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 Kings good Will toward his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion. Verify'd in Parlament November 27. 1623.

LEWIS, by the Grace of God, King of France, and Navarr, To all, &c. Tho' it has always been our Intention, as still it is, to cause an Exact observance of our Edicts of Pacification, and De∣clarations last made in Favour of our Subjects of the Pretended Re∣formed Religion, that for this pur∣pose we have Commissionated and deputed Commissioners in the se∣veral Provinces of our Kingdom to repair and re-establish the Breach∣es which the Wars and last Trou∣bles had produc'd, having omit∣ted no care nor Sedulity to make the lives of our Subjects easie in good Peace, Amity and Concord; Ne∣vertheless we have been Inform'd that some of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, Enemies of the Publik Repose, and such as desire to make their advantage of Trouble, pretending to belong to our Cousins the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize, (which we can hard∣ly believe, by reason of the assu∣rances which our said Cousins have given us of their Fidelity and Af∣fection to our service, and obser∣vance of our Peace,) have some time since made several Journeys, and into several of our Provinces; also to some Assemblies held by ver∣tue of our Edicts by our Subjects of the Religion, with Letters of Cr••dence, under false Pretences to stir up our said Subjects, to in∣fuse into 'em Fears, Jealous••es and ••eigned Distrusts, and to instigate

to raise Money, Fortifie the Pla∣ces which they hold in their hands, purchase Arms and make their Preparations contrary to the Pub∣lick Peace: And tho' we are un∣willing to believe that our said Subjects of the Pretended Refor∣med Religion, considering the sin∣gular Favours which they have so lately receiv'd from our Clemency, are any way enclin'd or dispos'd to hearken to any such pernicious Propositions, much less to deviate from their Fidelty and Obedience to which they are oblidg'd, Ne∣vertheless, being desirous to stop the Course of such Proceedings, and the dangerous Consequences that may attend 'em; to hinder our Subjects from being abus'd by these evil Practices, and not to leave any one in doubt and un∣certainty of our good and sincere Intentions toward 'em, with the advice of our Council, where were present the Queen Mother, our Thrice Honour'd Lady and Mother, the Princes, &c. We have said and declar'd, and do say and declare, that it is our Will and Intention to maintain the Publick Peace, Repose and Tranquility, and to employ our Authority, and our accustom'd Care and Vi∣gilancy, to cause our Subjects as well Catholicks as of the Preten∣ded Reformed Religion, to live in good Union and Concord under their Obedience to us. And to this purpose we Will and Ordain, that our Edicts of Pacification, and last Declarations in Favour of our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion, be inviolably kept, observ'd and maintain'd, and that the Commissioners depu∣ted in our several Provinces, abide and reside there, till they be per∣fectly and absolutely fulfill'd. As we also make strict Prohibitions to all Persons, of what Conditi∣on or quality soever, to speak, write, suggest or perswade, give ear or listen to any thing con∣trary to this our good and up∣right Intention, and to the Tran∣quility of our subjects, nor to travel or send into our Provinces, or to any Cities or Assemblies that shall be held by those of the Pre∣tended Reformed Religion to that Effect, nor to raise Money, bear or buy Arms, Furniture or pre∣parations for Warr, under pain of Disobedience, and being pu∣nish'd as Disturbers of the Peace. It is our Pleasure also, that the Offenders be inform'd against, and prosecuted with the utmost Ri∣gour of the Law. So we com∣mand our faithful and well belo∣ved Counsellours, &c. For such is our Pleasure. In Testimony, &c.

Given at Paris, November 10. 1623. and 14th. of our Raign.

Sign'd Louis.

And below, by the King.

De Lomenie.

Read, publish'd and register'd, &c. At Paris in Palament, Novem∣ber. 7. 1623.