The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Introduction 2 · Section 51 – Section 52
SECT. LI. The King's Edict, forbidding all Publick Exerciſe of the Pretended Reformed Religion in this Kingdom.
LEWES, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre, To all preſent and to come, Greeting. Whereas King Henry the Great, our Grandfather, of glorious Memory, having procured a Peace for his Subjects, after thoſe great Loſſes they had ſuſtained during the Civil and Foreign Wars, endeavoured that it might not be diſturbed upon the account of the Pretended Reformed Religion, as it had fallen out in the Reigns of the Kings his Predeceſſors, had therefore by his Edict, given at Nantes in the Month of April, in the Year one thouſand five hundred and eighty eight, eſtabliſhed ſuch Meaſures as ſhould be obſerved with reference to thoſe of the ſaid Religion, the Places in which they might exerciſe it, and ordained extraordinary Judges for the miniſtring of Juſtice to them, and finally, had provided alſo by ſpecial Articles whatſoever he conceived needful to maintain Tranquillity in his Kingdom, and to diminiſh that Averſion which had ariſen between perſons of the one and other Religion, that ſo he might be the better enabled to carry on his deſign of reuniting them unto the Church, who had been too eaſily eſtranged from it. And foraſmuch as this Intention of the aforeſaid King, our Grandfather, could not by reaſon of his ſudden death be accompliſhed, and the Execution of the ſaid Edict was alſo interrupted; during the Minority of the late King our moſt honoured Lord and Father of glorious Memory, by reaſon of the new Enterpriſes of thoſe of the Pretended Reformed Religion, ſo that occaſion was taken to deprive them of divers Priviledges which had been granted them by the ſaid Edict. Nevertheleſs, the ſaid King, our late Lord and Father, uſing his ordinary Clemency did yet vouchſafe them a new Edict at Niſmes, in the Month of July one thouſand ſix hundred and twenty nine, by means whereof Peace being again reſtored, the ſaid late King, animated with the ſame Spirit and Zeal for Religion, as the King our Grandfather, had reſolved to improve to the utmoſt this Peace, by endeavouring to bring his godly deſign into practice: but the Foreign Wars falling out a few Years after, in ſuch a manner, that from the Year 1635. until the Truce concluded with the Princes of Europe in the Year 1684. the Kingdom having but little reſt, it was ſcarce poſſible to do any thing for the advancement of Religion, unleſs it were to diminiſh the numbers of the Churches belonging to thoſe of the Pretended Reformed Religion, by interdicting ſuch as had been built contrary to the Orders of the ſaid Edict, and by ſuppreſſion of the Mixt Chambers, which were erected only proviſionally.
God having at laſt granted to our People the injoyment of a perfect Peace, and we alſo not being occupied with thoſe cares to protect them againſt our Enemies, and being able to improve this Truce, which we effected for this very end, that we might wholly apply our ſelves to ſeek out ſuch means whereby we might accompliſh ſucceſsfully the deſign of the ſaid Kings our Father, and Grandfather, upon which alſo we entred as ſoon as we came unto the Crown, we now ſee, and, according to our Duty, thank God for it, that our Cares have at laſt obtained that end we had propounded to our ſelves, inaſmuch as the far greater and better part of our Subjects of the ſaid Pretended Reformed Religion have embraced the Catholick. And inaſmuch as hereby the Execution of the Edict of Nantes, and of whatſoever elſe hath been ordained in favour of the ſaid Pretended Reformed Religion is become uſeleſs, we have judged, that we could do nothing better towards the total blotting out of the remembrance of thoſe Troubles, Confuſions and Miſchiefs which the progreſs of that falſe Religion had cauſed in our Kingdom, and which occaſioned that Edict, and ſeveral other Edicts and Declarations which had preceded it, or had been in conſequence thereof Enacted, than totally to revoke the ſaid Edict of Nantes, and the ſpecial Articles which in purſuance of it had been conceded, and whatſoever elſe had been done in favour of that ſaid Religion.
I. We therefore make known, that for theſe Cauſes, and others thereunto us moving, and of our certain knowledge, full power, and Royal Authority, we have by this preſent perpetual and irrevocable Edict, ſuppreſſed and revoked, we do ſuppreſs and revoke the Edict of the King our ſaid Grandfather, given at Nantes in the Month of April, one thouſand five hundred eighty and two, in its whole extent, together with thoſe ſpecial Articles ordained the ſecond day of May following, and the Letters Patents expedited thereupon, and the Edict given at Niſmes in the Month of July, one thouſand ſix hundred and twenty nine, we declare them void, and as if they had never been, together with all Grants made as well by them, as by other Edicts, Declarations and Decrees, to thoſe of the ſaid Pretended Reformed Religion, of what kind ſoever they may be, which ſhall in like manner be reputed as if they had never been: And in conſequence hereof we will, and 'tis our pleaſure, that all the Temples of thoſe of the ſaid Religion, ſituated within our Kingdom, Countries, Lands and Lordſhips of our ſubjection ſhall be immediately demoliſhed.
II. We forbid our ſaid Subjects of the ſaid Pretended Reformed Religion any more to aſſemble themſelves, for exerciſe of their ſaid Religion, in any Place or Private Houſe, under any pretence whatſoever, yea, and all real Exerciſes, or ſuch as were in Lordſhips, although the ſaid Exerciſes had been maintained by the Decrees of our Council.
III. In like manner we forbid all Lords of every degree the Exerciſe of their Religion in their Houſes and Mannors, whatſoever may be the Quality of their ſaid Mannors, and that upon pain of Confiſcation of Bodies and Goods for thoſe of our ſaid Subjects, who ſhall ſo exerciſe their ſaid Religion.
IV. We command all Miniſters of the Pretended Reformed, who will not turn from it and embrace the Catholick Apoſtolick and Roman Religion, to depart our Kingdom and the Lands of our Dominion, within a Fortnight after the publication of this our preſent Edict, and not to tarry beyond that time, or during that ſaid Fortnight to Preach, Exhort, or perform any Function of their Miniſtry, upon pain of being ſent to the Gallies.
V. Our will is, that ſuch of the ſaid Miniſters, who ſhall change their Religion, ſhall, during their whole life, continually injoy, and their Widows alſo after them, as long as they remain unmarried, the ſame Exemption from Taxes and Lodging of Souldiers, which they injoyed during the time of their Miniſtry; and farther, we will pay alſo unto the ſaid Miniſters, as long as they live, a Stipend, which ſhall exceed by one third the Wages they received for their Miniſtry, and their Wives alſo, as long as they abide Widows, ſhall injoy the one half of their ſaid Stipend.
VI. If any of the ſaid Miniſters deſire to become Advocates, or would proceed Doctors of the Laws, 'tis our will, and we declare it, That they ſhall be diſpenſed as to three Years ſtudying, preſcribed by our Declarations, and having undergone the uſual Examination, and thereby judged capable, that they be promoted Doctors, paying one half only of thoſe Fees, cuſtomarily paid to this purpoſe in every Univerſity.
VII. We forbid all Private Schools for the Inſtruction of the Children of thoſe of the ſaid Pretended Reformed Religion, and generally all other things whatſoever, that may bear the ſign of Priviledge or Favour to that ſaid Religion.
VIII. And touching the Children that ſhall be born of thoſe of the ſaid Pretended Reformed Religion. Our Will is, that for time to come they be baptized by the Curates of their Pariſhes. Commanding their Fathers and Mothers for that purpoſe to ſend them to their Churches, on penalty of being fined five hundred Livers, or a greater ſumm; and thoſe Children ſhall henceforth be brought up in the Catholick, Apoſtolick, and Roman Religion: And we moſt ſtrictly Command all the Judges of thoſe reſpective places to ſee that this be Executed.
IX. And that we may expreſs our Clemency towards thoſe our Subjects of the ſaid Pretended Reformed Religion, who are withdrawn from out of our Kingdom, Countries, and Lands of our Dominion before Publication of this our preſent Edict, we will and give them to underſtand, that in caſe they return within the ſpace of four Months, from the day of its Publication, they may, and it ſhall be lawful for them to enter into the poſſeſſion of their Eſtates, and to injoy them even as they might have done, if they had been always at home; whereas contrarily, ſuch as within that time of four Months ſhall not return into our Kingdom, or Countries, or Lands of our Dominion, their Eſtates abandon'd by them ſhall be and remain Confiſcated, according to our Declarations of the twentieth day of Auguſt laſt paſt.
X. And we do moſt ſtraitly again repeat our Prohibitions unto all our Subjects of the ſaid Pretended Reformed Religion, that neither they, nor their Wives nor Children do depart our ſaid Kingdom, Countries, or Lands of our Dominion, nor tranſport their Goods and Effects, on pain, for Men ſo offending, of their being ſent to the Gallies, and of Confiſcation of Bodies and Goods for the Women.
XI. We will and give them to know, that all Declarations publiſhed againſt the Relapſt, ſhall be Executed according to their form and tenour.
XII. And furthermore, Thoſe of the ſaid Pretended Reformed Religion, till ſuch time as it ſhall pleaſe God to illuminate them as others have been, may abide in the Towns and Places of our Kingdom, Countries, and Lands of our Dominion, and continue their Traffick, and injoy their Goods, without being troubled or hindred, becauſe of the ſaid Pretended Reformed Religion, Provided as before, That they do not exerciſe it, nor aſſemble themſelves on pretence of Prayers, or of any manner of worſhip, according to that ſaid Religion, on the Penalties beforementioned, of Confiſcation of Bodies and Goods. We Command all our Truſty and Well-beloved Counſellors in our Court of Parliament, of Accounts, and Court of Aids at Paris, Bayliffs, Seneſchalls, Provoſts, and other our Juſtices and Officers to whom it ſhall belong, and to their Deputies, that they cauſe this preſent Edict to be read, publiſhed, and regiſtred in their Courts, and Juriſdictions, yea, and in Vacations, and to entertain it, and cauſe it to be entertained, kept and obſerved in every particular, without ſwerving, and that in no manner of wiſe they permit the leaſt ſwerving from it. For ſuch is our Will and Pleaſure. And that this may be for ever firm and ſtable, we have cauſed theſe Preſents to be Sealed with our Seal.
Given at Fountainbleau in the Month of October, in the Year of Grace one thouſand ſix hundred eighty and five, and in our Reign the Forty Third. Signed, LOƲIS. Viſa, Le Tellier. And a little lower, By the KING, Colbert. And Sealed with the Great Seal of Green Wax, upon threads of red and green ſilk. Regiſtred, heard, and at the Requeſt of the Kings Attorney General, that they might be Executed according to their form and tenor, and Copies collationed, ſent unto the Courts, Bailiwicks, and reſpective Juriſdictions, that they might be in like manner Regiſtred. And the Deputies of the King's ſaid Attorney-General are Commanded to ſee its Execution, and to Certifie the Court thereof. At Paris in the Chamber of Vacations the two and twentieth day of October, in the Year one thouſand ſix hundred fourſcore and five. Signed, De la Baune.
SECT. LII.
The ſame day that this Edict was Regiſtred, which was the 23d of October, they began to throw down the Temple of Charenton, and at the ſame time little notes were diſperſt abroad to the heads of Families, for their Appearance before Mr. Attorney-General, to give in their Anſwer, whether in three days they would embrace the Roman Catholick Religion or not.
The Eldeſt Miniſter of this Church was Commanded to leave Paris in four and twenty hours, and immediately to depart the Kingdom, (this was that excellent Man of God, Monſieur Claude, who afterward died at the Hague. Of whom I ſhall ſay more in my Icones.) One of the Kings Footmen was ordered to ſee him ſafe out of the Kings Dominions. His Collegues met with a little better treatment, for they had forty eight hours given them to quit Paris, and upon their parole for ſo doing, they were left to ſhift for themſelves. Accordingly Monſieur Maynard, Allix, and Bertau, come for England, and are here exerciſing their Miniſtry.
The reſt of the Miniſters were allowed fifteen days for their departure: but it can hardly be believed to what Cruelties and Vexations they were expoſed. They were not permitted to diſpoſe of their Eſtates, nor to carry away any of their moveables, or effects; yea, they diſputed them their very Books, and private Papers, upon this pretence, that they muſt prove and juſtify their Books and Papers did not belong to their Conſiſtories. A task impoſſible, for there were no Conſiſtories then in being. Moreover they would not give them leave to take along with them, either Father or Mother, Brother or Siſter, or any of their Relations or Kindred, though they were many of them infirm, diſeaſed, and impoveriſhed, and could not in any wiſe ſubſiſt without their help. Yea, and they went ſo far as to deny them their own Children, if they were above ſeven years old, yea, and ſome that were under that age, and were as yet hanging upon their Mothers Breaſts. They refuſed them Nurſes for their new-born Infants, although their own Mothers could not ſuckle them. In ſome Frontier places they ſtopped and impriſoned them upon trifling and ridiculous pretences. They muſt immediately prove, that they were really the ſame Perſons which their Certificates mentioned. And they would know, whether there were no Criminal Proceſs or Informations out againſt them. They muſt preſently juſtify, that they carried away nothing with them that belonged unto any one of their reſpective Churches. Sometimes having thus amuſed and detained them, they would tell them, the ſpace of fifteen days, allotted them by the Edict for their Departure, was now expired, and that therefore they ſhould have no liberty to leave the Kingdom, but muſt be ſent unto the Gallies. There was hardly any kind of deceit, and injuſtice and troubles, in which theſe worthy Miniſters of Chriſt were not involved. And yet through rich mercy, very few revolted, the far greateſt number of them eſcaped, either into England, Holland, Germany, or Switzerland; yea, and ſome are now ſetled in New-England.