écrite à un gentilhomme protestant de cette province et imprimée en France sous le faux titre de Rotterdam 1745). Par M. Armand de la Chapelle, pasteur de l’église Wallonne de la Haye. La Haye, 1746.” It was translated into Dutch in 1748, and into German in 1749; the German translation reached a third edition.
IX. Rev. Claude Groteste De la Mothe, D.C.L.
This gentleman was of a noble house, being a son of the Sieur De La Buffière. The surname of the family was Groteste. Claude Groteste was born at Orleans in 1647. He studied law in his native city, and took the degree of Doctor of Civil Law in 1664. In 1665 he commenced practice in Paris as an advocate. But he changed law for divinity, and we find him admitted to the pastoral care of Lisy, in the province of Ile de France and diocese of Meaux, in 1675. According to custom, he assumed one of his father’s titles, and was styled Le Sieur De La Mothe. He was translated to the church of Rouen in 1682, and entered upon his charge there; but Lisy continued vacant; and “having compassion on sheep without a shepherd,” he returned to his original congregation, sacrificing all personal advantage for their sake.
It was in Lisy, in the month of August 1683, that the very last Protestant Provincial Synod was held. The place of meeting was the grand hall of the Chateau de Mont-Louet, the residence of le Capitaine Mosnier, who had married the heiress. The pasteur, Allix of Charenton, was moderator. De la Mothe was synod-clerk, and the wisdom of his counsels, and the dignity with which he flourished his quill, were generally remarked; he was regarded as the ruling spirit of the assembly. His task was no light one, for the synod sat for nearly three weeks, and there were two sessions daily — namely from 8 to 11 a.m., and from 3 to 6 p.m. The temporal condition of the French Protestant Church was now at its lowest depth of adversity (although the temple of Lisy was not suppressed till 1684), and the king grossly insulted the synod (which might not meet without his license), not only by appointing a Roman Catholic Commissioner, but also by allowing a priest to sit along with that nobleman as a sub-Commissioner. The latter half of this Bourbon insolence has, however, been partly atoned for; to the priest we owe a narrative of the proceedings which, on the whole, was highly complimentary, especially to De la Mothe.[1]
The importance of this pasteur’s family in general estimation was proved by the loud exultations of the Jesuits on gaining over to the Romish Church his brother, Marin Groteste, Sieur Des Mahis. This perversion was announced in 1683. The Jesuits spoke of him as a most important convert, a man of high consideration on account of his birth, piety, and erudition.
Readers may, however, form their own opinion of De La Mothe’s family and connections by reading a list of the company who were present at the drawing up of his marriage contract, an old parchment which is still preserved,[2] and from which I copy the names.
Wednesday afternoon, 23d June 1679.
Claude Groteste, Sieur De La Mothe, Ministre de la Religion Pretenduē Reformé de Lizy, son of Jacques Groteste and Anne Groteste, his wife, residing at Paris, in the Rue Vinier, parish of St Eustache.
Mr. Jean Berthe, banker and burgess of Paris, and Suzanne Marchant, his wife, who is authorised by her husband to give effect to these, residing at Paris, Rue des Deux Boulles, parish of Saint-Germain, Lauxerois, and contracting for
Miss Marie Berthe, their daughter.
There were present on the part of the said Claude Groteste:— The said Jacques Groteste and Anne Groteste, his wife, father and mother. Jacques Groteste, Sieur De la Buffière, gentleman in ordinary of my Lord the Prince; Marin Groteste, Sieur Des Mahis; Abraham Groteste, advocate in the Parliament, brothers. Mr. Jean Robeton, advocate in the Parliament, and Anne Groteste, his wife, sister. Paul Groteste, Sieur Du Buisson, Lieutenant of the Chasseurs of my Lord the Duke of Orleans, uncle. Louise Groteste, widow of the Sieur Naudin, physician, aunt. Mr. Daniel Chardon, advocate in the Parliament, for Marie Caillard, his wife; Louise Naudin, wife of Le Sieur Guide, doctor of medicine; Miss Anne Caillard; Mr. _____ Rochebonot, Sieur De Launay, advocate in the Parliament, and Philottée Naudin, his wife; Dame Caterine Le Monon, wife of Monsieur De Monginot, Sieur De la Salle; Cezard Caze, escuyer, cousins. Charles Aubeson, Sieur De la Durferie, a friend of the said Sieur De la Mothe.
