CHARLES by the grace of God King of France to all for the time being and for the time to come . It is well knowen to all men , that the deceased Kinges of most woorthie memorie our Father , and Graundfather ( whose soules God pardon ) bearing them selues as most Christian Princes and defendours of the holie Churche , haue endeuoured and trauailed by Edicts and Ordonances , and by waies of iustice , to preserue the vnitie therof , and to represse the diuision of Religion in their time , whiche had gotten into this realme by preachinges , by secret practises and assemblies , and by casting abrode of inhibited bookes . It is well knowen also , that after the lamentable death of our saied Lord and Father certaine of the Nobilite prouoked therto by the ministers of the newe opinion , haue discontented and separated them selues , not for anie zeale of anie Religion one or other , but through ambition and desire to haue in their handes the gouernment of this said realme vnder the deceased our most dere and most beloued Lord and elder brother King Francis second of that name , notwithstanding that he was a maried man and of full yeres by the lawes of the saied realme , and one that had the authoritie , the iudgement and the meaning to gouerne and to commaunde rightly with the most prudent counsell of our most excellent Ladie and mother the Quene , and of other great and worthie personages , which had alwaies ben neere about the said deceased King our Father , and were continued by our saied deceased brother , as one that minded in all pointes to folowe his Fathers steppes : the which he hath wel declared by his deedes during the time of his reigne , who had also setled his saied realme in suche peace and quiet as he found it in at his coming to the Croune , if it had pleased God to haue lent him longer life , for so muche as his estate had ben molested and disquieted by the disagreement of certaine of the Nobilite , who daring not openly to shew them selues , stirred vp by the helpe of the said ministers , the tumult of Amboies , vnder the colour of presenting a certaine request with a confession of their faith to the said King : who though he knew well the verie fountaine and first Authors of that mischiefe , yet through his singular and natural clemencie folowing the example of our heuenlie Father , and hoping by his grace to do more good by waie of pitie , then by rigour of iustice , gaue ( by plaine Edict made at Amboies in the moneth of March in the yeare 1559 ) a general Pardon to all suche his deceiued and seduced subiectes in the faith , as would come home ▪ againe , and furthermore by an other Edict made at Romorantin in the moueth of May folowing , he left those which woulde not come home againe , to the Ecclesiastical censure only ( which reacheth not so farre as to bloude ) in case that they troubled not the common quiet . Al this notwithstanding , the said King was deceued of his expectation through the said secrete practises of the saied Noble men , obstinate in their purposes : and assayinge by force of Armes , to molest this said Realme , how be it vnder pretense of Religion . Wherof the said King being fully aduertised , remaining then at Fontaine-bleau , was constrained to remoue to Orlians with force of Armes also , for to set thinges there in good order . Who also for the same purpose had commaunded a meting of the generall Estates , at whiche time and place it pleased God to call him to his mercie , geauing into our handes the Kingdome , we being then of age betwene ten and eleuen yeares , lesse able to gouerne this said puissant Realme .

Moreouer the chiefe succour which God had lefte vnto vs in our affaires , whiche was the wise and prudent gouernement of our most excellent Ladie and Mother , 〈◊〉 was excedingly letted and disapointed through the contempt of our minorititie , whiche certaine of the Nobility ( the chiefest next after our most deere and moste welbeloued brethren ) had conceiued , and through partes taking and contradictions which thei with their Adherents , stirred against our said most excellent Ladie and Mother , who also to make their part stronger tooke vppon them the protection of the said new opinion , which by their support and fauour was greatly augmented .

For remedy whereof , at our returning from our Annointing and Coronation , we came to the suburbes of S. German in the fieldes nigh to Paris , and we cawsed to be assembled in our Parlament the Princes and those of our priuie counsel , with al the courtes of the same parlament in the monethes of Iune and Iulie of the yeare 1561. At what time by their aduise at S. Germaines in Laye we made the Edict of the said moneth of Iuly in the saied yeare , by the which Edict , we forebad al other exercise of Religion , then such as was according to the receiued custome and maner obserued in the Catholique Churche , from and sence the time of the Christian faith receiued by the Kinges of Fraunce our Predecessours , and by the Bishops and Prelates , Persons and Vicares , and their Deputies . This the saied protectours of the said new opinion perceiuing , and seing that their ambitious enterprise was by this Edict vtterly disappointed , would not suffer it to take place : but caused through our whole Realme , those of the said new opinion , to rise vp and to stop the execution thereof . And then by reason of such troubles , which thei them selues had stirred , and caused to be stirred in diuerse places , thei would make men beleeue , that it was impossible , to execute the saied Edicte , and therefore they called vppon an other assemblie of a certaine number of Presidentes and Counsellers of al the high Coūrtes of this saied Realme , that this might be a matter of greater authoritie . Although yet the same assemblie was lesse by two partes of the three , then the other , whiche was made in our saied Parlament of Paris , being of the two ordinarie companies . Beside that in their assemblie , were such men as they chose them selues , they being the stronger parte of our priuie Counsell , hauing also placed therein a greater number of the said newe opinion then of the Catholiques , to bring so at length their matter about , which they did in deede , obteining a toleraton for the exercise of both Religions by our Edict , made onely by way of prouision , the seuententh of Ianuarie , in the said yeare , 1561. The whiche Edicte our said most excellent Ladie and Mother , being then not able to withstand , was forced against her opinion , to let passe : shee beinge alwaies otherwise most Christian . In like manner also , were forced our moste deere and best beloued Cousen , the Cardinal of Bourbon , with our most dere and welbeloued Cousens also the Cardinal of Tournon , the Duke of Montmorency , Constable , and the Mareshal of S. Andre : who were the principal and most auncient Counsellers , and Officers of our Crowne , that the deceased Kings , our said Lordes , our Father , and Brother , had lefte vnto vs . Who also among other occasions , which moued them to the toleration aboue said , declared to our said moste excellent Ladie and Mother , that this was yet the lesse mischiefe , that then could be suffered : Prouided alwaies , that this tolerated exercise of the said new opinion , shuld not in any wise enter into any towne . And that also it was to be hoped , that we should be able to redresse this mischiefe , at what time we should come to our full yeares , authoritie , and power : al whiche should make our subiectes more obedient vnto vs . Vpon the which hope our said most excellent Ladie and Mother most gredily attending , disposed her selfe to goe foreward with al diligence possible , in the bringing vp of vs , and of our most dere and best beloued brethren , and of our moste deere and best beloued Sister , in the true Religion of the Catholique , Apostolique , and Romaine Churche : which the most Christian Kinges our Predecessours , haue kept and mainteined , almost these eleuen hundred yeres : whereof wee and our subiectes , are greatly bound and beholden vnto her . And though that by the said Edicte of Ianuarie , those of the newe opinion , had good cause to quiet and contente them selues , if some other ambition and practise had not rather pricked them , then the quieting of their consciences , as doe sufficiently witnesse vnto vs their behauiours , going ordinarily to their preachinges and assemblies , with armes and weapons : yet notwithstanding they not contenting them selues with the saied licence and toleration , straight after our Edict published , declared most amply and manifestly to the whole worlde , their wicked intention and purpose , arming them selues vpon their owne priuate Authoritie against vs . Taking vp our townes : bringing strangers into our saied Realme , and doinge all Actes of hostilitie and open enmitie , euen so farre , that they gaue vs a Battail vnder the towne of Dreus . In the whiche God gaue vs the victory , hauing compassion of his people subiected vnto vs , and that we might once agayne ouercome by Clemency our rebellyous Subiectes , and reduce them vnder our obedience .

Again hoping that in time , the goodnesse of God , by the meanes of our ripe yeares , woulde bringe them also vnder the obedience of his Church , with continuance of the common quyet , we graunted vnto them being yet in our Minority , the Edict of Pacification made at Amboyse , the xix . of March , in the yere . 1562. In the which we permitted vnto them the exercise of their Religion , such as is there more amply conteined . And though that afterward , to take awaie from them all maner of feare , mistruste , or surmise that possibly might be conceiued , we did publish euen by their owne aduise and after their owne meaning , diuers declarations , Rules , and Ordonances , all tending to a common quiet , and reuniting of all our subiectes , yet notwithstanding they for their part haue daily and licentiously infringed and violated our said declarations , Rules , and Ordonances . Yea though that by the same Declarations , Rules and Ordonaunces , our saied Edicte ( whiche yet was neuer other then by waye of prouision onely , and by vs at all times reuocable ) was the better maintained , only to auoyde tumultes , and calamities ensuing therevpon , not geuing them thereby so much as the lest occasion in the worlde to take weapon and armes againe : as they did notwithstanding at Michelmas last , and set vpon vs in the waye betweene Meaus and Paris , we being then accompanyed with our sayed most Excellent Lady and Mother , and our said most dere , and best beloued brethern , and Sister . Pretending afterward , that they meant the same time to presente vs a Supplication for the maintenaunce of their Religion . And yet did they notwithstanding , without intermission continue open warre against vs , so farre , that they beseaged vs in our Head Citie of Paris : that they burned the milles to famish vs , that they tooke vppe many of our Cities , that they brought in straungers once againe into our Realme , and forced vs at last to geue them battail euen vnder the gates of Paris , to rayse the siege which they had laied against vs , briefely vsing all wayes and meanes , of open enmytie and hostilitie .

Al this notwithstanding , we desiring to spare the bloude of our Nobilytie , and of other our subiectes , hoping stil to winne them by Clemency and gentlenesse , and hauing greate pitie vpon the poore peple spoiled and deuoured by bothe Armies , being required of them to haue a pacification made by our letters patentes , to be geuen at Paris the xxiij . of March last , we graunted to them the selfe same former Edict of pacification made the xix . of Marche in the yeare . 1562. vpon promise made to vs , that they for their part should entierly and fully obserue it and kepe it , and trouble no more our saied Realme . The whiche promise they breaking ( though we in the meane failed not to keepe and obserue the saied Edict to the vttermost ) they breaking , I say , their promise made vnto vs , for so muche as they woulde not rendre vp vnto vs , our townes of Rochelle , of Montaubam , of Castres , and of diuerse other , as well in Languedoc , as in the Dolphyne , whiche they promised to doe , for so muche as also in certaine places of our saied Realme , they haue caused metinges in armes , whiche haue murdred many of our Catholique subiectes , and haue farder practised with straungers , pretending to them that certaine of their Religion haue bene killed by the Catholikes sence the time of the Edict of pacification , of whiche matters vpon their complainte , we haue geuen forth commission to take information , and to doe Iustice vpon suche trespasses , they ( as I saie ) these many waies breaking their promise , haue within fiue moneths after their promise made , taken weapon agayne , and armes against vs . They haue retired agayne to the saied Rochelle , and the Countrie there aboute , making there open warre .

Wherein , we seeing them so ofte and so many times to abuse our Clemency and fauour , that we can no more doubte of their wicked and damnable enterprise , which is to establish , and to set vppe in this saied Realme some other Soueraintie and Supreme Gouernement , to the ouerthrowing of ours , ordayned and set vp by God , and by suche practises to plucke from vs our good subiectes , by the meanes of the permission and toleration of the saied exercise of their Religion , and of the assemblyes whiche they make vnder colour of their prechings and communions , at the whiche they make gatherings of mony , billing of men , othes , confederacies , conspiracies , practises , and deuises : and by Armes as well within as without our saied Realme , they trouble it and disquyet it : yea and hauing their weapons in their handes , they deale with vs as felowes and companions , not as obedient subiectes , as they declare them selues wel , bothe by woord and by writings : yea and doe the dedes of very mortal enemyes : such as it is not possible for vs to quiet and to stay , but do encrease daily more and more , vtterly to ouerthrowe , if they were able , our Religion and Estate , that they might therby remaine the only Lordes and masters , by meanes of the said exercise permitted vnto them during our Minorite , and somewhat after continued , for the loue of peace and quyet : and to auoyde thereby a worse inconuenience , directly against our owne will and minde : we haue at all times fast settled in our harte the true Religion , as moste Christian Kinges ought to haue : and who be fully resolued to liue and dye therein : acknoweleadging herein the Grace , that God by his infinite goodnes hath geuen vs , as to haue preserued our saied Religion and Estate , from the time of our first coming to the Crowne hytherto , against so mighty practises to the contrary , and to haue geuen vs nowe the Age , the witte , and the Iudgement sufficient to gouerne our selues , and al that is committed vnto vs : As also to haue geuen vs for our ayde and comforte our most dere and best beloued Brother the Duke of Anjow , a man also as we are , our Lieutenant General , most entierly affectioned to our Person , and Seruice , knitte and vnited in Religion with vs , as is also our other most derelye beloued Brother the Duke of Allenson .

For these Causes ▪ and other greate and waightie Considerations mouing vs herevnto , hauing had herevppon the aduise of our most Excellent Ladie and Mother , of our said most dere and best beloued Brethren , of other Princes of our Bloude , and of other men of Honour , the Lordes and the Honourable of our Priuie Councell , wee haue by Edicte and Ordonaunce perpetuall and irreuocable , inhibited and forbidden , wee doe inhibite and forbidde vppon payne of confiscation of bodie and goodes , to all personnes , of whatsoeuer dignitie , condition , or qualitie so euer they be , wythin our saied Realme , and Lande of our obedience , all manner exercice of anie Religion , then onely of the Catholique , and Romaine , the whiche wee holde and mainteine , and the Kinges our Predecessours haue holden and mainteined . And to this effect we ordeine , that all Ministers of the saied Religion pretended refourmed , bee bounde within xv . dayes after the publication of these presentes , to auoide and departe our saied Realme , and Lande of our obedience , vppon the paine aboue saied .

This not withstanding , we meane not , ne wil not , that those of the saied Religion pretended refourmed , be by any meanes examined vpon their consciences , so that they refraine from the exercise of all other Religion , then of the said Catholique and Romaine : hoping that hereafter by the inspiration of God , and by the greate diligence which we purpose to vse , to see that al Bishops and Pastours of the Church of our said Realme doe their endeuour and duety also , hoping , I say , that our said subiects of the said pretended Religion , wil retourne and ioyne againe with vs , and with other our subiectes , in the vnitie of the holy Catholique Church . Farther to all suche our said subiects as obeying to this our present Edict , will laie downe their weapon , will breake vppe their assemblies , and will retire home againe , liuing as good and loyall subiectes oughte to doo , within twentie daies after the publication of these presentes , to all suche wee haue geauen a generall Pardon , and Remission of all that hath ben by them committed , as well against our Person , our saied moste honourable Ladie and Mother , our said most derely beloued brethren , as againste any other personnes , in respecte of these present troubles , and of the former , or of their Religion , vntill the daie of this present Edict : in suche sorte , that in this respect , they neede not to take any other pardon or speciall remission from vs , so that they , within the saied time , doe rendre and restore vnto vs , our Townes and Places , by such as do holde them , or haue their power in them .

All the whiche personnes obeying vnto vs , we take and receiue into our safegard and protection , in like sorte , as our other subiectes . Forbidding moste expressely all our saied subiects , to reproche them with any matter that is past : forbiddinge also all our Iudges and Officers to trouble them , or to molest them , either in their personnes , or in their goodes . We wil also and ordaine , that al priuat quarels , or particular grudges , be they betwene high or lowe , communalties or Cities , or any other personnes of what qualite so euer they be , proceding of the said troubles of Religion , be quenched and extinguished , without any more word speaking thereof , or any more searche made after them , vpon payne to be punished as guilty of treason , and as distourbers of the common quiet . Forbiddinge moreouer to all our subiectes , that they prouoke not , nor reproche not one an other , either by worde or by dede . We declare also , that the saied twentie daies being passed , we wil procede against the obstinate , and disobediente , againste all their adherentes and complices , by all waies and maners dewe and permitted of God in such case , without any more shewing of fauour for euer , and without exception of any .

We geue also in commaundement by these presents to our beloued and trusty , suche as holde our Courtes of Parlament , Baillyes , Stewards , Preuosts , or their Lieutenants , and to al other our Iusticers and officiers , and to euery one of them , as it shall to eche one appertayne , that our present Edict , Ordonance , will , and Intention , they cause to be read , published , and inregistred , that they intertayne it , kepe it , and obserue it , and cause it to be intertayned , kept and obserued , inuiolably and without breache . And to haue this done and suffred , that they constrayne , and cause to be constrayned , al , to whom it shal apperteine , and all which for this purpose they shal cause to be constrained : And to proceede moste expressely all our saied subiects , to reproche them with any matter that is past : forbiddinge also all our Iudges and Officers to trouble them , or to molest them , either in their personnes , or in their goodes . We wil also and ordaine , that al priuat quarels , or particular grudges , be they betwene high or lowe , communalties or Cities , or any other personnes of what qualite so euer they be , proceding of the said troubles of Religion , be quenched and extinguished , without any more word speaking thereof , or any more searche made after them , vpon payne to be punished as guilty of treason , and as distourbers of the common quiet . Forbiddinge moreouer to all our subiectes , that they prouoke not , nor reproche not one an other , either by worde or by dede . We declare also , that the saied twentie daies being passed , we wil procede against the obstinate , and disobediente , againste all their adherentes and complices , by all waies and maners dewe and permitted of God in such case , without any more shewing of fauour for euer , and without exception of any .

We geue also in commaundement by these presents to our beloued and trusty , suche as holde our Courtes of Parlament , Baillyes , Stewards , Preuosts , or their Lieutenants , and to al other our Iusticers and officiers , and to euery one of them , as it shall to eche one appertayne , that our present Edict , Ordonance , will , and Intention , they cause to be read , published , and inregistred , that they intertayne it , kepe it , and obserue it , and cause it to be intertayned , kept and obserued , inuiolably and without breache . And to haue this done and suffred , that they constrayne , and cause to be constrayned , al , to whom it shal apperteine , and all which for this purpose they shal cause to be constrained : And to proceede against the transgressours , by the paines aboue saied .

We commaunde also , that our said Baylies , Stewars , Preuostes , and other our Officiers , do aduertise vs , and put vs to knowleadge , within a moneth after the publishing of these presents , of their endeuour and diligence that they haue vsed , for the execution and obseruation of the same . For suche is our pleasure . Al maner of Edicts , Ordonances , commaundements , or Inhibitions to the contrary , notwithstanding . All the which , in regard of the contentes in these presentes , not yet in other matters preiudicating vnto them , we haue abrogated , and doe abrogate .

In witnesse hereof we haue signed these presents with our owne hande , and haue caused to be put thereunto our Seale .