An edict of the French King prohibiting all publick exercise of the pretended reformed religion in his kingdom wherein he recalls and totally annuls the perpetual and irrevocable edict of King Henry the IV, his grandfather, given at Nantes, full of most gracious concessions to protestants : together with a brief and true account of the persecution carried on against those of the foresaid religion for to make them abjure and apostatize : to which is added to form of abjuration the revolting protestants are to subscribe and swear to : with a declaration of his Electoral Highness of Brandenburg, in favour of those of the reformed religion, who shall think fit to settle themselves in any of his dominions / translated out of French.

An Edict of the King, Prohibiting all Pu∣blick Exercise of the Pretended Reformed Religion in His Kingdom.

LEWES, by the Grace of God, King of France and of Navarre, to all Present and to come, Greeting. King Henry the Great, Our Grandfather of Glorious Memory, 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 Forreign Wars, might not be disturbed by occasion of the pretended Reformed Religion, 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 ex∣traordinary Judges, to administer Justice 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 Aversion 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effectual course (which he was resol∣ved to do) to reunite those again to the Church, who upon so slight occasions had withdrawn themselves from it. And forasmuch as this Intention of the King, our said Grandfather, could not be effected, by reason of his suddain and precipitated Death; and that the Exe∣cution of the foresaid Edict was Interrupted during the Minority of the late King, Our most Honoured Lord and Father, of Glorious Me∣mory, by reason of some new Enterprises of those of the Pretended Reformed Religion, whereby they gave occasion for their being de∣prived of several advantages which had been granted to them, by the foresaid Edict: Notwithstanding, the King, Our said late Lord and Father, according to his wonted Clemency, granted them ano∣ther 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 Religion, as the King Our said Grandfather was, resolved to make

good use of this Tranquility, by endeavouring to put this pious de∣sign 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 preten∣ded 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 mix'd Chambers of Judicature, whichwer composed of an equal number of Papists and Protestants, the erect∣ing of which was only done by Provision, and to serve the present 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 en∣tirely in the searching out of means, which might successfully effect and accomplish the design of the Kings, our said Grand-father and Father, and which also hath been 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, forasmuch as the greater and better part of Our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Re∣ligion have already embraced the Catholick, and since by means thereof, the Execution of the Edict of Nantes, and of all other Ordi∣nances in favour of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, is made useless, we judge that we can do nothing better towards the entire effacing of the memory of those Troubles, Confusion and Mischief, which the Progress of that false Religion, hath 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 Revocation of the said Edict of Nantes, and the particular Articles and Concessi∣ons 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 us thereto moving, and of Our certain Knowledge, full Power and Royal Au∣thority, have by the present Perpetual and Irrevocable Edict, Suppres∣sed and Annull'd, do suppress and Annull the Edict of the King, our said Grand-father, given at Nantes in April 1598. in its whole ex∣tent, together with the particular Articles ratified the Second of May, next following, and Letters Pattent granted thereupon; as like∣wise the Edict given at Nismes, in July 1629. declaring them null and void, as if they had never been Enacted, together with all the Conces¦sions 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, Countries, Lands, and Dominions belonging to us, be forthwith demolished.

II.

We forbid our Subjects of the Pretended Reformed Religion to As∣semble 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 permitted by the Judges of particular places; any Arrests of our Council, for Au∣thorizing and Establishing of the said places for Exercise, notwith∣standing.

III.

We likewise Prohibit all Lords, of what condition soever they may be, to have any Publick Exercise in their Houses and Fiefs, of what quality soever the said Fiefs 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 Pre∣tended Reformed Religion, who are not willing to be Converted, and to embrace the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Religion, to depart 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 Con∣verted, do continue to enjoy during their Lives, and their Widdows after their Decease, so long as the continue so, the same Exemptions from Payments and Quartering of Souldiers, which they did enjoy du∣ring the time of their Exercise of the Ministerial Function. More∣over we will cause to be paid to the said Ministers, during their Lives a Pension, which by a third part shall exceed the appointed Allow∣ance to them as Ministers; the half of which Pension shall be con∣tinued to their Wives, after their Decease, as long as they shall con∣tinue in the state of Widdow-hood.

VI.

And in case any of the said Ministers shall be willing to become Ad∣vocates, or to take the Degree of Doctors in Law, we Will and Un∣derstand that they be dispensed with, as to the three Years of Study, which are prescribed by our Declarations, as requisite, in order to the taking of the said Degree, and that after they have pass'd the ordi∣nary Examinations, they be forthwith received as Doctors, paying only the Moiety of those dues which are usually paid upon that ac∣count in every University.

VII.

We Prohibit any particular Schools for Instructing the Children 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 Pleasure 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. Furthermore, Our Will is, that the said Children be afterwards Educated and brought up in the Catho∣lick 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 Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, who have retired themselves out of our Kingdom, Countries, and Territories, before the Publica∣tion 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 contiued upon the place. And on the contrary, 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 Confiscated 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 de∣part out of our said Kingdom, Countries, or Territories under our Obedience, or to Transport thence their Goods or Effects, upon Pe∣nalty of the Gally, for Men, and of Confiscation of Body and Goods for Women.

XI.

Our Will and Meaning is, that the Declarations 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 o∣thers, 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 forementioned, that they do not use any publick Religious Exercise, nor assemble them∣selves upon the account of Prayer or Worship of the said Religion, 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 Coun∣sellors, 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. Given at Fountainbleau in the Month of October, in the Year of Grace 1685, and of Our Reign the 43.

Signed

LEWES.

This signifies the Lord Chancellors perusal. VISA.

Le Tellier.

Sealed with the Great Seal of Green-Wax, upon a Red and Green string of Silk.

REgistred and Published, the Kings Procurator or Attorney General, requiring it, in order to their being Executed accor∣ding to Form and Tenor, and the Copies being Examined and Com∣pared, sent to the several Courts of Justice, Bailywicks, and Sheriffs Courts of each Destrict, to be there Entred and Registred in like man∣ner, 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 cer∣tifie the Court thereof. At Paris in the Court of Vacations the 22th of October 1685.

Signed

De la Baune.