18
historical introduction.
sovereigns and statesmen — otherwise the abridgement is not material, as will appear from the following extracts in parallel columns:—
| Page 34, (1686). There are three things very remarkable in this whole affair. The first is, that as long as they have been only on the way, the true authors of the Persecution have not concealed themselves, but the king, as much as they could. ’Tis true, the Decrees, Edicts, and Declarations, and other things, went under the name of His Majesty, but at the request of the agents and factors for the clergy. And whilst they were busied in these matters, the king declared openly his intention of maintaining the Edicts, and ’twas abuses which he designed to correct. | Page 144, (1707). There are three things remarkable in the conduct of this whole affair. The first is, that as long as they were only on the way, the true authors of the Persecution did not conceal themselves, but alway studied to conceal the king as much as they could. ’Tis true, the Decrees, Edicts, and Declarations, and such other things, went still under the name of His Majesty, but on the request of the agents or Syndics of the clergy. And whilst they were busied in these matters, the king declared openly his intention of maintaining the Edict itself, and that ’twas only the abuses and contraventions of it, which he designed to correct. |
| The second is, that when they came to the last extremities, and to open force, then they have concealed themselves as much as they could, set forth the king at his full length. There was nothing heard but these kind of discourses. The king will have it so, the king has taken it in hand, the king proceeds further than the clergy desires. By these two means they have had the address to be only charged with the lesser part of the cruelties, and to lay the most violent and odious part at the king’s door. | The second is, that when they came to the last extremities, and to open force, then they concealed themselves as much as they could, but made the king appear at his full length. There was nothing heard but these kind of speeches, The king will have it so, the king has taken the matter in his own hand, the king carries it further than the clergy could have wished. By these two means they have had the address to be only charged with the lesser and milder part of the Persecution, and to lay the more violent and odious at the king’s door. |
| The third thing which we should remark is, that the better to obtain their ends, they have made it their business to persuade the king, that this work would crown him with glory — which is a horrid abuse of his credulity, an abuse so much the greater, by how much they would not have themselves thought the authors of this council. And when any particular person of them are asked this day, what they think of it, there are few of them but condemn it. | The third thing which we are to remark is, that the better to obtain their ends, they have made it their business to persuade the king, that this work would crown him with the highest glory, which is a most horrid abuse of his credulity, and an abuse so much the greater, by how much they would screen themselves from being thought the authors of this council. Hence, if any of them in particular be asked at this day what they think of it, there are few of them but will readily condemn it. |
| In effect, what more false an idea could they give to His Majesty of glory, than to make it consist in surprising a poor people, dispersed over all his kingdom, and living securely under his wings, and the remains of the Edict of Nants, and who could not imagine there were any intentions of depriving them of the liberty of their consciences, of surprising and overwhelming them in an instant, with a numerous army, to whose discretion they are delivered, and who tell them that they must, either by fair means or foul, become Roman Catholicks, this being the king’s will and pleasure. | Now, what falser idea of glory could they give than making consist in surprising a poor people defenceless and helpless, dispersed over all his kingdom, and living securely under his wings, and under the protection of the remains of the Edict of Nantes? And who could ever imagine there were any intentions of depriving them of the established liberty of their consciences, of surprising and overwhelming them in an instant with a numerous army to whose discretion they are delivered up, and who tell them roundly that they must, either by fair means or by foul, become Roman Catholics, for that such is the king’s will and pleasure? |
| What a falser notion of glory could they offer him, than the putting him in the place of God, making the faith and religion of men to depend upon his authority, and that henceforward it must be said in his kingdom, I don’t believe, because I am persuaded of it, but I believe, because the king would have me do it, which, to speak properly, is that I believe nothing, and that I’ll be a Turk or a Jew, or whatever the king pleases? | What falser notion of glory could they ever offer him, than the putting him thus in the place of God, nay even above God, in making the faith and religion of his subjects depend on his sole authority, and that henceforward it must be said in his kingdom, I believe not because I am persuaded, but I believe because the king will have me, let God say what he will, which, to speak properly, is that I believe nothing, and that I’ll be a Turk, a Jew, an Atheist, or whatever the king pleases? |
