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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