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The King's Declaration, Importing a Revocation of all such Letters for Ennoblishment, as have not been verified in the Chamber of accounts of Normandy.  
Also of all such as have been granted to such persons as have or yet do bear arms against his Majesty, and favour Rebels.  
Together with an Arrest or decree of the Court of Parliament of Caen, concerning the residence of Clergy men upon their Cures, and the warrantise of their Tithes.  
Faithfully translated out of French according to the copy printed at Caen.  
AT LONDON Printed for Edward White, and are to be sold at the little North door of S. Paul's Church, at the sign of the 〈…〉   

The King's Declaration, importing a rovocation of all such Letters for Ennoblishment, as have not been verified in the Chamber of account of Normandy, also of all such as have been granted to such persons as have or yet do bear arms against his Majesty, and favour the Rebels.  

HEnry by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre, to our trusty and well-beloved, our Officers of accounts, now transferred to Caen greeting and goodwill.  
Whereas the late our most honourable Lo. and Brother upon the necessity of the affairs of this kingdom, thought good to advance unto the state of nobility, sundry peasants, some for money, others in recompense of their service: the general Edicts whereof were directed to our Chambers of accounts, to the which especially the verification of the said ennoblishments, also of the money or desert of the gift thereof doth appertain, and without the which verification which is the proper essence of the said ennoblishments, the same are of no force or value. Notwithstanding some of our Subjects in the said Court of Normandy, pretending that they have obtained the said Letters of ennoblishment, which they have not verified before you, do usurp the quality & privilidges of Nobility, and some that were subject to tallages, do cause themselves to be razed out of the role, to the great prejudice of our treasury, and such our Subjects as do bear their taxes contrary to all equity and reason.  
Also of those that have been ennobled or have verrified their Charters after the form accustomed, some have very ingratefully revolted from our service.  
We therefore desiring for the wealth of our estate, or the relief of our poor people, to provide against the fraud and abuse committed in the obtaining of the said ennoblishments, as well to the detriment of our treasury, as the unworthiness of those who by surprise rebellion or otherwise, have purchased the gift thereof: and having referred the matter to the deliberation of our Counsel, by the advice thereof we have said, declared, and ordained, and do say, declare, and ordain by these presents, that all & every the said ennoblishments heretofore by our said predecessor and us granted throughout our Country or Dutchye of Normandy, which yet are not verified in our said Chamber of accounts of Normandy to be void or of none effect. Willing and charging you most expressly to inhibit and in our name to forbid all purchasers of the same, never to make any use thereof, neither to take or usurp the said quality or privilege of Nobility: also all our judges or Officers, not to receive or tolerate them, until they have been well and duly verified in our said Chamber, under pain of transgression of falsehood & arbitrary amends albeit there should chance to be some that have not been directed thereto, which as wrested and not duly verified we have and do revoke.  
We do moreover forbid our elect and the Controller in matter of aid and tallages, every one in his election, that they shall not suffer or permit any of the said pretended ennobled Persons, that hath heretofore contributed to our tallages, to be razed out of the rules of the same: also that if any have been so blotted out and razed, our pleasure is, that they shall be put in again and taxed as afore time, under pain that themselves shall answer for it in their own private name.  
Moreover to the end to understand how they have done their duties herein, we do command them to present unto you the catalogue and role of such as pretend themselves to be ennobled in every election, that at the instance of our Atourney general they may be assigned in our said Chamber, to bring in their Letters, which if the case so fall out shall be retained as being obtained by fraud and contrary to the intent of our predecessor and us, or else in verrification to tax them as you shall think reasonable.  
furthermore, concerning those that ungratefullye have since these Nobles revolted from our service: we have and do revoke all and every their charters, grants that have been made unto them, and all verifications that thereof may have ensued: and as men for their rebellion deprived and disgraded from all honour and degree of nobility, our will is that they be set down and made contributory to our tallages as other Peasants are, or in case they inhabit in the free towns, they shall not take or attribute to themselves any further state or privilege then of Peasants, notwithstanding whatsoever their Letters of grace, either already or hereafter to be purchased at our hands, before the same have been verified in our said Chambers of accounts.  
We do also will and command you to cause these Letters of declaration to be read, published, registered, printed and sent to all our Seas, auditories, and other places convenient: also to cause the contents in the same to be maintained, kept, and observed by Bailiffs, Stewards, elect, and others our Officers and Subjects, and to proceed against the infringers thereof by all due and reasonable means. For this end we give you full power and authority: for such is our pleasure.  
Given at our Camp at Mante the 29. of june, the year of grace 1591. and of our reign the 2.   

Signed by the King in his counsel Potier, and sealed with the great seal upon a single label of yellow wax.  
Moreover upon the said Letters it is written, read, published, and registered in the Chamber of accounts of Normandy, in the hearing and at the request of the King's Attorney General in the same, like as is contained in the register at Caen the 27. of july in the year 1591.  
Signed Richer.   

THe Chamber having seen the Letters patents of the King's declaration, given at his Camp at Mante the 29. of june last, containing a revocation of ennoblishments granted by the said Lord and the late King, not verified in the said Chamber, until the said verification in the same, albeit there may be some whose letters have not been directed thereto. Also that concerning such as ungratefullye have revolted since the late troubles: his Majesty hath likewise revoked their charters and grants, together with all the verrifications that may have ensued, and that as men deprived and for their rebellion disgraded from all honour and degree of nobility: he willeth them to be reduced and suborned to the tallages as other the Peasants are, or if they inhabit in any free Towns, they shall not take upon them any other degree or privelidge than Peasants, notwithstanding whatsoever Letters of grace they have, or hereafter may obtain of his said Majesty, unless the first verified in the said Chamber, as more at large is contained in the said letters patents. The King's Attorney general being heard, who hath required the registering of the same, and the whole considered: The Chamber hath ordained and doth ordain, that the said Letters of declaration of the 29. of june last, shallbe read, published and registered in the rolls thereof. The Vidimus whereof shallbe sent to the Bailiffs and their lieutenants in every Vicounty, also to the elect of the election of this Province, that there they may likewise be read and published in their Sea and auditories, withal enjoining the substitutes of the said Attorney general in every the said jurisdictions, to assist the execution of the said Letters, and the said lieutenants of Bailiffs and the elect, to send within one month into the said Chamber, a roll and catalogue of such persons as may have prosecuted their letters of ennoblishment before them, or that manifestly have taken upon them the said title and degree of nobility, since the year 1574. Together with a summary of their behaviours, dealings and residence: also to send the copies of their letters and charters obtained by the said ennobled persons and of the arrests of verification thereof ensuing.  
Given the 27. of july. 1591.   

Taken out of the Register of the Chamber of accounts of Normandy.  
Signed Richer.    

An Arrest or decree of the Court of Parliament of Caen concerning the residence of Cuckoe rats and Clergy men, upon their Cures, and the warrantise of their Tithes.  

Upon request exhibited by the King's Attorney general, showing that he understandeth that in divers places and parishes of this province of Normandy, there are risen sundry Soldiers & other unknown persons in arms, who by plain force do endeavour to gather and take up the tithes of the said Parishes (malgre those to whom by right they do appertain) to the great prejudice of the Clergy, and contrary to the King's Edicts and decrees: with all requiring the said Court to grant him commission to inform against the transgressors of the said Edicts and decrees, as also that the same may be read again and published even in the Pulpits of the said parishes: likewise in the mean time that all men may be inhibited and forbidden not to intrude themselves to disturb the said Clergy, in the receipt of their said titles, under such penalties as by the said Court shallbe thought convenient, namely to answer all charges, damages and interest of the said Clergy and their farmers.  
The Court having seen the said request, and given attendance to the Counsellor that made the report, all thoroughly considered. The said Court ministering justice upon the petition of the said Attorney general, hath ordained and enjoined all Curates and Ecclesiastical persons that have cure of Souls, to be actually resident upon their Cures and Benefices, there to preach and teach the word of God, and to instruct their Parishioners in their due obedience to the King, to pray for his person, with the prosperity of his affairs and estate, to obey and fulfil his Edicts and the decrees and arrests of the said Court, upon the penalties in the same set down. And in so doing the said Court inbibiteth and forbiddeth all persons of whatsoever estate or calling, not to intrude themselves directly or indirectly, to molest or hinder the said Curates or Ecclesiastical persons in the enjoying of their Cures or benefices, or in the receipt of their Tithes or revenues of the same, under pain of confiscation of body and goods. And to the end this present decree may be known to all men, the said Court hath ordained that it shallbe sent into all the bailiwicks of this resort, withal enjoining the Bailiffs, their Lieutenants, and the said Attorney generals substitutes to cause it to be published by sound of Trumpet in all the accustomed places depending of their jurisdictions, namely in the Pulpits at the great parochial masses in every Parish, upon the Sunday and other solemn feasts, to the end none may be exercised upon any pretence of ignorance.  
Given at Caen in the said Court of Parliament the 7. of August. 1591. Signed Donnest.   

IN the same year 1591. upon Monday the 12. of August at Caen in the presence of us john Vauquelin Esquir, Counsellor to the King & Lieutenant General to the L. Bayly of Caen, the contents of the arrest above mentioned, was read and published in the audience of the jurisdiction of the said Bailiwick and persidiall Sea sitting and by us holden. It was also ordained at the petition of the king's Attorney general, that the same shallbe also read and published with sound of Trumpet, and common proclamation in all the quarters and places used for Proclamations in the said Town, also that the copies or Vidimus shall be sent into all other the Vicountyes of this Bayliwick, there to do the like: also to all the Curates and Vickers of the parish of this Vicounty, to the end they may read them in the Pulpits of their said parishes upon the Sondaye, or other solemn feasts, that none may pretend cause of ignorance: also that to the same end the said arrest shall be printed.  
Likewise all Sergeants are enjoined each within his precinct, to see to the fulfilling hereof, under the penalties set down therefore to make such dispatch as may be requisite or necessary thereto.  
Given as aforesaid. Signed, Vauquelin de la Serre. Criquet.   

THe same day and year the contents above mentioned were read and published in the quarters & places accustomed to make proclamations in tnis Town of Caen, by me Simon Berot Sergeant royal of Caen, in the presence of Florimont le Soef ordinary Trumpet of the same town.  
Signed. Berot.   
FINIS.