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 upon the Edict of Pacification, given at Paris, May 22. 1610. and verified the third of June the same Year.

LEwis, by the Grace of God King of France and Na∣varr, to all to whom these Present Letters shall come, Greeting. Since the unfor∣tunate and detestable Assassination of our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father last Deceased, whom God Absolve, the Queen Regent, our thrice honour'd Lady and Mother, tho' continually with Tears in her Eyes, and Grief in her Heart, ne∣vertheless has not forborn with in∣cessant Labour, and with great Magnanimity and Prudence, to prevent that fatal Accident from doing any Prejudice to our Person and Dignity, or to our Kingdom or Subjects, holding her self bound to this Duty, not only by the na∣tural Affection which she bears us, but also because of her having been

declar'd Regent, and under that Character being entrusted with the Care and Administration of the Af∣fairs of the Kingdom, by the Votes and Suffrages of the Princes of the Blood, and the rest of the Prin∣ces, Prelates, Peers, Principal Of∣ficers of the Crown, and Members of our Parlament Assembl'd there∣in, we keeping there our Throne of Justice, wherein her Pains prov'd so successful, and the Affection of our Subjects who were then about us, as also of the Inhabitants of our good City of Paris, was so great and sincere toward us, that we can desire nothing more from their Obedience, and Fidelity, nor from the good and prudent Conduct of the Queen Regent, our aforesaid thrice honour'd Lady and Mother. Being also inform'd by Intelligence, that comes to us every day, that in all other Places and Parts of our Kingdom, all our Subjects as well Catholicks, as of the pretended Reformed Religion, of all Quali∣ties, make it their Business out of a laudable Emulation, to outvye each other in readiness to Obedi∣ence, in Actions and Behaviour which give some Testimony of their Fidelity and Duty; for which we have great occasion to bless God, and to hope that as he has been pleas'd to preserve this King∣dom from imminent Dangers, so as to make it flourish for so many Ages, so he will take into his Pro∣tection our youthful Years, and grant us leisure to grow up in Piety and Vertue, to the end we may one day employ the Grandeur, to which he has rais'd us, to his Honour and Glory. Which with all our Hearts we implore him to vouchsafe us, and to inspire us always with Coun∣cils requisite and necessary for the well governing our Subjects in his Fear, and causing them to live in Peace, Union, and Amity one with another; as being the true Founda∣tion, upon which next after God, depends the Safety and Preservati∣on of the Kingdom. Experience having taught the Kings our Prede∣cessors, that the Fury and Violence of Arms had been always, not only of no effect to reduce their Sub∣jects, who were gone astray, into the Bosom of the Catholick, Apo∣stolick and Roman Church, but ra∣ther extreamly prejudicial; which was the Reason that being swaid by more happy Councils they had re∣course to Mildness, in granting them the Exercise of the pretended Reformed Religion, of which they made Profession. By whose Exam∣ple led, the Deceased King, our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father, made the Edict of Nantes, for the Reconciling of all his Subjects to∣gether. The Observation of which Edict, together with the Regulati∣ons made in consequence of it, set∣tled such an assured repose among 'em as has lasted ever since without Interruption. By means of which, although that Edict be perpetual and irrevocable, and consequently has no need of being confirm'd by a New Declaration; nevertheless to the end our Subjects may be as∣sur'd of our good Will, and that our Intention and pleasure is invio∣lably to observe that Edict, made for the good and repose of our Sub∣jects,

as well Catholicks, as of the pretended Reformed Religion.

Therefore we Declare, That this Affair having been debated in our Presence by the Queen Regent, our thrice Honour'd Lady and Mo∣ther, we have by the Advice of Her, the Princes of our Blood, o∣ther Princes, Dukes, Peers, Offi∣cers of our Crown, and several eminent Persons of our Council, said and ordain'd, say and ordain, and it is our Will and Pleasure, That the said Edict of Nantes, in all the Points and Articles of it, to∣gether with the rest of the Arti∣cles to them granted, and the Re∣gulations made, and Decrees set forth upon the Interpretation, or Execution of the said Edict, and in consequence of it, shall be invio∣lably upheld and observ'd, and the infringers shall be severely punish'd as Disturbers of the Publick Tran∣quillity. To which Effect, we enjoyn all our Officers to be sedu∣lously assisting, under the Penalty of being responsible, and being pu∣nish'd for their Negligence with the same Rigour, as the Disobedience of those that shall offer to Violate it.

In like manner, we command our Beloved and Trusty People holding our Court of Parlament in Paris, that these Presents may be Read, Publish'd and Register'd, and the Contents thereof to keep, maintain, and observe Point by Point, according to their Form and Tenour, without suffering or per∣mitting any Breach thereof in any manner whatever: In Testimony whereof, we have caused our Seals to be affix'd to these Presents.

Given at Paris, May 22. in the Year of Grace, 1610. and of our Reign the First,

Louis.

And upon the Folding of the Paper. By the King, the Queen Regent being Present,

De Lominie.

Seal'd with the great Seal of the said Lord, upon a double La∣bel. Also written upon the side of the said Folding.

Read, Publish'd and Register'd, heard by, and Consenting and Requesting the Kings Advocate General. And Order'd that compar'd Copies shall be sent to the Bayliwicks and Seneschal∣ships, to be there also Read, Publish'd and Register'd, with all speed by the Advocate Gene∣ral's Substitutes, who are en∣joyn'd to Certifie the Court of their doing it this Month. At Paris in Parliament, June 3. 1610.

Signed, Tillet.