A Pattern of Popish Peace, Declaration 2 – Letter 1
A DECLARATION OF the King, concerning the occasion of the Admirals death and his adherents and complices, hapned in the City of Paris the 24. of August 1572.
Imprinted at Paris by John Dallier Stationer, dwelling on Saint Michaels bridge, at the signe of the white Rose: By the Kings Licence.
BY THE King,
HIS Majesty desiring to have all Seigniours, Gentlemen, and other his subjects, understand the cause of the murder of the Admirall and his adherents and complices, which lately happened in this City of Paris the 24. day of this present monethmonth of August, lest the said deed should be otherwise disguised and reported than it was indeed: His Majesty therefore declareth that which was done, was by his expresse commandement, and for no cause of Religion, nor breaking his Edicts of Pacification, which he alwayes intended, and still mindeth and intendeth to observe and keepe: yea, it was rather done to withstand and prevent a most detestable and cursed conspiracy begun by the said Admirall the chiefe Captaine thereof, and his said adherents and complices, against the Kings person, his estate, the Queene his mother, and the Princes his brethren, the King of Navarre, and other Lords about him. Wherefore his Majesty by this Declaration & Ordinance giveth to understand to all Gentlemen and others of the Religion, which they pretend reformed, that he mindeth and purposeth that they shall live under his protection, with their wives and children in their houses, in as much safoguard as they did before, following th… b…nefit of the former Edicts of Pacification, most expresly commanding and ordaining, that all Governours and Lieutenants generall in every of his Countreyes and Provinces, and other Justices and Officers, to whom it appertaineth, do not attempt, nor suffer to be attempted any thing in what sort soever, upon the persons and goods of them of the Religion, their wives, children, and families, on paine of death to be inflicted on those that shall be found faulty and culpable in this behalfe. And neverthelesse to withstand the troubles, slanders, suspitions, and defiances that may come by Sermons and assemblies, as well in the house of the said Gentlemen, as in other places, as it is suffered by the said Edicts of Pacification: it is expressely forbidden, and inhibited by his Majesty to all Gentlemen and others of the said Religion, to have no assemblies for any cause at all, untill his Majesty hath provided and appointed otherwise for the tranquillity of his Realme, upon paint of disobedience and confiscation of body and goods. It is also expressely forbidden under the paine aforesaid, that for the foresaid occasions, none shall take or retain any prisoners, or take ransome of them, and that incontinently they certifie the Governours of every Province, and the Lieutenant Generall, of the name and quality of every such prisoner, whom his Majesty hath appointed shall be released and set at liberty, except they be of the chiefe of the late conspiracy, or such as have made some practise or devise for them, or had intelligence thereof: and they shall advertise his Majesty of such, to know his further pleasure. It is also ordained, that from hence-forth none shall take or arrest any prisoner for that cause, without his Majesties commandement, or his Officers, nor that none be suffered to roame abroad in the fields, to take up dogs, Cattel, Beefes, Kine, or other beasts, goods, fruits, graine, nor any thing else, nor to hurt the labourers by word or deed, but to let them alone about their work and calling, in peace and safety.
At Paris the 28. of August. 1572. Signed, CHARLES, and underneath FIZES.
THE KINGS LETTERS to the Officers of Burges, of the same argument that the former Declaration was.
OƲR trusty and well beloved, We considering that under the colour of the death of the Admirall, and his adherents and complices, certaine Gentlemen, and others our subjects, professing the Religion called Reformed, might rise and assemble together to the prejudice and hinderance of the tranquillity which we have alwayes desired should be in our Realme, the doing of the said murder being counterfeited and given out otherwise than it was. We have therefore made a Declaration and Ordinance, which we send you, willing you to publish the same incontinently by sound of Trumpet, and setting the same up in such places of your Jurisdiction, where cryes and Proclamations are usually made, to the end that every one might know it. And although we have alwayes been diligent observers of our Edicts of Pacification; yet seeing the troubles and seditions which might arise amongst our subjects by the occasion of the said murder, as wel of the Admirall as of his companions, we command you, and ordaine, that you particularly forbid the principals of the Religion, pretended reformed, within your Jurisdiction, that they have no Sermons nor assemblies either in their houses, or in any other places, to take away all doubt and suspition which might be conceived against them. And likewise that you advertise such as dwel in the Cities of your Jurisdiction, what you judge meet to be done, to the intent they might in this point follow Our mind, and keep them quiet in their houses, as they may do by the benefit of our Edict of Pacification, and there they shall be under Our protection and safeguard: but if they will not so retire themselves after you have given them warning, then shall you set on them with all strength and force, as wel by the Provosts of the Marishals and their Archers, as others which you can gather together by Bell-ringing or otherwise, so that you hew them all to peeces as enemies to Our Crowne. Besides, what commandements soever we have sent by word of mouth, either to you, or others in Our Realme, when we were in feare, upon just occasion, knowing the conspiracy that the Admirall had begun of some mischance that might fall unto us, we have and do revoke, willing you and others that no such thing be executed, for such is Our pleasure.
Given at Paris the 30. of August, 1572. Thus signed CHARLES, and underneath, De Neuf-ville. Published in judgement.