After I had read it, I said to him: "How could you think of making yourself answerable for the intendant? Suppose he should not keep his word with you, think in what a dangerous position you will be placed. I beseech you, as you value your life, go to the people before it is too late, take back your promise to them, and let them see the letter, and then they can judge for themselves as to the credit they are willing to give to it."
He thanked me for my advice, and what is more to the point, he followed it, and went down to the sea-shore to tell the people the actual state of the case, so that they might decide for themselves.
During the three following days great numbers embarked, and on the fourth the dragoons[1] made their appearance. All
- ↑ The Protestants lost most of their strong places during the reign of Louis XIII., and the remainder in that of Louis XIV., so that they were entirely at the mercy of the King, and he promised to secure to them liberty of conscience, and he kept his word until his latter days, when he began to think more upon religious subjects, and under the influence of Madame de Maintenon, and his confessor, La Chaise, he determined to convert all the Protestants in his dominions to Catholicism. Colbert, the Minister of Finance, though a Catholic himself, estimated at its real value the superior industry of the Huguenots, and he opposed violent measures successfully, so long as he lived. After his death, in 1683, the monarch had no one to restrain him, and the bigoted counsels of the confessor, and the chancellor, Le Tellier, and his son, strengthened his own resolves. Almost all the noblemen and courtiers recanted, and Louis thought he had only to say the word, and their example would be followed throughout his dominions. Missionaries were appointed, and furnished with large sums of money, to make converts; they gave in flattering reports of their success; but this method was thought too expensive, and a cheaper plan was to be tried. All Protestants were excluded from public office, children were allowed to recant at the age of seven years, and severe penalties were enacted against relapse. This caused emigration, and those in power opened their eyes wide enough to perceive that in the departure of seamen and artisans, they were losing many of their most valuable subjects, and to put a stop to it, they issued an edict prohibiting emigration on pain of death.
The Protestant churches were next ordered to be demolished, and no less
