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
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
Henry the Great during which euery one praying to God as he vnderstood that Peace brought vs then in plenty and abundance and we all conspired and vnited our affections to the seruice of our Prince and to fill and heape vp our Country with happinesse Were you then lesse saued and blest then now euer since we haue begun to be persecuted What indiscrection is it in you to disturbe your Peace and tranquillity because we beleeue not as you beleeue Or if it should be so are you answerable for our consciences and is it not onely to our selues that the preiudice and detriment must accrue Why leaue you not vs to the iudgement of him before whom we must all appeare at the latter day and to whom ye shall not be accountable for what we haue beleeued or done Doe you thinke that to wrong vs is a good way to conuert vs So often as you haue attempted these mercilesse and cruell courses what hath there followed or succeeded thereof but the same desolations and miseries which this present time presents vnto you And what can he more desire who is as much the Ancient Enemie of this Estate as he feignes to be of our Religion but to see vs armed and bloody minded one against the other that after he may become Master of all In the name of God at last beginne to vndeceiue your selues dispoyle and strip your selues of your Animosities and contribute your wise Counsels to reclaime those which an inconsiderate zeale hath transported to such furious emotions and combustions Tell them although they are made to beleeue the contrary it will bee on them which the greatest and 〈◊〉 â—…urthens of the warre will fall they will be loaden with imposts and exaâ—…tions to quench the thirst of blood-â—…ounds who will sucke them dry to the very reines Their Fields shall be the prey and pillage of Souldiers they shall be the first obliged to expose themselues to eminent pâ—…rils and dangers and after all this when those who manage these combustions for their owne particular ends and interests haue made vp their markets and well filled their purses then they shall see things tend and bend to hopes of Peace whereof they will reape no other fruites but griefe and sorrow for their losses labour and paines and also to see how they haue beene abused and fool'd through their simple credulity by those who hauing in their mouthes the specious names of the Estate and Religion and yet to no other end but to inrich themselues by the publique calamity But as for you our most deare Brothers who in this Kingdome professe with vs the purity of one and the same Religion in what place or quality soeuer you are we expect from you that as our griefes and afflictions are common so our feelings thereof may be We will not heere discouer the searres and cicatrices of our wounds by reproaching those among you who heretofore haue beheld our calamities with dry eyes or who thought to haue done much to bewaile them No no we will impute this blame to the deceitfull Songs of the Syrens who haue sometimes heretofore inchanted and lull'd vs asleepe our selues But now we coniure you by all that is holy and sacred not to permit your selues to be any longer deceiued you shall haue many Offers made you to rent and disioyne your selues from vs. They will extort Declarations from you that you hold vs Rebels they will oblige you likewise to arme your selues against vs But in the name of God consider with your selues that all our rebâ—…llion is because we will not rebell against God and that as by the grace of God we remaine constant in the same Religion which you professe so your disauowing of vs will in effect be the renouncing of Iesus Christ and your Armes if you are so miserable to take them vp against vs and to offend vs will wound our Common Sauiour and Redeemer and againe crucifie him in his members Know likewise that our Enemies intend no lesse cruelty to you then to vs because they esteeme vs as the Dike and â—…ences to hinder the Torrent from going to swallow downe and submerge you Those wild Boares haue no intent to spare any thing in the poore Vine of the Lord but they rush vpon vs as beleeuing that we are the hedges and inclosure It is impossible that in our ruines you be not bruysed to death because we are but one house In our Shipwâ—…acke you will infallibly perish for that we sayle in one and the same Ship All the fauour which you can hope or expect from them is but that of the Cyclope to be deuoured last As deare to you then as is our common subsistance let vs vnite our selues together for our common defence Be not then so faint hearted to suffer vs to perish except you intend immediately after to haue your throates cut in your owne houses Remember that your particular conseruation cannot be but in the generall whercunto if you contribute with vs it will be the truest way to secure your goods to conserue your liues and aboue all to maintaine you in libertie to serue God Or if yet there liue any so stupid or insensible not to be moued for all this then all that we can doe is to send them to these Words of Mordocheus Thinke not that you onely can escape for iâ—… you hold your peace in this time comfort and deliuerance shall appeare to Israel from another place but you and all your houses shall perish But as we expect better things of you so doe we likewise hope the same of our brothers beyond the Seas and particularly from those of the Vnited Prouinces already the interest of the same Religion should make them know that the cause is common and if it be persecuted in the middest of vs it is not very probable or likely that there be any great affection to maintaine and conserue it in the middest of them what faire shew soeuer the Pope make them to the contrary who is the great wheele that makes all moue and worke for our ruine to the end to make a step and Ladder to theirs but if they are not possessed of this seare yet it seemes they are obliged to be sensible and compassionate of our afflictions because of the affection which heretofore hath made vs lament and weepe at theirs during the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 troubles All Europe hath seene how we haue runne by thoâ—…ands to ciment their libertie with our bloods and particularly the Towne of Rochell held nothing too deare for their regard at the very point of their last necessitie and now that the tine of our calamitie is come we againe demand them the effects of the like good will and affection But there is yet more for if our dangers be extreme we may say that it is they who are the first 〈◊〉 cause therof in lending their ships to our enemies which they imployed and vsed to ruine vs although therein 〈◊〉
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
lifted vp our voyces thereby endeauoring to make him vnderstand our grieuances but particularly Rochell hath still had their Deputies prostrate at his Maieâ—…ies feete to beseech him to shew them some good effects of his Royall promise But we haue found deafe eares to our requests or else taken vp preoccupated with all that which the foulest villany of our Enemies hath beene accustomed slanderously to vomit sorth against vs so that we haue bin sent back with reproach and judigâ—…ie and taken from vs all hope to doe vs right and justice yea the more we haue complained of our slauery the more we haue found them to increase and aggrauate it that now this remedy hath increased the sicknesse of our misery And as for Rochell as her oppression was greatest so were her complaints and also more frequent till they were peremptorâ—…ly defended to exhibite any more and told openly that they should no longer exâ—… the demolition of the Fort. 〈◊〉 this indeed was to bee reduced to the last point of extremity sith our Enemies lest vs not that which is commonly giuen to those who are moâ—…t miserable to wit Hope Whereon who will not presently judge that finding nothing but dispaire of that side nothing but all sorts of dâ—…ialty and peâ—…nesse and an obstinaâ—… resolution to ruine vs That the care which euery one naturally ought to haue of his proper conseruation oblieged vs to seeke out for other remedies And where should we else finde them but in hauing our recourse to those which were despositors and pledges to vs of the peace which was so ill kept and obserued to vs and if any one doubt of the right or equity we haue in this our resolution hee will therein shew himselfe either absolutely ignorant or wholy malâ—…ous For who but knowes that when hee that is oblieged comes to faile of his promise that then the partie interested hath his lawfull recourse to the Suretie and consequently â—…ust cause to call on him for this nature informes vs all lawes teach vs and daily experience in the practice of allâ—…people confirmâ—…s to vs. Because therefore that the peace was giuen vs by the meanes and mediation of the King of great Britaine and of the Lords the States and that they consented to giue vs assurance for the obseruation thereof who sees not that wee haue all right at the breach and contrauention thereof to addresse our selues to them and to seeke their refuge And surely the difficultie was not in the right and equitie but in the meanes to be able to doe it especially in a publike way the capâ—…tie wherein we were held being súch that the first who had dared to haue made this proposition had infalliblyâ—… lost his head for the same whereof we need no other proâ—… or testimonie then that which happened in the same Towne of Rochell where an Inhabitantnamed La Uigne hauing beene long suspected to haue receiued a Commission from the King of England he was thereon imprisoned and condemned to dye Such was the power and authoritie of the Commissioners There remaines then one onely way which is That the Duke of Rohan who in quality of chiefe Generall of our Churches had dealt in former occasions and who interuened in the two Treaties of peace would take on him this care Indeed the zeale which he hath euer borne to the good of our Churches hauing opened his eyes to see the extreme perill wherein they were and giuen him courage enough notwithstanding the great dangers which threaten vs to aduertise the King of Great Britaine thereof God hath so singularly fauoured his good intents giuen such an efficacy and power to his requests and to those of Monsieur de Soubize his brother fortified with those of many honest men of all conditions of our Churches that the heart of this great King hath beene touched with compassion and pitie of our wrongs to employ his power to desingage to vs his Royall faith Sith then it is for that which he is now armed to consult if we should accept of his good will were properly to dispute iâ—… a sicke patient that is dying should open the doore to a Physicion who comes to cure him or if a poore man who is nere drowning should refuse to take the hand of him which extends it to him to drawe him out of the water wherein he is panting and neere dying So the â—…ice being absolute the necessitie extreme and in this necessitie and â—…tice the occasion so fauourable what remaines for vs to doe but after our most humble thankefulness and prayers to God the Author of all blessings likewise to addresse and offer vp our humble thankes to the King of Great Britâ—…ne for so fit and timely assistance 〈◊〉 say to giue a full approbation to his Armes as raised in our fauour to ioyne our selues to him with all our powers and â—…orces with a most humble supplication to his Maiestie that hee will please to continue vs the effects of his Royall protection vntill the obstinacy of our Enemies be vanquished and that they suffer vs to approach the sacred person of the most Christian King our Prince to obtaine of his Iustice the accomplishing of his Edicts and the reparation and domage of the breaches which haue beene offred vs since the decease of Henry the Great of happy and glorious memory Here doubtlesse our enemies will make tragicall exclamations to defame our proceedings and maliciously to impute vnto vs the want of affection towards our Countrie in ioyning our Armes with Strangers But let them iustly impute the blame hereof to themselues because they in their consciences know that it is their cruell and obstinate oppression which hath imposed on vs this necessitie and therefore whatsoeuer the euents thereof be they are their owne proper workes not ours But contrariwise with what face dare they enterprise or taxe vs vpon this point sith they haue committed those things which are still recent and fresh in our memories Doe they beleeue that we haue forgotten their enraged furies during the League when to defend our liues Religion we accepted ayde assistance from England Haue we defaced the Armes of our Prince and contemned his obedience as they then did Haue we rendred vp any one Town as they then deliuered to the Spaniard all those whereon they could become masters and among others the Capitall Citic Haue wee laid hands vpon the sacred person of our Prince as they wickedly and damnably haue done What resemblance is there in a defence drawne from necessitie as is ours alwayes in subiection and still ready to returne to dutie with their audacious reuolt so long so obstinate so pernicious hauing not the least pretext to charge vs of the least outrage in their persons of the least disgrace in their honours of the least extortion in their goods or of the least force in their consciences and who alleadge for their only griese and complaint that the Prince who became then weary of
are confident that they were politikely surprised neuerthelesse â—…nce our misery proceeded from thence what can they doe lesse then affirme and testifie that they are sorry for it in stretching forth their hand of assistance to withdrawe vs from this Gulph wherin they haue made vs fall although it were done without thinking thereof If they will they haue the same vertue of Achiâ—…es and can cure our wounds by the very same meanes and instruments they made them And say that all these reasons will not passe for current money with them although we assure our selues they will not so judge yet the interuention and mediation of their Ambassadours in the last peace and their promises that those Commissions should be performed and accomplished to vs giues vs all right and reason now they are broken to addresse our selues to them that they make good their said promises and to disingage vs their â—…aith It is therfore in this regard that we haue recourse to them and generally wee pary all Princes and Potentates to extend their assistance and fauour to vs. We doubt not but our enemies will endeuour traduce and disparage all our actions to them and publish against vs variety of false reports and infamous Libels but whosoeuer hath â—…ares only to heare accusers then innocency will often be 〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉 It is the custome of the strongest when they resolue to oppose the weaker passionately to alledge they are guiltie as by the report of the Wolfe the Sheepe had troubled the water Our enemies desame and disgrace vs but it is only for that their Iniustice is so palpable as they are ashamed thereof and because they dare not make it appeare â—…aked and in the meridian of its truth they must therefore finde out a maske and disguize it vnder the false name of calumny We therefore beseeâ—…h the aforesaid Princes not to condemne vs before they haue first vnderstood our defence and reasons and cast their eyes vpon this small Epitomie of our Iustifications and we dare assure our selues that they will after pittie our innocency so vniustly oppressed And as it is for the maintenance thereof that God hath giuen them their power that they will therefore please to imploy it in our defence and assistance And thou O eternall God who searchest the reines and art Iudge of the intentions of our hearts arise as witnes and decide betwixt vs and our enemies See whether they or we haue broken the Alliance of thy sacred name vsed disloyalty and fraude to oppresse and ruine the innocent Iudge who are true offenders and criminals towards the Prince which thou hast established to be thy Image to vs either they who haue infringed vs his Edicts and against the faith thereof done vs all sorts of indignities and outrages or we who haue beene constrained to suffer them as a warrant and caution of the faith Make the violation thereof fall on the heads of those who are guilty and as the Protector of innocnecy shoote forth thy vengeance on those who haue oppressed it Our consciences which are pure before God embolden vs to addresse him these our vowes and wee doubt not but he will heare them to our aduantage and be a just reuenger of the Faith which hath beene perfidiously broken to vs Of our goods vniustly stolne from vs Of our blood inhumanely and cruelly spilt and of our consciences which haue beene afflicted with all variety of rigors So we hope that he will powre downe all sorts of blessings on our Armes who is the true God of victories and Armes And as it is only necessitie which hath made vs to assume and take them vp so wee protest to be ready and willing to lay them downe as soone as we receiue lustice and that the libertie of our Religion and liues be re-established according to the Edicts published in our fauour and particularly of that of Nantes FINIS