His Majesty desires that you should explain yourself very sternly, and that extreme severity should be employed against those who are not willing to become of his religion; those who have the silly vanity to glory in holding out to the last must be driven to extremity." The pride of Louis XIV.

was engaged in the struggle; those of his subjects who refused to sacrifice their religion to him were disobedient, rebellious, and besotted with silly vanity.
"It will be quite ridiculous before long to be of that religion," wrote Madame de Maintenon.
Even in his court and amongst his most useful servants the king encountered unexpected opposition.

Marshal Schomberg with great difficulty obtained authority to leave the kingdom; Duquesne was refused.
The illustrious old man, whom the Algerian corsairs called "the old French capitan, whose bride is the sea, and whom the angel of death has forgotten," received permission to reside in France without being troubled about his religion.

"For sixty years I have rendered to Caesar that which was Caesar's," said the sailor proudly; "it is time to render unto God that which is God's." And, when the king regretted that his religion prevented him from properly recognizing his glorious career, "Sir," said Duquesne, "I am a Protestant, but I always thought that my services were Catholic." Duquesne's children went abroad.

When he died, 1688, his body was refused to them.