LEWES, by the grace of God King of France and of Nauarre: To all those, &c. Our greatest desire since our comming to this Crowne, for which we doe continu­ [...]lly implore the grace of God; and where­ [...] the Queene Regent, our most honorable [...]ady and Mother, hath continually most [...]arefully laboured; hath tended to be able [Page 2] to mainteine and preserue all our Subiectes in rest, peace, and tranquilitie; and in good amitie, vnitie, & concord one with another a matter importing the principall foundation of the vpholding of this estate. To thi [...] effect, so soone as it pleased God to visit v [...] with the sinister accident of the death of ou [...] most honored Lord and Father of gloriou [...] memorie, wee resolued our selfe to imitat [...] and walke in the same wayes that he had taken, to attaine to the same ende: And hauin [...] found, that after he had by his valour restored this estate into the antient eminenci [...] thereof, he had with great care, labour, an [...] foreiudgement; and for a foundation of a assured quietnesse, and perfect reconciliation among all his Subiectes: and namel [...] to take from those of the pretended refor­med Religion, all occasion of feare and mistrust, which they might conceiue concerning the libertie and safetie of their Person Consciences, Honors, Goods, and Families made, and decreed the same which is conteined in his Proclamation giuen at Nan [...] in Aprill. 1598. by the obseruation where of, and of the secret Articles, Briefes, an [...] [Page 3] Rules, made in consequence thereof, had happely ruled and gouerned his people in peace, euen to his decease. As also, one of the first actions that we vndertooke in our reigne, tended to dispatch our Letters of de­claration of the xxij. of May 1610. impor­ting a confirmation of the sayd Proclama­tion, and of the secret Articles, Rules, and Decrees, giuen to the execution and inter­pretation of the same; which at the same instant we sent to all our Parliamentes to be verified: and soone after, we sent into all the Prouinces of our Realme, some of the principall of our Counsell, and other quali­fied persons whom we chose, as well Ca­tholickes, as of the pretended reformed Re­ligion, to cyment and set fast the entier establishment and execution of the sayd Proclamation, and of the fauours graun [...]ed in suite thereof: hauing euer since, conti­nued employing whatsoeuer our care and authoritie to this effect.

But it is come to passe, that our good mea­ninges haue not wrought that effect, which we might haue desired, among all our Sub­iectes; of whom some, namely of those of [Page 4] the sayd pretended reformed Religion, by some shadowes which they lightly concei­ued through certaine diuers accurrences, are entered into ielowsies and mistrustes one of another; whereof haue ensued, that they haue suffered them selues to be caryed, to the augmenting of the ordinarie guardes, stir­ring vp and making prouision of Armour, assembling of Souldiers, houlding of Assem­blies and Counsels; with other actions, wholly contrarying the tenour and obser­uation of the sayd Proclamation: Where­to neuerthelesse, wee are content to beleeue; that they haue been induced rather by some apprehension that they haue taken of them selues, and vnder false shadowes and pre­tences, then of any bad mindes or intentes: as hauing alwayes acknowledged those of the sayd Religion in generall, to haue been very well affected to the good of our ser­vice, and fast and assured to the regard, fide­litie, and obedience, that they owe vnto vs.

But as this euill may draw after it most dangerous consequeces, wee haue thought it necessarie to prouide, and remedie it, and [Page 5] to reestablish that good loue, intelligence, and societie that ought to be indifferently among all our sayd Subiectes, to the main­tenance of their common quiet; which as it seemeth, can not be more assuredly brought to passe, then by the exact obseruation of the sayd Proclamation, secret Articles, Briefes, and other Actes, made in suite of the same; and withall, giuing a new assurance to our sayd Subiectes of the sayd pretended reformed Religion, of our good inclination in their behalfes, and of that intent that we haue to preserue, mainteine, protect, and make them inuiolably to enioy all the fa­uours, grauntes, and graces, that haue been graunted vnto them as well by the said Pro­clamation, as since the same, euen as they did in the life time of the late King vntill his decease, as also all that haue since by vs been graunted vnto them.

For these causes and others, thereto vs moouing, hauing put this affaire in delibe­ration to our Counsell, wherin were assistant the Queene Regent, our most honoured La­die and Mother, the Princes of our blood, and other Princes, with many Officers of [Page 6] our Crowne, and principall Counsaylours of our Counsell: By the aduice thereof, wee haue sayd and declared, and doe say and de­clare; will, and it is our pleasure, that the aforesayd Proclamation of Nantes, togea­ther with our Declaration of the xxii. of May 1610. with all the particular Articles, Rules, Decrees, and other Law dispatches in consequence and in interpretation or ex­ecution of the same, shall be againe read and published in all our Courtes and Bayli­wickes of them depending, hauing to the same end, and so long as need shall require, confirmed them; and by these presentes signed with our owne hand, doe confirme them.

WEE will and ordaine, that the whole shall be receiued, and inuiolably obserued, without any contrarying in any sort or manner whatsoeuer. And in as much as the breaches hereof made by some of our sayd Subiectes, proceeded rather of the suspitious & mistrustes where with they were slightly caried away, then for want of any affection, will, or obedience; which they alwayes te­stified vnto vs in al occasions that haue been [Page 7] offered: as also hoping that hereafter, they will conteine them selues in their duties vn­der the obseruation of our Proclamation and Decrees; Wee will, meane and it is our plea­sure, that all Decrees, Actes, and other Expeditions, that haue been giuen and made against them, as well in generall as in perti­cular, for any cause or occasion whatsoeuer, shall be voyde and as not made, so as by oc­casion or in sute of the same, they shall not incurre any reproch, danger, or damage; nei­ther be hereafter molested, or called in que­stion. And herevpon, we doe impose silence to all our Atturnies general, their substitutes, and all others: As also, wee doe expresly forbid all our sayd Subiectes conformably to the seuentie seuenth, and eighty two Ar­ticles of the sayd Proclamation, hereafter to make any callinges of Assemblies, or hol­ding of any prouinciall Counsels, or other leauies, or gathering of Armes, or men of Warre, or any other actions directly or in­directly, repugnant to our sayd Proclama­tions or Declarations, vnder paine of diso­bedience, and to be punished as disturbers of the publicke peace.

[Page 8]Wee also commaund our welbeloued and trustie Counsaylours, the people holding our Court of Parliament of Paris, and all other our Courtes of Parliament, and Cham­bers of Proclamation established through­out this Kingdome, that the aforesayd Pro­clamation of Pacification, secret Articles, Briefes, Declarations, and other Letters pa­tentes to them sent in consequence of the same; togeather with these presentes, they cause immeadiatly to be read and publi­shed in all places accustomed in such ca­ses, and the Contentes of the same to cause to be kept and obserued, and inuiolab­ly to be maintained; ceasing, and cau­sing to cease, all troubles and hinderaunces to the contrary.

Wee also doe enioyne all our Atturnies generall, diligently to set to their handes: And in case there shall hereafter, be any gainesayers to cause such seueere procee­dinges against them, that the example of their punishment may be a restraint to o­thers: For such is our pleasure.

In witnesse whereof, wee haue caused to [Page 9] put our Seale to these Presentes.

By the King being in his Counsell, the Queene Regent his mother present.