Chapter V: Book THE FOURTH

FROM THE REVOCATION OF THE EDICT OF NANTES TO THE EDICT OF TOLERANCE.

(1685-1787.)

I.

Two opposite influences in this period.—Severities against the pastors.
—Their arrival in foreign countries.—Extensive emigration of the
faithful.—Impotence of the laws and the government.—Different means
of evasion.—Generosity of the Protestant countries.—Approximative
number of the refugees.—_Page 333-340._

II.

State of the Protestants in the kingdom.—How those of Paris were
treated.—Additional ordinances.—Resistance in the south.—Secret
assemblies.—Preachers.—Military expeditions.—Punishments inflicted
upon the relapsed converts.—Louis XIV. makes a retrograde step.—The
Protestant convicts.—Elie Neau.—Execution of Fulcran Rey.—Zeal and
martyrdom of Claude Brousson.—_Page 340-349._

III.

Protests of the Jansenists and certain bishops.—Prudent advice of the
archbishop of Noailles and other enlightened individuals.—Persistance
of the Jesuits and the majority of the clergy.—Edict of 1698.—The
intendant Lamoignon de Bâville.—Murder of the arch-priest Chayla.
—_Page 349-354._

IV.

The war of the Camisards.—Religious frenzy.—The inspired obedience
to the spirit.—The leaders Roland and Cavalier.—Character and
manners of the Camisards.—Ill-success of the Count de Broglie.
—Cruelties of Marshal de Montrevel, and of Bâville.—Arrival of
Marshal du Villars.—Conference with Cavalier.—End of the war.
—_Page 354-363._

V.

Last years of the reign of Louis XIV.—Cautious treatment of the
Reformed of Paris.—Influence of the Jesuit Letellier.—Declaration
of 1715.—Monstrous legal fiction.—Death of Louis XIV.—Conduct of
the Regent towards the Reformed.—_Page 363-367._

VI.

Internal condition of Protestantism.—Antoine Court.—His early years,
his piety and devotion.—Re-organization of the churches.—Resolutions
of the synods of the desert.—Consecration of Antoine Court.
—Religious assemblies.—_Page 367-372._

VII.

Edict of 1714.—Its contents.—Opinions of historians and statesmen
upon this Edict.—Exactions of the priests with regard to proofs of
Catholicity.—Opposition between the magistracy and the clergy.—The
ministry of Cardinal Fleury.—Martyrdom of Roussel and Durand.
—Tournée de Court.—The French seminary of Lausanne.—_Page 372-381._

VIII.

Biographical details respecting the refugee pastors.—Pierre Jurieu.
—Pierre Allix.—Jean la Placette.—David Martin.—Jacques Basnage.
—Abbadie.—Elie Benoît.—Saurin.—Lenfant and Beausobre.
—_Page 381-390._

IX.

Numerous churches reorganized in the south.—National synod of 1744.
—Resolutions of this assembly.—Apprehensions of the court.—Popular
rumours and calumnies.—Barbarous ordinances.—Abduction of children.
—Judicial condemnations.—Assemblies surprised.—Protestant convicts.
—_Page 390-396._

X.

Increased persecutions of the pastors.—Martyrdoms of Louis Ranc
and Roger.—Arrest of the pastor Matthieu Désubas.—Grief of the
Protestants.—Affair of Vernoux.—Martyrdom of Désubas.—Petitions
of the Reformed.—Intolerance of the clergy.—Writings of the bishops
of Castres, Agen, and Alais.—Answer of Rippert de Monclar.
—_Page 396-404._

XI.

Fresh petitions.—Aggravation of the persecutions from 1750 to 1755.
—The intendant Guignard de Saint Priest.—Project for a general
re-baptizement.—Excesses of the troops.—Armed resistance in the
Cevennes.—Fears of the Government.—Martyrdom of François Benezet.
—Abjuration and repentance of the pastor Jean Molines.—_Page 404-409._

XII.

Pursuits ordered by the Duke de Richelieu.—Assemblies taken by
surprise.—The convict Jean Fabre.—Martyrdom of the pastor Etienne
Lafage.—Severity exercised in Saintonge, Montauban, Béarn, and
Guienne.—Reclamations of the Protestants of Bordeaux.—_Page 409-416._

XIII.

Paul Rabaut.—His life belongs to two epochs.—Commencement of his
ministry.—Studies at Lausanne.—He is appointed pastor at Nismes.
—Devotion, moderation, and great influence of this pastor.—His
petition to the Marquis de Paulmy.—Caution of the intendants with
respect to him.—His works.—His correspondence with the Prince
de Conti.—Portrait of Paul Rabaut.—His preaching.—_Page 416-422._

XIV.

Reaction of public opinion against intolerance.—Complaints of the
clergy.—Last pursuits of the assemblies.—Synods of Lower Languedoc.
—Arrest of the pastor François Rochette.—Disturbances at Caussade.
—The three brothers Grenier.—Decree of the Parliament of Toulouse.
—Firmness of Rochette and the three glass-manufacturers.—Their
martyrdom.—Affair of Calas.—His death.—Reversal of his sentence.
—_Page 422-430._

XV.

Progress of toleration.—Synod of 1763.—Some local vexations.
—Liberation of the religious convicts and prisoners.—Re-organization
of many churches.—Normandy.—Bolbec.—Court de Gébelin at Paris.
—Doubtful position of the Protestants.—Indifference of the
philosophical school.—Necessity of a new legislation.—_Page 430-436._

XVI.

Opinions of the lawyers.—Joly de Fleury.—Rippert de Monclar.
—Servan.—Gilbert de Voisins.—Remonstrances of the clergy.—Projects
of Turgot.—Scruples of Louis XVI.—Memorials of the Baron de Breteuil
and of Rulhières.—Malesherbes.—Lafayette.—Assembly of the Notables.
—Edict of Toleration.—Social position of the Reformed.—_Page 436-445._