Persecution for the faith by the faith

Research for the last post revealed that Sharon's father had roots that extend deep into 15th and 16th century France -- and probably before that, going by information contained in a typewritten manuscript produced by a man who would have been some sort of numbered cousin. (I've had the whole first cousin, etc., once removed, etc., thing explained to me in a way that made sense at the time but completely eludes me now.)

One of Earl's (that's Sharon's father) great-great-to-the-x grandfathers came to America in the 17th century as the result of religious persecution. Rene Jacques Husson was born in France in 1635 at a time when relative peace reigned after 36 years of violent conflict between the Catholic population of France and converts to the Reformed wing of the Protestant movement developed by John Calvin. These Protestant followers were called Huguenots. (Don't ask me why. Many theories abound as to the origins of the name.)

Other Protestant groups existed in France, but the main friction seems to be between these groups, not surprising given that Calvin didn't hold the highest regard for the papacy or the priesthood. Also not surprising is that much of the conflict and violence centered on which branch of the royal family would wield power. The Catholics won out, if you haven't guessed.

The conflicts ended when an heir to throne converted from Protestantism to Catholicism and was crowned king. Henry IV, as he was called, signed a document known as the Edict of Nantes, which provided substantial rights and freedoms to Protestants. 

Unfortunately, Henry would have a grandson with less charitable ideas toward the Huguenots. Louis XIV began dismantling Huguenot freedoms after he assumed the throne and would eventually issue a new edict some 80-odd years after the Edict of Nantes, revoking its privileges. 

Louis, by the way, seems to hold the record for the longest reign ever among European monarchs at 72 years. Queen Elizabeth is knocking at the door of that record. All she needs to do is hang on a few more years. Louis believed that kings were appointed by God, so it was natural for him to believe that his religion was God's religion and should be practiced by all. A modest sort, he referred to himself as the "Sun King" because, according to him, France revolved around him the way the planets revolved around the sun.

He instituted a policy that allowed dragoons, members of the military, to essentially take over Huguenot homes and harass the inhabitants until they agreed to convert. Although many did convert many more decided to leave the country, heading all over Europe and to America to find relief. Estimates range from 200,000 to 900,000 Huguenots emigrating to new homes, and Louis bragged about having run them out of the country. 

Rene was a metal worker who, according to the manuscript, did not hold with making religious items for the Catholic Church, and his reluctance caused him to be imprisoned and to have his lands forfeited to the Catholic Church by order of the Sun King.

Family lore has it that Rene and his brother were awaiting trial in a prison in Metz on charges of heresy and non-conformity to the edicts of the king. Officers with papers to take the pair from the prison to trial were attacked by a group of Huguenots who took the officers' uniforms and papers and broke the brothers out of jail. 

The brothers were taken to Holland, where they assumed the identity of Dutchmen, claiming to be the sons of a Dutch physician and working in his apothecary. When the opportunity arose they took passage on the ship Vroomlandt, becoming cooks helpers. Scouring pots and pans and dressing poorly kept attention off them, and they arrived safely in New Amsterdam -- now New York -- where they found good trades, and at least in Rene's case, a bride, the daughter of what appears to be a prosperous Dutch official in the town.