A DECLARATION, Made and published by the King of France, Whereby the Princes, Dukes, and Barons therein named, are all proclaimed Traitors, if within one month after the publication thereof, they do not cease from Arms, and personally present themselves unto his MAJESTY.  
Published the 6. of August 1620. Stylo Novo.  
Faithfully translated according to the French Copy.  
1620.   

A declaration made and published by the King of France, whereby the Princes, Dukes, and Barons therein named, are all proclaimed Traitors, if within one month after the publication thereof they do not cease from arms, and personally present themselves unto his Majesty. Published the 6. of August, 1620. Stylo novo.  
LEWES, By the grace of God, King of France and Navarre, To all men to whom these presents shall come, greeting. If since the time that We were invested with, and have undertaken the government of this State, We had failed in any thing, either in regard of the Queen Our most honourable Lady and Mother, or in respect of the Princes & noble Personages of Our Kingdom, We would with more patience receive and bear the troubles which therein at this present are stirred up and raised against Vs. But calling to mind such accidents as are formerly passed, and considering what fruit the favours, graces, and benefits, by Us so liberally imparted unto those, who at this day trouble Us: We cannot so soon bewail Our hard fortune, as also that of all France in general, but We must withal accuse and utterly condemn the small consideration of those, that reward Us evil for good. For all men know, that presently upon Our acceptation and entrance into the administration of public affairs, Our first care was to deliver the Princes and great Persons of Our Realm from the oppression and trouble wherein they were, and to speak truth, from utter ruin and destruction, which then was like to fall upon them; and drew them near unto Our person: and nothing but the emulation and jealousies that was then between them, hindered them from being of Our Council, and privy to the conduction and ordering of Our Princely affairs. Touching the Queen our most Princely Lady and Mother, We gave and yielded unto her all that honour which the state of things at that time might bear, and procured the means to make her enjoy all contentments that she could wish or desire. After that when she had withdrawn herself from Blois to Angoulesme, there to frame a public complaint, because (as she said) she was hindered from the enjoying of Our presence, although for Our own parts We were much offended at the behaviours of those that were her assistants, and had power sufficient to punish their insolences, We were content for her satisfaction to grant her all whatsoever she desired, the Towns, Forts, and governments which she would choose, such money as she required to have; and not only were pleased, that she should reside near unto Us, but did so instantly seek it of her, that then at that time she came to Us to Tours, with such and so great confidence, that We were wholly out of doubt that nothing in subsequent time would alter her mind. We likewise, for her sake, pardoned those that had aided and assisted her, and made diverse of them Captains of Our guard, which before had abandoned Us to follow her. After We had effected all that, which We had promised unto her, with long patience We expected, but could not see those of her part perform that whereunto they were bound: and yet for all that, We abstained not from gratifying her in all things that she desired and required at Our hands, not only in respect of herself, but also of those that held with her; as also continually to cause diverse great Personages and men of quality to visit her, and instantly solicited her to come near unto Us, so fare, that being advertised that certain malicious spirits, made her believe, that Our desire therein was clean contrary to the outward show We made: to give her more assurance both of Our intent & the respect that We bear unto her, We set forward to meet her in the middle way, at such time as she had promised to come; and are persuaded, that if therein she had only been ruled by herself, and her own good disposition, We should not have failed at this present of a great consolation, and our Realm of an entire and assured tranquillity. But unmeasurable ambition which provoketh the spirits of many great Personages in Our Realm, that fill their heads with discontentments, and makes them weary of ease and quietness, hath been the cause that disagreeing among themselves, touching their own particular affairs, they have in general plotted together to effect some novelties in the State: and to trouble Our Realm, upon and under the same pretences, which all those that formerly attempted the same have practised. And because they were persuaded that the person of Our said Lady and Mother in her respect, might better cloak, disguise, and strengthen these disseings; there is no manner of artificial practices wherewith they have not served their turns, to put distrust into her breast, to alter her good intentions, and to persuade her that she had wrong done unto her, if she had not an absolute authority given her in Our Realm. And although the evil (which therein maketh Us too much feel her overgreat facility) toucheth Us to the quick, yet We hold her , being persuaded, that not many spirits in the world are able to withstand and resist so many, continual, and damnable inventions. And although We hear her name used in all places, and her signature and seal even throughout all Our Provinces, to authorise that which is pretended against Us, yet We cannot be persuaded but that her heart is wholly alienated from the same, and her soul altogether innocent. But for that, at the pursuit of the complaints that are made in her name throughout all Our Realm, and of the protestations to reform Our State, We have seen Our Cousin the Duke of Mayen withdraw himself from Our Court, without taking leave of Us; the Duke de Vandosme Our natural brother follow after him, Our Cousin the Duke de Longueville being sent for to come unto Us, refuseth to do it; Our Cousin the Duke de Nemours gone from Us in the nighttime. And since that (which most grieveth Us) Our dear and loving Cousin the Earl of Soissons, and Our Cousin his mother, likewise gone from Our Court by night, then when We were upon the point to honour him with the marriage of Our sister: Which also was seconded by Our natural brother the great Prior of France; and soon after were advertised that all of them were gone to Our said Lady and Mother, together with the Dukes de Rets, de la Trimoville, de Rohan, and de Rohanois, and the agents of the said Dukes de Mayen and Espernon, to take order to levy arms, & to give a beginning to the execution of their designs: We understood, that as soon as they had seduced all Our Regiments, to put them into Metz, they intended therewith to disarm all the inhabitants thereof. We were presently informed of negotiations made with strangers, to cause them to enter into Our Realm, that the greatest part of the Nobility of Our Provinces are practised withal, the soldiers seduced, provisions of arms and munitions made, designs agreed upon to be put in practice against certain Towns, and Forts, Our money taken and stayed in the Receipts of Xainctes, Saint john, Fontenay, Angiers, Chinon, and other places: Commissions delivered out (whereof some fell into Our hands) to levy foot and horsemen, garrisons put into Our Towns, Craon besieged and taken. And that which touched Us nearest of all, was, to understand that Our Duchy of Normandy was like wholly to be lost, whereby We perceived that Our good City of Paris would by that means be brought to a miserable and pitiful estate. Preferring the good of Our Subjects before Our own life, only taking Our Guard with Us, We went presently to Roan, from whence the Duke de Longueville (abashed at Our resolution) withdrew himself, and gave Us means to assure that town from the spoil, which without doubt, it had endured, if We had not come thither; as it was publicly declared unto Us by Our Court of Parliament in the same Town, at such time as We there sat in the seat of justice. After that, having within two days reassured the state of that Town, and seized upon the old Palace, We went to Caen, where We entered into the Castle, & made trenches close to the walls, in such manner that those that were besieged within it, perceived themselves to be out of all hope of any aid, and yet ceased not insolently to shoot at Us, at such time as they knew that We were gone to visit the trenches: which nevertheless, withdrew Us not from using mercy and clemency towards them, and so much the rather, because they made their excuses, that they were commanded by Our said Lady Mother, to hold the place strong against Us: always desiring more and more to witness and show Our patience, and the respect that We had unto her. Since that We reduced the Towns of Alencon, Vernevil, Dreux, and la Ferte-Bernard, under Our obedience. And now, for that We understand that the Army that is in the field, under the borrowed name of Our said Lady Mother, hath besieged and taken the Town of la Flesche, wherein the heart of Our late most Princely Lord and Father is buried, and marcheth forward to besiege the Town of Man's, We draw Our Army thither to deliver it from the siege which it feareth, and to withdraw the other out of the hands of insolent soldiers, who having violated the fidelity which they own unto Us, may well violate the respect which they own to the memory, and to the ashes of Our said Lord and Father. But before We march forward, to employ Our just and necessary arms, to suppress the audaciousness of those that have taken and bear arms against Us, intruding upon Our authority, and seek to invade Our Provinces: Our desire is, that every man should manifestly know and understand Our intent, and make those that offend Us, see that the greatness of their faults (although most extreme) cannot attain to the height of Our clemency, if they would have recourse thereunto; and that neglecting the same, We will and pretend to make them suffer and feel the rigour which the Laws and Ordinances of Our Realm have decreed against them. Therefore, We make it known that after We had taken order about these affairs, by the advice of Our Council, consisting of Our most dear and only loving brother the Duke of Anjou, Our most dear and beloved Cousin the Prince of Conde, first Prince of Our blood, together with diverse Cardinals, Dukes, Peers, Officers of Our Crown, and principal Lords of Our said Council; by their advice, We have decreed and signified, and by these presents decree and signify, that touching the Queen Our said Lady and Mother, We do not believe, neither can be persuaded, that she hath forgotten the amity and love which nature bindeth her to bear unto Us, and the memory of Our said Lord and Father exacteth from her: and which We have sought to deserve at her hands. And although it should fall out, that she should use other comportments towards Us than she ought to do, We are determined with religious patience to endure them, and that when Our Army approacheth near unto that which is assembled in her name, We will not employ Our forces to any other end, then to deliver her out of the hands of those, who to the prejudice of Us and our Realm, captivated her spirits, and her will; and to withstand the effecting of those designs which they have for the ruin of Our state. Touching Our Cousin the Earl of Soissons, and Our Cousin the Countess his Mother, the Dukes de Vandosme, the great Prior of France, the Dukes de Longueville, de Nemours, de Mayen, d'Espernon, de Rets, de la Trimoville, de Rohan, de Rohanois, the Marshal de Bois Dauphin, the Earl de Candale, the Marquis de la Valette, the Archbishop of Tholose, and others the Officers of Our Crown, We enjoin and most expressly command them, to leave off their Arms, and to surcease from all acts of hostility against Our subjects; to leave all leagues and confederacies, as well within as without Our Realms, and within one month next after ensuing the Publication of these presents, to come personally unto Us, thereby to give us more and better assurance: which doing, We will remit all crimes and offences by them done unto Us, in this last commotion, promising to receive them again into Our favour, and give such assurance thereof by writing, as they shall think necessary for the same: likewise commanding all others that have taken their parts, and under the name of Our said Lady and Mother have borne arms, and consequently, used acts of hostility, or otherwise, that have made themselves culpable towards Us, that if they withdraw themselves from the said arms, and before the nearest judges that shall be unto them, declare, that they willingly withdraw themselves from the said party, league, and association, they shall be acquitted and discharged by virtue of these presents, and never be troubled nor molested for the same: and failing to do it, & to accept of this Our present pardon, within the said time, which being once past, for the present as well as then, We have and by these presents do declare all the said Princes, Dukes, Peers, and Officers of Our Crown aforesaid, and others, of what quality, state, and condition soever they be, which have directly or indirectly been participants in the said associations, proceed, practices, levies, bearing of arms, & acts aforesaid, mentioned, to be guilty of high treason, & perturbers of the common peace and quietness of Our Realm, and thereby to have incurred the forfeiture of all honours, governments, dignities, offices, benefices, seizes, lands, and Signiouries whatsoever they hold of Us, to be reunited to Our Crown. And for the better declaration and execution of the pains imposed upon, and set down against such crimes, by the Laws and Ordinances of Our Realm, We will that all Our judges shall proceed orderly against them and their posterities, in every place, where the knowledge thereof is brought unto them. And therefore command Our loving and faithful Counsellors of Our Courts of Parliament, Bailifeses, Stewards, judges, or their Lieutenants, and all others Our justices and Officers, to whom particularly it shall or may appertain, to cause these Our present Letters of Declaration to be read, published, and registered, and from point to point exactly to execute, keep, and inviolably observe the same, according to the tenor and form thereof, charging Our attorneys general and their Substitutes, to make all pursuites, and to use all diligence therein according to the tenor of their Offices, for such is Our pleasure: In witness whereof, We have caused Our Seal to be set to these presents. Given at Mertaigny the 28. of july, Anno 1620. and of Our reign the 11.  
Signed Lewes. And somewhat lower, By the King, Subscribed, De Lomenie. Sealed with the great Seal in yellow wax, with two Labels.  
Read, published, registered and heard at the request of the King's Attorney general: and order taken that Copies should be sent to all Balifwicks and Stewardships, there to be read, published, registered, and executed according to their form and tenor, by the procurements of the Substitutes of the said Attorney general, and with commission to enjoin them to certify the same within the month. At Paris in the Court of Parliament, the 6. of August. 1620.  
Signed Voisin.