LEWIS, By the grace of God, King of France and Navarre. To all both present and to come greeting. As Soueraigne authoritie hath no lesse splendour in actions of Grace and Clemencie, then in Armes and Iu­stice, and to know how to vanquish and pardon are the highest markes of Magnanimitie. So that a Prince ought to be esteemed worthy of honor and glory who hauing giuen course to his Armes against those which had iustly brought them vpon them, & after they had submitted & ranged themselues in their dutie is con­tent to exercise his clemency towards them, & to make the publike fruits to be gathered by the establishing of Peace, which causeth God to be serued and inuocated in all places, the Kings authoritie reuerenced, and ac­knowledged of all, and the Lawes religiously to bee obserued, the people eased, and the body of the State [Page] [Page] [...] [Page]vniting its forces together is more powerfull for its conseruation, and to giue succours and protection to the Allies. These considerations which we haue euer had before our eyes, haue giuen vs occasion to vse as­much moderation to mittigate and extinguish the motiues which diuers times haue exposed this King­dome into combustion, vsing grace towards those who inconsiderately haue cast themselues thereinto, as we haue shewed vigour, firmenesse and diligence to chastise and correct them, when we were thereunto constrained. Concerning the present affaires, our courses haue beene such, that hauing imployed both threatnings and punishments in places which openly haue declared themselues disobedient, and gentlenes, patience and perswasions vnto those which haue con­teyned themselues in their duty and obedience, ha­uing kept backe the tempest of trouble wherewith this state was menaced with an intestiue warre and preserued the better and greater part of our Subiects of the pretended reformed Religion in the fidelity and obeisance wherein they are bound vnto vs: Our intention hauing beene so cleerely seene and knowne to haue alwayes beene as it is still at this present to maintaine them in peace, concord, and tranquilitie, and to cause them inuiolably to inioy the graces vnto them granted by our Edicts and declarations. And that those which haue taken Armes, and the Townes which haue followed their examples, hauing lately considered the quality of their offence, the publike indignation, the ruine and iust punishment that they draw vpon themselues, continuing to trouble the re­pose [Page]of this State: they haue had recourse vnto our benignity, as to the only refuge of their safety, and haue by their deputies besought vs diuers limes by all wayes of Submission that subiects may shew vnto their King to pardon and forget what was past, and to giue them peace. Whereupon, we rather inclining to grace and clemencie, than to the ruine and desola­tion of our proper subiects: Hauing also regard to the most humble Supplications to vs made in the name and behalfe of those of the pretended reformed Religion which haue continued in their duties, that we would be pleased to receiue the submissions of the others, to forgiue their inconsiderate courses, and to reunite all in peace and concord vnder their obliged obedience. Protesting and assuring vs neuer to de­part from the same, for any cause, pretext or occasion whatsoeuer. Wee declare, that for those and other cau­ses and considerations of great importance, vs mo­uing, by the aduise of the Queene our most honoured Lady and Mother, the Princes of our blood, and of other Princes, Dukes, Peeres and Officers of our Crowne, the principall Lords and most eminent per­sons of our Counsell being neere vnto vs: We haue signified and declared, doe Signifie and declare by these presents, Signed vnder our hand, that our will and pleasure is,

I. That the Edict of Nantes, Declarations, and se­cret Articles, published and enrolled in our Courts of Parliament shalbe inuiolably kept & obserued for our [Page]Subiects of the pretended reformed Religion to inioy as they haue well and duely done in the time of the King our most honoured Lord and Father deceased, whom God assaile, and since our comming to the Crowne before the last troubles.

II. That the Catholicall, Apostolicall and Romane Religion shall bee restored and re-established in all places of our Kingdome and Countries vnder our o­beysance, where it hath been intermitted during these last troubles to bee fully, peaceably and freely exerci­sed: Expressely forbidding all persons of what quali­tie or condition soeuer, vpon paine of being punished as infractors of peace and perturbators of the publike repose, not to trouble, molest nor imquiet the Eccle­siasticall persons in the celebration of diuine Seruice and other functions of the Catholique Religion, nor of their inioying and perception of Tithes, fruites and reuenues of their Benefices, and all other rights and duties belonging vnto them, and that all those who during the last troubles that doe detayne any goods and reuenues of the Churches appertayning vnto Ec­clesiasticall persons, shall leaue vnto them the full and intire possession free and peaceable, conformable to the 3. Article of the Edict of Nantes, and restore such goods taken as shall be found in nature.

III. That the exercise of the pretended reformed Reli­gion shall bee re-established in the places where it [Page]hath beene, according to our said Edicts and Decla­ration in the yeare 1620. And our Subiects of the said pretended reformed Religion shall bee re-establi­shed in the said places, as also in their Churchyards or places of Burials where they haue beene granted, or others, such as by the Commissioners which shall bee by vs deputed or Officers of Townes shall finde it most fit and conuenient, And where they shall best fall or for some important cause, that the places of Burials cannot bee re-established in the same places which they possessed in the yeare 1620. there shall be others giuen them, which shall be commodious at their charges which shall require the alteration.

IV. And to giue publike testimony of the considerati­on in the which wee hold those of our Subiects of the pretended reformed Religion, which haue continued in their fidelitie and obeysance, and the recommen­dable proofes which some of them haue demonstra­ted vnto vs in our Armies both within and without our Kingdome, We haue at their humble supplicati­on, hauing also had regard vnto the Submissions of those which were strayed from their duties, and by our especiall Grace full power and Royall authoritie, wee haue acquited, remitted and pardoned, doe ac­quite remit and pardon by these presents, all leuies of Armes, enterprises and acts of hostilitie committed by our said Subiects of the pretended reformed Reli­gion, of what estate, qualitie or condition soeuer they [...]ee, together with the Townes which haue followed [Page]their examples, and the Inhabitants thereof aswell by Sea as by Land; since the first day of Ianuary in the yeare 1625. and precedent commotions vntill the day of the Publication of these presents, therein compre­hended that which peraduenture hath hapned within the internall of the Signature of the Declaration the 20. th of October 1622. and the publication thereof in our Courts of Parliament, whereof they shall re­maine fully and perpetually discharged, together with all other generall and prouinciall assemblies, small conuentions, leuies, popular commotions, excesses, violences, infractions of Safegards, and all other things generally whatsoeuer contained in the 76. and 77. Articles of the said Edict of Nantes, although they are not heere particularly declared and expressed, without being for any thing heretofore or to come a­ny way questioned, pursued nor inquieted, except onely the case reserued as it is specified and declared by the 86. and 87. Articles of the said Edict of Nantes, whereof examination may bee made before the Iudges to whom the knowledge of the cause be­longeth.

V. And for such summes of monies as haue beene im­posed, leuied, and taken vpon our Subiects, or our re­ceipts, or those who haue the managing and admini­stration thereof and discharges of those which are comptable, together with that which concerneth the debts and excesses by the communalty of both parts, and not payd. The 74.75.78. and 79. of the Edict of Nantes shall be kept and obserued.

[Page]VI. Which doing all Seates of Iustice, Custome-hou­ [...]s and receipts, and Officers of Finances, which per­ [...]uenture might, or haue beene transferred by means [...] the present troubles since the moneth of Ianuarie [...] last yeare, and especially those of the Table of the [...]ction of Rochell, shall be established in the same e­ [...]te wherein they were. The Townes which remai­ [...]d Reformed shall inioy the same priviledges, im­ [...]unities, Franchises, Faires and Markets, which they [...]ue done heretofore. The elections of Consuls shall [...] made after the accustomed forme, and in case of [...]peale, it shalbe relieued in our Chamber of Edict.

VII. In like manner, we will that our said Subiects of [...] pretended reformed Religion, shalbe wholly [...]d intirely discharged of Iudgements and Decree. [...]de against them through the occasion of the pre­ [...]t troubles, following the 58.59. and 60. Articles, [...] the said Edict, imposing perpetuall Silence vpon [...] our procurators generall, their Substitutes and [...] others which therein may pretend interest.

VIII. Wee charge and command, that all hostile Priso­ [...]rs which are detained on either part, who haue not [...]ed ransome, shalbe deliuered and set at full liberty [...]ithout paying any: declaring all promises made [...] caused for ransome, which haue not beene dis­charged [Page]by the day of the date hereof to be voide and of none effect, prouided notwithstanding that for the ransomes already paid, there may be no pretences not repetitions: as also those of our Subiects of the pre­tended reformed Religion, which are seazed by au­thority of Iustice, detayned in our Prisons or Gallies, by meanes of the last and precedent troubles, yea, e­uen those that were taken in the enterprise of Port St. Lewis, shalbe enlarged and set at liberty immedi­atly after the publication of these presents without any remise or delay.

IX. Our meaning likewise is, that the 27. Article of the said Edict of Nantes, concerning the admission and reception of our Subiects of the said pretended re­formed Religion to charges and Offices shalbe kept and obserued, and that all those of the said Religion what quality or condition soeuer, which haue beene by meanes of the present troubles destituted and de­priued of their Charges, Offices, Dignities, houses and habitations since the first of Ianuarie 1625. shalbe remitted, and re-established. As also in all their goods, names, debts, reasons, actions, which haue beene sei­zed in the time of the first and last commotions; Not­withstanding all prouisions of Offices, gifts, confisca­tions, represalls, payments, and quittances: Permit­ting to the Creditors to put in execution their Con­tracts and Obligations for the principall, notwith­standing all Iudgements and Arests, except it were intervented with an arrest diffmitiue and controdi­ctorie [Page]for that regard in our Counsell, or in our chambers of the Edict, or that the particulars haue beene paid else-where.

X We will that our present Letters of declaration shalbe kept and obserued by all our Subiects, in and according to the prescribed forme by the 82. Article of the said Edict of Nantes, but Commissioners, shalbe by vs deputed where need shall require, to cause the Contents thereof to be duly executed.

XI. With expresse charge to our said Subiects, pro­fessing the said pretended reformed Religion, not from henceforth to hold any generall or particular [...]ssemblies, Counsels, conventions, nor any other of what quality or condition soeuer, except they haue [...]xpresse commission by Letters or Breefes by vs Signed and counter-signed by one of our Secretaries of State: & that they shall depart from all practices, in­ [...]elligences, vnions & associatiōs. It being not the lesse [...]ermitted the collection of their consistories and Sy­ [...]ods for the affaires concerning the ordering of the [...]iscipline of the said pretended reformed Religion, [...]onformable to our Letters of declaration, dated the [...]7. of Aprill 1623. inacted for the holding of collecti­on and Synods, with expresse inhibitions to treate of [...]ny pollitick affaires, and from henceforth they shall make no fortifications in no manner whatsoeuer with­ [...]n our Townes, without our expresse Licence by our [Page]Letters Patents; Neither shall they raise any sommes of Money vpon our Subiects for any cause whatsoe­uer, without commission vnder our great Seale: vp­on paine of Crimum leze maiestatis, and to fall from, and to be depriued of this our present grace.

XII. Our intent is also that the Articles by vs conclu­ded, for that which concerneth the Towne of Rochell, Iles and countrie of Aulins shall bee kept, obserued, and incontinently, and without delay executed, and that the Townes and Castles which shall be found to haue beene taken by those of the pretended reformed Religion since the first troubles, shall be rendered in­to our obeissance within fifteene dayes after the pub­lication of these presents. Declaring those of our Sub­iects of the said pretended reformed Religion which shall make difficulties to submit themselues to this our will, to be falne and depriued of the benefit of this our present grace.

So We giue command to our trustie and welbe­loued the Officers of our Courts of Parliaments, and Chambers of the Edict, our Chambers of Accompts, Courts of our Aydes, Baylies, Senescals, or their Lieutenants, and to all other our Iustices and Offi­cers to whom it shall appertaine to cause to be read, published, and recorded by euery one of them, and the contents hereof inuiolably to be kept and obser­ued according to the forme and tenor thereof, with­out any conteruention or suffering the same to bee conteruented in any manner whatsoeuer. Enioyning [Page]our Procurators generall or their Substitutes, to cause to this effect to bee vsed all instances, pursuites, and requisitions necessarie: Notwithstanding all Decrees, Letters, and other things to the contrary notwithstanding, To the which Derogatories of de­rogatories therein contained, we haue derogated and doe derogate by these presents: For so is our pleasure. And to the end that it shall remaine firme and stable foreuer, Wee haue put our Seale thereto. Giuen at Paris in the moneth of March, in the yeare of grace 1626. and of our Raigne the 16. Signed LEVVIS. And vnderneath, By the King De Lomenie. And of one side Vis A. And Sealed with the great Seale in greene Waxe, vpon labelles of red and greene Silke Laces.

Read, published and recorded, heard, and which the Kings Procurator generall requiring it to bee executed kept and obserued according to the forme and tenor thereof, with charge according to the Decree the 3. of this Moneth: and that a collationed Copie of the originall of the said Letters should bee sent to the Bailyships and Sene­schalships of this Iurisdiction, to bee likewise read, publi­shed and recorded, by the diligence of the Substitute of the said Procurator generall who are inioyned to certifie the Court to haue done it within the Moneth.