so odious nor mistrustful to the people, as the others; his Majesty is advised, that such small officers, which will abjure the said new religion, and profess the faith catholick, apostolick, and Romish, and therein live continually hereafter, shall continue in the exercise and enjoying of their estates: but they, that will continue in their new opinion, shall depart from their offices, until his Majesty hath otherwise provided. And this is for the great mischief and inconvenience that may befall them, if they should exercise their said estates, because of the great mistrust and suspicion which the catholicks have conceived of them of the new religion. Nevertheless, his Majesty well considering that the most part of the said officers have no other way to live, but the exercise of their said offices, willeth that they shall be in choice to resign to catholick and capable persons, and then to come to him for that effect, and he will grant them the greatest favour and moderation of his treasure that is possible. The which resolution and pleasure of his Majesty he willeth to be declared to the said officers of the new pretended opinion, as well by governors and lieutenants-general of his provinces, as by them of his courts of parliament, of the chamber of his accounts, of the court of his aids, them of his great council, of the treasury of France, the generals of his fines, his bailiffs, seneschals, provosts, judges, or their lieutenants, and every one of them, as shall appertain. And, to this intent, his Majesty willeth and intendeth, that every one of them, in their calling, shall send, particularly and apart, for every one of the said officers of the new religion, which be of their incorporation, charge, and jurisdiction, and shall admonish them, in this behalf, to conform themselves to his Majesty's mind: and, if any of them in authority, because of their said estates, will return to the bosom of the catholick and Romish church, it shall be said to them, that his Majesty liketh very well of it, and that he taketh a great and singular affection therein, and that it shall give him the greater assurance and credit of their good will; and that his Majesty will not bar them from his service hereafter, but will provide for them as their behaviour shall deserve: and, notwithstanding, for the reasons abovesaid, he willeth that they shall cease from the exercise of their estates and offices, until he otherwise appointeth. And because that, in many places of the realm, they have proceeded by way of seizing the goods of them of the new religion which be dead or absent, and hide themselves, and sometimes of those which be in their own houses, although his Majesty gave to understand, by his declaration of the twenty eighth of August last, that he would and intended that they of the new religion should enjoy their goods; nevertheless, to the intent there should be no doubt of his purpose, and that no mistrust might arise thereupon, he declareth, willeth, and intendeth again, that, according to his declaration of the twenty-eighth of August, they of the new religion which be living, whether they be present or absent, and be not culpable or charged with the last conspiracy, or to have attempted against his Majesty, or his estate, since his edict of pacification, shall be restored to their houses, and put in possession of all and singular their goods, moveable and unmoveable. And that the widows and heirs of them, that be dead, may and shall succeed them, and apprehend all and singular their goods,

and that they shall be maintained in them, and kept under the protection and safeguard of his Majesty, so that no hurt shall be done or said unto them in any manner, wise, or sort: willing, for this purpose, that all necessary surety shall be given them, and that all officers, magistrates, mayors, and others, which have publick charge, shall maintain them in all safety, forbidding all persons, of what estate, quality, or condition soever they be, not to hurt them in person or goods, upon pain of death. And, nevertheless, his Majesty willeth, that they of the new opinion shall submit themselves, and promise, upon pain to be declared rebels and traitors to his Majesty, that they shall hereafter live under his obedience, without attempting any thing to the contrary, or taking their parts that do attempt against his Majesty and estate, or things against his ordinances, and to acknowledge none but his Majesty, or such as he shall appoint under him, to have authority to command them. And, if they know any that shall enterprise against his Majesty and service, to reveal them immediately to him and his officers, as good and faithful subjects. And to take away all doubt and suspicion, as well from the nobility, as others, because that, in the declaration of the twenty-fourth of the last month, these words are contained: Except they be those of the chief, which had commandment for those of the new opinion, or those which made practices and devices for them, or those which might have had intelli gence of the said conspracy. His Majesty declareth, that he meaneth not of things done and past during the troubles which were before the edict of pacification, in August, 1570, and that there shall be no inquisition thereof, and none shall be troubled in goods or person therefore, but, for that respect, they shall enjoy the benefit of the edict of pacification; but that the said words extend only to those which be found to be guilty or accessary to the last conspiracy done against his Majesty and estate, and that others, who are imprisoned, shall be set at liberty. And as touching them which will make profession of their faith, and return to the catholick religion, his Majesty desireth that his governors and officers shall excite and comfort them as much as they can, to that effect, and execution of that good-will; and that their friends and kinsfolks should be also exhorted to do the like for their part, And, if any should hurt them in goods or body, his Majesty willeth ready and speedy execution to be done on them. And to the intent that they may follow the form which hath been kept, in professing the faith which they do make, that return to the apostolick and Romish church, there is sent herewith a memory thereof. From Paris, the twenty-second day of September, 1572. Signed CHARLES, and underneath, PINART,

The Form of Abjuration of Heresy, and Confession of Faith, which they which have swerved from the Faith, and pretend to be received into the Church, ought to make.

This is the Abjuration which they caused all of the Religion to make in France, so save their Lives. Printed at Paris, by Nicholas Roffet, dwelling in the New Street of our Lady, at the Sign of the Mower. With the King's Privilege.

FIRST, They which have swerved from the faith, and desire to return into the compass of our holy mother-church, ought to present themselves to their curates or vicars, to be instructed of that which they ought to do: that done, they shall be sent unto the reverend bishop of the diocese, or his chancellor, or official, to make the said abjuration and confession in manner and form following:

I, N. born at, &c. in the diocese of, &c. and dwelling, &c. acknowledging, by the grace of God, the true faith, Catholick and Apostolick, from which I have, through my own fault, gone astray, and separated myself since, &c. and desirous to return to the flock of Christ's true sheepfold, which is the Catholick, Apostolick, and Romish church, confess to have abjured and cursed all the errors and heresy of the Lutherans, Calvinists, and Hugonots, and all other heresy whatsoever, wherewith I have heretofore been defamed or touched; and I agree to the faith of our holy mother the church, and desire you, in the name of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ, and of the glorious Virgin, his Mother Mary, and of all the saints in paradise, that it would please you to receive me into the flock and sheepfold of God's people, which live under the obedience of the Pope, ordained our Saviour Jesus Christ's vicar in the said church, submitting myself patiently to abide, and willingly to do the penance which it shall please you to enjoin me for the absolution of the faults committed, whilst I was in the foresaid sects, whereof I ask and require pardon of God, and of his said church, and of you (that be appointed my pastor by God the Creator) absolution, with such penance as you shall judge to be wholsome for the satisfaction of my sins and offences. the intent you should know that I have and do make this abjuration from my heart, I confess, moreover, before God and you, that I believe that which is contained in the symbol or creed of the apostles, and Athanasius, and other confessions of faith made and approved by the whole councils of the Catholick, Apostolick, and Romish Church; that is, I believe in one only God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible, and in one Lord, our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son, ingendered by God the Father, before the constitution of the world, God of God, light of light, true God of true God, ingendered, not created, consubstantial with the Father, by whom all things were made, who for us men, and for our salvation, descended from heaven, &c. as in the Belief of Morning Prayer. I believe likewise, acknowledge and confess, all that which is contained in the books as well of the Old, as of the New Testament, approved by the said holy and apostolick church of Rome,

And, to

according to the sense and interpretation of the holy doctors, received by the same, rejecting all other interpretations as false and erroneous, I acknowledge the seven sacraments of the said Catholick, Apostolick, and Romish Church, that they were instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ, and that they be necessary for the salvation of mankind, although that all of them are not of necessity to be conferred to all; that is to say, I confess that the said seven sacraments are these, baptism, confirmation, eucharist, which is the sacrament of the altar, penance, extreme unction, orders, and marriage; and that the said sacraments confer grace, and that, of them, baptism, confirmation, and orders, cannot be reiterated without sacrilege. That the said sacraments have the effect which the said church teacheth, and that the form and usage, wherewith they be ministred to Christians, is holy and necessary. I acknowledge also, that the holy mass is a sacrifice and oblation of the very body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ, under the form of bread and wine mingled with water, which substances of bread and wine under the said forms are in the mass, by the words which serve for consecration, said and pronounced by the priest, transubstantiated and transformed into the substance of the said body and blood of Jesus Christ, notwithstanding that the qualities and accidents remain in the said forms after the said consecration, and that the mass is wholsome and profitable, as well for the quick as the dead. I acknowledge and confess the concomitance, that is to say, that, in receiving the body of Jesus Christ under the form of bread alone, I likewise receive the blood of Jesus Christ. I confess, that prayer and intercession of saints for the quick and the dead is holy, good, and healthful for Christians, and is not contrary, in any respect, to the glory of God. That prayers, made in the church for the faithful, which are dead, do profit them for the remission of their sins, and lessening of their pains incurred for the same. That there is a purgatory, where the souls abiding are succoured by the prayers of the faithful. I confess that we must honour and call upon the saints which reign with Jesus Christ, and that they make intercession for us to God, and that their reliques are to be worshiped. That the commandments and traditions of the Catholick, Apostolick, and Romish Church, as well they which pertain to the form and ceremonies of divine service, and to assist the same, which, I think, are to draw Christian people to piety, and turning to their God, as fasting, abstaining from meats, observation of holy days, and ecclesiastical policy, according to the tradition of the apostles and holy fathers, continued since the primitive church till this time, and afterwards brought into the church by the ordinances of councils received in the same of long and ancient time, or of late, be good and holy, to the which I will and ought to obey, as prescribed and appointed by the Holy Ghost, the author and director of that which serveth for the keeping of the Christian religion, and of the Catholick, Apostolick, and Roman Church. I believe also, and accept, all the articles of original sin, and of justification. I affirm, assuredly, that we ought to have and keep the images of Jesus Christ, of his holy Mother, and all other saints, and do honour and reverence unto them. I confess the power of indulgence and pardons

to be left in the church by Jesus Christ, and the use of them to be very healthful; as also, I acknowledge and confess the church of Rome to be the mother and chief of all churches, and conducted by the Holy Ghost, and that other pretended particular inspirations, against the same, come of the suggestion of the Devil, the prince of dissension, which would separate the union of the mystical body of the Saviour of the world. Finally, I promise streightly to keep all that was ordained at the last general council of Trent, and promise to God and you, never more to depart from the Catholick, Apostolick, and Roman Church; and if I do, which God forbid, I submit myself to the penalties of the canons of the said church, made, ordained, and appointed against them which fall back into apostasy. The which abjuration and confession I have subscribed.

The King's Letter to Monsieur de Guise, and other Lieutenants and Governors of his Provinces, by which he wholly abolisheth and subverteth all the Edicts of Pacification, and willeth that only the Romish Religion should take Place in his Realm.

THE King, knowing that the declaration which he made upon the occasions which lately chanced in the city of Paris, the remembrances and instructions of his will, which he sent round about to all governors of his provinces, and lieutenants-general therein, and particular letters to the seneschals, and his courts of parliament, and other officers and ministers of justice, cannot hitherto stay the course of murders and robberies done in the most part of the cities of this realm, to his Majesty's great displeasure, hath advised, for a more-singular remedy, to send all the said governors into every of their charges and governments, assuring himself, that, according to the quality and power which they have of his Majesty, they can well follow and observe his intent, the which more fully to declare, his Majesty hath caused his letters patents to be dispatched, which shall be delivered them. Besides the contents thereof, M. de Guise, the governor, and lieutenant-general for his Majesty in Champaigne and Brye, shall call before him the gentlemen of the new religion, abiding within his government, and shall tell them that the King's will and intent is to preserve them, their wives, children, and families, and to maintain them in possession of their goods, so that, on their part, they live quietly, and render to his Majesty obedience and fidelity as they ought; in which doing the King also will defend them, that they shall not be molested or troubled by way of justice, or otherwise, in their persons and goods, by reason of things done during the troubles, and before the edict of pacification of August, 1570. And afterwards he shall lovingly admonish them to continue no longer in the error of the new opinion, and to return to the Catholick religion, reconciling themselves to the Catholick Romish church, under the doctrine and obedience whereof Kings, his predecessors, and their subjects, have always holily lived; and this realm hath been carefully conducted and maintained;