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E arly seventeenth-century texts present numerous difficulties and inconsistencies , due to poor orthography and a lack of systematization of spelling , even for proper names. I have used the accepted modern French forms for all personal names, even in quotations, for ease of cross-referencing: Henri IV, Marie de Médicis, and Jean Calvin. Contemporaries used a variety of spellings , and many individuals, even royal family members, spelled their names differently at different times, for example, Henri II de Montmorency’s name was often spelled Montmorancy, Monmorancy, or Mommorency. I therefore refer to the seigneur de Châtillon, not seigneur de Chastillon, and to the duc d’Épernon, not d’Espernon. Noble titles are left untranslated, such as duc de Montmorency, marquis de Portes, comte de Rieux, baron d’Aubais, and seigneur de Chevrilles. Likewise, the corresponding estates are left untranslated: duché, comté, baronnie, and seigneurie. I initially refer to nobles using their first names and principal titles without commas, as in Henri de Lorraine duc de Mayenne. All translations are mine unless otherwise noted, and they aim at readability. In untranslated French text, the spelling has been left as in the original as much as possible, except that the Latin practices of using v for u and j for i have been adjusted. Early seventeenth-century documents often use extensive abbreviations , such as “V. Mté ” for vôtre majesté, but these have been expanded in translated texts. Citations of rare printed pamphlets include their archival locations, unless available in digitized collections. The generic names of seventeenth-century government institutions are italicized on first use, but not thereafter. To avoid confusion with the English Parliament, which was a quite different kind of consultative body, parlement is not translated. The états particulier de Languedoc are listed as the estates of Languedoc. Translating offices frequently leads to more confusion than clarification. For example, maréchal can be translated as “marshal,” but then several types of Note on Citations and Translations n o t e o n c i t a t i o n s a n d t r a n s l a t i o n s xxix marshal must be distinguished: maréchal de France, maréchal de camp, and maréchal-de-logis. I have only done so when sensible and helpful translations can be made. Many offices are already accepted in English without translations, so intendants, sénéchals, baillis are left untranslated, but I have translated gouverneur as “governor.” The reader may assume that all references to governors are to provincial governors unless specifically indicated as a “regional governor,” or gouverneur du pays. I use “town or fortress governor” to refer to a gouverneur particulier, and “lieutenant general” for a lieutenant-général. Standard regimental ranks are translated, as in “captain” for capitaine. As with government institutions , names of offices are italicized only when they are defined in the text. Descriptions of military formations and bodies are simplified, for example, hommes de guerre is translated as “soldiers.” When the numbers of troops are counted by cheval and pied, I have sometimes translated as “horse” and “foot,” sometimes as “cavalry” and “infantry,” for the sake of clarity. Military formations and types of units are italicized when defined, but not elsewhere. Place-names are also modernized, using accepted French designations when possible. So the Cévennes mountains are indicated—not the older spellings of Cevenes, Sevenes, or Sevennes. The old Gardon river is the Gard, and the Tar is the Tarn. Town names are regularized: Villeneuve-de-Berg not Villeneuve or Villeneuve de Berc, and Vallons-pont-d’Arc, not Vallons. Town designations specifying their region are used, so St-Felix-Lauraguais, not simply St-Felix. Modern spellings for towns are also used, so Alès instead of Alais, and Nîmes for Nismes. I have avoided anglicizing French names, so I have used Haut Languedoc, not Upper Languedoc. Using modern French spellings for all geographical features should help readers find obscure towns, châteaux, and regions. The terms for frequently cited types of documents, such as controlle des troupes, état, état des troupes, lettres patentes, mandement, mémoire, ordonnance, and quittance are not translated or italicized. The only exception to this are well-known documents that have an accepted English translation, such as the Edict of Nantes, peace of Montpellier, and peace of Alès. French currency was based on the livre tournois (French...

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