Remonstrance of the Prince of Condé

took them at the beginning. Now, who is he who would want to lay down his arms at the request and instance of his enemy, who would have his sword in hand to fight him? What is it other than to ask that the said Lord Prince disarm himself while his adversaries remain armed, if not to wish that his enemies be his masters, that his goods be subjected to their avarice, that his life be exposed to their cruelty? In short, that he should receive the Law from those who, having none, ought to receive it from others? And what is more, is it not wishing to break the wall that it pleased God to place around his poor Churches of France, only to subsequently leave them abandoned to the rage and fury of those who cannot satiate themselves in drinking the blood of the innocents?

Furthermore, no one can ignore that the said Lord Prince has always offered to disarm himself after his enemies did so, and by withdrawing from the side of the King, let him return to his former liberty. Now, was it not reasonable that those who had first taken up arms without command, without authority, without consent, and against the will, against the edicts, and against the express commands of the King, should lay down their arms before the others, who had armed themselves after them—armed, I say, by the command, authority, and consent of the King and the Queen, for the conservation of their Majesties and their edicts, against the oppression and violence of the others? In sum, let us examine everything that the said