shall be received to make profession of the said pretended Reformed Religion . Lord ! what a horrible proceeding is this ! ( cryed I , as soon as my Friend had read it ) do they call this confirming of Edicts in France ? what a Violence is this to the Consciences of Ministers and Elders , to command them to shut the doors of the Church of Jesus Christ to all their Neighbours who come thither for admission : ( and to have this done ) by them who are called by God to open the Door to all the World ? Is not this to force them to violate the most Essential and Sacred Duty of Christian Charity ? In truth , if there were nothing else but this ; I do not see how they can stay there much longer with a safe Conscience . They must swallow worse Potions than these ( said my Friend ) you shall see presently quite other Preparations . What ( replyed I ) have they the heart to use thus cruelly those poor Churches within whose Walls any Roman Catholick changes his Religion ? Don't doubt it ( said he ) they make no conscience at all to exceed their Commission , whensoever they are enjoyn'd to execute any penalty . I will give you an Example , which will amaze you There is a great Town in Poitou called La Motthe , where the Protestants have a Church consisting of between three and four thousand Communicants : a young Maid of about seventeen years old , who from a Protestant had turned Papist , had stole her self into the Congregation upon a Communion-day . Now you must observe , that the Protestant Churches are full on those days . For they would believe themselves very much to blame , if they lost any Opportunity of partaking at the Lord's Supper . Nevertheless , without considering how easie it was for that young Maid not to be discovered by the Consistory in such a Crowd , and tho those poor people were not at all within the Letter of that rigorous Edict , they have made them undergo all the penalty . The Exercise of their Religion is wholly suppress'd there , and their Minister not allowed to preach in France . This is very cruel ( said I to our Friend ) and tho it were true that those Ministers and those Elders were guilty upon such an account , why should the whole flock be punished ? Those poor Sheep what have they done ? That is very usual for those Gentlemen ( answered he : ) I have a hundred Stories to instance in . I cannot forbear telling you one , which many of their own Devotees were scandalized at . S. Hippolyte is a place in where all the Inhabitants are Protestants , except the Curate , and it may be , two or three poor wretches , who are not Natives of the place neither . A fancy took the Curate to put a Trick upon the Protestants ; for this he chose a Sunday ; and the very moment that they came out of the Church , he came and presented himself before them with his Sacrament , as they were almost all come out . You must know that the Church is on the farther side of a Bridge , which must be pass'd over , going and coming . Several of them were upon the Bridge , others had pass'd it , and part were yet on the other side ; when the Curate appear'd , all of them , who could possibly , got away and hid themselves : but neither the place , nor the great haste of the Curate would permit all of them to do so . He went up directly to one of the Company , whom he had born an ill will to for some time : he bids him kneel : and the other answering that his Conscience would not suffer him to do it ; he gave him a Cuff on the Ear. He that was struck grumbled ; and so did two or three who were about him . The Curate went on his way , threatning hard . Next day there were Informations made on both sides : the Curate in his , not complaining of any person but him he had struck , and two or three others who had grumbled at it . The Friends of the Curate perceiving that he had done the wrong , propos'd an Accommodation . It was by misfortune consented to . Prosecution ceased on each side , and it was believed that there was an end of that business : there was not a word spoken of it in above a year . But the Intendant of Languedoc revived it last Winter , when they thought of nothing less ; and of a matter particular to two or three , made it a general Concern of the whole Congregation . He cites them before the Presidial of Nismes , to whom he joyn'd himself . He condemns them to demolish their Church in a Months time . Those poor people go and cast themselves at the feet of the Court ; but to no purpose . The King's Council hears and confirms this strange Order of the Intendant , and the Church is rac'd to the ground . The Council which gave this Sentence was the first in which the Dauphine was present . The Report of such an Order being spred among the Courtiers , and all being amaz'd that heard it , a certain person took the liberty to tell the Dauphin , that for the first time he had been at the Council , he had assisted to a great Injustice . What say you to that ? said a Duke and Peer , to the Dauphin , who had made no reply to the former . I say , answered the Dauphin , that he may be much in the right . I told our Friend , I had enough of this . You must not be weary , said he , this is but the beginning of sorrows . Let 's go on to the rest . Here is , said he , a Little Book which comes just now to my hand , in it are stitch'd up together , three Acts concerning Schools . The first is of the ninth of November , 1670. It forbids all Protestant Schoolmasters to teach any thing in their Schools , but to read and write , and Arithmetick . The second , which is of the 4th . of December , 1671 , ordains , that the Protestants shall have but one only School in any place where they have the publick Exercise of their Religion ; and but one Master in that School . The third is of the ninth of July , this present 1681. Look upon them ( said he ) and give me your opinion . It seems ( said I ) that the first contains nothing which the Protestants may complain of , at least , if that which I read there be true , namely , that by the Edict of Nantes it is expresly ordain'd , That in the Schools of those of the pretended Reformed Religion , there shall not any thing be taught , but to read , write , and cast account . For according to this , the Edict of 1670 is entirely conformable to that other Edict which is the Law. You are in the right , said I , but they who fram'd the Act , have deceived you , and have made no scruple to ground it upon a matter of fact entirely false . For the Article which speaks of Schools , doth not mention the least word of that restriction , which the Act assures us to be there expressed , namely , of teaching only to read , write , and cast account . See the Article at length : it is the 37th particular . Those of the said Religion may not keep publick Schools , unless in Cities and places where the publick Exercise of their Religion is allowed , and the Provisions which have heretofore been granted them for the erection or maintenance of Colleges , shall be authenticated where occasion shall require , and have their full and entire effect . Where is that express Order ? It is expresly ordered to teach only to read , write , and cast account ; upon which the Act is grounded . Is it possible ( said I ) that they should have no sense of the horrid shame which must arise upon conviction of forgery in a matter of fact of this nature ? They never stick at so small a matter as that ( said he ) in the design they have of rooting out the Protestants . Those who are in France dare not open their mouths to discover such kind of Falsities ; and Strangers , whom they carry fair with , will not so far concern themselves as ever to suspect there should be falshood in a matter of fact so easie to be made out ; and which they make to be so positively affirm'd by so great a King. So that they do not fear at all the shame you speak of . After all , they are but pious Frauds , at which , they of the Popes Communion never blush . And what say you ( continued he ) to that other Act which reduces all Schools to one , in each City and Town where the Protestants have the publick Exercise of their Religion , and that which requires that there should be only one Master in that School . I replyed that it was an excellent way to restore Ignorance , the Mother of the Roman Faith and Devotion . In truth , says he , the care of one Master cannot go far . Besides there is a Protestant Church which alone hath two thousand Children of age to be taught . Those poor people have done all they could to obtain of the Council , that at least there might be two Schools in each place , one for Boys , and the other for Girls . But it was to little purpose that they pleaded good manners for it , which such a mixture of both Sexes visibly was offensive to . They were deaf to all their Prayers and to all their Remonstrances . But this is not all yet . In the Execution of this rigorous Act , they have taken away from them that little which was left them . For the Judges of the places will not suffer that any Schoolmaster teach , unless they have first of all approved of him , and receiv'd him in all their Forms . As therefore their approbation is a matter full of invincible Difficulties ; above all , when they are to give it to a man of merit , and who may do good , it is come to pass by means of these two Acts , that all the little Schools of the Protestants are shut up . From the little Schools they have proceeded to Colleges . You see by the Act of the last of July , which suppresses for ever that of Sedan . They have taken away also the College of Châtillon sur Loin . So that , hereafter the Protestants in France are to lie under worse than Egyptian Darkness . I leave you now to judge whether they are to blame to seek for light in some Goshen . In truth , said I , this is very hard . But if they who inspire into the King such strange Acts , have no respect for Henry the Great and his Edicts , at least they ought to be more tender of the Glory of their own Illustrious Prince , and not to expose him , as they do , to be ranked with that Emperor against whom the Holy Fathers have cryed so loudly . Is it possible they can be ignorant that this method of extinguishing the Protestant Religion is exactly the same that Julian took to extinguish the Christian Religion ? I do not think ( said our Friend ) that they can be ignorant of a truth so well known ; especially since one of their eminent Writers hath publish'd the History of the Life of S. Basil the Great , and of S. Gregory Nazianzen . There they might have read in more than one place , that it was likewise one of the Secrets of that Emperor , to ruine the Christians by keeping them from all Improvement in Learning , and to prohibit their Colleges and Schools ; and which the Father 's judg'd to be most subtle policy . But their zeal transports them above the most odious Comparisons . They stick not to give occasion for them every moment . I will shew you an Example which will astonish you , I have here light upon the Paper . They are now come to take the measures of that barbarous and inhumane King who us'd Midwives of his own Religion to destroy the Race of the people of God in Egypt . For by that Declaration of the 28th of February , 1680 , It is ordered , that the Wives of Protestants shall not be brought to bed but by Midwives or Chyrurgeons who are Papists . This they make to be observ'd with the utmost rigor , so far that they put a poor woman in prison for being present at the Labour of her Sister , whose delivery was so quick and fortunate , that there was neither time nor need to call a Midwife . That you may in few words understand of what consequence this is to our poor Brethren , I need but acquaint you , that the King of France in his Edict of the Month of June , 1680 , where he forbids Papists to change their Religion , acknowledges himself , what experience doth but too plainly justifie , namely , that the Roman Catholicks have always had an aversion , not only against the Protestant Religion , but against all those that profess it , and an aversion which hath been improv'd by the publication of Edicts , Declarations and Acts. That is to say , that whatever pretence the Roman Catholicks make to the contrary , they have always been , and still are Enemies of the Protestants ; and that the Protestants ought to look to be treated by the Catholicks as Enemies . After this what can they judge of the Design , and Consequences of a Declaration , which puts the Lives of their Wives and Children into those very hands which the King , who makes the Declaration , acknowledges to be hands of Enemies ? But farther , the Declaration it self discovers , that one of its intentions was , to make the Children of Protestants to be baptized by Midwives , or by Popish Chyrurgions : And what mischief do they not open a way for by that ? The Protestants will hold that Baptism void , which hath been administred by such hands , they will not fail to make it be administred anew , by their Pastors . This shall pass for a capital Crime in the Pastors and Fathers , and they shall be punished as sacrilegious persons who trample on the Religion in Authority , the Religion of the King : for the most odious Representations are still made use of . Nay , said I , by this they will likewise claim a right , from the Baptism's being administred by Papists , to make themselves Masters of the education of their Children . You are in the right ( said he ) and that Article ought not to be forgotten . It is just , will they say , that they should be brought up in the Church which hath consecrated them to God , by Baptism , at least , that they should be bred up there , till they are of age to chuse for themselves : and when they are of age , they will say then , that it is just they should , as well as others , be liable to the same Edict which forbids Catholicks to change their Religion . Is not this enough already to make one forsake such a Kingdom ? A Christian for less than this would surely flie to the utmost Parts of the World. But to proceed . Here is that terrible Decree which fills up the measure , as to what concerns the poor Children . It comes to my hand very seasonably . It is the Declaration of the 17th . of June last . This ordains that all the Children of Protestants shall be admitted to abjure the Religion of their Fathers , and become Papists as soon as they shall be seven years old : It declares , that after such an Abjuration , it shall be at the choice of the Children , either to return home to their Fathers , and there to be maintain'd , or to oblige their Fathers and Mothers to pay for their Board , and Maintenance , where ever they please to live . It adds extreme Penalties to be laid on them , who breed up their Children in foreign parts , before they are sixteen years old . But I pray read over the whole Edict . Upon that I took the Declaration from our Friends hand , read it , and returning it to him again , could not forbear declaring , that I did not now wonder any more that the Protestants of France were in so great a Consternation . They are much in the right ( said I ) Discretion and Conscience oblige them to depart out of a Country , in which there is no security for the salvation of their dear Children . They are of too great a value to be so hazarded . What is more easie , for them who have all the power , than to induce such young Children to change their Religion ? There is no need for this , to shew them all the Kingdoms of the World and their Glory . A Baby , a Picture , a little Cake will do the business ; or if there want somewhat more , a Rod will not fail to complete this worthy Conversion . In the mean while , what a condition are their wretched Fathers in , besides the most inexpressible grief of seeing what is most dear to them in the world seduc'd out of the Service and House of God ; they shall likewise have this addition of Anguish of having their own Children for their Persecutors . For , knowing , as I do , the Spirit of that Religion , I doubt not but they will all prove rebellious and unnatural , and renounce all that love and natural respect which is due to them , whom they owe their Lives to . They 'll give Law to their Parents , they will oblige them to make them great Allowances , which they will dispose of as they list ; and if their Fathers pay them not precisely at the time appointed , I am sure , no rigors shall be forgotten in the prosecution . No certainly , said our Friend , and I could give you an hundred Instances , if there were need . Even before this merciless Declaration was made , the Goods of Parents were seis'd upon , exposed to sale , to pay for the maintenance of their Children , who had been inveigled from them , and been made Papists . If they dealt with them so then before the Declaration , what will they not do when they see themselves supported and armed with Royal Authority ? But there is no need I should insist farther on the dreadful Consequences of this Declaration . It hath been lately Printed in our Language , and Notes made upon it , wherein nothing hath been forgotten . The Book is written impartially : tho I can scarce believe what is express'd in the Title Page , that it was written in French ; however , some Gallicisms are put in to make you believe it : but the Protestants of that Nation are not us'd to such bold Expressions upon such kind of Subjects : and I doubt much whether they could do it . If they have reason to fear for the birth , and for the tender years of their Children , they have no less for themselves . Here is a proof of it . It is the Declaration of the 19th . of November , 1680 : By which it is ordained , That whenever they are sick , they shall suffer themselves to be visited by the Papist Magistrates . Thus , having made their lives burdensome to them , they take a thousand ways to torment them in their Beds , as soon as any Disease hath seised them . It is not henceforth permitted to them either to be sick , or die in peace . Under colour of this Declaration they are persecuted , and all means are tryed to shake their Faith , under the pretence of being ask'd what Religion they will die in . First a Judge presents himself with the awe of his presence , accompanied by one of the King's Sollicitors and two Papist Witnesses . They begin their Work by driving all Protestants , who are with the sick man , out of his Chamber : Father , Mother , Wife , Husband , Children , none are excepted . After that , they do with the sick person as they list : they draw up a Verbal Process , or such as they like . Lies with them are but pious Frauds . Whatsoever the sick man answers , he hath still abjur'd , if these Gentlemen please to make a conversion of it ; and there is no possibility of disproving it . The Verbal Process is drawn up in good Form. If the sick man recovers , and refuses to go to Mass , immediately he is subject to all the penalties of a Relapse . If he dies and chances to be the Father of a Family , they take away all his Children , to breed them up in the Popish Religion ; and his Estate , to preserve it , as they pretend , for the Children of a Catholick Father . Can any one who hath any care of his own salvation , or any affection for his Children , live expos'd to such dreadful Inconveniences , if God offers any means to avoid them ? I am afraid I tire you with the Recital of so many Calamities . Fear not that , answered I , I am resolv'd to know all . You do not consider what you say , replyed he , I should need whole weeks to tell you all . Imagine all the Suprises , all the indirect practices , all the base tricks of Insinuation , and little quirks of Law are put in ure : together with all manner of violence , to accomplish the Work. Neither do those Enemies of the Protestants always neglect the Oracles of the Scripture . It says , I will smite the Shepherd , and the Sheep of the Flock shall be scattered . These Gentlemen then , that they may the more easily scatter the Sheep , smite , every where , the Shepherd , and constrain them to fly . They imprison one , for having by the Word of God confirm'd some of his Flock , whom the Popish Doctors would pervert : another , for being converted to the Protestant Religion in his youth , long before any Law was made against pretended Apostates . They hire forlorn Wretches to go to the Sermons of the Protestant Ministers , and to depose before a Magistrate , that the Ministers said , that the Church of Rome was idolatrous , or that the Faithful are persecuted , that they spake ill of the Virgin Mary , or of the King. Upon this , without being heard , ( and tho it be offered to be made out by the Deposition of an infinity almost of persons of credit , that the testimonies of these two or three Wretches are absolutely false ) Orders are issued out for the seising the Bodies of the Ministers . They are clap'd in Jayl as soon as taken : they are condemn'd to pay excessive Fines : they force them to make the Amende Honorable , they banish them the Kingdom . The Intendant of Rochefort suppress'd one there , upon the most extravagant Deposition that was ever taken . The Deponent having been at the Sermon of that Minister , said , That there was nothing to be found fault with in his words , but that he perceiv'd his thoughts were not innocent . If there are any amongst them so happy as to confound so the false Witnesses , that the Judges are asham'd to use all those rigors ; none of the Charges of Imprisonment , or of the Suit are ever recovered against any one . A Minister who may have sixty or seventy pounds a year , and seven or eight in Family to maintain , must be condemn'd with all his innocence to pay all these great costs . I could , upon this Head , tell you a hundred Stories , but that it would be too tedious . I have met both at Paris and in other Provinces many of these persecuted Ministers , who acquainted me with their Adventures , Germany , Holland and Switzerland are full of them , and I am told , there are some of them here in England . Their absence from their Flocks is but too good a proof how hot the persecution is against them . And so let 's go on . You may remember that the Edict of Nantes judg'd it necessary for the preservation of the Estates , and Credit of the protestants , and for the safety of their Lives , to erect Tribunals where supreme Justice might be administred by Judges of the one , and of the other Religion . But all these Tribunals are suppress'd : namely , the Chambers of the Edict of Paris , and of Rouen . It is some years since the Chambres Miparties were suppress'd by the Delaration of July , 1679 : so that here is their Fortunes , their Credit , their Lives , all at the mercy of their sworn Enemies . For you have not forgot that the King of France acknowledges , in one of his Declarations , that the Papists have always hated the persons of the Protestants . Judge then if it be safe for them to stay longer in such a Kingdom . But there is no method proper to ruine them , which is not made use of , that if one fails , another may be sure to take . Synods and Conferences are absolutely necessary , for the Admission of their Ministers , for the Correction of Scandals , for the preservation of Peace in their Congregations , for the subsistence of their Colleges , and for the support and exercise of their Discipline . At first they kept them with all sort of Liberty . Under Lewis the Thirteenth , they thought fit to forbid them to hold any Synod , unless some Protestant Commissary , who was to be named by the Court , were present . This was observed till the year 1679 , when a Declaration was publish'd , requiring that there should be a Papist Commissary in their Synods . That is to say , Sir , said I , interrupting our Friend , they will pry into their hearts , and perfectly know where their strength or their weakness lies . If there were nothing but that in it , replyed our Friend , that Declaration would not allarm them so much as it doth . For there is nothing done in their Assemblies , which they are not willing all the world should know . They defie their most mortal Enemies to prove the contrary . Can there be a more undeniable proof of this , than the practice of the Protestant Commissary , who sends to the Court a Copy well attested of all the Results of the Deliberations which are made , while the Synod or Conference is held ? What do they fear then , replyed I , from the presence of a Papist Commissary ? Because they know that the end of the Court cannot be to discover their Secrets , since they have none ; therefore it is that they justly fear , that this Papist Commissary hath been set over them , to create them trouble in the most innocent Affairs , to hinder those Deliberations which are most necessary for the due preservation of their Flocks , to silence those Ministers among them whom he shall perceive to be of greatest Ability , and of Credit , to dishearten one by threatnings , to corrupt another by promises , to sow Dissention and Division among them , and to employ all means possibly to ruine them . These are the just fears which have hindred them till this present , from assembling any Synods with this so destructive a condition , hoping continually that , it may be , God would touch the heart of their King. But perceiving no favourable change , and not being able to subsist without holding their Synods , I learn'd , as I came out of France , that these poor people are resolv'd to run these hazards , and that their Synods are upon assembling in several places . May God vouchsafe to preside in the midst of them by his Grace , and remove far from them all the Evils they have cause to fear . It may be , by their good Examples , and their Religious Behaviour they may convert them , who are set over them for a snare , as it happened to their Fathers in the last Age also . Then was contrived the placing of Papist Commissaries , to spie out their liberty . But these Commissaries were so taken with the Modesty , the Piety , the Charity , the Decency of Order , and the devout Prayers of the first Reformers , that they gave Glory to God , and embrac'd the Religion which they had persecuted . The Jesuites nevertheless have thought all these Evils of which I have spoken , too slack and gentle . That they may not be at any more trouble , they will do the business once for all . They have contrived to starve all the Protestants : and to effect this , they have made all the means of gaining a livelyhood , to be taken from them , by the Acts of the Council of State , of the sixth of November , 1679 , and the 28th . of June , 1681. 1. They have turn'd out of all Jurisdictions and Seignuries ( which are almost infinite in France ) all Protestants who had been admitted Officers in those Jurisdictions . All Stewards , Bailiffs , Sollicitors , Officers of the Exchequer , Registers , Notaries , Clerks , Serjeants and Ushers that were Protestants , of all sorts , throughout the whole Kingdom , are cashiered by virtue of these Acts ; they have reduc'd to Beggary thousands of Families , which had no other subsistence , but by these Employments . 2. Look upon those two Pieces , which they procured also , for the same intent . The Title of the one is , The Order of the Council Royal of the Finances ( or Treasury ) of the 11th . of June , 1680. The other is , An Order of the Council of State of the 17th . of August of the same year . By the means of these two Pieces , the Jesuites have made the Protestants to be kept out of all the Affairs of the Finances , Customs , which they call Traites Forains , of Aids , Gabelles , Taxes of all sorts of Commissions , to which the Edict of Nantes ordered , that they should be admitted indifferently with the Papists . This second hath taken away the Bread of a vast number of Families more . 3. They every day make the Protestant Captains and Officers ( who have serv'd so worthily by Land and Sea ) to be turn'd out of their Commands . Those brave Men after they have spent their Estates to advance their Masters Honor , and ventured their Lives a thousand times for his Glory ; see themselves shamefully , as so many Cowards , cashiered , without any exception for them who having signaliz'd and distinguish'd themselves by particular Actions , had deserv'd extraordinary Pensions . Because they will not be less faithful to God , than they have been to their King : they are resolved Disgrace and Beggary shall be the Reward of their Service . By this , they take away from all the Protestant Nobility the means of maintaining themselves in that Rank in which God by their Birth hath placed them . 4. As to the Merchants , look what the Jesuits have thought upon to ruine them . They have obtain'd an Order of Council of State , of the 19th . of November , 1680 , which grants to all Protestants who change their Religion , the term and forbearance of three years for the payment of the principal of their Debts , with prohibition to all their Creditors to bring any Action against them , during that time , upon pain of Non-suit , Noli prosequi , and all Charges , Damages , Costs and Interests . I perceive very well , ( said I to our Friend ) that this puts those who revolt in a way to secure and withdraw their Goods ; and to enjoy in peace the Fruits of their turning Bankrupts . But I do not see how this tends to the ruine of those Merchants in general , who persevere in the Protestant Religion . That is ( said he , smiling ) because you have not so subtle a wit , nor are so quick-sighted as the Jesuits . You know very well that Merchants subsist by their Credit : if their credit be low , they must fall ; there is no more trading for them , their business is done . Now do you not perceive , that the credit of all Protestant Merchants is ruined by this Order , which puts them in a way of turning Bankrupts as they please , with all indemnity ; and of inriching themselves with those Goods they have been trusted with ? Who do you think after this will be so silly as to take their word ? Who can tell , with any certainty , whether they with whom they deal , are persons who will continue in the Protestant Religion ? Is there any thing more common than such Changes in Religion now adays ? It 's enough ( said I ) I was mistaken , I perceive now very well that the ruine of the Protestant Merchants is unavoidable . Go on to the other Professions . For I see they are resolved that no Protestant shall get Bread among them . You are in the right ( said he ) you have seen it in many of them , I 'll shew it you now in the rest . 5. All Papists who drive any Trade , or exercise any Art , are forbid to take any Protestant Apprentice . I have seen the Order , but have it not now by me . By this you see that all young men of the Protestant Religion ( who have not means of their own ) are reduced to this extremity , either of starving in France , or turning Papists , or forsaking that Kingdom . For the same Order forbids any Protestant who drives or professes any Trade , to have under them any Apprentice , either Papist or Protestant , that so they may not be able to do work enough to maintain their Families . 6. The Grand Master and Grand Prêvot have given notice , by Virtue of Letters under the Signet , to all Protestants who had Privileges , whereby they had right to keep Shops , as Chyrurgions , Apothecaries , Watchmakers , and other Tradesmen , to forbear using their privileges any longer , and to shut up their Shops , which hath been punctually executed . 7. They have establish'd Societies of Physicians at Rochelle , and in other places , where , as I am assured from good hands , there were none ever before . None but Papists will be received into those Societies . By this , the Jesuits have found out the way , at one stroke to hinder the Practice of all the Protestant Physicians ; however able and experienc'd they may be . In so much that the Lives of all sick Protestants are by this means put into the hands of their Enemies . 8. In short , there is scarce now any place in all France where they may get their livelyhood . They are every where molested and hindered from exercising in quiet any Trade or Art which they have learn'd . To dispatch them quite ; they require of them not only that they shall continue to bear all the Burdens of the Government , altho they take from them the means of doing it : but also that they bear double to what they did ; that is to say , they use a rigor far greater , than what was practised upon the People of God , when they were commanded to deliver the same tale of bricks , and yet had not straw given them as formerly . In effect , at the same time that they will not allow them , of the Protestant Religion , to get a penny : they exact of them to pay the King double , nay , treble , to what they paid before . Monsieur de Marillac , Intendant of Poitou , hath an Order of Council which gives him alone the Power of the Imposition of the Tax in that great Province . He discharges the Papists , who are at ease , and overcharges the poor Protestants with their proportion , who before that fainted under their own proper burden ; and could bear no more . I will tell you farther on this occasion , that the Jesuits have obtain'd an Order of the King , by which all Protestants who change Religion , are exempted for two years , from all quartering of Soldiers , and all Contributions of Moneys which are levied on that Account , which also tends to the utter ruine of them who continue firm in the Protestant Religion . For they throw all the burden upon them , of which the others are eas'd . From thence in part it is , that all the Houses of those poor people are filled with Soldiers , who live there as in an Enemy's Country . I do not know if the zeal of the Jesuits will rest here : For they want yet the satisfaction of keeping S. Bartholomew's Day , as they kept it in the former Age. It is true , what is allowed them is not far from it . For which is the better of the two , to stab with one blow , or to make men die by little and little , of hunger and misery ? As to the Blow ( said I to our Friend ) I do not understand you . Pray , if you please , explain your self , what do you mean by keeping S. Bartholomew's Day ? Monsieur de Perifix , that Archbishop of Paris , who hath writ the Life of Henry the Fourth ( answered he ) shall tell you for me . There 's the Book , the place may be easily found . Here it is : Six days after , which was S. Bartholomew 's Day , all the Huguenots who came to the ( Wedding ) Feast , had their Throats cut , amongst others , the Admiral , twenty persons of the best quality , twelve hundred Gentlemen , about four thousand Soldiers and Citizens : afterwards through all the Cities of the Kingdom , after the Example of Paris , near a hundred thousand were massacred . An execrable Action ! Such as never was , and I hope to God never will be the like . You know then well , continued our Friend , directing his Speech to me , you know well now what it is to keep S. Bartholomew's Day , and I believe that what I said is no Riddle to you . The Jesuits and their Friends set a great value on themselves in the world , because they forbear cutting the Protestants Throats , as they did then . But , Merciless as you are , do you ere the less take away their lives ! You say you do not kill them , but do you not make them pine to death with hunger and vexation ? He who gives slow poison is he less a poisoner , than he who gives what is violent and quick , since both of them destroy the life at last ? Pardon this short Transport ( said our Friend ) in good earnest I cannot restrain my indignation , when I see them use the utmost of cruelty , and yet would be looked on as patterns of all moderation and meekness . Let me impart to you three Letters which two of our Friends who are yet in France have written to me since I came from Paris . I received the two first at Calis , before I got into the Pacquet Boat ; the last was delivered me last night after you went away from my Chamber . You will there see with what Gentleness they proceed in those Countries . He thereupon read to me his Letters , and I have since took Copies of them send them here inclosed . A Copy of the First Letter . WE are just upon the point of seeing that Reformation which hath cost so much labour and pains , and so much blood , come to nothing in France . To know the condition of the Protestants in the several Provinces of this Kingdom , you need but read what the first Christians suffered under the Reigns of the Emperors Nero , Domitian , Trajan , Maximin , Dioclesian and such like . There are four Troops of Horse in Poitou who live at free Quarter , upon all of the Protestant Religion without any exception . When they have pillaged the Houses of them who will not go to Mass , they tie them to their Horse Tails , and drag them thither by force . The Intendant whom they have sent thither , who is their most bitter Enemy , hath his Witnesses ready suborned , who accuse whom they please , of what Crimes they please , and after that cast the poor men into dark Dungeons , beat them with Cudgels , and then pass sentence of death to terrifie them ; and afterwards under-hand , send others to try them by fair means , to promise them that their mourning shall be turn'd into joy , if they will but go to Mass . Those whom God gives the grace to resist , die in the Dungeon , through unspeakable anguish . Three Gentlemen of Quality who went about to confirm some of the poor people in their Village , that began to waver , were presently clapt up , Flax put about their Necks , then set on fire , and so they were scorch'd , till they said they would renounce their Religion . There would be no end if I should relate all that is done . This you may be assured of , that the People of Israel were never so oppress'd by the Egyptians , as the Protestants are by their own Country-men . A Copy of the Second Letter . TO make good my promise of giving you an exact Account of the continuance of the persecution which is rais'd against the Protestants in France , I shall acquaint you that they of Poitiers are threat'ned with being made a Garrison this Winter . I say they , the Protestants : For none but they must quarter any of them . Monsieur de Marillac gives himself up wholly to the making of Proselytes . The Deputies of Poitiers are now here to make complaint of the violences they still labour under . They offer , by a Petition which they have presented , at the cost of their lives , if they are found guilty of any Falshood , or if they do not make out what they say . They set forth , that by the Orders of Monsieur Marillac , the Protestants are dealt with as declared Enemies ; that their Goods and their Houses are plundered ; their persons assaulted ; that the Soldiers are employed as Executioners of these Outrages . That they are quartered upon the Protestants only , that besides the excessive expence they put them to , they exact money of them with dreadful Oaths and Execrations . They knock them down , they drag Women by the hair of the Head , and Ropes about their Necks , they have put them to the torture with Screws , by clapping their Fingers into a Vice , and so squeezing them by degrees , they have bound aged Men , eighty years old , and beaten them , and have misused , before thir Eyes , their Children , who came to comfort them : They hinder Handicrafts men from working ; they take from Labourers what they use for their Livelyhood ; they set their Goods openly to sale , and they clap their Swords and Pistols to their Breasts , who are not frighted with their other Usages : they drag them in Sheets into their Churches , they throw Holy Water in their Faces , and then say they are Catholicks , and shall be proceeded against as Relapsed , if they live otherwise . It is not permitted to these miserable persons to complain ; those who would have attempted it have been seised on , and the Prisons are full of them . They are detained there without any Process being made against them , and even without so much as having their Names entred in the Jayl-Books . If any Gentleman speak to Monsieur Marillac , he answers them , that they should meddle with their own Business , that otherwise he will lay them fast . This is a Taste of what they are doing here . A Copy of the Third Letter . BEing very busie , it shall suffice at this time to send you a Copy of a Letter ; which I just now received from Saintes , concerning the Protestants of this Kingdom ; Sir J. P. our common Friend writ it me . He is now making his Tour of France . I intreated him to inform himself as well as he could how they treated the poor people in those places he was to pass through , that he might give me a full Account . This is the Letter , dated the last of August , Old Style . I am now going out of Aulnix , where I meet with nothing but Objects of Compassion . The Intendant of Rochefort , which is Monsieur Du Muins , lays all waste there . It is the same person concerning whom at the Marquis de Segnelay's we were told so many pleasant Stories last Winter at S. Germain . Do not you remember that they talked much of a certain Picard , who owed all his Fortune to his Wife , and whom the Marquis de Segnelay treats always as the worst of men ? That 's the Man , he is born to do mischief as much as ever man was , and his Employment hath increas'd bis insolence beyond measure . To this he hath added , to the Protestants grief , all the barbarous zeal of Ignorance . And if the King would let him do it , he would soon act over again the Tragedy of S. Bartholomew . About ten days since he went to a great Town in Aunix , called Surgeres , accompanied with his Provost , and about forty Archers . He began his Feats with a Proclamation that all the Huguenots should change their Religion , and upon their refusal he quartered his Troop upon those poor people : he made them to live there at discretion , as in an Enemies Country ; he made their Goods to be thrown into the Streets , and their Beds under the Horses Feet . By his Order the Vessels of Wine and Brandy were staved , and their Horse Heels wash'd with it ; their Corn was sold , or rather given away , for a fourth part of what it was worth , and the same was done to all the Tradesmens Goods : Men , Women and Children were put to the Torture , were dragged by force to the Popish Churches ; and so great Cruelty was used towards them that the greatest part not being able longer to indure the extremity of the pain , renounced their Religion . By the same means they forced them to give it under their hands , That they had abjured without constraint , and of their own free choice . The Goods of those who found means to escape , are sentenced to be sold , and to be pillaged . Proud of so noble an Expedition , our good man returns to Rochefort , the place of his ordinary abode , forbids all the Protestants , who are there pretty numerous , to remove any of their Goods out of the Town , under penalty of confiscation of what should be seised , and corporal punishment over and above ; and he commands them all to change their Religion in five days . This was done by sound of Trumpet , that no one might pretend ignorance . The Term expires to morrow . After this he marched to Mozé ( it is another great Town in Aunix ) where there is a very fair Church of the Protestants , and a very able Minister , there he set out the same Prohibitions , and the same Commands that he had at Rochefort . Upon this a very worthy person of the place , and Elder of the Church , named Mr. Jarry , addressed to him with a most humble Remonstrance ; and this cruel and barbarous man made him presently to be clapt up in Irons . After this he quartered his Men upon those of the Protestant Religion , where he exerciseth the same violence which he did at Surgeres . Nevertheless hitherto no one hath made Shipwrack of his Conscience in this place . They suffer all this cruel persecution with an admirable constancy . God of his Mercy support them to the end . All the rest of Aunix is in extreme consternation . There are likewise Prohibitions made at Rochelle , against the shipping of any Goods . In so much that all they who flie away run a great hazard of carrying away their lives only for a prey . Adieu . I will end mine as Sir J. P. doth his : all your Friends — Do you intend to conclude there , said I to our Friend ? I have a mind to do so ( replyed he ) tho I have a thousand Insolences and Outrages more yet to acquaint you with . But it is late ; and I have produced but too much to justifie the French Protestants who forsake their Country , from any suspicion of impatience or wantonness . You see now what are the Reasonable Means that are used to convert them . Those goodly means which have been employed are , To despise the most Sacred Edict that was ever made by men ; to count as nothing promises repeated a hundred times , most solemnly by authentick Declarations ; to reduce people to utmost Beggary ; to make them die of Hunger , in my opinion , a more cruel death than that by Fire or Sword , which in a moment ends life and miseries together ; to lay upon them all sorts of afflictions , to take away their Churches , their Ministers , their Goods , their Children , their liberty of being born , of living , or of dying in peace , to drive them from their Employments , their Honors , their Houses , their native Country ; to knock them on the head , to drag them to the Mass with Ropes about their Necks , to imprison them , to cast them into Dungeons , to give them the question , put them to the Rack , make them die in the midst of torments , and that too without so much as any Formality of Justice . This is that they call Reasonable Means , Gentle and Innocent Means : For these are the Terms which the Archbishop of Claudiopolis useth , at the Head of all the Deputies of the Clergy of France , in the Remonstrance they made to their King , the last year when they took leave of his Majesty . I must needs read you the passage : here is the Remonstrance , and the very words of that Archbishop : Those gentle and innocent means which you make use of , Sir , with so much success to bring the Hereticks into the bosom of the Church , are becoming the Bounty and Goodness of your Majesty , and conformable at the same time to the mind of the divine Pastor , who always retains Bowels of Mercy for these strayed Sheep : he wills , that they should be brought back , and not hunted away , because he desires their salvation , and regrets their loss . How far is this conduct from the rigor wherewith the Catholicks are treated in those Neighbouring Kingdoms which are infected with Heresie . Your Majesty makes it appear , what difference there is between Reason and Passion , between the Meekness of Truth , and the Rage of Imposture , between the Zeal of the House of God , and the Fury of Babylon . In good truth , cryed I to our Friend , after the reading of this passage : this is insufferable , and I cannot forbear taking my turn to be a little in passion . Methinks they should blush to death , who call those Cruelties , which have been executed upon innocent Sheep , Meekness ; and that Rigor , and the fury of Babylon which we have inflicted upon Tigers , who thirsted after our Blood , and had sworn the destruction of Church and State. They plague and torment to death more than a million of peaceable persons , who desire only the freedom of serving God according to his Word , and the Laws of the Land , who cannot be accused of the least shadow of Conspiracy , and who by preserving that Illustrious Blood which now reigns there , have done to France Services which deserv'd , together with the Edict of Pacification , the love , and the hearty thanks of all true French Men. And we have put to death in a legal manner , it may be twenty wretched persons ( the most of which had forfeited their lives to the Law , for being found here ) convinced by divers Witnesses , who were the greatest part Papists , of having attempted against the Sacred Life of our King , and the lives of millions of his faithful Subjects . Surely they would have had us let them done their Work , let them have rooted out that Northern Heresie , which they were , as they assure us by their own Letters , in so great , and so near hopes of accomplishing . But we had not forgot the Massacre of Ireland , wherein , by the confession of one of their own Doctors , who knew it very well , more than a hundred and fifty thousand of our Brethren , in the midst of a profound peace , without any provocation , by a most sudden and barbarous Rebellion , had their Throats cut by that sort of Catholicks , whose fate they so much bewail . Altho your Transport be very just , and I am very well pleased with it , said our Friend to me , I must needs interrupt you ; to bring you back again to our poor Protestants . What say you to their Condition ? I say ( answered I ) that there can be nothing more worthy compassion ; and that we must entirely forget all that we owe to the Communion of Saints , if we open not our hearts , and receive them as our true Brethren . I will be sure to publish in all places what you have informed me , and will stir up all persons to express in their favour all the Duties of Hospitality and Christian Charity . To the end ( said he to me ) you may do it with a better heart , at our next meeting , I will fully justifie them against all those malicious Reports which are given out against their Loyalty and their Obedience to the Higher Powers . Let us take for that all to morrow seven-night . As you please , said I , so we took leave one of another : and thus you have an end of a long Letter , assuring you , that I ever shall be , Sir , Yours . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A55723-e240 Declaration of the 17th . of June , 1681. Art. 1. Pa●…tic . Ann. 1599 , p. 285 , and 286 , Edit . Amsterdam , 1664. P. 156 , & 157 , of the Lions Edition . See Statutes at large . 1 Elizab. 1. 5 Eliz. 1. 13 Eliz. 1. 23 Eliz. 1. 27 Eliz. 2. 35 Eliz. 2. 1 Jacob. 4. 3 Jac. 4 , 5 , &c. Printed for Henry Brome , 1674. Art. 1. par . Mr. God. Hermant , Doctor of the Sorbon . Tom. 1. Book 2 p. 204. and Notes of the same chapt . p. 625. Surl ' an . 1572 Edit . Amsterd . p. 30. Printed at Paris cum Privilegio Chaz Leonard , Imprimear du Roy. 1680. Omahon S. Th. Mag. Disputatio Apologetica de Jure Regni Hiberniae pro Catholicis , n. 20.