The Kings Declaration, Importing a Reuocation of all such Letters for Ennoblishment, as haue not been verified in the Chamber of accountes of Normandy.
Also of all such as haue been graunted to such persons as haue or yet do beare armes against his Maiestie, and fauour Rebelles.
Together with an Arrest or decree of the Court of Parliament of Caen, concerning the residence of Clergie men vpon their Cures, and the warrantise of their Tithes.
Faithfully translated out of French according to the Coppye printed at Caen.
AT LONDON Printed for Edward White, and are to be sold at the little North door of S. Paules Church, at the signe of the [...]
The Kings Declaration, importing a rouocation of all such Letters for Ennoblishment, as haue not been verified in the Chamber of account of Normandy, also of all such as haue been graunted to such persons as haue or yet doo beare armes against his Maiestie, and fauour the Rebels.
Wheras the late our most honorable Lo. and Brother vpon the necessitie of the affaires of this kingdome, thought good to aduaunce vnto the state of Nobilitye, sundrye pezants, some for money, others in recompence of their seruice: the generall Edicts wherof were directed to our Chambers of accounts, to the which especially the verification of the said ennoblishments, also of the money or desert of the gift thereof doth appertaine, and without the which verification which is the proper essence of the said ennoblishments, the same are of no force or valew. Notwithstanding some of our Subiects [Page 2] in the said Court of Normandy, pretending that they haue obtained the saide Letters of ennoblishment, which they haue not verified before you, do vsurpe the qualitie & priuilidges of Nobility, and some that were subiect to tallages, do cause themselues to be raced out of the role, to the great preiudice of our treasurye, and such our Subiectes as doo beare their taxes contrary to all equitye and reason.
Also of those that haue beene ennobled or haue verrified their Charters after the forme accustomed, some haue very ingratefully reuoulted from our seruice.
We therfore desiring for the wealth of our estate, or the releefe of our poore people, to prouide against the fraud and abuse committed in the obtaining of the saide ennoblishments, as well to the detriment of our treasurie, as the vnworthinesse of those who by surprise rebellion or otherwise, haue purchased the gift therof: and hauing referred the matter to the deliberation of our Counsell, by the aduice therof we haue said, declared, and ordained, and doo say, declare, and [Page] ordain by these presents, that all & euery the said ennoblishments heretofore by our sayd predecessor and vs graunted throughout our Cuntry or Dutchye of Normandy, which yet are not verified in our saide Chamber of accompts of Normandy to be voide or of none effect. Willing and charging you most expressely to inhibit and in our name to forbid all purchasers of the same, neuer to make any vse therof, neither to take or vsurp the sayde qualitye or priuiledge of Nobility: also all our Iudges or Officers, not to receiue or tollerate them, vntill they haue been well and duelye verified in our said Chamber, vnder pain of transgression of falshood & arbitrary amends albeit there should chaunce to be some that haue not been directed therto, which as wrested and not duely verified we haue and do reuoke.
We do moreouer forbid our elect and the Controuler in matter of aide and tallages, euerye one in his election, that they shall not suffer or permit any of the saide pretended ennobled Persons, that hath heretofore contributed to our tallages, to be rased out of the [Page] rules of the same: also that if any haue been so blotted out and raced, our pleasure is, that they shall be put in againe and taxed as afore time, vnder paine that themselues shall answere for it in their own priuate name.
Moreouer to the end to vnderstand how they haue done their dueties herein, we doo commaund them to present vnto you the catalogue and roale of such as pretend them selues to be ennobled in euery election, that at the instance of our Atourney general they maye be assigned in our saide Chamber, to bring in their Letters, which if the case so fall out shall be retained as being obteined by fraude and contrary to the intent of our predecessor and vs, or els in verrification to taxe them as you shall think reasonable.
Futhermore, concerning those that vngratefullye haue since these Nobles reuolted from our seruice: we haue and doo reuoke all and euery their charters, graunts that haue beene made vnto them, and all verifications that thereof maye haue ensued: and as men for their rebellion depriued and disgraded from all honor and degree of nobility, our will is [Page 5] that they be set down and made contributory to our tallages as other Pezants are, or in case they inhabit in the free towns, they shal not take or attribute to thēselues any further state or priuiledge then of Pezants, notwithstanding whatsoeuer their Letters of grace, either alreadye or hereafter to be purchased at our hands, before the same haue beene verified in our said Chambers of accompts.
We doo also will and commaund you to cause these Letters of declaration to be read, published, registred, printed and sent to all our Seas, auditories, and other places conuenient: also to cause the contents in the same to be maintained, kept, and obserued by Bailifs, Stewards, elect, and others our Officers and Subiects, and to proceed against the infringers thereof by all due and reasonable meanes. For this end we giue you full power and authoritie: for such is our pleasure.
Giuen at our Campe at Mante the 29. of Iune, the yeer of grace 1591. and of our raign the 2.
Signed by the King in his counsell Potier, and sealed with the great seale vpon a single labell of yellow waxe.
Moreouer vpon the saide Letters it is written, read, published, and registred in the Chamber of accounts of Normandy, in the hearing and at the request of the Kings Attorney Generall in the same, like as is conteined in the register at Caen the 27. of Iulye in the yeere 1591.
THe Chamber hauing seene the Letters pattents of the Kings declaration, giuen at his Campe at Mante the 29. of Iune last, containing a reuocation of ennoblishments graunted by the said Lord and the late King, not verified in the said Chamber, vntill the saide verification in the same, albeit there may be some whose letters haue not beene directed thereto. Also that concerning such as vngratefullye haue reuolted since the late troubles: his Maiestie hath likewise reuoked their charters and grauntes, together with all the verrifications that may haue ensued, and that as men depriued and for their rebellion disgraded from all honor and degree of nobility: he willeth them to be reduced and suborned to the tallages as other the Pezants are, or if they inhabite in anye free Townes, they shall not take vpon them anye other degree or priuelidge thē Pezants, notwithstanding whatsoeuer Letters of grace they haue, or heereafter may obtaine of his saide Maiestie, vnlesse the first verified in the said Chamber, as more at large is conteined in the said letters pattents. The Kings [Page 7] Attorney generall being heard, who hath required the registring of the same, and the whole considered: The Chamber hath ordained and dooth ordaine, that the saide Letters of declaration of the 29. of Iune last, shalbe read, published and registred in the roules therof. The Vidimus whereof shalbe sent to the Baylifs and their lieuetenants in euerye Vicounty, also to the elect of the election of this Prouince, that there they may likewise be read and published in their Sea and auditories, withall enioyning the substitutes of the said Attorney generall in euery the said ivrisdictions, to assist the execution of the said Letters, and the said lieuetenants of Bailifs and the elect, to send within one moneth into the saide Chamber, a roule and catalogue of such persons as may haue prosecuted their letters of ennoblishment before them, or that manifestly haue taken vpon them the saide title and degree of nobility, since the yeere 1574. Together with a summary of their behauiours, dealinges and residence: also to send the coppies of their letters and charters obteined by the saide ennobled persons and of the arrests of verification thereof ensuing.
Giuen the 27. of iuly. 1591.
Taken out of the Regester of the Chamber of accounts of Normandy.
An Arrest or decree of the Courte of Parliament of Caen concerning the residence of Cu rats and Clergie men, vpon their Cures, and the warrantise of their Tythes.
VPon request exhibited by the Kings Attorney generall, shewing that he vnderstādeth that in diuers places and parishes of this prouince of Normandy, there are risen sundrye Souldiours & other vnknown persons in armes, who by plaine force doo endeuour to gather and take vp the tithes of the said Parishes (malgre those to whom by right they do appertaine) to the great preiudice of the Clergie, and contrary to the Kings Edicts and decrees: with all requiring the said Court to graunt him commission to enforme against the transgressors of the saide Edictes and decrees, as also that the same maye be read againe and published euen in the Pulpits of the said parishes: likewise in the meane time that all men may be inhibited and forbidden not to intrude themselues to disturb the said Clergie, in the receipt of their said titles, vnder such penalties as by the said Court shalbe thought conuenient, nāely to answere all charges, damages and interest of the said Clergie and their farmers.
The Court hauing seen the said request, and giuen attendance to the Counsellor that made the reporte, all thorowly considered. The saide Court ministring Iustice vpon the peticion of the sayde Attorney generall, hath ordeined and enioyned all [Page] Curates and Ecclesiasticall persons that haue cure of Soules, to be actually resident vpon their Cures and Benefices, there to preach and teach the word of God, and to instruct their Parishioners in their due obedience to the King, to pray for his person, with the prosperitie of his affaires and estate, to obey and fulfil his Edicts and the decrees and arrests of the saide Courte, vpon the penaltyes in the same set down. And in so dooing the saide Court inbibiteth and forbiddeth all persons of whatsoeuer estate or calling, not to intrude themselues directly or indirectly, to molest or hinder the said Curates or Ecclesiasticall persons in the enioying of their Cures or benefices, or in the receipt of their Tithes or reuenues of the same, vnder paine of confiscation of body and goods. And to the end this present decree may be known to all men, the saide Courte hath ordained that it shalbe sent into all the Baylywicks of this resort, withal enioyning the Bailifs, their Lieuetenants, and the said Attorney generals substitutes to cause it to be published by sound of Trumpet in all the accustomed places depending of their iurisdictions, namely in the Pulpets at the great parochiall masses in euery Parrish, vpon the Sunday and other solemne feastes, to the end none may be exercised vpon any pretence of ignorance.
IN the same yeere 1591. vpon Monday the 12. of August at Caen in the presence of vs Iohn Vauquelin Esquir, Counsellor to the King & Lieutenant Generall to the L. Bayly of Caen, the contents of the arest aboue mentioned, was read and published in the audience of the iurisdiction of the said Bailiwick and persidiall Sea sitting and by vs holden. It was also ordeined at the petition of the kings Attorney generall, that the same shalbe also read and published with sound of Trumpet, and common proclamation in all the quarters and places vsed for Proclamations in the said Town, also that the copies or Vidimus shall be sent into all other the Vicountyes of this Bayliwick, there to doo the like: also to all the Curates and Vickers of the parishe of this Vicounty, to the end they may read thē in the Pulpits of their sayd parishes vpon the Sondaye, or other solemne feasts, that none maye pretend cause of ignorance: also that to the same ende the saide arrest shall be printed.
Likewise all Sergeants are enioyned each within his precinct, to see to the fulfilling hereof, vnder the penalties set down therfore to make such dispatch as may be requisite or necessary therto.
THe same day and yeer the contents aboue mentioned were read and published in the quarters & places accustomed to make proclamations in tnis Towne of Caen, by me Simon Berot Sergeant royall of Caen, in the presēce of Florimont le Soef ordinary Trompet of the same town.