The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Introduction 2 · Section 43
SECT. XLIII.
A Sp… of Popiſh Cruelties.Afterwards they fall upon the Perſons of the Proteſtants, and there was no Wickedneſs, though never ſo horrid, which they did not put in practice, that they might enforce them to change their Religion. Amidſt a thouſand hideous Cries and Blaſphemies they hang up Men and Women by the Hair or Feet upon the roofs of the Chambers, or hooks of Chimneys, and ſmoakt them with wiſps of wet Hay, till they were no longer able to bear it; and when they had taken them down, if they would not ſign an abjuration of their pretended Hereſies, they then truſs them up again immediately. Some they threw into great Fires, kindled on purpoſe, and would not take them out till they were half roaſted. They tied ropes under their Arms, and plung'd them to and again into deep Wells, from whence they would not draw them till they had promiſed to change their Religion. They bound them as Criminals are when they be put to the Rack, and in that poſture putting a Funnel into their Mouths, they pour'd Wine down their throats till its fumes had deprived them of their reaſon, and they had in that condition made them conſent to become Catholicks. Some they ſtripped ſtark naked, and after they had offered them a thouſand Indignities, they ſtuck them with Pins from Head to Foot: They cut them with Penknifes, tear them by the Noſes with red hot Pincers, and dragged them about the Rooms, 'till they promiſed to become Roman Catholicks, or that the doleful outcries of theſe poor tormented Creatures, calling upon God for Mercy, conſtrained them to let them go. They beat them with Staves, and dragged them, all bruiſed, to the Popiſh Churches, where their enforced preſence is reputed for an Abjuration. They keep them waking ſeven or eight days together, relieving one another by turns, that they might not get a wink of ſleep or reſt. In caſe they began to nod, they threw Buckets of Water in their Faces, or holding Kettles over their Heads, they beat on them with ſuch a continual noiſe, that thoſe poor Wretches loſt their Senſes.
If they found any ſick, who kept their Beds, Men or Women, be it of Feavers or other Diſeaſes, they were ſo cruel, as to beat up an alarm with twelve Drums about their Beds, for a whole Week together without Intermiſſion, till they had promiſed to change.
In ſome places they tied Fathers and Husbands to the Bed-Poſts, and raviſhed their Wives and Daughters before their Eyes. And in another place Rapes were publickly and generally permitted for many hours together.
From others they pluck off the Nails of their Hands and Toes, which muſt needs cauſe an intolerable pain. They burnt the Feet of others. They blew up Men and Women with Bellows, 'till they were ready to burſt in pieces.
If theſe horrid uſages could not prevail upon them to violate their Conſciences, and abandon their Religion, they did then Impriſon them in cloſe and noiſome Dungeons, in which they exerciſed all kind of Inhumanities upon them. They demoliſh their Houſes, deſolate their Hereditary Lands, cut down their Woods, ſeize upon their Wives and Children, and mew them up in Monaſteries.
When the Souldiers had devoured all the goods of a Houſe, then the Farmers and Tenants of theſe poor perſecuted Wretches muſt ſupply them with new Fewels for their Luſts, and bring in more ſubſiſtence to them; and that they might be reimburſed, they did, by Authority of Juſtice, ſell unto them the Fee-ſimple Eſtate of their Landlords, and put them into poſſeſſion of it.
If any, to ſecure their Conſciences, and to eſcape the Tyranny of theſe enraged Cannibals, endeavour'd to flee away, they were purſued and hunted in the Fields and Woods, and ſhot at as ſo many wild Beaſts.
The Provoſts, with their Archers, courſe it up and down the high ways after theſe poor Fugitives; and Magiſtrates in all places have ſtrict Orders to ſtop and detain them without exception; and being taken, they are brought back, like Priſoners of War, unto thoſe places from whence they fled.