The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 24 (1st Charenton) · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
N. B. What picque the King of France had againſt Monſieur Cameron as I cannot tell, ſo I ſhall not write my gueſſes and conjectures about it, becauſe they may be, and may not be true. Mr. Cameron, if he had deſigned, what afterwards ſome others attempted, a coalition of both the Religions, Proteſtant and Popiſh, yet certainly was no Papiſt, yea, far enough from their Doctrine and Worſhip. But he had angred the Jeſuits not ſo much as his Reverend Colleague and Countreyman. And this was the true reaſon, why Monſieur Primroſe was neceſſitated to quit Bourdeaux and France, when as Cameron was permitted to tarry, and return to Bourdeaux, and was preferred unto the Profeſſors Chair in Divinity afterwards at Montauban.
On Whitſunday in the year 1619. Father Arnoux the Jeſuit preaching before the King, Queen, and Court of France in the Caſtle of Amboiſe, attempted a Task impoſſible, to whiten Blackamores, to waſh or wipe his Church clean, and eſpecially his own Order from an indelible blot, viz. That they held it lawful to kill Kings. This the Jeſuit with a boldneſs and audaciouſneſs, which is the proper Talent of their Society, would have ſome how or other evaded. He aſſures that Royal Auditory with the greateſt confidence, that it was never the Doctrine of their Catholick Church, never believed by theſe good Fathers, that Subjects might lawfully rebel againſt their Sovereigns, yea that it doth anathematize all thoſe who teach and preach that the Sacred Perſons of Princes may be lawfully made away and murdered, yea, that the whole Society of Jeſuits doth condemn, deteſt, and as much as hi them lieth doth anathematize all Adviſers, Abettors, and Aiders of Rebels againſt their King upon any pretext, vvhatſoever. His Majeſty and that vvhole illuſtrious Auditory vvere overjoyed at this free and liberal Declaration of the Jeſuit, and quitted the Sermon, as they ſaid very much edified: And His Majeſty told it publickly that he had great reaſon to be pleaſed with the Fathers of the Society, and that Father Arnoux had in the Name, and ſtead of them all plainly and fully enough condemned the Book of Mariana. Monſieur Primroſe vvas preſent at this Sermon, and fretted at the heart to hear an Impudent Jeſuit abuſe the good Nature of his King vvith ſuch odious Equivocations, and to laugh in his Sleeve at the ſimplicity of his over credulous Auditors. Whereupon he intreated Monſieur de Modene, at that time a Perſon utterly unknown to him, to ask of Father Arnoux, Whether Fryer James Clement that ſtab'd Henry the Third in the Bovvels vvith a poyſoned Knife, being a Prince Excommunicated by the Pope had killed his King? And ſuppoſe the Pope ſhould Excommunicate His Majeſty novv reigning, and declare his Throne and Kingdom vacant, vvhether he vvould then ovvn Lewes XIII. for his King? And if at that time an Aſſaſſinate, as John Chaſtel, Peter Barriere, or Francis Ravaillac all Diſciples of the Jeſuits, ſhould attempt upon His Majeſties Life, he would accurſe and anathematize him as guilty of Treaſon in the laſt and higheſt degree, for daring to lift up his bloody hands againſt the Sacred Perſon of his King? The By-ſtanders immediately comprehended the cheat and impoſture of the Jeſuit, and how they had been gull'd by him; for he could not make any Reply to the demand of this Proteſtant Miniſter Monſieur Primroſe. But though he could not anſvver his Arguments, the Jeſuit found out means and opportunity to cry him quitts, and to be reveng'd upon him. For 'tvvas be that ſollicited the Parliament of Bordeaux, and by his Intereſt got that Decree to paſs in it, That no Stranger not born in the Kingdom ſhould be a Miniſter in France. Monſieur Gilbert Primroſe hereupon being outed of his Church paſſed into England, and was choſen Paſtor of the French Church of London, in whoſe Service he continued till his Death. And where now ſucceeds him, though at ſome diſtance, in the ſame Paſtoral Office his Reverend and Worthy Grandſon. See this Relation, in page 75, and 76 of his Panegyrique a tres grand, & tres puiſſant Prince Charles Prince de Galles, 1624.