Henry III. September 1585. Piece on parchment. This is a very interesting document dating from the Wars of Religion. Under the Old Regime and until the XVIIIth century, when the intendance was embryonic, the cities did not want to receive regiments. It was expensive, caused a lot of damage and provoked various kinds of trouble. Twice the town of Nonancourt in the Eure refused to comply, in this letter, Henry III, who signs at the bottom of the parchment, threatens the city of "rigorous punishment" "which will serve as an example" TRANSCRIPTION: Henry by the grace of God, king of France and Poland OUR dear and beloved officers of our justices eschevins manants and inhabitants of Nonancourt greeted We estimate that according to the letters patent first and second that we made dispatch to good addressantes you received in our (said) city and will open the doors of this city to the company of 100 men-at-arms of our ordinances under the charge of our dear cousin the Duke of Epernon, peer and colonel general in France, and will have France and will make administer to the chief members men-at-arms and archers of icelle the (food) lodgings and conveniences necessary as well for the men as for the horses the (m..) We have heard that you have refused the said company and have made yourselves refractory to our commands even though it has appeared to you twice (to our Letters patent and of our will and intention of which we are rightly indignant and very unhappy and of the little respect which you carried to our commands to the disregard of our royal (acts) and consequently we want and mandate you of these presents by these present signed of our hand () () and without waiting with more of (pre?) Command (and we that you have to receive incontinently and without delay in our town of Nonancourt the said company of men-at-arms of our cousin the Duke of Espernon And to have him administer the necessary supplies and conveniences as it is contained in our first and second letters patent and this on pain of incurring our indignation of... Effects of which if after the present will have been shown to you you give us occasion to make you repent we will make such and so rigorous punishment and those who Will not have obeyed our commandment which will serve as an example to all those who want to disobey Sy ny faictes faulx BECAUSE such is our pleasure GIVEN in PARIS on the 16th day of September in the year of grace 1585 and our reign the twelfth. HENRY [countersigned by] Henri de Guise." [Henry III's signature reads very well though more clearly]. ON THE REVERSE: Inscription: (this folded parchment must have served as folders for a set of letters) "15 March 1572, 15 to 23 September 1485 1592 1592 Letters patent of his majesty in favor of noble Bonpart de melignian lord of Trigan for the government of the city of Cisteron in provence [thus nothing to do with the contents of the recto]. It is about the family of Melignan: Jan Bonpart de Mélignan de Trigan, knight of the order of the King, gentleman of his chamber and governor of Bayonne and Sisteron, married Hieronym de Montagut de Castelnau.