take Cognizance or to Judge of the Criminal Process of them of the P. R. R. And this Ordinance reversing it wills that all guilty and accused af the Crime of Relapse Apostasie or Blasphemies uttered against the Mysteries of the Catholick Religion shall be judged by the Parliaments every one in his Precinct with Prohibition to the Chambers of the Edict to take Cognizance thereof directly or indirectly under what pretext or occasion soever upon pain of nullity evacuation of proceedings Expenses Charges Damages and Interests of the Parties and greatter if need require The Ecclesiasticks then can never attempt any thing more highly against the Edict then in suggesting this Declaration and it is clear that they had not pursued thus far but to the end their Prey might not escape them because the animosity of the Parliaments is so great against them of the P. R. R. that they are infallibly lost if they be left in their power There have been infinite vexatious experiences had of this and that we may not pass from the matter that is here in question a Decree was made by the Parliament of Tolouse Feb. 23 1665. against one named John Gayrard who had forsaken his Religion and was returned on the second of April 1662. a year before the first Declaration against the pretended Relapsed Notwithstanding by this Decree he was condemned to be delivered into the hands of the Executioner of the Haut Justice to be led with a Halter ahout his Neck in his Shirt his Head and Feet bare on a Lords day before the Cathedral Church of Montauban at the close of the great Mass where being on his knees he should ask Pardon of God the King and Justice for his misdeeds be banished the Town and Shrievalty of Montauban for three years and condemned in a hundred Livers for a Fine and in the Charges and sent back to the Consuls of Montauban to cause this Decree to be put in Execution In pursuit whereof having been re-closed three Months in the Prisons of Tolouse he was led to that of Montauban where he hath been ever since and there he is at present So it comes to pass that this Parliament gives it self all license not only to surpass the rigour of the Declarations in turning one part of his Banishment into a reparation much more infamous and insupportable but which is more they have condemned a man who according to the Decree of the Council of Estate of the 18th of September 1664. ought to have been absolved and discharged of all penalties because he was re-entred into his Religion a Year before the first of the Declarations by which they would prevail against him But we need not be surprised at this proceeding of the Parliament of Tholouse For in all times it hath made appear in all sorts of occasions and excessive hate against them of the P. R. R. So far that King Charles the IX having ordained by his Edict of 1570. that untill such times as the Chambers of the Edict should be Established they of the said Religion might refuse in the Parliaments four Judges of the Chamber wherein their Process were depending without expressing any cause and without prejudice to the ordinary right of Chalenges but as for the Parliament of Tholouse it was declared to be wholly refusable in process wherein they of that Religion were interested And in case they could not agree of another Parliament it was ordered that the Parties should be sent back to the Court of Requests to be there Judged with final determination Afterward in the Year 1573. when the Towns of the P. R. R. gave Hostages to the same King it was Decreed that they might be sent to any Town of the Kingdom which it pleased him saving that of Tholouse the Royal authority the publick Faith and the Law of Nations being not judged a sufficient warrant from the violence of that Parliament Also in the Edict of 1577. which in the 32 and 33. Articles did import that the Catholick Officers serving the Chambers of the Edict were to be taken from the Parliaments that of Tholouse was excepted and it was ordained that the Catholick Commissioners of the Chamber of the Edict in Languedoc should be taken from other Parliaments or from the Grand Council which was executed in that sort till the Parliament being displeased to see themselves so Chastized promised to moderate it self and to do Justice But they have not observed their Promise and have alwayes continued to give such great proofs of their ill will that there is now no more cause to trust them than heretofore The grief is that the other Parliaments have imitated their example and a certain spirit of fierceness and aversion hath so pre-possessed them for some time that they of the P. R. R. can well say that they and their Liberties are at an end if they must abide under a Jurisdiction so contrary and averse Witness the Decree of the Parliament of Remes against James Caillion Seiur de la Touche and the Parliaments of Pau Bordeaux and Rouen have done of late things which render them no less formidable The King therefore who will not see his Subjects to perish miserably of whom he knows himself that he hath no cause to complain will be pleased to revoke this rigorous Declaration which subjects them unto Parliaments in many of which there are not so much as any Counsellors of the P. R. R. for to defend their innocence He will maintain of his Justice and equitable Goodness the Chambers of the Edict in their power without permitting any breach to be made upon their Jurisdiction He will remove the Prohibitions gotten by surprize against those who are painted out under the name of Relapsed Apostates and Blasphemers leaving to all his Subjects full liberty of Conscience which the Edicts confirmed by his Majesty have established throughout the Realm and for that person named Gayrard in particular your Majesty is besought to cause him to be freed from Prison by evacuating the Decree made against him by the Parliament of Tolouse and ordaining that the warrant of his imprisonment be cancelled and the Gaoler constrained by all sorts of means and even arrest of his body it self to suffer him to depart A brief Table of the Estate of those of the P. R. R. After all these several observations which a hard necessity hath in a manner haled from the breast of those of the P. R. R. It is now easie to judge unto what extremity they are reduced and how deplorable their condition is if the King to whom they look as their only support on Earth do not suffer himself to be touched with their supplications and their Tears For at length what can be thought of their Estate They behold the most part of their Temples to be condemned and demolished in all the Provinces of the Realm so that a possession of threescore and ten years and titles authentick could not save them They dare no more
by our present Edict there shall be made by us a good and ample Reglement betwixt the said Courts and Chambers and such as those of the Religion shall enjoy entirely from the said Edict the which Reglement shall be verified in our Courts of Parliaments and kept and observed without having regard to precedents 64. We inhibit and forbid all our Courts Soveraign and others of this Realm the taking Cognizance and judging the Civil or Criminal process of those of the Religion the Cognizance of which is attributed by our Edict to the Chambers of Edict provided that the Appeal thereunto be demanded as is said in the Fortieth Article going before 65. We also Will and Command for the present and untill we have otherwise therein ordained that in all Process commenced or to be commenced where those of the Religion are Plaintiff or Defendants Parties Principals or Guarrantees in matters Civil in which our Officers and chief Courts of Justice have powâ—â—… to judge without appeal that it shall be permitted to them to except against two of the Chamber where the Process ought to be Judged who shall forbear Judgement of the same and without having the cause expressed shall be obliged to withdraw notwithstanding the ordinance by which the Judges ought not to be excepted against without cause shown and shall have farther right to except against others upon shewing cause And in matters Criminal in which also the said Courts of Justice and others of the Kings subordinate Judges do Judge without appeal those of the Religion may except against three of the said Judges without showing Cause And the Provosts of the Mareschalsie of France vice-Bayliffs vice-Presidents Lievetenants of the short Robe and other Officers of the like Quality shall Judge according to the Ordinances and Reglements heretofore given upon the account of Vagabonds And as to the houshold charged and accused by the Provosts if they are of the said Religion they may require that three of the said judges who might have Cognizance thereof do abstain from the Judgement 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 lawfull to except without Cause shewn and this shall be reciprocall 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 Marshalsies vice-Bayliffs 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. untill the end of 1597. in case they take Cognizance thereof We will that an appeal be suffered from their Judgement to the Chamber ordained by the present Edict as shall be practised in like manner for the Catholick and Confederates where those of the Religion are Parties 66. We Will and Ordain also that henceforward in all instructions other than informations of criminal Process in the chief Justices Court of Tholouse Carcassonne Roverque Loragais Beziers Montpellier and Nimes the Magistrate or Commissary deputed for the said instructions 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 abovesaid 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 abovesaid to take and associate a Catholick 67. When it shall be a question of making a criminal Process by the Provosts of the Marshalsies or their Leivetenants 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 Provost or their Leivetenants 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 Judgement of the difference and in the definitive Judgement 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 shall 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 Province and Dauphine 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 tryable 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 tryable by the Provost as shall be found reasonable by the contents of our present Edict and the Presidial Judges Provosts of Mareschalsie vice-Bayliffs 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 67. The outcries for sale of Inheritances and giving notice thereof by warning passed 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 lies there is a Market-place and where there shall be none in the next Market within the jurisdiction of the Court where Judgement 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 valid and pass beyond the interposition of the sentence or decree as to any nullity which might be alledged upon this account 69. All Title and 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 seized 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 Lievetenant Generals of our Provinces or by the authority of the heads of the other party or under what pretext soever it shall be 70. The children of those that are retired out of our Kingdom since the death of Henry the Second our father-in-Father-in-Law by reason of Religion and Troubles though the said Children are born out
abolition contained in our present Edict and is liable to be inquired after or prosecuted yet nevertheless no Soldier 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 87. We Ordain also that punishment be inflicted for Crimes and offences committed betwixt persons of the same party if Acts not commanded by the hands of one Party or the other by necessity of Law and Order of War And as for the Leavying 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 88. 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 89. 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 enjoyment of all and each of their Goods Rights Titles and Actions notwithstanding the Judgements following thereupon during the said troubles and by reason of the same with Decrees Seizures Judgements and all that shall follow thereupon we have to this end declared and we do declare them null and of no effect and value 90. 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 immovables belonging to the Church shall not have any place or effect but we ordain and our pleasure is that the Ecclesiasticks enter immediately and without delay be conserved in the possession and enjoyment 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 bare sums of the said purchases cost the Purchasers not being allowed to bring any action for their Damages and interest for want of enjoyment 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 91. 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 otherwayes concerning the said Reformed Religion and the troubles hapning 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 cancell revoke and anull 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 92. 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 Leivetenants General of our Provinces Bayliffs Chief-Justices and other ordinary Judges of the Cities of our said Kingdom immediately after the receit of this same Edict and do bind themselves by Oath to keep and cause to be kept and observed each in their district as shall also the Mayors Sheriffs principal Magistrates Consuls and Jurates of Cities either annual or perpetual Enjoyning likewise our Bayliffs chief Justices or their Livetenants 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 Accounts and Courts of Aids that immediately after the receipt of this present Edict 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 tenure 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 People of our said Courts of Parliaments Chambers of our Courts and Courts of our Aids Bayliffs Chief-Justices Provosts and other our Justices and Officers to whom it appertains and to their Leivetenants that they cause to be read published and Registred this our present Edict and Ordinance in their Courts and Jurisdictions and the same keep punctually and the contents of the same to cause to be injoyned and used fully and peaceably to 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
Judge to depart than a simple Parish Priest But if on the other hand the Parish Priest and the Judge transported with zeal be minded to report the Declaration of the Sick otherwise than he hath made it what means hath he to make the truth known will he oppose the Testimony of his friends and the standers by why they will be suspected and shall not be believed to the prejudice of the Judge and the Parish Priest Neither shall they for the most part of the time serve themselves of their Testimony because the Judges and Parish Priests do commonly send all people out of the sick mans Chamber whereinto they enter this is a Mischief for which there is no remedy but by revocation of this Article For the other Ecclesiasticks and Religious it may seem that the declaration doth not give them so much power because it wills that they be sent for by the sick But at bottom this limitation is a fruitless remedy for that when a Monk hath a mind to see a sick person he will always find persons enough who will testify that he desired and sent for him and experience hath already made us see sufficiently that these witnesses will never he wanting in such sort that upon their report a poor sick person well setled in his Religion and that hath no design to change it sees those persons enter into his Chamber whose presence alone is capable to trouble his Spirit This Article therefore which concerns the sick being of so sad and destructive consequence and casting them of the P. R. R. into dangers which they cannot think of without uttermost consternation they do demand with most profound Humility and yet at the same time with the most vehement ardour of their Souls the revocation thereof whole and entire To be content with a moderation herein were to no purpose because there needs no more than the least shadow of permission to the Parish Priests to carry them beyond all Bounds Witness the Declaration which permits them not to go in to any sick without a Judge or an Alderman or a Consul And yet we see they go boldly beyond this Rule and intrude alone into the houses of the sick and in the same manner the simple Priests and Monks go without a Magistrate and without calling because they have the power in their own hands and they have nothing to fear whatsoever they enterprize The King therefore may be pleased to consider that the yoke which this Article imposeth on them of the P. R. R. is unsupportable and that he may discharge them thereof according to Justice without which it may be said most truly that they cannot any longer subsist in the Kingdom because they have no longer any liberty to live or dy in repose ARTICLE XLIX Hospitals That the poor sick Catholicks and those of the P. R. R. shall be received indifferently into the Hospitals in all places without being constrained by violence to change their Religion and the Ministers and others of the P. R. R. may go and visit and comfort them of the said R. on condition that they make no Assemblies Prayers nor Exhortations with a loud voice which may be heard by the other sick THe end of this Article destroyes the beginning For if it be not permitted to them of the P. R. R. to make Prayers nor Exhortations in the Hospitals which may be heard by others certainly their sick can neither be visited nor comforted and therefore cannot remain in the Hospitals For it is well known in what manner the Hospitals are made every sick person hath not his Chamber apart there are alwayes many together and often two in the same bed It is therefore impossible to speak unto one without being heard of some others and it comes all to one to exclude the P. R. R. from the Hospitals as to receive them upon an impossible condition But over and above this the Clergy have also proposed another scope unto this Article which yet every one cannot perceive so going on to surprize them who pierce not into their secret intentions for in causing it to be ordained that the Catholicks and those of the P. R. R. should be received indifferently into Hospitals in all places This is to hinder them of the said Religion from assisting their poor sick in their particular houses and to constrain them to cause them to be carried to their Hospitals where the Priests and Monks will not fail to belabour them for to cause them to change their Religion so that in consenting that they may enjoy the Hospitals they consent to nothing at all because they add thereunto a condition which takes from them in those places the means of being visited and comforted by their Ministers And at the same time forbid them those houses wherein they may be assisted in their bodies without prejudice to the liberty of their Consciences and consolation of their Souls This Article therefore deserves to be rescinded and there is no need to add any thing in this matter to the Edict of Nantes which in the twenty second Article runs thus That the Sick and the Poor may be received into publick Hospitals Spittles and Alms-Houses without difference or distinction in regard of the said Religion ARTICLE L. Infants Exposed That Infants which are or shall be exposed shall be carried into the Hospitals of the Catholicks to be nourished and brought up in the Catholick Religion  ARTICLE LI. Alms of Chapters That the Alms which are at the disposal of Chapters Priors and Rectors be made by themselves or by their Order at the places of their foundation or Church doors to the poor as well Catholicks as those of the P. R. R. and that in the presence of the Consuls of the place And as for Alms which are to be distributed by Aldermen or Consuls they shall be dealt publickly at the Gate of the Town house in the presence of the Priors or Vicars of the place who may thereof keep Record  ARTICLE LII Administration of Hospitals and Spittles That the Hospitals and Spittles of the foundation of Corporations be ruled by the Consuls of the place THese three Articles are altogether useless ARTICLE LIII Festivals That they of the P. R. R. keep and observe the Feasts instituted by the Church and may not on the dayes which are to be observed in those Feasts sell nor retail in open Shops and that their Handicrafts likewise work not out of their Chambers and Houses close shut on the said prohibited dayes in any Trade whose noise may be heard without by those that pass by or by their Neighbours according to the twentieth Article of the Edict of Nantes for which purpose the said Feasts shall be published by the sound of a Bell or proclaimed by the diligence of the Consuls or Aldermen VVHat makes this Article here which is nothing else than the twentieth of the Edict of Nantes wherein sufficient provision is made for the observation of Feasts
case of Appeal before the Parliaments and that the Chambers of the Edict may not have Cognizance of the propriety nor of the possession of Tythes no not of those that are infeoffed nor of other Rights Dues and Demains of the Church with Prohibition to the said Chambers of the Edicts to take any Cognizance thereof ALL this whole Article was contrived by the Clergy for no other purpose than to foist into it one word which doth clash with the Edict and enervate the powers of the Chambers appointed in favour of them of the P. R. R. For the Edict having declared in the thirty fourth Article That the said Chambers should take Cognizance and judge Soveraignly and without appeal by Decree privative to all others the Process moved or to be moved in which they of the P. R. R. were Parties Principal or Security Plaintiff or Defendant in all matters Civil or Criminal it after adjoyns this exception except notwithstanding all matters of Benefices and the possession of Tythes not infeoft c. The Edict then takes not from the Chambers allowed them of the P. R. R. the Judgement of Tythes but when they are not infeoft and the Declaration on the contrary prohibits them the Cognizance of Tythes even infeoft Is not this I and nay pro and con Affirmative and Negative In a word the most formal opposition that can be imagined if then the King will that the Edict be exactly observed as cannot be doubted after the solemn protestation that he hath made thereof it is impossible that this clause should subsist and it ought necessarily to be revoked ARTICLE LIX Reparation of Churches and Presbyteries That those of the said P. R. R. pay the impositions ordained as well for the re-edification and reparation of Parochial Churches and Rectories as for the entertainment of Catholick School-masters and Regents notwithstanding that they may not be rated in regard of the Head-Money which may be ordained for this purpose according to the second particular of the Edict of Nantes THey say commonly the end Crowns the Work but here it destroys and ruines it For we must remember that the Preface of this Declaration imported that it had for its scope to cause the Edict of Nantes to be observed and the Decrees since interposed according to their form and tenure But the Clergy having lost all memory of this Project suggests here an Article which equally repeals the Edict and all the Decrees which have hitherto treated upon this matter which is the re-edification and reparation of Parish Churches Rectories with the entertainment of Catholick School Masters and Regents For as for the Edict of Nantes it is so formal that it is an astonishment to any one doubtless to see it cited in this place as conformable to this Declaration Thus it speaks in the second Article of the Particulars which is alledged in this place They of the said Religion may not be constrained to contribute to the Reparations and constructions of Churches Chappels Presbyteries nor to buy Ornaments for Priests Lights founding of Bells holy Bread rights of Guilds hiring of houses for residence of Priests and Religion Persons and other such like if they were not obliged by their Foundations Endowments or other Settlements made by themselves their Authors and Predecessors He that compares with this Article of the Edict that of the Declaration shall find betwixt them the most perfect contrariety in the World The Edict of Nantes saith That they of the P. R. R. may not be constrained to contribute to the reparations and buildings of Churches and Presbyteries and the Declaration saith they of the said Religion shall pay the impositions that are appointed for the re-edification or reparation of Parish-Churches or Parsonage-Houses Nor indeed is black more opposite to white and the day to the night than the Edict and the Declaration are in this point Besides it is a thing worthy of consideration that not only the Edict hath exempted those of the P. R. R. from Reparations re-edifications and buildings both of Churches and Parsonage-houses but also the Author of the Edict Henry the Great and Lewis the Just his Son both of glorious and immortal memory have afterwards confirmed this exemption throughout so many times as occasion was presented as may be seen in their answers to the Papers of 1606. Art 23 1623. Art 19 1625. Article 4. And not only the Edict and the Royal answers which are the explications and sequels thereof have established this right in favour of them of the P. R. R. But also it is certain that the Decrees both of the Council and Chambers of the Edict have been alway conformed thereunto There are found four decrees of the Council that make Proofs of this The first is of the fourth of March 1602. By which Francis Boutillon and others making profession of the P. R. R. at Quellebeuf were discharged of the re-edification of the said Church at Quellebeuf and the Catholicks of that place their Adversaries were condemned to restore unto them that which they had paid both the Principal and Costs The second was of the one and twentyeth of August following by which the Inhabitants of the P. R. R. of Conde upon Noireau were discharged without regard to the sentence of the Baily of that place of the rate set upon them for the re-edification of the Church and Altar of that Burrow with a prohibition to the Parson and the Catholick Inhabitants to rate them for those reparations on the pain of five hundred Crowns and to answer in their own proper and private names The third was of the twenty eighth of August 1623. which discharged the Inhabitants of the P. R. R. of the Country of Bearn from contributing to the reparation of the Churches and Covents of the Catholicks as well as the Catholicks from contributing to the building and re-edification of the Temples of those of the said Religion making those two things equal and reciprocal the which Decree was enregistred by the Parliament of Pau the first of July 1624. And agreeable to so authentick a settlement my Lord the Count of Gramont Governor and Lievetenant General for the King in his Kingdom of Navarre and in his Country of Bearn gave forth his Ordinance on the twenty third of June 1642. By which he condemned the Jurats of the place of St. Susannne to be arrested and carried to the Prison of the Castle of Orther for having commanded the Inhabitants of the P. R. R. of that place to work in the reparation of the Parish Church there and for having seized their Goods upon their Refusal The Fourth Decree was of the Counsel of the fourth of May 1650. by which the Inhabitants of the C. A. R. R. of the Parish of St. Thomas in the Town of St. Lo were debarred upon their own proper Petition tending to cause those of the P. R. R. to contribute to the sum of 5000. Livers which was to be raised on the Parishioners in
imported That the Parish Priests should not make themselves Parties in the non-observation of Feasts agreeable to the 20th Article of the Edict If the Parish Priests be excluded from this Inquisition because they find it to make for their Interest to make processes against the Protestants upon this point by the same Reason ought not the Clergy in general to be rejected as uncompetent Prosecutors touching the violations of the Edict being it is their great Interest and one of their Principal Satisfactions to trouble them of this Religion and to ruine them with all their Powers The order of Justice also requires that Ecclesiasticks meddle not with things but what are purely Spiritual It cannot be without passing their bounds and without attempting an Enterprize dangerous to the Estate for them to intrude themselves into Politick Affairs such as are the violations of Edicts It is their part to defend their Doctrine by their Sermons and Writings but as for the Interests of State it becomes the Kings Ministers and Officers only to manage them The Ecclesiasticks have no Right they have no qualification or call to this affair All that they have to do is to become denunciators against them that are culpable But the Action and the Pursuit belongs unto his Majesties Officers and the Clergy cannot pretend to it unless they will confound Spirituals with Temporals the distinction whereof is so necessary for the weal of Kings and Kingdoms To the end therefore that these things may be left in their due order and station and that the root of a thousand Troubles otherwise inevitable may be pulled up they of the R. R. do instantly beseech the King That the Ecclesiasticks may contain themselves in the Functions of their Charges and that if any be guilty of any violations of the Edicts the enquiry after them only may be made by competent Parties who are the Kings Attornies as it hath been always practised 2. The other Supplication they present unto his Majesty is That he would take care to recall or reduce the two Declarations of April 1666. and others such like made since to the terms of that inviolable Edict by revoking those things which are contrary thereunto and that he would be pleased at the same time to make known his Will therein by the means and way of a Declaration For that shall quiet all and stop the mouth of both Catholicks and Religionaries it will reduce them to their former State of Tranquility and quietness which they injoyed on both sides for many years else such new surreptitious Orders drawn from your Majesty without due and impartial information will be a Precedent and Inlet for a thousand more that will totally subvert a Fundamental Law and Edict established by your famous and wise Predecessors with the full advice and consent of the States of the Realm and which was by your Majesty often allowed and ratified so that thence would follow a thousand secret and publick oppressions without the redress or due Representation to your Majesty which would bring the Judgments of God upon your Majesties Kingdoms and Throne which God forbid and might destroy and scatter a great part of your Subjects and reduce their Adversaries to those Extremities against them which disquieted this Nation for many Years and that could have no end but by establishing that Impartial Reconciling and Sacred Edict of Nantes FINIS Mem. of Rohan and others Mathieu in the History of Henry the fourth Book 2. Beloi Mathien Conference des Ordonances Edicts royaux c.