HENRY by the grace of God king of Fraunce, and Poland, to all men preſent and to come, greeting. Whereas there is no commaundement of God Religion, or humaine law that can excuſe the ſubiect, for taking armes without the decree or permiſsion of his ſoueraigne to whom it hath pleaſed his Deuine goodneſſe, to giue all authoritie ouer him, & to whom onely he hath reſerued the ſword of power, to vſe for the preſeruation of the good and the puniſhment and correction of the bad, what may be thought of that ſubiect, that taketh armes againſt his owne moſt Chriſtian, lawfull and naturall king? For in caſe this crime be abhominable in the ſight both of God and man, and ought to redound to the ſhame and confuſion of ſuch as commit the ſame, then is there among all Chriſtians no name odious enough for the Frenchmen, if through diſloyaltie, riots, and fellonie they continue not the children of their fathers, thoſe auncient Frenchmen, who ſo vertuouſly with the perill of their owne liues haue obteyned and bene noted among all nations in the world to be the faithfulleſt and moſt loyall to their kinges.

Againe if to this ſo horrible a crime there may be added any encreaſe in reſpect of ſuch bondes, benefites, and particular gratifications receaued by the ſubiect that armeth himſelfe againſt his benefactor and lawfull and naturall king, then are the Duke of Mayenne and the Duke and Knight of Aumalle worthy that name, which as yet is not in vſe. And as their rebellion exceedeth all meaſure and example, ſo ought they likewiſe to be termed the moſt vnfaithfull and diſloyall in this world, alſo to leaue to their poſteritie this note of their ingratitude and rebellion, as a beautifying of the loyaltie of ſuch as remayne ſtedfaſt in their fidelitie, and iuſt and lawfull obedience; which God commaundeth them to beare and yeld to their king.

All this notwithſtanding, ſo farre did our clemencie and good will extend, that endeuoring to forget all former matters and iuſt occaſions, that they had miniſtred vnto vs, to entreate and chaſtiſe them according to the deſertes of their diſloyaltie, euen of our ſelues ſeeking their ſafetie, with the care of their woundes through our owne, yea and the preſeruation of their liues and honor, with the expenſe of our owne authoritie. We haue of late dayes ſent vnto them ſundry and many tymes, diuers of our good & faithful ſeruants & ſubiects, vvith our expreſſe letters, as alſo ſince our Herehaughts of armes to giue the to weet of our good & holy entent, withall that we were ſtil ready not only to forget all matters paſt, but alſo to receaue thē into our gracious fauor & cheriſh & embrace thē as our good & loyall ſubiects, ſo lōg as they ſhould performe their duties & ſuch their ſubmiſſiōs as iuſtly they owe vnto vs. Neuertheles euē as an ambitious & treacherous ſoule is vtterly vncompatible of his Gods aſſiſtance, & through infidelitie is no longer capable of ſuch reaſon as might cōteine or reduce him to his duety: As alſo the Spyder, which is noriſhed with the ſame licour where out the Bee gathereth both hony and waxe, doth neuertheleſſe conuert the ſame into poiſon, ſo our goodnes & clemency infuſed into the harts of ſuch perſons, abandoned both of God and his holy ſpirit, are conuerted into corruption, but not into that ſubſtāce which they ought therof to take, for in liew of humbling themſelues as they ought, & not cōfeſsing their faults, they are growen more proud, & haue plunged themſelues in the deſtruction of both ſoules, liues, honors and credits, together with whatſoeuer their domeſticall goods, by ſeaſing vpon our townes and caſtels, and through their trachery and rebellion, enterpriſing againſt our authoritie, our Magiſtrates, our good and loyall ſubiects and ſeruantes, yea, euen againſt our Prelates, Biſhops, and other Cleargie men, whō they haue impriſoned, robbed, ranſomed, & by torment enforced to reſigne their benefices to their partakers, without reſpect of deſert, or ſo much as quality, as being contented that they were partakers in their wickednes, with al other vnreaſonable means of hoſtility, rebellion, and fellony, & al this vnder pretence and colour of religion & godlines, as if themſelues could ſo much as once approch to ours, or to that of ſo many good & honorable perſons, whom they perſecute as guilty, only becauſe they be their kings faithful ſeruantes and ſubiects, & wil not damne thēſelues, or haue any portiō in their deteſtable rebellion ſtil hauing in their mouthes that vvhich is fartheſt from their harts, making a vaile and cloake of Gods honor thereby to reſiſt his expreſſe vvord, and by their ambition, fellony, and treacherie, to ſubuert the Catholicke, Apoſtolicke, and Romiſh religion, as heretofore they haue ſundrie times done, by ſeaſing vpō our tovvnes & munitions, therby to diuert & hinder vs vvhen vve vver beſt diſpoſed and moſt reſolute in our owne perſon to warre vpon the heretickes, as alſo they would be very ſory there ſhould be no more in France, leaſt thereby their ambitious purpoſes ſhould haue no farther colour.

And albeit through Gods grace we be not bound to geue accompt of our actions to any but himſelfe, yet to the ende the ſimplicitie of ſome of our ſubiectes be not through their falſe ſuggeſtions abuſed and that they ſhould wrongfully imagine the late Duke of Guiſe to haue bene puniſhed for being the protector and defender of the Catholicke Apoſtolicke and Romiſh Religion, or for his good affection to the commons, and that in reſpect thereof the ſaid Duke of Mayenne, Duke and Knight of Aumalle, and their aſſociates may haue had great and lawfull occaſion to vnite themſelues, as well for their own particular preſeruation, together with the maintenaunce of Religion, as for the reuenge of him that dyed for them, as they doe report whereby to ſtirre vp and ſeduce our ſubiects and to cloake their ambitious rebellion. Our pleaſure is thereby fullie to giue them, to vnderſtand that wickedly they haue ſought to couer their diſloyaltie with the honour of God, the increaſe of Religion and affection to the common wealth: for not to ſtay vpon the particularities of the ſaid Duke of Guiſe and his brothers liues, the memory whereof is but to freſh yet in this Realme, eſpecially among ſuch as were beſt acquainted with them, & not to waſt ſo much time about the writing thereof, it ſhall ſuffiſe vs onely to ſay that a few daies before the Duke of Guiſes death, the ſaid Duke of Mayenne ſent vs word by an honorable Knight, Syr Alphonſo Corſe, whom he ſent to vs, that it was not enough for his brother to weare beades about his necke, but that alſo it was requiſite he ſhould haue a ſoule or conſcience: that we ſhould looke well to our ſelues: that it were good himſelfe the ſayd Duke of Mayenne, or the ſaid Knight ſhould come to aduertiſe vs, and that the terme was ſo ſhort, as it was to be feared he could not arriue time enough. As alſo we haue not loſt the remembrances and letters conteyning his practiſes and procuring of amitie with the king of Nauarre, aud the heretickes, as well within the Realme as without, vpon what ſoeuer conditions in caſe they would promiſe him their amitie and aſſiſtance for his eſtabliſhment.

It is likewiſe ſufficiently knowen what penſions he receaued from ſtraungers, vpon what promiſes, and to what end: & his confederates with ſuch as he did moſt condemne before men as fauorers of hereſie, are not vnknowen to any, but thoſe that liſt not to know the ſame. Theſe be thoſe notable actes that he hath taken out of the liues of the Apoſtles and Gods commaundementes, for the preſeruation of the Catholicke Apoſtolicke, and Romiſh Religion and the relief of the people: whereas contrariwiſe it is well knowen where abouts our armies were employed, that our intent was this ſpring perſonally to haue gone forward, and that there was no let in vs, why the ſaid Duke of Mayne ſhould not warre vpon the heretickes, as well as our deare and faithfull Coſin the Duke of Neuers, who had yet continued our enterpriſe, had not our forces bene diuerted by the ſaid Duke of Mayenne and the Duke and Knight of Aumalle, as already the ſaid Duke of Aumalle did the like the laſt yeare by ſurpriſing our Townes in Picardie: and it may be ſaid by the workes of their handes, that the Huguenots had neuer found ſo great fauour, neither this poore Realme ſuch miſery and oppreſſion, but in the ſoule and life of the late Duke of Guiſe, the Duke of Mayenne, and the Duke and Knight of Aumalle: As for the relief of the people let the preſent eſtate of this Realme be conſidered, the loſſes & deſtructions that it hath encurred ſince the yeare 1585 when the ſaid late Duke of Guiſe, with the aforeſaid of Mayenne and Aumalle tooke armes againſt vs & our authoritie, & let the iminent deſtruction of this realme be deemed by ſuch occurrēces as haue happened ſince that time, & ſo compared with the former yeares of 83. & 84. as alſo the order that we had begon to take & eſtabliſhe in this our ſayd Realm to the honor of God, & the eaſe of our people, and agree their relief and the charges of the warre with the actions of the ſaid late Duke of Guiſe, and the aforenamed, who ſince that time neuer laid aſide their weapons, ſometimes vnder one pretence & ſometimes vnder an other, note alſo the countenaunce of the ſayd late Duke of Guiſe and his aſsiſtantes when we, contrary to his expectation, graunted vnto the deputies of our Eſtats, the diſcharge and reductions of tallages to the ſtate they were in An. 1576. alwayes prouided that they would miniſter meanes to ſupply the ſtocke and ſatisfie the enterteinement of the Royall dignitie and the eſtate, and to proſecute the warre which they all had ſo ſolemnely deſired and ſworne, wherein them ſelues ſhould by our decree, haue the adminiſtration of the coyne, as they had promiſed vs: for at that tyme on the one ſide he diſſwaded vs from doing it, willing vs not to abaſe our authority ſo far, but to make our ſelues to be beleued, and on the other ſide he vrged his partakers to proceede in ſuch their inſtant ſuites, yet not vpon any earneſt deſire thereto, but rather to bring vs either into neceſſitie or into hatred with our ſaid ſubiectes, with firm reſolution, vpon our refuſall, to breake vp the Eſtates, vpon ſo plauſible a grounde to the people and him ſelfe to reape the honour and thankes for that whiche he leaſt meant, reiecting vpon vs the enuie for that which we extremely deſired: and whiche we did vpon our great affection to the relief of our ſubiectes, ſo farre as in vs might lye, and that the preſeruation of our Eſtate woulde permitte, euen contrary to his aduiſe and counſell, and all ſuch perſwaſions as he vſed either by him ſelfe or his to the contrary.

Alſo in reſpect of his behauiours toward vs, after we had remitted and pardoned al his former tranſgreſſions, his raſh arrogancie was growen to be ſuch, that the opinions in our Counſell were no longer free, he made him ſelfe to be beleeued. The execution alſo of ſentences and iudgementes giuen in our ſoueraigne Courtes, agaynſt the moſt lewde and guiltie in this lande was deferred in that they could not be caught, and yet were they ſafe in his trayne and chamber, yea and he procured them to be lodged in our Court, ſo as they were the honeſteſt men & moſt zealous Catholickes of this Realme, if once they were his partakers: And contrarywiſe the honeſteſt, and beſt Catholicque was an hereticque, or at the leaſt a Politicque, in caſe hee would not ſweare and take parte in their treaſon.

Hee likewiſe did all that hee might, that euerye man might know (and it was one of his pollicyes) that he could doe what hee would: and that we had euen caſt our ſelues into his armes, ſo farre foorth as to cauſe ſuch rumours to bee ſpread throughout our Prouinces, and to face the Deputies of our Generall Eſtates, whiche woulde not depende vppon him, and alter their bookes at his pleaſure, albeit there were but ouer manye ſuch choſen and nominated through his violence. Witneſſe that dayly at ſet houres there was in his chamber a Counſell holden of matters propounded, alſo what ſhould be concluded in the Eſtates by purchaſe, driftes or violence according as the ſayd Duke of Guiſe and his partakers had reſolued, euen in the face of the world, yea and he boaſted of it, and that there was no greater ſafetie then in his protection, likewiſe that it was a poinct of treaſon, to be our faithfull ſeruant, giuing out as a badge of iniurie this terme HE IS ROYALL, and for a badge of honor, HE IS A GVISART. He ſought vniuſtly to command ouer him, whom God had conſtituted in all authoritie, & ſoueraign power ouer him, & endeuored by the meer benefites, honors and authoritie, which his king had beſtowed vpon him to take from him both crowne & life, at the leaſt ſo ſoone as he had founde meanes ſomewhat better to eſtabliſh his authoritie then as yet it was, if peraduenture he could haue graunted vs ſo long life: for it is moſt certaine and ſufficiently verified that he had already taken ſuch order for his drifts that he accompted him ſelfe Maiſter of our Caſtle and perſon, yea he had vnlawfully ſeaſed vpon the keyes, euen of our Chambers: The cōuenient weapons for the execution of his practiſe and vnfit for any other warrelick exploict were found, albeit his fauorers had vſed all meanes to conuey them away, ſo to take away all notice thereof, and his men were round about vs. The companies of our ordinaunces whom we had ordeyned for the ſafetie of our ſelues, and our eſtates were by him diſmiſſed, yea ſo farre did he proceede as by his letters ſigned by himſelfe and ſealed, with his ſeale of armes, the inhabitantes of Remorantine were exempted from receauing a part of the Lord of Souurays companie whom we had there ordeyned: as alſo he tooke them into his protection and ſafegarde, contrary to our letters patentes vpon the partition, that we had made with him ſelfe: expreſſely forbidding the generall Commiſſarie for victuals, throughout our Realme, to take from them any victuals, for the ſaid company or any other.

Againe the more to ſhewe that he would no longer depend vpon any other then him ſelfe, ſuch was his preſumption, in the cloſet and preſence of the late Queene, our moſt honorable Lady and good mother, and ſundry other Princes and Lordes there preſent, as when the treſpaſſes of treaſons came to be propounded, to the ende to be renewed and ſworne vnto in full aſſembly of our Eſtats, to aunſwere vs moſt impudently that he would not doe any thing, neither would ſweare thereto: but that if he tranſgreſſed we ſhould cauſe him to be puniſhed: and yet all this notwithſtanding, together with diuers others warninges of his driftes and dealinges, dayly giuen vs by our good, faithfull and loyall ſubicts and ſeruaunts, we paſſed ouer all theſe thinges quietly, as perſwading our ſelues that our great patience and benefites, wherein we ſpared not any one gratification that lay in our power, to them and theirs, would mollifie the hardneſſe of their hartes, and reduce them to their iuſt obedience due vnto vs, conſidering the fierceneſſe of Lyons, and other the moſt wild beaſtes is commonly tamed by benefites: but as the ambitious deſire to raigne is inſatiable and infinite, and that he that offendeth doth neuer forgiue: ſo theſe mens inſolencies daily increaſed, and by an expreſſe meſſenger whō the ſaid D. of Aumalle ſent vs vve were aduertiſed that himſelfe had bene preſent in perſon, but not in will (ſaid he) in a counſell holden at Paris, wherein it was reſolued that the Duke of Guiſe ſhould feaſe vpon our perſon and bring vs to Paris, which notwithſtanding, we would not vpon our firſt conſiderations haue ſuch reſpect to this aduice as we ought: howbeit vpon the view of him whom ſince the aforeſaid D. of Mayenne ſent vnto vs, ſeeing alſo the terme ſo ſhort as there was no ſafetie for vs, but in the preuention of the liues of thoſe who ſought to take away ours, and to vſurpe our eſtate and Crowne: we were forced to vſe and practiſe vpon their perſons, not what through their treacherous felonie they deſerued, but according as the ſeaſon would bear that which we ought, yet would not haue done.

This was the recompence that they had prepared for our gratifications and benefites, and is at this day proſecuted by theſe, who during their liues ſeemed to condēne their counſels, and did themſelues giue vs vvarning of the ſame, to the end (as we do finde by their workes) to reſerue to themſelues, and to turne to their particular profit the fruite of this ambitious drift of empire, according to this ancient prouerbe. If equitie be violable, it is to be violated for a Kingdome, and either we haue no iudgement, or els by their actions we muſt beleeue as they nowe do agree together to take from vs our life and crown, which GOD hath giuen vs, ſo ſhortlie they would haue ſcattered it, or els fallen a debate among themſelues, who ſhoulde emoy that which they ſeeke ſo vniuſtlie to vſurpe, in caſe they had any opportunitie to inuade it: as hauing already vndertaken authoritie to diſpoſe, and by letters patentes to determine of the gouernement of out prouinces, and of the leueying and diſtributing of our treaſure.

But ſeing pacience ought to be limitted and reſtrained within certaine boundes, beyond the which it can not be cōmendable in a Prince that oweth the preſeruation of his honor, authoritie, & life vnto his eſtate and him ſelfe. We vpō theſe cauſes with other iuſt conſiderations vs moouing, with the aduiſe of the Princes of our blood, the Cardinals, Prelates, Lords, and others of our Counſel, haue declared, and by theſe preſentes ſigned with our owne hande doe declare the ſayd Duke of Mayenne and Duke and Knight of Aumalle to be fallen from all their callinges, offices, honors, authorities, gouernementes, charges, dignities, priuiledges and prerogatiues which heretofore they haue had and holden ofvs or our predeceſſours kings of this land: & that all the ſame we haue & do at this preſent reuoke: alſo we haue and do denounce and declare them infidels, rebels, attaint aud conuict of rebellion, fellony and treaſon in the higheſt degree: farther our pleaſure is that as ſuch they be proſecuted, both they and all that ſhall aſsiſt them with victuals, counſell, comfort, aide, ſtrength or goods what ſoeuer: likewiſe againſt all their poſteritie by all meanes and rigours of the ſtatutes made againſt ſuch tranſgreſsions. Onleſſe by the firſt day of March next enſuing the date hereof, without further delay they confeſſe their fault and returne into that obediēce, which iuſtly they own vnto vs, euen by the cōmaundement & expreſſe word ofGod, withſtandyng the which, they can not terme themſelues Chriſtiās to the end wee ſatisfye our ſelues in that we haue not omitted any one curteſie, clemency, or fauour that might reclaime thē frō their offence & reduce thē to their duety. Enioyning our chief vſhers, ſergeants or other officers to ſignifie vnto them theſe preſents either perſonally & together or particularly: Alſo in caſe with ſafety they cā not do it, our wil & pleaſure is that the notice therof made at the gates or walles of their dwellings, or of the townes or ſuburbes wherein they ſhall chance to be, by our chief trōpetter: or if he can not ſafely for this purpoſe come ſo neare them, in the next borrough or village, ſhalbe effectuall and of as great force and ſtrength, as if it were done to their owne perſons. Moreouer we commaunde and adiure all our good, faithfull and loyall ſubiectes, of what ſoeuer callyng or condition they bee, by that loyaltie which iuſtly they owe vnto vs, which alſo God and their honour doe commaund, and by the aſhes and memory of their forefathers, who ſo many yeares and with ſo great paines, ſweat & labor haue purchaſed thē that precious treaſure, and immortall name of moſt faithfull to their Kings, that in this affaire of ſuch importance as is the preſeruation or ſubuerſion, not onely of our authority, but of chriſtian religion, the ſtate & thēſelues, they ouerrun the ſaid infidels and rebelles, and aſsiſt vs with their forces & power & drawe vnto vs vpon the firſt ſommons to the end to puniſh ſuch as wilfully vvil perſiſt in their rebelliō 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 and to reſtore our authoritie, together with our eſtate into their former eminency and dignitie, to the honour of God, the preſeruation of the Catholique, Apoſtolique & Romiſh religion, and the reliefe of our ſubiectes, whereto we are reſolued to employ whatſoeuer our meanes & our ovvne life.

Alſo to the end no man pretend cauſe of ignorance, we haue ordained and doe ordaine that theſe preſents be read and publiſhed throughout al our ſoueraigne courts and ſeas royal, for ſuch is our pleaſure. In vvitneſſe vvherof, vve haue to the ſame ſet and fixed our ſeale, that it may remaine firme and inuiolable for euer. Giuen at Bloys, in the month of Februarie, the yeare of grace 1589. and of our Raigne 15.

Thus ſigned Henry, and vnderneath. BY THE KING. Ruzé. Sealed vvith the great ſeale in greene vvaxe vpon laces of red and greene ſilke.