fatal experience, than the poor Proteſtants in France, who have been ſo barbarouſly uſed by the blood thirſty Papiſts there, that a true account of their ſufferings, will appear to the next age, rather like romantic fictions, than (as indeed they are) realities. There are two things in it, that appear alike admirable; and they are the barbarous rage and cruelty of the perſecutors, and the invincible courage and conſtancy of the poor ſufferers, who are ſo mightily ſupported by divine grace, that they not only triumph over all their tortures, but ſuffer joyfully the loſs of all, as knowing that they have in heaven a better and more enduring ſubſtance; But I will recite briefly, ſome inſtances of their ſufferings.
Some they condemn to the gallies, where they are commonly coupled with the vileſt miſcreants condemned thither, for the moſt flagitious crimes, whoſe fearful oaths and execrations are continually wounding their pious ears: There are generally five of them placed upon every form, fettered with a heavy chain of about ten or twelve foot long. They ſhave their heads from time to time, to ſhew they are ſlaves, and are not allowed to wear their hats or perriwigs: They have only beans, and nothing elſe for their food, with about fourteen ounces of coarſe bread a-day, and no wine at all. They are devoured in winter by lice, and in the ſummer by
bugs
