LANCASTER COUNTY. 109 



In the reign of Louis XIV. King of France, the pri- 

 vileges of the Protestants were openly violated, mission- 

 aries were sent for their conversion, supported by 

 dragoons, and severities were exercised which excited 

 the horror and indignation of all the reformed states of 

 Europe. In 1685, the revocation of the edict of Nantes, 

 first granted by Henry IV. and confirmed by Louis 

 XIII. deprived the Protestants of all exercise of their 

 religion, and tore them from their children to be educated 

 Catholics. The tyrant, at the same time, issued his 

 decrees against emigrations, and placed guards on his 

 coasts; nevertheless, vast numbers escaped from his 

 machinations and carried their arts and industry to 

 foreign and hostile nations. 



Louis became ambitious of the fame that would 

 attach to the extirpation of heresy from his kingdom. 

 Calvinism in France, since the victory over it by Riche- 

 lieu had become a peaceful separation from the national 

 church, and its sectaries were useful citizens, chiefly 

 attached to manufactures and commerce. Influenced by 

 a spirit of intolerance and bigotry, he undertook to put an 

 end to it. About this time the husband of Mary Ferrie 

 or Verre resided in the town of Lindau, not far from the 

 river Rhine, in the kingdom of France ; his family con- 

 sisted of himself, his wife, three sons and three daugh- 

 ters ; the names of the sons were Daniel, Philip and John, 

 the daughters' names were Catharine, JNIary and Jane. 

 Mr. Ferrie, the father, was a silk-weaver by trade, his 

 religion Calvinistic; consequently he became one of the 

 sufferers under those decrees. The troops had entered 

 their town and commenced murdering the Protestants, 

 taking and destroying their property, they had no other 

 shift but to take flight, leaving behind them all their 

 property except some trifling articles, and some cash ; 



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