WHEREAS we have been obliged by the reiterated and preſſing Inſtances of a Foreign Force overpowering us, to iſſue forth the Edicts of the 31ſt. of January, and 9th. of April, 1686. againſt our faithful Subjects the Proteſtants of the Valleys of Lucerne, Perouſe, St. Martin, and the Neighbouring Places, viz. Praruſtino, St. Bartholomew, and Roche-Platte. And whereas we have been invited to receive them into our Favour, by the manifeſt Proofs of Fidelity, and Authentick Marks of Zeal for our Service, which theſe our Proteſtant Subjects have given, and continue to give us: As alſo in conſideration of the Inſtances of his Majeſty the King of Great Britain, and of their High and Mightineſſes the States-General of the United Provinces in the Low-Countries; by theſe Motives we have thought fit not to defer any longer to make it appear, That they are altogether reſtor'd to our Favour, that they may be the more excited to make themſelves worthy of it. And by theſe Preſents, which we will to have the Force of an Edict, from our certain Knowledge, full Power, Abſolute Authority, and by the Advice of our Council, Repealing and Diſannulling, as we Repeal and Diſannul the ſaid Edicts of the 31ſt. of January, and 9th. of April, 1686. and their Ratifications: As alſo all other Declarations of Puniſhment, Sentences, Ordinances, and all other Acts and Orders iſſued forth in execution of the ſaid Edicts againſt the forementioned Proteſtants, in ſuch a manner as that they ſhall remain for the future of no Force, nor Effect, as though they were never iſſued forth. And likewiſe we give a full Releaſe and intire Remiſſion, Abſolution, and Abolition, as far as it is or may be neceſſary, of all the Infractions to the ſaid Edicts, and of all other Exceſſes of what nature and quality, and how enormous ſoever they may be, that might be aſcribed to the ſaid Proteſtants, and that ſhould require a particular and individual Mention; as alſo of all the Puniſhments declared againſt and incurr'd by them both in general, and by private perſons. We reſtore the ſaid Proteſtants, and all thoſe that have either abetted, adviſed, or favoured them, in their former Honours and our Favour, as they were before the Infractions to the ſaid Edicts; Ordaining, That all thoſe of our Proteſtant Subjects who may be yet detained Priſoners, and all their Children of what Sex, Age, and in what Place ſoever of our Dominions they may yet be detained, ſhall immediately be releaſed, without paying any Fees, and left at full liberty to return with their Parents into the ſaid Valleys, and there profeſs their Religion, without being moleſted or taken notice of, as well they as any body elſe, for the ſake of any Act of their Religion, or Abjuration they themſelves or their Fathers may have made, as being extorted from them by Violence. Forbidding for this purpoſe, to bring any hindrance or difficulty, by concealing them, or in any other manner whatſoever, to their returning into the ſaid Valleys, and much leſs to offer them the leaſt Violence; which is likewiſe forbidden to the ſaid Proteſtants againſt the Catholicks, who ſhall be willing to remain in theſe our ſaid Dominions, and to continue to exerciſe the Catholick Religion. And we will that our Governors and Judges of Places be bound to ſee the foremention'd things perform'd; and that the ſaid Proteſtants of both Sexes be no ways forced nor hindred to uſe in this their free will, and be at full Liberty to return into the ſaid Valleys. Moreover, we reſtore the ſaid Proteſtants to, and will that they be maintained with their Children and Poſterity in the Poſſeſſion of all and every one of their Ancient Rights, Edicts, Cuſtoms, Uſes, and Privileges, as well in reſpect of their Abode, Trade, Commerce, of the Exerciſe of the Religion they profeſs, as of any other thing, none excepted, even as they were before the ſaid Edicts: Reeſtabliſhing and Reſtoring the Proteſtants in the quiet and peaceable Poſſeſſion and Enjoyment of all their Goods; Lands, Houſes, Hereditaments, Titles, Debts, Actions, and all other things, which ſhall yet be found in being and Nature, and of which it may be made out by any ſort of proof, That they have belonged to them immediately before the ſaid Edicts; commanding all thoſe that may be poſſeſſed, by any Title whatſoever, of the Goods and Effects which have formerly belonged to the Proteſtants before the ſaid Edicts, That in obedience to this, they reſtore and deliver them to their free and peaceable enjoyment, without vexing or moleſting them in any manner, either at this preſent or for the future, under what pretence ſoever it may be. Forbidding them and all our Subjects their Adherents, now and for the time to come, on account of the foremention'd Infractions, their Conſequences and Dependencies, by the Magiſtrates, Judges, Officials, Fiſcals, or any other that may be thought fit, to offer them any further Moleſtation either Real or Perſonal, in ſuch a manner as they may never be troubled, either in general or in particular, nor diſturbed by any means whatſoever, either in their Perſons or Goods, by reaſon of the foreſaid Infractions or Abjuration they may have made, as having been violently extorted from them, as aforeſaid. And therefore following the Example formerly practiced by our Anceſtors in the like caſes, we enjoyn a perpetual and final ſilence to our Fiſcals, or any other that may be neceſſary; Declaring null and void from henceforth whatever may enſue to the contrary, promiſing our Protection to all thoſe who ſhall be Moleſted or Diſturbed notwithſtanding this our Declaration: And beſides, giving leave to every Perſon Born in the ſaid Religion, and making Profeſſion of it, freely to go 〈1 page duplicate〉 in order 〈…〉 themſelves in the ſaid Valleys, but firſt taking; at the hands of our great Chancellor, the due and uſual Oath of Allegiance, viz. That they ſhall be and live Good, Faithful, and Obedient Subjects to us and to our Succeſſors to the Crown, during their Abode in the ſaid Valleys; wherein they may poſſeſs Lands within the preſcribed Limits, and there enjoy the ſame Privileges and Prerogatives, none excepted, which are or may be enjoyed by the Proteſtants, natural Inhabitants of the Countrey, except the French in regard to whom this Conceſſion ſhall terminate Ten years after the [Future] Peace. Declaring beſides, That thoſe of the Valleys of Pragela and Perouſe, who ſhall have occaſion to come and ſettle themſelves in thoſe of Lucerne, and other Dependencies of our Dominions within the Limits mentioned in this preſent Edict, for the ſ • ke of any Inheritance, Subſtitution or Marriage, ſhall have power to do it at any time, provided they come to ſettle themſelves entirely there, leaving their Abode in the ſaid Valleys of Pragela and Perouſe; and we will alſo that our Proteſtant Subjects, that may ſettle themſelves in the ſaid Valleys, ſhall not have Power to Moleſt by any means the Catholicks Inhabiting the ſame, under any pretence whatſoever; allowing however all the Proteſtant Inhabitants of our ſaid Valleys, to Buy and Acquire, without Violence, and Freely, all the moveable and unmoveable Goods, that are contained within the Bounds of our ſaid Valleys, in what hands ſoever they may be. And therefore we Enjoyn, and Command all our Magiſtrates, Miniſters, and Officers, and all others whom it may concern, to obſerve theſe Preſents, and cauſe them to be ſtrictly obſerved: And to our Senate and Chamber of Piemont, to ratifie and approve them in all things and as far as may be requiſite, without any difficulty or contradiction. And we will that they be Publiſhed in the uſual Form in the ſeveral and reſpective Places of our ſaid Valleys, and whereever it ſhall be neceſſary; and that the ſame Credit be given to a Copy Printed by our Printer Valetta, as to the Original it ſelf; for ſuch is our Pleaſure.

Given at Turin; the 23d. of May, 1694. V. Amedeo, V. Bellegarde Reg. Gallinati. De S. Thomas.

The Chamber of Accompts of his Royal Highneſs.

LET it be known to every one, That we have ſeen the abovewritten Edict, Confirmed under the hand of his Royal Highneſs, iſſued forth in due Form, Sealed and Subſcribed De S. Thomas, given in this City the 23d. of the preſent Month: And having heard the Concluſions of the Seignior Count Peter Frances Frichignono de Caſtelengo, Councellor, Senator, and Advocate-General of his ſaid Royal Highneſs, to whom it has been communicated; and having conſidered the Tenure of it (as far as it concerns and belongs to this Court): We have ratified, admitted, and approved, and by theſe Preſents, ratifie, admit, and approve that Edict, with the following Declarations, as to what concerns the Limits mentioned in the ſame Edict, underſtanding the ſame, which are expreſſed and preſcribed in the laſt Edicts, and declared to be the ſaid Bounds: provided that the Perſons and Goods of the preſent Inhabitants, and of all others that ſhall take for the future their Abode in the Valleys, and Places mentioned in the ſaid Edict, and in the meaning of the ſame, be reſpectively obliged to all the Charges, Gabels, and Impoſitions, as they were bound and obliged to his Royal Highneſs, and his Princely Succeſſors, before the Edicts of the 31ſt. of January, and 9th. of April, 1686. and as other Subjects are, and remain obliged: And as to the reſt, according to it's Form, Meaning, and Tenure, enjoyning that it be Regiſtred in our Records, that recourſe may be had to it upon occaſion: In confirmation of which, we have granted theſe Preſents.

Given at Turin, the 25th. of May, 1694. By the ſaid Moſt Excellent Chamber, Aymo.

The Senate of his Royal Highneſs Sitting at Turin.

LET it be known to evey one, That we have ſeen and read the above-written Order of his Royal Highneſs, given at Turin the 23d. of this preſent May, Conſirmed, duly iſſued forth, and Sealed by his Royal Highneſs, and Subſcribed de S. Thomas: And that having conſidered the Tenure of it, and the Concluſions of the Seignior Count Peter Frances Frichignono, Councellor, Senator, and Advocate-General of his ſaid Royal Highneſs, to whom it has been Communicated; inaſmuch as it concerns and belongs to this Sovereign Court, we have admitted, approved, and ratified, as by theſe preſents we admit, approve, and ratifie it: And withal Declare, That the Reſtoration of the Vaudois, or others of the Reformed Religion, of which mention is made in the preſent Edict, is to be underſtood to comprehend only and merely the Goods, Debts, and Actions of which they have been deprived on that occaſion, and in conſequence of the Edicts that were iſſued forth the 31ſt of January, and 9th of April, 1686. And that from them are excepted the Debts, or Actions of any Perſons whatever, upon the Goods and Perſons of the ſame People, before the ſaid Edicts. We likewiſe declare, That as to the Goods that were then bought, in which the ſaid Proteſtants are Re-eſtabliſhed, by the diſpoſition o • the preſent Edict, that the right is preſerved to the Buyer to demand the price which he has paid for it to the Receiver of his Royal Highneſs, as far as it ſhall belong to him; which may by no means reflect either directly or indirectly upon the Proteſtant or their Goods: ſince 'tis underſtood that they are only reſtored and reeſtabliſhed into that ſtate in which they were before the ſaid Edicts. And as to the reſt let it be in all things according to the Form, Meaning, and Tenure of the preſen • Edict, enjoining every one whom it may concern to cauſe the preſent Edict to be obſerved, as we Record it by theſe preſents in our Regiſters.

Given at Turin the 25th. of May, 1694. By the moſt Exccellent Senate, Dalmazzo.