other rebellious Cities who had all their eyes upon Rochel for according to the usage that they shall meet with they will conclude as to themselves suppose then that his Majesty exercising rigour towards them he makes the least paultry Town stand out a Siege and obstinately resist unto the last were it not better to grant an absolute Pardon to this City whereby he may dispose the rest to beg the Clemency of his Majesty who by this means will in a little time see all his Country in peace and may then pursue his designs against the Spaniards Invasion of his Allies He added that which themselves had also alledged that though in all appearance the Rochellers were not able to do any more yet nevertheless he was not to believe that they had deferred treating until the last morsel and that as they had been three Months deceived in their Opinion that they still could not hold out any longer it may be that those that have the major Vote and who fear their Heads may prevail for hindering the rendition and hold out yet some time and the least delay is of great consequence the Affairs of Italy being very pressing Above 1628. October all it behoves us much to consider that my Lord Montague who was gone into England was expected back every day with the allowance of his King for the rendition of the City and it will be infinitely more for his Majesties glory to receive his Subjects into Grace upon their repentance and voluntary submission to his Commands than at the Intercession of a Stranger Prince and therefore it imported them very much to prevent the said Montague to the end that at his arrival he might find his Majesty Triumphant in the place of his glorious Conquest and that they might not be obliged in Contests which otherwise they may have with him touching the Conditions of this rendition and to ingage in a further War with England when their Affairs require the contrary the making of Peace with them This was the substance of that which Cardinal Richelieu represented to his Majesty who declared that having well weighed all circumstances he would deceive those of Rochel in giving them cause to bless his entry into the City and commanded that they should have all the assurances possible given them for their Lives Goods and Religion and that forgetting all their faults they should be treated as his other Subjects provided they remained faithful for the time to come but that he intended to demolish all their Walls for taking from them the means of rendering themselves at any other time miserable and that they should not speak any more of their Priviledges which had hitherto inflamed them unto so high a degree This is the Contents of the above-mentioned Piece which I esteem worthy to be inserted in this 1628. October place it serving to clear the Articles which were afterwards agreed to Rochel The 27th the Mayor and Council being assembled those that had been sent to the Sieur Fequiere reported that he thought it necesiary for reaping the fruit of his Intercession which they had desired that they should nominate some with whom he might communicate before the arrival of his Brother-in-law who would not stay as he hoped which being approved of they deputed to him the Sieurs Viette Riffault Mocquay and Charles de la Coste The same day about ten in the morning Sieur Arnault presented himself with Pass-ports for the Deputies if they would send any and the four above-named being chosen went with him to the Cardinal Richelieu who after hearing them told them that he had no Commission from the King to treat with his Subjects of the City of Rochel but only to hear their Propositions and Demands Nevertheless that he would not cease to intercede for them to his Majesty to procure them their Lives Religion and Estates but as to their Priviledges and form of Government his Majesty would reserve that in his own Power not that he would put Souldiers into the City nor make a Citadel but rather demolish the fortifications and that in a day or two at furthest they should return the same to him or other Conditions to accept of and besides that he gave them this Answer by word of mouth he gave it them also in writing in a little Note Being come back the Mayor and Council ordered that the Bell of the City-House should be tolled the next day being October 28. at seven in the 1628. October morning to the end that they might resolve upon these offers and being assembled in the Hall of the City and having heard the report of the Deputies according to the tenure of the said Note or Billet they resolved to receive the best Conditions of Peace that they could get and to that end was named the Sieurs d'Angoulin and de la Goute to agree with the above-said Deputies upon the Articles Having composed the Articles and shewed them to the Council the Deputies went from the City betwixt three and four in the Evening and came to Sausay to wait upon Cardinal Richelieu who deferred them till the next morning but in the interim caused them to be well treated both as to Bed and Board The next morning being the 29th they were called before him finding him with my Lords the Keepers of the Seal Marshal Schomberg and other Lords of the Council and presented to him their Propositions and Demands upon which he told them that the King was pleased of pure grace to grant them their Lives Estates and Liberty of Conscience but as to that Head which imported the treating in general for all those of their Party that it did not behove them to meddle with any thing but what concerned themselves only according as the French in the English Army treated for themselves apart and the better to perswade them to it he shewed them the Deputies from the English Fleet but without permitting them to speak together In the end after many Contests and above all about liberty of the exercise of their Religion within the City they agreed upon Articles of Peace under the Conditions as followeth 1628. October The Mayor Sheriffs Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of the City of Rochel represented by John Berne Esq Sieur d'Angoulin Esq and Sheriff Peter Viette Daniel de la Goute James Riffault Peers Elie Mocquay and Charles de la Coste Burgers having the Commission of Deputies from the Body of the said City acknowledging the great faults that they have committed not only in resisting the just will and pleasure of the King as they have a long time done in not submitting to him and opening of the Gates of Rochel as they were obliged but further in adhering to Strangers who have taken Arms against this State do supplicate with all humility his Majesty to pardon them the Crimes which they have committed in governing themselves in this manner and to receive for satisfaction thereof the obedience which they desire at present to render
Religion should enjoy what his Majesty had granted them by his answer to the Fourth Fifth and Sixth Aticles of the Paper presented to him the 17th of this present month of May by the Deputy General of his said Subjects concerning the Consulship and Charges or Offices Politick of the Cities and Places there named His Majesty being in his Council conformable to the answer of the said Paper hath ordained and doth ordain That the Decrees of the abovesaid Council of the 18th of March and 11th of April last for an equal Division of the Charges of the Consuls and others thereupon depending given in favour of his Subjects of the City of Montpellier making profession of the Reformed Religion shall be executed according to their Form and Tenour And as to Sommieres Ginac Luncâ— Montagnac Bariac Bagnols Bedarrieux Florensac Vendemain Pignan St. Andre Aimarguâ—s and Mogmo It his Majesties Will and Pleasure that in the next Elections and others following upon the days accustomed the Consulships and Offices thereon depending shall in like manner be equally divided in the said places provided there is no immemorial possession or Capitulations to the contrary according to the Declaration of the 19. of October 1631. and conformable to the same His Majesty ordaineth That there shall be no alteration at Alles nor at any other places for the second Consul which shall be of the Reformed Religion no more than for the first which shall always be a Catholick And for the City of Nismes His Majesty also willeth That the Council Politick be augmented with one Councellor of the Reformed Religion which shall abstain from going into the said Council when the Bishop of the said City or his chief Vicar shall not be there and this shall be executed notwithstanding any oppositions or appellations whatsoever which shall not be made use of for deferring it and if any things intervene they shall be judged in the Chamber of Edict at Castres to which his Majesty gives therein all power Jurisdiction and Cognizance and prohibits the same to the Court of Parliament of Tholouse until his Majesty shall otherwise ordain His Majesty enjoining That all Patents and Declarations herein necessary be dispatched acted and done in the Council of State of the King his Majesty being there Held at St. Germains in Laye the 21th of May 1652. Signed PHILIPPEAVX LOVIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To our Chief Messenger or Sergeant in this Case required greeteth We command thee and thou art commanded by these Presents signed with our hand That thou signifie the Decree of our Council of State the Extract of which is hereâ—nto annexed under the Counter-Seal of our Chaâ—â—â—ry to all to whom it shall appertain to the end they may not pretend ignorance for deferring obedience and further to cause them to defend the Contents hereof and to do this and all other acts and matters requisite and necessary for the execution of the said Decree giving thee Power Commission and especial Command without need of other permission And we will that to the Copies of the said Decrees and of these said Presents faith be as well given as to the Originals For such is our pleasure Given at St. Germains in Layâ— the 21th of May 1652. and of our Reign the 10th Signed LOVIS By the King in his Council PHILIPPEAVX Examined with the Originals by me Councellour Secretary to the King and of his Finances FINIS Books Sold by John Wickins at the White Hart over against St. Dunftans Church in Fleetstreet ROyal Pharmacopoeia Galenical and Chymical according to the Practice of the most eminent and learned Physicians of France and published with their several approbations By Moses Charras the Kings Operator in his Royal Garden of Plants Faithfully Englished Illustrated with several Copper Plates fol. Resuscitatio or Bringing into publick Light several Pieces of the Works Civil Historical Philosophical and Theological hitherto sleeping of the Right Honourable Francis Bacon Baron of Verulam Viscount Saint Albans In two Parts The Third Edition According to the best corrected Copies together with his Lordship's Life By William Rawley D. D. his Lordships Chaplain and lately his Majesties Chaplain in Ordinary fol. The History of the Affairs of Europe in this Present Age but more particularly of the Republick of Venice Written in Italian by Battista Nani Cavalier and Procurator of St. Mark Englished by Sir Robert Honywood fol. The History of Barbados St Christophers Mevis St Vincent Antego Martinico Monserrat and the rest of the Caribby Islands in all 28. In Two Books The First containing the Natural the Second the Moral History of those Islands Illustrated with several Pieces of Sculpture representing the most considerable Rarities therein described fol. The Chirurgions Store-house furnished with forty three Tables cut in Brass in which are all sorts of Instruments both Ancient and Modern useful to the performance of all Manual Operations with an exact Description of every Instrument together with an hundred choise Observations of famous Cures performed with the Indexes First Of the Instruments Secondly Of Cures performed and Thirdly Of things remarkable Written by Johannes Scultetus a famous Physician and Chirurgion of Vlme in Suevia Octavo The Memoirs of Philip de Comines Lord of Argenton Containing the History of Lewis XI and Charles VIII Kings of France with the most remarkable Occurrences in their particular Reigns from the Year 1464 to 1498 Revised and corrected from divers manuscripts and ancient Impressions By Denis Godefroy Councellour and Historiographer to the French King and from his new Edition of it Printed at Paris faithfully translated into English Octavo The History of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire Containing the maxims of the Turkish Polity the most material Points of the Mahometan Religion their Sects and Heresies their Covents and religious Votaries their military Discipline with an exact Computation of their Forces both by Land and Sea Illustrated with divers Pieces of Sculpture representing the variety of Habits amongst the Turks In Three Books By Paul Rycaut Esq In Octavo The History of France under the Ministry of Cardinal Mazarine Containing all the remarkable and curious Passages in the Government of that State from the Death of King Lewis XIII which happened in the Year 1643 to the death of the Cardinal which was in the Year 1664. Done into English by Christopher Wase 8o. The History of the twelve Caesars Emperours of Rome Written in Latine by Caius Suetonius Tranquillus Newly translated into English and illustrated with all their Heads in Copper Plates oct A Relation of three Embassies from his Sacred Majesty Charles II. to the Great Duke of Muscovy the King of Sweden and the King of Denmark Performed by the Right Honourable the Earl of Carliste in the Year 1663 and 1664. Written by an Attendant on the Embassies and published with his Lordships approbation Octavo The Art of Chymistry as it is now practised Written in French by P. Thibaut Chymist to the French King And now translated into English by a Fellow of the Royal Society Octavo The Annals of Love Containing secret Histories of the Amours of divers Princes Courts Pleasantly related In Octavo The Loves of sundry Philosophers and other Great Men. Translated out of French Octavo The Voyage of Italy or a Compleat Journy through Italy In two Parts With the Character of the People and the description of the Chief Towns Churches Monasteries Tombs Libraries Palaces Villa's Gardens Pictures Statues and Antiquities As also of the Interest Government Riches Force c. of all the Princes with Instructions concerning Travel By Richard Lassels Gent. who travelled through Italy five times as Tutor to several of the English Nobility and Gentry Duod The Present State of Holland Duod The Art of Complaisance or the Means to oblige in Conversation Duod The Present State of Italy Duod
of his Conscience for his Majesty is far from pursuing any Demands or Pretensions of his own or to invade the Territories of the French King his Brother with whom he desires to come to a perfect Union so it may be accompanied with the assurance of those in France who make Profession of the same Religion with himself If it be demanded how it comes that the King of Great Britain offers at this time Succours to 1627. July those of the Reformed Religion and this City when being formerly earnestly solicited to it he would not hearken thereunto I answer that the King at that time was not obliged by Promise to take care that the Articles agreed upon by the last Peace were observed besides that then the Treaties between these two Kingdoms were in their Vigour and Reputation and that the King our Master had hopes to be as beneficial to you by his Intercession as by his Arms for he well understands that the Church of God is our true Common Country and therefore hath been very careful in all his Seizures by Sea and Land to preserve those of the Reformed Religion and especially this City from all damage But at present the proceedings of this Estate hath put his Majesty out of doubt as to their designs and left him at liberty by having trodden under feet the Reverence due to Publick Treaties and therefore if you refuse this opportunity you will hereafter seek it in vain and in such case my Lord the Duke of Buckingham hath commanded me to make a Solemn Protestation before God and Man that he holds the King his Master in Honour and Conscience fully acquitted from all Engagements and his Excellency will dispose himself to execute the other Commands which he hath in Charge God hath in mercy given you the opportunity of making choice of Good or Evil and I have it in Command to press you to a ready Answer and Declaration as to which of the two you will make choice of You ought to consider that you may at present resolve clearly hereof as well as with suspention and that as to us each hour of delay will be very prejudicial 1627. July After this he presented the Duke of Buckgham's own Manifest Signed by himself containing a Declaration of the King of Great Britain's Intentions as followeth WHat share the Kings of Great Britain have always taken in the Affairs of the Reformed Church of this Kingdom and with how much Zeal and Care they have laboured their good is most eminently known to all the Examples thereof having been as ordinary as the occasions The present King my most honoured Lord and Master had not come therein behind his Predecessors if his honest and laudable designs for their good and advantage had not been perverted to their ruine by those whose interest it was to have accomplished them What Advantages hath he refused what Parties hath he not pursued that by his Alliance with France he might work the more profitably and powerfully for the restitution of the Churches to their Antient Liberty and Splendour And how could we have expected less from so strict an Alliance and so many reiterated Promises from the Mouth of a Great Prince than Effects truly Royal and suitable to his Grandure but the Issue is so far short of that that his Majesty instead of obtaining freedom and security for the Churches and a general Peace to France by the reconciliation of those who breathe after nothing but all sort of obedience to their King under the enjoyment of Edicts hath met with nothing but the contrary some having prevailed by the interest they had in those of the Religion to the deceiving of them and that not only by dividing them from him but also by rendering him if not odious at least under suspect with them in perverting the means that he ordained for 1627. July their good to an end wholly contrary Witness the English Vessels not designed for the extirpation of those of the Religion express promises having been given not to make use of them to their prejudice and yet nevertheless they were carried to Rochel and imployed â—n the last Naval Fight against them What can any expect from so puissant a King as the King my Master for being publickly illuded than a Resentment equal and proportionable to the injury done him But he hath had Patience beyond Patience and whilest he could hope to relieve the Churches by other means he hath not had recourse to Arms until being made instrumental of the last Peace upon Conditions disadvantagious enough which had never been accepted of without the intercession of His Majesty who interposed His Credit and Interest with the Churches even with Menaces for procuring their agreeing to them for salving the honour of the most Christian King and giving him assurance not only of the observance of them but also of the melioration of the said Conditions whilest he should remain Caution towards the Churches but what hath been the issue of all this nothing but the abuse of his Bounty and that which His Majesty thought would have been a Remedy to all their Evils hath it not carried the Churches to almost the last point of ruine So little it fails that by the continuation of the Fort before Rochel the demolishing whereof was promised by the violence of the Soldiers and Garrisons in the said Fort and Isles as well towards the Inhabitants of the said City as Strangers who instead of being intirely with-drawn have been dayly augmented and other Forts built and by the Commissioners remaining in the said City beyond the time agreed Cabals have been held by the means of which Divisions have crept in amongst the Inhabitants to 1627. July the opening the Gates to Neighbour Troops and byother breaches of the Peace the said City and in it the whole Church hath wanted little of drawing its last Breath and nevertheless his Majesty hath contained himself and not opposed such great Injuries and Violations of Faith more than by Complaints and Intercessions until having had certain advise confirmed by intercepted Letters of the great preparations that the most Christian King made for falling upon Rochel and then his Majesty could not do less than vindicate his honour by a ready taking Arms against those that had rendered him as a Confederate in their Fraudes and Treachery and to give Testimony of the Integrity and Zeal which he hath always had to the establishment of the Churches which shall ever be most dear and pretious to him above all other things and that if any shall question whether this is the only end of his Arms and not rather some particular interest let him consider the Circumstances of time and dispositions of his Affairs and they cannot believe that the King my Master hath any design upon France or can have thoughts of Conquest in a time so disadvantagious That he hath at present for Enemy one of the most puissant Princes in the World and that if that
and of none effect as also all the Informations and Proceedings made on one part and the other LVIII All Prosecutions Proceedings Sentences Judgments and Decrees given as well against the deceased Sieur de la Nove as against the Steur Odet de la Nove his Son since their restraints and imprisonments in Flanders happening in the months of May 1580. and of November 1584. during their continual imployment in the Wars and service of the King shall remain cancelled and annulled and all that consequently followed the same shall be received in defence of them and the said de la Nove's shall be restored to the same condition as they were in before the said Judgments and Decrees without being obliged to refund the expences or assign the payment of the Penalty or Fines if they have incurred any nor shall men alledge against them any Non-suit or Prescription during the said time Done by the King being in his Council at Nantes the last day of April 1598. Signed HENRY And below FORGET And Sealed with the great Seal of yellow Wax HENRY by the grace of God King of France and Navar To our trusty and well-beloved the members of our Court of Parliament at Paris Greeteth Besides and above the Articles contained in our Edict made and granted in the present month concerning the Reformed Religion we have yet farther Granted some Particulars which we did not esteem necessary to comprehend in the said Edict and which nevertheless we will and require that they be observed and have the same effect as if they were therein comprised and to that end that they be Read and Inregistred in the Offices of our Court of Parliament to have recourse thereunto when it shall be needful and the Case require it For this Cause we Will Command and most expressly Injoyn That these Articles Signed by our own Hand hereunto annexed under the Counter-Seal of our Chancery you shall enter in the Registers of our said Court and cause the same to be observed in all poynts in the same manner as it is and ought to be in our said Edict For such is our will and pleasure Given at Nantes the last of April 1598. and of our Reign the ninth Signed by the King in Council FORGET And Sealed with the great Seal of yellow Wax with a single Label A DECLARATION By the present French King Lewis the XIV in favour of his Subjects of the Reformed Religion confirming the Edicts of Pacification Declaration Reglements and Articles heretofore granted them Dated at Paris the 8th of July 1643. and Verified in Parliament the 3d of August 1643. Printed at Paris 1644. with the Kings Licence LOVIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To all to whom these presents shall come greeting The deceased King our most honoured Lord and Father acknowledging that the most necessary and effectual means for the preservation of peace in this Kingdom consisted in suffering his Subjects of the Reformed Religion to live under the benefit of his Edicts and defending them in the free exercise of their Religion he had a particular care to prevent by such wayes as he judged suitable to his Authority the troubling or disquieting of them in the said Exercise Having to that effect immediately after his coming to the Crown confirmed the said Edicts by his Letters Patents in form of a Declaration dated the 22th of May 1610. to the end that he might thereby so much the more oblige his Subjects of the said Religion to a dutiful obedience And to follow his example and imitate him in his bounty we will give them a testimony of ours and treat them as favourably as is possible if they shall render themselves worthy thereof by the continuation of their fidelity and obedience towards us as they have protested they will and never withdraw from us This makes us to hope that comporting as good and Loyal Subjects and living in that Union and Concord which is requisite for the good of our Service we may as it is our greatest desire with Divine assistance and under the prudent and wise administration of the Queen Regent our most honoured Dame and Mother whose good and sincere intentions are known to every one make all our Subjects as well Catholicks as of the said Reformed Religion to be sensible of our affection towards them and of our desire of maintaining them in a firm and assured peace We do therefore hereby give you to understand That we for these reasons and upon the most humble supplication on the behalf of our said Subjects of the Reformed Religion after having brought this affair into deliberation in the presence of our most honoured Dame and Mother the Queen Regent We by her advice together with that of our most dear and beloved Uncle the Duke of Orleance and of our most dear and beloved Cousin the Prince of Conde first Prince of our blood Dukes Peers and Officers of our Crown and many eminent persons of our Council have said and declared and we do say and declare by these presents signed with our Hand that it is our will and pleasure That our Subjects making profession of the Reformed Religion enjoy and have the free and entire exercise of the said Religion according to the said Edicts Declarations and Rules made upon this account without being troubled or inquieted in any sort or manner whatsoever The which Edicts remaining as well good as perpetual we have de novo so far as is or shall be needful confirmed them and we do by these presents confirm them willing and commanding the opposers of the same to be punished and chastised as disturbers of the publick Peace And we command our well beloved the members of our Courts of Parliament Chambers or Courts of Edict Bailiffs Chief Justices their Lieutenants and other our Officers to whom it shall belong each in his place that he cause these presents to be Inregistred Read and Published where need shall be and all the contents thereof to be received kept and observed according to their form and tenour and inasmuch as there may be need of these presents in many and sundry places we will and require that two Copies duly examined by one of our well beloved Counsellors and Secretaries faith be given to them as to the Original For such is our pleasure In witness of which we have caused our Seal to be put to these presents Given at Paris the 8th day of July 1643. and of our Raign the first Signed LOVIS And upon the fold the King and Queen Regent his Mother being present Signed PHILIPPEAVX And Sealed with a double Label with the great Seal of yellow wax Read published and inregistred in the Registers of the same requiring the Procurator General of the King to execute it according to its form and tenour and to send examined Copies to the Bailiwicks Chief Jurisdictions of this Circuit to be there in like manner read published Registred and executed with diligence by the
Substitutes of the said Procurator General who are injoyned and obliged to the execution of the same and to certifie the Court within a month of having done it At Paris in Parliament the 3d of August 1643. Signed GVYET THE DECLARATION Of King Louis XIV of France confirming the Priviledges granted to his Subjects of the Reformed Religion Given at St. Germain in Laye the 21th of May 1652. LOUIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To all to whom these Present shall come greeting The deceased King our most honoured Lord and Father acknowledging that one of the most necessary things for conserving Peace in this Kingdom consisted in maintaining his Subjects of the Reformed Religion in the full and intire enjoyment of the Edicts or Laws made in their favour and to suffer them to enjoy the free exercise of their Religion He had a most particular care to prevent by all convenient means the troubling them in the enjoyment of the Liberties Prerogatives and Priviledges granted them by the said Edicts Having to that effect immediately after his coming to the Crown by Letters Patents of the 22th of May 1610. and since his Majority by his Declaration of the 10th of November 1615. declared and required that the said Edicts should be executed to the end to give to his said Subjects so much the more reason to keep within the bounds of their duty and after the example of so great a Prince and to imitate him in his Bounty we have resolved to do the like having from the same motives and Considerations by our Declaration of the 8th of July 1643. willed and ordained that our Subjects of the Reformed Religion shall enjoy all the Concessions Priviledges and Advantages especially of the free and intire exercise of their said Religion according to the Edicts Declarations and Reglements made in favour of them upon that Subject And forasmuch as our said Subjects of the Reformed Religion have given us certain testimonies of their affection and fidelity especially in our present Affairs from whence we remain most satisfied We therefore give you to understand That We for these reasons and upon the most humble supplications which have been made us in behalf of our Subjects of the Reformed Religion and after having brought this Affair into deliberation in our Council We being present We from the advice of the same and from Our certain Knowledg and Royal Authority have said declared ordained saying declaring and ordaining that our Will and Pleasure is That our said Subjects of the Reformed Religion be maintained and kept as certainly we will maintain and keep them in the full and intire enjoyment of the said Edict of Nantes other Edicts Declarations Decrees Rules Articles and Breviats expedited dispatched in their favour registred in Parliaments Chambers of Edict especially in the free and publick exercise of the said Religion in all the places where it hath been granted by the same notwithstanding all Patents and Decrees as well of our Council as by our Soveraign Courts or other Judicatures to the contrary willing and requiring that the Opposers of our said Edicts be punished and chastised as Disturbers of the publick Quiet And therefore we command and require our well beloved the members of our Courts of Parliaments Chambers of Edicts Bailiffs Chief Justices their Lieutenants and other our Officers each in his place as it belongeth to him That they cause the said Presents to be inregistred read and published where it shall be needful and all the Contents to be kept observed and maintained according to their Form and Tenour And forasmuch as there may be need of these Presents in many and sundry places We will and require That to the Copies thereof duly examined by one of our well-beloved Councellours and Secretaries faith be as well given as to the present Original for such is our Will and Pleasure In testimony of which we have caused our Seal to be put to these Presents Given at St. Germain in Laye the 21th day of May in the Year of Grace 1652 and of our Reign the tenth Signed LOVIS And under the King PHILIPPEAVX And sealed with the Great Seal EXTRACT OF THE Registers of the Council of State UPon that which is represented to the King being in Council by the General Deputy of his Subjects of the Reformed Relion because of the poverty of the Inhabitants of divers places making profession of the said Religion and of the want of the money which hath formerly been granted them for the maintenance of their Ministers in Consideration of the Tenths which they pay to the Ecclesiasticks they are constrained to cause one and the same Minister to preach in several places where the exercise of the said Reformed Religion is permitted which they call annexed places Now though they do not any thing herein which is not permitted them by the Edicts So it is that divers Decrees in the Council of his Majesty have been made which prohibite the said Ministers to preach in other places than those of their habitation which causeth great trouble and vexation to them for which it being necessary to provide his Majesty being in Council hath ordained and doth ordain That the exercise of the said Reformed Religion may be publickly practised by one and the same Minister in divers places in which the said exercise is permitted by the Edicts and no where else nothwithstanding all Decrees given to the contrary which his Majesty hath cancelled and revoked as contrary to the Edicts And his Majesty prohibits all his Officers and Subjects even to the Ecclesiasticks to trouble those of the Reformed Religion in their injoyments of the said Edicts Done in the Council of State of the King his Majesty being there Held at St Germains in Laye the 21th of May 1652. Signed PHILIPPEAVX LOVIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To our first messenger or Sergeant upon this request greeteth We command thee and do command thee by these Presents signed with our hand That the Decrees of our Council of State whereof the Extract is here annexed under the Contra-Seal of our Chancellour thou signifie to all to whom it shall belong to the end they may not pretend ignorance thereof and defer obedience thereunto and further cause them to defend the Contents hereof and all other acts and things requisite and necessary for the execution of the said Decree and we give thee power Commission and especial Command herein without demanding other permission Willing that to the Copies examined of the said Decree and of the said Presents faith be given as to the Originals for such is our pleasure Given at St Germains in Laye May 21. 1652 and of our Reign the tenth Signed LOVIS PHILIPPEAVX by the King in Council Examined with the Original by me Councellor Secretary of the King and of his Finances EXTRACT OF THE Registers of the Council of State THE King being willing that his Subjects of the Reformed
into Rochel the means of taking it which he did at his giving the French King a Visit in his passage to Spain for though the Author of this History will not take from his own Country the credit of the Invention the honour of it doth traly belong to Spinola But that you may the better understand how the Reformed in France have been and still are dealt with contrary to Law I have hereunto annexed the several Declarations of Henry IV. establishing thereby his Edict and supplementary Articles for their Liberty making them perpetual and irrevocable as also the several Declarations of this present French King Louis XIV reciting the substance of the Declarations of his Father Louis XIII with several Decrees of Council owning the perpetuity of the Edict of Nants and confirming them all with this acknowledgment That he remained fully satisfied with his Subjects of the Reformed Religion as having given him certain proofs of their affection and fidelity especially in 1652. the year of his Declaration when they drew the hatred of the Prince of Condé and his Party upon them for their Loyalty in adhering to the King and opposing of the Prince in his then Rebellion But the King by their help had not long got the Ascendant of his enemies before holding the Reformed unnecessary to satisfie the insatiable malice of the Bishops as appears by their actings which will in due time be published he left them to the mercy of the Church whose mercies are cruelties and even suffered the Prince of Condé to revenge himself upon them who the first year he was restored into favour demolished all their Churches in the Pais de Gex near Geneve and under his Government which County wanted then little of being intirely of the Reformed Religion Yet that I may do the former times right I cannot but observe the Candor and Ingenuity acknowledged in this History of the French Ministers of State at the taking of Rochel who when some malicious enough and most likely the Bishop of Mande employed in the Siege and others of his Order in France who never consult truth but worldly advantage would have had it assigned in the Kings Declaration as a reason of his taking up Armes that the Rochellers did not only call in the English but also gave themselves up to them the then Chancellour caused the Registers of the Maior and Council of Rochel the Memorials and Instructions given by them to their Deputies sent into England and the Treaties made by them with that King to be all exactly perused and examined and finding that the said Instructions and Treaties had been always made with a reserve of the fidelity due to the Crown he would not suffer anything of that nature to be inserted in the Kings Declaration because it did not appear to be true a piece of honest Morality little practised in these days in France some Men there having now no other Politicks than little tricks besides lying and dissembling all easily seen thorow for which they would be thought great Statists but Honesty as King James who knew enough used to say is the best Policy And to give Richelieu a Person of vast abilities and clear Parts his due His treating with the Rochellers in their greatest distress seems to have been with more moderation sincerity and plainness than is in this Age common or usual among them And now by comparing the present French Kings Persecution of his Reformed Subjects with his former Declarations confirming and making perpetual and irrrevocable all Edicts and Lawsmade for their Liberty and Security in the exercise of their Religion as a reward for their acknowledged fidelity and good service may and ought to be observed by Protestants how little the Faith and Laws of Popish Princes are to be relied upon especially in matters of Religion The Contents of this Book I. THE Duke of Buckingham's expedition for the Isle of Ree and his taking of it II. The Dukes inviting the Rochellers by his Agent Mr. Baker to accept of his assistance and join Armes with him and his Manifest delivered to them in the Name of the King of England III. The Dukes being forced to quit the Isle of Ree and return for England IV. The Rochellers Negotiations by their Deputies in England with that King sometimes alone and sometime in Council and their several Conferences with the King and Duke V. The King of England and the Rochellers Letters one to another and the Treaty made with the King with several excellent and pressing Harangues made by their Deputies to the King VI. The Earl of Denby's ineffectual Voyage to Rochel with a Naval Fleet and his Return VII The Earl of Lindsey's Voyage with a might Naval Strength to Rochel and returning without attempting any thing as this History saith VIII The miraculous patience in the Rochellers without the least murmuring under a not to be paralleled Famine IX The Treaty for Rendition of the City made with Cardinal Richelieu X. The Edict of Nantes given by Henry IV. of France to those of the Reformed Religion together with his supplementary Articles for their security and equal liberty with the Papists XI The Declarations of Henry IV. and of the present King Louis XIV reciting those of his Father Louis XIII making all the Laws in savour of the Protestants perpetual and irrevocable with several Orders of Council confirming the said Edictrand Arcles 1627. July A JOURNAL OF THE LAST SIEGE of the CITY OF ROCHEL Begun the 20. of July 1627. THe Naval Army of the King of Great Britain commanded by the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral of England appeared first to us upon Tuesday the 20th of July 1627. betwixt Eight and Nine in the morning to the number of Eighteen or Twenty Sail they were then believed to be Dunkirkers lying in wait for a Fleet of Hollanders laden with Salt which lay in the Road a la Palisse and before S. Martins the Principal Town of the Isle of Ré and ready to set sail for Holland Upon their nearer approach they were suspected to be English and Sixty or Eighty Sail in number but of this we were out of doubt when coming before the Fort La Prée they saluted it 1627. July fiercely with Cannon-shot which they continued that day and the next coming to Anchor a la Palisse before the Point of Sablanceau one of the Extremities in the Isle of Ré on that side next Rochel On Wednesday the 21. the Rochellers kept a Fast and betwixt Sermons there arrived in a Shallop from the Duke of Buckingham at the Chain which is the entrance by Sea into the City an English Gentleman called Baker desiring to speak with the Mayor for so the Chief Magistrate was called and to his Council who having notice thereof sent the Sieur Prou Sheriff and Symond Theuinine Advocate to acquaint him that they were in their Churches at their Devotions in the Celebration of a Fast and could not that day give him Audience upon which
he returned not a little discontented The 22. between Nine and Ten in the morning the Duke of Soubize followed by Mr. Baker Agent for the Duke of Buckingham came to the Gate of S. Nicholas desiring entrance into the City The Guard before the admitting of him acquainting the Mayor therewith he immediately repaired thither and sinding him betwixt the two Gates remonstrated to him the consequence of his coming into the City intreating of him if he desired the good and Conservation of Rochel and the Church of France to return to the Duke of Buckingham but the old Dutchess of Rohan his Mother who was some Months before retired hither coming to meet her Son after Salutations and Imbraces took him by the hand saying with a loud voice that she might be heard by the Mayor and the multitude that were there My Son come 1627. July see your Sister who is very sick At which words without demanding leave of the Mayor who found himself surprized and durst not openly and by force oppose him he went into the City with her as did also Mr. Baker who demanding to be heard in Council which was held after Dinner he made this Speech as followeth Gentlemen I am sent by my Lord the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral of England to declare to you the Reasons for which by the Command of the King my Master he is come to the place where he now is and in sight of you accompanied with a Fleet of Ships laden with Souldiers Artillery and Ammunition ready to make a descent if occasion require It is sufficiently known to the World how the King of Great Britain our Master having Personally by an Adventure very rare and by a Prudence exceeding much his Age discovered before and since his coming to the Crown the danger ready to fall upon him and the rest of Christendom by the Ambition Fraud and Power of the House of Austria hath used all industry to prevent this danger and that not only by his own Forces but also by those of his Allies to which Resolution as he hath been pressed by almost all Princes and Estates of Christendom so none hath done it with more vehemency and efficacy than the French King his Brother-in-law and his Ministers not only by Arguments but also by Promises of Union and Assistance in that Common Cause And to conserve this Mutual Interest against a Common Enemy or suspected Friend was the reason why the King our Master hath more desired 1627. July the Amity and Alliance of France than of all the World besides hoping by this means to have the Power to divert the thoughts of this Great King from the ruine of his best Subjects those of the Reformed Religion and humbling the true Enemies of his Estate who keeps from him so many brave Provinces and Kingdoms possessed by his Predecessors In the prosecution of which Design he was willing to have sacrificed all his Interest for Common Good and securing of Christendom But his Majesty hath found by too dear experience that being ingaged in a War with Spain he did not only not receive the favour and assistance of France which with reason he might have expected but by expecting it received more prejudice and hinderances than from Spain it self and the reason hereof is most apparent for the grand design of this Estate is to take the advantage of the Ingagement of the King our Master with Spain to ruine and extirpate at the same time those of the Reformed Religion in France not that his Majesty will believe that this proceeds from the French King his Brother-in-law or the Queen his Mother being so great Princes and so nearly Allied to him but you Gentlemen know better than we the Powerful Influences that the Jesuits and Spanish Faction have upon the Councils of France which are said to be so strong that even with a high-hand Affairs are often carried against the King himself and by the force of this Faction proceeded the refusal of a passage to Mansfields Army raised and furnished in England 1624. at the very instant of their departure contrary to a Solemn Article 1627. July agreed upon with the French King for their passage by which refusal the Liberty of Germany hath been betrayed and twelve thousand English near totally destroyed The King our Master having interposed his Ambassadours for appeasing the last Wars against those of the Religion and with the consent of the French King himself becoming Guarrantee for the Peace and that those of the Religion were willing to submit to harder terms than at that time their Condition considered they needed to have done in hopes that the designs of this Estate would turn against their Common Enemies in Italy by the Power of this Faction it is nevertheless come to pass that not only the Confederates of the King in Italy have been abandoned but the Arms imployed there have since been made use of to reduce you to the extremity of Poverty and Famine of which I need not say more than that the Complaints of this City and all the Body of the Reformed Religion do still continue the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize having represented them to the King our Master Finally when this Faction perceived that all was to no purpose without prohibiting this City all Trade to Sea under pretext of an Imaginary Society of Commerce they have built a number of Ships of War but doubting that it would be sufficient to their design to fortifie themselves at Sea without at the same time weakning there the King our Master by an unexampled and unheard of Injustice in the midst of a full and perfect Peace and at a time when the King our Master was deeply ingaged in War by whch the Assurance and Riches of France increased they 1627. July made seizure of 120 Ships of his Subjects with Artillery Merchandize and Marriners and what other design could they have in it than to assure themselves of the ruine of this City For these Reasons alledged and many other of the same nature the King our Master the most Religious and Pious Prince in the World setting aside all other Respects than that of his Conscience hath a Sympathy of your Sufferings and his own Honour and finding himself obliged by Promise to procure the accomplishment of the Articles agreed upon especially being invited thereunto by my Lords the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize in the Name of the whole Body of the Reformed Religion he hath therefore sent hither my Lord the Duke of Buckingham who hath given me in Charge to make you an Offer in his Name of a powerful assistance as well by Land as Sea in case you resolve to accept of it for redeeming your Liberty by joyning with you in an actual War which he will do upon such Conditions as you your selves Gentlemen and all the World shall acknowledge that the King our Master hath no Eye to his own advantage but vour good the vindication of his Honour and discharge
Mould It was published thorough all the parts of the City that all those that had Bullets proper for the said Pieces should bring them to the Master of the Artillery who should pay for them seven Livres ten Scus per quintal which furnished the said Pieces in some small kind because those that had any brought them to him The same day divers Seamen of the City went over to the Camp being debauched and had been sent into the City to pervert them This caused the Mayor to proclaim thorough the several quarters of the City that all Seamen that should be taken going to the Camp should be immediately hanged upon the place and after this we heard not of any that went away The ninth of August the Sieur Ferriere Councellor who commanded that day as Captain at the Port of Coigne as also with him Sieur Desmartes went very early in the morning as if they walked out and rendered themselves to the Fort Beaulieu Those that were on the Guard at the said 1628. Aug. Port perceiving them near the Fort could not do other than make some shot at them but did not touch them The cause of their retreat was this the Sieur de la Tourvert Son of Sieur de Fleura a Gentleman of Augoumois was killed in a particular Quarrel in the Castle yard as he walked there The Lieutenant Criminal upon the complaint made to him thereof decreed the taking of the Body and judging the case but the Mayor and Council of War being advertised thereof would have the Cognisance of the business because both the Murthered and Murtherer were people drawn thither by the War and Siege Upon this they contested and each made their Party but the Mayor prevailing the Assistant of the Judge Criminal with three or four others of the Seat of Justice gave a secret Sentence against him and the Council of War condemned them in twelve thousand Livres penalty payable by any one of them for the whole his remedy reserved against the others Of this Sentence there were four Exemplifications to remain by each one of them shut up and hid in a place the most secret they could devise reserving the execution unto the relief or change of the condition of the City It came to pass some time after that the Assistant upon some suspition though nevertheless could not be proved was made Prisoner and his Papers seized among which was found this Sentence which was the thing that moved these two Councellors to leave the City but it wanted little of bringing them into a Burning Fever for being presented to the Kings Council it made ill for them for that being Officers they remained in the City from whence it was concluded 1628. Aug. that they came away from necessity and not from affection to the service of the King so that they ran a great hazard of not having the relief that Monsieur Thoiras had promised them but having a great kindness for Monsieur Desmartes he obtained of Cardinal Richelieu the referring of them to the Marshal Schomberg who some time after took their Parol As to the fourth Judge who was John Ogier Sieur of Moriniers he left not the City finding himself supported by a number of Friends and Souldiers whom he had commanded as Camp-Master of a Regiment insomuch that without difficulty he made his agreement and as to the Assistant Criminal he remained in Prison until the reduction of the City This following Narrative is taken out of the Relation of Sieur Veronneau THe tenth of August the Sieur de la Fitte Serjeant-Major to Meilleraye's Regiment together with Sieur de Delon Lieutenant of a Company in the same Regiment sent out between eight and nine in the morning a Drum who demanded on the behalf of two Gentlemen without naming them if they might have half an hours discourse with Sieur de la Goute Honorary Advocate to the King and Sieur Peter Toupet The Guard of Maubec who received the Drum brought him to the Mayors House where the Council was assembled and the Drummer having told them the cause of his coming they demanded of the Sieur de la Goute and Toupet who those were that enquired after them and if they knew 1628. Aug. what they desired of them The one and the other finding themselves surprised by this question asked leave to go and see who it was and speak to them and to the end that the Council might be informed of all that might be said and done during their discourse they chose from among themselves of the Council Benjamin Veronneau Advocate to assist at the said Conference which being begun with imbracements made particularly by the said Sieur de la Fitte of the said de la Goute and Toupet with whom he had had long acquaintance Sieur de la Fitte began to speak in this sort Gentlemen the King being most well informed of your Fidelity towards him and that you have the Flower de Luces so impressed upon your hearts that you have rejected all the Propositions that men could make you for shaking off his Dominion to serve another Prince is the sole subject of our Message Cardinal Richelieu who knoweth that I have some Acquaintance in your City hath commanded me to endeavour to confer with some of you upon the subject of your misery to the end to prevent your ruine which you seem to affect by not seeking to your Prince who is altogether good for his Grace when he would never refuse it you if you humble your selves to him He knows that your Famine is great that your Houses are already full of dead Bodies for want of Bread that the voice of dying persons sounds in your Streets and that those that have been most provident are not furnished until the first of September it is your duty to save rather those that are remaining than to loose them because they which remain are the most considerable scarcity begun with the lowest sort most subject to Rebellion he had rather have your Hearts than your Walls and be assured that if you are once reduced to his 1628. Aug. service you will not any more depart from it You believe or suspect that the King will take away your Religion and that the Cardinal will perswade the banishing it the Kingdom you are mistaken the King would be most easie would you have confidence in him and desires to win you with sweetness without using violence The experience of times passed doth sufficiently demonstrate to France that Religion is not to be planted with the Sword and that it 's God alone that inclines the Heart and illuminates the Vnderstanding with his knowledge Think of it then whilst there is time and perish not expecting Bread from England those People think not of you and if they should have a desire to succour you they will not now be able to do it The King hath a powerful Sea-Army to destroy all the force they can bring and the Digue is in such a condition that the
to him opening the Gates of the City which they will actually deliver into his hands to dispose thereof as it shall please him and to prescribe to them such manner of living as he shall think most proper for the time to come without other Conditions than such as it shall please his Majesty in bounty to give them which they implore with humility beseeching him to treat them as his Subjects who will hereafter live and die in the most perfect obedience that hath ever been rendered to any Soveraign The King having regard to the repentance of his Subjects the Inhabitants of the City of Rochel and to their Protestations of living for the time to come as they are obliged by their Birth and that they will the thirtieth of October give Evidence thereof by opening the Gates of the said City of Rochel and deliver the City up to his Majesty for him to dispose thereof as shall seem good unto him hath commanded and given in charge to the Sieurs Marillac and du Halier 1628. October Marshals de Camp of his Armies to promise them in his Name as followeth First The pardon of their Faults and Rebellions committed since the last Commotion with all security for their Lives and the exercise of the Reformed Religion in Rochel Secondly That they shall be established in all their Estates moveable and immoveable of what nature soever they be notwithstanding all Condemnations Gifts and Confiscations which may have been made by reason of Rebellion except the enjoying the Revenue of their Lands their Moveables Woods that have been cut and Debts which have been actually and without fraud hither to received Thirdly That all Souldiers Subjects of the King who are at this time in the City of Rochel though not Burgers or Inhabitants of the said City shall of grace enjoy what is above expressed and the Heads Captains and Gentlemen shall go out of the City with their Swords by their sides and the Souldiers with white Staves in their hands after the Names and Sirnames of every one and their Oaths is taken never to bear Arms more against the service of his Majesty upon pain of forfeiting the present Grace And as to the Captains and Souldiers that are English who are in the said City they shall if it please his Majesty be conducted by Sea into England without any prejudice done to them Fourthly The said Rochellers as well Inhabitants as Souldiers shall be discharged of all acts of Hostility in general whatever Negotiations in strange Countries and of all others without being proceeded against for any of them except such as are excepted for their execrableness by the Edicts and such as may concern the Person of the King 1628. October Fifthly In like manner the said Rochellers shall remain discharged for casting of Cannon minting of Money seizing and taking of Money as well belonging to the King as Ecclesiasticks and others in the said City together with Contributions ordained for the maintenance of Souldiers decreed against the absent and even constrained by the demolition of their houses and of all other employments in things abovesaid in the said City Sixthly All the Inhabitants and Souldiers shall in like manner remain discharged of all Judgments Sentences and Decrees which possibly may have been given against them for their Rebellion during these troubles Seventhly That all Judgments as well Civil as Criminal given in the Councils held extraordinarily in the said City the Judges and Commissaries who have assisted therein shall not therefore be proceeded against nor even for the particular profits received by Prizes or Spoils and above all silence herein is imposed upon the Attorney General and his Substitutes Eighthly That the Judgments Amercements Condemnations Suspensions and Interdictions given by the Chief Judges as well against the Mayors of the said City as those that assisted them shall remain null and void as if they had never been And also in like manner the proceedings made against any of the said Judges shall remain null and void and none of those that have been imployed on either side shall be molested Ninthly The Judgment for the death of Tourvert shall remain null and those who are therewith charged by the said Judgment shall not for that cause be troubled Tenthly That all the Contents abovesaid shall be 1628. October ratified by the Mayor Sheriffs Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of the said City and the said Ratification thereof shall be delivered this day by two a Clock after Dinner in good and authentick form After which the King will be pleased to deliver to the said Deputies Pattents of Declaration which shall approve and ratifie the abovesaid Articles Eleventhly The said Ratification being delivered the Gates of the City shall be opened and put into the hands of such as it shall please his Majesty to appoint to the end that after this he may make his entry in person when and in such manner as shall please him his Majesty promising in bounty to cause such ordâ—r â—t the entry and quartering of the Souldiers in the said City that no Inhabitants Women or Children shall receive any prejudice either in person or goods Acted and Ordained in the Castle of Sausay the twenty ninth of Octob. 1628. Signed Lowis de Mavillac John Berne Peter Viette Riffault de la Goute de la Coste and Mocquay At the same time the Deputies which were with the English Fleet and sent by them made their Treaty apart after that for the City was concluded and because that their management being secret and their arrival in the Camp unexpected many have had a desire to know the particular Transactions I have taken care to inform my self thereof and believe it my duty to impart it to the Publick as a thing belonging to this History which follows word for word as it hath been communicated to me extracted from the 1628. October Journals of Sieur Vincent whereof I have seen the Original The seventh of Octob. 1628. a Shalloop coming from the Kings Army and staying in the middle of the way called la Pallice with a white Flag demanded to communicate with the Deputies of Rochel and the French By the permission of the English General the Sieur Forin Deputy for the Duke of Rohan with some others and Mr. Montague who was since made Abbot of Pontoise in France went aboard the Shalloop where they found the Sieur Treillebois one of the Kings Captains and one that made profession of the Reformed Religion with the Sieur Lisle Adjutant-Major in the same Army who made Propositions to all the French in the English Army to retire and seek the Kings Grace and Pardon assuring them that he would receive them to mercy and would like it if they should intercede with him for the City of Rochel upon which they broke only Montague making himself known desired the above-mentioned Treillebois to present his service to Cardinal Richelieu The thirteenth there returned four English who had been taken Prisoners by the Kings
the King your Soveraign Parting thus from him they hoped that a permission 1628. October for going into the City would have been given them but the same day in the Afternoon â—hey were surprised with the news brought them â—hat there was arrived at Sausay the same place where they were Deputies from Rochel to treat of Conditions for surrendry of the City This made them the Deputies from the English Army presume that the City having received their Letters of the twenty third they agreed with them that it was to no purpose to expect any thing from the English by force of Arms and for what was of Treaty that they had the same consideration as they had had that it would be of more advantage and security to them to seek by themselves the favour of his Majesty than by the Intercession of any so little agreeable as one might judge that of the English would be and approving altogether their Counsels they regretted only that having writ them that they would endeavour a Pass-port for going to them they had not expected the effect for that it had been better that they should have sought it for them rather than themselves which administred jealousie of a great extremity As these Deputies reasoned thus one with another the other Deputies from the City were with the Cardinal and other Ministers of State treating for Conditions who to obtain the better endeavoured to give jealousie of the English succours upon which it was told them that they abused themselves in relying upon them and that the English having lost all hopes of doing any thing for their relief had sent their own Deputies to manage a particular Treaty for them without speaking of Rochel And when they made difficulty 1628. October of believing that the Deputies from the English Army were there they were sent for and shewed to them in the Council-Chamber where they saluted and imbraced one another but without being permitted to confer together only the Cardinal told the new Deputies that he could not but observe how greatly their City was obliged to their old Deputies their Fellow-Citizens which he had shewed to them for their abundant affection for that in treating for them they could not come upon their Condition without tears interceding for them with excessive earnestness and after this he obliged them to withdraw When they were a-part they all agreed that the Cardinal had dealt with them with more Art than was common in making them the several Deputies from the City and English Army to see one another without suffering them to speak together that so he might make use of their several Discourses to each Party as might best serve his turn But however finding that their last Letters to the City had been delivered by which they had acquainted them how they had managed a Passport for going to them they concluded that the Council of the City could not be wanting in advertising their Deputies sent to Court with the Effects of their Letters that they might thereby apprehend the cause of their coming thither Besides there were some of their Company who upon all occasions came to see them and particularly they found means to speak with Sieur de Lisle who without making shew of it had always had his Eye upon them and coming to them told them That the City-Deputies were advised that they were there upon their Accounts to endeavour 1628. October the Conclusion of a Treaty for the City and that by the inducement of the English themselves who though they were frequent in continual promises for attempting what was possible for their relief they nevertheless saw no reason to expect much from them nor upon that account to interrupt the Treaty only it behoved them to manage it with setting as good a Face on the matter as they could for obtaining the better Conditions These Deputies from the City being returned thither the same day went again the next day and concluded the Rendition under the Articles which they esteemed good or to express it better such as they could obtain without that the other come from the English Army having any part in them or that it was then possible for them to know the truth of what they were agreed upon The Deputies from the English Army knowing in general that the Treaty was concluded without making any mention of them because the King would not suffer it they supplicated the Cardinal to procure them also the Grace of his Majesty and to the French in the English Army and in general to all those which the Commotions had forced either into England or other Countries which he promised them and having ordered them to treat thereof with Monsieur Chateauneuf in the end they obtained the Declaration of 29. Octob. importing That the King pardoned them for all things passed permitting them to come again into their Havens even with the Prizes that they had taken for that they should enjoy the same Grace as his other Subjects with free exercise of their Religion giving them all their Goods except the Fruits received and Debts confiscated 1628. October and actually payed allowing three months to those of Re and Rochel who were in England for returning to enjoy the same Grace The Keys of the City being brought to the King the 29. and his Troops entering the 30. it was agreed among the said Deputies That the Sieur Gobert should go to the City and Sieur Vincent to the English to whom having carried this ill news the General expressed his great dislike of it and the more because Montague having used the diligence he promised was returned and had brought all necessary Orders for the Treaty to which the English had very willingly consented but were desirous to have had all to pass thorough their hands Montague upon the whole was very angry that his runnings had been unprofitable and fell upon Sieur Vincent in full Council for rendering of the City blaming their impatience and accusing them of having ill requited the King of England's good will towards them The Sieur Vincent answered him That he would force a man wounded with grief to tear it from his Bosom and told him That as to his poor Country in behalf of which he durst so unjustly accuse him it was he and such as he that by their secret Conspiracies had reduced it to the miserable condition wherein it now was That he did not speak of his serene Majesty of England whose Intentions he knew had always been for saving of this poor City nor did he intend the present General of whose sincerity and good-will he desired to be very cautious but as to Montague and others of his Faction who underhand had been nourished by him they had always 1628. October crossed the best and most generous designs and that by their delayes from day to day in England they hindered the Succours from parting in time and have continued the same Practises since the departure and arrival of the Fleet by spreading
into the City commanded 1628. Novemb. the last Mayor the Sieurs Salbert and Polinier Ministers and about ten others as well of the Corps of the City as Burgers to leave the City and to absent for six Months which was done by a meer Verbal Command The fourth and fifth they ranged in the Castle-yard all the Cannon of the City as also of the Forts and Digue and Quarters of the Camp in order to the conveying them from thence to Brouage and other places as was done some days after The same day about four in the Evening the English Fleet after having been a Month and six days in the Road and seen from thence the reduction of Rochel to the obedience of the King set sail to carry the news of it for England and carried with them a great Party of French The sixth seventh and eighth of this Month was so great a Storm at South-East and with such violence that the Digue in many places and above all upon the Coast of Portneuf was so shaken the Engines and Candlesticks so broken and removed that a Flemish Ship of two hundred Tuns laden with Victuals for the relief of the City which had stayed at the Head of the Bay being driven by the impetuosity of the Storm ruâ— on shore having passed the Digue with little difficulty which we observed as the Lords particular protection of the affairs of his Majesty since had this Storm come eight days sooner the City had been relieved Some days after the King went to Port de Coigne to see a Mine sprung which they had made at a Peece detached from the said Port to the end that according as this should succeed they might 1628. Novemb. deal with the new as well as ancient Walls of the City having ordered the demolishing of all its fortifications and this Mine succeeded well The sixteenth the Keeper of the Seal sent for the Registers of the Council and made a strict search into the Memoires and Instructions given the Deputies the City had sent to the King of England and of the Treaties made by them with the said Prince and found that the said Instructions and Treaty had always been with the reservation of their Fidelity which they ought to the Crown It was said that this search was made that they might the better know how to frame the Kings Declaration which was soon after published and that some were of opinion that in the Preamble of it the King should alledge for cause of his Arms that Rochel had not only called in the English but also given themselves up to them but the said Keeper of the Seal refused it not judging it honest or convenient except they could make the truth of it appear whereas by all the Inquest that they could make as well as by those Publick Records finding the contrary the Declaration touched not at all thereupon But he gave order that as well the said Registers as all the other Instruments should be carried to Paris to the Chamber of Accounts where they still are The eighteenth was published thorough the ordinary Quarters of the City the Declaration of the King establishing the Order which he would have observed by the same he dissolves and abolisheth the Common-Councel of the City and all her Priviledges as the Dignity of Mayor the Prevote or ordinary Jurisdiction of the City uniting 1628. Novemb. them to the Chief Justiceship with an Intendant of Justice reducing the five Parishes to three assigning to every Cure three hundred Livers upon the Revenue of the Town-House the said Hall together with all other Edifices and common places being united to the Kings Demain discharged those of the City in general of all acts of Hostility whatever Negotiations in Forreign Countries and of all other acts without being liable to prosecution for the same saving in cases execrable excepted by the Edicts or Laws and such as may concern the Person of the King and in like manner discharge them for casting of Guns and Cannon Minting of Money seising and taking of Money as well belonging to the Ecclesiasticks as the King together with the levying of Souldiers and constraint used against the absent even by demolishing of their Houses willing that the exercise of the Religion to the Inhabitants which make profession thereof be left free to them within the City with prohibition nâ—vertheless to all others of the said Religion for coming to live there if they had not dwelt there before the descent of the English that the Taxes of the City shall in favour of Trade be limited to four thousand Livers that the fortifications both new and old shall be demolished and razed even with the ground except from the Port of S. Nicholas to the Tower of the Lanthorn joyning to the Port of two Mills which is on the side of the Sea and that the Policy be administred by two Councellors and four Burgesses which the King shall every year make This Order being established the King with all 1628. Novemb. his Court and a great number of Lords and Nobless took Horse the nineteenth for Paris betwixt seven and eight in the morning and left Monsieur de Vignolles with four Regiments to wit those de Chappes du Plessis Praulin Castlebayrd and la Meilleraye to remain there until the demolition of the fortifications were finished The Kings second Residence here was six Months twenty five days he held the City besieged from the fourteenth of August 1627. when the Duke of Angoulesme took up his Quarters at Estre until the thirtieth of October 1628. that the Marshal Schomberg and Marilac made their Entry being one year two months and sixteen days And thus ended the Siege of this so long Celebrated City of Rochel which for the space of about seventy years had given France so much exercise and drawn the Eyes of the greatest part of Christendom upon them THE EDICT OR STATUTE Granted by Henry the Fourth of France to those of the Reformed Religion of that Kingdom for the free Exercise of their Consciences in matters of their Religion c. called the Edict of Nantes because Enacted at that City with the Kings Declaration upon the precedent Edicts of Pacification HENRY by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To all present and to come Greeteth Among the infinite mercies that God hath pleased to bestow upon us that most signal and remarkable is his having given us power and strength not to yield to the dreadful Troubles Confusions and Disorders which were found at our coming to this Kingdom divided into so many Parties and Factions that the most legitimate was almost the least enabling us with constancy in such manner to oppose the storm as in the end to surmount it reducing this Estate to peace and rest for which to him alone be given the honour and glory and us the grace to acknowledge our obligation in having our labours made use of for the accomplishing so good a work in which it hath
been visible to all that we have not only done what was our duty and in our power but something more than at another time would peradventure have been agreeable to the Dignity we now hold as in not having had more care than to have many times so freely exposed our own life And in this great concurrence of weighty and perillous Affairs not being able to compose all at one and the same time we have chosen this Order First to undertake those who were not to be suppressed but by force and rather to remit and suspend others for some time who might be dealt with by reason and justice for for the general differences among our good Subjects and the particular evils of the soundest parts of the State we judged might be easily cured after the principal cause the continuation of the Civil Wars was taken away in which we have by the blessing of God well and happily succeeded all Hostility and Wars thorough the Kingdom being now ceased and we hope he will also prosper us in our other affairs which remain to be composed and that by this means we shall arrive at the Establishment of a good Peace with tranquillity and rest which hath ever been the end of all our vows and intentions as all the reward we desire or expect for so much pain and trouble as we have taken in the whole course of our life Amongst our said affairs towards which it behoves us to have patience one of the principal hath been the many complaints we have received from divers of our Provinces and Catholick Cities for that the exercise of the Catholick Religion was not universally re-established as is provided by Edicts or Statutes heretofore made for the Pacification of the troubles arising from Religion as also the Supplications and Remonstrances which have been made to us by our Subjects of the Reformed Religion as well upon the execution of what hath been granted them by the said former Laws as that they desire to have some addition for the exercise of their Religion the liberty of their Consciences and the security of their Persons and Fortunes presuming to have just reasons for desiring some inlargement of Articles as not being without great apprehensions because their ruine hath been the principal pretext and original foundation of the late Wars Troubles and Commotions Now not to burden us with too much business at once as also that the fury of War was not compatible with the Establishment of Laws how good soever they might be we have hitherto deferred from time to time giving remedy herein But now that it hath pleased God to give us a beginning of injoying some rest we think we cannot imploy our self better than to apply to that which may tend to the glory and service of his holy Name and to provide that he may be adored and prayed unto by all our Subjects and if it hath not yet pleased him to permit it to be in one and the same Form of Religion that it may at the least be with one and the same intention and with such Rules as may prevent amongst them all trouble or tumults and that we and this Kingdom may always conserve the glorious Title of most Christian which hath been by so much merit so long since acquired and by the same means take away the cause of mischief and trouble which may happen from the actions of Religion which of all others are most prevalent and penetrating For this cause acknowledging this affair to be of the greatest importance and worthy of the best consideration after having considered the Papers of Complaints of our Catholick Subjects and having also permitted to our Subjects of the Reformed Religion to assemble themselves by Deputies for framing their complaints and making a Collection of all their Remonstrances and having thereupon conferred divers times with them viewing the precedent Laws we have upon the whole judged it necessary to give to all our said Subjects one general Law clear pure and absolute by which they shall be regulated in all differences which have heretofore risen among them or may hereafter rise wherewith the one and other may be contented being framed according as the time requires and having had no other regard in this deliberation than solely the zeal we have to the service of God praying that he would henceforward render to all our said Subjects a durable and established Peace Upon which we implore and expect from his Divine bounty the same protection and favour as he hath always visibly bestowed upon this Kingdom from our Birth during the many years we have attained unto and give our said Subjects the grace to understand that in the observation of this our Ordinance consisteth after that which is their duty towards God and us the principal foundation of their union concord tranquillity rest and the re-establishment of all this Estate in its first splendour opulency and strength As on our part we promise to cause all to be exactly observed without suffering any contradiction And for these causes having with the advice of the Princes of our Blood other Princes and Officers of our Crown and other great and eminent Persons of our Council of State being near us well and diligently weighed and considered all this affair WE HAVE by this Edict or Statute perpetual and irrevocable said declared and ordained saying declaring and ordaining I. That the memory of all things passed on the one part and the other since the beginning of the month of March 1585. until our coming to the Crown and also during the other precedent troubles and the occasion of the same shall remain extinguished and suppressed as things that had never been And it shall not be lawful or permitted to our Atturnies General nor other person or persons whatsoever publick or private in any time or for any occasion whatsoever it may be to make mention thereof Process or prosecution in any Courts or Jurisdiction whatsoever II. We prohibit to all our Subjects of what state or condition soever they be to renew the memory thereof to attaque resent injure or provoke one the other by reproaches for what is passed under any pretext or cause whatsoever by disputing contesting quarrelling reviling or offending by factious words but to contain themselves and live peaceably together as brethren friends and fellow Citizens upon penalty for acting to the contrary to be punished as breakers of the peace and disturbers of the publick quiet III. We Ordain That the Catholick Religion shall be restored and re-established in all places and quarters of this Kingdom and Country under our obedience and where the exercise of the same hath been intermitted to be there again peaceably and freely exercised without any trouble or impediment Most expresly prohibiting all persons of what state quality or condition soever upon the penalties before-mentioned not to trouble molest or disquiet the Ecclesiasticks in the Celebration of Divine Service injoying and receiving of Tithes the Fruits
under the name of ancient Bailiwicks such as were in the time of hedeceased King Henry our most honoured Lord and Father-in-law held for Bailiwicks Chief Justiceships and Governments appealing without intercession to our said Courts XII We do not understand by this present Statute to derogate from the Laws and Agreements heretofore made for the reduction of any Prince Lord Gentleman or Catholick City under our obedience in that which concerns the exercise of the said Religion the which Laws and Records shall be kept and observed upon that account according as shall be contained in the Instructions given the Commissioners for the execution of the present Edict or Law XIII We prohibit most expresly to all those of the said Religion to hold any exercise of the same as well by Ministers preaching discipling of Pupils or publick Instruction of Children as other ways in this our Kingdom or Countries under our obedience in that which concerns Religion except in the places permitted and granted by the present Edict or Law XIV As also not to exercise the said Religion in our Court nor in our Territories and Countries beyond the Mountains nor in our City of Paris nor within five leagues of the said City nevertheless those of the said Religion dwelling in the said Lands and Countries beyond the Mountains and in our said City and within five leagues about the same shall not be searched after in their houses nor constrained to do any thing in Religion against their Consciences comporting themselves in all other things according as is contained in our present Edict or Law XV. Nor also shall hold publick exercise of the said Religion in the Armies except in the Quarters of the principal Commanders who make profession of the same except nevertheless where the Quarters of our Person shall be XVI Following the second Article of the Conference of Nerac We grant to those of the said Religion power to build places for the exercise of the same in Cities and places where it is granted to them and that those shall be rendred to them which they have heretofore built or the foundations of the same in the condition as they are at present even in places where the said exercise was not permitted to them except they are converted into another nature of building In which case there shall be given to them by the Possessors of the said Buildings other houses and places of the same value that they were before they were built or the just estimation of the same according to the judgment of experienced persons saving to the said Proprietors and Possessors their tryal at Law to whom they shall belong XVII We prohibit all Preachers Readers and others who speak in publick to use any words discourse or Propositions tending to excite the people to Sedition and we injoyn them to contain and comport themselves modestly and to say nothing which shall not be for the instruction and edification of the Auditors and maintaining the peace and tranquillity established by us in our said Kingdom upon the penalties mentioned in the precedent Statutes Expresly injoyning our Atturnies Generals and their Substitutes to inform against them that are contrary hereunto upon the penalty of answering therefore and the loss of their Office XVIII Forbidding also to our Subjects of what quality and condition soever they be to take away by force or inducement against the will of their Parents the Children of the said Religion to baptize or confirm them in the Catholick Church as also we forbid the same to those of the said Reformed Religion upon pain of being exemplarily punished XIX Those of the said Reformed Religion shall not be at all constrained nor remain obliged by reason of Abjurations Promises and Oaths which they have heretofore made or by Caution given concerning the practice of the said Religion nor shall therefore be molested or prosecuted in any sort whatsoever XX. They shall also be obliged to keep and observe the Festivals of the Catholick Church and shall not on the same days work sell or keep open Shop nor likewise the Artisans shall not work out of their Shops in their chambers or houses privately on the said Festivals and other days forbidden of any Trade the noise whereof may be heard without by those that pass by or by the Neighbours the searching after which shall notwithstanding be made by none but by the Officers of Justice XXI Books concerning the said Reformed Religion shall not be printed or sold publickly save in the Cities and places where the publick exercise of the said Religion is permitted And for the other Books which shall be printed in other Cities they shall be viewed and visited by our Theological Officers as is directed by our Ordinances Forbidding most expresly the printing publishing and selling of all Books Libels and Writings defamatory upon the penalties contained in our Ordinances injoyning all our Judges and Officers to seize the same XXII We Ordain That there shall not be made any difference or distinction upon the account of the said Religion in receiving Scholars to be instructed in the Universities Colledges or Schools nor of the sick and poor into Hospitals Sick-houses and publick Alms-houses XXIII Those of the Reformed Religion shall be obliged to observe the Laws of the Catholick Church received in this our Kingdom as to Marriages and Contracts and to contract in the degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity XXIV In like manner those of the said Religion shall pay the Rights of Entry as is accustomed for Offices unto which they shall be chosen without being constrained to observe or assist in any Ceremonies contrary to their said Religion and being called to take an Oath shall not be obliged to do it otherwise than by holding up the hand swearing and promising in the Name of God to say all the truth nor shall they be dispensed with for the Oath by them taken in passing Contracts and Obligations XXV We Will and Ordain That all those of the Reformed Religion and others who have followed their Party of what state quality or condition soever they be shall be obliged and constrained by all due and reasonable ways and under the penalties contained in the said Edict or Statute relating thereunto to pay Tithes to the Curates and other Ecclesiasticks and to all others to whom they shall appertain according to the usage and custom of the places XXVI Disinheritations or Privations be it by disposition in life-time or Testamentary made from hatred only or for Religion sake shall have no place neither for the time passed or to come among our Subjects XXVII To the end to reunite so much the better the minds and good will of our Subjects as is our intention and to take away all complaints for the future We declare all those who make or shall make profession of the said Reformed Religion to be capable of holding and exercising all Estates Dignities Offices and publick Charges whatsoever Royal Signioral or of Cities
of our Kingdom Countries Lands and Lordships under our obedience notwithstanding all Oaths to the contrary and to be indifferently admitted and received into the same and our Court of Parliament and other Judges shall content themselves with informing and inquiring after the Lives Manners Religion and honest Conversation of those that are or shall be preferred to such Offices as well of the one Religion as the other without taking other Oath of them than for the good and faithful service of the King in the exercise of their Office and to keep the Ordinances as they have been observed in all times Also vacancies happening of such of the said Estates Charges and Offices as shall be in our disposition they shall be provided by us indifferently and without distinction of persons as that which tends to the union of our Subjects Understanding likewise that those of the Reformed Religion may be admitted and received into all Councils Deliberations Assemblies and Functions depending upon the above-said things without being rejected or hindered the injoyment thereof by reason of the said Religion XXVIII We ordain for the Interment of the Dead of the said Religion throughout the Cities and places of this Kingdom that there shall in each place be provided for them by our Officers and Magistrates and by the Commissioners that we shall depute for the execution of our present Edict or Statute a place the most commodious that can be and the Burying-places which they have had heretofore and whereof they have by the troubles been deprived shall be restored unto them except they be found to be converted into Buildings of what quality or kind soever it be in which case a compensation shall be made another way XXIX We injoyn most expresly our Officers to look to it that no scandal be given in the said Interments and they shall be obliged within fifteen days after request made to provide those of the said Religion with convenient places for Sepulchres without delay upon penalty of five hundred Crowns in their own proper and private names And it is also forbidden as well to the said Officers as to all others to exact any thing for the conduct of the said dead bodies upon penalty of extortion XXX To the end that Justice be given and administred to our Subjects without any suspicion hatred or favour as being one of the principal means for the maintaining Peace and Concord We have Ordained and do Ordain That in our Court of Parliament of Paris shall be established a Chamber composed of a President and sixteen Councellors of the said Parliament which shall be Called and Intitled the Chamber of Edict and shall take cognisance not only of the Causes and Process of those of the said Reformed Religion which shall be within the Jurisdiction of the said Court but also of the Appeals of our Parliaments of Normandy and Bretagne according to the Jurisdiction which shall hereafter be given to it by this present Edict or Statute and that until in each of the said Parliaments there shall be established a Chamber for rendring Justice upon the place We Ordain also That of four Offices of Councellors in our said Parliament remaining of the last erection which hath by us been made there shall be presently provided and received in the said Parliament four of the said Reformed Religion sufficient and capable which shall be distributed to wit the first into the Chamber of Edicts and the other three in like manner shall be received in the three Chambers of Inquests and besides the two first Offices of Councellors of the said Courts which shall come to be vacant by death shall be supplied by two of the Reformed Religion and the same distributed also in the two ther Chambers of Inquests XXXI Besides the Chamber heretofore established at Castres for Appeals from our Parliament of Tholouse which shall be continued in the estate it is We have for the same reasons Ordained and We do Ordain That in each of our Parliaments of Grenoble and Bourdeaux there shall be in like manner established a Chamber composed of two Presidents one a Catholick and the other of the Reformed Religion and twelve Councellors whereof six shall be Catholicks and the other six of the said Religion which Catholick President and Councellors shall be by us chosen and taken out of the body of our said Courts And as to those of the Religion there shall be made a new Creation of one President and six Councellors for the Parliament of Bourdeaux and one President and three Councellors for that of Grenoble which with the three Councellors of the said Religion which are at present in the said Parliament shall be employed in the said Chamber of Dauphine And the said Officers shall be Created by a new Creation with the same Salaries Honours Authorities and Preheminencies as the others of the said Courts And the said seat of the said Chamber of Bourdeaux shall be in the said City of Bourdeaux or at Nerac and that of Dauphine at Grenoble XXXII The Chamber of Dauphine shall take Cognizance of the causes of those of the Reformed Religion within the Jurisdiction of our Parliament of Provence without having need of letters of Evocation or Appeal or other Provisions than in our Chancery of Dauphine As also those of the said Religion of Normandy and Bretagne shall not be obliged to take letters of Evocation or Appeal nor other Provision than in our Chancerie of Paris XXXIII Our Subjects of the Reformed Religion of the Parliament of Burgundy shall have the choice to plead in the Chamber ordained in the Parliament of Paris or in those of Dauphine And shall not be obliged to take Letters of Evocation or Appeal nor other Provisions than in the said Chanceries of Paris or Dauphine according as they shall make choice XXXIV All the said several Chambers composed as is said shall have Cognizance and by decree shall judge in Soveraignty and last Appeal exclusive to all others the Process and Differences that are already or shall arise in which those of the Reformed Religion are or shall be parties principals or guarentees in demanding or defending in all matters as well Civil as Criminal if demanded before contestation in the Cause and commencing of the Suit whether the process be by Writing or verbal appellation excepting nevertheless all Customs belonging to Benefices and the possessors of tenths not infeoffed the Ecclesiastical Patrons and their Suits for their rights and duties and the demains of the Church all which shall be tryed and judged in the Courts of Parliament exclusive to the said Chambers of Edict As also we will and require that as to judging and deciding the criminal process which may happen betwixt the said Ecclesiasticks and those of the Reformed Religion that if the Ecclesiasticks are Defendant in such Case the Cognizance and Judgment of criminal process shall belong to our Soveraign Courts distinct as to the said Chamber and where the Ecclesiastickâ— shall be
without demanding a Placet or peremptory Warrant upon penalty of suspension of their Estates and of the Expences Damages and Interests of the parties the Cognizance whereof shall belong to the said Chambers XLVII No removal of Causes shall be allowed to any whereof the Cognizance is attributed to the said Chambers except in Cases of Ordinance the removal by which shall be made to the next Chamber established according to our Edict And the dividing of the Process of the said Chambers shall be judged by the nearest observing the proportion and forms of the said Chambers where the Process shall be proceeded upon except the Chamber of Edict in our Parliament of Paris where the Process divided shall be distributed in the same Chamber by the Judges which shall be by us named by our particular Letters Patents for that effect if the parties had not rather wait the removing of the said Chamber And happening that one and the same Process be divided in all the Chambers Myparty or half one Religion half th' other the division shall be sent to the Chamber of Paris XLVIII The refusal that shall be proposed against the Presidents and Councellors of the Chambers half one Religion and half th' other called the Court of Edict may be judged by the number of six to which number the parties shall be obliged to restrain themselves otherwise they shall be passed over without having regard to the said refusal XLIX The examinations of the Presidents and Councellors newly erected in the said Chambers of Edict Mypartis shall be made in our Privy Council or by the said Chambers each in his Precinct when they shall be a sufficient number and nevertheless the Oath accustomed shall be by them taken in the Courts where the said Chambers shall be established and upon refusal in our Privy Council except those of the Chamber of Languedoc in which they shall take Oath before ouâ— Chancellor or in the same Chamber L. We Will and Ordain That the reception of our Officers of the said Religion be judged in the said Chambers half Papists and half of the Reformed Religion by plurality of voices as is accustomed in other Courts without being needful that the opinions surpass two thirds following the Ordinance which for the same Cause is abrogated LI. There shall be made in the said Chambers Mypartis the propositions deliberations and resolutions which shall appertain to the publick peace and for the particular State and Policy of the Cities where the same Chambers shall be LII The Article for the Jurisdiction of the said Chambers ordained by the present Edict shall be followed and observed according to its form and tenure even in that which concerns the execution or breach of our Edict when those of the Religion shall be parties LIII The Kings subordinate Officers or others whereof the reception belongeth to our Courts of Parliaments if they be of the Reformed Religion they may be examined and received in the said Chambers viz. those under the Jurisdiction of the Parliaments of Paris Normandy and Bretagne in the said Chambers of Paris those of Dauphine and Provence in the Chamber of Grenoble those of Bourgondy in the said Chamber of Paris or Dauphine at their choice those under the Jurisdiction of Tholouse in the Chamber of Castres and those of the Parliament of Bourdeaux in the Chamber of Guyenne without that others may oppose themselves against their reception and render themselves parties as our Procurators General and their Substitutes and those enjoying the said Offices yet nevertheless the accustomed Oath shall be by them taken in the Courts of Parliaments who shall not take any Cognizance of the said receptions and in refusal of the said Parliaments the said Officers shall take the Oath in the said Chambers after which so taken they shall be obliged to present by a Messenger or Notary the Act of their Reception to the Register of the said Courts of Parliaments and to leave a Copy thereof examined by the said Register who is injoyned to Register the said Acts upon penalty of all the Expence Damage and Interest of the parties and the said Registers refusing to do it shall suffer the said Officers to report the Act of the said Summons dispatched by the said Messengers or Notaries and cause the same to be in-Registred in the Register-Office of their said Jurisdiction for to have recourse thereunto when need shall be upon penalty of Nullity of their Proceedings and Judgments And as to the Officers whereof the Reception hath not been accustomed to be made in our said Parliaments in case those to whom it belongs shall refuse to proceed to the said Examination and Reception then the said Officers shall repair to the said Chambers for to be there provided as it shall appertain LIV. The Officers of the said Reformed Religion who shall hereafter be appointed to serve in the body of our said Courts of Parliaments Grand Council Chambers of Accounts Courts of Aids Officers of the General Treasuries of France and other Officers of the Exchequer shall be examined and received in places where they have been accustomed and in case of refusal or denying of Justice they shall be appointed by our Privy Council LV. The Reception of our Officers made in the Chamber heretofore established at Castres shall remain valid notwithstanding all Decrees and Ordinances to the contrary And shall be also valid the Reception of Judges Councellors Assistants and other Officers of the said Religion made in our Privy Council or by Commissioners by us Ordained in case of the refusal of our Courts of Parliaments Courts of Aids and Chambers of Accounts even as if they were done in the said Courts and Chambers and by the other Judges to whom the Reception belongeth And their Salaries shall be allowed them by the Chambers of Accounts without difficulty and if any have been put out they shall be re-established without need of any other command than the present Edict and without that the said Officer shall be obliged to shew any other Reception notwithstanding all Decrees given to the contrary which shall remain null and of none effect LVI In the mean time until the Charges of the Justice of the said Chambers can be defrayed by Amerciaments there shall be provided by us by valuable assignations sufficient for maintaining the said Charges without expecting to do it by the goods of the condemned LVII The Presidents and Councellors of the Reformed Religion heretofore received in our Court of Parliament of Dauphine and in the Chamber of Edict incorporated in the same shall continue and have their Session and Orders for the same that is to say the Presidents as they have injoyed and do injoy at present and the Councellors according to the Decrees and provisions that they have therefore obtained in our Privy Council LVIII We declare all Sentences Judgments Procedures Seisures Sales and Decrees made and given against those of the Reformed Religion as well living as dead from
the death of the deceased King Henry II our most honoured Lord and Father-in-law upon the occasion of the said Religion tumults and troubles since happening as also the execution of the same Judgments and Decrees from henceforward cancelled revoked and annulled and the same we cancel revoke and annul And we ordain that they shall be razed and taken out of the Registers Office of the Courts as well soveraign as inferiour And we will and require also to be taken away and defaced all Marks Footsteps and Monuments of the said Executions Books and Acts Defamatory against their Persons Memory and Posterity and that the places which have been for that occasion demolished or razed be rendred in such condition as they now are to the proprietors of the same to enjoy and dispose at their pleasure And generally we cancel revoke and null all proceedings and informations made for any enterprise whatsoever pretended crimes of high Treason and others notwithstanding the procedures Decrees and Judgments containing reunion Incorporation and Confiscation and we further will and command that those of the Reformed Religion and others that have followed their Party and their Heirs re-enter really and actually into the possession of all and each of their Goods LIX All Proceedings Judgments and Decrees given during the troubles against those of the Religion who have born Arms or are retired out of our Kingdom or within the same into Cities and Countries by them held or for any other cause as well as for Religion and the troubles together with all Non-suiting of Causes Prescriptions as well legal conditional as customary seizing of Fiefs fallen during the troubles by hindring legitimate Proceeding shall be esteemed as not done or happening And such we have declared and do declare and the same we have and do annihilate and make void without admitting any satisfaction therefore but they shall be restored to their former condition notwithstanding the Decrees and Execution of the same and the Possessions thereof shall be rendred to them out of which they were upon this account disseised And this as above shall have like place upon the account of those that have followed the Party of those of the Religion or who have been absent from our Kingdom upon the occasion of the troubles And for the young Children of Persons of Quality abovesaid who dyed during the troubles We restore the Parties into the same condition as they were formerly without refunding the expence or being obliged for the Amerciaments not understanding nevertheless that the Judgments given by the Chief Judges or other inferiour Judges against those of the Religion or who have followed their Party shall remain null if they have been given by Judges sitting in Cities by them held which was to them of free access LX. The Decrees given in our Court of Parliament in matters whereof the cognizance belongs to the Chambers or Courts ordained by the Edict in the year 1577. and Articles of Nerac and Flex into which Courts the Parties have not proceeded voluntarily but have been forced to alledge and propose declinatory ends and which Decrees have been given by default or foreclusion as well in Civil as Criminal matters notwithstanding which alligations the said Parties have been constrained to go on shall be in like manner null and of no value And as to the Decrees given against those of the Religion who have proceeded voluntarily and without having proposed ends declinatory those Decrees shall remain without prejudice for the execution of the same yet nevertheless permitting them if it seem good to them to bring by Petition their Cause before the Chamber ordained by the present Edict without that the elapsing the time appointed by the Ordinances shall be to their prejudice and until the said Chambers and Chanceries for the same shall be established verbal appellations or in writing interposed by those of the Religion before Judges Registers or Commissioners Executors of Decrees and Judgments shall have like effect as if they were by Command from the King LXI In all Inquiries which shall be made for what cause soever in matters Civil if the Inquisitor or Commissioner be a Chatholick the Parties shall be obliged to convene an assistant and where they will not do it there shall be taken from the Office by the said Inquisitor or Commissioner one who shall be of the Religion and the same shall be practised when the Commissioner or Inquisitor shall be of the said Religion for an assistant who shall be a Catholick LXII We Will and Ordain That our Judges may take Cognizance of the Validity of Testaments in which those of the Religion may have an interest if they require it and the appellations from the said Judgments may be brought to the said Chambers ordained for the Process of those of the Religion notwithstanding all Customs to the contrary even those of Bretagne LXIII To obviate all differences which may arise betwixt our Courts of Parliaments and the Chambers of the same Courts ordained by our present Edict there shall be made by us a good and ample Reglement betwixt the said Courts and Chambers and such as those of the Religion shall enjoy entirely from the said Edict the which Reglement shall be verified in our Courts of Parliaments and kept and observed without having regard to precedents LXIV We inhibit and forbid all our Courts Soveraign and others of this Realm the taking Cognizance and judging the Civil or Criminal Process of those of the Religion the Cognizance of which is attributed by our Edict to the Chambers of Edict provided that the appeal thereunto be demanded as is said in the 40. Article going before LXV We also Will and Command for the present and until we have otherwise therein ordained that in all Process commenced or to be commenced where those of the Religion are Plaintiffs or Defendants Parties principals or Garantees in matters Civil in which our Officers and Chief Courts of Justice have power to judge without Appeal that it shall be permitted to them to except against two of the Chamber where the Process ought to be judged who shall forbear Judgment of the same and without having the Cause expressed shall be obliged to withdraw notwithstanding the Ordinance by which the Judges ought not to be excepted against without cause shewn and shall have further right to except against others upon shewing cause And in matters Criminal in which also the said Court of Justice and others of the King 's subordinate Judges do judge without Appeal those of the Religion may except against three of the said Judges without shewing cause And the Provosts of the Mareschalsie of France Vice-Bailiffs Vice-Presidents Lieutenants of the short Robe and other Officers of the like quality shall judge according to the Ordinances and Reglements heretofore given upon the account of Vagabonds And as to the Houshold charged and accused by the Provosts if they are of the said Religion they may require that three of the said
Judges who might have cognizance thereof do abstain from the Judgment of their Process and they shall be obliged to abstain therefrom without having cause shewn except where the Process is to be judged there shall be found to the number of two in Civil and three in Criminal Causes of the Religion in which case it shall not be lawful to except without cause shewn and this shall be reciprocal in the like cases as above to the Catholicks upon the account of Appeals from the Judges where those of the Religion are the greater number Not understanding nevertheless that the Chief Justice Provosts of the Mareschalsies Vice-Bailiffs Vice-Stewards and others who judge without Appeal take by virtue of this that is said cognizance of the past troubles And as to crimes and excess happening by other occasions than the troubles since the beginning of March 1585. until the end of 1597. in case they take cognizance thereof We will that an Appeal be suffered from their Judgment to the Chamber ordained by the present Edict as shall be practised in like manner for the Catholicks and Confederates where those of the Religion are Parties LXVI We Will and Ordain also That henceforward in all Instructions other than Informations of Criminal Process in the Chief Justices Court of Tholose Carcassonne Rouergue Loragais Beziers Montpellier and Nimes the Magistrate or Commissary deputed for the said Instruction if he is a Catholick shall be obliged to take an Associate who is of the Religion whereof the Parties shall agree or where they cannot agree one of the Office of the said Religion shall be taken by the above-said Magistrate or Commissioner as in like manner if the said Magistrate or Commissioner is of the Religion he shall be obliged in the same manner as above-said to take an Associate a Catholick LXVII When it shall be a question of making a Criminal Process by the Provosts of the Mareschalsies or their Lieutenants against some of the Religion a House-keeper who is charged and accused of a crime belonging to the Provost or subject to the Jurisdiction of a Provost the said Provosts or their Lieutenants if they are Catholicks shall be obliged to call to the Instruction of the said Process an Associate of the Religion which Associate shall also assist at the Judgment of the difference and in the definitive Judgment of the said Process which difference shall not be judged otherwise than by the next Presidial Court assembled with the principal Officers of the said Court which shall be found upon the place upon penalty of Nullity except the accused should require to have the difference judged in the Chambers ordained by the present Edict In which case upon the account of the House-keepers in the Provinces of Guyenne Languedoc Provence and Dauphiné the Substitutes of our Procurators General in the said Chambers shall at the request of the said House-keepers cause to be brought into the same the charges and informations made against them to know and judge if the Causes are triable before the Provost or not that according to the quality of the Crimes they may by the Chamber be sent back to the ordinary or judged triable by the Provost as shall be found reasonable by the Contents of our present Edict and the Presidial Judges Provosts of the Mareschalsie Vice-Bailiffs Vice-Stewards and others who judge without Appeal shall be obliged respectively to obey and satisfie the Commands of the said Chambers as they use to do to the said Parliaments upon penalty of the loss of their Estates LXVIII The Outcries for Sale of Inheritances and giving notice thereof by warning pasted or chalked according to order shall be done in places and at hours usual if possible following our Ordinances or else in publick Markets if in the place where the Land lyes there is a Market place and where there shall be none in the next Market within the Jurisdiction of the Court where Judgment ought to be given and the fixing of the notice shall be upon the Posts of the said Market-place and at the entry of the Assembly of the said place and this Order being observed the notice shall be good and valid and pass beyond the interposition of the Sentence or Decree as to any Nullity which might be alledged upon this account LXIX All Titles Papers Instructions and Documents which have been taken shall be restored by both Parties to those to whom they belong though the said Papers or the Castles and houses in which they were kept have been taken and seised by special Commission from the last deceased King our most honoured Lord and Brother-in-law or from us or by the Command of the Governors and Lieutenants General of our Provinces or by the Authority of the Heads of the other Party or under what pretext soever it shall be LXX The Children of those that are retired out of our Kingdom since the death of Henry II. our Father-in-law by reason of Religion and Troubles though the said Children are born out of the Kingdom shall be held for true French and Inhabitants And we have declared and do declare That it is lawful for such at any time within ten years after the publication of this present Edict to come and dwell in this Kingdom without being needful to take Letters Patents of Naturalization or any other provision from us than this present Edict notwithstanding all Ordinances to the contrary touching Children born in Foreign Countries LXXI Those of the Reformed Religion and others who have followed their Party who have before the Troubles taken to farm any Office or other Domain Gabel foreign Imposition or other Rights appertaining unto us which they could not injoy by reason of the Troubles shall remain discharged and we discharge them of what they have not received of our Finances and of what they have without fraud paid otherwise than in to the Receipts of our Exchequer notwithstanding all their obligation given thereupon LXXII All Places Cities and Provinces of our Kingdom Countries Lands and Lordships under our obedience shall use and injoy the same Priviledges Immunities Liberties Franchises Fayrs Markets Jurisdictions and Courts of Justice which they did before the Troubles begun 1585. and others preceding notwithstanding all Patents to the contrary and translation of any of the Seats of Justice provided they have been done only by occasion of the Troubles which Courts or Seats of Justice shall be restored to the Cities and places where they have been formerly LXXIII If there be any Prisoners who are yet kept by Authority of Justice or otherwise in Gallies by reason of the Troubles o◠of the said Religion they shall be released and set in full liberty LXXIV Those of the Religion shall never hereafter be charged and oppressed with any Charge ordinary or extraordinary more than the Catholicks and according to their abilities and Trades and the Parties who shall pretend to be overcharged above their ability may appeal to the Judges to whom the cognizance
no effect and value XC The Acquisitions that those of the Reformed Religion and others which have followed their Party have made by the Authority of the deceased Kings our Predecessors or others for the Immoveables belonging to the Church shall not have any place or effect but we Ordain and our pleasure is That the Ecclesiasticks re-enter immediately and without delay be conserved in the possession and injoyment really and actually of the said Goods so alienated without being obliged to pay the Purchase-money which to this effect we have cancelled and revoked as null without remedy for the Purchasers to have against the Generals c. by the authority of which the said Goods have been sold Yet nevertheless for the re-imbursement of the Money by them truly and without fraud disbursed our Letters Patents of permission shall be dispatched to those of the Religion to interpose and equalize the bare Sums that the said Purchases cost the Purchasers not being allowed to bring any Action for their damages and interest for want of injoyment but shall content themselves with the re-imbursement of the Money by them furnished for the price of the Acquisitions accounting for the price of the fruits received in case that the said Sale should be found to be made at an under rate XCI To the end that as well our Justices and Officers as our other Subjects be clearly and with all certainty advertised of our will and intentions and for taking away all ambiguity and doubt which may arise from the variety of former Edicts Articles secret Letters Patents Declarations Modifications Restrictions Interpretations Decrees and Registers as also all secrets as well as other deliberations heretofore by us or the Kings our Predecessors made in our Courts of Parliaments or other ways concerning the said Reformed Religion and the troubles happening in our said Kingdom we have declared and do hereby declare them to be of no value and effect And as to the derogatory part therein contained we have by this our Edict abrogated and we do abrogate and from henceforward we cancel revoke and annul them Declaring expresly that our will and pleasure is That this our Edict be firmly and inviolably kept and observed as well by our Justices and Officers as other Subjects without hesitation or having any regard at all to that which may be contrary or derogatory to the same XCII And for the greater assurance of the keeping and observing what we herein desire We will and ordain and it is our pleasure That all the Governors and Lieutenants General of our Provinces Bailiffs Chief Justices and other ordinary Judges of the Cities of our said Kingdom immediately after the receipt of this same Edict do bind themselves by Oath to keep and cause to be kept and observed each in their district as shall also the Majors Sheriffs principal Magistrates Consuls and Jurates of Cities either annual or perpetual Enjoyning likewise our Bailiffs Chief Justices or their Lieutenants and other Judges to make the principal Inhabitants of the said Cities as well of the one Religion as the other to swear to the keeping and observing of this present Edict immediately after the Publication thereof And taking all those of the said Cities under our protection command that one and the other respectively shall either answer for the opposition that shall be made to this our said Edict within the said Cities by the inhabitants thereof or else to present and deliver over to Justice the said opposers We Will and Command our well-beloved the People holding our Courts of Parliaments Chambers of Accompts and Courts of Aids that immediately after the receipt of this present Eâ—ict they cause all things to cease and upon penalty of Nullity of the Acts which they shall otherwise do to take the like Oath as above and to publish and register our said Edict in our said Courts according to the form and tenour of the same purely and simply without using any Modifications Restrictions Declarations or secret Registers or expecting any other Order or Command from us and we do require our Procurators General to pursue immediately and without delay the said Publication hereof We give in Command to the said People of our Courts of Parliaments Chambers of our Courts and Courts of our Aids Bailiffs Chief Justices Provosts and other our Justices and Officers to whom it appertains and to their Lieutenants that they cause to be read published and inregistred this our present Edict and Ordinance in their Courts and Jurisdictions and the same keep and observe punctually and the Contents of the same to cause to be injoyed and used fully and peaceably by all those to whom it shall belong ceasing and making to cease all troubles and obstructions to the contrary For such is our pleasure And in Witness hereof we have signed these Presents with our own Hand and to the end to make it a thing firm and stable for ever we have caused to put and indorse our Seal to the same Given at Nantes in the month of April in the Year of Grace 1598. and of our Reign the ninth Signed HENRY And underneath the King being in Council FORGET And on the side VISA This VISA signifies the Lord Chancellors perusal Sealed with the Great Seal of green Wax upon a red and green String of Silk Read published and registred the Kings Procurator or Atturney General hearing and consenting to it in the Parliament of Paris the 25th of February 1599. Signed VOYSIN Read published and inregistred in the Chamber of Accompts the Kings Procurator General hearing and consenting the last day of March 1599. Signed DE LA FONTAINE Read published and registred the Kings Procurator General hearing and consenting at Paris in the Court of Aids the 30th of April 1599. Signed BERNARD PARTICULAR ARTICLES Extracted from the General which the King hath granted to those of the Reformed Religion and which his Majesty would not have comprised in the said General nor in the Edict which hath been made and framed for the same Given at Nantes in the Month of April 1598. And yet nevertheless His Majesty hath agreed that they shall be entirely accomplished and observed altogether as fully as the Contents of the said Edict And to that end they shall be registred in his Courts of Parliament and in other places where it shall be needful and all necessary Declarations Provisions and Patents shall be therefore dispatched THE FIRST ARTICLE THE sixth Article of the said Edict touching Liberty of Conscience and permission to all the Subjects of his Majesty to live and dwell in this Kingdom and the Countries under his obedience shall have place and be observed according to its form and tenor and as well for the Ministers and Pedagogues as all other Professors and Masters of School and generally for those who are and shall be of the said Religion whether Inhabitants only or others so long as they comport themselves according as is contained in the said Edict
provincional and National by the permission of His Majesty XXXVI The Ministers Elders and Deacons of the said Religion shall not be constrained to answer in Courts of Justice in quality as a Witness for things that shall be revealed in their Consistory when they shall pass Ecclesiastical Censures except for things concerning the Person of the King or the conservation of his State XXXVII It shall be lawful for those of the said Religion who live in the Country to go to the exercise of the same in Cities Suburbs and other places where it shall be publickly established XXXVIII Those of the said Religion may not keep publick Schools except in Cities and Places where the publick exercise of the same is permitted them and the provisions which have heretofore been granted to them for the erecting and keeping of Colleges shall be verified when it shall be needful and issued out with full and entire power XXXIX It shall be lawful for Fathers making profession of the said Religion to provide their Children such Tutors as shall seem good unto them and to substitute one or more by Testament Codicils or other declaration passed before Notaries or in writing signed by their hands whilst the Laws received in this Kingdom the Ordinances and Customs of places are in force and vertue for gifts and provisions for Tutors and Curators XL. For the Marriages of Priests and Religious Persons who have been heretofore Contracted his said Majesty for many good considerations will not nor doth not intend that they be searched after or therefore molested and in these cases he imposeth silence to his Procurators General and other Officers of the same But his said Majesty declares nevertheless that he understands that the Children issue of the said Marriages may inherit only Moveables Acquests Conquests and Immoveables of their Fathers and Mothers and for want of such Children the Kindred most near and qualified to succeed and the Testaments Donations and other dispositions made or to make by persons of the said quality for Goods moveable Acquests and Conquests immoveable are declared good and valuable But his said Majesty will not nevertheless that the said Men and Women professing Religious lives may come to any Succession directly or collaterally but may only take the Goods which have been left them or shall be left them by Testament Donations or other Dispositions except nevertheless those of the said Successions direct or collateral and as to those who shall have made profession before the age appointed by the Ordinances of Orleance and Blois the said Ordinances shall be followed and observed in that which regards the said Successions and the tenour of the said Ordinances each according to the time that they have had place XLI His said Majesty will not also that those of the said Religion who have heretofore contracted or shall hereafter contract Marriage in the third or fourth degree may be therefore molested nor the validity of the said contracts called in question nor likewise the Succession taken away nor the Children born or to be born of the same to be quarrelled with and as to the Marriages that may be already contracted in the second degree or of the second or third amongst those of the said Religion applying themselves to his said Majesty those who shall be of the said quality and shall have contracted Marriage in such degree there shall be given them such provisions as shall be necessary for them to the end that they shall not be inquired after nor molested nor the Succession quarrelled at nor their Children troubled about it XLII For to judge of the Validitie of Marriages made and contracted by those of the Reformed Religion and to decide if they are lawful if he of the said Religion be Defendant in that Case the Judge Royal shall have Cognizance of the said Marriage and when he shall be the Plantiff and the Defendant a Catholick the Cognizance thereof shall belong to the Official and Judge Ecclesiastick and if both parties are of the said Reformed Religion the Cognizance shall belong to the Kings Judges His Majesty wills that in regard of the said Marriages and differences which shall arise from the same the Judges Ecclesiastick and Royal together with the Chamber established by his Edict shall have Cognizance respectively thereof XLIII The Donations and Legacies made and to make be it by disposition of Money by the last Will and Testament at death or during life for the maintenance of Ministers Doctors Scholars and the Poor of the said Reformed Religion and other pious uses shall be valid and shall issue out in their full and entire effect notwithstanding all Judgments Decrees and other things to the contrary without prejudice nevertheless of the rights of his Majesty and others in case that the said Legacies and Donations fall to one that is dead all actions and prosecutions necessary for the enjoying of the said Legacies pious uses and other rights shall be made by the Procurator in the name of the body or Commonalty of those of the Church or Commonalty of the said Religion who shall have Interest and if it is found that heretofore there hath been a Disposition of the said Donations and Legacies otherwise than is contained by the said Article there shall not be any restitution other than what is found without having the property altered XLIV His said Majesty permits to those of the said Religion to assemble before the Judge Royal and by his Authority to levy equally upon themselves such sums of money as he shall judge necessary to be imployed for defraying the charges of their Synods and entertaining of those who perform the duties in the exercise of their Religion of which they shall give an account to the said Judge Royal for him to keep the Copy thereof which shall be sent by the said Judge Royal from six months to six months to his said Majesty or to his Chancellor and the Taxes and Impositions for the said money may be distrained notwithstanding any opposition and appellation whatsoever XLV The Ministers of the said Religion shall be exempt from going upon the Guards and Rounds and quartering of Souldiers and other Assessments or gathering of Tailles together from Tutorships Curators and Commissions for the keeping Goods seized by authority of Justice XLVI In case that the Officers of his Majesty do not provide convenient places for the Sepulchers of those of the said Religion within the time appointed by the Edict after demand made and that there is delay and remissness in the thing it shall be lawful for those of the said Religion to Interr their dead in the burying places of the Catholicks in Cities and places where they are in possession to do it until they are otherwise provided And as to the interrment of the poor of those of the said Religion heretofore used in the Church-yards of the said Catholicks in whatsoever place or City that it is his Majesty doth not understand that there shall
therefore be any search or prosecution for the same and it shall be enjoyned to his Officers to defend them in it and in reference to the City of Paris besides the two Churchyards that those of the said Religion have there at present to wit that of the Trinity and that of St. Germains there shall be given them a third place commodious for the said Sepulchres in the Suburbs of St. Honoré or St. Denys XLVII The Presidents and Catholick Councellors who shall serve in the Chamber ordained for the Parliament of Paris shall be chosen by his Majesty upon the Register of the Officers of Parliament and there shall be therein employed Persons just peaceable and moderate XLVIII The Councellors of the said Reformed Religion who shall serve in the said Chambers shall assist if it please them in the process which shall be decided by Commissioners and shall have there a deliberative Voice without having part of the Money consigned except when by Order and Prerogative of their reception they ought to assist therein XLIX The ancientest President of the Chambers Myparties shall preside at the hearing of Causes and in his absence the Second and shall make distribution of the process of the two Presidents conjunctively or alternatively by month or by week L. Upon the Vacation of Offices whereof those of the Religion are or should be provided in the said Chambers of Edict they shall be furnished with persons capable who shall have attestations from the Synod or Assembly whereunto they belong that they are honest men and of the same Religion LI. The abolition agreed to with those of the said Reformed Religion by the 74 Article of the said Edict shall be valid for the taking the Monies belonging to the King be it by breaking open of Chests or otherwise even in reference to those who took it away upon the River of Charente though it had been destinated and assigned to particular uses LII The 46 Article of the secret Articles made in the Year 1577. touching the City and Archbishoprick of Avinion and County of Veniss together with the Treaty made at Nismes shall be observed according to form and tenour and there shall not be any Letters of Mart by virtue of the said Article and Treaties given then by Letters Patents from the King sealed with his great Seal Nevertheless those who desire it may obtain them by virtue of the present Article and without other Commission by the Kings Judges who shall inform of the Breach of Covenants denying of Justice and the iniquity of Judgments proposed by those who shall desire to obtain the said Letters and shall send them with their advice inclosed and sealed to his Majesty for him to order therein as shall seem reasonable to him LIII His Majesty willeth and agreeth that Master Nicholas Grimoult be re-established and maintained in the title and possession of the Offices of Lieutenant General Civil and Ancient and Lieutenant General Criminal in the Bailiwick of Alençon notwithstanding the resignation by him made to Master John Marguerit reception of the same and the provision obtained by Master William Bernard of the Office of Lieutenant General Civil and Criminal in the Court of Justice at Exmes and the Decrees in the Privy-Council against the said Marguerit the Resignee during the troubles in the Years 1586 1587 1588 by which Master Nicholas Barbier is maintained in the Rights and Prerogatives of Lieutenant General ancient in the said Bailiwick and the said Bernard in the said Office of Lieutenant at Exmes the which his Majesty hath cancelled and annulled and all others to the contrary And besides his said Majesty for certain good Considerations hath agreed and ordained That the said Grimoult shall reimburse within three months the said Barbier the money that he is out to the parties casually for the Office of Lieutenant General Civil and Criminal in the Viscounty of Alençon and of fifty Crowns for Charges Enjoyining to this end the Bailly of Perche or his Lieutenant at Montaigne to make the reimbursement or else that the said Barbier refusing or delaying to receive it his said Majesty hath forbidden the said Barbier as also the said Bernard after the presentation of this present Article to act more in the exercise of the said Offices upon penalty of Forgery and to send this same Grimoult to the enjoyment of those Offices and Rights appertaining thereunto And in so doing the processes which were depending in his Majesties Privy-Council betwixt the said Grimoult Barbier and Bernard shall remain terminated and extinguished his Majesty prohibiting the Parliaments and all other Courts to take Cognizance thereof and the said parties any further prosecution therein And besides his Majesty chargeth himself to reimburse the said Bernard a thousand Crowns casually paid to the parties for the same Office and with sixty Crowns for the Gold Mark and Charges Having for this effect presently ordained good and sufficient assignation for recovering of the same which shall be speedily done at the Charges of the said Grimoult LIV. His said Majesty will write to his Ambassadours to sollicite and treat for all his Subjects even for those of the Reformed Religion that they may not be prosecuted for their Consciences nor subject to the Inquisition in going coming sojourning negotiating and trafficking through all Foreign Countries of the Allies and Confederates of this Crown provided they offend not against the polity of the Country where they shall be LV. All those of the Reformed Religion who remain titular of Benefices shall be obliged to resign them within six months to Catholick Persons And those who have promises of Pensions upon the said Benefices shall have them paid and the payment of the said Pensions continued and those that owe the said Pensions shall be constrained to pay them the Arrears if there be any provided that they have actually enjoyed the profits of the same Benefices except nevertheless the Arrears which fell due during the troubles LVI His Majesty will not that there be any search made after the Receits of any Impositions which have been levyed at Royan by virtue of any Contract made with the Sieur of Kendal and other Acts for continuation of the same his Majesty approving and making valid the said Contract for the time that it was in force according to its contents untill the 8th of May next LVII The excesses happening in the person of Armand Courtines in the City of Millan in the year 1587. and of John Rames and Peter Singuret together with the proceedings against them by the Consuls of the said Millan shall remain abolished and extinguished by the benefit of the Edict without being lawful for their Widows Heirs or the Procurators General of his Majesty their Substitutes or other persons whatsoever to mention the same make inquirie thereof or prosecute notwithstanding the Decree given in the Chamber at Castres the tenth of March last to which there shall be no regard for that they shall remain null
belongs and all our Subjects as well Catholick as of the Reformed Religion shall be indifferently discharged of all charges which have been imposed by one and the other part during the troubles upon those that were on the contrary party and not consenting as also of debts created and not paid and expences made without consent of the same without nevertheless having power to recover the Revenue which should have been employed to the payment of the said charges LXXV We do not also understand that those of the Religion and others who have followed their party nor the Catholicks who dwell in Cities and places kept and imployed by them and who have contributed to them shall be prosecuted for the payment of Tailles Aids Grants Fifteens Taillon Utensils Reparations and other Impositions and Subsidies fallen due and imposed during the troubles happening before and until our coming to the Crown be it by the Edicts Commands of the deceased Kings our Predecessors or by the advice and deliberation of Governors and Estates of Provinces Courts of Parliament and others whereof we have discharged and do discharge them prohibiting the Treasurers General of France and of our Finances Receivers General and particular their Commissioners and Agents and other Intendants and Commissaries of our said Finances to prosâ—cute them molest disquiet directly or indirectly in any kind whatsoever LXXVI All Generals Lords Knights Gentlemen Officers Common Councils of Cities and Commonalties and all others who have aided and succoured them their Wives Heirs and Successors shall remain quitted and discharged of all Money which have been by them and their order taken and levied as well the Kings Money to what Sum soever it may amount as of Cities and Communities and particular Rents Revenues Plate Sale of moveable Goods Ecclesiastick and other Woods of a high growth be it of Domains or otherwise Amerciaments Booty Ransoms or other kind of Money taken by them occasioned by the troubles begun in the month of March 1585. and other precedent troubles until our coming to the Crown so that they or those that have by them been imployed in the levying of the said Money or that they have given or furnished by their orders shall not be therefore any ways prosecuted at present or for the time to come and shall remain acquitted as well themselves as their Commissaries for the management and administration of the said Money reporting all thereof discharged within four months after the publication of the present Edict made in our Parliament of Paris Acquittances being duly dispatched for the Heads of those of the Religion or for those that had been commissioned for the auditing and balancing of the Accounts or for the Communities of Cities who have had command and charge during the said troubles and all the said Heads of the Reformed Religion and others who have followed their party as if they were particularly expressed and specified since the death of Henry II. our Father-in-law shall in like manner remain acquitted and discharged of all Acts of Hostility Levies and Conduct of Souldiers minting and valuing of Money done by order of the said chief Commanders casting and taking of Ordnance and Ammunition compounding of Powder and Salt-peeter Prizes Fortifications dismantling and demolishing of Cities Castles Boroughs and Villages Enterprises upon the same burning and demolishing of Churches and houses establishing of Judicatures Judgments and Executions of the same be it in Civil or Criminal matters Policy and Reglement made amongst themselves Voyages for Intelligence Negotiations Treaties and Contracts made with all Foreign Princes and Communities the introduction of the said Strangers into Cities and other places of our Kingdom and generally of all that hath been done executed and negotiated during the said troubles since as aforesaid the death of Henry II. our Father-in-law LXXVII Those of the said Religion shall also remain dischanged of all General and Provincial Assemblies by them made and held as well at Nantes as since in other places until this present time as also of Councils by them established and ordained by Provinces Declarations Ordinances and Reglements made by the said Assemblies and Councils establishment and augmentation of Garrisons assembling and taking of Souldiers levying and taking of our Money be it from the Receivers General or particular Collectors of Parishes or otherwise in what manner soever Seisures of Salt continuation or erection of Taxes Tolls and Receipts of the same at Royan and upon the Rivers of Charant Garonne Rosne and Dordonne arming and fighting by Sea and all accidents and excess happening upon forcing the payment of Taxes Tolls and other Money by fortifying of Cities Castles and Places Impositions of Money and day-works Receipts of the same Money displacing of our Receivers Farmers and other Officers establishing others in their places and of all Leagues Dispatches and Negotiations made as well within as without the Kingdom And in general of all that hath been done deliberated written and ordained by the said Assembly and Council so that those who have given their advice signed executed caused to sign and execute the said Ordinances Reglements and Deliberations shall not be prosecuted or their Wives Heirs and Successors now and for the time to come though the particulars thereof be not amply declared And above all perpetual silence is hereby commanded to our Procurators General and their Substitutes and all those who may pretend to an interest therein in whatsoever fashion or manner it may be notwithstanding all Decrees Sentences Judgments Informations and Procedures made to the contrary LXXVIII We further approve allow and authorize the Accounts which have been heard balanced and examined by the Deputies of the said Assembly Willing and requiring that the same together with the Acquittances and Pieces which have been rendered by the Accomptants be carried into our Chamber of Accompts at Paris three months after the publication of this present Edict and put into the hands of our Procurator General to be kept with the Books and Registers of our Chamber to have there recourse to them as often as shall be needful and they shall not be subject to aâ— review nor the Accomptants held in any kind liable to appearance oâ— correction except in case of omission of Receipts or false Acquittances and we hereby impose silence upon our Procurator General for the over-plus that shall be found wanting or for not observing of formalities Prohibiting to our Accomptants as well of Paris as of other Provinces where they are established to take any cognizance thereof in any sort or manner whatsoever LXXIX And as to the Accompts which have not yet been rendred We Will and Ordain that the same be heard balanced and examined by the Commissaries who shall by us be deputed thereunto who without difficulty shall pass and allow all the parcels paid by the said Accomptants by virtue of the Ordinances of the said Assembly or others having power LXXX All Collectors Receivers Farmers and all others shall remain well and