Gilly, David

Gilly, David a Protestant divine who became a Roman Catholic, was born at Nismes in 1648. He studied at Nismes, Montauban, and Saumur, and was appointed pastor at Baugé. His life there was quiet and studious until the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, when, to save himself from the dragonades, he abjured his faith, and allied himself with the Roman Catholics. The Protestants ordered public fasts to avert the wrath of God on account of this apostasy, but the king gave Gilly a pension of 1000 livres, which was increased by the clergy 400 livres more. He was sent to Languedoc by the court to preach against his old faith, and afterwards was brought to Paris to confirm the newly-converted in their faith. He died at Angers December 27, 1711. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 20:557.