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
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 And indeed their actions and deportments since the peace hath
formerly felt so many violencies as the verie name thereof giues vs many terrours and tremblings For if euer any People haue had iust cause to abhorâ—…e and detest Warr it is we aboue all others of the world to whom it hath brought so many ruins desolations that our Houses remaine yet either burnt or demolished our Lands and Inheritances in prey our Vines rooted vp our Trees cut downe and which is worse the verie Earth is yet red and almost hot with our Blood And because after all these deplorable effects of Armes we are agâ—…ne seene to resume them it is iustly to be presumed that it is the descouerie of some great or inâ—…itable danger which despight of our contrarie inclinations hath enforced and drawne vs to it For we are reduced either to perish without any hope of recouerie or else to seeke our subsistance in our lawfull defence by embracing the meanes which God giues vs by the assistance of the most Eccellent King of Great Brittaine whose heart he hath touched with pittie and compassion of our miseries and therefore to employ his forces to make vs enioy peace which was sworne and consigned into his hands and whereof his Maiestie was made the Depositor It is to iustifie this last necessitie that wee put our hands to the Pen at the same time we doe to the Sword and we are confident that who soeuer will heare vs without any preiudicat enuie or passion we will make them so apparantly see our innocencie and so soundly proue iustifie the iniustice wherwith it is oppressed that if they are not obdurat or insensible Rockes they will pittie our miseries in excusing the resolutions which we are constrayned to take and will be the first to condemne the vniust proceedings of those who haue precipitated vs hereunto and whom henceforth we caâ—… tearme no other then our Enemies At the verie entrance whereof we solemnly protest that wee will not comprehend vnder this Name the sacred Maiestie of the King our Prince and as we will not impute vnto him the blame of infringing his Edicts and of violating his Royall Word so we haue no intent whatsoeuer in our Hearts which shall derogate from the most humble subiection and constant fidelitie we owe him the two essentiall Articles whereof our Religion is composed is To feare God and honour the King and if any tradâ—…ce or calamniate vs of the contrary blessed be God they are those who made the baracadoâ—…s against their Soueraigne and who tumultuously and treacherously draue him out of his Capitall Citie and neuer left before they had proditoriously and inhumanely murthered him they are those who assembled the Estates Generall which begat that monster the League to take away the Crowne from the lawfull heire Hen. 4. and consequently to declare his posteritie incapable to succeede which was directly to snatch away the Septer from our present King before he was borne and who haue caused to issue from their Cloysters such execrable Paracides to thrust their impoysoned kniues in the brests and hearts of our Princes who haue beene quelled and fallen thereunder and who in the iniquitie of such times must abandon their Estates to the first intruder and their liues to the first Asasinate If the Pope please to declare them Hereticks or Tyrants To haue such for our accusers results to our glory and redounds to our iustification and indeede all Histories witnesse for vs That although our Kings haue been of a contrary Religion to vs haue set fire to the Temple of our Peace and with high hands and crueltie haue persecuted and massacred vs that yet we haue neuer thought of such accursed attempts but contrariwise vpon the very ruines and cruelties thereof the zeale of our prayers for them haue triumph'd ore the feruency of their flames and for the irreproachable approbation of our fidelitie when God permitted that the factions of Rome and Spaine conspired against their Crowns they haue found no surer nor vigorous refuge then in our defence so that if Hen. 3. could reuiue from his Tombe Hee would giue vs the honour and glory to haue conserued his life and Septer If a Fryer whom Hell created had not bereaud him of the one and depriued him of the other and as for Henry the Great of glorious memory euery one knowes how much wee haue spilt of our owne bloud at his feet to mount and establish him on his Throne where in all apparance of truth he had beene still raigning if the Iesuires and their Emâ—… saries had not approach'd him or that the sacred treasure of his life were still intrusted and deposited in our hands We haue not so well serued the Father to eclipse our glory in so ill seruing the Sonne and may it please the diuine prouidence and goodnesse of God that those who haue destoyed his royall Predecessours and which bend their designes and monopolies against him by the same wayes they haue done against them doe not in the end reduce him to the same extremities and miseries and in this cause and quarrell he shall finde that we haue no wealth but we will expend nor bloud but we will sacrifice to iustifie our fidelitie which our Enemies with as much subtiltie as malice endeauour to make him suspect and so to haue his Laurels still flourish and continue greene wherewith hitherto he hath beene crowned So if griefe now draw complaints from vs and enforce and compeil vs to take vp Armes Wee here lift vp our voyces to make it known to all the world that it is not against his sacred person but onely against the impetuositie of those ministers of his who haue beene depured by him to execute his royall words and to make vs enioy peace according to the tenure of his Edicts and who contrary thereunto haue oppressed vs with all sorts of Iniustice and violence and after whole yeares of vnprofitable patience doe in the end constraine vs to prouide for our conseruation by the onely meanes and remedies left vs which are the Lawes of Nations and Nature To the end therefore that our Innocâ—…ncie and their Iniustice may appeare to all the world we mustrâ—…fume matters as they were at the last Peace and pacincation and come to the Edict which was then published There is none therefore so blinde or ignorant in matters of State who apparantly knowes not how preiudiciall those conditions were to vs If the poore Citie of Monpellier should remaine buried in silence and so according to the vniust maximes of our Enemies should seeme to be condemned to eternall seruitude and slanery besides the yoke of subiection 〈◊〉 the precedent peace imposd vpon our Ecclesiasticali assemblies which they make wholly vnprofitable vnto vs were not taken away and there was no right nor iustice done vnto vs vpon an infinite number of other infractions of the said Edict whereof we can produce whole books of iust complaints and grieuances whereby we foresee that our Enemies will draw them into