The Kinges Edict vpon the peace making of the trou­bles of hys Realme. Made the .xxiii. day of March, 1568. Contey­ning also the confirmation of an other like Edict of the .xix day of March. 1562.

Considering the great harmes and calamities chaūced, by the great trou­bles and warres, wherwithall our realme hath bene of late, and is yet at this present much afflicted: and foreséeing the desolati­on whiche might hereafter happen, if by the grace and mercy of our Lord God, the sayde troubles were not spéedily pacified: [Page] Wherefore to make an ende thereof, and to remedie the afflictions that doe procéede by them: lykewise to restore and cause our subiectes to liue in peace, rest, vnitie, and concorde, as it hath bene alwayes our intention.

We let you vnderstande, that after we haue thervpon taken the aduise and coun­sell of the Quene our right déere and right honourable Ladie and mother. And of our right déere and right welbeloued brethren the Duke of Anjou oure Lieutenant ge­nerall. And Duke Alenson, Princes of our blood, and others great and notable personages of our priuye Counsaile; By their aduice and counsayle for the causes and reasons aforesayde, and others good and great considerations therevnto vs mouing. We haue, in confirming againe (so muche as néede shoulde be) oure Edict of peace making of the .xix. of March. 1562. to be obserued in all and euery his points, and articles, as fullye as if they were from worde to word here transcribed, annexed, sayd, declared, enacted, and ordeined. We doe say, declare, euact, and ordeyne, we wil [Page] and our pleasure is, as foloweth.

TO wéet, that all those of the Reli­gion 1 pretended reformed, shall enioy pure­ly & simply the said Edict of peace making, and that it shall bée executed in all poynts and articles, according to his first forme and content. Taking away frō the same all restraints, modifications, declarations, and interpretations, the which haue béene made since the daye and date of the same, vntill the daye of the proclayming of these presents.

AND as touching the Lordes and 2 Gentlemen, which are of the condition or estate, of those which maye haue preaching in their houses, according to the said Edict of peace making, in assuring vs not to doe any thing preiudiciall or hurtfull to oure seruice, vnder pretence and color of the said preachings, and shall not abuse the same: wée do take away all restrayntes aswell for their own parts, as for others that wil goe vnto the said preachings.

MOREOVER, the Lordes and 3 Gentlemen of the Countie of Prouence, being of the aforesayde condition or estate, [Page] shall enioy the benefite of the sayde Edict, and cause preaching in theyr houses, as those of the other prouinces being of the aboue saide sort and condition: and neuer­thelesse, as for the saide Countie, and Ste­wardship of the said Prouence, there shall none other place but that of Merindoll.

4 THAT euery one of the sayd Reli­gion, shall returne and shall be preserued, mainteyned, and kept vnder our protec­tion in all their goodes, honours, estates, charges, offices, & dignities, of what quali­tie soeuer they be. Notwithstanding all Edicts, letters patentes, decrées, confisca­tiōs, proceedings, iudgements, & sentences against them, aswell liuing as dead, giuen & made since the beginning of this last in­surrection, & execution thereof, as well for the matters of Religion, the reising & solde or wages of straungers, the gatherings of money, enrolmentes of men, the voiages and ambassades into straunge countries, and within this our Realme, before and during the last troubles, by the commaun­dement of our Cosin the Prince of Conde, [Page] as also for the armes taken for that occasi­on, & for all that is happened thereof: The which we declare voide and of none effect, so that notwithstanding, neyther they nor theyr children, heyres and others hauing cause, should be any thing impeached or let, from the enioying of their sayd goodes and honours, nor that they should be boūd to take of vs, any other prouiso or warrant then these our present letters, by the which we do put their persones in full libertie, discharging them of al takings of townes, bearing of armes, assemblies, seasures and taking of our money and treasures, esta­blishmentes of iustice amongst them, and iudgementes, and executions therof.

AND to the end there should bee no doubt of the right meaning and intention 5 of oure Cosin the Prince of Conde, we haue sayde and declared, and doe say and declare, that we do holde and repute the same our said Cosin, for our good kinsman, faythfull subiect, and seruant as also we do account all the Lords, Knightes, Gentle­men, and all others inhabiting the Cities and townes, cōmunalties, boroughes and [Page] other places of our sayde realme country & obedience y^e which haue folowed, succored, and accōpanied him, in this present warre, and during these tumultes, in what place soeuer it be of this our said realme, for our good and faithfull subiects, and seruants.

AND our saide Cosin shall remaine acquited & discharged, as by these presents signed wyth our owne hand, we do acquit and discharge him, of all such money as hath bene by him or by his commannde­ment and order, leuied, and taken in oure recepts generall & perticuler, vnto what­soeuer summes the same may amount: And in like maner of such summes as hath béene (as it is said) by him or by his order also raysed and taken of the communaltie, Cities, townes, paye maysters, rentes, and reuenues of Churches, and other by hym bestowed in the occasion of this pre­sent warre: so that neither he, nor his, nor they that haue béene appointed by him for the gathering of the said mony, the which, and lykewise those which haue furnished and giuen it, shall remaine acquited and discharged, and the which, we do acquite [Page] and discharge, neuer to be in any wise ex­amined or called to any account, presently nor in time to come, nor also for y^e coyning of mony, melting or casting of Artillarie, making of Gunpowders & saltpeters, for­tifiyng of townes, demoliments made for the sayd fortifications, by the commaunde­ment of the same our said Cosin, in all the townes of our Realm, and country of our obedience: and generally of al other demo­liments and ruines, so that there shall be no pretence made for any recōpence there­fore in time to come, wherof the bodies and inhabitants of the same shall remaine in like maner discharged, & we do discharge them therefore by these presents.

AND further, there shall none of 7 our subiects complaine nor commence any action for any fruits, reuenues, arrierages of rents, money or other moueables, which they mought pretend to haue bene taken and borne away from them, nor of any o­ther domages or hurtes, done since the be­ginning of these troubles, vnto the day of y^e proclaiming of these presents, made in y^e two campes and armies: which shalbe for [Page] the behalfe of the Parliament of Parys, thrée dayes after the date of these said pre­sents, and for the behalfe of the other parli­aments, eight dayes after the date of these said presents: within which time, it shall be cōmaunded with all diligence, vnto our gouernors and Lieutenaunts generall, to cause it to be forthwith proclamed and ob­serued, euery one, in al the places of his go­uernement, where it shal appertain, with­out tarying the proclaminges of the sayde Courts: to the ende that no man mought pretend cause of ignorance, and that more redily all wayes of hostility, spoylings and demoliments, of the one part & the other, mought ceasse. Declaring now forthwith, that all demoliments, spoyles, takings and rauishings of goodes, moueables, & other actes of hostilitie, which shall be done after the said tyme, are subiect to restitution and reparation.

8 WE do also commaund our Courts of parliaments, y^t so sone as they shal receiue the said edict, they shall (leauing all other businesse apart) cause y^e same our edict to be proclaymed & registred in our sayd courts, [Page] according to the forme and tenor thereof: and to our atturneis generall consideredly to require and pursue the proclayming thereof, without any refusall, protracting of time, nor tarying for any further byd­ding or commaundement from vs, for (as it is sayd) to make a redy ende vnto all e­nimities, rancors and hostilities.

WE meane further that the towne and 9 resort of the Prouosty (or Mayralty) & Vi­conty of Paris should be & remain exemp­ted from all exercyse of the sayd Relygion, according to the contents of the sayd edict of pacification, which remayneth in his first force and vertue.

AND we will in like maner, that af­ter 10 the proclayming of these sayde presents made in our court of parliament of Paris, and in the two campes, those of the said re­ligiō, should disarme thēselues forthwith, and should seperate their forces, to retyre themselues home, and that the Cities, townes and places, occupied with men of warre, should be presently restored and set in their first estate and trafique, with all their artillaries & munitions which shall [Page] be in nature, as also the houses of seuerall persons which haue bene in likewise occu­pied, should be with diligence restored, vn­to whom they shall apperteyne: and all prisoners, whether it be of warre, or for the matter of Religion, shall be in lyke maner set agayne in libertye, of their per­sonnes and goodes, without paying any raunsome.

11 AND to the ende that hereafter, all occasions of troubles, tumults & seditions may ceasse, and the better to reconcile and vnite the intentions and willes of our said subiectes, the one towards the other, and with this vnion, the more easily to main­taine the obedience which they all doe owe vs, we haue ordeyned and doe ordeyne, we meane, will and oure pleasure is, that all iniuries and offences, which the iniquity of the tyme, and the occasions which haue thereof happened, mought haue caused to haue sprong amongst our sayde subiectes, and all other things passed, and caused, by these present tumults, shal remaine quen­ched, as dead, buried, and not happened. Right expressely and most earnestly vpon [Page] paine of death, forbidding all our saide sub­iectes, of what soeuer estate & qualitie they may be, that they do forbeare iniuriyng or prouoking the one y^e other, in reproching that which is past, nor to dispute, argue, quarell, contest nor braule togither of any matter, neyther to outrage and offend in déed nor worde, but to contain & stay them­selues, and to lyue peaceablie together, as brethren, friends and felow-citizens: vpon pain vnto those, which may offend, & which shall be cause & moouers of the iniurie and offence which should happen, to be in the place and forthwith, and without any o­ther forme of processe, punished according to the rigour of our present ordinance.

AND to cause all scruple and doubt to 12 ceasse, our said subiects shall depart & leaue all assotiations and gatherings, the which they haue within & without this Realme, and shal not make from henceforth any ta­king vp of money, enrolmentes of men, congregations nor other assemblies, then those which are permitted by this present Edict: which we doe forbid them and com­maund also vpon pain to be rigorously pu­nished, [Page] and as contemners and breakers of our commaundments and orders.

13 FVRTHER right expressely & strait­ly charging them, & vpon the like paines, not to trouble, molest, nor disquiet the Ec­clesiasticall in the celebration of the di­uine seruice, the inioying and perceyuing of the fruits and reuenues of their benefi­ces, tithes and all other rightes and duties which do appertaine vnto them: so y^t none of the said religion may vse, take or retaine any Temple or Church of the said Ecclesi­astickes, which we do meane should be pre­sently remitted in their Churches, houses, goods, tythes, possessions and reuenues, to enioy and vse them euen as they did before these tumults, to vse and continue the ser­uice diuine & accustomed by them in their said Churches, without any maner of mo­lestation, impechment or disturbance.

14 WE will, do ordein and our pleasure is, that the contents hereaboue, and also our saide first Edict of pacification wherevnto these presents are referred, & are to cōfirme [Page] the same, should be inuiolately entertained kept and obserued, ouer all and euerie the places of our realme, vnto the time that it maye please God to giue vs the grace that our subiectes maye be revnited in one selfe religion.

AND also we doe commaund oure be­loued & faithfull, the kéepers of our courtes 15 of parliaments, chambers of our accounts, Courtes of our helpes, Baylifes, Ste­wardes, and others our Iusticers and offi­cers to whome it may appertaine, or their Lieutenants, that this oure present Edict and decrée, they should cause to be red, pub­lished, and registred in their Courtes and iurisdictions, and the same to entertaine, and cause to entertained, kept and obser­ued inuiolably from point to point, and to whom it may appertaine, to enioy and vse fully and peaceably the contents thereof, ceassing & causing to be ceassed all impech­ments, troubles and lets to the contrary. For suche is our pleasure.

An Edict or decree and declaration, made by the king Charles, the ninth of that name, vpon the peace making of the trou­bles of Fraunce, the xix. day of March 1562.
Printed at Paris by Robert Stephanus the kinges printer. 1562.
With Priuiledge of the sayd king.

Euery man hath séene and knowē how it hath pleased the Lord God, within these fewe yeares, to suffer y^t this our Realme, should be afflicted and wersed with many troubles, seditions and tumultes amongst our subiectes, styr­red and raised by the diuersity of opinions, and scruple of their consciences for y^e mat­ter of Religion. For remedie whereof, and that this fire shoulde not kindle fur­ther, [Page] there hath bene heretofore made, di­uers assemblies and conuocations, of the most great and notable personages of our kingdome, and by their good counsayle and aduise, set forth manye Edictes and ordi­nances, according to the behoofe and neede which was offered: thinking therby to pre­uent the euill, and to go before the incon­uenience hanging therevpon.

Neuerthelesse the malice of these dayes hath willed, and the Lorde also hath by his iudgement vnknowen (prouoked as we must nedes beleue, with our offences and sinnes) left the bridle vnto the sayde tu­mults. In such wise, as men haue armed themselues, so farre forth, as there is come thereof infinite murders, vengeaunces, robberies, forcing and pillage of townes, the ruyne of temples & Churches, battels giuen, and so many other euilles, calami­ties, and desolations committed and exer­cised in dyuers places, that this euill con­tinuing, and seing alredy so many straun­gers in our sayde Realme, knowing also the preparatiues made for the bringing in of more, the euident ruyne of the same to [Page] be incuitable: Considering also the great and vnreparable losse, which (to our great grief) we haue had, since the beginning of these tumults, of so many Princes, Lords, Knightes of our order, great Capitaynes and men of warre: which is next vnto the hand of God, the true susteyner, pillar, de­fence, and protection of this our Crowne, and an argument vnto our neighbours, which shoulde be of an yll will, to pearce and inuade vs, as we haue béen and are threatned thereof.

Which by vs considered, serching al pos­sible remedies (how be it that thankes be to God our forces be great, and that in ap­parance, we want no men:) Seing ne­uerthelesse, that all the euill, and inconue­nience which commeth of this warre, tur­neth to the decay and hurt of our Realme, and hauing erperimēted to our great losse, such remedie to be neither fit nor conueni­ent (the sicknesse being hidden within the bowelles and mindes of our people.) We haue thought that the best and most profi­table, which we might applie therevnto, was (as a Prince most christian, whereof [Page] we beare the name) to haue recourse, to the infinite grace and goodnesse of our Lorde, and with his good helpe, to finde the mea­nes to pacify by our gentlenesse, the sharp­nesse of the sickenesse: In calling againe & reconciling, the willes of our said subiects, to an vnion, & to the acknowleging, which they all owe vnto our obedience, to the ho­nour of God, welth, helth, and conseruati­on of this our Realme: In prouidinge such meanes as may reteyne and content our sayd Subiectes: hoping that the time, the fruit of a good, holy, frée, and generall or nationall counsell, and the vertue of our ripe age, nere comming, led and directed by the hand and grace of our Lorde, (who of his goodnesse hath alwayes had care and garde of this Crowne) shall bring hereaf­ter the certeyne and true establishing (vnto his honour and glory) rest and tranquilitye to our sayde people and subiectes.

Whervpon we haue well willed, to take the good & prudent councell, of the Queene our right dere and right honourable Lady and mother, of our right dere and right welbeloued Cosins the Cardnal of Bour­bon, [Page] Prince of Conde, Duke of Mount­pensier, & Prince of the Roche-sur-Yon, Princes of our blood. Also of our right dere and right welbeloued Cosines, the Card­nall of Guyse, Duke of Aumale, Duke of Mountmorency Cunstable, Pairs of Fraunce, Duke of Estamps, Marshalles of Brissack, and of Bordillon, Lordes of Andilot, of Sansack, of Sipierre, and o­thers good and great personages, of oure priuie counsell: whiche all haue béene of the aduice, and founde it reasonable for the common wealth of this our Realme, to make and ordeyne that which foloweth.

We giue to vnderstande, that we accor­ding to their good counsell, and for the cau­ses, reasons and considerations abouesaid, and others good and weightie therevnto mouing vs, haue sayde, declared, constitu­ted and ordeyned, doe saye, declare, consti­tute and ordeyne, we will and our pleasure is. That from henceforth, all Gentlemen, which are Barons, Chastelains, high Iu­sticers, and Lords holding ful fee of Haw­bert and euerie one of them maye lyue in their houses, (wherein they shall dwell) [Page] in libertie of their consciences and exercise of the Religion, the which they doe call re­formed, with their familie and subiectes, which fréely and without anye constraint would be thereat. And the other Gentlemē hauing sée, also in their houses, for them and their families only. So that they dwell not in the Townes, Boroughes and Vil­lages of the Lords, high Iusticers, besides our self. In which case they may not vse in the said places, any exercise of the sayd Re­ligion, except it be by permission & licence of their said Lords, high Iusticers, & none otherwise.

That in euerie Baylywick, Steward­ship and Gouernement, holding place of a Baylywick, as Peronne, Montdidier Roy, and Rochelle, and others of like na­ture, resorting barely and without anye meanes in oure Courts of Parliaments. We shall ordeine, at the request of those of the Religion, a Towne, in the Suberbes whereof, the exercise of the sayde Religion may be vsed, of all those of the resort which would goe vnto it, and none otherwise nor else where.

[Page] And neuerthelesse, euerie one may lyue and dwel ouer al, in his house fréely, with­out being examined or molested, forced or constrained for the matter of hys cōscience. That in all the townes, wherein the sayde Religion was vnto the .vij. of this present moneth of March exercised, besides the o­ther townes which shall be (as it is saide) perticularly named of y^e sayd Baylywicks and Stewardships: The sayde exercise shall be continued in one or two places within the sayde Towne, such one or both as by vs shall be ordeyned.

Prouided that those of the sayde religion shall not vse or take, or reteyne any Tem­ple, or Church of the Ecclesiasticall sort: which we doe meane to be nowe remitted in their Churches, houses, goodes, possessi­ons and reuenues, to enioy and vse them, so fully as they did before these tumultes. To vse and continue the seruice diuine and accustomed by them, in their sayde Chur­ches, without anye maner of molestation, impechment or let: nor also that they may chalenge any recompence for the ruines & hurtes, which haue béene done therevnto.

[Page] We meane also that the Towne and resort of the Preuostie, or Marialtie and Vicountie of Paris, shall be and remaine exempted, of al exercise of the saide Religi­on. And that notwithstanding those which haue their houses within the saide Towne and resort, maye returne into their sayde houses, and enioye their sayde goods peace­ably: without being forced or constrained, examined or molested for the time past, nor for to come, for y^e matter of their conscience. All Townes shall be remitted and set in their first estate and frée traffique, and all straungers put and sent out of this oure Realme, the soonest that it may be done.

And to make the willes of our sayd sub­iectes the more contented and satisfied, we doe ordeine, will, and also our pleasure is, that euery one of them returne and be con­serued, maintained and kept vnder oure protection, in all his goods, honors, estates, charges and offices, of what qualitie they may be: Notwithstanding all decrées, sea­sures, procéedings, iudgements, arrestes, and sentences giuen against them, sithens the death of the late king Henry, our right [Page] honorable Lorde and father (of laudable memorie) and the execution of them: as well for the matter of Religion, voyages and iourneis made, within and without this kingdom, by commaundement of our saide Cosin the Prince of Conde, as for the armes taken for this occasion & that which hath followed thereof: the which we haue declared and doe declare voide and of none effect. So that by their meanes, they nor their children, heires & hauing cause, be in any thing impeched or let, from the enioy­ing of their saide goodes and honors, nor that they should be bounde to take, obteine nor procure of vs, anye other prouiso or warrant then these presents, by the which we doe put their persons and goodes in full libertie.

And to the ende it should not be doubted of the sinceritie and right intention of oure sayde Cosin the Prince of Conde, we haue sayde and declared, doe saye and declare, that we doe repute the same our sayde Co­sin, for our good kinsman, faithfull subiect and seruaunt: as also we doe account all the Lordes, Knightes, Gentlemen and o­thers, [Page] dwelling in the Cities, Townes, Cominalties, Boroughes and other pla­ces of oure Realme and Countrie, vnder our obedience, which hath followed, suc­coured, holpen and accompanied him, in this present warre, and during the sayde tumultes in any part and place whatsoe­uer of our sayde Realme, for our good and lawfull subiectes and seruauntes: bele­uing and estéeming, that the same which hath bene done heretofore by our sayd sub­iectes, aswell for the matter of armes, as the stablishing of the iustice set amongst them, iudgement and executions thereof, hath bene done, to a good ende and enten­tion, and for our seruice.

We doe ordeyne also, we will and our pleasure is, that our sayd Cosin the prince of Conde, doe remayne acquited and by these presentes, signed with our hande, we do acquite him, of all the money which haue béene by him and his commaunde­ment and order taken and raised in our re­ceipts and of our treasures vnto whatsoe­uer somme they may amount.

And likewise that he should remaine dis­charged [Page] of those which haue béen (as it is sayde) by him and his order also taken and raysed of the cominaltie, Cities, tow­nes, paymasters, rents, reuenues of Chur­ches, and other, by him employed for the occasion of the present warres: so that he nor his, nor those which haue bene by him cōmitted, to take vp y^e said money (y^e which sort) & in like maner those which haue fur­nished & deliuered it to them, shall remain acquited & discharged therfore, & shal not be in any wise, examined or called to any ac­compt, for the time present or herafter: nor also for the coyning of money, melting or casting of artillarie, making of Gunpow­ders & saltpeters, fortifications of townes, ruines & demoliments made for y^e sayd for­tifications, by cōmaundement of the same our sayd Cosin the Prince of Conde, in all Townes of this our Realme, and Coun­treis of our obedience, whereof the bo­dyes and Inhabitaunts of the sayde tow­nes, shall remaine also discharged by these sayd presentes. That all prisoners whe­ther it be for the warre, or for the matter of religion, shalbe consideredly and duely set at liberty, of their persons and goodes, with [Page] out paying any raunsome, excepting rob­bers, felons, theues, and murderers, which shall not be comprehended in these sayd presents.

And for that we do singularly desier, that all the occasions of these troubles, tumults and sedicions may ceasse, to reconcile and vnite the mindes and willes of our sayd subiects the one toward the other, and the more easier by this vnion, to maynteyn the obedience which the one part and the other doth owe vs, we haue ordeyned and do or­deyne, intend, will, and our pleasure is. That al iniuries & offēces, which y^e iniqui­ty of y^e tyme, & occasions which haue there­by happened, might haue caused to spring among our sayd subiects, & all other things passed and caused, by these tumultes, shall remaine quenched, as dead, buried and not chaunced: defending right straightly, vpon paine of death, vnto all our sayd subiects, of whatsoeuer estate and qualitie they may be of, that they doe not endeuour themsel­ues, to vexe nor prouoke the one the other, by iniurious woordes, in reproching that which is passed, nor to dispute, quarell nor contest and brawle togither, of the matter [Page] of religion, offend nor outrage or wrong by worde or deede, but to conteyne and re­frayne themselues, and to lyue peaceably togither, as brethren, friendes, fellow cite­zens and neighbours, vpon paine, for them which shall offend, and which shalbe cause and motion of the vexation, iniury and of­fence, which should happen, to be vpon the place forthwith, and without any other forme of processe executed, according to the rigor of our present ordinance.

In consideration also whereof, and of the contents here before, and to cause all scruple and doubt to ceasse, oure saide sub­iectes shall depart and deuide themselues and shall forbeare al maner of associatiōs, and gatherings together, which they haue within and without this Realme, and shal not from henceforth, make anye takings vp of money, enrolings of men, congrega­tions, nor assemblies, other then is aboue­saide, and without armes. Which we doe also prohibit and forbid them vpon payne to be rigorously punished, and as contemp­ters and breakers of oure ordinances and commaundements.

We doe further commaunde by these [Page] selfe same presents, vnto oure beloued and faythfull, suche as kepe oure Courtes of Parliaments, Chambers of our accounts, Courts of our helps, Bailiues, Stewards and other oure Iusticers, and officers to whome it maye appertaine, or vnto their wieutenants, that they doe cause this our present declaration and ordinaunce, to be red, published & registred, in their Courts and iurisdictions, and the same to inter­teyne and cause to be interteyned kept and obserued inuiolably from point to point, and they to whome it shall appertaine to enioye and vse, fully and peaceably, the content thereof. Ceassing and causing to ceasse all troubles impechments and letts to the contrarie. For suche is our pleasure.