the Court and the Jesuits boasted themselves that in the Year 1600 their Father Cotton being at Nimes where he had a Conference with Chamier wherein they attributed to him all the advantage he contracted some Acquaintance with Ferrier whom he inspir'd from that very time with an Inclination to betray his Brethren However it was he embroil'd every thing in the Politic Assemblies wherever he came which made the Synods forbid him to meddle any more He Acted such things in his Church and his Province that caus'd him be turn'd out thence And growing weary of being a Minister he got to be a Counsellor in a Presidial Court at Nimes tho he had promis'd at Paris to continue the Exercise of the Ministry in some other place At length he was depos'd as a Deserter In fine he Revolted and Dy'd a few years after as much hated by the People as at the beginning he was belov'd He was Self-ended Knavish Ambitious Inconstant a Boutefeu without Judgment and but little capable of the Intrigues wherein he had the Imprudence to trouble himself But he had Courage enough a quick Wit an Imagination all Fire a great facility of Speech the tone of a Commanding Voice a vehemence in Action and Discourse which drew his Hearers along and which hardly gave 'em the liberty of Contradicting him This was the reason that the Multitude who are easily dazled by these Qualities was ever of his Party and that he often prevail'd even in the Synods against Chauve his Competitor This Chauve had much more Uprightness and Judgment and above all a Charming Gravity which made him very considerable in the Assemblies but the Fire of one prevail'd over the Phlegm of the other and the Vivacity of Ferrier obscur'd the Solidity of Chauve In the Synod then of which Chamier was President Ferrier held the second place and was join'd with the Moderator insomuch that it was no hard matter to obtain that what there was Personal in his Affair should be favourably Judg'd The Synod order'd the General Deputies to Entreat the King not to suffer these Churches or particular Persons to be put to trouble for this Business or that the Liberty of Confessing shou'd be taken away from 'em or of Teaching what they held for Truths They writ to the Chambers Miparti that they wou'd take into their Protection such as were molested upon this occasion But they did yet more And to the end that it might not be doubted that it was the Doctrine of all the Reformed the Synod order'd that it shou'd be inserted among the Articles of Faith and that an Article shou'd be made which shou'd be plac'd immediately after the 30th where the equality of all the Pastors and all the Churches in Power and in Authority is spoken of This Article which for the time to come was to be the 31th in the Confession of Faith was to have run in this form And since the Bishop of Rome having erected to himself a Monarchy in Christendom Attributes to himself a dominion over all Churches and Pastors and has Exalted himself so even as to call himself GOD for to be Ador'd and that all the Power of Heaven and Earth may be Attributed to him to dispose at his Pleasure of all Ecclesiastical Things to define the Articles of Faith to Authorise and Interpret the Scriptures at his Pleasure to make a Traffick of Souls and of their Salvation and to dispense with Vows and Oaths to Ordain a New Service of God and in reference to Civil Government to trample under foot the Authority of Magistrates taking away and Giving and Changing Kingdoms we Believe and Maintain that he is properly The Antichrist and the Son of Perdition foretold in the Word of God the Whore Clothed with Scarlet sitting on the 7 Mountains and the Great City who had his Reign over the Kings of the Earth and do expect that the Lord as he has promis'd and begun overthrowing him by the Spirit of his Mouth will finally destroy him by the brightness of his coming The King who had his Spies in the Assembly had notice in good time that this Decree was framing but he cou'd by no means hinder it and the Article was receiv'd almost with a General Approbation The Catholics were offended in the highest degree The Nuncio made bitter Complaints The Pope was in a Rage when he heard the News The King himself express'd a great resentment of it and after the Deputies General which had assisted at the Synod had given an Account in Court of what had pass'd there they had Orders to write how much the King was Incens'd at this Affront He complain'd that the Reformed whom he had put in a Capacity of maintaining themselves had started such a thing under his Reign which no body ever Dreamt of since the Confession of Faith was made that they had never thought of this Decree in the time when the Crown had reason to be dissatisfy'd with the Popes but that they had set it on foot now that the King and the Pope were strictly reconcil'd together and that they had quarrell'd with a Pope who was esteem'd the most moderate in Affairs of Religion that had Sate since the Doctrine of Luther To this he added Threats That he would neither suffer the Printing of this Article nor the Sale of the Books wherein it should be inserted and to punish those who endeavour'd to trouble the State with Propositions so offensive and unseasonable The Catholics inflam'd his Anger by remonstrating to him That the Injury wou'd fall upon him himself and that he was scandaliz'd in an odious manner by this means that in re-entring into the Roman Church he was become a Favourer and a Disciple of Antichrist whence they drew terrible consequences against the Affection and the Fidelity of Subjects who had such thoughts concerning the Religion of their Soveraign The Authors of this Article defended themselves by the necessity of loudly maintaining what they were perswaded in their Consciences They pretended this Article cou'd not pass for new because it was presuppos'd by all their Doctrine concerning the Church that it was necessarily deduc'd from what they believ'd touching her Corruption her Desolation and Ruin That this was the reason that most clearly evinc'd the Necessity of their Separation from the Church of Rome That all the rest which made it appear that it behov'd 'em indispensably to break with her and which drew 'em from the depravations of her Doctrine of her Worship of her Government and of her Morals were at the bottom but a deduction and a manifest display of this same which comprehended 'em all That in saying That the Pope was the Antichrist they said all that since a full Liberty of Conscience was granted 'em they cou'd not take from 'em the Right of joining a Decree to the other Articles of Faith which was naturally comprehended therein the subsistance of which was found in the
mild ways to gain Consciences In which this Lord who was no more a Pretender to Divinity than Religion reason'd as if in deciding whether the Pope was Antichrist the Synod should have consider'd the then Pope's Personal Qualifications more than the Tyrannical Power the Roman See usurps But the Reform'd were not ignorant that the Spirit of Popery is always the same That the Roman Church always thinks it self bound to persecute That there was a general Conspiration in Europe against the Protestants That it was no longer conceal'd That it appear'd in divers places by a thousand Injustices That even the French Nation was excited against them That the Spaniards had Agents who endeavour'd to gain Priests by their means to inspire Animosities and Hatred in the Catholicks against the Reform'd which the Jesuits especially did almost barefac'd Therefore they did not think they wrong'd the Pope whatever his particular Maxims were to give him a Name which suited to the Character of his Dignity and which is much more inherent to the See itself than to the Qualifications of the Person who fills it Therefore the Synod did not desist from their Enterprize They receiv'd their Deputies very well at their return from Court but they were not mov'd by the Reasons they urg'd to perswade them perhaps because the Gratifications which were Sully's best Arguments were not communicated to the whole Synod There were also some Persons at Court full of Political Considerations which they imploy'd to make the Reform'd fearful of offending the King and their foresight ever extended it self to inconveniences the others did not see Therefore the Synod call'd them Ironically the Clear-sighted of the Church Sulli had the best Authority of any of them yet neither his Letters nor those of some others could prevail any more than the Reasons of the Deputies To be even with them the Court call'd some of the Members of the Synod the Fools of the Synod because they found them thick-skull'd and that they thought too much on their safety Those pretended Fools prov'd the strongest and tho Montmartin us'd his utmost endeavours to strengthen the Court Party in the Assembly his Cabal was not powerful enough to get the upper hand there Nevertheless he obtain'd part of what he desir'd concerning the Question about Antichrist He had such positive Orders from the King upon that subject and he did so well represent to them that they would offend him in persisting in their Resolution of Printing the Article of Gap in all the Confessions that the Synod durst proceed no further in it and so under pretence of adjourning that Affair they laid it quite aside They contented themselves with promising the protection of the Churches to such as should be troubled for having preach'd confess'd or said or written any thing about that Matter That is in a word the Doctrine was stop'd and the Question held as decided But Interests of State hindered it from being incerted as an Article of Faith among the rest This is partly what the Synod writ about it to the Duke of Rohan from whom they had receiv'd Letters upon that Subject desiring them to pleasure the King and not to carry that matter too far An Impression of the Confession of Faith in which that Article was incerted having been sold off already the Synod made Applications to the King to beg that no body might be prosecuted either for having shar'd in the Impressions or for keeping any Copies of that precipitated Edition The King freely granted it his Design being only to hinder it from ever being talk'd of In the mean time the Synod being desirous to show more clearly that they did not disown the decided Doctrine though they had so much complaisance for the King as not to make it an express Article of their Faith desir'd Vignier to write at large about that matter which he did in a manner that made a great noise in its time The Affair of the Deputy's General did not end thus La Noue and du Cros who had received that Quality in the Assembly at Châtelleraud brought a Brief to the King dated in December which authoris'd the Synod to nominate six persons out of which the King was to chuse two but at the same time that Business only excepted forbad them to meddle with any thing but their Discipline The Council had thought that they should get something in acquiescing so far tho by that permission granted to the Synod they seem'd to consent that the Deputies General should officiate but one Year since La Noue and du Cros had not exercis'd their Deputation much longer But they were in hopes that by granting this they would deliver themselves for three years of the fear of these General Assemblies because the King might refuse to allow one under pretence that the Synod had provided for that time for the only thing that could render it necessary The Synod had not the power to make that Nomination because it exceeded the bounds of their Discipline for which Reason the King had given them that Brief to authorise them The Synod having examined it did not find it sufficient because it neither impower'd them to give a discharge to the Deputies that were to lay down upon a new Nomination or to give Instructions to those that were to succeed them without which the Nomination was of no manner of use They writ most humble Remonstrances to the Court about it The King received them very graciously and the bearers of them returned with very obliging Letters from him and almost an entire satisfaction upon the Subject of their Message tho Sully by private Letters advis'd them not to make use of them It is very probable that the Deputies had reveal'd the Secret of the Synod which was not well dispos'd to satisfie the Court about the nomination of Six Persons Therefore the new Brief renewing that Article they would have been better pleas'd to have the Synod put off the Affair of the Deputies to another time than to see it determin'd in a way that should not please them Therefore the King allow'd them to work about it for fear of vexing them by a refusal but at the same time his Favourite writ to them to dissuade them from it if he could The Synod neither believ'd him nor those who were of his Opinion nor yet the Deputies Sully had corrupted They discharg'd La Noue and du Cros with a world of thanks and praises after which they nominated only two persons although the Brief oblig'd them expresly to nominate six The Reason or Pretence of it was That the Powers the Deputies had brought from their Provinces did not allow them to exceed that number But that to show that they did not design to offend his Majesty in refusing to answer his Intentions in that Point they begg'd of him to allow a General Assembly to consider whether the nomination of six should be made for the future according
Affair For we have learnt by Experience that Fire and Sword that Exilement and Proscriptions have rather exasperated than cur'd the Distemper deeply rooted in the Mind and therefore not to be reliev'd or heal'd by Medicines that only work upon the Body but by sound Doctrine and sedulous Instruction which being gently infus'd perswades an easie passage to the Mind All other things are subject to the Sanctions of the Civil Magistrate and consequently the Sovereign Prince Religion only admits not of Dominion and never enters the Seat of human Judgment but when rightly prepar'd by a well grounded Opinion of the Truth assisted by the accession of Divine Grace Torments prevail not to enforce it they but confirm the Obstinate rather than subdue or perswade What the Sâ—oics have so haughtily boasted of their Wisdom much more justly may we assert of Religion that where People are deeply affected with it Torments and Grief are little fear'd or valu'd and all other Inconveniences whatever are overwhelm'd and vanquish'd by that same Fortitude inspir'd by Zeal and Devotion All the sufferings that Mankind is liable to undergo can never terrify ' em All the Misfortunes and Calamities that are dreadful to Human Frailty they never complain of Enduring They know their strength and whether falsely or truly if once assur'd of Heavenly support they believe themselves sufficiently able to bear the burthen Let the Executioner stand at their Elbow let the Tormentor appear with his Irons and his kindled Fires it will not shake their Perseverance nor will they consider what they are to suffer but what they are to do The sâ—ource of their Felicity remains within 'em and whatever happens from without is but a fly-blow and only grazes the surface of the skin If Epicurus branded among other Philosophers for the impurity of his life had such a high notion of a wise Man that burning in Phalaris's Bull he would cry out 'T is pleasant and concerns not me at all can we believe a character less signal due to their Courage who a hundred years since contemn'd and slighted all manner of Torments all the inventions of Cruelty for Religions sake Oâ— that they would not be the same again upon as terrible a Prosecution of the same inhumanities 'T is worth the while to hear what one among the rest both said and did when ty'd to the Stake on purpose to be burnt to death how first he fell upon his knees and sung a Psalm which the Flames and Smoak could hardly interrupt and when the Executioner to mitigate his terror would have kindl'd the Fire behind his back Come hither said he and kindle it before my Face for had I fear'd a little scorching I had never been brought to this Place which it was in my power to have avoided In vain therefore men by Torments labour to suppress the Zeal of those that meditate innovations in Religion which do but rather harden their minds to sufferings more painful and more daring undertakings For when others have sprung up out of the Ashes of others and that their number has increas'd their Patience turns to Fury no longer Suppliants as before they then begin to be importunate and trouble some Expostulators and Demanders and they who fled from cruelties before have of their own accords betaken themselves to Arms. This we have seen in France for forty years together and little less in Germany And things at length were brought to that extremity that the growing Mischief could not be lopt off with the punishment of two or Three which at first perhaps might be securely done But when once it had or'e spread whole People whole Nations and consequently the greatest part of Europe in vain the Civil Sword is then made use of it requires the weapons of spiritual warfare to mow down the Harvest of Oppression They ought to be instructed and invited to friendly Colloquies and Conferences where Equity and Moderation preside This did St. Austin writing to Proculianus a Sectary of the Donatian stamp He it was who also interceeded for 'em to Donatus Proconsul of Africa that they might not be put to death Believing it became the professors of true Religion not to recede from their prepetual resolution of surmounting Evil by Acts of Lenity And in another place he writes to the President Caecilianus that the Aposteme of sacrilegious vanity was rather to be cur'd by impressions of Fear than to be cut off by the Sword of Revengeful persecutions Therefore in that splendid Epistle to Boniface he adds that in Causes of this nature where by reason of the Fatal scissures of Dissention not this or that single Person runs a hazard but whole Communities of people lye liable to ruin there ought to be a Relaxation of Severity and that the greater evils were to be redressd by the more indulgent applications of Charity Which Opinion so far prevail'd in the Church that the sentence was more than once transcrib'd into Gratian's Decree St. Austin therefore a Person both of a pious and meek spirit thus delivers his Sentiments that the Career of those Mischiefs was not to be stopt by rigour by violence or domineering Authority and more advantageous progresses would be made rather by instructing than commanding rather by admonition than menaces and that multitudes of sinners were after that manner gently to be dealt with severity only to be inflicted upon the transgressions of a Few Or if they who are superior in command are sometimes constrain'd to make use of threats that they ought to be utter'd with a real grief and sorrow for the miscarriage of the Offender and that the Terror of Vengeance should â—e deriv'd from Scripture not to render their own authority formidable but that it may appear to be the awful voice of God threatning his Judgments upon Transgressors from their Lips as he writes in his Epistle to Aurelius the Bishop And certainly if we have a love for Truth â—f necessity we must acknowledge that â—â— all the ancient Monuments of sacred Antiquity we find not any approv'd example extant of capital punishment inflicted upon Sectaries and that the Primitive â—hurch had always in abomination the efâ—sion of Blood Or if such an accident â—…ll out at any time the Bishops truly piâ—…s manifested still their detestation of the Fact As appear'd in Priscillian who having spread the Poyson of his pernicious Doctrine among the Churches of Gaul but more especially in Aquitaine together with his Followers was in the year 383. put to Death at Treves by Maximus otherwise a good Prince only that he had usurp'd the Empire from Gratian whom he depriv'd of his Life at Lyons The St. Martin had obtain'd a promise from the Emperor that nothing Bloody or Cruel should be acted against the Guilty and had earnestly exhorted Itacius and some other sticklers to desist from their accusations For all the rest of the Bishops blam'd the violence of their proceeding as unjust and unbecoming Christians And tho Itacius
mention the Protestants with honour more especially those that excell'd in Learning Nor have I conceal'd the Vices of our own People as being of the same Opinion with all vertuous Men that they are infinitely deceiv'd who believe in reference to the manifold Heresies which at this day torment the World that there is a more Contagious Malignity in the evil Intentions and Artifices of their Teachers and Followers than in our Vices and Impieties And I am verily perswaded to the best of my judgment that the only way to provide against Both Mischiefs as well the Deviations of the Dissenting Party as our own Enormities would be to remove from the Church and State all manner of Traffic and Brokage That Vertue be rewarded that Personâ— who excel in Piety Doctrine Learning and Sobriety of Manners such as have given proof of their Prudence and Moderation should be advanc'd to the most sacred Functions that no new Vpstarts persons of no value but such as fear God and hate Covetousness should be preferr'd to secubar Dignities not for favour â—â— by purchase but only upon the recommendation of their Vertues Otherwise when good and Bad are admitted without distinction 't is evident that the Reign 〈…〉 Peace will be but of short continuance and that those Cities of necessity must â—â—rish whose Rulers are not able to distinguish the Vertuous from the wicked â—â—â— suffer according to the Proverb whâ— the Bees should only enjoy to be devour'â— by Drones There is nothing Sir more opposite â—â— that Fidelity which in the first place â—â— owe to God and next to Your self anâ— the People subjected to your Empire â—â— that are entrusted with the Highest Employments and Preferments in the Kingdom than the hope of filthy Gain Were which if we commence our entrance into the Magistracy 't is to be fear'd that that will prove the Cynosure of all our Thoughts and Cogitations and that at length blinded with Avarice and laying aside all care of Honesty and Justice we shall falsifie the Trust which God Your self and your Subjects have consided in us Avarice is a cruel inhuman and insaâ—iable Monster that never cries It is enough and therefore not to be endur'd Tho' the Golden Mountains of Persia the Treasures of both Indies were added to the â—mmense Heaps of France's Opulency You â—ould not have wherewithal to satiate the â—reedy Maw of Covetousness For Vices know â—o Bounds their motion is restless alâ—ays rowling headlong and never cease â—ut with their own perdition On the other â—â—de Vertue according to the saying of â—imonides resembling a Cube stedfastâ—â— withstands all Shoggs of Fortune and Human Casualties and subjecting it self 〈◊〉 Nature that varies after several ways â—â—e manifold Chances that befall the Life â—â— Man preserves the Mind and Conâ—â—ience free and uncorrupted contented â—ith it self sufficient of her self for all â—â—ings Restore but to this same Vertue â—hich thus forms the Minds of Men her â—â— Luster and Dignity and you will â—â—ve an overflowing Plenty liberally to â—â—ward the Truly deserving without â—rd'ning your Exchequer or laying heaâ—â— Impositions on your People That the same Care may be taken in â—â—e Church if it be not directly under â—â—r Majesties Administration certainâ—â— it is a part of Royal Sedulity to be urâ—t to entreat request and interpose â—ur Authority with those on whom the Burthen lies that there be no neglect on their side Assume to your self this Glory Sir to which new Encomiums belong and ponder this continually in Your Royal Thoughts that this blessed Ease and Leisure which we now enjoy together with Your self can never otherwise be expected to be Diuturnal than by strenuously employing this Interval of Peace by the Almighty so favourably granted to the Advancement of his Glory and Composing the Divisions of Religion 'T is a Great Thing which I propose to Your Majesty nor at this time in the Opinion of many who contented with their present condition disrelish wholsom Counsels against future Inconveniencies to be too hastily undertaken But Great Rewards attend Great Enterprizes and a sublime and Towring Genius the Gift of Heaven conferr'd upon Your Majesty can never stoop to common Attempts Certainly after the suppress'd llcentiousness of Riot and Rapine and particular Families confin'd to moderate Expences proportionable to their Incomes in which respect France is more beholding to Your Majesty than can be exprest You can revolve in Your thoughts nothing more worthy the sublime Pinacle and Station where you govern than to compose and reduce into Order the Laws of God and man all in confusion through the Civil Broils of so many Years Whence You will doubtless reap this high Advantage that the Wrath of God incens'd against us being thereby atton'd and the Bishops and Magistrates strenuously labouring in the several duties of their Employments Candor and Sincere Charity will prevail against Hypocrisie and Dissimulation the Laws will combat Avarice and Luxury which two contending Vices the depravity of the Age has intermix'd good Manners will be esteem'd and improv'd Modesty and Chastity hitherto contemn'd and derided will regain their Ancient Reputation and lastly that Vertue recovering her lost Honour the Adoratiâ—n Luster and Authority of Money will abate These are Your own Wishes Mighâ—y Sir For I have often heard 'em from Your own Lips when you have profess'd your self ready to purchase so great a felicity to the Kingdom with the Mutilation of Your own Limbs These are the wishes of all Your most faithful Subjects and this is my sence of the Common-Weal Wherein if I have been somewhat too prolix or if I have us'd too great a liberty of Speech you will vouchsafe your pardon to an Innocent Person bred up under that Liberty the Restoration of which to our Country is a debt we owe to Your Majesty and who had not otherwise presum'd upon Your Royal Patience but that he deem'd himself oblig'd to fix something by way of Preface at the Portal of the Work in some measure to restrain the Assassmations of Calumny and heave off the Burthen of Envy from his Shoulders But when I thought that what I had hitherto said either in excuse or defence of my Labours had been sufficient my Friends admonish me that there will be some who will object against me that I might have spar'd such an exact Commemoration of particular things relating to our Liberties Immunities Laws and Franchises affirming it no less to the disadvantage of Your own and the Dignity of the Kingdom then Injurious to Private Persons To which altho' there be abundant matter of Answer yet should I enlarge my self too far I am afraid lest many should think I affected an Occasion to fight with Goblins or if I should be altogether silent lest Carping and Censure should lay hold of the Opportunity I shall therefore as to this matter deliver my self with all possible succinctness So season'd by Tradition to me from my Father a most worthy Person as all men knew to
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
possibly could Nothing could overcome the Obstinacy of the Parliaments always bent to exclude the Reformed from the Charges how great soever the cause was to fear that the Indignity of that Denial after so many Services should bring them to a Resentment thereof The Leagued Catholicks were more tractable in that than those that followed the King They consented that the Reformed should continue as the Edict of 1577. and the Conferences of Nerac and of Fleix had prescribed them and to take away all Disputes with them concerning the number of Places that they could fill up they were ready to grant that the quarter part should be held by them Du Plessis was even in hopes to make them agree to a third part He chose rather to regulate the number of Places than to leave it indifferent and arbitrary fearing lest the King who had an extraordinary Complacency for Catholicks being oblig'd to nothing should do nothing for the Reformed whereas the number of Places that should be given them being fix'd upon he would in some wise be necessitated to put into places as many as were contain'd in that number He saw that else they should have but a little share in them that all the Governments were given unto Catholicks to the prejudice of the Reformed that deserved them That Roni himself a Favourite of the Kings found always his Pretensions cross'd when he asked for any thing It was therefore necessary that a Regulation should be made which by necessity should give Employments to the Reformed seeing Catholicks could not suffer that they should obtain them by their Deserts It is true that the Court of Aids made an Act by which the Reformed were admitted to the Offices of their Jurisdiction but neither the Parliament nor the Chamber of Accounts could be wrought upon to do the like The Patience of the Reformed was try'd in other things and particularly a thousand Indignities were offer'd upon the occasion of their Sepulture The Inhumanity of Catholicks on this Subject during the Siege of Roan surpasses almost all Belief There were Persons of Note amongst the Reformed that dy'd in that Siege Piles amongst others one of the valianrest of the Army was slain there but it could not be obtain'd of the Catholicks that his Body should be buried in any place of their Church-yards It happened besides that many Reformed having been slain in the great Sally that the Marquess of Villars made on the 25th of February whilst the King was observing the Duke of Parma they were buried pell-mell with the Catholicks that perish'd on the same occasion but the Catholicks finding it out were so cruel as to dig them out of their Graves and to leave their Bodies to the mercy of Wolves and Ravens that commonly follow Armies On the other hand the King was eagerly sued to hearken to his Instruction and no Artifice was omitted which Converters make use of on such occasions At one time the Abuses of the Romish Church were extenuated which they represented to be too slight for to be the cause of a lawful Scruple At another time they granted him that they ought to be corrected and he was made to hope that they should be look'd to when he became a Catholick He was sometimes desired only as a shadow of a Conversion towards the satisfying the People and was permitted the Liberty of his Opinions on divers things provided the People could see him at Mass It was offer'd him that a Vail should be drawn betwixt him and the Ceremonies that he might be the less scrupulous to be present at it The Commodity that his Change would give him of humbling the Pope was magnify'd and of lessening his Authority by putting an end to the Schism by a National Synod when the whole Clergy would be brought under Obedience Mention was made of a Patriarch that should be established for to render the Churches of France Independent on that of Rome An Allusion which at all times has dazled the Protestants the simplest of which think that for to make Truth triumph there only needs a Rupture with the Roman See But nothing made a more dangerous Impression on his Mind than the Artifice that was us'd for to perswade him that the Controversies which make the difference of both Religions were of small consequence Roni was one of those that inclin'd him most to this indifferency and would even tell him now and then that a Catholicity would be to his Advantage and that it would be the most efficacious means to quell all Conspiracies He would reduce the whole Religion for him to the Symbol of the Apostles to the Ten Commandments to the Love of God and our Neighbour to the Confidence in the Merit of Jesus Christ and that being supposed all the differences of Religion seemed to him of small consequence In a word he so dispos'd his mind as that the Romish Religion appeared to him as useful for Salvation as the Reformed by not being possess'd with the Abuses which corrupt the Worship and Maxims thereof Moreover they omitted not to gain some Ministers whose Ambition or Interest rendred them tractable Sometimes they were made to confess in the King's Presence that one could be sav'd in the Roman Communion Sometimes they were made to dispute as by Rencounter with du Perron to whom they would yield ill-disputed Victories And that what they should say might appear the less interessed or of greater weight they were not obliged to change their Religion their Prevarication being esteem'd more beneficial than a publick Profession of the Roman Doctrine By these Artifices it was that the King was supplied with the Argument whereof Converters have since made great use That the Reformed granted that one may be saved in the Catholick Religion and the Catholicks on the contrary maintaining That there is no Salvation in the Reformed Religion Prudence would have us stick to the surest and to take to that Communion wherein the two contesting Parties grant Salvation to be possible These Ministers had been prepared of a long time whereof Morlas Rotan de Serres de Vaux were the most noted and the latter of whom being troubled at his own Remorses revealed they say the whole Mystery Cayer was also of those that were to act this Comedy but some Books not very modest that he wrote and amongst others a Treatise for the reconciling of Religions having rendred him suspected he was deposed in a Synod and for a Revenge he turned Catholick Roni for to make his Opinions take said he had for Authors de la Roche Chandieu d' Esperien de Vaux de Gardesi and de Nord very famous Ministers yet whereof the greatest part had quite different Thoughts Du Perron whom Roni had got to be named Bishop of Evreux and whose Eloquence in Conversation dragged along the minds dazled the King by the vehemency and rapidity of his discourse but his reasons of Divinity did not perswade him so much as the motives taken
still more by their sharp and unjust Coâ—testations which they had upon each Article of the Memorial So that the remembrance of past Cruelties and Treacheries suffered not the Reformed to rely on the goodness of Enemies whose hatred nothing could asswage Therefore they represented to the King the insufficiency of the Articles granted them but all was in vain The Council permitted not that any addition should be made to the things agreed on and the King who had reason to manage the Catholicks more then ever durst not incense 'em by giving the Reformed too much Satisfaction The Deputies of the Churches were therefore forc'd to retire as if it were to give those that sent 'em an account of their Negotiation and they carri'd into their Provinces the Articles granted without either accepting or refusing 'em as if they were to consider 'em more at large with their Brethren 'T is true the King gave them leave to call a Provincial Assemblies there to make a Report of their Deputation and to prepare them for a general Assembly which they held at St. Foy the ensuing year They also obtained leave to call a National Synod to regulate their Ecclesiastick affairs which were in some confusion But that which most favoured them was that even before the King's face and with his Approbation they renew'd at Mantes the Union of the Churches to live and to dye in the maintainance and defence of their Confession of Faith as they had already sworn at the Assemblies of Nimes Millaud Montauban and Rochelle But these former Oaths had been made under the authority of a Protector of their own Religion That of Mantes was the first they made with the â—onsent of a King that had embrac'd a contrary Communion Du Plessis put this Notion in their heads and advis'd them to let the â—ing know it They did so and the King whether in that he â—â—llow'd his own Inclinations which favour'd 'em in the main 〈…〉 that he judg'd it was not a time to disapprove it not onâ—â— permitted them to renew their Union but exhorted 'em 〈…〉 it as a thing necessary for their Preservation and said nothing 〈…〉 them that might make 'em think he believ'd their Oath was preâ—â—dicial to his Service For this clause was always inserted in the Acts 〈…〉 the Union that it was made under the Kings Obedience and without quitting the fidelity that was due to him It would have â—een difficult I grant but on t'other hand it would not have â—â—en just to oppose such an Union seeing that in effect to hinder â—â—ople from uniting themselves for their own safety when they â—â—ve formidable Enemies to deal with would be a direct Dearation that they were resolv'd to destroy 'em thereâ—â—re this Union of the Churches which has made so great a noise and which has serv'd Lewis XIII for a pretence to ruine the Reformed was in its beginning equally innocent and necessary Since natural right of self-preservation grounded the necessity of it and for that the Approdation and Exhortation of the King who authoriz'd 'em was lawful and no way to be blam'd This hinder'd not but that whilst the Deputies of the Reformed stay'd at Mantes great endeavours were us'd by the force of Intrigues to corrupt some of 'em either to sow division amongst 'em or to colour the King's Change by some new Prevarication of the Ministers Matters had been prepar'd for it by procuring the Deputation of some Provinces for such Persons as were judg'd most plyable to the Promises of the Court Rotan a famous Minister was suspected to help on these Artifices whether he was really charmed by the expectance of some Favours or that he feign'd as if he hearken'd to 'em that so he might be made a Deputy because that Commission then was of no small consequence to honour those it was given to A Conference was therefore begun to which du Perron was admitted as assur'd of Victory by the Collusion of his Adversary The dispute ran upon the sufficiency of Scripture and upon the Interpretation of the 16 verse of the 3 Chapter of the 11 Epistle of Paul to Timothy But Rotan not daring either in Honour or Conscience to be so base as he was reported to have promis'd feign'd himself sick which freed him from that trouble Beraud a Minister of Montauban took his place but the Conference was soon at an end when they saw that there was nothing to be expected from the fraud agreed upon with Rotan The Clergy sound out the means to break it without seeming to shun it and the Ministers on their part offer'd to take it up when ever occasion should offer But by reason these offers hinder'd not the Clergy to boast that they had made the Ministers give ground Berand and Rotan got the National Synod held aâ— Montauban the following year to approve what they had done aâ— the Conference Beraud perswaded Rotan to lay all upon himself and this approbation stifled mens suspicion that the latter held any fraudulent Correspondence with the Adversaries and to shew that they did not stand in fear of the Bishops the Synod nam'd one and Twenty Persons of their Body to whom they gave authority of châ—sing Twelve of their own number to continue the Conference whenever the Catholicks would re-assume it Amongst these Electors were three Foreign Ministers one from Geneva one from England and one from Holland The departure of the Deputies put an end to these dangerous Intreigues but the Reformed soon after were set upon by new Artifices And secret Orders were sent into the Provinces to hinder their Ministers from using in their Sermons too hard Expressions against the King's Change and they were forbid to call it a Revolt Thus whilst on the one hand the Suffrages of some Preachers of the League were bought off with ready Money to engage 'em to speak advantagiously of the King's Conversion in their Pulpits the same means was mostly us'd to stop the Ministers Mouths and to make 'em speak modestly concerning the same thing Hereby it was expected that the Reformed People coming to hear this Action of their Prince spoken of with so much Moderation might be the more easily inclin'd to imitate Him Moreover there arose a World of Reconcilers of Religion who looking upon the Accomodations as very proper to flatter the King's Conscience by these unworthy means aspir'd to Rewards â—nd Salaries These Reconciliations wrought upon some Ministers but that which was most surprizing was that a whole Province was taken with these illusory Projects and had the Boldness to charge their Deputies to carry a Proposal of the â—ame to the Synod of Montauban These Artifices corrupted maâ—y People and occasion'd much trouble to several wise and â—onest Men that were for preserving the advantages of Religiâ—n and the Rights of Conscience without disturbing the Peace of â—he Churches On the other hand the King's Negotiations with the Pope gave new Alarms to the Reformed who fear'd
another place And his vivacious and couragious manner of supporting the Hereticks afterwards render'd him still more suspected The King hated him because he thought himself despis'd by him tho' he had done him great Services And if he let fall any Word at any time that carried with it the least Aire of a Threat it was always taken in ill part because they thought him capable of doing more then threaten These two Lords communicated their Mistrusts one to another and laid before each other the King's Easiness the Tricks and Artifices of Rome the Hatred of the Reconciled Leaguers who sufficiently shewed by the Articles of their Treaties their eager desires to reduce all France to one Religion There were also a great number of Lords Governours of Places Captains and Persons in Authority who lay under the same Terrors among whom there were some who having seen the times wherein Massacre and Treachery were so rise made no question but there was a design to destroy the Reformation as soon as they could meet with a favourable opportunity The Catholicks did those who were thus Character'd the Honour to call 'em Brouillons Troublesom Restless Disturbers of the Publick Peace As if People with whom they had so often broke their Words were to blame in distrusting those whose Violation of Faith they had so often experienc'd and securing themselves against their wicked Intentions Du Plessis who made a Conscience of Religion was one of the most zealous for the Establishment of it and a great part of the Affairs that tended that way were manag'd by his Counsels But in regard he was a Person of known Probity the King still put a Confidence in him and follow'd his Advice in many things because his Enemies themselves acknowledg'd 'em to be both prudent and sincere tho' they were often utter'd with great Boldness and Liberty He it was that reunited those who were like to be divided by their own Jealousies who appeas'd those who were over-hot and furious who put a stop to those that ran too fast and found out all Expedients proper to procure the Good of the Churches yet never fail'd in his Obedience There was no body that labour'd so much as he to keep the Reformed within the Bounds of due Patience during Negotiations for Four years together at what time their Fidelity was put upon cruel Trials through the Severity Delays and Artifices of the Court before they could obtain but tolerable Conditions These various Inclinations appear'd in all the National Assemblies both Temporal and Ecclesiastical which were held for naming of Deputies and to draw up Memoirs that were to be sent to the General Assembly which was to meet at St. Foy There were some of those particular Assemblies wherein it was debated whether a Protector should be chosen within or without the Kingdom or whether there should be a Form of Government erected to stand upon their own Legs without Protection But the whole was referr'd to the General Assembly to be there consulted Those Proposals came from the Duke of Bouillon who was for conferring the Title of Protector upon the Palatine Elector or some other Prince of his House and naming under him Four or Five Lieutenants within the Kingdom setting aside the Princes of the Blood whose Interests were such that the Common Cause would suffer too much prejudice by ' em He was in hopes by this means that the Chief Authority would rest in his hands that others would permit him to exercise it with less Jealousie under a Superiour then if he enjoy'd it in his own Name But the Reformed more especially they who were call'd Consistorials were weary of Personal Protection and the Authority pretended by Protectors had caus'd 'em to murmur a long time ago against that which they called Protectoral Tyranny There could be no National Synods assembl'd since the Year 1583. But that which was held in the Month of June at Montauban a City far remote from the Court and passionately zealous for Religion and the Common Cause made amends for that long Interval of lost Time and handl'd Affairs of great Importance The first of all their Cares was to order Publick Prayers for the King's Prosperity to the end it might appear that his changing his Religion had not disingag'd 'em either from obeying or serving him And this tended yet farther to make the Passion of certain Orders of Monks more evidently strange who refus'd to pray for the King tho' he were a Catholick and Crown'd with the usual Ceremonies This Diametrical Opposition of Duty in the one and Contumaciousness in the other plainly made it apparent on which side the Law and Spirit of Peace was to be found And prudent Men might easily know where the good Subjects were when they heard those whose Religion the Prince had relinquish'd pray to God according to the usual Custom for the Success of his Arms while they whose Doctrine he had embrac'd refus'd to name him in their Supplications to Heaven But least this Mark of the Synod's Affection to the King's Prosperity should be taken for a tacit Approbation or Dissimulation of the change of his Religion the same Assembly order'd that Prayers should be said at the same time that God would vouchsafe to bring him back to the Religion which he had quitted that the Ministers who were sent to the Court should lay before him his Duty in that Particular to God and that Letters should be written to those that were usually about his Person to make him some Remonstrances After this the Synod fell for a short time upon Political Affairs the occasion being given by the Province of the Island of France The Neighbourhood of the Court had wasted a good part of that Province and either by kindness or by Favours done 'em the Reformed in those Quarters had been oblig'd to be content with the Edict of 1577. the Verification of which they afterwards most importunately su'd for This Proceeding was disown'd by the Synod as being contrary to the Resolutions taken at Mantes where they had obtain'd a Promise of a new Regulation which should enlarge that Edict and the Society gave in charge that their Complaints should be carry'd to the General Assembly at St. Foy which was conven'd the Month following The Reasons why they were not contented with that Edict were because the Force of it was eluded by so many Frauds that they could no longer be assur'd of having any Advantage by it that something was â—…ar'd off every day by the Treaties granted to the Cities of the League That the Reformed since that time having perform'd many faithful and important Services it was but just that in stead of cutting off any thing from their Priviledges they should grant â—…em new ones in recompence for their loss of Blood and Hardship â—ndergone That in short that Edict was granted at a time when they had for their Leader and Chieftane the first Prince of the Blood who was
great many people had not been depriv'd of their Rights which they had acquir'd by Ancient Foundations nor had good People wanted the satisfaction of being bury'd in the Sepulchres of their Fathers But in regard this business every where occasion'd Suits almost all the Difficulties were remov'd by Orders that match'd the Decree of Parlament Nevertheless when places were to be deliver'd to the Reformed at the common expence the reparations were not so uneasie as the Clergy As they had been ruin'd by the long Wars they chose rather to partake the Ancient Church-yards with the Reformed then to be at the Charge of buying New which was the Cause that the Commissioners divided the Church-yards between the Catholics and the Reformed and the part most remote from the Church was assign'd to these for their Place of Burial There were places where these Portions were not separated but by single Divisions Others where they were contented to dig a little Ditch Others where they built some Wall to the end that they might give the less occasion of Scandal or Tumult when the Bieres of both sides met at the same time or lest there should happen any disturbance on one side or other in performing the Ceremony Nor was it not only in the Places where the Reformed were in great Numbers that these distributions were made 'T was the same thing in the Provinces where there were but few And in Paris it self there was one part of a Church-yard which was call'd Of the Trinity the other part of which was the common burying Place of the Poor that dy'd in the Hospital Insomuch that the Commissioners could not be charg'd with having done any thing contrary to their Instructions whether it were in maintaining the Reformed in their Portions of their Churc-yards which they had already or allotting 'em New by their Orders since that in the Face of the Court of a Bishop and of a Parlament there were seen dividends as equal as those they had made in the Provinces By this procedure conformable to the forty fifth Article of the particulars such as it had been drawn up at Nintes this Article was tacitly re-establish'd in its first form and there was no scruple made to Publish it in this manner in the Printed Copies of the Edict because it was so put in practice It was impossible that the Commissioners being to pass their Judgments in so many places and upon so many things should have the good Fortune always to please all parties 'T was therefore that there were Appeals from each part on which the King was to determine But the Reformed had almost every day the better in those Decrees and there will be found but very few Examples where the Orders of the Commissioners have been corrected to their prejudice tho there are a great Number that redound to their advantage From whence two things may plainly be inferr'd One that the Commissioners had rather have Executed the Edict in favour of the Catholics then of the Reformed The other that the King's Intention was that the Articles of the Edict should not be eluded by rigorous constructions since that every time occasion presented he expounded 'em himself to the advantage of the Reformed by favourable extensions of what the Commissioners had too much contracted But tho the Commissioners had labour'd in the Execution of the Edict during part of this year and the following there remain'd a great many things to be executed More especially there wanted many things in the principal part of the Commission of those whose business it was to attend this Affair That is to say to make all the Officers in the Provinces Swear to observe the Edict which could not be done in the places where the Commissioners had not yet been Wherefore the Reformed being Assembled again at Saumur and fearing lest the Execution of the Edict should remain imperfect in so important an Article as also least there being no other Assembly on Foot to send about in order to its uniform Memoirs they might lose many of their Rights by the unequal manner in which they would proceed in every place they were willing to continue this usual Remedy of all their Fears and Translate themselves to Loâ—dun But the King would never permit it and sent Orders to the Deputies that were there to seperate themselves At the same time a National Synod was held at Gergeau who sent an Express to the King beseeching him to permit the continuation of this Assembly But nothing prevail'd they must Obey and Dismiss themselves Ever since the Month of March they had receiv'd Order to do it but they excus'd themselves as much as they could The Orders were renew'd at the beginning of May and were not fulfill'd till the last day of the same Month. 'T is true the King permitted another Assembly at Sainte Foy for the 15th of October following to the end that they might Name Deputies to reside near him and to present him the Petitions and Complaints which should be sent 'em from the Provinces There were two Interests so opposite upon the Subject of this Assembly that it seem'd impossible to reconcile ' em One was that of the King 's to whom they were become suspicous because of the Authority of the Lords who were in a capacity of acting something against his Service T'other was that of the Reformed to whom they were necessary for that in the Present State of Affairs there were an Infinite Number of things to be regulated by any other Method The Colloquies and the Synods not having Power to meddle with any but the Affairs of Church Discipline with the Inferiour Policy of the Churches with the distribution of the Money which the King gave for their Ministers another Council was requisite to advise in matters of another Nature for the execution or observation of the Edict for Reparation of the Breach of Articles for the Sollicitation of the Suits which might arise on each side for the Preservation of Places and a hundred other things without which the Edict might be dayly eluded by a Thousand Cavils This Correspondence was mainly endeavour'd for as they desir'd to preserve it that so they might be more secure from the Attempts of their Enemies by their Union so likewise their Enemies labour'd to deprive 'em of means of effecting their mutual Defence But there was an inconvenience on both sides to permit these Assemblies because of the Consequences or to hinder 'em because of the many businesses which brought the Deputies from all parts to Court and expos'd the Council to great importunities and have thrown the Reformed into injurious perplexities and insupportable expences But the permission of having Deputies near the King in the Name of the Provinces which was Granted 'em to take from 'em the pretence of continuing the Assembly at Saumur seem'd to make amends for all The Reformed from all parts could send 'em Memoirs on the Affairs that should happen The â—xpence of
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
fourth Degree to be prosecuted or molested for the same neither shall the Validity of the said Marriages be questioned nor the Succession taken from or disputed against the Children born or to be born of the same And as to the Marriages that might already be contracted in the second Degree or from the second to the third between those of the said Religion the said Persons applying themselves to his said Majesty such Letters Patent as shall be necessary shall be granted them to the end that they may neither be prosecuted nor molested for the same nor the Succession disputed with their Children XLI The Validity and Lawfulness of the said Marriages thus made and contracted shall be Judg'd the Defendant being of the said Religion before the Judge Royal but in case of his being Plaintiff and the Defendant a Catholick the Cognizance thereof shall belong to the Official and Ecclesiastical Judge and both Parties being of the said Religion the Case shall be try'd before the Judges Royal His Majesty willing that the said Marriages and the Differences arising from the same should be judg'd respectively by the Judges Ecclesiastical and Royal and by the Chambers establish'd by his Edicts XLII The Gifts and Legacies made or to be made whether by Will in case of death or among the living for the maintenance of Ministers Doctors Scholars and Poor of the said pretended Reform'd Religion and upon other pious Accounts shall be of full force and power all Judgments and Decrees to the contraty notwithstanding but yet without prejudice to his Majesty's Rights and others in case the said Legacies and gifts should fall into â—ortmain And all necessary Actions and Prosecutions for the recovery of the said Legacies Pious Gifts and other Rights of all kinds shall be allow'd to be made by Attorny in the name of the Body and Community of those of the said Religion who shall be concern'd and in case it happens that any of the said Gifts and Legacies have been heretofore dispos'd of otherwise than is specifi'd by the said Article no other restitution shall be demanded but what shall be found in being XLIII His said Majesty permits those of the said Religion to assemble before the Judge Royal and by his Authority to equal and raise among themselves such Sums as shall be judg'd necessary to be imploy'd towards the Charges of their Synods and for the maintenance of those who are imploy'd for the exercise of their said Religion of which the true estimate shall be given to the said Judge Royal to be kept by him The Copy of which shall be sent every six months by the said Judges Royal to his Majesty or to his Chancellor and the said Taxes and Impositions shall be liable to execution all Oppositions or Appeals to the contrary notwithstanding XLIV The Ministers of the said Religion shall be exempted from Watching and from Quartering of Soldiers assessing and collecting of Tailles or Subsidies as also from Wardships and Guardianships and Commissions for the keeping of Estates seiz'd by Authority of Justice XLV Those of the said Religion shall be neither prosecuted nor disturbed for the Burials heretofore made by them in the Church-yards of the said Catholicks in any place or City whatever and his Majesty shall order his Officers to take care of the same As to the City of Paris over and above the two Church-yards those of the same Religion possess there already viz. that of Trinity and that of St. Germans a third convenient place shall be allow'd them for the said Interments in the Suburbs of St. Honore or St. Denis XLVI The Catholick Presidents and Counsellors that shall serve in the Chamber ordain'd in the Parliament of Paris shall be chosen by his Majesty upon the Roll of the Officers of the Parliament XLVII The Counsellors of the said pretended Reform'd Religion who shall serve in the said Chamber shall assist if they think fit at such Processes as shall be decided by Commissioners and shall have a deliberative voice in the same but shall have no share of the Consign'd Money unless they ought to assist at them by the order and prerogative of their reception XLVIII The Senior President of the Party-Chambers shall preside at the Audience and in his absence the second and the distribution of Suits shall be made by the two Presidents jointly or alternately monthly or weekly XLIX A vacation of Offices happening in possession of or to be possess'd by those of the said Religion in the said Chambers of the Edict they shall be given to capable Persons having Attestations from the Synod or Assembly to which they do belong of their being of the said Religion and Persons of Integrity L. The Pardon granted to those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion by the 74th Article of the said Edict shall stand good for the taking of the Money belonging to the Crown either by breaking of Coffers or otherwise even in respect to that as was rais'd upon the River Charante though assign'd to particular persons LI. The 49th of the Secret Articles made in the Year 1577. concerning the City and Archbishoprick of Avignon and County thereof together with the Treaty made at Nimes shall be observ'd according to their Form and Tenor and no Letters of Mart shall be granted by virtue of the said Articles and Treaty unless by Letters-Patent from the King under the Great Seal Nevertheless such as shall be desirous to obtain the same shall be allow'd by virtue of this present Article without any other Commission to make their application to the Judges Royal who shall examine the Transgressions Denial of Justice and Iniquity of the Judgments propos'd by those who shall be desirous to obtain the said Letters and shall send the same together with their Opinions seal'd up close to his Majesty in order to his ordering the said matter according to reason LII His Majesty grants and wills that Nicholas Grimoult shall be re-establish'd and maintain'd in the Title and Possession of the Offices of Ancient Lieutenant General Civil and Lieutenant-General Criminal in the Bailywike of Aleneon notwithstanding the Resignation by him made to John Marguerite his Reception and the Patent obtain'd by William Barnard of the Office of Lieutenant-General Civil and Criminal in the tribunal of Exmes The Decrees given against the said Marguerit Resignee during the Troubles in the Privy Council in the Year 1586 1587 and 1588. by which Nicholas Barbier is setled in the Rights and Prerogatives of Ancient Lieutenant-General in the said Bailywike and the said Bernard in the Office of Lieutenant at Exmes the which his Majesty has nullify'd and all others hereunto contrary Moreover his Majesty for certain good Considerations has granted and ordain'd That the said Grimoult shall within the space of three months re-imburse the said Barbier of the Money by him furnish'd or disburs'd for the said Office of Lieutenant-General Civil and Criminal in the Vice-county of Alencon and 50 Crowns for the
appear'd nearer at hand and they found themselves still lyable to be attack'd on so many sides that they judg'd it absolutely necessary to provide for their safety by speedy and effectual means Therefore the wisest and most moderate among them who were us'd on all other occasions to recommend Peace and Obedience above all things joyn'd in that design And indeed the thing spoke of it self and that so lowd that the dullest and most stupid might apprehend it A Minority an Italian Regent old Members of the Leagues or Jesuits that were absolute in the Council a revengeful Queen who thought herself offended and was govern'd by foreigners for whom the Reform'd had no great consideration a great number of Factious either old ones the seeds of which were not yet stifled or new ones that daily form'd themselves an invincible ascendant which the Court of Spain that aim'd at nothing but the renewing of the Wars about Religion had gain'd over France and several other reasons obliged that Party which had been so often deceived to stand upon their Guard and to take proper measures to secure themselves at least untill time had dissipated those allarms To pretend that it was a Crime for the Reform'd that had suffered so much and were assaulted by a thousand lawful terrors to renew their Vnion to hold assemblies and to present Petitions is undoubtly a â—yrannick absurdity As if a Wretch should be impeached as a Criminal against the State for having cryed out for help seeing himself in danger of falling into a Precipice or for having taken hold of the first thing he could light on to break the violence of his fall And if it be alledged that at least after having taken measures with the Court for their safety they ought to have laid a side their fears troubling themselves with nothing but to serve God according to their Conscience and to obey the King according to their Duty I answer that it would have been very reasonable and perhaps very easie so to do had not the Court in the very instant they granted them any favours taken away more from them with one hand than they gave with the other They were comforted with â—words while they were tormented by Effects The Clergy granted nothing to the King without a consideration The first Article of their demands always contain'd something in favour of the Catholick Religion which never fail'd of being interpreted against the Reform'd Religion as if the one could not have been preserv'd without the ruin of the other The Court and Clergy persisted in this way of proceeding untill the Civil Wars broke out and the success of the Artiefices that were us'd to amuse the Reform'd having incourag'd their Enemies they proceeded so far as to laugh at them publickly and to Violate the most solemn Promises without shame This may be seen at large in that part of the History that relates the disgrace of the Duke of Sulli the Illusions practis'd at the Assembly of Saumur the Divisions sown among the Reform'd the Resolutions of the States the Marriage accomplish'd between France and Spain and all the other Transactions that justly create Jealousies So that the same Law of Nature which teaches Man to secure himself behin'd Walls and Ramparts when he suspects an Enemy against whom he only designs to stand upon the Defencive that Law I say without doubt Authoriz'd the Reform'd to whom the faithlessness of their Enemies was so well known to secure themselves against the suspicious proceedings of a Court that had sworn their Ruin I do not speak in this place of their Vnion with the Prince of Conde because that War was of a different nature from the Rest Religion had little or nothing to do in it Interests of State were the true Motives of it The Reform'd cannot be tax'd with it but the accusation must fall with more violence upon the Catholicks The last occasion'd it the first only joyn'd with them but too late if we consult prudent Policy only by reason that it was no longer time to prevent the Marriages which was the pretence us'd for taking Arms. But that delay only proceeded from that most of the Provinces and Churches did not think themselves concern'd in that Business So that it was not properly an affair of the whole Party but of some Lords who were follow'd by their Creatures Therefore there is nothing in this first degree of the fall of the Reform'd which they can be justly upbraided for But they seem to be less excusable in the second in which they are seen actually in Arms against their Prince We are to resolve two questions the better to understand the matter The first is general and relates to Right viz. Whether there are occasions on which Subjects may lawfully take Arms against a Soveraign The second is Particular and relates to the act viz. Whether allowing that there may be such occasions the case of the Reform'd was of that nature and they had sufficient Reasons to Arm. The General Question is of too great a discusion to be examin'd in a Preface in which I do not design to inlarge Therefore I shall only make eight or nine Observations which may give some light to that matter 1. I will observe that the thing which imbroils the said Question is that it is perhaps never handled without Passion or Interest Those that have given a large extent to the Rights of the People have often been animated by an Interest of Party And those that have put no bounds to the Power of Kings are to be suspected either of having been paid for so doing or of having had particular reasons which oblig'd them to flatter Princes in order to obtain some Favours from them When ever there have been divers Parties in a State it has been observable that the Weakest was ever the most fawning and that in order to get the Prince on their side they extended the Rights of sovereign Power as much as in them lay This mischief began in the first Ages of Christianity The Emperors were so severe against the poor Christians who were represented as Enemies to the State that those poor Persecuted Wretches were reduc'd to strain the Point to perswade them that their Religion was not opposite to Soveraign Power Passages of Scripture Testimonys and Examples of the Old and New Testament were promiscuously imploy'd with all the Art of interested Eloquence which transferr'd the Rights of the Judaic Kings to all the Princes of the World wiâ—hout the least consideration After Constantine had rais'd Christianity up to the Empire by his Conversion the Clergy out of interest retain'd the Maxims which they had maintain'd till then out of necessity And whereas they laid a great stress through Ambition and Avarice on those Passages which direct Princes to be Fathers and Benefactors to the Church he was oblig'd to continue to them as it were by way of reâ—alâ—ation for the temporal advantages he extorted from them the auâ—hority wherewiâ—h
thing in deliberation as the Marshal Bouillon's Friends did expect but answered in few words and observing to Bullion how prejudicial it was to the State to sow Divisions among the Reform'd he assur'd him nevertheless that the Assembly would obey This unexpected answer keeping every body within the bounds of Duty and Silence Bullion who was unwilling to lose the Fruit of his Project and who thought that the prevention of the said disorder which had been prepared with so much art would reflect upon him reiterated without necessity that they must obey Three or four of the Conspirators and among the rest Berticheres and Villemade offer'd to speak and declar'd that they were of the small number mention'd in the Letter But Du Plessis stopt them by his Authority and in few words made them such powerful Remonstrances and so much to the purpose that many of the same Party who thought that the Queen only desir'd that they should obey and who found every body inclin'd to do it cry'd out to those hot heads to refrain After having thus prevented the Tumult Du Plessis who had only spoken in his own Name being confident that he should not be contradicted resolv'd to take the Votes of the Assembly as was usual but lest they should think that he was affraid of having been too forward in his promise he declar'd he only took the Votes for form sake being very well satisfied that what he had said would be approved of by every body In effect Obedience was concluded upon only two or three Creatures of the Court cavil'd about some Circumstances The Duke of Sully tho' naturally as wavering in his opinion as his Fortune was uncertain and moreover a little unresolv'd in his own affairs prov'd notwithstanding steady in this and seconded the Presidents advice with good Reasons which he did the more willingly by reason that he thought he did serve the King and the Assembly by it Thus they resolv'd to proceed by Commissioners in what Bullion had propos'd The Assembly nam'd eight of which the Marshal de Bouillon was the first But this project came to nothing by reason that he refus'd that Comission under pretence of being Ill. This was look'd upon to be an evasion by reason that while he excus'd himself upon that account from meddling with the affairs of the Assembly he had Conferences with Bulloin La Varenne and others which after having lasted part of the day sometimes took up part of the night It is certain at least that he was so much inrag'd at the success of this enterprise that he utter'd very hard words against some of his adherents for having suffer'd themselves so easily to be silenc'd he upbraided them with it as a want of Courage Nevertheless the evil if there was any did not proceed from them The Marshal had no reason to accuse any body but himself and Bullion They had only taken measures to make a Scisme in case the Assembly should resolve to continue their Session to provide for the safety of the Churches or should break up without doing any thing but they had taken none in case they should obey because they did not expect it On the 5th of December they proceeded to the Nomination of Six Persons whose Names were to be presented to the King which was done with more ease than was expected by reason of the Brigues and other difficulties they were surrounded with It had been propos'd to exclude from the said Nomination all such as had any Relation or Dependencies on the Court either upon the account of Pensions Places in the Magistracy or Governments which oblig'd them to keep measures there They had unanimously Voted the exclusion of the Pensioners but they had not been able to agree upon the rest by reason that among those who had such imployments there were several Persons qualified for the Deputation both by their being acquainted with affairs and by their Zeal for the Common Cause Therefore the said difficulty was not as yet remov'd and moreover the Marshal de Bouillon spar'd nothing to make the Deputation fall upon some Persons he might confide in He had no mind the Deputation should be made on the appointed day and he fell out into a great passion against some of his Party who had not persisted in that sentiment as firmly as they should have done Yet notwithstanding all this Mombrun Rouvray and Berteville were Nominated for the Nobility and Maniald Boisseuil and La Milletiere for the Third Estate This Nomination displeas'd the Marshal and Bullion to that degree that they us'd their utmost efforts to alter it They offer'd Maniald and Boisseuil 2000 Pistols or a Place of Councellor in a Parliament provided they would refuse the Nomination by reason that Armet who was at the Duke's devotion and who had most Voices next to them must have had the Place of him that would have refus'd it But they could not prevail and the Nomination remain'd as it had been made by the Majority of the Assembly and approv'd of by the Reform'd as the best and most faithful The Court chose Rouvray and La Milletiere out of those Six and the Assembly was soon acquainted therewith The End of the First Book THE HISTORY OF THE Edict of Nantes VOL. II. BOOK II. A Summary of the Contents of the Second Book The Answers to the Cahiers satisfie no body Neverthelesâ— they resolve to break up altho nothing considerable haâ— been done in the Assembly Artifices to disgust Chamieâ— Ferrier retires Why the Court will not seem to have occasion'd those Divisions Regulations drawn by the Assembly Provincial Councils Their Functions Regulation of Vnion The Marshal de Bouillon will not allow the Ministers to make a seperate Body in those Councils Substance of the General Cahier and of the Answers that were made to it Articles in favour of Bearn Mutual reproaches of the Members of the Assembly Books that make a noise Niceness of the Doctrine concerning the Authority of Kings Du Plessis Book Number of 666 Justness of the Application Sedition at Paris Return of the Deputies in their Provinces Commissioners in divers places where they are recus'd Synod at Blois which the Commissioners are allarm'd at They write to Court about it Assembly at Castel Jealoux which occasions a kind of League of the Catholicks Mortifications receiv'd by the Jesuits Commissioners in the Country of Gex The Reform'd side with the House of Guise in a quarrel Death of the Lord de Vatan A Minister is granted him â—o assist at his Death but they will not allow Psalms to â—…e sung by him Deputys of the Provinces at Paris sent â—ack outragiously Declaration of the 24 of April The Deputies General form an Opposition to the Inrollment of â—…t which is notwithstanding perform'd National Synod at Privas Censure of the Divisions of Saumur Vnion sign'd â—nd sworn Particular Divisions Deportments of Ferrier Grave accusations against him in the Synod which Censures him severely
were met with in divers plaâ—…s for the Execution of that Regulation and the same disâ—…r'd which had troubled the General Assembly imbroyl'd â—…e particular ones so that it made the Enterprise miscarry 〈…〉 some Provinces But that Establishment was made in oâ—…ers and neither Brigues nor Craft could hinder it The â—…ourt had no mind to proceed openly to the suppressing of â—…e said Assemblys for fear of exposing their Authority by a resolution they might not be able to perform But on the â—…her hand this new form of Assemblys which fastned the â—…nion of the Churches with new Links which the Counâ—… design'd to break at any rate was the more Odious to the â—…ouncil by reason that it was advantageous to the Party they â—…d a mind to Ruin For that reason they be thought themâ—…ves of a Wile which without prohibiting them directly â—…ade them pass Indirectly for Unlawful and that design was â—…ver'd with the pretence of securing those against the proceedings of Justice as had assisted in the Assemblies of which the â—…eputies had been sent back by the Court with contumely The â—…ng gave a Declaration on the 24th of April which beginning â—…th the design he had had to pursue for the preservation 〈…〉 the State the means which the Late King had us'd to â—…ake it pass from an extream desolation to a perfect Splenâ—…r by degrees took notice of the answers given to the â—…hiers of the Assembly of Saumur and of the sending of â—ommissioners into the Provinces Those two things were â—…opos'd in it as great proofs of the good Intentions of the â—…ourt and as proper Expedients to remove all the Jealousies â—…d Fears which had given the Reform'd a pretence to hold â—…me Assemblys without leave and which had created jealouâ—…es in others Those Assemblies were only spoken of by the by â—…ey were only stil'd Extraordinary and they were only imputed to some of the Reform'd They said that they were only conâ—en'd in some Provinces The King declar'd that he was very â—…ell satisfy'd with the good Will Zeal and Loyalty of the Generality Nevertheless he alter'd his tone all of a sudden and calling that a Crime which he had just before express'd in such mild Terms he granted the Remission and Forgiveness of the fault Committed by those who had occasion'd the said Assemblys and had been concern'd in the same forbiding his Attorneys General and their Substitutes to make any Inquiry after or prosecution for the same So far there only appear'd aprelude of which the Mistery was conceal'd but finally the last Article of the Declaration reveal'd it prohibiting all Assemblys of that nature for the future declaring them to be Interdicted by the 28 Article of the Edict by the Ordinance of the 16th of March 1606 and by the Answer given to the Cahiers in the Month of August of the said Year Nevertheless the King allow'd the Reform'd still a full Liberty to hold Consistorys Conferrences Provincial and National Synods on condition that none but Ministers and Elders should be admitted in the same and that they should only treat of their Doctrine and Ecclesiastical Discipline on pain of forfeiting the Right of holding such Assemblies The Moderators were to be responceable for it and the Cognisance of the infractions was referr'd to the first Master of Requests being upon the place The Deputies General being inform'd that the said Deelation was sent to the Parliament in order to be Registred form'd an opposition against it by a Petition which contain'd an express disavowal of having requir'd it protesting that they look'd upon it as injurious and prejudicial to the Reform'd and that in the name of the General they refused to make use of it This opposition and the proceedings of the said Deputies at Court in order to put a stop to the said Declaration stopt the Parliament for some days But whereas the Count had only given that Pardon to the end that supposing the said Assembly to be Criminal they might have a pretence to suppress them for the future proceeded on and the said Declaration was verifi'd on the 25 of May in the Parliament of Paris and in other places sooner or later according to the force of their Intrigues Moreover the Court found out some Reform'd who desir'd â—…e Inrolment of it under pretence that having been ingag'd imprudently in the said Assemblys without knowing whether they were lawful or no they stood in need of a Pardon for their Security They were Creatures of Marâ—…al de Bouillon who had only assisted in them in order 〈…〉 cross the Resolutions of the rest or to give informations â—f what pass'd there But yet the refusal of it was look'd upon as general since it was made by the Deputies General who did represent all the Churches So that the Inrolment of the said Declaration had something very singular 〈…〉 it It granted a Pardon to persons who desir'd none â—nd to whom it was only granted in order to make them declare themselves guilty by accepting of it It was a very â—ew sort of kindness to pardon people against their Wâ—lls â—ho desir'd no Pardon and notwithstanding their opposition to make a Law of a Remission against which the persons concern'd did protest before the publication of it The Inrolment was made the very next day after the â—verture of the National Synod which was begun that year 〈…〉 Privas on the 24th of May as if the Court expecting that the Synod would make some new Protestation against the Declaration had design'd to put it past retracting when they â—…ould make remonstrances about it It is certain at least â—…at this Synod resented it highly as I will relate 〈…〉 after having mention'd some other important Acts which preceded it This is one of the Synods that enter'd â—…rthest into Political Affairs They examin'd the Conduct â—f those that had created a Scisme at Saumur and that â—nited themselves to prefer the smaller number to the Plurality of Voices according to the Queens Letter They â—ronounc'd a general Censure against those that were concern'd in that Conspiracy They declar'd that the concor'd 〈…〉 often Sworn had been violated by that Artifice and â—hat the Divisions of the Assembly had given the King's Council an occasion to wave their just demands Therefore they renew'd the Union which was sign'd and Sworn by all the Deputies who promis'd to get it sign'd and sworn by all the Churches of their Provinces The Instrument that was drawn of it contain'd a promise to Live and Dye in the profession of their Confession of Faith and Discipline under the Authority and for the Service of the King and Queen Regent the Empire of God remaining whole It was in order to contribute to that Union that a last and definitive division of the Kingdom was made into 16 Provinces in which Bearn was Comprehended Till then the number had not always been the same which had sometimes occasion'd disputes in the Deputations to
the National Synods and General Assemblies In the next place the Synod took Cognisance of some divisions which occasion'd mischief and scandal in several places There were places where the Governor and Minister did not agree The one being of the number of the Complaisant and the other of the Zealous In other places the Ministers could not agree among themselves which created Parties in their Churches which the Court knew very well how to improve Even at Montauban Benoit and Beraud had continual disputes Beraud was the most passionate of the two he had more Vigor and Impatience and was capable in case of necessity to quit the Pen to draw a Sword which in time drew mortifying affairs upon him Bencit had more weakness but his Cause was the best and the Synod of the Province had adjuged it more than once in his favour Nevertheless the National Synod oblig'd him to yield to his Competitor and sent him to serve in the Neighbourhood but in order to comfort him for that disgrace they gave him very honourable Testimonials The Synod thought themselves oblig'd to perform this Act of Authority for the preservation of Montauban which might have been in danger'd by the continuation of a dispute which had already lasted many years Ferrier was not forgotten in that Synod It was upon his account they made an Act which excluded the Professors of Theology out of the Political Assemblies But they proceeded farther yet against him and tryed him in a very mortifying manner He had of late thrown of his Mask with so â—…ttle prudence that he seem'd to have lost his Sences The â—…arty he had taken at Saumur had render'd him odious in his Province and to one part of his Church He was sensible that â—…ey would prosecute him in the National Synod and that â—f the Lower Languedock was so prejudiced against him that â—e was affraid of a shameful Censure But the means he us'd to prevent it only serv'd to render it inevitable He â—…ade several suspicious journeys to Court without the participation of his Church The Ministers of Paris who â—…ok'd upon him as a dangerous man us'd their utmost endeavours to reclaim him They thought to flatter his ambition by offering him a place in their Church which wanted a Minister and there was a great deal of reason to believe that having by his ill Conduct reduc'd himself to the necessity of quiting the Church of Nimes his vocation in the service of the Church of Paris would make him amends for â—hat disgrace and would be a fair pretence for him to quit â—…s Province with honour Besides they were less afraid of â—…m at Paris than at Nimes He would have had learned vigorous Collegues there to have an eye over his actions who would perhaps have prevented his total ruin He accepted the offers â—…at were made to him at first and even receiv'd the reproaches that were made to him for his past faults with great marks â—f Repentance He confess'd all he condemn'd himself â—e wept but after having promis'd never to abandon his Profession and to exert it at Paris he retracted it unâ—and somely and whether it were that he had promis'd to â—o things for the service of the Court which this new vocation would disable him from performing or whether he thought he had credit enough by his friends means to mainâ—…imself at Nimes in spite of his Province or whether â—…e were absolutely possess'd by the Jesuits and only acted â—…y their inspirations he left Paris without a pretence and without taking his leave of the Ministers there from whom â—e had receiv'd so civil and honourable a Treatment All this was taken into consideration at Privas aâ—… du Moulin who gave an account there of what had 〈…〉 at Paris where Ferrier had discovered a mind equaâ—… haughty fickle and without Faith represented his conduct to be very irregular Divers accusations were added to 〈…〉 relating to his life past which was examined rigorously They upbraided him for having neglected his prosession of Theology for having Preach'd Doctrines that weâ—… not Orthodox for having taken upon him the management of Money and apply'd a very considerable Suâ—… of it to his own use unlawfully for having himself forg'd or consented to the forging of certain Letters which hâ—… ingag'd him into shameful affairs and dishonourable dâ—…guises They censur'd him severely upon all these Articles but besides the Verbal Censure the Synod Injoynâ—… him to write to the Church of Paris to make thâ—… satisfaction forbad him to appear in Political Assemblâ—… for the space of six years and order'd him to eâ—… his Ministry out of the Province of Languedoc Ferrier was too haughty to obey and tho he did nâ—… expect so ill a treatment he was not disheartned He hâ—… Friends at Nimes and his Faction was increas'd by aâ—… those who were at the devotion of the Court. By thoâ—… means he prevail'd with the Church and City of Niâ—… to send Deputies to the Synod on his behalf They chose them among the Councelors of the Presidial the Body 〈…〉 the City and the Ministers The Synod gave them hearing and they omitted nothing to prevail upon theâ—… and to obtain the Revocation of their Judgment but aâ—… in vain Moreover the Synod express'd their displeasure at so considerable a Deputation to favour a Man who betray'd the Common Cause The Ministers who were joyn'd in it were censur'd for their complaisance anâ— the Memoirs they had brought in order to his justification were call'd calumnious But whereas they were sensible that Ferrier would not stop there and that the Magistracy being of his side he would keep his Minestry oâ— which they had not suspended the Functions they deolar'd him aggravating the matter that he was actually suspended from that moment unless he obey'd Never theâ—…s as they had no mind to exasperate him the Synod â—…ving thought fit to send Chamier to the Academy of â—…ntaâ—ban which desir'd him for their Professor in Diviniâ—… they sent Ferrier to Montelimar in his room But â—…s Indulgence of the Synod did not succeed according their expectation The said Synod also receiv'd the Complaints of that Blois against those who had hinder'd them by their positions from forming a Provincial Council according the resolution taken at Saumur and in order to apâ—… proper remedies to an affair of so ill an example â—…y deputed three Ministers and two Elders whom they â—…rg'd to examine that affair to the bottom and to â—…ceed to suspention and even to depose the Guilâ—… But the greatest affair that was treated there was that â—…he Declaration of the 24th of April which the Synod â—…own'd solemly by an Act that was Sign'd by the Moâ—…ator his Associate and the Secretaries which was sent 〈…〉 all the Churches and even Printed in order to send â—…pies of it throughout Europe The Synod pretended â—…t there was a flâ—w in the Pardon granted by that â—…claration since there had been no crime
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
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
ordinary and local Charges which were to be acquitted before all others the Assignments â—â— which should not be Converted to any other use They â—â—â— bethought themselves of this Illusion of Reimplacement â—â— render the said Decree of Restauration more tollerable â—â— such as only judge of things by appearances And indeed the Churches and all particular Persons seem'd thereby to be Indemnify'd Finally the Decree adjourn'd the Demand of the Clergâ— to be admitted into the Estates of the Country to the returâ— of the Commissioner the King would send thither to put thâ— said Decree in Execution After which the King writ to those who had the management of the Ecclesiastical Affairs in Bearn to send some body at Court to be present at the making of â—â—â— said Reimplacement It was an Exquisite Subtilty of the Clergy to order thâ—â— Affair in the Nature of a Civil Process as if it had only beâ—â— a Contsteation between private Persons Whereas the thing in question was to revoke a Law pass'd by the Authority â—â— the Soveraign with the Consent of the Estates for the punishment of a Rebellious Clergy who had betray'd their Lawful Princes and caus'd their Subjects to take up Arms to dâ—prive them of their Inheritance But they were sensible that it would prove an easier Task to judge a Process than to revoke a Law grounded upon such good Reasons Nevertheless as Decrees are no Laws in France they were oblig'd afterwards to convert the said Decree into the form of an Edict â—o the end that the Inrollment of it might be perform'd with â—ore Formality In the mean while the Clergy being unwilling to appear Ingrateful caus'd the Bishop of Are to â—eturn the King Thanks on the 18th of July whose Speech had â—ét more Violence in it than the Bishop of Macon's Among â—he Complaints which follow'd those Thanks there was one â—gainst the Book of the four Ministers and against their Deâ—ication to the King He call'd them Impudent Ministers of â—rreligion and of Falshood and he stil'd their Religion the Whore â—f Satan He bragg'd that they had been forc'd to lay down â—he Cudgels in the Conferences of Mantes and of Foâ—taineâ—â—eaâ— He Elevated the Fidelity of the Clergy very high â—nd in order to create Jealousies about the Reform'd he apâ—â—y'd to them what the King of England had sometimes said â—â— the Independents of his Kingdom of Scotland After this â—…hen the Assembly broke up they charg'd their Agents with a 〈…〉 Cahier containing 46 Articles And they acquitted themâ—â—lves so well of what was recommended to them upon that â—ubject that exeepting only one Article they obtain'd all â—â—eir Demands as I will observe elsewhere The News of this Decree being carry'd into Bearn the Eâ—â—ates who were Assembled at Orthez resolv'd to undergo any â—â—ing tather than to put it in Execution being equally ofâ—â—nded at the thing and at the manner of it A Decree given â—â—ntrary to the Promise made to Lescun and without having â—eard half of what the Parties concern'd had to say especiâ—ly a Decree which in a Despotick manner abrogated Laws â—â—at had been made with all the requir'd Solemnities seem'd 〈…〉 them unjust not being sensible as yet that Modern Policy â—â—lls nothing Justice but the Will of the Strongest They Deâ—uted Lescun to the King with humble Remonstrances and to â—â—treat him to allow that the Deputies his Majesty should deâ—â—re them to send to him to be present at the making of the â—â—eimplacement might be chosen in an Assembly compos'd 〈…〉 the three Estates of Bearn and the Deputies of all the Churches of France Lescun took Letters in his way from â—ochel from whence the Assembly was already gone He could not obtain an Audience at St. Germains before the 17th of September La Force presented him The Deputies General seconded him and acquainted the King that all the Churches of the Kingdom would have writen to him as well as Rochel if they could have met together again without offending him Lescun made an Excellent Speech to the King and seconded the Petition he presented to him from the Estates with powerful Reasons alledging that the Contractual Law had been duly observ'd for the space of above three hundred Years and that there was no example of its having been Violated or that ever the Customs receiv'd in Bearn according to that Law had been alter'd otherwise than by the Consent of the Estates He desir'd an Answer to a Cahier of Grievances and to divers Petitions he had presented and begg'd a Proâ—cution might be made against the Authors of a Libel Intiâ—uâ—… Le Mâ—ine which had been writen upon the Affairs of Bearn in a stile full of Venom and Violence One may judge of it bâ— what the Author said that it was in the power of the Catholicks to destroy the Reform'd and that the only thing which hinder'd them from doing it was that they valu'd the Life of one Catholick more than the Death of a hundred Huguenâ—… In another which introduc'd two Peasants speaking about the Affairs of the Times they made one of them say That the Huguenots were Impudent to complain of St. Bartholomâ—… Day and to call the Butchery of it a Massacre by reason that it was one of the most Equitable Acts of Justice that had ever been or that ever could be done Moreover Lescun deny'd whatever had been said of the State of Beâ—â— by the Bishop of Macon He affirm'd that the Catholicks were so far from being Twenty five in Thirty there that on the contrary the Reform'd were Ten to One particularly among Persons of Consideration and that they sustain'd almost all the Charges That the Catholicks were so far from being ill serv'd in the Exercises and Rites of their Religion that they had upwards of 300 Priests besides Bishops Canons and Preachers whereas the Reform'd had but 60 Ministers That the Catholicks were also so far from being inconvenienc'd in their Worship being forc'd to seek out places distant from their Habitation to perform the same that most of them had â—ass said at home or very near them whereas the Reform'dâ—n â—n several Cantons went to Church at three â—eagues distance from their Houses That the Catholicks had three parts â—â— four of the Churches and possess'd two thirds of the Ecclesiastical Revenues That the number of those which were Enemies to their Churches daily increas'd whereas of late â—he Places of Ministers which became vacant by Death were â—uppress'd by the King's Authority These Cases were considerable enough to deserâ—e to be â—lear'd before a Definitive Judgment were given in that Affair Since that if Lâ—scun spoke the truth nothing could be more ridiculous or false than the Complaints of the Clergy â—or more Inhumane or Unjust than their Ambitious Prosecutions But Equity had already for some years been banish'd â—â—om the Court Justice and Sincerity were Bury'd with the â—ate King and as little care was taken to raise them
then ordinary nay if 〈…〉 do but sigh and bemoan themselves their very Groans and â—â—ghs are not to be endur'd In the mean time the Dukes of Rohan and Soubise who had â— long time refus'd to yield to the Importunities of the Assembly having bin disgusted by the Court where the Prince of Coâ—dé 〈…〉 the Constable were the Duke of Rohan's Enemies resign'd themselves wholly to the Orders of the Assembly and after some Submissions on their part and some Offers from the â—ourt which signifi'd nothing they resolv'd to hold out St. â—ohn a' Angeli to the last The Duke of Rohan left his Brother â—â— the place and after he had furnish'd it with Men and Ammunition went into Guâ—en to raise more Forces On the other side the King after he had summon'd Subise by a Herald besieg'd the City and Subise by the foul Practices of Loudrieres who discourag'd both the Soldiers and Inhabitants by his discourses â—nd his counsels being constrain'd to surrender the place march'd out sooner then he would have done had he not been afraid of being forsaken All the security which either the City or the Garison had was a wild and general Capitulation by which the King promis'd only in writing to the Inhabitants their Lives their Estates and the Liberty of their Consciences and Persons reserving to himself the disposal of every thing else as he should think convenient declaring at the same time that he did not pretend to make any Treaty but only to grant a Favour However the Capitulation as slight as it was had the hard fate to be but very ill observ'd The Soldiers plunder'd the Town and yet constrain'd the Mayor the Sheriffs and the principal Inhabitants to give 'em a Certificate and forc'd another from the Minister that they had behav'd themselves civilly On the other side the King retiring to Cognac set forth a Declaration which was verifi'd at Bourdeaux wherein to put the greater value upon his Clemency which had spar'd their Lives and Estates and given Liberty of Conscience to the Reformed of St. John d'Angeli he order'd the Fortifications and Walls of the City to be raz'd and the Moats to be fill'd up He took away their Charters and their Franchises and made the Town liable to Taxes for the future He cancell'd their Government by Mayor and Sheriffs and and annex'd the common Stock of the Town to the Royal Demesnes leaving 'em out of his special Grace and Favor their Election and ordinary Jurisdiction Upon which Declaration a certain Historian very much devoted to the Roman Church observes That it would have been taken for a just punishment of that City had they not since that us'd many very Innocent and Catholic Cities after the same rate The End of the Seventh Book THE HISTORY OF THE Edict of Nantes THE SECOND PART THE EIGHTH BOOK A Compendium of the Eighth Book MArshal Bouillon's Letter The King marches into Guyenne the Siege and reducing of Clairac The King's word ill observ'd The Pope's Breve to the King The Reformed every where unfortunate The Siege of Montauban La Force defends the Place The King raises his Siege Chamiere's Death The Duke of Mayenne dies The blame falls upon the Constable The Jesuit Arnoux's disgrace The Duke of Luines dies Assembly of the Clergy A violent Harangue of the Bishop of Rennes The History of Dominic de Jesus Maria. Sedition at Paris The Church at Charenton burnt The Reformed forsake their Houses They are accus'd of setting Fire to the Bridges of Paris and the Prison at Lion The Circle of Lower Languedoc displaces Chatillon Great Confusion in that Circle The Condition of the Court The King returns to Paris A remarkable Writing of Jeannin advising Peace The Opinion of those who were more enclin'd to War The Reformed take new Courage The King departs from Paris His Success in Poitou in Guyenne where he treats with la Force The sack of Negrepelisse and St. Antonin Lesdiguieres interposes for Peace Factions at Mompellier Sedition against the Catholics Bitter Harangue of the Bishop to the King Remarks upon the Stile of that Harangue The Church of Foix laid waste Attestation given to the Monk Villate The King forbids the Reformer to forsake their Houses Count Mansfeild treats with the Reformed Proposals of the Marshal de Bouillon to the Duke of Rohan upon that occasion The Court gains Mansfeild The King makes use of Foreign Catholics in France The Negotiations for Peace renew'd A Writing set forth upon that occasion Siege of Mompellier Capitulation made by Lunell ill observ'd Small Cities ill defended Success of the War in several Places Chatillon made a Marshal of France Seditions at Orleans Fronsac and Lion The Original of the word Parpailler Other Originals Of the word Hust Violence of the Sedition The Reformed are disarm'd War against Rochel Soubise sollicits for Succor from England Treaty of Peace reassum'd near Mompellier Conclusion of the Treaty with an Edict Rigour of the Parlaments Advantages of that Peace Qualifications of the Edict of Peace All the Cities accept the Peace which is ill observ'd by the Court. Treaty at Mompellier The King returns to Paris De Puisieux in Favour The Bishop of Luson made a Cardinal Character of that Prelat After what manner he receiv'd the news of his Promotion Excessive Flatteries Foul Play offer'd the Rochelois Enterprises of Valence at Mompellier where he takes the Duke of Rohan Prisoner and makes a division of the Consulship General Papers Extravagant Answers Exercises forbid The Reformed excluded from Dignities in the Vniversity of Poitiers The singing of Psalms in the Streets and in Shops forbid A common Soldier deprived the Benefit of an Oblate Attempts upon paternal Right A Declaration establishing a Commissioner in Colloquies and Synods A National Synod Galand the first Commissioner ever present to a National Synod He is admitted out of pure Obedience Deputies sent to the King who sends back the Deputies laden with his Orders The Court inclin'd to favour the Arminians A Writing publish'd by la Militiere Answer of Tilenus Authority attributed to the Kings of France Imposture set up against the Synod of Dordrecht Obedience of the Synod of Charenton A Tignations ill paid Propositions made to the Synod by Galand on the King's behalf A new Deputation to the King and the effect of it Oath of Vnion A Citadel built at Mompellier Mariald opposes it in the name of the Reformed of the City Presages of a new War The death of du Plessis The death of Marshal de Bouillon WHile the King lay before St. John d'Angeli he receiv'd the Submissions of the Duke of Tremouille who had surrender'd Taillebourg without much entreaty On the other side Marshal de Bouillon at the same time sent him a Letter full of smart Remonstrances of which the principal Heads were The retiring of the Reformed which he attributed to the notorious violation of the Declaration of the 24th of April He observ'd how the
be a difficult thing to meet with such a violent Harangue and where the most innocent things or at least the most to be excus'd by the necessity that constrain'd em were blacken'd after the most odious manner imaginable The torments of an infinite number of poor Creatures that were destroy'd in all places where the Catholics came the burning of Tonneins Monhart Negrepelisse and other Towns their frequent Insurrections against the Reformed their forcing Conversions of which that War afforded various Examples would make those tremble and their hair stand an end that read the Story should â— set 'em forth in the stile of this Harangue But this is the Character of the Catholic Prelates whatever it be that never so little touches the Respect which is due to their Grandeur is by them cry'd down for Sacriledge and is never to be excus'd But whatever they do in order to the destruction of those that offend 'em though never so opposite to all the Laws of God and Nature is lawful and clear from all Reproach and Censure Thus the City of Foix the Metropolis of that Province being inhabited by some Reformed Families the Monk Viâ—â—arte a Capuchin being sent thither by the Bishop of Pamiers went thither toward the end of the last year to do all the mischief he could under pretence of preaching the Advent Sermons and return'd thither to preach the Lent Sermons of this year But his seditious Declamations his Monastical Controversies his Conferences offer'd to the Ministers the pious Violences of the Governors of the Province and the City and the Treachery of some persons won over to their Party brought over all the Families to the Church of Rome There was not one withstood this Hurricane but the Minister and his Wife who was permitted to retire not so much out of Humanity or Justice but to give the greater lustre to the Monk's Victory And the Minister was spar'd to be a testimony of the desolation of his Church and to carry the news to the places of his retirement To which purpose they caus'd a Trumpet to attend him who under pretence of conducting him sounded forth the Triumphs of the Monk over the Minister and his Flock both in the streets of the City and in the Countrey Nor had the Reformed at Foix any other then a limited Exercise as I have said already In the mean time the Ecclesiastics of Foix gave this Monk a Certificate which made him lookt upon as the only Author of these goodly Conversions and which assur'd the world that no other violent means was made use of then that of the Word of God But 't is observable that they never bethought themselves of attesting in behalf of these New Converts that there was nothing but what was free and voluntary in their change The Art of Converting was then but in its Infancy Time brought it to some perfection for that in our days they never fail to cause these sort of Attestations to be sign'd by those that had suffer'd the utmost extremity of Violence at their hands Moreover the demolishing the Church which was done by the bare Authority of the Inhabitants without staying for the King's Orders follow'd the Monk's Victory close at the heels and the Catholic Churches of the City shar'd among 'em the Spoils of the Reformed It may be judg'd with what moderation this Affair was carri'd on by the precipitancy of the Catholics who â—ever consulted their Sovereign upon two Points of that importance It may be said perhaps in their behalf that they did nothing without the private encouragement of the Court who â—ook in good part what ever was serviceable toward the Conversion of the Heretics But the Archbishop of Ambrune haranguing the King upon his return to Paris after the Peace made â—vent a little farther then all this He made the King an Apostle 〈◊〉 his Speech and to support his new Eulogy with a Reason â—e added that the King procur'd Conversions by his Prudence and the concurrence of his just Arms. The meaning of his words is easily apprehended which seem'd to intimate that in Conversions of this nature Terror wrought no less effectually â—hen Instruction While the King lay at Bezieres where the Bishop of Momâ—… had made him a Speech he put forth a Declaration dated 〈◊〉 25. which renewing the ill-observed Promises of the King's Protection to those that liv'd in Obedience and staid at home under the benefit of the Edicts forbid all the Reformed to â—â—uit their Habitations whether in City or Countrey upon pain 〈◊〉 forfeiting all the Favours that had been afforded 'em and to 〈◊〉 proceeded against as guilty of High-Treason Deserters of the Kingdom and Disturbers of the Public Peace The Preâ—ence for these Prohibitions was That the Reformed forsook their Houses to join with those that were in Arms or with Foreigners that drew toward the Frontiers and threaten'd the Kingdom with an Invasion The truth is that the greatest part of those that quitted their Houses were forc'd to wander 〈◊〉 where in search of their security The heats of the Catholic Rabble the seditious roaring of the Monks in their Pulâ—… the uncontroul'd Licentiousness of the Soldiers the proâ—… of Protection a thousand ways broken Capitulations ill observ'd the frequent Tortures of those who surrender'd at discretion the enormous fury of the Rascally Mobile against the bodies of those who had undergone the utmost extremity and Torments yet stedfast to the end and several other Circumstances of the present condition of the Reformed in France were â—…rrible that they expected a Massacre every day which every body strove to avoid by withdrawing into places where there was more probability of safety But to speak the truth the Court was not free from Alarums and if the Confederates had but had a little ready money they would have made the Court repent their declaring War against ' em Count Mansfeild who was enter'd into the Confederacy against the House of Austria and who after the overthrow of the King of Bohemia had maintain'd his ground with good reputation at that time besieg'd Savern in Alsatia with a considerable Army but before he could take the place he was constrain'd to retreat for fear of the Imperialists who were within some few days march of him with three Bodies of an Army much superior in number to his In his retreat he was constrain'd to cross Lorrain which the Duke who had not his Forces ready durst not deny him Now the Count not having money 〈◊〉 no other way to keep his men together but by the liberty which he allow'd 'em to do what they pleas'd so that there was 〈◊〉 likelihood that he could subsist any long time provided his Parties could be hinder'd from roaming about from their maiâ— Body Marshal de Bouillon therefore liking well the opportunity and weary of the Neutrality which he had observ'd since the beginning of the War and desirous to make one smart Eâ—… say
He endeavour'd also to bring du Plessis into trouble who thought of nothing at that time but of dying and setling his Family But they understood him at Court and knew that all these great Secrets were nothing but Illusions and that was evident enough because they never molested any of those persons that Amelot sought to blacken with his pretended Informations But to bring himself off like a person of credit after it appear'd that all his discoveries were no other then Dreams then he gave out that those designs would have wrought terrible effects had he not prevented 'em by his foresight and broken the â—eaâ—urâ—s of the Contrivers by opposing 'em betimes And indeed his pretence for those Chimera's with which he was intoxicated were no more then civil Visits which some Gentlemen thought proper to pay the one to the other which Amâ—… took for Meetings cover'd under the name of Visits where Affairs of State were debated He also endeavour'd to get the favour and esteem of bâ—th Parties by the Court he sought to be valu'd as a man faithful and pen trating so eagle-ey'd that nothing escap'd him whatever happen'd in the Provinces belonging to his Allotment By theâ—… Reformed he strove to be priz'd for a man of honesty who preserv d 'em from a world of misfortunes by his moderation and his prudence preventing 'em from committing great Errors By these petty Artifices it cannot be imagin'd how much mischief he did the Reformed not only because he sometimes oblig'd em to renounce their Priviledges which they had duly obtain'd but because he seduc'd 'em with his vaunting Flourishes of Probity and Affection to accept of his unjust Acts as so manâ— Kinâ—nesses done ' em Thus it was that he made 'em lose their Right to the performance of their Exercises in the City of â—â—â—tenai and that he made 'em remove into one of the Suburbs And they were so simple as to consent to his entreaties because he told 'em that in so doing they would oblige him All the recompence they had was that Valade the Minister of the place who had bin forbid to preach there yet whose resettlement could not be obstructed because the Right of Public Exercise in that Town was not to be deni d was restor'd to his Functions by Amelot's consent So that to make 'em amends he only granted 'em a Priviledge that could not lawfully be taken from 'em a thing which it was impossible to refuse 'em without a great deal of Injustice In like manner at Bourgueil where they had a Right duly acquir'd and upon a good foundation Amelot made 〈…〉 consent to remove their Right to another place contrary to â—e advice of Chalas who would have maintain'd 'em in that â—…e they were accustom'd to meet But that which was â—…re particularly singular in their submission was this That 〈…〉 told the Reformed a fair Story and made 'em believe it â—…o that their consenting to their removal was but a compliâ—…e of good nature in honour to the Bishop of Chartres their â—…poral Lord to whom they acknowledg'd themselves to be â—…holding And thus did Amelot so strangely put upon 'em by â—…s treacherous Wheedles that he made 'em confess themselves â—…gâ—d to him who at the same time despoil'd 'em of their priviledges And with the same delusions he fool'd the easiness 〈…〉 the Inhabitants of Maillezaiz and Luson There was nothing more considerable in all this Commission â—…en the Paper presented by the Clergy of Saintes in the name 〈…〉 the whole Province and supported by the Mayor and Sheriffs of the City Had you read it you would have said That the â—eformed had bin the prevailing Religion and that the Catholic â—…d bin persecuted Nevertheless Complaints were intermix'd with those Demands which made it appear that the Catholics â—…d great Designs in their eye in order to the oppression of â—…hers which will appear by the Abstract of those Demands â—…d Complaints The Reformed were therein accus'd of afâ—…ting the Priests when they saw 'em pass by of obstructing â—…e Processions of the Catholics the Administration of the Saâ—…ament to the Sick the Burial of the Dead with the accustom'd Ceremonies Of not permitting the Catholics to visit â—…e Reformed when Sick which as it was presuppos'd were wilâ—…g to be converted or that the Communion should be adminiâ—…r'd to 'em or that they should be bury'd after their Converâ—…n and the Gentlemen were chiefly accus'd of expelling the â—â—iests out of their Lordships They complain'd of the Usurpation of Churches Houses Tenths and Rights appertaining to â—…e â—cclesiastics and of Church-yards where the Reformed buâ—â—ed heir dead by force They demanded that the Reformed â—…ould be prohibited to bury in Catholic Chappels under a Penalty of 3000 Livres They remonstrated that the Church-yards which the Reformed had adjoining to those of the Catholics not being enclos'd with Walls were the occasion of several Seditions that the Reformed had made themselves Masters of the Bells in some places and in others made use of the Bells belonging to the Catholics to give notice of their Sermon time that they would not suffer Carpets to be spread before their Houses that they took no notice of Holy-days that at Saintes they met in private Houses where they read Prayers and sung Psalms aloud that they sold Felsh upon days prohibited They demanded That to avoid the meeting of People that attended the Dead to their Graves the Reformed should be bound to give notice of their hours of Burial to the Mayor and Sheriffs 'T was said That they caus'd armed men to walk about a Nights who committed several Disorders They desir'd Prohibitions to the Reformed Ministers by which they might be enjoin'd not to call themselves Pastors of the Churches wherein they serv'd or to stile their Religion Reformed without adding the word Pretended Lastly Presupposing that the Liberty of the Reformed was so great that it could not be suppress'd by Authority of the Edicts they demanded that the Obstinate should be condemn'd to great Forfeitures actually to be incurr'd and to be adjudg'd from that time forward The strain of the whole Paper was full of Malice For they made particular and private Facts the ground of a general Complaint when perhaps the Fact had never bin committed above once during the War nevertheless they would have it an Affair wherein all places were concern'd and the misdemeanor of every day Others were aggravated as being of great importance when there was nothing at all in ' em However in the main it made the Reformed to be lookt upon as very criminal and threw an Odium upon all their Actions So that all men wonder'd and that not without reason too that Chalas went hand in hand as he did with Amelot in whatever Sentences he pass'd upon all the Articles and still gave his Verdict against the Reformed More especially the Articles about visiting the Sick by the Magistrates to know in what Religion they dy'd
brangling Pettifoggers were certain Laics of the Scum of the People the most Eminent of which were Pedlars Cordwinders Cutlers and such â—…ke Riffraff who rambl'd about from Town to Town from Consistory to Consistory from Synod to Synod to give Insolent Challenges to the Ministers preach Controversies in public Places upon Theaters set up like Mountebank's Stages to teaze â—…nd weary out the meaner sort of people with pitiful and ridiculous Cavils and to endeavour by the Conversion of some poor 〈◊〉 Widgeon or other to gain a certain spill of Money which 〈◊〉 Clergy had fixt as the Reward of such petty Victories But 〈◊〉 shall speak more at large in another place of this new sort of adversaries my business in this place being only to let you know how much the Duke of Rohan was bespatter'd with Reproaches and Scandals after the Conclusion of the Peace the chiefest part of those that had most importunately prest him to make it imputing the Fall and almost Ruin of the Reformed Party to his Ambition his Avarice and his Precipitancy So that he was forc'd to write an Apology for this last Peace wherein resuming his Discourse from the Assembly of Rochelle which began the War he made it appear by a Recital of all that had been transacted that his Conduct was altogether Innocent and that the last Peace was altogether necessary at a time when France having no Foreign Troubles to divert her was pouring upon the Duke with no less then six Armies at once But these Reproaches were only thrown upon him by those to whom the Peace was not so gainful as the War For in the main the Duke had gain'd the Hearts of all the People and almost all the Reformed were of Opinion that he would have done much greater Things for 'em then the Admiral Chatillon had he bin as well seconded by the Citizens and Nobility as the Admiral was In the mean time they began to brangle with the Reformed in divers places about the Right of Exercises more especially on that side next to Rochelle where Thuilerie the Intendant and St. Chament the Governor made several Attempts The first ordain'd that the Exercise should not be performed but in Places where it ought to be according to the Edict and that the Reformed to make appear the Rights to which they pretended should produce their Proofs before the Intendant within fifteen Days He added that within the said Term such Gentlemen as would perform the Exercise within their own Houses should declare which was the Place of which they made choice for their Principal Dwelling upon which they should enjoy the Right so long as they remain'd there with their Wives and Families and that the said fifteen Days being expir'd without any such Declaration made they should be deem'd not to have sufficient Proofs of their Right and therefore should have no more Preaching in their Houses till the King should otherwise ordain This Inquisition was the occasion that the Churches in those Quarters were forc'd to undergo the Persecution of 〈◊〉 world of brabbling Cavils But what was most troublesom was that the Churches whose Right was ocnfirm'd by Thuilerie's Order were in no better Condition seeing that afterwards they found out a thousand Devices to deprive 'em of the Fruit of those Sentences For in Places of which the Lords of the Mannors were Catholics the best settl'd Rights in the world signify'd nothing in regard the violent Zeal of the Lord would not let his Tenants enjoy their Advantage Of which there was an Eminent Example at Rochechouard where the Exercise of the Reformed Religion began in the Year 1559. and where the Commissioners entrusted with the Edict of Nantes confirm'd it in 1601. by a solemn Decree Nevertheless the Lord by force expell'd the Reformed from the Place where they were accustom'd to Preach so that they were forc'd to seek out another And notwithstanding all their Complaints they were expos'd to long and tedious Vexations which could not be determin'd but with the dissipation of their Church The Bishop of Valence a violent Spirit and a hot-headed 〈◊〉 upon the 15th of June procur'd a Decree of the â—…rivy Council which forbid any Foreigner tho a receiv'd Minister within the Diocess to continue his Ministry in the Kingdom There were three of these whom the Bishop would 〈◊〉 involve in the same Prohibition Martin Scarpius and 〈◊〉 for the Bishop as a Temporal Lord had condemn'd 'em 〈◊〉 three Aâ—â—esi kept his ground at Livron without taking any 〈◊〉 of the Decree Scarpius retir'd to Die where he liv'd without officiating in the Ministry And as for Martin he 〈◊〉 chang'd the place of his Residence but never stirr'd out of the Diocess Which made the Bishop stark mad a man otherwise proud and transported with his Passions But he obtain'd nothing from the Council but only against Martin who was the most hated because he had bin a Capuchin and for that after he had quitted his Habit he wrote a Book entitl'd The Capuâ—… Reform'd wherein he gave no Quarter to the Hypocrisies of that Institution and farther because the Bishops having â—…t him in Prison his ill usage could neither make him alter his Conduct nor abate his Courage That year the same Bishop began a Persecution which deriving the Original of it in a particular Diocess spread itself afterwards over all the Kingdom and was the occasion of above 35 years vexation to the Churches The Pretence was because one and the same Minister preach'd by turns in several places And the King was made believe that those places which were call'd Annexes or Quarters belonging to some principal Church were so many Usurpations that were not authoriz'd by the Edict tho there were nothing more false For those Annexes were places where the right of Exercise had bin acquir'd for same one of the Reasons mention'd in the Edict but not being able of themselves to maintain a Minister apart were join'd together by the Authority of a Synod to make up a sufficient Salary for one Pastor This was no injury to the Interests of the Clergy to whom it ought to have bin an indifferent thing how the Reformed order their Churches to be serv'd Besides that 't was very convenient for the Reformed who by that means provided for their Churches and their Ministers at little Expences And that Reason was sufficient to excite the Zeal of Catholic Persecution to deprive 'em of that advantage And it may be thought that this Vexation began in Valence because it is a Bishopric compos'd of two in one Valence and Die tho the Bishop bears the name of Valence only Now that Prelate could not endure that the Heretics should unite several poor Churches together to enlarge the Minister's Salary because it belong'd only to the Church of Rome to unite several poor Bishoprics to augment the Revenue of one single Bishop This was seconded by the Bishop of Vaison who join'd with him in his Persecutions
which the Catholic Armies had ruin'd and the third deriv'd itself from the Decrees which the Bishop of Valence had procur'd upon occasion of the Annexes For beside those which he had obtain'd the year before he had caus'd another to be issu'd forth of the second of May wherein to obviate the Reason why the Reformed pretended to fix themselves in the possession of their Annexes by alledging that they were places permitted the right of which being grounded upon the Articles of the Edict had extended the prohibition of one Minister to preach in several places to places permitted For these several Reasons without naming the places where their Exercise had been obstructed in other Provinces they set down Fourscore and twelve in Cevennes Vivarets the Vpper and Lower Languedoc and in the Islands of Ré and Oleron The fifth requir'd the Revocation of the Decrees granted to the Bishop of Valence The sixth complain d of the Prosecutions of some Ministers accus'd to have utter'd words both disrespectful and undutiful tho they had only preach'd their own Doctrine with moderation The next set forth the delays of the Governors in the nomination of Commissioners that were to be present at the Synods which had reduc'd some Provinces to be without Assemblies of that nature The eighth and ninth insisted upon Foreign Ministers The tenth desir'd that the Prohibitions of Beraud Bagnage and Bâ—teroue to sit in the Synod might be taken off The ' leventh concern'd the grand Article of the Edict which declares the Reformed capable of all manner of Employments and complain'd that it was so ill observ'd that the Reformed were not admitted into the meanest and lowest Offices that they were refus'd the Degree of Doctors of Physic and the Title of Aggregated where Accumulation was customary and that they were refus'd their Freedoms in the meanest Trades The twelfth demanded the Release of such as had bin condemn'd to the Gallies according to the Edict of Peace of which number there were above Two hunder'd The thirteenth demanded restitution of the municipal Tolls which had bin promis'd in 1628. as also by the Paper answer'd at Montauban the next year which had not prevented the Revocation of the Assignations allow'd for the year 1627. nor their failing to allow any for the three next years so that there was due for the time past the Sum of Six hunder'd thousand Livres The Compensation promis'd the Bernois after so solemn a manner had bin as faithlesly observ'd as the rest of the Edicts The one moiety of it was of a sudden defalk'd so that the fourteenth Article requir'd that care might be taken about it We might add to the same Article the hard Usage of the Ministers of the Bailliage of Gex who had bin depriv'd for a long time of the King's Relief-money which had bin granted 'em in recompence for the Ecclesiastic Estates Not that either Bearn or the Countrey of Gex had any share in the last Civil Wars but only in testimony of a more perfect good-will to the Reformed they that liv'd peaceably and that they were call'd Rebels were treated both alike Lastly the fifteenth Article contain'd an humble Request That the Court would command the Advocate General of Bourdeaux to surcease prosecuting a Minister and his Son whose Cause was nevertheless depending in the Chamber of Guyenne which was then at Agen whither it had bin remov'd The Deputies that carri'd this Paper and the Letters from the Synod to the King and the Cardinal were Amyrant and â—â—llars The King gave 'em leave to make their Speech to him at Monceaux and testifi'd by his Answer that he was well satisfi'd with them and the Synod They were likewise well receiv'd by the Cardinal who assur'd 'em that the King would maintain and protect 'em according to his Edicts that he gave Beraud and Basnage leave to sit in the Synod but that before he granted the same Favour to Bouteroue 't was fit the King should be more amply inform'd of the Crime that was laid to his charge that the King would give a very favourable Answer to their Paper so soon as the Synod brake up To the end said he that he might treat with his Subjects in a manner more suitable to his Sovereign Dignity and the Sacred Authority of his Word But the more edifying and solid part of his Answer was a Gift of Sixteen thousand Livres in ready money to defray the Expences of the Synod All which the Commissioner imparted to the Synod before the return of the Deputies Beraud resum'd his Seat in the Assembly soon after Basnage took his again and at length Bouteroue had leave to sit there as well as the rest For five years together there had not bin any alteration of the General Deputies and during that time Bazin who was one of those that were employ'd happen'd to die The Synod therefore had Orders to supply his place but they were not left to their accustom'd liberty of Nomination 'T was the King's pleasure till then that six Persons should be nominated for him to chuse two out of that number and the circumstances of the Permission giv'n the Synod to name 'em pointed so exactly to the Persons which it behov'd 'em to nominate that it was to little purpose to make choice of any other The Synod well observ'd this Innovation but because it was the King's pleasure they obey'd The Marquis of Clermont was continu'd and the Commissioner's Son was put into Bazin's room These were order'd to carry the Nomination made by the Synod accompani'd with Letters full of Duty and Respect To which the King made known his Answer by the Commissioner which consisted of a testimony that he was more and more satisfi d with the Proceeding of the Assembly and the Nomination they had made that he would accept of 'em after the Synod was broken up that he would give a Gracious Answer to their Paper and he would allow the Synod three days longer to sit They were so accustom'd at Court to be afraid of the Reformed that they seldom slept in quiet while they were assembl'd and their very Synods gave 'em terrible Alarumâ— This which was only compos'd of People still consternated at the taking of Rochel and the reducing of all the rest of their Towns and Cities disquieted their rest for all that and the Catholics dreaded by the Progresses which Gustavus made in Germany fanci'd him already in France and restoring by main Force the Reformed to their pristine Splendor which was the Reason that the King as earnestly prest the separation of the Synod as if it had bin the Politic Assembly of Loâ—dun or that of Rochel Nevertheless before they broke up the Synod ordain'd three things which gave the Missionaries and Politicians fair Pretences to make loud Outcries The first was a Regulation against the Accommodations of Religion which referr'd to an Act of the same nature that pass'd in the National Synod of Mompelier 1598. where
as well to the Synod as to the Commissioner certain Letters which contain'd the same in Substance that he had said by word of Mouth to the Deputies The Chiefest Favour they obtain'd was Money to defray the Expences of the Synod but the Answer to their Papers was put off till the breaking up of the Assembly The Commissioner was very Importunate with the Synod to break up and by his Earnest insisting upon their Separation it was evident that when the Court beheld the Reformed met together in their Assemblies she was sensible of those Fears which their ancient Union had infus'd into her And indeed there were but few Reasons that could oblige the Assembly to sit any long time for they had finish'd their Business and had appointed General Deputies Which Nomination was done with Little Ceremony The Marquiss of Clermont was continu'd and they joyn'd Marbaud with him for his Associate They had also written to the King upon this Subject and he had promis'd according to Custom to consent to the Nomination after the Synod was broke up Nevertheless the Marquiss of Clermont remain'd alone in the discharge of that Employment and neither Galand who had been appointed by the Preceding Synod nor Marbaud who was nam'd by this were any way concern'd with him But the Synod no way satisfi'd that the Court refus'd to answer their Paper and foreseeing also that so soon as they were once separated their Complaints would be forgot were desirous to take some Course that they might not lose the Benefit of all their Cares To that purpose they thought it proper to joyn Particular with the General Deputies who might solicit the Answer which was promis'd to their Papers and chiefly take care of three Articles which they jud'gd to be of Greatest Importance The Commissioner was desirous to thwart this Resolution and pretended that a Deputaion of that Nature was a Politick Affair with which an Ecclesiastical Assembly had nothing to do to meddle without Express leave But the Synod stood their Ground and having given him to understand that there was nothing of Debate and consultation that their business only was to appoint certain Deputies to carry on an Innocent Solicitation a Liberty which the Laws allow to all men whatever and that it could not be displeasing to the King who had frequently suffer'd the same freedom they then went on with their Design and Deputed Angle and Gigord two Ministers of Great Credit and Authority in their Provinces La Militiere who had already render'd himself very troublesome by his Projects of Re-union address'd his writings to this Synod where they were condemn'd And as for the Behaviour and Writings of Daille who had refuted this Visionary they were approv'd And they wrote moreover to that same Reconciler that if within six Months he did not manifest his Repentance by an Authentick Declaration to the Consistory at Paris they would no longer look upon him as a Member of the Reformed Churches But the Greatest Good this Synod did the Reformed was their appeasing the Dispute which had made a great noise for some years upon the Subject of Vniversal Grace Nothing was ever known more Hot and Violent then the Fury that appear'd in the pro ' and con of this New Controversie And it had certainly Compleated the Ruin of the Churches had not the Synod found out a way to calm the Tempest by obliging the contending Parties to a Mutual Toleration The next Year was not remarkable for any Great Events that concern'd Religion However the Reformed were not a little griev'd to see a Declaration set forth by the King upon the 10th of February by which he put his own Person and his Kingdom under the Protection of the Blessed Virgin The Memory of which was to be perpetuated by a Picture set up on purpose in the Cathedral Church of Paris commonly call'd Nostre Dame This Declaration contain'd in Substance those Expressions which the Reformed persisting in their Sentiments touching the Object of Religious Worship could not choose but look upon as Impious And that alone was enough to blast all their Hopes of expecting any thing Favourable from a Prince whose Zeal for his own Religion transported him to that excess of New Devotion For to put his Kingdom under the Portection of a Creature tho' never so Holy never so Divinely Priviledg'd was evidently to vow the Extermination of those whose Principles enjoyn'd 'em to believe that in seeking such a Protection the King renounc'd the Protection of God The Duke of Rohan dy'd this Year of the Wounds which he receiv'd at the Battel of Rhinseldt Which at first were not lookt upon to be Considerable or at least there was no body that ever beleiv'd they had been Mortal Which was the reason that some People believ'd 'em to have been poyson'd and that the Jealousies the Court had of him had given an occasion to lay hold of this Opportunity to send him out of the World without any Noise And the Chyrurgeons that were sent him under pretence of being serviceable to him were thought to be the Instruments of this black Piece of Politicks 'T is said that the Dukes Journey into Germany to serve the King in the Duke of Weimar's Army whither he went against the Good liking of the Court and where he would not accept of any Command was the Effect of some secret Projects the Consequences of which some People were much afraid of Some believ`d that he held a Strict Corespondence with the Deceas`d King Gustavus that they had joyntly labour`d the Re union of the Lutherans and Reformed that their Intreagues in Order to it had produc`d the Act of the Synod of Charenton That in pursuance of that Act the Reformed in Gustavus`s Army had receiv`d the Communion after the Lutheran Manner and the German Lutherans who serv`d under the the Duke of Rohan in the Country of the Grisons had receiv`d after the manner of the Reformed That those two Aspiring Genius`s built Great designs upon this Re-union that the Death of Gustavus procur`d by those who were desirous to stop the Torrent of his Victories disappointed all the Duke's designs Therefore it was giv`n out that he was about to revive the same Corespondencies with the Duke of Weimar a Prince of vast Courage great Experience and accompted one of the Bravest Captains of his Time Nor had the Duke of Rohan any more then one Daughter who was a transcendent Match and therefore `twas verily thought that he had a design to the end he might procure a stricter Union with the Duke to give him his Daughter in Marriage But that Prince was by no means belov`d in France because he had nothing that was Low or Base in him and for that he knew how to render himself redoubted Besides he had settl`d himself in Germany by his Conquests and this Year he took Brisac more upon his own account then upon the Kings A Person of such
The Three first imported Assurances to uphold 'em in the free Exercise of their Religion and Discipline in all the Exercises of their Academy their Colledge and their Schools in the Possession of their Churches Church-yards Goods Houses Rents Revenues Foundations Donations and Legacies which belong'd or might belong at any time either to their Churches or their Poor in the Administration of those Estates and in the Enjoyment of such Funds aâ— the Prince was wont to supply 'em withall for the wholâ—… both ordinary and extraordinary Expence which might depend upon the Exercise of their Religion or for the subsistance of their Academy and the Poor The Direction also of those Contributions was left to a Council which should always consist of Reformed Members The Fourth promis'd to support that Council in all the Power and Authority deriv'd from the Primitive Institution of it The two next that follow'd discharg'd the Persons and Estates of the Reformed from whatever might be burdensome to their Consciences so far as to enfranchise their Houses from all manner of Vassalages and Subjections that should be contrary to their Religion The Seventh dispens'd with the Lawâ—… observ'd by the Roman Church in reference to degrees oâ— Kindred relating to Marriages The Eighth gave Liberty to all those who had a desire to embrace the Reformed Religion to do it freely and receiv'd 'em under the Princes Protection provided they took the Oath of Fidelity as other Citizens did The Ninth confirm'd all the Marriages sâ— solemniz'd or to be solemniz'd by Ecclesiastical Persons that had quitted the Roman Church without any Necessity of having recourse to any other Declaration then what was contain'd in this Edict The Tenth asserted the Right of Parents and allow'd to Fathers all that Authority which Nature had given 'em over their Children and ordain'd that Pupils whether Catholicks or Reformed should have Tutors and Guardians of their own Religion Disinheriting of Heirs upon the Accompt of Religion was forbid and declar'd null and void by the Eleventh Article The Twelfth permitted the Printing and Selling of Religious Books provided they had been viewed and examin'd by the Council of Moderators The Thirteenth maintain'd the Reformed in their Right to have a Printer The Fourteenth and Fifteenth â—ave the Reformed free Admittance into all Employments even those of the Civil Government and Shrievalty and promis'd â—hat regard should be had in the supplying of those which â—ere vacant to the Number Affection Quality and Merit of the Reformed Which was in truth to assure 'em the possession of all Employments The Three last concern'd â—he Execution and Stability of the Edict that the Prince gave his Faith and Word to see it perform'd No less deâ—…ring that his Successors should make the same Promise upon their coming to the Dignity that if they were Minors their Mothers or Guardians should promise in their Names after they had first receiv'd the Oath of Fidelity from their Subjects and that the Princes themselves should renew that Engagement when they came to be of Age that all the â—hief Officers at the time present should swear to see it fulfill'd and that all that should come to Preferment afterwards should take the same Oath and that the Edict should be read and publish'd in all Places where it was necessary Which Publication was first made upon the 10th of September in a General Assembly of the Officers Burgesses and all the Inhabitants in presence of the Duke himself Upon the 18th in the Soveraign Council and in the Chancery upon the 29th of the same Month. This Edict was also styl`d in the Preface Perpetual and Irrevocable nor was the Religion of the Reformed call'd the Pretended Reformed but barely contrary to the Catholick However this Edict as express and clearly couch'd as it was and tho' set forth before Sedan belong'd to France has prov'd no more Inviolable then that of Nantes For upon the fifth of September it was that France beheld the Birth of the King now Reigning who has cancell'd all these Edicts Both the King and Queen had made great Vows to the Holy Virgin that they might obtain Children by her Intercession For which reason it was that they acknowledged the Succour which she had afforded 'em in answering their Supplications by sending most magnificent Presents to the Lady of Lorretto and among the rest a Statue of the New-born Prince of Massy Gold carri`d by an Angel in Silver the whole of a very considerable Value Certainly the Reformed had great reason to fear the Effects of such a Gross Piece of Superstition as this and that a Prince for whose Birth they were beholding as they said to the Intercession of Saints would be bred up under a great Antipathy against those who lookt upon the Doctrine of Intercession as a dangerous Error Moreover the Birth of this Prince occasion'd the Creating of several Guilds or Fraternities and multiply'd the Nobility by ennobling Letters which were so couch'd that there was not any Clause inserted to hinder the Reformed from the reaping the Benefit of 'em to the end the Joy might be general So that in regard they met with a thousand Obstructions in the Common ways to advancement there were many Persons that took out these either that they might have the Liberty to follow their Trades or to ennnoble themselves But the Favours that were done 'em did not extend very far nor was the Year 1639. more propitious to 'em then the Rest The Cardinal had embroyl'd himself with the Court of Rome and he had a mind to make himself fear'd in that Court as he was dreaded over all the rest of Europe There was nothing talk`d of in France but of creating a Patriarch and by that means of breaking off all Corespondence with the Holy See Searches were made by the Cardinals order what Quarrels the Popes had with the Kings of France and Memoirs of every one were drawn up Therefore to prevent least these Contests should prove a Scandal to the Catholicks there was no other way then to let 'em see that there was nothing of good intended by 'em toward the Reformed Therefore the Privy Council by a Decree of the 18th of January renew'd their former Prohibitions to the Inhabitants of Villiers le Bell forbidding their Assemblies to sing Psalms and say their Prayers to work upon Holy days or to bury their Dead but at such Hours as were permitted But the Parliament of Grènoble went farther and rammass'd together in one long Decree of the 21th of March whatever several other particular Regulations contain'd of most incommodious and offensive to the Reformed It forbid their Ministers to preach in the Houses of the Lords of the Mannor in their absence or of their Wives and Families or in the absence of the ordinary Chaplain It forbid the Ministers to preach out of the Places where they were settl'd and all others as well as Ministers to obstruct the sending of Children Pupils and Servants
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
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
Benefit of a Monk's place assign'd a Soldier grown impotent and maim'd in the King's Service Attempts upon Paternal Authority A Declaration establishing a Commissioner in Colloquies and Synods National Synod He is admitted in Obedience to the King They send Commissioners to the King Who return laden with Orders The Court inclin'd to favour the Arminians Writing of la Milletiere Answer of Tilenus Imposture advanc'd against the Synod of Dort The Obedience of the Synod of Charenton Assignations ill paid Proposals made to the Synod by Galand A new Deputation to the King Oath of Union A Citadel at Mompelier Maniald opposes it in the name of the Reformed Presages of a new War Death of Du Plessis The Commissioners make the condition of the Reformed worse at Gergeau At Remorentin At Tours Commissioners in Poitou and Saintonge He raines the Câ—â—rches under appearanceâ— of Honesty Paper of the Clergy of Saintes The Malice of several Articles Chalas's Complaisance Enterprises of the Catholics at Rochel 1624. Cardinal Richlieu's Maxims Proposals for marrying the Prince of Wales to the Infanta Fruitles Marriage concluded upon Conditions advantageous for the Catholics Process of the City of Pamiers against the Bishop Cavils upon the Right of pursuing the Payment of Legacies and Donations Troubles renew'd Enterprise of the Dukes of Rohan and Soubise Discover'd Soubise gets possession of the King's â—â—â—p◠〈…〉 thought lost and disown'd by every body 1625. The King's Declaration upon this occasion Soubise disingages himself Which changes the Face of Affairs Politic Devotions of the Duke of Rohan Seconded by his wife Manifesto of the Duke of Soubise Dispute about the Privileges of Rochelle Peace discours'd of Cruelties of the Royal Army in Foix. Soubise prospers A Paper of the Reformed presented to the King Answers to their Paper The Reformed not satisfi'd The Court recovers her Affairs An Assembly of the Clergy They give money with an ill will The King excepts Rochel out of the Peace Which retards the conclusion of it Particular Laws which the King would impose upon that City A powerful League against Spain The Cardinal's Designs Of which he is forc'd to defer the execution The English Embassadors importunate for the Peace of the Religion Rochelle accepts the Conditions somewhat mollify'd Why the Court exacted such Writings All Pass'd by the Embassaders of England In 〈…〉 England was â—… A new Edict confirming all the rest France plays foul with the Confederates Jealousie between the Cardinal and Buckingham The Cardinal's blind-side Enterprises of the Catholics of the Queen of England's menial Servants Conspiracies against the Cardinal The Cardition of Rochel A National Synod The Commissioners Instructions Answers of Chauve the Moderator Masuyer'â— faâ—se dealing The Catholics trâ—â—â—â—â— They would have involv'd the Ministers in the Duke of Rohan's Treaty with Spain Article of the Synod of Realmont for the discovery of such as had a hand in the Treaty Which offends all the Charâ—â—es And is disown'd iy the National Synod Leave to nominate General Deputies From which the Synod desires to be exempted And send Deputies to the King Remonstrances of the Deputies Maniald dyes Hardi put in his room The Deputies return with the King's Answers The Synod names General Deputies The Synod names General Deputies Divers Resolutions of the Synod Castres refuses to receive the Duke of Rohan's Deputies A Memoir of Grievances Burial of Gentlemen who were the Founders of Churches Legacies given to the Poor adjudg'd to Hospitals A Marriage of a Knight of Maltha vacated The Assembly of Notables 1627. Forc'd Conversions in Bearn And at Audenas At St. Amand Extraordinary Acts of Injustice Innovations at Mompelier The Foundation of Mompelier Declaration against Foreign Ministers Rochel still blockt up England declares war The United Provinces send succonr to France The English land in the Isle of Ré The Irresolution of the Rochelois Court Letters intercepted A nice Question Whether Huguenots were to be suffer'd in the King's Army Rochel Resolves Rochel publishes a Manifesto The Duke of Rohan does the same thing Intrigue of Galand against the Duke 1628. Defeat of the English A second English Fleet of no use to Rochel A third Fleet more useless A Treaty of Peace with England and the surrender of Rochel This City refuses to submit to the English â—â—e Fleet of Spain at the Siege of Rochel Rejoycing among the Catholics Cruelties Insulting and Executions Personal Enmity between the Prince of Condé and the Duke of Rohan A new Sedition at Lion against the Reformed The pretended Conversion of a Sick Person that fell into a Phrensie Decrees and Declarations against the Duke of Rohan The King and the Cardinal take a Journey into Italy 1629. The Siege of Privas the Inhabitants of which were betray'd Cruelties exercis'd upon the City The pretences of the Catholics Conversions of soldiers tak'n Pris'ners A Declaration upon the taking of Privas A Treaty of the Duke of Rohan with Spain An Assembly permitted at Anduse and translated to Nimes Peace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Edict of Grace Contents of the Edict The King's Letter to Queen Mother about the Peace The Duke of Rohan retires Montauban reduc'd Assembly of the Clergy Particuâ—â—â— Acts of Injustice 1630. Mlssiionaries The Duke of Rohan accus'd of the Ruin of the Churches Cavils about the Right of Exercises The Bishop of Valence persecutes the Foreign Ministers The Original of the Injustice done upon occasion of the Annexes New Seeds of a Civil War 1631. The Queen withdraws into Flanders Alliance with Gustavus King of Sueden Projects of Reunion With which the Cardinal closes Intreagues of Joseph the Capuchin caught he Pro. How the Synods were to speak Inclinations of the Ministers And the People Difficulties Petit's Projects And Melitiere Difference in their intentions Issue of the Project in general The truth of this Project A National Synod The Commissioners Speech Ministers suspected by the King excluded from the Synod The Answer to the Commissioner's Speech The Commissioner in vain opposes the Union of the Churches of Bearn with the rest Several Proposals of the Commissioner The Synod sâ—nds Deputies to the King Papers The favourable Reception of the Deputies The Nomination of General Deputies The Reformed fear'd at Court â—mportant Resolutions of the Synod Annexes Exercise forbid Consulships The Puâ—… Liberty opprâ—… 1632. Civil War of the Duke of Orleans The Bishops of Languedoc side with him The Reformed faithful The Duke of Rohan serves the King in Italy Affairs of the Annexes in the Dauphinate referr'd to four Commissioners Consulship of Alets Exercise forbid A shameful Cavil An inconsiderate Curiosity of two Scholars The Death of Gustavus 1633. Great Troubles in the Kingdom Advice of the Commissioners of the Dauphinate upon the Annexes Re-establishment of Privas Treatise intitl'd The Eucharist of the Ancient Church Exercises forbid Partiâ—-Colledges 1634. The Continuance of the Public Oppression Pretensions of France to all Europe Answer'd The Duke of Sulli made a Marshal of France Decrees upon several occasions Preâ—â—â—â—â— adjudg'd