Memorials of the Huguenots in America

MEMORIALS OF THE HUGUENOTS IN AMERICA By Rev. A. Stapleton 1901 CHAPTER I Extending From the Beginning of the French Reformation to the Promulgation of the Edict of Nantes--1510--1598 [Page 1-10] "Great truths are dearly bought, Not found by chance; Nor wafted in the breath of summer dream, But grasped in the great struggle of the soul, Hard buffeting with adverse wind and stream." --Anon. The sixteenth century is one of the most notable periods of all history. The discovery of America, the invention of the art of printing and other elements had awakened a spirit of universal inquiry and independence of thought throughout the world. The great masses began to realize that their consciences were dominated by the priests, while their lords regarded them as vassals and mere chattels. No particular country can be said to be the cradle of the Reformation. The time for which Providence paved the way was ripe, and, like a mighty torrent, broke away from human restraint and flooded the world with the blessings of the pure gospel. 1 When Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five proposition on the Schloss Kirche at Wittemberg in 1517, the gates of the reservoir were opened, where before the waters had, so to speak, only overflowed the banks. Our aim will be simply to trace, in brief, the Reformation in France, leaving the reader to seek information concerning the work in other countries from other sources. Reformation Begins at Meaux The Reformation in France first established itself in the department of Meaux, and from thence spread rapidly. The leading spirit of this movement was Jacques Lefever, who with a fiery zeal and restless energy, proclaimed the reformation in many places. Francis I had, from the beginning of his reign, condemned the excesses of the Church of Rome, and when the Reformers of Meaux decried the evils of the Papacy it was not without countenance from the King of France. He even went so far as to join the Protestant princes in the Smalkaldic League (1). Margaret, Queen of Navarre, a sister to Francis I, embraced the Reformed doctrines and, unlike her vacillating brother, she boldly identified herself with the cause. Had the King followed her example France would have been won for the Protestant cause. Perhaps a majority of the nobility and many of the leading ecclesiastics were ready for reform. Even the great Sorbonne (2) looked with favor on the movement. The chief reason why France was lost to the Reformation was because the sovereign and his civil and ecclesiastical dignitaries regarded the Roman Church as the true body of Christ and favored the reform of abuses in the church. This was impossible in a body so corrupt. As the Reformation advanced it became necessary for its adherents to form organizations of their own with pastors and leaders distinct from the church. The Reformed people of France were called "Huguenots." The origin of this term is uncertain, so that a discussion of the term in this connection would be useless. The Reformation in France was somewhat unfortunate in assuming a political aspect. It early counted many of the greatest statesmen of the Kingdom on its side. Besides the House of Navarre, the members of which figure conspicuously in this history, the Huguenot party counted among its leaders the celebrated Caspard de Chatillon , Count de Coligny, Admiral of France, and also his brothers Odet, Cardinal de Chatillon, and Francois de Chatillon, Sire d'Andelot, the Captain-General of the French infantry, also the Dukes de Rohan, the La Rochefoncaulds, the Grammonts, the Princes of Porcein, the Lords of Piennes, of Soubise, of Genlis, of Mornay, of Esternay, and many others who, under various titles, figured in the history of the times. FOOTNOTES: (1) A defensive alliance of Protestant European Powers, formed in 1631, for mutual protection against Charles V and the Catholic Powers. (2) The Theological Faculty of the University of Paris. John Calvin 2 The great spiritual leader of the Huguenots was John Calvin, born at Noyon, in Picardy, 1509, and died in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1564. Calvin easily ranked with Luther as a great reformer. With great eloquence and profound learning he expounded and defended the Reformed doctrines. After laboring for a number of years in France, removing from place to place because of opposition, he at last established himself in Geneva, where for many years he was the virtual head of the French Reformation. His theological works are numerous and profound. His "Institutes of the Christian Religion" was probably the greatest work of the Reformation period, and continues to exercise a strong influence on Protestant theology, even to the present day. An important factor in the religio-political struggle of the French Reformation was the Guise family, or House of Lorraine. The Guises were in close affinity with the Roman See, and were considered foreigners by the French. Francois, Duke of Guise, however, made himself popular by his success at arms against the enemies of France, and attained a high station in the army. His brother, the Cardinal de Lorraine, was an ecclesiastic only in name, and with the duke arose to political prominence. The Guises, together with Catharine de Medici, mother of the king, and herself a foreigner and a bigoted papist, were the controlling spirits of the opposition against the Reformation. Such are a few of the ecclesiastical and political elements of the great struggle. The First Martyr It is impossible to even refer to the many struggles of the Huguenots through the dark centuries embraced in their history. We can only in a general way point out some of the leading events. Jean Le Clerk, one of the earliest reformers of Meaux, permitting his zeal to exceed his discretion, entered several Catholic churches, broke images and posted placards denouncing the corruptions of the Pope and church. For this he was apprehended, condemned as a heretic, and burned at the stake in the city of Metz in 1525. He was the first conspicuous martyr of the Huguenots. Notwithstanding the great persecutions which were now instituted the Protestants continued to increase in numbers and influence. Armed Resistance The year 1560 marks the period of armed collision between the Papists under the Guises and the Huguenots under the Prince of Conde. One dreadful feature of the conflict was the massacre of twelve thousand Huguenot prisoners at Amboise. The Reformation also lost the noble Baron de Castlenau, who was condemned to death on the pretext of treason. Foreign complications ameliorated the struggle. On August 21, 1560, there was an assembly of notables held at Fontainebleau for the consideration of the national difficulties, at which time the Duke de Coligny presented to the King a petition coupled with an eloquent plea for religious toleration. The King and many of his party inclined to the petition, but were violently opposed by the Guises. It was agreed to defer the matter until the assembly of the States General, but before it convened Francois II. died, December 5, 1560. Francis had been a mere tool in the hands of his uncles, the Duke and Cardinal of Lorraine. In order to preserve the interests of her house, Catharine de Medici, the Queen Regent, was compelled to repress 3 the Lorraines and court the favor of the Huguenots. The King, her son, Louis IX., was at this time but nine years old. States General Favorable The States General met at Orleans December 13, 1560. The Chancellor de L'Hopital, who had always exercised moderation toward the Protestants, spoke strongly against Romish excesses. The Duke de Coligny, as the leader of the Protestants, was a tower of strength and greatly distinguished himself. The liberation of France from Papal tyranny seemed near at hand. Even the Queen Regent lent encouragement by opening the pulpit of the Palace of Fountainebleau to the Bishop Montluc, who boldly preached the doctrines of the Reformation. The tide running so high in favor of the Huguenots at this assembly, was turned against them by the Lorraines, who formed what is known as the Triumvirate for the upholding of the Catholic Church. At the head of this league was the Duke of Guise. Great Debate at Possey It was then arranged to convene a great assembly at Possey, where the religious differences should be discussed in the presence of the notables by a representative from each side. The conference met September 9, 1561. The Catholics were represented by the Cardinal of Lorraine and the Protestants by Theodore de Beza. The Chancellor was again the benign L'Hopital, whose opening address was most favorable to the Reformation. The great Huguenot theologian, de Beza, with nothing but the Bible as his text-book, completely swept away the Romish traditions and dogmas of the Cardinal. The Assembly drew up a document defining the position and rights of both parties, which was in the main satisfactory to all but the Lorraines and the Sorbonne, which branded it as in the highest degree heretical. Thus terminated the famous council October 9, 1561. The Huguenots strenuously insisted on civil and political rights. The Queen Regent, desiring information concerning their strength, the count de Coligny furnished her a list of two thousand one hundred and fifty churches that petitioned for religious toleration. In January, 1562, the Assembly of Notables issued regulations which, in a very narrow measure, granted toleration. The discontent of the Reformed was somewhat quieted by a request of the Queen Regent for loyal submission. The Guises now sought to counteract the advantages of the Protestants by isolating their nobles from the cause.

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