The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Introduction 2 · Section 48 – Section 50
SECT. XLVIII.
Whil'ſt the Dragoons do thus ravage and ruinate the Provinces, cauſing Terrors and Deſolations where ever they come, Orders are diſpatched to all the Frontier Countries and Sea-port Towns, ſtrictly to guard the Paſſages, and to ſtop all perſons who are departing the Kingdom. So that there was no hope leſt of ſaving themſelves by flight. None could paſs unleſs he brought with him a Certificate from the Prieſt of his Pariſh, or the Biſhop of the Dioceſs in which he lived, that he was a Roman Catholick. Others are put in Priſon, and treated like Traytors to their King and Country. All Ships of Foreigners lying in the Ports and Havens of the Kingdom are diligently ſearcht for Paſſengers; the Coaſts, Bridges, Paſſages unto Rivers, and the Highways are all ſtrictly guarded night and day; and the neighbouring States are imperiouſly required not to harbour any more Fugitives, and to diſmiſs or ſend back again ſuch as they had already received, and Attempts were alſo made to ſeize and carry away ſome who had eſcaped into foreign Countries.
I have lying by me a Letter from Geneva, giving a doleful Account of the poor Refugees, who had fled thither. Poſſibly the Reader will not be diſpleaſed at the reading of it.
From Geneva, Nov. 1685. SIR,
IT's a good while ago that the French Proteſtants began to ſecure themſelves both here and in Switzerland, yet it was but very ſlowly e'er they retired hither, there being not on this ſide of France thoſe conveniencies for them as in England and Holland. However their number increaſed with their Perſecutions; and this Honour is due unto Geneva, that tho' at firſt (whil'ſt we ſuppoſed there was not an indiſpenſable neceſſity upon our Proteſtant Brethren for their flight) we ſeemed ſomewhat cold as to their reception; yet having at laſt too great cauſe to believe it, I may ſpeak it without vanity, that Geneva exerciſed a charity towards theſe Fugitives which will recommend her to poſterity. I ſhall give you an undeniable proof hereof, and that preſently. Ever ſince the firſt Troubles at Montauban, and the great conſternation of the other Provinces, Geneva never failed to receive and relieve with Monies and other Supplies all that had recourſe unto her, and for more than two Months together there paſſed not a day over our heads in which Geneva did not daily receive and ſupply 30, 50, 80, 90 Perſon… of all Ages, of both Sexes, and of all Conditions. But as we had an occaſion of ſatisfaction from the Charity of Geneva, ſo we muſt alſo avow, that it was utterly impoſſible not to be affected with ſuch a multitude of pitiful Objects as daily preſented themſelves unto us, and eſpecially ſince the paſſages were guarded, ſome arriving diſguis'd, on foot, in a deplorable condition, who would they have left their God might have been as to this World very happy. Women and Maids came to us in the Habits of Men, Children in Coffers packt up as Cloaths, others without any other precaution at all than in their Cradles tied about their Parents necks, ſome paſſing this, others that way, all ſtopping either at the Gates or Churches of the City, with Cries and Tears of Joy and Sorrow mingled together: ſome demanding, where are our Fathers and Mothers? others, where are our Wives and Children? not knowing where to find them, nor having learnt any News of them from the time they departed from their Houſes. In ſhort, every one was ſo affected with theſe miſerable Objects, that it was impoſſible to refrain from weeping. Some had no ſooner paſſed the firſt Barricado, but proſtrating themſelves upon their Knees, ſung a Pſalm of Thankſgiving for their happy deliverance, tho', poor Creatures, they had not wherewithal to get themſelves a Meal's meat, and might have gone to Bed that Night ſupperleſs, had not the Lord of his great goodneſs extraordinarily provided for them. Thus we ſpent two Months, every day affording us new Adventures, freſh and eminent Examples of Self-denial, and that divers-ways. I ſhall give you a few Inſtances. Among others a Lady of great quality, the Mother of ten Children, whoſe Husband, Monſieur d' Arbaud, had revolted from the truth at Niſmes; this Lady, I ſay, forſook eighteen thouſand Livers of yearly Revenue, without ever having been able to make a Purſe to defray her Journey; and, maugre all the Cares and Endeavours of her Husband and the Biſhop, brought with her nine of her Children, and the youngeſt of them about ſeven Years of age; yet when ſhe came here ſhe had but two Crowns left her to maintain herſelf and them. It was but two days ſince that I bad Adieu to my Lord the Baron of Aubaye, who forſook above five and twenty thouſand Livers of yearly Revenue, for the Goſpel, and all his Stock was but thirty Piſtols. I gave Letters of Recommendation to the Baron of Temelac, who is baniſht for eight and twenty Years. This Nobleman forſook eight thouſand Livers of good Rents, and departed hence with a very ſmall Supply to ſeek ſome Employment where ever he can meet it, for his ſubſiſtence. My Lord de *One of the moſtilluſtrious Noblemen of Languedoc.Bougi departed hence ſome few days ago with eight or ten Gentlemen for Germany. I cannot reckon unto you an infinite number of other perſons, whoſe Names are unknown to me. Six or ſeven came hither about five days ſince, who ſeemed to be the Servants of a Commander of Malta, bearing upon his Breaſt the great Croſs. There came alſo a far greater Troop, who met at the Paſſes a multitude of poor People with their Wives and Children that had been ſtopt by the Guards, theſe force a paſſage for them with themſelves, and conveyed them with their Baggage hither in ſafety. The City of Lyons hath given illuſtrious Examples of remorſe of Conſcience; in particular, no longer than yeſterday, we had one, and that a very ſenſible one. A Woman and her Son, to ſecure an Eſtate of an hundred thouſand Crowns, had ſunk under the temptation, and revolted unto Popery; but they were ſo tormented in their Conſciences night and day after their Apoſtaſie, that they could have no peace nor reſt till they had quitted both their Eſtate and Habitation. Some others who had miſcarried in the ſame manner, durſt not tarry (through the ſtings of their inraged Conſciences) any longer than for the firſt opportunity of eſcaping, and brought with them to this City their Abjuration. This Abjuration of theirs is a certain Paper in which is written the Name of this new Popiſh Convert, together with the Seal of the Biſhop and that of the Magiſtrate of the place; by vertue of which they be freed from quartering of Dragoons, and are permitted to go and come and traffick when and whereſoever they pleaſe. And among our new Converts this Paper is call'd, The Mark of the Beast. I have ſeen ſeveral Copies of them.
But you muſt not imagine, that all are come unto Geneva. Switzerland hath entertain'd a vaſter multitude than we, who have come unto them, and are daily coming from all quarters, ſome one way, ſome another, ſome as if they dropt down from the Clouds, that is from the tops of the Mountains, either of the Franche County, or from thoſe of Chablays; in ſhort, no man can tell how or which way they are come unto them. No longer than yeſterday, in deſpite of all Guards at the ſeveral Paſſes, and dangers of the Gallies, there arrived hither no leſs than fifty Perſons. A tall Chairman, who had been a Lacquey, as he was coming from his Houſe, eſpying Monſieur de Cambiaquet paſſing over the Bridge, immediately ſtopt, and imbraced him in his Livery Coat. Four young Ladies of Grenoble diſguiſed in Mens. Apparel, after they had lodged four or five days in the Foreſts and Mountains, without any other Proviſion than a little Bread, and their Arms, having travell'd only by night, came hither but a few hours ago in this their gallant Equipage. Should I write you all the ſtories I know, we ſhould never have done.
About a Fortnight ſince a panick fear of the Dragoons coming into the Land of Gex (where yet are reckoned about 17000. Proteſtants, though moſt of them very poor People) had ſo ſeized upon their Spirits, that one Morning, we ſaw at our Gates, five hundred Carts loaden with Houſhold Goods, and follow'd with an innumerable multitude of Perſons, who went and came from all Quarters. On that ſide of Switzerland, and of the Mountains, there was yet a far greater power of them, in ſo much that it affrighted all the Country. The Governour came and complain'd of it unto our Magiſtrates; but they replied, they could not ſhut the Gates of their City upon his Majeſty's Subjects, and had they done it, there had been an unavoidable uproar among the People. However theſe poor People were deſired to depart elſewhere, and not to expoſe our Commonwealth. To which they readily obeyed.
And in as much as the Governour, a notorious bitter Enemy of the Magiſtrates and City of Geneva, though without cauſe, would not fail to make a foul brabble of this buſineſs, and becauſe our Reſident was expected in three or four days, we intreated generally, but with a great deal of ſweetneſs, the greatest part of the French to withdraw themſelves, as ſoon as poſſible, which they did, and of their own accord, without delay; but with a great deal of grief on our part, who loſt at this firſt bout abundance of very godly People, with whoſe Company we were very much comforted. The Reſident being arriv'd told us he had no order to ſpeak about theſe matters, yea contrariwiſe, that he was only to treat with them as with particular Friends. But three days after a Letter comes, by which, the King, all in Choler, commands his Reſident to be inſtant with our Magiſtrates, that immediately they drive out of the City, all his Rebellious Subjects, and charge them to return unto their reſpective dwellings. But mark the ſtinging conſequence hereof.
Hereupon the Council is aſſembled, and after divers Debates they reſolv'd, though to the great heart-breaking and general ſorrow of the Citizens, to make Proclamation, that all the French ſhould immediately be gone. Which was no ſooner ordered but obſerved, yet not without a redoubled grief on their hearts, who had not departed the firſt time, and would willingly have continued.
This Proclamation being publiſhed juſt as we were coming forth from Evening Prayers, it perfectly aſtoniſhed and over-whelmed thoſe poor People, who reckoned this expulſion as a ſecond baniſhment from their Native Country.
In the mean while our Reſident inform'd the King of the ſubmiſſion of Geneva unto his Orders, and that in the faireſt manner, and diſpatched alſo our Magiſtrates Memorial with reference to the particular Complaints and Accuſations of the Governour of Gex, our Magiſtrates intending a ſincere performance of his Majeſty's Order, ſent the Tithing-men to intreat every one to depart with the firſt conveniency. This Order Executed with too much ſeverity by the Under-Officers, cauſed a new uproar among the People. However every one took Boat without delay, dreading worſe News and Orders that might inforce them to return to their own Houſes. In three days time there departed from us above a thouſand Perſons. Yet this wrought a very bad effect among the Commonalty of Switzerland, who were not able to penetrate into the Cauſes moving our Commonwealth to yield this obedience at this time unto his Majeſty. But these is yet ſomething more Cruel. For the King ſends us a thundering Letter, by which he approves the whole procedure of the Governour of Gex, in hindring all Commerce between Gex and Geneva; ſo that not only no Proviſions can from thence be imported into the City, but alſo none of the Inhabitants of Geneva dare fetch in Herbs or Corn from their Gardens and Barns; yea, over and above, he commands them immediately to expel, out of the City, all Miniſters that had been ſetled in it within three years laſt paſt, as a Company of Seditious Fellows, that held private Cabals in Geneva to embroil his Kingdom. And he requires alſo of them an account what they had done with his Subjects whom he had ordered them to diſpatch back again to their own homes, and that if he had not a ſatisfaction in full to all his Commands, he would make them repent that ever they had offended him.
In a word, never had we a Letter, a Letter of this Nature, in ſuch a daring, menacing ſtile. Truly had it not been for our Magiſtrates the People, who were exceedingly concerned at it, had quite broken out. The Switzers have a General Aſſembly this Week. And thus you have a faithful account of our preſent Condition.
We wait impatiently for the King's Anſwer to thoſe Letters which inform'd him of our ready Obedience unto his Orders. But we fear every thing, becauſe he having once begun to make his demands, ſets no bounds to them. The Switzers are haſtning to their Aſſembly, and the People ſeems very reſolute to ſtand up in defence of their Liberties and Religion. Every one is ready to march at the firſt Signal. In the mean while the Switzers have been wonderful in their Charity. The Country of Vaux is fill'd in every Corner with French Fugitives. Within theſe three Weeks there have been reckon'd above 17500. Perſons that have paſſed unto Lauſanne. Zurich writ admirable Letters to Berne and Geneva, deſiring them to ſend of thoſe poor People to them, and that they would receive them as their own natural Brethren into their Country, into their Houſes, yea, and into their very Hearts.
We long to know, whether the King will not make the ſame demand unto the Switzers as unto Geneva. But 'tis hoped they'll not bate his Majeſty an ace, but aſſert their own Rights and Soveraignty. Yet there being a Spirit of Bigottry crept in among the Popiſh Cantons, even in the very face of the Proteſtants, this troubles a World of People.
Yours, N. N.
SECT. XLIX.
Whilſt all this was acting abroad, and other miſchiefs done unto the Reformed at home; The French Court ſate cloſe in Conſultation about giving the laſt blow at the Roots of the Religion in that Kingdom, and how, and in what manner to repeal the Edict of Nantes. Very much time was ſpent in drawing up the matter and form of this new Edict. Some in the Council would have the King detain all the Miniſters, and compel them, as he had done the Laity, to change their Religion, or in caſe of ſtubbornneſs and refuſal, he ſhould condemn them to perpetual Impriſonment.
The reaſons alledged for this were, that in caſe he did it not, they would be ſo many dangerous Enemies againſt him in Foreign Nations, and Trumpets of his Cruelty and Tyranny; others on the contrary affirmed, that as long as the Miniſters continued in France, their preſence would incourage the People to abide in their Religion, whatſoever care might be taken to hinder them; and that ſuppoſing they ſhould change, they would be but ſo many ſecret Adverſaries nouriſhed in the boſom of the Romiſh Church, and the more dangerous becauſe of their great knowledge and skill in controverſial Matters. This laſt Argument prevailed. And thereupon they came to a final concluſion of baniſhing all the Miniſters, and to give them no more than fifteen days time to depart the Kingdom.
The Edict is now given unto the Attorney-General of the Parliament of Paris, to draw it up in ſuch a Form as he ſhould judge moſt fitting. But before the publiſhing thereof, two things were thought neceſſary to be done. The firſt was, to oblige the Aſſembly of the Clergy to preſent by themſelves unto the King a Petition about this Matter before mentioned; in which alſo they told his Majeſty, that they deſired not at preſent the Repealing of the Edict of Nantes. The ſecond was, to ſuppreſs univerſally all Books made by thoſe of the Reformed Religion, and that an Order ſhould be iſſued out to that purpoſe. By the firſt of theſe the Clergy ſuppoſed they might ſhelter themſelves from thoſe Reproaches which would otherwiſe be flung upon them, for being the ſole Authors of thoſe many Miſeries, Injuſtices, and Oppreſſions, which would infallibly be occaſioned by the Repeal of that Edict. And by the other they deſigned to make the Converſions of the Hereticks more eaſie and feaſible, and to confirm thoſe which had been already made. For Miniſters and Books being all removed, they could not poſſibly be inſtructed, nor confirmed, nor reduced back again to their old Religion.
SECT. L.
In fine, this Edict, revoking and repealing the Edict of Nantes, was ſigned and publiſhed on Thurſday, October the 8th, in the Year 1685. 'Tis ſaid the High Chancellour of France, Le Tellier, expreſſed an extream joy when he put the Seal to it. But his joy was but as the crackling of Thorns under a Pot. It was the laſt act of his life. For no ſooner did he return from Fountainbleau to his own Houſe, but he fell ſick, and died in a few days. 'Tis certain, that the Policy of this old Man, rather than any Cruelty in his Nature, induced him in his declining Years to join himſelf unto the Perſecutors of the Reformed.
This Revocatory Edict was regiſtred in the Parliament of Paris, and immediately after in all other the Parliaments of this Kingdom.
This great Inſtrument of the ruine and deſolation of the Reformed Religion, of all its Miniſters and Profeſſors in that Kingdom, was couched in theſe Terms.