respect to the church of Bourdeaux, which, by “his most fruitful preaching and exemplary gospel conversation,” had been exceedingly edified. Whereupon he promised not to abandon the congregation until it should be better supplied. During his French pastorate he published sermons, “written in good French” (says Anthony a Wood), namely, in 1610, four volumes entitled “Jacob’s vow opposed to the vows of monks and friars,” and a volume of eighteen sermons, entitled La Trompette de Sion, exhorting to repentance and fasting. He also edited, in 1615, La defance de la religion reformée, being a letter from a venerable member of his congregation, named Blouin, to an apostate son.
M. Primerose continued at Bourdeaux in peace until Whitsunday 1619. At this date Father Arnoux, a Jesuit, preached before Louis XIII., at the Castle of Amboise, and declared that neither the Catholic Church nor the Order of the Jesuits held it to be lawful to murder kings, and that both were agreed in anathematising rebels and king-killers. M. Primerose, having been present at that sermon, took the first opportunity of sending a message to Father Arnoux with the following questions which were actually put to him before influential witnesses:—
1. The friar, Jacques Clement, stabbed Henri III., a prince excommunicated by the Pope. Did he, or did he not, kill his king?
2. If the Pope excommunicated his present Majesty, would you own Louis XIII. as your king?
3. If upon the excommunication of Louis XIII., an assassin (such as Jean Chastel, Pierre Barriere, or Francois Ravaillac, disciples of the Jesuits) should attempt his life, would you curse and anathematise him as guilty of treason?
These questions having been put to him, the Jesuit Father was silenced; but he had his revenge. He used his influence to procure an Act which was registered in the Parliament of Bourdeaux, that no stranger, being an alien born, should be minister of a congregation in France. The exact date at which this ordinance took effect in M. Primerose’s case does not appear; but he seems to have remained in France till the meeting of the National Synod at Charenton, in September 1623. The Synod sent a deputation to the king, to petition for the restoration of the outed ministers. The royal reply was to the effect that it was his pleasure, for reasons known to himself, that the ministers Du Moulin, Primerose, and Cameron should be banished, and that no answer could be listened to; but that he would tolerate their residence in France, on condition that they should not receive any employment either as professors or pastors. It was immediately after this notification that M. Primerose removed to London, being now about fifty years of age.
His sons, having been born in France, did not share in his denudation. We may mention here the second son, David, who was born at St. Jean d'Angely in the beginning of the century. He studied at Oxford and Bourdeaux, and became M.A. of Bourdeaux. In 1623 he returned to Oxford, and was incorporated as M.A. He then studied Divinity under Dr Prideaux, and took the degree of B.D., 22d April 1624, Prideaux saying to him on the completion of his examination, Accepimus responsionem tuam, mi fili, tanquam adventantis veris gratissimam primam rosam. In Quick’s list of French Protestant ministers for 1626, he appears as one of the pasteurs of Rouen.
Guilbert Primerose, on his arrival in England, was forthwith installed as one of the ministers of the London French Church. There is no evidence that in his youthful career in Scotland he had offended King James. Certainly, as a refugee, he was received graciously. Perhaps he introduced himself into favour by a printed tract, dated 1624, entitled, “Panegyrique à très-grand et très-puissant Prince, Charles Prince de Galles, par Gilbert Primerose, pasteur de l’Eglise Françoise de Londres,” in which both father and son are rhetorically lauded. The king wrote in his favour to the University of Oxford; and on 18th January 1625 (n.s.) he was incorporated there as M.A., in virtue of his St Andrews’ degree. The Chancellor’s letter was read, declaring the singular probity and great learning of Mr. Gilbert Primerose, and the fact that he had spent twenty years in the study of theology, concluding by nominating him for the degree of D.D., the king’s letter, testifying to his learning and worth, being also read; he thus obtained his doctor’s degree, but on the ensuing 27th of March, King James died. David Primerose now came forward with a poetical effusion of two hundred lines dedicated to John, Earl of Mar, and entitled, “Scotland’s Complaint Vpon the death of our late Soveraigne, King James of most happy memorie, by Mr. D. Prymerose. Edinburgh, Printed by John Wreittoun, Anno Dom. 1625.”
