FRENCH KINGS EDICT VPON THE PEACE WHICH IT pleased his Majestie to grant vnto all those of the Reformed Religion within his seuerall Dominions Including likewise those of ROCHELL Published and Registred in the Parliament the 6. th of Aprill 1626. Printed for Mercurius Britannicus 1626. The Kings Edict vpon the Peace which it hath pleased his Majestie to giue vnto his Subjects of the pretended reformed Religion Published in the Parliament the Sixth of Aprill 1626. LEWIS By the grace of God King of France and Navarre To all both present and to come greeting As Soueraigne authoritie hath no lesse splendour in actions of Grace and Clemencie then in Armes and Iustice and to know how to vanquish and pardon are the highest markes of Magnanimitie So that a Prince ought to be esteemed worthy of honor and glory who hauing giuen course to his Armes against those which had iustly brought them vpon them after they had submitted ranged themselues in their dutie is content to exercise his clemency towards them to make the publike fruits to be gathered by the establishing of Peace which causeth God to be serued and inuocated in all places the Kings authoritie reuerenced and acknowledged of all and the Lawes religiously to bee obserued the people eased and the body of the State vniting its forces together is more powerfull for its conseruation and to giue succours and protection to the Allies These considerations which we haue euer had before our eyes haue giuen vs occasion to vse asmuch moderation to mittigate and extinguish the motiues which diuers times haue exposed this Kingdome into combustion vsing grace towards those who inconsiderately haue cast themselues thereinto as we haue shewed vigour firmenesse and diligence to chastise and correct them when we were thereunto constrained Concerning the present affaires our courses haue beene such that hauing imployed both threatnings and punishments in places which openly haue declared themselues disobedient and gentlenes patience and perswasions vnto those which haue conteyned themselues in their duty and obedience hauing kept backe the tempest of trouble wherewith this state was menaced with an intestiue warre and preserued the better and greater part of our Subiects of the pretended reformed Religion in the fidelity and obeisance wherein they are bound vnto vs Our intention hauing beene so cleerely seene and knowne to haue alwayes beene as it is still at this present to maintaine them in peace concord and tranquilitie and to cause them inuiolably to inioy the graces vnto them granted by our Edicts and declarations And that those which haue taken Armes and the Townes which haue followed their examples hauing lately considered the quality of their offence the publike indignation the ruine and iust punishment that they draw vpon themselues continuing to trouble the repose of this State they haue had recourse vnto our benignity as to the only refuge of their safety and haue by their deputies besought vs diuers limes by all wayes of Submission that subiects may shew vnto their King to pardon and forget what was past and to giue them peace Whereupon we rather inclining to grace and clemencie than to the ruine and desolation of our proper subiects Hauing also regard to the most humble Supplications to vs made in the name and behalfe of those of the pretended reformed Religion which haue continued in their duties that we would be pleased to receiue the submissions of the others to forgiue their inconsiderate courses and to reunite all in peace and concord vnder their obliged obedience Protesting and assuring vs neuer to depart from the same for any cause pretext or occasion whatsoeuer Wee declare that for those and other causes and considerations of great importance vs mouing by the aduise of the Queene our most honoured Lady and Mother the Princes of our blood and of other Princes Dukes Peeres and Officers of our Crowne the principall Lords and most eminent persons of our Counsell being neere vnto vs We haue signified and declared doe Signifie and declare by these presents Signed vnder our hand that our will and pleasure is I. That the Edict of Nantes Declarations and secret Articles published and enrolled in our Courts of Parliament shal be inuiolably kept obserued for our Subiects of the pretended reformed Religion to inioy as they haue well and duely done in the time of the King our most honoured Lord and Father deceased whom God assaile and since our comming to the Crowne before the last troubles II. That the Catholicall Apostolicall and Romane Religion shall bee restored and re-established in all places of our Kingdome and Countries vnder our obeysance where it hath been intermitted during these last troubles to bee fully peaceably and freely exercised Expressely forbidding all persons of what qualitie or condition soeuer vpon paine of being punished as infractors of peace and perturbators of the publike repose not to trouble molest nor imquiet the Ecclesiasticall persons in the celebration of diuine Seruice and other functions of the Catholique Religion nor of their inioying and perception of Tithes fruites and reuenues of their Benefices and all other rights and duties belonging vnto them and that all those who during the last troubles that doe detayne any goods and reuenues of the Churches appertayning vnto Ecclesiasticall persons shall leaue vnto them the full and intire possession free and peaceable conformable to the 3. Article of the Edict of Nantes and restore such goods taken as shall be found in nature III. That the exercise of the pretended reformed Religion shall bee re-established in the places where it hath beene according to our said Edicts and Declaration in the yeare 1620. And our Subiects of the said pretended reformed Religion shall bee re-established in the said places as also in their Churchyards or places of Burials where they haue beene granted or others such as by the Commissioners which shall bee by vs deputed or Officers of Townes shall finde it most fit and conuenient And where they shall best fall or for some important cause that the places of Burials cannot bee re-established in the same places which they possessed in the yeare 1620. there shall be others giuen them which shall be commodious at their charges which shall require the alteration IV. And to giue publike testimony of the consideration in the which wee hold those of our Subiects of the pretended reformed Religion which haue continued in their fidelitie and obeysance and the recommendable proofes which some of them haue demonstrated vnto vs in our Armies both within and without our Kingdome We haue at their humble supplication hauing also had regard vnto the Submissions of those which were strayed from their duties and by our especiall Grace full power and Royall authoritie wee haue acquited remitted and pardoned doe acquite remit and pardon by these presents all leuies of Armes enterprises and acts of hostilitie committed by our said Subiects of the pretended reformed Religion of what estate qualitie or condition soeuer they
requisitions necessarie Notwithstanding all Decrees Letters and other things to the contrary notwithstanding To the which Derogatories of derogatories therein contained we haue derogated and doe derogate by these presents For so is our pleasure And to the end that it shall remaine firme and stable foreuer Wee haue put our Seale thereto Giuen at Paris in the moneth of March in the yeare of grace 1626. and of our Raigne the 16. Signed LEVVIS And vnderneath By the King De Lomenie And of one side Vis A. And Sealed with the great Seale in greene Waxe vpon labelles of red and greene Silke Laces Read published and recorded heard and which the Kings Procurator generall requiring it to bee executed kept and obserued according to the forme and tenor thereof with charge according to the Decree the 3. of this Moneth and that a collationed Copie of the originall of the said Letters should bee sent to the Bailyships and Seneschalships of this Iurisdiction to bee likewise read published and recorded by the diligence of the Substitute of the said Procurator generall who are inioyned to certifie the Court to haue done it within the Moneth Given at Paris in the Parliament Munday 6. of Aprill 1626. Signed DV TILLET The Extract of the Registers of the Parliament THe Court hauing seene all the Chambers assembled the Letters Patents conformall to the Edict giuen at Paris in the moneth of March 1626. Signed LEWIS and vnderneath by the King De Lomenye and Sealed with the great Seale in greene waxe vpon silken Strings By the which and for the causes therein contayned the King willeth and ordayneth that the Edict of Nantes Declarations secret and publike and recorded in his Courts of Parliament be kept and obserued That the Catholicall Apostolicall and Romane Religion be placed and re-established in all the places and parts of his Kingdome where it hath beene intermitted during the last troubles there to be freely exercised with prohibitions to trouble or molest the Ecclesiasticall persons of diuine Seruice and other functions of the Catholike Religion and that the pretended reformed Religion shall likewise bee re-established according to the Declarations of the yeare 1620. Acquiting remitting and pardoning those which make profession thereof all what is already past during the time of the said troubles as more amply may appeare by the said Letters petitions of the Maior and Eschevins of the Citie of Orleans of Frances Godfrey Gabriel Hirault and his consorts Merchants of the said Citie and of the Catholicke inhabitants of the Towne of Montpeliâ—â—â— and places adioyning Prelates Ecclesiasticall persons Gentlemen and others and Iohn Casseirol their Deputie to the end to bee receiued opposants to the verification of the said Edict The Conclusion of the Kings procurator generall and all which considered The said Court hath ordayned and ordayneth that the said Letters in forme of Edict shall be read published and recorded in the Office thereof to be executed kept and obserued according to their forme and tenor With this charge notwithstanding that in the execution of the 9. Article the summes payd by vertue of guifts confiscations represailes or otherwise may not be repeated but shall remaine to those which haue receiued them Sauing to the said inhabitants of the said Countrey to prouide for them vpon their opposition in the Parliament of Thoulouse and to the said inhabitants of Orleans to cause the Decree to be executed by them obtained in the Kings priuie Counsell the 22. of Nouember 1625. Ordayning that colationed copies of the said Letters shall be sent to the Bailiwicks and Senescalships to be likewise read published and Recorded by the diligence of the Substitutes of the Kings Procurator generall who shall certifie to the Court their diligence within the Moneth Giuen in the Parliament the third of Aprill 1626. Signed Du Tillet FINIS
â—ee together with the Townes which haue followed their examples and the Inhabitants thereof aswell by Sea as by Land since the first day of Ianuary in the yeare 1625. and precedent commotions vntill the day of the Publication of these presents therein comprehended that which peraduenture hath hapned within the internall of the Signature of the Declaration the 20. th of October 1622. and the publication thereof in our Courts of Parliament whereof they shall remaine fully and perpetually discharged together with all other generall and prouinciall assemblies small conuentions leuies popular commotions excesses violences infractions of Safegards and all other things generally whatsoeuer contained in the 76. and 77. Articles of the said Edict of Nantes although they are not heere particularly declared and expressed without being for any thing heretofore or to come any way questioned pursued nor inquieted except onely the case reserued as it is specified and declared by the 86. and 87. Articles of the said Edict of Nantes whereof examination may bee made before the Iudges to whom the knowledge of the cause belongeth V. And for such summes of monies as haue beene imposed leuied and taken vpon our Subiects or our receipts or those who haue the managing and administration thereof and discharges of those which are comptable together with that which concerneth the debts and excesses by the communalty of both parts and not payd The 74.75.78 and 79. of the Edict of Nantes shall be kept and obserued VI. Which doing all Seates of Iustice Custome-houâ—â—s and receipts and Officers of Finances which perâ—â—uenture might or haue beene transferred by means 〈◊〉 the present troubles since the moneth of Ianuarie 〈◊〉 last yeare and especially those of the Table of the â—â—ction of Rochell shall be established in the same eâ—â—â—te wherein they were The Townes which remaiâ—â—d Reformed shall inioy the same priviledges imâ—â—â—unities Franchises Faires and Markets which they â—â—ue done heretofore The elections of Consuls shall 〈◊〉 made after the accustomed forme and in case of â—â—peale it shal be relieued in our Chamber of Edict VII In like manner we will that our said Subiects of 〈◊〉 pretended reformed Religion shal be wholly â—â—d intirely discharged of Iudgements and Decree â—â—de against them through the occasion of the preâ—â—â—t troubles following the 58.59 and 60. Articles 〈◊〉 the said Edict imposing perpetuall Silence vpon 〈◊〉 our procurators generall their Substitutes and 〈◊〉 others which therein may pretend interest VIII Wee charge and command that all hostile Prisoâ—â—rs which are detained on either part who haue not â—â—â—ed ransome shal be deliuered and set at full liberty â—ithout paying any declaring all promises made 〈◊〉 caused for ransome which haue not beene discharged by the day of the date hereof to be voide and of none effect prouided notwithstanding that for the ransomes already paid there may be no pretences not repetitions as also those of our Subiects of the pretended reformed Religion which are seazed by authority of Iustice detayned in our Prisons or Gallies by meanes of the last and precedent troubles yea euen those that were taken in the enterprise of Port St. Lewis shal be enlarged and set at liberty immediatly after the publication of these presents without any remise or delay IX Our meaning likewise is that the 27. Article of the said Edict of Nantes concerning the admission and reception of our Subiects of the said pretended reformed Religion to charges and Offices shal be kept and obserued and that all those of the said Religion what quality or condition soeuer which haue beene by meanes of the present troubles destituted and depriued of their Charges Offices Dignities houses and habitations since the first of Ianuarie 1625. shal be remitted and re-established As also in all their goods names debts reasons actions which haue beene seized in the time of the first and last commotions Notwithstanding all prouisions of Offices gifts confiscations represalls payments and quittances Permitting to the Creditors to put in execution their Contracts and Obligations for the principall notwithstanding all Iudgements and Arests except it were intervented with an arrest diffmitiue and controdictorie for that regard in our Counsell or in our chambers of the Edict or that the particulars haue beene paid else-where X We will that our present Letters of declaration shal be kept and obserued by all our Subiects in and according to the prescribed forme by the 82. Article of the said Edict of Nantes but Commissioners shal be by vs deputed where need shall require to cause the Contents thereof to be duly executed XI With expresse charge to our said Subiects professing the said pretended reformed Religion not from henceforth to hold any generall or particular â—ssemblies Counsels conventions nor any other of what quality or condition soeuer except they haue â—xpresse commission by Letters or Breefes by vs Signed and counter-signed by one of our Secretaries of State that they shall depart from all practices inâ—elligences vnions associatioÌ„s It being not the lesse â—ermitted the collection of their consistories and Syâ—ods for the affaires concerning the ordering of the â—iscipline of the said pretended reformed Religion â—onformable to our Letters of declaration dated the â—7 of Aprill 1623. inacted for the holding of collection and Synods with expresse inhibitions to treate of â—ny pollitick affaires and from henceforth they shall make no fortifications in no manner whatsoeuer withâ—n our Townes without our expresse Licence by our Letters Patents Neither shall they raise any sommes of Money vpon our Subiects for any cause whatsoeuer without commission vnder our great Seale vpon paine of Crimum leze maiestatis and to fall from and to be depriued of this our present grace XII Our intent is also that the Articles by vs concluded for that which concerneth the Towne of Rochell Iles and countrie of Aulins shall bee kept obserued and incontinently and without delay executed and that the Townes and Castles which shall be found to haue beene taken by those of the pretended reformed Religion since the first troubles shall be rendered into our obeissance within fifteene dayes after the publication of these presents Declaring those of our Subiects of the said pretended reformed Religion which shall make difficulties to submit themselues to this our will to be falne and depriued of the benefit of this our present grace So We giue command to our trustie and welbeloued the Officers of our Courts of Parliaments and Chambers of the Edict our Chambers of Accompts Courts of our Aydes Baylies Senescals or their Lieutenants and to all other our Iustices and Officers to whom it shall appertaine to cause to be read published and recorded by euery one of them and the contents hereof inuiolably to be kept and obserued according to the forme and tenor thereof without any conteruention or suffering the same to bee conteruented in any manner whatsoeuer Enioyning our Procurators generall or their Substitutes to cause to this effect to bee vsed all instances pursuites and