Protestant Exiles from France/Volume 2 - Book Third - Chapter 10 - Section IX
IX. Rev. Claude Groteste De la Mothe, D.C.L.
This gentleman was of a noble house, being a son of the Sieur De La Buffière. The surname of the family was Groteste. Claude Groteste was born at Orleans in 1647. He studied law in his native city, and took the degree of Doctor of Civil Law in 1664. In 1665 he commenced practice in Paris as an advocate. But he changed law for divinity, and we find him admitted to the pastoral care of Lisy, in the province of Ile de France and diocese of Meaux, in 1675. According to custom, he assumed one of his father’s titles, and was styled Le Sieur De La Mothe. He was translated to the church of Rouen in 1682, and entered upon his charge there; but Lisy continued vacant; and “having compassion on sheep without a shepherd,” he returned to his original congregation, sacrificing all personal advantage for their sake.
It was in Lisy, in the month of August 1683, that the very last Protestant Provincial Synod was held. The place of meeting was the grand hall of the Chateau de Mont-Louet, the residence of le Capitaine Mosnier, who had married the heiress. The pasteur, Allix of Charenton, was moderator. De la Mothe was synod-clerk, and the wisdom of his counsels, and the dignity with which he flourished his quill, were generally remarked; he was regarded as the ruling spirit of the assembly. His task was no light one, for the synod sat for nearly three weeks, and there were two sessions daily — namely from 8 to 11 a.m., and from 3 to 6 p.m. The temporal condition of the French Protestant Church was now at its lowest depth of adversity (although the temple of Lisy was not suppressed till 1684), and the king grossly insulted the synod (which might not meet without his license), not only by appointing a Roman Catholic Commissioner, but also by allowing a priest to sit along with that nobleman as a sub-Commissioner. The latter half of this Bourbon insolence has, however, been partly atoned for; to the priest we owe a narrative of the proceedings which, on the whole, was highly complimentary, especially to De la Mothe.[1]
The importance of this pasteur’s family in general estimation was proved by the loud exultations of the Jesuits on gaining over to the Romish Church his brother, Marin Groteste, Sieur Des Mahis. This perversion was announced in 1683. The Jesuits spoke of him as a most important convert, a man of high consideration on account of his birth, piety, and erudition.
Readers may, however, form their own opinion of De La Mothe’s family and connections by reading a list of the company who were present at the drawing up of his marriage contract, an old parchment which is still preserved,[2] and from which I copy the names.
Wednesday afternoon, 23d June 1679.
Claude Groteste, Sieur De La Mothe, Ministre de la Religion Pretenduē Reformé de Lizy, son of Jacques Groteste and Anne Groteste, his wife, residing at Paris, in the Rue Vinier, parish of St Eustache.
Mr. Jean Berthe, banker and burgess of Paris, and Suzanne Marchant, his wife, who is authorised by her husband to give effect to these, residing at Paris, Rue des Deux Boulles, parish of Saint-Germain, Lauxerois, and contracting for
Miss Marie Berthe, their daughter.
There were present on the part of the said Claude Groteste:— The said Jacques Groteste and Anne Groteste, his wife, father and mother. Jacques Groteste, Sieur De la Buffière, gentleman in ordinary of my Lord the Prince; Marin Groteste, Sieur Des Mahis; Abraham Groteste, advocate in the Parliament, brothers. Mr. Jean Robeton, advocate in the Parliament, and Anne Groteste, his wife, sister. Paul Groteste, Sieur Du Buisson, Lieutenant of the Chasseurs of my Lord the Duke of Orleans, uncle. Louise Groteste, widow of the Sieur Naudin, physician, aunt. Mr. Daniel Chardon, advocate in the Parliament, for Marie Caillard, his wife; Louise Naudin, wife of Le Sieur Guide, doctor of medicine; Miss Anne Caillard; Mr. _____ Rochebonot, Sieur De Launay, advocate in the Parliament, and Philottée Naudin, his wife; Dame Caterine Le Monon, wife of Monsieur De Monginot, Sieur De la Salle; Cezard Caze, escuyer, cousins. Charles Aubeson, Sieur De la Durferie, a friend of the said Sieur De la Mothe.
There were present on the part of the said Miss Marie Berthe:— Jean Auguste Berthe; Jacques Conrart, escuyer, advocate in the Parliament, and Suzanne Berthe, his wife; Anne and Elizabeth Berthe, brothers and sisters. Samuel Bedé, escuyer, Sieur De Loisillière; Benjamin Bedé, escuyer, Sieur De Longcourt; Mr. Phillippes Auguste Perraux, procurator in the Parliament; Dame Olimpe Bedé, widow of _____ Hardy, escuyer; Seigneur De la Fosse, cousins. Jacques Conrart, escuyer, councillor, secretary of the King, and Dame Susan Regnard, his wife; _____ Conrart, escuyer, Sieur De Roupambert, friends of both families.
Time would fail me to decipher the contents of the contract; but Monsieur and Madame De la Mothe, having become refugees in London on the Revocation of the Edicte of Nantes, executed a deed which gives a summary of the settlement. The deed is entitled an “Indenture between Claude Groteste De la Mothe and Mary, his wife, of the one part, and Philip Guide of London, doctor of physic, of the other part,” February 1704 (n.s.) It represents that, by marriage contract, Madame’s fortune was 36,000 livres, whereof 10,000 were common to husband and wife, 2208 to be invested, and the balance to be her separate estate. But the said Claude and Mary having left the kingdom of France and settled in England, it might be questioned whether she can dispose of her estate by will, as the law of France would permit, and as her husband means and intends. Therefore he, in consideration of love and affection, &c, and of the sum of five shillings of lawful money of England to him in hand paid by the said Philip Guide, declares that she shall have the power to dispose of her estate by will. The signatures are, C. G. Lamothe, Marie De la Mothe, Philipp : Guide.
Monsieur De la Mothe had to abandon some of his French property, which was confiscated and given to his father. He became a minister of the French Church in Swallow Street; he officiated at a baptism, King William being a sponsor, of which I have taken notice in the life of the Duke of Schomberg and Leinster. In 1694 he was transferred to the Savoy Church. In 1712 he received the honour of being enrolled as a Member of the Royal Society of Berlin.
His works were numerous and in high reputation. The one which is best known is “The Inspiration of the New Testament asserted and explained, in answer to some Modern Writers. By C. G. Lamothe, Divine. London, Printed by Tho. Bennet, at the Half-Moon, in St Paul’s Church- Yard. 1694.” It is full as to topics, but brief and condensed in style, extending to 178 duodecimo pages only. He published a book entitled “Pratique de l’Humilite” [The Practice of Humility], in 1710; it contained 331 pages.
In private life he was a judicious and useful friend. His early education had led him to acquire good business habits; and he was quite capable of mastering the English laws and customs as to property. The refugees frequently consulted him and thoroughly trusted him. His letter to his nephew, Jean Robethon, has already been given to my readers.
In public life he was known by his efforts to expose the delusions of the three Camisard prophets, and also by his appeals on behalf of the French Protestant martyrs in the galleys of France. As to the former, he brought out two books, namely, “Nouveaux mémoires pour servir à l’histoire des trois camisars, ou l’on voit les déclarations de M. le colonel Cavalier;” also, Four Sermons, entitled, “Caractère des nouvelles propheties,” both published in London, 1708. As to the latter, he was a leader in influencing popular sentiment in England, in the same direction as the Marquises of Rochegude, Mircmont, and Du Quesne, in their interviews with European statesmen and crowned heads. De la Mothe’s literary weapons were the memories of England as a champion for the oppressed, and a refuge for expatriated Bible-loving Christians. He published some “Dialogues on the fraternal correspondence of the Church of England with Foreign Churches,” at the Hague in 1705. His appeals on behalf of the galley-slaves may be dated from that year, if that (the first) edition contained the same Dedicatory Epistle as the one prefixed to the edition published at Amsterdam and London in 1707.[3] The epistle which is addressed to Queen Anne, records the succour to Protestants accorded by Edward VI. and Elizabeth, and proceeds to extol Anne: “ I wish, Madame, that I had the ability to celebrate worthily your charity to so many poor Protestants, whom the love of religion brought within the shadow of your sceptre.”Then follows the practical application : —
“If it be permissible that a people, already loaded with your benefits, should ask any other favour from Your Majesty, I in the name of all the refugees would most humbly supplicate that you would cast your eyes upon the sad remains of our desolate church; that you would have pity on the very many Protestants who groan in the galleys and in prisons; that you would restore their light to the many lamps which the storm has extinguished; and that you would establish Gospel liberty [in France] by your powerful intercession. That, Madame, would be to enhance the value of the great things which Your Majesty has already done. . . . . Your Majesty’s most humble, most obedient, and most faithful Subject,
In 1713 we find him busy in raising funds for the released sufferers. From the generous Earl of Galhvay he received the following letter:—
“Je vous suis infiniment oblige, Monsieur, de la peine que vous avez prise de me faire savoir ce qui se passe par rapport a nos Confesseurs par votre lettre du 19e Juin. J’ai eu le soin de l’envoyer a Mile. Caillard comme vous le souhaitiez. J’ai vue depuis ce tems la copie de celle qui a été ecrite de Marseille du 17e Juin, par laquelle je vois qu’on a fait embarquer une partie de nos pauvres frères (apparament pour leur faire trouver plus de difficultés dans leur voyage), et qu’ils espèrent qu’on mettra aussi la reste en liberté. Je vois par la même lettre qu’ils croyent que ces Pauvres Confesseurs auront grand besoin de secours en arrivant à Genève; c’est de quoi je n’ai pas douté. Si vous prenez le parti de leur envoyer, je vous prie de me le faire savoir à temps, et ce que vous avez besoin, et je vous ferai donner ce que vous me demanderez jusqu’â Cent Livres Sterlings; mais il est bon que je le sache le plutôt qu’il se pourra, afin de les tenir prêtes. Nous attendons My Lady Colladon tous les jours, je lui parlerai sur ce sujet, mais je dependerai absolument de ce que vous aurez la bonté de m’écrire. Je vous prie d’être persuadé, Monsieur, que je suis toujours avec beaucoup d’estime et de sincerité Votre très-humble Serviteur,
The general and active sympathy for the French Protestants he commemorated in a book entitled, “Charitas Anglicana,” consisting of a number of interesting documents. This was printed in 1712, or about that date.
Before the close of his life he was afflicted with a long and severe illness, from which he recovered, to the great joy of his colleagues in the Savoy, and of his congregation. The Christian duties connected with convalescence engaged his thoughts and were the theme of several sermons. These he published in 1713 under the title of, “Le Devoir du Chrétien Convalescent, en quatre sermons sur les paroles du Pseaume 116, v. 8 and 9; et les quatre sentiments du Roi Ezéchias sur sa maladie, sa convalescence, and sur sa chute après sa convalescence. Comme aussi les Pensées d’un Chrétien convalescent, avec un prière sur ce sujet.” One remarkable sentence in his prayer was, “J’ai besoin du secours de Ta grace; sans cela j’oublierois bientôt que j’ai été à deux doigts de la mort.”
His convalescence was of short duration. Me died in the same year, 19-30th September 1713, aged sixty-six.[4]
He bequeathed £1200 to Robethon, subject to Madame De la Mothe’s liferent. That lady survived her nephew as well as her husband. The following is the learned Divine’s entire will, “translated from the French”: —
In the name of God, I underwritten, Claudius Groteste De la Mothe, living at London, in the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, in the county of Westminster, being, thanks be to God, of a free and disposing mind, I thought I ought to revoke all the wills which I may have heretofore made, and make this.
Imprimis, I commit my soul to God, in whose mercy I put my confidence through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Saviour, blessing Him for having granted me His knowledge, and for having done me the honour to call me to instruct others, which I have done with a great deal of weakness, but with great sincerity.
Then, to dispose of the goods which God hath given me out of France, I give £100 sterling to the poor of the French Church of the Savoy of which I am one of the ministers. More, — to the poor of the Charity House near Soho, £20. More, — to the poor of the parish where I shall die, £10. More, — to the Society for Propagating the Gospel, £15, and the like sum to the Society which meets at Mr. Shute’s, minister, in Bartlet’s Buildings. More, — to Mrs. Anne Caillard, to Mrs. Louisa Guide, my two cousins-german, to Mr. Dubuisson my cousin, and to Mdlle. Naudin, daughter of Mr. Naudin, my cousin, living in Holland, to each a ring of the value of £25, which I beg them to accept of as a proof of the esteem which I have for them.
I give and bequeath to my dear spouse the overplus of the effects which I have out of France, to enjoy the same during her life, intending that after her decease there be taken out of the said effects the sum of £100, which I give to Mr. Claudius Guide, my godson, as also the sum of £500, which I give to my nephew Claudius Groteste, son of Mr. De la Bufnerre, my elder brother, and the heirs of the said legatary, which said sum shall only be paid, as is said, after the decease of my wife. And as niy family has advanced to me several sums for which I ought to be accountable to it, I thought it justice to cause part of my effects to return to them to make them amends, hoping that my dear spouse, in case of need, would confirm this present legacy, the equity of which she hath acknowledged, that is to say, that after her decease I give to Mr. James Groteste sieur de la Bufierre, my eldest brother, and to his heirs, £1200, the like sum to Mr. Groteste, advocate of the Parliament, my younger brother, the like sum to Mr. John Robethon, Privy Councillor of Embassies of his Electoral Highness of Brunswick, the said sieur representing Mr. Robethon, his father. In case Mr. Robethon, my nephew, should not be living at the time of the decease of my dear wife, I intend that the sum of £1200, which I have bequeathed to him, do pass to the heirs of his blood. I give to my dear wife full power to dispose in property of the surplus of my said effects which shall be found, my aforesaid legacies being paid. And I name her Executrix of this Will, and in default of her, Mr. John Robethon my nephew.
Done at Chelsea, the third of September 1713. Signed and sealed by me in the presence of the underwritten witnesses for that purpose required.
John Bardin. Franc Duneau. Cosmo Duneau.
Proved by Mary Groteste de la Mothe, relict and executrix, London, 6th October 1713.
- ↑ Bulletin de la Société de l’Hist. Prot., Vol. i., p. 458.
- ↑ Aufrère MSS.
- ↑ Entretiens sur la Correspondance fraternelle de l’Eglise Anglicane avec les autres Eglises Reformées. A Amsterdam, Aux depens d’Estienne Roger, et se vend a Londres chez Paul et Isaac Vaillant, Libraires dans le Strand, ou l’on trouve un assortment general de toute sorte de Musique. m.dccvii.
- ↑ Therefore he died during the reign of Queen Anne, and had no share in the discussions which took place in the following reign. Another pastor, Rev. Gedeon Delamotte (the surnames have the same sound in pronunciation), then officiated in the West Street French Chapel, St. Giles’s, and [?] was the author of “The Usefulness and Necessity of Confessions of Faith.”