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 touching the Assemblies of any of hi•• Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion, confirming th•• Edict of Nantes, and Particular Articles. At Paris, Apri•• 24. 1612. Register'd in Parlament, May 25. of the sam•• Year.

LEwis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarr, to our Beloved and Faithful Counsel∣lours holding our Court of Parla∣ment at Paris, Greeting. So soon as it pleas'd God to call us to this Crown, we resolv'd to follow the Method and Form of Government, as we found it settl'd by the De∣ceased King our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father, whom God Ab∣solve; judging well, that we could not more safely preserve the King∣dom, which he had left us, then by imitating his Example, who had rais'd it from extream Deso∣lation to the Highest Pitch of Splen∣dour. Wherein we have so hap∣pily succeeded, that no occasion of complaint has presented it self to us, for which we have not pro∣vided, as well to the Content of our Subjects, as it was possible for us to do, and particularly those of the pretended Reformed Religion, as well by the Answers which we have order'd to be given to their Re∣monstrances which they have pre∣sented to us, as by sending Persons of Quality into all the Provinces of this Kingdom, with Commis∣sion and Power to see executed the

Edict of Nantes, the Private Arti∣cles, Regulations, and other Con∣••essions granted during the Reign of our Deceased Lord and Father, ••s to whatever yet remain'd far∣ther to be executed. And by this means to remove all Apprehensi∣ons, under pretence of which any of our said Subjects of the pretend∣ed Reformed Religion, were Li∣cenc'd to hold extraordinary As∣semblies without our Permission, which would have rais'd Fears and Jealousies in others: against which we are willing to provide, for the maintaining of Peace, Union, and a right Understanding, happily settl'd among 'em, and preserv'd by the said Edict and the exact Ob∣servation thereof, with the Ad∣vice, and in the Presence of the Queen Regent, our thrice honou∣red Lady and Mother, the Princes of the Blood, other Princes and Officers of the Crown, being fully inform'd and assur'd of the good in general of our said Subjects, their Zeal and Fidelity in their Obedi∣ence towards us; and desiring also that they should be favourably us'd, have of our special Grace and Favour, full Power and Royal Au∣thority remitted and abolish'd, and by these Presents do remit and abo∣lish the Offence by them commit∣ted, who call'd and were present at the same Assemblies, held with∣out our Permission in any of the Provinces of this our Kingom; as also whatever past before and since: We will that they be wholly and fully discharg'd of the same, and we expresly forbid our Advocate General or his Substitutes, to make any Inquisition or Prosecution af∣ter the same. Nevertheless, to the end we may take care that no Assemblies for the Future be so li∣centiously call'd, as being expres∣ly prohibited by our Edicts, and the Regulations upon these Mat∣ters by the Deceased King our thrice Honoured Lord and Father, to which it is ou•• Pleasure, that all our said Subjects should conform themselves, according to the 82d. Article of the Edict of Nantes, and the ordinary Article of the 16. of March 1606. together with the Answer made the 19 of August ensuing, to the Paper presented by the General Deputies of those of the said Religion, the extracts of which are hereunto annex'd un∣der the Seal of our Chancery, have made and do make Inhibiti∣ons and Prohibitions to all our Sub∣jects of the said Religion for the Future, to summon any Congre∣gations or Assemblies, to Consult or Treat therein of any Politick Affairs without express leave first from us obtain'd, upon Pain of be∣ing punish'd as breakers of the E∣dicts, and disturbers of the Publick Peace: Granting 'em nevertheless full Liberty to call and hold Pro∣vincial and National Colloquies and Synods, according to what has been formerly granted 'em: yet so as not to admit into 'em any other Persons then the Ministers and El∣ders, there to Treat of their Do∣ctrine and Ecclesiastical Discipline only, upon Pain of Forfeiting the Priviledges of holding those Assem∣blies, and answering for it by their Moderators in their proper Per∣sons

and Names. So we send to you that you cause these Presents to be Read and Register'd, and that all our said Subjects may enjoy the Benefit of what is contain'd therein; and farther that you cause these our said Present Letters, to be exactly perform'd and observ'd through the full extent of your Ju∣risdictions; without permitting or suffering any Breach or Infringe∣ment thereof. Farther we com∣mand and enjoyn the Governours, and our Lieutenant Generals, par∣ticular Governours and Lieute∣nants in the Government of the Provinces and Cities within the ex∣tent of your Jurisdiction, their Mayors, Jurats, Sheriffs and Con∣suls, to take special care of the same. And to the first of our faith∣ful and beloved Counsellours, the Master of the ordinary Requests of our Houshold, Counsellours of our said Court of Parliament, residing upon the Places, and others our Justices and Officers with the soon∣est to inform and give us notice of all the said Breaches, and in the mean time to proceed against the Offenders, by the usual Ways, and according to the Tenour of the Edicts and Ordinances. For such is our Will and Pleasure.

Given at Paris, April 24. 1612. and in the second Year of our Reigns.

LOƲIS.

And lower, by the King being in Council.

De Lomenie.

Seal'd with the Great Seal of Yellow Wax, upon a single La∣bel.

Register'd, Heard, and the Kings Advocate moving for it: with∣out the Approbation of the Cog∣nisance attributed to the Masters of the Requests of the Houshold, that are not within the Terms of the Ordinances. At Paris in Par∣lament, May 25. 1612.

Sign'd Voisin.