this country; but another sort (divers of the common people and rabble, too many of them) behaved themselves otherwise towards these afflicted strangers, and would call them by no other denomination but French dogs. This a French author, sometime afterward, took notice of in print, to the disparagement of the English nation. But George Abbot, D.D. (afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury), in one of his morning lectures [on Jonah] preached at Oxford, vindicating our kingdom from a charge that lay only upon some of the meaner and worse sort, said, ‘Those that were wise and godly used those aliens as brethren, considering their distresses with a lively fellow-feeling; holding it an unspeakable blessedness that this little island of ours should not only be a temple to serve God in for ourselves, but an harbour for the weather-beaten, a sanctuary to the stranger, wherein he might truly honour the Lord — remembering the precise charge which God gave to the Israelites, to deal well with all strangers, because the time once was when themselves were strangers in that cruel land of Egypt — and not forgetting that other nations, to their immortal praise, were a refuge to the English in their last bloody persecution in Queen Mary’s days.’”[1]
The most remarkable proof which Queen Elizabeth gave, of the solemn impression made upon her spirit by the St. Bartholomew massacre, was her order to the Archbishop of Canterbury to prepare special forms of prayer and to issue them by her royal authority. Accordingly, on 27th October 1572, four prayers were published and appointed to be used in churches (see Strype’s “Life of Archbishop Parker,” page 358). The first was a prayer for Repentance and Mercy; the second, a prayer to be delivered from our enemies, taken out of the Psalms. The third was a prayer and thanksgiving in behalf of the Queen, for her own and her people’s preservation “from all deceits and violences of our enemies, and from all other dangers and evils, both bodily and ghostly.” The fourth was entitled, A Prayer for the Persecuted and Persecutors: — “O Lord our God and Heavenly Father, look down, we beseech thee, with thy fatherly and merciful countenance upon us thy people and poor humble servants, and upon all such Christians as are anywhere persecuted and sore afflicted for the true acknowledging of thee to be our God, and thy Son Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent, to be the only Saviour of the world. Save them, O merciful Lord, who are as sheep appointed to the slaughter, and by hearty prayers do call and cry unto thee for thy help and defence. Hear their cry, O Lord, and our prayers for them and for ourselves. Deliver those that be oppressed; defend those that be in fear of cruelty; relieve them that be in misery, and comfort all that be in sorrow and heaviness, that by thy aid and strength, they and we may obtain surety from our enemies, without shedding of Christian and innocent blood. And for that, O Lord, thou hast commanded us to pray for our enemies, we do beseech thee, not only to abate their pride and to stay the cruelty and fury of such as, either of malice or ignorance, do persecute them which put their trust in thee, and hate us, but also to mollify their hard hearts, to open their blind eyes, and to enlighten their ignorant minds, that they may see and understand, and truly turn unto thee, and embrace that holy Word, and unfeignedly be converted unto thy Son Jesus Christ the only Saviour of the world, and believe and love his Gospel, and so eternally be saved. Finally, we beseech thee, that all Christian realms, and especially this realm of England, may, by thy defence and protection, enjoy perfect peace, quietness, and security, and ail that desire to be called and accounted Christians, may answer in deed and life unto so good and godly a name, and jointly, all together, in one godly concord and unity, and with one consonant heart and mind, may render unto thee all laud and praise continually, magnifying thy glorious name, who with thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, art one eternal, almighty, and most merciful God, to whom be all laud and praise, world without end. Amen”
Lord Burghley took a deep interest in the refugees. Among his papers was found the following memorandum, which I copy in modernized spelling (see Strype’s “Annals,” vol. iv., Supplement No. 4).
- ↑ The family-likeness between English refugees on the Continent and French refugees in England appears in the following paragraph from the “Life of Bernard Gilpin,” chap. 3: — “1554. While he stayed in the Low Countries, he was greatly affected by the melancholy sight of crowds of his dejected countrymen arriving daily in those parts, from the bloody scene then acting in England. These unhappy exiles, however, soon recovered their spirits, and, dispersing into various towns, cheerfully applied themselves, each as his profession led, to gain an honest livelihood. The meaner sort exercised their crafts; the learned taught schools, read lectures, and corrected presses — at Basil particularly, where the ingenious Oporinus was then carrying printing to great perfection. Their commendable endeavours, to make themselves not quite a burden to those who entertained them, were suitably rewarded. The several towns of Germany and Holland, finding their advantage in these strangers, showed them all imaginable civility; many private persons likewise contributed to their aid; but, above all others, the generous Duke of Wirtemberg distinguished himself in their favour: his bounty to the English at Strasburg and Frankfort should never pass unremembered, where these things are mentioned.” — (Gilpin’s Life, Collins’ edition, page 102).
