Remonstrance of the Prince of Condé

the bridle and punishment of all vices, has strayed so far from its rightful and natural use as to open the door to all injustices and oppressions, and to every impunity and license to do evil. From this it has happened that the principal head of the police of France, being so ill, has spread its sickness to all the parts and members of this Kingdom. As proof of this, I use not only the specific wrongs done by this Court to infinite persons, and the cries, complaints, and blood of so many poor innocents it has oppressed, condemned, and murdered, but I principally produce this false and perverse judgment of rebellion, which is a general wrong done to infinite men whose lives and works have always provided proof of the very humble obedience they bear toward the Majesty of the King. Now, in order that these corrupt judges would not leave behind a single point of injustice, they pronounced this judgment without the cause being heard, the arguments debated, or the proofs of justification and innocence understood. Even though they were challenged recused by the said Lord Prince and his associates—which was duly notified to them—they did not cease to attribute to themselves the jurisdiction of this matter, to make it understood by all that in the seats of the Court of Parliament in Paris, there are no longer any Judges other than corruptions, hatreds, and personal passions, and there is no longer any Law other than the contempt and abolition of the Laws, the Edicts of the King, and the customs of this Kingdom.