The bloudy Babylon: or, A collection of some particulars concerning the persecution raging in France against the Protestants from the peace of Reswick, to the martyrdom of the Reverend Monsieur Brousson, inclusively. In a letter to a lord.

The King's Declaration, Prohibiting his Subjects to settle in Orange, or to Exercise the Pretended Reformed Religion.

LEWIS by the Grace of GOD, King of France and Navar, to all to whom these Presents shall come, Greet∣ing: The Zeal which we have always had for the Only and True Religion, having excited in us a desire to Ex∣tinguish Heresie, which had spread it self all over our Kingdom; We still believed, That all the Authority which God has put into our hands, ought at all times to be made use of most effectually and successfully, to succour and defend his Cause. For this Reason, after we had demolished the Churches of the Pretended Reformed Religion, and forbidden all the Exercises of it, by those who pro∣fessed it. We omitted nothing that we thought most effectual to bring them back into the Bosom of the Church: We took care to have their Children bred up in the Sentiments of true Christians; and prohibited, under severe Penalties, all those who out of a blind Obstinacy-rather chose to abandon their Estates, their Families, and their Country, than renounce their Errors, to depart our Kingdom. And in regard that all our Care had no other aim, then the Glory of God, and the support of his Church, he has been pleased to assist us hitherto with all the success we could desire; and we have with delight beheld, that the greatest part of those whose Conver∣sion seem'd to be the most suspected, have at length sincerely ac∣knowledged and embraced the true Religion. But seeing there are some remaining still, who staggering in their Faith, might re∣lapse into their former Errors, if the Principality of Orange, en∣clos'd within our Dominions, might serve them for a Place of re∣treat, to settle there, and perform the Exercises of the Pretended

Reformed Religion, or of any other forbidden Acts. We thought it our Duty, precisely to explain our Intention upon that particu∣lar Point. For these Reasons, by these Presents, sign'd with our Hand, we have made, and do make, most express Prohibitions, and Inhibitions, forbidding all our Subjects, of what Quality or Conditi∣on soever, to go and settle themselves in the Principality of Orange, under any Pretence whatever. We also enjoyn all those who shall be found to have settled their Abodes there, to return within Six Months, to Commence from the Publication of these Presents, un∣der the Penalties set forth by our Declaration bearing date Au∣gust 1669. We likewise forbid all our Subjects to Perform any Exercise of the Pretended Reformed Religion, to Contract any Marriage within the said Principality of Orange, or to send their Children thither to be Baptized by the Ministers there, or to be by them instructed in the Exercises of the said Religion, or in any other Studies; and generally, not to do or suffer to be done, by their Children, or others of whom they shall have the Tutelage or Education, any Exercises or Acts which are not permitted and used in our Kingdom; and all this under the Penalty of Death, upon the Infringer of these Injunctions. Nevertheless, it is not our In∣tention, by these Presents, to hinder our Subjects from going into the Principality of Orange, nor from staying there so long as the Necessity of their Affairs, or their Trade shall require. Thus we give Command to our Beloved and Faithful Counsellors holding our Court of Parliament at Paris, that they order these Presents to be Read, Publish'd, Registred, and put in due Execution, ac∣cording to their Form and Tenor; for is this our Will and Pleasure. In Testimony whereof, we have caused our Seal to be affixed to these Presents.

Given at Versailles this 23d Day of November, 1697. and of our Reign the 55th.

By the King, LOUIS.

And below,

PHELYPEAUX.