Protestant Exiles from France/Volume 2 - Book Third - Chapter 12 - Section III
Brunier.
Abel Brunier. — The refugee of this name was descended from a noble Protestant family in the Cevennes. His grandfather was Abel Brunier, one of the fathers of modern botany, court physician to Henri IV. and Louis XIII., whose son was also named “Abel.” The second Abel was famous for his ornithological paintings, and, like his father, was keeper of the unique collection of medals formed and augmented at the expense of Gaston, Duke of Orleans. On the Duke’s death, his Protestantism drove him into retirement, and at his country house near Blois he spent his time in the education of his children, and in discharging all the duties of an elder of the church. He died 19th January 1685, leaving five sons, of whom the youngest, aged ten, remained in France; three others took refuge under the sway of the Prince of Orange, and of these two died at the victory of the Boyne, and one was wounded at Landen. The eldest, Abel, made a feigned recantation, which imposed upon no one. The Roman Catholics endeavoured to make him a real convert to their creed. Bertier, Bishop of Blois, was the last and the greatest of the baffled missionary fraternity. The Bishop then resorted to a more impressive mode of address, and obtained a lettre de cachet for his apprehension and imprisonment. Brunier received timely information, and fled to Holland; this was in 1699. He removed to England soon after, and was naturalized there. His joy, however, was bitterly alloyed. He heard of the death of his wife (a daughter of Jean Laugier, M.D.) about a year after his flight; she had been forcibly detained in France, and died of grief and vexation. A daughter, whom he had conveyed to Holland, became the wife of a pastor; but the rest of his children were placed in convents, and were brought up as Roman Catholics. The eldest son was educated in the college of the Oratorians at Vendosme, and received a gift of his father’s estate, which has been inherited by his lineal descendants.
The families of Brunier and Chamier were intimate during six generations, so that Abel Brunier was not without friends in England (their two founders had been advocates in Avignon, and had renounced Popery together). He became tutor to Henry, Viscount Boston, and his pupil’s early death, which took place 19th June 1718, is supposed to have hastened his own.
Monsieur de Petigny of Blois has written the family history entitled, “Les trois Brunyer.” As to the refugee he mentions that the Duke of Marlborough’s influence obtained him the tutorship in the Earl of Grantham’s family, also that Abel Brunier’s descendants in France possess an autograph letter proving that he actively interested himself in procuring the release, by an exchange of prisoners, of some French officers who had been taken at the Battle of Hochstet; — and this he did, notwithstanding the rigour with which the French Government prevented all correspondence between him and his family.