MAy it please your Honour , wee haue refrained from answering vnto the two first letters , which it pleased you to write vnto vs , for an answer vnto our former , staying till the Gentleman that wee sent vnto you , had more particularly reported vnto vs your opinion touching the state of our present affaires , as he hath done , hauing at large declared vnto vs your aduice and good intent to aide our Churches , to recouer that peace , suretie and contentment which wee seeke for , from the bountie of our King , when you shall haue meanes to speak vnto his Maiestie , to whom ( as you haue certified vnto vs ) you intend to ride . This your Honours good affection , whereof without doubt we assure our selues , moueth vs vnto those most humble thankes which we are bound to yeeld vnto you , and augmenteth our desire ( together with these presents ) to satisfie your two first letters , as the necessitie of our entire iustification , which your desire to know , requireth at our hands , hoping that your Honour hauing reiected all doubts and scruples which seeme to hold you at a stay touching the pursuite of our conuocation and staying in this place , as we may easily do it , you will easily thinke it fit to ioyne your good will with our submissions , for obtaining the fruites and effects of our most humble requests and supplications to his Maiestie ; and by that meanes bereaue our enemies of their triumphs which they make against vs , vpon the doubt which you seeme to make of the euidence of our good meanings by your first letter , which to that effect they haue published . Whereupon we beseech your Honour to be pleased , for the resoluing of all these difficulties , that we may put you in mind , that the resolution that we then made of our seperation at London , to reassemble againe vpon default of performance of such things as were promised vnto vs , was grounded vpon the promise which was giuen to you and to Monsieur de Chastillon , by my Lord the Prince , and the Duke de Luynes , in the Kings name , and by you vnto vs ; which our Churches hauing faithfully obserued , vpon that condition confirmed their Deputies in all Prouinces , or substituted others to meete here if occasion fell out . It is needlesse to produce other proofes , or to rehearse our registers to put you in minde , that as then those promises were made vnto vs , vpon condition to reassemble together if they were not performed within the time prefixed : seeing that your Honour is the most sufficient wi●nesse that wee may or can produce , which acknowledge and once againe confirme the truth thereof by your second letter dated the 22 of February last , where you writ vnto vs in proper termes , that the same that was granted vnto vs then vpon the seperation at Loudun ( vpon promise to reassemble ) hath bin entirely executed , whereof we will hereafter speake , hauing first manifested this permission which you deferre to be made euident , and which we esteeme ought to be thought and iudged auailable and sufficient without contradiction , and to the contentment of those that are most scrupulous ; if we adde thereunto , that besides the interuention of my said Lord the Prince , and of my Lord the Duke de Luynes , of whom the eminent qualitie in the one , and the great fauour of the other , can permit no shadow of disauouching , our good intents haue bin much more setled vpon the expresse word spoken from the mouth of his sacred Maiestie , whereof you are an vnreproueable witnes , when you told vs by your first letter bearing date the first of the said Moneth , in these words , saying that the same which your Honour had promised vnto vs in his Maiesties name , was confirmed at Fontainebleau by his Royall mouth to the Deputies of the assembly at Loudun , at such time as they certified him of the separation . We thinke it had not bin lawfull for vs to desire or to imagine any other permission more auailable or firmer assurance , then the sacred word of the King . Inke and paper cannot conferre any weight nor authoritie to the Kings words . And certainly we would haue iudged our selues to be vnworthy of the fauour of our King , and iniurious to his authoritie , if we had required that permission vnder a greater securitie then his Maiesties word . Whereupon we beseech your Honor to pardon vs , if we tell you , that then we asked no note in writing , and that it was not denied vnto vs . To the contrary it is true , that when we were pressed to separate our selues , we were offered a note in writing to reassemble if iustice were not done vnto vs . And many times by diuers of the principal , this speech was confirmed in open Counsell to our Deputies , that they did not doubt but that we would reassemble together . But we that feare nothing more then those paines , and such encounters which our enemies alwayes imagine and deuise to do mischiefe vnto vs , at that time desired and insisted to receiue some reall contentment vpon our complaints , thereby to assure the astonishment and the perplexities of our brethren , and to restraine the insolencie of our enemies , by such testimonies of our protection and of the Kings good will towards vs , that we might come thither no more , nor fall againe into such labyrinths . But all our instances could preuaile nothing , and we were constrained to content our selues with those promises ; from whence our enemies by their secret reaches knew well how to draw those inconueniences and mischiefes which we foresee and too well apprehend . Seeing then that the assurance and permission of our reassembling was such , what need was there ( as your Honour saith ) that our generall Deputies should renew their instance to the King , to permit vs to do it ? It had bin a meanes to call in question an assured promise , and thereby to preiudice our selues . For we feare not to tell you that which cannot be concealed from you , that our enemies haue by many experiences made vs feele , that as often and whensoeuer those things that are most assured vnto vs either by Edicts or by other grants from the King , fall in question , they haue that power to cause that to be withdrawne that was granted vnto vs , and to cause vs to lose that right which we had obtained . We could shew an infinite number of complaints vpon this subiect , and how that diuers articles concerning the strengthening of things to vs formerly granted , and afterward infringed , we haue receiued answers directly contrary vnto the precedent grants , and such as wholy annihilated them . Then who doubts not , but that the same power of our enemies , which at this day worketh the deniall of those things that were promised vnto vs , would not also haue caused all the requests of our Deputies to be reiected . Hauing thus iustified vnto your Honour our said permission , and consequently the equitie of our proceeding authorized by the same ; it resteth onely plainly to shew you the occasions , condition and necessitie of our reassembling , and to haue recourse vnto our complaints . The circumstances of the time , and of that which hath bin omitted or committed contrary to the promises , shall suffice therein . Your Honor remembreth , and your letter mentioneth the same , that the King promised vs that within sixe moneths from the day of our separation , he would cause Leytoure to be restored , admit the Counsellours of the Religion into the Parliament of Paris , giue a writing touching the guarding of the places of securitie ; that the states thereof should be deliuered vnto vs ; that our requests should be fauourably answered , and the answers thereunto duly and truly executed . And touching the affaires of Bearn , that within seuen moneths the Deputies of the country should be heard touching that which they would shew vnto his Maiestie . Our separation was made vpon the 13 of April the last yeare , the six moneths from the same day fell vpon the 13 of October following : and in all that time nothing of those things that were promised was executed , but onely the deliuery of the writing touching the guard of the places , what instance and pursuite soeuer our Deputies generall could make . In the same time the King went to Bearn , during the delay obtained for our remonstrances , and they being not vnderstood , nor once hearkned vnto ; not onely the commission to the contrary hath bin executed , but which is more , our Churches haue lost all the securitie and libertie which they had enioyed in that country 〈◊〉 many yeares together , and in an instant followed the beginning of all those dangerous consequences which we doubted from the beginning of the decree of the contrary commission . Vpon that time the sixe moneths being past , this griefe hapned , and none of the rest redressed ; our assembly vpon the 25 of Nouember . And if since that the towne of Leytoure hath bin remitted into the hands of a Gentleman of the Religion , could the healing of that old sore so long time suffered , after the feeling of a much greater griefe , be a sufficient meanes to stay our humble complaints , touching the same and all the rest . We were already assembled , and our most humble complaints presented vnto his Maiestie , when the two Counsellors were admitted , but vpon a worse condition then all the former refusals , which bereaue vs of the libertie which the King granteth vnto vs by his Edicts , to enter indifferently in the office , in such manner , that the same griefe is so far from being redressed , that it is rather increased by that meanes . These therefore , and it please your Honor , were the occasions of our reassembling , which yet continueth . The miserable estate of Bearn , the deniall of the state of the places of securitie in Dauphinois , which is openly maintained , ( contrary to the promise made vnto you , and which you here confirmed vnto vs by your letters ) was neuer granted vnto vs . To the contrary whereof , your Honor knows , that particularly from anno 1616. at the conference of Loudun , it was particularly vnto vs , and since that by the last promises confirmed vnto your self . As also , besides the publike testimonies which you giue vs here , you may call to minde , that you haue confirmed the same to diuers men in particular , telling them of the absolute necessitie that we haue to pursue the same . Then followeth the contradiction made against the 27. article of the Edict , touching our admission into offices . The fauourable answers denied to our propositions ; and the sending of Committees into the Prouinces neglected . And lastly the troupes and garrisons left in the country of Bearn , Guyenne and Poictou , which giue an alarme and a iust distrust vnto our Churches . These are the principall heads of our complaints ; it is not the number , but the weightinesse of them which maketh them important . As also , that those few articles , for the reparation whereof we haue hoped to receiue some assurance of the Kings good will , from the which our enemies by all meanes seeke to estrange vs , ought not to be made a consequence against vs ; but on the contrary , our obedience ought thereby to be more manifest , that wee contented our selues with that remedie , to strengthen our patience , besides all so many other infractions that continually hurt our libertie , which the King hath granted vnto vs . And by the same reason , our cause ought at this day to be more fauoured , and our equitie more manifested , if vpon the not executing of so few articles , contrary to the faithfull promises made vnto vs , ( whereby our condition being also much impeached ) we haue had our recourse to the fauour of our King , by our most humble declarations , in that state wherein he hath permitted vs to reassemble , to present the same xnto him . Whereupon we are not able to expresse the intollerable griefe that we feele , when in regard of these proceedings which we haue followed by lawfull meanes of the respect and reuerence that is due vnto his Maiestie , we perceiue our selues to be condemned by the subtill practises of our enemies , which slander vs to wrong the Kings authoritie ; thereby to kindle his wrath and indignation against vs , seeking to reduce vs to that point , either to incurre the effect of his displeasure by open warre , wherewith we are threatned ; or for to shun the same we should keepe silence in our iust complaints and endure all the wrongs and mischiefes which daily are throwne vpon vs . So that from henceforth , men will acknowledge no other obedience in vs , but that we should with patience suffer all the mischiefes that they would do vnto vs , without permission to complaine thereof : and our griefes and preuentions made against the falsities and threatnings of our enemies , shall be imputed to disobedience , and a capitall crime . Will not your Honour iudge , that there is a meane to be vsed in these things ? but rather acknowledging as it seemes vnto you , that the permission which hath bin giuen vnto vs by his Maiestie to reassemble , and the importance of the wrongs , either not redressed , but rather increased , purge our assembly of the blame to be vnlawfull , or done without authoritie ; we hope that you will thinke it more reasonable to employ that good affection which it pleaseth you to promise vs , and that authoritie and credit which the greatnesse and innumerable number of so commendable seruices haue gotten you with his Maiestie , to make him to vnderstand the sinceritie of our intents , and the necessitie of our iust complaints rather then to seeke our separation before some contentment be giuen vnto our Churches ; whose disquietnesse makes vs the more carefull to persist in procuring their consolation . Which to attaine , we haue sought to enter into those wayes of respect which we beare vnto our King , that might cleare vs of that imputation which our enemies seeke to imprint in him towards vs . To that end hauing desired our generall Deputies , being by them certified of the continuall refusall which is made to heare them in our names , to represent our iust demands in their owne , and the names of all our Churches . Wherein we perswade our selues that your Honour approuing our proceeding , and therein fauouring our said generall Deputies , you wil also iudge that with most iust reason we haue giuen them to vnderstand vpon the proposition , where by their last dispatch , we haue bin certified what is done at the Court , that is , ( not to giue vs any contentment , and to binde vs to a separation , vpon a pardon to be giuen vs ) that our consciences and the care of the honour and good of our Churches , will neuer permit vs to consent vnto such a thing , that with it would draw not onely a great opproby vpon our Religion , but also procure the totall ruine of our affaires . Whereupon we haue bin desirous to informe your Honour of our opinions and resolutions , to the end that it might please you , according to the fauour which you promise vnto vs , rather to signifie vnto his Maiestie , that when his Royall bountie shall think it good to grant those fauours which our Churches require of him in all humilitie , ( thereby to quench in so many peoples mindes the distrusts which the mischiefes that we endure , and the continuall threatnings of our enemies haue imprinted therein ) it will be a meanes more and more to confirme his authoritie , and make it the same which the incomparable wisedome of his father the late King deceased , alwayes maintained , grounding the peace and tranquillitie of his estate vpon the maintenance of his Edicts . Vnder the force whereof , we desire not any further libertie then onely to continue the obedience that wee haue alwayes yeelded without reproch vnto our Kings That ( and it please your Honour ) is the good which we beseech you to contribute vnto the present estate of our affaires , as we haue diuers times humbly required the rest of the great personages to do the like , and then specially when for the preuention of the ruine of all our affaires by the diuision which we perceiued men went about to sow betweene them and vs , we besought them not to hearken vnto a conference propounded vnto them , tending from henceforth to annihilate and make fruitlesse all the pursuites that wee take in hand , by the order established betweene vs by the Kings permission ; and which is more , to lay on them and all of vs the burthen of refusals or of deceits , such as wherewith our euill willers delude the promises which the King hath made vnto vs . Which we esteeming it to be no lesse preiudiciall to themselues then to the generalitie of our Churches , we are perswaded that we are bound in conscience to beseech you ill , not to giue way thereunto . Which we desire your Honour also to accept of , and not to be a meanes of excluding that good and aduantage which your authoritie and fauour , ioyning with our iust requests , may procure vnto vs . For we do not desire , neither haue we any other intent in the discharging of the offices giuen vnto vs , but as much as possible we may , to strengthen the band of our vnion between all the members of our body , and specially those of your rank and qualitie , and which is more considerable . So farre off are we from seeking any wayes or meanes to ouerthrow our selues , by making a separation betweene you and vs , that to the contrary , since we haue bin here , we haue had nothing in more nor greater recommendation then to re-vnite the particulars and the generall , by a coniunction of interest , and one self same affection towards the aduancement of the glory of God and the good of our Churches , vnder the obedience of his Maiestie . Wherein we are bound to render thankes vnto God , that not onely the townes ' and commonalties of our Religion , but also all those that hold a greater ranke among vs , haue made knowne the most particular assurances of their constancie in our vnion : as your Honour also , by the protestation which you haue made vnto vs of the same , and of the continuance of your seruices towards the Church of God , in the profession of our Religion , hath done . Whereupon we must tell you , that the slanders impudently published by those that hate your vertue , because of your profession , could neuer shake nor diminish our perswasions therein . And in that confidence , and vpon the singular assurances that Monsieur de Bonnet hath giuen vs of your good affection to procure ( by the Kings fauour ) some contentment to our Churches in these occurrents . We beseech your Honour once againe to contribute your good will therein , in such manner , that dispersing that imputation which our enemies maliciously lay on vs to contradict the Kings authoritie , our sincere intents being knowne , our Churches by our sure and honorable returne vnto them , may vpon their most important complaints receiue that good which they so long time haue hoped , and promised vnto them , being so necessarie for our conseruation and tranquillitie . And that so the peace of the State being fully confirmed , according to our desires , and that of all good French men , we may see the arbiterment of Christendome in the hands of our King . And your Honour , by his commandement , in many of his best subiects by your victorious hands , make the terror of his name and of his forces , strike into his enemies hearts , who with great desire now more then euer they did , seeke to imbase the authoritie and the dignitie of this monarchie , which for the good thereof and of the Church is therein reserued . God increase your yeares , and his graces in you , to whom we alwayes remaine your Honours most humble and most affectionate seruants . The Deputies of the Reformed Churches in France , and the soueraigntie of Bearn assembled in Rochell .