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

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magic words were <strong>in</strong>stantly followed by an award<br />

<strong>in</strong> his favor. Protestants were excluded from all<br />

<strong>of</strong>fices under <strong>the</strong> crown, from all municipal posts,<br />

from <strong>the</strong> practice <strong>of</strong> law and medic<strong>in</strong>e, and<br />

generally <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> liberal pr<strong>of</strong>essions. They were<br />

forbidden <strong>to</strong> s<strong>in</strong>g psalms <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir workshops or at<br />

<strong>the</strong> doors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir houses. They had <strong>to</strong> suspend <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

psalmody when a Roman Catholic procession<br />

passed <strong>the</strong> doors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir churches. They could bury<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir dead only at break <strong>of</strong> day or on <strong>the</strong> edge <strong>of</strong><br />

night. Not more than ten mourners could follow <strong>the</strong><br />

bier; and <strong>the</strong> statu<strong>to</strong>ry number <strong>of</strong> a wedd<strong>in</strong>g<br />

procession was restricted <strong>to</strong> twelve. This did not<br />

satisfy <strong>the</strong> priesthood, however. In 1665 <strong>the</strong>y<br />

declared that more zeal must be exercised <strong>in</strong> order<br />

"<strong>to</strong> cause <strong>the</strong> formidable monster <strong>of</strong> heresy <strong>to</strong><br />

expire completely." <strong>From</strong> this time <strong>the</strong> Protestants<br />

began <strong>to</strong> flee from <strong>the</strong>ir native land. It was now,<br />

<strong>to</strong>o, that Marshal Turenne abjured <strong>in</strong> his old age<br />

<strong>the</strong> faith he had pr<strong>of</strong>essed through life. His virtue<br />

had decl<strong>in</strong>ed before his <strong>Protestantism</strong> was<br />

renounced. His example was followed by <strong>the</strong> great<br />

nobles about court, and it was remarked <strong>of</strong> all <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>m, as <strong>of</strong> Turenne, that <strong>the</strong>y had espoused <strong>the</strong><br />

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