An Arrest of the Court of PARLIAMENT, The Princes and all the Chambers being Assembled, August 22. 1652.
To give thanks to the King for the removall of the Cardinal MAZARIN, and to beseech his Majesty to return to his good City of PARIS and to give Peace to his People.
With the Declaration of the Princes
An extract of the Registers of the Parliament.
THis day the Court, all the Chambers being assembled, in the presence of Beschefer Substitute for the Kings procureur Generall, Monsieur the Duke of Orleans, and after him the Prince of Conde, said, that they had sufficiently manifested by word and their Declarations made in Court, that the cause for which they took up arms was only for the, removall of the Cardinall out of the Kingdom. That upon advice given them they had brought to the Court their Declarations signed, exprest in these terms.
THe resolution that the King hath taken to cause the Cardinall Mazarin to depart the Kingdom in this present conjuncture, justifies in some sort that which we have done to hinder his entrance thereinto, and since he hath been come in, to expell him thence; so that no body can hereafter with reason blame our conduct, but those who are willing to authorise his stay in France, who have had the boldness to allege other things, and that to be onely the pretence for the War, and that there were causes of it that his removall would not be able to take away; But as we protest that it hath been the sole and true motive which made us take up arms, so we come into this Company to assure it, that we are ready to lay them down, & to execute sincerely the Declarations which we have here made, pre-supposing that his departure out of the Kingdom be reall: and provided that it please his Majesty to doe that which is necessary for the peace of his People, and that which is alwayes practised in the like occasions; which consists onely in giving a Generall Act of Oblivion in good form, and to remove the forces from about Paris, and to withdraw those that are in Guienne, and the Provinces, to employ them otherwise upon the Frontires, and to establish things in the same estate that they were before the present troubles, and particularly that which concerns the re-union of the Parliament, and to give a full assurance for the retiring those forces strangers that are under our command. We are resolved to send an Express to his Majesty, to let him know the same things, with all the respect we owe him, not doubting but that this Company will think it sit so to doe, and to conform our selves to the sence it shall have in an occasion so important as is this, and whereof depends the publique peace:
In witnesse whereof we have signed the present Declaration.
The said Declaration being read and heard by the said Substitute, he said, That it was out of an aboundant goodness and affection that Monsiew the Duke of Orleance, and Monsieur the Prince were willing to reiterate in word and writing the same Declaration which had been heretofore made by them in this place, in regard there was no need thereof, for that from the first time it was made by them in this place, there hath not been a man that is not perswaded that it was most intirely sincere, and better written and ingraven on their hearts altogether royall, than in the register of this court; but since they had witnessed so much good will for the good and welfare of the Estate, and for this Company, that it would be further necessary to beseech them to employ themselves towards the King, to be a means of his return to this city of Paris, to honor and conserve it by his presence; and on the behalf of the Court, the King having already by his goodnesse made the first step to make it sensible of his graces and favours, this company are obliged to doe all they can imagine might be agreeable to the King, to answer to his good will, and to witnesse to him with what affection they would render to him all submission and obedience that he could defire, and to this end it seemed expedient to him to make a deputation to goe to the King to give him most humble thanks, for that he hath had regard to the Remonstrances of his Parliament, that if any thing hath happened that possibly might displease him, to beseech him to forget it, and to be assured of the good intentions of this company; to make like supplication to return to Paris, to assure the people, and to stop all distrusts formed by one or the other party to foment divisions; If the Court shall think it good, to adde, that the Guards of the Ports be taken off, and that the levies of taxes cease that have been imposed, it will be a thing very agreeable to the King. And that this resolution be carryed by such of the Genclemen as it shall please the Court to depute, after it shall be known the King will please to hear them
The said Court hath arrested and ordained, that the King be most humbly thanked, for that it hath pleased him to agree to the removall of the said Cardinall Mazarin, that the Soveraign Companies, and the body of the Town be advertised and conveened to make the same deputation, to beseech the said Soveraign Lord the King to come to Paris, and to assure him of all the dutyes, respects, submissions, and obediences of his Officers and Subjects. That the said Sieur de Orleance, and the said Sieur Prince, be also thanked for their good will, intreated to continue their good affection for the peace of the Kingdom, and o send instantly with the most speed possible to his Majesty, to accomplish that which is necessary for the good and repose of his Estate, and to this end that the said Declaration remain with the Secretary of the said Court.
Given in Parliament the 22 day of August, 1652.