A LETTER WRITTEN BY THOSE of the Assembly in ROCHEL: To Monsieur le Duc de LES DIGVIERES.  
Containing an admonition unto him, to leave the Enemy, and to aid them.  
As also an exhortation and a warning unto those that forsake the truth, and cleave unto the Enemies thereof, to shun that vengeance which God will send down upon them for the same.  
Printed in Rochel the 12. of july. 1621.   

A LETTER WRITTEN BY THOSE OF the Assembly in Rochel: To Monsieur le Duc de LES DIGVIERES.  
MONSIEUR.  
IN the pitiful estate whereinto our Enemies have reduced the Churches of this Realm, it would be a great comfort and consolation unto us, if we were but to fight and contend against false accusations, and to defend ourselves against the violent Counsels and courses of those, who openly adhering unto Antichristian Tyranny, esteeming it a title of Honour to be called our Enemies, for having sufficiently satisfied the first by our most humble Supplications and attestations to his Majesty, and by our declaration newly published, we hope that God will bless and prosper our just defence, and preserve his Churches from the utter ruin, wherewith they are threatened. But we cannot sufficiently express, with what grief of heart we feel and perceive ourselves bound to maintain our Innocence against those, who as well as we, have part in the public interests of our Churches: specially unto yourself my Lord, whose age, experience, and offices, make your proceed more dangerous and hurtful unto those against whom you employ them. We have heretofore laboured therein, by the Letters that have been delivered unto you, from us, and perceiving the small benefit that we have thereby received, we had resolved with ourselves to rest silent, if our consciences did not bind and prick forward us, to stir up and quicken yours, by setting before your eyes the great hurt and detriment that you bring to the Church of God, at such a time, wherein it hath most need of your aid and assistance. It was not without good reason, and experience itself showeth us, that the last assembly at Loudun, doubted of the accomplishment of the promises that were made unto us, at the Court: But your word interposing itself, with that of Monsieur de Chastillion, together with the consideration of the state wherein you were, made us resolve upon a new proof, assisting ourselves, that the effect of the words given unto us, failing, you would make yours effectual, for the subsisting of the assembly, which in that case was to re-assemble, and cause them to obtain that just proceeding that had been promised unto them. With what displeasure our Churches that sent us hither, have been tormented, when they perceive that you disapprove it, that you blame it, and that by your Letters, you prefer the colours and pretences of the persecution, at this day raised against faithful Innocents', before the prejudice of our cause? The state wherein you were in, the precedent voyage that you made to the Court, made honest men apprehend, that if after you withdrew yourself from the Court, you returned thither again, you should be bound to effect some prejudicial action, against the Church of God, and therefore they desired you, to stand still in your government during the subsistence of this assembly. But without any respect or regard co the requests and entreaties of so many Churches, you left your Province, made another voyage to the Court, and for the contentment of our Enemies, and the displeasure of those of our profession, by your presence you authorize those that incessantly labour to work our ruin and destruction. Your protestation to continue in the same profession, the refusal of the dignity, that was offered unto you, upon condition to change your Religion, and your reconciliation not long since made unto the Church at Charenton, put us in good comfort, and made us hope of some good effect for the good and benefit of our affairs, and some happy success of the pains that you should take therein. But our Enemies have gotten this advantage, that your example having been made more considerable, the blame which you impose upon this assembly, is more notorious, and your disunion with our assembly, which representeth all the Churches of this Realm, is more damageable, serving for a pretence unto those, (who under hope by that means to keep themselves close during the time of this public calamity,) to separate themselves from our Union, from the which; those that have designed our destruction, seek to disunite the Provinces, Churches, and persons of greatest quality, therein using your name and authority, for the execution of so pernicious a design; pernicious certainly we may well say: for to what end think you, my Lord, such proceed may tend but only to weaken us, and make our destruction more easy, and less hazard unto those that undertake it? Monsieur de Plessis, who without any respect of that, that had happened to Navarreux, and after throughout all the Country of Bearn, being carried away by your Counsel, and abused by the particular promises that were made unto him, at this day feeleth the effects of this proceeding. In your presence beholding the Town of Saumur taken from him, and put into another's man's hands. The Inhabitants thereof making profession of the same Religion, subjected to a Papistical Garrison: The University which he with so much pains and great care had there erected, destroyed. The Church in the same place made destitute of her first liberty, and all those of this Realm deprived of the safety and security that they had in that place. Hath not the like dealing been used unto the rest of the Governors of the places that we had for security in Poictow, seeing that in stead of command in them, as they did for the security of our Churches, they are now commanded by Garrisons of a contrary Religion, to the ruin and subversion of the Flocks of our Lord jesus Christ? Do these proceed, that followed the sedition in Towers, and were accompanied with the taking of jargeau, and the violent disarming of those of the Religion in diverse places, and seconded with the besieging of Saint john Angely, at this time furiously battered, bear any show of any good intent that is meant towards us to do us justice? But are they not rather directly contrary to the declarations not long since published, and to the particular promises made in favour of those that would addict themselves unto that which the Court desireth of them? and doc they not make every man manifestly and plainly see, that the obedience whereof they so highly cry out, and which is required of us, by demanding pardon and absolution, and that we should separate our assembly, before we have justice done unto us, or any security for our Churches, tendeth only, to bind us to lay our throats open unto those, that have an intent and desire to our them? What faults are we culpable of, being assembled upon the permission that had been granted and given unto us, by those words that to us should be as good an assurance as Letters Patents, yea and upon yours also? What fault have we committed, that being assembled, have sought by all submissive means possible unto his Majesty, to obtain that justice that had been promised unto us, when we remitted the pursuit thereof to our general Deputies, and desired those that are of the greatest quality and degrees, and make profession of the Religion in this Realm, to join their intercessions with them? And seeing that in stead of finding the effect of the performance of the promises made unto us, upon your just and most humble supplications presented unto his Majesty: we have been proclaimed Rebels, and declared to be criminals; and that as such, our process hath been made, some of us have been executed by pictures, seeing in Vivards they have risen up in Arms, besieged, battered, and taken those places that we held, and in them, contrary to the agreements made, murdered some, and used great violences unto us, that at this present they besiege, and furiously batter the Town of S. john D'angely: can men justly blame us, if against such violences we oppose our defence, which nature teacheth every man, and the law of God never reproveth?  
In the mean time, God forbidden, that this extremity whereinto we are reduced by constraint, should in our hearts deface that most humble obedience, and most faithful service that we own unto our King, wherein we protest inviolably to continue, desiring nothing more, nor so much then, that in the justice and security required by us for our Churches, we may attain the means of a good and an assured peace in this state, which as much as in us lieth we have, & to our powers do seek for: beseeching God with all our hearts, to defend and preserve the King, from those dangers which the Enemies of his state, expose his person unto, in the perils of war. In the mean time, my Lord, the justness of our cause, which so manifestly appeareth, and which God will always make to shine, as bright as the Sun at noon time, doth not hinder you, by your presence, from approving the proceed, that are taken against us; and which is more, blotting out the remembrance of the griefs that our Churches receive, you promise and procure favour unto those, who leaving us, will join themselves unto our Enemies, as you solicit them, by that means putting into the mouth of the Church at this day, the complaint that the Prophet jeremy made, saying, That his nearest friends, behaved themselves disloyally towards him, & were become his Enemies. The Saviour of the world teacheth us, that a house divided in itself cannot stand. judge then my Lord, if it please you, what punishment they incur that shall have been a means to stir up division in the house of God, and whether God will not revenge the destruction thereof, not only upon those that openly procure it, but also on those that in any manner or by any means shall have contributed unto the same. But after we had seen what hath been done in Bearn, Vivarez, and against the assembly, after that by your presence you have favoured a puissant Army against the Churches of this Realm, and the loss of many places, that had been given us to hold for our securities; In a time, wherein the violence of our Enemies could not be restrained by any authority, after you had conducted, or accompanied the Army that is encamped against our brethren before the Town of S. john D'angely: if (as we have been assured) you yourself in person went to view the place, and used all the experience & dexterity that God hath given you in Arms, to make the siege, and the means to take it more easy; what subject have not we to complain against you, who in stead of being sick for josephes' affliction, fear not to be the greatest instrument of his murdering: Is it possible, that you cannot apprehend the ruin of so flourishing a Church, that God hath here gathered together, and that you are not moved at the destruction that men seek to bring upon Monsieur De Sobize, and upon so many brave Gentlemen, that have been the first that presented themselves in the mouth of the breach, that is made in the City of David? that courageously labour to repair the same, at this day in a manner wholly hindering that course of the destruction already begun in our Churches, and projected against all of them. The knowledge that God hath given you of his holy name, bindeth you to employ that authority, whereunto he hath advanced you, and all the graces that he hath imparted unto you, and bestowed upon you, to the maintenance of his Church; and will you employ them in the destruction thereof? Piety requireth that you should procure all good, and liberty unto those that make profession of Religion, and will you approve and allow of their desolation? Christian charity can hardly endure without watery eyes, that we should see one man only put to death: and can you with a smooth and smiling countenance, behold and see the butchery and cruel slaughter of so many of our brethren? What reputation can they get or procure unto themselves that fight against that Gospel, whereof they make profession? What fidelity may our Prince expect from them, that being not faithful unto God, abandon the maintenance of his cause? And from whence proceeds this great distaste of us at this day, but only from this, that there are some men, (and those of greatest qualities) that give themselves to affect the Religion, as long, and no longer, then that it serveth their turns to advance them unto dignities, and to increase their riches? Is it not easy to be judged, that if covetousness and ambition, be a means to make them disloyal unto God, and to despise and neglect their own salvation, that the same vices will easily draw them on to infidelity towards their Prince, and to the despising of their own honours? Was it a small matter in your sight, to see diverse Ministers driven away from their dwelling places, the exercise of Religion banished out of thos● places, where it was established, and the inhumanities', which have been impiously used, within these few years upon the dead bodies of the faithful, almost in all places of this Realm, The burnings and destroying of diverse of our Churches, the many seditions, and specially that, last made in the City of Tovers, besides the entire desolation of those of Bearn, have they not touched nor moved your soul with a Christian compassion, and a just apprehension, in short time to behold and see those horrible cruelties executed upon us and our children, that after the like proceed were at other times executed upon our fathers, and that after (as at this day) they had been deceived, by words of peace and quietness? Certainly, my Lord, if you acknowledge that you hold that honour which you at this present enjoy, from the blessings that God hath given unto your arms, than when you employed them for the defence of his Church, you ought also to believe, that if now, when you draw near unto the end of your days, it is time to crown your works, with most just and Christian actions, you become an enemy unto, and procure the ruin of those that with you make profession of the truth of the Gospel, he will be angry against you, and will cover your face with shame and ignomy, you shall expose yourself to be despised of all men, and made a laughter unto those namely that have made use of you, to execute their wicked intents, and bring that curse upon your head, which he pronounceth against those that curse his people, and those most fearful judgements, which in his wrath, he showeth upon those, that rise up against, and withstand the Kingdom of his Son jesus Christ: all manner of the deaths of those whom God loveth, are precious in his sight; but he will require their blood at the hands of those, that shall unjustly shed the same, he that toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye, and you are not ignorant thereof: With what conscience then can you continue and remain among our enemies, that abuse the affections and conscience of the King, for ours and the states utter ruin, give counsel for the destruction of Towns, wherein the holy name of God is purely invoaked, and participate in the forcible action that are done against them? would you thrust your sword into the breasts of your own brethren, and bathe your hands in the blood of those whom God hath redeemed by the blood of his dear Son jesus Christ? No my Lord, rather in the name of God, if there be any care of his Church, yet resting in you, if there be any charity in your heart towards those that are his members, and which is more, if you desire not to bring upon you and yours, the wrath and vengeance of God (for we are bound by the duty of our Offices and the discharge of our consciences to speak in this manner unto you) be moved to compassion upon the pitiful dealing which at this day is used against the faithful, acknowledge the deceits and impostures of our enemies, note the violent courses they use against your brethren, and with a prudent foresight apprehending future mischiefs, come out from the middle of them, lest you be enueloped among the plagues, that God will pour down upon the vessels of his wrath, when he shall have ceased the using of them, for the punishment of his children. Aid not them, that have no other intent then to destroy us, by making a division among us: forsake not the members of our Lord jesus Christ, but rather joining with us, bring the rest of our brethren with you; who by your example, you have withdrawn from us; and use the means, to cause them also to come with you, who as yet are asleep, and rest under the deceitful assurances that are given them of some quietness: to the end that being all, (according to our duties) most strictly united together by the sacred bands of piety, peace, and charity; we may effectually labour together for the public Tranquillity and quietness of God's house: And seeing that there is no other means left unto us, we employ a just and courageous defence, which being blessed by God, stayeth the violent courses of those that persecute us, delivereth the Town of S. john D'Angely from their hands, and preserveth all the rest: shall not so many persons of good quality who acknowledging the unfaithfulness and the intents of our enemies, consecrate their blood, to impeach the destruction of the faithful, provoke you, to a holy jealousy, by their example? You have heretofore been a puissant instrument in the hand of God, to defend his Church from oppression: be the same again, my Lord, at this day, and that the rather and strongly, because God hath given you many blessings in abundance. And if you despising these exhortations, that we give you, by the compassion of Christ, be still in this time, and fail in the succours which you own unto all good men, God will not cease to raise up, peace and deliverance by other means, unto his children. But it is to be seared, that he will revenge, the dissipation that you shall make of your brethren, upon you and yours. We beseech Almighty God, with all our hearts, to touch your heart by his holy Spirit, to inspire you with God and godly counsel, to do that which we require of you according to his will, and that receiving you into his protection, he will take pity upon his Church, send peace unto this State, and tranquillity and security to those troops that he hath assembled therein. We rest, my Lord, Your most humble and most affectioned servants, the Deputies of the reformed Churches of France, and the Sovereignty of Bearn assembled in Rochel:  


Bessay. Precedent.  
rossel. Lieutenant.  
Guerin. Secretary.  
de la Por●e. Secretary.   In Rochel the 12. of june. 1621.