of townes exempt frō garrisons and the poore townes eased of subsidies and impositions that it now beareth His maiestie therefore warneth and exhorteth his subiectes in this case to look about them and not to perswade themselues that this war can be finished so soone and easily as is giuē out but rather to weigh and déepely to consider the euent and ineuitable consequence thereof and not to suffer their reputations to be stained their weapons to seeme as an instrument to the destruction of their countrie and to the increase of the power of the enimies fherof who onely wil triumph and reape benefite by the miseries calamities of the same For while we blinded in our own benefit shall warre one vpon another and be succoured in outward appearance but in effect fed on by their assistaunce they shall raigne prosperously and establish their power They complaine also of the diuision of the offices and houses of this said realme saying that such are put from them as haue better deserued of the estate and his Maiesties seruice A weak foundation and of no great honor to build the ruine and saluation of so florishing a realme whose kings were neuer bound to vse the seruice of one more then of an other For there is no law that bindeth him therto except as the benefite of his seruice requireth Neuerthelesse his said Maiestie hath at all times greatly honored and cherished the princes of his bloud as much as any of his predecessors and hath shewē a will to preferre others into credit honor and reputation by vsing their seruice for so oft as his said Maiestie hath leuied any power or army he hath stil by preferring them committed the charge and cōduct of the same vnto thē and if we do cōsider who at this present haue the greatest and most honorable roomes in the realme we shal find that they ar said to be the authors of such cōplaints haue cause rather to commend his maiesties goodnesse and fauor then any way to complaine depart frō him But say they they haue but the name and in effecte are depriued of the prerogatiues depending vpon their saide offices which other men do vsurpe Before we iudge of the merite of such complainant it were good to sée déepely to looke into the rightes and preheminences to euery office attributed and then to consider how and by whome they haue bene administred in the time of the kinges predecessors A matter which his Maiesty hath often propounded when he hath endeuored to set order in euery mans office and had long since bene determined and decided if those that haue interest therein had accordinge to their dueties aided and assisted him as they ought But shal it therefore be now saide and so left to the posterity that priuate interests and discontentations should be the cause of troubling a whole estate and replenishing the same with bloud and desolation This is not the way that should bee taken in séeking to redresse those abuses which they complaine of sith they haue to do with so mercifull a Prince who still would preuente the inconuenience and willingly would accept of all méete and cōuenient remedies which may be offered to him for the redresse of the same Let therfore the weapons be laide downe forrein power countermanded this Realme deliuered out of that daunger which now it is like to incur by this rising taking of armes and in lieu of proceeding in this way which is full of stumblinge blockes miseries and both priuate and publike calamities let the path of reason duely be sought out vndertaken followed whereby Gods holy Church the enemy of all violence may more easily be restored to her power and beauty and the Nobility satisfyed and contented as it ought to be For which of the kings his Maiesties predecessors haue in effect shewed any token of more loue or cherishing the order thereof then his Maiesty hath done as not being contented with preferring it before the aunciente and principall honors and degrées of this realme but hath expresly erected and made others new which he hath consecrated to the illustration of true nobility as hauing excluded and depriued all other estates from the same His Maiesty will also effectually prouide with al speede for the ease of his people like as he hath already very well begon and wisheth to his power to continue Moreouer notwithstanding the Captaines of this warre do promise that their power and forces shall liue so orderlye that all men shall like thereof and withall that they exhorte the cities and towns not to admit any garrisons yet doe wee sée that the souldiours when they haue gathered together do already commit infinite oppressions and excesse also that they haue placed forces in those townes and holdes which they haue seised vpon to the end to rule and keepe them in their obedience Besides al this it is euident that many vagabonds idle persons will as hath bene accustomed rise vnder the name coulor of either part who will commit infinite sacrileges and mischiefes In such sort that in lieu of stopping the daunger which threatneth the destruction of Gods seruice and all good men as by this warre they do promise it will replenish the whole realme withall impiety and vngodlines They doe also geue out that their liues are in daunger and that that is one of the causes that moueth them to rise No man can thinke that this complaint any whit concerneth hys Maiesty aswell in respecte of the good and fauorable vsage that at all times they haue receiued at his hāds as also in that his said Maiesty is naturally so farre frō all sort of reueng that the person is yet vnborne that can iustly complaine of him for the same notwithstanding whatsoeuer offence against him committed wheras contrarywise there are many that hauing proued his clemency may serue for a perpetuall remembrance to the posterity In consideration her of his said Maiesty desireth and exhorteth the Captaines of the sayd risings spéedely to disperse their bandes countermaund the straungers and depart from al factions and as his kinsmen and seruants to repose assured confidence in his loue and good will which in so doing he offereth to continue vnto them by honoring them with his fauour and making thē partakers of such honours as he is accustomed to bestow vpon men of theyr calling to ioyne and revnite themselues vnto him to the ende duely and effectually to prouide for the restoring of Gods seruice and the common wealth of his said subiectes in suche order as shal be thought méete and cōuenient whereto his Maiesty is willing to herken He also warneth all Ecclesiasticall persons and gentlemen his subiectes wel to weigh the consequence of these stirres sincerely to embrace his entent and to beleue that his minde alwayes hath and still shall tend to do good to all and harme and displeasure to none He doth therfore most straightly command them and all other his subiectes to depart and withdraw themselues from all leagues assotiations and to revnite themselues vnto him as nature duety and their owne wealth and health doth bind them to the ende that if these commotions do procede any farther which he beseecheth the goodnesse of allmighty God not to permit he may haue assistaunce and succor in their counsaile weapons and commodities to the preseruation of the Realme wherevnto is linked the Catholike Apostolike Romish Church therein their honor reputation persons famelies and goods Offering and promisinge vnto them in so doing the continuance of his fauor with recōpence for their fidelity and seruice And vnderneath Giuen at Paris in the moneth of Aprill 1585. Signed HENRY And vnderneath De Neu-fuille
grieuous exactions not only matching those which the calamitie of warre had brought in whereof in tyme of peace nothing was euer remitted and abated but other infinite oppressions growen from day to day at the appetite of their vnbrideled wils There was some hope when through the often complaints and exclamations of the whole Realme the conuocation of the generall Estates was published at Blois which is the auncient remedy to heale these domesticall woundes and as it were a conference betweene the Princes and their subiectes to enter into a reckoning together of the due obedience of the one part and due preseruation of the other which is the groundworke and foundation of the state of Fraunce But of this troublesome and great assembly there sprung nothing but the authorizing of the mischieuous counsell of some who fainyng themselues to bee good Politikes shewed themselues in effect to bee euill affected to the seruice of God and of the weale publike who were not contented to remoue the King of his owne nature most enclined to godlinesse from that holy and most holesome determination which at the most humble request of all the States he had made to reunite all his subiects to one Catholike Apostolike and Romane religion to the ende that they might liue together in the auncient faith wherein the Realme was established and tooke encrease to become the most flourishing of all Christendome which then might haue bene executed without any daunger and in a maner without resistance Notwithstanding they to the contrary did perswade him that it was necessary for his seruice to abate and diminish the authoritie of the Princes and Catholike Lordes which with great zeale had oftentimes put their liues in hazard vnder his ensigne for the defence of the sayd Catholike religion as though the reputation which they had gotten by their vertue fidelitie in stead of honour should bring them in suspition So likewise the abuse which by litle and litle had taken hold and encrease afterwardes is come vpon vs like a floud and downefall with so violent a fall that the poore Realme is euen at the point to be ouerwhelmed without any hope of helpe For the Ecclesiastical order notwithstanding the declarations and petitions which they haue exhibited is at this day oppressed with tenthes and extreme exactions to the despising and contempt of holy orders and of the Church of God wherein now all things are polde and pilde The Nobilitie is greatly aggrieued driuen to pay exactions in despite of their priuiledge if that they will bee contented to liue that is to say if they will either eate drinke or apparell themselues The townes Officers of the Crowne and common people shorne so neere by the daily paying of new impositions which they doe terme inuention of Finances that there remayneth nothing els but to inuent some good way how to remedy this mischief For these iust causes and considerations Wee Charles Cardinall of Bourbon the next Prince of blood to whome it belongeth especially to take in hande the safegarde and protection of the Catholicke religion in this Realme and the coÌ„seruation of the good and loyal seruants of his Maiestie and the Estate being assisted with the Peeres Cardinals Princes Prelates officers of the Crowne gouernours of Prouinces Noble men Gentlemen captaines of Cities and others which make the best soundest part of this Realme hauing wisely considered the cause mouing vs to vndertake this enterprise and taken the aduise and counsell as well of our good friends well affected to the weale and quiet of this Realme as of learned and wise men and such as feare God whome wee woulde not offâ—nde heerein for all earthly treasure Wee declare and make it knowen that wee haue all sworne and made a holy vowe to keepe our selues in armes to the ende that the holy Church of GOD may bee restored to his former dignitie and the true and Catholicke religion established that the Nobilitie may enioye as they ought their freedomes wholy and entirely and that the people may be released the newe impositions abolished and all exactions taken away which haue bene made since the reigne of Charles the ninth whome God absolue That the Parliaments may be restored to the fulnesse of their authoritie entier soueraintie of Iudgement euery one for his iurisdiction and all the subiects of the Realme mainteyned in his gouernment charge and office the which may not be taken from them but in such case as by law is established and by ordinarie iudgemeÌ„t that all such money as is leuied of the people may be employed to the defence of the Realme and to such purposes as is appointed and that from hencefoorth the generall Estates may be assembled freely and without any practise as oft as the state of the Realme shall require the same with free libertie to euery man to exhibite their complaints as they shall finde themselues agreeued These things and others shall be more particularly prouided for at the assembly of the Estates which shall be held in armes for the reformation of the whole Realme for the maintenance of the good Subiects and punishment of the euil and for the suretie of our persons who haue bene sought and namely within these few dayes thorow secret conspiracies should haue bene made away vtterly ouerthrowen as though the safetie of the Estate did depend of the ruine of good men and of those which so often haue ventured their liues for the preseruation of the same hauing nothing left vnto vs more to warrant vs from hurt to auoyde the sword which alreadie hangeth ouer our heads but to haue recourse to those remedies which wee haue alwayes abhorred Whereto notwithstaÌ„ding we woulde not haue trusted for the onely perill of our liues if the subuersion of the Catholique Religion in this Realme had not bin vnseparably ioyned withall for the preseruation maintenance wherof we would neuer feare nor refuse any danger making full reckoning that we cannot chuse a more honorable Tombe then to die for so iust and holy a quarrell both to discharge our selues of the duetie bond which we owe as good Christians to the seruice of God as also to auoide as faithfull and good subiectes the ouerthrowe of this Estate which ordinarily doeth followe such alteration Protesting that it is not against the King our Soueraigne Lord we doe take Armes but for the defence of his person his life and his estate for the which we doe sweare all of vs to expose and spend our goods and liues to the last drop of our bloud with the like fidelitie that we haue shewed heretofore And to lay downe our weapons so sone as it shall please his Maiestie to cause the perill to cease which doth threaten the ruine of the seruice of God and so many good men the which we most humbly beseeche to procure with al speede testifying to euery man by good and true effects that he is a most christian king hauing the feare of
his Maiesty that none can iustly doubt of his entent concerning the same whereby it appeareth that they néeded not to haue practised his subiectes gathered thē into armes or leuied forein power wherwith to induce him to accepte of such motions as they pretende to exhibite concerninge the same in case they were iust possible and commodious to his subiectes In respect of the said religion his said Maiesty before his comminge to the crowne hath aduentured his owne life and with most happy successe fought for the propagation of the same also since that it pleased God to cal him to the gouernement of this realme he hath oftentimes to the like purpose hazarded his estate and imployed his best meanes together with the liues and wealth of his good subiectes and seruants whereby they may presently be persuaded and beleue that no man who so euer either in this realme or els where of whatsoeuer professiō hath more harty care of religion and godlines then alwaies he hath had which by Gods grace he will still continue Moreouer although after the example of the late king his brother with diuers other Christian Princes whose Empires dominions haue ben afflicted with sondry opinions of the said religion his Maiesty by the prudent aduise of the Quéene his Mother my Lord the Cardinall of Bourbon with other the Princes Officers of the Crowne and Lords of his Counsaile who then were about him hath pacified such troubles as were amonge his subiectes by reason of the saide religion vntill it might please God to revnite them into the bosome of the church It doth not neuerthelesse therefore follow that his zeale and deuotion so farre as concerneth the glory of God and perfect restoration of the Catholike Apostolike Romish Church should bee any whit changed or diminished rather now then he shewed it to be during the said troubles Yea so farre is he there froe that his Maiesty wisheth euery one to vnderstand that he concluded the said peace purposedly to trye whether by the meanes therof he might revnite to the Church of God such his subiectes as the iniquity and libertye of the time may haue separated therefrom as hauing so long founde euen with the daunger of his owne person and hazard of his estate price of the blood of so many Princes Lordes gentlemen and other his subiectes as haue died during the said troubles and by reason of the same since the originall of the discorde for matter of religion moued rooted in the sayd realme during the minorities of the late kings his bretheren and his to the great grief of the aforesaid Lady the Quéene their Mother cannot be determined by force of armes without the destruction of his subiectes and imminent daunger of his realme A matter wherein hée was resolued vppon notice giuen him that all sortes of people were wearied and ouer toyled with the long course of the said troubles as also that he wanted meanes any longer to supply the charges of such warre which shoulde not haue happened if in the assembly of the generall estates of this realme holden at Bloys the deputies there present had aswel prouided for a leuy of a stocke of quoyne wherewith to prosecute the said warre to the end as was requisite and his Maiesty did require as being induced through feruent zeale to the Catholike Religion they could desire him vtterly to prohibite the exercise of the said Religion pretended reformed whereof did ensue the resolution there taken and sworne vnto which since his Maiesty did endeuour to put in execution nether should they now haue any pretence to complaine no not they who neuertheles do publish abroad that euery man was sone depriued of that glistering beame of good hope which before by reason of the resolution taken in the said estates did shine vpon them Besides that it is vnséemely and not lawfull for the subiect to iudge of his kinges actions were it but in respecte that many times he is ignorant of the motiue causes of his commandementes which for the most parte are more pregnant then those that are apparant manifest to all men neither is it for any to doe but onely God the searcher and cleanser of the harts and dealings of Princes who knoweth the causes that did most enforce his said Maiesty to the conclusion of the said peace As being certaine that if he had any longer deferred the doing thereof this realme had bene replenished with forreine power and diuers partialities and new diuisions which would haue bene very preiuditiall to the estate His Maiesty did therefore graunt the sayde peace to the end to withstand all the aforesaide inconueniences to preuent the effectes therof and to try better remedies and not as they alledge to ground or establish any heresie in the realme for such a thoughte neuer entred into the hart of so Christian and good a Prince as his Maiesty is who hauing foreséene felte found the difficulties aforesaid haue thought it his duety the rather to harken to the said pacification to the end by meanes thereof to bée the better able to graunt to his subiectes the enioying of that reliefe whervpon they hoped in other the articles propounded and required at the assembly of estates aforesaid for the cōmon wealth of the said realme peace vnion being a fore-running and necessary meane to the establishing of good lawes and reformation of manners Herevnto hath his Maiesty continually euer since entended as is euident by the edictes and rules therevpon made which he hath endeuored to put in effect and cause to bee obserued and although his entent hath not béene executed according to this desire the same hath redounded to his greater grief and hath happened peraduenture asmuch by the negligēce of some of his officers and sleightes of his euill willers as also by such footing and aduantage as impiety corruption and disobedience haue set in this realme during the said warres Through this peace diuers townes replenished with Catholike Citizens inhabitants are deliuered from the souldiers that had seazed vpon them The exercise of the Catholike Apostolicall and Romane religion is renewed in the same as likewise through his Maiesties diligence and care it is in most townes of this realme yea euen in those wherein the professors of the saide religion pretended reformed haue euer since the troubles beene and yet are the stronger and from whence both before and euer since his comming to the Crowne the said exercise hath beene banished The face of iustice also hath thereby appeared though not altogether so fully and wholy as were to be wished yet at the least in such estate as for the most part it hath shewed force sufficient to comfort the good and make the bad afraide The Prelates clergy are reentred into their Churches the enioying of their goods whereof they had béene spoiled The Nobilitie and Gentlemen might liue safe in their houses and not be subiect to such expenses as in the time of