from the Ministry 8. Mr. Vinieux Pastor of the Church of Bazars complaining That the Decree of the National Synod of Castres relating to him had not been executed This Assembly ordained that out of the first Monies belonging to the Province of Lower Guyenne the Lord of Candall shall keep by him that very Sum promised unto the said Vinieux And he farther praying to be freed from the Service of his Church and Province He was ordered to apply himself unto his Province who should take into their serious Consideration his necessitous Condition and the great Importance of his Request and Appeal 9. The Letters of Mr. Baux appealing from the Judgment of the Province of Higher Languedoc were read Whereupon the Synod enjoineth the said Province to present him unto a Church that may comfortably maintain him and the Church of Mazemet is also enjoined to give him full Satisfaction for all his Arrears on default whereof they shall be deprived of the sacred Ministry according to the Rigour of our Discipline 10. In explaining that Canon of the National Synod of Tonneins held in the Year 1614 and which is the seventh Observation on the foregoing Synod of Privas whereby the Provinces were charged to defray the Expences of those Churches whose Pastors should be deputed unto General Assemblies both Ecclesiastical and Political This Assembly declareth That whatsoever Charges particular Churches may be at in procuring Ministers to serve them during their Pastors Absence ought to be reimburst them not by their Pastors out of their Sallaries but by the Province which had deputed them and this out of the Monies appertaining unto all the Churches of their Division and therefore disannulleth the several Appeals of the Churches of Vignan Sauve Breau Aulas Castagnoles St. Julian and St. Privat to the contrary 11. Whereas the Church of St. German hath refused to pay unto the Widow of their deceased Pastor Monsieur de la Faye the Pension of the Year of her Widowhood and appealed unto this Synod against her this their Appeal is cast out because we do not judg it equitable to invalidate the Canons made by the Provinces of both the Languedocs and Sevennes for Payment unto the Widows of their late Pastors without Exception the Pension of the said Year of their Widowhood as also all Arrearages of Stipend owing unto their Pastors at their Death by the Churches in which they ministred 12. The Appeals of the Churches of St. Julian and St. Andre for the same reasons are declared null and void 13. The Appeal brought by Monsieur Perrynet on behalf of the Church of Die appealing from the Judgment of the Synod of Dolphiny by which Monsieur Aymin had been lent unto the said Church was declared null 14. Monsieur Belon appealing from the Judgment of the Province of Lower Guyenne for confirming Mr. D'oze in the Ministry of the Church of Tournon and not appearing to prosecute his Appeal the Synod declared it null and the Appealant worthy of Censure for commencing such an unjust Action 15. The Church of Sommieres not prosecuting their Appeal from the Judgment of their Province the said Appeal was declared null and the Judgment of the Province ratified yet that Province is required not to let that important Church nor any other of the same Nature to lie long vacant but to see that it be speedily furnished with an able Pastor 16. Whereas it evidently appears that the Church of Baisly is much indebted unto their Pastor Monsieur Bayeux more through the Ingratitude of sundry private Persons than their Poverty and Inability This Synod disanulling their Appeal and condemning their Defect of Duty injoineth them to give full Satisfaction unto the said Mr. Bajeux and this without applying a Denier of those Moneys given by Monsieur Lasson for the Maintenance of a Proposan to this Purpose which shall not for the future be at all diverted from that Use unto which it was at first appointed without very great Necessity and the Consent of their Provincial Synod unto whom the said Mr. Bayeux is recommended from us that they would be pleased to procure him a competent and comfortable Supply unto his Necessities 17. The Appeal brought by the Church of Orbec separated by the Synod of Normandy from that of Mesnil Imbert according to the Canon of the last National Synod of Castres under that Article of Annexations is remanded back unto the next Synod of the said Province which having heard the Reasons of the said Church shall proceed to a final Judgment in the case 18. Monsieur Morrice Pastor of the Church of Fontaines and of Cressy was heard unfolding the Grievances of which he complained in his Appeal and the Deputies of Normandy in the Declaration of the Reasons of their Proceedings against him Whereupon the Assembly ratified the Judgment of the said Province and jointly commissionated the Sieurs de la Naux da Buisson de Beauvais and Herault together with four Elders from the Churches of Montgobert Sees Alenson and the Consistory of Fontaines and Cressy within one Month after the Return of the Deputies of the said Province unto their Churches to take new Informations in this Affair and after exact Inquiries made about it to give a final Judgment on Monsieur Morrice for the Fact of which he stands accused 19. The Memoirs and Acts of that Appeal sent by the Consistory of Montagnac being read the Synod gave Judgment that the said Appeal ought not to be admitted and those who first moved for it were worthy of a severe Censure And forasmuch as the Differences betwixt Monsieur Perery Pastor in the Church of Calignac and the Consistory of Montagnac are sprung from the Licentiousness of his Discourses and his frequent absenting himself from his own home he is expresly injoined to be more moderate in his Discourses and to settle his Abode in the midst of his Flock and on Default hereof the Province shall proceed against him according to the Discipline 20. The Churches of Montdidier and Montagoux refusing Payment of threescore Livers ordained by the Synod of Sevennes unto Mr. Jubert for Augmentation of his Wages their Appeal was rejected and the Judgment of their Province confirmed 21. The Letters and Memoirs of Monsieur Chavanon appealing from the Judgment of the Synod of Sevennes and of Mr. Rouvre and of the Commissioners who were sent by the said Synod unto the Church of L'edignan having been read and the Deputies of the Province being heard This Assembly exhorts the said Province not to use its Power in lending Pastors of Churches within their Division till they have first consulted with their Churches and seriously to consider of their Importance and it censureth the said Chavanon for those sharp and bitter Expressions couched by him in his Letters and as for those Facts mentioned in the said Memoirs the Cognizance and Judgment of them is reserved and dismissed over unto the next Provincial Synod which having maturely and exactly examined and
of those places in which they live and received in this Kingdom abiding in force and vertue as to all gifts and provisions of Tutors and Guardians ARTICLE XXXIX And whereas several Priests and Nuns have formerly contracted Marriage 't is his Majesty's Will and Pleasure for very many and good Considerations that they shall not be prosecuted nor molested and to this purpose our Attorneys General are injoyned silence as also are all other our Officers Yet nevertheless his said Majesty declareth that 't is his intention that the Children issued of the said Marriages shall succeed only unto their Houshold-goods acquired and purchased Lands and Immoveables of their Fathers and Mothers and in default of such Children the nearest of Kin shall inherit them and the last Wills Gifts and other Legacies made or to be made by persons of the said quality of their said Estates Houshold-goods acquired and purchased Lands and Immoveables are declared good and valid However his said Majesty will not that the said religious Persons Priests and Nuns who were professed shall succeed directly or collaterally unto any Inheritance but only they may enjoy those Goods which are or may be left unto them by Testament Gifts or otherwise bequeathed to them excepting always those said direct or collateral successions and as for those who made profession before that Age required by the Decrees of Orleance and Blois the tenor of the said Decrees shall be followed and observed in all cases relating unto the said successions every one for that time in which they take place ARTICLE XL. His said Majesty will not that those of the said Religion who have formerly or may hereafter contract Marriages in the third and fourth degrees should be molested nor that the validity of the said Marriages should be called in question nor in like manner that the Children born or to be born of them should be quarrelled with or deprived of their succession And as for Marriages which have been already contracted in the second degree or of the second and third degree betwixt those of the said Religion they applying themselves unto his Majesty who are of that quality and have contracted Marriage in such a degree all needful Licences shall be granted them that so they may not be prosecuted nor molested and that their Childrens right of Inheritance may never be cavilled nor disputed ARTICLE XLI That the validity of those Marriages made and contracted by those of the said Religion may be judged and decided as to their legality if the Professor of the said Religion be defendant in that Case a Royal Judge shall take cognizance of the fact of the said Marriage but in case he be plaintiff and the defendant a Catholick the cognizance thereof shall belong to the Official or Ecclesiastical Judge and if the two parties be of the said Religion the cognizance thereof shall appertain unto the Royal Judges It being his Majesty's Will and Pleasure that as to what concerneth the said Marriages and differences which may happen about them that the Ecclesiastical and Royal Judges as also the Chambers established by his Edict shall take cognizance of them respectively ARTICLE XLII All Gifts and Legacies given and already bequeathed or which may be so hereafter given and bequeathed whether by the last Will and Testament at their death or whilest they are alive towards the maintenance of Ministers Doctors Scholars and the Poor of the said pretended Reformed Religion or to other Pious Uses shall be valid and obtain their full and entire effect notwithstanding all Judgments Decrees and other Matters contrary thereunto and provided they do not in any wise prejudice his Majesty's Rights or those of any other person in case the said Legacies and Gifts should fall under a Mortmain And all Actions and necessary Prosecutions for the injoyment of the said Legacies and Pious Uses and other Rights as well for Judgments as without them shall be done by an Attorney in the Name of the Body and Commonalty of those of the said Religion who shall be concerned and in case it shall appear that the said Gifts and Legacies shall have been otherwise disposed than was intended by the said Article they shall not be able to claim any restitution of what is past but only of what is now in being ARTICLE XLIII His said Majesty permitteth those of the said Religion to assemble themselves before a Royal Judge and by his Authority to equalize and levy upon themselves such a Sum of Money as they shall conceive needful to defray the Charges of their Synods and their Maintenance who are imployed in the Exercise of the said Religion of which an account shall be given in unto a Royal Judge to be kept by him the Copy of which Account shall be sent by the said Royal Judge every six Months unto his Majesty or to his Chanceler and the Taxes and Impositions of the said Moneys shall be raised and gathered notwithstanding any Oppositions or Appeals whatsoever ARTICLE XLIV The Ministers of the said Religion shall be exempted from all Guards and Rounds and Billetting of Soldiers Assessings and Gatherings of Taxes as also of being Overseers and Guardians and Commissioners for Goods seized by Authority of Justice ARTICLE XLV Whereas those of the said Religion have heretofore buried their Dead in the Church-yards of the said Catholicks or in any Place or Town whatsoever 't is his Majesty's Will that they shall not be sued or prosecuted for it and his Officers shall be injoyned to see that there be nothing as to this matter done unto them And as for the City of Paris over and above the two Church-yards which are at present possessed by those of the said Religion to wit that of the Trinity and that of St. Germain there shall be given them a third commodious place for the enterment of their Dead in the Suburbs of St. Honorius or of St. Denis ARTICLE XLVI The Catholick Presidents and Counsellors who shall serve in that Chamber ordained in the Parliament of Paris shall be chosen by his Majesty out of the written Roll of the Officers in Parliament ARTICLE XLVII The Counsellors of the said pretended Reformed Religion who shall serve in the said Chamber shall assist if they think good at those Processes which shall be determined by Commissioners and shall have their Consultive Vote but without participating in the moneys consigned unless it be that they be bound by the Order and Prerogative of their reception to assist at them ARTICLE XLVIII The most ancient President of the mixt Chambers shall preside at the Hearing and in his absence the Second and the Processes shall be distributed by the two Presidents conjunctly or alternatively by Month or by Week ARTICLE XLIX The vacant Offices of which those of the said Religion are or shall be provided in the said Chambers of the Edict shall be supplied with Persons capable who shall bring a Certificate from the Synod or Colloquy unto which they do belong
him to Article 2. Forasmuch as Monsieur Eymard abusing the Leave granted him by his Church of Veyne in Dolphiny hath for several Months withdrawn himself into the Province of Lower Guyenne and is there since imployed in the Holy Ministry This Assembly censuring the Church of Berbignieres for calling him unto their Service and condemning the said Province for their too great Facility in admitting and supporting him doth injoin the said Eymard to appear before the Synod of Dolphiny which if the good Providence of God do permit will be assembled the next Year and he shall give an Account unto them of all his Actions and Deportments and in case he refuse Obedience and Submission unto their Judgment he shall be then as he is now at this Instant denounced suspended from the sacred Ministry Article 3. Mr. Harvey Deputy from the Church of Bourdeaux presented himself to this Assembly with Letters and Memoirs from the said Church petitioning that Monsieur Vignier might be conferred upon them for their Pastor There was read also an Act of Opposition made against this Call by several Heads of Families of the said Church and divers Letters also of the said Mr. Vignier and Letters from the Church of Nerac There were heard also the Lords of Aulous and of Massilieres petitioning on behalf of the Church of Nerac that the said Mr. Vignier might be bestowed on them for their Minister and the Lord Berdolin also spake in behalf of the Province Whereupon the Assembly bestowed Monsieur Vignier upon the Church of Nerac to be their peculiar Pastor and ordered the Church of Nerac to reimburse that of Bourdeaux of those just and reasonable Expences they had been at in their Endeavours for the getting of the said Mr. Vignier and the Church of Bourdeaux hath leave given it to provide for it self either within or without the Province according to the Forms prescribed by the Discipline and in case the said Church should meet with any Pastor at Liberty and one who may contribute beneficially to their Edification the said Church is now impowered to treat with him Article 4. The Church of Valance shall carry its Declaration unto the Synod of Lower Languedoc which shall judg whether the said Church ought to be rejoined to that of Soyon and the Province of Vivaretz Article 5. For the future the Church of Sr. Estienne in Forest shall be reputed a Member of the Synod of Vivaretz Article 6. Mr. Constantin Pastor of the Church of Rochefoucauld presented himself unto this Assembly with Letters from his Mother petitioning that he might be discharged the Service of the said Church and drawn out of the Province of Xaintonge and a Letter also was read from the Consistory of the Church of Nismes unto the said Province to the same purpose and the Act of Dismission granted the said Constantin by the Church of Rochefoucauld After hearing of the Deputies of Xaintonge and a mature Debate of all Arguments pro and con this Assembly did consent that the said Mr. Constantin should be set at Liberty but did exhort him to make Conscience of keeping to his Calling and readily to embrace all Opportunities of serving the Church of God Article 7. The Deputies of the Province of Bearn having moved that their Right unto divers Scholars whom they at their own Charges had educated for the Ministry and were now imployed in the Pastoral Office in Churches of this Kingdom might be conserved This Assembly did assure them that the Interest of the said Province should be equally regarded with that of the other Provinces and that the Churches of this Kingdom should be always ready upon all Occasions to communicate unto them the sensible Effects of their Charity and Affection to their Preservation ☞ The Commissioners nominated by the Synod to examine that Book made by Monsieur d'Aubus intitled Bellarmin Reformed having made their Report of it the Assembly considering that it would do good Service and contribute greatly to the Edification of the Readers approved the printing of its first Part and exhorteth the said Monsieur d'Aubus to imploy those excellent Gifts which God hath so abundantly poured out upon him to the Advancement of his Kingdom and promised that if God did enable the Churches with a Supply of Monies they would be at the Charges of the first Impression But this Act as Monsieur Bollenat one of the Deputies unto this Synod relateth in his Copy of its Acts was afterwards razed out and that also by Order of the very Synod Article 8. Because of the great Importance of the Church of Nismes and its present urgent Necessities and for that the Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc have yielded their Consent unto their Petition This Assembly permits the Lord Cheyron Elder of the said Church to discover to it any Pastor by whose Ministry the said Church may be edified that so it it be possible they may be provided of a third Pastor during the Session of this Synod and in case he cannot find one Leave is given unto the said Church to get it self a Pastor any where either within or without the Province Article 9. Because of the Inability of the Colloquy of Rovergue and of the small Numbers of its Pastors the Colloquy of Albigeois is ordered to take care that the Church of St. Affrique be supplied till the Meeting of the next Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc Article 10. Leave is given by this Assembly to Mr. Bastide a Minister freed from his Service in the Church of St. Affrique and Province of Higher Languedoc to address himself unto any other Church or Province in this Kingdom in which he may exercise his Ministry and make his Abode as may be best for his Advantage Article 11. The Synod being informed of the Innocency of Monsieur de Monbreueil and touched with a deep Sense of his many and great Sufferings doth order the Lords General Deputies to take a most especial Care of his Concern and to sollicit the expediting and ratifying of those Attestations given him by the Churches of Paris Nantes and Rennes who have had a perfect Knowledg of his Life and Deportments that so he may be fully justified and discharged Article 12. The Sieur Cottiere having presented a Summary of Books composed by him and of one especially treating of the ancient Faith of the Churches in the three first Centuries This Assembly being fully informed of those many excellent Gifts with which God had indowed him and applauding his Zeal and great Affection for the Advancement of Christ's Kingdom doth exhort him to continue the devoting of himself and Labours to the Defence of God's Truth and to carry his Writing unto the Synod of Anjou which is expresly ordered to peruse them and having approved of them to take care about their Impression and the Churches shall defray the Charges thereof Article 13. Mr. Perrier formerly Receiever of the Monies given by his Majesty's Liberality unto the Churches in the Province of
the said summs of which they have brought in the Accompts as was said shall be endorsed upon the Commands issued out by the Treasurer of the Exchequer in the names of the extraordinary General-Treasurers of our Wars for the payment of the said Garrisons And in case the said Commands should not amount to as much as our said Accompt for the year sisteen hundred ninety and six and the augmentation we ordain that to make it up there shall be expedited new Commands for what is wanting to discharge the said Accomptants and for restitution of the said Promises and Obligations so that nothing shall be demanded for the future from them who shall have thus acted and all Letters of Confirmation which may be needful for the discharge of the said Accomptants shall be expedited by venue of this present Article LXXXII Moreover those of the said Religion shall quit and abandon from this day forward all Correspondencies Negotiations and Intelligencies as well within as without our Kingdom and the said Assemblies and Councils established in the Provinces shall break up speedily and all Leagues and Associations done or to be done under what pretext soever it be in prejudice of this our present Edict shall be broken and disannulled as we do now break and disannul them We most expresly forbidding all our Subjects that for the future they do not make any Assessments or Levies of money without our Permission Fortifications Enrollments of men Gatherings or Assemblies besides these which are permitted by this our present Edict and these to be unarmed which we do prohibit and forbid them upon pain of being punished most rigorously and as Contemners and Transgressors of our Commands and Ordinances LXXXIII All Prizes taken upon the Sea during these troubles by vertue of Grants and Warrants then given and those which have been done ashore upon those of the contrary Party and which have been judged by the Judges and Commissioners of the Admiralty or by the Commanders in Chief of those of the said Religion or their Council shall be all suppressed by the benefit of this our present Edict so that upon those accompts there shall never be made any Prosecution Nor shall the Captains nor any others who made the said Prizes nor their Sureties nor the said Judges Officers their Widows and Heirs be sought after nor molested in whatsoever manner it may be notwithstanding all Decrees of our Privy-Council and of Parliament and Letters of mark and seizures yet depending and not judged all which we will shall be fully and entirely released and discharged LXXXIV Moreover those of the said Religion shall not be prosecuted for those oppositions and hindrances which they have made before or since the troubles about the Decrees and Judgments given for the establishment of the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Religion in divers places of this Kingdom were Executed LXXXV And as for what was done or taken during the troubles not in ways of Hostility or by Hostility against the publick or private Reglements of the Heads or Communalties of the Provinces who then had Command such matters may be prosecuted according to due Form of Law LXXXVI Yet nevertheless sith that what was done on the one side and other against their Reglements is indifferently excepted and reserved in that General Abolition granted by this our present Edict and is subject unto prosecution and that there is no Souldier but is thereupon liable unto Impeachments from whom new troubles may arise for this Cause We will and ordain that only Execrable matters shall stand excepted in and by the said Act of Indemnity such as Rapes and forcings of Women and Maids Burnings Murders and Robberies committed treacherously wittingly and of set purpose not in ways of Hostilities but to exercise particular revenges against the Laws of War Infractions of Passports and Safeguards with Murders and Plunderings without Authority of those of the said Religion or of any who have followed the Party of the Commanders who had Authority over them grounded upon special occasions which moved them to command and order it LXXXVII We Ordain also that those Crimes and Offences committed among Persons of the same Party unless it be in acts commanded by the Chiefs of both sides according to the necessity Law and order of War shall be punished And as for all Levies and Exactions of moneys bearing of Arms and other exploits of War done by private Authority and unavowed shall be prosecuted according to due course of Law LXXXVIII The Towns which were dismantled in the late troubles their ruins Licence being first had and obtained from us may be reedified and repaired by the Inhabitants and their charges and expences and provisions formerly granted to this purpose shall be allowed LXXXIX We Ordain and 't is our Will and Pleasure that all Lords Knights Gentlemen and others of whatsoever quality and condition of the said pretended Reformed Religion and others who have followed their Party may re-enter and shall be effectually conserved in the injoyment of all and singular their Rights Titles Priviledges and actions notwithstanding the Judgments issued out against them during the late troubles or by reason of them which Decrees Seizures Judgments and all that hath ensued upon them we have to this end declared and do declare to be null and void and of none effect and value XC Those Purchaces made by the Professors of the said pretended Reformed Religion and of others who have followed their Party by other Authority than that of the late Kings our Predecessors of the immoveables belonging unto the Church shall not be allowed nor take effect but we do Ordain and 't is our Will and Pleasure that the Ecclesiasticks shall re-enter immediately and without delay and shall be conserved in the real possession and actual injoyment of the said alienated goods without ever being bound to restore the price for which they were sold and this notwithstanding the said Contracts of sale all which we have to this purpose broken and revoked as null without suffering the said Purchasers to recover it from their Chief Commanders by whose Authority the said goods were sold And yet nevertheless that the moneys which they had truly and without fraud paid down may be reimbursed to them we will Expedite our Letters Patents to those of the said Religion with License that they shall impose upon themselves and equalize the summs unto which the said Sales did amount without enabling the said Purchasers to take forth any action for their dammages and interests through want of enjoyment but they shall rest contented with the reimbursement of the moneys paid in to them for the price of the said purchaces they first deducting out of the said price the profits received by them in case it should appear that the said Sale was made at a very low and unjust price XCI And that our Justices Officers and other our Subjects may be clearly and certainly informed of our will and intention and that we
in France as it was delivered to the French King in the Year 1681. SIR YOur Majesty's Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion do with all humility represent to your Majesty that your Declaration of the 17th of June last does so overwhelm them with grief that they are almost out of themselves but nevertheless they are so bold as once more to have recourse to your Majesty hoping that being still your most faithful Subjects they shall not be denied access for Justice and that rather like God Almighty your Majesty will be tender to hearken to the Voice of the afflicted Upon this confidence they throw themselves at your Majesty's Feet and desire you to consider that this Declaration is directly contrary to all the Edicts granted to those of that Religion and particularly to the Edict of Nantes which has been given to them as a perpetual and irrevocable Law and which your Majesty has frequently confirm'd for besides that this does all along suppose that your Subjects of that Religion shall enjoy in this your Kingdom all rights as well natural as civil which are common to any of your Subjects and that among those Rights that of the Power of Parents over their Children to the Age of Puberty is one of the most general the 18th Article of that Edict does expresly provide That none shall by force take away any Children from their Parents to baptize or give them the Sacrament of Confirmation against the will of their Parents 'T is well known that Confirmation is never given to Children till they are past Seven years old and if the Edict forbids to give them Confirmation at that Age sure much less will it allow them to be at liberty to chuse their Religion and to make abjuration at that age of a Religion in which they were born and educated 'T is with the same Intention that the 38th Article of the same Edict does in express words say That the Parents making profession of that Religion may provide their Children of such Tutors and Guardians as they shall think fit nay that they may name one or more either by Will or Codicil before a Notary or written with their own Hand Your Majesty Sir is most humbly supplicated to weigh the force of the word Education even after the Death of the Parents for it evidently demonstrates that the Edict had a regard to the paternal Right of Parents over their Children not only as inviolable during their Life but extending it self even after their Death so as no zeal of Religion nor any other Pretext could take it away nay it was so far from being limited to the age of Seven years that it was to be preserv'd during the whole Course of the Education which scarce begins at that Age and is very narrowly limited when it ends at that of Fourteen Besides Sir The Edict of Nantes is not either the onely or the first Law that speaks in favour of this Power which being a Law of Nature is as ancient as the World and 't is a Maxim that natural Rights are immutable but it is found also in an Answer given to the Protestants in the year 1571. under the Reign of Charles the Ninth which was the severest reign against those of that Religion The Power of Fathers over their Children was thought so sacred that it was said upon the 24th Article that Fathers should not be hindred in the Education of their Children according to the Principles of their Religion and the Motives of their Conscience and that even after the Death of the Parents their Children should be Educated in the same Religion till they had attained the full Age of Fourteen years and then should be left to their Choice and Liberty But Sir none of your Royal Ancestours have more authentically acknowledged this right of Parents than your Majesty For besides divers Judgments given in your Council of State in the years 63 and 65 which are expresly in favour of this Power your Majesty's Declaration in the year 69. has it in express words That it is prohibited to all Persons whatsoever not only to take away from their Parents the Children of those of the pretended Reformed Religion or to allure them but they shall not also make any Change or declaration of Change of their Religion before they have attained the compleat Age of Fourteen years for the Males and Twelve for the Females and that till they have respectively attain'd the same age they the said Children shall after the decease of their Parents remain in the hands of their nearest Relations of the same Religion and that any that shall detain them shall be oblig'd to restore them back to their Relations All this has been put in execution and confirm'd by divers Precedents and particularly by a Judgment given by the Archbishop of Rheims in the Month of August 76. by which it is ordain'd that none of the Female Sex shall be received into the House of the Propagation of the Faith at Sedan till they have attain'd the Age of Twelve years compleat Your Majesty's Suppliants beg leave to represent to your Princely Consideration the Difference that will be found between the Declaration of 1669. and this last of 1681. the first leaves to Nature its Rights and Priviledges to Conscience its Motives and Impulses to the civil and common Laws their Principles and Maxims to your Parliaments their Rules and constant Methods of proceeding to foreign Nations an Example worthy their Imitation and lastly to the Roman Catholick Religion the honour of keeping within some bounds of Equity in Conformity to Reason and the Practice of the Primitive Church whereas under this new Law Nature suffers and groans to see Children torn from the Bosom of their Parents to whom she had given them and who ought to be more theirs at the Age of Seven years than before since 't is properly at that time that their Education begins and that Parents do as it were take possession of their right The Conscience of your Petitioners will be troubled and disquieted in the most cruel manner imaginable since the Paternal care of Children for their Education is one of the most important and indispensable duties of Conscience every Parent being responsible to God Almighty for his Childrens actions while nature has deposited them in his hands The Civil and Canon Laws will both speak in favour of your Suppliants for if Children before the age of puberty which is at fourteen can neither make a Will nor be Witnesses at Law nor make Vows nor do any Act of their own will how can it be thought reasonable that they should before that age make choice of their Religion which is the most important Act of their whole Life Your Parliaments Sir who following the common Principles of Reason and Equity did never yet subject Children to capital Punishments before the age of Puberty must now violate that Custom of all Nations and practised in all Ages for by making Children of
the sprinkling of Water into a Charm or Inchantment Article VIII The Principle in his sixth Reason is ill applied for although the Vertue and Verity of Baptism be not always conjoyned with the Sign yet we may not therefore say that Baptism may be quitted and totally forborn We do sincerely confess that a Man may be Partaker of the Grace promised in Baptism who did never partake of the Water of Baptism but must we thence infer that Baptism may be lawfully omitted God forbid What he adds about the evil Administration of Baptism especially as to the Gospel Form and Manner of it containeth a double Errour for we never did confess that the bare sprinkling of Water by one without a Call or Office in the Church of God was Baptism or that it had its Evangelical Form there where there was no Evangelical Minister Article IX He hath couched his seventh Argument somewhat rudely and discovers a bitter Spirit But let him make the most of it we absolutely deny that the recalling of Men to the observation of the Primitive Rule of Baptism is Rebaptising We repute as null and void this spurious Baptism by private and uncommissionated Persons And altho' we do not tie up the Grace of God to the hand of a poor Man yet notwithstanding that Baptism administred by Man must be annexed unto his Quality or else the Authority of Jesus Christ must be trampled under foot Article X. He corrupts by his eight Argument that Text of St. John marreth and perverts the sence thereof for the Question is not about the External Sign but the Internal Vertue the true spiritual Washing Article XI The Similitude urged by him in his ninth Reason is null for the Lord Jesus hath not rejected this Sacrament nor wholly abandoned it to be dispensed by all sort of Persons whatsoever but he hath deposited a Commision with his Ministers who are to to dispense it Article XII The Comparison of Circumcision with Baptism in his tenth Reason might be admitted provided that Circumcision had been only administred by Priests but whenas a private Person poureth Water we deny that this is that formal Baptism which was by our Lord Jesus Moreover let this be noted by the way that when the Israelites and Edomites cut themselves off from the Church though they retained Circumcision yet they did but prophane it and 't was none other than a piece of Juggling for God accounted those Nations as Uncircumcised Article XIII His eleventh Reason is far wide of the Mark For tho' we confess that we be but once regenerated but once spiritually new-born yet we must needs say that this imaginary Baptism doth not in the least signifie or seal our new Birth Article XIV As to his twelfth Reason we very well know that was the Opinion of St Augustine upon this Point but he is not to be assented and consented in all his Assertions We ourselves do own that he who was ill baptized ought not to be again rebaptized and we add this also That if a private Person who hath no Call from God shall of his own will and fancy usurp that Office which doth not belong unto him his Baptism is but a meer Piece of Farcery and therefore null And this Answer may also suffice for his thirteenth Argument Article XV. In his fourteenth Argument he hath made Mr. Calvin in the Passage quoted from him to speak contrary to his known and printed Judgment and perverted the very sence of his Words for he does not in that place treat of the Ministry but of the Vertues and Merits of the Ministry for 't is as if he had said That all the Vices of the most debauched Minister could not derogate at all from the Vertue of Baptism Article XVI We deny his fifteenth Argument which is That the Hand and Sign of our Lord Jesus Christ will be owned in the sprinkling of Water by a Person uncalled and uncommissioned by him Article XVII What Calvin had said as to his sixteenth Argument was enough to prove the Nullity of such a Baptism But if any one should be dissatisfied he declareth that this was his meaning and that it was an absurd simple and foolish action to go and perswade any one that he would not have Baptism by Women to be reiterated Article XVIII His sevententh Argument is a meer Paralogism for he wants the Judgment to distinguish betwixt the â—orgiveness of Sins given by Jesus Christ and the Token thereof which he committed unto his Apostles Article XIX To his eighteenth Argument we say That Popish Baptism is grounded upon the Institution of Chrâ—st because the Priests as perverse as they are and totally corrupt are yet the ordinary Ministers of that Church in which they so tyrannically demean themselves Article XX. His nineteeth Argument needs no answer unless it be That the word Rebaptize is â—â—isappâ—â—ed â—â—th iâ— was never questioned but that such an Apish Trick as this Mock-baptism might be reformed Article XXI His twentieth Argument proveth just nothing and therefore we let it pass And if it be said that we have handled this Brother too roughly who moved this Question let him but bethink himself how Magisterial he was in his Dictates as if it was his Province only to oppose Superstitions and Abuses and especially for his audacious condeming of St. Cyprian with the whole Council of Carthage And had he but better considered the whole he would have been more moderate And because we love and honour him we wish that he would exercise his Parts and Wits upon Questions more profitable and less curious Concerning the LORD's SVPPER THe Brethren of Geneva being demanded Whether Pastors at the Lord's Table should only distribute the Bread and Wine unto the People do give this Answer That it were certainly best if it might be conveniently done at all times but it seems for the present impossible and for the future wholly impracticable For in case God should multiply the number of his People of Believers and Churches and there being so great a scarcity of Pastors we see no Inconveniency in it that Deacons and Elders being the Arms and Hands of the Pastor after that he hath consecrated the Sacramental Elements and distributed the Bread and Cup to them that are nearest to him may come into his relief and assistance and distribute them also unto those who are more remote from him An End of these Answers and of this National Synod of Lions Signed in the Original P. VIRETT President of the Council THE ACTS DECISIONS and DECREES OF THE V. National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Christ IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE HELD The second time in the City of Paris and Year of our Lord 1565. THE CONTENTS of this SYNOD CHap. I. Election of Moderator and Scribes Chap. II. General Matters Morellius his Works Examined Chap. III. Manner of Proceeding in Ecclesiastical Censures Chap. IV. A Case of Conscience Whether beneficed Persons may be admitted to the Lord's Table
Magistrate will in some Cases oblige us to hold them separated whom God had once joyned together in this holy ordinance 'T is true that Betrothed Persons in Scripture are called Husband and Wife not that they be so already in very truth and deed but only because the Scripture oftentimes styleth things shortly to be done as if they had been already done And though a Betrothed Wife committing Whoredom be by the Law of Moses as severely punished as a Married Woman that commits adultery yet it doth not thence follow that she is an Adultoress For in the same Chapter a Daughter playing the Whore in her Fathers House is also punished with death Therefore for these and other causes and for that the Laws of the Kingdom do decree that Promises of Marriage shall be made in express words de futuro This Assembly ordaineth that from henceforward All the Members of our Churches shall Universally and Uniformly conform to the Laws and Customs of this Kingdom not only as to the bare words but also as to their sence and meaning and that the words de futuro shall not be reckoned by the parties as obliging and dissolvable as words de praesenti So then for time coming the fifth Article in the Chapter of Marriges shall be Couched in these words Henceforward in Promises of Marriage the words de futuro shall be used as also in all Espousals nor shall those words be taken as indissolvable as the words de praesenti because words de praesenti do not Promise but effect and perform Marriage yet those words and Promises de futuro shall never be dissolved without very great and lawful causes And therefore that Custom of divers Churches celebrating the Espousals by the Ministry and Benediction of the Pastor and gift of bodies with words de praesenti is expresly condemned For this Synod reckoneth that by this Ceremony the parties be truly and actually joyned together in Marriage and that consequently all Banes are preposterous and useless because done after Marriage and the Blessing of the Church thereby render'd altogether needless Yet we don't count it ill for Ministers to assist at Espousals nor that they should by prayer implore the Divine Blessing on the intended Marriage nor that they should exhort the Betrothed Persons to mutual Love Unity Faithfulness and the fear of God only that they ought to forbear those other formallities which sometime render a bond indissolvible which we be afterwards necessitated to break and untye because of those oppositions which are made at the publishing of the Banes and for divers other Causes that may then happen And the Churches of Rouen and Dieppe who solemnize Espousals in the Temple after the same manner as publick Marriages are exhorted to abandon this usage and to conform unto the received Custom in the Churches and Provinces of this Kingdom Article 15. Whereas formerly the 16th Article of the eighth Chapter of our Discipline contained the distribution of the Provinces it shall be henceforward the 15th and the Provincial Synods shall be thus distributed 1. The Isle of France 2. Normandy 3. Brittany 4. Berry 5. Anjou 6. Poictou 7. Xaintonge 8. Lower Guyenne 9. Higher Languedoc 10. Bearn 11. Lower Languedoc 12. Provence 13. Dolphiny 14. Sevennes 15. Vivaretz 16. Burgundy Article 16. The Church-Discipline being read was unanimously approved by all the Deputies then present who promised to observe it and see it observed in their respective Provinces And this Assembly gave an express charge to Monsieur Valleton Pastor of the Church of Privas to get the Confession of Faith and the Book of Discipline transcribed that so the Copies of them might be signed and subscribed by all the Deputies of this Assembly and the subscribed Copy shall be deposited in the hands of the Deputies of that Province which is appointed to summon the next National Synod CHAP. VI. Observations made on Reading the Acts of the next National Synod of St. Maixant 1. IN pursuance of the Decree made by the National Synod of St. Maixant in their Observations on the 11th Canon of the first Chapter of our Church-Discipline all the Provinces are strictly enjoyned on pain of Censure to have a very careful Eye over their Ministers that they preach not up any new Doctrines and that they affect not in the Pulpit nor in Writing nor in any other Discourses any phrases or modes of speech which be strange and forreign to the Sacred Scriptures and that they intersperse not Latine Greek nor Hebrew sentences in their Sermons nor surcharge them with many prophane Histories And those Deputies who shall be sent by the Provinces unto the next National Synod are charged to bring their Memoirs with them whether this Decree had been observed or not 2. Monsieur Chamier having presented his Controversial Writings unto this Synod according as he was enjoyned by the last National Synod he received the thanks of the whole Assembly for the great progress he had made in them and he was earnestly intreated and encouraged to finish his designed Labours and that he would be pleased to print the three first Tomes at once and to assist him in the great and necessary Charges he must needs be at the sum of two thousand Livers is ordered to be paid him now in hand 3. Monsieur Perrin also presenting his History of the Albingenses and Waldenses it was put into the hands of Messieurs Roussett Cuville de Preaux Petit and Joly Ministers of the Gospel who were ordered to bring in their Opinion of it and in consideration of his Charges this Synod orders him the sum of three hundred Livers 4. The Provinces which have not observed that Decree of the above-mentioned Synod which forbad all additions to be made at the close of Propositions and Colloquies are exhorted conscientiously to obey it 5. In the observations made by the same Synod upon the Acts of the former National Synod held at Rochell in which there was great discourse and debate about Monks who quitting their Cloysters did joyn themselves to the Communion of the Reformed Churches but Information being now given of divers Scandals arriving from the publick declaration made by these Monks in our Churches This Assembly judged that it was in no wise expedient for the said Monks to make any declarations publickly until such time as we have good experience of their abilities sincerity and discretion However their simple and unfeigned Abjurations shall be admitted either publickly or in the Consistories 6. That Article of the same National Synod about those Remonstrances which should have been made in the Chamber of Nerac shall be razed 7. Nothing shall be altered in that Article of the aforesaid Synod which had approved the administration of Baptism before Sermons and at the ordinary publick Prayers excepting in that clause which specifies the lawfulness of this Action in case there be apparent danger of death and that the Consistory do attest it or at least some of the Elders because this
clause seems to favour that Opinion of the necessity of Baptism And the remaining part of the said Article shall be in force until the next National Synod and in this Interval the Provinces are charged to Study the point diligently and to come prepared with the judgments of their respective Consistories Colloquies and Provincial Synods and to send them in writing confirmed by solid Arguments that so after mature consideration had of the whole the Case may be finally decided by plurality of Votes gathered from the several Deputies of that Synod And that this may be the more easily effected Monsieur Sonis du Moulin le Faucheur and la Faye are nominated to put in writing the reasons both of the one side and other which have been here urged and a Copy of them shall be carried hence together with the Acts of this present Assembly unto their Provinces by the Deputies 8. The Deputies of Berry requesting that some course might be took to avoid the violating of that Canon made at St. Maixant Bearne which forbad all Professors in Divinity to intermeddle with Political Assemblies This Synod ordaineth that it be punctually observed and in case any of them do accept of such a Deputation whoever he be shall be punished with Suspension from his Professorship for the space of six months 9. Information being made of the great disorders in the Provincial Synods of Higher and Lower Languedoc of the tricks and subtle under-hand dealings fitter for Attorneys and Petty-Foggers than for such grave Assemblies commonly practised by them and of the contempt of Church-Discipline from whence have sprung up very many and grievous scandals This Synod doth most strictly enjoyn all Provincial Synods and most especially those now mentioned that for the future they do reform and conduct themselves better on pain of being dealt withal as violators of the Discipline and that in the severest manner and particularly it threatens the Moderators in those Meetings with Suspension from their Charges in case they connive at them and do not their utmost to redress these irregular and scandalous actions CHAP. VII Of Appeals 1. THE Church of Orange complaining by her Deputies that they were excluded from the Political Assembly held in Dolphiny This Assembly remands them unto the next General Political Assembly unto which they shall present their complaint if they judge meet 2. Master Gautier complained on behalf of the Church of Annonay that they had never been reimburst their Expences which they were necessitated to make in getting supplies during the absence of their Pastor Monsieur Faucheur who was deputed to the Assembly of Saumur This Synod ordereth the Province of Vivaretz to see the said Church of Annonay be paid an hundred Livers including in that sum the six and thirty already received by them 3. The Church of Armagnac appealed from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc held at Florac which had imposed on them the Sieur Thevond to be their Pastor against their consent And the said Mr. Thevond also appealed from the Synod of Montpellier for removing him against his will from Aigues-mortes This Assembly after hearing of all Parties and perusal of the Acts of both these Synods judgeth that the said Province hath very much transgrest the Discipline by lending the said Thevond unto the Church of Aigues-mortes and by restoring the said Pastor unto the Church of Armagnac and therefore ordaineth that the next Colloquy or Synod shall provide the said Thevond of another Church and that he be removed from that of Aigues-mortes or of Armagnac and the Church of Armagnac is sharply censured for her strange proceedings in obstructing the return of the Sieur Thevond to them as also Benezet Elder of that Church and his Companions who without any just cause given did prosecute the Expulsion of the said Thevond from among them Moreover we do very greatly condemn him the said Thevond for his pragmaticalness and unnecessary intermedlings with Civil Affairs as also for his unhandsome actings in the celebration of his Marriage that he might avoid the Tying of the Point a notorious Character of his Infidelity and Distrust of God deserving a Deposal from the Sacred Ministry and the Sieur Chambrun Pastor of Nismes who blessed that Marriage is liable unto the same censure But this Assembly contents it self with that softer Reprehension given him by the Colloquy hoping that it will redound unto his future benefit And in case he hath not as yet fully satisfied the Censure imposed on him by the said Colloquy he is ordered immediately to fulfil it on pain of being suspended from his Ministry 4. The Deputies of the Church of Aigues-mortes complained of that Article of the Assembly at Saumur which authorized the prosecution of Monsieur de Berticheres at the instigation of the Lords General Deputies and the said Deputies of Aigues-mortes remonstrated that the said Assembly was surprized for otherwise it had been impossible for the said de Berticheres to have been admitted into the said Church The Synod refused to take cognisance of this Affair it having been determined by the said Assembly of Saumur and because it conceived that a subsequent Assembly of the same nature could best judge of its own preceding Sentence and of whatsoever might be proposed with reference unto that subject and therefore remands the Plaintiffs thither but it charged our Lords the General Deputies at Court to give order that this Affair be remanded unto that Assembly there to be determined and in the mean while nothing shall be innovated or altered in that Article 5. Monsieur Benoist Pastor in the Church of Moutauban and de la Vialle Lieutenant Criminell in the same City appeared in this Assembly craving Remedies against those Dissentions which have arisen about the Ministry of the said Benoist in the said Church This Assembly deputed the Sieurs Perrin and Ferrand Pastors and de Mallerett Glatignan and Bonnett Elders to pass over unto Montauban and after hearing of the several Parties to find out some means of reconciling them and to contrive some expedient whereby their Differences may be composed and upon report of the whole matter by these Deputies the Synod declared that of right Monsieur Benoist belongs unto the Church of Montauban he having been adjudged as such by the National Synod of St. Maixant Yet nevertheless in regard of the present Disposition of that Church of Montauban it decrees the said Benoist to continue in his Ministry of the Churches of Realville and Albyas until the next Provincial Synod in which if the said Benoist be not demanded by the Church of Montauban by their general and unanimous Consent according to the Discipline the said Provincial Synod is enjoyned to provide the said Benoist of some other Church wherein he shall make his Residence and the whole shall be so managed as that the honour of his Ministry may be kept unblemished because he is not discharged from his Church for any fault committed
of no moment confirmed Monsieur Horle in the Pastoral Office of that Church and gives it leave to provide themselves of a second Pastor either within or without the Province as the Lord shall offer them an opportunity and farther it decreeth that the said Church shall attend their next Provincial Synod and gain an Order from it for re-uniting the Church of Tornas now joyned unto that of Lezan unto themselves and the said Synod shall comply with them in this their request and use some other means for the maintenance of that Church of Lezan when as that of Tornas shall be again incorporated with that of Anduze as it was heretofore 25 The Decree of the last Synod of the Isle of France notwithstanding the Letters and Complaints of Monsieur Richard Pastor and and of some certain Elders of the Church of Vandieres to the contrary was confirmed and the said Richard was injoyned by the Synod to exercise his Ministry in those Churches unto which he was assigned on pain of being suspended from his Office and that Province is requested to compassionate his great wants and to extend unto him their wonted Charities 26. Whereas Monsieur Razes appealed from a Judgment of the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc This Council rejected his Appeal and to put a period unto the contentions of the said Razes about the precedency of Monsieur Martyn an Attorney at Bezieres it decreed that for the future no businesses of this Nature should ever be presented unto these Assemblies 27. The Appeal of the Church of Mazamet was also rejected because it was not of the Nature of those businesses which ought to be decided in these Councils and because the Provincial Deputies of Higher Languedoc offered to take care that both the Appealers and their Partners should have full satisfaction given them 28. The Appeal of Monsieur Rossel Pastor in the Church of Issoire about pecuniary matters is according to the Canons in that case provided dismissed over to the Judgment of the Province of Lower Languedoc 29. The Several Appeals of Monsieur Genoyer Pastor of the Church of Riez in Provence are devolved on the Colloquy of Ambrun who shall call upon the Church of Luc to produce what they have to say for themselves and to threaten them that notwithstanding their Appeal in case of their absence or refusal to obey this Order and to bring forth the Book of their Consistory whereby the justice or unreasonableness of what is demanded of them may be discovered Judgment shall pass upon them 30. Report was made in full Council of the Contents of Monsieur Sauceux his Memoirs who appealed from the Judicial Sentences of the Synod of the Isle of France and of their Commissioners sent on their behalf unto the Church of Bayolett and the Deputies of that Province were heard also Whereupon without invalidating the Judicial Sentences of that Synod or of its Commissioners They were told that the form of their proceedings was wrong that the said Synod should have cited Monsieur Sauceux to have appear'd before them and have omitted in that Act concerning him the mentioning of His Majesties Edict and that the bottom of the business may be found out the Council decreed that the Provincial Deputies of Normandy shall in their return homewards pass over unto the Church of Bayolet and shall examin the said Mr. Sauceux and his Consistory and after hearing both Parties they shall pronounce a final Judgment on them 31. Whereas Monsieur des Maretz Elder of the Church of Oysemont hath sent neither Letters nor Memoirs to defend his Appeal from the Judgment of the Province of the Isle of France his Appeal was therefore declared null 32. That Appeal from the Judgment of the Province of Burgundy brought by the L. L. Renaut and Fronevill in the Name of the Sieur L' Advise touching a certain Declaration delivered unto the Sieur de Villemenat to be kept by him is declared null 33. The Lord of Fournivall Elder in the Church of Beaune appealed in behalf of its Consistory from a Decree past in the last Synod of Burgundy held at Issurtilles which had censur'd the said Consistory for not observing all requisite Formalities in receiving a Person of the contrary Religion into Fellowship and Communion with us but his Appeal was declared null and the said Consistory was censured for appealing unto this Council upon the score of a single Censure CHAP. XXI Discipline Exercised on a Scandalous Minister This Peris did afterwards by flight save himself from being prosecuted by the Lord Commissioners for a Libel which was found upon him and for which he was condemned to the Gallows 34 PEter Peris formerly Pastor in the Church of Estray in the Colloquy of Aunix complained personally unto the Synod against the Province of Xaintonge for that having discharged him the Service of his Church they refused him an Attestation of his Life and Doctrine The Deputies of that Province immediately assigned the reasons of their refusal grounded upon the scandalous Conversation of the said Peris and his Method of teaching which was exceeding offensive unto divers Churches And the said Peris Apologizing for himself The Council took thence occasion to interrogate him on divers Articles of which he was accused and convicted as 1. For desertion of his Ministry 2. Of haunting and over-much familiar and scandalous Acquaintance and Communion with our Adversaries particularly with Apostates revolted from the True Religion unto Romish Idolatry and with Persons cast by the dreadful Sentence of Excommunication for Errors and Blasphemies out of these our Reformed Churches 3. Of Prophaneness Insolency and Vanity 4. Of Lyings Slanderings and Plottings against our Churches and several of their Members And forasmuch as he had about him even now whilst he was under examination a most execrable Libel against His Majesties Honour and the Tranquillity of the State compos'd by some mutinous Spirits disturbers of the Publick Peace which was delivered into the hands of His Majesties Commissioner the Lord Galland to dispose of it as his Lordship in his Wisdom should think fit The Council Deposed the said Peris from the Sacred Ministry and debarring him all hopes of ever being again restored to it decreeth that he shall be suspended all Communion in the Sacraments until such time as he giving Glory unto God and confessing his Offences shall have manifested to the World the Gracious Fruits of a serious and sound Repentance And this Act shall be notified unto all the Churches 35. Mr. Peju a Pastor Baignouâ—â—n Elder and Rousseau all deputed by the Heads of Families in the Church of Mer declared the grievances for which they appealed and on the contrary the Provincial Deputies of Berry vindicated the Sentence of their Synod The Letters and Acts also of both Parties were produced and read both by Monsieur Peju and by the Province Upon the whole the Council judged that the Province ought not to have brought before this Assembly Acts and Memoirs