The kinges Edict or decree vpon the pacification of the troubles of his Realme made the .xxiij. of March .1568 Conteyning also the confirmation of another like Edict of the .xix. day of March .1562 THE Copie whereof is also added the better to satisfie the Readers And also certayn requestes made by the Protestants with the Kings answeres therevnto All nowe translated out of French The .19 of Aprill .1568 Imprinted by William Seres The Kinges Edict vpon the peace making of the troubles of hys Realme Made the .xxiii. day of March 1568. Conteyning also the confirmation of an other like Edict of the .xix day of March 1562. CHARLES by the grace of God King of Fraunce To all them that shall sée these present letters gréeting Considering the great harmes and calamities chaūced by the great troubles and warres wherwithall our realme hath bene of late and is yet at this present much afflicted and foreséeing the desolation whiche might hereafter happen if by the grace and mercy of our Lord God the sayde troubles were not spéedily pacified Wherefore to make an ende thereof and to remedie the afflictions that doe procéede by them lykewise to restore and cause our subiectes to liue in peace rest vnitie and concorde as it hath bene alwayes our intention We let you vnderstande that after we haue thervpon taken the aduise and counsell of the Quene our right déere and right honourable Ladie and mother And of our right déere and right welbeloued brethren the Duke of Anjou oure Lieutenant generall And Duke Alenson Princes of our blood and others great and notable personages of our priuye Counsaile By their aduice and counsayle for the causes and reasons aforesayde and others good and great considerations therevnto vs mouing We haue in confirming againe so muche as néede shoulde be oure Edict of peace making of the .xix. of March 1562. to be obserued in all and euery his points and articles as fullye as if they were from worde to word here transcribed annexed sayd declared enacted and ordeined We doe say declare euact and ordeyne we wil and our pleasure is as foloweth TO wéet that all those of the Religion pretended reformed shall enioy purely simply the said Edict of peace making and that it shall bée executed in all poynts and articles according to his first forme and content Taking away frō the same all restraints modifications declarations and interpretations the which haue béene made since the daye and date of the same vntill the daye of the proclayming of these presents AND as touching the Lordes and Gentlemen which are of the condition or estate of those which maye haue preaching in their houses according to the said Edict of peace making in assuring vs not to doe any thing preiudiciall or hurtfull to oure seruice vnder pretence and color of the said preachings and shall not abuse the same wée do take away all restrayntes aswell for their own parts as for others that wil goe vnto the said preachings MOREOVER the Lordes and Gentlemen of the Countie of Prouence being of the aforesayde condition or estate shall enioy the benefite of the sayde Edict and cause preaching in theyr houses as those of the other prouinces being of the aboue saide sort and condition and neuerthelesse as for the saide Countie and Stewardship of the said Prouence there shall none other place but that of Merindoll THAT euery one of the sayd Religion shall returne and shall be preserued mainteyned and kept vnder our protection in all their goodes honours estates charges offices dignities of what qualitie soeuer they be Notwithstanding all Edicts letters patentes decrées confiscatiōs proceedings iudgements sentences against them aswell liuing as dead giuen made since the beginning of this last insurrection execution thereof as well for the matters of Religion the reising solde or wages of straungers the gatherings of money enrolmentes of men the voiages and ambassades into straunge countries and within this our Realme before and during the last troubles by the commaundement of our Cosin the Prince of Conde as also for the armes taken for that occasion for all that is happened thereof The which we declare voide and of none effect so that notwithstanding neyther they nor theyr children heyres and others hauing cause should be any thing impeached or let from the enioying of their sayd goodes and honours nor that they should be boūd to take of vs any other prouiso or warrant then these our present letters by the which we do put their persones in full libertie discharging them of al takings of townes bearing of armes assemblies seasures and taking of our money and treasures establishmentes of iustice amongst them and iudgementes and executions therof AND to the end there should bee no doubt of the right meaning and intention of oure Cosin the Prince of Conde we haue sayde and declared and doe say and declare that we do holde and repute the same our said Cosin for our good kinsman faythfull subiect and seruant as also we do account all the Lords Knightes Gentlemen and all others inhabiting the Cities and townes cōmunalties boroughes and other places of our sayde realme country obedience y e which haue folowed succored and accōpanied him in this present warre and during these tumultes in what place soeuer it be of this our said realme for our good and faithfull subiects and seruants AND our saide Cosin shall remaine acquited discharged as by these presents signed wyth our owne hand we do acquit and discharge him of all such money as hath bene by him or by his commanndement and order leuied and taken in oure recepts generall perticuler vnto whatsoeuer summes the same may amount And in like maner of such summes as hath béene as it is said by him or by his order also raysed and taken of the communaltie Cities townes paye maysters rentes and reuenues of Churches and other by hym bestowed in the occasion of this present warre so that neither he nor his nor they that haue béene appointed by him for the gathering of the said mony the which and lykewise those which haue furnished and giuen it shall remaine acquited and discharged and the which we do acquite and discharge neuer to be in any wise examined or called to any account presently nor in time to come nor also for y e coyning of mony melting or casting of Artillarie making of Gunpowders saltpeters fortifiyng of townes demoliments made for the sayd fortifications by the commaundement of the same our said Cosin in all the townes of our Realm and country of our obedience and generally of al other demoliments and ruines so that there shall be no pretence made for any recōpence therefore in time to come wherof the bodies and inhabitants of the same shall remaine in like maner discharged we do discharge them therefore by these presents AND further there shall none of our subiects complaine nor commence any action for any fruits reuenues arrierages
1568. signed by the king in his Counsell ROBERTET and sealed with the great seale of the saide Lorde in yelow Wax vpon a single labell confirming the Letters Patents giuen by the saide Lord at Saint Germane in Lay the viij of October M.D.lxi. Signed by the king the Lord Chauncelour present De Laubespine sealed as aboue and verified in the Court of Parliament at Paris the .xviij. day of Februarie in the saide yeare it is permitted vnto Robert Stephanus his ordinarie printer to print or cause to be imprinted to sell and to depute this present Edict of late for the pacyfying of the troubles of this kingdom so that none other Librarie nor Imprinter may print them nor cause to be imprinted without his permission consent within three Monethes after his sayd imprinting thereof vpon paine for such as shall offend therein to confiscate and forfait all that which they may haue imprinted and to fine at pleasure An Edict or decree and declaration made by the king Charles the ninth of that name vpon the peace making of the troubles of Fraunce the xix day of March 1562. Printed at Paris by Robert Stephanus the kinges printer 1562. With Priuiledge of the sayd king CHARLES by the grace of God king of Fraunce vnto all those that shall sée these presents gréeting Euery man hath séene and knowē how it hath pleased the Lord God within these fewe yeares to suffer y t this our Realme should be afflicted and wersed with many troubles seditions and tumultes amongst our subiectes styrred and raised by the diuersity of opinions and scruple of their consciences for y e matter of Religion For remedie whereof and that this fire shoulde not kindle further there hath bene heretofore made diuers assemblies and conuocations of the most great and notable personages of our kingdome and by their good counsayle and aduise set forth manye Edictes and ordinances according to the behoofe and neede which was offered thinking therby to preuent the euill and to go before the inconuenience hanging therevpon Which by vs considered serching al possible remedies how be it that thankes be to God our forces be great and that in apparance we want no men Seing neuerthelesse that all the euill and inconuenience which commeth of this warre turneth to the decay and hurt of our Realme and hauing erperimēted to our great losse such remedie to be neither fit nor conuenient the sicknesse being hidden within the bowelles and mindes of our people We haue thought that the best and most profitable which we might applie therevnto was as a Prince most christian whereof we beare the name to haue recourse to the infinite grace and goodnesse of our Lorde and with his good helpe to finde the meanes to pacify by our gentlenesse the sharpnesse of the sickenesse In calling againe reconciling the willes of our said subiects to an vnion to the acknowleging which they all owe vnto our obedience to the honour of God welth helth and conseruation of this our Realme In prouidinge such meanes as may reteyne and content our sayd Subiectes hoping that the time the fruit of a good holy frée and generall or nationall counsell and the vertue of our ripe age nere comming led and directed by the hand and grace of our Lorde who of his goodnesse hath alwayes had care and garde of this Crowne shall bring hereafter the certeyne and true establishing vnto his honour and glory rest and tranquilitye to our sayde people and subiectes Whervpon we haue well willed to take the good prudent councell of the Queene our right dere and right honourable Lady and mother of our right dere and right welbeloued Cosins the Cardnal of Bourbon Prince of Conde Duke of Mountpensier Prince of the Roche-sur-Yon Princes of our blood Also of our right dere and right welbeloued Cosines the Cardnall of Guyse Duke of Aumale Duke of Mountmorency Cunstable Pairs of Fraunce Duke of Estamps Marshalles of Brissack and of Bordillon Lordes of Andilot of Sansack of Sipierre and others good and great personages of oure priuie counsell whiche all haue béene of the aduice and founde it reasonable for the common wealth of this our Realme to make and ordeyne that which foloweth We giue to vnderstande that we according to their good counsell and for the causes reasons and considerations abouesaid and others good and weightie therevnto mouing vs haue sayde declared constituted and ordeyned doe saye declare constitute and ordeyne we will and our pleasure is That from henceforth all Gentlemen which are Barons Chastelains high Iusticers and Lords holding ful fee of Hawbert and euerie one of them maye lyue in their houses wherein they shall dwell in libertie of their consciences and exercise of the Religion the which they doe call reformed with their familie and subiectes which fréely and without anye constraint would be thereat And the other Gentlemē hauing sée also in their houses for them and their families only So that they dwell not in the Townes Boroughes and Villages of the Lords high Iusticers besides our self In which case they may not vse in the said places any exercise of the sayd Religion except it be by permission licence of their said Lords high Iusticers none otherwise That in euerie Baylywick Stewardship and Gouernement holding place of a Baylywick as Peronne Montdidier Roy and Rochelle and others of like nature resorting barely and without anye meanes in oure Courts of Parliaments We shall ordeine at the request of those of the Religion a Towne in the Suberbes whereof the exercise of the sayde Religion may be vsed of all those of the resort which would goe vnto it and none otherwise nor else where And neuerthelesse euerie one may lyue and dwel ouer al in his house fréely without being examined or molested forced or constrained for the matter of hys cōscience That in all the townes wherein the sayde Religion was vnto the .vij. of this present moneth of March exercised besides the other townes which shall be as it is saide perticularly named of y e sayd Baylywicks and Stewardships The sayde exercise shall be continued in one or two places within the sayde Towne such one or both as by vs shall be ordeyned Prouided that those of the sayde religion shall not vse or take or reteyne any Temple or Church of the Ecclesiasticall sort which we doe meane to be nowe remitted in their Churches houses goodes possessions and reuenues to enioy and vse them so fully as they did before these tumultes To vse and continue the seruice diuine and accustomed by them in their sayde Churches without anye maner of molestation impechment or let nor also that they may chalenge any recompence for the ruines hurtes which haue béene done therevnto We meane also that the Towne and resort of the Preuostie or Marialtie and Vicountie of Paris shall be and remaine exempted of al exercise of the saide Religion And that notwithstanding those which haue their houses within
God 1562. and in the thirde yere of our reigne Signed CHARLES And there vnder By the King in his Counsaile Signed ROBERTET And sealed in yelowe Wax wyth a duble labell of Parchement appending Red published and registred in the hearing of the kings Attorney generall in the presence of the right mighty princes and Lords the Cardinall of Borbon the Duke of Montpenseir thervnto specially sent by our Lorde the most christian king In the Parliament of Paris the .xxvij. day of the month of March in the yere of our Lord. 1562. Signed DV TILLET In like maner red published and registred in the hearing of the kinges Attorney generall in the Chamber of his accountes the yeare and daie abouesayde Signed FORMAGET Red published and registred in the Courtes of helpes hearing and consenting the kings Attorney generall Signed LE SVEVR Red proclaymed and published with sounde of Trumpet and publique proclamation in the accustomed places of the Citie of Paris by the Kings maiesties Heralts assisting and being present the Lorde Lieutenant ciuile and others the Thursedaye the .xxvij. of May. 1563. The extract of the Kings Priuilege BY the kings Maiesties specyall Priuilege Yeuen at the Campe neere Orleance the .xxv. day of Marche 1562. signed by the King in his counsaile by the Laubespine and sealed with the great seale of the said King in yelow Wax vpon a single labell confirmatiue of the Letters patents of the sayde Lord Yeuen before at Saint Iermane in Lay the .viij. of October 1561. signed by the King the Lorde Chaunceler being present and Laubespine sealed as aboue verified in the Court of Parliament at Paris the .xviij. day of February in the sayde yeare It is permitted to Robart Stephanus his Printer to imprint or cause to be imprinted solde and to depute this present Edict of late made for the peace making of the troubles of this Realme So that no other Printers whatsoeuer may print the same or cause to be imprinted without licence permission and consent for three monethes after this his impression vpon paine vnto the offenders to confiscate and forfeit all that which they may haue imprinted and to fine at pleasure ¶ Certaine Articles of the requestes made in the behalfe of the Protestants vnto the King with his Maiesties Aunsweres therevnto ¶ The same was deliuered y e .4 day of March M.D.lxviij by the Lords y e Chastillon Count of the Rochfoucault of Bouchauanes deputies of the right noble Prince of Conde Lordes gentilmen and others of the religion preteÌ„ded reformed which in treating of peace haue required to be presented to the King to haue therevpon expresse and special answers and prouident remedies And to serue vnto those abouesaid of the religion pretended reformed in all places and euerywhere as nede shall be to the ende that vpon the Execution of the Edict of peace making there shoulde nothing be left in doubt of his Maiesties intention and that the Gouernours Lieuetenants Generalles of Prouinces Courts of Parliament and other Iudges shoulde not be ignorant of euery one of the sayd Articles presented to his Maiestie After they haue bene by him seene in his counsell it was aunswered according as it shalbe hereafter sayd The first Article HIs Maiesty may consider if it maye please his highnesse that here before his subiects haue sustained great troubles charges in suyng for the chaunge of the vnméet places which were giuen them against the Edict whereby they could find no fruit for the comfort of his Subiectes wherefore it may please his Maiestie himself to ordeyn such places as may be more commodious in the Suburbes of Cities and Townes according to the Edict The Aunsweres made by the Kinges Counsaile And first to the â—foresayde Article Gyuing the king to vnderstand the places which they pretend vnmeete and requiring to be chaunged his maiestie wyll prouyde for them accordingly The second Article Because those of the sayde Religion do desire chiefly that the Edict which shal be whereof dependeth the common welth and helth may be sincerely obserued they haue most humbly besought his Maiestie as yet they do that after the proclayming thereof the Princes and Lords of his couÌ„saile officers of hys Crowne and gouernours of his Prouinces doe promise and sweare by his commaundement and aucthoritie and in his owne handes to continue the execution and intertainement thereof euery one in his charge not thereby paragoning or comparing any one to the greatnesse of his Maiestie but bicause they haue experimented that the example in forbering of the great shall doe muche harme in the matter and therefore to refraine them binde them further by their sayd promisses and othe The Aunswere The king after the proclayming of the Edict shall cause the princes and Lordes of his counsaile officers of his crowne and Gouernours of Prouinces to put their othe into his hands to obserue and continue the execution and entertainment of the saide Edict euery one for his owne respect or part and in his charge The third Article They beséeche further that the same which shall be done may be purely and sincerely obserued without making hereafter any declaration or interpretation thervppon and that these wordes may be added Vnto the tyme that God may giue vs the grace that our subiectes may be revnited and brought into one religioÌ„ Not vnderstanding as they say by this article that the sayd revniting and bringing into one may come vnto them from else where then from the grace of God and of the benefite and goodnesse of the kinges Maiestie The Aunswere The King doth graunt them that these wordes shall be added Vnto the tyme that God may giue vs the grace that our subiects maye be revnited into one religion The fourth Article Which Maiestie they do supplie most humblie seing that the same doth promise to cause to be administred vnto them good and sincere iustice that it may be permitted vnto them for this effect to haue recourse to put requestes vnto his said maiestie when as there maye be done vnto them any wrong and oppressions The Aunswere The king graunteth will alwayes thinke it good that they shall put vnto him their requestes and griefes wherevpon he will cause to bee administred vnto them good and sincere iustice The fift Article As touching the conferences of the Ministers they doe require that séeing the same is but for the kéeping and containing of the Ministers and others in their dutie and to rule the doctrine and discipline of their religion wherein there is contayned no iurisdiction that it may please the King for that they are necessarie exercises and the which as they doe pretende are permitted by his Edictes to graunt the same vnto them And to cause such letters to be set forth dispatched in such formes as they may be assured in that behalfe The Aunswere The king doth graunt it them always prouided that when they will vse their sayde conferences they shall aduertise the Gouernour of the Cuntrie
or hys Lieutenant in his absence who shall commit some person to be there to the end there should be traycted of none other things then of the doctrine and discipline of the religion The .vj. Article And for schooles they doe require that the children may be publikely and openlye instructed taught and priuatelye in perticuler houses The Aunswere The King graunteth and permitteth to instruct their children in the places appointed in the Baylywikes and stewardships for the exercise of the sayd religion and in like maner in the other Cities Townes and places in the which the exercise of their Religion was the vij of March 1562. and hath been alwayes continued And in lyke maner that euery one of them may cause their children to be taught in their houses The .vij. Article Shewing also that the little obedience which some officers haue giuen vnto the Kings Edicts and the boldnesse wherof they haue vsed and further hereafter will vse toward those of the religion if it would not please him to prouide them of present remedy that to this end it wold please him to ordein in euery parliament a Chamber made and gathered of those which shall finde themselfe most quiet and least offended vnto which only it shal priuately but to al others appertain for such time as it shall please his Maiestie to ordeyne for the knowledge of the matter of religion the obseruations of the Edicts of peace in which chamber all those of the sayd religion may when they séeme good cause to be sent all their processe and matters depending in the sayd Courts The Aunswere The king can not make any alteration in the estate and order established in the lawes but he wyll prouyde to cause it to be administred with such sinceritie equalitie to all his subiects indifferently that euery man shall haue iustice The .viij. Article They haue also declared bicause that those which are out of the resorte of the Court of Parliament of Paris cannot haue assured accesse nor withdrawing vnto their houses before that the Edict be published at the Parliaments in the seats resortes of the which they are dwelling that it would please his Maiestie to ordein a certaine time to make the sayd Proclamation and the meanes whereby they may safelye retire them selues vnto their houses there to lay downe their armes The Aunswere It shall be commaunded and enioyned vnto the parliaments to publish the Edict foorthwith which shall bee promptly by a man specially sent and to the kings Attorneyes and Generals to procure and require the sayde publication neuerthelesse in this meane time it shall bee ordeyned vnto them and especially vnto the Gouernours of Cuntries to prouide and bee with all their power helping that those of the sayde Religion may retire themselues safelye into their houses And there to remaine in all safety and to leaue them in the peaceable enioying of all their goods although the said Edict were not yet published The .ix. Article They do require that it would please the King that his Emologation comprobation and allowing for the authoritie of the sayd Edict may be wihout a secret register and that the Kings Attorney be consenting therevnto The Aunswere Agreed his Maiestie meaneth that all the answeres hereaboue made vpon euerie one of the said Articles shall be hereafter obserued and kept ouer al his Realme by all his Gouernors Lieutenants Generals Courtes of Parliament other Iudges hauing to thys ende signed them with his hande and caused his Secretary of estate by name to countersigne them and doeth commaunde that a copie of the Articles be put into the handes of the saide Lorde Cardinall of Chastillon Count of the Rochefoucault of Bouchauanes to vse it at their neede Giuen the .xxiij. day of March 1568. Signed Charles And therevnder signed Fizes ☞ Neuerthelesse the malice of these dayes hath willed and the Lorde also hath by his iudgement vnknowen prouoked as we must nedes beleue with our offences and sinnes left the bridle vnto the sayde tumults In such wise as men haue armed themselues so farre forth as there is come thereof infinite murders vengeaunces robberies forcing and pillage of townes the ruyne of temples Churches battels giuen and so many other euilles calamities and desolations committed and exercised in dyuers places that this euill continuing and seing alredy so many straungers in our sayde Realme knowing also the preparatiues made for the bringing in of more the euident ruyne of the same to be incuitable Considering also the great and vnreparable losse which to our great grief we haue had since the beginning of these tumults of so many Princes Lords Knightes of our order great Capitaynes and men of warre which is next vnto the hand of God the true susteyner pillar defence and protection of this our Crowne and an argument vnto our neighbours which shoulde be of an yll will to pearce and inuade vs as we haue béen and are threatned thereof