Page:Memoirs of a Huguenot Family.djvu/160

154 side I might espouse, my name would have a prominent place in the list of culprits, and I was the more convinced of this from the story that was told about me.

On the arrival of a company of soldiers at Taunton, they were informed that there was a French Jesuit in the place who said Mass in his house every Sunday. It happened fortunately for me, that the Captain of this company was a French Protestant, who had taken refuge in Holland, and entered the army of the Prince of Orange. He was pleased with the idea of attacking a French Jesuit, and was determined to be the first to seize him, so he obtained a direction to his abode, and was posted opposite to the door of my house with a guard of soldiers, before any of the family were stirring, except a female domestic who was a French woman. The Captain asked her who lived in that house.

She replied, "Mr. Fontaine, a minister from Royan in France, lives here."

The Captain immediately desired her to go up to my room and tell me that Captain Rabainierès was below, anxious to embrace me. I only waited long enough to get on my dressing-gown, and went down to welcome a dear friend; for you must know, we had been intimately acquainted with each other in France, and our residences were only four or five miles apart. We embraced one another with the warmth of fraternal affection. I was then introduced to the rest of the officers, who were most kind in their offers of friendship. I cannot pass on without calling your attention to this fresh instance of the goodness of God, whose providence watched over and shielded me from threatened danger.

The street was crowded with people who had followed the soldiers, and some had even forced their way into my house