The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Introduction 2 · Section 18
SECT. XVIII. The King's Edict of Grace and Pardon, granted by his Majeſty unto the Duke of Rohan and the Lord of Soubize, and to all other his Rebellious Subjects, of the Towns, Champain Countrey, Caſtles, and places in the Provinces of Higher and Lower Languedoc, Sevennes, Gevaudan, Guienne, Foix, and elſewhere, together with the Articles.
Done at Niſmes in July 1629. and verified in the Parliament of Tholouſe the 27th of Auguſt, the ſame Year.
LOUIS by the grace of God King of France and Navarre, to all preſent and to come, greeting. That Love we bear unto our Subjects, and that Compaſſion we have for the Miſeries brought upon them by the Wars and Diviſions with which this poor Kingdom hath been a long time afflicted, have touched us ſo ſenſibly, that laying by all Conſiderations of our Health, and the Inconveniences of the Seaſons of the Year, we have uſed all means poſſible to reduce under our obedience thoſe who had departed from it, and had been the cauſe of all theſe Calamities. We hoped that the example of thoſe Cities which returned under our Authority in the Years 1620, 1621, and 1622, would have affected them with a ſence of gratitude; but ſeeing they were hindred from ſo doing by their obſtinacy, or by the violence and artifice of thoſe Factions in which they were ingaged, We have invited them by our Declarations to return unto their Duty, and by all the moſt favourable Perſwaſions that our Subjects could receive. We have alſo prepared great and puiſſant Armies, that by force we might reduce them, who being obſtinate in their Rebellions were become deaf and blind, and not moved with any Arguments and Occaſions offered them for their Duty. And God hath been pleaſed to bleſs us with ſucceſs, and to let us reap and enjoy the fruit of our Arms, which the City of Rochel hath firſt of all experienced, as is evident by the Edict, that We cauſed to be made and publiſhed upon its reduction. The City of Privas in Vivaretz, which conſided in its ſituation, difficult, (and as they believed) inacceſſible in its Fortifications, and in the abundance of its Proviſions and Ammunitions with which it was repleniſhed, priding it ſelf in a long continued Proſperity, was ſo bold as to reſiſt Us, and to attend the Battery of our Cannons, and the Effort of our Arms; and deſpiſing the ſweet Summons of our Goodneſs, the hatred of the Inhabitants was ſo great, that loſing all hopes of maintaining themſelves in their Rebellion, they had rather abandon their Houſes and Eſtates than ſeek their preſervation in our Mercy, of which they might have been aſſured, ſo that they have loſt the very hopes of ever enjoying it, and could in no wiſe avoid their deſtruction by Fire and Sword which the Divine Vengeance hath excited againſt them: for which reaſon we have provided by our Letters of Declaration ſeparately expedited, that they ſhould not be compriſed in this preſent Edict. But this Chaſtiſement having rendred others wiſer, hath cauſed, that not only the High and Lower Vivaretz, but alſo divers other Towns and Forts have returned unto their Duty, and have ſworn Fidelity unto Us, for which cauſe We have pardoned them their Rebellion, and granted them an Act of Oblivion, cauſing their Fortifications and Walls to be demoliſhed, which feeding the fooliſh confidence of others had occaſioned all thoſe Miſeries they have ſince ſuffered. Divers Gentlemen alſo being touched with the Felicity which they had found in our Favour, have had recourſe unto it, and received it, and have quitted the Rebels Party. The City of Alez, extreamly ſtrong in its ſituation, fortified with Ramparts and Bulworks, and of all that the Wit of Man could invent for troubling the Land, made ſemblance as if it would reſiſt and ſtop the Courſe and Progreſs of our Victories; but when it ſaw it ſelf incompaſſed with our Army, our Cannons of Battery ready to make a breach, it durſt not ſtand out the firſt ſhot, leſt it ſhould be forced to ſubmiſſion, as is ever practiſed in ſuch like caſes, by the Laws of War; ſo that the Inhabitants came and proſtrated themſelves at Our feet, and implored Our Favour and Pardon, which We graciouſly beſtowed upon them. And when as We were purſuing Our Victories, the Duke of Rohan, the Citizens of Anduze, thoſe of Sauve, Gange, Le Vigan, Florac, Meruez, and all other places of the Sevennes, Niſmes, Aymargues, Ʋſez, Milhaud, Cornus, St. Affrique, St. Felix, St. Rome of Taon, the Pont de Camarez, Viane, Caſtres, Rogve Courbe, Reuel, Montauban, Cauſſde, Mazeres, Saverdun, Carlat, Le Mas d' Azil, and generally all Fortreſſes and places in the Higher and Lower Languedoc, Sevennes, Gevaudan, Guyenne, and Foix, the Gentlemen and others who were in Arms yet againſt Us and Our Service, did ſend their Deputies unto Us, to teſtifie their Repentance for having fallen into Rebellion, and promiſing to yield unto Us in the face of the whole World all that Obedience and Fidelity which good and loyal Subjects owe unto their King, they petitioning Us, that We would pardon them, and grant them an Act of Oblivion for their ſaid Rebellion, and for all Matters paſſed and done by occaſion thereof; and they offered of their own accord, to raze the Fortifications of the ſaid Towns, that ſo there might be no cauſe given us to diſtruſt their Fidelity, or that might miniſter an occaſion unto any one of departing from it; and farther to aſſure Us, they would put into our Hands ſuch Hoſtages out of thoſe Towns, and ſuch a number of them as We ſhould demand; unto which We did the more readily incline, becauſe We would by ſo rare an Example of Clemency, after ſo many Relapſes, gain the greater Intereſts upon the Hearts and Affections of Our Subjects, and ſpare the eſtuſion of their Blood, the deſolating of the Province, and all thoſe Confuſions and Calamities which be the inſeparable attendants of War; We being ſolely moved hereunto by our meer compaſſion of their Miſeries, and deſire of their Welfare. And this cauſeth Us to hope, that Our ſaid Subjects, having ſuch manifeſt Tokens of that Goodneſs which is treaſured up in our Heart for them, will return the more ſincerely unto their Duty, and that it will ſerve as an everlaſting Cement to keep them inſeparably united unto our obedience; We waiting for that Grace and Mercy of God in Heaven to touch and illuminate their Minds, that they may be reunited unto the Catholick Church, and ſo dry up the Fountain of theſe moſt lamentable Diviſions; For theſe Cauſes, after that the Hoſtages of the ſaid Towns were delivered to Us, and that We had put them into ſafe places appointed by Us to this purpoſe, where all and every one of them reſpectively ſhould dwell, until the ſaid Fortifications were perfectly raſed and demoliſhed, We deſirous to take ſome courſe about the paſt Diſorders, and to prevent the like for the future, We do give you to know and underſtand, that after We had maturely debated this Affair with our Council, took their advice, from Our certain Knowledge, full Power, ſpecial Grace, and Royal Authority, by this Our preſent, perpetual and irrevocable Edict, ſigned with Our Hand, We have declared, enacted, and ordained, We do declare, enact, and ordain, We will, and 'tis Our pleaſure,
I. That the Roman Catholick and Apoſtolick Religion ſhall be ſet up again and reſtored in all Towns and places of the ſaid Countrey…, from whence it had been removed or diverted; And all Churches, Goods, and Eccleſiaſtical Houſes in thoſe ſaid places and Provinces ſhall be reſtored unto them to whom they do belong, without any ſuing for the Profits paſt and received. In which Churches and in all thoſe ſaid places the ſaid Religion ſhall be exerciſed freely and peaceably without any trouble or obſtruction whatſoever. But nevertheleſs we ordain, that in all the Monaſteries which are in thoſe Towns returned unto their obedience to our Authority, that there ſhall not be placed any other Religious Perſons than thoſe who live in a moſt exact obſervation of the Rule of their Order, according to thoſe Letters, which they ſhall obtain from us.
II. And whereas we deſire above all things to ſee for the future a perpetual Union among our Subjects, tho' we will and intend to maintain them who profeſs the ſaid pretended Reformed Religion in the free and peaceable exerciſe thereof, and without any trouble, yet we cannot but deſire their converſion, which we beg heartily of God in our daily Prayers. Wherefore we exhort all our ſaid Subjects of the ſaid pretended Reformed Religion to diveſt themſelves of all paſſion, that ſo they may be the more capable of receiving the Light of Heaven, and of returning into the Boſom of the Church, in which for above eleven hundred Years continuance the Kings our Predeceſſors have lived without any interruption or change. For we cannot any other or better way expreſs unto them our paternal affection, than by deſiring that they would walk with us in the ſame Path-way unto Eternal Salvation in which we our ſelves are going.
III. We do farther ordain, that all Patrons, to whom of right it appertaineth, ſhall provide for all the vacant Pariſhes in thoſe Countreys, good, ſufficient, and able Curates: and that they ſo order it, that they have a ſufficient Income for their Maintenance, that ſo they may acquit themſelves worthily of their Functions, according to the tenour of thoſe Ordinances made by us the laſt January, or by ſome other means more commodious, according to that Report which ſhall be made by thoſe Commiſſioners, who ſhall be deputed by us to this purpoſe.
IV. We have remitted, pardoned, and indemnified, we do remit, pardon, and indemnify, unto the ſaid Duke of Rohan, and Lord of Soubize, and all the Inhabitants of the ſaid Towns and Places, and thoſe of the Champain Country, which adhered to them, all matters paſſed ſince the 21. of July, 1627. unto the day of the Publication made in every Seneſchalſy, of theſe Articles of Grace, which we accorded them the 27. day of June laſt. We have diſcharged, and do diſcharge them of all acts of Hoſtility, raiſing of Armies, leading of Warlike Souldiers, Enterprizes by Sea and Land, of general or particular Aſſemblies, yea, and of that Aſſembly at Niſmes, ſeizing of Eccleſiaſtical, or of the Royal Moneys, or of Moneys belonging unto private Perſons, Coining of Money under whatſoever title or value, Imprinted Libels, Inſurrections and popular Commotions, Riots, Violences, Attempts made upon the two Towns of St. Amand, and the Caſtles of that Lord, the taking of the Caſtles of St. Stevens, of Valfranceſquez, and Florac, and the raſing of it; as alſo the Murder and other Accidents fallen out in that Enterprize upon St. Germier and Caſtres the laſt January; as alſo the Inhabitants of Ʋſez for the Murder of the Sieur du Flos: and the Conſuls of the ſaid place, the Decrees denounc'd againſt them in the Parliament of Tholouſe, and in the Court of the Edict of Beziers, and the Sieurs D'aubais, James Genoier, Paul Sauſſier, and Andrew Peliſſier, for their being named and choſen to be Conſuls of Niſmes in the year 1627. and their exerciſe of the ſaid Offices for the ſaid year, as alſo all the Political Conſuls and Counſellers, and the Conſular Town-Clark, and all thoſe mentioned by name in that Decree paſt in the Court of the Edict at Beziers about the proceedings of the Sieurs de Suc, and Mauſſac, who were Counſellors there, and of their proſecution by reaſon of the ſaid Conſulſhip of Niſmes, and the Decrees thereupon made, both in our Privy-Council, and ſaid Court of Parliament, Court of the Edict, and Court of Aids ſitting at Montpellier. And the Inhabitants of Anduze of their Murder of the Sieur de Mantaille, and the Sentences of Condemnation iſſued out againſt the Conſuls and particular Inhabitants of the ſaid Town during thoſe Commotions. The Inhabitants of Milhaud, their fact againſt the Sieur de la Roqueſavas, and the reſtitution of the ſumm of 4000. Livers unto the Jacobine Fryars. The Sieur de Gaſque for his Impriſoning of ſundry the Inhabitants of Alez, the violations of ſafe-conduct, Impoſitions and raiſings of money, erecting of Courts of Juſtice, of Officers and Councils, by the Provinces, and Executions of Judgments ordered by them in Civil or Criminal matters, Government and Regulations made among themſelves, and their exerciſing thoſe Offices in the ſaid Towns whilſt they were in Rebellion againſt us, and the Attorneys demanding Juſtice, when as they exerciſed their Offices before the ſaid Judges, Officers and Counſellors eſtabliſhed in the ſaid Towns, yea, and thoſe who had Licence from us to ſojourn and act during the ſaid time in thoſe Towns aforeſaid: Journeys, Intelligences, Negotiations, Treaties, and Contracts made with the Engliſh by the ſaid Towns and Inhabitants, and by the ſaid Dukes of Rohan, and Lord of Soubize, as well with the ſaid Engliſh, as with the King of Spain, and Duke of Savoy, and the Letters written unto the Proteſtant Cantons of Switzerland, and the Sieurs Clauſell and Du Cros, who have been imployed. All Sales of Goods, Church Furniture, or other things, felling of Timber on other Mens Lands, Fines, carrying away of Plunder, Ranſoms, or Moneys of any other nature taken away by reaſon of the ſaid Commotions, melting down, and ſeiſings of Artillery and Ammunitions, making of Powder and Saltpetre, Takings, Fortifyings, Diſmantlings or demoliſhing of Towns, Caſtles, Boroughs and Villages; yea, the taking of Meruez, Aymargues, and other burnings and demoliſhings of Churches, and Eccleſiaſtical Houſes, and others, by order and authority of the ſaid Duke of Rohan, and all Criminal Proſecutions thereupon, without prejudice unto the Civil Intereſt of the ſaid Religious Eccleſiaſticks, for which they ſhall have recourſe unto the Chamber of the Edict. We diſcharge them alſo of all Farmings of Benefices, and Church Lands, Goods, of which they were ſpoiled by thoſe who Commanded under their General. We will likewiſe, that they injoy the benefit of the whole Contents of all former Acts of Indemnity, and for whatſoever hath been done or negotiated ſince the time aforeſaid, notwithſtanding all Proceedings, Decrees, and Condemnatory Sentences had and paſſed againſt them, yea, thoſe very Decrees in the Parliaments of Tholouze and Bourdeaux, againſt the ſaid Duke of Rohan, who ſhall be preſerved in all his Honours and Dignities, which he formerly injoyed, nor ſhall he for thoſe aforeſaid matters be in the leaſt ſued or proſecuted, for which we do impoſe a perpetual ſilence on all our Attorneys-General and their Subſtitutes, excepting always all Caſes execrable which were reſerved in the Edict of Nantes, and others depending on the Civil Intereſt, about matter of fact happened at Vezenobre and Tournac, and for Houſhold-goods which are found to be the very ſame, and were taken away from thoſe, who were in Obedience to the King.
V. And in purſuance of our Intention to maintain all our Subjects, profeſſing the ſaid pretended Reformed Religion, in the free exerciſe of the ſaid Religion, and injoyment of the Edicts accorded to them: We Will that all thoſe aforeſaid ſhall intirely enjoy the ſaid Edict of Nantes, and other Edicts, Articles, and Declarations Regiſtred in our Parliaments, and that in purſuance hereof, they ſhall have the free Exerciſe of the ſaid Religion in all thoſe places in which it hath been granted to them.
VI. And all thoſe Temples and burying places, which were either taken away from them, or demoliſhed, ſhall be reſtored to them with Licence to rebuild them, if they think it needful.
VII. We Will that all Fortifications of the ſaid Towns and places, ſhall be intirely raſed and demoliſhed (except it be the whole compaſs of thoſe Walls) within three Months, and this to be diligently diſpatched by the ſaid Inhabitants; and becauſe of our confidence in them for ſo doing, we do not place any Gariſons, nor any Cittadels among them. And the ſaid demolitions ſhall be made according to the Orders and Directions of thoſe Commiſſioners which ſhall be appointed by us, and according to thoſe Orders and Inſtructions, which they ſhall have received from us. And in the mean while for greater aſſurance that this our Will ſhall be performed, Hoſtages ſhall be given by the ſaid Towns, who ſhall be kept in thoſe places ordained by us, until the ſaid Demoliſhments be fully accompliſhed.
VIII. We Will that theſe aforeſaid have their Eſtates, Moveable and Immoveable, their Priviledges, Titles, Rights, and Suits, Ordered and reſtored to them, notwithſtanding all Condemnations, Gifts, Confiſcations, and Reprizals, which may have been made and granted, excepting only the Profits and Revenues of their ſaid Eſtates, and thoſe Houſhold-Goods which are not now in being, the Woods which are cut down, the Debts which have been received unto this preſent day, actually and without fraud, after judicial Proſecution and Compulſion. Yet nevertheleſs, we will, that the precedent Declarations given upon the fact of the ſaid Repriſals, until theſe preſent Commotions, Decrees given forth contradictorily, and matters tranſacted in and upon them ſhall take place, and be Executed, notwithſtanding all Decrees to the contrary. We will alſo, that the Heirs of the Sieur de Mormoirac, ſhall be reſtored unto their Eſtates.
IX. We do permit theſe aforeſaid to return again unto their Houſes, and if there be need to rebuild them, yea, and we do permit them as to our good and faithful Subjects to dwell in ſuch Towns and Places of our Kingdom as ſhall beſt pleaſe them, excepting in the Iſles of Olleron, and Ré, and Rochell, and Privas. We do alſo permit thoſe Inhabitants of Pamiers, who were not in that City at the time of its taking to re-enter into it, and to injoy all their Eſtates, they yielding all obedience to us, and taking the Oath of Fidelity to us before our Commiſſioners, whom we have appointed to receive it.
X. Our Officers dwelling in thoſe Cities, who have not payed their annual Fee, ſhall be admitted to pay it within two Months, both for the time paſſed, and the year now current. And as for thoſe who are dead, in caſe they have paid the ſaid Annual Fee, thoſe Offices of which they were provided, ſhall be conſerved for their Widows and Children. And as for thoſe whoſe Offices we have filled up with other Perſons, by reaſon of the preſent Commotions, they ſhall be conſerved in their ſaid Offices, notwithſtanding we had ſet in others into them for a time, yea, and that they had been received and inſtalled in them. We will alſo, that the Officers of particular Lords, provided of chargeable Offices, and who were deprived of them during theſe laſt Commotions, ſhall be reſtored unto their Offices.
XI. All theſe aforeſaid ſhall be diſcharged, and we do diſcharge them of all Contributions and Quarterings of Souldiers, both in the former and theſe preſent Commotions. And likewiſe the ſaid Commonalties, and the particular Members of them, of the Indemnities and Securities that may be pretended againſt them upon the account of Impriſonments, Executions, or Expulſions out of Towns, done by Order of the ſaid Duke of Rohan, or of the Council of the Towns, or of others eſtabliſhed by him, either in the preſent or former Commotions. And as for the Taxes, and other Moneys impoſed upon the Country, in caſe any of them ſhould be of no value, through default of payment by thoſe aforeſaid of the moneys impoſed on them, whatever thoſe ſumms might be, the Receivers of the ſaid Provinces may not proſecute theſe aforeſaid for them, ſaving that the Syndic of the Country may be proſecuted till ſuch time as he ſhall have brought thoſe moneys in upon the general account of the Country.
XII. We do likewiſe diſcharge the Conſuls and particular Perſons, who are obliged during the Commotions of the Years 1621, 1622, and 1626. and thoſe who do now manage the affairs of the ſaid Towns from payment of the ſaid Obligations, notwithſtanding all Clauſes inſerted into Contracts, excepting that Creditors ſhall have power to proſecute thoſe Conſuls of the pretended Reformed Religion, we ſhall be found in actual Office, to cauſe thoſe of the ſaid pretended Reformed Religion to be Condemned to divide the ſaid Debt among themſelves, and to make payment of it.
XIII. They ſhall alſo be diſcharged from all proſecution and exaction done upon the Catholicks and other Inhabitants for the remainders of the Aſſeſſments of the former years owing by them, although they may have obtained diſcharges, either by our Letters Patents, or by the Decrees of the Court of Aids of Montpellier; and likewiſe of what remaineth to be paid of the Impoſitions and Contributions put upon any of them, (excepting the Catholicks who be exempted,) by Orders from the Governours of the Provinces, or others, who Commanded for us in the War, during the preſent or preceding Commotions.
XIV. The Inhabitants alſo of Caſtres ſhall be diſcharged from making any reſtitution for their having taken up Arms againſt our Service.
XV. The Burdens which ſhall be impoſed upon the ſaid Towns ſhall be equally born by all their Inhabitants, according to the ancient Cuſtom; excepting that the Debts Contracted by the Catholick Inhabitants, ſhall be born by them only, and thoſe Contracted by them of the ſaid pretended Reformed Religion, ſhall be acquitted alſo by themſelves only.
XVI. All judgments given by the Judges of thoſe Towns, whether in Civil or Criminal matters ſhall be valid, excepting an Appeal unto the ſaid Chambers, in Caſes which have not been decided by Martial Law, or a Council of War.
XVII. That Order anciently kept in the ſaid Towns for the Conſulſhip, Government, and Aſſembling of the ſaid Conſuls, and Town-Councils, ſhall be kept and obſerved in the ſame manner as it was before theſe Troubles.
XVIII. The States of the County of Foix ſhall meet according to the uſual manner, and all thoſe Towns which had priviledge of ſitting in thoſe Aſſemblies ſhall be called to them.
XIX. The Conſuls, Collectors, Receivers and Commiſſioners, who have handled the publick moneys, during theſe preſent, or former Troubles, ſhall be acquitted and diſcharged, they bringing in an Accompt unto the Chamber of Accompts, of moneys received and paid by them; nor ſhall the ſaid Chamber claim any Fees from them, nor reviſe thoſe ſaid Accompts. And whereas the Inhabitants of Niſmes do claim a priviledge, that they be not obliged to carry their accompts unto the ſaid Chamber, We will that they ſhall injoy their ancient uſage and cuſtom.
XX. The Tribunals of Juſtice, and Offices of Receipt, and others transferr'd becauſe of the preſent Troubles, ſhall be returned and reſtored unto thoſe Places in which they were before, yea, the Comptroler's Office newly created for the City of Montauban, but eſtabliſhed in that of Moiſſac, ſhall be ſet up in the ſaid City of Montauban, as ſoon as the Fortifications of thoſe Towns ſhall be demoliſhed.
XXI. We will that the Court of the Edict, now ſitting at Beziers, ſhall be again ſet up in the City of Caſtres, after that its Fortifications ſhall be raſed and demoliſhed, and ſhall be fixed in the ſaid Town of Caſtres according to the Edict of Nantes, notwithſtanding our Order made in January laſt, and the Decree publiſhed by the Parliament of Tholouze upon the 102 Article thereof. Which ſaid Court of the Edict his Majeſty will have maintained in all its Powers given it by the Edicts and other Ordinances.
XXII. And 'tis our will and pleaſure, that thoſe aforeſaid who were in Arms againſt us the 27th day of June laſt ſhall enjoy all theſe Favours and Grants. And as for thoſe Towns and Perſons who ſubjected themſelves before that day to our Authority, they ſhall injoy more eſpecially the Matters contained in thoſe Letters which we have granted them.
And we command our beloved and faithful Officers in our Court of Parliament of Tholouze, that they cauſe this our preſent Edict to be read, publiſhed, and regiſtred, and its Contents to be kept, obſerved, and maintained, according to its form and tenor, without tranſgreſſing, or ſuffering it to be tranſgreſſed. For ſuch is our pleaſure. And that this Matter may be firm and ſtable for ever, we have cauſed our Seal to be affixed and ſet unto theſe Preſents.
Given at Niſmes in the Month of July, and the Year of Grace 1629.And of our Reign the Twentieth. Signed, LOƲIS. And a little lower, By the KING. Phelippeaux. And ſealed on threads of Silk with the great Seal on green Wax. At the ſide, Viſa. And there was farther witten, Read, Publiſhed, and Regiſtred, the King's Attorney General having heard and required it. At Tholouze in Parliament the 27th of Auguſt, 1629. Signed, De Malenfant.