out a few years after, in fuch a manner that from the year 1635 until the truce concluded with the princes of Europe in 1684, the kingdom having but little reft, it was fcarce poffible to do any thing for the advancement of religion, unless it were to diminish the numbers of the churches belonging to thofe of the pretended reformed religion, by interdicting fuch. as had been built contrary to the orders of the said edict, and by fuppreffion of the Mixt Chambers, which were erected only provifionally. God having at laft granted to our people the enjoyment of a perfect peace, and we alfo not being occupied with those cares to protect them against our enemies, and being able to improve this truce, which we effected for this very end, that we might wholly apply ourfelves to feek out fuch means whereby we might accomplith fuccefsfully the defign of the faid kings our father and grandfather, upon which also we entered as foon as we came to the crown, we now fee, and, according to our duty, thank God for it, that our cares have at laft obtained that end we had propounded to ourfelves, inasmuch as the far greater and better part of our subjects of the faid pretended reformed religion have embraced the Catholic. And inafmuch as hereby the execution of the edict of Nantes, and of whatfoever elfe hath been ordained in favour of the faid pretended reformed religion, is become ufelefs, we have judged, that we could do nothing better towards the total blotting out of the remembrance of those troubles, confufions, and mifchiefs, which the progrefs of that false religion had caufed in our kingdom, and which occafioned that edict, and feveral other edicts and declarations which had preceded it, or had been, in confequence thereof, enacted, than totally to revoke the faid edict of Nantes, and the special articles which, in pursuance of it, had been conceded, and whatever elfe had been done in favour of that said religion. We therefore make known, that for thefe caufes, and others thereunto us moving, and of our certain knowledge, full power, and royal authority, we have by this present, perpetual, and irrevocable edict, fuppreffed and revoked, we do fupprefs and revoke the edict of the king our faid grandfather, given at Nantes, in its whole extent, together with those special articles ordained the fame year, and the letters-patent expedited thereupon, and the edict given at Nifmes 1629; we declare them null and void, and as if they had never been, together with all grants made as well by them, as by other edicts, declarations, and decrees to thofe of the faid pretended reformed religion, of what kind foever they may be, which fhalk hall in like manner be reputed as if they had never been; and in confequence hereof we will, and it is our pleasure, that all the temples of thofe of the faid religion, fituated within our kingdom, countries, lands, and lordships of our fubjection, fhall be immediately demolished. We forbid our said subjects of the faid pretended reformed religion any more to affemble themselves, for exercise of their faid religion, in any place or private houfe, under any pretence whatsoever, yea and all real exercises, or fuch as were in lordships, although the faid exercifes had been maintained by the decrees of our council. We command all minifters of the pretended reformed religion, who will not turn from it and embrace the Catholic, apoftolic, and Roman religion, to depart our kingdom and the lands of our dominion within a fortnight after the publication of this our prefent edict, and not to tarry beyond that time, or during that faid fortnight, to preach, exhort, or perform any function of their miniftry upon pain of being fent to the gallies. We forbid all private schools for the inftruction of the children of thofe of the faid pretended reformed religion, and generally all other things whatfoever, that may bear the fign of privilege or favour to that faid religion. And, touching the children that fhall be born of thofe of the faid pretended reformed religion, our will is, that for time to come they be baptized by the curates of their parishes; commanding their fathers and mothers for that purpofe to fend them to their churches, on penalty of being fined 500 livres, or a greater fum; and thofe children fhall henceforth be brought up in the Catholic, apoftolic, and Roman religion. And we molt ftrictly command all the judges of thofe refpective places to fee that this be executed. And we do moft ftrictly again repeat our prohibitions unto. all our fubjects of the faid pretended reformed religion, that neither they, nor their wives nor children, do depart our kingdom, nor tranfport their goods and effects, on pain, for men fo offending, of their being fent to the gallies, and of confifcation of bodies and goods for the women. We will, and give them to know, that all declarations, publifhed against the relapsed, fhall be executed according to their form and tenor. And furthermore, thofe of the faid pretended reformed religion, till fuch time as it fhall pleafe God to illuminate them as others have been, may abide in the towns and places of our kingdom, and continue their traffic, and enjoy their goods, without being troubled or hindered, because of the 3 G 2 faid faid pretended reformed religion; provided, as before, they do not exercife it, nor affemble themfelves on pretence of prayers, or of any manner of worship, according to that faid religion, on the penalties before mentioned, of confifcation of bodies and goods. Given at Fountainbleau, October 1685, and in the 43d LOUIS. Vifa, Le Tellier. No. XIV. The Pope's Letter of Congratulation to the French King, upon the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. (See p. 130.) Innocent XI. to our deareft Son in Chrift, Lewis XIV. the most Chriftian king of France. Our dearest Son in Chrift, INCE, above all the reft of thofe illuftrious proofs which Majefty, that noble zeal, and worthy the most Christian king, is moft confpicuous; with which, being ardently inflamed, you have wholly abrogated all thofe conftitutions that were favourable to the heretics of your kingdom, and, by most wife decrees fet forth, have excellently provided for the propagation of the orthodox belief, as our beloved fon, and your ambaffador with us, the noble Duke d'Eftrees, hath declared to us; we thought it was incumbent upon us most largely to commend that excellent piety of yours, by the remarkable and lafting teftimony of these our letters, and to congratulate your Majefty on that acceffion of immortal commendation which you have added to all your other exploits by fo illuftrious an act of this kind. The Catholic church fhall moft affuredly record in her facred annals a work of fuch devotion towards her, and celebrate your name with neverdying praises: but, above all, you may moft defervedly promife to yourself an ample retribution from the divine goodnefs for this moft excellent undertaking, and may reft affured, that we fhall never ceafe to pour forth our most earnest prayers to that divine goodness for this intent and purpose. The reft you fhall understand from our venerable brother Angelo, Angelo, archbishop of Genua. In the mean time we greet Jou moft kindly with our apoftolical benediction. Given at Rome the 13th of November, in the 10th year of our pontificate. No. XV. Sentence of Excommunication against all adhering to the late peace, and thofe bearing arms for the heretics of Ireland, or who aid and affift them. By John Baptifta Rivubcini archbishop and prince of Firmane, and the Ecclefiaftical Congregation of both the clergy of the kingdom of Ireland. Tranflated from the Latin. (See page 147.) THE HE minifter of God (as faith the oracle of truth) is not girt with the fword in vain; for he is a revenger to exer eute wrath on them who do evil, and the rewarder of such as do good. Hence it is that, by our former decrees, we have declared to the world our opinion and juft indignation against the late peace concluded and proclaimed at Dublin, not only in its nature, as bringing prejudice and diftraction to religion and the kingdom, but as contrary to the oath of affociation; and at the fame time against the contrivers and adherents to the faid peace. In the profecution of which decrees, being obliged to unfheath the fpiritual fword, we, to whom God hath committed the power of binding and loofing on earth, gathered together in the Holy Spirit, following the footsteps, and imitating the examples of many venerable and holy prelates deceased, and clothed with the authority of the facred canons of holy church, founded in the holy Scripture, that they may be cut off from among us who do this deed,-by the power of our Lord Jefus, deliver thefe perfons to Satan that is, we excommunicate, curse, and anathematize all thofe who, after the publication of this our decree, or after they come to the knowledge of it privately or publicly, shall defend, adhere unto, or approve the juftice of the faid peace, efpecially thofe bearing arms, confederating or hoftilely joining with, for, or in name of the Puritans or other heretics in Dublin, Cork, or in other parts of this kingdom, or who by themselves, or by their appointment, bring, fend, or fhall afford them any affiftance, fuccours, or relief in provifions, arms, or any contributions whatever, or who by coun fel or any manner whatever, may promote that peace or war against against us. All fuch, and every one of them, we, by the prefent, decree, declare, and pronounce excommunicated, ipfo facto, left we fhould be circumvented by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his devices. Given at Kilkenny in the palace of our refidence, the 5th of October, in the year 1646. Subfcribitur fic, JOHANNES BAPTISTA, Archiepifcopus Firmanus, No. XVI. An Excommunication pronounced by Philip Dunn, a Popish bifhop in Ireland, against Francis Freeman, who embraced the Proteftant religion in 1765. Found among the bishop's papers at his houfe in the county of Wicklow. BY the authority of God, the Father Almighty, and the bleffed Virgin Mary, and of St. Peter and St. Paul, and all the holy faints, we excommunicate Francis Freeman, late of the county of Dublin, but now of Juck-mill in the county of Wicklow, that in fpite of God and St. Peter, and in fpite of all the holy faints, and in spite of our most holy father the Pope, (God's vicar on earth), and in fpite of our right reverend father in God, Philip Dunn our diocefan, and worshipful canons, who ferve God daily; hath apostatised to a most damnable religion, full of herefy and blafphemy; excommunicated let him be, and delivered over to the Devil, as a perpetual malefactor and schifmatic; accurfed let him be in all cities, and in all towns, in fields, in ways, in yards, in houses, and in all other places, whether lying or rifing, walking or running, leaning or ftanding, waking or fleeping, eating or drinking, or whatfoever thing he does: belides, we feparate him from the threshold and all good prayers of the church; from the participation of the holy Jefus, from all facraments, chapels, and altars; from the holy bread and holy water; from all the merit of God's holy prielts and religious men, and from their cloysters, and all pardons, privileges, grants, and immunities which all the holy Popes have granted them; and we give him over utterly to the fiend; and let him quench his foul, when dead, in the pains of hell-fire, as this candle is quenched and put out. And let us pray to God, our Lady, St. Peter, and St. Paul, that all the fenfes of his body may fail, as now the light of this candle is gone; except he come, on fight hereof, and openly confefs his damnable herefy and blafphemy, |