Page:Memoirs of a Huguenot Family.djvu/62

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56
MEMOIRS OF A HUGUENOT FAMILY.

to put a stop to the religious exercises at once. To accomplish this end, they made some frivolous complaint of Protestants who had recanted, having been seen there, and procured a warrant to arrest Mr. Forestier upon this charge. The plot became known by accident to Colonel Boisron, who was at Saintes, and he set off immediately, and rode all night, in the hope of arriving before the Archers, and giving him notice in time to conceal himself He reached Coses on Sunday morning, just as Mr. Forestier was going to church. He instantly made known his errand, and begged him not to make his appearance in the church.

Mr. Forestier said: "Can we change the decrees of the Eternal God? No! I hold myself in readiness, therefore, to do my duty, and submit to whatever he thinks fit to bring upon me."

Colonel Boisron still urged him. "Only think, my dear friend," said he, "of the suffering you would bring upon your wife and children, if you should be taken from them."

My sister then came forward, and the Colonel asked her to use her influence to dissuade her husband from showing himself, where he would inevitably be seized by the Archers. With a composed and firm tone she said, "It is the duty of Mr. Forestier to preach to his flock, and it is for God to do as seemeth him good."

Mr. Forestier turned round in triumph, and said to his friend, "You see, sir, we have no Eve here."

He then went forward, with his family around him, to the church. He gave no sign of emotion, he preached with his accustomed energy, and had just concluded the service, and was descending from the pulpit, when the Archers entered,