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
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
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
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
Judges who might have cognizance thereof do abstain from the Judgment of their Process and they shall be obliged to abstain therefrom without having cause shewn except where the Process is to be judged there shall be found to the number of two in Civil and three in Criminal Causes of the Religion in which case it shall not be lawful to except without cause shewn and this shall be reciprocal in the like cases as above to the Catholicks upon the account of Appeals from the Judges where those of the Religion are the greater number Not understanding nevertheless that the Chief Justice Provosts of the Mareschalsies Vice-Bailiffs Vice-Stewards and others who judge without Appeal take by virtue of this that is said cognizance of the past troubles And as to crimes and excess happening by other occasions than the troubles since the beginning of March 1585. until the end of 1597. in case they take cognizance thereof We will that an Appeal be suffered from their Judgment to the Chamber ordained by the present Edict as shall be practised in like manner for the Catholicks and Confederates where those of the Religion are Parties LXVI We Will and Ordain also That henceforward in all Instructions other than Informations of Criminal Process in the Chief Justices Court of Tholose Carcassonne Rouergue Loragais Beziers Montpellier and Nimes the Magistrate or Commissary deputed for the said Instruction if he is a Catholick shall be obliged to take an Associate who is of the Religion whereof the Parties shall agree or where they cannot agree one of the Office of the said Religion shall be taken by the above-said Magistrate or Commissioner as in like manner if the said Magistrate or Commissioner is of the Religion he shall be obliged in the same manner as above-said to take an Associate a Catholick LXVII When it shall be a question of making a Criminal Process by the Provosts of the Mareschalsies or their Lieutenants against some of the Religion a House-keeper who is charged and accused of a crime belonging to the Provost or subject to the Jurisdiction of a Provost the said Provosts or their Lieutenants if they are Catholicks shall be obliged to call to the Instruction of the said Process an Associate of the Religion which Associate shall also assist at the Judgment of the difference and in the definitive Judgment of the said Process which difference shall not be judged otherwise than by the next Presidial Court assembled with the principal Officers of the said Court which shall be found upon the place upon penalty of Nullity except the accused should require to have the difference judged in the Chambers ordained by the present Edict In which case upon the account of the House-keepers in the Provinces of Guyenne Languedoc Provence and Dauphiné the Substitutes of our Procurators General in the said Chambers shall at the request of the said House-keepers cause to be brought into the same the charges and informations made against them to know and judge if the Causes are triable before the Provost or not that according to the quality of the Crimes they may by the Chamber be sent back to the ordinary or judged triable by the Provost as shall be found reasonable by the Contents of our present Edict and the Presidial Judges Provosts of the Mareschalsie Vice-Bailiffs Vice-Stewards and others who judge without Appeal shall be obliged respectively to obey and satisfie the Commands of the said Chambers as they use to do to the said Parliaments upon penalty of the loss of their Estates LXVIII The Outcries for Sale of Inheritances and giving notice thereof by warning pasted or chalked according to order shall be done in places and at hours usual if possible following our Ordinances or else in publick Markets if in the place where the Land lyes there is a Market place and where there shall be none in the next Market within the Jurisdiction of the Court where Judgment ought to be given and the fixing of the notice shall be upon the Posts of the said Market-place and at the entry of the Assembly of the said place and this Order being observed the notice shall be good and valid and pass beyond the interposition of the Sentence or Decree as to any Nullity which might be alledged upon this account LXIX All Titles Papers Instructions and Documents which have been taken shall be restored by both Parties to those to whom they belong though the said Papers or the Castles and houses in which they were kept have been taken and seised by special Commission from the last deceased King our most honoured Lord and Brother-in-law or from us or by the Command of the Governors and Lieutenants General of our Provinces or by the Authority of the Heads of the other Party or under what pretext soever it shall be LXX The Children of those that are retired out of our Kingdom since the death of Henry II. our Father-in-law by reason of Religion and Troubles though the said Children are born out of the Kingdom shall be held for true French and Inhabitants And we have declared and do declare That it is lawful for such at any time within ten years after the publication of this present Edict to come and dwell in this Kingdom without being needful to take Letters Patents of Naturalization or any other provision from us than this present Edict notwithstanding all Ordinances to the contrary touching Children born in Foreign Countries LXXI Those of the Reformed Religion and others who have followed their Party who have before the Troubles taken to farm any Office or other Domain Gabel foreign Imposition or other Rights appertaining unto us which they could not injoy by reason of the Troubles shall remain discharged and we discharge them of what they have not received of our Finances and of what they have without fraud paid otherwise than in to the Receipts of our Exchequer notwithstanding all their obligation given thereupon LXXII All Places Cities and Provinces of our Kingdom Countries Lands and Lordships under our obedience shall use and injoy the same Priviledges Immunities Liberties Franchises Fayrs Markets Jurisdictions and Courts of Justice which they did before the Troubles begun 1585. and others preceding notwithstanding all Patents to the contrary and translation of any of the Seats of Justice provided they have been done only by occasion of the Troubles which Courts or Seats of Justice shall be restored to the Cities and places where they have been formerly LXXIII If there be any Prisoners who are yet kept by Authority of Justice or otherwise in Gallies by reason of the Troubles o◠of the said Religion they shall be released and set in full liberty LXXIV Those of the Religion shall never hereafter be charged and oppressed with any Charge ordinary or extraordinary more than the Catholicks and according to their abilities and Trades and the Parties who shall pretend to be overcharged above their ability may appeal to the Judges to whom the cognizance
duly discharged of all the Sums of Money which have been paid to the said Commissioners of the said Assembly of what nature soever they be until the last day of this month And we Will and Command that all be passed and allowed in the Accompts which Accompts they shall give into our Chambers of Accompts purely and simply by virtue of the Acquittances which shall be brought and if any shall hereafter be delivered they shall remain null and those who shall accept or deliver them shall be condemned in the penalty of forgery And where there shall be any Accompts already given in upon which there shall have intervened any raisings or additions we do hereby take away the same and re-establish the Parties entirely by virtue of these Presents without being needful to have particular Patents or any other thing than an Extract of this present Article LXXXI The Governors Captains Consuls and Persons Commissioned to recover Money for paying Garrisons held by those of the Religion to whom our Receivers and Collectors of Parishes have furnished by Loan upon their Credits and Obligations whether by constraint or in obedience to the commandment of the Treasurers General and the Money necessary for the entertaining of the said Garrisons until the concurrence of the State which we dispatched in the beginning of 1596. and augmentations since agreed unto by us shall be held acquitted and discharged of all that which hath been paid for the effect abovesaid though by the said Cedules and Obligations no mention hath been thereof made which shall be to them rendred as null And to satisfie therein the Treasurers General in each Generality the particular Treasurers of our Tailles shall give their Acquittances to the said Collectors and the Receivers General shall give their Acquittances to the particular Receivers and for the discharge of the Receivers General the Sums whereof they should have given account as is said shall be indorsed upon the Commissions levied by the Treasurer of the Expences under the name of Treasurers General for the extraordinaries of our Wars for the payment of the said Garrisons And where the said Commissions shall not amount to as much as the establishment and augmentations of our Army did in 1596. We ordain That to supply the same there shall be dispatched new Commissions for what is necessary for the discharge of our Accomptants and restitution of the said promises and obligations in such sort as there shall not for the time to come be any thing demanded thereof from those that shall have made them and that all Patents of Ratifications which shall be necessary for the discharge of Accomptants shall be dispatched by virtue of this present Article LXXXII Those also of the said Religion shall depart and desist henceforward from all Practices Negotiations and Intelligences as well within as without our Kingdom and the said Assemblies and Councils established within the Provinces shall readily separate and also all the Leagues and Associations made or to be made under what pretext soever to the prejudice of our present Edict shall be cancelled and annulled as we do cancel and annul them prohibiting most expresly to all our Subjects to make henceforward any Assessments or Levies of Money Fortifications Enrollments of men Congregations and Assemblies other than such as are permitted by our present Edict and without Arms And we do prohibit and forbid them to do the contrary upon the penalty of being severely punished as Contemners and Breakers of our Commands and Ordinances LXXXIII All Prizes which have been taken by Sea during the troubles by virtue of the leave and allowance given and those which have been made by Land upon those of the contrary Party and which have been judged by the Judges and Commissioners of the Admiralty or by the Heads of those of the Religon or their Council shall remain extinguished under the benefit of our present Edict without making any prosecution the Captains or others who have made the said Prizes their Securities Judges Officers Wives and Heirs shall not be prosecuted nor molested in any sort whatsoever notwithstanding all the Decrees of our Privy Council and Parliaments of all Letters of Mart and Seisures depending and not judged of We will and require that there be made a full and entire discharge of all Suits arising therefrom LXXXIV In like manner there shall not be any prosecution of those of the Religion for the oppositions and obstructions which they have given formerly and since the troubles in the execution of Decrees and Judgments given for the re-establishment of the Catholick Religion in divers places of this Kingdom LXXXV And as to what hath been done or taken during the troubles out of the way of Hostility or by Hostility against the publick or particular Rules of the Heads or Communalties of the Provinces which they commanded there shall be no prosecution by way of Justice LXXXVI Forasmuch that whereas that which hath been done against the Rules of one Party or the other is indifferently excepted and reserved from the general abolition contained in our present Edict and is liable to be inquired after or prosecuted yet nevertheless no Souldier shall be troubled whence may arise the renewing of troubles and for this cause We will and ordain that execrable Cases shall only be excepted out of the said abolition as ravishing and forcing of Women and Maids Burnings Murders Robberies Treachery and lying in wait or ambush out of the way of Hostility and for private revenge against the duty of War breaking of Pass-ports and Safeguards with Murders and Pillages without command from those of the Religion or those that have followed the Party of their Generals who have had Authority over them founded upon particular occasions which have moved them to ordain and command it LXXXVII We Ordain also That punishment be inflicted for crimes and offences committed betwixt persons of the same Party if acts not commanded by the Heads of one Party or the other by necessity of Law and order of War And as to the levying and exacting of Money bearing of Arms and other Exploits of War done by private Authority and without allowance the parties guilty thereof shall be prosecuted by way of Justice LXXXVIII The Cities dismantled during the troubles may with our permission be re-edified and repaired by the Inhabitants at their costs and charges and the provisions granted heretofore upon that account shall hold and have place LXXXIX We Ordain and our will and pleasure is that all Lords Knights Gentlemen and others of what quality and condition soever of the Reformed Religion and others who have followed their Party shall enter and be effectually conserved in the injoyment of all and each of their Goods Rights Titles and actions notwithstanding the Judgments following thereupon during the said troubles and by reason of the same which Decrees Seisures Judgments and all that shall follow thereupon we have to this end declared and we do declare them null and of
no effect and value XC The Acquisitions that those of the Reformed Religion and others which have followed their Party have made by the Authority of the deceased Kings our Predecessors or others for the Immoveables belonging to the Church shall not have any place or effect but we Ordain and our pleasure is That the Ecclesiasticks re-enter immediately and without delay be conserved in the possession and injoyment really and actually of the said Goods so alienated without being obliged to pay the Purchase-money which to this effect we have cancelled and revoked as null without remedy for the Purchasers to have against the Generals c. by the authority of which the said Goods have been sold Yet nevertheless for the re-imbursement of the Money by them truly and without fraud disbursed our Letters Patents of permission shall be dispatched to those of the Religion to interpose and equalize the bare Sums that the said Purchases cost the Purchasers not being allowed to bring any Action for their damages and interest for want of injoyment but shall content themselves with the re-imbursement of the Money by them furnished for the price of the Acquisitions accounting for the price of the fruits received in case that the said Sale should be found to be made at an under rate XCI To the end that as well our Justices and Officers as our other Subjects be clearly and with all certainty advertised of our will and intentions and for taking away all ambiguity and doubt which may arise from the variety of former Edicts Articles secret Letters Patents Declarations Modifications Restrictions Interpretations Decrees and Registers as also all secrets as well as other deliberations heretofore by us or the Kings our Predecessors made in our Courts of Parliaments or other ways concerning the said Reformed Religion and the troubles happening in our said Kingdom we have declared and do hereby declare them to be of no value and effect And as to the derogatory part therein contained we have by this our Edict abrogated and we do abrogate and from henceforward we cancel revoke and annul them Declaring expresly that our will and pleasure is That this our Edict be firmly and inviolably kept and observed as well by our Justices and Officers as other Subjects without hesitation or having any regard at all to that which may be contrary or derogatory to the same XCII And for the greater assurance of the keeping and observing what we herein desire We will and ordain and it is our pleasure That all the Governors and Lieutenants General of our Provinces Bailiffs Chief Justices and other ordinary Judges of the Cities of our said Kingdom immediately after the receipt of this same Edict do bind themselves by Oath to keep and cause to be kept and observed each in their district as shall also the Majors Sheriffs principal Magistrates Consuls and Jurates of Cities either annual or perpetual Enjoyning likewise our Bailiffs Chief Justices or their Lieutenants and other Judges to make the principal Inhabitants of the said Cities as well of the one Religion as the other to swear to the keeping and observing of this present Edict immediately after the Publication thereof And taking all those of the said Cities under our protection command that one and the other respectively shall either answer for the opposition that shall be made to this our said Edict within the said Cities by the inhabitants thereof or else to present and deliver over to Justice the said opposers We Will and Command our well-beloved the People holding our Courts of Parliaments Chambers of Accompts and Courts of Aids that immediately after the receipt of this present Eâ—ict they cause all things to cease and upon penalty of Nullity of the Acts which they shall otherwise do to take the like Oath as above and to publish and register our said Edict in our said Courts according to the form and tenour of the same purely and simply without using any Modifications Restrictions Declarations or secret Registers or expecting any other Order or Command from us and we do require our Procurators General to pursue immediately and without delay the said Publication hereof We give in Command to the said People of our Courts of Parliaments Chambers of our Courts and Courts of our Aids Bailiffs Chief Justices Provosts and other our Justices and Officers to whom it appertains and to their Lieutenants that they cause to be read published and inregistred this our present Edict and Ordinance in their Courts and Jurisdictions and the same keep and observe punctually and the Contents of the same to cause to be injoyed and used fully and peaceably by all those to whom it shall belong ceasing and making to cease all troubles and obstructions to the contrary For such is our pleasure And in Witness hereof we have signed these Presents with our own Hand and to the end to make it a thing firm and stable for ever we have caused to put and indorse our Seal to the same Given at Nantes in the month of April in the Year of Grace 1598. and of our Reign the ninth Signed HENRY And underneath the King being in Council FORGET And on the side VISA This VISA signifies the Lord Chancellors perusal Sealed with the Great Seal of green Wax upon a red and green String of Silk Read published and registred the Kings Procurator or Atturney General hearing and consenting to it in the Parliament of Paris the 25th of February 1599. Signed VOYSIN Read published and inregistred in the Chamber of Accompts the Kings Procurator General hearing and consenting the last day of March 1599. Signed DE LA FONTAINE Read published and registred the Kings Procurator General hearing and consenting at Paris in the Court of Aids the 30th of April 1599. Signed BERNARD PARTICULAR ARTICLES Extracted from the General which the King hath granted to those of the Reformed Religion and which his Majesty would not have comprised in the said General nor in the Edict which hath been made and framed for the same Given at Nantes in the Month of April 1598. And yet nevertheless His Majesty hath agreed that they shall be entirely accomplished and observed altogether as fully as the Contents of the said Edict And to that end they shall be registred in his Courts of Parliament and in other places where it shall be needful and all necessary Declarations Provisions and Patents shall be therefore dispatched THE FIRST ARTICLE THE sixth Article of the said Edict touching Liberty of Conscience and permission to all the Subjects of his Majesty to live and dwell in this Kingdom and the Countries under his obedience shall have place and be observed according to its form and tenor and as well for the Ministers and Pedagogues as all other Professors and Masters of School and generally for those who are and shall be of the said Religion whether Inhabitants only or others so long as they comport themselves according as is contained in the said Edict