censured Articles 23. 24. Men may not be deprived of the Supper of the Lord for any ordinary and accustomed fashion of habits in this Kingdome but in this ranke they may not be comprehended which are branded with the notorious marke of impudicity dissolution and over curious novelty as painting naked breasts and the like things of which there is great abuse as well in Men as Women For these things the Consistory shall proceed with a simple suspension of the Sacraments to the end that they may range themselves to that which is most agreeable to Christian modesty Articles 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. Dancings shall be repressed and they which make a practise of dancing after they have been oftentimes admonished shall be excommunicated when they shall continue pertinacious and rebellious therein The Consistories are to be exhorted thoroughly to practise the Article and to cause it to be read in the name of God and authority of the Synods and the Colloques and Synods are to be exhorted to take care in their Consistories that they doe their duty in conserving of them Mummery Jugling Gaming Puppet playing shall not be tollerated neither yet a French game called Faire le Roybait nor Shrove Tuesday be observed of the faithfull they are all forbidden c. Article 30. They which call others to duells or being called thereunto do accept thereof which shall have â—ulled their parties Notwithstanding they shall have obtained their Princes favour or shall be otherwise justified they shal be censured even to the suspension of the Lords Supper which suspension shall be speedily pubâ—ished and in case that they desire to be received unto the peace of the Church they shall make publicke acknowledgement of their offence Article 31. The Articles here contained touching the Discipline are not so resolved on among us but that if the benefit of the Church require it they may be changed howbeit it shall not be in the power of the Ministers Consistories Colloques or Provinciall Synods to add thereunto nor to diminish from them nor to change them without the advise and consent of a Nationall Synod According to that which hath been agreed upon in the last Nationall Synod held at Gorgean the first day of May 1601. An Extract from the Acts of the Nationall Synod held at Rochell the 2. of Aprill 1571. THis present direction being read and dilligently examined according to the word of God by all the Ministers and Antients deputed by the Churches of France They have in the name of the said Churches promised and protested to keepe and observe them for the edification of the Church the conservation of the order and union of them to the honour and glory of God Another Extract touching the Confession BEcause there is found among men divers sorts of Confessions The Synod hath declared that to be the confession of Faith of the Reformed Churches in France which beginneth thus Wee beleeve that there is one only God c. The which was presented in the first Nationall Synod held at Paris the second of May 1559. As when were present Jaâ—e by the grace of God Queen of Navarre the high and puissant Princesse Henry Prince of Navarre and Henry Burbon Prince of Conde and the most Illustrious Prince Lewis Count of Nassaw and Messieur Gaspard Count of Caligne Admirall of France and many other Lords and Nobles of great quality Generall Acts of the Nationall Synod Assembled at Charenton c. THe Assemhly prohibits all Provinces to take an Oath of Schollers to the prejudice of the right of alâ— Nationall Synods and the common edification of the Churches that they shall never depart from the service of the Churches of those Provinces in the Which they were first received in the Ministery of the Gospell At the requisition of the Province of Ceuenes tâ—e Assembly for to explaine the first Article of the generall Acts of the Nationall Synod held at Saint Maixant have declared that no particular Church may make enquirie after any Pastour without the permission of a Colloque or Provinciall Synod nor establish him by Act in pursuite of such an enquiry without advise be it of the Synod in body or be it of the neighbouring Pastours attending the liking and agreement of the Synod The Province of lower Guyenne having desired that an injunction were made unto all the Churches to keep conformity with them which have received the custome that particular persons entering into the Church humble themselves before God and every man apart make his prayers for the imploration of his assistance in the hearing of the Word The Assembly hath not judged it fitting to make a Rule of such a thing which of it selfe is free but hath left the Churches in their Antient usages exhorting them all respectively to seeke that which tends to edification and to avoyd all ostentation affectation and superstition The Assembly enjoynes a Collection to bee made throughout all the Provinces for the reliefe of the Captives detained in Argier Tunis and other places Upon the Remonstrance of the Provinces of Anjon and the Isle of France all the Churches which have places for Printing houses are particularly charged not to suffer any alteration or change to be made in the Translation of the Scripture or in the Rithmes of the Psalmes or in the text of the Confession of faith Liturgy and Catechisme without expresse order of the Consistory authorised by the Provinciall Synod Upon that which hath been reported by certaine Deputies of Maritime Provinces that many comming from forraigne Countreys which call themselves Independants because they teach that every particular Church ought to govern it selfe by its own proper lawes without dependancy of any person in Ecclesiasticall matters and without obligation to acknowledge the Authority of Colloques and Synods for their government and conduct and establish their habitations in this Kingdome which may hereafter cause great inconvenience if it be not in good time carefully prevented The Assembly fearing that the contagion of this poyson gaining insensibly may bring confusion and disorder among us and judgeing the said sect of Independants not onely prejuditiall to the Church of God insomuch as that it endeavours to introduce confusion unto the place where it hath its being opening wide a gate unto all sorts of singularities and extravagances and taking away all meanes of bringing a Remedy thereunto but also it is very dangerous to the State so that if it have place it will forme as many Religions as there be particular Parishes or Assemblies It is therefore enjoyned all the Provinces and especially the Maritime to take care that this evill take not footing in the Churches of this Kingdome to the end that Peace and uniformity as well in Religion as in Discipline be invâ—olably maintained among us and that nothing be here brought in which may alter in any manner the service which is due to God and the King A Report being made of certaine Writings printed and Manuscripts by
Province to provide for him within a moneth and if within the same time he be not provided by the Colloque or Synod of the Province in the which he served he shall have his liberty to provid for himselfe with another Church out of the same Province even there where God shall give him meanes according to the order of the Discipline Article 30. Provinciall Synods have authority to change the Ministers for â—ertaine considerations their Churches being heard and their reasons being well and duly examined but in case of difference nothing shall be innouated unlesse by a Nationall Synod Article 31. When the Minister shall be persecuted or for other cause cannot exercise his charge in the Church unto which hee was assigned hee may bee sent elsewhere by the said Church c. Article 32. Ministers may be lent for Salarie with their owne good liking by the Consistory Article 33. Ministers lent for a time when the time of their being lent shall be expired they shall returne into the power of the Churches whence they departed Article 34. If within a yeare after the time be expired the Church redemand not their Pastour being lent he shall appertaine to that Church which borrowed him c. Article 35. Hee which being destitute of a Church cannot be imployed by the Province he may be hired out of the Province Article 36. To the end that the Flocks may acquit themselves of their duties toward their Pastours as the word of God obligeth them and that occasion be not given unto the Pastours to complaine and to depart from their Flocks they are admonished to administer unto them necessary things Article 37. Yea to meet with the ingratitude of many which have beene found to deale unworthily with their Pastours the order following shall be observed one quarter of their Pension is to bee advanced which hath been promised them by every man Upon the Article 36. and the other following it is remitted to the wisdome of the Consistory to proceed against the particular persons which are unthankfull to their Churches either by compelling them permitted by his Majesty or by particular Obligations or by Eccleas it is siasticaâ—l Censures yea by Suspensions from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper after great and solemne remonstrances and warnings and other meanes as the Consistory shall advise And in the Synod of St. Foy Article 4. The Colloques and Synods shall proceed by all Censures against them which are unthankfull to their Pastours seeing the unthankfulnesse of particular men hath shâ—wne it selfe greater then ever towards their Pastours touching their entertainment which menaceth the Churches with an entire dissipation It hath been advised that the unthankfull men which shew themselves refractory to the many advertisements made unto them by the Consistory the foresaid Consistory shall proceed against them to the depriving them of the Sacraments The Synod of Alez Considering that many Churches seeing themselves every day in danger to faile through default of meanes to entertaine amongst them the holy Ministerie All the Churches are exhorted so farre forth as they desire the advancement of the Kingdome of Christ to gather a stocke be it by devotion amongst the living be it by Testamentary Legacies of particular men or by any other convenient meanes so that the holy Ministery of the word of God may be ever preserved and that posterity may be instructed and confirmed from age to age in the true Religion The Synod of Charenton Observ 9. upon the Synod of Alez the Article which concernes the meanes to entertaine the holy Ministery shall be read in the Consistories which shall be exhorted to procure the execution thereof so farre forth as possibly they may In pursuit whereof the Article following hath been agreed on in the Provinciall Synod of Handen Seeing the Churches which have formerly resented notable effects of the Kings liberality have within these few yeares been so destitute of that succour that the Flocks which are founded on the hopes to partake of the moneys granted by his Majesty are for the want of these moneys threatned with an evident and approaching ruine and that through default of zeale and affection rather then for want of meanes to particular men the necessities as well of the Churches as of the Pastours encrease every day insomuch as if it be not speedily prevented it is impossible to hinder their dissipation The Synod of this Province touched with a just apprehension of so great a Calamitie to prevent it have ordained that all Churches be advertised that they ought to search out among themselves the meanes for their proper subsistance to raise the Contribution of particular men to represse the Ingratitude of them which testifie and shew a notable defect of zeale and charity and to take order for time to come that though the money granted by his Majesty entirely faile yet the Ministers of the Gospell may bee conserved in those places where it hath pleased God to establish them and the Kingdome of Christ advanced In pursuit of this Article and to come unto the execution thereof It hath been decreed that the chiefe of every Family shall assemble and meet together in every Church presently before the dissolving of this Assembly to the end that upon the place they advise to make new stocks and to provide for the subsistance of the Flocke of which they are members and that they dispose themselves unto the observation of the Article of the Generall Acts of the Nationall Synod of Alez and of the Nationall Synod of Charenton which shall bee read unto them Article 38. To preuent for time to come the dissipation of the Churches They which shall be elected to conduct the Action of the Colloques shall make enquirie in every Church of the enter tainment which they owe unto their Ministers c. Article 39. When necessary assistance shall be denyed unto the Pastour and that he shall remonstrate and make his complaint thereof when three moneths are passed it shall be lawfull unto the said Pastour to goe unto another Church with the advise of a Provinciall Synod Vpon the complaint of a Minister of the ingratitude of his flock all circumstances shall be prudently considered and upon the information which shall be made they shall principally have regard unto the poverty of the Churches and to the substance and meanes of him which makes the complaint putting a difference betwixt ingratitude and inability to the end they may follow that which may most concerne the glory of God the edification of his Church the honour of the Pastour and of the Ministery Article 40. The Church which shall be found to be ingratefull shall not bee provided of a Pastour till it hath fully satisfied that which was due unto him of whom it hath been deprived Article 41. The Ministers which have any state or fortunes may notwithstanding take Salary of their Flocks yea it is expedient that they take it in regard of the consequence and for the
for a time and simple privation of the Lords Supper That there may be a right use of the one and of the other the Ministers and Elders in interpreting the words of excommunication and Suspension from the Lords Supper doe advise that no man ought to be deprived nor suspended from the Lords Supper by the private authority of the Pastour or of any other but onely of the Consistory to whose wisdome it shall bee left to take cognisance after that the offender hath first bin admonished for any fact which meriteth Suspension In this case he which shall have committed any offence shall for a time be deprived of the Supper of the Lord for to humble him and try his Repentance Howbeit the offence not being knowne but to a few men such a Suspension or the cause of it shall not bee declared to the people for feare of further defaming the oftendor by rendering his offence more notorious and scandalous then it is and it shall suffice in this ease to acknowledge his offence unto the Consistory that hee may be admitted to the supper of the Lord. But as for them which have been admonished divers times of their offences and yet shew themselves disobedient unto the Consistory as also they which shall have committed any great and enormous crimes which are punishable by the Magistrate and which may bring publike scandall unto the Church they shall be punished withall sort of Censures And if it happen that after long expectance and patience and many admonitions made by the Consistory and the forementioned proceedings kept and practised and all other endeavours of charity observed in the behalfe of the offendor if after all this he yet continue obstinate and impenitent then shall they proceed against him by publick admonitions and by the mouth of the Pastour in the name of the Church declaring his offence and protesting their endeavour of reclaiming him without any profiting therein exhorting the whole Church to pray unto God for him and essay by all meanes to lead him to the knowledge of his offence for to prevent his cutting off and Excommunication whereunto they may not proceed but with dolour and griefe of heart and of which the Pastour shall set forth the true and lawfull use from the word of God to the end that every man may bee admonished to keepe himselfe within the compasse of his duty towards God and his Neighbour and to make knowne also that this last remedy is practised in the behalfe of such an offender for the glory of God the honour and repose of his Church and his owne salvation the which publick admonitions and denuntiations they shall prosecute and continue three times on three severall Lords dayes In the first to spare in some sort the offendor he shall not be named because he is already knowne to the people but in the other he shall be named And if for all that he returne not but persevere in his hardnesse in the fourth Lords day he shall be signified and the Excommunication of such a personage shall be pronounced as a Rotten member cut off from the body of the Church by the Pastour in the authority of the word of God in the name and consent of the whole Church of the which Excommunication the tenour followeth Following the requisition made by the Province of Poictou the which was framed by the necessity of its practise in this corrupt age as also hath been more fully declared then it hath been in the book of Discipline MY Brethren behold here the fourth time that A. B. having committed of C. and having scandalized the Church of God and shewed himselfe impenitent and a contemner of all admonitions which have been divers times made unto him from the word of God hath been suspended from the Supper of the Lord the which suspension and the causes therof have bin fully made known unto you to the end that you joyn your prayers with ours that it would please God to soften the hardness of his heart and to touch him with repentance withdrawing him from the way of perdition But seeing after he hath been so long borne withall intreated and in a sort menaced and adjured to turne himselfe unto God hee persevers in his impenitency and with a hardened obstinacy rebels against God and tramples under his feet the Word and the order which hath been established in his Church glorifying himselfe in his sins and in a course that the Church hath a long time been troubled and the name of the Lord blasphemed Wee the ministers of the Gospell of the word of Jesus Christ whom God hath armed with spirituall weapons mighty through God to the pulling downe of strong holds casting downe every thing that exalts it selfe against him unto whom the eternall Sonne of God hath given power to bind and to loose on earth declaring that what they bind on earth shall be bound in heaven willing to purge the house of God and deliver the Church from Scandalls and in pronouncing Anathemaes against the wicked to glorifie the name of God In the name and in the Authority of Jesus Christ with the advise of the Pastours and Elders in the Colloque or Synod Assembled and of the Consistory of this Church of N. we have cut off and cutting off the said A.B. from the Communion of the Church we excommunicate him and expell him the society of the faithfull to the end that he be unto you as an Heathen and Publican and that he be unto all the true faithfull beleevers an Anathema and execration that his conversation bee esteemed contageous and that his example strike our spirits with horrour and cause us to tremble under the mighty hand of the living God Which sentence of Excommunication the Sonne of God will ratifie and will make efficacious untill the offendour confused and dejected before God give glory unto him by his conversion and being delivered from the chaines of Sathan which inthralls him he bewaile his sinne touched with repentance pray God well beloved that he have pitty on this poore sinner and that this horrible judgement the which with griefe great sorrow of heart we pronounce against him in the authority of the Sonne of God serve to humble him and to reduce his soule in the way of salvation from which he strayed and erred Amen Amen Cursed be every man that doth the worke of the Lord negligently Amen If there be any one that loveâ—â— not the Lord Jesus Christ let him bee Anathema Maranatha Amen yea Amen Moreover they shall use the suspension from the Sacraments of the Lords Supper to humble offenders and to touch them with a more lively sense of their offences This suspension nor the cause thereof nor the restitution of the offender shall be published unto the people unlesse in case they be hereticks despised of God rebells to the Consistories and traytours against the Church Besides they which shall be attainted and convinced of crimes worthy of corporall punishment and
which may bring great scandall to all the Church Item they which against the Remonstrances made unto them marry themselves to them of the Romish Religion the Fathers and Mothers which so marry their children the Tutors and Curators and others which hold the place of Parents which in such manner likewise marry their Pupills They also which carry their children to be Baptized among them or present others to Baptisme among them it is necessary that such persons though they perceive in them some beginning of Repentance be speedily suspended and deprived for a time of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and that the Suspension be declared to the people to the end they may be further humbled and brought to repentance as well to discharge the Church of God of all blame and reproach as also to beget feare in others and to make them learne by such examples not to commit the like offences The annotation upon this Article followeth They which shall be excommunicated for Heresies contemners of God Schisme Treason against the Church rebellion unto the same and other vices greatly scandalous to all the Church shall be declared Excommunicate unto the people with the cause of their Excommunication As for them which have beene excommunicated for any light cause it shall be the wisdome of the Church to determine whether it be fitting or no to manifest it to the people untill that otherwise it be agreed in the next generalâ— Counsell They which have been so excommunicated and cut off shall be deprived of the Communion of the Church and of the benefit thereof yea the faithfull shall be admonished not to converse any longer with them nor to haunt familiarly their company to the end that they may be ashamed and humbled and brought againe to repentance the which shall be approved by good and sufficient witnesses well knowne to the Consistory which shall judge whether or no they shal be remitted to the Church and to that purpose shall call them before them and having seen and heard them if they find their repentance true and unfained it shall be publickly denounced unto the people by the Pastours to the end that they may be moved to praise God which hath tâ—uched their hearts to make acknowledgement of their offences and brought them to repentance and then they shall be presented to the Assembly to acknowledge confesse and attest their forepassed offence and rebellion and beg for pardon of God and of his Church and so shall be reconciled with joy unto it and that with publike prayer The Assembly enacteth that when the Magistrate shall first take notice of any crime and have cognizance thereof the Consistory shall waite untill the fact be verified by the Magistrate before it require such satisfaction of the offender as appertaines unto conscience unlesse the circumstances be such as that they cannot wait or attend Upon the 16. Article the Deputies of Poictou having demanded whether they which marry themselves according to the Romish Religion or in such manner marry their children come afterward to testifie repentance of their faults may bee exempted from publick suspension or no The Synod judging such a punishment to be entirely necessary to retaine them which have but to great an inclination to commit such and the like offences have decreed that the Article shall be exactly observed seeing that without such a suspension the scandall given to the Church cannot be sufficiently repayred They which shall be married by a Romish Priest cannot bee dispensed withall without publick acknowledgement of their offence to the Consistory of what quality or condition soever they be They which have committed enormous crimes and offences as Paricides and Incests ought to be speedily suspended of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and their suspension declared to the people The Consistories are advised to use prudently and very rarely so farre forth as possibly they may Publick acknowledgements and they onely in the publike offences Article 17. If by suspension the offenders â—mend not themselves but continue Impenitent after long expectance and that they have beene divers times admonished and sollicited they shall proceed against them by publicke admonitions made unto the people by the Pastor three severall Lords dayes naming them if there be need to beget in them the more shame and every one shall be desired to pray unto God for them and to essay by all meanes to bring them to repentance and an acknowledgement of their sinnes that they may prevent a Cutting off and excommunication unto which they may not proceed but with a kind of reluctancy And if for all that they repent not but persevere in their obstinacy and hardnes the fourth Lords day the Pastor shall say publickly that they are declared hardned and scandalous and naming them shall denounce that they are not to be acknowledged for members of the Church cutting them off from it in the name and in the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ and of his Church the forme of which excommunication is fully set downe before Vpon the 17. Article An observation of the Synod of Saumur upon the Discipline It hath beene enacted by the Synod that in publicke acknowledgements the crimes shall not be specifyed which may draw after it danger of death or note of Infamy Article 18. For time to come all sentences of excommunication confirmed by the Provinciall Synod shall stand firme as also all sentences of suspension from the Lords Supper without the Consistories giving their names although the suspended persons appeale unto the Colloque or provinciall Synod The Deputies of the Isle of France having demanded in the 18 Article touching the Appeales of publicke suspensions that they may know if the Consistory having decerned a publicke suspension against one and the person condemned appeale whether they may proceed unto the suspension notwithstanding the Appeale The Assembly hath judged that the Consistory may not passe any further but ought to admit of the Appeale unles in publicke offences knowne to all the Church and this Appeale shall be definitively determined by the next Colloque or Provinciall Synod Article 19. They which have abandoned the profession of the Religion to adhere to Idolatry if they persist in this Apostasy after they have endevoured to bring them againe into the flocke they shall be publickely denounced Apostataes to witt they which lately have revolted unles by naming of them the Consistory judge that thereby there may happen some great and notable danger unto the Church in which case nothing shall be done but by the advise of the Synod of the province so that for them which shall have beene a long time revolted the execution of this denuntiation is remitted to the wisdome of the Consistories Vpon the 19. Article Touching them which have forsaken the Church they are no more to be accounted of our body noâ— of us The Assembly adviseth that where the Church is in danger all is to be remitted to the wisdome of the Consistory
assist for to number the Voyces for every Province two Ministers and two Ancients of the principall Churches To manage the businesse as President Sieur Drelincourt Pastour and Cog Ancient of the Church of Paris after whom Caliart Ancient of the Church of Alenzon joyned with Monsieur the generall Deputy gathered the suffrages of them which were deputed in this Assembly which was carried by a Ticket in writing by every one of them for the nomination first of a Moderator secondly of an Assistant and afterward of Secretaries one after the other By a plurality of Voyces they made choyce to conduct the Action of Sieur Garrisoles for Adjunct and Seigneur Besuagâ— and for Secretaries Sieur Blondel and Cog all which tooke their places one after the other as they were câ—osen Immediatly after the nomination of Moderator Adjunct and Secretaries Monsieur de Cumon the Kings Counsellour in his Councell of estate in his Court of Parliament of Paris Commissary deputed of his Majestie for to assist on his part in this Assembly presented the Patents of his Majesty containing his Commission which being read there were Acts made of them and Registred according to their forme and tenour A Copy of his Majesties Patents LOuis by the grace of God King of France and Navarre to Our beloved and trustie Counsellour in our Councell of State in our Court of the Parliament of Paris Sieur de Cumon health We have permitted our Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion to hold in the Bourg of Charenton neare Paris the twenty sixth of the moneth of December next a Nationall Synod composed of all the Deputies of the Provinces of our Kingdome to Treat of affaires concerning their said Religion and being to make choyce of a sufficient personage whose fidelity is well knowne unto us to assist on our part in quality of a Commissary in the said Assembly knowing the Services you have rendered unto us in divers honourable imployments Wee have committed to your trust of the which you have worthily acquitted your selfe wâ— have thought that We could not make a better choice then of your Person upon the assurances Wee take that you will continue unto us the testimony of your affection unto our said service For this cause with the advise of the Queen Regent our most honoured Lady and Mother wee have committed unto you and deputed you Wee doe commit and depute you by these Presents signed with One hand for to transport your selfe to assist on our part in the Synod assembled in the Town of Charenton there to propose and resolve what We shall command according to the charge and Instructions given unto you taking care they speake then of no other businesses and affaires then such as are under the quality and condition of such matters or things which ought to be handled in such Assemblies and aâ—â— permitted by the Edicts and if they undertake to doe any thing to the contrary you shall hinder them and shall interpose our Authority or shall speedily give advise that remedy may be taken to prevent such inconveniences as may arise or as Wee shall thinke most fitting to doe for this Wee give you Power Commission and especiall commandement by these presents Given at Paris the 28th of November in the yeare of Grace 1644. and of our Raigne the second signed in the originall LOUIS And underneath Philippeaux After the Reading of his Majesties Patents Monsieur the Commissary spake SIRS As I hold it a great honour to bee commanded by the King for to assist in your Synod and to let you know his will and pleasure in like manner it as great joy and contentment to me to behold this Illustrious Assembly chosen out of aâ—l the Provinces of this Kingdome that I may be able to tell you I have expresse charge and commandement from the King and the Queen his Mother to assure you of their good will and protection for you and for all your Churches and the entire execution of the Edicts of Pacification so long as you shall continue within the tearmes of Respects subjection and fidelity which you owe to their Majesties which are the higher powers which God hath establisht over you having given unto them that soveraigne Authority and left you as sharers of the glory of obedience unto which you are obliged by your birth the sense of your own consciences the favour you continually receive from their Majesties and by all sorts of considerations both generall and particular After the lamentable accident which deprived us of our King Louis the Just of most glorious memorie there was no man which beleeved not that the end of his life would have been the end of our happinesse But God which loveth France and hath so often raised it from falling suffered not this losse to beget mournfull consequences The Sun sets not but to rise againe and to make us to observe the first day of the Kingdome of Grace Wee haue seen for the beginning of our good and welfare his Majestie holding his Bed or chamber of Iustice accompanied with the Princes of the Blood and of all the great ones and the Queen declared Regent of this Kingdome by the suffrages and solemne Arrests of Parliaments Soone after their Majesties open'd their treasures of Mercy and Clemency they did write to all sorts of persons any way Interessed reconciled many particuâ—ars to the State gave libertie to prisoners permission to them that were absent to returne to their own houses to them which were accused to pursue their Iustification Replaced all the Innocent in their places of charge and Government and Confirmed the conduct and leading of the armies unto Monsieur the Duke of Orleans who hath made all men to wonder at his orderly proceedings in the siege of Gravelin who in the sight of his Enemie tooke that important place which shall serve as a monument unto posterity of his valour and generosity Wee may adde to this his valorous successe the victory of Rocroy the taking of Theonvile Spire Wormes Mayence Phillipsbourg the defeat of the Bavarians army after they were forced into their Trenches These great and signall advantages followed with sundry others have rendered the name of our King August and venerable unto all Nations and his power formidable to his enemies which have been constrained to confesse it is not to be paralel'd and that the Heaven apparently blesseth and favoureth his Armies and Designes We see likewise that at the same time the fire of a strange war spreads it selfe on all sides about us France enjoyeth within it selfe an assured peace reposing it selfe upon the continuall cares and travels of the Queen Regent whom we may call by just title the Mother of the Country and the Mother of Armies and upon the wise and prudent Counsells of Monsieur the Duke of Orleans and Monsieur the Prince and Monsieur the Cardinall Mazarin upon the perfect union and Intelligence which is between them and upon the fidelity and experience of Messieurs the
in their ordinary Sermons They shall be chosen by the Provinces which shall have received the Graces and Gifts of writing and if it happen that any bookes be published against the true Religion they shall be sent unto them to the end that they may answer them a Colloque being deputed in every Province which may have the care to take heed of spreading Copies of that which shall be written and published Article 16. Ministers may not pretend primacy or domination one over the other Article 17. The Ministers and their Consistories are to preside and govern by order to the end that none may pretend superiority over his companion and none of them may give testimony in any matters of importance without having first communicated it to the Ministers their brethren and companions Article 18. They shall take heed of the custome which is found among them in many places which is the Deputing certaine Ministers by their Provincial Synods to visit the Church the order which they have formerly used untill now being sufficient to have knowledge of Scandalls And this new manner of Charges and Estate is condemned to be of dangerous consequence all names likewise of superiority are to be rejected as Ancient of the Synod or superintendent and the like If it be requisite to Assemble the Colloques or Synods of any matters that may depend thereon then Advertisements shall be Addressed unto the Church and not unto one Minister or any particular person of the same If by chance or accident Letters be addressed to one of the Ministers or Ancients upon any consideration they which shall have received them shall bring them to the Consistories to take advise and deliberation of them Article 19. A Minister may not practise Physick or Law with his holy Ministery howbeit he may in charity give counsell and assistance unto the sick of his flock and the pâ—aces neere unto him provided he be not diverted from his charge and that hee make no gaine or profit by so doing except onely the time of persecution and of trouble when he cannot exercise his charge in his Church and that he shall not be entertained by it They which apply themselves to Physick or are otherwise withdrawne shall be exhorted so to behave themselves as that above all they intend their charge and study of holy Letters The Colloques are advertised to proceed by the order of the discipline against them that will not obey Having regard to the small meanes M. received of his Church and the long time he served there The Assembly permits him to instruct youth As also condemneth them which so imploy themselves in the Instruction of youth as that it hinder them in intending their principall charge which the Colloques shall take notice of even to the suspension of such Ministers Article 20. The Ministers shall exhort their Flock to keepe modesty in their Apparell and they themselves in this kind shall shew themselves as good examples in abstaining from all kind of bravery in their habits and in the habits of their wives and children The Synod and Colloques shaâ—l observe this Article and rule as before and practise suspension on them which conforme not themselves unto it Vpon the reading of the 20 Articâ—e which enjoynes Pastours to exhort their flocks to observe modesty in their Apparell and to shew therein themselves the first examples both in their persons and families Many complaints have been brought of the breach of this Article by Pastours themselves their wives and children in secular habits too farre from the modesty required in them The Assembly desiring to remedy so notable a scandall have given expresse charge to all moderatours of Colloques and Provinciall Synods to correct such excesse by censures and reprehensions and the Refraâ—â—ory shall be by the Authority of this Assembly suspended of their charges untill they have taken away the said Scandall And to the end that this may be the nearer looked unto it is permitted unto every particular man following the forme of the Discipline to advertise the Consistory of the foresaid excesse and to bring them to punishment for it the which being denyed they may addresse themselves unto the Colloques to draw a Censure from them against the Pastours and against them which shall bee found faulty in that kind Article 21. The Princes and great Lords which follow the Court which have or will set up a Churcâ— in their houses shall bee entreated to take their ministers of the Churches duly reformed and where they have more then one with sufficient assurance of their lawfull calling and with the leave of the Colloques and Synods they shall first signe the Confession of Faith of the Churches of this Kingdome and the Ecclesiasticall Discipline and to the end that the preaching of the Gospell may have the more fruit it is desired they would be pleased every one in his owne family to set up a Consistory composed of Ministers and the people of their family most approved for their Integrity which shall be chosen Ancients and Deacons till they have a sufficient number by which Consistory the Scandalls and Vices of the same family shall bee repressed according to the order of the Discipline And the same Ministers shall make their appearance at the Provinciall Synods as often as they can possibly Article 22. That it shall not be lawfull unto the Pastour to leave his flocke without the leave of the Colloque or Provinciall Synod of the Church unto which he shall be given Article 23. They which forsake the Calling of the Ministry shall be finally excommunicated by the Provinciall Synod if they repent not and reassume the charge which God had committed to their trust Article 24. The Ministers shall not be wanderers and they shall not have liberty to intrude themselves into any Charge of their owne authority as they shall thinke fit Article 25. 26. The Minister of one Church may not Preach in another without the consent of the Minister of the same unlesse hee be absent in which case the Consistory shall have Authority to grant it And if the Flock be scattered by persecution or other trouble the forraigne Minister shall endeavour to assembles the Deacons and Ancients and this if they cannot doe he shall bee permitted notwithstanding to preach for the reuniting of the Flock Article 27. Ministers shall not be sent unto other Churches without authenticall Letters or their sufficient testimonies c. Article 28. The Minister which shall say he is forsaken of his Church or persecuted may not upon that be received by another Church unlesse by good testimony he make it appeare unto the Colloque or Synod how he hath behaved and governed himselfe and shall be remitted to the wisdome and discretion of a Colloque or Provinciall Synod Article 29. When a Minister shall be destitute of a Church having faâ—â—â—y â—â—tained leave and discharge of that which he served It shall belong to the Colloque or Synod of the
of the Province thither the Ministers shall come with one Ancient of every Church Article 2. Such Assemblies and Colloques shall be made to advise concerning differences and difficulties which may be propounded and which may happen in the said Churches Article 3. Thence also the Ministers shall propound the word of God every one in his turne to the end that men may know how every one hath done his duty by exercising himselfe in the study of the Scriptures as likewise of the method and forme he useth in the handling of them Article 4. The Authority of the Colloques is subject to that of the Provinciall Synod as the Consistory is to the Colloques Article 5. The Colloques and Synods shall advise to limit the bounds of the places within which every Minister may exercise his Ministery Article 6. The Censures of the Pastours and Ancients shall be upon the issue of every Colloque CHAP. VIII Of Provinciall Synods IN every Province the Ministers of every Church shall assemble themselves once or twice in the yeare as they may according to the wisdome and discretion of the Synod CHAPTER IX Of Nationall Synods Article 1. NAtionall Synods shall be Assembled from yeare to yeare so far forth as possibly they may The Synod of Montpellier and another of Gorgeau have ordered the Convocation of Nationall Synods to bee from three yeare to three yeare Article 2 3. And because it is at this day difficult and dangerous to assemble a Nationall Synod in great number of Ministers and Ancients It is decreed for this time onely and during such difficulties that the Brethren assembled in every Provinciâ—ll Synod so far-forth as possibly they may choose two Ministers and two Ancients the most expert in the affaires of the Church for to send them thither in the name of all the Province and that the Deputies come thither with sufficient Testimonies and charged with good Instructions signed by the Moderator and Scribe of the Nationall Synod And to the end there be no failing the Provinciall Synod shall name three or foure Pastours and as many Ancients because if they which were first named be hindered by sicknesse or other lawfull impediments to undertake the journey there bee others which may serve in their place In the Nationall Synod at Charenton 1644. and 1645. expounding the third Articâ—e of the fourth chapter of the Discipline The Assembly declares that the Instructions wherewith every Province chargeth the Deputies which she sendeth unto the Nationall Synod ought to be resolved in the Provinciall Synods by plurality of voyces and signed in the said Assemblies by the Moderators and for default thereof they shall no more regard what they propound then they doe the Propositions which particular men shall advance of their owne heads and without Commission In the same Synod it is inserted that because of divers defects met withall in sending Letters from the Provinces it is enjoyned unto all to insert in them the proper names and sur-names of the Deputies To wit of good Letters in the bottome of which the submission shall be set downe in these words for substance Wee promise before God to submit our selves to all which shall bee concluded and resolved on in your holy Assembly to give obedience and to execute them with all our power and that wee are perswaded that God will governe there and will conduct you by his holy Spirit in all truth and equity by the rule of his Word for the good and edification of his Church and to his great glory and this is that wee demaund of God in our prayers This is that which was framed in the generall Synod at Vitrey held in the yeare 1617. conformable whereunto shall bee the submission required in the Letters of them which are deputed in Provinciall Synods Article 4. In the beginning of Nationall Synods shall be read the Confession of Faith of the Church of France with the Articles of the Discipline Article 5. 6. 7. All Ecclesiasticall things may be definitively decided and resolved in a Nationall Synod CHAP. X. Of holy Exercise Article 1. THey shall correct the irreverence which they shall perceive in many when they are present at publick prayers or domestick in not uncovering their heads nor bowing the knees a thing which is repugnant to common piety causeth suspition of pride and may scandalize the good and therefore the Pastours and Ancients yea and the chiefe of every family are warâ—ed to watch carefully for this that during the said prayers every man without exception or acception give by exteriour signes testimonie of the humility of his heart and of the homage which he owes and is to make unto God except any one be hindered for so doing by sicknesse or otherwise wheâ—eof the determination shall be lefâ— unto the testimony of his owne conscience Article 2. The Congregations of the faithfull being likewise ordained to sing to the praise of God and to comfort and fortifie themselves by the use of Psalmes all shall be admonished to be present in the Congregations and they which shall thence absent themselves through contempt shall be censured as also they which uncover not their heads so long as they sing as well as in the time of the Celebration of the Sacraments so farforth as they may as at other times Article 3. In the time of sharpe persecution be it of Pestilence of Warre of Famine or other great affliction when they will choose the Ministers of the word of God and when there shall be question of Assembling Synods they may if necessity require it denounce on a certaine day one or more publick and extraordinary prayers with fasting howbeit without scruple or superstition and all upon great causes and considerations and the Churches are admonished to conforme themselves one unto the other in celebration of the Fast so far-forth as possibly they may according to the conveniency of time and place Article 4. The Churches which have beene accustomed to make publick prayers upon certaine dayes may keepe the order which they have a long time happily observed and other Churches are to conforme themselves therein according to the meanes it shall please God to give unto them hereafter The Pastours ought to reprove them which contemne the frequenting of Sermons and neglect the use of prayers which ought to be performed in private houses by the chiefe of the Families and their domesticks Article 5. They shall not make Prayers nor Sermons at the enterrment of the dead to prevent all superstitions and they shall not give publicke Almes at the said enterrments to prevent the inconveniences which may happen and they shall be exhorted which accompany the body to the grave to behave themselves modestly during the Convoy meditating according to the object which presents it selfe as well of the miseries and shortnes of this life as of the hope of the happy life to come Article 6. Because mourning consists not in the habits but in the heart the faithfull
are admonished to behave themselues there with all modesty rejecting all ambition hypocrisy vanity and superstition CHAP. XI Of Baptisme Article 1. BAptisme administred by him which hath no vocation nor any Commission is altogeather null and invalid Article 2. A Doctor may not Preach nor administer the Sacraments in the Church unles he be chosen Doctor and Minister Article 3. A Pagan or Jew of what age soever he be ought not to be Baptised before he be instructed in Christian Religion and that it appeare so by his Confession Article 4. The Children of Fathers and Mothers of the Romish Church and of excommunicat persons may not be received into the Baptisme of the Reformed Churches although they be presented unto them by faithfull suretyes if they have Father and Mother when they have no Father or if they consent not when consent is required nor transmit their authority yet yeild their rights unto the surety in regard of instruction with promise that they will suffer their Children to be instructed in the true Religion they may be Baptised Article 5. The Children also of them which are called Bohemians Saracens or Egyptians may be received into the Baptisme of the reformed Churches upon condition that the suretyes oblige themselves for the education and instruction of them which are so Baptised Article 6. They shall not administer Baptisme unles it be in Ecclesiasticall Assemblies where there hath been a Church publickly erected where it is not publicke and the Fathers through infirmity feare to bring them to be Baptised in the Assembly the Ministers shall advise prudently how far they ought to yeild though there be allwaies the forme of a Church together with exhortations and publicke prayers But if there be any Church whereunto the people cannot Assemble the Minister shall not make difficult to Baptise the Child of a faithfull man presented unto him with prayers and exhortations Article 7. For that we have no Commandement from the Lord to take God Fathers and God Mothers to present our Children at Baptisme there may be no expresse law imposed on persons to use it howbeit for that the custome is antient and brought into the Church for a good end to wit to witnesse the faith of his Parents and at the Baptisme of the Child to charge themselves with the instruction of him in case that death take away his Parents also to entertaine the society of the faithfull by amiable conjunction They which will not follow this but themselves alone will present their Children they shall instantly be exhorted not to be contentious but to range themselves to the ancient order and accustomed which is good and profitable Articles 8. 9. 10. It is fitting that they which will present children at baptisme be of age sufficient as of 14. years of age at the least and that they have received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Article 11. They which are suspended of the Supper of the Lord may not in the quality of God-fathers and God-mothers present children at baptisme so long as the suspension shall last It is decreed that for whatsoever fault it be the faithfull may not be refused to present children at baptisme unlesse that they have been suspended of the Sacraments by the judgment of the Consistory Articles 12. 13. They of the Religion which present children by Proxie at baptisme in the Roman Church shall be sharpely censured as consentting to Idolatry It is demanded If it be lawfull to accompany the Papists to the doors of their Temples at the convoy of Baptismes and Marriages It is answered they may not and in such case they are lyable to censure Article 14. Touching the names given unto Children in Baptisme In the imposition of names unto Children Men ought to shunne on the one side over much precisenes and on the other superstition and scandall and for that this act as all other ought to serve unto the edification of the Church in such fashion that there where the Fathers are suretyes require that their or other mens names be given to their Children or being presented by them may be received provided that they be not names prohibited in this 14. Article as names of office of Angell or other notoriously ridiculous The Ministers shall be exhorted for the difficulty they make unto names henceforth to behave themselves with all modesty without being so difficult Besides the Ministers are exhorted not to make any more difficulty in receiving names from Fathers and sureties at Baptisme though they be not contained in holy Scripture provided that they containe nothing which is indecent Article 15. The Ministers shall admonish their flocks to behave themselves with all reverence when that Baptisme is administred and to abate the contempt that the greater part have of Baptisme which they shew by departing out of the Assembly when it is administred â— It is decreed that none depart the Congregation unlesse great cause require it upon paine to be censured by the Consistory Article 16. The Consistory shall have an eye on them which without great consideration keep their children too long without being baptised The Consistory are charged to exhort the faithfull to present their children at Baptisme so soone as they may after their birth and to censure them that are rebellious even to the suspending them from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The faithfull are to be exhorted as well in Sermons as particularly not to suffer their children to be unbaptized if it be not upon very great consideration Article 17. Though a faithfull Husband have a Wise of a contrary religion yet is he not excusable if the child be presented unto Baptisme in the Roman Church therefore he shall not be received to partake of the Lords Supper unlesse it be in case that he hath endevoured to hinder it with all his power Article 18. Baptisme shall be enregistred and carefully kept in the Church with the names of the Fathers and Mothers Godfathers and Godmothers and Children baptized Article 19. They shall enregister in he Booke of Baptisme the names of Fathers and Mothers of Children borne of unlawfull copulation so far-forth as they may possibly know it unlesse them that are borne of incest to the end that the memory of so enormous a wickednesse may be extinguished in which case it shall suffice to name the mother with him and her which present the child and of all illegitimate there shall be mention made that thy are borne out of Marriage CHAP. 12. Of the Lords Supper Article 1. WHere there is no forme of a Church it is not permitted to administer the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Article 2. Children under the age of twelve yeares shall not bee received to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Article 3. Priests Monkes and other Ecclesiasticks of the Church of Rome shall not be admitted to partake of the Lords Supper untill they have made publick acknowledgement of their forepassed life and profession Article 4. Beneficed men which beare
scandalous and injurious unto that Religion and Church of which his Majesty held it an honour to be stiled the eldest sonne and against him whom hee acknowledgeth to be the chiefe calling him holy Father and with whom he hath Alliance and amity for these reasons their Majesties desire that in a thing they take so much to heart you will manifest and make known the respect and obedience which you will render unto that which by them is propounded unto you Moreover I will adde this that their Majesties have commanded mee to tell you that they have just cause to complain against you for that since his Raigne they of your Religion have undertaken to re-establish Preaching in Languedoc and elsewhere by an open violent way contrary to the publike Assurance and the generall Lawes of the Kingdome which forbid equally unto the Subjects both of the one and the other Religion to doe right unto themselves as in other things so more especially as likewise in the enterprise of Vsez where they placed Bels in their Temple without permission and leave and against the termes of their Capitulation of the City of Monpellier Their Majesties are displeased that they of your Religion in Languedoc have enterprised to renue the deputation in the Court of Monpellier Nismes and Vsez suppressed long since in the year 1632. out of the Capitulation of the foresaid City and that Seiurs Reyzobs and Faraier deputed themselves without the consent of a Provinciall Synod and that they parted against the leave of his Majestie and that they have established Preaching by private Authoritie in sundry places besides the places designed by the Commissioners of his Majestie in execution of the Edicts of Names and contrary to the same Edicts have continued preaching in those places where the Lords are Ecclesiasticks as their Majesties have beene informed And besides all this certaine Ministers have taken unto themselves that height of liberty as to preach in their Pulpits seditious words and have cut off from their Communion such Parents as have sent their children to the Colledges of the Catholike Apostolike Roman Religion Lastly they have given me in charge to ell you that all these are manifest Infractions unto the Edicts contrary to their duty to the prejudice of the King and the publike tranquillity the which his Majestie hath been so carefull to observe on his part as that hee neither can nor ought as a common Father of his people to suffer the like attempts hoping that for the time to come you will use greater circumspection in removing all just discontentments which may upon any occasion be offered These things heard the Deputies made answer by the mouth of Seigneur Garrisoles Moderator who acknowledging that by the mercifull bounty of Almighty God the prayers of the Churches were so blessed as that after the publike losse of France in the death of the late King of glorious and immortall memory and this sad Ecclipse of our Sunne which seemed to bee for ever buried in the blacke darknesse of uncomfortable griefe and irremediable confusion every man hath seen with incredible joy and admiration the happinesse and peace of the estate of France to appeare as a new bright starre out of the East which hath raised the hope of all his faithfull Subjects and of all Christendome possessed with wonder when they consider that the good hand of God hath not only elevated his Majestie as it were from the Cradle to his Fathers Throne whose birth was so long desired and at length by Gods wonderfull providence obtained by the joynt prayers and supplications of his people and particularly of the Churches but also put the Reines of this Empire into the hands of the Queene Regent a Princesse whose glorious birth seemes to serve for no other end but to place her vertues on the highest Theater oâ— Glory Secondly under the Auspitious happinesse of the continuall prosperity and succesfull victories thereof have so added to the reputation of this Crowne as that in despight of envy they have joyned hand in hand to second the just Armes of his Majesty imployed in the defence of the Estate the protection of his Alâ—ies the designes of his Royall Highnesse and other Chieftaines having every where encountred a successe as well happy as glorious insomuch as the first workes of employments from Royall Authority since his Majesties comming to the Crowne hath been the Declaration of the Edicts of Pacification the assurance of their sacred Majesties protection unto all the Churches in favour of which the Edicts have been first published the glorious approving of the services of two great men nourished in the bosome of their Communion and so raised above the pitch of envy as that the Staffe of Marshall of France with the conduct of Royall Armies have been put into their hands without discontentment of any person in the State and that their Majesties have been graciously pleased to receive their Supplications presented by Monsieur the Generall Deputy as that hee hath thought good to grant them the holding of this Assembly and to commit the care and inspection thereof to a person no lesse Illustrious by his vertues worthy of the highest esteeme then by his place of dignity in the first of Parliaments Being thus carryed with the sweet and pleasing violences of resentments of so many good deeds to open their hearts and mouthes in giving thankes unto their Majesties for their singular favours with their most Ardent prayers to God for the preservation of their Sacred persons benediction of the Kingdome the glory of the Crown under the comfortable shadow whereof the Churches enjoying a sweet rest shall never desire or thinke any thing but to practise faithfully and conscientiously the expresse commandement of our Saviour by St. Peter Feare God and honour the King with an intire and sincere obedience without any designe nor to admit in the body of their Nationall Synod contrary to ancient custome persons not deputed by the Provinces nor to foment any communication with strangers nor to take and receive any Letters comming from them nor to give an answer unto them unlesse such as the Commissary representing his Majesties person shall find expedient nor to make any politick deliberations and Rules nor to introduce into particular Churches for their Pastour any Ministers being strangers nor to establish any Counsells of the Province against the will of the King nor to suffer the violation of the rules taken in Nationall Synods according to the intention of his Majestie for the approbation of bookes which shall be published in print touching matters of Religion Nor to Excommunicate any of them which forsake their Churches and acknowledge not their Jurisdiction over them at the time they shall quit their Communion nor to vent any Sermons fraught with rayling and reproachfull termes injurious to the members of the Roman Church as well in generall as particular which may in any sort stirre up or animate the people to a tumultuous rising and
taking of Armes against the Soveraigne Authority of their Majesties Nor to put absolutely in the power of a particular Province the Indiction of generall Fasts Nor to practise any thing in Collection of money for their poore and the like which may be a contravention of the Article 44. or of the particuâ—ar of the Edict of Nants their onely and constant Resolution being to remaine and continue under the precise observation of the Edicts and to lead under the benefit of them a quiet and peaceable life with all godlinesse and honesty They doe in most humble manner likewise beseech their Majesties 1. First to stoppe by the Interposition of their Soveraigne Authority the violences attempted by them which under the pretence of false zeale or of their employment undertake to trouble the publike tranquillity by Infraction of the Edicts in a violent way and enterprises against them of the Religion in generall and in particular to the end that none of them as being contrary to the principall end and formall intention and expresse of the said Edicts be brâ—ught to suffer for his Religion or in consequence be forced to make complaints of their sufferings which cannot be qualified according to their understanding with any other title then such as would be displeasing to their Majesties 2. Secondly to take into their consideration that the Confession of Faith framed about an hundred yeares since before the grant of any Edicts unto them of the Religion hath been presented by them to King Francis the second to render reason unto his Majestie of their opinion concerning things which they esteemed as being corrupted in the Confession of Faith received in the Church of Rome for to need Reformation insomuch as divers French Protestants could not from the beginning neither can at this day without prevarication change the forme of the expression which hath beene inserted to declare in truth and verity their common Faith authorized in the yeare 1561 by the Edict of January and since by that of Nants accorded unto by King Henry the great and confirmed so often by the last King as â—ikewise by his Majesty himselfe 3. Thirdly that all the Catholique Roman beliefe neither hath bin ever nor is not neither can be truly quaâ—ifâ—ed absolutely abuse and deceipt of Satan seeing that the Church of Rome and the Protestants differ not in the Doctrine of the Trinitie and Incarnation of our Lord Jesus which are the first principles of Christianity though with these fundamentall verities confessed by all the Christians of France c. There are some otherâ— in which they vary so that divers humane opinions touching the Intercession of Saints Purgatory the Pope c. have been Introduced into the Church in the compasse of â—ate Ages and constantly contradicted and gain-sayd by all the Protestants in France and else-where so that they cannot at this day continue their former Protestation confirmed by Edicts and depart from the Declaration which they had made by their Confession in sincerity and truth as before God which knoweth the hearts of aâ—l men and cannot suffer the hypocrisie and eviâ—l consciences of those which by an inexcusable imposture traverse their conceptions and ruine the hâ—pe of their salvation by a sacrilegious profession of Doctrines which they believe not And this is that the Churches hope that his Majesty which vouchsafeth to accord liberty of conscience unto his faithfull Subjects according to the example of his Predecessors will find them more worthy of supportation which declare openly that which they believe then them that dissemble or impugne the faith they professe by mentall reservations or in any equivocall way introduce a kind of fraud of Religion and betray by a deceiptfull complyance in a full Imposture the sound and good faith of their fellow Citizens and their owne consciences 4. Fourthly that the Printer of Geneva depends not on the Synods of this Kingdome nor hath taken order nor received any expresse charge of his Superiours to use those termes hee mentioneth from which it were to be wished he had abstained though for sence they expresse the general meaning of all Protestants in Europe which from the beginning with a common consent have impugned the forme of the Convocation the proceedings the Decrees the Anathemaes the Counsell of Trent it selfe Besides the Roman Catho ike Princes have judged it necessary to make provision by their protestationâ— against it by their Embassadours as the Emperour Charles the f fth his Majesties great Grandfather by his mothers side by Seigneur de Mendoza King Henry the second by Abbot Belozane since Bishop of Auxerres and King Charles the ninth by Monsieur de Ferrier who observing that famous Assembly saith of it that it was a Scorpion pricking the Gallican Church using an expression which containes little lesse then that of the Printer of Geneva whose liberty hatâ— been so displeasâ—ng to his Majesty 5. Fiftly that the Churches were never so forgetfull of their duty of subjection as to take the liberty to doe right unto themselves but having been favoured by the Declaration of their Majesties confirming the Edict at Nants as likewise the secret Articâ—es and Concessions which formerly have been accorded unto by f rmer Kings many particular Churches resetled entirely in their estate and re-established in their ancient rights have beâ—eeved that they committed no fault to use it according to the intention of his Majestie 6. Sixtly that upon this innocent Proposition which tends not unto any disobedience against publike order the exercise of the Religion which hath been continued for the space of seventy yeares without interruption at Ribaute having been violently hindered by the Lady of the place and Sieur Arnand the Pastour of Anduze beiâ—g called thither by the Inhabitants and accordingly having presented himselfe to serve in that place unto their edification as it hath been practised before was driven away by the force and violence of men of Armes by the Commandement of the said Lady and afterwards was put in prison by the commandement of Monsieur his Majesties Lievtenant Generall in Languedoc notwithstanding his being sent back by the Chamber for which wrong hee presented himseâ—fe now at the feet of his Majesty imploring his clemencie and Justice according to the Edict 7 Seventhly that the Deputies of the Province of lower Languedoc in the name and behalfe of those Churches that sent them doe professe that the three Cities of Nismes Vsez and Monpellier having by deputation with all possible speed tendered their first act of submission and acknowledgement of duty unto his Majesty rendered most humble thankes unto him for the grant of his Declaration and for the protection of his Justice and demanded in all submission and respect the repaâ—ation of the Infractions of the Edict as it hath beene alwayes practised They cannot perswade themselves that the said Cities have committed any fault in presenting their duty as good subjects according to the obligation of their consciences neither that they