d divine
service was to be performed in the presence of a popish priest. To
prevent the unfortunate victims from leaving the kingdom, all the
passages on the frontiers were strictly guarded; yet, by the good hand
of God, about 150,000 escaped their vigilance, and emigrated to
different countries to relate the dismal narrative.

All that has been related hitherto were only infringements on their
established charter, the edict of Nantes. At length the diabolical
revocation of that edict passed on the 18th of October, 1685, and was
registered the 22d in the vacation, contrary to all form of law.
Instantly the dragoons were quartered upon the protestants throughout
the realm, and filled all France with the like news, that the king would
no longer suffer any Huguenots in his kingdom, and therefore they must
resolve to change their religion. Hereupon the intendants in every
parish (which were popish governors and spies set over the protestants)
assembled the reformed inhabitants, and told them, they must without
delay turn catholics, either freely or by force. The protestants
replied, "They were ready to sacrifice their lives and estates to the
king, but their consciences being God's, they could not so dispose of
them."

Instantly the troops seized the gates and avenues of the cities, and
placing guards in all the passages, entered with sword in hand, crying,
"Die, or be catholics!" In short, they practised every wickedness and
horror they could devise, to force them to change their religion.

They hung both men and women by their hair or their feet, and smoked
them with hay till they were nearly dead; and if they still refused to
sign a recantation, they hung them up again and repeated their
barbarities, till, wearied out with torments without death, they forced
many to yield to them.

Others, they plucked off all the hair of their heads and beards with
pincers. Others they threw on great fires, and pulled them out again,
repeating it till they extorted a promise to recant.

Some they stripped naked, and after offering them the most infamous
insults, they stuck them with pins from head to foot, and lanced them
with penknives; and sometimes with red-hot pincers they dragged them by
the nose till they promised to turn. Sometimes they tied fathers and
husbands, while they ravished their wives and daughters before their
eyes. Multitudes they imprisoned in the most noisome dungeons, where
they practised all sorts of torment