forc'd the Reform'd to some desperate Attempt they wou'd thereby have found a pretext of making War against them which wou'd have been a fine occasion for them to have taken better Measures to dismember the Kingdom than they had done by the League the success of which made them observe the defects But the Reform'd only continued their Assemblies and after the ill success of their former Deputation they agreed to meet at Loudun the First of April to consult about the safety of the Churches The King permitted them because he had considered the consequences of his cold Answers and he was used upon all occasions to repair a harsh treatment by one more sweet and compliable The Deputies at their arrival found new cause of inquietude in that it was not long before the Cardinal de Joyeuse was to return from Rome whom they believed commission'd to make the first Overture of Peace between the Crowns under the pretence of uniting them to make War against the Turk But the Reform'd were not ignorant how the Court of Rome had abused these holy Leagues and on how many occasions these Croisades against Infidels had been turn'd against the pretended Hereticks and therefore were apprehensive that the Catholicks under this pretexs intended to ruin them and that in effect they wou'd imploy against them the Arms that in appearance were taken up against the Ottoman House In this Assembly they were wearied with Uncertainties and Delays and repuls'd by the Rigour of the Parliaments in many of which as well as in the inferiour Courts they still executed the Edicts of the League without considering the later Edicts which had revoked them The King had promised the Deputies at Lyons to send Commissioners unto the provinces to cause those Declarations which he had made to be executed and to re-establish the Edict of 1577 with all its Consequences But this Promise had been so ill perform'd that it was delay'd and so very little effect came from the Proceedings of the Court and from some Commissioners which were sent into some of the places that the condition of the Reform'd was no ways bettered besides that they cou'd no longer be content with the re-establishment of this Edict but demanded a new one more ample and more favourable to them The small advantage the Commissioners promised or sent to the Reform'd soon appear'd in the Parliaments in which during the same time the Assembly offer'd up a Complaint of their Rigours that of Burdeaux made an Act which extended to the ruin of a great number of their places of Exercise It was enacted in favour of the Marquess of Trans who had great Possessions that they shou'd not Preach within the limits of his Jurisdiction so that besides the places where this Act absolutely put an end to the Exercise of the Reform'd Religion it produced in them great Fears both of the Example and Consequence The Catholic Lords in whose Possessions they had preached until then might probably in imitation of the Marquess obtain Prohibitions for their continuing so to do And as all Roman Catholicks are very near equally prejudiced against all other Religions so there was no room to doubt but they wou'd signalize their Zeal by the like Prosecutions The Parliament of Tholouse who by Articles of Capitulation with the King had banished the Exercise of the Reform'd Religion four Leagues from the Town demanded that they shou'd not place within the Walls the Chamber of Justice which they promised to the Reform'd for Languedoâ— passing an Act which required all the Officers of Justice shou'd be received in the Parliament and not in the Mixt Chambers which manifestly excluded the Reform'd from all inferior Offices of Judicature and from all subordinate Charges since the Parliament took such measures as to admit none which wou'd not take an Oath to live and die Catholicks But the Parliament of Aix out-did all the rest and forbad the Publick Exercise of the Reformed Religion throughout its Jurisdiction on forfeiture of Life And when the Duke of Guise after his reconciliation with the King had the Government of this Province committed to him there was again renewed the Names of Papist and Huguenot which plainly shewed the Spirit of the League still reign'd amongst them since they thus revived the Names of the Parties which the principal Authors of this Faction had formerly given to them And what made the thing more odious was that the Duke of Guise had been introduced into the Province and confirm'd in his Goverment by the Reformed And that the Acts of Parliament were pass'd two or three Months after that he had been deliver'd by Lesdiguieres from the servitude of the Espernonists and that he had confess'd that this Lord had taken the Yoak from off his Neck It will appear plain upon what this acknowledgment was founded to any one that reads the History of the Divisions of this Province The Assembly complain'd of these Injustices of which they had Memoirs sent them from all Parts and of the small assistances that the Reform'd found from the King's benevolence who when they remonstrated to him all these Oppressions he return'd the Deputies words without effect and tiresome delays It was not long before they put up their Requests to the same effect as the former only a little illustrated with new Expressions and Additions to the like purpose It was almost the same method that the latter Assemblies observed who as to the material Points demanded as the precedent Assemblies had done only giving a little Explanation to prevent Frauds and Equivocations and to take away all pretexts of Disputes whatsoever Vulson whom the Parliament of Grenoble perplex'd on the account of his having obtain'd the Place of a Counsellor was deputed to go to the King to demand of him the performance of his Promise made at Lyons to the Envoy of the Assembly of Saumur Du Plessis writ by him to the King to shew him the importance of this Journey and the necessity of sending him back with some satisfaction He particularly advised him to send to the Assembly some peaceable Catholic qualified with sufficient power to the intent that they might treat with him to some purpose But the Catholicks which were near the King possessed him with quite different thoughts Vulson was received in the accustomed manner with a friendly Countenance and fine Words but obtain'd nothing more than the rest had done before him The Promises were oftentimes reiterated and as oft found vain and which in the end were reduced only to the Edict of 1577 and some Promises of compensation for what the Treaties with the Leaguers had retrench'd which cou'd satisfie no Man But there was a Conclusion from the Answer which Vulson made that put an end to all their reasoning and patience The Assembly had given him order to tell the King that they expected his Answer at Loudun and this was explain'd by the ill-minded Courtiers as an injurious Menace
to the Royal Authority and with a Boldness of Rebels who wou'd make the King to understand that they staid there to take new Resolutions if they were not contented with the Answer he shou'd give their Deputy Passionate Historians make every thing on this side as odious as they can altho' the intention of the Assembly was much more innocent The Deputies were accustomed after having put up their Requests and named those which shou'd carry them to the King to return again and expect the effect of their Solicitations and contenting themselves with meeting together if affairs required it but this were an endless trouble There were already two Years past since the Assembly of Saint Foy had been going backwards and forwards and yet had obtain'd nothing and when those which were sent to the Court received any Answer there was so much time lost in communicating it to the Churches to the Councils of Provinces and in naming Deputies for a General Assembly that it was impossible to avoid tediousness Therefore to bring things to a more speedy issue the Assembly of Loudun resolv'd not to depart until they saw some conclusion of the Affairs for which they had met together and what they had order'd Vulson to tell the King was only a simple Declaration of the resolution they had taken And indeed this might confound the Council who found matters went more according to their minds in the preceeding Conduct because the Year was run out before another Assembly cou'd deliberate upon their Answers and this method served to gain them time and to defer them to a Conjuncture wherein the King might bring Affairs to such a pass as he might treat with the Reformed more at his pleasure whereas now they perceived that the Assembly were resolved not to part until they had brought things unto some certain conclusion and this without doubt hastened things more than ordinary and also hindred the ill-minded Courtiers from an opportunity of finding out new Illusions to amuse them But the King having taken the thing according to the sense his Council had represented to him was resolved to answer this Declaration of the Assembly by a Mark of absolute Authority and therefore commanded the Assembly to break up and to depart every one to his own home assuring the People of the good-will of the King whereof nevertheless they carried no other Testimonies than general Promises Such a Command made with a sort of a menacing Air rendred all these fine words suspected The Protestants doubted not but the secret design of this separation was to deliver the Court from these importunate Solicitors who too strongly demanded the effect of those Promises which they had no mind to perform and it is not to be wondred at if this Answer displeased the Assembly since some of the Council who was not so very severe had no hand in it and even Lomanie writing upon this Subject to Du Plessis confessed to him that he knew not why the Secretary of State had conceived it in such terms and he did not doubt but that he himself was offended and that he had some secret reservation The Assembly therefore was very much offended with this Answer and believing they ought to defer their breaking up until they had consulted together what was necessary to be done in this unfortunate Conjuncture they concluded they were no longer to expect any assistance from the Court but henceforth to seek it in their own strength The Deputies were authorised by the Provinces to do whatsoever shou'd be judged useful for the common Cause so that the Assembly was ready to depart having resolved to put the Reformed again into the same condition they were before the Truce with the two Kings But Du Plessis who feared the Consequences of these desperate Resolutions and the Effects of the Resentments that the Deputies might stir up in the Provinces did an act worthy his Wisdom and the Fidelity he ow'd to the King He went to the Assembly and was so far from advising them to break up that he proposed the fortifying themselves with a great number of considerable Persons and to enter into a Mutual Promise not to separate any more till they had obtain'd an Edict with sufficient security This they agreed to and invited such persons to them as were fitly qualified to strengthen their Assembly by their presence All that were in the neighbouring Provinces came to them La Trimouille who had never assisted before appeared there with the rest But the Courage of many Persons failed when they came to sign the Union that Du Plessis had proposed because they expected no relief from the Court therefore he signed first upon which all the rest resolved to follow his Example Thus Wisdom prevailed with them and altho' their Patience was tired yet it was not quite spent they gave Du Plessis time to write to the King and to represent to him the disorders that might proceed from a separation of the Assembly He plainly told him what the Deputies had reason to complain of the Rigours of the Parliaments the Injustices of the Officers which forbad paying the Garrisons of the places their Fears Distrusts and Suspicions and the Proposition of bringing themselves again into the same condition they were in before the Truce And to appease all these Disturbances he again renewed his Advice to the King of sending a Commissioner on his account to treat with the Deputies he nominated the President of Thou because he lookt upon him to be a lover of Peace He applied his Advice to the Example of Henry the Third who sent Bellieveure to Montauban in 1584. to treat with the Reform'd and he begged the King not to believe the affair of small importance because every person amongst them was resolved to see what was to be expected for their security Hesperian who carried the Letter with more particular Instructions upon the Subject in which was contained the Reasons the Reformed had to be afraid with an Account of their Complaints and the Motives that ought to oblige the King to yield to the desires of these alarmed persons As the King's coldness was caused by the displeasure the Catholic Zealots had made him conceive against the Proceedings of the Reformed so it was not very difficult to change his thoughts when they gave him better Reasons for it therefore whether he was touchâ— with the Remonstrances of his faithful Servant or that the effect of his harshness had convinced him that his Counsellors had made him take wrong Measures he gave pressing Orders that the Assembly shou'd not break up He promised to send somebody to treat with them and fixed a time when he wou'd send him and strongly enjoyn'd the staying the Deputies until the arrival of his Commissioner Thus the Mischief that the zealous Catholicks had done was very near repaired by the wise Advice even of those whom they had offended and the Reformed by this Expedient were hindred from any ill
Neighbours to her help caused the Child to be christened in a Catholick Church That at Bourdeaux a Lady had been forced to abjure her Religion to keep the guardianship of her Children and having a little while after reunited herself to the communion of the reformed Church the Attorney-General sued her at Law and got her bound to remain a Catholick that a Child being deposited in the hands of his Grandfather at Orleans when that Town was in the power of the League and his Father demanding him back again after the reduction of the place the Judge refused to deliver him up to his Father that a Man was debarred from all his Rights by the Court of Angiers until he had got his younger Brothers out of the reformed School at Loudun to put them in the Catholick Colledge of Angiers contrary to the last Will of their deceased Father who had crdered them to be brought up in the reformed Religion that the same Judges had appointed a Catholick Guardian over a Maid who refused to go to Mass Then followed sad and grievous Complaints of the unjust way of dealing with the Prince of Conde whom the Reformed had surrendred to the King even beyond the hopes of the Catholicks they said that this young Prince had bitterly wept and strugled long with those who brought him away from St. John d'Angeli that since being kept at Court he was used to withdraw into his Closet there to sing Psalms to Pray and Catechise his Pages but that at last they were taken away from him notwithstanding all the marks of his anger for it They complained afterwards that to all these so great and so publick Grievances the Court had hitherto applied no other remedy but Reasons of State as if the Interest of the State ought to have been opposed to their Consciences or that the Reformed had not been part of the State or that the State could not stand but by their fall Then returning again to the particulars of the Injustice that were done them they complained of their being forced to keep Lent that at Rennes the Parliament caused the Houses to be searched to see if their Orders in this point were obey'd that the Bishop of Agde did the same by his own authority in the Towns of his Diocess that keeping of Holidays was also forced upon them that even at Saumur one of their Towns of security a Man had been sent to Prison for being surprised at work within his House on such days that their School masters had been expelled out of several places even without any form of Justice that divers Parliaments had refused to verifie the Patents obtained by the Reformed from the King for the establishment of some Schools even after reitera ted Orders from Court but that nothing was comparable in this particular to the boldness of the Parliament of Grenoble who did not so much as vouchsafe to answer a second Order sent them from the King for setting up a reformed School at Montelimar that even so in several places they refused to admit in or turned out such of the Reformed as were appointed to teach and instruct the Youth which Article was concluded with these remarkable words Are they then willing to beat us into Ignorance and Barbarity so did Julian Next they complained of their Poors ill usage That the Laws of Equity were so little regarded in this point that in those very places where the Reformed contributed most to the publick Alms the Poor of their Religion had no share therein that in many places the Reformed were deprived of their Birth-right and not suffered to live there though they promised to be quiet and make no publick Exercise of their Religion that the Judges of Lyon had banished out of their Town those who having formerly left the Kingdom on account of Religion were returned thither after the change of affairs and that it had been confirmed by the Edict of Reduction upon occasion whereof they complained here that the Reformed were called Suspected People by the King himself whom they had served with so much Fidelity and Courage letting this gentle Reproach slip withal that for one and the same cause the King had been declared unable to inherit the Crown and the Reformed banished from their Houses but that since he had been restored to his Throne by the assistance of the Reformed he had not yet restored them to their Houses Here the Parson of Saint Stephen of Furant was brought again upon the Stage he did not suffer the Catholicks to let out their Houses to the Reformed and constrained them to turn out before the term such as had already taken any he hindred Tradesmen by grievous Fines from admitting any Reformed into the freedom of their Trades This mad Fellow of a Priest had caned a Man born in that place but setled elsewhere who was come to the Town upon some business his pretext for abusing him was that he had forbid him to come thither as if he had authority to banish whom he pleased But that Man seeing himself abused with so much injustice and that no body took his part kill'd the Priest in a passion and so rid the Country of this furious Beast The King granted him his Pardon but the Catholicks hindred it from being allow'd by the Judges They remonstrated besides that the Reformed were excluded from Trades and to colour their exclusion the Companies made new By-laws by vertue whereof none but Catholicks were to be admitted to them That in several places Violences against the Reformed were countenanced by impunity that a Man seventy five Years old having complained that some Children had hurried him in the Streets with injurious Clamours was sent to a Goal instead of having satisfaction from whence afterwards being released he was pursued anew and pelted with Stones in the very sight of the Judges who did but laugh at it that a Fraternity of Penitents called The Beaten Brothers walking barefoot in order of Procession their Feet happened to be cut by some broken Glass spread in the Streets which they did immediately lay upon the Reformed because the Glass was found before the House of a Goldsmith of their Religion that thereupon a Sedition was stirred up against them but that at last the whole was proved to be a trick of the Priests Then they began to give particular Instances of the crying Injustice done them about Offices That in several places they were kept from those of the Town-house and that it was publickly said at Lyon that none ought to be admitted to them who either was now of the Reformed or ever had been so nay not even any Son of one that had been so that the States of Perigord had declared void the Election of a Sheriff made by the Town of Bergerac according to the custom of that Province meerly because the party elected was one of the Reformed that even those who were appointed by
and others left undecided for Reasons of State The fifth Demand was for obtaining an equal number of Judges of both Religions in all Parliaments and was grounded upon the ill-will of these Courts who daily did notorious pieces of Injustice to the Reformed and started a World of Difficulties and Scruples in the verifying of the Edicts granted for their Security Which they had made out with so many Instances in the Book of their Complaints that the Court was not able to deny it and thought it very insignificant to allow them only some Protestant Judges in each Court since it was certain that where-ever the Number of Catholicks were greater the Reformed should be infallibly cast But the Parliaments had such an Interest to prevent the multiplying of Offices in their Bodies and the dismembring of their Jurisdictions that this Affair met with many Difficulties and Obstacles The King nevertheless granted one miparted Chamber in the Parliaments of Thoulouse Bordeaux and Grenoble where all the Causes of the Reformed should respectively be brought There was already one at Castres and some reformed Judges had been establish'd in the Parliament of Grenoble and it seem'd that the Reformed of Dauphine where Lesdiguieres had a full Power had nothing common in several Affairs with those of the same Religion in the other Province three Judges were then added to the former to make up a miparted Chamber which at the very Time of its Creation was incorporated with the Parliament insomuch that its Members were call'd in when ever any thing was to be debated in a full House Moreover the King promised to erect a Chamber at Paris consisting of ten Catholick Judges and six reformed and those Protestants who lived within the respective Jurisdictions of the Parliaments of Rouen Rennes and Dijon had their choice either to bring their Causes before that of their own Province or before any of the Chambers granted in the nearest of them The King's Promise made to the Reformed in respect of the Parliament of Paris was not executed but it seems he made them amends for it by creating some new Offices of Judges in that of Normandy and a Chamber of the Edict upon the Model of that which was establish'd at Paris They had not the same Favour in the Parliament of Britany either because the Judges of that Court which were some of the most furious against the Reformed would not consent to it for that it was not judged necessary in that Province where the Number of Protestants was very inconsiderable or in fine that all the Members of that Parliament were so partial and passionate that a sufficient number of equitable Men could not be found among them to make it up Nothing was changed in what had been agreed upon concerning the Parliament of Dijon That of Rouen being a great Enemy to the Reformed they had therefore obtained the Choice I spoke of just now But this bringing up of Causes from one Court to another had brought to the Parliament of Paris all the Causes of Normandy where the Reformed were very numerous and the Catholicks themselves stuck not sometimes to beg their Intervention in their own Causes when they were jealous of their Judges insomuch that this Parliament losing much by that means chose rather to agree to the creation of a Chamber like that of Paris than to see almost all the Law Suits of its Jurisdiction brought to another The Reformed found also some Advantage therein because they were no longer obliged to travel out of their Province and so far from their Friends because also the Customs of Paris and Normandy were very different and that the Charges and Delays were more troublesome at Paris than at Rouen Besides they were Gainers in that Bargain by the three Offices of Judges created by the King in their behalf But for all this that Parliament was not reconcil'd to the Reformation and as it was the most corrupted and venal Court in all France so there was none where the Reformed were expos'd to greater Vexations and Injustice However this Establishment was made but 15 or 16 Months after the Edict Because it was long doubted whether the Clause concerning Offices inserted in the Edict granted to the Marquess of Villars permitted the Protestants to be sharers therein But upon the whole matter it was concluded That the King had not by this Clause deprived himself of his Right and the Interest of the Parliament oblig'd him to declare that it was but provisional The sixth Demand was For a free Admittance to all Offices of State War Justice Policy Treasury and to all Commissions Employments Professions Arts and Trades without Danger of being excluded upon the account of Religion It was directly against the Canon-Law which debars from all these Rights such as are not obedient to the Roman Church and who are for that Reason call'd Hereticks and it had been the Original of all the Oppositions made to the Reformed during so many Years together but it was of such great Consequence to them that they would never desist from that Article because besides the Honour and Credit of Offices which they would not have their Families to be depriv'd of they saw well that if that honourable Door was shut to the Protestants such as had more Ambition than Piety would soon bid adieu to their naked and barren Religion and thereby bring the Reformation to a declining State The greatest Opposition came from the Parliaments who refused to admit them to the Places of the Law But at last they obtain'd their Desire and the King declared them capable of holding all sorts of Offices whereby they thought they had gain'd a considerable Point because that Honour being refused to Hereticks by the Canons their being admitted to them was a Discharge from that odious and hateful Name This Pretension extended much farther than the former by which they only desired a certain Number of impartial Judges but the latter aim'd at no less than to be made capable of diverse Offices which were supream in Cities and Towns of Shrievalties Mayoralties Consulats Tabellionages of Places of Attorney of Recorder of Bailiff of Places in the Marshalsea Admiralty in the Table of Marble of those of the Chamber of Accounts of the Court of Aids of the Courts of Elections of those of Judge or Judge-Assistant in the inferior Jurisdictions of Judge in chief in the Court leets of the Lords They were also admitted by the same to the Places of Master of Requests two whereof had been promised them gratis and to those of Secretary to the King which are none of the least importance in respect of their Priviledges They were already possess'd of some Governments and military Dignities and several among them were even Counsellors of State The same Article had also a very great extent in the Profession of Mechanick or Liberal Arts and in a Word tended to a levelling of the Catholicks with the Reformed by making
Publick State and the rest was set down in the other which was called the little State In respect to the first they followed the accustomed Order for the Payment of the Garrisons furnishing of Rolls of Acquittances c. and they were paid by the extraordinary Treasurer of War but the other was paid with less upon simple Orders obtained from the respective provincial Exchequers Thus ended the long Civil War whereof Religion was made the Pretence The Reformed began to take Breath and the Minds of the People to be a little settled again La Trimouille by his inflexibility incurr'd the Hatred of the King but gained the Esteem and Confidence of his own Party The Court endeavoured all ways possible to draw him from the common Cause but nothing could work upon him to that end the President de Thou offered him incredible Advantages but he answered very generously Whatsoever they could do for him would avail nothing whilst the Requests of the Reformed were unanswered but if they would grant them the Security of their Consciences and Lives they might hang him up at the Gate of the Assembly and that no Disturbance would come upon it They also endeavoured to stir him up with Emulation and Jealousy when the Duke de Bouillon came to the Assembly where La Trimouille being youngest gave him the first Place that he had held for two Years together But he was not concerned for this Point of Honour which would have shaken a Soul less Noble than his He gave way without any regret and maintained himself unto the end with an equal Courage There were many other great Men which seconded him the Minister Chamier was one of the most undaunted and because of that he became as odious to the Court as he was considerable to the Churches There are some Authors among the Reformed who affirm That the King's Avarice was the Reason why the Division was less in the Assembly than it might have been if the King had been willing to buy its Members at as dear a rate as he had bought the Leaguers But that many continued firm to the Common Cause because there was no Advantage in abandoning it Indeed Aubigny one of these Authors might speak by Experience he was not rich and he was very willing to make his Fortune but they did not love him at Court because he was too free and satyrical in his Discourses and disturbed them with the Reproaches of his Services Tho' it was not really so much from the King's Avarice as his Wisdom and good Intentions for the Preservation of the Reformed he chose rather to grant Favours to them in general whom he had some reason to love than to raise the Fortune of some private Persons which he thought he might have cause to complain of The End of the Fifth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Edict of NANTS BOOK VI. The Contents of the 6th Book THE Sentiment of the Reformed in the Provinces upon the Edict Artifices to gain them at a Synod at Mompellier The Number and Condition of the Churches What it is that Forms a Church Uniting of many Churches into one Reasons why they are contented with the Edict obtain'd Projects of Re-union The Religion of Lesdiguiers A Treatise of the Eucharist The Consequences of its Publication Three Important Negotiations with the Pope 1. A Dissolution of the King's Marriage 2. The Re-establishment of the Jesuits their Confidence and their Credit the Passion of the Monks against the King The Persecution in Piedmont and in the Marquisate of Saluces the Kings Reasons for favouring the Jesuits Opposition Marriage of Madam her Constancy the Unkindness of the King unto her The difficulties on the Popes side and their Reasons The King goes on without staying for a Dispensation The Pope is Offended thereat and persists in his Refusal the Consequence of this Negotiation until the Death of the Princess The Advantages the Reformed drew from her Perseverance Difficulties upon the Examination of the Edict An Assembly of the Clergy their Propositions upon the Edict The Disgust of some Prelates The Moderation of the Nuncio Contradictions of the Parliament The Equity of the Duke of Mayenne The Resolution of the King The withdrawing of the Reformed from the Court upon many Articles Prejudices of the Clergy The Chambre of the Edict at Rouën The Mipartie Chambre in Guienne The Examination of the Edict after which the Pope makes great Complaints to stop the Mouth of the Spaniards The Answers of Cardinal de Joyeuse and Cardinal D'Ossat agreeable to the Inclination of the Pope An Edict for the Principality of Bearn which is Received Complaints of the Alterations made in the Edict Article concerning Burials Particular demands Precedency pretended by the Catholick Officers who compos'd the Chambres Miparties over the Reformed Verbal demand upon Occasion of the Chappels in Gentlemens Houses Answers to those Papers Article concerning Church-Yards Precedency preserv'd to the Ancient President Martha Brosier counterfeiting her self to be Possess'd The Consequence of that Comedy both within and out of the Kingdom The Kings Marriage dissolv'd The Decree of the Parliament of Bretagne upon the Oath referr'd by one of the Reformed to a Catholick La Trimouille made a Peer of France the Pope grumbles and d'Ossat appeases him He takes little Notice of Roni's Advancement Commissioners to put the Edict in Execution and their Power General Observations upon the Edict Reproaches of the Catholicks cast upon the Reformed Answer'd THE Edict being then at length Decreed in this manner nevertheless did not all of a sudden allay the general Murmurings And when the News was carry'd into the Provinces several people of Nice and Difficult Palates found that there were many things altogether omitted others ill-explain'd others inconvenient and with which the Reformed had less Reason to be contented then the Catholics The delay of the Verification put 'em to a great deal of trouble and the Reputation of the Duke of Beuillon who had taken upon him to engage 'em to Patience in this particular was not sufficient to stop the Mouths of all the World But the Court had then recourse to little Artifices to mollifie their minds by gentle means and bring 'em to that submission which she desir'd She had her Confidents in all places who according to the Genius of those people with whom they discours'd knew how to vary their Arguments and their Remonstrances Sometimes they put a Value upon the King 's private Promises who durst go no farther for fear of Offending the Catholics and returning their Arms into the Hands of the Leaguers but who had giv'n his Word to do so many things for the Reformed for the future which was that which far exceeded all they had demanded and which was contain'd most favourable in the Edict Sometimes the Prince himself was represented as altogether of the Reformed Religion in his Heart Weeping when he spoke of the Churches and causing his usual Prayers to be
of Particular Complaints which they would not intermix with the General The first had Reference to an Affair which the Parlament of Tholouse had Transacted in the Chamber de Castres The President de Paule had been sent thither by the Parlament together with the Catholic Counsellers that were to compose the Chamber This President tho the younger of the two would needs take place of Canaye the Reformed President Which having been disputed with him at Castres he return'd to Tholouse and there got a Decree pass'd in his Favour all the Chambers being Assembl'd The Reformed not willing to submit to it complain'd to the King of the matter of Fact as a Breach of Common Right which adjudges the Precedency among persons of equal Dignity to the first Preferr'd Besides that this Attempt was contrary to the 36 Article of the Generals of the Edict and to the 48 of the particulars of which the one Ordain'd that the Presidents and Counsellors of the Chambers should be accounted Members of the Parlament where they were settl'd and the other that the most Ancient President should have the Precedence The Parlament on the other side pretended that the Presidents Elected out of their Body were to have the Precedence tho Junior over those of the Chamber tho their Seniors And this pretension was become a leading Card for the Degree of Counsellors who had the same Reasons and the same Interests as the Presidents They alleag'd therefore that the Chamber not being incorporated into the Parlament their Officers were to give place in all things to the Members of Parlament more especially because Tholouse is one of the most Ancient Parlaments in the Kingdom That the President of the Chamber of the Dauphinate where the Precedency belong'd to the Eldest made nothing for the Chamber of Castres because That of the Dauphinate was incorporated and for that the Officers belonging to it were reputed Members of the Parlament of Grenoble where they had Seats and Suffrages in all Affairs that were handl'd in the Assembl'd Chambers They added Cavilling upon the Order of Words that in the Erection of the Chamber of Castres the King always Nam'd the Catholic President the first and the Reformed the second as if it had been his Pleasure to distinguish the two Employments by their Degree and to declare thereby that the Office of first President was to be held by a Catholic Opon this Occasion they magnify'd the Pre-eminency and Dignity of the Catholic Religion and forgot not to alleadge that in regard the Reformed President did not wear the Morter Cap which a President in Parlament wore as a Badge of his Dignity that very difference decided the Question and set the Catholic a Degree above the Reformed which oblig'd him to give place and precedency to the other The same Remonstrance demanded that the Hostilities committed before 1985. should be comprehended in the Amuesty Granted to the Province of Languedoc The third Article concern'd the Inconveniencies which the Reformed suffer'd for want of Burying Places for their Dead by Reason they were deny'd convenient places for that purpose The fourth had Reference to a particular matter of Fact that was done in the City of Pamiers which was almost all Reformed and which the Parlament of Tholouse would enforce to pay a Legacy left to the Jesuits thô the Consuls were priviledg'd in the Chamber half Catholic half Reformed The Deputies who presented these Complaints were enjoynd to demand by Word of Mouth that the Catholics should forbear the Exercise of their Religion in Churches and Chappels within Gentlemens Houses Which was of great Importance because there were few Gentlemens Houses without a Chappel Which constrain'd the Reformed Gentlemen to keep their Houses open whither they would or no for the Catholics to come and say Mass in ' em These Papers were answer'd toward the end of August but the manner of answering 'em was very particular and Merits to be consider'd because it may be useful for the understanding of the Edict and to shew what were the Kings Intentions touching the Execution of it There were some of the Articles that concern'd the Alterations made in the Edict upon which the King would not Grant any thing at all nor would make any New Alteration Such was the Article about Unbaptizing of Children the Prohibition of which the King lookt upon as insignificant the Repeating of Baptism being disapprov'd by the Clergy it self and there being very few Examples of Priests that ever practiz'd it Of the same Number was that touching the Observation of Festivals that of the Chamber settl'd in the Parlament of Paris That of Creating an Office of substitute to the Proctor General and lastly That concerning Burials All these Articles remain'd in the same Form to which they had reduc'd 'em on purpose to facilitate their passing in Parlament 'T is true that by a Tacit Permission the Article about Burying recover'd the Force and Efficacy which it had before The Commissioners put it in Execution as it had been Decreed at Nantes as I have said in another Place and in the Printed Copies this Article was couch'd in the first Form according as it was Granted And it was above twenty years before the least alteration was made in it besides that there was so much Justice in a Regulation that left the Catholics Masters of their Churck-yards provided they would allow of others that no body grumbl'd at the Ordinances of the Commissioners conformable to those allotments But in the next Government the Scene was quite chang'd They would needs perswade the Reformed that they had falsify'd the Article and that during so long a Series of years they had deluded the King the Council the Commissioners the Clergy and the whole Kingdom causing that to pass for an Article of the Edict which was no more then a false and unjust Pretension The Reader may judge whither such a Delusion were possible The truth is that because they would not draw upon themselves the Complaints of the Clergy they let the Article go in the Clergies Terms but enjoyn'd their Commissioners to Execute it according to the first Regulation Otherwise I leave it to any Mans Judgment whither it be Crebible that in three or four different Deputations the Catholic Commissioners should have conspir'd for Twenty years together all over the Kingdom with the Reformed to Cheat the World and Violate their Instructions But there were others wherein the Reformed obtain'd their desires as that for the Explanation of the Equivocal Term of Houses Ecclesiastical which was order'd to their Advantage the signification of the Terms being reduc'd to Buildings design'd for Persons or Service Ecclesiastical Also upon the delay of Establishing the Edict they obtain'd a New Order to settle 'em in three Months upon pain of Interdicting the Parlaments that refus'd to do it Upon other Articles they were referr'd to the Chancellor to know the Kings Intentions as upon the inconveniences they
his Motions He declar'd that he would look upon those to be Enemies to the State who should refuse to sign the Peace Moreover he was accus'd of having ingag'd himself to the King's Commissioners by writing to March against the Assembly and to make War against them in case they should disown what their Deputies had done or should continue their Session beyond the Term granted to them The Duke de la Trimouille his Nephew who was Young and Easie and who did not tread long in his Father's Steps did the same in Imitation of his Uncle But the Marshal de Bouillon design'd thereby to show that he was the Moving Spirit of the Party that his Advice was sufficient to incline them to War and his Threatnings to make them accept a Peace The Assembly gave him no cause to proceed to Extreams against them They submitted to the Treaty they did Nominate Deputies General And Berteville to whom the Marshal had given hopes of obtaining that Deputation was Elected according to his Promise Maniald was joyn'd with him After which the Assembly Dissolv'd it self without staying until the time that was granted them This Treaty was thus publish'd and Intitl'd An Edict given at Blois in the Month of May. It contain'd 54 Articles among which those that had a relation to the Publick Good were soon Converted into Illusions by the turn of Affairs that follow'd soon after Most of them only contain'd such things as are commonly imploy'd in general Pardons The Third Article was in favour of the Roman Catholick Religion which was to be restor'd in all Places where their Worship had been Interrupted during the Troubles Their Ministers were maintain'd in the Liberty of their Functions in the Injoyment of their Estates and in the Possession of their Houses of which the Restitution was order'd The Fourth was a weak Injunction to make Inquities into the Death of the late King under pretence that the King was inform'd that his Officers had been remiss in it notwithstanding their having receiv'd express Orders about it from the Queen both by word of Mouth and in Writing and the King promis'd to Write to all the Bishops of the Kingdom to cause the Decree of the Council of Constantia to be publish'd in their respective Diocesses which speaks of the Life of Kings and Soveraign Princes The Fifth revers'd a Decree of Suspension of those which the Parliament of Paris had given in favour of the Independency of Kings provided that such things as were Imported by those Decrees should remain unperform'd which had not been put in execution yet which related to the Assembly of the Princes and Officers of the Crown with the Parliament in order to the Reformation of the State That is the King revers'd those Decrees in Terms which seem'd only to reverse the Suspension of them The Sixth presupposing that the Court had gone a great way in answering of the Cahiers of the Estates General promis'd that they would proceed in it without any Discontinuation The King ingag'd himself by the Seventh to Examine the Article of the Third Estate But he did not oblige himself to pass it into a Law The next Imported that the King would give no more considerable Places to Foreigners But he destroy'd the said Promise at the same time reserving to himself the Power of bestowing them on such under the pretence of singular Merit or of great Services Some others follow'd these in Course which seem'd to be useful to the State but were couch'd in Terms as Illusory as the preceeding The Fourteenth confirm'd the Edicts and all that related to them The next Created a new Office of Councellor in the Parliament of Paris to be given to one of the Reform'd in the room of that of Berger who had only chang'd his Religion on condition that he should not be dispossessed of the said Office The Sixteenth restor'd the free Exercise of the Reform'd Religion in all places where it had been Interrupted upon the account of the Troubles The Seventeenth allow'd the Proceedings of the Prince of Conde and of his Adherents both Catholicks and Reform'd Even of those who compos'd the Assembly of Nimes which was at Rochel at the time of this Edict The Twentyfourth only related to Rochel The Forty seventh ordain'd the Restitution of the Places which had been seiz'd by the Adherents of the Prince And whereas Tartas had been taken by Surprize from the Reform'd the King order'd the present Restitution of the same before they should proceed to the Restitution of the others But in order to punish the People as it is common for the folly of the Great ones the King re-establish'd some old Impositions which he had occasion for to pay the Peace he was oblig'd to buy There were also private Articles which were no less important than the General ones The last promis'd 1500000 Livres to the Prince of Conde and the Lords of his Party The Court had no mind they should be seen by the Parliament for fear of Contradictions Therefore they were sent to them Seal'd up and the 53 of the General Articles was very positive in ordering them to be put in Execution The First maintain'd the Gallick Church in its Liberties The Second disown'd the pursuit of the Clergy for the publication of the Council of Trent and promis'd that it should have no Effect The Third excepted Leitoure from the Article about the Restitution of Places because there was a Dispute between Fontrailes and Angalin about the Captainship of the Castle The Dispute was begun before the War which was the reason that Fontrailles favour'd the surprising of the said place by the Duke of Rohan who turn'd out his Competitor He made a shift to maintain himself in it until the year 1620 and then only quitted it upon good Terms In the mean while the Article Imported that until the decision of the Dispute the King would deposit it into the Hands of an Exempt of his Guards or some other Reform'd Officer The Fourth regulated a very particular Affair Villemereau Councellor in the Parliament of Paris and le Maitre one of the Masters of Accounts of the said Court had embrac'd the Reform'd Religion The Courts which they belong'd to had hinder'd them from Exercising their said Imployments upon that Account The Reform'd took it very much to heart and seeing that Berger did not lose his place tho' he was turn'd Catholick they pretended that the others ought not to be us'd worse for embracing the Reform'd Religion The Catholicks urg'd that the Number of Reform'd Counsellors was Limited to Six by the Edict and that therefore Villemereau's place ought to be taken from them or at most that they could only pretend to keep it in compensation of that of Berger The Reform'd on the other Hand pretended that the Edict only Limited the Offices they were to have of necessity but that it did not baâ— their Access to all others which they were declar'd
they alldg'd But the following Year was not so serene nor peaceful for â—he Reformed For tho the Cardinal in a flattering Speech which he made the King seated upon this Throne of Justice â—he 8th of January acknowledg'd that Heresy had not bin the â—…le Rebel in his Kingdom yet hardly any but the Reformed suffer'd this Year T is true that the King of his meer Auâ—hority without examining their Deeds and Evidences canâ—ell d the Priviledges and Exemptions of several Cities that were not liable to the Vexations of Taxes The Pretence was specious for it seem'd as if the King had not us'd 'em so severely but to throw upon 'em some part of the charge with which the others were over-burden'd But in regard that in process of time it was apparent that tho these Cities were made liable to Taxes and yet the rest were no way eas'd 't was â—ound that this same change proceeded from no other design â—hen to reduce the whole Kingdom to a Uniformity and involve the entire Body in the same Servitude As for the Reformed they were molested for other Reasons There was something of Policy intermix'd with the Vexations that befel them Nevertheless they were ne're a whit the less real nor incommodious A Doctor of the Sorbonne and a Divine of Lion printed a Book at Paris wherein he maintain'd that the King of France had a Right to all Europe and that he did well to make Alliances with the Protestant Princes to recover the Usurpations of the House of Austria which was openly to publish the Cardinal's Designs The Spaniards were willing to make the beâ—… of this opportunity to revive the dejected Courage of the zealous Catholics in their Favour Thereupon a certain Authoâ—… who assum'd the name of Alexander Patricius Armacanus wrotâ— in their behalf against the Doctor of the Sorbonne He made it ouâ— at large That the Alliance of the King of France with Protestants was contrary to the Interests of the Catholic Religion because the War with the Vnited Provinces and that of Germany were Wars for the sake of Religion He made use of aâ— that had bin said for the Justice of his Arms against the King and shew'd that the House of Austria was under the same Circumstances in respect of the Vnited Provinces and Germany He strenuously made it out That the King chiefly employ'd the Heads of the Reformed for the Conduct of his Armies 〈…〉 that he then had given the Command of 'em to the Dukes 〈…〉 Rohan and Bouillon and the Marshals de la Force and Châ—â—â—lon I know not how he forgot that he had bestow'd a Marshal's Battoon upon one of the Reformed Perhaps it might be after the Author had publish'd his Book However the Duke of Sulli receiv'd that Honour this Year in the Month of September which was done to make him amends for the Employments which the Queenmother had taken from him 〈…〉 Recompence which he had staid for above twenty Years However he liv'd seven Years afterwards and in his latter dayâ— shew'd some more marks of Piety then he had done all the reâ—â— of his life He had bin always seen present at the Sermonâ— preach'd in his House but after a very indecent manner for 〈…〉 was generally playing with a little Dog that sate upon his knees But a young Minister rebuk'd him by degrees for those ill Habits accustom'd him to Censures set up a Consistory in the Church that met in his House and made him accept himself â—he Office of an Elder wherein he officiated till his death But to return to Patricius's Book it was thought that there was nothing more proper to ward off the Gashes of his â—renuous Objections then to vex the remainder of the Reformed with some Acts of Injustice But in truth they serv'd to very little purpose for still the Cardinal bore the reproach of doing more mischief to the Catholics abroad then to the Reformed at home and that while he took from the one â—ome Church or Church-yard he was the occasion that the other lost whole Ciâ—ies and Provinces I do not reck'n among the greatest Vexations of the Reformed the Decree of the 16th of March set forth in the Parmament of Paris against Foreign Ministers which under preâ—ence that they might hold Correspondencies with the Enemies of the Kingdom or preach Doctrines contrary to the â—aws of the Land forbid 'em for the future to exercise the â—unction of the Ministry in France order'd those that were admitted to quit their Functions and threaten'd the Reformed with heavy Penalties if they went to hear ' em I also look upon another Decree of Council dated June 20. as a small thing tho it made the same Regulation in particular for Poiâ—oâ— and added Prohibitions to all the Ministers to preach in Villages out of the places alotted for their Exercises I rank in the same number the Decree of the Parlament of Dijon which condemn'd the Reformed to spread Carpets before their Houses upon Procession days or to suffer 'em to be spread at their own charges excepting such as were very poor and not able to defray the Expences These were things that made little noise neither could they be attended with any considerable Consequences But there was something of greater Importance in the Decree which the Catholic Officers obtain'd from the Council Febr. 5. which adjudg'd to the Dean of the Catholic Counsellors tho he were the youngest of all in the absence of the President the Right of Precedency above the Reformed Counsellors both in the Court of Audience in the Council and in the Town-house 'T is true that the same Decree preserv'd to every one in other Cases as in all public and private Sittings at the Visitation of Pris'ners at Hearings Examinations and Confronting of Testimonies and at the Torturing of Criminals the Rank which appertain'd to 'em by the Antiquity of their Reception But for all that this Decree made a very great Breach in the Priviledges of the Officers of that Chamber Nevertheless there was a Declaration of the 29th of October about the Robes worn by the Counsellors of the Chamber of Castres The Reformed according to Custom wore Red Robes and Caps lin'd with Ermin both in the Public and Private Assemblies of the Chamber But the Parlament of Tholouse who could not brook that mark of Equality had set forth several Decrees against that Custom of which the Reformed took little Notice as believing their Authority independent from that of the Parlament Thereupon the King interpos'd in the Contest and put an end to the Dispute by an Edict wherein after he had set forth that the Custom was not grounded upon any Edict and that the Thing was done contrary to his Intentions as he had made known to those Officers by several Letters under his Privy Signet he forbid 'em according to the Decrees of that Parlament to assume that Priviledge till the Chamber shou'd be incorporated
without our leave or the Orders of our Admiral in contempt of our Laws and the secret Practises and Correspondencies held with Forreigners To all which we have been much troubl'd to give Credit considering the good and favourable usage our said Subjects of the Pretended Reformed receiv'd And when we understood that the Sieur de Soubise we the Head of his Faction he who has tri'd the Force of our Authority and the softness of our Clemency upon several occasions this was the reason that we were willing to wink at his first Practises and Proceedings in hopes that by our Patience we might reduce him to his Duty But our goodness and forbearance having augmented the Audaciousness of the said Soubise we understand that within these few days he has put to Sea with some Vessels having Souldiers aboard that he has robb'd our Merchants Ships made attempts upon some of our Islands and principal Places and upon the Vessels that were in the Roads and Harbours belonging to 'em and in these Actions committed several Enormities Violences and Acts of Hostility against our Subjects Now in regard that all these Enterprizes and Attempts of the said Soubise discover to our great sorrow an evident and manifest Rebellion against our Authority and a design lay'd betwixt him and some particular Adherents to disturb the general Peace and Tranquility of the Kingdom without any lawful reason or cause on the other side we are extreamly well satisfy'd to understand from our dear and well beloved Cousin the Duke of Tremouille and the Sieurs de la Force and Chatillon and other Persons of Quality as also from the General Deputies of our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion refiding near our Person as also by the Deputies of the Pretended Relion at Charenton and those of our Cities of Rockele Nimes Vsez as also to see by an Act in writing which the said general Deputies have presented us with express injuctions from our dear and well-beloved Inhabitants of our City of Moniaban how much they renounce and disown his Actions as unworthy of that Fidelity and Affection which true French-men owe their Soveraign considering they can tend to nothing else but the subversion of this State and their own Ruin Whereupon being desirous to make known what our good Intentions are the Protection which we are willing to grant to the Faithful and Obedient and the Rigor which we intend to use toward Rebels if they persevere in their Contumacy We make known that for these Causes and other weighty Considerations us thereunto moving with the Advice of the Queen c. and of our certain knowledge full Power and Royal Authority we have said and declar'd and say and declare by these Presents Sign'd with our hand and it is our Will and Pleasure that all our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion who shall continue in that Fidelity and Obedience which they owe us without adhering to any Factions and Conspiracies against the Kingdom shall fully and Peaceably enjoy in freedom and safety the Exercise of their Religion together with all the Favours to them granted by the Edicts and Declarations made in their Favour as well by the Deceased King c. as by our selves which we resolve to have inviolably kept and observ'd according to their Form and Tenour putting all our said Subjects together with their Goods and Families under our special Protection and Favour And as for the said Soubise and others who are enter'd into open Rebellion against us having attempted to disturb the Tranqaility of our Kingdom we have hereby declar'd and declare all those that shall adhere to and Favour him directly or indirectly of what Quality or condition soever they be and who shall hold Intelligence Association or Corespondence with 'em both disobedient and Guilty of High Treason As also we declare the Inhabitants of our Cities that shall Countenance or adhere to the Rebellion and Disobedience of the above nam'd or shall give 'em any Harbour Retreat or Quarter among 'em or shall suffer 'em or assist 'em in any sort or manner whatever guilty of the same Crimes and to have forfeited all their Rights Franchises Immunities and Priviledges granted either by the King our Predecessors or by our selves And for that our Intention is always to prefer Clemency before the Rigour of Justice and to afford 'em the Means and Leisure to acknowledge their Faults before they althogether plunge themselves in Faction and revolt we say and declare that if within one Month from the day of the publication of these presents in Parlament the said Soubise or any others who have been guilty of the Actions above express'd shall return to their Duty lay down their Arms disband their Souldiers which they have muster'd together and submit themseves entirely to the Obedience which they owe us we have and shall from this present Time and for the Future forgiven pardon'd and obliterated forgive pardon and obliterate by these Presents all Acts and attempts which they may have made or design'd in this last Insurrection and taking of Arms contrary to our Authority and Service without any enquiries or prosecutions either now or hereafter in any sort or manner whatever as having pardon'd and restor'd 'em to their former Condition and to all Honours Priviledges and Immunities which were granted 'em by Us or our Predecessors under the Exact Observation of our Edicts But if after that time expir'd they persist in their Rebellion and Disobedience our Pleasure is that they be proceeded against with all the Rigour of our Laws by Imprisonment of their Persons Seizure of their Estates demolishing their Houses and other usual Courses in such Cases and that they lose the Benefit of our Edicts and Appeals to the Chambers So we command c. In Testimony c Given at Paris January 25. 1625 and fifteenth of our Reign Sign'd LEWIS And Below by the King De Lomenie Read Publish'd and Register'd c. At Paris in Parlament February 18. 1625. Du Tillet A Writing giv'n by the English Embassadours to the Deputies of the Churches to make the King of Great Britain Guarranty of the Peace in 1626. WE Henry Rich Baron of Kensington Earl of Holland Captain of the King of Great Brittan's Guards Knight of the Order of the Garter and one of his Majesties Privy Council And Dudley Charlton Knight one of his Majesties Privy Council and Vice Chamberlain of the Houshold To all c. Whereas the Sieurs de-Mommartin and de Maniald General Deputies of the Reformed Churches of France and other Particular Deputies from the Dukes of Soubise and Rohan as also others from several Cities and Provinces which joyn'd in Arms with the said Lords have made a Peace with the most Christian King by our Advice and Intercessions agreed and consented to by the King their Soveraign and for that the said Deputies have releas'd many things which they thought of great Moment for their security and altogether Conformable to their Edicts and
remote with the usual Submissions and that the Cities make their Declarations such as are requir'd in the like Cases at the same time And whereas we have found during the late Troubles that some of our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion siding with the Rebels were wont to send their Children or else permit 'em to go and bear Arms together with 'em they themselves staying at home to avoid the Rigour of our Prosecutions 'T is our Pleasure that for the Remedy of such abuses that the Fathers or Masters of Houses and Families shall be held and reputed to adhere to the Enemies Party and that they shall suffer Corporal Punishment together with all the Penalties mention'd in these presents if their Children or other Relations usually abiding in their Houses and having no other habitation then that of their Fathers or Kindred shall be found siding with the Enemy in actual Arms. Unless the said Parents or Masters of Houses or Families actually serve us in our Armies or other where and make it so much their endeavour to regain their Children or Kindred out of the Enemies service as to convince us that 't was no Fault of theirs And as for all our other Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion that shall continue in their Obedience and Fidelity to us without adhering to the Enemies Designs and other Practices Factions and Conspiracies against us our Authority Service and Repose of this Kingdom our Pleasure is that they shall freely enjoy the Liberty of their Exercise and all Favours and Concessions to them granted by the Deceased King and our selves which it is our full meaning and Intent to preserve inviolably putting all our said Subjects of our said Pretended Reformed Religion their Families and Estates so long as they remain within the Bounds of their Duty under our special saseguard and Protection So we command c. In Testimony whereof c. Given at Villeroy August 5. 1627. and 18th of our Reign Sign'd Lewis And below By the King De Lomenie Read Publish'd and Register'd c. At Paris in Parlament August 12. 1627. Du Tillet A Declaration of the King after the taking of Rochelle to his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion Given at Paris December 15. 1628. and verify'd in Parlament January 15. 1629. LEWIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. We have by several Preceding Declarations exhorted our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion to forsake and desist from the Factions and Rebellions wherein they were engag'd against our service promising 'em all that could be expected from our Favour in case that within the time prescrib'd they return'd to their Duty and subscrib'd such Declarations as were requisite before our Judges Which several having done have experienc'd our Good Will liv'd peaceably and at Liberty in the enjoyment of their Estates and Exercise of the Pretended Reformed Religion Several Cities also and Paticular Men led away by the Artifices of Factious and seditious Spirits have still continu'd in the same Rebelion into which their Engagement with the Inhabitants of the City of Rochel had participated ' em For which reason now that it has pleas'd God to reduce that City under our Obedience and to take from 'em that Pretence we are willing to hope that they will the more readily return to their Duty by new Exhortations and freeing 'em from the Fear of being Liable to the Penalties mention'd in our Preceding Declarations And being desirous to let 'em see our Paternal Affection toward 'em and to excite 'em out of a Consideration of their own good and Preservation more or less to their Benefit as they shall continue more or less Obstinate in returning to their Obedience And which is that which we are willing so much the rather to hope that now that by the Reduction of our said City of Rochel under our Obedience they have manifestly understood our singular Goodness toward the Inhabitants of that Place whom we receiv'd upon their Surrendring to us with the assurance of their Lives Estates and Exercise of the Pretended Reformed Religion and of the integrity of which agreement they enjoy so religious a performance that all their Fears are turn'd into Consolation and have prov'd a sufficient Convincement that the Apprehensions which the Factious Boutefeaux of Rebellion infus'd into 'em were but Artifices without any Foundation to hinder 'em from seeking in our Obedience that true Tranquillity and Liberty which they now enjoy For these causes we make known that upon mature debate of this Business in Council of our full knowledge full Power special Grace and Royal Authority We have enjoyn'd and by these Presents do enjoyn all our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion of what quality or Condition soever they be who shall now be found engag'd in the Rebellion and bearing Arms or holding out Towns and Cities against our service and contrary to that Obedience which they owe us or adhering to those that hold 'em out and enjoy 'em that they forthwith lay down their Arms return to their Duty and Subscribe such Declarations as are usually requisite before our Courts of Parlament or Presidial Seats within 15 days after Publication of these Presents And as for the Cities that they send their Deputies to us to receive our Gracious Will and Pleasure in pursuance of their Submissions Which doing we will receive 'em into our Favour and maintain 'em in the Enjoment of all their Goods and Estates and free Exercise of the said Reformed Religion and look upon 'em as good Subjects worthy to partake of our benefits ard Favours no less then the rest who have continu'd in the Fidelity which they owe us All which we promise upon the Faith and Word of a King to keep observe and fulfil inviolably But in case that continuing in the obstinacy of their Rebellion they scorn the Favour which we offer to 'em and do not satisfie the Contents of these Presents within that time We have and do declare 'em from this time forward to have incurr'd the Penalties mention'd in our Preceding Declarations and guilty of High Treason in the Highest degree and unworthy of all Grace and Mercy In which case after the time prefix'd is once past our Pleasure is that they be proceeded against in their Persons Goods Houses Inheritances and whatever else belongs to 'em with the utmost Rigour of the Law So we command c. In Testimony c. Given at Paris December 15. 1628. and 19th of our Reign Sign'd Lewis Below by the King De Lomenie Read Publish'd and Register'd At Paris in Parlament c. January 15. 1629. Du Tillet An Edict of the King upon the Grace and Pardon granted as well to the Duke of Rohan and the Sieur de Soubize as to his Rebellious Subjects of the Cities Flat Countries Castles and Strong Holds of the Provinces of Vpper and Lower Languedoc Cevennes Gevaudan Guyenne Foix c. with the Articles Given
pleasure A Debate whether to accept them provisionally or definitively The Council's Shiftings about the Articles The Treaty is interrupted New Instructions Disputes put to an end by the King's firmness The Assembly beggeth the intercession of the Queen of England and of the Vnited Provinces New Delays partly malicious partly innocent A Book setting forth the Grievances of the Reformed Elamed by some The Importance of its Contents It beginneth with excusing the freedom of those Complaints Maketh Remonstrances to the King about the Delays of his Council and the general State of the Reformed By what degrees the King had been drawn from them The Design of their Petion General Complaints made by them against all â— French Against all the Orders of the State Against the Clergy in particular The publick Exercise of the reformed Religion obstructed and private Devotions hindred And in their private Devotions Instances of great Violences The boldness of the Parliament of Bourdeaux The Exercise interrupted or forbid in several places by divers Decrees In the Army At Rouen the King being there Complaints upon the account of the places Against the Catholick Gentlemen Against the Treaties with the League Singing of Psalms hindred Books seized and burnt Comforting of the sick Consciences forced The Prince of Conde The keeping of Lent and Holidays Colledges The Poor ill used Places where the Reformed dare not dwell A remarkable Injustice done at Lyon Trades Violences Injustice done to the Reformed about Offices * The Council of State is not meant here but a Court of Judicature in Paris where some Special Matters are debated Seditious Words and Speeches Passion of Judges and Parliaments Difficulties in reestablishing the Edict of 1577. Special Instances of the ill will of the Parliaments Burials made difficult Hindred A strong free and moving Conclusion Reflections on that Book New Delays And Difficulties upon particular Places The breaking up of the Assembly The state of the Garrisons The naming of Governors The Annual renewing of the state of the Garrisons Private Interests 1598. The Edict delay'd till the Month of August when there were no more Leaguers The Assembly allarmed The King grants the Edict being armed Different Opinions about the Edict The Conclusion at Nants The Particulars of the Difficulties on each Article They first demand a new Edict Reasons pro and con The second Demand a free Exercise and its extent The advantage secured to the prevailing Religion A second place in each Bailiwick was no new thing Difficulties about the Places of Exercise Upon the Proofs Difficulties about the Burials The Third Demand the Subsistence of the Ministers A Sum of Mony promised by the King The Schools The 4th Demand the possession of Estates and Rights of Succession The fifth demand impartial Judges Chambers Miparties or of the Edict The sixth Demand to be admitted to Offices The extent of this Concession * The Offices wherein Notaries Public allow'd by Authority ingross and register private Contracts The Sham of this Concession The 7th Demand Securities 1598. How they were useful to the King â— The payment of the Garrisons Gifts to private Persons Contestations touching the Form of the Concessions which is diverse according to the nature of the thing The manner of Payment The Conclusion * Chambre Mipartie is a Court of Justice Erected in divers good Towns of France in favour of and for the righting them of the Religion one half of the Judges being of the Reformed the other Papists 〈…〉 Edict Artifices to gain ' em A Synod at Mompelier The number of the State of the Churches Forming a Church what it is Several Churches United into one Causes of contenting themselves with the Edict as it was obtain'd Lesdiguieres's Religion Treatise of the Eutharist Consequences of the publishing of it Three Important Negotiations with the Pope The Establishment of the Jesuits Their boldness and Credit The Monks all hate the King Persecution in Piedmont The Marquisat of Saluces Reasons why the King favour'd the Jesuits 3d. Mâ—…age of Madame Her Constancy The King's Severities toward her Scruples Rais'd by the Pope His Reasons The King proceeds to the Marriage without staying for the Dispensation The issue of the Negotiation till the Death of the Princess The Advantages which the Reformed got by her Perseverance Difficulties about the Verification of the Edict Their Proposals upon the Edict The Transports of some Prelates The Nuncio's Moderation The Opposition of the Parliament The Justice of the D. of Mayenne 1599. The Reformed forbear insisting upon several Articles Obstinacy of â—â—â— Clergy Chambers of the Edict at Rouen Chamber Mipartie â—n Guien * A kind of a New-years Gift given for the contiance in an Office Verification of the Edict The Pope makes great Complaints to stop the Spaniards Mouths Answers of the Cardinals de Joyeuse and d'Ossat Accommodated to the Popes liking Edict for the Principality of Bearn Which is receiv'd â—rmplaints of the Alterations made in the Edict Particular Complaints Precedency pretended by the Catholic Officers that compos'd the Chambres Miparties ever the Reformed Verbal demands concerning Chappels in Gentlemens Houses The Papers answer'd Precedency preserv'd to the most â— Ancient President Article of Church-yards Brossiereâ—eigns â—eigns her self possess'd by the Devil The Sequel of this Comedy within and without the Kingdom Dissolution of the Kings Marriage A Decree of the Parlament of Bretagne touching the Oath referr'd by a Reformed to a Catholic Trimouille made a Peer of France 1600. Roni's Advancement not much wondred at Commissioners for the Execution of the Edict and their Power General Observations upon the Edict Reproacheâ— of the Catholics thrown upon the Reformed Answers Questions upon the Nature of the Edict The Benefit of the Edict The condition of the Kingdom hoth before and after the Edict Warâ— abovt Religion the most Cruel What sort of variety Policy ought not to suffer in a Kingdom What is the Nature of the Reformed Religion The Justice of the Edict Justice of Reward after Service done What Reward is The Edict Grants nothing to the Reformed c. The Concessions for this reason so much the more Just What the Edict grants the Reformed does no body harm The Catholics Gainers by the Edicts The Edict ought to be Irrevocable Considerations upon the Word And upon the things Rights of Conscience The Force of Edicts that maintain Liberty And of these that are granted for the preservation of the Societies The preservation of Subjects the chief Obligation of Soveraigns An Express or Tacit Treaty naturally between Sovereign and Subject Also between Master and Slave The Force of Treaties The Edict of Nantes a Treaty The Form of the Edict renders it more Venerable Two things relating to a Treaty in the Edict 1. Between the King and the Reformed 2. Between the Catholics and the Reformed The Reformed Treats with the King 1. â—â—r Recompence for their Services 2. Touching their being secur'd against their Enemies Places of Security Kings may Treat
him from leaving his Party and the success of the Fight at Arques joyned to the arrival of the English having made the Leaguers retire the King put his affairs into a good posture and gain'd several advantages During the time that this passed the promise which he had made to the Catholicks of his party being sent into the Provinces gave great Alarms to the Protestants These words were read with suspicion which had slipt into the Copies The late King whom God absolve and as they knew these were taken from the ordinary Language of the Roman Church when it speaks of dead persons they fear'd they were let fall from the K. as an effect of a Resolution already taken to embrace the Doctrin of that Church or at least as a mark of little zeal and affection to the Protestant Religion This was chiefly noised about in the Provinces of Poitou and Saintonge where the discontents began soonest They assembled together in order to a conference at St. John d'Angeli where under pretence 't was uncertain whether the K. would persevere in his Religion they propos'd to chuse a new Protector It seem'd but a Series of certain Intrigues which had caus'd the trouble in the last assembly at Rochel where some unquiet Spirits complaining of the Authority which the K. of Navar took in affairs would have taken away the power which the Protection gave him or limited it by rigorous conditions because they did not intend to chuse a Master in taking a Protector For this reason perhaps they would have chose rather to give this Quality to a man whom they had a mind to honour than to a Prince who seeing no body but the King above him would think all other Qualities inferiour to his Dignity Since the Death of Henry III. they had more reason than ever to renew the same Reflections because the K. of Navar having succeeded him he was thenceforward too great not to adjudge the Quality of Protector as derogating from that of a K The Reason why they mov'd in that business at the conference was because they talkt of suppressing the Chambers of Justice to please the Parliaments which the K. while he was only K. of Navar had established in divers places composed of Protestant Officers before whom the Protestants brought all their Affairs and that they had setled Royal Judges in divers places which deprived the Protestant Officers of their ordinary subsistance That they had restor'd the Mass in divers places against the express Terms of the Truce under the pretence of executing it and that their Protector had done nothing for them since his coming to the Crown That when the Truce was now ready to expire they saw nothing which tended to the peace which the late King had promised They complained also That their Ministers with whose maintenance the King had charged his Finances were worse paid under the New Reign than they had been under the Old Du Plessis in Negotiating the Truce made this a Capital Article and carried it after some Contradictions The Order which was observed for the Execution of this Treaty was That there were sent to the Secretary of State of each Division Rolls which certified the Names and Number of their Pastors which Du Plessis was to sign And upon these Rolls so attested Ordonnances were delivered to the Exchequer out of which it was paid to the Neighbouring Receivers of the places of their Residence Henry IV. was willing to have continued this Order for the Provinces where the Protestants were strong and this lasted till he changed his Religion after which he never setled it notwithstanding the promise he had made Moreover during the first troubles of the new Government this order was ill observ'd insomuch that the persons interessed were not able to support themselves and their condition was more uncertain under a King of their own Religion than they had ever been under any that was their Enemy This made them fear the event both for themselves and the common cause which the King seemed to defend with no great heat and therefore they thought they must rely upon a Protector who might apply himself to their Affairs with less indifference But before we go any further we must explain what the Protestants meant by a Protector for fear it should be imagined that it was a Project of Rebellion which was formed by them under the pretence of this Election The Protestants then having been constrain'd after the cruelties and wrongs of more than 30 years to unite themselves together for their common Defence they put themselves at first under the protection of the Prince of Conde who had the same Interest with them and to whom the Guises owed as little good Will as to the Protestant Religion The natural design of this Protection was to procure security and repose to the people who had embraced the Reformation to carry to the King the complaints and requests of the persecuted party by an authorised Intercessor to repress by the respect of their Protector the enterprises of the Cabals of Zealots or the Intrigues which the Ambitious might form for the ruin of the Protestants to have a Trustee and Guardian of the Faith of Treaties and Edicts which might be obtained for Liberty of Conscience so that this Protection gave to the person to whom it was given nothing but the care of obtaining tolerable conditions for the Protestants and to procure them to be observâ—d when obtain'd by his Solicitations and his Credit and by consequence he could never give any jealousy to any Princes but such as had no design to keep their Faith since to render the Protector of no use there was no more to do but to permit the People to live quietly in peace of Conscience the Protection doth then fall of it self when there is no infractions to redress nor any Injusticeâ—o â—o fear Since all the proceedings of the Protector aim'd at nothing else but to obtain and procure from the King a soâ—id Peace and Tranquility unto a considerable part of his Subâ—â—cts whom the other Disaffected Party designed to oppress The Royal Authority was always respected and indeed under that Protection Since if any thing was restrain'd or limited by this Protection it was not the Royal Authority which the Protestants desired rather to encrease than diminish but the Inhuman Zeal of the Catholicks which after all the Protestant Blood they had spilt by infinite number of Torments talk'd of nothing but the utter destruction and extermination of the rest And if that formed a party in the Realm Equity and humanity will blame them less for it that had but that one way left them to defend themselves than those that by a thousand Violences Wrongs and Frauds forc'd them to have recourse to that Remedy It is true this Protection has sometimes produced War but it was by accident because the infidelity of the Court the ambitious cruelty of the Guises the violations of
at the same time bestowed upon their Enemies Divers pretences were contriv'd either to hinder them from fortifying the places they held or to perswade them that the keeping 'em was not worth while Valognes in Normandy was taken from 'em under a pretence that it signifi'd nothing to keep it because two or three useless Forts about it were ras'd Mention was made of demolishing all the places that kept Poitiers block'd up as soon as that great Town wou'd be reduc'd The Baron of Courtomer also was depriv'd of the Government of Argentan to put Medavi in his place and elsewhere many the like Subjects of Complaint were given The King to appease the Murmurings that were occasion'd by such Acts of Injustice pay'd the Reformed with the Parable of the Young Man at whose return after a shameful wasting of his Wealth his Father kill'd the fatted Calf for Joy of his Repentance But they answer'd that they ought at least to be treated as the Son that had always been faithful and to whom his Father said Son all that I have is thine That if they were resolv'd to spend the revenue of the Family in favour of a Prodigal to reclaim him it was but just at least to make him a sharer to whom it was said Son thou hast always been with me That certainly the obedient Son was not to be Sacrific'd for the return of the other nor to be despoil'd of his Rights to confer 'em on him that trampl'd under Foot the Authority of his Father Besides these general affairs there happen'd others particular in many places which were enough to weary the Patience of the most prudent and moderate The Lieutenant Civil of Paris put out an Order commanding the Reformed to bow to Crosses Images Banners and Shrines when they shou'd meet 'em in the streets This seem'd to be of consequence because it was done as 't were in the very Presence of the King who seem'd to Authorize seeing he did not hinder it An order of the Judges of Lyons drove from the City and its Jurisdiction upon pain of Death all those that shou'd not profess the Catholick Religion The Parliament of Rheims prohibited on pain of corporal Punishment the selling reading or keeping Books for the use of the Reformed Religion That of Bourdeaux had made an Act that authoriz'd the digging up of the Bodies of the Reformed which in the space of fifteen years had been buried in the Churches or Church-yards of the Catholicks The orders taken with those that had the management of the King's Exchequer for the payment of Ministers were of no effect The Courts that were promis'd for the Administration of Justice in Guyenne and Languedoc were not set up though the Passion of the Parliaments of Bourdeaux and Thoulouse against the Reformed wanted but little of Fury At Orleance the Officers already receiv'd were deposed The Parliament of Roan caus'd the Proctors and Advocates to make a publick Abjuration before they were permitted to plead or argue at the Bar And even at Tours the Parliament before it's return to Paris had caus'd a Judge Assistant of Saumur to make his Abjuration afore his Pattents could be register'd which appear'd so much the more strange that Saumur was a Town of Safety Among the Reformed Lords there were some that took no great Care of the Affairs of their Party Lesdiguieres minded no body but himself in Dauphine where he was very powerful His manners were irregular and his Life not very edifying He was covetous ambitious and debauch'd and he had join'd himself to the Reformed in his outward Profession rather because their Religion had been the raising of his Fortune then out of any real Piety There was a Proposal also of marrying his only Daughter with la Trimouille or the Marshal de Bouillon which would have very much advanc'd the Affairs of the Reformed But the Court prevented those Alliances and a little after that Lesdiguieres marry'd her to Crequi a zealous Catholick Neither was Roni less cold in the matter of Religion He was one of those wary Blades that will be always serving God on the winning side so that his Religion consisted only in Appearances and those but very superficial too There were also Governours both of the Provinces and of strong Towns whose Character was much the same who though in the main they were perswaded that their Religion was right nevertheless were so strongly engag'd with the Court that 't was not very probable they would break with Her to serve their Brethren But there were several others who laid things more to heart and who us'd all their Endeavours to prevent the Reformed from falling into any Snare upon the account of fair Promises and would not permit 'em to lose the Opportunity of securing their Persons and the Exercise of their Religion The Mareschal de Bouillon was one of these and in greatest Authority A Person of great Merit and great Ambition He had the Reputation of a good Head-peice in the Council and of a great Captain in the Field in Credit with Foreign Princes and capable to be the Head of a Party His Estate was considerable and he had Places of Strength in his Hands More especially Sedan which as he said belong'd to him by the last Will and Testament of his Wife who dy'd but a little before without Children and was a Place of great Consequence as being an Inlet for Foreign Armies into the Kingdom La Trimouille was next to him Neither had Competitorship made 'em so jealous of each other but that they aim'd both at the same Mark. Besides they were united afterwards by a more strict Alliance in regard they married two Sisters of Prince Maurice to whom the Vnited Provinces had granted part of that Power which William his Father had exercis'd until his Death La Trimouille was Young Brave Resolute Daring Courteous Generous Powerful in Poictou and drew a great Train of Nobility after him The Court accus'd him of being a Lover of Quarrels and of being Head-strong But others gave him a better Character That he was one who would listen to Reason understood it and was capable of good Counsel and look'd upon him as a Person endu'd with great Qualities happy natural Parts and one who only wanted a little Age and Experience to ripen him for a perfect Heroe The Honour he had to see the Prince of Conde his Nephew Presumptive Heir of the Crown because the King had no Legitimate Issue and was by no means to be reconcil'd to Queen Margaret de Valois his Wife somewhat lifted up Tremouille's Heart and made him look'd upon with more Respect by the Reformed who despair'd not one day to see him their Masters Governour But on the other side it render'd him suspected and odious to the Court where his Genius was dreaded Some Proceedings of his at St. John d' Angeli where the Prince of Conde was brought up were much disgusted of which I shall tell the reason in
upon as Enemies by the Catholicks far from being treated as Members of one and the same Kingdom and Legitimate Children of the same Family In this Conjuncture of Affairs the King was wounded in the Mouth by John Chastel a Disciple of the Jesuits and the Reformed had that slight Consolation in the midst of their Afflictions and Fears to see that Society condemn'd to Banishment by the most August Senate of France A Pyramid was also order'd to be set up in that part of the House where the Parricide was hatch'd upon one of the Faces of which was engrav'd the Decree that banish'd the Jesuits out of the Kingdom and contain'd the Reasons for inflicting that Punishment upon ' em But the Parliaments of Tholouse and Bourdeaux would not follow the Example of that of Paris so that the Society kept their footing till they were again restor'd in the Provinces under their Jurisdiction In the mean while this audacious Attempt made a great Noise at Rome where d' Ossat highly aggravated the consequence of such an Enterprize at a time when they were treating so seriously about a Reconciliation between the Pope and the King But that which this Accident produc'd of most remarkable was this That it drew from the Lips of that Agent for France altho' a zealous Catholick and bred up in the Maxims of the Court of Rome an Authentick Testimony how highly the Reformed abominate all Crimes of this nature and of the profound Respect which they bear to the Persons of their Sovereigns This Prelat giving an account of the Fact to the Pope's Cardinal Nephew and aggravating the Horror of it contriv'd and encourag'd by them that call'd themselves the Support of the Catholick Religion told him in express Terms That if ever any body had a seeming just occasion to make use of such Assassinates the Hereticks had most cause to purchase 'em and set 'em at work against the King who has quitted and abandon'd 'em and of whom they had reason to be afraid nevertheless they never attempted any such thing either against Him nor any of the five Kings his Predecessors whatever Slaughters and Massacres their Majesties had made of the Huguenots This Misfortune did the Reformed no unkindness for it put the King in remembrance that he had never ran the like Risco while he was in their Hands Whence it came to pass that he sometimes declar'd to his Confidents that as to what concern'd the Safety of his Person he had a far greater Assurance in them then in the Catholicks On the other side the Result of the Consultations of the Assembly at St. Foy gave the Council no small occasion to make particular Reflections who beheld with Astonishment that numerous Body without a Chieftain to reunite the various Members of it to close and confederate together in their own Defence and take such proper courses to become formidable to their Enemies Therefore they would have had it look'd upon as a form'd Rebellion and an insolent sort of proceeding what was done by the Reformed at that time in order to their Preservation They call'd the Union a Design to set up a State with separate Interests and a distinct Government And because this was spread abroad at that time by passionate and violent Persons all the Historians that have since put Pen to Paper have not fail'd to exclaim against that way of proceeding and to black'n it with furious Declamations as if it were a Crime to be careful of Self-preservation when People have Enemies to deal with void of Equity Faith Humanity such as the Catholicks had more then once appear'd in reference to the Reformed The King had no reason to be offended at these Precautions since they were made use of neither against his Person nor against his Authority but against a sort of Zealots who might abuse his Power to oppress the most faithful part of his Subjects and against the Court of Rome with whose cruel Intentions and bloody Maxims all Europe was too well acquainted Nevertheless the King forbore not to disturb these Assemblies and to look upon 'em at least as du Plessis had sometimes represented 'em that is to say such as might degenerate and give occasion to Factious Spirits to raise Commotions and Tumults not easily to be appeas'd Which was the reason that sometimes he complain'd of their being conven'd and sometimes he gave express Orders for their Dissolution But then the King follow'd rather what his Councils peal'd in his Ears then his own Inclinations for as soon as others laid before him how dangerous it was to reduce the Reformed to the Provocations of Despair by depriving 'em the Comfort of those Assemblies he revok'd his former Orders by others more expresly forbidding their being dissolv'd In a word it was more advantageous for the King to permit that Union of his Subjects which oblig'd 'em to request his Leave for the time and place of their Assembling then to reduce 'em to throw themselves under a Foreign Protection by refusing 'em the means of securing both their Religion and their Lives under the Good Will and Authority of their Lawful Prince It was also better to see them united among themselves by that form of Correspondency then under a Protector whose Courage might be elevated by his Power by Foreign Adherences and Domestick Discontents and give him fair Opportunities and Advantages to enlarge his Reputation But for the present 't was thought that the most assured means to disperse those Assemblies or prevent the Mischief they might do was to afford the Reformed some occasion of Content to the end the first Assembly that was call'd together might have no more to do then to accept the King's Concessions and to return him Thanks For this Reason the Verification of the Edicts which had been formerly granted was press'd for at a more then usual Rate and the Confirmation of 'em by a new Edict as had been agreed with their Deputies at Mantes The greatest Difficulty consisted in their declaring the Reformed capable of all manner of Employments and this was that which the zealous Catholicks were extreamly unwilling to do who could not by any means brook the Violation of their Canons by which the Hereticks are excluded from all sorts of Offices and Preferments This Difficulty could not be remov'd by Four Years Sollicitations nor by the express Orders of the King nor by a new Delcaration given at St. Germans in November of the year preceding The Council consented to it as also to several other Provisional Regulations because they were then bethinking themselves of getting the Prince of Conde out of the Hands of the Reformed either because the King was desirous to have him bred up in the Catholick Religion to prevent the Pretences of a Civil War which might be taken one day from his being Educated in the Reformed or because the Count of Soissons a turbulent ambitious Prince and who look'd upon himself as
Houses where they prayed for suffering the same In other places all those that were present had been taken up and threatned to be drowned to force them to go to Mass In some others Praying was forbid them in their own Forms and for christening Children in Country-houses Warrants were delivered against the Ministers and all who had been present were adjudged to pay cost and besides severely fined for it Upon the like occasion they had in other places been in an imminent danger of being massacred by the Rabble some places were remarked in which they were forbid to assemble on pain of Ten thousand Pounds fine others wherein Houses were forcibly entred into if five or six Reformed were but thought to be there for instance at Saint Stephen of Furant the seditious Mob gathered together one day to the number of three hundred Men before a certain House upon a meer suspicion of an Assembly though the Magistrates who view'd it found no such thing Other places were named in which the Priests and Friers did openly say in their Pulpits That 't was a shame to suffer the Reformed in their Towns and this upon a groundless Accusation of having assembled in the Neighbourhood as the Officers found it after a strict inquiry into the matter It was observed besides that when the Lady Catherine the King 's only Sister came to Bourdeaux the Parliament had sent Spies to watch those that went to hear Sermons in her House and committed to Prison one of the most considerable amongst them To all this it was added that the free Exercise of their Religion being limited in some places to Publick Prayers only which they were however very well satisfied with yet at Montagnac a place of that kind they had not been permitted to cover a certain House purchased by them for that purpose nay that afterward the Lord High Constable and the Parliament of Thoulouse had forbid them to pray there any longer Then they related those Violences committed at Marchenoir by the Duke of Nemours's Troops and those by the Soldiers of the Duke of Guise at Lormarin where they turn'd the Temple into a Stable and threw seven or eight Persons into the Water and among them the School master whom they took to be the Minister Whereupon they observed what we remarked elsewhere that the latter had been powerfully and chiefly assisted by the Reformed against the League when he took possession of his Government of Provence They did not forget to represent that the Garrison of Roche-chouart in Poictou had fired with two Cannons from the Castle upon fifteen hundred Reformed assembled in the Town-house for their usual religious Exercise that in another place a Man on Horse back breaking through the Crowd fell upon him who prayed and wounded him with the buâ—t-end of a Carbine after he had vainly endeavoured to fire and shoot him with it that the occasion of this Assembly was to sign a Petition for re establishing the Exercise of their Religion interrupted by the League that the wounded party offering to proceed against the criminal by way of Justice the Priests of the place where he sued him had by their private Authority committed him to Prison and got him carried by the Lieutenant of the Provost to the Goal of Puy in Vellay That at Caen on the twenty eighth of March of the instant Year the Catholicks had burnt all that was found in the place of their Exercises to all which they joined a lively Picture of the Massacre of la Chataigneraye with all the horrid circumstances that attended it making here very pathetick Exclamations to renew the remembrance of all other Slaughters formerly made of the Reformed by the Papists But above all they urged in as strong and powerful terms as they could that all this happened under the Reign of a King who was formerly the Protector of the Reformed and they did not forget to make a comparison of their Patience with the Fury of the Catholicks to whom they did not render like for like in those very places where they were the strongest These being thus premised they did complain afterwards that they could not obtain the re establishment of the Exercise in those places wherein it had continued ever since the Edict of January under Charles the Ninth till the Edicts of the League were made of the Catholick Governours refusing to obey the King's Orders on this Subject of the Decrees of the Privy-Council and Parliaments whereby it was taken away from such places where they found it established in some whereof it was indeed maintained because the execution of those Decrees was not thought easie and safe They did not forget here to mention the Decree of the Parliament of Bourdeaux by which the Exercise was forbidden in all the Lands of the Marchioness of Trans on pain of Ten thousand Crowns fine nor another Decree of the same Court which tended to make it cease also at Bergerac a Town throughly and intirely reformed in forbidding the Inhabitants to assess themselves for the subsistence of their Ministers though these Assessments had been allow'd them ever since the Conference at Fleix Next the Decrees of the Parliament of Aix which we have taken notice of before were brought in Whereupon they did observe that this Court had emitted two in one and the same Year to forbid the Exercise in some places wherein it had been continued during two or three hundred Years that this Prohibition was made on pain of forfeiting both Body and Estate and three Months after the solemn acknowledgment made by them that the Reformed had saved their Necks by calling Lesdiguieres who delivered them from the fury of the League as I have observed in the foregoing Book Moreover they complained that though the Exercise of their Religion had been allowed in the Army during the Truce under the Reign of Henry the Third yet that it had not been suffered ever since Henry the Fourth came to the Crown That the Lady Catherine her self had been forced to go out of Rouen on a Communion-day because the Legate would not permit her to receive it in that City though she had always had that freedom allowed her at Paris in her own House that few days after a Sedition had been stirr'd up against the Reformed in the very sight of the King without any respect to his Royal Presence That Argentan had been taken from the Baron of Courtemer though 't was one of the places of Balliwick promised by the Treaty that Beausse Ganville a place held by the Reformed had nevertheless been demolished They also made Complaints of the reformation made in their Garrisons which were weakened by diminishing the number of Men and paying the rest but ill insomuch that it amounted not in a whole Year to above three or four Months Pay for which they had even very remote and incommodious Funds assigned them as for instance the Garrison of Royan had it upon the Treasuries
of Quercy They did also complain of several places taken from the Reformed razed or ordered to be so by Decrees of Parliament of some others dismembred nay given to their Enemies Thus Milhau which belonged to the Lady Catherine and which the Inhabitants had by virtue of an express Commission fortified at their own charge had certainly been demolished had not they had the Courage to oppose it In the mean while the reconciled Leaguers were very exactly paid though they received fifteen times as much Money from the King as the Reformed did who made it appear in the Assembly of the principal Men of the Kingdom at Rouen that for their Garrisons they had not Two hundred thousand Pounds from the King They complained besides of the Catholick Nobility and Gentry who had caused the Exercise of the Reformed Religion to cease in such places of their Lordships as they had found it established in at the time of their reconciliation with the King They upbraided them with that Writing subscribed by them at Mantes after the King 's turning Catholick in order to assure the Reformed that they would never enter into any Treaty with the Leaguers to their prejudice or without calling them in for a share which solemn Promise had been nevertheless broken in the Treaties made with eight and twenty Towns and with eight Princes or Grandees wherein the Reformed had been deprived of their Rights and which were concluded without their knowledge whereupon they observed with indignation that during the War a little paultry Town call'd La ferte Milon would not surrender but upon condition that the Reformed Religion should be excluded out of its Walls and Territories they also exaggerated that famous Succour given so seasonably by the Reformed to Henry the Third at Tours and accepted then by the Catholicks with so hearty thanks and yet so soon forgot From thence they came to complain of their being hindred in the most minute acts of their Devotions naming divers places where they had been sent to Prison on that account and where even the Psalm-book had been burnt by the Hangman whereof amongst many others they gave one remarkable instance which is this It happened at Meaux that a very honest Man was caned by the Major of the Garrison for singing Psalms the King being then at Monceaux about two Leagues off the Deputies of the Assembly of Loudun who were with his Majesty failed not to complain to him of that affront but all the satisfaction they could get was only that the King would speak to the Major about it In other places their Bibles and other Books concerning Matters of Religion were taken from them and if they kept any by them it was enough to make them liable to Imprisonments Exiles and Fines At Digue in Provence the Judges had impudence enough to add to the punishment of being imprisoned a Fine of a hundred Crowns for such as should assemble in order to pray to God Almighty and the Parliament of Rennes forbidding the Exercise of the Reformed Religion joined to it an Order that their Books should be diligently searched into forbidding the Reformed to print sell or keep any about Matters of Religion Next came their just and charitable Complaints of being hindred from comforting the Sick and the Criminals of their Party and even that they were forced to endure the presence and sollicitations of the Friers to which purpose they did relate that at Saint Quintin a Man was banished the Town for comforting from the Street a person infected with the Plague shut up within his House Whereupon they did judiciously observe that all such Articles whereby some advantage was taken from the Reformed were punctually executed but that all which the Edicts had granted in their behalf proved insignificant and useless for them for want of due execution They did afterwards hint at Matters of Conscience complaining that nothing came amiss to the Catholicks that might afford a pretence for oppressing them that they were forced to hang up Cloths or Tapistries before their Houses on Corpus Christi day and even to assist at the Procession on pain of a Fine which amounted sometimes to fifty Crowns that they were often imprisoned upon their refusing to comply that the Count de Grignan himself taxed his Vassals twenty Crowns for each offence that the Parliament of Paris inflicted a corporal punishment upon such as refused to bow to the Cross and prostrate themselves before the Hoste that in other places they were condemn'd to publick pennance for refusing to pay the same honour to the Sacrament when they met it in the Streets that the Parish-Priest of Saint Stephen of Furant did yet do worse than so for on such occasions he would run after those who fled before him and beat them soundly either with his Fists or even with the Cross-stick that in divers Towns of France they were forced to contribute to the charges of holy Fraternities of Divine Service done after the Catholick way and of building and repairing Churches and even to pay the Arrears of their Contributions for many Years past that in some places the Papists would force them either to assist at the Masses sung before the Companies or Trades incorporated or to leave the Town that the Publick Notaries of Bourdeaux having set up a new Fraternity they would force the Reformed of that Profession to assist at the Masses of their Company on pain of twenty Pence forfeit for each offence that the Judges of Anger 's had constrained a reformed Fidler to play at the famous Procession which is made there with a very extraordinary pomp on Corpus Christi day that in several Courts of Judicature the Judges and Advocates of their Party were forced to take their Oath after the manner and form of the Roman Church that sometimes old People were dragged along the Streets to Mass that at Saint Stephen of Furant the Parish Priest had almost starved an old Man to death to make him abjure and at last forced him to pass an Act before a Publick Notary whereby he bound himself to be banished if he should not live and die in the Romish Religion The same mad Priest continued they got himself accompanied by the Judges to the Houses of the Reformed where he christened Children in spite of their Parents and one day upon a false advice that a Woman was brought to Bed he forced his entry into the House beat her Husband searched every Corner and finding no mark of what he looked for he got the Woman out of the Bed and forced her to shew him her Belly that he might have occular demonstration that she was not delivered They continued to give an account of several Matters of Fact of the like nature As that in another place a Father carrying his Child to be christened the Servant-maid of an Inn had stoln him away whil'st the Man was leading his Horse to the Stable and afterwards she calling the
too much Honesty and if they judg'd by what d'Ossat says of him he was a Prince of a strange Character and who had always some contrivance in his Head against the Peace of Europe In the mean time the Reformed were Assembled at Sainte Foye where they were not satisfy'd with naming Deputies General but where they Treated on many things that regarded the General and the particular of Churches A little while after there was a Paper presented to the King the first Article of which after having Congratulated him upon the Peace of the Kingdom and upon the Birth of the Dauphin demanded a Re-establishment of the Edict in the state it had been Granted at Nantes and this demand was supported with a pretence that the King had promis'd this Re-establishment as soon as the Affairs of the Kingdom could permit it The Chief of the other Articles demanded that the Parlaments which had not verify'd the Edict but under certain Modifications should be oblig'd to take 'em off That some Immunities should be Granted to Colleges that the Reformed should found in pursuance of the Liberty which the Edict gave ' em That the Counsellors which were plac'd there should be oblig'd to serve in the Chambers of the Edict many years and that but half of 'em should be chang'd every time some Change was desir'd They were not Answer'd upon this Paper till in the Month of March in the year following and the Answers were first resolv'd on with the Deputies and about three Weeks after reported to the King who approv'd of ' em The first Article was absolutely deny'd 'em under pretence that there was no great matter in it that these little Changes were made for the common good and to facilitate the Execution of the Edict that the Advice of the Principal of the Reformed had been had as being call'd to the Deliberations that had been made upon these matters that they could not be revok'd and that there was no promise given to do it It may be judg'd by this either that those promises were not made but by people whom the King was not afraid to disown as there are always at Court Managers of business by whom she puts people in hopes of an event for which she has no mind to be answerable or that the Reformed had taken for serious promises certain windy Words which were giv'n 'em to put 'em in Heart that things might Change and that then they would cause Restoration to be made 'em of what the present Juncture constrain'd 'em to suffer 'em to be depriv'd of 'em Or that in fine the Reformed at the Court had invented these promises as a secret to keep off the Reproach of having so easily consented to these Changes Upon the other Articles they had all the satisfaction given that they could desire But because they ask'd the Liberty of continuing their Assembly under the pretence of the Difficulties the Parlament made of Executing the Edict the King declar'd in his Answers that he had given such Orders for the redress of 'em that this continuation of the Assembly was needless But they set forth much larger Papers at Sainte Foy and without stopping long at the repeated denial that the King had made to resettle the Edict in the same State that it was settled in at Nantes they did not forbear to demand again a little after the same things by Retail which they cou'd not obtain in Gross This is the reason that in demanding the Execution of the Edict throughout the whole Kingdom such as it had been verify'd at Paris they had hopes one day to repair those breaches which the Council had made therein Insomuch that they seem'd not to accept it but on condition Many Provinces were Nam'd in these Articles to which the Court had sent no Commissioners others where they had not been but in the Capital Cities many particular Places where the Exercise was not granted but under certain Restrictions as I have already observ'd They complain'd that in judging the Right of Possession acquir'd by the Edict of 1577. they limited themselves strictly to the 17th of September having no regard to the Proofs of the Exercise that was had in the same month before and after that day if it had not been likewise prov'd that it was had precisely upon that day This almost reduc'd the Reformed to a Non-plus and made an illusion of this Right because that the 17th of September fell that Year on a Tuesday a day wherein the Reformed cou'd not have had their Public Exercises but in a kind of Hazard It was demanded that in the places where the Commissioners Nam'd the Kings Judges for their Sub-Delegates those Judges should be oblig'd to take an adjoyn'd Partner of the Reformed whom the Reformed themselves shou'd appoint to labour diligently together and Scot free in the Execution of the Commissioners Orders They complain'd that in many places the Catholics wou'd not suffer the Reformed to Inhabit That they drove the Tradesmen out of certain Towns That they wou'd not allow 'em as Journey-men in their Shops That they spoke Injurious things to 'em unpunish'd when they went to their Exercises That the Preachers in their Sermons The Advocates in their Pleadings took the same Liberty without being repress'd That the Royal Judges in many places did not do Justice in the Abuses committed their Persons That in many Diocesses they caus'd 'em to be Inroll'd and put certain marks on their Houses to distinguish 'em from those of the Catholics That wherever there were yet any Colleges of Jesuits in the Kingdom that is to say in the Jurisdiction of the Parlament of Tholouse and Bourdeaux they had found out another manner of distinction causing the Houses of the Catholics to be mark'd with the Cross or Garlands of Flowers to the end that those might be better taken notice of that wanted such Ornaments That at Vervins they put a Minister out of the Town who travelling that Road arriv'd there upon Easter-day and that they refus'd so much as to give his Horse Stable-Room 'T was a Complaint that in several places the Judges hinder'd 'em from Building Churches tho the Exercise were there permitted That in many others that were Nam'd the Exercise likewise was hinder'd either through the opposition of the Lords of the Places or by the Orders of the Commissioners It was reported upon this occasion that at Aubenas where the Marquis of Montlaur committed a Thousand Violences tho the Commissioners had caus'd the Steeple the Bell and the Church-yard to be Surrender'd to the Catholics and left the Town-house to the Reformed for their Exercises the Jesuits had built a Chappel against the Wall through which they had made a hole that they might see all over the place that they caus'd a Bell to Ring during the Exercise and that they had set up a Cross over the Entry It was demanded That the Lords might enjoy the Right of their Precincts and Jurisdictions and
the Council either directly or upon the Partitions that happen'd in the Chambers call'd Miparties engag'd the Commonalty in long Disputes and Ruinous Expences There were yet other Articles that concern'd the places which the Reformed had in possession in which it was demanded that the Catholic Inhabitants should be oblig'd to contribute to the reparation of the Walls and to the charge of the Court of Guard 'T was likewise demanded that certain Fraternities of Penitents that swarm'd in the Kingdom and who turn'd the Austerities of Mortification into a Pious Masquerade should not be re-establish'd in the Towns of Surety as it had happen'd in some places where the Fraternity des Battus was restor'd by Virtue of an Order made upon a Petition There was a Complaint of some Castle which a Catholic had begun to Fortify to incommode some Neighbouring place and it was demanded that the Fortifications might be demolish'd There were others again that concern'd particular Cases There was a complaint that in many places when the Reformed had been Fin'd the Judges to vex 'em declar'd the Fines applicable to the support of Covents or of Catholic Churches And the States of Languedoc made 'em contribute to Gratuities that were rais'd upon the Province for the Ecclesiastics or for the Mendicant Monks That at Bourdeaux and other places they would not receive the Petitions or the complaints of the Reformed under the Name of an Agent or an Advocate of their Corporation That they had deny'd the Assistance of Ministers to the Condemn'd and that they have been forcid to be accompany'd to the place of punishment by the Monks That they have rated the Ministers for the King's Taxes as also for their Salaries The King was Petition'd to permit the Inhabitants of the County of Marle that had no place of Exercise within eight Leagues of 'em to meet in the Jurisdiction of a Reformed Gentleman tho he was not resident there And they begg'd of him to obtain for his Subjects that Traded in Spain the same Liberty of Conscience that was allow'd there to the English to the Scotch to the Danes and to the Germans The occasion of this Address was that a certain Man call'd Pradilles of Montpelier going to Spain to recover a Sum that was due to him the Inquisition caus'd him to be Arrested condemn'd him to the Amende Honourable to be kept in Prison a year and a day and to the Confiscation of all his Goods All these Articles remain'd a long time in the Hands of the Council who kept 'em till the Month of August 1602. They were variously Answer'd Some purely and simply Granted others Extended and Amplify'd Others absolutely refus'd others Granted in Part and partly refus'd There were a great many on which the Council took time to consult the King's Advocates to give Orders according to their Advice Others where the King sent back the Parties concern'd to redress themselves before him by way of Petition Others where he demanded to see the Decrees of Court and Acts wherein they were mention'd Many wherein he reserv'd himself the Power to order what he thought good But in General there was in all the Answers a temper of Favour and Equity which made the Intentions of the King appear openly and that plainly shew'd that without Disguise or Equivocation his meaning was that the Edict should be observ'd and that the Difficulties that arose upon the Execution of it should be favorably expounded This favorable and equitable Mind of his appear'd above all in the Orders he gave for the Execution of the Edict in places where it was not yet done In those which he sent to the Judges and Officers to enjoyn 'em to let the Reformed live in all places without being molested In the explication of the Privilege of the Edict of 1577. which he thought fit should be apply'd to all the places where the exercise had been held during the Month of September without stopping precisely at the seventeenth of the Month In the prohibition of the Inrollments and the seditious Marks that were put on their Houses In that of speaking injuriously of the Reformed in their Sermons or Pleadings In that of searching the Booksellers Houses In many Articles that concern'd the Jurisdiction the Dignity or the Privileges of the Reformed Counsellors at the Parliament of Paris of Rouen and Grenoble or the Jurisdiction of the Chambers call'd Miparties and the execution of their Judgments In the Declaration of his Will upon the indifferent admission of the Reformed and Catholics to Consulary Employments according to the customary Forms without distinction of Religion or limitation of number In the extension he gave to the Right of Exercise that the Commissioners had agreed to certain places with Inconvenient Restrictions In like manner there were many othes where the Reformed as in the preceding obtain'd all they could reasonably demand pursuant to the Terms of the Edict which was to be the common Rule of their pretensions and their Rights Those that were refus'd 'em were only either the same in particular which they could not obtain in the whole or such as Treated of things for which there were specious Reasons not to grant ' em This observation discover'd the King's Integrity and Exactness who that his Edict might be the better observ'd Solemnly decided the difficulties that concern'd execution of it as soon as they arose And it appear'd by the same consideration that it was unjust to Renew and Inlarge these difficulties in our days since that in the time when they were first invented and rais'd they had all been decided These same decisions ought to be so much the more respected in that they were given by a King who knew what he meant by each Article of his Edict In a time when he saw things near at hand and could judge of 'em with knowledge of the Cause It is evident That since they were as antient as the execution of the Edict it self and pronounc'd upon the difficulties which rose from the Execution it self they ought to be taken for the Rule of well understanding it and the true Interpretations of the intentions of the Author All the World knows that when there are any difficulties in any Law there is no body can better resolve 'em than he that made ' em But these good Intentions of the King did not hinder but that there were several Rumours rais'd to fill the Reformed with fears and jealousies on purpose to dispose 'em to an Insurrection 'T was spread abroad that the King was going to retrench two thirds of their allowances that they should have no more particular Pensions of him that he would no longer continue 'em in places of Trust that he would give 'em no more employments without inserting in the Pattents the Clause of being Catholics But these Artifices took with no Body They beheld likewise without any concern the Flight of Marshal the Duke of Bouillon who was thought to be involv'd in the
whereupon they beseech'd his Majesty That whenever he should allow such Gatherings an express Clause might be inserted in the Grant declaring the Reform'd exempt of such Taxes the which might impower the Chambers of the Edict to take Cognizance of the Infractions thereof That the Reform'd might be allow'd the peaceable Possession of the Employments they had upon which several Examples were alledg'd of the Oppositions they had met with That they might be receiv'd into the Offices of Receivers of the Tythes That the Six Reform'd Counsellors or at least Three of them might serve commonly at Paris in the Chamber of the Edict to the end that there might be People enough to have an eye upon the observation of the Edicts and that in case of Absence or Recusation some body might constantly remain there to take care of it That it might not be in the Power of Parliaments to judge the Affairs of the Reform'd unless they pleaded voluntary before them and that the Counsellors of the Reform'd Religion who should be accus'd of Misdemeanours in their Offices might only be summon'd before the Chambers they were Members of That no removal might be allow'd from one Court to another without a just Cause That in such a Case the Neighbouring Chamber might judge according to the Formalities Use and Customs of the Places where the Suits were depending without obliging the Parties to appear Personally unless at the Charge of those that summon'd them there That the Registers of the Parliaments of Burgundy Provence and others might be oblig'd to send to the Register's Office of the Courts where the Affairs of the Reform'd of their Jurisdiction were referr'd the Original of the Criminal Informations that lay before them by reason that in several cases the Extracts were not sufficient That the Reform'd might not be oblig'd to appear in person to demand a removal nor to surrender themselves Prisoners unless to the Courts where the Removal should be desir'd There were several others some refus'd or not answer'd and others of less consequence The King's Answer to all these Articles was as favourable and as just as could be expected from an Equitable Prince who desir'd the welfare of his Subjects His Majesty order'd all the Modifications of the Edict to be cut out That it should be Registred in such Places where it had not been done yet That the Bailiffs and Seneschals or their Deputies should execute the Edict at the first requiring and take a Catholick or Reform'd Assistant according to the Religion they should be of themselves That the Reform'd should continue the Exercise of their Religion in such places as were allow'd them by the Edict of 1577. belonging to the Ecclesiasticks but that the Lands belonging to the Order of Maltha should have the same Priviledge for the performing of the Exercises granted by the new Edict as the other Lands belonging to the Clergy That the Poor should participate without distinction to the benefit of Hospitals and Alms That Places should be provided for the Burying of the Reform'd and that no Prosecutions should be made against them for the Burials they had hitherto made in Catholick Church-yards That his Majesties Officers should prevent Popular Commotions and Injuries by Words or Fact That they should not be allow'd to disturb the Reform'd in their Conferences and Synods or to sit among them in the same and that the Reform'd should admit none but Ministers and Elders there and should treat about nothing but the Affairs relating to their Discipline in the same but that it should be free for them to hold other Assemblies by the King's leave to Nominate Deputies-General to reside near him That the fourth of the particular Articles touching Liberty to assist the Sick and Condemn'd should be observ'd That the second should also be observ'd which exempts from contributing towards Fraternities That the Clause of Exemption should be put in favour of the Reform'd in the Letters the King should grant to make Collections applicable to the use of the Roman Church and that the Infractions should only be Try'd in the Chambers of the Edict or Party Courts That according to the 27th Article of the Edict a stop should be put to all the Obstacles that were rais'd against the Reform'd who were provided with Imploys That no alteration should be made to the Order establish'd for the Chamber of the Edict of Paris but that in case of illness recusation or absence of the Person who was to serve in the Chamber the Elder of the other five should serve in his room while those Causes should be depending That the Decrees of Parliament should only be put in execution against such as should plead voluntarily before them and that such Reform'd Officers as should be accus'd of Misdemeanors should be summon'd for the same only in the Chambers of the Edict That no transferring of Causes should be allow'd to the prejudice of the Edict That the Registers who had Informations against the Reform'd should send the Originals to the Chambers unless some Catholicks were guilty of the same Crime or concern'd in the Dependencies thereof and already Appeach'd by Catholick Judges who should have order'd the entring of the Informations in their own Offices in which case the Extract or Copies of the same should only be sent to the Register's Offices of the said Chambers Finally that the Reform'd should be receiv'd to desire the Parliaments to grant them a removal by Attorney without being oblig'd to appear there in Person At the very beginning of the following year the Jesuits undertook a thing which in any but themselves would have beer judg'd worthy of a severe punishment whereby it is apparent that as they fear'd nothing they had found the way to make themselves fear'd Seguiran one of the boldest of that Order being favour'd by Varenne their Protector obtain'd Letters from two Secretaries of State without the King's knowledge tho' in his Name to those of Rochel commanding them to allow him to Preach in their City The Jesuit presented himself at the Gates and boldly told his Name his Profession his Design and his pretended Power from the King The Rochellois refus'd to let him enter into their City answering That they were very well satisfy'd that Jesus had no Companion nor he any Letters from the King The Jesuit made a great deal of noise about their refusal and the King out of Policy not to discredit the Letters subsign'd by the Secretaries of State or not to offend so daring a Society seem'd to be very angry at it He gave Seguiran other Letters and oblig'd Rochel to receive him for form sake after which he order'd him to retire quietly The King at the very time he seem'd to be angry whisper'd to his Confidents that the Rochelois were not in the wrong There were also Catholicks who did not use the Jesuits better than the Rochelois had done Poitiers refus'd to allow them to establish a Colledge there and
in going to the said Assemblies or elsewhere or any other prohibited or forbidden Weapons excepting only Swords and Daggers for Gentlemen which are the Arms they commonly wear VI. Moreover forbidding the Ministers and Chiefs of those of the said Religion to receive any Persons in their said Assemblies without being first inform'd of their Qualities Lives and Conversations to the end that in case they should be condemn'd for non-appearance or Contempt upon the account of Crimes deserving punishment they should deliver them into the hands of our Officers to receive a condign Punishment ¶ That whenever our said Officers shall be willing to go into the said Assemblies to assist at their Predications and to hear what Doctrines they teach there they shall be receiv'd and respected according to the dignity of their Places and Offices And in case it be to take or apprehend any Malefactor that they shall obey favour and assist them in the same as need shall require VII That they shall make no Synods or Consistories unless with leave and in presence of one of our said Officers nor likewise any creation of Magistrates among themselves Laws Statutes and Ordinances that belonging to us only But that in case they shall think it necessary to constitute some Regulations among them for the exercise of their said Religion they shall show them to our said Officers to have their approbation provided they be things they ought and can reasonably do otherwise to give us notice of the same to obtain our leave or to know our Intentions therein VIII That they shall list no men either to fortifie and assist one another or to offend others nor make any Impositions Gatherings and Raisings of Money among themselves ¶ And that as to their Charities and Alms they shall neither be made by Assesments or Impositions but voluntarily IX Those of the said New Religion shall be oblig'd to keep our Political Laws even those that are receiv'd in our Catholick Church as to Holydays Days of rest and Marriage for degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity in order to avoid all Debates and Law-Suits that might insue to the ruin of several of the best Families of our Kingdom and the dissolving of the Bonds of Friendship which are acquir'd by Marriage and Alliances among our Subjects X. The Ministers shall be oblig'd to repair before our Officers to swear the observance of these Presents and to promise to preach no Doctrine contrary to the pure Word of God according as it is contain'd in the Nicene Creed and in the Canonical Books of the Old and New-Testament lest they should fill our Subjects with new Heresies Forbidding them most expresly and on the Penalties above mention'd not to use reproachful or scoffing Expressions in their Sermons against the Mass and Ceremonies receiv'd and kept in our said Catholick Church or to go from place to place there to preach by force against the will and consent of the Lords Curates Vicars and Church-Wardens of Parishes XI In the same manner forbidding all Preachers to use in their Sermons or Predications injurious or reproachful Expressions against the said Ministers or their Sectators by reason that such proceedings have hitherto contributed much more to excite the people to Sedition than to provoke them to Devotion XII And all Persons of what Estate Quality and Condition soever from receiving concealing or harbouring in their Houses any person accus'd prosecuted or condemned for Sedition under the penalty of 1000 Crowns applicable to the Poor And in case of not being solvable on pain of being wipt and banish'd XIII Furthermore it is our Will and Pleasure that all Printers Dispersers and such as sell Defamatory Libels and Satyrs shall be Whipt for the first fault of that kind and lose their lives for the second XIV And whereas all the effect and observance of this present Ordinance which is made for the preservation of the general and universal quiet of our Kingdom and to prevent all Troubles and Seditions depends on the duty care and diligence of our Officers We have ordain'd and do ordain that the Edicts by us made about Residence shall be inviolably observ'd and the Offices of such as shall be wanting therein vacant and forfeited and that they shall neither be restor'd or kept in the same either by Letters Patents or otherwise XV. That all Bayliffs Seneschals Provosts and other our Magistrates and Officers shall be oblig'd without bidding or requiring to repair forthwith to the Place where they shall be inform'd that any Misdemeanor has been committed in order to inform or cause to be inform'd against Delinquents and Malefactors and to secure their persons in order to their Tryal on pain of forfeiting their Places without hopes of restitution and of all cost and damages towards the Parties And in the case of Sedition shall punish the Seditious without deferring to an Appeal according calling to their assistance such a number of our other Officers or famous Advocats as it is order'd by our Edict of July and in the same manner as if it were by a Decree from one of our Sovereign Courts XVI Forbidding our dearly belov'd and trusty Chancellor and our belov'd and trusty the Masters of Request quest in Ordinary of our Palace keeping the Seals of our Chanceries to grant any Relief of Appeal and our Courts of Parliament to relieve them or otherwise to hinder our said Inferior Officers from taking cognizance of the same in case of Sedition By reason of the dangerous consequence thereof and that it is necessary to proceed with speed against the same by exemplary Punishment Therefore we will and require by these Presents our Beloved and Trusty the Persons holding our said Courts of Parliament Bailiffs Seneschals Provosts or their Lieutenants and all our other Justicers and Officers and every one of them as unto them shall appertain To cause our present Ordinances Will and Intention to be read publish'd and register'd kept preserv'd and inviolably observ'd without any infringement and to constrain and cause to be constrain'd this to do and suffer all such to whom it shall belong and shall want to be constrain'd for the same And to proceed against the Transgressors in the manner aforesaid And that the said Bailiffs Seneschals Provosts and other our Officers shall give us notice within a Month after the Publication of these Presents of their proceeding in the execution and observation thereof For such is our Pleasure All Edicts Ordinances Commands or Prohibitions thereunto contrary notwithstanding To which we have in respect to the Contents of these Presents and without prejudice to them in others derogated and do derogate In witness whereof we have caus'd our Seal to be affix'd to these Presents Given at St. Germain en Layc the 17th Day of January in the Year of our Lord 1561 and of our Reign the Second Thus sign'd by the King being in his Council Bourdin and seal'd upon a double Label with Yellow Wax The King's Declaration and
Interpretation upon some Words and Articles 6 and 7 contain'd in the present Edict of the 17th of January 1561. CHarles by the Grace of God King of France to our Trusty and well beloved the Persons holding our Courts of Parliament Bailiffs Senechals Provosts or their Lieutenants and to all our other Justices and Officers and to every one of them according as it may concern them Greeting By our Ordinance of the 17th of January last past join'd hereunto under the Counter Seal of our Chancery made for the repose and Pacification of our Subjects and to appease and put an end to the Troubles and Seditions occasion'd in this our Kingdom by the diversity of Opinions that reign in our Religion It is said among other things Article 6. That whenever our Officers shall be desirous to go into the Assemblys of those of the New Religion to assist at their Sermons and to hear what Doctrine is taught there they shall be receiv'd in the same and respected according to the Dignity of their Places and Offices And in case it be to take and apprehend some Malefactors they shall be obeyed and assisted according as it is contain'd more at large in the Article of the said Ordinance which mentions it And whereas some difficulty might arise about the Interpretation of this Word Officers thus couch'd in general in the said Article to know whether all our Officers of Judicature are indifferently meant and included under the same we in order to make our said Ordinance as clear and intelligible as can be and to leave nothing dubious or difficult have said and declar'd for the interpretation thereof do say and declare that by the said Word Officers and the permission we have granted them to go into the said Assemblies for the Reasons contain'd in our said Ordinance we only intend as we do still intend to give the said Power to our Ordinary Officers to whom the cognizance of the Policy of Civil Government belongs as Bailiffs Seneschals Provosts or their Lieutenants and not to those of our Sovereign Courts nor to our other Officers of Judicature which we expect to live in the Faith of us and of our Predecessors And the said Power shall extend no farther than when occasion shall offer it self to inspect and remedy what is mention'd in the said Ordinance ¶ Moreover We have ordain'd and do ordain in relation to what is said afterwards Article 7. in the said Ordinance That those of the New Religion shall hold neither Synods nor Consistories unless by leave or in presence of one of our said Officers That if their said Assemblies which they call Synods and Consistories are General of the whole Government and Province they shall not be allow'd to hold them unless by leave or in presence of the Governor or our Lieutenant General of the Province of his Lieutenant General or others by them appointed And in case the said Assembly is Particular by leave or in presence of one of our Magistrate Officers who shall be elected and deputed by the said Governor or his said Lieutenant General ¶ Provided always that the said Assemblys which they call Synods and Consistories shall only be held for the regulation of Religion and upon no other account ¶ And all this by way of Provision until the determination of the General Council or till new Orders from us Neither have we by our said Ordinance and the present Declaration design'd or do design to approve two Religions in our Kingdom but only one which is that of our Holy Church in which the Kings our Predecessors have liv'd Therefore we will and require you that in proceeding to the reading publishing and registring of our said Ordinance you shall at the same time and in like manner cause this our present Declaration and Interpretation to be read published and registred and the same inviolably to maintain keep and observe without the least Infraction For such is our Pleasure the Contents of our said Ordinance and all other Edicts Mandats or Prohibitions thereunto contrary notwithstanding Given at St. Germain en Laye on the 14th of February in the Year of our Lord 1561. and of our Reign the Second Thus Sign'd by the King being in his Council with the Queen his Mother the Duke of Orleans the King of Navar the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Prince De la Roche Sur-Yon the Cardinals of Tournon and Chatillon You the Sieurs de St. Andre and de Montmorency Marshals and de Chastillon Admiral of France du Mortier and the Bishop of Orleans d' Avanson and the Bishop of Valence de Selve de Gonnor and Dandelot and several others were present Bourdin First Mandamus from the King to the Court of Parliament at Paris for the publishing of the Edict of the Month of January CHarles by the Grace of God King of France to our Trusty and well-beloved the persons holding our Court of Parliament at Paris Greeting We have seen the Remonstrances you have sent us by our Trusty and well beloved Christopher de Thou President and William Violle Councellor in our said Court your Brethren about the Ordinance we have given on the 17th of January last past for the peace and tranquility of our Subjects and to put a stop to the Troubles and Seditions occasion'd in this Kingdom by the diversity of the Opinions that reign in Religion And after having caus'd the said Remonstrances to be read Article after Article and word for word in presence of us and of the Queen our most dear and most beloved Lady and Mother of our most dear and most beloved Brother the Duke of Orleans of our most dearly beloved Uncle the King of N. our Lieutenant General representing our Person throughout all our Kingdoms and Territories of the other Princes of our Blood and our Privy Council We by their Advice and in consideration of the great reasonable and necessary Causes and Occasions which have been our Motives for making the said Ordinance do hereby desire command and expresly enjoin you to proceed to the reading publishing and registring of the said Ordinance and the Declaration by Us made affix'd to the same And that you shall cause both the one and the other to be receiv'd kept and inviolably observ'd without the least infringement The whole by way of Provision until the determination of the General Council or New Orders from us And according as it is more at large directed by the said Ordinance and Declaration without any farther delay or difficulty not to oblige us to send you any other or more express Command than these Presents which you shall take for second third and all other Mandates which you might require from us in this case for such is our Pleasure What is above said all Edicts Ordinances Mandates and Prohibitions thereunto contrary Notwithstanding Given at St. Germain en Laye the 14th Day of February in the Year of our Lord 1561. and of our Reign the Second Thus sign'd by the
shall chuse swear to keep and observe our said Edict shall make them guard each other charging them respectively and by publick Act to answer for the Transgressions that shall be made to the said Edict in the said City by the Inhabitants thereof respectively or else to secure and deliver up the said Transgressors into the hands of Justice XLIII And to the end that our Justices and Officers as well as all other our Subjects may be clearly and with all certainty inform'd of our Will and Intention and to remove all Doubts and Ambiguities and Cavillings that might be made in relation to the precedent Edicts We have and do declare all other Edicts Letters Declarations Modifications Restrictions and Interpretations Decrees and Registers as well secret as all other Deliberations heretofore made in our Courts of Parliament and others that might hereafter be made to the prejudice of our said present Edict concerning the case of Religion and the Troubles occasion'd in this our Kingdom to be void and of no effect To all which and the Derogatories therein contained we have by this our Edict derogated and do derogate and from this very time as for then do cancel revoke and annul them Declaring expresly That it is our Pleasure that this our said Edict should be sure firm and inviolable kept and observed by our said Justices Officers and Subjects without respecting or having the least regard to whatever might be contrary and derogating to this XLIV And for the greater assurance of the maintenance and observation we desire of this it is our Will Command and Pleasure That all Governors of our Provinces our Lieutenant-Generals Bailiffs Seneschals and other ordinary Judges of the Cities of this our Kingdom immediately upon receit of this our said Edict shall swear The same to keep and observe cause to be kept and observ'd and maintain'd every one in their Precinct as also the Mayors Sheriffs Capitouls and other Officers Annual or Temporal as well the present after the reception of the said Edict as their Successors in taking the Oath they are used to take when they are admitted into the said Places and Offices of which Oaths publick Acts shall be expedited to all such as shall require it We also require our Trusty and Well-beloved the Persons holding our Courts of Parliament immediately upon receit of this present Edict to cease all their Proceedings and on pain of Nullity of the Acts they should pass otherwise to take the like Oath and to cause our said Edict to be Published and Registred in our said Courts according to the Form and Tenor thereof purely and plainly without any Modifications Restrictions Declaration or secret Register and without expecting any Mandamus or Order from us And our Attornies-General to require and pursue the immediate Publication thereof without any delay the which we will have perform'd in the Two Camps and Armies within six Days after the said Publication made in our Court of Parliament of Paris in order to send back the Strangers forthwith Injoyning likewise our Lieutenants-General and Governors speedily to Publish and to cause this our said Edict to be published by the Bailiffs Seneschals Mayors Sheriffs Capitouls and other ordinary Judges of the Cities of their said Government where-ever it will be necessary As also the same to keep observe and maintain every one in his Precinct in order to put a speedy stop to all Acts of Hostility and to all Impositions made or to be made upon the account of the said Troubles after the Publication of our present Edict Which from the Moment of the said Publication we declare liable to Punishment and Reparation viz. against such as shall use Arms Force and Violence in the Transgression and Infraction of this our present Edict hindering the Effect Execution or Injoyment thereof with Death without hope of Pardon or Remission And as for the other Infractions that shall not be made by way of Arms Force or Violence they shall be punish'd by other Corporal Inflictions as Banishments Amende Honourable and other Pecuniary Punishments according to the Nature and Exigency of the Offences at the Will and Pleasure of the Judges to whom we have assign'd the Cognizance thereof Ingaging their Honours and Consciences to proceed therein with all the Justice and Equality the Cause shall require without respect or exception of Persons or Religion Therefore we command the said Persons holding our Courts of Parliament Chambers of our Accounts Courts of Aids Bailifs Seneschals Provosts and other our Justices and Officers whom it may concern or their Lieutenants this our present Edict and Ordinance to cause to be Read Publish'd and Register'd in their Courts and Jurisdictions and the same to maintain keep and observe in all Points and all whom it may concern the same fully and peaceably to use and to enjoy ceasing and causing all Troubles and Hinderances thereunto contrary to cease For such is our pleasure In witness whereof we have sign'd these presents with our own hand and to the same to the end that it may be firm and lasting for ever we have caus'd our Seal to be affix'd Given at St. Germain en Lays in the Month of August in the Year of our Lord 1570. and of our Reign the Tenth Sign'd Charles And beneath it by the King being in his Council Sign'd De Neufville And on the side Visa and Seal'd with the great Seal with green Wax upon Knots of red and green Silk Read Publish'd and Registred at the request and desire of the King's Attorney-General at Paris in Parliament on the 11th of August 1570. Sign'd Tu Tillet Edict of Pacification made by King Henry the 3d in order to put an end to the Troubles of his Kingdom and to make all his Subjects thenceforward live in Peace and Quietness Vnion and Concord under his Obedience Read and Publish'd in the Court of Parliament the 8th of October 1577. HEnry by the Grace of God King of France and Poland to all present and to come Greeting God who is the Searcher of the hearts of Men and sees the bottom of their thoughts shall always be Judge for us that our Intention has never been other than to Reign according to his Holy Commandments and to govern our Subjects in all uprightness and Justice approving our self a Common Father to all who has no other end but their welfare and quiet In order thereunto we have always us'd our utmost endeavours to do whatever we judg'd most proper according to the occasions and times even with a design to establish a certain Peace in this our Kingdom and to provide against the Disorders and Abuses that have crept in to the same through the License of such long Troubles and to restore it to its Pristine Dignity and Splendor To which end we did convene our Estates General in our City of Blois where several things were treated of and particularly upon matter of Religion it being propos'd by some that one of the best Remedies
said Religion in our Court and Attendance nor within Ten Leagues about it nor in our Lands and Countries beyond the Mounts nor also in our City Provostship and Vice-County of Paris nor within Ten Leagues round about the same the which Ten Leagues we have limited and do limit to the following Places Meaux and the Suburbs Meulun and the Suburbs a League beyond Charters under Mont-le-hery Dourdan and the Suburbs Rambouillet Houdan and the Suburbs a long League beyond Meulun Vigni Meru and S. Leu de Saraus In all which places we do not allow any exercise of the said Religion Nevertheless those of the said Religion living in the said Lands and Countries beyond the Mounts and in our said City Provostship and Vice-County of Paris extended as abovesaid shall neither be disturb'd in their Houses nor constrain'd to do any thing on the account of Religion contrary to their Consciences provided always they behave themselves according to the Rules prescrib'd in our present Edict XI We do injoyn all Preachers Readers and others who speak in Publick not to use any Words Discourses and Expressions tending to excite the People to Sedition but on the contrary to content and behave themselves modestly saying nothing but what may tend to the Instruction and Edification of the Hearers and to maintain the Peace and Tranquility by us establish'd in our said Kingdom on the pains mention'd in our precedent Edicts Commanding our Attornies General and other our Officers most expresly to see the same perform'd XII Those of the said Religion shall no wise be constrain'd neither shall they remain bound upon the account of the Abjurations Promises and Oaths heretofore made or taken by them or security by them given upon the account of the said Religion and shall never be molested or troubled for the same in any kind whatever XIII They shall be oblig'd to keep and observe the Festivals established in the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church Neither shall they be allow'd on such days to Labour Work Sell or expose Goods to sale in open Shop Neither shall the Shambles be open'd on such days in which the use of Flesh is forbidden XIV No Books shall be allow'd to be sold in our Kingdom Countries Territories and Lordship under our Obedience without being first examin'd by our Officers residing there and such as are written in Relation to the said pretended Reform'd Religion by the Chambers hereafter by us ordain'd in every Parliament to judge of the Causes and Differences of those of the said Religion Prohibiting most expresly the Impression Publication and Sale of all Defamatory Books Libels and Writings on the pains contain'd in our Ordinances â—njoyning all our Judes and Officers to have an eye upon the same XV. We also order That no Difference or Distinction shall be made upon the account of Religion To receive Scholars to be instructed in the Universities Colleges and Schools And the Sick and Poor into the Hospitals c. and publick Alms. XVI Those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall be obliged to observe the Laws of the Catholick Apostolick Roman Church receiv'd in this our Kingdom in respect to Marriages contracted or to be contracted as to the Degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity to avoid the Debates and Suits that might be thereby occasion'd to the ruin of most of the best Families of the same and the dissolution of the Bonds of Friendship that are acquir'd by Marriage and alliance among our Subjects XVII Those of the said Religion shall be oblig'd to pay the Rights of Entrance as is usual for the Places and Offices they shall be admitted into without being oblig'd to assist at any Ceremonies contrary to their said Religion And being called to their Oath they shall only be oblig'd to hold up their Hand to swear and promise to God that they will speak the Truth without being bound to take a dispensation of the Oath by them taken in passing the Contracts and Bonds XIX It is also our Will and Pleasure that all those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party of what Degree Quality or Condition soever shall be bound and constrain'd by all due and reasonable Ways and under the Penalties contain'd in our precedent Edicts made upon this Subject to pay and acquit the Tithes due to Curates and other Ecclesiasticks and to all others to whom they may belong according to the Use and Custom of Places XIX And in order the better to reunite the Wills of our Subjects which is our Intention and to remove all cause of complaint for the future we do declare all those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and others our aforesaid Subjects that have been ingag'd in their Party Capable to hold and exercise all Estates Dignities Offices and Publick Employments whatever Royalties and Lordships and such as belong to the Cities of our said Kingdoms Countries Territories and Lordships under our Obedience and to be admitted and receiv'd into the same without distinction and without being oblig'd to take any Oath or lie under any Obligation but well and faithfully to discharge their Employments Dignities Places and Offices and to observe the Ordinances And when any vacancie of the Employments Places and Offices within our disposal shall happen they shall be by us reimplac'd without distinction of Religion by able persons as we shall think proper for the good of our Service We also allow those of the said Religion to be admitted and received in all Councils Deliberations Assemblies and Functions depending on the abovesaid things and that they shall neither be rejected or debar'd the enjoyment thereof on the account of the said Religion XX. We also order that for the interring of the Dead of those of the said Religion within all the Cities and places of this Realm our Officers and Magistrates shall speedily provide a convenient Place in every place for that end The which we enjoin our said Officers to do and to take care that no Scandals may be committed at the said Burials XXI And to the end that Justice may be done and ministred to all our Subjects without partiality hatred or favour which is one of the principal means to maintain them in peace and concord We have and do ordain that in every one of our Courts of Parliament of Paris Roan Dijon and Rennes there shall be a Chamber establish'd compos'd for that of the Parliament of Paris of a President and 16 Councellors For that of Roan of a President and twelve Councellors and for those of Dijon and Rennes of one President and ten Councellors Which said Presidents and Councellors shall be selected and taken by us out of the number of those of the said Courts XXII And as for the Courts of Parliament of Bourdeaux Grenoble and Aix a Chamber shall also be establish'd in every one of them compos'd of two Presidents the one a Catholick and the other of the said pretended Reform'd Religion
from them to require and prosecute forthwith without the least delay the said Proclamation Likewise enjoining the said Governours and Lieutenants-General of our said Provinces to cause it immediately to be published in their several Districts through all the places in which it is usual in those cases To cause it to be kept and observed without tarrying for the publication of out said Courts of Parliament to the end that no persons may plead ignorance And that all Acts of Hostility Raisings of Money Payments and Contributions due and drawing on Takings Demolishings Fortifying of Cities Places and Castles may the sooner cease on both sides Declaring all such raisings of Money Fortifications Demolishings Contributions Takings and Forcing of Goods and other Acts of Hostility that shall be made or done after the said Publication and Verification made by the said Governors and Lieutenants-General of our said Provinces liable to Restitution Punishment and Reparation To wit against such as shall make use of Arms Force and Violence to oppose our said Edict hindering the Effect and Execution thereof with Death without hopes of Pardon or Remission And as for other Oppositions that shall be made without Arms Force or Violence they shall be punished with other Corporal Inflictions as Banishments and the like according to the Nature and Exigency of the Offence which shall be left to the Arbitration and Moderation of the Judges to which we refer the taking the Cognizance thereof In this place charging their Honours and Consciences to proceed therein with the Justice and Equality that is requisite without any regard to the difference of Persons or Religion Therefore we charge and require the said Persons holding our said Courts of Parliament Chambers of Accounts or Exchequers Courts of Aids Bailiffs Seneschals Provosts and others our Justices and Officers whom it may concern or their Deputies to cause our present Edict and Ordinance to be Read Publish'd and Recorded in their Courts and Jurisdictions and the same to maintain keep and observe in every particular to the end that all those that are concern may fully and peaceably enjoy and use the Contents thereof ceasing and causing all Troubles and Hinderances to the contrary to cease For such is our Will and Pleasure In witness whereof we have sign'd these Presents with our own hand and to the end that it may be firm and lasting for ever we have caus'd our Seal to be affix'd to the same Given at Poictiers in the Month of September in the Year of our Lord 1577. and of our Reign the Fourth Sign'd Henry And Lower by the King be being in his Council Sign'd De Neufville And on the side Visa And Seal'd upon Knots of red and green Silk with green Wax with the Broad Seal Read Publish'd and Recorded Heard the same being requir'd and approv'd of by the King's Attorney-General at Paris in Parliament on the 8th of October in the year 1577. Sign'd De Hivez Read likewise Publish'd and Recorded in the Chamber of Accounts or Exchequer heard the same being requir'd and approv'd by the King's Attorney-General in the same on the 11th of October 1577. Sign'd Danes Read and Publish'd by Sound of Trumpet and Publick Cry through the Streets of the City of Paris Places and Parts appointed for Cries and Publication by me Paquier Rossignol his Majesty's Crier in the City Provostship and Vice County of Paris accompanied by Michel Noiret Sworn Trumpeter to the said Lord in the said Places and four other Trumpeters on the 8th of October 1577. Sign'd Rossignol Secret Articles of the 17th of September 1577. I. HIS Majesty to gratify the King of Navar shall allow him besides what is granted by the General Articles to the Sieurs high Justicers of the said Religion to cause Divine Service to be perform'd for all such as shall be willing to assist at it altho he be absent himself in the Houses belonging to him in the following places viz. in the Dutchy of Vendemois in the City of Mâ—ntoire II. His said Majesty shall likewise allow the Prince of Conde to have the said exercise perform'd in his house of la Ferte upon the River Loire and Anguien tho absent from thence himself III. Upon the Article which mentions Baliwicks has been declar'd and granted what follows First That under the Denomination of Ancient Bailiwicks his Majesty means such as were held under the Reign of the late King Henry for Bailiwicks Seneschalships and Governments referring directly and without Mediation to the Courts of Parliament Secondly That in Bailiwicks and Seneschalships in which those of the said Religion possess at this present two Cities or Towns belonging to his said Majesty or to Catholick Lords High Justicers in which they are allowed to continue the Exercise of their Religion no other Place shall be provided for them to perform the said Exercise in as in the other Bailiwicks of this Kingdom Thirdly That his Majesty shall only provide two Cities in the Government of Piccardy in the Suburbs of which those of the said Religion shall be allow'd the exercise of their said Religion for all the Bailiwicks Seneschalships and Governments belonging thereunto and in default of Cities they shall be allow'd two convenient Towns or Villages Fourthly In consideration of the large Extent of the Seneschalships of Provence and Poictou those of the said Religion are allow'd another City in every one of them in the Suburbs of which or in default of a City a convenient Town or Village they shall have the exercise of the said Religion besides those that shall be allow'd them by the said Article IV. It has also been agreed That no place shall be allow'd by virtue of the said Article on the Territories belonging in proper to the Queen Mother to his Majesty for the publick Exercise of the said Religion Nevertheless such Gentlemen as have high Judicatures or Fiefs de Haubert in the said Territories shall be free to enjoy and make use of the permission that shall be allow'd them by the Edict as elsewhere V. Neither shall any place be provided in the Bailiwick of Beaujolois belonging to the Duke of Montpencier but the said High Justicers shall enjoy the Privilege of the Edict there as elsewhere VI. A place shall be appointed for all the Isles of Marennes and another for the Isle of Oleron in which two places those of the said Religion shall be allow'd the exercise thereof for all such Inhabitants of the two Isles as shall desire to assist at it VII Provision shall also be made for the County of Messin and others that are under the King's Protection as it was done by the secret Articles made with the Edict of the Year 1570. VIII As for the Marriage of Priests and Religious Persons that have been contracted heretofore his Majesty for divers good Reasons and Considerations him thereunto moving will not allow them to be prosecuted or troubled for the same upon which subject silence shall be impos'd to his said
depriv'd of the benefit of the said Pardon and punish'd like Disturbers of the Common Peace without hope of any Favour And a Nomination shall also be made to the Executors of the Edict both in Guienne and in Lower Languedoc of the Cities Towns and Castles it will be fit to dismantle according to the Advice of the Inhabitants of the Country of both Religions and what the King shall afterwards be pleas'd to order upon the said Advice without including the Places belonging to private Lords And as for the Vpper Languedoc according as abovesaid the said Executors shall consult whether there are any Places of those that are possess'd by the Catholicks requisite and fit to be dismantled according as abovesaid to the Advice of those of the Country of both Religions and also according to what the King shall be pleas'd to order about it XXIII And for a good firm true and sincere Assurance of what is abovemention'd the said King of Navar together with the Prince of Conde and Twenty of the Principal Gentlemen of the said Pretended Reform'd Religion such as the Queen Mother shall be pleas'd to nominate together with the Deputies that are here in the Name of the Provinces that have sent them besides those who are to Command in the said Cities that are left in their hands for the said Six Months shall promise and swear upon their Faith and Honour and ingage their Estates to cause all the Garisons to march out of the said Fourteen Cities and Citadels thereof and to deliver the said Cities and Citadels without delay excuse evasion or any other pretence whatever on the abovesaid 1st days of September and October next coming into the hands of the abovesaid Commissary to leave them in the Condition specifi'd by the said Edict of Pacification as is aforesaid XXIV It has been resolv'd That in case any Attempt should be made on either side to the prejudice of the last Edict of Pacification and of all that is abovesaid The Complaint and Prosecution thereof shall be made before the King's Governours and Lieutenants-General and by way of Justice in the Courts of Parliament or Chambers Establish'd in regard of both according to the Edict And what shall be ordain'd by them shall forthwith be put in execution at farthest within a Month after it by the diligence of the King's Council in relation to the Judgements that shall intervene without using any Connivence or Dissimulation And the said Governors and Lieutenants-General are expresly order'd together with the Bailiffs and Seneschals to further give Aid and Comfort and to employ all the King's Forces for the execution of what shall have been advis'd and order'd for the reparation of the said Attempt Thus the Attempts on either side shall neither be taken or reputed as Infractions of the Edict in respect to the King and the King of Navar the General of the Catholicks and the General of those of the said Religion It being his Majesty's true and firm Intention at the request of the said King of Navar to have them immediately redress'd and the Guilty severely and exemplarily punish'd XXV And to that end the Gentlemen and Inhabitants of the Towns of both Religions shall be obliged to accompany the Governors and the King's Lieutenants-General to aid them with their Persons and Means if necessary and requir'd so to do in order forthwith to repair the said Attempts The said Governors and Lieutenants-General together with the Bailiffs and Seneschals shall be oblig'd to apply themselves about it without delay or excuse and to use their utmost Endeavours and Diligence for the Reparation of the said Attempts and to punish the Guilty according to the Pains specifi'd in the Edict Moreover it has been resolv'd That such as shall make any Attempts upon Cities Places or Castles or that shall Abet Assist or Favour them or give them Counsel or that shall commit any Attempt against and to the prejudice of the Edict and all that is abovesaid Also such as shall refuse to obey or shall oppose themselves or by others directly or indirectly the Effect and Execution of the said Edict of Pacification and of all that is abovesaid are from this moment declar'd guilty of High-Treason both they and their Posterity Infamous and for ever incapable of injoying any Honours Imployments Dignities and Successions and liable to all the Punishments inflicted by the Law against those that are guilty of High-Treason in the highest degree His Majesty declaring moreover That he will grant no Pardon for it forbidding his Secretaries to sign them and his Chancellor or Lord-Keeper to pass them And the Courts of Parliament to respect them for the future whatever express or reiterated Commands they might receive about it XXVI It has also been resolv'd That the Lords deputed for the Execution of the said Edict of Pacification together with the Secret Articles made at the time of the said last Edict of Pacification and of all that is abovesaid proceeding to the said Execution shall restore the Houses and Castles of the said King of Navar as they pass along the Seneschalships where the said Castles and Houses of the said King of Navar are Situate which shall be left without Garisons on either part and put into the Condition mention'd by the Edict of Pacification and according to the Ancient Priviledges XXVII That all that is above specifi'd and what is contain'd in the last Edict of Pacification shall be inviolably kept and observ'd on both sides under the Penalties set down in the said Edict That the Courts of Parliament and Chambers ordain'd for Justice according to this said Edict the Chambers of Accounts Courts of Aids Bailiffs Seneschals Provosts and all other Officers to whom it may concern shall cause to Register the Letters-Patent that shall be issued out for all that is abovesaid and the Contents thereof to follow keep and observe in every particular according to their Form and Tenor. And the Governours and Lietenants-General of all the Provinces of this Kingdom shall be injoyn'd in the mean time forthwith to publish every one within his District the said Letters-Patent to the end that no body may pretend to plead ignorance and the Contents of the same also inviolably to keep and observe under the Penalties specifi'd by the said last Edict of Pacification and others here above declar'd Done at Nerac on the last day of February 1579. Thus Sign'd Katherine Henry Bouchart Deputy from the Prince of Conde Biron Joyeuse Jansac Pybrac de la Mothe Fenelon Clairmont Duranti Turrenne Guitry Du Faur Chancellor to the King of Navar Scorbiac deputed by the Generality of Bourdeaux Yolet and de Vaux Deputies for Rovergue The King having seen and maturely consider'd word by word the intire Contents of these present Articles agree on in the Conference which the Queen his Mother has held at Nerac with the King of Navar and the Deputies of those of the pretended Reform'd Religion who were assembled there
to facilitate the Execution of the last Edict of Pacification The said Articles agreed on and sign'd on both sides at the said place of Nerac on the last day of the Month of February last past His Majesty has approv'd confirm'd and ratify'd the same wills and requires that they shall be put in execution according to their Form and Tenor and to that end that the Letters-Patent and all necessary Dispatches of the same shall be forthwith made and sent Done at Paris on the 14th Day of March 1519. Sign'd Henry And lower De Neufville The King's Edict about the Pacification of the Troubles containing a Confirmation Amplification and Declaration as well of the precedent Edicts made upon the same Subjecct even in the Year 1577. as of the Articles agreed on at the Conference held at Nerac publish'd at Paris in Parliament on the 26th of January 1577. HEnry by the Grace of God King of France and Poland to all those present and hereafter to come Greeting Notwithstanding that since the Agreement and publication of our Edict of pacification made in the year 1577. we have us'd our utmost endeavours for the putting of the same in execution and to oblige our Subjects to follow and observe it even so far as to put the Queen our most honour'd Lady and Mother to the trouble of repairing to the principal Provinces of our Kingdom to remedy and provide against according to her usual prudence the Difficulties and Obstacles which depriv'd our said Subjects of the benefit of our said Edict whereupon follow'd the Articles of the Conferance at Nerac between the said Lady accompany'd with some of the principal Princes of our Blood and Lords of our Privy-Council and our most Dear and most Beloved Brother the King of Navar assisted by the Deputies of our Subjects who profess the pretended Reform'd Religion Yet not having been able to our great regret to avoid the Troubles being renew'd in our Kingdom we have endeavour'd and us'd all the most proper and most agreeable means we have been able to devise to extinguish them and to deliver our said Subjects from the evils of War having to that end by our Letters Patent impow'd our most Dear and most Beloved only Brother the Duke of Anjou to cause our said Edict of pacification to be entirely executed together with the Articles of the said Conference of Nerac Who being since according to our Intention gone into our Country and Dutchy of Guyenne and there having upon the said Subject conferr'd at large with our said Brother the King of Navar and the Deputies of our said Subjects of the said pretended Reform'd Religion there conven'd and assembled The Articles annex'd to these Presents under the Counter Seal of our Chancery were there propos'd Which said Articles being sent to us by our said Brother we having examin'd and consider'd the same out of a singular desire to banish out of our Kingdom the Impieties Extortions and other Accidents occasion'd by the said Troubles to re-establish the Honour and Service of God make way for Justice and to relieve our poor people Have out of our own Inclination full Power and Authority Royal approv'd and ratify'd the said Articles The same do approve and ratifie by these Presents sign'd by our own Hand And it is our will and pleasure that the same shall be follow'd kept executed and inviolably observ'd according to their Form and Tenor in the same manner as our said Edict of pacification Therefore we command and require our Trusty and well-beloved the Persons holding our Courts of Parliament Chambers of our Accounts Courts of our Aids Bailiffs Seneschals Provosts and other our Justices and Officers to whom it may concern or their Lieutenants to cause the said Articles hereunto as aforesaid annex'd to be read publish'd register'd kept executed and inviolably observ'd in the same manner as our said Edict of Pacification and the Articles granted in the said Conference of Nerac making all those that are concern'd fully and peaceably enjoy and receive the benefit of what is contain'd therein putting a stop to all Troubles and Impediments to the contrary For such is our pleasure and to the end that it may be firm and lasting for ever we have caus'd our Seal to be affix'd to these Presents Given at Blois in the Month of December in the Year of our Lord 1580. and of our Reign the 7th Sign'd Henry And upon the Fold by the King Pinart And seal'd upon Knots of Red and Green Silk with the Great Seal and Green Wax And it is also written upon the Fold of the said Letters Visa Articles propounded and set forth in the Assembly and Conference held at Flex near the City of Sainte-Foy between the Duke of Anjou the King 's only Brother by vertue of the power given unto him by his Majesty and the King of Navar assisted by the Deputies of those of the pretended Reform'd Religion he answering for all the King's Subjects of the said Religion to be presented to his Majesty to be by him if such be his pleasure granted and approv'd And in so doing to put an end to the Troubles and Disorders happen'd in this Kindom since the last Edict of Pacification made in the Month of September 1577. and the Conference held at Nerac on the last day of February 1579. and to restore the King's Subjects in Peace and Vnion under his Obedience and so to provide by a good and speedy execution that henceforward nothing may happen among them to the prejudice of the said Pacification Article I. THAT the said last Edict of Pacification and secret and particular Articles granted with the same together with the Articles of the aforesaid Conference held at Nerac shall be really and in effect observ'd and put in execution in all and every particular which shall hold and stand good not only for the things happen'd during the preceding Troubles but also for such as shall or have happen'd from the time of the said Conference until now and that all the King's Subjects of both Religions shall enjoy the benefit of the Declarations Grants Discharges and General Pardons contain'd in the said Articles Edicts and Conferences for what has been done and committed taken and rais'd on either side during the present Troubles and upon the account thereof as they should have done for what had happen'd during the precedent Troubles excepting what is expresly derogated by the present Articles II. The Articles of the said Edict concerning the re establishment of the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Religion for the celebration of Divine Service in such places where it has been discontinu'd together with the enjoyment and gathering of the Tythes Fruits and Ecclesiastical Revenues shall be entirely executed follow'd and observ'd and those who shall transgress the same shall be rigorously punish'd III. In putting the 1st 2d and 11th Articles of the Edict in execution the King's Attorneys General shall be enjoin'd as well as their Substitutes in
said Edict and the 6th and 7th of the said Conference XIV The King shall provide valuable assignations to furnish towards the charges of Justice of the said Chambers and shall reimburse himself upon the Estates of the Condemn'd XV. The King shall as soon as possible can be make a Regulation between the said Courts of Parliament and the said Chambers according to the Edict and the 5th Article of the said Conference and consult some Presidents and Counsellors of the said Parliaments and Chambers about it Which said Regulation shall be kept and observ'd without regard to those that have preceded it XVI Neither shall the said Courts of Parliament or other Sovereign and Inferior Courts take cognizance of what shall be depending and introduc'd into the said Chambers which they ought to determine according to the Edict on pain of nullity of the Proceedings XVII In such Chambers where there shall be Judges of both Religions the proportion of Judges and Judgments shall be observ'd according to their establishment unless the Parties consent to the contrary XVIII The Recusations or Refusals propos'd against the Presidents and Counsellors of the said Chambers of Guyenne and Languedoc and Dauphine shall be allow'd to the number of six to which number the Parties shall be restrain'd otherwise they shall go forward without any regard to the said Refusals XIX The Presidents and Counsellors of the said Chambers shall hold no private Councils out of their Assembly in which also the Propositions Deliberations and Resolutions relating to the Publick Good shall be made as well as those relating to the particular State and Policy of the said Cities where the said Chambers shall be XX. All the Judges to whom the Execution of Decrees and other Commissions of the said Chambers shall be directed together with all Messengers and Serjeants shall be oblig'd to put them in execution And the said Messengers and Serjeants shall serve all Warrants throughout the Kingdom without requiring Placet Visa nor Pareatis on pain of being suspended and of paying the lost Damages and Interests of the Parties of which the Cognisance shall appertain to the said Chambers 21. No Evocation or removal of Causes the tryal of which is refer'd to the said Chambers shall be allow'd unless in the case of the Ordinances the return whereof shall be made to the nearest Chamber establish'd according to the Edict And upon the Revocation of the Removal and the annihilation of the Proceedings made upon the same Justice shall be done by the King at the request of the Parties and the issues of Suits of the said Chambers shall be try'd in the next Chamber observing the proportion and form of the said Chambers whence the Processes proceed XXII The Subaltern Officers of the Provinces of Guyenne Languedoc and Dauphine the reception of which belongs to the Courts of Parliament if they be of the said pretended Reform'd Religion may be examin'd and receiv'd in the Chamber of the Edict and none but the King's Attorneys General and those plac'd in the said Offices shall be allow'd to oppose and make themselves Parties against their reception And upon the refusal of the said Parliaments the Officers shall take the said Oaths in the said Chambers XXIII Such of the said Religion as have resign'd their Places and Offices out of fear of the Troubles since the 24th of August 1572. to whom by reason thereof some Promises have been made The said Promises being verified by them Provision shall be made for them by Law according to reason XXIV The 46th Article of the said Edict shall be intirely executed and shall be of force for the discharge of Arrears and Contributions and all other Sums impos'd during the Troubles XXV All Deliberations made in the Courts of Parliament Letters Remonstrances and other things contrary to the said Edict of Pacification and Conference shall be raz'd out of the Registers XXVI The Processes of Vagabonds shall be tried by Presidial Judges Provost Marshal and Vice-Seneschals according to the 25d Article of the said Edict and the 8th of the said Conference And as for the Housholders in the Provinces of Guienne Languedoc and Dauphine the Substitutes of the King's Attorneys General in the said Chambers shall at the request of the said Housholders cause the Inditements and Informrtions made against them to be brought into the same to know and determine whether the Cases are liable to Provost Courts or not that afterwards according to the nature of the Crimes they may be return'd by the said Chambers to be try'd by the ordinary Judges or by the Provostal Judges as they shall find it reasonable And the said Presidial Judges Provosts Marshal and Vice-Seneschals shall be oblig'd to respect obey and fulfil the Commands they shall receive from the said Chambers as they use to do those of the said Parliaments on pain of forfeiture of their Places XXVII The Ruins and dismantlings of all Cities that have been demolish'd during the Troubles may be by the King's leave rebuilt â—nd repair'd by the Inhabitants at their own charge and expence according to the Fiftieth Article of the Edict XXVIII The like Discharges and Pardons shall be granted in respect to the things done and happen'd on both sides since the said Conference until now as are contain'd in the said Edict in the 55th Article all Proceedings Sentences and Decrees and whatever has follow'd thereupon notwithstanding which shall be declar'd null and os no effect as things never happen'd derogating in respect to that to what is contain'd in the 25th Article of the said Conference the which notwithstanding shall remain in full force and vertue for the future In which Pardons shall be included the taking of Bazaz and Langon The first taken during the War in the Year 1576 and the other after the said Conference of Nerac and what has insued thereupon all Judgments and Decrees to the contrary notwithstanding XXIX After the publications of the said Edict in that part where the said Duke of Anjou shall be all Forces and Armies on both sides shall separate and retire and after their being retir'd that is after the French Forces are disbanded and dismissed and the Foreigners gone out of the Government of Guienne in order to march out of the Kingdom ¶ After the Cities hereafter mention'd shall be deliver'd into the hands of the said Duke of Anjou the said King of Navar and those of the said Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party shall be oblig'd to deliver into the hands of the said Duke of Anjou the Cities of Mande Cahors Monsegus S. Million and Mont aigu Which Mont-aigu shall be dismantled as soon as it is delivered to the said Duke of Anjou XXX Immediately after the delivery of the said Cities the said Duke of Anjou shall cause to be deliver'd unto the said King of Navar the Houses Cities and Castles belonging unto him which he shall leave in the condition ordain'd by the Edict and
the Articles of the said Conference XXXI And the King shall at the same time order the City and Castle de la Reolle to be deliver'd into the hands of the said Duke of Anjou who shall be responsible to his said Majesty for the same and shall give it in keeping to the Vice-comâ—e of Turenne who shall enter into such Obligations and make such promises as the said Duke of Anjou shall require to return and re-deliver it into his hands in order to his restoring it to his Majesty in case within two months after the said publication the Cities yielded in the said Conference seated in Guyenne should not be deliver'd by those of the said Religion in the condition mention'd by the Articles of the said Conference In respect to which Cities at present still in possession of those of the said Religion and left to them by the said Conference the said King of Navar and those of the said Religion shall promise the said Duke of Anjou who will ingage his word to the King for it to march the Garisons out of them and to restore them in the condition they ought to be by the said Edict and Conference viz. Those of the Country of Guienne within the said Two Months after the publication of the said present Articles made in those parts where the said Duke of Anjou shall be and those of Languedoc within three Months after the said publication made by the Governor or Lieutenant-General of the Province without any Delays Put-offs or Difficulties upon any account or pretence whatever And as to the Liberty and Guard of the said Cities they shall observe what is enjoin'd them by the said Article of the said Conference And they shall do the same for those that have been given them in keeping for their surety by the said Edict and they shall nominate unto his Majesty persons whose Manners Qualifications and Conditions are answerable to what is requir'd by the Edict to command in the same and they shall be oblig'd and bound to leave and to restore them in the condition mention'd by the said Edict immediately after the expiration of the remainder of the term of time that was granted them by the same according to the form and under the Penalties therein contain'd XXXII All other Cities Places Castles and Houses belonging to the King and to Ecclesiasticks Lords and Gentlemen and other his Majesty's Subjects of both Religions together with their Titles Papers Instructions and other things whatever shall be restor'd in the condition ordain'd by the Edict and Articles of the Conference into the hands of the owners thereof immediately after the said publication of the said present Articles to leave them the free enjoyment and possession thereof as they had it before their being dispossess'd on the penalties contain'd in the said Edict and Articles notwithstanding the right of propriety were disputed And shall clear the said Cities Places and Castles of all Garisons to which end the Articles of the Edict and Conference concerning the Governments and Garisons of the Forts and Castles of the Provinces Cities and Castles shall be executed according to their Form and Tenor XXXIII For the effecting of which the said Duke of Anjou has promis'd to remain into the said Country of Guyenne during the said time of two months to execute and cause the said Edict and Articles to be put in execution according to the power given unto him by his said Majesty the which shall be publish'd to that end and a Council of capable and fit persons establish'd about his person XXXIV The 48th Article of the said Edict concerning the liberty of Commerce and the abolishing of all New Tolls and Subsidies impos'd by any Authority but the King 's shall be observ'd and effected And in consideration of the Abuses and Infractions made to the Edict since the publication thereof in relation to the Salt of Pecquaiz Prohibitions shall be made to all persons of what quality or condition soever directly to hinder the Draggage of Salt of Pecquaiz to impose exact or raise any Subsidies either upon Marches upon the River Rone or elsewhere in any place or kind soever without express leave from his Majesty on pain of Death XXXV All pieces of Ordnance belonging to his Majesty that have been taken during the present and precedent Troubles shall be restor'd immediately according to the 43d of the secret Articles XXXVI The 30th Article of the said Edict concerning Prisoners and Ransoms shall be follow'd and observ'd in relation to those who have been made Prisoners since the renewing of the War and have not been yet deliver'd XXXVII The King of Navar and Prince of Conde shall effectually enjoy their Governments according to what is specifi'd by the said Edict and secret Articles XXXVIII The raising of 600000 Livers which was granted and allow'd by the said Articles shall be continu'd according to the Commissions that have been issu'd out since by vertue thereof to which his Majesty shall be intreated to add the Sums of 45000 Livers furnish'd and advanc'd by the Sieur de la Noue XXXIX The 22d 23d and 24th of the Secret Articles agreed on at Bergerac concerning the Oaths and Promises to be made by the King the Queen his Mother the Duke of Anjou his Brother the King of Navar and the Prince of Conde shall be reiterated and accomplish'd XL. The Princes of the Blood Officers of the Crown Governors and Lieutenants General Bayliffs Seneschals of the Provinces and principal Magistrates of this Kingdom shall swear and promise to cause the said Edicts and present Articles to be kept and observ'd to employ themselves and use their endeavours every one in their Station for the punishing of the Infractors XLI The Courts of Parliament in bodies shall take the same Oath which shall be reiterated at every new entry which shall be made once a year on the Festival of St. Martin at which they shall cause the said Edict to be read and republish'd XLII The Seneschals and Officers of the Seneschalships and presidial Tribunals shall also take the same Oath in a body and shall reiterate it and cause the said Edict to be read and publish'd again on every First Day of Jurisdiction after Epiphany or Twelfth Day XLIII The Provosts Majors Jurors Consuls Capitouls and Sheriffs of Cities shall take the like Oath in a publick place to which they shall summon the principal Inhabitants of both Religions and shall reiterate the same at every new Election of the said Offices XLIV All the above mention'd and all other Subjects whatever of this Kingdom of what Quality soever shall depart from and renounce all Leagues Associations Fraternities and Intelligences both within and without the Kingdom And shall swear to make none hereafter or adhere to any nor otherwise to transgress directly or indirectly the said Edict Articles and Conferences on the Penalties therein mention'd XLV All Officers Royal and others Majors Jurats Capitouls Consuls and Sheriffs
should surpass two thirds according to the Ordinance the which in this respect is abrogated LI. All Propositions Deliberations and Resolutions relating to the Publick Peace and for the particular Estate and Policy of the Cities where the Party-Chambers shall reside shall be made in the said Chambers LII The Article of the Jurisdiction of the said Chambers ordain'd by the present Edict shall be follow'd and observ'd according to its Form and Tenor even in what relates to the Execution Omission or Infraction of our Edicts when those of the said Religion shall be Parties LIII The Subaltern Officers Royal or others the reception of which belongs to our Courts of Parliament if they be of the said pretended Reform'd Religion may be examin'd and receiv'd in the said Chambers viz. Those of the Jurisdiction of the Parliaments of Paris Normandy and Britany in the said Chambers of Paris those of Dauphine and Provence in the Chamber of Grenoble those of Burgundy in the said Chamber of Paris or of Dauphine at their choice those of the Jurisdiction of Thoulouse in the Chamber of Castres and those of the Parliament of Bourdeaux in the Chamber of Guienne and no other to oppose their receptions or make themselves Parties but our Attorneys General and their Substitutes and those placed in the said Offices Nevertheless the accustomed Oath shall by them be taken in the Courts of Parliament which shall not be allow'd to take cognizance of their reception and upon the refusal of the said Parliament the said Officers shall take the Oath in the said Chambers which being thus taken they shall be oblig'd to present the Act of their reception by a Messenger or Notary to the Registers of the said Courts of Parliament and to leave a compar'd Copy thereof with the said Registers who are enjoin'd to register the said Acts on pain of paying all the Charges Damages and Interests of the Parties and in case the Registers should refuse to do it it shall be sufficient for the said Officers to bring back the Act of the said Summons drawn by the said Messengers or Notaries and to cause the same to be recorded in the Registers of their said Jurisdictions there to be view'd when need shall require on pain of nullity of their Proceedings and Judgments And as for those Officers whose reception is not to be made in our said Parliaments in case those by whom it ought to be made should refuse to proceed to the said Examination and Reception the said Officers shall repair to the said Chambers where care shall be taken for their said reception LIV. The Officers of the said pretended Reform'd Religion who shall be chosen hereafter to serve in the Body of our said Court of Parliament Grand Council Chambers of Accounts Courts of Aids and in the Offices of the Treasurer-General of France and other Officers of the Exchequers shall be examin'd and receiv'd in the places where it was usually perform'd and in case of refusal or denial of Justice they shall be constituted in our Privy Council LV. The reception of our Officers made in the Chamber establish'd heretofore at Castres shall remain in force all Decrees and Ordinances thereunto contrary notwithstanding The reception of our Judges Councellors and other Officers of the said Religion made in our Privy-Councel or by Commissioners by us nominated upon the refusal of our Courts of Parliament of Aids and Chambers of Account shall also be as valid as if they had been made in the said Courts and Chambers and by other Judges to whom those Receptions appertain And their Salleries shall be allow'd by the Chambers of Accounts without difficulty and if any have been dismiss'd they shall be re-establish'd without any farther Mandamus than this present Edict and the said Officers shall not be oblig'd to show any other reception all Decrees given to the contrary notwithstanding the which shall remain void and of no effect LVI Until means be procur'd to defray the Expences of Justice of our said Chambers out of the Moneys of Fines and Conâ—iscations we will assign a valuable and sufficient Fund to discharge the said Expences which Money shall be return'd out of the Estates of the persons condemned LVII The Presidents and Councellors of the said Pretended Reform'd Religion heretofore receiv'd into our Courts of Parliament of Dauphine and in the Chamber of the Edict incorporated into the same shall continue and hold their Place and Order there Viz. The Presidents as they did and do enjoy them at present and the Councellors according to the Decrees and Patents they have obtain'd about it in our Privy Council LVIII We declare all Sentences Judgments Decrees Proceedings Seizures Sales and Orders made and given against those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion whether dead or alive since the Death of the late King Heury the 2d our most honour'd Lord and Father-in-Law by reason of the said Religion Tumults and Troubles happen'd since together with the execution of the said Judgments and Decrees from this present cancelled revoked and nullified and the same do cancel revoke and nullifie We order the same to be raz'd and wip'd out of the Records of the Registers of Courts as well Sovereign as Inferior As it is likewise our pleasure that all Marks Tracts and Monuments of the said Executions Books and Acts defamatory to their Persons Memory and Posterity shall be remov'd and defac'd And that the places in which have been made upon that account Demolishments or Razings shall be restor'd to the Owners in such a condition as they are the same to enjoy and to dispose of as they shall think fit And we have generally revok'd cancell'd and nullifi'd all Proceedings and Informations made for any Enterprises whatever Pretended Crimes of Leze-Majesty and others Notwithstanding which Proceedings Decrees and Judgments comprehending reunion incorporation and confiscation it is our pleasure that those of the said Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party and their Heirs shall re-enter into the real and actual possession of all and every their Estates LIX All Proceedings made Judgments and Decrees given during the Troubles against those of the said Religion who have born Arms or withdrawn themselves out of our Realm or within the same into Cities and Countries held by them upon another account than that of Religion and the Troubles together with all Nonsuits Prescriptions either Legal Conventional or Customary and Feodal Seizures befallen during the Troubles or by lawful Impediments proceeding from them the cognizance whereof shall remain in our Judges shall be esteâ—m'd as not perform'd granted or happen'd and such we have and do declare them to be and have and do annihilate them for all which the said Parties shall have no redress but they shall be restor'd to the same state in which they were before the said Decrees and Execution thereof notwithstanding and the possession they had formerly shall be restor'd to them in this respect What is above
well secret as other Deliberations heretofore by us or by the Kings our Predecessors made in our Courts of Parliament or elsewhere relating to the case of the said Religion and the troubles happen'd in our said Kingdom to be null and of no effect to all which and the Derogatories therein contain'd we have by this our Edict derogated and do derogate from this time forward as well as for that time do cancel revoke and annul them Declaring expresly that we will have this our Edict to be firm and inviolable kept and observ'd as well by our said Justicers Officers as by other Subjects without any regard to any thing that might be contrary or derogating to it XCII And for the better assurance of the maintenance and observance we desire to have thereof we will and ordain and it is our pleasure that all the Governors and Lieutenants General of our Provinces Bayliffs Seneschals and other Judges in ordinary of the Cities of this our Kingdom immediately after the receipts of this our Edict shall swear to have it kept and observ'd every one in their several Precincts as also the Mayors Sheriffs Capitouls Consuls and Jurats of Cities annual and perpetual enjoining also our said Bayliffs Seneschals or their Lieutenants and other Judges to make the principal Inhabitants of the said Cities of both Religions swear to observe and maintain the same immediately after the publication thereof Putting all those of the Cities under our protection and under the guard of one another charging them respectively and by publick Acts to answer at the Civil Law for the transgressions that shall be made of this our said Edicts in the said Cities by the Inhabitants thereof or to represent and deliver the said Infractors into the hands of Justice We command our Trusty and Well Beloved the Persons holding our Courts of Parliament Chambers of Accounts and Courts of Aids immediately upon receipt of the present Edict to put a stop to all their proceedings on pain of nullity of all the Acts they should pass and to take the Oath abovemention'd and this our Edict to publish and register in our said Courts according to the form and tenor thereof exactly as it is without any Modification Restrictions secret Registers or Declarations and without expecting any farther order or command from us and our Attorneys General to require and prosecute the said immediate Publication thereof We also order our said persons holding our said Courts of Parliament Chambers of our Accounts and Courts of Aids Bayliffs Seneschals Provosts and others our Justicers and Officers to whom it may belong and to their Lieutenants to cause this our present Edict and Ordinance to be read publish'd and register'd in their Courts and Jurisdictions and the same to maintain keep and observe in every particular and to make all such whom it may concern enjoy and use the benefit thereof putting a stop to all Troubles and Hinderances thereunto contrary For such is our pleasure For witness whereof we have sign'd these Presents with our own hand and to the same in order to its being firm and lasting for ever we have caus'd our Seal to be affix'd Given at Nantes in the Month of April in the Year of our Lord 1598. and of our Reign the Ninth Sign'd Henry And underneath By the King being in his Council Forget And on the side Visa And seal'd with the Great Seal of Green Wax upon Knots of Red and Green Silk Read publish'd and register'd heard with the approbation of the King's Attorney General at Paris in Parliament on the 25th of February 1599. Sign'd Voysin Read publish'd and register'd in the Chamber of Accounts hear'd and approv'd by the King's-Attorney General on the last day of March 1599. Sign'd De la Fontaine Read publish'd and registred heard and approv'd by the King's Attorny General at Paris in the Court of Aids the 30th of April 1599. Sign'd Bernard Particular Articles extracted from the General ones that have been granted by the King to those of the Pretended Reform'd Religion the which His Majesty would not have comprehended into the said General Articles nor in the Edict that has been made and drawn upon the same given at Nantes in the Month of April last and yet nevertherless His Majesty has granted that they shall be fully accomplish'd and observ'd in the same manner as the Contents of the said Edict To which end they shall be Registred in his Courts of Parliament and elsewhere where it shall be necessary and all necessary Declarations and Letters Patent to that end shall be forthwith expedited I. THe 6th Article of the said Edict about Liberty of Conscience and leave for all his Majesties Subjects to live and inhabit in this Kingdom and Countries under his Obedience shall remain in force and shall be observ'd according to the Form and Tenor thereof Even for Ministers and Teachers and all others that are or shall turn of the said Religion whether actual Inhabitants or others behaving themselves in all other things conformably to what is specifi'd by the said Edict II. Those of the said Religion shall not be oblig'd to contribute towards the Reparations and Building of Churches Chappels Parsonages nor towards the buying of Sacerdotal Ornaments Lights Casting of Bells Holy Bread Rights of Fraternity and other like things unless oblig'd thereunto by Foundations Gifts or other Dispositions made by them or their Predecessors 3. Neither shall they be oblig'd to hang and adorn the Front of their Houses on Festival-days on which it is order'd but only to suffer them to be hung and adorn'd by the Authority of the Magistrates without contributing any thing towards it IV. Neither shall those of the said Religion be oblig'd to receive Exhortations being Sick or near Death either by Condemnation of Justice or otherwise from any but those of the said Religion and their Ministers shall be allow'd to Visit and Comfort them without any disturbance And as for such as shall be condemn'd by Justice it shall also be lawful for the said Ministers to visit and prepare them for Death without making Publick Prayers unless in such Places as are allow'd by the said Edict for the said Publick Exercise V. It shall be lawful for those of the said Religion to perform the Publick Exercise thereof at Pimpoul and for Diepe in the Suburb du Paulet and the said Places of Pimpoul and du Paulet shall be ordain'd for Places of Baliwicks The said Exercise shall be continued at Sancerre as it is at present The said free and publick Exercise shall also be re-establish'd in the City of Montagnac in Languedoc VI. In respect to the Article which relates to Bailiwicks it has been declar'd and granted as followeth First For the Establishing of the Exercise of the said Religion in the two Places granted in every Baliwick Seneschalship and Government those of the said Religion shall nominate Two Cities in the Suburbs of which the said Exercise shall be establish'd by the
fourth Degree to be prosecuted or molested for the same neither shall the Validity of the said Marriages be questioned nor the Succession taken from or disputed against the Children born or to be born of the same And as to the Marriages that might already be contracted in the second Degree or from the second to the third between those of the said Religion the said Persons applying themselves to his said Majesty such Letters Patent as shall be necessary shall be granted them to the end that they may neither be prosecuted nor molested for the same nor the Succession disputed with their Children XLI The Validity and Lawfulness of the said Marriages thus made and contracted shall be Judg'd the Defendant being of the said Religion before the Judge Royal but in case of his being Plaintiff and the Defendant a Catholick the Cognizance thereof shall belong to the Official and Ecclesiastical Judge and both Parties being of the said Religion the Case shall be try'd before the Judges Royal His Majesty willing that the said Marriages and the Differences arising from the same should be judg'd respectively by the Judges Ecclesiastical and Royal and by the Chambers establish'd by his Edicts XLII The Gifts and Legacies made or to be made whether by Will in case of death or among the living for the maintenance of Ministers Doctors Scholars and Poor of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and upon other pious Accounts shall be of full force and power all Judgments and Decrees to the contraty notwithstanding but yet without prejudice to his Majesty's Rights and others in case the said Legacies and gifts should fall into â—ortmain And all necessary Actions and Prosecutions for the recovery of the said Legacies Pious Gifts and other Rights of all kinds shall be allow'd to be made by Attorny in the name of the Body and Community of those of the said Religion who shall be concern'd and in case it happens that any of the said Gifts and Legacies have been heretofore dispos'd of otherwise than is specifi'd by the said Article no other restitution shall be demanded but what shall be found in being XLIII His said Majesty permits those of the said Religion to assemble before the Judge Royal and by his Authority to equal and raise among themselves such Sums as shall be judg'd necessary to be imploy'd towards the Charges of their Synods and for the maintenance of those who are imploy'd for the exercise of their said Religion of which the true estimate shall be given to the said Judge Royal to be kept by him The Copy of which shall be sent every six months by the said Judges Royal to his Majesty or to his Chancellor and the said Taxes and Impositions shall be liable to execution all Oppositions or Appeals to the contrary notwithstanding XLIV The Ministers of the said Religion shall be exempted from Watching and from Quartering of Soldiers assessing and collecting of Tailles or Subsidies as also from Wardships and Guardianships and Commissions for the keeping of Estates seiz'd by Authority of Justice XLV Those of the said Religion shall be neither prosecuted nor disturbed for the Burials heretofore made by them in the Church-yards of the said Catholicks in any place or City whatever and his Majesty shall order his Officers to take care of the same As to the City of Paris over and above the two Church-yards those of the same Religion possess there already viz. that of Trinity and that of St. Germans a third convenient place shall be allow'd them for the said Interments in the Suburbs of St. Honore or St. Denis XLVI The Catholick Presidents and Counsellors that shall serve in the Chamber ordain'd in the Parliament of Paris shall be chosen by his Majesty upon the Roll of the Officers of the Parliament XLVII The Counsellors of the said pretended Reform'd Religion who shall serve in the said Chamber shall assist if they think fit at such Processes as shall be decided by Commissioners and shall have a deliberative voice in the same but shall have no share of the Consign'd Money unless they ought to assist at them by the order and prerogative of their reception XLVIII The Senior President of the Party-Chambers shall preside at the Audience and in his absence the second and the distribution of Suits shall be made by the two Presidents jointly or alternately monthly or weekly XLIX A vacation of Offices happening in possession of or to be possess'd by those of the said Religion in the said Chambers of the Edict they shall be given to capable Persons having Attestations from the Synod or Assembly to which they do belong of their being of the said Religion and Persons of Integrity L. The Pardon granted to those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion by the 74th Article of the said Edict shall stand good for the taking of the Money belonging to the Crown either by breaking of Coffers or otherwise even in respect to that as was rais'd upon the River Charante though assign'd to particular persons LI. The 49th of the Secret Articles made in the Year 1577. concerning the City and Archbishoprick of Avignon and County thereof together with the Treaty made at Nimes shall be observ'd according to their Form and Tenor and no Letters of Mart shall be granted by virtue of the said Articles and Treaty unless by Letters-Patent from the King under the Great Seal Nevertheless such as shall be desirous to obtain the same shall be allow'd by virtue of this present Article without any other Commission to make their application to the Judges Royal who shall examine the Transgressions Denial of Justice and Iniquity of the Judgments propos'd by those who shall be desirous to obtain the said Letters and shall send the same together with their Opinions seal'd up close to his Majesty in order to his ordering the said matter according to reason LII His Majesty grants and wills that Nicholas Grimoult shall be re-establish'd and maintain'd in the Title and Possession of the Offices of Ancient Lieutenant General Civil and Lieutenant-General Criminal in the Bailywike of Aleneon notwithstanding the Resignation by him made to John Marguerite his Reception and the Patent obtain'd by William Barnard of the Office of Lieutenant-General Civil and Criminal in the tribunal of Exmes The Decrees given against the said Marguerit Resignee during the Troubles in the Privy Council in the Year 1586 1587 and 1588. by which Nicholas Barbier is setled in the Rights and Prerogatives of Ancient Lieutenant-General in the said Bailywike and the said Bernard in the Office of Lieutenant at Exmes the which his Majesty has nullify'd and all others hereunto contrary Moreover his Majesty for certain good Considerations has granted and ordain'd That the said Grimoult shall within the space of three months re-imburse the said Barbier of the Money by him furnish'd or disburs'd for the said Office of Lieutenant-General Civil and Criminal in the Vice-county of Alencon and 50 Crowns for the
Country of Gex is a dependency They did 〈…〉 meet with the same opposition in that Country as had â—…n made else where to those that had the same Commisâ—… Therefore we find several ordinances of theirs of the 〈…〉 of that year and the beginning of the following conâ—…ing the exercise of the Reform'd Religion in that little â—…liwick and the Rule of their Judgments was the Edict Nantes which they look'd upon as a Common Law to those who liv'd under the King's Obedience Moreover â—…e of the said Ordinances were given at the request of 〈…〉 Bishop of Geneva and of the Catholicks of that Canton who desir'd that the said Law might be observ'd in favoâ—… of them It was much for them at that time to injoy thâ—… privileges of the Edict but time has given them more boldness and they have finally oppress'd in that Country those by whom their Fathers had formerly thought themselves very happy to be Tollerated An Essay of it appear'd the following year Perhaps the Reader will not be displeas'd to be inform'd by a small affair of the Court how much the Reform'd were dispos'd to forget the hatred and violences past incase they had been any wise incourag'd to do it by better Treatment The Count de Soissons Son to a younger Brother of the Princes of Conde who had been the Head of the Reform'd had a quarrel with the Duke of Guise The Court sided with them as it is usual but the Couâ—… was abandon'd almost by all the Reform'd and the Duke de Bouillon de Rohan de Sully la Noue Gouvernet eveâ— the Grand-Sons of the Admiral Chatillon and seven others offer'd their service to the Duke of Guise Thâ—… was a very publick Proof that they would not call him 〈…〉 an account for the Blood and Pains which his Father arâ—… Grand-Father had cost them The following year was spent in little Disputes whiâ—… without proceeding to an open War show'd nevertheless that there were great Animosities and that one side haâ—… ill designs and the others jealousies and diffidences Aâ—… the very beginning there happen'd an affair which paâ—… without noise tho it might have prov'd of ill consequenâ—… at another time The Lord of Vatan a little Town iâ—… Berry which was of some defence and in which he held 〈…〉 Garrison was accus'd of favouring the Sale of Prohibited Salt in that Province and to make Money of it himself The Court order'd Informations to be brought in against him and that Gentleman thinking to terrifie those that did it committed some Violences which oblig'd the Court to put their orders in execution The Rebellion of that Lord not being suppress'd by the first endeavours that were us'd to reduce him to his Duty Forces were sent â—…inst him he was besieg'd in his own House and forc'd 〈…〉 surrender upon Discretion and being sent Prisoner to 〈…〉 Conciergerie he was condemn'd to Dye by the Parliament of Paris He had flatter'd himself that the Reform'dâ—…uld â—…uld Interess themselves for the preservation of his â—…wn but no body stir'd for him and the Town was â—…en within sight of the Reform'd who did not offer in 〈…〉 least to defend it Not but that there were People who â—…aded the consequence of it and who were of opinion 〈…〉 they ought never to suffer the loss of any place of that â—…d whatever pretences were us'd to attack it by reaâ—… that if plausible pretences were sufficient the Court â—…s too Ingenious not to find new ones daily and to atâ—… them one after another But the Gentleman's case was â—orreign to those in which Religion was concern'd That â—…y did not think it reasonable to make a general affair â—…t nor to give their Enemies a reason to reproach them 〈…〉 they made use of the Cities that were committed to â—…r Guard for the security of their Conscience and â—…es to protect those that were Violators of the Laws of 〈…〉 State The Judges allow'd the Baron de Vatan after 〈…〉 had receiv'd his Sentence to send for a Minister in Priâ—… to prepare him to Dye The Reform'd either Prisoners â—…uch as repaird thither to accompany him had a mind to 〈…〉 some Verses of Psalms But the Catholick Prisoners 〈…〉 others who came there out of Curiosity oppos'd it directly and Fuzil Curate of the Parish of St. Bartholomew â—…o came there in hopes of an occasion to perform some â—…on worthy of his Zeal was one of the most earnest 〈…〉 boldest Their pretence was that the Edict allow'd to â—…fort the Prisoners but not to perform the exercise of 〈…〉 Reform'd Religion in Prisons upon that account much 〈…〉 in that place which was the Chapel of the Conciergerie â—…e Reform'd obey'd and the Tumult ceas'd But at the begining of the same year there were Deputy of Eight Provinces at Court which did meet together in order to send thither to resume the Affairs in the same condition in which the General Assembly had left them and to Soliâ—… His Majesty to add something more favourable and more eâ—press to the answers he had made to their Cahier The Deputy General receiv'd them as if they had spoken in the Naâ—… of all the Churches because they were Deputed by 〈…〉 many Provinces which were those in which the Reform'd were the strongest The Court did not use them so Theâ— were resolv'd to Condemn the Provincial Assemblys that hâ—… Deputed them as Unlawful Assemblys and therefore theâ— were oblig'd to send them back again without seeing oâ— hearing them But the fear of exasperating the said Provinces by that Affront made them finally resolve to hâ—… them after some difficulties Moreover they enter'd in some Negociation with them and the Queen being desireâ—… to have Du Plessis advice upon their Demands by an Expreshe sent to him it inclined People to believe that that affâ—… would have a happy Issue The Marshal de Bouillon hinder'd iâ—… and took it as an Affront to him and his that more should 〈…〉 granted at the Solicitation of the Deputies of those Unlawâ—… Assemblys than the Assembly of Saumur had been able to oâ—…tain The Court which had no Inclination to favour the â—…form'd easily comply'd with the Marshal Duke and taking for pretence that those Deputys of divers Assemblys not allowâ—… of could not be look'd upon otherwise than as private Persons who assum'd the name of the General they were sent baâ—… without an Answer Moreover the Court added Contumeâ—… to Severity discharging them in Writing in very offensâ—… Terms which reflected at once on their Commission at their Persons In the mean time they endeavour'd to prevent the enâ—… which they foresaw that rigour might occasion but thâ—… way they took for it prov'd more Injurious than the Evilâ—… self and incuring one Wound made another more considerable and more dangerous Among all the Resolutions oâ— â—…e Assembly of Saumur there was none troubled the â—…ourt more than that of Establishing Provincial Councils â—…he Truth is that difficultys
the said â—hurch tho they justified pretty well that their intentions â—ere good The said Church appealed to the Synod which confirm'd the Judgment of the Assembly The reason â—f it was that the resolution having been taken by the plurality of Voices they broke the Union in refusing to subâ—it to it and made an inlet for Divisions Moreover it 〈…〉 observable by this affair as well as by several others â—…at tho the Power of Political and Ecclesiastical Assemblies was bounded in certain things the one being to meddle with Civil Government and Safety the other with Discipline and Doctrine nevertheless there was a kind of mutual Subordination between them by virtue whereof â—he one sometimes reform'd the regulations of the other or took Cognisance of their Judgments by way of Appeal That was very proper to maintain Union between those two Tribunals and might have contributed considerably towards the preservation of the Churches if it could have been observed without Ambition or Jealousie The Deputies General had obtained leave to hold a General Aessmbly but the Brief oblig'd them to assemble at a time and in a place which did not please them The place was Grenoble very distant from all the Provinces and moreover in the Power of Lesdiguieres and of a Parliament which would not allow the Deputies the liberty of their Suffrages The time was the 15th of July too short a time to allow the Provinces Leisure to nominate their Deputies and to prepare their Instructions Moreover the Brief contain'd modifications that were too strict and allow'd the Assembly nothing but to nominate Deputies General The Synod order'd those that perform'd that function at that time to obtain a more convenient Place and freer 〈…〉 longer time during which Provincial Assemblies might be held to give an account of the proceedings of the Synod and a more favourable Brief giving the Assembly a large Permission The Synod only obtained an alteration as to the time The Assembly was put of untill the 25th of August but the Queen declar'd that she could neither change the Place nor the form of the Brief The Conjuncture of the time the King being near upon entering into his 14th year and consequently to be declared Major might have given the Assembly an occasion to treat about great things The Estates that were promised were to meâ—… shortly which also was an inducement for the Reform'd to look about them But those very reasons also induced the Court not to allow their Assembly all sort of Liberty Nevertheless the place displeasing them they chose rather not to meet than to do it in the Capital City of a Province in which the Parliament and Governor might equaly disturb them We will see what happened about it the following year in which the alterations of Affairs made them earnestly desire the same place which they had so much rejected An account was given to the Synod of the means that had been us'd to reconcile the Lords and Letters were deliver'd to them from the Dukes de Rohan de Sully and from du Plessis which desir'd the Members of the Synod to acquaint the Provinces with their good intentions and with their zeal for the Service of the Churches Bergerac disown'd in that Synod the Brief of 1500 Livers which the King had given them to take upon the 15000 Crowns of Augmentation and after the Church and City had declar'd in writing that they renounc'd all manner of means to obtain the said Sum unless it were by the good Will of the Synod the Assembly granted them 1200 Livers This husbandry seem'd to be very necessary by reason that the Funds were wanting every where for the payment of the Ministers and those who had treated with the late King upon that Subject had taken their measures â—o ill that most of them having no Sallary besides what they had out of the said Donations were reduced to great â—…reights which render'd them incapable of performing their Ministry susceptible to the inspirations of the Court which endeavoured to corrup them or despicable for their Poverty The Sum granted by Lewis the 13th added but little to their Sallary besides they had occasion â—or it for so many things that the Ministers had not the advantage of it The King applyed part of it himself to what he pleas'd and he had had much ado to free that â—…m of the penny per Liver which he had taken out of it â—or the Sallary of the Deputies General The rest was diâ—tributed part to the Accademys and Colleges part in Gratifications and Recompences and part for Deputations and private Affairs The Lower Guyenne propos'd in order to remedy that Evil to beg of the King wherewith to pay â—he Ministers intirely The Synod harkened to that proposition but they thought fit to refer it to a General Assembly Among the things that were promis'd in order to disolve the Assembly of Rochel the Court had put the Reform'd in hopes of an Exemption of Tailles for the Ministers and the Declaration of it had been drawn accordingly But the Courts of Aids made great difficulties about it and it had not been verified so that it had only prov'd an illusion till then The Synod order'd the Deputies General to press the Registring of it and the Deputies of the Churches to carry the said demand to the mix'd Assemblies of their Provinces and those particular Assemblies to give them to their Deputies to be moved in the General Assembly They spoke of the Innovations that were introduc'd in the nomination of the Governors of the places of Surety and in the reception of the Reform'd in the places that were allow'd to them They were oblig'd before their said reception to 〈…〉 an attestation of the Assembly within the extent of which the Government of a Place became vacant But the Court did not observe it in order to have the sole authority of those Nominations The Synod made a very severe order upon that Subject against those who accepted Goverments or other Imployments that way and referr'd the Complaints of the fact to the Political Assemblies They also order'd the Consistories to hinder the Governors of places from protecting any persons accus'd of things which deserv'd Punishment lest those Cities given for the Surety of their Religion should serve to protect Criminals One of the six Reform'd Counsellors in the Parliament of Paris call'd Berger was lately turn'd Catholick Hâ—… change made a breach in the number of the Officers of thâ—â— quality promis'd by the Edict and the Reform'd pretended that Berger ought no longer to injoy the said imployment which belong'd to them since he had chang'd his Religion But Berger had made his bargain before he chang'd his Religion that he should not lose his Place and it was the interest of the Catholicks not to turn out such as imbrac'd their Communion lest the fear of that disadvantage should discourage others who might also be inclined to do the same
overthrown offended those 〈…〉 griev'd to see how much the Regency had disfigur'd Government It is odious to boast of a thing the conâ—… of which is notoriously known by every body and 〈…〉 protestations of performing a Duty which one 〈…〉 from by a Thousand Actions seldom perswade a 〈…〉 which Effects contradict Moreover every body too sencible how many Cabals and Factions had torn Kingdom during the Minority to relish the praises that 〈…〉 given to the Queen of having maintain'd it in Peace â—…es the Mistery of the Court appear'd too openly in â—…d Declaration in which the Regency was continu'd â—…g the Majority to the same Person who upon the â—…nt of the Majority should have renounc'd it and the contents found a fair pretence to murmur in that a who was Major sound in body and mind remain'd under the directions of others only alledging the â—…nce of his Majority to secure his Mothers authority â—…nly made us of the Priviledg of the Age he had 〈…〉 to put himself under the Yoke of a second Guarâ—…hip The King was the only loser by the Declation â—…s Majority and by the Session of the Estates The 〈…〉 remain'd Regent under another Name Foreigners â—…out merit whom he had advanc'd to the Exclusion of the Native French and even of the Princes exerted the Authority in the King's name by the means of 〈…〉 Princess whose mind and heart they govern'd The â—…form'd were sensible of the Equivocation of those woâ—… by the means that are usual in the Church by reason that 〈…〉 had learned at their Cost by a dismal experience 〈…〉 Massacres and disingenuity are means much more in 〈…〉 in the Roman Church for the Conversion of pretended â—…ticks than Sermons and good example So that peopâ—… minds being prepar'd by those Reflections easily tookâ—… again at the first occasion that offer'd it self The Prince of Conde who expected to raise his Authoâ—… by the means of the Estates on the contrary lost theâ—… he had left by the prevarication of the Clergy and of tâ—… Adherents and the Queen caught him in the same snareâ— had set out for her She remained in possession the Government in spight of him she got the approbâ—… of the Marriages she had concluded she obliged the Pâ—… to Surrender the Town of Amboise to her which she had â—…ven him for his security at the Treaty of Ste. Menchouldâ— in order to tire the Patience of the French to the utmost made Conchini a Marshal of France The Marshal de Bâ—…lon had served her usefully in that Conjuncture of Aâ—… in hopes that his Credit and Capacity which appeared that occasion would oblige that Princess to give him agâ—…er share in her favour But she was unwilling to put 〈…〉 self into the hands of a man of his Capacity and 〈…〉 who lik'd him as a Counsellor would neither allowâ—… to be his Master nor his Competitor Therefore the 〈…〉 shal finding that no more notice was taken of him thanâ—… fore resolv'd to be reveng'd and renew'd Intrigues 〈…〉 finally ruin'd the Queen's Affairs but which had the 〈…〉 fortune at the same time to occasion the decay of 〈…〉 Reform'd Religion and the Slavery of France The Pâ—… of Conde being very much disatisfi'd with the Estates 〈…〉 yet more with the Queen willingly gave ear to new proâ—…sitions and he judg'd that things would be dispos'd to faâ—…ur new designs It was necessary for him to set three wheeles a going to â—…ve more success in his present discontents than he had 〈…〉 in the preceding which had only serv'd to discover his â—…eakness There was a necessity to get the People the Parâ—…ment of Paris and the Reform'd of his fide The People â—…as sufficiently dispos'd to joyn with the Malecontents upâ—… the account of their natural aversion to Foreigners It 〈…〉 easie to persaude them that Foreigners have less regard 〈…〉 them than those that are born and bred in the same â—…ountry with them and they excuse the excesses which amâ—…tion and avarice make their own Countrymen Commit â—…th more ease than the least attempts of a Foreigner â—oreover the Deputies of the Provinces had receiv'd â—…t little satisfaction from the Court The King had reâ—…s'd to examine the Cahiers of the Estates before their â—…ssolution a Maxim of great use to wave the Complaints 〈…〉 the People not to hear them while they are in a Caâ—…city to sollicit answers to them The Court took but very â—…tle notice of those Cahiers after the departure of the Deâ—…ties But the Clergy which had serv'd the Queen according to her mind obtained almost whatever they design'd â—he Deputies of the other Orders obtain'd nothing but â—…ain general promises of which they were sensible that â—…ey should never see the effects and that the People â—ould be oblig'd to seek out other remedies to redress â—…eir Grievances The Prince had good Friends in the Parliament which â—…ere disatisfied and thought themselves bound in Duty â—…d Honour to redress by their Authority the Affairs which â—…ere ruin'd by the false Policy of the Court But that â—…rhaps would not have produc'd great effects had not â—…e Court given an Overture to it by an excess of severity â—he Parliament seeing how the Intentions of the well meanâ—…g part of the Estates were evaded gave a Decree towards the end of March which invited the Princes the â—…eers and Officers of the Crown that sit among them to Assemble with them to remedy the disorders of the State The Court was very much allarm'd and offended at thâ—… Boldness They sent for the Parliament to have an account of their enterprise revers'd their Decree and forbad the execution of it But that August Court was no wise disheartned and after several deliberations they made very grave Remonstrances to the King and such aâ— became a Senat that lov'd the Glory and Peace of the State They spoke boldly upon all things that deserv'd to be observed in the present Conjuncture and as they insisteâ—… vigorously upon the Article of the Third Estate which the Court had rejected they did the same upon whatever related to the advantage of the people All their discourse in â— word tended to inspirethe King with maxims of an equitable Government I should swerve from my subject in relating 〈…〉 the Articles of their Remonstrances Therefore I shall only observe that among 29 or 30 others there was one which related to the Edicts and which desir'd the King to preserve tâ—… Splendor and Dignity of the Roman Religion withoâ—… swerving from the Edicts of Pacification So that 〈…〉 Parliament which had formerly made so much dificulâ—… to pass the Edict had finally found by experience the â—â—cessity of its observation The King receiv'd those â—â—monstrances ill either because they were too just to please â—â— Court in which the people only thought of making their â—…tune at any rate or because they were too free to pleâ—… such as only aimed to oppress Liberty or finally because 〈…〉 was
and to sound Policy the Catholick Children had learnt those Songs and the said Martin dying soon after it they sung the said Songs while his Corps was Carrying to the Ground Some of those that accompany'd the Corps being disturb'd at that Noise gave one of the Children a Box on the Ear. The simple Catholicks who diverted themselves at those Childrens Play and who often excited them to do what they durst not do themselves cry'd out that he was kill'd because he was a Catholick Whereupon the People rose immediately fell upon the Reform'd abus'd wounded and affronted all those they met The Night did not appease their Fury The next day the Seditious went to the Church-yard of the Reform'd dug up the Corps which had been flung into the Ground in haste tore it in pieces and committted a thousand Indignities against it From thence they went to the Temple and burnt it They plunder'd the House of the Sexton and committed great Violences against him This Rage lasted three days but finally it was appeas'd for want of Matter by reason that the Reform'd hid themselves and that the most considerable retir'd in such Places where they expected to find most Safety The Magistrates barely made some weak Informations of the Fact and imprison'd some of the most Miserable but as if the Reform'd had been as Guilty as the rest some of them were also secur'd to keep the Catholicks Company Those Mutineers seem'd to have look'd upon the King's Journey to Fontainbleau as the Signal of their Enterprize and the People judg'd by the Coldness of the Magistrates that they were certain the Court would approve those Proceedings Nevertheless the thing was look'd upon to be of too much Consequence in that Conjuncture to be wink'd at The Court was sensible that the Impunity of those Violences would open the Eyes of those they design'd to blind by the fair Promises of the Observation of the Edicts and that in case Despair should re-unite the Reform'd their Ruine would prove a difficult Task Moreover it was an Example of very ill Consequence which appear'd in that the People rose at Pottiers as well as at Tours beat down the Wall the Reform'd had built about their Church-yard broke the Tombs violated the Sepulchres and endeavor'd to demolish the Temple Those Violences did not extend to Persons by reason that the Place in which the Reform'd perform'd the Exercise of their Religion was at a great distance from the City and that the Magistrates who dreaded Reprisals put a stop to the Disorder But the Punishment of the Seditious was very inconsiderable and did not terrifie the Mob so much as to hinder them from committing the like Excesses in divers other Places as at Croisie at Mâ—uze and elsewhere The Court dreading the Consequences of the Sedition of Tours receiv'd the Complaints of the Reform'd who desir'd that an Examplary Punishment might be made of it and in order to blind them with an apparent Satisfaction the King issued out a Declaration on the 20th of December by which he took the Peaceable Reform'd into his Protection and injoyn'd the Parliaments and all other Officers to whom the like Edicts are commonly directed to make them injoy a Liberty suitable to the Edicts Moreover he sent the Mild Malleville Master of Requests to Tours with a Commission to try the Guilty without Appeal The said Commissioner without making any Informations but those that had already been made by the Judges of Tours put the Reform'd at Liberty and Condemn'd some of the Catholick Prisoners to Dye That Severity renew'd the Sedition and the People being in a greater Fury than ever ran to the Prisons broke open the Doors put the Condemn'd at Liberty Plunder'd the Houses of the Reform'd and among the rest that of a Notary whose Minutes they tore The Commissioner being Terrify'd was constrain'd to hide himself and the Mutineers could not be appeased untill the Magistrates promised them to obtain a General Pardon for their Crime that the Catholick Prisoners should be put at Liberty and that the Process should be burnt The King whose Authority was concern'd in that Second Sedition took his time to do himself Justice and leaving Fontainbleau to march towards Poitou he came to Tours and there caused four or five Wretches to be Executed who had been concern'd in that Tumult but the most considerable escap'd The Execution of those Wretches calm'd the Minds of those that had been terrify'd by those Violences committed in so suspicious a Conjuncture The Reform'd kept at Home and saw without any Emotion the Weight of the War fall upon the small Number of those that follow'd the Orders of the Assembly Moreover They accus'd them of Obstinacy and of being the Cause of their own Misfortunes by an affected Consideration of future Misfortunes In a Word the Effect of that Shadow of Justice which the King did the Reform'd on that Occasion was such that the very Catholicks wondred at it and made Jests of the Simplicity of those Wretches An Historian who speaks of those Affairs like a passionate Catholick nevertheless says upon that Subject That he does not wonder that the Vulgar whose Impetuosity is blind should be caught in such a Snare but that he cannot imagine how it could deceive the Grandees the Gentry and the Officers of that Sect who had been repnted till then Wise Politicians On the Fourth of the same Month the King published yet another Declaration before his Departure from Fontainbleau of the same Stile with all the rest It began with a Protestation of having all along been desirous to cause the Edicts to be observ'd as the most effectual way to make his Subjects live in Peace of having wink'd at the Infractions committed by some of the Reform'd of having endeavour'd to make them sensible of their Duty by Divers Edicts publish'd on purpose From thence it proceeded to the Motives of the Declaration given at Grenade in the Month of October last past to interdict the Assembly of Rochel and complaining that it had not hinder'd the Reform'd from assembling in the said City and elsewhere from ordering divers Acts of Hostility as by Reprisals from Electing Chiefs from Fortifying of their Garisons from Raising Men and Money from Listing Soldiers Casting of Artillery Buying of Arms and other Amunitions It added That notwithstanding all this the King had granted several things desir'd by the Memorials presented to him by the Deputies General But that finally he was resolv'd to go as far as Touraine and to march himself towards Poitou and elsewhere to be near to apply a Remedy to those Evils being resolv'd to maintain the Publick Peace to cause the Edicts to be observ'd in favour of such as should keep within the Bounds of their Allegiance and to chastife the Rebels Whereupon he confirm'd a new all the Edicts and Declarations and order'd them to be kept in favour of those that were and should remain within
they pillag'd some Houses but their chief spite was at the Church which they burnt together with the Shops where the Booksellers left their Books of Devotion which they durst not sell in other plaâ—…es The Library was robb'd the Walls of the Cloyster pull'd down nor did the Fury of these People cease till their Rage â—…ad no more Materials to work upon 'T is true that the Duke of Mombazon and the Parlament caus'd two of the chief Actors â—…o be seiz'd who were also executed for an example to others â—…t while he was at the Parlament busy in consultation by what means to stop the Career of these Enormities the Sedition broke but again in the Fauxbourg St. Marceau where the greatest part of the Reformed Artificers who are debarr'd from keeping Shops in the City were set up to the end they might follow their Employments without molestation and in this Uproar also one or two of the Reformed were kill'd and some Houses pillag'd But at length the Tumult was appeas'd and the Parlament having issu'd forth a Decrce putting the Reformed under the Protection of the King and the Law which was presently disâ—…cht away to the several Bayliwicks under their Jurisdiction â—…his same Spirit of Violence was suppress'd for some time to the great grief of those who in several places were prepar'd for Insurrections no less dangerous But for all this the Reformed began again to quit their Habitations and many People left Paris as others quitted other places who had hitherto flatter'd themselves that they should live in security so they had no hand in the War They likewise who staid behind lock'd themselves up in their Houses for some days tho in continual fears or else they conceal'd themselves among the Catholics with whom they had contracted a friendship either upon the score of Kindred or Neighborhood or some tie of Interest As for the Ministers they were in the number of those that retir'd and tho they alledg'd for themselves St. Cyprian's Reasons fearing as he did that their presence made the Sedition more fatal to their Flocks yet their abandoning their stations was censur'd by a sort of People who are always finding some fault or other in the conduct of other men But tho the Seditious themselves were supprest yet the Spirit of Sedition was not laid for some Houses hapning to be a fire at Paris and the Flames taking hold of the Houses adjoining with that fierceness as to burn down the two Bridges call'd Pâ—… aux Marchands and Pont au Change the People presently accus'd the Reformed as if they had bin the Authors of the Conflagration Nay they would have had it believ'd that they had a design to have set the whole City on fire to revenge the burning of their Church at Charenton But after all the most diligent Inquisitions that could be made they could not find the leaâ—… Pretence to make good that Calumny a clear discovery being soon after made that the Accident happen'd through the negligence of a Maid-servant There happen'd also such another Mischance at Lion much about the same time A Gentleman returning out of Germany and taking Post in that City had a Quarrel upon the same occasion with one of the Canons of that City who assume the Title of Counts of 〈…〉 Upon which the Canon riding before to stay for the Gentlemâ—n upon the Road discharg'd two Pistols at him but mist with both on the other side the Gentleman had a better Aim and kill'd the Canon fairly according to all the Maxims allow'd by â—â—â— of the Sword nevertheless he was seiz'd and imprison'd at â—â—â— The next day the Jail happen'd to be a-fire and very much endamag'd both the Prison and the Palace Presently the Catholics knew where to lay the fault for because it had so fallen out that the Gentleman's Servants and some of the Reâ—…med had bin heard to say that the Gentleman was wrongfully imprison'd in regard he had done nothing but what was grounded upon the Law of Self-defence therefore the Catholics would have it that either the one or the other set fire to the Prison But the Informations acquitted the Parties accus'd and made it appear that the Misfortune happen'd through the carelesness of the Keeper and his Servants Thus the seditious discourses of the Monks both in public and private had infus'd this malignant Spirit among the vulgar Catholics that the blame whatever happen'd was by them laid upon the Reformed and that they lookt upon the most moderate and most peaceable as People that were always hatching and contriving mischievous designs and seeking an opportunity to put the Kingdom in confusion So that they found themselves in the sâ—re condition with the Primitive Christians who were accus'd by the hot-headed Gentiles of all the Misfortunes and Calamities that befel the State whether Famine Pestilence Inundations or Drowth During these Events the Circle of Lower Languedoc was in a miserable condition Chatillon made no other use of his Authority then to prevent the Reformed in those Quarters from â—…ouring their Friends in other places and it may be easily conjectur'd what they might have bin able to have done had he â—â—â— faithful by what they did in despite of all the disturbance which he gave ' em Montauban was reliev'd notwithstanding all his opposition and as negligent as he was in the preservation of the places of which the Assembly had given him the Government the Duke of Mommorancy made no great progress Nevertheless there were so many People who were sensible that â—…llon was intent upon his own Affairs to the prejudice of the Public Concerns that at length the Assembly of the Circle which then â—ate at Mompelier turn'd him out of his employment and the 21st of November set forth a very large Declaration containing the Reasons of their Severity They accus'd him of having betray'd the Churches and of making his own Fortune at their Expence For having rais'd men not for the service of the Reformed but to understand the utmost strength of the Circle what number of Soldiers they could raise and what quantity of Arms and Ammunition they were able to provide For having often let the Enemy escape when they might have been easily defeated For having thrust out of employment such persons as he knew to be too well affected to the Common Cause For having giv'n notice to the Enemy to stand upon their Guards For having represented to the Reformed the Mischiefs greater and the Remedies more difficult then they were For having kept private several Matters which he ought to have communicated For keeping Spies which he sent to the Court to discover the Secrets of the Reformed For having favor'd and receiv'd into his friendship those who had surrender'd their Strong holds to the King For having scornfully affronted the Assembly of Rochel For having by his own Authority disannull'd their Resolutions For having restor'd to the Enemy the Booty taken from 'em in a just War
oblig'd him to put to Sea agen in order to meet and fight that Squadron In short The Enemy was utterly defeated and in regard that since the Enterprize of Blavet every thing had succeeded according to his wish this New Advantage gave so much reputation to his Affairs that the most Timorous had the courage to declare on his side The Court also became more supple about the Conditions of Peace while Rochel and some other Corporations stood more stiffly upon Terms The Deputies therefore which the Reformed had sent to the King and who had su'd for a Peace in most humble manner at length at Fontainbleau obtain'd an indifferent Answer to the Paper which they had presented It contain'd one and twenty Articles the first of which nam'd three and forty Places wherein a Re-establishment of the Exercise was demanded as in the year 1620. Nor was the City of Foix omitted in this same Catalogue Whence it appear'd that the Triumph of the Monk Villate was but a Chimera or rather that the Pretence had not been of any long continuance since there were still some of the Reformed remaining in a place where the Monk had boasted his Conversion of all that were there The second demanded the Restitution of the Church-yards which had bin taken from the Reformed in several Places of which Eight were particularly nam'd The third demanded Liberty for the Ministers to reside where they pleas'd according to the General and Particular Articles of the Edict The Fourth concern'd the Exemption deny'd from contributing toward the Reparation of Churches and some other things that savour'd of Compliance with the Roman Worship The Fifth contain'd a Complaint that frequently the Bodies of the Reformed were digg'd up agen under pretence that they were buried in Catholic Chappels or Church-yards Of which there was a fresh Example at Chartres For the Bishop had order'd the Body of Teligni a Gentleman whose Land lay in that Diocess to be haul'd out of his Tomb and the pretence of this Piece of Inhumanity exercis'd upon the Body of that Gentleman eight days after it had bin buried was because it was buried in the Chappel of his House The same Article contain'd Complaints of the demolishing of some Churches of woich they gave for an example the pulling down the Church which the Reformed had at Cheilar They complain'd also of the banishing of several persons who had bin driven out of several Cities for no other reason but upon the score of Religion and among the rest of the places where these Exorbitancies had bin committed Villemur Leitoure Puimirol and Soumieres were particulariz'd The sixth express'd the demolishing of Fort Lewis and the next the levelling of the Citadel of Mompelier which the Inhabitants had bin constrain'd to demand The eighth insisted upon the Breif in â—598 touching places of security the purport of which was â—…at there should be no Innovation introduc'd The ninth mention'd the City Tolls which had been very ill paid and 〈…〉 tenth demanded that the Sums promis'd to the Reformed 〈…〉 Bearn in recompence of Ecclesiastical Estates might be paid without any defalcation or diminution The following Article â—…oke of the Decree of the Parlament of Bretagne which had broken the Article of the Edict wherein the Reformed were declar'd capable of all Employments they therefore demanded the Decree to be cancell'd and the Article to be conform'd The twelfth was drawn up in favour of the Party-Chambers and of the Officers that compos'd ' em In the rest 〈…〉 was demanded That the Reformed who had bin despoil'd of their Goods and Estates by Grants Confiscations or under presence of Reprizals should be restor'd to the same that Acts â—…f Hostility should be forgotten that the Declaration publish'd before Mompelier might be register'd in the Chamber of â—ccompts in Paris that they who had taken Arms in 1621. â—ight be discharg'd of Taxes laid upon 'em during the Troubles and that the Receivers who had caus'd 'em to be paid â—ight be oblig'd to restitution of what they had receiv'd that they might not be su'd in the Courts of Justice for what had bin â—one to the prejudice of the Duke of Rohan's safe Conducts which he had revok'd that the Priviledges of the Reformed Cities and Corporations principally regarding the Election 〈…〉 their Consuls and Common Councils might be preserv'd that each Party might be reciprocally discharg'd from payment of Debts created without the consent of the other that those of the Reformed might be equally shar'd and lastly that they might be permitted to hold General Assemblies The Answers return'd to this Paper were favourable enough They referr'd the re-establishment of places for Exercise and the restitution of Church-yards to the Commissioners and that in terms earnest enough and such as might have prov'd satisfactory had those Promises bin sincerely fulfill'd Principally there was one remarkable Clause about Church-yards to this purpose that if for important Reasons they could not restore to the Reformed the same places which they had made use â—â— in 1620. others should be deliver'd to 'em as commodious aâ— they could desire at the charges of those that should require the exchange This set things very near upon the Basis of the ancient Article of Particulars and lost the Advocate General Talon the fruit of that Fraud which he pretended to have discover'd and which for twenty years together had serv'd for a Foundation to the Orders of the Commissioners The liberty for the Ministers to reside where they pleas'd was confirm'd and the King reserv'd to his Council the power upon hearing of the Cause to remedy such Infringements as should be complain'd of The Exemption from contributing to things mention'd in the twelfth Article of Particulars was granted only with the exception of Treaties that had bin made upon that occasion between the Reformed and the Catholics They answer'd indirectly to the Article about digging up the Bodies of the dead upon which the Demandants were referr'd to the 18th and 23d Article of the Edict and to the Decree of Council of the 25th of August 1620. But it was order'd that the Council should be inform'd of the demolishing of Churches that the banish'd persons should be restor'd and that the business of Cheilar tho remov'd to the Council should be sent back to the Party-Chamber which was translated to Beziers by reason of the Troubles The demolishing of Fort Lewis and the observance of the Brevet of 1598. were promis'd in general terms provided the Reformed behav'd themselves well As for the Citadel of Mompelier they were willing to believe that the Inhabiâ—…nes had demanded it freely and unanimously The King also promis'd that the Sums due for 1623 and 24 should be â—â—id to grant good Assignations for the present year and to take good the Compensation in Bearn The admission of the Reformed into all Offices the preservation of the Jurisdiction of the Chambers and of the Dignity of their Officers the 〈…〉 settlement of the Reformed
Word and Authority of their Lawful Prince would be to tye 'em to another Soveraign For this Reason the Court of France who had let the King of England alone to use all the Arguments of which they could make their advantage yet were not engag'd by any Public Act to do the least Kindness out of any respect for him laught at the Pretension of the English Mediator when he would have had his Guarantie taken effect and lookt upon the Embassador's Writing as an idle piece of Nullity that oblig'd the King of France to nothing But after the Peace was sign'd upon the Conditions mentention'd the Ratifications of Rochel and Montauban were expected of which the one was perform'd the second the other the sixth of March Which done an Edict was publish'd the same Month which contain'd Twelve Articles The Introduction spoke of nothing but Clemency and Pardon on the King's part and Submissions and Supplications reiterated by the Reformed and particularly by those who remain'd in obedience which the King said was the better sort and the greatest part and to whose Remonstrances he had had a special regard when he accepted the Submissions of the Rest The First Article confirm'd the Regster'd Edicts and Secret Articles and gave Testimony that they had been well and duly observ'd in the Reign of the deceased King and after his death till the beginning of the last Commotions Which was an Artifice to induce the Reformed themselves to condemn all the loud Complaints of a thousand Breaches before that time The second restor'd the Exercise of the Roman Religion in all places where it had â—in ejected during the Troubles and order'd ample Restitution of the Estates and Rights belonging to the Ecclesiastics even of their Moveables that should be found in specie The third granted the same favour to the Reformed for the exercise of their Religion and for the Church-yards which they were posâ—ess'd of in 1600. And the Clauses of that Article were taken out of the Answer to the two first of the Paper decreed at Fontainbleau The fourth contain'd an Amnesty of all Acts of Hostility even of those that might have bin committed since the day of the Declaration dated October 1622. till the day of the publication of this in the Parlaments nor were the Submissions and reiterated Supplications of the Reformed omitted The fifth concern'd the raising of money and gave a discharge of it in the terms of the Articles of the Edict of Nantes which mention'd the same thing The sixth re-establish'd the Seats of Judicature the Receits the Officers of the Finances in the places from whence they had bin remov'd by reason of the Troubles wherein the Tablier of the Election at Rochel was also comprehended The Priviledges of the Cities which the Reformed held in their hands were likewise confirm'd The usual method for the electing of Consuls was to be observ'd and the Appeals of Persons aggriev'd were to be judg'd by the Chambers of the Edict The seventh discharg'd the Reformed from all Sentences pronounc'd against 'em by reason of their taking Arms And this Article was very necessary every where but chiefly within the Jurisdiction of the Parlament of Thoâ—â—â—se where they had signaliz'd their extraordinary Zeal by a great number of Decrees against Corporations and private persons The eighth ordain'd a speedy Release of Prisoners and Persons condemn'd to the Gallies The ninth confirm'd the Article of the Edict of Nantes which declar'd the Reformed capable of all Offices re-establish'd those that had bin put out â—evok'd the Patents of their Offices granted to others and restor'd to the Reformed all their Estates their Titles Debts Accompts and Actions and cancell'd all opposite Acts except the peremptory Decrees of the Council and Chambers of the Edict The tenth order'd that this Declaration should be observ'd in the terms of the 92d Article of the Edict of Nantes The eleventh forbid for the future all manner of Politic Assemblies unless they had express leave to hold 'em and all manner of Associations and keeping of Intelligences Nevertheless Ecclesiastical Assemblies were permitted about meer affairs of Church-Discipline and in conformity to the Declaration of August 1623. which enjoin'd the Synods to admit a Commissioner deputed by the King All manner of Fortifications and raising of Money were forbid without an express Commission The last ordain'd the execution of the Articles that related to Rochel and the restitution of the Cities and Castles during the War 'T is true the Mayor the Sheriffs and certain Burgesses of Orleans the Catholics of Mompelier and parts adjoining Prelats Ecclesiastics Gentlemen and others oppos'd the verification of this Edict in the Parlament of Paris and the opposition of the first was admitted but the rest were referr'd to the Parlament oâ— Tholouse However their opposition was only in reference to some particular Interests After the Peace was thus concluded the Confederates were in hopes that France would have turn'd her Arms against the House of Austria But they were strangely astonish'd to see a ratifi'd Treaty appear abroad within eleven days after which du Targis Ambassador in Spain had concluded between the Two Crowns 'T is true that to cover this foul Play they made a shew of disowning the Ambassador who seemingly was never to have bin pardon'd but for the earnest sollicitations of the Court of Rome But this Farce deceiv'd none but Fools for the Treaty held good after some slight Alterations and the Confederates exhal'd their Resentments in vain Reproaches and unprofitable Threats There was only the Duke of Savoy who being enrag'd at such a piece of Perfidiousness sent away the Abbot de la Scaglia into England to excite that Monarch to revenge who had no less reason then himself to be chaf'd at such a scorn of his Amity And Affairs in that Kingdom began to encline toward a Rupture for there was a great Jealousy in point of Honour between Cardinal Richlieu and the Duke of Buckingham but they were unequally match'd For Buckingham was vain hair-brain'd lofty and void of Foresight Richlieuâ—rafty â—rafty a Dissembler a Hypocrite and one that never ventur'd â—ny thing without good assurances of Success They had this â—owever which was common to both that they were hated â—y all men but such as were their Creatures and both were â—qually sovereign Governors of their sovereign Masters tho â—thers say there was a more secret cause of Jealousy between â—â—em For Buckingham had appear'd in the Court of France with the Character of Ambassador in a magnificent Equipage â—nd had drawn the eyes of all the world upon him He had moreover pleas'd the Ladies and his vanity had transported â—im to think himself worthy to attempt the Queen herself The Cardinal had the same thoughts and could not endure that his â—ival should receive any marks of being preferr'd before â—im We may reck'n among the greatest weaknesses of that celeâ—rated Minister of State that he was emulous of out
â—…eql for Religion well perceiv'd that the Power of the Reformed had only serv'd for an Obstacle to delay the Public Sâ—…viâ—ude The Sovereign Courts were treated with unheard 〈…〉 Scorn and lofty Disdain The Court of Aides refus'd to veriâ—… certain Edicts that burthen'd the State with new Impositionâ— and being inform'd that the Edicts were just ready to be brougâ—… to 'em while the Court was sitting they would not stay 〈…〉 'em but rose immediately For the punishment of which presumption the Court was interdicted and other Judges 〈…〉 up in the room of those that had been so hardy to judge of theâ—… Power They continu'd in this Condition for some Months nor could they be restor'd till they had most servilely submitteâ— themselves Nor was the Parlament any better us'd For aftâ—… the Queenmother and the Duke of Orleance were withdrawâ— the King sent a Declaration to the Parlament against the Prinâ—… and his Adherents But that same Senate instead of verifyinâ— the Declaration divided and order'd Remonstrances Thâ— King to punish this piece of Malapertness sent an Order to thâ— Members to come a-foot to the Loure not by their Deputiâ—… but in a Body and to bring the Registers along with 'em Which being done the whole Assembly as August as the stil'd themselves were enforc'd upon their Knees to hear â— tedious and mortifying Censure which reduc'd all their Powâ—… only to the enregistring and publishing all Declarations thaâ— were sent 'em without any hesitation The Keeper of the Sâ—…tore before their faces the Decree for dividing the House anâ— the Parlament had the hard Fortune to hear a Decree pronounc'd which either exil'd or suspended from their Employments some of the most considerable of their Members It was not to be wonder'd that such unheard-of Proceeding should provoke the Spirits of the People to take Arms. Thâ—… Duke of Orleans therefore being return'd into France was 〈…〉 join'd by a numerous Body of Malecontents and in a smaâ—… time beheld all Languedoc at his devotion and they who haâ—… bin the most fierce Persecutors of the Reformed threw themselves into this New Party Lestranges Lord of Privas sideâ— with the Duke and perish'd in the Cause The Bishops â—… â—…lbi Vsez Nimes Alets St. Pons and Lodeve join'd with the Duke of Mommorenci The Bishiop of Leon also was accus'd to have had a share in this War and could not obtain his Pardon â—ill after the King's Death On the other side the Reformed serv'd the King with extraordinary Courage The Second Consul of Nimes preserv'd that City for the King and exâ—ell'd the Bishops and the First Consul who favour'd the Duke â—f Orleans Montaubon sent her Deputies as far as Monceaux â—o assure the King of the Fidelity of the Inhabitants who ofâ—er'd to march a League out of their City to meet the Duke and â—ight his men if they approach'd near their Quarters The Duke â—f Espernon also had so much confidence in 'em that he made â—o scruple to enter the Town tho much inferior in strength â—nd to commit himself to the mercy of a People whom he had â—o rudely handl'd in time of War Marion Camp-Assistant on the King's side made himself Master of Privas which had â—in abandon'd since it was taken and recall'd the Inhabitants who serv'd him successfully and defended the Town for the King against their own Lord. One would have thought that such an Action should have cancell'd the Memory of what was pass'd and indeed those poor Creatures were suffer'd to resettle themselves without any notice taken of it But Thirty years after they were made to understand by Cruel Persecutions that past Offences are never to be expiated by succeeding Services and that by a Maxim quite opposite to the Rule of the Almighty Transgressions are longer retain'd in the Memories of Princes then Good Services The Bishops of Albi and Nimes were degraded by reason of their Rebellion and the Bishop of Vsez dying in the midst of the Process avoided the Disgrace The rest were no less guilty but perhaps might have better Recommendations and their Acquittal cost 'em no more then a little agony of Fear However the Process commenc'd against Bishops for High Treason made so loud a noise that the Reformed could not forbear triumphing and to reproach 'em with their Principal Members tumbling into Rebellion which till then was lookt upon to be the only Portion and Character of Heresy The Ministers lookt upon it as a piece of Divine Vengeance that the Bishops who had so often accus'd 'em of breathing nothing but Rebellion should so openly precipitate themselves into the Sin of Rebellion that the veneration due to their Character could not exempt 'em from Punishment But to mortify these Triumphers they thought it expedient to put to death Marets the Minister of Alets as if he had had a hand in the Insurrection Nevertheless all his Crime was only this That all the People of the City siding either with the Lordâ—… or with the Bishop he was not so fortunate as to hinder the City from joining with the Malecontents though he himself sate still without so much as medling on either side Thuâ— was one Innocent Minister offer'd up to attone for the Transgression of several Prelats and the Minister of Alets paid for the Bishop Couran another Minister of the same Church was only banish'd The City of Lunel the Governor oâ— which was the Bishop of Nimes's Brother was inveagl'd into the Duke of Orleans's Party and Scoffier Minister of the Place was set down in the Catalogue of those that were to be sacrific'd But after the defeat and taking of the Duke oâ— Mommorenci he gave the Governor of Aiguemortes notice of the Flight of the Bishop and his Brother which was well taken 〈…〉 and that Mark of his Affection for the King's Service sav'd his life The Duke of Rohan was recall'd to Court upon occasion of these Troubles and honour'd with several Employments whether it were to find him business that might hinder him from seeking for any in these Confusions or whether it were to take him by the point of Honour and engage him in the King's Service by that Mark of Confidence But this War being suddenly ended by the taking and death of Marshal de Mommorenci serv'd only to advance the King's Authority and disgust the Duke of Orleans who retir'd out of France a second time as also to add some new access of weight to the Slavery of the People The Reformed reapt this little advantage by it That they had but few Injuries done 'em this year and continu'd somewhat free from Molestations Only the Ministers in the Dauphinate were still tormented because they preach'd in more then one place But upon a Petition which they presented to the King they obtain'd a Decree which sent 'em to four Commissioners of the Parlament of Grenoble who were order'd to take their Informations and after that to give their Advice to the
undecently of the Romish Preachers and that they made the Children of the Catholics that were sent to their Schools to read the Books of the Reformed Upon which immediately came forth a Decree of the Privy-Council dated May 16th by which these Petty Exercises and supposed Misdemeanours were severely forbid Corhiâ—ni was a little City where the Reformed had a Place of Exercise by vertue of as clear a Possession as could be in tâ—e World so that the Commissioners had continu'd 'em in 〈…〉 solemn Ordinance made in the Year 1600. That Ordinance remov'd 'em to the farther end of one of the Suburbs of the City within the Jurisdiction of Corbigni with a Proviso till the Opposition which the Abbot made to the settlement of the Exercise in the City should be determin'd This Business hung in suspence near Seven Years after which there was a Decree of Council of the 13th of March 16â—7 which allow'd the Exercise not within the City but in one of the Suburbs and within the Jurisdiction of the City and appointed that Place for the first Place of the Bailiage Bâ—â— in regard there happen'd since that an Alteration in the Proceedings of that Court and because the City depended upon the Abby of St. Leonard's the Abbot obtain'd this Year a Decree upon a Petition which forbid the Reformed their Exercise in that Place or upon any Lands or within any Jurisdiction of the Abby Nor did they when they took away this appoint any other Place for the Reformed but constrain'd 'em to sell the Inheritances which they had Purchasâ— in the Suburbs before they would provide 'em another Place 'T was only told 'em that the King's Officers should give 'em notice whither or no there had bin a Place of Bailiage deliver'd according to the Edict that if there were there might be one allow'd ' em By which it appear'd that the Decree had bin issued forth without any knowledge of the Cause because this Place had bin granted in Right of Bailiage by a Definitive Decree But for all that this Decree was put in Execution without any regard at all had to the Opposition which the Reformed made They also took the Opportunity to serve this Decree when Monsanglard the Minister of the Place was in his Pulpit to the end the Thing might make so much the Greater Noise and more effectually redound to the Reproach and Affront of the Reformed This Monsanglard had bin accus'd in Court for having said That at Rome they sold Remission of Sins for which the Judge of the Place Condemn'd him to the Amende Honourable and all the Consequences of that Punishment But upon his Appeal the Minister being remov'd to the Prison of Paris call'd La Conciergerie and pleading in his own justification That he took what he had said out â—ut of a Book of the Rates of the Apostolic Chamber Printed at Rome it self they were asham'd to Confirm the Sentence and Dismiss'd both him and the Process out of Court There is also another Decree to be seen of an uncertain Date set forth by the Chamber of the Edict of Rouen which forbid the Reformed to continue their Exercise in the Borough of St. Sâ—lvin because it depended upon the Abby of Almeneche Another Decree of Council ordain'd That the Church of â—…r should be pull'd down as being too near the Catholic Church after they had built another which should be neither within the Jurisdiction Signiories or Precincts of the Eccleâ—… The 20th of June came forth another Edict of the Privy Council against the Lord of Claye and Biche which forbid the Exercise within the Signiories where the Lord did not actually reside the presence of his Domestic Servants not being sufficient to Authorize it The same Decree forbid Preaching without the Place of their Residence upon pain of Corporal Punishment and Imprisonment I also find Two Decrees Cited by such as have Collected those Sorts of Acts against the Reformed the First of which was Dated the 15th of July the Other the 12th of December They Imported that the Exercises should not be perform'd in the Lord's Houses when the Minister should be absent or sick The Parlament of Bourdeaux also Signaliz'd themselves by a Decree set forth the 4th of July against the Authority of Parents For one La â—…ee dwelling in the Borough of Castres had marri'd a Catholic Wife by whom he had six or seven Children which the Wife making an ill use of her Husband's Indulgence brought up in the Catholic Religion This Woman happen'd to die before the Children had attain'd the Age of Discretion and the Father was accus'd for constraining the Children to go to the Reformed Church Upon which the Parlament interpos'd and gave the Advocate-General leave to bring in an Information and in the mean time General Prohibitions were sent abroad forbidding Parents to force their Children to go to Protestant Sermons The Bailiage of Gex was us'd after the same manner as the rest of the Kingdom where the Prince of Condé as Governor of Burgundy upon which the Bailiage depended put in execution the Prohibitions forbidding the Admission of Foreign Ministers comprehending under that Name the Inhabitants of Geneva He also equally divided the use of the Common Pastures of the Country between the Reformed and the Catholics though the Reformed were Ten for One. The greatest part of the Decrees which I have enumerated were revived again the next year But there were several to which they added other Articles very grievous and troublesome The Parlament of Rouen by a Decree of the 18th of March forbid the keeping of any Schools at St. Lo. For the Consistory had set up some according to the Exhortation of the National Synods and had also put in Regents such as those Synods approv'd The Promoter Coutances undertook this Business and upon an Appeal from the Sentence of the Ordinary Judge he procur'd a Decree which annull'd the Power of the Consistory forbid 'em for the future to give Approbation of the like nature permitted Masters only to teach to write and read in private Houses but not to instruct or Catechize not to say Public Prayers or read Lectures contrary to the Doctrine of the Romish Church Upon the 21st of April the Privy Council set forth a Decree which forbid the Exercise in the absence of the Ministers as also in any other Places then those wherein it was lawful for 'em to reside by the Edicts The same Decree forbid the hindring of Fathers Mothers Tutors Kindred Masters c. to send their Children Relations Friends Servants c. to Masters of Catholic Schools approv'd by the Ordinaries So that what with taking away from the Reformed the liberty of having Colledges what with obliging the Consistories to suffer the sending of Children to suspected Masters they who had Children to bring up were reduc'd either to let 'em grow up in ignorance or expose 'em to the Snares and Inveagling Persuasions and
Ordinances had overturn'd all ancient Customs of the Province and the Regulations themselves which had been made by the Commissioners in the Year 1612. with the Consent of the Bishop and the Catholick Inhabitants Which Regulations had been confirm'd in Council by a Decree of the 13th of December the same Year But for all that Machaut anull'd 'em without giving notice to the other side 'T is true they did not mention the Prince of Condès Name in this Complaint tho' he had at least as deep a share in these Violences as the Intendant for they were willing to pay that Respect to his Quality The Seventh and Eighth complain'd of some Decrees of the Parlament of Rennes of Roven of Bourdeaux and of the Council it self which condemn'd the Reformed either to spread Carpets before their Houses upon Procession-days in places where that Ceremony was observ'd or to contribute toward those things from which they were expresly discharg'd by the second Article of Particulars more especially as to Fraternities building or repairing of Vicaridge Houses or the Hiring of Houses wherein Mass was to be said The Places where these Sentences had been given were Vitrè in Bretaigne Claye a Village near Paris Harfleur in Normandy Bourdeaux where the Parlament had made a Decreee tho' the Partie-Chamber which was then at Agen had taken Cognizance of the Matter and given a quite Contrary Sentence The Other Places were St. Ambrois in the Diocess of Vsez Sauve and Peiroles in Lower Languedoc and Segues in Provence where Judgments had been pronounc'd by Inferiour Judges In the Ninth they complain'd of the taking away of Children for which they instanced the Daughter of one Riâ—on an Apothecary at Mamers a small Town adjoyning to Alenson another of Giles Couâ—â—â— not above two Years and a half Old which the Nuns â—â— â—â—â—â—ir an Episcopal City of Lower Britanie had brought â—â— aâ—ter the Death of her Father The Tenth and the â—â—xt Following spoke of Colledges by reason of which the Reformed had been su'd wherever they went about to â—â—â—ct any And more especially for that the Commissioners who were appointed to make a Partition of the Colledges of Royal Foundation between the Catholicks and the Reformed in the Province of Languedoc disagreeing upon this that the Catholick Commissioner had forbid the Reformed to teach Theologie in that part which was adjudg'd to their share the Council deciding the Partition had confirm'd the Sentence of the Commissioner tho' in a Case of the same nature they had giv'n a Decree in favour of the Academy of Montauban And the Pretence for so doing was for that formerly the Academy of Nimes was shar'd between that City and Mompellier in one of which they â—aught Human Learning and Morality in the other Divinity But the Synods understanding the Consequence and Inconvenience of that Division had reunited to Nimes all the Parts of that Colledge And this was enough for the Council to take from the One the new Priviledge it had obtain'd without restoring it to the Other The Twelfth and Fourteenth spoke of the Ministers from whom in several Places they had taken away the Liberty of Residing therein and whom they had depriv'd of almost all the Priviledges granted 'em by the Edicts They were assess'd in the Parish Rolls even for those Estates which they had let to farm And some there were that were constrain'd to pay the Total for the whole Parish The Thirteenth made mention of several Places where the Reformed had been constrain'd by Menaces and Violence to quit their Habitations The Fifteenth renew'd their Importunities so often repeated for the Release of those who had been condemn'd to the Gallies during the Wars The Sixteenth made Remonstrances upon the Attempts of the Parlaments and which was most Surprizing and a novelty altogether of the Intendants upon the Jurisdiction of the Party-Chambers And they instanc'd for Examples of these Attempts the Parlaments of Aix and Rennes and the Intendant of Labress who together with the Presidial Judge of the Borough had given a Sentence quite contrary to the Decree of the Party-Chamber of Grenoble In the Seventeenth Complaint was made that the Reformed were excluded from all manner of Dignities and Employments Doctorships and Degrees in the Faculty of Physick and Freedoms of Companies Moreover that they were depriv'd of their Offices which they had in possession as had befallen the Notaries and Proctors of the Bailliages in pursuance of the Decree of the 28 of April which forbid the Exercise of any Offices before the Kings Patents obtain'd The Eighteenth Complain'd of the Parlament of Pau which first began to give the Reformed of Bearn to understand that they were no longer to enjoy their Liberty They forbid 'em to toll their Bells upon-certain days which was onely to give notice of the Hours of their meeting to appeal from the Judgments of the Provincial Synods any other where then to the Parlament and to appoint Fasts in the Churches of the Province before they had obtain'd leave Lastly they desir'd the Continuance of the Money paid of his own Bounty and complain'd that the Assignments formerly given were revok'd By the Complaints renew'd in this Paper it is apparent that little notice had been taken of those that preceded but for all that the Deputies repair'd to Court and desir'd Audience Ferrand the Minister who was the Chief Person in the Deputatiun made a most flattering Harangue to the King He carry'd as High as Possibly he could the Kings Independency whom he call'd the First next to God and the Second after Him And assur'd him that whatever he said of Royal Power was the Doctrine of all the Reformed which he express'd in such Terms as made a Tacit Opposition to the Opinion of the Catholicks upon that Subject And thus the Reformed became guilty of that weakness which is Common to all that are in fear They exalted beyond Measure by flattering Aggravations that Power which as they began already to be deeply sensible was abus'd to their Mischief not considering that when they prescrib'd no bounds to the Power which oppress'd 'em they legitimated as I may so say the Conduct of their Oppressors and depriv'd themselves of their Priviledge of Complaining But all this stood 'em in no stead For the King rather chose to remain Liable to the Censures of the Pope then to be beholding for his Exemption to the Doctrine of the Hereticks The same Ferrand also made a Speech to the Cardinal in most Submissive Language and in his speeches both to the King and that Prelate he made use of the usual wish very Common in the Mouths of the Reformed but much more in use when the Catholicks speak or write to the Pope wherein they wish that God would cut off something from their own Years to make an Addition to the Life of their Pontiff But notwithstanding all their Cringing Submissions they carry'd nothing back along with 'em but fair words and the King wrote
Rennes condemn'd the Reformed in Vitre to spread Carpets before their Doors upon Procession days tho' about ten years before they had set forth an Edict quite opposite to it And upon the 14th of December the Parliament of Dijon made another which was no less singular For two of the Reformed had had a suit together The one demanded that his Cause might be sent back the Other requir'd that the Cause might be continu'd Accordingly the Parlament judg'd the continuance of it and the Pretence was that it was a case wherein the Cause of the Defendant was to be favour'd They might have said with much more Justice that in regard the Dispute was about a Franchise he who was willing to wave it could not so well do it to the Prejudice of him that endeavour'd to make use of it The sixteenth of December the privy Council condemn'd the Reformed who practis'd as Proctors in some Jurisdiction or other of Poitou to produce their Letters Patents and to justifie that they were qualified for the Employment that is to say that they were Roman Catholicks In the mean time they were forbid to practise in them This was the Language of all the Courts in the Kingdom who knew the King had by that means a design to exclude the Reformed from all petty Employments The same day came forth another decree which forbid the Exercise of the Reformed Religion at Taulignan in the Province of the Dauphinate and which would not permit 'em to bury but in the dusk of the Evening as at Paris and other great Cities under the Forfeiture of three thousand Livres I meet with also another Decree the same day which forbid the Reformed of Blois to lock up their Church-yard For the Archdeacon who is the chief Clergy-man of that City had presented a Petition to that Effect wherein he set forth that the locking up of the Church-yard would create a Jealousie in the Catholicks For that the Church-yard being advantagiously seated to command the City which was built upon the Descent of a Hill they might meet together and fortify themselves in it to the great danger of the City Which was a Precaution that signifi'd very little at a time when France was already subdu'd and patiently bore the Yoak So that there were none but the Croakers who made a little Bustle in some of the Provinces For so were the Peasants call`d who not being able to bear the Taxes and Imposts with which they were overwhelm'd nor the Vexations of the Gentry had taken Arms to defend themselves Nevertheless the Council granted those Prohibitions to the Archdeacon not because the Reason of the thing deserv'd it but because it would be an Inconvenience to the Reformed who Burying their dead in an open Place would be expos`d to the Affronts of the Rabble The next year they continu'd their Vexations of the Reformed by a thousand Squabbles and Cavils The Bishop of Oleron in Bearn and the grey Fryar Placede his Proctor attempted to put down the Exercise at Oleron St. Marie Luc and Saucede And the Parliament of Pau whither the Cause was remov'd retain'd it and in the mean time forbid the Continuance of Preaching in Places where there were not above ten Families of the Reformed in all Grounding their Proceedings upon the Answer return'd to the Paper presented by the Ecclesiasticks in 1617. upon which a Decree was made the 23th of January The Parliament of Paris also by a Decree of the 7th of September forbid La Gateliniere to suffer any Preaching in his House at Puigeniet nor in any place belonging to the Bailliage of Tours The same day likewise the Parlament of Bourdeaux sent the same Prohibitions to those of Beaulieu in Limosin at the same time forbidding 'em to hold a Synod in the City or to make use of the Common Bell for tolling to Sermon under the Forfeiture â—â— 10000 Livres 'T is true indeed that this was not ordain'd but for such a Time and till it should be order'd otherwise The Schools were the Subject of many Cavils as well as their Exercises For the Syndic of the Clergy oâ— Roven took his Opportunity when the Council stay'd aâ— Roven in regard the Chancellor had Orders to repair into Normandy and Command the Forces that were sent against the Piednuds or the People that went Barefoot for so were they call'd in that Province who were nam'd Crokers in other Places This same Syndic set forth in his Petition that the Catholicks themselves had not the Liberty to keep Schools without leave of the Chancellor of the Metropolitan Church whence it follow'd that the Reformed were not to have that Priviledge without Permission For this reason the Council upon the 6th of February set forth a Decrcee prohibiting Schools to be kept at Roven or in any other Places where there was not a Right of Exercise Upon the 10th of December the Parlament of Bourdeaux at the Instance of du Sault a Zealous Persecutor who pleaded in the room of the Advocate General by a Decree forbid Ordâ— and Grenier Regents of the Reformed Schools at St. Fri to keep 'em open for that they had intruded into 'em of their own Heads without leave of the Court The Fifteenth of the same Month wrote expresly to the Bishop of Poitiers to let him understand that 't was his Pleasure for Decorums sake that the Schools where Boys and Girls were taught should be distinct Two Months after appear'd a Judicial Sentence upon a Motion of the Kings Advocate that all Schoolmasters as well Catholicks as Reformed should be bound to take their Licenses from the Bishop and by Consequence to observe the same distinction between the Schools of both Sexes Since that the Law is very much alter'd for that by forbidding the Reformed to have any more then one School in a Place they have provided against their Observance of that Distinction As if the Profession of Heresie were a reason sufficient to deprive Hereticks of their Right to observe the Decorums of Morality The Advocate General in the Parlament of Pau bethought himself of a rare Artifice to oblige the Reformed under that Jurisdiction to give their Religion the Title of Pretended Reformed They were wont to qualifie themselves with the Addition of the Religion of the Edict or barely Of the Religion And this they observ'd in all their Publick Acts even in the Pleadings of Advocates But the Advocate General undertook to prohibit 'em that Custom and to render this Severity more Tolerable he was desirous to usher it in by some Act of Justice He shew'd how that the Catholicks commonly call'd 'em Huguenots and Hereticks which might cause great Disorder besides that the Reformed were not to be Suffer'd â—o use such Expressions as frequently came out of their Mouths â—n Conformity therefore to this Request the Parlament set forth a Decree forbidding the Catholicks to call the Reformed Huguenots or Hereticks and prohibiting
left us then by imitating his Example who had rais'd it from extream Desolation to the Highest Pitch of Splendour Wherein we have so happily succeeded that no occasion of complaint has presented it self to us for which we have not provided as well to the Content of our Subjects as it was possible for us to do and particularly those of the pretended Reformed Religion as well by the Answers which we have order'd to be given to their Remonstrances which they have presented to us as by sending Persons of Quality into all the Provinces of this Kingdom with Commission and Power to see executed the Edict of Nantes the Private Articles Regulations and other Conâ—essions granted during the Reign of our Deceased Lord and Father â—s to whatever yet remain'd farther to be executed And by this means to remove all Apprehensions under pretence of which any of our said Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion were Licenc'd to hold extraordinary Assemblies without our Permission which would have rais'd Fears and Jealousies in others against which we are willing to provide for the maintaining of Peace Union and a right Understanding happily settl'd among 'em and preserv'd by the said Edict and the exact Observation thereof with the Advice and in the Presence of the Queen Regent our thrice honoured Lady and Mother the Princes of the Blood other Princes and Officers of the Crown being fully inform'd and assur'd of the good in general of our said Subjects their Zeal and Fidelity in their Obedience towards us and desiring also that they should be favourably us'd have of our special Grace and Favour full Power and Royal Authority remitted and abolish'd and by these Presents do remit and abolish the Offence by them committed who call'd and were present at the same Assemblies held without our Permission in any of the Provinces of this our Kingom as also whatever past before and since We will that they be wholly and fully discharg'd of the same and we expresly forbid our Advocate General or his Substitutes to make any Inquisition or Prosecution after the same Nevertheless to the end we may take care that no Assemblies for the Future be so licentiously call'd as being expresly prohibited by our Edicts and the Regulations upon these Matters by the Deceased King our thrice Honoured Lord and Father to which it is ouâ— Pleasure that all our said Subjects should conform themselves according to the 82d Article of the Edict of Nantes and the ordinary Article of the 16. of March 1606. together with the Answer made the 19 of August ensuing to the Paper presented by the General Deputies of those of the said Religion the extracts of which are hereunto annex'd under the Seal of our Chancery have made and do make Inhibitions and Prohibitions to all our Subjects of the said Religion for the Future to summon any Congregations or Assemblies to Consult or Treat therein of any Politick Affairs without express leave first from us obtain'd upon Pain of being punish'd as breakers of the Edicts and disturbers of the Publick Peace Granting 'em nevertheless full Liberty to call and hold Provincial and National Colloquies and Synods according to what has been formerly granted 'em yet so as not to admit into 'em any other Persons then the Ministers and Elders there to Treat of their Doctrine and Ecclesiastical Discipline only upon Pain of Forfeiting the Priviledges of holding those Assemblies and answering for it by their Moderators in their proper Persons and Names So we send to you that you cause these Presents to be Read and Register'd and that all our said Subjects may enjoy the Benefit of what is contain'd therein and farther that you cause these our said Present Letters to be exactly perform'd and observ'd through the full extent of your Jurisdictions without permitting or suffering any Breach or Infringement thereof Farther we command and enjoyn the Governours and our Lieutenant Generals particular Governours and Lieutenants in the Government of the Provinces and Cities within the extent of your Jurisdiction their Mayors Jurats Sheriffs and Consuls to take special care of the same And to the first of our faithful and beloved Counsellours the Master of the ordinary Requests of our Houshold Counsellours of our said Court of Parliament residing upon the Places and others our Justices and Officers with the soonest to inform and give us notice of all the said Breaches and in the mean time to proceed against the Offenders by the usual Ways and according to the Tenour of the Edicts and Ordinances For such is our Will and Pleasure Given at Paris April 24. 1612. and in the second Year of our Reigns LOVIS And lower by the King being in Council De Lomenie Seal'd with the Great Seal of Yellow Wax upon a single Label Register'd Heard and the Kings Advocate moving for it without the Approbation of the Cognisance attributed to the Masters of the Requests of the Houshold that are not within the Terms of the Ordinances At Paris in Parlament May 25. 1612. Sign'd Voisin A Declaration of the King in Favour of those of the Pretended Reformed Religion confirming the Preceding Declaration of April 24. Given at Paris July 11. 1612. and veriâ—ia August 8. LEWIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr to all our Beloved and Faithful Counsellours holding our Court of Parlament at Paris Greeting Thoô we have sufficiently made known by our Letters Patents of the 13th of April last past what our Intention was toward the generality of our Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion of whose Affection and Fidelity we have always had an entire Assurance And thô the Pardon and Amnesty contain'd in our said Letters Patents were not sent but at the Instance and Supplication of some particular Persons of the said Religion who fear'd to be prosecuted for that contrary to the Edicts and Ordinances they met in Assemblies held contrary to our Permission and other Acts since committed and among others the Listing of Souldiers without our Authority to free 'em from Suspition and the Trouble they were in upon that occasion there being some amongst 'em against whom Informations have been exhibited in some Chambers of the Edict nevertheless we are given to understand that this Favour has been taken by some of the Religion for a desire to lay some blemish upon the Generality of 'em and not for a Gracious Remedy ordain'd for particular Persons who prudently Judg'd how much they stood in need of it For these Reasons with the Advice of the Queen Regent our thrice Honoured Lady and Mother the Princes of our Blood other Peers and Officers of the Crown and Principal Members of our Council being desirous to take away all pretence from all Persons whatever who may have any evil Intention and to satisfie our good Subjects of the Reformed Religion who adding to their Zeal for their Religion that Obedience which is due to us have no other aim or design then to enjoy in â—eare
our Kingdom under the benefits of our said Edicts Articles and Delarations made in their favour which it is our pleasure shall be always inviolably follow'd and observ'd without the least infringment and which as occasion requires we have all along confirm'd and by these Presents confirm Enjoyning all our Officers to prosecute and punish the Infringers thereof as refractory Persons and Disturbers of the publick Peace Thus we command all our beloved and faithful Counsellors holding our Courts of Parlament Bailiffs Seneschals c. that they cause these our present Letters Declaratory to be read publish'd and register'd c. and that the Contents thereof be inviolably kept and preserv'd In Testimony whereof we have caus'd our Seal to be affix'd Given at Paris July 20. 1616. in the 7th Year of our Reign Sign'd LEWIS By the King in Council De Lomenie Seal'd with the Great Seal in Yellow wax upon a double Label Read publish'd and register'd upon the Motion of the Kings Advocate General and Copies order'd to be sent to all the Bayliwicks and Seneschalships to be there publish'd and register'd c. At Paris in Parlament August 4. 1616. Sign'd Voisin A Declaration of the King containing a Confirmation of the Edict of Loudun and the Private Articles of it Given at Paris the last of September 1616. and verify'd October 25. the same Year LEWIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr to all c. As it has been an extraordinary Grief to us when we were constrain'd upon just cause and consideration concerning our own and the security of our Kingdom to order our Cousin the Prince of Condè to be seiz'd and on the other side were extreamly overjoy'd and contented when we understood that the Princes Dukes Peers Officers of the Crown and others who withdrew from our Court upon that Accident all desir'd the Peace and Tranquillity of our Kingdom and to satisfie us with their Actions of which having duly inform'd us and of the Occasion of their absence and being convinc'd of the reasons that might lessen the confidence which we had in 'em We remain'd so well satisfi'd that there was not the least ill Opinion left in our minds of their deportment Nevertheless ' forasmuch as by our Letters Patents Declaratory upon the Decree for the seizing our said Cousin by reason of the General and particular Expressions and Circumstances therin mention'd it might be otherwise judg'd of their Intentions as also that their Absence and withdrawing from our Person might have render'd 'em suspected of things not consisting with their Duty and the Quality of that allegiance which they owe us for these Reasons being desirous to preserve their Honour and their Reputation entire we make known of our own proper motion full Power and Royal Authority and with the Advice of the Queen our thrice honour'd Lady and Mother Princes of our blood other Princes c. and We have declared and do declare that neither by our said Declaration nor by any terms or general or special Word therein contain'd we either meant or do mean to comprehend the said Princes Dukes Peers Officers of the Crown Lords Officers of our Sovereign Courts or others of what Quality or Condition soever they be suspected and departing from Paris upon the day of the Seizure and Detention of our said Cousin and since the abovemention'd Accident who have made us sensible of the sincerity of their Intentions and their Resolutions still to continue in their Obedience to us whom we hold and look upon as our Good Faithfull and Affectionate Subjects and Servants no way consenting nor partakers of the Facts contain'd in the said Declaration and it is our Pleasure that they enjoy our Graces Favours Benefits Honours and Governments and that they exercise their Employments and Offices as they did before and as belongs to their abovemention'd Preferments notwithstanding all the Interdictions and Letters which might have been set forth to the contrary Moreover it is our Pleasure that the Edict not long since made at Loudun be maintain'd with all the Articles as well General as particular and private granted in pursuance of the said Edict and that our Subjects may enjoy the benefit of ' em To that end we command our faithful and beloved Councellours c. That they cause these presents to be verify'd and register'd fulfill'd and observ'd according to their form and Tenour for such is our Pleasure Given at Paris September the last 1616. and 7th of our Reign Siign'd LEWIS And below by the King Mangot Seal'd with the Great Seal of Yellow wax upon a double Label Read Publish'd and Register'd upon the Motion of the Kings Advocate General and Copies order'd to be sent to the Bailywicks and Seneschalships c. To be there also publish'd and register'd c. At Paris in Parlament October 25. 1616. Sign'd Du Tillet A Declaration of the King against the Vnlawful Assemblies of any of the Pretended Reformed Religion at Castle Jaloux and Bearn Given at Paris May 21. 1618. Verify'd May 25. LEwis by the grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. Upon Information given us the last Month of April that some of our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion took upon 'em contrary and in contempt of the Edicts of Pacification and several Declarations by us set sorth to summon and hold unlawful Assemblies and such as were by us prohibited and also that they had appointed one of several Provinces to be held in the City of Chatel-Jaloux in our Country of Guyenne we took an Occasion to expedite our Letters Patents dated April 20th by which we declar'd all Assemblies that should be summon'd by our said Subjects of the said pretended Reformed Religion other then such as were permitted by our Edicts and for which they had express leave from us to be unlawful and contrary to our Authority and Service and as such we forbid 'em upon pain of Disobedience ordering Prosecution against the Authors of the same and all those that should go thither and be present there as Infringers of our Edicts and disturbers of the publick Peace Which our said Letters having bin publish'd and register'd in our Court of Parlament at Bourdeaux and Chamber of Edict at Nerac our Officers of the said Societies had taken such care for the observance of 'em that the Governour and Consuls of the said City of Chatel-Jaloux and they who were entrusted with the command of several other Cities of the said Province held by those of the pretended Reformed Religion had obstructed and refus'd the holding of the said Assembly and for that reason would have enforced those that were deputed thither to have departed But we have bin inform'd within these few days that the more factious among 'em finding that by reason of our said Declaration they could not with freedom and safety hold the said Assembly which they had contriv'd to be such as they desir'd to have it resolv'd to call it
but desire also their Conversion for which we continually offer up our Prayers to God For which Reason we exhort all our said Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion to lay aside all Passion that they may be capable of receiving the Light of Heaven and be fitted to return to the Bosom of the Church in which for these eleven hundred Years together the Kings our Predecessours have liv'd without Change or Interruption Not being able in any thing whatever to give them a greater Testimony of our Paternal Affection then to admonish them to observe the same way to Salvation which we observe and follow our selves III. We ordain that all the Parishes of the said Countrey be provided with good sufficient and capable Curates by those to whom the Patronage of the same belongs and that things be so order'd that they have all a sufficient revenue to maintain 'em with Reputation in the Discharge of their Functions as is set down in our Ordinances of January last or other means more commodious as shall be adjudg'd proper by the Commissioners by Us deputed to that end IV. We have forgiven pardon'd and buri'd in Oblivion and do forgive pardon and bury in Oblivion to the said Duke of Rohan and to all the Inhabitants of the said Cities and Places as also to those of the Flat Countries who adher'd to 'em all things past from July 21. 1627. to the Day of the Publication in every Seneschalship of the Articles of Grace which we granted 'em the 27th of June last We have discharg'd 'em and do discharge 'em of all Acts of Hostility raising of Arms hiring of Souldiers enterprises as well by Sea as Land General and Particular Assemblies more especially the Assembly of Nimes seizure of Ecclesiastical Rents Royal or Private Money Coining of Money of what Alloy or Stamp soever Printed Libels Popular Tumults and Commotions Riots Violences Enterprizes upon the two Cities of St. Amant and Chasteaux du Seigneur the taking of Chasteau St. Stephen Vaâ— Franchesque and Florac Also the Murders and other Accidents iâ—ppening at the taking of St. Gerâ—â—ter and Castres in January lasâ— Also the Inhabitants of Vsez for the Murder of the Sieur du Flos And the Consuls of the said Place for the Decrees put forth against 'em by the Parlament of Tholouse and Chamber of the Edict at Beziers Also the Sieurs Daâ—bais Jacques Genvier Paul Saucier and Andrew Pelissier For the Nomination and Designation made of their Persons to be Consuls of Nimes in 1627. and their executing the Office during that Year Together with all the Consuls and Political Counsellours and the Prothonotary of the Consular House for the Prosecution against 'em by reason of the said Consulship of Nimes as well in our Council as in the said Court of Parlament Chamber of the Edict and Court of Aids at Mompellier Also the Inhabitants of Anduze for the Murder of the Sieur de Mantaille and the Condemnations of the said Consuls and particular Inhabitants of the said City during these Troubles The Inhabitants of Millaud for what was done against the Sieur de Roquefavas and discharge 'em of the Restitution of 4000. Livers taken from the Jacobins The Sieur de 〈◊〉 for encouraging the Inhabitants of Alets in their Breach of 〈◊〉 Conducts Impositions and raising of Money establishment of Courts of Justice Officers and Counsellours through the Provinces and executing of Sentences past in those Courts in Matters Civil and Criminal and Regulations of Municipal Constitutions and their executing their Offices in the said Cities when they were in Rebellion together with the Advocates that practis'd in their Employments before the said Judges Officers and Counsellours set up in the said Cities Also those who had no permission from Us to reside and practise in the said Cities during the said Time All Voyages to and Intelligences Negotiations Treaties Contracts held and made with the English by the said Cities and Inhabitants and by the said Duke of Rohan and Sieur de Soubize as well with the said English as with the King of Spain and Duke of Savoy and Letters written to the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland Also the Sieurs Clausel and Du Cross who were employ'd thither Sales of moveable Goods whether Ecclesiastical or others cutting down of high Trees Demesne Woods or others Taking of Booties Ransoms or any other sort of Money by them taken by reason of the said Troubles melting of Artillery seizing of Ammunition Dismantling and Demolishing of Cities Castles and Towns Also the taking of Mervez Aymargues and other Burnings of Churches and Houses by Order and Authority of the said Duke of Rohan and from all Criminal Prosecutions by Reason of the same not being prejudicial to the Civil Interests of the said Religious Ecclesiasticks in respect of which they shall apply themselves for Justice to the Chamber of the Edict We discharge 'em also from all Leases and Farms of all Ecclesiastical Benefices and Estates of which the said Ecclesiasticks were depriv'd by the Chieftains who had the General Command Our Pleasure in like manner is that they enjoy the full Contents of the Preceding Amnesties and of all that has been acted and negotiated since the abovemention'd Time notwithstanding all Proceedings at Law Decrees and Sentences issu'd out against 'em in the mean time even the Decrees themselves of the Parlament of Tholouse and Bourdeaux and Chamber of Beziers and others against the said Duke of Rohan to whom we will that all his Honours and Dignities which he enjoy'd before shall be preserv'd prohibiting all Prosecutions in the Cases aforesaid In respect of which we impose perpetual silence upon all our Advocates General and their Substitutes excepting always those execrable Cases reserv'd and excepted by the Edict of Nantes and others subsequent of the Civil Interest by Reason of the Fact committed at Vozenobre and Tournac and of the moveables which shall be found in specie tak'n from those who were under Obedience to the King V. And in pursuance of our Intentions to maintain all our Subjects professing the Pretended Reformed Religion in the free Exercise of the said Religion and in the Enjoyment of the Edicts to them granted Our farther Pleasure is that they enjoy the Benefits of the said Edict of Nantes and other Edicts Articles and Declarations register'd in our Parlaments and that in pursuance of the same they have the free Exercise of the said Religion in all Places where it has been allow'd ' em VI. That all Churches and Church-yards that have been taken from 'em or demolish'd shall be restor'd 'em with Liberty to repair 'em if there be any necessity and that they deem it convenient VII We ordain that all the Fortifications of the said Cities shall be raz'd and demolish'd only the enclosure of the Walls within the space of three Months by the sedulity of the Inhabitants In whom we more especially confiding forbear to secure the said Cities either with Garrisons or Cittadels The
to the Catholic Counsellors of the Chamber of Guyenne The Counsellors of the Chamber of Castres fâ—rbid to wear Red Robes The pretended Possession of the Ursulines of Loudun Rediculous Effects of Exorcisms The death of a Priest accus'd of having bewitch'd his Nuns New Vexations about the Annexes An Extraordinary Sessions in Poiton Affrightsâ— of the Churches An Important Decree upon several Articles Another troublesom Decree about meeting the Sacrament The Church of St. Maixant Demolish'd Talon's manner of Pleading A distinction between the Right of Exercise and the Right of the Church Several Decrees of the Grand Assizes against the Reformed 1635. Persecution rais'd by Cacherat against the Churches of Normandy Precedency adjudg'd to the Catholic Councellors of the Chamber of Castres The Colledge taken from the Reformed of Loudun Exercise forbid at Paroâ— Order of the Intendant of Poitou about Annexes The Reformed of Metz forbid to have a Colledge The Duke of Bouillon changes his Religion 1636. An Assembly of the Clergy A furious Speech of the Bishop of Orleans Odious Accusations I. Accusation for openly violating the Edicts Daillés Books II. Accusation for having taken away from the 20th Psalm the Prayer for the King A venomous Aggravation III. Accusation for blaspheming the Holy things An Insnaring Question of the Missionaries The Bishop's Conclusion A Dispute upon the 2d Accusation between Daillé and Muis. Edict against Blasphemers Effects of that Declaration The first Accusation reviv'd The Clergie's Papers Answer to the 16th Article To the 32d To the 33d To the 26th Particular Exercises forbidden at Villiers se bel The Exercise forbid at Corbigni Other Regulations A Decree to the prejudice of Paternal Authority Bailiage of Gex 1637. Schooles forbidden A Vexatious Decree of the Privy Council upon several Articles Another Decree touching Patents for Officeâ— Exercise forbid aâ—â—tin at Claye â—…se of â—â—â—â—ty forbid at â—â—ris The House of the Propagation of Faith and a remarked lâ— piece of Injustice The Conversion of Francis Cupif Regulations against the Reformed of Pons A National Synod At Alenson The Commissioners Speech And his Instructions The Moderators Answer Article oâ— Annexes Payment of Ministers Baptism Deputies how treated at Court and their Harangs Nomination of General Deputies Particular Deputies Militiere's Projects Condemn'd 1638. The King puts France under the Protection of the Holy Virgin Death of the D. of Rohan A Remarkable Ordinance of the Intendants of Languedoc Presidial Court at Nerac Sick People tormented by the Monks An Edict of the D. of Bouillon in Favour of the Reformed of Sedan The present King born 1639. New Regulations for Villiers le Bell and the Dauphinate Statutes of the University of Poitiers An Order of Judge Mage of Mountauban Particular Injustices at Rochechonard At Vitrè and Dijon Practice of Notaries forbid Taulignan Chucrh-yard at Blois Croakers 1640. Decree of the Parlament of Pau. Schools Singular Artifice to oblige the Reformed to call themselves pretended Reformed Blasphemies pretended A Pretended Sacriledge Partition of Voices at Castres and the Consequences of it Marriage of converted Priests Precedency adjudg'd to the Catholicks 1641. A new decree about meetting the Sacrament Vexation of some Officers at Castres Molestation of the Consistory of Castres Exercises Schools prohibited Burials Blasphemies and Prophanations Offices Priests and Monks changing their Religion 1642. The Ancient Church of Vitrè pull'd down Exercises forbid at Gex At Sancerre And at Chauvigny Exercise forbid at Quercy Cavil about a Church-yard At St. Savin and Antibe Distance between Church-yard and Church-yard Sepulchre violated restor'dâ—â— â—â— Tonneboutonne Offices Schools Blasphemies and Prophanations Books prosecuted Death of the Cardinal
the Match was not concluded The Cardinal therefore seeing the Treaty of that Alliance broken off and England disgusted was willing to make the best of the Conjuncture and to fasten that Crown to the Interests of France by the Marriage of a French Princess The second of Henry the Fourth's Daughters had bin deny'd the Prince of Wales who had demanded her while Lewis the Thirteenth's Council was in the House of Austria's pay and the Prince of Piemont was preferr'd before him But the Cardinal altering the Design had chang'd the Maxims of the Court and he thought good to make the first Offers to a Prince for whom they had had so little value before Nor did he find any great trouble in causing the Overtures to be accepted William de Hugues Archbishop of Ambrun had a great share in that Negotiation and if there be any credit to be given to the Relation of what he did in England which he drew up by the Cardinal's Command he had almost brought the Religion and Kingdom of England to the brink of a general Revolution He relates that before the Cardinal came into favour he had bin sent into England to persuade the King to return to the Pope's Communion That he disguis'd himself to go incognito and took upon him the Name and Habit of a Counsellor of Grenoblâ— That at his arrival he found the Duke of Buckingham inform'd both of his Disguise and his Commission of which both the King and the Prince had giv'n him notice That the King appear'd to him fully resolv'd to embrace the Catholic Religion That he came to an agreement with him upon the greatest part of the Articles in controversie more particularly concerning the Soveraignty of the Pope over all Christians That upon this Occasion he wrote a large Letter to the Pope that it was sent privately by an English Gentleman who was a zealous Catholic That he promis'd to declare himself openly so soon as he had taken order for certain things which were concluded on That the principal reason of his making so many delays was the desire he had to be sure of the King of Denmark his Brother-in-law to the end he might be the better able to prevent the Troubles that might arise by reason of the Changes in his Kingdoms That he had invited him under other Pretences to take a Voyage into England and that when he came he made no question but to convert him too That he desir'd the Pope to suffer the English Lords to enjoy the Church-Lands that were now become their Inheritance for fear they should oppose his Designs if he went about to disturb 'em in their Possession That he promis'd there should be no farther â—earches made after any Priests that should be sent into the Kingdom either by the Pope or the King of France That he excluded the Jesuits only from that favour because he lookt upon em as the Authors and Contrivers of the Powder-plot by which they design'd to have blown him up in his Parlament-House That he shew'd the Archbishop several Favours while he was in England That he gave him leave to Confirm in the French Embassador's House above 18000 Catholics who were exempted from all prosecution upon it tho there were many of the English that saw the performance of the Ceremony so little did the Archbishop care to be openly seen That some of the more Zealous Protestants having made their Complaints to the King about it the King stopt their mouths by telling 'em it was done with his permission That the Duke of Buckingham had promis'd to imitate the King his Master and that he was really engag'd in the Intreage In a word The Archbishop had Letters from him which shew'd him too deeply concern'd to believe that all this Negotiation was no more then a feigned Business This was the Condition of Affairs when they began to treat of the Marriage of the Prince of Wales and it may be easily judg'd by the bending of the King's Inclinations that they should not meet with any great opposition So that the Cardinal obtain'd what he pleas'd himself and drew from him Conditions more advantageous to the Catholicks then those which the King of Spain had demanded Also after all that was concluded there was a way found to add new Clauses which the King was so complaisant as to condescend to without any hesitation 'T is true Berulle who was afterwards made a Cardinal being sent to Rome to sollicite the Dispensation suffer'd some things to be slipt in which went a little farther then what had been agreed upon But they who drew it up were easily pardon'd upon making a shew of being sorry for it and imputing it to the simplicity of the Prelate whose Zeal for his Religion had made him exceed the Bounds of his Power But the Court of England being in a good humour to refuse nothing suffer'd her self to be vanquish'd without the least Resistance and was willing to take any Excuses for the Alterations in good part But the unexpected Death of King James put a stop to the Rapid Course of the Prosperities of the Catholic Religion and suspended for some time the accomplishment of the Marriage propounded But Charles his Successor would not retract from his Engagements during the Life of his Father so that the Marriage was accomplish'd to the great satisfaction of the Court of Rome England in some measure beheld the Catholic Religion sprouting up agen in her Bosom For the new Queen was permitted to have a Chappel in all the Royal Houses to keep in her Family a Bishop and twenty eight Priests without any preferring one Order before another that they should have liberty to wear the Habit of of their Order publickly and that all her Domestic Servants should be of the same Religion besides that she should have the Education of her Children till they came to be Thirteen years of Age. But God permitted the Jesuits to spoil all by their unquiet and Seditious Politicks and to put the Kingdom into such terrible Jealousies of their Practises that order was taken for the suppressing ' em However the Treaty of this Marriage was spun out till May 1625. tho because I would not interrupt the series of the Story I was forc'd to insert it in this place In the mean time there were several particular Affairs that were regulated after a different manner among which that of the City of Pamiers in opposition to her Bishop was one of the most considerable That Prelate took upon him to dispose of the Consulship and Council of that City and to make himself Master of the sole Power of rating the Taxes upon the Inhabitants And his Zeal for Religion serv'd for a Pretence to justify his undertaking He would have no body in those Employments but Catholics and the Parlament of Thâ—louse whither he had remov'd the Cause were not wanting to â—our his Pious Design But for the bringing it to pass there â—s a necessity
that the Laws must be violated and that the â—â—ctions of Officers must be carried on after a new manner regard that otherwise the Reformed who were richer more â—â—â—siderable and more numerous then the Catholics would â—â—redly carry all before 'em by the plurality of Voices As â—â— any respect to the Laws that was ne're able to stop the â—â—ergy when the violation of 'em serv'd for the good of their â—â—airs And it was the Bishop's aim to prefer none but his â—â—ends and his Kindred under pretence of excluding the Hereâ—…s Nevertheless the Catholics were so wise as not to â—â—ble their Religion and the Civil Government together and â—â—derstood their own Interest so well as to join with the Reâ—med against the Bishop So that after all the Cavils imagiâ—â—â—le that Affair was determin'd and the Catholics as well as â—â— Reformed bore an equal share of the charges of the City They began at the same time to elude the Donations and â—gacies which the Reformed bequeath'd to their Ministers â—â—d their Poor And the most dangerous Cavil of which they thought themselves upon this occasion was that they refus'd suffer the Consistories to name Syndics and Proctors to proâ—ute the Effect of such Contracts and Wills in their own â—â—â—es So that those Acts were made invalid by refusing Juâ—â—e to those who were nominally empowr'd by authentic Letâ—â—s of Attorney to sue for the payment of the money when â—e The Pretence was That the Right of empowring Attorâ—es did not belong but to authoriz'd Corporations and thereâ—â—â—e they would needs have the Churches and their Consistories be abominable Communities which were not to enjoy the â—â—e Priviledges with others But this Cavil was so contrary the Edict which in the 42d Article of Particulars declar'd express terms That such Suits might be prosecuted by a â—octor in the Name of the Body and Community of those of the â—â—formed Religion who were therein concern'd that 't was imâ—â—ssible to erect it into a Law all of a sudden and if there were â—y Inferior Judges where that Cavil was favour'd the Supeâ—â—or Judges redress'd it Thus the Judge of Saintes being desirous to have hinder'd Gaillon a Proctor belonging to the Coâ—sistory of the place from suing for the Donations and Legacâ—â— left for the support of Ministers Doctors Scholars and poâ—â— People of the Reformed Religion there was a Decree of the Council bearing date the 19th of March which maintain'd the Reformed of Saintes in the enjoyment of the Priviledges granâ—â— by the Edict tho it be true indeed that the Decree added thâ—â— Condition that the King's Advocate or Proctor should be pâ—â—sent at the giving up of the Accompts But in revenge they frustrated the effects of a Favour whâ—â—â— the Reformed had bin a long time solliciting that is to say thâ—â— the Ministers might be discharg'd from paying Taxes True is that about twelve years before there was a Declaration â—â— forth in their Favour but the Court had so little desire that should be executed that there was not the least care taken â—â— have it enregister'd in the Sovereign Courts so that the General Deputies after they had lost all their Sollicitations and thâ— extraordinary Pains were forc'd to present a Petition upon thâ— same subject Upon which they obtain'd a Decree of the 17â—â— of July which exempted the Ministers only from being tax'd â— their Moveables Pensions and Salaries but which left eâ—â—liable in respect of their Inheritances and immoveable Good which indeed was to leave 'em to the discretion of the Asseâ—â—â— and Collectors In short that Decree was the occasion of thousand Suits in regard that Acts of that nature are never look upon as Law but only as Regulations upon particular matter of Fact The least distaste of a Collector was enough to obligâ—â—â— those who challenge the enjoyment of a Priviledge to cause thâ— setting forth of another Decree which might personally conâ—eâ—â— 'em and the same Brabbles might be renew'd every year In the mean time Spain having observ'd the change of thâ— French Politics and well foreseeing that there would be an alterâ—tion also of the general face of affairs whereby she should become a great loser it she did not cut out some work within doors for the French she resolv'd not to let slip the opportunity which thâ— Discontents among the Reformed gave her to renew the Ciâ—â—â— War The Peace of Mompelier was so openly violated thâ—â— there was not one Article of it left unbrok'n so that all thâ—â— Churches had reason to complain But Rochel that notwithâ—â—â—â—ding all her Submissions had not obtain'd the demolishing of â—t Lewis and saw herfelf as it were blockt up at a distance by â—â—ces quarter'd in places proper to disturb and annoy her at same time struck the rest of the Reformed Cities both with â—â— and Terror They beheld with sorrow the approaching â—â— that powerful City and were in fear of some design in â—d to destroy 'em all so soon as Rochel which was the â—â—t important shou'd once be ruin'd So that all those who â—â—ev'd that the ruin of the Reformed Religion would prove a â—essary consequence of the subduing those Cities which were condition to support it expected some deliverance from â—ven for the recovery of their Affairs But no body minded â—â—t a helping hand to the work only they wish'd that Proviâ—ce would take care of their security without ' em However Duke of Rohan and Soubise his Brother meditated great â—â—gns of which the consequences would have prov'd no less â—arkable had they bin well seconded 'T was said that the â—â—râ—s secretly spurr'd 'em on and flatter'd 'em with hopes considerable Succor if they could procure a general Rising â—hâ— whole Party but that was a Condition which the Duke â—â—â—lâ— not undertake to perform 'T is true that finding himâ—… abandon'd by almost all the world he gave an ear to cerâ—… Overtures of a Treaty propounded to him by the Council of â—â— not out of any hopes that that same Court would assist â— in good earnest but in some measure to raise the spirits of Party and that he might be in a condition to make an adâ—â—ageous Peace The â—ukes of Rohan and Soubise then were the only persons â—â—enew'd the War and the reason that determin'd 'em to it â— because the Court made open preparations for the Siege Râ—â—â—l There was a Fleet getting ready at Blaver a small â— upon the Coast of Bâ—etany to block up the City by Sea and give em of all supplies of Relief which chiefly consisted in â— keeping the Sea open The Rochellers on the other side â—mâ—d at these Preparations which they well knew were aim'd â—â—â—m implor'd the Aid of the Duke and his Brother who conâ—â—d together to ward off the Blow if it were possible They agreed that Soubise should rig out some Vessels under pretencâ— of a long Voyage that he should endeavour to surprize those that were making ready at Blaver that if he succeeded thâ—