The Kings declaration & ordinance, containing the cause of his warre against the Duke of Sauoy, warning his subiects, that they carrie not armes against his Maiestie: and a commandement to all true Frenchmen, to retire themselues to his obedience.
HIs Maiestie being constrained to imploy his forces against the Duke of Sauoy, in regard of the Marquisate of Saluces, by him wrongfully in the [...]ime of peace betweene him and his Maiesties predecessor Henrie the third of happie memorie, taken, and vsurped, declareth and maketh knowne to all to whom it shall appertaine, to haue recourse to this remedie, to his great sorrow and heartes griefe, for the singular desire that his Maiestie hath to raigne in peace & good amitie with all his neighbors, to auoid the which hee hath done all that his honor, the dutie of a good prince, a louer of publike rest, and the good of his kingdome would giue him leaue, as it is apparant [Page] and well knowne to all men, as well by the treatie of peace made at Veruins 1598. betweene his Maiestie, Philip the second King of Spaine, & the said Duke of Sauoy: and with what diligence and submissions towards the Pope, his Maiestie hath sought the following and continuance of the said treatie, and also by the last agreement made betweene his Maiestie and the said Duke of Sauoy at Paris in Februarie last past, and the patience his Maiestie hath had since the agreement to attend the said Dukes resolution vpon matters agreed vpon, which hee promised to do before the first day of Iune.
And for as much his Maiesty meanes to make war vpon the said Duke, for the recouerie of the Marquisate of Saluces by him wrongfully held from him, so he declareth that he will obserue and faithfully keep the treatie of peace made at Veruins with all them that shall doe the like in his behalfe. Moreouer, hee meaneth not to vse any hostilitie vpon such of the Duke of Sauoyes subiectes or vassals, as shall not carrie armes in this warre against his Maiestie or his seruice.
His Maiestie aboue all other things intends to take into his protection, and defend from ruine and oppression all religious places & persons, as Churches, Codents, Abbayes, and Monasteries of men and women, prouided they neither fauor or assist the Dukes forces.
In regard whereof, his Maiestie expressely forbids vpon paine of death, all men of warre, either horse or foote, of what nation soeuer they bee in his pay, [Page] and seruing in his army, to take ransome of prisoners, or molest the subiects of the said Duke either in person, or goods, either in Sauoy, Bresse, Baugey, or Veronne, or other countries obedient vnto him, if they declare vnto him, or the chiefe of his Armie within fifteene daies after his Maiesties armie shall bee there ariued, that they will abandon the Dukes seruice, and be obedient to the will and commandement of his Maiestie.
His Maiestie in like manner ordaines the same to be done to all inhabitantes of townes, which open their gates vnto him or his seruants, meaning onely to vse hostilitie to those that beare armes in fauor of the said Duke and his adherents against his Maiestie in this present warre.
Besides, his Maiestie forbids all sacrilege, rauishments, burning of houses, or Castels, vpon paine of death.
And for as much as his Maiestie is informed, that certaine of his subiectes are in the seruice of the said Duke, both before and since the treatie at Veruins, which may thinke it their dutie to stay, vnder colour of being ingaged in his seruice, although neither wordes nor deedes can bind them to preiudice their faith, subiection, and vassallage, which nature bindes them to owe to their Prince, in whose Countrey they are borne: His Maiestie willing and desiring therefore to make [Page] knowne his meaning, enioyneth all such his subiects of what condition or qualitie soeuer in the seruice of the said Duke, to returne into his kingdome within fifteen daies after the publication of this present ordinance in his armie, vpon paine to bee punished as well in their persons as goods, as offendours of his Maiestie in the highest degree.
And to that end no man may pretend ignorance, his Maiestie willeth that his ordinance bee published in his Armie, and set vpon the postes of the principall townes of his prouinces bordering vpon the Dukes countrey: Inioyning all his officers and subiects, to keepe, obserue and punish rigorously all such as sha [...]l not obey.