The treaty of Thassociation made by the Prince of Condee, together with the Princes, Knights of thorder, Lords, Captains, Gentlemen, & others of all estates which be entered, or hereafter shall enter into the said Association, for to maintain the honour of god, the quiet of the Realm of France, and the state and liberty of the King under the governance of the Queen his Mother who is authorized thereunto and established by the Estates.  
ANNO. 1562.   

The association made by the Prince of Condee.  
WE hereunder written, having nothing in more estimation next to the honour of God, than the service of the King and preservation of his crown, now in his tender years, under the governance of the Queen his mother, therein established & authorized by the estates. seeing the boldness, rashness and ambition of some of our said lords subjects, contemning his youth, to have been so great, that they have been so presumptuous, not only to assemble themselves, & too entre into arms against the edicts, and with thesame, too put too death a great number of his poor subjects, neither sparing age nor sick, without any other cause at all, but for that they were assembled to serve God, according to the liberty granted by the edicts, but also not being able too be bridled by any law of God or man, with the said force, have gotten the possession of the persons of the King & the Queen, and of the Duke of Orleans. And forasmuch as we can not upon such and so rash an enterprise, 〈◊〉 aught else, but an as, +sured determination under pretence of the Kings authorite●●ho is in custody and captive, to subvert together with religion, the most part of the nobility and of the third estate, & generally all those which make profession, and be of the Kings most faithful and obedient subjects, which should be a very means to abandon the crown of France to the spoil.  
We for these causes desiring, according to our power, too restore his majesty & his crown too surety, and the Queen too her authority, and also too preserve the poor faithful people of this realm, in that liberty of conscience, which it hath pleased the King to grant them by his edicts, made by th'advise of the princes of the blood, of the lords of the Kings counsel, and most notable men assembled out of all the courts of parliaments of this Realm, and by the determination of the most part of the states, which ought to remain infringed, during the minority of our said sovereign: We have been like good and faithful subjects, forced and constrained to enter into arms, which is the mean that God hath put in our hand; against such violence, tyranny, and oppression.  
And hereupon, after invocation of the name of God, as men well advised and counseled, by common and deep advisement, we have of one common accord and frank and willing consent, promised & sworn, in the name of the living God, a fellowship from henceforth of a holy company one towards another, touching th'articles following: which we swear and promise before God and his Angels, to keep and observe infallibly, and from point too point, as followeth, through the grace and mercy of God our hole and only hope.  
first we protest that we do not carry with us in this holy alliance, any particular passion of mind, nor regard of our persons, goods or estimations, but that we have nothing before our eyes, but the honour of God, the deliverance of the kings & Queen's majesties of justice, th'observation of the edicts and ordinances by them made, and lastly the due punishment and reformation of the neglectors of the same, and for these causes and none others, as we swear and promise every man for himself, to employ our bodies, goods, and all that we may make, even to the very last drop of our blood.  
And this present fellowship and alliance shall continue in full force unbroken, until the King be of full age, that is to say, until that his majesty being of age, shall have taken upon himself, the governance of his realm, and then wholly to submit ourselves too the perfect obedience and submission of his own will and pleasure.  
At which time we trust to give unto him so good reckoning of the said fellowship (as we will also do, as many & as often times as it shall please the Queen, she being at liberty) as men shall know, that it is not a league or a monopoly, turning of things to our own commodities that we maintain, but a faithful and dew obedience for thimportant service and preservation of their majesties.  
secondly, too th'end that all men may understand, that this present fellowships made with such intent as is rehearsed and in all pureness of conscience, & fear of the name of God, whom we take for the head and defender of the same: We do mean and swear that we will not suffer in our companies, any thing too be done, which may derogate the commandments of God, or the King, as Idolatries, superstitions, and blasphemies, hoordomes, violences, enforcements, spoilings, breakings of Images, ransaking of Churches, by private authority, and generally all other like things forbidden, by God or by the Kings last Edict, set forth in Ianuarye. Of which faults, contrary wise we will endeavour ourselves to see punishment and justice executed.  
And because we are guided under th'obedience of the word of God, we purpose in our assemblies to have good and faithful ministers of the glory of our God, which shall teach us his will, to whom we will give such audience as appertaineth.  
thirdly we do name for the chief and conductor of the hole company my lord the prince of Condee, a prince of the blood, and therefore a Counsellor born and one of the protectors of the crown of France, whom we swear and promise to attend upon, and to render towards him, all dew obedience, touching that which shall concern the effect of this present assembly. submitting ourselves (in case of rebellion or negligence) too such his correction and chastisement, as he shall order. And the case happening that the said lord the prince, thorough wantte of health or otherwise cannot supply the said charge, than he whom he shall name, shallbe wholly obeyed and followed as himself▪ And the said Lord the Prince declaring the zeal which he beareth to the glory of god, & to the kings service, hath accepted the charge as before, with promise to all the company that through the help of God, he will with all diligence & readiness do the true office of a head and conductor, according to the tenor of all the conditions of the said fellowship.  
Fourthly we have comprehended and joined unto us in this present treaty, of all such as be of the kings counsel, excepting those which be in arms against their duty, to keep under and restrain the king and Queen of their will & pleasure, which force, if they will not lay down and retire themselves, and yield account of their doing in all subjection and obedience, when it shall please the Queen to call them by just occasion, we hold them guilty of treason, & dysquietoures of the common tranquillity of this realm.  
And to proceed to the intent & accomplishment of this hole fellowship, which we protest not to be done, but for maintenance of the honour of God, the state & liberty of the King, under the government of the Queen his mother: Each of us to his particular, from the lowest to the highest do swear and promise before God and his Angels, to be in a readiness with all that which shallbe in our power: as with money, armure, horses for service, and all other things necessary therewith, and too present ourselves assoon as we shallbe first commanded by the said lord the prince, or any other, being ordained by him, furnished and prepared to follow him where as he shall command us, & faithfully to serve him, for the purposes aforesaid, and observe our duty, in body and goods, so far forth as our life will stretch. And if it hap that in any place or quarter of this Realm, we shall understand that any man comprehended in this present fellowship receive any outrage or violence by the persons aforesaid or others contrary to the Kings edict in Ianuarye last paste, we do wholly swear & promise speedily to succour them, and too endeavour ourself to the end that the said wrong may be so repaired, as if the damage and hurt were particular too every one of us: and this too be done in such sort as we shallbe commanded by the said lord the Prince, or any other deputed thereunto by him.  
Furthermore, if hereafter it happen (which God forbidden) that any of us, forgetting his duty and oath, should have any intelligence with th'enemies, or should by any manner or means commit any thing dishonestly or traitorously, or else show himself too resist that which is spoken of before: We swear and promise by such part as we look to have in paradise, to open the same forthwith to the said lord the prince, or other to whom it shall appertain, and too take and use him as an enemy, traitorous, and unfaithful person. For thus hath it been accorded amongst us of a free consent, not too be revoked.   

Made, determined and published at Orleans, the year of our Lord 1562. the xi of April.  
Thus signed. LOVIS OF BOURBON▪ with other Princes, knights of thorder, Lords, Captains Gentlemen, & a great number of others of all the Estates, and of all the countries of the Realm of France, as it appeareth by the Register signed by them, remaining with the said Lord.  
W. S.