to mass, make their public abjuration, and swear with horrible oaths never to abandon the practice of the Roman religion. The duke had a form of this oath filled with imprecations against the reformed faith, which he made them sign and swear to, either by their consent or by force. Twenty-two of these execrable dragoons were quartered in my father's house. I do not know for what reason the duke caused my father to be taken to prison at Perigueux. Two of my brothers and my sister, who were but children, were seized and placed in a convent. I had the good fortune to escape from the house. My poor mother found herself left, the only one of the family, in the midst of those twenty-two wretches, who caused her to ⚫ undergo horrible tortures. After having consumed and destroyed everything in the house, they dragged my poor, unhappy mother before the duke, who, by the infamous treatment to which he subjected her, accompanied by horrible threats, forced her to sign his formulary. This the poor woman did, weeping abundantly, and protesting against the act to which she was compelled. She resolved that her hand should join in the lamentable protestations of her lips; so, the duke having presented the form, she wrote her name on it, and at the bottom added the words, (la) Force made me do it,' alluding, doubtless, to the name of the duke. They tried to make her efface these words, but she persisted in refusing; so one of the Jesuits took the trouble of erasing them. I had escaped from the house before the dragoons entered it. I was then just sixteen years of age. It is not a time of life when one has much experience, especially in getting out of such a critical position as mine was. How was I to escape the vigilance of the dragoons, by whom the town, and all the approaches to it, were filled, in order to stop the flight of any of the inhabitants? Nevertheless, I had the happiness, by the great mercy of God, to leave the town at night without being perceived, accompanied by one of my friends; and after walking all night through the woods, we found ourselves the next morning at Mussidan, a small town four leagues from Bergerac. There we resolved, whatever the perils might be, to continue our journey as far as Holland, resigning ourselves wholly to the will of God in the prospect of all those dangers which presented themselves to our imagination; and as we implored the divine protection, we made a firm resolution not to imitate Lot's wife in looking back, and that, whatever might be the result of our perilous enterprise, we would remain firm and constant in confessing the true protect us from all danger. This friend, however, warned us to be prudent, and to take the greatest precaution in entering the town of Mezières, because they were extremely particular in stopping at the gates all those whom they suspected of being strangers; and that if they were found with reformed religion, even at the risk of the punishment of the galleys, or of death. After this resolution, we implored God's gracious help and mercy, and then proceeded cheerfully along the high road to Paris. We consulted our purse, which was not too well supplied. Our whole capital consisted of about ten pistoles. We formed econo-out passports, they were taken mical plans to make our little at once before the governor, money last, and lodged every and thence to prison. day at the humblest inns to save expense. We had not, thank God, any unpleasant adventure as far as Paris, where we arrived on the 10th of November. We expected at Paris to see some of our acquaintances, who would tell us the easiest and least dangerous route to the frontier. A good friend and good Protestant wrote out for us a little itinerary as far as Mezières, a garrison town on the Meuse, at that time the frontier of the Spanish Netherlands, on the borders of the formidable forest of Ardennes. This friend informed us that the only danger we should have to guard against was on entering this town,-for on going out no one was stopped,-and that the forest of Ardennes would favour our journey to Charleroi, six or seven leagues distant from Mezières; and that once at Charleroi we were safe, for then we should really be out of the French territories. He added, that there was also at Charleroi a Dutch garrison i commander, who would At last we started from Paris for Mezières. We had no disagreeable adventure during the journey, for within the French dominions no one was stopped. The strictest attention of the government was only directed to guarding all the roads across the frontiers. We arrived, then, one afternoon about four o'clock, at the summit of a little hill, about a quarter of a league from Mezières, whence we could see the whole of this town, and the gate by which we should have to enter it. One can easily judge of our feelings of suspense and dread as we considered the near and imminent peril which presented itself before our eyes. We sat down for a moment upon the hill to take counsel concerning an entrance into the town. In narrowly observing the gate, we perceived that a long bridge over the Meuse led up to it, and as it was very fine weather, a number of the inhabitants were walking about upon the bridge. We thought that by mixing with the citizens, and ceived two young strangers. We heard from our chamber her husband ask her if we had a ticket of permission from the governor. His wife having replied that she had not inquired, 'Jade!' said he, do you wish that we should be utterly ruined? You know the vigorous prohibitions against lodging strangers without permission. I must go at once with them to the governor.' This dialogue which we overheard made us shudder. The landlord soon after entered our chamber, and asked us very civilly if we had spoken to the governor. We told him that we had not thought this necessary for lodging one night only in the town. walking with them upon the bridge, we should be able to enter the town with the crowd without being recognised as strangers by the sentinel at the gate. Having decided upon this stratagem, we emptied our knapsacks of the few shirts which we had, putting them all on, and the knapsacks into our pockets. Then we cleaned our shoes, combed our hair, and finally took all the precaution requisite in order not to look like travellers. We had no swords, for it was then forbidden in France to carry them. Thus equipped, we descended the hill, and betook ourselves to the bridge, walking up and down there with the citizens till the drum beat for the closing of the gates. Then all the inhabitants hastened to return into the town, and we with them, the sentinel not perceiving that we were strangers. We were filled with the greatest joy at having avoided this great peril, believing that it was the only one we had to fear. But we were reckoning, as the saying is, without our host. We could not leave Mezières at once, the gate opposite to that being shut. We must, then, lodge in the town. We entered the first inn which We replied that we were very presented itself. The landlord weary and fatigued, but that the was not there; his wife re- next morning we would willingly ceived us. We ordered supper; accompany him there. He was and whilst we were at table, satisfied with this. We finished about nine o'clock, the master our supper, and though our bed of the house arrived. His was a very good one, it did not wife told him that she had re-induce us to sleep, so troubled 'It would cost me a thousand crowns,' said he, if the governor knew that I had lodged you without permission. But have you a passport to enable you to enter the frontier towns?' We replied boldly that we were well furnished with papers. 'That changes the whole affair,' said he, and saves me from incurring the blame of lodging you without permission; but still you must come with me to the governor to show your passports.' up. sausages whilst he was getting This kitchen was on the ground floor, and close to the street door. Having perceived that the servant had opened the street door, we made a pretext that we wished to go out for a few moments. The host sus Once in the street, we found a little boy, of whom we asked the way to the Charleville gate, that by which we were to leave the town. We were very near were we by anxiety at the peril which threatened us. How many counsels we held through that long night! How many expedients did we propose with regard to the answer which we should make to the governor! But, alas! they were all counsels and expedients without result.pecting nothing, we went out of Seeing nothing which could pro- this fatal inn without saying tect us from going straight from farewell or paying our reckonthe governor's house to prison, ing; for the trick seemed absowe passed the remainder of the lutely necessary. night imploring in prayer the help of God in such a pressing hour of need, and asking Him that, to whatever His divine will might think fit to expose us, He would grant us the firm-it, and as the gate was open, we ness and constancy necessary to confess worthily the truth of the gospel. The dawn of day found us in this pious exercise. We got up quickly, and went down to the kitchen, where the landlord and his wife slept. As we were dressing, we thought of an expedient to avoid appearing before the governor, which we put into practice, and it succeeded admirably. It was as follows: We formed the design of leaving our lodging clandestinely, before our host was up and able to observe us. When he saw us so early in his kitchen, he inquired our reason for such early rising. We said that, having to go to the governor with him, we wished to breakfast at once, so that on leaving the governor's house we could continue our journey. He approved of our scheme, and ordered his servant to fry some went out without any obstacle. and it was almost impossible that we should follow the right one, as the farther we advanced the more roads we should meet; and that, as there was neither village nor house in this great wood, we should run the risk of so losing ourselves, that we might wander about for twelve or fifteen days; that, moreover, the forest was full of ravenous animals, and that if the frost continued, we might perish there of cold and hunger. These words alarmed us, and made us offer the peasant a louis d'or if he would serve us as guide as far as Charleroi. 'Not if you were to offer me a hundred,' he said; ' I see very well that you are Huguenots escaping from France, and I should be putting the rope round my own neck if I rendered you this service. But,' continued he, 'I will give you a piece of good advice: leave the Ardennes; take the road which you see upon your left; you will arrive at a village; you will sleep there; and to-morrow morning continue your journey, keeping to the right of this village. You will then see the town of Rocroy, which you will leave upon your left, and, pursuing your road always to the right, you will arrive at Couvé, a small town; you will pass through it, and in leaving it will find a road to your left; follow it; it will lead you to Charleroi without peril. The route by which I have directed you,' add this peasant, 'is longer than that by the Ardennes, but it is without any danger.' We thanked this good man, and took his advice. In the evening we arrived at the village of which he had spoken; we slept there, and next morning found the road to the right; we took it, leaving Rocroy to the left. But the peasant had not told us, perhaps through ignorance, that this road led us straight to a gorge between two mountains, which was very narrow, and where there was a guard of French soldiers, who stopped all strangers who had no passports, and took them to prison at Rocroy. We, like poor straying sheep, walked with rapid strides into the jaws of the wolf. However, without seeing or knowing the inevitable danger that we ran, we avoided it by the most favourable chance in the world; for, at the very moment we entered this gorge, called the Guet du Sud, the rain fell so heavily, that the sentinel on duty before the guardhouse had gone into it for shelter, and we passed by very innocently, without being noticed, and, pursuing our way, arrived at Couvé. At that moment we were safe, had we only known that this little town was not on French territory. It belonged to the Prince of Liège, and contained a castle garrisoned by Dutch troops. But, alas! to our great misfortune we did not know this, for had we done so we should have gone to this castle at once, the |