little Elise, and to hurry
off to the woods, where, in a hut which had been prepared by a faithful
attendant, and known only to him, we were able to conceal ourselves. My
dear husband, not aware of the personages who had possession of our
house, returned late in the evening, having missed those who were on the
watch to give him notice of what had occurred. He was instantly seized,
and carried off for trial before the Government officials, who had been
sent to the neighbourhood for that purpose. He, like a faithful servant
of our blessed Master, refused to deny Him, or to acknowledge the truth
of any of the dogmas of Rome. He was accordingly condemned to the
galleys, a fearful fate! He was immediately marched off with many
others, condemned for the same crime, to one of the naval ports; but
from that day to this I have had no tidings of him, and if he has
survived the hardships he has had to undergo, he is still labouring at
the oar in one of those dreadful ships, enduring the worst kind of
slavery, for life alone will terminate it. My poor brother-in-law was
also captured, and refusing to recant, he was treated, being a
Frenchman, even more severely than my husband, for he was first
tortured; still holding out, the barbarians placed him on the cruel
wheel, where, while still alive, his bones were broken, and he, as did
many other faithful Protestants, expired, though in fearful torments,
still crying to their Lord and Master, and acknowledging His love and
the efficacy of the perfect sacrifice He offered for them. Our faithful
Pierre, the steward of our estate, having collected all the jewels and
other property which he could find, brought them to me and urged me on
no account to return to the chateau, being sure that both Elise and I
should be sacrificed to the fury of our enemies. Having friends in
England, I resolved forthwith to escape to this country. I will not
trouble you with my various adventures as I endeavoured to make my way
with little Elise in my arms to the sea-coast. The poor people in the
villages through which I passed, compassionating me and my little girl,
gave us all the assistance in their power. Often some honest farmer,
though at considerable risk to himself, would drive me some distance,
concealed in his waggon, in the direction I wished to go. Thus I at
length reached the neighbourhood of the north coast, where I hoped to
find a vessel which would convey me to the shores of England.