The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 25 (Castres) · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. The Lord Commiſſioners Speech to the COUNCIL.
Propoſals of the Lord CommiſſionerTHIS Commiſſion being read, The Lord Galland declared fully and at large what Orders had been given him by His Majeſty, the Sum of which was an Aſſurance of His Majeſties good Will towards His Subjects of the Reformed Religion, and his Royal promiſe to preſerve them in their Exerciſe and peaceable profeſſion of it, and that whileſt they continued in their Duty and Obedience unto His Majeſty he would take care that his Edicts ſhould be ſtrictly and punctually obſerved. 2. And that the Foundations of their Obedience may be the more firm and ſolid, His Majeſty exhorted his ſaid Subjects of the Reformed Religion to live in a greater Equanimity and Moderation with his other Subjects, though differing from them in Religion. So that the difference in Religion may cauſe no difference in their Affections, which His Majeſty aſſureth His ſaid Proteſtant Subjects ſhall be accurately obſerved towards them, that ſo they may not in any manner be troubled or proſecuted upon the pretext and ground of their Religion. 3. The Profeſſors alſo of the Reformed Religion ought on their part to promiſe, that they will not hold any Intelligence, Alliances, or Correſpondence with Perſons abroad and without the Kingdom, but only with His Majeſty, Repoſing their intire Confidence in His Majeſties Royal Word, Grace and Favour. He added farther, That His Majeſty commanded him to acquaint us, that during the Wars he was never minded to abrogate or diſanul the Edicts, becauſe he alwayes had a particular regard to the Repoſe of his Subjects. For immediately upon his being declared Major, he confirmed his Edicts, renewed his Alliances, increaſed and augmented his Bounty unto the Miniſters, and imployed in his moſt important Affairs of State the Lords and Gentlemen profeſſing the ſaid Religion, and when as ſome ſpecial Occurrences neceſſitated him to act otherwiſe, He did notwithſtanding expreſs and evidence the Effects of his Clemency by receiving and pardoning whole Communities, and all ſuch of His Subjects as ſubmitted themſelves unto his Authority, he gave them a General Amneſty to Indemnifie them. 4. And although the remembrance of thoſe Actions be dead and buried, yet 'tis His Majeſties Pleaſure, that the Canon paſt in the Synod of Realmont be put in Execution, and an Information taken and brought in againſt thoſe Miniſters, who had embrac't the Spaniſh Faction, and that the Deputies unto this Council do Order a Declaration to this purpoſe to be drawn up, not as if His Majeſty intended an Hue and Cry ſhould be iſſued out after the guilty, or that they ſhould be proſecuted for it, but that all occaſions of Troubles may be taken away, and that the Lives and Actions of thoſe who perſiſted in their Duty may not at all be blemiſhed. 5. The ſaid Lord Commiſſioner added further, That it was His Majeſties Will as it had been Decreed in the laſt Synod at Charenton, that Miniſters ſhould be confined to the proper Duties of their Calling, and preach unto their People Obedience, and not do as too too many did in the time of the late Troubles, get into Political Aſſemblies, and intermeddle with Affairs of State. 6. And that Obedience and Subjection unto His Majeſties Authority may be kept up inviolably, and not be corrupted by any Foreign Manners or Way of Living; It is His Majeſties Pleaſure, and according to Laws in this caſe provided, That no Miniſter ſhall depart the Kingdom without his Royal Licence firſt obtained, nor live in a Foreign Land, nor ſhall theſe National Councils lend any of their Miniſters unto Foreign Princes or Republicks, who may importune them to ſuch a Loane, either for a determinate time, or during Life, but they ſhall remit the demand unto His Majeſty, who in ſuch caſes will particularly conſider his good Neighbours and Allies.