Jeffries, concerted the delay. The irritation and anxiety of the public mind during this interval is evident from Evelyn’s Diary. Distrust of the government comes out in his first memorandum concerning the Revocation, dated 3 Nov. 16S5:—
“One thing was much taken notice of, that the Gazettes which were still constantly printed twice a-week, informing us what was done all over Europe, never spake of this wonderful proceeding in France; nor was any relation of it published by any, save what private letters and the persecuted fugitives brought. Whence this silence I list not to conjecture, but it appeared very extraordinary in a Protestant country, that we should know nothing of what Protestants suffered, whilst great collections were made for them in foreign places, more hospitable and Christian to appearance.” 4th December, “Persecution in France raging, the French insolently visit our vessels and take away the fugitive Protestants; some escape in barrels.” 20th December, “Dr Turner, brother to the Bishop of Ely and sometime tutor to my son, preached at Whitehall, on Mark viii. 38, concerning the submission of Christians to their persecutors, in which were some passages indiscreet enough, considering the time and the rage of the inhuman French tyrant against the poor Protestants.”
The diarist has better news to give on 14th March 1686:— “The Bishop of Bath and Wells (Dr. Ken) preached, on John vi. 17, a most excellent and pathetic discourse. After he had recommended the duty of fasting and other penitential duties, he exhorted to constancy in the Protestant religion, detestation of the unheard-of cruelties of the French, and stirring up to a liberal contribution.” On the 29th thereis this entry, “A Brief was read in all churches for relieving the French Protestants.” “Read” perhaps was an abridgment, either intentional or accidental, for “ordered to be read;” for on the 25th April Evelyn writes, “This day was read in our church the brief for a collection for the relief of the Protestant French, so cruelly, barbarously, and inhumanly oppressed, without anything being laid to their charge. It had been long expected, and at last with difficulty procured to be published, the interest of the French Ambassador obstructing it.” Though not by Evelyn, it has been said that Jeffries gave instructions that the clergy were to read the brief, without any comments or appeals to the people. One more extract from Evelyn is connected with the subject of this section; it is dated 5th May:— “This day was burned in the old Exchange by the common hangman a translation of a book written by the famous Monsieur Claude, relating only matters of fact concerning the horrid massacres and barbarous proceedings of the French King against his Protestant subjects, without any refutation of any facts therein; so mighty a power and ascendant here had the French Ambassador, who was doubtless in great indignation at the pious and truly generous charity of all the nation for the relief of those miserable sufferers who came over for shelter.”
On March 4, 1687 (n.s.), it was ordered by the King in council that the money which was collected for the distressed French Protestants be immediately paid into the Chamber of London. (Pointer’s Chronological History.) That the collection of 1686 was a large one, maybe inferred from the sum raised by St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster, in whose register there is this entry, “1686. To the Rt. Rev. Father in God, Thos., Lord Bishop of Rochester, being the moneys collected on the Brief for the French Protestants, as per receipt, £868, 12s. 1d.” The collection over the whole kingdom was £52,000. A second collection is mentioned by Evelyn:— “1688, April 15th. The persecution still raging in France, multitudes of Protestants and many very considerable and great persons flying hither produced a second general contribution, — the Papists (by God’s providence) as yet making small progress amongst us.” Bishop Ken addressed a circular letter, under the King’s letters patent, to his clergy, “to ask and receive alms and charitable contributions in behalf of French Protestant refugees,” beginning, “All glory to God. Thomas, unworthy Bishop of Bath and Wells, to the Minister of , wishes multiplication of mercy and peace and love, &c. God forbid that I, who am lifted up above my betters to the pastoral chair, should fail in fully answering the intentions of so royal and God-like a charity.”
A Brief, dated 31st January 1689, was issued by William and Mary. The sums credited to it, which were lodged in the city chamber, amounted to £65,715, 2s. 3d. A part of this sum was a contribution from Scotland, where the Convention-Parliament issued a Proclamation (dated April II, 1689) for a collection for the French and Irish Protestant Refugees. Sir Patrick Murray was made the Collector-General. As to the crowds of Irish, who had fled to the coasts of Scotland from Jacobite tyranny at home, relief was distributed to the applicants individually. But the only apparent method for relieving French Protestants was to remit part of the collection to the Commissioners in England. The Scotch clergy were required to read the
