Chapter IV: Book THE THIRD

FROM THE PROMULGATION OF THE EDICT OF NANTES TO ITS REVOCATION.

(1598-1685.)

I.

Abjuration of Henri de Condé.—Catherine de Navarre, sister of Henry IV.
—Moderation of the political assemblies of the Reformed.—National
synods.—The question of the Antichrist conference between Mornay and
Duperron, at Fontainebleau.—Fraudulent proceedings.—The Reformed
Church of Charenton.—Assassination of Henry IV.—_Page 221-230._

II.

Fears of the Calvinists.—Declaration of the court.—Intrigues of the
Duke de Bouillon and De Lesdiguières.—The Duke Henri de Rohan.—Wise
conduct of Duplessis-Mornay.—Political assembly of Saumur.—Speech
of the Duke de Rohan.—Divisions among the Reformed.—National synod
of Privas.—Affair of Jérémie Ferrier.—_Page 230-236._

III.

Vexatious treatment of the Reformed.—Pretensions of the Catholic
clergy.—Manifesto of the Prince de Condé.—Oppression of the
Calvinists of Béarn.—Indignation of their co-religionaries.—Political
assembly of La Rochelle.—Project of the Reformed.—Regulations for
the discipline of the troops.—_Page 236-241._

IV.

Renewed contest.—Louis XIII. begins hostilities.—Taking of the
Castle of Saumur.—Death of Duplessis-Mornay.—Siege of Montauban.
—Re-commencement of the war in 1622.—Sanguinary executions at
Nègrepelisse, &c.—Treaty of peace.—_Page 241-247._

V.

False position of both sides.—Why the French Reformation had
become a political party.—Hidden policy of the court.—War of
partisans.—National synod of Charenton.—Expulsion of Cameron
and Primrose.—National synod of Castres.—Municipal liberties of
La Rochelle.—Plans of Cardinal Richelieu.—_Page 247-253._

VI.

Siege of La Rochelle.—Intervention of the English.—Courage and
distress of the besieged.—Indifference of the majority of the
Calvinists.—Surrender of La Rochelle.—Declaration of the king.
—Destruction of the town of Privas.—Edict of Grace.—Richelieu at
Montauban.—Last years of the Duke de Rohan.—_Page 253-260._

VII.

Fidelity and political services of the Calvinists.—Testimony of Mazarin
and Louis XIV.—Causes of the new persecutions.—The Jesuits.—The
clergy.—Prejudices of Louis XIII. and Louis XIV.—The statesmen and
the parliament men.—Good understanding among the middle classes.
—Fanaticism of the populace.—_Page 260-265._

VIII.

Plan of union.—Richelieu.—La Milletière.—Opposition of the synods
and the consistories—The Catholic converters.—Character, behaviour,
and arguments of these propagators of the faith.—The converter
Véron.—National synods of Charenton and Alençon.—New national synod
of Charenton.—_Page 265-271._

IX.

Peaceful state of affairs, from 1652-1656.—Complaints of the general
assemblies of the clergy.—Renewal of the persecutions.—Discussions
concerning the _annexed districts_.—Unfavourable reception of
the deputies at the court.—Last national synod of Loudun.—Arrogance
of the king’s commissioner.—Humble petitions of the Reformed.
—Frivolous pretexts for preventing the meeting of the national synods.
—_Page 271-277._

X.

Cultivation of theological learning.—Academy of Montauban.—Chamier.
—Bérault.—Garissoles.—This academy is broken up by the Jesuits.
—Academy of Saumur.—Cameron.—Amyrault.—Cappel.—La Place.—Academy
of Sédan.—Pierre Dumoulin.—Leblanc de Beaulieu.—Academy of Nismes.
—Samuel Petit.—_Page 277-284._

XI.

Pastors celebrated for their piety and learning.—André Rivet.—Edme
Aubertin.—Benjamin Basnage.—David Blondel.—Bochart.—Le Faucheur.
—Mestrezat.—Drelincourt.—Daillé.—Dubosc.—Larroque.—Ancillon.
—Claude.—_Page 284-292._

XII.

Catholic and Reformed commissioners sent into the provinces.—Vexatious
measures.—Captious writings of the Jesuits.—Declaration of 1663
against relapsed converts.—Other ordinances.—Exclusion of the Reformed
from public offices.—Probity of the Reformed in the departments
of finance.—Puerile annoyances.—General declaration.—First
emigration.—Prohibition against emigration.—Turenne’s abjuration.
—_Page 292-300._

XIII.

New projects of union.—Uselessness of these attempts.—The Jansenists
and the Jesuits.—Difference in their plans.—Numerous and iniquitous
ordinances.—Controversies.—Writings of Arnault and Nicole, and
replies of the Reformed.—The book of the Exposition.—Controversy
between Bossuet and Claude.—_Page 300-305._

XIV.

The jubilee of 1676.—Growing devotion of Louis XIV.—Bad education
of this monarch, and his ignorance on matters of religion.—Purchase
of consciences with money by Pelisson.—Frauds.—New law against
relapsed converts.—Madame de Maintenon.—Systematic project for the
extirpation of heresy.—Excesses of the populace.—_Page 305-310._

XV.

Increased severity of the ordinances against the Reformed.—Public
offices.—Civil rights.—Marriage and parental authority.—Contracts
and imposts.—Attacks upon property, and against liberty of conscience
and worship.—Prohibition against the admission of the new Catholics
to the temples.—Louvois.—Marillac.—First _dragonnades_ in
Poitou.—Emigration.—_Page 311-318._

XVI.

Intolerable position of the Reformed.—Useless complaints.—Project of
re-opening the interdicted temples.—Irritation of the court.—Cruelties
practised against the religionaries of Vivarais and Dauphiny.—Affair
of the church of Marennes.—Constancy of the Reformed.—Compliments
of the clergy to the king.—_Page 318-323._

XVII.

_Dragonnades_ in Béarn.—Atrocious excesses.—The _dragonnades_
in other provinces.—Barbarous treatment of all classes of the Reformed.
—Forced abjurations and communions.—Illusions of the court.—Revocation
of the Edict of Nantes.—Principal articles.—General considerations
respecting the Revocation.—_Page 323-332._