should His Majesty’s circumstances admit of these measures, were not[1] the properest method to begin with a declaration to all Europe, in French and Latin, to offer countenance and encouragement to all such as, receiving prejudice from the profession of the Protestant Religion in any other countries, could come and harbour themselves in his? The effect of this would be that no restrictions whatsoever would hinder these people from going to him, who submit to their miseries here for want of assurance of not finding as great elsewhere. . . .
“I have formerly urged to one of your predecessors the number of French seamen of this religion, their willingness and easiness of transportation, the considerable number of wealthy people ready with great sums to come over to you; nay, I had once (and hope upon good encouragement I could retrieve them) prepared a body of men that should have brought you the manufacture of sail-cloth, so much wanted in England; but all this was upon the hopes of a Bill of Naturalization, which, so unfortunately failing, lessened my credit with them, as well as my hopes of doing a considerable service to the nation. But all these matters may be recovered again by a hearty declaration, by some sort of commission established for strangers to address to upon their first arrival, and by a Bank in the city on purpose for this use that men may convey their estates with great privacy. . . .
“Though I have dwelt much too long upon this subject, I cannot omit telling you, the ports of France are stopped to all Protestants under the age of sixteen; three hundred were upon it refused passage for England last week at Dieppe; and though I know any prince may stop his ports to his own subjects, I question whether, in a case of no crime, they can regularly be debarred going into the territories of a prince in amity. I leave that circumstance, as well as all others, to your better judgment, craving pardon for this long trouble, which I shall conclude with my most hearty wishes that His Majesty would concern himself as far in this matter as can consist with his power and dignity, to free these poor oppressed people, who are like to suffer all the miseries that can be invented by the malice of the Jesuits, and executed by the boundless power of this king, who in things of this nature has given himself so wholly into their hands that their credit with him has given jealousy to all his other ministers, whereof not one does approve these methods, but are willing upon all o casions to declare they are not the authors of them. — I am, Sir, your most faithful and most humble servant,
“To Mr. Secy. Jenkins.”
The result of this fine appeal was that the Secretary of State encouraged some French Protestants, who had already become refugees, to draw up a paper detailing the steps which might be advantageously taken in the matter by the British Government. This document was presented to the King in Council on the 31st July; a committee was then appointed to prepare a draft of the Royal Proclamation, which was formally signed and issued on the 7th August (i.e., 28th July, old style).
The following was Secretary Jenkins' written reply to Savile:—
“Whitehall, 7th Aug. (28th July) 1681:— What you write of the poor Protestants of that side is great sense and a noble compassion. On this day se’ennight there was a Memorial, drawn by some of them already come over, read before His Majesty in Council. His Majesty ordered letters immediately to be prepared for his royal signature to my Lord of London and my Lord Mayor for the making a speedy collection to answer in some measure their present necessities. The memorial His Majesty was pleased to refer to a committee; and of eight or nine points which the French demanded as an help and an ease towards their transport and settlement, there was nothing but what my Lords assented to, as far as the things were practicable here. I do hope the collection in London will prove consderable, and may be so disposed of as may best suit with the exigencies of those people. Besides this collection there is a Brief directed to be issued out, all the kingdom over; and His Majesty this day agreed to everything in the report and advice of the committee.”
Of the same date is a letter from the Earl of Halifax containing this sentence:— “I shall endeavour to justify my Protestantship by doing all that is in my power towards the encouragement of those that shall take sanctuary here out of France.”
The following is the Proclamation:—
“At the Court at Hampton Court, the 28th day of July 1681.
| Present — | The King’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council. | |
| Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. | Lord Viscount Fauconberg. | |
| Lord President. | Lord Viscount Hyde. | |
| Lord Privy Seal. | Lord Bishop of London. | |
| Earl of Clarendon. | Mr. Secretary Jenkins. | |
| Earl of Bathe. | Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer. | |
| Earl of Craven. | Mr. Seymour. | |
| Earl of Halifax. | Mr. Godolphin. | |
| Earl of Conway. | ||
- ↑ “were not . . . .?” — i.e., would it not be, &c.?
