The Furious Outrages of France and the Horrible Slaughter, Declaration – Letter 5
A DECLARATION OF THE King, concerning the occasion of the Admirals death and his adherents and complices, happened in the Citie of Paris the. 24. of August. 1572.
Imprinted at Paris by Iohn Dallier Stacioner, dwelling vponupon S. Michaels bridge, at the signe of the white Rose; by the Kings licence.
BY THE KING.
HIs Maiestie desiring to hauehave all Seigniours, Gentlemen, and other his subiects, vnderstand the cause of the murder of the Admirall and his adherentes and complices, which lately happened in this Citie of Paris the xxiiij. day of this present monethmonth of August, least the said deede should be otherwise disguised and reported than it was in deede; his Maiestie therfore declareth that which was done, was by his expresse commaundement, & for no cause of Religion, nor breaking his Edictes of Pacification, which he alwayes entended, and still mindet… and entendeth to obserue and keepe; yea it was rather done to withstand and preuent a most detestable and curssed conspiracie begon by the sayd Admirall the chiefe captaine therof, and his sayd adherents and complices, against the kings person, his estate, the Queene his mother and the Princes his brethren, the King of Nauarre, and other Lordes about him. VVherefore his Maiestie by this declaration and ordinaunce giueth to vnderstand to all Gentlemen and others of the Reli…gion which they pretend refourmed, that he min…deth and purposeth that they shall liue vnderunder his protection, with their wiues and children in their houses in as much safegarde as they did before, folowing the benefite of the former Edictes of Pacification, most expressely commaunding and ordaining, that all Gouernours and Lieutenants generall in euerie of his Countreyes and Prouinces▪ and other Iustices and Officers to whom it appertaineth, do not attempt nor suffer to be attempted and thing in what sort soeuer, vponupon the persons and goodes of them of the Religion, their wiues, children, and families, on paine of death against the faultie and culpable in this behalfe.
And neuerthelesse to withstande the troubles, slaunders, suspicions, and defiances that may come by sermons and assemblies, aswell in the houses of the sayde Gentlemen, as in other places, as it is suffred by the sayde Edictes of Pacification: it is expressely forbidden, and inhibited by his Maiestie to all Gentlemen and others of the sayd Religion, to hauehave no assemblies for any cause at all, vntill his Maiestie hath prouided and appointed otherwise for the tranquillitie of his Realme, vponupon paine of disobedience and confiscation of bodie and goods. It is also expressely forbidden vnderunder the paine aforesayd, that for the foresayd occasions, none shall take or retaine any prisoners, or take raunsome of them, and that incontinently they certifie the gouernours of euerie prouince, and the Lieutenante generall, of the name & qualitie of euerie such prisoner; whome his Maiestie hath appointed shall be released and set at libertie, except they be of the chiefe of the late conspiracie, or such as hauehave made some practise or deuise for them, or …ad intelligence thereof: and they shall aduertise his Maiestie of such, to know his further pleasure. It is also ordained, that from henceforth none shall take or arrest any prisoner for that cause, without his Maiesties commaundement or his Officers, nor that none be suffred to roame abroade in the fieldes, to take vp dogs, Cattell, Beefes, Kine, or other beastes, goods, fruites, graine, nor any thing else, nor to hurt the labourers by word or deede, but to let them alone about their worke and calling, in peace and safetie.
At Paris the .xxviij. of August. 1572. Signed, CHARLES, and vnderneath, FIZES.
THE KINGS LETTERS TO the officers of Burges, of the same argument that the former declaration was.
OVr trustie and welbeloued, we considering that vnderunder the colour of the death of the Admiral, and his adherents and complices, certaine Gentlemen, and others our subiectes, professing the Religion called Refourmed, might rise and assemble together to the preiudice and hinderance of the tranquillitie which we hauehave alwayes desired shuld be in our Realme, the doyng of the said murder being counterfeited and giuen out otherwise than it was. VVe hauehave therefore made a declaration & ordinance, which we s…nd you, willing you to publishe the same incontinently by sounde of Trumpet, and setting the same vp in such places of your Iurisdiction, where cryes and Proclamations are vsually made, to the ende that eueryevery one mighte knowe it. And although we hauehave alwayes bene diligent obseruers of our Edicts of Pacification, yet seyng the troubles and seditions which might arise amongst our subiects by the occasion of the sayd murder, as well of the Admirall as of his companions, we commaunde you, and ordeine, that you particularly forbid the principals of the Religion, pretended refourmed, within your Iurisdiction, that they hauehave no sermons nor assemblies either in their houses, or in any other places, to take away all doubt and suspition which might be conceyued against them. And likewise that you aduertise such as dwell in the Cities of your Iurisdiction, what you iudge meete to be done, to the intent they might in this poynt follow our mind, and kepe them quiet in their houses, as they may do by the benefite of our Edict of Pacification, & there they shall be vnderunder our protection and safegarde: but if they will not so retyre themselues after you hauehave giuen them warning, then shall you set on them with all strength and force, aswell by the prouostes of the Marishals & their Archers, as others which you can gather together by Bell ringing or otherwise, so that you bewe them all to peeces as enimyes to our Crowne. Besides, what commaundements so euer we hauehave sent by worde of mouth eyther to you, or others in our Realme, when we were in feare, vponupon iuste occasion, knowing the conspiracie that the Admirall had begon of some mischaunce that might fall vntounto vsus, we hauehave and do reuoke, willing you and others that no such thing be executed, for such is our pleasure.
Giuen at Paris the .xxx. of August 1572. Thus signed, CHARLES, and vnderneath, De Neuf-ville. Published in iudgement.