in such Townes and places as shall please vs to appoynte within fiftie myles off at the farthest from the said Townes except in our townes of Paris and Tholouse And to the end there be no occasion of complainte or suspition we will sette in the sayde Townes for gouernors good men and well affectioned to our seruice suche as shall bee vnsuspected willing neuerthelesse that the keeping of their Towns Towers and Fortresses shall remaine in the handes of the sayde inhabitants according to their auncient Priuileges XX. We will likewise that incontinent after the publication of oure present Edicte made in our Campe and Armie Armes shall be altogether generally layde downe the whiche shall remaine onely in our handes and in our moste deare and most welbeloued brothers the King of Polonia Wee doe ordeine that the forces as well by lande as by Sea shall bee withdrawne from before the sayd Towns the Fortes made as well of the one parte as of the other shal be raced and ouerthrown the free traffique and passages shal be open againe in all the Townes Borrowes and Villages Bridges and passages of our sayde Realme the Forces and Garrisons whiche haue ben placed by occasion of these present troubles since the sayde 24. of Auguste in Townes and other places houses and Castels apperteining to our subiectes of what religion so euer they bee shall departe incontinent to leaue vnto them free and entire enioying as they had before they were dispossessed of them XXI Such moueables as shal remain in their nature and which haue ben taken by waye of hostilitie since the sayde 24. of August last past shall be restored to them to whome they belong so alway that they pay to the buyers the price of such as haue ben solde by authoritie of Iustice or by other commission and publique commaundement And for the execution of the aforesaide the withholders of the sayde moueable goodes shall be constrayned and subiect to restore them incontinent and without delay notwithstanding all obiections or exceptions to yelde and restore them to the owners for the price which they payde XXII And as touching the profites of vnmoueable goodes as well eache man shal enter again into his house and shall enioye on eache parte the fruites of the collection of this present yeare notwithstanding all seasures and lettes made to the contrarie since the sayde 24 of August as also euery one shal enioy the arrerages of the sayd rentes that haue not ben taken vp by vs or by our cōmandement or the permission and ordinance of vs or of our Iustice XXIII Like-wise that al titles writings instructions and euidences whyche haue bene taken away shall be rendred and restored on eyther parte to those to whome they belong XXIIII We also ordeine that those of the sayde Religion shal be subiect to the politike lawes of our Realme that is to saye the Halydayes shall bee kept and they of the sayde Religion shall not worke sell or make any shewe on the sayd dayes with open shop and on fasting dayes in which the vse of fleshe is forbidden by the Catholike and Romishe Churche the Butcheries shall not be open XXV And to preuent all doings to the contrarie that may happen in many of our tomus The Bayliffes Seneshals or their Lieutenants shall cause the principall inhabitantes of the sayd Townes to sweare to the mayntenaunce and obseruation of this our pesent Edicte and the one side mutually to giue assurance to the other and to binde themselues interchangeably and by publique Acte to answere to such disobediences as shall bee committed agaynst the sayde Edicte within the sayde Townes by the inhabitants of the same or at the least to bring forthe and delyuer the offenders into the handes of the Iustice We also charge al our welbeloued and faythfull people holding oure Courtes of Parliament Chambers of our accomptes Courtes of Assistāce Bayliffes Seneshals Prouostes and other our Iustices and officers to whom it shall appertaine or their Lieutenantes that they cause this our present Edict Ordinance to be read publyshed and registred in their Courts Iurisdictions and to keepe maynteine and inuiolably to obserue the same in all pointes and that all those to whom it shall appertaine may enioy and fully and peasibly vse the content thereof Ceassing and causing to bet ceassed all troubles and empeachmentes to the contrarie for such is our pleasure In witnesse heereof we haue signed these presents with our own hand and to the end it may remaine a thing sure and stable for euer we haue to the same caused to be set our Seale Giuen at our Castell of Bollogne in the Moneth of Iuly in the yeare of grace 1573. and of our raigne the thirtenth Signed CHARLES And more lower is written By the King being in his Councell Signed DE NEVF-VILLE And sealed with a Labell of redde and gréene silke and with gréene waxe with the great Seale Read published registred and the kings Atturney generall being there vpon heard at Paris in Parliament the. 11. of August 1573. Signed DE HEVEZ. Collation hath bene made wyth the originall Thus Signed DE HEVEZ. S. Bartholmew 24. of August 1572.
¶ The Edict of the French King for the appeasing of the troubles of his Realme Published at Paris in the Court of Parliament the eleuēth of August 1573. Printed in French by Federic Morel the Kings ordinarie Printer with the Kings Priuilege PRINTED AT LONDON by Henric Bynneman The Edict of the Frenche King for the appeasing of the troubles in his Kingdome CHARLES by the grace of God King of Fraunce to all presente or to come greeting Oure intente hath alwayes bene and is after the example of our predecessors to rule and gouerne our Realme and to receiue of our subiectes the obeysance to vs due rather by gentle and louing maner than by force Wherefore our most deare and welbeloued brother the King of Polonia hauing full vnderstanding of our wil and pleasure hath following the commaundement and speciall power that wee haue sente him for that purpose appointed and deputed certaine of the chiefe personages of our priuie coūsel being with him to heare and vnderstande the complaintes griefes and supplications of the Maior shiriffes Councellers dwellers and inhabitantes of our Towne of Rochell Gentlemen and others that are there abyding And for as much as it is so that nowe in the ende our most deare brother the sayd King of Polonia according to our pleasure good will hath by the aduise of our most deare and welbeloued brethren the duke of Alencon and king of Nauarre and our moste deare and welbeloued Cousins the Prince of Conde and Prince Dauphin the Dukes of Longueville of Guise Neuers and of Vzes the Lords of Montluc Coūt of Rhetz of Biron of Villequier of the Chappell Aux Vrsins of Losses of Vauguyon of S. Supplice of Malicorne of Suze the Grādprior of Champaigne and other great and notable personages beeing with him made agreement with the sayde inhabitantes of Rochell Gentlemen and others retyred thither vppon the pointes and Articles that shall bee hereafter specified as wel for themselues as for the inhabitantes of our Towns of Moūtauban and Nismes the Gentlemen and others retired into them and others our subiectes for whome they haue made sute We let you vnderstande that considering we can not doe better than to follow the counsell which is giuē vs by our sayde brethren Princes and Lordes afore saide who for the zeale they haue to the honor of God with the experience they haue in many things and the affection they beare towardes the well ordering of our affayres haue more knowledge than any other in those matters what is meete and necessarie for the profit and commoditie of our Realme We by the aduice counsell of the Queene our most honorable Ladie and mother of our moste deare and welbeloued Cousins the Cardinals of Lorain and of Guise of our most deare faithful Chauncellour of the Lordes of Moruillier of Lanssac of Limoges of the presidents first of Thou and Seguier the Lorde of Foix the president Hannequin the Lords of Cheuerny of Māde and of Roessi all Counsellers of our said priuie Councel for the matters and causes beforesaide and for other good and great cōsiderations therunto specially mouing vs haue saide declared decreed and ordeyned and do say declare decree and ordeine by this our present Edict our wyll and pleasure is as followeth I. First that the remembrance of all things that haue hapned by occasion of the troubles and stirres in our sayde Realme since the 24. of August last paste shall remaine wholly quenched and appeased as thinges that hadde neuer happened neyther shall it be lawfull or permitted to any of our atturneys generall or any other person either publique or priuate in what tyme soeuer or for what occasion soeuer it be to make any mention there nor any proces or sute therevpon in any Courte or iurisdiction II. Forbidding also all our Subiects of what estate or quallitie soeuer they bee that they renewe not the memorie thereof nor to contend nor to reuile nor prouoke eyther other by reproching them with thinges that be past in disputing rehersing quarelling or doing outrage or offence one to an other in word or in deede but to forbeare and to liue peacibly togither as brethrē frends and fellowe Citizens vpon paine to them that shall doe the contrarie to be punished as brekers of the peace and disturbers of the cōmon quiet III. We ordeine that the Catholike and Romishe Religion bee set vp againe and established in all places quarters of this our Realme and countrey vnder our obedience wher the exercise of the same hath bene left off and that it may be freely and peasibly exercised without any trouble or let vpon the paines aforesaid and that all those whiche during these present warres haue entred vpon houses goodes and reuenues belonging to the Churchmen and other catholiques and such as hold and occupie the same shall leaue vnto them the full possession and peasible enioying therof in al freedome and safetie IIII. And for to giue occasion to our subiectes abyding and inhabiting in our said Towns of Rochell Montauban and Nismes to liue and remaine in reste wee haue permitted and doe permit to them the free exercise of the Religion called reformed within the saide Townes the same too cause too bee exercised within their owne houses or place to them appertaining excepte alwayes publique places for them their families and others that will be there present V. And to alothers of the said religiō called reformed which haue continued therein vntill this present we do permit to retire into their houses where they maye bee and remaine throughout all other partes of our Realme to go and come and to liue in all libertie of conscience And to the Gentlemen and others hauing high Iustice which in like manner haue hytherto remayned till this present in the said Religion bering Armes with the saide inhabitants in the saide Townes since the saide 24. of August last paste wee doe also permit to liue in the same libertie of conscience in their houses and there onely to baptize and marrie after their accustomed maner not hauing any assembly besides the kinred Godfathers and Godmothers aboue the number of tenne persons and that not within our Court nor within two leagues about thesame nor in the Towne Prouostship and Vicountie of Paris nor within tenne Leagues about the same Towne VI. We charge our Baylifes Seneshalles ordinarie Iudges or other Substitutes each one in his libertie or iurisdiction to prouide for the buriall of the deade bodies of them of the saide Religion called reformed in the most commodious manner they can and without offence VII If any of the saide Religion haue bene constrained to make promis bonde to giue assurance to change their Religion we haue discharged the same and declare the same to be adnulled of none effect or value VIII The Schollers sickmen and poore of what religion soeuer they be shall be indifferently receiued into the vniuersities cōmon scholes hospitals houses for sicke
persons and Almes houses IX We do permit to al our Subiects being of the said religion that they may sell or alienate theyr goodes and goe freely with all their money and other moueables whither it shall seeme them good or to enioye the commoditie and benefite thereof in what place soeuer they shall resort vnto be it within or without the Realme so that it bee not in the lands of such Princes with whom we may haue warres X. Our sayde Subiectes of Rochell Mountaban and Nismes and other before named shall remaine quit discharged of all summes of money goods debtes arrerages of rentes profits and reuenues of ecclesiasticall persons and others which they shall sufficiently make apparant to haue bene by them taken or leuied since the saide 24. of August so that neyther they nor their committies nor those that haue furnished them with any thing or delyuered the same vnto them shall any wayes be charged nor condemned therfore at this present nor for the time paste nor at any time hereafter XI Likewise they shall remayne acquitted and discharged of all Artes of hostilitie leuying and conducting of men of warre coyning of money casting and taking of ordinance and munitions making of powder and Saltpeter Prizes Fortifications or enterprises vpon Townes pulling downe of Churches houses or other places prizes of Ships Galleyes and goodes vpon the Sea establishmēt of Iustice and Iudgements and the executions thereof as well in cases ciuill as criminall voyages intelligences treaties dealings had for their ayde and conseruation and generally of all that hath by them beene done wrought or committed to that effect as well wythin as wythout our Realme since the saide 24. of August as wel as if the same were particularly expressed and specifyed so that for none of the thinges before named or others past and done shall be imputed to them or to their posteritie any crime of rebellion disobedience or Treason XII We do declare that we holde and repute all those aforenamed for our good loyall and faythfull subiectes and seruantes so that they doe 〈◊〉 sweare vnto vs all obeysance and fidelitie and doe leaue off and desist wholly from al such associations as they haue wythin or wythout our Realme and that they do not hereafter make any gatherings of money without our permission nor enrolmentes of men congregations or assemblies other than those whiche are aboue to them permitted that without Armes vpon paine to be rigorously punished as contemners of our commaundementes and ordinances XIII All prisoners taken in warre or others that bee holden in prysons galleyes or elsewhere for the cause of religion and by occasion of these present troubles shall be enlarged and sette at libertie without paying of ransome not meaning heereby that the ransomes which are alreadie payde may bee asked againe of those that haue receiued them XIIII Those of the sayde religion shall not bee ouercharged or burdened with any charges ordinarie or extraordinarie more than the Catholiques XV. We haue declared and do declare all defaults sentences iudgements arrestes processes seysures sales and decrees made and giuen against those of the Religion called reformed which bee or haue bene within the saide Townes of Rochell Moūtauban and Nismes since the sayde 24. of August last paste whiche haue beene giuen without hearing the parties or their Proctors by them appoynted since the sayde 24. of August last paste also the execution of the same as well in cases ciuil as criminall shall bee voyde reuoked and adnulled And the Processes shall remaine in the same estate as they were before and the foresayde persons shal enter again vpon their temporall goodes what so euer seyzures sales and iudgementes haue beene made by vs or otherwayes without making any recompence for the same XVI And touching heires widowes and other hauing any right or title from such of the sayde Religion as are deceassed wythin the sayde Towns that haue bin there or born Armes for them in what parte of our realme soeuer it be since the said 24. of August we permit to them to reenter into the possession and enioying of the goodes left by the said persons deceassed and we do maintaine them in their good fame and reputation XVII All officers of the sayd townes of Rochel Mountauban and Nismes as well pertayning to the Crowne as others of what religion soeuer they be that haue bene put out therof by reason of the same religion and of these present troubles shall be set againe in their estates charges and offices and other officers of other Townes and places shall obserue our declarations therevpon made and published XVIII And to the ende that Iustice bee ministred without any suspition to our subiects of the said townes and others that be retyred into thē since the sayde 24. of August we haue ordeyned and do ordeine and our will and pleasure is that all proces and differences moued or to bee moued betwene the parties of contrarie religion as well on the part of the demaundant as the defendant what matter so euer it be ciuill or criminall shall be heard at the first instāce before our Baylifes Seneshals other our ordinarie Iudges according to our ordinances And where any appeale shall happen in any our Courtes of Parliament there shall be prouided for them by vs onely within the space of one yeare accompting from the daye of the publication of these presents Iudges vnsuspected such as shal seeme best to vs except always the court of Parliamēt of Tholouse in respect of those of Mountauban and in the meane time they shall not bee constrained to appeare personally XIX And for as much as many particular persons haue receiued and suffered so many iniuries domages both in their goods and persons as hardly they can forgette the remembrance of the same so sone as were requisite for the execution of our intent we willing to auoyde all incōueniences and to giue some meane for those that might be in some fear that vpon their return to their houses they should not be at rest til such rancour enmitie might bee assuaged haue graunted and do graunte to them of the saide Townes of Rochel Mountauban and Nismes that they shall enioy their Priuileges both auncient and lately graunted and their authorities of iurisdictiō and other rightes in whiche they shal be mainteyned and preserued wythout hauing anye Garrison neyther shall bee made there any Castles Fortes or Citadels without the consent of the inhabitantes of the same Townes Who for a demonstration and suretie of their obeysance obseruation and mainteyning of our will and intention shall delyuer for the space of two yeares foure of the principal Burgeses and inhabitantes of eache of the sayde Townes beeing of the sayde Religion called reformed the which shal bee by vs chosen out of those that they shall name vnto vs and those to be changed euery three moneths or in suche other time as shall seeme good vnto vs and they shall bee put