FRAVNCIS , both sonne & brother of a King , Duke of Allenson , first Peere of Fraunce &c. To all men whome it shall appertaine , Greeting . Knoweye that we being truely aduertised and informed , that of the obseruation of lawes dependeth the conseruation of all Realmes and Lordshipps , and by that meanes peace groweth and is intertained among the subiectes , So when they are not kept in the puritie that our ancestorshaue leaft them vnto vs , and that they seeme to weaken and decaye , and be as it were dead and buried , The subiectes being imholdened , do licence , dispence , and easely giue them selues to all dissolutnes : which doeth cause oftentimes ciuil warres . And finally the destruction & ouerthrowe of great realmes and common welthes : if in time it be not remedied by the diuine goodnes of God , which doth raise ( when it pleaseth him ) excellent and mightie personnes to withstand the tyrannie of those which seeke not but to bring all things to confusion , onely to make them selues riche , ( at whose cost soeuer it be ) of the blood and sweate of the poore : or els to sease them selues of the said realmes & Lordships , as we may easely learne , by the ruynes and decayes of infinit florishing kingdomes , that by these like meanes haue ended , which ought to be an example to al true frenchemen for to prick them foreward to set vp againe the ancient lawes , and to let and withstande ( euerie one according to the abilitie which God hath giuen vnto him ) that it may not fall into the hands of those which of long time haue sought for it . And for to bringe their purpose to passe , doe nourishe and maintaine the dissentions which we see at this instant , coulouring their dealings with the controuersie that is in religion : which they woulde be right sorie to see it pacified , as it is euidently seene , and well knowen by the things passed , to the intent they may colour the better the taxes , imposts , and subsidies which they doe daily inuent , and gather in the Kinges name vpon the poore people , the Nobilitie , and the Clergie , vnder pretence to pay his debtes : tending onely to the wealthe of fewe personnes almost all straungers , which rule the King , and occupie the chiefe places , & offices of this realme against the lawes of the same . All the which enterprises we coulde not well lyke of , and therfore haue bene calumniated , and euill reported to the Kingour most deare Lord and Brother , and for this cause in great daunger of our life , and kept as euery one knoweth , which things we haue suffered , hoping that the King woulde remedy such miseries , & suffer no longer to be abused of so many men , and that he should knowe our innocencie . But seing the wounde to waxe daily worse and worse , and no person to be more vnworthily vsed then we . And that so many Princes , Lordes , Gentelmen , and Ecclesiasticall persones , Citizens , and burgesses , had their eyes fixed on vs , stretching forth their hands and imploring our aide . We being ouercome with their prayers , and partaker of their miseries resolued ( all feare of death set a side , which was neare to ensue ) to attempt to get out of the captiuitie that we were in , to take the publicke cause in hande , and to withstande the wicked & pernitious counsells of the perturbators of this Realme , in which attempt God hathe so fauored vs that the xvi . day of September we arriued in this our town of Dreux , where many lords Gentelmen & others , aswel of the Clergie as of the commons of this realme haue repaired vnto vs : to whome we haue declared , that our wil & intention was not to take vpon vs , or to attempt in any wise vpon the authoritie of the King our said Lord and Brother , the which we desire to preserue & increase with all our power . But onely to employ vs with all our forces , yea not to spare our life and goodes for to put out , and driue away all the perturbators of the publicke rest : to pursue by lawe and iustice all suche spoyles , theftes , murthers , and slaughters so abominably , and against all right and reason committed in the oppen sight and knowledge of all men , to deliuer so many Lordes Gentelmen and others committed prisoners , or wrongfully banished & without cause : to restore them againe ( and all other honest men ) to their goodes and liuings , estates , and honours : to abolish all taxes , subsidies & imposts set vpon the poore people by the malice and suggestion of strangers , against the auncient Lawes & statutes of this Realme . To maintaīe the Nobilitie and Cleargie in their auncient priuiledges , freedoms , & liberties . And so , to stablish in Fraunce , a good , firme , & stable peace . And to bring these things to passe , we doe not meane to vse any other meanes , but suche as our predicessors haue done , & that haue bene acustomed at all times in this Realme , when it hathe bene question of reformation of religion , and iustice : which are the two principall stayes of all Monarchies , to restore againe the Realme to his former florishing state , dignity & libertie : that is by a generall and free assemblie of the three estates of this Realme , being called & appointed to be kepte in a sure & free place , from the which all straungers shal be excluded . Protestinge before God ( whome we call to our aide & helpe , and who we be assured will guide our enterprises ) that we are not herein moued nor leadde throughe desire of priuate reuenge ( althoughe we haue iust occasion so to doe , for the greate wronges done vnto vs ) nor yet of highnes or desire to commaund more then we doe , or then to vs appertaineth . Being pleased and contented ( as we haue good occasion ) with the goodes , auctoritie , and greatnes , that we haue of Godds grace , & of his benignity hauing apoynted vs to be borne the son of a Kinge , and ordained vs the seconde person of this Realme . That if it happen ( as God forbid ) to call vs before suche time as we may see the ende and execution of this so holy an enterprise , we shall thinke vs most happy to haue ( for the same ) bestowed our life , which doth concerne the seruice of God and of the Kinge , the freedome and libertie of the Nobilitie and of the Cleargie , the rest & vnburdening of the people , and the libertie of the country . And for to take away all lettes , and to reconcyle the heartes of naturall Frenchemen , we haue taken & do take them , in to our protection and safe keping , aswell of the one religion as of the other . Praying & exhorting than , in the name of God , to behaue them together one with an other as brethren , frendes , and fellowe Citezens : and not to prouoke one an other by iniuries or otherwise : Vntill that by the generall estates , and assembly of counsil order be taken for religion , and to permitte and let euery one enioye the exercise of the same . Praying all Kinges , Quenes , Princes , and Potentates , comon wealthes & all other neighbours , alies , and confederates of this Realme & Crowne to fauour , ayde , & helpe vs in this so holy and laudable enterprise : and to haue none other opinion of vs , then that which we declare and testifie by this present Protestation . Praying also all Princes , Lordes , Gentlemen , Citizens , Townesmen , & all other subiects of the crowne , to repaire to vs , to accompanie & helpe vs with victualles , armour , money , and others their abilities & commodities , that through their faulte and negligence the execution of so highe an enterprise be not differred ; & the peace letted . Declaring only those to be our ennemies which by force shall resiste and seeke to withstande our enterprise : And our frendes those which shall runne vpon them .