The French king's decree against Protestants, prohibiting them the exercise of their religion, &c. to which is added a brief and true account of the cruel persecution and inhumane oppressions of those of the reformed religion to make them abjure and apostatize : together with the form of abjuration the revolting Protestants are to subscribe and swear to, and a declaration of his Electoral Highness of Brandenburgh ... : also a letter from Father La Chese ... to Father Petre ... / newly translated from the French.

A Decree of the King, Prohibiting all Publick Ex∣ercise of the Pretended Reformed Religion in his Kingdom, wherein he Recalls and totally Annuls the perpetual and irrevocable Edict of King Henry IV, his Grandfather, given at Nantes, full of most gracious Concessions to Protestants.

LEWES, by the Grace of God, King of France and of Navarre, to all present and to come, Greeting. King Henry the Great, Our Grand-Father of Glorious Me∣mory, desiring to prevent, that the Peace which he had procured for his Subjects, after the great Losses they had sustained, by the long continuance of Civil and Foreign Wars, might not be disturbed by occasion of the Pretended Reformed Reli∣gion, as it had been during the Reign of the Kings, his Predecessors; had, by his Edict given at Nantes, in the Month of April, 1598. regulated the Conduct which was to be observed, with Respect to those of the said Religion, the Places where they might publickly exercise the same, appointed extraordinary Judges to administer Ju∣stice to them: And lastly, also by several distinct Articles, provided for every thing, which he judged needful for the maintenance of Peace and Tranquility in his Kingdom, and to diminish the Aversi∣on which was between those of the One and Other Religion: and this, to the end that he might be in a better condition for the taking some effectual Course (which he was resolved to do) to re-unite those again to the Church, who upon so slight Occasions had with∣drawn themselves from it. And forasmuch as this intention of the King, Our said Grand-Father, could not be effected, by reason of his sudden and precipitated Death; and that the Execution of the foresaid Edict was interrupted during the Minority of the late King, Our most Honored Lord and Father, of glorious Memory, by rea∣son of some new Enterprizes of those of the Pretended Reformed Re∣ligion, whereby they gave occasion for their being deprived of seve∣ral

Advantages, which had been granted to them, by the aforesaid Edict: notwithstanding, the King, Our said late Lord and Father, according to his wonted Clemency, granted them another Edict at Nismes, in the Month of July, 1629 by means of which the Peace and Quiet of the Kingdom being now again Re established, the said late King, being animated with the same Spirit and Zeal for Religi∣on, as the King Our said Grand-Father was, resolved to make good Use of this Tranquility, by endeavouring to put this Pious Design in Execution: but Wars abroad, coming on a few years after, so that from the Year 1635. to the Truce which was concluded with the Princes of Europe, in 1684. the Kingdom having been only for some short Intervals altogether free from Troubles, it was not possible to do any other thing for the Advantage of Religion, save only to di∣minish the number of Places permitted for the Exercise of the Pre∣tended Reformed Religion, as well by the Interdiction of those which were found Erected, in prejudice to the Disposal made in the said Edict, as by suppressing the Mixt Chambers of Judicature, which were composed of an equal number of Papists and Protestants; the Erecting of which was only done by Provision, and to serve the pre∣sent Exigency.

Whereas therefore, at length, it hath pleased God to grant, that Our Subjects enjoying a perfect Peace, and We Our selves being no longer taken up with the Cares of Protecting them against our Enemies, are now in a Condition to make good Use of the said Truce, which we have on purpose facilitated, in order to the applying our selves entire∣ly to the searching out of Means, which might successfully effect and accomplish the Design of the Kings, Our said Grand-father and Fa∣ther, and which also hath been * 1.1* Our Intention ever since we came to the Crown; We see at present, (not without a just Acknowledgment of what We owe to God on that Account) that Our Endeavours have attained the End We propos'd to Our selves for as much as the greater and better part of Our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, have already embraced the Catholick; and since by means thereof the Execution of the Edict of Nantes, and of all other Or∣dinances in favour of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, is become useless, We judge that We can do nothing better towards the entire effacing of the Memory of those Troubles Confusions, and Mischief, which the Progress of that false Religion have been the cause of in Our Kingdom, and which have given occasion to the said Edict, and

to so many other Edicts and Declarations which went before it, or were made since with reference thereto, than by a Total Revocati∣on of the said Edict of Nantes, and the particular Articles and Con∣cessions granted therein, and whatsoever else hath been Enacted since, in favour of the said Religion.

I. We make known, that We, for these and other Reasons Usthereto moving, and of Our certain Knowledge, full Power and Authority Royal, have by the present Perpetual and Irrevocable Edict, Suppressed and Annulled, do Suppress and Annul the Edict of the King, Our said Grand-Father, given at Nantes, in April 1598. in its whole extent, to∣gether with the particular Articles ratified May 2. next following, and Letters Patent granted thereupon; as likewise the Edict given at Nismes, in July 1629. declaring them null and void, as if they had never been Enacted; together with all the Concessions granted in them, as well as other Declarations, Edicts and Arrests, to those of the Pretended Reformed Religion, of what Nature soever they may be, which shall all continue as if they never had been. And in pursuance hereof, We Will, and it is Our Pleasure, That all the Churches of those of the Pretended Reformed Religion, scituate in Our Kingdom, Coun∣tries, Lands, and Dominions belonging to Us, be forth with demolish'd.

II. We forbid our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion, to Assemble themselves, for time to come, in order to the Exercise of their Religion in any Place or House, under what pretext soever, whether the said Places have been granted by the Crown, or per∣mitted by the Judges of particular places; any Arrests of Our Council, for Authorizing and Establishing of the said places for Ex∣ercise, notwithstanding.

III. We likewise Prohibit all Lords, of what condition soever they may be, to have any Publick Exercise in their Houses and Fiess, of what quality soever the said Fiess may be, upon penalty to all Our said Subjects, who shall have the said Exercises performed in their Houses or otherwise, of Confiscation of Body and Goods.

IV. We do strictly Charge and Command all Ministers of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, who are not willing to be Converted, and to embrace the Catholick, Apostolick and Roman Religion, to de∣part out of our Kingdom and Countries under our Obedience, 15 days after the Publication hereof, so as not to continue there beyond the said term, or within the same, to Preach, Exhort, or perform any other Ministerial Function, upon pain of being sent to the Galleys.

V. Our Will and Pleasure is, That those Ministers who shall be Converted, do continue to enjoy during their Lives, and their Wi∣dows after their Decease, as long as they continue so, the same Exem∣ptions from Payments and Quartering of Souldiers, which they did enjoy during the time of their Exercise of the Ministerial Function. Moreover, We will cause to be paid to the said Ministers, during their Lives, a Pension, which by a third part shall exceed the appointed Allowance to them as Ministers; the half of which Pension shall be continued to their Wives, after their Decease, as long as they shall continue in the state of Widow-hood.

VI. And in case any of the said Ministers shall be willing to be∣come Advocates, or to take the Degree of Doctors in Law, we Will and Understand that they be dispensed with, as to the three Years of Study, which are prescribed by our Declarations, as requisite, in or∣der to the taking of the said Degree; and that, after they have pass'd the ordinary Examinations, they be forthwith received as Doctors, paying only the Moiety of those dues, which are usually paid upon that account in every University.

VII. We Prohibit any particular Schools for Instructing the Chil∣dren of those of the Pretended Reformed Religion; and in general, all other things whatsoever, which may Import a Concession, of what kind soever, in favour of the said Religion.

VIII. And as to the Children which shall for the future be Born of those of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, Our Will and Plea∣sure is, That henceforward they be Baptized by the Curates of our Parishes; strictly charging their respective Fathers and Mothers to take care they be sent to Church in order thereto, upon Forfeiture of 500 Livres, or more, as it shall happen Futhermore, Our Will is, That the said Children be afterwards Educated and brought up in the Ca∣tholick Apostolick and Roman Religion, and give an express Charge to all Our Justices, to take care the same be performed accordingly.

IX. And for a Mark of our Clemency towards those of our Sub∣jects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, who have retired them∣selves out of our Kingdom, Countries and Territories, before the Publication of this our present Edict, Our Will and Meaning is, That in case they return thither again, within the time of four Months, from the time of the Publication hereof, they may, and it shall be lawful for them, to Re-enter upon the Possession of their Goods and Estates, and enjoy the same in like manner, as they might have done,

in case they had always continued upon the place. And on the contra∣ry, that the Goods of all those, who within the said time of four months, shall not return into our Kingdom, Countries, or Territories under our Obedience, which they have forsaken, remain and be Confisca∣ted in pursuance of our Declaration of the 20th. of August last.

X. We most expresly and strictly forbid all our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, them, their Wives or Children, to depart out of our said Kingdom, Countries, Territories under our Obedience, or to Transport thence their Goods or Effects, upon Pe∣nalty of the Gally, for Men, and Confiscation of Body and Goods for Women.

XI. Our Will and Meaning is, That the Declaration made against those who shall relapse, be Executed upon them according to their Form and Tenor.

☞ Moreover, those of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, in the mean time, till it shall Please God to enlighten them, as well as others, may abide in the several respective Cities and Places of our Kingdoms, Countries, and Territories under our Obedience, and there continue their Commerce, and enjoy their Goods and Estates, with∣out being any way molested upon account of the said Pretended Re∣formed Religion; upon condition nevertheless, as aforementioned, that they do not use any publick Religious Exercise, nor assemble themselves upon the account of Prayer or Worship of the said Reli∣gion, of what kind soever the same may be, upon forfeiture above specified of Body and Goods.

Accordingly, We Will and Command our Trusty and Beloved Counsellors, the people holding our Courts of Aids at Paris, Bayliffs, Chief Justices, Provosts, and other our Justices and Officers to whom it appertains, and to their Lieutenants, that they cause to be Read, Published, and Registred, this Our present Edict in their Courts and Jurisdictions, even in Vacation time, and the same keep punctually without contrevening or suffering the same to be contrevened; for such is Our Will and Pleasure. And to the end to make it a thing firm and stable, we have caused Our Seal to be put to the same.

Gi∣ven at Fountainbleau, in the Month of October, in the Year of Grace 1685, and of Our Reign the XLIII.

Signed

LEWES.

Le Tellier.

VISA. This signifies the Lord Chancellors Perusal. Sealed with the Great Seal of Green-wax, upon a Red and Green string of Silk.

REgistred and Published, the King's Attorney General requiring it, in order to their being Executed according to Form and Tenor; and the Copies being Examined and Compared, sent to the several Courts of Justice, Bailywicks, and Sheriffs Courts of each District, to be there Entred and Registred in like manner; and charge given to the Deputies of the said Attorney General, to take care to see the same Executed, and put in Force; and to certifie the Court thereof.

At Paris, in the Court of Vacations, the 22th, of October 1685.

Signed

De la Baune.

Notes

• * 1.1

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