The Huguenot Bartholomew Dupuy and his descendants

64 RISE AND PROGRESS OF HUGUENOTS.
iptrod. (west); they were either free towns, like
La Rochelle, Nismes, Montauban, or towns
belonging to private gentlemen, or towns
belonging to the king, which had fallen into
Huguenot hands during the wars. The Edict
was the most important bulwark of Protestant
rights. It was registered by Parliament, Feb-
1599- ruary 25, 1599, despite the influence of the
Pope against its registration.
Thus it was that the Huguenots for some
thirty years had to wage eight separate wars,
and roll their garments in blood to defend
their rights, and to secure freedom of conscience
and full liberty to worship God under
their own vine and fig tree. It was a sublime
proof of the sincerity of their religion, tried
as it were in a furnace of fire. The experience
was beneficial to them; for it tested their
principles, purified their temper, and perfected
their patience.
During this period of wars and treaties,
the Huguenots attended their National S3aiod,
Meetings having Presidents, as follows: The third
Synod, ^vuod, at Orleans, April, 1562, Anthony
Chandieu; at Lyons, August, 1563, Peter
Viret; at Paris, December, 1565, Nicholas De
Galars; at Vertueil, September, 1567, De
L'Este; at La Rochelle, April, 1571, Theodore
Beza; at Nismes, John De La Place; at St. Fay,
February, 1578, Peter Merlin; at Frigeac,
August, 1579, De La Fage; at La Rochelle,
June, 1581, De Nort; at Vitre, May, 1583,
Peter Merlin; at Montauban, June, 1594,
Michael Berault; at Saumur, June, 1596, De
La Touche.