MEMOIRS OF A HUGUENOT FAMILY.
CHAPTER I.
Reasons for writing these memoirs—Noble origin of our family—John de la Fontaine born—Obtains a commission in the household of Francis I.—Embraces Protestantism—Persecution—January edict—John de la Fontaine resigns his commission—Assassination—Flight of his sons to Rochelle—Marriage of James de la Fontaine—Attempt to poison him—Henry IV. at Rochelle.
Let our beginning be in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.
SEVENTY-EIGHTH PSALM.
Give ear, my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old;
Which we have heard, and known, and our fathers have told us.
"We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;
That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born, who should arise and declare them to their children;
That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. Amen.
I, James Fontaine, have commenced writing this history, for the use of all my children, on the twenty-sixth day of March, 1722; being sixty-four years old.
