¶ The Edict of the French King, for the appeasing of the troubles of his Realm. Published at Paris in the Court of Parliament the eleventh of August. 1573. Printed in French by Federic Morel the King's ordinary Printer, with the King's Privilege.  
PRINTED AT LONDON by Henric Bynneman.   

The Edict of the French King for the appeasing of the troubles in his Kingdom.  
CHARLES by the grace of God King of France, to all present or to come greeting. Our intent hath always been and is, after the example of our predecessors, to rule and 
S. Bartholomew. 24. of August. 1572.  govern our Realm, and to receive of our subjects the obeisance to us due, rather by gentle and loving manner, than by force. Wherefore our most dear and well-beloved brother the King of Polonia, having full understanding of our will and pleasure, hath (following the commandment and special power that we have sent him for that purpose) appointed and deputed certain of the chief personages of our privy counsel being with him, to hear and understand the complaints, griefs, and supplications of the Mayor, sheriffs, & counsellors, dwellers and inhabitants of our Town of Rochel, Gentlemen and others that are there abiding. And for as much as it is so, that now in the end our most dear brother the said King of Polonia, according to our pleasure & good will, hath (by the advise of our most dear and well-beloved brethren the duke of Alencon and king of Navarre, and our most dear and well-beloved Cousins the Prince of Conde, and Prince Dauphin: the Dukes of Longueville, of Guise, Nevers, and of Vzes: the Lords of Montluc, Count of Rhetz, of Byron, of Villequier, of the Chapel Aux Vrsins, of Losses, of Vauguyon, of S. Supplice, of Malicorne, of Suze, the Grandprior of champaign, and other great and notable personages being with him) made agreement with the said inhabitants of Rochel, Gentlemen and others retired thither, upon the points and Articles that shall be hereafter specified, as well for themselves, as for the inhabitants of our Towns of Mountauban, and Nismes, the Gentlemen and others retired into them, and others our subjects, for whom they have made suit.  
We let you understand that, considering we can not do better than to follow the counsel which is given us by our said brethren, Princes and Lords afore said, who for the zeal they have to the honour of God, with the experience they have in many things, and the affection they bear towards the well ordering of our affairs, have more knowledge than any other in those matters, what is meet and necessary for the profit and commodity of our Realm. We by the advice & counsel of the Queen our most honourable Lady and mother, of our most dear and well-beloved Cousins the Cardinals of Lorain, and of Guise: of our most dear & faithful Chancellor: of the Lords of Moruillier of Lanssac, of Lymoges: of the precedents, first of Thou, and Seguier, the Lord of Foix, the precedent Hannequin, the Lords of Cheverny, of mand and of Roessi, all Counsellors of our said privy Council for the matters and causes beforesaid, and for other good and great considerations thereunto specially moving us) have said, declared, decreed and ordained, and do say, declare, decree, and ordain, by this our present Edict, & our will and pleasure is as followeth.  
I First, that the remembrance of all things that have happened by occasion of the troubles and stirs in our said Realm, since the 24. of August last paste, shall remain wholly quenched and appeased as things that had never happened: neither shall it be lawful or permitted to any of our attorneys general, or any other person either public or private, in what time soever or for what occasion soever it be, to make any mention there, nor any process or suit thereupon in any Court or jurisdiction.  
II Forbidding also all our Subjects of what estate or quality soever they be, that they renew not the memory thereof, nor to contend, nor to revile, nor provoke either other by reproaching them with things that be past, in disputing, rehearsing, quarreling or doing outrage or offence one to an other, in word or in deed, but to forbear, and to live peaceably together as brethren, friends and fellow Citizens, upon pain to them that shall do the contrary, to be punished as breakers of the peace, and disturbers of the common quiet.  
III We ordain, that the Catholic and romish Religion be set up again, and established in all places & quarters of this our Realm and country under our obedience, where the exercise of the same hath been left off, and that it may be freely and peaceably exercised without any trouble or let, upon the pains aforesaid: and that all those which during these present wars, have entered upon houses, goods and revenues belonging to the Churchmen and other catholics, and such as hold and occupy the same, shall leave unto them the full possession and peaceable enjoying thereof, in all freedom and safety.  
FOUR And for to give occasion to our subjects, abiding and inhabiting in our said Towns of Rochel, Montauban, and Nismes, to live and remain in rest, we have permitted, and do permit to them, the free exercise of the Religion, called reformed, within the said Towns, the same too cause too be exercised within their own houses, or place to them appertaining (except always public places) for them, their families and others that will be there present.  
V And to alothers of the said religion (called reformed) which have continued therein until this present; we do permit to retire into their houses where they may be, and remain throughout all other parts of our Realm, to go and come, and to live in all liberty of conscience: And to the Gentlemen and others, having high justice, which in like manner have hitherto remained till this present in the said Religion, bearing Arms with the said inhabitants, in the said Towns, since the said 24. of August last paste, we do also permit to live in the same liberty of conscience in their houses, and there only to baptise and marry after their accustomed manner, not having any assembly (besides the kindred, Godfathers and Godmothers) above the number of ten persons, and that not within our Court, nor within two leagues about the same, nor in the Town, Provostship and viscounty of Paris, nor within ten Leagues about the same Town.  
VI We charge our Bailiffs, Seneshalles, ordinary judges, or other Substitutes, each one in his liberty or jurisdiction, to provide for the burial of the dead bodies of them of the said Religion (called reformed) in the most commodious manner they can, and without offence.  
VII. If any of the said Religion have been constrained to make promise & bond, & to give assurance to change their Religion: we have discharged the same, and declare the same to be annulled, & of none effect or value.  
VIII. The Scholars, sick-men, and poor, of what religion soever they be, shall be indifferently received into the universities, common schools, hospitals, houses for sick persons, and Alms houses.  
IX. We do permit to all our Subjects being of the said religion, that they may cell or alienate their goods, and go freely with all their money and other movables, whither it shall seem them good, or to enjoy the commodity and benefit thereof, in what place soever they shall resort unto, be it within or without the Realm, so that it be not in the lands of such Princes, with whom we may have wars.  
X. Our said Subjects of Rochel, Mountaban and Nismes, and other before named, shall remain quit & discharged of all sums of money, goods, debts, arrearages of rents, profits and revenues of ecclesiastical persons, and others which they shall sufficiently make apparent to have been by them taken or levied, since the said. 24. of August, so that neither they nor their committees, nor those that have furnished them with any thing, or delivered the same unto them, shall any ways be charged nor condemned therefore at this present, nor for the time paste, nor at any time hereafter.  
XI. Likewise they shall remain acquitted and discharged of all Arts of hostility, levying and conducting of men of war, coining of money, casting and taking of ordinance and munitions, making of powder and Saltpetre, Prizes, Fortifications or enterprises upon Towns, pulling down of Churches, houses or other places, prizes of Ships, Galleys and goods upon the Sea, establishment of justice, and judgements, and the executions thereof, as well in cases civil as criminal, voyages, intelligences, treaties, & dealings had for their aid and conservation, and generally of all that hath by them been done, wrought or committed to that effect, as well within as without our Realm, since the said. 24. of August, as well as if the same were particularly expressed and specified, so that for none of the things before named or others past and done, shall be imputed to them or to their posterity any crime of rebellion, disobedience or Treason.  
XII. We do declare, that we hold and repute all those aforenamed for our good, loyal and faithful subjects and servants, so that they do 〈◊〉 swear unto us all obeisance and fidelity, and do leave off and desist wholly from all such associations as they have within or without our Realm, and that they do not hereafter make any gatherings of money without our permission, nor enrolmentes of men, congregations, or assemblies, other than those which are above to them permitted, & that without Arms, upon pain to be rigorously punished, as contemners of our commandments and ordinances.  
XIII. All prisoners taken in war, or others that be holden in prisons, galleys, or elsewhere, for the cause of religion, and by occasion of these present troubles, shall be enlarged and set at liberty without paying of ransom, not meaning hereby, that the ransoms which are already paid, may be asked again of those that have received them.  
XIIII. Those of the said religion shall not be overcharged, or burdened with any charges ordinary or extraordinary more than the Catholics.  
XU. We have declared and do declare, all defaults, sentences, judgements arrests, processes, seysures, sales, and decrees made and given against those of the Religion called reformed, which be or have been within the said Towns of Rochel, Mountauban, and Nismes, since the said 24. of August last paste, which have been given without hearing the parties, or their Proctors by them appointed, since the said 24. of August last paste, also the execution of the same, as well in cases civil as criminal, shall be void, revoked, and annulled. And the Processes shall remain in the same estate as they were before, and the foresaid persons shall enter again upon their temporal goods, what so ever seizures, sales, and judgements have been made by us or otherways, without making any recompense for the same.  
XVI. And touching heirs, widows, and other having any right or title from such of the said Religion, as are deceased within the said Towns, that have been there or born Arms for them, in what part of our realm soever it be since the said 24. of August, we permit to them to re-enter into the possession and enjoying of the goods left by the said persons deceased, and we do maintain them in their good fame and reputation.  
XVII. All officers of the said towns of Rochel, Mountauban, and Nismes, as well pertaining to the Crown as others, of what religion soever they be, that have been put out thereof by reason of the same religion, and of these present troubles, shall be set again in their estates, charges and offices: and other officers of other Towns and places shall observe our declarations thereupon made and published.  
XVIII. And to the end that justice be ministered without any suspicion to our subjects of the said towns, and others that be retired into them since the said 24. of August, we have ordained and do ordain, and our will and pleasure is, that all process and differences moved, or to be moved between the parties of contrary religion, as well on the part of the demandant, as the defendant, what matter so ever it be, civil, or criminal, shall be heard at the first instance before our Bailiffs, seneschals, & other our ordinary judges, according to our ordinances. And where any appeal shall happen in any our Courts of Parliament, there shall be provided for them by us only, within the space of one year, (accounting from the day of the publication of these presents,) judges unsuspected, such as shall seem best to us (except always the court of Parliament of Tholouse) in respect of those of Mountauban: and in the mean time they shall not be constrained to appear personally.  
XIX. And for as much as many particular persons have received and suffered so many injuries & damages, both in their goods and persons, as hardly they can forget the remembrance of the same, so soon as were requisite for the execution of our intent, we willing to avoid all inconveniences, and to give some mean for those that might be in some fear, that upon their return to their houses they should not be at rest, till such rancour & enmity might be assuaged, have granted and do grant to them of the said Towns of Rochel, Mountauban, and Nismes, that they shall enjoy their Privileges both ancient and lately granted, and their authorities of jurisdiction and other rights, in which they shall be maintained and preserved, without having any Garrison, neither shall be made there any Castles, Forts, or Citadels, without the consent of the inhabitants of the same Towns. Who for a demonstration and surety of their obeisance, observation and maintaining of our will and intention, shall deliver for the space of two years, four of the principal burgesses and inhabitants of each of the said Towns, being of the said Religion called reformed, the which shall be by us chosen out of those that they shall name unto us, and those to be changed every three months, or in such other time as shall seem good unto us, and they shall be put in such Towns and places as shall please us to appoint within fifty miles off at the farthest from the said Towns, except in our towns of Paris and Tholouse And to the end there be no occasion of complaint or suspicion, we will set in the said Towns for governors, good men and well affectioned to our service, such as shall be unsuspected, willing nevertheless, that the keeping of their Towns, Towers and Fortresses, shall remain in the hands of the said inhabitants, according to their ancient Privileges.  
XX. We will likewise, that incontinent after the publication of our present edict made in our Camp and Army, Arms shall be altogether generally laid down, the which shall remain only in our hands, and in our most dear and most well-beloved brothers the King of Polonia. We do ordain that the forces as well by land as by Sea, shall be withdrawn from before the said Towns, the Forts made as well of the one part as of the other, shall be razed and overthrown: the free traffic and passages shall be open again in all the Towns, Borrows and Villages, Bridges and passages of our said Realm: the Forces and Garrisons which have been placed by occasion of these present troubles (since the said 24. of August) in Towns and other places, houses and Castles, appertaining to our subjects of what religion so ever they be, shall depart incontinent, to leave unto them free and entire enjoying as they had before they were dispossessed of them.  
XXI. Such movables as shall remain in their nature, and which have been taken by way of hostility since the said 24. of August last passed, shall be restored to them to whom they belong, so always that they pay to the buyers the price of such as have been sold by authority of justice or by other commission and public commandment. And for the execution of the aforesaid, the withholders of the said movable goods shall be constrained and subject to restore them incontinent and without delay, notwithstanding all objections or exceptions, to yield and restore them to the owners, for the price which they paid.  
XXII. And as touching the profits of unmovable goods, as well each man shall enter again into his house and shall enjoy on. each part the fruits of the collection of this present year, notwithstanding all seasures and lets made to the contrary, since the said 24 of August, as also every one shall enjoy the arrearages of the said rents, that have not been taken up by us or by our commandment, or the permission and ordinance of us or of our justice.  
XXIII. Likewise that all titles, writings, instructions and evidences which have been taken away, shall be rendered and restored on either part, to those to whom they belong.  
XXIIII. We also ordain that those of the said Religion shall be subject to the politic laws of our Realm, that is to say, the Halydayes shall be kept, and they of the said Religion shall not work, cell, or make any show on the said days with open shop: and on fasting days in which the use of flesh is forbidden by the Catholic and romish Church, the Butcheries shall not be open.  
XXV. And to prevent all doings to the contrary that may happen in many of our tomus: The Bailiffs, seneschals, or their Lieutenants, shall 'cause the principal inhabitants of the said Towns to swear to the maintenance and observation of this our pesent edict, and the one side mutually to give assurance to the other, and to bind themselves interchangeably, and by public Act, to answer to such disobediences as shall be committed against the said edict within the said Towns, by the inhabitants of the same, or at the lest, to bring forth and deliver the offenders into the hands of the justice.  
We also charge all our well-beloved and faithful people holding our Courts of Parliament, Chambers of our accounts, Courts of Assistance, Bailiffs, seneschals, provosts, and other our justices and officers to whom it shall appertain or their Lieutenants, that they 'cause this our present Edict & Ordinance to be read, published, and registered in their Courts & jurisdictions, and to keep, maintain, and inviolably to observe the same in all points: and that all those to whom it shall appertain, may enjoy, and fully and peaceably use the content thereof. Ceasing and causing to bet ceased all troubles and empeachmentes to the contrary, for such is our pleasure. In witness hereof, we have signed these presents with our own hand, and to the end it may remain a thing sure and stable for ever, we have to the same caused to be set our Seal.  
Given at our Castle of Bollogne, in the month of july, in the year of grace, 1573. and of our reign the thirteenth. Signed, CHARLES. And more lower is written, By the King being in his Council. Signed, DE NEUF-VILLE And sealed with a Label of red and green silk, and with green wax, with the great Seal. Read, published, registered, and the king's Attorney general being there upon heard, at Paris in Parliament, the. 11. of August. 1573. Signed, DE HEVEZ. Collation hath been made with the original. Thus Signed, DE HEVEZ.