The Furious Outrages of France and the Horrible Slaughter, Part 2
REMEMBRANCES SENT BY the King to all gouernours, and Lieutenantes of his Prouinces, to put out and remoue all those of the Religion from their estates and charges, although they would abiure the same, sauing such as hauehave but small estates and offices, to whom his Maiestie permitteth continuance, on conditiō that they abiure the sayd Religion according to the forme of Abiuration sent for that purpose.
THe King considering how much his officers and Magistrates of Iustice, and such as hauehave the administration and dealing of his Fynes and payments, which be of the newe Religion, are suspect and hated, and put his Catholike subiects in great mistrust if they should presently exercise their offices after these freshe commotions, for cause that the sayd offices be in their handes that nowe kepe them: therfore least the people shoulde therby be brought to a newe occasion of stirre, & they of the new Religion be in daūger or bazard of their owne persons, although they woulde abiure their sayde newe Religion, and professe the holy faith and Catholike Religion of Rome: his Maiestie desiring to auoyde the new mischiefes and troubles which maye come, hath aduised to discharge the sayd officers from the exercise of the sayde offices, vntill he shall otherwise appoint. And yet neuerthelesse, in the meane while, if the sayde officers be obediente vntounto his will, and liue quietly in their houses, withoute attempting, practising or taking any thing in hande against his seruice, they shall receiue their wages, and they that will resigne their sayd offices to Catholike persons, and come to his Maiestie shal be verie honorably prouided for. And as touching other small offices without wages, which cannot be troublesome, as Notaries, Sergeants, and such where the officers hauehave none authoritie, which cānot be so odious nor mistrustfull to the people as the other, his Maiestie is aduised, that such smal officers which will abiure the sayd newe Religion, and professe the faith Catholike, Apostolike, and Romishe, and therin liue continually hereafter, shall continue in the exercise and enioying of their estates: but they that will continue in their newe opinion, shall depart from their offices, vntill his Maiestie hath otherwise prouided. And this is for the great mischiefe and inconuenience that maye betyde them, if they shoulde exercise their sayd estates, bicause of the great mistrust and suspition which the Catholikes hauehave conceiued of them of the newe Religion. Neuerthelesse his Maiestie well considering that the moste part of the sayd officers hauehave none other way to liue, but the exercise of their said offices, willeth that they shall be in thoyse to resigne to Catholike and capable persons, and then to come to him for that effect, and he will graunt them the greatest fauour and moderation of his treasorie that is possible. The which resolution and pleasure of his Maiestie he willeth to be declared to the sayd officers of the new pretended opinion, as well by gouernours and Lieutenants generall of his Prouinces, as by them of his Courtes of Parliament, of the Chamber of his accomptes, of the Court of his aydes, them of his great Counsell, of the Treasorie of Fraunce, the Generals of his Fynes, his Baylifes. Seneshals, Prouosts, Iudges or their Lieutenants, and eueryevery one of them as shall appertaine. And to this intent his Maiestie willeth and intendeth that eueryevery one of them in their calling shall send particularly and apart for eueryevery of the sayd officers of the newe Religion, which be of their incorporation, charge and Jurisdiction, and shall admonish then in this behalfe to conforme them selues to his Maiesties minde: and if any of them in authoritie, bicause of their said estates, wil returne to the bosome of the Catholike and Romish Church, it shall be sayd to them that his Maiestie liketh verie well of it, and that he taketh a great and singular affection therein, and that it shall giuegive him the greater assurance and credit of their good will, and that his Maiestie will not bar thē from his seruice hereafter, but will prouide for them as their behauiour shall deserue. And notwithstanding, for the reasons abouesayd, he willeth that they shall cease from the exercise of their estates and offices, vntil he otherwise appointeth. And bicause that in many places of the Realme they hauehave proceeded by way of seasing the goods of them of the newe Religion which be deade or absente, and hide themselues: and sometymes of those which be in their owne houses, although his Maiestie gaue to vnderstande by his declarration of the .xxviij. of August last, that be would and intended that they of the new Religion should enioy their goods, neuerthelesse, to the intent there should be no doubt of his purpose, and that no mistrust might arise thervpon, he declareth, willeth, and intendeth againe, that according to his declaration of the .xxviij. of August, they of the newe Religion which be lyuing, whether they be present or absent, and be not culpable or charged with the last conspiration, or to hauehave attempted against his Maiestie or his estate, since his Edict of Pacification, shalbe restored to their houses, and put in possession of all & singular their goode; moueable or vnmoueable. And that the wydowes and heyres of them that be deade, may and shall succede them, and appres bend all and singular their goodes, and that they shal be mainteined in them, and kepte vnderunder the protection and safegard of his Maiestie, so that no hurte shalbe done or sayd vntounto them in any maner of wyse or sort. VVilling for this purpose that all necessarie suretie shal be giuen them, and that all officers, Magistrates, Mayors and others which hauehave publike charge shall maintaine them in al safetie, forbidding al persons of what estate, qualitie or condition so euer they be, not to hurt them in person or good…s vppon paine of deat…. And neuerthelesse his Maiestie willeth, that they of the newe opinion shall submit themselues, and promise vponupon paine to be declared rebells and trai… tours to his Maiestie, that they shall hereafter liue vnderunder his obedience without attempting any thing to the contrarie, or taking their parts that do attempt against his Maiestie and estate, or things against his ordinances, and to acknowledge none but his Maiestie or such as he shall appoint vnderunder him to hauehave authoritie to commaund them. And if they knowe any that shall enterprise against his Maiestie, and service, to reueale them incontinent to him and his officers, as good and faithfull subiects. And to take away all doubte and suspicion as wel from the nobilitie as others, bicause that in the declaration of the▪ xxiiij. of the last monethmonth, these wordes are contained (Except they be those of the chiefe, which had commaundement for those of the newe opinion, or those which made practises and deuises for them, or those which might hauehave had intelligence of the sayd conspiracie.) His Maiestie declareth that he meaneth not of things done and past during the troubles which were before the Edict of Pacification in August. 1570. & that there shalbe no inquisitiō therof, and none shall be troubled in goods or person therfore (but for that respect they shall enioy the benefit of the Edict of Pacification) but that the sayd wordes extend onelyonly to those which be found to be giltie or accessarie to the last conspiracie done against his Maiestie and estate, and that other which are imprisoned, shall be set at libertie. And as touching them which will make profession of their faith, and returne to the Catholike Religion, his Maiestie desireth that his gouernours and officers shall excyte and comforte them as muche as they can, to that effect, and executiō of that good will: and that their friends and kinsfolks should also be exhorted to doe the like for their parte. And if any should hurt them in goods or body, his Maiestie willeth readie and speedie execution to be done on them: And to the intent that they may followe the fourme which hath bene kept, in professing the faith which they doe make that returne to the Apostolike and Romishe Churche, there is sent herewith a memorie thereof.
From Paris the xxij. day of Septēber. 1572. Signed, CHARLES, and beneath PINART.