concord of our Churches in that Doctrine which notwithstanding the many evil times have past over us hath been preserved until now in its purity among us The other is that by continuing the Oaths injoyned by the last Synod of Privas you take the most proper and effectual course to heal the wounds which our unhappy divisions have these years last past made in the Vnion of our Churches and I see no Expedient more likely to suceed than unanimously and with joynt consent to agree and pitch upon one General end whereunto all and every one shall direct and aim I Salute most humbly every Member of your Assembly and beseech God Almighty to assist and fortify you by his holy Spirit for his own glory and for the Vnion Restauration and Propagation of his Church From Saumur April 20. 1614. Your most humble and most affectionate Servant Du Plessis The Duke of Rohan's Letter to the National Synod Assembled at Tonneins Sirs THOSE strong obligations which the Churches of France have laid upon me do ingage me to seek out all occasions whereby to testifie my gratitude 'T is this which causes me to write at present and to crave this favour of you to believe that I shall never forget those assistances I received from you in the last Synod of Privas and particularly from divers Churches of this Kingdom yea and from those I have never known Certainly Sirs I shall Confess it freely that the effects of your kindnesses have exceeded my services yet I hope that for the future you will know you have not have obliged an ungrateful person And that what you have kept for me shall be always chearfully employed for your selves We are fallen into such a time as need extraordinary Prayers unto God for his Guidance and Counsel We have been much afflicted since the Assembly of Saumur by divisions sown and fomented among us The Synod of Privas knowing it to be the most compendious Course for our Ruine did indeavour to prevent it But divers persons being unacquainted with our malady then there could not be a thorough cure effected But now every one knows it and may contribute something thereunto For my part I think it no difficult matter for us to use the true Remedy which consists in an entire re-union of all our Members that so we may be but one Body and the more fit to serve God the King and our Country and the more able to divert our enemies from enterprizing upon us from whom also we might take away the very will of doing it by its impossibility This Sirs is a work well-worthy of your Assembly I exactly conformed to the desires of the last Synod and I do now again renew my promises of observing your Orders not only in that but in whatsoever else you shall judge to concern the glory of God whom I ardently beseech that he would preside in your Councils and to give me that grace never to abuse his favours conferred upon me but that employing whatever I have received from his divine Majesty to the advancement of his Kingdom I may consecrate the remainder of my days unto his service My Lord Baron of Montausier hath particular orders from me to acquaint you with my intentions and proceedings and especially with that journey of the Lord of Hautefontain taken by my command unto his highness the Prince I desire you would believe him in what he shall inform you as if it were my self and I shall always approve my self to you all generally and particularly Sirs From St. John d' Angely this 24. of April 1614. Your most Humble and most Affectionate to do your service Henry of Rohan A Letter from the Lord of Caumont to the National Synod of Tonneins Sirs I Well hoped to have had strength enough to have been personally present with you and to have injoyed the honour and contentment of saluting your Holy Assembly and to have given you my self by word of Mouth the assurance of my fidelity and affection unto whatsoever the service of my God obligeth me for the support of his Churches and the advancement of his Glory But being at present detained by important businesses which the Sieur de Mailléz shall inform you of I intreat you therefore most humbly to be pleased with my absence and to believe that no person in the World is more ready to expose his life and the Lives and Estate of all his with greater chearfulness and willingness for Gods cause and yours than I shall be to adventure mine and the lives and fortunes of all mine And I pray God that by his Holy Spirit he would be pleased to preside in the midst of you and to conduct your Holy Wills in such manner as he knows to be most expedient for his Glory the Weal Repose and Conservation of his Church whereof having the honour to be a Member I shall ever remain in its Communion and subject my self wholly in all things unto it under the priviledge of the Edicts and the authority of their Majesties intreating you to lay your Commands upon me and to be assured that in whatsoever I may serve the publick and every one of you in particular you shall have evidence of my obedience and loyal affection The Lord follow you most Reverend Sirs with his choicest Favours and Benedictions I am From Paris May 2. 1614. Your most Humble and Affectionate Servant Caumont A Letter from the Lord of Chastillon to the National Synod of Tonneins Sirs MY past actions which through Divine Grace no Man hath just cause to complain of are I believe sufficient proofs of that care I ever had for the re-union and good intelligence of the great men of this Kingdom professing the true Religion and the fear of God as also of that respect I paid unto the desires of the last National Synod of Privas intimated to me by their Letters and what I have since done both at Court for our general concerns and since my return in this Province to conserve your Lives and Priviledges enjoyed by you during the reign of the late King will testifie that the true blood of the late renowned Lord Admiral de Chastillon is in my Veins and that I have managed all publick affairs fallen into my hands with all uprightness and justice as the Sieurs Gigord and Codur who have been Eye-witnesses of my deportments can more fully inform you if they please Sirs this my Letter drives at none other end than to let you see what deference I have for you and that my whole life shall be employed in the service of the Churches and I beseech you to believe that besides it and the service of the King and your preservation and advancement there is nothing in this world more dear unto me And if I can do you in my station any particular service either here or elsewhere you shall always find me ready for it Had it been as easy for me to have been personally present with you as
be none other Affairs debated in it than such as are warranted by the Edicts and that a Commissioner whom his Majesty shall be pleased to appoint do assist in Person in the said Synod as hath always been practised In testimony hereof his Majesty hath commanded me to expedite this present Writ which he was pleased to sign with his own Hand and caused to be conntersigned by me his Counsellor and Secretary of his Commandments and of his Treasury Signed LOVIS And a little Lower PHELIPPEAVX There appeared in the said Assembly with Letters of Commission from the Provinces which were read by the Sieur Des Loges and the Sieur de Fresnay Elder of the Church of Loudun and the Sieur de Mâ—â—sonâ—als these Persons following 1. For the Province of Normandy the Sieurs John Manimilian de L' Angle Pastor of the Church of Rouan and Samuel Boschart Pastor of the Church of Caen accompanied with the Sieurs Daniel Guesdon Elder of the Church of Rouan and Peter de la Musse Esq Lord des Roquettes Elder of the Church of Caen. 2. For the Province of Higher Guienne and Higher Languedoc the Sieurs John Louis Joussauld Pastor of the Church of Castres and Theophilus Arbussy Pastor of the Church of Milhaut accompanied with the Sieurs John de Besnes Esq Lord of Laseron Elder of the Church de Beraux and Master John Brassart Advocate in Parliament and Elder in the Church of Montauban 3. For the Province of Burgundy the Sieurs Amedeus de Chandieu Pastor of the Church at Pont de Velles and Peter Mussard Pastor of the Church of Lyon accompanied with Master Samuel Gentis D'anthial Advocate in Parliament Elder in the Church of Chaalons and Master Phillebert de Sage Advocate also in Parliament Elder in the Church of Autan 4. For the Province of Lower Languedoc the Sieurs David Eustache and Isaac de Bourdieu Pastor in the Church of Montpellier accompanied with the Noble Francis de Toulonge Lord of Foissac Elder in the Church of Vsez and Master Philip Besse Doctor of the Civil Laws Advocate and Elder in the Church of Beziers 5. For the Province of Orleans and Berry the Sieurs John Perâ—â—ult Pastor of the Church of Orleans and John Taby Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of the Church de la Charite accompanied with the Noble Denis Papin Counsellor to his Majesty and Receiver General for the Demeans of the County of Blois and Master Paul Tonnois Lord of Champs Advocate in Parliament Elders in the Church of Orleans 6. For the Province of Sevennes the Sieurs Henry Bâ—udan Pastor of the Church de la Salle and Stephen Broche Lord of Mejannes Pastor of the Church of St. Hippolite accompanied with Edward de Charlot Esq Lord and Baron of S. John de Gardonenque Elder in the Church of the same Place and Peter de Gallieres Esq Lord of Pont d' Arti Elder in the Church of Merveil 7. For the Province of Brittain the Sieur Isaac Guitton Pastor of the Church of Sion accompanied with Monsieur John de la Rochelle Lord of Mornay Elder in the Church of Roche Bernard 8. For the Province of Poictou the Sieurs Stephen le Blois Pastor of the Church of Fontenay le Compte and John Chabrol Pastor of the Church of Thouars accompanied with Sir Peter Prevost Knight Lord of La Javeliere Elder in the Church of Chantonnay and Puybelliard and Charles Prevost Esq Lord of La Simonie Elder in the Church of Champagne and Mouton 9. For the Province of Provence the Sieurs John Bernard Pastor of the Church de Velots and Marvelle and John Morius Esq Lord of Espasson and of La Bastide Elder in the Church of Manosque 10. For the Province of Anjou Touraine Le Maine Loudunois Vandosme and the Greater Perche the Sieurs Moyses Amyraud Pastor and Professor of Divinity in the Church and University of Saumur and James de Brissac Lord des Loges Pastor of the Church of Loudun accompanied with the Sieurs Daniel de Goyett Doctor of Physick Elder in the Church of Angiers and Master Stephen des Landes President in the Extraordinary Assizes of Vaudomois and Elder in the Church of Vandome 11. For the Province of the Isle of France Brie Picardy Champagne and the County of Chartres the Sieurs John Daille Pastor of the Church of Paris and Benjamin Tricotell Pastor of the Church of Calais accompanied with Master Thierry de Marolles Advocate in Parliament and Judg in the Praesidial Court of Vitry Elder of the Church in that Town and Peter Loride Lord of Galiniers Advocate in his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council and Elder in the Church of Paris 12. For the Province of Xaintonge Aunix and Augoulmois the Sieurs John Gommarc Pastor in the Church of Vertueil and Isaac Marchand Pastor in the Church of St. John d' Angely accompanied with John de Morell Esq Lord of Thiac of Vigier and of Salle and Francis Lacons Esq Lord of Courelles and Elder in the Church of Cognac 13. For the Province of Dolphiny the Sieurs Adrian Chamier Pastor of the Church of Montlimard and Alexander Dize Pastor of the Church of Grenoble accompanied with Master Francis Goudran Advocate in the Parliament of Grenoble and Elder in the Church of Grenoble 14. For the Province of Lower Guienne the Sieurs John Riccotier Minister of Bourdeaux and Jeremiah Viguier Pastor of the Church of Nerac accompanied with Master Jacob Maysonnais Advocate in Parliament and Elder in the Church of Bourdeax and with Sir James de Laumont Knight Marquess of Baisse Caumont Elder in the Church of Nerac 15. For the Province of Bearn the Sieur Arnald de Cazamajore Pastor of the Church of Olleron 16. For the Province of Vivaretz Velay and Forrest the Sieurs Isaac Homel he Died a most constant Faithful Martyr Pastor of the Church of Sajon and Valance and Peter January Pastor of the Church at La Gorse accompanied with Sir James D' Arlande Kt. Lord of Mirabel and Elder in the Church of Villeneufve de Bergues and with Master Timothy Baruil Doctor of the Civil Laws Advocate and Elder in the Church of Privas The Provinces of Bearn and Dolphiny shall inquire into the Causes why the Sieurs de Labadie Elder in the Church of Luibeite and Deputy for the Province of Bearn and de Montelar Elder in the Church of Beaufort Deputy for the Province of Dolphiny have absented themselves from this Assembly and shall give an Account thereof unto the next National Synod The said Sieurs des Loges and du Fresnay Elder of the Church in Loudun did together with the Lord Marquess of Rouvigny General Deputy gather the Suffrages of all the Deputies in this Assembly in Two Bills in Writing each of them having One for the Election of the Moderator Assessor and Scribes and there were chosen by plurality of Votes the Sieur Daille for Moderator the Sieur de L' Angle Assessor and the Sieurs Des Loges Pastor and de
Effigies Reverendi Viri IOHANNIS QUICK S ti Evangely Ministri an o Aetat 55o. SYNODICON in GALLIA REFORMATA SYNODICON IN Gallia Reformata OR THE Acts Decisions Decrees and Canons Of those Famous National Councils OF THE REFORMED CHURCHES IN FRANCE BEING I. A most Faithful and Impartial History of the Rise Growth Perfection and Decay of the Reformation in that Kingdom with its fatal Catastrophe upon the Revocation of the Edict of Nants in the Year 1685. II. The Confession of Faith and Discipline of those Churches III. A Collection of Speeches Letters Sacred Politicks Cases of Conscience and Controversies in Divinity determined and resolved by those grave Assemblies IV. Many excellent Expedients for preventing and healing Schisms in the Churches and for re-uniting the dismembred Body of divided Protestants V. The Laws Government and Maintenance of their Colleges Universities and Ministers togeâ—â—er with their Exercise of Discipline upon delinquent Ministers and Church-members VI. A Record of very many illustrious Events of Divine Providence relating to those Churches The whole Collected and Composed out of Original Manuscript Acts of those Renowned SYNODS A Work never before Extant in any Language In Two VOLUMES By JOHN QUICK Minister of the Gospel in London LONDON Printed for T. Parkhurst and J. Robinson at the Three Bibles and Crown in Cheapside and the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church-yard 1692. TO THE Right Honourable WILLIAM EARL of BEDFORD BARON of THORNHAVGH Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of Middlesex Cambridge and Bedford Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and one of the Lords of Their Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council May it please your Lordship SEals as Coats of Arms an a kind of Hieroglyphicks Those Mother-Churches in the Valleys of Piedmont where our holy Religion hath been conserved in its Power and Purity during that long black night of Popish Superstition and Idolatry had this for their Common Seal A Taper burning in a golden Candlestick scattering its glorious Beams in a Sable Field of thick darkness It is a truth incontestable that most of the European Nations do stand indebted to them for that comfortable Knowledge of the blessed Gospel of our Lord Jesus which is now shining forth in its Meridian-Glory in the midst of them The Famous Waldo of Lions was their near Neighbour and received his most Excellent Instructions together with that Book of Life the Holy Bible from them And Lollard that famous Preacher in England from whom God's Saints and Martyrs with us four hundred years ago were denominated was one of their Barbes I have met my most Noble Lord with another Seal as Illustrious an Hieroglyphick as the former appertaining unto the National Synods of those Renowned and once Flourishing though now Desolate Reformed Churches of France which was Moses's Miraculous Vision when he fed his Flock under the Mount of God viz. A Bramble-Bush in a flaming Fire having that Essential incommunicable name of God Jehovah engraven in its Center and this Motto Comburo non consumor in its Circumference I burn but am not Consumed With this those venerable Councils Sealed all their Letters and Dispatches A sacred Emblem of their past and present Condition Whilst Mystical Babylon Spiritual Sodom and Egypt where our Lord hath been in his most pretious Truths and Ordinances and in his dearest Saints and Members for many Ages successively Crucified did swim in the calm Ocean of Worldly Riches and Grandeurs in the pacifick Seas of secular Felicities and Pleasures Poor Zion in that bloody Kingdom of France hath been in the storms and flames hath passed from one fiery Tryal unto another from Cauldrons of boyling Oyl into burning Furnaces heated with fire seven times hotter than before she hath been driven from populous Cities and the pleasant Habitations of Men unto the cold snowy Lebanon to the high craggy tops of Amana and Shenir to the frightful Dens of Lions and to the horrid Mountains of Dragons and Leopards Why their Heavenly Father should afflict and exercise so frequently and so severely these his Children and Churches he himself informeth them by that weeping Prophet All thy Lovers have forgotten thee They seek thee not for I have wounded thee with the Wound of an Enemy with the chastisement of a cruel one for the multitude of thine Iniquities because thy Sins were increased Why criest thou for thy Afflictions Thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity because thy Sins were increased I have done these things unto thee And in truth the mournful Relicks of these Calamitous Churches do justify God in all the evil that is befallen them do condemn themselves and kiss his Rod accepting patiently the punishment of their Iniquity But this Bramble-Bush though always burning is not consumed This is a Miracle of divine Mercy entailed upon them for many Generations I will mention the loving kindnesses of Jehovah and the praises of Jehovah according to all that Jehovah hath bestowed on them and his great goodness towards the House of Israel which he hath bestowed on them according to his Mercies and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses In all their affliction he was afflicted with them and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and he bare them and carried them all the days of old When they passed through the Waters he hath been with them and through the Rivers they have not drowned them and though they have walked through the fires yet they have not been burnt up those Flames have purified and refined but not devoured them And though these last storms like the Fluctus decumani have been the worst and forest yet they have not been without Illustrious tokens of God's gracious presence with them and most merciful providence over them He hath made the Earth to help the Woman he hath spread a Table for their sustenance in the Wilderness and provided for them in their flights dispersions and banishments a most quiet habitation and in this last and greatest persecution that ever did befal them they have found in this Land as well as in other Protestant Countries an inviolable Sanctuary and which cannot but be observed it was in that very juncture when those two smoaking Firebrands Rezin with Syria and the Son of Remaliah were in a joint Confederacy totally to extirpate the blessed Gospel as out of France so out of these Fortunate Islands they met with a safe Harbour in Great Brittain The pernicious Plot was carried on as vigorously here at home against the Reformation as it was cruelly Executed in Kibroth Hattaavah that Land of Graves from whence they fled and where thousands of God's Saints were buried alive When the Bartholomaean Massacre was projected in the last Age there was a design to have tricked over some of our most Noble Patriots unto that unfortunate Marriage in which more Blood was drunk than Wine who should have been Sacrificed together with that Valiant Lord
of that place and Elder in the same Church and James Garnier Elder in the Church of Privas 7. For the Province of the Lower Guyenne Monsieur Jeremy Bancons Pastor in this Church of Tonneins and Ezechiel Marmett Pastor in the Church of Nerac together with Francis de Lusignan Baron of Lusignan Governour for the King in his Town and Castle of Puymirol and Elder of the Church there gathered and John de la Nouaille Elder in the Church of Gensac 8. For the Province of Xaintonge Aulnix and Augoulmois Monsieur Louis le Chevelier Lord of la Cappelliere and Jerom Colomiers both Pastors in the Church of Rochel together with Leon de St. Maure Baron of Montosier Elder in the Church of Bene and Peter de Breuil Lord of Fontenelles Elder in the Church of Barbezieux 9. For the Churches in the Principality of Bearn Monsieur John de Dizerotte Pastor in the Church of Olleron and Peter de Nauguey Doctor of Physick Elder in the Church of Lescar 10. For the Province of Anjou Touraln le Maine Condomnois Vendomois and the Lower Parche Monsieur Samuel Bouchereau Pastor in the Church of Saumur together with Eleazar de la Primauday Lord of la Barree Elder in the Church of Bourgueil and Abes dit Val Lord of Villiers the King's Attorney in the Election and Granary of Salt at Chasteaugontier and Elder of the Church there who related unto this Assembly that Monsieur Daniel Coupe Pastor in the Church of Tours their Fellow-Deputy was absent through the opposition of his Consistory which also was confirmed by the Brethren that passed through that Town Whereupon the Synod judged the Authors of his absence highly censurable and cannot approve of the said Coupés compliance with their will to the prejudice of what had been decreed in the Provincial Synod And that a meet Censure according to the merits of the Cause may be duly inflicted on them express order is given to the Pastors and Elders of the Isle of France and Anjou that in their return from hence homeward they shall pass unto Tours and particularly inquire into this fact and by Authority of this Assembly shall pass Sentence on them and all their Charges shall be defrayed by that said Church and they shall make report of their duty herein either in Person or by Letters unto the next National Synod 11. For the Province of Higher Languedoc Monsieur John Gigord Pastor and Professor of Divinity in the Church and University of Montpellier and John Bansillon Pastor of the Church in Aiguemortes together with Peter de Massanes Councillor for the King and General in the Court of Assistants at Montpellier and Elder of that Church and Henry de Farrell Lord of St. Privat Elder in the Church of Usez 12. For the Province of Sevennes and Gevaudan Monsieur John Bony Pastor in the Church of Sauve together with James de Combier Lord Baron of Fonds and of Serignac Elder in the Church of Juissac and Peter de Sduorin Lord of Pomaret and of St. Andrew de Valborgne Elder in the Church of the same place who presented Letters from Monsieur John Fitz Pastor in the Church of St. John of Gardenengue excusing his absence by reason of sickness befallen him in his Journey which excuse being warrantable was accepted by this Assembly Since there arrived Monsieur Esaiah du Marez Pastor of the Church of Alez who being substituted in his stead and tendering the Act of Substitution unto this Synod he was immediately admitted 12. For the Province of Provence Monsieur Samuel Toussain Pastor in the Church of Luc with Balthazar Geronte Lord of Verages Elder in the Church of Aiguieres 13. For the Province of Dolphiny Mr. Paul Guyon Pastor in the Church of Dieu le Fit and Denys Bouteroue Pastor in the Church of Grenoble together with James de Veze Lord of la Lo Elder in the Church of Montlimart and Francis de la Combe Elder in the Church of St. Marcellin 14. For the Province of Burgundy Lyonnois Beaâ—jolois Brosse and Gex Monsieur Peter Colinet Pastor of the Church of Paray in Charolois and Peter Eliot Pastor of the Church of Arnay le Duc together with John de Jaucour Lord of Villarnou Elder in the Church of Avalon and John Grace Elder in the Church of Lion 15. For the Province of Normandy Monsieur Benjamin Banage Pastor of the Church at Karentan and Samuel de l'Escherpiere Lord of la Riviere Pastor in the Church of Rouen together with Paul du Vivier Lord of Beaumont Elder in the Church of Bayeux and James le Noble Lord of la Leau Elder in the Church of Dies 16. For the Province of Orleans Berry Blezois c. Monsieur Daniel Jamett Pastor of the Church of St Amand in Bourbonnois and Samuel de Chambaran Pastor of the Church of l'Orges and Marchenoir together with Lewes de Courcillon Lord of d'Angeau Elder in the said Church and James de Brissay Lord of Jenonville Elder in the Church of Gergeau 17. There appeared also in this Assembly Stephen Chesneverd Lord of la Millitiere General Deputy of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom who was admitted and had both his deliberative and decisive Votes granted him CHAP. II. An Order about Letters of Deputation See the third Synod of Rochel Art 1. after the choice of the Moderator 2. Vitré Art 1. after the Roll. 1. ALL the Provinces for the future are enjoyned to express the proper names and surnames of the Pastors and Elders deputed by them unto these National Synods and to specifie that particular place wherein they exercise their respective Offices And whereas that failure observed by former National Synods about Submission and Obedience is still found wanting in several Letters of Deputation from divers Provinces it is ordained that it shall be promised in express terms without any condition or modification whatsoever unto all things which shall be determined and decreed by these National Synods CHAP. III. Vrgent Matters 2. THE Church of Paris excused its Consistory and Monsieur du Moulin one of their Pastors about his absence from this Assembly tho' nominated thereunto by the Synod of the Isle of France and offered that if he might have speedy notice of it and this Assembly judged it needful he should yet come unto them But upon debate it was found utterly inconvenient for the said Monsieur du Moulin to appear in person among us or that the cause of his trouble should be examined and judged by this Assembly this being no proper place for its tryal for by such an Anticipation we should imbroil our selves with the Civil Magistrates wherefore the excuses both of the Consistory of that Church and of the said Sieur du Moulin were accepted 3. The Letters of the Lords Dukes of Rohan and Sully and from the Lord du Plessis Marli were received and read in this Assembly all tending to assure the Churches of this Kingdom of their holy Resolution immovably to
all humility submitting to his Majesty's good Pleasure and hoping that he will be graciously pleased to permit our ancient establish'd Order to take place doth earnestly intreat the Lord Commissioner to present our most humble Petitions unto his Majesty that he would be pleased to grant that our next National Synod may be held at the end of three Years in the Town of Aâ—anson in the Province of Normandy 8. Hereafter no Monies belonging unto the Churches shall be diverted to the printing of any Books unless such as shall be written by express Order of our National Synods 9. The Deputies unto this Synod having been on their Journey hither put unto extraordinary Expences by reason of the Contagion which reigneth universally in all parts of the Kingdom this Assembly exhorts all the Provinces to have respect unto it and therefore have rated the Charges of every day's Travel going and coming at an hundred Sous which is eight Shillings and eight Pence per diem 10. The Province of Burgundy having made report of the deplorable Necessities whereunto the Ministers and Pastors of Churches in the Colloquy of Gex are reduced for want of the Monies granted heretofore by his Majesty's Bounty for their Maintenance not one of their People contributing any thing towards their Subsistence This Assembly touched with a just Resentment of such base Ingratitude doth injoin all the Churches of that Colloquy to return unto their Duty and maintain their own Pastors or else they shall be deprived of the Ministry of the Blessed Gospel of our Lord Jesus and this according to the 34th Canon in the first Chapter of our Discipline 11. Whenas the Lords General-Deputies shall assist in Person in these National Synods they shall take place above all the Deputies of the Provinces 12. The Synod enjoineth all the Provinces to distribute with their wonted Charity those supernumerary Portions attributed to them that they may redound unto the Benefit of the poorer Churches and of the more necessitous Ministers 13. The Consistory of the Church of Paris is ordered to administer the accustomed Oaths unto the Lords General-Deputies immediately upon their being accepted by his Majesty and to keep by them a Copy of their Warrant 14. The Lord Commissioner remonstrated that through the Prerogatives of Precedency claimed in the Churches of Noblemens Houses divers Quarrels had arisen and several Murders had been committed therefore his Majesty hath ordained That in such Places where the Publick Worship of God according to our Religion is exercised the Proprietors of those Houses may not under colour of that Propriety pretend to any Place of sitting than is otherwise due unto them by reason of the Dignity of their Birth or the Honour of their Offices and forbids all Ministers to pray for them in Publick by their particular Names or Qualities Whereupon his Lordship the Commissioner being intreated that after we had prayed for his Majesty it might be lawful for us in general terms to pray for those Lords under whose Justice the Church of that Place was gathered He replied that he would in no wise hinder it 15. The Deputies for the Province of Sevennes may receive their part of the Monies granted us by his Majesty's great Liberality for the defraying of our necessary Expences in this Synod without their having recourse unto the Lord of Candall's Deputy for it provided that they be accountable for that Sum so received unto their Province And all the other Provincial Deputies may likewise do the same if they please 16. After many and divers Delays and Shiftings this Assembly being at last come to a Treaty with Sir John Palot Counsellor and Secretary to the King about the Monies claimed by the Pastors of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom from him the said Palot for which a Suit was brought against him before his Majesty's most honourable Privy-Council and divers preparatory Decrees had out against him This Assembly hath commissionated and deputed the Lords Marquess of Clermont and Galland General-Deputies of our Churches the Lord of Candall Receiver-General of the Monies granted by his Majesty's great Bounty unto these Churches the Lords Banage and de Champvernon Pastors De Maschelieres Dupuy Gilbert and Beraud Elders and have given them full Power to treat with the said Sir J. Palot about the Monies so claimed by our Pastors on such Conditions and Clauses as they shall judg most advantagious unto our Pastors aforesaid and to sign Contracts and Articles of Agreement before Publick Notaries this Assembly promising that they will stand to approve and ratify whatever shall be so determined by the said Lords Commissioners 17. This tenth day of October in the presence of the said Lords Commissioners before-named by this Assembly to treat with the before-named Sieur Palot upon the Suit commenc'd against him for Monies claimed by our Churches from him After that the Contract pass'd by the said Lords was read in the Assembly it was agreed to approved and signed by the Moderator Assessor and Scribes thereof And there having been a thousand Livers promised unto the Lord Malat by a separate Act and with which he remained fully satisfied he was duly discharged of those Powers formerly given him for prosecution of the said Palot and lie shall deliver into the Hands of the Lords General-Deputies all the Papers Decrees and Memoirs in his custody concerning this Affair 18. The Lord of Candall having received from the said Sir John Palot the Sum of eight thousand Livers in pursuance of the Agreement made with him the said Sum shall be paid out in that manner as hath been ordered by this Assembly Nor may the Deputies of the Provinces lay any Claim or Pretence whatsoever of Right to the receiving of the said Monies 19. This Assembly authorized the Consistory of the Church of Paris to treat with the Lord Mallet and to discharge him from all Prosecutions of the Sieur Palot and to satisfy him for his past Travel and Pains to the Sum of thousand Livers which shall be paid him by the Lord of Candall and this in full of all Demands Debts Dues or Pretensions whatsoever either for himself or his late deceased Uncle the Lord Mallet the said Mallet bringing in an Inventory unto the Lords General-Deputies and depositing it with them of all Papers Decrees and Memoirs in his keeping concerning this Affair CHAP. XXIII Particular Matters Article 1. MR. * * * He is called in another Copy Lavent in a third Lavand Laurence heretofore Pastor in the Province of Bearn presenting himself in this Assembly with an Attestation of his Life Carriage and Conversation for these two Years now last past and most humbly and importunately petitioning to be restored unto the Holy Ministry This Assembly did not judg his Request meet to be granted but advised him to apply himself to some other Calling than the Ministry of the Gospel and to use such means for a Livelihood as the Providence of God may trace out and direct
the Church of Rome in the Article of Justification 17. The Dutchess of Tremoville appears in the Synod Differences between two Pastors and a Church made up 21. A Church Projector Censured 27. Chap. XII Of General Matters A Decree against Swearing of young Scholars 2. All Deeds and Evidences belonging to particular Churches carefully to be preserved 3. No Canon to be made about things indifferent 6. Care for the Redemption of poor Captives in Turkey 7. A Canon against Independents 9. Chap. XIII The Heads and Articles of Agreement between the Presbyterians and Independents Chap. XIV Books and Manuscripts against Original Sin Censured Act 10. Of General Matters An Act against any manner of Worship yielded to the Popish Host when carried in Procession 11. An Act for a National Fast 12. Chap. XV. Millitiere and his Business before the Synod His Excommunication Particular matters 1. The Province of Normandy may not be divided into two 11. Mr. Drelincourt hath the Thanks of the Synod for his Book against the Worship of the Virgin Mary 18. A poor Minister and Emeritus relieved but with a Check 23. The Case of Mr. Arnaud a Persecuted Minister 24. An Account of Mr. Blondel his Works Office and the Synod's Honour for him 26. Monsieur Gauter Compiles the Canons of the National Synods into one Body and applieth them to the Canons of the Discipline 28. Monsieur Catelon doth the same 29. Chap. XVI Of Vniversities Care taken for the Vniversity of Montauban and the other Vniversities 1. The Province of Bearn Exposed for neglect of their Duty and Promise 2. The Generosity of a Professor in Divinity 10. An Ordinance of the Synod to several Ministers and Professors to compleat Monsieur Chamier's Works and to Publish their own 23. The Contribution of the Provinces to the several Vniversities 25.6.7.8 Chap. XVII Accompts of the Vniversities Chap. XVIII An Act for calling the next National Synod Chap. XIX A Decree about the Validity of the Synodical Acts. Chap. XX. The Roll of Apostate and Deposed Pastors Chap. XXI Remarks upon some of the Deputies to this Synod D. Blondel c. THE Synod of Charenton 1644. and 1645. The 28th Synod SYNOD XXVIII 1644. 1645. In the Name of God Amen Acts of the Eight and Twentieth National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France Assembled by His Majesty's Permission at Charenton St. Maurice near Paris on Monday the Six and Twentieth Day of December 1644. and ended Thursday the Six and Twentieth Day of January 1645. CHAP. I. 1. Monsieur Drelincourt Pastor of the Church of Paris opened the Sessions with Prayer and then the Lord Marquis of Clermont General Deputy Presented the Writ given forth by His Majesty's Command for calling the Synod The Tenour of which is as followeth THis day being the Twelfth of February 1644. The King being then at Paris upon the most humble Petition of his Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion to permit them the Calling and Holding of a National Synod there having been none since that of Alanson in the year 1637. His Majesty by the advice of the Queen-Regent His most Honoured Lady and Mother desiring to Gratifie and Treat Favourably His said Subjects hath permitted and doth permit them the Convocation of a National Synod in December next at Charenton but with this Condition that they Treat in it of none other matters but of those which be allowed them by Their Majesties Edicts and that the Commissioner whom His Majesty shall please to appoint be Personally present in the said Synod as hath been accustomed In Witness whereof His Majesty hath Commanded me to Issue out this present Writ which he hath Signed with His own Hand and caused to be Counter-signed by me His Councellor and Secretary of State and of His Commands Signed in the Original LOVIS And a little lower Phelippeaux 2. There met in the said Assembly with Letters of Commission which were read by my Lord le Coq Elder in the Church of Paris sitting at the Table together with another Elder the Sieur Caillard who were both Chosen by Common Suffrages unto this Office these Persons hereafter named Article 1. For the Province of Anjou Monsieur Isaac Pelletier Pastor of the Church of Vandome and Stephen le Vacher Pastor of l' Isle Bouchard together with the Sieurs George Raboteau and Joseph Roisay Advocates and Elders in the Church of Previlly Article 2. For the Province of the Isle of France Monsieur David Blondel Minister of God's Holy Word and formerly Pastor of the Church of Houdan but now residing in Paris by express Order of his Provincinal Synod and of this Assembly and Charles Drelincourt Pastor of the Church of Paris and Theodorus le Coq Elder of the said Church He was alone because the Lord had called home unto himself the Sieur John Bazin Elder of the said Church who was joyned in Commission with him Article 3. For the Province of Normandy the Sieurs Benjamin Basnage Pastor of the Church of Ste. Mere Eglise John Maximilian de L'Angle Pastor of the Church of Rovan Daniel Guesdon Elder of the same Church and Isaac Caillard Elder in the Church of Alanson Article 4. For the Province of Dolphiny the Sieurs Francis Murat another Copy calls him de Maras Pastor of the Church of Grenoble Simon Coin Pastor of the Church of Bessey Peter du Clog Esq Lord of Chastillon and du Serres Elder in the Church of Veyne and David Albert Elder in the Church of Brianâ—on Article 5. For the Province of Sévennes the Sieurs Nicholas Blane Pastor of the Church of Sumaine Anthony Button Pastor of the Church of Alez the Noble John de Bringniere Lord de la Roque Elder in the Church of la Salle and David Rouviere Doctor of Physick Elder of the Church of Alez Article 6. For the Province of Bearn the Sieurs John de la Fitte Pastor of the Church of Pau and the Noble Alexander de la Fibre Baron of Riquam and Lord of Cadellon Elder in the Church of Couches Article 7. For the Province of Lower Guyenne the Sieurs James Privas Pastor of the Church of Ste. Foy Simon de Goyon Pastor of the Church of Bourdeaux the Sieurs de Cazes and de Sauvage tho' they were Deputed by their Synod appeared not the Cognisance whereof was remanded back unto that Province Article 8. For the Province of Xaintonge the Sieurs Philip Vincent Pastor of the Church of Rochel Theophilus Rossel Pastor of the Church of Xaintes Stephen Soulard Advocate in the Parliament of Bourdeaux Elder in the Church of Xaintes and Daniel Texeron Lord of Cresper Counsellor nominated by His Majesty for the Circuit of St. John d' Angeley and Elder of the Church in that Town Article 9. For the Province of Vivaretz the Sieurs Alexander de Vinay Pastor of the Church of Annonay Paul Annard another Copy calls him Accaurat Pastor of the Church gathered near Privas James Gautier Esq Lord of Gourdanel Elder in the
Church of Beaulieu and Abraham Homel Elder of the Church of Soyon Article 10. For the Province of Berry the Sieurs John Taby Pastor of the Church of la Charité Daniel Jurieu Pastor of the Church of Mer Henry de Chartres Esq Lord of Clebes Elder in the Church of Marchenoir and Simon Milhommeau Lord of Barandieres Bayliff of Chastillon upon the Loin and Elder of the Church in that Town Article 11. For the Province of Poictou the Sieurs James Cottiby Pastor of the Church of Poictiers John Chabrol Pastor of the Church of Touars Sir Charies Gourjaut Knight Lord of Panieure Elder in the Church of Mougon and Peter Pesseurs Attorney Fiscal of the Dutchy of Touars and Elder of the Church in that City Article 12. For the Province of Bretaign the Sieurs John Boucherean Lord of La Masche Pastor of the Church in Nantes and Samuel de Goullaines Esq Lord of the Landoviniere Elder in the Church of Viellevigne Article 13. For the Province of Higher Guyenne and Higher Languedoc the Sieurs Anthony Garrissoles Pastor of the Church of Montauban and Professor of Divinity in that University Peter Ollier Pastor of the said Church Substituted in the place of Monsieur John Grasset Pastor of the Church of Viane who was hindered by reason of Sickness Anthony Ligonuiere Councellor and Secretary to the King Elder in the Church of Castres and John Darassus Councellor for the King in the presidial Court of Montauban and Elder of the said Church Article 14. For the Province of Lower Languedoc the Sieurs John de Croy Pastor of the Church of Beziers Abraham de Lare Pastor of the Church of Cauvisson the Noble Mark Dardouin Lord of la Caumette Elder of the Church of Nismes and the Noble James de Brueis Lord of Bourdie Elder in the Church of Blanzac Article 15. For the Province of Burgundy the Sieurs Peter Bollenat Pastor of the Church Assembling at Vau Salomon Roy Advocate in the Parliament of Dijon and Elder of the Church of Bussy and Francis Armet Advocate in Parliament and Elder of the Church of Loches the Sieur John Viridet was hindered by a very sore Sickness from coming unto the Synod Article 16. For the Province of Provence the Sieurs Francis Vallanson Pastor of the Church de la Coste and the Noble John de Castellane Lord of Caillez and Rigan Elder in the Church of Manosques 3. The Sieurs Drelincourt Pastor and le Coq Elder of the Church of Paris were chosen together with the Sieur Caillard Elder of the Church of Alanson and the Lord Deputy-General to gather the Suffrages of the Deputies in this Assembly which were taken in written Billets by each of them for Electing the Moderator Assessor and Scribes which was done Successively those Officers being Chosen one after another and by plurality of Billets Monsieur Garrissoles was chosen Moderator Monsieur Basnage Assessor and Monsieur Blondel and Monsieur le Coq Scribes and took their Seats in Order as they were Chosen CHAP. II. As soon as these Officers of the Synod were chosen the Lord of Cumont Councellor for the King in His Council of State and Parliament of Paris Deputed by His Majesty presented Letters Patents which did Commissionate him to Represent His Majesty in this Synod These being read were inserted into the Register of the Acts of this Synod The Tenor and Form of which is as followeth 4. A Copy of the King's Letters Patents containing His Majesty's Commission to Monsieur de Cúmont Lord of Boisgrollier LOUIS BY the Grace of God King of France and Navarré To Our Beloved and Trusty Councellor in Our Councel of State and Court of Parliament at Paris the Lord of Cúmont Greeting We having Granted our Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion to hold a National Synod in the Town of Charenton near Paris on the Six and Twentieth day of December next coming Composed of all the Deputies of the Provinces of Our Kingdom to Treat of Affairs concerning their Religion and being to make choice of a meet Person and of approved Fidelity to Vs who may preside in the said Assembly as Our Commissioner and Represent Vs in it We knowing the Services you have rendered Vs in sundry Honourable Imployments with which We had intrusted you which you have most Worthily and Faithfully discharged We thought We could not choose a fitter Person than your self being well assured that you will continue the Testimonies of your Affection unto Vs and Our Service as aforesaid Wherefore by Advice of the Queen-Regent Our most Honoured Lady and Mother We have Commissionated and Deputed you and We do Commissionate and Depute you by these Presents Signed with Our Hand to go unto the Town of Charenton and to sit in the said Synod there Assembled and to Represent Our Royal Person in it and to Propose and Determine whatever matters We shall give you in Command according to those Memoirs and Instructions We have now delivered unto you and you are to take heed that none other Affairs be there debated but such as ought to be in those Assemblies and which are permitted by Our Edicts And in case the Members of the said Synod should attempt to do any thing contrary thereunto you shall hinder them and interpose therein with Our Authority and give Vs speedy and timely notice of it that such course may be taken to prevent those inconveniencies which would arise as We shall Judge to be most convenient For the doing whereof We give you Power Commission and special Commandment by these presents Given at Paris the 28th of November in the year of Grace One Thousand Six Hundred and Forty Four and of Our Reign the Second Signed in the Original LOUIS And a little lower Phelippeaux The Speech of the Lord Commissioner unto the Synod together with his Propositions and Complaints made in Their Majesties Name against divers Churches Messieurs AS it is a very great Honour to me to be Commissionated by His Majesty to assist in your Synod and to acquaint you with His Will and Pleasure so also have I a great deal of Joy and Satisfaction to behold this Illustrious Assembly chosen out of all the Provinces of this Kingdom and that I can tell you by word of Mouth what was expresly Charged and Commanded me by the King and the Queen His Mother which is to assure you of Their Good Will unto you and Protection of you and of all your Churches and of the intire Execution of the Edicts of Pacification so long as you continue your selves within those bounds of Duty Subjection and Fidelity which you owe unto Their Majesties they being the Higher Powers set over you by God intrusted with the Supream Authority and your Lot and Portion being the Honour of Obedience to Them whereunto you stand Obliged by your Birth the Dictates of your own Conscience and the Favours you continually receive from Their Majesties and by all kinds of Considerations both General and
recover they shall however be condemn'd unto the Gallies and all their Goods confiscated You may see by this to what a woful pass we are reduced till the Lord our good God shall be pleased to turn the Wheel better for our advantage Our whole Family here salutes you We are wholly busied in gathering in the Vintage but never with less pleasure inasmuch as we know not for whom we toil our selves Monsieur Ancillon hath left Hannaw for Berlin whither he is called to be their fourth Minister Madamoiselle Morgue with two of her Sisters are gotten safely out of the Kingdom after that they had been hid from the Dragoons Farewel Octob. 2. 1686. I am Yours E. N. B. Monsieur Chevenis who is mentioned in this Letter was a venerable and ancient Gentleman a person of eminent Prudence illustrious for Learning and Godliness and Counsellor to the King in the Court of Metz. He persisted faithful to death and when dead they dragged most inhumanly his dead Carkass upon a Hurdle and buried it in a Dunghil He hath a Brother a very Reverend Minister of the Gospel refugied in this City of London SECT XLVIII Whil'st the Dragoons do thus ravage and ruinate the Provinces causing Terrors and Desolations where ever they come Orders are dispatched to all the Frontier Countries and Sea-port Towns strictly to guard the Passages and to stop all persons who are departing the Kingdom So that there was no hope lest of saving themselves by flight None could pass unless he brought with him a Certificate from the Priest of his Parish or the Bishop of the Diocess in which he lived that he was a Roman Catholick Others are put in Prison and treated like Traytors to their King and Country All Ships of Foreigners lying in the Ports and Havens of the Kingdom are diligently searcht for Passengers the Coasts Bridges Passages unto Rivers and the Highways are all strictly guarded night and day and the neighbouring States are imperiously required not to harbour any more Fugitives and to dismiss or send back again such as they had already received and Attempts were also made to seize and carry away some who had escaped into foreign Countries I have lying by me a Letter from Geneva giving a doleful Account of the poor Refugees who had fled thither Possibly the Reader will not be displeased at the reading of it From Geneva Nov. 1685. SIR IT 's a good while ago that the French Protestants began to secure themselves both here and in Switzerland yet it was but very slowly e'er they retired hither there being not on this side of France those conveniencies for them as in England and Holland However their number increased with their Persecutions and this Honour is due unto Geneva that tho' at first whil'st we supposed there was not an indispensable necessity upon our Protestant Brethren for their flight we seemed somewhat cold as to their reception yet having at last too great cause to believe it I may speak it without vanity that Geneva exercised a charity towards these Fugitives which will recommend her to posterity I shall give you an undeniable proof hereof and that presently Ever since the first Troubles at Montauban and the great consternation of the other Provinces Geneva never failed to receive and relieve with Monies and other Supplies all that had recourse unto her and for more than two Months together there passed not a day over our heads in which Geneva did not daily receive and supply 30 50 80 90 Personâ— of all Ages of both Sexes and of all Conditions But as we had an occasion of satisfaction from the Charity of Geneva so we must also avow that it was utterly impossible not to be affected with such a multitude of pitiful Objects as daily presented themselves unto us and especially since the passages were guarded some arriving disguis'd on foot in a deplorable condition who would they have left their God might have been as to this World very happy Women and Maids came to us in the Habits of Men Children in Coffers packt up as Cloaths others without any other precaution at all than in their Cradles tied about their Parents necks some passing this others that way all stopping either at the Gates or Churches of the City with Cries and Tears of Joy and Sorrow mingled together some demanding where are our Fathers and Mothers others where are our Wives and Children not knowing where to find them nor having learnt any News of them from the time they departed from their Houses In short every one was so affected with these miserable Objects that it was impossible to refrain from weeping Some had no sooner passed the first Barricado but prostrating themselves upon their Knees sung a Psalm of Thanksgiving for their happy deliverance tho' poor Creatures they had not wherewithal to get themselves a Meal's meat and might have gone to Bed that Night supperless had not the Lord of his great goodness extraordinarily provided for them Thus we spent two Months every day affording us new Adventures fresh and eminent Examples of Self-denial and that divers-ways I shall give you a few Instances Among others a Lady of great quality the Mother of ten Children whose Husband Monsieur d' Arbaud had revolted from the truth at Nismes this Lady I say forsook eighteen thousand Livers of yearly Revenue without ever having been able to make a Purse to defray her Journey and maugre all the Cares and Endeavours of her Husband and the Bishop brought with her nine of her Children and the youngest of them about seven Years of age yet when she came here she had but two Crowns left her to maintain herself and them It was but two days since that I bad Adieu to my Lord the Baron of Aubaye who forsook above five and twenty thousand Livers of yearly Revenue for the Gospel and all his Stock was but thirty Pistols I gave Letters of Recommendation to the Baron of Temelac who is banisht for eight and twenty Years This Nobleman forsook eight thousand Livers of good Rents and departed hence with a very small Supply to seek some Employment where ever he can meet it for his subsistence My Lord de * * * * * * One of the mostillustrious Noblemen of Languedoc Bougi departed hence some few days ago with eight or ten Gentlemen for Germany I cannot reckon unto you an infinite number of other persons whose Names are unknown to me Six or seven came hither about five days since who seemed to be the Servants of a Commander of Malta bearing upon his Breast the great Cross There came also a far greater Troop who met at the Passes a multitude of poor People with their Wives and Children that had been stopt by the Guards these force a passage for them with themselves and conveyed them with their Baggage hither in safety The City of Lyons hath given illustrious Examples of remorse of Conscience in particular no longer than
Such as marry within the Degrees prohibited by God's Word shall not be admitted to the Lord's Table 26. The Revelation not to be expounded without leave from the Colloquy or Synod 27. Such as marry their Children to Papists shall be suspended 28. Cousin-Germans may marry 32. Ministers to be in the Armies 33. Vmpires among Protestants to compose Differences 35. Chap. V. Of Appeals The Case of Monsieur D'Amours a Minister 3. Ou Puy an Erroneous Minister deposed restored again unto his Office 6. Chap. VI. Of Particular Matters De L'Escale an Heretick censured 1. A censured Minister restored 4. The Case of two deposed Ministers revised 5 6. Letters from the Synod to the Church of Metz 8. Letters from Sedan unto the Synod 9. The Petition of a deposed Minister for his Restoration rejected 13. Letters from the Countess of Laval to the Synod 18. Letters from the Synod to the Duke De la Force and Parliament of Pau 19. Cahier to be declared publickly an Apostate Minister 21. M. De Lessars a poor Minister freed from a Bond of Ten Crowns 22. Monsieur De L'Espine Emeritus 23. A deposed Minister not restored 25. A penitent deposed Minister restored 26. Olaxa a deposed Minister how to be dealt with 28. The Case of Monsieur D'Espoir a Minister 30. Chap. VII Roll of Deposed Ministers A Remark upon Cahier the Apostate THE Synod of Saumur 1596. Synod XIV SYNOD XIV Acts of the National Synod held at SAUMUR the Fifth Day of June in the Year of our Lord One Thousand five hundred ninety and six CHAP. I. Of the DEPVTIES Monsieur De la Touche chosen President Monsieur Pacard Assessor And Messieurs Vincent and Chalmot Scribes At this Synod there appeared these Pastors and Elders hereafter named FOR Brittany Master Peter Merlin Minister of the Church and Family of the Lady of Laval and Monsieur de Landauran Elder of the said Church Mr. Rotan was born at Geneva Minister first at Rochel and then at Castres and there he died For the Higher Languedoc and the Higher Guyenne Master John Baptista Rotan sub-delegated by Monsieur Balarand who was deputed by the Provincial Synod held at Figeac in May last 1596. But because of his Sickness he could not be present in the Assembly and the said Monsieur Rotan was accepted in that Quality but with this Proviso That it should not be made a Precedent and the Provinces are charged to acquaint their respective Deputies with it that they ought not to delegate another in their slead I cannot pass by Monsieur Rotan without a Remark which may be read at large in Monsieur D' Aubigny's Histoire Univers liv 4. cap. 11. liv 5. cap. 2. He and one Marlas who afterward revolted with de Serres Cayer the Apostates and de Vaux Ministers finding no Gains nor Preferments to be had in the Reformed Churches of France projected for their own Advancement the Re-union of the two Religions Protestant and Popish they communicate their Design to the Lord of Sansy who afterward turn'd Papist to du Fay Grand-son of the Chancellor L' Hospital to Benoist Parson of St. Eustache to Perron Bishop of Eureux to Dr. Chauveau and to Berangé a Dominiean Fryar and to the Arch-Bishop of Bourges Rotan got himself deputed with some others to the King at Mantes in the Year 1595 and there promised that in a Publick Dispute he would subtilly betray the Cause of the Reformed unto the Romanists But when it come to the push whether it were that out of vanity he would not yield or through remorse of Conscience he drew back and feigned himself sick Monsieur Beraud Pastor of the Church of Montauban entred the Lists in his stead and stoutly maintained the Truth against the Adversaries about the sufficiency of the Scriptures Monsieur de Vaux who was brought off with three Bills one of Two thousand five hundred Crowns and the other two of lesser Sums falls into terror and horror of mind hath no rest night nor day and under this great anguish discovers the whole Plot for their Prevarication unto several Persons of Note and Quality but with dreadful Cries and Groans yet withal assureth them that God will have mercy upon his poor Soul notwithstanding the greatness of his sin for he should die very suddenly which he did the next Lord's Day For having preached to his Congregation and supped with some Friends he took a solemn leave of them and leading his Wife into his Bed-Chamber he pronounced this Stave of the Fifty first Psalm Lo also Lord thou lovest Truth within Within the Heart within the Soul sincerity Therefore to me so gracious thou hast been To make me know thy inward Wisdom's verity And immediately died in the very place Monsieur D' Aubigni relateth how that he unbosom'd himself unto him with many sighs and having confessed his heinous Offence he delivered to him the three Bills which after his Death he gave back again unto his Heirs For Poitou Master Dominick de Losse Lord de la Touche Minister of the Church of Mouchant and St. Fulgent Master Francis L'Oystau Minister of the Church and Family of the Lord Duke la Tremouille and Mons de Fontaines Elder of the said Church Their Temple in which they worshipped God was at Melle For the Lower Guyenne Monsieur de St. Hilary Minister of the Church of Nerac without an Elder Monsieur de Chastelet was excused upon the account of his sickness and the Provinces shall be informed that in case of sickness they ought to substitute another as also to depute unto these Synods one or two Elders For Orleans Berry c. Master John Vian Minister of the Church of Angeau Master Adam D' Orival Minister of the Church of Sancerre and Master Giles d' Albert Junior Citizen of Blois deputed by the said Province For Dolphiny Provence and the Principality of Orange Master Daniel Chamier Minister of the Church of Montlimart Master John de Serres Minister of the Church of Aurenges and there was joyned with him Monsieur Hulson an Elder of that Church but thô he was chosen by the said Province yet he was not present at this Synod For Lower Languedoc Master Laurence Brunier Minister of the Church of Vsez and Theodorick de Combez Baron of Fons Elder of that Church For Normandy Master Giles Gautier Lord of la Bansenie Minister of the Church of Caen and Master Robert du Perron Elder in the Church of Rouan For Lyonnois Forest and Beaujolois Master Lewis Tourquet Elder in the Church of Lyons For Anjou Touraine c. Master Felix du Tronchay Lord of la Noue Minister in the Church of Beaufort Master Francis Greliere Lord of Macefer Minister in the Church of Saumur and Master Briant Niotte and Master Peter Coignet Lord of la Plante Elders in the said Church of Sanmur For Xaintonge Augoulmois and Aunix Master George Pacart Minister of Rochefoucald and Monsieur Chalmot Elder in the Church of
a Professorship in the Universities determined 6. Pecuniary matters may be determined by another Province 8. two Deputies shall be sent and no more from contending Churches 12. Such at Marry Popish Wives shall bear no Office in the Churches 13. Two Canons about Monkes 15 16. The Baptism of Midwives null 18. Three cases about Marriage 19 20 21. Orders about Scholars Pensioners 24 Elenchus novae Doctrinae supprest 25. Professors of Divinity shall finish their course in three years 31. Cases about accused persons 37 39. Chap. VI. Of Accompts A Dividend of 135000 Crowns among the Churches and Universities and General Deputies Chap. VII Other Accompts of Moneys to be paid by the Lord of Candal Chap. VIII Memorials and Instructions given to the Lords General Deputies Chap. IX Appeals Two divided Churches healed 1 2. The Appeal of a Deposed Minister rejected 15. A great contention composed 19. Chap. X. Particular matters 3. Non resident Pastors ordered to their Churches 1 2. A great contention composed 6. Monsieur Primrose Pastor of the Church of Bourdeaux recalled into Scotland 9. Dissentions in a Church made up 19. A case of Witchcraft 21. A case about a Donative 22. Moneys of two Churches for the Exiles of Salluces 23 24. A case about a Childs Baptism 35. The Insolency of a Capuchin Fryer 37. A poor Minister relieved 39. Censures taken off from a Church and Minister 43. A Petition to the King 52. Chap. XI Particular matters relating to the Isle of France Chap. XII The Roll of Deposed Ministers Chap. XIII Orders about Legacies Chap. XIV Political Acts the King's Letter to the National Synod 4. Chap. XV. The Lord of Candals Accompt The Third Synod of ROCHELL SYNOD XVIII 1607. In the Name of God Amen Acts of the National Synod of the Reformed Churches in the Kingdom of France held at Rochell the first day of March and continued till the two and twentieth day of April in the Year of our Lord One thousand six hundred and seven CHAP. I Names of the Deputies and Synodical Officers Monsieur Beraut chosen Moderator Monsieur Merlin Assessor Scribes Monsieur Andrew Rivet and Monsieur Roy. THERE appeared in it as Deputies from their several Provinces the Pastors and Elders hereafter named For the Province of Xaintonge Aunix and Augoulmois Monsieur George Pacard Minister in the Church of Rochefoucaud Master James Merlin one of the Pastors of the Church of Rochel Monsieur Arthur de Partenay Lord of Genouille Elder in the Church of Tonney-boutonne and Mr. Daniel le Roy Elder in the Church of Xaintes with Letters from the said Province Mr. Gigord was a man of most singular Piety holy in his Life happy in his Death He died full of Peace and Joy in Believing ravished with the consolations of Gods Spirit For the Province of Lower Languedoc Master Christopher de Barjac Lord of Gasques Pastor of the Church of Vigan and Master John Gigord Pastor and Professor in the Church of Montpellier and Tristram de Brueis Lord of St. Chappe Elder in the Church of Nismes and Stephen du Vergier Ordinary President in the Chamber of Accounts of Languedoc Elder in the Church of Montpellier with Letters of Commission from their Province For the Province of Orleans Berry Blesois and Nivernois Master Joachim du Moulin Pastor of the Church of Orleans and Master Nicholas Vignier Pastor of the Church of Blois together with the Lords Daniel de St. Quintin Baron of Bellet Elder in the Church of St. Amand and Michael de Launay Lord de Filaines Elder in the Church of Blois Mr. Joachim du Moulin was the godly Father of that excellent man of God Mr. Peter du Monlin impowered with authority from their Province For the Province of the Isle of France Picardy Champagne Brie and the Land of Chartres Master Francis de Lauberan Lord of Montigny Pastor of the Church of Paris and Master Tobias Yoland Pastor of the Church of Vitry le Francois and Paul de Charites Lord of Plessis Chennelle Elder of the Church of Chartres commissioned by Letters from their Province For the Province of Lower Guienne Perigord and Limousin Mr. Paul Baduel Minister of the Church of Castillon Mr. Gilbert Primrose Pastor of the Church of Bourdeaux together with John du Puis Lord of Cazett Elder of the Church of Castillon and Mr. Stephen Manial Elder of the Church of Bourdeaux For the Province of Anjou Touraine and the Maine Monsieur Abel Bede Pastor of the Church of Loudun and Master Peter Solomeau Pastor of the Church of Vandosme together with James Ridouett Esquire Lord of Sanzay Elder of the Church of Bauge and Bartholomew de Bruges Elder of the Church of Loudon For the Province of Higher Languedoc and Higher Guyenne Master Michael Beraud Pastor and Professor in the Church of Montauban Daniel Raphin Pastor of the Church of Realmont John de Periott Elder of the Church of Montauban and Peter Philippin Elder in the Church of St. Antonine For the Higher and Lower Vivaretz and Velay Monsieur John Valeton Pastor of the Church of Privas and Master Christopher Gammon Elder of the Church of Nonnay bringing with them Letters of excuse for not having sent the number of Deputies prescribed by the Canons of former Synods which were in no wise admitted and therefore the said Province was censured However their Deputies were received for this time This Assembly declaring it should not be made a president for future neglects as also that if in time coming they did not send the full number of four Deputies they should have no power of Voting and this in pursuance of what had been decreed in the National Synod of Gap For Provence Monsieur Daniel Chanforan Pastor of the Church de la Coste and Peter Texier Elder of the Church of Lormarin with Letters of excuse for not having sent the number above-mentioned which because of the paucity of Ministers in their Province was for this time only received And they were enjoined for the future to send four Deputies or to incorporate themselves with some other Province For the Province of Higher and Lower Poictou Master James Clemencean Minister and Pastor of the Church of Poictiers and Andrew Rivett Pastor of the Church of Touars together with Samuel Mauclerc Lord of Marconny Elder of the Church of Poire and Belleville and Monsieur Joseph des Fontaines Elder of the Church of Mesle Mr. Perriâ— writ the History of the Albingezses He dedicated the Second Part to the Duke of Candale Eldest Son of the Duke of Espernon who became a Protestant For the Province of Dolphiny Mr. John Paul Perrinâ— Pastor of the Church of Nians and John Vulson Lord de la Columbiere Pastor of the Church de la Mure together with Charles de Veze Lord of Coucy Elder of the Church de Dieu le fit and Lord of the said place and Francois de la Combe Elder of the Church of St. Marcellin For the Province of
broken with the din and complaints of their being surprized and of an usurped domination over Conscience and of reproaches for precipitancy and connivency as we are informed hath been the issue of that at Privas And in short we should think it best to leave your Confession alone immoveable and not as you often do dig it up and lay open this Foundation which though for the present it may be done with a good Intention and with laudable moderation yet may in after times produce a world of licentiousness Above all we most instantly request this of your Piety totally to extinguish those Accessory questions which being altogether needless and unprofitable do extreamly indanger Gods Church and are naturally apt to engender Heresies or Atheism among the ignorant people We very much fear that the Printing of Tilenus his book will be a great stumbling block and hindrance to this work and therefore we judged it necessary to obstruct the publication of its answer and are in great trouble what other lawful course we may take for the justifying of our Dear Brother whom he hath so grievously impeached However if it shall be thought good for the weal of the Church that he be silent and there be no more invectives or mutual recriminations left standing on the File we hope some other Expedients may be found out to salve the honour and the reputation of our Brother especially since the controversie is not about any point in it self fundamental which is to be defended but occasionally and in disputation where all sort of arguments and ways of proving though they be not always good and receiveable do not consequentially import a simple and absolute assertion because had it not been for their serviceableness to confirm the conclusions they had never been at all mentioned And we cannot think it any wise convenient to redeem the honour of a private dispute from the Laughter and Scorn of the Enemies of Truth by letting in upon us a swarm of perilous and curious Questions together with horrible scandals and scruples perplexing and tormenting Conscience Let 's labour rather to extirpate these animosities and to draw these divided Spirits nearer in love one unto the other And then the offendor who in our opinion cannot with any Conscience judge so unworthily of our Brother will be the first as in duty bound to acquit and clear him exchanging his Invectives into Brotherly admonitions We receive frequent and mournful relations of that accursed Practice of Duels yea and among persons of our Religion and tho we believe this violent and brutish Sin is so strongly rooted as to elude and reject all remedies yet because of its atrociousness and enormity we desire your holy Synod to consuls of the last and Soveraign Remedy even that dreadful power which the word of God hath given unto his Church to draws out the Spiritual Sword against such notorious delinquents without connivency dispensation or respect of persons that by its implacable severity against those daring Rebels the Lord blessing his own ordinance their feet which ran swiftly to shed innocent blood may be hereafter stopped and restrained At least let us weep and groan before the Lord that this evil may never be imputed to us that we may be delivered from the guilt of so much Blood as hath been wickedly spilt among us that it may never lie at our doors nor our Consciences may ever reproach us for having lent our heart or hands unto that murdering spirit and that we may never be marked with this brand of infamy which is peculiar to the enemies of God to have been Executioners of his vengeance upon themselves Finally most Honoured and Dear Brethren knowing the great care you have for us and how much you are allarumed with reports of Plots and Preparatives for War against us we give you to understand that through grace excepting Gods ordinary discipline of fears and threats he doth yet keep us in peace and lengthens out our tranquillity by which we are taught continually to conside in him who quickneth the dead and not to be puffed or lifted up with pride and carnal security but Religiously to improve our repose unto his service and glory and the general aid and benefit of all the Churches And we thank you heartily for your kind acceptance of our affection expressed in sending so great a number of your Scholars to Study in our University which is a very great honour to us and we shall do our utmost endeavours by all means to fit them for your future service by moulding them into the form of sound words and into that doctrine which is according to godliness weaning and withdrawing them as much as in us lieth from that vanity of Jesuitical knowledge wherein to our great grief so many gallant hopeful wits have through vain curiosity and affectation been wretchedly insnared especially in the endless Mazes and Labyrinths of Metaphysical terms and questions the true Siminaries of all novelties and heresies Help us as we shall you in united Prayers unto the throne of grace you have been exceeding helpful to us this way in our frequent distresses and we conserve the Memory thereof by us and ever shall as of a most pretious Jewel And may the most blessed God continue his divine grace and favours to you and us perfecting his strength in our infirmities uniting all our hearts in a perfect charity and grant us to keep the Faith unto the end and to finish our course with joy and to lay hold of Eternal Life and that we may all be to the praise and glory of his grace through our Lord Jesus Christ to whose power and Spirit we do with all our hearts recommend your holy Synod and all your Churches in general Subscribing our selves most sincerely Most Honoured and Dear Brethren Your most humble and most affectionate Brethren in the Lord the Pastors and Professors in the Church and University of Geneva and in their Names S. Goulart J. Diodati A Letter from the Lord of Plessis Marli unto the National Synod of Tonneins Sirs I Could not let the ' Deputies of this Province part from me without giving you assurance of my most humble and faithful service and to intreat you notwithstanding all the tricks and wickedness of this age to believe that I am speaking to you as one who is quitting this world and hath nothing left him to dispatch but his own Epitaph which through divine grace shall never give the lie to my past life and after all I shall never take my own private Interests for the Rule of my Life or actions nor so abound in my own sence as to counteract the common Resolutions of our Churches whose prudence I have always found safest because Conscience is its eye and guide Sirs All good men expect two principal blessings from your holy Synod the first is that you would be pleased by your Authority once for all to suppress those unnecessary Questions which trouble the
it his business to reconcile and settle them and afterward they shall be recommended unto their Province to give them a fixed Pastor And whereas they demand assistance from us towards the maintenance of their Minister all possible care also shall be taken herein for their full satisfaction 19. An Appeal was brought by the Lord of St. Stephens Baron of Gangers from the Judicial Sentence of the Colloquy of Sauve ratified by the Provincial Synod of Sevennes and Gevaudan held at Meyruez in the Moneth of July last by which the said Baron of Gangers was ordered publickly to be suspended from Communion at the Lords Table for the Injuries and Violencies done by him to Monsieur Coder Minister of the Church of Gangers and farther that if the said Lord continued to trouble the said Codur in the Exercise of his Ministry that then the Province would espouse his Quarrel and defend him by all lawful ways Ecclesiastical and Civil And in the same Appeal the Consuls and Inhabitants of Gangers did by their Deputies represent how that the same Synod had also in the same manner censured them for that they had given leave to the said Monsieur Codur to withdraw himself from them unto a Neighbour Church until such time as that the Synod had provided better for him And yet nevertheless they were enjoyned by the Synod to pay him continually his Stipend as if he were actually in service among them In short they demanded that the said Codur might be removed out of their Town and transplanted elsewhere The Appellants being called in and heard in all what they had to speak or offer and the Provincial Deputies of Sevennes in the reasons moving their Synod to pass such a Sentence on them and Monsieur Codur also being heard in his defence and pretended Justification and two Elders of the Church of Gangers with Letters from the Consistory requesting that the said Church might be no longer deprived of Gods Holy Word and Sacraments This Assembly ratified the Judicial Sentence given by the Synod of Meyruez as to the suspension of the Lord Baron of Gangers from the Lords Table and the Publication of it together with the censure past on the said Consuls and other the Inhabitants of Gangers as being Complices and Partners with their Lord in all his Violencies and Indignities used towards their Pastor Moreover it censureth the Consistory of the said Church for their Levity manifest enough by their Letters and Testimonials contradictory one unto another And as for Monsieur Codur to procure him peace and to effect he peace of the said Church of Gangers he shall be removed from the said Church and the Province of Sevennes are ordered either by their Synod or by he Colloquy of Anduze to settle him elsewhere and in order hereunto they shall be assembled before New-years day next coming till which time the said Church of Ganges shall duly pay him his Stipend and they shall also satisfie him for all his Arrearages fully unto this very day And whereas the said Monsieur Codur hath met with a world of Fatigues and Troubles by reason of his Imployment in Political Affairs to the great hinderance and unsuccessfulness of his Ministry he is intreated never any more to intangle himself with them nor to assist in Person for the future in any of those Political Assemblies And whereas the said Lord Baron of Gangers the Consuls and other Inhabitants of Gangers here present were exhorted to reconcile themselves with the said Monsieur Codur and the Sieur Codur reciprocally to forget the Injuries he had received and that they would mutually imbrace each other and live in an Holy Concord and Love this was freely and chearfully done by all Parties Whereupon this National Synod to strengthen and consolidate this Union and to conciliate them with those who were absent did take off the Suspension from die said Baron and restoreth him to the Peace and Communion of the Church and by this means all Processes both Civil and Criminal on all sides shall cease and never be used more 20. Monsieur Gallpin Judge of the City of Vsez appealed from the Synod of Lower Languedoc which had suspended the said Gallpin from the Lords Table and ordered that the said Suspension should be published in the Church Although this Affair be not of their Nature which according to the Cannons of our Church-Discipline ought to fall under the Cognisance of National Synods yet for procuring that sweet Blessing of Peace and for divers other Important Considerations This Assembly did enter upon the Debate thereof and accordingly judged that the Synod of Lower Languedoc had just cause for suspending the said Galpin from the Lord's Table and this not upon the account of his Office for which they did not in the least intermeddle with him but for that Reproach the said Galpin hath brought upon the Church very unseasonably by his Extravagant Actings against the Sieur Gondin Viguier Provost of the City of Vsez and for discovering himself by the by to be of another Religion than the Reformed of which he now makes profession However the Synod for divers reasons doth not think meet that his Suspension should be published And forasmuch as the principal end of this Assembly is to promote an Holy Union among all the Members of our Church and principally among Persons whom God hath in his Providence advanced unto publick Office and Honour The said Monsieur Galpin is exhorted to reconcile himself with Monsieur Gondin and both of them joyntly to take such Rules and Measures as may secure the Publick Peace and Tranquility of Gods Church in their respective Places and Callings And the said Galpin and Gondin having testified their acquiescence in this Decree they were both reconciled and promised to surcease all Law-Suits and Processes whatsoever and to live in Amity and Concord together and that in case they should act contrary to these their promises that they would submit themselves unto all Censures of the Church to suspension from the Sacraments yea and to Excommunication it self and that the Consistory and Colloquy of Vsez and the Synod of Lower Languedoc should with the highest Authority proceed against them Whereupon the Suspension and its publication decreed against the faid Galpin by the Synod of Lower Languedoc was taken off and he was immediately restored to the Peace and Communion of the Church 21. The Sieur Boulet appealed from the Synod of Lower Languedoc held at Vsez in March last because he having opposed the Election of Monsieur Astier to the Office of an Elder they had censured him This Assembly confirms the Judicial Sentence or the said Synod and doth grievously censure the said Boulet for retaining so long and notorious a passion contrary to the Laws of Christian Charity which forbid us to harbour Wrath and command us to exercise Love unto all Gods Children And Monsieur Astier also is severely reproved for expressing so much disrespect as he hath done unto
it necessary to make a Deputation unto His Majesty and voted the Sieurs de Bouteroue and de Baleines to carry their most Humble Petitions unto His Majesty who were charged with Letters and Instructions unto His Majesty and to the Chief Ministers of State CHAP. VII A Copy of the Councils Letter sent unto the King SIR The Synods Letter sent unto the King THE Sence and Experience we have of Your Majesties Royal Bounty unto our Churches and of their great Sufferings notwithstanding this your goodness through the Non-Execution of your Edicts in the Provinces of your Kingdom do compell us to depute unto Your Majesty the Sieurs Bouteroue and de Baleines to lay at Your Majesties feet together with the sincere protestations of our inviolable fidelity unto Your Majesties Service our most humble acknowledgments and thanks for your gracious favours and our just and necessary requests for the relief and comforting of our poor Churches We humbly trust that Your Majesty will be pleased to give them a favourable audience and to grant us our most Humble Petitions and to accept of the Devout and most hearty Prayers of many Thousands of Godly Persons for Your Majesties Prosperity who whilst they lie groaning under the most insupportable pressures in the World do notwithstanding live in a profound Obedience unto Your Majesties Authority And from the bottom of our Souls and with the greatest ardency imaginable we supplicate the Throne of Grace to bless and preserve Your Majesties Most Sacred Person and to augment and continue the happyness of Your Majesties Reign and Government being alwayes Most Dread Soveraign From Castres Septemb. 1626. Your most Humble most Faithful and most Obedient Subjects and Servants The Pastors and Elders of the Reformed Churches of France Assembled in their National Synod at Castres and for them all Chauve Moderator Bouteroue Assessor Blondel and Petit Scribes CHAP. VIII THE Eight and Twentieth day of October The Sieurs Bouteroue and de Baleines Deputies unto the King returned with Letters from His Majesty and the Lord d' Herbaut Secretary of State and reported that they had a very favourable Reception from His Majesty and Ministers of State and that having presented their Address unto the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council they had obtained a Command unto the Parliament of Thoulouse to take away the Modifications put by the said Parliament upon the last Edict of Peace and were promised that Commissioners should be sent into the Provinces of Xaintonge the Higher and Lower Languedoc Rochell and the Land of Aunix to see that the Edict be duely executed They were also assured that the Assignations formerly given unto the Lord of Candal should be made good and valid and that they had an order for twelve hundred Livres to defray the Charges of their Journey besides the Summ of Ten Thousand Livres granted by His Majesty unto this Council to pay their Charges But as for the restoring of Monsieur du Moulin to the Church of Paris and a License for holding of a General Assembly His Majesty was utterly averse unto it and would in no wise yield thereunto and we should know more of his mind upon this Article and of his good intentions as to the nomination of our General Deputies by his Commissioner the Lord Galland Thanks were given unto our good God that he had granted us to find favour with the King and the Deputies also which were sent unto His Majesty had the thanks of the Council and were commended for their Conduct and Dexterity which was so acceptable unto the King and Lords of His Majesties Council and approved by this Assembly A Copy of the Kings Letter unto this National Synod DEAR and Well-beloved we received the Letters by the Sieurs Bouteroue and de Baleines your Deputies and understood from their Mouths and your Address presented to us what they were ordered by you to declare unto us Whereunto we have by word of Mouth and Writing given those favourable Answers which shall be related to you by those your Deputies to which we shall add with a willing mind the Effects or our Grace and Royal favour upon all occasions that may occur for the Weal and General happyness of Our Subjects of your Religion and of you all joyutly and severally as we also promise our selves that you will keep you within those bounds of Fidelity and Obedience which good and Loyal Subjects owe unto their King and that you will verifie by your actions the words of your aforesaid Deputies as we exhort you so to do and moreover to give credence unto the Lord Galland our Counsellor in our Council of State in all things whatsoever that he shall offer to you as from us Given at St. German in Laye this Fourteenth of October 1626. Signed Louis and a little lower Philippeaux And the Superscription was thus directed To Our Dear and Well-Beloved the Deputies of the P. Reformed Religion Assembled by our License in a National Synod in our City of Castres CHAP. IX A Copy of the Lord Herbaut's Letter unto this Council SIRS YOUR Deputies were favourably received by His Majesty and His Majesty heard with very great satisfaction those Assurances from their Mouths of your Fidelity and sincere intentions to the Publick Peace and Tranquillity When His Majesty granted it unto you it was with a full purpose inviolably to keep it with you and farther to give you with the injoyment thereof all other matters accorded to you by his Edicts What remains but that on your part you contribute whatever His Majesty might expect from your Prudence and Conduct and to measure by what is past that the duration and firm settlement of your Repose doth principally depend on your Obedience yielding unto his Majesty what is due unto him and is necessary for your well-being And you may believe that in so doing his Gracious Favours will be multiplyed upon you dayly and that I shall be ready to serve you in all good Offices with His Majesty that you may resent the comfortable Effects thereof according as you have deserved them In the mean while I rest Sirs Your most Humble and Affectionate Servant Philippeaux The Superscription was To my Lords My Lords the Deputies Assembled by His Majesties permission in a National Synod at Castres CHAP. X. Amore ample Declaration of the Kings Will upon several points demanded by the Deputies WHEN as the Letter of His Majesty but now recited was read My Lord Galland the Kings Commissioner declared that for the reasons given by His Majesty unto the Deputies and according to the import of the Articles answered by the Council he could not consent unto the return of Monsieur du Moulin nor for divers Considerations noted in those Articles now read could he at present give way for the meeting of a General Politick Assembly His Majesty reserving the grant thereof when as there shall be need of it and his Affairs of State may
well suffer it And as to the Election of Deputies His Majesty being not willing that the Affairs of his Subjects of the Reformed Religion should be without Conduct and Order had immediately upon the Death of the Lord Maniald one of the General Deputies and from September last Commissionated a Person of Honour and qualified for the discharge of that Office to act concurrently with the Surviving Deputy the Lord of Montmartyn until such time as it may be otherwise determined And since by his Writt of the Tenth of October he had given Licence unto this Synod to proceed unto the Election of Six Persons well inclined unto his Service and to the Publick and having no dependance on any one but himself out of which His Majesty will prick two for the discharge of that Office therefore he exhorts the Synod to proceed unto the Nomination and to choose out Persons qualified as before and hath been usually practised in such cases and this should be the rather done now because the present juncture of Affairs will not permit the calling of a Politick Assembly Declaring that in case we neglect the said Nomination The Lord of Montmartyn and the other Lord nominated by the King will lay down the management of those Offices It being unreasonable that for want of General Deputies the common Affairs of His Majesties Subjects professing the Reformed Religion should be abandoned and neglected And the said Lord Commissioner presented His Majesties Writt the tenour whereof is as followeth This Tenth day of October 1626 the King being at St. Germains in Laye considering that the term of Three years for which the Lord of Montmartyn and the Deceased Lord Maniald had been nominated to reside and serve at Court and to attend His Majesty in the quality of General Deputies for His Subjects of the P. Reformed Religion is some while since expired and that it so falls out that there must be a new Election of some other Deputies to succeed them in their Offices and considering that this Election cannot be done more conveniently than in the Assembly and National Synod which His Majesty hath granted to be held by His said Subjects in His City of Castres this last September that so they might not be put to those great Expences and Incommodities which might betide them in case another Assembly should be called for this purpose as also for that the Weal and Safety of the Kingdom will not at present comport with a Politick Assembly His Majesty upon these considerations and for many other divers and good reasons of great importance to his Service and the Repose and Tranquillity of His Government doth grant that the Deputies in the National Synod in the presence of the Lord Galland Counsellor to His Majesty in his Council of State and Commissioner unto the said Synod shall consult about the Election of Deputies to reside and serve near His Majesty instead of the Lords Montmartyn and Hardy one of His Secretaries nominated by His Majesty in his Writt of the Thirtieth of September last and to offer unto him Six Persons meet and qualified for the said Imployment whether they be Members of the said Synod or not provided they be such as are Loyal and well affected unto his Service and to the publick Peace and that have no dependance on any Person in the World besides him that so his Majesty may prick two out of them who may hold and discharge the said Office of General Deputies And in so doing the said Lords of Montmartyn and Hardy our Secretary shall be devested of the said Employment they observing the forms as in such cases are usual and accustomed Provided alwayes that in the said Assembly there be nothing else debated but the said Election and Matters relating to the Discipline of their Religion aforesaid according to the import of his Majesties Edicts and Declarations However this shall not be made a Precedent his Majesty reserving to himself the power of permitting unto his said Subjects of the P. Reformed Religion to hold a Politick Assembly when as in his wisdom he shall judge it needful and his Affairs of State can well comport with it In testimony whereof I am commanded by his Majesty to expedite this present Writt which he was pleased to Sign with his own Hand and is Countersigned by me his Counsellor and Secretary of State and of his Commands and Exchequer Signed in the Original Louis and a little lower Philippeaux CHAP. XI THE Writt having been read the Council voted a Conference to be held about its Contents at my Lord Commissioners Lodgings and Twelve Persons Deputies of the Council were constituted a Committee to this purpose Who having made Reports of the whole The Council considering the change hapned in Affairs by the unexpected and sudden Death of the Lord Maniald and the importunities of the Lord Montmartyn his Colleague to be discharged of such a Borden as he saith is impossible to be born by himself alone and the pressing necessities of our Churches requiring that some Persons should take upon them the care and management of their Affairs who might sollicite them with renewed vigour but principally His Majesties Writt animated by the Exhortations of his Commissioner the Lord Gallanbd who declared according to that Answer made unto the Address presented by the Deputies that the state of His Majesties Affairs would not permit His Majesty to grant us at present a General Assembly And that in case this Council would not nominate the Deputies his Majesty himself would do it even as he had already took course to do it having by his Writt and Warrant of the Thirtieth of September expresly joyned the Lord Hardy in the Commission of the General Deputies with the Lord Montmartyn For all these reasons and to avoid an infinite number of visible inconveniencies The Council proceeded to Elect those Six Persons which were to be presented to his Majesty and by plurality of Suffrages were chosen the Lords Claudius Baron of Gabrias and Beaufort Lewes de Champagne Earl of Suze Henry de Clermont d' Amboise Marquess of Gallerande for the Nobility and the Lords Basin Advocate in Parliament living at Blois Texier the Kings Advocate in the Seneschalsy of Armagnac and Lazaras du Puy Counsellor in the Presidial Court of Bourg in Bresse for the Commons that so his Majesty may out of them choose two whom he best liketh to exercise the Office of General Deputies But forasmuch as that Canon established in our Churches under the good pleasure of His Majesty for the nomination of the said General Deputies requireth that every third year by an express Warrant from his Majesty there should be called a General Assembly and that before it there should be particular Assemblies held in all the Provinces to prepare their Cahiers Memoirs and all other Jurisdictions of the Provinces and to deliver them unto their hands who shall be deputed unto the General Assembly which after wards culleth out those Cahiers
Mercurin and that by Authority from this Council 54. There is given an hundred Livers unto Mr. Repasseau for the Supply of his present Wants and to help transport his Houshold-Goods unto Paillac and the said Sum shall be paid him out of the common Mass of Moneys belonging to all our Churches 55. Whereas Monsieur Barre Doctor of Civil Law and Advocate at Montlimard hath composed a Treatise concerning Antichrist and which hath been perused by several Divines commissionated thereunto and they giving a very laudable and good Account thereof it was approved also by this Synod 56. Monsieur Sarazin Pastor of the Church of Campagne had leave given him to quit the Province of Higher Languedoc and to accept of a Call from any Church in the Province of Burgundy but always upon this Condition That he do not leave the Church of Campagne before the Sessions of the Colloquy of Lower Quercy who are impowered fully to discharge the said Sarazin and to take care that that Church be not left destitute 57. The Lord Commissioner Galland was humbly intreated to write unto the Lord President of the Parliament of Tholouse on behalf of divers Inhabitants of Briteste because Warrants were issued out to apprehend them and make them Prisoners although the Matter for which they are in Trouble hath been pardoned by his Majesties Act of Grace and Indemnity 58. The Memoirs of Monsieur Rennoy Pastor of the Church of Coluisson were presented unto this Assembly by Monsieur Petit and were delivered unto the Deputies of Lower Languedoc who were to carry them unto their next Provincial Synod which was charged in an especial manner to consider of them 59. Thirty Livers were ordered unto Nicolas Severin out of the common stock of our Churches but on this Condition that he never trouble us with his Petitions more and the Provinces shall take care to detain their Poor at home that these National Synods may be no more urged with their Importunities 60. There was given as a Gratuity out of the best Moneys belonging to the Churches four hundred and fifty Livers unto Monsieur Cooper Deputy to the Lord of Candall 61. An hundred Livers were ordered unto Sir Augustus Galland his Majesties Commissioner in this Council out of the clearest Moneys of our Churches to defray the Charges he was at in the Business of the Church of Froqualquier 62. Out of its supernumerary Portions the Province of Lower Languedoc shall pay the Sum of thirty Livers unto Monsieur Noguier at which the Charges of his Journey hither have been assessed by the Council 63. Over and besides what he may else need to get off the Writ of Imprisonment issued forth against him by the Privy Council and which had turned over his Cause to be heard in the Court of Beziers there was granted the Sum of one hundred Livers unto Monsieur Pontel which he shall receive out of the common Stock of the Churches Moneys 64. Twenty Livers out of the same Fund was given unto the common Crier of the City of Castres 65. Sixty Livers were given to the Door-keeper of the Council out of the same Stock and he is recommended unto the Lords Consuls and Magistrates of this City of Castres that they would be pleased to restore him unto his Office of Regent which he hath formerly exercised in their Colledg 66. The Lord of Candall is intreated to advance out of the half Portion granted unto Monsieur Mercurin Pastor of the Church of Grasse as much as will be requisite to take off the Writ of Arrest against him in the King 's Privy Council that so the Parliament of Provence may be deprived of the Knowledg of those Matters for which he is in Trouble and do so very much hinder him in the Discharge of his ministerial Duties and Calling 67. The next Synod of Higher Languedoc are charged to present Monsieur Grasset Pastor of the Church in the Isle of Jourdain unto the Ministery and pastoral Care of the Church of Mazamet and to provide the Church in the aforesaid Island of another Minister 68. The Matters concerning the Church of Sarverettes were particularly recommended unto the Lord of Montmartyn our General Deputy 69. The Province of Higher Languedoc is intreated to consider the Losses sustained by Monsieur Daneau Pastor of the Church of Castres in the former and latter Wars that so out of their Charity he may receive some Relief and Comfort 70. Seven hundred Livers were given unto the Children of Monsieur Cameron deceased as a Testimony of that Honour we have for his Name and Memory and they shall also receive a yearly Portion from the Lord of Candall until the next National Synod Moreover Monsieur Olier who pleaded for the Church of Montauban was told by the Council that in case the said Church did not pay the eight hundred Livers in unto his Children which they owed unto Monsieur Cameron their Father and who was sometime Pastor and Professor in their City and University the like Sum should be detained from them by the Lord of Candall out of the Moneys settled upon their University that so their just Debts might that way be pay'd unto these poor Orphans and the Moneys now given them and those others due from Montauban shall be deposited with their Guardian for their Use 71. An hundred Livers were ordered to be paid unto Monsieur Bansillon a worthy Minister in Consideration of the many Damages he hath sustained and they shall be paid him out of the general Stock of our Churches nor shall this occasion the lessening of his Relief from the Province who shall assist and help him in the Prosecution of his Suit the Accompt whereof shall be brought in to the next National Synod to be perused and considered by them 72. The Church of Vezenobre is recommended to the Charity of the Province of Sevennes 73. Monsieur | | | Another Copy calls him Merlat Mercat petitioning the Council to consider the Charges the Church of Pons have been at in getting the Inlargement of their Pastor Monsieur Constans their Petition was remanded back unto the next Provincial Synod of Xaintonge which is exhorted to assist that poor Church out of the supernumerary Portions couched in their Dividend 74. In like manner the poor Churches of Masedazill le's Bordes Savarat and Camarades are recommended to the Charity of the same Province as is also Monsieur Marsillon who hath been a very great Sufferer that they would consider him more than ordinary 75. Monsieur Baux informed this Synod that if he should go to Nismes and exercise his Ministry there he had no certain Stipend promised him and the Lords Petit and Duranty their Deputies did tell him as much that they had no Order from that Church to make any Agreement with him about it and the said Petit did confirm the same in open Council Whereupon the Church of Nismes was exhorted fully to content and satisfy the said Mr. Baux and in case
Plants which have been sent you from divers Provinces of this Kingdom that through your well-deserving Pains and Counsels they may be prepared and made fruitful Ministers of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus And to these our Thanks we shall add our most ardent Prayers unto God that he would pour out upon you his most precious and saving Blessings and that he would always make you a most eminent Example of his Grace and Mercy in the Churches of his dear Son covering you and your Common-wealth wherein you live with the Wings of his Protection to the Glory of his Providence and to the Honour of his Holy Name as also to the Consolation of our Churches In whose Name we are From Castres this 6th of September 1626. Most Honoured Lords and Brethren Your most humble and most affectionate Servants in the Lord the Pastors and Elders of the Reformed Churches of France assembled in our National Synod and for them all The Superscription was thus To our Lords the Pastors and Elders in the Church of Geneva at Geneva Chauve Moderator Bouterove Assessor Scribes of the Synod O. Blondel Petit A Letter from the Church of Paris to our most Honoured Lords the Pastors and Elders assembled in the National Synod at Castres Most Reverend and very Honoured 'T IS with very great regret on our part that we are enforced to complain unto you against our Province but we have too just cause for out so doing We have ever held a fair and Christian Correspondence and Fraternal Union with it And indeed Sirs if it had been only our own particular Interest that was concerned we should much rather have chosen to suffer all manner of ill Usages than to have interrupted you in your most holy and important Occupations But the Honour of our Functions and the Glory of our God and the Advancement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ are all concerned Therefore we implore with the greater freedom the Assistance of your Charity and the Help of your Fatherly Protection because we are well assured of your Zeal to the Well-being and Edification of our Church You know Sirs that great Affliction wherewith our â—od hath of late visited us in calling unto himself that most excellent Person Monsieur Durant whose Gifts and Graces and singular ministerial Abilities were universally known throughout the whole Kingdom During his Sickness which lasted near sour Months and six Months since his Decease those two astors which were left us were so surcharged with hard Labour that they both fell dangerously Ill and must have infallibly funk under the weight of their Burden had they not been extraordinarily assisted and supported by God As soon as God had took into his Joys our late famous Pastor we faw immediately the great necessity we had to relieve and ease those two which survived and this was the unanimous Prayer and Desire of the whole Church It was utterly impossible for us to find in our Colloquy a Minister every way qualified for us for besides that none of those Pastors had a Voice strong enough for our Auditory and those other Abilities requisite for the edifying so great a People There were some afflicted with Sickness and divers Churches were destitute of Pastors and so far were we from being holpen by them that several of the Neighbour-Churches have importuned us to lend them our help To assemble a Synod for their and our Relief was out of our Power For besides the bitterness of the Season the rigour and sharpness of the Winter we were then in the very hottest and deepest of the late Trouble and without any hopes of Peace which since our good God out of his infinite Mercy hath bestowed upon us Being then obliged to provide for our selves elsewhere we were not in any great trouble on whom to sasten our Eyes for so had the gracious Providence of God ordered it that in the extremity of Monsieur Durant's Sickness Monsieur Daillé preached three Sermons to us which so much affected our whole Church that from that instant it was the common Discourse that as God afflicted us on the one Hand so did he seem to comfort us on the other by pointing out unto us such a Person as might he easily and speedily obtained by us because the Province of Anjou was well enough provided of able Pastors and of divers Proposans of very great Hopes Monsieur Durand resting from his Labours in Abraham's Bosom we believed it our Duty to concur with those ardent Desires that many of our Members had expressed for Monsieur Daillé and the rather because we were well inform'd of his singular Piety Probity and rare Learning who by reason of those excellent Gifts and Graces of God's Holy Spirit in him had been already sought after far and near by many of the greatest and most famous Churches in the Kingdom But the Lord out of his abundant Goodness had reserv'd him for us And that we might handsomly and regularly proceed in giving him a Call to the Pastoral Office in our Church we resolved at first to demand him by way of Loan as we can easily prove by our Letters written unto the Church of Saumur and to the said Monsieur Daillé and by the Acts of our Consistory But the Person whom we deputed to Saumur and to whose Prudence and wise Conduct we had confided this Affair having been refused as to the Loan advised us by an express Messenger that there was more hopes of gaining him as an absolute Gift because the Church of Saumur could more easily procure it self a fettled Pastor than borrow one for a few Months Whereupon he demanded of us new Letters and a more ample Commission The Quality of the Person imployed by us in this Negotiation and our most pressing urgent Necessity made us resolve to demand the Ministry of Monsieur Daillé purely and absolutely We in the mean while taking it for granted that our Synod would have approved and consented to what we had done as we on our parts were disposed to break off the whole Treaty in case they could make it appear that we were out and mistaken in our Choice and that there could be any thing opposed against the Doctrine Life and Conversation of him to whom we had sent our Call As soon as we had notice that our Synod should be assembled we to render all due Honours to it delegated the Sieurs Mestrezat Bigot and d' Huysseau to it and charged them to make report of our Conduct in this Affair and to petition that Assembly to approve of the calling Monsieur Daillé into Office among us though at that time we had no promise of him made us by the Church of Saumur We well hoped that those Reverend Gentlemen would have considered the great importance of our Church and the Kindnesses they continually receive from it and that they would have comforted us in our Affliction and would have praised our Proceedings or at least would
next ensuing the Date hereof a National Synod composed of all the Deputies of the Provinces of our Kingdom to treat of Matters concerning their Religion And being to chuse a Person of sufficient and requisite Abilities and of approved Loyalty to Us to be present in our stead and to act in quality of our Commissioner in the said Assembly Now we being well acquainted with those Services you have done us in sundry and honourable Employments wherewith you have been intrusted by Us and of which you have acquitted your self most worthily we judged that we could not make a better choice than of your Person being well assured of the continuance of your Affection to our Service For these Causes we have Commissionated and deputed and do commissionate and depute by these Presents signed with our own Hand you my Lord of St. Mars for Us and in our stead to go and sit in Person on our behalf in the said Synod convocated in the said Town of Alanson there to propose and resolve whatsoever shall be commanded you by us according to the Memoirs and Instructions we have to this purpose put into your Hands taking heed that none other Matters be there proposed but such as ought to be treated in such Assemblies and are permitted by our Edicts And in case they should attempt any thing to the contrary you shall hinder them by the interposal of our Authority and you shall speedily give us advice thereof that we may apply those Remedies which are convenient in â—â—uch cases And for the doing hereof we give you Power Commission and special Command by these presents for such is our Pleasure Given at Paris the sixth Day of January in the Year of Grace One thousand six hundred thirty and seven and of our Reign the seven and twentieth Signed Louis and a little lower Phelippeaux And sealed with the Great Seal of yellow Wax CHAP. III. The Commissioner's Speech THE said Letters Patents being read the Lord Commissioner acquainted the Synod with what his Majesty had given him in charge to them in these very words SIRS I Am come into your Synod to declare unto you his Majesty's Pleasure you all know it and have preach'd and taught Obedience unto the Higher Powers All Authority is of God and therefore by consequence on this immoveable Foundation you must needs be infallibly obedient besides you are obliged to it by his Majesty's Bounty and by that Care he takes of you the favourable Effects whereof you shall always experience whilst you be obedient His Clemency and Power are your two firmest Supporters And as touching the former his Majesty hath charged me to assure you of the perpetual continuance of his Affection to you and of his maintaining his Edicts as long as you continue faithful Subjects And as for his Power Strangers themselves have felt it and do every day more and more feel and experience it We have with our Eyes seen those Successes of his which are more than Human by which God publisheth to the World that he upholdeth our King with his own Hand and maketh him a Terror to all about him I shall not remember those many Fortresses and Places of Surety which once you had and where you reposed too much Confidence all which are now reduc'd to nothing whereas since you depended on the sole Favour of his Majesty your Condition is much more happy and your Security much more fix'd and stable I doubt not in the least but that you have often reflected upon that admirable Providence of God in making his Majesty's Royal Authority to be your Preservation You be destitute of all Support yea you have in the midst of you against you a World of People subject as the Sea unto various Troubles and Commotions and yet notwithstanding the King upholds you in the Liberty of your Consciences and in the peaceable exercise of your Religion The fixedness and stability of the Earth ballanced in the Air is as great a Miracle as the Creation and Subsistence of the Universe God sustains it by the self-same Power with which he did at first create it and you also in like manner are preserved by the Word of his Majesty's Power Therefore Sirs you that are Ministers should shine in Wisdom and good Conduct in your respective Stations and Churches Among many signal Effects of his Majesty's Goodness received by you this is not the least yea it is a most remarkable one that you can meet in this Assembly and that too in a time of War All the Provinces of the Kingdom like so many Lines drawn from the Circumference can center in this Synod in Peace Could you ever demand a greater Testimony of his Majesty's Goodness than this Confidence he reposeth in your Loyalty and Fidelity This should engage you to submit your selves with greater reverence than ever unto his Royal Pleasure And I in no wise doubt but you will so govern your Words and Actions and chiefly your Affections that his Majesty shall have a most entire and perfect and dutiful Obedience from you 2. And that you may depend on the Protection and soveraign Authority of the King and may be wholly and solely fixed to his Service his Majesty doth in the first place forbid you all Intelligence and Correspondence whether Foreign or Domestick And his Majesty being informed that the Synod of Nismes and Mr. Rousselet a Minister have received Letters from the Canton of Bearn they are admonished not to commit the like Offence for the future For the Statutes positively forbid the King's Subjects to receive Letters from Foreign States yea they are not so much as to see any Foreign Embassadors though residing near his Majesty much less should our Synods or private Ministers receive Letters or hold Correspondence with Foreign Synods or Provinces The Lords of Bearn are Allies of the Crown and are of the same Religion with you united in Religion with you but there must not be any Union betwixt you and that Common-wealth for the least Correspondence even in Ecclesiastical Affairs with Foreigners though Confederates of the King doth raise a Suspicion and beget a Jealousy of Designs against the State The said Synod nor the said Minister Rousselet ought not to have received those Letters or if they had before they had opened them they should have communicated them to the Governour of the Place or the said Synod should have delivered them to his Majesty's Commissioner who was then present in it 3. And as for Domestick Correspondence within the Kingdom you must know that inasmuch as Provincial Councils are forbidden you therefore consequentially all sort of Communication by which such a Council might be promoted is expresly forbidden also His Majesty forbiddeth you to nominate any Ministers or other extraordinary Deputies whereby one Province may communicate with another about Political Affairs because you be no Body Politick no nor at this time whilst you are assembled in a National Synod may you communicate with another about
Loride an Elder for Scribes of the Synod who being Chosen did all of them take their Places accordingly CHAP. II. AS soon as the Officers of the Synod were nominated and seated the Lord de Magdelaine Counsellor to his Majesty in his Court of Parliament at Paris and Deputed by his Majesty to sit as his Commissioner in this Assembly deliver'd the King's Letters patents for his Commission which being Read they were Transcribed and Inserted into the Body of the Acts of this Synod whose Form and Tenor was as followeth Copy of his Majesties Letters Patents given to the Lord Commissioner LOVIS by the Grace of God King of France and of Navar To our Trusty and Beloved Consellor in our Courts of Parliament of Paris the Lord of Magdelaine Greeting We have permitted our Subjects of the Protestant Religion to hold in our Town of Loudun on the Tenth Day of November next a National Synod composed of all the Deputies of the Provinces of our Kingdom for to treat of matters concerning their Religion and being to choose a Person fitly qualified and of known Loyalty and Fidelity to us to assist in it and as our Commissioner to represent our Person in the said Assembly we well knowing those Services which you have rendered us in sundry Honourable Imployments wherein we had Commissionated you and which you have most worthily Discharged We have therefore judged that we could not make a better choice than of your self being well assured that you will continue to us the Proofs and Evidences of your Affection to our Service For these causes we have Commissionated and Deputed and we do now Commissionate and Depute you the said Lord of Magdelaine by these Presents signed with our Hand to pass over unto our Town of Loudun and in our place and stead to assist in the Synod there Convocated that you may then and there propound and answer all those things which we have given you in Commandment according to those Memoirs and Instructions we have delivered to you And you are to take special care that no other matters be there proposed nor debated but such as ought of right to be treated of in those Assemblies and which are permitted by our Edicts and in case they should enterprise any thing to the contrary you shall hinder it and by Interposing of out Authority suppress it or you shall speedily advise us of it that we may by such courses as in our Wisdom we shall judge most fit obviate and prevent it And for so doing we give you power commission and special command by these Presents for such is our Pleasure Given at Bourdeaux this Sixth day of September in the Year One Thousand Six Hundred Fifty and Nine and of our Reign the Seventeenth Signed LOVIS And a little Lower PHELIPPEAVX And Sealed at the lower end with the Great Seal and Yellow Wax CHAP. III. AFter reading his Majesty's Letters Patents the Lord Commissioner made this ensuing Speech unto the Assembly A Copy of the Lord Commissioners Speech Sirs ALthough my many Defects of which I am very conscious and my great Age might have well deterr'd me from accepting of this Commission with which it hath pleased his Majesty to grace and honour me and from coming hither and declaring his Will and Pleasure unto this eminent Assembly made up of the most able and considerable Persons of the Kingdom chosen out of the Body of the Professors of our Religion yet nevertheless I can boldly speak it that according to that Inclination which God hath given me for serving the King and the Publick unto which I have applied my self along time I did not in the least hesitate on this Occasion but did over-look all other Considerations hoping for Supplies from the Supreme Goodness to enable me to the performance of my Duty and from yours also that you will be readily disposed to facilitate what is desired of you And hence it is that I conceive with Joy a good issue of our Affairs even now when as I begin to speak unto you from his Majesty and you also have already took notice of it in that Grant vouchsafed you for your Assembling in this place according to your request which is a most remarkable effect of his Majesty's especial Favour to you which the good Providence of God hath now inspired into him for you after so many other signal Acts of his Royal Bounty you have formerly received from him for which I do not in the least suspect or question your Gratitude and Duty nor the sense of that Obligation which lieth upon you on many Accounts of yielding to him all Obedience according to the revealed Will of God who is the Sole and Sovereign Lord of all Men and of all things whatsoever And when I thus speak of his Majesty you know very well that we must understand all Persons acting by Authority from him according to the same revealed Will of Almighty God and the matter being so notorious we cannot but observe it in this place even that kindness and Justice you have upon many and sundry occasions had proof and sensible experience of from the Hands of his Majesty's first and Principal Minister of State his Eminency the Lord Cardinal Mazarin Nor need I enlarge on this Subject only let me add but one Reflection of my own about this last Favour the Convocation of this Synod which you believed to be at this time so needful for you you stand highly indebted unto his Eminency for it and the best and chiefest Fruit you can gather from its Consultations and Resolutions will be this to be more united among your selves and to maintain in Peace and Concord the whole Body of those of our Religion who are represented by you and to terminate and pacifie those Differences and Dissentions which are among you For sith they are produced through the Vice and Weakness of our Humane Nature and State and begin in the noblest Parts where the whole Body receiveth an alteration we may very much fear a Dissipation if only topiual Remedies be applied for these alone do seldom operate or contribute but a little to the Union and Conservation of the whole And whereas all Assemblies of whit kind soever do depend upon his Majesty who as supreme Lord hath a Right and Jurisdiction over all Persons and Actions and to ordain even in and about matters concerning the Church which was always consider'd as a Part of the State His Majesty was therefore pleased to vouchsafe you this Synod so earnestly desired by you that you might regulate past matters and re-establish among you that Order which you ought to keep for the future and the rather because there be many years lapsed since you had an Assembly of this nature Sirs It is most certain that your Enemies who design your diminution and ruin could never meet with a more favourable means and opportunity to attempt it than by maintaining and fomenting your Divisions and Dissentions for these will
Lord do expect and wait for this Fruit of your Eminency's great Goodness and whatever shall be received by us it shall be as a most refreshing Shower that shall cause our Hearts to fructifie more abundantly yea and the Hearts of all those of our Religion in that Love and Affection which they have ever had and which our Religion and our Interest inspireth us to have above all other his Majesty's Subjects for his Service and to have the Praise of being true Frenchmen firmly devoted to the Advancement of the State and to that respect which all France oweth unto your Eminency But whatever may be my Lord we invocate incessantly our common Redeemer that he would preserve your Eminency's Person in all Prosperity and bless your Counsels given unto his Majesty and cause them for the future as they have in times past to succeed to the Advantage of the State the Glory of his Majesty and the immortal Honour of your Eminency These are their Vows and Prayers who will conserve inviolably the Quality which they have ever had to be my Lord of your Eminency The most Humble and most Obedient Servants the Pastors and Elders Assembled in a National Synod at Loudun and for them all Daille Moderator c. 6. The Sieurs Eustache and Mirabel who were Deputed from this Assembly unto his Majesty being returned from their Journey gave an Account of their Deputation and delivered Letters from the King his Eminency and the Lord de la Vrilliere unto this Assembly and they received the Praise and Thanks of it for their Care and Labour A Copy of His Majesty's Letter DEar and Well Beloved We were very glad at the Receipt of your Letters dated the 18th Instant and to hear from the Mouths of your Deputies the Sieurs Eustache and de Mirabel the Thanks you have rendred us for our permitting you to hold this National Synod in our Town of Loudun and the Protestations of your inviolable Fidelity and Obedience to us and being well satisfied therewith we were willing to give you the knowledge of it by this our Letter and to exhort you to persist in your Godly Purposes and Duties and to afford us upon all occasions which may offer themselves for our Service the Evidences of your good Conduct And we farther assure you that whilst you continue your selves within the Bounds we require from your Synod and upon all other Occurrences which you may meet withal to maintain as much as in you lieth the publick Peace and Tranquility you shall also receive from us all good and favourable Usage and we shall be delighted to protect you under the benefit of our Edicts and of those of our most Honoured Lord and Father the late King as we have done until now and as we shall yet again once more assure you more particularly by your Deputies whom we return unto you very much satisfied In the mean while we do the more willingly allow the Continuation of the Lord Marquess of Ruvigny in the Office of General Deputy for your Churches near our selves because we are fully perswaded that he will always acquit himself with Care and Faithfulness of that Employ Given at Tholouse the Tirteenth Day of November One Thousand Six Hundred Fifty and Nine Signed LOVIS And a little Lower PHELIPPEAVX The Superscription was To our dear and well-beloved the Pastors and Elders Deputed unto the Assembly of the National Synod of our Subjects of the Protestant Reformed Religion held at Loudun Copy of his Eminency's Letter Sirs YOur Deputies delivered me the Letter which you took the pains to write me I owe you Thanks for your Civilities and the more because his Majesty being perswaded as he is of your inviolable Fidelity and of your Zeal for his Service 't is but needless and superfluous to mention any good Offices for you with his Majesty I pray you to believe that I have a very great Esteem for you as you do deserve it being such good Servants and Subjects of the King I have nothing more but to leave my self to what shall be related of me by your own Deputies and by the Dispatches of the Lord de la Vrilliere I remain Sirs Your most Affectionate to do you Service The Cardinal Mazarin The Sieur de la Morinaye was Deputed by this Assembly with Letters to my Lord Chancellor and to my Lord de Bertueil Comptroler General of the Exchequer and ordered to ride unto Paris and there to take up the Sixteen Thousand Livres Gratuity which his Majesty hath been pleased to bestow upon this Assembly for defraying the Expences of it's Deputies to which purpose the Orders of the Accomptants and the Assignment of my Lord High Treasurer was delivered into his Hands which was under Signed by the Sieur Eustache 7. The Assembly considering that since the Death of the Sieur Bazin General Deputy of our Churches for the Third Estate unto the King that there is no one to supply his Place so that my Lord Marquess of Ruvigny our General Deputy is even born down with the Duties of his Office at Court which is a very great Inconveniency to our Churches it was decreed That a most humble Petition should be tender'd unto his Majesty that he would be pleased to put us again into the Possession of this Priviledge And the Assembly hoping that this their Petition would not be unacceptable unto his Majesty and my Lord Commissioner not in the least opposing it was resolved that we should proceed immediately unto the Election of such Persons as should be presented unto his Majesty according to the usual Forms Which being done it was found that the Sieurs Loride des Galinieres Advocate in the King's Council and in Parliament Jassaud Advocate in the mixt Court of Castres and des Forges Le Coq Counsellor and Secretary to the King had the Plurality of Votes Whereupon it was decreed that my Lord Marquess of Ruvigny shall be intreated to notifie it unto the King as soon as possible together with the most humble Petition of this Assembly that his Majesty would be pleased to chuse one out of these Three according to Custom and to assign him the Salary which his Majesty and the Kings his Predecessors have given unto those who have exercised the said Office of General Deputy 8. Letters being Addressed to this Assembly by the Pastors and Professors of Divinity in the Church and University of Geneva and other Letters from the Pastors and Professors of Divinity in the Churches and Universities of the Cantons of Zurich Berne Basil and Schapheusen joyntly Signed by them they were delivered unto my Lord Commissioner who having first perused them did afterwards order them to be communicated unto the Assembly and to be read in it The Contents of which were large Expressions of their Affections to the Peace of the Churches of this Kingdom and their Joy at the Liberty which it hath pleased the King to give us and the Priviledge of Assembling
National Synod belongeth according to the Canons of our Discipline unto the Province of Power Languedoc And this Assembly Ordaineth that with the good Pleasure of his Majesty it shall he convoked about Three Years hence in that Order prescribed by our Discipline and the Deputies shall meet from all the Provinces of this Kingdom at the City of Nismes CHAP. XIX An Act for the validity of all Acts which shall be Delivered and Signed IT is Decreed That as great Credit shall be given to those Acts which are signed either by the Moderator or Assessor or one of the Scribes of this Assembly as if they had been Signed and Subscribed by the Moderator Assessor both the Scribes and all the Deputies conjoyntly The Sieurs Dize Pastor of the Church at Grenoble and De Foissac Elder in the Church of Usez are nominated to wait upon his Majesty and to deliver the most humble Thanks of this Assembly to him together with the Bill of our just Grievances and Petitions and to assure his Majesty that we shall continue in his Majesty's Service with an untainted and inviolable Fidelity Done and Decreed at Loudun this Tenth Day of January One Thousand Six Hundred and Sixty Signed in the Original by Daille Moderator J. M. D'Angle Assessor Scribes J. De Brissac Pastor Loride des Galinieres CHAP. XX. Commissions Executed WHen as the National Synod held at Loudun November 10 1659 was broken up the Sieurs Guitton and du Bourdieu went unto Sanmur according as they were ordered add Monsieur Guitton made this Speech in the University Messieurs THE National Synod which is now ended at Loudun being Informed by the Complaints of divers Provinces that for a long time together very many and great Disorders have crowded in among our Students of Divinity and that to the great scandal of all Godly Persons there is a visible defect of Modesty and Christian Integrity in their Deportments that Venerable Assembly judged that in prudence it was bound to exert its Authority for the retrenching and removal of them And having made a Canon which we shall read unto you immediately it did straitly charge us to assemble your whole Body before the Senate of this University that we might re-inforce it upon your Consciences by our oral Exhortations and Remonstrances Give Sirs your Attention unto the Synodical Decree The Deputies of all our Provinces complaining with one common Voice of the great Corruptions crept in among Scholars in our Universities especially among Students in Divinity of their wearing Long Hair of their Cloaths after the new fangled Fashions of the World of their wide Floating Sleeves Gloves stuft with Silk and Ribbans that they frequented Taverns haunted the Company of Women walk'd Abroad with their Swords that their Style savour'd more of the Romance than of God's Holy Word and many other Vanities and Excesses of this Nature The Assembly touched with a most sensible grief for these great Disorders and being zealously concerned for the House of God doth most earnestly exhort the Professors and all other Governors in our Universities as also the Consistories of those Churches in which they are to exert all their Care Power and Authority for the suppression of these Abuses which redound to the disgrace of our Religion and give great Scandal unto Persons truly fearing God and open the Flood-Gates to a deluge of Prophaneness to break in upon the Sanctuary And farther it enjoyneth them to suspend the Refractory from the Lords Table and to blot their Names out of the Matricular Book of Students and to deprive Proposans of all hopes of ever being admitted into the Ministerial Office And all Scholars are most straitly enjoyned and most especially Students in Divinity to refrain all those Abuses before-mentioned and to keep themselves at the greatest distance from such things as are contrary to Christian Modesty and true Sanctity which Vertues should shine forth most conspicuously in their Lives whom God is calling to be Pastors in the Church of Christ And that there may be no sinister Opinions conceived of them they be commanded to perfume the House of God betimes with the sweet Odours of an Early Religious Conversation every way becoming that Sacred Employment whereunto they be designed on pain of Exemplary Punishment in case of Rebellion Moreover this Assembly Ordaineth that those Provincial Synods to whose care and charge our Universities are intrusted and in which they be erected shall depute every Year some Pastors to inspect and visit them and take notice of the Progress made by our Scholars in their Studies of Philosophy and Divinity and by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ and of this Assembly to redress whatever Disorders shall be particularly notified to or observed by them And to this end those Visitors commissionated by this Assembly shall as soon as possible go and visit them to wit the Sieurs Guitton and de Bourdieu Pastors and Monsieur Des Champs an Elder shall visit the University of Saumur The Sieurs Chamier and Vignier Pastors de Pontperdu and Maisonnet Elders shall visit that of Montauban the Sieurs de Boudan and de Mesjannes Pastors and the Sieurs de St. John de Gardonnengues and de Pontperdu Elders shall visit that of Nismes and the Sieurs Homel and January Pastors with the Sieurs de Mirabel and Baruel Elders shall visit that of Die And these Visitors shall give notice unto all Students in Divinity that they read the Scriptures publickly in the Desk before Sermons in all our Church-meetings You have heard Sirs the true and just cause of all those Complaints which are form'd against you in the several Provinces of this Kingdom You have heard what the Synod hath declared on this occasion and the Punishments it hath decreed against the Transgressors I beseech you to make good use of this important Admonition sent you by an Assembly whose Canons and Orders should be had in singular Veneration by you Reflect seriously upon your Selves and consider a while unto how great a work you be destinated and weigh well those means by which you may accomplish as well as desire it and I am confident you will then have no need of any Teachers and you your selves will judge what is best befitting your Profession and overlooking the punishments threatned which belongs unto Servile Spirits and wholly inslav'd to their own Vanity you will devote your Selves to the Love and Practice of Vertue for those very Reasons upon which it is recommended to you You have consecrated your Labours your Time your whole Man unto the Service of the Sovereign Monarch of the whole World of that Lord who is adored by all the Angels Your own Consciences Sirs as well as mine must needs tell you you cannot bring with you too much Humility nor too much Self-abasement nor too much Self-annihilation nor too much Symplicity and Syncerity when you come into his Presence whose Eyes are as a Flaming Fire and who searcheth your Hearts and
trieth your Reins and offer your selves to be inrol'd in the number of his Menial Servants and Gospel-Ministers Our great Lord Redeemer neither loveth the World nor the things of the World The design and end of his Coelestial Empire is to make all Men new Creatures and he serves himself of the Doctrin of the Cross that thereby be may Crucifie the World in you and you unto the World Sirs your own Consciences must needs reproach you that it is an affront unto the pure Eyes of his Glory that it saddens the Spirit of his Holiness that it must needs irritate his indignation when the Sons of the Prophets shall present themselves before him in the garb and habit of the World stuffed up and big-swoln with Vanities Pride and Indecencies and attended with its wonted Excuses Artifices and Deportments The Mysteries which our most blessed Saviour delivers unto his Servants that they may dispense them unto his People retain nothing of Earth savour nothing of this lower World they are all Divine and Heavenly And you cannot but acknowledge that it would be a darkning of their Lustre a Profanation of their Glory to manage them with impure Hands to vend and expose them in a strange Language and to search rather from the Wisdom of the World a Buttress to support their Authority than from the Eternal Verities of God's Wisdom and from the Lights of the Sacred Scriptures If none but the Spirit of God can reveal and manifest unto us the things which are given us of God is it possible we should make any considerable Progress and Proficiency in this Holy Study when we shall intend and prosecute it with the Spirit of the World and with Hearts filled and prepossessed with its Vanities To be short Sirs you be destinated unto an Employment in which there be no Advancements made but by Prayer and Prayers are never heard nor answered by God farther than they be sincere and they be not in the least sincere where the Hearts are not guided and purified by the Truth of God's Holy Word and Spirit who dictateth our Prayers and quickens and sanctifieth our Affections Do you imagin Sirs that God will give you his Holy Spirit without whom you are nothing and can do nothing unless you ask him of God And are you then qualified and fitted for Prayer a most holy Duty whenas your Spirit is stuffed up occupied and distracted with your Youthful Lusts and replenished with the provoking Objects of your Vanity Or can you bring unto this Sacred Ordinance to this most Religious Exercise that Attention Assiduity and Perseverance which is needful to the getting of gracious Answers and Returns from Heaven when as the better and far greater part and portion of our Time is wasted and consumed in worldly Companies and Conversations Certainly Sirs you will find it exceeding difficult to disintangle your selves from those Impressions you have first received and to empty your selves of the Vanities you have imbibed that you may be at Liberty to reflect and meditate upon God's Holy Word My Dear Brethren Honour and adorn that Profession whereunto you be devoted and it will reflect Beams of Honour again upon you Consider Sirs what is decent and becoming you and God will communicate what is needful for you to every one of you Let his Name and Glory be the principal Mark and Butt of your Condition and Studies and it will bring down toe choicest and chiefest Blessings of God upon you Let your Lives and Conversations be accompanied and crowned with all the Vertues and Graces of Reformed Christians with that Humility which becometh the Servants of God with that universal Modesty and Simplicity which God requireth from the Ministers of his Sanctuary in their Lives Actions Habits Language Behaviour and in your whole Course And then Sirs this your Sanctification will be most acceptable unto God and saving unto your selves it will bring your Profession into Credit and Reputation it will attract upon you the best Blessings of Heaven it will render your Studies and Employments prosperous successful edifying The Churches will be the better for you and the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus will be promoted and advanced by you In pursuance of an Order of the same Synod Messieurs Guitton and Bourdeau being at Saumur to pacifie the differences which were between some Members of that Church and Messieurs Amyraut and D'Huisseau Monsieur Guitton made this Speech Messieurs and most dear Brethren MY most honoured Colleagues together with my self were ordered by the Nationol Synod which was lately held and dissolved at Loudun to visit this Church and to assemble the Heads of its Families into this Consistory and to read unto you the Judgment of that venerable Assembly about the Differences fallen out among you and to endeavaur by the Grace of God and your Obedience your re-union which if already most happily begun between your two Pastors upon whose account you were divided and to ratifie that reconciliation of the Deputies of both Parties which you had sent unto it You shall hear their Judgment and the Act of our Commissions The Sieurs D'Huisseau Pastor accompanied with the Sieurs de Haumont Benoist and Favre did petition for themselves and on behalf of others the Heads of Families in the Church of Saumur that Monsieur d'Huisseau might be confirmed in his Ministry unto the said Church They appealed also from the Decrees of the first Synod held at Beauge in the Year 1656. and at Saumur in the Year 1657. and at Preuilly in the Year 1658. and in the second held at Beauge in this year 1659. and from the Orders of the Consistory of Saumur bearing Date the 16th and 27th Day of March 1659. And they complained of all that had been done in pursuance of those Synodical and Consistorial Decrees On the contrary part the Sieur Amyrald Pastor and Professor of Divanity in the said Church and University of Saumur together with the Sieurs Druett and Royer as well for themselves as for the other Deputies of that Consistory and of divers Heads of Families in the said Church together with the Deputies of the Province of Anjou did abet and maintain all the Acts Ordinances and Decrees of those Synods and Consistories before-named They were also heard declaring the Grounds of their Differences The Committee also who were appointed to examin and verifie the Acts of both Parties brought in their Report and at the same time Monsieur de Bois jardin Pastor of the said Church had Audience given him by the Assembly Upon the whole Debate this National Synod censured the Consistory of Saumur for that in stead of blaming the Deputies of the Assembly of the greater part of the Heads of Families held without their Order the 17th of September 1655. they did contrarywise receive them and at their instant earnest Suit had enjoyned the Sieur D'Huisseau to withdraw himself from the Service of the said Church against his Will and in contempt of