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Protestantism in France From Death of Henry IV to the Revolution - James Aitken Wylie

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enforcement <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> edicts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> k<strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong> his<br />

own diocese, he but acted consistently with his<br />

avowed pr<strong>in</strong>ciples. "It behooves us <strong>to</strong> give<br />

obedience <strong>to</strong> k<strong>in</strong>gs," said Bossuet, "as <strong>to</strong> Justice<br />

itself. They are gods, and participate <strong>in</strong> a certa<strong>in</strong><br />

sense <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dependence <strong>of</strong> God. No o<strong>the</strong>r than<br />

God can judge <strong>the</strong>ir sentences or <strong>the</strong>ir persons."[4]<br />

This prepares us for <strong>the</strong> part he acted aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong><br />

Protestants. The Intendant who executed <strong>the</strong> law <strong>in</strong><br />

his diocese, and who had orders <strong>to</strong> act accord<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong><br />

Bossuet's advice, condemned <strong>to</strong> death several<br />

Protestants <strong>of</strong> Nanteuil, and even <strong>the</strong> Abbe le Dieu<br />

admits that <strong>the</strong> bishop demanded <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

condemnation. True, he demanded also <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

pardon, but this "pardon" consisted <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

commutation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> penalty <strong>of</strong> death <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> galleys<br />

for life. Fur<strong>the</strong>r, it is certified by a letter <strong>of</strong> Frotte, a<br />

former canon <strong>of</strong> St. Genevieve, and whom Bossuet<br />

himself describes as a very honest man, that <strong>the</strong><br />

bishop caused Protestants <strong>to</strong> be dragged from <strong>the</strong><br />

villages <strong>of</strong> his diocese, cited <strong>the</strong>m before him, and<br />

with a military <strong>of</strong>ficer sitt<strong>in</strong>g by his side,<br />

summoned <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> abjure <strong>the</strong>ir religion; that he<br />

used <strong>to</strong> have children <strong>to</strong>rn from <strong>the</strong>ir parents, wives<br />

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