HUGIJENOT ARTISTS DESIGNERS AND CRAYPSNEN IN GREAT ...

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could not purchase land, and that the English were restless and quarrel
some - contriving and plotting against their lawful sovereign and the
government. 3 It is probable that these rumours were the result of the
ambivalence of James II's attitude towards the Huguenots, and that with
William III's ascendancy to the English throne such rumours were dispelled.k
Why were the Huguenota encouraged to settle in Great Britain?
A useful source for the reasoning behind these decisions is the motion
for the naturalizing French Protestants', which was proposed by
Edward Wortley Montagu in the House of Commons on February 23rd, 17O8/9.
Abel Boyer reported that Montagu 'shew'd the Advantages that would accrue
to the Nation by such an Act Alledging amongst other particulars the
example of the King of Prussia, who had not only invited, but furnished
Abundance of French Refugees with Means to settle in his Dominians, where
by he had fertilized an almost barren country, improved Trade and vastly
increased his Revenue and added that if foreigners were induced to settle
under a Despotick Government, where they found Protection and Encouragement
they would undoubtedly be the more inclined to bring their effects, and
(a .t least) their Industry into Great Britain, where they would share
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the Priveleges of a Free Nation'.
The Huguenots established a reputation for their industry and
hard work. This was the result of their Calvinistic ethic which assigned
a high value to work, regarding it as 'the practical excercise of a calling
appointed by God', and therefore as divine worship. 7 Work was an appropriate
method of self-discipline, and a means of averting temptation. The
distinctive feature of Calvin's creed was the belief in election by
grace after eternal pre-mundane decree. This belief dictated an absolute
duty to consider oneself chosen and to combat aU doubts as temptations,
in order to continue in God's grace. Another distinctive feature of the
Huguenot way of life, was the democratic organization of their church;
all churches and pastors were considered equal, and preachers were chosen
by ballot. Huguenot social life was organized in much the same way; the
individual responsibility to fulfil the daily task, was used to achieve
a rational organization of their social environment. Ultimately the
Huguenot was responsible for working out his own salvation, and this
individual responsibility, common to large groups of reugees, produced
the Huguenot traits of reverence, chastity, sobriety, frugality, industry
and honesty.