THE Humble Address Of the DISTRESSED PROTESTANTS IN FRANCE, As it was delivered TO THE French KING.  
And now published both in FRENCH and ENGLISH, for the satisfaction of all true PROTESTANTS.  
LONDON, Printed for N. C. 1681.   

To the KING The Humble Address of the Distressed PROTESTANTS IN FRANCE, as it was delivered to the FRENCH KING. And now published both in FRENCH and ENGLISH, for the satisfaction of all true PROTESTANTS.  
SIR,  
YOur Majesties Subjects of the P. R. Religion, do with all humility represent to your Majesty, that your Declaration of the 17th of June last; doe● so overwhelm them with grief, that they are almost out of themselves; but nevertheless, they are so bold as once more to have recourse to your Majesty, hoping, that being still your most faithful Subjects, they shall not be denied access for justice; and that rather like God Almighty, your Majesty will be tender to harken to the voice of the afflicted.  
Upon this confidence they throw themselves at your Majesties Feet, and desire you to consider, that this Declaration is directly contrary to all the Edicts, granted to those of that Religion, and particularly to the Edict of Nantes which has been given to them as a perpetual and irrevocable law, and which your Majesty has often confirmed in many ways; for besides, that this does all along suppose, that your Subjects of that Religion shall enjoy in this your Kingdom all rights as well natural as civil, which are common to any of your Subjects; and that among those rights, that of the Power of Parents over their Children to the age of puberty is one of the most general; the 18th Article of that Edict does expressly provide, that none shall by force take away any Children from their Parents, to Baptize, give them the Sacrament of Confirmation against the will of their Parents.  
'Tis well known, that Confirmation is never given to Children till they are Seven years old, and if the Edict forbids to give them Confirmation at that Age, sure much less will it allow them to be at liberty to choose their Religion, and to make Abjuration at that Age of a Religion; in which they were born and educated.  
'Tis with the same Intention, that the 38 Article of the same Edict does in express words say, that the Parents making profession of that Religion, may provide their Children with such Tutors and Educators as they shall think fit, nay, that they may name one or more either by Will or Codicil, before a notary or written with their own Hand.  
Your Majesty Sir is most humbly supplicated to weigh the force of the word Education, even after the Death of the Parents; for it evidently demonstrates, that the Edict had a regard to the paternal Right of Parents over their Children, not only as inviolable during their Life; but extending its self even after their Death; so as no zeal of Religion, nor any other Pretext could take it away; nay it was so far from being limited to the Age of Seven years, that it was to be preserved during the whole Course of the Education, which scarce begins at that Age, and is very narrowly limited when it ends at that of fourteeen.  
Besides Sir; The Edict of Nantes is not either the only or the first Law, that speaks in favour of this Power, which being a Law of Nature is as ancient as the World,( and 'tis a Maxim, that natural Rights are immutable) but it appears also, that in one of the instructions of the Protestants answered in the Year 1571. under the Reign of Charles the Ninth; which was the severest Reign for those of that Religion.  
The Power of Fathers over their Children was thought so sacred, that it was said upon the 24th. Article, that Fathers should not be hindered in the Education of their Children, according to the Principles of their Religion, and the Motives of their Conscience, and that even after the Death of the Parents; the Children should be Educated in the same Religion, till they had attained the full Age of fourteen Years, and then should be left to their Choice and Liberty.  
But Sir, none of your Royal Ancestors have more Authentically acknowledged this Right of Parents than your Majesty. For besides, divers Judgements given in your Council of State in the Years 63. and 65. which are expressly in favour of this Power, your Majesties Declaration in the Year 69. has it in express words, that it is prohibited to all Persons whatsoever, not only to take away from their Parents the Children of the P. R. Religion, or to persuade them; but to make them also make any Change or Declaration of Change of their Religion, before they have attained the complete Age of fourteen Years for the Males, and twelve for the Females; and that 〈◇〉 ●hey have respectively attained the same Age. They the said Children shall af●●●●●e Decease of their Parents, remain in the hands of their nearest Rel●●●●s of t●●●●me Religion; and that any that shall detain them shall be obliged 〈…〉 ●ack to their Relations. All this has been put in Execution, and Con●●●●'d ●●vers Presidents, and particularly by Judgement given by the Arch-Bi●●op 〈◇〉 ●●●●ms in the Month of Aug. 76. by which it is ordained, that none of ●he female Sex, shall be received into the House of the Propagation of the Faith at Sedan, till they have attained the Age of twelve Years complete.  
Your Majesties Suppliants beg leave to represent to your princely Consideration, the difference, that will be found between the declaration of 1669. and this last of 1681. the first Leaves to Nature, ' its Rights and privileges; to conscience its Motives and Impulses, to the civil and common Laws their Principles and Maxims; to your Parliaments their Rules and constant Methods of Proceeding, to foreign Nations an Example worthy their Imitation, and lastly to the catholic Roman Religion, the Honor of keeping within some Bounds of Equity in Conformity to Reason, and the Practise of the primitive Church, whereas under this new Law, Nature suffers, and groans to see Children torn from the Bosom of their Parents to whom she had given them; and who ought to be more theirs at the Age of Seven years, then before; since 'tis properly at that time, that their Education begins, and that Parents do as it were take Possession of their Right.  
The Conscience of your Petitioners will be troubled, and disquieted in the most cruel manner imaginable, since the Paternal care of Children, for their education is one of the most important, and indispensible duties of Conscience; every Parent being responsible to God Almighty for his Childrens actions, while nature has deposited them in his hands.  
The civil, and cannon Laws will both speak in favour of your suppliants; for if Children before the age of puberty, which is at fourteen can neither make a will, nor be witnesses, at Law, nor make vows, nor do any Act of their own will; how can it be thought reasonable, that they should before that age, make choice of their Religion, which is the most important Act of their whole life. Your Parliaments, Sir, who following the common Principles of reason, and equity, did never yet Subject Children to capital Punishments, before the age of puberty, must now violate that Custom of all Nations, and practised in all ages, for by making Children of Seven year old, capable of choosing their Religion, they are at the same time exposed to contract the crime of those, that are called relapse, and by consequent do undergo the capital Punishment, ordained by your Majestys laws, in that case.  
foreigners, and infidels themselves, will think themselves well authorized by this example, to take the Children of those, who profess a Religion contrary to theirs.  
And lastly the Roman catholic Religion, will hardly avoy'd the reproach of all good Christians, when it shall appear, that it not onely receives but forces conversions, from Children of Seven years old, that is in an age, when they have but the first appearances of reason, and when their Judgments, scarce begin to Act; and where by consequent any change of their Religion, cannot proceed from a determinate choice, but from a blind obedience, or yielding to the threats, or allurements, that can move them. That it is contrary to the practise of the primitive Church is so visible, that even admitting your suppliants to be heretics; tis most certain, that in ancient times, the Church never took away Children under age, from those that lived under the same ties of civil society with them, though at the same time they thought them Infidels. In a word, Sir it is an unheard of practise to this day, in all the Nations of the world, that the Power of Fathers should be restrained to Seven years over their own Children, Particularly in Cases of Religion.  
Thomas Aquinas one of the greatest Doctors of the Roman catholics decides positively, that it is not lawful to baptize the Children of the Jews against the Will of their Parents; and that for two Reasons, one, that it was never the practise of the Church, and the other, that it is against the Course of natural Justice, and when the Kings of Spain and Portu●al, S●sebut and Emanuel carried on by a Z●al of Religion, went about to practise something like it. The fourth council of Tol●do opposed the Action of the King of Spain; and all the World has blamed the Proceeding of Emanuel, when he took away from the Jews their Children under fourteeen Years of Age. The famous Bishop Osorius who speaks of it says, that it was an Action neither founded in Justice nor in Religion; though it proceeded from a good Intention, and aimed at a good End, because God Almighty requires from Man-kind a voluntary not a forced Sacrifice. It being against his Laws, that any Violence should be offered to Conscience, to which he adds this terrible Circumstance, that divers of those unfortunate Fathers threw their Children headlong into deep Wells, and precipitated themselves after them.  
It cannot be alleged, Sir, that the Declaration of your Majesty does not order the taking away of Children from their Parents, and that it only gives them the Liberty of choosing their Religion. For in the first Place, the Violence is not so much to be looked upon as offered to the Children, but to the Parents whose Children they are by the Gift of God and Nature; 'tis the sense of the same Thomas Aquinas, who speaking of the Jews says, that it were injustice to baptize their Children against their Will, because it were taking away from them that paternal Power, with which they are invested by nature, which says he, the Church never did even in the most Christian Princes times, as Constantine, and Theodosius, who without doubt would have permitted it, had it not been against all Reason. And the Edict of Nantes its self in the 18th Article forbids equally Force and Persuasion, and calls them both Violence, and all Laws have as severely punished the Rape of Seduction, as that of force in Children under Age.  
Secondly, the Age of Seven years fully attained does not hinder, but that as to the Parents the Violence is as great, as if their Children were torn from their Mothers Breasts; because that all Laws both natural and civil do submit children to their Parents till the Age of Puberty, and therefore 'tis equal to take them away at Seven years old, and in the Cradle.  
If it be alleged that Children at Seven years old are capable of sinning mortally, and so may be admitted to the Choice of their Religion. We answer, that besides that, that Principle is not generally allowed, and that it would be very hard to judge your Petitioners by Maxims which they do not receive; 'tis easy to see that it is a very unjust and unequal Inference, and that there is a great deal of difference between the first Ideas of good and evil, which Children may begin to have at Seven years old, and the Decernment or Decision of two Religions, with a determination to leave that, in which they have been brought up to follow another, which must of Necessity be less known to them, if they are not altogether ignorant of it, and which the World knows to be a choice of so difficult a nature, that it is the Earnest endeavour of human Mind animated with the Perquisition of its Way to Heaven.  
Your Petitioners shall not here touch upon the fatal and sad Consequences which are like to attend the Execution of so severe a Law; the despair of Fathers and Mothers, the inevitable Discord between Parents and Children; the Change of Education from the tender Hands of Parents into those of Strangers: the Liberty it gives to ill disposed Children who will scorn the Correction of their Parents, having means ready to shake off their Authority, the Exaction of unreasonable Pensions from Parents for the keeping of their Children out of their own Families; the forced retreat of many thousands out of your Majesties Dominions; the apprehension that those that remain will be in to have any Children born to 'em, and a thousand other Inconveniencies, and Interruptions of the Bonds of civil Society.  
Your Petitioners Sir, are convinced as well as all the World, that nothing here can resist your Power; but they know likewise, that your Majesty loves to temper that Power with Sweetness and Justice after the Imitation of God Almighty, who never displays the Infinity of his Power upon his poor Creatures, that he does not at the same time look upon 'em with Eyes of Compassion.  
'Tis your Justice to that your Petitioners implore in the Excess of their Grief, and 'tis to you alone that they direct their sighs and tears, taking the Confidence to say as it is true, that they had rather endure all things, and death itself rather than be partend from their Children in so tender an Age, and so be hindered from Educating them in their own Religion, according to the Obligation of their Consciences.  
Therefore your Petitioners humbly beg, that it may be your Royal Pleasure to revoke and annul the Declaration of the 17th. of June last, and to order that that of Febuary 1669 shall be in full force, and your Petitioners shall continue to offer up their Vows and Prayers, for your Majesties most prosperous and glorious Reign.   

Au ROY L' address trees Humble des PROTESTANS DETRESSEZ en FRANCE Comme il estoit presenté au ROY de FRANCE.  
Sire.  
VOuz Subjetes de la R. P. R. remonstrent trees humblement à vostre Majeste, queen sa Declaration du 17 de Juin derniere plonge dance une desolation qui leur laisse à prendre la liberté de le recognoistre iles estoits pourtant recourier Encore à vostre Majeste, poursuader qui stance ses fideles subjetes, laccier & la Justice ne leurs seras pas deny é & queen limitation de Dieu qui Escoutte tous Jours la voix dé Laffligé ell ne Rejettera pas leurs plaints, dance cette Confiance, Sire, se Jettants aux piedes de Vostre Majeste, nous te supliones trees humblement de considerer queen cette declarition est directement contrair aux Edicter accorder à ceux de la did R. & en particulirer à Ledicte de nantere souber lequelle ills sept neé qui Leurs à esté donné Comme une Loy perpetuelle & Irevocalle, & queen Vostre M. ell mesme à Confirmer plusieurs maniers Car oultre qui, general ledict à suppose Constament queen cette suppliance Joniroient dans vostre royalme de toute se droit taunt natural queen civile queen sont Communer à toutes vostres Subjetes, & gentre ce droite, Cetuy qui rend lee peaure master de L'education de lever enfance, maisme au de la age de puberté en un de plus fort & de & de plus Sacre Larticle 18 defend expressement detirer less enfants de peaures contre Leurs Grès pour less fairs baptizér & Confirmé Loy Scàitque la Confirmation ne se donne queen sept annes, & si Ledict de donner aux Enfants de Ceux dd la dite R. à cette age, ill permet enchore moienes de leur faire une abjuration formelle dela Religion danse lequelle ills sont niee, cest dansè le mesme Esprit qué Larticle 38. de particulieur du mesme Edict, portant enchore leterme Expree queen le pere faisant profession dd la dite R. pouroient pourvieu a lever lenfance à tell Educature queen loy leurs sembleras & en substitué en, ou plusieurs pavre testements Cadicile, ou autre declaration passeè par devant Notaire ou Escrite & signee de Leur Majestè.  
Vostre Majeste Sire est trees humblement suplier De passer force detreme d' Educateur mesme apres lamort deperes car il monster clairement quill edict à regare le Droit de peers Sur le enfance non seulement Comme Inviolabile pendante Leur vie mais Comme une droict qui sestend mesmes a press la mort queen nul zeele dd. R. ou autre pretext ne peut easter, & qui bien loine destre limité à cetemps la, se conserve durant toute la cource de Leducation Laquelle Commance à pain a Sept annes; & setrouvez sord derestraint quamd en à determine à quatorze, qui est Laage de Pubesté.  
Dailieure Sire.  
Ledict de Nantre na pas esté en cela la sole ne la premire Loy, Car outre queen Cett la un Droict natural ausi anciene queen le monde, et queen cette une maxim general & Constant queen le droicts naturelles sont imutables, ill paroist qú au respondue an anne 1771. soubz le reign de Charle 9.( le temps le plus ourt ceux de la dite R, an trouvant ce Droict de peers sur leurs Enfants: sy inviolable quill fut ditt sur le 24. article queen le ne seroient point Empeschè en Leducation de Leurs Enfants de Loy Leur R. & conscience & apres lamort de peers less Effects seroiest Entretunes en le memes Religions Jusque le temps de quatorze ames completé allors ills servoient en Liberté.  
Maise sire au cunde Royes vostres Predicesseurs na recognu & declare ce mes me Droict plus authentic queen Vostre Majeste caroutre plusieurs arres ter rendue en son Consielle destate en mill six cent soix sante troix, & en 1667. qui sont Expree sure cette subjette vostre Declaration de 1669, port en proper term, quill est feat de senses à toutes personnes nous seulment delivre less Enfance de la dite Religion avaunt Laage de quatorze annees accomplié pourle masher, & de douze annees accomplié pourla se meller, & en attendant quill en ay ent ateint a la dite age: queen Lenfante ne dun pea de la dite religion demeur eront en le manner de leurs parents de la dite Religion & toutes ceux qui less Deteindront sont Constrainte de less rendres.  
Cela mesme a east D pour Executer & confirm par divers arrests, & en particulier par un arrest queen Mr. Larcheues queen de rhine a feat, render au moie D Aust 1676. par le kill illa east Exposé, et ordonne quaucune will ne pourioit easter dans less maisons de la propagation de la foy à sedan kill nait attaint le age de Douze annees accomplié.  
lieu V. M. Sire permestre sil luy Plaiste aux supliance de luy representer la diferance queen veut easter mouver entre sa declaration de 16●9. & celey la premiere laiesse à la nature ses privileidges, à la Conscience ses motives & ses Impulsiones aux loy civile & canonique leurs principalites & leurs maxims, aux Parliaments leurs regles constants & ordinaires aux Nations Estranges un example dign deleurs Imitations à la Religions C. R. l'honeur de guarder des mesares d'Equitè confirm a la droite raisin, & à la pratique de l' Egleze anciene, au Lieu queen soubz cette nouvelle Loy la nature Gemira de voire less Enfants dechere du sein de ceux à qui ell less à donner, & à qui ell le donner plus à jage de sept Anne q'aucune autre temps pa●ceque cette à cette, àage la, proprement queen commence l'education & queen leur perés entrant veritablement en possession de leurs droits.  
La conscience de supliance setrouva trouble & Inquiete de la manieire du monde la plus douloureuse, car lauthoritè paternelle surles Enfants pour leur Education & une de plus sort & plus Indispensible devoires dont la conscience puisse easter obligeé de render count à dieu, Chaque pere estant responsible devant dieu de toute ceque feat son Enfant pendant toute la temps queen la nature à deposé eux en Leurs maines, la droite civile & canonique parleront ausi pour less supliance, car si less Enfantes devant l'aage de puberté ne peuvant faire une tell ne port temoinage en Justice ne faire de voeux ne passer aucune act de proper volonté, comment peut en voulorie q'uavant cette age ills soyent endroict & en liberté de faire un Choix de Religion, qui est lact le plus Important de leur vie.  
Sire,  
Vos Parliaments Sire qui suivant less principeè Commune dela raisin & d' Equité nont Jamais soumis less Enfants aux pain capital avaunt làage de puberté se trouvoient obligez de prononcer contre cet usage, detoute le people & detoute less secles, car en Rendant less Enfants de sept anneé capable de Changer dd Religion on le Rend à la mesme temps capable de tomber dans le Crime de ceux q'on apelle relapsè & lon le soubmét aux pain capital portre par vostre ordinance. less Nations Estranges & less infidels eux mesmes se croirent authorizeé par cette Example à prendre less Enfants de ceux qui professon tune religion contrair à leurs.  
En fine C. A. R. ne craindre telt point lé reproach quandon verràs quell force & ad et de conversiones à septe Anneés è cetta dire dance une age ou la raisin ea mica de fixé ny le judgement rain de regle & ou par consequent le Changement drn Religion nè sè auroit proceder queen dane obeisance aveugle, ne pourestune pas ausi dire kill se seigne Entierment de la practic deal ' Eglise chrestient Car en suposant mesme less supliance comme Heritiques, il est constant queen Jammaise l'anciene Eglize, na esté less Enfants impubertè de ceux qui vivoient avec ills dance une mesme society Civile quoi quills regardoient east Infidels. Ill est enjoy sire Jusqua present parmis less Chrestienes & dance toute less nations du monde quóu aient comme reduiet, & reformè queen la pvissance des peers sur Leurs Enfants aù desoubz de sept annee principallimere pour la religion.  
Un de plus grand Docteurs de leglize C. A. R. decide ouvertment q'on ne doit point baptizé less Enfants des Juifs contre le gré de leurs peers & cela pour deux raisins, 
T●omace d' Aquine.  lune queen la pratique del'egl●ze ne Jammais l'apprové, l'autre queen la Justice natural y resist, en effect lorse queen des Roys d'Espagne, ou du Portugal comme sisebut & E●●●uel movè d'un zeal de Religion, on't volu Entre prendre quelque chooses sem●●●e, la Consiel 4. de Tolede sest opposè à l'action du premiere, & toute le 〈◇〉 à blasme l'ordonance queen fit Emanuel, pour oster aux Juifs leurs Enfants, 〈…〉 quatorze anneè. Oserivez l' Evesque celeble, qui en parley, did 〈◇〉 ce fut une action qui nestoit fonde, ni en Loy ni eu Religion, quoque quell 〈◇〉 ●une been Intention & tendist à une bonne fin, parceque dieu 〈◇〉 home un sacrifice voluntaire, & quill ne veut pas le force le consciance 〈…〉 adjoute cette Circonstance terrible, queen plusieurs des ses peers mal ●●●●●ux, portent Jusque lexceè de Jeter leurs Enfants dans de puite & dese 〈…〉 ●●x mesmes.  
●●nc ne di se point sire queen la Declaration n' or donne pas Darraché less Enfants du sein du peers & qu'elle le laisse simplement en liberté de Choisir la Religion, Cath apostolic & Rom: car en premiere lieu ill ne faut pas consider la force qú on feat ceux Enfants mait comme ills font aux peers a qui la nature less a donner.  
Ceste le raisonement du mesme Docteur Thomas D'aquin dont on dient de parlour on seroit did ills In justice aux Juifs, q on baptizoit leurs Enfants contre leurs Grè, car on leurs ravesoit le Droite de la pvissance paternelle qúils on't suc leurs Enfants ce qui did ills lèglize na Jammaise feat ducent le temps des princes trees chrestiennes, comme Constantine & Theodose qui l'auroient sance doubt permet, si cela n'avoist esté contrair à la droit, ausi l'edjct de Nanteer en Lart, 18 defend Egalement la force & linduction, quallifiant lun & l'autre un Enleivement toute l'ordinance on't punir ausi severement le rapt de persuasion queen celuy de violence.  
En second lieu l'aage de sept annee nempesche das quill ne ait autant de source & autant de constrainte à l'egard des peers queen sy on ravisoit less Enfants à la mamelle, parceque sy le droit natural et civile, met less Enfants Enla pvissance de peers Jusque à l'aage de puberté, cette la mesme chooses de l'otter à sept anne queen de l'oster deal leceau puisque le droit de la pvissance paternelle sy trové Vegallement violé.  
Sy l'on did queen less Enfants à sept anneé sont capable de pescher mortelles & quàin si parvient faire choix d'ane Religion queen parley genrallement pe principe est fort incertain, & qu'il ne seroit pas raisonable de Jugee less supliance, pas de maxim qu'il ne re con oistant pas, & qui ne voit, sire queen la consequence n'est pas just, & qu'il y à grand Difference entre le premiere Idiee du bien & du mal, queen less Enfants pervient dance less actiones de la vie & le de sernement & de Religion ou plulost de determination a quitter la Croyance dance le quell ills on't esté Eleve pouv en siviore une qui leurs & moinee cognue.  
Ou toute a feat Incognue, cèst a dire une choix qui est le plus grand efort de less prit de chemine quamd it cherché Uniquemen son salute.  
less soupliance ne touchont say le trust & facheuse suittee de l'execution, duné loy qui leurs paroist si dure, le desespoire de peers & de meres, la discord inevetible entre less peers & less Enfants, le changement dé léducation natural queen desmeines des peers passer dans less maines des Estrangers, le libertinage des Enfants qui ne Craindront plus la Corection des peers & qui auroit sons Jours une pretext pourluy sou traire l'exactione de pensioner púon Exigue des peers de l'entretiner de leurs Enfants horse de leur maison & au de sus de leur source, la fuite forcer des plusieurs familees hores de royalme, l'aprehansion quáuroient ceux de la Religion, lailenation, de l'esprité & mill d'autre Inconveniences dance la socite civile.  
less soupliance sire sont convincue avee toute laterre queen sien ne peut resister à vostre pvissance maite ills s'cavaut ausi queen Vostre Majeste aim Temperer son authority & son pouvoire par sa bonte & sa par Justice à l'exemple de dieu mem equi ne de ploy Jammaise sa force Infinie sur ses Creatures pu'il ne le regard en meme temps des yeux de sa Compassion.  
Cest done vostre Justice sire queen less supliance Implorent dance l'excees de leurs dou leurs cette a elles quills adressant leurs voix & leurs Laarmeè & sance manque ou respect quills le doivent à vostre Majeste ills osoient dire qu'ils aimoient meux soufrir toute sorteé de maux & lamort mesme queen de se voire se parè de leurs Enfants dance une age si tender & de ne douvoire plus less Elever dance leurs Religion se lon less obligations de leurs Consciences.  
A Cette Cause sire Plaise a vostre Majeste en revoquant novelle Declaratione du 17 on de Juine derniere ordonne queen cell de sevriere 1669 sera Executè selon la form & tenue & less supliance continueront leurs veaux & leurs preres pour le glorieux Resgne de Vostre Majeste.  
FINIS.