Page:Memoirs of a Huguenot Family.djvu/475

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EDICT OF NANTES.
467

which belongs to said Chambers, save in the case of the Ordinances, which shall be referred to the nearest Chamber established in conformity with our Edict. And the distribution of the suits of said Chambers shall be decided in the nearest, observing the orders and forms of said Chambers in which the suits shall be prosecuted; except for the Chamber of the Edict in our Parliament of Paris, where the suits commenced shall be distributed in the same Chamber by Judges who shall be nominated by us, in special letters to that effect, if the parties shall not prefer waiting the renewal of said Chamber. And if it happen that a similar suit be given to all the Mixed Chambers, the distribution shall be referred to the said Chamber of Paris.

48th.—The objecting to or challenging of the President and Councillors of the Mixed Chambers shall be allowed, to the number of six; to which number the parties must be limited, otherwise all shall proceed without regard to said objections.

49th.—The examination of the Presidents and Councillors newly appointed for the Mixed Chambers, shall be made in our Privy Council, or in the said Chambers, each in its own district when they shall be numerous enough ; and nevertheless the usual oath, shall be taken by them in the courts where the said Chambers shall be established, and on their refusal, in our Privy Council, excepting those of the Chamber of Languedoc, who shall take the oath before our Chancellor or in that Chamber.

50th.—We desire and command that the acceptance of our Officers of the said religion shall be decided in the Mixed Chambers by the plurality of votes, as is usual in other tribunals, without requiring a majority of two-thirds, according to the Ordinance, which in this respect is null and void.

5lst.—And to these Mixed Chambers shall be referred all propositions, deliberations and resolutions appertaining to the maintenance of public tranquillity, and the private concerns and Police of those towns in which the Chambers shall be established.

52d.—The article upon the jurisdiction of the said Chambers, ordered by the present Edict, shall be followed and observed according to its form and tenor, equally in all that concerns the execution or non-execution, or infraction of our Edicts when those of said religion shall be parties.

53d.—The subaltern officers. Royal or otherwise, whose acceptance appertains to our Courts of Parliament, if they be of the