A MANIFESTATION OR REMONSTRANCE.  
OF THE MOST HONOURABLE the Duke of Buckingham; General of the Army of the most Gracious King of great Britain, containing a Declaration of his Majesty's intention for this present Arming.  
Translated out of the Original French Copy.  
Published with Authority.  
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Walkley, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Eagle and Child in Britain's Burse. 1627.   

A MANIFESTATION, OR REMONSTRANCE OF THE most Honourable, Lord Duke of Buckingham, General of the Army of the most Gracious King of great Britain, containing a Declaration of his Majesty's intention for this present Arming.  
WHat part the Kings of great Britain, have always taken in the affairs of the reformed Churches of this Kingdom, and with what care and zeal they have laboured for the good of them, is manifest to all; and the examples of it are also as ordinary as the occasions have been. The now King my most honoured Lord and Master, comes nothing short of his Predecessors 〈…〉 of those Churches into 〈…〉 and splendour. And what 〈◊〉 be less hoped for by so strict an alliance, and from so many reiterated promises by the mouth of a great Prince, but effects truly Royal, and sorting to his Greatness? But so far fails it therein, that his Majesty in so many promises and so straight obligation of friendship, hath found means to obtain liberty and surety for the Churches, and to restore peace to France by the reconciliation of those, whose breath utters nothing else but all manner of obedience to their King, under the liberty of the Edicts: That chose they have prevailed by the interest which he had in those of the Religion to deceive them, and by this means not only to untie him from them, but also to make him (if not odious unto them) at the least suspected in perverting the means which he had ordained for good to a quite contrary end. Witness the English Ships not designed for the extirpation of those of the Religion, (but to the contrary, express promise was made, that they should not be used against them) which notwithstanding were brought before Rochel, and were employed against them in the last Sea fight. What then may be expected from so puissant a King as the King my Master so openly eluded, but a through feeling equal and proportioned to the injuries received, but his patience hath gone beyond patience, and as long as he had hope that he could benefit the Churches by any other means, he had had no recourse by way of Arms: so far that having been made an instrument and worker of the last peace, upon conditions, disaduantagious enough, and which would never have been accepted without his Majesty's intervention; who interposed his credit and interest to the Churches to receive them (even with threatenings) to the end to shelter the Honour of the most Christian King, under assurance of his part, not only for the accomplishment, but also for the bettering of the said conditions, for which he stands caution to the Churches.  
But what hath been the issue of all this, but only an abuse of his goodness, and that which his Majesty thought a sovereign remedy for all their sores: hath it not brought almost the last blow to the ruin of the Churches? It wanted but a little by the continuing of the Fort before Rochel, (the demolishing whereof was promised) by the violences of the Soldiers and Garrisons of the said Fort and Isles, as well upon the Inhabitants of the said Town, as upon Strangers, in lieu whereas they should wholly have retired, have daily been augmented, and other Forts built, and by the stay of the Commissioners in the said Town, beyond the term agreed on, to the end to make broils, and by the means of the division which they made to slide among the Inhabitants, to open the gates to the neighbouring Troops, and by other withstandings and infractions of Peace, little I say failed it, that the said Town, and in it all the Churches had not drawn their last breath. And in the mean while his Majesty hath yet continued, & not opposed so many injuries, so many faith-breaking, but by plaints and treatings: until he had received certain advice (confirmed by intercepted Letters) of the great preparation that the most Christian King made to shower upon Rochel. And then what could his Majesty do less but to vindicate his Honour by a quick Arming against those who had made him a party in their deceit; and to give testimony of his integrity & zeal, which he hath always had for the re-establishing of the Churches, an establishing which shall be dear and precious to him above any other thing. And that is the sole end of this Arming, and not any particular interest; whosoever would yet call this in doubt, let him consider the circumstance of the times, and disposition of affairs. For who will believe that the King, my Master, hath any Design upon France, or to have projected Conquests here in a time so disaduantagious, having for an Enemy one of the most puissant Princes of the world: and if he had such a Design, that of so many troops that he hath on foot (which he entertains at the same cost he should do here) and that they were ready to pass the Sea if the Churches have need of them, he should but send a handful in regard of what should be behooveful for the execution of so high an enterprise, considering the great succours that he sends into Germany. Who will not rather judge as the truth is, that these Troops here are but auxiliaries, and that the intent of these Arms is no other but only for the good of the Churches, which for so many important reasons and considerations he finds himself obliged before God & men to protect and succour. But put the case it be alleged that the King my Master hath been moved to take Arms for other considerations, as the detention and seizure of all the Ships and Goods of his Subjects at Bourdeaux, and other places of this Kingdom, to the breaking and manifest contravention of the Treaties between the Crowns, which in this point are expressly to the irreperable prejudice, yea to the total ruin of commerce (in the rupture of which the poor people of this Realm, being not able to vent their Merchandises, groans, not only under the burden of so many taxes and impositions, but of the necessities for life itself. That the apprehension of the King my Master for the powerful increasing of the most Christian King by Sea, hath forced him to take Arms, to hinder the growth of it, and in the end that he hath been constrained to put himself in Arms, because he can no more hope of any accommodating of business. The answer to all that is, that whosoever will search the Arrests, Seasings and Prizes which have been made of the one side and the other, he shall find that the King my Master and his Subjects have hitherto profited most by this breach, and that it turned to their utility.  
In the second place it is so far off, that he is jealous of the increase of this pretended power by Sea, and that he would hinder it: that there needs nothing (when the King my Master shall see time) but letters of Mark to his Subjects to dissipate all these vain and feeble forces, without employing a Royal power for it. And finally, that there hath been a necessity for thus Arming, because there is no hope of an accommodating, the contrary is most manifest to whosoever will consider the researches which have been made at several times, as well by their own Ministers, as by the Ministers of stranger Princes to the King my Master, to treat an accommodating at their instigation. All abovesaid witnesseth for the King my Master, that he hath not been constrained to take Arms for any particular interest, but for the defence of the Churches only, for the surety and liberty whereof he stood answerable. And in the mean while there be some persons that dare insinuate into minds, that his Majesty hath a particular design in it, and that he useth Religion for a pretext to make a party; by the means and adjoining of which, with his own Forces, he pretends to thrust forward his disignes to the end that he hath projected. No, no, our Religion teacheth us otherwise, and the piety of the King my Master, in which he gives place to no man living, will never permit him. His Designs is the establishing of the Churches, his interest is their good, and his aim their contentment. That being done, these Drums beating, these displayed Ensigns shallbe shut up again, and all this noise of War shall remain in night and silence, because they appear for no other cause but theirs, nor advanced but for their occasion.  
Given aboard our Ship Admiral this Wednesday the 21. of july. 1627. So signed BUCKINGHAM.   

MANIFESTE DE MONSEIGNEUR le Duc de Buckingham, General de l'Armee du Serenissime Roy de la grande Bretagne, contenaut une Declaration des intentions de sa Maieste en ce present armement.  
QVELLE part les Rois de la grande Bretagne ont tousiours pris e's affaires des Eglises Reformees de ce Royaume, & avec combien de zele & de soin ils ont travaillé a leur bien, il est notoire a tous, & les exemples en sont aussi ordinaires, qu'en ont este les occasions. Le Roy d'a present mon tres honoré Seigneur & Maistre, ne doit rien en cela a ses Predecesseurs, si ses bons & louables desseins pour leur bien n'cussent este peruertis a leur ruine par ceux qui avoient le plus d'interest en leur uray accomplissement. Quels aduantages a il refusez, quels partis n'a il pour suiuis, pour par son alliance avec la France powoir operer plus vtilement & plus puissament a la restitution des Eglises en leur ancienne liberté & splendeur? Et que pouuoit on moins esperer d'vne alliance si estroite, & de tant de promesses reiterees par la bouche d'vngrand Prince, que des effect's vrayen ent Royaux & sortables a la grandeur? Mais tant s'en faut que se Maiesté en tant de promesses & de si estroittes obligations d'amitiè ayt trowé moyen d'obtenir liberte & seurete pour les Eglises, & redonner la paix a la France par la reconciliation de ceux qui ne respirent autre chose que toute sorte d obeissance a leur Roy, sous la liberté des Edicts; Qu'au contraire on s'est prevalu dè l'interest qu'il auoit en ceux de la Religion pour les tromper, pour par ce moyen non seulement le destacher d'auec eux, mais aussi le leur rendre, sinon odieux, a tout le moms suspect en peruertissant les moyens qu'il auoit ordonnez pour leur bien a une fin toute contraire. Tefmoin les vaisseaux Anglois designez non pour l'extirpation de ceux de la Religion (au contraire promesse expresse donnee de ne s'en seruir contr'eux) qui cependant furent menez devant la Rochel, & employez au dernier combat naual contr'eux. Que pouuoit on alors esperet d'vn si puissant Roy que le Roy mon Maistre eludé si owertement, qu'vn ressentiment esgal & proportionné aux iniures receus, mais il a patiente an dela de la patience, & tandis qu'il a c●eu powoir profiter aux Eglises par autre moyen, il n'a point eu recours a celuy des armes: iusques la que d'auoir este rendu instrument & moyenneur de la derniere Paix, sur des conditions assez desaduantageurses, & qui n'enssent iamais esté acceptees sans l'interuention de sa Maieste; qui interposa son credit & interest enuers les Eglises pour les recevoir (mesmes auec menaces, á fin de mettre l'honheur du Roy Tres Christien a conuert, sous asseurance de sa part, non seulement de l'accomylishement, mais iussi de l'amelioration desdictes conditions, dont il demeura caution enuers les Eglises. Mais quel a esté l'issue de tout c●cy sinon un a bus de sa bonté, & ce que sa Maiesté avoir creu un remede souuerain a tous leurs maux, n'a-il pas apporté presque le dernier coup a la ruine des Eglises: Peu s'en est falu par la continuation du Fort deuaunt la Rochel, dont la demolition estoit promise, par les violences des Soldats & garnisons audit Fort & Isles, tant sur les habitans de ladicte ville que sur les estrangers, qui au lieu d'estre entierement retirees, ont esté iournellement augmentees, & d'autres Forts construits, & par la demeure des Commissaires en ladicte ville au dela du terme accordé pour y faire des caballes, & par le moyen de la diuision qu'ils faisoyent glisser parmi les habitans, owrir les portes aux troupes voisines, & par autres contrauentions & infractions de paix, peu, di●ie, s'en est-il falu que ladicte ville, & en elle toutes les Eglises n'ayent tiré leur dernier souspir. Et cependant sa Maiesté s'est encores contenue, & n'a opposé a tant d'iniures, tant de violements de foy, que des plaintes & des entremises. jusques a ce qu'elle ayt eu aduis certain (confirmé par lettres interceptés) des grands preparatifs que le Roy Tres-Chrestien faisoit pour venir fondre sur la Rochel. Et alors qu'est-ce que sa Maiesté a peu faire moins que de vindiquer son honneur par un promt armement contre ceux qui l'auoyent rendu complice de leur tromperie▪ & rendre tesmoignage de son integrité, & du zele qu'elle a tousiou●s ou au restablissement des Eglises, restablissement qui lui sera tousiours cher & precieux par dessus toute autre chose. Et que ce soit la lè seul but de ses armes, & non aucun interest particulier, quiconque voudra encore revoquer en doute, qu'il considere la circonstance du temps & la disposition des affaires. Car qui croira que le Roy mon Maistre aye aucun dessein sur la France, ou y ayt proietté des conquestes en un temps si desaduantageux, auquel il a en teste & pour ennemy un des plus puissans Princes du monde, & que s'il auoit un tel dessein que de tant de troupes qu'il a sur pied (qu'il entrerient aux mesmes frais qu il feroit icy) & qu'il est tout prest de faire passer la mer si les Eglises en ont besoin, il ●ust seulement enuoyé comme une poignee de gens, au prix de ceux qu'il faudroit pour l'execution d'vne si haute entreprise, & des grands secours qu'il enuoye ●n mesme temps en Allemagne. Qui ne ingura plu stost comme la verité est que ces troupes icy ne sont qu'auxiliaires, & que le bur de ses armes n'est autre que le seul bien des Eglises, lesquelles pour tent de raisons & des considerations si in portantes il se sent obligé devant Dieu, & devant les hommes de proteger & secourir. Que si on veut alleguer que le Roy mon Maistre aye esté ●eu a prendre les armes pour d'autres considerations, comme la detention & saisie de tous les na●ires, biens & effects de ses suiets a Bourdeaux & autres places de ce Royaume, a l'infraction & contrauention manifeste des traittez entre les Cou'ounes, qui sont exp●es en ce poinct; & au preiudice irreparable voire a la ruine totale du commerce (en la rupture duquelle poure peuple de ce Royaume ne pouuant debiter ses derre●s, gemit non seulement sous le fardeau de tant de taxes & impositions mais aussi des necessitez de la vie mesme. Que l'apprehension du Roy mon Maistre, (●e l'aggrandissement de la puissance du Roy Tres Christien par mer l'a poussé a cest armement, pour en empescher l'accroissement, & en fin qu'il a esté contraint de se mettre en armes pour ne powoir plus esperer aucun accommodement des●effaires. La responce a tout cela est que quiconque vondi a lecercher les arrests saisies & prises qui ont esté faictes de part & d'autre, il trouuera que le Roy mon Maistre & ses subiects ont iusques icy le plus profité de ceste rupture & qu'elle leur a este plustost a vtilité. En second lieu, que tant s'en faut qu'il soit ialoux de l'accroissement de ceste pretendue puissance par mer & y vueille apporter de l'empeschement, qu'il ne faudra (quand le Roy mon Maistre en verra le temps) que des lettres de marque a ses subiects pour dissiper tous ces vains & foibles efforts, sans pour cela y employer une puissance Royalle. Et finalement qu'on ayt esté necessité a cest armement pour ne powoir plus esperer un accommodement, le contraire eft tout manifeste a qui voudra considerer les recerches qui ont este faictes a diuerses fois, tant per leurs propres Ministres, que par les Ministres des Princes estrangers vers le Roy mon Maistre, a leur instigation pour traitter un accommodement, Tout ce que dessus rend foy pour le Roy mon Maistre qu'il n'a este contraint de prendre les armes pour aucun interest particulier, mais pour la deffence des Eglises tant seulement, de la seureté & liberté desquelles il demeuroit responsable. Et cependant se trounera-il des personnes qui osent bien insinuer dans les esprits que sa Maiesté y a un dessein particulier, & qu'il se sert du pretexte de la Religion pour former un party au moyen & par l'adionction duquel avec ses propres forces, il pretend pousset ses desseings a la sin qu'il a proietté. Non non, nostre Religion nous apprend toute autre chose, & la pieté du Roy mon Maistre en la quelle il ne cede a homme viuant, ne lui permettra iamais. Son dessein est l'establissement des Eglises▪ son interest c'est leur bien, son but leur contentement. Cela estant ces tambours battans, ces enseignes desployées seront referrees & tout ce bruict de guerre demeurera enseuely dedans la nuict & dans le silence pour n'auoir paru que pour leur subiect, & n'auoir este aduancé qu'a leur occasion.  
Donne au bord de nostre vaisseau Admiral ce Mercredy vingt, & utriesme juillet 1627. Ainsi signé BUCKINGHAM.