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Brief granted by Henry the Great, to his Subjects of the Pretended Reform'd Religion on the 30th of April, 1589.
THis present 3d of April, 1598. The King being at Nantes, and being willing to gratify his Subjects of the Pretended Reform'd Religion, and to help them to supply many great Expences they are oblig'd to undergo, has ordain'd, That for the future, to begin from the first day of this present month, shall be put into the hands of Mr. de Vierse, commis∣sion'd by his Majesty to that end, by the Treasurers of his Exchequer, every one in his year, Rescriptions to the Sum of 45000 Crowns to be imploy'd in certain secret Affairs re∣lating to them, which his Majesty does neither think fit to specify, or declare: The which Sum of 45000 Crowns shall be assign'd upon the general Receipts as followeth; viz. Paris 6000 Crowns; Roan 6000 Crowns; Caen 3000 Crowns; Or∣leans 4000 Crowns; Tours 4000 Crowns; Poitiers 8000 Crowns; Limoges 6000 Crowns; Bordeaux 8000 Crowns. The whole toge∣ther amounting to the aforesaid Sum of 45000 Crowns; payable at the four Quarters of the said Year out of the first and clearest Mo∣ney of the said General Receipts; out of which nothing shall be re∣trench'd, or put of, upon any ac∣count whatever. For which Sum of 45000 Crowns, he shall cause Ac∣quittances to be deliver'd into the hands of the Treasurer of his Ex∣chequer for his discharge, in giving the said Rescriptions intire for the said Sum of 45000 Crowns, upon the said Generalities, at the begin∣ning of every year. And where for the convenience of the abovesaid, it shall be requir'd to cause part of the said Assignations to be paid in parti∣cular Receipts establish'd: The Trea∣surers-General of France, and Re∣ceivers-General of the said Generali∣ties shall be order'd to do it in dedu∣ction of the said Rescriptions of the said Treasurers of the Exchequer; the which shall be afterwards deli∣ver'd by the said Sieur de Vierse, to such as shall be nominated by those of the said Religion at the beginning of the year for the receipt and laying out of the Money to be receiv'd by virtue thereof; of which they shall be oblig'd to bring a particular ac∣count to the said Sieur de Vierse at the end of the year, with the Ac∣quittance of the Parties, to inform his Majesty with the laying out of the said Money: For which neither the said Sieur de Vierse, nor those that shall be imploy'd by those of the said Reli∣gion shall be oblig'd to give any ac∣count in any of the Chambers: For all which, and whatever may depend thereon, his Majesty has commanded all necessary Letters-Patent to be ex∣pedited by virtue of this present Brief, sign'd by his own hand, and counter∣sign'd by us, Counsellor in his Coun∣cil of State, and Secretary of his Commands.
Sign'd, Henry.
And lower,De Neufville.