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

escape beyond those dismal limits within which the
Protestant had only the terrible alternative of
sacrificing his conscience, or surrendering his
liberty or life. Many earnestly petitioned for leave
to withdraw from a land where to obey God was to
incur the wrath of the king, but they petitioned in
vain. Of the native subjects of Louis, we know of
only two to whom this favor was conceded. The
Marshal Schomberg and the Marquis de Ruvigny
were permitted to retire, the first to Portugal, and
the second to England. The Admiral Duquesne was
summoned into the presence of Louis XIV., and
urged to change his religion. Pointing to his hairs,
which tempest and battle had bleached, the hero
said, "For sixty years, sire, have I rendered unto
Caesar that which I owe to Caesar: suffer me still
to render to God that which I owe to God." He was
permitted to live in his native land unmolested.
Among the names that lent a glory to France there
were none greater than these three. Schomberg was
at the head of the army, Duquesne was the creator
of the navy, and De Ruvigny was equally
renowned in diplomacy; the Revocation deprived
France of the services of all the three. This was
89