NOTES. 173 



in these dread hours of trial and suffering, that our fathers 

 conceived the idea of quitting their native land. Had they 

 been rebellious subjects, harassing their sovereign by a vexa- 

 tious resistance to the laws of the country, or by an attempt to 

 subvert the peace and order of society ; had they been a sect 

 of persecuting religionists, seeking to repress religious freedom 

 or interfering with the dictates of conscience, some apology 

 might be offered for the relentless spirit with which they were 

 persecuted ; but history ascribes to these humble followers of 

 the cross a character wholly different. Quiet and unobtrusive 

 in their manners, devout in their religious exercises, faithful to 

 their king, and obedient to the civil and political laws of their 

 country, they begged only for that peace of conscience at- 

 tendant on freedom of religious worship, and long bore, with 

 the gentleness of the lamb, the bitter persecutions of their spir- 

 itual foes. No violence, no contempt of their rights, no harsh 

 vituperation, could drive them from fealty to their sovereign. 

 From that sovereign they received a dreaded and armed per- 

 secution. To him they yielded their hearty obedience in all 

 things pertaining to the legitimate duties of his station. In the 

 successes of their king they seldom failed to rejoice. Over his 

 losses they always lamented, when these involved the honor 

 and glory of France. He received from them sincere condo- 

 lence for his misfortunes and fervent prayers for his happiness. 

 But the heart of royalty, tempered by a corrupt and crafty 

 priesthood, was steeled against all the blandishments of the 

 pious Huguenots and their cup of bitterness was now full. 

 The fiat of injured nature was gone forth. They resolved no 

 longer to endure the oppressions of a home they loved still so 

 fondly — but as a child loves his parent, who has mercilessly 

 cast him upon the broad bosom of the world friendless and 

 penniless. The impulses of nature were now obliged to yield, 

 to the stern law of necessity ; and they began seriously to pre- 

 pare to bid adieu to all they loved in their dear native France. 

 " We behold in imagination the vessel as it begins to spread 



