the
papal Comtat Venaissin, the principality of Orange, and other districts
less closely united to the crown. To this end they determined that the
"States General," composed of a delegate from the nobility, the tiers
etat, and the magistracy of each "generalite" or government, should meet
every six months; while the particular assemblies of the governments
should be convened at least as often as once in three months. The
functions of the generals and their councils were expressly limited to the
military and financial concerns of the Huguenots, with other matters of
public interest. They were strictly forbidden from intermeddling, under
any pretext, with the discharge of civil or criminal justice. This last
function was to be referred to the royal courts, save that, instead of
appealing to the parliaments, known to be too hostile to Protestantism to
afford hope of obtaining justice, arbitrators were to be chosen by the
Protestants among themselves.[1359] Not forgetting their common religious
bond, the Huguenots at Milhau declared it to be the duty of the ministers
of God's word and of the consistories to keep watch over criminal and
dissolute behavior, and denounce it for punishment to the civil
magistrate. At the same time, in order that the ministers might be the
better able to devote themselves to their sacred functions, it was
directed that they be regularly paid from the common funds "without
making any further use of notices (billettes) or other unworthy and
illusory methods, as has been done heretofore, to the great scandal of all
good people." The levy of imposts and the creation of loans were made the
exclusive right of the particular states, while the administration of the
funds arising from the royal revenues was to be intrusted to the
provincial councils.[1360]

Such were the chief features in a plan for organization evidently looking
to the speedy renewal of the warfare temporarily suspended by virtue of
the truce.

[Sidenote: The Duke of Alencon.]

While the revelation of the treacherous attempt of the royal party upon La
Rochelle proved to the Politiques, or Malcontents, the impossibility of
relying upon the assurances given in the name of Charles the Ninth, the
resolutions of the Huguenots in Milhau encouraged them in their project to
remove the present advisers of the king. In the absence of any better
leader, they looked to the Duke of Alencon as their head. He alone of the
royal family was guiltles