16 (p. 239).--This "poison" was the Huguenot or "reformed" faith. The third Huguenot war had ended with the surrender of La Rochelle, Oct. 29, 1628. The edict of Nismes (July, 1629) was one of amnesty and pacification; and under Richelieu's administration, until his death (Dec. 4, 1642), the Huguenots were fairly sheltered and prosperous. Richelieu had said to the Protestant ministers of Montauban, upon the capitulation of that city: "I shall make no discrimination between the King's subjects, save as to their loyalty. This loyalty being henceforth common to the adherents of both religions, I shall help both equally, and with the same affection." Baird says that the cardinal was honest in this declaration, and that his treatment of the Protestants was, on the whole, tolerably impartial. Still, they were, since their defeat, deprived of all political and military power; and court influences were often unfavorable and even hostile to them. Numerous restrictions were laid upon their assemblies, the functions of their pastors, and the erection or restoration of their churches,--in some cases nullifying the provisions of the edict of Nismes. It is doubtless these restrictions for which Le Jeune commends Richelieu. The condition of the Huguenots at this time, and Richelieu's policy toward them, are discussed at length in Baird's _Huguenots and the Revocation_ (N. Y., 1895), vol. i., pp. 343-359. A detailed account of the war above referred to (in which Charles I. of England at first assisted the Huguenots), with the text of the edict of Nismes, is given in _Merc. François_, vol. xv. (1629), pp. 227-565. 17 (p. 241).--_This recommendation_ was the "passport" given to the Jesuits by Richelieu (see vol. v., _note_ 2).