of his sonnes was commanded to leaue the Court. At the same time as our enemies hastened our persecution by all kind of meanes as seditious sermons instructing of confessions dâ—famatory libels calumnies and impostures against our fidelitie impression of the Kingshaâ—e to our Religion and their declarations of warre published against vs which haue wrought these effects It happened in the citie of Tours the 19 of April last that one Martin le Noir not long afore conuerted to our Religion for the which he suffered many iniuries and reproches so farre that the people hauing made an effigie of straw and sometimes calling it by his name sometimes by the name of Martin Luther did burne it publikly and no iustice could euer be obtained for so outragious an insolence died and as he was caried to his graue the people made a head and after they had abused his corpse and those that accompanied it after they had committed all sorts of indignities and in humanities in the digging vp of his graue seeking to do worse stirred a more violent sedition So that hauing broken down and razed a house neare the Church-yard they run to the Church being halfe a mile thence they fire it they enter the Sextons house and they pill and ransacke it and being increased to the number of a fearfull multitude they continue three whole dayes together in firing and pulling downe our Church without the Magistrates interposition and comming too late he was not able to represse so raging a violence From thence the example of this sedition passeth presently vnto the Towne of Poictiers where the people transported with like furie haue razed to the very ground the walls of the Church-yard where they of the Religion bury their dead broke and battered all the sepulchers and had committed the like violence vpon the Church if the more carefull Magistrate had not stopped their course Now the order of our enemies counsels and actions hitherto and chiefly these tragicall and horrid vprores the great preparatiues for warre the vniust and rigorous dealing with Monsieur de la Force and his sonnes contrary to the late assurance with the croupes ready vnder Monsieur d'Espernons command for the inuasion of Bearn witnessed and shewed sufficiently that he houre of a generall persecution was come and that the dessigne of our ruine so long a hatching now appeared Wherefore our enemies that their perfidies might play their part and performe their vtmost promise that the King will see iustice done vpon the sedition of Tours and to take away all suspition elsewhere or to lull asleepe the more confident sort they cause a declaration to be confirmed in all Courts of Parliament the 27 of April shewing that though the King would chastise some of his subiects of the Religion such as are termed rebels and seditious yet he meant and promised to keepe his Edicts with the rest as long as they should remain in their obedience and that he would maintaine and preserue their libertie and safetie according to the contents of the Edicts And finally they assure Monsieur de la Force that if he would leaue Bearn he should no sooner send Monsieur d'Espernon word of it but he should presently withdraw himselfe Now we will shew what was the effect of these promises We will begin with the last which was first violated After Monsieur de la Force had with drawne himselfe and had certified Monsieur d'Espernon of his disarming and retrait by the Baron d'Arros presently Monsieur d'Espernon entred the country with his armie and seised all townes and places where they of our Religion were most in number filled them with strong garisons razed the Castle of Montanay and brought the people to such a lamentable estate that most of them yea the chiefest haue bin forced to flie to quit their goods and country diuers vnarmed and naked persons were murthered and the rest remaine at this present restrained vnder a miserable seruitude suffering all sorts of iniuries and cruelties On the other side the King setting forward for the execution of the menaces published against this Citie after he had spred abroad his assurances that he went not against his subiects of the Religion in generall and made particular promises to the Gouernours of some of our places of safetie that comming to them he would innouate nothing passing by Tours where the sedition being renewed and growne stronger and the Commissarie sent to execute iustice driuen out of the Towne the prisoners fetcht out of prison by violence the houses of those of our Religion who frighted with the first tumult had withdrawne themselues pild and ransackt onely the Kings reuerence violated hath with much ado bin expiated by the execution of fiue poore beggerly rogues and that yet to entertaine their credulitie whom our enemies would feed with hope that the keeping of Edicts should be continued His Maiestie came to Saumur where Monsieur du Plessis relying vpon the expresse promises made him that nothing should be altered in the gouernment and vpon the truth of the Declaration published three weekes before hauing opened the gates of the Citie and Castle to the King experimented to our great dammage the frauds and perfidies of our enemies who induced the King to take away the gouernment from him and to put a garison of foure hundred souldiers of his Gard in the Castle and another in the Fauxbourg ' of the greene Crosse and by this meanes to make vs lose this place of safetie With what horror and indignation can all France see the enemies of her peace and the Kings seruice abuse thus perfidiously his name and word to commit these so detestable disloyalties It is but ten moneths ago that by his Maiesties expresse grant the keeping of places of safetie was continued vnto vs for foure yeares Of all others the citie of Saumur was one of the most important for our safetie It had bin in our custody euer since the late King being King of Nauarre requested by Henrie the third came accompanied with those of our Religion to deliuer him from the captiuitie and tyrannie of the leagne That Towne was giuen him for his passage and it remained thenceforth in our keeping as a token of our good seruices and fidelitie to this Crowne This place seated on the Loire was to serue vs in the persecutions and confusions which the enemies of this Estate haue now stirred vp for a retrait or commodious passage for so many poore distressed flocks to saue themselues from the future furie of fire and sword This Towne during the peace of these later yeares was a nursery of the Church and was the seate of a flourishing Vniuersitie For these causes our enemies crueltie hath caused the King to begin this warre in the which they carry him headlong against vs by this terrible blow so great that to giue it vs with greater facilitie all the precedent calumnies all the pretexts of disobedience and rebellion all the particular declarations against
A DECLARATION MADE BY THE REFORMED CHVRCHES OF FRANCE AND THE PRINCIPALITIE OF BEARN Concerning their vniust persecution by the Enemies of the Estate and of their Religion Together with their lawfull and necessarie defence Acording to the French Copie printed in Rochell M. DC XXI A DECLARATION made by the Reformed Churches of France and the Principalitie of Bearn Concerning their vniust persecution by the enemies of the Estate and of their Religion Together with their lawfull and necessary defence WE the Deputies in the Generall Assembly of the Reformed Churches of France and the Principalitie of Bearn persecuted by the enemies of the Estate and of their Religion who abuse the Kings mind and conscience seeing that to our great griefe we are constrained by the violence of oppression to haue recourse vnto naturall and lawfull meanes by a necessarie defence to preserue the libertie of our consciences and the safetie of our liues against these our implacable enemies We protest in the name of the said Churches before God and men inuiolably to remaine vnder the subiection of our King acknowledging that he is giuen vs of God to be our soueraigne Lord. And that all the world may take notice that as this obedience next vnto the worship of God is the onely aime of our intention sufficiently manifested by our former fidelitie ingrauen in the pillars of our Estate and in the crownes of our late Kings raised vp againe by our predecessors and our selues notwithstanding the endeuors of our enemies factions also the hatred and persecution which we now endure is raised vp for no other cause by our enemies but for this holy and iust action whereunto they know we are inseparably bound by the rules of our Religion by the example of our progenitors and the right of our owne conseruation First of all then we beseech the King and all true French men as also all Kings Princes and Potentates friends and confederates of the Crowne and generally all men who are touched with the zeale of Gods glorie with commiseration of innocencie troden vnder foote and with griefe for the miseries which at this day threaten France to informe themselues here of our iust complaints that in them they may see the perfidiousnesse of our enemies and their crueltie and which whether we will or no they pull out of our bosome and binde vs to publish for the iustification of our innocencie and to let all such as loue iustice and truth see that the refuge of our defence whereunto we are brought is both necessary and iust our enemies being thrust forward by no other motiue to kindle the fire in this kingdome then to put out the light of our Religion and to ouerthrow the most sure resistance which in the Estate may be opposed to forrein enterprises But because by their wonted subtilties they haue here followed the common course which tends to violence and crueltie making to themselues a way by false accusations to the oppression of a iust cause And for a pretence to inuade vs they haue proclaimed vs rebels and seditious and to spread euery where this accusation they employ the Edicts and declarations of the King and of the Parliaments yea and the mouth of Ambassadours in forrein parts To the end that the simplicitie of those who are least informed either of the hatred or of the power or of the craft of our enemies might not receiue some sinister impression of vs touching the dutie of obedience and fidelitie towards our King and country we will shew here that all the pretences and iniurious crimes wherewith they charge vs are meerly artificiall disguisings borrowed as a veile to couer the outrages done to innocencie For as to inflame the hatred of Kings and the furie of the people against the Gospell they haue heretofore accused the first Christians our fathers in these last times of like crimes namely that they transgressed against the decrees of Cesar moued sedition among the people and did ouerthrow the royaltie of Princes Vnder these supposed accusations they haue caused them to suffer euery where the violence of the sword the burning of fire the crueltie of massacres the futie of warres and the horror of all sorts of exquisite torments It is true that as our fathers were more weake and naked or exposed to a more easie slaughter Religion then was directly charged with these crimes and then they haue persecuted and made open war vpon them for their professions sake But now by a subtiltie fitted to their intentions our enemies haue altered the method They enterprise warre vpon the persons to breake in vpon Relgion And because that after so many perfidious and cruell practises the arme of God hauing raised vs vp as out of our fathers ashes and by the miraculous prosperitie of the late King conducted by our sidelitie vpon the throne of this monarchie the breaches of the Estate being repaired that there might be established a firme peace an Edict was granted vs for the libertie of our consciences and places of safetie to preserue our goods and liues against the violence which the former euils made vs feare for the time to come truly it were now too an apparent violating of peace and they should too manifestly declare themselues enemies of the quiet of France if openly this Edict made in fauour of vs should be reuoked and it they should make war vpon vs for Religion It were also to ingage too many persons in one selfe same cause For these causes to couer their proiected purpose of the ruine of this Estate through ours to arme the King against vs and to destroy vs with greater ease then other wise they could possibly do They haue proclaimed vs rebels and offenders they haue endeuoured to make this cause more particular they call the warre they make vpon vs a chastisement of seditious persons But when we shall haue here made plaine to the eyes of all the world the purpose of those who are authors of these troubles and confusions the long oppression we haue hitherto endured with all patience the euidences of our right in the course we haue held in our complaints and most humble suites made to our King now laid against vs as a crime Lastly the open persecutiō which at this instant they inflict vpō vs by the armies already raised against vs in all the parts of this kingdome where they thinke we are able any way to resist We hope that we shall cleare our innocencie from these slanders shall approue our iust and necessary defence which we vndertake waiting for the help and blessing of the Almightie And finally we shall obtaine fauour and assistance from all such as loue his glorie and the truth and the succour and helpe of whosoeuer they be that desire the conseruation of this poore kingdome Since the most sure stay o◠the Edict for our safetie established by the mightie hand of the late King fell by the stroke of his death the enemies
haue also to our dammage felt the effects of it by a contrary vsage to that that we found vnder the late King For since they haue got this authoritie we might very well say since their reigne there is no more fauour nor accesse at Court for those of our Religion Many to whom their fathers seruices and their owne had thitherto preserued them the honour of some places neare the King haue bene put by them The greater part are constrained to rid themselues of them vnder this command Change your Religion or leaue your Office It is told them that the King cannot with a good eye see the Huguenots about his person In the Priuie Councel our greatest opposites are our Iudges and they whom we petition are our sworne enemies We are shut out of Offices in all Courts higher or lower against the freedome of the Statutes If any one that is now in place turnes of our Religion presently the Attourneys Generall or their substitutes oppose his sitting The Courts contest with him and repulse him And how many are there in the Court of Parliament at Paris and elsewhere who are detained from comming to vs by the oppression of this libertie But when should we haue reckoned vp all the kindes of iniuries done vnto vs The seditious insolencies dayly committed to hinder the free exercise of our Religion in those places where we are tollerated The attempts and enterprises against such places as haue bin giuen vs in custody for our securitie The secret practises to debauch the Gouernours of them as it is newly confirmed in the Gouernours of Clermont Ledeue and Argenton The refusall of prouiding for the restitution of those places The riots and outrages that those of our Religion suffer in citie and country by the fury of the people prouoked by their Preachers The rauages and firing of our Churches and Church-yards The inhumanities exercised in digging vp our dead and hindring their buriall The violence offered sick-folkes consciences euen in the agony of death thereby to force them to renounce their Religion The crueltie exercised on our poore and sicke who are cast out of Hospitals The vniust force practised in robbing vs of our children to bring them vp in the Roman Religion against their fathers intent and last will To be short all maner of wrongs and violences are done vs against the Kings authoritie and publik peace and tranquillitie In all these mischiefes we haue no other recourse then to our complaints which we continually direct to the Magistrates either of the Prouinces or of the high Courts But there alas in stead of remedies we finde poison For not onely they send vs backe and doe vs no right but the iniustice wherewith they aggrauate the former iniury augments their boldnesse that did vs the wrong encouraged by their impunitie and by the law that they gather from the Iudges themselues Our last refuge is to the Kings iustice and Officers of State whither forced by the hard vsage we finde euery where we flie as to our sanctuary and there our enemies oppose our accesse with their vtmost violence They perceiue that the Kings protection would defend vs against all their iniuries They know that our course by complaints which nature opens vnto euery one would shroud vs vnder the couert of his iustice where both our rest and the publike tranquillitie should be preserued And therefore we finde their conspiracie to be the more malicious For not onely they stop his Maiesties eare and barre vs from all passage thereunto but when we offer to approach it by our most humble petitions and requests they lay for vs by a more then diuellish subriltie the snare of their calumnie to make vs fall into the blame of a pretended disobedience They turne our complaints into crimes they terme vs seditious and rebels This is the accusation for the which they pursue vs criminally This is the accusation for the which they now persecute vs. We here call heauen and earth to witnesse betweene our enemies and vs desiring that the procedure of our complaints to his Maiestie which we wil here truly and fully lay open being knowne to all men may iudge of our innocencie and of the calumnie of their accusation and finally of the vniust warre and persecution which our aduersaries vnder this pretext haue raised against vs. For the maintaining of the Edict of peace and reparation of the breaches thereof the late King did establish according to his equitie an order among vs by the which we might from time to time with his permission and grant assemble our selues by Deputies out of all the Prouinces to tender him our complaints of all such grieuances as might be done vs and receiue from his bountie reasonable answers and such as should be necessary for the keeping of his Edicts According to this order feeling a more vrgent necessitie then euer we addressed our selues vnto his Maiestie by our Deputies generall in the yeare 1619 and it pleased his Maiestie to grant vs according to our most humble request a Briefe by the which we were permitted to assemble ourselues in the Citie of Loudun the 25 of September Where being met together out of all the Prouinces of the kingdome and Soueraigntie of Bearn our bils of complaints being drawne we presented them in all humilitie to his Maiestie beseeching him that by a fauourable answer to the principall articles and most important grieuances they might carry backe into all the Prouinces by the testimonials of his good will towards our protection some assurance to his subiects of the Religion against so many threats and feares as doe apparently inuiron them There would neuer be an end if we should here display the seuerall heads of all those complaints We will onely touch some of them to shew their importance and the necessitie of obtaining speedie iustice vpon them We complaine that Leytoure a place of suretie hath bin wrested out of our hands That two of our Religion prouided of offices of Counsellours in the Court of Parliament of Paris could not obtaine their admission in three whole yeares pursuite That the exercise of our Religion being ba 〈…〉 shed Clermont of Lodeue a place of suretie vpon the reestablishing of the same sued by vs the execution of an order from the Kings Counsell was opposed vi armis That our Churches haue bene burned or demolished at Bourg in Bresse at Moulins in Bourbonnois and at Lauall neare Guise That at Beaux in Prouince Monsieur de Vere Captaine of the Castle after many threats and outrages to prohibite and hinder those of the Religion from their exercise did at last driue them out violently by force of armes the eight of Februarie 1620. That iustice could not be obtained for the excessiue outrages done to some of the Religion at Baugenci and for ringing the Allarum bell against them and that the Offenders that threw two men out of a garret and ran one of them through
by his reckoning is not to surcease till he hath quite extinguished the Religion that hee so much abhorreth and highly extolling him for this commencement and pursuit of the dessigne aboue the late King his father leaues to be vnderstood that the death of that good King hauing bin hastned for refusing to do as much his Maiestie is to looke for more fauourable vsage at their hands so long as he will continue Bearn brought to this pitifull estate the King vpon his returne left part of his army in Guyenne and scattered the rest in Poictou filling all our Churches with terror And thenceforth no talk but of the ruine of all Huguenots All the discourse at Court is of the siege of Rochell They say it is not a three moneths matter they stay but for weather In the meane while all the promises made at Loudun being neglected the time past and nothing performed saue the deliuery of the Briefe for the keeping of places notwithstanding the earnest pursuit of our Deputies Generall all this while the congregation of Deputies nominated by the Prouinces and bound to meet to present their requests to his Maiestie vpon the vnperformance of promises as called at Rochell against the 25 of Nouember We will not omit that after the alterations made in Bearn the Towne of Leytoure was restored to a Gentleman of the Religion but let all in different persons iudge whether a Papist garison being left-there and against the order of the former gouernment of the Towne a Lieutenant established that neuer had the approbation of the Synod of the Prouince according to the intent of his Maiesties Briefe for the keeping of places of safetie this be the square dealing that was promised vs. Againe we leaue it to be iudged whether after that the safetie of a whole country hath bin wrestâ—d from vs this maine promise executed after such a fashion and all the rest neglected and remaining vnperformed our right of complaining of so manifest an abuse and of these new and so intollerable grieuances doth cease whether the necessitie of it be diminished whether the libertie of accesse should be interdicted vs. Such then being the weight of the reasons why we should re-assemble our selues and withall flie to the Kings iustice hauing leaue so to doe yet neuerthelesse we were scarce all met in this place when as a declaration came forth that made vs malefactors denouncing wrath and iudgement of condâ—mnation against the assemblers and assembled But notwithstanding forasmuch as we finde that our grieuances are so vrgent that our consciences summon vs to fulfil the charge imposed vpon vs by our Churches and that they witnesse vnto vs in sinceritie that we proceed according vnto iustice We endeuor to present vnto the King our most humble remonstraces to purge vs of the false accusations and crimes laid vpon vs by our aduersaries who abuse the authoritie of his name to breake his word with vs. To shew vnto his Maiestie the vrgent necessitie of our iust complaints To beseech him in all humilitie that it would please him to deliuer our Churches from so many alarums and frights as do now enuiron them on all sides In a word that he would shew himselfe our Protector against so violent an opposition as is generally practised against vs ouer all his kingdome to the preiudice of the authoritie of his Edicts and against the open threats of our ruine which by the example of the calamities of Bearn are made more fearfull But we finde that our enemies had stopt his Maiesties eares against all our requests which are reiected neither will any thing be receiued or heard on our side And at the same time we are criminally arraigned in Parliaments and other Courts of iustice This Towne and all of vs are threatened with warre as rebels and seditious persons Whereupon iudging by experience of what is past and by our enemies method which to our cost we haue but too well learned and experimented that this accusation and these threats were to authorize a refusall and demall of iustice and to make vs lose all hope of euer obtaining any thing hereafter in our most iust and necessary complaints we insist at seueral times on the iustification of our innocencie and continue to beseech his Maiestie and to lay downe our most humble petitions at his feete But as all accesse is interdicted vs and that to bring our proceedings into hatred euen with those of our owne side and to saue diuision in our Churches our enemies caused it to be told our Deputies Generall and diuers others among vs that the King though resolued to heare nothing from vs would notwithstanding deale fauourably with his subiects of the Religion and do them iustice That he was willing to heare our complaints by the Deputies Generall and in the name of the Churches To trie what would be the effect of these words we ceasse all pursuite in our owne name are silent and put it ouer wholy to our Deputies Generall to follow it in their owne name and in the name of the Churches And certainly we may boldly adde that if the estate of our calamities increasing daily and threatning worse had not augmented our apprehension and iust mistrust ouercome with so many vexations repulses threats and with despaire of any successe we could desire nothing more then to retire our selues and it may be our Churches would haue pardoned vs. But at the same time the fraud of our enemies did further discouer it selfe and the persecution proiected against vs breaking out in diuers places hath manifested their dessignes by so many perfidies and outrages that being forced for iustification of our innocencie and lawfull defence against the warre they make vpon vs here to lay open their proceedings before the eyes of all the world we would be scrupulous for the honour of France to publish deeds so odious if withall it were not knowne that the authors of them are France's greatest enemies and haue conspired her ruine and ours First of all vnder colour of these faire promises that the the King would keepe his Edicts made in fauour of his subiects of the Religion and would satisfie their complaints of vnperformance of promises my Lord Duke de Lesdiguieres is drawne to the Court by perswading him that his mediation would be a great furtherance vnto the businesse and all the Lords and persons of greatest note among vs are entertained with the same hopes In the meane while Monsieur de Montmorenci is vp in armes against vs in Languedoc and after many acts of hostilitie sets vpon Villeneufue de Berg a Towne of ours in Viuarez And because it was easie to be foreseene that this violence would meâ—te with opposition Monsieur de Reaux Lieutenant of the Kings Guard is sent from Court with apparent command to difarme all such as he should finde armed Monsieur de Chastillon whose prudence and affection to the Kings seruice and countries peace had hitherto withheld the peoples
our Assembly and this Citie all fraudulent declarations and promises made in fauour of such as should remaine in their obedience to the King haue bin set on foote For can it be said that Monsieur du Plessis whose long and faithfull seruices done to the late King and his Maiestie now reigning are knowne to all men should haue committed any act of disobedience or rebellion Nay rather did he not passe all measure of confidence in the disloyaltie of our enemies out of his respect to the Kings bare name And hoping to auoide the storme that hung apparently ouer our heads did he not himselfe publish the benefit of that deceitfull declaration and to make the first triall of it opened with such confidence the gates of the Towne and Castle to the King Wherefore the designe being thus vnmasked our enemies were now pleased to manifest that it was intended against all in generall For as soone as the King was at Saumur newes came how that all the Protestants throughout all the principall cities of Normandie were disarmed Were they also traitors Or haue they since the Declaration committed any act of rebellion or disobedience Besides all this whiles the King was yet at Saumur Monsieur Arnaut comes to S. Iohn d'Angely on Saturday the 15 of this moneth to command the Lord Duke de Rohan and Monsieur de Soubize to come to the King who desired their aduice for the taking vp of the present affaires This was done to two ends first that vnder hope of iustice the great ones and common people of our Religion might be withheld as they haue bin hitherto whiles the preparatiues for warre against vs were euery where a hastening Secondly and chiefly that there might be the lesse suspition of the Kings troupes led by Monsieur d' Auriac who the very next day entring the suburbes of S. Iohn with three thousand and fiue hundred men assaulted the towne and gates and would haue gone further and taken it if he had not found resistance Was this Towne also guiltie of treason Could the Towne be guiltie and not the Lords of it And yet the King writes to Monsieur the Duke de Rohan as to his faithfull and affectionate seruant and his Lieutenant Gouernour in the Prouince of Poictou which surely he would not do to a rebell and traitor What other crime then hath this Towne committed to be thus assailed and threatned with a siege and forced to expect before her wals the Kings cannon and armie which maketh towards it with all diligence and speed What crime also may the Towne of Iargeau another place of safetie haue committed which was at the same time besieged other then our enemies oath to haue no mercie then the hate of our Religion whose ruine they haue conspired This is that which we lay downe before the eyes of all our Countrymen and not of them alone but of all Christians whom we here appeale vnto to iudge of our innocencie and of the violent persecution that we vniustly suffer And though this true narration of our enemies proceedings against vs and of ours towards our King witnesseth sufficiently the calumnie of their accusation by the which they proclaime vs rebels yet that we may not leaue any shadow that might alienate from vs the fauour of good mens equitable iudgements their compassion of our miseries and their helpe in our iust and necessary defence we can easily shew that as in vs there is neither appearance nor suspition of the crime of rebellion which they lay vnto our charge God forbid that any one should thinke that the complaints which violence and oppression doth extort from vs do any way concerne our King in whom we acknowledge reuerence with our hearts the image of God here on earth But if laying vpon such as abuse his affections and conscience the iniustice of the which we complaine we would name who and tell what they are that accuse vs all France that groanes oppressed with the intollerable burthen of their tyrannie would witnesse for vs that we should not speake it by way of recrimination nor calumnie But it shall suffice our innocencie that we onely purge our selues of the accusation They accuse vs of rebellion and disobedience and say that we kicke against the Kings authoritie Thankes be to God the Religion that we professe and which we haue from time to time declared by a solemne confession presented to our Kings in witnesse of the puritie of our seruice to God and the sinceritie of our obedience to them hath long since acquitted vs of that imputation We acknowledge no power on earth aboue our Kings We sweare not to any other We detest all doctrine that teacheth that either directly or indirectly we may be freed from the allegiance we haue sworne vnto him The holy profession of these principles hath euer been the square and rule of all our fathers and our actions When was it found that any of vs did bathe an execrable knife in the blood of our Kings or ioyne swords with the great enemie to spill our countries intrailes Or rather after so many wounds as France hath heretofore receiued from him did not God vse our fathers armes to raise her euen from the graue And now that the same conspiracie is newly reuiued that they who haue sworne mortall hatred to our Religion and with the like furie haue vowed the ruine and destruction of all the Estates of Christendome and particularly of this Monarchie gouerning at their pleasure the Kings heart and wil by their suggestions to his conscience do induce him to hazard his State to vndo vs we dare say that time and experience will yet make him acknowledge that he hath not in all his kingdome a surer prop for his Crowne then our fidelitie And certainly there can be nothing more plaine to all such as looke vpon vs then that the interest of our conseruation is vnseparably nailed to the peace and tranquillitie of this kingdome and strength of our Prince's authoritie It is vndoubtedly true that according to the humane meanes that God vseth for the aduancement of his worke the conseruation and growth of our Religion in this country do wholy depend on the libertie and safetie of the Edicts vnder which we liue the maintaining of these Edicts on the Kings absolute authoritie Witnes the happie reigne of Henrie the Great whom as God had raised in absolute power and authoritie higher then any other of the Kings of Christendome so also vnder that prosperitie and greatnesse of this Monarchie our Churches were seene to flourish and replant themselues and the Gospell to fructifie with so great successe that our enemies bursting for spight neuer left till they had perfidiously depriued France of this so absolute King And though now for a pretext to inuade vs and stirre vp warre against our Religion they haue accused vs of disobedience haue we done any thing else then complaine of the infringing of the Kings authoritie and Edicts and
demand redresse And is there in this any shadow of rebellion against our Prince We assembled our selues to demand iustice of him Had we not need and right to do so We haue already iustified it by the estate of our calamities and the condition of the promises made vs. Haue we passed the limits of complaint If being denied we often returned and diuers times endeuoured to lay downe our most humble petitions at our Kings feete alas who can distaste it or blame vs when we behaue our selues towards our King Gods image vpon earth euen as God him selfe hath commanded vs And because many Deputies out of all the Prouinces desirous to carry backe from the Kings bountie and grace the effect of his good will towards vs continued together is it not a malignant and iniurious pettifoggerie that to authorize a deniall of iustice we should be accused of shadowing the Kings authoritie And for a speciall president for the said deniall our enemies alledge that the Parliament after the presentation of their bils breakes vp and stayeth not for an answer But what proportion is there betweene vs and a Parliament All our demands are particular We demand not that such rules be prescribed vnto the State or such new lawes and orders wherein certainly the Monarchicall authoritie would be disparaged and quartered if the Parliament should do more then aduice But all that we demand is that our burnt Churches may be repaired that the exercise of our Religion let and hindered vs be re-established That Townes giuen vs by the King and taken from vs by violence be restored vs That officers may be admitted That children taken by force out of their fathers armes be giuen them againe and the like Wherein should the Kings authoritie be disparaged if he should command out of hand that in euery one of these points iustice should be done vs If a priuate man to whom an iniury is done may iustly complaine of it and expect iustice from the King why if the if the iniury be done out of hate to a generalitie may not a generalitie do the same Can there be then any greater iniustice then to accuse vs of rebellion and disobedience because we complained and demanded iustice in this sort any greater crueltie then to persecute vs for this cause and make warre vpon vs But this is sufficient to shew that the far fetcht pretexts of our enemies are but coloured subtilties to execute the old designe of making warre vpon our Religion and to plunge France in confusion and trouble Wherefore considering the iustice vrging need we had to haue recourse by our complaints vnto the Kings protection The right and permission granted vs to reassemble our selues to that end in such expresse and solemne termes the failing and breach of promises caused by the fraud of our enemies Their violence in hindring our accesse vnto our King and in causing all our suites to be reiected The iniustice of their accusation and the slanderous crime of rebellion that they impose vpon vs. The disloyaltie of their proceedings coÌ„sidered whiles they temporize vpon the refusall of doing vs iustice that they might take from vs three Townes at once in Viuarez by the fraud of a treatie and breaking their publike faith The inuasion of the whole country of Bearn contrary to such an expresse stipulation and so fully performed on our side And after that to commit such bloodie and inhumane acts of hostilitie And lastly this infamous perfidie considered that vnder the shadow of a Declaration authorized with the Kings sacred name confirmed in all the Courts of Parliament of France promising libertie and safetie by maintaining the Edicts vnto all such as should remaine in their obedience the Towne of Saumur was seized on where the gates were opened with so much obedience and respect vnder expresse and particular promises besides the publicke faith of the Declaration that nothing should be innouated That by a like fraud and trecherie the Towne of Iargeau was at the same time inuaded S. Iohn d'Angely assaulted and now is in expectation of a siege All Protestants disarmed throughout all the chiefe Townes of Normandie to prepare them alas for a more easie slaughter If all these things we say be rightly considered together we doubt not but it will easily appeare that we suffer this persecution for iustice sake and by the hatred of our Religion which a generall conspiracie throughout all Europe now threatneth to destroy Wherefore being forced for the libertie of our consciences and out of loue to our Country to seeke in our selues and towards the friends of our Religion and this State a iust and necessary defence we here yet againe present our selues with teares before our King beseeching him in all humilitie to consider and beleeue that the vowes and ardent desires that we continually powre forth vnto God in our prayers are for the prosperitie of his person and State And that it would please him to remember that our fathers taught by their Religion the true obedience due vnto their King haue neglected the sefetie of their owne liues to further and aduance the labours of Henrie the Great in the recouery of his kingdome perfidiously sold and exposed to the enemie by the very same pretexts of hatred and persecution against our Religion and vs. And that he would vnderstand that we following our fathers steps as heires of their affections haue neuer forsaken the dutie we were borne to nor refused the true obedience and ready seruice that our Religion teacheth vs to yeeld him And would to God Sir that your Maiestie moued with the true interest of your greatnesse and out of your naturall generositie would for the setling of your Crowne and diginitie of your kingdome turne your armes vpon the enemies of your State and vse our fidelitie in the defence of such a cause We will boldly say for our selues that in so glorious an emulation betweene your best subiects we would cary away the prise from them all But we say now with teares of blood and in the bitternesse of grones that teare our intrals that the enemies of your Crowne and person Sir hauing induced you to draw your sword against vs and to bathe it in the blood of your loyallest subiects will vndo both your Crowne and person altogether They are your vndoubted enemies that kindle your hatred against vs to fire your Estate and burie you in the ruines Who hauing cruelly murthered the greatest King of the world your glorious father because he would not hate vs and that his goodnesse and iustice did protect vs as his trustie subiects do now induce your Maiestie to hate and destroy vs to ouerwhelme yourselfe with the fall of this Monarchie And if in this tempest which they haue already stirred vp and which we feele comming downe vpon vs we are constrained for our owne defence and preseruation to betake our selues vnto naturall remedies we here protest Sir before God before you and before all men that our purpose is euermore to preserue your authoritie and the respect of your obedience among vs and that we will do our best endeuours to saue your sacred person and kingdome from perishing God who is the God of mercie and reuenge and who according to the decrees of his counsell sometimes hath powred out his wrath with diuers examples of horror on the heads of Kings and nations risen against him Sometimes hath preserued and reconciled to himselfe the greatest persecutors of his Church grant according to our vowes that your Maiestie secure from all dangers may acknowledge the Religion and fidelitie of those persons whom you now hate and know not In the meane while we call here by our most humble supplications all Kings Princes and Estates interessed in the innocencie of good and faithfull subiects oppressed but especially bound in conscience before God to defend the cause of his truth And request them to prop with their helpe and succour the weake defence that of necessitie we oppose to the many and puissant forces of our enemies who hauing chosen this time of purpose now that they haue set on fire the greatest part of the Estates from whence they imagine we might haue expected succour hope to oppresse vs with greater facilitie But our chiefest trust is in the arme of the Almightie who ouerthroweth the dessignes of nations and blasts the enterprises of people conspiring against Israel And since that for the glorie of his Name we are hated and that to ouerthrow his truth our ruine is sought after we assure our selues that he will make vs feele the same deliuerance that our fathers haue proued by his succour which we call vpon from the bottome of our soules Keepe not thou silence O God hold not thy peace and be not still O God For lo thine enemies make a tumult and they that hate thee haue lift vp the head This is the Declaration of the Reformed Churches of France and Soueraigntie of Bearn by their Deputies assembled at Rochell And in the name of all Combort President Banage Assistant Rodil Secretarie Riffaut Secretarie COurteous Reader I pray thee amend these few faults of moment pag. 3. lin 17. we reade do lin 28. action r. affection pag. 4. lin 35. for r. euen pag. 7. li. 3. for r. on l. 32. thereof by r. of the. Act. 17. 7. The intent of our enemies and the meanes to attain therto What power the Iesuits haue now in France How hardly we are dealt withal Our proceeding by complaint which now is imputed vnto vs as a crime The Assembly of Loudun Promises made at Loudun with permission to meet againe within six moneths in case of â—â—performance The execution of the order of restitution in Bearn anticipated and an alteration made in the country of the suretie and libertie in Religion