A Declaration of the causes that have moved the Cardinal of Bourbon, the Princes, Peers, Gentlemen, Towns and Commonalties Catholic of this Realm of France, to oppose themselves to those which by all means do seek to subvert the Catholic Religion and the Estate.  
IN the name of God Almighty King of Kings: Be it manifest to all men, that the Realm of France having been troubled and afflicted these four and twenty years, with a pestilent sedition moved and stirred to subvert the ancient Religion of our forefathers, which is the strongest band of the Estate, there have been remedies applied, the which contrary to the hope of their Majesties, have fallen out to be more apt to nourish the evil, then to quench the same, the which had nothing of peace but the bare name, and have not established the quiet and weal of the Realm, but for their behoof who troubled the same, leaving the honester sort offended in their consciences, and interessed in their goods.  
And in stead of remedy, the which in time was hoped and looked for against these mischiefs, such hath been the will of God, that our kings of latter time have deceased in their young years, without leaving any children able to succeed to the crown. And hitherto it hath not pleased him (to the great grief of all good men) to grant any issue to the king now reigning: although his subjects have not omitted (neither hereafter at any time will cease) their most earnest prayers to obtain that favour of the goodness of God: In such sort, as remaining the last of so many children that God had given to the late King Henry, it is greatly to be feared (which God forbidden) that this royal race through our evil hap, shall be quite extinguished without any hope of issue: And that in the establishing of a successor in the royal estate, there will fall out great troubles throughout all Christendom, and it may be the whole subversion of the Catholic and Apostolic religion in this most Christian Realm, where an heretic shall never be suffered to bear rule, in so much as the subjects are not bound to acknowledge and suffer a Prince that is swerved and fallen from the Catholic faith: for that the first oath which our kings do make when they are crowned, is to maintain the Catholic, Apostolic, & Roman Religion, upon which oath they receive that which their subjects do make of fidelity and allegiance, and not otherwise. Notwithstanding, sithence the death of my Lord the King's brother, the purposes of those which by open profession have showed themselves always persecutors of the Catholic Church, have been so bolstered and favoured, that it is very needful to think of some speedy and sound remedy, thereby to avoid the inconveniences most apparent, whereof the calamities are already known to all men, the remedy to few, and the way how to apply the same almost to no man.  
And so much the rather, that a man may easily judge by the great preparations and practices which they make to levy soldiers as well within as without the realm, & the detaining of towns and strong holds, which long ago they should have restored and yielded up into the kings hands, that we are very near the effect of their evil intentions, being very certain that they have of late sent to practise the Princes Protestants of Germany, that they might have forces in a readiness to suppress at their pleasure all good men, as it is very apparent that they intend nothing else but to assure themselves, and seize of all necessary means to overthrow the Catholic religion, wherein every man hath interest, and especially the noble men and great personages which have the honour to hold the first and principal charges in this common wealth, whom they do go about to undermine and overthrow, during the king's life and under his authority, to the end that leaving no man which hereafter may be able to oppose himself to their will, it may be more easy for them to bring to pass that change and alteration of the Catholic religion which they do pretend, thereby to enrich themselves with the patrimony of the Church, following the example which was begun to them in England, especially in that every man doth know sufficiently, and seethe (as it were) with open eyes the behaviour & actions of some, which being crept into the favour of the King our Sovereign Lord (whose Majesty hath been and always shall be sacred & redoubted unto us) they have in a manner seized upon his authority, to maintain the greatness which they have usurped, favouring and advancing by all means the purposes of the aforesaid. And such hath been their audacity, to banish from about the King, not only the Princes and the Nobility, but also those that are most nearest and dearest unto him, giving access to none but to such as depend upon them.  
Wherein they are already so far forth, that there is no man which hath any part or doing in the administration of the government of the Estate, or that is suffered to exercise entirely his charge: Some are bereft of the title of their dignities, other of the authority and execution of their offices, though they are suffered to enjoy the vain and fruitless name.  
In like manner, the like hath been done in the behalf of divers Governors of Provinces, and Captains of strong places, and to their Officers, who have been constrained to forego and yield up their charges in respect of some recompense of money, which they have received against their own will and desire, because they durst not say nay unto them which have power to compel them: A new example, and never heretofore practised within this Realm, for some piece of money to take away the offices and charges from those to whom the same were given for recompense of their virtue and fidelity. And by this means they are become masters, and have possessed themselves of the forces of the Realm, as well by sea as by land, and do go about daily to do the like to others that are in office, so that there is no man can be assured, and that standeth not in fear, and looketh that his office shall be taken from him: Howbeit the same having been given him for desert and service, he ought not to be deprived thereof by the ancient laws of the Realm, unless it be for some just and reasonable considerations, or that he hath committed some fault in the execution of his charge. In like manner they have emptied the King's Coffers of his treasure, where they cause the ready money of the general receipts to be brought, and to be converted to their particular use, and hold at their devotion all the chief revenues, the which are the very ways to dispose of this Crown, and to place the same on whose head they shall think good.  
Moreover, through their covetousness it is come to pass, that abusing the gentleness of the Subjects, they have enhanced by little and little to most grievous exactions, not only matching those which the calamity of war had brought in (whereof in time of peace nothing was ever remitted and abated) but other infinite oppressions grown from day to day, at the appetite of their unbridled wills.  
There was some hope, when through the often complaints and exclamations of the whole Realm, the convocation of the general Estates was published at Blois, which is the ancient remedy to heal these domestical wounds, and as it were a conference between the Princes and their subjects, to enter into a reckoning together of the due obedience of the one part, and due preservation of the other, which is the groundwork and foundation of the state of France: But of this troublesome and great assembly, there sprung nothing but the authorizing of the mischievous counsel of some, who feigning themselves to be good politics, showed themselves in effect to be evil affected to the service of God and of the weal public, who were not contented to remove the King (of his own nature most inclined to godliness) from that holy and most wholesome determination, which at the most humble request of all the States he had made, to reunite all his subjects to one Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman religion, to the end that they might live together in the ancient faith wherein the Realm was established, and took increase to become the most flourishing of all Christendom, which then might have been executed without any danger, and in a manner without resistance. Notwithstanding, they to the contrary did persuade him, that it was necessary for his service to abate and diminish the authority of the Princes and Catholic Lords, which with great zeal had oftentimes put their lives in hazard under his ensign for the defence of the said Catholic religion, as though the reputation which they had gotten by their virtue & fidelity, in stead of honour should bring them in suspicion.  
So likewise the abuse which by little and little had taken hold and increase, afterwards is come upon us like a flood and downfall, with so violent a fall, that the poor Realm is even at the point to be overwhelmed without any hope of help: For, the Ecclesiastical order, notwithstanding the declarations and petitions which they have exhibited, is at this day oppressed with tenths and extreme exactions, to the despising and contempt of holy orders, and of the Church of God, wherein now all things are polled and piled: The Nobility is greatly aggrieved, driven to pay exactions in despite of their privilege, if that they will be contented to live, that is to say, if they will either eat, drink, or apparel themselves. The towns, Officers of the Crown, and common people, shorn so near by the daily paying of new impositions (which they do term invention of Finances) that there remaineth nothing else, but to invent some good way how to remedy this mischief.  
For these just causes and considerations, We Charles Cardinal of Bourbon, the next Prince of blood to whom it belongeth especially to take in hand the safeguard and protection of the Catholic religion in this Realm, and the conservation of the good and loyal servants of his Majesty and the Estate, being assisted with the Peers, Cardinals, Princes, Prelates, officers of the Crown, governors of Provinces, Noble men, Gentlemen, captains of Cities, and others, which make the best & soundest part of this Realm, having wisely considered the cause moving us to undertake this enterprise, and taken the advise and counsel, as well of our good friends well affected to the weal and quiet of this Realm, as of learned and wise men and such as fear God, whom we would not offend herein for all earthly treasure: We declare and make it known, that we have all sworn, and made a holy vow to keep ourselves in arms, to the end that the holy Church of GOD may be restored to his former dignity, and the true and Catholic religion established: that the Nobility may enjoy (as they ought) their freedoms wholly and entirely: and that the people may be released, the new impositions abolished, and all exactions taken away, which have been made since the reign of Charles the ninth, whom God absolve: That the Parliaments may be restored to the fullness of their authority, & entire sovereignty of judgement, every one for his jurisdiction, and all the subjects of the Realm maintained in his government, charge, and office, the which may not be taken from them but in such case as by law is established, and by ordinary judgement: that all such money as is levied of the people, may be employed to the defence of the Realm, and to such purposes as is appointed: and that from henceforth the general Estates may be assembled freely and without any practice, as oft as the state of the Realm shall require the same, with free liberty to every man to exhibit their complaints, as they shall find themselves aggrieved.  
These things and others shall be more particularly provided for at the assembly of the Estates, which shall be held in arms for the reformation of the whole Realm, for the maintenance of the good Subjects and punishment of the evil, and for the surety of our persons, who have been sought, and namely within these few days thorough secret conspiracies, should have been made away & utterly overthrown, as though the safety of the Estate did depend of the ruin of good men, and of those which so often have ventured their lives for the preservation of the same, having nothing left unto us more to warrant us from hurt & to avoid the sword which already hangeth over our heads, but to have recourse to those remedies which we have always abhorred. Whereto notwithstanding we would not have trusted for the only peril of our lives, if the subversion of the Catholic Religion in this Realm had not been unseparably joined withal: for the preservation & maintenance whereof, we would never fear nor refuse any danger, making full reckoning that we cannot choose a more honourable Tomb, then to die for so just and holy a quarrel, both to discharge ourselves of the duty & bond which we own (as good Christians) to the service of God, as also to avoid, as faithful and good subjects, the overthrow of this Estate, which ordinarily doth follow such alteration: Protesting that it is not against the King our Sovereign Lord we do take Arms, but for the defence of his person, his life, and his estate, for the which we do swear all of us to expose and spend our goods and lives to the last drop of our blood, with the like fidelity that we have showed heretofore: And to lay down our weapons so soon as it shall please his Majesty to cause the peril to cease which doth threaten the ruin of the service of God and so many good men, the which we most humbly beseech to procure with all speed, testifying to every man by good and true effects, that he is a most christian king, having the fear of God and the zeal of religion graven in his soul, as always we have perceived, and that like a good father and king he seeketh the preservation of his subjects, in doing whereof his Majesty shall be so much the more obeyed and honoured of us, and of all his ancient subjects, which we desire above all things in the world.  
And although that it be not a thing far from reason, that the king should be required to take order, that during his life, the people committed to his charge should not be divided into factions and partialities of the difference of succession: Notwithstanding, so it is, that we are so little moved with any such consideration, that the slander of those which do reproach it unto us, shall not be found to be grounded upon any foundation. For, beside that the laws of the Realm are clear enough in that behalf, and sufficiently known, the hazard whereunto we the Cardinal of Bourbon do offer ourselves in our old days and last years, are proof sufficient, that we are not set a work with any such hope or desire, but that we are only moved with a true zeal of religion, whereby we pretend part to another manner of kingdom more assured, the enjoying whereof is more to be desired, and of longer continuance.  
Our intention being such, we do beseech all men, and most humbly the Queen mother of the king, our most redoubted Lady (without whose wisdom and good advise this realm should have been piecemeal dispersed and quite destroyed) for the faithful witness, that she is able, will, & aught to afford to our great service, namely in particular to us the Cardinal of Bourbon, who have always honoured, aided, & assisted her, in her most urgent affairs, without the sparing of our goods, lives, friends and kinsfolks, together with her fortifying the kings side, and upholding the Catholic religion, that she will not at this instant leave us in the open field, but rather employ all the credit, which her pains & laboursome travail have deserved of right, and of which credit with the king her son, her enemies most unjustly seek to bereave her.  
Also we beseech all the Princes of France, Officers appertaining to the king, Ecclesiastical persons, Noblemen, Gentlemen, & others of what degree or calling so ever they be of, which are not as yet joined with us, to help, aid and assist us with their means & advice in the execution of so good & holy a work. And we do exhort all towns and commonalties, even as they do love their own preservation, to judge sound of our intentions, to acknowledge the comfort which hereby shall come unto the estate, as well publicly, as to their particular, & to put to their helping hand to this good enterprise, which can not but prosper with the grace of God to whom we do refer all things: Or at the least, if their advise & resolution cannot so soon agree together (as their counsels consist of divers & sundry persons,) we do admonish them to have an eye to themselves, & not to suffer any man to possess themselves by any sinister interpretation that they may surmise of our intentions, of their said towns, & so place in them garnison of soldiers, bringing them to the same slavery as the other towns be in which they do usurp.  
We do declare to all men that we do not mean to use any act of hostility, but against those who with arms shall offer to oppose themselves unto us, and by other means shall favour our adversaries, which seek the overthrow of the Church, and to destroy the estate: Assuring every man, that these our taking of arms being holy & just, shall offer no oppression to any, be it in passing & abiding in any place, but shall live with good government, & take nothing but that which they shall pay for, & receive into their company all such as are zealous of the honour of God, & of the holy church, & to the weal & preservation of the most christian French nation: with protestation notwithstanding, not to leave off their weapons till we see the full accomplishment and execution of the things aforesaid, and rather to die most willingly with a desire to be heaped up together in one sepulchre consecrated to the latter Frenchmen dead in arms for the cause of God and of their Country.  
Last of all, for because all aid cometh from God, we do beseech all true Catholics to join with us in this society, reconciling themselves with his divine Majesty, by an entire reformation of their lives, thereby to appease his wrath, and to call upon him in pureness of conscience, as well by public prayers and holy processions, as by private and particular devotions: To the end that all our actions may be referred to the honour and glory of him which is the God of armies, and of whom we do look for all our strength & most assured help. Given at Shalous the of March, 1585. Signed. Charles Cardinal of Bourbon.   

A Declaration set forth by the French king, showing his pleasure concerning the new troubles in his Realm.  
Translated out of French into English by E. A.  
LONDON Imprinted by john Wolf dwelling in Distaff lane near the sign of the Castle. 1585.   

A declaration of the French kings pleasure, concerning the new troubles of his Realm.  
notwithstanding the king by letters & precepts hath heretofore sundry times admonished his Subjects not to suffer themselves to be led away with the persuasions and counsels of some who seek to practise and associate them unto themselves, whereby to frustrate them of their quiet: and withal have offered and promised favour to such as being already entangled, shall upon knowledge of his meaning withdraw themselves: yet his Majesty to his great grief understanding that notwithstanding his said precepts and favourable admonitions, some of his said subjects upon sundry considerations, (but for the most part being transported & blinded with such fair and beautiful shows as the authors do set upon their enterprises,) do still enter into the same. His said Majesty hath thought it requisite for the universal weal of his said subjects, the discharge of his conscience toward God, & his reputation with the world to oppose against such artificial devise. 〈◊〉 light of truth, which is the true comfort of the good and mortal enemy to their adversaries, to the end his said subjects being conducted by the light thereof may in time and without let discern and know the original & intent of such motions and so escew all both public and private calamities that may grow thereof.  
The pretences which the authors of the said troubles do allege, are chief founded upon The restoring of the Catholic, Apostolic & Romish religion in this land: The distributing of the offices and dignities thereof, to those unto whom justly they may appertain: & The wealth, honour, and relief of the Clergy, Nobility and Commons.  
These points all men have manifestly known to have been always so dear and in such recommendation with his Majesty that none can justly doubt of his intent concerning the same: whereby it appeareth that they needed not to have practised his subjects, gathered them into arms, or levied foreign power wherewith to induce him to accept of such motions as they pretend to exhibit concerning the same, in case they were just, possible and commodious to his subjects.  
In respect of the said religion, his said Majesty before his coming to the crown hath adventured his own life and with most happy success fought for the propagation of the same: also since that it pleased God to call him to the government of this realm, he hath oftentimes to the like purpose hazarded his estate, and employed his best means, together with the lives and wealth of his good subjects and servants, whereby they may presently be persuaded and believe that no man who so ever either in this realm or else where, of whatsoever profession hath more hearty care of religion and godliness, than always he hath had which by God's grace he will still continue.  
Moreover although after the example of the late king his brother with divers other Christian Princes, whose Empires & dominions have been afflicted with sundry opinions of the said religion, his Majesty by the prudent advise of the Queen his Mother, my Lord the Cardinal of Bourbon, with other the Princes, Officers of the Crown, and Lords of his Counsel who then were about him, hath pacified such troubles as were among his subjects by reason of the said religion, until it might please God to reunite them into the bosom of the church: It doth not nevertheless therefore follow that his zeal and devotion so far as concerneth the glory of God and perfect restoration of the Catholic, Apostolic & Romish Church should be any whit changed or diminished rather now then he showed it to be during the said troubles: Yea so far is he there fro, that his Majesty wisheth every one to understand that he concluded the said peace, purposedly to try whether by the means thereof he might reunite to the Church of God such his subjects as the iniquity and liberty of the time may have separated therefrom, as having so long found even with the danger of his own person and hazard of his estate, & price of the blood of so many Princes, Lords, gentlemen, and other his subjects, as have died during the said troubles and by reason of the same, since the original of the discord for matter of religion, moved & rooted in the said realm during the minorities of the late kings his brethren and his, to the great grief of the aforesaid Lady the Queen their Mother, cannot be determined by force of arms without the destruction of his subjects and imminent danger of his realm. A matter wherein he was resolved upon notice given him that all sorts of people were wearied and over toiled with the long course of the said troubles, as also that he wanted means any longer to supply the charges of such war: which should not have happened if in the assembly of the general estates of this realm holden at Bloys the deputies there present had aswell provided for a levy of a stock of coin wherewith to prosecute the said war to the end, as was requisite. and his Majesty did require, as (being induced through fervent zeal to the Catholic Religion) they could desire him utterly to prohibit the exercise of the said Religion pretended reform, whereof did ensue the resolution there taken and sworn unto, which since his Majesty did endeavour to put in execution: neither should they now have any pretence to complain, no not they who nevertheless do publish abroad that every man was soon deprived of that glistering beam of good hope which before by reason of the resolution taken in the said estates did shine upon them: Besides that it is unseemly and not lawful for the subject to judge of his kings actions, were it but in respect that many times he is ignorant of the motive causes of his commandements, which for the most part are more pregnant than those that are apparent & manifest to all men: neither is it for any to do but only God, the searcher and cleanser of the hearts and dealings of Princes, who knoweth the causes that did most enforce his said Majesty to the conclusion of the said peace: As being certain that if he had any longer deferred the doing thereof, this realm had been replenished with foreign power and divers partialities and new divisions which would have been very prejudicial to the estate.  
His Majesty did therefore grant the said peace to the end to withstand all the aforesaid inconveniences, to prevent the effects thereof and to try better remedies, and not as they allege) to ground or establish any heresy in the realm, for such a thought never entered into the heart of so Christian and good a Prince as his Majesty is: who having foreseen, felt & found the difficulties aforesaid, have thought it his duty the rather to hearken to the said pacification, to the end by means thereof to be the better able to grant to his subjects the enjoying of that relief whereupon they hoped in other the articles propounded and required at the assembly of estates aforesaid for the common wealth of the said realm, peace & union being a forerunning and necessary mean to the establishing of good laws and reformation of manners.  
Hereunto hath his Majesty continually ever since intended as is evident by the edicts and rules thereupon made, which he hath endeavoured to put in effect and cause to be observed: and although his intent hath not been executed according to this desire, the same hath redounded to his greater grief, and hath happened peradventure as much by the negligence of some of his officers and sleights of his evil willers as also by such footing and advantage as impiety, corruption and disobedience have set in this realm during the said wars.  
Through this peace, divers towns replenished with Catholic Citizens & inhabitants are delivered from the soldiers that had seized upon them. The exercise of the Catholic, Apostolical and Roman religion is renewed in the same, as likewise through his majesties diligence and care it is in most towns of this realm, yea even in those wherein the professors of the said religion pretended reform, have ever since the troubles been and yet are the stronger, and from whence both before and ever since his coming to the Crown, the said exercise hath been banished.  
The face of justice also hath thereby appeared though not altogether so fully and wholly as were to be wished, yet at the least in such estate as for the most part it hath showed force sufficient to comfort the good and make the bad afraid. The Prelates & clergy are re-entered into their Churches & the enjoying of their goods whereof they had been spoiled. The Nobility and Gentlemen might live safe in their houses and not be subject to such expenses as in the time of war they were forced to be at for preserving themselves from being surprised. The Citizen deprived of his own and wandering over the country with his family is by means of the said peace re-entered into his possessions. The Merchant likewise hath again begun his trade of traffic which by the said troubles was wholly interrupted. The poor husbandman groaning under the weight of the supportable burden a rising of the unbridled licence of the soldier hath means to breath & have recourse to his ordinary labour, for the sustentation of his poor life. To be brief there is no estate or person but doth effectually participate in the benefits of the said pacification.  
Moreover as his Majesty hath always been most jealous of the honour of God, & careful for the common wealth of his said subjects, as much as in a Prince most Christian & truly good, can, by acknowledging all evils and calamities of any estate to arise principally through want and default of true godliness and justice hath since the said peace continually laboured to raise up two pillars, which the violence of the said troubles had almost subverted and laid along. For the compass whereof, he hath begun by naming meet & capable persons such as the holy decrees do appoint to ecclesiastical promotions, having charge of souls. He hath also by his own example invited his subjects to reformation of their manners, and to have recourse to the grace & mercy of God through prayer and austerity of life, which have confirmed the Catholics in the duty to his divine Majesty, and moved some of those that were separated from God's Church to reconsiliation to the same.  
He hath likewise intended greatly to give ear to the declaration and complaints of the Clergy, giving them liberty to assemble themselves to that effect, and having largely & favourably provided for them, hath rather discharged then overcharged them with extraordinary tenths, without respect to the necessity of his own affairs, notwithstanding whatsoever is published to the contrary: and is sorry that he can not likewise relieve them of the payment of their ordinary, because he found them at his coming to the crown mortgaged for the payment of the rents of the town of Paris.  
The said Prelates and Clergy have also through his said majesties permission had opportunity to call & hold their provincial Counsels, whereby they have consulted & provided for the reformation of abuses brought into the Church during the said troubles, & made good and holy rules to the wealth of the same, which his said Majesty hath confirmed and authorized. These are the fruits and common and general commodities which Gods Church, & the Catholic, Apostoliike & Romish religion have reaped of the said pacification, besides infinite other private & particular benefits which would be too long to rehearse.  
Concerning justice every man knoweth what pains his said Majesty hath taken to withdraw the same out of darkness wherein the troubles had plunged, to the end to restore the light thereof to his former force and ancient brightness, having by death suppressed all superfluous offices, and withal prohibited and ceased the sale of the said offices which the want of money had forced his predecessors to bring in, nothing regarding his own need, which is nothing inferior to his predecessors.  
Besides all this his Majesty hath excluded all remissions and evocations which aforetune were dispatched of his proper motion, in consideration that he perceiveth how great hope to attain the same did autorize evil deeds, and the small difficulty that was made in granting others did bring confusion into justice.  
Moreover since the said pacification he hath had opportunity to send into sundry provinces of his realm, sundry chambers composed of officers of the parliament of Paris to minister justice unto his said subjects even in the said place, whereof is grown such fruit as all men have tasted, which yet would increase to the contentation of the good, if his good meaning had been better assisted by those who naturally and by especial bond of their vocations were bound thereto. But as the iniquity of the time hath emboldened some to burden his Majesty with other men's faults, and that corruption & malice are so replenished with boldness and impudency that many have even taken pleasure in defacing his most holy & best actions, whereby to cause his subjects to mislike of them and so to get to themselves their good wills with the expense of his reputation: yea so far as sometimes to dare interpret the most commendable zeal that he hath had to cause the decrees and sentences of the said chambers against evil doers to be executed, unto over great rigour and severity.  
His said Majesty had therefore begun by the means aforesaid to provide for the erecting of these two true pillars, the only foundations & preservation of every Monarchy and had conceived some assurance wholly to set them up & restore them to their perfection through the continuation of the peace if it had pleased God to have given his grace to make his realm & subjects worthy thereof. This also it seemeth those men which seek to move the subjects to take arms and yet under colour of providing for both the one and the other, did as soon fear as foresee.  
They do also give out that they take arms to the end to withstand the troubles which they say they fear should hap after his majesties decease in the establishing of a Royal successor to the disadvantage of the said Catholic, Apostolic, and Romish religion. Being persuaded, or at the least so giving forth that his said Majesty, or they that are about him do favour the pretences of those that have showed themselves persecutors of the said religion.  
A matter whereof his Majesty desireth and warneth his subjects to believe that he never thought, as being, thanks be to God, in the flower and strength of his age and likewise the Queen his wife, and so hopeth that God will grant them issue to the general contentation of his good and loyal subjects: beside it seemeth to him that they seek to force both nature and time and withal do to much mistrust the favour and goodness of God, the health and life of his Majesty, and the faithfulness of the said Lady Queen his wife in motioning at this time any such question, but much more in prosecuting the decision thereof by force of arms. For in lieu of warranting and delivering the realm for the mischief which they say they fear will one day ensue hereof, the entry into war presently for that cause is properly as much as to hasten the griefs of the same: as being assured shortly to replenish the realm with foreign power, partialities, and innumerable discords, besides blood, murder and infinite robberies & oppressions.  
Here may you see how the Catholic religion shall be restored, the Clergy discharged of their tenths, the Gentlemen live quietly and safe in his house and enjoy his rights & prerogatives, the Citizens inhabitants of towns exempt from garrisons, and the poor towns eased of subsidies and impositions that it now beareth.  
His majesty therefore warneth and exhorteth his subjects in this case to look about them and not to persuade themselves that this war can be finished so soon and easily as is given out, but rather to weigh and deeply to consider the event and inevitable consequence thereof: and not to suffer their reputations to be stained, & their weapons to seem as an instrument to the destruction of their country and to the increase of the power of the enemies fherof, who only will triumph and reap benefit by the miseries & calamities of the same. For while we, blinded in our own benefit shall war one upon another and be succoured in outward appearance, but in effect fed on by their assistance, they shall reign prosperously and establish their power.  
They complain also of the division of the offices and houses of this said realm, saying that such are put from them as have better deserved of the estate and his majesties service. A weak foundation and of no great honour to build the ruin and salvation of so flourishing a realm whose kings were never bound to use the service of one more than of an other. For there is no law that bindeth him thereto except as the benefit of his service requireth. Nevertheless his said Majesty hath at all times greatly honoured and cherished the princes of his blood, as much as any of his predecessors, and hath shown a will to prefer others into credit, honour and reputation by using their service: for so oft as his said Majesty hath levied any power or army, he hath still by preferring them committed the charge and conduct of the same unto them, and if we do consider who at this present have the greatest and most honourable rooms in the realm, we shall find that they are said to be the authors of such complaints & have cause rather to commend his majesties goodness and favour then any way to complain & departed from him.  
But say they, they have but the name, and in effect are deprived of the prerogatives depending upon their said offices, which other men do usurp. Before we judge of the merit of such complainant it were good to see & deeply to look into the rights and pre-eminences to every office attributed, and then to consider how and by whom they have been administered in the time of the kings predecessors.  
A matter which his Majesty hath often propounded, when he hath endeavoured to set order in every man's office, and had long since been determined and decided if those that have interest therein had according to their duties aided and assisted him as they ought. But shall it therefore be now said and so left to the posterity that private interests and discontentations should be the cause of troubling a whole estate, and replenishing the same with blood and desolation?  
This is not the way that should be taken in seeking to redress those abuses which they complain of, sith they have to do with so merciful a Prince, who still would prevent the inconvenience, and willingly would accept of all meet and convenient remedies which may be offered to him for the redress of the same.  
Let therefore the weapons be laid down, foreign power countermanded & this Realm delivered out of that danger which now it is like to incur by this rising & taking of arms, and in am of proceeding in this way which is full of stumbling blocks, miseries and both private and public calamities, let the path of reason duly be sought out, undertaken & followed, whereby Gods holy Church, the enemy of all violence may more easily be restored to her power and beauty, and the Nobility satisfied and contented as it ought to be. For which of the kings his majesties predecessors have in effect showed any token of more love or cherishing the order thereof then his Majesty hath done? as not being contented with preferring it before the ancient and principal honours and degrees of this realm, but hath expressly erected and made others new, which he hath consecrated to the illustration of true nobility, as having excluded and deprived all other estates from the same.  
His Majesty will also effectually provide with all speed for the ease of his people, like as he hath already very well begon, and wisheth to his power to continue.  
Moreover notwithstanding the Captains of this war do promise that their power and forces shall live so orderly that all men shall like thereof, and withal that they exhort the cities and towns not to admit any garrisons, yet do we see that the soldiers when they have gathered together do already commit infinite oppressions and excess, also that they have placed forces in those towns and holds which they have seized upon, to the end to rule and keep them in their obedience. Besides all this it is evident that many vagabonds & idle persons will as hath been accustomed rise under the name & colour of either part who will commit infinite sacrileges and mischiefs. In such sort that in am of stopping the danger which threateneth the destruction of God's service and all good men as by this war they do promise, it will replenish the whole realm withal impiety and ungodliness.  
They do also give out that their lives are in danger, and that that is one of the causes that moveth them to rise, No man can think that this complaint any whit concerneth his Majesty, aswell in respect of the good and favourable usage that at all times they have received at his hands, as also in that his said Majesty is naturally so far from all sort of revenge that the person is yet unborn, that can justly complain of him for the same, notwithstanding whatsoever offence against him committed, whereas contrariwise there are many that having proved his clemency may serve for a perpetual remembrance to the posterity.  
In consideration her of his said Majesty desireth and exhorteth the Captains of the said risings speedily to disperse their bands, countermand the strangers, and departed from all factions, and as his kinsmen and servants, to repose assured confidence in his love and good will, which in so doing he offereth to continue unto them, by honouring them with his favour and making them partakers of such honours as he is accustomed to bestow upon men of their calling: to join and reunite themselves unto him, to the end duly and effectually to provide for the restoring of God's service, and the common wealth of his said subjects in such order as shall be thought meet and convenient, whereto his Majesty is willing to hearken.  
He also warneth all Ecclesiastical persons and gentlemen his subjects well to weigh the consequence of these stirs, sincerely to embrace his intent, and to believe that his mind always hath and still shall tend to do good to all, and harm and displeasure to none.  
He doth therefore most straightly command them and all other his subjects to departed and withdraw themselves from all leagues & assotiations, and to reunite themselves unto him, as nature, duty, and their own wealth and health doth bind them, to the end that if these commotions do proceed any farther (which he beseecheth the goodness of almighty God not to permit) he may have assistance and succour in their counsel, weapons and commodities to the preservation of the Realm, whereunto is linked the Catholic Apostolic & Romish Church therein, their honour, reputation, persons, famelies, and goods.  
Offering and promising unto them in so doing the continuance of his favour with recompense for their fidelity and service.  
And underneath  
Given at Paris in the month of April 1585. Signed HENRY And underneath De Neufuille.