thinking, when our English fleet went into the Mediterranean, under the command of Sir Cloudesly Shovel, in 1704.*

These people, in France, were called Camisars,† and strange and incredible stories were spread abroad concerning them. They were very fond of prophetical impulses, and abounded among the new converts in the Cevennes, and about Nismes and Usez, and in all those parts. It was reported they were there guilty of great irregularities. They were vehemently opposed and run down,§ and at length suppressed by the Mareschals Montrevel and Villars.

Some of them, coming into England in 1706,

See "Annals of Queen Anne's Reign," ii. 101, 102, &c.—C. + See Henault, iii. 892.

"In that country language," says Col. Cavallier, "a shirt is called camise, and from thence Camisard took its name; when Montauban was besieged by Louis XIII. The Duke of Rohan sent eight hundred men out of the Cevennes to fortify that city. As they were to pass through some guards of the King's troops, they put their shirts over their clothes, thereby to know each other, and get into the city." See "Mem. of the Wars of the Cevennes," (1726) p. 158.-ED.

See "Fanaticism Revived; or, the Enthusiasms of the Camisars," 1707.-C.

Flechier, who died in 1710, "wept by the Catholics, and regretted by the Protestants," described (April 27, 1704) from his own observation, the horrid variations of this sanguinary contest, discovering an impartiality in his "good will to men" which would do honour to any communion.

'Quand les Catholiques sont les plus forts, les autres craig

with great vigour and earnestness endeavoured to spread their notions here, where they were but too well entertained. Their common cry among us was, that this new prophetic dispensation was to be proclaimed in every nation under Heaven, beginning in England, and to be manifest over the whole earth within the short term of three years.

One that fell in with them, or rather was a leader of them, was Mr. Nicholas Facio, who had a brother at Geneva, who suffered for his attempts to give them disturbance there. This gentleman was one of considerable learning, and well known in the world. Bishop Burnet gave him a mighty character in his letters that gave an account of his travels. He says that "at twenty-two he was one of the greatest men of his age, and seemed to be born to carry learning some sizes beyond what it had yet attained."* I must freely own, he does not seem to me to have been born to do religion any great service.

But

As has been before intimated,† I had some knowledge of him at Utrecht, where he was governor to two young gentlemen. I well remember he then generally passed for a Spinozist. Being weary of the old religion, he seemed desirous to find out and settle

nent d'être égorgez, quand les fanatiques sont en grand nombre près d'ici, les Catholiques craignent à leur tour. Il faut que je console et que je rassûre, tantôt les uns, tantôt les autres." See "Lettres de M. Flechier, Evêque de Nismes." A Paris (1711) p. 59.-ED.

Let. i. p. 15.-C.

+ Vol. i. p. 189.-Ed.

a new one. The rest were very much under his conduct and management.

This gentleman was Chief Secretary to those that pretended to be inspired among us, and committed their warnings to writing, many of which were published. But a mathematician's on a sudden turning an enthusiast, and to see one that discovered no great regard to the Revelations made by the real apostles of our Saviour, so zealous to promote the reception of those which these Camisars pretended to, had but an odd aspect, and was what many were unable to account for. It filled them with jealousy and suspicion, and fear of the consequence.

The ministers and elders of the French Church in the Savoy were sufficiently inclined of themselves, and loudly called on by others, to deal with some of these pretended prophets about their principles and practices, in order to prevent the mischief. They summoned three of them before their consistory, and after a great deal of trouble, freely censured them, giving their judgment, that the motions of these pretended prophets were only the effect of a voluntary habit, of which they had got the perfect mastery, though in their fits (some of which were very odd,) they feigned to be acted on by a superior cause, &c.

Three of the fraternity were also animadverted on by the civil government. Elias Marion was in

"Of the Eternal Spirit.'-ED.

dicted and convicted, as pretending to be an inspired prophet, and printing and uttering many things as immediately dictated and revealed by the Holy Spirit. John Aude and Nicolas Facio were convicted of abetting and assisting him in printing and publishing his blasphemies; for which they were each of them fined fifty marks, and sentenced to be exposed on a scaffold at Charing Cross and the Royal Exchange, with a paper in their hats, signifying their crime, and they actually suffered accordingly.

Another that fell in with them was Sir Richard Bulkeley, a gentleman of learning,† who was very short and crooked, but fully expected, under this dispensation, to be made straight in a miraculous way, though he happened to die before the miracle was ever wrought upon him, to his no small mortification and disappointment. This gentleman, before he fell in with these people, was, by such as were well acquainted with him, reckoned niggardly and penurious; yet afterwards, he proved liberal and open-handed, and communicated freely of his wealth for the support of the new dispensation,

* Nov. 18, 1707. Chron. Hist. i. 351.-ED.

+ Whose "Defence" was answered by Hoadley in 1709, in "A Brief Vindication of the Ancient Prophets, from the imputations and misrepresentations of such as adhere to our present pretenders to Inspiration. In a Letter to Sir Richard Bulkeley, Bart." Tracts, (1715) pp. 225-300.-ED.

under the direction of one that was a great friend to it, to the emptying a considerable number of his crowded bags.

Another of their zealous adherents was John Lacy, Esq. who had a considerable hand in my settlement at Westminster, where he was a member, being much respected and of good reputation, for any thing I had ever heard. His concern with these prophets brought me to a farther acquaintance with their principles; and I was at length, providentially, drawn into a public opposition to them, by which I hope I did some service.

This Mr. Lacy had a lawsuit depending, about the issue of which he was not a little concerned, and he would be often speaking of it when I was in his company. Often also would he discourse with me about these new prophets, and their agitations, of which I discovered my suspicions and dislike from the first. He conversed much with them, greatly admired them, thought there was something very extraordinary in their case,* and at last fell into like agitations. As in duty bound, I took all occasions of starting objections against this people, their design, tendency, and methods of management, and freely cautioned him to beware of the consequences; but there was no impressing him with any sense of dan

He published this year, (1707) "A Cry from the Desert; or testimonials of the miraculous things lately come to pass in the Cevennes, verified upon oath, and by other proofs." See Lemoine's "Treatise on Miracles," (1747) p. 246.—Ed.