The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Introduction 2 · Section 19 – Section 21
SECT. XIX.
This Edict was obſerved even as all others which had been given by the former Kings, no farther than it pleaſed them. Many Complaints were brought in by their Deputies of its Non-performance and Violations. Some ſmall Redreſſes of their many Grievances, to ſtop their mouths, were now and then given them. But Lewes dying in the Year 1642, and this preſent King ſucceeding his deceaſed Father, there was a Declaration in their favour publiſhed by the Queen Regent and Council in his Name, July 8. 1643.
And the Reformed having ſtood by him in thoſe difficult times, (when the late Prince of Condé deſigned for the Crown) and ſecured it upon his head, this important Service drew from him the enſuing Edict, given at St. Germans en Laye, May 21. 165….
The Declaration of Louis the Fourteenth confirming the Edicts of Pacification,
Given at St. Germans in Laye, May 21. 1652.
LOUIS, by the grace of God King of France and Navarre, To all Perſons who ſhall ſee theſe Preſents, Greeting.
The late King, our moſt honoured Lord and Father, whom God abſolve, having acknowledged, that it was moſt needful for preſerving the Kingdoms peace, that his Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion ſhould be maintained in the full and intire enjoyment of thoſe Edicts made in their favour, and that they ſhould enjoy the free exerciſe of their Religion; did therefore take a moſt eſpecial care by all convenient means to hinder their being troubled in the enjoyment of thoſe Liberties, Prerogatives and Priviledges granted them by thoſe ſaid Edicts; and having to this purpoſe immediately upon his coming unto the Crown by his Letters Patents, dated May 22. 1610. and ſince his Majority by his Declaration of the 20th of November, 1615. declared, that he would that thoſe ſaid Edicts ſhould be executed, that ſo he might thereby ingage his ſaid Subjects to continue in their Duty. Now we following the example of ſo great a Prince, and imitating him in his goodneſs, we are willing to do the like: Having for thoſe very ſame Motives and Conſiderations by our Declaration of the Eighth of July, 1643. willed and ordained, that our ſaid Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion ſhall enjoy all Grants, Priviledges and Advantages, eſpecially the free and full exerciſe of their ſaid Religion, according to the Edicts, Declarations and Orders made on this account for them. And for as much as our ſaid Subjects of the ſaid pretended Reformed Religion have given us certain proofs of their affection and fidelity, particularly on thoſe occaſions which occur'd unto them, to our very great ſatisfaction, Be it known, that we for theſe Cauſes, and at the moſt humble Petition preſented to us by thoſe our ſaid Subjects profeſſing the ſaid pretended Reformed Religion; and after that we had cauſed it to be debated in our preſence, and with our Council, We, by their advice, and from our certain knowledge, and Royal Authority, have commanded, declared and ordained, and we do command, declare and ordain, and 'tis our will and pleaſure, that our ſaid Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion ſhall be maintained and preſerved, as indeed we do now maintain and preſerve them in the full and entire enjoyment of the Edict of Nantes, other Edicts, Declarations, Decrees, Articles, and Warrants, done and diſpatched in their favour, regiſtred in Parliaments, and Chambers of the Edict, particularly in the free and publick exerciſe of the ſaid Religion in all thoſe places in which it was accorded them, notwithſtanding all Letters and Decrees either of our Council, or of the Sovereign Courts, or other Judgments to the contrary. We willing that the tranſgreſſors of thoſe our Edicts ſhall be puniſhed and chaſtiſed as diſturbers of the publick peace. And we command our beloved and faithful Officers in our Courts of Parliament, Chambers of the Edict, Bailiffs, Seneſchals, their Lieutenants, and other our Officers to whom it ſhall appertain, every one in his place, that they do cauſe theſe Preſents to be regiſtred, read, and if need be, publiſhed; and that the Contents of them be kept, obſerved and maintained according to their form and tenor. And becauſe there will be need of this preſent Declaration in many and divers places, we will, that unto Copies duly collationed by one of our beloved and faithful Counſellors and Secretaries there ſhall be as much faith given as to this preſent Original. For ſuch is our pleaſure. In teſtimony whereof we have cauſed our great Seal to be put unto theſe Preſents.
Given at St. Germain in Laye, the 21st day of May, and in the Year of Grace 1652. And of our Reign the Tenth. Signed, LOƲIS. And a little lower, By the KING. Phelippeaux. And ſealed with the great Seal.
SECT. XX.
Now as well at Court as in the Field each ſtrove to proclaim loudeſt the Deſerts of the Reformed. The Queen Mother herſelf ingenuouſly acknowledged, that they had preſerved the Government for herſelf and the young King. This is a Truth that cannot be conteſted, and yet as true as it is, what I ſhall add will ſeem incredible; But the Enemies of the Reformed have told it them an hundred times over, and the ſequel hath perfectly verified it, That this Great Service of theirs in Saving the King and Kingdom was the preciſe, the principal, and proper Cauſe of their Ruine, and of all thoſe Evils which have ſince befallen them. For their reſtleſs Adverſaries, the Popiſh Clergy, uſed all endeavours to envenom the ſence of that Important Service of theirs in the Minds of the King and his chief Miniſters; for they never left ſuggeſting to them, That if upon occaſion the Reformed could ſave the State from ruine, they might likewiſe upon another, and ſiding with its Enemies utterly overthrow it. That therefore in prudence this Party muſt be ſuppreſſed, and what good they had done, muſt be no longer regarded, but as an Indication of that Miſchief which ſome time or other they were capable of effecting. This diabolical Policy, which hinders Subjects from ſerving their Prince, to avoid the pulling down upon themſelves and children Chaſtiſements inſtead of Recompences, took immediately with the ungrateful Court. For as ſoon as the Kingdom was ſetled in Peace, the Deſign was put on foot of deſtroying the Reformed; and that they might clearly underſtand, that it was their Zeal and Loyalty for their King which had ruin'd them, Thoſe Cities, which had given the nobleſt Inſtances of it, were firſt aſſaulted. Immediately, on very ſlight pretences, they fell foul on Rochel, Montauban, and Milhaud, three Towns where the Profeſſors of the Reformed Religion had moſt ſignalized themſelves for the Court's Intereſts. Rochel was plagued with an infinite number of Proſcriptions, her beſt Miniſters and Citizens being driven out and exiled. Montauban and Milhaud are ſack'd by Soldiers. Theſe were but particular Strokes, and the beginning of thoſe dreadful Woes, which followed after.
SECT. XXI.
'Twill be a difficult matter to give in an exact account of thoſe various methods uſed for their deſtruction. For the malice of their Enemies was exceeding fruitful in plotting and contriving of miſchiefs. Every day produced a ſuperfetation of them for twenty Years together. I will inſtance but in a few, for it would be an endleſs work to enumerate all. Theſe were ſome of the chiefeſt.
Firſt, Law-Suits in Courts of Juſtice. Secondly, Deprivations of all kinds of Offices and Employments, and in general of all manner of ways for ſubſiſtence. Thirdly, The Infractions of the Edicts, under the plauſible gloſs of explaining them. Fourthly, New Laws and Orders. Fifthly, Juggles and amuſing Tricks. Sixthly, The animating and exaſperating of the Rabble with Hatred and Rage againſt them, and barbarous Cruelties and Torments.
Theſe were ſome of the moſt conſiderable Machins which the Perſecutors employed for the attaining their ends ſeveral Years together. It being no eaſie matter preſently to accompliſh their deſigns, they needed time for the ſharpning of their Tools, and the better ordering of their Engins; to paſs by the many Traverſes and Interruptions they had by foreign Wars, yet that great ſucceſs they had in them did mightily inflame their courage and hopes, and confirm them in their grand deſign of a total extirpation of the Reformed.