he returned not a little discontented The 22. between Nine and Ten in the morning the Duke of Soubize followed by Mr. Baker Agent for the Duke of Buckingham came to the Gate of S. Nicholas desiring entrance into the City The Guard before the admitting of him acquainting the Mayor therewith he immediately repaired thither and sinding him betwixt the two Gates remonstrated to him the consequence of his coming into the City intreating of him if he desired the good and Conservation of Rochel and the Church of France to return to the Duke of Buckingham but the old Dutchess of Rohan his Mother who was some Months before retired hither coming to meet her Son after Salutations and Imbraces took him by the hand saying with a loud voice that she might be heard by the Mayor and the multitude that were there My Son come 1627. July see your Sister who is very sick At which words without demanding leave of the Mayor who found himself surprized and durst not openly and by force oppose him he went into the City with her as did also Mr. Baker who demanding to be heard in Council which was held after Dinner he made this Speech as followeth Gentlemen I am sent by my Lord the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral of England to declare to you the Reasons for which by the Command of the King my Master he is come to the place where he now is and in sight of you accompanied with a Fleet of Ships laden with Souldiers Artillery and Ammunition ready to make a descent if occasion require It is sufficiently known to the World how the King of Great Britain our Master having Personally by an Adventure very rare and by a Prudence exceeding much his Age discovered before and since his coming to the Crown the danger ready to fall upon him and the rest of Christendom by the Ambition Fraud and Power of the House of Austria hath used all industry to prevent this danger and that not only by his own Forces but also by those of his Allies to which Resolution as he hath been pressed by almost all Princes and Estates of Christendom so none hath done it with more vehemency and efficacy than the French King his Brother-in-law and his Ministers not only by Arguments but also by Promises of Union and Assistance in that Common Cause And to conserve this Mutual Interest against a Common Enemy or suspected Friend was the reason why the King our Master hath more desired 1627. July the Amity and Alliance of France than of all the World besides hoping by this means to have the Power to divert the thoughts of this Great King from the ruine of his best Subjects those of the Reformed Religion and humbling the true Enemies of his Estate who keeps from him so many brave Provinces and Kingdoms possessed by his Predecessors In the prosecution of which Design he was willing to have sacrificed all his Interest for Common Good and securing of Christendom But his Majesty hath found by too dear experience that being ingaged in a War with Spain he did not only not receive the favour and assistance of France which with reason he might have expected but by expecting it received more prejudice and hinderances than from Spain it self and the reason hereof is most apparent for the grand design of this Estate is to take the advantage of the Ingagement of the King our Master with Spain to ruine and extirpate at the same time those of the Reformed Religion in France not that his Majesty will believe that this proceeds from the French King his Brother-in-law or the Queen his Mother being so great Princes and so nearly Allied to him but you Gentlemen know better than we the Powerful Influences that the Jesuits and Spanish Faction have upon the Councils of France which are said to be so strong that even with a high-hand Affairs are often carried against the King himself and by the force of this Faction proceeded the refusal of a passage to Mansfields Army raised and furnished in England 1624. at the very instant of their departure contrary to a Solemn Article 1627. July agreed upon with the French King for their passage by which refusal the Liberty of Germany hath been betrayed and twelve thousand English near totally destroyed The King our Master having interposed his Ambassadours for appeasing the last Wars against those of the Religion and with the consent of the French King himself becoming Guarrantee for the Peace and that those of the Religion were willing to submit to harder terms than at that time their Condition considered they needed to have done in hopes that the designs of this Estate would turn against their Common Enemies in Italy by the Power of this Faction it is nevertheless come to pass that not only the Confederates of the King in Italy have been abandoned but the Arms imployed there have since been made use of to reduce you to the extremity of Poverty and Famine of which I need not say more than that the Complaints of this City and all the Body of the Reformed Religion do still continue the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize having represented them to the King our Master Finally when this Faction perceived that all was to no purpose without prohibiting this City all Trade to Sea under pretext of an Imaginary Society of Commerce they have built a number of Ships of War but doubting that it would be sufficient to their design to fortifie themselves at Sea without at the same time weakning there the King our Master by an unexampled and unheard of Injustice in the midst of a full and perfect Peace and at a time when the King our Master was deeply ingaged in War by whch the Assurance and Riches of France increased they 1627. July made seizure of 120 Ships of his Subjects with Artillery Merchandize and Marriners and what other design could they have in it than to assure themselves of the ruine of this City For these Reasons alledged and many other of the same nature the King our Master the most Religious and Pious Prince in the World setting aside all other Respects than that of his Conscience hath a Sympathy of your Sufferings and his own Honour and finding himself obliged by Promise to procure the accomplishment of the Articles agreed upon especially being invited thereunto by my Lords the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize in the Name of the whole Body of the Reformed Religion he hath therefore sent hither my Lord the Duke of Buckingham who hath given me in Charge to make you an Offer in his Name of a powerful assistance as well by Land as Sea in case you resolve to accept of it for redeeming your Liberty by joyning with you in an actual War which he will do upon such Conditions as you your selves Gentlemen and all the World shall acknowledge that the King our Master hath no Eye to his own advantage but vour good the vindication of his Honour and discharge
this Fort and furnishing it so much appeared sufficiently by the several Enterprises that had been made upon the City This was the occasion which moved the Duke of Rohan with whom the Peace of 1622 had been Treated to take Arms and give cause to the Duke of Soubize to make an Enterprize upon Blavet and to assure himself of the Isle of Re and the City and to joyn with them because that though they had not declar'd but sent Deputies to the King to obtain the justice of having this Fort demolished instead of the King 's effectual agreeing thereunto the Marshal Praslin was come against them in Arms committing Acts of Hostility That the following Peace having been made by the Intercession of the Ambassadors of the King of Great Brittain and of the States of Holland under divers Articles and above all apon the word of a King even given to the said Ambassadours in writing that within six Months the Fort should be demolished yet nothing of it had been observed That instead of suffering them to bring back their Goods the Sieur Thoiras had seized them and carryed away all their Salt and built a Citadel in the Isle of Re. That instead of reducing the Garrisons to the number agreed upon they had been increased in such sort that there was alwayes near eight or ten thousand men round the City That upon the passages to Maran and other places they had built new Forts which blocked the City and hindred the bringing in of Corn and Provisions That the Sieur Thoiras did 1627. Octob. the same by Sea by the help of Vessels which he contrary to the Treaty had lying in the Road at the head of the Bay That the Sieur Briel sent as Intendant of the Court of Justice had committed unheard of Injustice as the putting a Souldier to death upon suspicion of having broken a Crucifix in time of War which afterwards was proved false the Crucifix being found That contrary to the priviledges agreed to with the City by the King which was not of Grace but under Covenant given to France That they charged the City as belonging to the Domane establishing Offices for taxing the Corn and Wine of the Government sent Commands to Sieur Thoiras Governour of the City to build the said Fort and Citadel That besides these Injuries done them in particular those of the Religion in general were ill used thorough the whole Kingdom and their Edicts violated in all the heads That hereupon the King of England who on behalf of the King was to them Garrantee of the Peace which was so little observed having ineffectually imployed his Intercession resolved upon taking Arms and having sent his Army into these Quarters they sent Deputies to the Duke of Angoulesm who was in Arms so near to them as Maran to satisfie him by protestation That they desired to remain inviolable in their Fidelity and Obedience to the King and to beseech him to intercede with the King for their enjoyment of the last Treaty of Peace That instead of hearkening thereunto he declar'd War against them plundering their Houses building of Forts too near to them and committing openly all acts of Hostlity whilst they yet held themselves 1627. October in suspence In the end there fell into their hands the Kings Letters to the said Duke of the 13th of September where they found the Map of their ruine and the Order for besieging them both by Sea and Land That being reduced to this point they saw themselves forced to take Arms and to joyn with the English praying all their good Country-men and all good Kings and Princes to approve of their Design and to assist them therein under protestation nevertheless to remain alwayes in the duty of Subjection and Fidelity due to the King and that they should be ready to submit themselves to him when it should please him to receive them into his favour and cause the breach which had been made upon the Edicts to be repaired and to establish them in their ancient Liberties and Priviledges To this Manifest was published an ample Answer the sum of which was That if the Treaty aâ— Montpelier had not in all points been executed the Rochellers were the cause of it they having first broken it in that the Exercise of the Romish Religion ought to have been re-established fully and peaceably in their City which they would not suffer when the Commissioners of the King were sent nor suffer the publick practise of the Popish Ceremonies besides that the King by the same Treaty having ordered the dissolving of the new Order of forty eight Burgesses they would not do it adding that to their other disobedience which made his Majesty believe that it behoved him to stop that demolishment which they pressed so much for that they might be at the more liberty for a new Insurrection That the Armies levyed afterwards by the Duke of Rohan in Languedoc and the King's Vessels seized by the Duke of Soubize 1627. October at Blavet were Rebellious Attempts without Example and that the whole had been agreed with them who nevertheless was willing to amuse the King with feigned pretences of Loyalty but he did not think it reasonable to suffer himself to be so deceived by them As to the Treaty of Peace which followed it was false that Strangers had acted therein as Mediators that the King had given his word to them or consented to that Injury of their Master's being Garrantees to his Subjects as the Ambassadors of England have since told him That if after this Treaty the King thought good to build a Citadel in the Isle of Re and Forts in the Passages from the Isle of Maran it was no more than what was too apparently necessary for bridling a Rebellious City who then tampered with the English and further that it was contrary to truth that on that side they had committed any act of Hostility as all France knows but that the Passages for going and coming and bringing all sorts of Commodities was free to all As to the Offices established contrary to their pretended Priviledges and the Commands of the Governour given to the Sieur Thoiras that as these Priviledges were from the King's Grace and not as they say by Covenant so when they were fallen from their Duty it was most just to revoke them as in the time of Francis the First who dissolv'd their Common-Hall and gave them a Governour and never received them to Mercy until upon their Knees and with Tears they all made supplication for Mercy That the Judgment given against him who broke a Crucifix was judiciously done upon sufficient Informations That the Complaints of 1627. Octob. the generality of their Religion in the rest of the Kingdom was without Vouchers and refuted by the free and entire Exercise the King granted them and his protection under which they lived peaceably That the Invasions of the English and their descent in Arms in the Isle of Re made in full
Army should return into England The 15th the English sent a Fire-ship full of Fire-works in the fashion of Petars into the Kings Fleet to set fire on them but taking fire before its time the Fire-Ship and those that were in it perished miserably without any being saved The 18th betwixt two and three a Clock Afternoon the English Fleet set sail for England having been eight days in the Road at the Head of the Bay without making any attempt or Essaying to send any relief into Rochel which greatly dejected the Rochellers and put them in great pain and perplexity nevertheless they resolved to suffer the greatest Extremity before they would render and to that end bought one of another all sorts of Provisions and that they might hold out the longer retrenched their Ordinary to the moyety of that which they had accustomed to eat 1628. May. and above all the Bread which they began now to weigh This following is a Relation composed by the Sieur Gobert THe same day that the English Army set sail the Sieur Bragneau and Gobert 〈◊〉 â—n the morning the assembling of all the French Captains aboard Sieur Bragneau and upon the resoâ—â—tion that the English Fleet had taken to set sail foâ— Eâ—gland without being prevailed with to the contrary by all the Remonstrances Prayers and Supplications that they could make to give thâ—m their assistance for facilitating the entry of the Ships into Rochel with relief it was judged necessary and was agreed upon with the unanimous consent of all that the Sieur Gobert should prâ—sently take the Pinnace of Captain Guillet to carry him with all diligence into England to represent un oâ— the King the small endeavours that his Naval Army had made and the eminent danger that it lâ—ft Rochel in to the end that it might please his Majâ—sty to remedy it Sieur Gobert accepted of it and the Wind being favourable arrived the 22th present at the Isle of Wight from thence he went to Portsmouth and took Post for London where being arrived he immediately waited upon the Duke of Soubize to whom having given an account of what had passed in his Voyage and of the return of the English Fleet without having done any thing they went together to carry the ill news to the Duke of Buckingham who seemed to resent it very much and carried them presently to the King to whom Sieur Gobert giving a particular Relation of all 1628. May. he was thereat very much concerned and enquired what was the cause of his Fleet making so speedy a return before having first fought and relieved Rochel And then taking Sieur Gobert by the hand â—ed him to a Window and leaning upon his shoulder weeping reiterated to him the same demand in these words What cause have my people had to retreat and to abandon this poor City To which he answered that he knew none save a Panick Fear which seized them upon an uncertain noise of a Spanish Naval Fleet ready to come to those Coasts of France and the fear they had of running the adventure of losing their Ships His Majesty at this being moved more than before stepping three or four paces back said What are my Ships made to fear and not to hazard themselves in Fight and immediately commanded the Duke of Buckingham to call the â—ouncil which was presently done where Sieur Gobert being called and enquired of what day the Fleâ—t arrived before Rochel what Fight it had been constrained to make how many slain and what damage it had received there He declared that the Fleet arrived before the City the Eleventh and for Fights they had had none the King of Frances Fleet retreating near the Digue but that only from the Land and the Points which advanceth the Admiral had received from the Batteries which are there a Cannon-shot without so much as hurting any Person Upon which the King and Council resolved to dispatch a Gentleman with Sieur Gobert in the same Vessel that brought him to the English Fleet where-ever it should be with express Command to the Earl of Denby to return and come to Anchor in the Road of Rochel and to expect there the Aid that he was 1628. May. further preparing for the City and at the same time commanded the Sieur Gobert to write a Letter to those of Rochel advising them not to be astonished at the retreat of his Fleet without doing any thing for that he would prepare them a puissant succour which he assured them would relieve them In brief that he would lose the Moiety of his Kingdom rather than suffer them to perish which Sieur Gobert did write in the presence of all the Council and the King having signed it it was sent by an Express to those of the City After which the above-said Gentleman and Gobert took Post for Portsmouth where being arrived they imbarked in the said Pinnace endeavouring to meet the English Fleet as they did the fourth day after their departure from Portsmouth on the Coast of Cornwal but for the most part already dissipated there not being more than four or five Men of War with the Admiral all the rest being retired to the nearest Harbours in England nevertheless they went aboard the Admiral and presented to the Earl of Denby the Packet they had to him from the King and Council and the Commands of his Majesty to return to the Coast of France To which he answered that that was altogether impossible for him to do because his Fleet was dissipated and his Victuals for the most part consumed and continuing his course he came to Anchor betwixt the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth The English Fleet thus retreated and the Rochellers notwithstanding resolving to stand out they made choice of Sieur Grosetiere a Gentleman of Poictue to go into England to advertise the King of Great Britain and their Deputies of their condition 1628. May. and necessities and hasten relief He parted the 21th and was the Messenger of this Letter The Rochellers Letter to the King of Great Britain dated the 28th of May 1628. SIR WE are assured that the Image of our Miseries have prevented our Complaints and that your Serene Majesty having a sensible impression of them in your Spirit these cannot fail of a favourable Audience from a Heart so generous and great as yours Sir you have vowed us your Grace and promised us Deliverance you have also taken Arms to force them to keep the Publick Faith of Treaties that they have deposited with you but your People Sir have abandoned us contrary to your Magnanimous and most faithful Instructions your General not daring to breathe near nor look upon the danger of the glorious execution of your Sacred Word What sort of Excess or Prodigy can it be that hath â—o conspired against the Dignity of your Name and the Condition of our poor Country Sir we speak to you with Tears in our Eyes glaspâ—d Hands Hearts struck thorough with many Wounds whilst we have the Honour of
The last FAMOUS SIEGE OF THE CITY OF ROCHEL TOGETHER WITH THE Edict of Nantes WRITTEN In French by Peter Meruault a Citizen of Rochel who was in the City from the beginning of the Siege until the Rendition of it LONDON Printed for John Wickins at the White Hart over against St. Dunstans Church in Fleet-street 1680. THE AUTHOURS PREFACE WHEN the Siege of Rochel had its first beginning I was but in the 20th year of my Age and having been bred to commerce wanted the advantage and ornament of Scholarship yet nevertheless my curiosity prompting me I made it my business to take notice of what then passed and my Father being a Member of the Common Council and as Master of the Artillery exercised the second Charge or Office in the City I learned from him divers Particulars which I carefully committed to writing And though I had at that time nothing less in my thoughts than to compose a Narrative for the Publick yet being cloistred up until the Rendition of the City I find this Journal compleat even until the end of the Siege which I kept only for my own particular use in case the Lord in his mercy should suffer me to survive from whence it is that this Collection hath ever since lain dormant in my Cabinet and nothing but the importunity of friends could have carried me beyond my own resolution in exposing it to publick view Neither my Age my Profession nor yet the little care I then took in digesting of things intending them only for my self can beget in any an expectation of exactness in Form or Style worthy perusal having nothing more to recommend it than integrity as to matter of Fact of which those at a distance as well as those at home must bear witness it being a plain Narrative of Counsels and Transactions during the Siege without any Inferences of my own In the collecting of which neither Interest Affection or Hatred had any influence upon me As this Age is fruitful in great Wits so these Memoirs may be useful to the Writers of the Historie of our Times However some may haply be glad to understand the Particulars which I have here given an Account of PETER MERUAULT For some Reasons the Authour could not publish this Journal sooner though he had Licence for doing it many years since A PREFACE TO THE READER Reader IT is now fifty one years since the Reformed Religion and Liberty received its great wound in the loss of Rochel a City in France once famous for its constant opposition of Rome and being a safe refuge for the Protestants of that Kingdom in the frequent Massacres practised by the more than cruel and bruitish Papists Whoever shall read D' Aubignie's History not D' Avila's against which the Reformed excepts as partial of the Civil Wars of France writ in or near the time of King Henry IV. Grandfather to the present King of England will find that this City was of great service to that King in all his troubles as being a Sanctuary to him upon several occasions constantly taking his part against his Enemies the Popish and Spanish League and Faction This Henry IV. like a magnanimous and generous Soul excelling in gratitude and good Nature tyranny and oppression being the Badges and effects of dissoluteness and cowardise when by the assistance of the Reformed he was restored to the Crown and Dignity of France did not unthankfully forget his friends and persecute them but as a heroick Prince made them participate of the mercies of God towards him by giving them as their Magna Charta the Edict or Law Called that of Nantes with supplementary Articles by which they are restored in all cases to equal Priviledges with the Romanists for though to do the like by Papists in a Protestant Country would be the certain ruine of that Nation their faithless bloody Principles and owning of a Foreign Head being inconsistent with such liberty yet he knew that nothing could be of more security to his Crown than to cherish those that owned no other Sovereign than their Native Prince and could have no other Interest than his as his Successors have since experienced both of them being indebted to the Reformed for keeping their Crowns upon their heads After several former Edicts or Laws had been no sooner made for the security of the Religion than broke the reformed Party who had for their Heads the King of Navarre and Prince of Condée besides a multitude of other Grandees refusing to rely any longer upon Paper Edicts and the word of a King demanded Cautionary Towns and had amongst others the City of Rochel given them for one Whilst this excellent Prince Henry IV. lived his Edict and supplementary Articles hereunto annexed declarative of many former Edicts were faithfully observed but he was no sooner gone than his Successours losing all gratitude chose rather to follow the vicious examples of his Predecessors than the vertuous Precedent that he left them of being true and faithful to Laws and Engagements for at the importunity of their Bishops enemies to true piety setting aside all faith and reverence due to Laws made perpetual and irrevocable they took up a severe persecution of the Reformed from whence arose several Wars and as many reconciliations for the innocent Protestants thirsting after nothing but Peace in the enjoyment of their Laws were always deluded out of their advantages to rely upon fair promises and the insignificant word of their King Until Lewis XIII having first prepared all Matters took his opportunity to fall upon this City the chief Bulwark of the Reformed which resisted upon the account of their Priviledges as a Cautionary Town thinking it as lawful to defend their Rights as for the King to invade them and how the place was lost appears by the ensuing Journal or History which shews I. A Miracle and perhaps beyond example of Unity Courage Constancy and Resolution to die rather than outlive their Liberty II. In all the Managers of their defence as well at home as abroad during the Siege more of faithfulness diligence prudence readiness of Wit and Parts than peradventure will be found in any History especially of its bigness The loss of this City was the first decay of the Protestant Cause and Interest in Christendome and the Original Rise and Foundation of that Greatness in the French Monarchy which threatens at this day the Liberty of Europe for so long as Rochel remained in freedom under a Maior his Council and the Common Council of forty eight annually chosen by themselves they were so formidable under that Government that the French could never get forward in suppressing those of the Religion nor oppressing of their Neighbours which renders the Spaniard guilty of a great Solecism in Politicks in being assistant in the reducing of this City as well as Spinola the Great Spanish General but a Native of Genoua was in contriving the Digue a Bank which blocked up the Passage by Sea
into Rochel the means of taking it which he did at his giving the French King a Visit in his passage to Spain for though the Author of this History will not take from his own Country the credit of the Invention the honour of it doth traly belong to Spinola But that you may the better understand how the Reformed in France have been and still are dealt with contrary to Law I have hereunto annexed the several Declarations of Henry IV. establishing thereby his Edict and supplementary Articles for their Liberty making them perpetual and irrevocable as also the several Declarations of this present French King Louis XIV reciting the substance of the Declarations of his Father Louis XIII with several Decrees of Council owning the perpetuity of the Edict of Nants and confirming them all with this acknowledgment That he remained fully satisfied with his Subjects of the Reformed Religion as having given him certain proofs of their affection and fidelity especially in 1652. the year of his Declaration when they drew the hatred of the Prince of Condé and his Party upon them for their Loyalty in adhering to the King and opposing of the Prince in his then Rebellion But the King by their help had not long got the Ascendant of his enemies before holding the Reformed unnecessary to satisfie the insatiable malice of the Bishops as appears by their actings which will in due time be published he left them to the mercy of the Church whose mercies are cruelties and even suffered the Prince of Condé to revenge himself upon them who the first year he was restored into favour demolished all their Churches in the Pais de Gex near Geneve and under his Government which County wanted then little of being intirely of the Reformed Religion Yet that I may do the former times right I cannot but observe the Candor and Ingenuity acknowledged in this History of the French Ministers of State at the taking of Rochel who when some malicious enough and most likely the Bishop of Mande employed in the Siege and others of his Order in France who never consult truth but worldly advantage would have had it assigned in the Kings Declaration as a reason of his taking up Armes that the Rochellers did not only call in the English but also gave themselves up to them the then Chancellour caused the Registers of the Maior and Council of Rochel the Memorials and Instructions given by them to their Deputies sent into England and the Treaties made by them with that King to be all exactly perused and examined and finding that the said Instructions and Treaties had been always made with a reserve of the fidelity due to the Crown he would not suffer anything of that nature to be inserted in the Kings Declaration because it did not appear to be true a piece of honest Morality little practised in these days in France some Men there having now no other Politicks than little tricks besides lying and dissembling all easily seen thorow for which they would be thought great Statists but Honesty as King James who knew enough used to say is the best Policy And to give Richelieu a Person of vast abilities and clear Parts his due His treating with the Rochellers in their greatest distress seems to have been with more moderation sincerity and plainness than is in this Age common or usual among them And now by comparing the present French Kings Persecution of his Reformed Subjects with his former Declarations confirming and making perpetual and irrrevocable all Edicts and Lawsmade for their Liberty and Security in the exercise of their Religion as a reward for their acknowledged fidelity and good service may and ought to be observed by Protestants how little the Faith and Laws of Popish Princes are to be relied upon especially in matters of Religion The Contents of this Book I. THE Duke of Buckingham's expedition for the Isle of Ree and his taking of it II. The Dukes inviting the Rochellers by his Agent Mr. Baker to accept of his assistance and join Armes with him and his Manifest delivered to them in the Name of the King of England III. The Dukes being forced to quit the Isle of Ree and return for England IV. The Rochellers Negotiations by their Deputies in England with that King sometimes alone and sometime in Council and their several Conferences with the King and Duke V. The King of England and the Rochellers Letters one to another and the Treaty made with the King with several excellent and pressing Harangues made by their Deputies to the King VI. The Earl of Denby's ineffectual Voyage to Rochel with a Naval Fleet and his Return VII The Earl of Lindsey's Voyage with a might Naval Strength to Rochel and returning without attempting any thing as this History saith VIII The miraculous patience in the Rochellers without the least murmuring under a not to be paralleled Famine IX The Treaty for Rendition of the City made with Cardinal Richelieu X. The Edict of Nantes given by Henry IV. of France to those of the Reformed Religion together with his supplementary Articles for their security and equal liberty with the Papists XI The Declarations of Henry IV. and of the present King Louis XIV reciting those of his Father Louis XIII making all the Laws in savour of the Protestants perpetual and irrevocable with several Orders of Council confirming the said Edictrand Arcles 1627. July A JOURNAL OF THE LAST SIEGE of the CITY OF ROCHEL Begun the 20. of July 1627. THe Naval Army of the King of Great Britain commanded by the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral of England appeared first to us upon Tuesday the 20th of July 1627. betwixt Eight and Nine in the morning to the number of Eighteen or Twenty Sail they were then believed to be Dunkirkers lying in wait for a Fleet of Hollanders laden with Salt which lay in the Road a la Palisse and before S. Martins the Principal Town of the Isle of Ré and ready to set sail for Holland Upon their nearer approach they were suspected to be English and Sixty or Eighty Sail in number but of this we were out of doubt when coming before the Fort La Prée they saluted it 1627. July fiercely with Cannon-shot which they continued that day and the next coming to Anchor a la Palisse before the Point of Sablanceau one of the Extremities in the Isle of Ré on that side next Rochel On Wednesday the 21. the Rochellers kept a Fast and betwixt Sermons there arrived in a Shallop from the Duke of Buckingham at the Chain which is the entrance by Sea into the City an English Gentleman called Baker desiring to speak with the Mayor for so the Chief Magistrate was called and to his Council who having notice thereof sent the Sieur Prou Sheriff and Symond Theuinine Advocate to acquaint him that they were in their Churches at their Devotions in the Celebration of a Fast and could not that day give him Audience upon which
of his Conscience for his Majesty is far from pursuing any Demands or Pretensions of his own or to invade the Territories of the French King his Brother with whom he desires to come to a perfect Union so it may be accompanied with the assurance of those in France who make Profession of the same Religion with himself If it be demanded how it comes that the King of Great Britain offers at this time Succours to 1627. July those of the Reformed Religion and this City when being formerly earnestly solicited to it he would not hearken thereunto I answer that the King at that time was not obliged by Promise to take care that the Articles agreed upon by the last Peace were observed besides that then the Treaties between these two Kingdoms were in their Vigour and Reputation and that the King our Master had hopes to be as beneficial to you by his Intercession as by his Arms for he well understands that the Church of God is our true Common Country and therefore hath been very careful in all his Seizures by Sea and Land to preserve those of the Reformed Religion and especially this City from all damage But at present the proceedings of this Estate hath put his Majesty out of doubt as to their designs and left him at liberty by having trodden under feet the Reverence due to Publick Treaties and therefore if you refuse this opportunity you will hereafter seek it in vain and in such case my Lord the Duke of Buckingham hath commanded me to make a Solemn Protestation before God and Man that he holds the King his Master in Honour and Conscience fully acquitted from all Engagements and his Excellency will dispose himself to execute the other Commands which he hath in Charge God hath in mercy given you the opportunity of making choice of Good or Evil and I have it in Command to press you to a ready Answer and Declaration as to which of the two you will make choice of You ought to consider that you may at present resolve clearly hereof as well as with suspention and that as to us each hour of delay will be very prejudicial 1627. July After this he presented the Duke of Buckgham's own Manifest Signed by himself containing a Declaration of the King of Great Britain's Intentions as followeth WHat share the Kings of Great Britain have always taken in the Affairs of the Reformed Church of this Kingdom and with how much Zeal and Care they have laboured their good is most eminently known to all the Examples thereof having been as ordinary as the occasions The present King my most honoured Lord and Master had not come therein behind his Predecessors if his honest and laudable designs for their good and advantage had not been perverted to their ruine by those whose interest it was to have accomplished them What Advantages hath he refused what Parties hath he not pursued that by his Alliance with France he might work the more profitably and powerfully for the restitution of the Churches to their Antient Liberty and Splendour And how could we have expected less from so strict an Alliance and so many reiterated Promises from the Mouth of a Great Prince than Effects truly Royal and suitable to his Grandure but the Issue is so far short of that that his Majesty instead of obtaining freedom and security for the Churches and a general Peace to France by the reconciliation of those who breathe after nothing but all sort of obedience to their King under the enjoyment of Edicts hath met with nothing but the contrary some having prevailed by the interest they had in those of the Religion to the deceiving of them and that not only by dividing them from him but also by rendering him if not odious at least under suspect with them in perverting the means that he ordained for 1627. July their good to an end wholly contrary Witness the English Vessels not designed for the extirpation of those of the Religion express promises having been given not to make use of them to their prejudice and yet nevertheless they were carried to Rochel and imployed â—n the last Naval Fight against them What can any expect from so puissant a King as the King my Master for being publickly illuded than a Resentment equal and proportionable to the injury done him But he hath had Patience beyond Patience and whilest he could hope to relieve the Churches by other means he hath not had recourse to Arms until being made instrumental of the last Peace upon Conditions disadvantagious enough which had never been accepted of without the intercession of His Majesty who interposed His Credit and Interest with the Churches even with Menaces for procuring their agreeing to them for salving the honour of the most Christian King and giving him assurance not only of the observance of them but also of the melioration of the said Conditions whilest he should remain Caution towards the Churches but what hath been the issue of all this nothing but the abuse of his Bounty and that which His Majesty thought would have been a Remedy to all their Evils hath it not carried the Churches to almost the last point of ruine So little it fails that by the continuation of the Fort before Rochel the demolishing whereof was promised by the violence of the Soldiers and Garrisons in the said Fort and Isles as well towards the Inhabitants of the said City as Strangers who instead of being intirely with-drawn have been dayly augmented and other Forts built and by the Commissioners remaining in the said City beyond the time agreed Cabals have been held by the means of which Divisions have crept in amongst the Inhabitants to 1627. July the opening the Gates to Neighbour Troops and byother breaches of the Peace the said City and in it the whole Church hath wanted little of drawing its last Breath and nevertheless his Majesty hath contained himself and not opposed such great Injuries and Violations of Faith more than by Complaints and Intercessions until having had certain advise confirmed by intercepted Letters of the great preparations that the most Christian King made for falling upon Rochel and then his Majesty could not do less than vindicate his honour by a ready taking Arms against those that had rendered him as a Confederate in their Fraudes and Treachery and to give Testimony of the Integrity and Zeal which he hath always had to the establishment of the Churches which shall ever be most dear and pretious to him above all other things and that if any shall question whether this is the only end of his Arms and not rather some particular interest let him consider the Circumstances of time and dispositions of his Affairs and they cannot believe that the King my Master hath any design upon France or can have thoughts of Conquest in a time so disadvantagious That he hath at present for Enemy one of the most puissant Princes in the World and that if that
Chappes la Bergerie and a Moity of the Regiments of Guards with ten Cornets of Cavalry and a good quantity of Cannon 1627. August At the same time he prohibited thorough the whole Government and Land of Aulnis for so the Country about Rochel is called the carrying into Rochel any Wares or Commodities upon pain of Confiscation and Corporal Punishment hindering also the Inhabitants of the City from gathering their Harvest which shewed the Rochellers what they had to expect They sent the Sieurs Papin and de Foss to the Duke of Buckingham in the Isle of Re to desire him to send back the Sieur Loudriere with the French he carryed thither and obtained their Request of him The 15th about two or three hours after Midnight the English took a Bark which came from the Citadel of those that were in it some were made Prisoners others leaping into the Water were drowned as amongst the rest one Captain Demoriciere of the Isle of Re. The same night the Duke of Buckingham having advice that they had but little Water in the Citadel and that they were furnished from a Well that was fifteen or twenty Paces from one of their Half-Moons to cut them off their supply from thence made an Attempt upon their Half-Moon but those that kept it behaved themselves with so much resolution as made the English retire with loss only during this Attacque they employed some to poyson the Well by which they incommoded very much the besieged The 16th was carried to Rochel their King's Declaration against all that should joyn with the English Upon which the major part of the King's Officers seeing that though the Conjunction of the City with them was not yet declared it was nevertheless in effect done they left 1627. August the City and retired to Maran whither the King soon after transferred the Court of Justice and gave his Letters Patents for the same but those who remained which were seven in number continued to administer Justice as former y. The same day with the Evening-tide came into Rochel eight Barks or Shalloopes from the Isle of Re in which were the Sieur Loudriere with the Troops that he had carried thither The 19th The Sieur Comminges Captain of a Company of the Regiment of Champaigne and who in the abscence of the Sieur Thoiras commanded the Fort Lewis met with some Rochellers when after much discourse upon the Affairs of the time and the descent of the English in the Isle of Re he remoustrated to them That if they would carry themselves as good and faithful Subjects to the King and seek his favour they would have all sort of Contentment which he desired them to acquaint the Mayor and his Council with of which report being made they sent Deputies to him at his Fort and he afterwards went to them in the City where he was heard by the Mayor and his Council but not agreeing he returned without doing any thing Being in the City he visited the Duchess of Rohan and reasoning with her about the succours of the English he told her That the Wine-Harvest was not yet come and that he would not wish them worse Enemies to fight with than Grapes and new Wine at which they then laughed and made slight of it The 20th The Mayor and his Council observing how the Duke of Angoulesme made the people work at the Moulinette Bongrenne and Coureille for the raising of Forts there and according to advice 1627. August they had received were upon the point of seizing of the Barrovere on the side of Tadon which was the Suburbs of Rochel and within Musquet-shot of the Port of S. Nicholas to the end to raise there also a Fort and nearer if they could be suffered Those of the City resolved to break his design and hinder him from approaching nearer on that side by making one without the Gate of S. Nicholas betwixt the two Mills which are about the half way between the Port and the place of the Barrovere For this end at eight of the Clock in the Evening there went out betwixt six or seven hundred Souldiers and some Inhabitants who wrought there all night placing so many Pipes and Barrels there that by morning they were in a condition of defence and continued their working some days following without his interrupting of them The 21. the Duke of Buckingham seeing the resolution of the Sieur Thoiras and the little hopes he had of forcing him otherwise than by Famine made search thoroughout the Isle for the Papists that were remaining in it and brought them before the Citadel where the Sieur Thoiras received part thereof but refusing to receive the rest they were carried over to the Main Land and set on shore to go whither they pleased In the same time some Souldiers coming out of the Citadel reported to the Duke of Buckingham that Corn and Meal began to be scarce with the assieged that they were reduced to Bisquet and Horse-flesh besides that the Souldiers were greatly incommoded from the ill weather and continual Rains and that they were contriving among themselves some Revolt 1627. August The 28. the Sieur Thoiras finding from day to day necessity pressing him and that he could not receive any news from the Main sent three Souldiers each of them with a Packet of Letters acquainting the Condition he found himself in who undertook to carry them by Swimming one of the three got to Fort Lewis another was drowned and the third not being able to hold out rendered himself to the English and gave them advice of all that passed in the Citadel The Duke of Buckingham understanding their condition writ to the Sieur Thoiras endeavouring to shew him his necessity and perswade him to render the Citadel and all that he held in the Isle into his hands with offers of very advantageous and honourable Conditions but if he would hold out until the last Extremity he could not then hope for the same To this Letter the Sieur Thoiras made answer with great civility yet telling him that he was not reduced to such straits as he believed and some days were spent in Complements and friendly Correspondence by Gentlemen sent with Presents from one to the other which made the Rochellers suspect the Duke and from thenceforward to despair of taking the Citadel Nevertheless the Duke gave not over endeavouring by all means possible to make himself Master of the place and to come the sooner to his end fitted out upon the Water a floating Machine which played continually with eight Cannon and by the means of Pinnaces and Barks equipped for War endeavoured to prevent all succours of Men and Victuals and further made a Pallasade of Ship-Masts and great Cables kept above water by Vessels and betwixt the Vessels by Pipes and 1627. Septemb. Barks and sunk before them many Ships full of Stones and indeed he omitted nothing that might entirely shut up that side which according to the report of several Souldiers made the
Sieur Thoiras and his people very uneasie SEPTEMBER Tuesday the 7th of September twelve or thirteen Pinnaces laden with all sort of Provisions entred the Citadel having passed the English Army Pinnaces Shalloops and Pallasades which by Storms the night before had been half broken and bruised which continuing obliged those in the Ships of the Pallasade to cut their Cables which tyed them together which happened well to those in the Citadel who were not able to do any more and who were so pressed that had this Succour staid three days longer the Sieur Thoiras must have been forced to have delivered the place but as this was matter of great joy to them so it was of grief and sorrow to the Duke of Buckingham who by break of day discharged his Choler by the Mouth of his Cannon upon the Citadel and Pinnaces Friday the 10th about four or five in the Evening the Rochellers observing the working at a place over against the two Mills fired their Cannon upon them the Fort Lewis answering them in the same kind which crossed the City but without doing any harm so that by this mutual thundering they declared War one against the other The same day about eight in the Evening the Fort Lewis fired three Cannon-shot with Fire-Bullets one of which fell in a House full of Hay and 1627. Septemb. Straw near a Stack of green Wood which was entirely burnt At first this new Invention astonished them much and obliged them to seek remedy against the like The 11th the Council sitting in the Town-Hall and the whole Body assembled Commissioners were ordered to consider upon conditions for the Minting of Money as also the Mayor and Council were desired to publish a Manifest and to see to the Articles of Conjunction with the Duke of Buckingham The 12th the Duke of Buckingham received a Recruit of 2500 by seven Ships and four Flutes The same day the English took two Barks laden with Provisions and Munition of War for the Citadel and gave Chase to a Ship which followed the Bark and pursued her unto the Stuckets or Pallasades The 13th in the Evening the Rochellers observing some at work near the House of Coureille for the raising of a Fort they played their Cannon upon them The same day in the Evening came from the Isle of Re to Rochel the Sieurs Ashburnham for the Duke of Buckingham and St. Surin for the Sieur Thoiras in their way to the King at Paris from whence Ashburnham after having conferred with his Majesty was to go to England and began their journey the next day And this was the effect of the Communications before-mentioned when all believed the Duke being cheated by St. Surin he would find this Voyage to no purpose as it proved The 15th Monsieur the King 's only Brother arrived at Estre and skirmished his Cavalry with those of Rochel who after some small loss gave 1627. Septemb. way to those of Monsieur who pursued them with Horse and Foot unto the very Ditch of the Fort Tadon but being too far advanced he lost some of his Cavalry as well as Infantry of the first the Sieur Maricour of the latter one Sariant and ten or twelve Souldiers whereas the Rochellers loss was no more than one Citizen and three or four Souldiers besides some wounded The same day about eight in the Evening they from the Fort Lewis made five shot with Fire-Bullets upon the City the Fire took effect in a House near the Town-house where there were Fagots and the cuttings of Vines but it was extinguished without burning more than the Roof and part of the Wood. The 16th the Mayor made Proclamation thorough all the Quarters of the City commanding every one to remove out of their high Chambers and Garrets Wood Hay Straw and whatever was subject to fire and to keep there Oxe-hides Pales and Tubs of Water as well to quench the Fire as to throw upon the Bullets The 17th a Party of Cavalry sallying out of Rochel some days before upon Adventure brought into the City a Courrier which the King had sent with a Packet to the Duke of Angoulesme with many Letters for particular Persons in the Army by which was discovered the King's design of shutting in the Rochellers by Sea with a Bank and a Naval Army and inclosing them on the Land-side with a strong Line of Communication and so to gain them by hunger rather than force according to the Tenure of that to the Duke of Angoulesme which is as followeth 1627. Septemb. The French Kings Letter to the Duke of Angoulesme in the Camp before Rochel COusin by your dispatch of the seventh of this Month you have rendered me a particular Account of the Imployment you have given the Troops of my Army since your Arrival there of the Quarters that you have taken about my City of Rochel of the Works that you have begun of those that are made of the men necessary for keeping and preserving them and opposing the Diversions that the English by Salleys from the Isle of Re may make on the Coast of Poictou and Xaintongue I understand your advice and sentement as well for shutting the Channel of the Port of Rochel as relieving of the Isle of Re of which having well considered and of what will be best for my service after having testified to you the content I receive in seeing so exact judicious and faithful an information from that side and the good liking that I have of the diligence and good Conduct that you have remarkably shewed for the advancing my service I will tell you that I approve the Quarters that you have taken for my Army and do desire that for the maintaining them with security that you order the Captains who command there to retrench and fortifie themselves well and to keep good Guards that you continue the order that you have established there for preventing the relieving of Rochel by Land with any sort of Victuals and do it with extraordinary care and security without permitting upon any cause or pretext whatsoever any contradiction nor shew 1627. Septemb. any favour to such as shall be so bold as to do contrary hereunto for in this point consists one of the principal Effects of my Army by which the factious Rochellers may be chastis'd for their Rebellion and be constrained to submit themselves to the obedience that they owe me I approve also of the Forts and Retrenchments that you are upon at Bongrenne and Moulinette I will believe that they are near if not before this done to your hands in defence it behoves us to preserve these two Postes since they are judged necessary but except you determine making at present the Fort that you have proposed betwixt the Port de Coinge and la Fons for to â—â—â— off the Current of the Water which goes to Rochel or turn to some other Enterprize I judge it more to purpose that you employ all your labour to the building of the Fort that
you have formerly been ordered over against the Fort Lewis to the end that it be with all speed in such defence that neither the Rochellers nor the English can hinder the maintaining it with a number of men necessary for its defence I know That for the accomplishing these Designs for conserving your Posts for hindering on the Land-side the going in and out of Rochel and provide against diversions it is necessary to maintain a good Army well paid That which you propose to me to have about Rochel ought to be 10000 Foot and 1000 Horse effective which will be done when the Orders that I have formerly given for the marching and levying of Souldiers have been executed as you may see by the numbers of the Regiments of Foot that I have sent you 1627. Septemb. As to the diversions the Enemy may make on the Coasts of Poictou and Zaintongue I make reckoning that my Naval Army which shall be laiden with a good number of Infantry will serve for succour and security against all the descents which they can make on the Coasts of my Kingdom I cannot believe that the English with the few men that the Siege of the Citadel of Re hath left them dare make a descent having no Cavalry nor undertake a new Fortification at this Season that which is most to be feared is the surprizing of some place for which cause I find it necessary speedily to augment Garrisons Victuals and Ammunition in all those places that you shall inform me have need on the Coasts of Poictou and Zaintongue I will not now answer the several ways that are propounded for shutting up and ruining the Port of Rochel because it is not that which at present is most pressing In reference to the relieving of the Citadel of Re and the Fort of Pree as I have cause to promise my self good success there from the succour of 13 Pinnaces arrived in the Citadel the advice whereof is confirmed to me by your last Letter so I presume to employ the means which have been a long time in several places preparing for the refreshing of the said Forts will I think be sufficient which I refer to the Bishop of Mande to explain more particularly in my Name according to the Charge that I have therein given him Considering that so long as the Citadel of S. Martin can hold there is no fear of the Fort of Pree I see no necessity of sending men thither though there may be of Victuals and Munition after that the Citadel shall be sufficiently provided 1627. Septemb. You may judge better than any one how many of the Regiments designed for the Army are necessary for your guard and the advancement of your work and therefore I desire you to send to them in all places to raise them with all diligence I have well considered the Retinue that you say the Rochellers upon the Declaration of War are resolved to keep and how you acknowledge it to proceed more from fear than love or respect and that you will not spare to act effectually against them as if they had already declared all which I approve since their actions and deportment do sufficiently shew their evil intentions and therefore you may permit those of the Fort Lewis to work upon their Fortifications since you think fit to make some new ones I am pleased that you have sent some Cavalry to my Brother the Duke of Orleance and doubt whether he will be with the Army before this Answer if he be fail not to communicate this to him to the end that he be informed of my intentions Furthermore I commend the care that you have taken to dissipate that Assembly of Nobility at du Parcg's House that you have seized the Houses of de la Rolandiere and Moric and that you have secured the other Gentlemen by good Caution Continue to make my Letters and Declarations of this kind be well observed I hold it fit to give the Fruits which may be gathered in the neighbouring Villages belonging only to them that have gone contrary to my Declaration to my Army viz. to the Captains and Officers which serving in my Troops shall be judged worthy of such gratifications Above all I pray God 1627. Septemb. my Cousin to take you into his holy protection Writ at S. Germaine in Lay the 13th of September 1627. Signed Louys and underneath Philipeaux There was also in this Pacquet the Donation of the Office of Seneschal or Chief Justice of the City of Rochel to the Duke of Angoulesme with the confiscation of all the Goods moveable and immoveable of the Sieurs of Brille Baudet and of Angoulins in form as followeth THIS day being the 11. of September 1627. the King being at S. Germain in Laye taking into consideration the great and commendable services that the Duke of Angoulesme Peer of France hath done him in his Army of Aulins and the great Expence that he is obliged to be at there his Majesty hath granted to him and doth hereby give him the Office of Chief Justice of the City of Rochel being vacant by the forfeiture of the Sieur Loudriere who is in possession thereof but is attainted of High Treason for bearing Arms and joining with the English contrary to the service of his Majesty and this Estate and have also given to the said Duke all the Goods moveable and immoveable belonging to the Sieurs Brille Baudet and Angoulins as confiscated for the same Crime and being at present in the City of Rochel In Witness of which his Majesty hath commanded me to expedite to the said Duke all Letters and Provisions necessary and in the mean time to dispatch this present Brief which he hath signed with 1627. Septemb. his own hard Contre-signed by me Counsellor in his Council of State and Secretary of his Commands LEWYS beneath Philipeaux The 19. the English took a Barque laden with Provisions and Munition for the Citadel where was the Son of the Sieur Saugion as they had some days before taken and sunk many others which steered the same course The 22. there went from Rochel seven sail to go to Re upon whom was made from the Fort Lewis many great shot but without touching them In the one was the Sieurs John Gittou Sheriff formerly Admiral of Rochel and David Foss Advocate Deputies from the Mayor and his Counsel to the Duke of Buckingham to carry him the Articles drawn for their conjunction with him The 22. betwixt two and three before day arrived in the Citadel a Barque of about 30 Tuns laden with all sorts of Provisions Munition and Refreshments upon which the English made many unprofitable Cannon-shot The 23d The Sieur Burrowes Lieutenant General to the Duke of Buckingham was killed in the Trenches which together with the entry of the said Barque did so irritate the said Duke that he shot all the morning long as well from Land as from his Ships upon the Citadel and Barque During this Thundering a fatal
shot carryed out of this World the Sieur Montferrior Brother of Monsieur Thoiras in such sort that this day was a day of great loss to each Party but above all to 1627. Septemb. the English in that Monsieur Burrowes was the only man of experience that they had The 27th The Sieur Ashburneham who was gone to Paris with the Sieur St. Surin arrived at Rochel with St. Surin in their way to Re who immediately after his arrival there was by the Duke sent Prisoner to one of his Frigats where was already the Son of Sieur Saugeon because as he said of the ill usage that Mr. Ashburnham had met with but it was believed in revenge for having been baffled by him The same day about three in the Afternoon they began Prayers in the Temple of S. John to continue every day until the Peace was made The 30th being Thursday the English took in the Evening three Barks laden with Victuals and Munition for the Citadel sunk three others forced ashore two at Aiguillion and put the rest to flight in such sort that at this time there got none into the Citadel OCTOBER The first of October the Sieur Thoiras finding himself pressed with all Extremity and seeing that all his people as well Souldiers as Voluntiers murmured against him and made Cabals for treating with the Duke of Buckingham and to deliver the place to him to the end to content them and to gain time and to amuse the English he sent the Sieur Montault to the Duke to know what Conditions he would offer him The Duke deferring the Treaty until the next morning after many goings and comings it was in the end agreed that if the Citadel was not relieved by the eighth of the Month which was High-water that both it and the Fort de la Pre should be put into his hands 1627. Octob. Thursday night before Fryday the 8th of October designed for the Rendition there went forty Barks and Pinnaces from Ollorne laden with Men and all sorts of Provisions for the Belly as well as war whereof 29 got happily into the Citadel by the favour of a very great North-East-Wind which blew so hard and master'd the English Army in such sort that it could not hinder their passing save that there were four sunk to the ground by Cannon-shot This succour came very seasonably to the Sieur Thoiras because in the morning according to Conditions he ought to have render'd the Citadel The Duke of Buckingham on the contrary was so discontented and discouraged that having discharged his Choler with multitude of Cannon-shot which broke in pieces fifteen or twenty of these Pinnaces but already un-laden two or three days after he took away his Cannon from his Batteries and Shipped them with part of his Men having taken a resolution to raise the Siege and to return for England but the Duke of Soubize who was near to him as also the Deputies of Rochel and the Inhabitants of the Isle intreating him very earnestly not to abandon them and offering him whatever was in their Power which prevailed with him to suspend this Deliberation until the Arrival of Sieur Dolbiere who he had sent into England and who put him in hopes of a succour of 6000 Men which the Earl of Holland would in a few days bring to him which in some kind restored his Courage and made him resolve to continue the Siege The 12th The King arrived before Rochel and took his Quarters at Estre he needed not to enquire 1627. October whether the Cannon and Muskets made not good Musick through all the Quarters of the Army for his welcome The 13th There were read in the Council assembled in the Town-Hall Letters from the Duke of Rohan writ the 9th and 10th of September from Nisines to those at Rochel by which he advised them of the Conjunction made by those of Languedoc with them and the English The 17th Seven Barks laden with Victuals and Munition with some Companies of Souldiers got into the Fort Pree without any Impediment but the same day a Pinace going out from the Cittadel was taken by the English Shalloops who slew the Son of Richardiere who commanded there and most part of his Men. The 18th A Ship laden with dry Fish and some Barks laden with Wine and other things from the Isle of Re came into Rochel there were fired at them from the Forts Lewis Port-Neuf and Coureille 35 Cannon-shot without touching any of them The 19th One called Franc one of the Messengers to the King's Council was brought into Rochel by John Farene a stout and bold Souldier who took him Prisoner near Lusignan as he rid post with many Letters and some even from the King himself writ to several Governours of Provinces by which he gave advice of the besieging of the Citadel commanding them to send all the Ships they could laden with Stones to fill and shut up the Haven of Rochel as also to have his Naval Army in readiness upon the first Command to come before Rochel And this by Letters dated the 14th of October The same day and the day following came from 1627. October Re to Rochel four or five hundred English who were quarter'd in Houses The 24th The Duke of Soubize writ to the Rochellers exhorting them to send Deputies to the King of Great Brittain upon which were named the Sieur Jaques David Sheriff on the behalf of the Common-Hall Sieur John de Hinsse on behalf of the Bourgesses and on behalf of the Church the Sieur Salbert a Minister who was in Re near the Duke of Buckingham The 25th Before day there came into Rochel from England a Ship with 150 Tuns of Corn as also some Barks laiden with Wine and other Commodities and entred without any damage though with the bright of the Moon and had been shot at thirty or forty times with Cannon from the Fort Lewis and the Batteries The 26th The Rochellers published their Manifest by which they gave an Account of the Causes and Reasons which moved them to joyn Arms with the King of Great-Brittain and put at the foot of the same their Kings Letter to the Duke of Angoulesme as also the Oath of Lewis the Eleventh made to Robert Cadiot Mayor of Rochel 1472. In this Manifest they say That one of the Conditions of Peace in 1622 which is recited was the demolishing of the Fort built near the City during the War as also that accordingly the King had given Letters to their Deputies Dated the 18th of December directed to Sieur Arnoult by which he enjoyns him not to delay doing it but that under divers pretexts he did not only elude the obeying him therein but on the contrary continued to fortifie it and after his death the Sieur Thoiras did the same more diligently 1627. Octob. so that neither their Complaints nor the reiterated Complaints of their Deputies to his Majesty of the breach of Agreements could produce any effect That their design in preserving
shot cross the City without doing any harm to any person But receiving advice that the Rochellers would go to Coureille to take it or burn it they returned in the night to Brovage The 25th a part of the Kings Naval Army to the number of ten or twelve great Ships some Pinnaces and the Gally of Brovage came to Anchor in the Road at the Head of the Bay and at their arrival discharged all their Cannon as did 1627. Decemb. also the Fort Lewis and the Royal Battery to which the Rochellers answered at the same time from theirs The 26th betwixt three and four in the Evening a shot coming from the Royal Battery killed three Beggars and hurt two or three more as they were playing at Cards in a Shop of Planks upon the Key of the great River over against the opening of the Chain The next day these Shops were pulled down that they might not serve any more as a mark nor cause in the future any more such murders At this time the Bank which is hereafter called the Digue advanced much on both sides of the Head of the Bay and of Coureille to the end to shut up the going in and out of the Rochellers by Sea at which they at first laughed believing that Storms and ill Weather would undo more in one Tide than they could do in six Months The 28th men was seen working between Ronsay and Beaulieu a good Cannon shot from the City upon a Fort they were making there The 30th with the Morning-tide came into the City a Bark laden with Bourdeaux Wine at which many shot was made from the Fort Lewis and the Royal Battery but without touching her JANVARY The 3d of January 1628. there was seen working at the little Festille for making another Fort there which obliged the City to play upon them with their Cannon but without any great success The 6th there was so great a Storm at South-East that the Bank was almost overturned and 1628. January the Kings Ships which were in the Road at the Head of the Bay so incommoded that three of them were cast upon the Coast of the Head of the Bay and of Coureille where one wanted little of being totally broken in pieces The 8th Ditto forty Cavaliers being gone from Rochel by the new Gate to clear the Street to the new Festille and thereabouts met with some Horse of the Assiegers and worsted them but Monsieur de Bassompier with a great Party of Cavalry and Infantry coming in to their assistance made them retreat though without other loss than of some wounded in exchange of which they brought with them three Prisoners into the City The same day was discovered by a Souldier sent from the Camp into the City an Enterprise upon the Fort Tadon contrived by the Ensign to Captain Salle who was immediately taken racked and hanged the 10th and his Head set up at the Head or utmost part of the Fort half a Musket shot from Bongrenne where for the same cause had three Weeks or a Month before been hanged two Souldiers and one condemned for the Executioner The 12th some Souldiers brought into Rochel sixty Oxen and Cows and at the same time saw men working at Miroeil making of a Fort there The 13th the Rochellers having in the Morning seen some Barques arrive at Coureille under the Convoy of some Gallies and believing they were with Cannon and Warlike Ammunition having had advice some dayes before of their coming made a Sally by Sea to intercept them and at the same time another by Land for diverting 1628. January of Succours and to this end they did with all diligence equip twelve Shalloops who finding themselves ready by eight of the Clock in the Evening furnished with Men Stones Granado's and Fire-works went out of the Chain and went by the Coasts of Port-Neuf to prevent discovery and having left two of their Shalloops in the midst of the Channel as well to hinder succours as to snap those that would escape they fell unexpected upon these Vessels which were at Anchor under the Fort of Marellac and at first made themselves Masters of two Gallies forced the others and also the Barques to run a-Shore and kill'd many of those that were in them and others to save themselves leaped into the Water but seeing Succours hasting from all parts and fearing also that if they should stay longer it being an Ebbing-tide they should lye dry upon the Sands they return'd with two Gallies to Rochel having lost in all the Action but four men and eight wounded At the same time whilst this was in execution at Sea those at Land assaulted the Redoubt of Beautriel betwixt Bongrenne and the House of Coureille where there was a Squadron of thirty of John Sac's Regiment who after some resistance were forced and cut in pieces especially by the English in Revenge for their Companions which had been killed in the Isle of Re in such sort that not above two or three of them were saved and with the loss of no more than one killed and three wounded of the Rochellers and returned to the City with all their Arms which were given to them that took them The 14th very early in the morning there was â—â—ot from the Royal Battery fifteen or twenty 1628. January Cannon shot cross the City without killing or hurting any person save one rash Souldier who mocking those that bowed down and put themselves under the Covert of the Parrapet tog avoid the danger of the dreadful Thunderings stood upon the Wall until his Head was carried away by a great shot The 15th the Sieur Fequiere was brought Prisoner to Rochel and put in the Tower of Monreille near the old Gate Maubec having been taken as he was crossing from Coureille to another Quarter accompanied by the Sieur Forest Lieutenant of Cardinal Richelieu's Guards who was slain refusing to render himself Prisoner or take Quarter This night about two a Clock in the morning of the 19th Ditto went out of Rochel the Sieurs Daniel Bragneau on behalf of the City-Hall and John Gobert for the Burgers to go for England to hasten succours and to buy Corn and other Provisions for the City and departed with Ten Sail viz. three Men of War five Pinnaces and two Fire-ships and passed all the Forts without receiving any damage from the Forts Batteries or Men of War which lay at Anchor at the Head of the Bay but going out from the Chain one of the Fire-ships thorough the carelesness of those in her was so intangled with one of the Men of War that they were forced to cut her Masts and Cordage and in that condition turn her a drift who with the Current was carried to Port-Neuf where she gave them a great Alarm and made them spend many Cannon and Musket shot upon her until not being answered no person being aboard they boarded her with their Shalloops 1628. January and run her a-shore in the Creek of Port-Neuf Besides
these ten Sail ten others had gone out had they not been hindered by a second intanglement of two Men of War falling foul upon one another in their going from the Chain and could not be cleared until the Tide was lost both to themselves and the rest that should have followed them this fault being imputed to one of the Captains of the Ships who as is believed not desiring the Voyage did it designedly The 20th the Rochellers played with their Cannon upon the Digue of the side of Fort Lewis to interrupt if possible their work which notwithstanding they continued The 21th betwixt two and three a Clock Afternoon being High-tide the Pallisade of ten or twelve great Ships mured full of Stones was fixed between Port-Neuf and Fort Marilac on the side of Coureille half a Cannon shot from the City whither they brought them under the favour and protection of the Gallies Men of War and Galliots of Brouage the Rochellers Cannon not being able to hinder them nor by their sallying out with ten Shalloops of War could they effect any thing but being advanced were constrained to retreat the Enemy having made ready all the Cannon of their Batteries which thundered so furiously upon them that they could do nothing even against the Men of War all that they were able to do being to return with their wounded men The 22th about nine in the Evening the Rochellers fell out by the Port of the two Mills with forty Horse and two or three hundred Foot besides with a great part of Seamen and Ship-Carpenters who with Planks and other materials went 1628. January to the Pallisade endeavouring to stop the Port-holes of the Ships mured full of stones to the end to bring them within the Chain or else to a place where they should not offend them but as they were with Ladders the Sea being low water mounting these Ships they found themselves unexpectedly received with a shower of Musket shot from those that guarded them which beat down three or four and made the rest descend faster than they mounted This gave such a consternation to those that were below to shut the Port-holes the defence being seconded by the numbers which came upon the Arms of the Port-Neuf and Coureille that they abandoned all to save themselves by flight and in such disorder that they run a great hazard of being all â—ut in pieces had not the Cavalry who from their Post saw their bad condition run to their succour and charged the Pursuants so briskly that they made them retreat even to the Pallisades killing many upon the place and amongst the rest a Captain who was come from Courcille to their succour The same day betwixt four and five a Clock in the Evening was shot from the Fort de la Fons upon the City divers Cannon shot of 32 and 33 pound Bullets without killing or hurting any person insomuch that the people seeing the little effect of the Cannon grew accustomed to them and did not regard them The 27th the Rochellers having advice that the Kings Naval Fleet of thirty Men of War conducted by the Duke of Guise was a few days before arrived at the Head of the Bay as also Don Frederwick de Tolledo Admiral of Spain with 35 or 40 other Men of War sent out with the 1628. January Evening-tide three Pinnaces of War with each their dispatch for advertising their Deputies in England with the arrival of these several Armado's as also that they had made a Pallisade cross the Channel with ten or twelve great Ships to the end that they should diligently seek succours They carried also Letters to the Estates and Prince of Orange and notwithstanding all the impediment from sunk Ships upon which was some Cannon and all the other Men of War these Pinnaces passed without difficulty The 28th arrived at the Camp at Estre Marquess Spinola whom the King received with all sort of Caresses shewed him the scituation of the Camp the Lines and the Digue he spoke thoroughout as is reported with much esteem and said above all that the Digne was the only means to take the City by FEBRVARY The 4th of February they saw from Rochel a Chain carried cross from Coureille to Port-neuf which was supported upon the water by Pipes at a distance one from another by an uncertain interval having betwixt every two cross pieces of Timber tyed and mortused one within another and in the middle of them a floating Engine turned by the Britch or Stern The 8th the Rochellers sent two light Galliots to England to hasten the succours and to represent the condition they were reduced to The 10th the King went for Paris after he had been before Rochel four Months less two days leaving all the weight of his Affairs the Principal Authority and Command of his Army and Title 1628. February of General with Cardinal Richelieu the Duke oâ— Angoulesme the Marshals of Schomberg and Bascompiere remaining there also in quality of Lieutenant Generals to his Majesty under Cardinal Richelieu The 18th divers other Ships were mured foâ— strengthening the Pallisade so that there was reckoned forty or fifty besides a Machine in the middle of the Digue The 19th some Horse being gone to Ronsay tâ— whet and provoke the Horse that were there upon the Guard were repulsed notwithstanding the succours sent them from the City and the Cannon which did their part and could not do betteâ— than leave three or four dead upon the place and among the rest one called Forest who was much lamented because of his valour and the service that he had done the City who was the next day Interred with much honour At this same time Cardinal Richelieu sent â— Trumpeter to Rochel with a Letter exhorting them to come to a Treaty for Peace saying that he had the Order of the King for it who for the facilitating of it was retired to Paris leaving to them the choice of the place for Treaty It was offered to be at one of their Gates promising to send thither Monsieur Hallier or others The thing was brought into deliberation in the Council of War assembled to that end but some opposed it with a high hand carrying it against the Mayor and the greatest part of the Council even by threats to raise the People against them if they should enter into such a Conference which as they said tended to the ruine of the City And so this Proposition came to nothing 1628. February The 25th and 26th with the Night-tide rose an impetuous Storm which broke part of the floating Chain and some of the mured Ships sending to the City a quantity of Wood and cross Timber and two Piles of the Fessine or Britch of the Machine The common people running out to carry away what they could of the Wrack the Cannon which played upon them killed one Maid hurt some others and dismounted a Trooper without doing him any other harm The 29th in the night a Galliot
was sent from Rochel to England to hasten the succours and passed without any obstruction MARCH The 3d of March the Rochellers received a Letter by Land from Sieur David Vincent and Dehinse dated the 4th of February writ in Cyphers which imported that in the Month of March or April at farthest the Fleet would be ready to carry them succours of Men Victuals and necessary Munitions which rejoyced much the City thoroughout the Letter was as followeth Gentlemen HAving received yours by Sieur de Bausay we have so pressed the sending Provisions that Monsieur Dâ—hinse was gone for Plymouth to have managed them but meeting by the way the Sieur Gorribon who in his passage towards Britain having met the Kings Navy Royal they believed that the Convoy being weak they would indubitably be all taken whereupon returning we have represented to his Majesty your Condition and obtained a Promise of a Puissant Naval Army for your succour in March or April for certain 1628. March and in the interim they will run the adventure of some small Vessels with Corn. Have good courage for without delay you will be supplied with Men and all Provisions Keep in order and make provisions of Shalloops Messieurs Your most humble and obedient Servants David Vincent London Feb. 4. 1628. At this same time were fixed many Ships in several places of the Digue besides those there before and were fastened one to another by great Cables to hinder the passing of any thing The 6th there was a skirmish between the Besiegants and those of the Fort Tadon without any great loss on one or the other side The 11th Cardinal Richelieu the Kings Lieutenant General having as is said secret Intelligence with some of Rochel environed it with 8000 Horse and Foot bringing a great number of Ladders Bridges Petars a quantity of Cordage and Timber which were carried in ten Chariots unto Plessis a ruined House five or six hundred paces distant from the City the Night being favourable to him for making his approaches in that it was very dark and windy his principal design and Enterprise was to Petar the crasie Port of Salines which is Maubec to scale the Bastions of Gabal to essay by Petars Port-Neuf and that of S. Nicholas to attempt in good earnest the opening of the Chain to break in betwixt the two Forts of Tadon whilst divers Parties should give false Allarms in 1628. March divers places for to divert and divide the Forces of the City and in this great Expedition the Marshals Schomberg and Bassompier assisted him exhorting the Infantry and giving them assurance that never any Design had less Adventure in it that his Majesty had in the City eight or nine hundred Confidents all good men and that by the opening the Draw-bridges by the Petars and the help of the Ladders means all well ordered they should with ease render themselves and almost in Battaillia in the middle of the Streets and places of Arms that they should presently imbrace an entire Felicity and Fortune with her most precious moveables and that after such a Glory there would not be any thing more for them to wish But whilst these fine words flowed with facility and the Souldiers hearts leapt for joy all of a sudden they found the Wheel of their design nailed and pinned without knowing who to attribute it to except to the Night which the Cardinal with reason had chosen as most dark had brought the Troops and Executors into confusion or that the variety of so many several parts of the design might bring an intanglement or some ill understanding in the Army whatever it was that night was spent until day-light without enterprising any thing except the viewing the Ports by some bold Souldiers who knocked there and at the first Draw-bridge the Centinels of the City who were watchful enough in their places not hearing any thing of it Cardinal Richelieu seeing his design upon Rochel to fail the twelfth Ditto in the night he undertook another upon the Fort Tadon to try if he could succeed better there and to that end he 1628. March chose the Flower of his Army which he divideâ— into three Battalions In the first were Gentlemen of Companies as the Forelorn-Hope which were betwixt 150 and 200 commanded by the Sieurs Marilac and Surdis Capt. in the Regimentâ— of Guards The second made the Body of the Battaille where Marshal Schomberg commanded in his own Person and had about eight hundred of the most sprightful bold and vigorous Souldiers in the Army with the Flower of the Gentry The third which was the greatest was the Reserve winged with the Cavalry without ingaging with the others Thus ordered they marched without making any noise unto the Head of the Fort Tadon each Musqueteer having a Cover that they might not be discovered but before any thing was enterprised they sent thirty Souldiers to pass the Sands of the Channel to see if the Tide were at the lowest being willing to vex the Court of Guard of Tevaille and Port of two Mills and by giving an Allarm on that side to assure so much the more their Enterprise upon the Fort Tadon which are almost opposites they sent a cunning Souldier to the Port of S. Nicholas to hallow to those that were upon the guard of the Gate in the name of those of the Fort that they should not shoot for some reasons known to him and advised the same all along the Curtain of the said Fort that they had a contrary design to act upon the Assiegants who would come to them all along by the Sea and that they could not shoot in the confusion of that mixture but with more prejudice to those of the Fort than to the Assailants which advice they received and was the cause that they fired nâ—â—t understanding that shooting would 1628. March give an Allarm to the City This Evening commanded in the Fort by lot the Sieur Pontlevain a Gentleman of Xaintonge who besides his Company had five others with him four French and one English The Centinel heard a noise upon the Beech of the Sea-shore but the Wind being North hindering his hearing occasioned him to hearken more attentively on that side and perceived as he thought a great Shadow which floated the height of a man before him without being able to discern what it should be nevertheless he shot his Musquet and by the light of it discovered the Battalions and saw them already in their approaches Their Captain seeing himself discovered marched two of his first Troops by the Sea as if he would go to the Port S. Nicholas and advanced betwixt the City and the Fort over against Gabut to have the Wind on their backs which blew impetuously in the eyes of those of the said Fort and afterwards having discovered their Match commanded them with a loud voice the first Attack to which they submitted without disputing and above all the Gentlemen in the Forelorn-Hope but they found the Garrison in good
some Letters his Majesty writ to him He immediately sent for us and in presence of the said Earl declared that the Intention of the King his Master was to assist us with lla his Might that if the succours were not arrived 1628. March in time the blame ought not to be imputed otherwise than to the Winds which had failed them three times and that the third time was the same day we arrived but believed that some Vessels would gain your Port that for the time to come we should resent the effects of his good will and for the present wished us to advise among our selves of the most pressing necessities Upon which offer returning him thanks we represented Hunger as our most dangerous Enemy at present and therefore supplicated the Duke to remember the promise that he had made us for Corn to give order for returning our French and to add to them two or three hundred English who suffereth in the present necessity Upon this we left him and the same day were visited by Monsieur Dolbier who entertained us upon the two Heads of our Demand and upon the last to wit the Souldiers asked if we understood that they should be armed To which we answered that nothing was more necessary the City being very much unprovided of Arms having lost a great number in their late Rencounters Upon the other Head to wit of Corn we found our selves as Merchants upon Thorns he representing to us some Emence expences that the King had been at in this Affair and that he must maintain it in the future Beside that he told us that the Duke had spent more than one hundred thousand pounds Sterling of his own Estate In brief to bring it to a Head he desired to know of us if we could assure the payment of it Now though we desired to procure this Easement and make as if it was sent you freely nevertheless 1628. March fearing that by being obstinate in it we should lose all or at least that things would be so delayed that it would be very prejudicial to you we ingaged that you should receive with great Resentment of Obligation if it would please the Duke to make only the advance and render it to you at the Head of the Bay whither you would send to meet it and give order for payment We know very well that this Answer was a trouble to him yet the next morning he came to our Lodgings and told us that as to the Souldiers the thing was agreed according to our desire and for the Corn the Duke had reckoned upon five and twenty thousand pounds and had established a certain Fond for other 25000 l. to the end to buy Provisions for us and that we should understand it from his own mouth And indeed going after Dinner to try the issue he confirmed to us the one and the other and told us he would leave the Execution of all to his Vice-Admiral who was present and who is his Creature and one of his Domesticks who he made expresly to remain there to that end demanding further of us whether we would have the Ships sent away one after another as they should be laden or send away what they could at present which would come to ten thousand Francks and send the rest altogether with a Powerful Convoy And having referred this to his Prudence the Earl of Holland who was there concluded that the last advice was to be followed And so it was agreed that one Ship of two hundred Tun should be at present sent away with so much Corn and in the same all our French order being given for the 1628. March nourishment of them whilst they waited for a Wind. After this the Duke told us he would take Post for Portsmouth to give Orders about the Army and cause the English as we desired to be dispatched with the first and in the mean time that we should go streight to London where he should not be wanting in all good Offices possible Upon which the Earl of Holland taking the word represented with great vehemency how much his Majesties intentions are for our good and that we ought not to have any fear of ever being abandoned and that this was but a beginning of what should be well prosecuted and that besides the Fleet which he now sends us he would prepare another and that we should see the same if they had any Ships All was concluded with our returning thanks and the Duke taking Post as he had said advised us to remain here a little to see what diligence would be in performing what they promised us Yesterday we saw not here any other advancement than that they provided for the nourishment of our poor French in the absence of the Vice-Admiral and having this day met with him we have obtained for our said Countrymen 6 d. Sterl per day which is the most the King allows in this place and which is an honest allowance sufficient for them to live on we having put them under the Conduct of Monsieur Savignac Ensign and Monsieur de la Lande that they together may have an eye upon the Money which shall be distributed to the Souldiers and see it faithfully done We cannot conceal from you that this Ensign hath attacqued us with insolent and injurious discourse in the presence of the Duke As for 1628. March Corn we understand that all possible diligence is used for the lading of it so that our sojourning here being no longer requisite we do intend God willing to depart to morrow for London but by different ways viz. two of us by Bristol where the Ship is which from the beginning was designed us by the Duke in which are our Men Goods and Papers and the third which will be Sieur Vincent by the way of Portsmouth not to be far from the Duke of Buckingham and to discourse the Duke of Soubize In brief Gentlemen have if you please this considence in us that we shall not spare either pains or care for the discharging our selves the best we can of the business you have been pleased to trust us with and commit unto us and shall advertise you as oft as we can of whatsoever shall pass We ought not to omit that besides the Army imbarked with the Earl of Holland which were three thousand Souldiers there are six thousand more which the King hath in pay about this place not reckoning the Scots which are assuredly ready and yet are levying other Troops so that from all sort of appearance we are made believe that they do intend to succour us in good earnest and we hope that in the mean time God will fortifie you Some of those who interest themselves in your Affairs seem to be of Opinion that you will be abandoned but we hope you will provide Antidotes against such evil suggestions for we are confident that their fears are vain and that things are in such a condition as give us cause of hoping well and therefore
have thereof writ us The Proceedings of the Captains are very much disliked but yours such as give great satisfaction The said Captains will receive the Kings Commands when the Corn shall be dispatched which possibly will not be to the contentment of them all in the mean time it will not be displeasing that you oblige them to keep to their Duty We have heretofore writ to you touching the Ship of Monsieur le Mayor taken by the English and carried to Bristol and how they would have condemned her and were upon the point to have done it alledging divers reasons for it above aâ—l the Deposition made of the Equipage in which the Mayor hath very little share but we have so sollicited the Duke that by his Authority as High-Admiral he hath suspended Proceedings for this Week and we shall endeavour all we can to procure an entire deliverance but we beseech you that for the future the desire of protecting others may not indanger the losing of our own and not to give any Pass-port which may render others suspitious for here they are very exact We shall add for the closing of this that having some days passed seen the Ambassador of Hollandâ— 1028. March who is a Person most affectionate for us we understand from him that the States had resolved to send Ambassadours to the two Kings to endeavour an Agreement and that they were to depart the 25th of Novemb. which none can hinder if they have not changed their resolution if they pass this way they will discover here whether their Inclinations are disposed for a real accomplishment of those things you were promised by the Peace Time will shew us the success of this Enterprise in the mean time we pray God that by this or any other way we may arrive at a Peace in effect as well as in name and that there may not be hid under her Ashes matter for a new Quarrel whatever it be we are assured that if any Propositions thereof be made you will do us the favour to advertise us readily of it and that you will not take any Resolutions without his Majesty otherwise if they hear any thing on this side to the contrary it will entirely ruine your Affairs We will not trouble you further than to assure you that we are both by Duty and Affection Messieurs Your most humble and most obedient Servants David Vincent Dehinse London Decemb. 25. 1627. POSTSCRIPT Messieurs WE advised you by ours from Plymouth that whether we apprehended the Intention of the 1628. March Duke aright or not it is certainly in shew for the providing of Corn which shall be sent you and we 〈◊〉 reiterate our advice if you please to make good and ready payment for it lest otherwise they should senâ— you hereafter no more Gentlemen WE sent you a Copy of the substance of this by the Sieur Pepin one of our Fellow Citizens who parted this day from this City taking his way by Dover for the lading his Bark with Wheat and other Commodities for Rochel and though he râ—â—kons to set sail with the first Wind we judge it necessary to send you this by Plymouth yet have nothing to add save that we are assured that the Corn the Duke should send to your City is lading with all diligence together with a great quantity of Bisquet Beer Beef Pork Salted Cheese Butter and other Commodities and that all God willing will be ready to sail by the end of this Month at the furthest under a puissant Convoy of Ships of War These are from Scile of France London January 7. 1628. Messieurs Yours c. Gentlemen WE have by all our former given you an account of our Negotiations since we arrived here and of the diligence we have used to procure the sending of Provisions to you if the effects have not appeared to you so soon as we have desired and your necessities required it is not from want of affection on this side and much less of our solicitation but from the difficulty of getting Ships in those places where the Corn was to be laden and contrary Winds for sending them from the 1628. March places where they were hired to the Ports where they were to take in their lading But the Sieur Bossay being arrived from you the sixteenth Current we have made such pressing Instances that a resolution is taken to send away what is ready that it may be to you an Earnest and Assurance of the rest And to confirm you further his Majesty and his Council finds it necessary that one of us should make a journey to you to inform you particularly of the good intentions they have here for you and of the preparations that they are making for your assistance Though each of us desire to take this Voyage we have agreed upon Monsieur Dehinse our Collegue and yesterday we went with him to take his leave of his Majesty he will tell you the good words that we then had which were such as we think it our duty to give you in his own terms viz. Receive not this as a Succour but as a small Refreshment to give Life and Courage to your City until the season of the year will permit a more powerful assistance to be sent you Assure your selves that I will assist you in such measure as I will procure you a good Peace from the King of France or oblige those that incompass you to retire Nay assure your City that I will never abandon you Whereupon the Duke undertaking to speak told us you see Messieurs you have the Word of a King for this and all the rest Sieur Dehinse will illustrate to you more particularly having with him the Request we presented to the Council the fourteenth present as well as the Project betwixt his Majesty and us which hath been since agreed upon If at first you apprehend that we superfluously dilate and discourse Sieur Dehinse will give you the Reasons and Motives for it as also the necessity we have had to make use of the uttermost power you have given us In the mean time you may 1628. March be assured that so far as we can judge they have 〈◊〉 here other than sincere intentions We promise oâ—â—selves that receiving this beginning of assistance with all sort of gratitude you will establish so good an order for the ready sale and consequently sure paymeâ—â— of the Provision which shall be sent you as will iâ—courage all others to supply you hereafter For â—â— parts we shall continue to labour to prevent your being in any want and to execute so far as is in oâ— power all that you have by your Instructions given â—â— in Charge We beseech you further that for our necessary assistance you will speedily return to us Monsieâ—â— Dehinse who informing us of your Condition wiâ—â— contribute much to the hastening of the Preparations and it will be needful that every three Weeks or Monâ—â— at least you send one to us We refer you
morrow Messieurs Bragneau and Gobert who we hear is landâ—d at Falmouth and comes hither by Land We shall consult together what each of us ought to do for the execution of the Commission you are pleased to give us and we desire you to believe that we shall apply our selves thereunto with the most assiduity and vigilance that is possible and that we are most extremely and sensibly troubled that we are not able to advance your Affairs more advantagiously But we have had a double obstruction the one natural to those of this Climate the other the great difficulty they 1628. March have had to get Money not but the Country abounds in it but because it is not sought by the ordinary Forms As to the good affection of the people in general it seems hitherto as we can certainly assure you as much as we can desire We shall not fail to write you diligently each of us from the place where we are going to be scattered and in the mean time we jointly assure you how much we are London Feb. 11. 1628. Messieurs Your most humble and most obedient Servants David Vincent Dehinse Gentlemen THe same day we writ to you last the Sieur Bragneau Another Letter from the Deputies to the Rochellers and Gobert arrived and brought us all yours and expressed abundantly your necessities which we together represented to the Duke with supplications to hasten the effects of his Majesties promises and accordingly he dispatched a Courier to have all things in readiness and ordered that Monsieur Bragneau and Dehinse shall be gone to morrow to establish such orders as shall be judged necessary it is that which they dispose themselves unto and will not fail when they shall be at Plymouth to write you largely of all they shall do there We refer all to them and we shall each in his Province labour to do what shall be for your Affairs and pray to God that the success may be as we desire We shall reiterate here what we have many times said in our former to wit that the Duke not finding at Plymouth the Corn as he hoped and not finding him in condition to execute that which we have 1628. March proposed on his part as to relieving us upon their Charge the fear we had that insisting upon having them of gift would have obstructed all hindered our pressing the execution of that promise we only requested him to make the advance and that you will reimburse them from thence There are some particular Merchants which have laden that which goes to you and as it is the hope of Gain that induceth them to it we assure our selves that your Prudence knows well to judge how much it is of import that they be contented by you that others may thereby be obliged to undertake the same The Wind having staid Sieur Vincent he is yet here and therefore can assure you how much it is that we are all London Feb. 14. 1628. Messieurs Your most humble and most obedient Servants David Vincent Dehinse A Relation touching the Negotiation of the Deputies of Rochel in England since the Contents of their Letter of Decemb. 25. THe third of January 1628. my Lord Montjoy and the rest who had been taken Prisoners in the Isle of Re arrived at London being conducted by the Sieur de Meaux who presented them to the Queen from the Queen her Mother who had obtained of the King the sending of them without Ransom and boasted of the courteous Entertainment which they had received even that they had been defrayed thorough the Kingdom 1628 March The Gentleman that brought them who is a witty man negotiated with the Principal of the Council for a Treaty of Accommodation for which the Ambassadours of Denmark had formerly made some Overtures we observed that he gave them frequent Visits and that accordingly they took a sudden resolution to go to France where we discovered they had a design to pursue that Negotiation Upon this we had our double fears one that these Propositions of Accommodation was but an Artifice for retarding the preparations the consequence of which we saw from the smalness of the Provisions that we knew was in the City The other that in case a Treaty should be agreed on in earnest it would be to our disadvantage in that it was unlikely that after the disgrace at Re the English would be under the necessary consideration of leaping into that Port and Citadel which their Arms could not batter and therefore upon these grounds we resolved to endeavour to divert the Duke from hearkening thereunto When we sought an opportunity to discourse the Duke in this matter he preventing it told us the eleventh of this Month that he apprehended very well to what end the courteous deportment of the French tended that not to give place to them in courtesie his Majesty would also send back the French Prisoners which should be conducted by Monsieur Dolbier In the mean time that we should esteem our selves entirely assured and give the like to those of Rochel that they would not come upon any thing which shall tend to a Treaty until that by some notable Exploit they should put themselves into a condition to do 1628. March it advantageously both for them and us that if in France they have any other belief it cannot but be advantageous to us because they may thereupon abate whereas on the contrary as to them they would redouble their diligence It was not a little satisfaction to us to hear him speak in this manner and above all when the next day he made us an Overture to present us to the Council and to express our just fears with earnestness that upon the noise which might be scattered of an Accommodation our Common Affairs might receive prejudice And thus we have given you a Narrative of the discourse it self The 13th we carried him our Memorial which having approved he rendezvoused us next day in his Chamber where about four in the Evening he came to us himself and brought us into the Council but before he did it he held a discourse which filled us full of thoughts advertising us not to be astonished if any should enquire what we had to offer to his Majesty in consideration of our demanding his assistance and above all what assurance we could give the King if he should ingage himself in our further assistance that the City should not be carried to a particular Treaty As to himself he was far from any such thoughts yet nevertheless to serve us the more profitably he desired to know of us what he should say to them in case they should propose any such thing and above all what judgment we should make of an Overâ—ure for the City to send hither a certain number of Children of the most considerable Families which being treated Honourably at the Kings Charge should serve as Hostages for the Faith of the City 1628. March This Proposition notwithstanding the Dukes Artifice
was of a very ill relish to us and fearing that a sudden Answer could not be so well framed as that it would not prejudice us whether in being too reserved which might disgust them and retard the sending of succours or in yielding too much beyond our Instructions in such sort as we should be disowned We told him in general that we could give all assurance that Rochel would never deny any reasonable Overtures for giving all just contentment to his Majesty therein but as to that which was upon particulars we most humbly besought him that as it had pleased him to command us to couch our desires in writing that it would likewise please him to let us be answered in the same manner to the end that agreeing among our selves upon that which hath been proposed to us that which we have to say may be the better digested Having testified his approbation hereof he led us from thence into the Guilded Chamber where the King was in full Council before whom having kneeled and by his Command standing up Monsieur David represented in brief that which we had more at large done in writing which accordingly he presented The King having taken it gave it us again and commanded us to read it to him which we did with a loud and distinct voice to the end that all might hear it and was of this Tenure The Deputies of the City of Rochel to his moâ—t Serene Majesty having had formerly some advice that he silently treated for an Accommodation betwixt the two Crowns in which the Ambassadours of the King of Denmark laboured and finding 1628. March themselves confirmed in this belief by the sending a Gentleman as Envoy from France under pretext of conducting some Prisoners who hath divers times had conference thereupon with the Lords of the Council and hath also had close Conferences with the Ambassadours of Denmark and that in prosecution thereof they went readily to Paris they have thought it their duty most humbly to supplicate his Majesty to give them Audience to the end they may give him and the Lords of the Council to understand what they believe is their necessary duty to represent upon this occasion First they find themselves obliged to acknowledge they have already had the Honour to render to his Majesty their most humble thanks and desire now to reiterate the same for that it hath pleased him from his own good and proper motion to hold it incumbent upon him to make good to them his Royal Word in reference to the Articles of Peace which the King their Soveraign had agreed with him concerning them in the year 1626. and for the execution of the same had sent upon their Coasts a puissant Army under the Conduct of his great Admiral in the Month of July 1 st Aâ— his Majesty in this assistance hath made his Piety and Geneâ—osity appear to all the World and thâ— entire confidence that may be put in his Royal Word by all those to whom he gives it so we hold it indubitable that he will be pleased to make it seen by us how happily they are protected whom he undertakes to defend with his Arms and that as they are invincible so his Prudence cannot be circumvented by any Artifice 1628. March Hereupon they supplicate him in all humility to consider what is the true end that those propose to themselves who manage these Overtures and bring in debate the Propositions for a Treaty It is true that Peace is desirable above all things and the City for which they act have an ardent passion for it especially being but newly delivered from the miseries of two Wars successively But the question is whether the present conjuncture considered that which is proposed is the true means to arrive at it and whether in the contrary there is not cause to fear that it is a snare extended for their ruine which if it please not his Majesty to provide against they see it most inevitable making no doubt but this Negotiation draws with it these necessary consequences First That though it may not slacken the true and good affection of his Majesty whereof they have an entire confidence yet it may at least the diligence of my Lords his Ministers in their preparations for their succours considering that the Treaty coming towards a conclusion the intercessors for it will not without doubt be wanting in designingly giving all imaginable hopes which out of frugality may retard preparations and now the least delay will be their ruine considering the condition in which they find themselves Secondly The news of Treating being noised will certainly keep at home those who prepare themselves to take Horse so soon as the Spring appears there being nothing more imprudent than to put on Harness when Peace is ready to be made Thirdly The bruit of a Treaty will indanger 1628. March the dissipating the Duke of Rohan's Troops Experience having always shewed that Forces of the nature of his composed of Volunteers without pay are easily scattered by any hopes of Accommodation every one being impatient of returning home to his own house Fourthly The worst is that during this delay those who besiege their City will with ease build all their Forts and finish their Line on the Land side assemble their Naval Army which is not yet in a good condition they will work at the Digue or Bank which they have begun without loosing one moment and at shutting the passage by Sea and inaccessibly imbarrass their Haven The Provisions which remained in the City after their furnishing his Majesties Army will be presently consumed In brief the Affairs are in such a state that the opportunity of relieving them being passed all the Forces of Europe will not be able to do any thing and then consequently the Treaty now proposed will vanish his Majesty will be derided and the City which hath ingaged with him will necessarily be forced to render and submit to the rage of a Victorious and irritated Master As his Majesty knows well how to judge of the validity of these Reasons and Consequences so they supplicate him in all humility that notwithstanding all the practices that may have been used to the contrary he will provide that there may be no slackning in any kind of the necessary diligence for preparing the relief which it hath pleased him to promise them And since the Convoy of Men and Victuals is almost ready by the great care that the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral hath taken it would please him to command the whole Navy 1628. March to set sail with the very first in expectation 〈◊〉 his Majesty may by his Forces do some 〈◊〉 worthy of the puissance of so great a 〈◊〉 and oblige those to think seriously of a good 〈◊〉 who at present have no intentions 〈◊〉 it This is word for word as we read it and we 〈◊〉 that the King at the word 〈◊〉 smiled looking upon the President of the 〈◊〉 who was on his right
hand and the Duke 〈◊〉 was next to him and said something to them 〈◊〉 English which we could not hear but by his 〈◊〉 we apprehended that he declared his 〈◊〉 to it As to all the rest both he and the 〈◊〉 heard it very attentively and commanded us 〈◊〉 deliver our Writing to my Lord Conway Seâ—â—etary of State the King promising us to 〈◊〉 of it Then we took our leave with a Serene â—ountenance without having any of the Proposiâ—â—ons made at that time to us which the Duke had 〈◊〉 of The 16th which was the Lords day we devoted 〈◊〉 his service and the next morning waited upon 〈◊〉 Duke as he rise who told us that he and 〈◊〉 more of the Council were nominated for â—ommissioners to make a Formal Treaty with us 〈◊〉 the Name of his Majesty which would serve to publish to all the World such a Union between â—im and us as would put them out of hopes of his â—bandoning us or that we should leave him by a separate Accommodation But after this he came again to the Proposition that he had before made 〈◊〉 and told us that we were to consider what we could on our parts propound the better to secure his Majesty and to oblige him to the great expence 1628. March that he must be at by undertaking in goâ— earnest our defence To this demand we judged it safer to interrâ—gate than to answer and told him that the inâ—nite disproportion betwixt us and so great anâ— puissant a Monarch considered we could not haâ—â— so much temerity as to believe that we had aâ—â— thing to offer worthy of him or to put in balancâ— with the glory of so great and generous an actioâ— as that will be of relieving us that great Kingâ— are in this the Image of God who doth good to them from whom he can receive nothing Nevertheless if there were any thing wherein we could testifie to him our entire acknowledgment and to assure him of the sincerity of our intentions in never making a separate Treaty we should hearkeâ— to it with all respect Upon this with difficulty enough and in words sufficiently confused as a man who had something to say which he would not express he touched upon two things First that which he had before opened touching some Children to send hither as Hostages Secondly that in case of necessity we would ingage our selves to give retreat to the Kings Sea Forces as well as Land and added that he had desired to confer with us hereupon before our Conference with the Commissioners to the end that before them there might be nothing to debate of which might be of prejudice to us We answered that since his Majesty had freely offered that we should draw a Conceipt for a Treaty we would thereupon discourse the matter among our selves frame the Articles and communicate them to him with all speed which he approved 1628. March of and promised to send to us after Dinner Monsieur de Vie his Secretary When we were withdrawn to commune among our selves we all agreed that the Dukes two Oâ—ertures were dangerous and a snare extended against our liberty and as to the Hostages that that would be grievous to our Fellow-Citizens to see themselves bereaved of their Children sent to breath in a strange Air and to be bound by such dear Pledges And as to the other that the consequence of that seemed more great and the danger more eminent since that if they had any thoughts of seizing us they will have no more to do than under a colour of seeking retreat enter the Forts and so force the City to return to their Ancient Yoak and that if such an unhappiness should befall us our City would be an eternal Theater of War in that the King would never receive us into his favour But that which was most to be feared was that the Yoak of their Domination would be too hard to submit willingly unto and therefore if we must lose our Liberty right Reason obliges us to remain under our true and legitimate Master and seek whilst we may to make our Conditions with him but since this was the last remedy we ought in prudence to prevent the reducing us to such a Condition and at present to temporize and avoid these Propositions so far as was possible without discontenting them but if they insisted upon it at a time so important as was the present relieving of the City we must not retard it by rejecting what they demanded but agree to all referring it to the City who afterwards will ratifie so much thereof as they shall judge necessary for their security 1628. March Being all three of this Sentiment accordingâ— in all our actions we have been most unanimouâ— we took Pen and Ink and framed the Project foâ— a Treaty to the end that the Articles for thâ— same being agreed on by us and put in writingâ— we might barter more securely in our Communication whether with the Dukes Secretary or with the Commissioners and having long enough conferred together on the matter we gave him this Conceipt The Treaty between the most glorious Prince Charles by the Grace of God King of Great Britain and the Mayor Sheriffs Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of the City of Rochel their Deputies subscribing for them THe Deputies of the City of Rochel provided with full and ample Power being at present with his most Serene Majesty and having most humbly supplicated him to take and receive those of the City of Rochel under his Protection and Safeguard and to make them sensible of the effects by an assistance worthy of his Majesty by the means of which they may be delivered from the oppression they now lie under and be restored to the favour of their Prince the most Christian King and to the enjoyment of an assured Peace and his most Serene Majesty inclining favourably to this Request hath granted them his Protection and accordingly the Articles following have been reciprocally stipulated First As to the said Rochellers they promise all the aid and favour that is to them possible for the advancement and happy success of the Arms of 1628. March his most Serene Majesty in equipping as many Men of War as is possible for them for favouring the Sea Army of his Majesty in all their undertakings as in furnishing experienced Pilots for their Neighbour Coasts and the blocking up of Rivers in providing for those in their City his Majesty shall give orders to appointing Magazines and proper places for Store-houses for all sort of Provisions if it be judged necessary in receiving Vessels which Storms may constrain to put into their Harbour or shall be thrust thither by some other necessity that even in case all the Army of his Majesty should be thereunto pressed to give them retreat and shelter and provide for their security Secondly The said Rochellers will not hearken to any particular Accommodation nor imbrace any Treaty of Peace whatsoever save with the good liking and
entire consent of his Majesty Thirdly If it shall hereafter happen that any Enterprise shall be made on the behalf of France upon the Estates of his Majesty because of the said assistance the which he now offers them they will declare themselves in his favour and will divert with all their power all designs to his prejudice Fourthly For the assurance of this the said Deputies from this time forward do promise it in the name of the said Rochellers and obligeth themselves to cause these Articles to be ratified with a solemn Oath as well by the Mayor Sheriffs and Peers of the Common Hall as also by all the Burgers and Inhabitants extraordinarily assembled to that end Fifthly As to his most Serene Majesty he promiseth 1628. March in the word of a King to succour them at his own proper Cost and Charges both by Sea and Land according to his Royal Puissance until he hath freed them from the Forts that are as well in the Isle of Re as about their City and procured them a Peace and to that end he will henceforward arm puissantly against the Spring to execute something worthy of his Majestie using means to divert the designs that are against the City and oblige the Troops that are about the City to retreat until by the happy success it shall please God to give to his Arms it shall be entirely delivered Sixthly His Majesty during all the time that the War shall continue shall assist the said City with such a number of Souldiers of his Subjects as it shall judge necessary for its Guard the said Souldiers being paid by his Majesty Seventhly His Majesty shall permit as well to his Subjects as to the Inhabitants of the said City to lade in all his Territories all ProvisIons of which it hath need and cause Authentick Patents to be dispatched and sent to all the Ports and Havens to the end that by vertue thereof without any other Pass-Ports Merchants may freely buy in their Cargazons and not be troubled in their transportation of them Eighthly That from this time forward his Majesty shall cause to be sent away with a sufficient Convoy the Corn and other Provisions which by his Command is already laden for to be sent with all speed to the said City to be distributed there at an honest price Ninthly To ease the poverty of the City and to help its most pressing necessities his Majesty 1628. March shall permit a Collection in all his Estates and at present establish such order as is necessary for that Tenthly There having been heretofore certain Articles of Treaty compiled betwixt the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral of England and the said Rochellers to some of which the said Lord Admiral did agree with the good liking of his Majesty and referred the rest to a more particular Conference From henceforward his Majesty doth agree to and holdetâ— for good and valuable those that the said Admiral hath allowed of and as to the rest he will with the first examine them and give the said Rochellers such just contentment therein as they can expect Eleventhly and lastly In case it happens that his Majesty shall come hereafter to a Treaty of Peace with the most Christian King the said Rochellers shall be thereunto called by his Majesty and no Treaty shall be concluded without stipulation expresly for their Priviledges and Immunities according to the Memorials they shall give in to his Majesty who obligeth himself further to be Garrantee for the said Treaty David Vincent Dehinse With these Articles thus compiled we expected the Secretary of the Duke but he came neither this day nor the next so that the nineteenth we went with them to the Duke who kept them to consider of at leisure and promised that he would confer upon them with the Commissioners and send for us 1628. March Being returned home we found his Secretary there who seemed very sorry for his delay and made multitude of business his excuse but for our parts we were well pleased that he had not seen us desiring rather to communicate with the Master than Servant We waited until the 22th and seeing then that he did not send for us we sought an occasion to present our selves to him but he prevented us by sending us word that he was imployed in the urgent Affairs of the King though the truth was that he avoided Meeting us upon a difficulty that he and the other Commissioners made of the fifth Article of our Treaty which he would have changed but nevertheless desired not to enter thereupon into a contest with us The means that he chose was to send his Secretary to the Duke of Soubize whom he acquainted that the terms upon which we desired that the King would oblige himself to us had something of too much strictness and therefore desired him to be a means of bringing us to qualifie and receive them in these terms viz. That his Majesty being moved with the good affections which he hath always had for the Churches and particularly for the City of Rochel he promised in the Faith and Word of a King to give them all convenient assistance unto the obtaining of a good and firm Peace The Duke of Soubize having hereupon conferred with us we received great displeasure from this change and fearing that he avoided coming from some doubt they had of not being able to obtain a Peace which would deliver us from our Fetters and above all from that Fort for which they had undertaken the War yet nevertheless we 1628. March judged it not fit to shew the least backwardness to the Treaty for we polished our Articles and so carried them the 27th ditto corrected to the Duke who receiving them of us and reading them in our presence made shew of approving them and told us that without further Communication with the Commissioners of whom he stood not in need all being agreed unto carried them to the King presented them to the Council and assured us that we should have all contentment Leaving him it was matter of great joy to us that the Duke took no more notice of Hostages or receiving the Armies into the City and that without being obliged to any debate with the Commissioners our Articles were received The 28th ditto receiving advice that there was a competent quantity of Provisions at Plymouth we waited upon the Duke to beg of him that the Earl of Denby might depart the next day and that the Sieur Dehinse our Collegue might according as it was agreed upon accompany him in his Voyage and have the honour to receive the Commands of the King and his own He carried us immediately to the King who received us with these Expressions I understand that the Earl of Denby will set sail without delay take not that which he carries at present for a succour it is but for a refreshment to the end to give courage to your City until time will permit a more puissant assistance And after a
This Sally not discovering what they had a desire to know the Mayor at all adventure caused the making of a Mine in the middle of the Trench from the said Port unto the Bullwark The 12th at night or about four or five a Clock next morning a Fire-Bullet coming from the Port Louis set one of the Houses of the Hospital on fire which being full of Hay and Straw was hard to extinguish and there was one man slain and another hurt with a Cannon-shot from the Fort Louis which discharged twenty times during the Fire the Hospital nevertheless received no damage by reason of succours which were diligent The 15th in the night a Fire-Bullet coming from the Royal Battery killed one going the Round as he went from the Court of Guard of the Port Coigne to that of the Bastion of the great Coney Warren The 17th in the morning by break of day the Mayor caused to sally out by the Port Coigne twenty five Horse and five Companies of Insantry with some Volunteers to discover if the Besiegers continued to work as was said at the first House de la Fons but they found not any body there nor any appearance of working 1628. April The 19th in the night those of de la fons came to raise and demolish to the ground some of the Houses of the Mills near the City which were half broke and from thence set three Mills on fire nearest to the City from which there went up a very high flame in the Air which made those of the Forts Louis Miroet and the Royal Battery believe that the Fire was in many Houses within and occasioned them to shoot all the rest of the night with Fire-bullets and others cross the City This was nevertheless without killing or wounding any person though there was shot that night a hundred sixty five Cannon-shot The 23th about two or three a Clock in the Afternoon the King arrived the second time before Rochel having kept his Easter at Surgres for his welcome they discharged three times the Cannon round the Batteries and Ships and above all there were many Fire-bullets shot against the City and in the Evening the same Musick was heard without other effect than the breaking the Roofs of some Houses His Majesty had been absent from the tenth of February to the three and twentieth of April that is two Months and thirteen days The 24th came to the Port of Coigne a Drum and two Trumpets to know if those of the City would receive a Herald in case the King would send one to them but they made no Answer forasmuch as that they knew not yet that his Majesty was in the Camp The same day about eleven a Clock a Fire-bullet from the Royal Battery set fire on a House full of Hay and Straw before the Steeple of S. Bartholomew joyning to the great School which is one of the Magazines of the City 1628. April and this House was almost all burnt without damaging the Magazine as well because the walls were good and very thick on that side as because there was great endeavours for extinguishing it with Oxe-Hides and other such like things MAY. The 2d of May was Elected Mayor in place of John Godfrey Esq Sieur Richard John Guitton Esq the same who had been Admiral for the Rochellers in the Wars of 1621. and 1625. The 4th ditto there was found on the Coast of St. Nicholas a little Box of Deal-boards very tite and close in which was a Note or Billet advertising the Rochellers to look to themselves for that in a few days they would be attacqued in several places and principally at the Chain and Fort of Tadon and that there would be thrown into the City great quantity of Fire-works which made them double their Guards and be in a ready posture The eleventh about two or three in the Afternoon the English Army Commanded by the Earl of Denby Brother-in-law to the Duke of Buckingham appeared at the entry between the Isle of Re and the Main Land composed of eleven of the Kings Ships thirty or forty lesser Men of War and as many other Vessels laden with Corn and Provisions and about four or five a Clock in the Evening came to Anchor at the Head of the Bay At his arrival the Army of the King which was in the Road put themselves under the Covert of of the Digue and Batteries at the Points of Coureille and the Head of the Bay which the King had made there on purpose to batter in the said Road 1628. May. and hinder the Ships which would pass for â—rrying Provisions into Rochel These Batteries 〈◊〉 so incommode the English Army and amongst â—thers the Admiral who had moved nearest to 〈◊〉 Land that in the Evening he disanchored to 〈◊〉 more at large and out of the reach of the â—annon of the said Batteries The 14th the Sieurs Bragneau and Gobert Deâ—uties for Rochel and all the French Captains seeâ—â—g that the Earl of Denby and his Council did â—ot endeavour to force the Pallisades for making â—is way with relief into Rochel and that time was â—pent without doing any thing they presented to â—im and his Council a Writing signed by them â—oth by which they supplicated them to put in execution the Commands that the King their Master had given them which was so soon as he â—hould arrive before Rochel to force the entry of â—he succours sent thither and told them that to effect the same it was necessary 1. To furnish the French Barks wherein was Victuals with a sufficient number of Souldiers for defending them against the Pinnaces and Galliots which kept the Pallisades 2. That each Fire-ship ought to have beside his Shalloop a good great Boat well armed and equipped with men to defend them against the Impediments which they might meet with in their execution 3. That all the English Ships as well those of his Majesty as others ought by their Command to advance to the Pallisades that with the French Men of War they might make the Besiegants retire and in doing of that make way for the passage of the Ships into the City as well French as English laden with Victuals 1628. May. And the better to incourage them they promised by vertue of their Commission as well in their own private names as in the name of the City that in case they should by this Enterprise come to lose any Ships the just value thereof should be paid to the King or to those whose loss it should be And further that being got into the City if they could not come out their Expences should be born at the charge of the Publick This Writing being presented to the Earl and his Council and the Deputies having livelily represented by word of mouth all they could to animate them they answered that their Commission was not to Fight but that it was only to conduct them to the place where they were to the end that their presence might
facilitate their entry into Rochel if it were to be done That having executed their Order they were resolved to set sail on Thursday in the Evening to return for England and the rather because they were advertised that there would suddenly come upon these Coasts a Naval Fleet from Spain to fight them which they would avoid because they would not hazard the losing any of the Kings Ships The English being obstinate in this resolution the Sieurs Bragneau and Gobert considering in what danger Rochel was dispatched immediately one called Vidault the same Evening to advertise the Rochellers thereof in a little Skiff that the Earl of Denby gave them and furnished him with two Letters one that he was to cast into the water over against the Pallisade which contained chiefly that the Rochellers were not to be astonished if on Thursday in the Evening they saw the Fleet set sail for that they had therein no other design 1628. May. than after having been at Bell Isle to meet a part of their Fleet which Storms and ill Weather had divided from the Body to return the more powerful to succour them with the peril of their â—ives and the other altogether contrary and most true to advertise their Fellow-Citizens of â—he little and no affection or good will at all that the English Army had to relieve them and of the resolution they had taken to set sail for England on Thursday in the Evening notwithstanding all the Prayers and Remonstrances that they could make for Fighting or at least for remaining in the Road some time to the end that whilst it should be there at hand the Rochellers might have reâ—course to the Bounty and Clemency of their Prince for Grace instead of a total ruine as this retreat would import Things being thus they advised them thereof to the end that they might see that as long as the Navy remained with them they had not sought the Clemency of the King or essayed to make their Agreement The same Evening the said Vidault got into the City at eleven at night having passed without Impediments crossing the Men of War and Pallisades and setting a good face on it filled all the City with good hopes and told wonders of the resolution of the English but to the Mayor represented particularly the true state of things and delivered him his Letter The same hour the Mayor assembled the Council of War and before reading of the Letter he made them all take a solemn Oath of secrefie as to the Contents of it and then communicated it unto them and after that called in Vidault who informed them of all that passed in the English 1628. May. Army Hereupon they resolved not to lose time and before it was too late to seek the Kings Grace under the best Conditions they could and in such sort as they should not know it came from them and as they were in pain how to govern themselves in it they concluded they could not better do it than by making use of Sieur de la Leu who some days before had desired permission to retire out of the City and had obtained a safe Conduct of the King for it and gave order to John Godfrey Esq and Sieur du Richard to go to him and desire him in their names to accept the Commission which Sieur Godfrey did the next morning going to Sieur de la Leu who accepted of it and agreed that if there were any hopes on the Kings side to obtain a Peace under good Conditions he would within a day send a Trumpet if under passable and not too advangeous a Drum and if he could not obtain anything he would not send either one or the other but when he had run the adventure of losing his life he returned to the City giving them an account of what he had done This being agreed upon and reported by the said Godfrey to the Mayor and Council of War they ordered that de la Leu should go from the City on Tuesday morning by six a Clock whilst people were at Church that he might not be observed by any person fearing that if they saw him go out his Enemies would stir up the people against him to do him some mischief and in the mean time to make shew of good news and gave out that there should be given a Chain of Gold to the said Vidault to the end that that being reported in the Kings Camp the management of 1628. May. that they had projected might be the more advantageously acted Before the Mayor dismissed the Council he made them all take an Oath upon the Bible that they would not either directly or indirectly buy any Provisions whilst the English Army should be at the Head of the Bay fearing that that would discover to the people that the said English Army finding themselves too weak to force the Digue and enter the City with relief would retire and leave them as a Prey and thereby not only hinder the Treaty which they desired to have by the means of Sieur de la Leu but even put all the City into a Consternation On Tuesday at the hour designed the Sieur de la Leu went away unobserved save by a very few and about three in the Evening whether it was from his Intercession as he had promised or from other cause is not known a Trumpet presented himself at the Fort Tadon but one of the Captains that commanded there caused them to shoot at him without suffering him to finish his sounding or a Drummer his beating whose Drum he broke nor did they advertise the Mayor of their coming he and many others being full of wrath against the Mayor and Council for not communicating to them the Letter nor tell them why they had sent Sieur de la Leu out of the Town they came even so high as to accuse them of designing by him to make a particular Peace for themselves and abandon the rest to the mercy and discretion of their Enemies insomuch that they were constrained to insinuate something of the Letter to some of the most inraged for they cryed that they believed that Godfrey had done it and that 1628. May. it was signed by Bragneau and Gobert before their departure and that it was an Artifice to destroy them to save themselves But Thursday in the Evening when the English Army set sail it appeared but too soon what the Letter was and that those Opiniastres had prejudiced themselves by their too much curiosity and little confidence in them that laboured more for their good than for their own whereof some repented and acknowledged their fault when it was more than time So soon as the said Vidault was come into Rochel the Mayor caused Signals by Fire to be made from the Towers of S. Nicholas of the Chain and from the Lanthorn to advertise the English Army of his arrival and in the morning they fixed Ensigns upon the said Towers which were to remain there until the English
remaining under the condition of your Protection When things were well with us we despised the Counsel of our Friends and if we may so express it the Respects of our Native Country even until all is lost let us find at least if you please Sir in your Justice that which we have now no more means of recovering 1628. May. by the Clemency of the King our Soveraign God hath furnished us yet with life and vigour enough though with Wounds altogether fresh and bleeding to expect your relief yet one Month more Let your Majesty second this Miracle and to your Immortal Glory see us raised and the Churches of this Kingdom restored who without your aid cannot expect less than the stroke of the Knife that iss held so near our Throats Behold Sir our most humble and most ardent Supplications or to express it better in one word it is our Testament which we shall leave written upon your Throne before Heaven and Earth for a Memorial to Posterity of the most strange and memorable Desolation that an Innocent people ever suffered the incomparable occasion whereof may ever serve to sum up the Might and Puissance of a great King as you Pardon Sir to Women little Children Mothers and Fathers dragged together to the same punishment if they cannot speak at this time but with cutting words the face of dying persons is always frightful but the anguish of Death shall never make us deny to be for all this your Serene Majesties Rochel May 18. 1628. SIR Most humble and most obedient Servants the Mayor Sheriffs Councellors Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of Rochel and for all Guitton Mayor 1628. June JVNE The first of June in the night the Rochellers sent out two Shalloops one full of Fire-works and the other a Fire-ship to blow up some of the Vessels of the Pallisade to the end to make way for the Galliots which they were to send into England but having set fire too soon one wherein were the Fire-works flew in pieces before her arrival at the Pallisade and the other run ashore toward Port-Neuf which obliged the Galliots to return into the City The same day about six or seven in the morning the Sieur Tallement came into Rochel as well about some Affairs of his own as to sound the Rochellers if they would come to a Treaty but making no advance in it returned in the Evening The same day the Sieur Grandzy Colonel of a Regiment of light Horse came to the Port Coigne demanding to speak with the Mayor or with some on his behalf Immediately the Sieurs Proâ— Pierre Toupet Defos and Mosquay were nominated by the Council to whom he offered on the behalf of Monsieur Bassompier as having Power from the King to do all he could for procuring them a good Peace they answered him speaking in the Name of all the Body and following their Instructions that they desired to remain under the Obedience they owe the King but that they could do nothing before they had communicated it to their Deputies in England the Duke of Rohan and the Churches so that after returning most humble thanks to Monsieur Bassompier they supplicated him to mediate for them to the King 1628. June for necessary Pass-Ports and in the mean time permission for some competent Provisions to come into the City that during the Negotiation they might spare their Magazines After this Answer he parted promising to return the next day in the morning to bring them an Answer which he also did and declared to them that the King would not receive their Propositions but that his will was that they should submit to an Entire Obedience to which it was told him that the City could not understand that and that they would rather expect such Event as it should please God to give them and so they separated The 7th with the Night-tide betwixt ten and eleven in the Evening the Rochellers sent out a Galliot to cross the Pallisade which he found impossible for him to do because those of the Pollisade kept good Guards with their Galliots and pursued him unto the Haven making a great many Cannon-shot at him The 10th in the morning at the opening of the Port S. Nicholas entred the Sieur de la Land du Lac coming from England bringing a Letter from the King of Great Britain signed Charles Rex dated the 19th of May old stile directed to the Mayor Sheriffs Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of the City of Rochel without having any from their Deputies which caused great jealousie in the Rochellers they not being able to believe that the King had writ because their Deputies who were near his Person did not advise of it by which Letter he gave them an assurance of a puissant succour within a few days and of his good will towards them and concern for them exhorting them to be of good courage and that in a short 1628. June time they should â—eâ— themselves delivered The Letter is as followeth Gentlemen BE not discomforted though my Fleet be returned hold out unto the last for I am resolved that all my Fleet she ll perish rather than you should not be relieved and to this end I have countermanded it and have sâ—nt Ships to make them change their design that they had taken to come back I shall shortly send you some number of Ships to reinforce it and with the help of God the success will be happy for your Deliverance May 19. N. Stile Your good Friend CHARLES R. A Messieurs les Maire Escheuin c. The 15th the Rochellers writ this Letter to their Deputies in England as well to let them understand thâ—ir nâ—cessities as to cause them to hasten the succours A Letter from the Rochellers to their Deputies in England Gentlemen This is the seventh since our last perplexity and is to press you being on our parts strangely pressed and almost oppressed even to that degree that our total loss seems not far off if you come not readily to relieve us We have Provisions but for one Month to reckon 1628. June from this day notwithstanding the best order that we can take there is already many Families in horrible extremity and who live only of Herbs yet nevertheless we hope by the help of God to draw out our lives until the middle of July and do you raise Arguments from hence for your pressing with diligence and importunity without end his Serene Majesty from whom notwithstanding our extreme necessity and the Artifice which men have used it hath not been in any kind possible to divide us Some days passed they made us new Invitations to Treat but having demanded Pass ports for sending to his Majesty and the Duke of Rohan upon the refusal thereof the Treaty is broke Fail not to represent this to him as also the confidence that we put in his Royal Word which next to God is our only support We promise our selves as much his relief as we know the facility to it is
Mould It was published thorough all the parts of the City that all those that had Bullets proper for the said Pieces should bring them to the Master of the Artillery who should pay for them seven Livres ten Scus per quintal which furnished the said Pieces in some small kind because those that had any brought them to him The same day divers Seamen of the City went over to the Camp being debauched and had been sent into the City to pervert them This caused the Mayor to proclaim thorough the several quarters of the City that all Seamen that should be taken going to the Camp should be immediately hanged upon the place and after this we heard not of any that went away The ninth of August the Sieur Ferriere Councellor who commanded that day as Captain at the Port of Coigne as also with him Sieur Desmartes went very early in the morning as if they walked out and rendered themselves to the Fort Beaulieu Those that were on the Guard at the said 1628. Aug. Port perceiving them near the Fort could not do other than make some shot at them but did not touch them The cause of their retreat was this the Sieur de la Tourvert Son of Sieur de Fleura a Gentleman of Augoumois was killed in a particular Quarrel in the Castle yard as he walked there The Lieutenant Criminal upon the complaint made to him thereof decreed the taking of the Body and judging the case but the Mayor and Council of War being advertised thereof would have the Cognisance of the business because both the Murthered and Murtherer were people drawn thither by the War and Siege Upon this they contested and each made their Party but the Mayor prevailing the Assistant of the Judge Criminal with three or four others of the Seat of Justice gave a secret Sentence against him and the Council of War condemned them in twelve thousand Livres penalty payable by any one of them for the whole his remedy reserved against the others Of this Sentence there were four Exemplifications to remain by each one of them shut up and hid in a place the most secret they could devise reserving the execution unto the relief or change of the condition of the City It came to pass some time after that the Assistant upon some suspition though nevertheless could not be proved was made Prisoner and his Papers seized among which was found this Sentence which was the thing that moved these two Councellors to leave the City but it wanted little of bringing them into a Burning Fever for being presented to the Kings Council it made ill for them for that being Officers they remained in the City from whence it was concluded 1628. Aug. that they came away from necessity and not from affection to the service of the King so that they ran a great hazard of not having the relief that Monsieur Thoiras had promised them but having a great kindness for Monsieur Desmartes he obtained of Cardinal Richelieu the referring of them to the Marshal Schomberg who some time after took their Parol As to the fourth Judge who was John Ogier Sieur of Moriniers he left not the City finding himself supported by a number of Friends and Souldiers whom he had commanded as Camp-Master of a Regiment insomuch that without difficulty he made his agreement and as to the Assistant Criminal he remained in Prison until the reduction of the City This following Narrative is taken out of the Relation of Sieur Veronneau THe tenth of August the Sieur de la Fitte Serjeant-Major to Meilleraye's Regiment together with Sieur de Delon Lieutenant of a Company in the same Regiment sent out between eight and nine in the morning a Drum who demanded on the behalf of two Gentlemen without naming them if they might have half an hours discourse with Sieur de la Goute Honorary Advocate to the King and Sieur Peter Toupet The Guard of Maubec who received the Drum brought him to the Mayors House where the Council was assembled and the Drummer having told them the cause of his coming they demanded of the Sieur de la Goute and Toupet who those were that enquired after them and if they knew 1628. Aug. what they desired of them The one and the other finding themselves surprised by this question asked leave to go and see who it was and speak to them and to the end that the Council might be informed of all that might be said and done during their discourse they chose from among themselves of the Council Benjamin Veronneau Advocate to assist at the said Conference which being begun with imbracements made particularly by the said Sieur de la Fitte of the said de la Goute and Toupet with whom he had had long acquaintance Sieur de la Fitte began to speak in this sort Gentlemen the King being most well informed of your Fidelity towards him and that you have the Flower de Luces so impressed upon your hearts that you have rejected all the Propositions that men could make you for shaking off his Dominion to serve another Prince is the sole subject of our Message Cardinal Richelieu who knoweth that I have some Acquaintance in your City hath commanded me to endeavour to confer with some of you upon the subject of your misery to the end to prevent your ruine which you seem to affect by not seeking to your Prince who is altogether good for his Grace when he would never refuse it you if you humble your selves to him He knows that your Famine is great that your Houses are already full of dead Bodies for want of Bread that the voice of dying persons sounds in your Streets and that those that have been most provident are not furnished until the first of September it is your duty to save rather those that are remaining than to loose them because they which remain are the most considerable scarcity begun with the lowest sort most subject to Rebellion he had rather have your Hearts than your Walls and be assured that if you are once reduced to his 1628. Aug. service you will not any more depart from it You believe or suspect that the King will take away your Religion and that the Cardinal will perswade the banishing it the Kingdom you are mistaken the King would be most easie would you have confidence in him and desires to win you with sweetness without using violence The experience of times passed doth sufficiently demonstrate to France that Religion is not to be planted with the Sword and that it 's God alone that inclines the Heart and illuminates the Vnderstanding with his knowledge Think of it then whilst there is time and perish not expecting Bread from England those People think not of you and if they should have a desire to succour you they will not now be able to do it The King hath a powerful Sea-Army to destroy all the force they can bring and the Digue is in such a condition that the
English will not dare to hazard the breaking of it with their Ships I pray you Gentlemen have pity of your selves This Discourse being received with Applause by the aforesaid Sieurs de la Goute Toupet and Veronneau after a short Discourse full of Thanks they acknowledged their desire of entering into the favour of their Prince and that they were come thither to hear the Propositions and Overtures that would be made that they might report them to the Council and of their own good Intentions they might assure his Majesty the Cardinal and the Lords of the Council and most earnestly intreated the said Sieurs de la Fitte and de Delon to impart to them the Propositions To which they answered they could not do that having no order therein but if the Inhabitants of the City would enter into a Treaty it behoved them to do it with the Cardinal who would be at the Fort de la Fons 1628. Aug. when they should desire it and that he might be near at hand if they would give security for his coming within the Percullis of the Port Coigne he would not refuse it provided that as caution for his Person they would give a competent number of the most qualified Citizens to remain as Hostages during the said Treaty And after this the said Sieurs de la Fitte and de Delon delivered divers Propositions but as they said without Commission The first was that since the Rochellers would not upon any account whatever renounce their obedience to France according as they had testified to those that would have drawn them to it they ought to cherish the Honour of their Prince and treating with him give some marks of their submission to his Majesty That Subjects ought not in any time to think to treat with their King as Equals especially when he sees them at the last gasp You ought to think of some Overtures which may content both Parties such as may evidence the humility of the Rochellers and advance the glory of their Prince they should of themselves demolish the Bastion of the Port Coigne which being done the King will retire without entering the City with any of his Army either by that way or any other To which was replied by Messieur de la Goute Toupet and Veronneau that if all the inhabitants of the City would have as much confidence as they in the bounty of the King and word of his Principal Ministers their Proposition might be received but that the City being composed of persons timerous and fearful they had no hopes of perswading them that they could be in security against the Army that besieged them after there should be such a breach in their Walls 1628. Aug. and begged of them not to believe that they could be so simple as to make such a Proposition and much less to make it valid and strengthen it by alledging their reasons After this the said Sieurs came to a second Overture which was that the King should enter the City with two hundred persons by the Port Coigne without going into the Streets and going along the Ramparts return by the Port S. Nicholas This second as more sweet was better hearkened unto yet nevertheless not received by the Sieurs de la Goute Toupet and Veronneau who relying upon the knowledge they had of the said Inhabitants replied that to demand the entry of the King alone were as much as to demand the entry of all his Army for that there is not one in the City who seeing his Majesty in it would not think rather to humble themselves before him and to beg his pardon than to give order that there should but two hundred persons come in when upon such an occasion there may be some Lords with the King who against his good intentions exceeding the promise given would do that which he in no wise would have done perswading the people that they could not have any security in their diffidence of him This Exception being also judged reasonable they came to a third Overture which was that in all cases to shew as well to the Kingdom as to Strangers that the King had the advantage of his Subjects of Rochel they would demolish one of the three Towers upon the Haven of the City unto the height only of the Walls This Proposition was found so moderate that the Sieurs de la Goute Toupet and Veronneau answered that if his Majesty would be content with the demolishing of all the three Towers 1628. Aug. and would solely depend thereupon they would submit thereunto without expecting more After this Conference which was three hours at least both Parties retired resolving to report each to their Principals what had passed in this Interview endeavouring to bring things to an Accommodation and to ingage in a Treaty And indeed the Sieurs de la Goute Toupet and Veronneau having in general made report to the Council who continued sitting expecting them they approved of what had passed and appointed after Dinner to consider thereof when after having heard more particularly from the Sieurs de la Goute Toupet and Veronneau what had been propounded and their Answers they resolved of ingaging in a Treaty but the manner of it was found so greatly difficult that in the end by plurality of Voices they deferred it some days to give every one time to consider with himself of the best and convenientest method and means The day after by order of the Council of War Sieur Paul Mervalt caused to be put upon the Ports and the Detachments from the Port Coigne and upon the Casements of the said Ports upon the Port and Herse or Portcullis of Maubec upon the Ports and Bridge of S. Nicholas and of the two Mills 230 great Bullets of Battery that in case of any attempts to scale the Walls to cast down upon them that should storm them The 16th of August betwixt two and three a Clock in the Afternoon came within a Musquet-shot of the Port Coigne a Herald with two Trumpets to summon the Rochellers to render themselves to the King to whom no answer was given 1628. Aug. The 21th ditto in the night the Rochellers sent out by Land a Messenger with this Letter to their Deputies in England as followeth Gentlemen WE earnestly intreat you not to lose any time for Famine presseth us You know we have been long without receiving any relief the Digue is the most facile in the middle having nothing there but floating Vessels and some Engines The Enemies Navy consists but in thirty great Ships the others being small they have also one Gally and about thirty Shalloops but ill equipped not having in all six hundred Seamen To facilitate the passage our Fire-ships are good and the others for the Mire are better some men with Hatchets to cut are necessary We believe you will be courageous in undertaking the execution of the Commands of the King of Great Britain after God all depends upon you Be assured that for
our parts we shall do our duty who are Rochel Aug. 20. 1628. Gentlemen Your most affectionate Servants the Mayor Sheriffs Councellors and Peers of the City of Rochel and for all Guitton Mayor The Superscription Messieurs David Vincent Bragneau Dehinse and Gobert The 22th the Rochellers received advice that the Sieur Grossetiere who had been taken returning from England whither he was sent to hasten succours 1628. Aug. had been carried to the Kings Camp to be proceeded against by way of Process whereupon besides that from the first news of the taking him they had writ to the Camp demanding the having him treated as a Prisoner of War and to be used in his Quarters as had been hitherto practised by one to another declaring that they should do the same to the Sieur Fiquere their Prisoner as they should do to others belonging to them They writ also to Cardinal Richelieu by a Drummer who found him at Chatiliers Barlot whither he was gone for change of Air because of the Contagion that was in the Army and delivered him this Letter following The Rochellers Letter to Cardinal Richelieu in favour of Grossetiere My Lord IT is some time since we understood the taking of the Sieur Grossetiere a Gentleman gone from hence in the imployment of this City under our Commissions who passing thorough one of the Provinces of this Kingdom was taken arrested and brought into the Kings Army We immediately writ thereof to one of the Generals relying upon the Common Right of War and of the quarter that hath been always given hitherto by the one to the other but we now hear this morning that they pretend to draw up Process against him and deliver him over to the Court of Justice to condemn him to Death as if he were accused of some Crime as a man without Authority at which we are most justly concerned he not having undertaken either Voyage or any action since this War but with Commission from us by which he hath been Authorised It is therefore 1628. Aug. that we address our selves finally to you my Lord who knows perfectly the intentions of the King and to manage them with most excellent prudence and by your Authority to keep men within bounds contrary to the natural heat of particular persons to the end to supplicate your Greatness that the said Sieur Grossetiere may not meet with any evil treatment who hath not in his Comportment done any thing to be spoke against having had our Order and Commission for all his Transactions according as we now certifie you and let it please you that we dare from your bounty promise our selves that by the present Messenger who is an Express you will let us know that this Address will not be fruitless and that you will cure us of the perplexity we are in upon this occasion and of all troublesome Events which may proceed from this Occurrence Above all we remain Rochel Aug. 22. 1628. Monseigneur Your most humble and most obedient Servants the Mayor Sheriffs Councellors Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of the City of Rochel Guitton Mayor Cardinal Richelieu's Answer to the Rochellers by the same Messenger that carried theirs Gentlemen IAm sorry that your Actions beg not the favour you desire from the bounty of the King rather than your words but I am greatly astonished that hindering 1628. Aug. all the City where you are from receiving the effects of his Majesties mercy you seek it upon a particular account wherein the generality of your Citizens have not any interest you are not in a state or condition to treat as Equals with your Master and to desire it is Criminal Nevertheless not to augment by this way the number of your faults I do not know what is the Kings pleasure whose Bounty is infinite upon the subject of Grossetiere But this I know that he cannot receive any punishment that is not less than his demerits It is your duty to keep those that are in the City where you are within the Circuit of your Walls his Majesty being resolved not to suffer any longer that his Souldiers pass the Line towards Rochel nor those of Rochel approach the same bounds and pass unpunished I advertise you hereof to the end that none of you be taken by inadvertency In the mean time I pray you believe that I have with passion desired that you may give me cause to evidence my affection and that I am very glad of an occasion to let you know that I am From Chastellier Aug. 23. 1628. Gentlemen Your affectionate Servant Cardinal Richelieu The 24th ditto the Rochellers sent a Letter to their Deputies in England of this Tenure Gentlemen WE have expected three Months ago the effects of the excellent Letters that we received from the King of England but we do not hear by what disaster it is that we remain here miserable without seeing 1628. Aug. any succours appear Our Souldiers can do no more they die of Famine in the Streets and all our Families are frightened with groans sighs indigency and uncertainties nevertheless we shall hold out until the last day But in the Name of God stay not longer or we shall perish Rochel Aug. 24. 1628. Yours c. The 26th ditto about eight or nine a Clock in the Evening the Rochellers sent out by Land an Inhabitant of the City called Beron a Watch-maker as a Messenger into England to hasten their relief but being in the Kings Quarters at Estre he was discovered and as soon taken and having found by him a Billet in his Doublet behind betwixt the shoulders where he had hid it they condemned him to be hanged as they did also two others who went out at the same time SEPTEMBER The 4th of September the Sieur Arnault Master of the Camp of the Carrabines of the King came on behalf of his Majesty to the Port de Coigne to speak to them making his pretence to be the desire of treating for the exchange of Sieur Fequiere his Brother-in-law with the Sieur Grossetiere Immediately there was sent thither on behalf of the Mayor and his Council the Sieurs de Fiefmignou and Riffault for the Common-Hall and Defos and Moquay for the Burgers carrying also with them the Sieur Fiquiere They remained with him in Conference from eight in the morning until one in the afternoon and continued 1628. Septemb. the same Conference the ninth as also the twelfth thirteenth and fourteenth following and in the end after these long Debates it was decreed that the next day in the morning there should be Deputies sent to Cardinal Richelieu and to that end were nominated Sieurs Riffault and Journault who after having had Pass-ports of the King went to wait upon the Cardinal at Ronsay with whom they conferred until the Evening and then returned to their City with hopes of obtaining their Peace under Conditions good enough but the coming of two Natives of the City viz. Mesnier and Beaumont who arrived the same day from England
the wise gave no heed to this but the common people comforted themselves with it whatever it was this night had something extraordinary which caused the inflammation of the Air in such a manner as occasioned a great Allarum in the City and that all run to the places of Arms and Court of Guards where they remained until day upon the fear of those Fantasmes which the Watch took for men 1628. Septemb. The 28th of August an Inhabitant called John Mattin came into Rochel from England bringing a Letter from the Deputies advising that the Army was put to Sea and was on this side the Channel and that it had come sooner had not the death of the Duke of Buckingham who was killed at Portsmouth by a Lieutenant hindered it the History of whose Death because he was a great Lord and the first Author of this War I have inserted here with the circumstances of it having extracted it from the Journals of one of the Deputies who was in England and since his return hath given me a Narrative of it An Extract of the Journal of Sieur Vincent THe 26th of September 1628. being at Portsmouth where the preparations for the Naval Army were preparing with all diligence the Duke of Buckingham sent for us early in the morning and communicated to us some Letters received from the Kings Camp before Rochel by which they gave him advice that the City had then received a notable refreshment of Victuals and particularly fifty or sixty Oxen We answered that these reports were scattered artificially to retard our relief and that except Oxen could fly it was impossible that the News could be true The Duke of Soubize came in at the very instant of time and confirmed the same that I had said beseeching him not to slacken upon this noise his good affections and diligence in our Affairs He promised us that there should not be one moment of delay but however he continued the news and intended himself to carry it to the King who 1628. Septemb. was four miles from thence and thereupon he got a slight Breakfast and going from the Table he was presented with a certain Plat-form for a Building by a Captain of a very little stature and viewing of it went towards the door where the Tapistry being held up for him he stayed some time looking upon and considering the Platform In this place and at this instant there came up a certain young man a Lieutenant of a Company who over the shoulder of the said Captain stabbed him with a Knife at one blow in the Stomach and so retired into the Croud The Duke laid presently his hand upon his Sword and pursued him the length of the Antichamber pronouncing these words Ha Dog thou hast killed me Then finding himself to faint let fall his Sword and pulled out the Knife himself which he who stabbed him had left in his Body As soon as it had taken wind he fell upon the ground and being lifted up by his Servants was laid along upon a Table to make the blood come from him which came out at his mouth and then he gave no more any sign of life This was so sudden as one can scarce imagine We being in the Chamber at the door where he was stabbed there rise a report that the French had killed the Duke The noise and confusion which was in the Croud being amongst his Train put us into a most great Allarm every one laying their hands upon their Swords crying and demanding who it was and we had assuredly run a great Adventure had not he who committed the Murther seeing others wrongfully accused accused himself declaring with a loud voice that it was he Whereupon being seized and interrogated upon the cause which 1628. Septemb. had moved him to this action he answered that they would find it in the Crown of his Hat where presuming that he should be killed upon the place he had hid them and there they found a Writing the substance whereof was that the Duke having been declared by Vote of Parliament a Copy of which he recited an Enemy to the State his Life by the Laws of the Kingdom was exposed as a prey and to this publick injury he joyned another as to his own particular viz. in that for advancing his own Favourites he had twice prevented him of a Captains Command when it was his due so that he believed he had a right to revenge by that Stab both himself and the Publick And as he had committed this to writing he continued afterwards to declare the same by word of mouth that having killed a Publick Enemy he was authorised therein by the Laws of the Land and other Confession than this they had no way to draw from him the Rack not being permitted in England But to return to the Duke so soon as he was expired all the great Croud which filled his House went away by little and little and returning thither two hours after I found the Body extended in a Corner of the Room upon a miserable old Mat and guarded solely by one Valet de Chambre And this opposed to the splendour in which we saw him in the morning having about him all the gallantest Nobility of the Kingdom and the Principal Captains of the Army presenteth to us a sad document of the vanity and inconstancy of the fading things of this World The News was carried presently to the King who was in his Chappel at that days service When they told it him in his Ear he stirred 1628. Septemb. not from his place nor enquired after any particulars of it which was taken for a Testimony of the great Reverence he carried to the Place and Action which he would not trouble only as a mark of a grand Emotion they observed the blood to come into his face which became as black as a Hat Prayers being ended he enquired after the Fact sent to condole the Widdow and assured her that the Offices of the Father should be preserved for the Son and sent us word also that this accident should not in any kind divert his good will and kindness giving us order to acquaint our City with the same This was the end of this great Lord raised by King James and had all the Power under the present King his Son who having put him upon amplifying the Rights of his Royalty beyond what the Laws of England seem to permit he had drawn upon him the hatred of all the Kingdom as appeared during his life and much more after his death in that they would at a great rate have redeemed the life of him that had assassinated him The 27th of Septemb. new Stile about seven or eight in the Evening the Land-Forces and all the Batteries made a Consort with Cannon and Musquet-shot mixed with an infinite number of Fire-works and cryes of Vive le Roy which continued above an hour and a half in Celebration of the Kings Nativity The 28th of Septemb. arrived in Rochel
a Gentleman called Champ Flewry from the English Army with two Letters in Cyphers the one from the Duke of Soubize to the Dutchess his Mother and another from the Deputies to the Mayor 1628. Septemb. and Body of the City assuring them that before day was gone they would see the English Fleet arrived and about four or five in the Evening a great Party of the same appeared at the entering into the Road betwixt the Island and the Main and came to Anchor in the great Road of S. Martin and a la Palisse expecting those of the Fleet which were behind The 30th ditto it came to the Head of the Bay being joyned in the morning with a Squadron as it was in the Evening with another which came in by Antioch and so joyned altogether In the mean time those of the Camp remained not idle but put themselves in a posture of powerfully resisting the English and wrought diligently day and night to reinforce anew the Digue and Pallisade by sinking of Ships raising of Batteries placing of Candlesticks and Engines furnishing the Ships with Men and Ammunition and guarding the Coasts with Horse and Foot In brief they omitted nothing that could be done upon this occasion OCTOBER The second of Octob. new Stile the Rochellers seeing their succours at the Head of the Bay sent by Land the Sieur de la Land du Lac to acquaint them with the extremities that they were reduced unto and how the Digue was composed and the places where they might pass it The same day in the Evening the Rochellers received a Letter from their Deputies in England as followeth 1628. October The Deputies Letter to the Rochellers Gentlemen THe Fleet being scattered at Sea and not being able to re-assemble until Saturday in the Evening you have seen that the Weather since hath been improper for them but rest assured that they will take the first opportunity and that all are so disposed to do well that they will not depart before they have with Gods assistance relieved you This is the Resolution of his Majesty the Intention of the General all the Captains and Souldiers remain therefore most assured hereof From the Road in the Head of the Bay Octob. 1. 1628. Gentlemen Yours c. The third of Octob. new Stile about seven or eight in the morning the English Army Commanded by the Earl of Linsey set sail and seemed to give order to advance betwixt the two Points but stayed there two hours with some light approaches on each side but nevertheless without coming to blows nor did they any thing more than discharge many Cannon-shot and send some Fire-ships without any effect and after this retired to the great trouble of the Rochellers who believed they ought to have done better for they had already in their hopes swallowed the Provisions brought them by the Fleet. During this shadow of Attacque the Rochellers discharged many Cannon-shot from their Steeples Towers and Batteries on that side of which it 1628. October was reported in the Evening that one shot from the Tower of S. Nicholas killed four Persons of Quality on the side of Coureille In the City was also killed with one shot coming from the Gally the Sieur Gedeon Mignonneau The fourth of Octob. the English Army returned a second time as if it intended to attacque the Army of the King but did no more than the day before discharge some Cannon-shot and set six of their Fire-ships on fire but being a Calm and the Wind at North they effected nothing but burnt behind the Points of the Head of the Bay and Coureille unto the Plain of Angulin This saddened the hearts of the Rochellers greatly and took from them by their ill beginning almost all hopes of being delivered by this Army The seventh the Sieur Paul Mervault caused to be cast in Rochel four Culverines one whereof failed the other three proving good The same day the King sent a Gentleman into the City to know if they would come to any Treaty of Peace but he returned the next day without doing any thing the Rochellers refusing all particular Treaties and making again the forementioned difficulty of knowing how to address to the King The eighth ditto the English Army made a Signal accompanied with a Cannon-shot upon the arrival of Sieur de la Land du Lac which the Rochellers answered with the contrary Signal of a Fire upon the Tower at the Chain and with a Cannon-shot The eighth ditto there came into Rochel three Souldiers called Chardeuine la Verdue and la Paillette coming from the English Army with 1628. October each a Letter which they delivered to the Mayor being of this Tenure The Deputies aboard the Duke of Soubize their Letter to the Rochellers Gentlemen WE have given you already advice of our coming and of our firm resolutions to relieve you we send this to reiterate the assurances we have before given you and to tell you that though the Skirmishes of Tuesday and Wednesday had no effect you ought not to be discouraged but to hold your selves assured that with the help of God we will not depart from hence before you are either saved or we destroyed We have with Gods help force sufficient to make us hope well and see his bounty in your speedy deliverance if you can help us therein we do certainly conclude that you will not be sparing in it If you have any advice to give us touching the Pallisade and the manner of attacquing it endeavour to let us know it in the mean time we pray God to fortifie you The Duke of Soubize who will subscribe this salutes you and desires you to let this be as well for the Dutchess his Mother as for you We are From aboard the Duke of Soubize Octob. 6. 1628. Gentlemen Your most humble and most obedient Servants and Deputies Soubize Ph. Vincent J. Dehinse D. Bragneau J. Gobert 1628. October Besides this Letter the Messenger that brought it told Wonders of the Preparations that were made against the next High-tide and above all that they had three Ships to use as a Mine to blow up the Digue with in each of which there were many thousands of Powder from which they expected great effect for breaking the Digue and entirely opening the passage This caused some particular persons fore-judging that with the said High-water Victuals would come into the City to make on the tenth eleventh twelfth and thirteenth a publick sale of Corn Bisquet and all sorts of Provisions and there was found one amongst others who had forty Bushels of Corn and as many of Wheat ten Quintals of Bisquet twelve Bushels of Beans and as many of Pease six Bushels of Fitches one Bale of Rice twelve Quintals of dried Fish of Virginy and six Barrels of Butter As this did well with many so it killed a great many others whose Stomachs being debilitated by ill nourishment and the little that they had in a long time eaten were left without heat
strength left them not so much as to traverse their Cannon or to Toll their Great Bell for the Sermon and when they set their Guards they found often half of them dead in the morning and the like by their Centinels in so much that many Nights passed without 1628. October having any persons in the greatest part of the Courts of Guard so that the least attempt had carried the City but God looked upon us in mercy and prepared the King to exercise towards us the Wonders and Miracles of his Mercy and Clemency During the horrour of this Famine as there was Examples of Cruelty there was also many of great Charity in a free and voluntary distribution of their Over-plus as others had done of their Plenty for inriching of themselves and especially Sieur Thinault a Merchant and one of my Uncles called Sieur Duprat who having in their House a most great quantity of Wheat and other Corn sold not one grain but distributed it to those whom they judged to be in want for to repay them only when God should restore them to peace and ability Others there were who distributed Charity so in secret as the Authors thereof were never discovered and amongst others I had knowledge of one which seems to me most remarkable Le Sieur de la Goute a Honorary Advocate to the King had a Sister Widow to a Merchant called Prosni who being a very religious and charitable Woman when the Famine begun to be more sharp than ordinary assisted freely the Poor her Sister-in-law Wife to the Sieur de la Goute being of another humour reproved her for it asking her in choler what she would do when she had given all away to which she answered My Sister the Lord will provide for me The Famine increasing and the Siege continuing this poor Widow who had four Children finding her self in a streight having no Provisions at all left went to 1628. October her Sister for relief but instead of comforting her she reproached her telling her she had provided well to be so reduced with all her great Faith and fair words that the Lord will provide for me and that in good time he would provide for her This poor Womans Heart was wounded with these words and returning to her House much troubled resolved to take death patiently Being come home her Children met her with great joy as formerly they used to do but now told her that a Man whom they did not know it being late knocked at the door and as soon as it was opened threw in a Sack of Wheat of about a Bushel which is near two English Bushels and then went readily away without saying any thing to them This poor Woman though hardly able to believe her own eyes went presently out of doors and with the greatest speed she could in her famished condition run to her Sister-in-law and told her with a strong voice as soon as she saw her My Sister the Lord hath provided for me and then returned without discoursing further with her By the means of this unexpected relief coming so opportunely she spun out the time until the Kings entrance and never knew to whom she was obliged for this good and merciful act The 21th ditto betwixt seven and eight a Clock in the Evening the Kings Naval Army sent four Fire-ships against the English Fleet which obliged some Ships to cut their Cables but others defended themselves and turned them aside by the help of their Dragontins and Shalloops The 23th ditto with the morning-tide the English Army set sail coming to the Pallisade and 1628. October behind the Point of Coureille but without making any attempt contented themselves with making some unprofitable Cannon-shot The 25th in the night the Mayors House was again set on fire with dry branches cut from Fir-trees well prepared with Sulphur Pitch Turpentine and other combustible things but it was presently discovered and as soon extinguished And further the same night two hours before day twenty or thirty Souldiers set fire on the Port of Coigne but those that were on the Guard at the said Port put it out immediately The 26th there came by Land into Rochel a Gentleman from the English Army who brought three Letters one from the Duke of Soubize to the Dutchess of Rohan his Mother the other two from Sieur Vincent the one to the Mayor in particular and the other to the Body of the City in general by which they gave advice of all that passed in the said English Army and above all that my Lord Montague having communicated with Cardinal Richelieu for a Treaty of Peace was gone Post for England from whence they expected him every day and intimated that in the mean time they would procure a Pass-port for two of themselves their Deputies to go to the Kings Camp to communicate with them and from thence to go to them in the City to the end that at the arrival of the said Montague all things might be disposed to a good Peace and that the General charged them to give this advice and that in the mean time he was resolved to attempt against the Digue if the weather would serve The same day this Gentleman was sent back to the English Army with Letters in Cyphers which 1628. October expressed the great and last extremity of the City conjuring them if they would relieve it to do it within a Week at furthest otherwise they should be forced to render to any conditions Immediatly after this Gent. was sent back with his dispatch to the English Army the Mayor assembled the Council in the Town House to consider of what was necessary to be done and after mature consideration of the matter contained in the abovesaid Letters the report of the said Gentleman the miserable condition to which they were reduced the great and extreme necessities which pressed them their great feebleness such as they were not sufficient nor capable to resist the least assault their Enemies should make and the little or no appearance of being relieved by the English who had been there a Month with folded Arms they concluded that it was in vain to expect any longer relief from the English or also from their Treaty for that they should be all dead before their Negotiator would return and therefore upon the whole they resolved to apply themselves to the King for his grace and mercy For that end they took occasion from a Letter that the Sieur Arnault had writ that day to the Sieur Fequiere by the Drummer who brought him his Victuals which represented to them the strength of the Digue and the little hopes they had of relief from the English and that a good Peace would be better for them got by sending to the King to receive them into his Grace The said Sieur Fequiere having communicated his Letter to the Mayor they prayed him in his Answer to Sieur Arnault to advise him to come the next morning to the City and they would confer with
him 1628. October The said Sieur Fequiere accepted most willingly this Commission and presently writ accordingly Now I hold my self obliged in duty to impart unto the Publick a Narrative which came from Cardinal Richelieu's own particular Family a little after the rendition which is believed to have been composed either by one of his Secretaries or possibly by himself which may very well serve to illustrate that which follows touching the Conditions granted the Rochellers and shew the manner and grounds upon which they were granted the Tenour of which is as followeth Cardinal Richelieu understanding by Letters from Sieur Fequiere to Sieur Arnault his Brother-in-law that the Rochellers desired Pass-ports to seek his Majesties Grace which he was pleased with his first care was to give the King ready advice thereof who received it with great joy and immediately did the Cardinal the Honour to go to him to Sousay where he assembled the Council for to deliberate upon some Conditions under which they would receive the City notwithstanding their obstinacy in their Rebellion All agreed that they had merited a most rigorous Chastisement and that they ought to make them a Signal Example to all those of the Kingdom which might for the time to come have a thought of opposing the will of the King and making Revolts or Commotions in the Estate But when it came to be debated though all agreed that the King might in Justice take the severest way yet whether that would be most for his Grandeur and Glory and most agreeable to the true Maxims of State they were divided into 1628. October three different Opinions some for the â—igour of Justice others that the King should take this occasion to signalize his Clemency and a tâ—â—â—d sort were for a middle way betwixt both that after the punishing some of the greatest Mâ—tâ—â—â—ers to shew Grace to the rest The Cardinal gathering the sense of one and the other without giving his Opinion represented all to the King to the end that he should make a decision thereof yet nevertheless tempered his discourse so as his inclinations might thereby appear Beginning with those who were for making the City an Example of Justice he said their advice was very well fortified and possible that none can be rendered more deserving punishment considering her obstinacy the trouble it hath a long time given his Majesty and that the Ruines of no place which the King hath demolished to the Foundations cry higher for teaching the people obedience to their Soveraigns that this and that there is no Ramparts secure against Rebellion As to those which held the middle Opinion he extolled their Reasons and said that in such Rencounters the punishment of the most Culpable was an awe upon Mutineers and the pardoning others shewed the bounty of the Prince and hindered the obstinacy of a Community in like cases as is ordinary with those that despair not of mercy of which the Rochellers was even then an Example But when he came to the advice of those that concluded for a General Pardon he inlarged and insisted very much upon their Reasons And first he represented as most considerable that which 1628. October they had supposed that possibly there was never so Illustrious an occasion as this presented to any Prince to signalize his Clemency which is the vertue by which Kings approach nearest to God whose Image they are most in well doing giving life and not in destroying and exterminating it Further that the more culpable that Rochel was and had given the King cause of great irritation the more it would make his Magnanimity appear in after overcoming the City with his Invincible Arms reducing it to a naked submission to him to surmount himself in pardoning it in doing of which the Celebrated Name of this City would proclaim his Glory thoroughout the World and transmit it to Posterity shewing him thoroughout as an incomparable Prince be it in conquering or in the moderate use of his Victories In the second place he weighed the Reasons they had alledged drawn from Rochel it self who though it was culpable beyond what they could say nevertheless the lives of so many thousands as their faults had cost were sufficient Victims to the Justice of his Majesty and interceded for the remainder of the miserable People which might be left which may be judged of by those that are every day seen as Anatomies and Fantasmes about the Line and indeed true Images of Death the sight only whereof doth suffice to disarm his Majesty of all revenge and though he had had a design to triumph over and consume them to change all his Irritation and Thundering into pity He added that it seemed good that they should also consider of what had been alledged and that though their Crimes were most great and without 1628. October excuse yet they had not committed that offence which ought to exclude the people from all hopes of mercy as if they had shaken off the Authority of their Soveraign and submitted to another Scepter Indeed factious spirits made use of the danger of his Majesties forcing their Religion to deceive them into the adhering to the Arms of England for the preserving of their Priviledges but his Majesty knows that the Rochellers made use only of that pretence to the English and that there were other reasons which carried them to the undertaking of this War for that he was perfectly informed that the Rochellers never intended to give themselves up to them which he knew as well by divers of his Servants which he had secretly in the City as from his Confidents which he maintained in England who had constantly writ him that though they had every way assaulted the Fidelity of their Deputies and deferred relief to oblige them to offer themselves to them they would never hearken to it and the perfect Confirmation of this they received by the Packet which one of their Pinnaces coming from England threw into the water when at the passing of the Digue they thought they should be taken Their Treaty made with the King of England and all their Negotiations being deciphered it appeared that though the English had highly Courted them for getting Conditions to the prejudice of this Crown they would never be brought to it and defended themselves therein with all the constancy and firmness that their condition could bear And therefore though they are most Culpable yet since they have preserved their hearts and affections for France it seems to invite his 1628. October Majesty to mercy and not to use them as such who would have shaken off the Yoke of the Monarchy and offered the hand to another Master In the third place he insisted much upon reason of State upon which this advice was founded and pressed the present Constitution of Affairs to require that his Majesty by a Signal example of Clemency and an exact Capitulation mutually agreed upon should endeavour to overcome the Arms of the Duke of Rohan and
other rebellious Cities who had all their eyes upon Rochel for according to the usage that they shall meet with they will conclude as to themselves suppose then that his Majesty exercising rigour towards them he makes the least paultry Town stand out a Siege and obstinately resist unto the last were it not better to grant an absolute Pardon to this City whereby he may dispose the rest to beg the Clemency of his Majesty who by this means will in a little time see all his Country in peace and may then pursue his designs against the Spaniards Invasion of his Allies He added that which themselves had also alledged that though in all appearance the Rochellers were not able to do any more yet nevertheless he was not to believe that they had deferred treating until the last morsel and that as they had been three Months deceived in their Opinion that they still could not hold out any longer it may be that those that have the major Vote and who fear their Heads may prevail for hindering the rendition and hold out yet some time and the least delay is of great consequence the Affairs of Italy being very pressing Above 1628. October all it behoves us much to consider that my Lord Montague who was gone into England was expected back every day with the allowance of his King for the rendition of the City and it will be infinitely more for his Majesties glory to receive his Subjects into Grace upon their repentance and voluntary submission to his Commands than at the Intercession of a Stranger Prince and therefore it imported them very much to prevent the said Montague to the end that at his arrival he might find his Majesty Triumphant in the place of his glorious Conquest and that they might not be obliged in Contests which otherwise they may have with him touching the Conditions of this rendition and to ingage in a further War with England when their Affairs require the contrary the making of Peace with them This was the substance of that which Cardinal Richelieu represented to his Majesty who declared that having well weighed all circumstances he would deceive those of Rochel in giving them cause to bless his entry into the City and commanded that they should have all the assurances possible given them for their Lives Goods and Religion and that forgetting all their faults they should be treated as his other Subjects provided they remained faithful for the time to come but that he intended to demolish all their Walls for taking from them the means of rendering themselves at any other time miserable and that they should not speak any more of their Priviledges which had hitherto inflamed them unto so high a degree This is the Contents of the above-mentioned Piece which I esteem worthy to be inserted in this 1628. October place it serving to clear the Articles which were afterwards agreed to Rochel The 27th the Mayor and Council being assembled those that had been sent to the Sieur Fequiere reported that he thought it necesiary for reaping the fruit of his Intercession which they had desired that they should nominate some with whom he might communicate before the arrival of his Brother-in-law who would not stay as he hoped which being approved of they deputed to him the Sieurs Viette Riffault Mocquay and Charles de la Coste The same day about ten in the morning Sieur Arnault presented himself with Pass-ports for the Deputies if they would send any and the four above-named being chosen went with him to the Cardinal Richelieu who after hearing them told them that he had no Commission from the King to treat with his Subjects of the City of Rochel but only to hear their Propositions and Demands Nevertheless that he would not cease to intercede for them to his Majesty to procure them their Lives Religion and Estates but as to their Priviledges and form of Government his Majesty would reserve that in his own Power not that he would put Souldiers into the City nor make a Citadel but rather demolish the fortifications and that in a day or two at furthest they should return the same to him or other Conditions to accept of and besides that he gave them this Answer by word of mouth he gave it them also in writing in a little Note Being come back the Mayor and Council ordered that the Bell of the City-House should be tolled the next day being October 28. at seven in the 1628. October morning to the end that they might resolve upon these offers and being assembled in the Hall of the City and having heard the report of the Deputies according to the tenure of the said Note or Billet they resolved to receive the best Conditions of Peace that they could get and to that end was named the Sieurs d'Angoulin and de la Goute to agree with the above-said Deputies upon the Articles Having composed the Articles and shewed them to the Council the Deputies went from the City betwixt three and four in the Evening and came to Sausay to wait upon Cardinal Richelieu who deferred them till the next morning but in the interim caused them to be well treated both as to Bed and Board The next morning being the 29th they were called before him finding him with my Lords the Keepers of the Seal Marshal Schomberg and other Lords of the Council and presented to him their Propositions and Demands upon which he told them that the King was pleased of pure grace to grant them their Lives Estates and Liberty of Conscience but as to that Head which imported the treating in general for all those of their Party that it did not behove them to meddle with any thing but what concerned themselves only according as the French in the English Army treated for themselves apart and the better to perswade them to it he shewed them the Deputies from the English Fleet but without permitting them to speak together In the end after many Contests and above all about liberty of the exercise of their Religion within the City they agreed upon Articles of Peace under the Conditions as followeth 1628. October The Mayor Sheriffs Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of the City of Rochel represented by John Berne Esq Sieur d'Angoulin Esq and Sheriff Peter Viette Daniel de la Goute James Riffault Peers Elie Mocquay and Charles de la Coste Burgers having the Commission of Deputies from the Body of the said City acknowledging the great faults that they have committed not only in resisting the just will and pleasure of the King as they have a long time done in not submitting to him and opening of the Gates of Rochel as they were obliged but further in adhering to Strangers who have taken Arms against this State do supplicate with all humility his Majesty to pardon them the Crimes which they have committed in governing themselves in this manner and to receive for satisfaction thereof the obedience which they desire at present to render
to him opening the Gates of the City which they will actually deliver into his hands to dispose thereof as it shall please him and to prescribe to them such manner of living as he shall think most proper for the time to come without other Conditions than such as it shall please his Majesty in bounty to give them which they implore with humility beseeching him to treat them as his Subjects who will hereafter live and die in the most perfect obedience that hath ever been rendered to any Soveraign The King having regard to the repentance of his Subjects the Inhabitants of the City of Rochel and to their Protestations of living for the time to come as they are obliged by their Birth and that they will the thirtieth of October give Evidence thereof by opening the Gates of the said City of Rochel and deliver the City up to his Majesty for him to dispose thereof as shall seem good unto him hath commanded and given in charge to the Sieurs Marillac and du Halier 1628. October Marshals de Camp of his Armies to promise them in his Name as followeth First The pardon of their Faults and Rebellions committed since the last Commotion with all security for their Lives and the exercise of the Reformed Religion in Rochel Secondly That they shall be established in all their Estates moveable and immoveable of what nature soever they be notwithstanding all Condemnations Gifts and Confiscations which may have been made by reason of Rebellion except the enjoying the Revenue of their Lands their Moveables Woods that have been cut and Debts which have been actually and without fraud hither to received Thirdly That all Souldiers Subjects of the King who are at this time in the City of Rochel though not Burgers or Inhabitants of the said City shall of grace enjoy what is above expressed and the Heads Captains and Gentlemen shall go out of the City with their Swords by their sides and the Souldiers with white Staves in their hands after the Names and Sirnames of every one and their Oaths is taken never to bear Arms more against the service of his Majesty upon pain of forfeiting the present Grace And as to the Captains and Souldiers that are English who are in the said City they shall if it please his Majesty be conducted by Sea into England without any prejudice done to them Fourthly The said Rochellers as well Inhabitants as Souldiers shall be discharged of all acts of Hostility in general whatever Negotiations in strange Countries and of all others without being proceeded against for any of them except such as are excepted for their execrableness by the Edicts and such as may concern the Person of the King 1628. October Fifthly In like manner the said Rochellers shall remain discharged for casting of Cannon minting of Money seizing and taking of Money as well belonging to the King as Ecclesiasticks and others in the said City together with Contributions ordained for the maintenance of Souldiers decreed against the absent and even constrained by the demolition of their houses and of all other employments in things abovesaid in the said City Sixthly All the Inhabitants and Souldiers shall in like manner remain discharged of all Judgments Sentences and Decrees which possibly may have been given against them for their Rebellion during these troubles Seventhly That all Judgments as well Civil as Criminal given in the Councils held extraordinarily in the said City the Judges and Commissaries who have assisted therein shall not therefore be proceeded against nor even for the particular profits received by Prizes or Spoils and above all silence herein is imposed upon the Attorney General and his Substitutes Eighthly That the Judgments Amercements Condemnations Suspensions and Interdictions given by the Chief Judges as well against the Mayors of the said City as those that assisted them shall remain null and void as if they had never been And also in like manner the proceedings made against any of the said Judges shall remain null and void and none of those that have been imployed on either side shall be molested Ninthly The Judgment for the death of Tourvert shall remain null and those who are therewith charged by the said Judgment shall not for that cause be troubled Tenthly That all the Contents abovesaid shall be 1628. October ratified by the Mayor Sheriffs Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of the said City and the said Ratification thereof shall be delivered this day by two a Clock after Dinner in good and authentick form After which the King will be pleased to deliver to the said Deputies Pattents of Declaration which shall approve and ratifie the abovesaid Articles Eleventhly The said Ratification being delivered the Gates of the City shall be opened and put into the hands of such as it shall please his Majesty to appoint to the end that after this he may make his entry in person when and in such manner as shall please him his Majesty promising in bounty to cause such ordâ—r â—t the entry and quartering of the Souldiers in the said City that no Inhabitants Women or Children shall receive any prejudice either in person or goods Acted and Ordained in the Castle of Sausay the twenty ninth of Octob. 1628. Signed Lowis de Mavillac John Berne Peter Viette Riffault de la Goute de la Coste and Mocquay At the same time the Deputies which were with the English Fleet and sent by them made their Treaty apart after that for the City was concluded and because that their management being secret and their arrival in the Camp unexpected many have had a desire to know the particular Transactions I have taken care to inform my self thereof and believe it my duty to impart it to the Publick as a thing belonging to this History which follows word for word as it hath been communicated to me extracted from the 1628. October Journals of Sieur Vincent whereof I have seen the Original The seventh of Octob. 1628. a Shalloop coming from the Kings Army and staying in the middle of the way called la Pallice with a white Flag demanded to communicate with the Deputies of Rochel and the French By the permission of the English General the Sieur Forin Deputy for the Duke of Rohan with some others and Mr. Montague who was since made Abbot of Pontoise in France went aboard the Shalloop where they found the Sieur Treillebois one of the Kings Captains and one that made profession of the Reformed Religion with the Sieur Lisle Adjutant-Major in the same Army who made Propositions to all the French in the English Army to retire and seek the Kings Grace and Pardon assuring them that he would receive them to mercy and would like it if they should intercede with him for the City of Rochel upon which they broke only Montague making himself known desired the above-mentioned Treillebois to present his service to Cardinal Richelieu The thirteenth there returned four English who had been taken Prisoners by the Kings
the King your Soveraign Parting thus from him they hoped that a permission 1628. October for going into the City would have been given them but the same day in the Afternoon â—hey were surprised with the news brought them â—hat there was arrived at Sausay the same place where they were Deputies from Rochel to treat of Conditions for surrendry of the City This made them the Deputies from the English Army presume that the City having received their Letters of the twenty third they agreed with them that it was to no purpose to expect any thing from the English by force of Arms and for what was of Treaty that they had the same consideration as they had had that it would be of more advantage and security to them to seek by themselves the favour of his Majesty than by the Intercession of any so little agreeable as one might judge that of the English would be and approving altogether their Counsels they regretted only that having writ them that they would endeavour a Pass-port for going to them they had not expected the effect for that it had been better that they should have sought it for them rather than themselves which administred jealousie of a great extremity As these Deputies reasoned thus one with another the other Deputies from the City were with the Cardinal and other Ministers of State treating for Conditions who to obtain the better endeavoured to give jealousie of the English succours upon which it was told them that they abused themselves in relying upon them and that the English having lost all hopes of doing any thing for their relief had sent their own Deputies to manage a particular Treaty for them without speaking of Rochel And when they made difficulty 1628. October of believing that the Deputies from the English Army were there they were sent for and shewed to them in the Council-Chamber where they saluted and imbraced one another but without being permitted to confer together only the Cardinal told the new Deputies that he could not but observe how greatly their City was obliged to their old Deputies their Fellow-Citizens which he had shewed to them for their abundant affection for that in treating for them they could not come upon their Condition without tears interceding for them with excessive earnestness and after this he obliged them to withdraw When they were a-part they all agreed that the Cardinal had dealt with them with more Art than was common in making them the several Deputies from the City and English Army to see one another without suffering them to speak together that so he might make use of their several Discourses to each Party as might best serve his turn But however finding that their last Letters to the City had been delivered by which they had acquainted them how they had managed a Passport for going to them they concluded that the Council of the City could not be wanting in advertising their Deputies sent to Court with the Effects of their Letters that they might thereby apprehend the cause of their coming thither Besides there were some of their Company who upon all occasions came to see them and particularly they found means to speak with Sieur de Lisle who without making shew of it had always had his Eye upon them and coming to them told them That the City-Deputies were advised that they were there upon their Accounts to endeavour 1628. October the Conclusion of a Treaty for the City and that by the inducement of the English themselves who though they were frequent in continual promises for attempting what was possible for their relief they nevertheless saw no reason to expect much from them nor upon that account to interrupt the Treaty only it behoved them to manage it with setting as good a Face on the matter as they could for obtaining the better Conditions These Deputies from the City being returned thither the same day went again the next day and concluded the Rendition under the Articles which they esteemed good or to express it better such as they could obtain without that the other come from the English Army having any part in them or that it was then possible for them to know the truth of what they were agreed upon The Deputies from the English Army knowing in general that the Treaty was concluded without making any mention of them because the King would not suffer it they supplicated the Cardinal to procure them also the Grace of his Majesty and to the French in the English Army and in general to all those which the Commotions had forced either into England or other Countries which he promised them and having ordered them to treat thereof with Monsieur Chateauneuf in the end they obtained the Declaration of 29. Octob. importing That the King pardoned them for all things passed permitting them to come again into their Havens even with the Prizes that they had taken for that they should enjoy the same Grace as his other Subjects with free exercise of their Religion giving them all their Goods except the Fruits received and Debts confiscated 1628. October and actually payed allowing three months to those of Re and Rochel who were in England for returning to enjoy the same Grace The Keys of the City being brought to the King the 29. and his Troops entering the 30. it was agreed among the said Deputies That the Sieur Gobert should go to the City and Sieur Vincent to the English to whom having carried this ill news the General expressed his great dislike of it and the more because Montague having used the diligence he promised was returned and had brought all necessary Orders for the Treaty to which the English had very willingly consented but were desirous to have had all to pass thorough their hands Montague upon the whole was very angry that his runnings had been unprofitable and fell upon Sieur Vincent in full Council for rendering of the City blaming their impatience and accusing them of having ill requited the King of England's good will towards them The Sieur Vincent answered him That he would force a man wounded with grief to tear it from his Bosom and told him That as to his poor Country in behalf of which he durst so unjustly accuse him it was he and such as he that by their secret Conspiracies had reduced it to the miserable condition wherein it now was That he did not speak of his serene Majesty of England whose Intentions he knew had always been for saving of this poor City nor did he intend the present General of whose sincerity and good-will he desired to be very cautious but as to Montague and others of his Faction who underhand had been nourished by him they had always 1628. October crossed the best and most generous designs and that by their delayes from day to day in England they hindered the Succours from parting in time and have continued the same Practises since the departure and arrival of the Fleet by spreading
discouraging reports of the Digue which had abated the courage of the men and have since obstinately hindered in Council the employing of the Vessels which were for the Mine and which was the only means of opening the Digue That he in particular had lost them all by his obstinate Communication with the other Party though they spared not to remonstrate the consequence thereof and that after the Army appeared to treat there was no more hopes left for them each desiring rather to have the Quarrel decided by Composition without danger to him than by fighting where he might be slain That having then these just reproaches against him it ill became him to complain of those that he had ruined and was the cause of all whereof he accuseth them It was notorious to all that the City had given proof of a miraculous and not to be parallel'd Constancy and were left by them to dye by thousands for expecting the performance of the word of their King their Master and the relief that he had promised them that the Succours arriving after so long expectation they saw them remain a whole Month making such feeble Attaques as seemed to be in jest leaving Famine to finish her last spoiles adventuring the City to be taken away by their first Attaque as considering their feebleness and small number it had indubitable been had the Enemy made the least Attempt That if in the end they did capitulate they knew 1628. October it to be after they saw their last Morsel and after they knew that Montague had designed their reduction and was gone to consert it in England from whence it was to be doubted whether he could return so soon as he promised Hereupon they resolved since it behoved them to render and not to act any longer as they had done to accept a Capitulation which at least would conserve their lives Sieur Vincent called Heaven and Earth and all honest men that were present to witness if it were not unjust and inhumane to lay the blame of this occasion upon them thereby to ravish them of the sole Consolation left them in their misery and so to leave nothing und one that might aggravate their sufferings instead of endeavouring to defend them who have witnessed a Constancy which Posterity will think a Prodigy or hardly believe it The General who carried fair to Sieur Vincent acknowledged the truth of that which he said and seeing him transported with grief stayed the Discourse and restrained Montague who in great passion demanded reparation for this discourse and so left the Company This passing the 31. Octob. the Sieur Vincent conferring the same day with the Duke of Soubize and the other Rochel-Deputies who remained there touching the French in the English Army and what course they should take They agreed that it was best to assemble them and communicate the stipulations for them to the end that those that would might lay hold of the Grace which was obtained for them and acquainted the General with it who approved of it declaring that having no Commands from his Majesty but for their 1628. October good and ease if they esteemed it best for them to return home he would not hinder it and accordingly being aboard Captain Bragneau Sieur Vincent made known to them what had passed causing the Kings Declaration to be read to them which they had obtained in their favour adding what he had understood from the General as to that which concerned them to the end they might participate with them This was the cause of a long Contestation among them some inclining to return and others said they could not trust to the promises that had been made Sieur Vincent's advice being thereupon desired he represented to them that considering the different Sentiments which he found them in he could not judge it in his power to satisfie all That it was true that those who shewed diffidence wanted not apparent reason for it but in his opinion there was more than enough to assure him that the Treaty had been made by the Intercession of the Cardinal who was very jealous of his word that fear of it ought to proceed from some great profit which would redound from the breach of it as there can be none at all for Rochel with its Priviledges being now given up as the price of our Lives Estates and Liberty those remaining in the Ruines are not other ways considered than as other private persons of the Religion in the Villages of Bries that an evil Treatment is not to be feared but with reason to expect favour seeing Montauban and the other Cities hold out yet so that the usage of Rochel will be a President of hope or fear to them As to himself they knew that he would be well received if he returned into England 1628. October and would find advantageous means of subsisting there but he believed it to be his duty in Charity to his Fellow-Citizens to submit to the same Conditions with them and that with more reason they to whom he spoke ought to do the same who returning into a strange Country would be reduced to Alms and lose their Estates on this side but concluded that each was to do as he should think best but it seemed to him that those that should return for England would follow ill counsel The greatest part yielding to these Reasons resolved to take the benefit of the Declaration but the next morning the first of November there were some that changed their minds That which passed aboard Captain Bragneau being come to the knowledge of the English some represented to the General that if they parted with the French they should be so weakned as not to be able to execute the Enterprises they designed amongst which there was one upon Brouage not to be acted until their return when they shall have need of their Conduct all along the Coast even unto the Channel or Narrow Seas because they had more knowledge therein than they had Above all that it would concern the Honour of their King that being under his Banner they should make a Treaty without him nor ought they to ratifie it but leave the thing entire to his Majesty The Council being assembled it was hereupon resolved to carry all the French and even the Sieur Vincent to give an account to the King of what he had done in the Treaty The General having sent for him aboard acquainted him with it to which he answered that 1628. October if they detained them they should protest against the Violence and that besides their general complaint for not relieving them but suffering their City to perish they had done them this particular injustice to expose their Estates as a Prey to those who henceforward would have them in their disposition That the City of which they were and for which they had acted not being any more but lost thorough want of being relieved in time by his Majesty the Treaty made with him had no
though our frequent relapses into the same Crimes can give us no hopes other than by the sole consideration of our present resentment and our extreme passion for giving testimony to your Majesty that you shall not have henceforward any Subjects more faithful and obedient than we This Protestation that we now make you is from your City of Rochel in which King Henry the Great your Father the honour of whose amity and kindness we can never loose the memory did always find a great affection to his service they having had the honour to serve him at other times in his Retreats and Residence The City protesteth to your Majesty all Fidelity and Obedience the execution whereof taking away the remembrance of our Rebellions they hope your Bounty after you have given them your pardon will in grace and favour 1628. October lose the memory thereof since we are resolved to live and die henceforward in the obedience that we acknowledge to owe you and do vow to your Majesty there shall not be hereafter any Subjects and Servants more faithful and affectionate to your service than those of the City of Rochel The King made answer in these words I pray God that what you say be from your hearts and not from the necessity you are reduced unto I am not ignorant that you have been always very malicious and mutinous and have deserved a severe Chastisement but I will return good for evil I pardon you your Rebellions be for the time to come good and faithful Subjects to me and I will be to you a good Prince and if your actions be conformable to the Protestations you make me I will keep my Promise with you They excused to him the Mayors not coming with them to render to him in Person his most humble submission and homage saying that according to Custom he was to remain in the City to receive his Majesty there and either cause a piece of the Wall to be beaten down or take down one of the Gates according as it should please his Majesty to order his Entry All which being pleasing to the King he sent them back well content Being returned into the City the same Evening they delivered the Articles sealed with the Great Seal to the Mayor and Council and told them that the King had assured them that all that he had granted them should be effectually kept and that the would not do wrong to any person nor sâ—ffer the Hâ—nour of Women or Maids to be violated 1628. October and that he would cause to be observed so good order among the Souldiers that they should be therewith content And further commanded that they should assemble in the morning the Nobless Captains Officers and Souldiers as well French as English to be ready at eight in the morning to go out of the City according to the Capitulations because at nine a Clock the Regiment of Guards and that of Swisses should enter and said further that he understood that every one of the City was to carry their Arms into the Town-Hall The thirtieth in the morning all was without delay executed but it was a great astonishment to the Kings Troops to see the remainder of twelve Companies of French Souldiers which they raised in the beginning of the Siege reduced to sixty and betwixt four and five hundred which the Duke of Buckingham left reduced to sixty two men the first took part where they pleased without being blamed and the others were conducted to the English Army The same day about nine in the morning the Duke of Angoulesme the Marshal Schomberg and the Sieur Marillac entred with a moyety of the Regiment of Guards and that of Swisses by the Gate de Coigne of which they took possession as also of all the other Ports places of Arms Towers Ramparts Cannons Magazins and Munition placing Guards and Centinels in all the Corners and principal Streets and at the same time as had been done in the Camp made Proclamation thoroughout the City by the King and the Duke of Espernon Colonel of the French Infantry 1628. October prohibiting all Souldiers for quitting their Ranks Posts and Courts of Guard to go into any House or touch the Honour of any Woman or Maid upon pain of being hanged and strangled They possessed themselves also of the Fort Tadon into which was put two Regiments to guard it The same day all the Quarters being marked in the City Cardinal Richelieu accompanied with many Lords and Nobless made his Entry about two a Clock after Dinner and having caused a quantity of Victuals and Ammunition-Bread to be brought he distributed them gratis and published thorough the Streets by sound of Drum that every one that was in want should fetch them for he had so much pity and compassion towards the Souldiers in seeing the Inhabitants Anatomies and half dead that in passing thorough the Streets they cast into their Arms Ammunition-Bread whose Throats they would the day before have cut indeed there was so good order established that there was no abuse committed or offence given to any person At the Cardinals entrance the Mayor would have saluted him but he would not permit it and commanded to have those discharged who marched before him with Halberts and to lay down the Function of Mayor The 31th the Cardinal commanded from the Camp some Pioners to inter the Dead which were in Houses and other places of the City 1628. Novemb. NOVEMBER The first of November betwixt two and three a Clock after Dinner the King made his Entry by the Port de Coigne mounted upon a brave Horse accompanied by the Cardinal and many Lords and Nobless with the Gens d' Arms and Musqueteeâ—s of his Guard and the remaining Companies of the Regiment of Guards and that of Switz and without the Gate there was fifty or sixty of the principal of the City who observing the directions of the Marshal Schomberg fell on their knees as he passed crying Vive le Roy Misericord the people doing the same in the City whilst all the Guns from the Forts and Ships as also from the City made themselves to be heard The Kings descent was at S. Margarets Church where after hearing Vespers and the Sermon of Father Souffran he retired in the Evening to la Leu but returning the next morning laid in the City It was observed that the King at his Entry seeing the poor Inhabitants as Anatomies who with pain and trouble for want of strength had done him honour he had compassion for them even to the shedding of tears The third of November profession was made in Rochel the King with all the Court assisting the Windows being full of people and above all of Rochellers desirous to see his Majesty of whose Entry being very jealous they found him contrary to what they feared and considered him as a good Angel come to deliver them from the deep Abyss of their misery and from the Jaws of Death The King after his entry
into the City commanded 1628. Novemb. the last Mayor the Sieurs Salbert and Polinier Ministers and about ten others as well of the Corps of the City as Burgers to leave the City and to absent for six Months which was done by a meer Verbal Command The fourth and fifth they ranged in the Castle-yard all the Cannon of the City as also of the Forts and Digue and Quarters of the Camp in order to the conveying them from thence to Brouage and other places as was done some days after The same day about four in the Evening the English Fleet after having been a Month and six days in the Road and seen from thence the reduction of Rochel to the obedience of the King set sail to carry the news of it for England and carried with them a great Party of French The sixth seventh and eighth of this Month was so great a Storm at South-East and with such violence that the Digue in many places and above all upon the Coast of Portneuf was so shaken the Engines and Candlesticks so broken and removed that a Flemish Ship of two hundred Tuns laden with Victuals for the relief of the City which had stayed at the Head of the Bay being driven by the impetuosity of the Storm ruâ— on shore having passed the Digue with little difficulty which we observed as the Lords particular protection of the affairs of his Majesty since had this Storm come eight days sooner the City had been relieved Some days after the King went to Port de Coigne to see a Mine sprung which they had made at a Peece detached from the said Port to the end that according as this should succeed they might 1628. Novemb. deal with the new as well as ancient Walls of the City having ordered the demolishing of all its fortifications and this Mine succeeded well The sixteenth the Keeper of the Seal sent for the Registers of the Council and made a strict search into the Memoires and Instructions given the Deputies the City had sent to the King of England and of the Treaties made by them with the said Prince and found that the said Instructions and Treaty had always been with the reservation of their Fidelity which they ought to the Crown It was said that this search was made that they might the better know how to frame the Kings Declaration which was soon after published and that some were of opinion that in the Preamble of it the King should alledge for cause of his Arms that Rochel had not only called in the English but also given themselves up to them but the said Keeper of the Seal refused it not judging it honest or convenient except they could make the truth of it appear whereas by all the Inquest that they could make as well as by those Publick Records finding the contrary the Declaration touched not at all thereupon But he gave order that as well the said Registers as all the other Instruments should be carried to Paris to the Chamber of Accounts where they still are The eighteenth was published thorough the ordinary Quarters of the City the Declaration of the King establishing the Order which he would have observed by the same he dissolves and abolisheth the Common-Councel of the City and all her Priviledges as the Dignity of Mayor the Prevote or ordinary Jurisdiction of the City uniting 1628. Novemb. them to the Chief Justiceship with an Intendant of Justice reducing the five Parishes to three assigning to every Cure three hundred Livers upon the Revenue of the Town-House the said Hall together with all other Edifices and common places being united to the Kings Demain discharged those of the City in general of all acts of Hostility whatever Negotiations in Forreign Countries and of all other acts without being liable to prosecution for the same saving in cases execrable excepted by the Edicts or Laws and such as may concern the Person of the King and in like manner discharge them for casting of Guns and Cannon Minting of Money seising and taking of Money as well belonging to the Ecclesiasticks as the King together with the levying of Souldiers and constraint used against the absent even by demolishing of their Houses willing that the exercise of the Religion to the Inhabitants which make profession thereof be left free to them within the City with prohibition nâ—vertheless to all others of the said Religion for coming to live there if they had not dwelt there before the descent of the English that the Taxes of the City shall in favour of Trade be limited to four thousand Livers that the fortifications both new and old shall be demolished and razed even with the ground except from the Port of S. Nicholas to the Tower of the Lanthorn joyning to the Port of two Mills which is on the side of the Sea and that the Policy be administred by two Councellors and four Burgesses which the King shall every year make This Order being established the King with all 1628. Novemb. his Court and a great number of Lords and Nobless took Horse the nineteenth for Paris betwixt seven and eight in the morning and left Monsieur de Vignolles with four Regiments to wit those de Chappes du Plessis Praulin Castlebayrd and la Meilleraye to remain there until the demolition of the fortifications were finished The Kings second Residence here was six Months twenty five days he held the City besieged from the fourteenth of August 1627. when the Duke of Angoulesme took up his Quarters at Estre until the thirtieth of October 1628. that the Marshal Schomberg and Marilac made their Entry being one year two months and sixteen days And thus ended the Siege of this so long Celebrated City of Rochel which for the space of about seventy years had given France so much exercise and drawn the Eyes of the greatest part of Christendom upon them THE EDICT OR STATUTE Granted by Henry the Fourth of France to those of the Reformed Religion of that Kingdom for the free Exercise of their Consciences in matters of their Religion c. called the Edict of Nantes because Enacted at that City with the Kings Declaration upon the precedent Edicts of Pacification HENRY by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To all present and to come Greeteth Among the infinite mercies that God hath pleased to bestow upon us that most signal and remarkable is his having given us power and strength not to yield to the dreadful Troubles Confusions and Disorders which were found at our coming to this Kingdom divided into so many Parties and Factions that the most legitimate was almost the least enabling us with constancy in such manner to oppose the storm as in the end to surmount it reducing this Estate to peace and rest for which to him alone be given the honour and glory and us the grace to acknowledge our obligation in having our labours made use of for the accomplishing so good a work in which it hath
belongs and all our Subjects as well Catholick as of the Reformed Religion shall be indifferently discharged of all charges which have been imposed by one and the other part during the troubles upon those that were on the contrary party and not consenting as also of debts created and not paid and expences made without consent of the same without nevertheless having power to recover the Revenue which should have been employed to the payment of the said charges LXXV We do not also understand that those of the Religion and others who have followed their party nor the Catholicks who dwell in Cities and places kept and imployed by them and who have contributed to them shall be prosecuted for the payment of Tailles Aids Grants Fifteens Taillon Utensils Reparations and other Impositions and Subsidies fallen due and imposed during the troubles happening before and until our coming to the Crown be it by the Edicts Commands of the deceased Kings our Predecessors or by the advice and deliberation of Governors and Estates of Provinces Courts of Parliament and others whereof we have discharged and do discharge them prohibiting the Treasurers General of France and of our Finances Receivers General and particular their Commissioners and Agents and other Intendants and Commissaries of our said Finances to prosâ—cute them molest disquiet directly or indirectly in any kind whatsoever LXXVI All Generals Lords Knights Gentlemen Officers Common Councils of Cities and Commonalties and all others who have aided and succoured them their Wives Heirs and Successors shall remain quitted and discharged of all Money which have been by them and their order taken and levied as well the Kings Money to what Sum soever it may amount as of Cities and Communities and particular Rents Revenues Plate Sale of moveable Goods Ecclesiastick and other Woods of a high growth be it of Domains or otherwise Amerciaments Booty Ransoms or other kind of Money taken by them occasioned by the troubles begun in the month of March 1585. and other precedent troubles until our coming to the Crown so that they or those that have by them been imployed in the levying of the said Money or that they have given or furnished by their orders shall not be therefore any ways prosecuted at present or for the time to come and shall remain acquitted as well themselves as their Commissaries for the management and administration of the said Money reporting all thereof discharged within four months after the publication of the present Edict made in our Parliament of Paris Acquittances being duly dispatched for the Heads of those of the Religion or for those that had been commissioned for the auditing and balancing of the Accounts or for the Communities of Cities who have had command and charge during the said troubles and all the said Heads of the Reformed Religion and others who have followed their party as if they were particularly expressed and specified since the death of Henry II. our Father-in-law shall in like manner remain acquitted and discharged of all Acts of Hostility Levies and Conduct of Souldiers minting and valuing of Money done by order of the said chief Commanders casting and taking of Ordnance and Ammunition compounding of Powder and Salt-peeter Prizes Fortifications dismantling and demolishing of Cities Castles Boroughs and Villages Enterprises upon the same burning and demolishing of Churches and houses establishing of Judicatures Judgments and Executions of the same be it in Civil or Criminal matters Policy and Reglement made amongst themselves Voyages for Intelligence Negotiations Treaties and Contracts made with all Foreign Princes and Communities the introduction of the said Strangers into Cities and other places of our Kingdom and generally of all that hath been done executed and negotiated during the said troubles since as aforesaid the death of Henry II. our Father-in-law LXXVII Those of the said Religion shall also remain dischanged of all General and Provincial Assemblies by them made and held as well at Nantes as since in other places until this present time as also of Councils by them established and ordained by Provinces Declarations Ordinances and Reglements made by the said Assemblies and Councils establishment and augmentation of Garrisons assembling and taking of Souldiers levying and taking of our Money be it from the Receivers General or particular Collectors of Parishes or otherwise in what manner soever Seisures of Salt continuation or erection of Taxes Tolls and Receipts of the same at Royan and upon the Rivers of Charant Garonne Rosne and Dordonne arming and fighting by Sea and all accidents and excess happening upon forcing the payment of Taxes Tolls and other Money by fortifying of Cities Castles and Places Impositions of Money and day-works Receipts of the same Money displacing of our Receivers Farmers and other Officers establishing others in their places and of all Leagues Dispatches and Negotiations made as well within as without the Kingdom And in general of all that hath been done deliberated written and ordained by the said Assembly and Council so that those who have given their advice signed executed caused to sign and execute the said Ordinances Reglements and Deliberations shall not be prosecuted or their Wives Heirs and Successors now and for the time to come though the particulars thereof be not amply declared And above all perpetual silence is hereby commanded to our Procurators General and their Substitutes and all those who may pretend to an interest therein in whatsoever fashion or manner it may be notwithstanding all Decrees Sentences Judgments Informations and Procedures made to the contrary LXXVIII We further approve allow and authorize the Accounts which have been heard balanced and examined by the Deputies of the said Assembly Willing and requiring that the same together with the Acquittances and Pieces which have been rendered by the Accomptants be carried into our Chamber of Accompts at Paris three months after the publication of this present Edict and put into the hands of our Procurator General to be kept with the Books and Registers of our Chamber to have there recourse to them as often as shall be needful and they shall not be subject to aâ— review nor the Accomptants held in any kind liable to appearance oâ— correction except in case of omission of Receipts or false Acquittances and we hereby impose silence upon our Procurator General for the over-plus that shall be found wanting or for not observing of formalities Prohibiting to our Accomptants as well of Paris as of other Provinces where they are established to take any cognizance thereof in any sort or manner whatsoever LXXIX And as to the Accompts which have not yet been rendred We Will and Ordain that the same be heard balanced and examined by the Commissaries who shall by us be deputed thereunto who without difficulty shall pass and allow all the parcels paid by the said Accomptants by virtue of the Ordinances of the said Assembly or others having power LXXX All Collectors Receivers Farmers and all others shall remain well and
the form directed by the said Edict of Nantes XVII The Edict made for the reduction of the Mareschal de Bois-Dauphin shall be in like manner observed and the said exercise may not be practised in Cities Suburbs and places brought by him to the Service of his Majesty and as to the Circuits about and belonging to the said places there the Edict of 1577. shall be observed even in houses of Fiefs according to the import of the said Edict of Nantes XVIII There shall be no exercise of the said Religion in Cities Suburbs and Castle of Morlays according to the Edict made upon the reduction of the said City and the Edict of 77. shall be observed in the Jurisdiction of the same even for Fiefs according to the Edict of Nantes XIX According to the Edict for the reduction of Quinpercorintin there shall not be any exercise of the said Religion in all the Bishoprick of Cornoaille XX. According also to the Edict made for the reduction of Beauvais there shall not be any exercise of the said Religion in the said City of Beauvais nor within three leagues of it But it may nevertheless be established in the rest of the Bailiwick in places permitted by the Edict of 77. even in houses of Fiefs as the Edict of Nantes imports XXI And for as much as the Edict made for the reduction of the deceased Admiral de Villars is but provisional until the King shall order otherwise his Majesty willeth and understandeth that notwithstanding the same his Edict of Nantes shall have place for the Cities and Jurisdictions brought under his obedience by the said Admiral as the other places of his Kingdom XXII According to the Edict made for the reduction of the Duke of Joyeuse the exercise of the said Religion shall not be in the City of Tholose the Suburbs of the same nor within four Leagues of it nor nearer than are the Cities of Villemur Carman and the Isle of Jordan XXIII Nor shall it be restored in the Cities of Dalet Fiac Auriac and Montesquiou upon Condition nevertheless that if any of the said Religion in the said Cities do sue to have a place for the exercise of the same there shall be given them by the Commissioners which His Majesty shall depute for the execution of this Edict or by the Officers of the places assigned for each of the said Cities a commodious place and of safe access which shall not be above a League from the said Cities XXIV The said Exercise shall be established according as is contained by the Edict of Nantes within the Jurisdiction of the Court of Parliament of Tholose except nevertheless in the Bailiwicks or Chief Jurisdictions whereof the Seat of Justice hath been brought back to the obedience of the King by the said Duke of Joyeuse in which case the Edict of 77. shall have place His said Majesty understanding nevertheless that the said Exercise may be continued in Places of the said Bailiwicks or Chief Jurisdictions where it was at the time of the said reduction and that the granting of the same in houses of Fiefs hath place in the same Bailiwicks and Chief Jurisdictions according as is contained by the said Edict of Nantes XXV The Edict made for the reduction of the City of Dijon shall be observed and following the same there shall be no other exercise of Religion than that of the Catholicks in the said City or Suburbs of the same nor within four Leagues of it XXVI The Edict made for the reduction of the Duke of Mayenne shall in like manner be observed and accordingly there shall be no exercise of the Reformed Religion in the Cities of Chaalon Seure and Soissons or Bailiwicks of the said Chaalon nor within two Leagues of Soissons during the time of six Years to begin from the Month of January 1596. After which time the Edict of Nantes shall be there observed as in other Places of this Kingdom XXVII It shall be permitted to those of the Religion of what Quality soever they be to inhabit go and come freely in the City of Lyons and other Cities and Places of the Government of Lyonnois notwithstanding all prohibitions made to the contrary by the Syndics and Sheriffs of the said City of Lyons and confirmed by His Majesty XXVIII There shall not be ordered more than one place in a Bailiwick for the exercise of the said Religion in all the Chief Jurisdictions of Poictiers besides those where it is at present established and as to the Fiefs they shall follow the Edict of Nantes And the said exercise shall be continued in the City of Chauvigny XXIX The said exercise shall not be established within the Cities of Agen and Perigueux though by the Edict of 77. it may be there XXX There shall not be more than two places in the Bailiwick for the exercise of the said Religion in all the Government of Picardie as hath been said before and the two said places shall not be given within the Jurisdiction of the Bailiwick and Government reserved by the Edicts made for the reduction of Amyens Peronne and Abbeville but the said exercise may nevertheless be made in houses of Fiefs throughout all the said Government of Picardie according as it is contained in the said Edict of Nantes XXXI There shall not be any exercise of the said Religion made in the City or Suburbs of Sens and there shall not be ordered more than one place in the Bailiwick for the said exercise in all the Jurisdiction of the Bailiwick without prejudice nevertheless to the permission granted for the houses of Fiefs which shall have place according to the Edict of Nantes XXXII In like manner there shall not be the said exercise practised in the City or Suburbs of Nantes nor there shall not be any place ordered in the Bailiwick for the said exercise within three Leagues of the said City but nevertheless in Houses of Fiefs it may be practised according to the said Edict of Nantes XXXIII His Majesty wills and intends that his said Edict of Nantes be observed henceforward in that which concerns the said Religion in the places where by the said Edicts or Agreements made for the reduction of any Catholick Princes Lords Gentlemen and Cities it was forbidden by provision so long as until it was otherwise ordered And as to those where the said prohibition is limited to a certain time the time being expired it shall not have any more force XXXIV There shall be given to those of the Religion a place for the City Provostship and Viscounty of Paris within five Leagues at most in which they may have publick exercise of the same XXXV In all places where the exercise of the said Religion shall be publickly practised they may assemble the People also by the Sound of a Bell and do all Acts and Functions belonging as well to the exercise of the said Religion as to the regulating of discipline as in holding Consistories Conferences Synods
therefore be any search or prosecution for the same and it shall be enjoyned to his Officers to defend them in it and in reference to the City of Paris besides the two Churchyards that those of the said Religion have there at present to wit that of the Trinity and that of St. Germains there shall be given them a third place commodious for the said Sepulchres in the Suburbs of St. Honoré or St. Denys XLVII The Presidents and Catholick Councellors who shall serve in the Chamber ordained for the Parliament of Paris shall be chosen by his Majesty upon the Register of the Officers of Parliament and there shall be therein employed Persons just peaceable and moderate XLVIII The Councellors of the said Reformed Religion who shall serve in the said Chambers shall assist if it please them in the process which shall be decided by Commissioners and shall have there a deliberative Voice without having part of the Money consigned except when by Order and Prerogative of their reception they ought to assist therein XLIX The ancientest President of the Chambers Myparties shall preside at the hearing of Causes and in his absence the Second and shall make distribution of the process of the two Presidents conjunctively or alternatively by month or by week L. Upon the Vacation of Offices whereof those of the Religion are or should be provided in the said Chambers of Edict they shall be furnished with persons capable who shall have attestations from the Synod or Assembly whereunto they belong that they are honest men and of the same Religion LI. The abolition agreed to with those of the said Reformed Religion by the 74 Article of the said Edict shall be valid for the taking the Monies belonging to the King be it by breaking open of Chests or otherwise even in reference to those who took it away upon the River of Charente though it had been destinated and assigned to particular uses LII The 46 Article of the secret Articles made in the Year 1577. touching the City and Archbishoprick of Avinion and County of Veniss together with the Treaty made at Nismes shall be observed according to form and tenour and there shall not be any Letters of Mart by virtue of the said Article and Treaties given then by Letters Patents from the King sealed with his great Seal Nevertheless those who desire it may obtain them by virtue of the present Article and without other Commission by the Kings Judges who shall inform of the Breach of Covenants denying of Justice and the iniquity of Judgments proposed by those who shall desire to obtain the said Letters and shall send them with their advice inclosed and sealed to his Majesty for him to order therein as shall seem reasonable to him LIII His Majesty willeth and agreeth that Master Nicholas Grimoult be re-established and maintained in the title and possession of the Offices of Lieutenant General Civil and Ancient and Lieutenant General Criminal in the Bailiwick of Alençon notwithstanding the resignation by him made to Master John Marguerit reception of the same and the provision obtained by Master William Bernard of the Office of Lieutenant General Civil and Criminal in the Court of Justice at Exmes and the Decrees in the Privy-Council against the said Marguerit the Resignee during the troubles in the Years 1586 1587 1588 by which Master Nicholas Barbier is maintained in the Rights and Prerogatives of Lieutenant General ancient in the said Bailiwick and the said Bernard in the said Office of Lieutenant at Exmes the which his Majesty hath cancelled and annulled and all others to the contrary And besides his said Majesty for certain good Considerations hath agreed and ordained That the said Grimoult shall reimburse within three months the said Barbier the money that he is out to the parties casually for the Office of Lieutenant General Civil and Criminal in the Viscounty of Alençon and of fifty Crowns for Charges Enjoyining to this end the Bailly of Perche or his Lieutenant at Montaigne to make the reimbursement or else that the said Barbier refusing or delaying to receive it his said Majesty hath forbidden the said Barbier as also the said Bernard after the presentation of this present Article to act more in the exercise of the said Offices upon penalty of Forgery and to send this same Grimoult to the enjoyment of those Offices and Rights appertaining thereunto And in so doing the processes which were depending in his Majesties Privy-Council betwixt the said Grimoult Barbier and Bernard shall remain terminated and extinguished his Majesty prohibiting the Parliaments and all other Courts to take Cognizance thereof and the said parties any further prosecution therein And besides his Majesty chargeth himself to reimburse the said Bernard a thousand Crowns casually paid to the parties for the same Office and with sixty Crowns for the Gold Mark and Charges Having for this effect presently ordained good and sufficient assignation for recovering of the same which shall be speedily done at the Charges of the said Grimoult LIV. His said Majesty will write to his Ambassadours to sollicite and treat for all his Subjects even for those of the Reformed Religion that they may not be prosecuted for their Consciences nor subject to the Inquisition in going coming sojourning negotiating and trafficking through all Foreign Countries of the Allies and Confederates of this Crown provided they offend not against the polity of the Country where they shall be LV. All those of the Reformed Religion who remain titular of Benefices shall be obliged to resign them within six months to Catholick Persons And those who have promises of Pensions upon the said Benefices shall have them paid and the payment of the said Pensions continued and those that owe the said Pensions shall be constrained to pay them the Arrears if there be any provided that they have actually enjoyed the profits of the same Benefices except nevertheless the Arrears which fell due during the troubles LVI His Majesty will not that there be any search made after the Receits of any Impositions which have been levyed at Royan by virtue of any Contract made with the Sieur of Kendal and other Acts for continuation of the same his Majesty approving and making valid the said Contract for the time that it was in force according to its contents untill the 8th of May next LVII The excesses happening in the person of Armand Courtines in the City of Millan in the year 1587. and of John Rames and Peter Singuret together with the proceedings against them by the Consuls of the said Millan shall remain abolished and extinguished by the benefit of the Edict without being lawful for their Widows Heirs or the Procurators General of his Majesty their Substitutes or other persons whatsoever to mention the same make inquirie thereof or prosecute notwithstanding the Decree given in the Chamber at Castres the tenth of March last to which there shall be no regard for that they shall remain null
and Revenues of their Benefices and all other Rights and Duties belonging to them and we command that all those who during the troubles have invaded Churches Houses Goods and Revenues belonging to the said Ecclesiasticks and those who detain and possess them do deliver over to them the entire possession thereof with a peaceable injoyment and with such Rights Liberties and Security as they had before they were disseized Most expresly forbidding to those of the Reformed Religion to preach or exercise their said Religion in the Churches Houses and Habitations of the said Ecclesiasticks IV. It shall be in the choice of the said Ecclesiasticks to buy the Houses and Structures built upon their ground in profane places and made use of against their wills during the troubles or compel the Possessors of the said Buildings to buy the ground according to the estimation that shall be made by skilful persons agreed upon by both Parties and to come the better to an agreement the Judges of the place shall provide such for them except the said Possessors will try the Title to whom the places in question belong And where the said Ecclesiasticks shall compel the Possessors to buy the ground the Purchase-money if of estimation shall not be put in their hands but shall remain charged in the Possessors hands to make profit thereof at 5. per Cent. until it shall be imployed to the profit of the Church which shall be done within a year And after that time if the Purchaser will not continue any longer the Money at the said Interest he shall be discharged thereof by consigning the money to a responsible person with the Authority of the Justice And for such places as are sacred advice shall be given therein by the Commissioners who shall be ordained for the execution of the present Edict for which we shall provide V. Nevertheless the ground and foundations of places used for the reparation and fortification of Cities and places in our Kingdom and the materials imployed therein may not be sold nor taken away by the Ecclesiasticks or other persons publick or private until the said reparations and sortifications shall by our Order be demolished VI. And not to leave any occasion of trouble and difference among our Subjects We have permitted and do permit to those of the Reformed Religion to live and dwell in all the Cities and places of this our Kingdom and Countries under our obedience without being inquired after vexed molested or compelled to do any thing in Religion contrary to their Conscience nor by reason of the same be searched after in houses or places where they live they comporting themselves in other things as is contained in this our present Edict or Statute VII We also permit to all Lords Gentlemen and other persons as well Inhabitants as others making profession of the Reformed Religion having in our Kingdom and Countries under our obedience High Justice as Chief Lord as in Normandy be it in propriety or usage in whole moity or third part to have in such of their houses of the said High Justice or Fiefs as above-said which they shall be obliged to nominate for their principal residence to our Bailiffs and Chief Justice each in their Jurisdiction the exercise of the said Religion as long as they are resident there and in their absence their Wives or Families or part of the same And though the right of Justice or whole Fief be controverted nevertheless the exercise of the said Religion shall be allowed there provided that the above-said be in actual possession of the said High Justice though our Atturney General be a Party We permitting them also to have the said exercise in their other houses of High Justice or Fiefs above-said so long as they shall be present and not otherwise And all as well for them their Families and Subjects as others that shall go thither VIII In houses that are Fiefs where those of the said Religion have not High Justice there the said exercise of the Reformed Religion shall not be permitted save only to their own families Yet nevertheless if other persons to the number of thirty besides their families shall be there upon the occasion of Christnings visits of their friends or otherwise our meaning is that in such case they shall not be molested Provided also that the said houses be not within Cities Boroughs or Villages belonging to any Catholick Lord save to us having High Justice in which the said Catholick Lords have their houses For in such cases those of the said Religion shall not hold the said exercise in the said Cities Boroughs or Villages except by permission and leave of the said Lords High Justices IX We permit also to those of the said Religion to hold and continue the exercise of the same in all the Cities and places under our obedience where it hath by them been established and made publick by many and divers times in the year 1586. and in 1597. until the end of the month of August notwithstanding all Decrees and Judgments whatsoever to the contrary X. In like manner the said exercise may be established and re-established in all the Cities and places where it hath been established or ought to be by the Statute of Pacification made in the year 1577 the particular Articles and Conferences of Nerac and Fleix without hindring the said Establishment in places of Domain granted by the said Statute Articles and Conferences for the places of Bailiwicks or which shall be hereafter though they have since been alienated to Catholicks oâ— shall be in the future Not understanding nevertheless that the said exercise may be re-established in places of the said Domain which have been heretofore possessed by those of the said Reformed Religion which hath been done in consideration of their persons or because of the Priviledge oâ— Fiefs if the said Fiefs are found at present possessed by persons of the said Catholick Religion XI Furthermore in each ancient Bailiwick Jurisdiction and Government holding place of a Bailiwick with an immediate Appeal without mediation to the Parliament We ordain that in the Suburbs of a City besides that which hath been agreed to them by the said Statute particular Articles and Conferences and where it is not a City in a Borough or Village the exercise of the said Reformed Religion may be publickly held for all such as will come though the said Bailiwicks chief Jurisdictions and Governments have many places where the said Exercise is established except and be excepted the Bailiwicks new created by the present Edict or Law the Cities in which are Archbishops and Bishops where nevertheless those of the said Reformed Religion are not for that reason deprived of having power to demand and nominate for the said Exercise certain Boroughs and Villages near the said Cities except also the Signories belonging to the Ecclesiasticks in which we do not understand that the second place of Bailiwicks may be established those being excepted and reserved We understanding
under the name of ancient Bailiwicks such as were in the time of hedeceased King Henry our most honoured Lord and Father-in-law held for Bailiwicks Chief Justiceships and Governments appealing without intercession to our said Courts XII We do not understand by this present Statute to derogate from the Laws and Agreements heretofore made for the reduction of any Prince Lord Gentleman or Catholick City under our obedience in that which concerns the exercise of the said Religion the which Laws and Records shall be kept and observed upon that account according as shall be contained in the Instructions given the Commissioners for the execution of the present Edict or Law XIII We prohibit most expresly to all those of the said Religion to hold any exercise of the same as well by Ministers preaching discipling of Pupils or publick Instruction of Children as other ways in this our Kingdom or Countries under our obedience in that which concerns Religion except in the places permitted and granted by the present Edict or Law XIV As also not to exercise the said Religion in our Court nor in our Territories and Countries beyond the Mountains nor in our City of Paris nor within five leagues of the said City nevertheless those of the said Religion dwelling in the said Lands and Countries beyond the Mountains and in our said City and within five leagues about the same shall not be searched after in their houses nor constrained to do any thing in Religion against their Consciences comporting themselves in all other things according as is contained in our present Edict or Law XV. Nor also shall hold publick exercise of the said Religion in the Armies except in the Quarters of the principal Commanders who make profession of the same except nevertheless where the Quarters of our Person shall be XVI Following the second Article of the Conference of Nerac We grant to those of the said Religion power to build places for the exercise of the same in Cities and places where it is granted to them and that those shall be rendred to them which they have heretofore built or the foundations of the same in the condition as they are at present even in places where the said exercise was not permitted to them except they are converted into another nature of building In which case there shall be given to them by the Possessors of the said Buildings other houses and places of the same value that they were before they were built or the just estimation of the same according to the judgment of experienced persons saving to the said Proprietors and Possessors their tryal at Law to whom they shall belong XVII We prohibit all Preachers Readers and others who speak in publick to use any words discourse or Propositions tending to excite the people to Sedition and we injoyn them to contain and comport themselves modestly and to say nothing which shall not be for the instruction and edification of the Auditors and maintaining the peace and tranquillity established by us in our said Kingdom upon the penalties mentioned in the precedent Statutes Expresly injoyning our Atturnies Generals and their Substitutes to inform against them that are contrary hereunto upon the penalty of answering therefore and the loss of their Office XVIII Forbidding also to our Subjects of what quality and condition soever they be to take away by force or inducement against the will of their Parents the Children of the said Religion to baptize or confirm them in the Catholick Church as also we forbid the same to those of the said Reformed Religion upon pain of being exemplarily punished XIX Those of the said Reformed Religion shall not be at all constrained nor remain obliged by reason of Abjurations Promises and Oaths which they have heretofore made or by Caution given concerning the practice of the said Religion nor shall therefore be molested or prosecuted in any sort whatsoever XX. They shall also be obliged to keep and observe the Festivals of the Catholick Church and shall not on the same days work sell or keep open Shop nor likewise the Artisans shall not work out of their Shops in their chambers or houses privately on the said Festivals and other days forbidden of any Trade the noise whereof may be heard without by those that pass by or by the Neighbours the searching after which shall notwithstanding be made by none but by the Officers of Justice XXI Books concerning the said Reformed Religion shall not be printed or sold publickly save in the Cities and places where the publick exercise of the said Religion is permitted And for the other Books which shall be printed in other Cities they shall be viewed and visited by our Theological Officers as is directed by our Ordinances Forbidding most expresly the printing publishing and selling of all Books Libels and Writings defamatory upon the penalties contained in our Ordinances injoyning all our Judges and Officers to seize the same XXII We Ordain That there shall not be made any difference or distinction upon the account of the said Religion in receiving Scholars to be instructed in the Universities Colledges or Schools nor of the sick and poor into Hospitals Sick-houses and publick Alms-houses XXIII Those of the Reformed Religion shall be obliged to observe the Laws of the Catholick Church received in this our Kingdom as to Marriages and Contracts and to contract in the degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity XXIV In like manner those of the said Religion shall pay the Rights of Entry as is accustomed for Offices unto which they shall be chosen without being constrained to observe or assist in any Ceremonies contrary to their said Religion and being called to take an Oath shall not be obliged to do it otherwise than by holding up the hand swearing and promising in the Name of God to say all the truth nor shall they be dispensed with for the Oath by them taken in passing Contracts and Obligations XXV We Will and Ordain That all those of the Reformed Religion and others who have followed their Party of what state quality or condition soever they be shall be obliged and constrained by all due and reasonable ways and under the penalties contained in the said Edict or Statute relating thereunto to pay Tithes to the Curates and other Ecclesiasticks and to all others to whom they shall appertain according to the usage and custom of the places XXVI Disinheritations or Privations be it by disposition in life-time or Testamentary made from hatred only or for Religion sake shall have no place neither for the time passed or to come among our Subjects XXVII To the end to reunite so much the better the minds and good will of our Subjects as is our intention and to take away all complaints for the future We declare all those who make or shall make profession of the said Reformed Religion to be capable of holding and exercising all Estates Dignities Offices and publick Charges whatsoever Royal Signioral or of Cities