stint without preiudice to other former arreareages for the which there shall be order set downe as much to the ease of euery man as may be 12 That the accompts made at Paris during the troubles by any that were accomptable before the officers of accompts there resident shall not be subiect to the reuiew but onely in case of ordinance 13 We meane not notwithstanding in these presents to comprize any thing committed in forme of thefte or without aduowe In consideration whereof we haue permitted and doe permit vnto euery man all free libertie by course of law to seeke their remedie as they shall thinke good as also we doe except all such as shall be found guiltie of the horrible murder committed on the Parson of the late king our deere Lord brother or of any conspiracie against our life As also all trespasses and transgressions punishable betweene men of one selfe faction We doe therefore commaund our deare and trusty Chauncellor the officers of our Crowne all Dukes and Peeres of Fraunce and all the Lords of our Counsell and the ordinarie maisters of requests of our house to the same end by vs appointed and deputed to cause these presents to be read published and enrowled in the registers of our courte of Parliament in our Chamber of accompts in our courte of Aides in our generalls of Moneys and in all other places expedient Willing and commaunding that the contents of the same be inviolably kept and obserued and that notwithstanding whatsoeuer oppositions appellations edicts declarations arrests iudgements letters precepts prohibitions and other matters hereto contrarie to all which in respect hereof we haue and by these presents doe derogate together withall derogatories of derogatories thereunto contrarie For to the end the same may remaine firme and stedfast for euer we haue to these presents Signed with our hand set our Seale giuen at Paris in the Moneth of March the yeare of grace 1594. and of our Raigne the fifth Thus Signed HENRY And somewhat lower By the King RVZE And on the side VISA And Sealed with the great Seale vpon Lables of Silke in greene Waxe The King hath ordained and doth ordaine that vpon the fould of these letters shall bee set downe Read Published and Registred in the hearing and at the desire of his Attornie generall Geuen at Paris in the great Chamber of Parliament there sitting the Lord Chancelor with the officers of the Crowne the Dukes and Peeres of Fraunce The Counsellers of his Counsell of estate and some of the ordinarie maisters of requestes of his house the 28. day of March 1594. Signed LVILLIER The King hath ordained and doth ordaine that vppon the fould of these letters shall bee set downe Read Published and Registred Geuen at Paris in the Chamber of accompts the Lord Chaunceler ther sitting with the officers of the Crowne the Dukes and Peeres of Fraunce The Counsellers of his counsell of estate and some of the ordinarie maisters of requests of his house the 28. of March 1594. Signed LVILLIER The King hath ordained and doth ordaine that vppon the fould of these letters shall bee set downe Read and Published Registred in the hearing and at the desire of the Kings Attournie generall Geuen in the Chamber of Aides at Paris The Lorde Chaunceler there sitting with the officers of the Crowne the Dukes and Peeres of Fraunce the Counsellers of his counsel of estate and some of the ordinarie maisters of requestes of his house the 28. of March 1594. Signed LVILLIER It is ordained that vpon the fould of the said letters shall be set downe Read Published and Registred Geuen at Paris in the Chamber of Moneyes by the Lords of Riz and Pontcarre the Kings Counsellers in his counsell of estate and Commissaries thereunto by his Maiestie deputed the 28. of March 1594. Signed LVILLIER The Kinges Letters Patents for the reestablishment of the Court of Parliament of Paris Translated out of the French copie Printed at Paris by Frederick Morell by E. A. HEnry by the grace of God King of Fraunce and of Nauarre To all them to whome these present Letters shall come greetinge Whereas through the mishap of the dissention raysed and continued in this our Realme by the wicked driftes of some forreine Princes our enemies and other our rebellious subiectes as well in the time of the late King our most honourable Lord and brother as also since our comming to the crowne sondry townes haue beene withdrawen from the obedience due to our saide Lord and brother and to vs among the which our good towne of Paris hauing bene occupied by our ennemies and manifestly endaungered to the intollerable yoake and shamefull dominion of the Spanyard hath perpetrated many thinges contrary to the obedience due to their lawfull King where remayned an infinite number of Citizens some for feare of the losse of their goods others for that they could not abandon such persons to whose preseruation by nature they were bound others for want of meanes and ability to liue elsewhere and some vppon a desire to doe seruice to vs and to the whole common-wealth of this Realme Among whome sondry Officers of our Court of Parliament did there make their residence and continued the exercise of the Office to them committed which before the troubles they had executed in our saide Parliament for the which our saide Lord and brother hauing conceiued against them most iust indignation did inhibite them and therevpon made certaine declarations since published in the Court of Parliament transferred to Tours The like whereof and vpon the like cause and occasion our selues continued as declaring whatsoeuer their decrees iudgements and ordinances to bee voyde and of none effect Howbeit in respect of the causes contayned in our Edict which we caused to be published in our great Chamber of Parliament we of our especiall grace full power and authority royall haue extinguished and abolished all matters committed in our saide good towne of Paris during and by occasion of the troubles As also wee haue thought it requisite and necessary for the benefite of our seruice and common quiet to the end so good a towne should not remaine destitute of the exercise of iustice royall for the preseruation of the good and punishment of the wicked vntill wee may reassemble the whole body of that our said Court by the returne of our trusty and welbeloued the members of our said Court of Parliament transferred to Tours Also the Chamber erected at Chalais for the exercise of Iustice whome to that end wee haue sent for that the Counsellors and other Officers of the said Court who haue had their prouisions from the kinges our predecessors haue made their residence in this said towne before the saide troubles should be restored and reintegrated in the exercise of their functions as hauing deemed the said Counsellers worthy this our fauour and grace in respect of the vertue and constancy by them shewed in sundry matters namely in the resolution
taken to make the Decree which they published and vertuously mainetained in the moneth of Iune last past against such as endeuored to alter and infringe the orders of the lawfull succession of this Realme In consideration whereof we haue taken away and disanulled and do take away and disanull the interdiction made as well by the said King as by vs against the saide Counsellers and other officers at this present in good number resident in this saide towne who after they shall haue taken the oath herein requisite in the handes of our trusty and deere Chauncelor shalbe reestablished and restored to the exercise of their Offices as by these presents we haue restored and reestablished and doe restore and reestablish them to the end after the said oath they may enioy the like honors prerogatiues rightes authorities priuileges and preeminences which afore time they had and did enioy before the said interdictions so as the said Counsellers may do and performe all actes and exercises of iurisdiction and soueraigne Iustice that appertayneth to our Parliament in as ample maner as they did or might haue done in case the saide Interdictions had neuer bene against them declared proceeding to the publication of Edictes admission of Officers soueraigne iudgements and all other expeditions and orders heretofore made in our saide Parliament Wee doe therefore commaund our most trusty and welbeloued Chauncelor the Officers of the Crowne the Dukes and Pieres of France the other Lords of our Counsell and the ordinary Masters of Requestes by vs committed and deputed that they cause these presents to be read published and registred to the ende the contentes of the same may be kept obserued and put in execution according to their forme and tenure For such is our pleasure In witnesse whereof wee haue signed these presentes with our hand and to the same affixed our seale Giuen at Paris the 28. of March the yeare of grace 1594. and of our raigne the fifth Thus signed HENRY And vpon the fould By the King RVZE And sealed with a great seale in yellow waxe The King hath ordained and doth ordaine that vppon the fould of these Letters shalbe set downe Red published and registred in the hearing and at the desire of his Atturney Generall Giuen at Paris in the great Chamber of Parliament the Lord Chauncelor there sitting with the Officers of the Crowne the Dukes and Pieres of Fraunce The Counsellers of his Counsell of Estate and some of the ordinary Masters of Requests of his house the 20. of March 1594 Signed LVILLIER The Decree of the Court of Parliament of Paris of the 30. day of March 1594. Gathered out of the Registers of Parliament THe Court hauing from the xii day of the moneth of Ianuary last sollicited the Duke of Mayenne to acknowledge that King whome God the lawes haue giuen to this Realme and to procure the Peace wherevnto he would neuer condiscend as being inuegled by the pollicies of the Spanyardes and their adherents and God hauing sithence of his infinite goodnesse deliuered this Towne of Paris out of the hands of straungers and reduced the same into the obedience of her naturall and lawfull King Hauing yeelded solemne thankes to God for this happy successe desirous to imploy the authority of the Soueraigne Iustice of this Realme to the end that by preseruing the Romane Religion we might hinder strangers vnder the false pretence thereof from seasing vppon the Estate and call agayne all Princes Prelates Lordes Gentlemen and other Subiectes to the grace and clemency of the King and to a generall reconciliation and to repaire whatsoeuer the licence of the Ciuill warres hath altered in the authority of the Lawes and foundation of the Estate Rights and Honours of the Crowne the matter deliberated vppon in the saide Court all the Chambers assembled Hath declared and doeth declare all Arrestes Decrees Ordinances and Oathes giuen made and taken sithence the nine and twentieth of December Anno 1588. in preiudice of the authority of our kings and Lawes of the Realme to be voyde and wrested by force and violence and as such hath reuoked cancelled and annihilated them and ordayned that they shall remayne abolished and suppreued And especially hath declared and doeth declare whatsoeuer hath bene done contrary to the Honor of the late King Henry the third aswell during his life as sithens his decease to bee voyde Doeth prohibite all persons to speake of his memory otherwise then with honor and reuerence And moreouer ordayneth that information shall be taken of the detestable parricide committed on his person and extraordinarily proceeded against those that shall be found guilty thereof The sayd Court hath reuoked and doeth reuoke the power heeretofore giuen to the Duke of Mayenne vnder the quallity of Lieftenaunt Generall of the Estate and Crowne of Fraunce It prohibiteth all persons of what estate or condition soeuer to acknowledge him in this calling To yeeld him any obedience fauour comfort or ayde vpon paine to be punished as offendors guilty of high Treason And vppon like payne hath enioyned the sayd Duke of Mayenne and other Princes of the house of Lorrayne to acknowledge King Henry the fourth of that name Kinge of Fraunce for their Kinge and Soueraigne Lord and to yeeld vnto him the obedience and seruice to hym due And to all other Princes Prelates Lordes Gentlemen Townes Comminalties and particular persons to forsake the pretended partye of the Vnion Whereof the Duke of Mayenne hath made himselfe head and to yeeld vnto the Kinge seruice obedience and fidelitie Vppon payne that the sayde Princes Lordes and Gentlemen bee degraded from theyr Nobilitie and declared Peasantes both they and their posteritie with confiscation of body and goods razing and ruinatinge of Townes Castells and places which shall bee infringers of the commandemente and ordinaunce of the Kinge Hath cancelled and reuoked doth cancell and reuoke whatsoeuer hath beene doone decreed and ordayned by the pretended Deputies of the assembly holden in this Towne of Paris vnder the name of the Generall Estates of this Realme as voide and done by priuate persons chosen and wrought for the most parte by the Factious of thys Realme and partakers with the Spanyarde and hauinge no lawfull power at all Doeth prohibite the sayd pretended Deputies to take vppon them this qualitie or to assemble themselues any more in thys Towne or else-where vppon payne to bee punished as disturbers of the common rest and Traytors And doeth enioyne those of the sayd pretended Deputies which yet at this present are in this Towne of Paris to withdraw themselues euery of them in hys house there to lyue vnder the obedience of the King and to take the Oath of fidelitie before the Iudges of the places Hath also ordayned and doeth ordayne that all processions and solemnities ordayned during the troubles and by reason thereof shall cease and in steed thereof the two and twentieth day of March shallbe for euer kept holy and vpon the same day shal be a generall procession according to the accustomed manner Whereat shallbe assistant the sayd Court in red Robes in remembrance and for to giue thankes to God for the happy deliuery and reduction of the sayd Towne to the Kinges obedience And to the end no person pretend cause of ignorance of this present decree hath ordayned and doth ordayne that it shall bee read and published by sound of Trumpet and publike crye throughout all the chiefe quarters of thys Towne of Paris and in all the Courtes of this Iurisdiction and to this end the same shall bee printed and at the diligence of the Kinges Atturney Generall shall be sent to all his Substitutes Whome it enioyneth to see the same executed and thereof to certifie the sayd Courte Done in Parliament the thirtith day of March 1594. Read and Published by sound of Trumpet and Proclamation throughout the principall quarters of this Towne of Paris the next day being the last of the sayd moneth Subscribed De Villoutreys FINIS
Salt taxes imposed vpon the same and all other impositions and leuie of Coyne as wel in the said towne as neere there about all treaties and forraine imposition exacted vpon wares Marchandize Victuals casting of Ordinaunce and Bullets making of Poulder Saltpeter with other instruments of warre coyning of mony practisings leuies of Souldiers conducts and exployts of the same leagues negotiations and treaties either in the Realme or without sale of mooueables selling of woods either vnderwood or Timber amends booties raunsomes or any other acts of hostilitie And generally all other thinges that haue beene done wrought and negotiated after whatsoeuer forme or manner publike or priuate during these present troubles or by occasion of the same So as neither the said inhabitaunts neither any of them shall from henceforth be troubled molested disquieted or sifted in any maner or sort whatsoeuer Willing that to that effect they remaine quit and discharged and in such cases imposing perpetuall silence to all our atturnies general or any other Parsons whatsoeuer Our meaning also is and expresly we doe enioyne them that they giue ouer all Leagues treatise assotiacions practises or intelligences as well within the Realme as without that may any way be repugnant to our authoritie vnder paine to be punished as guiltie of treason Likewise for the auoiding of all occasions of quarell or debate that may arise among our Subiects we haue inhibited and forbidden and by these presents doe inhibit and forbid them any way to iniury reproch offend or prouoke one an other either by deede or word for any thing passed or during these troubles enioyning them to continue themselues and to liue quietly together as good brethren friends and fellow Citizens vnder the obseruation of our Edicts vpon paine to all offenders presently to bee punished without farther forme of law or processe as disturbers of the common quiet 4 Furthermore we will ordaine that all arrests commissions and executions of the same all decrees sentences iudgments contracts and al iudicial acts passed betweene parties of one faction and between all such as voluntarily haue gone to law as well in Soueraigne courtes in the prouostie of Paris in the presidiall Sea and in other courts and iurisdictions of the said towne prouostship and vicomptie during the said troubles shall be good and in force Neither shall there be any enquirie taken vpon executions of death that haue passed by the authoritie of iustice or course of warre and commandement of leaders Also as concerning decrees sentences and iudgments graunted against the absent of contrarie factions whether in criminall courtes or ciuill or in any the Soueraigne courtes of this Realme or the iurisdictions of the same they shall remaine voide and of none effect vpon any cause or occasion whatsoeuer Likewise all iudgements passed against the Countie Brissar in respect of the partie that he followed shal be cancelled and reuoked as also shall bee whatsoeuer giftes by vs or our predicessors of any the goods to him appertaining made or granted that in consideration of the great Loyall and most commendable seruice done to vs to the whole estate of the Realme in reducing of the good towne of Paris vnto our obedience Also as concerning all executions of death passed against any the inhabitants for any matter depending vpon the said troubles our will and meaning is that the saide executions shall be no way preiudicial to the honor or memory of the dead Also that such confiscations as our attournies haue or may pretend vnto shall take no place to the preiudice of their widdowes children and heires 5 We will and our pleasure is that all the said inhabitants that shall performe the said promises submission and Oath shall reenter into the enioying of their goods offices dignities and demaines whatsoeuer situated or being wherein we reuoke all giftes and graunts of any such things that may be preiudiciall to those to whom they did appertaine or to their widdowes and heyres 6 In consideration of seazures heretofore made vpon the goods inhearitances rents and reuenues of the said inhabitants of Paris or elsewhere within the said prouostship or vicoumpt who shall fulfill the said promises and submissions in whatsoeuer place the said goods be situate or remaining they shall remaine voide And we doe graunt to the saide inhabitants ful and perfect recouery of the said seazures and haue acquitted and restored vnto them whatsoeuer may be vnto vs due in respect of the same notwithstanding whatsoeuer graunts that may bee passed which we haue cancelled and reuoked and by these presents doe cancell and reuoke without respect of any promises or bondes not discharged made by the labourers or fermers as well to the graunts as to the Commissaries and Fermers in law which are and shall stand voide Also as concerning Debts or credit due to the said inhabitants our pleasure is that with respect of gifts that therof may haue bene granted al which we haue and doe cancell and reuoke they may compell or cause to bee compelled all such as are to them bound by bond promise Obligation or setting ouer to pay in like forme as they might haue done before the said troubles 7 All prouisions of Offices graunted by the Duke of Mayenne shal remaine voide and of no effect Howbeit such as haue obtained the said prouisions by the death or resignation of such as haue beene of their owne faction except the estate of presidents in our Soueraigne courts shall bee continued in the saide Offices by our letters of prouision which to that end shall be dispatched vnto them without paying any thing as also shall be continued in like forme all new Officers by vs erected in matter of salte that haue purchased their prouisions of the Duke of Mayenne which also shall remaine voide and of no effect 8 Such as by the Duke of Mayenne haue bene promoted to benefices not consistoriall being within the saide Cittie voide by death shall bee continued in the same by taking of vs their dimissories necessarie whereby such as they haue had from the Duke of Mayenne shal rest voide and of no effect 9 In respect of such the inhabitants as were not in the towne at the yeelding of the same wheresoeuer they were or might be they shall enioy the like benefit as others that were presēt in case within one month after the publication of these presents they doe come in and make the said submissions and promise to liue vnder our obedience 10 All such inhabitants as vnder our Pasports shall depart the towne and betake them into any other parts of our obedience bearing them selues modestly and committing nothing repugnant to the fidelitie they owe vnto vs vpon their submissions and promises afore mentioned shall enioy their goods without trouble or molestation 11 For the ease of the saide inhabitants during this present yeare the Debters of set rents shall not be compelled to paie more of their arreareges quarterly then the yearely