The Edict of Nantes
1598,
decree circulated from Nantes by King Henry IV to restore internal peace in
France, which had been torn by the Wars of Religion; the edict defined the
rights of the Huguenots. These included full liberty of conscience and private
worship; liberty of public worship wherever it had previously been granted and
its extension to numerous other localities and to estates of Protestant nobles;
full civil rights including the right to hold public office; royal subsidies for
Protestant schools; special courts, composed of Roman Catholic and Protestant
judges, to judge cases involving Protestants; retention of the organization of
the Protestant church in France; and Protestant control of some 200 cities then
held by the Huguenots, including such strongholds as La Rochelle, with the king
contributing to the maintenance of their garrisons and fortifications. The fall
(1628) of
Excerpts:
Henry, By the Grace of
God, King of France, and
6. And not to leave any
occasion of trouble and difference among our Subjects, we have permitted and do
permit to those of the Reformed Religion, to live and dwell in all the Cities
and places of this our Kingdom and Countreys under our obedience, without being
inquired after, vexed, molested, or compelled to do any thing in Religion,
contrary to their Conscience, nor by reason of the same be searched after in
houses or places where they live, they comporting themselves in other things as
is contained in this our present Edict or Statute.
7. We also permit to all
Lords, Gentlemen and other Persons, as well inhabitants as others, making
profession of the Reformed Religion, having in our Kingdom and Countreys under
our obedience, high Justice as chief Lord (as in Normandy) be it in propriety or
usage, in whole, moiety, or third part, to have in such of their houses of the
said high Justice or Fiefs, as abovesaid (which they shall be obliged to
Nominate for their principall residence to our Bayliffs and chief Justice each
in their jurisdiction) the exercise of the said Religion as long as they are
Resident there, and in their absence, their wives or families, or part of the
same. And though the right of Justice or whole Fief be controverted,
nevertheless the exercise of the said Religion shall be allowed there, provided
that the abovesaid be in actual possession of the said high Justice, though our
Attorney Generall be a Party. We permitting them also to have the said exercise
in their other houses of high Justice or Fiefs abovesaid, so long as they shall
be present, and not otherwise: and all, as well for them, their families and
subjects, as others that shall go thither.
8. In the Houses that are
Fiefs, where those of the said Religion have not high Justice, there the said
Exercise of the Reformed Religion shall not be permitted, save only to their own
Families, yet nevertheless, if other persons, to the number of thirty, besides
their Families, shall be there upon the occasion of Christenings, Visits of
their Friends, or otherwise, our meaning is, that in such case they shall not be
molested: provided also, that the said Houses be not within Cities, Burroughs,
or Villages belonging to any Catholick Lord (save to Us) having high Justice, in
which the said Catholick Lords have their Houses. For in such cases, those of
the said Religion shall not hold the said Exercise in the said Cities,
Burroughs, or Villages, except by permission of the said Lords high Justices.
9. We permit also to those
of the said Religion to hold, and continue the Exercise of the same in all the
Cities and Places under our obedience, where it hath by them been Established
and made publick by many and divers times, in the Year 1586, and in 1597, until
the end of the Month of August, notwithstanding all Decrees and Judgments
whatsoever to the contrary. . . .
16. Following the second
Article of the Conference of Nerat, we grant to those of the said Religion power
to build Places for the Exercise of the same, in Cities and Places where it is
granted them. . . .
27. To the end to reunited
so much the better the minds and good will of our Subjects, as is our intention,
and to take away all complaints for the future; We declare all those who make or
shall make profession of the said Reformed Religion, to be capable of holding
and exercising all Estates, Dignities, Offices, and publick charges whatsoever,
Royal, Signioral, or of Cities of our Kingdom, Countreys, Lands, and Lordships
under our obedience, notwithstanding all Oaths to the contrary, and to be
indifferently admitted and received into the same, and our Court of Parliament
and other Judges shall content themselves with informing and inquiring after the
lives, manners, Religion and honest Conversation of those that were or shall be
preferred to such offices, as well of the one Religion as the other, without
taking other Oath of them than for the good and faithful service of the King in
the exercise of their Office. . . .
Questions: Explain the following quotes from the Edict of Nantes in your own words.
1. Preamble: "... we have upon the whole judged it necessary to give to all our said Subjects one general Law, Clear, Pure, and Absolute, by which they shall be regulated in all differences which have heretofore risen among them, or may hereafter rise, wherewith the one and other may be contented, being framed according as the time requires..."
2. 6: "...we have permitted and do permit to those of the Reformed Religion, to live and dwell in all the Cities and places of this our Kingdom and Countreys under our obedience..."
3. 7: "...We also permit to all Lords, Gentlemen and other Persons, as well inhabitants as others, making profession of the Reformed Religion, ... to have in such of their houses of the said high Justice or Fiefs, as abovesaid ... the exercise of the said Religion as long as they are Resident there..."
4. 16: "...we grant to those of the said Religion power to build Places for the Exercise of the same, in Cities and Places where it is granted them..."
5. 27: "...We declare all those who make or shall make profession of the said Reformed Religion, to be capable of holding and exercising all Estates, Dignities, Offices, and publick charges whatsoever, Royal, Signioral, or of Cities of our Kingdom, Countreys, Lands, and Lordships under our obedience,... and to be indifferently admitted and received into the same..."