The State of the Affairs of Religion in France, obliging me to seek after some means to leave the Kingdom, I made use of that which Providence furnish'd me with, to pass into Holland, where I arriv'd the 6th of August 1689.

I had scarce begun to taste the Sweetness of that precious Liberty, which I found in my abode there, and which I had been depriv'd of four whole years, ever since the Revocation of the Edict of Nants in 1685, when I understood that the Marquis du Quesne was by the good Pleasure, and under the Protection of my Lords the States General, and Messieurs the Directors of the East India Company, making Preparations for a Settlement in the Island of Mascaregne. To this Purpose two great Ships were equipp'd at Amsterdam, aboard which all the French Protestants, who were willing to be of this Colony, were receiv'd gratis. The Description of this Island, which was made publick at that time, and the name of Eden that was given it on account of its Excellency, made me conceive so good an Opinion of it that I was tempted to give it a Visit, resolving to end my Days there in Peace, and out of the Care and Confusion of the World, if I found 'twas but in some measure so Pleasant and Commodious as 'twas describ'd to be.

'Twas so easie for a Man to enter himself in this Colony; and the Idea I had of the Quiet and Pleasure I hop'd to enjoy in this lovely Island was such, that I got over all the Obstacles which lay in my way.