the death of the deceased King Henry II our most honoured Lord and Father-in-law upon the occasion of the said Religion tumults and troubles since happening as also the execution of the same Judgments and Decrees from henceforward cancelled revoked and annulled and the same we cancel revoke and annul And we ordain that they shall be razed and taken out of the Registers Office of the Courts as well soveraign as inferiour And we will and require also to be taken away and defaced all Marks Footsteps and Monuments of the said Executions Books and Acts Defamatory against their Persons Memory and Posterity and that the places which have been for that occasion demolished or razed be rendred in such condition as they now are to the proprietors of the same to enjoy and dispose at their pleasure And generally we cancel revoke and null all proceedings and informations made for any enterprise whatsoever pretended crimes of high Treason and others notwithstanding the procedures Decrees and Judgments containing reunion Incorporation and Confiscation and we further will and command that those of the Reformed Religion and others that have followed their Party and their Heirs re-enter really and actually into the possession of all and each of their Goods LIX All Proceedings Judgments and Decrees given during the troubles against those of the Religion who have born Arms or are retired out of our Kingdom or within the same into Cities and Countries by them held or for any other cause as well as for Religion and the troubles together with all Non-suiting of Causes Prescriptions as well legal conditional as customary seizing of Fiefs fallen during the troubles by hindring legitimate Proceeding shall be esteemed as not done or happening And such we have declared and do declare and the same we have and do annihilate and make void without admitting any satisfaction therefore but they shall be restored to their former condition notwithstanding the Decrees and Execution of the same and the Possessions thereof shall be rendred to them out of which they were upon this account disseised And this as above shall have like place upon the account of those that have followed the Party of those of the Religion or who have been absent from our Kingdom upon the occasion of the troubles And for the young Children of Persons of Quality abovesaid who dyed during the troubles We restore the Parties into the same condition as they were formerly without refunding the expence or being obliged for the Amerciaments not understanding nevertheless that the Judgments given by the Chief Judges or other inferiour Judges against those of the Religion or who have followed their Party shall remain null if they have been given by Judges sitting in Cities by them held which was to them of free access LX. The Decrees given in our Court of Parliament in matters whereof the cognizance belongs to the Chambers or Courts ordained by the Edict in the year 1577. and Articles of Nerac and Flex into which Courts the Parties have not proceeded voluntarily but have been forced to alledge and propose declinatory ends and which Decrees have been given by default or foreclusion as well in Civil as Criminal matters notwithstanding which alligations the said Parties have been constrained to go on shall be in like manner null and of no value And as to the Decrees given against those of the Religion who have proceeded voluntarily and without having proposed ends declinatory those Decrees shall remain without prejudice for the execution of the same yet nevertheless permitting them if it seem good to them to bring by Petition their Cause before the Chamber ordained by the present Edict without that the elapsing the time appointed by the Ordinances shall be to their prejudice and until the said Chambers and Chanceries for the same shall be established verbal appellations or in writing interposed by those of the Religion before Judges Registers or Commissioners Executors of Decrees and Judgments shall have like effect as if they were by Command from the King LXI In all Inquiries which shall be made for what cause soever in matters Civil if the Inquisitor or Commissioner be a Chatholick the Parties shall be obliged to convene an assistant and where they will not do it there shall be taken from the Office by the said Inquisitor or Commissioner one who shall be of the Religion and the same shall be practised when the Commissioner or Inquisitor shall be of the said Religion for an assistant who shall be a Catholick LXII We Will and Ordain That our Judges may take Cognizance of the Validity of Testaments in which those of the Religion may have an interest if they require it and the appellations from the said Judgments may be brought to the said Chambers ordained for the Process of those of the Religion notwithstanding all Customs to the contrary even those of Bretagne LXIII To obviate all differences which may arise betwixt our Courts of Parliaments and the Chambers of the same Courts ordained by our present Edict there shall be made by us a good and ample Reglement betwixt the said Courts and Chambers and such as those of the Religion shall enjoy entirely from the said Edict the which Reglement shall be verified in our Courts of Parliaments and kept and observed without having regard to precedents LXIV We inhibit and forbid all our Courts Soveraign and others of this Realm the taking Cognizance and judging the Civil or Criminal Process of those of the Religion the Cognizance of which is attributed by our Edict to the Chambers of Edict provided that the appeal thereunto be demanded as is said in the 40. Article going before LXV We also Will and Command for the present and until we have otherwise therein ordained that in all Process commenced or to be commenced where those of the Religion are Plaintiffs or Defendants Parties principals or Garantees in matters Civil in which our Officers and Chief Courts of Justice have power to judge without Appeal that it shall be permitted to them to except against two of the Chamber where the Process ought to be judged who shall forbear Judgment of the same and without having the Cause expressed shall be obliged to withdraw notwithstanding the Ordinance by which the Judges ought not to be excepted against without cause shewn and shall have further right to except against others upon shewing cause And in matters Criminal in which also the said Court of Justice and others of the King 's subordinate Judges do judge without Appeal those of the Religion may except against three of the said Judges without shewing cause And the Provosts of the Mareschalsie of France Vice-Bailiffs Vice-Presidents Lieutenants of the short Robe and other Officers of the like quality shall judge according to the Ordinances and Reglements heretofore given upon the account of Vagabonds And as to the Houshold charged and accused by the Provosts if they are of the said Religion they may require that three of the said
discouraging reports of the Digue which had abated the courage of the men and have since obstinately hindered in Council the employing of the Vessels which were for the Mine and which was the only means of opening the Digue That he in particular had lost them all by his obstinate Communication with the other Party though they spared not to remonstrate the consequence thereof and that after the Army appeared to treat there was no more hopes left for them each desiring rather to have the Quarrel decided by Composition without danger to him than by fighting where he might be slain That having then these just reproaches against him it ill became him to complain of those that he had ruined and was the cause of all whereof he accuseth them It was notorious to all that the City had given proof of a miraculous and not to be parallel'd Constancy and were left by them to dye by thousands for expecting the performance of the word of their King their Master and the relief that he had promised them that the Succours arriving after so long expectation they saw them remain a whole Month making such feeble Attaques as seemed to be in jest leaving Famine to finish her last spoiles adventuring the City to be taken away by their first Attaque as considering their feebleness and small number it had indubitable been had the Enemy made the least Attempt That if in the end they did capitulate they knew 1628. October it to be after they saw their last Morsel and after they knew that Montague had designed their reduction and was gone to consert it in England from whence it was to be doubted whether he could return so soon as he promised Hereupon they resolved since it behoved them to render and not to act any longer as they had done to accept a Capitulation which at least would conserve their lives Sieur Vincent called Heaven and Earth and all honest men that were present to witness if it were not unjust and inhumane to lay the blame of this occasion upon them thereby to ravish them of the sole Consolation left them in their misery and so to leave nothing und one that might aggravate their sufferings instead of endeavouring to defend them who have witnessed a Constancy which Posterity will think a Prodigy or hardly believe it The General who carried fair to Sieur Vincent acknowledged the truth of that which he said and seeing him transported with grief stayed the Discourse and restrained Montague who in great passion demanded reparation for this discourse and so left the Company This passing the 31. Octob. the Sieur Vincent conferring the same day with the Duke of Soubize and the other Rochel-Deputies who remained there touching the French in the English Army and what course they should take They agreed that it was best to assemble them and communicate the stipulations for them to the end that those that would might lay hold of the Grace which was obtained for them and acquainted the General with it who approved of it declaring that having no Commands from his Majesty but for their 1628. October good and ease if they esteemed it best for them to return home he would not hinder it and accordingly being aboard Captain Bragneau Sieur Vincent made known to them what had passed causing the Kings Declaration to be read to them which they had obtained in their favour adding what he had understood from the General as to that which concerned them to the end they might participate with them This was the cause of a long Contestation among them some inclining to return and others said they could not trust to the promises that had been made Sieur Vincent's advice being thereupon desired he represented to them that considering the different Sentiments which he found them in he could not judge it in his power to satisfie all That it was true that those who shewed diffidence wanted not apparent reason for it but in his opinion there was more than enough to assure him that the Treaty had been made by the Intercession of the Cardinal who was very jealous of his word that fear of it ought to proceed from some great profit which would redound from the breach of it as there can be none at all for Rochel with its Priviledges being now given up as the price of our Lives Estates and Liberty those remaining in the Ruines are not other ways considered than as other private persons of the Religion in the Villages of Bries that an evil Treatment is not to be feared but with reason to expect favour seeing Montauban and the other Cities hold out yet so that the usage of Rochel will be a President of hope or fear to them As to himself they knew that he would be well received if he returned into England 1628. October and would find advantageous means of subsisting there but he believed it to be his duty in Charity to his Fellow-Citizens to submit to the same Conditions with them and that with more reason they to whom he spoke ought to do the same who returning into a strange Country would be reduced to Alms and lose their Estates on this side but concluded that each was to do as he should think best but it seemed to him that those that should return for England would follow ill counsel The greatest part yielding to these Reasons resolved to take the benefit of the Declaration but the next morning the first of November there were some that changed their minds That which passed aboard Captain Bragneau being come to the knowledge of the English some represented to the General that if they parted with the French they should be so weakned as not to be able to execute the Enterprises they designed amongst which there was one upon Brouage not to be acted until their return when they shall have need of their Conduct all along the Coast even unto the Channel or Narrow Seas because they had more knowledge therein than they had Above all that it would concern the Honour of their King that being under his Banner they should make a Treaty without him nor ought they to ratifie it but leave the thing entire to his Majesty The Council being assembled it was hereupon resolved to carry all the French and even the Sieur Vincent to give an account to the King of what he had done in the Treaty The General having sent for him aboard acquainted him with it to which he answered that 1628. October if they detained them they should protest against the Violence and that besides their general complaint for not relieving them but suffering their City to perish they had done them this particular injustice to expose their Estates as a Prey to those who henceforward would have them in their disposition That the City of which they were and for which they had acted not being any more but lost thorough want of being relieved in time by his Majesty the Treaty made with him had no
though our frequent relapses into the same Crimes can give us no hopes other than by the sole consideration of our present resentment and our extreme passion for giving testimony to your Majesty that you shall not have henceforward any Subjects more faithful and obedient than we This Protestation that we now make you is from your City of Rochel in which King Henry the Great your Father the honour of whose amity and kindness we can never loose the memory did always find a great affection to his service they having had the honour to serve him at other times in his Retreats and Residence The City protesteth to your Majesty all Fidelity and Obedience the execution whereof taking away the remembrance of our Rebellions they hope your Bounty after you have given them your pardon will in grace and favour 1628. October lose the memory thereof since we are resolved to live and die henceforward in the obedience that we acknowledge to owe you and do vow to your Majesty there shall not be hereafter any Subjects and Servants more faithful and affectionate to your service than those of the City of Rochel The King made answer in these words I pray God that what you say be from your hearts and not from the necessity you are reduced unto I am not ignorant that you have been always very malicious and mutinous and have deserved a severe Chastisement but I will return good for evil I pardon you your Rebellions be for the time to come good and faithful Subjects to me and I will be to you a good Prince and if your actions be conformable to the Protestations you make me I will keep my Promise with you They excused to him the Mayors not coming with them to render to him in Person his most humble submission and homage saying that according to Custom he was to remain in the City to receive his Majesty there and either cause a piece of the Wall to be beaten down or take down one of the Gates according as it should please his Majesty to order his Entry All which being pleasing to the King he sent them back well content Being returned into the City the same Evening they delivered the Articles sealed with the Great Seal to the Mayor and Council and told them that the King had assured them that all that he had granted them should be effectually kept and that the would not do wrong to any person nor sâ—ffer the Hâ—nour of Women or Maids to be violated 1628. October and that he would cause to be observed so good order among the Souldiers that they should be therewith content And further commanded that they should assemble in the morning the Nobless Captains Officers and Souldiers as well French as English to be ready at eight in the morning to go out of the City according to the Capitulations because at nine a Clock the Regiment of Guards and that of Swisses should enter and said further that he understood that every one of the City was to carry their Arms into the Town-Hall The thirtieth in the morning all was without delay executed but it was a great astonishment to the Kings Troops to see the remainder of twelve Companies of French Souldiers which they raised in the beginning of the Siege reduced to sixty and betwixt four and five hundred which the Duke of Buckingham left reduced to sixty two men the first took part where they pleased without being blamed and the others were conducted to the English Army The same day about nine in the morning the Duke of Angoulesme the Marshal Schomberg and the Sieur Marillac entred with a moyety of the Regiment of Guards and that of Swisses by the Gate de Coigne of which they took possession as also of all the other Ports places of Arms Towers Ramparts Cannons Magazins and Munition placing Guards and Centinels in all the Corners and principal Streets and at the same time as had been done in the Camp made Proclamation thoroughout the City by the King and the Duke of Espernon Colonel of the French Infantry 1628. October prohibiting all Souldiers for quitting their Ranks Posts and Courts of Guard to go into any House or touch the Honour of any Woman or Maid upon pain of being hanged and strangled They possessed themselves also of the Fort Tadon into which was put two Regiments to guard it The same day all the Quarters being marked in the City Cardinal Richelieu accompanied with many Lords and Nobless made his Entry about two a Clock after Dinner and having caused a quantity of Victuals and Ammunition-Bread to be brought he distributed them gratis and published thorough the Streets by sound of Drum that every one that was in want should fetch them for he had so much pity and compassion towards the Souldiers in seeing the Inhabitants Anatomies and half dead that in passing thorough the Streets they cast into their Arms Ammunition-Bread whose Throats they would the day before have cut indeed there was so good order established that there was no abuse committed or offence given to any person At the Cardinals entrance the Mayor would have saluted him but he would not permit it and commanded to have those discharged who marched before him with Halberts and to lay down the Function of Mayor The 31th the Cardinal commanded from the Camp some Pioners to inter the Dead which were in Houses and other places of the City 1628. Novemb. NOVEMBER The first of November betwixt two and three a Clock after Dinner the King made his Entry by the Port de Coigne mounted upon a brave Horse accompanied by the Cardinal and many Lords and Nobless with the Gens d' Arms and Musqueteeâ—s of his Guard and the remaining Companies of the Regiment of Guards and that of Switz and without the Gate there was fifty or sixty of the principal of the City who observing the directions of the Marshal Schomberg fell on their knees as he passed crying Vive le Roy Misericord the people doing the same in the City whilst all the Guns from the Forts and Ships as also from the City made themselves to be heard The Kings descent was at S. Margarets Church where after hearing Vespers and the Sermon of Father Souffran he retired in the Evening to la Leu but returning the next morning laid in the City It was observed that the King at his Entry seeing the poor Inhabitants as Anatomies who with pain and trouble for want of strength had done him honour he had compassion for them even to the shedding of tears The third of November profession was made in Rochel the King with all the Court assisting the Windows being full of people and above all of Rochellers desirous to see his Majesty of whose Entry being very jealous they found him contrary to what they feared and considered him as a good Angel come to deliver them from the deep Abyss of their misery and from the Jaws of Death The King after his entry