CHAPTER VII.
Appeal to Parliament—Factum—President's remark—Sentence reversed—Register refuses copy of decree—Apply for redress—Return home.
The Parliament of Bourdeaux, or rather of Guienne, then held its sittings at La Reolle, and by its order we were removed to the prison of that town, which was so full that the jailer, contented with the payment of his entrance fee, allowed us to go and come on "parole" as we pleased. This promised to be a very advantageous arrangement for me, as I could thus have the opportunity of making personal application to Parliament, proving my own innocence, and exposing the injustice of the Presidency of Saintes in its true colors.
I had my Factum printed, of which the following is a true and faithful copy:
"FACTUM.
"James Fontaine is accused of two things. The one, of being found in the assemblies held in the wood of Chatelars, near Royan; and the other, of having been heard praying to God, in the prison of Saintes. With regard to the first accusation, it is based upon the testimony of only one witness, named Agoust. who made affidavit to having seen him at the
