THE REQVESTS PRESENTED UNTO THE FRENCH KING, By the General Deputies of the Reformed Churches of FRANCE. Together with his Majesty's Answers thereunto. LONDON. Printed for Nathaniel Butter and William Sheffard. 1623. To the King. Sir, YOur most humble and obedient Servants and Subjects of the RELIGION, throughly informed of your Majesty's Royal inclination to re-establish the ruins of your poor people, have charged the general Deputies, which it hath pleased your Majesty to grant them, with infinite wishes and acclamations to be vowed unto the assured settling of this so much desired Peace, to the end that for as much as they find themselves penetrated with so celestial a benefit, they may seek the continuance thereof, with the constancy of their submissions, and by the only recourse, which they have unto your Clemency and justice, they may give a notable testimony, that they aspire unto no assurance or refuge more available against the violence of such as trouble them, and that oppose the power of your Laws, then with most humble requests and supplication, to invoke the firmness of your inviolable Word, and the observation of your so authentical Briefs. For seeing that the outrages which are done them do strike directly at the reverence of your Protections, and divide that which the Peace & their obedience ought to join under the felicity of your Commandments, they earnestly beseech your Majesty, to weigh their most humble remonstrances in that balance of equity, which makes your Sceptre so just and redoubtable, and that you will be pleased to cut off with the sword which God hath put into your hand, the violent infringements of your gracious concessions, to the end that relying in a true confidence on the wisdom and goodness of your holy administration, they may be always retained within the fidelity and true obligations of your pure and entire service. I. Wherefore to enjoy a full effect of your justice, they most humbly beseech your Majesty would be pleased to send into your Provinces, personages both of the one and the other Religion, endued with that affection which is requisite for the Peace, to the end they may the more profitably put your Edicts and Declarations in execution there, and take order in all places for the supplications, and necessities of your people of the Religion. Answer. THe King hath deputed and dispatched away Commissioners, as well Catholics as of the pretended Reformed Religion into the Provinces where they are judged necessary, for the execution of his Majesty's declaration of the 20. of October last. II. ANd imparting your compassion and clemency to those of your Towns, which have rendered you such obedience, that thereby you were pleased to grant us the Peace, your Majesty is most humbly brought to ordain, that the garrison which for many months hath been with so much oppression at Montpellier, may be withdrawn from thence, according to your Royal promises, and in regard of the misery and mortality which is in the Town. Answer. AFter satisfaction hath been made to that which was ordained by the Declaration of the 20. of October last, his Majesty will take order for the contents of the present Article. III. ANd that conformably to the particular Brief, which it hath pleased your Majesty to accord unto, nothing may be innovated in your said town of Montpellier, and expressly in that which concerneth their Consullships; and that also the innovation made concerning the Consulship, called the Mere, may be repaired, considering the obedience which is rendered unto you there, in the demolishment of the fortifications, in which labour the inhabitants continue with great charge, care, and diligence. Answer. THe Election of the Consuls de Mer, of the said Town of Montpellier, having been made according to an Arrest contradictorily given in the Chamber of the Edict of Castres', nothing can be altered or changed therein. As for the Election of the other Consuls of the said Town, his Majesty's intent is, that it should be done with the ordinary forms, and according to the liberties and privileges thereof. FOUR YOur Subjects of the Religion also for to take away all occasion of distrust and fear, having given satisfaction to your Majesty's pleasure, concerning the razing down of the Forts of the Isles of Olleron and de Re; may it please your Majesty in like manner to ordain, that the Fort erected before your Town of Rochel may be demolished, as it pleased your said Majesty to promise. Answer. Upon hearing the report of the Commissioners, which his Majesty hath sent to the said town of Rochel, his Majesty will take order for that which is contained in the present Article. V ANd as God is all mercy, so like unto him, whose image you bear, may it please your Majesty to grant unto a great number of persons, of all ages, detained for being in the last War, or for Religion, in your Galleys, with nakedness, rigour, and insupportable usage, their pardon and liberty; and the same liberty to all others that are prisoners for accusations, depending upon the times and affairs of the said troubles, whether they be found judged or no; which favour, pardon and liberty, is accorded unto them by the 73 Article of the Edict which it hath pleased you to confirm. Answer. His Majesty will deliver the prisoners of war, detained at this present in the Galleys; and for those which are accused of particular crimes, he will take order by the ways of justice. 6 Your Majesty, by your Letters of declaration of the 24 of April, 1621., hath willed that your Subjects, which remain in your obedience, shall enjoy the grace and concessions granted unto them, aswell by your Majesty, as by the late King, Henry the Great, of glorious memory: Nevertheless, the last year 1622, they have been wholly deprived of the money which your Majesty was accustomed yearly to cause to be distributed to them, by Monsiur du Candal the Commissioner for it, whereby their poor Churches are in particular so disaccomodated, that they are constrained to have recourse unto your Majesty, and beseech you (as most humbly they do) to appoint a stock of money unto the said du Candal for the said year, at leastwise for the entertainment of the Pastors of the Provinces which remained in your obedience, and which were fain to borrow for to buy themselves meat, and to supply their other necessities. 7 Likewise, they most humbly beseech your Majesty, that according to the Grant you were pleased not long since to make unto your said Subjects, you would be pleased to ordain, that the said du Candal may be furnished with good and valuable assignations, for the entertainment and relief of their Ministers during the present year: and for the pensions of the parties of the petit Estate, which it shall please you to erect; as also for the entertainment of the places which it pleased you to leave in their guard; And that all these assignations may be paid in such manner as it hath pleased your said Majesty, and the said late King to grant unto them by the Briefs which they have had heretofore. Answer to the 6. and 7. The King's affairs not permitting him to satisfy the suppliants for that, which concerneth the time past, his Majesty for the time to come will cause good and valuable assignations to be delivered to the said du Candal for the relief and entertainment of the said Ministers, as also for the payment of the pensions contained in the petit Estate which he meaneth to erect. As for the Garrisons, the Brief of the 24. of October last shall be observed. 8 And forasmuch as there resteth great and notable sums unpaid of the assignations wherewithal the said du Candal was furnished in the years 1620. and 1621., which the Receivers and Farmers upon whom the said assignations were laid, keep still in their hands, they most humbly beseech your Majesty to ordain that all delays set apart, he may be satisfied the said remainders. Answer. The said du Candal presenting his request to the Council, order shall be taken for him therein. 9 The Churches of the Province of Gex having enjoyed entertainment for their Pastors out of the Ecclesiastical revenues of the said Province, until the year 1601, and for many years after, under the late King Henry the great, and till such time as it pleased your Majesty by an Arrest of your Council of the 5 of December 1612, to take away the said Ecclesiastical lands, and in exchange thereof to ordain that 3600 livers should be paid them yearly, the said sum of 3600 livers to be levied upon the 45000 livers of augmentation, granted to those of the Religion, which money was paid them by the said du Candal until the month of October, 1621.: May it please your Majesty to command they may enjoy the effect of the said Grant and Exchange, and to that end cause necessary assignations to be given to the said du Candal, as well for payment of the arrearages, as of that which is to come Answer. The King will take order hereafter, for that which is contained in the present Article, according as is abovesaid. 10 May it please your Majesty also, to extend your liberality so fare forth as to furnish your subjects of the Religion in your city of Paris with a stock sufficient for re-edifying & reestablishment of their church and other buildings for the place of their exercise, which were burnt, demolished, and the most part of the materials carried away in the popular tumult that happened in the year 1621., notwithstanding that your said Subjects kept themselves within the terms of obedience, and thereby under your Majesty's safeguard and protection. Answer. His Majesty refers the re-establishment of the said Church to the care and diligence of the Suppliants. 11 And after the same manner entreating your subjects of the said profession in your City of Tours, may it please you Sir to furnish them with the sums which your Majesty, of your grace granted unto them for the re-edifying of their Church; the Site and place whereof, may it please your Majesty to continue unto them, as that which was adjudged them by the Commissioners, after hearing of the whole Clergy, the Courts of justice and the City, and also was bought, built, and peaceably enjoyed by them, until the troubles of the year 1621., in the possession whereof, they were not only maintained by the Edict of 98; but also by those of the years 1610 and 1612, and more especially by your Majesty's last declaration. Answer. The Commissioners deputed for the Province of Touraine, shall take order that the Suppliants may have a commodious place for the exercise of the pretended reformed Religion. As for the re-establishment and re-edifying of their Church, his Majesty refers the care thereof unto the Suppliants. 12 The same request is made unto your Majesty, for the re-edifying of the Church of Bourg, in the place which they of the Religion were possessed of, by the judgement & ordinance of the Commissioners, but now are kept from enjoying it. Answer. The Commissioners which are to be sent into Bresse, shall take order for that is contained in the present Article, so far forth, as shall stand with reason. 13 Pleaseth your Majesty to be informed, that the inhabitants, professing the reformed Religion, in your Town of Villemur, are molested in the liberty of their Consciences; deprived of all exercise of piety; excluded from public office, and greatly overcharged by the Garrison there. They also of Fontenay le Comte, are chased away and interdicted from Preaching and Prayer, neither can they have their Church again, which is even quite ruined, nor is their Pastor suffered so much as to enter into it, nor are they permitted to bury their dead, but contrariwise endure all excess of charge and taxations, and upon their complaints are sent away to your Council: Whereupon may it please you, Sir, to deliver them from such oppressions, and letting them enjoy the fruit of the Peace, ordain the re-establishment of their Religion, their Churches, their Pastors, the surety of their Sepultures, and whatsoever else appertaineth unto your justice in other their grievances. 14 May it please your Majesty in like manner to ordain the said re-establishment of the Exercise at Lusson, where it is denied unto them of the Religion, contrary to the publication of your Declaration, although they carried themselves in all obedience, and that the said Exercise hath been continued there for 55 years together, even during all the time of the last wars, and government of Monsieur Roches Baritault. 15 They of the Religion also are disturbed in the said Exercise at Talmont, the Cannon having been planted against them, upon their assembly to hear a Sermon. Likewise at Surgers, the Lady of the place hath forbidden to Preach there, although it was permitted them all the time of these last troubles: So in like sort at baignol's, at S. giles in Languedoc, at Figeac in Quercy, and at Vic in Armaignac, from whence Monsieur Testas the Minister was expelled, and dares not return thither, nor can be therewith any safety: wherein your Declaration being violated, may it please your Majesty to command the re-establishment of the said Churches, and of the said Testas; as also that of the Church of Quilleboeuf and the Pastor thereof, who a long time hath sued to be restored. Answer. To the 13, 14 & 15 Articles, the Commissioners are particularly charged to see that the Suppliants may receive satisfaction touching their demands, according to the tenor of the Edicts and the said Declaration. 16 And whereas the Catholics of your Town of Poitiers have imposed the sum of 1200 livers upon those of the Religion, for the entertainment of a guard which they used in these troubles, and whereinto they would not admit any of the aforesaid Religion, may it please your Majesty to discharge them of it, as of an imposition that is not reasonable. Answer. The 16 Article shall be communicated to the Mayor and Sheriffs of Poitiers, that upon hearing of them order may be taken for it. 17 Further they beseech your Majesty to ordain, that the Edict of Exchange touching the Churches of your Sovereignty of Bearne, may in all points be effected, as it pleased you to accord, by the Brief given at Montpellier. And that the Exercise of hte Religion, and the Ministry may be restored in your Town of Navarrins. That in consideration of the Session of other Churches, they of the Religion may be maintained in the possession of the Churches, bells and Churchyards, which was granted them by the Commissioners, or by the Parliament upon their report. That the Colleges and Academies may be reestablished there, with payment of the stipends which were formerly allowed. Answer. The King will cause that to be carefully accomplished and observed, which was accorded to them of the pretended reformed Religion, by the Brief of the 24. of October last. 18 And because justice is that which most imports your Authority, and the conservation of the Peace; May it please your Majesty to ordain the speedy re-establishment of the Courts of justice equally compounded of Catholics, and those of the reformed Religion, in places and Towns where they were wont to be. And that during the time of attending the effect of the said re-establishment, the Courts of Parliament may be interdicted from taking notice and judging of causes appertaining to them of the Religion: And that all appeals, either verbal or written, interiected by them before judges, or Commissioners, that are to give Arrests and judgements, may have the like effect, as if they were relieved by Royal Letters, according to the 45 Article of the Edict, and the 6 of the Conference at Nerac. Answer. His Majesty intends that the Court of justice of the Edict of Languedoc, which only remaineth un-re-established, shall be restored as soon as may be in the Town of Castres', according to the said Declaration. 19 By the 6 Article of the Edict, and the 2 of the particulars, and other answers made to the Requests, they of the Religion find themselves to be justly discharged from contributing to the constructions & reparations of the Church & the dependences thereof, as a thing contrary to their consciences. Notwithstanding which, the Catholic inhabitants of Arnay le Duc sue to your Council for leave, to impose generally on the Commonalty, as well upon those of the Religion, as upon themselves, the sum of 6000 livers, to build a Church for the Capuchins, which would be neither reasonable, nor conformable to your Edicts: Wherefore, may it please your Majesty, to declare all your subjects of the Religion to be quit, and exempted from payments, and contributions of the like nature, and that the said second Article of the Particulars may be executed. Answer. It is granted. 20 It is well known, that during these last troubles, they of the said Religion have suffered much violence from their contraries: As in the town of Romerantin, where the place of their Exercise in the suburbs of the said town was twice burnt. But that which is yet more strange is this, that since the Peace which it pleased your Majesty to grant unto your said Subjects, the Church which had been built long ago in your town of jergeau was quite pulled down, and the demolishments carried clean away, by means whereof they of the Religion are deprived of their Exercise: Wherefore they most humbly beseech your Majesty, that in reparation of so notable an infraction of your Edicts and Declarations, you will be pleased to ordain, that the said churches may be re-edified, and the Exercise reestablished in the said towns of jergeau and Romerantin. Answer. The said Commissioners deputed for those places, have in charge, to take order for that which is contained in this Article. 21 Your towns of Saint Foy and Bergerac, most humbly beseech you, Sir, that you will be pleased out of your singular bounty to discharge them of the oppressions, which with so much excess they have suffered a long time, letting your said town of Bergerac fully enjoy the benefit of your inviolable promises, by hindering so many innovations, and the building of the Citadel there, which is now erecting no withstanding that your Subjects of the Religion have maintained themselves in the firmness of a most humble subjection and obedience towards your Majesty, thereby labouring to deserve the effect of the said Royal promises, their liberty, and the peaceable exercise of their Religion. Answer. His Majesty will write unto my Lord the Duke of Espernon, Governor and Lieutenant general in Guienne, to take order that the Inhabitants of the said towns of Bergerac and Saint Foy may be relieved, and favourably entreated upon all occasions that shall present themselves: and to see that the men of war in the said places, may live in such order, as they may receive no kind of oppression from them. 22 And lastly, for the easing of your people of the Religion, for the settling of them in a sure confidence and further confirmation of the Peace, which you have vouchfased to grant them: may it please your Majesty to raze out all the market of diffidence that are yet remaining, and for that one to discharge the many Garrisons that still continue in the lower Languedoc, and other Provinces, under the command of such as are not very well affected to your said subjects of the religion: that so there may be no retardment of the effects of that obedience, which both they will and aught to render you, as well in the demolishments you have ordained, as in all other things which it shall please you to command them. Signed Montmartin Deputy General. Maniald Deputy General. Answer. The King will take order herein, as he shall see it to be best for his service. Signed LOVYS. And a little lower, Philipeaux. FINIS.