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forbidden； and nothing allowed but annoyances of all kinds。 These
henceforward were not only innumerable； but went on without a pause：
the Catholics； faithful to their system of constant encroachment；
kept up an incessant persecution； in which they were soon encouraged
by the numerous ordinances issued by Louis XIV。 The grandson of
Henri IV could not so far forget all ordinary respect as to destroy
at once the Edict of Nantes； but he tore off clause after clause。
In 1630that is； a year after the peace with Rohan had been signed
in the preceding reignChalons…sur…Saone had resolved that no
Protestant should be allowed to take any part in the manufactures of
the town。
In 1643； six months after the accession of Louis XIV； the laundresses
of Paris made a rule that the wives and daughters of Protestants were
unworthy to be admitted to the freedom of their respectable guild。
In 1654； just one year after he had attained his majority； Louis XIV
consented to the imposition of a tax on the town of Nimes of 4000
francs towards the support of the Catholic and the Protestant
hospitals； and instead of allowing each party to contribute to the
support of its own hospital； the money was raised in one sum； so
that； of the money paid by the Protestants； who were twice as
numerous as the Catholics； two…sixths went to their enemies。 On
August 9th of the same year a decree of the Council ordered that all
the artisan consuls should be Catholics； on the 16th September
another decree forbade Protestants to send deputations to the king；
lastly； on the 20th of December； a further decree declared that all
hospitals should be administered by Catholic consuls alone。
In 1662 Protestants were commanded to bury their dead either at dawn
or after dusk； and a special clause of the decree fixed the number of
persons who might attend a funeral at ten only。
In 1663 the Council of State issued decrees prohibiting the practice
of their religion by the Reformers in one hundred and forty…two
communes in the dioceses of Nimes； Uzes； and Mendes； and ordering the
demolition of their meetinghouses。
In 1664 this regulation was extended to the meeting…houses of Alencon
and Montauban； as Well as their small place of worship in Nimes。 On
the 17th July of the same year the Parliament of Rouen forbade the
master…mercers to engage any more Protestant workmen or apprentices
when the number already employed had reached the proportion of one
Protestant； to fifteen Catholics； on the 24th of the same month the
Council of State declared all certificates of mastership held by a
Protestant invalid from whatever source derived； and in October
reduced to two the number of Protestants who might be employed at the
mint。
In 1665 the regulation imposed on the mercers was extended to the
goldsmiths。
In 1666 a royal declaration； revising the decrees of Parliament； was
published； and Article 31 provided that the offices of clerk to the
consulates； or secretary to a guild of watchmakers； or porter in a
municipal building； could only be held by Catholics； while in Article
33 it was ordained that when a procession carrying the Host passed a
place of worship belonging to the so…called Reformers； the
worshippers should stop their psalm…singing till the procession had
gone by； and lastly； in Article 34 it was enacted that the houses and
other buildings belonging to those who were of the Reformed religion
might； at the pleasure of the town authorities； be draped with cloth
or otherwise decorated on any religious Catholic festival。
In 1669 the Chambers appointed by the Edict of Nantes in the
Parliaments of Rouen and Paris were suppressed； as well as the
articled clerkships connected therewith； and the clerkships in the
Record Office； and in August of the same year； when the emigration of
Protestants was just beginning； an edict was issued； of which the
following is a clause ：
〃Whereas many of our subjects have gone to foreign countries； where
they continue to follow their various trades and occupations； even
working as shipwrights； or taking service as sailors； till at length
they feel at home and determine never to return to France； marrying
abroad and acquiring property of every description： We hereby forbid
any member of the so…called Reformed Church to leave this kingdom
without our permission； and we command those who have already left
France to return forthwith within her boundaries。〃
In 1670 the king excluded physicians of the Reformed faith from the
office of dean of the college of Rouen； and allowed only two
Protestant doctors within its precincts。 In 1671 a decree was
published commanding the arms of France to be removed from all the
places of worship belonging to the pretended Reformers。 In 1680 a
proclamation from the king closed the profession of midwife to women
of the Reformed faith。 In 1681 those who renounced the Protestant
religion were exempted for two years from all contributions towards
the support of soldiers sent to their town； and were for the same
period relieved from the duty of giving them board and lodging。 In
the same year the college of Sedan was closedthe only college
remaining in the entire kingdom at which Calvinist children could
receive instruction。 In 1682 the king commanded Protestant notaries；
procurators； ushers； and serjeants to lay down their offices；
declaring them unfit for such professions； and in September of the
same year three months only were allowed them for the sale of the
reversion of the said offices。 In 1684 the Council of State extended
the preceding regulations to those Protestants holding the title of
honorary secretary to the king； and in August of the same year
Protestants were declared incapable of serving on a jury of experts。
In 1685 the provost of merchants in Paris ordered all Protestant
privileged merchants in that city to sell their privileges within a
month。 And in October of the same year the long series of
persecutions； of which we have omitted many； reached its culminating
pointthe： Revocation of the Edict of Nantes。 Henri IV； who foresaw
this result； had hoped that it would have occurred in another manner；
so that his co…religionists would have been able to retain their
fortresses； but what was actually done was that the strong places
were first taken away； and then came the Revocation； after which the
Calvinists found themselves completely at the mercy of their mortal
enemies。
》From 1669； when Louis first threatened to aim a fatal blow at the
civil rights of the Huguenots； by abolishing the equal partition of
the Chambers between the two parties； several deputations had been
sent to him praying him to stop the course of his persecutions； and
in order not to give him any fresh excuse for attacking their party；
these deputations addressed him in the most submissive manner； as the
following fragment from an address will prove：
〃In the name of God； sire；〃 said the Protestants to the king； 〃listen
to the last breath of our dying liberty； have pity on our sufferings；
have pity on the great number of your poor subjects who daily water
their bread with their tears： they are all filled with burning