The history of the famous Edict of Nantes containing an account of all the persecutions that have been in France from its first publication to this present time : faithfully extracted from all the publick and private memoirs, that could possibly be procured / printed first in French, by the authority of the states of Holland and West-Friezland, and now translated into English.

The King's Edict about the Pacification of the Troubles, containing a Confirmation, Amplification, and Declaration, as well of the pre∣cedent Edicts made upon the same Subjecct, even in the Year 1577. as of the Articles agreed on at the Conference held at Nerac, pub∣lish'd at Paris in Parliament, on the 26th of January, 1577.

HEnry by the Grace of God King of France and Poland, to all those present, and hereafter to come, Greeting.

Notwithstanding that since the Agreement and publication of our E∣dict of pacification, made in the year 1577. we have us'd our utmost en∣deavours for the putting of the same in execution, and to oblige our Sub∣jects to follow and observe it, even so far as to put the Queen our most honour'd Lady and Mother, to the trouble of repairing to the principal Provinces of our Kingdom, to reme∣dy and provide against, according to her usual prudence, the Difficulties and Obstacles which depriv'd our said Subjects of the benefit of our said Edict, whereupon follow'd the Ar∣ticles of the Conferance at Nerac, be∣tween the said Lady accompany'd with some of the principal Princes of our Blood, and Lords of our Privy-Council; and our most Dear and most Beloved Brother the King of Navar, assisted by the Deputies of our Subjects, who profess the pretended Reform'd Religion. Yet not having been able, to our great regret, to avoid the Troubles, being renew'd in our Kingdom, we have endeavour'd and us'd all the most proper and most agreeable means we have been able to devise, to extinguish them, and to deliver our said Subjects from the e∣vils of War; having to that end by our Letters Patent impow'd our most Dear and most Beloved only Brother, the Duke of Anjou, to cause our said Edict of pacification to be entirely executed, together with the Articles of the said Conference of Nerac: Who being since, according to our Intention, gone into our Country and Dutchy of Guyenne, and there

having, upon the said Subject, con∣ferr'd at large with our said Brother the King of Navar, and the Deputies of our said Subjects of the said pre∣tended Reform'd Religion there con∣ven'd and assembled▪ The Articles annex'd to these Presents under the Counter Seal of our Chancery, were there propos'd: Which said Articles being sent to us by our said Brother, we having examin'd and consider'd the same, out of a singular desire to banish out of our Kingdom, the Im∣pieties, Extortions, and other Acci∣dents occasion'd by the said Troubles; to re-establish the Honour and Ser∣vice of God, make way for Justice, and to relieve our poor people: Have out of our own Inclination, full Power and Authority Royal, ap∣prov'd and ratify'd the said Articles: The same do approve and ratifie by these Presents sign'd by our own Hand: And it is our will and plea∣sure that the same shall be follow'd, kept, executed, and inviolably ob∣serv'd, according to their Form and Tenor in the same manner as our said Edict of pacification.

Therefore we command and re∣quire our Trusty and well-beloved the Persons holding our Courts of Parliament, Chambers of our Ac∣counts, Courts of our Aids, Bailiffs, Seneschals, Provosts, and other our Justices and Officers to whom it may concern, or their Lieutenants, to cause the said Articles hereunto, as aforesaid, annex'd, to be read, pub∣lish'd, register'd, kept, executed, and inviolably observ'd in the same manner as our said Edict of Pacifica∣tion, and the Articles granted in the said Conference of Nerac, making all those that are concern'd, fully and peaceably enjoy and receive the bene∣fit of what is contain'd therein, put∣ting a stop to all Troubles and Impe∣diments to the contrary. For such is our pleasure; and to the end that it may be firm and lasting for ever, we have caus'd our Seal to be affix'd to these Presents.

Given at Blois in the Month of Decem∣ber, in the Year of our Lord, 1580. and of our Reign the 7th.

Sign'd. Henry.

And upon the Fold, by the King,

Pinart.

And seal'd upon Knots of Red and Green Silk, with the Great Seal, and Green Wax. And it is also written upon the Fold of the said Letters,

Visa.