Page:Protestant Exiles from France Agnew (1st ed. vol 3).djvu/101

 admitted in 1586. In the same year he married Judith Des Maistres, and died on 6ih May 1617. His decease is recorded in his Church register:— “1617. Philppe De La Motte, ministre de La Parole du Dieu de fameuse memoire, mourut le 6$e$ de May, et fust enterré le 8$e$ jour a Compaigne de tour le Magistra” (de tous les magistrats?). His descendants are numerous; they write their name “Delamotte.” Mr Smiles gives the following interesting details concerning “Joseph Delamotte” (probably Philip). He was born at Tournay, of Roman Catholic parents, and was apprenticed to a silkman in his native town. His master was a Protestant. Delamotte became a convert to his religion, and on the outbreak of the Duke of Alva’s persecution, the young man removed to Geneva. In that academic retreat he studied theology, and was ordained to the ministry. He returned to Tournay, ostensibly as his old master’s journeyman, but also as minister to the Protestants, who had to worship secretly. A family manuscript, quoted by Mr Smiles, contains the following narrative:— “An information having been given against him to the Inquisition, they sent their officers in the night to apprehend him; they knocked at the door, and told his master (who answered them) that they wanted his man. He, judging who they were, called Joseph; and he immediately put on his clothes, and made his escape over the garden wall with his Bible, and travelled away directly into France to St Malo. They, believing him to be gone the nearest way to the sea coast, pursued towards Ostend, and missed him. From St Malo he got over to Guernsey and from thence to Southampton, where, his money being all gone, he applied himself to the members of the French Church there, making his condition known to them. Their minister being just dead, they desired he would preach to them the next Sabbath day, which accordingly he did, and they chose him for their minister.”  

I begin this section with some appropriate and glowing words written by the Rev. Dr. Sirr :— “The noble family of Clancarty, unmindful of a long and illustrious pedigree, appear careful only to preserve the memory of one ancestor — a faithful servant of God, who established himself in Great Britain, and proved himself regardless of his ancient rank and heritage, so that he might retain the religion of the Bible, and escape at once the allurements and persecutions of papal idolatry. Frederic de la Tranche, or Trenche, Seigneur of La Tranche in Poitou, from which seigneurie the family derived its name, was a French Protestant nobleman, who, finding he must renounce either his conscience or his station, voluntarily expatriated himself, left his home, his kindred and his estates, in the troubles which arose about religion in his native land, took refuge in enlightened England, and established himself, 1574, in the county of Northumberland. . . . . In about two centuries the posterity of the faithful exile who renounced all for Christ, having persevered in the profession of the same holy truths which caused him to endure suffering, and having met at every step of their course with distinguishing proofs of the providential favour of God, were finally elevated in two distinct branches to the highest rank amongst the noblest in the land of their adoption.”

In 1576 the refugee seigneur married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Sutton, Esq. His eldest son’s name is not recorded. The second son, the Rev. James La Tranche, removed the scene of action to Ireland. He obtained the ecclesiastical benefice of Clongall, acquired estates in County Cavan, and married Margaret daughter of Hugh, Viscount Montgomery of Ards. The refugee’s youngest son, Adam Thomas La Tranche, probably resided in England, as he married Catherine, daughter of Richard Brooke, Esq., of Pontefract. His son Thomas was the male heir of the family, and married his cousin Anne, the only child and sole heiress of the Rev. James La Tranche. Thomas and Anne settled at Garbally in County Galway, and left two sons, Frederic (who died in 1669) and John. 