A Pattern of Popish Peace, Letter 5 – Letter 6
THE KINGS LETTER to M. de Guise, and other Lieutenants and Governours of his Provinces, by the which hee wholly abolisheth and subverteth all the Edicts of Pacification, and willeth that only the Romish Religion should take place in his Realme.
THE King knowing that the Declaration which hee made upon the occasion which lately chanced in the City of Paris, the remembrances and instructions of his will which he sent round about to all Governours of his Provinces, and Lieutenants generall therein, and particular letters to the Seneshals, and his Courts of Parliament, and other Officers and Ministers of Justice, cannot hitherto stay the course of murthers and robberies done in the most part of the Cities of this Realme, to his Majesties great displeasure: hath advised for a more singular remedy, to send all the said Governours into every of their charges and governments, assuring himselfe, that according to the quality and power which they have of his Majesty, they can well follow and observe his intent, the which more fully to declare, his Majesty hath caused his Letters Patents to be dispatched, which shall be delivered them. Besides the contents whereof M. de Guise the Governour, and Lieutenant generall for his Majesty in Champaigne and Brye, shall call before him the Gentlemen of the new Religion abiding within his government, and shall tell them that the Kings will and intent is to preserve them, their wives, children and families, and to maintain them in possession of their goods, so that on their part they live quietly, and render to his Majesty obedience and fidelity as they ought: in which doing the King also will defend them, that they shall not be molestea or troubled by way of Justice, or otherwise in their persons and goods, by reason of things done during the troubles, and before the Edict of Pacification of August, 1570. And afterwards hee shall lovingly admonish them to continue no longer in the Error of the new Opinions, and to returne to the Catholike Religion, reconciling themselves to the Catholique Romish Church, under the doctrine and obedience whereof, the King his predecessours and their subjects have alwayes holily lived, and this Realme hath been carefully conducted and maintained: Shewing to them the mischiefes and calamities which have happened in this Realme, since these new opinions have entred into mens spirits: How many murders have been caused by such which have fallen from the right way holden by their Ancestors. First, they made them separate themselves from the Church, then from their next of kindred, and also to be estranged from the service of their King, as a man may see since his reigne. And although the authors and heads of that side, would have covered their doings under the title of Religion and conscience: yet their deeds and workes have shewen well enough that the name of Religion was but a vizzard to cover their drifts and disobedience, and under that pretence to assemble and suborn people, and to make and compell them to sweare in the cause under the title of disobedience, and by such wayes to turne them from the naturall affection which they owe to the King, and consequently from his obedience; it being notorious, that what commandement soever the King could make to them of the new Religion, they have not since his reigne obeyed him otherwise than pleased their heads. And contrariwise, when their said heads commanded them to arise and take to their weapons, to set upon Cities, to burne Churches, to sack and pill, to trouble the Realme, and fill it with bloud and fire, they which went so astray to follow them, forgot all trust and duty of good subjects, to execute and obey their commandements. Which things if the Gentlemen will well consider, they shall easily judge how unhappy and miserable their condition shall be, if they continue longer therein. For they may well thinke of themselves, that the King being taught by experience of so great a danger, from the which it hath pleased God to preserve him and his Estate, and having proved the mischiefes and calamities which this Realm hath suffred by the enterprise of the heads of this cause, their adherents and complices, that he will never willingly be served with any Gentlemen of his subjects that be of any other Religion than the Catholique, in the which also the King, following his predecessors, will live and die. He willeth also to take away all mistrust amongst his subjects, and to quench the rising of discords and seditions, that all they of whom he is served in honourable places, and specially the Gentlemen which desire to be accompted his good and lawfull subjects, and would obtaine his favour, and be employed in charges of his service, according to their degrees and qualities, doe make profession here-after to live in the same Religion that he doth: having tryed that discords and civill warres will not cease in a State where there be many Religions, and that it is not possible for a king to maintain in his Realme diversities in Religion, but that hee shal lose the good wil & benevolēce of his subjects, yea, and they which are of a contrary Religion to his, desire nothing in their heart more than the change of the King and of his Estate. For the reason above-said, the Duke of Guise, to bring the matter to this passe, shall take paines to perswade the Nobility and others infected with the said new Opinion, to returne of themselves, and of their owne free-will to the Catholique Religion, and to abjure and renounce the New, without any more expresse commandement from the King. For howsoever it be, his Majesty is resolved to make his subjects live in his Religion, and never to suffer whatsoever may betide, that there shall bee any other forme or exercise of Religion in his Realm then the Catholique; The said Duke of Guise shall communicate with the principal Officers and Magistrates, having the principall charge and administration of Justice in Cities of his government, his Majesties declaration, to the intent they should know his mind, and the good end whereunto he tendeth for the uniting and quietnesse of his subjects, to the intent the said M. de Guise, and the said Officers and Magistrates, should with one concord, intelligence and correspondence proceed to the effect above-said, so that fruit and quietnesse may thereof ensue, such as his Majesty desireth, not only for himselfe, but for the whole Realme. The Baylifes and Stewards which are not in Religion accordingly qualified, shall within one monethmonth resigne their Offices to Gentlemen capable, and of the quality required by the Edict, which may keepe and exercise the same. And to the intent this should be done, his Majesty doth now presently declare them deprived after the said month, if they do not then resigne, that they shall have no occasion or colour of excuse to delay their resignations, and yet permitteth them in the mean while to resigne without any fine paying. All Baylifes and Stewards shall be resident at their offices upon paine of losse of the same, and if they cannot so be, then they shall be bound to resigne. All Archbishops and Bishops shall likewise be resident in their Dioces and such as for age & other indisposition of person cannot preach the Word of God, nor edifie the people, and do other functions appertaining to their charge and dignity, shall be bound to take a conductor to comfort them, and to employ themselves to the duty of their charge. To the which Conductor they shall appoint an honest and reasonable pension according to the fruits and revenue of their living. Also Parsons and Vicars shall be resident at their Benefices, or else shall be admonished to resigne them to such as will be resident, and do their duty. Archbishops and Bishops shall take information of them which hold Abbeyes, Priories, and other Benefices in their Diocesse, of what quality soever they are, and how they do their duty in the administration of them, where upon they shall make processe by word unto the Governours, which shall send them to the King to provide therein as reason shall move him. They shall compell the Curates actually to abide at the places of their Benefices, or else shall appoint other in their steads according to the disposition of the Cannons.
At Paris the third of November, 1572. Signed CHARLES.
LETTERS OF M. DE Gordes, the Kings Lieutenant in Daulphine, to certaine of the Religion in his Government, wherby he exhorteth them to come backe againe to the Religion of Rome; and how the King is determined to suffer none other.
SIr, I am sufficiently advertised of your behaviour, but you should remember what advertisements I have before sent you to returne to the Catholique Religion of your selfe, which is the best hold and stay that you can choose for your preservation and health putting from you all those which perswade you to the contrary, who would abide to see any commotion or disorder, rather than abate any point of their opinion. And by this meanes you shall make evident to the King, the will which you say you have to obey his Majesty, counselling you for as much as I desire your well doing, that this is the best for you to do, without looking for any more open commandement: otherwise assure your selfe, there can but evill come of it, and that his Majesty would be obeyed. And thus I pray God to advise you, and give you hi… holy grace.
From Grenoble the sixt of December, 1572. Your entire good friend, GORDES.