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 Majesty’s memory my most humble devotion to her, of which the future shall witness the continuance. You, my Lord, will be the medium of great consolation to me if I may understand from you that her Majesty sympathises with us, and does so abhor such great perfidy that her soul cannot bear any outward dissimulation regarding it. Not that I doubt that herself shudders at the mere thought of it. But I fear that by using too mild language concerning it she may contribute new life to the butchers, who may affect not to hear the mutterings of neighbouring princes. I wish, and I believe it will be realised, that the princes will show themselves to be the persons they ought to be. Not the least punishment that these butchers can feel will be the fear of future vengeance. Do not believe that they can be rendered tractable by smooth oratory; they will be ever more and more insolent if they are gently dealt with. I avow that the national sentiment concerning them should be disclosed not by words alone but by action, that they may see that there is not merely an expenditure of words but an alliance of hearts for impending action. I pray that God give to you, who are in no lack of counsel, that mind that knows how to reap the fruit of consultation, and that He may preserve you, my Lord, long to be the counsellor of your realm. — Your Lordship’s most faithful and affectionate.

“September 1572.”

The Queen showed the most marked compassion for her old friend, the Vidame. In the beginning of November several servants of his household landed at Rye. It is said, however, that he hastened to join the remarkable Huguenot rally, and succeeded in entering La Rochelle and placing himself under the command of La Noue. (There is a French memoir of the Vidame de Chartres by the Comte de la Ferrière-Percy, but I have failed to obtain a copy.)  

Raoul (or Rodolphe) Le Chevalier has somewhat perplexed genealogists, by having, unlike the refugees in general, assumed another surname during his wanderings. In the lists of 1568, he appears in London, as Anthonie Rodulphs, Professor of the Gospel in the house of Mr. Sherrington; and further on, he is again noticed as “Mr. Anthonie.” Some authors, ambitious of great accuracy, have therefore styled him carefully “Antoine Rodolphe Le Chevalier;” but, in fact, Antoine was not his name at all. He is usually spoken of as Rodolphus Cevallerius.

From King Edward VI. he had received a patent, dated at Waltham, August 7, 1552, granting to him naturalisation, and also committing in trust to Sir Anthony Cook, knight, and George Medle, Esq., that he should have the next prebend that should fall vacant in Christ Church, Canterbury. This was the result of a Latin letter to the King from Archbishop Cranmer, a translation of which I copy:—

“Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, to King Edward VI., Grace and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Most Illustrious Prince — Although Horace wisely admonishes:

yet since Mr Ralph Chevalier, a Frenchman, has entreated that I would open for him a means of access to your favour through my recommendation, I could not deny the excellent young man this obligation, both inasmuch as he was formerly recommended by Master Bucer, a man of pious memory, and that his remarkable modesty and learning, which have been known and tried through my private intimacy with him, also deserve it. For he lived in my house a whole year or more, where he exhibited very many proofs of his eminent piety and his surpassing ability. Having afterwards proceeded to Cambridge, he gave gratuitous lectures on Hebrew, to the great satisfaction and advantage of his hearers. He has no other means of livelihood than from myself and the Lord Chancellor (Bishop of Ely), who pay him a yearly salary according to our means. But since from the severity of the times everything at present is sold for twice as much as formerly, necessity compels him to have recourse to your Majesty, the refuge of all pious and learned men, and to beg assistance from your bounty. It is unnecessary that I should write at greater length, since I am well aware that the disposition of your Majesty is most gracious towards learned and pious men. I merely wish to intimate that Master Ralph is to be counted in the list of such, while I entreat that in addition to that goodwill which your Majesty would spontaneously feel towards Ralph because of his brilliant endowments, something further may be added on the ground of his being a stranger, for concerning such persons Moses expressly saith, God loveth the stranger, giving him food and raiment; love ye therefore the stranger. Those who are in the Scriptures called gods ought above other men to imitate God