The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Introduction 2 · Section 25
SECT. XXV.
They gave all manner of freedom to the Prieſts and Monks, whoſe Carriage was moſt inſolent, to inſult over the poor Proteſtants, and to execute the ſevereſt and moſt unrighteous Decrees and Orders of the King againſt them, as in Poictou, where the Prieſts of any were the moſt furious and induſtrious in demoliſhing of Temples, and raſing their Foundations, and over-throwing ſeveral private Houſes, plundering the Caſtles of Perſons of Quality, who profeſſed the Reformed Religion. If unhappily any Diviſion were in private Families between Man and Wife, or other Relations, theſe Fomenters of ſtrife, theſe Firebrands of Hell, would come and offer them the Protection of the Church againſt their adverſe Party. If a Man were poor and brought to Beggary, they promiſe him the Protection of the Church againſt his Creditors, and Mountains of gold, if he will but change his Religion. They will provide for his Children, put his Daughters into Nunneries, his Boys into Abbies, or good Imployments: but no ſooner are they debauched, but as the Prieſts ſaid to Judas, after he had betrayed his Lord, See thou to it, ſo they chouſe and ſlight him, leave him in the lurch, never perform their Promiſes; ſo that through deſpair, ſome of them have ended their days as Judas did, by laying violent hands upon themſelves. If a debauched Son would ſhake off his Father's Yoke, they ſhall flock to him with the greateſt profeſſion of kindneſs imaginable, pitying him, and wheedling him with the deceitful Promiſes of what great matters they will do for him, provided he will but relinquiſh his Religion (who had none) and become of theirs, a Catholick. If a Daughter be unruly and undutiful to her Parents, they will ſeduce her away from them and God, flattering her with the falſe hopes of a good Match, or intice her into their Nunneries (thoſe ſinks of Uncleanneſs) and oblige her Father to maintain her, to give her an yearly Penſion, far above what his Eſtate can poſſibly allow or bear.
If a Man be proſecuted for any Crime, let him but change his Religion, he gets a Pardon, and gets into a Sanctuary from Juſtice. By this means the old Count de L'orge ſaved his life, when he was clapt into the Baſtile for coining Money. But theſe Cheaters have been cheated themſelves. 'Tis a diverting ſtory for my Reader, out of Les derniers efforts de l' Innocence affligée, p. 176, & 177.
Converſions are now adays in faſhion. Every one will be in the mode. Cavaliers, Soldiers, and Ladies, as well as our Bigots, muſt be Converters. One told me lately a pleaſant paſſage of a common Soldier in the Garriſon of Fribourg, who for a conſiderable Robbery was clapt up in Priſon. This Fellow was a ſubtil ſhaver, and very well perceived there was no hopes of Life or Mercy for him. As ſoon as he was brought into Gaol, the firſt Queſtion put to him was about his Religion. And you may be ſure a Thief hath enough of that and to ſpare. But without any heſitation, he profeſſeth himſelf an Hugonot, that is, a Proteſtant. Immediately all the devout perſons in Town beſtir themſelves to ſave the Soul of this poor Heretick, and who more zealous with him and for him than my Lady Chamilly, the Governor's Wife. This Heretick ſtands out againſt all their aſſaults, and reſolves to die a Martyr for his Religion. Never did a Martyr defend his Cauſe better than he. Nay Monſieur de Chamilly hath a pang of zeal for the periſhing Soul of this wretched Hugonot, and out of pure compaſſion to him viſits him in his Dungeon, tells him he is a dead man, as well as damned, if he don't turn Catholick. Eternal damnation doth not fright him, only the dread of the Wheel and Halter put him into an Ague-fit. He begins to relent; the Piety and Charity of my Lord-Governor and his Lady work a Miracle upon him: He is willing, provided he may have good Terms, to relinquiſh his Hereſie, and go to Heaven. But it muſt be upon ſure Grounds; He will have his Pardon firſt, in due form of Law, under the King's Hand and Seal, that he may not be cheated nor ſurpriſed, nor hung up after he is converted. And they deal (which is a wonder indeed) honeſtly and honourably with him; They get him his Pardon, he pleads it in Court, where 'tis accepted, and he is diſcharged by open Proclamation. No ſooner is this Convert at large, but he declares to all the World what a precious Convert he was, who had never been an Heretick but a Roman Catholick all his days. This Trick was a little mortification to the Bigots of Fribourg. But let us paſs from raillery unto ſomething more ſad and ſerious.