THE APOLOGY OF THE REFORMED CHURCHES OF FRANCE.  
Wherein are expressed the Reasons, why they have joined their Armies; to those of the King of Great BRITAIN.  
Translated according to the French Copy.  
LONDON, Printed for Nathaniel Butter. 1628.   

TO ENGLAND, IN HER REPRESENTIVE BODY. The High and Illustrious Court of Parliament,  
LORDS. KNIGHTS. BURGESSES.  
YOu have here (in all humility) presented to you, the sighs & tears of our sister Church of France, who is at this present miserably persecuted by the bloody power and Malice of Antichrist and his adherents; as also the naked grounds and motives, why she joins her Arms with those of our Sovereign, in her lawful Defence and preservation; For although Rebellon be the false pretect, yet Religion is the true cause why the Pope by his Champion the French King, now seeks her final rain and extermination. She now mourns both in tears and blood, and breathes forth her wounds and sorrows to us in a fainting; yea, almost in a dying eloquence; Shall we therefore (who profess ourselves to be the best of Christians, and the dearest of God's Children) permit profaneness to prevail o'er piety, Idolatry to triumph over true Religion, and the Church of Rome, o'er that of God, if our Religion be theirs, must not their dangers and persecutions be ours, For what Peace can we have whiles they are oppressed with War, or how can our consciences be at rest and tranquillity, whiles theirs are toumented with all sorts of afflictions and cruelties, Can that Church of France be beaten but this of England is threatened, or the Protestants of that Kingdom be extinguished but we are Eclipsed, yea, do not their fears presage and predict ours, and their dangers fatally denounce and portend ours: We have already seen and suffered God's Church in Bohemia, the Pa●…atinate, Selesia and Moravia to be ruined, and shall we not therefore believe, if that of France go next, that this of England must immediately follow, We see the Pope is as bloody in his malice, as boundless in his Ambition, and that with high wrestling, and an insulting bravery, he proceeds in his Envy and power, at one time to root out the name and memory of God's Church and Children in all places and Countries of Christendom. How powerfully hath he lately prevailed with the Emperor and the King of Spain and Poland in this bloody quarrel, who with barbarous hearts and sacrilegious hands have played their prizes in oppressing and de-pressing these Churches in their Countries, and (now by a policy as subtle, as execrable) hath likewise drawn the French King to make himself guilty of the same impious and bloody crimes; to ruin the Protestants of his Kingdom, whose Valours and Fidelities placed the Crown on his Father's head; and to exterminate those Churches which with so much Piety and wisdom he had established in the Meridian of their perfection and glory.  
The which to prevent, and oppose, God hath inspired the heart of our Gracious King CHARLES to reach them out the hand and Sceptre of his Royal assistance, and so to prove himself a true Defender of the Faith, as well in Fact as Title. Knowing therefore that by the Laws of Honour and Religion we are bound to aid and assist them, and not to suffer the Vineyard of God's Church to be thus miserably trampled over, and rooted up by the Champions of Rome and Hell, it will be a pious and a Noble work for you Illustrious Lords and Gentlemen, the Great Senators, and Elders of our Israel, to contribute the means, as our King hath the Will, to the preservation and building up of so Religious and glorious a Work; by affecting it tenderly in yourselves, and by cheerishing it carefully and dear in the hearts of all the parts and members of this Kingdom; For as the Protestants of France call on our King, so doth his Majesty on you (who are the essential and figurative body thereof) and God on you all, for the speedy and vigorous assistance of this his afflicted Spouse the Church, and he who is the searcher of all hearts the witness of all souls, and the judge of all actions, will infallibly judge betwixt you and him, with what true Devotion and Zeal you perform this part of his service and glory.  
Wars are made as well with Gold as Iron, therefore in assisting this our afflicted Sister the Church of France, we must second our words with deeds; our promises with effects, and our Prayers with our purses. Their Enemies are strong and powerful, their afflictions and dangers great, so therefore must our assistance be to them. They are near to us by situation, but far nearer in Religion, for as their cause and quarrel is ours, so should the sense and feeling of their calamities, and in this sense I may justly affirm, that they are a great part of ourselves, because we generally belong all to one Church, as that Church doth particularly and peculiarly to God.  
As truth is the best eloquence to persuade us to this assistance, so Religion is the best truth, and it would be an act not only of Impiety, but of shame in us, if these our three flourishing Churches, of England, Scotland and Ireland, should not now powerfully assist that afflicted one of France, which sues to them for it, with tears and prayers. But Illustrious Lords and generous Gentlemen, my judgement prompts me that I should wrong yours, in seeking to persuade your affections to so charitable and religious a work, from which I know nothing is capable to direct, or dissuade you, and in that behalf I rest hopeful, if not confident, that you will at least excuse my zeal, if not pardon my presumption for proferring up the sighs and tears of this poor persecuted French Church, to your sublime Protection and Patronage, or rather to your charitable care, and religious consderation, as esteeming it every way as worthy of your pity and compassion, as of your knowledge. May the sight of her afflictions, miseries and calamities, teach us how to prevent our own, May God of his best mercy so operate with our hearts and souls, as we may esteem and repute them our own, and may England (by the King's royal, and your Illustricus example) stretch forth her hands, to relieve this poor French Church and people, so unjustly afflicted, and so wrongfully oppressed and persecuted for God, and his Cause.  
JOHN REYNOLDS.   

The Apology of the Reformed Churches of France; wherein are expressed the Reasons why they have joined their Arms to those of his Majesty, the King of Great BRITAIN.  
THERE is none but will judge that a sick Patient is extremely oppressed with his disease, when he frequently takes violent Physic, whereof as yet he hath his stomach wholly charged and afflicted, and therefore loathes and abhors it, were it but only for the bitterness thereof. Right so we must confess, that our wrongs have exposed and reduced us to the last point of necessity; since we are enforced to have recourse to that remedy wherein we have formerly felt so many violences, as the very name thereof gives us many terrors and tremble. For if ever any People have had just cause to abhor●…e and detest War, it is we above all others of the world, to whom it hath brought so many ruins & desolations, that our Houses remain yet either burnt or demolished, our Lands and Inheritances in prey, our Vines rooted up, our Trees cut down, and which is worse, the very Earth is yet red, and almost hot with our Blood. And because after all these deplorable effects of Arms, we are ag●…ne seen to resume them; it is justly to be presumed, that it is the descoverie of some great or in●…itable danger, which despite of our contrary inclinations, hath enforced and drawn us to it. For we are reduced either to perish without any hope of recovery, or else to seek our subsistence in our lawful defence, by embracing the means which God gives us by the assistance of the most Eccellent King of Great Britain, whose heart he hath touched with pity and compassion of our miseries, and therefore to employ his forces to make us enjoy peace, which was sworn and consigned into his hands, and whereof his Majesty was made the Depositor.  
It is to justify this last necessity that we put our hands to the Pen, at the same time we do to the Sword, and we are confident, that who soever will hear us without any preiudicat envy or passion, we will make them so apparently see our innocence, and so sound prove & justify the injustice wherewith it is oppressed, that if they are not obdurate, or insensible Rocks, they will pity our miseries in excusing the resolutions which we are constrained to take, and will be the first to condemn the unjust proceedings of those who have precipitated us hereunto, and whom henceforth we ca●… term no other than our Enemies.  
At the very entrance whereof, we solemnly protest, that we will not comprehend under this Name, the sacred Majesty of the King our Prince, and as we will not impute unto him, the blame of infringing his Edicts, and of violating his Royal Word; so we have no intent whatsoever in our Hearts which shall derogate from the most humble subjection, and constant fidelity we owe him; the two essential Articles whereof our Religion is composed, is, To fear God and honour the King; and if any trad●…ce or calamniate us, of the contrary, blessed be God they are those who made the baracado●…s against their Sovereign, and who tumultuously and treacherously drove him out of his Capital City, and never left before they had proditoriously and inhumanely murdered him; they are those who assembled the Estates General, which begat that monster the League, to take away the Crown from the lawful heir Hen. 4. and consequently to declare his posterity incapable to succeed, which was directly to snatch away the Sceptre from our present King before he was borne; and who have caused to issue from their Cloisters such execrable Parricides, to thrust their empoisoned knives in the breasts and hearts of our Princes, who have been quelled and fallen thereunder; and who in the iniquity of such times must abandon their Estates to the first intruder, and their lives to the first Asasinate, If the Pope please to declare them Heretics or Tyrants.  
To have such for our accusers results to our glory and redounds to our justification, and indeed all Histories witness for us, That although our Kings have been of a contrary Religion to us, have set fire to the Temple of our Peace, and with high hands and cruelty have persecuted and massacred us; that yet we have never thought of such accursed attempts, but chose upon the very ruins and cruelties thereof; the zeal of our prayers for them, have triumphed o'er the fervency of their flames, and for the irreproachable approbation of our fidelity: when God permitted that the factions of Rome and Spain conspired against their Crowns, they have found no surer nor vigorous refuge then in our defence; so that if Hen. 3. could revive from his Tomb, He would give us the honour and glory to have conserved his life and Sceptre. If a Friar whom Hell created had not bereaved him of the one, and deprived him of the other: and as for Henry the Great (of glorious memory) every one knows how much we have spilt of our own blood at his feet, to mount and establish him on his Throne, where in all appearance of truth he had been still reigning, if the jesuires and their Em●… saries had not approached him, or that the sacred treasure of his life were still entrusted and deposited in our hands.  
We have not so well served the Father to eclipse our glory in so ill serving the Son; and may it please the divine providence and goodness of God, that those who have destroyed his royal Predecessors, and which bend their designs and monopolies against him, by the same ways they have done against them, do not in the end reduce him to the same extremities and miseries; and in this cause and quarrel he shall find that we have no wealth but we will expend, nor blood but we will sacrifice to justify our fidelity, which our Enemies (with as much subtlety as malice) endeavour to make him suspect, and so to have his Laurels still flourish and continue green, wherewith hitherto he hath been crowned: So if grief now draw complaints from us, and enforce and compeil us to take up Arms, We here lift up our voices to make it known to all the world, that it is not against his sacred person, but only against the impetuosity of those ministers of his, who have been depured by him to execute his royal words; and to make us enjoy peace according to the tenure of his Edicts; and who contrary thereunto have oppressed us with all sorts of Injustice and violence, and after whole years of unprofitable patience, do in the end constrain us to provide for our conservation, by the only means and remedies left us, which are the Laws of Nations and Nature?  
To the end therefore that our Innoc●…ncie, and their Injustice may appear to all the world; we mustr●…fume matters as they were at the last Peace and pacincation, and come to the Edict which was then published: There is none therefore so blind or ignorant in matters of State, who apparently knows not, how prejudicial those conditions were to us: If the poor City of Monpellier should remain buried in silence, and so according to the unjust maxims of our Enemies should seem to be condemned to eternal servitude and slanery; beside, the yoke of subjection 〈◊〉 the precedent peace imposed upon our Ecclesiasticali assemblies, which they make wholly unprofitable unto us, were not taken away: and there was no right nor justice done unto us, upon an infinite number of other infractions of the said Edict, whereof we can produce whole books of just complaints and grievances, whereby we foresee that our Enemies will draw them into consequence purposely to authorize them hereafter. Moreover, in that which was one of the most important points, and the chiefest motives of our resumption of Arms, to wit, the subsistence of the Fort before Rochel, they would express nothing in the Declaration touching the promise made to us for the razing and demolishing thereof. And that promise which was yet given us by the Ambassador of the King of Great Britain, as also of the Lords States General, was couched in such ambiguous and general terms, that it manifestly appeared the intent of those who gave them, was not to observe and keep them: because by their artificial providence they prepared the way to evasions, which they have since practised, and would thereby infer, and pretend that they had promised us nothing.  
So that in what estate soever our affairs then were, finding more safetic in a weak resistance, then in a peace which publicly cuts our throats: we therefore refused to accept it upon those conditions, which we held would infallibly draw after it our fatal ruin and destruction: But at length we found ourselves obliged, yea we dare affirm almost enforced, by the urgent and reiterated assummons which were made us by the aforesaid Ambassadors, who in the name of those they represented, were established unto us as Pledges and Sureties, that we were proceeded with sincerely, and especially for the demolition of the said Fort, whereof they alleged they had express promise and assurance. As also that this peace was not of the qualitic and nature of the precedent peaces, which had been treated only with us, whereas this was properly not so much with us, as with the King of Great Britain and the Lords States, so as whosocuer violated or infringed it, the infraction and injury thereof was properly offered to them, who would not spare either their intercession, or other means, to make good their words to us.  
And although this were very prevalent and powerful to induce us to accept and admit thereof, they yet further represented to us, That our Arms was the only obstacle that the King employed not his against the inveterate Enemy of our Estate and Religion, and why he did not so sound wed himself to the affairs of Germany, with the King of Great Britain: so that whatsoever ill success betided, it would be justly imputed to our obstinacy, and would occasion all those who hitherto have wished us well, wholly to abandon and forsake us.  
To these important reasons we suffered ourselves to be vanquished, and although we then foretold them that they would find themselves deceived, as well in the assurance which was given them to conferue peace unto us, as also so to join their designs and Arms with them against Spain, yet we would no longer oppose against their requests and instances, but sacrificed up ourselves and all our common interests to the advantages of the King of Great Britain, and his Allies, and so accepted the peace in the same manner and form as it was given us, only we drew an Act from the Ambassadors of Great Britain, verifying all which was formerly alleged, the which because it is the foundation of the justice of his and our Arms, it is requisite we do here insert it.  
WE Henry Rich Lord of Kensington Earl of Holland, Captain of the Guard to the King of Great Britain, Knight of the Order of the Garter, and Privy Counsellor to his Majesty, And Dudley Carleton Knight, Privy Counsellor, and Vice-Chamberlaine to his said Majesty, extraordinary Ambassadors for him to the most Christian King: to all present, or to come, Greeting, Whereas Monsieur Montmartin and Monsieur Mania●…d, General Deputies of the reformed Churches of France, together with other particular Deputies of my Lords the Dukes of Rhoan and Soubize, as also of many Towns and Provinces, which have joined their Arms with those of the said Lords; having made Peacewith the Most Christian King, by our advice and interuentions, agreed and consented by the said Most Christian King their Sovereign, and that the said Deputies, have yielded to and cut off many things which they esteemed to be most important for their safety, every way conformable to their Edicts and Records, which they were expressly charged to obtain in the Treaty of peace, and wherein they had powerfully persisted, but that the Obedience which they owe, and will render to their King and Sovereign, and the consideration and regard which they will yield to the express requests and intraventions of the King of Great Britain our Master; in whose name we have exhorted and counseled them to condescend to the Conditions offered and given them by the said Peace in favour, and for the prosperity of this Kingdom in particular, and the content and assistance of Christendom in general, To which causes, We declare and certify, That in the words which were heretofore given unto us, for the accomplishing of the said Treaty, and proffered by the Lord Chancellor at the acceptance of the peace, containing, that through their long services, and continual obedience they may expect that from the goodness of the King, which they could not else obtain by any other Treaty, and in those very things which they esteem the most important and pressing, in convenient time they might hear and provide for their Supplications made with respect and Humility; There was a clearer interpretation brought unto us from his Majesty, and the Lords his Ministers, by those who were the Agents and Negotiators of the peace, being Men of Honour and quality, ordained and established with power from his Majesty and his Privy Council, whereof the sense and meaning is, That they understand to speak of the Fort Lewes before Rochel, and thereby to give assurance of its demolition in convenient time, and in the interim some remedies of other matters which should remain by the said Treaty of Peace, to the prejudice of the Liberty of Rochel.  
Without the which assurance of Demolition, and the ease and exemption of Garrisons, the said Deputies protested unto us, that they would never have consented to the subsistence of the said Fort, being commanded and resolved to conserve the right of that Demolition. As they do by this present declaration, with assurance that the King of Great Britain will labour by his intercessions, joined with their most humble supplications to hasten the time of that demolition, whereof we have given them all the royal promises and words which they can desire, after we had showed them, that they might and ought to remain satisfied and contented. In witness of all which now formerly expressed, we have signed and sealed this present with our names and arms, and have caused it likewise to be under-signed by one of our Secretaries, Dated in Paris the 11. day of February 1626. And so signed Holland, D. Carleton, with seals under every sign, and underneath by the commandment of the said Lords, signed Augier.  
This Act so dressed and finished, the Deputies carry it home to their Provinces, to serve for comfort and consolation to our poor afflicted Churches, who wept and trembled at so prejudicial a Treaty, and yet notwithstanding laboured with all diligence to a punctual accomplishment of all things which were conceded and granted by us, to the end that calumny might not take the least hold of our actions, and that there might not remain the least shadow of pretext to v●…e us as accustomed, to wit, not to observe or perform any thing which is solemnly promised unto us.  
To which end the City of Rochel, contrary to the privilege of frontier Towns, as also of her own in particular, doth speedily demolish a notable piece of fortification, which with much cost and labour it had built, and joined to her walls. They dismissed the Earl of Lavall, and his troops, who had assisted them in their necessity, and in their places received the King's Commissioners; whose coming they well knew would prove extremely prejudicial to their liberties, and their residence to their safety: and in a word, from point to point with a scrupulous curiosity, they discharged all that they were enjoind to perform. The Duke of Rohan likewise dismissed all his Regiments and troops which had followed him, and our swords fell out of our hands in all places where we had drawn them: The sorrowful honour of war was presently seen changed, and converted into Bonfires of joy for the peace, and into public vows and acclamations for the King's long life and prosperity; and briefly, our Obedience was so entire, that the most malicious research of our Enemies could find nothing whereat either to contradict or scandalise us.  
So if we had had to do with people any way just or charitable, it had been capable to have mollified their hearts, and to have began to deal and agitate with us, otherwise then formerly they had done, and faithfully to have performed what they had so solemnly promised: But the only Article of their Faith which they keep inviolably, is never to keep or perform it to us; and at the very first aboard they showed us effects thereof, when we came to inregister and verify the Edict of Peace in the Parliaments, and (only that of Grenoble excepted) there was none of them which would absolutely do it, some objecting one restriction, and others alleging another, until they came to point and cavil at matters of no moment, which unprofitably showed the perverseness of their averse natures & inclinations, As upon the word of Temple, as if the places where we assembled to pray unto God were Mosques: and again upon that of Ecclesiastical Assemblies, as if they were the Congregations of Pagans, or the Synogogues of jews.  
But yet we believed that we had much cause to extol the moderation of those who have quarrelled with us but with words; It is easy for us to suffer injury for the love of him, who before us, was in derision called Samaritan, howsoever that those contemners were wholly unworthy, in the neglect, but much more in the violation of the Edict, custom (in that nature) having made us so insensible, as we almost disdain to open our mouths to complain thereof. But the ill consists in this that the greatest parts of those Modifications which have been used, do directly concern our safeties, and therefore makes the King's Declaration wholly unprofitable.  
This hath been particularly seen in the Parliament of Thoulouze, whose jurisdiction is known to extend upon the greatest number of those, whom necessity had armed in these last emotions. For in two only Articles they almost annihilated all the substance of the Edict. First they placed among causes reserved and execrable, the demolition of the Temples of the Romish Churches, expressly abolished by the Declaration of the year 1622, conformable herein to the Edict of Nantes, and also then absolutely verified by them, by which means, the hatred which they conceive against us, carries them from the shame to be held factious and inconstant. But they proceed further, for they limit the abolishing of hostilities committed the 5. Febr. 1626., although the Declaration of Peace was not published until many days after we subsisted in Arms in all places where we were constrained to resume them. So in those two turns of the pen, they have enwrapped us all in the condemnation, preparing the way to all sorts of injustice and cruelties which they have since practised and committed upon us. And although his Majesty commanded that these Modifications should be withdrawn, as directly opposite to his intentions, and prejudicial to the public tranquillity, yet notwithstanding all these reasons, this Parliament hath obstinately made good what it formerly so unjustly and so factiously resolved against us, to the great prejudice and blemish of the Authority Royal, and for a most complete and entire justification of our complaints and grievances, not being able to find security or safety in the words and promises of our Prince, because what good affection or intents soever he retain for our behalves, those who ought to be the executors of his Royal will, and pleasure, do directly combine and band themselves against it, as triumphing and glorying in the infringing of his promises.  
These beginnings were not to give us hope of any much happy success, or if any one intended or expected them, experience stayed not long to undeceave them, the eruptions of the Peace having been so grossly and presumptuously committed, with such a violent impetuosity, that they feeme to be affected thereto, it being impossible to give it any other interpretation than this, Misery to those, who are weakest, and vanquished.  
This was manifestly seen and known at the refuse which was given to our general Deputies to send Commissioners through all Provinces according as it was inculcated & intimated by the Declaration of Peace. The necessity of their sending being extreme, to the end the Edict might be put in execution where it was infringed and violated. To re-establish the exercise of our religion in those places from whence it had been banished. To replace in their houses a numberless number of poor families which had been expeled and exiled. And in a word, to prevent and remedy those disorders which drew with them the licentiousness of war, and to make us feel some effects of so many promises which had been made us. But it is that which no supplications can ever obtain, so as most of the chiefest Churches of the Kingdom have fainted and languished in misery, that they are so far off that this Peace hath any way improved or bettered their condition as contrariwise it hath disarmed us, to expose us naked to all manner of tortures and persecutions.  
The which to approve and justify, at least 60 poor Churches will undertake with weeping hearts and voices, to whom according to the tenor of the Edict, the exercise of their Religion ought to be free, and where it was confidently hoped they should have now been reestablished by the peace, they yet have remained in a pitiful desolation, without that all their requests & prayers can any way steed them for their restoration, or produce any other fruits or effects then the immense charges of their unprofitable solicitation. Injustice, which hath not only been practised in those Towns subdued by the violence of Arms, and where this hard measure might peradventure be imputed to the severity and sharpness of the roman-catholics against us for having committed some acts of hostility, but also in those places who refused to join to the resistance of their brethren, and had stooped the most ●…ruily under their yoke, and in those places also where ours have no power to agitate any thing.  
Particularly, we may here remember the Church of Tours, whereof the Temple having been burnt in the midst of peace before the troubles of the years 1620 and 1621., and during the two Edicts of Peace which have been since establshed and published; they cannot hetherunto re-edify and repair it. And although the king with his own mouth hath ordained the restablishment thereof, and to that end granted out a commission to see it performed the last year, yet notwithstanding, the malice and wickedness of his Officers hath rendered it vain and unprofitable to whom the execution thereof was given and belonged, so that for the term of 7 whole years, more than 2000 Souls have there languished in a miserable captivity of Conscience, without having permission or liberty to seru●… God. And for as much as sometimes they have assayed to assemble secretly to administer the Sacrament of Baptism to some Children, and not to suffer so great a number of Souls without some exercise of Religion, they have followed them closely and severely, have publicly abused the Minister, and condemned him in a great Fine, for lending of his House for so piousan Action.  
Yea so far it is that those poor troops of Christians so pitifully dispersed, and so long time deprived of the food of their Souls, could be assembled or gathered together, that the insolency and cruelty of our Enemies have begat and perpetrated new dissipations. The year 1622, the Duke of Ventadour (formerly held to be a moderate Prince) hath in a settled peace demolished the Temple of Chailar in Vizaretz, and forbidden all this poor Town (wherein there are not 10 Families of a contrary religion to ours) the exercise of their religion, authorising by this remarkable example, in regard of his dignity, all those of his government to an implacable hatred against us, and even to outraged with a licentious fury and boldness. The Baron of Perant, Governor of Beucaire in Languedoc, emboldened by this insolency, after he had taken from us, & usurped the Temple of God, wherein we were accustomed to serve God in the Church of Vezenobre in Sezennes, he not only contented himself to deprive us thereof, and to dedicate it to Idols, but to leave a perpetual memorial of his outrageous and violent injustice, caused there a Bell to be founded with this Inscription, That Such a day he had chased Heresy thence. And not long since when the national Synod was held at Castres', the Cardinal of Sourdis came furiously rushing upon a troop of harmless and innocent Souls, going to Montravell, with the great incommodities and labours of their bodies, to seek the Food of their Souls, where violently he pursued the Pastor (whom it pleased God to preserve) shut up a great number of women and small children into a barn, where he held them a long time captives in the fears and apprehensions of death, & every minute threatened to set fire to them and burn them, and in the end by a profanation full of horror, converted to a stable this Temple where these servants of the Lord were accustomed frequently to serve him, and which had continued without interruption since the fury of the Masacres.  
And in this manner it is, that Our Enemies do accomplish that which his Majesty's Declaration had promised us, concerning the reestablishing of our dissipated Churches, that is to say, by new invented outrages, and performed by great and noble personages, against whom it is impossible for us to obtain any justice, yea not lawful to frame or exhibit a complaint.  
Enery one may judge of what a dangerous and pernicious consequence these examples are, and what we may attend or expect from people already exasperated and animated with implacable hatred against us; having before their eyes, those and the like great personages, which serve for firebrands and incendraries to their rage: and indeed they are grown to so boundless and licentious a rage, that they can make us suffer no more, and in imitation of others, they triumph and glory to abuse us, and do openly depress us with their outrages. So that almost every where to be known to be of our Religion, is to be marked and distinguished for Monsters, and those who are of the sweetest, and most temperate inclinations, do think they extremely gratify us, if they do but simply abhor us, and eschew our companies and meetings, as people who are infected with the pestilence, especially in those places where they prevail in number, and it is almost throughout the whole Kingdom, that we cannot go to our Divine Exercises, but either in going or returning the vulgar do assemble to hush and shout at us with public out-cries, throw stones at us, and beat us down with injuries; so that in the Capital City of Paris itself, it is not long since that there were some slain upon the place, without that the presence of the King, & the respect of that famous Parliament there resident, could prevent or hinder that this blood was not spilt before their eyes, and themselves to be almost destroyed therewith. Yea they advance so far in this insolency, as they rush into particular men's houses to execute the excess of this their cruelty. And the example is resent & fresh of that which happened in the aforesaid Church of Vezenobre, where a furious number of Asasins break by night into the house of the Minister, and clapped a rope about his neck purposely to strangle him, if miraculously he had not escaped their talents by leaping out at a window, from whence he secretly crept along to some neighbouring cottage, almost dead with the blows and wounds he received of them. Those whom they cannot force in their houses, the seduce forth by subtlety; as an Advocate of Sommieres, who being fallen into some revolt, during the last civil combustions, but then immediately after returned again into the Church, he was sent for to the Castle under a false pretext & errand, & there was surprised and seized on by a multitude of furious Friars, and appointed Soldiers who there drew him into the Friary, where he was forced to endure all that which could be expected from the humanity of those pitiful fathers. Our children are often surprised & stolen from us by public violence, to bring them up in their Cloisters, as many times there remains nothing to the poor fathers & desolate mothers, but their unprofitable tears to have engendered them to Idolatry and superstition. It is a common custom now among Friars, to thrust themselves into families and houses to seduce servants against the will of their master, & children in the sight of their fathers, and if they will have them forsake their houses, they cry out, Murder, murder, as if they had been outraged & set upon, and finding witnesses enough for their purpose, to depose that which they desire, they follow them in suits of Law, as cryminals, and many times they are very happy if they can be quit and freed of them for a great part of their goods. Others they accuse for speaking ill of their Prince, and so frame informations against them, which they press with so much malice & violence, that some finding themselves circumvented, & in danger of their lives, do leave themselves to be drawn and seduced by them, and so wretchedly to redeem their crimes with their revolt and Apostasy, whereof there is as a late remarkable example neere Nay le Fineuse, in one who had the charge of Ancient of that Church. Yea many times they very impudently enter into our Temples during the time of Sermons, & there very loudly contradict our Pastors to their faces, to the end they may stir up some mutiny, or sow some sedition among them, which happened at St. Maixert very few months since, and it is commonly practised in all parts of Poictow, the which it seems those malevolent Spirits do particularie practise, thereby the more to torment them in this manner. These sort of people do again go and besiege the patience and brains of sick and dying people, purposely to disturb their wits and memories, and to engender some scruples in their Consciences, and what testimony soever the poor sick patient gives, that he will receive his consolation from his own Pastor: If it fall out that he but once open his mouth, than they are presently up with their insolent cries which they obstinately continue until such time as they see the sick patient in the last agonies of death. This Death although it be commonly termed the last and best remedy of all evils and afflictions, yet it doth not wholly take us away from their cruelty; for they rail upon our dead bodies, persecuting us to the very tomb, permit not that we are accompanied or conducted, fill our graves when we are making of them, wish and desire that we were devoured of Dogs, and constrain us almost every where to solemnize our Funerals by night. But alas! what will you say, when in our very graves, our bones and dust cannot find repose? for with unmerciful and cruel hands they violate our graves, whom very Pagans would esteem as sacred, and finding nothing else but pitiful dust, they are yet so barbarous as to throw it into the wind. The burning of the Temple of Towers began by the unburying of a dead carcase; and so have been unburied the bones of persons of qualitic and Honour as of late Monsieur de Teligny la Nene, and very lately of Monsieur de Saint Fulgents. Not long since near unto Londun, as a husband had caused a grave to be made for his dead wife near unto the Churchyard, the rage of the Commons was such, as they would not suffer this poor body this last place of repose, but they unburied it by night, and exposed and abandoned it to Wolves, which indeed devoured part thereof, so that when the afflicted Husband began to make researches and examinations of this inhuman cruelty, he received a poor reward for this his pitiful and charitable office, and was in a morning found to be slashed, and slain.  
And let none here believe, that we speak by Hyperboles, for they are pure and naked truths: the Sun sees them, we feel them, our Enemies make us suffer them, and France is the cruel Theatre whereon are represented such bloody and mournful tragedies, and as God beholds them, so it is incompatible to his divine justice that one day he do not revenge them.  
But here our Enemies will not fail to object unto us, that although all this be true (as indeed the justification thereof is clear and apparent) yet that they are particular actions, not avowed, but disproved, and which therefore ought not to cause the infraction of the Edict of Peace, the which as much as possible we can, we ought to endeavour to preserve and maintain. But this is the exception of our Enemies, which through their vain evasions desire to be covered with our complaints, & to have a law of themselves to condemn them as injust. But besides that, we go on plainly to justify their injustices, altogether armed with Patents, and publicly authorized, they in vain endeavour to free and wash themselves of these outrages which are committed on us by particular persons, for that they themselves introduce them by their examples, and to embolden them thereto through their impunity, for wherefore have they the swords of Magistracy in their hands, but to defend and secure us from injuries, and to do us right and justice when we have received them: wherefore do they contemn all all our complaints and grievances? whence proceeds it, that having presented a full list thereof, which was yet but the abstract and compendium of more important, that we had no justice done us upon any one of them, no nor so much as vouchsafe to hear or read them: so that who can otherways take or consider them, but as the Authors of these cruel indignities we endure and suffer, in that having the authority to prevent them, they absolutely refuse to put their hands to it? The Edict of Peace which is given us, is fraudulent and deceitful, because those who are ordained to make us observe them, do send apparent contraventions, and permit-●…and suffer them.  
But their injustice stops not, at a simple toleration of outrages, which we see them do by their particulars, for they themselves are the first and chiefest which infringe all the clauses of the Edict, which is fit for us to clear and justify; to the end, that all men being well informed thereof. Detest their disloyalty and sympathise with us against the cruel oppression which they make us suffer.  
The King's Declaration imports, that we shall be reestablished in the free exercise of our Religion, in our Goods, Offices, and Honours, and in a word, all sorts of favourable and gracious usage for the General, besides that which was covenanted and granted to some partilars, as namely for the Town of Rochel, It is therefore question that we examine or see how all these hath been performed and executed: As for the free exercise of our Religion, besides that which hath been formerly objected and represented of a fearful number of poor Churches which remain deprived, and that the Ministers of the State have scoffed and mocked when they endeavoured to demand their reestablishment, which was granted them by the Edict, besides those which are newly razed and discipated, and in those very places where this exercise doth in some manner yet subsist: we are held in a cruel captivity, for there are Fines ordained and also corporal punishments, for those who sing Psalms in their houses, wherein are contained the praises of God, whiles the streets regorge with blasphemers, and resound with obscure and villainous songs. We are forbidden our Schools in diverse places, as at Niort, and in all Bearne, to the end that our Children remain ignorant and without learning and instruction. The Parliament of Pau hath decreed and pronounced a sentence against consistories, which shall profess and practise that which is expressly mentioned in our Ecclesiastical discipline, to wit, to censure Fathers and Parents which send their children to the Schools and Colleges of the Jesuits to be there by them instructed. Although Friars which give their first oath to a Stranger, I mean the Pope, who subject Kings to him, and who maintain and defend those parricides which they themselves have committed; I say, although they are received into this Kingdom of all sorts of Nations indifferently; nevertheless it being question of our Ministers, of whom calumnies hath never had the face to impute them the least of these horrors, we are debarred to receive any who are strangers, and the ancient alliance of this Crown with the Kingdom of Scotland, hath not been considerable or valable to reobtain the return of Master primrose, in the Church of Bourdeaux, where he served many years with a singular edification, and testimony from our very adversaries, of a most modest and temperate personage; and others, although natural Frenchmen, are condemned to an unjust and eternal exile, because they were known to be excellent instruments to serve God, as Monsieur d●… Moulin, whose very name was respected and admired of our Adversaries: and likewise Monsieur Suffrein, to hinder whose calling back with some pretext and colour, the most wicked and impudent imposture that could be, as the approbation of the popular esmotion, wherein the Precedent De Cros was killed. As for those who yet subsist in their Churches, if it be known that they are profitable labourers in God's Vineyard, than there is nothing unomitted to expel and banish them, as hath been seen in deceased Monsieur de la Chapaliere and Monsieur Salbart, whom to drive and take away from Rochel, they left no stone unremoved, whether in the Town, or in the Provincial or General Synods, yea they went so far therein, as they abused the King's name, and by a public letter from his Majesty addressed to the body of the Town, to drive them thence: The one and the other of them being notwithstanding known to be honest men, and being guilty of no other-crime, then of their zeal and affection to the Church of God, and accompanied with a rare experience; and for the first of the two, who is now gone to God, we have drawn those true testimonies from our Enemies after his decease, that he was a rare and singular personage, whom no threatenings could shake, no offers how great or frequently reiterated could corrupt, whom no dangers could ever make to fear, whom no misfortune could daunt, and who trampling under his feet all particular interests, was wholly bend for the conservation and good of his fiocke: That which causcth them so to praise him after hisdeath, was that which made them hate him, so during his life: but for him, he is now escaped their cruelties; but those who remain in life, are enforced to lament under their tyranny: and it is not lawful for them to speak or write that which their consciences suggest and dictate to them, between us and our Adversaries, for the long and miserable captivity of Monsieur Constant, and of Monsieur Bellot in the Prisons of Bourdeaux, doth but too much depose and confirm it; and besides that, witness the personal adiournments & Decrees for the corporal detentions granted out against diverse of them for the same cause; among other of Monsieur de Bransillon, for having answered to the declaration of a wretched Apostate: The Pastor of Saüne in Savennes for having refuted a calumniating and railing book, which a jesuit set forth, and Monsieur Savonnet in Poictou for having published the Acts of a Conference, which a Capuchin Friar equally ignorant and impudent had constrained him thereto, who after he had vanquished him shamefully, was yet so audacious as to publish the trophies of an imaginary victory. As it is not lawful for our Minister to speak or write, so it is prohibited to our Printers to publish any Books of our Religion. That at Nismes he of the Academy suffered a long imprisonment for imprinting an ancient manuscript which was publicly sold in Paris of the great pardon of God opposed to that of the Popes, and another Minister in Poictou named Bureau hath been extremely checked by the presidial Court of Poictues for printing the aforesaid dispute of Monsieur Saromet, and henceforth they have made a general Decree whereby they will exclude and ensnare us by virtue of a Declaration published Anno 1625, in the behalf of an ex●…crable Book composed by the Jesuits, prohibiting the imprinting of any Book without being licenced and privileged, which is clearly and absolutely to defend us from printing or publishing any thing, sith we know well that this approbation and privilege will never be allowed or granted us, so as the permission which was formerly yielded & given us, will remain void and annihilated, and the Edict which authoriseth it to us, consequently violated and infringed.  
And no less it is for our Ecclesiastical Assemblies, wherein there is an innovation made repugnant and contrary to the Edict, by this yoke which is imposed on us to receive Commissioners. For in those assemblies we do not frame, or exhibit any unjust complaint, for fear of being there checked, and reproved, where all things pass religiously and according to God's Word. But it grieves us that thereby they will traduce & abuse us, as if we had any way wronged those venerable assemblies, to make, or introduce Monopolies. Moreover, experience hath made us observe, that the aims and intents of our Enemies is hereby to make us unuseful, yea prejudicial through the election of such Commissioners which most commonly we know to be hired & stipended against us, and who indeed place themselves there purposely to offend & abuse us. For according to their ●…antasies & pleasures we must assemble, or separate ourselves, make our consultations long or short, and according to their advice & relish, every point which we treat of, is a question and maxim of estate, although it symbolise no nearer than day to night, and thereupon they raise their sple●…ne & bitterness. And although in these our affairs and assemblies they should bring but their ears to hear, yet they interpose & usurp upon all matters that are proposed or consulted, for to speak their opinions hereof, & to make them as authentical & valable as if they were the most passionatest Partisans. We have observed of many among them, some pernicious spies to mark out in Rubrikes those who are best affected to the Church of God, to oppose good men, to support wicked, and to intimidate & shake the weaker sort of people, and in favour of some miserable reward to make them fall off from themselves. To be short, for the heaping up of oppression in that which concerns our consciences, they will force us to that which is more bitter and insupportable than death itself, and which with abomination we abhor & detest, as a most express and gross Idolatry, that is to bow our knees before the Host, or Agnu●… dei of the Roman-priests, I say they will enforce us thereto, and the decrees thereof have been newly dated and published in many places, more particularly at deep, where there are so great a number of our Religion, that it is impossible they are not often engaged with this fatal meeting. And in this sort they have performed & executed the declaration of peace in regard of the chief point thereof which concerns the free liberty and exercise of our Religion, they have not established it in infinite places where it ought to be, they have expelled and banished it from diverse others where it lawfully subsisted, and if any where they have left it, it is in the manner, and terms as we have here formerly expressed.  
As for the regard of the offices & dignities whereunto we ought to be indifferently admitted with our other Country men and fellow Citizens, it is this which our Enemies have impugned and prevented with all sorts of passion and violence. In many places where those of our contrary Religion make not the tenth person, they have wholly taken from us that part and portion which we had in the Consul's Court, as at Bagnols': Or if in any place they have left us any thing, it hath been the very least and meanest part, as at Montelimard. There hath been bribery, combination, or corruption employed almost every where, to introduce in the Town houses or seats of justice and judicature: those which most malign us, and consequently to expel all honest men. Very lately cotrary to the exclude privileges of the City of Nismes, the Commissioners of the Chamber of Besiers, by a Decree of their Council would there assist at the election of the Consuls, to make it fall on people wholly to their devotion, and because the Baron of Aubais who was not of their crew, was there lawfully elected and accepted the Dignity, they granted out a power to arrest his Body, and most cruelly ransacked his houses. The order hitherto inviolably observed calling Monsieur le Cocque Counsellor of the Parliament of Paris to enter into the Great Chamber, the door was shut against him, in hatred of his Religion, and the long services of this venerable old man, whose probity and merits are apparently known to all men, could not prevail with their passion against us, nor secure him from their outrageous Injustice.  
Generally there is seldom granted out any Office whatsoever, though it be but of a poor Sergeant to any that is of our Religion, if they do not first abjure it, or promise those services which is required of them, which is, hereafter to betray us in the midst of ourselves; so that Monsieur de Russan having many years since paid for the Office of General of the Court of Aids at Monpellier, hath not as yet been received, because he will not perform the one, nor promise the other. And now again in the Town of Rochel there having been many Offices and dignities vacant, whom many of the said Town have sought to obtain and purchase; these suits of theirs hath been in vain, because they will not play false play to their consciences, in betraying their Country, and in this manner it is that the Faith hath been kept and practised with us in this regard.  
It may be, that being contented to have bereaved and despoiled us of our honours, they will be then more just to restore usto our goods, and to secure us from injuries, and generally to conserve our Rights in matter of justice which was solemnly promised us. So here it is that some enraged passion hath strangely blinded them, that trampling under their feet all manner of divine and humane Laws, they have wretchedly abused the authority which gave them Laws, every way to afflict and oppress us. When grounding ourselves and Actions on the Edict of Peace, we would question before judges, the unjust detainers of our goods, whereof they so violently possessed themselves during the fury of the Wars, and so to demand the Principal which was due to us, before the taking of Arms, all our Law suits and Processes have been rejected or adjudged against the Plaintiffs to their great cost and charges, and our Enemies the Desendants still maintained in their usurpation; so that to the Province of Languedoc alone, is owing more than two millions of Livres, which is 100000. li. sterling, and to the town of Rochel immense and infinite sums, and it is so far off from restoring us what is due to us, as by Acts of palpable injustice they have many where's condemned us to restore those prizes which we had taken during the wars, and among others there was a sentence given thereon, in the Chamber of the Edict at Besieres, against deceased Mrnsieur de St Blancard.  
Our processes are judged by the ticket on the bags, so that those of a contrary religion boldly sue all manner of actions against us how unjust so ever, being confident that the contrary judge of our Religion will make them gain their Causes: And so at the Great Council, The Earl of Beanfort was overthrown in a greatl vite he followed against some Communalites, and which imported him the greatest part of his whole Estate, although the equity and justice of his cause was perfectly clear, and that in confirmation thereof he had heretofore obtained sentence upon sentence; but notwithstanding, the only remembrance of troops of assistance which he conducted into Montauban, and his perseverance and constancy in the true Religion, have prevailed with his judges that his Right was unjust.  
But might it please God, that they did not abuse their power but in disployIing us of our goods, and that their cruelty would at least leave us our liberty and lives, that their seats of justice were only Courts established unjustly to grant and give away our goods to our Enemies, and that they became not scaffolds expressly erected to draw innocent blood from us. It is a horror of the bloody Decrees and judgements which every day they pronounce against us, and whereby they manifest and demonstrate to all the world, that their souls are far redder than their Scarlet gowns. The least fault which any of us commits is a crime which can neither hope, nor obtain pardon, and in the whitest innocency itself, their hatred makes them find out lawful causes to condemn us. A young man of Auignon, named William Astier, for having framed and collected some reasons which moved him to abandon the Church of Rome, was thrown into prison, where with Geeves and fetters he miserably remained two months among the greatest criminals, and could not yet obtain his liberty before he had paid a great sum of money for a fine. Another very lately at Lions, after the miseries of a long imprisonment, received sentence in the same City, which was confirmed by the Parliament of Paris, to go all the City over in his shirt, bore footed, with a halter about his neck, and a great burning torch in his hands, for having declared to one who proposed and enquired of him If he held the Pope to be Antichrist. And as every one knows that it is one of the Articles of our Faith which we preach in our Sermons, and confirm in our Books; so this sentence given against him, doth comprehend and enwrap us all in the same condemnation, and adjudgeth us to the same disgraces and torments. The Court of Parliament of Tholouse hath inflamed and armed the Popish Commonalties to execute horrible outrages in the Town of St Paul-Lamata, Cuque and other pitiful relics of forepast burnings. All France hath conceived horror at the fearful injustice used against an innocent man in the Isle of Ree, To whom his judge termed Briet (a name of abominable memory) having suborned witnesses to affirm against him, that during the last commotions of An. 1622. he had broken and burnt an Image, and therein pronounced sentence of death against him. The Court of Parliament of Paris without examining his witnesses, who were easily to be convicted of falsehood and imposture, without admitting the reproaches which he gave them which were more than valable, without regarding that if the accusation had been true, that it was an hostility committed during the war, and which ought to have been abolished and buried by the Edict of peace, their passion made them to consent and conform this unjust sentence, & so to charge their consciences with the blood of this poor harmless child of God, who constantly expiring his last breath in the midst of fire and flames, confirmed his innocency in this action of his death: and heaven afterwards discovered it, yea this unfortunate and fatal Image is since found again, and to this day doth subsist, to accuse the execrable wickedness of his Accusers and judges, which have lent and held up their hands to circumvent the whitest & candidst innocency that ever was. The fury and injustice was not less but the precipitation far greater, in the person of one named Roumiou, who during the wars was Provost in the Army of the Duke of Rohan, who being at Castres' in May 1626. and one of the Consuls of that Town, a very vicious man, and wholly sold to our Enemies, coming to him & occasioning him a paltry drunken quarrel, and so outraging and abusing him in the open street, necessity obliging him to put himself upon his defence and resistance, he was presently seized on by men placed there to the same effect (for it was a premeditated quarrel) imprisoned, & sentence as soon given: whereby he was condemned to the Galleys, he threw in his appeal to the Chamber of Besieres, but instcad of good judges, from whose virtue and integrity his innocency might receive some assistance, in an Act so outrageous as was offered him, he found cruel Tyrants, who cherishing the injustice of his former judges, aggravated his crime and their sentence, and so pronounced judgement of death against him, which by an unparaleld example was the very same hour executed, so that in all he stayed not four and twenty hours in their prisons: it is thevehemency of a strange passion which made them proceed with such celerity where there was question of a man's life, and it is far opposite and distant from the moderation of those ancient judges, which still left thirty days between the sentence and execution thereof, to the end that if there were any light break forth for the innocency of the accused, they would not have been sorrowful to understand it so late, but because they would spare the efusion of blood, and never spill it but with compassion and sorrow, whereas these are insatiably thirsty thereof. And yet we may term these judges of Besicres modest and temperate in regard of that which was perpetrated lately in the Parliament of Bourdeaux, against Monsieur de St german, a Gent. of mark and quality, but extremely hated of them because he was a man of valour & service; the Baron of Montendre who had a quarrel against him, and who greatly fea●…'d his generosity & courage, judged the passion of this Parliament, to be a very fit instrument for the execution of his, and so to free him of this formidable enemy; to which end he seduced a wretched Priest to become Plaintiff a 'gainst the said Monsieur de St german, & so accused him for robbing of his Church, whose witnesses were not difficult to be found out, because it wasagainst one of our religion; so the informations were framed and dressed against him, but with an absolute unheard of silence, and they are put into the hands of a Provost, expressly chosen for such a one which was requisite for such an execution; who watching his time, surprised this bravegentleman when he least thought or dreamed thereof, & speedily led him to Bourdeaux, where that Parliament being extraordinarily assembled, without hearing any of his just allegations and answers, presently held him guilty, & pronounced sentence of death against him, so as in less than 8 hours this judgement was given, & executed.  
These are the hands which now dispose sovereignly of our lives, and thus is our Religion turned & imputed to crime, and the faith which was given us by the Edict of peace to lures & snares, the more easily to draw us to the scaffolds, the which we have not ceased to oregore & distain with our innocent blood, ever since that upon the assurance of this peace we put down our arms; and the number is infinite which are daily hunted after for forepast actions, so that within the extent and jurisdiction of the Parliament of Thoulouse, there are 2000 of us decreed and commanded to be apprehended for the like causes, and there is nothing but flight can warrant them from the bloody hands of th●…se cruel Tyrants.  
We assure ourselves there are none except they are more than barbarous, who having considered all this, are not touched in hart with pity & compassion towards us, and that he will not approve our wrongs to be immense, and infinite, because notwithstanding all these most sacred and inviolable promises which were made us, we are still tyranized in our consciences, oppressed in our honours, ruined in our goods, & our lives continually exposed to the swords of those, who having them in their hands to do justice, do abuse them in the execution of their hatred against us.  
But it may be we would yet support all these outrages and persecutions more patiently, if as they are committed against some particulars now here & anon there, that the generalty could promise themselves some repose & tranquillity; In this case those to whom it falls out to suffer, must yet glorify God in their sufferances, & still embrace and endure them with consolation, seeing that the rest of God's children, do at least yet subsist though in I know not what poor estate & condition. But our greatest grief and misery is, That we apparently perceive, that the designs of our Enemies are wholly bend to root us out, as also our Religion, & so to give the last blow to our ruin, what sugared words soever they employ to persuade and make us believe the contrary.  
The justification whereof is clear and evident, by the breach of 2 Articles, which doth not simply touch the interest of some particulars, but which concerns our general subsistence. The first regards the holding, & observing of our politic assemblies, being divided & spread as we are in a Kingdom, whereof every one knows, the greatness and extent, and being to live among people who are animated against us with rageful fury, we shall but live there exposed to these their injuries, & coming to massacre us one after another in our houses, we may almost all perish before we have knowledge thereof, or only have the means to have recourse to the justice of our Prince to implore his protection. One of the remedies of this our evil is, our mutual correspondence, & communication one with the other, and indeed our king knowing the necessity hereof, thought it fit & requisite, and therefore gave us express commission by their Edicts to assemble at least every 3 years to consult of our common affairs, and to compile all our grievances together, to the end to bring and prostrate them to their feet, & in their justice to find the Palladium and sanctuary of our safety, according whereunto it was expressly promised so the last peace, that we should have a Patent delivered us to make our assemblies, the which if it had been performed, & his Maties ears open to our complaints & grievances, without doubt he would have taken pity of the cries & tears of so many thousands of his poor subjects, & according to his royal goodness in providing for our wrongs, they had preuerted the calamities and miseries under whom France now breaths & sighs. But our Enemies have so powrfully prevailed, that this promise hath been violated to us as well as all others, and our 2 whole years patience improfitably employed to make remonstrance thereof, hath produced us no other fruit, but to make us comprehend by their obstinate denials, that they intent to deprive us of all means to confer together for our common subsistence, thereby to work more commodiously and surely to our ruin, as to beat down and destroy a body, first to cut all the sinews which linked the members one to another.  
The same design to ruin us doth furthermore plainly appear, & remains perfectly verified by the proceedings they have observed & held to bereave us of those Towns and places which the Edict granted and gave us in every Province to assure our lives. Experience had made us see that what Edicts soever our Kings could publish in our favour, they were not bars stung enough against the fury of the people. At the first seditious Sermon (and Friars make none others) the fire of a popular emotion waslighted, and the knives in the hand of an enraged multitude which came to seek us in our beds to cut our throats, which is no less than all the whole world knows, & that there have been infinite numbers of God's children which have felt & made trial of these more than barbarous horrors, within that the public faith, the respect of Laws, and the authority of the Prince, was powerful enough to secure us from them, & after, to oppose some more powerful remedy. Our Kings themselves have assigned us places to serve us for refuge, if any should seek to assail or destroy us, as formerly they had done, & have ordained that the guard & keeping thereof should be wholly gived and committed to us, even so they have remained in our hands not as hostages of the faith of our Princes, who have never doubted of our fidelities, but as pawns and pledges that our Enemies should contain themselves in their duties. And we kept them not, against those of whose grace we received & held them, but against their rebellious subjects, which would presume to violate and infringe their Edicts, yea & masacre us, against the declaration of their will. And this properly is the nature of these towns which for this regard have been names of security & assurance, of which whiles we have been the possessors & depositors, the insolency of the people hath been retained & restrained, and in stead of wars & combustions wherewith this Kingdom hath been long & miserably afflicted, & which made her the true theatre of misery, we have seen her ascend to the height of all felicity & glory.  
And it cannot be said, but that the K. hath been truly and perfectly obeyed of us, & that the gates thereof were open at all times he pleased to enter, as indeed he was received into most part of them with joy and acclamations, when he passed by Saumur to his marriage, & had ever been so since, if wicked counsellors had not abused (our respects & obediences, and had not made us know by many deplorable experiences) that they contrived & fashioned the snares of our ruin, & to draw us from forth these places, not that the K. should be better served, for that was impossible, but because they would find means to violate his Edicts with impunity.  
But how they have borne themselves to bereave us of them, is that which it imports every one to know, & the which we will fetch from its head fountain & original. First they would have enterprised it by force of Arms, whereof they laid the foundations a little after the death of He●…y the great of happy memory, by the innovation which they decreed & resolved to do in Bearne, in diverting the revenues which the deceased Q. of Navarre and the Estates of that Country had assigned for the maintenance of Ministers & Colleges, and in employing them to furnish the pride of some Bishops, and the insatiable covetousness of the jesuits. They believed that, that poor people would understand this with grief, as also that thereupon we would presently run to arms. But our moderation deceived them, so that we contented ourselves from time to make our humble complaints and remonstrances to his Matie, and the wisest of his Council held along time these matters in suspense. The other nevertheless pushed still obstinately to their former designs, & after having obliged the assembly of Loudoun to separate themselves in An. 1619, through hope that for 6 months after there should be no innovation in this business, & that in the interim they would consider the reasons of these of Bearne, long before that time was expired, they led away the King into Guyene, and then go suddenly thundering on these poor people, where by violence they passed in the Parliament of ●…an, that which formerly they had resolved and concluded; ransacking this Country with strange hostilities, cruelly beat and outraged those who could not save themselves by flight, defiling with indignity the Temples where they were accustomed to pray unto God, and to preach his holy Gospel, thereby to hold this miserable Country in eternal servitude and slavery, filling all places with Garrisons, and having drawn the Lord of Sales out of the Town of Navarrins, through a thousand oaths that they would leave him the government thereof, of which when they were become masters, for his good service they paid him with scoffs and laughtres, and laughed at his credulity.  
They had not so well begun, not to pursue the point of their good fortune: the Deputies of the Assembly of Loudun repair to Rochel, at the first brute and news of these outrages, according to the right which had been expressly given them before their last separation, and there prepared themselves to go again and present their humble supplications to his Majesty, but this is imputed to them for crime, and they have order to disperse and divide themselves; and because they would persist in their remonstrances, they are there held as encrimed, our enemies armed against us, who then thought to persorme that in the midst of our other Churches, which they came from doing and exploiting in Bearne, as if nothing could hold out before them, or withstand them.  
For having taken Saumur by the same lure which they had Navarrins, they is by oaths presently violated, and corrupted the Governors of many other places, which they rendered unto them without striking stroke, obliged others to receive compositions, the which they as soon infringed, as at St. ●…ohn, and Cle●…ae, they then came to Montauban, which served as a bar to their entryes, and the year after, which was Anno 1622. they assailed Montpellier, where they found so vigorous resistance, that they lost all hope of becoming masters thereof, whiles Rochel for her part acted wonders at Sea, and defended herself so well by Land, that those before it did nothing else but consume themselves.  
But for all this they were not daunted or discouraged, and knowing that their first design to vanquish us by Arms, no way succeeded to their desires, they spin a contrary thread, and clue, and so resolve to overthrow us by a Treaty, sith they could not do it by force: to which effect, they propose and seek with all variety of Art and policy, and do so industriously and obsequiously comply with the Duke of Rohan, that he suffers himself to be enchanted, and lulled a sleep with their flattering promises, who not able to persuade hims●…lfe that they could so wickedly and perfidiously break his Majesty's word as they did, he concluded to peace with them on these conditions among others:  
That his Majesty entering into Montpellier, should make no change or innovation, that Marans should be rendered up unto us, and that the Fort built a●…ioyning to Rochel, should be demolished; and for the other places, which as then we held and enjoyed, there should no alterations at all be made.  
Here then are our enemies drawn out of some rubs and dangers, by the only means of this Treaty, but yet they have not fallen from their first intents. The City of Montpellier having opened her gates to the King, gave him to brave a reception and entrance, as she thought she had thereby given him an eternal confidence of her sidelity: but the recompense she received, was the Garrison which was left there against the public faith, so solemnly sworn, with instructions to the Commanders and Officers, so to afflict the Inhabitants, that they themselves should be constrained thereby to demand that which all other people naturally detest and abhor, that is to say, to be subjected to the tyrannous Yoke of a Citadel, according to which order, the houses of the chiefest, and most eminent, are stuffed up and oppressed with Soldiers which eat them out, who spoil their Vines, desolate their fields, quarrel with all, assail the honour and chastity of their wives and daughters. Some in regard of these injuries, consent to make this demand, and some three or four score present the request of our Supplication: this (as they say) is not to prejudice the right of the rest of the Town, nor to the remarkable interest which all our other Churches had therein; nevertheless this great tumultuous Garrison would not fail to take them at their words: so the foundations of this Citadel were presently laid, and in a short time brought to perfection, and then it was that with all sorts of licentiousness, they began to grate and afflict this poor City, far more than before, all her privileges are annihilated, the Inhabitants disarmed to their very knives: the chiefest Cittie-Virgins are snatch away from their fathers and mothers, to marry them to some vagabond Soldiers of a contrary Religion, many are compelled to Apostasy, and in a word, once this rich City, now this poor people, are made slaves to an unheard of, and matchless tyranny. In, and in this manner they assured themselves of Montpellier.  
As for Marans, when the restitution thereof was pressed, it was found in the warrant which they had caused to be dispatched and expedited, that they had committed a notable imposture: for instead of that which they had showed to the Duke of Rohan, and whence the peace was concluded, they had absolutely promised, that this Town should be restored into the hands and keeping of his first Governor, but in this last, they adjoined an Alternative, which destroyed the precedent proposition, to wit, Or recompense shall be given him, whereby they evaded and eluded our demand.  
But all these are yet but small matters. As Rochel was the place which most of all crossed their designs, considering that in regard of second causes, she is as one of the Axle Trees of our Subsistance: It was to become Masters thereof, that the first and chiefest intents have these many years aimed, but not being able to procure and compass it by Arms, not to reduce and bring them to the point of confidence, which proved so mournful and miserable to Montpellier, to wit, to open their Gates, they attempted another way which they judged less chargeable and more easy, and peradventure which might more fortunately succeed, than all that which they had formerly done during the time of Wars; there was a Fort began to be built before this Town, which by this peace was to be demolished, as by an express warrant to that effect was sent and expedited as we have formerly said: But how solemn soever this promise was, they resolved not to hold or perform it; and so to operate and work by means of this Fort in time of peace, that which they could not have to effect during the Wars: And as this Town cannot subsist but by the means of commerce and trade: so they already prejudged that the subsistence of the said Fort, would infallibly wholly deprive and take it from them; there being no great hope or appearance that Merchants would frequent a place so near to danger, much less hazard or entrust their goods: Besides, this Fort being so near to their Town, it might facilitate their Enemy's Intelligence, and chalk out a way to surprise: And put the worst, if they were enforced to come to Arms, they had therein a strong and powerful Arcenallready to their h●…nds, and therein all sorts of prepara●…iues for a Siege. The Rochellers who carefully save these consequences, and likewise foresaw how ruinous they might be unto them: dispatched their Deputies to the King at the very instant of the acceptation of the peace, aswell to tender him their Submissions, as to procure necessary warrants for the demolition of the Fort: These Deputies find the King at Lions, of whom they are favourably received, and obtain of his Council as many good words and papers as they can desire: returning thus with Letters to Monsieur Arnaud (which commanded the Fort) which enjoined him speedily to free the same, and to suffer it to be demolished. But he who had already the watchword given him, mocked at all these their dispatches and expeditions, and told them plainly, he knew the King's intentions better than they all: and so fortifying, in stead of demolishing, spared neither cost, labour, or diligence, to advance his work. The others have speedy recourse to their complaints, and resound very loud the indignity and disobedience offered them, to the end they should not fly out, before the Fort were brought to perfection: they are entertained with good hopes, and promised they shall have Commissioners sent them, to see if they have performed and satisfied that which they never enjoyed by the Declaration, and that they upon notice thereof would give them all content. Whiles these Commissioners add delay to delay, and purposely travel towards Rochel by very small journeys, the Fort is finished, and furnished with abondance of Ordnance, and with all sorts of provisions of War and Victuals: guarded by a mighty Garrison, and with a most exact vigilancy and care: in a word, in that Estate of power, no longer to fear Rochel, but to make Rochel fear them. And then it was that arrived these long expected Commissioners: who finding nothing to question or contradict with obedience whereunto the Town was obliged to the King, they without giving them any contentment, went to finish their Commission in the Isle of Ree; by committing strange outrages and afflictions on that poor people, and by making exact and curious researches of all that had passed during the War. The Rochellers seeing themselves so grossly mocked and abused, do not omit▪ nevertheless to reiterate their complaints to the King, with such sense and passion, that he being touched therewith, gives them again good words: but those of whom the performance and execurion thereof depended, have contrary intents and designs: so that whiles those busily pursue their complaints, these are incessantly conspiring and plotting of many Enterprises upon the Town. Particularly of one managed by a certain fellow named Courselles, who being on the very point to execute it, it pleased God so well to detect it, that the undertaker thereof was taken; and others with whom he had conspired, convicted hereof. Whereup on the Deputies of Rochel are again in Court to demand justice: but they were flatly refused, and told they were too importunate in their complaints, which if they continued, they should be imputed to no less than crime, yea they proceeded too recriminatious; and told them that they were a mutinous and factious people. A deplorable condition of a Patient, who is forbidden to consolidate his sickness by his complaints and sorrows.  
All these proceedings clearly demonstrate, what the design of our Enemies was against this poor Town: But their impatience finding all these delays and courses too long, they again resolve to make trial of their Arms: so they proved great and powerful preparations by Land: but chiefly they rig and make ready a strange Fleet at Blavet, purposely at unawares to thunder upon this poor Town, which they hope cannot escape them. Which conjoined with the other breaches of the peace every where committed, obliged the Duke of Rohan, by whom it had been treated and conducted to advise of the means to divert this great storm, which threatened speedily to befall our Churches: and above all to prevent that this Town, which so much imports us, were not taken from us; who believed that there was no better, expedient, nor truer remedy, then to take from our Enemies the means which they had destined to ruin us. So Monsi●…ur Soubize went and possessed himself of those Ships which were preparing against us at Blauct; and came to the Isle of Ree to free them from the yoke which the aforesaid 〈◊〉 had subjected them to, and after to assay to deliver Rochel from this Fort which so much oppr●…ssed it.  
Our Enemies seeing their design so prevented, and gone retrograde, they make Heaven and Earth refound with their complaints, as the disturbers of the public peace. It is a crime to us not to suffer ourselves to ●…e ruined: and to prevent the blow which was in●…ended totally to overthrow us. Every where they d●…file us with black calumnies, as if we were the greatest Traitors of the world; so that through their artificial insinuations, his most Excellent Ma●…ie of Great Britain, and my Lords the States, that without us they were ready to ioy●…e their Arms with theirs against the Common Enemy, and under pretence to have again resumed that design, they draw Ships from them, but employ them against us: so as presently there was a new face on our affairs, having to do with such powerful Enemies: and the grief hereof was the more sensible to us, to see that our destruction approached by those, from whom we ought to have expected all aid and assistance.  
And yet our enemies saw, they could not so soon arrive to the point and period of their pretences: for although Rochel had received a check, yet she wanted neither courage, men, or provisions. The Duke of Rohan cut out business in other places, and what ●…rt or policy soever was used, there was no meres to sever Montauban, and the other Commonalties from the general cause. Moreover the King of Great Britain, and the Lords the States, seeing how they were deluded and surprised, would no longer permit the stay of their ships against us, which were the true motives that made our Enemies become more flexible, to the overtures of accommodating and advancing the peace made by the Ambassadors of the said King, and the Lords the States: But yet we must not believe that they had changed their maxims, or left off their designs, to deprive us of Rochel, and all other places which remained, on any terms or rates whatsoever.  
And indeed their actions and deportments since the peace, hath manifestly declared it to us. The peace was no sooner concluded, but they enforced the Lord of Montauban to depart with, and leave his house of Meovillon, which were the inheritance of his Ancestors, because the situation thereof being strange, it might serve as a retreat to the poor neighbouring Protestants. Since the death of the late Constable, the Marshal of Crequy hath expelled all those of the Religion from the Governments which he held in Daulphiné; So as all the Churches of this Province do now remain without shelter or protection, and exposed to all the storms of persecution; and there is Scarce a Town which remains in our hands, of any esteem or consideration, but since the we peace, can justify they have made many designs and enterprises thereon.  
But above all, there hath been an obstinate perseveration in their resolution against Rocheil, and they are so far from demolishing the Fo●…t (as we have formerly justified) which they promised to the Ambassadors, that they have newly ●…ged and fortified it, and there those have had refuge, who either attempted to betray it in the time of war, or to surprise it in the time of peace. There is 〈◊〉 wonderful, yea a formidable Magazine of all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a siege laid afore it the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 redo●…d, who bear●… themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…gious, have denoted all the remainders, left by the last wars, and yet insolently threaten very shortly to do worse.  
Moreover, all the little Towns, and Hamblets about Rochel, which by express Articles given likewise in writing to the Ambassadors, were to be discharged of Garrisons, is it yet so far from being performed, as chose they presently filled them up with new supplies, which being placed & dispersed near the Town, could in one night be there, either for a surprise, or the advancing of a Si●…ge: and yet they extremely afflict those with whom they are billi●…ed, and enforce them to take passports from them, as if it were in the midst of war, putting I axes and jmpositions on their goods: spoiling their Vines and Harucst, and keeping these poor people as prisoners in their own houses.  
But it is nothing for them to shut us up by Land, if they do not the like by Sea: so as judgei●…g the Isle of Ree very commodious for their purpose, although they g●…ue their words there should be no innovation or change: yet they send Mounsieur de Thorax to build a strong Fort there: which having performed, and with the very goods of the Rochellers that they had in that Island, whereof he violently possessest himself, although by an expres●…e Article of the Declaration they were to restore it: then he began to play the part of a Sovereign, compelling all Ships which departed forth the River, to attend his pleasure and permission: stayed others who would enter; but especially if they were loaden with any provisions or victuals: and in a word, dealt with them, as if war had been proclaimed.  
Having thus advanced their affairs by Sea and Land without they presently after carry their malice into the very bowels of the Town, by abusing (in adventuring to lose it) the sa●…red respect which it bears to his Majesty in the person of his Offi●…ers: He had so wrought, that his Majesty should send Commissioners for the execution of the Peace, and accordingly they were received with all sorts of respect and honour: but at their very entrance they ●…lye at Monopolies; and there being then some grudge and difference betwixt the body of the Town, and the other Inhabitant for some point of order and government among them, they set fire to this division, animating the one part against the other: yet both to betray each other, to the end to ruin them all by this their proper divisions. There was observed a particular intelligence between them and the Fort, and every day they held secret conferences in their Lodgings, whereat there were none but were either known or suspected to wish ill to the Town: and for the full conviction hereof, one of them was surprised as he would have c●…rrupted a Townsman, who had the Office to search all Ships that came into the Harbour, and so to stop his mouth that way. And briefly, whereas their Commission might have been ended in two days: they obstinately remained in the Town, until the arrival of the war sent them away. So because they stayed there so long without business, without doubt it is a strong presumption, they were sent thither to sow some Treasons, and to introduce within the Town, the means of her ruin, whiles others laboured powerfully without, likewise to effect it.  
The last blow of their pernicious designs, before we wholly take off the Mask, and so come to the last effects of violence, was a general defence to transport any Corn by Sea: yea, not only to foreign Countries, but from one harbour, to another in France: and this defence was set on foot, when France abounded and regorged with Corn: so as many who discovered not the true intent hereof, wondered to hear it published: and di●…ers who had great store of Corn on their hands to traffic abroad, as accustomed, extremely murmured thereat.  
But the true end and aim thereof was, to prevent that Rochel should not victual itself, and when they pleased to besiege it, that they might with more facility quell her by famine.  
We doubt not but those who will please to reflect and cast their eyes upon this Table, whereon we chalk out our griefs and wrongs, will not find it very pleasing, but that it will offend and weary their sight, to fix them so long upon such distasteful and sorrowful objects of injustices, di●…oyalties, outrages, ransackings, oppresing of so many Towns, and of so many thousands of people, with the several designs, generally to root them out, and for ever to exterminate them. But yet we assure them, that we have not here inserted the thousandth part of our miseries: for whosoever would fully and punctually represent them, his paper must be as great as France, and he must resolve to write many Volumes. It sufficeth by this small part, to judge of the whole piece: for by this claw they may sufficiently know these Lions, and see into what extremity and gulf of miseries, they have reduced us: For in a word, they have robbed us of our goods, wronged us in our Honours, spilt our blood, and not spared our Tombs after our death; and all this in detestation of our Religion, the memory whereof eternally to abolish: there is no violence, but they have employed: no cruelty, but they have practised: nor no faith or promise, but they have infringed and delacerated, especially of the last peace, whereof they have wilfully broken all the Clauses and Articles, and during the time thereof, have publicly sought our utter ruin and destruction.  
To remedy all these our miseries, we have continually haunted: yea I may say, besieged the Gates of our Prince his Palace, and lifted up our voices, thereby endeavouring to make him understand our grievances: but particularly Rochel hath still had their Deputies prostrate at his Maie●…ies feet; to beseech him to show them some good effects of his Royal promise. But we have found deaf ears to our requests, or else taken up & preoccupated, with all that which the foulest villainy of our Enemies hath been accustomed slanderously to vomit forth against us: so that we have been sent back with reproach and judig●…ie, and taken from us all hope to do us right and justice: yea the more we have complained of our slavery, the more we have found them to increase and aggravate it, that now this remedy hath increased the sickness of our misery. And as for Rochel, as her oppression was greatest, so were her complaints, and also more frequent, till they were peremptor●…ly defended to exhibit any more; and told openly that they should no longer ex●… the demolition of the Fort.  
〈◊〉 this indeed was to be reduced to the last point of extremity, sith our Enemies lest us not that which is commonly given to those who are mo●…t miserable, (to wit) Hope. Whereon, who will not presently judge, that finding nothing but despair of that side, nothing but all sorts of d●…ialty and pe●…nesse, and an obstina●… resolution to ruin us; That the care which every one naturally aught to have of his proper conservation, obliged us to seek out for other remedies? And where should we else find them, but in having our recourse to those, which were despositors and pledges to us of the peace, which was so ill kept and observed to us? and if any one doubt of the right or equity we have in this our resolution, he will therein show himself, either absolutely ignorant, or wholly mal●…ous.  
For who but knows, that when he that is obliged, comes to fail of his promise, that then the party interested, hath his lawful recourse to the Surety, and consequently ●…ust cause to call on him? for this, nature informs us; all laws teach us; and daily experience in the practice of all●…people confirm●…s to us.  
Because therefore that the peace was given us; by the means and mediation of the King of great Britain, and of the Lords the States, and that they consented to give us assurance for the observation thereof, who sees not, that we have all right at the breach and contravention thereof, to address ourselves to them, and to seek their refuge? And surely the difficulty was not in the right and equity, but in the means to be able to do it, especially in a public way, the cap●…tie wherein we were held being súch, that the first who had dared to have made this proposition, had infallibly●… lost his head for the same: whereof we need no other pro●… or testimony, then that which happened in the same Town of Rochel, where an Inhabitantnamed, La Uigne, having been long suspected to have received a Commission from the King of England, he was thereon imprisoned, and condemned to dye. Such was the power and authority of the Commissioners.  
There remains then one only way, which is, That the Duke of Rohan, who in quality of chief General of our Churches, had dealt in former occasions, and who intervened in the two Treaties of peace, would take on him this care. Indeed the zeal which he hath ever borne to the good of our Churches, having opened his eyes to see the extreme peril wherein they were, and given him courage enough, (notwithstanding the great dangers which threaten us) to advertise the King of Great Britain thereof, God hath so singularly favoured his good intents, given such an efficacy and power to his requests, and to those of Monsieur de Soubize his brother, fortified with those of many honest men, (of all conditions) of our Churches, that the heart of this great King hath been touched with compassion and pity of our wrongs, to employ his power, to desingage to us his Royal faith.  
Sith than it is for that which he is now armed, to consult if we should accept of his good will, were properly to dispute, i●… a sick patient that is dying, should open the door to a Physician who comes to cure him; or if a poor man who is ne'er drowning, should refuse to take the hand of him which extends it to him, to draw him out of the water, wherein he is panting, and near dying. So the ●…ice being absolute, the necessity extreme, and in this necessity and ●…tice, the occasion so favourable; what remains for us to do, but after our most humble thankfulness and prayers to God the Author of all blessings, likewise to address and offer up our humble thanks to the King of Great Brit●…ne, for so fit and timely assistance, (〈◊〉 say) to give a full approbation to his Arms, as raised in our favour, to join ourselves to him with all our powers and ●…orces, with a most humble supplication to his Majesty, that he will please to continue us the effects of his Royal protection, until the obstinacy of our Enemies be vanquished, and that they suffer us to approach the sacred person of the most Christian King our Prince, to obtain of his justice the accomplishing of his Edicts, and the reparation and damage of the breaches which have been offered us, since the decease of Henry the Great, of happy and glorious memory?  
Here doubtless our enemies will make tragical exclamations, to defame our proceedings, and maliciously to impute unto us the want of affection towards our Country, in joining our Arms with Strangers: But let them justly impute the blame hereof to themselves, because they in their consciences know, that it is their cruel and obstinate oppression, which hath imposed on us this necessity; and therefore whatsoever the events thereof be, they are their own proper works, not ours. But chose, with what face dare they enterprise or tax us upon this point, sith they have committed those things which are still recent and fresh in our memories? Do they believe that we have forgotten their enraged furies during the League, when to defend our lives & Religion, we accepted aid & assistance from England? Have we defaced the Arms of our Prince, and contemned his obedience as they then did? Have we rendered up any one Town, as they then delivered to the Spaniard, all those whereon they could become masters, and among others the Capital City? Have we laid hands upon the sacred person of our Prince, as they wickedly and damnably have done? What resemblance is there in a defence drawn from necessity as is ours, (always in subjection, and still ready to return to duty) with their audacious revolt; so long, so obstinate, so pernicious: having not the least pretext to charge us of the least outrage in their persons, of the least disgrace in their honours, of the least extortion in their goods, or of the least force in their consciences, and who allege for their only grief and complaint, that the Prince, who became then weary of killing, was more merciful than they would have him, in spilling of our blood, sith from thence they have derived their Law to use surious resolutions, which all men have beheld and seen? Are they not impudently ashamed to accuse our moat, having such great beams in their eyes, and to calumniat our innocency, being guilty of the same crimes?  
here therefore let shame and confusion stop their mouths, to the end that we may open ours in the true protestations which we make of our innocency, and of ●he inviolable fide●…y (whatsoever be said of us) which we will observe, and bear to the King our Sovereign; being wounded in heart (through the violence of his bad ●…ruants) to be reduced to do any thing which 〈◊〉 him, and are all of us ready to cast ourselves at his feet, to demand his favour, when he will please to receive us, and to secure us from their cruelties.  
Or if there be any faithful Servant near his Person; we pray him to serve us as an Echo, that we may make him understand by his mouth, how false & slanderous those impressions are, which cont●…ariwise are given to him of us: and that in effect, after our obedience due unto God, we breath, nothing but his service, and (our Religion set apart) will therein ever be ready to sacrifice our lives.  
Wherefore we humbly beseech him, to spare our lives, and in stead of pursui●…g us by the violence of his Arms, that he will once seriously command, that we may be better used hereafter, then heretofore.  
The more powerfully to induce him hereby, and so by this means, to persuade him to regive a good and perdurable Peace to his Subjects: he shall do well, to draw the picture of the desolations of his Estate, to make him see therein so great a delug●… of blood sp●…, which properly, and truly is his: because it is that of his people: So much treasure exhausted, I mean the sweat and the substance of the Artificer, and of the poor labouring Country man, who already starve with hunger: So many houses beaten down and dimolished, whereof (to speak truth) it is he that suffereth the decays and ruincs, for that he is Lord in Ca●…. So many ransaking and outrages, indeed aught to touch his Royal heart: because it is his Kingdom, that fe●…s and endures them, and that they are his own proper bowels which are torn in sunder.  
Let it farther represent unto him, the great advantage which he gets by these divisions and miseries, who is the most dangerous Enemy of his Crown, who daily increaseth his own Estates and Countries, and conqu●…reth new, whiles he spoileth and ruineth his own: and who mounts to so high and sublime a degree of power, that there is no Christian Prince to whom hereafter he ought not to be formidable: and France above any other, hath 〈◊〉 cause to fear him: for that all the world knows how passionately he hath a long time hunted to possess it; and were it not for any other cause and title, th●…n that which Navarre assures him, (to wit) Usurpation, and that it were fit and proper for him.  
And put the case that this apprehension were yet more retired: yet let this picture still endeavour to make him ●…ee, what a blemish it is to the glory and lustre of his Crown, now to permit all his Allies, so miserably to perish, whom his Predecessors so gloriously maintained and defended. And what will posterity say of him, when they shall understand, that the Grisons, the King of Denmark, and all Germany shall stoop under the yoke of the house of Austria, when Lewis 13. sat to the helm of the French Monarchy; and that in stead of assisting of them, as he was bound by his ancient Alliances & confederations, & by his new reiterated promises, that he hath abandoned them as a prey to the Usurper, and cast away all care to assist them, to kindle a fire in his own proper estate, and so to over-cover it with flames and ruins?  
Yea, let this Picture employ itself, to take & remove from him all ●…uples of con●…ce, whereby they 〈◊〉 inflamed & flesh, d him against us. because of Religion, and so endeavour to make him comprehend that all Souls belong to God, (in which regard, he is termed the Father of Spirits) and for him; although it be told him, his Scept●…r hath no ●…risdiction. Yet say that we were in an error: that it is a disease of the soul; which to cure, there is none but spiritual remedies that have efficacy to perform it, and that all constraint & violence offered to the body, is uncapable thereof; that it hath ill succeeded to those who have made trial of these violent cures, as the experiences of many of his Predecessors (without ascending higher) do but too sufficiently make good and confirm.  
That those who suggest these bloody counsels to him, and to tolerate but one Religion, do notwithstanding practise the contrary in their own Estates. The Pope permitting jews in Rome, Ancona, and Auignon, although they openly blaspheme against the name of jesus Christ: and the Spaniard (said to be so good a Catholic) was ready to allow the exercise of our Religion to the Netherlands, if at that time there had been no other differences but that.  
That by all these considerations collected together, and others which his wisdom shall dictate unto him, this good Servant endeavoureth to incline him to give us a good Peace, whose Cement may be the inviolable execution of his Edicts, that by the continuance and preservation thereof, this poor Kingdom may revive & breathe from her former miseries, and reobtain the happiness of her pristine felicity, and he also may be now blest of all his Subjects, and enjoying peace at home, may show himself for the defence of those his Allies abroad who yet subsist; and erraise the others from the ruins and miseries wherein they are fallen for want of his Royal assistance.  
And hereafter we have addressed ourselves to the person of our Prince, we also invoke all those, who although they are of a contrary Religion to us, are yet people of good consciences, and retain still the hearts and affections of Loyal Frenchmen, to the end to speak here in presence of God, that if the first can some way consent to so many injustices and disloyalties, which have been offered to us, whereby we have been wronged and circumvented: And if the other make them not to join in pity and compassion, for the miseries and calamities of our common Country, wherein it is plunged and precipitated, by the enrage and furious desire they have to ruin us. What, our dear fellow-Citizens will you still permit yourselves to be led by the Notes by your Friars, who owing their Oaths and Eyes to the Pope, and looking with their hearts towards Spain, have been the fatal Firebrands, and mournful Torches of our former flames and miseries, and under the same pretext of those times, would now again enkindle them? Do you not bewail the Reign of Henry the Great, during which, every one praying to God, as he understood; that Peace brought us then in plenty and abundance, and we all conspired and united our affections to the service of our Prince, and to fill and heap up our Country with happiness? Were you then less saved, and blest, then now ever since we have begun to be persecuted? What indiscrection is it in you to disturb your Peace and tranquillity, because we believe not as you believe? Or if it should be so, are you answerable for our consciences? and is it not only to ourselves, that the prejudice and detriment must accrue? Why leave you not us to the judgement of him, before whom we must all appear at the latter day, and to whom ye shall not be accountable for what we have believed or done? Do you think, that to wrong us, is a good way to convert us? So often as you have attempted these merciless and cruel courses, what hath there followed or succeeded thereof: but the same desolations and miseries which this present time presents unto you? And what can he more desire, who is as much the Ancient Enemy of this Estate, as he feigns to be of our Religion: but to see us armed, and bloody minded one against the other, that after he may become Master of all. In the name of God? at last begin to undeceive yourselves. despoil and strip yourselves of your Animosities, and contribute your wise Counsels to reclaim those, which an inconsiderate zeal hath transported to such furious emotions and combustions. Tell them (although they are made to believe the contrary) it will be on them, which the greatest and 〈◊〉 ●…urthens of the war will fall: they will be loaden with imposts and exa●…tions, to quench the thirst of blood-●…ounds, who will suck them dry, to the very reins. Their Fields shall be the prey and pillage of Soldiers; they shall be the first obliged to expose themselves to eminent p●…rils and dangers, and after all this, when those who manage these combustions, for their own particular ends and interests, have made up their markets, and well filled their purses, than they shall see things tend and bend to hopes of Peace, whereof they will reap no other fruits, but grief and sorrow for their losses, labour and pains, and also to see how they have been abused and fooled through their simple credulity, by those who having in their mouths the specious names of the Estate, and Religion: and yet to no other end, but to enrich themselves by the public calamity.  
But as for you, our most dear Brothers, who in this Kingdom profess with us the purity of one and the same Religion, in what place or quality soever you are, we expect from you, that as our griefs and afflictions are common, so our feelings thereof may be. We will not here discover the searres and cicatrices of our wounds, by reproaching those among you, who heretofore have beheld our calamities with dry eyes, or who thought to have done much to bewail them. No, no, we will impute this blame to the deceitful Songs of the Sirens, who have sometimes heretofore enchanted and lulled us asleep ourselves: But now we conjure you by all that is holy and sacred, not to permit yourselves to be any longer deceived: you shall have many Offers made you, to rend and disjoin yourselves from us. They will extort Declarations from you, that you hold us Rebels: they will oblige you likewise to arm yourselves against us: But in the name of God, consider with yourselves, that all our reb●…llion is, because we will not rebel against God; and that as by the grace of God, we remain constant in the same Religion which you profess, so your disavowing of us, will in effect be the renouncing of jesus Christ, and your Arms, if you are so miserable to take them up against us, and to offend us, will wound our Common Saviour and Redeemer, and again crucify him in his members. Know likewise, that our Enemies intent no less cruelty to you then to us, because they esteem us as the Dike and ●…ences to hinder the Torrent from going to swallow down, and submerge you. Those wild Boars have no intent to spare any thing in the poor Vine of the Lord: but they rush upon us, as believing that we are the hedges and enclosure. It is impossible that in our ruins, you be not bruised to death, because we are but one house: In our Shipw●…acke, you will infallibly perish, for that we sail in one and the same Ship. All the favour which you can hope or expect from them, is but that of the Cyclope, to be devoured last. As dear to you then as is our common subsistence, let us unite ourselves together for our common defence. Be not then so faint hearted, to suffer us to perish, except you intent immediately after to have your throats cut in your own houses: Remember that your particular conservation, cannot be but in the general, whercunto if you contribute with us, it will be the truest way to secure your goods, to conserve your lives, and above all to maintain you in liberty to serve God: Or if yet there live any so stupid or insensible, not to be moved for all this, than all that we can do, is to send them to these Words of Mordocheus: Think not that you only can escape: for i●… you hold your peace in this time, comfort and deliverance shall appear to Israel from another place, but you and all your houses shall perish.  
But as we expect better things of you, so do we likewise hope the same of our brothers beyond the Seas, and particularly from those of the United Provinces: already the interest of the same Religion should make them know, that the cause is common, and if it be persecuted in the midst of us, it is not very probable or likely, that there be any great affection to maintain and conserve it in the midst of them, what fair show soever the Pope make them to the contrary, who is the great wheel that makes all move, and work for our ruin, to the end to make a step and Ladder to theirs: but if they are not possessed of this sear, yet it seems they are obliged to be sensible and compassionate of our afflictions, because of the affection which heretofore hath made us lament and weep at theirs, during the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 troubles. All Europe hath seen how we have run by tho●…ands to cement their liberty with our bloods, and particularly the Town of Rochel held nothing too dear for their regard, at the very point of their last necessity, and now that the time of our calamity is come, we again demand them the effects of the like good will and affection.  
But there is yet more: for if our dangers be extreme, we may say, that it is they who are the first & 〈◊〉 cause thereof, in lending their ships to our enemies, which they employed and used to ruin us, & although therein 〈◊〉 are confident, that they were politicly surprised, nevertheless ●…nce our misery proceeded from thence, what can they do less than affirm and testify, that they are sorry for it, in stretching forth their hand of assistance, to withdraw us from this Gulf wherein they have made us fall, although it were done without thinking thereof?  
If they will, they have the same virtue of Achi●…es, and can cure our wounds, by the very same means and instruments they made them. And say that all these reasons will not pass for current money with them (although we assure ourselves they will not so judge) yet the intervention and mediation of their Ambassadors in the last peace, and their promises, that those Commissions should be performed and accomplished to us, gives us all right and reason, now they are broken, to address ourselves to them, that they make good their said promises, and to disengage us their ●…aith.  
It is therefore in this regard that we have recourse to them; and generally we pary all Princes and Potentates, to extend their assistance and favour to us. We doubt not but our enemies will endeavour traduce and disparage all our actions to them, and publish against us, variety of false reports and infamous Libels: but whosoever hath ●…ares only to hear accusers, than innocency, will often be 〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉. It is the custom of the strongest, when they resolve to oppose the weaker, passionately to allege, they are guilty: as by the report of the Wolf, the Sheep had troubled the water. Our enemy's desame and disgrace us, but it is only for that their Injustice is so palpable, as they are ashamed thereof; and because they dare not make it appear ●…aked and in the meridian of its truth; they must therefore find out a mask, and disguise it under the false name of calumny.  
We therefore besee●…h the aforesaid Princes, not to condemn us before they have first understood our defence and reasons, and cast their eyes upon this small Epitome of our justifications: and we dare assure ourselves, that they will after pity our innocency so unjustly oppressed: And as it is for the maintenance thereof, that God hath given them their power, that they will therefore please to employ it in our defence and assistance.  
And thou, O eternal God, who searchest the reins, and art judge of the intentions of our hearts, arise as witness, and decide betwixt us and our enemies: See whether they or we have broken the Alliance of thy sacred name, used disloyalty and fraud to oppress and ruin the innocent, judge who are true offenders and criminals towards the Prince which thou hast established to be thy Image to us; either they who have infringed us his Edicts, and against the faith thereof, done us all sorts of indignities and outrages, or we who have been constrained to suffer them as a warrant and caution of the faith. Make the violation thereof fall on the heads of those who are guilty; and as the Protector of innocnecy, shoot forth thy vengeance on those who have oppressed it.  
Our consciences which are pure before God, embolden us to address him these our vows, and we doubt not but he will hear them to our advantage, and be a just revenger of the Faith, which hath been perfidiously broken to us: Of our goods unjustly stolen from us: Of our blood inhumanely and cruelly spilt; and of our consciences which have been afflicted with all variety of rigours; So we hope that he will pour down all sorts of blessings on our Arms, who is the true God of victories and Arms. And as it is only necessity, which hath made us to assume and take them up: so we protest to be ready and willing to lay them down, as soon as we receive justice, and that the liberty of our Religion and lives be reestablished, according to the Edicts published in our favour, and particularly of that of Nantes.  
FINIS.