Sir John Bramston added, “But this book, it seems (for I have not yet seen it) had in it expressions scandalous, as the Ambassador said, to his Majesty the King of France; and indeed, if so, it was fitly burned, for all kings ought to be careful of the honour and dignity of kings and princes.” To this his editor, the late Lord Braybrooke (1845) replies: “This remark might have been spared, as it is obvious that the king in this proceeding lost sight of the honour and dignity due to himself.”
The facts as to the long and pitiless persecutions of French Protestants, now proved to be historical, seemed so improbable to the logical mind of the benevolent Philip Henry, that he hesitated as to believing. He wrote in May 1686 to his son Matthew: “The Collection for ye Fr. Prot. hath not reacht us yet, but I suppose is coming. I saw the Narrative, and could not chuse but think that things were made the worst of, for though 1 know what manner of spirit the (French Popish) people are of, there were some passages that would hardly consist with meer Humanity.” [He was, however, an admirer of the refugees, as to whom he said, “God hath given us a home, when so many better than we have not where to lay their head, having no certain dwelling-place.”]
The last translation of Claude’s Les Plaintcs des Protestans had a special preface, in which the pretence that after the Revocation persecution had ceased is refuted. At least three editions of this translation appeared. The third edition, printed in 1708, was remarkable for disclosing the name of the translator thus:—
“The Printer to “Sir, — I humbly desire you to excuse the liberty I take of pu-ting your name to a new edition of an anonymous piece which I had printed for you twice already. The two first impressions (tho’ deprived of the advantage of your name, which your modesty had all along concealed) have been so well received by the Publick, that I hope a Third (which I undertake at my own expence), when recommended by the character of its Author, will leave me no room to repent of my design — the rather because this Book is extremely necessary in all Protestant States, and especially in that Part of Great Britain formerly called Scotland, as being a preservative against the wiles of the emissaries of France and Rome. — I am, and always shall remain, Sir, your most humble servant,
“W. Redmayne.”
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“L’Imprimeur à “Monsieur, — Je vous suplie ne trouver pas mauvais la liberté que j’ai pris de publier sous votre nom un Livre Anonime que j’ai déjà imprimé pour vous deux fois. Les deux premières Editions (nonobstant le défaut de votre nom que votre morlestie a caché) ont ête si bien receuës du Public, que j’ose espèrer que cette troisième Edition (que j’entreprend de faire à mes depens), étant soutenu de votre nom, ne me donnera pas sujet de me repentir de mon entreprise, d’autant que ce Livre est très necessaire dans tous les Etats Protestans, et particulièrement dans cette partie de la Grande Bretagne ci-devant apellée Ecosse, pour servir de Preservatif contre la seduction des Emissaires de Rome et de France. — Je suis et serai toujours, Monsieur, Votre très-humble serviteur,
“G. Redmayne.”
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King James lavishly provided his printer, Henry Hills, with Papistical propagandist work, part of which was the issuing of translations of French pamphlets, denying the whole history of the sufferings of the Protestants of France. Bishop Bossuet’s contribution to the stock of lies was published with the title: “A Pastoral Letter from the Lord Bishop of Meaux to the New Catholics of his diocess, exhorting them to keep their Easter, and giving them necessary advertisements against the false pastoral letters of their ministers, with Reflections upon the pretended persecution.”[1] This publication called forth two replies, one of which, as to disputed statements of fact, was very short, and was in these words: —
“There can be but two aims, as I apprehend, in dispersing this letter among us; one, to persuade us that there is no such persecution of Protestants in France as is pretended; the other, that the reasons upon which such multitudes are proselyted to the Church of Rome, or those at least which Monsieur Meaux gives in this letter, are so convincing as to oblige the rest of the world to follow their example.
“What he affirms in relation to the first, that not one among them had suffered violence either in person or goods, is so notorious a falsehood, that I must leave all those to believe him who can.”[2]
- ↑ The youthful Fenelon was one of the Royal Missionaries employed to instruct in Popery those Huguenots who had been intimidated into verbal recantations of Protestantism. He knew quite well all about the persecutions, and corresponded with Bossuet as one who knew also. In fact, Fenelon made use of the apostasy of too many Huguenots under persecution as an argument against their religion. He wrote in March 1686 thus:— “The half-converted Huguenots are attached to their religion with a dreadful degree of obstinacy, but as soon as the rigour of punishment appears, all their pertinacity fails them. The ancient martyrs were humble, docile, intrepid, and incapable of dissimulation. The Huguenots are weak against power, obstinate against truth, and capable of all kinds of hypocrisy. If one wished to make them abjure Christianity, nothing more would be necessary than to show them a troop of dragoons.”
- ↑ An Answer to the Bishop of Condom (now of Meaux) his Exposition of the Catholic Faith, &c, to which are added Reflections on his Pastoral Letter, 1686; page 118.
