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

CHAP. XXXVIII. A Letter of the Church of Geneva to the National Synod of Castres.

CHAP. I. The Lord Galland the King's Commissioner. The King's Writ for calling the Synod. Deputies Names. Election of Synodical Officers.

• Article 1.
  AT the opening of this Assembly, the Lord Galland, Counselor to his Majesty in his most honorable Privy Council, and Council of State, and Attorney General for his Dominion of Navarre, appeared in Person as Commissioner deputed by his Majesty unto it, and presented his Majesty's Warrant, signed with his Sign Manual for the convocating of it.
• 2.

  This 29th Day of January, in the Year of our Lord 1631.

  The King being at Paris, upon the most humble Petition of his Subjects of the pret. Reformed Religion, that they might be permitted to meet and assemble in a National Synod, there not having been one held since that of Castres, in the Year 1626. His Majesty being very willing to gratify those his Subjects aforesaid, and to give them some Marks of his Royal Favor, hath granted and permitted, and doth grant and permit unto those his aforesaid Subjects, the Power and Priviledg of holding a National Synod the first Day of September next at Charenton near Paris, but with this Condition, that none other Matters shall be debated in it, but such as are allowed them by his Majesty's Edicts; and that the Lord Galland, Counselor to his Majesty in his Privy Council, and Council of State, and Attorney General for his House of Navarre, shall assist personally in the said Synod as his Majesty's Commissioner, as hath been accustomed and practiced heretofore. In Testimony whereof his Majesty hath commanded me to issue out this present Writ, which he was pleased to sign with his own Hand, and commanded it to be countersigned by me his Counselor and Secretary of Estate, and of his Commandments, and of his Treasury.

  Signed in the Original,

  LOUIS.

  And a little lower,

  Phillippeaux.

• 3.
  There appeared on Behalf of the Churches in the several Provinces of this Kingdom, the Pastors and Elders, whose Names are hereafter mentioned.

  For the Province of Burgundy, the Sieurs Peter Boullenat Pastor of the Church of Vaux, and Alexander Rouph Pastor of the Church of Lions, together with the Lord's Timothy Armet, Advocate in the Privy Council, Elder in the Church of Conches, and Lazarus du Puy, Counselor for the King, in the Presidial Court of Bourg, and Elder of the Church gathered in that Town.

• 4.
  For the Province of Provence, the Sieurs Paul Maurice, Pastor of the Church at Aiguires, and Peter de Peyre Lord of Retardet, Elder in the same Church.
• 5.
  For the Province of Orleans and Berry, the Sieurs Daniel Jamett, Pastor the Church of Gien upon the Loir, and James L'amy Pastor of the Church of Chasteaudun, accompanied with Master Claudius Bernard, Elder in the Church of Chastillon upon the Loir, and Bailiff of the said Town; and Henry du Four, Doctor of Physic, Elder in the Church of Blois.
• 6.
  For the Province of Poitou, the Sieurs Isaac de Cuville, Pastor of the Church in Couhe, and John le Masson, Pastor of the Church of Civray, together with the Lord's Rene de Lauvrignac, Esq Lord of Miauvray, Elder of the Church of St. Maixant, and Giles Begaut Lord of la Begaudiere, Elder in the Church of Montague.
• 7.
  For the Province of Saintonge, the Lord's William Rivet Lord of Champrernown, Pastor of the Church of Taillebourg, and Peter Richer Lord of Vaudelincourt, Pastor of the Church of Marennes, accompanied with the Lord's Denys Pasquett Esq Lord of Large Baston, Elder in the Church of Angoulesme, and Charles Constant, Comptroller for his Majesty in the Election of St. John d'Angely, and Elder of the Church in that City.
• 8.
  For the Province of Britain, the Sieurs Joshua de la Place, Pastor of the Church of Nantes, assembling for Religious Worship at Suffe, without an Elder; for the Lord's Daniel de la Tousche, Lord of la Ravardiere, Elder in the Church of Ploer, and Daniel Chastaigner Lord of la Grolliere, Elder in the Church of Vielle vigne, who was substituted in his Place, did both send their Letters of Request, that they might be dispensed with for their non-Attendance at the Synod, and their Excuses were admitted and accepted.
• 9.
  For the Province of Lower Guyenne, the Sieurs James de Berdoline Pastor of the Church of Duras, and Charles d'Aubus Pastor of the Church of Nerac, accompanied with the Lord's John de Mazilieres, Advocate in the High Court of Parliament of Bourdeaux, Lord of Grave, and Elder in the Church of Nerac; the Lord John Ayme de Friginet, Advocate also in the same Parliament, and Elder of the Church of Bergerac, was chosen, but fell sick, and therefore was excused; and in his stead there appeared Isaac de Geneste, Lord of la Tour, Advocate in the same Parliament, and Elder in the Church of la Sauvetat, who was substituted by the Suffrages of the Provincial Synod in his stead.
• 10.
  For the Province of Vivaretz, the Sieur Daniel Richard, Pastor of the Church of Cheilar, and Louis Santel, Advocate and Elder of the same Church. The Province excused itself for sending but two Deputies, and their Excuses were admitted for this time; and they were enjoined for the future never to omit the Clause of Submission, which was not sound in their Letters of Deputation, tendered by them unto the Council.
• 11.
  For the Province of Cévennes, the Sieurs Moses Blasehon, Pastor of the Church of St. Andrew de Valborgne; and Antony Vincent, Pastor of the Church of Merneys; together with Stephen de Billanges, Lord of Blanqfort, and Elder in the Church of Vigan; and Claudius d'Airebeldoze Esq Lord of Clairan, Elder in the Church of Canoblet.
• 12.
  For the Province of Anjou, the Sieurs Matthew Cottiere, Pastor of the Church of Tours; and Moses Amyraud, Pastor of the Church of Sanmur, and Professor of Divinity in that University; together with the Sieurs Philip Niett, Counselor of the King, and Warden of his Majesty's Salt-garners in the said City of Saumur, and Elder of the Church there; and Josiah Poize, Advocate in Parliament, Elder of the Church at Previlly.
• 13.
  For the Province of Dauphiné, the Sieur Peter Pittard, Pastor of the Church of Alben; with the Sieur Francis de Montauban de Rambault Esq Lord of Villars, Elder in the Church of Gap; and the Sieur Stephen Gilbert Advocate, Elder in the Church of Die; the Sieur Denis de Bouteroue, Pastor of the Church of Greenoble, though chosen, • id not appear, because of his Majesty's Prohibition, yet afterwards he obtained leave to assist in this Council, as will appear by its Acts and Records.
• 14.
  For the Province of Lower Languedoc, the Sieurs Michael le Faucheur, Pastor of the Cuurch of Montpellier, and John de Croy, Pastor of the Church of Bezieres, together with the Sieurs Peter Cheyron, Advocate and Elder in the Church of Nismes, and Andrew Bruneau Advocate and Elder in the Church of Bagnols.
• 15.
  For the Province of Higher Languedoc, the Sieur Timothy Delon, Pastor of the Church of Montauban; with the Sieurs Peter de Villette, Lord de la Jongniere, Elder in the Church of St. Antonine; and Paul Constance Counselor for the King, and Elder in the Church of Montaubon; Master Peter Beraud, Pastor of the aforesaid Church of Montauban, and Professor of Divinity in that University, did not appear at first, because of his Majesty's Prohibition, but afterward, when it was taken off, he did accordingly take his Place in this Council.
• 16.
  For the Province and Principality of Béarn there appeared the Sieurs Peter Labadie, Pastor of the Church of Pau; and John de Pommerade, Advocate in the Parliament of Navarre, Elder of the Church in Morlas.
• 17.
  For the Province of Normandy, the Sieurs Abdias de Mondenis, Pastor in the Church of Dieppe; together with Laurence le Fevre, Advocate in the Parliament of Normandy, and Elder in the Church of Rouan; and John Cardell Lord of Marettes, Counselor of the King, and his Comptroller in the Election of Alencon, and Elder of the Church in the same Place: and the Sieur Benjamin Basnage, Pastor of the Church of Quarentin, though chosen, yet did not at first appear, because of his Majesty's Prohibition; but as soon as it was taken off, he came and took his Place in the Synod, as will appear in the following Acts.
• 18.
  . For the Province of the Isle of France, the Sieurs John Mestrezat, Pastor of the Church of Paris, and David Blondell, Pastor of the Church of Roussy; together with the Sieurs John de Gravelles Esq Lord of Banterne, Elder in the Church of Houdan; and Charles Mayland Advocate, Elder in the Church of Montdidier.
• 19.
  The fifteenth Day of September, the Lord Marquess of Clermont, General Deputy for the Churches of this Kingdom unto his Majesty, came according to the usual Order of these National Synods, and took his Place in it, having Precedency given him according to his Degree and Quality, and as it was afterward decreed in the eleventh Article of General Matters.
• 20.
  Prayers having been offered up unto God, Monsieur Mestrezat, Pastor of the Church of Paris, was by Plurality of Votes chosen Moderator; and Monsieur Jamet Assessor; and Monsieur Blondel Pastor, and Monsieur Armet an Elder, Scribes of the Synod.

CHAP. II. The King's Letters Patents.

• 21.
  AS soon as the Officers of the Synod were chosen, his Majesty's Letters Patents were read, a true Copy whereof is here inserted.
• 22.

  Louis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre,

  to our beloved and trusty Counselor in our Privy Council and Council of State and Attorney General for our House of Navarre, the Lord Galland, Greeting:

  We having given leave unto our Subjects professing the pret. Reformed Religion, to hold a National Synod at Charenton, near our City of Paris, the first Day of September next, in which the Deputies of all the Provinces in this our Kingdom shall meet, and consult about Matters concerning their Religion; and we being to choose a Person sufficiently qualified, and of approved Loyalty, who may be present in the said Council as our Representative and Commissioner, and calling to Mind the many Services you have done us in sundry and very weighty Employments, with which we have entrusted you both at home and abroad, within and without the Kingdom, all which you have most worthily discharged; yea, and in those very National Synods which we have permitted to be convocated by our Subjects of the said Reformed Religion at Charenton aforesaid, in the Year 1623, and in our City of Castres, in the Province of Albigeois, in the Year 1626. We therefore conceived we could not make a better choice than of yourself, being well satisfied that you will continue to give us the Proofs and Testimonies of your Affection to our Service. For these Causes we have commissionated and deputed, and we do commissionate and depute you, the said Lord Galland, by these our present Letters Patents signed with our own Hand unto the said Synod, and order you forthwith to transport yourself unto the said Synod in the Town of Charenton, and therein to assist in Person as our Representative, and to propose and resolve on such Matters as have been commanded you, according to the Memoirs and Instructions we have delivered into your Hands; taking special Care that none other Businesses be then or there treated and debated, but such as of right ought to be consulted and determined on in those Assemblies, and which are permitted by our Edicts: and in case they should attempt anything contrary thereunto, you shall hinder it, and by Interposal of our Authority, suppress and stifle it, and speedily give us Notice and Advice thereof, that we may immediately apply such Remedies as will be most needful. And for doing hereof, we do now impower you by this our Commission and special Commandment, in these our present Letters Patents; For such is our Will and Pleasure.

  Given at Monceaux the sixteenth Day of August, in the Year of Grace, one thousand six hundred thirty one, and of our Reign the two and twentieth.

  Signed in the Original,

  LOUIS.

  And a little lower,

  by the King, Phelippeaux.

  And sealed with the great Seal in yellow Wax.

CHAP. III. The Lord Galland 's Speech to the Synod.

23. THE aforesaid Letters Patents having been read by the Lord Galland, his Majesty's Commissioner, he made this Speech unto the Synod.

CHAP. IV. The Moderator's Reply to this Speech.

28. THE Lord Commissioner having finished his Speech, Prayers were offered up to God for the Preservation of his Majesty's Sacred Person, for the Prosperity of his Government, for the Settlement of the public Peace of the Nation, and for the Glory of his Crown: And most humble Thanks were rendered unto his Majesty for the Continuance of his Favor and Royal Benignity towards the Churches, who have none, nor desire to hold any Intelligence or Correspondence with Strangers, but do protest unanimously, that they will next and immediately under God depend wholly and solely on his Majesty's Protection and Sovereign Authority. And it was resolved, that as to the first Particular propounded by the Lord Galland his Majesty's Commissioner, that although the Cause of sending those Royal Commissioners into our Ecclesiastical Synods, was from divers false Reports spread abroad and taken up against those Synods most unjustly, and to their great prejudice and damage, and that it had occasioned the former National Synods most humbly to petition his Majesty, that he would be pleased to leave the Churches in their ancient State of Liberty: yet forasmuch as his Majesty hath ordained that no more Petitions should be presented him to this purpose, the Churches do acquiesce in his Majesty's Pleasure, since he will have this his Ordinance inviolably observed: and this Synod doth yield an entire Obedience to the King's Will, and the Order prescribed by his Majesty, whereof the Churches hope to reap the Fruits promised them, in their Establishment and better Subsistence for the future, and approbation of their Innocency; and the rather because the last National Synods of Charenton and Castres have already tasted of them, and been in a more especial manner aided by the Prudence, Equanimity and good Conduct of his Lordship the Lord Galland. Therefore a Decree past, That conformably to his Majesty's Intention, our Synodical Assemblies should subject themselves to a precise observation of his Majesty's Declaration made in the Year 1623, about sending Commissioners unto Synods and Colloquies: And his Majesty shall be most humbly petitioned to enjoin those his Commissioners whom he shall be pleased to send into the Provinces, not to abuse his Majesty's Name or Authority, to the raising of new Difficulties which may deprive the Churches of the Effects of his Royal Bounty.

29. And whereas his Majesty, by his Declaration of the Year 1623, hath forbidden our Churches to receive into the Pastoral Office such Persons as are born in foreign Countries, out of his Jurisdiction; and divers Provincial Synods conceived that those Persons were excepted who were born in those States allied unto his Majesty, and under the Covert of his Royal Protection; wherein also they were confirmed by the Commissioners, in whose Presence, and nowhere else, some few of those Ministers had been received. Now our said Lord Commissioner having at this instant assured us, that as it was his Majesty's Intention to comprehend under the name of Strangers, all Persons born out of the Kingdom without exception; so also that he is pleased to deal favourably with all those who have been admitted since the Year 1623, and to repute them as his natural born Subjects: this Assembly entreateth the said Lord Commissioner to continue his good Offices unto our Churches, and chargeth the Deputies which shall be sent unto his Majesty, to present him our most humble Requests, that those aforesaid Pastors may be comprised in that his Act of Grace, and that for the future all others so born may be instituted, and inducted into the Pastoral Cure of our Churches, in the Presence of his Commissioners, as if they had been natural born Frenchmen.

30. And as for the third and fourth Articles in his Lordship's Speech, the Synod hath, upon very just Grounds, entreated his Lordship to assure his Majesty, that the Churches sixing themselves more and more in the observation of those Reglements taken up in the two last National Synods, and with which his Majesty is fully satisfied, will take all possible care, that no Complaints upon those Accounts may be ever hereafter brought unto his Majesty. And as for that particular Business of Monsieur Salbert, this Assembly, deferring all Obedience to his Majesty's Pleasure, and leaving the said Salbert in that Estate wherein he is at present, doth yet notwithstanding judge themselves bound by the Laws of Charity, to have recourse unto his Majesty's Goodness on his behalf: And therefore we most humbly beseech his Majesty, out of his innate Clemency, to remove the Tokens of his just Indignation against him, and to let him share and participate in that same Royal Favor, which he has vouchsafed and extended unto others, involved with himself in the Miseries of the late Troubles.

31. And whereas a certain Book hath been seen by us, bearing Monsieur Beraud 's Name, whose Preface is already condemned by the Lord's of his Majesty's most Honorable Privy-Council, and that we are required to examine and censure both it and him: After hearing of the said Professor Beraud, he did ingenuously acknowledge himself the Author of it, but also that it was extorted from him by mere Force, and through the Malignity of the Times, in the late Confusions; and that it was never in his Thoughts or Intention to grant a License unto Ecclesiastical Persons to shed Blood; and those Words of which he is accused, having occasioned an Exposition quite contrary to his Judgment, he declareth with all possible Sincerity, and as in the Presence of God, that he disapproveth of the Ambiguity in which those Expressions are there couched, and detesteth from his very Soul the Consequences which are thence deduced, protesting that his Belief is entirely conformable to that of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom, which have, according to the holy Scriptures, decided in our former National Synods, that Pastors should in no wise intrude themselves into the Administration of State-matters, because they he wholly alien and foreign to their Profession: and therefore the Argument is more valid, that they cannot, without contradiction to God's holy Word, and the Confession of our Churches founded upon it, stretch out their Hands to draw Blood from any one, or engage in any military Factions. This Assembly therefore confirming the Decrees of former National Synods, and grievously censuring the said Beraud for having rashly and to ill purpose used those scandalous Expressions, tending to establish an erroneous Doctrine, declared once again, That it doth reject and condemn that Proposition extracted out of the Book of the said Beraud, and forbiddeth him and all other Professors in our Universities, and Ministers in our Churches, to teach or write any such Doctrine for time to come, upon pain of incurring all Ecclesiastical Censures.

32. And as for those sharp Words mentioned by his Lordship the Commissioner, the Churches are utter Strangers to them, having declared the Word of God with all Modesty and Meekness, however they have been ill handled in divers Places, and though oftentimes our Adversaries have most licentiously perverted the most innocent Expressions of our Faith, to render us more odious and criminal.

33. The Lord Galland, his Majesty's Commissioner, requiring that Monsieur Bastide may be removed from the Church of St. Africa in the Province of Higher Languedoc, because his Deportments in the said Church have been destructive to the Public Peace and Tranquillity: The Assembly being informed that the said Bastide was at present a Prisoner, resolved, That his Majesty should be most humbly petitioned to grant unto him, as well as to all other his Subjects of the Reformed Religion, the Enjoyment of the Benefit of his Edicts, and to send him before his proper Judges; and in the mean while it decreeth, that he shall be removed from the Province of Higher Languedoc, and that from this very Instant the Exercise of his Ministry shall cease, and be at an end in the said Church of St. Africa; and the said Province is commanded to provide out of hand another Pastor for it.

CHAP. V. Deputies and a Letter sent from the Synod unto the King.

34. MOnsieur Amyraud a Pastor, and de Villars an Elder, were chosen, by plurality of Suffrages, to lay at his Majesty's Feet the most humble and thankful Acknowledgments and Petitions of the Churches; and they had their Instructions given them, and Letters unto his Majesty, and to our Lord's, the Principal Ministers of State.

35. A Copy of the Letter written by the Synod unto the King.

CHAP. VI. A Copy of the Cahier of our Complaints, and of the Infractions of his Majesty's Edicts, presented to his Majesty from the Synod, by the Sieurs Amyraud and de Villars.

To the King.

YOUR most humble and most obedient Subjects of the Reformed Religion, assembled by your Majesty's Permission in the National Synod at Charenton, do freely acknowledge that we want both Conceptions and Expressions by which we may sufficiently and worthily express our just sense and feeling of those many and illustrious Testimonies of your Majesty's Paternal Affection to us: and therefore we do pour out incessantly our most fervent and devoutest Prayers unto the Throne of Grace, that the Lord our good God would be graciously pleased to preserve your Majesty's most Sacred Person, and the Tranquillity of your Dominions: And we do absolutely consecrate our Lives and Fortunes unto your Majesty's Service, according to the Duty taught us by our most holy Religion, and our Birth, which is to expose them for the Honor of our Sovereign upon all Occasions.

2. And forasmuch as it hath pleased your Majesty to confirm by divers Declarations those Edicts made in our Favor, yea and to place them in the Rank and Classis of Fundamental Laws of your Kingdom, we most: humbly supplicate your Majesty to ordain, that they may be as exactly observed, and punctually executed.

3. Particularly for what concerns the Establishment of our Churches in those Places, where hitherto we could never obtain that Benefit, notwithstanding all our Care and Diligence to get it executed; and that those which are desolated, through the Infelicities of the late Troubles, and the Rigors of that Decree made in your Majesty's Council, the last May, out of favor to the Lord Bishop of Valence and his Complices, may be once again re-edified. For the Execution of such Decrees causeth many thousands of devout Souls, deprived of the Exercise of their Religion, to mourn and groan before God continually.

4. This Desolation, Sire, is therefore the more worthy of your Royal Compassions, because it is extreme: for in Vivaretz there be nine and twenty Churches wholly destitute of all Religious Worship, and in Cévennes nineteen, and in the Land and Isles of Re and Olleron, there be twenty four, besides those which decay, through the many cunning Obstructions brought against the rebuilding of the demolished Temples in Saintonge, Burgundy, Britain, Berry, Normandy, Poitou, and the Lower Guyenne, whose Number indeed is not so great, but however their Damage is inestimable. And, Sire, all the Provinces demand no new Favor of your Majesty, but only what hath been formerly granted them by your Edicts.

5. Therefore is it that your Majesty is most humbly requested to revoke those Decrees aforesaid, and to ordain that nothing may be innovated against ancient Practice and Possession, and that our Ministers may preach in all Places where they shall be called, according to the Duties of their Office, and that they may serve in divers Churches at the same time, which shall be all established or re-established conformably to the Edicts and Declarations of your Majesty.

6. And forasmuch as very many Ministers, in divers Provinces, particularly in that of Languedoc, are troubled, not for uttering any undutiful or disrespectful Words, but for Preaching (though with the greatest Moderation, and according to that Liberty of Conscience which is our Priviledg and Property) conformable to our Confession of Faith, and the Discipline of our Churches; your Majesty is therefore most humbly entreated, that all Prosecutions commenc'd against them may cease, as having none other Foundation, than the groundless Passions of the Commissioners and Officers; and that upon this account your Attorney General may be silenced, and a Prohibition may be granted out against them from ever troubling any of our aforesaid Ministers in discharging the Duties of their Calling, and Exercise of our Discipline.

7. And forasmuch as the Order and Discipline of our Churches cannot subsist without the being and sitting of Colloquies and Synods, your Majesty is most humbly requested to give leave, that our Colloquies and Provincial Synods may be assembled in the presence of your Majesty's Commissioners and Deputies, according to the ancient Order, because the Governors of the Provinces do very much oppose the holding of them, and defer their Sessions for a long time together, and have hindered divers Provinces from Synodical Assemblies three or four Years together.

8. Your Majesty having formerly declared, with your own Mouth, whenas the National Synod was held last at Charenton, in the Year 1623, That it was your Pleasure that those Pastors who were born in other Countries, not under your Majesty's Jurisdiction, should continue in the Exercise of their Office in their respective Churches, without ever being disquietted or molested: We most humbly beseech your Majesty, on their behalf, that you would be graciously pleased to grant them your Declaration to this Purpose; and also to gratify with the same Favor such as have been received into the Sacred Ministry since the Year 1623, in the presence of your Majesty's Commissioners and Deputies.

9. And the Lord Galland having informed this Synod, that for the future your Majesty intended to restrain this Favor, and only to vouchsafe it to your Majesty's natural born Subjects, none others being to be received into the Ministry among us: We most humbly beseech your Majesty that this Restriction may be taken off, and that your Majesty's wonted Favor may be continued to us in this Particular.

10. May it please your Majesty also to repeal those Prohibitions issued out against those very worthy Ministers of the Gospel, Mr. Bouterove, Banage, and Beraud, forbidding their personal Presence and Attendance in this Synod; and that with your Majesty's License they may, having been duly chosen thereunto, come into it, and take their Place and Vote in it, according to their Deputations from their respective Provinces.

11. And whereas such as make profession of our Religion, are for the most part excluded and deprived of all Offices, Charges, and Public Dignities, of being Doctors, and incorporated into the Colleges of Physicians, and of all Employments; yea, and are not so much as suffered to be Masters in those very Mechanical Arts and Trades in which they had been educated, and in which they had served their Apprentiships; May it therefore please your Majesty graciously to ordain, that they may be indifferently admitted unto those aforesaid Charges and Employments, with your other Subjects of the Romish Communion.

12. And whereas the Triumphs of your Victorious Arms do proclaim your Majesty's Glory, We most humbly beseech your Majesty to augment your own Glory yet a great deal more, by extending your Clemency and Pardon unto those many miserable Persons who have been detained, for a long time together, upon no other score than that of the past Troubles, in Chains and Slavery aboard your Gallies; and to give forth your Royal Order and Command, that they may be delivered and enlarged.

13. It hath pleased your Majesty in all those Declarations made by you, in favor of your Subjects of the Reformed Religion, to promise the Continuance of that Bounty granted us by the late King Henry the Great of glorious Memory, and divers times since confirmed by your Majesty, to contribute towards the Maintenance of our Pastors and Universities, as a Compensation for the Tithes paid by them unto the Curates. Yet nevertheless for several Years together we have been totally deprived of this Gratuity; and whereas divers Sums of Money had been assigned us for the former Years, there yet remains due and unpaid a very considerable Sum, amounting to six hundred twenty one thousand, eight hundred and twelve Livers. And although we have been again and again promised this Grace and Favor, and particularly upon the Reduction of the Towns of Lower Languedoc, in the Year 1628, and afterward confi • med by your Majesty's Answer to our Bill of Grievances at Montauban; Yet notwithstanding, those very Assignations given us in the Year 1627 have been revoked, and those of the three next following Years 1628, 1629, and 1630, and for this present Year 1631, are not at all paid in unto us. Wherefore we most humbly beseech your Majesty, that according to your Royal Promises, they may be effectually continued to us, and that your poor Subjects of the Reformed Religion may enjoy these Gratuities, and be fully satisfied for all the Arrears.

14. And whereas your Majesty was pleased, upon the restoring the Church-Lands in the Principality of Béarn, out of which our Ministers received their Sallaries, to assign them a continual Stipend out of the Exchequer and Treasury there, and this by the Edict of Restitution, which was followed by the Declaration made at Montpellier, when you gave Peace unto your Subjects; yet nevertheless, in prejudice of your Royal Words, without any Edict revoking that Assignation past in the making up the Accompts, and local Charges of the said Principality, the Ministers of the Gospel there have been retrench'd from four hundred and fourscore Livers, which they did each of them receive yearly, to two hundred and thirty four Livers only; yea, and this very last Year, four thousand Livers more have been taken from them. Wherefore may it please your Majesty, conformable to your Will declared in your Royal Edicts, to stop the course of such Diminutions, and to reestablish the aforesaid four thousand Livers which have been retrenched, and to continue the payment of their Sallaries unto the Ministers, without ever suffering them to be diverted to any other Uses, besides those to which they were designed and appointed in that first Institution made by your Royal Bounty.

15. The Deputies who are now sent unto the King, are expressly charged most humbly to petition his Majesty, that Silence may be imposed on his Lieutenant General in the Parliament of Bourdeaux, who hath commenc'd a Suit against the Lord of Vandelincourt, Minister in the Church of Marennes, and his eldest Son, for that their Cause is depending in the Court of the Edict sitting at Agen.

CHAP. VII. The Deputies return from Court, with the King's Answer and Letter to the Synod.

16 THE two and twentieth day of this Month, those aforementioned Deputies unto his Majesty, Monsieur Amyraud and de Villars, returned with Letters from his Majesty unto the Synod, the Tenour of which followed.

18. His Majesty's Letters being read, the said Deputies made report, That when they were called into his Majesty's Council, and the King having heard them, he answered them in these words;

After which his Eminency the Lord Cardinal told them,

19. Whereupon the Assembly approving the Conduct of their Deputies, did give them its hearty Thanks for their Care, Faithfulness, and Dexterity manifested in the discharge of that Trust committed to them. And afterwards his Majesty's Commissioner, the Lord Galland, acquainted the Synod,

20. Upon this Declaration, made by the Lord Commissioner of his Majesty's Good-will, and of his favorable Inclinations unto the Churches, it was unanimously voted and decreed, That most humble Thanks should be returned unto his Majesty for the Grant of his Gracious Favors; and that a new Address should be made him by this Assembly, with an humble Petition for the restoration of the Sieur de Bouteroue; and that the Synod might have Licence given it to sit, without a Dissolution, till such time as the Monies destined by his Majesty's Liberality for the defraying of its Expences be paid in, and distributed according to he Intention of his Majesty by the Synod itself, conformably to that Order which hath been always observed in the Dividend of Monies granted us by his Majesty.

CHAP. VIII. Election of General Deputies.

21. SEveral Provinces requesting that his Majesty should be pleased to grant out his Royal Writ of Licence for the Election and Nomination of General Deputies; the Lord Commissioner declared, That it was his Majesty's Pleasure that this Assembly should agree with him in the choice of two Persons acceptable unto his Majesty, who might exercise the Office of General Deputies, and reside near his Person, and attend the Court in all its Progress and Motions. The Synod having confer'd in private, by its Commissioners, with the forementioned Lord, did nominate the Lord Marquess of Clermont, and the Lord Galland, Lieutenant General in the Bailiwick of the Artillery, and of the Louvre, hoping that his Majesty will so far condescend as to approve of the Obedience of our Churches, and hereafter to resertle them in the practice of their ancient and accustomed Order.

CHAP. IX. Monsieur Beraud admitted as Deputy to sit and act in the Synod.

22. THE three and twentieth day of September, the Sieur Beraud, Pastor of the Church of Montauban, and Professor of Divinity in that University, came unto the Synod, petitioning that he might be restored, and take his place in it, according to his Majesty's Intention expressed in his Letters written to the Lord Commissioner; who directing his Speech unto the said Dr. Beraud, told him, That his Actions and Writings had formerly given unto his Majesty very many and just Reasons of being dissatisfied with him, and great occasion of Scandal and Complaint against those of the Reformed Religion. For which cause his Majesty, by his Writ of the sixteenth of August last, had excluded him out of the Synod, and destined his Abode and Ministry somewhere else than at Montauban: But his Majesty having a favorable Respect unto the Petition of the Synod, had, of his special Grace, restored him unto his Church, and permitted him to assist the remainder of its Sessions, as a Member of it in this Synod, because he hoped that he would, as he now commanded him to, govern himself in all his Actions and Writings, with a Moderation well-befitting his Profession. Whereupon the said Dr. Beraud took his place in quality of Deputy for the Province of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne, according to that Commission he had received from his Province.

23. The Lord's Clermont and Galland, who were nominated unto the Office of General Deputies for the time coming, were entreated to carry unto his Majesty the Act of their Election by this Assembly; and its most humble Petition, both for the restoration of the Sieur de Bouteroue, and the payment of the Monies designed to defray the Expences of this Synod, and to procure an Answer unto that Branch of our Cahier, concerning the Monies granted us by his Majesty's Liberality, that so the Dividend may be made before our departure. And the Lord Commissioner was also entreated to accompany the Petitions of the Synod with his Lordship's Letters, and by his Mediation to facilitate their Acceptance, and the getting of a Decree upon them.

CHAP. X. A Copy of the second Letter written by the Synod unto his Majesty.

CHAP. XI. The General Deputies make Report of their Audience; and the King's Answer to that Letter.

1. THE fourth Day of October, the Lord's General Deputies being returned, and making Report of their kind Reception from the Ministers of State, who also informed them that his Majesty had granted sixteen thousand Livers for defraying the Expences of this Synod, and that he permitted Monsieur Bouteroue to take his Place with the other Deputies in the Synod; and that his Majesty did judge meet that this Synod should break up of its own Accord as soon as possible it could, and that after their Departure the Cahier presented by the Sieurs Amyraud and de Villars should have a favorable Answer, and that without Delay. And the Lord Commissioner added that his Majesty expressed in his Letters written to him, his singular Satisfaction in the Synod, to which he granted three Days more for the perfecting and strengthening of their remaining Affairs; and that they should be no sooner separated, but he would answer their Cahiers, and that in the most favorable manner, particularly in what relates unto the Maintenance of the Ministers; that the Choice of Deputi •• was very acceptable to him, though they could not enter upon their Office till after the Separation and Departure of this Synod. Upon which, the Assembly having returned their most hearty Thanks unto the Lord's Deputies aforesaid, for their singular Affection and Diligence in promoting the Weal of our Churches; They entreated the Lord Commissioner to continue his wonted good Offices unto the Churches, and by his daily Intercession for them with his Majesty, to be more and more useful and beneficial to them: And inasmuch as he was near his Majesty, and one of his Privy Council, he was earnestly entreated most humbly to petition his Majesty to add unto those Favors which he hath already vouchsafed us, the Grant also of those which we expect and wait for from his Royal Clemency and Goodness.

CHAP. XII. The Sieurs Bouteroue and Basnage admitted as Deputies to sit and act in the Synod.

2. THE same Day the Sieur Benjamin Banage, Pastor of the Church of Quarentin, and one of the Deputies for the Province of Normandy, presented himself unto the Synod, craving leave that he might be admitted as a Member into it. The Lord Commissioner bespake him, that the King for divers Considerations had thought good to debar him Entrance into this Synod, and to remove him from his Church and Province of Normandy: But having a particular Respect unto the most humble Petitions of this Assembly, he gave him leave to take his Place and Vote in it during the remaining Sessions thereof, and permitted him to continue the Exercise of his Ministry in his own Church, upon condition that he ordered his Words and Actions with that Moderation and Reservedness which became his Calling and Profession.

3. Monsieur Denys Bouteroue, Pastor of the Church of Grenoble, and Deputy for the Province of Dauphiné, coming also in like manner, and desiring to be admitted into the Synod, according to his Majesty's Permission; the Lord Commissioner told him, That he had given the King occasion to be displeased with him, because of a Book which he had printed in June, 1628, and was condemned by Decree of the Parliament of Greenoble; but that the Prosecution which was against him for being the Author of it, and for which he deserved to be put out of the Synod and Province of Dauphiné, was remitted by his Majesty's great Goodness, in Confidence that for the future he would comport himself with all Moderation, and keep within the due and proper Bounds of the Discipline, as appeared from the Charge and Letter Missive of his Majesty unto the said Lord Commissioner; the Tenor whereof is as followeth.

CHAP. XIII. A Copy of the King's Letter unto the Lord Galland, for restoring the Lord of Bouteroue unto his Place in the National Synod.

5. After that those Remonstrances had been made unto them, those aforesaid Ministers Banage and Bouteroue took their respective Places in the Synod, according to the Commission given them by their respective Provinces.

6. The Lord Commissioner having declared that it was his Majesty's Pleasure, that for the future no Strangers, but only the proper Members of the Consistories in each particular Church should assist at all their Church-Sessions and Consistorial Actings. The Assembly represented unto his Lordship the many Difficulties which did daily occur in the Management of Church-Affairs, and which did necessarily require the Assistance, Advice and mutual Communication of other Churches. Whereupon his Lordship promised to write unto his Majesty about it, and to petition his Majesty that he would be pleased in Cases of Necessity, to grant that three other Pastors, and as many Elders from the neighbouring Churches might be allowed to meet and consult together in the Consistory.

CHAP. XIV. Approbation of the Confession of Faith.

THE Confession of Faith was read word by word, and every Article posedly and in its proper Order, approved and signed by all the Deputies who were sent and commissionated by the Provinces; and they did all of them in their own personal and relative Capacities both for themselves and for their Principals, who had entrusted them, and whom they represented, and who had given them express Charge so to do, protest that they would live and die in the Confession of that Faith, that they would teach it unto their Churches, and put to their helping Hand, that it might be inviolably kept and preserved to Posterity.

CHAP. XV. Observations on Reading the Church-Discipline.

1. THE Provinces of Anjou, Saintonge, and Lower Guyenne, requesting that the 4th Article of the 1st Chapter might be explained; This Assembly decreed, that the said Article should be thus expressed: A Minister of the Gospel (unless in times of Difficulty, and cases of very great Necessity, in which he may be chosen by three Pastors together, with the Consistory of that Place) shall not be admitted into this Holy Office, &c So that those Lines from the Verb are unto the Adjective national, must be taken away. And Consistories are required not to forsake the wonted Order, particularly that of calling in divers Pastors from one and the same Church, to ordain their Ministers, unless they should be enforced by an extreme Necessity to do otherwise: of which, as of all other extraordinary Occurrences, they shall render an Account unto the Provincial, and the Provincial unto the National Synods. And as to what hath been done in the Province of Anjou, this Assembly doth confirm it, without allowing of it as a Precedent for the future.

2. In case of Difficulties that a Church be constrained to have Recourse unto an University or Neighbor Province, to be provided of a Pastor, it shall not for the future serve itself of this Expedient, nor may the Neighbor-Province or University grant that Church its Demand, unless there be an unanimous Consent of all the Churches of the same Colloquy, which they shall notify by their Letters, approving the Choice of the elected Pastor.

3. On the 33d Article of the 1st Chapter, and 8th Observation of the National Synod of Rochelle (the 18th in order, held in the Year 1607.) on the Discipline, by which at the Request of the Province of Dauphiné, the said Article had been explained: The Assembly gave leave unto Provincial Synods to extend the Loan of Pastors unto the term of a full Year, notwithstanding the Churches from whence those Pastors were borrowed, had entered their Appeal against it.

4. Upon the 4th Article of the 2d Chapter, the Province of Poitou was advised to observe that Canon framed by the 24th National Synod, held at Charenton in the Year 1623, which had ordained, That the Children of Ministers should not he preferred (unto the Pensions) unless caeterus paribus, they were equal in Merits with the other Competitors.

5. After those Words in the 8th Article of the 5th Chapter (As also all Sentences of Suspension) those shall be added, which were given by the Consistory, and were not declared before the Congregation, shall be binding, although the suspended Person had made his Appeal either to a Colloquy or Provincial Synod.

6. In Obedience to those Remonstrances made by his Lordship the Lord Commissioner, the Provinces are exhorted to come prepared to the next National Synod, in which it will be debated, whether anything shall be changed in the 19th and 20th Articles of the 5th Chapter before mentioned.

7. The Word Gypsys (the French call them Bohemians ) shall be razed out of the eleventh Chapter, because the two others do sufficiently explain it.

8. Those Words (as also the Names of Office, such as Baptist, Angel, Apostle ) shall be struck out of the 4th Article of the fore-mentioned 11th Chapter, as being useless, and now not practiced in the Churches.

9. The Deputies of Saintonge upon that same Article, reporting that divers Persons, according to the Custom of the Country, did give Names unto Children in Baptism, which occasioned ridiculous Raillery and foolish Jesting, and that it would be needful to redress it: The Synod gave Liberty unto that Province to use such Means as they judged best and most expedient to effect it.

10. The Lord Commissioner remonstrated on the 18th Article of the same 11th Chapter, that the Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Interments of the Members of all the Churches should be yearly brought into those Courts of Judicature, whereunto our respective Churches do belong: The Synod unanimously concurred with his Lordship, and enjoined all the Provinces to see that it be accordingly observed and performed.

11. Upon the Remonstrance of the Lord Commissioner, instead of those Words at the close of the first Article of the 13th Chapter, Shall give such Advice unto the Parties as may be convenient, there shall be inserted (according to the Intentions of the Synod of Vertueil, in the Year 1567, and of Montauban in the Year 1594) these Words, The Consistory shall advise the Parties to apply themselves unto the Civil Magistrate.

12. These Words ( Nevertheless, the Parties shall be exhorted not to depart from the Words and Promises de futuro, without great and lawful Causes ) shall be inserted into the fifth Article of the same 13th Chapter, and the Clause beginning thus (All Promises) shall be razed.

13. At the Request of the Lord Commissioner, this Clause was added to the end of the 13th Article of the 13th Chapter, Unless that such a Marriage were authorized by the Civil Magistrate.

14. Upon the Remonstrance of the Province of Saintonge, the Synod decreed, That such as in conformity to the 18th Article of the same 13th Chapter, did cause their Banes to be published in the Temples of the Popish Religion, should carry a Certificate of their being of the Reformed Religion, unto that Church which was nearest the Place of their Abode, and where their Banes also shall be proclaimed; that so all Surprizals may be prevented.

15. These following Words shall close up the 22d Article of the same 13th Chapter, Unless the Magistrate hath interposed with his Judicial Sentence to the contrary.

16. Upon the 2d and 11th Articles of the 14th Chapter, the Synod approved of that Sentence given by the Provincial Synod of Saintonge, which judged that the Faithful ought not to desire their Parties of the contrary Religion to swear by the Te igitur and Cross.

17. The Assembly not being able to add or change anything in the 4th Article of the 14th Chapter, giveth Licence unto the Province of Normandy to establish for its own particular Service such Orders as it shall judge most fitting for the Edification of the Churches in their Division.

18. The Lord Commissioner requiring, that for the future no Book might be published till it had been first examined by Divines appointed unto that very purpose; this Assembly did thereupon ordain, That the 16th Article of the said 14th Chapter of the Discipline, shall be couched in these Terms; Ministers, nor any other Members of these our Reformed Churches, may not cause any Books concerning Religion, which are either made by themselves or any others, to be printed or published, till such time as they have first communicated the Manuscript Copy unto the Colloquy, or, if Occasion so require, unto the Provincial Synod; and in case the Matter be urgent, unto the Universities, or unto two Pastors nominated by the Synod, who shall give an Attestation under their own Hands, that they have examined the said Manuscript.

19. The Lord Commissioner acquainted the Synod, that his Majesty had sent him divers Books and Treatises on several Subjects, fraught with injurious and intolerable Expressions, and therefore required that they should be censured according to their Deserts. Whereupon, the Synod requested the said Lord Commissioner, that those Books might not be at all looked into, because they were printed many Years ago, and the greater part of them, when their Authors were enforced to it by the bitter Provocations of others professing a contrary Religion. And the Synod having, together with his Lordship, took all possible care in the foregoing Canons to prevent the printing of all offensive Books for the future, the Provinces shall use all possible Care and Circumspection, that his Majesty should not have any the least occasion to complain of us. With which Answer his Lordship remained satisfied, and judged it not meet that any particular Censure should be applied unto those Books, as he had at first demanded.

20. The whole Book of Church-Discipline having been read over, the Deputies of the Provinces did, in their own Names, and in theirs who had commissionated them, sign it, promising solemnly that they would observe it, and see it exactly observed by their respective Provinces.

CHAP. XVI.

Observations made in reading the Acts of the 25th National Synod held at Castres in the Year 1626.

CHAP. XVII. A great Debate about incorporating the Churches of Béarn with those of France, opposed by the Lord Commissioner.

• Article 1.
  THE Province of Béarn having charged its Deputies to submit it unto the Discipline of the Churches of this Kingdom, and to the Authority of our National Synods, as the rest of the Provinces, but with these Conditions: First, That they be not bound to send more than two Deputies unto our National Synods. Secondly, That Judicial Sentences past by and in the Province until now, shall not be revoked nor reversed. Thirdly, That Pastors serving in the said Province, shall not be translated into another Province. Fourthly, That the Appeals of private Persons may not be received in these National Synods. The Synod absolutely granting the two first Conditions, doth nevertheless exhort the said Province to send equal number of Deputies with the other Provinces, unto the National Synod, whenas his Majesty shall be pleased to permit one to be held in the Provinces bordering on that of Béarn: And as for the two other Conditions, provided that the said Deputies shall promise, on behalf of their Province, to own the Authority of our National Synods, and to take out their Appeals in the Form specified, Canon the 10th of the 8th Chapter of our Discipline, the Synod yieldeth unto their Demand, assuring them, that it will take a most particular Care of their Edification: and as it intendeth not to lose its Right unto divers Pastors born in the Provinces of the Higher and Lower Guyenne, who are now actually employed in that of Béarn; so also it will never use it to their evident Prejudice, but in every Matter, and especially in that of removing Pastors either from the Churches they are now serving, or from out of the Province, the National Synod will give full proof of their fraternal Charity and Affection.
• Article 2.
  Upon this Debate, the Lord Galland, his Majesty's Commissioner, remonstrated;
  That the Conjunction of the Churches of Béarn with those of this Kingdom, and particularly their Submission unto the Discipline of the Reformed Churches of France, and the Power of appealing from Béarn unto the National Synods here, were Matters of that Nature, that they could not be done without the King's Permission; because such Conjunctions depend upon Sovereign Authority; that the late King Henry the Fourth of happy Memory, had already determined this Question, having in the Years 1602, and 1604, permitted the Churches of Béarn to assist at the National Synods of France, hereby to conserve an Union in Doctrine: but he also decreed, that they should bring in their Cahiers of Complaints distinct from those of France. And in the Year 1615, whenas the Political Assembly of Grenoble demanded this Union, it was denied in that Answer given to the 22d and 23d Articles in these Words, That the late King did never permit nor approve of the Union of the pret. Reformed Churches of Béarn with those of France, nor will his Majesty now permit it, until such time as the said Principality shall be re-united and re-incorporated with the Crown of France. But yet in the mean while, the Deputies of Béarn may bring in their Petitions by themselves, which shall be answered according to Reason. Against which Answer the Assembly of Rochelle having took great Exceptions, and in a particular Article at the Conference of Loudun in the Year 1616, there was returned an Order little differing from the Cahier of Grenoble: so that the Land of Béarn not having since had any Permission from the King to join itself unto the Churches of France, it cannot be done, but must be confined to the plain and simple terms of Petition. Besides, the Consequences of this Union have been formerly resented; for the Churches of Béarn, shrouded with the shadow and hope of a powerful Assistance, were transported to such dismal Excesses, as make a very mournful History in that of our Times. And all Authors are agreed, that the Land of Béarn was originally a Member of the Kingdom of Navarre, lying on the other side of the Pyrenean Mountains, though subject to our Kings of the Merovingian Line; as is evident from Gregory of Tours, who relateth, that the Bishops of the said Territory came unto the Council of Agde in the Year 506, and to that of Mascon in the Year 588. And the Lord of Béarn acknowledged the Kings and Kingdom of France for his supreme Lord, and did Homage to them and to their Sovereign Authority. But in the Year 1512, Louis the twelfth, King of France, to make some Compensation for, and to sweeten the Loss of the Kingdom of Navarre, usurped by Ferdinand King of Aragon, granted unto John of Albret and Katharine of Navarre his Wife, that the Land of Béarn should enjoy its Charters and Priviledg of Sovereignty, until such times as it should be otherwise determined by meet and competent Judges. And since that the Country of Béarn hath been accounted a Principality, distinct from the Kingdom, and independent without any reservation. That in the Year 1571, Jane Queen of Navarre set up a Church-Discipline, whose Execution is limited within the Bounds of that Principality; and the Laws are all enacted and sworn to by the States of the Country, and maintained to this very day, from the observation whereof the Subjects cannot withdraw themselves, nor, without the permission of their Prince, may they take upon them to constitute Judges in Church or State, much less to enlarge the Bounds of Appeals, whenas by the Laws of Béarn they are to be terminated by its Provincial Synods, and within the Country itself; as is in like manner done in the City of Metz, and Principality of Sedan. And should this Conjunction be admitted, Causes would be drawn out of the Province, which would be an Innovation of dangerous Consequence to his Majesty's Authority, and to this little Province, and contrary to its Union, which hath preserved the Country in its Laws, Forts, Customs, and domestic Prerogatives.
  The Deputies of Béarn, to give some color unto this Union, say, That this Union was permitted by the King, that it hath been exercised by his Majesty since the uniting of Béarn with the Crown of France, that it was approved by the said Lord Commissioner in the National Synod of Castres in the Year 1626. But here are divers Mistakes. The Truth is, that Henry the Fourth of happy Memory, and the King now reigning most gloriously, have not permitted nor promised the Union of the said Churches, nor was it permitted by the Cahier of the Year 1615. But the Answer unto the Union demanded, was deferred till after the Country was united with that of France: so that the victorious Arms of his Majesty having subjected the Land of Béarn to his Obedience, and the Union of the Country made by his absolute Authority, notwithstanding all former Grants and Privileges, the Subjects are bound to have recourse anew unto his Majesty. And although by the Cahiers of the Year 1615, the Union of the Churches was put off till the Union of the State; yet none may therefore assert, that because the State is united with the Crown of France, the Union of the Churches must therefore of Right be made also; but that it may be obtained, there is need of a new Address unto his Majesty, that he would by his Sovereign Authority be pleased to enact such Laws about it, as will be most agreeable to him: And the Synod wanting this Sanction of Royal Authority, the Union now desired is null; nor can the said Lord Deputies gather from any one act of his Majesty, that he approveth of the Union of the said Churches since the submission of Béarn.
  And if in any Cahiers presented by the Churches of France since the Union of that Country, the Petitions of those of Béarn have been made use of against the reservation set down in the Cahier of 1615. This Error must not be drawn into practice, because the Churches have not to this very day made any absolute Declaration of Union; and such important Actions require Concessions and solemn Declarations, and Preliminaries animated by Verifications in the Parliaments of Paris, and of Pau.
  Nor ought the presence of the Deputies of Béarn, in the political Assemblies of this Kingdom, where they laid the first Foundations of their Attempt against his Majesty's Authority, and which hath been since most exemplarily chastised, be made a Precedent; nor ought the appearance of the Ministers of Béarn, in the National Synods of France, before and since the establishment of Commissioners, who were imposed in the Year 1623, be took as an advantage to them in any-wise, because they appeared upon doubtful and uncertain Conditions, not as to the Point of Submission to the Discipline of the Reformed Churches of France, or unto the National Synods, or for the drawing of Appeals without the Limits of that Principality: all which were contrary to the Laws made by Jane Queen of Navarre, but only to testily their Union in Doctrine, which is evident by perusing the Acts of those Synods. The first Synod unto which the Deputies of Béarn presented themselves, was that of Rochelle in the Year 1607, and the Quality of the Times gave an occasion for it: And as that Introduction was a mere Novelty, there being but one Minister sent, so they were enjoined for the future to commissionate together with him an Elder. In the Year 1612, four Deputies assisted in that of Privas; but this their Presence was floating and wavering; nor had it any other end, than to testify their Consent and Union in Doctrine, as his Majesty had willed them so to do in the Year 1602, and 1604. They came also unto that of Tonneins, in the Year 1614, under the same Conditions; and they then had granted to them the privilege of calling the next National Synod, which was a great expression of Love unto that Principality, and an oblique Means to bind them more strictly to the Discipline of France: And because the Churches of Béarn would not submit themselves thereunto, they resigned their right of Convocating the National Synod unto the Church of Vitre in Britain, where also it convened accordingly in the Year 1617. And in the six and thirtieth Article of General Matters, there passed this Decree; This Assembly doth not conceive it meet, considering their present Circumstances, that the Churches of Béarn should subject themselves to the Church-Discipline of this Kingdom, nor that they should depend upon these National Synods: But nevertheless they shall give in their final Resolutions, what they intend to do, unto the next National Synod; and in case they be of the same Mind then, as they are now, this Assembly declared, That their Deputies may have the privilege of sitting and voting in the National Synods of this Kingdom, upon this condition, that they shall first have leave given them, by the Provinces, to give in their Suffrages in such Cases as concern the Churches of this Kingdom; which Terms are totally contrary to the Pretensions of the said Deputies, and evidently prove, that their admission into the Synod was wholly precarious, and only to testify their mutual Church-fellowship. And in the Synod of Alez, called in the Year 1620, whenas the Deputies of Béarn had remonstrated, that they could not wholly subject themselves to the Discipline of the Churches of France, because of the present juncture of Affairs, they were admitted under that restriction of the Synod of Vitre, That they shall first have leave from the Provinces to vote, in certain Cases, concerning the Churches of France; and this too with this Proviso, that it should only be till the next National Synod. An Argument unanswerable of the Difference between the Church-Discipline of Béarn, and that of this Kingdom, although the Deputies, to ingratiate themselves with this Synod, do urge, that they be both alike one and the same. Thus I have given you the true History of this Union, till the Conquest and Submission of Béarn; at which time, by special Letters-Patents, his Majesty granted unto the said Principality, that they should be maintained, and live under their own particular Laws: Which Laws are partly made up of the Constitutions of the Lady Joan Queen of Navarre, who had enacted, That all Differences in Church-Matters should be finally determined within the Province. Since the Submission of Béarn, the Churches have lived under the same form, and never pretended to be united to those of France, but by virtue of his Majesty's Answer to the Cahier of the Year 1615, or some others of a later date: For in the Synod of Charenton, September the 2d, in the Year 1623, upon the appearance of the Deputy of Béarn, an Ordinance passed as formerly, That according to the Restrictions of former Synods, the Provinces have liberty to demand, that the Deputy of Béarn shall not have power of voting in some certain Cases concerning the Churches of this Kingdom; and that before the Separation of this Synod, he shall produce the Reasons for which they defer their plenary Submission to the Church-Discipline of France: And this is another certain Mark of the Difference between the Discipline of France, and that of Béarn. In the last National Synod held at Castres, in the Year 1626, which was four Years after that of Charenton, because in their Letters of Commission there was wanting the Clause of Submission required by the foregoing Synods, the Deputies of Béarn were told, in open Synod, that for this time they were admitted, but for the Conditions expressed in the Acts of the last National Synod, they should not for the future have a consultive Vote in the National Synods of this Kingdom, excepting only at the reading of the Confession of Faith, in which they were united with the Churches of France. Until that time the Churches of Béarn neither pretended nor demanded Union with the Churches of France; nor till then did his Majesty's Commissioners contend with them about it; but now whenas against so many preceding Instances to the contrary, they demand, without his Majesty's permission to be admitted, it cannot, it ought not to be granted to them.

CHAP. XVIII. The Reply made by the Deputies of Béarn, unto this Opposition of the Lord Commissioner.

3. BUT the Deputies of the Province of Béarn returned this Answer;

CHAP. XIX. The Protestation of the National Synod upon the Conjunction of the Churches of Béarn with those of France in Church-Discipline, and their Submission to the Authority of our National Synods.

4. IN like manner the Synod did solemnly protest, that they never had any such Intention or Design, as to withdraw his Majesty's Subjects from their Obedience, either to the Laws of his Majesty, or of his Royal Predecessors, nor to ordain any new Judges or Degrees of Appeals, nor to make any Innovations in the least Jot or Tittle to their Prejudice; much less was it in our Thoughts to conjoin the Churches of Béarn to these of France, without his Majesty's Permission; but we did, as in Duty bound, believe it a thing already granted by his Majesty; His Majesty having expressly declared in his Answer to the Cahier from the Assembly of Grenoble, and renewed in the Conference at Loudun, that he would allow and be well-pleased with the said Conjunction, as soon as Béarn should be reunited unto the Crown of France, which was actually effected in the Year 1620.

5. Upon Report made by the Deputies of the Isle of France, of their Care and Pains taken to recover the manuscript Works of Monsieur du Tilloy deceased, from them into whose Hands they are now fallen, and the Unlikelihood of their ever being published: The Assembly was well satisfied with the Indeavours and Inquiries of the said Province.

6. Upon the Remonstrance of the Province of Anjou, the Printers of Geneva, Sedan and Saumur are advised to print most correctly the Catechisms, Confession of Faith, and Liturgy of our Churches, and to see that all the Editions of them do entirely agree one with another, that so we may have no more Complaints against them for the future, about their Omissions and Negligence herein.

7. Although the Church of Rochechouard doth of right belong unto the Province of Poitou, yet because of the Weakness of the Colloquy of Limouzin, which requireth that the said Church be joined to it: This Assembly ordaineth, that the Decree made in the 25th National Synod held at Castres, shall be observed; and that the Deputies of Béarn, as they return homeward by the Way of Limoges and Rochechouard, shall take Cognizance of the Differences which have happened between Monsieur Barthe and the Consistory of Limoges, of which they shall give an Account unto the next National Synod.

8. Whereas by reason of the late Troubles, and the Difficulties of the present Day, the Sieurs Chauve and Bouteroue, (who were commissionated by the National Synod of Castres, to pass over unto the Provincial Synod of Provence ) have not been called to it: This Assembly ordaineth that that particular Pastor of Provence, who is charged with the Power of summoning the next Synod in that Province, shall give seasonable Notice of the Time and Place of its Meeting, that so they may assist at it, and execute the Commission which was given them.

9. The Synod of Cévennes shall give account unto the next National Synod of the Conduct of Mr. Repasseau, and of his Carriage and Actings in the Church of Paillac, which he quitted and forsook during the times of the late Commotions.

10. The Province of the Isle of France and Church of Paris, having related their Proceedings with Monsieur Richer, formerly Pastor in the Church of Vandieres: This Assembly applauding the Charity of the said Province, and particularly of the Church of Paris towards him, doth confirm the Judgment denounced against him by the said Province for his Levity and evil Conversation, notwithstanding the long-continued Indulgence of that Province to him.

11. Forasmuch as the Colloquy of Ambrun was not in a Capacity of taking Cognizance of the Cause of Mr. Genoyer, which was recommended to them by the National Synod of Castres: This Assembly commissionates the Colloquy of Gapensois, finally to determine that matter.

12. This Assembly having read the Censure past on Monsieur Persy, and ordained that it should be razed out of the Acts of the National Synod of Castres, doth commissionate the Provincial Deputies of Higher Languedoc in their Return homeward, to pass by Monflanquin, and to take Cognizance of the Fact mentioned in the Acts of the Synod of Lower Guyenne: And in case the said Deputies cannot execute their Commission, they shall give notice of it unto their Province, which is impowered in that case to pronounce a final Sentence.

13. Although the Deputies of Lower Languedoc have faithfully informed this Assembly how that through the rich and sovereign Mercy of God, Monsieur Peyrat was preserved from the very Brink and Precipice of Destruction, unto which his many Infirmities and sore Temptations had most lamentably exposed him, and declared the Course which the Synod of the said Province had took with him in order to his Recovery, and Re-establishment in the Exercise of his Ministerial Office; yet doth it nevertheless grievously censure the Provincial Synod for proceeding to his Restoration contrary to the usual and accustomed Forms, and Neglect of the Canons of our Church-Discipline.

14. Monsieur Aymard, Deputy of the Province of Cévennes unto the National Synod of Castres, having not discharged the Commission given him by the said Synod: This Assembly censuring both the said Aymard for his Neglect, and the Province of Cévennes for not calling him to an Account for it, doth confirm the Judgment passed by the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc against Mr. Tustan.

15. This Assembly judging the Neglect of the Province of Cévennes worthy of a most grievous Censure, ordains, that the Act made in the National Synod of Castres against Monsieur Bony, shall abide in full force: And whereas the Colloquy of Montpellier hath took Information of the Facts proposed, but not decided in the aforesaid Synod; it is now fully impowered to proceed against the said Bony, according to the Discipline, in case he be found guilty; and if hereafter there be a Default of rendering an account of Commissions given to the said Province by the National Synods, the Moderators of those Provincial Synods shall be suspended from their Office.

16. The Province of Berry had Audience given them as to those Matters of their Complaints and Petitions. And this Assembly ordaineth, that the Decree of the National Synod of Castres shall stand good, and that the other past in the Provincial Synod held at Chastillon upon Loir; shall be razed out of the Body of their Synodical Acts.

17. The Synod not being able to change anything in that Canon of the National Synod of Castres concerning Monks, exhorteth the Provinces to practice it with all possible Prudence and Charity.

18. The Printers of Geneva and Sedan shall be informed by the Church of Paris exactly to observe the Citations already added, or that may be hereafter added to the Margents of our Confession of Faith.

19. Forasmuch as divers Difficulties are started about the observation of that Canon made in the last National Synod of Castres, which ordered that ancient Pastors should always be prefer'd before Scholars, who were demanded by particular Churches to be ordained Ministers unto them: This Assembly taking off the Commination pronounced, in case of Disobedience to that Canon, against the Moderators of Colloquies and Provincial Synods, and mollifying it in that part thereof, which imposeth a precise necessity of giving the Preference unto Pastors, doth yet notwithstanding exhort the Provinces to observe this Ordinance as much as possibly they can, and not to quit it but at such times whenas they shall be constrained by an evident and most urgent Necessity so to do.

20. Noah Gaultier deposed by the Synod of Burgundy, appeared in Person before this Assembly, and demanded his Restitution unto the Sacred Ministry, presupposing that he had appealed hither, but could not get out his Appeal which he designed against the Sentence past upon him: The Assembly being fully informed as well of the Causes for which he was put into the Roll of the Deposed, as of his Actings against the said Province, rejected his Petition.

21. George Arband presenting himself before this Assembly, and importunately desiring to be restored unto his Ministry, from which he had been deposed by the National Synod of Castres: he was told by the Moderator in open Synod, that there would be nothing altered in the Sentence past upon him, but that it should abide still in force against him.

22. Now that according to the Decree of the last National Synod of Castres, this Assembly proceeded to examine the Reasons brought by the Deputies of the Provinces upon that Question, Whether it be lawful and expedient to administer Baptism on Days of ordinary common Prayers, whenas there is no Sermon preached, and all of them had been duly pondered and debated; the Assembly did at last conclude, That a Sermon preached either before or after Baptism, was not of the Essence of that Sacrament, but only a Matter of Order, whereof the Church might determine; and therefore the respective Churches and Provinces are left unto their respective Usages and Customs, provided that they be such as, in their best and maturest Thoughts, will most contribute unto their edifying.

23. This Synod ratifying the Judicial Sentence past by the Colloquy of Anduze in the Cause of Mr. du Cros and Raill, doth yet condemn those bitter Expressions used by Mr. du Cros in his Letter written against George Arbaud, after his Reconciliation with him.

24. The Lord Malet reporting the State of the Process against the Sieur Palot, was entreated to continue his Prosecutions vigorously, and not to suffer the Cause to be heard before any other Judges than the Lord's of his Majesty's most Honorable Privy-Council, because of the great Prejudice that would otherwise redound unto the Churches.

25. Although the Churches of this Kingdom have little cause of Satisfaction from the Province of Béarn, by reason of their dilatory Proceedings in the Business of Mr. Mainuelle; yet forasmuch as it was granted the said Province, that all Judicial Sentences past by them to this day, should be valid and not liable to any Retraction; and for that the Church of Geneva doth not renew its Suit against the said Mainuelle, and seemeth thereby to have buried the Memory of that Fact, of which he was accused, in Oblivion; The Synod leaving the said Mainuelle to the Judgment of his own Conscience, doth injoin him for the future so to order his Conversation, that there may be no just Occasions given of new Complaints against him.

26. All the Provinces are enjoined carefully to observe and practice the 6th Canon in the Observations of the 24th National Synod held at Charenton in the Year 1623, upon our Discipline, and that 5th Canon in the Chapter of Particular Matters in the Synod of Castres; and by all lawful and possible means to reduce them unto their Duty, who cause their Children to be instructed by the Priests of the Romish Church, or send them to the Colleges of Jesuits.

27. In case his Majesty shall be pleased to continue the Grant of his wonted Liberality unto the Churches, out of the Dividend of the Province of Provence, there shall be first taken out the Monies granted unto Monsieur Durie by the National Synod of Castres; and the said Province shall be accountable to him for it from the very first day of his Establishment in the Church of Beauvoysin.

28. The Difference between the Provinces of Saintonge and Poitou, shall be referred unto the next Colloquy of the Synod of Anjou, which is also impowered to conjoin the Church of Saveilles with that of Villefaignan, in case they shall judge that of Chefboutonne, whereunto the said Church of Saveille is now joined, may subsist of itself.

29. Forasmuch as since the Decree of the National Synod of Castres concerning Monsieur Casaux, five Years are now lapsed, and the Province of Higher Languedoc hath not in all this time re-demanded him; this Assembly bestoweth the said Casaux upon the Province of Lower Guyenne; and he shall continue his Ministry in that Church in which he hath hitherto served, as their own appropriated Pastor.

30. According to that Decree of the National Synod of Castres, the Churches of Auvergne shall carry their Declaration unto the next Synod of Higher Languedoc, who shall determine whether they be able to compose a new Colloquy: And in the mean while, the Province of Burgundy shall continue their Care and Charity to the Church of Paillas, in like manner as it hath done in Times past.

31. The Colloquy of Albigeois shall exert all their Power, that the Decree of the National Synod of Castres be executed against those Ministers in the Province of Higher Languedoc, who reside not in their Churches, and shall apply meet Censures to the Transgressors of the 13th Canon in the first Chapter of our Discipline, and that by the Authority of this Assembly.

32. The Monies promised unto Monsieur Chamier, Pastor of the Church of Montlimard, by the National Synod of Castres, towards the printing of those excellent Works of his most learned Father, now with God, shall be effectually paid in unto him; but I fear it was never done.

33. The Provinces are exhorted to revise their Collections, who have compiled the Articles of our National Synods into a Body, that so there may be out of them made an Extract of such important Matters as explain the Canons of our Church-Discipline; and they shall make Report hereof unto the next National Synod.

34. Letters shall be written to Monsieur de Sommaise (Salmasius) to entreat him, that he would devote his Studies and Pains to the Service of God's Church, and that he would travel in the Examination and Confutation of the Annals of Cardinal Baronius.

35. That Act promoting Monsieur de Garissoles to the Profession of Divinity in the University of Montauban, having been presented by the Deputies of Higher Languedoc, was confirmed: And this Assembly confirmeth the said Mr. Garissoles in his Professorate, and entirely approved of what was done in this Matter by the Commissioners who did examine him.

36. This Assembly ratifying the Judgment passed by the Consistory of Alez in the Cause of Monsieur Desmarais, which was dismissed to them by the National Synod of Castres, decreeth, That out of the first Monies belonging to the Province of Vivaretz, shall be retained part of the Sum due by the said Province unto the said Desmarais, that so he may be so far satisfied.

37. According to the Decree of the National Synod of Castres, out of the first Monies to be received by the Churched for three Years, there shall be reprised by the Province of Saintonge the thirteen Portions and an half granted to Mr. Bellot and Constance, and the Acquittances of those two Ministers shall be brought in, and delivered unto the Lord of Candall.

38. Complaint being made of the non-Execution of the 13th Canon, enacted in the 23d National Synod held at Alez in the Year 1620, about delivering the Cup at the Lord's Table by Pastors only, This Assembly judgeth the Province of Lower Languedoc to have incur'd a Censure, for their over-much Indulgence unto the Churches of Montpellier and Nismes, who have not to this very day conformed to it: And it doth grievously censure the Consistories of those Churches, and enjoineth them for the future not to quit the Practice of the other Churches of this Kingdom, on pain of being prosecuted with all Ecclesiastical Censures.

39. Monsieur d'Huysseau craving the Execution of that Decree made by the National Synod of Castres, which had given him the Sum of two thousand five hundred Livers in compensation of his great Expences disburs'd in the Suit against Monsieur Palot; The Assembly ordereth the Lord of Candall to pay him in the said Sum out of the first Monies which shall be divided among the Churches, who shall be accountable to him for it, and deliver up unto him the Acquittance of the said Sieur d'Huysseau.

40. Forasmuch as Mr. Roques hath not presented himself before this Assembly, to render accompt of the Monies received by him out of the Collection permitted by his Majesty for the Cities of Rochelle, Montauban and Castres; the Province of Lower Guyenne is charged to cite him unto their next Synod, and to examine and finish his Accompts by the Authority of this Assembly.

41. The Memoirs sent by the Sieurs Mizauban and Grenouilleau, Commissioners appointed by the National Synod of Castres to visit the Churches of Souls and Labor, being read, and Mr. Guillemin Minister in the said Church of Labor, and the Provincial Deputies of Lower Guyenne and Béarn being heard; The Assembly ordains, That till such time as it shall please his Majesty to grant a settled Place for Religious Worship unto the Faithful dwelling in the Land of Labor, that the said Church shall continue joined to the Province of Béarn, that so it may be regularly visited: and till such time as it can subsist of itself, instead of three hundred Livers which were granted by the former National Synods unto the said Mr. Guillemin, he shall receive the yearly Sum of an hundred and fifty Livers: and the Scholar named Martill, having been examined in the last Synod of Béarn, and found meet and qualified to serve the Church of God in the Sacred Ministry, shall receive for his yearly Portion sixty Livers: and the Sum of seventy five Livers shall be paid in to the said Mr. Guillemin in Consideration of his Sickness only, by the Lord of Candall; this Synod not being able to charge itself with the reimbursment of his Expences; because it judgeth it an unreasonable thing that Pastors should take long Journies upon none other Errand, than to present their Petitions unto the National Synods, which might as well, if not been better done, by inserting them into the Memoirs of the Deputies of those Provinces of which they be Members.

42. The Complaint of Stephen du Mas against Mr. Scoffier Pastor in the Church of Lunell, is dismissed over to the Consistory of Montpellier, which having heard both Parties, shall within one Month after the signification of this present Act by that Consistory, judge of the pretended Right of the said du Mas by Authority from this Assembly.

43. This Assembly ratifying the Decree of the National Synod of Castres, concerning Mr. Bicheteau. Pastor in the Church of Vrillac, and Prosessor of the Hebrew Tongue in the University of Montauban, judgeth concerning his Demands notified by his Letters, as also by his Son declaring them by word of Mouth, that they are not of their nature, which ought to be tendered unto the National Synods; yet in Consideration of his great Necessities and Losses, it was resolved that he should have a Token of this Assembly's Affection and Charity, which should be given him, whenas the Monies appertaining to the Churches came to be divided.

44. The Letters of Dr. Andrew Rivet, Pastor and Professor of Divinity in the famous University of Leyden, being read, a Decree past, That in the Answer which should be returned unto him, he should be entreated to continue his Care and Kindness to the Weal of our Churches. And whereas the laid Reverend Professor is upon the point of being settled in the House of his Excellency the Prince of Orange, and his Lordship the Lord Commissioner having remonstrated, that he could not be there established without his Majesty's Licence, the Lord of Champvernon his Brother is entreated to give him notice thereof.

45. The Reverend Pastors of Saintonge and the Lower Guyenne, who were appointed to examine the Works of Monsieur Blondell, having made an honorable Report of them, this Assembly commended the said Monsieur Blondell for his great Labor, Care and Exactness in so painful and important a Subject; and exhorts him continually to employ those excellent Gifts and Talents, which God hath so abundantly bestowed upon him, in clearing up the History of the five first Centuries: And whereas the last Synod of Castres had promised to bear the Charges of the Impression, this Synod doth now assure him, that he shall be fully satisfied in this Particular. And that the after-Writings of the said Mr. Blondell may be strictly perused and examined, the Provincial Synod of the Isle of France is commissionated to do it, and to give their Licence and Approbation, that so they may be printed.

46. Upon hearing the Report of those Commissioners who were appointed to audit the Receivers Accompts of the Monies collected by his Majesty's Permission, the 7th of February 1626, for relieving the Necessities of the Cities of Rochelle, Montauban and Castres, they declared, that they had seen and examined that of Monsieur d'Huysseau for the Provinces of the Isle of France, Normandy, Berry, Anjou, Poitou, Britain and Saintonge; and his Receipt amounted to the Sum of sixty nine thousand seven hundred and thirteen Livers, nineteen Sous, and six Deniers; and the Disbursment to sixty eight thousand six hundred and thirteen Livers, five Sous, and eight Deniers; so that there remains in the hands of the said Monsieur d' Huysseau, eleven hundred and forty Livers, thirteen Sous, and nine Deniers. The Assembly approving the said Audit, orders that Monsieur d' Huysseau do pay in the said Debt unto the Lord of Candall, who shall divide it between the Churches of Montauban, Castres, and Rochelle, proportionably to what they have already received, and may hereafter receive, according as it was regulated in the National Synod of Castres; in doing of which he shall be sufficiently acquitted and discharged of the Monies so received and disbursed by him; as he also is now thanked for his great Care, Pains and Diligence in his management and execution of the said Office of Receiver. And it was farther voted, that all his Acquittances sent unto the Churches, shall be restored to him, if possible it can be done; but if it cannot be, they are then declared Null and Void.

47. Report being made unto this Assembly, by those Reverend Divines who were commanded to peruse divers parts of that Treatise upon the Eucharist made by Mr. Faucheur; and how exceeding profitable this most Elaborate Work would be unto the Public, by reason of its deep and curious Learning, the most worthy Author received the Thanks of the Synod for his singular. Diligence and Zeal for God's Glory, and Affection to the edifying of God's Church: And Messieurs de Croy, and Gigord, Pastors of the Churches of Beziers and Montpellier, are ordered to revise it; that as soon as it hath past their Examination and Approbation, it may be immediately printed at the Costs of the Churches, according to the Intention of the National Synod of Castres.

48. Mr. Charron, Deputy from the Church of Bergerac, related the Causes which obstructed the restitution of their College: Whereupon this Synod voted a Continuance of that same Supply which had been formerly granted them for its Support by the last National Synod of Castres, and exhorted them to use their best and utmost Endeavors that it may be restored betwixt this and the next National Synod. And in case they can effect it sooner, the Provincial Synod of Lower Guyenne is ordered to acquaint the Lord of Candall with it, who shall pay in unto them the Monies granted by the Churches for the Maintenance of the said College, proportionably to what he shall receive from the Monies of his Majesty's Liberality. The Synod likewise ordaineth, that till the said College be restored, the four hundred Livers attributed to the Province of Lower Guyenne for its College, and applied by the last National Synod to that of Nerac, shall be paid out of the same Fund, according to the Intention of the said Synod.

49. The Synod of Burgundy is ordered to examine the Accompts of Mr. Gros, who was commissionated to receive the Collection granted by his Majesty for the Cities of Rochelle, Montauban and Castres; that so, upon the closing of them, they may send the residue of the Monies in his Hands unto the Lord of Candall; who, according to the Sum, shall divide it among those Churches, in the same manner as he did that of Monsieur d' Huysseau, and conformable to the Regulation made in the last Synod of Castres.

50. Mr. Du Bois, a Pastor discharged by the Province of Normandy, complaining, that contrary to the Decree of the National Synod of Castres, the said Province, instead of reckoning with him for his Portion assigned by the 24th National Synod held at Charenton in the Year 1623 unto him, had ordered that the free Portion granted him by that of Castres in the Year 1626, should be paid in unto him by the Receiver of the said Province. The Assembly having heard the Report of the Commissioners nominated by it to examine his Pretensions, doth condemn the said Province, for not having followed the Intentions of the said National Synod of Castres, and ordaineth, that out of the best and clearest Monies belonging to the said Province, there shall be detained the Sum of eight and fifty Livers, and fourteen Sous, in the hands of the Lord du Candall, who shall pay it unto the said Mr. Du Bois, he giving an Acquittance for it. And whereas he hath not touched a Denier of his free Portion given him by the National Synod of Castres, it shall be paid unto him, either by the Lord of Candall, or his Deputy in the Province of the Isle of France.

51. Whereas the first National Synod of Charenton in the Year 1623, had ordained four hundred Livers to be paid in to the Province of Higher Languedoc, now the Lord of Candall out of the first Monies that shall be distributed among the Churches, shall reimburse the said Province of that Sum.

CHAP. XX. APPEALS.

1. MR. Nonis, Pastor in the Church of Aulas, appearing to defend that Appeal brought by the said Church from the Judgment of the Province of Cévennes, which had ordered the Inhabitants of La Breauvaise to be incorporated for the future with the Church of Breas. After hearing the pretended Grievances of the Church of Aulas, and the Petition brought by the Deputy of the Inhabitants of La Breauvaise, confirmed by their Letters, and by the Letters of the Church of Breaus, and the Reasons given in by the Deputies of the Province for their Judgment, whereby it was manifest that the Differences between those two Churches of Aulas and Breas, are rather bottomed on the Passions of some particular Persons, than on any real Interest of either. And whereas by the Canon of the National Synod of Castres, the Province of Cévennes was sufficiently impower'd to pass a final Sentence in this Affair; this Assembly condemneth Monsieur Nouis for quitting the exercise of his Ministry in his Church, and taking upon him the Office of a Solicitor, which might have been better discharged by another; and enjoineth the Deputies of the Province of Cévennes to labor a Composition in the most amicable manner of the Differences between both thole Churches of Aulas and Breau; and in case they should not be able to compose them, then they shall acquaint the Synod of Lower Languedoc therewith; before which the Deputies of both those Churches shall appear, and receive their final Judgment. Moreover, the Synod of Cévennes is enjoined to see to it, that Mr. Berle, Pastor of the Church of Breau, and all other Ministers of the said Province do actually and personally reside with their Flocks. And forasmuch as the National Synod of Castres had given full Power unto Provincial Synods to judge finally in the Case of Conjunction and Separation of the Churches and their Annexes, this Assembly confirming that Canon, ordaineth, That in case any Difficulties should arise, and hinder the Provincial Synods from coming to a final Judgment, then those Causes shall be dismissed over to the Synod of the Neighbor Province; nor shall they be brought hereafter unto our National Synods.

2. This Assembly approving the Zeal of the Province of Burgundy, and the Motives inducing them to give Sentence on Monsieur Durand, Pastor of the Church of Issurtille, doth however take off that Censure of Suspension from him, and restoreth him with Honor unto the exercise of his Ministry; and ordereth, that the Act from which he appealeth, and that which follows it, shall be suppressed, because 'tis very clear the said Durand had no Design to execute the Sentence denounced against himself, but that he proceeded in that Business with all simplicity and uprightness; wherein he is exhorted to continue, and to walk with more prudence and circumspection, according to the Counsel of his Brethren.

3. This Assembly revising the Judgment given by the Province of Burgundy against Paul Sarazin, heretofore Pastor in the Church of Vison, declareth, That the said Province proceeded in that Matter with excessive Severity; and for the future enjoineth, that they never insert into the Causes of their Censures, Facts not verified; and that in no wise they depart from the wonted Forms. And farther, the said Sarazin is judged worthy of the greatest Censures, for abandoning his Church without leave first had and obtained; and for being negligent in conserving the Honor of his Vocation, whereunto he had been called by God, and amending the Sentence from which he doth appeal; this Synod removeth him, the said Sarazin, from his Ministry, which he shall not anymore exercise.

4. The Judgment past by the same Province against Joseph Aubery, formerly Pastor in the Church of Coulonges in the Colloquy of Gex, is confirmed in every Point and Article thereof.

5. Mr. Chacerat, Pastor of the Churches of Ponteau de Mar and Quillebeaf, having made his Complaints unto this Assembly, and praying that Right and Justice might be done him, the next Synod of Normandy was ordered to take special care of him, and with all love to provide for the Safety of his Person, and that his Life may be made comfortable to him. And the said Cacherat is exhorted to continue in the Exercise of his Calling, with that Zeal and Conscientiousness he hath ever manifested. Yet afterward he revolted.

6. The said Mr. Cacherat appealing from the Judgment of his Province, and declaring the Grievances pretended to have been sustained by him: The Assembly representing to him, that his Cause was not of their Nature, which should be brought before the National Synods, did exhort him to rest satisfied with the Testimonial given him unanimously by his Province, of his Probity and Fidelity in the discharge of his Ministry; and the rather, because these Persons, whom he accuseth to have done him Wrong, being dead, 'tis utterly impossible that his Province should procure him a more ample Satisfaction.

7. Although the Appeal brought by Monsieur Pejus from the Judgment of the Commissioners of the Province of Berry, be not of their Nature, which are to be brought unto these National Synod: Yet nevertheless this Synod taking to itself the cognizance thereof, doth confirm that Judgment given by the said Commissioners in all its Articles, and censureth the said Mr. Pejus for not acquiescing in it, and enjoineth him to yield full satisfaction to it, on pain of being suspended from the Ministry.

8. Mr. Vinieux, Pastor of the Church of Bazars, complaining, That the Decree of the National Synod of Castres relating to him, had not been executed. This Assembly ordained, that out of the first Monies belonging to the Province of Lower Guyenne, the Lord of Candall shall keep by him that very Sum promised unto the said Vinieux. And he farther praying to be freed from the Service of his Church and Province: He was ordered to apply himself unto his Province, who should take into their serious Consideration his necessitous Condition, and the great Importance of his Request and Appeal.

9. The Letters of Mr. Baux, appealing from the Judgment of the Province of Higher Languedoc, were read. Whereupon the Synod enjoineth the said Province to present him unto a Church that may comfortably maintain him, and the Church of Mazemet is also enjoined to give him full Satisfaction for all his Arrears, on default whereof they shall be deprived of the sacred Ministry, according to the Rigour of our Discipline.

10. In explaining that Canon of the National Synod of Tonneins, held in the Year 1614, and which is the seventh Observation on the foregoing Synod of Privas, whereby the Provinces were charged to defray the Expences of those Churches whose Pastors should be deputed unto General Assemblies both Ecclesiastical and Political: This Assembly declareth, That whatsoever. Charges particular Churches may be at, in procuring Ministers to serve them during their Pastors Absence, ought to be reimburst them, not by their Pastors out of their Sallaries, but by the Province which had deputed them, and this out of the Monies appertaining unto all the Churches of their Division; and therefore disannulleth the several Appeals of the Churches of Vignan, Sauve, Breau, Aulas, Castagnoles, St. Julian, and St. Privat to the contrary.

11. Whereas the Church of St. German hath refused to pay unto the Widow of their deceased Pastor Monsieur de la Faye, the Pension of the Year of her Widowhood, and appealed unto this Synod against her: this their Appeal is cast out, because we do not judge it equitable to invalidate the Canons made by the Provinces of both the Languedocs and Cévennes, for Payment unto the Widows of their late Pastors without Exception, the Pension of the said Year of their Widowhood, as also all Arrearages of Stipend owing unto their Pastors at their Death by the Churches in which they ministered.

12. The Appeals of the Churches of St. Julian and St. Andre, for the same reasons are declared null and void.

13. The Appeal brought by Monsieur Perrynet, on behalf of the Church of Die, appealing from the Judgment of the Synod of Dauphiné, by which Monsieur Aymin had been lent unto the said Church, was declared null.

14. Monsieur Belon appealing from the Judgment of the Province of Lower Guyenne, for confirming Mr. D'oze in the Ministry of the Church of Tournon, and not appearing to prosecute his Appeal, the Synod declared it null, and the Appealant worthy of Censure, for commencing such an unjust Action.

15. The Church of Sommieres not prosecuting their Appeal from the Judgment of their Province, the said Appeal was declared null, and the Judgment of the Province ratified, yet that Province is required not to let that important Church, nor any other of the same Nature to lie long vacant, but to see that it be speedily furnished with an able Pastor.

16. Whereas it evidently appears that the Church of Baisly is much indebted unto their Pastor Monsieur Bayeux, more through the Ingratitude of sundry private Persons than their Poverty and Inability: This Synod disannulling their Appeal, and condemning their Defect of Duty, injoineth them to give full Satisfaction unto the said Mr. Bajeux, and this without applying a Denier of those Moneys given by Monsieur Lasson, for the Maintenance of a Proposan to this Purpose, which shall not for the future be at all diverted from that Use unto which it was at first appointed; without very great Necessity, and the Consent of their Provincial Synod, unto whom the said Mr. Bayeux is recommended from us, that they would be pleased to procure him a competent and comfortable Supply unto his Necessities.

17. The Appeal brought by the Church of Orbec, separated by the Synod of Normandy from that of Mesnil Imbert, according to the Canon of the last National Synod of Castres, under that Article of Annexations, is remanded back unto the next Synod of the said Province, which, having heard the Reasons of the said Church, shall proceed to a final Judgment in the case.

18. Monsieur Morrice, Pastor of the Church of Fontaines and of Cressy, was heard, unfolding the Grievances, of which he complained in his Appeal, and the Deputies of Normandy in the Declaration of the Reasons of their Proceedings against him. Whereupon the Assembly ratified the Judgment of the said Province, and jointly commissionated the Sieurs de la Naux, da Buisson, de Beauvais, and Herault, together with four Elders from the Churches of Montgobert, Sees, Alenson, and the Consistory of Fontaines and Cressy, within one Month after the Return of the Deputies of the said Province unto their Churches, to take new Informations in this Affair, and after exact Inquiries made about it, to give a final Judgment on Monsieur Morrice for the Fact of which he stands accused.

19. The Memoirs and Acts of that Appeal sent by the Consistory of Montagnac being read, the Synod gave Judgment, that the said Appeal ought not to be admitted, and those who first moved for it were worthy of a severe Censure. And forasmuch as the Differences betwixt Monsieur Perery Pastor in the Church of Calignac, and the Consistory of Montagnac, are sprung from the Licentiousness of his Discourses, and his frequent absenting himself from his own home, he is expressly enjoined to be more moderate in his Discourses, and to settle his Abode in the midst of his Flock; and on Default hereof, the Province shall proceed against him according to the Discipline.

20. The Churches of Montdidier and Montagoux refusing Payment of threescore Livers, ordained by the Synod of Cévennes, unto Mr. Jubert, for Augmentation of his Wages, their Appeal was rejected, and the Judgment of their Province confirmed.

21. The Letters and Memoirs of Monsieur Chavanon, appealing from the Judgment of the Synod of Cévennes, and of Mr. Rouvre, and of the Commissioners who were sent by the said Synod unto the Church of L'edignan, having been read, and the Deputies of the Province being heard: This Assembly exhorts the said Province not to use its Power in lending Pastors of Churches within their Division, till they have first consulted with their Churches, and seriously to consider of their Importance; and it censureth the said Chavanon for those sharp and bitter Expressions couched by him in his Letters: and as for those Facts mentioned in the said Memoirs, the Cognizance and Judgment of them is reserved and dismissed over unto the next Provincial Synod, which having maturely and exactly examined and debated them, shall pass a befitting Censure upon the guilty and delinquent Persons.

22. Although the Appeal of the Church of Sumaine was judged unworthy of our Acceptance, yet the Province of Cévennes is exhorted to take into their Christian Consideration the Necessities of the said Church, and to establish such Officers in it, as are most capable of promoting its Edification, and not to suffer Churches of such great Importance to be left any long time destitute of Pastors, but that they be immediately supplied either from within or without the Province.

23. Monsieur de Fabas, Pastor of the Church of Morlans, declared his Grievances in his Appeal; and the Deputies of the Province of Béarn produced the Reasons inducing their Synod to pass Censure upon him. After that both Parties had promised Subjection to the Judgment of this Synod, Monsieur de Fabas was censured by this Assembly for his extraordinary and irregular Proceedings; and his Appeal being admitted, the Province of Béarn was exhorted tor the future never to remove any Pastors from their Churches, till they had first consulted their Churches, according to the Canons of our Discipline; and it ordaineth, that since the Sentence of the Provincial Synod was barely provisional, it shall stand and be in force till the Meeting of the next Synod, by which the said Monsieur de Fabas shall be restored unto his Church of Morlans, and Monsieur Rivas, who serveth it at present, shall be provided of another Church which may be more to his Conveniency and Comfort. And till the sitting of the said Provincial Synod, the said Monsieur de Fabas may live where he doth, and serve the Church of Nay; and in case the time of holding the said Synod should be prorogued beyond the term of one Year, beginning from the time of calling the said Synod, that then the said Monsieur de Fabas is declared to be restored unto the said Church of Morlans.

24. This Assembly Censured the Church of St. Hyppolit, for those tart and injurious Expressions used in their Letters against the Pastors of the Province of Cévennes; and disannulling their Appeal, doth confer Monsieur Buera