His son, Samuel Le Chevalier, was Pasteur of the Canterbury French Church in 1591. The register informs us that his wife’s maiden name was Lea Cappel, probably a daughter of Pasteur Aaron Cappel of the London French Church. I observe the births of seven children — Aaron (1591), Lea (1592), Rebecca (1595), Jahel (1597), Esther (1599), Pierre (1609), Anne (1616). Although the Baptismal register begins July 1581, there is a blank between June 1584 and 24th July 1590. During that interval older children than Aaron may have been born. The learned Professor Le Chevalier may be regarded as the founder of an English refugee family, of which I may have something to say hereafter. (See chapter xii.).
IV. The Pasteur Brevin.
The Pasteur Cosme Brevin took refuge in the Channel Islands after the St. Bartholomew massacre, and was in the reign of Elizabeth the minister of the Island of Sark. His son was the Rev. Daniel Brevint, Rector of St. John’s, Jersey, father of the more celebrated Daniel, the Very Rev. Daniel Brevint, D.D., Dean of Lincoln {born 1616, died 1695). Dr Brevint was M.A. of Saumur, and was the first native of the Channel Islands who was made Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford, through a royal foundation in favour of such insular aspirants to Anglican ordination. This he lost during the Commonwealth, which interregnum he spent in Normandy, doing the duties of a French pastor. On his return home, he became a Prebendary of Durham, and was promoted to his Deanery in 1681. Dean Brevint’s works are still read: they are (1) Missale Romanum, or the depth and mystery of the Roman Mass, laid open and explained for the use of both reformed and unreformed Christians, 1672; (2) The Christian Sacrament and Sacrifice, by way of discourse, meditation, and prayer upon the nature, parts, and blessings of the Holy Communion, dedicated to Lady Elizabeth Carteret, 1673; (3) Saul and Samuel at Endor, or the new waies of salvation and service, which usually temt men to Rome and detain them there, truly represented and refuted; as also a brief account of R. F., his Missale Vindication, or Vindication of the Roman Mass, 1674. His “Christian Sacrament” is remarkable on account of the following sentence, “O Rock of Israel, Rock of Salvation, Rock struck and cleft for me; let those two streams of blood and water, which once gushed out of Thy side . . . bring down with them salvation into my soul.” This perhaps suggested Toplady’s verse:—
“Rock of Ages cleft for me! let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood, from thy riven side which flow'd,
Be of sin the double cure — cleanse me from its guilt and power.”
V. Refugees in the Channel Islands.
Some refugee memorabilia concerning the Channel Islands have been furnished to me by a friend. The firm establishment of the reformed faith in the Channel Islands dates from the excommunication of Queen Elizabeth by Pius V. in 1570. The Islands which, as part of the ancient Duchy of Normandy, had been under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Coutances, were transferred to the English Diocese of Winchester. An old chronicle, which appears to have been written by a member or retainer of the De Carteret family, is still extant in the original French, and the following is a translation of Chap, xxxviii., the subject of which is “How several notable persons and other good families, from France and elsewhere, transported themselves to Jersey as well to Guernsey on account of religion, and to avoid the danger of great persecutions; and on the good reception and entertainment which they have had in the said islands.”
“Scarcely had the Churches of Jersey and Guernsey been re-established and reformed (as you have just read) than the news spread and was repeated everywhere. Accordingly, many good families and notable persons transported themselves into the said islands, there to hear the Word of God purely and freely preached, and to avoid the great danger of the troubles and persecutions which were carried on in France. They were affectionately and humanely received, and are and have always been, from time to time, well entertained and protected by the captains, gentlemen, and other respectable inhabitants of the said islands. Some remained longer than others, but all enjoyed during their residence the liberty in which they were guarded and protected in complete security from danger. The following are most of the names, but specially of those persons, both ministers and others, who during the time of the troubles and persecutions, retired to Jersey:—
