Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/354

 3i6 Readings in European History 355. The edict of the Great Elec- tor concern- ing the Huguenot refugees. beg, therefore, that in all his dealings with you you will bestow on him the same faith and confidence as though everything were authorized and approved by us by word of mouth. The Great Elector, in his anxiety to build up his kingdom, eagerly welcomed the Huguenots when they fled from France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. In view of the sympathy which we ought to, and do, feel for our brethren of the reformed evangelical religion in France, who have been driven by persecution to leave their homes and settle in other countries, we, Frederick William, etc., desire by this edict to offer them a free and safe refuge in all our lands and possessions and to specify what rights, privileges, and prerogatives we are graciously minded to grant them. . . . 3. . . . We particularly specify the towns of Stendal, Werben, Rathenow, Brandenburg, and Frankfurt in the electorate of Brandenburg, Magdeburg, Halle, and Calbe in the duchy of Magdeburg, and Konigsberg in Prussia, as places where living is cheap and opportunities for trade and other means of support abundant; and we command here- with that when any of the said French people of the reformed evangelical religion make their appearance, they shall be well received in the said towns, and that every opportunity and assistance shall be given them in establishing themselves there. They shall, moreover, be free to establish themselves in any other place in our lands and dominions outside the above-mentioned towns which shall seem to them more con- venient for the purposes of their trade or calling. 4. They shall be permitted to bring with them any furni- ture, merchandise, or other movable property free of all duties or imposts of any kind whatever. . . . 6. In towns or other places where there are unoccupied or waste lands or properties, we ordain that these shall be given over to our said French brethren of the reformed