from them to require and prosecute forthwith without the least delay the said Proclamation Likewise enjoining the said Governours and Lieutenants-General of our said Provinces to cause it immediately to be published in their several Districts through all the places in which it is usual in those cases To cause it to be kept and observed without tarrying for the publication of out said Courts of Parliament to the end that no persons may plead ignorance And that all Acts of Hostility Raisings of Money Payments and Contributions due and drawing on Takings Demolishings Fortifying of Cities Places and Castles may the sooner cease on both sides Declaring all such raisings of Money Fortifications Demolishings Contributions Takings and Forcing of Goods and other Acts of Hostility that shall be made or done after the said Publication and Verification made by the said Governors and Lieutenants-General of our said Provinces liable to Restitution Punishment and Reparation To wit against such as shall make use of Arms Force and Violence to oppose our said Edict hindering the Effect and Execution thereof with Death without hopes of Pardon or Remission And as for other Oppositions that shall be made without Arms Force or Violence they shall be punished with other Corporal Inflictions as Banishments and the like according to the Nature and Exigency of the Offence which shall be left to the Arbitration and Moderation of the Judges to which we refer the taking the Cognizance thereof In this place charging their Honours and Consciences to proceed therein with the Justice and Equality that is requisite without any regard to the difference of Persons or Religion Therefore we charge and require the said Persons holding our said Courts of Parliament Chambers of Accounts or Exchequers Courts of Aids Bailiffs Seneschals Provosts and others our Justices and Officers whom it may concern or their Deputies to cause our present Edict and Ordinance to be Read Publish'd and Recorded in their Courts and Jurisdictions and the same to maintain keep and observe in every particular to the end that all those that are concern may fully and peaceably enjoy and use the Contents thereof ceasing and causing all Troubles and Hinderances to the contrary to cease For such is our Will and Pleasure In witness whereof we have sign'd these Presents with our own hand and to the end that it may be firm and lasting for ever we have caus'd our Seal to be affix'd to the same Given at Poictiers in the Month of September in the Year of our Lord 1577. and of our Reign the Fourth Sign'd Henry And Lower by the King be being in his Council Sign'd De Neufville And on the side Visa And Seal'd upon Knots of red and green Silk with green Wax with the Broad Seal Read Publish'd and Recorded Heard the same being requir'd and approv'd of by the King's Attorney-General at Paris in Parliament on the 8th of October in the year 1577. Sign'd De Hivez Read likewise Publish'd and Recorded in the Chamber of Accounts or Exchequer heard the same being requir'd and approv'd by the King's Attorney-General in the same on the 11th of October 1577. Sign'd Danes Read and Publish'd by Sound of Trumpet and Publick Cry through the Streets of the City of Paris Places and Parts appointed for Cries and Publication by me Paquier Rossignol his Majesty's Crier in the City Provostship and Vice County of Paris accompanied by Michel Noiret Sworn Trumpeter to the said Lord in the said Places and four other Trumpeters on the 8th of October 1577. Sign'd Rossignol Secret Articles of the 17th of September 1577. I. HIS Majesty to gratify the King of Navar shall allow him besides what is granted by the General Articles to the Sieurs high Justicers of the said Religion to cause Divine Service to be perform'd for all such as shall be willing to assist at it altho he be absent himself in the Houses belonging to him in the following places viz. in the Dutchy of Vendemois in the City of Mâ—ntoire II. His said Majesty shall likewise allow the Prince of Conde to have the said exercise perform'd in his house of la Ferte upon the River Loire and Anguien tho absent from thence himself III. Upon the Article which mentions Baliwicks has been declar'd and granted what follows First That under the Denomination of Ancient Bailiwicks his Majesty means such as were held under the Reign of the late King Henry for Bailiwicks Seneschalships and Governments referring directly and without Mediation to the Courts of Parliament Secondly That in Bailiwicks and Seneschalships in which those of the said Religion possess at this present two Cities or Towns belonging to his said Majesty or to Catholick Lords High Justicers in which they are allowed to continue the Exercise of their Religion no other Place shall be provided for them to perform the said Exercise in as in the other Bailiwicks of this Kingdom Thirdly That his Majesty shall only provide two Cities in the Government of Piccardy in the Suburbs of which those of the said Religion shall be allow'd the exercise of their said Religion for all the Bailiwicks Seneschalships and Governments belonging thereunto and in default of Cities they shall be allow'd two convenient Towns or Villages Fourthly In consideration of the large Extent of the Seneschalships of Provence and Poictou those of the said Religion are allow'd another City in every one of them in the Suburbs of which or in default of a City a convenient Town or Village they shall have the exercise of the said Religion besides those that shall be allow'd them by the said Article IV. It has also been agreed That no place shall be allow'd by virtue of the said Article on the Territories belonging in proper to the Queen Mother to his Majesty for the publick Exercise of the said Religion Nevertheless such Gentlemen as have high Judicatures or Fiefs de Haubert in the said Territories shall be free to enjoy and make use of the permission that shall be allow'd them by the Edict as elsewhere V. Neither shall any place be provided in the Bailiwick of Beaujolois belonging to the Duke of Montpencier but the said High Justicers shall enjoy the Privilege of the Edict there as elsewhere VI. A place shall be appointed for all the Isles of Marennes and another for the Isle of Oleron in which two places those of the said Religion shall be allow'd the exercise thereof for all such Inhabitants of the two Isles as shall desire to assist at it VII Provision shall also be made for the County of Messin and others that are under the King's Protection as it was done by the secret Articles made with the Edict of the Year 1570. VIII As for the Marriage of Priests and Religious Persons that have been contracted heretofore his Majesty for divers good Reasons and Considerations him thereunto moving will not allow them to be prosecuted or troubled for the same upon which subject silence shall be impos'd to his said
send Deputies to obtain his favour Threatning while they Intreat Arming while they Implore his Mercy amidst a thousand Terrors by submissions and intreaties executing while they hesitate and are deliberating taking of Places the keeping of which is still allow'd them for some years turning out their Governours violating his own Briefs while they to avoid the reproach of taking Arms with too much precipitation differ to put themselves in a posture of Defence which in a word ruins them half before the War is declar'd against them If to all this you add a world of infidelities committed by the Council of that Prince the constant practice of the Roman Church in what relates to Treaties made with Hereticks Henry the 3d's Declaration the Maxims of which had been inspir'd to that King by the Jesuits who had had the care of his Education that surprisiing Declaration by which Henry the 3d. had acquainted the World that the Reform'd ought never to trust to his Word when ever he made a Peace with them because he would never do it unless it were in order to take his time better and to renew the War again with advantage If I say we add all this and several other considerations that may be drawn out of History it will appear clearly that the Reform'd were more than convinc'd that their Enemies design'd to exterminate them That they kept barely upon the defensive That they were forc'd to take Arms but too late for their preservation That they tarry'd untill the Catholicks proceeded from craft to threatnings and from threatnings to effects before they lost their patience That a Peace was only granted to deceive them That they did not break it neither the first or second time whatever their Enemies say and in a word that they only defended themselves weakly and as it were in going back against a manifest Aggression Their King had at that time evidently renounced the Title of common Father of his Country as well as Henry the 3d. and by enâ—ndeavouring to destroy a numerous and very potent part of his Subjects he had given them a Just occasion to defend themselves The Chatholicks would never have had so much Patience had they foreseen at as great a distance that a Prince design'd I will not say to destroy their Religion and their main Privileges but only to retrench one of their most useless Ceremonies and as I may say to extinguish one of the Tapers of their Alters I will not insist on the secret design of the Court of France to deprive the People in General and without distinction of Religion of the remainder of their Liberty The Potent Cities of their Revenues Privileges Exemptions and Franchises The Nobility of their Lustre and Credit The Parliaments of their Power and Majesty This design was cover'd with the pretence of Religion while the Reform'd had Citys in their Power However the Court express'd it self so clearly about the Case of Rochel that no body could pretend to be Ignorant of the reasons they had to declare a War That City was under Subjection without being a Slave It was in France partly what the Imperial City's are in Germany The King Commanded in it but the Authority of that command was limited by Laws The King had been perswaded not to content himself with that limited Power What they desir'd of the Rochilois was only to renounce acquir'd advantages which had been confirm'd and as it were consecrated by Treaties by Services by Edicts by all that is most holy and most inviolable in humane Right Therefore that City was ruin'd only because they were unwilling to submit to slavery So that the War that was wag'd against it tho useful according to a certain Policy which allows everything Just that succeeds was nevertheless at the bottom the most manifest oppression that ever was heard of as well as that of the Principality of Bearn But I should be too Prolix if I should urge all that could be said to prove that the resistance of that Place and of all the Reform'd was not unlawful As for the third degree in which this History represents the Reform'd I have no long remarks to make upon it The Decay of their Religion appears in it in a thousand wayes Their Enemies begin to quarel with them upon the least Trifles Annexes Synods Books Projects of reunion the Rights of Temples and several other Articles become continual occasions of Debates and Disputes Offices and Trades the exemption of Ministers the Rights of professing their Religion the Liberty of abiding in all parts of the Kingdom become the subject of a thousand Contestations The Respect â—â—e to the misteries of the Roman Religion according to their pretentions expose the Reform'd to a thousand Troubles To all the enterprises of the Clergy to the violence of their Harangues and of their Petitions and to the progress of their designs against them whereby it is easie to judge that their Ruin was Sworn â—he Death of the Cardinal soon after follow'd by the â—ing by a Minority by a weak and wavering Regency by reason of the Ministry of a Stranger not well settled yet prov'd the true reason of their being allow'd some years Respite THE HISTORY OF THE Edict of Nantes VOL. II. BOOK I. A Summary of the Contents of the First Book The Court is surpris'd at the Death of the King Precautions us'd to prevent Disorder The Regency is given to the Queen The condition of the Reform'd who are dieaded and are afraid themselves False measures taken by the Duke of Sully He is advis'd to look to himself He is kindly entertaind at Court The Marshal Duke of Bouillon serves the Queen The Edicts confirm'd by a Declaration Remarkable Expressions The free Exercise of Religion confirm'd at Charenton The Reform'd deceiv'd by those Artifices think themselves secure New reasons of Diffidence which awaken them The Vengeance of the King's Death is neglected Impudence of Aubigni and Cotton the Jesuits The Court avoids penetrating into the Causes of the King's Death Prisoners releas'd Suspicions of the most speculative The double Alliance with Spain is resolv'd upon The Marshal of Bouillon endeavours to gain the Prince of Conde to side with the Reform'd again but in vaâ—n * Cahiers answer'd Disgrace of the Duke of Sully who is remov'd from the Treasury and from the Government of the Bastille He writes to the Queen A General Assembly allow'd for Chatelleraud but put of to Saumur by a new Brief The Marshal de Bouillon gain'd by the Queen Instructions for Provincial Assemblies Excuse of the demands that seem'd to be new Farther Instructions The Assembly of Saumur and the quality of their Deputies In what manner those of Bearn assisted at it Defective Deputations tollerated The Marshal of Bouillons inconstancy about the Presidentship of which the reasons are unknown Du Plessis is Elected President and excuses himself in vain Discontent of the Marshall Duke who reconciles himself in outward appearence with the Duke
cannot be alter'd nevertheless the Ecdesiasticks who have chang'd their Religion presenting their Petition to his Majesty care shall be taken as Reason requires XXXI And because that instead of making a New Regulation between the Courts of Parliament and the Chambers according to the LXIII Article of the Edict the said Chambers for the most part have observ'd several Regulations made in the Years 78. and 79. which allow not the Priviledge of Appealing to the Chambers but to those who six Months before made Profession of the Religion that the said Limitation may be taken off from those Chambers where it is observ'd and in causing all the Suits of those of the said Religion to be indifferently heard in the said Chambers when they shall require it more especially which shall embrace the said Religion de novo ' Tiâ— a Favour to grant it to the Heirs after the Cause has been contested with the Decedsed to whom they have sacceeded But 't is his Majesty's Pleasure and Command that such an Alteration of the Judges may not be made fraudulently and in respect of such as make over their Estates in Trust who have no Right but by a particular Title their Renouncers having voluntarily Contested the Point otherwhere they shall not be admitted any more to avoid Abuses and Frauds which may be committed by those who have a Mind to trouble and vex their Plantiffs unjustly XXXII In like manner that they of the said Religion who are Heirs or having a right or cause of Suit with others who would willingly have had it Contested in Parliament may if they think it convenient referr their Controverted Points and differences to the said Chambers of the Edict notwithstanding the said Contest made by their Authors as has been adjudg'd in several particular Cases by his Majesties Council Forreigners who desire to enjoy this Priviledge shall be bound to Address themselves to the King who will take Care as well of the Interest of his Subjects as for the Gratification of Forreigners XXXIII That Forreigners Trading and Trafficking within the Kingdom and Professing the said Religion may enjoy the same Priviledges and cause their differences to be remov'd to the said Chambers every one within their proper Jurisdiction This Article is granted at to the Instruction but not to allow a Definitive Voice to the Associates what they are to Judge XXXIV That in all Informations and Instructions for criminal Processes and Inditements brought against those of the Religion the Judge as well Royal as Inferiour if he be a Catholick may be bound to take an Associate of the said Religion who has taken his Degrees or at least a Pleader to be present at all the Proceedings and who shall have a Definitive Voice in the Judgment of the Process upon Pain of Nullity and this throughout all Bailiwicks and Seneschalships in the Kingdom and not particularly in those that are specifi'd in the 66. Article of the Edict Nothing can be alter'd from the Method establish'd by the Edict of Names to avoid great delays trouâ—â—â— and expences to which the Parties could be constrain'd were they to have recourse to the Chambers which are â—â—â—n very remote one from another Besides that the same Equality ought to be show'd to the Catholicks as to chose of the Religion in that particular Vnless in respect of those Proâ—â—nces where the contrary has been allow'd by special Priviledge XXXV That what is granted by the LXVII Article of the Edict to the Provinces of Guienne Languedoc Provence and Dauphinate upon the Judgment of Competitions in the Chambers of the Edict may for the same Reason be extended to all those of the other Provinces of the Kingdom When Fathers and Mothers have provided their Will and Judgment shal be observ'd Otherwise the Law â—â—d general Custom of the Kingdom Nevertheless without acting any thing prejudicial or contrary to the Edict made in Favour of those of the Religion XXXVI That Children whose Fathers and Mothers dy'd in the said Religion without having provided Tutors and Guardians according to the LVIII Article of Particulars may be put into the Hands of Tutors to be bred up and instructed in the said Religion His Majesty will not refuse this Favour to those of the said Religion for Offices in Cases wherein he permits we some to his Catholick Officers reserving always to himself only the Choice and Nomination of the Persons XXXVII That it may please his Majesty not to admit the Resignations of Presidents and Counsellours upon whom Employments have been conferr'd Gratis at the Nomination of the Churches to serve in the said Chambers but in Favour of those who shall be nam'd to 'em by the said Churches 'T is for the King alone to grant Letters of Reprisal nor is it lawful for any of his Officers to give ' em The Judges and Officers may draw up Verbal Reports to show the Justice of the Cause for his Majesty afterwards to do as he shall think reasonable XXXVIII That the Agreements made between those of the Religion and the Catholicks of the County of Venisse may be fulfill'd according to their Form and Tenour and that according to those after the requisite Solemnities the Officers of the Places may be permitted to give Right of Reprisal to those of the Religion to whom Justice has been deny'd more especially to the Lady of Drelandre not withstanding the Derogatorie affix'd to the Ll. Article of Particulars which they beseech his Majesty may be taken away and Cancell'd The Brevets of which the Confirmation is requir'd shall be presented and being seen his Majesty will do what is reasonable XXXIX And for as much as there are several Brevets granted to the Churches as well in the Year 98. as afterwards which his Majesty confirm'd at his coming to the Crown they humbly beseech him that they may enjoy the Contents of the said Brevets by putting in Execution what has not yet been done and causing amends to be made for what has been done prejudicial to the said Brevets Vacancy happening by Death shall be provided for according and in Conformity to the said Brevet XL. To these ends may it please his Majesty according to the Brevet of the last of April 1598. to conferr Gratis upon two Persons of the said Religion two Offices of Masters of Requests of his Houshold upon the Nomination of the Churches and to this purpose to erect two Offices of a new Creation upon the two first Vacancies happening by Death His Majesty is not bound to encrease the said Summ. Nevertheless he will consider which way to gratifie 'em as far as the conveniency of his Affairs will permit XLI And for as much as the Summ of sevenscore and five thousand Livres which the Deceased King granted for the payment of the Ministers is nothing near sufficient for the payment of all the Ministers that are settl'd in the Churches of this Kingdom may it please his Majesty to provide for the easing of the Churches
Orange should remain in the hands of a Governour of the said Religion his Majesty would be pleas'd to interpose his Authority with the Prince of Orange that the said Castle may be put in the hands of a Governour of the said Religion Provision was made for this by the Brevet of April 1598. and what is specifi'd in the Edict and Secret Articles has been always observ'd and shall be L. That it may please his Majesty to grant that the Governours of the Cities left in their Custody may not surrender 'em up but by the Consent of the Churches of the Province And that when there is a Vacancy by Death it may be suppli'd by his Majesty at the Nomination of the General Deputies residing with his Majesty The King will take care as he shall find most convenient for the good of his Service LI. That he would be pleas'd not to dispose of the Commands of Lieutenants to Governours of Captains of Companies without the Consent of the Governour of the Place 'T is the Kings Pleasure that the Edict of Nantes and what has been done and ordain'd in pursuance of it may be observ'd and executed throughout the Kingdom and if any breach happen the Commissioners shall take care to see it amended LII That in all the said Places the exercise of the said Religion may be permitted with all Freedom without any Interruption and that it may be restor'd in such Places where it has been molested or expell'd No Colledge of Jesuites can be erected within this Kingdom but by his Majesties Permission who will take such care in that Matter that there shall be no cause of complaint LIII That the Jesuites may not be permitted to erect any Colledge Seminary or House of Habitation nor to Preach Teach or Confess in any of the said Places held by those of the said Religion and that his Majesty would please to confine the said Jesuites to those Places to which they were confin'd by their re-establishment in 1603. Care shall be taken about this by the Commissioners after they have advis'd with the Governours and Lieutenant Generals of the Provinces LIV. That there may be Provision made against the Inconveniences that may happen by Processions which are accompanied with great Trains of People to the Churches and Chappels enclos'd within the Castles left in the hands of the Religion and Guarded with very slender Garrisons And that the Governours of the said Castles may not be oblig'd to let those Processions enter unless they will restrain themselves to such a number as may be no prejudice to the Security of those Castles or else that the exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion which is perform'd in some of the said Castles may be remov'd into the Cities The Gates and Walls of the Cities and Places left in their Hands for Security shall be repair'd at the charges of their respective Inhabitants as is usually done in other Cities of the Kingdom and for the Levies and Impositions necessary for that purpose they shall Address themselves to the Council for the obtaining Letters of Permission And if there be urgent Necessity for any of the said Places upon a Petition to his Majesty care shall be tak'n to do what is â—itting LV. That his Majesty would be pleas'd according to the XLIX Article of the Writing of Gergeau to allow necessary Provisions for the repair and keeping in repair and securing the Gates Walls Fortifications and other out-works of the said Places left in their hands which by time and other Accidents are fallen to decay The Inventories of the Guns and Ammunition c. which were in the said Places in 1598. and which are there at present shall be view'd and reported for Orders to be made upon 'em it being his Majesties Intention nevertheless to leave 'em as many as they stand in need of for the Defence and Preservation of the said Places LVI That the Artillery Arms and other Warlike Ammunition which are in the said Places held by those of the said Religion either garrison'd or otherwise shall not be drawn out and remov'd to another place that what has been taken away may be restor'd and when the Yearly Distribution of the said Arms and Ammunition is made they may have their Proportion as well as other Cities of the Kingdom His Will is to allow those of the said Religion to hold the said Assemblies when he shall think it proper for his Service or that they stand in need of 'em and they shall be bound to appoint six Deputies as was ordain'd by the Deceas'd King LVII And for as much as the Necessity of having General Deputies near his Majesty is notoriously known as well to acquaint the Churches with his Majesties command as to present him their Petitions and prosecute their necessary Affairs and for that the said Deputies cannot be made but by a General Assembly of the said Churches may it please his Majesty to permit 'em to hold the said General Assembly every two Years in such Cities which are in their hands as they shall think most Commodious to the end that the Assembly being by that means become common may be the less liable to givâ— occasion of Jealousie and Suspition That the Employment anâ— Commission of the said Generaâ— Deputies may hold for two yearâ— and no longer and that the twâ— which shall be appointed by thâ— said Assemblies for general Deputies may be accepted and admitted by his Majesty to reside neaâ— his Person as formerly has beeâ— practis'd upon their first Institution in the Assembly of S te Foi and after that in the Synod of Gap without being constrain'd to nominate six as since has been done As to the LVIII and the following Articles concerning the Churches of Bearn His Majesty not having allow'd or approv'd the Vnion of the pretended Reformed Churches of Bearn with those of France neither can the King allow it now but upon presenting their Petitions by their General Deputies separately to the King he will take care as Reason shall require Done and Decreed by the King being in Council the Queen Regent being present and assisted by the Princes of the Blood other Princes Dukes Peers and Officers of the Crown and Principal Members of his said Council at Paris July 23. 1611. Sign'd Phelipeaux A Declaration of the King touching the Assemblies of any of hiâ— Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion confirming thâ— Edict of Nantes and Particular Articles At Paris Apriâ— 24. 1612. Register'd in Parlament May 25. of the samâ— Year LEwis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr to our Beloved and Faithful Counsellours holding our Court of Parlament at Paris Greeting So soon as it pleas'd God to call us to this Crown we resolv'd to follow the Method and Form of Government as we found it settl'd by the Deceased King our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father whom God Absolve judging well that we could not more safely preserve the Kingdom which he had
and Oppositions that many among 'em have been guilty of Or else we have endeavour'd to turn 'em aside from the Miscarriages to which they were inclinable by Admonitions and Declarations which we have set forth and sent where they were convenient to let 'em understand their Duty Which was that which more particularly we were desirous to put in Practice in October last upon Advice that was given us that our said Subjects were preparing to call and hold an Assembly without our Permission in the City of Rochel Upon which we put forth a Declaration to forbid the said Assembly and to prohibit all that should be deputed to travel thither and those of the said City of Rochel to admit 'em upon Penalties therein contain'd But as it frequently happens that they who have the best Intentions have not always the greatest Faith among 'em our Declaration was so far from working any good effect that in contempt of it several among 'em forbore not to hold the said Assembly and after that to call and hold others in several parts of the Kingdom under various Names and Pretences some of which made Decrees and Orders as if they had had Soveraign Authority publish'd Ordinances for keeping the Field in Arms committing Acts of Hostility and taking our Subjects by way of Reprisals elected and appointed Chieftains as well for the Field as for the Cities and took other Resolutions so pernicious that very great Licenciousness Excesses and Disorders ensu'd in a good number of the Places which they held having caus'd extraordinary Fortifications to be rais'd about 'em rais'd Money and Men Listed Souldiers cast great Guns purchas'd Arms held unlawful Assemblies and committed other Acts altogether Opposite and Prejudicial to our Authority and the Obedience which is due to us For which we had all just Reason to be offended nevertheless we were willing to be patient for several Months and to consider whether of themselves they would return to the acknowledgment of their faults and seek to us for that Favour which they stood in need of Nor were we weary all the while of providing Remedies upon several Articles for which the Deputies that reside near our Person on the behalf of our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion made Supplication to us But considering now that the farther things go the more Licentiousness and Disobedience augment among the greatest part of 'em and that their Audaciousness may encrease by our being at a distance We have taken a Resolution to make a Progress into Tourain and Poictou and farther onward to visit the other Provinces of our Kingdom to the end that being so much nearer the Mischief we may be the better able to provide against it with that Intention which we always preserve to maintain the Publick Peace and carefully to observe in respect of those of the said Religion who shall keep themselves within the Bounds of their Obedience the Edicts and Declarations that have been made in their Favour and to promote their Enjoyment of those Favours and Concessions which have been granted in their behalf As also to punish the Refractory and Disobedient And to the end that our Intentions may be known to every one and that our said Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion who abide in the observance of the Edicts may have no other cause then to rely upon 'em We with the Advice of some Princes of the Blood c. Have said and declar'd and do say and declare by these Presents and it is our Will Meaning and Pleasure that the Edicts and Declarations made by the Deceased King our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father whom God Absolve and by our selves as well for Security and Liberty of Conscience and exercise of those of the said Pretended Reformed Religion as for the Enjoyment of the Favours and Concessions which have been allow'd 'em by Vertue of the same may be inviolably and punctually observ'd and kept according to their Form and Tenour toward those of our said Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion who remain and shall abide in their Duty and Obedience whom together with their Families and Estates we have taken and put and do take and put under our Protection and special safeguard Therefore we command our Governours and Lieutenant Generals of our Provinces and expresly command all Captains and Governours in our Cities and strong Holds Judges Bailiffs c. to see that our said Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion may enjoy the Benefit of our said Edicts and of our Present Declaration and to take care of their Safety and Preservation As we also give command to those who have Authority and command in the Cities which are in the Custody of those of the said Religion to take the same Care of our Catholick Subjects who are settl'd therein under Pain both the one and the other of being answerable for their neglect in their proper Names and Persons It being our Will and Pleasure that all Transgressours shall be prosecuted and punish'd as Disturbers of the Publick Peace according to the utmost Severity of our Ordinances enjoining all our Advocates General and their Substitutes to issue forth all Requisite Writs to the same purpose So we command our Beloved and Faithful Counsellours holding our Courts of Parlament and Chambers of the Edict c. Given at Fountain-Bleau April 24. 1621. and of our Reign the eleventh Sign'd Lewis And below by the King De Lomenie Seal'd c. Read Publish'd and Register'd upon the Motion of the Kings Advocate General c. At Paris in Parlament April 27. 1621. Sign'd Du Tillet A Declaration of the King by which all the Inhabitants at present in the Cities of Rochel and St. John d' Angeli and all their Adherents are declar'd Guilty of High Treason With an Injunction to all his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion to enter into a Protestation not to adhere to any Assembly at Rochel nor any others that are held without his Majesties express leave Publish'd in Parlament June 7. 1621. LEwis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. Our continual Desire to preserve the Publick Peace and Tranquility among our Subjects so to prevent the Mischiefs and Desolations that usually attend the raising of Armies and the Oppressions and Calamities which the People thereby groan under has caus'd us to suffer and endure for several Months last past the Miscarriages Disobedience and Rebellious Acts committed in several Cities of our Kingdom by some of our Subjects professing the Pretended Reformed Religion even in those of Rochel Montauban and others where unlawful Assemblies are still held who rather make it their Business to form Popular States and Republicks then to Confine themselves to that Obedience which they mutually owe to us Having also engrav'd a Seal under which and the Signatures of the Principal Heads of the said Assemblies they have set forth several Ordinances Decrees Commands and Commissions giving Power to particular Persons to
Religion did visibly diminish and that tho' the King was now opposed at home and attacked abroad yet he had done nothing more than the late King nor even without the advice of the Catholicks of his Party that this Edict confining Heresie to certain places re-established every where the Roman Religion insomuch that one would hardly have believed that the Reformed after having so much contributed to the preservation of the Kingdom and strengthned themselves during the War with above 50 strong Places would ever be contented with it in a time when they might perhaps have extorted more from the King almost overwhelmed with other Affairs that the King was very commendable for having so well managed the Interest of the Catholick Religion or was at least more excusable for his connivence than his Predecessors upon which he brought in the Parable of the Tare which is left standing when it cannot be snatched off without spoiling the Corn he laid a great stress upon the Examples of all other Catholick Princes and on that of the King of Spain who tolerated the Moors and to bring back the Dutch to their obedience offered them Liberty of Conscience and a free Exercise of their Religion He made it appear next that the oppositions of Parliaments are but Forms since they know well enough that they must obey at last and that after all no other Constraint was put upon them but that of the publick Necessity Then he hinted at the ill Thoughts the Reformed might have entertained of the King had he left Rouen before seeing the Edict verified what would have been their Jealousies and how well grounded how cunning the Faction was countenanced by the Spaniards or what Dangers the Church and the State were like to be brought into by renewing the War At last he concluded with putting the Pope in hopes that this Peace would bring all other things to a State most agreeable to his Holiness Those that are not well read in the Policy of the Roman Court may perhaps wonder at this Verification making such a noise there though at the same time they did not speak a word of the publick Treaty that was beginning with the Reformed under the very Nose of the Legate who could not chuse but give notice of it But 't is a Maxim of this refined Court's Policy That Affairs must be handled in a manner like Plays where the Actors never speak as they think and know how to distinguish what is to be taken notice of and what to be dissembled According to this the Gentlemen of Rome when they are not able to obstruct an Affair do before its conclusion pretend to be ignorant of it because it would be an Affront to see it concluded after having vainly opposed it but when 't is past Remedy then they fall a Murmuring to shew their dislike of it Thus the Pope delay'd his complaining of the new Edict that was preparing until it was fully concluded because then the noise he made about it could do no harm to France but might allay the Murmurs of the Spanish Faction The Commissioners came to the Assembly but at the beginning of February who immediately after their arrival protested that the King could grant no more than what was set down in their Instructions for which they gave only the reason of the bad posture of the King's Affairs that permitted him not to do better what desire soever he had to favour them This reason of State was in the bottom nothing else but the Discontents which the King 's favouring the Reformed might give to the Holy leaguemen who not being throughly pacified might take a pretence from thence to stir up new Wars The King indeed feared it and could not put any trust in those so lately reconciled Enemies who watched him almost as a Slave nay the circumstances of the time seemed to render his fears more reasonable for the Spaniard who still held an Intelligence with that half-suppressed Faction had opened the Frontiers in several places But the Reformed were offended at that reason of State yet not pacified for upon the whole matter they thought the design was to make a sacrifice of their Repose and Security to the Passion of their ancient Persecutors and to say the truth to do nothing in their favour for fear of giving offence to the League men was but to tell them plainly enough that the King had better leave them in their Misery than displease their implacable Enemies who might have an occasion to be dissatisfied if the Reformed were put out of their reach wherefore that reason of State had no great effect in the Assembly who could not relish that by a State Maxim the interest of so many faithful Subjects should be sacrificed to the caprice of a violent Cabal that their great Services should be forgotten their Persons exposed to new Cruelties and sufficient Security denied for their Consciences and Lives Therefore they declared to the King by one of their Members that they could by no means be contented with what was granted them and that the Oppression the Reformed liv'd under would at last force them to seek for a relief in themselves The Commissioners whose Powers were always bounded by certain limits which it was not lawful for them to go beyond being sensible that the Reformed were in a discontent wrote to Court that they thought it much to the purpose to break the Assembly but that the Deputies must be sent home with whatever satisfaction could be given them The Count de Schomberg and the President de Thou then at Tours negotiating a Peace with the Duke of Mercoeur wrote to the same purpose and the Count's advice was to satisfie those People which he call'd People sick not with Rebellion and Factious Passion but with Jealousies and just Fears for what might happen to them as we have it in the most impartial Historians It was not doubted in Spain but that the Reformed would be tired at last with so many Delays and come to Extremities and these two wise Counsellors saw well enough through the Artifices and various Shiftings of the Duke of Mercoeur that he waited to see what the Business of Religion would come to that he might take a Resolution accordingly Wherefore they advised the King to pacifie things at home the better to make War abroad Du Plessis wrote the same and the Reformed offered after sufficient security had been given them to imploy their whole force either to reduce the Duke or beat back the Spaniards beyond their ancient Limits Now the words of the Reformed being maliciously construed as if they had threatened to take up Arms tho' they did never so much as mention it and had only declared they would no longer expect relief from the Court but maintain themselves as well as they could in case of Oppression Their Words I say brought the Court into an extream Perplexity insomuch that the Jealousies increased in both Parties and the Court
Terms of the other Articles in all the Writings of their Doctors in all the Sermons of their Ministers in all the Complaints that are made of the Popes even many Ages before the Reformation that the same Name had been given many times to the Roman See by those very People who were never suspected to be bad Catholics that they ought therefore to be less surpriz'd to see this Truth believ'd and confess'd by the Reformed who saw more clearly into the matter which they had study'd more and of which they were convinc'd by Invincible Reasons The Article then pass'd in spite of all Obstacles and the Kings Threats hinder'd not but that there were new Editions of the Confession of Faith in a short time in which it was Inserted The People furnish'd themselves with these New Editions very well pleas'd to see their aversion to the Roman See encourag'd by so Authentick a Decision and almost perswaded that it was enough that the Pope was publickly call'd Antichrist to give 'em grounds of hoping thence that his fall was near But the Court having not been able to hinder things from coming to this pass wou'd have eluded the Decision by some Artifice and to satisfie the Pope they made him believe that they had succeeded therein and that they had rendred this troublesome Decree unprofitable They endeavour'd therefore to make some considerable persons of the Party disown it whether without or within the Kingdom to the end that this disowning it might make it pass for a particular Doctrine Now was it a difficult matter to get Roni and such as himself to disclaim it who treated the Pope with His Holiness But he had been already so often reproach'd with his coldness for Religion and the little Care he had of advancing the concerns of his Brethren that his Name stood 'em in little stead upon this occasion There were a great many found who without disowning the Doctrine judg'd only that the Doctrine was a little out of Season and that in the beginning of a Peace which had been so much desir'd it wou'd have bin better to have left the Articles of the Confession of Faith such as they had been till that time then to have added such a one which might re-kindle the hardly extinguish'd hatred of the Catholics Some for fear some in complaisance favour'd the designs of the Court tho they had no reluctancy to the thing decided They buoy'd themselves up more especially with the Opinion of Scaliger who had condemn'd the Article But the Reformed had as little respect for him when he treated of Theology as they had a veneration for his knowledge in other things Mean while by thus disowning it they distracted those who wou'd have maintain'd the Doctrine of the Assembly But because Ferrier was look'd upon as the Promoter of this Affair by reason that he was vex'd to have been proceeded against for the Propositions which he had publish'd it was believ'd that all wou'd be suppress'd if he cou'd be appeas'd The Endeavours were so fortunate that more was gain'd then was hop'd for They corrupted both his Understanding and his Heart They attack'd him with Pensions and hopes of Interests at Court He made no more use of his vehemence and heat but to trouble his Brethren And in fine she precipitated himself as I have said into Desertion and Revolt It was of great advantage to have for a ground to cry down the Synod the Moderation of Clement VIII of whom they did not then stick to say That he had made no noise of the Edicts granted to the Reformed but out of a decent Formality And that in effect he had given as formal a Consent to those Edicts as cou'd be expected from a Pope 'T is true likewise that he did not seem like his Predecessors to Advise Massacres and Punishments Experience had taught him that the Reformation advanc'd it self amidst oppositions and that in every place where they wou'd have destroy'd it by War it had encreas'd to the danger of the Catholic Religion That in Germany the War did the business of the Protestants That it strengthen'd them in the United Provinces That it was favorable to 'em in many other places and that in France it might have had yet the same effect In other places he fear'd that War would reunite the Protestants who when they undertook to help one another had very formidable Forces But at the bottom it was the Pope fully desirous to re-establish his Authority every where where the people had shaken off the Yoke And it was under his Pontificat that the first knots of these pernicious Intrigues were knit which cost Henry the 4th his Life and which had like to have destroy'd all Europe He was desirous to play a sure Game and procure between all the Princes of his Communion a League so secret and so strong that it might overwhelm the Protestants all at one blow who could not foresee this Tempest The same Synod had likewise done some other things which had anger'd the King They had admitted Foreign Ministers They had receiv'd Letters from the Palatine and had Answer'd ' em They likewise Writ to the Duke of Savoy on the Account of the Reformed of Saluces whom he Persecuted They receiv'd the Duke of Bouillon's Letters which they answer'd without any Hesitation and the Synod themselves took upon 'em to sollicit for him This did not please the King who express'd some resentment of it Tho he did not complain but in Pardoning it because he believ'd said he that they had done it rather out of Indiscretion then Malice He added nevertheless that if these Ecclesiastical Assemblies did not behave themselves with more Moderation he would deprive 'em of their Liberty which hinder'd not but that they us'd it as formerly till a great while in the Reign of Lewis the Thirteenth The Deputies General also were Order'd to represent to the King many things which they drew up in Writing The most Remarkable Article was that where the Reformed desir'd that they might not be oblig'd to give themselves the Name of Pretended Reformed in the Public Acts or in the pleadings of their Advocates And the Synod exhorted 'em to abstain from those Terms An expedient was found out to content 'em which chang'd the Words and left the thing And 't was allow'd 'em to call their Religion Reformed in the Terms of the Edict But the Judges the Advocates and Notaries preserv'd yet a long time the custom of abstaining from the New expression and from the Word Pretended And continu'd to give their Religion simply the Name of The Reformed Religion During this the Jesuits follow'd their business and sollicited the Parlament for the Verification of the Edict by which they were Recall'd It was founded on the conditions that the King had propos'd a long time before and they were discuss'd at Rome There were five or six which the Jesuits found very hard Not because they were in
effectual means to appease the Troubles and Seditions in point of Religion of the Month of January 1561. Published in the Parliament of Paris on the 6th of March of the said Year CHarles by the Grace of God King of France to all those who these Presents shall see Greeting It is sufficiently known what Troubles and Seditions have been and are daily kindled multiplied and augmented in this Kingdom by the Malice of the Times and the diversity of Opinions which reign in Religion and that whatever Remedies our Predecessors have try'd to put a stop thereunto either by the Rigor and severity of Punishments or by Mildness according to their usual and natural Benignity and Clemency the thing has penetrated so far into our said Kingdom and in the minds of our Subjects of all Sexes Estates Qualities and Conditions that we have found our selves in a great perplexity at our new coming to this Crown to advise and resolve what means we should use to apply good and wholsome Remedies thereunto After long and mature consultation about the same with the Queen our most honour'd and most beloved Lady and Mother our most dear and most beloved Unkle the King of Navar our Lieutenant General representing our Person throughout all our Kingdoms and Territories and other Princes of our Blood together with our Privy-Council We caus'd our said Uncle to assemble in our Court of Parliament together with the Princes of our Blood the Peers of France and other Princes and Lords of our said Privy-Council All which with the Members of our said Court after several Conferences and deliberations did resolve on the Edict of the Month of July last past whereby we did forbid among other things on pain of confiscation of Body and Goods all Publick Conventicles and Assemblies with Arms As well as all Private ones in which any body should preach or administer the Sacrament in any form contrary to the Practice observ'd in the Catholick Church from the first begining and ever since the propagation of the Christian Faith receiv'd by the Kings of France our Predecessors by the Bishops and Prelates Curates their Vicars and Deputies Being persuaded at that time that the prohibition of the said Assemblies was the best way until we could have the determination of a General Council to put a stop to the diversity of the said Opinions And by keeping our Subjects by that means in union and concord to put an end to the Troubles and Seditions The which on the contrary through the disobedience obstinacy and evil Intentions of the People the execution of the said Edict proving difficult and dangerous have been much more increas'd and Cruelly practic'd to our great grief and trouble than they had been before Therefore in order to remedy the same and in consideration that our said Edict was only provisional We have been advis'd to summon another Assembly in this Place compos'd of our said Uncle the Princes of our Blood and the Members of our Privy-Council there to advise with a considerable number of our Presidents and chief Counsellors of our Sovereign Courts by Us summon'd to that end who are able to give us a faithful account of the State and Necessities of their Provinces in relation to the said Religion Tumults and Seditions about such means as may be most proper useful and convenient to appease and put an end to the said Seditions Which has been done And all things having been duly and maturely digested and deliberated in our Presence and in that of our said Lady and Mother by so great and so notable an Assembly We have by their advice and mature deliberation said and ordain'd do say and ordain what followeth I. That all those of the New Religion or others that have taken possession of Temples shall be oblig'd after the Publication of these Presents to quit and depart from the same as well as from all Houses Estates and Revenues belonging to Ecclesiasticks where ever they are cituated or seated leaving them the full and entire possession and enjoyment of the same to enjoy them with the same liberty and safety they did before their being dispossess'd thereof That they shall return and restore what they have taken of the Shrines and Ornaments of the said Temples and Churches and that it shall not be lawful for those of the said New Religion to take or build any other Temples either within or without the Cities Towns c. nor to occasion the least Trouble Let or Molestation to the said Ecclesiasticks in the enjoyment or gathering of their Tythes and Revenues and other Rights and Estates whatever at present or for the future Which we have inhibited and forbidden them to do and do by these Presents inhibit and forbid as also to beat down and demolish Crosses Images or the committing other seandalous and seditious acts On pain of death and without the least hope of pardon or remission II. Likewise not to assemble in the said Cities there to preach either publickly or privately either by Day or Night III. However in order to keep our Subjects in peace and quietness until it be God Almighty's pleasure to enable us to reunite them and put them all into the same Fold again which is our earnest desire and chief intention We have by Provision until the Determination of the said General Council or New Orders from us Surceas'd suspended and superceded do surcease suspend and supercede the Inhibitions and Punishments appointed both in the Edict of July and others that have preceded it in relation to the Assemblys that shall be made in the day-time without the said Cities in order to their Preaching Praying and performing other Exercises of their Religion IV. Forbidding on the same Penalties and Punishments all Judges Magistrates and other persons however qualifi'd or distinguish'd to hinder disturb molest or fall upon those of the said New Religion in any wise whenever they shall go come and assemble without the said Cities to exercise their said Religion But on the contrary in case any persons should attempt to abuse them We do command our said Magistrates and Officers in order to prevent all Troubles and Seditions to hinder the same and summarily and severely to punish all the Seditious whatever Religion profess'd by them according to the Contents of our said precedent Edicts and Ordinances even in that which is made against the said seditious Persons and for the bearing of Arms which we will and expect to have fulfill'd in all Points and to remain in full force and vertue V. Enjoyning a new according to the same all our said Subjects of what Religion Estate Quality and Condition soever not to make any Assemblies whatever in Arms or to abuse reproach or provoke each other upon the account of Religion or to make stir procure or favour the least Sedition but on the contrary to live and behave themselves one towards another gently and quietly without making use of Pistols great or small or other Fire-Arms either
was to forbid the Exercise of all Religion besides the Catholick However it has not been God Almighty's Pleasure to let us reap the fruit we desir'd thereby but as it is sometimes his pleasure to visit Kingdoms and Princes with his Rod of Rigor for the Offences and Sins of Men the Troubles were kindled a new in our Kingdom more than ever to our great Grief and Sorrow And that which troubled us more was that the Innocent that is our poor People endur'd the greatest Hardships Oppression and Injuries All which things having consider'd day and night and experience in our majority of twenty five years having convinc'd us that the Continuation of Arms and War could not afford us the advantage we have so much desir'd and endeavour'd and being fully perswaded that God Almighty will finally convert his Rigor into Mercy and that his said Visitations are salutary Admonishments to acknowledg him and to return into the right way of our Duty After having implor'd his Aid and Assistance to inspire us with means to find the most necessary and most proper Remedies for the good of our State And thereupon taken the Advice of the Queen our most Honour'd Lady and Mother of our most dearly Beloved Brother the Duke of Anjou of the Princes of our Blood and others of the Officers of our Crown and other Lords and Notable Persons of our Council We have until it please God by means of a good free and lawful General Council to reunite all our Subjects to our Catholick Church by this our present Edict perpetual and irrevocable said declared enacted and ordain'd Say declare enact and ordain what followeth I. First That the Remembrance of all things past on either side from the beginning of the Troubles happen'd in our Kingdom to this present time and upon the account of the same shall be extinguish'd and laid aside as of things that had never been Neither shall it be lawful for our Attornies-General or any other Persons publick or private at any time or on any occasion whatever to mention or make any Prosecution of the same in any Court or Jurisdiction whatever II. We forbid all our Subjects of what Condition or Quality soever to renew the Remembrance thereof to affront or provoke each other by Reproaches of what is past upon any account or pretence whatever To dispute contend quarrel abuse or offend one another by Word or Deed but to forbear and live peaceably together as Brethren Friends and Fellow-Citizens on pain for the Delinquents of being punish'd as Infractors of the Peace and Disturbers of the Publick Good III. It is our Will and Pleasure that the Catholick Religion shall be restor'd and re-establish'd in all Places and Parts of this our Kingdom and Territories under our Obedience where the Exercise thereof has been interrupted there to be freely and peaceably perform'd without the least Trouble and Molestation Forbiding most expresly all Persons of what State Quality or Condition soever on the pains abovemention'd to trouble molest or disturb the Ecclesiasticks in the Celebration of Divine Service injoyment and gathering of their Tythes Fruits and Revenues of their Benefices and all other Rights and Immunities to them appertaining And that all such who during the present and precedent Troubles have taken Possession of Churches Houses Estates and Revenues belonging to the said Ecclesiasticks and who detain and occupy the same shall yield them the entire Possession and peaceable Injoyment thereof with such Rights Liberties and Immunities as they injoy'd before their being dispossess'd of the same IV. And to remove all occasion of Contentions and Differences among our Subjects We have allow'd and do permit those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion to live and inhabit in all the Cities and Places of this our Kingdom and Territories under our Obedience without being troubl'd vex'd molested or constrain'd to do any thing against their Conscience or disturb'd in the Houses and Places where they shall think â—it to inhabit they behaving themselves according to the Contents of this our present Edict V. We have also given leave to all Lords Gentlemen and others as well actual Inhabitants as others professing the pretended Reform'd Religion possessing in our said Kingdom high Jurisdiction or full Fief de Haubert as in Normandy either in proper or Vse-Fruit in the whole or half or third part to have in such their Houses of the said High Jurisdiction or abovesaid Fiefs which they shall be oblig'd to name to our Bailifs and Seneschals every one in his Precinct for their chief Abode the Exercise of the said Religion as long as they shall be resident there and in their absence their Wives or Families which they shall answer for We also allow them the said Exercise in their other Houses of High Jurisdiction or abovesaid Fiefs of Haubert as long as they shall be present there the whole as well for themselves their Families Subjects as others who shall be desirous to go to it VI. In such Houses of Fief where those of the said Religion shall not possess the said High-Jurisdiction of Fief de Haubert they shall only be allow'd the said Exercise for their Families Yet in case any of their Friends should chance to come there to the number of Ten or any Baptism happen in haste the Company not exceeding the said number of Ten they shall not be disquieted or prosecuted for the same Provided also That the said Houses are neither scituated within Cities Towns or Villages belonging to Catholick Lords High-Justicers other than us in which the said Catholick Lords have their Houses In which case those of the said Religion shall not be allow'd to perform the said Exercise in the said Cities Towns and Villages without leave and permission of the said Lords High-Justicers and no otherwise VII We also allow those of the said Religion to perform and continue the Exercise thereof in all the Cities and Towns where it shall be publickly perform'd on the 17th day of the present Month of September However excepting such Towns as belong to Catholicks possess'd at present by those of the said Religion in which those Exercises were not perform'd before the last taking up of Arms even in the time of the former Peace VIII Moreover in every one of the Ancient Bailiwicks Seneschalships and Governments holding the Place of a Bailiwick referring directly and without mediation to the Courts of Parliament we ordain That in the Suburbs of one City there being several Cities in the Bailiwick or for want of Cities in a Town or Village the Exercise of the said Religion shall be allow'd for all comers IX Forbidding all those of the said Religion most expresly to perform any Exercise thereof either as to Ministry Regulation Discipline or publick Institution of Children and others in this our said Kingdom and Territories under our Obedience in whatever relates to Religion excepting in the places above granted and allow'd X As also to perform any Exercise of the
said Religion in our Court and Attendance nor within Ten Leagues about it nor in our Lands and Countries beyond the Mounts nor also in our City Provostship and Vice-County of Paris nor within Ten Leagues round about the same the which Ten Leagues we have limited and do limit to the following Places Meaux and the Suburbs Meulun and the Suburbs a League beyond Charters under Mont-le-hery Dourdan and the Suburbs Rambouillet Houdan and the Suburbs a long League beyond Meulun Vigni Meru and S. Leu de Saraus In all which places we do not allow any exercise of the said Religion Nevertheless those of the said Religion living in the said Lands and Countries beyond the Mounts and in our said City Provostship and Vice-County of Paris extended as abovesaid shall neither be disturb'd in their Houses nor constrain'd to do any thing on the account of Religion contrary to their Consciences provided always they behave themselves according to the Rules prescrib'd in our present Edict XI We do injoyn all Preachers Readers and others who speak in Publick not to use any Words Discourses and Expressions tending to excite the People to Sedition but on the contrary to content and behave themselves modestly saying nothing but what may tend to the Instruction and Edification of the Hearers and to maintain the Peace and Tranquility by us establish'd in our said Kingdom on the pains mention'd in our precedent Edicts Commanding our Attornies General and other our Officers most expresly to see the same perform'd XII Those of the said Religion shall no wise be constrain'd neither shall they remain bound upon the account of the Abjurations Promises and Oaths heretofore made or taken by them or security by them given upon the account of the said Religion and shall never be molested or troubled for the same in any kind whatever XIII They shall be oblig'd to keep and observe the Festivals established in the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church Neither shall they be allow'd on such days to Labour Work Sell or expose Goods to sale in open Shop Neither shall the Shambles be open'd on such days in which the use of Flesh is forbidden XIV No Books shall be allow'd to be sold in our Kingdom Countries Territories and Lordship under our Obedience without being first examin'd by our Officers residing there and such as are written in Relation to the said pretended Reform'd Religion by the Chambers hereafter by us ordain'd in every Parliament to judge of the Causes and Differences of those of the said Religion Prohibiting most expresly the Impression Publication and Sale of all Defamatory Books Libels and Writings on the pains contain'd in our Ordinances â—njoyning all our Judes and Officers to have an eye upon the same XV. We also order That no Difference or Distinction shall be made upon the account of Religion To receive Scholars to be instructed in the Universities Colleges and Schools And the Sick and Poor into the Hospitals c. and publick Alms. XVI Those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall be obliged to observe the Laws of the Catholick Apostolick Roman Church receiv'd in this our Kingdom in respect to Marriages contracted or to be contracted as to the Degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity to avoid the Debates and Suits that might be thereby occasion'd to the ruin of most of the best Families of the same and the dissolution of the Bonds of Friendship that are acquir'd by Marriage and alliance among our Subjects XVII Those of the said Religion shall be oblig'd to pay the Rights of Entrance as is usual for the Places and Offices they shall be admitted into without being oblig'd to assist at any Ceremonies contrary to their said Religion And being called to their Oath they shall only be oblig'd to hold up their Hand to swear and promise to God that they will speak the Truth without being bound to take a dispensation of the Oath by them taken in passing the Contracts and Bonds XIX It is also our Will and Pleasure that all those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party of what Degree Quality or Condition soever shall be bound and constrain'd by all due and reasonable Ways and under the Penalties contain'd in our precedent Edicts made upon this Subject to pay and acquit the Tithes due to Curates and other Ecclesiasticks and to all others to whom they may belong according to the Use and Custom of Places XIX And in order the better to reunite the Wills of our Subjects which is our Intention and to remove all cause of complaint for the future we do declare all those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and others our aforesaid Subjects that have been ingag'd in their Party Capable to hold and exercise all Estates Dignities Offices and Publick Employments whatever Royalties and Lordships and such as belong to the Cities of our said Kingdoms Countries Territories and Lordships under our Obedience and to be admitted and receiv'd into the same without distinction and without being oblig'd to take any Oath or lie under any Obligation but well and faithfully to discharge their Employments Dignities Places and Offices and to observe the Ordinances And when any vacancie of the Employments Places and Offices within our disposal shall happen they shall be by us reimplac'd without distinction of Religion by able persons as we shall think proper for the good of our Service We also allow those of the said Religion to be admitted and received in all Councils Deliberations Assemblies and Functions depending on the abovesaid things and that they shall neither be rejected or debar'd the enjoyment thereof on the account of the said Religion XX. We also order that for the interring of the Dead of those of the said Religion within all the Cities and places of this Realm our Officers and Magistrates shall speedily provide a convenient Place in every place for that end The which we enjoin our said Officers to do and to take care that no Scandals may be committed at the said Burials XXI And to the end that Justice may be done and ministred to all our Subjects without partiality hatred or favour which is one of the principal means to maintain them in peace and concord We have and do ordain that in every one of our Courts of Parliament of Paris Roan Dijon and Rennes there shall be a Chamber establish'd compos'd for that of the Parliament of Paris of a President and 16 Councellors For that of Roan of a President and twelve Councellors and for those of Dijon and Rennes of one President and ten Councellors Which said Presidents and Councellors shall be selected and taken by us out of the number of those of the said Courts XXII And as for the Courts of Parliament of Bourdeaux Grenoble and Aix a Chamber shall also be establish'd in every one of them compos'd of two Presidents the one a Catholick and the other of the said pretended Reform'd Religion
Attorney-Generals and other Officers His Majesty declaring however that the Children proceeding from the said Marriages shall only succeed to the Movables Acquisitions and Purchas'd Estates of their Fathers and Mothers not willing that the said Profess'd Religious Persons should be capable of a direct or collateral Succession Neither will his Majesty allow that those of the said Religion having heretofore contracted Marriages in the third or fourth degree should be molested for the same or the Validity thereof call'd to question nor likewise the Succession taken from or disputed against the Children born or to be born descending from the said Marriages And in order to judge of the Validity of the said Marriages made and contracted by those of the said Religion and to decide whether they are lawful or not if the person of the said Religion is Defendant in that case the Judges Royal shall take cognizance of the Fact of the said Marriage and he being Plaintiff and the Defendant a Catholick the Cognizance thereof shall belong to the Official and Ecclesiastical Judge for which Letters-Patent shall be granted by his said Majesty to be verified in his Courts of Parliament IX And as to Marriages already treated of either of second or others among those of the said Religion those that shall have contracted Marriages in such a degree in that kind applying themselves to his Majesty such Letters-Patent shall be granted them as shall be necessary to hinder them or their Children from being prosecuted or molested for the same X. Upon what has been granted by the General Articles That in each of the Parliaments of Paris Roaâ— Dijon and Rennes a Chamber shall be establish'd compos'd of a President and a certain number of Counsellors taken and chosen out of the said Courts it has been thought fit and agreed upon in order to remove all cause of Jealousy from those of the said Religion and therein to gratifie the most humble Petition they have made to his Majesty about it That the Presidents and Counsellors shall be chosen by his said Majesty upon the Register of the Officers of the said Parliaments among the most equitable most peaceable and most moderate the List whereof shall be communicated to the Deputies of the said King of Navarre and to those of the said Religion who shall be near his Majesty before their being ordain'd to serve in the said Chambers and that in case they shall suspect any of them it shall be lawful for them to acquaint his Majesty therewith who shall chuse others in their stead XI The same shall be observ'd in the Election of the Catholick Officers that are to serve in the Chambers that shall be establish'd in the Countries of Guienne Languedoc Dauphine and Provence XII As to what relates to the Election of those of the said Religion for the Offices of Presidents and Counsellors that shall be erected by the said Edict to serve in the said Chambers it has been agreed That it shall be made by his Majesty upon the Attestation of the said King of Navarre for the first time and without taking any Money for the same and that upon any Vacation his said Majesty shall provide other capable persons in their room being of the said Religion XIII And whereas those of the said Religion have alledg'd several reasons for which they suspect those of the Court of Parliament of Roan which made them very solicitous to have a Chamber establish'd there as in the Parliaments of Bourdeaux Thoulouse and Dauphine in order not to make that Parliament differ from those of Paris Dijon and Rennes it has been granted to those of the said Religion having any Suits depending in the said Parliament in case they will not receive those of the Chamber that shall be erected there for Judges to apply themselves to his said Majesty and Letters of Transferation shall be allow'd them by him in the Chamber of the Parliament of Paris ordain'd for the Administration of Justice to those of the said Religion or to the Great Council for Processes mov'd or to be mov'd before any Plea in the Cause bringing good and due Attestations along with them of their being of the said pretended Reform'd Religion XIV His said Majesty also wills and means That the said Chambers compos'd and establish'd in the said Parliaments for the distribution of Justice to those of the said Religion shall be reunited and incorporated in the said Parliaments when need shall require and when the Causes which have mov'd his said Majesty to establish them shall cease and shall no longer subsist among his subjects XV. To those ends the Presidents and Counsellors who shall be invested with the Offices newly created into the said Chambers shall be nam'd Presidents and Counsellors of the Courts of Parliament each in that into which they shall be establish'd and reckon'd in the number of the Presidents and Counsellors of the said Courts and shall enjoy the same Salaries Authorities Prerogatives as the Presidents and Counsellors of the other Courts XVI The Examination of which Presidents and Counsellors newly chosen shall be made by his Majesty's Privy Council or by the said Chambers each one within its Precinct when there shall be a sufficient Number of them and yet the accustom'd Oath shall be taken by them in the Courts where the said Chambers shall be establish'd except those of the said Chamber of Languedoc who shall take it before the Lord Chancellor or in the said Chamber when it shall be establish'd XVII In the said Chamber of Languedoc there shall be two Substitutes of his Majesties Attorny and Advocate The Attorney's shall be a Catholick and the other of the aforesaid Religion who shall have sufficient Salaries from his said Majesty XVIII There shall also be two Committees of the Parliament of Thoulouse the one Civil the other Criminal which the Registers shall be responsible for XIX Moreover some Messengers shall be appointed who shall be taken out of the said Court or elsewhere according to the King's pleasure as many as shall be necessary for the Service of the said Chamber XX. The Session of which shall be appointed by his Majesty and remov'd to such Cities and Parts of the said Country of Languedoc as his said Majesty shall think fit for the convenience of his Subjects XXI Whereas those of the said Religion have made complaints that from the Publication of the Edict made in the year 1572. to the day of the Publication of this that shall be now there have been several Prescriptions Nonsuits or Judgments given against those of the said Religion in places where the Suits have neither been heard nor defended and that tho they have desired a removal to the Party-Chambers it has been denied them It is granted them that in case they can give sufficient proof of the same they shall be receiv'd in their first Condition again XXII Likewise upon the Remonstrances that have been made by the King of Navar and the Prince
That all the Ecclesiasticks shall freely return into the said City perform Divine Service freely and enjoy their Estates together with all the Catholick Inhabitants and the said Prince shall take all the said Ecclesiasticks and other Inhabitants under his Protection and Safeguard to the end that they may not be hindred from performing the said Divine Service molested or troubled in their Persons or in the enjoyment of their Estates but on the contrary restor'd to the full possession of the same XXXVII The said Prince of Condé shall present and nominate unto his said Majesty the Person to whom he shall trust the keeping of the said City to the end that Letters-Patent may be granted him for the same by his said Majesty as it has been done heretofore XXXVIII For the Guard and Safety of the said City shall be allow'd to the said Prince 50 men maintain'd at his Majesty's Charge besides the Dividend the said King of Navarre shall allow him out of the 800 men that are left to him for the Guard of the other Cities his said Majesty willing that the 850 men allow'd as aforesaid to the said King of Navarre and Prince of Condé shall be employed for the Garison of the said Cities as it has been agreed and that they shall be employ'd no where else without express Command from his said Majesty to avoid oppressing of his people and to remove all cause of Jealousie from among his Subjects His said Majesty also meaning that the said 850 men shall be disbanded at the expiration of the Term allow'd and the time of the Restitution of the said Cities XXXIX By the General Articles the City of Montpellier is left in keeping to those of the said Religion for the Retreat and Safety of those of the County of Languedoc but his said Majesty means it in case the said City be still in the hands and in the power of those of the said Religion on the day these Articles shall be granted and sign'd in this City of Bergerac and not otherwise in which case instead of the said City his Majesty shall allow them another of those that are at present within their Power in the said Countrey of Languedoc at their Choice XL. His said Majesty shall write to his Ambassadors to require and desire for all his Subjects of whatever Religion they be That they may not be troubled as to their Constience nor be liable to the Inquisition in going and coming Negotiating and Trading throughout all Spain Italy and other Foreign Countries Allies and Confederates of this Crown provided they do not offend the Civil Government XLI All Pieces of Ordinance belonging to his said Majesty that have been taken during the present or precedent Troubles shall be immediately restor'd and put into his said Majesty's Magazines except such as are in the Cities given for Surety which shall remain in them an Inventory being made of the same in order to their being restor'd at the Expiration of the aforesaid Term of Six Years XLII Whereas if all that has been done against the Regulations on both sides were indifferently excepted out of the General Pardon there is no man in the Army but might be prosecuted and troubled which might occasion new Troubles it has been thought fit to grant that none but execrable Crimes shall be excepted out of the said General Pardon viz. Ravishments of Women Incendiaries Murthers Robberies committed treacherously and out of private Revenge against the Laws of War Infraction of Passports and Safeguards together with Murthers and Plunders without Command out of consideration to those of the said Religion and others who have been engag'd in the Party of the King of Navarre or the Prince of Condé grounded upon particular occasions that have oblig'd them to command and order it XLIII It shall be ordain'd That whatever shall be taken on either side by way of Hostility or otherwise upon any acconnt whatever proceeding from the present Troubles from and upon the 17th of the present month on which the Articles have been granted agreed upon and sign'd in this City of Bergerac shall be liable to Restitution and Civil Reparation XLIV As for the City of Avignon and Venaissin County his Majesty desiring that the Inhabitants thereof may share and enjoy the fruit of the Peace he hopes to settle in his Kingdom by the assistance of God both out of consideration to our Holy Father the Pope and because the said City and County have always been under the Protection of the Kings his Predecessors and that it is a thing very material towards the establishing of the said Peace in the adjacent Provinces his said Majesty will intreat his said Holiness to allow the Subjects of this Kingdom who have Estates in the said City of Avignon and County as also to the Subjects of the said City and County who are of the said Religion to be restor'd and reestablish'd into the entire and peaceable Injoyments of their Estates which they have been depriv'd of upon the account of the Troubles past and of the said Religion without their being liable to be troubled in the said Possession upon the said account Which being done those who occupy and detain at present in the said Country Cities and Places belonging either to his Holiness or his Subjects shall be oblig'd to deliver them forthwith and without delay into the hands of such as shall be nominated by his said Holiniess for that purpose For the effecting of which the King of Navar and the Prince of Conde shall dispatch a Gentleman on purpose to those that are detainers of the said places to signify the same unto them and to require and order them to obey which in case they refuse to do the said King of Navar and Prince of Conde do promise both in their Names and in the Names of those of the said Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party neither to Aid Comfort or Assist them His Majesty also promises That in case after the Restitution and delivery of the said Places in the hands of such as shall be ordered by his said Holiness any of his Majesty's Subjects having Estates in the said Cities and County or of his Holiness's Subjects professing the said Religion should be disturb'd in the injoyment of their said Estates upon the account of the said Religion he will grant them Letters of Mart and Reprisal upon the Estates that are possess'd by the Subjects of the said City and County of Avignâ—n in the Countries under his Obedience which Letters shall be directed to that end to the Judges to whom of Right the Cognizance of such things appertains XLV The Sums that are necessary to be rais'd for the payment of what is due to the * Reisters both for the present and precedent Troubles shall be impos'd equally upon all his Majesty's Subjects And whereas those of the said Religion pretend that the main part of the Money destin'd for the payment of the said Reisters
for the precedent Troubles was rais'd before the 24th of August 1572. and was taken from them and remitted and that his Majesty might by surprize have made a Gift of the said Money to some particular Persons It is his Majesty's Pleasure that those who have had the said Money on any account and under any pretence shall be oblig'd by lawful and reasonable means to restore the same And that whatever Receivers and others who have still Money of that kind in their hands shall also be oblig'd to deliver it forthwith into the hands of his Majesty's Receivers-General and that by Imprisoning of them if necessary Upon the account of which his said Majesty has and does discharge those of the said Religion of all Obligations and Promises made and given by them upon that account both to his said Majesty the Reisters and all others XLVI The said King of Navar and those of the said Religion having made Application to his said Majesty for the payment of the Reisters due to the said John Casimir his Colonels and Rent-masters His said Majesty has declar'd That he will endeavour to do it as soon as ever the necessity of his Affairs will permit him XLVII And as to the Six hundred thousand Livers which those of the said Religion say were allow'd them by the last Peace to impose upon and raise among themselves in order to pay some Sum due by them It has been granted them That in case they can produce the said permission and make it appear that nothing has been rais'd by them by Virtue thereof and that the Sums for which it had been granted are still due the said permission shall be confirm'd by his said Majesty XLVIII The Prince of Orange shall be restor'd to all the Lands Jurisdictions and Lordships he has in this said Kingdom and Territories under his said Majesty's Obedience In like manner shall be restor'd to him all Titles Instructions and other Papers concerning his Principality of Orange in case any have been taken and remov'd by the Governors and Lieutenants-General and others his said Majesty's Officers if what is aabovesaid has not been done already The present Articles have been made and granted by express Command from the King in his Majesty's Name and by his pleasure by the Duke of Montpensier and the Sieurs de Biron Descars S. Sulpice de la Mothe-Fenelon by vertue of the power given unto them by his said Majesty to conclude and agree about the pacification of the Troubles of this Kingdom on the one part And by the King of Navar the Prince of Conde and the Deputies of those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion the said King of Navar Prince of Conde and Deputies answering for all those of the Provinces of this Kingdom Countries Territories and Lordships under the obedience of his said Majesty who profess the said Religion and others who have been engag'd in their Party on the other Part. In Witness whereof the said Articles have been sign'd with their own hands in the City of Bergerac the 17th Day of September 1577. Thus sign'd in the Original Henry de Bourbon Lewis de Bourbon Biron Descars S. Sulpiae de la Mothe-Fenelon La Noue L. Dufaur Chancelor to the King of Navar S. Genis Chauvin Dufaur Clausone Deputy of Languedoc Morin Deputy of Guyenne Scorbion Deputy of Montauban Payan Deputy of Languedoc and according to his power Thore for the Isle of France De Signo Deputy of Dauphine Durand Deputy of Guienne Guyet and St. Beignon for Rochel Courtois Deputy of Vendomois Roux Deputy of Provence T. Davaux for La Rovergue Thus sign'd compar'd de Neufville and is written extracted from the Registers of Parliament Sign'd De Pontac Compar'd with the Manuscript which is in the King's Library by Me. Counsellor and Secretary of the King House and Crown of France and of its Exchequer of the Ancient College Sign'd Gon. The Articles of the Conference made at Nerac by the Queen Mother with the King of Navar and the Deputies of the Pretended Reform'd Religion IN order to facilitate the last Edict of pacification made in the month of September 1577. and to clear and resolve the Difficulties that have interpos'd and that might still retard the good Effect of the said Edict It has been resolv'd at the Request Supplication and Articles presented by those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and agreed upon as followeth in the Conference held at Nerac in this present Month of February 1579. between the Queen Mother assisted by some Princes and Lords of the King's Privy-Council and the King of Navar also assisted by the Deputy of the Prince of Conde Lords and Gentlemen and the Deputies of those of the pretended Reform'd Religion I. That the High Justicers or those that hold full Fief d' Haubert either in Proper or Vse-Fruit in the whole Moietie or third shall be allow'd to continue the Exercise of the said pretended Reform'd Religion in the places by them nam'd for their principal abode although they and their Wives are absent from the same provided part of their Families remain in the said places and though the Right of Justice or full Fief d' Haubert be in Controversie yet the Exercise of the said Religion shall be continu'd there provided the above said persons are still in actual possession of the said Justice And as for the Publick Exercise of the said pretended Reform'd Religion in the places ordain'd by the King in case any of ihe said places prove inconvenient they petitioning the King to have it remov'd elsewhere his Majesty shall provide them another that shall be convenient for them II. That according to certain Letters-Patent granted by the King given at Paris on the 13th of Nov. 1677. conformably to the eleventh Article of what was agreed on at Bergerac on the 16th of September of the said year 1577. which through inadvertency had been omitted in the last Edict of pacification those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion are allow'd to buy build or construct places to perform the said Exercise of Religion in the Suburbs of Cities or in Towns and Villages that are or shall be allow'd them in every Baliwick and Seneschalship or Government and in the places where the Exercise of the said Religion is allow'd them by the Edict And such as shall be found in the said places that have been built by them shall be restor'd to them in the same condition they now are III. Those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion are allow'd to assemble before the Judge Royal and by his Authority to equal and raise among themselves such sums as shall be thought necessary to be employ'd for the maintenance of those who are employ'd to perform the Exercises of their said Religion of which an account shall be given to the said Judge-Royal for him to keep IV. That according to the 20th Article of the Edict of pacification the Judges and Magistrates of Cities shall forthwith provide convenient
places for the interment of the Dead of those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion And the said Officers and others are forbidden to ask any thing for the Transportation of the said Corps on pain of Extortion V. And to prevent all Differences that might arise between the Courts of Parliament and the Chambers of the said Courts ordain'd by the said Edict the King shall speedily make a good and large Regulation between the said Courts of Parliament and the said Chambers Insomuch that those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall fully enjoy the benefit of the said Edict The establishment of the Chamber of Languedoc shall also speedily be perform'd in pursuance of the said Edict And in case at any time hereafter the Number of Judges should not be sufficient in the same by reason of the affluâ—ncy of Causes those of the said Religion shall apply themselves to his said Majesty who will make sufficient provision for it As to what relates to the King's Council the secret Articles of the Year 1577 shall be observ'd both as to what relates to the Chamber of Languedoc and that of Guienne Nevertheless the said King's Council shall be continu'd in their Places without being liable to revocation unless in the cases of the Ordinance although they bear the Title of Substitutes of Advocates and Attorneys-General in the said Courts of Parliament The Committes of the Registers Civil and Criminal in the said Chamber shall exercise their places by the King's Commission and shall be call'd Committes of the * Registry Civil and Criminal and therefore shall not be liable to be turn'd out or to be revok'd by the said Registers of Parliament and that they shall be bound to yield the emolument or profit of the said Registries to the said Registers and the said Committies shall receive Salaries from the said Registers according as it shall be thought fit and agreed upon by the said Chambers And as for the Messengers besides those that shall be taken out of the said Parliament who shall be Catholicks two more shall be erected in every Chamber who shall be of the said Religion And the said Messengers shall be directed by the said Chambers both as to the execution of their Places their District and the Fees they shall take In the Cities where the said Chambers shall be erected there shall also be two Offices of Serjeants to be kept by those of the said Religion And as to Attorneys the Attorneys of the said Parliament shall be allow'd to plead in the said Chambers And in case their number should not be sufficient the King shall create some without paying of Fees who shall be nominated by the said Chambers in such a number as they shall think fit provided it does not exceed ten of which they shall send a Roll according to which their Patents shall be made and seal'd The Expeditions of the Chanceries or Seal-Offices shall be made in presence of two Counsellers of the said Chambers of which the one shall be a Catholick and the other one of the aforesaid Religion In the absence of one of the Masters of Requests belonging to the King's Hostel one of the Notaries and Secretaries of the said Courts of Parliament shall reside in the places where the said Chambers shall be establish'd or one of the Secretaries in ordinary of the Chancery to sign the Expeditions of the said Chancery And it has been agreed that the Chamber of Languedoc shall be setled in the City of L'Isle in Albigeois VI. As to the Decrees given in the Court of Parliaments since the said Edict in which Courts the Parties have not proceeded voluntarily that is have alledg'd and propounded ends declinatory or that have been denounc'd through default both in matters civil and criminal notwithstanding which the said Parties have been constrain'd to go forward they shall be deem'd and reputed as those that have been given before the Edict and revok'd by the same The same is ordain'd for the presidial Judgments given since the Edict and for the Cases abolish'd by the said Edict and by the present Conference And as for the Decrees given against those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion who have proceeded voluntarily without proposing ends Declinatory the said Decrees shall remain in force Yet nevertheless without prejudice to the execution of the same they shall be allow'd if they think fit to take some course by way of Civil Request before the said Chambers And until the said Chambers and their Chanceries are establish'd Verbal Appeals and those in Writing interpos'd by those of the said Religion before Judges Registers or Committees Executors of Judgments and Decrees shall have the same effect as if they had been sued out by Letters-Patent And as for Processes not yet determin'd depending in the said Courts of Parliament of the Quality abovesaid they shall be return'd whatever condition they are in into the said Chambers to which they have their reference if requir'd by one of the Parties and according to the Edict within four Months in such Provinces where the Chambers are establish'd after the Registring of these present Articles And as for the other Provinces in which they are not yet establish'd four Months after the establishment thereof before the Registers of the said Courts of Parliament and that for Suits that are ready for tryal And as for such as shall be discontinu'd and are not in a state to be judg'd the above-mention'd of the pretended Reform'd Religion shall be oblig'd to make the said Declaration at the first intimation and signification that shall be made unto them of the pursuit and the said term being expir'd they shall no more be admitted to demand the said Returns And as for the Suits remov'd either in the Courts of Parliament Great Council or elsewhere those of the said Religion giving a particular account of the said Suits provision shall be made for the same VII All Sovereign Courts and others within this Kingdom are prohibited and forbidden before the installation or seting of the said Chambers to take cognisance of and to judge the Processes either Civil or Criminal of those of the said Religion and others who have been engaged in their Party the cognisance whereof by the last Edict of Peace is referr'd to the said Chambers The Prohibitions contain'd in the 26th Article of the said Edict of pacification about the cognizance of matters relating to the Troubles until now shall also be reiterated And generally all Judgments and Decrees given contrary and to the prejudice of the Edict shall be annihilated and revok'd together with all that has follow'd thereupon VIII That henceforward in all Instructions other than Informations of criminal processes in the Seneschalships of Thoulouse Carcassonne Rovergue Lauragais Beziers Montpellier and Nimes the Magistrate or Commissary deputed for the said Instruction if he be a Catholick shall be oblig'd to take an Associate of the said pretended Reform'd Religion which the Parties shall
Bayliwicks Seneschalships and other Royal Jurisdictions to inform against and make prosecution in the King's Name against all such who shall move Seditions c. and in publick shall utter Scandalous Expressions or any wise transgress the said Edicts Articles and Conferences in order to have them punish'd according to the Penalties inflicted by the same The which being omitted the said Attorneys and Substitutes shall be responsible for the said Infractions in their own particular Names and depriv'd of their Places without ever being restor'd or re-establish'd to the same And the Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks shall be requir'd to keep and to oblige the Preachers instituted by them to keep and observe the Contents of the said Articles and his Majesty commands the same most expresly to all others who speak in publick on the Penalties contain'd in the Edict IV. In consequence of the 4th 9th and 13th Articles of the said Edict all those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion of what condition or quality soeverare allow'd to be and safely to inhabit in all the Cities and pars of this Kingdom without being disturb'd or prosecuted upon the account of the said Religion under any pretence whatever they behaving themselves according as it is order'd by the aforesaid Articles of the said Edict They shall not be oblig'd to hang and adorn the Front of their Houses on the Festival Days on which it is order'd but only shall suffer them to be hung and adorn'd by the Authority of the Officers who belong to those places Neither shall they be oblig'd to contribute towards the Charges for the Reparations of Churches or to admit Exhortations when sick or at the point of Death either by Condemnation of Justice or otherwise from any but those of the said Religion V. The 1st Article of the Conference shall hold and remain in force altho the King's Atorny-General be a Party against the High-Justicers who were in actual possession of the said Justice at the time of the publication of the said Edict VI. In executing the 8 Article of the said Edict those of the said Religion shall nominate unto the King four or five places in every Bayliwick or Seneschalship of the Quality mention'd by the Edict to the end that being inform'd of the convenience or inconvenience thereof his Majesty may chuse one of them there to establish the Exercise of their said Religion or they not proving convenient to provide another for them within a month after the said Nomination which shall be as convenient for them as can be and according to the Tenor of the Edict VII And as to the Burying places of those of the said Religion the Officers belonging to those parts shall be oblig'd within a Fortnight after their being requir'd so to do to provide them convenient places for the said Interments without delays on the penalty of Five Hundred Crowns in their proper and private Names VIII Letters Patent shall be pass'd directed to the Courts of Parliament for the registring and observing of the secret and particular Articles made with the said Edict And as for Marriages and the Differences that shall arise upon the same the Judges Ecclesiastical and Royal together with the aforesaid Chambers shall take cognizance of the same respectively according to the said Articles IX The Taxes and Impositions that shall be laid upon those of the said Religion according as it is express'd in the 3d Article of the said Conference shall be executed all Oppositions or Appeals whatever notwithstanding X. Those of the said Religion shall be allow'd the Exercise thereof in the Cities and places in which it was perform'd on the 17th of September 1577. according to the 7th Article of the said Edict XI The King shall send a Chamber of Justice in the County and Dutchy of Guyenne consisting of two Presidents 14 Councellors a King's Attorney and Advocate persons of worth lovers of peace of Integrity and proper Abilities which shall be chosen by his Majesty and taken out of the Parliaments of this Kingdom and Great Council the List of which shall be communicated to the King of Navar to the end that any of them being suspected Persons it may be lawful to acquaint his Majesty therewith who shall elect others in their room The said Presidents and Counsellors thus ordain'd shall take cognizance of and judge all Causes Processes Differences and Transgressions of the Edict of Pacification the Cognizance and Jurisdiction of which has been by the said Edict referr'd to the Chamber compos'd by the same They shall serve two whole Years in the said Country and shall remove their place and Sessions through the Seneschalships of the same every six Months in order to purge the Provinces and to administer Justice to every one upon the spot Nevertheless it has been agreed that by the establishment of the said Chamber those of the said pretended reform'd Religion shall not be depriv'd of the priviledge and benefit which is granted them by the said Edict by the establishment of the Tripartite Chamber ordain'd by the same The Presidents and Councellors of which being of the said Religion shall remain united and incorporate in the Court of the Parliament of Bourdeaux according to their erection there to serve to hold a Rank and sit from the very day they have been receiv'd there and shall enjoy all the Honours Authorities Preheminences Rights Profits and Prerogatives as the other Presidents and Counsellors of the said Court. And as for the Provinces of Languedoc and Dauphine the Chambers that have been appointed for them by the Edict shall be establish'd and constituted there according as it is specifi'd in the same and by the Articles of the said Conference of Nerac And the next sitting of that of Languedoc shall be in the City of And that of Dauphine shall be establish'd according to what has been heretofore ordain'd XII The said Presidents Counsellors and Officers of the said Chamber shall be oblig'd to repair forthwith to the places appointed for their Sessions there to exercise their Office on pain of losing their said Offices and to serve actually and reside in the said Chambers without departing or absenting from thence without leave registred from the said Chambers which shall be judge in the Assembly upon the Causes of the Ordinance And the said Catholick Presidents Counsellors and Officers shall be continu'd there as long as can be and as the King shall judge it necessary for his Service and for the Publick Good And in licensing the one others shall be put in their places before their departure XIII All Sovereign and other Courts of this Kingdom are forbidden to take cognizance and judge Processes either civil or criminal in which those of the said Religion are concern'd until the Day on which the said Chambers shall sit or afterwards on pain of nullity Charges Damages and interest of the Parties unless they shall proceed voluntarily in the said Courts according to the 26 Article of the
said Edict and the 6th and 7th of the said Conference XIV The King shall provide valuable assignations to furnish towards the charges of Justice of the said Chambers and shall reimburse himself upon the Estates of the Condemn'd XV. The King shall as soon as possible can be make a Regulation between the said Courts of Parliament and the said Chambers according to the Edict and the 5th Article of the said Conference and consult some Presidents and Counsellors of the said Parliaments and Chambers about it Which said Regulation shall be kept and observ'd without regard to those that have preceded it XVI Neither shall the said Courts of Parliament or other Sovereign and Inferior Courts take cognizance of what shall be depending and introduc'd into the said Chambers which they ought to determine according to the Edict on pain of nullity of the Proceedings XVII In such Chambers where there shall be Judges of both Religions the proportion of Judges and Judgments shall be observ'd according to their establishment unless the Parties consent to the contrary XVIII The Recusations or Refusals propos'd against the Presidents and Counsellors of the said Chambers of Guyenne and Languedoc and Dauphine shall be allow'd to the number of six to which number the Parties shall be restrain'd otherwise they shall go forward without any regard to the said Refusals XIX The Presidents and Counsellors of the said Chambers shall hold no private Councils out of their Assembly in which also the Propositions Deliberations and Resolutions relating to the Publick Good shall be made as well as those relating to the particular State and Policy of the said Cities where the said Chambers shall be XX. All the Judges to whom the Execution of Decrees and other Commissions of the said Chambers shall be directed together with all Messengers and Serjeants shall be oblig'd to put them in execution And the said Messengers and Serjeants shall serve all Warrants throughout the Kingdom without requiring Placet Visa nor Pareatis on pain of being suspended and of paying the lost Damages and Interests of the Parties of which the Cognisance shall appertain to the said Chambers 21. No Evocation or removal of Causes the tryal of which is refer'd to the said Chambers shall be allow'd unless in the case of the Ordinances the return whereof shall be made to the nearest Chamber establish'd according to the Edict And upon the Revocation of the Removal and the annihilation of the Proceedings made upon the same Justice shall be done by the King at the request of the Parties and the issues of Suits of the said Chambers shall be try'd in the next Chamber observing the proportion and form of the said Chambers whence the Processes proceed XXII The Subaltern Officers of the Provinces of Guyenne Languedoc and Dauphine the reception of which belongs to the Courts of Parliament if they be of the said pretended Reform'd Religion may be examin'd and receiv'd in the Chamber of the Edict and none but the King's Attorneys General and those plac'd in the said Offices shall be allow'd to oppose and make themselves Parties against their reception And upon the refusal of the said Parliaments the Officers shall take the said Oaths in the said Chambers XXIII Such of the said Religion as have resign'd their Places and Offices out of fear of the Troubles since the 24th of August 1572. to whom by reason thereof some Promises have been made The said Promises being verified by them Provision shall be made for them by Law according to reason XXIV The 46th Article of the said Edict shall be intirely executed and shall be of force for the discharge of Arrears and Contributions and all other Sums impos'd during the Troubles XXV All Deliberations made in the Courts of Parliament Letters Remonstrances and other things contrary to the said Edict of Pacification and Conference shall be raz'd out of the Registers XXVI The Processes of Vagabonds shall be tried by Presidial Judges Provost Marshal and Vice-Seneschals according to the 25d Article of the said Edict and the 8th of the said Conference And as for the Housholders in the Provinces of Guienne Languedoc and Dauphine the Substitutes of the King's Attorneys General in the said Chambers shall at the request of the said Housholders cause the Inditements and Informrtions made against them to be brought into the same to know and determine whether the Cases are liable to Provost Courts or not that afterwards according to the nature of the Crimes they may be return'd by the said Chambers to be try'd by the ordinary Judges or by the Provostal Judges as they shall find it reasonable And the said Presidial Judges Provosts Marshal and Vice-Seneschals shall be oblig'd to respect obey and fulfil the Commands they shall receive from the said Chambers as they use to do those of the said Parliaments on pain of forfeiture of their Places XXVII The Ruins and dismantlings of all Cities that have been demolish'd during the Troubles may be by the King's leave rebuilt â—nd repair'd by the Inhabitants at their own charge and expence according to the Fiftieth Article of the Edict XXVIII The like Discharges and Pardons shall be granted in respect to the things done and happen'd on both sides since the said Conference until now as are contain'd in the said Edict in the 55th Article all Proceedings Sentences and Decrees and whatever has follow'd thereupon notwithstanding which shall be declar'd null and os no effect as things never happen'd derogating in respect to that to what is contain'd in the 25th Article of the said Conference the which notwithstanding shall remain in full force and vertue for the future In which Pardons shall be included the taking of Bazaz and Langon The first taken during the War in the Year 1576 and the other after the said Conference of Nerac and what has insued thereupon all Judgments and Decrees to the contrary notwithstanding XXIX After the publications of the said Edict in that part where the said Duke of Anjou shall be all Forces and Armies on both sides shall separate and retire and after their being retir'd that is after the French Forces are disbanded and dismissed and the Foreigners gone out of the Government of Guienne in order to march out of the Kingdom ¶ After the Cities hereafter mention'd shall be deliver'd into the hands of the said Duke of Anjou the said King of Navar and those of the said Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party shall be oblig'd to deliver into the hands of the said Duke of Anjou the Cities of Mande Cahors Monsegus S. Million and Mont aigu Which Mont-aigu shall be dismantled as soon as it is delivered to the said Duke of Anjou XXX Immediately after the delivery of the said Cities the said Duke of Anjou shall cause to be deliver'd unto the said King of Navar the Houses Cities and Castles belonging unto him which he shall leave in the condition ordain'd by the Edict and
their Houses or Places where they shall Inhabit in all other things behaving themselves according to what is specifi'd in our present Edict VII We have also permitted all Lords Gentlemen and other Persons as well Inhabitants as others who make Profession of the Pretended Reform'd Religion enjoying within our Kingdom and Countries under our Obedience High Jurisdiction or full Fief d'Haubert as in Normandy either in Proper in the Vse-fruit thereof in the whole or Moiety or for a third Part To have in such their Houses of the said High Jurisdiction or Fiefs abovesaid which they shall be oblig'd to nominate before to our Bailiffs and Seneschals every one within his Limits for their principal Abode the Exercise of the said Religion while they reside there and in their Absence their Wives or Families or part thereof And tho the Right of Jurisdiction or full Fief d'Haubert be in Controversy nevertheless the Exercise of the said Religion shall be allow'd there provided the abovesaid be in actual Possession of the said High Jurisdiction altho our Attorney-General be a Party We also allow them to perform the said Exercise in their other Houses of High Jurisdiction or abovesaid Fief d'Haubert while they are there present and no otherwise both for themselves their Families Subjects and others who shall desire to repair thither VIII In Houses of Fiefs where those of the said Religion shall not have the said High Jurisdiction or Fief d'Haubert they shall only be allow'd the said Exercise for their Families Nevertheless we do not mean that in case other Persons should chance to come in to the number of Thirty besides their Family either upon the account of Baptism Visitation of their Friends or otherwise they should be troubled for the same Provided also the said Houses are neither within Cities Towns or Villages belonging to Catholick Lords High-Justicers besides our self wherein the said Catholick Lords have their Mansions In which case those of the said Religion shall not be allow'd to perform their said Exercise in the said Cities Towns or Villages except by permission and leave of the said Lords High-Justicers and no otherwise IX We also permit those of the said Religion to perform and continue the Exercise thereof in all the Cities and Places under our Obedience where it was establish'd and by them publickly perform'd at sundry and divers times in the Year 1596. and in the Year 1597. until the end of August all Decrees and Judgments to the contrary notwithstanding X. The said Exercise in like manner shall be establish'd and Restor'd in all Cities and Places where it has or should have been establish'd by the Edict of Pacification made in the Year Seventy Seven Particular Articles and Conferences of Nerac and Flex Neither shall the said Establishment be obstructed in the Parts and Places within the Demean granted by the said Edict Articles and Conferences for Places of Bayliwikes or that shall be granted hereafter though they have been since alienated to Catholick Persons or hereafter shall be And yet we do not intend that the said Exercise shall be Re-establish'd in the Parts and Places of the said Demean which have been heretofore possess'd by those of the the said pretended Reform'd Religion in which it had been allow'd out of respect to their persons or upon the account of the Privileges of the Fiefs in case the said Fiefs be at present possess'd by persons of the said Catholick Apostolick Religion XI Moreover in every one of the Ancient Bayliwikes Seneschalships and Governments holding the Place of a Bayliwike having direct reference without mediation to the Courts of Parliament We ordain That in the Suburbs of a City besides those that have been granted them by the said Edict Particular Articles and Conferences And where there are no Cities in a Borough or Village the Exercise of the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall be publickly perform'd for all such as will repair thither altho the said Exercise were already establish'd in divers places of the said Bayliwikes Seneschalships and Governments excepting out of the said place of Bayliwike newly granted by the present Edict the Cities in which there are Archbishops or Bishops in which case those of the said Pretended Reform'd Religion shall be allow'd to demand and to nominate for the said Place of the said Exercise the Boroughs and Villages near the said Cities Excepted also Places and Lordships belonging to Ecclesiasticks in which we do not allow the said second Place of Bayliwike to be establish'd we having by special grace and favour excepted them Under the name of Ancient Bayliwikes we mean such as were in the Times of the late King Henry our most honour'd Lord and Father-in-law held for Bayliwikes Seneschalships and Governments having immediate reference to our said Courts XII We do not mean by this present Edict to derogate from the Edicts and Agreements heretofore made for the reducing of some Princes Lords Gentlemen and Catholick Cities under our Obedience in what relates to the Exercise of the said Religion the which Edicts and Agreements shall be maintain'd and observ'd for this respect according as shall be specify'd by the Instructions of the Commissioners that shall be appointed for the execution of this present Edict XIII We expresly forbid all those of the said Religion to perform any Exercise thereof either as to the Ministry Government Discipline or Publick Instruction of Children and others in this our Kingdom and Countries under our Obedience in what relates to Religion in any places but those that are allow'd and granted by the Edict XIV As also to perform any Exercise of the said Religion in our Court or Attendance nor likewise in our Lands and Territories beyond the Mounts nor yet in our City of Paris nor within five Leagues of the said City Nevertheless those of the said Religion who live in the said Lands and Territories beyond the Mounts and in our said City and within five Leagues round about it shall not be examin'd in their Houses nor constrain'd to do any thing in respect of their Religion against their Conscience behaving themselves in other matters according as it is specify'd in our present Edict XV. Neither shall the Publick Exercise of the said Religion be performed in the Armies unless in the Quarters of the Chief Officers who profess the same nevertheless it shall not be done in the Quarter where we lodge XVI According to the Second Article of the Conference at Nerac We give leave to those of the same Religion to build Places for the exercise thereof in the Cities and Places where it is allow'd them and those they have built heretofore shall be restor'd to them or the Ground thereof in the Condition it is at present even in those places where the said Exercise is not allow'd them unless they have been converted into other Buildings In which case the Possessors of the said Buildings shall give them other places of the same Price and Value they were
of before their building upon them or the true estimation of them by the judgment of experienc'd men always reserving to the said Owners and Possessors a remedy against whomsoever it shall concern XVII We forbid all Preachers and Lecturers and others who speak in publick to use any Words Speeches or Discourse that may tend to excite the People to Sedition but on the contrary we have and do injoin them to contain and behave themselves modestly and to utter nothing but what may tend to the instruction and edification of the Auditors and to maintain the Peace and Tranquility by us establish'd in our said Kingdom on the Penalties specify'd in the precedent Edicts Injoining most expresly our Attornies General and their Substitutes to inform out of their Office against such as shall transgress the same on pain of answering for it in their proper and peculiar Persons and Forfeitures of their Offices XVIII We also forbid all our Subjects of what Quality and Condition soever to take away by force or induction against the Will of their Parents the Children of those of the said Religion to Baptise or confirm them in the Catholick Apostolick Roman Church The same Prohibitions are made to those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion the whole on pain of exemplary Punishment XIX Those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall be no wise constrain'd nor remain bound by reason of the Abjurations Promises and Oaths they have heretofore made or Cautions by them given upon the account of the said Religion neither shall they be any-wise troubl'd or molested for the same XX. They shall also be bound to observe all Festivals ordain'd in the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church neither shall they work or sell in open Shops on the said days neither shall Handicrafts men work out of their Shops or in close Houses or Chambers on the said Festival days and other prohibited days in any Profession the noise whereof may be heard without by Neighbours or persons passing along which nevertheless shall only be sought after by Officers of Justice XXI The Books touching the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall neither be printed nor sold publickly unless in such Cities and Places in which the Publick Exercise of the said Religion is allow'd And as for other Books which shall be printed in other places they shall be seen and examin'd both by our Officers and Divines as it is specefy'd by our Ordinances We forbid most expresly the Impression publication and sale of all Defamatory Books Libels and Pamphlets under the Penalties contain'd in our Ordinances Injoining all our Judges and Officers to keep a strict hand over it XXII We ordain that no difference or distinction shall be made on the account of the said Religion for the receiving of Scholars to be instructed in Universities Colledges and Schools and the Sick and Poor in Hospitals and Publick Alms. XXIII Those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall be oblig'd to keep the Laws of the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church receiv'd in this our Kingdom in respect to Marriages contracted or to be contracted as to the degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity XXIV Those of the said Religion shall also pay the Fees of Entrance as is customary for the Places and Offices they shall be provided with without being oblig'd to assist at any Ceremonies contrary to their said Religion And being call'd to their Oath they shall only be oblig'd to hold up their hand swear and promise to God that they will speak the truth Neither shall they be oblig'd to take a dispensation for the Oath by them taken at the passing of the Contracts and Obligations XXV It is our Will and Pleasure that all those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party of what State Quality or Condition soever shall be oblig'd and constrain'd by fair and reasonable means and under the Penalties contain'd in the Edicts upon that subject to pay and acquit the Tythes of Curates and other Ecclesiasticks and to all other to whom they shall belong according to the use and custom of the places XXVI The Disinheritations or Privations either by disposing among the Living or by way of Testament made only out of hatred or upon the account of Religion shall neither be valable for the time past or time to come among our Subjects XXVII In order the better to reunite the Wills of our Subjects according to our Intention and to remove all Complaints for the future We do declare all those who do or shall profess the said pretended Reform'd Religion capable of holding or performing all Estates Dignities Offices and publick Places whatever either Royal Signorial or of the Cities of our Kingdom Countries Territories and Lordships under our Obedience all Oaths to the contrary notwithstanding and to be indifferently received into the same and our Courts of Parliament and other Judges shall only make inquiry and inform themselves about the Life and Conversation Religion and honest Conversation of those who are or shall be provided with Offices as well of the one as of the other Religion without exacting any other Oath from them but well and faithfully to serve the King in the discharge of their Offices and to observe the Ordinances as it has been observ'd at all times And in case any Vacancy shall happen of the said Estates Places and Offices as for those that shall be in our gift they shall be dispos'd of indifferently and without distinction to capable Persons as things that concern the union of our subjects We intend also that those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall be admitted and receiv'd into all Councils Deliberations Assemblies and Functions depending on the abovesaid Matters and that they shall not be ejected or hinder'd from enjoying them upon the account of the said Religion XXVIII We order for interring of the Dead of those of the said Religion within all the Cities and parts of our Kingdom that in each place a convenient place shall be provided for them forthwith by our Officers and Magistrates and by the Commissioners who shall be by us deputed for the putting of this present Edict in execution And such Church-yards as they had heretofore which they have been depriv'd of by reason of the Troubles shall be restor'd to them except they be at present built upon in which case others shall be provided for them at free cost XXIX We most expresly enjoin our Officers to take care that no Scandal be committed at the said Interments and they shall be bound within a Fortnight after request made to provide commodious places for the said Burials of those of the said Religion without the least protraction or delays under penalty of 500 Crowns to be sess'd on their proper Names and Persons The said Officers and others are also forbidden to exact any thing for the conveyance of the said Dead Bodies on pain of Extortion XXX To the end that Justice may be
mention'd shall also take place in relation to others who have been ingag'd in the Party of those of the said Religion or that have absented themselves out of our Kingdom by reason of the Troubles And as for the Children under Age of those of the Quality abovesaid who dyed during the Troubles we restore the Parties to the same Estate in which they were before without refunding the Charges or being bound to consign the Fines or Amerciaments but yet we do not mean that Judgments given by Presidial or other Inferior Judges against those of the said Religion or those who have been ingag'd in their Party should remain void if given by Judges holding Sessions in Cities held by them to which they had a free access LX. The Decrees given in our Courts of Parliament in matters the Cognizance whereof belongs to the Chambers ordain'd by the Edict in the year 1577. and the Articles of Nerac and Flex in which Courts the Parties have not proceeded voluntarily that is they have alledg'd and propos'd ends declinatory or that have been given by default or Exclusion either in matters Civil or Criminal notwithstanding which ends the said Parties have been constrain'd to go forward shall likewise be annihilated and of no value And as for the Decrees given against those of the said Religion who have proceeded voluntarily without proposing declinatory Ends the said Decrees shall remain in force yet nevertheless without prejudice to the Execution thereof they shall be allow'd if they think good to take some course by Civil Request before the Chambers ordain'd by the present Edict and the time run on mention'd by the Ordinances shall be no prejudice to them and until the said Chambers and their Chanceries are establish'd the Verbal Appeals or those by Writ brought in by those of the said Religion before the Judges Registers or Committees Executors of Decrees and Judgments shall take the same Effect as if they had been sued out by Letters Patent LXI In all Inquiries that shall be made upon any occasion whatsoever in Civil Matters if the Inquisitor or Commissary is a Catholick the Parties shall be oblig'd to agree about an Associate and in case they cannot agree about one the said Inquisitor or Commissary shall take one out of the Office being of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and the same shall be practis'd when the Commissary or Inquisitor shall be of the said Religion for a Catholick Adjunct LXII We Will and Ordain That our Judges shall determine the Validity of Testaments in which those of the said Religion shall be concern'd if they require it and the Appeals of the said Judgments may be sued out by those of the said Religion notwithstanding all Customs contrary thereunto even those of Brittany LXIII To prevent all differences that might happen between our Courts of Parliament and the Chambers of the said Courts ordain'd by our present Edict We will set down an ample and plain Order between the said Courts and Chambers by which those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall fully injoy the benefit of the said Edict Which Order shall be verified in our Courts of Parliament which shall be kept and observ'd without having a respect to those that have been made before LXIV We prohibit and forbid all our Soveraign Courts and others of this Kingdom to take Cognizance and judge the Processes Civil and Criminal of those of the said Religion the Tryal whereof by our Edict is referr'd to the said Chambers provided the return be demanded as it is specifi'd by the 40 Articles abovewriten LXV Our Will also is by way of Provision until we have otherwise ordain'd it that in all Suits mov'd or to be mov'd in which those of the said Religion shall stand as Plaintiffs or Defendants principal Parties or Warrantees in Civil Causes in which our Officers and Presidial Tribunals have power to Judge definitively they be permitted to demand that two of the Chamber where the Cause is to be try'd abstain from the Judgment of them who without alledging any cause shall be bound in this case to abstain notwithstanding the Ordinance by which the Judges cannot be excepted against without just cause there remaining to them besides refusals of Right against the others And in Criminal Cases in which the said Presidial Judges and other Subaltern or Inferior Judges Royal judge definitively the Persons impeach'd being of the said Religion shall also be allow'd to challenge three of the Judges peremptorily The Provosts of the Marshals of France Vice-Bailiffs Vice-Seneschals Lieutenants of the Short Robe and other Officers of the like Quality shall also judge according to the Ordinance and Rules heretofore given in relation to Vagabonds And as for Housholders charg'd and impeach'd with any Provostal or Publick Crime if they be of the said Religion they shall also be allow'd to demand that three of the said Judges who may take Cognizance thereof abstain from the Judgment of their Causes which the said Judges shall be oblig'd to do without any expression of Cause except when in the Assembly where the said Causes shall be judg'd there happen to be to the number of two in Civil matters and three in Criminal Cases of those of the said Religion in which Case they shall not be allow'd to challenge peremptorily without showing cause the which shall be common and reciprocal to Catholicks in manner and form abovemention'd in respect to the Refusal of Judges where those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall exceed the others in number Nevertheless we do not mean that the said Presidial Tribunals Provosts-Marshals Vice-Bailiffs Vice-Seneschals and others who judge definitively should by virtue of what is abovesaid take Cognizance of the Troubles past And as for Crimes and Excesses committed upon other occasions than that of the Troubles past from the beginning of March 1585. to the end of the year 1597. in case they do take Cognizance of them It is our Will that Appeals may be had from their Judgments before the Chambers ordain'd by the present Edict as shall in the like manner be practis'd for Catholick Accomplices where some of those of the pretended Reform'd Religion shall be Parties LXVI We also will and ordain That henceforward in all Instructions except Informations of Criminal Causes in the Seneschalships of Thoulouse Carcassonne Rovergue Loragais Beziers Montpelier and Nimes the Magistrate or Commissary deputed for the said Instruction if he be a Catholick shall be bound to take an Associate of the pretended Reform'd Religion which the Parties shall agree about and in case they cannot agree one of the said Religion shall be taken out of the Office by the aforesaid Magistrate or Commissary As in like manner If the Magistrate or Commissary be of the said Religion he shall be oblig'd in the manner and form aforesaid to take a Catholick Assistant LXVII When any Housholder of the said Religion being charg'd and accus'd of any publick Crime shall be try'd before the
well secret as other Deliberations heretofore by us or by the Kings our Predecessors made in our Courts of Parliament or elsewhere relating to the case of the said Religion and the troubles happen'd in our said Kingdom to be null and of no effect to all which and the Derogatories therein contain'd we have by this our Edict derogated and do derogate from this time forward as well as for that time do cancel revoke and annul them Declaring expresly that we will have this our Edict to be firm and inviolable kept and observ'd as well by our said Justicers Officers as by other Subjects without any regard to any thing that might be contrary or derogating to it XCII And for the better assurance of the maintenance and observance we desire to have thereof we will and ordain and it is our pleasure that all the Governors and Lieutenants General of our Provinces Bayliffs Seneschals and other Judges in ordinary of the Cities of this our Kingdom immediately after the receipts of this our Edict shall swear to have it kept and observ'd every one in their several Precincts as also the Mayors Sheriffs Capitouls Consuls and Jurats of Cities annual and perpetual enjoining also our said Bayliffs Seneschals or their Lieutenants and other Judges to make the principal Inhabitants of the said Cities of both Religions swear to observe and maintain the same immediately after the publication thereof Putting all those of the Cities under our protection and under the guard of one another charging them respectively and by publick Acts to answer at the Civil Law for the transgressions that shall be made of this our said Edicts in the said Cities by the Inhabitants thereof or to represent and deliver the said Infractors into the hands of Justice We command our Trusty and Well Beloved the Persons holding our Courts of Parliament Chambers of Accounts and Courts of Aids immediately upon receipt of the present Edict to put a stop to all their proceedings on pain of nullity of all the Acts they should pass and to take the Oath abovemention'd and this our Edict to publish and register in our said Courts according to the form and tenor thereof exactly as it is without any Modification Restrictions secret Registers or Declarations and without expecting any farther order or command from us and our Attorneys General to require and prosecute the said immediate Publication thereof We also order our said persons holding our said Courts of Parliament Chambers of our Accounts and Courts of Aids Bayliffs Seneschals Provosts and others our Justicers and Officers to whom it may belong and to their Lieutenants to cause this our present Edict and Ordinance to be read publish'd and register'd in their Courts and Jurisdictions and the same to maintain keep and observe in every particular and to make all such whom it may concern enjoy and use the benefit thereof putting a stop to all Troubles and Hinderances thereunto contrary For such is our pleasure For witness whereof we have sign'd these Presents with our own hand and to the same in order to its being firm and lasting for ever we have caus'd our Seal to be affix'd Given at Nantes in the Month of April in the Year of our Lord 1598. and of our Reign the Ninth Sign'd Henry And underneath By the King being in his Council Forget And on the side Visa And seal'd with the Great Seal of Green Wax upon Knots of Red and Green Silk Read publish'd and register'd heard with the approbation of the King's Attorney General at Paris in Parliament on the 25th of February 1599. Sign'd Voysin Read publish'd and register'd in the Chamber of Accounts hear'd and approv'd by the King's-Attorney General on the last day of March 1599. Sign'd De la Fontaine Read publish'd and registred heard and approv'd by the King's Attorny General at Paris in the Court of Aids the 30th of April 1599. Sign'd Bernard Particular Articles extracted from the General ones that have been granted by the King to those of the Pretended Reform'd Religion the which His Majesty would not have comprehended into the said General Articles nor in the Edict that has been made and drawn upon the same given at Nantes in the Month of April last and yet nevertherless His Majesty has granted that they shall be fully accomplish'd and observ'd in the same manner as the Contents of the said Edict To which end they shall be Registred in his Courts of Parliament and elsewhere where it shall be necessary and all necessary Declarations and Letters Patent to that end shall be forthwith expedited I. THe 6th Article of the said Edict about Liberty of Conscience and leave for all his Majesties Subjects to live and inhabit in this Kingdom and Countries under his Obedience shall remain in force and shall be observ'd according to the Form and Tenor thereof Even for Ministers and Teachers and all others that are or shall turn of the said Religion whether actual Inhabitants or others behaving themselves in all other things conformably to what is specifi'd by the said Edict II. Those of the said Religion shall not be oblig'd to contribute towards the Reparations and Building of Churches Chappels Parsonages nor towards the buying of Sacerdotal Ornaments Lights Casting of Bells Holy Bread Rights of Fraternity and other like things unless oblig'd thereunto by Foundations Gifts or other Dispositions made by them or their Predecessors 3. Neither shall they be oblig'd to hang and adorn the Front of their Houses on Festival-days on which it is order'd but only to suffer them to be hung and adorn'd by the Authority of the Magistrates without contributing any thing towards it IV. Neither shall those of the said Religion be oblig'd to receive Exhortations being Sick or near Death either by Condemnation of Justice or otherwise from any but those of the said Religion and their Ministers shall be allow'd to Visit and Comfort them without any disturbance And as for such as shall be condemn'd by Justice it shall also be lawful for the said Ministers to visit and prepare them for Death without making Publick Prayers unless in such Places as are allow'd by the said Edict for the said Publick Exercise V. It shall be lawful for those of the said Religion to perform the Publick Exercise thereof at Pimpoul and for Diepe in the Suburb du Paulet and the said Places of Pimpoul and du Paulet shall be ordain'd for Places of Baliwicks The said Exercise shall be continued at Sancerre as it is at present The said free and publick Exercise shall also be re-establish'd in the City of Montagnac in Languedoc VI. In respect to the Article which relates to Bailiwicks it has been declar'd and granted as followeth First For the Establishing of the Exercise of the said Religion in the two Places granted in every Baliwick Seneschalship and Government those of the said Religion shall nominate Two Cities in the Suburbs of which the said Exercise shall be establish'd by the
Commissioners that shall be deputed by his Majesty for the Execution of the Edict And in case the said Commissioners should not approve of them those of the said Religion shall nominate two or three Towns or Villages in the Neighbourhood of the said Cities for every one of them out of which the said Commissioners shall chuse one And if through Hostility Contagion or any other lawful Impediment it cannot be continued in the said Places others shall be allow'd while the said Impediment shall continue Secondly That only two Cities shall be provided in the Government of Piccardy into the Suburbs of which those of the said Religion shall be allow'd the Exercise thereof for all the Bailiwicks Seneschalships and Governments depending of the same and where it shall not be thought fit to establish it in the said Cities they shall be allow'd two convenient Towns or Villages Thirdly By reason of the great Extent of the Seneschalship of Provence and Bailiwicks of Viennois his Majesty does grant a third Place in each of the said Bailiwicks and Seneschalships the Choice and Nomination of which shall be made as abovesaid there to establish the Exercise of the said Religion besides the other Places in which it is already establish'd VII What has been granted by the said Article for the Exercise of the said Religion in Bailiwicks shall also serve for the Territories which did belong to the Late Queen Mother-in-Law to his Majesty and for the Bailiwick of Beaujolois VIII Besides the Two Places granted for the Exercise of the said Religion by the Particular Articles of the year 1577. in the Isles of Marrennes and Oleron two more shall be allow'd them for the convenience of the said Inhabitants viz. one for all the Isles of Marennes and another for the Isle of Oleron IX The Letters Patent granted by his Majesty for the Exercise of the said Religion in the City of Mentz shall remain in full Force and Virtue X. It is his Majesty's Will and Pleasure That the 27th Article of his Edict relating to the Admission of those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion into Offices and Dignities shall be observ'd and maintain'd according to its Form and Tenor the Edicts and Agreements heretofore made for the Reduction of some Princes Lords Gentlemen and Catholick Cities notwithstanding the which shall not be in force to the prejudice of those of the said Religion only in what relates to the Exercise thereof And the said Exercise shall be regulated according as it is specified by the following Articles according to which shall be drawn the Instructions of the Commissioners that shall be deputed by his Majesty for the Execution of his Edict according as it is ordain'd by the same XI According to the Edict made by his Majesty for the Reduction of the Duke of Guise the Exercise of the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall neither be allow'd nor establish'd in the Cities and Suburbs of Rheims Rocroy St Disier Guise Joinville Fimes and Moncornet in the Ardennes XII Neither shall it be allow'd in the other Placs adjacent to the said Cities and Places forbidden by the Edict of the year 1577. XIII And to remove the Ambiguity that might arise upon the word Adjacent his Majesty declares that he means the Places that are within the Circuit of a League of the said Cities being the Precinct or Liberties thereof in which places the Exercise of the said Religion shall not be allow'd unless it were permitted by the Edict of 1577. XIV And forasmuch as by the same the said Exercise was allow'd generally in the Fiefs possess'd by those of the said Religion without any exception of the said Leagues Circuit his Majesty declares That the said allowance shall remain in force even for Fiefs within the said Circuit possessed by those of the said Religion as it is specify'd by his Edict given at Nantes XV. Likewise according to the Edict made for the Reduction of the Marshal de la Chartres in each of the Bailiwicks of Orleans and Bourges shall only be ordain'd one Place of Bailiwick for the Exercise of the said Religion the which however may be continu'd in such places where the Continuation thereof is allow'd by the said Edict of Nantes XVI The Concession of Preaching in Fiefs shall also extend to the said Bailiwicks in the manner specifi'd by the said Edict of Nantes XVII The Edict made for the Reduction of the Marshal of Bois-Dauphin shall also be observ'd and the said Exercise shall not be allow'd in the Cities Suburbs and Places brought over by him to his Majesty's Service and as for the Circuit or Liberties thereof the Edict of 77. shall be observ'd there even in the Houses of Fiefs according as it is specify'd by the Edict of Nantes XVIII No Exercise of the said Religion shall be allow'd in the City Suburbs and Castle of Morlais according to the Edicts made for the Reduction of the said City and the Edict of 77. shall be observ'd for the Precinct thereof according to the Edict of Nantes XIX In Consequence of the Edict for the Reduction of Quinpercorantin no Exercise of the said Religion shall be allow'd in all the Bishoprick of Cornouaille XX. Also according to the Edict made for the Reduction of Beauvais the Exercise of the said Religion shall not be allow'd in the said City of Beauvais nor within three Leagues round about it Nevertheless the establishing thereof shall be allow'd in the remainder of the Extent of the Bailiwick in the Places allow'd of by the Edict of 77. Even in Houses of Fiefs according to the Edict of Nantes XXI And whereas the Edict made for the Reduction of the late Admiral de Villars is only Provisional and until the King 's farther Pleasure It is his Majesty's Will and Pleasure the said Edict notwithstanding that his Edict of Nantes shall remain in force for the Cities and Jurisdictions reduced to his Majesty's Obedience by the said Admiral as well as for the other parts of his Kingdom XXII By the Edict made for the Reduction of the Duke of Joyeuse the Exercise of the said Religion shall not be allowed in the City or Suburbs of Thoulouse nor within four Leagues about it nor nearer than the Cities of Villemur Carmain and the Isle of Jourdan XXIII Neither shall it be restored into the Cities of Alet Fiat Auriac and Montâ—squiou Nevertheless in case any of the said Religion in the said City should be desirous to have a place for the Exercise thereof the Commissioners that shall be deputed by his Majesty for the Execution of his Edict shall assign them for every one of the said Cities a convenient Place and of easie Access within a League of the said Cities XXIV It shall be lawful to establish the said Exercise according as it is specified by the said Edict of Nantes within the Jurisdiction of the Court of Parliament of Thoulouse excepted always in such Bayliwicks Seneschalships and other Precincts of
Letters-Patent to be drawn by which it is declared That the Temple heretofore built in the said City by the Inhabitants thereof shall be restored unto them to make use of the Materials and to dispose of them as they shall think fit but they shall not be allowed to preach in it nor perform any Exercise of their Religion Nevertheless a convenient Place shall be provided for them within the Enclosure of the said City where they shall be allowed to perform the said Exercise publickly without any necessity of expressing it by his Edict His Majesty also grants that notwithstanding the Prohibition made of the Exercise of the said Religion at the Court and Dependence thereof the Dukes Peers of France Officers of the Crown Marquesses Counts Governors and Lieutenants General Marshals de Camp and Captains of his said Majesty's Guards who shall be in his Attendance shall not be molested for what they shall do within their Houses provided it be only for their own particular Families their Doors being shut without singing of Psalms with a loud Voice or doing any thing that might discover it to be a Publick Exercise of the said Religion and in case his said Majesty shall remain above three Days in any Town or Place where the said Exercise is allowed the said time being expired the said Exercise shall be continued as before his arrival His said Majesty also declares That by reason of the present State of his Affairs he has not been able at present to include the Countries on the other side of the Mounts Bresse and Barcelona in the Permission by him granted for the Exercise of the said Pretended Reformed Religion Nevertheless his Majesty promises That when his said Countries shall be reduced under his Obedience he will use his Subjects inhabiting in the same in relation to Religion and other Points granted by his Edict like his other Subjects notwithstanding what is contained in the said Edicts and in the mean time they shall be maintained in the same condition they are in at present His Majesty also grants That those of the Pretended Reformed Religion that are to be provided with Offices of Presidents and Counsellors created to serve in the Chambers ordained a-new by his Edict shall be invested with the said Offices Gratis and without paying any Fees for the first time upon the Roll that shall be presented to his Majesty by the Deputies of the Assembly of Chatelleraud as also the Substitutes of the Attornies and Advocates General erected by the said Edict in the Chamber of Bordeaux And in case of an Incorporation of the said Chamber of Bordeaux and that of Thoulouse into the said Parliaments the said Substitutes shall be provided with Counsellors places in the same also Gratis His Majesty will also bestow on Monsieur Francis Pitou the Office of Substitute to the Attorney General in the Court of Parliament of Paris and to that end a new Erection shall be made of the said Office and after the Decease of the said Poitou it shall be given to a Person of the said Pretended Reformed Religion And in case of Vacation by Death of two Offices of Masters of Request of the King's Hostel his Majesty shall bestow them on Persons of the said Pretended Reformed Religion such as his Majesty shall judge fit and capable for the good of his Service they paying the usual Price of the Sale of the said Offices And in the mean time two Masters of Request shall be appointed in every Quarter to make report of the Petitions of those of the said Religion Moreover his Majesty permits the Deputies of the said Religion assembled in the said City of Chatelleraud to remain in a body to the number of Ten in the City of Saumur to prosecute the Execution of his Edict until his said Edict is verified in his Court of Parliament of Paris notwithstanding their being injoyn'd by the said Edicts to separate immediately Yet nevertheless without their being allowed to make any new Demands in the name of the said Assembly or to meddle with any thing besides the said Execution Deputation and dispatch of the Commissionaries who shall be ordained to that end And his Majesty has given them his Faith and Word for all that is above-written by this present Breef which he has been pleased to Sign with his own Hand and to have it Counter-sign'd by Us his Secretaries of State Willing the said Breef to be of the same Force and Value to them as if the Contents thereof were included in an Edict verified in his Courts of Parliament those of the said Religion being satisfied out of consideration for the good of his Service and the State of his Affairs not to press him to put this Ordinance in any other more Authentick Form being so Confident of his Majesty's Word and Goodness that they assure themselves that he will make them enjoy the same fully Having to that end ordered all necessary Expeditions and Dispatches for the Execution of what is above-written to be forthwith expedited Thus Sign'd Henry And lower Forget The End of the first Volume Books now in the Press and going to it Printed for John Dunton at the Raven in the Poultrey ☞ THe second Volume of the History of the Famous Edict of Nantes containing an account of all the Persecutions c. that have been in France since its first publication to this present time faithfully extracted from the publick and private Memoirs that could possibly be procured Printed first by the Authority of the States of Holland and West-Frezeland and now Translated into English with Her Majesties Royal Privilege ☞ The Genuine Remains of that Learned Prelate Dr. Thomas Barlow late Lord Bishop of Lincoln containing various Points Theological Philosophical Historical c. in Letters to several Persons of Honour and Quality To which is added the Resolution of many abstruse Points in Divinity with great Variety of other Subjects written by his Lordship and published by Sir Peter Pet Knight ☞ Mr. William Leybourn's New Mathematical Tractates in Folio Intituled Pleasure with Profit lately proposed by way of Subscription having met with good Encouragement are now put to several Presses and will be ready to be delivered to Subscribers the next Term In this Work will be inserted above what was first proposed a New System of Algebra according to the last Improvements and Discoveries that have been made in that Art As also several great Curiosities in Cryptography Horometria c. which Additions will inhance each Book to 16 s. in Quires to those that do not Subscribe and those that do are desired to send in their first Payment viz. 6 s. before the 26th instant after which no Subscriptions will be taken in Lately Published ☞ LIturgia Tigurina Or the Book of Common-Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Ecclesiastical Rites and Ceremonies usually practised and solemnly performed in all the Churches and Chappels of the City and Canton of Zurick in Switzerland and
their Burials might be allow'd in the day time without fear of a Sedition and refusing to allow the Reform'd to be Buried in the Churches by reason that it was contrary to the Canons prejudicial to the Catholick Religion and capable to give a Scandal and Discontent to those that profess'd it it only allow'd that the Commissioners being upon the place should seek expedients to preserve to the Successors of the Reform'd the Rights which belong'd to them as Patrons The 18th which demanded leave to establish little Schools in all Cities and Towns of the Kingdom receiv'd only leave by the answer to have one School-Master in the Towns in the Suburbs of which the exercise of the Reform'd Religion was allow'd there to teach reading and Writing only forbidding them to teach new Doctrines That is as it has been explained since even to make Children repeat their Catechisms and to receive above twelve of the Neighbourhood in any Place The 19th requir'd the same Privileges for the Accademies of Saumur and of Montauban as were injoy'd by the other Accademies of the Kingdom and the Answer putting the Change upon them allow'd them to establish Colleges in such Places where the Exercise of their Religion was allow'd and gave those Colleges the same Privileges of the other Colleges receiv'd and approv'd of in the Kingdom This signifi'd nothing by reason that the Immunities of simple Colleges erected by the Wills of private Persons are nothing The 20th tended to obtain that the Catholick Counsellors who were to serve in the Chambers of the Edict might be chosen with the Deputies of the Churches â—o the end that none might enter there but persons of Equity and Moderation and that the same might remain there at least three years without being chang'd but by the Answer the King look'd upon that choice as a right which only belong'd to him and which he would keep The 21st which desiâ—'d two places of Counsellors to equal the Chamber of Neraci to that of Castres was waved by the Answer under pretence that there were too many Officers or places in the Kingdom already and in order to answer the inconvenience of recusations which sometimes reduc'd the number of the Judges below that which was requir'd by the Ordinances the King allow'd the said Chamber to judge to the number of Eight as it was practis'd in some Parliaments The 22th complain'd that in most Causes the Catholick Judges were divided in the Chambers of Guyenne and of Languedock which they imputed to the Passion of the Parliaments who having the liberty to nominate to the King the Counsellors of their Courts which were to serve in the said Chambers always nam'd the most passionate Wherefore they desir'd that the number of those Counsellors might be fill'd up in part with some Counsellors of the Grand Council and part of those of the said Parliaments which the King should chuse himself upon the List The King refus'd to alter the method of forming those Chambers and promis'd to take care as to the choice of those that should serve in them to the satisfaction of the Reform'd The three following petition'd the Creation of some Offices especially in Dauphine and by the Answers the King said that Patents had been given for some and that he could not grant the others for which he gave a remarkable reason viz. That he had promis'd to make no new Creation in that Province The 26th contain'd complaints for that the Parliament from which the Causes of the Reform'd were remov'd to the Chambers of the Edict or Party-Chambers gave Decrees against the Serjeants who within their Precincts did Execute the Decrees of the Chambers into which those causes were remov'd and desir'd that since the Serjeants being frighted by the said Decrees refus'd to put the said Sentences in Execution his Majesty would be pleas'd to Create two Royal Offices of Serjeants in every Bayliwick to be given to the Reform'd and the following petition'd the same thing for two Offices of Notaries The King refus'd those new Creations and pretended to remedy the said Grievances by commanding those who had such Offices to make or receive all the Acts as should be demanded or offer'd to them by the Reform'd Three other Articles related to the Validity of the Certificates given by the ministers The regulations of the Judges and the time of descriptions of which the Chamber of the Edict of Normandy refus'd to deduct a certain number of years of which the Edicts allow'd the deduction in favour of the Reform'd and upon those Articles the King granted nothing new or at least of any moment The 31st demanded â—e revocation of a Clause which took away the right of transferring Causes into the Chambers of the Edict from those who had not made an open profession of the Reform'd Religion six Months before their requiring the said removal and this demand related particularly to Ecclesiasticks who after having chang'd their Religion remain'd oppos'd to the hatred of the Parliaments who were very â—ere against men of that Character The answer was very â—â—tile and in refusing to alter any thing about the Clause â—â— six Months the King promis'd that he would take care â—â— the Causes of the Ecclesiasticks if they made their applications to him The Reform'd were very sencible that â—â— meaning of this was that after having chang'd their religion the Ecclesiasticks would be us'd worse in the Council than in the Parliaments The 32d desir'd a right of transferration for the Reform'd Heirs to those that had ready proceeded before the Parliaments and for those â—o should have their right by Cession or otherwise The King refus'd it to the Cessionaries by reason that it â—â—ght be done fraudulently but he granted it to Heirs â—â—serving at the same time that the said Concession was a â—…our It is true but it was so slight a one that it was â—â—rdly worth observing the occasion of using it not occurring perhaps once in 50 years The 33d demanded â—â— Foreign Inhabitants or Traders in the Kingdom the â—â—e Priviliges as were injoy'd by the other Reform'd and particularly that of transferring of Causes The King by â—s answer reserv'd to himself to do them Justice incase they appeal'd to him The 34th desir'd that the Priviledge to take a Reform'd Assistant or Associate in all criminal Causes in which the Reform'd were concern'd might be extended to all the Provinces and not only observ'd for some which were specifi'd in the 66th Article of the Edict The King granted it for the instruction only but he would not allow the Associate a deliberative Vote in the Judgment of the Process The 35th desir'd that the Judgment of the Competence in Provotal Cases which by the 67th Article of the Edict was referr'd to the nearest Presidial Seats within the jurisdiction of some Parliaments might be transferr'd to the Chambers of the Edict as in the others The reason of this demand was evident The jurisdiction
Trent according to the Petitions and desires of the Clergy and Nobility That as to the Article of the said Petitions which requir'd the Observation of the King's Oath at his Coronation to which the said Clergy and Nobility had refus'd to add the Reservation of the Edicts notwithstanding the King 's earnest Desire and Command and all the oppositions made by the Gentlemen of the Reform'd Religion Deputed into the Chamber of the Nobility his Majesty would be pleas'd to declare that the said Coronation Oath did not regard the Râ—form'd and to give them full assurances that whenever he should answer the Articles of the said two Chambers he would reject the proposition of publishing the Council and make such a Declaration as was necessary about his Coronation Oath That such Ecclesiasticks as were of the King's Council and others who were justly suspected by the Reform'd might abstain from the Tryal and Cognisance of the Affairs of the Reform'd depending before the said Council That the Ecclesiasticks of Bearn might not be admitted into the Council of the Country into which the Bishops of Oleron and of Lescar together with a Canon of the said place had lately endeavour'd to introduce themselves That the Promises made in the King's Name at the Assembly of Rochel by Rouvray one of the Deputies General about the Terms of Pretended Reform'd Religion and the Toleration of Provincial Councils might be put in Execution That in the new settlement that should be drawn of the Places of surety they should imploy those that were dismantl'd in the Provinces that had the Loire on the North That the King would be pleas'd to declare the Office of Berger vacant by reason of his being turn'd Catholick and to oblige the said Berger to deliver it up to him in order to bestow it upon a Person of the Reform'd Religion according to the Edict by reason that it was one of the Six Councellors Places created by the Edict in the Parliament of Paris in order to be injoy'd by the Reform'd That the Sâ—… granted by his Majesty for the Sallary of Ministers might be augmented and better paid for the future That the Governors of the Places of surety might be chosen by the King upon the Nomination of the Churches That the Nomination of the Deputies General might be restor'd upon the former settlement insomuch that the Assembly should only be oblig'd to Nominate two which should be accepted of by the King instead of six out of which he was to take his Choice That the Places of surety might be left to the Reform'd for the space of Ten Years longer That his Majesty would be pleas'd to continue the Protection of the Soveraignty of Sedan in the same form and upon the same Conditions his Predecessors had Embrac'd it That the King's Council might be reform'd That a stop might be put to the Proceedings of the Soveraign Council of Bearn against the Deputies of that Country who assisted at the Assembly at Grenoble since no Prosecutions were ever made against the Bishops of the Country for meeting at the General Assemblys of the Clergy of France They offer'd Reasons upon this Article and alledg'd the Example of the last Estates General in which a Deputy of Bearn assisted in the Chamber of the Clergy And that of the Assembly of the Clergy then sitting at Paris into which the Bishop of Oleron was deputed They maintain'd that this Rigour had never been practis'd against the Deputies of Bearn that had assisted in other Assemblies and they cited the Example of the late King who being but King of Navar and Soveraign of Bearn had assisted in Person at such Assemblys That the Country of Bearn might be allow'd to summon a National Synod in their Turn like the other Provinces and finally that the King would be pleas'd to have a regard to the Prince of Conde's Demands The Particular Cahier receiv'd a pretty favourable Answer And though there were several Articles in the General Petition which the Court could have wish'd the Assembly had not inserted in it because they related to the Government the Reformation of which did not belong to them yet they answer'd it But it was only by making plausible Illusions pass for a solid Satisfaction The Court had made sair Promises at the Assembly of Rochel in order to its Dissolution which were forgotten as soon as ever it was dissolv'd so they promis'd many things upon these new Cahiers which they never design'd to perform They accepted the good Intentions of the Reform'd about the Independence and safety of Kings observing nevertheless that it was an Affair which did not belong to the Assemblys They promis'd to make a more exact Inquiry into the Death of the late King They declar'd that the Reform'd injoying the benefit of the Edicts were not compris'd in the Coronation Oath They granted that the Ecclesiasticks should withdraw out of the Council whenever the Affairs of the Reâ—orm'd should be treated of there They refus'd to allow their Religion any other Title than that which was contain'd in the Edicts But they drew a Form of Attestation which Ministers might use to attest the Religion of such as should stand in â—eed of it It was conceiv'd in these Terms I Minister of the Church Establish'd in such a Place according to the Edict do hereby certifie that such a one is a Member of the said Church c underneath which a Notary was to add Before Vs c. has appear'd such a Minister above Nam'd Living at c. who has acknowledg'd the Writing and Signing of what is above written and that it contains nothing but the Truth c. The Reform'd Advocates were allow'd in speaking of their Religion to Name it by the Title specify'd by the Edict instead of calling it Reform'd They promis'd the Creation of a new Office to supply the place of Berger They continu'd the Protection of Sedan They granted that the Deputies of Bearn should be allow'd to assist both at the Ecclesiastical and Political Assemblys of the Reform'd which should be allow'd by the King But they gave no favourable Answer to the other Articles that related to that Principality nor to those that mention'd the Augmentation of the Sums granted for the Salary of Ministers or the Nomination of Governors and Deputys General and the keeping of the Places of surety So that at the bottom that which was granted had more appearance than effect in it whereas they refused whatever was most important and most solid These Answers were made on the 12th of September And the Deputys to whom they had been partly Communicated acquainted the Assembly that they had no reason to be satisfy'd with them Their Reasons were that the Jesuits Preach'd at Court and declar'd openly that the Marriages which the Court was going to Accomplish had only been resolv'd upon in order to Extirpate Heresicks and that when Complaints were made to the Chancellor about it he barely answer'd That
capable of by the Edict So that Berger's place could not be taken from them without injustice since it was one of the Six allow'd them by the Edict nor yet that of Villemereau which he had not render'd himself incapable of according to the Edict by turning to their Religion This Article decided the thing in their behalf which was the most considerable point in favour of them in the Treaty thereby gaining a New Office in the Parliament and another in the Chamber of Accounts which is one of the most considerable Courts of the Long Robe The Fifth confirm'd the Exemption of the Tailles which had been Granted to Ministers by a Declaration of the 15 of December 1612. which had not been Verify'd The Seventh abolish'd the Remembrance of the Sedition of Milhau and put the Catholicks under the Protection of the Reform'd for their Safety The Eighth did the same about the Affair of Belestat and put the Reform'd under the Protection of the Catholicks The Tenth restor'd the place of Master of the Ordinance to its former extent in favour of the Duke of Sully from whom they had retrench'd something of it to Vex him The other Articles contain'd some favours Granted to some particular Persons Moreover the Reform'd also obtain'd a Brief for an augmentation of 30000 Crowns for the keeping of their Garrisons and for the Sallaries of their Ministers besides what the King had already allow'd them more than his Father The Verification of that Edict was not delay'd long The Court of Aids pass'd it on the 8th of June but with several Modifications Principally upon the 14 of the General Articles and the 15 of the Private ones The Parliament did not do it until the 13 after reiterated Remonstrances They Modify'd the 14th Article and the following which they declar'd should be no President for the Future That which stopt these two Courts in the 14th Article was not the Confirmation of the Edicts which they had so often Verify'd But the Briefs that were mention'd in it which being unknown to them gave Cause to suspect that the King promis'd immense Sums in it to the Reform'd They oppos'd it so much the more Vigorously by reason that they were not Ignorant that Kings often make such Gifts in hopes that they will have no Effect It costs them nothing to make such Grants by reason that they are sensible that they will not pass in the Courts in which the Letters of it are to be Verify'd But in this occasion the Queen was willing the thing should pass by reason that she was desirous to expect a more favourable Conjuncture to retract her promise This was an Edict like to those in which nothing is refus'd which they are resolv'd to keep no longer than while they may revoke them with safety In the mean time the Parliament and the Court of Aids refus'd to pass those Briefs without examining the Contents or Use of the Sums which might be mention'd in them The Parliament made great Oppositions to the Article which related to Villemereau and the Reform'd were never fully satisfy'd upon that Subject because a War was declar'd against them before it was determin'd The Chamber of Accounts did not Verify the Edict until the 28th of the Month and as to the Article about le Maitre they said that before he should be allow'd to injoy the Benefit of that Article he should clear himself of some things he was accus'd of as it had been ordain'd by the Chamber by a Decree of the 23d of March Thus an End was put to the War and the State beheld the Renovation of a Peace of which the Sweets prov'd as Short as Flattering The End of the Fourth Part. THE HISTORY OF THE Edict of NANTES VOL. II. BOOK V. The Summary of the Contents of the Fifth BOOK A Declaration upon the Coronation Oath The Prince Authorizeâ— himself at Court The Queen puts him into Prison which occasions great Disturbances The Reform'd make themselves Masters of Sancerre A Declaration upon the Edict of Peace The Duke d Epernon makes War against Rochel Privileges of that City Pretences of the Duke Rochel has recourse to the King and makes an Ill Defence The Duke retires after reiterared Orders Importance of his Enterprise The Circle Assembles at Rochel and summons a General Assembly Which is not approv'd of by every Body The Deputies of the Circle are ill receiv'd at Court Reasons to prove that the Assembly is necessary Extremities to which the Male-contents are reduc'd The King's Temper The Original of the Fortune of Honoré Albert de Luines Some question'd whither he was Nobly Born Character of his Confidents Death of the Marshâ—â— d' Ancre Alteration of Affairs and confirmation of tâ—â— Ediâ—â—s Luines Marries into the House of Rohan The Assembly of Rochel deputes to the King and receives an order to break up They obey and resolve to protect the Churches of Bearn Their Cahiers National Synod of Vitré Deputation to the King Letters to the General Assembly and their Answer The Churches of Bearn and of Auvergnâ—â—â—â— disturb'd The Count of Sancerre commits Hostâ—… the City The Churches of the Province of the Country â—â— Foix and those of Provence ill us'd Leave given to Ministers to assist at Political Assemblies Places of Bailywicks establish'd but not exactly Rogueries committed by the converted Moors The Bishop of Lucon retires from the Queen The Jesuit Cotton out of favour Arnoux succeeds in his place A Sermon Preach'd at Court by him The Answer of the Ministers of Charenton to an Information exhibited against them Writings on both sides The Bishop of Lucon Writes against the Ministers Assembly of the Clergy The Bishop of Macon's Speech The Jacobins turn'd out of Mompellier They refuse to admit a Jesuit Preacher there The State of Bearn ill represented The Effect of this Speech A Decree Authorising the Jesuits to Preach at Mompellier A Decree of restauration of the Ecclesiastical Lands in Bearn Re-union of that Country to the Crown which is oppos'd â—…e Estates La Force and Lescun Deceit of the Coâ—â—t A Dissertation upon this matter Discontinuation of Hommage Inconveniencies of the Dis-union and Advantages of the ReVnion By whom the Vnion is pursued Motives of the Opponents and their answer to the Dissertation Publication of the Edict of Re-union The Clergy obtains the Decree of restauration of Church Lands which declares That the Deputies have been heard and the Writings seen Subtilty of the Clergy A Violent Speech The Bearnois endeavour to ward the Blow Remonstrances of Lescun Libels The State of Religion in Bearn Lescun obtains only Words Those of Bearn pâ—rsist in their oppositions Writings in favour of them Why the Clergy refus'd to take the reimplacement themselves An Answer to the Writing of the Bearnois The Sequel of the Answer Injustices against the Reform'd throughout the whole Kingdom Enterprizes upon the Cities of Surety The free Exercise of Religion hinder'd in sundry places Injustices of the
Enquiry shall be made after those that shall disobey but by the Officers of Justice wherein the Curates shall not presume to be Parties XII And for as much as the Multiplicity of Holy days and the Observation of New ones occasion several disorders therefore that in such places where those of the Religion shall require it that there may be a certain Regulation made as to the Number of the said Holy-days by the Commissioners executing the said Edict and that the Curates may not be permitted to be accusers for the non-observance of 'em nor the Provost Marshals their Lieutenants Archers or other Officers of the Watch nor the Serjeants without express warrant and command of the Judges of the Place The XVII Article of the Edict shall be observed XIII That according to the XVII Article of the Edict none of those of the said Religion may be depriv'd of the Dignities and Employment of which they are in possession whether they made profession of it before or after they were preferr'd and where any of 'em were depriv'd without observing the Usual Forms that they may be restor'd more especially such as were provided of Governments and Captains Places The Church-Yards order'd 'em by the Commissioners who have formerly executed the Edict shall remain in the Petitioners Possession and if upon any Occasion they be taken from 'em they shall be allow'd others by the Commissioners ordain'd by his Majesty XIV That all Church-Yards that have been enjoy'd since the Verification of the last Edict and the Execution of it may remain in their Possession and that they may not be taken from 'em upon any Occasion whatever The Answer given to the XXII Article of the Writing answer'd the last of August 1602. shall be observ'd And to that purpose his Majesty ordains that convenient Burying-Places shall be allow'd those of the Religion by the Commissioners and Officers of those Quarters in publick Places belonging to his Majesty or else to the Bodies of Cities Burroughs and Villages or Communities or for defect of such Places the said Bodies and Communities shall be bound to purchase other toward which those of the Religion shall contribute their Proportion like the Rest XV. That in pursuance of the Regulations formerly made more especially by the Answer to the XXII Article of the Writing answered in August 1602. all the Royal and Inferiour Judges may be enjoyn'd to allow a Convenient Place for the Burial of their dead to those of the Religion in some publick Place belonging to the King or to the Communities of the said Cities Burroughs and Villages and where there are no such places that they may be purchas'd at the Common Expences of all the Inhabitants of the Parish those of the Religion contributing proportionably to the Rest Those Burials were order'd in the Night time to avoid Commotions and Tumults and for the greater Security of those of the Religion who attended the Corps But if there be any Places where they can bury by Day-light without disturbing the Peace of the Inhabitants Orders shall be given to the Commissioners about it XVI That such Places where by particular Regulation they have been constrain'd to bury their dead at an inconvenient Hour they may be Permitted to bury by day-light if they think it fitting The King cannot allow that the Gentlemen of the said Religion and others who have Right of burying in Câ—â—rches shall be there interr'd because the Canonical Constitutions forâ—â—â— and for that it would be a 〈…〉 contrary and prejudicial to â—â— Catholick Apostolick Roman Religion which his Majesty professes for can it be done without giving great occasion of Scandal and Disâ—â—â—ent to the Catholicks But his Majesty grants that the Commissioners being upon the Place may advise with them about the means of preserving the Temporal Right and Authority which they have as Lords and Patrons of the said Churches so that no prejudice may be done either to them or their Successors XVII And for as much as in some Places the said Funerals cannot be solemniz'd without danger of Commotion and Sedition and other Incocveniencies especially in Places where the Lords Gentlemen and others of the said Religion have right of Burying in the Churches and Chappels of their Predecessors and that Orders may be given to the Commissioners proceeding to the Execution of the Edict to make so good a Regulation in reference to the said Enterments so that no Inconvenience may happen And in so doing to have a regard to the Satisfaction of the said Lords Gentlemen and others who have a Right and Property in the said Burying Places The King grants the said petty Schools in Cities within the Suburbs of which the Service of their Religion is permitted and that for one Master in each and onely for teaching to Write and Read With Prohibitions to the said Masters to dogmatize or to admitt above ten or twelve Scholars in each School of the Neighbourhood only and no Forreigners XVIII That in pursuance of the Supplication address'd to his Majesty by the Writing answer'd in August 1602. and according to the Hope 's given by the Answer made to the sixth Article of the said Writing it would please him by an Interpretation of the XXXVIII of the particular Articles to permit 'em petty Schools in all the Villages and Burroughs of the Kingdom to teach them Children to read and write aâ—â— to instruct 'em in the first Rudiments of Grammar The Edict permits 'em to erect Colledges in such Cities and Places where they have the Exercise of their Religion to which his Majesty allows the same Priviledges as to other Colledges receiv'd and approv'd in this Kingdom XIX That in Conformity to the Answer return'd to the Writing answer'd in March 1602. it would please him to vouchsafe the Academies of Saumur and Montauban the same Immunities Priviledges and Prerogatives which other Academies of the Kingdom enjoy The Choice of the said Presidents depends upon the King onely and such Care and Discretion has been used and shall be for the Future that those of the said Religion shall have no cause to Complain XX. That the Presidents and ten Catholick Counsellors who are to serve in the Chamber of the Edict of the Parlament of Paris with the ten Counsellors of the said Religion be chosen out of the most equitable peaceable and moderate Men according to the XLVII of the particular Articles and to that purpose that it may be agreed upon with the Deputies of the said Churches as also for that by the XLVII Article of the said Edict it is expresly said that the said Presidents and Counsellors shall be continued as long as possible may be The Number of the said Officers is already so great over all the Kingdom that there is no need of increasing it But to the end there may be no want of Judges in the said Chamber because of the said Refusals 't is granted that they may judge to the Number of eight as in other
Parlaments whereas formerly they were restrain'd to ten To which end all Patents requisite shall be dispatch'd XXI That at the request of the Chamber of Castres which is compos'd of a President and Eight Catholick Counsellors and as many of the Religion it would please his Majesty to create de novo two Offices of Counsellors to serve in the Chamber of Nerac where there are but six Counsellors of the same Religion Which is the Cause that by reason of present Refusals there is not a sufficient Number of Judges in the said Chamber And for the said two Offices to provide two Persons gratis at the Nomination of the Churches The XXXI Article of the Edict shall be observ'd But nothing can be changed in the last Establishment of the said Chambers And as to the Election and Nomination of those that are to serve his Majesty will provide with such Consideration that they shall have no occasion to complain XXII And considering the great Animosities of the Parlament of Tholouse and Bourdeaux which have chiefly appear'd since the fatal Accident of the Death of the King deceas'd by the great Number of Divisions of Voices that happen in the Chambers of Castres and Nerac which proceeds from hence that the said Courts send to his Majesty the Nomination of the Catholick Counsellors which are to serve in the said Chambers and Employ the most passionate in the said Courts 't is desired that each of the said Chambers may supply the Number of the Counsellors of the Grand Council and the Surplusage of the said Courts of Parlaments of Tholouse and Bourdeaux who may be chosen by your Majesty upon the Register of the said Courts as was practis'd upon the first establishment of the Chamber of Justice in Languedoc in 1579. and not upon the Nomination which is made by the said Parlaments Satisfaction has been given to the Contents of this Article by the Answer to the IV. of the Articles presented by those of the Religion in the Dauphirate in August last and because the Parlament of Grenoble has refus'd to obey it Letters of command shall be sent to cause 'em to verifie it XXIII That in Conformity to what has been granted to the Chambers of the Edict in the Parlaments of Paris Tholouse and Bourdeaux it would please his Majesty to create de novo an Office of Substitute to the Advocate General of the Parliament of Grenoble to serve in the Chamber and take his Conclusions as well at the Hearing as in Process by writing and to provide one of the Religion Gratis at the Nomination of the Churches under the Jurisdiction of the said Chamber The Deceas'd King being engag'd â—â— Promise not to make any new Creation even in the said Province â—â—ere is no Reason for granting the present Article XXIV And that all the Officers of the said Miparty Chamber may be according to the Intention of the Edict and practice of the other Chambers may it please his Majesty to create de novo two Offices of Secretaries and an Usher in the said Parlament of Grenoble to serve in the said Chamber and to provide Persons of the said Religion Gratis at the Nomination of the said Churches Such course shall be taken that there shall be no occasion for Complaint XXV For the same Reason in regard the two Commissioners of the Registry of the Chamber of Castres are Catholicks that upon the Death or Resignation of one of the said Officers one of the said Religion may supply his Room The XLVI Article of the Edict shall be observ'd and the Vshers and Serjeants shall be enjoin'd to execute all Decrees Commissions and Orders issu'd out of the said Chambers of the Edict and of Grenoble in all places where need shall require upon Pain of being suspended from their Employments and forc'd to pay the Expences Dammages and Interest of the Plaintiffs in the Suits XXVI And for as much as to the prejudice of the LXVII Article of Particulars and the Provision made in consequence of it by Answers to several Writings the Courts of Parlament in Provence Burgundy and Britany make daily Decrees against the Ushers who within their Jurisdictions execute the Decrees of the Chambers of the Edict of Paris and Grenoble so that for that Reason the Royal Serjeants settled in the said Provinces refuse to put the said Decrees in Execution therefore may his Majesty be pleas'd to create de novo two Offices of Serjeants Royal in every Bailiwick and Seneschalship within the Jurisdiction of the said Provinces to be suppli'd by Persons of the said Religion The Catholicks and those of the Religion shall be indifferently receiv'd into the said Offices and as to those places where there are none at present command shall be sent to those that Officiate to receive all Contracts Wills and other Acts which they shall be requir'd to do by those of the said Religion XXVII And for Remedy of the Inconvenience which they of the Religion daily suffer both at Paris and other Places where there are no Royal Notaries to receive Contracts Wills and other Voluntary Acts may it please his Majesty to create de novo in every City two Offices of Royal Notaries and to supply the Places with those of the said Religion The Regulation made at Blois in 1599. shall be observ'd XXVIII That Attestations sent by the Ministers and Elders to justifie themselves in the Chambers of the Edict shall not be oppos'd nor rejected unless it be upon a challenge or exception against the Signing tho' the said Attestations are not made before a Publick Notary and Judges Royal. T is for the King in his Council to appoint Judges Nevertheless his Majesty Grants that in Case of Division of Voices the Chamber where the Process was divided shall Order the Parties to repair to the next Chamber without Addressing to his Majesty But his Pleasure is that in other Things the Orders be observ'd XXIX And to obviate long and troublesom Suits which the Parties are constrain'd to undergo through the Regulations of the Judges of his Majesties Council in the Business of Parentage Recusations and things of the like Nature that the Chambers of the Edict might send to the next Court or where both Parties shall agree the Processes wherein the Presidents or Counsellours in the Causes or their Kindred within the Degree and Number of the Ordinance are either Principal Parties or Garanties as also the Division of Voices happening in the said Chambers which ought to be referr'd to the next Chamber according to the XLVII of the Particular Articles Granted for the time to come and necessary Declarations shall be expedited for that Purpose XXX That in the Explanation of the LIX Article of the Edict the Chamber of the Edict of Normandy be enjoyn'd to set forth by way of long Prescription the Time elaps'd from July 1585. till the Month of February 1599. as is practis'd in other Chambers of the Kingdom The Regulation as to Six Months
by Ordering a sufficient Fund for the Salaries of the said Ministers But as to the Arrears for defect of value there is no Reason for demanding 'em seeing that all the Assigns in those Years for what cause soever it were have suffer'd the same Inconveniance without having since received any Reimbursement upon that occasion XLII And for as much as the said sevenscore and five thousand Livres were promis'd without any defect of value which has been so ill observ'd that there have been great abatements in the Assignations of every Year may it please his Majesty that the said Churches may be reassign'd the summs which those defects amount to according to the allowances of the accompts receiv'd by the Receivers and before the Commissioners deputed by his Majesty The Places which have been put into their Hands for their Security are Nam'd and Comprehended in a Catalogue dated May 14. 1598. Sign'd by the Deceased King and underneath Neufville with which his Majesty is Contented And as a Testimony of his good Will toward 'em has granted 'em the keeping of 'em for five Years longer to Commence from the day of the Date of the Brevet which shall be given ' em And as for those that are comprehended under the Name of Marriage the Deceased King having never left 'em to be held under the Title and Quality of places of Security His Majesty will not neither is it his meaning that they should be comprehended among the Places of Securtiy but grants after the Example of his Deceased Majesty that the same Grace and Favour shall be shew'd 'em as formerly has been without any Innovation and all those other Places which they demand the King cannot grant ' em XLIII They also beseech his Majesty to leave all those Places which they hold at present in the custody of those of the Religion and this for the time and space of ten Years to commence from the day that the five Years formerly granted shall expire and to cause a new Brief to be given 'em ordaining that all the said Places may remain in their hands as well those that are specifi'd in the Roll of the Year 98. and those that were comprehended in others by form of Marriage as those which belong to the Particulars wherein Garrisons were kept by the Particular Rolls drawn up by his Majesty What was promis'd by the Deceased King shall be effectually made good nor shall any thing be innovated or alter'd Or if it were done Order shall be taken by the Commissioners upon the Places according to the Instructions which shall be given 'em for that purpose XLIV That it may be express'd in the said Writ that in all other Places which they hold and where there have been no Garrisons settl'd by the said Rolls there shall be nothing innovated or alter'd to the Prejudice of those of the said Religion and that where any Innovation or Alteration has been made since the Year 1568. that there may be full satisfaction given for it The Deceased King declar'd his Will several times to those of the said Religion in reference to Caumont and Montandrè from which his Majesty cannot depart and as for Tartas and Mont de Marsan they shall be provided with Persons of the said Religion according to the Deceased Kings Brevet XLV That the Towns of Caumont Tartas Mont de Marsan Montandré and others which have been taken from 'em since 98. and which they shall specifie more particularly may be restor'd to ' em The Summ contain'd in the Roll of the Deceased King for the payment of the said Garrisons with which those of the Religion have been hitherto contented shall be pai'd for the Future and assign'd upon the clearest Mony in the Receipts to the end they may receive it without Abatements But his Majesty cannot augment it the Summ of 54000. Livers having been abated ever since the Decensed King lessen'd the Garrisons which were in the Places held by the Catholicks His Majesty thinking it necessary so to do to stop the just complaints that might have been made when all the Garrisons in the Catholicks Cities were lessen'd by Reason of the Peace which the Kingdom happily enjoy'd there should have been left in the Cities held by those of the Religion as numerous as they were in the time of War and that the Subjects liv'd in distrust one of another nor there being no Reason to demand the Arrears for what was past seeing that the Cities and Places for the Preservation of which that Money was given have been so well guarded that nothing has fallen out amiss add to this that the Deceased King for the same Reason had always rejected â—â—â—â— Demand And as to the Pensioâ—â— his Majesty will Order it as alâ—â—â—â— has been done to gratifie those of the said Religion who shall deserve iâ— by their Services and Fidelity inâ—â—ding also to augment 'em to shew his Afection and good Will as he shall give 'em to understand XLVI That from hence forward they may have their Assignations every Year upon the first and least incumber'd Money of the Receipts of every Province where the said Garrisons are settl'd or from neighbouring Town to neighbouring Town according to the Brevet of the last of April 98. for the entire summ of 540. thousand Livers which was promis'd 'em by the said Brevet and to this purpose that the Money substracted from the said summ to be laid out in Pensions may be remitted in the entire summ and distribution made of it according to the Rolls Decreed by his Majesty as they shall be presented to him by the Churches and this without any abatement or being employ'd to any other use XLVII And for as much as there have not been any entire Assignments of the said summ of 540. thousand Livres a Year and for that at the same time that they were assign'd they still fell very short to the prejudice of the said Brevet may it please his Majesty to cause the abatements and what fell short of the entire summ from the Year 98. till this day be assign'd in full The Answer to the two preceding Articles may suffice for this XLVIII In like manner to cause an Assignation for the Garrisons of the Dauphinate of the entire summ which was assign'd by the Roll drawn up in the said Year 1589. in pursuance of the said Brevet and to cause a Reassignation of the Retrenchments and of what fell short since the Year 1589. The City and Castle of Orange have been restor'd to the Prince of Orange â—â— whom they belong by Vertue of the Peace of Vervins True it is that the Majesty oblig'd him upon the surâ—â—â—â—ing back of those Places to declare in Favour of those of the said Religion as he has done with which they of the said Religion in the said City were well content XLIX That according to the Assurances which were given by his Majesty at the Assembly of Charellerand in the Year 1605. that the Castle of
be inviolably kept and observ'd and the Offenders punish'd with the utmost Rigour of the Laws as Disturbers of the Publick Peace To this purpose we enjoin all our Officers to be carefully assisting upon Pain of being answerable and punish'd for their Negligence or Connivance with the same Severity as the Offenders The same Injunctions and Commands we lay upon our Beloved and Faithful Counsellors c. to see that these presents be Read and Publish'd c. For such is our Will and Pleasure In Testimony whereof we have caus'd our Seal to be affix'd Given at Paris March 5. 1615. and fifth of our Reign Sign'd Lewis By the King De Lomenie Seal'd with the Great Seal of Yellow Wax upon a double Label Read Publish'd and Register'd upon the Motion of the Kings Advocate General and Order'd to be sent to the Bayliwicks and Seneschal ships to be there Publish'd and Register'd and carefully observ'd by the Advocate Generals Substitutes who shall certifie the Court of their Sedulity within a Month upon Pain of answering in their own Names At Paris in the Parlament April the last 1615. Sign'd Voisin A Declaration of the King upon Arms being taken by some of his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion containing a new Confirmation of the Edicts and Declarations formerly made in Favour of those of the Religion Given at Bourdeaux November 10. 1615. and Publish'd at Paris in Parlament December 7. the same Year LEwis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. The Declarations set forth and reiterated by us since our coming to the Crown in Confirmation of the Edicts Declarations Brevets Decrees and Regulations made in favour of our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion during the Reign of the Deceased King Henry the Great our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father whom God Absolve have been sufficient to make it known that it has been always our Intention and Desire to cause them to be inviolably observ'd as being Laws requisite to preserve our Subjects in Peace and Friendship one with another and in their Obedience and Duty toward ourselves Which being well and prudently consider'd by the Queen our thrice Honour'd Lady and Mother she during her Regency took great care to see 'em observ'd and that the Breaches and Infringements thereof should be repair'd so soon as she receiv'd the Complaints We have also since our Majority follow'd the same Counsels and in Imitation of Her have accumulated New Gratifications and Favours many times also conniv'd at Extravagancies and Violences committed by some of 'em thô they deserv'd very great and severe Punishment out of an Intention always to assure 'em of our good Will and favour and by that means to render 'em more inclinable and more studious to keep themselves within the bounds of their Duty To which would they but have added the remembrance of the kind and favourable Usage which they receiv'd at the hands of the Deceased King our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father to whose Memory they owe the Confirmation of their Liberty and the Exercise of their Religion which they enjoy with all Security they would out of a praise-worthy Gratitude and the Duty of an entire Obedience and Fidelity have acknowledg'd to our selves all those Obligations at a time especially when the Innocence and weakness of our Infant Years ought to have excited the Vertue Courage and Fidelity of all our good Subjects to defend and preserve the Authority which God has put into our Hands upon which alone depends the Publick Security and the particular Safety of every Private Person Nevertheless this Conduct thô full of Goodness and Mildness has prov'd no way beneficial to us several having betaken themselves to Arms against us to favour the Commotion began by our Cousin the Prince of Condè Among whom there are some who make use of Religion as a specious Pretence to cover and Cloak their Ambition and furious desire of advancing themselves upon the Disorders and Ruins of the Kingdom others have been misled and deceiv'd by false Impressions and vain Fears which the former have infus'd into 'em that they were in danger of Persecution if they did not speedily join Arms with 'em for their own Preservation making them believe the better to surprize their simplicity that upon the Marriages with Spain secret Articles were made and a Conspiracy enter'd into to expell 'em out of the Kingdom To which they too easily giving Credit have precipitated themselves into this enterprize believing themselves to be constrain'd thereto for their just and necessary defence which renders their fault â—â—e more excusable and rather meriting Compassion then Punishment But they had not run themselves into this inconvenience had they better consider'd that this â—ame Impudent and Malicious Lye was without any appearance of Truth there being no Body so void of Sence and Judgment that believe since the Alliances were sought by honourable ways on both sides as has been accustom'd among great Princes that Conditions should have been requested or desir'd by us which could not be fulfill'd without plunging the Kingdom into Fire and Sword and laying it waste with Depopulation As questionless it would have fallen out by breaking the Edicts of Pacification and so severe and unjust a usage of our Subjects of the Religion as they give out by a lye Artificially invented and with a very wicked design For nothing has been done privately in the pursuit and resolving upon those Alliances but every thing has been Publick seen imparted concluded and decreed with our Deceased Cousin the Count of Soissons a wise Prince and of solid Years and great Experience with our Cousin the Prince of Condè and other Princes Lords Officers of the Crown and most eminent Persons of our Council then about us Among whom our Cousin the Marshal de Bouillon was always present having altogether unanimously approv'd these Alliances without the least Opposition of any one every one being free to think and speak what he thought in his Conscience most profitable for the good of the Kingdom without fear of offending us or incurring our displeasure forasmuch as neither the Queen then Regent nor we our selves had the least prejudice in our Minds but only a desire to be satisfi'd what was most expedient to be done in a debate of that Importance All Soveraigns who think it their Interest to preserve the Ancient Reputation and Grandeur of this Kingdom having likewise acknowledg'd thâ—se Alliances never to have been made with any evil design have had no suspition or distrust of 'em after they were inform'd that our Intention was to make 'em serviceable as much as in us lay toward the securing of the peace of Christendom not for any enterprise or Invasion of the Countreys or Kingdoms of any Princes or Soveraigns whatever much less to interrupt the Peace and Repose which all our Subjects happily enjoy'd before this Commotion began Nevertheless they of the Pretended Reformed Religion who have taken Arms
same Command which we had enjoyn'd their said Envoys to carry to 'em in our Names which was to proceed forthwith to the Nomination of the Deputies that were to reside near our Person and then to break up in fifteen Days after and return home into their Provinces Which was pronounc'd the 10th of January last To which they made no other Answer only that they would depute Commissioners to us to reiterate their humble Supplications to us as they did in sending to us afterwards some others of their Society who repeated the same Instances which others before had done That is to say that we would be pleas'd to agree to the Sitting of the Assembly till their Papers were answer'd and that they saw the performance of those things that should be promis'd 'em upon which not having any thing else to Answer but what already we had given 'em to understand and considering of what Importance it was that they should rely upon the Assurances which we had given 'em of our good Intentions to do what should be to their Content and that the usual methods in such Cases should be follow'd and observ'd Considering also that they had sat near five Months which might breed both Suspition and Jealousie in our other Subjects We order'd 'em once more to obey what we had given 'em to understand to be our Will and Pleasure To which we order'd 'em after that to be particularly exhorted by several Persons well qualifi'd and well inform'd of our Sentiments of these Affairs who assur'd 'em of our good Intentions to give 'em content Having also sent 'em word in our Name that tho' they had exceeded above a Month of the Time wherein we prefix'd 'em to separate yet we granted 'em eight Days more for their Return to Loudun and eight Days after to Name their Deputies and then retire In which if they fail'd to give us Satisfaction we should take care so to provide as should be most for the good of our Service But finding that instead of obeying our commands they still continu'd together covering their Disobedience with the Pretences of new Envoys which they sent to us to reiterate their Importunities and Supplications Yet being well inform'd that there are several persons in the said Assembly ill affected to the Good of our Service and the Peace of this Kingdom who labour to inveagle others into their wicked Designs Therefore being no longer able to suffer this contempt of our Authority without testifying our Resentment toward those that are Guilty and letting every one know what our Will and Pleasure is upon this Subject We declare that we have had this Matter debated in Council where were present some Princes of the Blood other Princes c. With whose advice and of our certain knowledge full Power and Royal Authority we have said declar'd and ordain'd as follows that is to say That to testify our good Inclinations in their behalf to our said Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion we have again order'd our said Deputies assembl'd at Loudun a Respit of three weeks after notice shall be given 'em by these presents to break up the said Assembly and to go home to their Houses During which time they may also Nominate their Deputies according to the Number and Method accustom'd for two to be made Choice of by us to reside near our Person and upon their neglect to break up and Retire after that time expir'd We have from hence forward as then declar'd the said Assembly unlawful and opposite to our Service and Authority And all those who shall stay to continue it either in the City of Loudun or in any other Place guilty of High Treason and as such excluded from the Benefit of our Edicts and other Favours by us granted to those of the Pretended Reformed Religion as also of the Appeals which they may pretend to to our Chambers of the Edict We likewise will and it is our Pleasure that they be proceeded against with the utmost Rigor of our Laws and Ordinances as well by our Ordinary Judges as our Parlaments as disobedient Subjects Rebels and disturbers of the Publick Peace as also all such as shall side with 'em in their Practices Negotiations and Correspodencies And as for those among 'em who shall obey our present command and withdraw from the said Assembly within the time above mention'd as also all others of the Pretended Reformed Religion who shall continue in their Obedience and Duty toward us our Will and Pleasure is that they live with all freedom under our Protection and enjoy the Benefit of our Edicts Declarations and other Favours by us granted in their behalf And if they of the Assembly who shall obey our present Commands whatever their Nunber be before they quit it nominate the Deputies that are to reside in our Train our Intention is to admit their said Nomination and to permit those whom we shall make choice of to do the Duty of their Functions near our persons as is usual So we command our beloved and Faithful Counsellours holding our Courts of Parlament and Chambers of the Edict our Bayliffs c. We also enjoyn all our Advocate Generals and their Substitutes c. And to the end the said Assembly may have sufficient Notice of our present Command and may have no cause to pretend Ignorance our Pleasure is that our Advocate General or his Substitutes give speedy notice thereof to the said City of Loudun or other Places where such Assemblies shall be held by the chief of our Ushers or Serjeants We also command our Governours and Lieutenant Generals in our Provinces to be aiding and assisting in the Execution of such Decrees and Judgments as shall be given against the Violators of these Presents For this is our Will and Pleasure In Testimony whereof c. Given at Paris Feb. 26. 1620. in the Tenth of our Reign Sign'd Lewis And below By the King Phelippeaux Register'd upon the Motion of the Kings Atturney General and sent to all Bayliwicks and Seneschalships to be there Register'd c. At Paris in Parlament February 27. 1620. Sign'd De Tillet A Declaration of the King in Favour of his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion who shall remain in their Duty and Obedience Dated at Fontain-bleau April 24. 1621. Register'd the 27th LEwis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. Since we took in hand to govern the Affairs of our Kingdom We have found that one of the most necessary Things to keep our Subjects in Peace and Tranquility is carefully to observe the Edicts of Pacification and Declarations made in favour of our Subjects who prosess the Pretended Reformed Religion for which Reason we have all along labour'd it as much as it was possible and also to the end they might have so much the more Reason to contain themselves in their Duty and to rejoice in our goodness We have often dissembl'd and laid asleep their Disobedience
but also by those of 1610. and 1612. and more especially by your last Declaration Besides which Right the approach of your Castle of Plessis usually granted to the People of Tours would be a Security to ' em The Commissioners sent into Bress shall take care of this Article so far as shall be agreeable to Reason XII The same Supplication is made to your Majesty for the Repair of the Church of Burgh upon the Ruins and Place where those of the Religion possess'd it by the Sentence and Decrees of the Commissioners in the enjoyment of which they are now disturb'd To the XIII XIV XV. Articles the Commissioners are enjoin'd to take care of the Petitioners demands according to the Tenour of the Edicts and the said Declaration XIII It is remonstrated to your Majesty that the Inhabitants professing the Religion in the City of Villemur are molested in the Liberty of their Consciences depriv'd of all Exercises of Piety refus'd Publick Employments and very much overburthen'd by the Garrison Those of Fontenai Le Comte expell'd interdicted Preaching and Prayers their Pastor not being permitted to re-enter nor can they have their Church restor'd 'em thô almost ruin'd not so much as for the Burial of their dead suff'ring on the other side all Excesses of Charges and Free Quarters upon the complaints sent to your Council Therefore Sir may it please Ye to deliver 'em from their Oppressions and by permitting 'em to enjoy the Fruits of the Peace to order the Re-establishment of their Religion their Churches and Ministers the Security of their Burials and whatever Relief your Justice can afford their Grievances  XIV That you would likewise be pleas'd to order the Restoration of their Exercise at Lusson where it is deni'd to those of the said Religion contrary to the Publication of your Declaration thô they carri'd themselves obediently and that the said Exercise has been continu'd there for these fifty Years together even during all the time of the late Wars and Government of des Roches Baritault XV. Those of the Religion are likewise hinder'd their said Exercise at Talmont the Canon having been levell'd against 'em while assembl'd to hear the Word of God As also at Surgeres the Lady of the Place forbidding any Preaching there tho' it had been allow'd 'em during all the late Troubles Also at Baignols at St. Giles's in Languedoc at Figeac in Quercy Puymirols and at Vic in Armagnac from whence Mr. Testas the Minister is fled not daring to return nor being able to abide in safety in the Place Whereby your Declaration being violated may it please your Majesty to command the Restoration of the said Places and the said Testas As also for the Church of Quilleboeuf and the Pastour of it pursuant to the Re-establishment of it a long time since The XVI Article shall be communicated to the Maior and Sheriffs of Poitiers to be by them heard and taken care of XVI And for as much as the Catholicks of your City of Poitiers have impos'd upon those of the Religion the Summ of 1200. Livres for the Guard that had been maintain'd during these Troubles into which they would not admit any of those of the Reformed Religion may it please your Majesty that they may be discharg'd from it as from an unreasonable Imposition The King will carefully accomplish and observe what has been granted â—â— those of the Pretended Reformed Religion of Bearn by the said Bnief â—â— October the last XVII They likewise supplicate your Majesty that the Edict of Compensation touching the Churches of your Royalty of Bearn may be punctually effected as you were pleas'd to grant by your Brevet given at Mompelier And that the Exercise of the Religion and the Minister may be restor'd in your City of Navarreins That in Consideration of the Resignation of other Churches they of the Religion may be maintain'd in the Possession of the Churches Bells and Church-yards which were granted 'em by the Commissioners or by the Parlament upon their Report And that the Colledges and Academies may be restor'd and payment made of the Salaries that belong to ' em His Majesty intends that the Chamber of the Edict of Languedoc which remains only to be resettl'd shall speedily be restor'd to Castres according to the said Declaration XVIII And because Justice is that which most imports your Authority and the Preservation of the Peace may it please your Majesty to Order a speedy Restoration of the Party Chambers in Places and Cities where they were wont to be And in the mean time may the Courts of Parlament be forbid to take Cognizance and Judge of the Causes of those of the said Religion and that the Appeals by them brought before the Judges Prothonotaries or the Commissioners executing Decrees and Sentences may have the same Effect as if they were remov'd by Letters Royal according to the XLIII Article of the Edict and VI. of the Conference of Nerac Granted XIX By the sixth Article of the Edict and II. of Particulars and other Answers made to our Papers they of the Religion find themselves justly discharg'd from Contributing toward the Repairing and Building of Churches and their Dependencies as things contrary to their Conscience Nevertheless the Catholick Inhabitants of Arnai le Duc solicit in your Council a Permission to impose in general upon the Corporation and as well upon themselves as upon those of the Religion the Summ of six thousand Livres to build a Church for the Capuchins which would neither be reasonable nor conformable to the Edicts Therefore may it please your Majesty to declare Acquit and Exempted all your Subjects of the Religion from Payments and Contributions of the like Nature and that the abovenamed II. Article of Particulars may be put in Execution The said Deputed Commissioners in the said Places are enjoin'd to take care of the Contents of this Article XX. 'T is notorious that during these last Troubles they of the Religion have suffer'd many Violences through the Insolence of the People their Adversaries As in the City of Romorantin where they twice burnt the Meeting-House wherein they perform'd their Exercise in the Suburbs of the said City But what is more strange that since the Peace which it has pleas'd your Majesty to grant your said Subjects the Church which was long since built in your City of Gergeau has been quite thrown to the Ground and the Ruins of it remov'd by which means they of the Religion have been depriv'd of their Exercise Wherefore they most humbly beseech your Majesty that amends may be made for this Notorious Breach of your Edicts and Declarations and to order that the said Church may be rebuilt and the Exercise resettl'd at Gergeau as also that of Romorantin His Majesty will write to the Duke of Espernon Governour and Lieutenant General of Guyenne to see that the Inhabitants of the said Cities of Bergerac and St. Foy be eas'd and favourably us'd upon all occasions
Publish'd and Register'd c. At Paris in Parlament May 22. 1623. Du Tillet A Declaration of the Kings good Will toward his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion Verify'd in Parlament November 27. 1623. LEWIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. Tho' it has always been our Intention as still it is to cause an Exact observance of our Edicts of Pacification and Declarations last made in Favour of our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion that for this purpose we have Commissionated and deputed Commissioners in the several Provinces of our Kingdom to repair and re-establish the Breaches which the Wars and last Troubles had produc'd having omitted no care nor Sedulity to make the lives of our Subjects easie in good Peace Amity and Concord Nevertheless we have been Inform'd that some of the said Pretended Reformed Religion Enemies of the Publik Repose and such as desire to make their advantage of Trouble pretending to belong to our Cousins the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize which we can hardly believe by reason of the assurances which our said Cousins have given us of their Fidelity and Affection to our service and observance of our Peace have some time since made several Journeys and into several of our Provinces also to some Assemblies held by vertue of our Edicts by our Subjects of the Religion with Letters of Crâ—dence under false Pretences to stir up our said Subjects to infuse into 'em Fears Jealousâ—es and â—eigned Distrusts and to instigate to raise Money Fortifie the Places which they hold in their hands purchase Arms and make their Preparations contrary to the Publick Peace And tho' we are unwilling to believe that our said Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion considering the singular Favours which they have so lately receiv'd from our Clemency are any way enclin'd or dispos'd to hearken to any such pernicious Propositions much less to deviate from their Fidelty and Obedience to which they are oblidg'd Nevertheless being desirous to stop the Course of such Proceedings and the dangerous Consequences that may attend 'em to hinder our Subjects from being abus'd by these evil Practices and not to leave any one in doubt and uncertainty of our good and sincere Intentions toward 'em with the advice of our Council where were present the Queen Mother our Thrice Honour'd Lady and Mother the Princes c. We have said and declar'd and do say and declare that it is our Will and Intention to maintain the Publick Peace Repose and Tranquility and to employ our Authority and our accustom'd Care and Vigilancy to cause our Subjects as well Catholicks as of the Pretended Reformed Religion to live in good Union and Concord under their Obedience to us And to this purpose we Will and Ordain that our Edicts of Pacification and last Declarations in Favour of our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion be inviolably kept observ'd and maintain'd and that the Commissioners deputed in our several Provinces abide and reside there till they be perfectly and absolutely fulfill'd As we also make strict Prohibitions to all Persons of what Condition or quality soever to speak write suggest or perswade give ear or listen to any thing contrary to this our good and upright Intention and to the Tranquility of our subjects nor to travel or send into our Provinces or to any Cities or Assemblies that shall be held by those of the Pretended Reformed Religion to that Effect nor to raise Money bear or buy Arms Furniture or preparations for Warr under pain of Disobedience and being punish'd as Disturbers of the Peace It is our Pleasure also that the Offenders be inform'd against and prosecuted with the utmost Rigour of the Law So we command our faithful and well beloved Counsellours c. For such is our Pleasure In Testimony c. Given at Paris November 10. 1623. and 14th of our Raign Sign'd Louis And below by the King De Lomenie Read publish'd and register'd c. At Paris in Palament November 7. 1623. A Declaration of the King against the Sieur de Soubize and his Adherents containing a new Confirmation of the Edicts and Declarations formerly made in Favour of his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion who remain in their Duty and Obedience Given at Paris January 25. 1626. and verify'd the 18. of February LEWIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. Every one knows the Favour and Clemency which we have extended to our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion that formerly rose in Arms against our Authority and how when our Arms had all the Advantages over 'em we spread open our Arms to receive those that came as well in general as Particular to implore our Mercy and turn'd the just Resentments of our Indignation into a Benignity natural to a King the Father of his People toward Subjects submissive and penitent being desirous by our Declaratory Letters of October 20. 1622. to forget and forgive their past Faults and voutsafe 'em Peace with the continuance of the Benefit of the Edict of Nantes and other Declarations In pursuance of which we sent Commissioners into several Provinces of our Kingdom to reunite the Affections of our Subjects as well Catholicks as of the Pretended Reformed Religion divided by reason of the preceding Troubles and to re establish what the Fury of Warr might have interrupted in the observance of our Laws and Edicts wherein by the Benignity of Heaven our carefull Toyl so happily succeeded that our Kingdom for these last two Years enjoy'd a most profound Peace our Subjects in general Extolling the Divine Goodness of the Almighty for that after so many past Calamities and Tempests they rested in a Tranquility so serenely Calm and so assured under our Authority and Obedience But when we thought this Peace most solidly secure and that good Order re-establish'd in our Kingdom had given us leisure to apply all our Cares to the assistance of our Neighbours and to readvance the Ancient Reputation of the French Name in Forraign Coutries and that we were as we are still upon the point of reaping the Fruits and notable Advantages of it for the Glory of this Crown the Comfort of our said Confederates and the Publick Benefit we have receiv'd several Informations of the Practises and Contrivances which are weaving in several of our Provinces to withdraw our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion from that Obedience and Fidelity which they owe us and to perswade 'em in the present Conjuncture of Affairs to rise against our Authority while we are busy'd out of our Kingdom in the Protection of our Allyes and Trouble the Tranquility of the State Now being fully inform'd of the Designs and contrivances that are forming against our Cities and strong Holds the Peparations that are making to raise Souldiers without our Commission the sitting out of Ships as well in the Ports and Havens of our Kingdom as in other Places
Briefs which they were expresly charg'd to get by the Treaty of Peace and upon which they would have insisted more earnestly but in deference and respect to the express Requests and desires of the most Serene King of Great Britain our Master in whose name we advis'd and exhorted 'em to condescend to the Conditions offer'd by the abov-nam'd Peace for the good of this Kingdom and the Satisfaction and succour of all Christendom For these Causes we declare and certifie That in the words which were agreed upon between us in order to the accomplishment of the said Treaty and which were utter'd in the presence of his most Christian Majesty by the Chancellour upon the Acceptance of the Peace to this purpose that by long services and continu'd Obedience they might expect from the Kings Goodness what they could never obtain by any other Treaty in things which they esteem'd most necessary as to which in time convenient their Supplications might be heard supposing 'em to be presented with respect and humility there was a clearer Interpretation on his Majesties and his Ministers Part of which the sence and meaning was That they were meant of Fort Lewis before Rochel and to give assurance of the Demolishing of that Place in time convenient and in the mean time of ease and relief in other things which by the said Treaty of Peace continue prejudicial to the said City of Rochel Without which assurance of the demolishing the Fort and withdrawing the Garrison the said Deputies protested to us that they would never have consented to the letting that Fort stand being enjoyn'd and resolv'd to have maintain'd their Right to demolish it as they do by the present Declaration with assurance that the King of Great Britain will labour by his Intercessions in Conjunction with their humble Supplication to shorten the time appointed for demolishing the said Fort for which we have given 'em all the Royal words and Promises they can desire having assur'd 'em that they ought and might rest satisfi'd and contented For the Faithful performance of which and of what is abovmention'd we have Sign'd and Seal'd these Presents and caus'd it to be under-sign'd by one of our Secretaries Given at Paris the 11th day of February 1626. Sign'd Holland D. Carlton And below Augier An Edict of the King upon the Peace which his Majesty pleas'd to give his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion Given at Paris March 1626. and Publish'd in Parlament April 16. LEWIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navar To all c. In regard that Soveraign Authority is no less Illustrious in Acts of Grace and Clemency then in of those Justice and Arms and for that to know how to vanquish and pardon are the highest Marks of Grandeur for the same reason we ought to esteem that Prince most worthy of Honour and Glory who having letn loose the fury of his Arms against those that drew his Provocations upon 'em and subdu'd 'em to their duty is contented to exercise his Clemency toward 'em and to let 'em reap the publick Fruits of it by restoring 'em to Peace whence it comes to pass that God is call'd upon and serv'd in all Places that the Royal Authority is reverenc'd and acknowledg'd by all that the Laws are religiously observ'd the People eas'd from their Oppressions and that the Body of the State uniting Forces together becomes more puissant for their own Preservation and for the Succour and Protection of their Confederates These considerations which we have always had before our Eyes have been the reason that we have us'd so much Moderation to lay asleep and extinguish the Commotions that have so many times like so many Convulsions shak'n this Kingdom making use of Favour toward those who had over inconsiderately engag'd themselves as we have exerted our Vigour resolution and diligence in suppressing and chastizing when we have been thereto constrain'd As to the present Affairs our Conduct has been such as having employ'd both Threats and Punishment in Places that openly stood out in their Disobedience and Mildness Patience and Remonstrances toward others that continu'd in their Duty so that we have restrain'd the bursting forth of that Trouble with which this Kingdom was menac'd by reason of a Civil War and preserv'd the best and greatest part of the Religion in that Fidelity and Obedience which they owe us Who have no less clearly seen and understood that our Intentions have always been as still they are to maintain 'em in Peace Concord and Tranquility and to cause 'em inviolably to enjoy the Favours bestow'd upon 'em by our Edicts and Declarations All which they who ' have taken Arms and the Cities which sided with 'em having lately well consider'd and having understood the Nature of their Crime the Publick Indignation the Ruin and just Punishment which they drew upon themselves by continuing to Trouble the repose of the Kingdom they had recourse to our Goodness as their only safety and Refuge and by their Deputies have several times besought us with all the submission that Subjects could pay to their Soveragn to pardon 'em to bury things past in Oblivion and to afford 'em Peace Upon which We enclining rather to Mildness and Clemency then to the Ruin and Desolation of our own Subjects having also a regard to their most humble Supplications in the Name of those of the Pretended Reformed Religion who have remain'd within the Bounds of their Duty since we had accepted the submissions of the rest to pardon them for their sakes and to reunite 'em all in Peace and Concord under that Obedience which they owe us protesting and assuring us that they will never swerve again from the same upon any pretence occasion or cause whatever We make known that for these Causes and for other great and weighty Considerations Us thereunto moving with the Advice of the Queen our thrice Honour'd Lady and Mother the Princes c. We have said and declar'd and do say and declare by these Presents Sign'd with our Hand and it is our Will and Pleasure I. That the Edict of Nantes the Declarations and secret Articles Publish'd and Register'd in our Courts of Parlament shall be inviolably kept and observ'd to be enjoy'd by our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion as they were well and duly observ'd in the Time of the Deceased King our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father whom God Absolve and since our coming to the Crown before these last Commotions II. That the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Religion shall be restor'd and re-establish'd in all Parts and Places of our Kingdom and Countries under our Obedience where it has been interrupted during these last Commotions to be fully peaceably and freely exercis'd And we expresly forbid all Persons of whatever Quality or Condition soever upon Pain of being punish'd as Disturbers of the Publick Peace not to trouble molest or disquiet the Ecclesiasticks in the Celebration of Divine Service and other Functions
remote with the usual Submissions and that the Cities make their Declarations such as are requir'd in the like Cases at the same time And whereas we have found during the late Troubles that some of our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion siding with the Rebels were wont to send their Children or else permit 'em to go and bear Arms together with 'em they themselves staying at home to avoid the Rigour of our Prosecutions 'T is our Pleasure that for the Remedy of such abuses that the Fathers or Masters of Houses and Families shall be held and reputed to adhere to the Enemies Party and that they shall suffer Corporal Punishment together with all the Penalties mention'd in these presents if their Children or other Relations usually abiding in their Houses and having no other habitation then that of their Fathers or Kindred shall be found siding with the Enemy in actual Arms. Unless the said Parents or Masters of Houses or Families actually serve us in our Armies or other where and make it so much their endeavour to regain their Children or Kindred out of the Enemies service as to convince us that 't was no Fault of theirs And as for all our other Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion that shall continue in their Obedience and Fidelity to us without adhering to the Enemies Designs and other Practices Factions and Conspiracies against us our Authority Service and Repose of this Kingdom our Pleasure is that they shall freely enjoy the Liberty of their Exercise and all Favours and Concessions to them granted by the Deceased King and our selves which it is our full meaning and Intent to preserve inviolably putting all our said Subjects of our said Pretended Reformed Religion their Families and Estates so long as they remain within the Bounds of their Duty under our special saseguard and Protection So we command c. In Testimony whereof c. Given at Villeroy August 5. 1627. and 18th of our Reign Sign'd Lewis And below By the King De Lomenie Read Publish'd and Register'd c. At Paris in Parlament August 12. 1627. Du Tillet A Declaration of the King after the taking of Rochelle to his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion Given at Paris December 15. 1628. and verify'd in Parlament January 15. 1629. LEWIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. We have by several Preceding Declarations exhorted our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion to forsake and desist from the Factions and Rebellions wherein they were engag'd against our service promising 'em all that could be expected from our Favour in case that within the time prescrib'd they return'd to their Duty and subscrib'd such Declarations as were requisite before our Judges Which several having done have experienc'd our Good Will liv'd peaceably and at Liberty in the enjoyment of their Estates and Exercise of the Pretended Reformed Religion Several Cities also and Paticular Men led away by the Artifices of Factious and seditious Spirits have still continu'd in the same Rebelion into which their Engagement with the Inhabitants of the City of Rochel had participated ' em For which reason now that it has pleas'd God to reduce that City under our Obedience and to take from 'em that Pretence we are willing to hope that they will the more readily return to their Duty by new Exhortations and freeing 'em from the Fear of being Liable to the Penalties mention'd in our Preceding Declarations And being desirous to let 'em see our Paternal Affection toward 'em and to excite 'em out of a Consideration of their own good and Preservation more or less to their Benefit as they shall continue more or less Obstinate in returning to their Obedience And which is that which we are willing so much the rather to hope that now that by the Reduction of our said City of Rochel under our Obedience they have manifestly understood our singular Goodness toward the Inhabitants of that Place whom we receiv'd upon their Surrendring to us with the assurance of their Lives Estates and Exercise of the Pretended Reformed Religion and of the integrity of which agreement they enjoy so religious a performance that all their Fears are turn'd into Consolation and have prov'd a sufficient Convincement that the Apprehensions which the Factious Boutefeaux of Rebellion infus'd into 'em were but Artifices without any Foundation to hinder 'em from seeking in our Obedience that true Tranquillity and Liberty which they now enjoy For these causes we make known that upon mature debate of this Business in Council of our full knowledge full Power special Grace and Royal Authority We have enjoyn'd and by these Presents do enjoyn all our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion of what quality or Condition soever they be who shall now be found engag'd in the Rebellion and bearing Arms or holding out Towns and Cities against our service and contrary to that Obedience which they owe us or adhering to those that hold 'em out and enjoy 'em that they forthwith lay down their Arms return to their Duty and Subscribe such Declarations as are usually requisite before our Courts of Parlament or Presidial Seats within 15 days after Publication of these Presents And as for the Cities that they send their Deputies to us to receive our Gracious Will and Pleasure in pursuance of their Submissions Which doing we will receive 'em into our Favour and maintain 'em in the Enjoment of all their Goods and Estates and free Exercise of the said Reformed Religion and look upon 'em as good Subjects worthy to partake of our benefits ard Favours no less then the rest who have continu'd in the Fidelity which they owe us All which we promise upon the Faith and Word of a King to keep observe and fulfil inviolably But in case that continuing in the obstinacy of their Rebellion they scorn the Favour which we offer to 'em and do not satisfie the Contents of these Presents within that time We have and do declare 'em from this time forward to have incurr'd the Penalties mention'd in our Preceding Declarations and guilty of High Treason in the Highest degree and unworthy of all Grace and Mercy In which case after the time prefix'd is once past our Pleasure is that they be proceeded against in their Persons Goods Houses Inheritances and whatever else belongs to 'em with the utmost Rigour of the Law So we command c. In Testimony c. Given at Paris December 15. 1628. and 19th of our Reign Sign'd Lewis Below by the King De Lomenie Read Publish'd and Register'd At Paris in Parlament c. January 15. 1629. Du Tillet An Edict of the King upon the Grace and Pardon granted as well to the Duke of Rohan and the Sieur de Soubize as to his Rebellious Subjects of the Cities Flat Countries Castles and Strong Holds of the Provinces of Vpper and Lower Languedoc Cevennes Gevaudan Guyenne Foix c. with the Articles Given
pleasure A Debate whether to accept them provisionally or definitively The Council's Shiftings about the Articles The Treaty is interrupted New Instructions Disputes put to an end by the King's firmness The Assembly beggeth the intercession of the Queen of England and of the Vnited Provinces New Delays partly malicious partly innocent A Book setting forth the Grievances of the Reformed Elamed by some The Importance of its Contents It beginneth with excusing the freedom of those Complaints Maketh Remonstrances to the King about the Delays of his Council and the general State of the Reformed By what degrees the King had been drawn from them The Design of their Petion General Complaints made by them against all â— French Against all the Orders of the State Against the Clergy in particular The publick Exercise of the reformed Religion obstructed and private Devotions hindred And in their private Devotions Instances of great Violences The boldness of the Parliament of Bourdeaux The Exercise interrupted or forbid in several places by divers Decrees In the Army At Rouen the King being there Complaints upon the account of the places Against the Catholick Gentlemen Against the Treaties with the League Singing of Psalms hindred Books seized and burnt Comforting of the sick Consciences forced The Prince of Conde The keeping of Lent and Holidays Colledges The Poor ill used Places where the Reformed dare not dwell A remarkable Injustice done at Lyon Trades Violences Injustice done to the Reformed about Offices * The Council of State is not meant here but a Court of Judicature in Paris where some Special Matters are debated Seditious Words and Speeches Passion of Judges and Parliaments Difficulties in reestablishing the Edict of 1577. Special Instances of the ill will of the Parliaments Burials made difficult Hindred A strong free and moving Conclusion Reflections on that Book New Delays And Difficulties upon particular Places The breaking up of the Assembly The state of the Garrisons The naming of Governors The Annual renewing of the state of the Garrisons Private Interests 1598. The Edict delay'd till the Month of August when there were no more Leaguers The Assembly allarmed The King grants the Edict being armed Different Opinions about the Edict The Conclusion at Nants The Particulars of the Difficulties on each Article They first demand a new Edict Reasons pro and con The second Demand a free Exercise and its extent The advantage secured to the prevailing Religion A second place in each Bailiwick was no new thing Difficulties about the Places of Exercise Upon the Proofs Difficulties about the Burials The Third Demand the Subsistence of the Ministers A Sum of Mony promised by the King The Schools The 4th Demand the possession of Estates and Rights of Succession The fifth demand impartial Judges Chambers Miparties or of the Edict The sixth Demand to be admitted to Offices The extent of this Concession * The Offices wherein Notaries Public allow'd by Authority ingross and register private Contracts The Sham of this Concession The 7th Demand Securities 1598. How they were useful to the King â— The payment of the Garrisons Gifts to private Persons Contestations touching the Form of the Concessions which is diverse according to the nature of the thing The manner of Payment The Conclusion * Chambre Mipartie is a Court of Justice Erected in divers good Towns of France in favour of and for the righting them of the Religion one half of the Judges being of the Reformed the other Papists 〈…〉 Edict Artifices to gain ' em A Synod at Mompelier The number of the State of the Churches Forming a Church what it is Several Churches United into one Causes of contenting themselves with the Edict as it was obtain'd Lesdiguieres's Religion Treatise of the Eutharist Consequences of the publishing of it Three Important Negotiations with the Pope The Establishment of the Jesuits Their boldness and Credit The Monks all hate the King Persecution in Piedmont The Marquisat of Saluces Reasons why the King favour'd the Jesuits 3d. Mâ—…age of Madame Her Constancy The King's Severities toward her Scruples Rais'd by the Pope His Reasons The King proceeds to the Marriage without staying for the Dispensation The issue of the Negotiation till the Death of the Princess The Advantages which the Reformed got by her Perseverance Difficulties about the Verification of the Edict Their Proposals upon the Edict The Transports of some Prelates The Nuncio's Moderation The Opposition of the Parliament The Justice of the D. of Mayenne 1599. The Reformed forbear insisting upon several Articles Obstinacy of â—â—â— Clergy Chambers of the Edict at Rouen Chamber Mipartie â—n Guien * A kind of a New-years Gift given for the contiance in an Office Verification of the Edict The Pope makes great Complaints to stop the Spaniards Mouths Answers of the Cardinals de Joyeuse and d'Ossat Accommodated to the Popes liking Edict for the Principality of Bearn Which is receiv'd â—rmplaints of the Alterations made in the Edict Particular Complaints Precedency pretended by the Catholic Officers that compos'd the Chambres Miparties ever the Reformed Verbal demands concerning Chappels in Gentlemens Houses The Papers answer'd Precedency preserv'd to the most â— Ancient President Article of Church-yards Brossiereâ—eigns â—eigns her self possess'd by the Devil The Sequel of this Comedy within and without the Kingdom Dissolution of the Kings Marriage A Decree of the Parlament of Bretagne touching the Oath referr'd by a Reformed to a Catholic Trimouille made a Peer of France 1600. Roni's Advancement not much wondred at Commissioners for the Execution of the Edict and their Power General Observations upon the Edict Reproacheâ— of the Catholics thrown upon the Reformed Answers Questions upon the Nature of the Edict The Benefit of the Edict The condition of the Kingdom hoth before and after the Edict Warâ— abovt Religion the most Cruel What sort of variety Policy ought not to suffer in a Kingdom What is the Nature of the Reformed Religion The Justice of the Edict Justice of Reward after Service done What Reward is The Edict Grants nothing to the Reformed c. The Concessions for this reason so much the more Just What the Edict grants the Reformed does no body harm The Catholics Gainers by the Edicts The Edict ought to be Irrevocable Considerations upon the Word And upon the things Rights of Conscience The Force of Edicts that maintain Liberty And of these that are granted for the preservation of the Societies The preservation of Subjects the chief Obligation of Soveraigns An Express or Tacit Treaty naturally between Sovereign and Subject Also between Master and Slave The Force of Treaties The Edict of Nantes a Treaty The Form of the Edict renders it more Venerable Two things relating to a Treaty in the Edict 1. Between the King and the Reformed 2. Between the Catholics and the Reformed The Reformed Treats with the King 1. â—â—r Recompence for their Services 2. Touching their being secur'd against their Enemies Places of Security Kings may Treat
so Just so Wise an Administration that You have rendered your Name no less Illustrious for your Prudence and the rest of your shining Vertues than the Greatest King in the World I mean WILLIAM III. hath made His Glorious by His Valour Conduct and the Infinite other great Qualities of his Mind and both your Sovereign Majesties are become the Delight of your Honest and Loyal Subjects the Admiration of Foreign Princes and the great Dread and Terrour of your Enemies May you Both live long that your People may be happy long and rejoyce long in you and that your Majesties may be long happy in your People having the Hearts the Esteem and Veneration of ALL your Subjects to be the Felicity and Glory of your Reign So Wishes so Prays with all imaginable Earnestness and Devotion May it please your Most Excellent Majesty Your Majesties most Humble most Faithful and most Obediently Loyal Subject COOKE To My Lords The Lords Deputy Counsellors OF THE States of Holland AND WEST-FRIEZLAND Most Noble and Puissant Lords IF I do 〈…〉 follow here the example of those Writers 〈…〉 place a study'd Panegyrick upon those â—â— whom they have made choice for tâ—…ors at the beginning of their Works t was 〈…〉 fear of ill success that hinder'd me had I had any such design nor of exposing my self to the Distaste that has been long since taken against such kind of undertakings I must confess I have no great reason to build much upon my Eloquence but I might find in the abounding Treasure of the Subject wherewith to supply the defect of my Skill and Parts and I might hope withall to please the Reader since I should have an opportunity to tell him those things which he rarely sees in writings of the like Nature 'T is a difficult thing at this day to force into such an Eulogy those bold stroakes of Wit or Rhetorick that might adorn it with any Graces of Novelty more especially most people believe that Truth very seldom appears in such Applauses But it would be an easie thing for me to do something more then usual upon the Subject which I should have in hand in regard that tho my Praises were never so transcendent they would never be look'd upon as suspected or excessive There would need no more for me then to consider YOUR NOBLE PUISSANCES as an August Body to which all the Merit of the Illustrious Members that compose it is due It would be easie for me by this means to adorn my Discourse with a thousand Ornaments not common to the World neither would any Person presume to suspect me of rearing the Glory of All together too High seeing that if we should take asunder every one of those who rae calld to those Eminent Dignities we should find in his Name in his Endowments in his Employments and his Services as many several Subjects for a just and lawful Panegyrick But I know well MOST NOBLE and PUISSANT LORDS that solid Virtue is not ambitious of these vain Oblations Only vulgar Souls are intoxicated with such perfumes They who have a Soul truly Great choose rather to be profitable to the Publick by their noble Actions then to hear either their Persons or their Conduct extolld I make no question but your NOBLE PUISSANCES deem it far more worthy of your selves to engrave your Elogies in the Hearts and Memory of the People by your Sage and Prudent Government then to read 'em in an Epistle Dedicatory Therefore not to engage my self in a labour that would be â—o way grateful to YOUR MOST NOBLE PUISSANCES I will only give you an accompt of the reasons which embolden'd me to present you this Piece which I have now transmitted to publick View I have not so good an Opinion of my self MOST NOBLE and PUISSANT LORDS to imagine that the Fruits of my Labours are Offerings that merit your Acceptance But the Nature of the Subject which I handle in this History dedicated to Your Lordships may serve to excuse the liberty which I take to lay it under the Protection of YOUR MOST NOBLE PUISSANCES and after a full Examination it may be easily acknowledg'd that in reason and justice it could have been no other where address'd It contains a Recital of the misfortunes which in France have befallen those who for these fourscore and ten Years have liv'd in that Kingdom under the Faith of the most solemn Edict that ever was published It represents what they suffer'd till the Revocation of that Law which had been so long the Buckler of their Religion and the Bulwark of their Liberty It shews several thousands of Families by Violence and Injustice reduc'd to abandon the Advantages and Delights of their Native Country and to seek on every side a Sanctuary for their Persons and Repose for their Consciences 'T is true that in all parts of Europe whereever these Persecuted Professors of the true Christian Faith have been led by Providence they have receiv'd great marks of the compassion and good will of Foreigners but in no State or Kingdom were they receiv'd with more tenderness nor cherish'd with more affection than in this The Charity of our Thrice Potent Soveraigns made hast to meet their Petitions Upon their arrival they found all manner of succour ready at hand They shar'd as I may say the Conveniencies and Riches of the Country with the Inhabitants by the free and liberal participation which they met with They no sooner breath'd the Air of these Countries but they tasted the Abundance of it They also whom the common Tempest had cast on other Shores were sensible of this Heroick Beneficence not only because it was a leading example to others but because the effects of it were not enclos'd within the limits of these Provinces If the first Honour of this extreme Bounty be due to our Soveraigns whose Zeal and Piety became â—o signal by such a Glorious Testimonial it cannot be deny'd at least MOST NOBLE and PUISSANT LORDS but that the second belongs to your selves You found you distributed the Funds whence these Immense Profusions of Charity were drawn T was by the hands of YOUR MOST NOBLE PUISSANCES that so many Professors of the Christian Faith so many persons of Great Quality so many Pastors and Teachers so many ruin'd Families so many people of both Sexes which the Persecution had reduc'd to utmost Exigency have hitherto receiv'd and still receive all necessary Succour and Relief In the midst of such Prodigious Expences occasion'd by a hideous War The care which you take for the Publick does not slackn your Diligence for the Consolation of so many afflicted Innocents and your inexhaustible Charity does the same in procuring them an easie and comfortable Life which your Indefatigable Vigilance performs in suffering nothing to be wanting to the Commonwealth in her lawful designes After all this there is no question to be made most NOBLE and PUISSANT LORDS that it is no more than justice to Dedicate to your selves
and only to revive those Reproaches against 'em with which the most prudent Catholicks have loaded their Society from the very Infancy of their Institution THE PREFACE TO THE First Part. ALtho in the first Book I only comprehend in short what was transacted in France in reference to Religion from the beginning of Luther's Disputes till the death of Hen. III. nevertheless that Part has so small a share in my Work â—hat I may safely say that it begins exactly from that Accident which brought Hen. the IV. to the Crown So that my design takes in the Reign of three Kings The first of which whose Reign was the shortest granted the Reformed an Edict and Securities the Second took from 'em their â—ecurities and the Third cancell'd the Edict Being therefore to give an Account of three such various Events which enforces me to relate whatever happen'd most memorable under every Reign â—y Subject therefore naturally dvides it self into three Parts The first contains all that preceded the Edict of Nantes or that since it was granted regards the Execution of it during the Life of him that was the Author of it The Second recites the means that were us'd under the Name and Authority of Lewis the XIII to wrest out of the Hands of the Reformed the Cities and Assemblies that were their Security and from whence ensu'd the declination and ruin of their Affairs The Third relates what pass'd under the Reign of that Prince who wears the Crown at present till the Revocation of the Edict to which I have added the Events of some ensuing Years which are natural consequences of the former Transactions as the flight of so many persecuted Families their settling in foreign Countries and several other things of the same nature Now in regard our main business was to shew that the Conduct and Behaviour of the Reformed has been always far different from the Portraicture which their Enemies made of it I thought it requisite in every part but chiefly in the First and Second where they appear with their Arms in their hands to give an accompt of those things which afford the clearest light for the display of their Intentions to the end it may be the better discern'd whether they were not reduc'd to make use of those extraordinary Remedies by a necessity that admitted of no Dispensation I shall discourse in another place of wâ—â— they did after the death of Hen. IV. But I have here a design to speak one word of what was liable to be blam'd in their Actions during the Life of that Prince Not that I intend to repeat what I have said in their Justification quite through the whole Book but only to observe in few words the principal Circumstances of Affairs which you will find more amply laid down in the History it self The Reformed then are to be consider'd in three conditions under the Reign of this Prince In the First they had a King of their own Religion but who finding it would cost him a world of trouble to surmount the opposition of the League that under the pretence of Religion had arm'd the one half of the Kingdom against him resolv'd to change his Opinion so soon as he could do it with some appearance of Advantage In the Second they appear'd in the Service of a Prince who after he had abandoned their Religion seem'd to have alter'd his affection for them too and to mind nothing but his own Repose without much troubling himself what became of his most faithful Subjects who had done him such eminent Services In the Third condition you might see 'em living under the Authority and Protection of an Edict which they obtained at length after long solicitations in the prosecution of which they had spent four years and much longer time in the Execution of it There could be nothing laid to their charge so long as they remain'd in their first condition in regard they were fix'd to the King's Service and bore Arms in his Defence as long as he had any Enemies either at Home or Abroad If it be objected that they did not serve him then with the same Zeal and Affection as they were wont to make appear that their performances were not such as they us'd to be that they let fall some Murmurs and Reproaches I answer that if they had carried it higher it no way became the Catholicks to find fault You will perceive then by the History that the Catholicks were afraid of nothing so much as to see an end of the War before they had constrain'd the King to change his Religion that they also held Intelligence with the Leaguers who might well be lookt upon as Criminals if the Reformed were Trespassers Besides that the Reformed were oblig'd to stand upon their Guards as well against the Catholicks of the Royal Army as against the others and that by Consequence it was not just that they should expose all their Forces to the discretion of those who might have ruin'd 'em all in one Night the more easily to have ingratiated themselves with the League and have dispos'd of the Kingdom and the King's Person as they had thought proper themselves 'T was Prudence to reserve one part of their Forces against a pinch to the end the remainder might serve to revive and support their own and the Affairs of the Kingdom if the other should happen to receive a foil You shall find moreover from his coming to the Crown to his Conversion that the King discover'd to 'em every day more and more sufficient marks of his lukewarmness and indifference for them That consequently they had reason to believe that the more they enabl'd him not to want their Assistance the more he would neglect their Establishment and Security Whence it would follow That if they made use of all their Forces they should help to do their Enemies the Catholicks business and be not only ne're the better â—ut much the worse themselves But in the mean â—â—me it will be found that they acknowledg'd â—he King without condition and that they did not make bargains with him as the Catholicks â—id to serve him They would have put him doubtless to a strange plunge had they been as nice â—nd as scrupulous as others were This severity â—ould have been the Ruin both of Him and of all â—â—e Officers of the Old Court much more odious 〈◊〉 the League than the pretended Hereticks and â— there were among the other Royal Catholicks â—â—me persons of Honour they must have had their â—are in the vexation It was urg'd against the Reformed as an expression highly Criminal that they had sometimes given it out that they accepted of the Edict at a time when they might if they pleas'd have divided the Kingdom with the Catholicks I know not whether or no it be at if Crime to speak Truth but I know very well that the Reformed had been but closely united together by their own Interests without medling with those of the
after the fact perfidiously committed fearing the scandal of it would fall upon his Shoulders had withdrawn himself yet afterwards he was condemn'd by Theognistus Nor was it without great reluctancy and by constraint of pressing necessity that St. Martin could be perswaded to hold Communion with the Itaâ—ian Party In like manner St. Ambrose who was sent at the same time to Maximus by Valentinian the Brother of Gratian who was put to Death testifies in his relation that when he was at Treves he refrain'd the company of those Bishops that sided with Itacius who demanded that they who deviated from the Faith might be punished with Death Afterwards when those hair-brain'd Prelates had prevail'd with Maximus to send certain Tribunes into Spain with Plenipotentiary Power to enquire after Hereticks and being apprehended to punish 'em with loss of Life and Confiscation of Estates the same St. Martin never left the Emperor till he had obtain'd a revocation of that inhumane Decree For it was the care of that pious Bishop to set free not only the Christians who were to be molested under that pretence but even the Hereticks themselves Foreseeing in his mind that that same Tempest were it not diverted would cause a great depopulation of the Faithful there being then but little difference made between the sorts of Men when only the Eye was judge of the distinction and Hereticks were mark'd out rather by the paleness of their Looks or by their Habit than by their Faith and Doctrine However after Priscillian was put to death the Heresie propagated by himself was so far from being er adicated by the severity of his punishment that it gathered strength and spread it self more and more and his Followers who before had honour'd him as a Holy Person began to adore him as a Martyr remov'd the bodies of those that suffer'd into Spain and solemniz'd their Obsequies with extraordinary Pomp. Nay they carry'd on their Superstition to that degree that it was accounted a most sacred Oath to swear by Priscillian which occasion'd so cruel and so long continu'd a Division between the Bishops of the Gallican Church that fifteen years Bloody contention could hardly put an end to while the people of God and all good men were in the mean time expos'd to Affront and Obloquy Which words as often as I read in Sulpitius Severus who wrote the History of that Age with equal Eloquence and Fidelity I call to mind the years of my childhood when at the beginning of the Commotions about Religion men were mark'd out by the Eye for Slaughter not upon any suspicion of their manners or of the corruption of their past Lives but only out of a particular malice to their looks or the fashion of their Clâ—athes and what with their heats of Contention and Animosities what with favours ill bestow'd the pusillanimous Fear Inconstancy Drowsiness Sloth and Arrogancy of those that sat at the Helm of Affairs the Kingdom was rent into Factions and Religion it self pushe almost to the brink of the Precipice by the Troubles and Agitations of the State After St. Marcin's time more moderation was us'd in the Church toward those that deviated from the Faith whom they only either Banish'd or Fin'd but always spar'd their Lives So that in the year 1060 when certain of the followers of Berengarius Archdeacon of Angiers went about sowing his Doctrine in the Territories of Liege Juliers and other parts of the Low Countries Bruno Archbishop of Treves thought it sufficient to expel 'em out of his Diocess never thirsting after their Blood Nor were they after this more severely handl'd by the Church till the time of the Vaudois against whom when the most exquisite of Torments little prevail'd but that the mischief was rather exasperated by the remedy unseasonably appli'd while their number encreas'd compleat Armies were set on foot and a War of no less bulk was decreed against 'em than that which our Ancestors wag'd against the Saracens the event of which was that Murdred Massacred Chas'd from their habitations Plunder'd of their Goods and despoyl'd of their Estates and Signiories their Persecutors gain'd a depopulated Country but not a Convert that was thereby convinc'd of his error Some there were who had defended themselves at first by force of Armes who being vanquish'd by superior power fled into Provence and the Alps adjoyning to the jurisdiction of France where they met with a sort of skulking holes wherein to shelter their Lives and Doctrine others retir'd into Calabria where for a long time they settl'd themselves even till the Pontificate of Pius IV. Some wander'd into Germany and fix'd their Habitations in Bohemia Poland and Livonia while another Remnant turning Westward sought for sanctuary in England And from some one of that number 't is thought that John Wickliffe descended who for a long time taught Theology at Oxford where after various Contentions and hot Disputes about Religion he died a natural Death above 300 years ago Natural indeed and yet more fatal to him then his common mortality for that several years after his decease the Magistrate order'd him to be taken up again arraign'd him and caus'd his Bones to be publickly burnt After that time started up several other Sects that have continu'd till our Age wherein after the severity of Torments in Vain experienc'd the contest flam'd out from private Disputes into open Wars and Rebellions of numerous multitudes both in Germany England and France uncertain whether â—o the greater detriment of the publick â—ranquillity or Religion it self such a â—chism being form'd and corroborated â—nd too long neglected by those in whose power it was and whom it behov'd to have apply'd proper Remedies in time These Things of so great consequence I have not so largely insisted upon with a design to revive that so often harrass'd Question Whether Hereticks ought to be punish'd with death which neither my Time nor my Profession will admit of My aim is only to shew that those Princes have acted most prudently and most conformably to the Institutions and Maxims of the Primitive Church who have rather chosen to extinguish the conflagrations of War about Religion with disadvantageous conditions of an amicable composure then to continue the desolations of an obstinate contest not to be determin'd but by the uncertain chance of absolute Conquest This Ferdinand a most prudent Prince foresaw who having learnt by experience in the furious and dangerous Wars of Germany under his Brother Charles the Fifth the ill success of the Emperors Armes against the Protestants no sooner attain'd the Imperial Diadem himself but he re-establish'd the Peace of Religion by a solemn Decree which he afterwards ratisi'd several times And father observing that greater progresses were made in matters of Religion by friendly Conferences as he himself had experienc'd in the Dyets held at Ratisbonne and Wormes he resolv'd a little before his death and immediately after the breaking up of the Council of Trent to follow
the advice of his Son Maximilian a Prince of great wisdom and to satisfie the Protestants who were not at that Assembly design'd to have granted 'em another Conference In order to which the Emperour made choice of George Casâ—ander a person no less moderate than learned in a friendly Conjunction with the Protestant Doctors to examin the Articles of the Confession of Auspurgh that were in Dispute But the Crazie Constitution of that worthy man and the soon ensuing Death both of the one and the other eâ—â—â—'d Germany the Fruit of so Noble a Determination After the Example of the Germans the Nobility of Poland cook the same Course in their Republick 〈◊〉 Immanuel Philibert Duke of 〈◊〉 after he was restor'd to the ancient Possession of his lost Territories by vertue of the Peâ—ce concluded with us having rashly engag'd himself to his great Dammage in a War with the Vaudois of Piemont whether it were to raise his Reputation in Italy or to gratifie others at the Expence of his own Jeopardy it matters not made amends for his mistake by a Timely Repentance granting the free Exercise of their Religion to his otherwise Innocent People and afterwards no less religiously observing the Articles which he had concluded with ' em I now come to what concerns our selves and am going about to handle a sore which I am very much afraid will draw no small inconvenience upon me for only laying my Finger upon it But since I have enter'd into the discourse that I may dispatch in a word I shall take the Liberty allow'd under your Reign frankly and ingenuously to declare That War is by no means a Lawful way to extirpate Heresie out of the Church For the Protestants of this Kingdom whose Number and Credit daily lessen'd in time of Peace have always gather'd strength in times of War and Division and whether out of a preposterous Zeal or through Ambition and a Desire of Innovation it has been the pernicious Errour of our States-men to renew their Designs of extirpating the Protestants by Wars often inauspiciously begun and as frequently unluckily compos'd to the great hazard of our Religion What need of Words The thing it self speaks loud enough For after various Troubles and Commotions and during those innumerable Cities in every Corner of the Kingdom wrested from the Public no sooner was Peace restor'd by the Restitution of those Places in 1563. but 't was a wonder to see what a suddain Serenity once more overspread the Nation How joyful was that Four Years Interval to all Good Men While our Religion sate safely protected and most Excellent Laws of which France will never have cause to repent were made by a most upright Moderator of Justice and Equity But then the Faâ—â— of France again declining we began 〈◊〉 grow weary of the Publick Security establish'd by those wholesom Constitutions and spurning from us Peaceful Counsels threw our selves into a War 〈◊〉 only Fatal to the whole Realm but 〈◊〉 the Advisers of it also They who were present at the Vnfortunate Conference at Baionne are sufficiently sensible what persons I mean For from that 〈◊〉 forward while we were still deluded and cajol'd by foreign Fraud all things weâ—â— carried on by Artifice and Force of Armâ— Then it was that the Duke of Alva being sent with a Potent Army into Flanders after Margaret of Parma who had govern'd those Provinces with Extraordinary Moderation had by tacit compulsion laid down the Regency then it was that Alva mingled all things with Fire and Sword erected Fortresses in every Corner sapp'd the Public Liberty with unheard of Impositions for the support of the War and breaking in upon their Immunities reduc'd opulent Cities to meagre Poverty like strong Bodies emaciated by depriving 'em of Nourishment But these harsh and unadvised Counsels the fruits of Precipitation were attended with the despair of the People and lastly with Revolts Which however for a time appeas'd ended in this at length that the larger and more abounding Part and most commodious for Navigation wherein the Wealth of those Provinces chiefly consists being as it were mangl'd and dismember'd from the rest of the Body acknowledges now no Soveraign Authority but that of the States General and wages auspicious War with all the Force of Spain Which misfortune of the Spaniards Francis Balduin one of the most famous Lawyers of this Century fearing long before adâ—iz'd the Peers of the Low Countries to petition Philip that he would vouchsafe their former Liberty of Conscience to the Protestants every where turmoil'd and harass'd and surâ—ease the Rigour of Torments and Inâ—isitions after suspected Persons And 〈◊〉 this purpose he wrote a Treatise in French whorein he prov'd by dint of â—â—enuous Arguments that the Affairs of Religion disquieted and tormented by restless Controversies would sooner be compos'd by Conferences and an equilibrium observ'd among the Dissenters than by violence and force of Arms. Wherein if they persever'd he foresaw that the strength of the Protestants then but inconsiderable and here and there dispers'd would be united by Factions and that from verbal Contests they would betake themselves to Arms and Revolt I have the more willingly recited this Prophecy of a Low Country-man concerning the Low Countries more especially to your Majesty for that he having at first embrac'd the Protestant Faith yet afterwards upon diligent perusal of the Fathers having alter'd his Opinion nevertheless preserv'd the same Moderation of mind so as not to be transported with an Implacable Hatred as many are against those whose Doctrine he had relinquish'd but by a rare Example of Christian Charity foreign to this Age admonish'd by his own Errour to compassionate the failings of others and to make it his whole Business that what had been done amiss out of precipitancy and desire of innovation might be redress'd by reviving the Practice of better Antiquity With these sentiments and resolutions returning out of Germany into France he found his Counsel no less prudent than pious readily embrac'd by your most serene Father in whose Court he held an honourable Employment sometimes admitted into Council and made choice of to take care of your Natural Brother's Education Away then with those Ostentatious Vaunts to the Dishonour of the Gallick Name so frequent in the mouths of many aspiring to a higher strain of Zeal then other Men and boasting that they never subscrib'd to any Treatise of Peace with Hereticks Let 'em consider what became at length of all their egregious Counsels and lament at leisure the loss of so many Flourishing Provinces and the Ruâ—â—ous Dissipation of their own Estates consum'd by Tumult and Sedition oâ— seâ—uâ—ster'd by Conquest How glad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be now to learn from our Example what with so much Affectation they before detested What would they 〈◊〉 to redeem the Loss of so many Years which had they profitably employ'd against the Common Enemies of Christendom they had expell'd those Infidels long e're this out of Hungary
and both Mauritaâ—ia's to their Immortal Honour and no less to the Advantages of Profit But I am afraid the same Imprudence which we blame in others may be justly laid to our Charge while either spurr'd on by our own precipitate Fury or push'd forward by the Evil Counsels of those I have already mention'd we have pamper'd the Occasions of most pernicious Disturbances wherein we have seen our Cities sackt our Churches levell'd with the Earth Churches which the Rage of former Commotions spar'd whole Provinces laid waste old Animosities that Peace had lull'd asleep reviv'd Suspitions encreas'd and Arms laid down to be resâ—m'd with more Implacable Rancour Yet after all these foul Enormities committed at length a Peace was concluded which the more pretious it ought to have been so much the sooner was it violated by an Act scarce ever to be Expiated unless Heaven and that is all we dare to wish would be pleas'd to bury it in Eternal Oblivion I mean the Massacre perpetrated two Years after wherein Great Sir Your self of old by Heaven design'd to re-establish the Languishing Affairs of France had like to have been envelopp'd After we were got clear of this same Formidable Caphareus we fell in among several other formidable Rocks against which with equal Imprudence we Shipwrackt our selves Heaven 's incens'd Wrath not long procrastinating but revenging the Impieties of France by the Death of a Generous Prince misguided rather by the pernicious Counsels of others then sway'd by his own Inclinations What did his Successors Returning out of Poland the Emperour Maximilian and the Republick of Venice in whose Territories he rested by the way besides their Magnificent Entertainments gave him sincere and wholsom Counsel which he contemning at his entrance into the Kingdom preferr'd a wicked War which they disswaded and from which the suppliant Protestants implor'd him to desist before a su'd for Peace But soon repenting he chang'd his mind and at the end of three Years made an Edict of Pacification which he peculiarly call'd his own and which was attended with a seven years profound Peace unless it were for some slight Insurrections and Incursions of the Soldiers otherwise no Important Commotions on either side Till certain Persons impatient of Ease and not enduring that Peace had brought the Affairs of France to such a Condition as not to land in need of their Assistance kindled an unseasonable and mouâ—nful War to which the King perniciously ad-viz'd and by a fatal Mistakâ—â— suffer'd himself to be drawn in and though Your self at first were the pretended Mark against which those Armes were turn'd yet all their Fury fell at length on his own Head I tremble when I call to mind that Execrable Parricide no less to the eternal Infamy of the Gallic Name then to the indelible Infamy of those that so inhumanly chuckl'd at it which doubtless had involv'd the Kingdom and together with the Kingdom Religion it self 〈◊〉 ruin past recovery had not You Great Sir reserv'd for these unhappy times by â—â—e unlookt for Favour of the Almighty â—atching over our safety like a well fixed Column supported the tottering Commonwealth and by Your Courage opt the Headlong Wheel of Public Caâ—…mity ready to crush in pieces what ever â—…rowl'd over Yet all this while have â—…stified by Your own Example that all â—…ings else what ever are subject to Huâ—…an Laws but that Religion only as have already said is neither to be comâ—…ll'd or lorded over For having been â—…strain'd from Your Infancy to struggle â—…th so many Adversities in the midst Civil Wars having been surrounded 〈◊〉 several Armies at the same time â—…ter so many Battels won and lost for was then equally mischievous to vanquish le vanquish'd tho' you had all along fore like a stout Soldier fighting in his â—…nk stood stedfaâ—â— to your first Religion to be shaken either with hopes or fears length however at a time when you found that all things gave way to your Prowess you surrenderd of your own accord to the humble Prayers of Your Subjects and in the full Career of Victory suffering Your self to be overcome return'd to the Religion of Your Ancesters Yet after that You still preserv'd the same sedateness of Temper and Moderation of mind which you had always experienc'd so beneficial to your self For thus perswaded you recall'd the Edicts which had been publish'd in despite of your Predecessors against the Protestants and consequently against your self And after a Peace to your loud Fame concluded not only with your Subjects but with Foreigners you by a Third confirm'd two former Edicts in favour of the Protestants whereby you restor'd 'em to their Houses their Estates and their Honours and dignifi'd several with the highest Employments in the Kingdom For it was your firm belief that all Animosities asswaging by degrees the Concord ratifi'd by the Edicts would be more readily observ'd among Dissenters in Opinions and that Serenity and Tranquillity being restor'd to the Minds of Men all Heats and Passions like a scatter'd Storm dispers'd People would be able with more sedateness to discern what in Religion was best to be made choice of as most conformable to Antiquity And indeed this was the Course which those Holy Fathers always thought most proper to take with those who either out of hatred or sway'd by Errour ran astray from the Rule and Communion of the Church to the end they might make it appear that they were rather led by Charity then any desire of violent Conquest And upon these Considerations it was that St. Augustin ever calls the Pelagians Brethren and that Optatus of Milevum no less affably treats the Donatists For this reason it was that St. Cyprian before them was wont to say that as it was his hearty wish so it was always his advice and counsel to the Church if possible never to suffer any of the Brethren to perish but to foster in her Bosom like an Indulgent Mother all without distinction as one Body of People agreeing in their judgments For indeed there are many among those that are separated from our Communion who that I may use St. Austin's words would in order to their private Resolutions return were once the Storms allay'd But seeing 'em continue or else fearing lest they should grow more outragious upon their reunion they continue their Inclinations to advise and comfort the weak still without separating from their particular Congregations defending till death and by their Testimony upholding that Faith which they know to be taught in the Catholick Church Yet all this while they patiently suffer for the sake of the Church's Peace the Contumelies and Injuries offer'd on both sides and by their Example teach us with what sort of Zeal Sincerity and Charity God is to be serv'd Vpon these Considerations as well taught by my own Experience as confirm'd by Your Example that 't is my duty to consult the Peace of the Church I have abstain'd from all bitterness of language I
Judges were equally divided But the zeal of Religion carried it against the Order of Justice and instead of following according to rule the favourablest side in criminal matters when Opinions are equally divided about them they turned over the Cause to the great Chamber where the Order in case of division was over ruled and the severest Opinions preferr'd before the most mild and equitable The perplexity into which the Court was put by the loss of the Battle at St. Quentin gave the Protestants some hopes they should be allowed a little respite and therefore they assembled with less caution than before and among other meetings they had one at Paris in St. James's street so numerous that it being impossible to escape the eyes of the people who saw them come out of the House where they met The Rabble fell upon them which caused such an uproar that the Officers of Justice were fain to come to appease it In which scuffle some of the Meeters defended themselves against the aggressours and got away and others escaped by several means but however above 100 of them were seised among which were some Maids of Honour to the Q. And that Princess her self who was nothing less than what she had a mind to appear and who desired to pass for a sober chast Lady was not unwilling to be suspected to incline to the Protestant opinions The better sort of People had a high conceit of them and thought them of unblameable Manners but the Rabble were incensed against them by most horrible calumnies for sometimes it was reported they were Jews and used to eat a Paschal Lamb at their Nightly Meetings sometimes that they eat a Pig there instead of a Lamb and sometimes that they roasted Children there and made great chear at those monstrous entertainments after which they put out the Candles and coupled together with all manner of unlawful Embraces Nay and there were some so furiously Zealous against them that they had the impudence to affirm they had participated at those infernal Devotions Several of those thus taken were burnt but the rest fortunately made use of all the shifts they could find out in Law to delay their Sentence during which time the Germans and Swissers of whom the K. at that time stood in great need interceded for them and those severities were by little and little moderated for fear of offending such necessary Friends as they The next Summer the people took a fancy to sing in the Clerks Meadow a place where all the Town used to divert themselves with walking Marot's singing Psalms that were set to very fine Musical Tunes which novelty at first was so pleasing that the next day after the K. and Q. of Navar went thither with an incredible multitude of People but the Clergy were terribly alarm'd at it and endeavoured with all their power to procure all such Assemblies to be supprest and their zeal in that was very singular because they could not endure people should sing in the open Field what they had without controul sung in their Houses several years together and at the Court it self during all which time that singing was never thought any mark of Heresie But ever since that Enterprise to these last years the singing of Psalms has always been insupportable to the Clergy and tho they never employed any serious efforts to hinder the singing of Prophane and filthy Songs which have been too rise at all times yet on the contrary they never pursued any thing with so much eagerness as their endeavours to deprive the Protestants of the Consolation of singing with freedom those holy Canticles About that time first appear'd in France that competition of those two Rival Parties that afterwards had like to have ruin'd it and which was as 't were the Fountain-head of all the other Factions One of them was that of the Princes of Lorain who took advantage by the defeat and taking of the Constable to augment their own greatness The other was that of the Constable himself and his Family who possessed most of the great Employments That Lord huddled up the Treaty of Cateau in Cambresis out of eagerness by a Peace to procure his liberty and opportunity to return to the Court to prevent the ruin of his house But the Cardinal of Lorain made use of the same Treaty to find occasions to destroy him for he had a secret Conference with Granvelle Cardinal Bp. of Arras who complain'd to him how highly persons tainted with Heresie were favoured in the Court of France and named in particular Andelot Brother to the Admiral of Chatillon and Nephew to the Constable which was an Artifice to engage the Lorain Cardinal whose Genius Granvelle very well knew in a Quarrel with the Family of those Lords in assured expectation that by the mutual opposition of those two Parties the Kingdom would be brought into great confusions which would be of considerable advantage to the House of Austria The Cardinal being a vain and busy man and who in his great designs had not always the prudence and constancy to carry them on snapt presently at the Bait thinking to find his account in the News he had heard because he knew the suspicion of Heresie was enough to Exasperate Henry II. to ruin the greatest of his Favourites And accordingly he accuses Andelot upon which the K. immediately sending for him and requiring to know the truth from his own Mouth he answered in so resolute a manner and declared his sense about the Mysteries of the Roman Church in such vigorous terms that the Historians of that time durst not repeat his Expressions At which the K. fell into such a fit of fury that he suffered his passion to transport him to commit very undecent Actions for he would have Kill'd him and in the attempt wounded the Dauphin his Son who was near him In fine Andelot was sent to Prison and depriv'd of all his places But when the K's passion was over the Constable after some difficulty found credit enough to procure his Restoration And so the Cardinal's artifice had no other effect for that time than to provoke against him the Resentment of those puissant Houses and to inform the Protestants That some of the most considerable Lords of the Kingdom were of their Opinion This then hindred not the Reformation to continue its progress for it was embraced by persons of all sorts of conditions It gain'd a great number of Church-men and Men of Learning and was well relished by the most eminent Persons in the very Parliament of Paris so that the severities there went on more heavily than ordinary tho the K. hotly pressed the Execution of his Edict of Chateau-Briant Having then sent a new Order to the Parliament commanding them exactly to observe it Some Spies inform'd him that notwithstanding that their Votes tended still towards moderation upon which he goes suddenly thither when he was
that take Heaven and Earth to witness they pay no manner of homage to Images In the mean while the Trials went on against the Prisoners most of which came off with a slight punishment But Counsellor du Bourg after he had shewn some weakness which he soon retracted by the Exhortations of the Ministers and others who writ to him or visited him was condemned to the flames as if he had been a common person They endeavour'd to blacken him by accusing him as a Complice in the assassination of the President de St. Andre who had been one of the Commissionated Judges appointed to try him But that Accusation being sufficiently refuted by the known Probity of that Venerable Senator fell of it self That President had acted in the whole Examination and Prosecution of that business more like a passionate Adversary than an equitable Judge which Du Faur one of the Prisoners charged him with very couragiously one day which cruel man hapning to be kill'd before the Trial of the Prisoners was over one Mr. Stuart a Scotch Gentleman and who pretended some Relation to the Queen but in complaisance to her Vncles was disowned by her was taken up upon suspicion for that murder to which to make weight they added several other Accusations But with all their Tricks they could not convict him by any sufficient Proofs nor extort any confession out of his Mouth no not by the torments of the Wrack which he suffer'd with such an unshaken constancy that as they were unwilling to condemn him upon imperfect Evidence so they durst not acquit him because they fear'd him Whilst the Protestants were thus outragiously handled their severe usage exasperated them both to speak and write somewhat warmly in their own defence But their Apologies had the ill luck to incense the higher Powers but so much the more against them because they maintain'd That Women Foreigners ought to be excluded from the Government and that the administration of it belong'd to the General Estates of the Kingdom and to the Princes of the Blood during the minority of Kings whom they would by no means acknowledg at age fit to govern at 14 years And about 3 years after they still brought upon themselves more mischief by reading in a Synod a Writing drawn up by a certain Author exhorting them to unite together against despotick Power Popery and Abuses in Law which they called the three plagues of human Kind from which they who live by the Corruption of Religion and Justice fail'd not to give a malicious turn to the aversion they shew'd for Arbitrary Power and to take advantage there-from to reproach and traduce them to this day as Republicans and sworn enemies to Monarchy as if not to flatter Tyranny were the same thing as to Rebel against a legal Government The power of the Guises began to grow Insupportable and there began likewise from that very time to arise between them and the Royal House of Bourbon a competition that soon after degenerated into a declared Enmity so that from that time forward those two Houses became Irreconcileable foes which was the true occasion of the attempt of Amboise tho some will needs have it pass for a pure business of Religion I shall leave that talk to others to treat more amply of that subject and to make use of the Testimony of those who assure us that Q Katharine had secretly solicited the Admiral to free her out of the hands of the Guises who had assumed all the Authority and for my own part shall only be content to assert That Religion was concern'd in it only by accident by reason that those who were deprived of their part in the Government due to them by their high Birth professed the Reformed Religion Among near 1200 unhappy persons that were destroyed upon that occasion by divers sorts of Punishments and most of which suffered all the severities of the Tortures there were but two in all whom they could force by Torments to say what they would have them all the rest unanimously maintaining that their design was only to seise the Lorrain-Princes and divest them of an Authority which they ought not to enjoy to the prejudice of the Princes of the Blood There is therefore as little reason to charge the Reformed Religion with the blame of that Enterprise supposing that according to the Rules of Policy it deserved any as to impute to the Roman Religion the conspiracies of the Catholick Princes and Lords against the Tyranny of the Marshal D'Ancre or that of the D. of Orleans against the excessive power of Cardinal Richelieu or those of the Parliaments and of the Prince of Conde against the Ministry of Cardinal Richelieu who went on in the steps of his Predecessour to oppress the publick liberty The heads and principal Members of those Conspiracies being Catholicks as those concerned in the design of Amboise were Protestants Since therefore the persons concerned in all those several Intrigues were all engaged by the same motives and the same prospects they must either be equally imputed to the Religion of their Authors and by consequence the Roman Religion must be judged so much the more Guilty in this matter than the Protestant as it has oftener stirr'd in those sorts of Commotions than the other or else it must be confessed that Religion had no share but by accident in those affairs which were purely Politick of their own Nature and that those Interests which set the Wheels of those attempts in motion were indeed properly none of Hers. But the Cruelty of the Court the principal heads of which diverted themselves with the horrible Spectacle of so many Executions and seeing the blood run down in all the streets of Amboise struck a horrour in all moderate persons And this first Essay which was follow'd by so many Massacres that stain'd the succeeding reign with so much Blood touched the Chancellour Oliver so much to the Heart that he Died with grief and L'Hopital was put in his place who in acknowledgment of that Favour always adhered to the Q's interest as his own That Princess seeing the Authority of the Guises increased by their Success in the Enterprise of Amboise would not suffer the Protestants to be prosecuted to extremity yet could not induce them by that to place any confidence in her since for all that they examined in one of their Synods a Memorial to be presented to the General Estates in which several things were made use of not at all to her advantage But however the Court kept fair for a while with the Prince of Conde tho they were well enough persuaded he was privately the chief contriver of that Enterprise and the D. of Guise by a profound Dissimulation of his Thoughts seemed to assent to his justification About the same time the name of Huguenot was introduced into the World and because it has been ever since retain'd as the distinguishing name of a Party I
their Brethren for the Court-Interest But yet still the Division was not so great as very much to weaken the Princes Party who sometime after the Queen had disowned them having called a Council of Conscience of sixty Ministers to consult whether it were lawful after that to continue the War they came to this Resolution That since those Arms were at first taken up by Order of that Princess whilst free against the Enemies of the King and the State and the Violaters of Edicts they were lawfully taken up and ought not to be laid down by any Counter-Order proceeding from her whilst under the force of hers and their common Enemies This War was very cruel in many places because there were some Commanders on each side that prosecuted it without any Mercy For Des Adrets on the Protestant side was noted for his Cruelties and Monluc on the other would spare no body Nay and Mompensier too signalised himself not a little by his Inhumanities However this difference there was between the Cruelties of the Two Parties That those of the Catholicks were a continuation of what they had exercised for near 40 years past by so many Butcherly Executions and those of the Protestants were but actions of men made desperate by so long and barbarous a persecution Which by the way deserves to be remarked against the Roman Catholick Historians who always excuse as much as they can the Excesses of their own people though never so villainous but represent the Violences of the Princes Forces much horrider than they were And indeed the Protestants found no mercy at all No Faith of Treaties was ever kept with them and not being content to destroy them by Fights and Massacres The Catholicks wherever they had power further employed against them he forms of Justice But nothing more furiously incensed the People against them than their breaking of Images and burning of Relicks in several places That likewise occasioned many bloody Edicts against them and the Parliaments would needs stretch the severity of those Acts of the Council yet to a higher pitch by their Decrees especially those of Paris Roan Dijon and Tholouse And tho the Catholick Armies were guilty of as many outrages as the others yet the Protestants bore the blame of all and were charged with the Sacriledges even of their Enemies A new Massacre of the Protestants which hapned at Sens by the Cardinal of Lorrain's fault who was Archbishop of that Town broke off the Negotiations for a Peace and the War was continued a fresh both by Arms and Writings In which the Catholicks were the first that had recourse to Foreign Aid and the Protestants imitated them by procuring assistance from Queen Elizabeth of England who seised of Havre de Grace for her security But before her Forces could joyn the Princes Army a Battle was fought near Dreux the success of which on both sides was so equal that the Duke of Guise was the only gainer by it The King of Navar died some time before of a wound he received at the Siege of Roan the Marshal de St. Andre was Killed and the Constable taken in this Battle so that the Duke had now neither superiour nor competitour at Court The Prince of Conde was likewise taken Prisoner but that hindred not his party from standing upon such high conditions that no Peace could be agreed upon The Duke afterwards laying Siege to Orleans was there Assassinated by one Poltrot which miserable wretch being taken Accused the Admiral and Beza and several others as his Instigatours to that enterprise and tho he often varied in his answers upon Examinations yet he accused the Admiral with a little more constancy than the rest However he was willingly credited in that point and the young Duke of Guise continuing ever from that time a resentment against that Lord as guilty of the Charge revenged himself nine years after upon several thousands of Innocents whose blood he mingled with the Admirals to expiate the death of his Father The Tragical Death of that great Man dampt the vain thoughts of the Cardinal of Lorrain then at Trent whither the Council had been removed the third time by a Bull of Pius IV. where the French Ambassadours had waited a good while for the coming of the Bishops of their Nation but the Cardinal came thither at last attended with some Prelates with a full Resolution to insist upon thirty four Articles of Reformation which seemed to be much desired by the Queen and especially the Restitution of the Cup and the Marriage of Priests The same accident likewise put the Court upon other Measures and disposed matters to a Peace for which an Edict was agreed upon at Amboise The Prince took advice only of the Nobility of his Party who were weary of the War and would not hearken to the Counsel of threescore and ten Ministers who would have persuaded him to abate nothing of the Edict of January The Admiral was not at all content with this proceeding But however he was forced to seem to approve of what he could not hinder and to accept an Edict much less favourable than the former and where the Distinction of Rights of Exercise by vertue of Fiefs Possession and Bailywicks was introduced The Peace was followed by an Event at which the Court of Rome was highly offended The Cardinal of Chatillon Bishop of Beauvais which is one of the most antient Peerages of the Kingdom turning to the Religion of the Admiral his Brother quitted both the Name and Habit of his Ecclesiastical Dignity and retain'd only that of Count of Beauvais The Pope thereupon cited him and depriv'd him of his Cardinals Hat But that Lord to shew how little he valued the Papal Censure immediately took up again his Cardinals Habit and wore it at all Ceremonies at which he was present and even at the Registring of the Kings Declaration upon the Subject of his Majority nay and to carry his contempt further he Married a Lady and wore his Cardinals Habit on his Wedding day The same year the Cardinal of Lorrain called a Synod at Rheims where the Cardinal of Chatillon appeared not tho he were Suffragan of Rheims as Bishop of Beauvais They who were present at it were content only to agree upon a resolution to give notice to the King that that Prelate was Excommunicated at Rome for a Heretick But that was put off till 1569. when the Parliament Declared him a Rebel and deprived him of all his Dignities turning him over to the Judgment of his Superiour as to what concern'd the Common Crime But they durst not at first explain what they meant by the term Superiour for fear of offending the Pope but in another Decree they plainly owned that by Superiour they meant his Metropolitan the Archbishop of Rheims with the Bishops his Suffragans conformably to the Liberties of the Gallican Church And in fine when this Cardinals Widow moved
learnt by experience that the blame was always laid upon them right or â—…g In â— Months time more than 2000 of them were Massacred in several places 〈…〉 nothing was to be seen every where but Injustices to destroy them or artifices â—…ide them That was the drift of an Edict in which the K. pretended to take 〈…〉 his Protection all Protestants that should live peaceably at home but that trick had â—…ct because it was too soon discover'd Then came out another Edict which 〈…〉 the liberty to exercise any other Religion but the Catholick which was soon followed by another commanding the Protestants to quit all offices and the Order 〈◊〉 Registring it in the Parliament of Paris added this clause That all who succeeded 〈◊〉 any Offices for the future should be obliged to swear to live and die in the Roman Reâ—â—â—â—â—on The Protestants likewise intercepted some Letters written by the Court to 〈◊〉 Magistrates in the Provinces forbidding them to observe the Edict of Peace Thâ—â—â— are others extant from the Q. of Navar to the Cardinal of Bourbon where 〈◊〉 reminds him of a thing at which he was so terribly alarm'd that he could 〈◊〉 sleep for one whole night which was that during Q Katharines last sickness 〈…〉 sign was laid to act over again in France the Scicilian Vesper This â—right of the Câ—â—dinal as may be a hint by the way was a sufficient proof their malice aimâ—â— as much at the House of Bourbon as the Reform'd Religion They attempted lâ—â—â— wise to surprise the Prince of Conde at his house at Noyers and that so subâ—â—â—â— that he had hardly a minutes notice to make his escape But nothing more cleâ—â—ly betrayed the Courts intentions than the Bull of Alienation of some Ecclesiâ—â—â— Revenues granted towards the support of a War against the Hereticks and which â—â—ing dated some days before the Protestants took Arms was an evident proof that 〈◊〉 Court that had sollicited it was the first that designed a Rupture However 〈◊〉 Chancellor suffer'd it not to be made use of for fear the Protestants should 〈◊〉 prove it to their advantage and they were fain to procure another three 〈◊〉 after that granted the K. the same Alienation under the notion of a Recomâ—â—â—â—â— of his Revoking the Edicts of Toleration Yet for all that the Chancellor was â—â—â—t graced either because he was against the War or was suspected to favour the Pâ—â—testants for the sake of his Wife his Daughter and his Son in Law who were 〈◊〉 their Religion Thus the Protestants were forced to a third War in which 〈◊〉 suffered great losses For Andelot Brother to the Admiral and one of their 〈◊〉 commanders died of sickness and but a little before that the Prince of Conde was 〈◊〉 at Bassac near Jarnac by a treachery without example committed in all appâ—â—â—ance by the Court and Orders to the D. of Anjou since that Assassinate was 〈◊〉 under his Nose by the Capt. of his Guards himself shewing no dislike 〈…〉 exploit This was the first noble head sacrificed to the D. of Alva's Counsels 〈…〉 same year the Protestants also lost the Battle of Moncontour so that after so 〈◊〉 misfortunes the Court seemed to have a prospect of having a cheaper bargâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the rest For indeed the Admiral himself tho never so great as in Adversity 〈…〉 then so stupified with so many cross blows that he was some time before 〈…〉 could recover himself But however when they saw him take fresh Courag◠〈…〉 that after he had Marcht almost round the Kingdom through so many 〈…〉 Troops and Towns he was still in a condition with his Army as much tired 〈…〉 was and unprovided of all necessities to oppose the Royal Army sent against 〈…〉 they quitted all thoughts of destroying him by open force and resolv'd to dispatch 〈…〉 by some master stroke of Treachery and accordingly struck up with him a 〈…〉 Peace by which they granted him so many things so much beyond his â—â— that it was easy to see they had a mind to trick him That was the first 〈…〉 which there were mentioned any cautionary Towns But then 4 such were giâ—â—â— to the Protestants for 4 years and they rested content with that security tho 〈…〉 had been so often deceiv'd by the Court-Oaths because they thought that 〈…〉 might be sufficient to execute the Edict and to accustome the French to 〈…〉 Peace together for all their difference in Religion All the great persons in 〈…〉 Kingdom Swore to this Peace and the Spanish Ambassador seem'd to be highly 〈…〉 contented at it But the better to surprise the Protestants they prevented their desires in many things For they consulted about the War in Flanders which the Admiral was very zealous for they made applications to Queen Elizabeth and the German Princes whose Ambassadors and Exhortations to observe the Peace they received very well They Negotiated a Marriage between Henry Prince of Navar and Margaret the King's Sister as if they designed to stifle all suspicions by so strict an Alliance And in particular they caressed the Admiral so highly that the Old Gentleman as wise as he was let himself be so insnared by them that he made the places of Security to be yielded back before the two years were expired and answered them who gave him private advice of the Court-designs that he had rather be drawn about the Streets through the dirt than to begin a New War During this Calm the Protestants held two National Synods at both which Beza assisted and at the first which was held at Rochelle were present the Queen of Navar the Princes and the Admiral And the Queen was pleas'd to take the Advice of the Synod for regulating the Religion of her Domesticks The Complaints of that Assembly were favourably heard at the Court who checkt a Sedition that had been raised at Roan and promised Redress against another that had been stirr'd up at Orange and suffered 1200 Families of the County of Avignon that had been persecuted there for Religion to take Refuge in Dauphiny and in fine omitted nothing that might convince the World they were heartily weary of the War But not withstanding this fair Out-side they neglected not to take measures at a distance for what they afterwards put in Execution And 't is said They deliberated first about it at Blois in the very same Chamber where the Duke of Guise was killed 16 or 17 years after and that that Prince presided in that Assembly That a year after the Proposition was renewed at St. Cloud in the same Chamber where Henry III. was assassinated in the year 1589. and that this Prince who was then but Duke of Anjou presided in this Second Assembly King Charles who kept the Secret with a profound Dissimulation during all these long Intrigues did not forbear to say enough to the Legate who complain'd of the Favours which were heaped upon the Protestants to make him
be good that since his Majesty was pleased to Postpone God after Paris he was afraid God would not give him Paris at all And indeed after he had lost a great deal of time before that great City and slipt many occasions of gaining it he was forced to raise the Siege and give ground a little before the Leaguers whose throats till then he had in a manner under his foot After Paris was reliev'd and the D. of Parma retired the proposal for satisfying the Protestants was again taken into Deliberation and the K. moving towards Normandie ordered a project of a Declaration to be drawn up for the procuring of Peace among his Subjects notwithstanding the difference of Religion In which Du Plessis who fram'd it laid open at large the K's Intentions in order to the reuniting of all his subjects into one fold if 't were possible by the means of a General or at least a National Council or if neither of them could be had of a considerable Assembly of Select Church men such as should be judged the fittest to conduct to a happy issue so holy an enterprise and in the mean time while such a reunion should be endeavouring the Catholick Religion was every where restor'd with an entire liberty to use the publick service practised by that Church whereas nothing at all was done for the Protestants but what was before granted them by the Truce except only that all those Edicts were recall'd which had been extorted to their prejudice by the Leaguers And that one would think was very little for those people who were of the K's Religion and who had so usefully and faithfully serv'd him from his Infancy And indeed after so long patience and after they had run through many dangers and toilsome labours to obtain nothing else of a K. that had been a long time their Protectour but what they had already obtain'd from another that had been a great while their Persecutor was e'en to get just nothing at all But the Catholicks took the alarm as soon as ever any proposal was offered to grant any new favour to the Protestants and were much more disposed to make retrenchments from than additions to the Edicts of Toleration and all they could hope to obtain from the equity of the most moderate of them was that the Terms of the precedent Edicts should be strictly observed without extending or diminishing any of their Concessions So that the Protestants were fain to be content with what they could obtain and all the pretences they could make to any new favours in recompence for their long services were sacrificed to the K's Interests who could not do any thing for them without imbroiling himself with the Catholicks and therefore they reduced all their demands to these three heads viz. A security for their lives and consciences 2. A liberty for the publick exercise of their Religion And 3. An equal share in the Distribution of places and employments By the consideration of which it 's easy to judg which were the most equitable the Catholicks or the Protestants The Catholicks would have both the K. and the Protestants at their Discretion and thought these latter obliged to serve him without any recompence nay and without any security too but yet had the face to demand a recompence for themselves before any service done and would be assured of the K's Conscience before they would give him any assurance of their Allegiance Whereas the Protestants on the contrary demanded only such tolerable conditions as were fit to be granted to honest men and good French men and to be treated like other Members of the State of which they were a considerable part It was then enough to satisfy them to restore them the Edict of Toleration granted in 1577 with the Explications of it contain'd in the Treaties of Nerac and Fleix and to revoke the Edicts put out against them only in compliance with the furious humours of the Leaguers So that the Edict that Du Plessis had drawn up would certainly have contented them tho no other security were given them for the performance of it but the K's protection who was himself their security But whilst those matters were in debate This new suit of theirs was traversed by those whose old custom it was to thwart the good Dispositions of those that were inclined to let the Protestants live in quiet Biron was one of those and one of the most fiery of them too He would needs have but one Religion suffer'd in the Kingdom and yet what is most remarkably extravagant in one of that hot headed temper is that he himself lived peaceably with his Lady who was a Protestant and had permitted her for some time to bring up his Son in her Religion which made Du Plessis take occasion one day to tell him he wondred why he could not as well find means to make two Religions agree together in one Kingdom as he had found the secret to make them agree together in one Bed This Remark is proof enough that passion and prejudice had a much greater share in the opposition made against the Protestants than either good Reason or true Zeal However the project of the Declaration after it had been examined at Pont St. Pierre in full Council was found so reasonable that it was resolv'd it should be publisht and the K. ordered the Chancellour and Du Plessis whom he had made Councellour of State since the Battel of Yvri to go to Tours to get it approv'd by the Parliament and part of the Council that resided there of which the Cardinal of Vendome was President but the Catholicks bafled that attempt too as soon as the two Commissioners were gone and procur'd the Chancellour to be recall'd Their true reason was because they concluded that if the Protestants were once confirmed by an Edict and cured of all the jealousies they had of the King it would be a great obstacle to that Prince's return to the Roman Church because then they would stickle the more vigorously to keep him in theirs and besides would thereby get such footing in all posts of business under the favour of a K. of their own Religion that they would soon overtop the Catholicks in power but however their pretence was as it used to be viz. For fear of alienating the Affections of the People and authorising the Jealousies of the Leaguers â—u Plessis made vigorous Remonstrances to the K. concerning the Equity of that Declaration telling him freely in writing that 't was 〈◊〉 shame for him to let the Edicts of the Leaguers remain so long in force those Edicts that had been extorted by unjust Violences that had thrown the State into confusion and caus'd the Death of Henry III. which had declar'd Henry IV. uncapable of the Crown because of his Religion and in some sort degraded the Princes of the Blood that the Reinforcement of the Edict of Toleration granted in 1577 was
before wherein he protested he desired nothing more than to be better instructed and was ready to submit to the Decisions of a General Council or at least of such an Assembly of Church men as might be able to terminate the depending Controversies and in the mean while promised to alter nothing in the State of the Catholick Religion and he gave them soon after very convincing proofs of the sincerity of his Intentions in that 〈◊〉 by granting the Town of Chartres upon its surrender to him after a long Siege the power to suppress the exercise of the Reformed Religion both in that City and within the whole extent of its Jurisdiction In which he stretcht his complaisance for the Catholicks to as â—ign a pitâ—h as it would bear since to pleasure them he was content 〈◊〉 exclude the exercise of his own Religion out of the precincts of a â—onquer'd pâ—ace The other Declaration was in favour of the Protestants to whom it granted the Revocation of the Edicts that were contrary to that of 1577 which was thereby restored to its full force and vigour by way of Provision till the Differences in Religion should be agreed by the consent of all the Orders of the Kingdom when they should be reduced to the Kings obedience It was thought an Edict so very reasonable as that could not but pass without contradiction since it made no new concessions to the Protestants restor'd to the Catholicks the exercise of their Religion in a good number of places out of which it had been banisht during the last War that it was in effect nothing but an Interim or Temporary Provision in expectation of a Definitive Peace and since lastly it reserved to the Leaguers a power to make new demands in behalf of their Religion the whole matter not being to be concluded without their consent when they should be reduced Yet the Cardinal of Vendome who had taken the name of the Cardinal of Bourbon could not forbear making some feeble opposition against it in full Council But after he had shewn his malicious intentions to that degree as to make an offer to go out of the Council rather than consent to an Edict of that Nature he was glad for all his huffing to sit down again tamely at a small disdainful nod the K. made to him But the Parliaments were more surly and difficult to be won for those of Reunes and Bourdeaux absolutely rejected the Edict and tho that of Tours accepted it yet it was with a Modification by which Protestants were excluded from all publick Offices and Employments and out of all Assemblies of States in most part of the Kingdom The pretence abused by some to that purpose was taken from a Clause in the Edict of Mantes which ordered That the last Edicts of Pacification should be restor'd and observ'd as they were in the life time of the late K. now they knew well enough that Hen. III. never gave any places to Protestants and that he found out tricks to exclude them in spite of the Article in his Edict that declared them capable to hold them and therefore by virtue of those words which were either unwarily used or foisted by the Artifice of the Catholicks into the Edict of Mantes they would still have them remain Excluded from all Employments because they had been so treated by the deceased K. and they thought it favour enough to let them enjoy Offices in Rochelle and some other places where the artifices of Hen. III could never prevail to exclude them And the Cardinal of Bourbon maintain'd that Banter and openly declared that the Protestants did but deceive themselves in pretending to be admitted to Offices and they were fain to spend many years in patience and continual solicitations before they could surmount that obstacle tho there was nothing more unjust than that pretence For Hen. III. had violated his own Law in excluding them by diverse Tricks from those Employments to which they were rightfully admittable according to the express terms of his own Edict so that they could not take any advantage against them from the deceitful conduct of that P. without wranglings not very suitable to Royal Majesty to the prejudice of the Publick Faith The Reformed made no great complaints of the Edict tho' the provisional Clause which differed the Decision of their Affairs till after the Reduction of those of the League ought to have seemed intollerable unto them because it did leave them in an uncertain condition which could alter as Time and Interests should serve But they could not endure to be deprived of the Benefit of their Birthrights or the Rewards of their desert upon the sole consideration of their Religion whether because this Injustice bespattered their Religion and their Persons or because it did treat them as the Canon Law orders Heretics to be who are by this Law excluded from Dignities and Charges whence it followed very evidently that they were put into the number of such as the same Canons give over to the secular Judge and whom the Catholick Kings oblige themselves to destroy by their Coronation-Oath They further considered as a particular reason of maintaining themselves in the right of partaking publick Employs that the King had suppressed the Courts of St. John d' Angeli of Bergerac and of Montauban wherein Justice had been rendered till towards the end of the foregoing Year by Judges of their own Religion for which they pretended that the King ought to give them some Recompence and for which they only desired to be admitted to the same Employments that they being of the Companies of Judicature might have some of their own Religion to take care to see Justice done to their Brethren Therefore they made heavy complaints of the wrangling that I have just now specified and omitted not to set forth that the Injustice done them reflected on the King himself since those could not be deprived of Employments for the sake of Religion that followed the same Doctrine with him without silently declaring him uncapable of the Crown But they did not require the King to give an express Declaration for the solving of this Equivocation for fear the scrupulous Catholicks should look upon it as a new Grace and should take occasion to grumble at it They only insisted that the King should verbally express his Intentions to the heads of the Soveraign Courts but so as to cause them to be executed The King to satisfie them sent Commissioners for the executing of his Edict in the Parliaments that acknowledged his Authority but this remedy was not sufficient to hinder new occasions of Complaints to be given every-where Meanwhile the Clergy being assembled at Chartres to the small number that I have mentioned were drawing up Articles which lay open their unfaithful and ambitious Mind As the Ecclesiasticks have always been for making the Preservation and Safety of the Kings to depend on themselves this small Assembly undertook to
he shew'd the King the Progress of the Conference begun with the League the Delays of those that had made him change the â—â— conveniencies of the Truce the cause of fearing that as he was thereby treated as Head of a Party he might be oblig'd by the Peace to become the Captain General against the Huguenots that the Peace without them could not be manag'd without Injustice nor without giving them lawful Suspicions Whereupon he represented what Extremities the Catholicks were delivered from under Henry III. by the Reformed and how the â—atter had reason to suspect that if a Peace was concluded without them all the Difficulties of it should be removed to make them smart that the convocating the Deputies of the Churches was a Cheat seeing that without waiting their coming they deâ—ated on their Condition and that of their Posterity and that â—hey made the King give such Promises as one day would be us'd â—o make void all that he should grant them that there were effects â—hat corroborated these Suspicions that Protestant Sermons were â—â—ready banish'd the Court and Armies and consequently the Reâ—â—rmed seeing it was impossible for them to live at Court withâ—ut serving God or to expose themselves in the Army without â—…y hope of Comfort and without assurance of Christian Burial â—â—at they were contriving to debar them from all places in the Exâ—â—equer Courts of Justice and City Magistracy for which they had â—…ver yet been importunate with him that it was not just they â—ould injure their Posterity to that degree as to leave them in â—â—e Kingdom to be rank'd among Jews and Leapers instead of â—hat was owing to their Services that they could better endure to â—â—e under the late King's Truce that granted 'em the Exercise of â—â—eir Religion at Court and in the Army the Salary of their Miâ—â—sters out of the Exchequer Places of Safety in every Baiâ—ick or Senescalship and that besides had promised them a â—estitution of the Edicts before the year was ended Finally 〈…〉 added by way of Advice That these Considerations had weaâ—…d the Patience of the King's Servants who knew not what â—â—swer to make that now there was no time for Delays that â—â—â—ir minds were tyr'd yet heaving and tossing and upon seeking â—â—emedy from Despair that to take off their desire for a Proâ—â—tor it was requisite the King should free them from that neâ—â—â—sity by being himself the Person by preventing 'em and taâ—â—â—g 'em into his Care that he knew what would benefit or annoy â—… that he needed no more then only call to mind the Petitions that he had presented for them to his Predecessors that they had lost nothing of their Justice and that they ought to have gained somewhat by the Increase of his Authority seeing it was in his power if he pleas'd to be the Judge and Advocate the Obtainer and Donor all at once The Catholicks seemed to fear lest these different Motions should not make an Impression deep enough on their Minds therefore they exasperated them by insulting Language Some of them call'd the Reformed Sots and Blockheads that knew not how to take hold of the occasion and had suffer'd the time to slip that was fit for their purpose This sort of Drollery was so much the more nipping because that when they press'd the King to think on them it was cast in their Teeth that they had mistaken the time and were threatned that one day they might very well lose what they should obtain this way And they have ever since been thus dealt with All the Methods they have taken or propos'd for their Safety have been accounted punishable Rebellions as also whatever they have done to keep their Enemies from destroying them And when they suffered without muttering one Word all the ways that have been undertaken to oppress them they were styled Stupids and Rusticks that knew not how to defend themselves Plessis's Letter having prepar'd the King for such Discourses as the Deputies were like to assail him with He desir'd again â—â— see him at Chartres to accustom himself to the Presence of the Reformed as well as to their Remonstrances perswading himself that if what he should say made any Impression on his Mind â— would suffice to perswade the rest who put an extraordinary Confidence in that Gentleman He saw him therefore and excus'd himself the best he could striving to make him believe that he Change was altogether feign'd and forc'd so far as to detest those that had done the like in imitation of him and protesting that he had Sacrificed himself for his People and chiefly to procure with more ease the Peace of the Churches which he then call'd as he did a long time after our Churches as if he had still heâ— some Communion with them These Reasons were the Satisfaction that he gave the Reformed of his Court to whom he Change seemed inexcusable and would tell them even befoâ—â— he had put it in execution that he made himself an Anathema for his Brethren whose rest he well saw could not otherwise be procur'd Du Plessis seem'd not to be satisfied with these Excuses nor to build upon the hopes the King gave him of reforming Religion but the assurance which he gave him that his affection for the Reformed was not alter'd might be a greater satisfaction to him In the mean time the Royal Catholicks having made themselves Masters of the King by his change were nothing the juster towards the Reformed they omitted no occasion of rendering them suspected or odious in which they spar'd not Calumny itself It was for that purpose that a Rumour was spread amongst the People that duPlessis had intended to murder all the Catholicks of Saumur on the Eve of St. Bartholomew to revenge the Reformed that had been serv'd so twenty years before at Paris He understood very well the malignity of this Artifice which tenâ—ed to render all the Reformed suspected of a like design in all â—he places where they were the strongest because it was more â—han probable that a Lord of that Wisdom and Authority would â—ot alone undertake the project of this Vengeance which would â—e too small for to extend only on the Catholicks of Saumur Therefore he was willing to refute that Calumny in due Form He complain'd to the Parliament of it information was â—ade against the Authors of this Report which was easily â—inc'd to be false but the party impeach'd was not punish'd as Plessis's expected On the other hand the Catholicks strove â—ith great vigour to keep the Deputies of the Churches from â—â—ming into the King's Presence whether they fear'd that their â—â—ght might shake him he being as yet not well grounded or â—at they strove to hinder the Favours he was prepar'd to grant â—â—em to make them forget his change But the King being very â—ath to send back the Reformed Deputies without hearing them the â—atholicks endeavour'd to keep him at least from seeing themall and â—ould fain have admitted
removâ— from the Jurisdiction of their Bailiwick Some added pain of Death to those that should break the Conditions Paris remov'd the Liberty desir'd by the Reformed Ten Leagues round Villars banish'd it Roan and all the Towns and Places that he caus'd to submit to the King's Obedience and added That there should be neither Judge nor Officer that was not a Catholick employ'd therein and did not live according to the Constitutions of the Romish Church But to temperate this rigorous Clause it was subjoined that this should only last till the King had otherwise order'd it Poitieres besides the removal of the Exercise of the Reformed from the Town and Suburbs and from all the places that the Edict of 1577. did not permit demanded that the Catholick Religion might be restor'd in divers places of Poitou Agen limited her Bonlieve to half a league round where the Reformed Religion should not be exercis'd Amiens prohibited it in the City and whole Bailywick without having respect to the Edict of 1577. Beauvois obtain'd that it should be no nearer then three Leagues about nor in any places of the Bailywick but where it had been in the late King's time S. Malo treated after the same manner The Towns and Lords that return'd latest to their duty follow'd the example of the rest and got what they cou'd from the King against the Reformed Religion Some of the Edicts were publish'd before the Reformed had formed the Assembly they were permitted to hold at St. Foy â—o that they had time to see what they were to expect from the Reconciliation of their old Enemies with the King and to be â—onfirm'd in their fears of seeing the Kingdom pacifi'd at their â—ost They saw even some of those Cities which having held â—or the King revive their zeal after the example of the Towns of â—he League and pretended that their fidelity shou'd not deprive 'em â—f the Advantages granted to Rebels whence they drew this â—onsequence that they ought not to be forc'd to suffer the exerâ—ise of the Reformed Religion seeing such were free'd from it as â—ad for a long time stood out against the King But their allarums â—ill encreas'd by the Ceremony of the King's Coronation which â—as celebrated at Chartres because Rheims was as yet in the â—ands of the League The Clergy that never forgot their â—â—terest in Ceremonies of this kind which they have introduc'd â—â—ther thro' Ambition then Necessity inserted a Clause in the Oath that was then taken by the King whereby he was bound 〈…〉 express words to root out Heresie He is made to swear â—fter some other things that concern Justice and publick Tranquity I shall to the utmost of my power sincerely endeavour to drive â—â—om my Jurisdiction and Lands of my Subjection all Hereticks deâ—ar'd by the Church The Reformed knew well what share they had 〈…〉 this Article of the Oath they to whom what Catholicks call the Church had so often declar'd their meaning they against whom the â—opes had rais'd such cruel Persecutions and they to whom the â—rench and even those of the King's Party gave every day the odiâ—us name of Hereticks But part of the Suspicion which this Clause might give was remov'd by granting the Reformed a Brief wherein the King assur'd 'em that he did not mean Them in that Oath And they had in fome measure provided a Remedy against this fear by one of the Articles that were agree'd on at Mantes Another cause of jealousie was the Favour into which the Jesuits had crept a little after the King had chang'd his Religion and chiefly after the Reduction of Paris The Cardinal de Bourbon had undertaken to establish 'em in spight of the oppositions of the University The Duke of Nevers upheld 'em with his whole Credit and many Lords openly protected them Part of the Parliament was for 'em the King himself who was brought to any thing in hopes to soften the Pope favour'd ' em Their cause was pleaded pro and con the Rights of the University were maintain'd with utmost vehemency Arnauld ther Advocate enlarg'd much upon the Inclination altogether Spanish of that Society whose Founder had made a vow of mortal hatred against France and shew'd how formidable their power was They had encreas'd in fifty years to the number of ten Thousand men they had already two Hunder'd twenty eight Houses two Millions of Gold Revenue great Lordships Cardinals in their order all which cleerly shew'd that they ow'd this propagation to their unquiet covetous and ambitious Disposition But it appear'd at that very time that they had a great credit in France seeing their Cause was pleaded privately to avoid Scandal That is to say these Refin'd Politicians by means of their Friends prevented their being told their own in a publick Audience Whence the wise might perceive that it was not safe to offend ' em The Reformed beheld the Settlement of the Jesuits as an ill omen for them because they were their sworn Enemies born on purpose to oppose the Reformation and the ordinary Instruments of all their Persecutions Moreover the Society was altogether Spanishly affected and consequently engag'd to persecute the Reformed whose ruine Spain sought with all the strength of her Policy But this terror did not go far the matter was not decided and e're the year was ended there fell out things that found the Jesuits other Intrigues to disintangle The Reformed were still deny'd any places of trust and there were Catholicks so unjust upon that matter that they chose rather to see the King lose a place then to suffer a Reformed to have the Government of it D' O. publickly said that it were better Catelet a Frontire place of Picardy shou'd be taken by the Spaniards then that a Protestant should have the keeping of it because it wouâ—d be easier to retake it from the King of Spain then to drive a Reformed Captain out of it But what made the Reformed more sensible of the injury of this denial was that whilst they were depriv'd of lesser Offices the chiefest places of the State were given to the Leaguers that demanded them for returning to their Obedience As if Rebellion had given more right to the highest Dignities then long Service and tryed Loyalty to the lesser ones Nay at Tours itself wou'd they make Recorders and Notaries take an Oath of living and dying in the Catholick Religion which if it were not done the place was declar'd vacant and free for the purchase of another This so unequal a distribution of Recompenses mortally offended the Protestants who not without a just Resentment found that the Parliament made no Scruple to Register the Patents for Admiral or Marshal of France granted to the Heads of the Rebels yet would not admit an Usher or a Procter of the Reformed Religion without obliging him to swear that he wou'd live a good Catholick Nor was this all the Governments and Places were taken from the Reformed and
at the same time bestowed upon their Enemies Divers pretences were contriv'd either to hinder them from fortifying the places they held or to perswade them that the keeping 'em was not worth while Valognes in Normandy was taken from 'em under a pretence that it signifi'd nothing to keep it because two or three useless Forts about it were ras'd Mention was made of demolishing all the places that kept Poitiers block'd up as soon as that great Town wou'd be reduc'd The Baron of Courtomer also was depriv'd of the Government of Argentan to put Medavi in his place and elsewhere many the like Subjects of Complaint were given The King to appease the Murmurings that were occasion'd by such Acts of Injustice pay'd the Reformed with the Parable of the Young Man at whose return after a shameful wasting of his Wealth his Father kill'd the fatted Calf for Joy of his Repentance But they answer'd that they ought at least to be treated as the Son that had always been faithful and to whom his Father said Son all that I have is thine That if they were resolv'd to spend the revenue of the Family in favour of a Prodigal to reclaim him it was but just at least to make him a sharer to whom it was said Son thou hast always been with me That certainly the obedient Son was not to be Sacrific'd for the return of the other nor to be despoil'd of his Rights to confer 'em on him that trampl'd under Foot the Authority of his Father Besides these general affairs there happen'd others particular in many places which were enough to weary the Patience of the most prudent and moderate The Lieutenant Civil of Paris put out an Order commanding the Reformed to bow to Crosses Images Banners and Shrines when they shou'd meet 'em in the streets This seem'd to be of consequence because it was done as 't were in the very Presence of the King who seem'd to Authorize seeing he did not hinder it An order of the Judges of Lyons drove from the City and its Jurisdiction upon pain of Death all those that shou'd not profess the Catholick Religion The Parliament of Rheims prohibited on pain of corporal Punishment the selling reading or keeping Books for the use of the Reformed Religion That of Bourdeaux had made an Act that authoriz'd the digging up of the Bodies of the Reformed which in the space of fifteen years had been buried in the Churches or Church-yards of the Catholicks The orders taken with those that had the management of the King's Exchequer for the payment of Ministers were of no effect The Courts that were promis'd for the Administration of Justice in Guyenne and Languedoc were not set up though the Passion of the Parliaments of Bourdeaux and Thoulouse against the Reformed wanted but little of Fury At Orleance the Officers already receiv'd were deposed The Parliament of Roan caus'd the Proctors and Advocates to make a publick Abjuration before they were permitted to plead or argue at the Bar And even at Tours the Parliament before it's return to Paris had caus'd a Judge Assistant of Saumur to make his Abjuration afore his Pattents could be register'd which appear'd so much the more strange that Saumur was a Town of Safety Among the Reformed Lords there were some that took no great Care of the Affairs of their Party Lesdiguieres minded no body but himself in Dauphine where he was very powerful His manners were irregular and his Life not very edifying He was covetous ambitious and debauch'd and he had join'd himself to the Reformed in his outward Profession rather because their Religion had been the raising of his Fortune then out of any real Piety There was a Proposal also of marrying his only Daughter with la Trimouille or the Marshal de Bouillon which would have very much advanc'd the Affairs of the Reformed But the Court prevented those Alliances and a little after that Lesdiguieres marry'd her to Crequi a zealous Catholick Neither was Roni less cold in the matter of Religion He was one of those wary Blades that will be always serving God on the winning side so that his Religion consisted only in Appearances and those but very superficial too There were also Governours both of the Provinces and of strong Towns whose Character was much the same who though in the main they were perswaded that their Religion was right nevertheless were so strongly engag'd with the Court that 't was not very probable they would break with Her to serve their Brethren But there were several others who laid things more to heart and who us'd all their Endeavours to prevent the Reformed from falling into any Snare upon the account of fair Promises and would not permit 'em to lose the Opportunity of securing their Persons and the Exercise of their Religion The Mareschal de Bouillon was one of these and in greatest Authority A Person of great Merit and great Ambition He had the Reputation of a good Head-peice in the Council and of a great Captain in the Field in Credit with Foreign Princes and capable to be the Head of a Party His Estate was considerable and he had Places of Strength in his Hands More especially Sedan which as he said belong'd to him by the last Will and Testament of his Wife who dy'd but a little before without Children and was a Place of great Consequence as being an Inlet for Foreign Armies into the Kingdom La Trimouille was next to him Neither had Competitorship made 'em so jealous of each other but that they aim'd both at the same Mark. Besides they were united afterwards by a more strict Alliance in regard they married two Sisters of Prince Maurice to whom the Vnited Provinces had granted part of that Power which William his Father had exercis'd until his Death La Trimouille was Young Brave Resolute Daring Courteous Generous Powerful in Poictou and drew a great Train of Nobility after him The Court accus'd him of being a Lover of Quarrels and of being Head-strong But others gave him a better Character That he was one who would listen to Reason understood it and was capable of good Counsel and look'd upon him as a Person endu'd with great Qualities happy natural Parts and one who only wanted a little Age and Experience to ripen him for a perfect Heroe The Honour he had to see the Prince of Conde his Nephew Presumptive Heir of the Crown because the King had no Legitimate Issue and was by no means to be reconcil'd to Queen Margaret de Valois his Wife somewhat lifted up Tremouille's Heart and made him look'd upon with more Respect by the Reformed who despair'd not one day to see him their Masters Governour But on the other side it render'd him suspected and odious to the Court where his Genius was dreaded Some Proceedings of his at St. John d' Angeli where the Prince of Conde was brought up were much disgusted of which I shall tell the reason in
'em was not to consent to any Rehabilitation as if the King stood in need of obtaining the Popes Consent to be a Lawful King or capable of the Functions of Royalty And the King prescrib'd 'em most exactly how far he gave 'em leave to exert their Complacency upon so nice and delicate a Subject 'T was his pleasure also that they should be very careful of his Honour and his Dignity and that they should obstinately maintain the Validity of his Absolution which he had receiv'd in France Moreover there was one express Article in behalf of the Reformed the Terms of which are so remarkable that I cannot but incert the chiefest part of it in this place After they had alledg'd the Reasons for advising the King to revive the Act of 1577. which was the meanest of those which had been granted the Reformed and laid down the Mischiefs which the Revocation of it obtain'd by the League had occasion'd in the Kingdom together with such as might happen had they secur'd the Reformed from the Edicts of Proscription which the League had publish'd against 'em the Instruction adds That they of the said Religion being very numerous and potent in the Kingdom as they are greatly serve and strengthen his said Majesty to defend his Dominions against the Enemies of it as formerly they have done so that his said Majesty should be accus'd of Imprudence and Ingratitude if after so many Services as they have done him and which he may have need of fartâ—â—â— from 'em he should fall pell mell upon 'em and constrain 'em to take Arms against his Person as they have always done against those who have gone about to force their Consciences But his Majesty hopes â—â— give a better account of 'em by his mildness and the example of his Life then by ways of Rigour There is nothing more Authentick nor more express then this Testimony giv'n upon an occasion so publick and so important of the past and present Services of the Reformed If there be any Equity among Men there needs no more to demonstrate that the Liberty of their Conscience and the Security of their Persons their Estates and their Honour besides that they are Dependencies upon Natural Right which oblige the Prince to assure his Subjects those priviledg'd Advantages were granted 'em as the just Reward of their long and faithful Services So that in depriving 'em in our days both of the one and the other of these Immunities their Enemies have not only violated the most lawful Duty of Sovereigns who ought to look upon themselves as Conservators of the Liberty and Welfare of their Subjects but they have blacken'd the Great Henry with the Reproach of Ingratitude which he adjudged unworthy of himself by depriving an Obedient and Peaceable Offspring of what had been so lawfully yet dearly purchas'd for 'em under the Reign of this Prince by the Services of their Fathers But what-ever Caution was taken to preserve the King's Honour his Proctors forbore not to comply with whatever the Pope demanded and their Excuse was that they could not possibly do otherwise and that they were fain to accept of some Conditions to avoid others that would be more irksom They would also needs perswade the King that they had done him great Service in this that the Article of Rehabilitation had been chopt and chang'd with so much dexterity that it might well be maintain'd that there was not a Word said of it in the Bull of Absolution nevertheless if there were any Persons who thought it necessary it might be affirm'd on the other side that there was enough to the purpose contain'd in it So that all the Fidelity of these Proctors in an Affair of so great Consequence and where the main Concern in Agitation was the establishing the Dependance or Independance of the Crown was reduc'd to unfold this weighty Question by equivocal Terms from whence equal advantage might be drawn as well for the one as for the other This was by no means well relish'd by the honest French-men but those Slaps with a Wand which they receiv'd upon their Shoulders in the King's Name as his Proctors in the Presence of the Cardinals during the Ceremony of the Absolution were far less approv'd The Spaniards made it the Subject of their Sport and Merriment the French Politicians murmur'd at it the Reformed storm'd at it and threw it in the Catholicks Dish as a high Affront put upon Royal Majesty that the first King in Christendom should be expos'd to be swaddl'd upon the Shoulders of his Proctor The Court also was asham'd of such a pitiful Condescension and du Perron had much ado to ward off the bloody Reproaches that were cast upon him for this Prevarication at his Return But he had such a Wit that he could do what he pleas'd with it and he had such a graceful slight of expressing himself such a knack of making Black White and White Black that no body had either the Will or the Confidence to contradict what he said For which Reason it is reported that the Pope was heard to say at Rome that he besought of God never to infuse other then vertuous Thoughts into his Mind for that if corrupt and vicious Meditations got footing there he had a Wit was able to defend ' em D'Ossat excus'd this Indignity by saying that the Raps were so slight that they would not have hurt a Fly As if the Affront had consisted rather in the Violence of the Blow then the Ignominy of the Ceremony Some Historians have deem'd this Circumstance so very disgraceful the they durst not recite it faithfully in their History as if the Affront were the less real when it is minc'd and neatly daub'd over These Proctors had consented to Sixteen Articles which the Pope impos'd upon the King by way of Penance And there were some of these in reference to which the King could have wish'd they would have let him have done as Time should have given him an opportunity But the Proctors had been as faithful in this as in all the rest for they suffer'd the Pope to impose upon the King a Necessity of Obedience after a very coercive manner Such were the Third Fourth and Sixth Article whereby he was enjoyn'd to re-establish the Mass in Bearn and to restore the Bishops in that Principality to be maintain'd at his own Charges till they should be settl'd in their Estates to get the Prince of Conde out of the hands of the Reformed within a year that he might be bred up in the Catholick Religion and to publish the Council of Trent and cause it to be observ'd in every thing that might not disturb the Publick Repose The Tenth was couch'd in most Artificial Terms and oblig'd the King in all things to give continual Marks of his Respect and Favour to the Catholicks before all the rest of his Subjects and to testifie his eager desires to unite his whole Kingdom in one
and the same Religion The Reformed complain'd of these Articles which were granted directly to their Prejudice But the Proctors endeavour'd to excuse one part by saying that certain Expressions were added in favour of the Edicts and that they were forc'd to be contented because it would have been impossible for 'em to have obtain'd clearer or more precise Expressions to explain their meaning So that all the Security of the Protestants in respect of these Articles depended upon certain equivocal Words the Explanation or Interpretation of which was reserv'd to those who had concluded the Treaty Thus it was that they gave an Account of that same Clause of the Sixth Article touching the Publication of the Council which had been ill receiv'd by the Reformed because they could not look upon the Publication of a Council call'd on purpose to condemn 'em otherwise then as a fore-runner of their Ruine The Proctors upon this alledg'd that they could not explain that Article more at large But that the Pope knew and very well understood that the Clause not to disturb the publick Repose was added in favour of the Edict of Bearn and that he neither could nor would explain it better for fear he should be thought to approve it In like manner in reference to other Articles that seem'd to press the King too furiously to certain things more difficult in France then Rome imagin'd they affirm'd that the Pope had no design to force the King to Impossibilities but that he would always be contented with what lay in his Power Thus they oblig'd the King to whatever the Pope should please and left it to the Popes good Humour to excuse the King tho' it were impossible for him to perform the Penances which he had enjoin'd him In the mean time we may judge by the Cruelties that were committed at Rome upon those that were call'd Hereticks that they were not in the least become more equitable or more moderate toward any other People of the same Character A Fleming was burnt alive in the Field of Flora and an Englishman who had thrown the Host to the Ground and had us'd the Sacrament like an Idol was punish'd at the same rate after they had cut out his Tongue and dismember'd him of one of his hands And for fear his Punishment should be too gentle they sing'd him continually by the way with burning Torches from the Prison of the Inquisition to the place of Execution The Reformed might gather from thence what they were to expect if the Sincerity of the Edicts that were granted 'em depended upon the Inspirations that came from Rome But they had other Reasons to be afraid of every thing For they had Intelligence also from Rome that there were other Secret Conditions upon which the King was absolv'd which were spread about there whether it were an Artifice of the Spaniards to sow new Seeds of Distrust in the Minds of the Reformed or whether the Pope had demanded 'em and that the Proctors had verbally promis'd certain things which they thought not convenient to put down in Writing 'T was reported at least that the King was ty'd by those Conditions to exclude the Reformed from all Offices and Employments whatever Promises he had made to admit 'em to Preferment to marry the Princess his Sister to a Catholick Prince and to make War upon the Hereticks of his Kingdom till they were utterly extirpated And the Marriage of the Princess with the Duke of Lorrain which happen'd some years after confirm'd the Suspicions of all the rest so much the rather because she would have been courted by Princes of her own Religion if the King would have listen'd to it Certain it is that the Reformed were convinc'd that these Articles were real and that du Plessis also wrote to the King that his manner of Proceeding was imputed to his Compliance with the Popes Demands and that it was believ'd of all that was propos'd against 'em there was none but the Article that concern'd their Destruction that he ever refus'd to hearken to The End of the Third Book THE HISTORY OF THE Edict of Nantes BOOK IV. The CONTENTS of the Fourth Book The Massaker at Chataigneraye excepted by Letters Pattents out of the Acts that were to be comprehended in the Amnesties Artifices to perswade the Reformed to deliver up the Prince of Conde Interests of the Prince of Conti and Count of Soissons Duke de la Trimouille suspected by the King The Princess's Process removed to the Parliament of Paris whether Pisani carries her with the Prince her Son Precautions taken for the Princes Religion ill observ'd Justification of the Princess Deputies of the Assembly at Saumur attend the King paid with general Promises War declar'd with Spain League with the Queen of England who would needs have one Article inserted in favour of the Reformed Marshal de Bouillon opposes it Discontents of the Reformed the Effects Whence the King's Coldness proceeded Suggestions of the Catholicks The Popes Address Different Language from the King his Desires Reports of the Reformed being out of Favour the Original of it Assembly of the Clergy Edict of Travercy Edict in favour of the Duke of Mayenne Revenge of Henry the Third's Murder neglected State of the Kingdom and Project to dismember it Assembly meets at Loudun with leave New Suspicions and new Complaints Deputies sent to the Court. Resolution of the Assembly to defend themselves till a Conclusion ill taken of the King who orders the Dissolution of it Effect of this Rigour Du Plessis's wise Expedient succeeds in the Assembly is approv'd by the King who revokes the Order of Dissolution and promises a Commissioner Patïence of the Reformed Continuation of their Instances Legat in France revives their Fears Garrisons retrench'd or ill paid â—oni's Jealousies Synod at Saumur It 's Resolutions Their Letters to the King Commissioners to the King Complaints to the King Constancy of the Assembly which is translated to Vendosme Releases upon the Generality of Free Exercise Obtains by way of Compensation the Second Place of Bailliage and the right acquir'd by Possession of the Year 1596. The Edict of 1577. verify'd at Rouen The Reformed not contented with it The Pope complains and D'Ossat appeases him The Assembly discontented at the Return of the Commissioners who write to the King the necessity of satisfying ' em Reciprocal Suspicions and Distrusts Divisions in the Assembly which returns to Saumur Surprize of Amiens Confusion of Affairs Proposals of War to the Assembly Motives of de Bouillon and de la Trimouille The King at a Nonplus His various manner of writing to the Assembly before and after the Surprize Answers of the Assembly which 〈◊〉 translated to Chastelleraud more numerous then before Excuses for the Assemblies Constancy in requiring Securities Their Conduct in respect of the Siege of Amiens Various Advices Reformed serve at the Siege Actions of Bouillon and de la Trimouille Change of Commissioners The Treaty continu'd
the Time no body will believe that Gratitude and Liberality were his over-ruling Vertues in regard they always represent the most ancient and most faithful Servants of this Prince as buried in Oblivion and Miserable while on the one side the Ministers of his Pleasures and on the other his Enemies and they who had the Courage to render themselves formidable were loaded and became wealthy with his Favours and Rewards But the most effectual of all the ways he took to content the Pope was the Harshmess of his Answers to the Reformed while his Mind was prepossess'd with the Jealousies infus'd into it and Rome never fail'd of having Advice of it as of a Proof that the Reformed were no longer Sharers of his Good Will In a Word they had taught him from that time forward to make a Distinction between the Religion and the Cabal on purpose that they might accustom him to hear their Distruction discours'd of without Offence since they only talk'd to him of ruining the Cabal that wounded his Authority without medling with Religion in the Exercise of which he was resolved never to make use of Force He look'd upon the Dukes of Bouillon and de la Trimouille as the Heads of that Party And he would sometimes say to his Confidents that one of his Wishes was That he might have 'em at his Mercy to the end he might more generously pardon ' em But la Trimouille stood too well upon his Guard to expose himself and de Bouillon would never trust to his Generosity as it fell out in an Affair wherein he was engag'd some few Years after Neither did Rochel stand fair in the King 's good Opinion and it is reported that when he was at the Siege of la Fere that when he beheld the Oyse overflowing the Streets of that City he whispered one of those that stood next him in the Ear That if he could bring as much to pass in Marseilles and Rochel he should think himself absolute in his Kingdom This Resentment against Rochel proceeded from an old Affront which he received there during his Protectorship and which he always retain'd in his Memory 'T was only to perswade Rome that he had absolutely abandon'd the Reformed that toward the end of the next Year a Report was spread abroad that he was highly incens'd at a Petition which they had presented to him wherein it was said That the Catholicks had only his Body but that they possess'd his Soul and his Affection that he had return'd 'em a threatning Answer telling 'em that he would join with the King of Spain to their Destruction and that if they did not keep themselves close to the Terms of his Edicts they should not have 'em so cheap from Him as from his Predecessors 'T is said that he receiv'd this Petition at la Fere and return'd 'em this harsh Answer But if we may believe Monsieur D' Aubigney he had too deep a sense of Religion to treat those severely who perswaded him to maintain it This Historian tells us that at that time the King was afflicted with a Distemper which he believed mortal and that he then underwent great Conflicts of Mind because he was afraid that his return to the Roman Church was the Sin against the Holy Ghost which is never pardon'd The like Discourses also were spread by the Duke de Mercoeur who had a design it shou'd be thought that the Wars of Religion were about to revive in the Kingdom and that he was in a condition to make his interest thereby as the last of all the Patronizers of the Catholic Religion Yet at the bottom the King was not so displeased with the Reformed but that he sometimes gave the Romish Clergy cause of complaint against him It was then an authorized Custom to give Priories Abbies and even Bishopricks to the Laity whereby they pleased themselves with the Name of an Ecclesiastic Confident and the Reformed under this Reign shared the Benefits of this nature with the Roman Catholicks It happen'd every day that Affairs of this kind were promoted in all the Jurisdictions of the Kingdom where they were generally carried according to the Contracts of Confidence until there was offer'd to the Privy-Council an Act which gave a Bishoprick to a Woman in pursuance of some act pass'd with her Husband according to this confidenciary possession This was an abuse that the Ecclesiasticks had a great deal of difficulty to reform In the beginning of the Year their Deputies were permitted to assemble together And on their part there was an Harangue made to the King at Folembray He that undertook it cou'd not forbear speaking something of Religion but he behaved himself very moderately on the Subject and only proposed to advance the Catholick Religion by Doctrine and Example whereas War or Punishments had been the only Expedient preach'd up formerly He exhorted the King to issue out an Edict to invite his Subjects to return to the Catholic Religion which said he wou'd be to imitate Constantine who invited the Subjects of his Empire to embrace the Christian Religion by his Example and also of Recarede King of the Goths who being converted from Arianism obliged all his Subjects to turn with him But continued he I desire not this Conversion to be procur'd either by Arms or Violence He acknowledg'd likewise that the King might not perhaps be so well assured of many Towns and Persons which were return'd to his obedience that therefore such Measures were requisite to be taken as might prevent any new Troubles arising in the Kingdom In a second Harangue the Deputies of this Assembly press'd these Matters a little farther and to take away all suspicion which any persons might have that the Edict of Invitation tended to a renewing of the War they declared that they had need of Peace themselves and would only have this Edict to dispose the Reformed to receive their Instructions more easily Nevertheless they had made an Address upon which they obtain'd an Edict at Travercy that was very favourable to them The Reformed who suspected this Assembly of their Enemies did all that in them lay to hinder any ill consequences and the Clergy also complain'd after they had consented to this Edict that the King had not provided for the most important Articles of his Demands There were nevertheless some in this Edict which had respect to Religion The First ordain'd the re-establishment of the Mass throughout all the Kingdom the Ninth forbad Burial in Church-yards and other Sacred Places to such who did not die Catholicks altho' they had the right of Patronage or any other title of pretence The Tenth permitted the selling of Relicks or Church Ornaments out of the hands of the Trustees and other Detainers and to inform against the Spoilers of Holy Places at least upon a Civil Account for the recovery of things that were taken This Clause of Civil Account had a reference to the reform'd who look'd
not upon the Catholic Relicks or Ornaments of their Churches as holy things and it wou'd have made a great noise if they had been prosecuted as criminal for Pillages of this nature whereas the Catholicks very far from being treated civilly upon such accounts might in pursuance of the Canons be prosecuted as guilty of Sacrilege The Thirteenth commanded the restitution of all Ecclesiastical Goods of what nature soever and forbad the detaining of them even under the pretence of Reparations Amendments or any thing of the like nature and gave a Grant of Possession of the Livings belonging to the Bishops of Dags Bayonne Tarbes and Aize which had been seized of in Bearn This Article might interest many of the Reform'd who were very probably entred upon the possession of these Goods on the credit of the Attachment But this was the main Design of all the Attempts the Clergy had made In their Harangues nothing was so much press'd as the restitution of their Livings and Charity was not the Motive that induced them to desire Peace but a Fear that instead of regaining what they had already lost they might yet lose more in a new War These Intrigues of the Clergy continued near half a Year but in the beginning of them the Traty with the Duke of Mayenne was concluded which had been put off for so long a time in which the Duke had proposed an Article of being exempted out of the Enquiry that might be made into the Murder of Henry the Third whether it was that he knew himself too nearly concern'd in it which made him willing to secure himself from the Prosecution of the Queen Dowager or that he look'd upon it as a reparation of the Death of his Brothers whom the late King had caused to be slain at Blois to leave those unpunished that had revenged him even upon the Person of the King The Parliament had much ado to pass this Article and perhaps it was the only one amongst all that was agreed between the Leaguers upon which there was so great a contestation They wou'd have oblig'd the Duke to have clear'd himself by an Oath that he had no hand in the Parricide or upon his refusal to have ratified the Article with this Modification That it was agreed to because of the urgent necessity of Affairs The Attorny-General who had innocently introduced into Henry the Third's Chamber the Monk that assassinated him thought himself obliged to bring the guilty to punishment and form'd great difficulties which the zeal of the Parliament seconded very briskly But in the end it was pass'd and the Orders of the King were so strong that they confirm'd the Edict without restriction The King was obliged by many Reasons to prosecute the Revenge of Henry the Third besides the common interest of Kings who ought to their utmost to preserve the glorious Priviledges of their Persons he ow'd this Revenge to his own Glory to the end that he might not appear to have advanced himself at the expence of his Predecessor's life and he had also engaged himself to do it by formal Promises to the Queen and to the Officers of the former Court But the present Affairs made him forget both his Duty and his Promises and the Death of Henry the Third was not reveng'd Upon which one thing may be observ'd worthy the Reader 's attention Henry the Fourth was also basely assassinated as his Predecessor had been but there was so little care taken to revenge his death that even those were punished that endeavoured to discover the Authors of it And in these two cases only the Executors of both these Parricides were put to death for they did not what they ought or what they might have done either to punish or to discover the accomplices So that Henry the Fourth had the like respect shew'd him after his death as he had shew'd to him that reign'd before him This Remark is in the History of the Reform'd for there was none in the Kingdom which complain'd lowder than they did that revenge was not taken on the Murderers of their preserver But to return to the Duke of Mayenne who only demanded the exclusion of the Exercise of the Reformed Religion for six Years in those Towns which he gave up to the King and he was indeed after his reconciliation one of the most equitable of the Court when it was in dispute whether such an Edict shou'd be granted as might comprehend the Reform'd Nevertheless they saw nothing which cured their distrusts not only the remembrance of what had passed gave them just fears of what was to come as Impartial Historians acknowledge but they gave them every day new occasions which made a Secretary of State ingeniously confess to du Plessis in a Letter which he wrote to him that they continually gave them too much subject of complaint But still Prudence wou'd not let them push their Patience to the extremity in a time wherein it might have been the cause of strange disorders Throughout the Kingdom there was almost none less powerful than the King the Governours look'd upon their Places and Provinces almost as a Possession that belonged to them by propriety they were only made obedient by the power of Caresses and Benefits So that the State seem'd remiss in the same point it had formerly been when the House of Cartienna began to decay upon which some unquiet and ambitious Spirits built a like Project to that which brought Hugo Capet to the Crown This Prince bestowed part of his Kingdom upon those which had assisted him in the gaining it and gave the Dukes and Earls a Propriety to such Countries as they were Governors of keeping to himself with that Country which belong'd to him by Inheritance only the Sovereignty and Homage of all these Lords with the Condition of Reversion to the Crown in certain Cases This same Method was proposed to the King as a good Expedient to pacifie the Kingdom The young Duke of Mompensier was ingaged in this Project and was to tell the King of it but the King's Answer so cast down this young Prince as made him sensible it was a slender experience had engaged him in this undertaking but this did not put an end to the design for it yet continued in the minds of several persons and if the Reform'd had but stirr'd then many without doubt wou'd have taken an advantage of the occasion There were strange Intrigues carried on in France The Duke of Mercoeur had already retired into Bretagny and Du Plessis had stopt a Courier of the Arch Duke's who was carrying Letters to this Prince which discovered very strange things to them the greatest part of the Catholic Lords were interested therein Even Biron who afterwards suffered himself quite to be corrupted was ingaged in this Conspiracy and it was plain enough that whatsoever fomented the Troubles at home proceeded from a strange inspiration If the Authors of these Intrigues cou'd but have
forc'd the Reform'd to some desperate Attempt they wou'd thereby have found a pretext of making War against them which wou'd have been a fine occasion for them to have taken better Measures to dismember the Kingdom than they had done by the League the success of which made them observe the defects But the Reform'd only continued their Assemblies and after the ill success of their former Deputation they agreed to meet at Loudun the First of April to consult about the safety of the Churches The King permitted them because he had considered the consequences of his cold Answers and he was used upon all occasions to repair a harsh treatment by one more sweet and compliable The Deputies at their arrival found new cause of inquietude in that it was not long before the Cardinal de Joyeuse was to return from Rome whom they believed commission'd to make the first Overture of Peace between the Crowns under the pretence of uniting them to make War against the Turk But the Reform'd were not ignorant how the Court of Rome had abused these holy Leagues and on how many occasions these Croisades against Infidels had been turn'd against the pretended Hereticks and therefore were apprehensive that the Catholicks under this pretexs intended to ruin them and that in effect they wou'd imploy against them the Arms that in appearance were taken up against the Ottoman House In this Assembly they were wearied with Uncertainties and Delays and repuls'd by the Rigour of the Parliaments in many of which as well as in the inferiour Courts they still executed the Edicts of the League without considering the later Edicts which had revoked them The King had promised the Deputies at Lyons to send Commissioners unto the provinces to cause those Declarations which he had made to be executed and to re-establish the Edict of 1577 with all its Consequences But this Promise had been so ill perform'd that it was delay'd and so very little effect came from the Proceedings of the Court and from some Commissioners which were sent into some of the places that the condition of the Reform'd was no ways bettered besides that they cou'd no longer be content with the re-establishment of this Edict but demanded a new one more ample and more favourable to them The small advantage the Commissioners promised or sent to the Reform'd soon appear'd in the Parliaments in which during the same time the Assembly offer'd up a Complaint of their Rigours that of Burdeaux made an Act which extended to the ruin of a great number of their places of Exercise It was enacted in favour of the Marquess of Trans who had great Possessions that they shou'd not Preach within the limits of his Jurisdiction so that besides the places where this Act absolutely put an end to the Exercise of the Reform'd Religion it produced in them great Fears both of the Example and Consequence The Catholic Lords in whose Possessions they had preached until then might probably in imitation of the Marquess obtain Prohibitions for their continuing so to do And as all Roman Catholicks are very near equally prejudiced against all other Religions so there was no room to doubt but they wou'd signalize their Zeal by the like Prosecutions The Parliament of Tholouse who by Articles of Capitulation with the King had banished the Exercise of the Reform'd Religion four Leagues from the Town demanded that they shou'd not place within the Walls the Chamber of Justice which they promised to the Reform'd for Languedoâ— passing an Act which required all the Officers of Justice shou'd be received in the Parliament and not in the Mixt Chambers which manifestly excluded the Reform'd from all inferior Offices of Judicature and from all subordinate Charges since the Parliament took such measures as to admit none which wou'd not take an Oath to live and die Catholicks But the Parliament of Aix out-did all the rest and forbad the Publick Exercise of the Reformed Religion throughout its Jurisdiction on forfeiture of Life And when the Duke of Guise after his reconciliation with the King had the Government of this Province committed to him there was again renewed the Names of Papist and Huguenot which plainly shewed the Spirit of the League still reign'd amongst them since they thus revived the Names of the Parties which the principal Authors of this Faction had formerly given to them And what made the thing more odious was that the Duke of Guise had been introduced into the Province and confirm'd in his Goverment by the Reformed And that the Acts of Parliament were pass'd two or three Months after that he had been deliver'd by Lesdiguieres from the servitude of the Espernonists and that he had confess'd that this Lord had taken the Yoak from off his Neck It will appear plain upon what this acknowledgment was founded to any one that reads the History of the Divisions of this Province The Assembly complain'd of these Injustices of which they had Memoirs sent them from all Parts and of the small assistances that the Reform'd found from the King's benevolence who when they remonstrated to him all these Oppressions he return'd the Deputies words without effect and tiresome delays It was not long before they put up their Requests to the same effect as the former only a little illustrated with new Expressions and Additions to the like purpose It was almost the same method that the latter Assemblies observed who as to the material Points demanded as the precedent Assemblies had done only giving a little Explanation to prevent Frauds and Equivocations and to take away all pretexts of Disputes whatsoever Vulson whom the Parliament of Grenoble perplex'd on the account of his having obtain'd the Place of a Counsellor was deputed to go to the King to demand of him the performance of his Promise made at Lyons to the Envoy of the Assembly of Saumur Du Plessis writ by him to the King to shew him the importance of this Journey and the necessity of sending him back with some satisfaction He particularly advised him to send to the Assembly some peaceable Catholic qualified with sufficient power to the intent that they might treat with him to some purpose But the Catholicks which were near the King possessed him with quite different thoughts Vulson was received in the accustomed manner with a friendly Countenance and fine Words but obtain'd nothing more than the rest had done before him The Promises were oftentimes reiterated and as oft found vain and which in the end were reduced only to the Edict of 1577 and some Promises of compensation for what the Treaties with the Leaguers had retrench'd which cou'd satisfie no Man But there was a Conclusion from the Answer which Vulson made that put an end to all their reasoning and patience The Assembly had given him order to tell the King that they expected his Answer at Loudun and this was explain'd by the ill-minded Courtiers as an injurious Menace
for its defence and had therefore secretly extorted a Promise from him never to do any thing in behalf of the Reformed before he had reconciled all such as had a hand in the League which he deni'd not when he was blamed by some for his delays endeavouring sometimes to make the Complaisance he had for the Catholicks go for a piece of Prudence advantageous to the Reformed in that the Edict he would give them should appear by so much the more voluntary and less extorted by force that there should be less Troubles and Discontents in the Kingdom but they took it in a quite contrary sense and were afraid that after all his other Troubles were over he would force them to submit to his own terms In the mean while the Commissioners at their return from the King before Amiens had brought Instructions which confirmed in part the things granted by the former but several new Difficulties were started upon some Articles as amongst others about the manner of paying the Garrisons and re-establishing the Mass at Rochel which that reformed City would not consent to As for the Garrisons there was so little safety in depending upon the Orders of the King's Treasurers for paying them that they demanded that in case of refusal or delay it should be lawful for them to cause the Money to be seized in the Provincial Exchequers But when after a long debate they had agreed upon the matter and removed all difficulties they must go to the Council for its approbation which was no easie matter to obtain several tricks being made use of to oblige the Deputies to desist but they stood firm to their resolution and the King on his side commanded his Council to stand to what had been concluded by his Commissioners He had nevertheless been offended at the Assembly's begging the Intercession of the Queen of England and of the Vnited Provinces in short they had sent some Persons of Quality as Deputies to these two States in order to desire their Mediation and Interest for obstructing the conclusion of a Peace with Spain which they apprehended to be levelled at the utter ruin of their Cause intreating them to charge their respective Embassadours to look to it and advising them besides to draw into the same Precautions all such other States as this Peace was like to be fatal to Next they gave an account to the Queen how far they had gone in the Treaty of Religion what they had gained about the Liberty of Publick Worship and what had been granted in this point over and above the former Grants of the Concession of miparted Chambers with the Priviledges allow'd to Parliaments of the free admittance of the Reformed to all Charges even of Judicature it self which Article had been obtain'd with a world of difficulties and which they were to enjoy by a new Creation in their behalf of six Places of Counsellours in the Parliament of Paris of the several Sums granted them for paying the Garrisons of their places of safety which they made up one hundred strong enough to maintain a Siege and hold it out against a considerable Army of the Settlement agreed upon for their Ministers subsistence in a word of all that had been concluded upon with the King's Commissioners concerning the Liberty and Security of their Religion But 't was no longer seasonable to take notice of those slight Misdemeanors which the King knew very well were not the effect of any rebellious Intentions in the Reformed but of their Allarms and Jealousies renew'd every day by his Councils delays and shiftings The Reformed were certainly in the right on 't for by that means the final conclusion of this affair lingred away even beyond the end of the Year and there was certainly affectation and malice in some of those delays which cannot be denied if we consider that the paying of the Garrisons and repairing of the Places was their greatest business and the matter whereon the greatest difficulties were renewed though Roni was the Man who could do any thing in the Treasury and was able had he been willing to assign as good Funds to those of his own Religion as he did to the Roman Catholicks But it must be confessed also that some of the same delays were occasioned meerly by accident by sickness absence or other excusable impediments of some whom the King had appointed to view the Articles of the Assembly and to prepare the Form of the Writs which being made out by unquestionable Proofs the Reformed did not despond at all but waited patiently till all these Difficulties were removed by time The End of the Fourth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Edict of Nants The Fifth Book The Contents of the Fifth Book A Book setting forth the Grievances of the Reformed blamed by some The Importance of its Contents It beginneth with excusing the freedom of those Complaints Maketh Remonstrances to the King about the delays of his Council and the general state of the Reformed By what degrees the King had been drawn from them The design of their Petition General Complaints made by them against all the French against each Order of the State and the Clergy in particular The Publick Exercise of the Reformed Religion obstructed and Private Devotions hindred Instances of great Violences The Boldness of the Parliament of Bourdeaux The Exercise interrupted or forbidden in several places by divers Decrees in the Army at Rouen the King being there Complaints on the account of the places against the Catholick Gentlemen and against the Treaties with the League men The singing of Psalms hindred Books seized and burnt Religious Assemblies prohibited Consolation of the Sick Consciences forced in divers actions Christnings and other things concerning Children The Prince of Conde Keeping of Lent and Holidays Schools Colledges Offices The Poor ill used Places where the Reformed dare not dwell Remarkable Injustice done at Lyon Trades Violences Wicked Acts. Seditious Words and Speeches Passionate Judges and Parliaments Great difficulties in re-establishing the Edict of 1577. Special Instances of the Ill will of Parliaments Burials made difficult hindred Tombs violated A strong free and pithy Conclusion Reflections upon this Book New Delays and Difficulties upon particular Places The Assembly breaketh up The state of the Garrisons Appointing of Governours Annual renewing of the state of the Garrisons the number of the places of safety Private Interests The Edict delay'd till the Month of April when there are no more Leaguers Jealousies of the Assembly The King being armed granteth the Edict Conclusion made at Nants Particulars of the Difficulties on each Article 1st Demond A new Edict Reasons pro and con 2d Demand Free Exercise its extent New Concessions The advantage secured to the prevailing Religion A second place of Exercise in each Bailiwick was no new thing Difficulties about the Place about the Proofs Difficulties about the Tombs 3d Demand The Subsistence of the Ministers A Sum of Money promised by the King Schools
that it might bring the most patient People in the World to despair That they were still striving with that despair by their confidence in the King's love which having proved so favourable to those who made War against him could not be severe and backward towards them who had always been his most affectionate Servants but that the Papists were hard at work to deprive them of this very Support by endeavouring with Pretences of Conscience to oblige the King to destroy them That first they had forced him to go to Mass in order to draw him from them whereupon he gave them his Royal Word that he would never consent to their ruin but rather join with them again than suffer any War against them That even those who induced him to a change and feared that in such a case the Reformed might highly resent it and come to extream Resolutions which however they bless God Almighty that the event â—ad made it appear they were not capable of and that they did not make use of Religion as a Pretence to disobey their King that those very Men represented to the Reformed the great advantage which might accrue to them by that change and that the King thereby might be in a greater capacity to make them feel the effects of his Affection and might even go so far as to undertake a Thorough-reformation of the Church as having nothing changed in him but the outside whereupon they represented with exaggeration how little likely it was that the King whose Conscience was so enlightened and knew so well that Temporal Interest ought not to be preferred before the Kingdom of God would change his Sentiments on a sudden upon meer Reasons of State That nevertheless the Papists had obliged him to believe the grossest Errors of the Romish Religion and to take a Solemn Oath at his Coronation renewed since at his taking upon him the Order of the Holy Ghost that he would to the utmost of his power extirpate both the Heresie and the Hereticks as they used to call their Persons and Doctrin though the same Oath had been established not only against them but himself too when he was engaged with them in the same cause from whence concluding that their Enemies might also by the same Considerations engage him to their ruin they beg leave to let the King know the Particulars of their Grievances to the end that he may see thereby how ill they fare under his Reign since his Counsellors do misrepresent to him the Miseries of their present Condition and that such as are free from Passion may not take it ill if they demand so earnestly a general Liberty to serve God according to their Consciences impartial Courts of Justice to whom they may trust their Estates their Lives and their Honours and sufficient Securities against those Violences wherewith both the present and past time threatneth them and that all equitable People may use their best interest for the relief of those who are unwilling to survive the State but only to be preserved with it fearing God and honouring the King Next they came to particulars and declared that in general they complained of all Frenchmen not but that there might be some who would do them justice but they were so fearful and weak that they suffer'd themselves to be drawn in by the rest and so might be well included with them in a lump Then they hinted at all Orders and Degrees complaining of the Nobility and Gentry of the People of the Magistrates of the Council but above all of the Ecclesiastical Order as that which influenced them all and inspired them with injustice and hatred to the Reformed They handled that Order pretty roughly with great Contempt and shrewd nipping Jests and Railleries From thence they passed on to their Sufferings and said that for 50 Years together they had undergon all sorts of cruel Punishments that they had been burnt drowned hanged massacred one by one massacred by whole shoals banished out of the Kingdom by Edicts that the Catholicks had for those fifty Years made a cruel War against them to which they added that the Exercise of their Religion was free in those places only where they had been strong eno ' to keep it but that they had lost it every where else They named some places where the Reformed were fain to go ten or twelve Miles to hear a Sermon and whole Provinces where they had not so much as one place of Exercise allow'd them as Burgundy and Picardy and others where they had very little liberty as Provence in which they had no preaching but at Merindol and Lormarin and Britany where it was allow'd them but at Vitre They named other places where tho' the Reformed were the strongest yet they durst not exercise their Religion within the Walls but were forced to go abroad for it and expose themselves to fall into the hands of the Enemies Garrisons others where even the French abused them at a strange rate and lay in wait for them to throw Dirt and Stones at them others where Seditions had been stirred up against them as at Tours on Easter-day where the Ring-leaders did insolently boast that they had whetted their Weapons Moreover they related that an eminent Gentleman Bordage by Name being invited to stand Godfather to a Child of the Lord Mongomeri at Pontarson the Parliament of Rennes had commanded the Militia of several Parishes to stop the Passes and that having avoided that danger he was in his return set upon by two or three thousand Men who notwithstanding the resistance of the Garrison of Pontarson which guarded him kill'd two of his Men and had it not been for the Garrison of Vitre that came to his help he could never have escaped They related likewise that at Saint Stephen of Furan in the Province of Foret a Parish-Priest of which place did with impunity offer every day horrid Violences to the Reformed thirteen hundred People fell upon one hundred of them as they were coming from a place distant one day's journy from their Town where they had celebrated the Lord's-Supper on Easter-day and then beat them wounded them maimed them leaving several for dead upon the spot that the Night following their Doors and Windows were broken and on the next day the Catholick Mob gathered again together before their Houses threatning them with worse The like had happened at Manosque in Provence where the Reformed coming home from receiving the Communion at Lormarin were served after the same manner and it is observable that the seditious Rabble to give a colour to their intended Violence had themselves pull'd down a wooden Cross and then accused the Reformed of doing it They represented farther that they were troubled even in their private Devotions at home and for Instances thereof named places where Men had been clapt into Prison for praying to God with a loud Voice as well as the Masters of the
Houses where they prayed for suffering the same In other places all those that were present had been taken up and threatned to be drowned to force them to go to Mass In some others Praying was forbid them in their own Forms and for christening Children in Country-houses Warrants were delivered against the Ministers and all who had been present were adjudged to pay cost and besides severely fined for it Upon the like occasion they had in other places been in an imminent danger of being massacred by the Rabble some places were remarked in which they were forbid to assemble on pain of Ten thousand Pounds fine others wherein Houses were forcibly entred into if five or six Reformed were but thought to be there for instance at Saint Stephen of Furant the seditious Mob gathered together one day to the number of three hundred Men before a certain House upon a meer suspicion of an Assembly though the Magistrates who view'd it found no such thing Other places were named in which the Priests and Friers did openly say in their Pulpits That 't was a shame to suffer the Reformed in their Towns and this upon a groundless Accusation of having assembled in the Neighbourhood as the Officers found it after a strict inquiry into the matter It was observed besides that when the Lady Catherine the King 's only Sister came to Bourdeaux the Parliament had sent Spies to watch those that went to hear Sermons in her House and committed to Prison one of the most considerable amongst them To all this it was added that the free Exercise of their Religion being limited in some places to Publick Prayers only which they were however very well satisfied with yet at Montagnac a place of that kind they had not been permitted to cover a certain House purchased by them for that purpose nay that afterward the Lord High Constable and the Parliament of Thoulouse had forbid them to pray there any longer Then they related those Violences committed at Marchenoir by the Duke of Nemours's Troops and those by the Soldiers of the Duke of Guise at Lormarin where they turn'd the Temple into a Stable and threw seven or eight Persons into the Water and among them the School master whom they took to be the Minister Whereupon they observed what we remarked elsewhere that the latter had been powerfully and chiefly assisted by the Reformed against the League when he took possession of his Government of Provence They did not forget to represent that the Garrison of Roche-chouart in Poictou had fired with two Cannons from the Castle upon fifteen hundred Reformed assembled in the Town-house for their usual religious Exercise that in another place a Man on Horse back breaking through the Crowd fell upon him who prayed and wounded him with the buâ—t-end of a Carbine after he had vainly endeavoured to fire and shoot him with it that the occasion of this Assembly was to sign a Petition for re establishing the Exercise of their Religion interrupted by the League that the wounded party offering to proceed against the criminal by way of Justice the Priests of the place where he sued him had by their private Authority committed him to Prison and got him carried by the Lieutenant of the Provost to the Goal of Puy in Vellay That at Caen on the twenty eighth of March of the instant Year the Catholicks had burnt all that was found in the place of their Exercises to all which they joined a lively Picture of the Massacre of la Chataigneraye with all the horrid circumstances that attended it making here very pathetick Exclamations to renew the remembrance of all other Slaughters formerly made of the Reformed by the Papists But above all they urged in as strong and powerful terms as they could that all this happened under the Reign of a King who was formerly the Protector of the Reformed and they did not forget to make a comparison of their Patience with the Fury of the Catholicks to whom they did not render like for like in those very places where they were the strongest These being thus premised they did complain afterwards that they could not obtain the re establishment of the Exercise in those places wherein it had continued ever since the Edict of January under Charles the Ninth till the Edicts of the League were made of the Catholick Governours refusing to obey the King's Orders on this Subject of the Decrees of the Privy-Council and Parliaments whereby it was taken away from such places where they found it established in some whereof it was indeed maintained because the execution of those Decrees was not thought easie and safe They did not forget here to mention the Decree of the Parliament of Bourdeaux by which the Exercise was forbidden in all the Lands of the Marchioness of Trans on pain of Ten thousand Crowns fine nor another Decree of the same Court which tended to make it cease also at Bergerac a Town throughly and intirely reformed in forbidding the Inhabitants to assess themselves for the subsistence of their Ministers though these Assessments had been allow'd them ever since the Conference at Fleix Next the Decrees of the Parliament of Aix which we have taken notice of before were brought in Whereupon they did observe that this Court had emitted two in one and the same Year to forbid the Exercise in some places wherein it had been continued during two or three hundred Years that this Prohibition was made on pain of forfeiting both Body and Estate and three Months after the solemn acknowledgment made by them that the Reformed had saved their Necks by calling Lesdiguieres who delivered them from the fury of the League as I have observed in the foregoing Book Moreover they complained that though the Exercise of their Religion had been allowed in the Army during the Truce under the Reign of Henry the Third yet that it had not been suffered ever since Henry the Fourth came to the Crown That the Lady Catherine her self had been forced to go out of Rouen on a Communion-day because the Legate would not permit her to receive it in that City though she had always had that freedom allowed her at Paris in her own House that few days after a Sedition had been stirr'd up against the Reformed in the very sight of the King without any respect to his Royal Presence That Argentan had been taken from the Baron of Courtemer though 't was one of the places of Balliwick promised by the Treaty that Beausse Ganville a place held by the Reformed had nevertheless been demolished They also made Complaints of the reformation made in their Garrisons which were weakened by diminishing the number of Men and paying the rest but ill insomuch that it amounted not in a whole Year to above three or four Months Pay for which they had even very remote and incommodious Funds assigned them as for instance the Garrison of Royan had it upon the Treasuries
of Quercy They did also complain of several places taken from the Reformed razed or ordered to be so by Decrees of Parliament of some others dismembred nay given to their Enemies Thus Milhau which belonged to the Lady Catherine and which the Inhabitants had by virtue of an express Commission fortified at their own charge had certainly been demolished had not they had the Courage to oppose it In the mean while the reconciled Leaguers were very exactly paid though they received fifteen times as much Money from the King as the Reformed did who made it appear in the Assembly of the principal Men of the Kingdom at Rouen that for their Garrisons they had not Two hundred thousand Pounds from the King They complained besides of the Catholick Nobility and Gentry who had caused the Exercise of the Reformed Religion to cease in such places of their Lordships as they had found it established in at the time of their reconciliation with the King They upbraided them with that Writing subscribed by them at Mantes after the King 's turning Catholick in order to assure the Reformed that they would never enter into any Treaty with the Leaguers to their prejudice or without calling them in for a share which solemn Promise had been nevertheless broken in the Treaties made with eight and twenty Towns and with eight Princes or Grandees wherein the Reformed had been deprived of their Rights and which were concluded without their knowledge whereupon they observed with indignation that during the War a little paultry Town call'd La ferte Milon would not surrender but upon condition that the Reformed Religion should be excluded out of its Walls and Territories they also exaggerated that famous Succour given so seasonably by the Reformed to Henry the Third at Tours and accepted then by the Catholicks with so hearty thanks and yet so soon forgot From thence they came to complain of their being hindred in the most minute acts of their Devotions naming divers places where they had been sent to Prison on that account and where even the Psalm-book had been burnt by the Hangman whereof amongst many others they gave one remarkable instance which is this It happened at Meaux that a very honest Man was caned by the Major of the Garrison for singing Psalms the King being then at Monceaux about two Leagues off the Deputies of the Assembly of Loudun who were with his Majesty failed not to complain to him of that affront but all the satisfaction they could get was only that the King would speak to the Major about it In other places their Bibles and other Books concerning Matters of Religion were taken from them and if they kept any by them it was enough to make them liable to Imprisonments Exiles and Fines At Digue in Provence the Judges had impudence enough to add to the punishment of being imprisoned a Fine of a hundred Crowns for such as should assemble in order to pray to God Almighty and the Parliament of Rennes forbidding the Exercise of the Reformed Religion joined to it an Order that their Books should be diligently searched into forbidding the Reformed to print sell or keep any about Matters of Religion Next came their just and charitable Complaints of being hindred from comforting the Sick and the Criminals of their Party and even that they were forced to endure the presence and sollicitations of the Friers to which purpose they did relate that at Saint Quintin a Man was banished the Town for comforting from the Street a person infected with the Plague shut up within his House Whereupon they did judiciously observe that all such Articles whereby some advantage was taken from the Reformed were punctually executed but that all which the Edicts had granted in their behalf proved insignificant and useless for them for want of due execution They did afterwards hint at Matters of Conscience complaining that nothing came amiss to the Catholicks that might afford a pretence for oppressing them that they were forced to hang up Cloths or Tapistries before their Houses on Corpus Christi day and even to assist at the Procession on pain of a Fine which amounted sometimes to fifty Crowns that they were often imprisoned upon their refusing to comply that the Count de Grignan himself taxed his Vassals twenty Crowns for each offence that the Parliament of Paris inflicted a corporal punishment upon such as refused to bow to the Cross and prostrate themselves before the Hoste that in other places they were condemn'd to publick pennance for refusing to pay the same honour to the Sacrament when they met it in the Streets that the Parish-Priest of Saint Stephen of Furant did yet do worse than so for on such occasions he would run after those who fled before him and beat them soundly either with his Fists or even with the Cross-stick that in divers Towns of France they were forced to contribute to the charges of holy Fraternities of Divine Service done after the Catholick way and of building and repairing Churches and even to pay the Arrears of their Contributions for many Years past that in some places the Papists would force them either to assist at the Masses sung before the Companies or Trades incorporated or to leave the Town that the Publick Notaries of Bourdeaux having set up a new Fraternity they would force the Reformed of that Profession to assist at the Masses of their Company on pain of twenty Pence forfeit for each offence that the Judges of Anger 's had constrained a reformed Fidler to play at the famous Procession which is made there with a very extraordinary pomp on Corpus Christi day that in several Courts of Judicature the Judges and Advocates of their Party were forced to take their Oath after the manner and form of the Roman Church that sometimes old People were dragged along the Streets to Mass that at Saint Stephen of Furant the Parish Priest had almost starved an old Man to death to make him abjure and at last forced him to pass an Act before a Publick Notary whereby he bound himself to be banished if he should not live and die in the Romish Religion The same mad Priest continued they got himself accompanied by the Judges to the Houses of the Reformed where he christened Children in spite of their Parents and one day upon a false advice that a Woman was brought to Bed he forced his entry into the House beat her Husband searched every Corner and finding no mark of what he looked for he got the Woman out of the Bed and forced her to shew him her Belly that he might have occular demonstration that she was not delivered They continued to give an account of several Matters of Fact of the like nature As that in another place a Father carrying his Child to be christened the Servant-maid of an Inn had stoln him away whil'st the Man was leading his Horse to the Stable and afterwards she calling the
Neighbours to her help caused the Child to be christened in a Catholick Church That at Bourdeaux a Lady had been forced to abjure her Religion to keep the guardianship of her Children and having a little while after reunited herself to the communion of the reformed Church the Attorney-General sued her at Law and got her bound to remain a Catholick that a Child being deposited in the hands of his Grandfather at Orleans when that Town was in the power of the League and his Father demanding him back again after the reduction of the place the Judge refused to deliver him up to his Father that a Man was debarred from all his Rights by the Court of Angiers until he had got his younger Brothers out of the reformed School at Loudun to put them in the Catholick Colledge of Angiers contrary to the last Will of their deceased Father who had crdered them to be brought up in the reformed Religion that the same Judges had appointed a Catholick Guardian over a Maid who refused to go to Mass Then followed sad and grievous Complaints of the unjust way of dealing with the Prince of Conde whom the Reformed had surrendred to the King even beyond the hopes of the Catholicks they said that this young Prince had bitterly wept and strugled long with those who brought him away from St. John d'Angeli that since being kept at Court he was used to withdraw into his Closet there to sing Psalms to Pray and Catechise his Pages but that at last they were taken away from him notwithstanding all the marks of his anger for it They complained afterwards that to all these so great and so publick Grievances the Court had hitherto applied no other remedy but Reasons of State as if the Interest of the State ought to have been opposed to their Consciences or that the Reformed had not been part of the State or that the State could not stand but by their fall Then returning again to the particulars of the Injustice that were done them they complained of their being forced to keep Lent that at Rennes the Parliament caused the Houses to be searched to see if their Orders in this point were obey'd that the Bishop of Agde did the same by his own authority in the Towns of his Diocess that keeping of Holidays was also forced upon them that even at Saumur one of their Towns of security a Man had been sent to Prison for being surprised at work within his House on such days that their School masters had been expelled out of several places even without any form of Justice that divers Parliaments had refused to verifie the Patents obtained by the Reformed from the King for the establishment of some Schools even after reitera ted Orders from Court but that nothing was comparable in this particular to the boldness of the Parliament of Grenoble who did not so much as vouchsafe to answer a second Order sent them from the King for setting up a reformed School at Montelimar that even so in several places they refused to admit in or turned out such of the Reformed as were appointed to teach and instruct the Youth which Article was concluded with these remarkable words Are they then willing to beat us into Ignorance and Barbarity so did Julian Next they complained of their Poors ill usage That the Laws of Equity were so little regarded in this point that in those very places where the Reformed contributed most to the publick Alms the Poor of their Religion had no share therein that in many places the Reformed were deprived of their Birth-right and not suffered to live there though they promised to be quiet and make no publick Exercise of their Religion that the Judges of Lyon had banished out of their Town those who having formerly left the Kingdom on account of Religion were returned thither after the change of affairs and that it had been confirmed by the Edict of Reduction upon occasion whereof they complained here that the Reformed were called Suspected People by the King himself whom they had served with so much Fidelity and Courage letting this gentle Reproach slip withal that for one and the same cause the King had been declared unable to inherit the Crown and the Reformed banished from their Houses but that since he had been restored to his Throne by the assistance of the Reformed he had not yet restored them to their Houses Here the Parson of Saint Stephen of Furant was brought again upon the Stage he did not suffer the Catholicks to let out their Houses to the Reformed and constrained them to turn out before the term such as had already taken any he hindred Tradesmen by grievous Fines from admitting any Reformed into the freedom of their Trades This mad Fellow of a Priest had caned a Man born in that place but setled elsewhere who was come to the Town upon some business his pretext for abusing him was that he had forbid him to come thither as if he had authority to banish whom he pleased But that Man seeing himself abused with so much injustice and that no body took his part kill'd the Priest in a passion and so rid the Country of this furious Beast The King granted him his Pardon but the Catholicks hindred it from being allow'd by the Judges They remonstrated besides that the Reformed were excluded from Trades and to colour their exclusion the Companies made new By-laws by vertue whereof none but Catholicks were to be admitted to them That in several places Violences against the Reformed were countenanced by impunity that a Man seventy five Years old having complained that some Children had hurried him in the Streets with injurious Clamours was sent to a Goal instead of having satisfaction from whence afterwards being released he was pursued anew and pelted with Stones in the very sight of the Judges who did but laugh at it that a Fraternity of Penitents called The Beaten Brothers walking barefoot in order of Procession their Feet happened to be cut by some broken Glass spread in the Streets which they did immediately lay upon the Reformed because the Glass was found before the House of a Goldsmith of their Religion that thereupon a Sedition was stirred up against them but that at last the whole was proved to be a trick of the Priests Then they began to give particular Instances of the crying Injustice done them about Offices That in several places they were kept from those of the Town-house and that it was publickly said at Lyon that none ought to be admitted to them who either was now of the Reformed or ever had been so nay not even any Son of one that had been so that the States of Perigord had declared void the Election of a Sheriff made by the Town of Bergerac according to the custom of that Province meerly because the party elected was one of the Reformed that even those who were appointed by
but this was but a shew to salve the appearances of giving the Law like a King and making the Edict less offensive to the Legate and the zealous Catholicks by granting it with that affected sourness and severity Indeed the King was very desirous to come out of those Troubles which plainly appeared in the kind reception the Dukes of Bouillon and La Trimouille met with when they waited upon his Majesty at Anger 's where he welcomed them both with such signal demonstrations of Love that thereby one might easily conclude that his threatning had been rather to maintain his Royal Dignity than the effect of any real Anger Therefore after the Assembly's Memorials had been returned together with the King's Answers to them and the Articles and Forms of the Grants had been finally agreed upon the whole was again carried to the King at Nants where having altered what he pleased to shew that he granted it with a full Authority and that nothing constrained him thereunto it was at last signed sealed up and deposited into the hands of the Deputies of the Assembly by whose order it was left in the custody of the Inhabitants of Rochel who till the time of their ruin kept all the general Records of all the reformed Churches of France Thus from the place where the Edict was proclaimed in the Month of April it was called the Edict of Nants by which it has been famous all over Europe Hitherto I have only related the Complaints Pursuits Alarms and Impatiences of one Party with the Artifices Delays Shiftings and Difficulties of the other to the end that I might give a better insight into the nature of an Edict which has been so long negotiated and debated with so much Maturity and Wisdom But to do it yet more clearly I shall make an Abridgment of such Matters as were the Pretexts of these Delays and for so many Years took up the Time of the wisest Men in the Kingdom wherein I shall only treat of what was either demanded or obtained by the Reformed without taking notice of what was inserted in the Edict in behalf of the Roman Religion because the Articles of that kind always passed before the others and that in all this Negotiation the Catholicks would never submit the Concerns of their Religion to the Success of Disputes and Debates None but the Pretensions of the Reformed met with Difficulties because the Catholicks laboured hard to make them rest satisfied with less than they asked tho' indeed there was no need to take away anothers Right to satisfie them in their Demands Therefore Difficulties arose both upon the Substance and the Form of Things and the Court had no less difficulty in agreeing upon the one than on the other The Demands of the Reformed came to six or seven general Articles but each of them was subdivided into a great number of others necessary either for the Explanation or for the Security of some principal Matter insomuch that at first the Reformed having brought all their Proposals to a limited Number of Articles amâ—unting to Ninety six or Ninety seven the Difficulties arising in the Series of the Negotiation obliged them to add several new Articles to the former either to remove or prevent Difficulties in the Conclusion or Execution of the Edict Therefore without desisting from the Substance of their Demands save only in such things wherein they had approved the Alterations made by the Court they often added to their Memorials and changed the Forms and Style thereof So they gave two different Titles to their new Articles Those which were set down last of all and were not very numerous had the name of Additions the others were called Explanations because they were Articles upon which they desired the King to explain himself that no ambiguity should remain in the matter and to prevent all difficulties in the execution Those Explanations followed each Article the Contents whereof they desired to be explained and often there were many added to one and the same Article which went by the Names of First and Second Their first principal Demand was for a new Edict because they could not rest satisfied with those formerly granted whereupon they said that in their opinions their Services deserved something better and that after the King 's turning Catholick they had a solemn Promise of another at Mantes and a Year after at Saint Germain The main ground of this pursuit was that they could not endure to be treated under the Reign of Henry the Fourth after the same manner as they had been under that of Henry the Third and that they thought it very unjust for a Prince whom they had so faithfully served from his Cradle to grant them no more than what they had obtained from another who had been their greatest persecutor so that their Pretensions were not grounded as the late promoters of the revocation of the Edict of Nants would fain have perswaded us upon the prejudice they had received by the King's Treaties with the chief Leaguers but upon the greatness of their Services for which they demanded an Edict as a recompence due to them As for the breaches made on the Edict of 1577. they were but little concerned at them for they plainly declared they would not have it thinking themselves rather prejudiced than favoured by it Nevertheless this last Consideration seemed to be the only Motive of the King in this Affair as being the most plausible that could be alledged to the Catholicks either because it removed all pretexts of murmuring at new things granted since thereby the King did but make amends to the Reformed for Injuries unjustly done them or because having received that damage contrary to a Promise in Writing that no Treaty should be made with the Leaguers to their prejudice the breach of such Promise could not be repaired but by granting them a sufficient Compensation for what Losses they had sustained by it This fancy of Compensation was the Sequel of the first Pretension of the Catholicks after Henry the Fourth's coming to the Crown As they had extorted a Promise from this Prince that he would maintain their Religion in the state he had found it they looked upon all new Favours done to the Reformed as so many Injuries to the Catholick Religion from whence it was that they stood so obstinately to their first resolution never to make them any new Grant or if any should be made then they would have it go by the name of a Compensation for what damage they had received by the private Treaties with the Leaguers nay even after the Promise made to the Deputies at Mantes and at Saint Germain the Catholicks moved by the same reason would fain have cheated the Reformed by only granting them the restitution of the Edict of 1577. Upon which account also the Council delay'd sending the King's Commissioners to the Assemblies of Saumur and Loudun because a new Treaty begun upon new Demands and
and others left undecided for Reasons of State The fifth Demand was for obtaining an equal number of Judges of both Religions in all Parliaments and was grounded upon the ill-will of these Courts who daily did notorious pieces of Injustice to the Reformed and started a World of Difficulties and Scruples in the verifying of the Edicts granted for their Security Which they had made out with so many Instances in the Book of their Complaints that the Court was not able to deny it and thought it very insignificant to allow them only some Protestant Judges in each Court since it was certain that where-ever the Number of Catholicks were greater the Reformed should be infallibly cast But the Parliaments had such an Interest to prevent the multiplying of Offices in their Bodies and the dismembring of their Jurisdictions that this Affair met with many Difficulties and Obstacles The King nevertheless granted one miparted Chamber in the Parliaments of Thoulouse Bordeaux and Grenoble where all the Causes of the Reformed should respectively be brought There was already one at Castres and some reformed Judges had been establish'd in the Parliament of Grenoble and it seem'd that the Reformed of Dauphine where Lesdiguieres had a full Power had nothing common in several Affairs with those of the same Religion in the other Province three Judges were then added to the former to make up a miparted Chamber which at the very Time of its Creation was incorporated with the Parliament insomuch that its Members were call'd in when ever any thing was to be debated in a full House Moreover the King promised to erect a Chamber at Paris consisting of ten Catholick Judges and six reformed and those Protestants who lived within the respective Jurisdictions of the Parliaments of Rouen Rennes and Dijon had their choice either to bring their Causes before that of their own Province or before any of the Chambers granted in the nearest of them The King's Promise made to the Reformed in respect of the Parliament of Paris was not executed but it seems he made them amends for it by creating some new Offices of Judges in that of Normandy and a Chamber of the Edict upon the Model of that which was establish'd at Paris They had not the same Favour in the Parliament of Britany either because the Judges of that Court which were some of the most furious against the Reformed would not consent to it for that it was not judged necessary in that Province where the Number of Protestants was very inconsiderable or in fine that all the Members of that Parliament were so partial and passionate that a sufficient number of equitable Men could not be found among them to make it up Nothing was changed in what had been agreed upon concerning the Parliament of Dijon That of Rouen being a great Enemy to the Reformed they had therefore obtained the Choice I spoke of just now But this bringing up of Causes from one Court to another had brought to the Parliament of Paris all the Causes of Normandy where the Reformed were very numerous and the Catholicks themselves stuck not sometimes to beg their Intervention in their own Causes when they were jealous of their Judges insomuch that this Parliament losing much by that means chose rather to agree to the creation of a Chamber like that of Paris than to see almost all the Law Suits of its Jurisdiction brought to another The Reformed found also some Advantage therein because they were no longer obliged to travel out of their Province and so far from their Friends because also the Customs of Paris and Normandy were very different and that the Charges and Delays were more troublesome at Paris than at Rouen Besides they were Gainers in that Bargain by the three Offices of Judges created by the King in their behalf But for all this that Parliament was not reconcil'd to the Reformation and as it was the most corrupted and venal Court in all France so there was none where the Reformed were expos'd to greater Vexations and Injustice However this Establishment was made but 15 or 16 Months after the Edict Because it was long doubted whether the Clause concerning Offices inserted in the Edict granted to the Marquess of Villars permitted the Protestants to be sharers therein But upon the whole matter it was concluded That the King had not by this Clause deprived himself of his Right and the Interest of the Parliament oblig'd him to declare that it was but provisional The sixth Demand was For a free Admittance to all Offices of State War Justice Policy Treasury and to all Commissions Employments Professions Arts and Trades without Danger of being excluded upon the account of Religion It was directly against the Canon-Law which debars from all these Rights such as are not obedient to the Roman Church and who are for that Reason call'd Hereticks and it had been the Original of all the Oppositions made to the Reformed during so many Years together but it was of such great Consequence to them that they would never desist from that Article because besides the Honour and Credit of Offices which they would not have their Families to be depriv'd of they saw well that if that honourable Door was shut to the Protestants such as had more Ambition than Piety would soon bid adieu to their naked and barren Religion and thereby bring the Reformation to a declining State The greatest Opposition came from the Parliaments who refused to admit them to the Places of the Law But at last they obtain'd their Desire and the King declared them capable of holding all sorts of Offices whereby they thought they had gain'd a considerable Point because that Honour being refused to Hereticks by the Canons their being admitted to them was a Discharge from that odious and hateful Name This Pretension extended much farther than the former by which they only desired a certain Number of impartial Judges but the latter aim'd at no less than to be made capable of diverse Offices which were supream in Cities and Towns of Shrievalties Mayoralties Consulats Tabellionages of Places of Attorney of Recorder of Bailiff of Places in the Marshalsea Admiralty in the Table of Marble of those of the Chamber of Accounts of the Court of Aids of the Courts of Elections of those of Judge or Judge-Assistant in the inferior Jurisdictions of Judge in chief in the Court leets of the Lords They were also admitted by the same to the Places of Master of Requests two whereof had been promised them gratis and to those of Secretary to the King which are none of the least importance in respect of their Priviledges They were already possess'd of some Governments and military Dignities and several among them were even Counsellors of State The same Article had also a very great extent in the Profession of Mechanick or Liberal Arts and in a Word tended to a levelling of the Catholicks with the Reformed by making
the latter Civil Members of the State as well as they and equal Sharers in the Distribution of Favours and Rewards Yet in this important Matter the Reformed were highly Mistaken when they contented themselves with a wide and general Declaration of their capableness of Offices without solidly engaging the King that they should be really conferr'd upon them In effect to appease the Pope who made as if he had been offended at it they represented to him That there was a vast difference between declaring one capable of a Place and bestowing it upon him which perfidious Maxim the Event has shewn to be too true since the Reformed have been so far from being admitted to high Places or preferr'd to the greatest Dignities according to their Merits that they have been shifted with even about the meanest Places and the most inconsiderable Trades of the Kingdom There were some among them who foreseeing that some Time or other this general Declaration would be ministerpreted mov'd in the Assembly for fixing in each kind of Employments a certain number of Places that should be conferr'd upon the Reformed and du Plessis as I have said elswhere treating some Years before with Villeroy had obtain'd the fourth part of all Places and was even in hopes to obtain a third But besides that such a general Declaration had something more plausible and flattering than the limitation of a certain Number of Places because thereby the Reformed were more fully equall'd to the Catholicks it was more suitable to their different Circumstances in the Provinces of the Kingdom for in some their Number was so great that if they had been reduced to a fourth or a third part of the Offices they had been very unjustly dealt with and the Court had been under a necessity of calling Catholicks from the other Provinces to bestow the remainder upon them But in others they were so much inferior in number to the Catholicks that there had not been enough among them to fill the third or the fourth part of the Places Moreover a special Regulation had been necessary almost for every Balliwick insomuch that a general Clause was in a manner unavoidable Add to this That the Provinces where the Reformed were the strongest and most numerous they did so little question their being able to engross all the Offices to themselves for want of qualified Catholicks that it was no difficult Matter for the Court to satisfie them with that indefinite Declaration And indeed it was very advantagious had it been observ'd bona fide but as the same had been formerly eluded by Henry III's Artifices so his Example has been follow'd since for above 40 Years and this equitable Rule of Equality has been turn'd into a Sham by the Treachery of his Successors True it is that at the Time of the Edict the Reformed gain'd by it no small Credit since the best part of all inferior Offices fell immediately upon them and even the Catholick Lords were so well perswaded that they had a better Stock either of Ability or Honesty than others that they stuck not to prefer them before the Catholicks to such Places as were in their Gift moreover Offices being venal in France the Reformed bought them dearer than others and with the Help of that strong Machine overcame all sorts of Oppositions which happen'd especially for Places of a new creation when he that bids most is sure to be the Buyer But this happy State of the Reformed lasted only till after the taking of Rochel The seventh Demand was concerning the Securities the principal whereof was in their Judgment the keeping of those Places which they had now in their Hands and were numerous and strong enough to resist their Enemies in case of an Attack But 't was this very thing made the Difficulty for the Court was very unwilling to leave so many Fortresses in the Hands of brave and bold Men amongst whom there was a great number of warlike and couragious Nobility who had been permitted to unite together for their mutual Defence but the Reformed were inflexible upon this Point and would by no means hear of parting with what they had for first the Experience of past Times made them afraid that the Edict might be us'd as a Pretence to disarm them and that the Catholicks might break their Oath as soon as their Places of Refuge should be taken from them Besides they could not but know that according to the Policy suggested by the Court of Rome to all Princes who submit to the Pope they keep Faith with none but such as they fear and that therefore it might be kept to the Reformed no longer than the Danger of breaking it should last 'T is a Maxim no less general than true Since Conscience and Honesty have not been a sufficient Warrant for the Security of Treaties that such as are concerned in the Observation of them must make themselves formidable to such as would break the same and make them sensible that they could not do it with impunity Therefore it was necessary for the Reformed to keep still some strong Garrisons to stifle in the Catholicks Hearts the Desire of attempting their Ruin by shewing them the frightful Prospect of an equal Danger on both sides moreover all the rest of the Kingdom was in Arms All such as during the War had commanded either under the King or under the League had some Place or other at their Devotion and as there was no great likelihood of so soon disarming so many Men who acted like petty Princes in their Government so the Reformed had good reason to fear that if they should lay down their Arms alone they might soon be at the Discretion of their irreconcilable Persecutors This same Article comprehended also many private Interests besides the general because there was neither Lord nor Captain which had not some Place in the Guard and no one was so disinterested to give up his own to preserve that of his Companion There was also as engaging an Interest which concern'd the common Cause diverse Places had Catholick Governours that were not bigotted enough to their Religion to neglect their own Fortune tho' it were advanc'd to the Prejudice of the Popish Cause nor yet so well affected to the Reformed to embrace their Party without an evident Advantage They plainly saw that when a Peace should be establish'd in the Kingdom their Places would become unuseful their Garrisons broke and their Profits cease but concluded that if the Reformed obtain'd the keeping of their Places they needed only to change their Religion to preserve their own as being the same Reason whereby others should possess them The Memoirs of those Times give an account That there were Men of this Character who had promised to profess the Reformed Religion but declar'd they would first see the State settl'd 'T was to favour these Conversions which might increase and Strengthen their Party as made them demand That if any Governour of
drew up another with such Clauses that be thought himself discharg'd of it by the success of the first lying in of his new Mistress Now in regard it was high time to look after this Affair in good earnest the King bent all his thoughts upon it and the Pope who knew the Importance of the business which could not be concluded without him fail'd not to set it at the highest price he could put upon it Not but that he had his Reasons too to desire it should be brought to pass whether it were that there was a proposal for the King to Marry an Italian Princess or whither it were that he was afraid that if the Succession came to be contested some one of the Competitors might augment the Forces of the Reformed to support himself and perhaps Embrace their Religion to fasten 'em to his Interests Whereas if the Succession were ascertain'd he was sure that the King's Successor would be a Catholic and that his Right and Claim being founded upon a Marriage Authoriz'd by the Maxims of the Court of Rome he would maintain it with all his Power and would rather strive to Lessen than Exalt the Reformed in Strength and Power But for all this the Pope was Resolv'd to sell his Favour to the King at a dear Rate according to the Custom of the Court of Rome which always strives to make others purchase those things of which she makes a benefit her self So that the Reformed had all the Reason in the World to fear that they should be made to pay the Expences of this Affair The second Negotiation which might give 'em an Alarum was the Establishment of the Jesuits which was prosecuted with extraordinary sedulity The Pope omitted no Opportunity of talking of it to the Jesuits and he thought he could not use better precautions against the Mistrusts which he had of the King's Religion then to set the Jesuits over him either as Spies or Adversaries On their parts they were not Idle in France where they had the boldness to settle themselves in some places depending upon the Parliament of Paris maugre the Decree by which they were Banish'd And this Act of theirs appear'd so insolent that even at Rome it self it was Condemnd But they had good Protectors in the Kingdom For the Cardinal of Tournon stoutly supported 'em and the Parliaments of Tholouze and Bourdeaux upheld 'em within their Jurisdictions and they who had been of the League had always a great kindness for ' em The Clergy also encourag'd 'em to Petition for their Restauration and those Cunning Politicians well acquainted with the Air of the Court would by no means loose the Opportunity The King himself sided with 'em because he was willing they should take his part And for that well knowing 'em to be in a Capacity to undertake any Attempt against a Prince who had been their Enemy he thought he should have no Reason to fear 'em if he gave them occasions of Acknowledgment and Obligation But all the Religious Orders mortally hated the King even those that seem'd to have renounced the World and not only the Jacobins who had furnish'd the League with a Ruffian to take away the Life of Hen. III. but the Capuchins also and the Chartreaux conspir'd his Ruin 'T was too much at one time for him to Guard himself against the Jesuits besides with whose Genius he was experimentally acquainted and who never thought any thing sufficiently Sacred to protect the person of an Enemy of what Quality soever from their most bloody Revenge The pretence of these frequent Conspiracies was because the Bigots always suspected the sincerity of the King's Conversion and for that the Spaniards carefully set afoot whatever they could devise to confirm the Suspicion They laid to his Charge whatever happen'd in Europe where they thought the Catholic Religion had not all the Advantages which they desir'd Wherefore the Duke of Savoy having endeavour'd to Reduce his Subjects the Vaudois to the Roman Communion and for that purpose having sent into their Country a Mission of Capuchins back'd with some thousands of Soldiers to accomplish by force what the Monks could not obtain by perswasions the Spaniards fail'd not to make their Advantage of it to the prejudice of the King They compar'd the King's Indulgence with the Dukes bloody Zeal who observ'd no Medium between the Conversion and Extermination of Heretics He had Exercis'd the same Rigor in the Marquisate of Saluces which no way belong'd to him in regard he had Usurped it during the Civil Wars and he had constrained all the Reformed Inhabitants to change their Religion or quit their Country And his design in doing fo was to engage the Pope to maintain him in his Usurpation which indeed was one of the Reasons that the Pope would never do the King Justice in that particular point fearing least if the King were Master of the Marquisate the Reformed would abide there under the shelter of his Edicts But to render the King's Religion more suspected the Spaniards accus'd him of having hinder'd the Success of that mixt Mission by private Successors thô it were neither Honourable to the Religion it self nor to the Prince that sent it 'T is true there were some miserable Wretches that chang'd their Religion and that the Spaniards made the best they could of the â—oâ—quest But d Ossat thô a Cardinal much abated the Glory of those Conquests when he found that the Souldiers had done more than the Capuchins Nevertheless this made an Impression in the minds of the Zealots and foster'd the pretences for the Conspiracies of the Monks who look'd upon the King but as a hollow Catholic For which Reason in regard the Jesuits were the most formidable of all he was willing to secure himself from their Attempts by doing them some signal favour that might fasten 'em to his person and his service Such are the Politics of Princes to Caress those of whom they stand in awe and to neglect if not oppress those People whom they have no reason to fear They partake of Fear with those that are afraid of 'em and redeem themselves by Favours from the Molestations of those whom they mistrust This sort of Policy was very rife under this Reign at what time the Reformed complain'd that Favours and Rewards were far more Charily bestow'd on those that performed faithful Services than on those who were become formidable to the Disposer This Potent Reason made the King incline to recal the Jesuits and this design gave great Alarums to the Reformed who well knew what they had to hope for from that same always Perfidious and always Mutinous Society who if once they got to be settled in Paris would wriggle themselves into the Court and there put all things according to their usual wont into Confusion The Parliament of Paris who stood upon their Honour in this Affair by reason of the redoubl'd Decrees which they had Issu'd forth
against this pernicious Institution oppos'd their Restauration with as much Vigor as the Reformed who on the other side thwarted this Negotiation to the utmost of their Power But it was chiefly the Authority of the Parliament that render'd this Negotiation so Tedious and Difficult For Kings had then a great Respect for their Parliaments and those August Assemblies could distinguish between Subjection and Servitude so that then they were not acquainted with slavish Obsequiousness to the Sentiments of the Court. The third Affair was the Marriage of Madame the Kings Sister with the Duke of Ban the Duke of Lorraines Son which was consummated toward the beginning of the following Year The Pope started several Scruples and Difficulties not so much out of a Design to hinder the Match in regard the Marriage of that Princess with a Catholic was one of the secret Conditions of the King's Absolution as to draw some profit out of it to himself either in procuring by that means the Conversion of the Princess that was to be Marry'd or to make the King purchase his Consent by some New Complyance with the Court of Rome But the Reformed had a perfect Reluctancy against it which they made appear in the National Synod already mention'd The Question was there propos'd concerning this Match to remove the Scruples of the Princess but she found not her satisfaction there only it was judg'd that such a Marriage was not lawful Nevertheless this was no Obstacle but that it was concluded in the Month of August after the Princess had undergone great Temptations There had been several Conferences at which she was present Several Ministers and Catholic Doctors disputed the Point And in one of these Conferences it was that du Moulin whose Name was afterwards so Famous began to approve with great Reputation The Ministers had the better in all these Disputes because the Princess stood firm in so much that soon after a stop was put to these unprofitable Conferences The Catholics according to their Custom imputed the breaking off these Conferences to the Ministers and to Eclipse the Glory of the Princess's Constancy they Attributed her perseverance to her Obstinacy They gave it out that she continu'd stedfast in her Religion out of her Veneration for Queen Jane her Mother who had bred her up and had given her in charge to persevere in the Reformed Faith But thô they endeavour'd to make her Constancy to be Look'd upon as a Point of Honour nevertheless it appear'd to be an Effect of her knowledge and surpassing Parts She was greatly enlightned for a person of her Sex and she had more Care and more Leisure to inform her self then the King her Brother Which was the Reason that she was more steady then He and she understood how to Answer very pertinently in Reply to the Argument which was urg'd against her from the King's Example that the Salic Law had made between them two the Partition of Constancy But this perseverance brought her into some trouble The King himself either out of Reason of State or induc'd by other Motives us'd her somewhat severely Fain he would have oblig'd her to have put away her Domestick Servants under pretence that she too much confided in 'em and that they obstructed her Conversion He threaten'd never to do any thing for her Advancement if she persever'd in her Obstinacy But notwithstanding all this Rigour she was still unshak'n in her Constancy and she had a greater regard to her Conscience and her Ministers then to the Importunities and Pleasure of the King her Brother The Pope so vehemently oppos'd this Match that 't was believ'd they should never obtain the Dispensation from him which the King and the Duke desir'd Nay more he wrote to the Duke of Lorraine and the Prince his Son in a very Magisterial and Passionate Stile to divert 'em from the Alliance But in regard those Oppositions of the Court of Rome never frighten any but such as are willing to be afraid of 'em they were no Obstruction but that the Affair was concluded at the beginning of the next year The Popes Pretences for this Refusal were nearness of Blood between both Parties and the Princess's Religion He deem'd it prejudicial to his Dignity to send a Dispensation to a Person that did not demand it who neither thought it necessary nor in his Power to give it But the same Reasons never stumbl'd the Successors of this Pontiff in the two Cases of the Marriage of Charles Prince of Wales with the Infanta of Spain and afterwards with Henrietta The real Motives therefore of the Court of Rome are her Interests When she finds her Advantages in any thing she never fails of good Reasons to surmount the most plausible difficulties Thus one and the same Interest caus'd one Pope to refuse the King's Sister a Dispensation because a Huguenot Princess in a Catholic Country as Lorraine did not agree with the See of Rome And the same Interest caus'd his Successors to grant a Dispensation for the Marriage of a Catholic Princess with the Presumptive Heir of the Crown of England because it was for the Benefit of the Roman Religion to have a Catholic Queen in a Kingdom altogether Reformed Moreover in regard the Princess who was already somewhat in years had often slipt the Opportunity of Wedlock yet was unwilling to dye a Virgin 't was thought at Rome that she would rather change her Religion then let this Proposal of Marriage Escape after which she had but little hopes to meet with an Offer so fairly Advantagious But the Court of France believing it would be more easie to make her Excuses to the Pope when the thing was done then to obtain his Consent for doing the thing thought fit to proceed to the Marriage without staying for the Dispensation After which New Difficulties were started about giving the Nuptial Benediction As for the Princess she would not have scrupl'd to receive it from the hands of a Roman Prelate but as she was Nice in Point of Decency she would by no means hear of being Marry'd after that manner after she had bin given to understand that such a Condescention would look like a kind of going to seek a Husband should she have that Deference for him which he was unwilling to have for her That it became not the Dignity of so great a Princess to shew her self more forward then the Prince desir'd and that she was engag'd in Honour to be as stedfast in rejecting the Proposal of Marrying according to the Mass as he was firm in Refusing to be Marry'd by a Minister And the Duke on the other side Protested that he would rather never Marry then receive the Benediction from a Heretick But the King Reconcil'd the difference by sending for both Parties into his Cabinet where he caus'd 'em to be affianc'd in his presence by the Arch-bishop of Rouen Who thô he were neither Learned nor Devout
were oblig'd either by Writ of Nomination or by some Secret Reservation in the Grand Deeds The Reformed had a share in these favours as well as others as also in the Trusts and it was at them the Clergy aim'd under a pretence that seem'd plausible enough It seem'd but Just to deprive the Heretics who were Enemies of the Church of Rome of all the Privileges of enjoying Revenues to the prejudice of her Altars But that which was most remarkable in this Prosecution was this that to the end they might procure a Discharge of Lay-Pensions the Clergy were not asham'd to say That the Ecclesiastics had little enough to live upon tho it were notoriously known that they possess'd the third part of the Revenues of the Kingdom not comprehending what many enjoy'd moreover in other parts for other Reasons as by Right of Inheritance or Purchase The King consented to one part of the Favours which the Deputies demanded and for the remainder gave them good Words tending to let them understand that they must have Patience and which covertly contain'd certain Promises with which the Reformed would have had no reason to be satisfy'd had they not look'd upon 'em as Words of no consequence and by which the Court ne'r thought themselves oblig'd to any thing These Words were so remarkable among others that they have been repeated by several Historians I will act in such a manner said the King by Gods Assistance that the Church shall be in as good a Condition as it was a hundred years ago as well for the Discharge of my Conscience as for your Satisfaction but Paris was not built in a day Some understood it as if these Words were to be Interpreted that in time he would destroy the pretended Heresie which had put the Clergy to so much trouble for above Fourscore Years together but the Reformed were perswaded that they were only words of course Nevertheless this put the Clergy in hopes of making some Attempts perhaps not altogether unsuccessful to alter something in the Edict for their Intention was not to obstruct the granting an Edict to the Reformed in regard themselves had too much need of Peace to wish the breaking out of a New War but their business was to reduce the Concessions to such a trivial Invalidity that had they obtain'd what they aim'd at the Reformed would never have accepted ' em To that purpose their Agents demanded three things at the first dash that is to say That the Ministers should have no other Advantage on this side the Loire but only to be free from the Molestation of Prosecutions and that the Reformed in that part of the Kingdom should content themselves with having the Free Exercise of their Religion in such places of which they had made themselves Masters by force of Arms That is to say That they should be shut out from all the New Possessions in those Provinces and the Bailliage Towns That the Exercise of the Roman Religion should be restor'd in those places where the Reformed were most prevalent even in their strong Holds Thirdly That the Catholics should be discharg'd from paying towards the Maintenance of the Ministers in those places that were held by the Reformed They vehemently Labour'd also that the Ecclesiastics who had any differences with the Reformed might be exempted from the Jurisdiction of the Chamber that was to be settl'd at Paris as fearing to Plead against 'em upon equal Terms They no less vigorously oppos'd the Liberty granted to the Reformed to hold Synods when they pleas'd without obliging 'em to any Acknowledgments of Dependency and without hindring 'em to admit Foreigners or to send Deputies out of the Kingdom to Assemblies of the same Nature and Bertier one of the Clergies Agents was very hot upon this Point He maintain'd in opposition to the Marshal de Bouillon that such a Liberty without restriction gave 'em an opportunity to hold Intelligence and Correspondencies abroad and at home to make Leagues and enter into Conspiracies and to betake themselves to their Arms when they pleas'd themselves without any possibility of preventing ' em He gave out that Schomberg and de Thou who had concluded the Edicts were but a sort of Mungrel Catholics meaning such as were not intoxicated with his Bigotries Of Jeannin he said That he was no less moderately enclin'd then the other two and treated 'em as persons to whom the Mass was as indifferent as Preaching He was Spurr'd on to these Transports by some Prelates among whom there were some so hot that they caus'd Prayers to be said in their Diocesses to implore of God that the Edict might not pass The Moderation of the Nuncio who staid after the Legate was gone more plainly discover'd the Fury of this Irregular Zeal for he desir'd no more but that care might be taken of the Interests of the Catholic Church and that they would laboriously endeavour to reduce those whom he call'd Devoyez or such as were stray'd from the right way and upon these General Conditions he put 'em in hopes that the Pope would bear with all things else Bertiers Warmth was severely rebuk'd by the King however he would not desist for all that and at last obtain'd Assurances that the Edict should be amended in several things according to his Demand The Parliament join'd with the Clergy in several Points They could not resolve to consent to the setting up the Chamber which the King was about to Erect They oppos'd with all their might too much freedom of Assemblies as being derogatory to the Royal Authority already too much enfeebled by Ecclesiastic Jurisdiction that the Clergy had reason to complain that greater Prerogatives were granted to the New Predicants then to them However that the Reformed were oblig'd to beg leave expressly to assemble together and to admit Foreigners into their Assemblies and that they had not forborn to employ farther and more extraordinary Precautions against the Prosecutions of the Clergy by the Nomination to Benefices which the King had reserv'd to himself and by Appeals of Temporal Persons from the Ecclesiastical Judges which they were suffer'd to put in not in respect of the whole Cause but for some small or By-Point thereof The Parlament also reviv'd the Question among others Whither the Reformed were capable of Offices and Employments and several Writings were Publish'd on both sides upon this Subject There was a Necessity of proceeding to repeated Jussions or Commands to bring the Parlament to Obedience but in Opposition to all those Commands the Parlament order'd Remonstrances The Duke of Mayenne was also secretly sollicited to oppose the Verification of the Edict as if they would have rather chosen to see the Civil Wars re-kindl'd then consent that the Reformed should be in any Tolerable Condition But that prudent Prince refus'd to meddle and declar'd That he would consent to the Edict not that he was desirous of the Repose and Quiet of the Reformed
conspicuous for their Mildness and Moderation whereas the same Choice was not observ'd in any of the other The Reformed therefore having no more then one Voice either in the one or the other there was nothing could make the Clergy prefer one Chamber before another but that they were assur'd of finding more Favour before Bigotted and Violent Judges then in a Court where only the most Moderate and Prudent Judges were admitted The same Course was taken at Rouen to Regulate Religion and Justice after they had once agreed upon the Erecting a New Chamber there according to the Model of that at Paris The Place for the Exercise of Religion was appointed within three quarters of a League from the City and the Judges were Elected according to the Roll presented by the Reformed to the Commissaries In this Parlament were Created three Employments of Counsellors who were distributed into the Chambers as at Paris This manner of forming the Chambers of the Edict lasted several years And since the Establishment of General Deputies they who were preferr ' to that Employment conferr'd every year with the Chancellor the first President and the King 's Learned Council for the Election of the most Moderate Catholic Judges Which Custom while it was duly observ'd the Chambers of the Edict Administer'd Justice very Regularly and because their Jurisdiction was more Noble and more Profitable then that of other Chambers all the Catholics Affected to be moderate and equitable Judges for fear of being Excluded from serving in those Chambers But the Affairs of the Reformed falling to decay under Lewis XIII these Chambers were no longer form'd as they were wont but Elections were carry'd by under hand Packing and Caballing wherein the honestest Men had not always the best Success and at length they were admitted without distinction and without so much as the Ceremony of Choice So that the Reformed met with no more Justice there then in other Places The Chamber call'd Mipartie half one half t'other in Guien was form'd after the Model of that at Castres In the Year 1600 a Provincial Assembly was held at Sainte Foy where Nine persons were Nominated to fill the Employments that were to be Created for the Reformed and all that were preferr'd to those Offices were forc'd to Swear that when they were willing to lay 'em down the should resign 'em Gratis to those whom the Churches should appoint and without exacting any Composition for their own profit This was renew'd some years after at a general Assembly held in the same place but with permission to compound for the Expences the Person should be at to obtain his Patents So that t was easie under that pretence to elude the Institution of the Assembly But at length after the Establishment of the Paulette those Employments were put to Sale and became Here. ditary like the rest Moreover all that took upon 'em these Employments were oblig'd to Swear to the Union of Mantes and to subscribe their Oath And it was Ordain'd that the Oath should be taken by those who had the Nomination of Churches in the Consistory of the particular Church of which they were Members Thus at length the Edict was verify'd with all these Alterations and several others of less Importance which I shall sett down when I come to speak of the Complaints which the Reformed made It was Register'd the 5th of February a day which fell out to be the same which the Catholics call Ash vednesday It pass'd also in the other Parlaments much about the same time Nevertheless there were some places where it was not Register'd but under certain Restrictions which all the King's Authority could not get off nor was there any Remedy for it during his Life The particular Articles Address'd to the Parlament of Paris were verify'd in a short time after but not in the other Parlaments And this inequality was the Occasion afterwards of a great many Acts of Injustice in regard advantage was taken of their not being receiv'd in certain Courts as if that had been a Proof that they were not receiv'd any where else Hitherto the Affairs of the Edict had made no Noise at Rome True it is that the Pope had complain'd to Cardinal de Joyeuse and the Duke of Luxemburg toward the end of the preceding year that the King was about to Grant the Heretics a New Edict but it was but very coldly for he only told the Cardinal that it would have been more to the King's Advantage both at home and abroad if he had proceeded in another manner But this year he Renewed the same Complaint to the Cardinal upon the same occasion before the News of the Verification of the Edict arriv'd at Rome To which he added other Complaints that the King had proceeded to the Mariage of Madame without staying for his Dispensation It cannot be said That it was his ignorance of what was contain'd in the Edict that caus'd the Pope to talk so Calmly in regard that the Legate and the Nancio not to speak of a hunder'd other Spies that he had at Court had not fail'd exactly to inform him of it which they might easily do because they had been very far concern'd in the Negotiation But it was not yet seasonable to make a Noise as I have observ'd in another place 'T was requisite to stay till the Business was brought to such a Head that whatever Noise was made about it it would signifie nothing But then the Pope chang'd his Note and it is not to be imagin'd what a Clutter he made about a thing which he had dissembl'd for three years together True it is that this Fire was soon quench'd and that after the first time he spoke no more of it or at least he return'd to his first indifferency The Reason of all that heavy sputter which he made was only because it behov'd him to stop the Mouths of the Spaniards who stunn'd him with continual Reproaches and to be Reveng'd for the Absolution he had given the King in despite of all their Opposition turn'd into Crimes all the Kings Actions that were not to their liking And in regard that all their principal Accusations mov'd upon the Hinges of His Religion which their main Aim was to render suspected they forgot not to cry out loudly against the Edict which had been verify'd as a Testimony of his Inclination to favour the Reformed even to the prejudice and maugre the Opposition of the Catholics The Pope therefore least he should be look'd upon as a Favourer of Heretics could do no less then exclaim as they did and Testifie his Resentment against a Thing which he will knew a long time before could not be hinder'd To this purpose upon the 27 of March he sent for the Cardinals de Joyeuse and d'Ossat whom he had promoted but some few days before to come to him and in his Discourse he omitted nothing that might give 'em to understand how highly
the Clergy then to any other Orders in the Kingdom that the Catholic Religion also would gain great Advantages by it That it would be admitted into all the Cities where the Reformed were most powerful and from whence it had been a long time exterminated That the Ecclesiastics would be Restor'd to the enjoyment of their Estates That the King also by means of this Edict having heal'd up the Jealousies of the Reformed would deprive the Lords of that Party of ability to sustain their Faction which only serv'd for maintenance of Heresie which loosing once the main support of it would be more easily destroy'd by the Care which the King would take in conferring of Bishoppricks and his painful endeavours to convert the principal Lords That he was not to impute the Edict to the King's Intention of which the Pontiss had Reason to be well assur'd but to necessity and the Conjuncture of Time which they supported by Examples of other Princes who had done the same in Cases of the like Nature And because they knew it would find a Gracious acceptance at Rome they Represented the King as one who was perswaded that his Authority would never be well secur'd so long as that Faction continu'd in the Kingdom from whence they concluded that he would bring it down as low as he could But that was a Task that requir'd time and was to be done by fetching a compass and winding about for that was the expression they us'd like a Pilot who fails not to reach the Port he aims at thô he cannot always steer directly forward After this to shew that the Edict was not made in a time of settl'd Peace they look'd backward as far as the surprize of Amiens and made it out that it was then that the King was constrain'd to grant the Edict to hinder the Reformed from taking Arms That althô they had not as then betak'n themselves to Force yet he lay under a sufficient Restraint in regard he might be justly afraid they would not forbear what they were usually wont to do when they suspected a Revocation of the Treaties made with 'em and for that he knew that a War would be no less pernicious to the Catholics then to others as it had been found by experience The Huguenots being both Resolute and Politic being Masters of so many strong Holds able to Command Foreign Aid and sure to be assisted by Numerous Additions of Catholic Male-contents Loose-Livers and such as sought an Asylum for their Crimes who would be the first to Pillage the Priests Churches and Monasteries That the Oppositions of the Clergy and the delays of the Parlaments were accustom'd Artifices to shew that the Clergy did not consent to War and that the Parlament were no less unwilling to hearken to that boystrous Remedy thô both the one and the other knew it would come to that at length That the King had neither constrain'd nor threaten'd 'em but quite the contrary had graciously receciv'd the Clergy's Petition and the Remonstrances of the Parlament and in pursuance of both had limited and qualify'd many Things and therefore that they had branded with falsehood a Writing that had appear'd at Rome under the Title of The King's Answer to his Parlament Afterwards they Discours'd of the difference between the Edict of Nantes and the Council of Trent which they pretended to be such that there was no Comparison between the one and the other upon which they made an Explanation at large The Rest contain'd only Justifications of the Pope against those who undertook to blame his Conduct To which they added by way of giving him that Council which he had demanded of 'em that it no way behov'd him to show his Resentment against the King nor to threaten him in the least The Pope who was not so much offended as he would needs seem to be as may be easily gather'd from the Observations I have made was half appeas'd by these Answers so that his Resentment made only a Noise at Rome where Policy requir'd that he should give some Marks of his Displeasure to see Heresie protected in France from Persecution and the Inquisitors Only he Resum'd his Discourse from time to time concerning the Council of which he was greatly desirous that the King would have made Publication in despite of the Parlament as he had done of the Edict Cardinal Aldobrandini whom the two others went to visit after they had left the Pope was much better satisfy'd only he again propos'd the Publication of the Council as the greatest Consolation which the Pope could Receive To which he added the Re-establishment of the Catholic Religion in Bearn d'Ossat wrote himself to Villeroy some days after that all the Popes Wrath would be appeas'd if there were but once a Publication of the â—ouncil and that it would satisfie all the Catholics in the Court of Rome who were unseasonably Scandaliz'd at the Edict Which shews that they would have bin content that the King should have Granted greater Favours to the Heretics would he also have allow'd the Pope some considerable Advantage by way of Compensation Moreover the Cardinals complain'd that the King had never sent 'em any Order what to say at Rome concerning the Edict so that they were forc'd to return such Answers to the Pope as came into their Thoughts By which 't is easie to be seen that the King's Intentions and Reasons for granting the Edict were not to be lookt for in their Replies in regard the King had never imparted 'em to their Knowledge but that they had fram'd Answers of their own Heads such as would be grateful to the Court of Rome and serve the Pope for an excuse to wipe off the Reproaches of the Spaniards The same Affair is often variously represented by the Ministers of Princes and Attributed to divers Motives on purpose to render it agreeable to the Relish and Interests of the several Courts to which they are to give an Accompt of it So that neither the Discourses of the said Ministers nor many times their Instructions are any great Helps to discover the Intentions of their Masters The King who did not find things so well prepar'd within his Kingdom for the Publication of the Council was nevertheless willing to gratifie the Pope upon the Second Article of Consolation which Cardinal Aldobrandini had propos'd Therefore while he lay at Fontain Bleau he Granted an Edict for Bearn no less favourable to the Catholics of Bearn then the Edict of Nantes to all the Reformed throughout the Kingdom He Re-establish'd two Bishops one at Lescar and the other at Oleron and promis'd the one a Pension of 3000 to the other a Pension of 1800 Livers for the payment of which he undertook himself He set up the Mass again in Twelve places and in all places under Laic Patronage the Patron being a Catholic He admitted the Catholics to Offices and Employments like the Rest provided they should not exceed the
Number of the Reformed He also by the same Edict confirm'd all the Ecclesiastical Regulations that had bin made either by himself or his Predecessors from which he declar'd he would never derogate by his Edict and gave it as to that of Nantes the Title of perpetual and Irrevocable The States of the Country had Refus'd to Obey an Edict which Henry when he was only King of Navarr had granted at Paris after the Massacre in 1572. asserting that their Prince was not free and that the Edict had been extorted from him under the Terror of Death But this they never oppos'd nor did they murmur at all because it was put in execution without their Consent thó the Attempt were directly contrary to their Priviledges But two things oblig'd 'em to be satisfy'd with this Change The one was that the Catholics who demanded the Free and publick Exercise of their Religion promis'd what as time made appear they had no Intention to stand to that they would make no more New Demands if the free Exercise of their Religion might be allow'd ' em The other was because the Churches were afraid of a greater Mischief then that which they suffer'd in regard that nothing was taken from 'em to be bestow'd upon others and that they left 'em their Regulations and their Priviledges So that they took a small Mischief for a Favour because they were afraid of a greater and for that knowing how earnest the Pope was for the Re-establishment of his Authority in that Province they thought themselves rid of it at a cheap Rate by the moderate Course which the King had taken to content all the World But in all other parts of the Kingdom the Reformed were not so well satisfy'd and the Assembly which sate still thô not in a full Body at Chatelleraud expecting the Verification of the Edict had labour'd with great earnestness to hinder the Alterations which the Court was resolv'd to make in that which was Sign'd at Nantes So that it requir'd a great deal of pains to perswade 'em to receive it with a General and Unanimous Consent It happen'd therefore that the Assembly drew up Ample Memoirs of those Alterations which they form'd into Complaints and sent to the King demanding Justice They Mark'd out the Alterations which had been made in a dozen of Articles where they had blotted out added and alter'd several words as also whole Clauses and Periods There were some of those Alterations which seem'd too slight to be taken Notice of Nevertheless the sequel made it appear that they were of greater Importance then they seem'd to be in regard they were made use of in our Time for a Pretence of several considerable Acts of Injustice The first thing therefore that they excepted against was an Equivocal Word in the last Line of the Third Article of the Edict where the Word Houses of the Ecclesiastics wherein the Exercise of the Reformed Religion was forbid'd might be adjudg'd to comprehend their Feifs and Signiories in the Prohibition They also complain'd that the words by them Establish'd were added in the Ninth Article as being Words which might give an occasion of Dispute upon the Explanation of the Right and Freedom of Exercise which had been Granted ' em They could not Relish the two Clauses made use of in the Eleventh Article which excepted out of Places where the second Place of the Bailliage might be allow'd Cities Episcopal or Archiepiscopal and Ecclesiastical Signiories They Complain'd that the Clause forbidding the rebaptizing Infants that might have been Baptiz'd by the Ministers was raz'd out of the Eighteenth Article They were not pleas'd with the manner of forbidding people to work tho their Shops were shut set down in the Twentieth Article and permitting Informations against Transgressors of the Inhibition They demanded that the Words which imported Prohibitions to insert in Grants of Offices the Clause of Catholic Apostolic Religion which had been taken out of the 27 Article might be put in again They pretended that the Promise to create a Substitute to the Proctor General in the Parlement of Paris ought not to have been par'd off from the the 37 Article They lookt upon as derogatory from the Jurisdiction of the Chambers of the Edict that part of the 34 Article which forbid'd the bringing Causes thither in Reference to Suits that concern'd Benefices and which debarr'd 'em of taking Cognizance of Criminal Processes where Ecclesiastics were Defendants They Complain'd that the Chambers were not settl'd within Six Months as was Ordain'd by the 43 Article The Words which were added to the 35 Article concerning Particulars to oblige the Reformed not to assemble their Synods without the King ' leave were left out which might be of il Consequence either by Reason of the Charges of obtaining the King's permission or because of the danger that would accrew for want of the due exerciâ—e of Church Discipline if the King refus'd his Licence Lastly 't was said that by the Alteration made in the 45 Article the Reformed were depriv'd of all that was formerly favourably allow'd 'em in reference to the Enterrment of their Dead Now to understand the Reason why they complain'd of this Article 't is requisite to know that at first it was couch'd in these Terms In case His Majesties Officers provide no commodious Places for those of the said Religion in the time prefix'd by the Edict after Request made and that there should be any delay or remissness in that Respect it shall be lawful for those of the said Religion to bury their Dead in the Church-yards belonging to the Catholics in Cities and Towns where they are in possession to do it till due provision be made The Clergy could not brook this Article and therefore caus'd it to be Reform'd in such a manner that there was not one Word left of what it contain'd before And whereas it had been drawn up in Terms that had a Reference to the Future and which put the Catholics to an absolute Necessity either to afford the Reformed convenient Burying Places or permit 'em to enterr their Dead in the Ancient Church-yards instead of that I say they drew up the Edict in Terms that only regarded the time past These New Terms imported That for the Enterrment of those of the said Religion that had been formerly Buried in Catholic Church-yards in any Place or City whatever 't is not His Majesties meaning that there shall be any Inquisition Innovation or Prosecution and his Majesties Officers shall be enjoyn'd to stop their Hands This debarr'd the Reformed from having any Priviledge for the Future to Bury in the same Places nor did it compel the Catholics to allow 'em any other For which Reason ever since they began to Treat about the Affair of Burying according to this Reformed Act they always met with Vexations and Cavils about that matter which were never terminated but by the Revocation of the Edict The Assembly also drew up a Paper
of Particular Complaints which they would not intermix with the General The first had Reference to an Affair which the Parlament of Tholouse had Transacted in the Chamber de Castres The President de Paule had been sent thither by the Parlament together with the Catholic Counsellers that were to compose the Chamber This President tho the younger of the two would needs take place of Canaye the Reformed President Which having been disputed with him at Castres he return'd to Tholouse and there got a Decree pass'd in his Favour all the Chambers being Assembl'd The Reformed not willing to submit to it complain'd to the King of the matter of Fact as a Breach of Common Right which adjudges the Precedency among persons of equal Dignity to the first Preferr'd Besides that this Attempt was contrary to the 36 Article of the Generals of the Edict and to the 48 of the particulars of which the one Ordain'd that the Presidents and Counsellors of the Chambers should be accounted Members of the Parlament where they were settl'd and the other that the most Ancient President should have the Precedence The Parlament on the other side pretended that the Presidents Elected out of their Body were to have the Precedence tho Junior over those of the Chamber tho their Seniors And this pretension was become a leading Card for the Degree of Counsellors who had the same Reasons and the same Interests as the Presidents They alleag'd therefore that the Chamber not being incorporated into the Parlament their Officers were to give place in all things to the Members of Parlament more especially because Tholouse is one of the most Ancient Parlaments in the Kingdom That the President of the Chamber of the Dauphinate where the Precedency belong'd to the Eldest made nothing for the Chamber of Castres because That of the Dauphinate was incorporated and for that the Officers belonging to it were reputed Members of the Parlament of Grenoble where they had Seats and Suffrages in all Affairs that were handl'd in the Assembl'd Chambers They added Cavilling upon the Order of Words that in the Erection of the Chamber of Castres the King always Nam'd the Catholic President the first and the Reformed the second as if it had been his Pleasure to distinguish the two Employments by their Degree and to declare thereby that the Office of first President was to be held by a Catholic Opon this Occasion they magnify'd the Pre-eminency and Dignity of the Catholic Religion and forgot not to alleadge that in regard the Reformed President did not wear the Morter Cap which a President in Parlament wore as a Badge of his Dignity that very difference decided the Question and set the Catholic a Degree above the Reformed which oblig'd him to give place and precedency to the other The same Remonstrance demanded that the Hostilities committed before 1985. should be comprehended in the Amuesty Granted to the Province of Languedoc The third Article concern'd the Inconveniencies which the Reformed suffer'd for want of Burying Places for their Dead by Reason they were deny'd convenient places for that purpose The fourth had Reference to a particular matter of Fact that was done in the City of Pamiers which was almost all Reformed and which the Parlament of Tholouse would enforce to pay a Legacy left to the Jesuits thô the Consuls were priviledg'd in the Chamber half Catholic half Reformed The Deputies who presented these Complaints were enjoynd to demand by Word of Mouth that the Catholics should forbear the Exercise of their Religion in Churches and Chappels within Gentlemens Houses Which was of great Importance because there were few Gentlemens Houses without a Chappel Which constrain'd the Reformed Gentlemen to keep their Houses open whither they would or no for the Catholics to come and say Mass in ' em These Papers were answer'd toward the end of August but the manner of answering 'em was very particular and Merits to be consider'd because it may be useful for the understanding of the Edict and to shew what were the Kings Intentions touching the Execution of it There were some of the Articles that concern'd the Alterations made in the Edict upon which the King would not Grant any thing at all nor would make any New Alteration Such was the Article about Unbaptizing of Children the Prohibition of which the King lookt upon as insignificant the Repeating of Baptism being disapprov'd by the Clergy it self and there being very few Examples of Priests that ever practiz'd it Of the same Number was that touching the Observation of Festivals that of the Chamber settl'd in the Parlament of Paris That of Creating an Office of substitute to the Proctor General and lastly That concerning Burials All these Articles remain'd in the same Form to which they had reduc'd 'em on purpose to facilitate their passing in Parlament 'T is true that by a Tacit Permission the Article about Burying recover'd the Force and Efficacy which it had before The Commissioners put it in Execution as it had been Decreed at Nantes as I have said in another Place and in the Printed Copies this Article was couch'd in the first Form according as it was Granted And it was above twenty years before the least alteration was made in it besides that there was so much Justice in a Regulation that left the Catholics Masters of their Churck-yards provided they would allow of others that no body grumbl'd at the Ordinances of the Commissioners conformable to those allotments But in the next Government the Scene was quite chang'd They would needs perswade the Reformed that they had falsify'd the Article and that during so long a Series of years they had deluded the King the Council the Commissioners the Clergy and the whole Kingdom causing that to pass for an Article of the Edict which was no more then a false and unjust Pretension The Reader may judge whither such a Delusion were possible The truth is that because they would not draw upon themselves the Complaints of the Clergy they let the Article go in the Clergies Terms but enjoyn'd their Commissioners to Execute it according to the first Regulation Otherwise I leave it to any Mans Judgment whither it be Crebible that in three or four different Deputations the Catholic Commissioners should have conspir'd for Twenty years together all over the Kingdom with the Reformed to Cheat the World and Violate their Instructions But there were others wherein the Reformed obtain'd their desires as that for the Explanation of the Equivocal Term of Houses Ecclesiastical which was order'd to their Advantage the signification of the Terms being reduc'd to Buildings design'd for Persons or Service Ecclesiastical Also upon the delay of Establishing the Edict they obtain'd a New Order to settle 'em in three Months upon pain of Interdicting the Parlaments that refus'd to do it Upon other Articles they were referr'd to the Chancellor to know the Kings Intentions as upon the inconveniences they
carefully Instructed and some had their Depositions ready drawn to their hands The Pope was willing to prepossess himself and tho he were to be a Judge of the Affair he could not forbear in some measure to come in himself for a Witness of the Constraint of which the Queen complain'd by repeating the Words that were spoken by Charles IX to Cardinal Aldobrandini whose Domestic Servant he was So that in shewing he had particular Reasons for giving Credit to the proofs of the Violence which that Princess had sustain'd he prepar'd Mens Minds to lay aside all Doubts that he would make it a point of Conscience to ordain the Dissolution of the Marriage For at the bottom if the proofs that appear'd were not solid he had Reasons which he reserv'd in his Breast which render'd the Divore Lawful even in the Judgment of the Reformed and it behov'd him to be satisfy'd with what he could find for fear that if better Reasons were alledg'd it might chance to cost the Queen her Life Every one had his particular prospect in this Affair besides Reasons of State and Conscience The Reformed were in hopes of being firmly settled under an Heir bred up by a King who was belov'd by 'em and who was beholding to 'em and the Pope saw well the Advantage that would redound to Him that there would be a King in France one day that could never question the Authority of the Holy See without putting in doubt at the same time his Right to the Crown I might here pass over in silence a particular Affair that happen'd this Year in the Parlament of Bretagne did I not think it useful to shew how the Parlament were enclin'd at that time toward the Reformed The Chamber that was to be Erected at Paris was not yet ready for which reason they could not make use of the Priviledge of removing Causes where the Suit was proper out of the Jurisdiction of the Parlament of Bretagne Now a Reformed pleading there against a Catholic in a Cause about something that depended upon Honesty and Sincerity declar'd that he would be concluded by the Catholic's Oath provided he would take it upon the Sacrament which was the most Sacred Thing in his Religion But the Catholic being willing to avoid the Oath or else to take it only according to the usual Forms the Parlament adjudg'd the proposal of the Reformed not admittable because he had not the same Veneration for the Sacrament as the Catholic Casuists much more equitable then the Judges of that Parlament might have blam'd the Reformed perhaps because he requir'd his Adversary to Swear by that which he did not believe was the Object of Worship but would have dispenc'd with the Catholics taking it because the Oath taken under a certain Name Dishonours not the Object there Nam'd but on the contrary has a great Veneration paid it by him that Swears At least the Primitive Churches were much of this Opinion they would have condemn'd a Christian who should have requir'd a Pagan to Swear by the Name of one of his Deities but they would have pronounc'd those Judges Unjust that should have dispenc'd with a Pagan for taking such an Oath under pretence that the Christian abominated Idols For in truth the Religion of an Oath is grounded upon this That he who takes the Oath is always presum'd to Swear by those things which he esteems most Amiable and most Sacred The Catholics who now Trade among those whom they call Infidels or Heretics would think it strange that those people should not be permitted to Swear by what they believe most Venerable under pretence that the Catholics have not the same Veneration for the same Things Toward the latter end of this Year the King in favour of La Trimouille added the Dignity of Peer to that of Duke which he had already and he took his Oath at the beginning of December which favour proceeded not so much from the Kings Affection as from the Fear and Awe that he stood in of the Duke's Wit and Courage The Court was full of Malecontents but the Dukes of Bouillon and Trimouille were not the least formidable either by the Puissant Alliances of their Families or their Reputation among the Reformed therefore to prevent their joining with others they endeavour'd to gratifie 'em with some particular Favours And the Peerage which had not as yet been conferr'd upon all sorts of people was esteem'd an Honour that might satisfie the most Ambitious However the Duke was not rais'd to that Dignity without murmuring at it But Marshal de Bouillon already enjoy'd the same Honour and by consequence it was no Novelty since there was already a President for it nevertheless the Spaniards made a great noise about it at Rome and the Pope complain'd of it They had put it into the Popes Head that together with the Dignity of Peerage he was to enjoy the Office of High Admiral the Authority of which as he thought extended to Command in all the Sea Towns But d'Ossat appeas'd him by making it out to him that the Edict being Granted the Granting some Honours to those that were declar'd Capable could not be avoided more especially when they were persons of that Merit and Quality as the Duke that the Title was an Honour without profit and which Invested the Duke neither with any more Power not any more Revenue then he had before but which engag'd him to greater Expences without affording him wherewithal to defray 'em that neither Offices nor Governments were annex'd to it that in bestowing such sort of Favours the King had always a regard to the Good of the Catholic Religion and by kindnesses of that Nature sought to gain the principal Heads of the Heretics to his Party The Pope relish'd these Reasons and so the Noise spread no farther They were yet more tractable at Rome in reference to the Business of Lesdiguieres and Roni whose Religion they well knew would never transport 'em so far as to displease the Pope There appear'd some discontent that Roni had obtain'd the Superintendency of the Finances which the King had conferr'd upon him about the time that the Edict was concluded But in all probability this discontent was rais'd by a Cabal of the Council of which Villeroi was the Chief who not being able to waste the Kings Treasure by reason of Roni's severe Management would fain have had that Employment in the hands of a Courtier more remiss for which reason d'Ossat a Creature of Villeroi's engag'd himself too far in this Intreague for his Profit for that having written those things to the King which tended indirectly to the taking away the Finances from Roni the Cunning Treasurer made him suffer for it by reducing him almost to Beggery for want of his Pensions duly paid Nor was this any obstruction but that within a little time after Roni without quitting the Administration of the Finances was made Master of the Ordnance Duke
Thousand injurious flouts for having so little Prudence and Policy of which however the Catholics had all the reason in the World to Repent when at the Siege of Amiens they saw how Necessary the Union of the Reformed with the rest of the Kingdom was for the preservation of it After this to load the Reformed with Accusations because they would not Surrender themselves without bargaining for their Security to the Discretion of their Old Enemies was to imitate the Justice of Highway-â—en that should go about to bring their Actions against Travellers because they refus'd to confide in their Words or else because they rather chose to make 'em run the half of the Danger by putting themselves upon the Defensive part then to suffer their Throats to be Cut without Resistance That as for the pretence of a State in a State it was a meer Chimera that the strong Holds which were left in their Hands belong'd to the King as well as the rest in the Kingdom Possess'd by him Paid with his Money Kept in his Name and that the Trust of 'em was not Perpetual since they were to be no longer in their hands then till the Catholics should be at leisure to Accustom themselves to live at Peace and Unity with 'em and therefore if they desir'd they should be Surrender'd without any Trouble at the end of the Term prefix'd that the Catholics had no more to do but to observe more faithfully the New Edict then they had done all the rest The End of the Sixth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Edict of NANTS BOOK VII The Epitome of the 7th Book QVestions upon the Nature of the Edict The Benefit of it The State of the Kingdom before and after the Edict Wars about Religion are the most Cruel What diversity of Religious Policy ought not to suffer in a Kingdom What is the Nature of the Reformed Religion The Justice of the Edict which restor'd Humanity and Sincerity Services done to Kings by the Reformed The Justice of Rewards after Service done What Recompence is The Edict grants nothing to the Reformed which distinguishes 'em from the rest of the French in the Quality of Subjects For that reason the Concessions in it are so much the more just What the Edict grants the Reformed do no body any prejudice The Catholic Religion has been a great Gainer by the Edict The Edict ought to be Irrevocable A Consideration upon the Word and the Thing Rights of Conscience The Force of Edicts that maintain the Liberty of it and those that are Granted for the Preservation of Societies The Preservation of their Subjects the Chief Obligation of Soveraigns There is Naturally an Express or Tacit Treaty between the Soveraign and the Subjects as also between Master and Servant The Force of Treaties The Edict of Nantes is a Treaty which the Form of an Edict renders more Venerable Two Considerations of a Treaty in the Edict 1. Between the King and the Reformed 2. Between the Reformed and the Catholics The Reformed Treat with the King 1. About Reward for their Services 2. About Security against their Enemies Places of Security Kings may Treat with their Subjects Proofs The Reformed were in a Condition to Treat with the King Six Considerations that make it out Other Reflections Considerations upon which the King Treats The King Arbitrator between himself and his Subjects to Grant the Edict with the Consent of the Catholics A Maxim of the Clergy in the Questions of the Regale The King Security for his own Edict Successors bound to observe the Treaties made by their predecessors That the Parlaments the Clergy the Pope himself have as much share in the Edict as was necessary to remove all pretence of Complaint A Resuming the Series of the History Commotion of Mens Minds upon the Publishing the Book of the Eucharist Divers Writers attack it The King is willing to satisfie the Pope and content du Plessis Du Plessis tax'd for falle Quotations stands upon his Honour He Challenges his Accusers and his Challenge accepted by Perron A Conference Granted Difficulties started by the Clergy as to the Matter and Thing Others by du Plessis's Friends Degrees of Foul Play 1. Perron has Notice but not du Plessis 2. Perron is Dispens'd with from giving in VVriting the Number of the Passages which he promis'd 3. The Order and Choice of the Passoges is lest to him The Conference almost broken off is continu'd upon unequal Conditions 5. Perron prescribes the Laws fer it 6. Theeesoore and one Passages deliver'd to du Plessis to justifie in eight Hours 7. They deprive him of his Rest in the Night 8. The King appoints the Commissioners 9. Gives the plurality of Vices to the Catholics 10. Changes two that were first appointed for two others more suspected 11. Makes choice of two tottering Reformed Chrracters of du Fresne Canaye and Casaubon 12. Forbid making use of the Terms of False and Falsity Reciprocal Protestations Perron's Malice Form of the Conference Du Plessis condemn'd in Nine Passages General and particular Reflexions Du Plessis falls Sick and the Conference breaks off The Catholics insult and Triumph Consequences of the Conference The Assembly remov'd from Chastelleraud to Saumur where it breaks up BUT there are other considerations to be made upon this Subject which are no less important 'T is fit to be enquir'd whether supposing that the means by which they obtain'd the Edict were Innocent it was beneficial to Grant it Whither it were one of those Edicts that become Essential Laws of the Kingdom in Respect of the Nature of the things which they decide or the manner of Ordaining 'em or rather one of those which being Granted only to serve the present Occasion may be revok'd upon the change of Affairs The Question concerning the Benefit of the Edict may be determin'd in few Words There needs no more then to consider the vast number of Mischiefs that render'd it necessary and which it has successfully repair'd and the Great Advantages which it procur'd to France while it was observ'd with any appearance of Fidelity There needs no more then to compare what France was before the Edict had laid the more solid Foundation of Peace and what it arriv'd to in a few years after the publick Tranquility was establish'd I shall say nothing of the Terrors of a Civil War consider'd in it self They are well known to all the World There is no Body but Trembles when he calls to mind that the Members of one Body that owe each other mutual Defence are Hurry'd to mutual Destruction that a Kingdom should employ her own Forces to prey upon her self That Rage and Fury should violate all the Tyes of Nature and Society that it should Arm Citizens against Citizens Relations against Relations and Brethren against Brethren There may be found the same Remarks in a thousand Authors But I cannot pass over the dreadful wast and depopulation that so many years Wars had
made over all the Kingdom The Country was almost all Ruin'd the Houses the Castles the Cities were generally run to decay nothing every where to be seen but heaps of Rubbish and Desolation And the strong holds that were fortify'd were rather Ruins half repair'd whither the people Retreated for shelter then places that enjoy'd the Lustre and Beauty of Cities There was no body that could depend upon his Revenue The Nobility Gentry and Souldiers subsisted all upon Plunder which Necessity Authoriz'd The Bourgesses who only Rented other Mens Lands or Houses depended upon the strogest side and frequently were undone by the Incursions of the Enemy The Merchants broke in regard of the decay of Trade in a Ruin'd Kingdom The Ecclesiastics complain'd that their Estates were Seiz'd or Usurp'd and that as the one part of the Kingdom was unwilling so the other was disabl'd from paying their Tithes and their Rents The King also was poorer then his Subjects His Revenues were engag'd his Taxes ill paid all his Duties came to little and as I have already observ'd he was so far from having wherewithal to support a Royal Magnificence that during the Siege of Amiens he had not wherewithal to supply his Table and Cloath himself like an ordinary Gentleman And the Civil War was to be continu'd to compleat what was already brought to such perfection the Destruction of a Kingdom by Misery the Members of which that were most Vigorous did but linger out and Languish upon the Brink of a Total Dissipation It may easily be conjectur'd also what a Confusion the unequal Distribution of Justice occasion'd in differences between Man and Man and how many incumbrances the Troubles of so many Years which had interrupted almost all the Functions of the Judges must have ensu'd by setting up Prescriptions Bickerings about Jurisdictions with incertainties of Possession had not a stop been put to the Progress of these Irregularities by a happy Revolution Several faults had been made upon the Royal Authority during those long divisions as tho it had been no more then an Airy Title which was neither of any Efficacy or Power to support it self And the Kingdom which for so many Ages had kept up so high a Degree and Reputation in Europe was become the Scorn or Pity of Foreigners according as they had a kindness or diskindness for France That Kingdom which had been for so long time the Sanctuary and Refuge of the Oppressed was now no other then the Stage of Oppression and the Theatre where the strongest side Acted the most bloody Tragedies However no sooner was the Edict set forth but France recover'd Peace in so much that in twenty four hours as a Man may say there was a Reformation of Forty Years Disorders Plenty and Prosperity re-enter'd by degrees into Families and Order and Property took place again The Country began to be Till'd And the hopes of a lasting Tranquility encourag'd all people to repair the Ruins of their Inheritances Every Body took Possession of their Estates and the Courts of Law were open to Legal Suits and Demands Nor did the Ecclesiastics gain less than any of the Rest But the King got more then any Body Splendor and Majesty Readorn'd his Palace He resum'd his Authority over his People and Foreigners once more began to look upon the Flourishing Kingdom either with Respect or Dread The repose of France ballanc'd all Europe The King jealous of his word was soon confided in by his Allies and in regard he had no other Ambition then to Reign for the good of all the World without any desire of Usurping what belong'd to others without Cruelty without Devices and Tricks so soon as they saw him at Quiet he became the Love of his Subjects an Umpire among the Christian Princes and the Admiration of his Enemies The Politicians dreaded his Power and for fear it should grow too great they thought it convenient to rid themselves of him by an execrable Assassination The Rapidness of this happy Re-establishment may be easily conjectur'd at by the small time they suffer'd him to live after he had restor'd Peace to his People Hardly ten Years were expir'd after the settlement of Peace at home before they posted on to this dismal extremity And if he liv'd so long 't was not for want of sooner Attempts upon his Life by cruel Conspiracies Now in regard there is no greater Proof of the Benefit of a thing then by the Effects of it it may be judg'd by the consequences of the Edict that never any Prince conferr'd upon his Subjects a more wholesome and comfortable Law And therefore the principal Reasons that were made use of to satisfie those to whom there was some excuse to be made for the Edict were generally drawn from the benefit of it And there was no other way then that to stop the Mouths of those who had the most desire or Interest to hinder the encrease of the Reformed They acknowledg'd that the Kingdom stood in greater need of a Peace at home then abroad and that having been so near Destruction by their long Divisions they could never recover themselves but by Concord And this was so much the more necessary in regard that the Dispute being about Religion those Wars that are made under that pretence are always the most Cruel because the Hatred is more implacable aad becomes more violent every day then the other through the Zeal that kindles and incenses it The Cruelty of the most Savage may sometimes be Govern'd by Reason but a Devout Cruelty will heark'n to no Counsels that are able to confine the violence of it For people of that Character make a Duty of their Cruelty and easily perswade themselves that the more Outragious the more Religious it is So that if the Edict had not put a Period to Wars of this Nature the Kingdom could never have escap'd a General Dissolution in regard the weakest Party was strong enough to reduce to Extremity those who would have undertak'n their Ruin and so the one half of the Kingdom that would have exterminated the other would have no longer after that been able to support it self All that can be said to the contrary is this that a Kingdom is disfigur'd by variety of Religions that this difference of Sentiments fosters a secret Alienation in the Breasts of Men which consumes the Kingdom by degrees like a Hectic Distemper and that it always keeps a Door open for the Renewing Civil War because it cherishes in the Kingdom the Immortal Seeds of Faction I confess it were to be wish'd that Christianity were more Uniform but in regard it is not my Province to handle this Matter like a Divine I shall only say that there is a sort of Variety which Policy may Condemn that is to say such a one as is attended with Evil Consequences and which gives one Party an opportunity to oppress an other But where there is a Variety the bad Effects of which
are prevented by good Laws it is not to be condemn'd It would have been pernicious to the Kingdom to suffer two Religions and permit 'em always to be at odds and in a continual struggle to advance the one by the Opposition of the other But there is no reason for that Kingdom to be afraid of any thing that engages different Parties to a mutual Toleration There is a variety of Religions as of several Professions If people that follow several ways of living should be permitted to make War one upon another for Example should the Lawyers be suffer'd by open Force to destroy the Merchants and Husband Men the Damage to the Kingdom would be visible but by Uniting 'em together in Peace the Kingdom looses nothing and they are useful one to the other In like manner when a Kingdom is reduc'd to Tolerate various Religions 't is impossible but that it must be a great disadvantage to the State should both Parties be left to themselves to destroy one another This is that which creates Factions and Parties while the Conspiracies of the one engage the other under a necessity of Uniting to defend themselves But when they are restrain'd by Laws that are Just and Moderate there needs no more then to have a watchful Eye upon 'em to prevent the Mischief arising from variety of Sentiments Subjects are in a Kingdom as Children and Servants in a Family and the variety of Sentiments is like the Diversity of Tempers and Inclinations Now then as diversity of Humours is no hindrance to the Repose of a Family when the Laws of Oeccnomy are wisely and faithfully observ'd in like manner Variety of Religions never disturbs a Kingdom when the Members of it look mutually one upon another as Children of the same Father or Servants of the same Master and the Sovereign doing equal Justice to Both notwithstanding this difference carefully Observes on every side the Laws of Peace which he has granted ' em Hence it comes to pass that in Countries where there is a Free Toleration and perhaps too Universal that the Tranquility of the Subject is nere the less and that the difference of Religion even in France it self has not hinder'd the Kingdom from-enjoying a Prosperity of Fifty years together and to mount to that Degree of Power that has subdu'd a great part of Europe Now to speak like a Politician that which never disturbs the Tranquility of a Kingdom that which never interrupts the Happiness of it that which never suppresses the growing Grandeur of it never disfigures or deforms it There is nothing that Offends or Disgraces the Ornament of a Government but that which is pernicious Every thing is lovely every thing is profitable at least every thing is fit to be tolerated from whence no Mischief proceeds This cannot be contradicted in those things that never ranverse Divine Right nor Moral Equity and Honesty Consequently this is true in Toleration It does not in the least disfigure a Kingdom when it extends not to Sects that sap the very Foundations of Piety Rather it ought to be taken for an Ornament because it garnishes the Motions and Intercourse of the People with an Air of Peace and Charity which is one of the most Glorious Characters of Mankind Now the Religion of the Reformed granting it came short of that Purity which is Attributed to it is at least one of those Religions that cannot be accus'd of overturning the least Foundation of Piety Neither can the Morality of it without Detraction be call'd Corrupted nor the Doctrine of it be said to be impious nor the Discipline of it Seditious If it be true that it has any Defect 't is a scrupulons Delicacy which will not suffer it to believe and practise what it is perswaded that God never commands nor approves a Niceness to be endur'd if ever any were since there is nothing against which the Conscience ought to keep a stricter Guard then against the Doctrines or Worships which are introduc'd under the Name of Religion to the prejudice of Gods Commands Consequently it may be tolerated and yet the Liberty allow'd it be no disfigurement to the Government which permits it If the Benefit of the Edict were so great the Justice of it is no less It is just not to be Cruel or if some times Men have prov'd Cruel either through prejudice blind Zeal or Transports of Passion 't is but Justice not to be so always It is also more just to be neither perfidious nor treacherous or if sometimes our Reason goes so far astray as to permit us to become so 't is a necessary piece of Justice as soon as may be to return home to sincerity Cruelty and Perfidiousness are the Disgrace and Ignominy of Human Nature Compassion and Fidelity the most solid Blessings of Society If they have been Wrested from it by Fraud and Barbarism that have assum'd their Room there is nothing more just then to restore 'em to it again by re-establishing as soon as may be the Rights of Honesty and Humanity Now it was a long time since that both the one and the other were Renounc'd in Respect of the Catholics and that neither Pity nor Sincerity was to be found in their Breasts For above Fifty years together the unfortunate Reformed were destroy'd and havoch made of 'em by all manner of Torments Above thirty years together the Catholics made War upon 'em without giving Quarter and only Granted 'em a little breathing time of Peace to take better measures and fitter Opportunities to exterminate ' em However this same Zeal of the Catholics tho it had been just and rational ought to have surceas'd after so many vain Effects Tho there had been something of Religious and Evangelic in those Cruelties the Catholics had done enough to discharge their Consciences It was but just at length to return to means more Mild and Gentle 'T was time to mitigate those Rigours that did but augment the Number of the Reformed They had in vain attempted the Reducing these pretended Wanderers by all the means both Lawful and Unlawful that Invention could Devise even to the bringing the most flourishing Kingdom of Christendom within a Fingers breadth of Desolation Allurements Promises Favours Writings Pulpit-Harangues Conferences Threats Torments Massakers Acts of Injustice Fraud Treachery all the Artifices of a Deceitful Peace all the Violences of a Merciless War had been made use of to no purpose They had Banish'd Re-call'd Dispoil'd of all Restor'd Prosecuted in all the Ecclesiastical and Secular Courts even by the Cruelty of the Inquisitors whatever carry'd the Name of Reformed They had had Edicts of Peace and War so often Granted so many times Revok'd that it was impossible any longer to Play a Game so pernicious to Human Society It was not Just that Religion should serve any longer as a pretence for so much Confusion it was therefore but Just that Sincerity and Humanity should resume their Station in the
place and joyn their Arms for the common Interest are in a fair way to be Friends They that consent to a Truce which is but a Provisional peace shew plainly that they have no Reluctancy to a Decisive Peace Which is more especially true in this Case where the Truce made in behalf of the two parties by their Chieftains was an Interim in expectance of the peace in Order to which the Truce was made In the second place the Act pass'd between the Catholics of the Army and Court and Hen. IV. after the Death of Hen. III. by which they oblige the New King to no more then the preservation of the Catholic Religion without demanding the Extirpation of the Reformed and that he should permit himself to be instructed in the Roman Doctrine without forcing the Rest of his Subjects this Act I say is a proof of the same thing Of the same Nature also in the third place is the Writing Sign'd by the Catholics Lords and Princes at Mantes before the Conference of Surene wherein they not only consented that the King should preserve the Reformed but they promise that no prejudice shall be done 'em by the Treaty they were about to enter into with the Leaguers All this together makes up a kind of Compromise or mutual Consent by which it is evident that the Catholics of the King's party agreed that he should Judge of the Civil Differences in the Kingdom upon the score of Religion But the Marks of the Leaguers Consent are yet more clear and more Authentic There is not one one of the Treaties concluded with them where there is not one Article for the Religion But never did that Article demand more then two things that is to say the Re-establishing the Roman Religion in certain Places and the reducing the Exercise of the Reformed Religion to certain Limits The clear meaning of which is this that upon those two Conditions they who Treat consent that the King should tolerate the Reformed 'T is a Law notoriously known and a General practise that all Restrictions confirm the Law in Cases to which that Restriction is not extended and that the Exception of a particular Clause is a ratification of the General Decree We see then here the Catholics even those who have been more conspicuously and more vehemently Zealous then any Others closing with the King in reference to the means of procuring Peace between them and the Reformed and excepting in two conditions wherein they include themselves leaving his Authority at Liberty to Act as he shall see convenient And after the passing of all these Acts it is that the King has given a Definitive Sentence in this Great Contest and that having call'd together both Parties upon the Heads of their Disputes as well by the Negotiations of the Deputies as by the Decisions which he pronounc'd in favour of the one and the other in things wherein they could not agree among themselves he Form'd between 'em the Irrevocable Treaty which is contain'd in the Articles of his Edict And here we may very aptly apply the Grand Maxim of the Clergy of France which carried 'em so far in the Affairs of the Regale After the Parlament of Paris had began that process toward the beginning of this Century the Clergy set all Engines at work to hinder the Cause from resting in the hands of those Judges who held several Ecclesiastical Priviledges for Usurpations And they obtain'd so far that the King summon'd the Cause before himself and after his Council had left it undetermin'd for above Sixty years at length the Clergy lost their Cause some years ago and the King adjudg'd the Regale to himself throughout all the Kingdom The Grand Reason which one part of the Clergy has made use of to perswade the other to submission is this the Parlament was not a competent Judge of that Affair They only judge of Causes between Man and Man not of those that altogether concern either one of the States or the first Estate of the Kingdom The King alone is the only Judge of those great Questions He has taken the business into his own Cognizance by the Citation which the Clergy demanded They had a Right to dispute the matter till then But now the thing is at an End The Soveraign Arbitrator has pronounc'd Sentence the Oracle has spoke and there is no more to be said Thus likewise in the Affair of the Edict there was no competent Judge but the King 'T was not the Business of one of the Estates but of the Three Estates who were Interested in the Affair of Religion The King was possess'd of the Business by the Petitions of the One and by the Oppositions or Acts of consent of the other The thing was delay'd and spun out in his Hands for several years during which the whole Business was sufficiently sifted and discuss'd to give a true understanding of the Cause At length he pronounc'd Sentence he made a Law he made an Agreement between the parties upon conditions that were prescrib'd ' em And thus there was a Final End of this Business nothing more to be said or done in it The consequence is so much the more necessary in regard that between the Cause of the Regale and the Edict there is a difference advantagious to the Latter not to speak of others that may be observ'd there The Clergy holds for Decreed what the King as Soveraign Arbitrator has judg'd in his own cause But in the Edict the King Judges under the same Character without suspition of partiality in the cause of his Subjects where he has no personal part where he interests himself no otherwise then as a common Arbitrator and Father of his Country Now in an Affair of this Importance the Decision of which United all the disordering Members of the State and by a happy Peace put an end to their long Fatal Divisions 't is evident that the King became security for the Concord which the Treaty re-establish'd among his Subjects as being the person whose Authority had cimented it together 'T is the Priviledge of Supream Authority to Warrant and put a Value upon things where it intervenes 'T is because the Vertue and Force of particular Contracts are founded upon it that the King's Name and Seal are affix'd to 'em that he Judges Parties by their consent that as the Protector of the Rights of every one of his Subjects he sets up those Acts which his Power Authorises and which are drawn up in his Name in favour of Sincerity and Innocence against the Cavils of Fraud and Injustice If then in those Acts where the King is not presum'd to Judge but because his Name appears there his Quality of Soveraign Arbitrator in all the Causes of his Subjects obliges 'em to a Tacit Warranty that they shall be firm and inviolable how much more evidently ought it to be present in a Treaty which Unites the differing Parties of a State after a long War
a Contradictory Decree after both Parties had been heard and their Pretensions and Defences duly weighed The Clergy also were present there and they made their Remonstrances and Objections as the Parlament had done with some Solemnity and Deliberation They met a little after the Conclusion of the Edict the Legat being still in France They Address'd themselves to the King by their Deputies and presented him with Cases and Petitions but he did nothing without Consulting the Legat and after his Departure without the advice of the Nuncio The General Agents went farther likewise in their Oppositions then this Prelate and behav'd themselves with so little Respect that they were even Guilty of Undecent Language Their Remonstrances however had partly their desir'd Effect They obtain'd Immunities and Favours for the Clergy and caus'd some of the Articles of the Edict to be Alter'd Insomuch that afterwards no Man with any Confidence could say he was not heard If the King did not Consent to every thing the Clergy desir'd and made 'em quit some part of their Pretensions yet it cannot be denied but that he heard 'em and Judg'd of the Dispute with a perfect knowledge of the Cause The Murmurs of the Clergy after the matter was ended wou'd not allow them to Complain that they were not heard no more then a Man has Reason to say after Sentence has pass'd against him that the Judges did not perfectly know his Case To which we may add That the Clergy reap'd greater Benefit by the Edict in many things then the Reformed themselves So that tho they had been totally excluded from having any Negotiation in the Edict yet they cou'd have had no reason to complain that Affairs were not manag'd to their Advantage without giving 'em the trouble of attending ' em In short The Pope himself had given his Consent as far as cou'd be desir'd of him He was made sensible from the time that the Treaty of a Reconciliation between the King and him was on foot and that the King wou'd not be oblig'd to Destroy the Reformed In the very Articles to which his Councel agreed they made use of General Clauses that imply'd a Consent to the Edict which was to be made for Liberty of Conscience At least those Proctors did positively assure His Majesty that it was clearly the sense of those ambiguous Terms with which they must be satisfy'd because the Pope neither cou'd nor ought to suffer others which is as much as to say That the Church of Rome esteeming it a point of Duty and Honor to Massacre Burn and by all manner of means to Extirpate those whom they call Heretics the Pope cou'd not think it look'd well for him to Consent in express Terms that he shou'd suffer 'em to live in Peace and that of course he was oblig'd to express himself in obscure Significations The Testimony of the King to the Parlament that the Pope had approv'd of all he had done is a Demonstration in this case and what happen'd some time after the verification of the Edict confirms the same The Pope vigorously press'd the Publication of the Council of Trent and to obtain it insisted upon the promise which was made him upon his demand in the Kings Name before he gave him Absolution Among other things the Chancellor answer'd to these Instances That this Article cou'd oblige the King no farther than the welfare of the Kingdom wou'd allow of This Answer being carry'd to the Pope by such as had a mind to Exasperate him against France was expounded in such a manner that it gave him no small displeasure But d'Ossat who was desirous to remove all occasions of disquiet from him told him That the Chancellor intended no more by these words than what du Perron and he had said to His Holiness himself when they Treated with him about the Absolution of the King to wit That by the Publication of the Council the Edicts of Pacification shou'd not be Abrogated That the Heretics shou'd not be compell'd to observe 'em And that the King shou'd not be oblig'd to renew a War with 'em That for the same reason du Perron and he had refus'd to pass the Clause which was design'd to have been Inserted in the Formulary of the Profession of Faith to wit That he who did it shou'd be engag'd to cause it to be done to all his Subjects The Pope reply'd That he well enough remembred that what was meant by the welfare of the Kingdom was so Explain'd to him and if this Chancellor meant so there was no great hurt in it These words do sufficiently evince that he agreed to observe the Edicts and that he gave many marks of it as his Dignity cou'd conveniently permit We may add to this what I have said elsewhere which shews That he was well enough acquainted with the whole proceedings of the Edict That he had at that time a Legat in France That his Legat was inform'd of all that pass'd there That there were people who gave him occasion to suspect the Conduct of the Kings Commissioners That the President de Thou was oblig'd to give him an Account of his own particular Conduct That this Prelate having understood it seem'd well enough pleas'd with him and with the proceedings and left the management to the discretion of the Commissioners I said also That the presence of the Legat was the cause of delaying the verification of the Edict He made likewise such pressing demands that they durst not refuse him tho we cou'd have wish'd without this obstruction that the Publication had been made whilest those of the League were stunned as it were by the Kings Successes lest Time shou'd force 'em to take measures to cross this design When the Legat left France a Nuncio supply'd his Room without whom the Clergy would not proceed one step and who was also much more moderate than the General Agents and some Prelates of the Kingdom in regard that without any scruple he promis'd the Pope's support provided they took care of the Catholic Religion So that if after that the Pope shew'd some Signs of dissatisfaction it was only as I have observ'd by way of Comedy which the Politicians know well enough how to play when they have any prospect of saving themselves 'T was necessary as he himself said complaining of the Edict to stop the mouths of the Spaniards who having some concerns with him sought all occasions of blaming his Conduct This was the reason why after the first clash he never desir'd the Repeal of the Edict and all he did was to press the Publication of the Council and the Re-establishment of the Jesuits in recompense of those favours which the Heretics had receiv'd These were as great marks of his Consent as cou'd well have been desir'd in an Affair where his Religion and Dignity wou'd not suffer him to write Briefs and Bulls of Approbation This is sufficient in a business whose Nature chiefly requires that
doubted but of which he had given assurances to the Synod They forbad Ministers to be the first Aggressors in Disputes of Controversie It seem'd by the Measures that were taken in this Assembly to hinder the Abuse of removing Causes to the Chambres Miparties or Chambers half Protestant half Catholics that Litigious Cavils had made their advantage of their Institution But what was most remarkable of all that there pass'd is that the Brevet for 45000 Crowns for the Payment of Ministers having been given to the Churches but three years before Roni was so little â—zact in paying his brethren that there was due to 'em the Arrears of this Sum for three years Some Months after the seperation of the Synod the King Answer'd some Papers sufficiently Large that had been presented to him of which principal Articles were that the Reformed in Dauphine were Tax'd for the places of their Churches and of their Church-yards that in many places they depriv'd their poor of the General Alms and thrust their Sick out of the Hospitals that at Bourdeaux and Xaintes the Juâ—ats and Judges would have seiz'd upon the Money that was gathered for the poor at the Church-Doors that at Rouen they refus'd the Petitions presented in the Name of a Reformed Church Body or Community that at Orleans and elsewhere they tendred to the Officers at their Admission Oaths to live in the Roman Religion That at Gâ—rgeau the King's Proctor had Depos'd his substitute for the Sole Cause of Religion That at Lions the Chevalier du Guet would by Force accompany the Attendants at Funerals anâ— exacted excessive Fees and those who kept the Hospital of the Bridge of Rhone disturb'd these Funeral Attendants as much as they were able Upon all which they had all they could desire Granted 'em to Wit most severe Prohibitions against continuing to do 'em the same Injuries Nor were their two last Articles less favourably Answer'd By one of which the King was oblig'd to preserve the Churches of the Country of Gex in the same State in which he found 'em when he United it to the Crown and the other that the Reformed might Traffick in all the Duke of Savoys Dominions without fear of being disturb'd for their Consciences The King promis'd to the Inhabitants of the Country of Gex Liberty of Conscience and the exercise of their Religion as to the Rest of his Subjects This was as much as to say that he Granted 'em the Protection of his Edicts according to which the Roman Religion ought to be Re establish'd there and that for the rest things should remain there in the same condition in which they were found Because that was properly the General Rule for Executing Edicts In Effect he re-establish'd the Mass there in some time after and he sent the Baron of Lux on purpose to make this Re-establishment But he left the Reformed Churches in Possession of those Priviledges which they enjoy'd when the Country was yielded to him He refer'd the Reformed for the other Article to the Fifty third of the particulars of the Edict where what they desir'd was intirely Granted ' em At that time there was a Great business a Foot at Rome in which they would fain have engag'd the King It concern'd the Succession of England which the Pope labour'd to have settl'd in the Hands of a Catholie There was in prospect a Prince of the House of Parma and a Church man was sent over into that Island with the Title of Arch-Priest to incline the Catholics of the Country to it The King of Spain would have gotten this Crown for himself or for a Prince of his House and there were Writings dispers'd wherein the Jesuits did Impudently maintain that it was devolv'd to him The Motive of this Intrigue was Queen Elizabeths Age who in all probability 't was thought could not live long It wasnot known how she would dispose of the Suucession But it was well known that she would never leave it to a Catholic Prince And 't was fear'd that the King of Scotland her next Heir coming to the Crown might be capable of doing a great deal of hurt to the Roman Religion if he had an Affection and Zeal for the Reformed He was yet but young and as he had hitherto liv'd under a kind of Guardianship his Genius and his Inclinations were not yet known But they alter'd their measures when they knew how to hit his Humour and they carried things so far that they made use of him himself to endeavour the reducing of England to its former Obedience to the Pope But while they expected that things should come to that the King did not Rellish the Intrigue He gave his hand to the project of reducing this Kingdom to the Catholic Religion and during the rest of his Life he was the Mediator and confident of this design But he was not willing to aggrandize his Enemies by this change The other designs which he had in his Head did not require that there should be no more Protestants in Europe Chaâ—illon the Admiral 's Grandson was taken off this year by a Cannon shot in Ostend besieged by Arch-Duke Albert Never did a young Lord give greater hopes He was born for War and among the good Qualities that are necessary to a Commander he had the knack to make himself belov'd by his Souldiers whose Hearts and Confidence he had gain'd 'T is said that he had so great a Credit in thâ— Army of the Statâ—s that Prince Maurice could not forbear being Jealous Nor was he of less Authority amongst the Reformed of France who lov'd in him Virtues equal to his Fathers and Grandfathers He was continually talking of their Actions and aspir'd to no more then to imitate ' em The most Ardent of his desires was that of being like his Grandfather at the Head of the Reformed and to fight one Battle for their Interest His Merit made him lamented by the King when he heard the News of his Death But when Courtiers who always speak of the Dead or Absent what they durst not of people in a capacity of revenging themselves had drawn to the King what Picture they pleas'd of the Ambition and the Designs of this young Lord he took for a Sign of Prosperity what immediately before he look'd upon as a Subject of Grief It was in this year too that the Dauphin came into the World His Birth gave great Joy to all true French Men who by that saw all the Seeds of War suppress'd which the several pretensions to the Succession might have produc'd But that did not hinder the Spaniards from preparing all occasions of disturbance nor prevented from time to time the spreading of a Rumour that the King having promis'd Marriage to the Marchioness of Verneuil there was a doubt whither the Succession belong'd to the Children of Mary de Medicis There were some Spanish Casuists that made it a Question whether the Dispensation was fairly obtain'd In
Conspiracy of Marshal du Biron And indeed the Duke Transported by his Discontents was engag'd a little too forward in those Intrigues Tho his design was not to give the King any disturbance but he would have remov'd Roni from the management of Affairs where he had got too great an Authority This Favorite finding himself held up by his Master abus'd and injur'd all the World without Fear and Wit under pretence of his Husbandry which flatter'd the inclinations of the King he made all those uneasie who would fain have had to do with a more liberal Prince The Duke had let the King know that Roni's Credit was the pretence of the Male-contents Neither had Roni fail'd to do the like by the Duke which forc'd him to fly the Kingdom after the Death of Biron left like him he might have lost his Head upon a Scaffold The King would fain have had him left himself to his Discretion and he gave great assurances of shewing him favour provided he would freely confess his Fault But the Duke would never trust him Whether his Conscience made him fearful of his safety or that he fear'd Roni whom he knew able to do any thing when he could conceal a Crime under pretence of serving the State or that both these Reasons together augmented his distrust But that his Innocence might be clear'd of the Accusations that were form'd against him he presented himself voluntarily before the Chamber of Castres under whose Jurisdiction he pretended to be because of his Territory of Turenne And he writ to the Court to demand his dismission In which he derogated from the Privilege of Dukes and Peers whose Causes are of Course referr'd to the Parlament of Paris The Chamber gave him an Authentic Act of his Submission but because the King's Counsel took no Notice of it he found himself no longer safe in the Kingdom and therefore passing through Geneva he retir'd into Germany where he staid some years before his Peace was made During his absence almost all the Protestants Writ in his behalf He gave 'em to understand that Religion was the principal occasion of his Persecution and he alledg'd Reasons which might perswade it There were many others said he that had a greater share in the Conspiracies then they pretended he had Nevertheless they chose to draw up an Impeachment against him tho he strongly deny'd to have been concern'd in it and that they had no charge against him Which could not proceed but from the difference that Religion put between him and the rest to whom they said nothing But neither his Reasons nor all the Credit he had in France could make his Case pass there for a Case of Religion And the Reformed kept themselves within the bounds of Intercession only Foreigners that wrote in his behalf did the same and only pray'd that their Zeal for Religion might not over-rule their Justice in this Case Queen Elizabeth who had a great esteem for this Lord was the only person that pleaded for him in another Tone She excus'd him by her Letters as much as she could and cast all the accusations that were rais'd against him upon the hatred of his Religion The King dissembl'd the discontent that these Letters gave him But he appear'd incens'd at the Synod and the Polic Assemblies for concerning themselves in the Affairs of the Duke And he shew'd openly that he took in ill part the Protection which it seem'd The Chamber Miparti had given him receiving his Petitions and retaining his Cause At the end he continu'd inflexible to all the Entreaties that were made him at home or from abroad But if this Affair occasion'd no more Tumult the King's severity to the City of Rochelle produc'd no Effect that much more extraordinary An Assembly held at Rochelle like a kind of Petty State had establish'd a certain Right which was call'd the Pancarte This Right was to be suppress'd at the term of some years But the King's Farmers continuing to raise it after the time expir'd it caus'd divers disturbances in the Provinces Many great Towns oppos'd this exaction by open force and Rochelle among the rest committed some violences but was forc'd like the rest to submit it self to the King's pleasure She receiv'd Roni himself accompany'd with twelve hundred Horse within her Walls and all the Interest she had in the party could not hinder but that the rest of the Reformed remain'd in their Obedience There was nevertheless among 'em particular persons full of suspicion and mistrust who fear'd that the King had some hidden designs against 'em And others that foresaw by the Attempts that were made that the Public Liberty was in danger of being oppress'd La Trimouille Free and Bold spoke on this occasion in such a manner as made him be look'd upon as very obnoxious at Court Marshal de Bouillon was formidable by means of his Intrigues altho he was absent and du Plessia incens'd by the Injury which he pretended to have receiv'd from the King at Fontainbleau was as much suspected as the rest They were afraid so much the more in that 't was well known that their distrusts were not without some Grounds There was at the Court and in the Council it self a Cabal intirely Spanish who were enliven'd by the Intrigues of the Council of Spain and by those of the Court of Rome This Cabal mov'd all sorts of Engines to engage the King to destroy the Reformed And after having us'd the direct means they took indirect and remote to bring the King to it of which he was not aware For that Reason it was that they vigorously press'd the Repeal of the Jesuits that they had already form'd Projects of an Alliance between France and Spain that they caus'd it to be loudly spread abroad that at the same time that there was a Dauphin born in France there was an Infanta born to the Catholic King as if this occasion had been a stroke of Providence to oblige these two Crowns to Unite themselves by the Marriage of these two Children for the Destruction of Heresie Taxis Embassador of Spain press'd the King incessantly to extirpate the Heretics of this Kingdom and to give that as an evident Sign of the sincerity of his Conversion to the Church of Rome They say likewise that this Embassador having spoken to him one day in Terms that offended him this Prince Answer'd him that he wonder'd that they should go about to force him to destroy a people who had done him good Service and who tho they held Errors which the Church Condemn'd yet at least Ador'd Jesus Christ and believ'd him the Son of God while His Catholic Majesty tolerated in his Territories the Mahometan Sects whose Religion was nothing but a Complication of Blasphemies against Christianity The King made this Answer in such Terms as by his pronouncing 'em seem'd to imply a necessity of doing that in France against the Reformed which the King of Spain
which passage in the Scripture was the most clear to prove Purgatory and to shew the equality of the Pope's Power to that of St. Peter He demanded of it also in what time the Heresie of Calvin would be extinct He question'd it concerning the Depravation of Passages in the Scripture by the Heretics And he had Reason to ask the Lights of the Prince of Darkness concerning that because he had prepar'd a Work wherein he accus'd the version of Geneva of a great number of Falsifications He pass'd to Foreign Affairs to know what measures might be taken to Convert the King and Queen of England and all the Kingdom and which way to succeed therein with most Ease How the Turk might be Defeated and the Infidels Converted Whence it came to pass that Geneva had been so often preserv'd Then returning to the Affairs of the Kingdom he demanded something concerning the places of surety concerning Lesdiguieres and his Conversion and of the Duration of Heresie The Question about the preservation of Geneva no doubt was very Curious The Duke of Savoy made continual Attempts on this City and towards the end of the foregoing year he miss'd very narrowly of becoming Master of it He held intelligence with Blondel one of the Syndics of the City whose Treason was neither found out nor punish'd till many years But his Men already Masters of the Wall already enter'd the City and ready to force the Court of Guards that kept the Gates were nevertheless Defeated Those who were not kill'd were taken Prisoners and in the sequel were Executed as Robbers The Duke being desirous to gain that by force which he had been so near obtaining by surprise the King interven'd and told the Duke that he must expect him to be his Enemy if he push'd on the matter any farther Insomuch that the Duke was oblig'd to defer his designs till another time Geneva had implor'd succours of the Churches of France in this business and had written to their Deputies General to pray 'em to make a good Collection to assist 'em in the War which they thought to have against this formidable Neighbour and St. Germain did not fail to write concerning it throughout the whole Kingdom But the Interposition of the King deliver'd Geneva of this Dread and the Reformed of this Expence Cotton the Jesuit not being able to comprehend how Providence so openly had favour'd this Heretic City against the Pretensions of so Catholic a Prince was desirous that the Doemon should unfold to him the Mysteries of the Council of God and ask'd it whence it came that this City did never fall under the Attempts of a Neighbour much more Powerful then she All or most part of these Questions were set down in half Words But it was not hard to understand the meaning of every one of 'em did a Man but never so little understand what was the State of the Court and Religion in that time and that they were the Prospects and Intrigues of the Jesuits The Jesuit was so indiscreet as to Write all these Questions with his own hand upon a loose Leaf and to put 'em in a Book which Gillot Counsellor of the Parlament of Paris had lent him in 1603. Some years after returning the Book he forgot the Leaf which the President de Thou found there in Reading The thing seem'd too extraordinary to this Wise Magistrate not to endeavour to discover the Author of this curious Interrogatory It was plain enough that the Jesuit had a part in it because this Writing was found in a Book that came out of his Closet but the suspition turn'd into certainty when this Paper was compar'd with his Writing which it was not difficult to find The King did not Rellish this Piece of Curiosity but the Jesuit Reign'd there was no Noise to be made of it and the King call'd for the Paper to suppress it No Body could forbear Wondring at it Murmuring at it and fretting at it Many diverted themselves with it and found something very Comical in the design of questioning the Doemon not only upon Affairs of State but upon Religion upon the State and Conversion of Hearts and to take the Lights of this Doctor for Guides in understanding the Scripture Others expected that this Jesuit should have been Mortify'd at least by this Adventure But he did not much trouble himself about it because he was never the Worse for it at Court The Tractableness of his Temper his Complaisance his Flattering and insinuating behaviour maintain'd him in a Degree of Favor whose Cheats and Rashness ought to have thrown him down if the good Will of Kings were bestow'd on Merit They who have Written the Life of Cotton the Jesuit not knowing how to Reconcile this Adventure with all the Falsities which they put off in Honour of this Profligate Man bethought themselves of altering the Recital by all â—orts of Disguises Principally the Last of these Authors has gone beyond the Impudence of the other And as he has well judg'd that those who should compare the manner by which he Writes the History of him to that by which the President of Thou relates it would admire at this difference and would make no difficulty to believe this Venerable Magistrate before the Jesuit he endeavour'd to render him suspected of Passion and Infidelity upon this occasion But the Integrity and Exactness of this Wise Historian is so well Establish'd that his Testimony in things that have pass'd under his Eyes and through his Hands will always carry it in the Judgment of honest Men upon that from the whole Order of Jesuits That which these Authors say then that the Jesuit had not set down in this Writing but that which was permitted him by the Canons to demand of a Doemon is altogether a pure invention to Disguise the Truth There are also great variety of Copies of it which appear'd in Publick 'T is true the Jesuits themselves might sow among the people Memoirs made at pleasure to perswade those that will not ascend back again to the very source that it was a piece of Malice that was intended against their Society that every one mingling therein what came into his mind thereupon arose this multitude of Writings differing from one another But it was impossible that the President de Thou and the Counsellor Gillot Roni and the King himself who had seen the Original Piece before the thing became Publick should suffer themselves to be Cheated by this Artifice The Verification of the Writing which the Jesuit caus'd to be made by these who were most immediately at his Devotion without Form of Justice without having any party that took Notice of it and upon such a Writing that he pleas'd to produce to 'em because the Original could no be found by what his Historian says is a Trick that ought not to prevail against the Testimony of those Magistrates who had had the Original in their Hands ond who before they
by the Commissioners to perform that Exercise fell by Succession or otherwise into the hands of Catholics of which they alledg'd an Example in Baujolâ—is where the Propriet of a Barn that was design'd 'em for their Assemblies was upon the point of being sold They made likewise Complaints of the Seditious Terms that the Catholic Preachers made use of in their Sermons as they had done all the Lent long at Blois at Orleans at Angiers and elsewhere at Chalons upon Sacne at Mortagne at Chartres the Judges to whom the Complaints were made never using their endeavours to repress ' em They spoke also of the attempts of some Judges that wou'd take upon themselves the Authority of proportioning upon the Reformed the Sums of which they had occasion for the Maintenance of their Ministers The Kings Answers were all favourable however they were forc'd to come again more then once to desire the Abolishing of those Monuments which preserv'd the Memory of the Civil Wars Very near the same time the Inhabitants of the Country of Gex sollicited the Confirmation of the Regulations which they had obtain'd in the Matters of Religion since their Country came under the power of the King I have already observ'd that they had there follow'd the Methods of the Edict as in all the rest of the Kingdom whether for the Restoration of the Exercise of the Roman Religion or for maintaining the Reformed in the possession where the King had found ' em But to have a stronger Title then those Regulations made upon particular Accidents they desir'd something more Authentic that they might make 'em effectual and they obtain'd it in the Month of June by a Declaration for that purpose In the mean time they prepar'd themselves to hold a General Assembly and indeed the following Year they held it at Chatelleraud The King was much afrad lest some things shou'd pass there against his Interest because it was said that this Assembly wou'd Grant their Protection to the Marshal de Bouillon The Marshal made his Affair pass over all Europe for an Affair of Religion and when he writ to the King after his disgrace he spoke more in the Style of an Accuser that threaten'd then of a Criminal that humbl'd himself It was dangerous in the Example that that shou'd be taken for a Cause of Religion in an Assembly of Subjects which was held a Crime of State in the Council of a Soveraign Moreover the place was suspected because it was at Chatelleraud from whence la Trimouille and du Plessis were not far distant For in regard the Duke had a great passion for Liberty and Sentiments on that Subject becoming a Hero if he had not been Born under a Monarchy 't was fear'd that he wou'd have endeavour'd to make of the Reformed Party a kind of Common-wealth of which the Marshal de Bouillon was accus'd to have laid the Project This likewise gave so much the more occasion to the Kings Council to think that they had perhaps already some prospects of oppressing the Public Liberty by an Absolute Power 'T is certain at least that the suggestions which came from Italy or Spain tended that way and little Papers ran among the people that taught how to rise to the highest degree of Despotic Authority The Reformed did not Palate these Designs of a Power without Bounds because they knew well what they ought to expect from a Catholic Council if once they went about to set themselves above Promises and Laws 'T was therefore that there were many amongst 'em that were desirous to take measures to avoid Civil Servitude because they saw it wou'd be easie to fall into the Servitude of Conscience if the first were once Establish'd But the Death of the Duke of Trimouille deliver'd the King of that pain It happen'd so seasonably that it might be said to have been procur'd His Distemper began with Convulsions which terminated in a Languishment wherein he lingred some months and when there seem'd some likelihood of his Cure his Convulsions seiz'd him again and carry'd him off He had bin invited by Roni a little before his Distemper began and I knew some of his Domestic Servants that were strongly perswaded that his Death was not Natural This Death was taken by the King for a Fortunate Hit because the Duke's Genius gave him a great deal of trouble 'T is a difficult matter for a Man to behave himself before Kings if he be Fear'd he is Hated if he be Peaceable he is Despis'd and when some part of their favour is obtain'd 't is not agreeable to a Man who has a Soul to be more oblig'd to blind Compliance or a servile Dependance then to his Merit There was this Year an Affair that made a great Noise which was judg'd at the Chamber of the Edict The Cardinal de Chatillon had been Marry'd ever since the year 1564. yet for all that had neither quitted his Habit nor his Dignity His Death happening some years after his Widow agreed for his Inheritance with the Admiral and after that having been carry'd away by a Man who Robb'd her of all that she had got it came into her mind when the Edict of Nants was publish'd to demand a Review of the Contracts which she had made and to dispute with the Heirs of the Admiral the Inheritance of her Husband She grounded her Suit upon the Edict which by the Nine and Thirtieth Article of Particulars order'd a Toleration of Marriages such as Hers. But on the other side the Quality of the Person was a great Obstacle to her pretensions She might have succeeded better if the Dispute had been about any other then a Prelate but the affront had been too heinous for the Pope to bear had the Marriage of a Cardinal been confirm'd Bishop and Peer of France who had presum'd to retain after this Marriage his Revenues and his Purple Besides the Cardinal was the Elder Brother of the Admiral and of d'Andelot and his Marriage 't is like cou'd not be confirm'd without the Ruin of two Families which descended from these Lords one of which was half Catholic to wit that of d'Andelot whose Son had embrac'd both the Roman Religion and the League Servin Advocate-General made a long Speech in this Cause He spoke not of this Marriage of the Cardinal but as of an unlawful Conjunction and wou'd never grant that there had been any Solemnization of this Marriage even in the Forms accustom'd among the Reformed As Servin inclin'd very much to their Doctrine it may be judg'd that all his discourse was made on purpose to be sent to Rome where he was necessary to make it appear that such a Marriage had not been approv'd of His Evidences took from the Cardinals Wise the Quality of his Widow depriv'd her of all that she cou'd pretend to in that Quality and did not so much as order any Provision for support of her Children The Court order'd the Advocates
Foreign Power that he was Sovereign in his Kingdoms even in Ecclesiastical Causes This Oath was the Discourse of Europe for several years and serv'd to create Divisions among the Catholicks of England of which some maintain'd it lawful and others contrary to their Consciences The Pope joyn'd with the last which was the Party of the Jesuits But there were some English Priests who neither believ'd the Pope nor Jesuits in that point and who exhorted the Catholicks to take that Oath without scruple The King himself writ in defence of his Oath and his Book had the success I have express'd elsewhere In France the Jesuits advanc'd their Affairs with a wonderful facility And tho several Cities refus'd to consent to their Establishment they notwithstanding daily obtain'd new Favours However they could not prevail to hinder the King that Year from granting the Reform'd a Boon By the Treaty of the Reduction of Paris the Exercise of their Religion was not to be allow'd them nearer than at the distance of five Leagues It had been allow'd at Ablon a place a little nearer than that Article mention'd But yet the distance was too great to permit them to go and come in a Day especially in the Winter time It was very inconvenient for such as had Children to be Christned the Reform'd at that time not allowing Baptism to be Administred out of their Assemblies They alledg'd that several Children dy'd by the way which might have been Christned had the place of their Exercise been nearer which reason was capable to move the Catholicks upon the account of their Opinion concerning the necessity of Baptism Moreover Foreigners and the Lords of the Court complain'd that it was impossible for them to pay their Duty to God and to the King in one and the same Day by reason of the great distance to which they were oblig'd to go to make their Devotions which at that time seem'd more inconvenient than ever The Dutchess of Bar's Death having depriv'd them of the Advantage of Religious Worship at Court which they had enjoy'd whilst she was a live Therefore the Reform'd desir'd to have a place nearer to remedy those inconveniences And the King being desirous to favour them of two places which they had pitch'd upon granted them one which was the Village of Charenton near the Abby of St. Maur within two short Leagues of Paris They obtain'd his Letters Patent for it bearing date the 1st of August by virtue of which they were put in Possession thereof within a few days The King by the same Letters reserv'd to himself the Cognizance of all the Oppositions and Appellations that might be form'd upon that Subject and forbid the Parliament and all other Judges to meddle with it That Affair did not pass without difficulty tho it met with none from those who were most able to oppose it viz. the Parisians who might pretend that the said Grant violated the Edict of their Reduction It was the Lord of Charenton who oppos'd it grounding the said Opposition upon that Article of the Edict which forbids the settling of the Religious Worship of the Reform'd in Mannors belonging to Catholicks against the Will of the Lords thereof but those Oppositions were shifted off by transferring them to the Council Nevertheless the Successors of the said Lord have renew'd them from time to time as if they had been concern'd at the improvement of their Mannor the Village which of it self was one of the poorest in the Kingdom being grown one of the most considerable and richest by the incredible Trade it occasion'd there every Sunday But notwithstanding all those Oppositions the Exercise of the Reform'd Religion has been continu'd there until the Revocation of the Edict The Rabble was not so easily supprest as that Lord's endeavours Soon after that new Establishment they excited a violent Sedition at St. Anthony's Gate which is the nearest to Charenton against the Reform'd at their coming back from their Temple Tho the Magistrates immediately repair'd thither it was not in their power to remedy it And the consequences might have prov'd of very ill consequence had not the King come back on purpose from Fontainbleau to Paris to give his Orders there His Presence restor'd Peace and Union into the City and confirm'd the Reform'd in the possession of the favour he had granted them About the same time the King receiv'd the Petitions which the Deputies General presented to him very favourably which were very large and very material The most considerable Articles were That the Modifications of the Edict made by divers Courts and Jurisdictions might be cut out That it might be recorded with the particular Articles in such places where it had not been done yet That the Comissioners already nominated might be oblig'd to execute the Edict in Burgundy in Dauphine and in other places where it had not been done yet That the Charges of their Journey might be allow'd them to remove all pretence of delay That the Ecclesiastical Lordships of the first Places of Bailiwicks might not be exempted That the Restriction of the second might be remov'd which had been added after the first Expedition of the Edict and that the Lands belonging to the Orders of Knighthood might not be comprehended under the Denomination of Ecclesiastical Lordships That the Poor might be receiv'd into Hospitals and share in the Publick Alms proportionably to the number of the Inhabitants and that they should not be molested upon the account of Religion or otherwise That the Reform'd Inhabitants of the places where the general Gatherings should be made might not be oblig'd to contribute towards them That in such Places where they had allow'd no Church-yards to the Reform'd they might be allow'd to bury their Dead in the Old Church-yards and that the Ecclesiasticks should not be allow'd to disturb them in the same or to take up the Corps which the Official of Anger the Bishop of Alby and the Cardinal of Sourdis were accus'd to have done to some that had been buri'd above Six some even Eighteen Years That a stop might be put to the Seditions that were excited in divers places against the Reform'd either at their coming back from Divine Service or when they held their Conferences or Synods That Officers might not be allow'd to sit in their Assemblies in that Quality as they had pretended to do it in divers Provinces That the Ministers might be allow'd to Visit the Sick and such as were Condemn'd to Dye and that the Priest and other Catholicks should not be allow'd to divert them from their Belief That they might be exempted from contributing towards the Fraternities Casting of Bells Reparation of Churches and the like conformably to the Second of the particular Articles which the constraints impos'd by the Judges and the Precipitation of the Syndies render'd of no use even forcing the Reform'd to contribute towards certain Collections made for the Capucins Jesuits and other Ecclesiasticks
which Vignier had compos'd upon that matter according to the desire of the preceding Synod and committed it to the Examination of the Academy of Saumur in order to have it Printed with the Name of the Author The said Book appear'd soon after Entitul'd The Theatre of Antichrist Among the other effects it produc'd it induc'd Gontier a Jesuit to Preach against the Thirty first Article of the Confession of Faith of the Reform'd which he did before the King in so seditious and so insolent a manner that the King reprimanded him severely for it but lest the Catholicks should accuse him upon that account of favouring the Reform'd and of suffering their Writings to pass unregarded he also suppress'd Vignier's Book The first Incroachment that was made upon the Royalty's belonging to Reform'd Lords was made that Year by a Decree from the Chamber of the Edict of Paris That Decree maintain'd against the Widow of a Lord de Vieille-vigne to whom those Rights belong'd in a certain Parish of which she had the Presentation a Gentleman who usurp'd them for this reason only That he was the only Catholick Gentleman in that Parish and that this Lady professing the Reform'd Religion came never at Church The Advocate General maintain'd the Cause of the Catholick and pretended that no wrong was done to the Lady by the Sentence of which she was appealant because she was only depriv'd of her Rights for the Time being which preserv'd them to her when she should be in a condition to reassume them This Decree was confirm'd by the Opinions of the King's Council and imported that the enjoyment thereof by the Catholick should in no wise prejudice the Lady nor her Successors being qualify'd for the said Priviledges that is being Roman Catholicks The Jurisdiction of the Party Chambers was also incroach'd upon that Year upon pretence that it was abus'd Bordes an Augustine Monk and Giraud a Councellor of Thoulouse were accus'd of an Assassination the Circumstances of which were very odious The Monk sought a shelter in the principal Cities of the Reform'd at Tonsceins Milhau and Nimes and having embrac'd their Religion he desir'd leave to be try'd before the Party-Chamber of Languedoc He affirm'd that the only reason of his being persecuted at Thoulouse was because they had observ'd Sentiments in him contrary to the Catholick Doctrine He alledg'd the usual Cruelty of that Parliament who in abhorrence to his change of Religion would sacrifice him without mercy The thing being heard before the Council of State the King sent back the cognizance thereof to the Parliament of Thoulouse The Reform'd complain'd of that Incroachment upon their Priviledges believing themselves wrong'd every way by the said Decree In case the Monk was accus'd wrongfully it was a piece of Injustice to hinder equitable Judges from taking cognizance of it to refer it to implacable Enemies And if he were guilty they wrong'd the Integrity of the Reform'd Judges to think that they would favour an execrable Assassinate on pretence of his having embrac'd their Doctrine for a Protection But whether the Crime were too well known and the Hypocrisy of the Monk too notorious or whether the Clergy had credit enough to carry it from the Reform'd their Complaints did not hinder the Parliament from having the Case try'd before them and from condemning the Accus'd rigorously But a thing happen'd that Year at La Fleche which comforted them for that small Disgrace the which gave a Lustre to their Fidelity and show'd how much the Catholicks were inclin'd to conspire against the State A Book well bound and guilt was found in the House of an Inhabitant of La Fleche a City where the Jesuits had their chief Residence at one Medor who taught some Children of Quality whose House was scituated near an Inn which had for Sign the Four Winds in a Street of the same Name Half the said Book was written part of it with Blood and abundance of Subscriptions to it written in the same manner The Book was discover'd by a Woman who gave notice of it but that was not a proper time to see every thing And tho the Circumstances might probably have given great suspicion against those that were concern'd in the Book the Inquiries that were made about it were soon stopt I cannot forget neither that Jeannin formerly passicnately in love with Leagues but a man of great sense who was greatly concern'd in Publick Affairs being sent into Holland where the King of France had for a time sent Reform'd Ambassadors he propos'd to the States from the King to have a Toleration for the Catholicks the number of which was considerable in their Provinces He made a very fine Discourse to prove the Justice thereof and it is likely that he spoke his thoughts since we find in his Memoirs a Discourse like it in favour of the Reform'd under the Reign of Lewis the XIII He said that the Catholicks had concurr'd with them for the service of the State at that very time when they were depriv'd both of Liberty and Religion the restitution of which they expected by means of the Peace That no Servitude was so intolerable as that of Conscience That the Provinces had shewn it by their Example having had recourse to Arms to free themselves from that Slavery That the same had been done in other parts of Europe and even in France That God seem'd to have allow'd the happy success of that War to show that Religion was to be taught and persuaded by the Movements which proceed from the Holy Ghost not by force or constraint That the King having found by experience that the means us'd by his Predecessors had only serv'd to augment the Troubles in Religion and in the State endeavour'd to extinguish the Animosities which arise from diversity of Religion by Peace That he had deriv'd considerable Advantages by his moderation for the Reform'd Religion which he allow'd in his Territories and by the observation of his Edicts whereas before they were only granted to be violated that having found the benefit of that Counsel he gave it freely to his Friends That the United Provinces had found the Catholicks in their State when they form'd it for which reason they ought to suffer them there That such Sovereigns as have not found the Two Religious in their Countrey might well refuse to admit that which is not receiv'd there but that it would argue no wisdom to oppose it in case they endanger'd their state by it That the rigour of the Provinces against the Catholicks that were there would be a dangerous Example and would prejudice the Reform'd in such Places where they were weakest that there would be no danger in giving them some Liberty since that if they had been faithful during the War without it they would be so much the more so after having obtain'd it again He afterwards answer'd divers Objections which were partly the same that had been made in France
another had lately been concluded at Hall in Suabia notwithstanding all the Emperor's opposition with about 15 Protestant Princes These Preparations made Rome tremble for its Religion and Spain for its Greatness And their Interests appear'd so much interwoven that they seem'd to run the same hazards and to stand in need of the same success The truth is that the King's Design was not positively known And whereas he had not time enough to pursue the Project of it long nothing happen'd whereby one might penetrate into the secret of his Intentions Such different Projects were proposed to him that it was impossible to divine his justly Moreover it is very well known that tho Princes begin War upon a certain Plan they soon forsake it according as Occurrences more or less favourable inspire them with new thoughts But there were two things that might be look'd upon as certain or at least very probable The one is that Sully being his Confident the Project that has been incerted in his Memoirs which he had imparted to several people was not altogether Chimerical that according to that it was to be fear'd that the King had a design to found the Equilibrium of the Powers of Europe upon the Equilibrium of the Religious That consequently he would never consent to the exterminating of the Protestants therefore he was not look'd upon at Rome as a good Catholick and they did not doubt but he had retain'd from his first Religion the design of humbling that haughty See A remainder of Heresy which is more odious in that Countrey than the most detestable Errors Moreover this fear was all grounded upon his having made almost all his Alliances with Protestants From whence it follow'd naturally that in case he should succeed in his Enterprizes none but Protestants would enjoy the benefit of his Victories The Damages whereof would consequently fall upon the Catholick Religion It is true that the Pope was offer'd the reunion of the Kingdom of Naples to the demean of the Church But the Religion got nothing by it since all the Inhabitants of that Kingdom were Catholicks whereas it would lose whatever should fall under the Power of the Protestants The other was That the King design'd to humble the House of Austria and that he only ingag'd divers Powers into his Interests by promising to enrich them with the Spoils of Spain Which was look'd upon in the Council of that Court as a Crime less to be forgiven than Heresy But while all Europe was attentive on the Revolutions that were preparing and that all People were in suspence between curiosity hope and terror the Scene was chang'd by a fatal Catastrophe The King had had the Complaisance to have the Queen crown'd before his departure He omitted nothing to live peaceably with her And whereas the War he was entring upon broke all the Queens Measures for the double Marriage of the Dauphin with the Infanta and of the eldest Daughter of France with the Infant he was willing to remove that Vexation by a Ceremony which seem'd material to that jealous mind in order to secure the Crown to her Children Some Persons of known wisdom had endeavour'd to disuade the King from that Pomp which engag'd him to Expenses no wise suitable to the beginnings of a War the event of which was doubtful Moreover Roni had prevail'd to break the Project of that Ceremony which ruin'd him quite in the Queens mind who was already animated against him for other Reasons But finally the King resolv'd to give his Wife that satisfaction at any rate whatever The Ceremony of the Coronation was perform'd at St. Denis with great magnificence But while a sumptuous Entry was preparing for the Queen after which the King was to repair to the head of his Army which drew near the Frontiers and execrable Assassinate killed him in his Coach on the 10th of May as he was going to the Arsenal there to give some orders relating to his Enterprize The Historys of the Time relate the Circumstances of his Death at large several Relations being order'd to be written about it to dissipate the Suspicions people had throughout the Kingdom that some people at Court were privy to the Secret of that Parricide But no other Victims were offer'd to the Shrine of that great Prince but the Monster who had struck the blow And those who were most oblig'd to discover and prosecute the Authors of that Crime took no more care to revenge him than he had done to revenge the Death of Henry the III. his Predecessor That which prov'd most honourable for his memory was that all his good Subjects lamented him as their Father foreseeing that it would be long before any King should ascend the Throne deserving to be compar'd to him It is a very surprizing thing that those who labour'd to destroy the Reform'd should have pitcht upon the time of that great Kings death for the Epact of a ridiculous Enterprize which they have imputed to the City of Rochel Not being certain at what time they invented that Calumny I think I cannot chuse a more proper place to relate the Story of it than the moment in which they pretend the thing happen'd That Potent City is accus'd of a design to extend their Power farther in making themselves Masters of Brouage The design they say was to convey two Ships fill'd with Soldiers disguis'd like Merchants into the Port at break of day who under pretence of unlading their Merchandize were to possess themselves of the Port-gate It was usual for the convenience of Trade to open it sooner than any of the rest and those People were to make use of that advantage to enter the City without hinderance They were to kill all such as should make any resistance and Rochel had promis'd to send them as soon as they were Masters of the Place a sufficient Reinforcement to maintain themselves there Those Ships they say arriv'd at that appointed hour but the little Gate was not open'd all that Morning by reason that the Governor had receiv'd the news of the King 's fatal Death in the Night by an Express Insomuch that the Ships were oblig'd to retire Never was Calumny so ill invented and I am at a loss which to wonder at most the Impudence of the Inventor or the Credulity of Deagean who has reported it I appeal to all Persons of sense whether it be not improbable that during the King's greatest Prosperity at a time when he was Potent enough to prescribe Laws to all Europe such a City as Rochel without Intestine Leagues without Foreign Intelligence should have been capable to declare a War to him and to undertake Conquests upon him I say without Intelligence at home or abroad because that if there had been any such thing it were impossible but that some Tracts of it would have been found at least sufficient to ground Suspicion upon or that some mention of such a Treaty would have been made in some
Interpretation upon some Words and Articles 6 and 7 contain'd in the present Edict of the 17th of January 1561. CHarles by the Grace of God King of France to our Trusty and well beloved the Persons holding our Courts of Parliament Bailiffs Senechals Provosts or their Lieutenants and to all our other Justices and Officers and to every one of them according as it may concern them Greeting By our Ordinance of the 17th of January last past join'd hereunto under the Counter Seal of our Chancery made for the repose and Pacification of our Subjects and to appease and put an end to the Troubles and Seditions occasion'd in this our Kingdom by the diversity of Opinions that reign in our Religion It is said among other things Article 6. That whenever our Officers shall be desirous to go into the Assemblys of those of the New Religion to assist at their Sermons and to hear what Doctrine is taught there they shall be receiv'd in the same and respected according to the Dignity of their Places and Offices And in case it be to take and apprehend some Malefactors they shall be obeyed and assisted according as it is contain'd more at large in the Article of the said Ordinance which mentions it And whereas some difficulty might arise about the Interpretation of this Word Officers thus couch'd in general in the said Article to know whether all our Officers of Judicature are indifferently meant and included under the same we in order to make our said Ordinance as clear and intelligible as can be and to leave nothing dubious or difficult have said and declar'd for the interpretation thereof do say and declare that by the said Word Officers and the permission we have granted them to go into the said Assemblies for the Reasons contain'd in our said Ordinance we only intend as we do still intend to give the said Power to our Ordinary Officers to whom the cognizance of the Policy of Civil Government belongs as Bailiffs Seneschals Provosts or their Lieutenants and not to those of our Sovereign Courts nor to our other Officers of Judicature which we expect to live in the Faith of us and of our Predecessors And the said Power shall extend no farther than when occasion shall offer it self to inspect and remedy what is mention'd in the said Ordinance ¶ Moreover We have ordain'd and do ordain in relation to what is said afterwards Article 7. in the said Ordinance That those of the New Religion shall hold neither Synods nor Consistories unless by leave or in presence of one of our said Officers That if their said Assemblies which they call Synods and Consistories are General of the whole Government and Province they shall not be allow'd to hold them unless by leave or in presence of the Governor or our Lieutenant General of the Province of his Lieutenant General or others by them appointed And in case the said Assembly is Particular by leave or in presence of one of our Magistrate Officers who shall be elected and deputed by the said Governor or his said Lieutenant General ¶ Provided always that the said Assemblys which they call Synods and Consistories shall only be held for the regulation of Religion and upon no other account ¶ And all this by way of Provision until the determination of the General Council or till new Orders from us Neither have we by our said Ordinance and the present Declaration design'd or do design to approve two Religions in our Kingdom but only one which is that of our Holy Church in which the Kings our Predecessors have liv'd Therefore we will and require you that in proceeding to the reading publishing and registring of our said Ordinance you shall at the same time and in like manner cause this our present Declaration and Interpretation to be read published and registred and the same inviolably to maintain keep and observe without the least Infraction For such is our Pleasure the Contents of our said Ordinance and all other Edicts Mandats or Prohibitions thereunto contrary notwithstanding Given at St. Germain en Laye on the 14th of February in the Year of our Lord 1561. and of our Reign the Second Thus Sign'd by the King being in his Council with the Queen his Mother the Duke of Orleans the King of Navar the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Prince De la Roche Sur-Yon the Cardinals of Tournon and Chatillon You the Sieurs de St. Andre and de Montmorency Marshals and de Chastillon Admiral of France du Mortier and the Bishop of Orleans d' Avanson and the Bishop of Valence de Selve de Gonnor and Dandelot and several others were present Bourdin First Mandamus from the King to the Court of Parliament at Paris for the publishing of the Edict of the Month of January CHarles by the Grace of God King of France to our Trusty and well-beloved the persons holding our Court of Parliament at Paris Greeting We have seen the Remonstrances you have sent us by our Trusty and well beloved Christopher de Thou President and William Violle Councellor in our said Court your Brethren about the Ordinance we have given on the 17th of January last past for the peace and tranquility of our Subjects and to put a stop to the Troubles and Seditions occasion'd in this Kingdom by the diversity of the Opinions that reign in Religion And after having caus'd the said Remonstrances to be read Article after Article and word for word in presence of us and of the Queen our most dear and most beloved Lady and Mother of our most dear and most beloved Brother the Duke of Orleans of our most dearly beloved Uncle the King of N. our Lieutenant General representing our Person throughout all our Kingdoms and Territories of the other Princes of our Blood and our Privy Council We by their Advice and in consideration of the great reasonable and necessary Causes and Occasions which have been our Motives for making the said Ordinance do hereby desire command and expresly enjoin you to proceed to the reading publishing and registring of the said Ordinance and the Declaration by Us made affix'd to the same And that you shall cause both the one and the other to be receiv'd kept and inviolably observ'd without the least infringement The whole by way of Provision until the determination of the General Council or New Orders from us And according as it is more at large directed by the said Ordinance and Declaration without any farther delay or difficulty not to oblige us to send you any other or more express Command than these Presents which you shall take for second third and all other Mandates which you might require from us in this case for such is our Pleasure What is above said all Edicts Ordinances Mandates and Prohibitions thereunto contrary Notwithstanding Given at St. Germain en Laye the 14th Day of February in the Year of our Lord 1561. and of our Reign the Second Thus sign'd by the
King being in his Council Bourdin The Second MANDAMVS CHarles by the Grace of God King of France To our Trusty and well beloved the Persons holding our Court of Parliament at Paris Greeting Whereas we did heretofore send you our Ordinance of the 17th of Jannary last past upon which several good Remonstrances have been made to us by you which we have imparted to our Privy Council we being there in Person and whereas several great and urgent Occasions have anew occurr'd since and daily do occur concerning the Tranquility of the State of our Kingdom which induce us more and more to desire the reading publishing and registring of the said Ordinance We have again referr'd the deliberation of the said Affair to our Privy-Council in presence of our most dear and most beloved Lady and Mother our most dear and most beloved Uncle the King of Navar our Lieutenant-General representing our Person in all our Kingdoms and Territories and several other Princes of our Blood and Members of our said Council by the common advice of which it has been thought fit and resolv'd that it is more than necessary for our service and for the peace and quietness of our Subjects that the reading publishing and registring of the said Ordinance should be perform'd in our said Court. Therefore in pursuance of the said Advice and in consideration of the necessity of the Time and the consequenee of the Affair We require command and expresly enjoin you that laying aside all Delays and Difficulties you should cause the said Ordinance and Declaration to be read publish'd register'd from Point to Point according to their Form and Tenor and the same to receive keep and observe The whole provisionally until the determination of the General-Council and new Orders from Us. All Ordinances Mandates or Prohibitions thereunto contrary Notwithstanding Given at St. Germain en Laye the 1st of March in the Year of the Lord 1561. and of our Reign the Second Thus sign'd by the King being in his Council with the Queen Mother and the King of Navar his Lieutenant-General representing his Person in all Kingdoms and Territories the Cardinal of Bourbon the Prince of Conde and the Prince de la Roche-sur-Yon the Cardinals of Tournon and de Chatillon You le sieur de St. André Marshal of France le sieur du Mortier and the Bishop of Orleans le Sieur d' Avanson and the Bishop of Valence and les Sieurs de Selve de Gonnor and de Cypierre all Counsellors in the said Council and several others were present Bourdin Publication of the Edict of January and of the Declaration and Interpretation of the same LEcta Publicata Registrata audito Procuratore Generali Regis respectu habito literis patentibus Rgis primae diei hujus mensis urgenti necessitati temporis obtemperando voluntati dicti Domini Regis absque tamen approbatione novae Religionis id totum per modum provisionis donec aliter per dictum Dominum Regem fuerit ordinatum Parisis in Parlamento Sexta die Martii Anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo sexagesimo primo Sic signatum Du Tillēt The Edict of King Chares the IX of the Year 1570. about the pacification of the Troubles of this Kingdom CHarles by the Grace of God King of France to all those present and hereafter to come Greeting Considering the great Evils and Calamities occasion'd by the Troubles and Wars wherewith our Kingdom has been long and is still afflicted and soreseeing the desolation that might ensue unless by the grace and mercy of God the said Troubles were speedily pacifi'd We in order to put an end to the same to remedy the Afflictions that proceed from thence to restore and make our Subjects live in Peace Union Quiet and Tranquility as it has always been our intention Let it be known that after having taken the good and prudent Advice of the Queen our most dear and most honour'd Lady and Mother of our most dear and most beloved the Duke of Anjou our Lieutenant General and the Duke d' Alencon Princes of car Blood and other great and notable Persons of our Privy-Council We have by their good Counsel and Advice and for the Causes and Reasons abovesaid and other good and great Considerations Us thereunto moving by this our present Edict perpetual and irrevocable said declar'd enacted and do ordain will and resolve what followeth I. That the remembrance of all things past on both sides from the very beginning of and since the Troubles happen'd in our said Kingdom and on the account of the same shall be extinguish'd and laid aside as of matters happen'd that had never and that it shall not be lawful for our Atorney-General neither for any Publick or Private Persons whatever at any time nor on any occasion soever to mention the same or to commence any Process or suit thereof in any Court or Jurisdiction II. We forbid all our Subjects of what Estate or Quality soever to revive the remembrance thereof to injure or provoke each other by Reproaches for what is past To dispute contest quarrel wrong or offend one another in Word or Deed but to forbear and live peaceably together like Brethren Friends and Fellow-Citizens on pain for the Delinquents of being punish'd as Infractors of the Peace and Perturbators of the Publick quiet III. It is our Will and Pleasure that the Roman Catholick Religion shall be restor'd in all parts and places of this our Kingdom and Countrys under our Obedience where the exercise of the same has interrupted there to be freely and peaceably exercis'd without the least trouble or hindrance on the Penalties above mention'd And that all those who during the present War have seis'd on Houses Goods or Revenues belonging to Ecclesiasticks or other Catholicks who detain and possess the same shall surrender them the intire possession and peaceable enjoyment thereof with the same freedom and safety they enjoy'd them before their being dispossess'd of the same IV. And that there may remain no occasion of difference and contention among our Subjects We have and do allow those of the said Pretended Reform'd Religion To live and inhabit in all the Cities and parts of this our Kingdom and Territories under our Obedience without being urg'd vex'd or molested or constrain'd to do any thing against their Conscience in point of Religion Nor examin'd in their Houses or places where they shall inhabit upon the said account provided they behave themselves according to what is contain'd in the present Edict V. We have also given leave to all Gentlemen and other persons actual Inhabitants and others possessing in our Kingdom and Territories under our Obedience High Jurisdiction or Full * Fief d' Haubert as in Normandy whether in Proper or Vse-Frint in the whole or in a part to have in such their Houses of the said High-Jurisdiction or Fief which they shall nominate for their Principal abode to our Bailiffs and Seneschals every one in
his Precinct the Exercis of the Religion they call Reform'd as long as they reside there and in their absence their Wives or Children whom they shall answer for and they shall be oblig'd to name the said Houses to our Bailiffs and Seneschals before they shall enjoy the benefit thereof They shall also enjoy the same in their other Houses of High Jurisdiction or of the said Fief de Haubert as long as they shall be actually there and no otherwise the whole as well for themselves as their Families Subjects and others who shall be willing to go there VI. In Houses of Fief where the said Reform'd shall have no High Jurisdiction and Fief de Haubert they shall only be allow'd the said Exercise of Religion for their Families Yet in case any of their Friends should chance to come there to the number of Ten or some Christning happen in haste the Company not exceeding the said Number of Ten they shall not be prosecuted or troubled for the same VII And to gratifie our most dear and most beloved Aunt the Queen of Navar we have allow'd her besides what has been above granted to the said Lord's High Justicers over and above in every one of her Dutchys d' Albert County's d' Armagnac Foix Biggore in a House belonging to her in which she shall have High-Jurisdiction which House shall be by us chosen and nominated there to have the said Exercise perform'd for all such as shall desire to assist thereat even in her absence VIII Those of the said Religion shall also be allow'd the Exercise thereof in the following Places viz. For the Government of the Isle of France in the Subburbs of Clermont and Beauvoisâ—s and in those of Crâ—spi in Laonnois For the Government of Champagne and Brie besides Vezelai which they possess at this time in the Subburbs of Villenece For the Government of Burgundy in the Subburbs of Arnai-le-Due and in those of Mailli la ville For the Government of Picardy in the Subburbs of Mondidier and in those of Riblemont For the Government of Normandy in the Subburbs of Ponteau de Mer and in those of Carentan For the Government of Lyonnois in the Subburbs of Charlieu and in those of St. Geni de Laval For the Government of Bretagne in the Subburbs of Becherel and in those of Kerhez For the Government of Dauphine in the Subburbs of Crest and in those of Chorges For the Government of Provence in the Subburbs of Merindol and in those of Forcalquier For the Government of Languedoc besides Aubenas which they are in possession of in the Subburbs of Montaignac for the Government of Guienne at Bergerac besides S. Sever which they are also in possession of And for that of Orleans Le Maine and the Country of Chartrain besides Sencerre which they have in the Town of Mailli IX Moreover We have also granted them to continue the exercise of the said Religion in all the Cities in which it shall be publickly perform'd on the first Day of this present Month of August X. Forbidding them most expressly to make any Exercise of the said Religion either as to the Ministry Regulation Discipline or publick intiitution of Children or others in any Places besides those above granted and allow'd XI Neither shall any exercise of the said Pretended Reform'd Religion be perform'd in our Court or within two Leagues round about it XII Neither do we allow the Exercise of the said Religion within the City Provostship and Vicecomty of Paris nor within Ten Leagues of the said City which ten Leagues we have and do limit to the following Places viz. Senlis and the Suburbs Meaux and the Suburbs Melun and the Subburbs a League beyond Chartres under Mount-le-Heri Dourdan and the Suburbs Rembouillet Houdan and the Suburbs a long League beyond Melun Vigni Meru S. Leu de Serens in all which abovesaid places we do not allow any exercise of the said Religion Nevertheless those of the said Religion shall not be disturb'd in their Houses provided they behave themselves as abovesaid XIII We do enjoin our Bailiffs Seneschals or ordinary Judges each in their Precincts to appoint Places for them of their own either such as they have heretofore acquir'd or such as they shall purchase there to bury their Dead and that at the time of their decease one of the House or Family shall go to acquaint the Captain of the Watch therewith who shall send for the Grave-Digger of the Parish and order him to go with such a number of Serjeants of the Watch as he shall think fit to allow to accompany him and to prevent Scandal to remove the Corps in the Night and so carry it to the place appointed for that purpose only allowing Ten persons to accompany it And in such Towns as have no Captain of the Watch the Judges of the Place shall appoint some other Ministers of Justice XIV Those of the said Religion shall not be allow'd to marry in such degrees of Consanguinity or Affinity as are prohibited by the Laws receiv'd in this Kingdom XV. All Scholars the sick and Poor shall be receiv'd in the Vniversities Schools Hospitals c without difference or distinction upon the account of Religion XVI And to the end that no question may be made of the good Intention of our said Aunt the Queen of Navar of our most dear and most beloved Brother and Cousins the Princes of Navar and of Conde Father and Son we have said and declar'd do say and declare That we hold and repute them our good Relations faithful Subjects and Servants XVII As also all Lords Knights Gentlemen Officers and other Inhabitants of the Cities Corporations Villages and Hamlets and other Places of our said Kingdom and Territories under our Obedience who have follow'd and assisted them in any part whatever for our good loyal Subjects and Servants XVIII And likewise the Duke of Deux-Ponts and his Children the P. of Orange Count Ludovic and his Brothers Count Wolrat of Mansfeld and other Foreign Lords who have aided and assisted them for our good Neighbours Relations and Friends XIX And our said Aunt as well as our said Brother and Cousin Lords Gentlemen Officers Corporations of Cities Communities and others who have aided and assisted them their Heirs and Successors shall remain acquitted and discharged as we do acquit and discharge them by these presents for all Sums of Money by them or their Order taken and rais'd out of our Offices of Receit and Treasures whatever Sums they may amount to as well as out of Cities Communities or from particular persons Rents Revenues Plate Sale of Goods both Ecclesiastical and others Forests belonging to us or others Fines Booties Ransoms or other kind of Sums taken by them upon the account of the present as well as precedent Wars Neither shall they or those by them appointed for the raising of the said Sums or those that have given and furnish'd the same be any ways troubled or called to
an account for the same either now or hereafter and both they and the said Clarks shall be discharg'd for all the Management and Administration thereof only producing for a full discharge Acquittances from our said Aunt or from our said Brother and Cousin or from those that shall have been appointed by them for the examination and passing of the same They shall also be acquitted and discharged for all Acts of Hostility Levies Marching of Soldiers Coining Casting and Taking of Artilleries and Ammunitions either out of our Magazines or from particular persons making of Powder and Saltpeter Taking Fortifying Dismantling and Demolishing of Cities and Towns Enterprizes upon the same Burning and Demolishing of Temples and Houses Establishing of Courts of Justice Judgments and Executions by them Voyages Intelligences Treaties Negotiations and Contracts made with all Foreign Princes and Communities introducing of the said Strangers into the Cities and other parts of our Kingdom And generally For all that has been done manag'd and negotiated during and since the present first and second Troubles tho neither particularly express'd nor specified XX. And those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall depart and desist from all Associations they have made either at home or abroad and henceforward shall raise no Money without our Leave or list any Men neither shall they hold Congregations or Assemblies otherwise than abovesaid and without Arms all which we prohibit and forbid them on pain of being rigorously punish'd as Contemners and Infractors of our Commands and Ordinances XXI All Places Cities and Provinces shall remain and enjoy the same Privileges Immunities Liberties Franchises Jurisdictions and Seats of Justice they had before the Troubles XXII And to remove all Cause of Complaint for the future we have declar'd and do declare Those of the said Religion capable to hold and exercise all Estates Dignities and Publick Employments both Seignorial and of the Cities belonging to this Kingdom and to be admitted and receiv'd without distinction into all Councils Deliberations Assemblies Estates and Functions depending on the things abovesaid without being any ways rejected or hindred from enjoying the same immediately after the Publication of this present Edict XXIII Neither shall the said of the Pretended Reform'd Religion be overcharg'd or burthen'd with any ordinary or extraordinary Taxes more than the Catholicks and according to their Estates and Substance Moreover in consideration of the great Charges those of the said Religion take upon themselves they shall be free from all other Taxations the Cities shall impose for the Expences past but they shall contribute to all such as shall be impos'd by us as also for the future to all those of Cities like the Catholicks XXIV All Prisoners that are detain'd either by the Authority of Justice or otherwise even in the Gallies on the account of the present Troubles shall be released and put at liberty on both sides without paying any Ransom But yet the Ransoms that have been paid already shall not be re-demanded or recovered of those that have receiv'd them XXV And as to the Differences that might arise upon the account of the foresaid Sales of Lands or other Immovables Bonds or Mortgages given on the account of the said Ransoms as also for all other Disputes belonging to the case of Arms that might occur the Parties concern'd shall repair to our said most Dear and most Beloved Brother the Duke of Anjou to summon the Marshals of France and he shall decide and determine the same XXVI We Order and it is our Will and Pleasure that all those of the said Religion as well in general as in particular shall be restor'd preserv'd maintain'd and kept under our Protection and Authority into all and every their Estates Rights and Actions Honours estates Places Pensions and Dignities of what quality soever they be except the Bayliffs and Seneschals of the long Gown and their Lieutenant-Generals in the room of which others have been plac'd by us during the present War to whom Assignations shall be given to reimburse them of the true value of their said Offices out of the clearest Money of our Revenue unless they had rather be Counsellors in our Courts of Parliament within their Precinct or of the Great Council at our Choice in which case they shall only be reimburs'd of the Overplus of the Value thereof in case it fall out so as they shall also pay the Surplus if their Offices were of less Value XXVII The Moveables that shall be found in being not having been taken by way of Hostility shall be restor'd to the Owners however returning the Purchasers the Price they have been sold at by Authority of Justice or by other Commission or publick Order as well belonging to Catholicks as to those of the said Religion And for the Performance of the same the Detainers of the said Moveables shall be constrained to make immediate restitution thereof without delay all oppositions or exceptions notwithstanding and to return and restore them to the Owners for the Price they have cost them XXVIII And as for the Fruits or Revenues of the Immoveables every one shall re-enter into his house and shall reciprocally enjoy the Income of the gathering of the present year All Seizures or oppositions made to the contrary during the Troubles notwithstanding As also every one shall enjoy the Arrears of Rent that shall not have been taken by us or our Order Permission or Ordinance from us or our Justice XXIX Also the Forces and Garisons that are or shall be in Houses Places Cities and Castles belonging to our said Subjects of whatever Religion shall immediately retire out of the same after the Publication of the present Edict to leave them the free and intire Possession thereof as they enjoy'd it before their being dispossess'd XXX It is also our Will and Pleasure That our Dear and Well-beloved Cousins the Prince of Orange and Count Ludowic of Nassau his Brother shall be actually restor'd and re-establish'd into all the Lands Lordships and Jurisdictions they have in our said Kingdoms and Territories under our Obedience as also to the Principality of Orange the Rights Titles Papers Informations and Dependancies of the same taken by our Lieutenant-Generals and other Ministers by us employed to that end the which shall be to said Prince of Orange and the Count his Brother restor'd in the same condition they enjoyed them before the Troubles and shall enjoy the same henceforward according to the Letters Patent Decrees and Declarations granted by the late King Henry of most laudable Memory our most Honoured Lord and Father whom God absolve and other Kings our Predecessors as they did before the Troubles XXXI We also Will and Require That all Titles Papers Instructions and Informations that have been taken shall be restored and returned on both sides to the true owners XXXII And in order to extinguish and lay aside as much as can be the Remembrance of all Troubles and Divisions past we have declar'd and
do declare All Sentences Judgments Decrees and Proceedings Seisures Sales and Statutes made and given against the said of the pretended Reform'd Religion as well dead as alive since the Death of our said most honoured Lord and Father King Henry on the account of the said Religion Tumults and Troubles happen'd since together with the Execution of the said Judgments and Orders from this moment Void Revok'd and Annull'd and therefore order the same to be raz'd and taken out of the Registers of our Courts both Sovereign and Inferior as also all Marks Tracts and Monuments of the said Executions defamatory Books and Acts against their Persons Memories and Posterities and order the whole to be raz'd out And the Places that have been demolish'd and raz'd on that account restor'd to the owners thereof to be us'd and dispos'd of according to their pleasure XXXIII And as for the Procedures made Judgments and Decrees given against those of the said Religion upon other accounts than the said Religion and Troubles together with Prescriptions and Feodal Seizures accruing during the present last and precedent Troubles beginning the Year 1567. they shall be void as never having been made given nor happen'd neither shall the Parties derive any advantages by them but shall be put again into the same condition in which they were before the same XXXIV We also ordain That those of the said Religion shall keep to the Political Laws of our Kingdom in observing Festivals neither shall they labour or sell in open Shops on the said days nor yet open their Shambles to sell meat on such days in which the use of meat is prohibited by the Roman-Catholick Church XXXV And to the end that Justice may be render'd and ministred to all our Subjects without Partiality Hatred or Favour we have and do Ordain Will and it is our Pleasure That Suits and Differences mov'd or to be commenc'd among Parties being of contrary Religion as well in being Plaintiffs as Defendants in any Civil or Criminal Causes whatever shall be heard in the first place before the Bailiffs Seneschals and other our ordinary Judges according to our Ordinances And where Appeals shall lye in any of our Courts of Parliament in relation to that of Paris which is compos'd of Seven Chambers The great Chamber La Tournelle and five Chambers of the Inquests it shall be lawful for those of the pretended Reform'd Religion if they please in the Causes they shall have depending in each of the said Chambers to demand that four either Presidents or Counsellors may abstain from the Judgment of their Processes who without alledging any Cause shall be bound in this case to abstain notwithstanding the Ordinance by which the Presidents and Counsellors cannot be excepted against without just Cause And besides that all Refusals of Right shall be allowed them against all others Presidents and Counsellors according to the Ordinances or Statutes XXXVI As for the Suits they shall have depending in the Parliament of Thoulouse if the Parties cannot agree about another Parliament they shall be return'd before the Masters of Request of our Hostel in their Court in the Palace at Paris who shall judg their Suits Impartially and Sovereignly without Appeal as if they had been judg'd in our said Parliaments XXXVII And as to what relates to those of Roan Dijon Provence Bretagne and Grenoble they shall be allowed to challenge Six Presidents or Counsellors to abstain from the Judgment of their Suits that is three out of each Chamber And in that of Bourdeaux four out of every Chamber XXXVIII The Catholicks shall also be allow'd to challenge if they think fit all such Members of the said Courts as have been discharg'd of their Offices upon the account of Religion by the said Parliaments â—o abstain from the Judgment of their Suits also peremptorily and they shall be oblig'd to abstain from the same They shall also be allow'd all usual Recusations against all other Presidents and Counsellors according as they are of Right allow'd by the Statutes XXXâ—X And whereas several persons have receiv'd and suffer such Injuries and Damages in their Estates and Persons that it will be difficult for them to lose the remembrance thereof so soon as it should be requisite for the execution of our Intention being desirous to avoid all Inconveniences that might arise from peoples being disturb'd in their Houses until all Grudges and Animosities are allay'd we have given in keeping to those of the said Religion the Cities of Rochel Montauban Coignac and La Charité in which all such as shall be unwilling to repair so soon to their own Houses shall be free to retire and to inhabit And for the surety of the same our said Brother and Cousin the Princes of Navar and Condé together with Twenty Gentlemen of the said Religion who shall be by us nominated shall swear and promise one and for the whole for themselves and for those of their said Religion to preserve the said Cities for us and at the end of two years to deliver them again into the hands of such a one as we shall think fit to depute in the same condition they now are in without innovating or altering any thing in the same and that without any delay or difficulty upon any account or occasion whatever At the expiration of which term the exercise of the said Religion shall be continued there as while they held them It being nevertheless our Will and Pleasure that in the same all Ecclesiasticks shall freely re-enter and perform Divine Service in all Liberty and enjoy their Estates as well as all the Catholick Inhabitants of the said Cities which said Ecclesiasticks and other Inhabitants shall be taken into the Protection and Safeguard of our said Brother and Cousin and other Lords to the end that they may not be hindred from performing the said Divine Service molested nor disturb'd in their Persons or in the enjoyment of their Estates but on the contrary restored and reintegrated into the full possession of the same Willing moreover that in the said four Cities our Judges shall be re-establish'd and the exercise of Justice restor'd as it us'd to be before the Troubles XL. It is also our Will and Pleasure That immediately after the Publication of this Edict made in the Two Camps Arms shall strait be laid down every where the which shall only remain in our hands and those of our most Dear and most Beloved Brother the Duke of Anjou XLI A Free Commerce and Passage shall be re-established through all Cities Towns Villages Bridges and Passages of our said Kingdom in the same condition as they were before the present and last Troubles XLII And in order to avoid the Violences and Transgressions that might be committed in several of our Cities those who shall be by us appointed for the Execution of the present Edict in the absence of one another shall make the chief Inhabitants of the said Cities of both Religions whom they
shall chuse swear to keep and observe our said Edict shall make them guard each other charging them respectively and by publick Act to answer for the Transgressions that shall be made to the said Edict in the said City by the Inhabitants thereof respectively or else to secure and deliver up the said Transgressors into the hands of Justice XLIII And to the end that our Justices and Officers as well as all other our Subjects may be clearly and with all certainty inform'd of our Will and Intention and to remove all Doubts and Ambiguities and Cavillings that might be made in relation to the precedent Edicts We have and do declare all other Edicts Letters Declarations Modifications Restrictions and Interpretations Decrees and Registers as well secret as all other Deliberations heretofore made in our Courts of Parliament and others that might hereafter be made to the prejudice of our said present Edict concerning the case of Religion and the Troubles occasion'd in this our Kingdom to be void and of no effect To all which and the Derogatories therein contained we have by this our Edict derogated and do derogate and from this very time as for then do cancel revoke and annul them Declaring expresly That it is our Pleasure that this our said Edict should be sure firm and inviolable kept and observed by our said Justices Officers and Subjects without respecting or having the least regard to whatever might be contrary and derogating to this XLIV And for the greater assurance of the maintenance and observation we desire of this it is our Will Command and Pleasure That all Governors of our Provinces our Lieutenant-Generals Bailiffs Seneschals and other ordinary Judges of the Cities of this our Kingdom immediately upon receit of this our said Edict shall swear The same to keep and observe cause to be kept and observ'd and maintain'd every one in their Precinct as also the Mayors Sheriffs Capitouls and other Officers Annual or Temporal as well the present after the reception of the said Edict as their Successors in taking the Oath they are used to take when they are admitted into the said Places and Offices of which Oaths publick Acts shall be expedited to all such as shall require it We also require our Trusty and Well-beloved the Persons holding our Courts of Parliament immediately upon receit of this present Edict to cease all their Proceedings and on pain of Nullity of the Acts they should pass otherwise to take the like Oath and to cause our said Edict to be Published and Registred in our said Courts according to the Form and Tenor thereof purely and plainly without any Modifications Restrictions Declaration or secret Register and without expecting any Mandamus or Order from us And our Attornies-General to require and pursue the immediate Publication thereof without any delay the which we will have perform'd in the Two Camps and Armies within six Days after the said Publication made in our Court of Parliament of Paris in order to send back the Strangers forthwith Injoyning likewise our Lieutenants-General and Governors speedily to Publish and to cause this our said Edict to be published by the Bailiffs Seneschals Mayors Sheriffs Capitouls and other ordinary Judges of the Cities of their said Government where-ever it will be necessary As also the same to keep observe and maintain every one in his Precinct in order to put a speedy stop to all Acts of Hostility and to all Impositions made or to be made upon the account of the said Troubles after the Publication of our present Edict Which from the Moment of the said Publication we declare liable to Punishment and Reparation viz. against such as shall use Arms Force and Violence in the Transgression and Infraction of this our present Edict hindering the Effect Execution or Injoyment thereof with Death without hope of Pardon or Remission And as for the other Infractions that shall not be made by way of Arms Force or Violence they shall be punish'd by other Corporal Inflictions as Banishments Amende Honourable and other Pecuniary Punishments according to the Nature and Exigency of the Offences at the Will and Pleasure of the Judges to whom we have assign'd the Cognizance thereof Ingaging their Honours and Consciences to proceed therein with all the Justice and Equality the Cause shall require without respect or exception of Persons or Religion Therefore we command the said Persons holding our Courts of Parliament Chambers of our Accounts Courts of Aids Bailifs Seneschals Provosts and other our Justices and Officers whom it may concern or their Lieutenants this our present Edict and Ordinance to cause to be Read Publish'd and Register'd in their Courts and Jurisdictions and the same to maintain keep and observe in all Points and all whom it may concern the same fully and peaceably to use and to enjoy ceasing and causing all Troubles and Hinderances thereunto contrary to cease For such is our pleasure In witness whereof we have sign'd these presents with our own hand and to the same to the end that it may be firm and lasting for ever we have caus'd our Seal to be affix'd Given at St. Germain en Lays in the Month of August in the Year of our Lord 1570. and of our Reign the Tenth Sign'd Charles And beneath it by the King being in his Council Sign'd De Neufville And on the side Visa and Seal'd with the great Seal with green Wax upon Knots of red and green Silk Read Publish'd and Registred at the request and desire of the King's Attorney-General at Paris in Parliament on the 11th of August 1570. Sign'd Tu Tillet Edict of Pacification made by King Henry the 3d in order to put an end to the Troubles of his Kingdom and to make all his Subjects thenceforward live in Peace and Quietness Vnion and Concord under his Obedience Read and Publish'd in the Court of Parliament the 8th of October 1577. HEnry by the Grace of God King of France and Poland to all present and to come Greeting God who is the Searcher of the hearts of Men and sees the bottom of their thoughts shall always be Judge for us that our Intention has never been other than to Reign according to his Holy Commandments and to govern our Subjects in all uprightness and Justice approving our self a Common Father to all who has no other end but their welfare and quiet In order thereunto we have always us'd our utmost endeavours to do whatever we judg'd most proper according to the occasions and times even with a design to establish a certain Peace in this our Kingdom and to provide against the Disorders and Abuses that have crept in to the same through the License of such long Troubles and to restore it to its Pristine Dignity and Splendor To which end we did convene our Estates General in our City of Blois where several things were treated of and particularly upon matter of Religion it being propos'd by some that one of the best Remedies
and 12 Councellors of which eight shall be Catholicks and the other four of the said Religion Which Catholick Presidents and Councellors shall be by us selected and nominated out of the number of the Presidents and Councellors of the said Courts And as to those of the said Religion such shall be employ'd as shall be found at this very time in possession of the said Offices in the said Courts And in such places where their number shall not be sufficient we shall erect other Offices as much as shall be necessary to accomplish the aforesaid number with the same Salleries Honours Authorities and Prerogatives as the others of our said Courts for persons of the said Religion XXIII A Chamber shall also be establish'd for the Jurisdiction of our Court of Parliament of Thoulouse compos'd as the others of two Presidents the one a Catholick and the other of the said Religion and of twelve Councellors eight Catholicks and the other four of the said Religion Which Catholicks shall be by us chosen out of our other Courts of Parliament and out of the Great Council And as for those of the said Religion such shall be employ'd there as shall be found still at this present time provided with Offices in the said Parliament of Thoulouse besides which a sufficient number shall be created to supply the said Chamber as is above said for the others Which Chamber being thus compos'd shall by us be sent into the City of And as for that of Dauphine it shall sit six Months in our City of Grenoble and the other six Months in such another City as we shall hereafter order XXIV The said Chambers compos'd as abovesaid and establish'd in all our said Parliaments shall take cognisance and judge sovereignly and definitively by Decree exclusively to all others of Suits and Differences mov'd or to be mov'd In which Suits those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and others that have been ingag'd in their Party shall be Principals or Warrantees either Plaintiffs or Defendants in all Causes Civil or Criminal whether the said Processes be by Writ or Verbal Appeals in case the said Parties like it so and one of them requires it before any Plea in the Cause in respect to Suits to be commenc'd XXV It is also our Pleasure by way of Care and Circumspection until we have otherwise ordain'd it that in all Processes mov'd or to be mov'd in which those of the said Religion shall stand as Plaintiffs or Defendants Principals or Warrantees in Civil Causes in which our Officers of Presidial Seats have power to judge Sovereignly and definitively they shall be allow'd to demand that two of those of the Chamber where the said Cause is to be try'd shall abstain from the Judgment of the same Who without alledging any cause shall be oblig'd to abstain in this case Notwithstanding the Ordinance by which the Judges cannot be excepted against without a just cause besides their still retaining the Refusals of Right against the others And in Criminal matters in which they also judge Sovereignly the accus'd of the said Religion shall be allow'd to demand that three of the Judges may abstain from the Judgment of their process without shewing cause And the Provosts of the Marshals of France Vice-Bailiffs Vice-Seneschals Lieutenants of the Short Robe and other Officers of the like Quality shall judge according to the Ordinances and Rules heretofore given in respect to Vagabonds And as for Housholders charg'd and accus'd of Provostal or Criminal cases if they be of the said Religion they shall be allow'd to demand that three of the Presidial Judges before whom the said Cases are to be try'd by the Statutes may abstain from the Judgment of their Process And they shall be oblig'd to abstain from the same without shewing cause except when in the Chamber of the said Presidial Seats where the said Processes are to be judg'd there be to the number of Two in Civil Cases and Three in Criminal matters of the said Religion In which Case it shall not be allow'd to refuse without shewing cause But yet we do not mean that the said Presidial Tribunals Provosts Marshals Vice-Bailiffs and Vice-Seneschals by vertue hereof should take cognisance of the Troubles past XXVI It is farther our Will and Pleasure that our most Dearly Beloved Brother the King of Navar our most Dearly Beloved Cousin the Prince of Conde as well as all other Lords Knights Gentlemen and others of what Quality and Condition soever of the said Religion and others that have been ingag'd in their Party shall be restor'd and effectually preserv'd in the possession of their Governments Places Estates and Royal Offices which they enjoy'd before the 24th of August 1572. the said to hold and to use in the said form and manner as other Governors and Officers of this our same Kingdom without being oblig'd to take new Letters Patents all Decrees and Judgments given against them and Letters Patent obtain'd by others for the said Employments notwithstanding As also that they shall re-enter inpossession of all and singular their Estates Rights Names Dues and Actions all Judgments and Sentences given upon the account of the said Troubles notwithstanding The which Decrees Judgments Letters Patent and all that may have follow'd we have to that end declar'd and do declare null and of no effect and value XXVII Not intending however that those of the said Religion and others that have been ingag'd in their Party who have resign'd their Employments and Offices by vertue of our Letters Patent or of the Late King our most honour'd Lord and Brother whom God absolve should recover the same and re-enter into the possession thereof reserving to them however all Actions against the Possessors and Titularies of the said Offices for the payment of the price agreed on between them upon the account of the said Resignations And as for those who have been constrain'd by particular persons by Fact and Force to resign their said Employments and Offices we do permit them and their Heirs to sue for the same by Law in a civil manner both against those that have us'd the said Force and against their Heirs and Successors XXVIII And as for those of the said Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party and had the grant of the said Offices before the 24th of August 1572. and were not yet receiv'd into the same It is our will and pleasure that they be receiv'd into the said Employments and that all necessary Patents be expedited them to that End XXIX It is also our will and pleasure That in case any Commanderships of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem belonging to those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party shall be found seiz'd by Authority of Justice or otherwise barely upon the account and pretence of the Troubles and they any wise dispossess'd of the same they shall be immediately restor'd to the said Commanders
and they again put into the same possessions of the said Commanderships as they were before the 24th of August 1572. XXX The Outcries and Publick Sales of Inheritances against which a Decree is prosecuted shall be perform'd in and at the usual hours and places if possible according to our Ordinances or in the Publick Market-places in case there be a Market in the place where the said Heritages lie And in case there be none it shall be done in the next Market-place belonging to the Jurisdiction of the Court where the Judgment is to be pass'd And the Paper of Notice shall be affix'd to the Post of the said Market-places and at the Entrance of the Auditory of the said place And in so doing the said Publications shall be good and valuable and they shall proceed to the Interposition of a Decree without regard to the Nullities that might be alledg'd in that respect XXXI The Acquisitions of Church-lands made by those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party without our Authority shall be void and of no effect And therefore we ordain and it is our will and pleasure that the said Ecclesiasticks shall be restor'd without delay and confirm'd into the real and actual possession and enjoyment of the Estates thus alienated without being oblig'd to pay back the Price of the said Sales The said Contracts of Sale notwithstanding The which to that end we have cancell'd and revok'd as null saving a Redress to the Purchasers against such as it may concern And in order to the Reimbursement of the Purchasers of the said Lands for the Mony by them really and truly disburs'd we will grant our Letters Patent for leave to those of the said Religion to impose and equal upon themselves the Sums to which the said Sales may amount without the Purchasers being allow'd to pretend any Action of Damage or Interest for want of enjoyment but shall rest satisfi'd with the reimbursement of the Money laid out by them for the price of the said Acquisitions abating upon the said price the Fruits gather'd and receiv'd by them in case the said Sale be adjudg'd to have been made at an unreasonable and too low Rate XXXII All Disinheritations or Privations either by way of disposing among Living Persons or by Wills barely out of hatred or upon the account of Religion shall not be allow'd neither for the time past nor for the future among our Subjects Yet notwithstanding all Military Wills made during the said present and precedent Troubles on either side shall be valid and shall hold according to the Disposition of Right XXXIII The Disorders and Excesses committed on the 24th of August and the following Days in consequence of the said Day in our good City of Paris and other Cities and parts of our said Kingdom were done to our great regret and displeasure And therefore as a singular Demonstration of out goodness and kindness towards our Subjects we do declare the Widows and Children of those that were kill'd on the said Days in any part of our said Kingdom free from contributing towards the Impositions that shall be laid for the Ban and Arriereban if their Husbands or Fathers were Nobles Or if their said Husbands or Fathers were not Gentlemen and consequently liable to pay the Taille We for the same Considerations discharge the said Widows and Children of all Tailles and Impositions the whole for and during the term of six Years next coming Forbidding all our Officers every one in his Precinct to comprehend them in the same contrary to our present Will and Intention XXXIV We likewise declare all Sentences Judgments Decrees Proceedings Seizures Sales and Orders made and given against those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion whether alive or dead since the Death of the late King Henry our most honour'd Lord and Father upon the account of the said Religion Tumults and Troubles happen'd since together with the execution of the said Judgments and Sentences from this very time to be raz'd void and null as we do hereby raze revoke and annul the same And order the same to be raz'd and taken out of the Registers of the Registries of the Courts as well Sovereign as Inferior As also our pleasure is that all Marks Signs and Monuments of the said Executions Books and Acts defamatory to their Persons Memories and Posterities should be remov'd and defac'd And that all Places where Demolishments or Raisings have been made on that account shall be restor'd such as they are to the true owners thereof to enjoy the same and dispose of them as they shall think fit And we have generally cancell'd revok'd and annull'd all Proceedings and Informations made for any Enterprizes pretended Crimes of Leze Majesty or others the said Proceedings Decrees and Judgments containing Re-union Incorporation and Confiscation notwithstanding willing that those of the said Religion and others who have been engag'd in their Party should be restor'd to the real and actual possession of all and every their Estates XXXV And whereas by vertue of our aforesaid Deciaration all Decrees and Judgments given against the late Sieur de Chatillon Admiral of France and the execution of the same remain void and of no effect as things never done nor happen'd We in consequence of the said Declaration Order that all the said Decrees Judgments Proceedings and Acts made against the said Sieur de Chatillon be rac'd and taken out of the Register of the Registries as well of our Courts of Parliament as of all other Jurisdictions And that the memory of the said Admiral shall be untainted and that his Children shall remain in full possession of their Honours and Estates in that respect notwithstanding the said Decrees importing reunion and incorporation of the said Estates to the demean of our Crown of which we will cause a larger and more particular Declaration to be given to the said Children if necessary XXXVI We will have the same done in relation to the Sieurs de Montgommery Montbrun Briquemaut and Cavaignes XXXVII We forbid the making of any Processions either for the Death of our late Cousin the Prince of Conde or for what happen'd on St. Bartholomew's Day 1572. and all other Acts that might refresh the memory of the Troubles XXXVIII All Proceedings made Judgments and Decrees given against those of the said Religion bearing Arms either absent from our said Kingdom or retir'd into any Cities and Countries of the same held by them but not upon the account of Religion and the Troubles together with all Nonsuits Prescriptions as well Legal Conventional as Customary all Feodal Seisures accrued during the present or precedent Troubles shall be esteem'd as not perform'd happen'd nor granted and as such we have and do declare them to be have and do annihilate them without any redress to the Parties but they shall be restor'd to the same condition in which they were before notwithstanding the said Decrees and the
during the said Troubles shall be remov'd XLIX All Places Cities and Provinces of our said Kingdom Territories Lands and Lordships under our Obedience shall use and enjoy the same Priviledges Immunities Liberties Franchises Fairs Markets Jurisdictions and Seats of Justice as they did before the present and precedent Troubles all Letters to the contrary and the removing of any of the said Tribunals notwithstanding provided those things have only been done upon the account of the Troubles the which Tribunals shall be restor'd and re establish'd into the Cities and Places where they were before L. In such Cities as have been dismantled during the pass'd and present Troubles it shall be lawful for the Inhabitants to rebuild and repair the Ruins and Dismantlings of the same with our leave at their own cost and charges LI. Such of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party which had taken to Farm before the present Troubles any Registries or other Demean and Rights to us belonging which they have not been able to enjoy by reason of the said Troubles shall remain discharg'd as we do hereby discharge them of what they have not receiv'd of the said Farms since the 24th of August 1572. as also of what they have paid without fraud in places not belonging to the Receipt of our Revenues all Obligations pass'd by them upon the same notwithstanding LII And to the end that no body may doubt of the good Intention of our said Brother the King of Navar and of our said Cousin the Prince of Conde We have said and declar'd do say and declare that we hold and repute them our good Kinsmen faithful Subjects and Servants LIII As also all the Lords Knights Gentlemen Officers and other Inhabitants of Cities Corporations Villages and other places of our said Kingdom and Countries under our command who have follow'd succour'd and favour'd them in any part whatever for our good and loyal Subjects declaring all Decrees Informations and proceedings made and given against them upon the account of the said Troubles void and of no effect as things never done nor happen'd willing the same to be raz'd out of the Registers of the Chief Clerk's Offices both of our Courts of Parliament and other Jurisdictions where they have been recorded LIV. We also declare that we hold and repute our Cousin Duke John Cazimir for our good Neighbour Kinsman and Friend LV. We do also acquit and discharge our said Brother and Cousin the King of Navar and Prince of Conde as well as all the Lords Knights Gentlemen Officers Corporations of Cities and Communities and all others that have abetted and succour'd them their Heirs and Successors for all Sums taken and rais'd by them or their Orders out of our Offices of Receipt and Revenues to whatever sum or sums they may amount as well as out of Cities Corporations and from particular persons Rents Revenues Plate Sales of Estates Goods both Ecclesiastical and others Forests belonging to us or others Fines Booties Ransoms or other Sums taken by them upon the account of the present and precedent Troubles and that neither they nor any that have been employ'd by them for the raising of the said Sums or that have given and furnish'd them by their Ordinances shall any wise be liable to be call'd to an account for the same either at present or for the future And that both they and their Clerks shall remain acquitted for all the management and Administration of the said Sums only producing for a full Discharge within four Months after the publication of our present Edict given in our Court of Parliament at Paris acquittances duly expedited by our said Brother and Cousin the King of Navar and Prince of Conde or by such as shall have been by them committed for the audit and closing of their Accounts or from the Corporations of the Cities that have been employ'd and intrusted during the said Troubles They shall also remain acquitted and discharg'd for all Acts of Hostility Levies and marching of Soldiers Coining and Rating of Species made according to the order of the said Chiefs Casting and taking of Artillery and Stores both out of our Magazine and from particular persons making of Powder and Saltpeter taking fortifying dismantling and demolishing of Cities Castles Towns Enterprises upon the same Burning and demolishing of Churches and Houses establishing of Courts of Justice Judgments and Executions of the same either in Civil or Criminal Causes Civil Government and Regulations made among themselves Voyages Intelligences Negotiations Treaties and Contracts made with all Foreign Princes and Communities introducing of the said Strangers into the Cities and other parts of this our Kingdom and generally for all that has been done manag'd and negotiated during the present or past troubles since the Death of our late Lord and Father by those of the pretended Reform'd Religion and others that have been engag'd in their Party although it be not particularly express'd and specifi'd LVI And those of the said Religion and others that have adhered to them shall give over and desist from this time forward from all Practices Leagues and Intelligences they hold out of our said Kingdom as also all other our Subjects that might have held any And all Leagues Associations Fellowships contracted or to be contracted under any pretence whatever to the prejudice of our present Edict shall be cancell'd and annul'd as we do cancel and annul them forbidding our Subjects most expresly to make any Assessments or raise Money without our leave Fortifications listing of men Congregations and Assemblies other than such as are allow'd them by our said present Edict and without Arms Which we do prohibit and forbid them on pain of severe punishment as contemners and infracters of our Commands and Orders LVII All Prizes taken both by Sea and Land by vertue of the Licenses and Warrants given which have been judg'd by the Judges of the Admiralty and other Commissioners deputed to that end by those of the said Religion shall remain dormant under the benefit of our present Edict for which no prosecution shall be made neither shall the Captains their Securities and the said Judges Officers and others be call'd to an account for the same nor molested in any kind whatever All Letters of Mark and Seisures depending and not judg'd notwithstanding of which we will have them absolutely discharg'd and releas'd LVIII It is also our will and pleasure That the Children of such as have retir'd out of our said Kingdom since the Death of the late King Henry our most honour'd Lord and Father upon the account of Religion and the Troubles altho the said Children are born out of our said Kingdom shall be acknowledg'd as true Natives of France and actual Inhabitants thereof and such we have and do declare them to be without their being oblig'd to take any Letters of Naturalization or other provisions from us besides the present Edict All Ordinances thereunto
contrary notwithstanding the which we have and do derogate from LIX We also order that immediately after the publication of this our Edict all Forces and Armies both by Sea and Land shall disband and retire Those of the said Religion and such as have been ingag'd in their Party shall be oblig'd to remove all Garisons out of the Cities Places Castles and Houses they are possess'd of belonging either to us to the Clergy or other private persons to quit restore and surrender them in full liberty as they were in full peace before the present and precedent Troubles ¶ Nevertheless whereas several private persons have receiv'd and suffer'd during the Troubles so many Injuries and Damages in their Estates and Persons that it will be difficult for them to lose the remembrance thereof so soon as it should be requisite for the execution of our Intentions we being desirous to avoid all inconveniencies that might arise from thence until the Heart-burnings and Animosities are allay'd have thought fit to give in keeping to those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion for the time and Term of six years the Cities following viz. In Languedoc those of Montpelier and Aiguesmortes In Dauphine Nyons and Serre City and Castle In Provence Seine La Grandtour and the Circuit thereof In Gulenne Perigueux La Reolle and the Mas of Verdun which Cities our said Brother and Cousin the King of Navar and Prince of Conde and twenty Gentlemen of the said Religion or others that have been engag'd in their Party who shall be by us nominated Besides such as shall be committed for the Guard of the said Cities and Castles shall swear and promise one and for the whole for themselves and for those of the said Religion and others of their Party well and faithfully for us to keep them and at the expiration of the aforesaid Term of Six Years to reckon from the day and date of the present Edict to redeliver them into the hands of such as shall be by us deputed in the same condition they now are in without the least Innovation or Alteration and without the least delay or difficulty upon any pretence whatever at the end of which Term the exercise of the said Religion shall be continu'd there as while in their Possession Nevertheless it is our Will and Pleasure That in them all Clergy-men shall freely return perform Divine Service in all Liberty and enjoy their Estates and likewise all the Catholick Inhabitants of the said Cities The which Clergy-men and other Inhabitants our said Brother and Cousin and other Lords together with the Governors of the said Cities and Garisons shall take into their Protection and Safeguard to the end that they may not be disturbed in the said Divine Service molested nor disquieted in their Persons and in the enjoyment of their Estates but on the contrary restor'd and re-established into the full Possession of the same Willing moreover that our Judges shall be also re-establish'd into the said Cities and the exercise of Justice restor'd as it us'd to be before LX. Forbidding strictly all our Subjects of what Quality or Condition soever to form any Enterprizes or private Conspiracies to surprize the said Cities given in keeping to those of the said Religion or to take or seize any other Cities Castles and Places of our said Kingdom and Territories thereunto belonging on pain of being punish'd and chastis'd as Infractors of the Peace and Disturbers of the Publick Quiet LXI No Governors or Garisons shall be put by us into the Cities at present in Possession of those of the said Religion which are to be quitted by them unless they have always had such and even in the Reign of the late King Henry our said Lord and Father Likewise desiring to ease our Subjects in all our Cities as much as in us lies it is our Will and Pleasure That the Governors Captains and Soldiers that have been put in Garison there shall be remov'd out of the same excepting out of such as are Frontiers of our said Kingdom which are fit to be kept there for the Defence and Safety thereof Neither shall any other Garisons be kept in the Cities Castles Houses and Estates belonging particularly to our Subjects than such as us'd to be kept there in time of Peace LXII And to the end that our Justices Officers and other our Subjects may be clearly and with all certainty inform'd of our Will and Intention and to remove all Ambiguities and Doubts that might arise on the account of the precedent Edicts by reason of the diversity of the same we have and do hereby declare all other Precedent Edicts secret Articles Letters Declarations Modifications Requisitions Restrictions Interpretations Decrees Registers as well such as are secret as other Deliberations by us made in our Courts of Parliament and elsewhere concerning the Case of Religion and the Troubles happen'd in our said Kingdom to be void and of no effect and value To which and to the derogatories therein contain'd we have by this our Edict derogated and do derogate and from this time as well as then cancel revoke and annual the same declaring expresly That this our Edict shall be firm and inviolable kept and observed by our said Justicers and Officers as well as by our other Subjects without minding or regarding whatever may be contrary or derogating to the same LXIII And for the better Assurance of the maintaining and observation we desire to have of the same it is our Will and Pleasure That all our Governours and Lieutenant-Generals of our Provinces Bailiffs Seneschals and other common Judges of the Cities of this our said Kingdom immediately upon receit of this our said Edict shall swear to cause it to be observed in their several Precincts as also the Mayors Sheriffs Capitouls Consuls and Jurats of Cities Annual or Perpetual Enjoining also our said Bailiffs Seneschals or their Lieutenants or other Judges to swear the chief Inhabitants of the said Cities of either Religion to the keeping and maintaining of the present Edict immediately after the Publication of the same putting all the Inhabitants of the said Cities under our Protection and Safeguard to guard each other charging them respectively and by Publick Acts to be responsible for the opposition that shall be made to our said Edict in the said Cities by the Inhabitants thereof or to represent and deliver the said Opposers into the hands of Justice LXIV We also charge our Trusty and Well-beloved the Members of our Courts of Parliament immediately upon receit of the present Edict to forbear all manner of Proceedings on pain of Nullity of the Acts they should otherwise pass and to take the Oath above-mention'd to cause our said Edict to be Publish'd and Recorded in our said Courts according to the Form and Tenor thereof purely and barely without using any other Modifications Restrictions Declarations or secret Registers and without staying for any other Order or Command from us and our Attorneys-General
our selves to what may concern the Glory of his Holy Name and Service and in procuring his being ador'd and pray'd unto by all our Subjects And that since it is not his pleasure as yet to grant that it may be done in one and the same Form of Religion it may be done at least with one and the same Intention and with such Rules that it may occasion no Troubles or Tumults among them And that both we and all this Kingdom may always deserve the Glorious Title of Most Christian which has been so long and so deservedly acquir'd And by the same means to remove the Cause of the Grievances and Troubles which might arise hereafter upon the point of Religion which has always been the most prevailing and most dangerous of all others Therefore observing that this Affair is of very great Importance and worthy of weighty Consideration after a resolving of all the Petitions and Complaints of our Catholick Subjects and having also permitted our said Subjects of the said pretended Reform'd Religion to Assemble by Deputies to draw theirs and to put all their Remonstrances together and having conferr'd several times with them upon this Subject and review'd the precedent Edicts We have thought fit at this time upon the whole to give our said Subjects a Universal Clear Intelligible and Absolute Law by which they shall be limited and govern'd in all differences that have heretofore happen'd among them upon that Subject or that may hereafter happen whereby both Parties may remain satisfi'd according as the nature of the time can allow it We being entred into this Deliberation for no other end but the Zeal we have for the Service of God in order that henceforward it may be perform'd by all our said Subjects and to establish a firm and perpetual Peace among them Wherein we implore and expect from his Divine Goodness the same Protection and Favour which he has ever visibly conferr'd upon this Kingdom from the first Erection thereof and during the many Ages it has continued and that he would bestow the Grace upon our said Subjects truly to apprehend that in the Observation of this our Ordinance next to their Duty towards God and towards all Men consists the main foundation of their Union Concord Tranquility and Quiet and the Restauration of this State to its Pristine Splendor Wealth and Power As we on our part do promise to have it exactly perform'd without permitting it to be any wise transgress'd For these reasons having by the Advice of the Princes of our Blood other Princes and Officers of our Crown and other Great and Notable Persons of our Council of State about us maturely and diligently weigh'd and consider'd the whole business We have by this Edict perpetual and irrevocable denounc'd declar'd and ordain'd and do denounce declare and ordain I. First That the Remembrance of all things pass'd on both sides from the beginning of March 1585. until our coming to the Crown and during the other precedent Troubles or upon the account thereof shall remain extinguish'd and ras'd out as matters that never had happen'd And it shall not be lawful for our Attorneys-General or other Persons whatever publick or private at any time or upon any occasion soever to make mention of or to Commence any Process or Suit thereupon in any Courts or Jurisdictions whatsoever II. We forbid all our Subjects of what Estate or Quality soever theybe To renew the Remembrance thereof To assail urge injure or provoke one another by way of Reproach of what is past upon any cause or pretence whatever To Dispute Contest Quarrel or Outrage or Offend each other about it by Word or Deed but to contain themselves and live peaceably together as Brethren Friends and Fellow-Citizens on pain for the Delinquents of being punish'd as Infractors of the Peace and Disturbers of the publick Quiet III. We ordain That the Catholick Apostolick Roman Religion shall be re-establish'd and restor'd in all Places and Parts of this our Kingdom and Countries under our Obedience where the Exercise thereof has been interrupted there to be peaceably and freely put in practice without any hinderance or disturbance Forbidding most expresly all Persons of what Estate Quality or Condition soever on the Penalties abovemention'd To trouble molest or disturb the Ecclesiasticks in the Celebration of Divine Service the injoying and taking of Tythes the Fruits and Revenues of their Benefices with all other Rights and Immunities appertaining unto them and that all those who during the Troubles have seiz'd the Churches Houses Goods and Revenues belonging to the said Ecclesiasticks detain and possess them shall surrender unto them the intire Possession and peaceable Injoyment thereof with such Titles Liberties and Security as they injoy'd before their being dispossess'd of the same Also expresly forbidding those of the said Pretended Reform'd Religion to Preach or perform any other Exercise of the said Religion in the Churches Houses and Habitations of the said Ecclesiasticks IV. It shall remain at the choice of the said Ecclesiasticks to buy the Houses and Buildings erected in prophane Places whereof they were dispossess'd during the Troubles or else to constrain the Possessors of the said Buildings to buy the Ground the whole according to the Estimation that shall be made thereof by experienc'd Men agreed upon by the Parties and in case they should not agree the Judges of the Place shall appoint some reserving ever to the said Possessors their recourse against whomsoever it shall belong And where the said Ecclesiasticks shall constrain the Possessors to purchase the Ground the Money it shall be valued at shall not be put into their hands but shall remain in the hands of the said Possessors to be improv'd at the rate of 5 per Cent. until it be employ'd for the benefit of the Church which shall be done within the space of a year And the said Term being pass'd in case the Purchaser will no longer continue the said Rent he shall be discharg'd thereof consigning the said Money into the hands of salvable Persons by Authority and Order of Justice And as for Sacred Places Information thereof shall be given by the Commissaries who shall be ordain'd for the Execution of the present Edict in order to our taking a course for the same V. Nevertheless no Grounds and Places imploy'd for the Reparations and Fortifications of Cities and other Places within our Kingdom or the materials therein us'd shall be claim'd or recover'd by the said Ecclesiasticks or other Persons publick or private until the said Reparations and Fortifications are demolish'd by our Ordinances VI. And to remove all occasions of Contention and Trouble from among our Subjects we have and do permit those of the said Pretended Reform'd Religion to live and reside in all the Cities and Places within this our Kingdom and Countries under our Obedience without being examin'd molested troubled or constrain'd to do any thing in matter of Religion against their Conscience or examin'd in
done and ministred to our Subjects without partiality hatred or favour which is one of the principal means to keep peace and concord among them we have and do ordain that a Chamber shall be establish'd in our Court of Parliament of Paris consisting of a President and 16 Councellors of the said Parliament the which shall be called and entitled The Chamber of the Edict which shall not only judge the Causes and Processes of those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion within the Jurisdiction of the said Court but also those of the Jurisdiction of the Parliaments of Normandy and Britany according to the Jurisdiction hereafter conferr'd upon it by this present Edict and that until a Chamber be establish'd in each of the said Parliaments to minister Justice upon the place We also ordain that the four Offices of Councellors in our said Parliament of Paris remaining of the last election by us made shall be forthwith bestowed on four of those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion fitly qualify'd and capable to serve in the said Parliament who shall be distributed viz. The first shall be receiv'd into the Chamber of the Edict and the other three in order as they shall be receiv'd into three of the Chambers of the Inquests Moreover the two first Offices of * Laiz Councellors that shall become vacant by Death shall also be given to two of those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and the persons thus receiv'd shall be distributed into the two other Chambers of Inquests XXXI Besides the Chamber heretofore establish'd at Castres for the Jurisdiction of our Court of Parliament of Thoulouse which shall be continu'd in the state it now stands we have for the same considerations ordain'd and do ordain that in each of our Courts of Parliament of Grenoble and Bourdeaux shall also be establish'd a Chamber consisting of two Presidents the one Catholick and the other of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and of twelve Councellors six of which shall be Catholicks and the other six of the said Religion which Catholick Presidents and Councellors shall be by us selected and chosen out of the body of our said Courts And as to those of the said Religion a new Creation shall be made of a President and six Councellors for the Parliament of Bourdeaux and of a President and three Councellors for that of Grenoble the which with the three Councellors of the said Religion that are at present of the said Parliament shall be employ'd in the said Chamber of Dauphine And the said Offices of new creation shall be allow'd the same Salleries Honours Authorities and Preheminencies as the others of the said Courts And the said Sessions of the said Chamber of Bourdeaux shall be held at Bourdeaux or at Nerac and that of Dauphine at Grenoble XXXII The said Chamber of Dauphine shall determine the Causes of those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion of the Jurisdiction of our Parliament of Provence without being oblig'd to take Letters of Summons or other Citations any where but in our Chancery of Dauphine Neither shall those of the said Religion of Normandy or Britany be oblig'd to take out Summons or other Citations any where but in our Chancery of Paris XXXIII Our Subjects of the said Religion of the Parliament of Burgundy shall have the choice and election to plead in the Chamber ordain'd in the Parliament of Paris or in that of Dauphine neither shall they be oblig'd to take out Letters of Summons or any other Citations but in the said Chanceries of Paris and of Dauphine according to their own choice XXXIV All the said Chambers compos'd as abovesaid shall determine and judge in sovereignty by Sentence Definitive by Decrees excluding all others of Suits and Differences mov'd and to be mov'd in which those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion are concern'd as Principals or Warranties either as Plaintiffs or Defendants in all matters as well Civil as Criminal whether the said Processes be by Writ or Verbal Appeal if the said Parties like it so and one of them requires it before any Plea in the Cause in relation to Suits to be mov'd always excepting all matters of Benefices and the Possessors of Tythes not enfeoff'd Ecclesiastical Patronages and Causes wherein the Demean of the Church shall be concern'd which shall all be try'd and judg'd in the Courts of Parliament and the said Chambers of the Edict shall not be allow'd to take cognizance of the same It is also our Will and Pleasure that in order to judge and decide Criminal Causes that shall happen among the said Ecclesiasticks and those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion if the Ecclesistick is Defendant the Judgment of the Criminal Cause shall belong to our Sovereign Courts exclusively to the said Chambers and the Ecclesiastick being Plaintiff and he of the said Religion Defendant the Cognizance and Judgment of the Criminal Cause shall belong by Appeal and in last reference to the said Establish'd Chambers The said Chambers also in Vacation-times shall determine of Matters referr'd by the Edicts and Ordinances to the Chambers establish'd in times of Vacation each one in their Jurisdiction XXXV The Chambers of Grenoble shall from this present be united and incorporated to the Body of the said Court of Parliament and the Presidents and Councillors of the said pretended Reform'd Religion entitled Presidents and Councellors of the said Court and held in the number and rank of them To this end they shall be first dispos'd of in the other Chambers and then call'd and drawn out of them to be employ'd and to serve in that which we institute a-new yet they shall assist and have a Voice and Session in all the Deliberations that shall be made when the Chambers are assembled and shall enjoy the same Sallaries Authorities and Preheminencies as the othe Presidents and Councellors do XXXVI It is also our Will and Pleasure that the said Chambers of Castres and Bourdeaux shall be reunited and incorporated into the said Parliaments in the same manner as the others when it shall be needful and the Causes that have mov'd us to establish them shall cease and subsist no longer among our Subjects And therefore the Presidents and Councellors of the said Chambers being of the same Religion shall be call'd and held for Presidents and Counsellors of the said Courts XXXVII There shall be also newly created and erected in the Chamber ordain'd for the Parliament of Bourdeaux two Substitutes of our Attorney and Advocate General of which the Attorney's Substitutes shall be a Catholick and the other of the said Religion who shall be invested with the said Offices with competent Pensions XXXVIII All the said Substitutes shall take no other quality than that of Substitutes and when the Chambers ordain'd for the Parliaments of Bourdeaux and Thoulouse shall be united and incorporated into the said Parliaments the said Substitutes shall be provided with Councellors Places in the same XXXIX The Expeditions of the
Chancery of the Chamber of Bourdeaux shall be perform'd in the presence of two Councellors of the said Chamber of which the one shall be a Catholick and the other of the said pretended Reform'd Religion in the absence of one of the Masters of Request of our Hôtell or Houshold And one of the Notaries and Secretaries of the said Court of Parliament of Bourdeaux shall reside in the place where the said Chamber shall be establish'd or else one of the Secretaries in ordinary of the Chancery to sign the Expeditions of the said Chancery XL. We will and command That in the said Chamber of Bourdeaux there be two Committees of the Register of the said Parliament the one Civil the other Criminal who shall officiate by our Commissions and shall be call'd Committees of the Registry Civil and Criminal and therefore shall neither be displac'd nor revok'd by the said Registers or chief Clerks of Parliament yet they shall be oblig'd to yield the Profit of the said Registries to the said Register the whâ—h Committees shall receive Salaries from the said Registers according as it shall be thought â—t and order'd by the said Chamber Moreover Catholick Messengers shall be appointed there who shall be taken out of the said Court or elsewhere according to our Pleasure besides which two new ones shall be erected being of the said Religion without their paying any Fees All the said Messengers shall be govern'd by the said Chamber both as to the execution and precinct of their Office as well as the Fees they shall receive A Commission shall also be dispatch'd for a Pay-master of Salaries and a Receiver of the Fines levy'd by the Chamber who shall be chosen by us in case the said Chamber be establish'd in any place but the said City and the Commission heretofore granted to the Pay-master of the Salaries of the Chamber of Castres shall remain in full force and the Commission of Receiver of the Fines levy'd by the said Chamber shall be annex'd to the said Office XLI Sufficient Assignations shall be provided for the Pensions or Sallaries of the Officers of the Chambers ordain'd by this Edict XLII The Presidents Counsellors and other Catholick Officers of the said Chambers shall be continu'd as long as possible may be and as we shall find it most expedient for our Service and the good of our Subjects And in dismissing some others shall be appointed in their room before their departure and they shall not during the time of their waiting absent themselves or depart from the said Chambers without their leave which shall be judg'd by the Proceedings of the Ordinance XLIII The said Chambers shall be establish'd within six Months during which if the Establishment continue so long a setling the Suits mov'd or to be mov'd in which those of the said Religion shall be Parties within the Jurisdiction of our Parliaments of Paris Roan Dijon and Rennes shall be remov'd or summon'd to the Chamber at present establish'd at Paris by vertue of the Edict of the Year 1577. or else to the great Council at the Election and Choice of those of the said Religion if they require it Those that are of the Parliament of Bourdeaux into the Chamber of Castres or to the said Great Council at their choice And those that are of Provence to the Parliament of Grenoble And in case the said Chambers be not establish'd within three months after the Presentation there made of this our present Edict such of our Parliaments as shall have made refusal thereof shall be prohibited to take cognizance or judge the Causes of those of the said Religion XLIV Suits not yet determin'd depending in the said Courts of Parliament and Grand Council of the nature abovesaid shall be return'd in what state soever they stand into the said Chambers each Cause to its Court of Reference in case one of the Parties of the said Religion requires it within four months after the establishment thereof and as for such as shall be discontinu'd and are not in a state to come to trial the abovemention'd of the said Religion shall be oblig'd to make a Declaration at the first intimation and signification they shall receive of the pursuit and the said Term being expir'd they shall no longer be receiv'd to demand the said Returns XLV The said Chambers of Grenoble and Bourdeaux as well as that of Chartres shall observe the Stile and Forms of the Parliaments within the Jurisdictions of which they shall be establish'd and shall judge in equal numbers both of the one and other Religion unless the Parties agree to the contrary XLVI All the Judges to whom the Executions Decrees Commissions of the said Chambers and Letters obtain'd out of their Chanceries shall be directed as also all Messengers and Serjeants shall be bound to put them in execution and the Messengers and Serjeants shall also be oblig'd to serve all their Warrants in all parts of the Kingdom without demanding Placet Visa nor Pareatis on pein of suspension of their Places and paying the Damages Charges and Interests of the Parties the Censure whereof shall belong to the said Chambers XLVII No removal of Causes shall be allow'd the tryal of which is referr'd to the said Chambers unless in the case of the Ordinances the return whereof shall be made to the nearest Chamber establish'd according to our Edict And the Issues of Suits of the said Chambers shall be try'd in the next Chamber observing the proportion and Forms of the said Chamber from whence the Processes shall proceed except for the Chambers of the Edict in our Parliament of Paris where the said Party Suits shall be dispos'd of in the said Chamber by Judges that shall be by us nominated by our particular Letters to this end unless the Parties had rather attend the Renovation of the said Chamber And if it should happen that one and the same Suit should pass through all the Party Chambers the issue thereof shall be return'd to the said Chamber of Paris XLVIII Refusals propos'd against the Presidents and Counsellors of the Party-Chambers shall be allow'd to the number of six to which number the Parties shall be restrain'd otherwise they shall go forward without any regard to the said Refusals XLIX The Examination of Presidents and Counsellors newly erected in the said Party Cambers shall be perform'd by our Privy Council or by the said Chambers each one within its Precinct when their number shall be sufficient Nevertheless the usual Oath shall by them be taken in the Courts where the said Chamber shall be establish'd and upon their refusal in our Privy Council except those of the Chamber of Languedoc who shall take their Oath before our Chancellor or in the said Chamber L. We will and ordain That the reception of our Officers of the said Religion shall be judg'd in the said Party Chambers by the plurality of Voices as it is usual in other Judgments it not being requisite that the Voices
should surpass two thirds according to the Ordinance the which in this respect is abrogated LI. All Propositions Deliberations and Resolutions relating to the Publick Peace and for the particular Estate and Policy of the Cities where the Party-Chambers shall reside shall be made in the said Chambers LII The Article of the Jurisdiction of the said Chambers ordain'd by the present Edict shall be follow'd and observ'd according to its Form and Tenor even in what relates to the Execution Omission or Infraction of our Edicts when those of the said Religion shall be Parties LIII The Subaltern Officers Royal or others the reception of which belongs to our Courts of Parliament if they be of the said pretended Reform'd Religion may be examin'd and receiv'd in the said Chambers viz. Those of the Jurisdiction of the Parliaments of Paris Normandy and Britany in the said Chambers of Paris those of Dauphine and Provence in the Chamber of Grenoble those of Burgundy in the said Chamber of Paris or of Dauphine at their choice those of the Jurisdiction of Thoulouse in the Chamber of Castres and those of the Parliament of Bourdeaux in the Chamber of Guienne and no other to oppose their receptions or make themselves Parties but our Attorneys General and their Substitutes and those placed in the said Offices Nevertheless the accustomed Oath shall by them be taken in the Courts of Parliament which shall not be allow'd to take cognizance of their reception and upon the refusal of the said Parliament the said Officers shall take the Oath in the said Chambers which being thus taken they shall be oblig'd to present the Act of their reception by a Messenger or Notary to the Registers of the said Courts of Parliament and to leave a compar'd Copy thereof with the said Registers who are enjoin'd to register the said Acts on pain of paying all the Charges Damages and Interests of the Parties and in case the Registers should refuse to do it it shall be sufficient for the said Officers to bring back the Act of the said Summons drawn by the said Messengers or Notaries and to cause the same to be recorded in the Registers of their said Jurisdictions there to be view'd when need shall require on pain of nullity of their Proceedings and Judgments And as for those Officers whose reception is not to be made in our said Parliaments in case those by whom it ought to be made should refuse to proceed to the said Examination and Reception the said Officers shall repair to the said Chambers where care shall be taken for their said reception LIV. The Officers of the said pretended Reform'd Religion who shall be chosen hereafter to serve in the Body of our said Court of Parliament Grand Council Chambers of Accounts Courts of Aids and in the Offices of the Treasurer-General of France and other Officers of the Exchequers shall be examin'd and receiv'd in the places where it was usually perform'd and in case of refusal or denial of Justice they shall be constituted in our Privy Council LV. The reception of our Officers made in the Chamber establish'd heretofore at Castres shall remain in force all Decrees and Ordinances thereunto contrary notwithstanding The reception of our Judges Councellors and other Officers of the said Religion made in our Privy-Councel or by Commissioners by us nominated upon the refusal of our Courts of Parliament of Aids and Chambers of Account shall also be as valid as if they had been made in the said Courts and Chambers and by other Judges to whom those Receptions appertain And their Salleries shall be allow'd by the Chambers of Accounts without difficulty and if any have been dismiss'd they shall be re-establish'd without any farther Mandamus than this present Edict and the said Officers shall not be oblig'd to show any other reception all Decrees given to the contrary notwithstanding the which shall remain void and of no effect LVI Until means be procur'd to defray the Expences of Justice of our said Chambers out of the Moneys of Fines and Conâ—iscations we will assign a valuable and sufficient Fund to discharge the said Expences which Money shall be return'd out of the Estates of the persons condemned LVII The Presidents and Councellors of the said Pretended Reform'd Religion heretofore receiv'd into our Courts of Parliament of Dauphine and in the Chamber of the Edict incorporated into the same shall continue and hold their Place and Order there Viz. The Presidents as they did and do enjoy them at present and the Councellors according to the Decrees and Patents they have obtain'd about it in our Privy Council LVIII We declare all Sentences Judgments Decrees Proceedings Seizures Sales and Orders made and given against those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion whether dead or alive since the Death of the late King Heury the 2d our most honour'd Lord and Father-in-Law by reason of the said Religion Tumults and Troubles happen'd since together with the execution of the said Judgments and Decrees from this present cancelled revoked and nullified and the same do cancel revoke and nullifie We order the same to be raz'd and wip'd out of the Records of the Registers of Courts as well Sovereign as Inferior As it is likewise our pleasure that all Marks Tracts and Monuments of the said Executions Books and Acts defamatory to their Persons Memory and Posterity shall be remov'd and defac'd And that the places in which have been made upon that account Demolishments or Razings shall be restor'd to the Owners in such a condition as they are the same to enjoy and to dispose of as they shall think fit And we have generally revok'd cancell'd and nullifi'd all Proceedings and Informations made for any Enterprises whatever Pretended Crimes of Leze-Majesty and others Notwithstanding which Proceedings Decrees and Judgments comprehending reunion incorporation and confiscation it is our pleasure that those of the said Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party and their Heirs shall re-enter into the real and actual possession of all and every their Estates LIX All Proceedings made Judgments and Decrees given during the Troubles against those of the said Religion who have born Arms or withdrawn themselves out of our Realm or within the same into Cities and Countries held by them upon another account than that of Religion and the Troubles together with all Nonsuits Prescriptions either Legal Conventional or Customary and Feodal Seizures befallen during the Troubles or by lawful Impediments proceeding from them the cognizance whereof shall remain in our Judges shall be esteâ—m'd as not perform'd granted or happen'd and such we have and do declare them to be and have and do annihilate them for all which the said Parties shall have no redress but they shall be restor'd to the same state in which they were before the said Decrees and Execution thereof notwithstanding and the possession they had formerly shall be restor'd to them in this respect What is above
Provosts Marshals or their Lieutenants the said Provosts or their Lieutenants being Catholicks shall be oblig'd to call to the Proceedings of such a matter an Assistant of the said Religion who shall also assist at the Tryal of the competency of the Indictment and at the Judgment definitive of the matter which Competency shall only be try'd at the next Presidial Tribunal in open Assembly by the chief Officers of the said Court being actually there on pain of Nullity unless the Persons accus'd desire to have the said Competency try'd in the Chambers ordain'd by the present Edict In which case in respect to the Housholders of the Provinces of Guyenne Languedoc Provence and Dauphine the Substitutes of our Attornys-General in the said Chambers shall at the request of the said Housholders cause the said Charges and Informations against them to be brought before them to know and determine whether the Causes are liable to Provosts-Courts or not in order according to the nature of the Crimes to be return'd by the said Chambers to the Ordinary Judge or else to be try'd by the Provostal Judges according as they shall judge it reasonable and suitable to the Contents of this our present Edict And all the said Presidial-Judges Provosts-Marshals Vice-Bailiffs Vice-Seneschals and others who judge definitively shall be oblig'd respectively to obey and observe the Commands they shall receive from the said Chambers as they use to respect the Orders of the said Parliaments on forfeiture of their Places LXVIII The Publications of Sale and Seizures Outcries and Vendition of Inheritances by the * Spear in pursuance of a Decree shall be perform'd at the usual Places and Houses if possible according to our Ordinances or else in publick Market-places in case there be any Market-places in the Place where the said Inheritances are seated and where there are none it shall be done in the next Market-place within the Precinct of the Session where the Adjudication is to be made and the Paper of notice shall be fasten'd on a Post in the said Market and at the entrance of the Auditories or Sessions-house of the said Place and in so doing the said Publications shall be good and valid and they shall proceed to the passing of the Order for the Sale of the Goods without minding the Nulities that might be alledg'd in that respect LXIX All Titles Papers Instruments and Informations that have been taken shall be restor'd on both sides to the owners altho the said Papers or the Castles or Houses in which they were kept were taken and seiz'd either by Special Commissions from the late King our most honour'd Lord and Father-in-Law or from Us or by the Command of the Governors and Lieutenants-General of our Provinces or by the Authority of the Chiefs of the other side or under any other pretence whatever LXX The Children of such as have withdrawn themselves out of our Kingdom since the Death of the late King Henry II. our most honour'd Lord and Father-in-Law on the account of Religion and the Troubles tho the said Children be born out of this Kingdom shall be held for true French-men and Natives and as such we have and do declare them to be without their being oblig'd to take Letters of Naturalization or other Warrants from us but the present Edicts All Ordinances thereunto contrary notwithstanding to which we have and do derogate upon condition that the said Children born in Foreign Countrys shall be oblig'd within Ten Years after the said Publication of these presents to come and Reside in this Kingdom LXXI Those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party who shall have taken to Farm before the Troubles any Offices or other Demeans Customs Foreign Impositions or other Duties to us belonging the which they have not been able to injoy by reason of the Troubles shall remain discharg'd as we do hereby discharge them of what they have not receiv'd of the said Farms or what they have paid without fraud any where out of our Exchequer All Obligations enter'd into by them upon this account notwithstanding LXXII All Places Cities and Provinces of our Kingdom Countries Lands and Lordships under our Obedience shall have and injoy the same Priviledges Immunities Liberties Franchises Fairs Markets Jurisdictions and Seats of Justice as they did before the Troubles begun in the Month of March 1585. And others preceding all Letters Patents thereunto contrary and the Translation of some of the said Seats notwithstanding provided it was only done upon the account of the Troubles which Seats shall be re-establish'd in the Cities and Places where they were before LXXIII In case there be yet any Prisoners detain'd by Authority of Justice or otherwise even in the Gallies by reason of the Troubles or of the said Religion they shall be set at Liberty LXXIV Those of the said Religion shall not hereafter be surcharg'd or oppress'd with any ordinary or extraodinary Imposition more than the Catholicks and according to the proportion of their Estates and Substance and the Parties that think themselves overburthen'd may have recourse and shall be redressed by the Judges appointed for that Subject And all our Subjects whether Catholicks or of the said pretended Reform'd Religion shall be equally discharg'd of all Charges that have been impos'd on both sides during the Troubles on those that were of a contrary Party and not consenting as also of Debts created and not paid Expences made without their Approbation but yet there shall be no returns made of the Fruits that shall have been imploy'd for the payment of the said Charges LXXV Neither do we allow that those of the said Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party nor the Catholicks who dwell in the Cities Towns and Places held and detain'd by them and who have contributed to them should be prosecuted for the payment of Taxes Aids Grants Increase Assesments Wasts and Reparations and other Impositions and Subsidies due and impos'd during the Troubles happen'd before and since our coming to the Crown either by Edicts Orders from the late Kings our Predecessors or by Advice and Deliberation of the Governors and Estates of the Provinces Courts of Parliament and others whereof we have and do discharge them forbiding our Treasurers-General of France and of our Exchequers Receivers-General and Particular their Clerks Intermedlers and other Intendants and Commissaries of our Exchequer to prosecute molest or trouble them for the same directly or indirectly in any way whatever LXXVI All Commanders Lords Knights Gentlemen Officers Corporations of Cities Towns and Commonalties and all others who have aided and assisted them their Widows Heirs and Successors shall be acquitted and discharg'd of all Sums that have been taken and rais'd by them or their Orders as well belonging to the Crown to whatever Sums they may amount as out of Cities Towns and Commonalties and from particular Persons Rents Revenues Plate Sale of Moveables belonging to Ecclesiasticks
and others High Forests belonging to the Demeasne or to other Persons Fines Booties Ransoms or Sums of other natures by them taken by reason of the Troubles begun in March 1585. and other precedent Troubles until our coming to the Crown for which neither they nor those by them imploy'd for the raising of the said Sums or such as have given or furnish'd them by their Order shall be any wise prosecuted either for the time being or to come and both they and their Committees or Clarks shall remain acquitted and discharg'd for all the Management and Administration of the said Money bringing in for a full discharge within four Months after the Publication of the present Edict made in our Court of Parliament of Paris Acquittances duly expedited by the Chiefs of the said Religion or from those who were imploy'd by them for the Audit and clearing of Accounts or from the Commonalties of Cities which had Authority and Command during the said Troubles They shall in like manner remain acquitted and discharg'd of all Acts of Hostility Levies and Conduct of Soldiers Coining and Rating of Money done by order of the said Chiefs Casting and Taking of Artillery and Munitions Making of Powder and Salt-peter the Taking Fortifying Difmantling and Demolishing of Cities Castles Towns and Villages Enterprizes upon the same the Burning and Demolishing of Churches and Houses Establishing of Courts of Justice Judgments and Executions from the same whether in matters Civil or Criminal of any Policy or Government establish'd among them of Voyages and Intelligences Negotiations Treaties and Contracts made with all Foreign Princes and Commonalties and the Introduction of the said Foreigners into the Cities and other Places of our Kingdom and generally of all that has been done or negotiated during the said Troubles since the Death of the late King Henry II. our most honour'd Lord and Brother-in-Law by those of the said Religion and others who have been ingag'd in their Party tho it be not particularly specifi'd nor express'd LXXVII Those of the said Religion shall also be discharg'd for all General and Provincial Assemblies made and held by them both at Nantes and elsewhere since until this present time likewise for the Councils by them Establish'd and Ordain'd in the Provinces Deliberations Ordinances and Regulations made by the said Assemblies and Councils Establishment and Augmentation of Garisons Assembling of Soldiers Raising and Taking of Money either from the Receivers-General or from particular Persons Collectors of Parishes or others in any kind whatever seizing of Salt Continuation or new Erection of Impositions and Tolls and Receipts of the same even at Royan and upon the Rivers Charante Garonne Rone and Dordogne equiping of Ships and Sea-Fights and all Accidents and Excesses occasion'd by obliging People to pay the said Impositions Tolls and other Monies Fortifications of Cities Castles and Places Impositions of Money and Labour Receipts of the said Money turning out of our Receivers and Farmers and other Officers establishing of others in their Room and for all Unions Dispatches and Negotiations made either within or without the Kingdom And generally for all that has been done deliberated written and ordain'd by the said Assemblies and Councils for which neither those who have given their Advice Sign'd Executed and caus'd the said Ordinances Regulations and Deliberations to be sign'd and executed shall neither be prosecuted or troubled nor their Widows Heirs or Successors either at present or for the future altho the Particulars are not specifi'd here And upon the whole perpetual silence shall be impos'd to our Attorneys-General and their Substitutes and to all such as could have any pretence to it in any kind or manner whatever all Sentences Judgments Informations and Proceedings to the contrary notwithstanding LXXVIII Moreover we Approve Confirm and Authorize the Accounts that have been heard allow'd and examin'd by the Deputies of the said Assembly And order the same together with the Acquittances and Fragments that have been return'd by the Accountants to be carried into our Chamber of Accounts at Paris within three Months after the Publication of the present Edict and deliver'd into the hands of our Attorney-General to be deliver'd to the Keeper of the Books and Registers of our Chamber there to be view'd as often as shall be necessary neither shall the said Accounts be examin'd anew or the Accountants be oblig'd to appear or to correct any thing unless in the case of Omissions of Receipts or false Acquittances Imposing silence to our Attorney-General to whatever else might be thought defective or the Formalities omitted Forbidding those that keep our Courts of Accounts either at Paris or in other Provinces where they are establish'd to take any cognizance thereof in any kind whatever LXXIX As for the Accounts that have not been deliver'd yet they shall be heard pass'd and examind ' by Commissioners appointed by us who shall without difficulty pass and allow all the Accounts paid by the said Accountants by virtue of the Ordinances of the said Assembly or others who were in Power LXXX All Collectors Receivers Farmers and others shall be well and duly discharg'd for all the Sums by them paid to the Committees of the said Assembly whatever nature they were of until the last day of this Month. We order the whole to be pass'd and allow'd in the Accounts that shall be given thereof in our Chambers of Accounts meerly by virtue of the Acquittances they shall bring along with them and in case any should be expedited or deliver'd hereafter they shall be void and those who shall accept or diliver them shall be Fin'd as Falsificators And in case any of the Accounts already deliver'd should be blotted or raz'd and excepted against we do in that respect remove the said Scruples and allow the said Accounts to be good by virtue of these Presents and there shall be no need for all that is abovesaid of any particular Letters nor any thing else for all which the Extract of the present Article will suffice LXXXI The Governors Captains Consuls and other Persons imploy'd for the Collection of the Money to pay the Garisons of the Places held by those of the said Religion to whom our Receivers and Collectors of Parishes shall have furnish'd by way of Loan upon their Notes and Bonds either by force or to obey the Commands made to them by the Treasurers-General such Sums of Money as were necessary to pay off the said Garisons to the value of what was specifi'd in the settlement we caus'd to be made in the beginning of the Year 1596 and the Additions that have been since by us granted are hereby acquitted and discharg'd of what has been paid for the abovesaid use altho it is not expresly mention'd in the said Notes and Bonds the which shall be restor'd to them as annihilated And in order thereunto the Treasurers-General in every Generality shall order the particular Receivers of our Tailles to give the said Collectors their
which the principal Seats shall have been restored to his Majesty's Obedience by the said Duke of Joycuse in which the Edict of 77 shall take place Nevertheless his Majesty means that the said Exercise shall be continued in such places of the said Bayliwicks and Seneschalships where it was performed at the time of the said Reduction and that the Concession thereof in Houses of Fiefs shall remain in Force in the said Bayliwicks and Seneschalships according as it is specified by the said Edict XXV The Edict made for the Reduction of the City of Dijon shall be observed according to which no other Exercise of Religion shall be allowed in the said City than that of the Roman Catholick Apostolick Church nor yet within the Suburbs thereof nor within four Leagues round about it XXVI The Edict made for the Reduction of the Duke of Mayenne shall in like manner be observed according to which the Exercise of the Pretended Reformed Religion shall not be allowed in the City of Châlons nor within two Leagues round about Soissons during the term of six Years to begin from the month of January 1596. after which the Edict of Nantes shall be observed there as in the other parts of the Kingdom XXVII It shall be lawful for those of the said Religion of what Quality soever to inhabit and to have free Egress and Regress into the City of Lyons and other Towns and Places of the Government of Lyonnois all Prohibitions made to the contrary by the Syndics and Sheriffs of the said City of Lyons tho confirm'd by his Majesty notwithstanding XXVIII Only one place of Bayliwick shall be allow'd for the Exercise of the said Religion in the whole Seneschalship of Poitiers besides those where it is already establish'd and as to the Fiefs the Edict of Nantes shall be observed The said Exercise shall also be continued in the City of Chauvigny But it shall not be restored in the Cities of Agen and Perigueux altho it was allowed by the Edict of 77. XXIX Only two places of Bayliwicks shall be allow'd for the Exercise of the said Religion in all the Government of Picardy as abovesaid neither shall the said two places be allow'd within the Precincts of the Bayliwicks and Governments reserved by the Edicts made for the Reduction of Amiens Pâ—ronne and Abbeville Nevertheless the said Exercise shall be allowed in Houses of Fiefs throughout the whole Government of Picardy according to what is specified by the said Edict of Nantes XXX The Exercise of the said Religion shall not be allowed in the Cities and Suburbs of Sens and only one place of Bayliwick shall be granted in the whole Precinct of the Bayliwick but still without prejudice to the Permission granted for Houses of Fiefs which shall remain in Force according to the Edict of Nantes XXXI Neither shall the said Exercise be allowed in the City nor Suburbs of Nantes nor any place of Bayliwicks be granted for the said Exercise within three Leagues round about the said City Nevertheless it shall be allowed in Houses of Fiefs according to the said Edict of Nantes XXXII It is his said Majesty's Will and Pleasure that his said Edict of Nantes shall be observed from this very time in what relates to the Exercise of the said Religion in such places where by the Edicts and Agreements made for the Reduction of some Princes Lords Gentlemen and Catholick Cities it was prohibited only provisionally and until it was otherwise ordained And as for such where the said Prohibition is limitted to a certain time that time being expired it shall be no longer in Force XXXIII A Place shall be allowed to those of the said Religion for the City Provostship and Vice-Comty of Paris within five Leagues at farthest from the said City in which they shall be allowed the Exercise of the said Religion XXXIV In all such places where the Exercise of the said Religion shall be performed publickly it shall be lawful to assemble the People even by the sound of Bells and to perform all Acts and Functions belonging either to the Exercise of the said Religion or to the Regulation of their Discipline as to hold Consistories Conferences and Provincial and National Synods by his Majesty's leave XXXV The Ministers Elders and Deacons of the said Religion shall not be obliged to appear as Witnesses and to answer in Justice for things that shall have been revealed in their Consistories in the case of Censures unless it were about Matters relating to the King's Person or towards the Preservation of the State XXXVI Such of the said Religion as live in the Country shall be allow'd to assist at the Exercise thereof in the Cities and Suburbs and other places where it shall be publickly establish'd XXXVII Those of the said Religion shall not be allowed to keep publick Schools unless in such Towns and Places where the publick Exercise thereof is allowed And the Patents that have been granted them heretofore for the erecting and maintaining of Colleges shall be Verified if necessary and shall remain in full Force and Vigor XXXVIII It shall be lawful for Fathers professing the said Religion to provide such Educators for their Children as they shall think fit and to substitute one or several by Will or other Declaration pass'd before a Notary or written or sign'd by their own Hands the Laws received in this Kingdom Ordinances and Customs of Places remaining in full Force and Vertue as to the Gifts and Provisions of Tutors and Guardians XXXIX As for the Marriage of Priests and other Religious Persons that have been heretofore contracted his Majesty for divers good Considerations will not allow their being prosecuted or molested for the same upon which Subject silence shall be imposed to his Attornies General and other Officers Nevertheless his Majesty declares That the Children proceeding from the said Marriages shall only succeed to the Personal Estates and Acquisitions made by their Fathers and Mothers and in default of the said Children the nearest Relations at Law And the Wills Gifts and other Dispositions made or to be made by Persons of the said Quality of the said Personal Estates and Acquisitions by them made are hereby declared Good and Lawful Nevertheless his said Majesty will not allow that the said Persons having been admitted into Religious Orders should be capable of any direct or colateral Succession but only shall be allowed to take such Estates as shall be left them by Will or Gift or other Dispositions still excepting those of the said Direct and Colateral Successions And as to those who shall have taken Religious Orders before the Age mentioned by the Ordinances of Orleans or Blois shall be followed and observed in what relates to the said Succession the Tenor of the said Ordinances every one for the time they have been in Force XL. Neither will his said Majesty allow those of the said Religion who have heretofore or shall hereafter contract Marriages in the third or
to Rochel 431 Marriage of Hen. IV. the dissolution of it carry'd on 349. c Of Cardinal de Chatillon 35 Of Ecclesiasticks Marie Brosiere 346 Marie Stuart Q. of France and Scotland 20 Marsac Lewis Martyr'd 15 Mass re-establishd in the Country of Gex 419 Massacre at Vassi 32. at Sens 34. of St. Bartholomew 42. at Chastaigneray 175 Maxim of the Catholick Court 71. of the French Court 71 Mayenne Duke of escapes and relieves the Leaguers 51. pursues the King 61. his Justice 324 Meaux and other Towns reduc'd 138 Melancton invited into France 9. Mercoeur Duke of his pretentions 155. he Treats with the Reformed 237 Merindal vid. Cabrieres Metz. Ministers Protestant 113 Ministers excluded from the general Deputation Ministers of Geneva 414 Ministers Foraign 431 Mirande 433. 436 Mission Dragoons 314 Mistrusts from the Kings change 122 Montgomerie his Death 44 Monks hate the King 313 embrace the Reformed Religion 414 Montmorancy Constable huddles up a Peace at Cateau 18. his Death 39 Montholon his Sentiments of Religion 70 Morvillier Bishop of Orleans 45 Moors hardly us'd in Spain 446 Mouchards 21 Moulin a famous Minister 316 N. KIng of Navar vid. Antony K. of Navar Negotiations three Important ones with the Pope 311. c. Nobility Catholick their various Affections 59 de la Nove Fracis 72. 429 433. 409 Nuncio Popes 99 O. D'O Marquis of his character 56. his saying 141. 147 Occasion of this History 5 Oath requir'd of the Reformed Oath of Vnion renew'd 124. Precautions against the Order of the Holy Ghost and of the Coronation 132. of the Consecration 139. difference touching an Oath referr'd by a Reformed to a Catholick 350. exacted from the Catholicks of England 419 Observations General upon the Edict of Nantes 354 Orange Prince of assassin'd 48 Government of Orange tak'n from Blasons 404 d'Ossat his Testimony of the Reformed 157. Commissioner for the Kings Absolution 167. appeases the Pope 220. he justifies the King to the Pope 333. d'Ossat 434 Outragious Affront committid against the Consecrated Host 414 P. PAncarte what 445 Parabere a Reformed Lord 406 Parliament of Paris Counsellers of it suspected for their Religion 19 Parliament of Paris joyns with the Clergy to oppose the verification of the Edict 224. disgusted at throwing down the Pyramid 401 Parliament of Aix 250 Of Bourdeaux 249. 257 Of Bretagne 350 Of Grenoble 439 Parliaments their Rigour 438 of Tholouse 418 of Tholose and Bourdeaux 437. they uphold the Jesuits 313. of Tours 79. 102 Patriarch threatned to be created in France 155 Peace at Amboise 34. at Chartres 39. Peace with the Reformed a third time 43. Peace as soon broke as made 46. Peace for five years such as it was 48 Peace propos'd between the two Crowns Peace of Religion a new project of Peace for the Protestants 75 Du Perron Author of the 3d. Party 102. ambitious and unfaithful 103 Perron 113. Bishop of Eureux ibid. Commessioner for the Kings absolution 167. accepts du Plessis challenge 397. his foul play to Plessis 399. juggles with Plessis 405. his advantages over du Plessis 407 Progress of his fortune 469. a Cardinals Hat procured for him ibid. Petition particular from the Province of Normandy 425 Petitions of the Reformed favourably receiv'd by the King 421. Petitions answered 441 Philip II. K. of Spain 21 Piles one of the Valiantest of the Protestant Army 111 Placards 11 Places belonging to the Reformed disputed 401 Platform and Design of this History 5 du Plessis Mornai his saying to H. IV. 75 du Plessis Mornai 76 77. his â—â—sire in the Kings behalf 119. his Character 145. he procures the sitting of the Assembly at Saumur 162. useful to the King 224. Presides at Saumur 230 he writes the King a long Letter concerning his change 125. he writes a Treatise of the Eucharist 309. consequences of it ibid. c. it makes a great noise 394. Mortifi'd by the King for writing it 395 he challenges his Accusers 397. fowl play shewd him 399 a snare laid for him 401. more fowl play offer'd him 403. condemn'd in nine Passages 407. he falls sick 409 Politicks a Faction in France their nicknames given 'em by the Synod of Rochel 428 Pope Gregory XIV his Bull of Excommunication 79 The Pope makes overtures of Reconciliation with the King 157. his cunning dealing with the King 185. complains of the verification of the Edict 15 77 200. Poor to participate without distinction of the benefit of Hospitals and Alms 423 Powder Plot 418 Power Arbitrary a Project against it 23 Pragmatic 106 du Prat Cardinal 11 Prayers for the King order'd by the National Synod 146 Preachers seditious 436 476 Precedency disputed by the Parliament of Tholouse 340 Priests refuse to pray for the King 418 Preparations for the King's change 116 Primrose a Foreign Minister 432 Princes of the Blood their Characters and Interests 55 Processions 12 Project of an Edict 130. not had by the Reformed 133 Protector 61 145 Psalms sung publicly 17. prohibited and the Psalm-Book burnt by the Hangman 252 Publication of the Council of Trent 336 337. resolutely deny'd by the King 437 Pyramid erected 156. thrown down 480 Q. Quarters see Annexes R. REflections general and particular upon the Conference of du Plessis c. 408 Reflections upon the Complaints of the Reformed 354 Reformation Interests that oppos'd it 4 5. the beginning causes and progress of it 7. the entrance of it into France ibid. received at Meaux and Bearn 8. Progrss of it in Germany 9. progress of it 19 Reformed not long quiet in France 37. New occasions of Jealousie 38. progress of their Churches 48. they enter into a third War 40. their hopes of Henry III. 54. Reformed their interests after the death of Henry of Valois 56. and their Suspicions 57. flatter themselves about the King's instruction 59. they propose chusing a new Protector 61. what they understood by Protector 63. their jealousies and the grounds of them 65. their dispositions in regard to a peace 72. reasonableness of their demands 76. excluded from employments 110. afraid of the King's reconciliation with the Pope 137. Acts of Injustice done 'em 140 c. declar'd capable of offices 160. testimony concerning their past and present services 168 Reformed why accus'd not to love Monarchy 23. reported to be quite out of Favour with the King and why 200. new Suspicions and Subjects of Complaint 206. their patience 212. a a continuation of their requests 213. the Reformed excus'd 231. they serve the King before Amience 233. put off with new delays 265. they forbear insisting upon several Articles of the Edict 326. in a condition to treat with the King 386. their negligence and their prejudices 418. particular complaints by them made 441. they desire they may not give themselves the name of pretended Reformed 461. a Boon granted to the Reformed 419. strive to discover the designs of the Cabal 475. they fear the King gives too much way to the
Jesuits ibid. disgusted at pulling down the Pyramid 480 Refugees 431 Reiters defeated 50 Religion what sort of variety in Religion Policy ought not to tolerate 367. Religion reformed the nature of it 368 Rights of Conscience 377 Rights Seigniral in Mannors encroach'd upon 443 Rigors of the Catholics as to the burying of the Protestants 111 Rochel besieged 43 Rohan Duke of the Foundations of his Fortune laid 453. displeas'd by the Court 480 Rome Court of the Ignorance of it in Religion 136. laughs at the misfortunes of France ibid. the designs of it upon England 429 Roni his jealousies 214. his advancement discontents the Court 344. his dignities 345. Roni 431. receiv'd into Rochel 445. made Governor of Poictou 450. sent into England ib. sent the King's Commissioner to the Assembly at Chastelleraud 403. his Instructions 403 c. his Speech to the Assembly 407. he excuses the Consequences of the Vnion of Nantes 410. he obtains other advantages of the Assembly of Chastelleraud 412. congratulated for his Negotiation by Perron in the Pope's name 413. his Ambition very singular ibid. made Duke and Peer of France 415. he abuses his Authority without Fear or Wit 444 des Rosieres his Inconstancy 43 Rotan a suspected Minister 113 Roussel a Protestant Minister 8 S. SAvoy Duke of his persecution in Piedmont 314. and in the Marquisate of Saluces ibid. his Character 434. his continual Attempts upon Geneva 465 Scaliger Joseph 460 Schism in England 9 Schombergh Count Commissioner to the Assembly of Saumur 227 228. he treats with the Assembly 236 Sedan besieg'd 416 Sedition at Paris 31. at Rochel 445 428 Seditious terms complained of by the Reformed 476 Seguiran Jesuit his attempt to preach at Rochel 424 Sepultures disputes about 'em 340 Sieges of Rochel and Sancerre 43 Siege of Paris 74. reliev'd 75 Soissons Count 159 470 Sorbonne lets flie against the King 73 Soveraigns their chief obligation the preservation of their Subjects 379. may treat with their Subjects 384 Spaninards press the Destruction of all the Reformed in Spain 446. with a prospect to divert the Kings Forces by a Civil War 447 State of the Forces of the Leaguers and the Kings Party 68 State of France 204 States General demanded 45. conclude to destroy the Protestants 46 St. Germans Letter to the D. of Bouil lon 402 St. Marie du Mont charges du Plessis with false Accusations 396 Subjects their Preservation the chief Obligation of Soveraigns 379 Succession of England 429 Successors bound to observe the Treaties of their Predecessors 396 Sulli Rom's Title after his new Dignity 416. chosen Mediator between the Rochelois and the Clergy 416. 417. blam'd by Cotton the Jesuit 425. suspected by the Reformed 434. and why ibid. Superstition to extremity 21 Synod at Paris 11. at Bourges 10 Synod first Protestant National at Paris 429. National at Rochel held by the Protestants 41 Synod at Rochel 426. renew the Question about Antichrist 429. Affairs treated on there 431. breaks up and sends respectful Letters to the K. 436 Synod of St. Foy 47 at St. Maxiant 442. treats of the business of Antichrist ibid. At Saumur 215 Synods at Gap 455. Question about Antichrist their discust ibid. other matters of the same Synod 461. at Montauban 146. c. at Monpelier 304 Synod at Rochel 426 Synod of Gnap justifies Antichrist to be Antichrist 456. they admit forraign Ministers and receive Letters from the Palatinate c. 461 T. TAxis the Spanish Embassadors 446 447. 448. Third Party and its designs 102 de Thou President 226 227 234 235 299 Tithes confirm'd to the Roman Clergy 35 Toledo Cardinal 136 Tournon Cardinal opposes Melanchton's comming into France 9. he signalizes his Zeal against the Reformation 10 remov'd from the Government 14 Treatise of the Eucharist 309 Treaty's to the prejudice of the Reformed 138 Treaty express or Tacit between Master and slave Soveraign and Subject 380 Treaty with the Rochellois 216. with the Moors persecuted in Spain 438 Trent the Council there 12 13 translated to Bologna but remov'd back to Trent 13. remov d a third time by Pius IV. 34. and end put to it 36 Trimoville Claudius Allies himself with the Prince of Conde 50 Trimoville 143 144. suspected by the King 178. stands upon his Guard 200. his motives for War 226. raises Souldiers for the King 234 exasperated 265. Trimoville incurs the Kings hatred but the esteem of his party 299. made a Peer of France 351. his Genius 477. his death 478. his Death 478 Trissvirat the rise of it 29 Truce for six Months granted the Reformed 45. Truce with the League to the Kings prejudice 137 Turenne raises a Foraign Army 105. Marrys the Heiress of Sedan ibid. made Marshall of France ibid. V. VAlentinois Dutches exasperates the K. against the Protestants 13 La Varenne 123. a principal Prop of the Jesuits 454 Vernueil Marquis 470 Marchioness of Vernueil 439 Marchioness of Vernueil brought to Justice 470 Vignier his Book called the Theatre of Antichrist 442 Villarnoul 433 436 Villeroi suppos'd to be a Pensioner to the D. of Guise 49 Villeroi gives the King advice of the Third Party 103 Villeroi his Conferrence with du Plessis fruitless 107. Caballs against Roni 344. suspected to correspond with Spain 469. Suspected to be of the Spanish Caballs 469 471. Treason of one of his Officers 471 Violences against the Reformed 429 437 244 248 Union of the Reformed renew'd with the Kings approbation 133. Vnion of Nantes renewed 410 Vulson sent to Court 208 W. WAr every where in France 43 Wars about Religion most cruel 366 War with Savoy and the success of it 414 415 Writings about the point for taking up Arms for Religion 73 Y. YEar of Placarts and Libells 11 A TABLE Of the Edicts which serve as Proofs to the Part of this History THe Edict of Charles IX upon the most proper means to appease the Troubles and Seditions arising upon matters of Religion Jan. 1567. 457 Edict of Charles IX of the year â—57 about the Pacification of the Troubles in the Kingdom 466 The Kings Declaration and Interpretation of some words and Articles VI. and VII continued in the present Edict of Jan. 17. 1561. 462 Edict of Pacification made by Hen. III. for putting an end to the Troubles of his Kingdom and to the end that all his Subjects from that time forward might live in Peace Vnion and Concord under his Obedience Read and publish'd in the Court of Parliament Octob. 8. 1577. 477 Private Articles of Septemb. 17. 1577. The Articles of the Conference at Nerac between the Queen Mother and the K. of Navar and the Deputies of the pretended Reformed Religion 594 The Kings Edict upon the Pacification of the Troubles containing Confirmation Amplification and Declaration as well as of the proceeding Edicts upon the said matter in the Year 1577 as of the Articles agreed upon at the Conference at Nerac publish'd at Paris in Parliament Jan. 26. 1579. 515 The Kings Edict upon the
Pacification of the Trouble of the Kingdom given at Nantes April 1598 with the particular Articles intervening upon it c. 526 Particular Articles extracted from the General which the King granted to those of the pretended Reformed Religion which the King would not have compris'd in the General Edicts nor in the Edict which was made and fram'd upon those given at Nantes in April last c. 553 A Breviat granted by Hen. the Great to his Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion April 30. 1598. 563 FINIS MARIE R. WILLIAM and MARY by the Grace of God King and Queen of England Scotland France and Ireland Defenders of the Faith c. To all Our loving Subjects of what Degree Condition and Quality soever within our Kingdoms and Domiminions Greeting Whereas our Trusty and Well-beloved John Dunton Citizen and Stationer of London hath represented unto Us That he is Printing an English Translation out of French of the Edict of Nantes in Four Volumes and that in regard of the great Costs and Charges it hath already been and will be to him he hath humbly besought Us to grant him our Royal License for the sole Printing and Publishing thereof We are graciously pleased to gratifie him therein and accordingly we do therefore hereby grant unto him the said John Dunton Our Royal License for the sole Printing and Publishing of the said Book for the Term of Fourteen Years from the Date hereof strictly charging prohibiting and forbiding all Our Subjects to Reprint the said Book in whole or in part or to imprint buy vend utter or distribute any Copies or Exemplaries of the same or any part thereof Reprinted beyond the Seas within the said Term without the Consent and Approbation of him the said John Dunton his Executors Administrators or Assigns first had and obtained as they and every of them offending herein will answer the contrary at their Peril whereof the Master Wardens and Company of Stationers of Our City of London the Commissioners and Officers of Our Customs and all other Our Officers and Ministers whom it may concern are to take Notice that due Obedience may be given to Our pleasure herein signified Given at our Court at White-Hall the 30th day of June 1693. in the Fifth Year of Our Reign By Her MAJESTIES Command J. TRENCHARD The SECOND VOLUME OF THE HISTORY Of the Famous Edict of Nantes CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF ALL THE PERSECUTIONS That have been in FRANCE During the Reign of Lewis the XIII Faithfully Extracted from all the Publick and Private Memoirs that could possibly be procured Printed first in French by the Authority of the States of Holland and West-Friezland And now Translated into English With Her Majesties Royal Priviledge LONDON Printed for JOHN DUNTON at the Raven in the Poultrey MDCXCIV THE PREFACE OF THE Second Part. WE left the Reform'd at the end of our First Part in a tolerable condition and in a tranquility which settled it self by degrees under the Protection of their King After the hardships of War Infidelitys and Massacres they began to relish the sweets of Peace with assurance by the love of a Prince who had not forgot their Services They thought themselves secure against the Malice of their Enemies and were under no apprehensions for their Consciences or Lives If they retain'd the least doubts or suspicions they only proceeded from a Prudence which consider'd the future and consequently oblig'd them under a King who was favourable towards them to take measures against the designs of another who might perhaps not entertain the same kindness for them This was the Aim of their Assemblies both General and Particular of their Councils of their Synods of their Associations Petitions and Demands All this was lawfu They had had so many dismal proofs of the Maxims of the Church of Rome in respect to those that are declar'd Hereticks by them that they had no reason to confide too much on the appearences of the Peace that Church had granted them They were not ignorant that the Popes had only consented to it because the Catholick Religion did lose considerably by the War and that the Court of Rome finds its account much better in the intrigues of the Cabinet and in the arificies of a fraudulent Policy than in Military Expeditions which they do not understand So that the Reform'd who had learn'd to be wise by an experience of fourscore years could not without relapsing into that ancient simplicity which had done their Fore-fathers so much harm and which their very Enemies had often upbraided them with in an insulting manner neglect to take precautions to secure themselves against the secret snares which the Church of Rome can set with so much Art and prepare at such a Distance Tho the King sometimes gave them causes of distrust yet he was not averse to their Pretentions and had he lived as long as his Constitution and Vigor seem'd to promise he might have put them in a condition which would have oblig'd the Catholicks to cultivate a Peace which they could not have broken without exposing themselves to sustain at least part of the damages of such a Breach It is true that he was stopt sometimes by a political consideration when the Jesuits and the Catholicks of their Party had filled his Head with the dread of a Cabal ever ready to break out ever dispos'd to receive malecontents and to asist them ever Mistress of the Government by reason that by the number of the places of surety and by the credit of the Lords who enter'd into that Vnion it was strong enough whenever Factions should be form'd in the Kingdom to incline the Ballance to that Party they should side with Moreover they told that Prince that it did not consist with his interest to suffer a Confederacy of part of his Subjects amongst themselves for their own preservation as if it had been against his Authority and that it had form'd a state within his Kingdom having Cities of their own Laws Interests and Politicks contrary to the common good of the Kingdom The King who was haughty passionate and jealous of his Grandeur easily suffer'd himself to be deluded by those shadows and at those times let fall words which gave cause to believe that he thought the Reform'd too great too formidable already to grant them any new favours But then those little heats were as soon allaid as they were assum'd His resentments were only lightnings the matter whereof was as soon consum'd as it had taken Fire there neither remain'd the least track of the heat or smoak of it All his anger was evaporated by a Frown and a threatning Word He thought himself sufficiently reveng'd when he had express'd that it was in his Power to take his revenge when ever he pleas'd Those who are well acquainted with the Character of that Prince know that this was his real temper which cannot be look'd upon as a Weakness since the principle of it was
Court of Judicature The Assembly expecting a better issue of this Commission â—â—an it prov'd were satisfied and apply'd themselves to form â—â—e General Cahier in order to communicate it to the â—ommissioners They thought they had been fully imâ—ower'd to treat and to conclude with them but they â—ere not sent for that Their Orders were to frustate â—â—nd to discover the intentions of the Assembly to imâ—rove conjunctures and particularly to oblige the Deputies â—o break up as soon as possible They perform'd their Commission punctually and improv'd occasions like skilful Politicians As soon as Lusignan Aubigni and some others had communicated the chief demands of the Assembly to them they answer'd that the alterations made to the Edict were inconsiderable and that the most considerable among the Reform'd had given their consent to it That during a Minority the Queen could not reverse alterations that had been made with so much precaution and that tho she should do it it would be impossible to obtain the verification of it Their answers upon the other Articles were in the same stile and they began anew to press the nomination of the Deputies General The preparation of the Cahier which the two Deputies the King should chuse were to be intrusted with and the breaking up of the Assembly which having only been allow'd of for the election of the Deputies General and now occasioning Jealousies and difidencies every where ought to break up as soon as they had perform'd what they were impower'd to do They repeated the same things in the Assembly They disputed upon several Articles They offer'd moreover to confer with the Commissioners of the Assembly upon all the Articles of the Cahier if they thought it fit as if they had been impower'd to come to any agreement and in general they did not seem to find any thing unjust or excessive in the demands of the Assembly But however as those Contestations were contrary to their main design viz. To oblige the Assembly to break up as soon as could be they resolv'd to declare that they were not impower'd to grant their demands Therefore coming into the Assembly the next day they renew'd the assurances they had already given of the King and Queen's good intentions and remonstrated that it would be more suitable to the Authority and Dignity of their Majesties and to the particular advantage of the Reform'd to address themselves to the King to obtain a favourable answer pomising on their parts to testifie their Obedience and to use their endeavours to obtain what they desir'd by reason that they were sensible that the preservation of the Reform'd was necessary towards the good of the State This discourse ended by the usual conclusion of nominating six Persons to the King and to break up the Assembly Their design was to render all the Resolutions of the Assembly inefectual and to oblige them to break up without any satisfaction as it really happen'd and it would â—ave been done all of a sudden had the nomination of the â—â—x Deputies and the Cahier of the demands been sent at the â—â—me time But the Assembly only followed the advice of â—â—e King's Commissioners in part They sent their Cahier 〈…〉 the Court but they design'd to deferr the nomination of â—â—e six Deputies until they had receiv'd an answer to their â—omplaints and demands The design of the Court was â—â—ite different and they would not give their answer till â—…e nomination had been made in order to dissolve the â—ssembly by authority in case they would not be satisfied â—â—th such answers as should be given them So they â—ade their Cahier and divided it into five Chapters or difeâ—â—t Cahiers The First was the General Cahier which conâ—…n'd 57 Articles The Second was a Collection of particular Demands and Complaints The Third contain'd the prticulars of the private Articles of the Demands made by 〈…〉 Provinces out of which the matter of the general Arâ—…les had been taken and particularly of that which deâ—anded the re-establishment of the Edict in its first extent â—â—e Fourth was a Memoir of the Churches which did â—mplain that the exercise of their Religion was setled in â—…tant places and desir'd to have them transferr'd in nearâ—… and more convenient places The Fifth only related 〈…〉 the Places of Surety of which the condition was set â—â—rth at large They would fain have joyn'd the Affairs of the Principaâ—…y of Bearn to those of the other Provinces But the â—ourt prov'd inflexible upon that Subject They would â—ver suffer the Deputies to meddle with it and those of â—â—arn was oblig'd to solicit their Affairs separately The â—â—sembly was desirous to set down one Article in their beâ—â—lf in their General Cahier by which they humbly â—â—gg'd of the King to cause the Edict of 1599 to be mainâ—â—in'd in Bearn and to do the Deputies of the Country Justice upon their Complaints This Petition was writen in the Name of the united Churches of France and Bearn to the end that it might appear that tho the Kingdom and that Principality had different Rights in relation to the Political Government yet there was something common among them which united their Interests viz. the Cause of Religion and Liberty of Conscience They added in the said Instructions that the Assembly would not be satisfi'd unless the Deputies of Bearn were contented The reason which oblig'd the Assembly to speak thus was that the Deputies of Bearn gave clear proofs that the Edict of 1599 was daily violated by the Catholicks and that the Clergy almost openly declar'd their design to reasume their former Power and Authority in the said Province But they were oblig'd to comply with the Court in this point and to divide though much against their will the Churches of Bearn from those of the other Provinces in the prosecution of their Affairs While they were imploy'd about the Cahier there still appear'd Union in the Assembly The Marshal de Bouillon who together with Lesdiguieres and du Plessis had drawn the Memoirs on which the Provinces had form'd their Instructions to the contents of which the Articles of the Cahier were limited maintain'd and seconded them as much as any body and gave reasons to show the Justice and necessity of the most Considerable which remov'd all the difficulties others expected to meet in them The Duke of Sully did not lose that opportunity to show that he preferr'd the Common Cause before his own He made a new Discourse to the Assembly in which he declar'd that he did not desire that the General Cause of the Churches should be ingag'd for his Interest and desir'd them to alter the Articles that related to him They return'd him thanks for his good Intentions and left the Articles as they were But when the time came to elect the Deputies to carry the Cahiers and Letters of the Assembly to the King they all broke out of a sudden into Brigues
Nimes sends Deputies to preserve him â—ut in vain and the Synod aggravates Complaints of the Synod of Blois A formal disavowal of the Declaration of the 24 of April Applications of the Synod for the Reconciliation of the Grandees Breefs of Augmentation of the Money granted for the Sallery of Ministers Alteration made in the State of the Reform'd in the Country of Gex The Synod endeavours to hinder the abuse that is made of that augmentation and renews the Demands of the Assembly of Saumur Reasons of the Repugnancy so often express'd about the Denomination of Pretended Reform'd Religion Complaints concerning the Commissioners Resolution no longer to send particular Deputies to Court Force of the Reform'd in the County of Avignon Gratifications New declaration upon the preceeding one which is not satisfactory Cahiers answer'd Incroachments of the Parliaments upon the Jurisdiction of the Chambers Severity of the Chamber of the Edict Removal of the Corps of a Gentleman of the Reform'd Religion out of the Ground by the Order of a Commissioner Favour granted to the Reform'd of Tierache Division of the Duke de Rohan and the Marshal de Bouillon and the Issue of it Abuse of the Duty which inclines to Obedience The Court improves the Doctrine of Patience Ministers Pensioners Enterprise upon St. Johnd ' Angely The Duke of Rohan prevents it and persists notwithstanding it was done by order from the Court The Queen is offended and all things seem to incline to a War BVllion being no longer able to delay the delivery of the Answer'd Cahier to the Assembly since he had so often promis'd to do it as soon as the Queen should be satisfied about the Nomination of the Deputies General kept his Word and allow'd the Deputies to continue their Session for some days longer in order to examine it None of them seem'd favourable and they were conceiv'd in Equivocal and Captious Terms which allow'd the Court a great deal of liberty to wave that by way of Interpretation which seem'd most plausible in those promises Even those who had been so earnest in forming the Scisme which the prudence of the others had prevented from breaking out were as much surpris'd as the rest and express'd a great deal of discontent Some of them exclaim'd highly against that deceit and upbraided Bullion severely for the Oaths he had sworn to amuse them But there was no remedy and Bullion had what he desir'd and therefore did not care for their reproaches Nothing comforts people so easily of an accusation of Perjury as the happy success of the Artifice which deserves it One of the Reasons urg'd to give a pretence to the Scisme that was preparing was that the onâ—… thing in debate was a piece of formality that it was inâ—…erent whether the Assembly receiv'd satisfaction before 〈…〉 after the Nomination of the Deputies General provided was given them effectually that the Court looking upon 〈…〉 said Nomination before the dilivery of the Answer as a â—…nt of Honour it was reasonable to comply with the â—…g's desire that is was a respect due by Subjects to their â—…eraign not to dispute with him upon a point of Decoâ—…m about his Authority especially when it was no wise their prejudice But the illusion of that reason was soon scover'd when they found the scope of the favour they â—d flatter'd themselves with It was visible that the Court â—…ng unwilling to do any thing beyond the little they did â—…nt had only insisted upon that pretended formality to â—…id being oblig'd at the earnest sollicitation of the Asâ—…bly to give them any real testimonies of good will They would fain have us'd some endeavours to obtain â—…ething more but when they thought on the means to â—…ct it they found none of which they durst promise â—…mselves a happy success The Brief which did Authoâ—…e the Assembly allowing it only in order to Nominate 〈…〉 Deputies General it might have been stil'd unlawful â—…er the said Nomination if they had refus'd to break up â—…eral of those that had the best intentions were weary contending as they had been oblig'd to do in order prevent Brigues contrary to the common good Others â—…e afraid of drawing the indignation of the Court upâ—… them incase they should resist their Orders with a Viâ—…r which would be stil'd Rebellion They were all â—…dent of those that had been so ready to divide from 〈…〉 rest of the Assembly and notwithstanding some of them â—…m'd discontented at Bullion's deceit there was no reason 〈…〉 expect that they would unite themselves to the good â—…ty again incase any resolutions should be taken They â—…d as well promis'd to make a Scisme upon the subject of 〈…〉 answers incase the Assembly were disatisfied with them as upon the time and manner of deliberating about â—â— So that they agreed unanimously to break up To leaâ—â— the prosecution of a more favourable Answer to the Deputies General and to see whether the Queen being satisfied with their submission to her Will would not be more easily inclin'd to allow the Reform'd greater favours Thus an Assembly compos'd of the most eminent Persons among the Reform'd both for Quality and Capacity which in so proper a Conjuncture ought to have taken such measures for the safety of the Churches as could never have been violated by their Enemies broke â—â— without doing any thing The Nomination of Deputies General was all that was done during a Session of foâ—â— Months and the publick affairs remain'd in the same condition after such long deliberations as they were before the meeting of the Assembly Moreover it did more haâ—â— than good by reason that the facility of sowing Divisions among the Reform'd discover'd their weakness and taught the Court the way to destroy them The Authoâ— of the said Division were so much asham'd of it thâ—â— they us'd their utmost endeavours to avoid that reproach The very Court had no mind it should be imputed to theâ—â— Artifices Therefore endeavours were us'd to lay the blaâ—â— of it upon private Interest which had occasion'd great heaâ—â— And indeed as there were many Persons who had demand to make either immediately to the Assembly or by â—â—â— Assembly to the Court it is very probable that Bulliâ—â— and those that serv'd him on that occasion took the advantage of those personal affairs in order to succeed â—â— their principal design So that this prov'd one of the meâ—â— which corrupted those who thereby expected to find moâ—â— favour at Court. As many endeavours were us'd to breaâ— the measures of those that were firm and inflexible as to gain those whose Souls were sencible to promises and â—â— hopes Chamier was one of those steady Pillars which nothing was capable to sâ—ake He had the first Voice in tâ—â— Assembly as being Assistance to the President and whereâ—… he was skill'd in Affairs the Conclusion depenâ—â—d partly on the turn he gave them A particular grieâ—â—nce was put upon him in order to disgust him
the said â—hurch tho they justified pretty well that their intentions â—ere good The said Church appealed to the Synod which confirm'd the Judgment of the Assembly The reason â—f it was that the resolution having been taken by the plurality of Voices they broke the Union in refusing to subâ—it to it and made an inlet for Divisions Moreover it 〈…〉 observable by this affair as well as by several others â—…at tho the Power of Political and Ecclesiastical Assemblies was bounded in certain things the one being to meddle with Civil Government and Safety the other with Discipline and Doctrine nevertheless there was a kind of mutual Subordination between them by virtue whereof â—he one sometimes reform'd the regulations of the other or took Cognisance of their Judgments by way of Appeal That was very proper to maintain Union between those two Tribunals and might have contributed considerably towards the preservation of the Churches if it could have been observed without Ambition or Jealousie The Deputies General had obtained leave to hold a General Aessmbly but the Brief oblig'd them to assemble at a time and in a place which did not please them The place was Grenoble very distant from all the Provinces and moreover in the Power of Lesdiguieres and of a Parliament which would not allow the Deputies the liberty of their Suffrages The time was the 15th of July too short a time to allow the Provinces Leisure to nominate their Deputies and to prepare their Instructions Moreover the Brief contain'd modifications that were too strict and allow'd the Assembly nothing but to nominate Deputies General The Synod order'd those that perform'd that function at that time to obtain a more convenient Place and freer 〈…〉 longer time during which Provincial Assemblies might be held to give an account of the proceedings of the Synod and a more favourable Brief giving the Assembly a large Permission The Synod only obtained an alteration as to the time The Assembly was put of untill the 25th of August but the Queen declar'd that she could neither change the Place nor the form of the Brief The Conjuncture of the time the King being near upon entering into his 14th year and consequently to be declared Major might have given the Assembly an occasion to treat about great things The Estates that were promised were to meâ—… shortly which also was an inducement for the Reform'd to look about them But those very reasons also induced the Court not to allow their Assembly all sort of Liberty Nevertheless the place displeasing them they chose rather not to meet than to do it in the Capital City of a Province in which the Parliament and Governor might equaly disturb them We will see what happened about it the following year in which the alterations of Affairs made them earnestly desire the same place which they had so much rejected An account was given to the Synod of the means that had been us'd to reconcile the Lords and Letters were deliver'd to them from the Dukes de Rohan de Sully and from du Plessis which desir'd the Members of the Synod to acquaint the Provinces with their good intentions and with their zeal for the Service of the Churches Bergerac disown'd in that Synod the Brief of 1500 Livers which the King had given them to take upon the 15000 Crowns of Augmentation and after the Church and City had declar'd in writing that they renounc'd all manner of means to obtain the said Sum unless it were by the good Will of the Synod the Assembly granted them 1200 Livers This husbandry seem'd to be very necessary by reason that the Funds were wanting every where for the payment of the Ministers and those who had treated with the late King upon that Subject had taken their measures â—o ill that most of them having no Sallary besides what they had out of the said Donations were reduced to great â—…reights which render'd them incapable of performing their Ministry susceptible to the inspirations of the Court which endeavoured to corrup them or despicable for their Poverty The Sum granted by Lewis the 13th added but little to their Sallary besides they had occasion â—or it for so many things that the Ministers had not the advantage of it The King applyed part of it himself to what he pleas'd and he had had much ado to free that â—…m of the penny per Liver which he had taken out of it â—or the Sallary of the Deputies General The rest was diâ—tributed part to the Accademys and Colleges part in Gratifications and Recompences and part for Deputations and private Affairs The Lower Guyenne propos'd in order to remedy that Evil to beg of the King wherewith to pay â—he Ministers intirely The Synod harkened to that proposition but they thought fit to refer it to a General Assembly Among the things that were promis'd in order to disolve the Assembly of Rochel the Court had put the Reform'd in hopes of an Exemption of Tailles for the Ministers and the Declaration of it had been drawn accordingly But the Courts of Aids made great difficulties about it and it had not been verified so that it had only prov'd an illusion till then The Synod order'd the Deputies General to press the Registring of it and the Deputies of the Churches to carry the said demand to the mix'd Assemblies of their Provinces and those particular Assemblies to give them to their Deputies to be moved in the General Assembly They spoke of the Innovations that were introduc'd in the nomination of the Governors of the places of Surety and in the reception of the Reform'd in the places that were allow'd to them They were oblig'd before their said reception to 〈…〉 an attestation of the Assembly within the extent of which the Government of a Place became vacant But the Court did not observe it in order to have the sole authority of those Nominations The Synod made a very severe order upon that Subject against those who accepted Goverments or other Imployments that way and referr'd the Complaints of the fact to the Political Assemblies They also order'd the Consistories to hinder the Governors of places from protecting any persons accus'd of things which deserv'd Punishment lest those Cities given for the Surety of their Religion should serve to protect Criminals One of the six Reform'd Counsellors in the Parliament of Paris call'd Berger was lately turn'd Catholick Hâ—… change made a breach in the number of the Officers of thâ—â— quality promis'd by the Edict and the Reform'd pretended that Berger ought no longer to injoy the said imployment which belong'd to them since he had chang'd his Religion But Berger had made his bargain before he chang'd his Religion that he should not lose his Place and it was the interest of the Catholicks not to turn out such as imbrac'd their Communion lest the fear of that disadvantage should discourage others who might also be inclined to do the same
the Name and Lustre of their Families There were some Reform'd among the Deputies of the Noâ—â—lity but they were not strong enough to oppose the Cathoâ—â—cks Besides what ever came from them was suspected by â—…e ignorant Nobility and one of the reasons which prejudic'd â—…e rights of the Crown most and the Prince of Conde was that â—â—ose who maintain'd them most were Hereticks Peoples minds â—eing dispos'd thus The third Estate began to treat the queâ—ion of the Independency of Kings and of the safety of their â—ersons against the enterprizes and pretentions of the Court â—f Rome It was none of their fault that it was not pass'd â—â—to a fundamental Law of the State that they were subject 〈…〉 no Power directly nor indirectly and that there was no â—ase or pretence to authorise any body to declare their forâ—â—iture of the Crown to dispence their Subjects from their Allegiance The murther of the two last Kings had made a deep impression in the hearts of the King 's best Subjects and the Third Estate was desirous to stifle the remainder of the League by that Law by showing their maxims to be false and contrary to the principle of Monarchy It was still fresh in Peoples minds how those maxims had like to have torn the Kingdom into piece and to deprive the lawful Heir of the Crown under pretence of Religion and of the Excommunication pronounc'd against him by the Popes It seems wonderful in our days that a proposition so specious in it self and so advantageous to Kings could be rejected And yet it certainly was and that which is most surprising is that the King's authority was us'd to reject it The truth is that it was no novelty at that time the Court had partly done the same two years before The Monks had undertaken to make Kings stoop under the Popes feet The Clergy of the Sorbonne was inclinable to that Seditious Theology Regal Authority was the sport of their Disputes and most people were wretchedly misled into that opinion I do not wonder that they refus'd to allow the Reform'd at that time to have the honour to defend their Soveraign and that those Books were suppress'd which they wrote upon that Subject but yet methinks they should have had a little more regard for the Catholicks who maintain'd the same Cause Nevertheless the Court handsomely acquiess'd to its own disadvantage Richet only defender of the King 's Rights and of the Liberties of the Gallick Church and who maintain'd the propositions which the Clergy has lately defin'd was oppress'd by Duval another Doctor seconded by the Monks and the Court interposing in that Dispute he was oblig'd to part with his place of Syndis of the University to suffer the Condemnation of his Books without saying any thing and to suffer his Brethren and even the King himself whose Interests he did defend to treat him as an Heretick But whereas the Reform'd had a great share in that Dispute which was renew'd in the States I think it will be necessary for their Honour to relate somewhat at large how that affair pass'd The Clergy fell out into an Excess of Passion against â—…e Authors of that proposition They made as much noise as if they had design'd to take away their vast Revenues or to set the Reform'd Religion upon the Throne They drew the Nobility into their Sentiments and having put Cardinal Du Perron at the head of a solemn Deputation which they sent to the Third Estate he oppos'd â—…e good Intentions of that Body with all his might The did Cardinal made a long studyed discourse upon that â—…atter to render the said proposition odious and he maintain'd the Interests of the Courts of Rome with so much confidence that he seem'd only to make use of the Grandeur to which the favour of Kings had rais'd him to destroy them and to make them subject to a Forreign Power The turn he took to make an Impression upon the minds of â—…e Catholicks was to represent that Doctrine as a branch of Heresie in order to create jealousies about its Original â—…e maintained with a boldness suitable to a more odious â—ame that before Calvin the whole Church and even the Gallick Church did believe that when a King did violate the â—ath he had taken to God and to his Subjects to live and â—ye a Catholick and not only turn'd Arian or Mahometan â—ut even proceeded so far as to War against Jesus Christ â—…at is to force the Consciences of his Subjects and to oblige â—…em to follow a false Religion he might be declar'd deprived of his Rights and his Subjects could be absolved in â—onscience and at the Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Tribunal 〈…〉 the Allegiance which they had sworn to him and that it belonged to the Pope or Council to make that Declaration â—…e maintained that this Sentiment expos'd no body to the Anathema and did not deprive those who held it of the â—ommunion of the Church He declared more than once that â—…e Oath which the King of England had exacted from the Catholicks was the Patron of the Doctrine of the Third Estate which at the bottom was the substance of that Oath â—…e alledged several inconveniences which might arise from the enterprise of that House for Instance that it would be a Snare for Consciences to make people read as an Article of Faith taken out of the word of God a Doctrine the contrary of which had been and was still held by all the rest of the Catholick Church That it was dangerous that Lay-men should undertake to decide matters of Faith without being guided by a Council or some other Ecclesiastical Judgment That it might create a Schism to declare a Doctrine Impious which was approved by the other Catholicks which they did seperate from by that Declaration That under pretence of securing the Life and Grandeur of Princes they would be exposed more than ever by the troubles which a Schism causes He had the boldness to say that the Murther of Kings could be prevented no otherwise than by the fear of Eternal Punishment and that nothing but Ecclesiastical Judgments can give a real Terror of Punishments He seconded all this with Examples and Testimonies set out with a great deal of Pomp displaying as he us'd to do the most fabulous and most false Reports and he endeavou'd to prove by subtil artificial answers the Examples and Testimonies to the contrary He also endeavour'd to refute the Objections drawn from other Causes and among the rest that which was taken from the Tolleration granted to Hereticks from whence it might be concluded that if Just Laws were made to preserve their Lives their Estates and their Honours Kings were much less to be depriv'd of theirs under pretence of Heresie He answer'd it in a manner which show'd that according to his opinion the Laws under which Hereticks lived did only suspend the execution of those which were against them and insinuating
great â—â—nsequence as if the welfare of the State had depended â—â—on it Notwithstanding those earnest entreaties about â—â—e affair of Milhau and the Kings Answer which is said 〈…〉 be That he thought himself as much oblig'd to reâ—â—nge the Stabbing of his God as the Parricide of his Faâ—â—er the Clergy did not obtain the Vengeance they deâ—… The reason of it is that the Reform'd likewise brought â—…complaint to Court of a greater violence committed â—â—ainst them in those very parts soon after the sedition at â—â—ilhau They had built a Temple at Belestat where they had â—…right to perform the exercise of their Religion by the â—…icts The Catholicks pull'd it down and not being conâ—â—ted with that they acted great Violences against the â—â—form'd that liv'd there who were Plunder'd Beaten â—ounded and very Barbarously us'd It look'd as if the â—â—tholicks had done this upon the account of Reprisals and 〈…〉 be reveng'd of the violences that had been committed 〈…〉 Milhau by those of Bellestat The King receiving the â—â—mplaints of both sides much about the same time it was â—â—fficult to do Justice to the one without doing it also to â—â—e other So that the best expedient the Court could â—â—ink on to avoid greater inconveniences was to satisfie â—â—e Parties with general promises and to refer them to â—â—dges that might take a particular cognisance of their â—â—mplaints It remain'd in agitation till towards the latter â—â—d of the year In the mean time the Clergy had compos'd their Caâ—… which contain'd upwards of 300 Articles among which thosâ— that did not relate to their own Grandeur tended only â—â— preserve to the Queen the Authority of the Government which she was very jealous of or to betray the interesâ—… of the State and to incroach upon the Edicts under whiâ—â— the Reform'd were maintain'd Such were upwards of 6 Articles which directly or indirectly tended to disturb theâ— in the possession of their Liberties To that end they desir'd the Restoration of the Roman Religion in all plaâ—â— under the King's dominion particularly in Bearn and into all the Places newly re-united to the Crown The Condemnation of Books and Discourses that were injurioâ—â— to the Pope lately Printed The Revocation of Pensioâ— given upon Benifices to persons that were not qualifieâ— for them specifying among the reasons of Incapacity the Pretended Reform'd Religion Prohibitions to the Parliamenâ— to meddle with the observation of Festivals The Exemptioâ— of Imprisonment for Ecclesiasticks and leave for Bishops â—â— condemn to the Gally's Leave to apply themselves to thâ— next Judge Royal for the execution of Ecclesiastical Sentences incase the ordinary Judge were of the Pretendeâ— Religion a great extention of the Rights of Tithâ—â— Besides this there were complaints that the Kings Officeâ— or those of the Pretended Religion hinder'd the Bishops from rebuilding their Churches and their Houses Other Articles desir'd that such Monks as should be met oâ—â— of their Habit and Convent without Letters of Obeâ—â—ence should be chastis'd as Apostates which related directly to the Monks that imbrac'd the Reform'd Religion That the Jesuits might be re-united to the University 〈…〉 Paris That the King would be pleas'd to judge their Caâ—ses himself and to take them under his protection That the Printers might be reduc'd to a certain number in every City and that they should print no Books without the Diocesian's Liscence That all Books from abroad should be prohibited unless they had the same approbation Thâ—â— the Marriages with Spain might be accomplished â—hat the King should take back again the Towns of â—â—stage given by the Treaty of Ste Menehould That â—â—e Principality of Bearn and the rest of the Kingdom of â—…var should be re-united to the Crown That all the â—â—urch Lands there should be restor'd to the Ecclesiasticks â—…thout allowing them to be imployed for the use of the â—â—form'd which was stiled a prophane use That a Party â—â—amber should be establish'd at Pau That the Reform'dâ—â—dges â—â—dges there should not be allow'd to take Cognisance 〈…〉 Ecclesiastical Causes That Militrary Offices and such 〈…〉 related to Justice should be given to Catholicks That 〈…〉 Edict of Settlement should be made between the Cathoâ—…ks and the Reform'd That the Garrisons should be reâ—…v'd out of such Towns as were not seated on the â—…ntiers That Article did not relate to the Places of Sureâ—… which another spoke of directly and desn'd the King 〈…〉 take them again but this has contributed considerably 〈…〉 enslave the Kingdom by reason that it serv'd for an â—â—erture to disarm all those that were able to desend â—…ir Liberty The next desir'd the Prohibition of all sorâ—…gn Correspondencies Others propos'd the restoring to the Ecclesiasticks their â—…uses and Castles within the space of three Months 〈…〉 oblige those that were order'd to prove their being â—â—form'd meaning the Catholicks that imbrac'd the Reâ—â—â—m'd Religion to make their Declaration before the â—ge Royal six Months before their being allow'd to â—ove their Causes to the Chambers of the Edict That â—e was sufficient to ruin them in the Parliaments Others â—…ir'd that all the Causes in which Ecclesiasticks were â—…cern'd might be remov'd before the Parliaments Presidials â—…d other Catholick Judges and that the Chambers should 〈…〉 be allowd ' to receive their Appeals Thirty two others followed these which were diâ—…tly against the Reform'd The first of them was to â—…press the exercise of their Religion That in the mean time they should be reduc'd to the Concessions of the late King and that all they had obtain'd during the minority should be revok'd The others imported that they should restore the Churches to the Catholiks That they should not be allow'd to Bury their Dead in the ancient Church-yards or in the Churches and that the Catholicks should be allow'd to oppose it by force of Arms That they should be forc'd to restore the Church-yards they had shar'd with the Catholicks That they should be forbidden to write against the Sacraments of the Roman Church and against the Authority of the Pope on paâ—… of rigorous punishments That the Ministers should nâ—… be allowed to go into the Hospitals even to comfort thâ—… Sick That Masters should be oblig'd to suffer their Servants to perform the rites of their Religion and to allow the Curates to visit them when sick That the exercise of the P. R. R. should be prohibitted in Lands that were held in homage of the Church That the Catholicks turâ—… Protestants should not injoy the exemption of contributing towards the building of Churches c. Untill a year aâ—… their signification of their profession in the Register Office That their Temples should be a thousand Steps disâ—… from the Churches at least That the Patronages of the Reform'd should be transferr'd to their nearest Catholiâ—… Relations or in default of any to the Ordinary That 〈…〉 prohibition should be made on pain of corporal punishments to impose upon the Catholicks the Sums rais'd
and they desire Grenoble again to which the Court consents Assembly of the Clergy Settlement for the Pensions of Converted Ministers Conduct of the Court and of the Prince of Conde who invites the Assembly of Grenoble to joyn with him Diversity of opinions The King's Progress The General Assembly sends Deputies to him Those Deputies are adjourn'd to Poitiers The Queen waves the Princes propositions and performs her Progress without hindrance Particular Cahier of the Assembly General Cahier Answers which are not satisfactory The Deputies are amus'd they Communicate their fears to the Assembly Lesdiguieres keeps them in awe They remove to Nimes inspight of him and excuse themselves at Court which does not approve it very well They are jealous of the Lords Lesdigueres and Chatillon are ingag'd in the Interest of the Court The Duke of Candale embraces the Reform'd Religion The Reform'd are hated by the Favourites The Duke d' Epernon hates them mortally Treaty of Vnion between the Assembly and the Prince of Conde under divers reservations which revives the Princes Party New Declaration which confirm the Edicts after an argumented Preface Effect of the Declaration The Reform'd are disarm'd â—â— Bourdeaux The Consistory discontinues the exercise of their Religion Two Advocates acquaint the Parliament with it which orders the usual Assemblies to be continued The Ministers withdraw The Consistory cites the Advocates after the Conclusion of the Peace who appeal to the Parliament The Consistory suspends them publickly from the Communion Severe Decree Passion of the Advocate General Facts disown'd by the Ministers Absurdities and ridiculous pretention Proceedings against the Ministers Sequel of the ill will of the Parliament False Decree of Inrollment of a Declaration against the Prince of Conde Propositions of Peace Deputies and Lettes from the Assembly of Nimes The Lower Languedoc remains peaceable The King of England offers to be Mediator of the Peace which the Council of France refuses Conferrence and Peace of Loudun Translation of the General Assembly â—â— Rochel from whence they send Deputies to Loudun Vnjust proceedings of the Court The Assembly is almost forc'd to accept a Peace Edict of Blois Private Articles Sequel Inrollment and modification of the Edict Have inlarg'd upon the preceding Articles presented by the Clergy by reason that they may be look'd upon as the Plan or Scheme of the Persecution the Reform'd have undergone from that time untill our days As the â—â—â—â—gy thereby show'd how little they were inclin'd to Peace 〈…〉 Equity the Nobility which follow'd their inspirations 〈…〉 movements did not appear better dispos'd They 〈…〉 during the Session of the Estates to Petition the 〈…〉 to maintain the Catholick Religion according to the 〈…〉 he had taken about it at his Coronation The Reâ—â—â—â—'d who were present took that proposition to be made â—â—â—â—nst them and were persuaded that the Nobility aim'd 〈…〉 Religion And indeed those that were acquainâ—â—â— with the nature of that Oath which I have set down in â—â—â—â—her place can think no otherwise since that the King â—â—â—â—ising thereby utterly to destroy all Hereticks declar'd 〈…〉 so by the Church the Application of it fell naturally 〈…〉 the Reform'd who are look'd upon as such by the â—â—â—â—olicks Therefore the said proposition was warmly â—â—â—â—ed between the Reform'd Gentlemen who were preâ—â—â—â— and the promoters of it in so much that they were 〈…〉 to proceed to great extremities The King was acâ—â—â—â—nted with it and he hinder'd it from going any further 〈…〉 promises and whereas peoples minds were strangâ—â—â—â—'d by that dispute he issued out a new Declaration on 12th of March which Confirmed all the Edicts 〈…〉 began with great Elogies of the Queen's conduct duâ—â—â—â— the Regency and of the care she had taken to conâ—â—â—â— the Edicts in imitation of the late King and to remeâ—â—â—he infractions of it as soon as she was acquainted with 〈◊〉 which the King look'd upon as the true Cause which 〈…〉 to the assistance of God had maintain'd his Subjects 〈…〉 the bounds of their Allegiance to him and in amiâ—â—â—mong themselves After which the King expressed that 〈…〉 good effect of the Queens Prudence had obliged him after the Declaration of his Majesty to intreat her to continue to assist him with her Council with the same authority as if the Administration of the Kingdom were still in 〈…〉 hands That by her advice he had issued out another Declaration of the same substance with that she had publishâ—… and caus'd to be verifi'd at the beginning of her Regeâ—… to signifie that it was her earnest desire to make his Subjeâ—… live in Peace and friendship and to observe the Ediâ—… Inviolably In the next place he declar'd that he was soâ—… for what had happen'd in the Estates upon the proposiâ—… of the Nobility and in order to satisfie the Reform'd 〈…〉 rejected it at first as little necessary or rather absolutâ—… useless since he was resolv'd to profess the Catholick Religion to his dying Day but after that he excus'd it proceeding from the Zeal of the Nobility towards the preservation of the Roman Religion without a design of gâ—…ing offence to any body whereupon he said that 〈…〉 Catholick Nobility had declar'd it to him first separatâ—… and then altogether That they had protested to him 〈…〉 they were very desirous of the observation of the Pâ—… establish'd by the Edicts That they had intreated him to 〈…〉 the re-union of his Subjects to the Providence of God 〈…〉 the usual means of the Church being but too much â—… swaded by experience that violent Remedies had â—… serv'd to increase the number of those that had left 〈…〉 Church instead of teaching them the way to return to 〈…〉 Therefore in order to remove the jealousies of the Refoâ—… who avoided factions and ill designs and all pretence of â—… sturbances from those that endeavour'd to promote 〈…〉 The King confirm'd anew all the Edicts Declarations â—… vate Articles Settlements and other Letters and Decrâ—… given in favour of the Reform'd both by himself and 〈…〉 Late King upon the Interpretation and Execution of 〈…〉 Edict of Nantes and order'd the same to be observ'd â—… olably This Declaraton which remain'd upwards of 〈…〉 Weeks before it was verify'd in the Parliament of â—… not cure the Evil the aforesaid Contestaion had creâ—… It hardly serv'd to Pallitate it And indeed it was very likely that it should satisfy any body considering it was Penn'd It was natural to suspect that a Constant Law could not be the Sequel of a Preface without â—…h That Imitation of Henry the 4th's Prudence it Inâ—… so much upon had never appear'd in the Queen's â—…duct On the contrary she had abandon'd all the late â—…s projects alterd confounded and destroy'd all â—he had done for the Peace and grandeur of the Kingâ—… and concluded the Alliance with Spain for which â—ad express'd an Invincible Aversion to his dying day affectation of always speaking of the Imitation of a Prince whose Maxims had been
overthrown offended those 〈…〉 griev'd to see how much the Regency had disfigur'd Government It is odious to boast of a thing the conâ—… of which is notoriously known by every body and 〈…〉 protestations of performing a Duty which one 〈…〉 from by a Thousand Actions seldom perswade a 〈…〉 which Effects contradict Moreover every body too sencible how many Cabals and Factions had torn Kingdom during the Minority to relish the praises that 〈…〉 given to the Queen of having maintain'd it in Peace â—…es the Mistery of the Court appear'd too openly in â—…d Declaration in which the Regency was continu'd â—…g the Majority to the same Person who upon the â—…nt of the Majority should have renounc'd it and the contents found a fair pretence to murmur in that a who was Major sound in body and mind remain'd under the directions of others only alledging the â—…nce of his Majority to secure his Mothers authority â—…nly made us of the Priviledg of the Age he had 〈…〉 to put himself under the Yoke of a second Guarâ—…hip The King was the only loser by the Declation â—…s Majority and by the Session of the Estates The 〈…〉 remain'd Regent under another Name Foreigners â—…out merit whom he had advanc'd to the Exclusion of the Native French and even of the Princes exerted the Authority in the King's name by the means of 〈…〉 Princess whose mind and heart they govern'd The â—…form'd were sensible of the Equivocation of those woâ—… by the means that are usual in the Church by reason that 〈…〉 had learned at their Cost by a dismal experience 〈…〉 Massacres and disingenuity are means much more in 〈…〉 in the Roman Church for the Conversion of pretended â—…ticks than Sermons and good example So that peopâ—… minds being prepar'd by those Reflections easily tookâ—… again at the first occasion that offer'd it self The Prince of Conde who expected to raise his Authoâ—… by the means of the Estates on the contrary lost theâ—… he had left by the prevarication of the Clergy and of tâ—… Adherents and the Queen caught him in the same snareâ— had set out for her She remained in possession the Government in spight of him she got the approbâ—… of the Marriages she had concluded she obliged the Pâ—… to Surrender the Town of Amboise to her which she had â—…ven him for his security at the Treaty of Ste. Menchouldâ— in order to tire the Patience of the French to the utmost made Conchini a Marshal of France The Marshal de Bâ—…lon had served her usefully in that Conjuncture of Aâ—… in hopes that his Credit and Capacity which appeared that occasion would oblige that Princess to give him agâ—…er share in her favour But she was unwilling to put 〈…〉 self into the hands of a man of his Capacity and 〈…〉 who lik'd him as a Counsellor would neither allowâ—… to be his Master nor his Competitor Therefore the 〈…〉 shal finding that no more notice was taken of him thanâ—… fore resolv'd to be reveng'd and renew'd Intrigues 〈…〉 finally ruin'd the Queen's Affairs but which had the 〈…〉 fortune at the same time to occasion the decay of 〈…〉 Reform'd Religion and the Slavery of France The Pâ—… of Conde being very much disatisfi'd with the Estates 〈…〉 yet more with the Queen willingly gave ear to new proâ—…sitions and he judg'd that things would be dispos'd to faâ—…ur new designs It was necessary for him to set three wheeles a going to â—…ve more success in his present discontents than he had 〈…〉 in the preceding which had only serv'd to discover his â—…eakness There was a necessity to get the People the Parâ—…ment of Paris and the Reform'd of his fide The People â—…as sufficiently dispos'd to joyn with the Malecontents upâ—… the account of their natural aversion to Foreigners It 〈…〉 easie to persaude them that Foreigners have less regard 〈…〉 them than those that are born and bred in the same â—…ountry with them and they excuse the excesses which amâ—…tion and avarice make their own Countrymen Commit â—…th more ease than the least attempts of a Foreigner â—oreover the Deputies of the Provinces had receiv'd â—…t little satisfaction from the Court The King had reâ—…s'd to examine the Cahiers of the Estates before their â—…ssolution a Maxim of great use to wave the Complaints 〈…〉 the People not to hear them while they are in a Caâ—…city to sollicit answers to them The Court took but very â—…tle notice of those Cahiers after the departure of the Deâ—…ties But the Clergy which had serv'd the Queen according to her mind obtained almost whatever they design'd â—he Deputies of the other Orders obtain'd nothing but â—…ain general promises of which they were sensible that â—…ey should never see the effects and that the People â—ould be oblig'd to seek out other remedies to redress â—…eir Grievances The Prince had good Friends in the Parliament which â—…ere disatisfied and thought themselves bound in Duty â—…d Honour to redress by their Authority the Affairs which â—…ere ruin'd by the false Policy of the Court But that â—…rhaps would not have produc'd great effects had not â—…e Court given an Overture to it by an excess of severity â—he Parliament seeing how the Intentions of the well meanâ—…g part of the Estates were evaded gave a Decree towards the end of March which invited the Princes the â—…eers and Officers of the Crown that sit among them to Assemble with them to remedy the disorders of the State The Court was very much allarm'd and offended at thâ—… Boldness They sent for the Parliament to have an account of their enterprise revers'd their Decree and forbad the execution of it But that August Court was no wise disheartned and after several deliberations they made very grave Remonstrances to the King and such aâ— became a Senat that lov'd the Glory and Peace of the State They spoke boldly upon all things that deserv'd to be observed in the present Conjuncture and as they insisteâ—… vigorously upon the Article of the Third Estate which the Court had rejected they did the same upon whatever related to the advantage of the people All their discourse in â— word tended to inspirethe King with maxims of an equitable Government I should swerve from my subject in relating 〈…〉 the Articles of their Remonstrances Therefore I shall only observe that among 29 or 30 others there was one which related to the Edicts and which desir'd the King to preserve tâ—… Splendor and Dignity of the Roman Religion withoâ—… swerving from the Edicts of Pacification So that 〈…〉 Parliament which had formerly made so much dificulâ—… to pass the Edict had finally found by experience the â—â—cessity of its observation The King receiv'd those â—â—monstrances ill either because they were too just to please â—â— Court in which the people only thought of making their â—…tune at any rate or because they were too free to pleâ—… such as only aimed to oppress Liberty or finally because 〈…〉 was
being capable to reunite all People to the desire of a Peace was the best expedient that could be taken to procure it and above all to obtain it from the King's Clemency by most humble Supplications that nothing was done contrary to the Settlements considering the Just Cause of Complaint they had that the strongest of all Laws in a time of Confusion and Disorder was Necessity and that Rochel would not abandon the common Cause for the particular Offers that were made to them However the Deputies of the Circle were not well receiv'd at Court from whence they departed without obtaining the permission they desir'd Besides the usual reasons the Court had to dread Assemblies they had some that were particular for this The Troubles were so great every where that they could not Authorise a General Assembly without being guilty of Imprudence by reason that whatever side they inclin'd to they were capable to give the upper hand to the Party they should Embrace and perhaps â—…rm one apart which might take the advantage of the Weakness of the others It was generally believ'd that the Duke of Vendome design'd to put himself at the Head of the Reform'd and it was publickly discours'd that he kept a â—…an on purpose at Rochel to Treat in his Name with the Assembly There was no time to make Rome Relish that â—â—rmission the Council of which had taken such an Empire over that of France that they regulated all their proceedings The Queen had been oblig'd to give the Cardinal de â—…yeâ—se ample Instructions before the Assembly of Saumur 〈…〉 excuse the favour she had Granted to the Reform'd upon â—…e account of Necessity either in confirming their Edicts â—…y a Solemn Declaration or by allowing them to Assemble 〈…〉 a time when they could draw such advantages by their â—…nion It would have been difficult to use those Reasons at â—resent which might have pass'd for good at that time because they could not have been insisted upon for fear of discovering the Weakness and Confusion of the Government The shortest way was to refuse the permission desir'd by the Deputies of the Circle in hopes that those who did not approve that Assembly would have Credit enough to perwade the rest to have patience Nevertheless that Refuâ—… aggravated matters instead of suppressing them and it did not hinder them from inviting the Provinces to send their Deputies to Rochel on the appointed day so that as they persisted in the Resolution to hold the Assembly without leave in case they could not obtain the consent of the Court they thought fit to Publish their Reasons about it Therefore they Publish'd a kind of Manifesto in which they observ'd that people were in Arms every where that the two Parties who aim'd to destroy each other pretended equally the King's Service which might occasion the Ruin of the State and of the Churches unless a distinction were made a what the Real Service of the King consisted in order to side with that that particular Persons apt to divide themselves according to their Interests and Inclinations were not proper Judges to decide that Question that its General Assembly was more capable to do it that the Edicts of Nantes and of Loudun were daily violated as to what related to the Churches that the Deputies General having made their Complaints to the King about it without having obtain'd the least Redress there remain'd no way to Remedy the same but by a General Assembly that the Commissioners promis'd by the Court in the Assembly which was held at Rochel at the time of the Treaty of Loudun had not been in the Provinces or at least that whatever was favourable to the Catholicks having been Executed long since nothing had been perform'd of those things which were advantagious to the Churches that the Court had refus'd the so often promis'd Creation of two Offices of Masters of Requests for the Reform'd that a Fort had been demolish'd in one of the Suburbs of Gergeaâ— in Order to render that Town of Surety Useless to the Churches and to deprive all the Reform'd between the Seine and the Loire of a secure Retreat that they had refus'd to put a Reform'd Governor in Sancerre according to Henry the 4th's Promise that Fontrailles having promis'd to go to Mass provided he were maintain'd against Angalin in Leitoure which render'd him incapable of Commanding there because it was a Place of Surety of which the Governour ought to be a Protestant his Proposition had been heard and that Angalin was not re-establish'd altho the Change of Religion of his Competitor had remov'd all the difficulties of that Affair that the Parliament of Paris had suppress'd the Place of Coâ—drai which was one of the Six allow'd by the Edict to the Reform'd under pretence of that of Villemerau which they had gain'd which show'd that they would not admit them without distinction into Imployments that la Ferté Vidame had been taken by Surprise from the Vidame of Chartres a Reform'd Lord at whose Charge a Garrison had been put into it tho' he had never been suspected nor a Rebel and that no regard had been had to his Petitions that the Switzers of the Reform'd Religion that were Quarter'd at Poiâ—iers had been forbidden to go to Church which was look'd upon as a step to do the same to the Scots and Switzers of the Guard that instead of protecting the Duke of Bouillon against the Arch-Dukes he had been declar'd a Criminal of State which alone requir'd a General Assembly in Order to consult about it That the Council had resolv'd the reunion of Navar and of the Principality of Bearnâ—o â—o the Crown to have a pretence to introduce the Edict of Nantes there contrary to the Edict of Loudun and that which had been Publish'd in consequence thereof that the said Union was attended with several Inconveniencies Viz. that the Ministers and the Colleges would be depriv'd of their Subsistance that the Presidentship in the Estates of Bearn would be given to the Bishops that la Force would be depriv'd of the Government and his Son of the Survivorship that the Garrison of Navarreins an important City provided with Canons and Munitions would be disbanded and that the said City would thereby remain expos'd to the Surprise of the Spaniards They added to all this considerations upon the Enterprise of the Duke d'Epernon against Rochel and from all those Subjects of Complaint concluded that the Assembly was necessary to redress them Those Reasons were so much the stronger by Reason that the Court had been inform'd of those Injustices by the Petitions of the Deputies General who had not been able to obtain an Answer to them Another Consideration likewise made them exceedingly more weighty The Party of the Male-contents was reduc'd almost to the utmost Extremity They had but one Town left and the Duke of Mayenne was Besieg'd in Soissons and no longer in a Condition to defend himself had he been
the Edict and before no other Judges and several others to which they receiv'd Specious Answers but without Effect Besides all these Articles there was an Instruction which they charg'd the Deputies General with to beg of his Majesty to put the Prince of Conde at Liberty This was the only effect produc'd by the Sollicitations of the Princess his Mother who was at Rochel and who endeavour'd to oblige the Assembly not to break up before they had obtain'd his Deliverance Nevertheless they were oblig'd to give over that pursuit because the State of Affairs was not dispos'd towards it and that the new Favourite was not in the least inclin'd to put a Prince at Liberty who would soon get the better of him in the Management of Affairs While the Assembly was still in being the National Synod assembled on the 18th of May at Vitrë The Principality of Bearn had obtain'd leave in the preceeding Synod to Convene it But all things were alter'd since that time and that which was lookt upon then to be useful towards the preservation of that Province seem'd to be of ill consequence against their Privileges as soon as it was known that the Council did propose to re-unite it to the Crown In submitting to the same Discipline with the other Churches of the Realm they seem'd to act against their own pretensions that they could not be subjected to the same Laws with the rest of the Kingdom and by making but one Body Ecclesiastick with the rest of the Reform'd they afforded a reason to say that it was not inconsistent with their Privileges to be united â—…o the other Provinces depending of the Crown as part of one and the same Body Politick Those Reasons were approv'd â—…f The Synod excus'd them from submitting to the Discipline of the other Churches and to the National Synods duâ—…ng the present Conjuncture But they allow'd the Deputies â—…f that Country to assist at their Deliberations and to give â—…eir Votes unless some of them desir'd the contrary So â—…at they appear'd in that Assembly as Deputies not of subject â—…hurches but of Churches that were Ally'd by the Commuâ—…on of the same Doctrine Immediately after the Overture of the Synod they deputâ—… four Persons to the King with Letters fill'd with the usual â—…ubmissions and Protestations of Obedience and Loyalty they also writ to the Assembly of Rochel to give them an account of what they had done and to express their Intenâ—…on to remain in perfect Union with them The Answer of the Assembly was made in the same Terms and moreover â—…ontain'd an Article by which they demanded of the Synod â—…e Contribution of certain Sums for the General Affairs This contribution which was to be rais'd out of the Sums granted â—…r the Sallaries of the Ministers appear'd dangerous as to the consequences of it but whereas there was Money due to them â—…nd that the Concessions of the Treaty of Loudun had made â—…he Churches pretty easie they would not refuse all and â—…anted something at the Request of the Assembly In the â—…ean time the Deputies were well receiv'd at Court and â—…ame back to the Synod with Answers capable to satisfie them â—…ad fair words been sufficient to redress the Evils they comâ—…lain'd of The King writ very obliging Letters by them in which he prais'd the Loyalty of the Reform'd and gave them â—…ssurances of his Protection for the future and to maintain whatever was promis'd by the Edicts in case they persever'd in that Conduct That would have been very well if while they were exhorted to be Loyal the Court had not at the very same time labour'd openly by a thousand Vexations and Injuries to tâ—… their Faith and Patience Besides the dread which the Prosecutions of the Clergy created among the Churches of Bearn those of Auvergne were also very much tormented They had not as yet been able to injoy the benefit of the Edict there peaceably by reason that the Catholicks had oppos'd it There were potent Families in that Province who were altogether inclin'd to a League and who thought it a point of Conscience to hate the Reform'd and to Persecute them without Mercy They us'd them Cruelly in all respects and the Reform'd were not in a Condition to resist them because their Number was inconsiderable The Court might easily have put a stop to those Violences had they been well inclin'd but it is easie to judge of their Disposition in that respect by the little care they had taken to redress the Wrongs done to the Reform'd of that Province The Synod gave express Orders to the Deputies General to make earnest Sollicitations to obtain a redress for those Afflicted Churches and to press the Court to send Commissioners thither in order to regulate those long Differences by some Decisive Decree which had already been desir'd often to no purpose Moreover the War continu'd between the City of Sancere and the Count de Marans who did the Inhabitants all the harm he could He proceeded on his part to Surprises Outrages and Assassinations And he was accus'd of having lately caus'd Captain Bouchard in whom the City repos'd great Confidence to be Murther'd So that the City had two great Affairs in hand the one to preserve their Privilege of being a City of Surety which was disputed and the other to defend themselves against the Hostilities of the Count. As they had a greater Extent of Ground than Riches they were soon drein'd by the great Expences they had been oblig'd to make and they could not hold out much longer without being assisted Therefore they had recourse to the Liberalities of the Synod The Churches of the Country of Foix were reduc'd to the same Misery of late Years They were forc'd from Jurisdiction to Jurisdiction about the Quality of Places of Sureâ—…y which the Cities in which they perform'd the Exercises of their Religion had had till then So that they had troubles upon that Question in the Parliament in the Party-Chambers and in the Council of State This was a subtilty of the Council either to weaken the Reform'd by taking from them â—…veral Towns they held by that Name the Title or Qualiâ—… of which was disputed by their Enemies upon divers preâ—…nces or to put them upon some desperate Resolution by â—…ese Proceedings in order to have a plausible occasion to â—…mplain of their Behaviour For that reason the Court affected whenever they renew'd the Permission of keeping them to slip in some Equivocal Terms in the Briefs to the â—…d that being favour'd by that Ambiguity they might say â—…at those they design'd to take from them were not compris'd 〈…〉 the same Provence was also expos'd to great Vexations The Reform'd were very much divided there and the Catholicks â—…ok an occasion from those Discords which they themselves â—…ad sown to do them all manner of Injustices That Proâ—…nce overwhelm'd the General Assemblies and the National â—…ynods with Complaints which the
Fundamental Laws to all â—â—ch as they agree upon and that are necessary to secure the â—â—ranquility and Prosperity of the Publick Otherwise noâ—â—ing would be more unfortunate than Humane Society if â—â—e first Laws under which they were form'd being either renâ—â—r'd of no force by Artifice or violated by force it were eiâ—â—er impossible or unlawful to re-establish them upon new â—â—undations He affirm'd with the same boldness that Prinâ—â—s never Swear to observe the Laws of their Predecessors â—hich is prov'd to be false by all sorts of Testimonies by all the Lights of Reason by all that can be call'd Right and Justice and by all those things which make the certainty of Humane Affairs In the next place he declar'd that the laâ—… King design'd to do what his Son had done And that the only reason that had hinder'd him from so doing was that he dâ—… not A falsity often advanc'd by the Clergy since that Princes being no longer in a condition to give them the Lie and which has been extended by the Missionaries and by thoâ—… that have drawn the Plan of the Persecution of our Days even to his own Edicts though he was really so Jealous of theâ—… that he would never have attempted the least thing against them His known Integrity his great Designs his reiâ—…ted Protestations and his constant practice during the spaceâ—… Twelve Years are sufficient Testimonies of his Disposition towards the Religious Observation of such useful Laws Nevertheless in order to prove that the said Prince had design'd to alter the State of Bearn the Author recited all the Grants he had made to divers Bishops in those Parts to theâ—… Chapters to the Curates Abbots and Priors and to all the Ecclesiasticks From which the Reform'd would have hâ—… more reason to conclude that the Clergy is never satisfy'd than the Clergy to conjecture that the late King would have been capable to break his Word He repeated the Instance made by the Clergy during the Estates General in 1615. aâ—… in their Assembly in 1617. and because an Illusive Audâ—… had been given to the two Diserote Father and Son Ministersâ—… Bearn before that Affair was judg'd he maintain'd that thâ—… had been admitted to make a full defence He Laugh'd at the Precription of Fifty Years which the Bearnois pleaded and oppos'd that of the Clergy to it which he ridiculously madeâ— amount to 1500 years As if the Possession of the Clergy haâ—… preceded not only the Temporal Greatness of the Bishops bâ—… even the first Preaching of the Gospel at the foot of the Pâ—renean Hills The rest of the said Writing was abusive He spoke of the Reimplacement as if it had been the effect of a pure Favour which render'd the opposition of the Reform'â— very unjust He talk'd of the Tithes as of a thing which having belong'd to the Ecclesiasticks before the Seisure ought to be restor'd by the Edict which rever'd it and he mainâ—…in'd moreover that the Estates of the Church were unalienable as Estates of which God was the Proprietor A Monaâ—…ical Maxim which making God Possessor of Lands and Reâ—…nues and Titles of Vanity shamefully debases to a Terâ—eâ—…ial and Temporal Nature a Reign altogether Spiritual and Heavenly which Jesus Christ exerts over his Church He endeavour'd to Insinuate to the King that the Reform'd deâ—…ing to be freed from paying of Tithes to the Ecclesiasticks â—…esign'd to keep for their Ministers both the Tithes and the â—…ms that were granted to them in lieu thereof He concluded by a Maxim very proper to remove the force of the most â—…lemn Edicts viz. That they only serv'd to preserve an anciâ—…nt Right in favour of those for whom they were made but â—…at they did not create a new Right According to which â—…otion it was easie to revoke whatever pass'd for a new concession or that was derogatory to the Ancient Right in â—…he Edicts which had given a Peace to the Kingdom But the Reform'd of Bearn were not the only People against whom Injustices were committed The Court was not more â—…quitable towards those of other Provinces The Commissioners that were sent to redress some Contraventions made â—…one but Illusive Ordinances And whereas in the foregoing â—…eign all Difficulties were for the most part decided favourably for the Reform'd they began under this to give nothing â—ut advices of a removal to the Council of sharing or dividing Judgments in which the Artifice of the Catholick Commissioner render'd the clearest Rights doubtful which even those of his own Religion were asham'd of So that the Reform'd finding that the Commissioners did them no good in the places where they had been sent did no longer desire the Court to send any elsewhere lest they should do more harm than good Renard who was sent into Bearn was at the same â—…ime Commissary in Guyenne with Lusignan But when they â—…ress'd him to perform his Commission at least in such places â—…s should happen in his way he refus'd it and the reason he â—lledg'd for his refusal was that he would first see the effect of his Journey into Bearn as if he had had a mind to insinuate that in case the Reform'd of that Principality did not content him he would make the others answer for it And indeed he had receiv'd orders from the Court to behave himself so to keep the Reform'd of the Adjacent Provinces in suspence to the end that the hopes of being gratify'd by the Commissioners and the fear of losing the benefit of their Commission should hinder them from ingaging too far in the Affairs of Bearn which they were unwilling they should meddle with The Parliament of Paris refus'd to receive the two Places of Counsellors which have been so often mention'd of which the one was that of a Catholick who had imbrac'd the Reform'd Religion and the other was to serve 〈◊〉 Indemnifie them for the loss of that of Berger who had made himself a Catholick They had obtain'd from the King upon that Subject an Edict Mandates and Verbal Orders which appear'd very express Nevertheless the Parliament did not yield and the Court of Aids was not less severe upon the Subject of the Exemption of the Ministers But under 〈◊〉 very absolute Government which exacted from all the Orders of the Kingdom base Submissions towards the Favourite this Disobedience persuaded the most suspicious that there was a Guile and that the Court was willing the Parliament should disobey So many Enterprises were made upon the Places of Surety that it was hardly credible that it should be attempted without secret Orders Some were made upon Tartas upon the Mount of Marsan upon the Mass of Verdun Though Fontrailles had promis'd to turn Catholick whenever they pleas'd he still continu'd in Leitoure and feign'd that he was still of the Reform'd Religion They judg'd by the little regard 〈◊〉 express'd to the weak Orders he receiv'd from the Court thâ—… his deceit was not ill receiv'd there Desportes who was a Capital
with Equivocal Councils and Irresolutions Lesdiguieres form'd a Party separated from the rest and though all the Corruption of his Heart was not known the Reform'd were sensible that Interest was the chief Article of his Religion Chatillion had as much if not more Ambition than Piety and was as much ingag'd to the Court by the first as to Religion by the second La Trimouille was so young that it was not possible to judge what might be expected from him The Letters written by the Assembly of Rochel to the said Lords had produc'd no great effect and had neither been able to unite them among themselves nor yet to awaken them in favour of the Common Cause The Duke of Rohan Soubise his Brother and La Force were the only Persons who seem'd resolv'd to undertake every thing Moreover Affairs abroad afforded no prospect to hope that the Protestants would assist the Churches of France The House of Austria taking the advantage of the Troubles of the Kingdom began to execute their Projects in Germany and assuming the pretence of Religion in order to hinder the Catholck Princes from opposing them oppress'd the Protestants publickly Bohemia was full of Troubles and the ill success of the Arms which the People had taken up for the preservation of their Liberties made them lose in a short time both their Political Liberty and that of their Consciences These Confusions held all the Princes of the same Communion in suspence expecting the Event to see what measures they should take Prince Maurice was imploy'd in the Vnited Provinces and the Arminians afforded him too much business to permit him to ingage in the Affairs of France The King of England plaid the Theologian And while on one side he suffer'd People to give the Pope great hopes in his Name to restore his three Kingdoms to the Roman Communion he disturb'd all the North with Disputes which made him pass for a Zealous Protestant So that considering the present State of Europe it was impossible to expect a happy Issue of the Resistance of Bearn The King's Forces not being imploy'd elsewhere might all be sent that way and subdue the Country before the rest of the Reform'd had taken their final Resolutions Moderate Councils only serv'd to break their Measures and occasion'd great loss of time They prevail'd with those who only wanted a pretence not to meddle with any thing to forsake the Party of the others And the time which would have been necessary to put themselves in a posture of defence being consum'd in useless disputes when the King was ready to go into Bearn to force them to obey he found no body ready to resist him Too much consideration commonly ruines the Affairs of the People A little boldness is better in those Cases than slow considerate Proceedings Particularly when we are to deal with Enemies who esteem themselves to be above all Laws and who lay aside the Maxims of Integrity and Justice by reason that they know no other Rules of it but their Will That Prudence which sticks scrupulously to the Maxims of Probity is for the most part Unfortunate The Enemy takes the advantage of the Niceness of the Consciences of those he attacks and while they were deliberating about the Right of Resistance they afforded him time to prevent them Towards the end of the Year the Bearnois publish'd an Apology compos'd by Lescun with the advice and approbation of the Assembly of Orthez to whom it was Dedicated That piece was written at different times as may easily be discover'd by the management of it The Stile is not of a piece The Arguments are distinct and not well follow'd It is full of Allusions to Holy Writ and other Authors But yet it is good and solid and the Rights of Bearn were asserted in it with vigour enough to give a pretence to Charge the Author with a Crime of State for his boldness particularly because he speaks vehemently against Arbitrary Power altho' the respect due to the King be Religiously observ'd in it The Events of any consideration were noted in it by Years and by Days The Establishment of the Reformation in Bearn The Ancient Rights of the Country The Examples drawn out of the Old For which show that even in the beginning of the Thirteenth Century the People did not Swear Allegiance to their Soveraign till the Sovereign had Sworn to the Barons and to all the Court that he would be a faithful Lord to them that he would Govern them justly and that he would do them no prejudice The said Oath was renew'd in 1585 by the late King in imitation of his Predecessors The Author prov'd at large in it that the Laws only receiv'd their Force by and never could be alter'd without the Authority of the Prince and the consent of the Estates but more by the one without the other To prove which he brought several Examples He recited the alteration which was made in Bearn under Queen Jane and the Vengeance which Mongommery exerted against those who had oblig'd that Princess to fly by their Conspiracies A Vengeance which even Moluâ— one of the most cruel Persecutors of the Reform'd look'd upon as sent from Heaven by reason that the said Count reduc'd all that Country in three Days time and took all the Leaders of the Rebellion Prisoners After that Lescun related the said Expedition and all that pass'd upon the account of the Forfeiture and Seizure of the Ecclesiastical Lands until the Month of October of the said Year He observ'd the Falsity of what had been advanc'd by the Bishops who in order to be heard at Court pretended to be Authoriz'd by the Catholicks of Bearn and to be seconded by the Catholicks told them that the King had order'd the aforesaid Reversion or Restoration of his own accord from whence they concluded that it would be imprudent to refuse an advantage which offer'd it self Those good Prelates â—â— which one was of very obscure Birth as being Son of a Man who had been a Cobler Butcher and had kept a Caâ—aret those Prelates I say who made so much noise whenever the Reform'd took up Arms to defend themselves made â—o difficulty of taking them up to attack They made Assemblies Fortify'd their Houses gave Military Employments kept Guards as in time of open War and those Officers of Episcopal Creation never went abroad without being attended by Armed Men. In the next place he did refute the Bishop of Macon's Speech which I have mention'd before And he made this particular Remark upon it That this Prelate had taken his Exordium out of the same Subject from which that of a certain Libel â—ad been taken call'd The English Catholick written against Henryâ—… â—… So that the one began with the same Arguments in order to Exasperate the King against his Subjects as the other had done to make the Subjects rise against their King He approv'd the Book Printed at London
his Subjects If there have been things on which the Roform'd have Insisted though they have been deny'd to them at the first Proposal they have done no more in that than what all manner of Communities had been us'd to do in things which they were in hopes of obtaining at some time or other viz. to renew their Demands from time to time for fear of giving cause to tell them whenever they found a favourable occasion to speak a new about them that having once given over the pursuit of them they had no right to resume it Among several Examples of this Practice that of the Clergy admits no contradiction That Body fond of their Liberties thought them violated by the Concordat between Francis I. and Leon X. and not despairing to find a favourable occasion at some time or other to break it they resolv'd to Petition the Court for the Restauration of the Liberty of Elections whenever they should have an occasion to make Harangues to the Kings by their Deputies They not only form'd the design of it they oblig'd themselves to it by Oath and for above the space of a hundred Years their Deputies have never fail'd to make this Liberty of Elections one of the Articles of their Harrangâ—ies Nothing but an absolute command could oblige them to desist from that useless pursuit If they were not troublesome to Kings by Petitions so often renew'd and which did attack one of the Privileges they have most reason to be jealous of there is no reason to alledge as a Crime against the Reform'd that they did not always acquiess to the first refusal in things in which no body was concern'd which did no wise Incroach upon the Regal Authority and which they thought necessary for their safety La Moussaye who together with four other Deputies carried that first Cahier of the Assembly of Lâ—udun could not prevail with the Court to accept it though several Persons endeavour'd to satisfie the Court that by redressing some of the main Grievances the King would receive full Satisfaction from the Assembly Lesdiguieres himself had sent the President â—u Crose to the King to Petition him to prevent the Demands the Assembly might make to him and to give the Churches satisfaction upon some considerable Points even before the Expiâ—ation of the Term of the Convocation But he was said with the common Answer of good Intentions and of General Promises So that according to the old Stile of the Court the Complaints of the Assembly were refer'd to the General Cahier and they did not fail to exhort the Deputies to dispatch their Affairs speedily to Nominate six Persons to the King out of which he should chuse two for the General Deputation and to break up The Assembly took at first pretty Vigorous Resolutions They oblig'd their Members to take divers Oaths to serve the Churches to be secret to obey their Resolutions to speak their mind freely and without fear to preserve their Union not to break up before their having seen what answer the Court would make to their Cahiers They drew it with speed And they did not want matter The Edict was Violated so many ways and in so many places that there was sufficient reason to complain Besides the concerns of Leitâ—â—re of Tartas and of Bouâ—g in Bresse the Catholicks endeavour'd in all places to obstruct the Liberty of the Exercise of the Reform'd Religion They had suspended it at Clermont dâ— Lodeve which the Reform'd held as a place of Surety and when they endeavour'd to re-establish it there the Catholicks took up Arms to oppose it The Temples of Moulins and of Laval where the Reform'd of Guise went to Church had been Demolish'd The Reform'd had been turn'd out by force of Arms of Baux in Provence A great Sedition had been kindled against them at Banjenci and the Allarum Bell rung out upon them Two of them were flung out of a Garret Window and one of them not being sufficiently hurt in the Opinion of the Mutineers was run through with Swords The Lieutenant General of Orleans in prosecuting the Fact receiv'd the Depositions of those very Persons who had committed the Violence as if they had been Lawful Witnesses And when the said Case was brought before the Parliament of Paris the Attorney General who by his place was oblig'd to cause the Edicts to be put in Execution abandon'd the prosecution of it The Ministers of Bourges and of Chataigneraye were turn'd out of the said Cities and the Reform'd had receiv'd the same Usage at Chalons upon Saone and in the Bearnois though according to the Edict they ought to be suffer'd in all Places whatever The Exercise of their Religion was obstructed about Lions Dijon and Langres The Officers Royal the Consuls and Seneschals oppos'd the said Exercise of the Reform'd Religion in Nineteen or Twenty Places in the Provinces of Guyenne of Languedoc of Provence of Vivarais of Forests of Poitou of Saintonge of Perigora and of Normandy some by Prohibitions others by Fines although the said Exercise was Lawful in all those Places according to the Edict The Catholicks took away the Children of the Reform'd without Redress At Paris they had taken those of Le Maitre who had a place of Master of the Accompts and who had embrac'd the Reform'd Religion a little before his Death The same thing had been done at Royan at Ambrun at Milhau and lately at Leitoure Regourâ— the Jesuit for whose good behaviour the King had pass'd his Word had stole away a young Child about 10 Years of Age. They had Violated the Sepulchres or hinder'd Burials in the accustom'd places at Aix at Girdes at Mirebeau at Ongles at Saintes at St. George d' Oleron and in divers places of Gayenne They had turn'd out the Sick of the Reform'd Religion out of the Hospitals and such as were allow'd there were tormented in their Consciences to oblige them to change their Religion Especially at Paris those that had been receiv'd in the Hospital of St. Lewis during the Plague had been depriv'd of the Consolation of seeing Ministers which were not allow'd to visit them The Parliaments incroach'd upon the Jurisdiction of the Chambers of the Edict A Messenger who was Try'd at Thoulouse was Condemn'd there notwithstanding his appealing to the Chamber of Castres and the said Parliament refus'd to submit to the Decrees of the Council which order'd the said removal Some of the Inhabitants of Mas d' Agenois being prosecuted at Bourdeaux upon suspition of their having design'd to deliver the said place up to the Duke of Rohan being joyn'd in a Plot with Calonges their Governor as I have related it in another place the accus'd having desir'd a removal to the Chamber of Nerac the Parâ—…ament had no regard to it insomuch that during the Disputes of Jurisdiction several of them Dyed in Prison And upon the Information made about the surprise of Tartas the Reform'd who had been abus'd there were us'd
worse yet in the Parliament which had retain'd their cause notwithstanding â—he Instances made by the Chamber of Nerac The Parliament of Aix had no respect to the general Evocation the Reâ—…'d had obtain'd in the Parliament of Grenoble Several câ—â—siderable Alterations had been made at Montaud Vareilles â—…m Montgaillard in Foix which were reputed places of â—…uâ—ety in which at least according to the Brief of 1598 no innovations were to be made Moreover the Reform'd desir'd â— new Brief for the keeping of the Hostage Cities The Settlement of those of Dauphine the Revocation of the Edict of Restauration of Church Lands the Restitution of Privas to â—he Inhabitants and the Reparation of the Outrages they had â—eceiv'd from the Husband of the Lady to whom the said â—ordship did belong Some Examples of the said Facts are cited in the Articles which I have here abreviated which are not to be found in the General Cahier of the Assembly of Loudun by reason that they are taken from things which happen'd since Yet I thought fit to Insert them here at once While the Cahier was drawing the Assembly made a Rule among the rest which forbad the Governors of the Places of Surety to suffer the Jesuits or Monks of other Orders to Preach there under pretence of being sent thither by their Diocesans The said Rule made all the Catholick Party rise The Parliament of Paris made a Decree contrary to it at the request of the Attorney General like unto that which had been given for Mompellier The Parliament of Bourdeaux did the same in favour of Tessier the Jesuit who had been sent to St. John d' Angâ—ly by the Bishop of Poitiers And the Parliament of Thoulouse forbad the Reform'd throughout their Jurisdiction to refuse the Preachers sent by the Diocesan whither Jesuits or others Directing the said Prohibition particularly to the Governors of Figeac and of the Isle of Jourdain who had given an Intimation of the aforesaid Rule of the Assembly to the Catholicks of those two Cities The Attorney General stâ—'d the said Rule an attempt against Royal Authority by way of Monopoly as pretending to prescribe what Preachers should be allow'd in the Roman Church which he call'd the Fundamental Religion of the Realm And cited the Decree made in favour of the Bishop of Mompelier and the King's Letter to the Inhabitants of Leitoure The Cahier was presented to the King on the 20th of December by three Deputies Couvrelles Bouteroue and Alain who declar'd to the King the Resolution of the Assembly not to break up without seeing the Answer he would be pleas'd to give to their Complaints They Remonstrated to the King how much reason they had to endeavour to secure themselves considering the Injustices that were daily committed against the Reform'd throughout the Kingdom the surprising of several of their Places the Inexecution of divers things often Sworn the Effect of which the Deputies General had sollicited in vain during many years the Rebellions that were made in all Places against the Ordinances of the Commissioners when they were any wise equitable Those Remonstrances and the Letters of the Assembly were very respectful and they protested both by the Mouth of their Deputies and in Writing that it was not against the King they desir'd to be secur'd but against the Enemies of the Reform'd Religion The King made a threatning Answer by reason that Luines Inspir'd him with hard Sentiments That Favourite thereby thought to avoid the Fall he had cause to dread by reason of the Easiness of his Master's Temper Moreover he was displeas'd at the Joy the Reform'd had express'd at the Queens Reconciliation The Assembly of Loudun had sent Deputies to her as soon as the Peace was made And the said Deputies not considering that they Harrangu'd that Princess before Brantes one of the Duke de Luines Brothers said many things to the advantage of her Regency prais'd her for having caus'd the Edicts to be observ'd and made great Submissions to her These were so many Indirect Reflexions against the present Ministry for which reason this Deputation was ill receiv'd at Court The King indeed promis'd to satisfie the Assembly provided they did break up immediately and to permit them to leave two Deputies with him until the Intire Execution of the things promis'd But he declar'd at the same time that in case they did not break up he would look upon them and their Adherents as Perturbators of the Publick quiet and that he would abandon their Persons and Estates without any more ado to whosoever would fall upon them The Assembly persisted in their Resolution notwithstanding this Answer They knew by Experience that under that Reign promises of Satisfaction were as soon forgotten as made And the Wisest among them were of Opinion that some of the Articles of their Cahiers were too Decisive and that the Subsistance of ruine of their Churches depended too visibly on them for them to break up without knowing what Answer should be made to them Nevertheless the Assembly Writ to the Churches upon that Subject about the beginning of the following year and remonstrated to them in order to give them an account of their Resolutions that the Parliament of Paris had wav'd Ten Mandates for the Verification of the Articles which related to the two places of Councellors granted above three years before it That the Edict was Infracted inall places that so many Promises and Oaths either Violated or Ineffectual ought to excuse their fears for the future and several things to the same purpose But they mention'd particularly the Example of several Assemblies that had continu'd their Sessions until the Answer to their Grievances had been Communicated to them One of the most sensible Afflictions the Reform'd receiv'd that Year was the opposition that was made to the Establishment of a College they design'd to Erect at Charenton It had been spoken of for some time And the design of the Reform'd had been cross'd on several sides principally by the oppositions of the Judges of the Place But whereas that year they seem'd not to yield to those Obstacles the University thinking that the said College would prejudice theirs and that the Reform'd setling good Rectors in the same it would incourage People to send their Children thither they took fire against that Enterprise as they had done formerly against that of the Jesuits The Muses of Colleges are commonly hot and Self-interested Therefore they carry'd their Complaints in a very violent manner to the Count de Soissons whom the King had left at Paris during the Voyage he made to reconcile himself to the Queen his Mother to the first President and to the Attorney General their pretence was the grief of seeing a College of Heresie settled so near the Metropolis of the most Christian Kingdom in the World there to contrive the manner of attacking the Catholick Religion perhaps the said Opposition was also
who immediately took Possession of it He also caus'd the Declaration to be verify'd which allow'd them to assist at the Grand Council of the Country with a deliberative Voice and place next to the Presidents He caus'd the Answer he had made to the Cahiers presented to him by the Bishops three years before to be Registred The next day he caus'd the Edict of the Re-union of Navar and of Bearn to the Crown to be verify'd and besides all the other Alterations that follow'd the Persecution within a little time the Judges of Bearn were oblig'd to forget their Language and to give all their Judgments in French Finally In order to leave nothing whole in that Country he also caus'd the Edict of the Suppression of the Captains of the Parsans to be Registred the Institution of which was as Ancient as the Principality Those Parsans were Cantons in which all the Youth were Listed under a Captain at whose Command they were oblig'd to take up Arms. So that in two or three days time every Canton was able to Assemble all the Milita of its Canton and to form among them all a Body of Five or Six thousand Men. There were Six of those Cantons who by that speedy Convocation could easily defend the Entrance into their Country even against powerful Armies This is sufficient to show that had they been as much inclin'd to Rebellion and Disobedience as they were Zealous to Preserve the Liberty of their Country and of their Conscience those who put the King upon that Journey would have expos'd him to receive an inevitable Affront But they only resisted by Remonstrances and Sighs and yet were us'd like Rebels that Surrender'd upon Discretion They lost the Estates which serv'd for the Maintenance of their Ministers their Colleges their Seminaries their Poor and their Garisons Their Temples and Church-yards were taken from them they were constrained every where to bestow half the Imployments on the Catholicks The Jesuits were allow'd to settle where-ever they pleas'd and to perform whatever Functions they thought fit That is That poor Country was given as a Prey to their Greediness and the King founded a College for them in particular at Pau where he also establish'd a Convent of Capucins When he made his Entry into that City he refus'd the Canopy which the Magistrates offer'd him but after he had restor'd the Cathedral to the Catholicks he caus'd the Sacrament which the Catholicks adore to be carry'd in Procession He assisted at it himself with a Zeal which the Biggots admir'd and which made the Catholicks express great Marks of Hatred against the Reform'd All that Journey prov'd a Chain of Violences like unto those that have been practis'd in our days The most moderate could not forbear Threatnings of Exemplary Punishment of Hanging of Beheading to abolish the Reform'd Religion throughout the Kingdom calling it a cursed Religion to banish all the Professors of it or to give them some Ignominious Mark. The Soldiers broke the Temple Gates demolished the Walls tore the Books and Pictures on which the Ten Commandments were written They Stole from and did Cheat the Peasants that came to the Market at Pau supposing them all to be Huguenots The Lord Keeper's very Servants were as furious as the rest They forc'd the Reform'd that fell into their Hands to make the Sign of the Cross and to Kneel whenever Processions pass'd along Women durst not appear in the Streets for fear of being follow'd like Infamous Women with foul Injuries and insulting Cries Some of them being with Child were compell'd to Swear to cause their Children to be Baptiz'd in the Roman Church as soon as they were deliver'd Children were forc'd from their Parents and could not be recover'd and all that was done in the King's Presence The Souldiers liv'd â—…n Discretion iâ— the Country and publish'd that the â—…g had promis'd them the Plunder of the Reform'd forc'd away the Ministers abus'd their Wives and forc'd Men and Women to go to Mass with Cudgels Attempted the Hoâ—… of Women and even fell sometimes upon their Husbands when they had the Courage to Defend them An 〈…〉 of forc'd Conversions appear'd in those days of which â—â— love now such fresh Examples before our Eyes We may very well conclude that Lescun was not forgotten in that Confusion The King took away his Place of Counsellor and had he been found he would have been scurvily us'd The Baron de Benac was also forc'd to fly for fear of losing his Head La Force tarry'd and he made a shift to be continued in the Government of the Country The Violences continued after the King's Departure The Garisons that were left in Oleron at Sauvaterre at Nay and other Places abus'd their Landlords intollerably Some forc'd them to advance the Oates and Hay for their Horses in Expectation of their Musters Others compell'd Children to make the Sign of the Cross others abus`d those who went to perform the Exercise of their Religion and others endeavor'd to hinder them from doing it with Stripes The Bishops were the Ringleaders of those Insolencies The Bishop of Lescar feign'd on purpose that he was inform'd that the Reform'd design'd to attack the Catholicks on Christmas Eve and to Murther all the Ecclesiasticks And the better to persuade that false Report he caus'd the Gates of the City to be shut caus'd arm'd Men to attend him and carry'd Pistols along with him at the Mass of Midnight as being resolv'd to defend himself The Bishop of Oleron caus'd the Garison to take Arms at the same time and sent some Soldiers out of Town to search the Gentlemens Houses thereabouts declaring that the Baron de Benac lay conceal'd in an adjacent Forrest with several arm'd Men. He allarm'd even the Lower Navar where they broke down Bridges and put Guards in the Passages as if there had been an Enemy at the Gates But the end of all this was to have a Pretence to send Verbal Reports to Court to justifie the Violences of Poyane That new Governor exerted great Cruelties against the Inhabitants of Navarreins His Pretence for it was as they said that they had held Correspondencies with some Gentlemen Relations to the late Governor Those Gentlemen nam'd Bensins being full of Indignation at the Treatment their Relation had receiv'd made themselves Masters of a Tower in the Neighbourhood of Navarreins which they fortify'd and from whence they were in hopes to annoy that Place Poyane Arm'd immediately to force them out of it and easily dissipated their Enterprise The Marquis de la Force told his Father that he ought not to suffer Poyane to take Arms without his Approbation and to Besiege a Place which was not under the Government of Navarreins but the Court sent la Force a positive Order to let Poyane alone by reason that the King approv'd his Conduct So that he was forc'd to take Patience and to digest that Affront without expressing his
Resentment about it After this Poyane exerted great Cruelties against the Inhabitants of the City and though the Conspiracy was only attested or confessed by suborned Persons and that all those who were executed about it constantly deny'd their having any Knowledge of an Enterprise upon that Place so many were put to Death under the Notion of Conspirators that it might rather be call'd a Massacre than an Example of Justice The King being persuaded that whatever was set down in the Bishops Verbal Reports was infallibly-true justify'd what Poyane had done and refus'd to hear the Complaints presented to him by the Reform'd Moreover those that scap'd that Butchery were depriv'd of the Liberty of exercising their Religion and the Minister was turn'd out of the Town and was forbidden ever to return thither to perform his Functions Books were written on both sides upon that Subject It is thought that the King's Confessor writ the Book Intitled The King in Bearn in which all the Transactions there are represented just and lawful and especially as a true Triumph of the Catholick Church The Reform'd oppos'd The Tragical History of the Desolation of Bearn to the said Book by the bare Recital of which relating the Circumstances of Time Persons and Places it was plainly demonstrated to all equitable Persons that there is no Impudence a Jesuit is not capable of While the King was Marching towards Bearn the Reform'd Assembled a National Synod on the first of October in the Town of Alets Great Complaints were made in it of the Injustices that were done to the Reform'd throughout the Kingdom Several Churches were mention'd there in which the Exercise of their Religion was interrupted They consider'd the Affair of Privas of Leitoure and of Sancerre They complain'd that at Severac at Guides at Vaux in Provence at Serverettes and at Langres they receiv'd molestations which amounted even to Violent Persecution Puimirol had been burnt during the Troubles and the Temple of Montignac had been Demolish'd But one of the Greatest Affairs that was examin'd there was that of some Ministers who being deputed to the Assembly of Loudun had the boldness to Preach their private sentiments there against the Resolutions of the Assembly There were several of them in the Lower Languedoc who were ingag'd in the Interests of the Court by a small Pension and who occasion'd a thousand disorders in the Political Assemblies of the Province by reason that the Deputies that form'd them being Nominated by the Churches there were too many Ministers Even such as could not get the Nomination of some Churches obtain'd the deputations of some great Lord in Order to be admitted in them The Synod being desirous to remedy a thing which had already been attended with ill Consequences forbad the Ministers to accept deputations to the Court oâ—… to great Lords or from them And Order'd that for the Future the Deputies for the Assemblies should be chosen rather by the Laity than by the Churches As that Regulation exceeded the bounds of Discipline the Synod added that the first General Assembly should be desir'd to approve it and whatever else might free the Churches of Political Affairs Du Moulin Chauve Chamier and Rivet who were Nam'd by the preceding Synod to assist in the Name of the Churches of France to that which the United Provinces were Assembling at Dordrecht in 1618. about the affair of the Remonstrators in which all the Reform'd part of Europe sent Deputies gave an Account of the Reasons that had hinder'd them from performing their Commission Chamber and Chauve were gone in Order thereunto But they receiv'd an Order from the King at Geneva not to proceed â—…ther That Prince had been frighted with the Correâ—…ondencies that might be form'd under the pretence of â—…at Journey between the Reform'd of France and those of â—…ther Countries As the Catholicks fill'd his Mind with whatever could render them Odious to him they made him â—…ar Leagues against him Republican Maxims which would â—…e taught them in those Countries in which the People had 〈◊〉 aversion for Monarchy For which reasons he hinder'd Communication which they perswaded him was very â—…gerous And yet he had been sollicited by his Allies to â—…ow some Ministers of his Kingdom to assist at the said â—…od Moreover he had sollicited the States General himâ—…lf to allow the said Synod a full Liberty But he was â—…sily prevail'd upon to do any thing when any Body perâ—…aded him that his Authority was concern'd Besides Barâ—… Pensionary of Holland was accus'd of having Writâ—… secretly in France to hinder the sending of any Body â—…r The deputed Ministers went away without Leave 〈◊〉 fear of a denial preserring to excuse a thing done â—…er than to expose themselves to be deny'd the undertaâ—…ng it But that precaution prov'd ineffectual and the â—…'s Orders stopt them by the way The Synod of Alets or being able to do any thing better nor to express the Marks of the Uniformity of their Doctrine with that of Foreign Churches and of the Synod of Dordrecht any â—…heâ— way subâ—câ—b'd their decisions The Affair of Bearn caus'd great agitations in that Assembly there were so many Members of it Corrupted by the Court that they had the Credit for a long while to 〈◊〉 the Complaints and Remonstrances of the Depuâ—…es of that Province who renew'd them four times in three days without being able to obtain a Deputation to the Court on their behalf All manner of Artifices were 〈◊〉 in practise to perswade the World that the report of the King's Journey was false False Letters were Writen to â—…vers Persons to acquaint them that those Affairs were accommodated They said that the Synod had no right to meddle with that Affair which was not Ecclesiastical that the King would refuse to hear the Deputies of an Assembly which exceeded the Bounds of their Power in an affair of that Consequence That the Principality of Bearn only desir'd to be United to the Churches of France for their own Interest and would be ready to separate themselves from it again as soon as they had serv'd their own turn at their Cost Moreover that in case the King were minded to oblige Bearn to Obey he would no wise matter the Intercession of the Churches since every thing submitted to his Arms and to his Presence The Deputies of Bearn made a great deal of noise at that refusal to assist them they cry'd that the Churches of France betray'd them Curs'd the day of their Union and made strange Imprecations against those that forsook them so shamefully The People of Alâ—â—â— being inform'd of these disputes took the part of the Bearnois and Murmur'd highly against the Synod They fail'd but little of coming to a Sedition This Accident made the Court Cabal slacken a little in spite of which finally after Ten or Twelve days disputes they resolv'd to Write and send Deputies to the King to beg his Leave to hold a General Assembly
yet more at a loss when they were ty'd to their Instructions which being drawn in Provincial Assemblies were seldom conformable to the Instructions of those that were corrupted Those two Questions were attended with Difficulties The first had often occasion'd Disputes in Councils and in the Estates General The Popes had often lost their Cause when Councils gave their Votes by Provinces For that reason they refus'd to allow that manner of Voting in the Council of Trent in which the Number of the Italian Bishops which surpassed that of all the Prelates of the Remainder of Europe that assisted at it would have been reduced to one Voice in case they had not Voted by Heads which would have given a great Advantage to all those that had a mind to reform the See of Rome In the States General the Brigues and Sollicitations of the Court often prov'd ineffectual when they Voted by Provinces So that the Assemblies of the Reformed being liable to Brigues and Corruption as well as the others the same Question might be of use in it as well as in all the others The second Question was not without Difficulty neither It seems to be a Maxim of Right that those who only act in a Cause as Attorneys for others ought never to swerve from the Instructions which limit their Power But in Affairs of which the Conjunctures change from Morning to Night it seems both unreasonable and very dangerous to tye Deputies so Inviolably to their Instruction that they may not be allowed to do that of themselves which it is most likely their Principals would order them to do if they had time to Consult with them about it Particularly since it is to be supposed that those who intrust any body with their Power in Affairs of great Consequence look upon them as honest Men it would seem to be a Reflection upon them not to allow them to swerve from their Memoirs in unexpected Cases Too much Regularity in such a Case may either occasion tedious Delays or lose an Occasion which may be difficult to recover This was the Reason why those Questions were not decided every where alike To Vote by Heads and not to depend upon Instructions was liked best especially in such Provinces where the Court had many Pensioners But they were of a contrary Opinion in this and the Synod of Alets as we have already seen endeavoured to make the General Assembly approve the same Sentiment Moreover they added that it would be necessary to make the President his Assistant and the two Secretaries set their Hands to the Memoires of the Deputies that should assist in the same and to oblige them in order to avoid Deceit to produce them whenever they should advance Propositions which they should pretend to be contained in the same This particular Assembly finding it self Considerable by the Number and Quality of its Members treated of several great Affairs of delaying the National Synod of hastning the Assembly of Rochel by way of Continuation of that of Loudun to oblige the Duke de Sully to Watch the Preservation of Gergeau a Place of Surety which was unprovided with Men and ill paid They made divers Reflections upon the Promise made to the Assembly of Loudun by the Prince of Conde and the Duke de Luines by which it was easie to judge that they did not trust much to it The Communication of those particular Assemblies with their Neighbours maintained so general a Correspondence among all the Churches that they were all instructed with what past in any of them so that the same Affairs were partly treated of in all of them Therefore it may very well be concluded that the same thing was done in that which was held at Saumur at the latter end of the same Month of July and in that of Burgundy which was held at Pont de Vesâ—e on the 5th of the following Month. There had been Deputies of those two Provinces at Gergeau and the Province of Orleans sent theirs reciprocally in those two Assemblies so that for the most part all things past there in the same manner Divers Complaints were made in those Assemblies of the Injustices that were done to the Reform'd within their respective Jurisdictions The free Exercise of the Reform'd Religion was hinder'd at Chartres A private Person had been turn'd out of the Shrievalty at Remorantin barely upon the Account of his Religion and the Election of another was oppos'd upon the same account The Judge of Orleans had Condemn'd a Temple to be demolished within the space of a Week which was all built the Covering only excepted upon a piece of Ground given at Chilleurs by Chemerolles who was High Justicer of the Place Their Malice went farther yet at Montrichard The Catholicks were forbidden there to assist the Reform'd to carry their Dead into the Ground which Prohibition extended even to Servants towards their Masters threatning them in case they did not obey with Ecclesiastical Censures and even with Excommunication The Parliament of Paris had refus'd to regard the Warrants of a Serjeant Royal because he was of the Reform'd Religion and that he had serv'd an Execution upon a Catholick at the Suit of a Reform'd The same Parliament made two Vexatious Decrees in a short space of time upon the Subject of Burials the one on the 2d of July which order'd the Reconciliation of the Church of Lonlac in which the Heirs and the Widow of Buchon Sieur de Lallier were accused of having deposited his Body with Violence and Force of Arms. The other on the 1st of August in the Chamber of the Edict upon a Sentence of the Seneshalship of Angoumois which Condemn'd the Baron d'Etangs to take his Mother out of the Ground whom he had bury'd in the Chappel of Mâ—ssignac two years before The Sentence was confirm'd but the Fine of 200 Livres to which it Condemn'd the Baron was moderated to 48 Livres in Alms for the Bread of Prisoners to which was added that before they should proceed to the Removing of the said Corps the Attorny General should take Information whether it could be done conveniently in order to proceed to what should be thought reasonable after the hearing of the said Information But the Noise of the Alterations made in Bearn stifled those slight Complaints and the whole Kingdom talked of the Promise made to the Assembly of Loudun in the King's Name which was violated in every Article All the Neighbouring Churches to that oppressed Province were particularly alarm'd Lescun not daring to appear at Home came to Montauban where the Assembly of Rouergue sate He made his Complaints there and they gave him a full Hearing The Circles of the Upper Languedoc took his Affair to Heart the rather because it was reported that the King design'd such another Progress in Languedoc the following Year This Report could not be look'd upon as false by reason that a Coppy had been produc'd in the Synod at
the Assembly Generals of the Circles Seal of the Assembly The Peaceable among the Reform'd are disarm'd Which causes a great Desertion Treachery against du Plessis to get Saumur out of his Hands The Court amuses him with Promises even in Writing He is upbraided by the Assembly Declaration of the King against the Cities of Rochel and St. John de Angeli which obliges the Reform'd to renounce the Party of the Assembly in Writing Interested Cowardise of the Governors of the Cities of Surety The King Dismantles the Fortifications of the Towns that are deliver'd up to him Apology of the Assembly Invective against the Jesuit Arnoux Relation of what pass'd since the Assembly of Loudun Relalation of the Stratagems of the Court Why the Assemblies refus'd to break up before their Cahiers were answer'd A violent Answer in the King's Name Kidnapping of Children The Reform'd excluded from all manner of Favours The The Catholicks are excus'd from giving Church-Yards at their own Cost in lieu of the old ones which they took again Writing of Tilenus against the Assembly of Rochel Siege and Reduction of St. John de Angeli Declaration from the King which Abolishes the Priviledges of that City WHile the Churches of Bearn were expos'd to the Violences I have mention'd heretofore the Inhabitants of Montauban thought that they should serve their Brethren by Frightning the Catholicks with Reprisals So that one day after a long Deliberation upon the News of the Cruelties exerted at Navarreins they seiz'd upon all the Ecclesiasticks and kept them a little above Twenty four Hours Prisoners in the Bishop's House At the same time they gave Notice to the other Inhabitants that were at Thoulouse or in the Country to retire into the City lest the Catholicks should also use Reprisals upon them The very next day those Prisoners were let out again and only had the City for Prison with Leave publickly to perform all the Exercises of their Religion in the Church of St. Lewis where they us'd to perform them But whatever Assurance and Liberty was given them they refus'd upon vain Pretences to continue their Functions to the end that the News of Divine Service being interrupted at Montauban being carry'd to Court might render the Conduct of the Inhabitants the more Criminal Soon after it they were allow'd to go out of the City taking Leave of the Consuls but no manner of Outrage was offer'd to their Persons during the Process of that Affair The Consuls writ to Masuier first President in the Parliament of Thoulouse to acquaint him with their Reasons They told him that the cruel Execution of Navarreins having strangely mov'd the People they had secur'd the Ecclesiasticks only to save them from their first Fury But the Ecclesiasticks gave a different Account of it and made it pass for a very heinous Attempt They also writ to Masuier as soon as they were at Liberty and though their Letters only contain'd the same Facts which the Consuls own'd yet they made them seem to be very Guilty The Truth is that there happen'd some Transactions very like those in the County of Foix where the Reform'd of Saverdun of Cazeres and of Pamiers seiz'd upon the Catholicks and upon some Houses seated upon the Passages and search'd some Travellers suspecting that they carry'd Advices or Orders against their Safety They also endeavour'd but in vain to surprise a strong House belonging to the Bishop of Pamiers Those Proceedings did not please every body and the abridg'd Assembly which was at Montauban was against confining the Ecclesiasticks closer than within the Walls of the City But the Spirit of Reprisals was predominant in the People of those Parts and even at Castres they threatned the Counsellors of Thoulouse who serv'd in the Party-Chamber to use them according as the Reform'd should be us'd elsewhere by the Catholiks Masuier being inform'd with all this writ a very violent Letter to the King about it He was one of the most violent Persecutors in the World and according to the Character another President of the same Parliament has given of him the greatest Villain that ever was at the Head of an Authoriz'd Society He was a Man without the least Politeness a down right Barbarian in his Temper in his Language and in his Manners He was Covetous even to a degree of Infamy and Cruel to the utmost He neither understood Justice or Equity in point of Religion It is reported of him that being ingag'd in a Treaty made with some Persons about the Creation of several new Offices he had the Confidence to come into the Parliament to preside at the Decree of Verification of the same The Attorney General knowing that he had a Share in the Treaty recus'd him and his Recusation was allow'd of Masuier was Censur'd in a full Parliament for his ill Conduct and the said Censure was enter'd into the Register The Prince of Conde who was at Thoulouse at that time about the same Affair and who being as Covetous as Masuier was suspected of being Concern'd in it as well as he came the next day to the Parliament and had much ado to cause the said Censure to be taken out of the Register but he had not Credit enough to blot it out of Peoples Minds and an undeniable Witness has preserv'd the History of it The same Author speaking of the Zeal of that unworthy Man against the Reform'd says that he would have been praise-worthy had he been more moderate He was belov'd at Court by reason that he was a Slave to all the Orders that came from thence and that he knew no Rule of Justice beyond a Signet Letter but he was hated by the People The very Inhabitants of Thoulouse Conspir'd against his Life and upwards of Four thousand Billets were dropt up and down the said City against him one day in which they threatned him with the utmost Extremities Had he been to be try'd for any Crime though there had not been sufficient Proofs against him the Hatred of all those that knew him would have been sufficient to supply the Insufficiency of the Proofs The Reform'd have often had the Comfort to see that their greatest Enemies were Men of that Character Masuier therefore writ to the King as if the Ecclesiasticks had only been seiz'd at Montauban in order to Massacre them at the first News of any Ill Treatment acted any where else against the Reform'd He gather'd all the Reports the Catholicks spread up and down and grounded Designs of the whole Party upon the least Word that fell from any overraâ—n Person He endeavoured to persuade that there were some peaceable Persons in Montauban who did condemn those Proceedings but in order to lay the Blame upon the Generality he said that they were at the Disposition of the Factious He affirm'd that the Enterprize upon Navaâ—… had been resolv'd at Milhau and he even proceeded so far as to specifie the day on which
to Paris But things were so imbroil'd before he could come away that he durst not follow his Inclination for fear of making himself Criminal by Communicating with a prohibited Assembly His Prudence in this point avail'd him nothing the Court would have him guilty Right or Wrong He receiv'd notice at Lions by a Letter from Drelincourt his Colleague that he would be taken up as soon as he came to Paris This News oblig'd him to take a by way to go home where he tarry'd but one Night and went from thence to Sedan where the Duke de Bouillon gave him the place of Professor in Theology and of Minister in Ordinary Tilenus his Enemy did not fail to Write Violently against that retreat which he endeavour'd to represent as a Mercenary flight The pretence the Court had to seize upon him was that the English Ambassador had desir'd Du Moulin to Write to the King his Master to exhort him to assist the Elector Palatin his Son-in-Law That Prince having too soon taken the Name of King of Bohemia which had been offer'd him by the People lost a Battle near Prague and his New Kingdom together with his Ancient Patrimony which the Emperor diveâ—ted him of as a Rebel France suffer'd it calmly by â—eason that the Policy of Spain and of Rome prevail'd in their Council and represented that War as a War of Religion Jeannin himself remember'd that he had been a Member of the League and Writ a Pamphlet to hinder â—…he King from succoring the Bohemians in which he urg'd so many Reasons to prove that all the Advantage of that War would remain to the Protestants and all the damage â—…o the Catholicks that France lost that opportunity of ruinâ—…ng the House of Austria in Germany and that they look'd â—…pon the Ruin of an Ancient Aâ—ly of France as a Triumph of the Catholick Church The King meddled no farther with this War than by a Solemn Embassy at the Head of which he plac'd the Count d'Auvergne And that serv'd â—â—ly to render the Catholick League the stronger and the Emperor more formidable But the Coldness of the King of England Scandalized even those that profited by his Weakâ—…ers He did not relish certain Maxims of Honour which he was continually put in mind of and he thought it a â—…iece of Policy not to assist Subjects against their Soveraigns â—…ven in the Case of a manifest oppression He apply'd that â—…e Policy which no other Prince ever bethought himself â—…f to the Affairs of his Son-in-Law And his Ambassador who was sensible that he was despis'd every where for that false Prudence had a mind to draw him out of that Error He look'd upon Du Moulin as a Man capable to revive the Courage of that Prince by whom he was very much respected Du Moulin writ after having excus'd it a while and his Letter was given to the Courier the Ambassador sent into England But it was soon after put into the hands of the Ministers of the Cabinet Council whither it were â—…one designedly by the Courier or by the Ambassador or whither it were intercepted by some Wile or finally whither King James himself who had particular Ingagements with the King of France had Communicated it to the Ministers of that Prince The said Letter was look'd upon as being very Criminal by Reason that the Condition of the Churches of France was set out in it and their approaching Ruine alledg'd as a proper Reason to excite the King of England to assist his Son-in-Law whose Prosperity was a Refuge to the Reform'd as his Ruine was a Presage of Decay for them The Jesuits whose Bane Du Moulin was were glad of that Opportunity to ruine him and having neither been able to Corrupt him by fair Offers nor to destroy him by divers Conspiracies against his Life they imagin'd that he could never scape them that time But they were deceiv'd and he scap'd that Snare by the Diligence of his Retreat It was from Sedan he writ to the Assembly of Rochel It is uncertain whether he did it of his own accord or by the Order of the Mareschal de Bouillon who was of the same Opinion with all the Grandees of the same Religon or whether his Friends perceiving that his Enemies had a mind to represent him as a Seditious Person who inclin'd People to Rebellion by his Advice advis'd him to disprove them by such a Letter But it is certain that it was written with great Vigor and that he declar'd in it that the Assembly would be answerable for the Ruine of the Churches in case their refusing to break up should occasion it The Effect of that Letter was That it increas'd the Divisions to the utmost Extremity Some Members of the Assembly withdrew and never could be prevail'd upon to come again Others acquainted Du Moulin that his Letter had been read but not approv'd of and begg'd of him not to communicate it to any body lest it should serve as a Pretence for those who had a mind to withdraw out of the Union It were to be wish'd that the Assembly had follow'd that Advice only to try what the Court would have done after their Separation in order to render the Cause of the Churches the clearer by removing the Pretence of Disunion from those who had too much Faith and Credulity The Event show'd that if those Members of the Assembly who would not break up without Security were not the most prudent yet they were the best inform'd and those who hinder'd them from taking such Measures for their Safety had cause to repent at leisure their being too Credulous Two things â—…opt the Negotiation The one was that the Assembly â—…ould not resolve to beg Pardon for meeting at Rochel by reason that they pretended that they might lawfully do it after â—…o positive a Promise as they had receiv'd for so doing at London from the King That Confession of having done ill was of greater consequence than it seem'd to be at first since 〈◊〉 imply'd a tacit Acknowledgment that the things promis'd had been perform'd The Consequence of which was that 〈◊〉 would stop their Mouths for the future upon the Business of the two Councellors of Leitoure and of Favasâ—…sisted â—…sisted upon those Considerations with great Vehemency The other was that they were willing to see at least something done upon their Complaints before their Breaking up for fear of being shortly oblig'd to begin all things a new as it had happen'd more than once Moreover the Decay of the Reform'd Religion in the Kingdom of Bohemia which those who were for the Dissolution of the Assembly made use of to make them dread the Events of War was taken in another Sence by many who look'd upon it as a good Reason to take Precautions against the Oppression of which the Affairs of Germany gave a Presage Nevertheless the Assembly not being able to withstand the Advice of all the Grandees from whom they
Places of Surety from them The Apology of the Assembly appear'd about the time of that Commerce of Cities under the Title of Declaration of the Churches of France and of the Soveraignty of Bearn in their Assembly at Rochel of the unjust Prosecution they are prosecuted with by the Enemies of the State and of their Religion and of their lawful and necessary Defence All the Editions of that Apology are not alike some have Articles that are not in the others Some of them have not what we read in others that the Edict of Nantes was made at a time when the Reform'd might have shared the Kingdom with the Catholicks if they had pleased which they had renounced by reason that they only desired the Liberty of their Consciences and that having subscribed the Peace on those Conditions they were in the right to make War when that Condition was violated to preserve by Arms what they had lost by a Cowardly Peace But at the Bottom the beginning of that and perhaps this air of Loftiness would have been excus'd â—ad the Assembly had strength enough to have made it good After the accustom'd Protestations in Manifesto's and an Inviâ—itation of French and Foreigners to hear the Complaints which they had to make by the way they refuted the Reproach of Rebellion and fell foul again upon the Project of ruining â—…e Reformed ever since the sitting of the States in 1615. where â—…ere was a Proposal made for petitioning the King to fulfil his Coronation Oath More especially they lay hard upon the Jeâ—…its and principally upon the King's Confessor whom they â—…acqu'd with a long Invective They ript up his Behaviour 〈◊〉 Bearn his Attempts against the Parlament of Paris whose Decrees he had caus'd to be cancell'd and against the University whose Censures he had caus'd to be disannull'd his Credit greater then that of the Bishops who in three days had preâ—…il'd to get the Decree of Compensation past which the whole Clergy had solicited fifteen years in vain the Tricks which he â—…'d to abuse the King 's tender Conscience and the Authority which he assum'd to himself to be of his Council of Conscience â—…om thence they past to the Maxims of his Society touching â—…ith and Promises engag'd to Heretics to the Testimonies of â—…e Clergy's passionate Violence to the unjust Acts of the Parâ—…ments to the Admonitions whisper'd in the ears of the Reâ—…rmed at Court that they must either quit the King's Service or their Religion Nor did they forget the Affairs of the Counselâ—…rs in Parlament the Corruption of the Governors of the Plaâ—…s of Security the seditious Sermons of the Preachers the â—…undring of Churches the digging up the Dead out of their â—…raves the cruel usage of those that lay Sick and upon their â—…eath-beds in Hospitals where they were deni'd requisite Noushment and Remedies and the forcing of Children from their â—…others Arms. They complain'd further That when the Reformed had recourse to the Magistrates for Justice they were â—…uted and laught at and that when they went to lay their â—omplaints at the King's feet they were treated as Rebels After this they proceeded to the Affairs of the Assembly of â—…don and having laid open the Original and Benefit of those Assemblies they justifi'd this by the manifold Oppressions of which they had so much reason to complain They set down at large the series of all their Differences and Contests with the King till their Breaking up and till the Promises made 'em bâ— the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Lunes and made it oâ— how all those Promises had been violated They gave an Account of the King's march into Bearn and of all the Violenceâ— which had been there committed And here they hinted aâ— along at the Sophism which the Jesuit Arnoux had made 〈…〉 of to justify the Breach of a Promise made to Sales wheâ— he was put out of Navarreins that there should be no Innovations introduc'd This Promise said he ether relates to thâ— Conscience or to the State It concerns not the Conscience continu'd he because it is contrary to the Precept of the Church if then it be a State-Promise it ought to be referr'd to the Secret Council whose Opinion it is that it ought not to be kepâ— This Sophism would not suffer the King who was rather a gooâ— Prince then a Logician to follow his own Inclination which was to be as good as his word Then they proceeded to make a display of the Artifices which the Court made use of to corrupt Lesdiguieres the War of Mommoranci's Exploits the way which they took to gâ—… Chatillon and ruin both la Force and his Children They 〈…〉 the common Reports that gave out nothing but the destructiâ—â— of the Protestants and went so far as to limit the time withâ—… three months To these things they added the new Exploits 〈…〉 the Duke of Espernon in Bearn and of the King himself at Sâ—â—mur They took notice of the Cunning of the Court who haâ— invited the Duke of Rohan and the Duke of Subise his Brotheâ— to meet the King to the end that Auriac who betray'd 'em might more easily surprize St. John d' Angeli which he attempted in vain because they kept out of the snare Theâ— add the small Satisfaction which the Court had given to thâ— particular and general Commissioners and they observ'd thaâ— when Lesdiguieres had written to the Assembly to oblige 'em 〈…〉 break up he would never promise 'em any thing in the King'â— Name but only upon his own score by which it was apparent that he was willing to reserve an Excuse to himself that he could not possibly alter the King's mind But in regard it was charg'd upon the Assemblies General as a Crime that they â—fus'd to break up before they had receiv'd an Answer to their â—peâ—s which the States General refus'd to give 'em they set â—rth the Inequality of these two sorts of Assemblies for that â—e States General met together to make Laws and Regulations 〈…〉 State the Authority of which ought solely to flow from the â—ing But the Assemblies of the Reformed meeting only to â—mand Reparation for Wrongs and Oppressions which fix'd â—m within the Rules of ordinary Justice whereby the Parties â—ere not oblig'd to withdraw themselves till their Complaints â—ere adjudg'd they concluded with a Protestation That they â—d no Design against Regal Authority they glori'd in the â—ervices that were done the two last Henries by the Reformed against the Catholics they offer'd all Obedience and Service to â—â—wis XIII and implor'd his Royal Succor and the Compassion 〈…〉 Foreign Princes but principally God's Assistance against â—eir Oppressors This Apology was sign'd by the Moderators and Secretaries There was an Answer made to it in the King's Name but â—here was nothing in 't to shew that it was own'd by the King â—Twas said that the Oath sworn to exterminate Heretics of which they made such loud
Complaints was no new thing â—ut that it had never been put in execution that they never â—urmur'd against Henry IV. who had taken it and that Lewisâ—â—II â—â—II had taken care to free himself from such a cruel Obligaâ—ion by a Declaration set forth on purpose They eluded that Reproach thrown upon the Jesuits for medling more then beâ—ame 'em with the Government by saying That the Ministers â—ad as much Authority over the Reformed as if there were â—ny Comparison between the one and the other That it was â—ereditary to their Sect to seek the Oppression of Kings in their Cradles which they prov'd by King James's hatred of the Puâ—itans of Scotland To destroy the Advantage which the Reformed pretended to have over the Catholics in being more obedient to their Sovereigns they alledg'd Assemblies held in opposition to their Approbation the Oath the Regulations and Seal of the Assembly of Rochel 'T was asserted That the Succor which the Reformed had given to Kings proceeded from Interest because they procur'd their own Security by it besides that they had shar'd it with the Catholic Nobility And here 't was thought necessary to add that Leitoure was neither a City of Security nor Marriage that it belong'd by Inheritance to Fontrailles and 't was deem'd no more then what was reasonable that the Reformed shou'd take it for full satisfaction that it was given to Blainville Upon the Refusal to receive the two Counsellors in the Parlament of Paris it was repli'd That Parlaments were more ancient then the Reformed that there was no Law which justifi'd the admitting of Heretics into it as if the Edicts of Nantes and Loudun had not the force of Laws And lastly That the Reformed had enough to content 'em in the enjoyment of the Chambers half one half t'other without thrusting themselves into Parlaments 'T was alledg'd That they had no cause to complain of the non-performance of some Promises by the King in regard there was no Law which oblig'd him to pay 'em as if so many Brevets one after another more especially that which granted a certain Sum to the Reformed in compensation of Tythes for their Ministers Salaries ought not to have bin as effectual as any express Law Then follow'd a storm of railing Expressions which made the Reformed responsible for all the Confusions and Disturbances which had happen'd in the Kingdom for sixty years together as if they had bin the Contrivers and Authors of the League under the Two last Reigns or of those Troubles of which the prodigious Fortune of Marshal d' Ancre had bin the occasion The Violences committed at Pau during the Procession of the Eucharist were palliated by saying That the People were either to get out of the way or fall upon their knees 't was alledg'd that such a thing might be done by the favour of an ambiguous Expression to delude the Catholic's Zeal and that it was Prudence to do it sometimes The Reformed were accus'd of drawing upon themselves the Sedition at Tours by reason of a Box o' th' ear which one of 'em gave a Child and therefore adjudg'd it a sufficient Reparation for their Losses that four or five of the Canaille were hang'd for it As to the forcing away of Children of which the Reformed made great Complaints the Answerers endeavour'd to make it lawful by saying That â—e Children became Catholics by Choice at the Age of Fifteen â—ears and that there was a very ancient Law which allow'd â—m to be Masters of their Choice at that Age. So that the exâ—ress Provisions of the Edict of Nantes were lookt upon as noâ—ing by the Authors of that Answer Therefore two particular Accidents deserve to be recounted â—ere to shew what Sincerity was observ'd at that time in the Conversion of Children A certain Inhabitant of Paris growing jealous of his Wife 〈…〉 whom he had several Children was so far transported by that â—orbitant Frenzy that he kill'd the poor Woman for which â—…e was punish'd according to his deserts But his Relations haâ—ing demanded the Children to the end they might be bred up 〈…〉 the Religion which their unfortunate Father profess'd there â—as a Decree made in Parlament That the Right of their Eduâ—ation was devolv'd to the King by reason of the Father's Crime so that the Children were brought up in the Catholic â—aith Another Man originally a Native of Normandy had â—hree Children He put one to the Colledge of Jesuits and â—me time after he return'd to Paris with another of his Sons â—ith a design to put him also to the same place but underâ—anding from the first that he was refus'd the Liberty of his Conscience the Father carri'd 'em both away with an intent â—o place 'em in the Colledge of Sedan but a Priest his Kinsâ—an forc'd 'em away from him upon the Road and sent 'em â—o the Jesuit's House at Pont a Mousson The Father prosecuâ—d him for a Rape before the Bailiffs of Rheims who after a â—edious Suit condemn'd him at length to the Gallies for Contuâ—nacy But the Priest appealing from the Sentence remov'd â—he Cause into the Grand Chamber Servin Advocate General â—leaded long and hard for his Client and put the stress of the â—iâ—pute upon this Issue Whether or no a Father who had reâ—ounc'd his Right by the Edict by declaring his Intentions to â—ut Children under the Tuition of Catholic Regents which he â—ould not chuse but know to be such could reassume when he â—leas'd his Right to their Education and take away the Children â—rom their Catholic Tutors He concluded that the Father's declaâ—ing his Resolutions to entrust such Regents with the Education of his Children was a sufficient Renunciation of his Right and that he could not recover it back For form's sake also the Children were brought into Court in their Father's presence the one above Eleven years old and the eldest about Thirteen yearst of Age at what time being prepar'd before hand what to say they desir'd to be bred up in the Catholic Religion Thereupon a Decree was made conformable to Servin's Conclusions The Priest was discharg'd from his Condemnation the Children were sent to the Colledge of Naâ—â— under the Tuition of the Principal and the Father was condemn'd to pay the usual Quarterly Pension and to supply the rest of their Maintenance and besides that he was forbid to take away his Children from the said Colledge under the Penalty of Thirty thousand Livres Never was Edict so Notoriously violated as was that of Nantes by this Decree in those Articles which forbid the inveigling of Children to change their Religion and which permitted the Parents to send 'em to Catholic Colledges upon assurance that they would not molest their Consciences By this the World may judge whether the Assembly had just cause to complain or no and whether the Replies of their Enemies were of any convincing force against ' em This Decree was made the 22d of December Affairs of greater importance this year
came to the Army to put a final end to it One of those things which occasion'd the greatest trouble was that the King would needs enter into the City and that the Inhabitants were afraid that if they did admit him he would make 'em pay dear for the Expences of so long a Siege Neverthelefs the King disdaining to promise one of his Cities by a formal Treaty that he would not have entrance into it there was a necessity of endeavouring to persuade the Inhabitants to submit To this purpose the Duke of Rohan had leave to enter and make the Proposal to the Citizens He did so bâ— whether he undertook that Commission rather to inform himself of the true state of the Town then to persuade the People to a good liking of the Proposal or whether it were that he could not remove out of their minds the fear of being made a new Example of the Infidelities of the Court he return'd without being able to obtain the Consent of the City to admit the King Upon that he promis'd to send 'em Relief because the Town was in great want of men but he met with so many difficulties after the Duke of Vendome's and the Constable's â—en were arriv'd in the King's Camp that at length he resolv'd â—pon a Peace Thereupon it was concluded in despight of the Prince of Condé who for madness to see that he had so little Credit â—nd that an Affair of such Importance should be conceal'd from â—is knowledge quitted the Court and travell'd into Italy On the other side the Duke of Rohan with the Commissioners â—f Cevennes Nimes and Vsez came to Mompellier and the â—9th of October the Edict of Peace was publish'd in the Camp before Mompellier This Edict was set forth in the Form of â— Pardon wherein the King before all things took care to assert the Justice of his Arms taken up against the Reformed whose Rebellions he ascrib'd to the Artifices of those who thought to make advantage of their Simplicity and the Troubles of the State and he took God to witness that his Intension had always bin to procure the Peace and Welfare of his Subjects After which he declar'd that he had granted a Peace upon the humble Petitions and Supplications of the Reformed who had besought it by their Commissioners sent on purpose together with a Pardon for their Offences By this Peace he confirm'd the Edicts not only of the deceased King â—ut his own He likewise confirm'd the Secret Articles but â—e added the word Enregister'd wherein he had an Aim that â—o body mistrusted and which was afterwards the foundation â—f many Cavils He re setled the Roman Religion in several places where the exercise of it had bin interrupted and recor'd to the Ecclesiasticks their Tenths their Revenues and their Houses He also re-establish'd the Reformed Religion in places where it had bin disturb'd by the War He ordain'd that the Cities remaining in the hands of the Reformed preserving their ancient Fortifications should demolish their new â—nes for which they gave Hostages and he forbid the fortifying of any place under any pretence whatever He extended the benefit of the Peace to all those that would submit in fifteen days after publication of the Edict He put down all Politic Assemblies if they were not authoriz'd by his Express Permission but he consented to their holding Consistories Colloquies and Synods according to custome provided that nothing were handl'd therein but meerly Ecclesiastical Affairs He granted an Act of Oblivion for all that had happen'd since the first of January 1621 as full and with the same Restrictions as that which had been granted by the 76th 77th and 86th Articles of the Edict of Nantes He added a particular Amnesty for what had happen'd at Privas wherein he comprehended Brison who had been the Author of those Commotions and who had kept his ground there ever since the beginning of the year As for the Accompts and the Sentences or Decrees that had bin issu'd out against the Reformed who had born Arms they were regulated according to the Articles of the Edict of Nantes that mention'd the same things and the Judgments pronounc'd between Persons of their Party by the Judges setled in the Provinces by Authority of the Chieftains were confirm'd the Prisoners on both sides were releas'd without Ransom All Persons of what quality soever were restor'd to their Estates their Dignities and Employments The observation of this Edict was regulated according to the Form prescrib'd by the 82d Article of Nantes and the King promis'd to send Commissioners into the Provinces to see it duly executed This Edict free'd from much trouble a great many Persons against whom the Parlament had issu'd forth very severe Decrees which were put in execution without mercy Thus the Unfortunate Lâ—ssius who had been proscrib'd at the beginning of the Troubles not being able to escape his being surpriz'd at Bourdeaux was put to death in pursuance of a Decree set forth against him the 18th of May. For they thought it more proper and more agreeable to their nature to look upon his Actions as Acts of Rebellion against his Prince then effects of Zeal for his Religion and Countrey He was suspected for one of those who had a great share in the Intrigues of the Reformed and they coupl'd him with Chamier who was slain at the Siege of Montauban and Hautefontaine who liv'd with the Duke of Rohan The Parliament of Rennes no less violent then that of Bourdeaux had upon the 10th of the same Month issu'd forth a most terrible Decree against the Marquess de la Muce and le Noir his Minister They condemn'd 'em for Conâ—â—macy to the Amende Honorable â—nd to be drawn by four Horses Their Posterity was degraded and declared Peasants Muce's Houses and Castle were demolish'd and his Wood cut down to the â—eighth of a Man Moreover their Goods were confiscated and themselves fin'd the Sum of Ten thousand Livres and Six thousand Livres to be bestow'd upon some Churches and Moâ—asteries La Muce was also levell'd with the Earth though 〈◊〉 Decrees of Contumacy the Proceedings were not wont to be â—…swift But in regard the persons condemn'd were out of the Parlament's reach they were discharg'd for an Execution in 〈◊〉 There were also several other very Rigorous Decrees according to the Passionate Humour of the Parlaments which were to take cognizance of the Parties accus'd Nay the Duke of Rohan himself had bin declar'd a State-Criminal by a particular Decree made on purpose However they spar'd him while the Constable de Luines liv'd but after his death a Declaration was publish'd against the Duke and his Adherents â—et though it came forth 27th of December of the preceding â—ear it was not verify'd till the fourth of July 1622. So that 〈◊〉 Duke bore Arms above a year against the King made himself master of several Places reliev'd Montauban and committed all manner of Hostilities all the
while before he was â—…s'd as a Rebel This Peace prov'd very honourable for the Duke of Rohan who notwithstanding that the Reformed had lost about fourscore Towns was yet in a condition to gain a General Peace which the King had refus'd at the Siege of Montauban but the Priâ—ate Articles were still more to his advantage then the General The remaining Places were left in the hands of the Reformed not under the Title of Security Marriage or Hostage but by way of free Gift and voluntary Concession which did â—ut only alter the name not the thing 'T is true that the King would no longer tye himself to pay the Garisons nor what was due for the time past as the Sums promis'd either by himself or his Father for the Salaries of the Ministers Yet he gave 'em some hopes that he would pay 'em for the future But that Article was ill observ'd as well as the rest By a particular Brevet the King promis'd that he would neither keep any Garison nor erect any Citadel at Mompellier that the City should remain in the Custody of the Consuls and that there should be no Innovation other then the demolishing of the new Fortifications which Breif was deliver'd to the Duke of Rohan who lodg'd it in the Consul's hands By other Breifs permission was given that Rochel and Montauban should preserve their Fortifications in the same condition as theâ—… stood and that the Works about Nimes Castres Vsez and Milhau should be but half demolish'd But when that Article about the demolishing of the Fortifications came to â—â— put in execution notice was giv'n to the Parlament of Tholouse that the Reformed went to work after such a manner that by dismantling their Cities they made 'em better and stronger then before so that upon the 14th of December there came forth a Decree which forbid those counterfeit dismantlings which was the reason that that same Article of the Edict was laid aside and the places left in the same condition as the Peace found ' em Nor did the Parlament verify the Edict of Peace but with several Qualifications The Parlament of Paris instead of the words Cities of the pretended Reformed Religion put in Cities 〈◊〉 by those of the pretended Reformed Religion and in the room of thâ— words Ecclesiastical Affairs they alter'd 'em into Affairs concerning the Regulations of the said pretended Reformed Religion These petty Niceties however display'd no signs of Embitterment But the Parlament of Bourdeaux laid about 'em with the same passionate Fury as they had shewn during the Frenziâ—â— of the League They verifi'd the Edict without approving any other then the Catholic Religion or admitting the words Ecclesiastical Affairs They ordain'd that the dismantling of their Towns should be continu'd till it were thoroughly finish'd that such Judgments as were in favour of the Catholics should stand good but that those which were advantageous to the Reformed should be revokable upon a bare Petition and thâ—â— no Foreigners should be capable of being Ministers in the Kingdom These affected Severities in the Verification of an Edict â—ight well be lookt upon as a Presage that the Repose which it contributed to the Kingdom would not be of long contiâ—â—ance Nevertheless all the Cities which had join'd together in the â—â—mmon Cause accepted of the Peace though there were â—â—me that were afraid of the Consequence Privas and Brison who had held it out notwithstanding the Conquests which Chaâ—lloâ— had suffer'd the Duke of Mommorency to make in the Neighbouring parts came in upon the general Conditions Montauban proud of having held out a Siege where the King was in person and of preserving her Fortifications as a Troâ—…y of her Victory accepted the Conditions also Rochel prest 〈◊〉 Sea and Land and fearing to be assailed by the whole strength of the Kingdom if she refus'd the Conditions propos'd submitted to the Count of Soissons who commanded the King's Forces that attacqu'd her However the Duke of Guise â—…ough well inform'd that the Peace was concluded adventur'd 〈◊〉 engage the Fleet of that City and because he could not â—â—â—d out a way to excuse that Action which cost a great deal 〈◊〉 Blood on both sides 't was given out that Rochel knew it as well as he and that she would not have accepted the Peace â—â—d she got the better To say truth her loss was not so great â—â—t that she was still in a condition to appear formidable And 〈◊〉 may be said that her damage consisted in this that the least â—…es of a City that has no other assistance to trust to but her â—wn are always considerable rather then in her receiving any great harm by the King 's Fleet. But after the tidings of the â—eace all Acts of Hostility ceas'd and the City thought herself deliver'd from all her fears of a long Siege Vsez Nimes Milhau all the rest of the Cities obey'd and flatter'd themselves with seeing the Edicts better observ'd for the future then hitherto â—â—ey had bin But Catholic Zeal had not yet alter'd her Characters nor was it lawful for the Council to make a Peace of that nature â—â—t with a resolution to violate it One of the first effects of â—â—e Infidelity of the Court was her defrauding the most part of the Deserters of the common Cause and denying 'em the Recompences which had bin promis'd em for the performance 〈…〉 which Promises they never had bin urgent The King thought that the Peace which he had granted to all the Reformed haâ—… disingag'd him from the Promises which he had made to particular men meerly to retain 'em in their obedience Nor would many People have murmur'd at this piece of Infidelity had thâ—… stopp'd there and it was agreed on all sides that they who haâ— sold for ready money the Towns that were the security of their Religion and their Consciences deserv'd no better usage bâ—… the Court-Designs soon after broke out into Frauds of highâ—… importance For they had promis'd the Rochelois to demoliâ—… the Fort which the Count of Soissons had built to curb and aâ—… noy the City But they were so far from observing that Article that the Fort was not finish'd till after the Peace was made nor could all the Complaints of the Rochellois obtain aâ—… other then feigned Commands to demolish it of which they to whom they were sent had private Orders to take 〈…〉 notice Among the secret Conditions which were granted to the City of Mompelier there was a Promise made to the Inhabitants that the King should not enter with above four Colours of Fooâ—… which should march out back again with him To elude which Promise the whole Regiment of Guards was order'd to enter iâ—… under no more then four Colours unworthily abusing the aâ—… biguous signification of the word though as time has made it out the word Colours or Ensign signifies much more usually in common speech a Company of Soldiers marching under 〈…〉 Ensign then
the Match was not concluded The Cardinal therefore seeing the Treaty of that Alliance broken off and England disgusted was willing to make the best of the Conjuncture and to fasten that Crown to the Interests of France by the Marriage of a French Princess The second of Henry the Fourth's Daughters had bin deny'd the Prince of Wales who had demanded her while Lewis the Thirteenth's Council was in the House of Austria's pay and the Prince of Piemont was preferr'd before him But the Cardinal altering the Design had chang'd the Maxims of the Court and he thought good to make the first Offers to a Prince for whom they had had so little value before Nor did he find any great trouble in causing the Overtures to be accepted William de Hugues Archbishop of Ambrun had a great share in that Negotiation and if there be any credit to be given to the Relation of what he did in England which he drew up by the Cardinal's Command he had almost brought the Religion and Kingdom of England to the brink of a general Revolution He relates that before the Cardinal came into favour he had bin sent into England to persuade the King to return to the Pope's Communion That he disguis'd himself to go incognito and took upon him the Name and Habit of a Counsellor of Grenoblâ— That at his arrival he found the Duke of Buckingham inform'd both of his Disguise and his Commission of which both the King and the Prince had giv'n him notice That the King appear'd to him fully resolv'd to embrace the Catholic Religion That he came to an agreement with him upon the greatest part of the Articles in controversie more particularly concerning the Soveraignty of the Pope over all Christians That upon this Occasion he wrote a large Letter to the Pope that it was sent privately by an English Gentleman who was a zealous Catholic That he promis'd to declare himself openly so soon as he had taken order for certain things which were concluded on That the principal reason of his making so many delays was the desire he had to be sure of the King of Denmark his Brother-in-law to the end he might be the better able to prevent the Troubles that might arise by reason of the Changes in his Kingdoms That he had invited him under other Pretences to take a Voyage into England and that when he came he made no question but to convert him too That he desir'd the Pope to suffer the English Lords to enjoy the Church-Lands that were now become their Inheritance for fear they should oppose his Designs if he went about to disturb 'em in their Possession That he promis'd there should be no farther â—earches made after any Priests that should be sent into the Kingdom either by the Pope or the King of France That he excluded the Jesuits only from that favour because he lookt upon em as the Authors and Contrivers of the Powder-plot by which they design'd to have blown him up in his Parlament-House That he shew'd the Archbishop several Favours while he was in England That he gave him leave to Confirm in the French Embassador's House above 18000 Catholics who were exempted from all prosecution upon it tho there were many of the English that saw the performance of the Ceremony so little did the Archbishop care to be openly seen That some of the more Zealous Protestants having made their Complaints to the King about it the King stopt their mouths by telling 'em it was done with his permission That the Duke of Buckingham had promis'd to imitate the King his Master and that he was really engag'd in the Intreage In a word The Archbishop had Letters from him which shew'd him too deeply concern'd to believe that all this Negotiation was no more then a feigned Business This was the Condition of Affairs when they began to treat of the Marriage of the Prince of Wales and it may be easily judg'd by the bending of the King's Inclinations that they should not meet with any great opposition So that the Cardinal obtain'd what he pleas'd himself and drew from him Conditions more advantageous to the Catholicks then those which the King of Spain had demanded Also after all that was concluded there was a way found to add new Clauses which the King was so complaisant as to condescend to without any hesitation 'T is true Berulle who was afterwards made a Cardinal being sent to Rome to sollicite the Dispensation suffer'd some things to be slipt in which went a little farther then what had been agreed upon But they who drew it up were easily pardon'd upon making a shew of being sorry for it and imputing it to the simplicity of the Prelate whose Zeal for his Religion had made him exceed the Bounds of his Power But the Court of England being in a good humour to refuse nothing suffer'd her self to be vanquish'd without the least Resistance and was willing to take any Excuses for the Alterations in good part But the unexpected Death of King James put a stop to the Rapid Course of the Prosperities of the Catholic Religion and suspended for some time the accomplishment of the Marriage propounded But Charles his Successor would not retract from his Engagements during the Life of his Father so that the Marriage was accomplish'd to the great satisfaction of the Court of Rome England in some measure beheld the Catholic Religion sprouting up agen in her Bosom For the new Queen was permitted to have a Chappel in all the Royal Houses to keep in her Family a Bishop and twenty eight Priests without any preferring one Order before another that they should have liberty to wear the Habit of of their Order publickly and that all her Domestic Servants should be of the same Religion besides that she should have the Education of her Children till they came to be Thirteen years of Age. But God permitted the Jesuits to spoil all by their unquiet and Seditious Politicks and to put the Kingdom into such terrible Jealousies of their Practises that order was taken for the suppressing ' em However the Treaty of this Marriage was spun out till May 1625. tho because I would not interrupt the series of the Story I was forc'd to insert it in this place In the mean time there were several particular Affairs that were regulated after a different manner among which that of the City of Pamiers in opposition to her Bishop was one of the most considerable That Prelate took upon him to dispose of the Consulship and Council of that City and to make himself Master of the sole Power of rating the Taxes upon the Inhabitants And his Zeal for Religion serv'd for a Pretence to justify his undertaking He would have no body in those Employments but Catholics and the Parlament of Thâ—louse whither he had remov'd the Cause were not wanting to â—our his Pious Design But for the bringing it to pass there â—s a necessity
justifi'd themselves had the Court design'd to have us'd 'em favourably For they repli'd That there was nothing of Novelty in the Union that till then the King had never disapprov'd it that they had bin always join'd together in their Deputations in their Submissions in their Petitions in their Papers which they had always presented to the King in Union one with another That by the Answer to Article VIII of the last Papers it was promis'd there should be no Innovation in the Cities held by the Protestants which would be no more then a delusion if Rochel were excluded That the Edicts of Peace had bin general hitherto and accepted in common without any resenting the Union of Interests That the acceptance of the Peace without Rochel would be an express condemnation of that City which would be an Action highly scandalous among People of the same Religion so much the rather because Rochel was resolv'd to submit That if the rest of the Reformed abandon'd Rochel to the King's Indignation People would be afraid that their general destruction was to be begun with the particular ruine of that City seeing that the Clergy the Parlaments and the principal Persons of the Kingdom discours'd openly of extirpating Heresy and of beginning with Rochel which was confirm'd by the printed Pamphlets that were publicly sold in Paris But the same Reasons which made the Reformed judge that their Union with Rochel was just and necessary were the very Reasons that oblig'd the Court to endeavour the dissolution of it For the ruine of that formidable City was sworn and the Cardinal who was desirous to signalize himself by great things thought it an Enterprize worthy himself So that â—here was nothing listen'd to of what was spoken in favour of â—hat City whose Destiny was vow'd Nevertheless she was 〈…〉 much astonish'd as the rest at Soubises's Defeat and falling 〈…〉 a suddain from a Resolution a little too haughty into â—…ost profound Submissions she resolv'd to beg with humility â—hat Peace which she had refus'd with disdain Her Deputies â—ame and threw themselves at the King's Feet and besought â—is Pardon in most submissive terms But the King answer'd 'em â—…ke a Master that resolv'd to make his Pardon his Punishment â—nd reduce 'em by the Peace into a worse Condition then the Calamities of an Unfortunate War could e're have brought ' em The Chancellor therefore to whom the King referr'd 'em impos'd these Conditions upon ' em That the Council and Government of the City should be in the same Condition as it was 〈…〉 1610. That they should admit an Intendant of Justice That the Fortifications should be demolish'd That the King should be admitted with respect whenever he pleas'd to enter That they should have no Men of War and that Merchants Ships should take their Passes from the Admiral of France That they should restore to the Ecclesiastics their Goods and Estates And â—hat certain Wagons and Merchandise which belong'd to the â—nhabitants of Orleance and which the Rochelois had seiz'd should be restor'd Upon these Conditions they were promis'd to be comprehended in all the Priviledges of the Edict 'T was a sowre piece of Condescention to submit to such severe and rigorous Laws nor could they tell how to mollify the Victor into more easie moderation In vain the General Deputies interceded for Rochelle in the name of all the Churches However Maniald took upon him to spake and made a most moving and passionate Speech to the King wherein he made a lively description of the Misery of the Rochellois he excus'd their taking Arms as done out of necessity Which nevertheless he condemn'd with Expressions full of execration whatever the Pretence were with which it was cover'd He said that the Rochelois were come to accuse themselves and sue for mercy He besought the King to grant 'em Peace not as Enemies subdu'd by the Sword but as Subjects with the moderation of his Sceptre He added that without Liberty they would not be Subjects but Slaves Concluding he implor'd pardon with promise of submission and of servitude also if the King's satisfaction and the good of his service depended upon it But all this was to no purpose The King was resolv'd that Rochelle should be excepted out of the General Peace and that she should submit to particular Laws In the mean time there was a League concluded between the King of England the Republic of Venice the Duke of Sâ—â—â—â— and the States of the Vnited Provinces in Conjunction with France against Spain which kept almost all Italy under the Yoke and was fairly preparing to deprive her of the remainder of her Liberty These Confederates were very urgent with Cardinal Richlieu to hasten Peace with the Reformed to the end they might act unanimously against the Common Enemy 'T is true that Minister had it deep laid in his thoughts to humble Spain but he thought that the first step which he was to take to that end was to enslave France and by that means to bereave Foreigners of Opportunities to renew the Civil Wars To that end he judg'd it necessary first to ruin the Reformed who were still strong enough by their Union to support a Party of Malecontents And therefore he resolv'd to begin with Rochelle after the reducing of which he did not expect to meet with much more Resistance in the Kingdom Nor did France want Persons who were sharp sighted enough to penetrate the Cardinal's Design But their foresight did not hinder 'em for all that from contributing to their own Servitude They well perceiv'd that in oppressing the Reformed they made Fetters for themselves but every one was in hopes to make his Fortune by the Public Misery This was that which made the Cardinal so obstinate to except Rochel out of the general Peace to the end he might separate it from the rest of the Reformed and destroy it with more ease But two things constrain'd him to surcease this Great Design The one was That the Spaniards waited the Success of these Confusions that they might take their own Methods that they treated with the Duke of Rohan to accept of their Service that the Duke had sent Campredon into Spain to make himself â—e more considerable by their Succour that the Conjuncture 〈…〉 Affairs render'd the Spaniards more stiff and authoriz'd the â—inning out a Treaty begun with 'em about those things which â—d kindl'd the War in Italy The other was That Powerful â—abals were forming against him to remove him from the Miâ—stry He saw the chiefest part of all that was great at Court 〈…〉 Combination against him and rightly judg'd that he should â—ve too many Factions to employ his Wits without taking â—â—on himself the management of two Wars at once the one â—omestic the other Civil He resolv'd therefore to put an end â—â—th to the one and the other with a resolution to set a-foot â—e Civil War agen so soon as the Conspiracies against his
him entitl'd La Chemise â—aâ—glante de Henri IV. or The Bloody Shirt of Henry IV. which reflected upon the King's Honour so that d' Aistres was degraded and excommunicated by the Synod But Galand was not satisfi'd with this Ecclesiastical Punishment and therefore he caus'd the Book to be condemn'd to the Flames by the Party Chamber then sitting at Beziers That Chamber had bin remov'd from Castres during the Troubles and that City having a great desire to have it restor'd to her again compli'd with all Galand's Projects whose Testimony she was in hopes would be favourable to her at Court. Upon these Considerations it was that she gave him a Writing wherein she disown'd the Negotiations in Spain and join'd with him to hinder the Duke of Rohan's Deputies which he sent to the Synod from being admitted as also to be a means that his Conduct was there censur'd In a word the thing was carri'd so far that Marmet the Dukes Minister being come to Castres about particular business was not permitted to be in the Town above twenty four Hours though he protested that he had neither any Letters nor any Commission from his Master But the Duke having rightly foreseen what he was to expect from Galand had taken his Measures quite another way For he gave his Letteres to the Synod to Bearfort a Deputy from Cevennes and a kind of Manifesto which he had writ in his own Justification to another Minister So that they who held Intelligence with Galand finding their Designs prevented durst not attempt any thing farther In the mean time Blandel and Bauterne were deputed to carry to the King the Nomination of the General Deputies and the Synod after they had sate seven weeks brake up The Deputies made a very submissive Speech to the King Which done the King out of the six Persons nominated made choice of the Marquess of Clermont Calerande and Bazin to reside near his Person These New Deputies were charg'd with large Memoirs of Grievances that were sent 'em from all parts Paulet Minister of Verzenobres had been driven from his Church by violence The Marquis of Varennes Governor of Aiguemortes had as badly us'd Bancillon Minister of the Place Censtans Minister of Pons had been a long time Prisoner at Bourdeaux where he was still detain'd and Billot Minister of la Roche Chalais had been treated after the same manner though they ought both to have bin releast by the Edict of Peace The Cardinal of Sourdis and the Bishop of Maillezais persecuted the Church of Monravel where they attaqu'd in general the Right of Exercise and in particular several Members of it by Processes and other Acts of Violence The Church of Motte had labour'd very near under the same Extremities That of Serveriettes had bin also turmoil'd and harrass'd and several Churches of Guyenne and Languedoc had bin so absolutely ruin'd during the War that the Synod was constrain'd to recommend 'em to the Charity of others The Parlament of Pau had given out Decrees which forbid Consistories to censure Fathers Mothers or Guardians that sent their Children to Catholic Schools nay to the very Colledges of the Jesuits The Parlament of Tholouse had given out several Warrants to arrest the Bodies of several Inhabitants of Briteste for a Fact that was pardon'd by the General Amnesty Berard Advocate of the Court of Judicature at Soumieres had been imprison'd for no other Crime but for abjuring the Catholic Religion And the Reformed were still disturb'd upon the score of their Burials The Advocate-General James Talon caus'd several Decrees to be issu'd forth in one year upon this occasion of which the most favourable ordain'd no more then that before the Bodies were digg'd up information should be given whether it could be done Conveniently And what was singular in the Advocate-General's Reasons was this That to deprive a Gentleman of a purchas'd Right he had recourse to the pre-possess'd Fancy of the Catholics who sought to be buried in Churches that they might have a share in the benefit of Suffrages and Prayers Which being refus'd by the Reformed that they ought not to enjoy that advantage which they never minded themselves As if the Controversy between the Catholics and the Reformed about the benefit or unprofitableness of Prayer for the Dead had had any Relation to the Rights of a Lord of a Soile whose Ancestors had purchas'd the Priviledge of being buried in the Church which they had both founded and endow'd Upon which it may be observ'd that the Burial of the Dead in Churches was an effect of Superstition as the Advocate-General expresly acknowledg'd and set forth at large the degrees of the progress of it This Honour said he having been at first conferr'd upon Martyrs not because they were buried in Churches but because Churches were built over their Tombs it was also afterwards allow'd the Priest to holy Persons to those that enrich'd the Church by their Donations to Founders and lastly to those that were able to pay for it So that to speak properly there was only the Founders Right which had any other foundation then that of Superstition since he might pretend to it as a perpetual Evidence and Monument of his Liberality Neverthelesss James Talon could find in his heart to prefer a Right acquir'd by the Superstition of the People and the Covetousness of the Priests before a Priviledge which deriv'd it's original from the Bounty of a Founder The same James Talon caus'd a Legacy of a Reformed bequeath'd to the Poor to the Treasurer of the Hospital of the City of Chartres For which the Pretence was That according to the Edict the Poor of both Religions were to be reliev'd which if that reason had bin good had bin sufficient to have destroy'd the XLII Article of Particulars but this Decree was made the 7th of January There was another made in March after two Hearings which annull'd the Marriage of la Ferte Imbault and forbid him to keep company with the woman whom he had marry'd and the reason for it was because he was a Knight of Maltha and for that it was contrary to his Vow As if his Profession of a contrary Religion could not unty him from such a superstitious Engagement A man may judge by these trials of a Parlament where Justice was not altogether unknown how the Reformed were handl'd in others who lookt upon it as a meritorious Act to load 'em with Vexations and unjust Sentences The King himself also set forth some Declarations by which the Edict was considerably violated Upon the 12th of January came forth one which exempted the Ecclesiastics from pleading for the possession of their Benefices and Goods which were thereunto annex'd in Courts where any of the Reformed sate and which referr'd 'em to the next Catholic Judge The 10th of December appear'd another which ordain'd that Processes should be adjudg'd at Pau by all the Judges that should be found upon the Bench without
distinction of Religion and in case of removal the Cause should not be remov'd to the Party Chambers but to the next Parlament And the foundation of this Law which laid the Reformed at the mercy of the Catholics when they were most numerous upon the Bench was this That the Edict of Nantes was granted neither in favour of Bearn nor Navarre And thus the Clergy of that Countrey which formerly never aspir'd to more then to enjoy the Priviledges of that Edict had already carri'd their exterminating Zeal so high that they would not leave the Reformed any longer the enjoyment of that advantage So that those unfortunate People having seen the particular Edict which Henry IV. granted 'em violated in all the points of it cannot have the consolation to live under the prosection of the same Laws with the rest of the Churches of the same Communion In the mean time the Cardinal summon'd an Assembly of the Men of Note call'd Assemblée de Notables at Paris where he made a Harangue himself In this Assembly most worthy Proposals were made and the most profitable Resolutions in the World were taken for the Peace and Tranquility of the King but they were not taken to be put in execution They had only a mind to amuse the People who are easily dazl'd with great expectations and to accustom 'em to the Ministry of the Cardinal who promis'd 'em those mighty things There was only one Declaration which spoke of reuniting all the King's Subjects to the Roman Church by ways of Sweetness Love Patience and good Examples of maintaining the Reformed in the Privileges that had bin granted 'em by the Edicts of re-establishing good Discipline and vertuous Manners of advancing the Nobility of causing Justice to flourish of reforing Trade and easing the People But of all these Articles they remember'd none but the first For they procur'd the re-union of several private persons to the Church of Rome by the strong Arguments of Interest or by Vexations and Acts of Iniustice In pursuance of which they vaunted about this time of having converted in Bearn above 800 persons and because the care of these Conquests was committed to some zealous Missionary who manag'd these glorious Enterprizes by his counsels and advice they fail'd not to attribute the success to his Doctrine his Conversation and his Piety tho it were more justly due to the utmost rigors of Violence and Injustice The same means which the Church of Rome has always call'd ways of Sweetness wrought the same effect this year at Aubenas Where the Marquis of Ornano under pretence of the War of which I shall suddenly have an occasion to speak exercis'd most extravagant Violences upon the Reformed of that City Two Regents of that place coming to kiss his hands iâ— the body of the Town as their Lord he took from 'em their Hoods which is the mark of their Dignity and having call'd a Council he would not permit the Reformed who had bâ—â— elected Councellors to take their Seats he disarm'd all thâ— Reformed and put the Regency into the hands of Catholics and committed the Guard of the City to them at the chargâ— of the Reformed and being constrain'd to reinforce his Partâ— with some additional Troops because the Catholics were noâ— so numerous as the other he quarter'd the whole Garison upoâ— the Reformed only and this Garison committed Violences â—â— less barbarous then those in our days from which those miserable People could not redeem themselves but by changing their Religion So that in three weeks there were no less then 25â— Families that turn'd Catholics if the Converters do not augment their number And to add Insulting Domineering â—â— Violence they forc'd those poor Creatures to sign a Writing wherein they declar'd that they embrac'd the Roman Religioâ— willingly These extorted Declarations which they shew'd â—â— the King persuaded him that there were hardly any of thâ— Reformed who had not the same Inclinations and that they were only restrain'd by a Cabal of Ministers and the power â—â— the Party That there needed no more then the taking of Rochel and some other Cities which held up the Party and theâ— thousands of People would declare for the Catholic Religion Iâ— the mean time encourag'd by the example of what had happen'd at Aubena's they follow'd their Blows into other places For the Archbishop of Bourges and the Governor of St. Amand a little Town in Berri made a profitable use of this Pattern to bring back the Reformed to the Catholic Religion so that the fear into which they put the Inhabitants of quartering 200 meâ— upon 'em upon the same Conditions as the Garison was quarter'd at Aubenas made above 60 Families abjure the Reformed Faith And thus it was that the Edict publish'd upon the Remonstrances of the Assembly of the men of Note was put in execution But besides these they gave other marks of their slender Inclinations to observe the Edicts for there were above Forty Curches depriv'd of their spiritual comfort either through â—urbance of their Exercises or Imprisonment and Banishment their Ministers They had taken from the Reformed in seâ—al places both their Churches and their Church-yards withâ— any Form of Law ever since the Peace concluded The â—rdinal of Sourdis Archbishop of Bourdeaux whose Example â—s follow'd by some Gentlemen of the Countrey exercis'd a â—â—usand brutish Cruelties upon Bodies that were buri'd in such â—ces as carry'd any marks of Consecration according to the â—tom of the Catholics They refus'd to suffer Veilleux a â—nister call'd by the Reformed to Rouen to attend their service â—d the only reason for their refusal was because he was a Forâ—gner Letters of Reprisal were granted against the Reâ—med for things that were fully forgiven by the Edict of Peace â—veral persons were also put to death for Facts that had bin â—mmitted during the War with allowance of the Generals â—â—ich was expresly comprehended in the Amnesty granted by â—â— last Edict And there were reckon'd up above 10000 Warâ—â—ts given out in Languedoc for arresting of People upon the â—e Pretences The Council also divided the Consulship by â—ecrees given upon a Petition in places where according to â—â— Edicts which promis'd that nothing should be innovated in â—wns that were held by the Reformed that Office was to â—â—e bin let alone entire The particular Deputies that were â—t to carry the Complaints of these Acts of Injustice were 〈…〉 us'd Some were sent back unheard and laught at for their â—ins others were answer'd with nothing but Bravado's and â—enaces If any qualifi'd person took upon him this Deputaâ—n and that they were to treat him with more Civility they â—deavour'd to seduce him by Promises by Applauses or any â—her way not sparing any Artifices to find out on which side 〈…〉 was most subject to their Batteries and after all they sent â—â—m back agen as he came They refus'd to receive from the â—eneral Deputies the Papers drawn
days by an affectation of extraordinary Clemency and of being exact to his Word then a Victorious Army where the King was in person could accomplish by a long Siege When he made his Entry into Montauban the Ministers presented themselves to kiss his Hands he receiv'd 'em but before that he gave 'em to understand that he did not allow 'em that Honour as Deputies of any Particular Body because the Reformed made no Particular Body in the Kingdom but only as men of Learning for whom he had an esteem The end of this Compliment was to let the Reformed know that their Union was quite extinct and consisted no longer in any other thing then in their Profession of the same Doctrine The Ministers of State the Intendants the Governors of Provinces and Princes themselves for a long time did 'em the same honour as the Cardinal had done the Ministers of Montauban But at length the Clergy weary of hearing the Compliments of the Ministers preferr'd upon all occasions before those of all the other Deputies obtain'd a Declaration which forbid 'em to make any such Deputations as I shall have an occasion to speak in another place As for the Assembly this year assembl'd at Paris they chiefly minded their own Affairs They obtain'd a Decree of Council which forbid the seizing in the hands of the Receivers of the Clergy the Pensions which had bin allow'd 'em under pretence of being the Debts of Converted Ministers And this open'd a large Door for the Knavery of those who were laden with Debts and had not wherewithal to pay But there were some Articles in the Ordinances of Lewis XIII upon which the Clergy thought fit to make Remonstrances Among which there was one which oblig'd 'em to draw up an Inventory of their Evidences Against which they urg'd that such an Article would do 'em wrong for that the Enemies of the Church meaning the Reformed 〈◊〉 draw from thence a pretence to molest 'em in the Posâ—… of their Livings Tho there was as much reason to fear 〈◊〉 Vexations of the Catholics as those of the other People because they would have found a means to prove the Falshood 〈◊〉 Nullity of their Evidences had they bin once expos'd to the Examination of cunning people but it did not behove them to speak of any other but the Reformed whose Name was 〈◊〉 proper to conceal their secret Intentions They demanded upon another Article that the Clause of Verify'd in Parlaâ—…ts requir'd by the Ordinance to set a Value upon the Concesâ—…s which they had obtain'd of several Kings might be taken away For they saw well that at that rate they should lose a great part or their Priviledges which wanted that Formaâ—…ty Whether it were that the Parliaments did not easily allow 〈◊〉 sorts of Favours or whether it were that the Clergy durst 〈◊〉 present 'em for fear of a Refusal They rather chose that such Concessions should be granted by way of Contract with 〈◊〉 King then by the public Forms of Law in regard the most Zealous Defenders of Arbitrary Power almost all of 'em agree 〈◊〉 Contracts are more Inviolable then the Laws But I make this Observation chiefly in this place to the end that men may 〈◊〉 that this Clause of which the Clergy so well saw the Consequence had not bin inserted in several Edicts given in favour of the Reformed and particularly in that of Nimes but only that they might have an Opportunity to deprive 'em of a great number of Concessions of High Importance for their welfare 〈◊〉 quiet Now they who have a desire to understand how the Reformed were handl'd in such Places where they liv'd under the Protection of the Edicts may readily understand by some Examples The 23. of April at an Assembly of the Town-Hall of 〈◊〉 there was a Resolution taken to admit no more of the Reformed to be sworn into Masterships of Trades and the Reason was this that the contrary Custom caus'd Differences and for that the Catholic Masters oppo'sd it As if the Opposition of a few Male-contents were to have bin of any value 〈◊〉 an Affair which the Edict had so clearly decided The King at another time being at Valence in the Dauphinate past a Decree of the Council of State touching the Bells the Church-Yard the Minister's and the School-Master's Salaries and other Affairs of the same nature to the good liking of all the Inhabitants but the Reparation of the Church contain'd a Regulation which in despite of Custom and the apparent Interest which the Reformed had in the Thing confirm'd to the Curate the Catholic Consul and such and such Inhabitants as were of the same Religion the Power of distributing the Alms and the Government of the Hospital It may be easily then judg'd what share that Regulation left us the Reformed of the Alms or in the Government of the Hospital But the Parlament of Rennes bethought themselves of being more just this year and by a Decree of the 12. of June Confirm'd the Private Article of that Edict which Exempted the Reformed from spreading Carpets before their Doors upon solemn Procession-days onely barely ordering that Carpets should be spread But the Parlament of Dijon was not in so good an Humour For it happen'd that a private person was accus'd before 'em for committing some Irreverence during the Procession of Corpus Christi Day The Party accus'd according to the Edict demanded the Removal of the Cause to the Chamber of Greenoble But the Removal was deny'd him under pretence that it was a matter of Sacriledge and that the Parlaments were to have the sole Cognizance of those Crimes But nothing was more unjust then this Pretention in regard that the pretence of Sacriledge was one of the Cases wherein the Reformed had most reason to be afraid of falling into the hands of Judges altogether prepossess'd The Parlament of Paris also by a Decree of the Third of August reduc'd the Priviledge of taking an Associate of the Reformed Religion for the drawing up and passing Sentences in Criminal Processes brought against those of the Religion to Cases of Marshal Law onely The Edict extended it to Final Sentences by whatever Judges they were given and Custom had stretch'd it to all manner of Criminal Processes because it seem'd Equitable the drawing up of the Process by the first Judge being that which of necessity byasses the Sentence of the Superiour I thought it requisite to set down the Original of this sort of Practice because that these particular Decrees have 〈◊〉 time bin turn'd into a General Law But nothing was more mischievous to the Reformed then the establishment of Missions which were Compos'd for the most part of persons of a violent seditious and pedantic Spirit who thought it an honour to themselves to excite Tumults and to â—…raw bad usage upon themselves that they might have an Opportunity to trouble the Principal Members of the Reformed Churches The most dangerous of these
King These Commissioners enlarg'd some Ministers and sent 'em to the King for the interpretation of the Decrees of his Council so that they were forc'd to tarry some years before the business was decided The Consulships also gave some occasion for Innovation Machaut the Intendant order'd that the Consulship of Alets should be alternative under the good pleasure of the King and till he should otherwise ordain But the Reformed who found this Sentence extreamly opposite to their Ancient Customs appeal'd to the Council where the Question hung for twenty years undecided Upon a Process commenc'd against the Reformed of Mountaign touching the right of Exercise and building a Church Bignon Advocate General procur'd a Decree which depriv'd the Reformed both of the one and the other He laid down those things for a foundation of his Conclusions which if he could have got 'em to have pass'd currant the Reformed must have lost the three fourth parts of their Churches First He affirm'd that the Reformed had no right to any Church but in places of Bailliage setl'd by the Commissioners and he supported this Assertion by the Decrees set forth in 1562. and 1577. which by consequence had bin revok'd by the Edict of Nantes Moreover he would needs have it that the permission of the Lord which was produc'd by the Inhabitants should be lookt upon as extorted because it was not to be presum'd that a Catholic Lord would permit the establishment of a Religious Exercise that was contrary to his own This was well found out to destroy all those Places where the Reformed Exercise was perform'd in Catholic Proprieties Had the Church produc'd the most solid Proofs in the world of their Possession and fail'd of the Lord's permission it would have bin urg'd that that very defect had disannull'd all the rest and if they produc'd the Lord's leave then they cri'd it must have bin extorted But at last he pretended that the Place belong'd to an Ecclesiastic Lord and so the Reformed who produc'd Evidences since 1558. could not reap the benefit of a Possession near fourscore years This was no more then positively to say That whatever Title the Reformed could produce 't was impossible for 'em to have any Justice done ' em There happen'd at the beginning of this year an Accident altogether singular the Circumstances of which were so remarkable as not to be omitted in this History Two Scholars of the Academy of Saumur took a fancy to be present at the Mass which the Catholics call Midnight-Mass because it is said upon Christmas-day in the Morning presently after Midnight Bell has rung Many times a silly Curiosity carries young People to be Spectators of these fine Shows because a prodigious Concourse of all sorts generally crouds to gape upon this Solemnity as expecting something extraordinary But what was more these young Hair-brains presented themselves before the Altar as if they intended to receive the Communion but upon their taking the Symbols into their hands not with that reverence as they ought to have done they were known for what they were apprehended and indicted but for fear of depriving the City of the benefit which they reap'd by the Academy condemn'd to very easy Penalties There was an Appeal from this Sentence But the Chamber of the Edict of Paris surcharging the Sentence of the former Condemnation order'd by a Decree of the 17th of February That the Scholars should declare and acknowledge at Saumur within the ordinary Jurisdiction of the Seneschalship in a full Court upon their Knees and bareheaded That they had rashly gone upon Christmas-day in the Morning to Midnight-Mass and that they had indiscreetly received the Sacrament of the Altar That they should beg pardon of God the King and Justice that they should be banish'd out of the City and Provostship of Paris for three years and out of the Seneschalship of Namur for ever that they should be fin'd twelve hundred Livres to the King of which two hundred should be laid out in Bread for the Prisoners in the Palace Jaile two hundred for the purchase of a Silver Lamp to be hung before the place where the Sacrament of that Church was deposited and the remainder for the setting up a Copper-plate whereon the Decree should be engrav'd and for setling 〈…〉 Fund for the furnishing that Lamp with Oil to perpetuity The Decree also enjoin'd the Scholars to obey their Proscription exactly and forbid 'em relapsing into the same Transgressions again upon pain of death sent 'em to the Judges of Saumur who were to see the Sentence duly executed and to detain 'em in Prison till payment of the Fine Which last Clause was without question added to oblige the Parents or Relations of those Young men to pay the said Fine as a Ransom for their Release However they refrain'd in the Decree from the words Amende and Amende Honourable so that had it not bin for the Fine a man might have said that it had bin a Consistory which condemn'd those young Fops to a public Reparation for an Offence that deserv'd it according to the Discipline of the Reformed They had not then well studi'd the Privileges of the Roman Religion In these latter years they would have adjudg'd it that those Scholars by that Act had embrac'd the Roman Religion and the Church and the Academy both would have bin interdicted But the death of Gustavus this year deliver'd the See of Rome from the fear of his Arms. But in regard the Generals that succeeded him preserv'd the Advantages they had won it no way cur'd the Wounds which the House of Austria had receiv'd and France who found the convenience of an Alliance with Sueden made a new Treaty with Gustavus's Heiress Moreover the Cardinal had much business both at home and abroad and so much ado to guard himself from Conspiracies against his life that he had not time to think of the Protestants Never were known within the compass of one year so many Changes of Officers at Court in the Armies in the Governments of Towns and Provinces then were seen this year The Reformed made no figure but for all that the whole Kingdom was full of Factions and Cabals So that these Commotions which could not be imputed to Heresy sufficiently justifi'd the Religion upon whose Shoulders they would have thrown the Occasions and Causes of all the last Wars and no less truly theâ— apparently fix'd the Accusation upon the Wickedness and Infidelity of the Government It seem'd but reasonable that the Reformed should be excus'd who had only taken Arms for their Liberty when the Catholic Lords Princes and People had recourse to the same means for the preservation of their Privileges and their Dignities In the mean time the Presidents Frere and Perissol and the Counsellors Basset and Calignon appointed Commissioners by the King in the Parlament of the Dauphinate to examin the Affair of the Annexes pliâ—d the Commission close and drew
of Loriol Preach carry'd a Complaint against him of the 24th of March and inform'd the Judges of several Blaspemies which as he said that Minister had pronounc'd in his hearing This Affair spun out for above two Years before it was fully prosecuted but at last a Capias was issu'd out against the Minister and Inquiry made after his Person which enforc'd him to keep out of the way till the Tempest was over However Chartier a Merchant's Son of Blois had not bin so easily acquitted could they but have caught him For there was a Complaint and an Information put in against him upon the 22th of May for some pretended Blasphemy which he had utter'd against the Sacrament the same Day that the Romish Church carries it about in a Pompous Procession Now in regard he did not make a voluntary Appearance but kept himself from being taken he was condemn'd for Contumacy the First of October to undergo the Amende Honourable before the Principal Church of Blois to have his Tongue bor'd and his Lips slit to be Fin'd Three hundred Livres to the Poor and Banish'd for ever out of the Balliage and County of Blois These were the Fruits and Penalties of this Declaration But this Violence lasted not long and tho we have seen from time to time some Vexation arise from this Fountain nevertheless â—t was not the Occasion of so much Mischief as they who set â—orth the Edict expected As for the first Accusation it produc'd no more then Childish Cavils with which the Missionaries astonish'd inconsiderable People Not but that the Clergy would fain have made a Busiâ—ess of Importance of it For the Bishop of St. Flour who took â—is leave of the King in the Name of the Assembly upon the â—oth of April could not forbear talking of the Vnion with the Lutherans after a most Envenom'd manner He made a Speech full of Allusions to the Affairs of the Reformed more especially â—o the taking of Rochelle which he call'd the Rock that had a share 〈…〉 all the Commotions of the Kingdom and the Foundation of a Reâ—igion contrary to that which Christ establish'd upon the Rock Among other things he congratulated the King That his Power which in other Reigns was limited now knew no bounds A Complement which it is a difficult thing to believe That Subâ—ects who have any Sense or Understanding Cordially bestow â—pon their Sovereigns The rest of his Speech rowl'd all upon â—he Immunities of the Clergy which as he made the King beâ—ieve were violated in divers things Moreover he presented â—o the King a Paper from the Assembly of which there were maâ—y Articles that concern'd the Reformed The greatest part were Answer'd by the King with those Extensions that carry â—he Concession farther then was desir'd Thus the Sixteenth Article demanded That the Reformed might preach no more upon the Lands which belong'd to the Ecclesiastics nor within 5 Leagues within Cities where Parlaments sate nor in Episcopal Cities nor in Places so near Catholic Churches as to disturb Divine Service That Churches built in such Places might be pull'd down within three Months and that the old Church-yards might be reserv'd to the Catholics The King granted every thing and added the pulling down of all Churches that had bin built since the Edict without Letters Patents enregister'd And in Cases of Difference about the Execution of the Edict he summon'd the Cause before himself because at that time there were no Commissioners In like manner as to the Thirty second Article wherein the Clergy demanded that the Ministers might not be suffer'd to Preach in the Annexes the King exprest the Prohibition in more rigorous Terms then those of the Demand and forbid the Ministers to Preach without the Place of their Habitation Likewise to the Thirty third Article which requir'd the Executions of Decrees of Parliaments and Grand Assizes for the Demolishing of Churches the King consented and withall added those that had bin set forth for the Restoration of the Ecclesiastics to their Estates and Priviledges and upon pretended Infringements of the Edicts committed by the Reformed The rest demanded that the Chamber of the Edict or Party-Chambers might not take Cognizance of Appeals of Temporal Persons from Ecclesiastical Courts That the Reformed might be depriv'd of such Honorary Priviledges as belong'd to 'em in the Churches And that the Bishop might confer Benefices instead of Him who had the Right of Patronage That the Reformed Judges might not take Cognizance of the Transgressing of Holidays That the Judges of Courts possest in Peerage with the King if they were Reformed might be Reimburst and Catholics put in their room That the Commission given out for the Execution of the Edict in the Dauphinate might be revok'd That the Materials of the Fortifications of the Reformed Cities which had bin Demolishd might be bestow'd upon the Clergy to build Churches That the Syndics Promooters of Diocesses might be admitted Plaintiffs in Suits about Infringements That the second Place at all General Assemblies in Town Houses might be allow'd the Bishop's Vicar That it might be lawful to lay Impositions upon all the Inhabitants of Parishes for the building of Vicaridge houses Reparations of Structures purchase of Ornaments and other Things of the like nature That Tythes might be paid by the Reformed who as they pretended had bin exempted in some Places for sixty Years together by the Misfortune of the Wars and this notwithstanding any Contracts Agreements or Decrees that had bin made or issu'd forth to the contrary The King granted within a little all these Demands to the Clergy Nor do I see but one Article wherein he observ'd any Measure of Equity for the Reformed and that was upon the Twenty sixth Article Wherein the Clergy demanded that the School-Masters might be Catholics which the King granted according to their desire but without any prejudice to Schools granted the Reformed by Letters Patents enregister'd Now in that ill Humour wherein the Council was at that time there appear'd several Decrees which put the Reformed to no small Trouble For the Inhabitants of Villiers le bel and parts adjoyning were accustom'd to meet upon Sundays or Holidays in that Borough when the Season would not permit 'em to repair to Charenton which was the nearest Place where there was any Exercise The Place of their Meeting was some Private House where they Rendevouz'd upon the Sound of the same Bell which Call'd the Catholics to Church But in regard they had no Minister they only met to hear some Sermon or some Chapter in the Scripture read to sing Psalms and Pray together These private Exercises did no body any harm nor could the Catholics be disturb'd in regard the Reformed had ended their Devotions long before the Catholic Church was done Yet would they needs have these Assemblies to be a Misdemeanour and to render their Prosecutions of those People the more plausible 't was added that they spoke
undecently of the Romish Preachers and that they made the Children of the Catholics that were sent to their Schools to read the Books of the Reformed Upon which immediately came forth a Decree of the Privy-Council dated May 16th by which these Petty Exercises and supposed Misdemeanours were severely forbid Corhiâ—ni was a little City where the Reformed had a Place of Exercise by vertue of as clear a Possession as could be in tâ—e World so that the Commissioners had continu'd 'em in 〈…〉 solemn Ordinance made in the Year 1600. That Ordinance remov'd 'em to the farther end of one of the Suburbs of the City within the Jurisdiction of Corbigni with a Proviso till the Opposition which the Abbot made to the settlement of the Exercise in the City should be determin'd This Business hung in suspence near Seven Years after which there was a Decree of Council of the 13th of March 16â—7 which allow'd the Exercise not within the City but in one of the Suburbs and within the Jurisdiction of the City and appointed that Place for the first Place of the Bailiage Bâ—â— in regard there happen'd since that an Alteration in the Proceedings of that Court and because the City depended upon the Abby of St. Leonard's the Abbot obtain'd this Year a Decree upon a Petition which forbid the Reformed their Exercise in that Place or upon any Lands or within any Jurisdiction of the Abby Nor did they when they took away this appoint any other Place for the Reformed but constrain'd 'em to sell the Inheritances which they had Purchasâ— in the Suburbs before they would provide 'em another Place 'T was only told 'em that the King's Officers should give 'em notice whither or no there had bin a Place of Bailiage deliver'd according to the Edict that if there were there might be one allow'd ' em By which it appear'd that the Decree had bin issued forth without any knowledge of the Cause because this Place had bin granted in Right of Bailiage by a Definitive Decree But for all that this Decree was put in Execution without any regard at all had to the Opposition which the Reformed made They also took the Opportunity to serve this Decree when Monsanglard the Minister of the Place was in his Pulpit to the end the Thing might make so much the Greater Noise and more effectually redound to the Reproach and Affront of the Reformed This Monsanglard had bin accus'd in Court for having said That at Rome they sold Remission of Sins for which the Judge of the Place Condemn'd him to the Amende Honourable and all the Consequences of that Punishment But upon his Appeal the Minister being remov'd to the Prison of Paris call'd La Conciergerie and pleading in his own justification That he took what he had said out â—ut of a Book of the Rates of the Apostolic Chamber Printed at Rome it self they were asham'd to Confirm the Sentence and Dismiss'd both him and the Process out of Court There is also another Decree to be seen of an uncertain Date set forth by the Chamber of the Edict of Rouen which forbid the Reformed to continue their Exercise in the Borough of St. Sâ—lvin because it depended upon the Abby of Almeneche Another Decree of Council ordain'd That the Church of â—…r should be pull'd down as being too near the Catholic Church after they had built another which should be neither within the Jurisdiction Signiories or Precincts of the Eccleâ—… The 20th of June came forth another Edict of the Privy Council against the Lord of Claye and Biche which forbid the Exercise within the Signiories where the Lord did not actually reside the presence of his Domestic Servants not being sufficient to Authorize it The same Decree forbid Preaching without the Place of their Residence upon pain of Corporal Punishment and Imprisonment I also find Two Decrees Cited by such as have Collected those Sorts of Acts against the Reformed the First of which was Dated the 15th of July the Other the 12th of December They Imported that the Exercises should not be perform'd in the Lord's Houses when the Minister should be absent or sick The Parlament of Bourdeaux also Signaliz'd themselves by a Decree set forth the 4th of July against the Authority of Parents For one La â—…ee dwelling in the Borough of Castres had marri'd a Catholic Wife by whom he had six or seven Children which the Wife making an ill use of her Husband's Indulgence brought up in the Catholic Religion This Woman happen'd to die before the Children had attain'd the Age of Discretion and the Father was accus'd for constraining the Children to go to the Reformed Church Upon which the Parlament interpos'd and gave the Advocate-General leave to bring in an Information and in the mean time General Prohibitions were sent abroad forbidding Parents to force their Children to go to Protestant Sermons The Bailiage of Gex was us'd after the same manner as the rest of the Kingdom where the Prince of Condé as Governor of Burgundy upon which the Bailiage depended put in execution the Prohibitions forbidding the Admission of Foreign Ministers comprehending under that Name the Inhabitants of Geneva He also equally divided the use of the Common Pastures of the Country between the Reformed and the Catholics though the Reformed were Ten for One. The greatest part of the Decrees which I have enumerated were revived again the next year But there were several to which they added other Articles very grievous and troublesome The Parlament of Rouen by a Decree of the 18th of March forbid the keeping of any Schools at St. Lo. For the Consistory had set up some according to the Exhortation of the National Synods and had also put in Regents such as those Synods approv'd The Promoter Coutances undertook this Business and upon an Appeal from the Sentence of the Ordinary Judge he procur'd a Decree which annull'd the Power of the Consistory forbid 'em for the future to give Approbation of the like nature permitted Masters only to teach to write and read in private Houses but not to instruct or Catechize not to say Public Prayers or read Lectures contrary to the Doctrine of the Romish Church Upon the 21st of April the Privy Council set forth a Decree which forbid the Exercise in the absence of the Ministers as also in any other Places then those wherein it was lawful for 'em to reside by the Edicts The same Decree forbid the hindring of Fathers Mothers Tutors Kindred Masters c. to send their Children Relations Friends Servants c. to Masters of Catholic Schools approv'd by the Ordinaries So that what with taking away from the Reformed the liberty of having Colledges what with obliging the Consistories to suffer the sending of Children to suspected Masters they who had Children to bring up were reduc'd either to let 'em grow up in ignorance or expose 'em to the Snares and Inveagling Persuasions and
Rennes condemn'd the Reformed in Vitre to spread Carpets before their Doors upon Procession days tho' about ten years before they had set forth an Edict quite opposite to it And upon the 14th of December the Parliament of Dijon made another which was no less singular For two of the Reformed had had a suit together The one demanded that his Cause might be sent back the Other requir'd that the Cause might be continu'd Accordingly the Parlament judg'd the continuance of it and the Pretence was that it was a case wherein the Cause of the Defendant was to be favour'd They might have said with much more Justice that in regard the Dispute was about a Franchise he who was willing to wave it could not so well do it to the Prejudice of him that endeavour'd to make use of it The sixteenth of December the privy Council condemn'd the Reformed who practis'd as Proctors in some Jurisdiction or other of Poitou to produce their Letters Patents and to justifie that they were qualified for the Employment that is to say that they were Roman Catholicks In the mean time they were forbid to practise in them This was the Language of all the Courts in the Kingdom who knew the King had by that means a design to exclude the Reformed from all petty Employments The same day came forth another decree which forbid the Exercise of the Reformed Religion at Taulignan in the Province of the Dauphinate and which would not permit 'em to bury but in the dusk of the Evening as at Paris and other great Cities under the Forfeiture of three thousand Livres I meet with also another Decree the same day which forbid the Reformed of Blois to lock up their Church-yard For the Archdeacon who is the chief Clergy-man of that City had presented a Petition to that Effect wherein he set forth that the locking up of the Church-yard would create a Jealousie in the Catholicks For that the Church-yard being advantagiously seated to command the City which was built upon the Descent of a Hill they might meet together and fortify themselves in it to the great danger of the City Which was a Precaution that signifi'd very little at a time when France was already subdu'd and patiently bore the Yoak So that there were none but the Croakers who made a little Bustle in some of the Provinces For so were the Peasants call`d who not being able to bear the Taxes and Imposts with which they were overwhelm'd nor the Vexations of the Gentry had taken Arms to defend themselves Nevertheless the Council granted those Prohibitions to the Archdeacon not because the Reason of the thing deserv'd it but because it would be an Inconvenience to the Reformed who Burying their dead in an open Place would be expos`d to the Affronts of the Rabble The next year they continu'd their Vexations of the Reformed by a thousand Squabbles and Cavils The Bishop of Oleron in Bearn and the grey Fryar Placede his Proctor attempted to put down the Exercise at Oleron St. Marie Luc and Saucede And the Parliament of Pau whither the Cause was remov'd retain'd it and in the mean time forbid the Continuance of Preaching in Places where there were not above ten Families of the Reformed in all Grounding their Proceedings upon the Answer return'd to the Paper presented by the Ecclesiasticks in 1617. upon which a Decree was made the 23th of January The Parliament of Paris also by a Decree of the 7th of September forbid La Gateliniere to suffer any Preaching in his House at Puigeniet nor in any place belonging to the Bailliage of Tours The same day likewise the Parlament of Bourdeaux sent the same Prohibitions to those of Beaulieu in Limosin at the same time forbidding 'em to hold a Synod in the City or to make use of the Common Bell for tolling to Sermon under the Forfeiture â—â— 10000 Livres 'T is true indeed that this was not ordain'd but for such a Time and till it should be order'd otherwise The Schools were the Subject of many Cavils as well as their Exercises For the Syndic of the Clergy oâ— Roven took his Opportunity when the Council stay'd aâ— Roven in regard the Chancellor had Orders to repair into Normandy and Command the Forces that were sent against the Piednuds or the People that went Barefoot for so were they call'd in that Province who were nam'd Crokers in other Places This same Syndic set forth in his Petition that the Catholicks themselves had not the Liberty to keep Schools without leave of the Chancellor of the Metropolitan Church whence it follow'd that the Reformed were not to have that Priviledge without Permission For this reason the Council upon the 6th of February set forth a Decrcee prohibiting Schools to be kept at Roven or in any other Places where there was not a Right of Exercise Upon the 10th of December the Parlament of Bourdeaux at the Instance of du Sault a Zealous Persecutor who pleaded in the room of the Advocate General by a Decree forbid Ordâ— and Grenier Regents of the Reformed Schools at St. Fri to keep 'em open for that they had intruded into 'em of their own Heads without leave of the Court The Fifteenth of the same Month wrote expresly to the Bishop of Poitiers to let him understand that 't was his Pleasure for Decorums sake that the Schools where Boys and Girls were taught should be distinct Two Months after appear'd a Judicial Sentence upon a Motion of the Kings Advocate that all Schoolmasters as well Catholicks as Reformed should be bound to take their Licenses from the Bishop and by Consequence to observe the same distinction between the Schools of both Sexes Since that the Law is very much alter'd for that by forbidding the Reformed to have any more then one School in a Place they have provided against their Observance of that Distinction As if the Profession of Heresie were a reason sufficient to deprive Hereticks of their Right to observe the Decorums of Morality The Advocate General in the Parlament of Pau bethought himself of a rare Artifice to oblige the Reformed under that Jurisdiction to give their Religion the Title of Pretended Reformed They were wont to qualifie themselves with the Addition of the Religion of the Edict or barely Of the Religion And this they observ'd in all their Publick Acts even in the Pleadings of Advocates But the Advocate General undertook to prohibit 'em that Custom and to render this Severity more Tolerable he was desirous to usher it in by some Act of Justice He shew'd how that the Catholicks commonly call'd 'em Huguenots and Hereticks which might cause great Disorder besides that the Reformed were not to be Suffer'd â—o use such Expressions as frequently came out of their Mouths â—n Conformity therefore to this Request the Parlament set forth a Decree forbidding the Catholicks to call the Reformed Huguenots or Hereticks and prohibiting
Terrible Judgment requir'd the Incessant Applications of Prayer and Devotion the People might have been dispenc'd with the delays of a Regular Address to obtain the Princes leave Nevertheless this Attempt was lookt upon as Criminal tho' it had been authoriz'd by a Decree of the Party-Chamber Thereupon there was a Decree made by the Privy Council which forbid any such sort of Exercise which reserv'd to the King the Power of appointing some Place for the Reformed where to meet in Case of Contagion and which order'd Machaut Intendant of the Province to prosecute Du Cross and others accus'd of this New Crime And the Intendant was authoriz'd to give a final Sentence from which there should be no Appeal Now they who are acquainted with the delays of the Council and the Comissioners to whom such things are referr`d can never question but that the design was to reduce the Reformed either to forbear their Exercises while those Contagions continu`d or else to infect one another if they would not deprive those that were upon Recovery and such as were suspected of Infection of the Consolation of their publick Devotions who both of `em stood in the greatest need of it This Decree came forth the 30th of October but had not authority enough to serve for a Regulation But there was a particular affair and which made a great noise adjudg`d by the Parliament of Paris the 22th of August There was a certain Priest in the Diocess of Nevers whose name was Sebastian Tridon who not conforming to the Roman Religion and abhorring the Tyranny of Celibacy embrac`d the Reformed Religion and afterwards marri`d The Bishop of Nevers to prevent the Noise of this Conversion from spreading any further and to brand the Priest with Infamy set a-foot an Accusation of Lewdness against him and omitted nothing of Falshood or False dates to colour the Calumny For which reason the Priest appeal`d from the Sentence of the Bishop as a Secular Person from an Ecclesiastical Court and undertook to prove the Falshood as well of the Decree as of the verbal Report of a pretended Lying-in of the Maid whom he was accus`d to have debauch`d On the other side three Brothers which he had oppos`d his Marriage and obtain`d of the Judge of St. Peter le Moutier Prohibitions to Montunglard the Minister and all others to proceed any farther towards the Celebration of the Marriage as also to Tridon and Mary Bruander who was betroth'd to him to think any more of it 'T is true it deeply concern`d the Brothers as well for that by the Marriage they lost the hopes of succeding as Heirs to their Brother as for that Tridon quitted several rich Benefices by forsaking the Roman Religion For it appear'd by the Process that he was in possession of an Abby a Canonship and a considerable Vicaridge Well There was an appeal from that Sentence as also from the Proceedings of the Official and the Cause being remov`d into the Chamber Tridons Advocate insisted upon the Liberty granted by the Edict and upon the long Toleration of several Marriages in the same Case The Bishops Advocate who was also for the Rest of Tridons adversaries insisted chiefly upon the Vow of Priesthood which he pretended was inviolable and which is worthy observation he said nothing of the Challenge but by the by only he told the Court that the Methods he had taken were impertment and false And at the Conclusion of his Plea he put home to the Reformed a Point of Honour who if they lov'd the Purity of their Religion would never admit any to the Profession of it but such who embrac'd it upon the Principles of Vertue not such as became their Proselytes for love of Libertinism and publickly abandon'd their Continency As if not to say any thing of the lawfulness of Marrige at present it could be deny d that a man who only sought to marry for no other reason then to find a Remedy against Incontinency in the state of Wedlock were not visibly over-rul'd by the Maxims of Vertue And the Advocate General Talon likewise tho` he had laid a great stress upon the Opinion of the Roman Church which believes that the sacerdotal Character such as that she deems to be imprinted by Baptism can never be lost nor repeated could not forbear to second the Advocates conceit but the Advocate pretending that Celibacy was an Apostilick Tradition deriding as Fabulous the Story of Paphnutius who in a full Council had given the Name of Chastity to Conjugal Society according to the Relation of Socrates Talon acknowledg`d the contrary that Marriage and Orders were not incompatible by their Institution and that Celibacy was only introduc'd for the sake of greater Purity but in the main he asserted that the Particular Articles were never enregister`d tho' eighteen years before his Father James Talon had maintain`d the contrary and caus`d the Register to be brought into Court That they contain`d Priviledges and Resignations irregular from the common Law which were not capable of any extended Interpretation but were to be expounded according to the Letter That it was with the Liberty of Sentiments granted by the Edict as with the Liberty of Exterior Actions which are reduc'd into Laws of the Kingdom That Priests might Embrace the Reformed Religion but not Violate the General Laws of Celibacy which were the Laws of the State That there were a thousand Inconveniences to be fear'd if they should be permitted to Marry more especially if the same Priest after he was Marry`d should happen to return to the Roman Church He cited the Decrees made upon the Marriage of the Cardinal Chatillon and the Chevalier de la Ferte Imbaut and to elude the Force of the long Toleration of Mariages of the same Nature he would needs have it believ`d that it proceeded from two Causes First for that the Kindred of Marry`d Priests stifl'd the memory of their Crimes for the Honour of their Families as not being any way bound to reveal `em The Second was that the Ecclesiasticks were never eager in the Prosecution of such People which was the cause of their Impurity These were the Advocate General`s Reasons which it would have been an easie thing to have refuted had the other side been permitted to Answer For the two Causes from whence he deduc`d the Toleration of Marriages of the same Nature with Tridons were notoriously False The Kindred having had always prevailing Reasons to prevent 'em and the Ecclesiasticks never omitting any Opportunity of persecuting those Priests who forsook the Roman Church Besides that outward Sentiments or Actions were so far from being restrain'd within the Bounds of the Laws of the Kingdom by the Edicts that quite the contrary those Edicts were only promulgated to exempt the Reformed not only in respect of Sentiments but in regard of outward Actions from the Rigor of the Common Laws as to what concern'd Conscience Nevertheless in regard the Time for Interpreting any thing in
Blasphemies The Judge having understood his Duty by the Decree of the Chamber of the Edict which had revers'd his Sentence the Year before pronounc`d another more moderate and condemn`d the Criminal to make an atonement for his Fault by kneeling with his Head bare before the Auditory of Nanterre and three Years banishment out of the Jurisdiction This Business being remov'd to Paris by an Appeal of the Party condemn`d the Advocate General was in an ill humour at that time and mov`d to be admitted an Appellant as from a Punishment that was too slight Upon which the Chamber of the Edict by a Decree of the 11th of May enhansing the Penalty impos`d by the Sentence of the Judge of Nanterre condemn`d Mangets to nine Years banishment out of the Provostship of Paris Moreover a certain private Person of Couhè was condemn`d to a Fine by a Sentence of the Judge of those places upon the 10th of April and the Fine was disposed of toward the maintaining a Light in the Parochial Church And the pretence was the Profanation of the Church-yard into which the same Person was accus`d for having carry`d some Dung and to have set up Tenters to stretch his Serges But all the Crime which he had Committed in that particular without doubt was no more then that being one of the Reformed he had not obtain'd leave of the Curate by some present or some little Gratuity In regard there is no Church-yard at this day wherein the same Liberty is not to be had at the same Rate The Proctors also were persecuted under pretence that they had not Patents for their practice or because they were not of the same Religion which was therein express'd For Example there liv`d at St. Maixants one of the Reformed whose name was Gascon and who was of the same Profession This man was envy'd by the Catholicks that liv'd by the same employment And that was a common thing in all Places where there were any Reformed Officers because they had generally more business then the others whether it were that the old opinion of their Probity caus'd 'em to be more confided in or whether it were that to render themselves more considerable they strove to be more exact then others Which was the reason that the Reformed were more respected for their own sakes then for the sake of their Employments Upon this score Gascon receiv'd the Money due to the Corporation which vex'd the others who thought there was something to be got by that Employment So that they began to think of getting him out of his Office that he might no longer be an Eye sore to ' em To this purpose Hardi a Catholick Proctor in the same Court maintain'd one day in a Process wherein he was Proctor for the same side that he had no right to plead at the Bar because he was not duly qualified But this attempt not having the desir'd Effect the Catholicks combin'd together against the Reformed and resolv'd to exclude 'em every one from those petty Employments To which end they thought it their best way to complain of 'em to the Governour and to accuse all the Notaries Serjeants and Proctors of the Religion of Frauds and foul Practice And by agreement of the same Assemby where that Resolution was taken they gave warning to Gascon not to meddle any more with the receipts of the Common Stock Which affair being at lengh after several prosecutions remov'd to the privy Council there came forth a Decree of the thirteenth of December which order'd the Parties accus`d to produce their Parents and to justify their being duly qualifi'd and if they fail'd of so doing to stand interdicted Which was the shortest way to deprive 'em of their Employments for a process upon an accusation of foul Practice would have bin redious and where the Informer had at least bin in as much danger as the Party prosecuted But in regard that all Parents expresly mention'd the Profession of the Catholick Religion the Binding the Reformed who had no Licences to â—o produce 'em was to strike a sure blow The same Council also upon the 19th of November had made a decree of the same nature against Garà emau who was a Proctor in the Marshalsea of Poitiers In like manner the Parlament of Rennes signaliz'd their Zeal against such Priests and Monks as chang'd their Religion by a Decree of the 13th of the same Month. It call'd 'em Apostates as if they had renounc'd their Christianity and order'd that they should be sent back to their Bishops or their Superiours to be punish'd according to the sacred Decretals and in the mean while it forbid the Ministers to marry `em The Decree of the Parlament of Paris was cited in this a clear demonstration that in such Decrees passion frequently prevail'd above Judgement and Honesty And in one decree which made the Change of their Religion liable to Punishment in Priests and Monks the Parlament cited another Decree against which the Advocate General had maintaind'd that it was lawful for em to change Nor did the Troubles in the Kingdom during the year 1642. nor the conspiracy of St. Mars nor the lingring sickness of which the Cardinal died the 4th of December prevent it from being very vexatious to the Reformed For they had geat injustice done `em in reference to their Priviledges and Places of Exercise They had a Church at Vitre built upon a Piece of Ground which they had pnrchas`d themselves and of which the possession was confirm`d to `em by a peremptory Decree in the Reign of Henry 4th who had written to the Inhabitants by way of Exhortation to Five at Peace and Unity one among another But for all this after the Duke of Tâ—imvoille had chang'd his Religon the Catholicks reviv'd their Old Grudges and made new Efforts to pull down the Church under pretence that it was too near their Mass-house The Duke 't is true who left the sole Authority over his house to the Dutchess his Wife who was very Zealous for the Reformed Religion and who had the Courage to bring up her Son according to her own Sentiments would have no hand in the Process in regard the Dutchess openly protected the Reformed But the Catholicks to the end they might have the Better success to the Affair of Religion joyn'd certain Complaints of some Extravagancies which they pretended the Reformed had committed upon Christmass-day at Night This same Misdemeanor was that they had taken some pieces of the Bâ—eacle which the Catholicks call Holy bread and given it the Dogs to eat To which they added other Requests upon several Articles so that after long and troublesom Contentions the Privy Council made a Decree of the 24th of January which gave the Catholicks full content For they were order'd to allow the Reformed another place in the Suburbs provided it were no Ecelesiastical Fief at least three hundred foot from any Catholick Church or Chappel That the Catholicks should
thrice honour'd Lady and Mother tho' continually with Tears in her Eyes and Grief in her Heart nevertheless has not forborn with incessant Labour and with great Magnanimity and Prudence to prevent that fatal Accident from doing any Prejudice to our Person and Dignity or to our Kingdom or Subjects holding her self bound to this Duty not only by the natural Affection which she bears us but also because of her having been declar'd Regent and under that Character being entrusted with the Care and Administration of the Affairs of the Kingdom by the Votes and Suffrages of the Princes of the Blood and the rest of the Princes Prelates Peers Principal Officers of the Crown and Members of our Parlament Assembl'd therein we keeping there our Throne of Justice wherein her Pains prov'd so successful and the Affection of our Subjects who were then about us as also of the Inhabitants of our good City of Paris was so great and sincere toward us that we can desire nothing more from their Obedience and Fidelity nor from the good and prudent Conduct of the Queen Regent our aforesaid thrice honour'd Lady and Mother Being also inform'd by Intelligence that comes to us every day that in all other Places and Parts of our Kingdom all our Subjects as well Catholicks as of the pretended Reformed Religion of all Qualities make it their Business out of a laudable Emulation to outvye each other in readiness to Obedience in Actions and Behaviour which give some Testimony of their Fidelity and Duty for which we have great occasion to bless God and to hope that as he has been pleas'd to preserve this Kingdom from imminent Dangers so as to make it flourish for so many Ages so he will take into his Protection our youthful Years and grant us leisure to grow up in Piety and Vertue to the end we may one day employ the Grandeur to which he has rais'd us to his Honour and Glory Which with all our Hearts we implore him to vouchsafe us and to inspire us always with Councils requisite and necessary for the well governing our Subjects in his Fear and causing them to live in Peace Union and Amity one with another as being the true Foundation upon which next after God depends the Safety and Preservation of the Kingdom Experience having taught the Kings our Predecessors that the Fury and Violence of Arms had been always not only of no effect to reduce their Subjects who were gone astray into the Bosom of the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church but rather extreamly prejudicial which was the Reason that being swaid by more happy Councils they had recourse to Mildness in granting them the Exercise of the pretended Reformed Religion of which they made Profession By whose Example led the Deceased King our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father made the Edict of Nantes for the Reconciling of all his Subjects together The Observation of which Edict together with the Regulations made in consequence of it settled such an assured repose among 'em as has lasted ever since without Interruption By means of which although that Edict be perpetual and irrevocable and consequently has no need of being confirm'd by a New Declaration nevertheless to the end our Subjects may be assur'd of our good Will and that our Intention and pleasure is inviolably to observe that Edict made for the good and repose of our Subjects as well Catholicks as of the pretended Reformed Religion Therefore we Declare That this Affair having been debated in our Presence by the Queen Regent our thrice Honour'd Lady and Mother we have by the Advice of Her the Princes of our Blood other Princes Dukes Peers Officers of our Crown and several eminent Persons of our Council said and ordain'd say and ordain and it is our Will and Pleasure That the said Edict of Nantes in all the Points and Articles of it together with the rest of the Articles to them granted and the Regulations made and Decrees set forth upon the Interpretation or Execution of the said Edict and in consequence of it shall be inviolably upheld and observ'd and the infringers shall be severely punish'd as Disturbers of the Publick Tranquillity To which Effect we enjoyn all our Officers to be sedulously assisting under the Penalty of being responsible and being punish'd for their Negligence with the same Rigour as the Disobedience of those that shall offer to Violate it In like manner we command our Beloved and Trusty People holding our Court of Parlament in Paris that these Presents may be Read Publish'd and Register'd and the Contents thereof to keep maintain and observe Point by Point according to their Form and Tenour without suffering or permitting any Breach thereof in any manner whatever In Testimony whereof we have caused our Seals to be affix'd to these Presents Given at Paris May 22. in the Year of Grace 1610. and of our Reign the First Louis And upon the Folding of the Paper By the King the Queen Regent being Present De Lominie Seal'd with the great Seal of the said Lord upon a double Label Also written upon the side of the said Folding Read Publish'd and Register'd heard by and Consenting and Requesting the Kings Advocate General And Order'd that compar'd Copies shall be sent to the Bayliwicks and Seneschalships to be there also Read Publish'd and Register'd with all speed by the Advocate General 's Substitutes who are enjoyn'd to Certifie the Court of their doing it this Month. At Paris in Parliament June 3. 1610. Signed Tillet A General Regulation drawn up in the Assembly General of the Reformed Churches of France held at Saumur by the Kings Permission in the Year 1611. IN every Province there shall be a Council established to Consult about the Affairs of the Church within the Province Which Councils shall be continu'd and chang'd every two Years either all or in part at the Discretion of the Provincial Assembly Which Assembly shall choose out of the Gentlemen Pastors and third Estate Persons well known to all the Province for their Piety Probity Capacity and Experience the number of those that are to be employ'd out of every one of the said Ranks or Degrees being to remain at the Discretion of the Provinces The Council shall Name the Place and the Persons to whom Advices shall be directed whether General Deputies or of the Province When a General Assembly is to be call'd the Council shall give notice to all the Churches either one by one or by way of Colloquies according to the Method observ'd in every one of the Provinces to Assemble at a certain day and send thither their Deputies either by the Appointment of Churches or Colloquies To which purpose the Elders of each Consistory shall be careful to give notice to all the Principal Members of their Churches to meet upon a certain Sunday at Sermon at the Conclusion of which the Ministers shall give notice to the House-keepers to stay in Order to Consult about Affairs of the
of the Particular Articles granted together with their Edict of Nantes as they were drawn up and dispatched in the Year 98. restoring the Retrenchments that were made at the Verification  III. To cause the said Edict and Private Articles to be verifi'd and register'd according to the Form above mention'd in all the Parliaments Courts of Aid Chambers of Accompts and other Soveraign Courts of the Kingdom to the end they may be afterwards register'd in all Bailiwicks and Seneschalships As to what shall be found not to have been executed tho' set down in the Edict of Nantes verifi'd in the Soveraign Courts Commissioners shall be Named by his Majesty to see that the said Execution be better perform'd the one a Catholick the other of the said Religion and in Case the said Execution be left to the Bailiffs and Seneschals or their Lieutenants they shall take an Associate of the same Religion according to the Answer given to the Writing answer'd in August 1602. IV. That for the Execution thereof when it shall be necessary and requir'd by the said Religion that two Commissioners be appointed by his Majesty out of every Province the one a Catholick the other to be nominated by those of the Province if those of the Religion think it not more Convenient to leave the Execution of it to the Bailiffs and Seneschals or their Deputies Who according to the Answer return'd to the second Article of the Writing answer'd in August 1602. shall be bound to take an Associate of the same Religion who shall be nominated by those of the said Religion within the said Bailiwicks and Seneschalships Nothing may be alter'd in the VIIth Article of the Edict of Nantes which it is his Majesties Meaning and Pleasure shall be observ'd V. That according to the VIIth Article of the Edict which permits all Lords of High Jurisdiction to settle the Exercise of the said Religion within the extent of their High Jurisdictions it shall be lawful for the Communities of the said Churches to establish the said exercise within the Fiefs and High Jurisdictions that belong to 'em or which they may hereafter purchase The IX and X. Article of the Edict shall be upheld and observ'd VI. That the said Exercise may be continu'd according to the IX and X. Articles of the Edict in all Places where it was in the Years 77. and 97. in such Manner as it was then observ'd even by the Authority inherent in the Jurisdiction tho' the Lord of the Mannor may have afterwards chang'd his Religion or that the Lordship may be fallen into the Possession of a Catholick thô an Ecclesiastick and that it may be restor'd where it has been taken away for those Reasons The Commissioners who shall be sent into the Provinces shall have Instructions to inform themselves whether the Exercises of the said Religion had been settl'd in the said Places for so many Years and why they were not restor'd that such course may be taken as shall be according to Reason VII And for as much as by Vertue of the X. Article the said Service ought to be restor'd in Reols Port Sainte Marie Lauserte Sainte Basville and others of the same Nature where it was settl'd in September 1577. and for that because of the long Discontinuance and other Inconveniences it would be a difficult thing to restore it without some danger of a Sedition therefore that his Majesty would be pleas'd instead of those Places to grant 'em others to be appointed by the Synods and Colloquies of the Province for the removal of their exercise thither The King cannot allow the Petitioners to take any other Title upon 'em then that which was giv'n 'em by the Edicts Therefore his Majesty Orders that in all Publick Acts they shall use the Terms exprest in the Edict of Nantes as is set down in the Answer given to the II. Article of the Writing answer'd April 8. 1609. VIII That they of the said Religion may not be constrain'd in any Acts either Publick or Private by Writing or otherwise to stile themselves of the pretended Reformed Religion The Deceased King having declar'd by his Letters Patents dated July 5. 1604. that the said Ministers should not be comprehended in Taxes or other Impositions upon their moveable Goods their Pensions and Salaries but only for their proper Estates 'T is his Majesties Pleasure that they enjoy the Contents of the said Letters Patents and strictly forbids all Assessors of Parishes to rate 'em upon those Accompts and in respect of their proper Goods not to surcharge 'em as they will answer for it in their own proper Persons of which the Elu's shall take Care under the same Penalties IX That the Ministers of the said Religion may enjoy as to the Imposition of Taxes Loans Aids Duties upon Salt and all other Subsidies as well ordinary as extraordinary the same Exemption which the Ecclesiasticks of the Kingdom enjoy The XVI Article shall be observ'd and Orders are given to that Purpose to the Commissioners deputed to see that they of the said Religion enjoy the Benefit of it by certifying the Loss of the Deeds and Possessions which they held in those Places X. That by the XV. Article of the Edict all the Towns and Places belonging to the Communities of those of the said Religion as also those for the Interrment of their Dead may be restor'd ' em And where they cannot by Authentick Titles justifie their Propriety to 'em that the only Proof of having formerly enjoy'd 'em may suffice for their being restor'd to the Possession of 'em in regard the said Deeds were lost during and by Reason of the Troubles The XVII Article of the said Edict shall be exactly observ'd and in pursuance of it all Preachers Readers and others who speak in publick are injoyn'd not to use any Words or Discourses tending to excite the People to Sedition and Animosities one against the other but to Curb and Behave themselves modestly and to say nothing but what tends to the Instruction and Edification of their Hearers and to preserve the publick Repose and Tranquility under the Penalties mentioned in the Edict XI That his Majesty would be pleased according to the XVII Article of the Edict to inflict exemplary Punishment upon Preachers Confessors and other Ecclesiasticks who move the People to Sedition Blaming and Forbidding all Society Acquaintance and Communication with those of the said Religion forbidding people to employ assist serve 'em or nurse their little Children by teaching that all who frequent their Company are damn'd And where such Preachers and Confessors shall absent themselves before they can be impleaded that the Bishops Curates and others their Superiours by whom they were introduc'd may be responsable for 'em Enjoyning the Advocates General and their Substitutes to be assisting upon pain of being answerable for it in their own Names and Persons and upon Penalty of being depriv'd of their Offices The XX. Article of the Edct shall it observ'd And
left us then by imitating his Example who had rais'd it from extream Desolation to the Highest Pitch of Splendour Wherein we have so happily succeeded that no occasion of complaint has presented it self to us for which we have not provided as well to the Content of our Subjects as it was possible for us to do and particularly those of the pretended Reformed Religion as well by the Answers which we have order'd to be given to their Remonstrances which they have presented to us as by sending Persons of Quality into all the Provinces of this Kingdom with Commission and Power to see executed the Edict of Nantes the Private Articles Regulations and other Conâ—essions granted during the Reign of our Deceased Lord and Father â—s to whatever yet remain'd farther to be executed And by this means to remove all Apprehensions under pretence of which any of our said Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion were Licenc'd to hold extraordinary Assemblies without our Permission which would have rais'd Fears and Jealousies in others against which we are willing to provide for the maintaining of Peace Union and a right Understanding happily settl'd among 'em and preserv'd by the said Edict and the exact Observation thereof with the Advice and in the Presence of the Queen Regent our thrice honoured Lady and Mother the Princes of the Blood other Princes and Officers of the Crown being fully inform'd and assur'd of the good in general of our said Subjects their Zeal and Fidelity in their Obedience towards us and desiring also that they should be favourably us'd have of our special Grace and Favour full Power and Royal Authority remitted and abolish'd and by these Presents do remit and abolish the Offence by them committed who call'd and were present at the same Assemblies held without our Permission in any of the Provinces of this our Kingom as also whatever past before and since We will that they be wholly and fully discharg'd of the same and we expresly forbid our Advocate General or his Substitutes to make any Inquisition or Prosecution after the same Nevertheless to the end we may take care that no Assemblies for the Future be so licentiously call'd as being expresly prohibited by our Edicts and the Regulations upon these Matters by the Deceased King our thrice Honoured Lord and Father to which it is ouâ— Pleasure that all our said Subjects should conform themselves according to the 82d Article of the Edict of Nantes and the ordinary Article of the 16. of March 1606. together with the Answer made the 19 of August ensuing to the Paper presented by the General Deputies of those of the said Religion the extracts of which are hereunto annex'd under the Seal of our Chancery have made and do make Inhibitions and Prohibitions to all our Subjects of the said Religion for the Future to summon any Congregations or Assemblies to Consult or Treat therein of any Politick Affairs without express leave first from us obtain'd upon Pain of being punish'd as breakers of the Edicts and disturbers of the Publick Peace Granting 'em nevertheless full Liberty to call and hold Provincial and National Colloquies and Synods according to what has been formerly granted 'em yet so as not to admit into 'em any other Persons then the Ministers and Elders there to Treat of their Doctrine and Ecclesiastical Discipline only upon Pain of Forfeiting the Priviledges of holding those Assemblies and answering for it by their Moderators in their proper Persons and Names So we send to you that you cause these Presents to be Read and Register'd and that all our said Subjects may enjoy the Benefit of what is contain'd therein and farther that you cause these our said Present Letters to be exactly perform'd and observ'd through the full extent of your Jurisdictions without permitting or suffering any Breach or Infringement thereof Farther we command and enjoyn the Governours and our Lieutenant Generals particular Governours and Lieutenants in the Government of the Provinces and Cities within the extent of your Jurisdiction their Mayors Jurats Sheriffs and Consuls to take special care of the same And to the first of our faithful and beloved Counsellours the Master of the ordinary Requests of our Houshold Counsellours of our said Court of Parliament residing upon the Places and others our Justices and Officers with the soonest to inform and give us notice of all the said Breaches and in the mean time to proceed against the Offenders by the usual Ways and according to the Tenour of the Edicts and Ordinances For such is our Will and Pleasure Given at Paris April 24. 1612. and in the second Year of our Reigns LOVIS And lower by the King being in Council De Lomenie Seal'd with the Great Seal of Yellow Wax upon a single Label Register'd Heard and the Kings Advocate moving for it without the Approbation of the Cognisance attributed to the Masters of the Requests of the Houshold that are not within the Terms of the Ordinances At Paris in Parlament May 25. 1612. Sign'd Voisin A Declaration of the King in Favour of those of the Pretended Reformed Religion confirming the Preceding Declaration of April 24. Given at Paris July 11. 1612. and veriâ—ia August 8. LEWIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr to all our Beloved and Faithful Counsellours holding our Court of Parlament at Paris Greeting Thoô we have sufficiently made known by our Letters Patents of the 13th of April last past what our Intention was toward the generality of our Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion of whose Affection and Fidelity we have always had an entire Assurance And thô the Pardon and Amnesty contain'd in our said Letters Patents were not sent but at the Instance and Supplication of some particular Persons of the said Religion who fear'd to be prosecuted for that contrary to the Edicts and Ordinances they met in Assemblies held contrary to our Permission and other Acts since committed and among others the Listing of Souldiers without our Authority to free 'em from Suspition and the Trouble they were in upon that occasion there being some amongst 'em against whom Informations have been exhibited in some Chambers of the Edict nevertheless we are given to understand that this Favour has been taken by some of the Religion for a desire to lay some blemish upon the Generality of 'em and not for a Gracious Remedy ordain'd for particular Persons who prudently Judg'd how much they stood in need of it For these Reasons with the Advice of the Queen Regent our thrice Honoured Lady and Mother the Princes of our Blood other Peers and Officers of the Crown and Principal Members of our Council being desirous to take away all pretence from all Persons whatever who may have any evil Intention and to satisfie our good Subjects of the Reformed Religion who adding to their Zeal for their Religion that Obedience which is due to us have no other aim or design then to enjoy in â—eare
and Quiet the Benefit of the Edicts made in their behalf In which number far the greater are comprehended those who have more Power and Authority to be assisting in upholding the Publick Tranquillity We have said and declar'd and once more do say and declaâ—e by these Presents by way of Explanation of what is contain'd in our said Letters Patents of April last that we are very well satisfi'd and contented with our Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion in General And upon that Consideration we have altogether buried in Oblivion the Offences which the said particular Persons might have committed contrary and to the prejudice of our Edicts Nor will we that any thing be imputed to 'em nor that upon this occasion any Blame or Blemish be fasten'd upon 'em for the Future provided they continue hence forward within the Bounds of their Duty Obedience and Fidelity toward us and prove as exact observers of the Laws Edicts and Ordinances made to the end that all our Subjects may live in Peace Repose and Amity one with another So we Will and Command that you cause these Presents to be Read Publish'd and Register'd in your Registers that our said Subjects of the said Religion may fully peaceably and without any Molestation or Impeachment enjoy the Benefit of the Contents For such is our Will and Pleasure Given at Paris July 11. 1612. and the third of our Reign Sign'd Lewis By the King the Queen Regent his Mother being present De Lomenie And Seal'd with Yellow Wax upon a single Label Register'd after being heard and upon the Motion of the Kings Advocate General At Paris in Parlament August 8. 1612. A Declaration of the King and Confirmation of the Edict of Nantes given at Paris December 15. 1612. and verifi'd January 2. 16â—3 LEwis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. The extream desire we have had ever since our coming to the Crown for which we continually implore the Blessing of God and for which the Queen Regent our thrice Honour'd Lady and Mother has always most sedulously labour'd has been to take care to maintain and preserve all our Subjects in Peace Tranquillity and Repose and in good Friendship Union and Concord one with another as being the Principal Foundation of the welfare of this Kingdom To this purpose from the Time that it pleas'd God to visit us with the fatal Accident that befel us through the Death of the Deceased King our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father of glorious Memory we resolv'd to imitate and follow the same Methods which he took to attain the same ends and having observ'd that after he had by his Valour restor'd this Kingdom to its Ancient Splendour he with a great deal of care Labour and Prudence and for a Foundation of an assur'd Repose and an entire Reconciliation between all his Subjects as also to remove from those who profess'd the pretended Reformed Religion all occasion of Fear and Distrust for the Liberty of their Persons Consciences Honour and Families made and ordain'd what is compriz'd in his Edict giv'n at Nantes in April 1598. by the Observation of which and of the Secret Articles he had happily rul'd and govern'd his People in Peace till his Decease therefore one of our first Actions which we were willing to do in this Kingdom has been to set forth our Letters of Declaration of the 22. of May 1610. containing a Confirmation of the said Edict and of the Secret Articles Regulations and Decrees set forth by way of Explanation and for the putting the same in Execution which we sent at the same instant to all our Parlaments to be there verifi'd and sometime after we resolv'd to send into all the Provinces of our Kingdom some of the Principal Members of our Council and other Persons well qualifi'd chosen by our selves as well Catholicks as of the pretended Reformed Religion to cement and corroborate the Establishment and Execution of the said Edict and favours granted in pursuance of it having ever since continu'd to give that Assistance toward it that could be expected from our Care and Authority But it has so fallen out that our good Intentions have not had that successful Effect that we could have desir'd among all our Subjects Some of whom and of those of the pretended Reformed Religion through Suspitions too lightly conceiv'd of adverse Occurrences are enter'd into Jealousies and Mistrusts one of another Whence it has follow'd that they have begun to double their Guards make Provision of Arms Levy Souldiers hold Assemblies and Councils and to do other things quite contrary to the Tenour and Observation of the said Edict To which however we are willing to believe 'em to have been induc'd by some â—ears which they have conceiv'd of themselves and upon â—â—lâ—e Suspitions and Pretences thô rot out of any ill Will or bad Intentions Having always found the Generality of those of the Reformed Religion extreamly well affected to the good of our Service and firm and constant in that reverence Fidelity and Respect which they owe to us But in regard this Mischief may draw after it dangerous Consequences we thought it necessary to provide against it to re-establish the good Friendship Correspondence and Society which ought to be alike among all our said Subjects for the maintaining of their common Repose which cannot be done more assuredly then by an exact Observation of the said Edict Secret Articles Briefs and other Acts made in pursuance of it As also by giving new Assurances to all our said Subjects of the said pretended Reformed Religion of our good Intentions in their behalf and of our Intentions to preserve maintain protect 'em and cause 'em to enjoy all the Favours and Concessions which have been decreed 'em as well by the Edict as since that time as they did in the Life-time of the Deceased King till his Death For these Reasons and others Us moving after we had caus'd this Matter to be debated in Council where was the Queen Regent with the Princes of our Blood and other Princes several Officers of the Crown and Principal Counsellours of our Council with the Advice of them we have said and declar'd and we say and declare and it is our Will and Pleasure that the abovesaid Edict of Names together with our Declaration of the 22. of May 1610. with the Private Articles Regulations Decrees and other Letters set forth in pursuance of them either by way of Explanation or for the better Execution of the same may be read de novo and publish'd in all our Courts of Parlament and Seats of Judicature under their Jurisdiction having to that end and as much as need requires confirm'd 'em as we do again Confirm 'em by these presents Sign'd with our hand We Will and Ordain that the whole may be fulfill'd and inviolably observ'd without any Breach oâ— Infringement whatsoever in any manner whatever Also for as much as the Breaches which have been
forbear not to report and publish that there is a private Correspondence between France and Spain to attempt their Ruin being desirous to make all our Subjects believe that we have so little Consideration in us as to approve and consent that France should be the Theater wherein to play this Bloody Tragedy in which the differences in Religion are to be decided by Arms tho' we are far remote from any such Counsel and rather to believe that the Decision of that Contest ought to be left to God alone who knows in his own time for his own Glory and our Security to make use of the most proper and convenient means to be ador'd and worshipt by all Christians according to the Purity of his Doctrine and by the True Church which we believe to be the Catholick Apostolick and Roman of which we make Profession anâ— in which by his Grace we intend to Live and Dye But these Artifices invented to disguise and cover their Rebellion have no way deceiv'd or misled the wiser sort who being People of worth profess the same Religion only by the Dictates of Conscience as believing to find their Salvation therein and not oâ—t of any proneness to Faction who being very numerous as well Lords Gentlemen Cities Communities and other Private Persons of all Qualities both blame and detest the Malice and Rashness of their Attempt and have publickly declar'd as well by word of Mouth as by writing that it ought to be lookt upon as real and flat Rebellion and not for any Quarrel about Religion They having also upon this occasion offer'd us like good true and loyal Subjects all Assistance of their Lives and Fortunes if they refuse to return to their Duty To which purpose they admonish 'em every day and threaten 'em to joyn with us in the Prosecution of their Ruin provided we would be pleas'd to let 'em enjoy the Benefit of the Edicts and only deprive them of that Favour who have render'd themselves incapable of it But these Remonstrances and Menaces have wrought no more upon 'em then those of the Inhabitants of the greatest part of the Cities and Places which have been left in their hands who have done as much and publickly protested also that they would not adhere to 'em in their Rebellion For instead of quitting their wicked Design they have insolently given out that those of their Religion who have not hitherto follow'd 'em shall at length be constrain'd to do it for fear that in suffering them to be ruin'd and destroy'd they do not weaken and endanger themselves A Condition and Servitude too hard for Men of worth to be constrain'd to do evil against their Wills their Conscience and their Duty in compliance with those who are only govern'd by their Ambition and Private Interest However we hope better things from their Vertue and Fidelity and that they will remain so firm and constant in their Affection to our Service that their Resistance and the continuance of their Loyalty will have force sufficient to constrain others to desist from their attempt thô to justifie and corroborate it they suppose Resolutions and Decrees of General Assemblies that never were but only certain Conventicles and unlawful Meetings of particular Persons chosen and suborn'd by 'em who without any Employment or Authority and many times against the express Will and Declarations contain'd in the Procurations and Injunctions of those by whom they were deputed adhere to the Proposals of the Factious who desire to make use of 'em to the great damage and prejudice of honest Men of their Religion Therefore it not being any Intention of ours to impute to all the faults of some particular Persons We with the Advice of the Queen our thrice Honour'd Lady and Mother the Princes c. and of our full Power and Royal Authority have said declar'd and ordain'd and do say declare and ordain and it is our Will and Pleasure in Conformity to what we have already formerly and several times ordain'd that the Edict of Nantes verifi'd in all our Parlaments made in favour of our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion by the Deceased King our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father together with the rest of the Articles Declarations and Regulations made and Decrees set forth either by way of Explanation or for the better Execution and in pursuance of the said Edict by him and during his Reign or by Us since his Decease be inviolably fulfill'd kept and observ'd as has been done and ordain'd to this present Time And that iâ— in any parts of the Kingdom there have been Infringements they may be absolutely repair'd and satisfaction given for 'em so that nothing more may be desir'd on our Part. Moreover it is our Pleasure in Consideration of the Fidelity which an infinite number of our good Subjects of the same Religion have made known and observ'd toward us among whom are the most Principal and Men of greatest Quality who Merit a singular Testimony of our good Will that in despite of the wrongs which have been done us by those of the said Religion who have taken Arms against us or have assisted and favour'd 'em in any manner whatever they may in like manner enjoy the Benefit of our Edicts and be partakers of that Favour as well as those who have persisted in their Duty provided that within one Month after Publication of these Presents in every one of our Parlaments they declare to the Register of the Bailiwick or Seneschalship under whose Jurisdiction they live that they have desisted and quitted the said enterprize to do us Service according to their Duty without any longer adhering to assisting or favouring in any manner of way those who persist in their Rebellion and that they surrender back those places which they possess in the same Condition as they were before the Insurrection Which being done without any new breach of their Duty we have taken and put 'em and do take and put 'em under our Protection And we prohibit and forbid all our Subjects of what quality soever to revile and offend 'em either in Word or Deed for any thing Past as also our Advocates General to issue forth any Prosecutions against 'em desiring that what is past may be buried in Oblivion and Cancell'd and we forget and cancel the same by these Presents But if after the space of the said Month elaps'd they continue in their Rebellion either by bearing Arms or assisting in any manner those that are in Arms it is our Pleasure that they be prosecuted and punish'd as Criminals and Guilty of High Treason and Disturbers of the Publick Peace and that the Cities and Communities which adhere to 'em be declar'd to have forfeited all Favours Priviledges and Immunities which they enjoy'd by vertue of any Charters granted 'em by the Kings our Predecessours or by our selves as having render'd themselves unworthy of ' em And we command our Advocate Generals to prosecute 'em with all
Diligence and our Parlaments to proceed against 'em with their utmost Care and Affection and our Governours and Lieutenant Generals to be strenuously assisting in the Execution of such Decrees and Judgments as shall be pronounc'd against 'em not suffering 'em to enjoy any Favour or Priviledge granted 'em by the Edicts made in Favour of our Subjects of the said Religion of which they have render'd themselves unworthy by this Pernicious Rebellion So we command our well Beloved and Faithful Counsellours holding Courts of Parlament Chambers of the Edict Bailiffs Seneschals c. that these our present Letters of Declaration be Publisht and Register'd and the Contents of 'em punctually observ'd according to their Form and Tenour c. Commanding also our Advocates General and their substitutes to be assisting c. For such is our Will and Pleasure In Witness whereof c. Given at Bourdeaux November 10. 1615. and sixth of our Reign Sign'd Lewis And below by the King De Lomenie Seal'd with the great Seal in Yellow Wax upon a double Label Read Publish'd and Register'd upon the Motion of the Atturney General and order'd that Copies be sent to the Bailiwicks and Seneschalships c. to be there Publish'd and Register'd with all speed by the Substitutes c. At Paris in Parlament December 7. 1615. Sign'd De Tillet Extract of the Kings Edict for the Pacifying of the Troubles of his Kingdom given at Blois May 1616. and verifi'd June 13. the same Year Article XLV OUr Pleasure and Meaning is that the Edicts of Pacification Declarations and secret Articles verifi'd in our Courts of Parlament as also the Brevets and Answers to the Papers made by the Deceased King our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father in Favour of the Pretended Reformed Religion be observ'd and executed and that they may enjoy 'em according to their Form and Tenour XV. And whereas M. Peter Berger Counsellour in our Court of Parlament in Paris who had one of the six Offices which by XXX Article of the said Edict were appointed for those of the Pretended Reformed Religion has made Profession since of the Catholick we have created and erected and do create and erect de novo an Office and Counsellour in our said Court of Parlament at Paris with the same Salary Rights Priviledges Authority and Functions equal to any of the Rest Which Office now by Us created we appropriate to those of the said Pretended Reformed Religion instead of that which Berger held and for which we will provide a Person of the said Pretended Reformed Religion of ability and sufficiency according to the Form express'd in the L. of the Private Articles granted at Nantes to those of the said Religion XVI It is our Pleasure and Meaning that the Exercise of the said Pretended Reformed Religion shall be restor'd and settl'd in Places where it has been discontinu'd or interrupted since the said first of July by Reason of the Present Commotions in the same Manner and Form as before XVII And to the end there may be no Question of the sincere Intention of our Dear Cousin the Prince of Condè and those who are joyn'd with him we declare that we repute and hold our said Cousin the Prince of Condè for our good Kinsman and faithful Subject and Servant as also the rest of the Princes Dukes Peers Officers of the Crown Lords Gentlemen Cities Communities and others as well Catholicks as of the Pretended Reformed Religion of what Quality or Condition soever they be who assisted him or joyn'd or united with him as well before as after the suspension of Arms comprehending also the Deputies of the said Pretended Reformed Religion tho' assembl'd at Nimes and present at Rochel for our good Subjects and Servants And after we read the Declaration set forth to us by our said Cousin the Prince of Condè we believe and deem that what was done by him and the abovenamed was done out of a good end and Intention and for our Service LIII The Secret Articles which have been granted by us and which will be found inserted in the present Edict shall be punctually and inviolably fulfill'd and observ'd and upon an Extract of the said Articles Sign'd by one of our Secretaries of State all necessary Letters shall be forthwith given out Private Articles granted in the Kings Name by his Deputies sent to the Conference at Loudun to the Prince of Condè and others joyn'd with him to obtain the Pacification of the Troubles after that seen approv'd and ratify'd by his Majesty I. 'T Is the Kings Pleasure and meaning after the Example of the Kings his Predecessors that the Gallican Church be preserv'd in her Rights Franchises Liberties and Prerogatives II. What has been done by the Clergy upon the Publication of the Council Trent has not been approv'd by his Majestie and consequently nothing has come of it Nor will he permit that any thing be done hereafter without or contrary to his Authority III. Altho that in the Edict it be express'd that all places which have been taken on either side during these Toubles shall be restor'd to the same Hands and resettl'd in the same Condition as they were before Nevertheless it is agreed that the Castle of Leitoure shall be put into the Hands of an Exempt of the Guards of the Kings Body or some other of the Pretended Reformed Religion who shall be made Choice of by his Majesty to keep it till the Contest between the Sieurs de Fontrailles and Angelin about the Captainship of the said Castle be adjusted by his Majesty IV. That the XXVII Article of the Edict of Nantes about the Pacification of the Troubles concerning the admitting promiscuously those who do or shall profess the Pretended Reformed Religion to all Estates Dignities Publick Offices or Employments Royal Signioral or City Magistrates shall be follow'd and observ'd and by vertue of this the Sieurs Villemereaâ— Counsellour in the Court of Parlament and Le Maistre Master in the Chamber of Accompts shall be admitted to the Exercise of their Employments as they were before they profess'd the said Pretended Reformed Religigion V. The Ministers of the Pretended Reformed Religion shall enjoy the favour and Exemptions to them Vousaf'd by the Kings Letters Patents of December 15. 1612. VI. The Sieurs Durant Louis and Gausin shall be resettled in the City of Metz as formerly they were VII The Inhabitants of the City of Millau and of the Cities Boroughs and Communities of the County of Foix who were at the Taking of the Castle of Cameraâ—e as also some particular Persons of the City of Nimes shall enjoy the Benefit of the Amnesties which were formerly granted 'em for some Crimes and Extravagancies therein mention'd without needing any other Verification then the Registring of these present Articles nor shall the said Registring be any Prejudice to the Civil Interests of the Parties for which there shall be provision made according to reason And as for the City of Millau the
Catholicks as well Ecclesiasticks as others may make their abodes there and securely continue Divine Worship the King protecting 'em from those of the Pretended Reformed Religion who shall be responsible VIII The Lady Dandoux and the Sieur de St. Foy together with those who assisted 'em shall be wholly discharg'd from all that may be lay'd to their charge by reason of what was done at Belestat in 1615. Which shall be extinguish'd cancell'd and abolish'd nor shall they be bound to put themselves into a Condition for the allowance of the Favour or discharge which has been or shall be expedited for 'em from which they shall be totally acquitted and Exonerated at the Charge also of the civil Interest if it so fall out And that the Inhabitants who profess the Pretended Reformed Religion may abide there with all saftly and freedom and enjoy the Exercise of their Religion as is permitted 'em by the Edicts which shall remain in the Custody of the Catholicks IX The Sieur d' Ardon shall be restor'd to the Government of the City of Vennes which Re-establishment shall be made good by the Governour and Lieutenant General of the Province X. The Declaration which has been set forth in favour of the Sieur de Borne to the prejudice of the Employment of the Grand Master of the Artillery shall be revok'd and the said Employment restor'd back with the same Authority and Functions as the Grand Masters enjoy'd who Exercis'd it formerly XI The Sieurs Marquiss of Bonuiver and Friaise shall be releas'd and set at Liberty and all Informations and Proceedings against 'em by reason of the present Troubles shall be made Null and of no Effect XII M. Nicolas Cugnois Provincial Receiver of the Tithes of Burgundy in Burgundy shall be discharg'd together with his Bail and his Ensurers of the Summ of 21000 Livers which he was constrain'd to pay to the Duke of Mayenne being as well the Mony of the said Receipt of Tithes as of the Consignation which he was forc'd to pay to the Chatelet of Paris for the purchase of the said Office or the Remainder of the Years during which it was to be enjoy'd Nor shall the said Cugnois be bound to report any Verbal Process of the said Constraint with which he is dispens'd according to the Declaration which the Duke of Maine set forth acknowledging the Receipt of the said 21000 Livers from the said Cugnois and its being laid out in the Affairs of the War and of which the said Cugnois shall be absolutely acquitted and clear'd as to the Receiver General of the Clergy of France as also of the Consignations of the said Chatelet and all other Summs by vertue of the said Duke of Mayennes Acquittance for the Summ of 21000 Livers which shall serve for a Discharge to the said Receivers XIII The Commission for the razing the Castle of Tigny in Anjou shall be revok'd if it be not done already XIV The Duke of Vendosm with all his Domestick Servants those of his Troop of Gensdarms and of the Troop of light Horse call'd the Duke of Mercoeur his Sons Troop commanded by the Sieur de la Vacre Chivray together with the Sieurs Duission d' Arabon Baron de Quernevan Baron de Vieux Chasteau and the Widows and Children of the Sieurs d' Oervaux and the Sieur de Cammores shall have an Appeal for all Processes and suits as well Criminal as Civil which they may have as defendants in the Court of Parlament of Rennes and the said Processes shall be remov'd to the Grand Council and that for a Year to which purpose requisite Letters of Appeal shall be expedited Under the Counter Seal of which shall be affix'd the Cases both of the said Domesticks and Companies XV. The King grants to M. the Prince of Condè as well for himself as for all other Princes and Lords as well Catholick as of the Pretended Reformed Religion who joyn'd and united with him the summ of 1500 Thousand Livers as well for the Payment of the Levies keeping afoot and disbanding the Souldiers as for the Charges and Expences of the said War Done and Decreed by the King in his Council the Queen Mother Present May 16. 1616. Sign'd LEWIS And lower under the Counter-Seal of the Edict Pothier A Declaration of the King upon the Edicts of Pacification given at Paris July 20. 1616. and verify'd August 4. the same Year LEwis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. Tho' that since our coming to this Crown we have clearly enough made known our continual care to preserve all our Subjects in Amity Union and Concord one with another as also those who profess the Pretended Reformed Religion with all the safety and freedom that they can desire as well for their Consciences as for their Persons Estates Offices and Dignities under the Observance of the Edicts of Pacification secret Articles Declarations Brevets and other Favours and Concessions granted 'em by the Deceas'd King our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father whom God absolve and since by our selves confirm'd To which purpose we caus'd to be expedited in their favour several Declarations in express terms as well at our coming to the Crown and our entrance into our Majority as upon several other Occasions upon which we judg'd that they might desire to be satisfi'd of our good and sincere Intentions in that particular Nevertheless considering what has been represented to us that some among 'em remain under some suspition and jealousie for that since the General Estates of our Kingdom were last convok'd and assembl'd in our good City of Paris it was set afoot and resolv'd that we should be petition'd to that we would be pleas'd to preserve the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Religion according to the Oath which we took at our Coronation tho' they that were there as Deputies have since sufficiently given us to understand that what was done proceded rather out of the abundance of their Affection for the said Catholick Religions then out of any ill Will which they bear to those of the Pretended Reformed Religion We acknowledge at the same time how necessary a thing it is to observe the Edicts of Pacification made in their Favour and how requisite it is for the Welfare and Tranquillity of the Kingdom desiring therefore a fresh to satisfie our said Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion of our good will in that Particular and to the end we may not leave any Scruple unremov'd upon the said proposals in the Assembly of States General For these Reasons and other Considerations us thereunto moving with the advice of the Queen Mother our thrice honour'd Lady and Mother the Princes Officers of the Crown and principal Members of our Council about our person we have said and declar'd say and declare That we never had any thoughts by the Oath which we took at our Coronation to comprehend therein our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion living in
Counsellors c. That these presents may be read publish'd and register'd c. And that our Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion may enjoy the Benefit of the Contents fully and peaceably without suffering the least Injury Trouble or Impeachment to be offer'd ' em For such is our Pleasure In Witness c. Given at Amboise May 24th 1619. and 10th of our Reign Sign'd LEWIS And below By the King De Lomenie Seal'd c. Register'd upon the Motion of the Kings Attorney General At Paris in Parlament July 15th 1619. Sign'd Gallart A Declaration of the King against those of the Assembly at Loudun together with a Confirmation of the Preceding Edicts of Pacification Given at Paris February 26. 1620. and Publish'd in Parlament February 27. the said Year LEWIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. As we have always held it for an assured Foundation of the publick Tranquility of this Kingdom to maintain and preserve our Subjects as well the Catholicks as those of the pretended Reformed Religion in good Peace Union and Concord one with another under the Benefit of the Edicts and Declarations made and set forth to that purpose by the Deceased King our thrice honour'd Lord and Father whom God absolve So we have had a particular care in causing 'em to be exactly observ'd and that they of the said Religion may enjoy the Favours and Concessions which were granted 'em by the same Which also we have not only maintain'd and preserv'd but also out of our special Grace and Favour have much augmented and enlarg'd And to be the more particularly satisfi'd of any Faileurs in the Observance of the said Edicts and Declarations which might be commitâ—ed and to give out said Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion the means to inform us of 'em in imitation of the Deceased King our thrice honoured Lord and Father we have agreed that they shall have near oâ—â— Person and in our Train certain Deputies who may inform us of 'em and exhibit their Remonstrances to us and our Council as they shall judge requisite to be provided against and remedi'd at their Instance and Solicitation and to the end those Deputies may be made choice of and appointed when they have a design to change 'em we have for that reason given 'em leave to hold Provincial and General Assemblies when they shall give us to understand that they have occasion for ' em And altho' the Principal cause for which we have given 'em leave to hold those Assemblies has bin for the Choice and Nomination of the said Deputies we have nevertheless thought good that the Complaints which our Subjects of the said Religion of every Province may make of the said Breaches and Violations shall be exhibited to the said Assemblies for them to send their Deputies to present their Papers and Remonstrances to us For this reason it is and upon this only Consideration that we permitted our Subjects of the said pretended Reformed Religion by our Brevet May 23th to hold a General Assembly the 26th of September ensuing in our City of Loudun in which we were in hopes that according to what is express'd by the said Brevet they would have begun to have proceeded to the Choice and Nomination of Deputies which they would have had to succeed to those that resided in our Train in whose hands they would have entrusted the Papers of Complaints and Remonstrances which they had to present to us to the end they might solicit our Answer and take care of putting in Execution what should be by us ordain'd But instead of so doing they would needs send to us certain of their Number with a first Paper containing some principal Heads to which they besought our answer and to cause to be executed what we thought convenient till they had compil'd their other Papers which as they said they were preparing to exhibit to us Upon which we gave 'em to understand that when all their demands should be reduc'd into one Paper and that they should present 'em to us all at once and according to the usual Method and Forms we would receive 'em and give a favourable Answer and in such sort that they should find by the Effects our good will towards 'em And tho' they were also oblig'd to cause the said Paper to be presented to us by such as should be made choice of among them to reside near our Person and then to break up as it was the Practice while the deceased King liv'd of the Assemblies of Chatellerant and Gergeau and that it is still observ'd by all the Assemblies of what Quality soever they be that are held in this Kingdom Nevertheless we were willing to doe 'em that favour for once not to draw it into President as to receive the said Papers from the hands of those who did present 'em to us on their behalf Which being reported to the said Assembly after several Contests and Delays at length they sent us other Deputies with the General Papers of their Complaints and Remonstrances whom we kindly receiv'd giving 'em assurance that we wou'd labour to return 'em a speedy answer and by which they should not only receive the Justice which they demanded but also as much as they could expect from our Grace and Favour Which we gave 'em in charge to report back to their said Assembly being also farther commanded to tell them in our Name that since they had presented all their Papers and that their longer sitting together was to no purpose but was prejudicial to our authority and gave scandal to our Subjects our Pleasure was that they should proceed with the soonest to the Nomination of their Deputies that were to reside near our Person and then break up Which done we promis'd to deliver into the hands of the said Deputies the Answers which we should make to the said Papers and within a Month after to proceed to the Execution of those things that should be agreed upon But instead of receiving this with that respect and reverence which is due to us they reply'd that the said Assembly was resolv'd to sit still and not to stir till they had the Answer that was to be made to their Papers and that they saw the performance of it For which tho' we had just occasion to be offended as being an Answer far remote from the Duty which Subjects owe their King Nevertheless we contented our selves with laying before 'em the Fault which they committed and exhorting them to demean themselves with that Obedience which became ' em And however to the end the said Assembly might be expresly inform'd of our Intentions we resolv'd to send to 'em the Sieurs Le Maine Counsellour in our Council of State and Gentleman of our Chamber and Marescot one of our Secretaries to the end that after they had confirm'd to 'em the Assurances of our good will toward 'em in that particular they might lay upon 'em the
command in Provinces and Cities seize upon the Money of our Chequer and Receipts Levy Men raise Money buy Arms cast great Guns send to Forreign Provinces and Kingdoms with other high Misdemeanours of the same Nature the evident Marks of an absolute Rebellion and open Insurrection against our Authority of which having had some Knowledge in April last and knowing that they took for the Pretence that hurri'd 'em to these disorders the little Security they had for their Persons and the Liberty of their Consciences We were willing by our Declaration of the twenty fourth of the said Month of April to give them all Assurance of our good Intentions in respect of those that continu'd in their Duty and by taking them into our particular Safeguard and Protection to let 'em know that our March into those Parts for which we were preparing was rather by our approach near those Places where those Disorders were committed to shew and strengthen our Authority to the Confusion of those that were guilty then to make use of any other more violent Rigour or of the Power which God has put into our Hands for the Punishment of such Insolencies But so far was this from opening their Eyes in Order to the bringing of 'em back to their Duty that the greatest part of 'em continuing in their Duty are openly broke out into Rebellion and commit all manner of Hostilities against those that will not take their part giving out that they acknowledge no other Chieftain then the Assembly at Rochel which has now sent for several Souldiers to St. John de Angeli rais'd under their Commissions who make as if they intended to oppose our Passage into the said City and hinder our Entrance by force of Arms which obliges us seeing the same Disorders are crept into several other Cities of our Kingdom to put our selves into a Condition to chastize the Authors according to their Demerits and to make use of for that purpose together with the Ordinary ways of Justice the means which God has put into our Hands for the Maintenance of our Authority And to the end that all our Subjects especially those of the Pretended Reformed Religion may not be deceiv'd by the false pretences of that Assembly to draw off from their Duty and that both the One and the Other may be inform'd of our Pleasure and Intentions upon this occasion We with the Advice c. have said and declar'd and do say and declare That in Confirmation of our said Letters Patents of the 24th of April last we have taken and put and do take and put under our special Protection and Safeguard all our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion of what Quality or Condition soever that shall abide and contain themselves in our Obedience and under the observance of our Edicts But seeing the Manifest Acts of Rebellion committed in our said City of Rochel as well by the Assembly which is still sitting contrary to our express Prohibitions as by the Body of the City both Burgesses and Inhabitants as also what is done in our City of St. John d' Angeli and the Acts of Hostility which they daily commit against our proper Person We have declar'd and declare all the Inhabitants and other Persons of what Quality soever who are now Residing within it Refugees or withdrawn into Rochel and St. John d' Angeli and all others who directly or indirectly adhere to 'em or hold Intelligence Association or Correspondence with 'em or who in any manner whatever own the said Assembly of Rochel or any other Assemblies Circles or Councils of Provinces or other Congregations which hold Correspondence with that of Rochel and which are held without our Permission Relaps'd Refractory and guilty of High Treason in the highest Degree and as such their Estates to be Forfeit and Confiscate to us It is our Pleasure also that they be proceeded against with the utmost Rigour of the Law by seizure of their Persons taking Inventories of their Goods and by other accustom'd and usual ways in such Cases Declaring also our said Cities of St. John d' Angeli Rochel and all others that adhere to 'em depriv'd of and to have forfeited their Rights Priviledges Franchises and other Favours granted 'em by the Kings our Predecessours or by our selves And to the end we may discern and distinguish the Good from the Bad It is our Pleasure that our said Subjects professing the said Pretended Reformed Religion as well Gentlemen as others as also the Cities and Corporations of the said Religion shall openly make a Declaration in the Presidial Courts Bailiwicks and Seneschalships within their Jurisdiction of their good Intentions to our Service and renounce disavow and protest against any Adherence to the said Assembly of Rochel or any other Councils of Provinces Circles or other Places which are held and sit without our Permission and that they will oppose themselves in our behalf and jointly with Us against all the Resolutions that shall be there taken for which they shall have Acts necessary for their Discharge We also expresly forbid all Gentlemen and others to permit their Children Servants or any others depending upon 'em to go to the said Cities or to give 'em any Aid or Assistance whatever nor to afford Lodging or shelter in their Houses to those that shall go and converse there in any manner whatever under pain of being held guilty of the same Crime Expresly commanding all Bailiffs c. to proceed exactly and carefully against the Persons and Estates of those who shall have incurr'd the said Penalties As also all our Advocate Generals c. to do their Duties without any regard to Passports which might be obtain'd from Us by false Misinformation unless under the Great Seal So we give Command to our well Beloved and faithful Counsellours c. Given at Noyon May 27. 1621. and of our Reign the twelfth Sign'd Lewis By the King De Lomenie Seal'd c. Read Publish'd and Register'd upon the Motion of the Kings Advocate General and compar'd Copies c. At Paris in Parlament June 7. 1621. A Declaration of the King containing Prohibitions to all his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion remaining in Obedience to stir from their Houses either in City or Countrey under the Penalties express'd Given at Beziers July 25. 1622. LEwis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. Upon Advice that those of our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion who persist in their Rebellion against the Commands of God and their natural Duty toward Us have so far forgot themselves as to solicit and treat with Forreigners to invade our Kingdom With whom they are not only desirous to join themselves but also by threats and menaces to force other our good Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion who have all along preserved themselves in their Duty under our Obedience and the Benefit of our Edicts and Declarations to take up Arms and join
with them and the said Forreigners the more to strengthen themselves in their Designs and Enterprises and to subdue and dispose of our Kingdom in pursuance of their Resolutions taken in their Assembly of Rochel We deem'd it most necessary to apply a Remedy to it and to make use of all means that God has pleas'd to put into our Hand For these Reasons with the Advice of our Council and of our full Power and Royal Authority We have prohibited and forbid and do prohibit and forbid expresly by these Presents sign'd with our own Hand all our said Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion of what Quality or Condition soever they be who remain in their Duty under our Obedience and the Benefit of our Edicts and Declarations to depart from quit forsake or abandon their Houses whether in our Cities or in the Countrey where their Habitations are to join with those who are in Arms or with the said Forreigners or to afford any Shelter Favour Succour or Assistance whatever upon Pain of Forfeiting our Favours of being declar'd Guilty of High Treason Deserters of the Kingdom and Disturbers of the Publick Peace and as such to be Proceeded against with the utmost Rigour of the Laws and Ordinances of our Kingdom Promising also that while they continue in their Duty under our Obedience and the Benefit of our Edicts and Declarations we will maintain and preserve 'em as our Good and Faithful Subjects and preserve 'em from all Violence and Oppression So we Command and Ordain c. Given at Beziers July 25. 1622. and thirteenth of our Reign Sign'd Lewis By the King De Lomenie Seal'd c. Read Publish'd and register'd c. At the Parlament in Paris August 5. 1622. A Declaration of the King upon the Peace which he gave his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion confirming the Proceding Edicts of Pacification Given at the Camp before Mompellier October 19. 1622. and Publish'd in Parlament November 21. LLWIS King of France and Navarr To all c. As every Christian Prince that fears God ought to have in abhorrence the Effusion of the bood of Mankind created after the Image of the Almighty so also is he bound and oblig'd not only to avoyd the Occasions of Civil and Domestick Warrs but also to seek and embrace all honourable and lawful means to reunite and cause his Subjects to live under the Laws of the Kingdom in good Concord and Obedience And the same Divine Goodness that has known our heart ever since it has pleas'd him to call us to the Government of the French Monarchy is the Judge of our inward Thoughts and every body knows that our Arms have bin no less Just then constrain'd and necessary for the support and defence of our Authority Whether against those who from the Beginning under divers borrow'd Pretences have rais'd up Troubles during our Minority or after that against our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion abus'd and surpriz'd by the Artifices of some among 'em who thought to make their advantages as well of their Simplicity as of the publick Division of our Kingdom whereas our Intentions never have bin other after the laudable Example of our Predecessors of happy Memory then to keep 'em all in good Peace and Union in that Duty and Obedience which is due to us under the benefit of our Edicts and to use 'em as our good and faithful Subjects when they contain themselves within the Bounds of Respect and Submission which are due to a Soveraign Not having spar'd any duty of Remonstrance and Diligence to prevent the Mischief which it was easie to foresee before we came to force and violence to our great Sorrow for the preservation of our Royal Dignity and the Power which God has put into our hands to remove all Jealousies and mistrusts of our Sincerity which have been infus'd into 'em with artifice and design tho' we were never worse then our words to any person to prevent the Misfortunes and Accidents that have ensâ—'d and to let 'em understand together with the Principal Authors and Fomenters of this publick Disorder the real ground of our upright and Sincere Intentions to Cherish and preserve all in peace and in the free and quiet Enjoyment of what is granted and ordain'd by our said Edicts And seeing it is so that our said Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion have been since inspir'd with better thoughts and acknowledging their Errors and this Truth have had recourse to our Clemency and Goodness by most humble Supplications which they have sent us by their Deputies on purpose beseeching us that we would voutsafe 'em our Pardon and abolish the Memory of what is past we always inclining rather to mildness and mercy then to push forward the Rigor and Justice of our Arms tho' they have gain'd us signal advantages sufficient for us to ground the hopes of a prosperous Conclusion and being desirous out of respect to their Submissions and duties to restore Peace to the Kingdom and to reunite our Subjects in amity and concord one among another and in a general and Unanimous Obedience toward our selves and for other important Reasons and Considerations us thereunto moving with the Advice of the Princes Dukes c. We have said ordain'd and declar'd and do say ordain and declare by these Presents Sign'd with our Hand and it is our Will and Pleasure that the Edict of Nantes the Declarations and secret Articles register'd in our Courts of Parlament shall be faithfully fulfill'd to our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion in all their Parts and Clauses and as they were well and duly enjoy'd in the Reign of the Deceased King our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father and since our coming to the Crown before the last Commotions That the Exercise of the Religion Catholick Apostolick and Roman shall be restor'd and resettl'd in all parts of the Kingdom and Countries under our Obedience where it has bin interrupted to be there freely and Peaceably continu'd without any Molestation forbidding expresly all Persons of what Quality or Condition soever upon pain of being punish'd as disturbers of the Publick Peace to molest or disturb the Ecclesiasticks in the Celebration of Divine Service enjoyment or collecting the Tithes Fruits and Revenues of their Benefices and all other Rights and Duties to them appertaining In like manner the Exercise of the Pretended Reformed Religion shall be establish'd in such Places as we shall think good and proper after we have heard the Remonstrances of the Deputies of our Province of Guienne It is our Pleasure also that all the new Fortifications of the Cities Towns Castles Forts and Fortresses held by our said Subjects of the Reformed Religion more especially those rais'd in the Islands of Re and Oleron shall be demolish'd and level'd with the Ground the ancient Walls Towers Gates Motes and Counterscarps still standing in the same Condition with Prohibitions to the said Cities to Fortifie 'em anew and for the
and that the Souldiers live under such Discipline that they may do no wrong XXI Your Cities of S â—â— Foy and Bergerac most humbly Beseech ye Sir that you would be pleas'd out of your singular Goodness to discharge 'em of the Oppressions which they have suffer'd so long and so excessive letting your said City of Bergerac fully enjoy your inviolable Promises by hindring so many Innovations and the building of the Cittadel intended notwithstanding that your Subjects of the Religion have kept themselves within the Bounds of a most humble Subjection and Obedience to your Majesty out of a desire to Merit in some measure the Effect of your said Royal Promises their Liberty and the Peaceable Exercise of their Religion The King will take such Order as shall be most proper for his Service XXII And by your Mildness and Gentleness to ease your People of the Religion to bring 'em back to a firm Confidence and to Corroborate as much as may be the Peace which you vouchsafe 'em may it please your Majesty to obliterate all Marks that are contrary to it And to these ends to disband the Souldiers that are quarter'd in Lower Languedoc Cevennes and other Provinces by this Means kept in continual Fears and Apprehensions of your Displeasure and beseech your Majesty to hasten the said Disbanding to the end that the Effects of their Obedience which they desire and ought to pay you as well in demolishing the Fortifications of the Places as in all other things which you shall be pleas'd to command 'em may not be delay'd Sign'd Montmartin Deputy General Maniald Deputy General Done and Answer'd by the King in his Council at Paris March 4. 1623. Sign'd Lewis And lower Phelipeaux Compar'd with the Original by Me Notary Counsellour and Kings Secretary Du Candal A Circulatory Letter of the General Deputies of the Reformed Churches GEntlemen We doubt not but you have expected our Letters with Impatience and that you did not take it amiss that we did not send you what pass'd concerning the Duke of Rohan You ought to believe that nothing has so much hinder'd us from that as our fear of putting you to no purpose in uncertain Hopes or Apprehensions Now that it may be thought that we ought to see a little more clearly after the Release of the said Duke we shall tell you that altho' the Report of a War and particularly of the Siege of Rochel be very hot in this Place and that from hence it spreads over all the Rest of France nevertheless we see no Preparation for open and present War On the contrary we have nothing from the Kings Mouth and his Principal Ministers of State but Words of Peace and Promises of putting in Execution what has been agreed As to the Affairs which we have manag'd hitherto you must know that having presented to the King a Paper containing the Principal Complaints of our Churches and other things of which we have the Cognizance and Memoirs in our Hands we have obtain'd Answers such as you will see by the Printed Paper which we send you enclos'd which thô they be dated the fourth of this Month nevertheless were not deliver'd us till the twenty second At present we solicit the Performance of the Answers which are favourable continuing to demand satisfaction upon those which are otherwise Nor shall we fail to give you Advice of the Success as also of all that we shall judge proper to come to your Knowledge As for News of the Particular Affairs of the Provinces and Churches of whose Deputies we have a great number here we have given satisfaction by particular Letters to all Occurrences It remains that you second our Labours with your Prayers to God as we earnestly desire you considering the need we have in such a difficult time as this And for our parts we shall also beseech him to accumulate his most Sacred Benedictions upon your selves We are Your most humble and Affectionate Servants the General Deputies of the Reformed Churches of France near his Majesty Paris March 30. 1623. Montmartin Maniald The King's Declaration by which it is provided that in the Assemblies which shall be beld by the Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion concerning the Regulations of the Discipline of their said Religion no other Affairs be propounded or treated of then such as are permitted by the Edicts Given at Fontain-Bleau April 17th 1623. And verifi'd in Parlament May 22. LEwis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr To all c. Altho' by our Edicts of Pacification and the Private Articles granted to our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion in the Year 1598. they were allow'd to hold Assemblies concerning the Regulations of the Discipline of the said Religion pretendedly Reformed and Places where the Exercise was settl'd with our Permission first obtain'd and that by several answers made to their Papers they have been always forbid to admit into the said Assemblies other then the Ministers and Elders and to treat of other Affairs then those which concern the Regulations of their said Religion upon Pain of Forfeiting this Favour Nevertheless we have found that for some time since and particularly of late Years under the Toleration of the said Assemblies our said Subjects have taken the Liberty to introduce Persons of all Conditions as also to treat of Politick Affairs from whence have ensu'd several Resolutions contrary to the Sentiments and Intentions of the Generality and most considerable of our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion and to the Publick Tranquility To which there being a necessity of providing a Remedy and to prevent for the future the consequences of such abuses prejudicial to our Authority and the Peace of our Subjects We declare that for these Causes and other Considerations Us thereunto moving with the Advice of the Princes of our Blood c. We have said and declar'd and do say and declare by these Presents and it is our Will and Pleasure that in all Assemblies that shall be held by our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion concerning the Regulations of the Discipline of the said Religion there shall be by us or by our Lieutenant Generals of our Provinces a certain Person commission'd and appointed one of our Officers of the said Pretended Reformed Relgion to be present in the said Assemblies to see and consider whether any other Affairs are propos'd and handl'd then are permitted by our Edicts and to give a faithful accompt thereof to Us. And to the end that our Intention may be exactly follow'd We ordain that for the time to come no Assemblies shall meet or be held unless the said Officer be before appointed who shall be admitted into 'em without any or Lett or Scruple So we command our Beloved and Faithful c. we also command our Governours c. In Testimony c. Given at Fountain-Bleau April 17. 1623. and 13th of our Reign Sign'd LEWIS And below By the King De Lomenie Read
without our leave or the Orders of our Admiral in contempt of our Laws and the secret Practises and Correspondencies held with Forreigners To all which we have been much troubl'd to give Credit considering the good and favourable usage our said Subjects of the Pretended Reformed receiv'd And when we understood that the Sieur de Soubise we the Head of his Faction he who has tri'd the Force of our Authority and the softness of our Clemency upon several occasions this was the reason that we were willing to wink at his first Practises and Proceedings in hopes that by our Patience we might reduce him to his Duty But our goodness and forbearance having augmented the Audaciousness of the said Soubise we understand that within these few days he has put to Sea with some Vessels having Souldiers aboard that he has robb'd our Merchants Ships made attempts upon some of our Islands and principal Places and upon the Vessels that were in the Roads and Harbours belonging to 'em and in these Actions committed several Enormities Violences and Acts of Hostility against our Subjects Now in regard that all these Enterprizes and Attempts of the said Soubise discover to our great sorrow an evident and manifest Rebellion against our Authority and a design lay'd betwixt him and some particular Adherents to disturb the general Peace and Tranquility of the Kingdom without any lawful reason or cause on the other side we are extreamly well satisfy'd to understand from our dear and well beloved Cousin the Duke of Tremouille and the Sieurs de la Force and Chatillon and other Persons of Quality as also from the General Deputies of our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion refiding near our Person as also by the Deputies of the Pretended Relion at Charenton and those of our Cities of Rockele Nimes Vsez as also to see by an Act in writing which the said general Deputies have presented us with express injuctions from our dear and well-beloved Inhabitants of our City of Moniaban how much they renounce and disown his Actions as unworthy of that Fidelity and Affection which true French-men owe their Soveraign considering they can tend to nothing else but the subversion of this State and their own Ruin Whereupon being desirous to make known what our good Intentions are the Protection which we are willing to grant to the Faithful and Obedient and the Rigor which we intend to use toward Rebels if they persevere in their Contumacy We make known that for these Causes and other weighty Considerations us thereunto moving with the Advice of the Queen c. and of our certain knowledge full Power and Royal Authority we have said and declar'd and say and declare by these Presents Sign'd with our hand and it is our Will and Pleasure that all our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion who shall continue in that Fidelity and Obedience which they owe us without adhering to any Factions and Conspiracies against the Kingdom shall fully and Peaceably enjoy in freedom and safety the Exercise of their Religion together with all the Favours to them granted by the Edicts and Declarations made in their Favour as well by the Deceased King c. as by our selves which we resolve to have inviolably kept and observ'd according to their Form and Tenour putting all our said Subjects together with their Goods and Families under our special Protection and Favour And as for the said Soubise and others who are enter'd into open Rebellion against us having attempted to disturb the Tranqaility of our Kingdom we have hereby declar'd and declare all those that shall adhere to and Favour him directly or indirectly of what Quality or condition soever they be and who shall hold Intelligence Association or Corespondence with 'em both disobedient and Guilty of High Treason As also we declare the Inhabitants of our Cities that shall Countenance or adhere to the Rebellion and Disobedience of the above nam'd or shall give 'em any Harbour Retreat or Quarter among 'em or shall suffer 'em or assist 'em in any sort or manner whatever guilty of the same Crimes and to have forfeited all their Rights Franchises Immunities and Priviledges granted either by the King our Predecessors or by our selves And for that our Intention is always to prefer Clemency before the Rigour of Justice and to afford 'em the Means and Leisure to acknowledge their Faults before they althogether plunge themselves in Faction and revolt we say and declare that if within one Month from the day of the publication of these presents in Parlament the said Soubise or any others who have been guilty of the Actions above express'd shall return to their Duty lay down their Arms disband their Souldiers which they have muster'd together and submit themseves entirely to the Obedience which they owe us we have and shall from this present Time and for the Future forgiven pardon'd and obliterated forgive pardon and obliterate by these Presents all Acts and attempts which they may have made or design'd in this last Insurrection and taking of Arms contrary to our Authority and Service without any enquiries or prosecutions either now or hereafter in any sort or manner whatever as having pardon'd and restor'd 'em to their former Condition and to all Honours Priviledges and Immunities which were granted 'em by Us or our Predecessors under the Exact Observation of our Edicts But if after that time expir'd they persist in their Rebellion and Disobedience our Pleasure is that they be proceeded against with all the Rigour of our Laws by Imprisonment of their Persons Seizure of their Estates demolishing their Houses and other usual Courses in such Cases and that they lose the Benefit of our Edicts and Appeals to the Chambers So we command c. In Testimony c Given at Paris January 25. 1625 and fifteenth of our Reign Sign'd LEWIS And Below by the King De Lomenie Read Publish'd and Register'd c. At Paris in Parlament February 18. 1625. Du Tillet A Writing giv'n by the English Embassadours to the Deputies of the Churches to make the King of Great Britain Guarranty of the Peace in 1626. WE Henry Rich Baron of Kensington Earl of Holland Captain of the King of Great Brittan's Guards Knight of the Order of the Garter and one of his Majesties Privy Council And Dudley Charlton Knight one of his Majesties Privy Council and Vice Chamberlain of the Houshold To all c. Whereas the Sieurs de-Mommartin and de Maniald General Deputies of the Reformed Churches of France and other Particular Deputies from the Dukes of Soubise and Rohan as also others from several Cities and Provinces which joyn'd in Arms with the said Lords have made a Peace with the most Christian King by our Advice and Intercessions agreed and consented to by the King their Soveraign and for that the said Deputies have releas'd many things which they thought of great Moment for their security and altogether Conformable to their Edicts and
but desire also their Conversion for which we continually offer up our Prayers to God For which Reason we exhort all our said Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion to lay aside all Passion that they may be capable of receiving the Light of Heaven and be fitted to return to the Bosom of the Church in which for these eleven hundred Years together the Kings our Predecessours have liv'd without Change or Interruption Not being able in any thing whatever to give them a greater Testimony of our Paternal Affection then to admonish them to observe the same way to Salvation which we observe and follow our selves III. We ordain that all the Parishes of the said Countrey be provided with good sufficient and capable Curates by those to whom the Patronage of the same belongs and that things be so order'd that they have all a sufficient revenue to maintain 'em with Reputation in the Discharge of their Functions as is set down in our Ordinances of January last or other means more commodious as shall be adjudg'd proper by the Commissioners by Us deputed to that end IV. We have forgiven pardon'd and buri'd in Oblivion and do forgive pardon and bury in Oblivion to the said Duke of Rohan and to all the Inhabitants of the said Cities and Places as also to those of the Flat Countries who adher'd to 'em all things past from July 21. 1627. to the Day of the Publication in every Seneschalship of the Articles of Grace which we granted 'em the 27th of June last We have discharg'd 'em and do discharge 'em of all Acts of Hostility raising of Arms hiring of Souldiers enterprises as well by Sea as Land General and Particular Assemblies more especially the Assembly of Nimes seizure of Ecclesiastical Rents Royal or Private Money Coining of Money of what Alloy or Stamp soever Printed Libels Popular Tumults and Commotions Riots Violences Enterprizes upon the two Cities of St. Amant and Chasteaux du Seigneur the taking of Chasteau St. Stephen Vaâ— Franchesque and Florac Also the Murders and other Accidents iâ—ppening at the taking of St. Gerâ—â—ter and Castres in January lasâ— Also the Inhabitants of Vsez for the Murder of the Sieur du Flos And the Consuls of the said Place for the Decrees put forth against 'em by the Parlament of Tholouse and Chamber of the Edict at Beziers Also the Sieurs Daâ—bais Jacques Genvier Paul Saucier and Andrew Pelissier For the Nomination and Designation made of their Persons to be Consuls of Nimes in 1627. and their executing the Office during that Year Together with all the Consuls and Political Counsellours and the Prothonotary of the Consular House for the Prosecution against 'em by reason of the said Consulship of Nimes as well in our Council as in the said Court of Parlament Chamber of the Edict and Court of Aids at Mompellier Also the Inhabitants of Anduze for the Murder of the Sieur de Mantaille and the Condemnations of the said Consuls and particular Inhabitants of the said City during these Troubles The Inhabitants of Millaud for what was done against the Sieur de Roquefavas and discharge 'em of the Restitution of 4000. Livers taken from the Jacobins The Sieur de 〈◊〉 for encouraging the Inhabitants of Alets in their Breach of 〈◊〉 Conducts Impositions and raising of Money establishment of Courts of Justice Officers and Counsellours through the Provinces and executing of Sentences past in those Courts in Matters Civil and Criminal and Regulations of Municipal Constitutions and their executing their Offices in the said Cities when they were in Rebellion together with the Advocates that practis'd in their Employments before the said Judges Officers and Counsellours set up in the said Cities Also those who had no permission from Us to reside and practise in the said Cities during the said Time All Voyages to and Intelligences Negotiations Treaties Contracts held and made with the English by the said Cities and Inhabitants and by the said Duke of Rohan and Sieur de Soubize as well with the said English as with the King of Spain and Duke of Savoy and Letters written to the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland Also the Sieurs Clausel and Du Cross who were employ'd thither Sales of moveable Goods whether Ecclesiastical or others cutting down of high Trees Demesne Woods or others Taking of Booties Ransoms or any other sort of Money by them taken by reason of the said Troubles melting of Artillery seizing of Ammunition Dismantling and Demolishing of Cities Castles and Towns Also the taking of Mervez Aymargues and other Burnings of Churches and Houses by Order and Authority of the said Duke of Rohan and from all Criminal Prosecutions by Reason of the same not being prejudicial to the Civil Interests of the said Religious Ecclesiasticks in respect of which they shall apply themselves for Justice to the Chamber of the Edict We discharge 'em also from all Leases and Farms of all Ecclesiastical Benefices and Estates of which the said Ecclesiasticks were depriv'd by the Chieftains who had the General Command Our Pleasure in like manner is that they enjoy the full Contents of the Preceding Amnesties and of all that has been acted and negotiated since the abovemention'd Time notwithstanding all Proceedings at Law Decrees and Sentences issu'd out against 'em in the mean time even the Decrees themselves of the Parlament of Tholouse and Bourdeaux and Chamber of Beziers and others against the said Duke of Rohan to whom we will that all his Honours and Dignities which he enjoy'd before shall be preserv'd prohibiting all Prosecutions in the Cases aforesaid In respect of which we impose perpetual silence upon all our Advocates General and their Substitutes excepting always those execrable Cases reserv'd and excepted by the Edict of Nantes and others subsequent of the Civil Interest by Reason of the Fact committed at Vozenobre and Tournac and of the moveables which shall be found in specie tak'n from those who were under Obedience to the King V. And in pursuance of our Intentions to maintain all our Subjects professing the Pretended Reformed Religion in the free Exercise of the said Religion and in the Enjoyment of the Edicts to them granted Our farther Pleasure is that they enjoy the Benefits of the said Edict of Nantes and other Edicts Articles and Declarations register'd in our Parlaments and that in pursuance of the same they have the free Exercise of the said Religion in all Places where it has been allow'd ' em VI. That all Churches and Church-yards that have been taken from 'em or demolish'd shall be restor'd 'em with Liberty to repair 'em if there be any necessity and that they deem it convenient VII We ordain that all the Fortifications of the said Cities shall be raz'd and demolish'd only the enclosure of the Walls within the space of three Months by the sedulity of the Inhabitants In whom we more especially confiding forbear to secure the said Cities either with Garrisons or Cittadels The
there 435. The Consistory molested there 437. Refuses to admit the Duke of Rohans Deputies 429. The Counsellours of the Chamber there forbid to wear red Robes 504. Catharinots murder du Cross 335. Sedition against the Catholicks by them rais'd Ibid. Catholicks their enterprizes at Rochel 387. Of the Queen of Englands Houshold indiscreet 417. They Triumph at Campredons Death 423. They endeavour to involve the Ministers in the Duke of Rohans treaty with Spain 424. Great rejoycing among 'em 450. Their Cruelties and Insulting Ibid. Cavils upon the Right of Donations and Legacies 393. A shameful Cavil 495. Chalas Commissioner in Poitou and Saintonge 383. His Compliance 386. Chambers of the Edict their Severity 115. At Paris reverse a Sentence of the Judge of Orleans 152. Character of the Reformed 31. Charenton the Church there burnt 325. Exercise of Religion confirm'd there 10. Charles Prince of Wales design'd to Marry the Infanta of Spain 389. Courted by Richlieu for a Daughter of Henry IV. 390. The Match concluded 391. His Complance for the Catholick Religion 392. Chatillon dismiss'd by the Circle of Lower Languedoc 327. The Reasons why 328. Surrenders Aiguemortes to the King and is made a Marshal of France 346. Engag'd in the Interests of the Court 214. Deals under hand with Montmorency 378. Chatillon the City dishonest Proposals to surprize it 329 330. Children forc'd away 305. Two Examples of it Ibid. 409. More of the same 370. Churches of the County of Foix reduc'd to Misery 268. And those of Provence ill us'd 269. Church-yards Catholicks dispenc'd with allowing 'em at their own Charges 307. Church-yard at Blois 425. Cavil about one 445. Distance between Reformed and Catholick Church-yards 446. Cities Catholick several take Arms 42. Cities of Security yield to the King 158. Clairac Besieg'd and taken 315. Cruelties us'd to the Garrison 316. Clergy grant Money with an ill will 407. The Clergies Papers and the Kings answer 529. Their Prevarication 172. Their Paper presented to the King 173 174 c. Colledges all Hugenots imparty'd 501. Colledge of Loudun taken from the Reformed 515. Colledge at Charenton the Erection of it oppos'd by the Catholicks 329. Condè joins with Car. de Retz c. 329. His Cruelties to the Reformed 345. Quits the Court and retires into Italy 353. His unjust dealings at Sancerre 451. Affronted at Poitiers 157. His unequal Temper 173. Condè loses his Authority by the Prevarication of the Clergy 180. He begins new Intreigues 181. He prepares to hinder the Match with Spain 184. He invites the Assembly of Grenoble to join with him 201. Proclaim'd a Rebel 231. His Condition when Peace was propounded 232. He Signs the Treaty 237. He makes two new demands after all the rest were granted him which much perplex the Queen 248. Imprison'd by the Queen 249. Set at Liberty 321. He deceives the Reformed 334. His wholsome Advice 341. He and others fail in their Garranty to the Reformed 361. The Kings Declaration against the Cities of Rochel and St. John d' Angeli and the effect of it 422. Consistory at Beglè continues the Publick Exercise of their Religion 223. Oppos'd by two Advocates 224. They cite the Advocates who appeal to the Parlament 225. And the proceedings thereupon 226 c. Constable his Death causes great Alterations at Court 329. Consuls indirectly chosen 491. Consulships of Alets 495. Conversions forc'd at Aubenas 433. and St. Amands 434. Pretended of a Person that dy'd of a Fever 452. Of Souldiers taken Prisners 456. Cornulier Bishop of Rennes his passionate Speech 320. Corps of a Reformed Gentleman digg'd up again 116. Cotton the Jesuit disgrac'd 272. Councils Provincial their Functions 70. Court recover their Affairs 406. The Answers given by the Court to the Papers of the Reformed satisfie no Body 64. Makes use of the Doctrine of Patience 120. The wiles and injustices of it 121. Has no regard for the People 184. Disingenuity of the Court upon Sulli's account 237. Break their Words with Lescun 280. Dilatory and Delusive 303. Craft of the Court in reference to Renards ill success in Bearn 310. Croakers 425. Cruelties of the Kings Army at Foix 401. At Privas 455. Cupis Francis his Conversion 538. D. DAille's Books 526. His dispute with Muis 527. Deagean a signal wile of his 386. c. Declaration against Rohan and Soubise 396. The Kings Declaration upon Soubise's taking Arms 397. Declaration confirming the Edict of Nantes 8. And remarkable Expressions in it 9. Declaration of the twenty fourth of April oppos'd by the Deputies General 97 98. New Declaration July 11. 112. Of the fifteenth of December and remarks upon it 141. Declaration of the Marriages resolv'd upon with Spain 144. Of the Kings Majority 167. Declaration of the King upon the Nobilities proposing to Petition him to maintain the Catholick Religion according to his Coronation Oath 179. Declaration of the Court upon Conde's treating with the Assembly of Nimes 218. New Declaration of the King Ibid. Decree about meeting the Sacrament 434. Decrees upon several occasions 503. A troublesome Decree about meeting the Sacrament 509. For demolishing the Church of St. Maixant 510. Forbidding publick Exercise at Paroi and containing several other things 515. Other Decrees against the Reformed 533. And to the Prejudice of Paternal Authority Ibid. A Vexatious Decree of the Privy Council upon several occasions 534. A Decree touching Patents for Offices 535. He will not allow the Ministers to make a separate Body in Councils 73. A Decree authorizing the Jesuits to preach in Mompellier 277. For restoring confiscated Estates confiscated in Bearn 278. Deputies General nominated 487. Obtain favourable answers to their Papers 18. Their Power limited 49. Well receiv'd and flatter'd at Court 50. Afterwards deceiv'd 51. Threaten'd 52. New Deputies General appointed 60. Deputies of the Provinces at Patis sent back with disgrace 96. Dominic de Jesus Maria his Story 322. Dort Imposture put upon the Synod there 374. E. ECclesiasticks seiz'd upon at Montauban 371. Edict new confirming all the rest 414. Edict of Grace 460. Contents of the Edict 461. Against Blasphemers 528. The Consequences of it Ibid. Edict of Blois 238. Embassadours English importunate for the Peace of the Religion 411. They sign an Act ill drawn up 413. England declares against France 438. English Land in the Isle of Re 439. Defeated 442. Set forth two Fleets more 443. England makes a Peace with France Ibid. 457. Espernon Duke of Mortally hates the Reformed 216. Makes War against Rochel 252. His pretence to take Arms 253 c. Espernon Duke of sent into Bearn 402. Examples of Injuries done the Reformed 306. Exercise forbid at Puigenier and Beaulieu 425. Out of the usual Places 431. At St. Sabin and Antibe 446. Prohibited 438. At Gex Sancerre and Chauvigny 444. At Quercy 445. The Right to 'em cavill'd at 468. Forbid 490 495. Forbid 500. Forbid at Paroi 515. At Villiers le Bel 531. At Corbigni Ibid. At St. Silvia 533. In other Places
Exercise and the Right of the Church 511. Oppression continu'd 501. Orleans Duke of commences a Civil War 492. P. PAmiers City of goes to Law with Bishop 392. Papers of the Reformed General 366. Answers to 'em 367. Of the Clergy of Saintes 385. Full of Malice 386. Calmly answer'd by the Court 402 404. Papers answer'd by the Court 113. General Paper of the Assembly of Grenoble 207. Answer'd 208. Papers of the Clergy favourably answer'd 291. Parlaments encroach upon the Jurisdiction of the Chambers 114. The Parlament ordains the continuance of the Exercise of the Reformed Religion 224. Their Acts of Injustice 302. Parpailler the Original of the Word 347. Pau the Parlament there forbid the Exercises 425. Payment of Ministers 406. Peace Proposals of it renewed 342 The Court would have the King grant it to have a Lord and Master Ibid. Three several Persons give their Opinions upon it 343. Peace agreed before Mompellier 352 353. Honourable for the Duke of Rohan 355. All the Cities accept it 357. Ill observ'd by the Court Ibid. Peace discours'd of 401. Concluded between the King and the Reformed 411. Peace made with the Reformed 459. Perron Cardinal his Harangue to the third Estate 171. Petit's Project about the Reunion 476. Du Plessis his Death 379. Elected President of the Assembly of Saumur 30. He fortifies Saumur 44. His wise Counsel 58. Trick put upon him to get Saumur out of his hands 421. Politicks Bloody of the Catholick Clergy in France 315. Pons Regulations there against the Reformed 539. Pope his Brief to Lewis XIII 316. Precautions to prevent disorder 4. Precedency adjudg'd to the Catholicks 434. To the Catholick Counsellours of the Chamber of Guyen 503. To the Catholick Counsellours of the Chamber of Castres 514. Priests and Monks changing their Religion 442. Priest converted his Children 452. A Priest put to Death for bewitching his Nuns 505. Privas Besieg'd and Betray'd 454. The Kings Declaration upon the taking of it 457. Re-establish'd 498. The Castle retaken 377. Puimirol laught at for his Loyalty 314. Puisieux a new Favourite Adviser of Horse proceeding against the Reformed 359. His Favour short 360. His Promise to the Nuncio 363. Q. QUeen Mother hates Cardinal Richlieu 460. Withdraws into Flanders 471. Queen Regent Characters of Her 30. Offended with the Duke of Rohan 124. She Consents to the removal of Rochebeaucour 137. The Princes discontented with Her Regency 153. She prepares to Assemble the General Estates 166. She takes a Progress with the King 203. She escapes from Blois 319. Her scruples 339. She forms a powerful Party 340. Her Forces defeated procure a Peace 343. Question to insnare the People 526. R. REconciliation of the great ones Projected 132. Regency given to the Queen 5. Reformed unfortunate every where 315. Quitt their Habitations 326. Accus'd of Piring the Bridges of Paris Ibid. Of Firing the Gaol of Lion 327. They reassume fresh Courage 332. Disarm'd 350. The exercise of their Religion forbid 368. A singular Artifice us'd to oblige 'em to call themselves Pretended Reformed 369. Their Condition impared by the Commissioners at Gergeau Remorentin and Tours 382. The Reformed dissatisfi'd with the Kings answers 405. They send Deputies to the King 427. Who remonstrate Ibid. And return with the Kings Answer 427. In great Consternation Ibid. Fear'd at Court 488. Faithful to the King 493. The Condition of the Reformed 5. Who are dreaded and yet afraid Ibid. They fall into a fond Opinion of safety deceiv'd by the Court Artifices 10. They take part with the House of Guise in a Quarrel 94. They abhor the Name of Pretended Reformed 109. Their Strength in the County of Avignon 110. They obtain Gergau instead of Grenoble but dissatisfi'd desire Grenoble again 182 183. Reformed disarm'd at Bourdeaux 223. Inclin'd to the Queen Mothers Service 328. Their faults and the cause 344. Begun to be us'd as Rebels 366. All manner of Justice refus'd 'em 377. To be destroy'd root and branch 397 c. The Peaceable Reformed disarm'd 419 c. Regulations for Villiers le Bel and the Dauphinate 420. Regulations of Vnion 72. Relapsers remarkable Orders against 'em 415. De Retz Cardinal 329. Reunion projected 472. Inclinations of the Ministers towards it 475. And of the People 476. Difficulties that obstructed it Ibid. The issue of it 479. The Truth of it Ibid. Richelieu Cardinal his Maxims 388. His designs of which he is forc'd to delay the Execution 410. Jealousies between him and Buckingham 416. His backside 417. Conspiracies against him 419. He takes a Journey into Italy with the King 453. His Project of Reunion 473. He oppresses the Publick Liberty 491. Much a do to guard himself from Conspiracies 497. His Death 451. Rieuperieux summon'd by the Council 422. Rochechouard particular acts of Injustice there 423 468. Rochel hard press'd by Land and Sea 351. The Priviledges of it disputed 400. Excepted by the King out of the Peace 408. The ruine of it sworn and the King strives to put particular Laws upon it 408 409. Accepts the Conditions somewhat mollifi'd 411. The Condition of it 420. Still blockt up 437. The Irresolution of the Inhabitants 440. They intercept a Pacquet of Court Letters Ibid. Rochel Resolves and Publishes a Manifesto 441. Surrendred 443. Refuses to submit to the English 444. How the Inhabitants were dealt by 446. General Assembly conven'd at Rochel 255. The Circle of Rochel sends Deputies to the King 257. Rohan Duke of 317. Detain'd Prisoner at Mompellier 363. Releas'd 364. He advises the Reformed Cities what to do 366. Meditates great designs 395. Enterprize of Rohan and Soubife Ibid. His Politick Devotions 398. Seconded by his Wife 399. He Publishes a Manifesto 441. Personal Enmity between him and the Prince of Condè 451. Decrees and Declarations against him 453. He treats with Spain 457. He retires out of the Kingdom 463. Accus'd of the ruin of the Churches 467 Serves the King in Italy 494. Breaks with the Duke of Bouillon 118. Differences between him and Rochebeaucour 131 His high Pretensions 136. Reconcil'd to the Duke of Bouillon 150. Engages in the Queens Party 338. His Death 413. Royan surrender'd to the King 332. S. SAcriledge pretended 428. Sancerre seiz'd by the Reformed 250. Saumur an Attempt of the Sheriffs of that Place 151. Scholars of the Academy of Saumur run themselves into a Premunire 496. Forbidden 534. Schomberg Marshal 329. Schools forbid at Rouen 426. At St. Foi Ibid. Order'd distinct Ibid. 448. Sedition at Paris 324. At Orleans 347. At Lion Ibid. The Violence of it 349. At Paris 89. At Rochel 133. At Milhau 173. At Belestar 174. Sedition at Pau against Renard the Kings Commissioner 309. At Tours 406 c. Sessions Grand Sessions in Poitou 507. They put the Churches into great affrights Ibid. And make an important Decree Ibid. Sick People tormented by the Monks 416 417. Visited by the Priests 452. Soubife defeated 332. Solicits for succour in England 351. His succour cast away in
the Harbour 352. Meditates great designs 395. Betray'd by Nouailles 396. He disingages himself 397. His success alters the face of Affairs 398. His Manifesto 399. Answer'd 400. He prospers 402. Spanish Fleet before Rochel 444. States General of France meet 168. The third Estate oppress'd by the Nobility and Clergy Ibid. St. Mark Commissioner in the Synod of Alenson 401. Substance of the General Cahier of the Assembly of Saumur and of the Answers to it 73 c. Sulli Duke of made a Marshal of France 502. He takes false measures 6. He is advis'd to look to himself 7. His disgrace 19. Remov'd from the Exchequer and Government of the Bastille 20. He writes to the Queen 21. His Affair examin'd 25. An anonimous Answer to his Discourse 27. His Speech to the Assembly 48. Synod at Alenson 401. The Commissioners Speech there Ibid. And his Instructions 402. The Moderators Answer 404. Their Deputation to the King 407. The Deputies how treated at Court 410. Nomination of General Deputies 411. They make particular Deputies 412. They condemn Militieres Projects 412. And approve Daille's writings Ibid. They appease the Dispute about universal Grace Ibid. Synod National at Charenton 370. Send Commissioners to the King 372. Their Obedience 375. Proposals made there by Galand Ibid. They send a new Deputation to the King 376. Synod National 420. Synod of Realmont 422. An Article drawn up in that Synod for discovery of all such as had a hand in the Spanish Treaty it offends the Churches and is disown'd by the National Synod 425. The National Synod names General Deputies 428 429. And come to divers Resolutions 429. National Synod at Charenton 480. The Commissioners Speech Ibid. Answer'd 482. They send Deputies to the King 485. Their Papers Ibid. The Deputies favourably receiv'd 487. Important Resolutions taken by the Synod 488. Synod National at Alenson 540. Synod at Blois 90. Synod National of Privas 99. Complaints of the Synod of Blois 103. Care of the Synods for the Reconciliation of the Grandees 105. National Synod at Tonneins 158. Synod National at Vitre 266 c. Synod National at Aletz 349 c. T. TIerache the Reformed Inhabitants there treated favourably 117. Titenus writes against the Assembly of Rochel 308. He answers Milletiere 373. Tonneboutonne Mass resettl'd there 447. Tonneins derided for her Civility 314. Treatise entitl'd The Eucharist of the Ancient Church 500. Tremoville Duke of submits 313. Troubles in France renew'ed 394 129. Troubles end 143. Troubles of Privas 354 c. At Nimes occasion'd by a Jesuit 376. New Troubles in Bearn 402. V. VAlence's Credit 365. Valence Bishop of persecutes the Forreign Ministers 469. Vatan the Lord of it dies 94. Vendosm Duke of foil'd before Britesse 346. De Vic 329. Vieville his ingratitude and ill success 388. Villarte a Monk sent to Foix and his Behaviour there 338. Attestations given him Ibid. His Triumph but a Chimera 402. Vitrè the Church there pull'd down 443. Union sign'd and sworn 100. Treated of between the Prince of Condè and the Assembly of Nimes 216. United Provinces send succour to France 438. University of Poitiers the Statutes reviv'd 421. Vniversity regulated 450. Voices and Opinions divided in the Court of Castres and the Issue of it 429. Ursulin's of Loudon the Farce acted upon 'em 504. W. WAtons besieg'd taken 379. Retaken and restor'd 380. War against the Reformed the Reasons for it prevail 332. The success of it in many Places 346. Civil War new Seeds of it 470. War new in France the Presages of it 378. William de Hugues his Negotiations in England 390. A TABLE of the Edicts Declarations c. Serving for Proofs to the Second Part of this Work THe Kings Declaration upon the Edict of Pacification May 22. Page 455. General Regulation drawn up in the Assembly of Saumur August 29. 1611. 458. Writing of the Assembly at Saumur Anno 1611. and Answer 462. A Declaration of the King touching the Assemblies of any of his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion confirming the Edict of Nantes and the Particular Articles At Paris April 24. 1612. Register'd in Parlament May 25. of the same Year 482. A Declaration of the King in favour of those of the Pretended Reformed Religion confirming the Preceding Declaration of April 24. Given at Paris July 11. 1612. and verifi'd August 8. 484. A Declaration of the King and Confirmation of the Edict of Nantes given at Paris December 15. 1612. and verifi'd Jan. 2. 1613. 486. A Declaration of the Kings Majority containing a Confirmation of the Edict of Pacification and Prohibiting Duels At Paris Octob. 1. 1614. Verifi'd the 2. of the same Month and Year 489. A Declaration of the King touching the renewing of all the Edicts of Pacification Articles agreed Regulations and Decrees in pursuance of the same Publish'd in Parlament the last of April 1615. 491. A Declaration of the King upon Arms being taken by some of his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion containing a new Confirmation of the Edicts and Declarations formerly made in favour of those of the said Religion Given at Bourdeaux Novemb. 10. 1615. 494. An Extract of the Kings Edict for the Pacifying the Troubles of his Kingdom given at Blois May 1616. Verifi'd June 13. the same Year 499. Private Articles granted in the Kings Name by his Deputies sent to the Conference at Loudon to the Prince of Condè to obtain the Pacification of the Troubles after that seen approv'd and ratifi'd by his Majesty 500. A Declaration about the Edicts of Pacification given at Paris July 20. 1616. And verifi'd August 4. the same Year 503. A Declaration of the King containing a Confirmation of the Edict of Loudun and the Private Articles of it Given at Paris the last of September 1616. and verifi'd Octob. 25. 504. A Declaration of the King against unlawful Assemblies of any of the Pretended Reformed Religion at Castel-jaloux and Bearn given at Paris May 21. 1618. and verifi'd May 25. 506. A Declaration of the King confirming the Edicts of Pacification and the Assemblies of Castel-jaloux and Orthes approv'd dated May 24. 1619. 508. A Declaration of the King against those of the Assembly at Loudun together with a Confirmation of the Preceding Edict of Pacification Dated Feb. 26. 1620. 510. A Declaration of the King in Favour of his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion who shall remain in their Duty and Obedience dated April 24. 1621. 514. A Declaration of the King by which all the Inhabitants and other Persons within the Cities of St. Angeli and Rochel are declar'd guilty of High Treason Publish'd June 7. 1621. 517. A Declaration of the King containing Prohibitions to all his Loving Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion remaining in their Obedience to stir from their Houses either in the City or Countrey under the Penalties therein express'd dated July 25. 1622. 520. A Declaration of the King upon the Peace which he gave his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed
Religion confirming the Preceding Edicts of Pacification Dated October 19. 1622. 521. A Paper presented to the King by the General Deputies with the Answers 524. A Circulatory Letter of the General Deputies of the Reformed Churches 535. The Kings Declaration providing against the Propounding or Treating of any Affairs in the Assemblies of the Pretended Reformed Religion but such as are permitted by the Edicts Dated April 17. 1623. 536. A Declaration of the Kings good Will to his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion Verifi'd in Parlament November 27. 1623. 537. A Declaration of the King against the Duke of Soubize and his Adherents Given at Paris Jan. 25. 1626. 539. A writing given by the English Embassadours to the Deputies of the Churches to make the King of England Garranty of the Peace in 1626. 542. An Edict of the King upon the Peace which it pleas'd his Majesty to give his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion Dated March 1626. 543. A Declaration of the King against the Sieur de Soubize and other Adherents to the Party of the English c. Given at Villeroy August 5. 1627. 548. A Declaration of the King after the taking of Rochel to his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion Given at Paris December 15. 1628. 551. The Kings Edict upon the Grace and Pardon granted as well to the Duke of Rohan and the Sieur de Soubize and to all his other Rebellious Subjects of the Cities c. Given at Nimes in July 1629. 553. FINIS The Creasion and Design and Platform of this Work 1517. 1520. The beginning of the Reformation its progress and its causes 1520. It s entrance into France 1523 How it came to be received at Meaux and in Bearn 1523 The Execution of John Clerk and of Lewis Berquin 1529. The state of the Protestant Religion in Germany 1528. The Schism of England The Inclination of Francis I. tâ— the Reformation 1534. 1535. From which the Cardinal de Tournon diverts him 1535. An accommodation proposed 1285. The Synods at Bourges and Paris 1534. The beginning of Calvin's Doctrine 1534. The year of the Placards or Libels 1535. Devotions accompanied with Executions An Edict against the Lutherans 1546. The Council of Trent 1545. 1544. 1547. The Council translated The King's death 1548. Hen. II. persecutes the Protestants 1549. 1551. The King protests against the Removal back of the Council to Trent The Dutchess of Valentinois cruel â—â— the Protestants The great Credit of the Clergy 1550. 1545. The affairs of Merindol and Cabrieres 1550. New Executions do but advance the progress of the Reformation 1553. Churches firmâ—d at Paris and many other places 155â— 1556. The Spirit of Moderation prevails over some Judges 1557. A Protestant meeting at Paris The Character of Queen Katharine de Medicis Calumnies against the Protestants Singing of Psalms in publick The Original of the Factions 1559. The couragious behaviour of Andelot And his disgrace 1559. The Counsellers of the Parliament of Paris suspected about their Religion The Death of Henry the 2d The first French Protestant National Synod Francis II. succeeds The state of the Court The Nature of the Intrigues and Characters of the chief persons God assists the first Christian. How Religion came to be conceru'd in those Intrigues Courts of Justice called Burning Chambers erected Abominable Superstitions towards Images A project against Arbitrary Power 1560. The enterprise of Amboise The Cruelty of the Court. The Original of the wâ—rd Huguenot 1560. A false appearance of Moderation The P. of Conde imprison'd The sudden death of Francis II. falsly imputed to the Protestants Charles IX succeeds The Estates assembled who seem to favour the Protestants The Rise of the Triumvirate The Conference at Polisy 1561. 1562. The setling of the Jesuits at Paris The inconstancy of the Cardinal of Lorrain and of the K. of Navar. 1561. A sedition at Paris against the Protestants The Massacre at Vassi after the Edict of January Chief Nobility The strength of the Protestants The French term for Protestant Meeting places The short favour of the Admiral with the Queen The first war undertaken by the Queens Orders and afterwards disown'd The Triple League between the Pope the K. of Spain and the Guises against the Protestants The Cruelties of Monlac and Des Adrets and of the Catholicks in general The Massacre at Sens. Foreigners called into France The battel of Dreux 1563. The Siege of Orleans The Murther of the Duke of Guise charged upon the Admiral by the Wretch that did it A Peace concluded 1564. The Marriage of the Cardinal of Chatillon and its consequences * i. e. Heresy 1568. 1571. 1563. Tythes confirmed to the Roman Clergy A Tholouse 6. 8. March 1640. theâ—3 â—3 Feb. 1658. The re-taking of Havre de Grace The end of the Council of Trent 1563. 1564. 1568. A Revolution in Bearn 1569. 1565. New occasions of jealousy given the Protestants The voyage of the Court and advice given them by the Duke of Alva The progress of the Protestant Churches 1565. 1566. The reconciliation of the Admiral with the Guises The attempt at Monceaux and its consequences 1568. A peace made before Chartres without any intention to keepit The third War 1569. The death of Andelot and of the Prince of Conde Battels lost The Admiral re-establishes the party 1570. A fraudâ—lent Peace Incredible Artifices of the Court. 1571. 1572. The Massacre of St. Bartholomew â— The Princes change their Religion by force The Inconstancy of des Rosiers Siege of Rochel and Sancerre Factions in France 1574. The Duke of Alenzon Protector of the Reformed and the Politicians The death of the King Henry III. at his return continueth the War 1575. The Princes Retreat 1576. Peace as soon broke as made The League The King's Oath Who notwithstanding makes peace Edict of 1577. Synods 1579. Conference of Nerac and Fleix 1580 The King eludes the Peace and â—et makes a shew of keeping it Outrages done to the King by the League Is forced to a War with the Reformed La Trimouille becomes reformed 1587. The Battle of Coutras Defeats of the Reiters 1588. Thedeath of P. of Conde Edict of Vnion The boldness of the Leaguers The Estates at Blois Death of the D. of Guise and the Curdinal his brother The Duke of Mayenne being escaped relieves the Leaguers party Extremity of the King's affairs The King makes a Truce with the Reformed His affairs grow better He lays siege â—â— Paris Is assassin'd by a Monk Change of Affairs What the Reformed hoped from the dead K. The trouble of the New King The Intreagues of the Army And of the Court. The Characters and Interests of the Prince of the blood The Officers of the laâ—â— King The Catholick Nobles The Reformed And their suspitions about the King's Religion The hopes of the Ministers The uncertainty of the King His resolution upon the conditions proposed by the Catholicks The Protestants flatter themselves about the King's Instruction The various affections of the
Names of Pretended Reform'd Religion Complaints concerning the Commissioners Resolution no longer to send particular Deputations to the Court Force of the Reform'd in the County of Avignon Gratification New Declarations upon the preceeding Which gives no satisfaction Cahiers answer'd * Petitions or Addresses * Injunction Enterprises of the Parliaments upon the Jurisdiction of the Chambers Severity of the Chambers of the Edict The Corps of a Reform'd Gentleman taken out of the ground again by the order of a Commissioner Favours granted to the Reformed of la Tierache Division of the Duke de Rohan and the Marshal de Bouillon and the sequel Abuse the Deputies which injoyn obedience The Court makes use of the Doctrine of Patience Ministers Pentioners Wiles and Injustices of the Court. Enterprise upon St. John d'Angely The Duke of Rohan prevents it notwithstanding orders from the Court to the contrary The Queen is offended and things seem to incline to a War * Speaker of the Commons Apperance of accommodation Vnder which the Troubles continue Endeavours us'd to involve du Plessis in the same Who remain in quiet Assembly of the Circle at Rochel Prospect of Reconciliation among the great ones Sedition at Rochel It s origina â— And its violence Negotiations for an accomodation High pretentions of the Duke de Rohan The Queen consents to it only preserving some appearences for her self The Duke beiâ—â— exasperated by new inâ—uries refuses â—â— accept them The Assembly meets at Rochel And charge the Deputies General with new Articles Resolution taken at Court Chevauchee But ill perform'd New Declaration Remarks upon those frequent Edists The Circle Assembles again Rochel seperates from the rest Which puts an end to the troubles Verbal promise to tolerate Provincial Councils Declaration of the Marriages resolv'd upon with Spain What offends the true French men 1613. Ferrier abandons the Ministry Is receiv'd Counsellor at Nimes And is Excommunicated Diligence of the Consuls to save Ferrier Writing on both sides Appollogies of Ferrier And his end Reconcilement of the Duke de Rohan and the Marshal de Bouillon Attempts of the Sheriffs of Saumur * Petitions or Addresses 1614. Equity of the Chamber of the Edict of Paris Rights of the Bishop of Mompellier upon the Vniversity Discontents of the Princes The Duke of Rohan enters into it Artifices of the Marshal de Bouillon Retreat and Manifesto of the Princes Their precipitation is blam'd 〈…〉 A Peace is made Injury done to the Prince of Conde at Poitiers Cities of Surety opened to the King National Synod The King of England's Letters Council of the Lower Guyenne Mutual Subordination of the Assemblies Brief of leave for a General Assembly Letters from the Lords Pecuniary Affairs * Taxes Exemption of Tailles for the Ministers Places of Surety Berger a Reformed Counsellor at Paris turns Roman Catholick Reformed of Gex Churches nâ—â—t as eâ— settled Condition of the Reform'd in the County of Avignon Liberality's of the Synod Colleges Bearn â—â—ents Oath of Vnion Letters to the King and Queen The Queen prepares to Assemble the Estates General Declaration the King 's Majoritty Overture of the States * The Commons The Clergy and Nobility unite against the third Estaete Reform'd in the States Independency of Kings Whose Cause is betra'yd by the Clergy and by the Court it self Passion of the Clergy Harangue of Cardinal du Perron Why the Heriticks are tollerated Distinctions of the Cardinal His Conclusion * Peâ—ion or Address 1615. Reflections * House of Commons The third Estate Persists Character of Miron President of the Chamber of that Order The Court silences the Third Estate Illusive Decree of the Clergy And their shameful Prevarications Inequality of the Prince of Conde Preseverence of the Clergy in that Doctrine Sedition at Milhau The Bishop of Lucons Speech * Petition or Address Sedition of Belestat Cah er of the Clergy Leave Permission Continuation of the Cahier Articles propos'd aâ—â—ect â—…â—aâ—nst the Reform'd * Chief Justices Sequel of the said Articles * Places in which the Reform'd were allowed to perform the publick exercise of their Religion Conclusion of the Câ—…her Propositions disliked by the Nobility Declaration of the King Which does not Cure the Evil. New intrigues To which they ingage the People * Petition and Addresses The Parliament And the Reform'd Why Solicet to â—…ain another plaâ—â— instead of Grenoble And obtain Gergeau Which they are not satisfyed with And desire Grenoble again And the Court Consents to it Assembly of the Clergy â—…ur of the â—… And of the Prince of Conde The Prince of Conde invites the Assembly of Grenoble to joyn with him Diversity of Opinions The Kings Progress The General Assembly â—â—nds Deputies to the King â— Pâ—… The Deputies are adjourn'd to Poitiers The Queen gets to her Journeys end without Opposition Particular Petition of the Assembly * Petitions or Remonstrances * In which the Judges were half Catholicks and half Protestants * Oblats or Secular Monks General Petition * The Commons * Answers Petition * Petitions The Answers of the Court give no satisfaction They amuse the Deputies * Petitions The Deputies Communicate their fâ—aâ—s to the Assembly * Petitions or Addresses Lâ—â—â—â—guires keeps a great Awe over tâ—â—â— The Assembly removes to Nimes Against his Will The Assembly mistrust the Lords Lesdiguieres and Chatillon are ingag'd in the interest of the Court. The Duke of Candale Embraces the Reform'd Religion His Levity The Reform'd are hated by the Favourites The Duke d Epernon hates them Mortally The Treaty of Union between the Assembly and the Prince of Conde Which revives the Princes Party Letters Declaration which confirms the â—â—dâ—cts After a very Argumental Preface Effect of the Declaration The Reform'd dâ—â—arm'd at Bourdeaux The Consistory discontinues the Publick Exercise of their Religion Two Advocates declare it to the Parliament 1616. The Parliament ordains the Continuation of the Exercise of the Reform'd Religion The Consistory cites both the Advocates after the Conclusion of the Peace They appeal to the Parliament * A Chamber composed of Catholick and Protestant Judges The Consistory suspends them publickly from the Communion A severe Decree The Advocate-General Passion The Ministers disown the things alledg'd by the Advocate-General Absurdities * Chambres Miparties in which the Judges were half Catholicks and half Protestants Ridiculous Pretensions * Cene. A continuation of the ill Will of the Parliament * Chamber-Mipartie in which the Judges are part Catholics and part Protestants A False Decree of Inrollment of a Declaration against the Prince Propositions of peace * Petitions oâ— Addresses 1615. The Lower Languedoc remains peaceable The King of England offers his Mediation for a peace The Council of France refuses the said Mediation 1616. Conference and Peace of Loudun The removal of the General Assembly to Rochel The Assembly sends Deputies to Loudun Disingenuity of the Court. The Assembly is almost compell'd to accept a Peace Edict of Blois * Remonstrances and
Demands * The Commons Private Articles * A Land Tax and heavy Imposition upon the People Inrollment and Modifications of the Edict * Petitions and Remonstrances * Petisions or Addresses * Petitions or Demands The Prince Authorizes himself at Court. The Queen puts the Prince of Conde in Prison Which occasions great disturbances The Reform'd seize Sancerre * Places that were annex'd to â—â—â—ers Declaration upon the Edict of Peace The Duke d'Epernon makes War against Rochel Privileges of the said City The Duke's Preâ—â—nsiens 1617. Rochel applies it self to the King and makes an ill defence Importance of his Enterprise The Circle Assembles at Rochel And Convenes a general Assembly The Deputies of the Circle are ill receiv'd at Court Kâ—asâ—ns to prove that the Assembly is necessary Extremities to which the Male-contents are reduc'd The King's Temper Original of the Fortune of Honore Albert de â—uines * Pigriesches It has been question'd whâ—ther he was a Gentleman The Character of his Confidents Death of the Marshal d'Ancre Alteration of Affairs Luines Marries into the house of Rohan The Assembly of Rochel sends Deputies to the King And receives an Order to break up * Petitions and Demands They obey and resolve to protect the Churches of Bearn Their Petitions National Synod at Vitré Deputation to the King Letters to the General Assembly and their Answer The Churches of Bearn and Auvergne disturb'd The Count of Sancerre exerts Hostilities against the City Churches of the Country of Foix. * In which the Judges were part Catholicks and part Reform'd And those of Provence ill us'd Permission given to the Ministers to assist at Political Assemblies Places of Bailywicks establish'd with little Exactness * Towns or Villages in which the Publick Exercise of the Reform'd Religion was to be perform'd in the said Bailywicks Rogueries of the Converted Moors The Bishop of Lucon retires from the Queen Disgrace of Cotton the Jesuit Arnoux succeeds him A Sermon Preach'd at Court by him The Ministers of â— Charenton's Answer Against whom Informations are given Pamphlets on both sides The Bishop of Lucon Writes against the Ministers Assembly of the Clergy The Bishop of Macon's Speech Jacobins turn'd out of Montpelier They refuse to suffer a Jesuit Preacher The State of Bearn falsely represented The Effect of that Speech A Decree authorising the Jesuits to Preach in Montpelier * Petitions or Addresses A Decree of Restauration of the Ecclesiastical Estates that had been formerly confiscated in Bearn Re-union of that Country to the Crown which is oppos'd by the Estates La Force And Lescun Deceit of the Court. Dissertacion upon this matter Suspension of Homage * Ill Clerk Inconveniences attending the dis-union and Advantages of the Union By whom the Re-union was pretreated Motives of the Opponants And their Answer to the Dissertation The Edict of Re-union publish'd The Clergy obtain a Decree of Restauration Which declares that the Deputies have been heard and the Writings seen Subtilty of the Clergy A Violent Speech * Petition The Bearnois endeavour to Ward the Blow Remonstrances of Lescâ—n Libels The State of Religion in Bearn Lescun only obtain Words The Cahiâ—â— of the Clergy is favourably answer'd * Petition or Address 1618. The Effect of those Advantages is prosecuted without Inequalities of La Force The Countryof Bearn pursues in this Opposition Writings on their behalf Why the Clergy would not take the said Reimplacement for themselves An Answer to the Writing of the Bearnois A Continuation of the said Answer Enterprises upon the Cities of Surety The Exercise of the Reform'd Religion hinder'd in divers places Injustices of the Parliaments Jesuits * Cities Towns and Castles granted to the Reformed for their safety by the Edicts Burial * Petition or Remonstrance Answers to the Cahiers Illusive Remedies 1618. Extream Dispair of the Bearnois The Assembly refus'd at Casteljaloux And at Tonneins They repair to Orthez And arâ— proscrib'd Seditino at Pau. Maliae of the Commissioner Presages and Devotions Craft of the Council First and final Mandamus directed to the Soveraign Council of Bearn Follow'd by Decrees of that Council * Petitions or Demand Sentiment of some particular Persons upon those Affairs Disposition of the great ones State of Forreign Affairs Dangerous Consequences of the aâ—vice of the Moderate An Apology for the Conduct of the Bearnois * Laws of the Bar. Artifices of the Bishops of the Country Remarks upon the Bishop of Macon's Speech Difficulties against the Reimplacement Against Tithes Prescription * For. Conclusion 1619. The Queen Mother makes her Escape from Blois The Prince of Conde is set at liberty The Assembly of Orthez Transfer'd to Rochel Takes the King's part And breaks up Another Assembly allow'd at Loudun Why the Reform'd have so often renew'd the same Demands * Pâ—tâ—tiâ—â— The Court refers the Complaints to the General Caâ—… Resolutions and Oaths of the Assembly * Petitions and Demands Substance of the General Cahier and other Articles of Complaints The Assembly forbids to suffer Jesuits and other Monks to Preach in the Cities of Surety * Petition or Address Decrees of divers Parliaments to the contrary Deputations Letters and Remonstrances to the King The Reform'd were inclin'd to the Queen-Mother's Service A Dismal Answer And the Effect of it Opposition of the Catholicks to the Establishment of a Collâ—ge at Charenton Assembly of the Clergy Exemption which is granted them of pleading in such Tribunals where all the Judges are Reform'd Reiterated Orders to the Assembly of Loudun to break up 1620. Expedient of Accommodation An unexpected Declaration against the Assembly * In which the Judges were part Catholicks and part Reform'd The Prince of Conde deceives the Reform'd Affected diligence of the Attorney General The Assembly remains firm The Negotiations are râ—sâ—m'd The Assembly Obeys upon the parole of the Prince of Conde and of the Favourite Effect of the Separation of the Assembly New Intrigues against the Favorite The Duke of Rohan ingages in the Queens Party Scruples of the Queen Mother Power of the Party she forms Useful Advice of the Prince of Coâ—de and ill Council of 〈◊〉 Bishop 〈◊〉 Lucon The Bishops Reasons Defeat of the Queen's Forces follow'd by 〈◊〉 Peace The King 's unexpected Journey in Bearn Faults of the Reformed and the Cause thereof The King proceeds notwithstanding Remonstrances He arrives at Pau. Makes himself Master of Navarreins He takes the Oath Alteration of the whole Form of the Government Suppression of the Captains of the Parsans How the Reform'd of the Country were us'd Abuses and Threatnings Wickedness of the Bishops Cruelties of Poyane Different Relations of the Kings Journey National Syned of Alets Political Regulations The Ministers deputed for the Syned of Dordrecht give an account of the reasons that have stopt them 〈◊〉 Bearn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They resolve to depute to the King All manner of Succors is refus'd to the Deputies of Bearn Important considerations evaded News of consequence supprest 1618. Treachery of
Parliaments Jesuits Burials Answers to the Cahiers Illusory Remedies WHILE the Prince of Conde was still uncertain whither he should go to Court there to gather the Fruits â—f the Peace The Queen who was unwilling he should have â—â—e honour of procuring some Advantages to the Reform'd â—â—om whom he had receiv'd such good Services granted them 〈…〉 Declaration suitable to the Answer the King had already giâ—en to their Cahiers about his Coronation Oath It importâ—d that though the King had sufficiently evideno'd his Intentiâ—ns by the Confirmation of so many Edicts nevertheless beâ—ng inform'd that some Reform'd still entertain'd Suspicions â—y reason of what was happen'd between the Deputies of the Nobility in the Estates General he was still willing to give â—hem farther Proofs of his good Will towards them and in â—rder to remove all their Scruples about the Propositions made â—n the Estates he declar'd that it had never been his Intention â—o include in his Coronation Oath those of the Reform'd Religion who liv'd in the Kingdom under the benefit of the Eâ—icts Secret Articles and Declarations given in favour of them And that in order to their better observation for the future â—he confirm'd them a-new This new Edict was dated the 20th of July and was verify'd within a few Days after But the Publick Tranquillity did not remain long â—â—disturbed And the very Conditions on which it was obtain'd gave an occasion to renew the Troubles The Prince of Conâ—â—â—â—â— â—â—â— bethought himself during the Treaty of Peace to make two new Demands after all the rest were granted to him which gave the Queen a great deal of Vexation The one was That the Queen should take from the Marshal â— Aâ—â—â—â— with whom the Duke of Long ueville Governor of â—icâ—â—â—â— could not agree whatever he had left in that Province The other was To grant him to hold the Pen in the Council which was the power of Signing the Decrees of the Council the Weekly State of the Finances and the Accounts of the Exchequer That is he desir'd an Authority which would be so much the greater in the Affairs of the State the Quality of first Prince of the Blood being joyn'd to that of first Minister The Queen had Spies at Loudun which had given her an account of those Propositions of the Prince before Villeroy who had engag'd himself to obtain the approbation â—â— that Princess had acquainted her with it She thought that those Novelties had been Inspir'd to that Prince by that Minister who had been favourable to him all along in the Trâ—â—ty as if he had design'd to Imploy his Credit against the Marshal d' Ancre who design'd to ruine him But as soon â—â— he had spoken to the Queen she immediately granted the Prince new favours though she had express'd a great deal of â—…y to it to her Confidents The Reason of that â—â—teration was that Villeroy hinted That in case the Prâ—â—â—â— should make an ill use of that Power contrary to the Queeâ—â— Intentions it would be in her Power to secure him whenever she thought â—â—â— Nevertheless this Expedient which the Queen improv'd so well soon after did not reconcile Villeroy with the Marshal d' Ancre who put him out of favour in a short time However he was restor'd to his Places again as soon as that Favourite was Dead but he did not live long to injoy thâ—â— The Prince coming to Court after some Delays soon saw â— Croud of Courtiers attending on him and even the Marshâ—l himself speaking before him to secure himself against the Publick Haâ—â—ed The Queen seem'd at first cordially reconâ—â—â—il'd to him and the Prince of Conde who was satisfy'd with â—he degree of Authority he had obtain'd sincerely desir'd on â—is part to live in good understanding with her Insomuch that â—e took the Marshal d' Ancre into his Protection at the Queens â—equest and promis'd to secure him against all Insults But â—â—at occasion'd so many Complaints and Reproaches against â—im from those who had assisted him during the Wars â—nd who were all Enemies to the Marshal that he chose raâ—â—er to retract the Protection he had promis'd him than to â—â—se so many Certain and Useful Friends for one Man who â—as odious to the whole Kingdom Whereupon the Marshal â—as oblig'd to remove from the Court and to retire into â—â—s Government of Normandy The Queen was extreamly â—â—ncern'd to see her Authority fallen to that degree that it â—as not in her Power to maintain the dearest of her Creaâ—â—res without the Assistance of the Prince But it receiv'd a â—â—nsiderable Addition when she found her self at the Mercy 〈…〉 a reconcil'd Enemy for whom the whole Court had alâ—ost abandon'd her Therefore according to the Advice 〈…〉 which she had receiv'd the Overture from Villeroy she â—…t him in Prison This Enterprise as bold as unexpected â—â—ould have been greater and perhaps would have secur'd â—â—e Authority of that Princess for a long time had she dar'd 〈…〉 resolve three or four days sooner to seize the other three â—â—incipal Heads of the Cabal with him who were all come â—…considerately to expose themselves to be seiz'd upon But â—â—e durst not undertake it not being prepar'd for it and â—ereby she lost the benefit of the Prince's Imprisonment 〈…〉 reason that the others having reflected on their preceding â—â—prudence expos'd themselves no longer as they had done â—hat at the first Notice they receiv'd of the Princes Prison â—â—ey all made their escape as well as they could that they â—â—ok up Arms again for their common defence and that â—â—ey never laid them down until the Marshal Ancre'sâ—eath â—eath and the Queens Retreat had chang'd the State of â—ffairs In the mean time this Imprisonment occasion'd great Alteâ—â—tions The Inhabitants of Paris reveng'd it upon the House and Rich Furnitures of the Marshal d'Anâ—re which the Queen suffer'd to be pillag'd for three days together for fear of exasperating those Riotors by opposition The Reform'd did rise in divers parts and dreading that Affair would be attended with general Consequences which might bring all those into Question that had been concern'd in the last Troubles they took some measures to avoid being prevented This first Act of Authority done in the King's Name since his Marriage renew'd all their Former Feaâ—â— and taught them to judge by what had been undertakeâ— against the first Prince of the Blood after a Solemn Treaty what the Court might be capable of doing to the Prejudice of the Edicts against odious people whose Ruin had been Swoâ—â— for so many years Among other things which those diffidences put them upon Acting they made themselves Maâ—… of Sancerre a City that had been Famous ever since the 〈…〉 Siege and cruel Famine they endur'd under the Reign of 〈…〉 the IX They lookt upon it as one of the Places of Surety and had possess'd it as such under the Title of Marâ—… with that of Thouars But the Count
all such kind of Projects were coâ—demn'd with extraordinary Severity The second was the Appointment of a Solemn Fast throughout all the Kingdom which the Catholic took for a Proof that the Reformed were in hopes of being re-establish'd by the Arms of Gustavus for which Reason said they those People endeavour'd to engage Heaven on their side by Devotions more then ordinary The third was a Declaration which the Synod made that the Lutherans who desir'd it might be admitted to the Communion that the â—eformed might contract Marriages with 'em and take 'em for â—…fathers provided they would instruct their Children only 〈…〉 those things wherein the Lutherans and Reformed both agree The Missionaries believ'd all obstacles of Reunion with â—…e Râ—mish Church remov'd by this Declaration for that they â—…ald not conceive why the Reformed should have any more â—…epugnance against the Transubstantiation of the Catholics â—…n against the Impanation and Ubiquity of the Lutherans â—ore especially since the Synod acknowledg'd that tho there â—…ere Error in the Lutheran Doctrine yet there was no Venom â—â—d that there was no Idolatry in their Worship The Politicians believ'd it to be an Artifice of the Synod's Prudence by his compliance with the Doctrine of his Ministers to insinuate themselves into Gustavus's Favour But notwithstanding all this the Reformed were opprest with several Acts of Injustice almost over all the Provinces â—oâ— besides the accustom'd Cavils about the Rights of Exercise and Church-yards the Decrees obtain'd by the Bishop of Vaâ—â—nâ—â— almost Dispeopl'd whole Provinces Nothing was to be â—…en but Churches shut up and Ministers Imprison'd for not â—aving obey d the Prohibitions against Preaching in more then â—…e Place The Minister of Chatillon a paltry Place in the â—…phinate serv'd himself nine or ten other Churches besides â—hat if we may believe the Substance of the last Decree obtain'd by that Prelate Nor was it impossible because the â—reatest part of those Annexes were particular Houses where 〈…〉 Gentry would have Preaching in their Families and where â—here were but few others besides their own Domestics Many â—…mes also this Exercise was not common it may be not above â—…e a Month or once in three Months in consideration of some Donative given upon that Condition to the Principal Church In the mean time the rest of the Bishops would â—eeds appear no less Zealous then the Prelate of Valence So that every one sought to ruin the Churches in his Diocess This procur d a Decree of Council of the same nature dated June 6. â—gainst Rivet and other Ministers of Saintonge at the Request of the Bishop of Saintes Where a new Cavil was set a-foot about the Place of Exercises and if they could not dispence with resettling 'em in Places where the Proofs were too clear to be contested yet they would not restore 'em without paring off something from the Real Right that belong'd to 'em and removing 'em out of the middle of the City where the Church had always stood to the dirty Fag-end of some Suburb The Exercise was likewise forbid at Rioux in Saintonge by a Decree of the Sixth of March The Clergy of the Province were Plaintiffs in this Process and there was a Question annex'd to it concerning the Possession of the Church-yard which they pretended was to be left to the Catholics because there was above Eight hundred of them in the Parish and not above Twenty of the Reformed But they never said a word that the Congregation for all that was very numerous as being much frequented by the Reformed Inhabitants of the Parishes adjoyning However the Church had strong and sufficient Proofs of the Possession of it for above Eight years before the Edict But for all that they were depriv'd both of their Exercise and their Church-yard leaving only another small Place for their Burials at the Charges of the Corporation And indeed the Poverty of the Churches was such as oblig'd some Religious persons to bestow Donatives and Legacies to prevent the loss of Legal Right But the Catholics greedy of the Profits and moreover minding nothing but to hasten the Ruin of the Churches commenc'd tedious Suits upon these Donations and sought a thousand Quirks and Pretences in Terms and Circumstances to bring the Cause about on their side Many times also the Heirs of the Donors oppos'd the Effect of the Will and gave the Catholics an Opportunity to apply the Profits to themselves Thus Elias Alardin gave this year an Annual Rent of Two hundred Livres toward the Maintenance of the Minister and Three hundred Livres to the Poor But this Donation prov'd the Original Occasion of a Suit that lasted above Fifty Years and which was adjudg'd to the Advantage of the Church not above three years before the Revocation of the Edict by that one single Act of Justice to cover and palliate a thousand others much more crying that were committed over the rest of the Kingdom The Promises of giving a Gracious Answer to the Paper so â—…on as the Synod brake up were so soon forgot that upon the â—…th of October the King set forth a Declaration purporting â—…at in all Places where there were but Four Consuls the â—…st and Third should be Catholics if there were no Capituâ—…ion to the contrary The Design of which Declaration â—…s to exclude the Reformed from being admitted into the â—…tes of Languedoc whither the Cities sent none but their first â—…nsul Thus the Reformed were excluded from medling â—…th the Municipal Government of their Cities and depriv'd â— all the Honours that were annexed to the first Consulship â—…t in regard that many times the first Consul scorn'd that Emâ—…yment or was not capable of it the most Honourable Funâ—…ons were then exercis'd by the second who was generally a â—…an of Learning and bred up to Business And for the Clause â—…at mention'd contrary Capitulation 't was a meer piece of â—…aud For it was not meant thereby that if there were any such â—…ause which gave the First Consulship to the Reformed he â—…as therefore bound to hold it but if there were any such â—…ause as took from the Reformed the whole Consulship they â—…ere bound to rest contented 'T was sufficient for a City that â—…d Surrender'd at Discretion if an Order came from the Duke â— Mâ—â—morenci or some other Chieftain of the Royal Arms for a City that had not expresly Articl'd that there should be â— Alteration in the Consulship to say that there was a Capiâ—…lation to the contrary Lunel and Bedarieux for these Reaâ—…ns lost their share in the Consulship which remain'e entire to â—…e Catholics But the Reformed were not the only Persons who comâ—…ain'd of Oppression For the Cardnial carry'd his Authority in â—…e Government so high that all the Kingdom groan'd under 〈…〉 New and uneasie Yoak The Catholics could not forbear â—…urmuring to see the Liberty of the Kingdom die together â—…th the Pride of Rochel and they who were blinded by a false
â—…eql for Religion well perceiv'd that the Power of the Reformed had only serv'd for an Obstacle to delay the Public Sâ—…viâ—ude The Sovereign Courts were treated with unheard 〈…〉 Scorn and lofty Disdain The Court of Aides refus'd to veriâ—… certain Edicts that burthen'd the State with new Impositionâ— and being inform'd that the Edicts were just ready to be brougâ—… to 'em while the Court was sitting they would not stay 〈…〉 'em but rose immediately For the punishment of which presumption the Court was interdicted and other Judges 〈…〉 up in the room of those that had been so hardy to judge of theâ—… Power They continu'd in this Condition for some Months nor could they be restor'd till they had most servilely submitteâ— themselves Nor was the Parlament any better us'd For aftâ—… the Queenmother and the Duke of Orleance were withdrawâ— the King sent a Declaration to the Parlament against the Prinâ—… and his Adherents But that same Senate instead of verifyinâ— the Declaration divided and order'd Remonstrances Thâ— King to punish this piece of Malapertness sent an Order to thâ— Members to come a-foot to the Loure not by their Deputiâ—… but in a Body and to bring the Registers along with 'em Which being done the whole Assembly as August as the stil'd themselves were enforc'd upon their Knees to hear â— tedious and mortifying Censure which reduc'd all their Powâ—… only to the enregistring and publishing all Declarations thaâ— were sent 'em without any hesitation The Keeper of the Sâ—…tore before their faces the Decree for dividing the House anâ— the Parlament had the hard Fortune to hear a Decree pronounc'd which either exil'd or suspended from their Employments some of the most considerable of their Members It was not to be wonder'd that such unheard-of Proceeding should provoke the Spirits of the People to take Arms. Thâ—… Duke of Orleans therefore being return'd into France was 〈…〉 join'd by a numerous Body of Malecontents and in a smaâ—… time beheld all Languedoc at his devotion and they who haâ—… bin the most fierce Persecutors of the Reformed threw themselves into this New Party Lestranges Lord of Privas sideâ— with the Duke and perish'd in the Cause The Bishops â—… â—…lbi Vsez Nimes Alets St. Pons and Lodeve join'd with the Duke of Mommorenci The Bishiop of Leon also was accus'd to have had a share in this War and could not obtain his Pardon â—ill after the King's Death On the other side the Reformed serv'd the King with extraordinary Courage The Second Consul of Nimes preserv'd that City for the King and exâ—ell'd the Bishops and the First Consul who favour'd the Duke â—f Orleans Montaubon sent her Deputies as far as Monceaux â—o assure the King of the Fidelity of the Inhabitants who ofâ—er'd to march a League out of their City to meet the Duke and â—ight his men if they approach'd near their Quarters The Duke â—f Espernon also had so much confidence in 'em that he made â—o scruple to enter the Town tho much inferior in strength â—nd to commit himself to the mercy of a People whom he had â—o rudely handl'd in time of War Marion Camp-Assistant on the King's side made himself Master of Privas which had â—in abandon'd since it was taken and recall'd the Inhabitants who serv'd him successfully and defended the Town for the King against their own Lord. One would have thought that such an Action should have cancell'd the Memory of what was pass'd and indeed those poor Creatures were suffer'd to resettle themselves without any notice taken of it But Thirty years after they were made to understand by Cruel Persecutions that past Offences are never to be expiated by succeeding Services and that by a Maxim quite opposite to the Rule of the Almighty Transgressions are longer retain'd in the Memories of Princes then Good Services The Bishops of Albi and Nimes were degraded by reason of their Rebellion and the Bishop of Vsez dying in the midst of the Process avoided the Disgrace The rest were no less guilty but perhaps might have better Recommendations and their Acquittal cost 'em no more then a little agony of Fear However the Process commenc'd against Bishops for High Treason made so loud a noise that the Reformed could not forbear triumphing and to reproach 'em with their Principal Members tumbling into Rebellion which till then was lookt upon to be the only Portion and Character of Heresy The Ministers lookt upon it as a piece of Divine Vengeance that the Bishops who had so often accus'd 'em of breathing nothing but Rebellion should so openly precipitate themselves into the Sin of Rebellion that the veneration due to their Character could not exempt 'em from Punishment But to mortify these Triumphers they thought it expedient to put to death Marets the Minister of Alets as if he had had a hand in the Insurrection Nevertheless all his Crime was only this That all the People of the City siding either with the Lordâ—… or with the Bishop he was not so fortunate as to hinder the City from joining with the Malecontents though he himself sate still without so much as medling on either side Thuâ— was one Innocent Minister offer'd up to attone for the Transgression of several Prelats and the Minister of Alets paid for the Bishop Couran another Minister of the same Church was only banish'd The City of Lunel the Governor oâ— which was the Bishop of Nimes's Brother was inveagl'd into the Duke of Orleans's Party and Scoffier Minister of the Place was set down in the Catalogue of those that were to be sacrific'd But after the defeat and taking of the Duke oâ— Mommorenci he gave the Governor of Aiguemortes notice of the Flight of the Bishop and his Brother which was well taken 〈…〉 and that Mark of his Affection for the King's Service sav'd his life The Duke of Rohan was recall'd to Court upon occasion of these Troubles and honour'd with several Employments whether it were to find him business that might hinder him from seeking for any in these Confusions or whether it were to take him by the point of Honour and engage him in the King's Service by that Mark of Confidence But this War being suddenly ended by the taking and death of Marshal de Mommorenci serv'd only to advance the King's Authority and disgust the Duke of Orleans who retir'd out of France a second time as also to add some new access of weight to the Slavery of the People The Reformed reapt this little advantage by it That they had but few Injuries done 'em this year and continu'd somewhat free from Molestations Only the Ministers in the Dauphinate were still tormented because they preach'd in more then one place But upon a Petition which they presented to the King they obtain'd a Decree which sent 'em to four Commissioners of the Parlament of Grenoble who were order'd to take their Informations and after that to give their Advice to the