A DECLAration of the Prince of Conde and his associates to the Queen, upon the judgement of rebellion, set forth against them by their enemies, terming themselves to be the Court of parliament of Paris, with a protestation of the evils and inconveniences which may thereof ensue.  
Imprinted at London in Paul's Churchyard by Lucas Harryson.   

Although that the wittings heretofore published in the name of the Prince of Conde, and all the Princes, Lords, gentlemen and other which are of his company, do sufficiently declare the equity of the cause which hath armed them, as well for the service of the King and conservation of his authority, as for the maintaining of his edicts or proclamations, concerning the holy liberty and quietness of conscience of the reformed Churches within this realm: nevertheless seeing that the enemies of the honour of God, and public quietness, daily set forth new slanders, whereby they pretend to oppress the innocency of the said Prince and his associates, it standeth with good reason, that if the wicked cease not to assail equity and justice, the good also should not cease to defend it.  
Now for because that the 27. day of july last passed, judgement was given in the Court of parliament of Paris, whereby they pretend to declare them rebels, that have taken armour for the service of the King, the conservation of the states authority, and to resist the violence and tyranny of the Duke of Guise and his adherentes: it is necessary that the iniquity of this judgement should be manifested, as well to those of this kingdom, as to strangers: & namely that it should be represented to our posterity by this declaration. For it shall serve for an example of remembrance, wherein may be seen, how much the enemies of God and persecutors of his Church, are of corrupt understanding and judgement and far from all righteousness. We may (I say) perceive, that men which prefer their lies and errors to the sacred truth of God, are so far blinded, that they judge those seditious, which go about to seek (as much as in them lieth) the public union and tranquillity: and condemn those for rebels, which forsaking their commodities, giving over their goods, do hazard their lives, to the end that the King may remain obeyed, and the authority of his Edicts may be inviolably kept.  
And to the end that such declaration of rebellion may be the better convinced of manifest injustice, and be held for the slander of an enemy, and not for the sentence of a judge: behold what the Prince of Conde and his associates shall declare to this effect, following their first protestations and writings concerning the verification of their innocency.  
First as concerning the exception of the person of the said Prince, he is so much affected to the service of the King, that he feeleth himself wounded & burdened with that, which they lay to other, whom he knoweth never meant any such thing in taking armour, nor tended to none other end, but to the conservation of this crown. And the said Prince is so far from being pleased with this exception, that rather he is offended: in that they would separate him from so many good and faithful servants of the King, and from as good and holy a company, as ever was assembled together in this realm. For this cause being assured both before God and Man, that their innocency is such, that all the lies and slanders of the wicked can not stain with one only spot of disobedience and rebellion, either the said Prince or his associates: he desireth to have the same condition with them which are joined with him in the same goodness of cause, the same religion, the same will to bestow their lives for the Kings wealth, conservation of his estate, and the establishing of the pure service of God in his Kingdom.  
And even as the said Prince cannot, nor ought not to be forsaken or denied of those at whose commandment he hath justly taken weapon in hand: no more would he depart from those which have (at his request) taken arms with him, and with whom he hath like intent and wil Furthermore, he hath sufficient experience in the crafty sleights of his enemies, to perceive what they brew under such colour and pretence of exception: as it is easy to be judged by the letters missive, sent through the provinces, wherein he is generally comprised with the others. Now that it may appear that the crime of rebellion ought to light upon those, which of their own authority have taken weapon, to break the Edicts of the king, and to trouble the quietness of the whole realm, & not upon any other, which have taken armour to withstand so pernicious an entrepryse, we will briefly rehearse that which we have amply discoursed in our former writings.  
Each man knoweth that the Edict of january, brought such quietness throughout all France, that it seemed that the estate of this realm being before tossed with infinite troubles and tempests, was (as it were) arrived at a happy and quiet port. At that time when the Duke of Guise, through the slaughter which he made at Vassy. gave openly to understand, that he had sworn war against the estate of the King and the wealth and quietness of his people. The which with good right was thought very strange by the said Prince, who for the place which he holdeth aught of duty to conserve and maintain the authority & highness of the King: whom the said Guise hath always gone about to bring to extreme ruin. That (I say) was thought marvelous strange, that a subject durst so manifestly break an edict of his Prince, yea such an Edict as was made by the deliberation of the estates, authorized by the Kings Counsel, with the most notable company that could be gathered and chosen out of all the Courts of Parlement of this realm, And although the said Prince, had of his own right, occasion just enough to withstand so manifest a violence and oppression to the King and his Edicts, yet he withheld himself to enterprise any thing to this effect until he received commandment.  
In consideration whereof the said Prince most humbly beseecheth the Queen's Majesty to remember that being at S, Germayne in Say, she was advertised to what end the Duke of Guise tended: which was to depose her from her authority, and to banish from about her, her most faithful & loving servants, that they might the easilier obtain the government of this realm. Whereto they have always cast their eye and aspired, since the time that they have had any maneging of affairs in their hands. Which being come to the Queen's knowledge, & likewise the faction that by the means of the ambassador of Spain they practised, in favour of their enterprise: she conceived such grief thereof, as the great and eminent danger required. Which gave her occasion one evening, to desire the said Prince, to gather together the greatest numbered of Gentlemen that he could, that the effect of so dangerous an enterprise might be prevented. Which he faithfully went about, having respect to the commandment of the Queen, and of his duty towards the kings majesty and conservation of his crown. Now this obedience was the beginning of all that, which hath since continued, in resisting those which the Queen judged to be her enemies, and of whom she would take heed. And for greater witness of the doubt which she had of them, it may please her to remember the charge which she once gave to the said Prince, touching the secretary Marseille. Now when the said Guyses by their demeanours as well at Paris as elsewhere, had brought openly to light that which before they had hidden: the Queen confirmed and repeated again to the said Prince, as well by letters as messengers, the commandment which she had already made, to resist the force & violence which they determined to make against her Majesty. Whom in this behalf he most humbly beseecheth & so far as the word of a Queen ought to remain sure & inviolable, to call to mind the things which she hath written with her own hand: the which he is now constrained to set forth to all men's eyes, that they may all read his innocency in the very letters of the Queen. For he is assured that she hath not forgotten that which she wrote to him from Fountainebleau, in the month of March last passed: recommending unto him the conservation of the King's person & of hers, in these words: I recommend unto you the mother and her children. And consequently that which she wrote with her hand by Monsieur de Bouchavannes', when the force of the Guyses was in Paris: that is that he should not dysarme himself, until his enemies were disarmed, and that it might be seen to what end their conspiracy would tend. And here upon the said Prince desireth that it will please her Majesty to remember, how often she hath given him to understand, that she esteemed that which he did for very agreeable service the which she would so print in the King's memory, that (being come to age,) he might gratefy him according to his desert.  
Whereunto likewise agreeth that which she said to the lord Admiral, not long before he departed from the court, that she knew him so faithful a servant of the Kings and also so loving toward her majesty, that if need required, he would not let by all means possible, to endeavour himself to defend her from the conspiracy of the Guyses. As she also now last writ unto him by Monsiur Rembovillet, that she esteemed him so good a servant of the Kings, and desirous of the conservation of his estate, that she would use his counsel for the pacifying of the troubles which were in those days. And furthermore the talk which she had beside Baugency with the said Prince & the Lords which were in his company, is so clear witness of her consent & approving thereof, that it should be to superfluous to allege infinite other proofs, which might be brought forth to this effect. For then in the presence of .7. Knights of the order, & certain secretaries of the estate, she largely thanked the said Prince & his company, for the service and pleasure that she had received of them: using these terms: that she acknowledged that the King's life & hers were conserved and kept through their mean.  
These things being considered as behoveth, what reason may remain to the enemies of the said Prince and his associates, yea so much as to gather a simple conjecture of rebellion, much less of grounded judgement? By whose authority shall they be declared rebels? Shall it be by the King and queens authority, which have caused them to take arms for the conservation of their majesties? which hath had recourse to them in her danger? which therein hath encouraged them by words & letters? and with thanks for their service hath approved & accepted that which they have done, as a mean of the conservation of this whole realm? Furthermore, there is none but knoweth, that the enemies of the said Prince abuse the name of the King and Queen, whose will they keep forced and subject to their wills. Which is the cause why the said Prince and his associates have protested hitherto, and now again protest, neither to hold nor acknowledge any Edict, statute or ordinance, made under the name of the King, whilst his liberty is taken from him by the violence and arms of their enemies.  
And for that they take for proof, besides these things heretofore written, that which so oft the Queen hath sent them word of: that is that she could not agree to the which they demanded, because that the contrary part was the stronger, & the people armed. And although that since the month of April the Kings Majesty hath been forced, and they have begun to abuse his name & authority, yet since that time the thing hath been more clearly known and manifested, by that which is contained in a letter of the Queens to Monsiur de Vieillevile and the county of Villars, dated the 14. of may last. Where she write with her hand, that she committed the king her son into the hands of the other: meaning by the other, the enemies of the said Lord Prince. Whereby it appeareth that the judgement of rebellion and all other things made under the name and authority of the king against the said Prince and his company, aught to be esteemed to be made by their enemies: seeing that the king is under their hands, as it appeareth even by the witness of the Queen.  
Now than I leave to be considered, of what weight that judgement of condemnation is, which is given by the parties & enemies of the condemned? but yet let us see what that great crime is which they call rebellion, & whereupon they ground that, which they lay to the said Princes charge and his company? It is (say they) because they will not give over their armour. If it be so, I demand what shall they be called, which coming to the court in armour, though they had none enemies armed against them, would not nevertheless give over their armour, although they received commandment from the king, and which yet hold them with the same boldness that they took them at the beginning. Now who is he that would give over his armour at the request & instance of his enemy, which hath the sword ready in his hand to fight with him? what other thing is it, to demand that the said Prince should disarm himself his adversaries remaining armed, but only to will that his enemies should be his masters, that his goods should be subject to their greedy covetousness, that his life should be given over to their cruelty? To be short, that he should receive the law of those, which having none, aught to receive the same of others?  
And furthermore is it not to break the wall which it hath pleased God to set about his poor Church of France, & afterwards to give it over to the rage & fury of those, which can not be satisfied with sucking of Innocentes blood.  
Furthermore it is not unknown that the said Prince hath always offered to unarm himself, if his enemies would unarm them first, & withdrawing themselves from the King, would leave him in his first liberty. Now is it not reason that they which first took armour with out commandment, without authority, & against the Kings will, against the Edicts, against the express commandment of the king: should lay down their armour, before the other which were armed after them: armed (I say) by commandment, authority & knowledge of the king & Queen, for the conservation of their Majesties and of their Edicts, against the oppression and violence of the other?  
To be short let all that the said Prince hath done be examined, and it shallbe found that his answers, and protestations, his offers, & all his doings, are sufficient witnesses, of his innocency. For hath he not gone about by all means to set this realm at quiet? & to deliver it from the peril which seemeth to threaten it with an extreme and utter ruin?  
What condition of peace being any thing reasonable was ever refused, or not rather sought by the said Prince and his company? How oft hath he gone about to let the entry of strangers into this realm, fearing the inconveniences that might thereof ensue? Hath he not given to understand the desert of his cause, to strange Princes, & namely to the confederates of this crown, beseeching them to take up the matter, & to be mean of the quietness and tranquillity of this realm? With what modesty hath he behaved himself, in the towns wherein he might conserve the liberty of their consciences, and the exercising of their religion, following the permission and ordinance of the king? Hath he used any one point of violence or injustice? When his enemies forcing towns, & not being content to bereave them of the benefit and liberality of the king touching religion, have committed so many murders and spoils, that the streets have been paved with dead corpses, and the earth stained with the blood of the Innocentes which they have shed. Let men them judge without affection, who they be which by their works and effects, have deserved to be declared rebels: either the Prince and his company, which have armed themselves to maintain the Edicts of the King, made according to the advise of the estates (which ought to take place during the minority of his said Majesty) his liberty, the queens liberty, and the quietness of the common wealth: or their enemies, which taking arms, without authority of the King, have broken his Edicts, sacked his towns, murdered his subjects, & set forth ordinances quite contrary to the Kings, & namely to the Edict of january made so solemnly, as we have said, received with whole consent throughout the realm, & likewise greatly commended of strangers. If then with indifferent eye all the parts of this cause be marked, it shallbe found, that the said Prince & his company have been falsely called rebels by those which are very rebels themselves: they have been declared seditious by those, which since the death of the late King Henry, have been cause of all the troubles which have happened in this realm: and have been declared guilty of treason by those, which oppress the Kings majesty, abolish his ordinances & abuse his name & authority, to magnify themselves to his overthrow. Those, yea those are guilty of divine treason, whose works have always showed that they hold Ambition for their God, Covetousness for their religion, & the pleasures of this world for their paradise & greatest felicity: which have sworn war against the son of God, against his word and those which maintain it: which show the works of Anabaptistry in baptizing again those children, which be already baptised according to the institution & ordinance of our Lord jesus Christ: which have their houses full of spoils, and their hands imbrued with bloody cruelty.  
They also are guilty of human treason, which have broken the Edicts of the king, have approached and seized upon his person with arms against his commandment, which are great friends, and have made those to be their instruments in this feat, which would violently have taken away the second person of France, and have oppressed the king, and brought his estate to confusion and ruin. And to speak further, I say that they are guilty of treason, which made of late that cursed conspiracy in Province, by the hands of Lauris presidente in the court of parliament at Aix, and conjoined with Fabrice Cerbelome governor of Avignon for the Pope, which tended to assemble xv. M. men which should march (as they were sworn, at the commandment of the said Guise. Whereof the said Fabritius furnished a thousand footmen, and. CC. horsemen. Which conspiracy being come to knowledge, & verified by the court of parliament of Province, Entrages, & Laidet, two principal captains of this faction, were beheaded by judgement given in the same court. And if this suffice not, I will add more: that the said Guyses have made the like conspiracy in Dauphine, by the captain Mantill: hoping by this mean to make Dauphine to take arms with Province to martche together at their pleasure. In so much that these conspiracies made to abolish the preaching of the Gospel, these takings up of men, these oaths taking to march at the commaudement of the Guise, cry out, that as well the said Guise as his conspirators are rebels, and guilty of treason both to God and man. And contrariwise that those are true & faithful servants of the King, which have withstanded & stoutly do withstand their rebellions, seditions & attempts, against the kings Majesty and estate of all this realm. And besides this that I have spoken, let the overwhelming of the government & justice of this realm be witness, and namely that court of Parliament of Paris: which they have made their instrument in this false & pernicious judgement of rebellion: because they could not find any other company so corrupt & depraved, so bond & slave to their wills & appetites as that.  
As in effect all those that remain there at this day, do either hold their estates through the favour of the said Guyses and their adherentes, or else hope to have some other by their mean. And even the principal amongst them are plainly comprised in the conspiracy and faction made by the said Guise and his adherentes: whereof we at this day feel the lamentable and miserable effects. And we must in deed truly confess, that amongst all the plagues that God long hath scourged this poor and afflicted realm withal, this aught to be accounted the greatest: that such a court of parliament, which ought to be the seat of justice, the refuge of the oppressed, the bridle and punishment of all vice, should be so far from his right and natural use, that it should open the gate to all injustice and oppression, to all impunity and licence of evil doing. Whereby is come to pass, that the principal head of the government of France being so sick, hath spread her disease upon all the parts and members of this kingdom. And for proof hereof, mark not only the particular wrongs done by the said court to infinite people, the cries, the plaints, the blood of so many poor innocents as it hath oppressed, condemned, and murdered.  
But principally mark this false and perverse judgement of rebellion, which is a general wrong done to infinite persons, whose life and conversation hath made proof of the most humble obedience which they bear to the kings majesty. Now to the end that these corrupt judges should leave behind no one point of injustice, they have pronounced this judgement, the cause not being heard, the reasons not debated, the proves of justifying and innocency not understand. And although they were refused by the said Prince and his company (which was duly notified unto them) they nevertheless left not to attribute unto themselves the knowledge of this fact, to give all men to understand, that in the seats of the court of parliament of Paris, there are now none other judges, but corruptions, hatreds, and private affections, and there is now none other law but contemning and abolishing of the kings laws & customs of this realm.  
Whereupon my masters, you which are called judges, I demand what injustice and manifest corruption is, if this which you have done in this judgement be not? For where is the form of justice observed? Where are the reasons with which the condemned have been overcome? Where is that ancient and righteous law, that ye can not both be judges and particular enemies? Why have you thrust yourselves in to the judgement of those, which have refused you for judges, having as much reason to do it, as there are faults of apparent wrongs in you? And to be short were you not rightly refused, which have driven out of your company, all those which you perceived not to be of your faction? You which by the decree the last of june now passed, put weapon in the hand of the furious people, against both GOD and man's laws, yea against your own laws, against the common wealth and universal quietness of this realm? You which have proclaimed the ministers of the reformed Churches guilty of treason, whom nevertheless the king by his proclamation hath received to his protection, and who for this effect have taken the oath at your hands? You which durst declare to the king yea with threatenings, by Monsieur Chambon and Monsieur Fay your deputies, that ye thought strange and would not suffer the agreement which he would have made between the said Prince and his contraries? By this mean taking away all doubt, that ye are the sworn enemies of the said Prince and his company, and consequently shutting your own mouths, that ye might not pronounce any sentence against them? And what needeth any more? Look upon the head city of this realm, where your abiding is, and mark the extreme cruelties which are daily committed by the people, and that before your eyes, to your knowledge, will, & provoking. Let men consider the refuse that you made to the Lord of Brissac, to make any ordonance to repress these tumults of the people. Let it be weighed as appertaineth, that the most part of you, the better to show that they will no longer use justice, but force, are of Presidents & counsellors become men of war: have changed their pens into swords, and their long gowns into corcelets, they themselves play the captains, & go publicly armed, with other such insolenties, as unworthy of their estate, as very meet to the corruption of their life. Let all these things (I say) be considered, and if it be so that rebels can not judge of rebellion, that the troublers of the common quietness can not know of sedition, and that the breakers of the Kings Edicts, are not able to judge of guiltiness of treason: if so be (I say) that those which deserve to be condemned, ought not to condemn others: Ye can not deny but they which ye have condemned, have sufficient reason, not only to refuse you, but also to cause you to be punished in time & place, according to the desert of your injustice. Which thing the most part of this realm greatly desireth, being assured that god will show us his merciful face, when he raiseth up in France good & faithful judges which shall condemn & rightly punish those, which unjustly have condemned other: executing upon your persons, the sentence which you have pronounced against the innocentes.  
All these things than being equally weighed, shall plainly show, to all those which in this cause shall give judgement free from all particular affection, that although there be nothing set forth for the defence of the said Prince and his company, against the intolerable injustice, & the unworthiness which hath been showed them by this judgement, yet nevertheless their innocency is so apparent, that it is able to speak itself, and belie the false & shameless slanders, of their enemy judges.  
Now I leave to think, how just grief it is to the said Prince when he hath faithfully obeyed all things which were commanded him, for the tuition of the King and Queen, and when he had done the duty of that place which he holdeth in this realm, as behoved a most faithful and loving servant of the King, and necessary for the wealth and profit of all this realm: that his desert should be paid with so great unthankfulness, that the duty which he hath showed to the King should be turned to crime, and that his obedience should be called rebellion. This certainly is with good right not only grievous unto him, but also intolerable.  
And although this vile spot wherewith they would have burdened him, can not in any wise fasten upon him, but returneth to those which brought it, nevertheless he feeleth himself so bound in duty, not only to his honour, but to his company, that he is resolved to bestow all the means which God hath put and hereafter shall put in his hands, to cause the innocency of them all, to be known, not only to the people of France, but to strange nations: and to leave the memory to our posterity. And forasmuch as by the wicked and corrupt judgement, given against him and those of his company, and by the manner that they have used in the said judgement, and namely the overwhelming of the justice of France done by his enemies, he well enough knoweth, that the way of justice being shut up from him, he can not thereby cause the edicts of the King to be observed, & consequently show forth his innocency: for this cause he is constrained to have recourse to the last remedy, of arms. Which having in his hand at the Queen's commandment, and likewise for his own office and duty (considering the place which he holdeth in this realm) he will never leave of, till he hath made the King peaceably to be obeyed in his country, his edicts observed, and the innocency of the said Prince, and his company manifestli acknowledged. And the said Prince declareth that although they (whose authority and commandment hath caused him to begin this enterprise,) should now come and allege their contrary advise and opinion, yet though they change their wills, he can not change his: as also he can not slacken his duty towards the King, nor forget the place which he holdeth in this realm.  
Therefore the said Prince & all his company protest, before the majesty of God and the King, and before all people and nations to whom the knowledge of this fact hath come or shall come, that they confess and acknowledge themselves most humble and obedient subjects and servants of the King their sovereign Lord and Prince. and that their arms are not, nor never shallbe against his majesty, but against his enemies. Whom they hold for rebels, setiouse, and guilty of treason to God and man: because they have overthrown the laws and customs of this realm, have broken the Edicts of the King, and violate the authority of the estates, in thrusting themselves into the counsel of his majesty, (from which they were excluded by the advise of the said estates) and have driven out the faithful and lawful counsellors of the King. Furthermore because they defend themselves with his person, enforce his liberty, abuse his name, to colour their ambition and insatiable cruelty, they have made and daily do make conspiracies, factions, and practices as well to maintain their usurpation, as to undo the most part of the Kings faithful subjects. And namely to banish out of France the pure preaching of the Gospel, to spoil & destroy those which make profession thereof. Against those then only, & for these causes, with the other that depend on them, the said Prince & his company protest to have weapon in hand, and that for great need, having none other mean to keep the Kings majesty, his edicts, his highness, the estate of his crown, the authority of his estates, the life and goods of an infinite number of his poor subjects, and principally the pure service of god established in this realm by the authority of the King. The importance of which things doth so touch the said princes heart and his company, that foreseeing the horrible calamity and desolation that might happen to this realm, & that all France should bathe in his own blood, if their enemies might continue the murders and cruelties which they have exercised these .v. months, they all determine to let for no pain, to establish the quietness of this realm, but to venture their lives, to assure the lives of so many good, & faithful subjects and servants of the king. And are not hindered but rather encouraged by that pernicious judgement of rebellion: the which they protest not to hold as judgement, but slander practiced and set forth by their enemies. So that withstanding it, they mean not to withstand the will of the King, or any judgement given forth by a court of parliament lawfully assembled: but a violence, force, oppression and invading of their goods and lives, by the Kings enemies and theirs. The said Prince desireth not only all those of this realm which ought to esteem the Kings service, but also all strange Princes which love equity and justice, to withstand with him so violent oppression made to a young King: whose great virtues already shining in him, give certain hope, that being come to age, he will acknowledge the service and secure which hath been done to him, in his great and urgent necessity. And namely the said Prince desireth all strangers, as well Almains as Switsers, that are come into this realm, and do aid his enemies, that they remember the title of equity, the memory whereof hath at all times honoured their ancestors: that they will not suffer such reproach to light on them, as that they have fought for an evil cause, against a good cause: for the enemies of the king, against his faithful subjects: for princes the be but strangers, against a Prince of the blood of this crown: for the favourers of the Pope and the Church of Rome, against those which profess the Gospel of our lord jesus Christ. And herein the said Prince, calleth before the judgement seat of god the consciences of the said strangers, which profess the gospel, to take heed that they be not cause that the said gospel be banished out of this poor kingdom, and that all they which profess the same, be spoiled & murdered. He prayeth them also to consider, that his enemies whatsoever they speak of rebellion, assail him nevertheless for none other cause, but for that following the edict of the king, he maintaineth the pure preaching of the word of god. So the said strangers ought to prevent, (that the enemies of their religion and of the Princes and his companies) should think in mockage (as they already do) that they have beguiled them: & have brought to pass by their practices, that their own country men which maintain the gospel, are come to fight against them in France. Furthermore the said Prince prayeth them to consider what will follow of this matter: least if the enemies overcome the gospelers in this realm, that their enterprise should stretch out beyond the Ryne, & so they themselves may be assailed in their houses, according to the confederacy which they have made with the Pope & diverse other strange Princes. And though hitherto the said Prince hath deferred to call any straunges to the succour of the king, & of them which it hath pleased him to permit to live according to the reformation of the gospel, nevertheless seeing that his enemies have begun to call them in their evil cause, he protesteth that hereafter he will not let to use their aid for the maintenance of his right. And so much the rather because he is assured, that the conservation of the king and of this realm, is joined with the conservation of his innocency.  
Whereupon forasmuchas such war, which kindleth daily more and more, can not but bring great calamities with it, the said Prince & his company protest before God & man not to be guilty therein, but they which have been the movers and authors thereof. To the end that the blame of all the evils & inconveniences of this present war, may redound upon their enemies which are the beginning and cause thereof.  
Finally the said Prince willeth and desireth, that this present protestation may serve also to confirm the association which is between him and the Princes Lords, gentlemen and other, which follow him, and shall hereafter follow. To whom the said Prince promiseth, that as he hath this honour to be their head, and seeing that all the reformed Churches of this realm have thrown themselves into his arms to conserve them according to the kings edict, against their adversaries and enemies of this crown: he will be the first that shall give his life & his goods, that the service of god may be established in his purity, those which profess it maintained, the king set again at his full liberty, his enemies driven away, & his counsel restored according to the laws & customs of this realm: & namely the last request of the estates.  
Likewise the said Prince exhorteth & prayeth all his company to march with him foot by foot in the execution of so good & holy an enterprise, having respect to the righteousness of the cause, & putting all their force in the strength of god: so the being certain that fight for the advancement of his glory, the relieving of his Churches, the conservation of their king, and the quietness of their country; they shall feel the assistance & succour of God. Whom the said Prince and his company most heartily beseecheth to take in hand the defence of their cause and for this effect to sit in throne of his justice, before the which they present the horrible blasphemies spewed out by their enemies against his majesty, the cruelty which they use against his Churches, the blood of so many innocents which they have spilled, & their bloody conspiracies and damnable enterprises, against his glory and the life of his children and servants. So that receiving into his protection his poor people and those which maintain them, he may place his power, justice, and wisdom, against the boldness, iniquity, and subtle devices of such as assail them, and that so by the deliverance of his, he make manifest to all the world, that he is the succour of the oppressed, the preserver of his Church, and the judge of his enemies.  
Given at Orleans the 8. of August. Anno. 1562. Lewes of Bourbon.