AtthatdateNimes,settinganexampletotheothercitiesoftheLeague,deepenedhermoats,blewuphersuburbs,andaddedtotheheightofherramparts。Nightanddaytheworkofperfectingthemeansofdefencewenton;theguardateverygatewasdoubled,andknowinghowoftenacityhadbeentakenbysurprise,notaholethroughwhichaPapistcouldcreepwasleftinthefortifications。
Indreadofwhatthefuturemightbring,Nimesevencommittedsacrilegeagainstthepast,andpartlydemolishedtheTempleofDianaandmutilatedtheamphitheatre——ofwhichonegiganticstonewassufficienttoformasectionofthewall。Duringonetrucethecropsweresown,duringanothertheyweregarneredin,andsothingswentonwhilethereignoftheMignonslasted。AtlengththeprinceraisedupbyGod,whomtheHuguenotshadwaitedforsolong,appeared;HenriIVascendedthe,throne。
Butonceseated,HenrifoundhimselfinthesamedifficultyashadconfrontedOctaviusfifteencenturiesearlier,andwhichconfrontedLouisPhilippethreecenturieslater——thatistosay,havingbeenraisedtosovereignpowerbyapartywhichwasnotinthemajority,hesoonfoundhimselfobligedtoseparatefromthispartyandtoabjurehisreligiousbeliefs,asothershaveabjuredorwillyetabjuretheirpoliticalbeliefs;consequently,justasOctaviushadhisAntony,andLouisPhilippewastohavehisLafayette,HenriIV
wastohavehisBiron。Whenmonarchsareinthispositiontheycannolongerhaveawilloftheirownorpersonallikesanddislikes;
theysubmittotheforceofcircumstances,andfeelcompelledtorelyonthemasses;nosooneraretheyfreedfromthebanunderwhichtheylabouredthantheyareobligedtobringothersunderit。
However,beforehavingrecoursetoextrememeasures,HenriIVwithsoldierlyfranknessgatheredroundhimallthosewhohadbeenhiscomradesofoldinwarandinreligion;hespreadoutbeforethemamapofFrance,andshowedthemthathardlyatenthoftheimmensenumberofitsinhabitantswereProtestants,andthateventhattenthwasshutupinthemountains;someinDauphine,whichhadbeenwonforthembytheirthreeprincipalleaders,BarondesAdrets,CaptainMontbrun,andLesdiguieres;othersintheCevennes,whichhadbecomeProtestantthroughtheirgreatpreachers,MauriceSecenatandGuillaumeMoget;andtherestinthemountainsofNavarre,whencehehimselfhadcome。Herecalledtothemfurtherthatwhenevertheyventuredoutoftheirmountainstheyhadbeenbeatenineverybattle,atJarnac,atMoncontour,andatDreux。Heconcludedbyexplaininghowimpossibleitwasforhim,suchbeingthecase,toentrusttheguidanceoftheStatetotheirparty;butheofferedtheminsteadthreethings,viz。,hispursetosupplytheirpresentneeds,theEdictofNantestoassuretheirfuturesafety,andfortressestodefendthemselvesshouldthisedictonedayberevoked,forwithprofoundinsightthegrandfatherdivinedthegrandson:HenriIV
fearedLouisXIV。
TheProtestantstookwhattheywereoffered,butofcourselikeallwhoacceptbenefitstheywentawayfilledwithdiscontentbecausetheyhadnotbeengivenmore。
AlthoughtheProtestantseverafterwardslookedonHenriIVasarenegade,hisreignneverthelesswastheirgoldenage,andwhileitlastedNineswasquiet;for,strangetosay,theProtestantstooknorevengeforSt。Bartholomew,contentingthemselveswithdebarringtheCatholicsfromtheopenexerciseoftheirreligion,butleavingthemfreetouseallitsritesandceremoniesinprivate。TheyevenpermittedtheprocessionoftheHostthroughthestreetsincaseofillness,providedittookplaceatnight。Ofcoursedeathwouldnotalwayswaitfordarkness,andtheHostwassometimescarriedtothedyingduringtheday,notwithoutdangertothepriest,who,however,neverlethimselfbedeterredtherebyfromtheperformanceofhisduty;indeed,itisoftheessenceofreligiousdevotiontobeinflexible;andfewsoldiers,howeverbrave,haveequalledthemartyrsincourage。
Duringthistime,takingadvantageofthetrucetohostilitiesandtheimpartialprotectionmetedouttoallwithoutdistinctionbytheConstableDamville,theCarmelitesandCapuchins,theJesuitsandmonksofallordersandcolours,beganbydegreestoreturntoNines;
withoutanydisplay,itistrue,ratherinasurreptitiousmanner,preferringdarknesstodaylight;buthoweverthismaybe,inthecourseofthreeorfouryearstheyhadallregainedfootholdinthetown;onlynowtheywereinthepositioninwhichtheProtestantshadbeenformerly,theywerewithoutchurches,astheirenemieswereinpossessionofalltheplacesofworship。ItalsohappenedthataJesuithighinauthority,namedPereCoston,preachedwithsuchsuccessthattheProtestants,notwishingtobebeaten,butdesirousofgivingwordforword,summonedtotheiraidtheRev。JeremieFerrier,ofAlais,whoatthemomentwasregardedasthemosteloquentpreachertheyhad。Needlesstosay,Alaiswassituatedinthemountains,thatinexhaustiblesourceofHuguenoteloquence。Atoncethecontroversialspiritwasaroused;itdidnotasyetamounttowar,butstilllesscoulditbecalledpeace:peoplewerenolongerassassinated,buttheywereanathematised;thebodywassafe,butthesoulwasconsignedtodamnation:thedaysastheypassedwereusedbybothsidestokeeptheirhandin,inreadinessforthemomentwhenthemassacresshouldagainbegin。
CHAPTERII
ThedeathofHenriIVledtonewconflicts,inwhichalthoughatfirstsuccesswasonthesideoftheProtestantsitbydegreeswentovertotheCatholics;forwiththeaccessionofLouisXIIIRichelieuhadtakenpossessionofthethrone:besidethekingsatthecardinal;
underthepurplemantlegleamedtheredrobe。ItwasatthiscrisisthatHenrideRohanrosetoeminenceintheSouth。Hewasoneofthemostillustriousrepresentativesofthatgreatracewhich,alliedasitwastotheroyalhousesofScotland,France,Savoy,andLorraine;
hadtakenastheirdevice,\"BekingIcannot,princeIwillnot,RohanIam。\"
HenrideRohanwasatthistimeaboutfortyyearsofage,intheprimeoflife。Inhisyouth,inordertoperfecthiseducation,hehadvisitedEngland,Scotland,andItaly。InEnglandElizabethhadcalledhimherknight;inScotlandJamesVIhadaskedhimtostandgodfathertohisson,afterwardsCharlesI;inItalyhehadbeensodeepintheconfidenceoftheleadersofmen,andsothoroughlyinitiatedintothepoliticsoftheprincipalcities,thatitwascommonlysaidthat,afterMachiavel,hewasthegreatestauthorityinthesematters。HehadreturnedtoFranceinthelifetimeofHenryIV,andhadmarriedthedaughterofSully,andafterHenri\'sdeathhadcommandedtheSwissandtheGrisonregiments——atthesiegeofJuliers。ThiswasthemanwhomthekingwassoimprudentastooffendbyrefusinghimthereversionoftheofficeofgovernorofPoitou,whichwasthenheldbySully,hisfather—in—law。Inordertorevengehimselffortheneglecthemetwithatcourt,ashestatesinhisMemoireswithmilitaryingenuousness,heespousedthecauseofCondewithallhisheart,beingalsodrawninthisdirectionbyhislikingforConde\'sbrotherandhisconsequentdesiretohelpthoseofConde\'sreligion。
>Fromthisdayonstreetdisturbancesandangrydisputesassumedanotheraspect:theytookinalargerareaandwerenotsoreadilyappeased。Itwasnolongeranisolatedbandofinsurgentswhichrousedacity,butratheraconflagrationwhichspreadoverthewholeSouth,andageneraluprisingwhichwasalmostacivilwar。
Thisstateofthingslastedforsevenoreightyears,andduringthistimeRohan,abandonedbyChatillonandLaForce,whoreceivedastherewardoftheirdefectionthefieldmarshal\'sbaton,pressedbyConde,hisoldfriend,andbyMontmorency,hisconsistentrival,performedprodigiesofcourageandmiraclesofstrategy。Atlast,withoutsoldiers,withoutammunition,withoutmoney,hestillappearedtoRichelieutobesoredoubtablethatalltheconditionsofsurrenderhedemandedweregranted。ThemaintenanceoftheEdictofNanteswasguaranteed,alltheplacesofworshipweretoberestoredtotheReformers,andageneralamnestygrantedtohimselfandhispartisans。Furthermore,heobtainedwhatwasanunheard—ofthinguntilthen,anindemnityof300,000livresforhisexpensesduringtherebellion;ofwhichsumheallotted240,000livrestohisco—religionists——thatistosay,morethanthree—quartersoftheentireamount——andkept,forthepurposeofrestoringhisvariouschateauxandsettinghisdomesticestablishment,whichhadbeendestroyedduringthewar,againonfoot,only60,000livres。ThistreatywassignedonJuly27th,1629。
TheDucdeRichelieu,towhomnosacrificewastoogreatinordertoattainhisends,hadatlastreachedthegoal,butthepeacecosthimnearly40,000,000livres;ontheotherhand,Saintonge,Poitou,andLanguedochadsubmitted,andthechiefsofthehousesofLaTremouille,Conde,Bouillon,Rohan,andSoubisehadcametotermswithhim;organisedarmedoppositionhaddisappeared,andtheloftymannerofviewingmattersnaturaltothecardinaldukepreventedhimfromnoticingprivateenmity。HethereforeleftNimesfreetomanageherlocalaffairsasshepleased,andverysoontheoldorder,orratherdisorder,reignedoncemorewithinherwalls。AtlastRichelieudied,andLouisXIIIsoonfollowedhim,andthelongminorityofhissuccessor,withitsembarrassments,lefttoCatholicsandProtestantsintheSouthmorecompletelibertythanevertocarryonthegreatduelwhichdowntoourowndayshasneverceased。
Butfromthisperiod,eachfluxandrefluxbearsmoreandmorethepeculiarcharacterofthepartywhichforthemomentistriumphant;
whentheProtestantsgettheupperhand,theirvengeanceismarkedbybrutalityandrage;whentheCatholicsarevictorious,theretaliationisfullofhypocrisyandgreed。TheProtestantspulldownchurchesandmonasteries,expelthemonks,burnthecrucifixes,takethebodyofsomecriminalfromthegallows,nailitonacross,pierceitsside,putacrownofthornsrounditstemplesandsetitupinthemarket—place——aneffigyofJesusonCalvary。TheCatholicslevycontributions,takebackwhattheyhadbeendeprivedof,exactindemnities,andalthoughruinedbyeachreverse,arericherthaneveraftereachvictory。TheProtestantsactinthelightofday,meltingdownthechurchbellstomakecannontothesoundofthedrum,violateagreements,warmthemselveswithwoodtakenfromthehousesofthecathedralclergy,affixtheirthesestothecathedraldoors,beatthepriestswhocarrytheHolySacramenttothedying,and,tocrownallotherinsults,turnchurchesintoslaughter—housesandsewers。
TheCatholics,onthecontrary,marchatnight,and,slippinginatthegateswhichhavebeenleftajarforthem,maketheirbishoppresidentoftheCouncil,putJesuitsattheheadofthecollege,buyconvertswithmoneyfromthetreasury,andastheyalwayshaveinfluenceatcourt,beginbyexcludingtheCalvinistsfromfavour,hopingsoontodeprivethemofjustice。
Atlast,onthe31stofDecember,1657,afinalstruggletookplace,inwhichtheProtestantswereovercome,andwereonlysavedfromdestructionbecausefromtheothersideoftheChannel,Cromwellexertedhimselfintheirfavour,writingwithhisownhandattheendofadespatchrelativetotheaffairsofAustria,\"ILearnthattherehavebeenpopulardisturbancesinatownofLanguedoccalledNimes,andIbegthatordermayberestoredwithasmuchmildnessaspossible,andwithoutsheddingofblood。\"As,fortunatelyfortheProtestants,MazarinhadneedofCromwellatthatmoment,torturewasforbidden,andnothingallowedbutannoyancesofallkinds。Thesehenceforwardwerenotonlyinnumerable,butwentonwithoutapause:
theCatholics,faithfultotheirsystemofconstantencroachment,keptupanincessantpersecution,inwhichtheyweresoonencouragedbythenumerousordinancesissuedbyLouisXIV。ThegrandsonofHenriIVcouldnotsofarforgetallordinaryrespectastodestroyatoncetheEdictofNantes,buthetoreoffclauseafterclause。
In1630——thatis,ayearafterthepeacewithRohanhadbeensignedintheprecedingreign——Chalons—sur—SaonehadresolvedthatnoProtestantshouldbeallowedtotakeanypartinthemanufacturesofthetown。
In1643,sixmonthsaftertheaccessionofLouisXIV,thelaundressesofParismadearulethatthewivesanddaughtersofProtestantswereunworthytobeadmittedtothefreedomoftheirrespectableguild。
In1654,justoneyearafterhehadattainedhismajority,LouisXIV
consentedtotheimpositionofataxonthetownofNimesof4000
francstowardsthesupportoftheCatholicandtheProtestanthospitals;andinsteadofallowingeachpartytocontributetothesupportofitsownhospital,themoneywasraisedinonesum,sothat,ofthemoneypaidbytheProtestants,whoweretwiceasnumerousastheCatholics,two—sixthswenttotheirenemies。OnAugust9thofthesameyearadecreeoftheCouncilorderedthatalltheartisanconsulsshouldbeCatholics;onthe16thSeptemberanotherdecreeforbadeProtestantstosenddeputationstotheking;
lastly,onthe20thofDecember,afurtherdecreedeclaredthatallhospitalsshouldbeadministeredbyCatholicconsulsalone。
In1662Protestantswerecommandedtoburytheirdeadeitheratdawnorafterdusk,andaspecialclauseofthedecreefixedthenumberofpersonswhomightattendafuneralattenonly。
In1663theCouncilofStateissueddecreesprohibitingthepracticeoftheirreligionbytheReformersinonehundredandforty—twocommunesinthediocesesofNimes,Uzes,andMendes;andorderingthedemolitionoftheirmeetinghouses。
In1664thisregulationwasextendedtothemeeting—housesofAlenconandMontauban,asWellastheirsmallplaceofworshipinNimes。Onthe17thJulyofthesameyeartheParliamentofRouenforbadethemaster—mercerstoengageanymoreProtestantworkmenorapprenticeswhenthenumberalreadyemployedhadreachedtheproportionofoneProtestant,tofifteenCatholics;onthe24thofthesamemonththeCouncilofStatedeclaredallcertificatesofmastershipheldbyaProtestantinvalidfromwhateversourcederived;andinOctoberreducedtotwothenumberofProtestantswhomightbeemployedatthemint。
In1665theregulationimposedonthemercerswasextendedtothegoldsmiths。
In1666aroyaldeclaration,revisingthedecreesofParliament,waspublished,andArticle31providedthattheofficesofclerktotheconsulates,orsecretarytoaguildofwatchmakers,orporterinamunicipalbuilding,couldonlybeheldbyCatholics;whileinArticle33itwasordainedthatwhenaprocessioncarryingtheHostpassedaplaceofworshipbelongingtotheso—calledReformers,theworshippersshouldstoptheirpsalm—singingtilltheprocessionhadgoneby;andlastly,inArticle34itwasenactedthatthehousesandotherbuildingsbelongingtothosewhowereoftheReformedreligionmight,atthepleasureofthetownauthorities,bedrapedwithclothorotherwisedecoratedonanyreligiousCatholicfestival。
In1669theChambersappointedbytheEdictofNantesintheParliamentsofRouenandParisweresuppressed,aswellasthearticledclerkshipsconnectedtherewith,andtheclerkshipsintheRecordOffice;andinAugustofthesameyear,whentheemigrationofProtestantswasjustbeginning,anedictwasissued,ofwhichthefollowingisaclause:
\"Whereasmanyofoursubjectshavegonetoforeigncountries,wheretheycontinuetofollowtheirvarioustradesandoccupations,evenworkingasshipwrights,ortakingserviceassailors,tillatlengththeyfeelathomeanddeterminenevertoreturntoFrance,marryingabroadandacquiringpropertyofeverydescription:Weherebyforbidanymemberoftheso—calledReformedChurchtoleavethiskingdomwithoutourpermission,andwecommandthosewhohavealreadyleftFrancetoreturnforthwithwithinherboundaries。\"
In1670thekingexcludedphysiciansoftheReformedfaithfromtheofficeofdeanofthecollegeofRouen,andallowedonlytwoProtestantdoctorswithinitsprecincts。In1671adecreewaspublishedcommandingthearmsofFrancetoberemovedfromalltheplacesofworshipbelongingtothepretendedReformers。In1680aproclamationfromthekingclosedtheprofessionofmidwifetowomenoftheReformedfaith。In1681thosewhorenouncedtheProtestantreligionwereexemptedfortwoyearsfromallcontributionstowardsthesupportofsoldierssenttotheirtown,andwereforthesameperiodrelievedfromthedutyofgivingthemboardandlodging。InthesameyearthecollegeofSedanwasclosed——theonlycollegeremainingintheentirekingdomatwhichCalvinistchildrencouldreceiveinstruction。In1682thekingcommandedProtestantnotaries;
procurators,ushers,andserjeantstolaydowntheiroffices,declaringthemunfitforsuchprofessions;andinSeptemberofthesameyearthreemonthsonlywereallowedthemforthesaleofthereversionofthesaidoffices。In1684theCouncilofStateextendedtheprecedingregulationstothoseProtestantsholdingthetitleofhonorarysecretarytotheking,andinAugustofthesameyearProtestantsweredeclaredincapableofservingonajuryofexperts。
In1685theprovostofmerchantsinParisorderedallProtestantprivilegedmerchantsinthatcitytoselltheirprivilegeswithinamonth。AndinOctoberofthesameyearthelongseriesofpersecutions,ofwhichwehaveomittedmany,reacheditsculminatingpoint——the:RevocationoftheEdictofNantes。HenriIV,whoforesawthisresult,hadhopedthatitwouldhaveoccurredinanothermanner,sothathisco—religionistswouldhavebeenabletoretaintheirfortresses;butwhatwasactuallydonewasthatthestrongplaceswerefirsttakenaway,andthencametheRevocation;afterwhichtheCalvinistsfoundthemselvescompletelyatthemercyoftheirmortalenemies。
>From1669,whenLouisfirstthreatenedtoaimafatalblowatthecivilrightsoftheHuguenots,byabolishingtheequalpartitionoftheChambersbetweenthetwoparties,severaldeputationshadbeensenttohimprayinghimtostopthecourseofhispersecutions;andinordernottogivehimanyfreshexcuseforattackingtheirparty,thesedeputationsaddressedhiminthemostsubmissivemanner,asthefollowingfragmentfromanaddresswillprove:
\"InthenameofGod,sire,\"saidtheProtestantstotheking,\"listentothelastbreathofourdyingliberty,havepityonoursufferings,havepityonthegreatnumberofyourpoorsubjectswhodailywatertheirbreadwiththeirtears:theyareallfilledwithburningzealandinviolableloyaltytoyou;theirloveforyouraugustpersonisonlyequalledbytheirrespect;historybearswitnessthattheycontributedinnosmalldegreetoplaceyourgreatandmagnanimousancestoronhisrightfulthrone,andsinceyourmiraculousbirththeyhaveneverdoneanythingworthyofblame;theymightindeedusemuchstrongerterms,butyourMajestyhassparedtheirmodestybyaddressingtothemonmanyoccasionswordsofpraisewhichtheywouldneverhaveventuredtoapplytothemselves;theseyoursubjectsplacetheirsoletrustinyoursceptreforrefugeandprotectiononearth,andtheirinterestaswellastheirdutyandconscienceimpelsthemtoremainattachedtotheserviceofyourMajestywithunalterabledevotion。\"
But,aswehaveseen,nothingcouldrestrainthetriumviratewhichheldthepowerjustthen,andthankstothesuggestionsofPereLachaiseandMadamedeMaintenon,LouisXIVdeterminedtogainheavenbymeansofwheelandstake。
Aswesee,fortheProtestants,thankstothesenumerousdecrees,persecutionbeganatthecradleandfollowedthemtothegrave。
Asaboy,aHuguenotcould——enternopublicschool;asayouth,nocareerwasopentohim;hecouldbecomeneithermercernorconcierge,neitherapothecarynorphysician,neitherlawyernorconsul。Asaman,hehadnosacredhouse,ofprayer;noregistrarwouldinscribehismarriageorthebirthofhischildren;hourlyhislibertyandhisconsciencewereignored。IfheventuredtoworshipGodbythesingingofpsalms,hehadtobesilentastheHostwascarriedpastoutside。WhenaCatholicfestivaloccurred,hewasforcednotonlytoswallowhisragebuttolethishousebehungwithdecorationsinsignofjoy;ifhehadinheritedafortunefromhisfathers,havingneithersocialstandingnorcivilrights,itslippedgraduallyoutofhishands,andwenttosupporttheschoolsandhospitalsofhisfoes。
Havingreachedtheendofhislife,hisdeathbedwasmademiserable;
fordyinginthefaithofhisfathers,hecouldnotbelaidtorestbesidethem,andlikeapariahhewouldbecarriedtohisgraveatnight,nomorethantenofthosenearanddeartohimbeingallowedtofollowhiscoffin。
Lastly,ifatanyagewhateverheshouldattempttoquitthecruelsoilonwhichhehadnorighttobeborn,tolive,ortodie,hewouldbedeclaredarebel,hisgoadswouldbeconfiscated,andthelightestpenaltythathehadtoexpect,ifheeverfellintothehandsofhisenemies,wastorowfortherestofhislifeinthegalleysoftheking,chainedbetweenamurdererandaforger。
Suchastateofthingswasintolerable:thecriesofonemanarelostinspace,butthegroansofawholepopulationarelikeastorm;andthistime,asalways,thetempestgatheredinthemountains,andtherumblingsofthethunderbegantobeheard。
Firstthereweretextswrittenbyinvisiblehandsoncitywalls,onthesignpostsandcross—roads,onthecrossesinthecemeteries:
thesewarnings,likethe\'Mene,Mene,Tekel,Upharsin\'ofBelshazzar,evenpursuedthepersecutorsintothemidstoftheirfeastsandorgies。
Nowitwasthethreat,\"Jesuscamenottosendpeace,butasword。\"
Thenthisconsolation,\"ForwheretwoorthreearegatheredtogetherinMyname,thereamIinthemidstofthem。\"Orperhapsitwasthisappealforunitedactionwhichwassoontobecomeasummonstorevolt,\"Thatwhichwehaveseenandhearddeclareweuntoyou,thatyealsomayhavefellowshipwithus。\"
Andbeforethesepromises,takenfromtheNewTestament,thepersecutedpaused,andthenwenthomeinspiredbyfaithintheprophets,whospake,asSt。PaulsaysinhisFirstEpistletotheThessalonians,\"notthewordofmenbutthewordofGod。\"
Verysoonthesewordsbecameincarnate,andwhattheprophetJoelforetoldcametopass:\"Yoursonsandyourdaughtersshallprophesy,youroldmenshalldreamdreams,youryoungmenshallseevisions,……
andIwillshowwondersintheheavensandintheearth,bloodandfire,……anditshallcometopassthatwhosoevershallcallonthenameoftheLordshallbedelivered。\"
In1696reportsbegantocirculatethatmenhadhadvisions;beingabletoseewhatwasgoingoninthemostdistantparts,andthattheheavensthemselvesopenedtotheireyes。Whileinthisecstaticstatetheywereinsensibletopainwhenprickedwitheitherpinorblade;andwhen,onrecoveringconsciousness,theywerequestionedtheycouldremembernothing。
ThefirstofthesewasawomanfromVivarais,whoseoriginwasunknown。Shewentaboutfromtowntotown,sheddingtearsofblood。
M。deBaville,intendantofLanguedoc,hadherarrestedandbroughttoMontpellier。Thereshewascondemnedtodeathandburntatthestake,hertearsofbloodbeingdriedbyfire。
Afterhercameasecondfanatic,forsothesepopularprophetswerecalled。HewasbornatMazillon,hisnamewasLaquoite,andhewastwentyyearsofage。Thegiftofprophecyhadcometohiminastrangemanner。Thisisthestorytoldabouthim:——\"Oneday,returningfromLanguedoc,wherehehadbeenengagedinthecultivationofsilkworms,onreachingthebottomofthehillofSt。
Jeanhefoundamanlyingonthegroundtremblingineverylimb。
Movedbypity,hestoppedandaskedwhatailedhim。Themanreplied,\'Throwyourselfonyourknees,myson,andtroublenotyourselfaboutme,butlearnhowtoattainsalvationandsaveyourbrethren。ThiscanonlybedonebythecommunionoftheHolyGhost,whoisinme,andwhombythegraceofGodIcanbestowonyou。Approach,andreceivethisgiftinakiss。\'Atthesewordstheunknownkissedtheyoungmanonthemouth,pressedhishandanddisappeared,leavingtheothertremblinginhisturn;forthespiritofGodwasinhim,andbeinginspiredhespreadthewordabroad。\"
Athirdfanatic,aprophetess,ravedabouttheparishesofSt。
AndeoldeClerguemontandSt。FrazaldeVantalon,butsheaddressedherselfprincipallytorecentconverts,towhomshepreachedconcerningtheEucharistthatinswallowingtheconsecratedwafertheyhadswallowedapoisonasvenomousastheheadofthebasilisk,thattheyhadbentthekneetoBaal,andthatnopenitenceontheirpartcouldbegreatenoughtosavethem。ThesedoctrinesinspiredsuchprofoundterrorthattheRev。FatherLouvreloeilhimselftellsusthatSatanbyhiseffortssucceededinnearlyemptyingthechurches,andthatatthefollowingEastercelebrationstherewereonlyhalfasmanycommunicantsastheprecedingyear。
Suchastateoflicence,whichthreatenedtospreadfartherandfarther,awokethereligioussolicitudeofMessireFrancoisLangladedeDuchayla,PriorofLaval,InspectorofMissionsofGevaudan,andArch—priestoftheCevennes。HethereforeresolvedtoleavehisresidenceatMendeandtovisittheparishesinwhichheresyhadtakenthestrongesthold,inordertoopposeitbyeverymean\'swhichGodandthekinghadputinhispower。
TheAbbeDuchaylawasayoungersonofthenoblehouseofLanglade,andbythecircumstancesofhisbirth,inspiteofhissoldierlyinstincts,hadbeenobligedtoleaveepauletandswordtohiselderbrother,andhimselfassumecassockandstole。Onleavingtheseminary,heespousedthecauseoftheChurchmilitantwithalltheardourofhistemperament。Perilstoencounter;foestofight,areligiontoforceonothers,werenecessitiestothisfierycharacter,andaseverythingatthemomentwasquietinFrance,hehadembarkedforIndiawiththeferventresolutionofamartyr。
Onreachinghisdestination,theyoungmissionaryhadfoundhimselfsurroundedbycircumstanceswhichwerewonderfullyinharmonywithhiscelestiallongings:someofhispredecessorshadbeencarriedsofarbyreligiouszealthattheKingofSiamhadputseveraltodeathbytortureandhadforbiddenanymoremissionariestoenterhisdominions;butthis,aswecaneasilyimagine,onlyexcitedstillmoretheabbe\'smissionaryfervour;evadingthewatchfulnessofthemilitary,andregardlessoftheterriblepenaltiesimposedbytheking,hecrossedthefrontier,andbegantopreachtheCatholicreligiontotheheathen,manyofwhomwereconverted。
Onedayhewassurprisedbyapartyofsoldiersinalittlevillageinwhichhehadbeenlivingforthreemonths,andinwhichnearlyalltheinhabitantshadabjuredtheirfalsefaith,andwasbroughtbeforethegovernorofBankan,whereinsteadofdenyinghisfaith,henoblydefendedChristianityandmagnifiedthenameofGod。Hewashandedovertotheexecutionerstobesubjectedtotorture,andsufferedattheirhandswithresignationeverythingthatahumanbodycanendurewhileyetretaininglife,tillatlengthhispatienceexhaustedtheirrage;andseeinghimbecomeunconscious,theythoughthewasdead,andwithmutilatedhands,hisbreastfurrowedwithwounds,hislimbshalfwarnthroughbyheavyfetters,hewassuspendedbythewriststoabranchofatreeandabandoned。Apariahpassingbycuthimdownandsuccouredhim,andreportsofhismartyrdomhavingspread,theFrenchambassadordemandedjusticewithnouncertainvoice,sothattheKingofSiam,rejoicingthattheexecutionershadstoppedshortintime,hastenedtosendbacktoM。deChaumont,therepresentativeofLouisXIV,amutilatedthoughstilllivingman,insteadofthecorpsewhichhadbeendemanded。
AtthetimewhenLouisXIVwasmeditatingtheRevocationoftheEdictofNanteshefeltthattheservicesofsuchamanwouldbeinvaluabletohim,soabout1632,AbbeDuchaylawasrecalledfromIndia,andayearlaterwassenttoMende,withthetitlesofArch—priestoftheCevennesandInspectorofMissions。
Soontheabbe,whohadbeensomuchpersecuted,becameapersecutor,showinghimselfasinsensibletothesufferingsofothersashehadbeeninflexibleunderhisown。Hisapprenticeshiptotorturestoodhiminsuchgoodsteadthathebecameaninventor,andnotonlydidheenrichthetorturechamberbyimportingfromIndiaseveralscientificallyconstructedmachines,hithertounknowninEurope,buthealsodesignedmanyothers。Peopletoldwithterrorofreedscutintheformofwhistleswhichtheabbepitilesslyforcedunderthenailsofmalignants;ofironpincersfortearingouttheirbeards,eyelashes,andeyebrows;ofwickssteepedinoilandwoundroundthefingersofavictim\'shands,andthensetonfiresoastoformapairoffive—flamedcandelabra;ofacaseturningonapivotinwhichamanwhorefusedtobeconvertedwassometimesshutup,thecasebeingthenmadetorevolverapidlytillthevictimlostconsciousness;andlastlyoffettersusedwhentakingprisonersfromonetowntoanother,andbroughttosuchperfection,thatwhentheywereontheprisonercouldneitherstandnorsit。