He too has issued his Proclamation, and our
readers will smile at its contents:
"'WE HENRY, Fifth of the Name, King of France and Navarre, to all whom
it may concern, greeting:
"'After years of exile we have once more unfurled in France the banner
of the lilies. Once more the white plume of Henri IV. floats in the
crest of his little son (petit fils)! Gallant nobles! worthy burgesses!
honest commons of my realm, I call upon you to rally round the oriflamme
of France, and summon the ban arriereban of my kingdoms. To my faithful
Bretons I need not appeal. The country of Duguesclin has loyalty for
an heirloom! To the rest of my subjects, my atheist misguided subjects,
their father makes one last appeal. Come to me, my children! your errors
shall be forgiven. Our Holy Father, the Pope, shall intercede for you.
He promised it when, before my departure on this expedition, I kissed
his inviolable toe!
"'Our afflicted country cries aloud for reforms. The infamous
universities shall be abolished. Education shall no longer be permitted.
A sacred and wholesome inquisition shall be established. My faithful
nobles shall pay no more taxes. All the venerable institutions of our
country shall be restored as they existed before 1788. Convents and
monasteries again shall ornament our country, the calm nurseries
of saints and holy women! Heresy shall be extirpated with paternal
severity, and our country shall be free once more.
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