First:

THE King is well pleased to admit and entertaine the sayd conference with my Lord the Prince, & other Princes, Dukes, Peeres, Officers of the Crowne, Barons, and all others, as well Catholiques, as of the Re­ligion [Page 2] pretended Reformed, which haue beene assisting vnto, and are ioyntly vni­ted with him: comprehending all the De­puties of the sayd Religion assembled at Nismes.

2

The said conference shall bee in the towne of Loudun, between certaine Com­missioners deputed by his Maiesty, for the debating of matters with my Lord the Prince, & the other Lords afore-named, to begin the tenth of February following, or next ensuing.

3

And to the end that nothing shall trouble or interrupt so good a worke, it is purposely contriued and deuised accor­ding to the good pleasure of his Maiesty, that there shall bee a cessation of armes and all actions military through the whole Realme, and other countries vn­der his Maiesties obeisance, as also within the soueraignties of Sedan and Raucourt: [Page 3] to beginne for the behalfe and regard of the prouinces of Poictiers, Xantogne, Augoume, Bretaigne, Touraine, Anjou and Berry on the same day, that these present articles shall bee ratified by his Maiesty, whose will and pleasure to the same pur­pose, the foresaid Prince, shall explaine and discouer within or before the thirtieth day of this present month: And in respect of the other prouinces remooued, and farther separated, the said suspension of armes shall beginne as soone, or the selfe same day, that this is published within the sayd Prouinces by the Gouernours and Lieutenant-Generals of the same, to end and determime for all together, the first of March next ensuing, all which the said Lord Prince shall aduertise the same time to all such as haue any autho­rity or commandement within the places and limitation acknowledging his soue­raignty, and vnited to his obedience.

4

And to bring to passe, that the sayd [Page 4] suspension of armes bee speedily put in practise, and executed through all the foresaid prouinces of the Realme, his Ma­iesty shall be humbly sued vnto and sup­plicated, that all diligence and expedition bee vsed for the expedite and necessarie publishing his commandements: and if it happen, that any person or persons, in giuing attendance on the sayd publicati­on, shall be arrested as prisoners, after the sayd thirtieth day of the present month, it shall be published and reputed no good prize, and he or they shall bee presently released and discharged at the first moti­on and demand, made both of the one side and the other.

5

During the said suspension of armes neither of one side nor other, shall there be made or raised any bullwarkes, tren­ches or fortifications within the townes or other places taken and surprized, since the first of September last, nor any raising or leuie of souldiers, or men of armes [Page 5] within the Realme and countries subiect to his Maiesties obedience.

6

And to preuent, lest the approch and proximity of the armies bring with it any alteration or disturbance to these procee­dings, it is agreed vnto, according to the will & good pleasure of his Maiestie, that none of his Maiesties troops be resident or passe ouer on this side the riuer of Clain: al so that during the said conference his Ma­iesties forces retire beyond the riuer of Vi­enne, not approaching or comming neere the foresaid towne of Loudun by eight leagues: But whereas the garisons which may seeme necessarie for the search and security of all places remaining on this side the sayd riuers of Vienne and Claine, may yet raise a further suspicion and iea­lousie: By order and commission appoin­ted from my Lord the said Prince, or such to whom he shall put in trust for these af­faires, the number of men shall bee ap­pointed and reuiewed, which shal be ad­mitted [Page 6] into the same places, and for the same purpose.

7

In like manner none of the troopes of armes of my sayd Lord the Prince shall come neere or approach to the towne of Poictiers during the sayd suspension and conference, by the space of sixe leagues, nor lodge beyond the riuer of Tou, nor in the prouinces of Anjou and Bretaigne be­yond the sayd riuer of Tou: and concer­ning the garrisons, which may seeme ne­cessary and conuenient for security, and maintaining the places belonging to my said Lord the Prince, the which may also affoord matter of iealousie and suspicion: there shall bee the same order appointed for the ouerseeing them by his Maiestie, or such to whom hee shall commit the the trust of such affaires.

8

And for the behalfe of the Prouince of Xantoigne none of the troopes shall lodge [Page 7] within Tailbourg, nor aduance aboue the riuer of Charante.

9

Touching the other Prouinces his Maiestie and our sayd Lord the Prince, haue deputed and ordained, that euerie one shall rule and command the troopes therein to liue modestly, and conforma­ble to good orders.

10

My sayd Lord the Prince during the conference, and for the security and pa­tronizing the businesse, may lodge 100. men of armes in the towne of the Ile of Bourchard, and about 800. men within the precincts of Loudun, as also 400. horse about the said town of Loudun in such places and quarters, which shall be after na­med, & thought conuenient by his Ma­iestie, or such, whom it shall please him to delegate and appoint.

11

The troopes of the sayd armies, who are to retire by the commandement or li­censes of the said Gouernours, and seeme willing to obey the pleasure of the sayd Lords, Princes, Dukes, Peeres, Officers of the Crowne, and Lieutenants of the King, may performe the same, and passe with all security and assurance, aduerti­sing the Gouernours of the townes and places, by which they must passe, or o­thers to whom they are to be obedient, of their licenses and patents to depart ac­cordingly: wherein notwithstanding they shall not troope aboue 20. and 20. at a time.

These articles were decreed vpon and determined in the presence, and by the consent and aduice of my Lord the Duke of Neuers, in the towne of Fountenay the county, the 20. of Ianuary, 1616.

Signed Brisac, De Neufville, Henry of Bourbon, and Charles De Gonzague de Cleues, as present.

These articles were published and exemplified in the presence of the King, accompanied with the Queene his Mother, the Lords the Dukes of Guise and Elbeuf, my Lord the Chancellor, my Lord the Duke Espernon, the Lords Marshals of Boisdaupbin and Souure, the Lord President Ia­nin, and diuers other Lords and Princes of his Councell; which articles his Maiestie hath ratifi­ed, approoued and agreed vnto, willing and com­manding, that they bee kept and obserued from point to point, according to their forme and te­nour, and that all letters and dispatches for the necessary & expedient execution of the premises, be presently signed and sent forth. Concluded & determined the 23. of Ianuarie 1616. at Cha­stellerault.