LANCASTER COUNTT. 69 



Switzerland, Germany, Holland, England and America. 

 "The unfortunate were more wakeful to fly, than the 

 ministers of tyranny to restrain."* 



At this critical juncture, the Mennonites were perse- 

 cuted in Switzerland, and driven into various countries ; 

 some to Alsace, above Strasburg, others to Holland, &C.,. 

 where they lived simple and exemplary lives ; in the 

 villages as farmers, in the towns by trades, free from the 

 cliarge of any gross immoralities, and professing the 

 most pure and simple principles, which they exemplied 

 in a holy conversation. Some of those about Strasburg, 

 with other High and Low Germans transported them- 

 selves about the year 1683, by the encouragement of 

 William Penn, to Pennsylvania, and settled principally 

 at Gemiantown; the greater part of whom ^vere natural- 

 ized in 1709.t 



In 16SS, Heidelberg was taken the second tim.e, by 

 the French, who laid the inhabitants under oppressive 

 contributions; after which, at the approach of the impe- 

 rial army, they blew up the citidal, and rcduced the 

 town to ashes. It soon rose again upon its cinders, and 



*The Huguenots put a new aspect on the North of Germany, 

 where they filled entire towns, and sections of cities, introduc- 

 ing manufactures before unknown. A suburb of London was 

 filled with French mechanics; the Prince of Orange gained 

 entire regiments of soldiers, as brave as those whom Crom- 

 Avell led to victory ; a colony of them even reached Good 

 Hope. The American colonies, influenced by religious sym- 

 pathy, were ever open to receive the Huguenots. They set- 

 tled in the New England States, the Middle and Southern 

 States. The United States, says Bancroft, are full of monu- 

 ments of the emigrations from France. 



The limits of afoot-notCy will not admit of enlargement here* 

 See Appendix C. 



fCol. Rec. n. 514. 



