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 Sieur de Soubize and his Adherents, containing a new Confirmation of the Edicts and Declarations formerly made in Favour of his Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion, who remain in their Duty and Obedience. Given at Paris, January 25. 1626. and verify'd the 18. of February.

LEWIS by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarr, To all, &c. Every one knows the Favour and Clemency which we have extended to our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religi∣on, that formerly rose in Arms against our Authority, and how when our Arms had all the Advan∣tages over 'em, we spread open our Arms to receive those that came as well in general as Particular, to implore our Mercy, and turn'd the just Resentments of our In∣dignation into a Benignity natu∣ral to a King, the Father of his People, toward Subjects submissive and penitent, being desirous by our Declaratory Letters of October 20. 1622. to forget and forgive their past Faults, and voutsafe 'em Peace with the continuance of the Benefit of the Edict of Nantes and other Declarations. In pursuance of which we sent Com∣missioners into several Provinces of our Kingdom, to reunite the Affections of our Subjects, as well Catholicks as of the Pretended Reformed Religion, divided by reason of the preceding Trou∣bles, and to re establish what the Fury of Warr might have inter∣rupted in the observance of our Laws and Edicts, wherein by the Benignity of Heaven our carefull Toyl so happily succeeded, that our Kingdom for these last two Years, enjoy'd a most profound Peace, our Subjects in general Ex∣tolling the Divine Goodness of the Almighty, for that after so many past Calamities and Tem∣pests, they rested in a Tranqui∣lity so serenely Calm, and so as∣sured under our Authority and Obedience. But when we thought this Peace most solidly secure, and that good Order re-establish'd in our Kingdom had given us leisure to apply all our Cares to the as∣sistance of our Neighbours, and to readvance the Ancient Repu∣tation of the French Name in For∣raign Coutries, and that we were (as we are still) upon the point of reaping the Fruits and nota∣ble Advantages of it, for the Glo∣ry of this Crown, the Comfort of our said Confederates, and the Publick Benefit, we have receiv'd several Informations of the Pra∣ctises and Contrivances, which are weaving in several of our Pro∣vinces, to withdraw our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, from that Obedience and Fidelity which they owe us, and to perswade 'em, in the present Conjuncture of Affairs to rise a∣gainst

our Authority, while we are busy'd out of our Kingdom in the Protection of our Allyes, and Trouble the Tranquility of the State. Now being fully in∣form'd of the Designs and con∣trivances that are forming against our Cities and strong Holds, the Peparations that are making to raise Souldiers without our Com∣mission, the sitting out of Ships, as well in the Ports and Havens of our Kingdom, as in other Pla∣ces, without our leave, or the Or∣ders of our Admiral, in contempt of our Laws, and the secret Pra∣ctises and Correspondencies held with Forreigners. To all which we have been much troubl'd to give Credit, considering the good and favourable usage our said Sub∣jects of the Pretended Reformed receiv'd. And when we understood that the Sieur de Soubise, we the Head of his Faction; he who has tri'd the Force of our Authority, and the softness of our Clemency up∣on several occasions; this was the reason that we were willing to wink at his first Practises and Pro∣ceedings, in hopes that by our Patience we might reduce him to his Duty. But our goodness and forbearance having augmented the Audaciousness of the said Soubise, we understand that within these few days he has put to Sea with some Vessels having Souldiers a∣board; that he has robb'd our Merchants Ships, made attempts upon some of our Islands and prin∣cipal Places, and upon the Vessels that were in the Roads and Har∣bours belonging to 'em, and in these Actions committed several Enormities, Violences and Acts of Hostility against our Subjects. Now in regard that all these En∣terprizes and Attempts of the said Soubise, discover (to our great sorrow) an evident and manifest Rebellion against our Authority, and a design lay'd betwixt him and some particular Adherents to disturb the general Peace and Tranquility of the Kingdom, with∣out any lawful reason or cause: on the other side we are extream∣ly well satisfy'd to understand from our dear and well beloved Cousin the Duke of Tremouille, and the Sieurs de la Force and Chatil∣lon, and other Persons of Quality, as also from the General Depu∣ties of our Subjects of the Preten∣ded Reformed Religion refiding near our Person, as also by the Deputies of the Pretended Reli∣on at Charenton, and those of our Cities of Rockele, Nimes, Ʋsez; as also to see by an Act in writing which the said general Deputies have presented us, with express injuctions from our dear and well∣beloved Inhabitants of our City of Moniaban, how much they re∣nounce and disown his Actions, as unworthy of that Fidelity and Affection which true French-men owe their Soveraign; considering they can tend to nothing else but the subversion of this State and their own Ruin. Whereupon, be∣ing desirous to make known what our good Intentions are, the Pro∣tection which we are willing to grant to the Faithful and Obedi∣ent, and the Rigor which we in∣tend

to use toward Rebels, if they persevere in their Contumacy, We make known, that for these Cau∣ses and other weighty Considera∣tions us thereunto moving, with the Advice of the Queen, &c. and of our certain knowledge, full Power and Royal Authority, we have said and declar'd, and say and declare, by these Presents, Sign'd with our hand, and it is our Will and Pleasure, that all our Subjects of the Pretended Re∣formed Religion, who shall con∣tinue in that Fidelity and Obedi∣ence which they owe us, with∣out adhering to any Factions and Conspiracies against the Kingdom, shall fully and Peaceably enjoy in freedom and safety, the Exercise of their Religion, together with all the Favours to them granted by the Edicts and Declarations made in their Favour, as well by the Deceased King, &c. as by our selves, which we resolve to have inviolably kept and observ'd, ac∣cording to their Form and Tenour; putting all our said Subjects, to∣gether with their Goods and Fa∣milies, under our special Protecti∣on and Favour. And as for the said Soubise and others, who are enter'd into open Rebellion against us, having attempted to disturb the Tranqaility of our Kingdom, we have hereby declar'd, and de∣clare all those that shall adhere to and Favour him, directly or indirectly, of what Quality or condition soever they be, and who shall hold Intelligence, Association or Corespondence with 'em, both disobedient and Guilty of High Treason: As also we declare the Inhabitants of our Cities that shall Countenance or adhere to the Rebellion and Disobedience of the above nam'd, or shall give 'em any Harbour, Retreat, or Quar∣ter among 'em, or shall suffer 'em, or assist 'em in any sort or man∣ner whatever, guilty of the same Crimes, and to have forfeited all their Rights, Franchises, Immuni∣ties and Priviledges granted either by the King our Predecessors or by our selves: And for that our In∣tention is always to prefer Clemen∣cy before the Rigour of Justice, and to afford 'em the Means and Leisure to acknowledge their Faults, before they althogether plunge them∣selves in Faction and revolt, we say and declare, that if within one Month from the day of the publication of these presents in Parlament, the said Soubise, or any others who have been guilty of the Actions above express'd, shall re∣turn to their Duty, lay down their Arms, disband their Souldiers which they have muster'd toge∣ther, and submit themseves entire∣ly to the Obedience which they owe us, we have, and shall from this present Time and for the Fu∣ture, forgiven, pardon'd and ob∣literated, forgive, pardon and ob∣literate, by these Presents, all Acts and attempts which they may have made or design'd in this last Insurrection, and taking of Arms, contrary to our Authority and Service, without any enqui∣ries or prosecutions either now or hereafter, in any sort or manner whatever; as having pardon'd and

restor'd 'em to their former Con∣dition, and to all Honours, Privi∣ledges and Immunities which were granted 'em, by Us or our Pre∣decessors, under the Exact Ob∣servation of our Edicts. But if after that time expir'd, they per∣sist in their Rebellion and Diso∣bedience, our Pleasure is, that they be proceeded against with all the Rigour of our Laws, by Imprison∣ment of their Persons, Seizure of their Estates, demolishing their Houses, and other usual Courses in such Cases; and that they lose the Benefit of our Edicts and Ap∣peals to the Chambers. So we command, &c. In Testimony, &c

Given at Paris, January 25. 1625 and fifteenth of our Reign.

Sign'd LEWIS.

And Below, by the King.

De Lomenie.

Read, Publish'd and Register'd, &c. At Paris in Parlament, Fe∣bruary 18. 1625.

Du Tillet.