The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France

CHAP. VII. Monsieur Chauves 's Report.

16. MOnsieur John Chauve Pastor of the Church of Sommiers made Report how that in pursuance of the Commission given him, and the Sieurs du Moulin, Chameir and Rivet by the National Synod of Vitre to consult together of the most proper and necessary means to procure a good and firm Re-union of all the Churches, which have quitted the Communion of the Church of Rome, they would have Travelled into Holland, and according to the Invitation and Desire of the High and Mighty Lord's, The States General of the Confederate Netherlands, they would have personally assisted at that General Council of the Reformed Churches held at Dort, which also was signified to the Province of Cévennes by our General Deputies at Court, and by the Church of Paris unto them the said Chauve, du Moulin, Chamier and Rivet: But that afterwards they brake off their Journey, and came back again into Languedoc upon the Intelligence which he and Monsieur Chamier received at Geneva, that they were forbidden by His Majesty to go unto that Council, This Assembly approving of what the said Sieur Chauve had done, and thanking him for it, Ordered that the Expences of his Journey should be repaid him out of the Common Moneys of our Churches as should also those of Monsieur Chamier. In consequence whereof the said Sieurs Chove and Chamier brought in their Accounts; the Expences of Monsieur Chamier amounted to Two Hundred Eighty Five Livres, and those of Monsieur Chouve to One Hundred Seventy Four Livres, which the Lord Kandel was ordered to pay unto them both without delay.

17. The Sieur Paul Bennet remonstrated unto this Assembly how that the last Synod of Vitre had Ordained that he should not be restored unto the Ministry in the Province of Saintonge, although he were perfectly absolved from that Crime imputed to him, And that since having been absolved, he was thereupon restored unto the▪ Functions of the Sacred Ministry by the Synod of Poictu acting by Authority derivred from, and in Obedience to that Decree of the said National Synod of Vitre, which yet did not readmit him into the Ministry in the Province of Saintonge: Now he humbly petitioned this Assembly, That they would be pleased to take off the said Restriction, that so the blott cast upon his Ministry being expunged, he might exercise it with Honor in Saintonge as formerly, and the Synod of Saintonge from whence he came joined with him in the same request which was attested both by their Synodical Act, and viva voice by their Deputies, notwithstanding an Appeal brought by the Colloquy of the Isles of the said Province of Saintonge against the said Petition. This Assembly having read the Decree of Vitre, relating to him, did not think meet to make any alteration in it. But ordered that the free Portion of Moneys granted by His Majesty, and due unto the said Bonnet by that Ordinance of Vitre should be paid in unto him. And the said Province of Saintonge is once again enjoined to come to account with him, and to make him good payment.

CHAP. VIII. APPEALES.

1 LEtters from the Consuls and Consistory of Realmont were presented by the Sieur Coras one of the Consuls of the said City unto this Assembly, requesting that Monsieur Voisyn might be continued in his Ministry among them, notwithstanding the Appeal of the Church of Montauban, and of Pont de Camarez from the Synod of Puy Laurens in the Higher Languedoc, which had lent him unto the Church of Mauvoysin until the sitting of the National Synod. This Assembly commending the Zeal of the Church of Realmont hath ordained that he shall continue in the Service of their Church, and exhorteth them to give all Contentment unto him their said Pastor according to that Affection which he hath ever born them. And the Colloquies of Albigeois, Lauragais, and Lower Zuercy shall help the Church of Mauvesyn out of their Pastors until the Meeting of the next Provincial Synod, as they have been entreated so to do by Monsieur de Maravat. And to this purpose the said Colloquies shall be assembled as soon as the Deputies are returned from this Assembly, without delay.

2. The Province of Normandy craving an Augmentation of Moneys for the setting up of Two Colleges, because of the great extent of the said Province. This Assembly could not make any Additions to what had been ordained for them by former National Synods. And as for the Appeal of the Church of Diep from the Decree of the Provincial Synod, which had adjudged the College of that Province unto the Town of St. Lo, it was declared null, and the Decree of the Provincial Synod ratified.

3, The Sieur Gaussens Pastor of Ponteau de Mer appealed from the Judgment of the same Provinces, for that they would never yield unto the repeared instances of himself and Father in divers Synods, that he being freed from the Church in which he serveth and hath served ever since he was in the Ministry, and from that Province, he might live nearer his Aged Father, that so he might be Comforted and Assisted by him in his declining Age, especially since his Reverend Father had at his own Charges bred him up unto the Ministry. This Assembly having heard the Deputies of the Province arguing to the contrary, and testifying of the fruitfulness and good success of his Ministry, and the great Affection which his People bear him, do ordain that according to the Discipline of our Church, the Person and Ministry of the said Gaussens shall remain fixed unto the said Province of Normandy.

4, Whereas the Synod of Vitre had granted Monsieur de la Coste unto the University of Saumur to be their Professor in Divinity, upon condition that he should undergo an Examin in the Province of Anjou according to the Canons of our Church-Discipline, and the Deputies of the Synod of Anjou in Conjunction with several Ministers of the Provinces of Poitou, Normandy, Berry, and Britain having judged by his Examination, and Probationary Lectures on the Old and New Testament, and Public Disputations that God hath not called him unto that Accademical Profession, and therefore did desire him to rest contented with his Ministerial Calling only, and to exercise his Gifts in some particular Church of Christ, where God's Holy Providence might make use of him. Now the said Sieur de Coste brought in his Appeal from them. This Assembly does ratify the Judgment of the Provincial Deputies of Anjou and of those other Pastors which were employed in the said Examin; and yet nevertheless for divers reasons and Considerations, and for the Repose and Comfort of the said Sieur de la Coste it doth ordain, that he shall be put into the Catalogue of Pastors, who shall be entreated to prepare and fit themselves for the Public Profession of Theology against the next National Synod, and in the mean while the said Sieur de la Coste shall be at liberty to settle himself in any Church as he thinks good, and he shall receive Three Hundred Livers out of the Common Moneys of our Churches for the Charges of his Journey over and above what he was to have received by Order of the said Deputies who were present at his Examination, towards his Maintenance, and till such time as he be provided of a Church he shall enjoy another single Portion free of all Charges, and Two Hundred Livers more for one whole Year, within which time he is obliged to fix himself Pastor in some particular Church, and therein to Exercise his Ministry.

5. Mrs. Isabeau de Sales Relict of Monsieur Samuel Toussain late Pastor in the Church of Luke now Deceased, appealed from the Synod of Lormarin in Provence, for that they had ordered Seventy Five Livers only to be paid her, without giving her any satisfaction for what was due unto her said deceased Husband for his Journeys on behalf of his Church and Province, nor unto her for the first year of her • Widowhood. This Assembly honoring the Memory of the said Monsieur Toussain; and the many Services done by him in his life time unto the Churches, doth now ordain, That the Province of Provence shall immediately pay in Four Hundred Livres unto the said Gentlewoman Mrs. Isabeau de Sales, which shall be put out to interest in safe hands for the Children of the said Sieur Toussain: And farther there shall be paid in unto the said▪ Widow Seventy Five Livers more, which were granted her by the Synod of Lormarin. And the Province shall exhibit yearly for the space of Ten Years the Summ of Seventy Five livers towards the maintenance of the Children of the said Sieur Toussain; and the Church of Luc also shall pay in unto the said Gentlewoman all Arrearages of Salary which remain due unto their late Pastor Monsieur Toussain her deceased Husband, according to the Account she hath produced and proved.

6. Mr. Bartholomew Ressens Pastor of the Church of Velaux appealed from the Synod of Proven • e, which had proceeded divers ways very unjustly against him in several Synods inclusively from the Year 1612, unto the Synod of Aiguieres in the Year 1619. In which they had not only refused him his part of the Portions granted unto the Church of Velaux by the National Synod of Privas, but they had also over and above oppressed him with sundry and very grievous Burdens, particularly that they suspended him for Three Months time from the Holy Ministry; and yet that very self-same Assembly did a while after re-instate him again as before into it, having first compelled him to very unbecoming Submissions to them, and entertained divers Accusations against him without any Proof or Foundation, yea after that Messieurs Brunier, Chambrun, and de St. Caesaire had given in their Judicial Sentence upon his Cause, For these Reverend Persons by Authority from the National Synod of Vitre came unto the Synod of Lormarin held in the said Province in the Month of November, in the Year 1617, and having heard and examined all matters relating to him, they did absolve and justify him. Mr. Ressens having ended, the Deputies of the said Province were heard, and Monsieur Brunier also reported what he and his fellow Commissioners had done in Obedience to the Commission given them to visit the said Province by the National Synod of Vitre: Whereupon this Assembly doth very severely censure that Province of Provence for their Levity, Confusions and immoderate Passions, which were too too evident by the Acts of their Synod at Aiguieres: And therefore disannulling their Judgment, it doth ordain that all those Acts concerning the said Mr. Ressens shall be rased out of their Synodical Books: And forasmuch as the said Ressens hath not carried himself with that decorum as he was and is obliged to by the Cannons of our Ecclesiastical Discipline, and for that he hath failed in his Duty and Respects unto Synodical Meetings, and has been too much occupied in worldly Affairs, and discovered a very greedy, covetous heart after dishonest gain, which put him upon a very shameful Action confessed by him openly in this National Assembly, which had he not done would otherwise have merited his Suspension from the Ministry; but forasmuch as the Lord himself hath in much Mercy chastised him for it, and for that he has made a full, and free and ingenuous Confession, and shamed himself publicly for this miscarriage whereby our bowels are moved with compassion for him, and hath given us hope that for the future 'twill be a Spur to excite and quicken him unto his Duty, and to be more careful and circumspect in his walking, for all which considerations we contenting ourselves at present with this public Repremand given him in full Synod, do expressly forbid him to accept of any Deputation for the future unto Political Assemblies, or to appear hereafter as a Delegate personally in any one of them. And as for those Accompts lying between him and the said Province, they be dismissed over to the Church of Alez to be audited by them, and having done it, to make Report thereof unto this Assembly.

7. Mr. Andrew Guarin Pastor of the Church of Jonias and Gordes appealed from the Synod of Provence, which had ordained Twenty Crowns unto the said Churches to pay off their great Expences they were enforced to by the Lord of the Soil, who would not suffer them to worship God in their Temple built on his Land; and he complained farther of the outrages done him (which is also come to our hearing) by the Commissioners of that Province. Now although this Affair be not of their Nature which are to be brought before the National Synods, yet for divers reasons this Assembly hath took this particularly into its consideration, and doth condemn the Province of Provence for their uncharitable proceedingss, which savor of a base Chicanery every way unbecoming the Servants of God; and we do appoint the Colloquy of Gapensois in Dauphiné to inspect their Accompts, and to add what they shall judge equitable unto the Churches before-mentioned, and that by the Authority of this Assembly; which will immediately recommend their afflicted Condition unto our Lord's the General Deputies, who shall address themselves unto His Majesty and the Privy Council for Justice against their potent Oppressor.

8. Monsieur R • phael Gabett Pastor of the Church of Tulette in Dauphiné appealed from the Judgment of the Synods of Province held at Manosques the Five and Twentieth of October in the Year 1618. And at Aiguieres the Second of May 1619. Which refused to give him Licence of Departure and Honorable Testimonials, though they were but his just and lawful dues, and had been granted him by the Church of la Code, in which he had served the space of Three years, and also by the Synod of Thouart, when he quitted it. And he complained farther, that they denied to reimburse him the necessary Charges he was forced to be at in divers Journeys to this purpose, and that they had rejected most unjustly this his Appeal, when it was tendered to them. This Assembly judging the proceedings against the said Monsieur Gabett very unjust, and detective in divers points, as was demonstrated unto the Deputies of that Province, It ordaineth that all the Acts concerning the said Gabet shall be rased out of their Synodical Books, and doth very severely censure the said Province, and confirmeth the said Gabett in his Ministry at Tulett in Dauphiné, and that the Province of Provence shall give him the Testimonials demanded by him, and Twenty Livers appertaining to him as Arrearages of his Salary.

9. Mr. Peter Mercurin Pastor of the Church of Cisteron in Provence appealed from the Synod of that Province for denying him a Sight and Copy of their Synodical Acts, which might inform him of the Arrears due unto him for his • ension whilst he was yet Student, and another had not been substituted in his place; and he complained that they enforced him to yield up unto the Province Twenty Livers which were given him by the National Synod of Vitre. This Affair was dismissed over to the Colloquy of Baronniers in Dauphiné, which should audit his Accompts, and determine finally about them by the Authority of this Assembly.

10. Monsieur Boulet a Pastor of the Church of Vergeres and Condoignac appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Cévennes, confirming the Judicial Sentence of the Province of Lower Languedoc, which had ordered Four Hundred Livers to be paid him by the Churches, and Two Hundred Livers out of the Kings Money including therein the Portion of the said Churches, when as there was more due unto him. This Assembly declared that this matter did not belong to the Cognisance of National Synods; and therefore ratifying the Synodical Decree of Cévennes, it doth Exhort the said Boulet to abstain from all terms of Law in his Appeal, and in case he has any new matter of Objection against the Province of Lower Languedoc, he may again apply himself unto the Province of Cévennes.

11. Mr. John de la Faye Pastor of Aubenas appealed from the Synod of Vivaretz held at Chasteauneuf; which had given leave unto the Church of Aubenas to dismiss him, as also that he should never anymore exercise His Ministry within the Province of Vivaretz. Hereupon the Informations brought in against the said de la Faye by certain Ministers and Elders Commissionated by a Colloquy held at Meyras in August last, were called for and read, and the Deputies of the Province were heard in what they had to declare and offer from their Principals. The Letters also of some of the Elders in the Consistory of Aubenas and other Inhabitants of the said Town joining themselves in that Appeal of Monsieur de la Faye were produced they having to this purpose deputed the Sieur de la Borie, de Fons, de Seures, and de la Faisse with them unto this Assembly. Monsieur du Sault also, one of the Elders of the said Church was heard speak, who together with several other Members of the said Church, Consistory, and Inhabitants of Aubenas demanded that the Decree of the Synod of Chasteauneuf might be Executed. This Assembly saw upon the whole very great miscarriages in every party; and therefore did first of all censure those Commissioners who instead of quenching the Fire of Division and Contention, had poured in fresh Oil to increase the Flames, and fomented Quarrels and Law-Suits among them directly contrary to the Rules and Canons of our National Synods. It censureth also the Provincial Synod for pronoucing Sentence so rashly, when as there were just grounds of exceptions against the Evidence; and without ever hearing the Confession of the said de la Fay, or Convincing him in the least of his Offence, and for expressing immoderate Passion against him, and foisting into their Acts Matters of small moment as if they had been great Crimes. It censureth also the Elders of that Church of Aubenas in general for divers failures observed in their proceedings contrary to our Church-Discipline; and particularly those among them, who would prefer the lesser number unto the greater, and bring in little pettifogging tricks into Consistories, which are Ecclesiastical Assemblies, a matter of dangerous consequence, and pernicious unto our Churches. And as for Monsieur de la Faye, this Synod not being able any longer to endure those great faults of which he is guilty by his own Confession, and that he may be excited for the future better to consult the honor of his Sacred Function, whereunto he is called of God, It doth now suspend him for Two Moneths from all Exercises of his Ministry; which time expired, The Colloquy of Valentinois in Dauphiné shall at the Costs and Charge of the Church of Aubenas Commissionate some certain Pastors and Elders to restore the said de la Faye unto his Office in it, and mediate and effect a good and firm Peace and Reconciliation betwixt them all, And in the Name of God, all the Members of the said Church and Consistory who are here present are now Exhorted by this Assembly to use their best endeavors that it may be promoted, effected and preserved, among all their Fellow-Citizens, which also they did very solemnly promise. And that nothing may be wanting to compose and heal their differences, and that the Hearts of all may be disposed and engaged to this Holy Peace and Union, the Sieurs Chauffepied, and Bernard shall immediately visit them, and deal with the Consistory, and the private Members of the said Church to incline and work over their Hearts and Spirits to embrace it.

12. Monsieur de la Garie Minister and Professor of Philosophy at Losanna brought his Appeal against the Synod of Higher Languedoc held at Puylaurent, which would not suffer him a Scholastic Trial for the Professors Chair of the Hebrew Tongue in the University of Montauban, though he offered it, and yet at the same time they confirmed Mr. Abel Bicheteau in the said Professorship without any previous Examen or Disputation. However this Assembly could not but observe an evident default in the settlement of the said Monsieur Bicheteau both on his part, and that of the University of Montauban, and on the Synods also which had confirmed him, yet doth it ratify the Decree of the said Synod of Puylaurent, and fixeth Monsieur Bicheteau in his Profession; and recommends Monsieur de la Garie to the Province of Higher Languedoc, not only to defray the Charges of his Journey hither, as is just and reasonable, but to prefer him also unto the Pastoral Office in some vacant Congregation, he submitting himself first unto an Examination, according to the Decree of the National Synod of Gap. Moreover it enjoineth the said Province to observe more exactly the Canons of our National Synods in the reception of Public Academical Professors for time coming.

13. Monsieur Isaac de Rieu Pastor of the Church of Pont de Royans appealed in his own Name, and in the Name of divers others, Ministers and Elders, (now absent) from a Sentence denouncit against them in the Synod of Dauphiné held at Briancon the 18th day of June, One Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty, about a Commission which they together with the Colloquy of Ambrun had jointly executed. This Assembly not in the least approving the Action of these Appealers in granting Letters of Attorney before a Notary Public unto the said de Rieu, as if there had been a cause to be pleaded in a Civil Court of Judicature, It doth dismiss them over for the substance of their business unto the Synod of Lower Languedoc, which shall judge definitely thereof, and the rather because the Provincial Deputies of Dauphiné had not brought with them those Papers which was necessary to discuss it, and because it was utterly unfit that Monsieur de la Croze should upon his own Charges (although he did generously offer it) ride into that Province to fetch those Memorials.

14. Monsieur Olhagaray Minister in the Church of Mazeres presented an Appeal of the Colloquy of Foix from the Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc held at Puylaurent the 18th day of June One Thousand Six Hundred and Twenty, for that they had defaulked from the Portions belonging to the Church of Foix, which were granted them by the Synod of Rochell, though not mentioned in the last Synod of Vitre, and the said Province refused to make payment of them. This Assembly promised to take care of this Matter, when as they should distribute the Churches Moneys, and that in the mean while it would make Inquiry into what had been ordained by the former National Synods: And whereas the Deputies from the Council of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne requested on behalf of the said Colloquy of Foix, That they might be assisted with some Moneys to Erect a College in the City of Pamiers; they were answered, That what had been decreed as to this purpose by the Synod of Vitre should be confirmed by this of Alez.

15. The Inhabitants of the Town of St. Aignan appealed from a Judgment past against them in the Synod of Saintonge, held at Tonnay Charente, by which they were annexed to the Church of St. John d' Angely; but this their Appeal was rejected, because it was of such an Affair as might be finally decided within the Province.

16. Monsieur Philip Pinauld appealed from the Provincial Synod of Anjou, who had conferred his Office of Receiver for the University of Saumur on Monsieur Bouquett, because he would discharge it freely, and demanded nothing for his pains therein, saving only for the Transcribing of his Accompts. This Assembly leaveth the whole Affair to the disposal of that Province, provided they give General Releases unto the said Pinault.

17. The Church of Privas appealed from the Synod of Vivaretz held the last August at Chasteauneuf, for abridging them of their Liberty in the choice of their Pastors, which they ever had before, and did by the consent of their Colloquy always choose them either from within, or without the Province; whereas now the Provincial Synod takes unto itself an Absolute Authority of providing for them; and hath farther declared, That the Portion of the Kings Money, which was wont to be paid in unto the said Church, doth now of right belong unto Monsieur Lubac, although he be none of their Minister. nor doth them any Service. This Assembly blaming the said Province of Vivaretz for those words, of permitting them to choose in times past, which seem to condemn those Worthy Ministers who so affectionately served the Church of Privas in its necessity, as if they had been guilty of some grievous fault, whereas they be every way worthy of Commendation and Thank, and not of a Toleration or Connivency: And farther blaming that Synod for those words of Absolute Authority, which it had arrogated unto itself, It ordains that the Church of Privas shall enjoy its free Liberty, and may for the future provide itself of a Pastor anywhere as the Lord shall give them opportunity, taking always with them the Approbation of their Colloquy and Synod. And forasmuch as this Assembly hath heard talk of Monsieur Lubac, an Order shall be sent him, to appear before them, and to give an Account of himself. And in the mean while the Portion due unto the said Lubac shall be stopped in the hands of the Province of Vivaretz until such time as he shall have cleared himself of matters laid unto his charge.

18. Several Elders and other the Inhabitants of the Town of Gignac petitioned that they might have a Pastor appropriated to them, because of those continual assaults they meet with from the Adversaries of the Gospel; they appealed also from the Synod of Lower Languedoc, which had imposed upon them against their wills Monsieur duChacornas to be their Pastor. And yet contrariwise divers Elders and other the Inhabitants of the said Town of Gignac and St. Andrew Petitioned that the said de Chacornas might be confirmed by the Authority of this Synod to be their Pastor. The Assembly reproving those Inhabitants of Gignac for their levity and unserious temper, which engageth them in heats and disputes exceeding prejudicial unto their Consciences, and repugnant to the Edifying of God's Church, and Exhorting them to an Holy Union, Concord, and Perseverance in the profession of the Truth without wavering, did promise to provide them a Minister for Six Moneths time, who should make it his business to reconcile and settle them, and afterward they shall be recommended unto their Province to give them a fixed Pastor. And whereas they demand assistance from us towards the maintenance of their Minister, all possible care also shall be taken herein for their full satisfaction.

19. An Appeal was brought by the Lord of St. Stephens Baron of Gangers from the Judicial Sentence of the Colloquy of Sauve, ratified by the Provincial Synod of Cévennes and Gevaudan held at Meyruez in the Moneth of July last, by which the said Baron of Gangers was ordered publicly to be suspended from Communion at the Lord's Table for the Injuries and Violencies done by him to Monsieur Coder Minister of the Church of Gangers, and farther that if the said Lord continued to trouble the said Codur in the Exercise of his Ministry, that then the Province would espouse his Quarrel, and defend him by all lawful ways Ecclesiastical and Civil. And in the same Appeal the Consuls and Inhabitants of Gangers did by their Deputies represent how that the same Synod had also in the same manner censured them, for that they had given leave to the said Monsieur Codur to withdraw himself from them unto a Neighbor Church, until such time as that the Synod had provided better for him. And yet nevertheless they were, enjoined by the Synod to pay him continually his Stipend as if he were actually in service among them; In short, they demanded, that the said Codur might be removed out of their Town and transplanted elsewhere. The Appellants being called in, and heard in all what they had to speak or offer, and the Provincial Deputies of Cévennes in the reasons moving their Synod to pass such a Sentence on them; and Monsieur Codur also being heard in his defense, and pretended Justification, and two Elders of the Church of Gangers with Letters from the Consistory requesting that the said Church might be no longer deprived of God's Holy Word and Sacraments: This Assembly ratified the Judicial Sentence given by the Synod of Meyruez as to the suspension of the Lord Baron of Gangers from the Lord's Table, and the Publication of it, together with the censure past on the said Consuls and other the Inhabitants of Gangers, as being Complices and Partners with their Lord in all his Violencies and Indignities used towards their Pastor; Moreover it censureth the Consistory of the said Church for their Levity; manifest enough by their Letters and Testimonials contradictory one unto another. And as for Monsieur Codur to procure him peace, and to effect he peace of the said Church of Gangers, he shall be removed from the said Church, and the Province of Cévennes are ordered either by their Synod, or by he Colloquy of Anduze to settle him elsewhere, and in order hereunto they shall be assembled before New-years day next coming, till which time the said Church of Ganges shall duly pay him his Stipend, and they shall also satisfy him for all his Arrearages fully unto this very day. And whereas the said Monsieur Codur hath met with a world of Fatigues and Troubles by reason of his Employment in Political Affairs to the great hindrance and unsuccessfulness of his Ministry, he is entreated never anymore to entangle himself with them, nor to assist in Person for the future in any of those Political Assemblies. And whereas the said Lord Baron of Gangers, the Consuls and other Inhabitants of Gangers here present were exhorted to reconcile themselves with the said Monsieur Codur, and the Sieur Codur reciprocally to forget the Injuries he had received, and that they would mutually embrace each other, and live in an Holy Concord and Love, this was freely and cheerfully done by all Parties. Whereupon this National Synod to strengthen and consolidate this Union, and to conciliate them with those who were absent, did take off the Suspension from die said Baron, and restoreth him to the Peace and Communion of the Church, and by this means all Processes both Civil and Criminal on all sides shall cease, and never be used more.

20. Monsieur Gallpin Judge of the City of Usez, appealed from the Synod of Lower Languedoc, which had suspended the said Gallpin from the Lord's Table, and ordered that the said Suspension should be published in the Church. Although this Affair be not of their Nature, which according to the Cannons of our Church-Discipline ought to fall under the Cognisance of National Synods, yet for procuring that sweet Blessing of Peace, and for divers other Important Considerations, This Assembly did enter upon the Debate thereof; and accordingly judged that the Synod of Lower Languedoc had just cause for suspending the said Galpin from the Lord's Table, and this not upon the account of his Office, for which they did not in the least intermeddle with him; but for that Reproach the said Galpin hath brought upon the Church very unseasonably by his Extravagant Actings against the Sieur Gondin Viguier (Provost) of the City of Usez; and for discovering himself by the by to be of another Religion than the Reformed, of which he now makes profession. However the Synod for divers reasons doth not think meet that his Suspension should be published. And forasmuch as the principal end of this Assembly is to promote an Holy Union among all the Members of our Church, and principally among Persons whom God hath in his Providence advanced unto public Office and Honor, The said Monsieur Galpin is exhorted to reconcile himself with Monsieur Gondin, and both of them jointly to take such Rules and Measures as may secure the Public Peace and Tranquility of God's Church, in their respective Places and Callings. And the said Galpin and Gondin having testified their acquiescence in this Decree, they were both reconciled, and promised to surcease all Law-Suits and Processes whatsoever, and to live in Amity and Concord together, and that in case they should act contrary to these their promises, that they would submit themselves unto all Censures of the Church; to suspension from the Sacraments, yea, and to Excommunication itself, and that the Consistory and Colloquy of Usez, and the Synod of Lower Languedoc should with the highest Authority proceed against them. Whereupon the Suspension and its publication decreed against the said Galpin by the Synod of Lower Languedoc was taken off, and he was immediately restored to the Peace and Communion of the Church.

21. The Sieur Boulet appealed from the Synod of Lower Languedoc held at Usez in March last, because he having opposed the Election of Monsieur Astier to the Office of an Elder, they had censured him. This Assembly confirms the Judicial Sentence or the said Synod, and doth grievously censure the said Boulet for retaining so long and notorious a passion, contrary to the Laws of Christian Charity, which forbid us to harbor Wrath, and command us to exercise Love unto all God's Children. And Monsieur Astier also is severely reproved for expressing so much disrespect as he hath done unto the Sacred Ministry, which he hath vented in scurrilous and opprobrious Language against the said Boulet. And finally the Commissioners deputed by the Colloquy to meet at Nismes about this matter they were very sharply censured for wasting their time, and putting the Parties to so great charges by their tedious dilatory proceedings, utterly unbecoming their Calling.

22. A great Number of the Inhabitants of the Town of Sauve appealed from the Censure inflicted on them by the Synod of Cévennes held at Vigan the 24th day of April in the year Sixteen Hundred and Seventeen, and requested that the said censure might be rased, and taken out of the Acts of the said Synod, and the Consistory there joined with them, as also Monsieur Bony contented so far, as that they might have another Minister, to exercise among them, though herein he acted contrary to the Decree of that Synod, which had inhibited them all Inquiries after a Second Pastor, This Assembly judging this Affair not to be of their kind which ought to be tendered unto the National Synods, doth therefore remand them and it back again unto the Province, and either in a Colloquy, or Synod to procure for themselves another Minister, according to the Rules prescribed by our Discipline, and for Peace sake it does amend the Censure of the Synod of Vigan, and ordaineth, That those words inserted in it, of factions and quarrelsome shall be rased out of it.

23. The Church of Lormarin together with their Pastor Monsieur Morrice, and Corrigier one of their Elders appealed from the Synod of Provence held at Remoules in May last, which having suspended the said Morrice for three Moneths from the Ministry, the same Synod did some few days after restore him again: And yet afterwards they compelled them the said Morrice, and Corrigier to beg the pardon of that Synod upon their knees, the Moderator calling upon God in Prayer before hand on purpose to expose them, when as there was no cause at all, nor had there been any on their part for so great an Indignity, they having given no provocation which might merit such ignominious usage. This Assembly condemneth the Province of Provence for abusing our Discipline, and exposing the Sacred Ordinance of Prayer to contempt and scorn, and ordereth that their Act of Suspension past in the Synod of Remoules be rased out, of all Books in which it may have been recorded; and the Acts of the said Synod being wholly cleared, and renewal, the Old Copyes shall be delivered into the hands of the said Mr. Morrice, and this present Act shall be read in the next Synod of Provence by Monsieur Huron their Deputy, and entered into the Register of the Synodical Acts of Provence.

24. Mr. Hector Joly appealed from the Synod of Higher Languedoc held at Puylaurent in June last for suspending him a whole year from the Ministry, and that term expired for ordering him to quit the Province, though they licensed him if he could, to get himself into some other Church in another Province. The cause of his suspension was Adultery: And the Church and City of Montauban complained of the too much Lenity and Indulgence extended by that Synod towards the said Joly, and of their censure given forth against the Consistory of Montauban. The Deputies of the said Province declared the true grounds of their Synodical actings against Joly, and of their censure upon the Consistory to be these, viz. Because they had neglected their Duty to him, and the forms requisite and usual in all our Ecclesiastical proceedings. Joly also was called in, and suffered to speak for himself, and to produce by word of Mouth and Writing whatever might make for his Defense and Justification. But after all that could be said by him or for him, This Assembly approved the Judicial Sentence of the said Synod of Puylaurent in every Title and Member of it, yea, and in its censure inflicted on the Consistory of Montauban, because of the notorious defaults confessed by them in their actings. And all matters having been narrowly examined and considered; which were alleged by the said Joly, and particularly those Acts now produced by him, he was now found to be really guilty of that Crime whereof he stood accused, and of very foul and wicked practices to palliate and stifle it. Insomuch as his Ministry could be no longer useful, but must needs be a very great and public scandal. For these Causes this Assembly aggravated the Judgment of the Synod of Puylaurent, doth now declare the said Joly to be totally deposed from the Sacred Ministry and interdicts him all manner of Acts, Duties, and Exercises appertaining to it. And at his request. the Papers which he had produced out of the Civil Courts were all returned into his own hands.

25. Stephen Girault appealed from the Synod of Saintonge held at Marennes in July Sixteen Hundred and Seventeen, which had declared him utterly unworthy of that Holy and Honorable Office of a Pastor in the Church of God, and deposed him from the Ministry, without any hope of ever being restored to it, unless he did wholly reform his Life and Manners, and become a new Man before the sitting of this present National Synod; and likewise he appealed from another Sentence since that of the aforesaid Synod past upon him by the Sieurs Constance and Rossel Deputed by the Colloquy of Pons in December, in One Thousand Six Hundred and Nineteen, to make inquiry into the Life and Conversation of the said Giraud, by which he was suspended for Three Moneths from Communion with the Church of God at the Lord's Table, and this his Suspension was ordered to be notified from the Pulpit to the whole Congregation. The Deputies of the Province of Saintonge were desired to declare the Reasons of their rigorous dealings with this Girault, and Girault also was heard in all his Apologies for himself both by word of Mouth and Writing. In which he confessed and owned some of the Crimes whereof he was accused, but confidently extenuated and denied others: This Assembly finding the said Stephen Girault convicted of Profaneness and Lasciviousness, Drunkenness, Theft, Perjury, contempt of Church-Discipline, Slandering, Coveting dishonest gain; in short, a Fellow whose Life and Manners have no resemblance with that of a Servant of God, but directly contrary to him, and one who is utterly unworthy the Name of a Christian. It hath and doth now declare him to be deposed from the Holy Ministry, and totally interdicts him all manner of Acts and Offices belonging to it; leaving it to the judgment of that Church, where he shall reside, whether they will admit him or no as a private Person to communion with them at the Lord's Table, which yet they shall not do till such time as they have had long and undoubted Evidence and Experience of his thorough Reformation and Amendment of Life, and conceive him worthy of so great a Favor and Privilege upon very good and satisfactory Grounds and Reasons.

26. The Colloquy of Rouergue presented their Appeal by Monsieur Jaques Pastor of the Church of St. Breuest, from the Synod of Higher Languedock held at Millaud, by which the said Colloquy was condemned to pay Five Hundred Livers (another Copy has Five Hundred Crowns) unto Monsieur du Luc, for razing the place at Monntelarat it being a matter obtained by surprise, and against that use whereunto the Churches Money is to be employed. After hearing the Arguments of the said de Luc against the said Colloquy, and the reasons alleged by the Deputies of the Province, the Assembly did not judge this Affair to belong to the Cognisance of Synods, and therefore remands it back again to the Cities and Corporations in the Colloquy of Rouergue, that they may give satisfaction as they shall see reason for it. The Moneys granted us by the Kings bounty shall see reason for it. The Moneys granted us by the Kings bounty being destinated to other and better purposes.

27. The Church of Authun and Couches appealed from the Synod of Burgundy, which refused to give them Monsieur Textor for their Minister, and had censured them for that they persisted in their Endeavors to procure him. This Assembly not being able to invalidate the Judgment of the said Province of Burgundy, because those who are concerned in it, are not here neither in their Persons, nor by their Memoirs, yet doth it however enjoin the said Province to take care, That the said Church of Cauches be speedily supplied with an able Minister according to the Canons of our Ecclesiastical Discipline.

28. The Church of Foussay appealed about the maintenance of Monsieur Vatable their Pastor from the Synod of Poitou; but their Appeal was rejected because it was of the nature of those things which might be determined by Provincial Synods.

29. The Sieur des Maretz appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Vivaretz held at Privas, which had confirmed those Orders of the Colloquy of Rochefoucaut dated the 25th of June, 1619. and that of Privas Dated the 10th of November, 1619. and enjoined him the said des Maretz wholly to quit the Church of Vals as soon as they should have paid him the remainders of his Salary. The Deputies of the Church of Vals petitioned that they might be provided of another Pastor, and those of the Province produced the reasons moving them to pronounce that judgment against him. Upon the whole, this Assembly, although it doth confirm that Ordinance of the Synod of Vivaretz as to the removal of the said des Maretz from the Church of Vals, yet cannot in the least approve of the proceedings of the said Province in their manner of Interdicting him his Ministry there: And although he be exhorted to be more careful in preserving the Honor of his Calling, and to adorn it with that prudence and gravity which well becomes it; yet nevertheless do we recommend him unto the said Province of Vivaretz to settle him in some particular Church, which shall be done either by the Colloquy or Synod. And that till he be provided, he may maintain himself and Family, the said Province shall give him one Portion free of all Rates and Taxes out of the Moneys granted us by His Majesty's Liberality, and Fifteen Crowns in ready Money for the Expences of his Journey, and the Church of Vals shall pay him off fully his wages to this very day; and to this purpose the Moneys which would otherwise accrue unto the said Church of Vals shall be detained in the hands of the Receiver of the Province of Vivaretz: And the Sieurs Agar and Richaud are charged by this Assembly that they do both of them in their respective Places and Capacities use their best endeavors that the said Church do give all content and satisfaction unto the said Sieur des Maretz.

30. Monsieur de la Cloche appealed from the Provincial Synod of Britain for detaining from him, as he pretended, Moneys which were owed him by the Church of Nantes. This Assembly dismisseth him over to the Province of Anjou, who shall judge definitively in this matter according to the Cannons of our Discipline.

31. The Church of Chalays appealed from an Order of the Synod of Burgundy held at Gex in the year 1617, about an opposition made by Monsieur du Noyer an Advocate against the admission of several Persons nominated to be Elders, because already the Consistory of that Church was filled up with near Relations, as of Father and Son, Three Brothers in Law, an Uncle and Nephew, and that the said du Noyer having opposed himself to this disorder, they did thereupon suspend him from being an Elder in the said Church. This Assembly judgeth that the said opposition was very warrantable, because of the many Relations and Kindred that were in it; and that the Colloquy did but right, when they took off the Counsel from the said du Noyer: And though for the present it suffers the State of the Consistory of the said Church of Chalais to continue, yet, doth it enjoin them for the future to observe as much as in them lieth the Consul given them by the Synod of Burgundy, concerning their change of Elders: So that they had no cause at all, nor ought they to have appealed from that Synodical Exhortation.

32. The Church of Valon, la Gorce, and Salvas appealed from the Province of Vivaretz, for denying them help and assistance by which they might have stemm'd and resisted those many Evils befallen them by the Persecution of the Baron of la Gorce; and for not suffering them to be incorporated with the Province of Lower Languedoc, which they had most earnestly desired and requested, do still persist in their desire of being incorporated with it. This Assembly cannot consent that the said Church of Valon should be severed from the Province of Vivaretz, for many and weighty Reasons; and therefore enjoineth the said Province of Vivaretz to have a most especial care of the said Church of Valon in their distribution of His Majesty's Money, that so they may be aided and supported under their many and heavy Burdens and most grievous Oppressions.

33. The Church of Milhaud brought their Appeal from a Judgment of the Province of Cévennes, which refused to repay them the Charges they had been at in maintaining Noel le Gele, formerly a Carmelit, Friar in the Church of Rome, and sent by the Church of Maruejols unto that of Milhaud. This Assembly judgeth that the Colloquy of Rouergue should defray his Charges, because the said le Gele is dedicated to their Service.

43. The Church of Luke appealing from the Synod of Provence, This Assembly judged that their demand of being reimburst their Charges for the pretended Synod of Thouars could not be admitted, because they did not therein suffer alone, but all the Churches bore them Company in the said Province of Provence; nor should there be any words made about the Twenty Crowns, which the said Synod ordered for a Schoolmaster, because we would not have old Dissensions long since extinguished to be again revived; and it cannot be made appear that the said Summ of Twenty Crowns was ever actually paid: And whereas they demand some relief; for the future there shall be Consideration had of them in the Dividends of His Majesty's Bounty.

35. The Church of Montpellier appealed from the Synod of Lower. Languedoc about the Collection made for building the Temple at Castelnau; but their Appeal was rejected, and the Decree of that Synod confirmed, on Condition, that the Minister who shall be settled in that Church of Castelnau and its Annexed Congregations do reside not at Montpellier, but at Montferrier, Clappier, or in some other place most convenient for the Service of that Church, and the Temple shall be built at a greater distance from Montpellier, and the Elders shall be chosen out of the places where the said Church is gathered, or in case they dwell at Montpellier, they shall not be chosen without the consent of the Consistory of Montpellier, and if a Collection should be made in that Church for building a Temple in the midst of the places before-mentioned; The said Church shall appoint one of her Elders by name to gather and distribute the Moneys so Collected according as was ordained by the Synod of Lower Languedoc.

36. The Deputies of the Province of Burgundy presented a Letter from Monsieur de Monsenglard Pastor of the Church of Corbigny, with his Appeal from the Sentence of the Colloquy of Berry held at Corbigny, who notwithstanding the great and known Poverty of his Church, had by their decree struck off Fifty Livres a year from his Wages, and in case he could not bear it, he should be put into the Catalogue of Ministers that were to be removed, and in pursuance of another Decree of the Synod of Berry and Orleans held at Gergean in July last, they moderating somewhat of the rigor of the said Sentence, did order the said Sieur de Montsanglard to rest contented with the Summ of Four Hundred and Fifty Livres, but ye withal, they ratified another part of that Sentence, which was that he should be enrolled amongst the Pastors who were to be removed unto other Churches, unless his said Church would rather choose to complete the Sum of Five Hundred Livres yearly for him, and then the Execution of the said Decree should be forborne till the meeting of the next Synod Letters also were read from the said Church of Corbigny declaring their deep poverty, and requesting a charitable relief for their subsistence, but they did not make any the least mention of their Appeal. And the Deputies of the said Province of Berry made Report, That the said Sieur de Monsanglard had not brought in any Appeal unto their Synod from that Decree, whose Execution is put off till the meeting of the next Synod, nor doth he at all intimate it, nor did the said Church of Corbigny in his or their Letters now lately received by them, intimate that there was any such Appeal of his own foot; but this only that he joineth in with them in their Common Petition for Assistance and Relief, as also did these Deputies for them. This Assembly remands the business of the said Monsanglard unto the Synod of Berry, and as for that Relief requested by the said Church, care shall be taken of it, when we come to make a Dividend of the Churches Moneys.

37. The Appeal of the Colloquy of Rovergue from the Synod of higher Languedoc concerning Monsieur Combret is declared null.

38. The Appeal of the Colloquy of Usez from the Synod of Lower Languedoc, (which had ordained that the Portions assigned to Professors in the University of Nismes, being Ministers of the Gospel, though not in actual Service because of their said Professorship, should be free and discharged of all Costs and Taxes,) was declared to be ill grounded, and the Synodical Decree is now ratified.

39. The Appeal of Monsieur Vulson la Colombiere from the Synod of Dauphiné held at Gap was declared null and void.

40. The Appeal of Sieur Philippin born at Newcastle in Switzerland, heretofore Minister at Castel: Dolphin in Dauphiné, but now a deposed Minister is declared null and void.

41. The Appeal of Monsieur Connain from the Synod of Burgundy was rejected.

42. The Appeal of the Consuls and Magistrates of the City of Millhaud from the Synod of higher Languedoc was declared null, as were also that of divers Inhabitants of St. Autonine, and that of the Colloquy of Lower Queroy against the Church of Montauban.

43. The Appeal of the Churches of St. Andrew, St Marcel and Saumain from the Synod of Cévennes was declared null.

44. The Appeal of Monsieur de Falquerolles from the same Provincial Synod was also declared null, and that Canon of the said Province ascertaining the Expences of Deputies unto Political Assemblies shall be observed.

45. The Appeal of the Church of St. Paul in Lauragais against Monsieur de Villemar a Member of the Synod of higher Languedoc held at Puylaurent in June last was declared null.

46. The Appeal brought in by Monsieur de Malvolsin in behalf of the Colloquy of Albigeois from the Decree made in the last Synod of Puylaurens in the higher Languedoc about dismembering the Church of St. Amand from that Colloquy, was declared null, because he produced no Memoire from the said Colloquy relating to it.

47. The Appeal of Monsieur Bleuet from a Decree of the Synod of Burgundy about restoring a certain Elder in the Church of Beaune was remanded back again to the said Province, that their next Synod might judge of the matter.

48. The Colloquy of the Church of Sancerre appealed from the Synod of Orleans and Berry held at Sancerre in the year Sixteen Hundred and Nineteen, which ordain that the Church of Sancerre should be divided from the said Colloquy, and joined unto that of Bourbonnois, and the Church of Chilleure should be annexed unto that of Sancerre. Monsieur de Benes gave in the reasons of the Colloquies Appeal in their Name, and the Deputies of that Province defended the Ordinance of their Principals; upon hearing of both Parties, This Assembly abrogated that Ordinance of the Synod of Berry, and leaveth the said Churches in the same Condition they were in formerly.

49. The Church of Montauban brought their Appeal against the Provincial Synod of Cévennes, for denying them Monsieur Ollyer one of the Ministers in the Town of Alez to be their Pastor. The Deputies of the said Church of Montauban were heard speaking for it, the Consuls, Magistrates, and Consistory of the Town and Church of Alez for themselves also, and particularly Monsieur Ollier who resigned himself wholly to the disposal of this Assembly; and the Deputies of the Province of Cévennes gave in the reasons of their refusal, viz. the singular fruitfulness and success of the Ministry of the said Monsieur Ollier among them. After all, the Assembly confirmed Monsieur Ollyer in his Pastoral Office to the Church of Alez according to the Canons of our Church Discipline, and adviseth the Church of Montauban to mind their Duty better for the future than they have done heretofore, in maintaining one or more Scholars, who may serve them in case of need, without being enforced to rob and spoil other Churches.

50. Monsieur Matthew Lansard appealed from the Synod of Lower Languedoc held at Usez in May last, which had restored the Sieur John Cottelier formerly Minister in the Church of Nismes unto the exercise of his Ministry, upon condition that he should employ himself in some other Province, contrary to the Decree of the foregoing Synod in the same Province held at Malquel in the Moneth of May, 1619; which had deposed the said Cottelier from the Sacred Ministry as a Person utterly unworthy so Holy and Honorable a Calling. The said Cottelier was called in, and heard speak for himself against the said Lansard, and whatever he could urge in his own Defense, and Justification; and the Deputies of the Province brought in the Reasons and Motives both of the one and other Sentence, and of the Enquiry made about him at Nismes by Commissioners sent thither to that very end and purpose. Upon the whole, this Assembly did very grievously censure that Province of Lower Languedoc for restoring the said Cottelier again unto the Ministerial Office, contrary to the Canons of our Church-Discipline; and it doth also censure the Church of Montpellier for suffering him to administer the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper among them, and other Churches were censured, which admitted him to preach in their Pulpits in that Province of Lower Languedoc, at that time when as he was interdicted all the Duties of a Gospel Minister in that very Province. And forasmuch as the said Cottelier hath by his Vices and Debauches rendered himself utterly unworthy of so Sacred a Function, this Assembly doth now totally depose him from the Holy Ministry, without any the least hopes of his ever being restored to it.

51. The Appeal of the Colloquy of Albigeois from the Synod of Higher Languedoc held at Puylaurent about Church Rates is dismissed over to the Colloquy of Montpellier in Lower Languedoc.

52. The Appeal of the Church of Realmont against that of la Fanasse brought in at first into the Synod of Puylaurent in the Higher Languedoc, and from thence hither, is now declared null.

53. The Appeal of the Consistory and Church of la Tremblade from the Censure and Judgment given against them by the Synod of Saintonge held at Marennes was rejected; because the contents thereof was of that nature, which might be finally determined in their own Province.

54. In like manner the Appeal of the Church of Bruillet in the same Province of Saintonge, and that of Monsieur de la Chaussee Elder in the Church of St. Claud brought against the Synod of the same Province held at St. John d' Angely about the Ministry of Monsieur Hog was rejected; because the matters of both these Appeals might be finally decided within their own Province.

55. The Province of Poitou brought in an Appeal against the University Council of Saumur about their receiving of Monsieur Cameron into the Professorship of Divinity, whereunto he was called by them, according to a Decree of the Synod of Anjou. The Deputies of Poitou were heard in their Arguments and Oppositions made against the Sieur Camerons promotion unto that Chair; and the Deputies of Anjou were heard speak for their Province, and for the University of Saumur, as also Monsieur Vignier, who with the Sieurs de la Buissonniter and de la Place had been called in from the Neighbor Provinces by the said University to examine the said Sieur Cameron. Although this Assembly believeth that the said Province of Poitou were stirred up unto their Opposition by a Godly Zeal, yet notwithstanding it doth approve and confirm whatever hath been done by the Province of Anjou, by the University of Saumur, and by all the Commissioners of the other Provinces in the Call of the aforesaid Monsieur Cameron unto the Profession of Theology, and declares it to have been well and lawfully done by (them.

56. Monsieur Mahaut appealed from the Synod of Normandy, for not approving his Call unto the Church of Roan, which had chosen him for their Pastor, and he had accepted of it, being now out of all Employment, and not related unto any Church. This Assembly could not approve of the Church of Roans dealings with the said Sieur Mahaut, no more than it can of their distinction made between the most eminent Members and the Heads of Families, which they are forbidden to use for the future, because of many inconveniencies that may ensue upon it: And yet forasmuch as the said Sieur Mahaut hath requested to be discharged from the said Church of Roan, as is evident from the Consistorial Acts of that Church, which were produced, he hath no reason to repute himself their Pastor. And that the said Mahaut may have an Answer unto his Letters sent unto this Synod, he is remanded back unto the next Provincial Synod of Normandy, who shall dispose of the Person and Ministry of the said Monsieur Mahaut by virtue of the Authority of this Assembly, and in the mean while according to the Decree of the Synod of Normandy he shall go and serve the Church of Ponteau de Mer.

57. The Church of Nismes appealed from the Synod of Lower Languedoc held at Malguiol for denying them Monsieur Chauve to be their Pastor. Whereupon the Counselors, Magistrates and Consuls of Nismes, as also the Deputies from Sommieres were called in, and heard in what they had to oppose against this Appeal of Nismes, who pleaded their particular Right unto the Person and Ministry of the said Monsieur Chauve. There were Deputies also from the Church of Montauban on the same Errand, demanding that he might be confer'd upon them. This Assembly also sounded the inclination of this Reverend Minister, who did as ingeniously inform them that there is and ever had been a most sincere and mutual Affection and Correspondence between him and his Church of Sommiers, and that the Lord had poured out a singular Benediction upon his poor Labors in it. The Deputies also of the Province of Lower Languedoc gave in their Reasons why they had refused him unto the Church of Nismes. All which having been maturely debated and considered, This Assembly did confirm Monsieur Chauve in his Ministerial Relation unto the Church of Sommieres, concurring herein with the judicial Sentence of the said Province, and yet compassionating the necessities of that Chrch of Nismes, it doth lend the said Monsieur Chauve to them for one year, to begin from that day he shall be chosen by the Church of Nismes, and that time expired, he shall return again unto Sommieres there to fulfill the Ministry he hath received from the Lord.

58. The Church of St. Martin de Bobaux appealed from the Synod of Cévennes for having assigned them no more than Ten Crowns in lieu of all that assistance which was granted them by the National Synod of Vitre. This Assembly ordained that the said Church of St. Martyn shall receive a free Portion discharged of all Rates and Taxes out of the Moneys appropriated to the said Province of Cévennes.

59. The Church of Ars in the Isle of Re appealed from the Synod of Saintonge, because it had ordered Monsieur Chesnet their Pastor to be removed from them unto that of St. John de Angely. The Letters of the said Church being read, and the Deputies of the Province, and the Sieur Chesnet being heard; This Assembly confirms his Ministry in the Church of Ars, and leaveth the Province of Saintonge to take care for the Church of St. John d' Angely, and to supply its present necessities by some other Person.

60. The Lord's Magistrates, Consuls, and Consistory of the City and Church of Nismes brought in their Appeal from the Synod of Higher Languedoc held at Mazieres for denying them Monsieur Chamier to be their Professor in Divinity. The Remonstrances and Petitions of the Deputies of Lower Languedoc being heard, as also the Arguments urged to the contrary by the Lord's in the Government of Nismes, and the Consistory and Council of the University of Montauban, and the reasons of the Synod of Higher Languedoc being reported by the Deputies of that Province, declaring the grounds of their Refusal: This Assembly would not alter anything in the said University of Montauban, and therefore confirmed Monsieur Chamier in his Ministry, and Professorship there; and exhorts the Lord's Magistrates and Consuls of the City of Montauban, and the whole Church to give full contentment unto the said Monsieur Chamier, that so he may be the more encouraged in his great labors among them, and be the more useful to him.

61. The Churches of Caen and Santal appealed from the Provincial Synod of Normandy about a certain Summ of Money assigned to the College of the said Province: But this Appeal was turned over to the nearest Colloquy of the Isle of France.

62. The Church of St. Pons brought their Appeal from the Synod of Vivaretz, held at Chasteauneuf, for that it had appointed Monsieur de la Motte to be the Pastor of their Church together with that of Mirabel, contrary to the desires of the said Church of Pons, and that Fourscore Livres which was formerly assigned unto both those Churches in common, were now wholly attributed by the same Province unto the sole Church of Mirabel. This Assembly considering the many difficulties and obstructions that Monsieur de la Motte conflicts withal in the exercise of his Ministry in that Church of St. Pons, doth enjoin the Colloquy of Aubenas, to provide the said Sieur de la Motte of another Church, and that they may do it the more easily, it shall be by way of Exchange, translating some other Minister into his place, to whom Monsieur de la Motte shall be substituted, and so the said Churches of St. Pons and Mirabel may continue incorporated each with the other and mutually enjoy the said Summ of Fourscore Livres, an augmentation granted them by their Province towards the maintenance of their Minister. And in case the Colloquy cannot provide a Church for the said Sieur de la Motte, matters shall remain in the same State as they now be till the sitting of their next Provincial Synod. And in the mean while the said Church of St. Pons shall be assisted and supplied by the Pastors of that Colloquy, each of them preaching to it in his respective turn.

63. An Appeal was brought by sundry of the Inhabitants of St. Lawrence D'aiguze in the Lower Languedoc against certain Orders of the Colloquy of Nismes held at Aimargues in February last, and of the Synod of Lower Languedoc held at Usez, in the Moneth of May last, for restoring the Sieur Gabriel Tuffan unto the Holy Ministry, from which he was suspended by the Colloquy of Nismes held at the said Aimargues in July of the year 1619, though he was never duly absolved from those Crimes of which he was accused, and for which he was suspended the Ministerial Office. The Deputies of Lower Languedoc were heard declaring the Reasons of their Judicial Sentence, and the Commissioners of the Colloquy of Nismes giving in theirs, and the said Tuffan speak for himself; After which, the Assembly debated with themselves the whole Affair, and censured the said Province, and particularly their Commissioners for their want of gravity, and gross self-contradiction in all their proceedings: And as for the said Sieur Tuffan he being found guilty of plunging himself Head and Ears in State-Matters and Businesses of this World, expressly contrary to the Precept of the Apostle, and having thereby contracted on himself much guilt, utterly unworthy a Person of his Calling; This Assembly suspended him from the Sacred Ministry, and interdicted him all the Functions thereof till the sitting of the next National Synod; by which he may be restored, provided that he bring with him sufficient Testimonials to it of his Repentance and Religious Conversation, and of his serious improvement of this Public Reprehension. And in case the next National Synod cannot be convened in the year Sixteen Hundred Twenty and Three, the Synod of the Lower Languedoc may restore him unto his Office, but not to serve within the Precincts of the Colloquy of Nismes. And in the mean while a Portion shall given him yearly for his subsistence free of all Rates and Taxes by the said Province. And the Church of Bellegarde together with the annexed Congregations shall notwithstanding this Synodical Sentence past upon him, give him the said Tuffan full satisfaction for the time that he did them Service as their Minister; and the Colloquy shall see them do it.

64. An Appeal was brought by the Church of Alez about a Pulpit set up in the midst of the Womens Seats, which hath occasioned divers Quarrels, Batteries, Law-Suits, and Suspensions from the Lord's Table. But the Decision of it was dismissed over to the Colloquy of Usez in the Lower Languedoc.

CHAP. IX. GENERAL MATTERS.

1. THIS Assembly being informed of great Divisions fallen out in the Province of Lower Languedoc, through the multitude of Ministers, who are personally present at their Political Provincial Assemblies, and of manifold Inconveniencies arising from the Deputation of Pastors about State-Affairs, and principally by sending them in business unto Court; and designing a remedy for this sad disorder, which doth re • ect upon the Ministry a world of Reproach and Scorn, and diverteth Pastors from their Studies and Ministerial Duties, and is exceeding chargeable and incommodious unto their Churches; It forbiddeth most expressly all Ministers in that Province, and in all the other Provinces of this Kingdom to accept henceforwards of any Deputations unto Court, or to become the Deputies of others, although they be Persons of the greatest Quality, or to be deputed unto them. And it exhorts the said Province of Lower Languedoc to send their Deputies from Colloquies rather than from the Churches: And it entreateth the next General Assembly to confirm this our Canon, and if possible totally to discharge all Pastors of Churches from intermeddling with State-Affairs. And in short it doth enjoin Provincial Synods to take special Notice of such Ministers as shall accept of those Deputations, and to prosecute them with the severest censures, yea, and to suspend them from their Ministry. And in case the Provincial Synods prove negligent, the National will take cognizance of this their neglect, and call them to an account for it.

2. Monsieur Boucheteau Minister of God's Holy Word, and the Sieurs de la Begaudiere, de Benes, Joly Bernard, and du Puy Elders were appointed a Committee to audit the Accompts of the Lord du Kandel.

3. The Lord's de la Riviere, and de Juigne Ministers of the Gospel, and de la Begaudiere, de Benes, Pusquet, di Bouques, and Joly Elders, were nominated to receive the Accounts of our Colleges and Universities, and to make report thereof unto this Assembly.

4. The National Synod of Vitre having given Commission unto some certain Deputies of divers Provinces jointly together with our Lord's the General Deputies at Court to compel the Sieur Palot to accompt with them for those great Summs he is indebted unto the Churches, and these according to their Commission, having devolv'd it on the Consistory of Paris to take care of this concern; who did to this purpose employ the Sieurs Guidon, and d' Huisseau Elders of the said Church of Paris. Now the Letters of those two Gentlemen, Monsieur Guidon, and d' Huisseau being read, as also the Memoirs of what they had done in their prosecution of the said Palot, This Assembly approved and confirmed the Powers which had been granted them by the Lord's our General Deputies, and Consistory of the Church of Paris, and it thanketh them for their great pains, and entreat them to continue this their Prosecution, and as a Testimonial of our Gratitude, we do paesent them with Two Thousand Livres, which they shall receive out of the first Moneys of the Four and Twenty Thousand Livres, which the said Sieur Palot was condemned in open Court after the Trial was heard, to pay unto our Churches, for which gratuity the said Sieurs Guidon and d' Huisseau shall being in their Account, as also of the Overplus of the said 24000 Livrs. But in case the said Summ of 24000 Livres should not be paid by the said Sieur Palot, yet the Summ of 2000 Livres wherewith they be presented by this Assembly may be taken by them out of the clearest Moneys which shall be received from the said Palot. And as for those other great Summs remaining due from him unto the Churches, This Assembly doth freely give and grant unto the said Guidon and d' Huisseau a quarter part of whatever may be recovered by them, provided they pursue the Processes and Suits in Law at their own Costs and Charges, without expecting any other gratification or reimbursement from the Churches. And if perchance the said Gentlemen should not accept of these conditions, and refuse to finish the prosecution of this Affair hitherto undertaken and performed by them, then shall they be reimburst of all their pass Expence and Charges, according to the report they shall make of them in all Sincerity and Justice unto the Consistory of the Church of Paris, which shall notify it unto all the Provinces, and they conjointly with our Lord's the General Deputies shall make an equal Dividend of the Paper and Accounts relating to those Summs among all the Provinces, that so every particular Province may prosecute the said Palot for their respective Summs in such a way and manner as best pleaseth them. In pursuance of this Decree Letters of Attorney were ordered to be given unto the said Guidon and d' Huisseau by the Deputies of the Isle of France, provided they would by a public Act of their own Signed and Sealed stipulate to their Approbation and acceptance of this present Synodical Act and Decree, and promise to go thorough with the prosecution of the said Palot, conformably to the Conditions and Terms propounded and included in it.

5. Forasmuch as there is a most dreadful Deluge of Ungodliness overflowing the whole Land, and horribly corrupting all Ranks and Degrees of Men amongst us, which doth call aloud unto us to humble ourselves before God, and the late doleful Changes happened in the Churches of Béarn, and in divers other Churches and Provinces united and incorporated with us, which are either ruinated, or upon the very brink of ruin and destruction do all warn, invite and summon us to turn away God's Wrath from us by a most serious and speedy Repentance, and sincere Conversion; Therefore this Assembly ordaineth that a Public Fast shall be solemnly kept and observed in this Church of Alez on Saturday the Fourteenth of November, and on the first Thursday in March next ensuing in all the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom.

6. A Motion and Petition from the Province of Normandy, that there might be a special Canon made with reference unto our Proposans; because all former Orders have been ineffectual, and very great Inconveniences do fall out daily through want of a sufficient knowledge of the Qualities and Conversations of such as we are to receive into the Ministerial Office. This Assembly is of another Opinion, judging that there is no need of any new Canons. But it enjoineth all the Provinces exactly to observe those which are inserted into the Body of our Discipline, and in the Acts of our National Synods, and not to lay on hands suddenly on any Person. And whereas those said inconveniencies have risen hence, that the Doctors and Professors in our Universities have been over-liberal, and too too favorable in their Testimonials given to our Scholars, they shall be admonished for time to come never to grant them out of favor or respect to any person contrary to Truth, and Sincerity. And in like manner all the Provinces be forbidden to admit the Scholar of another Province into the Ministry among them, without the express consent and attestation of that Province from whence he departeth.

7. The Lord of Kandel shall not pay any Money unto any Member of, nor to any Person that comes from the Political Assemblies, without a particular Order under the hand of the Receiver of the Province, and to be charged on the account of the Provincial Synods. And in case he do otherwise, those Summs so paid 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.

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, presenting Letters from the Lord's 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 Condé. And therefore Letters shall be written in the Name of this Assembly unto the Lord's of Béarn, to inform and certify 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, 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 endeavor 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 invaluable Treasure of God's Word may be always 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 Kandel 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 Lord's General Deputies shall see to it, that the said Commission bear not the Title of an Office. And the said Lord of Kandel is entreated 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 Lord's 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 Cévennes, that all Public Notaries professing the Reformed Religion might be forbidden in their executing of Marriage Contracts to make a Gift of the Bodies of betrothed Persons; especially where one is of a contrary Religion, until such time as the Consistory of that Church shall have taken cognizance thereof. This Assembly leaveth it to the prudence of the Province of Cévennes, or any other, where such things as these be practiced to make a By-Law, which may most effectually contribute unto their future edifying.

14. That Order passed in the Province of Saintonge excluding the president of the last Provincial Synod from being chosen Moderator in the next, 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, 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 Dauphiné moved, whether a Minister might together with his Ministry exercise the Profession of Philosophy. 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, no Minister nor Pastor of any Church shall touch a doit of the Kings Money, but it shall be paid 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, 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 take our advice first in it.

CHAP. X. FORM of EXCOMMUNICATION.

21 THE Province of Poitou requested that there might be another Form of Excommunication framed, of a larger Nature than that in our Discipline, because the horrible Corruptions of the Age we live in do indispensably need it, and call upon us loudly to put it in Execution. Whereupon this Form following was drawn up,

22. The Province of Saintonge craved advice, what course we might take with them, who take out from the Courts of Parliament Prohibitions against the Orders and Censures of the Church as if they were intolerable abuses. This Assembly enjoineth all Synods, Colloquies, and Consistories to proceed against such Persons as Rebels against the Discipline of our Church, and to inflict upon them the last and heaviest censure of Excommunication provided they have first endeavored by the ways of Love and Kindness, and Grave Religious Counsels to reduce such Persons unto their Duty, and to subject them unto our Church Orders.

CHAP. XI. The Canons of the Synod of Dort incorporated with those of the Reformed Churches of France.

23 A Motion was made in this National Synod that some course should be taken in time to prevent the spreading of the Arminian Errors that have of late so much troubled the Churches of the Netherlands, that they create no trouble to the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom. This Assembly embraced the motion very readily, and approved of it as very laudable, just, and needful for the peace of the Church of God, and for the Conservation of the purity of our Doctrine, and for the farther strengthening of our Union with the Foreign Reformed Churches; and therefore counting the Maladies of the Low-Country Churches a very fair Advertisement and warning unto us, and that we may imitate so excellent an Example, and prevent the danger threatened us by making use of these self-same means they did for the Expulsion of those Errors out of their Bowels, wherefore, forasmuch as the National Synod of Dort called by the Authority, wise Counsel, and vigilant forecast of their High and Mighty Lordships the States General of the Confederate Netherlands and of all the United Provinces under their Jurisdiction and Government, and in which assisted personally divers great and very Learned Divines from many other Reformed Churches of our Lord Jesus, hath been in the Netherlands and still is a most effectual remedy for the Reformation of the Church, and the grubbing of Heresies in the Article of Predestination and its depencies. This Assembly after invocation of the Name of God, decreed, that the Articles of the said National Council held at Dort, should be read in full Synod, which being read accordingly, and every Article ponder'd most attentively, they were all received and approved by a common unanimous consent, as agreeing with the Word of God, and the Confession of Faith in these our Churches, that they were framed with singular prudence and purity, that they were very meet and proper to detect the Arminian Errors, and to confound them, for which reason all the Pastors and Elders Deputed unto this Assembly have sworn and protested jointly and severally that they consent unto this Doctrine, and that they will defend it with the utmost of their power even to their last breath. The Form and Tenour of which Oath, together with the Deputies Names subscribed shall be added to the close of this Article, that the consent may be rendered the more Authentic, and Obliging to all the Provinces. And this Assembly ordaineth that this very Canon be printed, and added to the Canons of the said Council, and that it shall be read in our Provincial Synods, and in our Universities, that it may be approved, sworn, and subscribed to by the Pastors and Elders of our Churches, and by the Doctors and Professors in our Universities, and also by all those that are to be ordained and admitted into the Ministry, or into the Professors Chair in any of our Universities. And if any one of these Persons should reject either in whole or in part the Doctrine contained in, and decided by the Canons of the said Council, or refuse to take the Oath of Consent and Approbation, This Assembly decreeth that he shall not be admitted into any Office or Employment either in our Churches or Universities. Moreover this Assembly conjureth by the bowels of Divine Mercy, and by the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant all Ministers, Pastors of Churches, to whom the Cure of precious Souls is committed, that they would walk together evenly and harmoniously in one and the same way, that they abstain from all idle, unprofitable, and curious Questions, that they do not pry into the Sacred Ark of God's hidden and unrevealed Counsels and Decrees, above or beyond what is recorded in his written Word, the Holy Scriptures of Truth, but rather that they would humbly own and acknowledge their ignorance of those profound and unfathomable Mysteries, than intrude themselves into things unlawful, and that they would so order their Discourses and Sermons concerning Predestination, that it may promote Repentance and Amendment of Life, consolate wounded Consciences, and excite the practice of Godliness; that by this means all occasions of Disputes and Controversies may be avoided, and we may abide united in one and the same Faith with our Brethren of the Netherlands, and other Churches of our Lord Jesus without the Kingdom, as maintaining together with them and contending for one, and the same Faith, assaulted by the same common Enemies, and called to one and the same hope through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be Honor and Glory forever and ever. Amen.

CHAP. XII. The Form of the Oath taken in the National Synod, and which is to be administered unto all the Members of Provincial Synods.

I N. N. do Swear and Protest before God, and this Holy Assembly that I do receive, approve and embrace all the Doctrines taught and decided by the Synod of Dort, as perfectly agreeing with the Word of God, and the Confession of our Churches. I Swear and Promise to persevere in the Profession of this Doctrine during my whole Life, and to defend it with the utmost of my power, and that I will never, neither by Preaching nor Teachings in the Schools, nor by Writing depart from it. I declare also and I protest that I reject, and condemn the Doctrine of the Arminians, because it makes God's Decree of Election to depend upon the mutable Will of Man, and for that it doth extenuate and make null and void the Grace of God; it exalteth Man, and the powers of Free Will to his destruction, it reduceth into the Church of God old, ejected Pelagianism, and is a Mask and Vizard for Popery to creep in among us under that disguise, and subverteth all Assurance of Everlasting Life and Happyness. And so may God help me, and be propitious to me, as I swear all this without any Ambiguity, Equivocation or mental Reservation.

Sworn and Subscribed by

• Peter du Moulin Pastor of the Church of Paris, Deputy for the Isle of Franse, and Moderator of the Synod.
• Laurence Brunier Pastor of the Church of Usez, Deputy for the Province of lower Languedoc, and Assessor of the Synod.
• Nicholas Vignier Pastor of the Church of Blois, Deputy for the Province of Orleans, and Scribe of the Synod.
• Thomas Papillon Elder in the Church of Paris, Deputy for the Isle of France, and Scribe of the Synod.
• Isaac de Juigne Pastor of the Church of Vassy, and Deputy for the Province of the Isle of France, Picardy, &c.
• Samuel de L'Escherpiere Pastor of the Church of Roan, Daniel Massys Pastor in the Church of Caen, Antony Bridon Elder in the Church of Feschamp, James de Montbray Elder in the Church of Condé, Deputies for the Province of Normandy.
• Ezekiel Marmet Pastor in the House of the duke of Rohan, Philip de Vassaut elder in the Church of Roche Bernard, Deputies for the Province of Britain.
• Daniel Jammen Pastor of the Church of St. Amand, John de Bennes Elder in the Church of Gien. Galliot de Cambirs, Elder in the Church of Romorantin, Deputies for the Province of Orleans.
• Samuel Bouchereau Pastor of the Church of Saumur, Matthew Cottiers Pastor of the Church in Touns. George Rabbotteau Elder in the Church of Pruilly, Deputies for the Province of Touraine.
• John Chauffepied Pastor of the Church of Niort, John Carre Pastor of the Church of Chastelheraud, Giles Begaud Elder of the Church of Montague, Deputies for the Province of Poitou.
• Daniel Chanet Pastor of the Church of Ars, John Constance Pastor of the Church of Pons, Peter Pa • quet Elder in the Church of Rouchfoucauld, Peter Promentin Elder in the Church of St. John de Angely, Deputies for the Province of Saintonge.
• James du Luc Pastor of the Church of Casteljaloux, James Privat Pastor of the Church of Chastillion, Francis Joly Elder in the Church of Bourdeaux, John Guillim Elder in the Church of Grateloupe, Deputies for the Province of lower Guienne.
• David Agard Pastor of the Church of Valance, Daniel Richard Pastor of the Church of Cheilar, John de Blache Elder in the Church of Biuffres, John de Rouvre Elder in the Church of Aubenas, Deputies for the Province of Vivaretz.
• Michael le Faucheur Pastor of the Church of Montpellier, Charles de Boaques Elder in the same Church, Anthony de Roques Elder in the Church of Montfrin, Deputies for the Province of lower Languedoc.
• John de Voysin Pastor of the Church of Realmont, Antony Garrissoles Pastor of the Church of Puylaurent, Paul de Luppe Elder in the Church of Mauvoisin, James du Elder in the Church of Montauban, Deputies for the higher Languedoc.
• Peter Helliot Pastor of the Church of Arnay le Duc, Francis Perreauld Pastor of the Church of Mascon, and Noyer du Noyer Elder in the Church of Bussy, Deputies for the Province of Burgundy.
• Peter Huron Pastor in the Church of Riez, Elias de Glandeves Elder in the Church of Puymitchel, Deputies for the Province of Provence.
• Paul Guyon Pastor of the Church of Dieu le Fit, Peter de la Croze Pastor of the Church in Courtezon, James Bernard Elder in the Church of Montlimart, and Moses du Port Elder in the Church of La Mure, Deputies for the Province of Dauphiné.
• Peter Guillamin, Pastor of the Church of St. Andrew de Valborne, Daniel Venturin Pastor of the Church of Vigan, John de Vignoles Elder in the Church of La Salle Deputies for the Province of Cévennes.
• Peter L'abbadie Pastor of the Church of Pau, and John de la Coste Elder in the Church of Moneins Deputies for the Principality of Béarn.
• De Chalas General Deputy for the Reformed Churches of France.
• Touretin Pastor and Professor of Divinity in the Church of Geneva.

24. Whereas the Deputy of the Lord du Candall hath acquainted this Synod, that several of the Deputies unto this present Synod, having no Letters of Order unto the said Lord of Candall to pay them the necessary charges of their Journey in case he should pay them, the Receivers of the respective Provinces might make some difficulty to allow those payments of his unto the said Deputies in his Account. This National Synod doth ordain that those Receivers aforesaid shall take the promises and Acquittances of the said Deputies as ready Moneys paid by the said Lord du Candall out of the very first Moneys that be either hath already, or shall hereafter receive for the Churches, and that they shall ho a sufficient discharge for him the said Deputy, and good and valuable in the Audit of his Account.

25. The Deputies unto our National Synods, shall hereafter bring with them the Catalogues of all the Churches, and of all the Pastors in actual Service in their respective Provinces, Signed and Subscribed by the Moderators and Scribes of the Provincial Synods: And in case they neglect the doing hereof, there shall be no Respect nor Care had for them in the dividend of the Churches Moneys.

26. All the Provinces, which have Supernumerary Portions assigned to them in the General dividend, shall give an Account how they have employed, and to what use they have put those Supernumerary Sums, in the next National Synod.

27. In pursuance of that debate in this Synod concerning those great Sums of Money remaining due unto the Churches from the Sieur Palot: This Assembly did this Thirteenth day of November pass a Letter of Attorney before a public Notary, which was delivered unto the Deputies of the Isle of France, with this Express Restriction, that they should not put it into the hands of the Sieurs Guidon and d'Huisseau; till such time as they have agreed and stipulated by some public act duly executed in Law that they do approve of the Act past in this Assembly, and do solemnly promise, that they will most effectually prosecute the said Sieur Palot, according to the Conditions and Articles mentioned and declared in that our said Act.

CHAP. XIII. PARTICULAR MATTERS.

1 MR. Gasper Martyn Minister of the Church of Saillans in Dauphiné related the great loss sustained by him in the printing of his Book, styled Le Capuchin Reforme, a great number of Copies being left upon his hand through the Craft and Knavery of the Booksellers; who having printed more Copies than they should, took out their own Number, and leave him to pay the rest, and in truth to stand indebted for the whole Impression. This Assembly highly honoring him for his great sufferings for professing the Truth, and the usefulness of his Works, and in consideration of his present wants, do bestow upon him one Portion free of all Taxes and Charges, which shall be paid him until the sitting of the next National Synod, over and above that ordinary Portion allowed the Church of Saillans for him; and Monsieur Turretin was now desired to deal with the Printers and Booksellers of Geneva that the said Mr. Martyn may have satisfaction given him for the damage he sustaineth by their means.

2. Monsieur James de la Planche having faithfully served the Church of God for Six and Twenty Years in Provence, and being now taken blind, and almost broken by the Pthysick, and borne down with many other Afflictions, occasioned through his past labors and sufferings, and through his declining Age; for which causes he was declared Emeritus by the Synod of that Province, and discharged with a very honorable Testimonial from the Exercise of his Ministry; and now conflicting with great wants, and needing Relief in his Old Age, he petitioned this Assembly that some care might be had of him, and a competent maintenance assigned to him yearly; The Assembly compassionating his Poverty, ordained a Portion free of all Charges for him, which shall be paid by the Lord of Kandel unto Monsieur Gras at Lions, who shall see that the said Sum be remitted him unto the place of his Abode; and the Summ of Six and Thirty Livres was now given him in hand to defray the Expences of his Journey thither.

3. Mr. John Paul Perrin Minister of Nions in Dauphiné presented himself before this Assembly to render an Account of Printing his History of the Vaudois and Albigeois, and he farther declared that he was now writing the General History of the Church from the beginning of the World to this Age in which we live. This Assembly applauding him and thanking him for his Pains and Labors in the before-mentioned History, leaveth it to his prudence and Conscience to judge whether such a Work as he is now undertaking will be of use and benefit unto the Churches, because we would not impose that task upon him which would be needless and unprofitable. And whereas the said Monsieur Perryn informed us of the numerousness of his Family, and that he had a great charge of Children, and humbly requested tha the might have some Relief from us, especially for the breeding of a Son of his, formerly debauched by the Jesuits, but now through Grace brought home again unto Repentance, a youth of Excellent parts, and yielding great hopes that he may be hereafter eminently useful in the Ministry: The Province of Dauphiné was exhorted to take care of him and his Family according to the Laws of Christian Charity, and the great Merits of the said Monsieur Perrin.

4. Monsieur Albiac Dr. of the Civil Law Living at Velleneusve in Berry petitioned to be reimburst the Summ of Fifty Crowns expended by him in executing a Commission for the Churches of the Four Neighbouring Province, viz. of Lower Languedoc, Dauphiné, Cévennes, Vivaretz: This Assembly judgeth, That the Provinces which employed him ought to see him satisfied, and each of them shall pay him equally their parts of so just a Debt, and the quota of their Moneys shall to this purpose be detained in the hands of the Lord du Kandel, that he may be honestly repaid.

5. Mr. Simon Daniel Hosl • ie Pastor of the Church of Villenusve in Berry petitioned that some Relief might be allowed unto his Church, because of the great losses it sustained in the Troubles of Privas, as also to help defray the Expences they shall be at in a Suit at Court about the Consulship of their Town. This Assembly judging that the Moneys granted us by His Majesty ought not to be diverted unto such uses, doth notwithstanding recommend their Affair unto our Lord's the General Deputies, that they might get right due to them by the Lord's of the Privy Council, and because of the Necessities of the said Church there shall be a supernumerary portion assigned to them, when we make the public Dividend.

6. Monsieur Massez Notary Public and Secretary to the Consul of Montauban in the Higher Languedoc requesting to be reimburst by the Churches the great Expences he was at in prosecuting the wrongs done him by the Parliament of Tolouse; It being a business of General Concern because of the Notorious Violations of the Edicts granted us by our Kings. This Assembly exhorted the Province of Higher Languedoc to take care that the said Monsieur Massez have satisfaction given him for his past Losses, and that he be indemnified for the future, and that they extend their Charity to him in a most ample and exemplary manner, since they themselves have judged his case to be of very great Importance to all the Churches.

7. The Magistrates, Consuls, and Consistory of the Town of Privas having represented both by Letters and Word of Mouth by Monsieur Tavernier one of their Elders deputed to us, the great Losses, Dammages, and Afflictions sustained by them since the Death of Monsieur Chambaud, whereby they be now reduced to a most lamentable condition, and worthy of our most tender compassions, which also was confirmed by Letters from the Synod and Political Assembly of Vivaretz, and praying some Charitable Relief to be Exhibited to them, that so this considerable and populous Church might not be totally desolated and dissolved. This Assembly ordained, That the Summ of Six Hundred Livres should be given the said Church of Privas for a present supply: And all the Churches of this Kingdom shall by their Deputies here in this Assembly, as soon as they return unto their respective Provinces be exhorted to open the Bowels of their compassion to the said afflicted Church of Privas, and to relieve them by a General Collection upon the Lord's Day in their respective Temples. The Moneys of which Collection shall be sent unto the Churches of Lions and Nismes to be distributed by them unto that of Privas. And Letters also shall be writ to the Lord Governor of Montauban, to the Marquesses of La Charse of Montbrun, and other the Parents and Kindred, of the late Deceased Monsieur de Chambaud, desiring them to take special care of the Religious Education of his Children, that they may not be diverted from the True Religion, and trained up in Popish Idolatry, but that they would be pleased to undertake for them, and become their Tutors and Guardians according to the known Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom.

8. The Heads of Families, professing the Reformed Religion, in the Bailiwick of Orillac in the Mountains of Upper Auvergne, petitioned that the Portions granted them by the National Synods of Gap and Rochelle might be contined to them: This Assembly ordained, that the Portion belonging unto the said Church in the Baylywyck of Orillac shall be given it free and discharged of all Taxes by the Province of Higher Languedoc.

9. Monsieur Casaud Pastor of the Church of Lectoure petitioned on its behalf for some charitable Relief to raise it up from that woeful Ruin and Misery into which it is now plunged, and to sustain it against its Enemies for the future. This Assembly compassionating the said Church, did order and assign a free Portion out of the Dividend of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne unto it; and one part of the Collection which shall be made in the Higher Languedoc and Guyenne for the Church of Privas shall be given unto the said Church of Lectoure.

10. The Church of Tulette belonging to the Province of Dauphiné, but enclosed on all parts with the County of Venisse humbly requested some relief for its subsistence. Because this is a Church of great importance, very poor, exceeding feeble and unable to resist the many Enemies which do surround it. This Assembly ordained that besides the free Portion which it should receive as well as others out of the Dividend for the said Province of Dauphiné, It shall have also an half portion free out of the Common Stock of all the Churches until the sitting of the next National Synod.

11. Jerome Quevedo a Spaniard, escaped out of the Prison of the Inquisition demanded some relief that he might live in the profession of the Gospel. This Assembly ordered him an Hundred Livres out of the common Moneys of the Churches, which shall be put into the hands of the Consistory of Montpellier to pay him Quarterly a Portion, that so he may learn some honest Trade whereby to gain a livelihood. Which Summ shall be continued to him or taken from him as the Consistory of the Church of Montpellier shall judge of his Deportments.

12. Lawrence Joly one of the Exiled Protestants of the Marquisate of Salluces having brought Letters from the Church of Guillestre (which is composed of the poor Refugees of the said Marquisate) unto this Assembly, did most humbly petition that they might have a Portion of the Moneys granted us by the King for the maintenance of a Pastor, because they are in hopes that it may allure and attract a great many others who are groaning under that sore and heavy persecution in the Marquisate, and do hunger after the Bread of Life, and ardently desire the Inlargement of Christ's Kingdom, to quit and forsake it. This Assembly in the Dividend of its Moneys will ordain a supernumerary Portion for the said Church of Guillestre.

13. Monsieur Guingonis shall be assisted with Ten Crown out of the common Moneys belonging to the Province of Province. And as for Mr. John Dury Student in Divinity, the Province of Lower Languedoc is ordered to provide for him according to the Canons of our National Synods; and in the mean while he shall receive Twenty Crowns out of the Moneys appropriated to the said Province of Lower Languedoc, that so he may quit this Town and remove to Montauban.

14. Anthony Verdier formerly a Priest in the County of Avignon had Six Livres given him that he might depart hence unto Grenoble.

15. The Church of St. Paul Trois Chasteaux demanding some Relief to set up a School among them, and to help build their Temple, were dismissed over to the Province of Dauphiné, which is exhorted to have a special care of that Church.

16. Monsieur John Perier Pastor of the Church of Paillac in Auvergne did on behalf of his Church complain against the Provincial Synod of Burgundy, for not giving him the Portions granted by the National Synod of Privas, and requested that they might be joined unto Cévennes. As for their Incorporation with the Province of Cévennes this Assembly sends them back unto the Synod of Burgundy, to whom they shall deliver this Petition of theirs; and take out thence an Act to be presented unto the next National Synod. And whereas Two Portions were assigned the said Church of Paillac, the one of them shall be free and discharged of all Rates and Taxes whatsoever, and the other shall be of the same Nature with those of the other Churches in the Province of Burgundy.

17. There was ordained the Summ of Forty and Eight Livres to be paid unto the Sieurs Guarin, Ressens, Gabet and Mercurin Pastors, to wit, Twelve Livres to each of them for Eight Days they have tarried in this Town at the Commandment of this Assembly; which said Summ shall be paid them by the Lord of Kandel out of the common Stock of the Churches.

18. Monsieur Blewett remonstrated on behalf of the Church of Martille, the great Expences they have been necessitated and enforced to by reason of the many and frequent changes of Pastors, imposed upon them by the Province of Burgundy which hath utterly disabled them to maintain the said Mr. Blewett, their present Minister. The Province of Burgundy is exhorted to take care of this matter; and 'tis enjoined to give unto the Church of Isurtille one Portion and half of the Kings Money until such time as they be reimburst of their Moneys expended about the change and removal of their Ministers.

19. Mr. James Joly Pastor of the Church of Milhaud having made report unto this Assembly of the great charge lying upon him, and especially for that the Family of his Brother being destitute of all Relief must now be maintained by him. This Assembly to testify their Charity and Compassion towards them, ordaineth, That a free Portion shall be assigned the Province of Higher Languedoc, which shall deliver it unto the said James Joly, and this Order shall be in force and continue till the next National Synod. And as for the Papers which contain the Acts and Ecclesiastical proceedings against Mr. Hector Joly, and were produced in this Synod, they shall not be restored to him, but shall be kept according to the appointment of this Assembly.

20. The Petitions of the Church of Issoyre were presented by Monsieur le Blanc their Pastor. This Assembly ordained that the concern of the said Church shall be recommended unto our Lord's the General Deputies attending upon His Majesty. And the Portions attributed unto the Churches of Issoyre, and of the Mountains of Auvergne shall be continued them until the next National Synod. And whereas they demand maintenance to be allowed them for a College: This Assembly cannot at present make any alteration in the Decrees of the Synod of Vitre, nor can it possibly restore the new College in Auvergne, except Almighty God should out of his Sovereign Mercy be graciously pleased to augment the number of our Churches.

21. The Church of Beaune is ordained to satisfy Monsieur Blewett for his service among them whilst he was their Pastor, and till they do this they shall not be provided of another Minister.

22. The Church of Marseilles, and Monsieur Ressens their Pastor complained that of the Moneys given them by former National Synods, there is a very considerable Summ owing them from the Province of Provence, and this by the Judgment of the University-Council of Nismes; which was appointed by the Synod of Lower Languedoc, with full and absolute Authority from the National Synod of Vitre to judge of this Affair. This Assembly commissionated the Sieurs Joly, de Benes, and Boisleroy to Audit those Accounts, who reported that they found the Province of Provence indebted unto the Sieur Ressens the Summ of One Thousand Six Hundred Livres, Sixteen Sols and Ten Deniers unto the Seventh of December last, the Rights of the Receiver of the said Province being deducted. This Assembly ordained, That there should be paid unto Monsieur Ressens in ready Money the Summ of Five Hundred Livres by the said Province, and whereas there remaineth due One Thousand, One Hundred, Twenty and Three Livres, Sixteen Sols, and Ten Deniers, this shall be paid him also either in ready Money, or Moneys-worth at the next Colloquy of Gapensois, which is ordered to make good payment, and to produce his Acquittances, and farther to allow the said Monsieur Ressens for his Expences in these Expences both at Grenoble and elsewhere in executing the Decree of the said University-Council of Nismes, for which the said Province of Provence shall give him Thirty Livres.

23. Divers defaults having been observed in the Government of the Churches of Provence, as appeared from the Acts of their Synods which were read openly in this Assembly, and from a particular Inquiry made thereinto, by the Province of Lower Languedoc which Was Commissionated by the last National Synod of Vitre to visit the said Province. Now that these great Disorders may be prevented and avoided for time to come, these following Canons were first framed, and then enjoined the said Province of Provence, to be most exactly observed in every Point and Article by it.

CHAP. XIV. CANONS for the PROVINCE of PROVENCE.

1 THE Provincial Synod of Provence before it breaketh up shall determine of some certain place where the next Synod shall be held, and nominate the Church that shall have the right of calling them together, and that Church by and with the Advice and Consent of the Two nearest Churches shall appoint the time of their meeting.

2. No Person of what Quality or Condition soever shall be admitted into those Synodical Assembles without Letters of Commission from his Consistory. And in the mean while the Consistories are exhorted to receive the Gentry into the Office of Elders, that so they may be capable of being Deputed unto the Synods.

3. No other Matters shall be treated of, or debated in those Synodical Assemblies but such as be purely Ecclesiastical.

4. The Synodical Offices shall be so distributed as that all Ground and Occasion of Envy, Jealousy, and Discord may be avoided and removed.

5. The Scribes of the Synod shall not couch the Synodical Acts or Articles in forensical Forms or Terms of Law, but in a Natural plainness and brevity.

6. The Deputies shall not depart from their Synod, till such time as their Acts have been fully concluded on, read and subscribed, and the said Acts shall be read over in the next ensuing Sessions.

7. In all pecuniary matters the Decrees or our National Synods shall be strictly followed, which ordered all Appeals on those Occasions to be dismissed over to the next adjoining Province, whatever the Summ may be. And Pastors are exhorted not to quit their Churches for such Affairs, unless their presence at the Debate about them should be of indispensable necessity; but they shall send their Accounts fairly written, and cleared up with their Acquittances unto the places where they be summoned. And they shall take special care that they be not Solicitors of any Process, unless upon very urgent occasion.

8. And whereas there is not a sufficient Number of Pastors in that Province to form Three Colloquies, and 'twill be very inconvenient there should be but Two, in case a Controversy should arise betwixt both the Colloquies, they shall therefore all meet in one Synod jointly together, until such time as the good providence of God shall have augmented their Numbers.

9. And that these Canons may be observed in the said Province of Provence, Monsieur Brunier Pastor of the Church of Usez shall sit in Person in the next Synod of the said Province, and it shall always as often as their Synods be called give timely Notice thereof unto the Provinces of Lower Languedoc and Dauphiné, that they may depute some of their Pastors unto the said Synod, as i • is usually practiced in the other Provinces, for the upholding and better conservation of a mutual Correspondence.

24. Whereas a proposal was made of Incorporating the Churches of Provence either with the Province of Lower Languedoc or with that of Dauphiné, and the many difficulties arising about it have persuaded us to lay it by for the present; yet because of the great multitude of Churches and Ministers which are in Dauphiné, and because that the Borders of many of them are contiguous with the said Province of Provence, which if united to it would constitute a convenient Synod. The Province of Dauphiné is therefore exhorted to consider which of their Churches may be adjoined unto Provence, and to make report thereof unto the next National Synod.

25. A Petition from the Church of Senerac was presented by Monsieur de Cahuzac, craving Advice and Counsel, how to govern themselves under that Interdiction of the Holy Ministry, and Exercise of the Reformed Religion thrown out against them, and some Relief for their Pastor. Their case was recommended to the Province of Higher Languedoc, to take care of them according to their necessities; and the Lord's our General-Deputies at Court are desired also to use their utmost endeavors for the taking off that wicked Prohibition laid upon them, of Worshipping God according to his Appointment.

26. Mr. Paul Daude formerly Pastor in the Church of St. John de Gardon neque but deposed from Ministry by the Province of Cévennes, presented his Petition to be restored again unto it, according to those hopes given him by the Synod held at la Salle. But when as the Crimes for which he was deposed had been related in this Assembly, It confirmed his Sentence with this addition and aggravation, That he should be forever Deposed, and never meddle anymore with any of the Acts and Functions of the Sacred Ministry, exhorting him withal to betake himself to some other Calling; for he must not flatter himself with false hopes of being readmitted unto this Sacred Office,

27. The Church of Paris complained that whereas they had out of mere bounty quitted to the poorer Churches of the Isle of France, Picardy, and Champagne the Four Portion assigned unto their Pastors, the said Province would now have them absolutely and peremptorily to be at their disposal, and not suffer the Church of Paris to finger One Farthing of that Money. This Assembly judgeth that according to the distribution made in our National Synods those aforesaid Portions do properly belong unto the Church of Paris, and they shall be wholly and solely at their disposal. But yet we entreat the said Church to extend their usual Charity unto that Province, and generously and christianly to refresh the bowels of its poorer Churches.

28. Monsieur Piloly brought Letters from the Assembly of Loudun, craving that the Portions granted him by the National Synod of Vitre might be continued to him. This Assembly consulting the Judgment of the said Synod of Vitre, professeth that the whole Representative Body of our Churches is not obliged unto any such Recompenses, nor may the Moneys assigned for the Relief of our poor Ministers be diverted unto such uses, considering the miserable condition whereunto the greatest part of them be now reduced. But yet the said Monsieur Piloly shall have paid him his Four aforesaid Portions unto the First day of January next coming in the year 1621.

29. Monsieur Lubac being summoned to give an account why he laid down his Ministry in the Church of Privas, and doth not care to exercise it, though he was called thereunto: This Assembly having heard the Report of the whole proceedings upon which the Colloquy of Privas grounded their Sentence of Suspension against him, and which was since confirmed in the Synod of Vivaretz, and the said Monsieur de Lubac speaking in his own defense, and clearing himself from the Crimes whereof he was accused, and not understanding plainly and sufficiently the proofs of the said Accusations on the one hand, nor of his Justification on the other doth nevertheless confirm his Sentence of Suspension, and dismisseth this whole Affair over unto the Colloquy of Valentinois in the Province of Dauphiné, And the Sieurs de la Croze and du Port Deputies of Dauphiné, and the Sieur Richard of Vivaretz shall personally assist in it, and revise again all former passages, and take new Informations and particularly hear what Monsieur de Couches Minister of Tournon can either allege for or against him, and all this at the sole Costs and Charges of the Province of Vivaretz, which shall be rated by the Colloquy of Valentinois to make payment unto the said Deputies, that so Monsieur de Lubac may be absolved if innocent, or condemned if guilty by the Authority of this present Synod for the matters already brought in against him, or which may be now afresh offered by the Consistory of Privas, who shall make a careful and faithful Report of all Ecclesiastical Acts that have past on this occasion; that so the Sacred Ministry may be purged and acquitted of all Reproach and Jnjust Reflections: And although the said Monsieur Lubac should be justified, yet shall he not serve in the Province of Vivaretz anymore.

30. Whereas the Lord's Governor, Magistrates, Consuls and Consistory of the City of Orange petitioned that Monsieur Chambrun might be presented to the Pastoral Office in their Church: The Lord's Magistrates, Consuls, and Consistory of Nismes were heard speaking of their Right and Interest both in the Person and Ministry of the said Monsieur Chambrun, moreover the Provincial Deputies of Dauphiné, and of the Lower Languedoc do contend to retain him: and Monsieur de Chambrun desiring to be discharged, and to be at liberty for his Healths sake, which was mightily impaired and broken within these Two last years, and had diverted him very much from the Duties of his Calling: This Assembly having very great Respect and Honor to the Church of Orange, doth grant them the said Monsieur de Chambrun for their Pastor, but with this proviso, that he shall continue in the Service of the Church of Nismes till such time as they be provided of another Minister.

31. Letters were read from his Excellency the Prince of Orange, and the Lord's Curators of the University, and the Burgomaster of the City of • eyden in Holland, requesting that Monsieur Rivet might be confirmed in his Office of Divinity-Professor in the said University, either, for his Life, or else at least till the meeting of the next National Synod. After hearing the terms on which the Province of Poiclou had consented to the dismission of the said Monsieur Rivett, and the Letter of the Heads of Families in the City of Thouars and the Church there, granting Aprolongation of his term of two years unto the said University. This Assembly highly valuing the Favor and Honor of such an Illustrious Prince, and his great Merits from all the Reformed Churches, and that most strict and entire Union betwixt the Holy Churches of the Netherlands and ours of France, doth yield that the said Monsieur Rivett shall be continued for two years more unto the Famous University of Leyden, which term being expired he shall return unto his Church, according to the Agreement past between them.

32. Monsieur Marmet declaring his great poverty, This Assembly knowing his eminent Zeal and Piety, have granted him his Request, and discharge him from his Church, leaving him full liberty to accept of any other place whereunto he may be called, and may tend most to the Glory of God, and his own Temporal and Eternal benefit.

33. A Petition from Monsieur Ferrier formerly a Carthusian Monk, but now a Professor of the Reformed Religion, and residing in the Province of Anjou where he was born. This Assembly exhorts the said Province of Anjou to continue unto him his Pension of Eight Pence a Day, and not as they have done to defaulk from it, because of his Age and Quality. And the Province of Britain, where he first quitted his Monastery and Popery are desired to provide him yearly a new Suit of Clothes throughout.

34. Monsieur Josian having been lent by the Province of Higher Languedoc unto the Church of Montauban for Six Moneths, and recalled from them by the Church of Castres, whereof he was Minister, before the Expiration of that term, The Church of Montauban petitioned that he might be lent them for a much longer time, and because of their continual and growing necessity, they desire that Monsieur Garissoles may be lent them also. This Assembly having a very high esteem for the said Church of Montauban, and considering its Necessities and Importance, ordains that Monsieur Josian shall be lent them for Three Months: And notwithstanding all the Excuses and Remonstrances of Monsieur Garissoles not to be removed from the Service of his Church of Puylaurens, yet shall he also be lent unto that of Montauban for Six Months, at the end whereof the said Sieurs Josian and G • rissoles shall each of them return unto their own Churches, nor may that of Montauban make any private bargains or agreements with them.

35. Monsieur Capel Professor of the Hebrew Tongue in our University of Saumur complained, that he having boarded a certain Scholar called du Duc recommedned to him by the Church of Bourdeaux, and now employed by the Province of Lower Guyenne, yet was not paid for his Diet and Lodging. This complaint of his was ordered to be sent unto the aforesaid Province, or to the Church of Burdeaux, who are both entreated by this Assembly to make him full satisfaction, as they are bound in Conscience to see it done.

36. The Church of Montauban complained against the Province of Lower Guyenne about some certain Scholars, who having renounced Popery; had been maintained by them, but they could never be reimbursed their charges; This complaint of theirs was dismissed over to the Province of Saintonge, whose Synod should put a full and final period to it.

37. Upon the Remonstrance of the Church of Montauban, That it hath been an Ancient Custom with them, for their Elders to deliver the Cup. This Assembly would not alter anything in those Decrees, which it had enacted in the Chapter of Observations upon the Discipline; and therefore commandeth all Pastors, without Exceptions, to conform unto our Established Order.

38. Monsieur Raffin Pastor of the Church of Realmont petitioned for some Relief to help him in his defense of the Church of Venez, which is dangerously prosecuted by our Enemies, and Monsieur de Combalasse Pastor of the said Church presented another Petition to the same effect. This Assembly dismissed them both and their Affair unto the Province of Higher Languedoc, who are ordered to assist the said Raffin as they shall judge convenient, and pay in unto the said Sieur Combalasse his Portion free of all Taxes and Costs whatsoever, until such time as the Church of Venez shall enjoy the Legacy, bequeathed them by the Lady of Venez lately deceased, and as to the troubles raised against the said Church of Venez they shall be recommended to our Lord's the General Deputies at Court.

39. The Request of Monsieur Balarand for the Church of Brassac is dismissed over by the Province of Higher Languedoc, to take care therein according as the Necessities of the said Church, and the great Merits of the said Reverend and Worthy Minister do demand, he having continued his Labors for many years together in the said Province in the Lord's Vineyard,

40. The Province of Lower Guyenne, and the Church of Bourdeaux petitioned that some Moneys might be granted them in recompense of their great Charges in defending themselves at Law against the Lord of St. Angel. This Assembly applauded the Zeal of the Church of Bourdeaux but could not give them any Moneys.

41. The Church of Puymiroll presented a Petition craving some speedy Relief for that their whole Town was lately burnt by a most dreadful Fire. This Assembly Exhorts the Province of Lower Guyenne, and the Neighbouring Provinces to assist the said Church of Puymirol by some special Collections. And the afflicted State of the distressed Inhabitants of that Town is recommended to the Lord's General Deputies, who shall move it unto His Majesty, that by His Royal Bounty they may be graciously Relieved.

42. This Assembly, understanding by Letters from the Church of Gignac their sore affliction and straits to which they be reduced by the impetuous Assaults of their Adversaries, have sent the Reverend Monsieur Faucheur Minister of the Gospel, and Professor of Divinity in the University of Nismes to visit, comfort and strengthen them: And the Province of Lower Languedoc is ordered to defray the Charges of his Journey.

43. The Province of the Isle of France repeated afresh their Complaints formerly made by them in the Synod of Vitre against Monsieur Perrery for not satisfying the Decree of that Synod. This Assembly having perused the Memoirs offered by the said Perrery in his own defense, and heard the Provincial Deputies of the Higher Languedoc about restoring the said Perrery to the Ministry by the Synod of Millaud in the year Sixteen Hundred and Seventeen, approveth of what was done by the said Synod, and Intreateth the Province of the Isle of France to rest satisfied with the Summ of Five Hundred Livres in lieu of the whole Debt from the said Perrery, whereof Two Hundred Livres belonging unto the said Province are left in the Lord of Candals hands for them already, and the said Lord shall keep for them Three Hundred Livres more: And in case the said Summ of Three Hundred Livres be not paid into the said Province of the Isle of France, then there shall be Five Hundred Livres detained by the Lord du Kandel in his hands for them.

44. The Province of the Isle of France petitioned that the Order of the National Synod of Vitre against the Sieur Richer might be put in Execution, he having retired into Saintonge without their consent. After that the Provincial Deputies of Saintonge had been heard both as to what relates unto the Canon now mentioned, and also unto the said Monsieur Richer, This Assembly ordained that the Canon of Vitre shall be Executed in every Article and Title of it, and that the Accompts of the said Richer might be cleared and closed, they shall be sent unto the Church of Saumur before the First of May next: Yet we earnestly entreat the Province of the Isle of France to deal charitably with the said Richer, and not to exact what they may do in rigor of Law from him.

45. The Province of Dauphiné are entreated to continue the Pension allowed by them to the Widow of Monsieur • alques.

46 The Church of Baux in Provence exhibited an Information of its deplorable Poverty brought upon them by the outrageous Persecutions which they have suffered from the common Enemies of our Religion in their Exercise of it, who put them to unsupportable Expence and Charges. This Assembly ordered th • t for their Relief an half supern • merary Portion out of our Common Stock besides their ordinary Portion should be given them until the meeting of the next National Synod, to whom they shall bring in their Account how they have employed it; and their Affair shall be recommended to our General Deputies.

47. Monsieur Huron petitioned to be discharged from his Ministry in the Church of Riez in Provence: But he was dismissed back unto the Synod of his said Province who should proceed therein according to the Methods and Forms prescribed by our Church-Discipline.

48. The Colloquy of Challons in Burgundy shall judge finally without Appeal of the differences which are risen between the Sieurs Racaud, La Dize, Fornevet and other Persons in Communion with the Church of Beaune.

49. The Province of Cévennes complaining of a Judgment past against them by the Province of Lower Languedoc in favor of Monsieur Serignac about certain Expences of his made in his Journey unto the Synod of Tonneins, they were dismissed over to the Judgment of the Province of Vivaretz, who should order that Party which hath done the wrong, to pay the Charges.

50. The Provincial Deputies of Cévennes making report that Sixty Two Livres, Seven Sous, and Six Deniers are owing to Monsieur Babat at present Pastor of the Church of Castagnols from the Churches of Auvergne according to the Accompts shut up, and approved by Decree of the National Synod of Vitre. This Assembly ordaineth that the Province of Cévennes do pay him out of hand the said Moneys.

51. A Petition from the Church of Serucrettes in Cévennes. This Assembly ordered that their Affair at Court be recommended to the Lord's our General Deputies; and Letters shall be written unto the Lord of Antragues that he would be pleased to accommodate them with some ground on his Lands for the building of a Temple, wherein they may Worship God publicly, and that Churches Portion of the Kings Moneys shall he paid in free of all Charges to it by the Province of Cévennes.

52. The Church of Langres did by their Letters, and by the Mouths of the Deputies of the Isle of France report the great difficulties and troubles they con •• licted with in setting up the Public Exercise of our Religion, and what Oppositions they had met withal, and still did every day from the Enemies of the Truth. This Assembly to enable that Church to subsist the better, and thereby to enlarge the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus, ordaineth Two Supernumerary Portions to be paid unto them, and this to continue until the sitting of the next National Synod.

53. The Church of la Bastide complaining of its deep poverty, and that for Sixteen years together, by reason of it, they could not allow a Farthing towards the maintenance of their Minister Monsieur Lawrence, who was all that time destitute of a Church, till of late that he was provided for by the Province of Vivaretz. This Assembly commiserating the sore and heavy Trials of the said Mr. Lawrence, do order that Two Hundred Livres be immediately paid him out of the Common Stock of the Churches, because he was left out in the Catalogue of Pastors lying before the National Synod of Vitre, and that the said Church of la Bastide may not he dissolved but kept up, the Province of Vivaretz is require particularly to consider whether the Church of Rodes may not be commodiously joined to it, or else to think of some other means meet for its preservation.

54. The Complaint of the Church of Quissac how that some of those Congregations which were formerly annexed to it were now separated and dismembered from it, was rejected, although they were set on by the Province of Cévennes; and the said Province was ordered to take special care that those newly constituted Churches be well kept up by them.

55. That Affair of Monsieur Hommel Doctor of Laws at Valence shall be recommended to our Lord's General deputies.

56 Mrs. Jane Nallet Widow of Mr. David Selastian late Minister in the Church of Clermont in • odeve complained, that the Pension granted her by the Province of Lower Languedoc hath been left out of the Accounts of the said Province, so that she is like to perish for want to Maintenance, and that One Hundred and Twenty Livres due unto her are not paid her. This Assembly ordains that the said Hundred and Twenty Livres be paid the said Gentlewoman out of the first Moneys which the Receiver of the Province of Lower Languedoc shall get into his hands.

57. The Deputies of Bearne declared the necessity of settling a Church in the Country of La Boure, belonging to the Province of Lower Guyenne, and the rather for that they had now in Béarn a young Student in Divinity sit to be employed in the Sacred Ministry, who could preach to them in their own Language, and Opportunity and Advantage they never had before. This Assembly desiring to enlarge the Kingdom of Our Lord Jesus ordains that Three Hundred Livres a year shall be allowed the Province of Lower Guyenne to set up a Church in the aforesaid Country of La Boure, upon condition that they render an account of the Employment of the said Moneys unto the next National Synod.

58. The Remonstrances of the Churches of Monredon, of L' Isle in Jourdain, St. Severe, St. Seve and Aysseins are disinissed over to the Province of Higher Languedoc, who shall look carefully into those matters specified by them, and act for them as it shall judge most beneficial to them.

59. The Judgment past by the Colloquy of Anduze about the Differences and Quarrels that happened in the Church of St. John de Gardonengues through the dis-placing of their Seats, and which was ratified by the Provincial Synod of Cévennes, being none of those matters that are to be brought before our National Synods, is remanded back again to the said Province of Cévennes to see it Executed.

60. Concerning that difference fallen out in the Church of Alez since the Decree of this Synod, the Relation of which concludeth the Chapter of Appeals, This Assembly having heard the Magistrates, Consuls, Consistories, and Deputies of the Church, and Companies of the Town, and Monsieur Ollier particularly, did exhort them all to an Holy Concord, and Cordial Union, which that it might be the better effected, the Pensions of both their Ministers shall be equal, so that Monsieur Des Maretz shall not have more than his Colleague Monsieur Ollier, but they shall each of them receive yearly the Summ of Seven Hundred Livres a piece, and that Church shall bear their Charges unto Colloquies and Synods, and all those Acts in the Register of the Consistory prejudicial to the Reputation of Monsieur Ollier shall be razed, that so all grounds and occasions of Divisions may be removed. And in case this present Agreement should be violated, then the Colloquy of Usez is impowered to judge finally of this matter, and to remove Monsieur Ollier from his Ministry in this Church of Alez, and to dispose of him elsewhere, and that by the Authority of this National Synod.

61. The Provincial Deputies of Anjou reported, that the Portion given by the National Synod of Vitre unto Monsieur du Bois was paid out of the Moneys of that Province, and that the Summs mentioned in the Lord of Candalls Account for the said Portion for the years 1617, 1618, and three quarters of 1619 ought to accrue unto the said Province, because they have already paid them out of their own Purse. This Assembly ordains that the Summ of Six Score Livres employed in the said Account for those years before-mentioned under the Name of Monsieur du Bois, and whose payment hath been forborne, shall be now paid in to the Receiver of the said Province of Anjou, and his Acquittance being produced it shall be allowed the Lord of Kandel in his Account: And the said Forbearance being now discharged, The Lord of Kandel shall keep one Portion in his hands to be delivered unto Monsieur du Bois at the place of his Abode.

62. The Lord of Clausonne acquainted this Assembly, that His Majesty had made him his Lieutenant Governor in the Town and Castle of Lectoure, and therefore he craved our Certificate of his being a Protestant, professing the Reformed Religion, and a Member in full and actual Communion with our Churches. This Assembly could not in reason deny him, especially he being at this Instant a Deputy to it, and one of the Elders for the Province of Lower Languedoc.

63. This Assembly willing to provide, as it had promised a Pastor for the Church of Gignac, and considering its great importance, and acknowledging the singular gifts with which the Holy Ghost hath richly endowed Monsieur Codur formerly Minister in the Church of Ganges, and that he is every way fit and qualified for the Service and Edification of that Great and Populous Church, this Assembly intreats him to go and preach in the said Church of Gignac, until the meeting of the next Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc; which he accepted and promised to remove thither as soon as possible. And when that Synod shall meet, the said Church of Gignac having a Pastor settled among them for Life, he shall be at full liberty to retire himself either into the Colloquy of Anduze, or into the Synod of Cévennes, who are ordered to secure a Church for him, or else he may accept of the first Call which the Providence of God may vouchsafe him. And that the said Church of Gignac may be able to subsist, The Portion appropriated to it from among the Churches of Lower Languedoc shall be paid in free of all Taxes and Charges to it by the said Province, and an half supernumerary Portion out of the Common Stock of the Churches.

64. Whereas the Church of Montagnac craveth help and assistance against a process in which they be entangled about the demolishing of their Temple in the late unhappy Civil Wars. This Assembly recommends unto the Province of Lower Languedoc the said Church, and ordereth them to relieve it out of those great means which God hath given them. And the Lord's Deputies at Court are requested to interest themselves particularly in their Affair.

65. The Colloquy of Gex petitioned leave that they might send only but two Pastors and two Elders unto the Provincial Synods: But this their Petition was dismissed over to the Province of Burgundy to decree in it what they judged would be most expedient. And whereas the said Colloquy craveth an augmentation unto the Moneys already given them, this Assembly desires them to rest contented, because it could not be granted.

66. The Deputies of the Church of Montauban petitioned that Monsieur Guyon at present Pastor in the Church of Dieu le fit in Dauphiné, might be given them to be their Pastor. Upon hearing of the said Monsieur Guyon, and the Deputies of Dauphiné, this Assembly declared its unwillingness to dispose of the Person of the said Guyon and of his Ministry, especially since that his Church in which he is now settled; hath not been in the least acquainted with this motion.

67. The Colloquy of St. German in Cévennes was censured for their levity and rashness in condemning Monsieur Toussain upon so groundless an Accusation, and for their suspending him from the Exercise of his Ministry; and the Province of Cévennes was censured for conniving at this great Offence. And that the Sacred Ministry may be discharged of all blame and ill reports, the said Monsieur Toussain shall appear in Person at the next Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc, there either to be justified or condemned as the case requireth, and this according to the Canons of our Church-Discipline.

68. The Letter of Monsieur Marbais was read, and the Assembly remitted his Affair unto the Province of Poitou to give him satisfaction therein.

69. The Church of Nismes did both by Letters, and word of Mouth by the Sieurs Ollivier and Mazaudier petition that Monsieur Jamett might be given them for their Pastor, he being a Person every way qualified in respect of his Gifts and Graces to edify it, and to repair those sore breaches which the Apostasy and Debauches of some of their former Ministers had caused among them. This Assembly having a special respect unto the Church of Nismes, and considering its great necessities and importance, because of the vast number of its Members, and the University there erected, though it would not use its absolute Authority in disposing of the Person and Ministry of Monsieur Jamett, yet neither can it bear with his Excuses, nor with the Oppositions made by the Deputies of the Province of Orleans and Berry, therefore it doth entreat the Church of St. Amand, and the said Province of Berry also, in which he doth at present exercise his Ministry, to consider seriously with themselves of the great importance of that Church of Nismes, and to grant them their request, as in Christian Charity they be bound, and particularly by reason of that Holy Communion which is between all the Saints, and Churches of this Nation. And Letters shall be dispatched to His Grace the Lord Duke of Sully, that he would be pleased to give his consent unto this Call.

70. Monsieur de Chasteaumal reported in this Assembly his Fathers many and good services done for the Churches, and the many heavy losses suffered by him for the profession of the Gospel, and the true Reformed Religion, and requested that a Pension might he allowed a Son of his whom he designeth for the Ministry. Although this Assembly knows that such an Affair as this ought not to he taken notice of by the National Synods, yet because of the Hereditary Piety of the said Lord of Chasteaumal, the Province of Dauphiné is enjoined to consider and honor him, and to bestow the first vacant Scholarship in their Province upon his Son.

71. Letters from the Church of Sancerre, and the Deputies of Orleans and Berry, as also from the General Assembly held at Loudun informed this Synod of the great necessities of that Church. Whereupon two supernumerary Portions were ordered for their Relief as a Testimony of our unfeigned Love to that important Church which shall be paid them yearly by the Province of Berry, who for that purpose should receive them in the General Dividend, and make good payment thereof, till the sitting of the next National Synod.

72. Whereas the National Synod of Vitre had granted unto Monsieur Scoffier an Aged and Worthy Minister, declared Emeritus, one supernumerary Portion and half for his subsistence, it shall be joined to the Moneys of the Province of Cévennes, whose Receiver without any further Order shall pay it in free unto him of all Taxes and Costs whatsoever.

73. The Lord of Clausonne acquainting this Assembly with the Poverty of the Church of Montfrin in the Lower Languedoc, an half supernumerary Portion was ordered unto that Church, which shall be numbered in the distribution as one of the Churches in the Province of Lower Languedoc.

74. Monsieur de Anjou representing the Poverty and Necessity of the Church of Puymichel in Provence, a supernumerary Portion shall be granted to it in the General Dividend.

75. The Assembly having ordained that in the last Sessions of this Synod there should be a List brought in of the Churches to whom the Collected Charities should be imparted, and by what Provinces they should be particularly assisted: Now that this Decree may be the better executed, it was judged meet, that the Collections made in the Provinces of Dauphiné, Lower Languedoc, Province, Cévennes, Vivaretz and Burgundy shall be assigned to the Church of Privas. And the Moneys Collected in Higher Languedoc and Guyenne, shall be appropriated to Lectoure. And the Charities Collected in the Lower Guyenne and Saintonge shall be given unto Puymirol. And the Collection in the Isle of France, Normandy, Britain and Berry shall be paid into the Church of Netancour, and that of Anjou and Poitou shall go toward the relief of Vendosme. Nor shall these Charities so Collected be any way prejudicial to that General Collection which we have designed for the Refugees out of the Marquisate of Salluces.

76. It being the bounden Duty of all Pastors personally to reside on their Churches, the Deputies of Lower and Higher Languedoc, and of Cévennes are obliged immediately upon their return home unto their respective Provinces to notify unto those Ministers who neglect this their Duty, that they go and reside on their Churches within Three Moneths, on pain of being suspended the Sacred Ministry.

77. That Affair concerning the Children of the Lord de la Reynela whose Uncle and Guardian is the Lord of la Garelaye shall be recommended to the Lord's General Deputies at Court to prosecute it most vigorously and effectually.

78. Upon complaint made by the Widow of Mr. Immanuel Sebastian, Minister of God's Word, lately deceased: This Assembly ordered that all Arrears of Pension due unto her since her Husbands Death by the Province of Cévennes shall be punctually paid her out of the first Moneys that come into the Receivers hands of the said Province, and he himself shall pay those just Debts with his own hands immediately unto her.

79. Whereas the Church of Usez hath craved leave to seek for itself a third Pastor either within or without the Province, This Assembly grants it to them, but with this proviso, that they keep close to the Forms prescribed by the Discipline, and that they act nothing herein to the prejudice of their present Ministers, and particularly that they do not in the least diminish that double Honor they ought to have for the Reverend Monsieur Brunier and his Family, whose great labors have been for these many years that he hath served them, and yet continue to be, exceeding useful and beneficial to their Souls.

80. The Church of Gignac having been exceedingly perplexed ever since the Call of Monsieur Jacornais unto the Ministry among them, who was recommended to them by the Province of Higher Languedoc, it seemed good unto this Assembly to remove him thence, yet without any Impeachment unto his Credit or Ministry, his Conversation being every way blameless and unreprovable, only he hath met with no encouragement nor maintenance from them, though the said Church of Gignac hath received ever since his presentation to them their Portion of the Kings Money. Wherefore the said Province of Lower Languedoc is enjoined to see that the said Jacornais be fully satisfied, and that he have his Salary paid him until such time as he be provided of another Church, and that it may be done effectually, they shall either detain from the said Church of Gignac what is owing them by the Province, and so force them to reimburse him, or else they shall make it up out of the Common Stock of their Province. And in case the Colloquy of Nismes or any other of that Province shall be Assembled before their Synod, they shall take care to settle the said Sieur de Jacornais in such a Church as in which he may full • l the Ministry he hath received from the Lord.

81. The Lord of Antrague Picheron complained by Letters of the outrage done unto Captain Peter Stephens. It was ordered that these Letters should be delivered to the Provincial Council of Cévennes, who are to take care about it, and this Affair also shall be immediately recommended unto the Lord's General Deputies.

82. The Sieurs Fitz, Eymar, and Paulett having sojourned in this City a considerable time at the Command of this Assembly, the Province of Cévennes is ordered to reimburse them all their Expences.

83. Susanna Morrice Daughter of Monsieur Morrice Deceased, formerly a Pastor in the Church of Dieu le fit in Dauphiné was dismissed over to the said Province to be relieved in her poverty.

84. Advice being given of divers Defaults in the Province of Lower Languedoc, particularly that the Moderators in one Synod are ever after Assessors in another, contrary to that freedom required by our Discipline in the Election of Synodical Officers; And Secondly, That certain Pastors are Commissionated to receive the Moneys belonging unto Colloquies, which in time may draw Reproach upon the Ministry, and divert our Pastors from their Studies, and other Duties of their Calling. And Thirdly, The way of Communicating one to another by Circular Letters, Matters of Importance instead of calling the Colloquies, and there imparting those Affairs unto them: And Fourthly, The Brigues in the choice of Elders falling out too too often in many of their Churches. Wherefore this Assembly commandeth the said Province of Lower Languedoc to remove those Disorders and to give an Account of their Obedience to this Canon at the next National Synod.

CHAP. XV. Of COLLEDGES and UNIVERSITIES.

1 PRofessors of Philosophy in handling Physical or Metaphysical Questions which have a Correspondence with Divinity shall take care that they so do it as not to injure in the least the Principles of our True Religion; and that they infuse not any Scruples contrary to Piety into the tender minds of our Youth. And Doctors and Professors in Divinity shall abstain as much as in them lieth from all Curious and Unprofitable Questions, though much in vogue among the Romish Church-men, nor shall they enlarge in the Confutation of unknown Heresies, nor anymore than is barely necessary for the right Interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, in expounding whereof they shall keep themselves to that gravity and simplicity which shineth forth so conspicuously in the Writings of those Famous Divines, whom the Lord raised up to kindle in the last Century the Flambeau of the Gospel in these and the Neighbor Nations.

2. A Motion was made by the Province of Poitou, that no Professors nor Principals in our Colleges or Universities should practice Physic lest they be taken off from attendance on their Profession; but rather that their Sallaries should be augmented, that so they might apply themselves wholly to the Duties of their Office and Calling. This Assembly foreseeing the difficulties which will occur in case that such a Canon as is now desired should be framed and enacted, doth therefore leave the matter unto the prudence of our University-Councils, to aft therein as they shall conceive will redound most to the Profit and Honor of the Universities.

3. No Professors of Divinity, although they be Pastors also, unless they be sent with Letters from their Churches, or called by Colloquies and Synods, when as matters relating to their University, or important points of Doctrine be handled, shall ever appear in Colloquies, or Provincial and National Synods.

4. A Minister may at the same time be Professor in Divinity, and of the Hebrew Tongue. But it is not seemly for him to profess the Greet also, because the most of his Employment will be taken up in the Exposition of Pagan and Profane Authors, unless he be discharged from the Ministry. Nevertheless Professors in Divinity and of the Hebrew Tongue, which are in Holy Orders, shall ever be reputed Pastors of that Church in which their University is Erected, and where they do ordinarily reside, provided the Church do consent unto it, and shall take their turns in preaching, only they shall be discharged from the Exercise of Church Discipline, and from other burdensome Employments of the Ministry. And whereas several Ministers are at this day actual Professors in those Faculties in our Universities, and yet are not reputed Pastors there, though it be the place of their constant and ordinary Residence; they shall be tolerated until the next National Synod, unto which they shall make Report of the Churches consent and choice of them for Pastors where they sojourn, or else they shall be provided of Churches of their own.

5. A Motion was made about reducing the Number of our Universities, that so they might be the better furnished with all needful Professors both in Divinity, and in the other Arts and Sciences. It was not thought good at present to make any change or alteration, lest it should occasion any difference, and breach in that good Correspondence, which ought by all means to be kept up among us. But nevertheless the Provinces are exhorted to bring with them unto the next National Synods their mature and well-digested Thoughts on this Subject. As also all those Cities which have Universities Erected in them shall bring into the next National Synod an account of what means they have, or Fund sufficient for the maintenance of a complete and perfect University.

6. Divers Proposals were set on foot by Monsieur Beraud both from himself, and from the University of Montauban. As for the First, The said Monsieur Beraud is confirmed in his Professorship of Divinity in that University, because of the laudable Testimonials which the Deputies of Higher Languedoc have given of his Academical Exercises these Two years last past. Yet nevertheless that said Province is censured for not having observed the Formalities required by our Discipline in the Call of the said Monsieur Beraud unto the Professors Chair in Divinity. Although the said Monsieur Beraud had undergone a very rigorous and severe Examination, as the Deputies themselves of that Province had attested. For the Second, it is Decreed, That the said Monsieur Beraud over and above the Seven Hundred Livres which he receiveth from the University, shall also have one free Portion out of the Kings Moneys belonging unto the Province of Higher Languedoc, as all other Pastors have which are Ministers in our Universities. And whereas the said Monsieur Beraud hath not enjoyed his said Portion ever since his Professorship at Montauban; the Province shall be obliged to restore unto him all his just Dues and Arrears even to this very day, and that out of the very first Moneys which it shall receive from the Lord of Kandel, because they have always took up the said Portion under his Name. And whereas there is a loud and general complaint of very bad Payments by that University of Montauban unto its Professors; since nothing appears to the contrary but that the said University hath the same kindnesses and allowances as all our other Universities, therefore it shall rest contented with the Common Order established herein by the former National Synods, which was, that the Moneys assigned unto our Universities shall be taken out of the three first Quarters of the year from the Common Stock of all the Churches, without leaving them to the last Quarter whose payment is more uncertain.

7. The Wages granted by the University of Montauban unto an Academical Secretary cannot be allowed, but shall be razed out of their Accompts both as to what is past and to come.

8. Whereas the University of Saumur did together with Commendatory Letters of the Lord Du Pllessis Marly request, that Mr. Cameron might be continued in the Profession of Theology there; and on the other hand the Church of Bourdeaux, and Monsieur Joly on its behalf redemanded him back to the Exercise of his Ministry, among them, according to that Obligation which lieth upon him as their Pastor, and Monsieur Privas Deputy of the Lower Guyenne consented to it by Order of, and Memoirs from the said Monsieur Cameron. This Assembly acknowledging that the said Church of Bourdeaux hath an undoubted right to the Ministry of Monsieur Cameron, yet notwithstanding, because of the pressing and urgent Necessities of the said University of Saumur, which is of mighty concernment to all our Churches in general, It doth now Order and Decree that Monsieur Cameron shall continue in the said Professorship in that University until the next National Synod, and the Church of Bourdeaux is entreated to allow and approve thereof. And during this time the said University shall use her best and utmost endeavors to procure them another Professor in Divinity.

9. The Church of Rochefoucauld demanded an Augmentation for the better support and maintenance of their College. This Assembly, because the Example would be leading, could not grant it; but exhorts the Province of Saintonge to take it into their consideration, and to assist the said Church with a competent Summ of Moneys drawn out of the Common Stock of that Province, that so this College may be kept up, which hath been already so very useful and profitable unto them.

10. The University of Montauban moved for the revision of a Decree past in the National Synod of Privas, and about the Six Deniers allowed in the Livre unto the Receiver of that University. But it was judged unfit to be Debated, and therefore let fall.

11. A Contention having risen between the City of Alez and Anduze about the College Erected in the Province of Cévennes, This Assembly not inclining to make any alterations at present in the Estate of the Provinces, nor to obstruct that good Union which ought to be kept up, and preserved among the Churches, doth ordain, that the said College (according to the Synod of Tonneins ) shall continue in the Town of Anduze until the next National Synod, when and unto which the Province of Cévennes shall give in a faithful report of the State of the said College, that in case it be not such as makes for the advantage of the Churches, it may be removed elsewhere.

12. The Assembly proceeding to choose Pastors, who may supply the vacant Chairs of Professors in our Universities upon all occasions especially in Divinity, according to a former Decree past by it in its Observations on the last National Synod of Vitre, hath nominated Monsieur du Moulin, Vignier, Bouchereau, Garissoles, Cottieres, Chanvernon, and de la Coste. All which are exhorted to dispose and fit themselves betwixt this and the next National Synod for the said Public Profession of Divinity.

CHAP. XVI. Of ACCOMPTS.

13 THE University of Saumur brought in their Accompts for the years 1616, 1617, 18. And for the First Quarter of this current Year 1620. And the said Account having been performed with much exactness and fidelity, was accepted of and approved.

14. The said University of Saumur petitioned, that whereas on their faithful Account now brought in by them, there remaineth a certain Summ of Moneys in their Receivers hand, that we would be pleased to leave it with them for enlarging the Classical Seats of the College, they being too few at present for the great number of Scholars in it. This Assembly granted that Three Hundred Livres should be disbursed by them to that use, upon condition, that they give an account how the said Summ was employed unto the next National Synod.

15. Whereas the University Council of Saumur had granted Twenty Livres a year unto their Printer, they shall be allowed him for what is past; but it shall not be made a presedent for the future.

16. The University of Montauban brought in their Accompts for the years 1614, 1615, 1616, 1617, and 1618, which were approved, though their Expences exceeded their Receipts by 397 Livres, Fifteen Sous.

17. The Province of the Isle of France being obliged to bring in its Account for the College of Clermont ever since the National Synod of Tonneins, and not having done it, nor for that erected at Charenton, which though tendered was not accepted, because the form of it was not of any force or value, is for the present spared, but with this express injunction that they do bring in unto the next National Synod their Accompts aforesaid in due form, with all the Evidences and Acquittances, or else they shall lose and forfeit their Privilege of having a College.

18. The Accounts of the Province of Normandy for their College in the years 1616, 1617, 1618, 1619. were allowed and approved.

19. The Province of Orleans and Berry brought in their Account of the College erected at Chastillon upon the Loir, for the years 1616, 1617, 1618, 1619, 1620. which was accepted and approved.

20. The Province of Poitou brought in the Account for the College of Niort for the years 1617, 1618, and 1619, which was accepted, allowed and approved.

21. The College of Bergerac in the Lower Guyenne brought in its Account from the First of April, 1614, unto the last of March, 1620. And their disbursements did far exceed their Receipts of what Moneys had been given them out of the Common Stock of the Churches.

22. The Province of Vivaretz having divided their College into two, to wit, one at Anonay, the other at Aubenas. That of Annonay accounted for the years 1614, 1615, 1616, 1617, 1618, and 1619, and for Six Moneths of this year now current, 1620. And Aubenas accounted for the years 1615, 1616, 1617, 1618, and for Nine Moneths of the year 1619. And the Accompts of both these Colleges were allowed and approved. But whereas the said Province of Vivaretz desired leave that in lieu of employing the Four Hundred Livres of the Kings Money which hath been granted them for their Colleges, they may dispose of it to the setting up of some little Schools: This Assembly would not allow of this change, nor to the Province of Burgundy which made also the very same request.

23. The Province of Lower Languedoc brought in their Accompts for the College of Bezieres for the year 1617, 1618, and 1619, which were allowed and approved.

24. The Accompts of the College of Anduze were brought in by the Province of Seventies, and were exceedingly commended for the years 1617, 1618, and 1619.

25. The Province or Burgundy tendered the Account of their College for the years 1617, 1618, and 1619. But because the said Account was not in due and valid form, and that the said Province accounted but for Three Hundred and Fourscore Livres yearly, whereas they should have for Pour Hundred; they were enjoined for the future to bring in their Accounts for the whole and entire Summ, and to justify them by producing their Evidences and Acquittances from their Provincial Synods, and to present them in a better form unto the next National Synod. And for this once they be indulged.

26. The Colloquy of Gex shall account for the dispensing of their College-Money unto the Provincial Synod of Burgundy, that so their Account may be brought in to the next National Synod, us is done in all the other Provinces of this Kingdom; or else they shall lose their privilege of a College.

27. The Province of Provence was grievously censured for not bringing in an Account of the Moneys received by them for a College, notwithstanding the many and frequent warnings given them by the former National Synods, and they be commanded to keep better Order for the future, or else they shall be deprived of those Moneys which had been granted them for their College.

27. The Account of the College of Dauphiné was received, and their Expence very much exceeded their Receipt of the Kings Money. But the said Province is exhorted to produce in their future Accounts all the Evidences and Acquittances, which will prove and justify them.

28. The Account rendered by the University of Nismes for the Moneys distributed by them, and with which they were entrusted by the National Synod of Tonneins was received and approved, except in some few particulars. As on the year 1618, Four Hundred Livres are charged by them for bringing the Household Goods and Library of Monsieur Codur Professor of the Hebrew Language from Montpellier unto Nismes, whereas Two Hundred were allowed, and the other Two Hundred razed out. Again Eight Hundred and Fifty Livres given unto Monsieur Fancheur Professor of Divinity, partly, as a gratuity, partly for the removing of his Goods unto their City, Two Hundred and Fifty shall be blotted out. This Assembly however to testify their great respects for the said Monsieur Fancheur did present him with the Summ of Four Hundred and Fifty Livres as a gratuity, that he might increase his Library, and be more cheerful and serviceable in his Academical Profession, as also they gave him One Hundred and Fifty Livres to help pay his Charges in the transport of his Household Goods from Usez to Nismes. In like manner an Hundred Livres were razed out of their Accompts, which had been ordered by them unto Monsieur Vagumar their Printer to buy his Stamps and Characters. Out of their Account for the year 1619, was razed the Summ of Sixty Livres given unto Monsieur Codur, and Monsieur Petit Professors of the Hebrew and Greek Tongues to help defray their Charges unto the Provincial Synod held at Malgutol; as also out of the year 1620, was razed the Summ of Ninety Livres adjudged unto the Sieurs Codur, Petit, and Faucheur to carry them to Usez, and Forty Livres laid out in Printing the Book of a young Scholar. All which particular Summs put together, amounted in the whole to Six Hundred and Twenty Livres, and were razed out of their Account, and the Province of Lower Languedoc shall detain it in their hands out of the Moneys belonging to the said University of Nismes, that they may deduct it, and give allowance for it. Moreover this Assembly cannot allow unto Monsieur Bowdon, who was formerly the Receiver of the said University-Moneys more than One Sous in the Livre, for his pains and trouble in getting it in, and paying it out unto them. And for the future the Receiver shall rest contented with Six Deniers in the Livre for that his Employment, as all other Receivers for our Universities have. And whereas the Professors of the aforesaid University of