THE FRENCH kings DECLARATION UPON THE RIOT, FELONY, AND REBELLION OF THE DUKE OF MAYENNE, & the Duke and Knight of Aumalle, and all their assistants.  
Whereunto is adjoined Another Declaration of the same King, against the towns of Paris, Orleans, Amiens, and Abbeville and their adherentes.  
Faithfully translated out of the French.  
❧ Printed at London, for Thomas Cadman. 1589.   

❧ THE kings DECLARATION upon the Riot, Felony, & Rebellion of the Duke of Mayenne, the Duke and Knight of Aumalle and their assistants.  
HENRY by the grace of God king of France, and Poland, to all men present and to come, greeting. Whereas there is no commandment of God Religion, or humane law that can excuse the subject, for taking arms without the decree or permission of his sovereign to whom it hath pleased his Divine goodness, to give all authority over him, & to whom only he hath reserved the sword of power, to use for the preservation of the good and the punishment and correction of the bad, what may be thought of that subject, that taketh arms against his own most Christian, lawful and natural king? For in case this crime be abominable in the sight both of God and man, and aught to redound to the shame and confusion of such as commit the same, then is there among all Christians no name odious enough for the Frenchmen, if through disloyalty, riots, and felony they continue not the children of their fathers, those ancient Frenchmen, who so virtuously with the peril of their own lives have obtained and been noted among all nations in the world to be the faithfullest and most loyal to their kings.  
Again if to this so horrible a crime there may be added any increase in respect of such bonds, benefits, and particular gratifications received by the subject that armeth himself against his benefactor and lawful and natural king, then are the Duke of Mayenne and the Duke and Knight of Aumalle worthy that name, which as yet is not in use. And as their rebellion exceedeth all measure and example, so ought they likewise to be termed the most unfaithful and disloyal in this world, also to leave to their posterity this note of their ingratitude and rebellion, as a beautifying of the loyalty of such as remain steadfast in their fidelity, and just and lawful obedience; which God commandeth them to bear and yield to their king.  
All this notwithstanding, so far did our clemency and good will extend, that endeavouring to forget all former matters and just occasions, that they had ministered unto us, to entreat and chastise them according to the deserts of their disloyalty, even of ourselves seeking their safety, with the care of their wounds through our own, yea and the preservation of their lives and honour, with the expense of our own authority. We have of late days sent unto them sundry and many times, divers of our good & faithful servants & subjects, with our express letters, as also since our Herehaughts of arms to give the to weet of our good & holy intent, withal that we were still ready not only to forget all matters past, but also to receive them into our gracious favour & cherish & embrace them as our good & loyal subjects, so long as they should perform their duties & such their submissions as justly they own unto us. Nevertheless even as an ambitious & treacherous soul is utterly uncompatible of his God's assistance, & through infidelity is no longer capable of such reason as might contain or reduce him to his duty: As also the Spider, which is nourished with the same liquor where out the Bee gathereth both honey and wax, doth nevertheless convert the same into poison, so our goodness & clemency infused into the hearts of such persons, abandoned both of God and his holy spirit, are converted into corruption, but not into that substance which they ought thereof to take, for in lieu of humbling themselves as they ought, & not confessing their faults, they are grown more proud, & have plunged themselves in the destruction of both souls, lives, honours and credits, together with whatsoever their domestical goods, by seizing upon our towns and castles, and through their trachery and rebellion, enterprising against our authority, our Magistrates, our good and loyal subjects and servants, yea, even against our Prelates, Bishops, and other Clergy men, whom they have imprisoned, rob, ransomed, & by torment enforced to resign their benefices to their partakers, without respect of desert, or so much as quality, as being contented that they were partakers in their wickedness, with all other unreasonable means of hostility, rebellion, and felony, & all this under pretence and colour of religion & godliness, as if themselves could so much as once approach to ours, or to that of so many good & honourable persons, whom they persecute as guilty, only because they be their kings faithful servants and subjects, & will not damn themselves, or have any portion in their detestable rebellion still having in their mouths that which is farthest from their hearts, making a vail and cloak of God's honour thereby to resist his express word, and by their ambition, felony, and treachery, to subvert the Catholic, Apostolic, and Romish religion, as heretofore they have sundry times done, by seizing upon our towns & munitions, thereby to divert & hinder us when we were best disposed and most resolute in our own person to war upon the heretics, as also they would be very sorry there should be no more in France, lest thereby their ambitious purposes should have no farther colour.  
And albeit through God's grace we be not bound to give account of our actions to any but himself, yet to the end the simplicity of some of our subjects be not through their false suggestions abused and that they should wrongfully imagine the late Duke of Guise to have been punished for being the protector and defender of the Catholic Apostolic and Romish Religion, or for his good affection to the commons, and that in respect thereof the said Duke of Mayenne, Duke and Knight of Aumalle, and their associates may have had great and lawful occasion to unite themselves, as well for their own particular preservation, together with the maintenance of Religion, as for the revenge of him that died for them, as they do report whereby to stir up and seduce our subjects and to cloak their ambitious rebellion. Our pleasure is thereby fully to give them, to understand that wickedly they have sought to cover their disloyalty with the honour of God, the increase of Religion and affection to the common wealth: for not to stay upon the particularities of the said Duke of Guise and his brother's lives, the memory whereof is but to fresh yet in this Realm, especially among such as were best acquainted with them, & not to waste so much time about the writing thereof, it shall suffice us only to say that a few days before the Duke of Guise's death, the said Duke of Mayenne sent us word by an honourable Knight, Sir Alphonso Corse, whom he sent to us, that it was not enough for his brother to wear beads about his neck, but that also it was requisite he should have a soul or conscience: that we should look well to ourselves: that it were good himself the said Duke of Mayenne, or the said Knight should come to advertise us, and that the term was so short, as it was to be feared he could not arrive time enough. As also we have not lost the remembrances and letters containing his practices and procuring of amity with the king of Navarre, and the heretics, as well within the Realm as without, upon what soever conditions in case they would promise him their amity and assistance for his establishment.  
It is likewise sufficiently known what pensions he received from strangers, upon what promises, and to what end: & his confederates with such as he did most condemn before men as favourers of heresy, are not unknown to any, but those that list not to know the same. These be those notable acts that he hath taken out of the lives of the Apostles and Gods commandments, for the preservation of the Catholic Apostolic, and Romish Religion and the relief of the people: whereas contrariwise it is well known where abouts our armies were employed, that our intent was this spring personally to have gone forward, and that there was no let in us, why the said Duke of Maine should not war upon the heretics, as well as our dear and faithful Cousin the Duke of Nevers, who had yet continued our enterprise, had not our forces been diverted by the said Duke of Mayenne and the Duke and Knight of Aumalle, as already the said Duke of Aumalle did the like the last year by surprising our Towns in Picardy: and it may be said by the works of their hands, that the Huguenots had never found so great favour, neither this poor Realm such misery and oppression, but in the soul and life of the late Duke of Guise, the Duke of Mayenne, and the Duke and Knight of Aumalle: As for the relief of the people let the present estate of this Realm be considered, the losses & destructions that it hath encurred since the year 1585. when the said late Duke of Guise, with the aforesaid of Mayenne and Aumalle took arms against us & our authority, & let the imminent destruction of this realm be deemed by such occurrences as have happened since that time, & so compared with the former years of 83. & 84. as also the order that we had begun to take & establish in this our said Realm to the honour of God, & the ease of our people, and agree their relief and the charges of the war with the actions of the said late Duke of Guise, and the aforenamed, who since that time never laid aside their weapons, sometimes under one pretence & sometimes under an other, note also the countenance of the said late Duke of Guise and his assistants when we, contrary to his expectation, granted unto the deputies of our Estates, the discharge and reductions of tallages to the state they were in An. 1576. always provided that they would minister means to supply the stock and satisfy the entertainment of the Royal dignity and the estate, and to prosecute the war which they all had so solemnly desired and sworn, wherein themselves should by our decree, have the administration of the coin, as they had promised us: for at that time on the one side he dissuaded us from doing it, willing us not to abase our authority so far, but to make ourselves to be believed, and on the other side he urged his partakers to proceed in such their instant suits, yet not upon any earnest desire thereto, but rather to bring us either into necessity or into hatred with our said subjects, with firm resolution, upon our refusal, to break up the Estates, upon so plausible a ground to the people and himself to reap the honour and thanks for that which he least meant, rejecting upon us the envy for that which we extremely desired: and which we did upon our great affection to the relief of our subjects, so far as in us might lie, and that the preservation of our Estate would permit, even contrary to his advise and counsel, and all such persuasions as he used either by himself or his to the contrary.  
Also in respect of his behaviours toward us, after we had remitted and pardoned all his former transgressions, his rash arrogancy was grown to be such, that the opinions in our Counsel were no longer free, he made himself to be believed. The execution also of sentences and judgements given in our sovereign Courts, against the most lewd and guilty in this land was deferred in that they could not be caught, and yet were they safe in his train and chamber, yea and he procured them to be lodged in our Court, so as they were the honestest men & most zealous Catholics of this Realm, if once they were his partakers: And contrariwise the honestest, and best Catholicque was an heretic, or at the least a Politic, in case he would not swear and take part in their treason.  
He likewise did all that he might, that every man might know (and it was one of his policies) that he could do what he would: and that we had even cast ourselves into his arms, so far forth as to cause such rumours to be spread throughout our Provinces, and to face the Deputies of our General Estates, which would not depend upon him, and alter their books at his pleasure, albeit there were but over many such chosen and nominated through his violence. Witness that daily at set hours there was in his chamber a Counsel holden of matters propounded, also what should be concluded in the Estates by purchase, drifts or violence according as the said Duke of Guise and his partakers had resolved, even in the face of the world, yea and he boasted of it, and that there was no greater safety then in his protection, likewise that it was a point of treason, to be our faithful servant, giving out as a badge of injury this term HE IS ROYAL, and for a badge of honour, HE IS A GVISART. He sought unjustly to command over him, whom God had constituted in all authority, & sovereign power over him, & endeavoured by the mere benefits, honours and authority, which his king had bestowed upon him to take from him both crown & life, at the least so soon as he had found means somewhat better to establish his authority then as yet it was, if peradventure he could have granted us so long life: for it is most certain and sufficiently verified that he had already taken such order for his drifts that he accounted himself Master of our Castle and person, yea he had unlawfully seized upon the keys, even of our Chambers: The convenient weapons for the execution of his practice and unfit for any other warrelick exploit were found, albeit his favourers had used all means to convey them away, so to take away all notice thereof, and his men were round about us. The companies of our ordinances whom we had ordained for the safety of ourselves, and our estates were by him dismissed, yea so far did he proceed as by his letters signed by himself and sealed, with his seal of arms, the inhabitants of Remorantine were exempted from receiving a part of the Lord of Sowrays' company whom we had there ordained: as also he took them into his protection and safeguard, contrary to our letters patents upon the partition, that we had made with himself: expressly forbidding the general Commissary for victuals, throughout our Realm, to take from them any victuals, for the said company or any other.  
Again the more to show that he would no longer depend upon any other than himself, such was his presumption, in the closet and presence of the late Queen, our most honourable Lady and good mother, and sundry other Princes and Lords there present, as when the trespasses of treasons came to be propounded, to the end to be renewed and sworn unto in full assembly of our Estates, to answer us most impudently that he would not do any thing, neither would swear thereto: but that if he transgressed we should cause him to be punished: and yet all this notwithstanding, together with divers others warnings of his drifts and dealings, daily given us by our good, faithful and loyal subicts and servants, we passed over all these things quietly, as persuading ourselves that our great patience and benefits, wherein we spared not any one gratification that lay in our power, to them and theirs, would mollify the hardness of their hearts, and reduce them to their just obedience due unto us, considering the fierceness of Lions, and other the most wild beasts is commonly tamed by benefits: but as the ambitious desire to reign is insatiable and infinite, and that he that offendeth doth never forgive: so these men's insolences daily increased, and by an express messenger whom the said D. of Aumalle sent us we were advertised that himself had been present in person, but not in will (said he) in a counsel holden at Paris, wherein it was resolved that the Duke of Guise should fease upon our person and bring us to Paris, which notwithstanding, we would not upon our first considerations have such respect to this advice as we ought: howbeit upon the view of him whom since the aforesaid D. of Mayenne sent unto us, seeing also the term so short as there was no safety for us, but in the prevention of the lives of those who sought to take away ours, and to usurp our estate and Crown: we were forced to use and practise upon their persons, not what through their treacherous felony they deserved, but according as the season would bear that which we ought, yet would not have done.  
This was the recompense that they had prepared for our gratifications and benefits, and is at this day prosecuted by these, who during their lives seemed to condemn their counsels, and did themselves give us warning of the same, to the end (as we do find by their works) to reserve to themselves, and to turn to their particular profit the fruit of this ambitious drift of empire, according to this ancient proverb. If equity be violable, it is to be violated for a Kingdom, and either we have no judgement, or else by their actions we must believe as they now do agree together to take from us our life and crown, which GOD hath given us, so shortly they would have scattered it, or else fallen a debate among themselves, who should emoy that which they seek so unjustly to usurp, in case they had any opportunity to invade it: as having already undertaken authority to dispose, and by letters patents to determine of the government of out provinces, and of the leveying and distributing of our treasure.  
But seeing patience ought to be limited and restrained within certain bounds, beyond the which it can not be commendable in a Prince that oweth the preservation of his honour, authority, & life unto his estate and himself. We upon these causes with other just considerations us moving, with the advise of the Princes of our blood, the Cardinals, Prelates, Lords, and others of our Counsel, have declared, and by these presents signed with our own hand do declare the said Duke of Mayenne and Duke and Knight of Aumalle to be fallen from all their callings, offices, honours, authorities, governements, charges, dignities, privileges and prerogatives which heretofore they have had and holden of vs or our predecessors kings of this land: & that all the same we have & do at this present revoke: also we have and do denounce and declare them infidels, rebels, attaint and convict of rebellion, felony and treason in the highest degree: farther our pleasure is that as such they be prosecuted, both they and all that shall assist them with victuals, counsel, comfort, aid, strength or goods what soever: likewise against all their posterity by all means and rigours of the statutes made against such transgressions. unless by the first day of March next ensuing the date hereof, without further delay they confess their fault and return into that obedience, which justly they own unto us, even by the commandment & express word ofGod, withstanding the which, they can not term themselves Christians to the end we satisfy ourselves in that we have not omitted any one courtesy, clemency, or favour that might reclaim them from their offence & reduce them to their duty. Enjoining our chief ushers, sergeants or other officers to signify unto them these presents either personally & together or particularly: Also in case with safety they can not do it, our will & pleasure is that the notice thereof made at the gates or walls of their dwellings, or of the towns or suburbs wherein they shall chance to be, by our chief trompetter: or if he can not safely for this purpose come so near them, in the next borough or village, shallbe effectual and of as great force and strength, as if it were done to their own persons. Moreover we command and adjure all our good, faithful and loyal subjects, of what soever calling or condition they be, by that loyalty which justly they own unto us, which also God and their honour do command, and by the ashes and memory of their forefathers, who so many years and with so great pains, sweat & labour have purchased them that precious treasure, and immortal name of most faithful to their Kings, that in this affair of such importance as is the preservation or subversion, not only of our authority, but of christian religion, the state & themselves, they overrun the said infidels and rebels, and assist us with their forces & power & draw unto us upon the first summons to the end to punish such as wilfully will persist in their rebellion and to restore our authority, together with our estate into their former eminency and dignity, to the honour of God, the preservation of the Catholic, Apostolic & Romish religion, and the relief of our subjects, whereto we are resolved to employ whatsoever our means & our own life.  
Also to the end no man pretend cause of ignorance, we have ordained and do ordain that these presents be read and published throughout all our sovereign courts and seas royal, for such is our pleasure. In witness whereof, we have to the same set and fixed our seal, that it may remain firm and inviolable for ever. Given at Bloys, in the month of February, the year of grace 1589. and of our Reign 15.  
Thus signed Henry, and underneath. BY THE KING. Ruzé. Sealed with the great seal in green wax upon laces of red and green silk.   

¶ THE kings DECLARATION upon the Riot, Felony, and Rebellion of the Towns of Paris, Orleans, Amiens and Abbeville, with other their adherents.  
HENRY by the grace of God king ofFraunce and Polande, to all men present and to come, greeting. God who of his divine goodness of nothing hath created man to his own similitude, and all things to serve him: The same God hath also constituted kings withal authority and sovereign power over the nations, whom he hath given them to rule & govern: with this good order that they shall obey what soever they shall be commanded, and the Prince shall command what soever his pleasure, as to his subjects, in such manner as it can not be denied, but that he that disobeyeth his lawful and natural Prince, resisteth the express word of God: & he that fulfilleth not his commandments and yet termeth himself his son, is a liar.  
Now among all kings instituted by God, we through his grace bear the title of Most Christian, and be the chiefest of all Christian Kings, as also the Frenchmen have evermore been noted above all nations in the world, to have been most faithful and loyal servants and subjects to their kings, and to that Royal dignity which God of his grace hath given us, together with the sword of power, for the preservation of the good and the punishment of the wicked: hereto have we added all the favours and benefits, all the gifts, grants and honours, wherewith we have been able to beautify enrich and augment our Towns of Paris, Orleans, Amiens and Abbeville, and never denied them any thing that might tend to their relief and increase, thereby to contain and still move them more and more, to that obedience which justly they own unto us: But as the horse pampered up with the care and charges that his master hath bestowed upon him to have him well tended, doth kick his benefactor, only because he is too fat and hath been too well used, and therefore will not suffer his master to take his back, so the said Towns of Paris, Orleans, Amiens and Abbeville, through our great favour above all the Towns in this our realme& by enjoying to much liberty have in contempt of God's commandments, and of too great ingratitude taken arms & risen against us their natural and lawful king, endeavouring by their treachery to deprive us of our lives & authority, in recompense of our liberalities, & because we had exalted them above their deserts. Howbeit in consideration that the simplicity of some may have been seduced through false suggestions, and under pretence of piety or Religion: weighing also the innocency of others which inhabit the same towns, & yet were no partakers in so damnable counsels, to the end not to undo the good through the wickedness of the bad: All these considerations, together with our natural clemency had procured us not only to forget all matters past, but also of ourselves to seek unto those that had so grievously offended us, to the end to have received them into our favour, and to have cherished & embraced them as our good and loyal subjects, upon the confession of their faults, & such submission as justly they own unto us: But in lieu of acknowledging their errors and humbling themselves, as men forsaken of God for their contempt and disobedience against his express commandment, and upon their felony and Riot committed against their lawful and natural King, they have spit their venoume against the Bishops, Prelates, Magistrates, Nobility, and all sorts of people without distinction or consideration of calling or crime, only because that obeying the express word of God, they remained faithful to their prince, and would not with them become rebels and infidels to God and their king: yea they exceeded so far as to kill and violently to dismiss the Curates of their charges only for exhorting the people to pray to God for their king: & as the said towns are extreme in their treacheries, felonies, and rebellions, so have they not to this hour fogotten or abstained from any one jot of cruelty, no not of sacrilege: and yet will they do worse in case they be not prevented by punishments worthy their felony and detestable rebellion. We upon these causes with other just considerations thereunto us moving, have with the advise of the Princes of our blood, the Cardinals, Prelates, Lords & others of our counsel, declared, & by these presents signed with our own hand, do declare the said towns of Paris, Orleans, Amiens & Abbeville, fallen from all estates, honours, power, government, charges, dignities, privileges, gifts or grants what soever they have had of us or other the kings our predecessors, all which we have and at this present do revoke. And we have denounced and declared and do denounce and declare them to be rebels attaint, and convict of the crimes of Riot, Felony and Treason, in the highest degree. Also we will that as such they be proceeded against, as well they as all those that do inhabit among them or shall assist them with victuals, counsel, comfort, aid, force, or goods, and against their posterity, by all means and rigours of any ordinances made against the said transgressions: unless by the 15. day of the month of March next ensuing the date hereof, they acknowledge their trespass, and return into the obedience that justly they owe unto us, even by the commandment and express word of God, contrary to the which, they cannot be called Christians.  
Further upon the same penalties enjoining all officers of our Courts of Parliament, Chamber of accounts, general of Aids, chancery, records of our treasury, chamber of moneys, presidial seize, bayliwickes, seneschalsies, provostships, elections & other bodies & companies, as well of judgement as of our treasury, ushers, notaries and sergeants, and generally all other our officers that are in the said towns, immediately upon notice of these presents to come forth, by what soever means or manner and to draw unto us, or to such other places as by us they shall be appointed, and there to minister justice to our subjects, and to execute all other functions incident to their offices, the exercise whereof we have suspended and forbidden, and do suspend and forbid in the said towns together with all Courts, jurisdictions, & notice of matters, declaring from henceforth to be void and of no effect or value, all and every their actions by them to be done, wrought, or attempted contrary or to the prejudice of these presents: whereby we command our chief usher, sergeant or other officer, to signify unto them either jointly or severally these presents: Also in case they can have no safe access thereto, we will and our pleasure is, that the signification or placardes thereof set us upon the gates, walls, or suburbs of the said Towns by our chief trumpeter, or if he can not safely approach so near to that effect, then in the next Borough or Village, to be effectual and of like force and strength, as if it were done to their own persons, bodies or companies. Inhibiting and forbidding all our subjects whatsoever, not to prosecute in the said Towns, before the said Courts, seas or officers any what soever expedition, whether of justice or otherwise, under pain of nullity, as also of being denounced favourers and adherentes to the said rebels, seditious and disloyal persons.  
We do moreover command and adjure all our good faithful and loyal subjects, of whatsoever function or calling, by the same fidelity which justly they own unto us, and which God and their honour do command, and by the ashes and memory of their forefathers, who so many years and with such pain, sweat & labour have purchased unto them, that precious treasure and immortal name of most faithful to their king, that in this matter, of such importance, whereupon dependeth the preservation or subversion, not only of our authority but also of Christian Religion, the state, and themselves, that they overrun the said traitors and rebels, and assist us with their forces and ability, and draw unto us upon our first summons, to punish all such as will persist in their treasons, and to restore our authority together with our estate into their former eminency and dignity to the honour ofGod, the preservation of our Catholicque Apostolicque and Romish Religion and the relief of our subjects, wherein we are resolved to employ what soever our means together with our life. Also to the end none may pretend cause of ignorance we have decreed and do decree that these presents be read and published, in all our sovereign Courts and seize Royal, that are of the resort of the said Parliament: For such is our pleasure. In witness whereof, we have caused our seal to be set and affixed hereto, that it may remain firm and steadfast for ever.  
Given at Bloys in the month of February the year of Grace. 1589. and of our reign the 15. Thus signed HENRY, and underneath. By the King: Rusé, and sealed with the great seal, with green wax upon red and green silk laces.