The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Introduction 2 · Section 27 – Section 28
SECT. XXVII.
I ſhould never have done, if I ſhould ſet down all the Hiſtories of their Sufferings by the Tricks and Quirks of Law, but I will add one more: Monſieur Mandeville de Fanue, a Gentleman of an ancient Family, was kept in the Common Gaol of Normandy three Years, and was there in the Year 1674. He married a Gentlewoman bred up in the Popiſh Religion. By her he had ſeveral Children; the firſt was a Daughter, and his Wife's Kindred intended to carry her away by force to be baptized according to the Romiſh Superſtition. To that end his Mother-in-Law procured from the Judges of Caen, an expreſs Command to the Miniſters of the Proteſtant Church, not to baptize the Child on pain of five hundred Livers. This is directly contrary to the King's Declaration, Anno 1669. Article 39. expreſſed in theſe very terms, We Order and Command, That the Children whoſe Father is a Proteſtant, ſhall remain in their Parents Cuſtody, and thoſe that ſhall take them away and detain them, ſhall he conſtrained to reſtore them. Hereupon he was conſtrained by night, to avoid the inſolency and fury of the common People, to carry the Child as far as Bayeux, five French Leagues diſtant from Caen, there to be baptized after the manner of the Reformed Churches.
As he was going to baptize his third Child at the Proteſtant Temple near Caen, the Vicar of St. John's Church ſtopped him, and took him by the Throat ſuddenly, in ſo violent a manner, that he almoſt choaked him, and to avoid the fury of the common People, who began to ſtock about, he returned to his Houſe.
The laſt Child, being a Daughter, was carried away by ſtealth by the forementioned Vicar, and was Baptized in the Romiſh way. The Mother of theſe Children dying a ſhort time after, although by the Cuſtom of the Country the Father hath the right of being Guardian and Tutor of his Children, yet moſt unjuſtly, and contrary to the 39th Article of the Edict, The Relations of the deceaſed Gentlewoman, who were all Papiſts, choſe her Brother (who being a Minor needed a Guardian himſelf,) to take the care of theſe Children. And thereupon he was Condemned to give up his Children into the care and cuſtody of this young Guardian: from this Sentence he made his Appeal to the Parliament of Rouen. But his Adverſaries by their falſe Witneſſes, and a Counterfeited Contract before Marriage, allowing the Education of his Children in the Superſtitions of the Romiſh Church (which he proved forged) got two Judgments paſſed againſt him, and executed, enjoining him to deliver up his Children, under the penalty of eight hundred Livers French money. Upon this he Petitioned the Privy-Council, and obtained a Letter under the Kings Seal, to Monſieur Chamilla Intendant of Caen, Commanding him to put a period unto this Affair. But he being wholly governed by the Biſhop of Bayeux, and other of the Clergy and rigid Papiſts: This poor Gentleman was made a Priſoner; and at the taking of him, they miſerably abuſed him, beating him, tearing his Cloaths, breaking his Sword, dragging him in a brutiſh manner through the ſtreets, and in all probability, had not a Gentleman, named the Viſcount of Caen, come by, and took him into his Coach, and conducted him, with his Guard, to the Priſon, he had been Maſſacred by the bloody Rabble. Over and above all this bad uſage, ſome Debtors to him have obtained an injunction upon any proceeding at Law againſt them, until he ſhall have delivered up his Children. His Eſtate is all ſeized, and he kept at the Kings allowance, that he may thereby be compelled, not having wherewithal to buy Bread for his Children, to deliver them up. This Order was Confirmed, and given forth by ſix Eccleſiaſtical Councellors.
All that theſe inhumane Wretches have to alledge for this barbarous uſage, is this, That they hold it juſt and equitable to deprive a Man of all the goods and comforts he enjoys, provided it be for the advancement of their Religion, which ought to be prefer'd before all private Intereſts whatſoever, according to their Maxim, Summa enim eſt ratio quae pro Religione facit. And by this goodly Maxim of theirs, was this worthy Gentleman, for not proſtituting his poor Children to their Diabolical Idolatries and Superſtitions, more than three years Impriſoned, and placed among the moſt notorious Rogues, who for their Villanies are under Reſtraint, without any hope of deliverance unleſs by Death.
SECT. XXVIII.
We ſhall add but one method more under this firſt head, and that is a general Inundation of Criminal Proceſſes againſt the Reformed. Writings were Printed at Paris, and ſent down from thence to all Cities and Pariſhes in the Kingdom, Impowering Curates, Church-Wardens, and others, to make an exact inquiry into whatſoever thoſe of the Reformed Religion had either ſaid or done for twenty years paſt, as well upon the occaſion of Religion as otherwiſe, and to give information of it unto the Local Magiſtrates, that they might be proſecuted without delay, and puniſhed without remiſſion. So that for divers years together, in the execution of theſe Orders, the Priſons were every where filled with new kind of Criminals, with the moſt Innocent Perſons in all France. Nor were falſe Witneſſes wanting, and which was moſt horrible, though the Judges were convinced in their Conſciences, that they were Knights of the Poſt, yet they maintained and abetted them in their horrid Wickedneſs. Thus they Condemned innocent and godly Perſons to be ſcourged, to be Chained in the Gallies, to Baniſhment and publick Penances. And this kind of Perſecution fell chiefly upon Miniſters, Paſtors of Churches. For a long time they might not Preach without having for their Auditors, and Obſervators, a ſwarm of Prieſts, Monks, and Miſſioners, and ſuch kind of Cattel, who made no ſcruple to charge them with things which never entered into their thoughts, and to turn others into a contrary meaning. Yea they went ſo far as to divine thoughts, and to make Crimes out of their own imaginations. For as ſoon as ever any Miniſter ſpake of Egypt, Pharaoh, the Iſraelites, of good or bad People, Theſe Spies had their forced Innuendo's, and accuſed theſe poor Miniſters for ſlandering the Catholicks, and that they meant by the Iſraelites the Reformed. The Judges concerned themſelves in this, and which is moſt ſtrange, The Miniſters of State conſtrued theſe Interpretations of thoughts as real, evident, and undeniable proofs. On theſe grounds the Magiſtrates filled the Priſons with many worthy Miniſters, detaining them many Months, and whole Years together, yea, and often inflicted upon them ſeverer puniſhments.