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.

A Declaration of the King against the Ʋnlawful Assemblies of any of the Pretended Reformed Religion at Castle Jaloux and Bearn. Given at Paris, May 21. 1618. Verify'd May 25.

LEwis, by the grace of God, King of France and Navarr, To all, &c. Upon Information gi∣ven us the last Month of April, that some of our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion took upon 'em contrary and in contempt of the Edicts of Paci∣fication, and several Declarations by us set sorth, to summon and hold unlawful Assemblies, and such as were by us prohibited, and al∣so that they had appointed one of several Provinces to be held in the City of Chatel-Jaloux in our Coun∣try of Guyenne, we took an Occasion to expedite our Letters Patents da∣ted April 20th. by which we de∣clar'd all Assemblies that should be summon'd by our said Subjects of the said pretended Reformed Re∣ligion, other then such as were permitted by our Edicts, and for which they had express leave from us, to be unlawful, and contrary to our Authority and Service, and as such we forbid 'em, upon pain of Disobedience; ordering Prosecuti∣on against the Authors of the same, and all those that should go thi∣ther and be present there, as In∣fringers of our Edicts, and distur∣bers of the publick Peace. Which our said Letters having bin pub∣lish'd and register'd in our Court of Parlament at Bourdeaux, and Chamber of Edict at Nerac, our Officers of the said Societies had taken such care for the ob∣servance of 'em, that the Gover∣nour and Consuls of the said Ci∣ty of Chatel-Jaloux and they who were entrusted with the command of several other Cities of the said Province held by those of the pretended Reformed Religion, had obstructed and refus'd the holding of the said Assembly, and for that reason would have enfor∣ced those that were deputed thi∣ther to have departed. But we have bin inform'd within these

few days, that the more factious among 'em, finding that by rea∣son of our said Declaration, they could not with freedom and safe∣ty hold the said Assembly, which they had contriv'd to be such as they desir'd to have it, resolv'd to call it without the Jurisdicti∣on of the Parlament, in our Coun∣try of Bearn, or some other Part, whither they had invited several of our Subjects from divers Pro∣vinces to meet. Which being di∣rectly prejudicial to our authori∣ty, and the good of our Service, the Peace and Tranquility of our Subjects, and contrary to our Edicts of Pacification, and several De∣clarations set sorth upon that Sub∣ject, desirous of an Occasion to provide against it, and to punish those who carry themselves with so much disobedience and unbri∣dl'd License, we have said and de∣clar'd, and do say and declare, that it is our Pleasure and Inten∣tion, that at the Prosecution and Solicitation of our Advocates Ge∣neral and their Substitutes, our Judges and Officers of the Places, shall proceed against all those who have bin the Authors, and shall be found present at the said Assem∣bly by them newly summon'd in our said Province of Bearn, or in any other unlawful Assemblies, and such as are forbid by our Edicts and Declarations, as Vio∣lators of our Edicts, and distur∣bers of the publick Peace: And to this Effect we will and require that they be apprehended and taken into Custody where e're they shall be found hereafter, to the end their Prosecutions may be brought to a Conclusion. And where they cannot be taken, that they may be proceeded against for Contumacy, Seizure and Invento∣ries made of their Goods, accor∣ding to the Forms in such Ca∣ses customary. So we command our beloved and faithful Counsel∣lors, holding our Court of Parla∣ment at Paris, that they give Or∣der that these presents be read, publish'd and register'd, &c. For such is our pleasure. In Testimo∣ny, &c.

Given at Paris May 21st. 1618. And Ninth of our Reign.

Sign'd LEWIS.

By the King,

De Lomenie.

Seal'd, &c.

Read, Publish'd and Register'd, at the Motion of the Kings Ad∣vocate General, and authentick Copies order'd to be sent, &c. To the end they may be read, pub∣lish'd, Register'd and Executed within their several Jurisdictions, &c. At Paris in Parlament May 25th. 1618.

Sign'd Du Tillet.