Louis, by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre, to all who shall read this, presents health and salutation. Be it hereby known, that by the advice of the Queen Regent our highly honoured Lady and Mother, having taken and placed, as we now take and place by these present, signed by our hand, under our protection and special safeguard, the most reverend Patriarch, and all the Prelates, ecclesiastical and secular, Maronite Christians, which inhabit particularly Mount Lebanon, we desire that they should experience the benefits thereof, on all occasions and under all circumstances; and to this end we command our faithful and beloved Sieur de la Hayerentelay, Counsellor in our councils and our Ambassador in the Levant, and all those who shall succeed him that employment, to favour them jointly or separately, with all their care, good offices, advice, and protection, as well at the Porte of our very dear and perfect friend the Grand Seigneur, as everywhere else, where it may be requisite; in such a manner that they be exposed to no ill treatment, but on the contrary may freely continue, and exercise without molestation, all their spiritual functions. We further enjoin upon the Consuls and Vice Consuls of the French nation established in the ports and roads of the Levant, or others hoisting the French standard present and to come, to favour with all the means in their power the aforesaid Patriarch, and all the aforesaid Maronite Christians of the aforesaid Mount Lebanon, and to embark in French vessels or others, such young men and all such other Maronite Christians, as shall desire to pass over into Christendom, whether for study or any other affairs, without taking or demanding from them anything but the permits which they shall be pleased to give them; treating them with all kindness and charity possible. Pray and request the Illustrious and Magnificent Seigneurs, Pashas, and officers of His Highness, to favour and assist the Sieur Archbishop of Tripoli and all the Maronite Prelates and Christians;offering on your parts to do the like towards those who shall be recommended to you. by them.

Given at St. Germain en Laye this twenty-eighth day of April 1649, and of our reign the sixteenth.

(Signed)      Louis,

The Queen-Regent, his mother, being present.

Louis, by the grace of God, Emperor, and Most Christian King of France and Navarre, to all who shall read this, presents salutation. The Patriarch of Antioch, and the Maronite Christians established in Mount Lebanon, have represented to us, that for an indefinite period, their nation has been under the protection of the Emperors and Kings of France, our glorious predecessors, of which they have experienced the beneficial effectson various occasions; and they have most humbly
petitioned us to be pleased to grant these our letters of protection and safeguard, after the example of the late King, our most honoured King and great-grandfather, who granted them the like, on the twenty-eighth of April, 1649.  And in as much as we are desirous on our parts to treat favourably the petitioners, for these causes and other good considerations to the same purpose; we declare that we have taken and placed them, as by these presents, signed by our hand, we take and place them, under our protection and safeguard.  We desire that they may feel the effects thereof, under all circumstances: and to this end, we command our faithful and well-beloved Counsellors in. our Councils, our Ambassadors at Constantinople, Consuls, and Vice-Consuls of the French nation, established in the ports and roadsteads of the Levant, present and to come, to favour with their care, offices, and protection, the said Sieur Patriarch of Antioch, and all the said Maronite Christians of the Lebanon, whenever need may be, to the end that they may experience no ill treatment, and that they may on the contrary, continue freely their spiritual exercises and functions: for such is our good will and pleasure. Pray and request the great Emperor of the Mussulmen, our most dear and perfect friend, and the Illustrious Pashas, and other officers of His Highness, to favour and assist with their protection the said Patriarch of Anttoch, and all the said Maronite Christians, offering to do the same for all those who shall be recommended to us, on their parts. In witness of which we have placedour seal to these presents.
Given in our Imperial Chateau of Versailles, the twelfth day of April, in the year of grace, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven, and of our reign the twenty-second.

(Signed)         Louis.
 
 
 

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