this Towne cannot subsist but by the meanes of comerce and trade so they already preiudged that the subsistance of the said Fort would infallibly wholy depriue and take it from them there being no great hope or apparance that Merchants would frequent a place so neere to danger much lesse hazard or entrust their goods Besides this Fort being so neere to their Towne it might facilitate their Enemies Intelligence and chalke out a way to surprise And put the worst if they were inforced to come to Armes they had therein a strong and powerfull Arcenallready to their hâ—…nds and therein all sorts of preparaâ—…iues for a Siege The Rochellers who carefully saue these consequences and likewise foresawe how ruinous they might bee vnto them dispatched their Deputies to the King at the very instant of the acceptation of the peace aswell to tender him their Submissions as to procure necessary warrants for the demolition of the Fort These Deputies find the King at Lyons of whom they are fauourably receiued and obtaine of his Councell as many good words and papers as they can desire returning thus with Letters to Monsieur Arnaud which commanded the Fort which enjoyned him speedily to free the same and to suffer it to bee demollished But he who had already the watch-word giuen him mocked at all these their dispatches and expeditions and told them plainely he knew the Kings intentions better then they all and so fortifying in stead of demollishing spared neither cost labour or diligence to aduance his worke The others haue speedy recourse to their complaints and resound very loud the indignity and disobedience offered them to the end they should not fly out before the Fort were brought to perfection they are entertaynd with good hopes and promised they shall haue Commissioners sent them to see if they haue performed and satisfied that which they neuer enioyed by the Declaration and that they vpon notice thereof would giue them all content Whiles these Commissioners adde delay to delay and purposely trauell towards Rochell by very small journeyes the Fort is finished and furnished with abondance of Ordnance and with all sorts of prouisions of Warre and Victuals guarded by a mighty Garrison and with a most exact vigilancy and care in a word in that Estate of power no longer to feare Rochell but to make Rochell feare them And then it was that arriued these long expected Commissioners who finding nothing to question or contradict with obedience wherunto the Towne was obliged to the King they without giuing them any contentment went to finish their Commission in the Isle of Ree by committing strange outrages and afflictions on that poore people and by making exact and curious researches of all that had passed during the Warre The Rochellers seeing themselues so grosely mocked and abused doe not omit neuerthelesse to reiterate their complaints to the King with such sence and passion that hee being touched therewith giues them againe good words but those of whom the performance and execurion thereof depended haue contrary intents and designes so that whiles those busily pursue their complaints these are incessantly conspiring and plotting of many Enterprises vpon the Towne Particularly of one mannaged by a certaine fellow named Courselles who being on the very point to execute it it pleased God so well to detect it that the vndertaker thereof was taken and others with whom he had conspired conuicted hereof Whereup on the Deputies of Rochell are againe in Court to demaund Iustice but they were flatly refused and told they were too importunate in their complaints which if they continued they should be imputed to no lesse then crime yea they proceeded too recriminatious and told them that they were a mutinous and factious people A deplorable condition of a Patient who is forbidden to consolidate his sicknesse by his complaints and sorrowes All these proceedings cleerely demonstrate what the designe of our Enemies was against this poore Towne But their impatience finding all these delayes and courses too long they againe resolue to make triall of their Armes so they proued great and powerfull preparations by Land but chiefely they rigge and make ready a strange Fleet at Blauet purposely at vnawares to thunder vpon this poore Towne which they hope cannot escape them Which conioyned with the other breaches of the peace euery where committed obliged the Duke of Rohan by whom it had beene treated and conducted to aduise of the meanes to diuert this great storme which threatned speedily to befall our Churches and aboue all to preuent that this Towne which so much imports vs were not taken from vs who beleeued that there was no better expedient nor truer remedy then to take from our Enemies the meanes which they had destined to ruine vs. So Monsiâ—…ur Soubize went and possessed himselfe of those Ships which were preparing against vs at Blauct and came to the Isle of Ree to free them from the yoake which the aforesaid 〈◊〉 had subjected them to and after to assay to deliuer Rochell from this Fort which so much opprâ—…ssed it Our Enemies seeing their designe so preuented and gone retrograde they make Heauen and Earth refound with their complaints as the disturbers of the publique peace It is a crime to vs not to suffer our selues to â—…e ruined and to preuent the blowe which was inâ—…ended totally to ouerthrow vs. Euery where they dâ—…file vs with blacke calumnies as if wee were the greatest Traitors of the world so that through their artificiall insinuations his most Excellent Maâ—…ie of Great Brittaine and my Lords the States that without vs they were ready to ioyâ—…e their Armes with theirs against the Common Enemy and vnder pretence to haue againe resumed that designe they draw Ships from them but employ them against vs so as presently there was a new face on our affaires hauing to doe with such powerfull Enemies and the griefe hereof was the more sensible to vs to see that our destruction approached by those from whom we ought to haue expected all ayde and assistance And yet our enemies saw they could not so soone arriue to the point and period of their pretences for although Rochell had receiued a checke yet she wanted neither courage men or prouisions The Duke of Rohan cut out businesse in other places and what â—…rt or policy soeuer was vsed there was no meares to seuer Montauban and the other Communalties from the generall cause Moreouer the King of Great Britaine and the Lords the States seeing how they were deluded and surprised would no longer permit the stay of their ships against vs which were the true motiues that made our Enemies become more flexible to the Ouertures of accommodating and aduancing the peace made by the Ambassadours of the said King and the Lords the States But yet wee must not belecue that they had changed their maximes or left off their designes to depriue vs of Rochell and all other places which remained on any tearmes or rates whatsoeuer
consequence purposely to authorise them hereafter Moreouer in that which was one of the most important points and the chiefest motiues of our resumption of Armes to wit the subsistance of the Fort before Rochell they would expresse nothing in the Declaration touching the promise made to vs for the razing and demolishing thereof And that promise which was yet giuen vs by the Ambassadour of the King of Great Britaine as also of the Lords States Generall was couched in such ambiguous and generall tearmes that it manifestly appeared the intent of those who gaue them was not to obserue and keepe them because by their artificiall prouidence they prepared the way to euasions which they haue since practised and would thereby inferre and pretend that they had promised vs nothing So that in what estate soeuer our affaires then were finding more safetic in a weake resistance then in a peace which publikely cuts our throats we therefore refused to accept it vpon those conditions which we held would infallibly draw after it our fatall ruine and destruction But at length we found our selues obliged yea we dare affirme almost enforced by the vrgent and reiterated assummons which were made vs by the aforesaid Embassadours who in the name of those they represented were established vnto vs as Pledges and Sureties that we were proceeded with sincerely and especially for the demolition of the said Fort whereof they alleaged they had expresse promise and assurance As also that this peace was not of the qualitic and nature of the precedent peaces which had beene treated onely with vs whereas this was properly not so much with vs as with the King of Great Britaine and the Lords States so as whosocuer violated or infringed it the infraction and iniury thereof was properly offred to them who would not spare either their intercession or other meanes to make good their words to vs. And although this were very preualent and powerfull to induce vs to accept and admit thereof they yet further represented to vs That our Armes was the onely obstacle that the King imployed not his against the inueterate Enemy of our Estate and Religion and why he did not so soundly wed himselfe to the affaires of Germanie with the King of Great Britaine so that whatsoeuer ill successe betided it would be iustly imputed to our obstinacy and would occasion all those who hitherto haue wished vs well wholly to abandon and forsake vs. To these important reasons we suffred our selues to be vanquished and although we then foretold them that they would finde themselues deceiued as well in the assurance which was giuen them to conferue peace vnto vs as also so to ioyne their designes and Armes with them against Spaine yet we would no longer oppose against their requests and instances but sacrifized vp our selues and all our common interests to the aduantages of the King of Great Britaine and his Allyes and so accepted the peace in the same manner and forme as it was giuen vs onely we drew an Act from the Embassadours of Great Britaine verifying all which was formerly alleaged the which because it is the foundation of the Iustice of his and our Armes it is requisite we doe here insert it VVE Henry Rich Lord of Kensington Earle of Holland Captaine of the Guard to the King of Great Britaine Knight of the Order of the Garter and Priuie Councellour to his Maiestie And Dudley Carleton Knight Priuie Councellour and Vice-Chamberlaine to his said Maiestie extraordinary Ambassadors for him to the most Christian King to all present or to come Greeting Whereas Monsieur Montmartin and Monsieur Maniaâ—…d Generall Deputies of the reformed Churches of France together with other particular Deputies of my Lords the Dukes of Rhoan and Soubize as also of many Townes and Prouinces which haue ioyned their Armes with those of the said Lords hauing made Peacewith the Most Christian King by our aduice and interuentions agreed and consented by the said Most Christian King their Soueraigne and that the said Deputies haue yeelded to and cut off many things which they esteemed to be most important for their safetie euery way conformable to their Edicts and Records which they were expresly charged to obtaine in the Treatie of peace and wherein they had powerfully persisted but that the Obedience which they owe and will render to their King and Soueraigne and the consideration and regard which they will yeeld to the expresse requests and intrauentions of the King of Great Britaine our Master in whose name wee haue exhorted and councel'd them to condescend to the Conditions offred and giuen them by the said Peace in fauour and for the prosperity of this Kingdome in particular and the content and assistance of Christendome in generall To which causes Wee declare and certifie That in the words which were heretofore giuen vnto vs for the accomplishing of the said Treatie and proffered by the Lord Chancellour at the acceptance of the peace containing that through their long seruices and continuall obedience they may expect that from the goodnesse of the King which they could not else obtaine by any other Treatie and in those very things which they esteeme the most important and pressing in conuenient time they might heare and prouide for their Supplications made with respect and Humilitie There was a cleerer interpretation brought vnto vs from his Maiestie and the Lords his Ministers by those who were the Agents and Negotiators of the peace being Men of Honour and qualitie ordained and established with power from his Maiestie and his Priuie Councell whereof the sence and meaning is That they vnderstand to speake of the Fort Lewes before Rochell and therby to giue assurance of its demolition in conuenient time and in the interim some remedies of other matters which should remaine by the said Treatie of Peace to the preiudice of the Libertie of Rochell Without the which assurance of Demolition and the ease and exemption of Garisons the said Deputies protested vnto vs that they would neuer haue consented to the subsistance of the said Fort being commanded and resolued to conserue the right of that Demolition As they doe by this present declaration with assurance that the King of Great Britaine will labour by his intercessions ioyn'd with their most humble supplications to hasten the time of that demolition whereof we haue giuen them all the royall promises and words which they can desire after we had shewed them that they might and ought to remaine satisfied and contented In witnesse of all which now formerly expressed we haue signed and sealed this present with our names and armes and haue caused it likewise to be vnder-signed by one of our Secretaries Dated in Paris the 11. day of February 1626. And so signed Holland D. Carleton with seales vnder euery signe and vnderneath by the commandment of the said Lords signed Augier This Act so dressed and finished the Deputies carry it home to their Prouinces to serue for comfort and
consolation to our poore afflicted Churches who wept and trembled at so preiudiciall a Treatie and yet notwithstanding laboured with all diligence to a punctuall accomplishment of all things which were conceded and granted by vs to the end that calumnie might not take the least hold of our actions and that there might not remaine the least shadow of pretext to vâ—…e vs as accustomed to wit not to obserue or performe any thing which is solemnly promised vnto vs. To which end the Citie of Rochell contrary to the priuiledge of frontier Townes as also of her owne in particular doth speedily demolish a notable peece of fortification which with much cost and labour it had built and ioyned to her wals They dismist the Earle of Lauall and his troops who had assisted them in their necessitie and in their places receiued the Kings Commissioners whose comming they well knew would proue extreamely preiudiciall to their liberties and their residence to their safetie and in a word from point to point with a scrupulous curiositie they discharged all that they were enioynd to performe The Duke of Rohan likewise dismissed all his Regiments and troopes which had followed him and our swords fell out of our hands in all places where we had drawne them The sorrowfull honour of warre was presently seene changed and conuerted into Bonefires of Ioy for the peace and into publike vowes and acclamations for the Kings long life and prosperity and briefely our Obedience was so intire that the most malicious research of our Enemies could finde nothing whereat either to contradict or scandalize vs. So if we had had to doe with people any way iust or charitable it had beene capable to haue molified their hearts and to haue began to deale and agitate with vs otherwise then formerly they had done and faithfully to haue perform'd what they had so solemnly promised But the onely Article of their Faith which they keepe inuiolably is neuer to keep or performe it to vs and at the very first abord they shewed vs effects therof when we came to inregister and verifie the Edict of Peace in the Parliaments and onely that of Grenoble excepted there was none of them which would absolutely doe it some obiecting one restriction and others alleaging another vntill they came to point and cauill at matters of no moment which vnprofitably shewed the peruersenesse of their auerse natures inclinations As vpon the word of Temple as if the places where we assembled to pray vnto God were Mosques and again vpon that of Ecclesiasticall Assemblies as if they were the Congregations of Pagans or the Synogogues of Iewes But yet we belieued that we had much cause to extoll the moderation of those who haue quarrelled with vs but with words It is easie for vs to suffer iniurie for the loue of him who before vs was in derision called Samaritan howsoeuer that those contemners were wholly vnworthy in the neglect but much more in the violation of the Edict custome in that nature hauing made vs so insensible as we almost disdaine to open our mouthes to complaine thereof But the ill consists in this that the greatest parts of those Modifications which haue bin vsed do derectly concerne our safeties and therefore makes the Kings Declaration wholly vnprofitable This hath beene particularly seene in the Parliament of Thoulouze whose Iurisdiction is knowne to extend vpon the greatest number of those whom necessitie had armed in these last emotions For in two onely Articles they almost anihilated all the substance of the Edict First they placed among causes reserued and execrable the demolition of the Temples of the Romish Churches expresly abolished by the Declaration of the yeere 1622 conformable herein to the Edict of Nantes and also then absolutely verified by them by which meanes the hatred which they conceiue against vs carries them from the shame to be held factious and inconstant But they proceed further for they limit the abolishing of hostilities committed the 5. Febr. 1626 although the Declaration of Peace was not published vntill many dayes after we subsisted in Armes in all places where we were constrained to resume them So in those two turnes of the pen they haue inwrapped vs all in the condemnation preparing the way to all sorts of iniustice and cruelties which they haue since practised and committed vpon vs. And although his Maiestie commanded that these Modifications should bee withdrawne as directly opposite to his intentions and preiuditiall to the publike tranquilitie yet notwithstanding all these reasons this Parliament hath obstinately made good what it formerly so vniustly and so factiously resolued against vs to the great preiudice and blemish of the Authoritie Royall and for a most compleat and intire iustification of our complaints and grieuances not being able to find securitie or safetie in the words and promises of our Prince because what good affection or intents soeuer he retaine for our behalfes those who ought to be the executors of his Royall will and pleasure doe directly combine and band themselues against it as triumphing and glorying in the infringing of his promises These beginnings were not to giue vs hope of any much happy success or if any one intended or expected them experience stayed not long to vndeceaue them the eruptions of the Peace hauing beene so grosly and presumptuously committed with such a violent impetuositie that they feeme to be affected thereto it being impossible to giue it any other interpretation then this Miserie to those who are weakest and vanquished This was manifestly seene and knowne at the refuse which was giuen to our general Deputies to send Commissioners through all Prouinces according as it was inculcated intimated by the Declaration of Peace The necessity of their sending being extreame to the end the Edict might be put in execution where it was infringed and violated To reestablish the exercise of our religion in those places from whence it had been banished To replace in their houses a numberlesse number of poore families which had beene expeled and exiled And in a word to preuent and remedy those disorders which drew with them the licentiousnesse of war and to make vs feele some effects of so many promises which had been made vs. But it is that which no supplications can euer obtaine so as most of the chiefest Churches of the Kingdome haue fainted and languished in miserie that they are so far off that this Peace hath any way improued or bettered their condition as contrary-wise it hath disarmed vs to expose vs naked to all manner of tortures and persecutions The which to approue and iustifie at least 60 poore Churches will vndertake with weeping hearts and voices to whom according to the tenor of the Edict the exercise of their Religion ought to be free and where it was confidently hoped they should haue now beene re-established by the peace they yet haue remained in a pitifull desolation without that all their requests prayers can any way
THE APOLOGIE OF THE REFORMED CHVRCHES OF FRANCE VVherein are expressed the Reasons why they haue Ioyned their Armies to those of the King of Great BRITTAINE Translated according to the French Coppie LONDON Printed for Nathaniell Butter 1628. TO ENGLAND IN HER REPRESENTIVE BODY The High and Illustrious Court of Parliament LORDS KNIGHTS BVRGESSES YOu haue here in all humilitie presented to you the sighes teares of our sister Church of France who is at this present miserably persecuted by the bloodie power and Malice of Antichrist and his adherents as also the naked grounds and motiues why shee ioynes her Armes with those of our Soueraigne in her lawfull Defence and preseruation For although Rebellon be the false pretect yet Religion is the true cause why the Pope by his Champion the French King now seekes her finall raine and extermination Shee now mournes both in teares and blood and breathes forth her wounds and sorrowes to vs in a fainting yea almost in a dying eloquence Shall wee therefore who professe our selues to be the best of Christians and the deerest of Gods Children permit prophannesse to preuaile ore pietie Idolatrie to triumph ore true Religion and the Church of Rome ore that of God if our Religion be theirs must not their dangers and persecutions be ours For what Peace can we haue whiles they are oppressed with Warre or how can our consciences be at rest and tranquilitie whiles theirs are tovmented with all sorts of afflictions and cruelties Can that Church of France be beaten but this of England is threatned or the Protestants of that Kingdome be extinguished but we are Eclipsed yea doe not their feares presage and predict ours and their dangers fatally denounce and portend ours We haue already seene and suffered Gods Church in Bohemia the Paâ—…atinate Selesia and Morauia to bee ruined and shall we not therefore beleeue if that of France goe next that this of England must immediately follow We see the Pope is as bloody in his malice as boundlesse in his Ambition and that with high wrestling and an insulting brauerie he proceedes in his Enuie and power at one time to roote out the name and memorie of Gods Church and Children in all places and Countries of Christendome How powerfully hath he lately preuailed with the Emperour and the King of Spaine and Poland in this bloody quarell who with barbarous hearts and sacrilegious hands haue played their prises in oppressing and de-pressing these Churches in their Countries and now by a policie as subtile as execrable hath likewise drawne the French King to make himselfe guiltie of the same impious and bloody crimes to ruine the Protestants of his Kingdome whose Valours and Fidelities placed the Crowne on his Fathers head and to exterminate those Churches which with so much Pietie and wisedome hee had established in the Meridian of their perfection and glorie The which to preuent and oppose God hath inspired the heart of our Gracious King CHARLES to reach them out the hand and Scepter of his Royall assistance and so to proue himselfe a true Defender of the Faith as well in Fact as Title Knowing therefore that by the Lawes of Honour and Religion we are bound to ayde and asist them and not to suffer the Vineyard of Gods Church to be thus miserably trampled ore and rooted vp by the Champions of Rome and Hell it will be a pious and a Noble worke for you Illustrious Lords and Gentlemen the Great Senators and Elders of our Israell to contribute the meanes as our King hath the Will to the preseruation and building vp of so Religious and glorious a Worke by affecting it tenderly in your selues and by cheerishing it carefully and dearely in the hearts of all the parts and members of this Kingdome For as the Protestants of France call on our King so doth his Maiestie on you who are the essentiall and figuratiue body thereof and God on you all for the speedy and vigorous assistance of this his afflicted Spouse the Church and hee who is the searcher of all hearts the witnesse of all soules and the Iudge of all actions will infallibly iudge betwixt you and him with what true Deuotion and Zeale you performe this part of his seruice and glorie Warres are made as well with Gold as Iron therefore in assisting this our afflicted Sister the Church of France wee must second our words with deedes our promises with effects and our Prayers with our purses Their Enemies are strong and powerfull their afflictions and dangers great so therefore must our assistance be to them They are neere to vs by Cituation but farre neerer in Religion for as their cause and quarell is ours so should the sence and feeling of their calamities and in this sence I may iustly affirme that they are a great part of our selues because we generally belong all to one Church as that Church doth particularly and peculiarly to God As truth is the best eloquence to perswade vs to this assistance so Religion is the best truth and it would bee an act not onely of Impietie but of shame in vs if these our three flourishing Churches of England Scotland and Ireland should not now powerfully assist that afflicted one of France which sues to them for it with teares and prayers But Illustrious Lords and generous Gentlemen my Iudgement prompts mee that I should wrong yours in seeking to perswade your affections to so charitable and religious a worke from which I know nothing is capable to direct or disswade you and in that behalfe I rest hopefull if not confident that you will at least excuse my zeale if not pardon my presumption for proferring vp the sighes and teares of this poore persecuted French Church to your sublime Protection and Patronage or rather to your charitable care and religious consderacion as esteeming it euerie way as worthy of your pittie and compassion as of your knowledge May the sight of her afflictions myseries and calamities teach vs how to preuent our owne May God of his best mercie so operate with our hearts and soules as wee may esteeme and repute them our owne and may England by the Kings royall and your Illustricus example stretch forth her hands to relieue this poore French Church and people so vniustly afflicted and so wrongfully oppressed and persecuted for God and his Cause IOHN REYNOLDS The Apologie of the Reformed Churches of France wherein are expressed the Reasons why they haue ioyned their Armes to those of his Maiestie the King of Great BRITTAINE THERE is none but will iudge that a sicke Patient is extreamely oppressed with his disease when hee frequently takes violent Physicke whereof as yet hee hath his stomach wholy charged and afflicted and therefore loathes and abhorres it were it but onely for the bitternesse thereof Right so wee must confesse that our wronges haue exposed and reduced vs to the last point of necessite since wee are enforced to haue recourse to that remedie wherein wee haue
out in Rubrikes those who are best affected to the Church of God to oppose good men to support wicked and to intimidate shake the weaker sort of people and in fauour of some miserable reward to make them fall off from themselues To be short for the heaping vp of oppression in that which concernes our consciences they will force vs to that which is more bitter and insupportable then death itselfe and which with abhomination we abhor detest as a most expresse and grosse Idolatry that is to bow our knees before the Host or Agnuâ—… dei of the Roman-priests I say they will inforce vs thereto and the decrees thereof haue bin newly dated and published in many places more particularly at Diepe where there are so great a number of our Religion that it is impossible they are not often engaged with this fatall meeting And in this sort they haue performed executed the declaration of peace in regard of the chiefe point thereof which concernes the free libertie and exercise of our Religion they haue not established it in infinite places where it ought to be they haue expelled and banished it from diuers others where it lawfully subsisted and if any where they haue left it it is in the manner and tearmes as we haue here formerly expressed As for the regard of the offices dignities whereunto we ought to be indifferently admitted with our other Country men and fellow Citizens it is this which our Enemies haue impugned and preuented with all sorts of passion and violence In many places where those of our contrary Religion make not the tenth person they haue wholly taken from vs that part and portion which we had in the Consuls Court as at Bagnols Or if in any place they haue left vs any thing it hath beene the very least and meanest part as at Montelimard There hath beene bribery combination or corruption employed almost euery where to introduce in the Towne houses or seats of Iustice and Iudicature those which most maligne vs and consequently to expell all honest men Very lately cotrary to the exclude priuiledges of the City of Nismes the Commissioners of the Chamber of Besiers by a Decree of their Councell would there assist at the election of the Consuls to make it fall on people wholly to their deuotion and because the Baron of Aubais who was not of their crue was there lawfully elected and accepted the Dignitie they granted out a power to arrest his Body and most cruelly ransack'd his houses The order hitherto inuiolably obserued calling Monsieur le Cocque Councellour of the Parliament of Paris to enter into the Great Chamber the doore was shut against him in hatred of his Religion and the long seruices of this venerable old man whose probity and merits are apparantly knowne to all men could not preuaile with their passion against vs nor secure him from their outragious Iniustice Generally there is seldome granted out any Office whatsoeuer though it be but of a poore Sergeant to any that is of our Religion if they doe not first abiure it or promise those seruices which is required of them which is hereafter to betray vs in the midst of our selues so that Monsieur de Russan hauing many yeeres since paid for the Office of Generall of the Court of Aydes at Monpellier hath not as yet beene receiued because he will not performe the one nor promise the other And now againe in the Towne of Rochell there hauing beene many Offices and dignities vacant whom many of the said Towne haue sought to obtaine and purchase these suits of theirs hath beene in vaine because they will not play false play to their consciences in betraying their Countrie and in this manner it is that the Faith hath beene kept and practised with vs in this regard It may be that being contented to haue bereaued and dispoyled vs of our honours they will be then more iust to restore vsto our goods and to secure vs from iniuries and generally to conserue our Rights in matter of Iustice which was solemnly promised vs. So here it is that some enraged passion hath strangely blinded them that trampling vnder their feet all manner of diuine and humane Lawes they haue wretchedly abused the authority which gaue them Lawes euery way to afflict and oppresse vs. When grounding our selues and Actions on the Edict of Peace we would question before Iudges the vniust detainers of our goods whereof they so violently possessed themselues during the fury of the Warres and so to demand the Principall which was due to vs before the taking of Armes all our Law suites and Processes haue beene reiected or adiudged against the Plaintiffes to their great cost and charges and our Enemies the Desendants still maintaind in their vsurpation so that to the Prouince of Languedoc alone is owing more then two millions of Livres which is 100000. li. sterling and to the towne of Rochell immense and infinite sums and it is so far off from restoring vs what is due to vs as by Acts of palpable iniustice they haue many where 's condemned vs to restore those prises which we had taken during the warres and among others there was a sentence giuen thereon in the Chamber of the Edict at Besieres against deceased Mrnsieur de St Blancard Our processes are iudged by the ticket on the bagges so that those of a contrary religion boldly sue all manner of actions against vs how vniust so euer being confident that the contrary Iudge of our Religion will make them gaine their Causes And so at the Great Councell The Earle of Beanfort was ouerthrowne in a greatl uite he followed against some Communalites and which imported him the greatest part of his whole Estate although the equitie and iustice of his cause was perfectly cleere and that in confirmation thereof he had heretofore obtaind sentence vpon sentence but notwithstanding the onely remembrance of troopes of assistance which he conducted into Montauban and his perseuerance and constancy in the true Religion haue preuailed with his Iudges that his Right was vniust But might it please God that they did not abuse their power but in disployIing vs of our goods and that their cruelty would at least leaue vs our liberty and liues that their seats of Iustice were onely Courts established vniustly to grant and giue away our goods to our Enemies and that they became not scaffolds expresly erected to draw innocent bloud from vs. It is a horror of the bloudy Decrees and Iudgements which euery day they pronounce against vs and whereby they manifest and demonstrate to all the world that their soules are far redder then their Scarlet gownes The least fault which any of vs commits is a crime which can neither hope nor obtaine pardon and in the whitest innocency it selfe their hatred makes them finde out lawfull causes to condemne vs. A yong man of Auignon named William Astier for hauing framed and collected some reasons which moued