Abstract
Eighteen miles northwest of Nantes, in Loire-Inferieure, the southernmost of the five departments comprising the ancient province of Brittany, lies the village of Blain. Situated on the Isac River, the village is surrounded by lakes and forests, one of which, Le Gâvre, is the largest domainal forest in Brittany. The countryside is a pleasant land of broad valleys and swelling hills Its farmhouses lie scattered and secretive behind tall hedgerows. The province faces the ocean, turning its back on the rest of France — a geographical aloofness reflected in the obstinate and particularist strain of its people.
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Reference
For the full history of Blain Castle see L. Prevel, “Le Château de Blain, sa description son histoire” Annales de la société académique de Nantes Fourth series, vol. io t XL (1869) 7–14. 9.
Hervé Du Halgouet, La Vicomté de Rohan et ses seigneurs (Saint Brieuc, 1921) p. VI and passim.
Genealogical information on the Rohan family may be found in a variety of sources. The following works are particularly helpful: Gui Alexis Lobineau, Histoire de Bretagne composée sur les titres et auteurs originaux (2 vols., Paris, 1707) I, i o6, i i 8—i 9, 131–32, 168; Anselme de Sainte-Marie, Histoire généalogique de la maison royale de France, des pairs, grands officiers de la couronne et de la maison du roy4th edition (Vols. 4 and 9 all published, Paris,1868–90) IV, 50–75; Auguste du Paz, Histoire généalogique de plusieurs maisons illustres de Bretagne (Paris, 1620 ).
I am indebted to Professor R. Anthony for much of the biographical information on Isabel d’Albret, though I do not share his belief that Isabel had little influence on the spread of Calvinism in Brittany. See his “Ysabeau D’Albret, Princesse de Navarre, Vicomtesse de Rohan.” Bulletin de la Société des sciences, lettres, et arts de Peu, Second Series LVII (Dax, 1934 ) 65–71.
Théodore de Bèze, Histoire ecclésiastique des églises réformées de France (3 vols., Anvers, 1580) 1, 151–52.
Written shortly before the Renovation of the Edict of Nantes by the Pastor of the Church of Blain but not published until 1851, this book is the most reliable source for the origins of the Reform at Blain. Phillippe Lenoir, sieur de Crevain, Histoire ecclésiastique de la Bretagne depuis la reformation jusqu’ à l’édit de Nantes (Paris, 1851) p. 6o-61.
Jacques-Auguste de Thou, Histoire universelle (16 vols., London, 1734) IX, 577.
François de La Croix du Maine, Les bibliothèques françoises (6 vols., Paris, 1772) I, 100.
Lancelot Voisin de La Popelinière, L’histoire de France (2 vols., La Rochelle, 1581) II, 285.
For Anne de Rohan see Jules Bonnet’s excellent essay “Anne de Rohan” in the Bulletin de la société de l’histoire du protestantisme français XXIV (1875) 17–112, 160–172, and the article on the same subject in Pierre Bayle’s Dictionnaire historique et critique (4 vols., Rotterdam, 1720) III, 2463.
The strength of the Reformed movement in the i 570’s is discussed in Benjamin Vaurigaud’s Essai sur l’histoire des églises réformées de Bretagne 1535–1808 (3 vols., Paris, 1870) I, 233. For the Rohans’ fiefs consult Hervé Du Halgouet, “Le Calvinisme et la ligue dans les possessions des Rohans en Bretagne,” Association Bretonne. Compte rendu du congrès de Rennes. Third Series (1920) t 33 pt II p. 25–40. Lenoir de Crevain asserts that there were twenty-two Huguenot churches in 1563 but admits that five did not yet have ministers, and three of these congregations were short-lived. op. cit.,p. 107–108. By 1626 only it churches survived and two of these were without a pastor. Bibliothèque Nationale,Fonds français 20, 965. f. 30.
Lenoir de Crevain. Histoire ecclésiastique de la Bretagne p. 272.
Benjamin Fillon, Lettres écrites de La Vendée à M. Anatole de Montaiglon (Paris, 186i) p. 48, 56–58.
Pierre de L’Estoille, Mémoires journaux (12 vols., Paris, 1896) VII, 18.
This merciless catalogue of the foibles and virtues of Henry IV has been ascribed to various authors but Jacques Lelong maintains that it is incontestably Catherine’s handiwork. Bibliothèque historique de la France (5 vols., Paris, s 768–78) It, 361. For the text of this pamphlet see the Recueil de diverses pièces servant it l’histoire de Henry III. (Cologne, 1666) p. 457–474.
Gedéon Tallemant des Reaux, Historiettes (6 vols., Paris, 1862–65) III, 74.
Histoire de Henry, Duc de Rohan, Pair de France edited by Fauvelet de Toc. ( Paris, 1666 ) P. 13.
This passage is quoted in Hervé Du Halgouet’s La vicomté de Rohan p. 197 and in a slightly different version in the anonymous Histoire de Henry, Duc de Rohan,p. 14–15.
Tallemant des Reaux, Historiettes III,7o-73. For additional information on Daniel Durant consult the standard biographical set on French Protestants, Eugene and Emile Haag, La France Protestante 2 ed. (6 vols., Paris, 1886) V, 1026.
Charles Bernard, Histoire des guerres de Louis XIII roy de France et de Navarre contre les religionnaires rebelles de son état (Paris, n.d. but probably 1622) p. 35. Rohan attempted to raise a body of troops for service against Spain. See his letter to M de Puyraveau Jan. 28, 1598, and Catherine de Parthenay to the same Feb. 16, 1598, printed in Archives historiques de Poitou XXVII (1896) 505, 504.
Elie Benoit, Histoire de l’édit de Nantes (5 vols., Delft, 1693–95) 1, 192. Theodore Agrippa D’Aubigne, Histoire universelle published by the Société de L’Histoire de France (so vols., Paris, 1886–1909) IX, 135–14.0.
Henri de Rohan, Voyage du duc de Rohan faict en l’ an r600 en Italie, Allemagne, Pays-Bas Unis, Angleterre et Escosse (Amsterdam, 1646) p. 33. See also Eugenio Anagine, “L’Italia vista dai viaggiatori francesi del secolo XVII,” Nuova Revista Storica XXXI (1937) T-27.
Histoire de Henry de Rohan p. 17. See also the letter from Louise de Coligny to Mme de La Tremoille dated End October, 1600. Louise de Coligny, Princesse d’Orange, Correspondance — recueillie par Paul Marcheqay (Paris, 1887 ) p. 174.
This situation is discussed at length in Pierre de Kermaingant, Mission de Jean de Thumery sieur de Boissise 1598–1602 (Paris, 1886) p. 440 ff.
See two letters from the French ambassador Boissize to Henry IV dated Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, i600. Public Record Office Fr. trans. S.P. France 31/3 f. 278, 280.
Secretary Cecil to Secretary Herbert October 29,,600. Calendar of State Papers Domestic Series of the Reign of Elizabeth 1598–1601 (London, 1869) VIII, 483.
The date of Charles I’s baptism is a subject of mild disagreement among historians. Thomas Carte affirms that the infant was christened on December 23,,600. A General History of England (4 vols., London, 5747–55) III, 679; Patrick Tytler says December 3o, quoting as his authority a MS letter from George Nicolson to Sir Robert Cecil. The History of Scotland from the Accession of Alexander III to the Union (10 vols., Edinburgh, 1866 ) IX, 327.
James VI to the Laird of Dundas December 6, 1600, reprinted in Robert Chambers, Domestic Annals of Scotland (3 vols., Edinburgh, i861) i, 321–22.
Sir James Balfour, Historical Works (4 vols., Edinburgh, 1834) I, 409.
William Camden, Annals of the historie of the most renowned and victorious Princesse Elizabeth, late Queen of England (London, 1635) p. 535. For the details of Rohan’s reception at court see the interesting letters from Boissize to Henry IV, February 7 and 13, 16os. Public Record Office Fr. trans. S.P. France 313–32 f. 15–16. According to Pierre de L’Estoile, Rohan returned to court on Sunday, February 22, 1601. Journal VII,265.
Rohan, Voyage faict en l’an r600 p. 226.
Erection du vicomté de Rohan en duché et pairie de France Bibliothèque nationale,Fonds français 4585, Folio 163–171. See also a letter of Henry IV to the Parlement of Paris July 9, 1603, and three arrests of the Parlement dated July 23, August 1, and August 5, 1603, respectively. Fonds français 22, 343, f. 73–76.
Hervé Du Halgouet, Le duché de Rohan et ses seigneurs (Saint Brieuc, 1924) P. 7.
Pierre de L’Estoile, Journal VIII,89.
On October 4, 1594, Louise de Coligny wrote to Maurice of Nassau “Votre soeur Brabantine est aussi recherchée par M de Rohan et la Mère la désire fort mais l’âge de l’un (15) et de l’autre (not yet 14) me donneroit bien le loisir de la ramener avec moi.” Louise de Coligny, Princesse d’Orange, Correspondance — recueillie par Paul Marcheqay p. 114–115.
For the details of this projected marriage see Bibliothèque nationale,Fonds français 22, 343. f. 65, 69.
Maximilien de Béthune, duc de Sully Mémoires des sages et royales économies d’estat de Henry le Grand (9 vols., Paris, 182o) VI, 51. According to Mme de Mornay, Sully himself opposed this marriage because the Count of Laval was on the verge of abjuring Calvinism and Sully hoped to regain the esteem of his coreligionists by forbidding his daughter to wed a convert. Charlotte de Mornay, Mémoires edited by Mme DeWitt (2 vols., Paris, 1868–69) 11,62–63.
The marriage contract between Rohan and Marguerite de Béthune, dated Monday, January 7, 1605, may be found in Bibliothéque nationale, Fonds français 22, 343, f. 116–120. The financial settlement is correctly reported in a letter to Thomas Wilson dated February 12, 1605, reprinted in Calendar of the manuscripts of the Most Honorable Marquess of Salisbury preserved at Hatfield House (London, 1938) Part XVII, p. 53.
According to Philippe de Mornay, sieur de Bauves, Rohan took the oath of office as Colonel General of the Swiss on March 4, 1605. Inventaire des autographes et des documents historiques comprenant la collection de M. Benjamin Fillon (12 series, Paris, 1877–82) series XII, p. 58. His brevet as Colonel General is dated March 2, 1605, Bibliothèque nationale,Fonds français 22, 343, f. 121.
La Force to Mme La Force, Jan. 25, 1605, in Jacques Nompar de Caumont, duc de La Force, Mémoires authentiques (4 vols., Paris, 1843 ) I, 391.
Marbault, Remarques sur les mémoires des sages et royalles économies d’estat domestiques, politiques, et militaires de Henry le Grand, etc., de Maximilien Béthune, duc de Sully. Michaud edition. (Paris, 1837) p. 34. See also Jacques Pannier, L’église réformée de Paris sous Henri IV (Paris, 1911) p. 325–28.
Pierre de L’Estoille, Journal VIII, 177.
Élie Benoit, Histoire de l’édit de Nantes 1,392.
Pierre Lenet, Mémoires (2 vols., Paris, 1826) I I, 212.
Tallemant des Réaux, Historiettes II, 78–80.
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Clarke, J.A. (1966). The Huguenot Heritage. In: Huguenot Warrior. International Archives of the History of Ideas / Archives Internationales D’Histoire des Idees, vol 17. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1798-4_1
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