Remonstrance of the Prince of Condé

sociates protest having arms in hand, and having them there by an extreme necessity, having no other means to conserve the Majesty of the King, his Edicts, his greatness, the estate of his Crown, the authority of his Estates, the life and goods of an infinite multitude of his poor subjects, and singularly the pure service of God established in this Kingdom by the authority of the King. The importance of which things touches the heart of the said Lord Prince and those who follow him so much that, foreseeing the horrible calamity and desolation which would happen in this Kingdom, and that all of France would bathe in its blood if their enemies continued the massacres and cruelties exercised for five months now: they all deliberate not to flee any pain to establish the rest of this Kingdom, but to hazard their lives to assure those of so many good and faithful subjects and servants of the King: and they are not retarded, but rather encouraged, by this pernicious judgment of rebellion: which they protest not to hold for a judgment, but for a calumny practiced and brought forward by their enemies. So much so that by opposing themselves to it, they do not intend to oppose themselves to the will of the King, nor to a decree brought by a Court of Parliament legitimately assembled: but to a violence, force, oppression, and invasion made to their goods and lives by the enemies of the King and theirs.

The said Lord Prince beseeches not only all those of this Kingdom who must have the service of the King