the preservation of their mutual Union and to obtain a commodious Peace it was very well accepted and approved by this Synod who farther declared the necessity of a punctual and general Observation of it at least until such times as it shall please God to incline the Heart of our King to grant us the Free Exercise of our Religion by a Royal and Favourable Edict which may be embraced and approved by all the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom And that the said Union and Order may be carefully preserved all Pastors Colloquies and Provincial Synods are earnestly intreated to put to their helping hand XXXV Professors of our holy Religion having Law-suits or Differences among themselves be it either in Matters Civil or Criminal shall be seriously exhorted by their Pastors to compose their Quarrels by Arbitrators of our own Religion without impleading one another at the Bars of Popish Judges CHAP. V. Of APPEALS I. AN Appeal being brought by the Deputy of the Church of Dangeau re-demanding Monsieur Vian who by certain Colloquies was Licensed and sent unto the Church of Marchenoir and whereunto the Provincial Synod had also consented Upon hearing the Deputies of both Churches and the said Monsieur Vian this Assembly ordered That the said Vian should be appropriated unto the Church of D'angeau and that as he returned homeward he should preach some Sermons at D'angeau aforesaid and then return unto Machenoir where he shall remain by the space of one Month and if within that time the Church of D'angeau do not pay him all the Arrerages of his Stipend which they owe him he shall be affixed wholly unto the foresaid Church of Marchenior and if he be satisfied and return to D'angeau he shall be paid hereafter duly every Quarter his Salary and in case the said Church should again fail in her Duty as formerly in not satisfying the said Vian within three Months that Order of the Provincial Synod shall be confirmed and the said Monsieur Vian shall be appropriated unto the Church of Marchenior II. An Appeal being brought by the Church of Fescamp concerning the Person of Monsieur Lazarus Robert their Pastor who by the Provincial Synod of Normandy was lent unto the Church of Pont-dorson it is ordained That the said Monsieur Lazarus shall remain with his Church of Fescamp provided they take care for his better maintenance III. The Church of St. John d' Angely brought an Appeal by the Advice of the Synod of Xaintonge wherein they declare That * * * Monsieur D'amours was a mighty Man in Prayer and Chaplain in Ordinary to Henry IV. before his last Apostasie The very Papists in the Army and the greatest Lords and Commanders in it were melted by him in that Duty and would call upon the King That before they went to fight that the Minister who prayed yesterday might pray again Monsieur D'amours was sent unto the Church of Barbezieux the Letters and Memoirs of the Consistory and other Writings having been read this Assembly determined That the Synod of Xaintonge had very good and sufficient grounds for their disposal of Monsieur D'amours but Madam the King 's only Sister having requested of this National Synod by her Letter That the said Monsieur D'amours might be Pastor to the Church in her Family this Assembly granteth unto her Royal Highness the said Monsieur D'amours for the Service of her Church and Family and forasmuch as the said D'amours doth ordinarily reside at St. John the said Church is intreated to help that of Barbezieux and in case they do not the Provincial Synod are ordered to make provision for them Monsieur Turquet Deputy for the Church of Lion entred his Protest against this Ordinance concerning Monsieur D'amours as prejudicial to the Church of Lions which claimed him of Right as their own IV. An Appeal was brought by the Church of Marianges from the Provincial Synod of Languedoc which had adjudged Monsieur Moinier to the Church of Nismes the Church of Nismes requesting That in regard of her great Needs Monsieur Moinier might be left unto her This Synod de creeth That forasmuch as the said Church of Marianges hath not appeared to defend its Appeal the Order of the Provincial Synod of Languedoc shall stand in force V. Complaint being made by the Church of Aymet against a Decree passed in the National Synod of Montauban which adjudged Monsieur Balarand unto the Church of Castres the Deputy of Aymet requiring that the said Decree might be revers'd and the said Balarand restored unto the Church of Aymet for the Reasons assigned by them and Monsieur Rotan being heard on the behalf of the Church of Castres it is ordained by this present Synod That Monsieur Balarand doth of Right belong unto the Church of Aymet and that he shall be restored again unto the said Church which may recal him within three Months counting from this 14th of June 1596 and in case of his Disobedience unto this Order he shall be interdicted the Exercise of his Ministry VI. An Appeal was brought by Monsieur Simon L'hermite Lord of Puy deposed from the holy Ministry by the Colloquy and Classis of Fontenay held at St. Germain in March last the causes and grounds of his Appeal having been reported to us and the motives inducing the said Colloquy to depose him to wit his pertinacious asserting That the Humane Nature of our Lord Jesus Christ was destroyed in his Death This Synod appointed Master Merlin Rotan de Serres and the Lord du Plessis to confer with the said du Puy and to convince him of his Error who relating to us That the said du Puy doth own and approve our Confession of Faith and that he had offended and fallen into an Error as above-mentioned which also the said du Puy confessed openly before this Assembly That he had held that erroneous Opinion but doth now acknowledge the Humanity of our Lord Jesus to have been ever conjoyned to his Divinity in Life and Death yea whilst his Body lay in the Grave and he doth abjure all other Errors contrary unto this Truth now subscribed by him The Deputies also of the Province of Poictou having been heard upon the whole matter this Assembly approveth the Proceedings of the said Colloquy as just and equitable But because the said du Puy hath abjur'd that his Error and earnestly desireth to serve the Church of God and promiseth for the future to carry himself with greater modesty and humility this Assembly doth restore the said du Puy unto his Office of the Ministry yet ordaineth That for three Months he shall be silent and not exercise any of the Publick Duties thereof which time expired he getting a Certificate of his pious Conversation from that Church wherein he liveth he may be by the approbation of the Colloquies sent unto any Congregation which shall give him a Call CHAP. VI. Particular MATTERS I. THE Theses of Anthony de L' Escale being presented unto this Synod
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
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
obedient Brethren the Pastors and Elders in the Reformed Church of Paris and for all Drelincourt Pastor Bigot Tardif Dinets Massanes Millet Raillard and Mandat Elders And in the Margin We most earnestly beseech you to give Audience to Monsieur Mestrezat who is ordered more particularly to report this Affair unto you The End of the Synod of Castres SYNODICON IN Galliâ Reformatâ OF THE Acts Canons Decisions and Decrees OF THE Four Last National Synods OF THE Reformed Churches OF FRANCE The Second Part of the Second Volume By JOHN QVICK Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed by J. D. for Thomas Parkhurst and Jonathan Robinson 1691. THE Acts Canons Decisions and Decrees OF THE Twenty sixth Synod HELD BY The Reformed Churches OF FRANCE and BEARN The second Time at CHARENTON Under the Authority and Permission of LOUIS XIII King of FRANCE and NAVARRE In the twenty second Year of his Reign begun September the 1st and ended Friday the 10th of October In the Year of our Lord 1631. The General CONTENTS of these Synodical Acts in several Chapters Chap. I. THE Lord Galland the King's Commissioner The King 's Writ for calling the Synod Deputies Names Election of Synodical Officers Chap. II. The King's Letters Patents and Commission to the Lord Galland Chap. III. The Lord Galland's Speech to the Synod Chap. IV. The Moderator's Reply to this Harangue Chap. V. Deputies and a Letter sent from the Synod unto the King Chap. VI. The Cahier or Bill of Grievances sent by the Synod to the King Chap. VII The Deputies Return from Court with the King's Answer and Letter to the Synod Chap. VIII Election of General Deputies Chap. IX Monsieur Beraud admitted at Deputy to sit and vote in the Synod Chap. X. A second Letter from the Synod unto the King Chap. XI The General Deputies make Report of their Audience and the King's Answer to that Letter Chap. XII The Sieurs Bouteroue and Basnage admitted as Deputies to sit and act in the Synod Chap. XIII The King's Letter unto the Lord Galland about it Chap. XIV Approbation of the Confession of Faith Chap. XV. Observations upon the Discipline Chap. XVI Observations upon the National Synod of Castres Chap. XVII A great Debate about incorporating the Churches of Bearn with those of France opposed by the Lord Commissioner Chap. XVIII The Synod's Reply unto his Lordship Chap. XIX The Synod's Protestation upon this Conjunction of the Churches of Bearn with those of France Chap. XX. General Matters Chap. XXI An Act for a publick National Fast Chap. XXII An Act in favour of the Lutheran Brethren Chap. XXIII Particular Matters Chap. XXIV Of Vniversities and Colledges Chap. XXV An Act for an Assessment upon the Provinces for maintaining the Vniversities Chap. XXVI A Dividend of our borrowed Charities to maintain the Vniversities Chap. XXVII The Provinces Accompts about their Maintenance exhibited to the Colledges and Vniversities Chap. XXVIII The Lord of Candall's Accompts Chap. XXIX A Dividend of sixteen thousand Livers among the Provinces Chap. XXX A blank Dividend Chap. XXXI Roll of Apostate and deposed Ministers Chap. XXXII An Act for calling the next National Synod at Alanson Chap. XXXIII Remarks upon three of the Deputies The Second Synod of CHARENTON 1631. the 26th Synod SYNOD XXVI 1631. In the Name of God Amen Acts and Decrees of the twenty sixth National Synod held by the Reformed Churches of France and Bearn the second time at Charenton St. Maurice near Paris in the Province of the Isle of France under the Authority and Permission of Lewes the Thirteenth King of France and Navarre in the twenty second Year of his Reign begun September the 1st and ended Friday the 10th Day of October in the Year 1631. CHAP. I. The Lord Galland the King's Commissioner The King 's Writ for calling the Synod Deputies Names Election of Synodical Officers Article 1. AT the opening of this Assembly the Lord Galland Counsellor to his Majesty in his most honourable Privy Council and Council of State and Attorney General for his Dominion of Navarre appeared in Person as Commissioner deputed by his Majesty unto it and presented his Majesty's Warrant signed with his Sign Manual for the convocating of it 2. This 29th Day of January in the Year of our Lord 1631. The King being at Paris upon the most humble Petition of his Subjects of the pret Reformed Religion that they might be permitted to meet and assemble in a National Synod there not having been one held since that of Castres in the Year 1626. His Majesty being very willing to gratify those his Subjects aforesaid and to give them some Marks of his Royal Favour hath granted and permitted and doth grant and permit unto those his aforesaid Subjects the Power and Priviledg of holding a National Synod the first Day of September next at Charenton near Paris but with this Condition that none other Matters shall be debated in it but such as are allowed them by his Majesty's Edicts and that the Lord Galland Counsellor to his Majesty in his Privy Council and Council of State and Attorney General for his House of Navarre shall assist personally in the said Synod as his Majesty's Commissioner as hath been accustomed and practised heretofore In Testimony whereof his Majesty hath commanded me to issue out this present Writ which he was pleased to sign with his own Hand and commanded it to be countersigned by me his Counsellor and Secretary of Estate and of his Commandments and of his Treasury Signed in the Original LOVIS And a little lower Phillippeaux 3. There appeared on Behalf of the Churches in the several Provinces of this Kingdom the Pastors and Elders whose Names are hereafter mentioned For the Province of Burgundy the Sieurs Peter Boullenat Pastor of the Church of Vaux and Alexander Rouph Pastor of the Church of Lyons together with the Lords Timothy Armet Advocate in the Privy Council Elder in the Church of Conches and Lazarus du Puy Counsellor for the King in the Presidial Court of Bourg and Elder of the Church gathered in that Town 4. For the Province of Provence the Sieurs Paul Maurice Pastor of the Church at Aiguires and Peter de Peyre Lord of Retardet Elder in the same Church 5. For the Province of Orleans and Berry the Sieurs Daniel Jamett Pastor the Church of Gien upon the Loir and James L'amy Pastor of the Church of Chasteaudun accompanied with Master Claudius Bernard Elder in the Church of Chastillon upon the Loir and Bailiff of the said Town and Henry du Four Doctor of Physick Elder in the Church of Blois 6. For the Province of Poictou the Sieurs Isaac de Cuville Pastor of the Church in Couhé and John le Masson Pastor of the Church of Civray together with the Lords René de Lauvrignac Esq Lord of Miauvray Elder of the Church of St. Maixant and Giles Begaut Lord of la Begaudiere Elder in the Church of Montague 7. For the Province of Xaintonge
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
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
do very well approve and acknowledge the necessity thereof and of its Appendages ARTICLE XXXIV We believe that the Sacraments are adjoined unto the word for its more ample confirmation to wit that they may be pledges and tokens of the grace of God and that by these means our Faith which is very weak and ignorant may be supported and comforted For we confess that these outward signs be such that God by the power of his holy Spirit doth work by them that nothing may be there represented to us in vain Yet nevertheless we hold that all their substance and vertue is in Jesus Christ from whom if they be separated they be nothing else but shadows and smoak ARTICLE XXXV We acknowledge That there be two Sacraments only which are common to the whole Church whereof Baptism is the first which is administred to us to testifie our Adoption because we are by it ingraffed into the Body of Christ that we may be washed and cleansed by his Blood and afterwards renewed in Holiness of Life by his Spirit We hold also That altho' we be baptized but once yet the Benefits which are signified to us therein do extend themselves during the whole course of our life even unto death that so we may have a lasting Signature with us that Jesus Christ will always be our Righteousness and Sanctification And altho' Baptism be a Sacrament of Faith and Repentance yet forasmuch as God doth together with the Parents account their Children and Posterity to be Church-Members we affirm That Infants born of believing Parents are by the Authority of Christ to be baptized ARTICLE XXXVI We affirm That the Holy Supper of our Lord to wit the other Sacrament is a witness to us of our Union with the Lord Jesus Christ because that he is not only once dead and raised up again from the dead for us but also he doth indeed seed us and nourish us with his Flesh and Blood that we being made one with him may have our life in common with him And although he be now in Heaven and shall remain there till he come to judge the World yet we believe that by the secret and incomprehensible vertue of his Spirit he doth nourish and quicken us with the substance of his Body and Blood But we say that this is done in a spiritual manner nor do we hereby substitute in the place of the effect and truth an idle fancy and conceit of our own but rather because this Mystery of our Union with Christ is so high a thing that it surmounteth all our Senses yea and the whole order of Nature and in short because it is coelestial therefore it cannot be apprehended but by Faith ARTICLE XXXVII We believe as was said before That both in Baptism and the Lord's Supper God doth indeed truly and effectually give whatsoever he doth there sacramentally exhibit and therefore we conjoyn with the Signs the true possession and injoyment of what is offer'd to us in them Therefore we affirm That they which do bring pure Faith as a clean Vessel unto the Holy Supper of the Lord they do indeed receive that which the Signs do there witness that is That the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ are no less the Meat and Drink of the Soul than Bread and Wine are the Meat of the Body ARTICLE XXXVIII We say therefore That let the Element of Water be never so despicable yet notwithstanding it doth truly witness unto us the inward washing of our Souls with the Blood of Jesus Christ by the vertue and efficacy of his Spirit and that the Bread and Wine being given us in the Lord's Supper do serve in very deed unto our spiritual nourishment because they do as it were point out unto us with the finger that the Flesh of Jesus Christ is our Meat and his Blood our Drink And we reject those Fanaticks who will not receive such Signs and Marks although Jesus Christ doth speak plainly This is my Body and this Cup is my Blood ARTICLE XXXIX We believe That God will have the World to be ruled by Laws and Civil Government that there may be some sort of Bridles by which the unruly Lusts of the World may be restrained and that therefore he appointed Kingdoms Commonwealths and other kinds of Principalities whether hereditary or otherwise And not that alone but also whatsoever pertaineth to the Ministration of Justice whereof he avoucheth himself the Author therefore hath he even delivered the Sword into the Magistrates hand that so Sins committed against both the Tables of God's Law not only against the Second but the First also may be suppressed And therefore because God is the Author of this Order we must not only suffer Magistrates whom he hath set over us but we must also give them all Honour and Reverence as unto his Officers and Lieutenants which have received their Commission from him to exercise so lawful and Sacred a Function ARTICLE XL. Therefore we affirm that Obedience must be yielded unto their Laws and Statutes that Tribute must be paid them Taxes and all other Duties and that we must bear the Yoke of Subjection with a free and willing mind although the Magistrates be Infidels so that the soveraign Government of God be preserved entire Wherefore we detest all those who do reject the Higher Powers and would bring in a Community and Confusion of Goods and subvert the Course of Justice Sect. 10. This was the Confession which was owned in their First National Synod hold at Paris in the Year 1559. and presented unto Francis the Second King of France first at Amboise in behalf of all the Professors of the Reformed Religion in that Kingdom afterwards to Charles the Ninth at the Conference of Poissy It was a second time presented to the said King and at length published by the Pastors of the French Churches with a Preface to all other Evangelical Pastors in the Year 1566. It was also most solemnly signed and ratified in the National Synod held the first time at Rochell 1571. the Year before the Bartholomean Massacre by Jane Queen of Navarre Henry Prince of Berne Henry de Bourbon Prince of Condé Lowis Count of Nassaw and Sir Gaspard de Colligni Lord High Admiral of France Monsieur Chamier writ that Apologetical Preface which begins with these words Combien que nos sachions c. for that other which is prefixt to it in the Bible-Confession and begins with these words au Roy Sire was done by the Reverend Mr. Calvin who first drew up the Confession it self One thing I must advise the Reader of that there is a very great difference in the Number and Matter of these Articles which came not only in at first by the Printers but by the various Copies which were transcribed with Emendations Additions and Alterations from the respective National Synods The best Copy that I have met with is that in the Harmony of Confessions translated into English and Printed by
Cities in which there is a Bishoprick or Archbishoprick but yet this shall not in the least prejudice those of the said pretended Reformed Religion so as to disable them from demanding or nominating for the said place of Worship the Burroughs and Villages near unto the said Cities excepting also the places and Lordships belonging unto the Ecclesiasticks in which 't is not our Intention that the said second place of Bailywick should he established We having out of our special Grace and Favour excepted and reserved them And we will and understand that by and under the name of ancient Bailywicks be meant those which were in being during the Reign of our Honoured Lord and Father-in-Law the late King Henry the Second and were reputed for Bailywicks Seneschallies and Governments depending immediately on the Jurisdiction of our Courts aforesaid XII Nor do we intend by this present Edict to derogate from those Edicts and Grants which we have formerly made for the reducing of divers Princes Lords Gentlemen and Catholick Towns unto our obedience by any thing which concerneth the exercise of the said Religion which Edicts and Grants shall be maintained and observed in this particular according to the import of those Instructions which shall be given by us unto those Commissioners who shall be appointed for the executing of this present Edict XIII We do most strictly forbid all those of the said Religion to exercise any part thereof whether as to the Ministry or Order or Discipline or publick Instruction of Children and any others in this our Kingdom or any Lands under our Dominion in what concerneth the said Religion unless in those places permitted and granted by this present Edict XIV As also there shall be no exercise of the said Religion in our Court or Retinue nor in our Territories or Countries on the other side of the Alps nor also in our City of Paris nor within five Leagues of the said City Yet notwithstanding the Professors of the said Religion who live in the Territories and Countries on the other side of the Alps and in our said City and within five Leagues thereof shall not be sought after in their Houses nor be obliged to do any thing upon the account of the Religion aforesaid against their Consciences provided that they do in all other things demean themselves according to the import of this present Edict XV. Nor may the publick exercise of the said Religion be performed in our Armies unless in the Quarters of the Chieftains professing the said Religion excepting always the place where our Royal Person shall be Lodged XVI In pursuance of the second Article of the Conference at Nerac we do not permit those of the said Religion to build places for its exercise in those Towns and places where we have granted it unto them and those which they have already built shall be restored to them or the Landlord of them in that condition in which it is at present and that in those places where the said exercise is not permitted them unless they have been since converted into some other kind of Buildings In which case they who now possess the said Edifices and Buildings Lands and places of equal price and value according as they were rated before they had built them or their just price as they shall be estimated by persons of skill and judgment in such matters Saving always to the said Proprietors and Possessors their recourse against all to whom they may belong XVII We forbid all Preachers Readers and other Persons who speak in publick to use any words discourses or talk which tendeth to stir up the People unto Sedition Yea we have enjoined and do enjoin and Command them to contain and deport themselves soberly and to speak nothing but what may be for the instruction and edification of their Hearers and that they maintain the repose and tranquillity established by us in our said Kingdom under those penalties expressed in our former Edicts Enjoining most strictly our Attorneys General and their Substitutes that according to the duties of their Office they do make information against those who shall break and transgress this our Law upon pain of answering for it in their own private and particular Capacities and of forfeiting their Offices XVIII We do also forbid all our Subjects of whatever quality or condition they may be to take away by force or by inticements against the will of their Parents the Children of those of the said Religion and to cause them to be baptized or confirmed in the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church as also the same Prohibitions are made by us against those of the said pretended Reformed Religion and all this on pain of exemplary punishment XIX The Professors of the said pretended Reformed Religion shall not be in any manner constrained nor stand obliged by reason of Abjurations Promises and Oaths which they have made heretofore or for any securities given by them upon the account of the said Religion nor shall they be molested nor troubled in any manner whatsoever XX. They shall be bound also to keep and observe the Holy-Days Commanded by the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church nor may they work sell nor keep open Shops on those Days nor may Artificers work out of their Shops unless it be in their Chambers and Houses close shut upon those Holy-Days and other days prohibited in any Trade so that the noise thereof should be heard without by the Passengers or Neighbours However none but the Officers of Justice shall make inquiry after it XXI Nor may any Books of the said pretended Reformed Religion be Printed or sold publickly unless in those Towns and Places where the publick Exercise of the said Religion is allowed And as for other Books which shall be imprinted in other Towns they shall be seen and perused as well by our Officers as by Divines according to the import of our Decrees And we do most strictly forbid the Imprinting Publishing and Sale of all Books Libels and defamatory Writings under the Penalties contained in our Decrees and we enjoin all our Judges and other Officers to look carefully unto it XXII We do Ordain That there shall be no difference nor distinction made upon the account of Religion in the receiving of Scholars for their Education in Universities Colledges and Schools and of sick and poor Persons into Hospitals and Spittles or to the participation of publick Alms. XXIII Those of the said pretended Reformed Religion shall be obliged to keep the Laws of the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church received in this our Kingdom about Marriages Contracted or to be Contracted within the degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity XXIV In like manner those of the said Religion shall pay according to the usual Custom the Fees for entrance into those Offices and Charges which are bestowed upon them without ever being compelled to assist at any Ceremonies contrary to their said Religion and when ever they be called to take an Oath they
interests of the Parties and in case the said Registers shall refuse so to do it shall be enough for the said Officers to make report of the said Citation expedited by the said Ushers or Notary and to cause it to be recorded in the Register of their own Jurisdiction that so they may have recourse unto it when ever they shall need it on pain of a nullity in all proceedings and judgments whatsoever And as for those Officers who were never used to be received in those said Parliaments in case those to whom it doth belong should refuse to proceed unto the said Examen and Reception the said Officers shall betake themselves unto the said Chambers to be provided for as in that case it behoveth LIV. The Officers of the said pretended Reformed Religion who shall be hereafter appointed to serve in the body of our Courts of Parliament aforesaid in the great Council Chamber of Accompts Courts of Aid Courts of the General-Treasurers of France and other Officers of the Exchequer shall be examined and received in those places where they have been accustomed to be and in case of refusal or denyal of Justice they shall be provided for by our Privy-Council LV. The Reception of our Officers made in the Chamber formerly established at Castres shall remain in force notwithstanding all Decrees and Orders to the contrary And the Reception of Judges Counsellors Comptrollers and other Officers of the said Religion made in our Privy-Council or by Commissioners ordained by us upon the refusal made by our Courts of Parliament of Aids and Chambers of Accompts shall be valid as if they had been done in the said Courts and Chambers and by those other Judges to whom the Reception doth belong And their Salaries shall be allowed by the Chambers of Accompts without any difficulty And in case any of them hath been rased they shall be restored without needing any other Command than this present Edict and without binding the said Officers to cause any other Reception to appear notwithstanding all Decrees given unto the contrary which shall abide null and void and of none effect LVI And till that there be some way and means found out for defraying the charges of Justice in the said Chambers out of the Fines and Mulcts that may be levied we shall take care to provide some valuable and sufficient Assignments for the paying of those Charges excepting always our redemanding the said summs out of the Goods and Estates of Condemned Persons LVII Presidents and Counsellors of the said pretended Reformed Religion who were formerly received in our Court of Parliament of Dolphiny and in the Chamber of the Edict incorporated with it shall continue and have their Sessions and Orders in it that is to say The Presidents as they have enjoyed and do enjoy them at present and the Counsellors according to the Decrees and Provisions which they have obtained in our Privy-Council LVIII We declare all Sentences Judgments Arrests Proceedings Seizures Sales and Decrees made and given against those of the said pretended Reformed Religion as well living as dead since the Death of the late King Henry the Second our Most Honoured Lord and Father-in-Law upon accompt of the said Religion the tumults and troubles since happened together with the execution of those Judgments and Decrees from this present to be broken revoked and disannulled and we do break revoke and disannul them We ordain also that they shall be rased and taken out of the Registers Office and the Courts as well Soveraign as Inferiour As it is also our will that all Marks Prints and Monuments of these Executions aforesaid Books and defamatory Acts against their Persons Memories and Posterity shall be removed and blotted out And that the places in which upon this occasion there have been demolitions and ruins shall be restored in that Estate in which they are at present unto their Proprietors who may enjoy and dispose of them as best pleaseth them And in general we have broken revoked and disannulled all proceedings and Informations done upon the accompt of any Enterprises pretended Crimes of High Treason and others notwithstanding that such Procedures Decrees and Judgments do contain Reunion Incorporation and Confiscation And we will that those of the said Religion and others who have followed their Party and their Heirs do re-enter into the real and actual possession of all their goods and estates LIX All Proceedings made Judgments and Decrees given in the late troubles against those of the said Religion who have born Arms or have departed the Kingdom or are in it in the Towns and Lands held by them or for any other matter than that of Religion and troubles as also all non-suiting of Causes and Legal Conventional and Customary Prescriptions and Foedal Seizures happened during the late troubles or by lawful Impediments proceeding from them the cognisance of which shall abide with our Judges shall be all esteemed as if not done given or happened and we have declared and do declare them to be such and we have put and do put them to nought so that the Parties cannot be in the least holpen or benefitted by them so that they shall be remitted into that estate in which they were before notwithstanding the said Decrees and their Execution and they shall be restored in this respect unto the possession of them And all this as abovesaid shall in like manner take place for them who have followed the Party of them of the said Religion or who have been absent from our Kingdom upon the accompt of the Troubles And as for the Children Minors of those Persons of the quality abovesaid who are dead in the late troubles we leave those Parties in the same estate in which they were before without refunding of the Expences or being bound to make any amends Yet nevertheless 't is not our mind nor intention that those Judgments given by Presidial Judges or other inferiour Judges against those of the said Religion or who have followed their Party should be null in case they were given by Judges sitting on the Bench in those Towns which were held by them and whereunto they had free access LX. The Decrees given in our Courts of Parliament in matters whose Cognisance belong unto the Chambers ordained by the Edict of the year 1577. and the Articles of Nerac and Flex in which Courts the Parties have not proceeded voluntarily that is to say they have alledged and proposed declinatory ends or which have been given for default or by fore-clusion whether in Civil or Criminal matters notwithstanding which ends the said Parties have been constrained to go on farther they shall be in like manner null and of no value And as for those Decrees given against them of the said Religion who have proceeded voluntarily and without proposing Declinatory Ends those Decrees shall stand Yet nevertheless and without prejudice unto their Execution they may if it seem good unto them provide against them by a Civil
Inhabitants to be brought in to them those Accusations and Informations which are made against them that it may be known and judged whether those Actions be triable in the Provosts Courts or not that so afterward according to the quality of the Crimes they may be by those Chambers remanded back unto the ordinary or judged by the Provosts according to law and reason they observing the Contents of this our present Edict And those Presidial Judges Provosts of Mareschals Vice-Bailiffs Vice-Seneschals and others who judge Soveraignly and without Appeal shall be bound respectively to obey and satisfy those Commands which shall be made them by the said Chambers and all even as they have been accustomed to be done in the said Parliaments upon pain of being deprived of their Offices LXVIII The Proclamations Bills of Siquis and Outropes of Inheritances by which a Decree is prosecuted shall be made in those places and at the hours accustomed if it may be done according to our Ordinances or else in the publick Markets provided that there be a Market in that place in which the said Inheritances do lie but where there is none they shall be made in the nearest Market Town of the Jurisdiction of that Court where a Delivery by Judgment is to be made And the Bills shall be set up and affixed upon the Posts in the said Market and at the entrance of the Auditory of the said place and by this means the said Proclamations shall be good and valid and they may proceed to the interposal of a Decree without stopping at the Nullities which may be alledged on this account LXIX All Deeds Papers Writings Evidences which have been taken away shall be restored and returned back on both sides unto their rightful Owners and Proprietors although the said Papers or the Castles and Houses in which they were kept had been taken and possessed by special Commissions from the late King now dead our most Honoured Lord and Brother-in-Law or by Commissions from our selves or by Command of the Governours and Lieutenants-General of our Provinces or by the Authority of the heads of either Party or by any other means and pretext whatsoever LXX The Children of those persons who had departed the Kingdom since the late King Henry the Second our most Honoured Lord and Father-in-Law upon the account of Religion and the troublesome times ensuing although the said Children were born out of the Kingdom shall be reputed True Frenchmen and Natives of the Kingdom and we have declared and declare them to be such nor have they any farther need of Letters of Naturalization or other provisions from us besides this present Edict notwithstanding all Ordinances to the contrary from which we have derogated and do derogate upon Condition that the said Children born in Foreign Countries shall be obliged within the term of ten years after the publication of this present to come and dwell in the Kingdom LXXI Those of the said pretended Reformed Religion and others who have followed their Party and had farmed before the troubles any Office or Demesn or Gabell or Foreign Imposition or other Rights appertaining to us which they could not injoy because of those troubles shall be acquitted and discharged even as we do now acquit and discharge them of all receits whatsoever of the Income of the said Offices or which they may have paid any where else than into the Receit of our Treasury notwithstanding all Obligations made and passed by them on this occasion LXXII All Places Towns and Provinces of our Kingdom the Countries Territories and Lordships under our Jurisdiction shall use and enjoy the same Priviledges Immunities Liberties Franchises Fairs Markets Jurisdictions and Assises Seats of Justice as they did before the troubles began in the Month of March one thousand five hundred and eighty five and in the preceding years notwithstanding all Letters to the contrary and the Disposals of the said Lordships to other Persons provided that this was done meerly and solely upon the account of the said Troubles Which Assizes and Seats of Justice shall be revived and restored in those Towns and Places in which they were before LXXIII All Prisoners formerly detained by the Authority of Justice or by any other means yea and the Slaves in the Galleys for and upon the account of the said Religion shall be inlarged and set at full Liberty LXXIV Those of the said Religion may not be hereafter surcharged nor oppressed by any ordinary or extraordinary Taxes more than the Catholicks nor above the proportion of their estates and abilities And the Parties which shall complain of their being over-burdened shall appear before the Judges to whom the Cognisance of these matters doth appertain And all our Subjects both of the Catholick and pretended Reformed Religion shall be indifferently discharged of all Taxes which had been imposed both upon the one and other during the troubles by them who were of the contrary Party and not consenting as also the Debts contracted and not paid and expences made without their consent however they shall not be able to redemand the moneys which had been imployed in payment of the said Taxes LXXV Nor is it our intention that those of the said Religion nor others who have followed their Party nor the Catholicks who were remaining in the Towns and Places possessed and held by them and which stood up for them shall be prosecuted for the payment of Taxes Aids Grants Increase and the little Tax imposed by Henry the Second Utensils Reparations and other Impositions and Subsidies fallen and imposed during the Troubles fallen out before and till our coming unto the Crown whether by the Edicts Commands of the late Kings our Predecessors or by the Advice and deliberation of the Governours and States of the Provinces Courts of Parliaments and others from which we have discharged and do discharge them by forbidding the General-Treasurers of France and of our Revenue the Receivers-general and particular their Agents and Dealers and other Intendants and Commissioners of our Revenues to search after molest or disturb them any manner of way whatsoever whether directly or indirectly LXXVI All Chieftains Lords Knights Gentlemen Officers Corporations and Communalties and all others which have aided and succoured them their Widows Heirs and Successors shall be quitted and discharged of all moneys which were taken up and levied by them and their Orders whether they were moneys Royal how great soever the summ might be or the moneys of those Cities and Communalties and of particular Persons their Rents Revenues Plate Sale of Houshold Goods of Ecclesiastical Persons or others Trees Timber whether of and belonging to the Crown or to other Persons Fines Booties Ransoms or moneys of another nature taken by them upon the account of the troubles began in March 1585. and the other troubles foregoing until our Arrival to the Crown without that either they or their Agents imployed by them in the levying of the said moneys or who ever gave them
any or supplied them by vertue of their Orders shall be hereafter or at present sued for and they shall be acquitted both they and their Agents from all management and administration of the said moneys they producing for their discharge within four Months after the publication of this present Edict made in our Court of Parliament in Paris Acquittances duly expedited by the Chief Commanders in the said Religion or of those who were Commissionated by them to audit and finish those Accompts or of those who bore Office and Command in those said Corporations and Towns during the said troubles Moreover they shall be acquitted and discharged of all Acts of Hostility raising and leading of Souldiers coining and valuing of money done in Obedience to the Orders of the said Chief Commanders melting up and taking of Artillery and Ammunition making of Gun-powder and Salt-Peter Surprizals of Fortifications Dismantlings and demolishing of Towns Castles Boroughs and Villages Attempts upon them burnings and demolishments of Churches and Houses Establishment of Justice Judgments and their Executions whether in matters Civil or Criminal Policy and Reglements made about them Voyages and Intelligences Negotiations Treaties and Contracts made with all Foreign Princes and Communalties and Introduction of the said Strangers into the Cities and other parts of our Kingdom and generally of all that hath been done acted and negotiated during the said troubles since the Death of the late King Henry the Second our most Honoured Lord and Father-in-Law by them of the said Religion and others who have followed their Party as if it had been particularly exprest and specified LXXVII Those also of the said Religion shall be discharged of all general and provincial Assemblies made and held by them whether at Mantes or since that time at any other place until now as also of Councils by them Ordained and established for the Provinces of Ordinances and Reglements made in the said Assemblies and Councils placing and increase of Garison Assemblies of Men of War levy and raking of moneys whether in the hands of general or particular Receivers Collectors of the Parishes or otherwise in whatsoever way and manner it might be done Decrees about Salt Continuance or new erection of Tolls Customs and their receits at Royall and upon the Rivers of Charante Garonne the Rhone and Dordonne Armings and Fights at Sea and all accidents and excesses fallen out about paying the said Tolls and Customs and other moneys Fortifying of Towns Castles and Places Impositions of moneys and services receits of those moneys rejection of our Receivers and Farmers and other Officers setting up of others in their Places and of all Unions Dispatches and Negotiations made both within and without the Kingdom And generally of all that hath been done deliberated written and ordained by the said Assemblies and Council without suffering those who have given their advice Signed Executed caused to be Signed and Executed the said Orders Reglements and Deliberations to be sued nor their Widows Heirs and Successors neither now nor for the future although the particularities be not here amply declared And our General-Attorneys and their Substitutes and all those who may claim any Interests in whatsoever fashion or manner it might be shall for ever forbear all Prosecutions notwithstanding all Decrees Sentences Judgments Informations and Proceedings done to the contrary LXXVIII Moreover we do approve strengthen and authorize those Accounts which have been heard examined and shut up by the Deputies in the said Assembly We will that they and their Acquittances which were brought in by those Accountants shall go and be carried into our Chamber of Accounts in Paris three Months after the Publication of this Edict and shall be put into the hands of our Attorney-General to be delivered in and kept in the Books and Registers of our Chamber that upon all needful occasions there may be recourse had unto them nor shall those Accompts be ever revised nor those Accomptants be bound to appear nor shall there be any Correction of them unless in Case of omitting the receit or of false Acquittances And our Attorney-General shall not at all act or proceed although there be very many defects and the formalities have not been duly kept nor observed And we forbid our Officers in the Chamber of Accompts in Paris and in all the other Provinces in which they be established to take any manner of Cognisance whatsoever of them LXXIX And as for those Accompts which have not been yet brought in we will that they be Audited Examined and shut up by our Commissioners who shall be deputed by us who shall without any difficulty pass and allow all the parts payed by the said Accomptants by vertue of the Orders made by the said Assembly or others that were in Power LXXX All Collectors Receivers Farmers and all others shall be duly and legally discharged of all summs of money which they have paid in to the said Agents of the said Assembly of whatsoever nature they may be until the last day of this Month. And 't is our Will and Pleasure that all their Accompts which shall be brought into our Chamber of Accompts shall be passed and allowed purely and simply by vertue of the Acquittances which shall be produced by them And if any shall be hereafter expedited and delivered they shall be all null and those who shall accept or deliver them shall be condemned in a Mulct and Fine for mis-employment of them And if in some Accompts already rendred there shall be found rasures and charges we have upon this respect removed and taken them away we have restored and do restore the said parts intirely by vertue of these Presents without any need for all abovementioned of particular Letters or other matters except the Extracts of this present Article LXXXI The Governours Captains Consuls and Persons Commissionated to recover moneys to pay the Garisons of the places held by those of the said Religion to whom our Receivers and Collectors of the Parishes may have lent moneys upon their Bills and Obligations whether it were by Compulsion or out of obedience to the Commands which were given them by the General Treasurers of all these necessary summs for the maintenance of the said Garrisons until that time when we agreed about the state of that Accompt which we dispatched in the beginning of the year 1596. and the augmentation we have since granted they shall be acquitted and discharged and for what is already paid to the purpose above mentioned although and for what is already paid to the purpose above mentioned although that the said Schedules and Obligations do not expresly mention them which shall be yielded up unto them as if they had been null And that they may be satisfied the General-Treasurers in every Generality shall furnish the said Collectors by their particular Receivors of our Taxes with Acquittances and by the Receivers-General their Acquittances for the Receivers particular and for the discharge of the said General-Receivers
said Court and that in every point and particular you keep maintain and observe their Contents even as this our said Edict Ceasing and causing to cease all troubles and impediments to the contrary For such is our Pleasure Given at Nantes this second day of May in the Year of Grace 1598. And of our Reign the Ninth Signed by the King Forget And Sealed on a single Label of yellow Wax SECT XVI N. B. A Learned Advocate of Nismes relates from the Press how that Monsieur de Thou President in the Parliament of Taris and the Lord de Calignon a most Zealous Protestant Chancellour of Navarre drew up this Edict and spent three years about it If De Calignon would but have followed his Master Henry the Fourth in his Apostacy from the Reformed Religion unto Popery he had been made Lord High Chancellour of France But that most Pious Lord refused the Greatest Honour that a Person of the Long-Robe was capable of in France that he might not lose the Eternal Glories of the Kingdom of Heaven SECT XVII This Edict was kept tolerably well for twelve years during the Life of Henry the Great as they called him after his Death And yet there were many infractions of it of which the National Synods held at Gap 1603. and at Rochell 1607. Complained in their Bills of Grievances But no sooner was he sent out of the World by the Parricidal Hand of a Disciple of the Jesuits but the Reformed immediately found their want of him And though they had some sprinklings of Court Holy-water now and then yet the old implacable Malice of the Popish Clergy against them brake out upon all occasions and Louis the Thirteenth who succeeded his Father as another Antiochus at their instigation made War with God's Saints in his Kingdom seized upon their Cautionary Towns took away from them their Franchises deprived their Ministers of those Sallaries for which the Churches parting with their Tithes in lieu of that Money which was to be paid by Tallies out of the Exchequer unto their Pastors had compounded with his Father He devoured brake in pieces and stamped the residue of them with his feet so that their strength was quite gone and they lay at his mercy He could do with them as he pleased But the time of their total ruin was not yet come And God giveth the Churches some mercy in the midst of judgment Hence the French King having other designs in his head and looking beyond the bounds of his native Kingdom he leaves persecuting his Reformed Subjects and that there might be a Calm at home and these oppressed lull'd asleep he issueth out his Edict of Grace and Pardon to them from Nismes in the Lower Languedoc dated July 1629. Which is offered to the Reader 's eye SECT XVIII The King's Edict of Grace and Pardon granted by his Majesty unto the Duke of Rohan and the Lord of Soubize and to all other his Rebellious Subjects of the Towns Champain Countrey Castles and places in the Provinces of Higher and Lower Languedoc Sevennes Gevaudan Guienne Foix and elsewhere together with the Articles Done at Nismes in July 1629. and verified in the Parliament of Tholouse the 27th of August the same Year LOUIS by the grace of God King of France and Navarre to all present and to come greeting That Love we bear unto our Subjects and that Compassion we have for the Miserie 's brought upon them by the Wars and Divisions with which this poor Kingdom hath been a long time afflicted have touched us so sensibly that laying by all Considerations of our Health and the Inconveniences of the Seasons of the Year we have used all means possible to reduce under our obedience those who had departed from it and had been the cause of all these Calamities We hoped that the example of those Cities which returned under our Authority in the Years 1620 1621 and 1622 would have affected them with a sence of gratitude but seeing they were hindred from so doing by their obstinacy or by the violence and artifice of those Factions in which they were ingaged We have invited them by our Declarations to return unto their Duty and by all the most favourable Perswasions that our Subjects could receive We have also prepared great and puissant Armies that by force we might reduce them who being obstinate in their Rebellions were become deaf and blind and not moved with any Arguments and Occasions offered them for their Duty And God hath been pleased to bless us with success and to let us reap and enjoy the fruit of our Arms which the City of Rochel hath first of all experienced as is evident by the Edict that We caused to be made and published upon its reduction The City of Privas in Vivaretz which consided in its situation difficult and as they believed inaccessible in its Fortifications and in the abundance of its Provisions and Ammunitions with which it was replenished priding it self in a long continued Prosperity was so bold as to resist Us and to attend the Battery of our Cannons and the Effort of our Arms and despising the sweet Summons of our Goodness the hatred of the Inhabitants was so great that losing all hopes of maintaining themselves in their Rebellion they had rather abandon their Houses and Estates than seek their preservation in our Mercy of which they might have been assured so that they have lost the very hopes of ever enjoying it and could in no wise avoid their destruction by Fire and Sword which the Divine Vengeance hath excited against them for which reason we have provided by our Letters of Declaration separately expedited that they should not be comprised in this present Edict But this Chastisement having rendred others wiser hath caused that not only the High and Lower Vivaretz but also divers other Towns and Forts have returned unto their Duty and have sworn Fidelity unto Us for which cause We have pardoned them their Rebellion and granted them an Act of Oblivion causing their Fortifications and Walls to be demolished which feeding the foolish confidence of others had occasioned all those Miseries they have since suffered Divers Gentlemen also being touched with the Felicity which they had found in our Favour have had recourse unto it and received it and have quitted the Rebels Party The City of Alez extreamly strong in its situation fortified with Ramparts and Bulworks and of all that the Wit of Man could invent for troubling the Land made semblance as if it would resist and stop the Course and Progress of our Victories but when it saw it self incompassed with our Army our Cannons of Battery ready to make a breach it durst not stand out the first shot lest it should be forced to submission as is ever practised in such like cases by the Laws of War so that the Inhabitants came and prostrated themselves at Our feet and implored Our Favour and Pardon which We graciously bestowed upon them And when as
LVIII There were nine and twenty National Synods celebrated by these Churches within the space of one hundred Years they met in this order and at the times and places mentioned in this ensuing Catalogue 1. At Paris May 25. 1559. 2. At Poictiers March 20. 1560. 3. At Orleans April 25. 1562. 4. At Lyons Aug. 10. 1563. 5. The 2d at Paris Octob. 21. 1565. 6. At Vertuil Septemb. 1. 1567. 7. At Rochel April 2. 1571. 8. At Nismes May 8. 1572. 9. At St. Foy Feb. 2. 1578. 10. At Figeac Aug. 2. 1579. 11. The 2d at Rochel June 28. 1581. 12. At Vitré May 26. 1583. 13. At Montauban June 15. 1594. 14. At Saumur May 13. 1596. 15. At Montpellier May 26. 1598. 16. At Gergeau May 9. 1601. 17. At Gap May 18. 1603. 18. The 3d of Rochel March 1. 1607. 19. At St. Maixant May 26. 1609. 20. At Privas May 23. 1612. 21. At Tonneins May 2. 1614. 22. The 2d of Vitré May 18. 1617. 23. At Alez Octob. 1. 1620. 24. At Charenton Septemb. 1. 1623. 25. At Castres Septemb. 15. 1626. 26. The 2d of Charenton 1631. 27. At Alanson May 27. 1637. 28. The 3d of Charenton 1654. 29. At Loudun Novemb. 10. 1659. The next National Synod was appointed to be held in the City of Nismes but when that will be Peloni Palmoni the wonderful Numberer can only and most certainly inform us THE ACTS DECISIONS and DECREES OF THE First National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Christ IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE HELD At PARIS in the Year of our LORD 1559. The Contents of the Acts in this Synod Chap. I. The Lord of Callonges Minister in the Church of Paris Moderator Eleven Churches send their Deputies to the Synod Chap. II. General Matters The first Draught of the Church-Discipline in Forty Canons Chap. III. Particular Matters Twenty Five Cases of Conscience resolved 1559. First Synod THE First National Synod Henry the Second died the tenth of July 1559. SYNOD I. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost The Decrees of the National Synod celebrated in Paris the Five and Twentieth Day of May in the Year of our Lord One thousand five hundred fifty and nine and in the Sixteenth Year of Henry the Second King of France CHAP. I. Monsieur De Morell Lord of Callonges was at that time Minister of the Church of Paris Publick Matters FRancis de Morell otherwise called De Callonges presided and there assisted at it on behalf of the Reformed Churches of France the Pastors of Diep and St. Lo in Normandy of Paris of Angiers of Orleans of Tours of Chastelherand of Poitiers of Xaintes of St. John d' Angeli and Marennes CHAP. II. The First CANON I. NO Church Discipline Cap. 6. Art 1. nor Church-Officer be he Minister Elder or Deacon shall Claim or Exercise any Jurisdiction or Authority over another In every Synod there must be a President chosen His Office in the Synods II. A Moderator shall be chosen by general Consent in every Synod who shall give Notice of the Days and Places of Meeting and of the Sessions of the Synod And he shall gather the Suffrages and declare which is the greater Number and pronounce the Synodical Decisions Moreover he shall see that Order be observed in Speaking without confusion and impose Silence on such as are eager and contentious and in case of Disobedience he shall cause them to withdraw that Advice may be taken how to Censure them Moreover he shall preside at the Censure of every Person and make the Remonstrances As also to give Answers in case of Counsel demanded or unto Letters sent unto the Synod yet therein always observing the Advice of the Assembly And he himself also shall be subject unto Censures The Office of the Moderator shall expire with the Synod and the next Synod is at liberty to chuse him or any other A Pastor may bring with him an Elder unto the Synod III. Ministers that are sent unto the National Synod may bring with them one or two Elders or Deacons but not more and those chosen by the Body of their Consistory who also shall have their Votes in the Synod As for the Elders and Deacons of that Church where the Synod shall be assembled they may be present also and speak in their Order yet to avoid confusion two of them only shall have Power of Voting in it And no Person shall depart from the Assembly without leave first had and obtained IV. National Synods shall meet according to the Necessities of the Churches and in them there shall be an amicable and brotherly Censure of all its Members The Lord's Supper to be administred at the end of every National Synod and at the closing up of the Synod the Lord's Supper shall be celebrated to testifie their Union not only by the Ministers and Elders of the Synod but in general with that whole Church V. The Ministers with one Elder and Deacon at the least from every Church in all the Provinces of this Kingdom shall meet together once a Year and choose such a Time and Place as shall be most convenient for their Synodical Assembly The manner of Receiving a Minister VI. No Minister for the present shall be chosen by one only Minister or by his Consistory but by two or three Ministers and their Consistories or by the Provincial Synod or by the Colloquy which in those Places where they be already established shall be if possible called together for this purpose And the Elect-Minister shall be presented unto the People for their Approbation but in case there be opposition the Consistory shall judge thereof and if neither part do consent the whole shall be Reported to the Provincial Synod which shall take Cognisance thereof as well for Justifying of the Minister as for his Reception provided the major part of the Consistory and People do consent thereunto No Minister may be sent unto the Synod wâ—â—hout sufficient â—owers VII Ministers shall not be sent from the Churches without Authentick Letters or some other sufficient Testimonials from those Places whence they come and if having no such Commission they should offer themselves to be Received they shall not be Admitted unless their Conversation be fully known and upon what Account they have quitted their Church And in case of opposition they shall be dealt with as was before determined The Elect Deputy must subscribe the Confession of Faith VIII The Deputies Elect shall subscribe our Confession of Faith both in their own Churches in which they were chosen as in those also from which they be sent and their Election shall be confirmed by Prayers and Imposition of Hands by the Ministers yet without Superstition or Opinion of Necessity How Intruders into the Ministry are to be proceeded against IX Such as shall intrude themselves into the Ministry in those Places where the Ministry of the Word of
Churches But in case of lesser miscarriages after publick Satisfaction given by them unto the Congregation they may be restored by the Provincial Synod but to serve in another Province and not otherwise There were present at this Synod of Rochel Joane by the Grace of God Queen of Navar the high and mighty Prince Henry Prince of Navar the high and mighty Prince Henry de Bourbon Prince of Conde and the most illustrious Prince Lewis Count of Nassau and Sir Gaspar Count de Colligny Admiral of France and divers other Lords and Gentlemen besides the Deputies who were Members of the Church of God At Rochel in the Month of April 1571. in the 12th Year of the Reign of Charles the 9th King of France Subscribed thus Theodore de Beza Moderator of the Synod Nicholas de Galars and Scribes Elected John de la Rogeraye Scribes Elected The End of the Synod of Rochel Mr. Beza's Life is written by Melchior Adamus where you have a Catalogue of his Works THE ACTS DECISIONS and DECREES OF THE VIII National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Christ IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE HELD IN The City of Nismes in Languedock the Sixth Day of May and in the Year of our Lord 1572. THE CONTENTS of this SYNOD CHap. I. Monsieur de la Place Moderator and Scribe Chap. II. Observations upon the Discipline Confession of Faith and last Synod of Rochel Chap. III. A Case about Apostates turn'd Persecutors More Observations upon the Disciplines and Canons made Chap. IV. Method of dealing with Contentious Persons quarrelling with Doctrine Discipline Worship Catechising and Marriage Chap. V. Manner of Electing Ministers Chap. VI. General Matters Various Cases of Conscience about Elders Colloquies Rights to a Minister Marriages restoring of Apostates Magistrates c. to the Churches Peace Of Marriage-Promises a great Case Art 8. Incest Creating of Doctors of Divinity Banes opposed by those of the Romish Religion A Father's Composition with the Murderers of his Son Whether Dignities and Knight-hoods may be counted among Beneficed Persons and such admitted to the Lord's Supper Chap. VII Particular Matters about the Province of Normandy Cozain's Books Ramus du Rozier Bergeron and Morellius History of the Albigenses to be translated by Monsieur D'Alier Chap. VIII Catalogue of Vagrants THE Synod of NISMES 1572. Synod VIII SYNOD VIII CHAP. I. Canons Ordained in the National Synod held at Nismes the Sixth of May One thousand five hundred seventy two in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of Charles IX John de la Place President and Scribe AFter Invocation of the Name of GOD John de la Place was elected President and Scribe CHAP. II. Observations upon the Discipline the Confession of Faith and the last National Synod of Rochel I. IT 's unanimously resolved That the Seventh Article of the Discipline shall abide in its full Power II. Instead of those words extracted from the Acts of the National Synod of Rochel in the Year 1571. We reject their Opinion who will not receive the word Substance See Synod of Rochel Gen. Mat. art 6. shall be put Without prejudicing those Forreign Churches who for reasons best known to themselves do not use the word Substance we retain the word Substance in that sence expressed in the Article And then towards the close in lieu of those words That we may derive Life from him shall be inserted That by Mystical and Spiritual Communication with him we may derive that true eternal life And the Lord's Supper is principally ordained for the Communication of it althô the same Lord Jesus be offered to us both in his Substance and Gifts in the Ministry of his Word and Baptism and received by Believers 'T is the Fourteenth Article in the Chapter of Baptism and Book of Discipline III. It was resolved that the Ninth Article concerning Baptism shall abide in its full power And the Ministers of Province shall be admonished to carry themselves with more condescension and not to raise so many Difficulties about Names IV. It 's also resolved That the Fourth Article concerning the Lord's Supper shall remain unchanged CHAP. III. See the First Synod of Rochel Particular Matters Art 1. V. THE Churches of Poictou upon reading the Canon concerning Delinquents demanded What course should be taken with those who in times of Persecution having revolted had been censured by the Church but could never be regained yea and were become Enemies and Persecutors so that if they should be mentioned by Name in the Publick Congregation in order to Excommunication How we are to use Excommunication See the Second Synod of Paris Art 2. of Particular Matters they would certainly grow worse and would rage more bitterly against the Church and do her more and greater mischief as was manifest by woful experience The Synod upon Advice answered That Excommunication was ordained for them who are Members of the Church and not for those who are not and that its natural design and tendency is for her edification and not for her destruction that so the Flock of Christ may not be infested by scabbed Sheep and that the Person thus cut off being humbled and confounded for his sin may be finally recovered and received and that others terrified by his example may be preserved And that when Apostates are mentioned by Name in the Church 't is not properly an Excommunication of them for they have already abandoned her Communion but 't is to declare their Rebellion and Apostasie that so the whole Church may beware of them as of incorrigible Offenders yet nevertheless the best endeavours shall be used for their reduction and reformation and God shall be intreated whilst there is any hope to give them Repentance unto Life And if any such are found who instead of humbling and repenting do harden themselves in their sins and growing worse and more furious do plot and conspire the destruction of the Church or of its Pastors especially understanding that they are to be mentioned by their Names in the Publick Congregation it were far better to forbear all Naming of them it being but a meer formality and our End may as well be obtained by some other means which is by Notifying unto the People those desperate Apostates that every one may shun and avoid their Conversation And this may be done with ease and safety by the Elders and Deacons who shall inform their several Quarters of it that so none may pretend ignorance And whoso converse familiarly with these contumacious Rebels shall be censured according to the Canons of our Discipline Moreover this may be confirmed by the General Doctrine of the Ministers who without naming any Person may give sufficient Notice of them and those prudent Intimations may be advantagiously improved And Ministers and Consistories are warned in Proceedurs of this nature to use all moderation and prudence because that Church-Censures and Canons of Discipline are only used for edification and not for destruction remembring often that
shall be written unto die Provincial Synod of the Isle of France that they summon these aforesaid Gentlemen before the Colloquy of Beauvoisin and remonstrate to them their Offences but to deal gently and sweetly with them And in case upon their appearance they should reject their Admonitions they shall be proceeded against as Rebels and Schismaticks according to the Canons of our Discipline Art XIII As to the business of Cozin's before-mentioned Monsieur de Saule shall be intreated by the Assembly to answer our English Brethren and to send them Cozin's Book and the Remarks which have been made upon it Art XIV Monsieu de Beze is ordered to answer in the Name of this Synod the Letters of our Brethren of Zurich and to acquaint them with our Synodical Decrees Art XV. The Province of Berry is charged to call the next National Synod two Years hence or before in case of necessity CHAP. VIII The Vagrants styling themselves Ministers but deposed 1. BEauguyot 2. Arbaud 3. John Garambois alias Baremboin 4. Denis Lambert 5. Simon Savin or Savineau calling himself Monsieur De la Marchâ— 6. Monsieur Peter Granade going also by other Names as Sacalay Mercure Salcadry or Secudry All these before-mentioned Articles were Decreed and Verified in the National Synod of the Deputies from all the Provinces of this Kingdom at Nismes May 8. 1572. Signed in the Original John de la Place Moderator THE ACTS DECISIONS and DECREES OF THE IX National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Christ IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE HELD At St. Foy the Great in the Province of Perigord the 2d Day of February and ended the 14th day of the same Month in the Year of our Lord 1578. being the 4th Year of the Reign of Henry the Third King of France and of Poland THE CONTENTS of this SYNOD CHap. I. Synodical Officers chosen The Duke of Bouillon sits in it representing the King of Navarre Chap. II. General Matters Care of the Religions Education of the Youth Of Catechising Publicly Pennance No Church-Officers who have Popish Wives Of Attestations Chap. III. An Act for a National Fast About Common-Prayers Ministers Expences to Synods and Colloquies Of God-mothers Chap. IV. Several Cases of Conscience as about Marrying the Aunt of a dead Wife and a very strange Case about Marriage Holding the Temporalities of Benefices Fashions and Habits Ministers way not together with their Ministery Practice Physick c. Chap. V. An Act for calling the next National Synod Canon about Beneficed Persons Chap. VI. A Commission given to several Divines to assist at a Treaty of Vnion between all the Reformed Churches in Europe Chap. VII The Prince of Conde brings the first Appeal unto the National Synods Chap. VIII Discipline exercised upon a scandalous Minister Ap. 5.8.9 Censure upon an ungrateful Church-Ap 10. Fregeville censured Chap. IX A Roll of Ministers provided for and disposed unto Vacant Churches Remarks upon Monsieur Merlin the Moderator THE Synod of St. Foy 1578 Synod IX SYNOD IX Of the Ninth National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France held at St. Foy the Great in Perigord on the 21st day of February and ended the 14th day of the same Month in the Year of our Lord 1578. being the 4th Year of the Reign of Henry the Third King of France and of Poland CHAP. I. Art I. AFter Prayers made by the Pastor of that Church Master Peter Merlin Minister of the Word of God and Pastor of the Church gathered in the House of the Right Honourable Guy Earl of Laval was by general Suffrages chosen Moderator and Mr. Francois Oyseau Minister of the Church of Nantes and Mr. William de la Jaille Minister of the Church of Saujon were chosen Scribes of the Synod Art II. There was present and voted in it the most Noble and Illustrious Lord Henry de la Tour afterward Duke of Bouillon and Mareschal of France Viscount of Turenne Earl of Montfort Baron of Mountague c. representing as Lieutenant-General His Majesty the King of Navarre in the Province of Guyenne Art III. There fate also in this Synod the Judges Magistrates and Consuls of the said City of St. Foy CHAP. II. General MATTERS I. NO Province shall claim any Primacy or Preheminence over another II. The Deputies of every Province are charged to adâ—ise and press their respective Provinces to look carefully to the Education of their Youth and to see to it that Schools of Learning be erected and Scholastick Exercises as Propositions and Declamations be performed that so their Youth may be trained up and prepared for the Service of God and of his Church in the holy Ministery III. Synods and Colloquies shall proceed against ungrateful Persons to their Ministers by all consures according to the 27th Article of our Discipline under the Title of Ministers IV. Colloquies and Synods shall use their best and utmost diligence that the Tenth Article in the Chapter of Ministers be most punctually observed concerning Forsakers of their Ministery who upon slight and trivial Grounds do abandon it and their Churches For the Widows and Orphans of Ministers see the Synod of Vertueil General Matters 22. V. The Provincial Synods shall keep a Memorial of the Widows and Children of deceased Ministers especially of those who died in their Churches Service that so they may be relieved and maintenance may be given them out of the common Stock of the Churches in their respective Provinces according as their necessities shall require VI. The Synod of Upper Languedoc shall ordain two or three of their Assembly and such as they esteem best fitting for that Service to answer the publick Writings of our Adversaries and in their Replies and Refutations they shall deport themselves according to the Canons of our Discipline in that case provided with all Gravity Piety Civility and Moderation Concerning publick and private Catechisings VII Churches shall be admonished more frequently to practice Catechisings and Ministers shall Catechise by short plain and familiar Questions and Answers accommodating themselves to the Weakness and Capacity of their People without Enlargements or handling of common Places And such Churches as have not used this Ordinance of Catechising are hereby exhorted to take it up Yea and all Ministers shall be obliged to Catechise their several Flocks at least once or twice a Year and shall exhort their Youth to submit themselves unto it conscientiously And as for their Method in preaching and handling the Scriptures the said Ministers shall be exhorted not to dwell long upon a Text but to expound and treat of as many in their Ministery as they can fleeing all Ostentation and long Digressions and heaping up of parallel Places and Quotations nor ought they to propound divers Sences and Expositions nor to alledge unless very rarely and prudently any passages of the Fathers nor shall they cite prophane Authors and Stories that so the Scriptures may be left in their full and sovereign Authority In publick Penance the
its Minister and that Church having been twice informed which is suffered of the Day and Place when the Colloquy and Synod shall meet refuseth to appear The said Colloquy or Synod may proceed farther and determine finally about that difference notwithstanding the Absence of one of the Parties The Union of the Church must not be quitted for any Persecution XXVI The Churches and particular Persons shall be admonished never to depart from the Sacred Union of the Church whatever Persecutions may befal them nor shall they procure for themselves a separate Peace and Liberty distinct from the whole Body of our Churches And in case of failure â—â—â—â—in they shall be censured as the Colloquy or Synod shall judge expedient XXVII Appellants from Provincial Synods unto the National shall be bound personally to appear at those very National Synods â—â—â—â—as Appâ—â—al unâ—â— Synods must â—â—ther appear in Person or send their most â—â—â—le Meâ—â—â—rs or to send thither their most ample Memoirs and in case of default the Sentence of the National Synod shall he ratified And this Rule shall hold good in all Appeals from Consistories unto Colloquies and from Colloquies unto the Provincial Synods XXVIII Ministers shall be bound to Assist personally at Colloquies and Provincial Synods If Pâ—â—stors do not attend on Colloquies and Provincial Synods they may be deposed by them or to send their Memoirs and lawful Excuses and in case of disobedience to this Order the said Colloquy or Synod may judge difinitively of their neglect and dispose of their Persons CHAP. V. XXIX THE Province of higher Languedoc is ordered to call the next National Synod in the beginning of May 1579. However the said Province is intreated if the Lord be pleased to grant the Churches any further liberty to have respect unto the Conveniences of the far distant Provinces Which also their Deputies have promised shall be done XXX The fourth Canon in the Chapter of the Lord's Supper shall be couched in these words Beneficed Persons who bear the Name and title of their Benefices and do either directly or indirectly communicate with Idolatry and receive the Revenues of their Benefices either immediately with their own hands or mediately by the hands of others shall not be admitted to communion with us at the Lord's fable But such as enjoy those Benefices by his Majesty's Gift or Toleration and are downright Professors of the true Religion and do visibly own and maintain it they shall have the same priviledge with all other Members of our Churches to sit down with us at the Lord's Table Only they shall be exhorted to apply the Revenue of their aforesaid Benefices unto pious Vses And the Management of this Exhortation is left wholly to the Prudence of the Colloquies and Consistories CHAP. VI. XXXI UPon perusal of the Memoirs and Instructions produced in a late Assembly of many Deputies from sundry famous Reformed Churches Kingdoms and Provinces who met at Francfort and were invited thither by the most Serene and Illustrious Prince Elector John Casimir Prince Palatine and Duke of Bavaria in which were laid down several Means Expedients and most proper and effectual Remedies for uniting all the Reformed Churches of Christendom in one common bond of Union as also for suppressing and terminating the Differences which are risen up and fomented by their common Adversaries among them and for hindring some hot-headed and bigotted Divines from condemning and as they had menaced and protested they would condemn and pronounce an Anathema against the greatest and soundest part by far of the Christian Reformed Churches Now that such imprudent and wicked Designs might be obviated and prevented they did after mature Advice and Consultation had among themselves unanimously resolve and agree to draw up a Petition unto their most Illustrious Highnesses the Princes of the Empire who adhering to the Confession of Ausbourg Moreover they had given an express charge that one uniform Confession of Faith should be framed which was to be taken and accounted as the general and common Confession of all Protestants and to send several Copies of it unto all those Kingdoms and Provinces in which those Churches were gathered to be examined and approved by them and to be crowned with their joynt common and unanimous Consent and Approbation And they had also agreed upon the time when and place where the Deputies of those Kingdoms and Provinces might be convocated and particularly they had invited the Churches of this Kingdom to send thither some prudent Persons of great Experience well approved for their Piety and and Integrity and impowered by all the Churches with ample Authority to treat agree and decide all Points of Doctrine and other Matters concerning the Union Peace and Conservation of the Churches and of the pure Worship of God This present National Synod of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom blessing God for so good a Motion for such an excellent Proposal and applauding the Care Diligence and good Counsel of those worthy Deputies in the fore-mentioned Assemblies and approving the Remedies and Expedients propounded and prescribed by them doth now ordain that if the Copy of the said Confession be sent timely enough unto us it shall be examined in each of our Provincial Synods or in some other place and manner as will best consist with the Conveniences of our respective Provinces and in the mean while four Ministers most verst in all Ecclesiastical Affairs are constituted a Committee to intend this business to-wit Mr. Anthony de Chandieu Mr. John de Estre Ministers of the Word of God in the Church of Paris and Mr. Peter Merlin Minister of the Church of Vitre in Britain and Monsieur Gabert late Minister of the French Church at Francfort and they be expresly charged and commanded to meet at the day and place appointed with their Letters of Deputation and with a most full and ample Commission from all the Ministers and Elders deputed by the Provinces of this Kingdom and there will accompany them the most illustrious Lord Viscount of Turenne that so they may do all Matters as were above designed But in case the Provinces should neither have opportunity nor conveniency to examine the said Confession in their respective Synods 't is lest unto their Prudence and soundest Judgment to agree and come to a conclusion about all those Matters which shall be debated by them whether they be Points of Doctrine or any other Articles relating to the Peace Union Weal and Happiness of all the Churches XXXII These same Commissioners deputed as in the immediately foregoing Article unto the Conference in Germany are ordered to peruse that Treatise of Monsieur de Chandieu Intituled La Confirmation de la Discipline des Eglises Francoises and to prefix their manual Approbation of it and to dedicate it with a Preface unto the Church of Christ and to hasten with as much Expedition as they can its Publication XXXIII Monsieur Esnard having according to the Commission given him
nor Province As also for that he neglected to give notice of it unto this Assembly The whole business was dismissed over to the next Synod of the Isle of France there to be determined 3. The complaint of the Colloquy of Niort against the other Colloquies of the Province of Poictou about the third part of all expences to be defrayed by that Province is turn'd over to the judgment of the Synod of Xaintonge 4. The Church of Mauvaisin demanded that License might be given to Monsieur Girard to Preach occasionally among them This Assembly confirming the decree of the Synod of Gergeau doth expresly forbid the said Girard in any wise to Preach at Mauvaisin 5. Monsieur Bourg complaining that Monsieur Forton and some of the Elders in the Church of Bourdeaux had in divers places slanderously reported of him that he intended to revolt from the profession of the true Religion This Assembly not crediting such relations and being perswaded that he will constantly and faithfully persevere in the profession of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus doth remit the cognisance of this affair unto the Consistory of the Church of Bourdeaux which is ordered to look into it with more than ordinary care and diligence 6. The Lord Vicount of Paulin and the Church of Compagnac desiring it we grant that the said Church shall be conjoined with the Colloquy of Quercy 7. The Churches of Dauphiny are charged to notifie unto the other Provinces when it may be needful to assist the poor Fugitives banished the Marquisate of Saluces and from the Valleys of Piedmont and Savoy 8. The Provinces of Anjou Poictou and Normandy shall by turns supply the Church of Rennes with a Pastor until such time as it shall please God to give a fixed one unto them and the Colloquy of Lower Poictou shall begin Anjou next and last of all Normandy He was Minister of Fentenay 9. The little book of Monsieur de la Vallee concerning a person possessed by the Devil shall be read and examined by the Synod of Xaintonge and if they judge sit let it be imprinted 10. The next Provincial Synod of Dolphiny is charged to moderate the Taxes laid upon the Church of Montlimar by the Colloquy of Die the said Church complaining of its being over-rated 11. For as much as the Pastors and Elders of the Church of Bergerac have petitioned that Monsieur Beraud the younger might be permitted to continue the exercise of his Ministry among them and that Monsieur de Beraud his Father gives way unto it as appears by letters under his own hand This Assembly confirms the Call of the said Beraud the son unto the Ministry of the Church of Bergerac for so long time as his Father can dispense with him considering the great need he will have of him now in his declining years 12. Monsieur Hesperian is confirmed in the Ministry of the Church of St. Foy and Letters shall be sent unto his Father from this assembly desiring his consent unto it 13. This Synod approves that Order established in the Baylywick of Gex concerning their Supreme Consistory in Matrimonal Causes and nothing therein shall be innovated 14. The Churches of the Baylywick of Gex shall have their share in the Moneys granted us by the King until the next National Synod and in the mean while their Pastors shall dispose their people to contribute something towards the common charges of the Churches 15. The Deputies of the Isle of France shall tender unto their next Provincial Synod the Letters and Memoirs of Monsieur du Perche sent by him unto this Assembly that satisfaction may be given the said du Perche for what he pretends owing to him from their Province and to this purpose notice shall be given him of the time and place of their meeting by the Church of Paris 16. Letters were read from the Church of Vertueil whereupon this Assembly ordered that immediately Letters should be written to the Lords Commissioners for executing his Majesties Edict in Dolphiny recommending that Church unto them that so it may be named the first Town of the Baylywicks of Dolphiny as it was ordered at the Synod of Grenoble in the year 1602. and that the Town of Briancon might be reputed the second 17. Letters from our Brethren in the Valley of Barcelona craving advice how to govern themselves under their apprehensions of being deprived by the Duke of Savoy of their pretious Liberty to profess the Gospel and worship God according to his holy Will prescribed in the Scriptures This Assembly desiring most sincerely their Consolation doth earnestly exhort them to a stricter Union with the other Valleys of Piedmont assuring them of all Offices of Christian Charity in case they should be persecuted or banished they being Members of our own Body united with us in the same Doctrine and Discipline Concerning the setling of our Religion at Issoire 18. Letters from the Church of Issoire being read this Assembly ordered the General Deputies at Court vigorously to endeavour that the exercise of our Religion might be established according to the Edict in the said Town of Issoire and in other places of the lower Auvergne and the Colloquies of St. Germain and Anduza in the lower Languedoc shall supply them with Ministers And that this their Establishment may be the better and sooner effected they shall have four Portions of the Moneys granted us by the Kings Majesty out of that Sum appointed for the lower Languedoc And in order hereunto the said Colloquies of St. Germain and Anduze shall assemble themselves within a Month after the breaking up of this Assembly to consult together about those Ministers who are to serve and shall be sent into the Lower Auvergne and those Churches there shall in the mean while do their utmost endeavour to get themselves furnished with able Ministers And the Province of Higher Languedoc shall have the same care and kindness for the assistance and relief of the Churches of the â—igher Auvergne 19. The poor fallen Christians in the Marquisate of Saluces demanding Counsel what course they should take after this their great Offence This Assembly ordered that Letters should be sent them to forsake those places where they be constrained to participate in Idolatry and to accompany their banished Brethren in bearing the Cross of Christ 20. The Universities shall be once again exhorted to get for themselves if possible a publick Library See this Art 24. of gen mat and in it the great Bible of Antwerp 21. The General Deputies of our Churches at Court are ordered by this Assembly to do their utmost for the repose and welfare of the distressed Valleys of Chasteau-Dauphin 22. Monsieur Claudius Jobard Citizen and Inhabitant of Geneva complained against the Province of Burgundy for wrong done in their publick Synodical Acts at Ullim unto Master David Peaget Minister in the Baylywick of Gex when as by the Colloquy of Gex who had inspected and examined that matter the
by him but meerly for the peace of it 6. The Elder of of the Church of Aulais in Sevennez complaining of the Synod of Lower Languedoc for imposing Monsieur Jarry as Pastor upon their Church against their will and this testified by him openly in their Synodical Metting That Province is censured for breaking of our Discipline And the next Colloquy which shall sit is to provide the Church of Aulais of another Pastor and the Sieur Jarry of another Church and the said Province shall defray the Charges of the said Jarry amounting to the sum of two hundred Livers 7. The Agreement made betwixt the Church of St. Antonine and that of Verfeuil upon their Appeal brought hither is approved by this Assembly which doth also confirm Monsieur Guerin in the Pastoral office of the said Church of St. Antonine 8. Monsieur Bayly Pastor in the Church of Lyons presented in this Assembly an Account of the difference between his Church and the Province of Burgundy And the Deputies of that Province being heard requesting that the Decree of their Synod concerning the fifth penny of the poors Money might be observed by the said Church of Lyons This Assembly ordered that they should punctually observe and practise that Canon of the National Synod of Rochell relating to this matter and it should also be done in and by all the other Churches of that Province 9. The Colloquies of St. Germain Anduze and Saulne demanding A separation from the Synod of Lower Languedoc that for time to come they might make a distinct Province The whole affair having been Seriously weighed and considered as also that the Synod of Lower Languedoc composed of an hundred Pastors and as many Elders are of an exceeding distance and that their great number brings the greater Confusion This Assembly judgeth the said separation to be very needful for their Ecclesiastical meetings And that for the future the six aforesaid Colloquies shall be divided into two Provincial Synods whereof the one shall consist of the Colloquies afore-mentioned viz. of St. Germain Anduze and Saulne and shall be called the Synod of Sevennes and Gevaudan and the other three Colloquies shall make another Synod called by the Name of the Synod of Lower Languedoc 10. Monsieur Gautier did by his Proctor Captain Pascall Appeal unto this Assembly from the Judgment given in the Synod of Bagnals against Monsieur Bansillon Fastor of Aiguemortes who considering his notorious Crimes had not dealt severely enough with him This Assembly approveth of his Appeal and judgeth that the Province for their lenity and gentle Censures of him are themselves worthy of the sharpest Censures And therefore it decreeth that upon this very account and for what hath been transacted in this Assembly concerning the said Bansillon and because he hath positively denied those matters which since his Repentance he owneth and acknowledgeth that he shall be suspended from his Ministry for the space of three months 11. An Appeal was brought in the Name of the Lord Mareschal de Lesdiguieres Viscount of Villemur from an Order of the Provincial Synod held at Revel which in pursuance of a Decree past in the preceding Colloquy had ordained Monsieur Charles Pastor of the said Town of Villemur to abide and live there notwithstanding the instant desires of the people to the contrary This Assembly having heard the Commissioners deputed to examine this Affair and perused their Evidences produced by them and having heard both the said Charles and the Lord of Bellujon Governour of the said Villemur sent by the said Lord Mareschal who also joyned with him in this Appeal it judgeth that the said Sieur Charles hath incurred the Censures of the Church for his pragmaticalness in intermedling with State-matters and for carrying unto the said Lord Mareschal a Libel fraught with defamatory Articles against the said Governour de Bellujon as also for bringing away with him Memorials of the said Mareschal quite contrary to his intention And in like manner is the said Governour de Bellujon censured for not having first of all formed his Complaints in the Consistory and thence gradually prosecuted them in the Colloquy and Synod according to the Rules of our Discipline and for that he suffered his Family to separate themselves from the Body of the Church of Villemur and to go and joyn themselves in Communion elsewhere And inasmuch as there is little hopes that the said Charles may for the future live quietly and exercise profitably his Ministry in that said Church it is ordered that the next Provincial Synod shall provide it of another Pastor and him of another convenient Church and this without any impairment to his Reputation or Ministry And these several Parties were mutually reconciled pledging their words to bury in oblivion the remembrance of all past-matters and that they would live for time to come in all Brotherly Love and Concord And whereas the said Charles complained that the Expences in this Appeal and Cause were too heavy a burden for his Church the Province was ordered to provide therein according to Charity 12. The Sieur Isaac Boiteux Minister in the Church of Bussy in Burgundy appealed His Father Mother and the Pastors of the Church of Geneva joyned with him in the said Appeal craving that he might be restored unto his aged Father who is a Pastor in the said City of Geneva their Letters also were tendered unto this Synod grounded upon this that he was only a Loane unto the said Province which yet avows the contrary and that the said Boiteux promised without any restriction or reservation to serve them during life But he not appearing in person in this Assembly the whole affair was dismissed over to the Province of Vivaretz with full authority from this National Synod to make a final decision of it 13. The Colloquy of Higher Poictou Appealed complaining of the Synod of Poictou held at Thouars for dismembring the Church of Marcillac from their Colloquy and joyning it to the Colloquy of middle Poictou Upon a full hearing of the matter this Assembly approved the Judgment of the said Synod 14. The Sieur Peyrol Pastor in the Church of Montpellier complained of an Order made by the Synod of Lower Languedoc importing that the Pastors of Montpellier should have a careful Eye over his Sermons in the Church and Lectures in the School But the Deputies of the said Province protesting that it was never the Intention of the Synod to make any such Order or that it should be executed and that they having razed it out of their Synodical Register which also was ratified by the very next subsequent Synod might well content him This Assembly judgeth that this Attestation of the Deputies may suffice him because for that good and laudable Testimony given him we believe that the Article was null both before and after the razing of it And the said Sieur Peyrol is exhorted to undertake couragiously and to discharge faithfully his Professorship of Divinity according to
to batter it down with force of Arguments and to defend at the same time conjoyntly together the Rights of God and those of the Higher Powers ordained by him CHAP. IX Particular Matters 1. THERE was read an Act of the Colloquy of Higher Agenois in which the Council of Lower Guyenne complained against the Lord of Pujole and against a certain Judgment of the said Colloquy past in his favour because that the said Lord had seriously protested of his sincere intentions to persist in the profession of our Religion they could not imagine that he would admit into his heart such a disloyal thought as to abandon the Sacred Communion of our Churches and to bring the worst of evils upon his Soul in good earnest 1614. The 21th Synod yet nevertheless they did judge the said Lord worthy of the heaviest Censures for his great miscarriages in all his publick actings particularly that instead of demanding in a lawful Assembly the Reformation of those Defaults and Abuses he pretended to have observed in the Council he had as much as in him lay exposed it to the highest contempt and infamy and followed a course notoriously contrary to all Orders which have been until now uniformly obeyed and practised among us with good acceptance and success a matter of very dangerous consequence and which might cause an irreparable breach in our Union Which fault of his he did confess and acknowledge and promised for the future to conform himself to the Canons which are now or hereafter may be established by these Assemblies And Monsieur Ferrand a Pastor was ordered to acquaint this Assembly of it All things duly considered this Assembly approveth of the Judgment of that Colloquy and of the said Lord du Pujol's submission and having once more reiterated the same Remonstrances it drew from him those promises by means of which he was reconciled unto the Provincial Council and to all those who were known to have shared in the scandal that he had given And all the Churches Parties in those disturbances were exhorted to live in Peace and Union for the future which was mutually promised on all sides 2. The Deputies of the Churches of Auvergne remonstrated their deplorable estate and condition earnestly desiring the favour and assistance of this Assembly to help them in their prosecutions at Court that they might be inabled to uphold and continue the exercise of the true Religion at Issoyre and that they may be provided of a Pastor meet for so weighty a work this Assembly ordered the Lords General Deputies to have a most especial care of their concern and to allow them the two hundred Livers which they have received on accompt from the Lord du Candall and they do farther grant them one hundred Livers more and continue unto them their four portions which had been formerly appointed to be paid in unto them free of all taxations and defalcations by the Province of Sevennes and Gevaudan upon the score of any charges ordinary or extraordinary whatsoever and it ordaineth that the Churches of Issoyre shall be incorporated with the said Province from which according to order they shall receive their aforesaid portions and dispose of them towards the maintenance of their Pastors and the remainders thereof shall be expended in defraying their charges before mentioned until the next National Synod 3. The same Deputies for that Province of Higher and Lower Auvergne having petitioned this Assembly to provide them a Pastor for the afore-mentioned Church of Issoyre had granted them Monsieur Babat who was now at full liberty to serve the Church of Issoyre and it s annexed Congregations and to be their own peculiar Pastor who shall be brought over to them with his houshold goods and Library at their charges and they shall furnish him with Moneys and the assistance of an Elder to be present at the Provincial Synods of Sevennes as often as they should be summoned to them 4. The Lord Vicount of Leyran demanding by his Letter sent unto this Assembly 2. Vitré g. m. 11. Two Copies read Dan. and Din. some additions from us unto two hundred Livers which he promiseth for himself shall be paid to the gathering and constituting of a Church at Legran l'Imbrassat and d'Ur there was granted him one ordinary portion and another half extraordinary both free of all charges ordinary and extraordinary from that Province just as it comes from the Dividend made by the National Synod and that said Province shall be accountable for the disposal of those portions unto the next National Synod And Letters also shall be written unto the said Lord of Leyran praising and commending his Zeal and Affection towards the advancement of the Kingdom of God 5. John de Luna and Laurens Fernandez both Spaniards presented themselves Montauban declaring their Abjuration of Monkery and Popery and approving of their Conversation ever since their Conversion as also Stephen Conversett of the Franche Comté who had quitted the Order of the Dominicans and Peter Mercurin a Provincial who had also abandoned Popery This Assembly granted unto the said Fernandez Conversett and Mercurin an hundred and forty Crowns a-piece and farther ordaineth that the said Mercurin shall be put into the Catalogue of Proposans and be first of all employed in the Ministry in Provence And as for John de Luna who desires leave to retire for some time into Holland there be sixty Livers granted him for his Voyage And whereas one called Buisson born in the Lower Guyenne is lately converted from the Popish Religion unto the Reformed thirty Livers are given him towards his relief until the next Provincial Synod wherein he shall be particularly cared for All which shall be paid without making it a Prefident for the future and the Provinces and Pastors are expresly charged and forbidden never to present more unto these Assemblies any such Converts 6. The Sieur Constantin declaring his most miserable estate and craving our charitable Relief in his deep Poverty this Assembly ordained that there should be paid him yearly the sum of an hundred Livers which shall be put to the account of the Moneys distributed to the Province of the Higher Guyenne and immediately 300 Livers were given him to defray his charges in coming unto this Assembly and the Corporation of Bergerac shall be exhorted to augment his Salary as Regent of that Classis in which he serveth 7. The Deputies of the Church of Pons did in the name of its Elders and Heads of Families present their Petition that they might be provided of a Pastor This Assembly ordained that Monsieur Constant who is now freed from the Church of Mazgravier be given unto the said Church of Pons in case that they like of him and he of them And that they may treat hereof the aforesaid Deputies are advised to go to Montauban in which City they may hear and discourse with him about it who having been there they did bring with them the said Constant
I have the will I swear unto you that my own mouth should have verified unto you what I now write that I am more than any man in the World of Montpellier April 26. 1614. Your Reverences The most Humble and the most Affectionate to do you service Chastillon The Letter of the Mareschall Duke of Bouillon to the National Synod of Tonneins Sirs I Delayed writing to you because I was in hopes to have sent my Letters by one of the Pastors of his Highness the Prince Elector Palatine who should have past through this City in his way unto your Synod and have delivered those of his Highness to you But that little time he had for so long a Journey and the little safety that now is on the High-ways having kept him at home they were directed to me that I may send them as I now do unto you and I shall take this occasion to confirm you in those assurances I have given you of my intire affection and service for the Weal Preservation and Increase of our Churches upon whose account you are now Assembled and that I desire to keep up with them a good Union and Correspondence 'T is to my very great regret that there have been some little differences between Monsieur du Moulin and Monsieur Tilenus one of the Professors in my University to the suppressing of which I have done all that lay in my power In so much that all those bitter reflections are allayed and quasht and I dare promise that from your prudence and the interposal of his Majesty of great Britain who writes to you by Mr. Hume Pastor of the Church of Duras and by the mediation of the Elector Palatin whose Letters this bearer from me delivers to you you will meet with some proper Expedient for their final determination so that those two great personages considerable for their Profession and merits may employ the gifts which God hath bestowed upon them more unto the Churches profit for the future And I will be Surety for the Sieur Tilenus that he shall pay the greatest deference unto your good Counsels and on my part I shall contribute all that you can expect from me to so good a work whereof I earnestly attend the happy Issue through your wise and prudent direction I shall detain you no longer but with the offer of my prayers unto God Almighty that he would please to guide and influence your Spirits and Councils that their result may be glory to his great Name and happiness unto his Church From Sedan May 3. 1614. A Postscript with his own hand Sirs ALtho I am well assured that your Intentions are all leading to a good Reunion both in Civil and Church-affairs yet will I not forbear quickening you hereunto and the rather because Satan and his Engines are now more than every at work marvellously busied and employed to divide us having found in this degenerate age more debauched persons and greater debaucheries than in times past Wherefore I protest unto you that in what concerns my self in particular that I shall freely discharge my duty and services according to what shall be resolved on in your Common and United Counsels and seek for my self none other benefit and advantage than to live and die in the fear of God Your most humbly to do you service Henry de la Tour. CHAP. XX. The Excommunication of Monsieur Jeremy Ferrier sometimes Pastor and Professor in the Church and Vniversity of Nismes denounced in the Church of Nismes upon the 14th of July 1613 being the Lords Day Extracted out of a little Book Intituled The Troubles happened in the City of Nismes in Languedoc July 15. 1613. and Printed the same year MAster Jeremy Ferrier formerly Minister of the Word of God having been judged by the National Synod yet hath not in the least owned and acknowledged God's singular Mercy and Benignity to him nor the Gentleness and Clemency of his Judges He hath took no notice of his great and hainous offences though God saw them the Church observed them and the World cried out of them Some days after Sentence had past upon him he made semblance as if he acquiesced in it requesting to be provided of another Church His Judges had respect unto his demand and provided for him very much unto his conveniency But the close and issue hath evidently demonstrated that what he did was all in Hypocrisie was nothing else but fraud and mockery Instead of humbling himself he waxed more fierce and fiery he kicked against the pricks he hardened his heart against the voice of God speaking to him He hath multiplied and increast his sins seeking Sanctuaries for his Rebellion from the World and protection by it in his Enter-prizes following the train and lure of his own lusts and loving this present World he would rather be a slave to the Mammon of Unrighteousness than to serve God and his Church and betaking himself to wicked and unworthy courses he hath refused to be reformed and hateth Discipline and Correction scorning and trampling under foot all Church-Order He hath most licentiously inveighed against and satyrically lampoon'd the Ecclesiastical Assemblies he hath let flie the worst of Calumnies against the Servants of God generally and particularly in publick and private by word of mouth by Pen and Writing He threw himself wittingly and wilfully upon temptations and into the snares of the Devil he became his own Seducer and like tile Devil endeavoured to seduce others He hath by his ungodly comportments scandalized those that are without and such as are within he hath attempted to mischief the Church of God for which the Lord Jesus hath shed his most precious Blood He did most solemnly engage unto the Church of Paris yea he swore it with as great seriousness as possible that he would never take upon him nor aspire unto any other Calling than that of the Sacred Ministry unless the Colloquy of Lionnois should discharge him by taking from him all possible means of subsistence Before which nevertheless when he was called he refused to appear and would not be judged of God nor by the Men of God He hath cast himself into a contumacious and audacious Rebellion into the most injurious and excessive Insolencies he hath published himself guilty of a notorious and horrible Perjury totally deserting the Sacred Ministry having rejected all the Summons and Invitations unto Repentance made him for a whole year together by divers Church-Assemblies in divers places and at divers times by many most excellent Servants of God who cordially and industriously laboured after his Conversion and Reformation He hath despised the long-suffering patience and forbearance of God and of the Church and never heeded those publick Admonitions which according to the Discipline were used to reclaim him and bring him back again unto his duty But he persists obstinately in his sins in his Disobediencies and Rebellions and hardens hardens himself in his Impenitency insomuch that we must speak it
next Easter at the farthest that he shall print them on fair and large Paper which will hold ink without washing such as that on which the Lord du Plessis his Book of the Eucharist was Printed with as large a Margent and weighing fifteen pounds a Ream or there away that the Character shall be such as that Little Cicero Printed by Colomiés that the Letters shall be new founded with which he begins the work and to be renewed in the progress thereof in case occasion do require it and that the Consistory contracting with him do judge it needful that the stamps for the Latine Greek and Hebrew Quotations shall be all new and proportionable to the Work that the Books which according to the beforementioned Articles and Conditions he is to render unto the Churches shall be kept at Saumar there to be sold and a part of them shall be sent by the said Portau to Lions and Rochell and all of them delivered unto the respective Consistories of those Churches who shall take care for their being distributed abroad among our Ministers And in case Monsieur Chamier shall not deliver his Copy unto the said Fortau then the Consistory of Paris is ordered to divide equally the three thousand Livers remaining in the hands of the Lord du Candal and to send the respective dividend thereof unto the Provinces to whom it doth belong 25. This Synod received Letters from the Gentlemen deputed by the Provinces unto the Assembly at Rochell and Monsieur Preau Pastor of the Church of Vitré Commissionated by them reported their unanimous intentions and resolutions to live and die in the Union sworn by all the Churches for which he was ordered to render them the hearty thanks of this Synod and to assure them that we never had nor will ever have any other end or aim than firmly and inviolably to secure and promote this holy Union And as touching that particular reported by the said Du Preau unto this Synod by word of mouth and by Letters from the said Assembly how that the necessities of the day obliging them to send several Deputations unto Court and elsewhere whilst the six Provinces met and since all the others have joined them they were forc'd to borrow in one place five hundred Livers and in another place two thousand Livers more to defray their charges and there will be a want of five hundred Livers more to make another and their last Deputation unto Court which they shall be constrained also to take up at Interest For the payment of which sums the Deputies aforesaid have by an Act which was here presented us bound and obliged the moneys given us by the Kings Liberality for the maintenance of our Ministers This Assembly gives those Deputies to understand that the disposal of this money is wholly and solely in the power of our National Synods and of this in particular and that not a penny of it can be disposed of by any Political Assembly whatsoever yet notwithstanding for some special reasons in this juncture and not intending hereby to make a precedent of it for the future the Lord du Candal is ordered to pay unto the said Deputies the sum of three thousand Livers and this only by way of Loan that so their expences may be cleared of And whereas the six Provinces have borrowed five hundred Livers this Synod can do nothing in it because it was imployed on a private concern of the City of Rochell and by parity of reason the other Provinces might as well demand a reimbursement of their charges also expended by them on the like occasions And our Lords the General Deputies are intreated most humbly to Petition his Majesty that the said three thousand Livers may be returned us again and distributed among our Churches Since this the said Deputies assembled at Rochell have writ unto this Synod by the Lord of Cusonnel Deputy for Vivaretz that now they had no need of the said sum of four thousand Livers demanded by them before Whereupon advice was given to the Lord of Candal to furnish them only with two thousand one hundred Livers 26. Monsieur du Preau did also represent the distressed estate of the City and Church of Sancerre See below g.m. 37. who by reason of their past sufferings and to secure the possession of this Cautionary Town were well-near undone having borrowed so much moneys and Mortgaged their Estates for the payment thereof that without considerable assistance and relief from the Churches they shall never be able to pay their Debts nor to free their Estates from those great Incumbrances The same also was attested by Letters from the Lord Baron of Belette and by the Deputies of Berry This Assembly considering that all the Churches are concerned in the preservation of this important place exhorteth those Provinces which have not as yet charitably contributed towards their relief to do it out of hand and to remit the moneys Collected by them unto the Consistory of the said Church And our General Deputies are requested to have an extraordinary care of that City for the future 27. The same Monsieur du Preau complained to us from the Deputies in the Assembly at Rochell that Monsieur du Crest Pastor of the Church of Manosques in Provence did together with his Church and Consistory oppose the Election of the Lord Baron of Semis and of Monsieur Huron a Pastor to be Deputies unto the said Assembly Whereupon an Order past that those Pastors and Elders which were authorized by this Synod viz. the Deputies of Lower Languedoc to take cognisance of those many and great differences which are fallen out in the Province of Provence should also examine this matter and inflict such Censures as the Authors and Partners in these Divisions have incurred and deserved 28. Moreover Monsieur de Preau informed us of the deplorable Estate of the Churches in Auvergne which Information was confirmed by Monsieur Babat Pastor in the Church of Issoyre who came from them This Synod having heard them both and perused the Letters sent from the Assembly at Rochell and those from the Consistory of Issoyre and from the Lord Viscount of La Roche Courtan all advising us or the most miserable Condition of those poor and persecuted Churches It doth ordain that whereas the Deputies of the Provinces assembled at Rochell have recommended this affair unto our Lords the General Deputies the Synod will in a more special manner take care of this and be more concerned for it than for any other and will Petition his Majesty that Commissioners may be dispatched thither out of hand to cause the persecutions to cease and that satisfaction may be given unto our poor Brethren who have been so barbarously and cruelly tormented and that his Majesty's Edicts may be vigorously and faithfully put in execution And forasmuch as the Deputies of Sevennes and the said Babat have urged the necessity of setling two Pastors in those Churches aforesaid this
case he do otherwise those Summs so payed by him shall not be allowed in his Accompts nor shall those Receivers give him an Acquittance for them 8. The Moneys granted us by His Majesty shall not be diverted from those Uses to which they were originally intended our National Synods having ordained that they be distributed among the Ministers and to the Widows of the poorer Pastors and to our young Scholars and Students in Divinity and to the defraying of Synodical Charges when as the necessities of our Churches shall require such Assemblies 〈◊〉 Maxiant Obâ—ervat 5. on the former Syâ—â—â— 9. The Province of Poictu moved that a Canon might be past for determining the Age of Ministers Children who are to be received into the number of Scholars Pensioners by the Provinces This Assembly leaveth it to the prudence of Colloquies and Synods to ascertain it according to the Decree of the National Synod of Maixant 10. Mr. James Hubner came unto this Assembly as he had done unto hat last National one held at Vitre 1 〈…〉 2. presenting Letters from the Lords of the Canton of Bearne requesting on behalf of Monsieur Hubner his Father that he might be reimburst of divers great Summs of Money owing unto Monsieur Sturmius deceased Father of the Wife of the said Hubner This Assembly answered him that none of the Writings produced by him did bind or oblige our Churches but the late King Henry the Great of Glorious Memory and the late Prince of Conde And therefore Letters shall be written in the Name of this Assembly unto the Lords of Bearn to inform and certifie them of the Truth of this Matter and an Hundred Livres were given unto the said Mr. Hubner to pay the Expences of his Journey hither without ever hoping for the future of drawing any Moneys from our National Synods 11. Forasmuch as divers Churches are decaying Poictiers g. m. 21. and will at last be dissolved for want of maintenance for their poor Ministers All our Churches are exhorted That as they love the increase and advancement of Christ's Kingdom they would endeavour to raise a Fund either by Gifts from the Living or Legacies from Dying Persons in their last Wills and Testaments or by any other convenient ways That so the Sacred and unvaluable Treasure of Gods Word may be alwayes conserv'd among us and our Off-Spring after us in Generations to come may be Educated and confirmed in the True Religion 12. The Lord of Candal shall be personally present at our next National Synod that he may have his Commission confirmed by the Universal approbation of our Churches and the Lords General Deputies shall see to it that the said Commission bear not the Title of an Office And the said Lord of Candal is intreated to give Notice unto the Provinces of the time when he can make payment unto the Provincial Receivers of their Quarterly Dividend and of the Quantity of the Summ wherewith they may be furnished and the Copies of his Letters sent them in which shall be presented the Transcripts of all Acquittances for Moneys paid by him already and that he may hereafter pay unto the Pastors And he shall produce all his Acquittances before the Lords our General Deputies and the Consistory of the Church of Paris or such Persons as shall be deputed by them to audit his Accompts that so they may be verified in our National Synods In all which he shall demonstrate his diligence for the payment of the Moneys on all Bills and Orders that have been put into his hands and in default thereof there shall be Reprisals made on his Accompts 13. A Motion was made by the Province of Sevennes that all Publick Notaries professing the Reformed Religion might be forbidden in their executing of Marriage Contracts to make a Gift of the Bodies of betroathed Persons especially where one is of a contrary Religion until such time as the Consistory of that Church shall have taken cognisance thereof Privas Observat 9. upon the Discipline This Assembly leaveth it to the prudence of the Province of Sevennes or any other where such things as these be practised to make a By-Law which may most effectually contribute unto their future edifying 14. That Order passed in the Province of Xaintonge excluding the president of the last Provincial Synod from being chosen Moderator in the next 1. Paris 2. and that he who was deputed unto one National Synod may not be unto the ensuing was repealed and vacated Provincial Synods being left in full liberty to nominate any Persons whom they shall judge meetest for both the Employments according to our Church-Discipline 15. The Province of Burgundy demanded 3. Rochel Observat 17. 2. Vitre Observat 10. whether was most expedient to choose Moderators and Deputies for Synods by a low or loud Vote This Assembly is of opinion that for the avoiding of many Inconveniences it were best to make those Elections by a low Voice 16. The Province of Dolphiny moved whether a Minister might together with his Ministry exercise the Profession of Philosophy 1. Rochel Observ 18. This Assembly judgeth that these two Professions are not convenient to be discharged by one Man at the same time 17. Forasmuch as every particular Church is obliged to raise a certain Stipend for its Pastors St. Maixant Appeal 16. no Minister nor Pastor of any Church shall touch a doit of the Kings Money but it shall be payd him in by his Consistory and all Expences in Travel unto Synods and other Ecclesiastical Meetings shall be defrayed by the Churches themselves that so the Ministers may be freed of all manner of Reproach and may in no wise be diverted from their Studies and Duties of their Calling by the care of worldly matters And Synods shall make inquiry after such as do transgress this Canon and correct them by all Church-Censures But this shall not be so understood as if Ministers were hereby debarred the receiving of the Moneys granted us by His Majesty or to give Acquittance for it provided they give in an Account thereof unto their Churches and that they do not make with them any secret Bargain or Covenant for it 18. The Protestants are Exhorted to make in every Church Collections for the poor persecuted Protestants of the Marquisate of Salluces and the Moneys so collected shall be put into the hands of Monsieur Gras living at Lions 19. In all Churches there shall be kept a Register of all Marriages Baptismes and Burials 20. The Pastors and Professors in the Church of Genvea shall be desired Montauban g. m. 46. to suffer no new French Translations of the Bible to be printed in their City nor that any alterations be made in our Liturgy And that if they have any Annotations for the common received Translation they would be pleased to print them by themselves and before they do it to give notice thereof unto the Churches of this Kingdom and to
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
about an Hundred Years agoe before any Edict was granted in favour of our Religion and was presented by them unto Francis the Second who then Reigned to give his Majesty a reason of their Hope and account of those Corruptions which they firmly believed to be in that Faith professed and Retained by the Church of Rome and that therefore it needed Reformation Insomuch as none of out French Protestants did at first nor can they now without being guilty of gross Prevarication change that form of Expression which hath from its very beginning been inserted into our Confession whereby to declare sincerely and in truth their common Belief authorised in the Year 1561 by the Edict of January and since by that of Nantes granted us by Henry the Great and Confirmed by the Late King and his Majesty now reigning Thirdly The whole Roman Catholick Creed was never nor can ever be truly qualified an Abuse and Deceit of Satan seeing that both the Church of Rome and the Protestants have no difference about the Doctrin of the Trinity and of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus which are the principal points of Christianity yet together with these Fundamental Verities and own'd by all Christians in France Germany and elsewhere there have been divers other Articles of Faith brought into the Romish Creed to which we cannot yield any Assent or Consent such are those of the Intercession of Saints of Purgatory of the Pope and sundry others which though they have been in Vogue in that Church for many Ages have notwithstanding been constantly opposed and contradicted by all Protestants both in France and other Countries So that should we abandon the Profession of our Faith permitted us by the Edict and that Confession we have made and declared of it with all Imaginable Sincerity and Truth in the Presence of God who searcheth our Hearts and cannot endure Hypocrisie nor an Evil Conscience we should render our Selves Guilty of a most inexcusable Imposture we should dissemble and Counterfeit in Religion and utterly ruin all our Hopes of Heaven and Everlasting Life by means of a Sacrilegious Profession not in the least believed by us Wherefore it is the hope of our pour Churches that his Majesty imitating the Examples of his Predecessors who granted to their Faithful Subjects the Liberty of their Consciences will the rather favour us with his Royal Support and Protection for that open Profession we do make of our Faith than if we had dissembled it or kept it secretly and close in our own Bosoms or uttered it in Ambiguous and Equivocating Expressions which would have turn'd our Religion into a Cheat and through a Fallacious Compliance full of Fraud and Imposture would have perfidiously Betray'd the Holy Faith of our Fellow protestants and be the Bane of our own Consciences Fourthly As to the Printer of Geneva he does not depend on the National Synods of this Kingdom nor hath he any Orders from us nor received any Command from his Superiors to use those Terms which he did and we wish he had forborn them though yet he Speaks and Prints nothing but what is the common Sense and Opinion of all Protestants in Europe who have all unanimously from the very first with One Consent impugned that Council of Trent as to the form of its Convocation the Proceedings Decrees and Anathema's thereof which also sundry Roman Catholick Princes have done who by their Ambassadors made and entred their Solemn Protests against it and its Decrees So did the Emperor Charles the Fifth from whom our King is Descended by his Mother's Side by the Lord of Mendoza So did Henry the Second by the then Lord Abbot of Bellozonne who was afterward Bishop of Auxerre And so did Charles the Ninth by Monsieur Ferrier who describing this Famous Assembly resembled it to a Scorpion pricking the French Church and used an Expression every way at Emphatical as that of the Geneva Printer whose Liberty is yet so displeasing unto their Majesty Fifthly Nor have our Churches been ever so unmindful of their Duty and Subjection as audaciously to assume unto themselves a power of being Judges in their own Cause and doing themselves right But the naked truth of the matter is this that being favoured with his Majesties Declaration which ratified the Edict of Nantes and those secret Articles and Concessions included in it which had been granted by our former Kings several particular Churches being restored unto their Ancient Right fully and compleatly they believed that it was no Crime on their part to make use of them according to the Intention of his Majesty Sixthly And it was upon this Innocent Supposition and which had not in it any the least tendency unto Disobedience against the Publick Government that the Exercise of our Religion accustomarily performed at Ribaute for Seventy Years together without any Interruption being violently hindred by the Lady of that Place and Monsieur Arnaud Pastor of Anduze who was invited by the People offering himself to Minister to them for their Edification according to the ancient Practice was driven away by meer Force by a Company of Soldiers commanded thither by the said Lady and he thereupon was imprisoned by Order from the Lord Lieutenant of Languedoc and notwithstanding his Appeal unto the Court of the Edict yet he was actually Condemned for which Grievance he is now prostrate at his Majesties Feet humbly imploring his Majesties Clemency and Justice according to the Edict Seventhly The Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc for the acquitting and discharge of their Churches which hath sent them do maintain that those Three Cities of Nismes Vsez and Montpellier having deputed the Sieurs Peyrol Vestrie and Fournier to tender in their Names with all possible speed their First and Bounden Duties unto his Majesty and their most Humble and Unfeigned Thanks for the grant of his Declaration They did also Petition for his Majesties Protection and Justice and with the lowliest Submission and Respect they demanded also a Reparation of the Infractions of the Edict according to the constant practice of our Churches so that they cannot be perswaded that those said Cities are fallen from the Duty which becomes good Subjects and whereunto they are obliged by their Consciences Nor are they at all to be blamed for Addressing themselves unto his Majesty against the Prohibition of the Lord Intendant though he used his Majesties Name directly contrary to his Majesties Intention notified to us and to the World by his publick Declaration Eighthly Nor is the City of Vsez guilty of violating the Edict no not in that particular Capitulation with his Majesty nor doth it need a new Grant for an ancient Usage which was never taken from them by any Previous Inhibition That Bell of which there is so much Noise and so loud Complaints made unto his Majesty was ever placed in the Steeple of the Temple from its first Foundation and continued there till a little before the Capitulation when the