THE PROTESTATION OF THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE FRANCIS, both Son and Brother of King, Duke of Allenson and of Eureux, Earl of Dreux, & of Perch etc.  
LIEUTENANT GENERAL FOR THE KING IN ALL HIS Covntreis' and dominions, Protector of the liberty of the Crown of France, oppressed by the strangers.  
Translated out of french into English, and newly imprinted. 1575.   

THE PROTFSTATION OF THE MOST HIGH and mighty Prince Francis, both Son and Brother of King, Duke of Allenson etc.  
FRANCIS, both son & brother of a King, Duke of Allenson, first Peer of France etc. To all men whom it shall appertain, Greeting. Knoweye that we being truly advertised and informed, that of the observation of laws dependeth the conservation of all Realms and Lordships, and by that means peace groweth and is entertained among the subjects, So when they are not kept in the purity that our ancestorshave left them unto us, and that they seem to weaken and decay, and be as it were dead and buried, The subjects being imholdened, do licence, dispense, and easily give themselves to all dissoluteness: which doth cause oftentimes civil wars. And finally the destruction & overthrow of great realms and common wealths: if in time it be not remedied by the divine goodness of God, which doth raise (when it pleaseth him) excellent and mighty persons to withstand the tyranny of those which seek not but to bring all things to confusion, only to make themselves rich, (at whose cost soever it be) of the blood and sweat of the poor: or else to seize themselves of the said realms & Lordships, as we may easily learn, by the ruins and decays of infinite flourishing kingdoms, that by these like means have ended, which aught to be an example to all true frenchemen for to prick them foreward to set up again the ancient laws, and to let and withstand (every one according to the ability which God hath given unto him) that it may not fall into the hands of those which of long time have sought for it. And for to bring their purpose to pass, do nourish and maintain the dissensions which we see at this instant, coulouring their dealings with the controversy that is in religion: which they would be right sorry to see it pacified, as it is evidently seen, and well known by the things passed, to the intent they may colour the better the taxes, imposts, and subsidies which they do daily invent, and gather in the kings name upon the poor people, the Nobility, and the Clergy, under pretence to pay his debts: tending only to the wealth of few persons almost all strangers, which rule the King, and occupy the chief places, & offices of this realm against the laws of the same. All the which enterprises we could not well like of, and therefore have been calumniated, and evil reported to the Kingour most dear Lord and Brother, and for this cause in great danger of our life, and kept as every one knoweth, which things we have suffered, hoping that the King would remedy such miseries, & suffer no longer to be abused of so many men, and that he should know our innocency. But seeing the wound to wax daily worse and worse, and no person to be more unworthily used than we. And that so many Princes, Lords, Gentlemen, and Ecclesiastical persons, Citizens, and burgesses, had their eyes fixed on us, stretching forth their hands and imploring our aid. We being overcome with their prayers, and partaker of their miseries resolved (all fear of death set a side, which was near to ensue) to attempt to get out of the captivity that we were in, to take the public cause in hand, and to withstand the wicked & pernicious counsels of the perturbators of this Realm, in which attempt God hath so favoured us that the xuj. day of September we arrived in this our town of Dreux, where many lords Gentlemen & others, aswell of the Clergy as of the commons of this realm have repaired unto us: to whom we have declared, that our will & intention was not to take upon us, or to attempt in any wise upon the authority of the King our said Lord and Brother, the which we desire to preserve & increase with all our power. But only to employ us with all our forces, yea not to spare our life and goods for to put out, and drive away all the perturbators of the public rest: to pursue by law and justice all such spoils, thefts, murders, and slaughters so abominably, and against all right and reason committed in the open sight and knowledge of all men, to deliver so many lords Gentlemen and others committed prisoners, or wrongfully banished & without cause: to restore them again (and all other honest men) to their goods and livings, estates, and honours: to abolish all taxes, subsidies & imposts set upon the poor people by the malice and suggestion of strangers, against the ancient Laws & statutes of this Realm. To maintain the Nobility and Clergy in their ancient privileges, freedoms, & liberties. And so, to establish in France, a good, firm, & stable peace. And to bring these things to pass, we do not mean to use any other means, but such as our predecessors have done, & that have been accustomed at all times in this Realm, when it hath been question of reformation of religion, and justice: which are the two principal stays of all Monarchies, to restore again the Realm to his former flourishing state, dignity & liberty: that is by a general and free assembly of the three estates of this Realm, being called & appointed to be kept in a sure & free place, from the which all strangers shall be excluded. protesting before God (whom we call to our aid & help, and who we be assured will guide our enterprises) that we are not herein moved nor leadde through desire of private revenge (although we have just occasion so to do, for the great wrongs done unto us) nor yet of highness or desire to command more than we do, or then to us appertaineth. Being pleased and contented (as we have good occasion) with the goods, authority, and greatness, that we have of Gods grace, & of his benignity having appointed us to be borne the son of a King, and ordained us the second person of this Realm. That if it happen (as God forbidden) to call us before such time as we may see the end and execution of this so holy an enterprise, we shall think us most happy to have (for the same) bestowed our life, which doth concern the service of God and of the King, the freedom and liberty of the Nobility and of the Clergy, the rest & unburdening of the people, and the liberty of the country. And for to take away all lets, and to reconcile the hearts of natural frenchmen, we have taken & do take them, in to our protection and safe keeping, aswell of the one religion as of the other. Praying & exhorting than, in the name of God, to behave them together one with an other as brethren, friends, and fellow Citizens: and not to provoke one an other by injuries or otherwise: Until that by the general estates, and assembly of counsel order be taken for religion, and to permit and let every one enjoy the exercise of the same. Praying all Kings, Queens, Princes, and Potentates, common wealths & all other neighbours, allies, and confederates of this Realm & Crown to favour, aid, & help us in this so holy and laudable enterprise: and to have none other opinion of us, then that which we declare and testify by this present Protestation. Praying also all Princes, Lords, Gentlemen, Citizens, Townsmen, & all other subjects of the crown, to repair to us, to accompany & help us with victuals, armour, money, and others their abilities & commodities, that through their fault and negligence the execution of so high an enterprise be not differred; & the peace letted. Declaring only those to be our enemies which by force shall resist and seek to withstand our enterprise: And our friends those which shall run upon them.  
Given at Dreux, the xvij. day of September. 1575. Subscribed Francis.