IN the pittifull estate whereinto our Enemies haue reduced the Churches of this Realme , it would be a great comfort and consolation vnto vs , if wee were but to fight and contend against false accusations , and to defend our selues against the violent Counsels and courses of those , who openly adhearing vnto Antichristian Tirannie , esteeming it a title of Honour to be call'd our Enemies , for hauing sufficiently satisfied the first by our most humble Supplications and attestations to his Maiestie , and by our declaration newly published , wee hope that God will blesse and prosper our iust defence , and preserue his Churches from the vtter ruine , wherewith they are threatned . But wee cannot sufficiently expresse , with what griefe of heart wee feele and perceiue our selues bound to maintaine our Innocencie against those , who as well as wee , haue part in the publick interests of our Churches : specially vnto your selfe my Lord , whose age , experience , and offices , make your proceedings more dangerous and hurtfull vnto those against whom you employ them . We haue heretofore laboured therein , by the Letters that haue beene deliuered vnto you , from vs , and perceiuing the small benefit that wee haue thereby receiued , wee had resolued with our selues to rest silent , if our consciences did not binde and pricke forward vs , to stirre vp and quicken yours , by setting before your eyes the great hurt and detriment that you bring to the Church of God , at such a time , wherein it hath most neede of your ayde and assistance . It was not without good reason , and experience it selfe sheweth vs , that the last assembly at Loudun , doubted of the accomplishment of the promises that were made vnto vs , at the Court : But your word interposing it selfe , with that of Monsieur de Chastillion , together with the consideration of the state wherein you were , made vs resolue vpon a new proofe , assisting our selues , that the effect of the words giuen vnto vs , failing , you would make yours effectuall , for the subsisting of the assembly , which in that case was to re-assemble , and cause them to obtaine that iust proceeding that had beene promised vnto them . With what displeasure our Churches that sent vs hether , haue beene tormented , when they perceiue that you disapproue it , that you blame it , and that by your Letters , you preferre the colours and pretences of the persecution , at this day raised against faithfull Innocents , before the preiudice of our cause ? The state wherein you were in , the precedent voyage that you made to the Court , made honest men apprehend , that if after you withdrew your selfe from the Court , you returned thether againe , you should be bound to effect some preiudiciall action , against the Church of God , and therefore they desired you , to stand still in your gouernment during the subsistance of this assembly . But without any respect or regard co the requests and intreaties of so many Churches , you left your Prouince , made another voyage to the Court , and for the contentment of our Enemies , and the displeasure of those of our profession , by your presence you authorise those that incessantly labour to worke our ruine and destruction . Your protestation to continue in the same profession , the refusall of the dignity , that was offered vnto you , vpon condition to change your Religion , and your reconciliation not long since made vnto the Church at Charenton , put vs in good comfort , and made vs hope of some good effect for the good and benefit of our affaires , and some happy successe of the paines that you should take therein . But our Enemies haue gotten this aduantage , that your example hauing been made more considerable , the blame which you impose vpon this assembly , is more notorious , and your disunion with our assembly , which representeth all the Churches of this Realme , is more domageable , seruing for a pretence vnto those , ( who vnder hope by that meanes to keepe themselues close during the time of this publike calamity , ) to seperate themselues from our Vnion , from the which ; those that haue designed our destruction , seeke to disunite the Prouinces , Churches , and persons of greatest quality , therein vsing your name and authority , for the execution of so pernicious a designe ; pernicious certainely we may well say : for to what end thinke you , my Lord , such proceedings may tend but onely to weaken vs , and make our destruction more easie , and lesse hazard vnto those that vndertake it ? Monsieur de Plessis , who without any respect of that , that had happened to Nauarreux , and after throughout all the Country of Bearn , being carried away by your Counsell , and abused by the particular promises that were made vnto him , at this day feeleth the effects of this proceeding . In your presence beholding the Towne of Saumur taken from him , and put into anothers mans hands . The Inhabitants thereof making profession of the same Religion , subiected to a Papisticall Garrison : The Vniuersitie which he with so much paines and great care had there erected , destroyed . The Church in the same place made destitute of her first liberty , and all those of this Realme depriued of the safety and security that they had in that place . Hath not the like dealing beene vsed vnto the rest of the Gouernours of the places that wee had for security in Poictow , seeing that in stead of commaund in them , as they did for the security of our Churches , they are now commaunded by Garrisons of a contrary Religion , to the ruine and subuersion of the Flockes of our Lord Iesus Christ ? Doe these proceedings , that followed the sedition in Towers , and were accompanied with the taking of Iargeau , and the violent disarmings of those of the Religion in diuers places , and seconded with the besieging of Saint Iohn Angely , at this time furiously battered , beare any shew of any good intent that is meant towards vs to doe vs iustice ? But are they not rather directly contrary to the declarations not long since published , and to the particular promises made in fauour of those that would addict themselues vnto that which the Court desireth of them ? and doc they not make euery man manifestly and plainely see , that the obedience whereof they so highly cry out , and which is required of vs , by demaunding pardon and absolution , and that wee should seperate our assemblie , before wee haue iustice done vnto vs , or any security for our Churches , tendeth onely , to bind vs to lay our throats open vnto those , that haue an intent and desire to our them ? What faults are we culpable of , being assembled vpon the permission that had beene graunted and giuen vnto vs , by those words that to vs should be as good an assurance as Letters Patents , yea and vpon yours also ? What fault haue we committed , that being assembled , haue sought by all submissiue meanes possible vnto his Maiestie , to obtaine that iustice that had beene promised vnto vs , when wee remitted the pursuite thereof to our generall Deputies , and desired those that are of the greatest quality and degrees , and make profession of the Religion in this Realme , to ioyne their intercessions with them ? And seeing that in stead of finding the effect of the performance of the promises made vnto vs , vpon your iust and most humble supplications presented vnto his Maiestie : we haue beene proclaimed Rebels , and declared to be criminals ; and that as such , our processe hath beene made , some of vs haue beene executed by pictures , seeing in Viuards they haue risen vp in Armes , besieged , battered , and taken those place's that we held , and in them , contrary to the agreements made , murthered some , and vsed great violences vnto vs , that at this present they besiege , and furiously batter the Towne of S. Iohn D'angely : can men iustly blame vs , if against such violences wee oppose our defence , which nature teacheth euery man , and the law of God neuer reprooueth ?

In the meane time , God forbid , that this extremitie whereinto we are reduced by constraint , should in our hearts deface that most humble obedience , and most faithfull seruice that wee owe vnto our King , wherein wee protest inuiolably to continue , desiring nothing more , nor so much then , that in the iustice and security required by vs for our Churches , wee may attaine the meanes of a good and an assured peace in this state , which as much as in vs lyeth we haue , & to our powers doe seek for : beseeching God with all our hearts , to defend and preserue the King , from those dangers which the Enemies of his state , expose his person vnto , in the perils of warre . In the meane time , my Lord , the iustnesse of our cause , which so manifestly appeareth , and which God will alwayes make to shine , as bright as the Sunne at noone time , doth not hinder you , by your presence , from approuing the proceedings , that are taken against vs ; and which is more , blotting out the remembrance of the griefes that our Churches receiue , you promise and procure fauour vnto those , who leauing vs , will ioyne themselues vnto our Enemies , as you solicite them , by that meanes putting into the mouth of the Church at this day , the complaint that the Prophet Ieremie made , saying , That his neerest friends , behaued themselues disloyally towards him , & were become his Enemies . The Sauiour of the world teacheth vs , that a house deuided in it selfe cannot stand . Iudge then my Lord , if it please you , what punishment they incurre that shall haue beene a meanes to stirre vp deuision in the house of God , and whether God will not reuenge the destruction thereof , not only vpon those that openly procure it , but also on those that in any manner or by any meanes shall haue contributed vnto the same . But after we had seene what hath beene done in Bearn , Viuarez , and against the assembly , after that by your presence you haue fauoured a puissant Armie against the Churches of this Realme , and the losse of many places , that had beene giuen vs to hold for our securities ; In a time , wherein the violence of our Enemies could not be restrained by any authority , after you had conducted , or accompanied the Armie that is incamped against our brethren before the Towne of S. Iohn D'angely : if ( as wee haue beene assured ) you your selfe in person went to view the place , and vsed all the experience & dexterity that God hath giuen you in Armes , to make the siege , and the meanes to take it more easie ; what subiect haue not wee to complaine against you , who in stead of being sicke for Iosephes affliction , feare not to be the greatest instrument of his murthering : Is it possible , that you cannot apprehend the ruine of so flourishing a Church , that God hath here gathered together , and that you are not moued at the destruction that men seeke to bring vpon Monsieur De Sobize , and vpon so many braue Gentlemen , that haue beene the first that presented themselues in the mouth of the breach , that is made in the Citie of Dauid ? that couragiously labour to repaire the same , at this day in a manner wholly hindering that course of the destruction already begun in our Churches , and proiected against all of them . The knowledge that God hath giuen you of his holy name , bindeth you to employ that authority , whereunto hee hath aduanced you , and all the graces that hee hath imparted vnto you , and bestowed vpon you , to the maintainance of his Church ; and will you imploy them in the destruction thereof ? Piety requireth that you should procure all good , and liberty vnto those that make profession of Religion , and will you approue and allow of their desolation ? Christian charity can hardly endure without watry eyes , that wee should see one man onely put to death : and can you with a smooth and smiling countenance , behold and see the butcherie and cruell slaughter of so many of our brethren ? What reputation can they get or procure vnto themselues that fight against that Gospell , whereof they make profession ? What fidelity may our Prince expect from them , that being not faithfull vnto God , abandon the maintainance of his cause ? And from whence proceedes this great distaste of vs at this day , but only from this , that there are some men , ( and those of greatest qualities ) that giue themselues to affect the Religion , as long , and no longer , then that it serueth their turnes to aduance them vnto dignities , and to encrease their riches ? Is it not easie to be iudged , that if couetousnesse and ambition , be a meanes to make them disloyall vnto God , and to dispise and neglect their owne saluation , that the same vices will easily draw them on to infidelity towards their Prince , and to the dispising of their owne honours ? Was it a small matter in your sight , to see diuers Ministers driuen away from their dwelling places , the exercise of Religion banished out of thos● places , where it was established , and the inhumanities , which haue bin impiously vsed , within these few yeares vpon the dead bodies of the faithfull , almost in all places of this Realme , The burnings and destroying of diuers of our Churches , the many seditions , and specially that , last made in the Citie of Touers , besides the entier desolation of those of Bearn , haue they not touched nor mooued your soule with a Christian compassion , and a iust apprehension , in short time to behold and see those horrible cruelties executed vpon vs and our children , that after the like proceedings were at other times executed vpon our fathers , and that after ( as at this day ) they had bin deceiued , by words of peace and quietnesse ? Certainely , my Lord , if you acknowledge that you hold that honor which you at this present enioy , from the blessings that God hath giuen vnto your armes , then when you employed them for the defence of his Church , you ought also to belieue , that if now , when you draw neere vnto the end of your dayes , it is time to crowne your workes , with most iust and Christian actions , you become an enemie vnto , and procure the ruine of those that with you make profession of the truth of the Gospell , he will be angry against you , and will couer your face with shame and ignomie , you shall expose your selfe to be dispised of all men , and made a laughter vnto those namely that haue made vse of you , to execute their wicked intents , and bring that curse vpon your head , which he pronounceth against those that curse his people , and those most fearefull iudgements , which in his wrath , he sheweth vpon those , that rise vp against , and withstand the Kingdome of his Sonne Iesus Christ : all maner of the deaths of those whom God loueth , are precious in his sight ; but he will require their blood at the hands of those , that shall vniustly shed the same , he that toucheth them , toucheth the apple of his eye , and you are not ignorant thereof : With what conscience then can you continue and remaine among our enemies , that abuse the affections and conscience of the King , for ours and the states vtter ruine , giue counsell for the destruction of Townes , wherein the holy name of God is purely inuoaked , and participate in the forcible action that are done against them ? would you thrust your sword into the brests of your owne brethren , and bath your hands in the blood of those whom God hath redeemed by the blood of his deare Sonne Iesus Christ ? No my Lord , rather in the name of God , if there be any care of his Church , yet resting in you , if there be any charity in your heart towards those that are his members , and which is more , if you desire not to bring vpon you and yours , the wrath and vengance of God ( for we are bound by the duty of our Offices and the discharge of our consciences to speake in this maner vnto you ) be mooued to compassion vpon the pittifull dealing which at this day is vsed against the faithfull , acknowledge the deceits and impostures of our enemies , note the violent courses they vse against your brethren , and with a prudent foresight apprehending future mischiefes , come out from the middle of them , least you be enueloped among the plagues , that God will powre downe vpon the vessels of his wrath , when he shall haue ceased the vsing of them , for the punishment of his children . Aide not them , that haue no other intent then to destroy vs , by making a deuision among vs : forsake not the members of our Lord Iesus Christ , but rather ioyning with vs , bring the rest of our brethren with you ; who by your example , you haue withdrawne from vs ; and vse the meanes , to cause them also to come with you , who as yet are asleepe , and rest vnder the deceitfull assurances that are giuen them of some quietnesse : to the end that being all , ( according to our duties ) most stricktly vnited together by the sacred bands of pietie , peace , and charitie ; we may effectually labour together for the publique Tranquility and quietnesse of Gods house : And seeing that there is no other meanes left vnto vs , we employ a iust and couragious defence , which being blessed by God , stayeth the violent courses of those that persecute vs , deliuereth the Towne of S. Iohn D'Angely from their hands , and preserueth all the rest : shall not so many persons of good quality who acknowledging the vnfaithfulnesse and the intents of our enemies , consecrate their blood , to empeach the destruction of the faithfull , prouoake you , to a holy iealousie , by their example ? You haue heretofore bin a puissant instrument in the hand of God , to defend his Church from oppression : be the same againe , my Lord , at this day , and that the rather and stronglie , because God hath giuen you many blessings in aboundance . And if you dispising these exhortations , that we giue you , by the compassion of Christ , be still in this time , and faile in the succours which you owe vnto all good men , God will not cease to raise vp , peace and deliuerance by other meanes , vnto his children . But it is to be seared , that he will reuenge , the dissipation that you shall make of your brethren , vpon you and yours . We beseech Almighty God , with all our hearts , to touch your heart by his holy Spirit , to inspire you with God and godly connsell , to doe that which we require of you according to his will , and that receiuing you into his protection , he will take pitty vpon his Church , send peace vnto this State , and tranquility and security to those troupes that he hath assembled therein . We rest , my Lord , Your most humble and most affectioned seruants , the Deputies of the reformed Churches of France , and the Soueraignety of Bearn assembled in Rochell :