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

CHAP. XX. General Matters.

• Article 1.
  IT having been reported in this Assembly, that the Magistrates in divers Places have commanded the Professors of our Religion to hang their Houses, and light out Candles on that Festival that goes by the Name of the Holy Sacrament, and that several Persons through a deplorable Infirmity have so much forgotten themselves, as to observe an Ordinance which obliges their Consciences to yield unto the Creature that self-same Honor which is due unto the Creator: This Assembly wanting Words with which it may express its just Grief and Resentment for such an inexcusable Cowardliness, doth adjure the Consciences of those Persons, who have fallen into Sins so repugnant unto true Piety, by the Fear of the Living God, by the Zeal of his Glory, by the Bowels of his Mercy in the Son of his dearest Love, and by that special Care the Faithful ought to have of their Salvation, that they would revive their Zeal, and show themselves Loyal Followers of the Faith and Constancy of their Fathers, and testify by their Perseverance in Well-doing, the Sincerity and Soundness of their Repentance, and of their Affection to the Service of God. Moreover, the Consistory of those Places where such Scandals do fall out, is enjoined to rebuke them with an holy Vigour, who give such an evil Example; and all Synods are to proceed against them with all Ecclesiastical Censures; and if they be Pastors and Elders, who by their Connivance and Dissimulation have, or for the future may favor such Offenders, they shall not only be suspended, but deposed also from their Offices.

CHAP. XXI. An Act for a Public National Fast.

2. FOrasmuch as after a most desolating Drought, which hath reduced the greatest part of the Provinces of this Kingdom to an extreme Famine, the Hand of God lifted, up against us is not yet called back, but continueth to visit his People by contagious and mortal Diseases, which have overspread the whole Land, and are every day more and more growing upon us: This National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France, assembled by his Majesty's Permission at Charenton, (acknowledging that the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven, and poured but upon the Face of the Earth, because of the Ungodliness of Men, and of the Impenitency and Hardness of their Hearts) to prevent the dreadful Judgment of this great and righteous Judge, who resisteth the Proud, and giveth Grace unto the Humble; and to turn away the Floods of his Vengeance, and to excite the Bowels of his fatherly Compassions, and to impetrate from his Divine Bounty the continuance of his gracious Favors for the Prosperity and Repose both of Church and State; doth exhort all the Faithful to bring forth Fruits worthy of Repentance, and to cast off the unfruitful Works of Darkness, and to return unto the Lord with broken, humble and contrite Hearts. And to this purpose it ordaineth, That a Fart shall be celebrated in all the Churches of this Kingdom, the first Day of January next following, which shall be signified by the public reading of this present Act.

3. Forasmuch as divers Provinces have craved Advice how we shall proceed against those Persons who occasion scandalous Reports, prejudicial to the Peace of the Church, and may hereafter propound Terms of Accommodation, by mingling and blending of both Religions into one: This Assembly recommendeth unto all the Churches, the observation of that Canon which was made two and thirty Years ago, in the National Synod of Montpellier, whose Tenour followeth. Syn. Montpel. gen. mat. v. Forasmuch as 'tis the Duty of all the Faithful, heartily to desire the Reunion of all the Subjects of this Kingdom into the Unity of Paith, for the greater Glory of God, for the Salvation of millions Souls, and the singular Repose of the Common-wealth; yet because of our Sins, this being a Matter rather of our Desires than Hopes; and that under this Pretext, divers profane Persons do openly attempt to blend and mingle both Religions together: All Ministers shall admonish seriously their Flocks not in the least to hearken unto any such Notions, it being utterly impossible that the Temple of God should hold Communion with Idols; as also for that such Wretches design only by this Trick to debauch easy credulous Souls from the Belief and Profession of the Gospel. And whoever attempts such a Reconciliation, be it either by Word or Writing, shall be most severely censured.

CHAP. XXII. An Act in favor of the Lutheran Brethren.

4. THE Province of Burgundy demanding, Whether the Faithful of the Augustine Confession might be permitted to contract Marriages in our Churches, and to present Children in our Churches unto Baptism, without a precedaneous abjuration of those Opinions held by them, contrary to the Belief of our Churches? This Synod declareth, That inasmuch as the Churches of the Confession of Ausbourg do agree with the other Reformed Churches, in the principal and fundamental Points of the True Religion, and that there is neither Superstition nor Idolatry in their Worship, the Faithful of the said Confession, who with a Spirit of Love and Peaceableness do join themselves to the Communion of our Churches in this Kingdom, may be, without any abjuration at all made by them, admitted unto the Lord's Table with us; and as Sureties may present Children unto Baptism, they promising the Consistory, that they will never solicit them, either directly or indirectly, to transgress the Doctrine believed and professed in our Churches, but will be content to instruct and educate them in those Points and Articles which are in common between us and them, and wherein both the Lutherans and we are unanimously agreed.

5. If any Persons shall be hereafter deputed unto the Court by the National Synods, during their sitting, they shall be accountable for all Monies received by them for the defraying their Expenses, whether those Sums do arise from their respective Churches, or from his Majesty's Liberality; that so whatever good Monies come in clearly unto the Churches, being remitted into their common Stock, may be disbursed to their common Profit and Advantage by Order of these Synods.

6. Whereas, contrary to his Majesty's Royal Word given unto the Deputies of the National Synod of Charenton, in the Year 1623, That Strangers employed in the Service of the Churches of this Kingdom, should be continued: those Reverend and Learned Pastors, Mr. Martinius, and S. Sharpius are commanded to depart the Province of Dauphiné. The Lord Commissioner is entreated immediately to issue out Letters Patents, that may effectually hinder the execution of those new Orders, and that all Foreigners received into the Ministry among us, both before that time and since, may not in any wise be molested or obstructed, in performance of the Duties of their Charge and Calling.

7. The Lord Commissioner declaring, that it was his Majesty's Intention, that for the future our National Synods should beheld in this Place, and nowhere else; This Assembly in all humility submitting to his Majesty's good Pleasure, and hoping that he will be graciously pleased to permit our ancient established Order to take place, doth earnestly entreat the Lord Commissioner to present our most humble Petitions unto his Majesty, that he would be pleased to grant, that our next National Synod may be held at the end of three Years, in the Town of A • anson in the Province of Normandy.

8. Hereafter no Monies belonging unto the Churches shall be diverted to the printing of any Books, unless such as shall be written by express Order of our National Synods.

9. The Deputies unto this Synod having been on their Journey hither put unto extraordinary Expences, by reason of the Contagion which reigneth universally in all parts of the Kingdom; this Assembly exhorts all the Provinces to have respect unto it, and therefore have rated the Charges of every day's Travel, going and coming, at an hundred Sous, which is eight Shillings and eight Pence per diem.

10. The Province, of Burgundy having made report of the deplorable Necessities whereunto the Ministers and Pastors of Churches in the Colloquy of Gex are reduced, for want of the Monies granted heretofore by his Majesty's Bounty for their Maintenance, not one of their People contributing anything towards their Subsistence: This Assembly touched with a just Resentment of such base Ingratitude, doth injoin all the Churches of that Colloquy to return unto their Duty, and maintain their own Pastors, or else they shall be deprived of the Ministry of the Blessed Gospel of our Lord Jesus; and this according to the 34th Canon in the first Chapter of our Discipline.

11. Whenas the Lord's General-Deputies shall assist in Person in these National Synods, they shall take place above all the Deputies of the Provinces.

12. The Synod enjoineth all the Provinces to distribute, with their wonted Charity, those supernumerary Portions attributed to them, that they may redound unto the Benefit of the poorer Churches, and of the more necessitous Ministers.

13. The Consistory of the Church of Paris is ordered to administer the accustomed Oaths unto the Lord's General-Deputies, immediately upon their being accepted by his Majesty, and to keep by them a Copy of their Warrant.

14. The Lord Commissioner remonstrated, that through the Prerogatives of Precedency claimed in the Churches of Noblemen’s Houses, divers Quarrels had arisen, and several Murders had been committed: therefore his Majesty hath ordained, That in such Places where the Public Worship of God, according to our Religion, is exercised, the Proprietors of those Houses may not, under color of that Propriety, pretend to any Place of sitting than is otherwise due unto them, by reason of the Dignity of their Birth, or the Honor of their Offices; and forbids all Ministers to pray for them in Public by their particular Names or Qualities. Whereupon his Lordship the Commissioner being entreated, that after we had prayed for his Majesty, it might be lawful for us, in general terms, to pray for those Lord's, under whose Justice the Church of that Place was gathered: He replied, that he would in no wise hinder it.

15. The Deputies for the Province of Cévennes, may receive their part of the Monies granted us by his Majesty's great Liberality for the defraying of our necessary Expences in this Synod, without their having recourse unto the Lord of Candall 's Deputy for it, provided that they be accountable for that Sum so received unto their Province. And all the other Provincial Deputies may likewise do the same if they please.

16. After many and divers Delays and Shiftings, this Assembly being at last come to a Treaty with Sir John Palot, Counselor and Secretary to the King, about the Monies claimed by the Pastors of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom, from him the said Palot; for which a Suit was brought against him before his Majesty's most honorable Privy-Council, and divers preparatory Decrees had out against him: This Assembly hath commissionated and deputed the Lord's, Marquess of Clermont and Galland, General-Deputies of our Churches; the Lord of Candall Receiver-General of the Monies granted by his Majesty's great Bounty unto these Churches; the Lord's Banage and de Champvernon, Pastors; De Maschelieres, Dupuy, Gilbert and Beraud, Elders; and have given them full Power to treat with the said Sir J. Palot, about the Monies so claimed by our Pastors, on such Conditions and Clauses as they shall judge most advantageous unto our Pastors aforesaid, and to sign Contracts and Articles of Agreement before Public Notaries; this Assembly promising, that they will stand to, approve and ratify whatever shall be so determined by the said Lord's Commissioners.

17. This tenth day of October, in the presence of the said Lord's Commissioners before-named by this Assembly, to treat with the before-named Sieur Palot, upon the Suit commenc'd against him for Monies claimed by our Churches from him. After that the Contract passed by the said Lord's was read in the Assembly, it was agreed to, approved, and signed by the Moderator, Assessor, and Scribes thereof. And there having been a thousand Livers promised unto the Lord Malat by a separate Act, and with which he remained fully satisfied, he was duly discharged of those Powers formerly given him for prosecution of the said Palot; and lie shall deliver into the Hands of the Lord's General-Deputies, all the Papers, Decrees, and Memoirs in his custody concerning this Affair.

18. The Lord of Candall having received from the said Sir John Palot the Sum of eight thousand Livers, in pursuance of the Agreement made with him, the said Sum shall be paid out in that manner as hath been ordered by this Assembly: Nor may the Deputies of the Provinces lay any Claim or Pretence whatsoever of Right to the receiving of the said Monies.

19. This Assembly authorized the Consistory of the Church of Paris, to treat with the Lord Mallet, and to discharge him from all Prosecutions of the Sieur Palot, and to satisfy him for his past Travel and Pains, to the Sum of thousand Livers, which shall be paid him by the Lord of Candall; and this in full of all Demands, Debts, Dues, or Pretensions whatsoever, either for himself, or his late deceased Uncle the Lord Mallet, the said Mallet bringing in an Inventory unto the Lord's General-Deputies, and depositing it with them, of all Papers, Decrees, and Memoirs in his keeping, concerning this Affair.

CHAP. XXIII. Particular Matters.

• Article 1.
  MR. Laurence, heretofore Pastor in the Province of Béarn, presenting himself in this Assembly with an Attestation of his Life, Carriage and Conversation, for these two Years now last past, and most humbly and importunately petitioning to be restored unto the Holy Ministry. This Assembly did not judge his Request meet to be granted, but advised him to apply himself to some other Calling than the Ministry of the Gospel, and to use such means for a Livelihood, as the Providence of God may trace out and direct him to.
• Article 2.
  Forasmuch as Monsieur Eymard abusing the Leave granted him by his Church of Ueyne in Dauphiné, hath for several Months withdrawn himself into the Province of Lower Guyenne, and is there since employed in the Holy Ministry: This Assembly censuring the Church of Berbignieres for calling him unto their Service, and condemning the said Province for their too great Facility in admitting and supporting him, doth injoin the said Eymard to appear before the Synod of Dauphiné, which if the good Providence of God do permit, will be assembled the next Year; and he shall give an Account unto them of all his Actions and Deportments: and in case he refuse Obedience and Submission unto their Judgment, he shall be then, as he is now at this Instant, denounced suspended from the sacred Ministry.
• Article 3.
  Mr. Harvey, Deputy from the Church of Bourdeaux, presented himself to this Assembly with Letters and Memoirs from the said Church, petitioning that Monsieur Vignier might be conferred upon them for their Pastor, There was read also an Act of Opposition made against this Call, by several Heads of Families of the said Church, and divers Letters also of the said Mr. Vignier, and Letters from the Church of Nerac. There were heard also the Lord's of Aulous and of Massilieres, petitioning on behalf of the Church of Nerac, that the said Mr. Vignier might be bestowed on them for their Minister; and the Lord Berdolin also spake in behalf of the Province. Whereupon, the Assembly bestowed Monsieur Vignier upon the Church of Nerac to be their peculiar Pastor, and ordered the Church of Nerac to reimburse that of Bourdeaux of those just and reasonable Expences they had been at in their Endeavors for the getting of the said Mr. Vignier; and the Church of Bourdeaux hath leave given it to provide for itself either within or without the Province, according to the Forms prescribed by the Discipline; and in case the said Church should meet with any Pastor at Liberty, and one who may contribute beneficially to their Edification, the said Church is now impowered to treat with him.
• Article 4.
  The Church of Valance shall carry its Declaration unto the Synod of Lower Languedoc, which shall judge whether the said Church ought to be rejoined to that of Soyon and the Province of Vivaretz.
• Article 5.
  For the future the Church of Sr. Estienne in Forest, shall be reputed a Member of the Synod of Vivaretz.
• Article 6.
  Mr. Constantine, Pastor of the Church of Rochefoucauld, presented himself unto this Assembly, with Letters from his Mother, petitioning that he might be discharged the Service of the said Church, and drawn out of the Province of Saintonge; and a Letter also was read from the Consistory of the Church of Nismes unto the said Province, to the same purpose; and the Act of Dismission granted the said Constantine by the Church of Rochefoucauld. After hearing of the Deputies of Saintonge, and a mature Debate of all Arguments pro and con, this Assembly did consent that the said Mr. Constantine should be set at Liberty, but did exhort him to make Conscience of keeping to his Calling, and readily to embrace all Opportunities of serving the Church of God.
• Article 7.
  The Deputies of the Province of Béarn having moved that their Right unto divers Scholars, whom they at their own Charges had educated for the Ministry, and were now employed in the Pastoral Office in Churches of this Kingdom, might be conserved: This Assembly did assure them, that the Interest of the said Province should be equally regarded with that of the other Provinces, and that the Churches of this Kingdom should be always ready upon all Occasions to communicate unto them the sensible Effects of their Charity and Affection to their Preservation.

  The Commissioners nominated by the Synod to examine that Book made by Monsieur d'Aubus, intitled, Bellarmine Reformed, having made their Report of it, the Assembly considering that it would do good Service, and contribute greatly to the Edification of the Readers, approved the printing of its first Part, and exhorteth the said Monsieur d'Aubus to employ those excellent Gifts which God hath so abundantly poured out upon him, to the Advancement of his Kingdom; and promised that if God did enable the Churches with a Supply of Monies, they would be at the Charges of the first Impression.

  But this Act, as Monsieur Bollenat, one of the Deputies unto this Synod, relateth in his Copy of its Acts, was afterwards razed out; and that also by Order of the very Synod.

• Article 8.
  Because of the great Importance of the Church of Nismes, and its present urgent Necessities, and for that the Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc have yielded their Consent unto their Petition: This Assembly permits the Lord Cheyron, Elder of the said Church, to discover to it any Pastor by whose Ministry the said Church may be edified, that so it it be possible they may be provided of a third Pastor during the Session of this Synod; and in case he cannot find one, Leave is given unto the said Church to get itself a Pastor anywhere, either within or without the Province.
• Article 9.
  Because of the Inability of the Colloquy of Rovergue, and of the small Numbers of its Pastors, the Colloquy of Albigeois is ordered to take care that the Church of St. Affrique be supplied till the Meeting of the next Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc.
• Article 10.
  Leave is given by this Assembly to Mr. Bastide, a Minister, freed from his Service in the Church of St. Affrique, and Province of Higher Languedoc, to address himself unto any other Church or Province in this Kingdom, in which he may exercise his Ministry, and make his Abode, as may be best for his Advantage.
• Article 11.
  The Synod being informed of the Innocency of Monsieur de Monbreueil; and touched with a deep Sense of his many and great Sufferings, doth order the Lord's General Deputies to take a most especial Care of his Concern, and to solicit the expediting and ratifying of those Attestations given him by the Churches of Paris, Nantes and Rennes, who have had a perfect Knowledge of his Life and Deportments, that so he may be fully justified and discharged.
• Article 12.
  The Sieur Cottiere having presented a Summary of Books composed by him, and of one especially treating of the ancient Faith of the Churches in the three first Centuries: This Assembly being fully informed of those many excellent Gifts with which God had endowed him, and applauding his Zeal and great Affection for the Advancement of Christ's Kingdom, doth exhort him to continue the devoting of himself and Labors to the Defense of God's Truth, and to carry his Writing unto the Synod of Anjou, which is expressly ordered to peruse them, and having approved of them, to take care about their Impression, and the Churches shall defray the Charges thereof.
• Article 13.
  Mr. Perrier, formerly Receiever of the Monies given by his Majesty's Liberality unto the Churches in the Province of Vivaretz, making Report that the said Province was indebted to him the Sum of two thousand one hundred Livers paid by him beforehand unto the Churches for the Relief of their Pastors, as is manifest from the Finito of his Account rendered unto the Synod held at Mirabel in the Year 1625. This Assembly, to do him Justice upon his Complaint, decreed, That if he will be pleased to quit his Expences, Damages and Interest, for Forbearance claimed by him, and the Province of Vivaretz restoring him to his Office of Receiver, upon the same Conditions that were accorded unto the present Possessor of it, that then he shall pay himself the whole Principal in the two next ensuing Years; and as for the Arrearages due unto him, provided he do make them appear to be real Debts, and that he hath not been satisfied for them out of the Obligation given him by the said Province upon the Lands of Toulant and Baffre, they also shall be put upon Account in Order to his Satisfaction.
• Article 14.
  The Province of Higher Languedoc, and Monsieur Berauld one of its Deputies, were censured for violating the Canons, which had taken Care that the Pastors of particular Churches should be deputed unto Synods alternatively, and that none should be received into Provincial Synods without Letters of Commission, and that no Professors of Divinity should appear in Synods, although they were Pastors, without being sent thither by their Churches, or called by the Synods, whenas Matters relating to their Universities, or important Points of Doctrine, were handled and debated.
• Article 15.
  The Lord's General Deputies are ordered to assist the Churches of Béarn in their Petition presented unto his Majesty for the re-establishing of their College.
• Article 16.
  Mr. Robertson, Principal of the College of Rochefoucauld, reporting the considerable Sums he had advanced out of his own Pocket, towards the Maintenance of the said College: This Assembly ordained, That out of the Monies belonging to the Province of Saintonge, upon the Account of that College, the Lord of Candall shall keep in his own Hands so much as shall be found due unto the said Mr. Robertson, who was praised for his Angular Affection unto the public Weal of the Churches, and is entreated to continue his Affection, good Service, and Faithfulness therein as formerly.
• Article 17.
  This Assembly ratifying what was done by the Consistory of Montpellier, in the Cause of Monsieur Ginmoux, which had been turned over to them by the Synod of Castres, in the Year 1626, judgeth that the Complaints of the said Ginmoux were groundless; and this shall be signified to him by Letters.
• Article 18.
  The Deputies of Normandy and Saintonge petitioning, that some certain Sum of Monies taken out of the Churches Stock, might be employed towards the Redemption of many poor Protestants kept in hard Captivity by the Turks: This Assembly having no Power to grant them their Request, because of that small Stock which is at its Disposal, doth advise them to petition all the Churches in those and the Neighbor-Provinces, to contribute their Alms liberally for the Comfort and Deliverance of those poor afflicted Christians, whole Misery is extreme, and cries aloud for the Bowels of our Compassion.
• Article 19.
  The Lady Dutchess of Tremouille having by Letters recommended Mr. Jouars unto the Care of this Assembly, and demanded that the Call she had given him to be her Pastor, might be ratified by our Authority: A Vote passed, that the said Lady should be commended for her Piety, and exhorted by Letters more and more to continue her Zeal for the Glory of God, and the Advancement of his Kingdom.
• Article 20.
  Mr. Godfroy, the Civilian Professor of the Laws in the University of Geneva, having writ unto this Assembly, that he would compose a Body of Church-History, which would discover the Untruths in the five first Volumes of Cardinal Baronius, and this in Compliance with that Motion made him by the National Synod of Castres, in the Year 1626. A Vote passed, that the Thanks of this Assembly should be returned him by Letters, and that he should be entreated to bless the Churches with the Fruits of his Promises as soon as possible.
• Article 21.
  Report being made in this Assembly of the grievous Persecutions undergone by Monsieur de Surville, Pastor of the Church of Vigan; the Sum of three hundred Livers was immediately voted him for his present Subsistence, and to be paid in to him by the Lord of Candall out of the best and clearest Monies in his Hands, and out of the rest, which we hope to recover, another Sum of three hundred Livers more, and that one supernumerary Portion out of the Dividend for the Province of Cévennes, shall be offered to him free of all Taxes and Charges.
• Article 22.
  This Assembly considering the Expences that Mr. Chambauld hath been necessitated unto by means of the Accusation brought against Mr. Louis du Bois, Order was given unto the Province of Vivaretz, to inquire into the Truth of his Complaints, that in case they be made good and verified, the said Province shall betwixt this and the next National Synod, give him one free Portion more to be added unto those supernumerary ones already assigned to him.
• Article 23.
  The Lord of Candall having freely remitted the Sum of eight hundred Livers, which were his proper Right, and due unto him from the Sous in a Liver, out of the Sum of sixteen thousand Livers granted by his Majesty unto the Churches for defraying the Expences of this Assembly; and he having also quitted out of the Reprisals, which he might have taken in his Account, the Sum of fifteen hundred Livers: This Assembly did unanimously render his Lordship their most hearty Thanks for his generous and Christian Charities to our poor Churches: And there was voted out of the said Sum of fifteen hundred Livers, three hundred Livers to be given unto Monsieur de Tremblay, Pastor in the Church of Paulin; and three hundred Livers more were to be delivered unto Monsieur de la Fon, Pastor of the Church of Glenat and Calvinat, in Consideration of their pressing Wants; and fifty Livers to Daniel Chabord for his Assistance, who came on purpose to this Synod, to implore our Help towards the Redemption of his Son, who hath been ever since the last Troubles kept in Slavery aboard the Gallies: and the other eight hundred Livers remaining of the said fifteen hundred, shall be paid in to the Lord Ramboullet, Elder of the Church of Paris, to be employed by his Agent at Marseilles, for the Comfort and Deliverance of the Faithful, who for Religion, and a good Conscience Kept by them, have been there detained in Chains ever since the last Commotions.
• Article 24.
  Forasmuch as Mr. Duncan hath served in the Profession of the Greek Tongue in the University of Saumur, by Order of the Provincial Synod of Anjou, which had divided the said Profession betwixt him and Mr. Benoist, who did formerly enjoy it: This Assembly ordainineth, that one half of the Wages belonging unto, the Professors of the said Language, shall be paid him in Consideration of the Service actually performed by him.
• Article 25.
  Mr. Savoix, Pastor of the Church of Castres, having complained by Letters unto this Assembly, of his being interdicted the Ministry: and that Act of the Consistory of the Church of Castres being read, attesting, That he had preached none other Doctrine but what was agreeable to our Confession of Faith and Church-Discipline: This Assembly ordered the Lord's General Deputies to prosecute in his Majesty's most honorable Privy Council, for the disannulling of the Decree of Interdiction past against him in the Court of Castres, and to bestir themselves in this Affair with that Vigour as becomes them, it being a Case of great and general Importance to all the Churches.
• Article 26.
  Those free Portions which were granted the Churches of Auvergne by the 24th National Synod of Charenton, in the Year 1623, shall be detained in the hands of the Lord of Candall 's Deputy, and be distributed by him among all the Pastors, which have been sent by the Province of Cévennes, proportionably to the Service performed by them, of which they shall bring good and valid Attestations.
• Article 27.
  Out of the first Monies that shall be distributed to our Universities, the Lord of Candall shall pay in four hundred Livers unto Mr. Robertson, Principal of the College of Rochefoucauld, to reimburse him in part of his own Monies advanced by him towards the Maintenance of the said College, but with this Condition, that he do give them satisfaction, who have had reciprocal Promises from him.
• Article 28.
  The Synods of Lower Guyenne are most strictly charged to call unto an Account Mr. Bustanoby, for the Sum of three hundred Livers delivered unto his deceased Father, and to deduct from the said Sum the Charges of his Impression of the Catechism in the Biscayan Language, according to that Promise made by the said Mr. Bustanoby some time before his Death, unto the former National Synods.
• Article 29.
  Mr. Froger presenting Letters from the Church of Pammiers, and declaring the deplorable Condition whereunto that poor Church is now reduced: This Assembly did, in a more especial manner, recommend the Concerns of that afflicted Church of Christ, unto our Lord's the General-Deputies; and to help defray the Charges of the said Froger, there was ordered the Sum of one hundred Livers to be paid unto him immediately by the Lord of Candall.
• Article 30.
  The Portion of Monies accruing from the Composition made with Mr. Palot, and appertaining to the Province of, Cévennes, shall be deposited into the hand of Mr. Blachan, one of the Deputies of the said Province, who having paid himself what he had advanced beforehand for the Churches of Auvergne, shall be accountable for the Remainder unto the next Provincial Synod.

CHAP. XXIV. Of Universities and Colleges.

• Canon 1.
  THE ninth Article of general Laws for the Universities made in the 23d National Synod at Alez, shall be couched in these words; The Doctors and Professors of Divinity, having been first chosen by the extraordinary Council of the University, the said Election shall be brought unto the Provincial Synod to judge thereon; and in case it be approved by them, then Order shall be taken for the examination and reception of the Elect Professors, according to the third Canon in the second Chapter of our Church-Discipline.
• Canon 2.
  Forasmuch as hitherto our Professors of Philosophy, in the Universities of this kingdom, have not publicly taught Metaphysics, when they read their Course of Philosophy, although that be one of the most principal Sciences, and which demonstrateth the Principles of all the rest, and that it is now more needful than ever to restore it unto its true Luster and Purity, because it hath been for so long a time exceedingly corrupted by the evil Artifices of the Doctors in the Romish Church who have abused its Maxims to the depravation of Theology, and have blended with it their false Principles, which they endeavor to the utmost of their Power, daily to establish, to the great prejudice of Divine Truth: Wherefore this Synod enjoineth all Professors of Philosophy to teach, during their Course, together with the other parts of Philosophy, the said Science: And all University-Councils are ordered to exert their Authority, that the first Elements of Logic be taught in the first Classes, that so whenas Scholars depart the Colleges, they may be prepared for higher Learning: And that Professors of Philosophy do look to it, that they do not in the least invade the Profession of Theology, but do contain themselves within their own Bounds, without roving abroad in the handling of unprofitable Questions.
• Canon 3.
  And since the knowledge of the Greek Tongue is absolutely necessary for all Proposans, who aspire unto the Sacred Ministry, and for that the profession thereof is a singular Ornament unto Universities, we therefore wish it might be continually upheld in them: but because the present Wants of our Churches are very great, and our deep Poverty will not permit a Maintenance to be now allowed unto the Professors of that Language, this Synod leaving the Care thereof unto the next National Synod, that so the Instrustion of our Youth may not be retarded, doth order all University-Councils to have a careful Eye upon the Regents of the first and second Classes, that the Greek Tongue be taught diligently by them; and that our Scholars, when they are promoted unto the Public Lectures, may be of sufficient capacity to read and understand Authors in their Original Language, and be able to give a satisfactory account of them.
• Canon 4.
  This Assembly being not in the least able to approve the Actings of the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc, which instead of proceeding to examine Mr. Codur, according to the requisite Solemnities and Forms prescribed by our Church-Discipline, had satisfied themselves with a bare Confirmation of him in that conditional Settlement, which was done by the Colloquies of Nismes and Usez, who called him to exercise the Profession of Theology in the University of Nismes; doth injoin all the Provinces for the future to keep themselves to a precise observation of so necessary a Canon; and especially it injoineth the Province of Lower Languedoc punctually to perform what hath been omitted with respect to Monsieur Codur; as also to exert their Power, that his Successor in the Hebrew Tongue be duly examined, and all Formalities most accurately and exactly observed.
• Canon 5.
  After that the Opinions of all the Provinces had been taken upon that Article charged on them by the last National Synod of Castres, Whether it were expedient to lessen the number of our Universities at present? This Assembly unanimously resolved to maintain them all, as also those Colleges which are already established in every Province, because they be the Seed-plot and Nursery of the Church of God, and that without their subsistence, it will be utterly impossible to provide for the Instruction of our Youth, and the growing Wants of our destitute Flocks, through the death of their Aged and Learned Pastors.
• Canon 6.
  And whereas for divers Years last past, the Necessities of the State would not permit our Churches to enjoy, as formerly, the Effects of his Majesty's Bounty, and for that the Universities and Colleges in the Provinces have not received any regular Maintenance; and that through the withdrawing or diverting of Pensions and Assignations, and other Hinderances, they may hereafter fall into the like Inconveniencies, which may plunge them at last into a total Ruin. This Assembly, till such time as the Churches can reap the usual Fruits of his Majesty's Liberality, hath decreed, That the fifth Denier of all Alms received in all the Churches being set by, a certain Sum shall be extracted and employed towards the Maintenance of our Universities and Colleges, by way of Advance and Loan only, until the Monies granted us by his Majesty being received, Restitution be made of these borrowed Sums, to the Comfort and Benefit of the Poor.
• Canon 7.
  Every Provincial Synod shall to this purpose appoint a Consistory, which shall be charged to receive those extracted Sums, from the Fifth of all Alms in every Church, and to send them unto those Universities which shall be mentioned to them, according to the Dividend which shall be hereafter made, as well of the Universities as Colleges, and to take an Acquittance from the Council of those Universities; and by virtue thereof, to draw out of the Hands of the Lord du Candall, or his Agent, or Deputy, the Sums advanced by them, who shall make good payment out of the clearest Monies unto those particular Churches, according to the Rates which they had furnished, quarterly, and the first Quarter to begin the first of October in this present Year.

CHAP. XXV. An Act for an Assessment for the Universities.

8. ACcording to this Order the Provinces having been assessed their respective Quota's for the Universities and particular Colleges, it was thus resolved:

• 1. That the Province of Burgundy should contribute upon its Fifths, to the Sum of five hundred thirty one Livers, and eight Sous.
• 2. The Province of Berry, seven hundred forty three Livers, fifteen Sous.
• 3. Poitou, twelve hundred seventy and five Livers.
• 4. Higher Languedoc, nine hundred fifty six Livers, fifteen Sous.
• 5. Lower Languedoc, twelve hundred seventy and five Livers.
• 6. Normandy, two thousand one hundred twenty and five Livers.
• 7. The Isle of France, fifteen hundred ninety five Livers, and fifteen Sous.
• 8. Britain, five hundred Livers.
• 9. Lower Guyenne, twelve hundred seventy and five Livers.
• 10. Cévennes, six hundred fifty and seven Livers, ten Sous.
• 11. Anjou, eight hundred and fifty Livers.
• 12. Dauphiné, one thousand sixty two Livers, and ten Sous.
• 13. Saintonge, twelve hundred seventy and five Livers.
• 14. The Province of Provence giveth nothing, as shall be declared in the tenth Article.
• 15. The Province of Vivaretz giveth nothing also.

All which Sums amount to fourteen thousand one hundred twenty and two Livers, thirteen Sous.

9. And whereas the Province of the Isle of France hath not as yet erected its College, till such time as it can conveniently reestablish it: This Assembly conserving their full Right and Priviledg, doth exhort them to cast in, by way of Addition, unto the Stock of Monies destined for the Maintenance of our Universities, two hundred Livers, which they be charged to levy upon the Churches of their Division, for the upholding of their College; and to continue unto the Province of Berry, the grant of two hundred Livers, to help maintain more easily the College of Chastillon upon the Loir; but with this Condition, that the Province of Berry doth bring in yearly Evidence, how they have employed the laid two hundred Livers; and also whether they have disbursed their own Monies, as they were bound, towards the maintenance of their College.

10. As for the Provinces of Provence and Vivaretz, Report being made of the Desolations befallen them through their being made the Seat of War; and both of them having declared, that by reason of their Poverty they could not maintain their Colleges at present, nor contribute anything to the Subsistence of our Universities, as the other Provinces did in the 8th Article but now mentioned; this Assembly doth for this time bear with their Failure, and in the mean while doth enjoin them to levy, as the other Provinces do, the fifth Denier of their Alms to be employed towards the maintenance of their Scholars destined for the Ministry, according to the import and meaning of the third Article in the second Chapter of our Church-Discipline: and they be charged to bring in a clear and evident proof of their Obedience in this Particular unto the next National Synod.

11. The Synod also having been informed of the Prejudice done unto the College of Montauban, by retrenching the Sum of six hundred Livers, which was wont to be imposed on the County of Querey: To prevent the utter Dissipation of the said College, a Decree was made, That out of the fifth Denier in the Province of Higher Languedoc, there should be assigned to it four hundred Livers every Year until the next National Synod, upon condition that they be accountable for the said Sum, as had been before ordained.

CHAP. XXVI. A Dividend of Monies borrowed on the fifth Denier of all the Alms of our Churches, for the maintenance of our four Universities at Montauban, Saumur, Nismes and Die.

1. TO the University of Montauban for two Professors in Divinity, one in Hebrew, two in Philosophy, and for the College, three thousand Livers: Whereof the Province of Higher Languedoc shall furnish nine hundred fifty and six Livers; and Normandy a thousand one hundred Livers; and the Isle of France six hundred twenty and five Livers; and Saintonge three hundred and nineteen Livers.

2. To the University of Saumur for two Professors in Theology, one in Hebrew, and two in Philosophy, two thousand six hundred Livers: More for the Principal of the College one hundred Livers, for the first Regent four hundred Livers, for the second three hundred Livers, for the third two hundred and fifty, for the fourth two hundred, and for him that governs the fifth and sixth Classis two hundred and ten Livers, for the Door-keeper and Beadle sixty. The total Sum is four thousand one hundred and twenty Livers; of which the Province of Normandy shall furnish six hundred five and twenty Livers, the Isle of France seven hundred sixty eight Livers, and fifteen Sous; Saintonge fire hundred fifty and six Livers, Poitou eight hundred seventy and five Livers, Berry three hundred forty and three Livers, seventeen Sous; Anjou eight hundred and fifty Livers, Britain one hundred and six Livers, five Sous.

3. To the University of Nismes for two Professors in Theology, and one in Hebrew, eighteen hundred Livers; whereof the Lower Languedoc shall furnish eight hundred seventy and five Livers, the Lower Guyenne eight hundred seventy and five Livers, and Cévennes fifty; In all, 1800 l.

4. To the University of Die nine hundred eighty one Livers, five Sous; of which Dauphiné shall furnish six hundred sixty two Livers, and ten Sous; Burgundy one hundred thirty and one Livers, seventeen Sous; Cévennes one hundred eighty seven Livers, ten Sous.

5. And lest our Universities should fall into an utter Desolation, through the Provinces neglect of the before-ordained Contribution, their Deputies now being in this present Synod, are expressly charged to see this very Canon punctually executed, and all Provincial Synods to censure the delinquent Consistories, and to quicken every particular Church within their Division, to a revival of their ancient Zeal, and to an augmentation of their Alms, which are to be employed to so sacred and necessary a Business.

6. This Assembly being informed how carefully the University-Council of Saumur have performed their Duty in maintaining the Profession of Divinity in their University, especially since the last National Synod held at Castres, applaudeth the Zeal of their Professors, which being entrusted with so holy and laborious a Calling, do discharge it with singular Fidedelity and Diligence, in which they shall be confirmed, after they have undergone their Examen, according to the Canons of our Church-Discipline.

7. The Council of the University of Saumur remonstrating their great want of another Professor in Divinity, and that they had pitched upon Mr. Blondel, a Man endowed with Gifts every way fit for such an important Charge: but the said Mr. Blondel excusing himself upon many and divers accounts from accepting of it, and principally for that he hath been requested to write the History of the Church for the first five hundred Years: The Provincial Deputies of the Isle of France being heard, and Letters from the Earl of Roussi, and the Church gathered in his House, having been perused, who did all unanimously petition that the said Mr. Blondel might be continued to them, because of the great Success of his Ministry, and their Edification by it: Hereupon the Assembly declared, That for sundry and weighty Reasons the said Mr. Blondel could not be granted unto that University, altho he might be very beneficial to it; and that therefore the Council of the said University must seek after some other Person, from whose Labors they might reap the Advantages desired by them for their University.

8. The Assembly yielding to the Importunities of the University of Saumur, doth from this instant accord, that Monsieur de la Place, Pastor of the Church of Nantes, notwithstanding all his Excuses and Arguments urged by him to the contrary, shall take upon him the Professorship of Divinity, after that he hath undergone the Examination prescribed by our Canons. And the Lord Commissioner is entreated to procure leave for the Province of Britain to meet in a Synod within six Months, that so the University of Saumur may present their Request as soon as possible unto the said Synod, which is ordered to give their Consent, and to provide the Church of Nantes of another Pastor, who may as successfully serve and edify it as the said Mr. de la Place hath done. And the Province of Anjou is seriously to consider the Necessities of that Church; that in case, through the Advice of the Synod of Britain, it should seek for a Pastor from among them, they may obtain full Satisfaction and Consolation. And in case the said Synod of Britain cannot be held within the space of six Months, yet the said Mr. de la Place shall remove by virtue of this Act unto the said University.

CHAP. XXIX. Accompts brought in by the Provinces about the Maintenance and Subsistence of their Colleges and Universities.

9. THE Province of Anjou tendering in two Accompts, one brought unto the Synod of Saumur, in the Year 1629, and the other unto the Synod held at Loudun, in the Year 1631, for the Years 1625, 1626, 1627, 1628, 1629, 1630, and 1631 until the last September, they were allowed and approved.

10. The Province of Lower Languedoc brought in no Account for their University of Nismes, nor for the College of Beziers, because they had received nothing neither for the one nor other, since the last National Synod of Castres, held towards the End of the Year 1626.

11. Nor hath the Province of Higher Languedoc brought in any Account for their University of Moutauban, nor for the College of Castres, they not having received one Farthing since the sitting of the last Synod.

12. There were five Accompts exhibited by the Province of Dauphiné, of their Receipt and Disbursment for the University of Die, beginning in July 1626, and ending the 1sf of July 1630, all which were allowed and approved.

13. The Province of Berry brought in three Accompts for the College of Chastillon upon Loir, two whereof were tendered to the Synod held at Chastillon, the first on the 22d of February, 1629; the other the 22d of March next immediately following; the third and last was to though Consistory of Gien, authorized to examine it by the Synod held at Mer the 18th of June, 1631, for the Year 1628, 1629, 1630, and 1631; and the said Accompts were allowed and approved.

14. The Province of Saintonge brought in the Account of the College of Rochefoucauld, rendered by them the Year 1630, on the 11th of June, unto the Synod held in the same Place, and the said Account was allowed and approved.

15. The Province of Britain exhibited also an Account of the College of Vitre, the 21st of June, 1628, concluded and determined by two Elders of the Consistory of that Church, which was allowed and approved.

16. The rest of the Provinces brought in no Accompts about the Maintenance of their Colleges, they not having received anything for them since the 25th National Synod held at Castres in the Months of September, October and November, 1626.

CHAP. XXX. The Accompts of the Lord of Candall, Receiver General of the Monies given by his Majesty's Liberality unto the Reformed Churches of France.

1. THE Assembly having taken notice of those great and notable Sums brought in by Reprizal in the Account of the Lord of Candall, ordained, That the Lord's General Deputies of our Churches unto his Majesty shall be charged most humbly to petition his Majesty, that he would vouchsafe some better Assignations in lieu of those Sums so reprized by the Lord of Candall, and particularly for those Assignations given for the Year 1627. And whereas in the Reprizals of the foregoing Years, there be divers Offices took as Payments of some of those aforesaid Assignations, which it's needful they should be sold at any Rate or Price whatsoever; that out of the Monies arising from their Sale, there may be some Relief afforded to our poor Pastors: This Assembly commissionated the Sieur Mestrezat, Pastor of the Church of Paris, the Sieurs Marbaud and Rambouillet, Elders of the said Church, together with the said Lord's General Deputies, conjointly with the Lord of Candall, to treat, compound and agree about the Sale of the said Offices, either in whole or in part, to one or more Persons, at such a Price and on such Conditions as they should judge most advantageous for the Churches. Moreover, in case they should meet with any one or more, who would deal with them for all those Sums, or any part of them which are employed in Reprizal by the said Lord of Candall, this Assembly doth impower and authorize the said Sieurs Mestrezat, Marbaud, and Rambouillet, together with the Lord's General Deputies and the Lord of Candall, to compound and agree with them for such a Sum or Sums of Money, as they shall judge most conducing to the Benefit and Profit of our Churches.

2. The Sieurs L'amy and de Croy, Pastors, together with the Lord's de Balterne, and Large Baston, Gilbert, Mazilieres, and Cheyron, Elders, having been deputed and commissionated by this Synod to audit the Accompts of the Lord du Candall, they made Report, That in their examining and Perusal of them, they found the said Lord of Candall to charge himself with the Receipt of four hundred forty one thousand, three hundred forty one Livers, and with the Disbursment of four hundred thirty four thousand, two hundred fifty nine Livers, for the Years 1625, 1626, and 1627. And therefore the said Accomptant is indebted the Sum of seven thousand fourscore and one Livers, six Sous, and six Deniers, which will be distributed by and according to the Order of the present Synod. Upon which there is this remarkable, That the said Accomptant oweth an Acquittance of Mr. Grass and Mouschamp, of eight hundred fifty and one Livers, sixteen Sous, and three Deniers, which he shall be obliged to produce, and that under the Article of Monies accounted for, but not received, he must give a Receipt in his next Account, which he shall make of the parts of seventy seven thousand, seven hundred forty three Livers, twelve Sous, and six Deniers, of one part, and of four thousand three hundred Livers of another, for the Offices of Commissioners, Receivers of the real Possessions, or of the Products of the Sale of those Offices.

3. And as for that part of two hundred twenty one thousand three hundred forty and one Livers, out of the Assignations given for the Year sixteen hundred twenty and seven, the said Accomptant is discharged from giving anymore Receipt in those Accompts he shall bring in for the future, unless his Majesty shall be graciously pleased, in Answer to our most humble Petitions presented to him by the Lord's General Deputies, to make the said Sum of two hundred twenty and one thousand, three hundred forty and one Livers, contained in the Tallies of the Exchequer, to be of good Value, and to re-assign them else-where; and then these Tallies which are now in the Hands of the said Lord of Candall, the present Accomptant, shall be produced, yielded up and resigned by him unto such Person or Persons as he shall be appointed so to do by this present Synod, or by any other that shall be held hereafter.

4. The said Lord of Candall tendered an Account of the Parts employed by him in Reprizal, in the Accompts rendered by Mr. Cooper his Deputy, unto the National Synod of Castres, held in the Year 1626, the Receipt of which Account amounts unto three hundred and one thousand, three hundred and fifty Livers, two Sous, and eight Deniers, and the Disbursment unto two hundred fourscore and eight thousand, four hundred twenty and three Livers, fifteen Sous, four Deniers: so that the said Accomptant oweth the Sum of twelve thousand nine hundred twenty and six Livers, seven Sous, and four Deniers; which Sum he will distribute according to the Order of the Synod.

5. Upon which it must be observed, that for part of the aforesaid Disbursment the said Accomptant oweth one Acquittance of Mr. Gras and Mouschamp of two hundred forty two Livers, sixteen Sous, which he shall be bound to bring forth, and that from the Contents in the Reprizals of the present Account, he is to make Receipt in his next Account of part of thirteen thousand two hundred forty seven Livers, sixteen Sous, and nine Deniers, which was employed under the Name of Monsieur Morineau, Receiver General of Bourdeaux; and of eleven thousand seven hundred Livers of Mr. Aubert, who was Security in bailing of Rene Brunet; and of twenty four thousand two hundred fifty and nine Livers, and twelve Sous, for the Offices in La Beausse, because the said Accomptant is charged to use all possible Diligence in recovering of those parts aforesaid.

6. And as for those going under the Name of Farmers of the Convoy and Constableship of Bourdeaux, and of Mr. Claudius de Ragois, Receiver General of Limoges, of de Bascles, Farmer of the Bargains of Anjon, of de Malbranche, Treasurer of the Farms, and Loriol, Receiver General of the Exchequer of Languedoc, amounting in the whole unto the Sum of two hundred and seventeen thousand, two hundred fourscore and seven Livers, seven Sous, seven Deniers, the said Accomptant is discharged from making anymore Receipt in his Accompts, which he shall render for the future, unless through some extraordinary Occasion he should receive anything, but he shall remain charged with the Tallies of the Exchequer, and the Certificates of the Receivers and Farmers who are Debtors of the said Sum of two hundred and seventeen thousand, two hundred fourscore and seven Livers, seven Sous, and seven Deniers, to tender, yield up and deliver him to such Persons, and in such manner as he shall be appointed either by this present Synod, or by any other which may be held hereafter.

The Sum should be 16000 l. but the negligence of the Copyists of these Acts hath been inexcusable: None of them agree, in several which I have perused and compared, in their particular Sums set down by them; so that I beg the Reader's pardon for these Mistakes, which are none of mine, nor can I tell how to rectify.

CHAP. XXXII. A Blank Dividend. A Dividend made among the Churches, of the Sum of — granted by the King unto the Reformed Churches of France, for the support of them, of their Universities and Colleges; and this for the Year now current l631, and for the ensuing Years, until the sitting of the next National Synod: According to which Dividend the Lord of Candall shall make payment of the said Sum, as it was agreed betwixt him and the National Synod of Gap, in the Year 1603.

• Article 1.
  OUT of the three first Quarters of which Sum of — for the said Year 1631, which amounts to the Sum of — there must be distributed these Sums following.
• Article 2.
  To the Universities, as was before ordained, the Sum of nine thousand nine hundred and eleven Livers for one whole Year.

  To the University of Montauban three thousand; to that of Saumur four thousand one hundred and twenty Livers; to that of Nismes, eighteen hundred Livers; to the Universities of Die, nine hundred eighty and one.

• Article 3.
  To the Colloquy of Gex, taking in the 3600 Livers ordered them by the King, and 100 Livers for the College 44000000
• Article 4.
  To the Inhabitants of Bergerac for their College, the Sum —
• Article 5.
  For Supply of the Lord's General-Deputies 33000000
• Article 6.
  To the Province of Burgundy, for forty one Portions, viz. nineteen Pastors in actual Service, five Churches to be provided, three Proposans, fourteen supernumerary Portions, four hundred for the College: in all, the Sum of —
• Article 7.
  To the Province of Provence, for twenty Portions, to wit, eleven Pastors in actual Service, five Churches to be provided for, two Proposans, and two Portions supernumerary, and 400 l. for the College: in all, the Sum of —
• Article 8.
  To the Province of Berry, for 41 Portions, viz. 26 Pastors in actual Service, two Pastors discharged, one Pastor to be provided for, five Churches to be supplied; four supernumerary Portions, whereof one shall be delivered free of all Taxes and Charges unto Monsieur Falquet, and 400 l. for the College: in all, the Sum of —
• Article 9.
  To the Province of Poitou, 63 Portions, to wit, 38 Pastors in actual Service, five Pastors destitute of Churches, eighteen Churches to be provided for, four Proposans, and 400 l. for the College: in all, the Sum of —
• Article 10.
  To the Province of Saintonge, 86 Portions, to wit, 56 Pastors in actual Service, one Pastor discharged, eighteen Churches to be provided for, five Proposans, sixteen supernumery Portions, and 400 l. for the College: in all, the Sum of —
• Article 11.
  To the Province of Britain, eighteen Portions, to wit, ten Pastors in actual Service, three Churches to be provided for, two Proposans, and three Portions supernumerary, and 400 l. for the College: in all, the Sum of —
• Article 12.
  To the Province of Lower Guyenne, 110 Portions, to wit, 69 Pastors in actual Service, one Pastor discharged, and one to be provided for, five Proposans, 28 Portions supernumerary, and 400 l. for the College: in all the Sum of —
• Article 13.
  To the Province of Vivaretz, 57 Portions, to wit, 18 Pastors in actual Service, three Proposans, fifteen Churches to be provided for, — Portions supernumerary, one of which shall be for Mr. Bois, and another for Mr. Chambaud, and 400 l. for the College: in all, the Sum of —
• Article 14.
  To the Province of Cévennes, 57 Portions, to wit, 56 Pastors in actual Service, one Pastor to be provided for, three Churches to be provided for, three Proposans, fifteen supernumerary Portions, five of which shall go free of all Charges unto the Churches of Auvergne, and another free to Monsieur de Surville, and 400 l. for the College: in all, the Sum of —
• Article 15.
  To the Province of Anjou, 36 Portions, to wit, twenty Pastors in actual Service, one Pastor discharged, 3 Churches to be provided for, three Proposans, and eight Portions supernumerray: in all, the Sum of —
• Article 16.
  To the Province of Dauphiné, 110 Portions, to wit, for 62 Pastors in actual Service, one Pastor discharged, another resugied, thirteen vacant Churches to be supplied, eight Proposans, 25 Portions supernumerary, and 400 l. for the College: in all, the Sum of —
• Article 17.
  To the Province of Lower Languedoc, 90 Portions, viz: 53 Pastors in actual Service, four Pastors discharged, seven vacant Churches to be supplied, three Proposans, 23 supernumerary Portions, and 400 l. for the College, in all the Sum of —
• Article 18.
  To the Province of Higher Languedoc, 132 Portions, viz. 60 Pastors in actual Service, five Pastors discharged, thirteen Churches to be provided for which arc vacant, six Proposans, 58 Portions supernumerary for ruinated Pastors and Churches in the late Troubles: in all, the Sum of —
• Article 19.
  To the Province of Normandy, 59 Portions, viz. 46 Pastors in actual Service, six Churches to be provided for, six Proposans, one Portion supernumerary, and 400 l. for the College, is in all the Sum of —
• Article 20.
  To the Province of the Isle of France, 62 Portions, viz. 41 Pastors in actual Service, two Pastors discharged, three Churches to be provided for, six Proposans, nine Portions supernumerary, whereof one for Mr. Richard, and 400 l. for the College: in all, the Sum of —
• Article 21.
  To Mr. Guillemin, for the Church of Labor, & a Scholar 210 00 00
  A Dividend if October-Quarter, for this present Year 1631, and for the Years ensuing, of the Monies granted by bis Majesty unto the ches.
  • Article 22:
    • 1. To the Province of Burgundy —
    • 2. To the Province of Provence —
    • 3. To the Province of Berry —
    • 4. To the Province of Poitou —
    • 5. To the Province of Saintonge —
    • 6. To the Province of Britain —
    • 7. To the Province of Lower Guyenne —
    • 8. To the Province of Vivaretz —
    • 9. To the Province of Cévennes —
    • 10. To the Province of Anjou —
    • 11. To the Province of Dauphiné —
    • 12. To that of Lower Languedoc —
    • 13. To that of Higher Languedoc —
    • 14. To that of Normandy —
    • 15. To the Province of the Isle of France —
• Article 23.
  The Committee which was ordered to close up the Accompts of the Colleges and Universities, having made their Report, and the Synod having took notice of them to whom anything was owing, gave in a List of their Names and Sum unto the Lord of Candall; which including several Sums ordered unto several particular Persons, amounted to the Sum of — Which said Sum he was ordered to make payment of out of the residue of the Money in his Accompts, according as he shall receive them, deducting for himself a Sous in the Liver, as it is more amply and particularly expressed in the fore-mentioned List of Names, and Account of Monies affixed to them.
• Article 24.
  The Provincial Deputies of Cévennes shall receive their part of the Monies granted by his Majesty for defraying the Charges of this Assembly, before it comes through the hands of the Lord of Candall 's Deputy, but with this Proviso, that they be accountable for it unto their own Province; and this may be done also by the other Deputies.
• Article 25.
  The Sum of eight thousand Livers paid in by Mr. Palot unto the Lord of Candall, shall be delivered out in that manner as this Assembly hath appointed, without any Diversion or Diminution of it, or Rights for receiving it by him or his Deputy.
• Article 26.
  This Assembly impowereth the Consistory of the Church of Paris to treat with Mr. Malat, and to discharge him from all further prosecuting of Mr. Palot, and to content him for his past labor, by paying him the Sum of one thousand Livers; which said Sum shall be paid him down by the Lord of Candall, in full of all Demands, either for himself or his deceased Uncle Mr. Malat; and the said Malat shall yield up into the Hands of the Lord's General-Deputies, an Inventory of all Papers, Decrees, and Memoirs relating to this Affair, and which are now lying by him.

CHAP. XXXIII. The Roll of Deposed and Apostate Ministers.

• Article 1.
  JOseph Aubury, formerly Pastor in the Church of Coulonges, in the Colloquy of Gex, a Fellow of low Stature, long Visage, his Eyes deep sunk into his Head, of fierce Look, great Nose, Chesnut-color'd Hair, his Legs and Feet crooked turned in, halting on both sides, deposed by the Province of Burgundy for Forgeries, Perjuries and other Scandals, aged about thirty eight Years.
• Article 2.
  Anthony Dumont, formerly an Augustinian Friar, but since Minister at St. Aignan and Myntre, in the Land of Mayn, deposed for divers Crimes by the Synod of Anjou, in the Year 1629, and is since turned Apostate; he is low of Stature, his Hair almost white, roving Eyes, high Eagle nos'd, short Neck, shrub shoulder'd, haggardly, froward, and unsociable in his Discourses.
• Article 3.
  Andrew Peloquin, formerly Pastor of the Churches of Houdan and Fontaines, in the County of Chartres, but now an Apostate; a short Fellow, Chesnut-color'd Hair, little Eyes, and sunk into his Head, flat Nose, and a great fat Tongue, about eight and thirty Years of Age.
• Article 4.
  — Tussan, formerly Minister at Manduel in the Colloquy of Nismes, about fifty Years old, a Fellow low of Stature, Chesnut-color'd Hair, deposed from the Ministry for his Contempt and total Desertion of it, and for abandoning himself to base and most unworthy Occupations.
• Article 5.
  Pompey de Romerville, formerly a Monk, but since Pastor in the Church or Gontault in the Colloquy of Agenois, but now an Apostate, a middle-siz'd Olive-color'd Fellow, disfigur'd with the small Pox, having a Pearl in one of his Eyes, his Hair and Beard exceeding black, he hath lost his Voice; after his Revolt he betook himself to sell Wine by Retail in a Tavern; but not thriving at that Trade, he is now at present the third Regent in the College of Bourdeaux.
• Article 6.
  Jacob Chaslier, formerly Pastor in the Church of Queivas, a Fellow not only infected with Arminianism, but with divers other monstrous Errors, which he hath endeavored to diffuse abroad clandestinely; and being upon the Point of Deposal from the sacred Ministry by the Colloquy of Ambrunois, he prevented the Sentence of the said Colloquy, by telling them, that he quitted both his Robe and Religion; he is short of Stature, but well compacted, Chesnut-color'd Hair, and staring up like Hogs Bristles, great Nose and Eye-brows, his Eyes deep sunk in, and looking down-ward, high Fore-head, large Shoulders, hasty in his Gate as if he were running, very rude in his Discourse.
• Article 7.
  David Bourgade, aged about fifty five Years, low of Stature, grayhair'd, great Eyes, a pur-blind squinting Fellow, great Nose, and somewhat high, very violent, covetous, voluptuous, and undisciplinable, formerly Pastor in the Church of Carlat in the Colloquy of Foix, but since an Apostate.
• Article 8.
  John Durant, alias D'avant, heretofore Minister of Araiqûson in Béarn, being accused of the Crimes of Adultery, he turned Apostate; a middle-siz'd Fellow, having a plain long bald Head, pale of Colour, a staggering trembling Voice, rotten Teeth, ready to laugh upon any occasion, looking downward, black Hair waxing gray, disorderly in his Carriage.
• Article 9.
  Francis Langelot, sometimes Minister of Audaulx in Béarn, but now an Apostate, low of Stature, flat and bald-headed, high Fore-head, great flat Nose, a little Beard, and that mixed, white Teeth, Voice and Hands trembling, roaving wandering Eyes, and high looked, great Neck, and hunch-backed on one side, precipitant in his going.
• Article 10.
  Theophilus Casamajor, Minister of St. Gladie in the aforesaid Province of Béarn; mean of Stature, little Head, few Teeth, hoarse Voice and effeminate, his Beard red and mingled, sad of Countenance, and ready on any occasion to laugh, he is now an Apostate.

CHAP. XXXIV. An Act for calling the next National Synod.

CHAP. XXXV. Remarks upon the Deputies.

1. MR. John Mestrezat, Moderator in this Synod, was born of an eminent Family in Geneva, which were originally seated at Verona, a great and ancient City in Italy, but forsaken by them for Religion. This famous Divine came young as a Traveler into France, about twenty two Years of Age, in the Quality of a Proposan or Student of Divinity, to visit the Protestant Universities; which having done, he came to Paris; and the Reformed Church there having heard him make a Proposition, immediately demanded him for their Minister, unto which he consented with this Proviso, that they would let him reside two Years at Saumur to complete his Studies. And that term being expired, he returned back to Paris, and served the Church of God there with a great deal of Pains and Fidelity forty two Years, and departed this Life in the Year 1657, being sixty six Years old. He had a Conference with a Jusuit of great Reputation, called Regourd, by express Order of the Court, and in its Presence, to the Confusion of the Jesuit, and the great Advantage and Honor of our Holy Reformed Religion: I have seen a piece of his concerning the Church: what other Works were published by him, I am sorry that I cannot inform my Reader of them.

2. Monsieur Michael le Faucheur was also born of godly Parents in the same City of Geneva, and received into the Holy Ministry in the Provincial Synod of Vivaretz, and presented by that grave Assembly to the Pastoral Office in the Church of Annonay, though he was then but eighteen Years of Age; and Annonay was a Church of no mean Consideration; but what he wanted in Years, he made up in Merit. In the Year 1612, he was removed to the Church of Montpellier, in which he served full twenty Years: He was one of the Scribes in the National Synod held the first time at Charenton, 1623. The Parliament of Toulouse having made a Decree, that no Foreigner should be a Minister, or preach within their Jurisdiction, in the Year 1632. he came to Paris, and solicited the Court for his Restoration: He had in that City a Brother very rich, and one who followed the Law. Whilst he resided here, the University of Lansanna in Switzerland, earnestly invited him to be Professor of Theology in it, but he very civilly declined that Motion, though he was a most accomplished Scholar and Divine. In the Year 1636, a Franciscan Friar, who was the great Favorite of Cardinal Richelieu, and of his Cabinet-Council, meeting him in an Apothecary's Shop in St. James 's Street, demanded his Name, and he telling him who he was, and the Reason for which he was driven away from Montpellier, he bespoke him; Monsieur Faucheur, do you tarry here, and preach at Charenton, and I will engage my Word for it, that the King shall never trouble you. He communicating this Relation to his Brother, his Brother communicated it unto the Elders of that Church, who discoursing with him, entreated him to preach the next Lord's Day in their Temple, which he did, to their and the Churches very great Satisfaction: And here he continued in their Service, preaching and dispensing the Word and Sacraments among them unto the Day of his Death.

3. Monsieur Amyraut, of him I shall speak in the Catalogue of the Churches and Ministers hung upon the File in the last National Synod, where my Reader will meet with a Multitude of Remarks upon the Pastors that were then actually employed in the Service of those-once flourishing Churches.

CHAP. I. The King's Writ presented by the Marquess of Clermont for calling the Synod. Mr. de St. Mars Commissioner. Deputies. Officers chosen.

• Article 1.
  THE Lord Marquess of Clermont General Deputy of the Reformed Churches of France, at the opening of the Synod presented his Majesty's Warrant, expressly given by him under his own Hand for the calling of it; the Tenour of which is as followeth.

• Article 2.
  There came unto the said Assembly, on behalf of the Provinces and Churches, these Pastors and Elders deputed by them, whose Names follow.
• Article 3.
  For the Province of Normandy, the Sieurs Benjamin Basnage Pastor of the Church of Ste Mere, and John Maximilian de l'Angle Pastor of the Church of Rouen; together with the Lord's John Richer Lord of Cerisy, Elder of the Church of Gaule; and Lawrence le Febure, Advocate in the Parliament of Normandy, and Elder in the Church of Rouen.
• Article 4.
  For the Province of Dauphiné, the Sieurs Paul Guyon Pastor of the Church of Dieu le fit, and Stephen Blanc Pastor and Professor in the Church of Die; together with the Sieurs James de Beaucastell Esq Lord of Auges, Elder in the Church of Courtezon, and Gaspard du Baeuf Advocate in the Parliament of Dauphiné, and Elder in the Church of Grenoble.
• Article 5.
  For the Province of Burgundy, the Sieurs Aymedee de Bons Pastor of the Church at Chaloons, and Heliodorus du Noyer Pastor of the Church at Bussy; together with the Sieurs John Roy Advocate in the Parliament of Burgundy, Elder in the Church of Arnay le Duc; and Charles Perreau Advocate in the said Parliament, Elder in the Church of Autun and Couches.
• Article 6.
  For the Province of Lower Languedoc, the Sieurs Samuel Petit Pastor and Professor in the Church of Nismes, and John Gigord Pastor of the Church of Montpellier; together with the Sieurs Francis de Fonfrede, Counselor to the King in the Presidial Court of Nismes, and Deacon of the said Church; and John Browns Lord of Roussares, Elder in the Church of St. Ambroise.
• Article 7.
  For the Province of Saintonge, the Sieurs Daniel Chesnel Pastor of the Church of Marans, and John Commarc Pastor of tie Church of Vertueil; together with the Lord's Rene de Saint Leger Esq Lord of Boiscond, Elder in the Church of Clan; and Mr. George Reveau, Counselor to the King, and his Advocate at Rochelle, Elder of the Church in that City.
• Article 8.
  For the Province of Provence, the Sieurs Paul Maurice Pastor of the Church of Aigueres, and John Monestier Elder in the Church of Lormarin.
• Article 9.
  For the Province of Cévennes, the Sieurs John Bony Pastor of the Church of St. John de Gardonengue, and John Surville Pastor of the Church at Vigan; together with the Sieurs Peter de Fons Lord of des Sabbatieres, Elder in the Church of Quissac; and Thomas Serre Esq Elder in the Church of Sauve.
• Article 10.
  For the Province of Higher Languedoc, the Sieurs Peter Charles Pastor of the Church of Montauban, and Matthew Tissier Pastor of the Church of Mauvoisin; together with the Sieur Sebastian de St. Fauste Elder in the Church of Mauvoisin, and the Sieur David Fournes Advocate and Elder in the Church of Montauban, who was absent, having fallen sick on the way.
• Article 11.
  For the Province of Anjou, the Sieurs Daniel Couppe Pastor of the Church of Loudun, and John Vigneux Pastor of the Church du Mans; together with the Sieurs George Rabbotteau Advocate in Parliament, and Elder in the Church of Pruille; and Peter de Ceriziers, Counselor of the King in the Borough of Loudun, and Elder of the Church in the same Town.
• Article 12.
  For the Province of the Isle of France, the Sieurs David Blondell Pastor of the Church of Roussy, and John Daille Pastor of the Church of Paris; together with the Sieurs Peter de L'aunay Lord of La Mote, and Peter Marbault Counselor and Secretary to the King, Elder in the Church of Paris.
• Article 13.
  For the Province of Britain, the Sieurs Daniel Sauve Pastor of the Church of Villevigne, and Giles Lovyer Esq Lord of la Grestiere, Elder of the same Church.
• Article 14.
  For the Province of Orleans; the Sieurs Jacob le Brun Pastor of the Church at Romorantin, and John Taby Pastor of the Church at la Charite; together with the Sieurs Claudius Bernard Bailiff of Chastillon upon the Loir, and Elder of the Church there; and Timothy Baignoux Elder in the Church of Mer.
• Article 15.
  For the Province of Poitou, the Sieurs Samuel le Blanc Pastor of the Church at St. Maixant, and Daniel Pain Pastor of the Church of Chastelheraut; together with the Sieurs Charles de Gourgeaud Esq Lord of Pannieure, Elder of the Church of Mougon, and Francis Mauclere Esq Lord of la Mezanchere, Elder in the Church of la Jandouiniere.
• Article 16.
  For the Province of Vivaretz, the Sieurs Alexander de Vinay Pastor of the Church of Annonay, and Simeon de Hosty Pastor of the Church in St. Fortunate; togethe • with the Sieurs Andrew Paget Elder of the Church of Couxnear Privas, and Anthony Regnet Doctor of the Laws, Advocate and Elder in the Church of Aubenas.
• Article 17.
  For the Province of Lower Guyenne, the Sieurs John d' Alba Pastor of the Church at Agen, and Daniel Ferrand Pastor of the Church of Bourdeaux; together with Daniel Descayrac Lieutenant in the Court of Justice at Pugeols, Elder of the Church in the same place; and James Charron Advocate in the Parliament of Bourdeaux, and Elder in the Church of Bergerac.
• Article 18.
  For the Province of Béarn, the Sieurs Simon Fuget Pastor of the Church of Carresse, and Peter Margendie Doctor of Physic, and Elder in the Church of Orthez.
• Article 19.
  After Invocation of the Name of God, the Reverend Mr. Benjamin Basnage was, by plurality of Votes, chosen Moderator, and Mr. Couppe Assessor, Mr. Blondel and Mr. Launay Scribes.

CHAP. II. The King's Commission to the Lord of St. Mars.

AS soon as the Officers of the Synod were chosen, his Majesty's Letters Patents were read, giving a Commission to Monsieur de St. Mars, Counselor in his Council of State, to represent his Person in it; the Form and Tenour of which was inserted into the Acts of this Synod.

CHAP. III. The Commissioner's Speech.

THE said Letters Patents being read, the Lord Commissioner acquainted the Synod with what his Majesty had given him in charge to them, in these very words.

CHAP. IV. How follow the Synod's Replies and Answers unto the King's Propositions.

Article 13.

THE Commissioner having finished his Discourse, which was patiently and attentively heard by the Synod: The Synod by the Mouth of its Moderator did praise and bless God, with their most hearty and humble Thanksgivings, for his infinite Goodness and Mercy in hearing the Prayers of his poor Servants, and inclining the King's Heart to grant us this Meeting, and to promise us the Continuance of his Favors; and Thanks also were returned unto his Majesty, for that according to his usual and wonted Kindness he hath vouchsafed us new Expressions of his paternal Affection in his Letters and Writ for our Assembly; and in choosing and sending, and honoring us with such a Person for his Commissioner, as is universally famed for his singular Integrity, Prudence and Piety. And the said Lord Commissioner was most humbly entreated to assure his Majesty, that as the Churches did never in Thought or Deed depart from that Obedience, Fidelity and Subjection, unto which by the Word of God they stood obliged, so for the future they will never aim at any other Mark than their Continuance in it, and daily give in new Evidences unto his Majesty, and our Lord's of his most honorable Privy-Council, of the Innocency of our Conversation.

15. And whereas divers Reports and Informations have been brought in against some Provincial Synods, and sundry particular Persons have been taxed for violating of his Majesty's Ordinances, his Majesty is most humbly entreated to consider that the Synod of Nismes is in no wise blame-worthy, for it never received any Letters from the Lord's of Béarn: and as for our Reverend Brother Monsieur Rousselet, who is a Native of New-Castle, a City belonging to that Canton, and subject to those Lord's, he was invited by their Letters to return unto his own Country, and to exercise his Ministry there, and to accept of the Professor's Place in Theology, then vacant in their University of Lausanna; yet did he of his own Accord, as soon as he had received those Letters of Call, produce and tender them unto his Majesty's Commissioner then present in that Synod of Nismes, and also unto several other Officers of his Majesty, who all unanimously declared, that he did not in the least Tittle or Punctilio decline from his Duty.

16. And although his Majesty's Subjects in this Kingdom may resolve what they please as to their own personal Forbearance of Communications and Correspondence with Foreigners; yet since they cannot tie up their Hands, who live abroad out of his Majesty's Dominions and Authority, from writing what they please, and sending it where they please into this Kingdom: Yet that it may appear to the whole World, that our Churches do not court, nor are ambitious of their Familiarity, we promise before God for the future, that whatsoever Letters are addressed unto the Colloquies and Synods of this Kingdom, from any foreign Prince, State, City or Churches, or ever they be opened, shall be first of all delivered into the Hands of his Majesty's Commissioners, that so by them, and from their own Mouths, his Majesty may be fully informed of their Contents, that so all and every individual Person professing the Reformed Religion, and in Communion with us here at home, may be discharged and acquitted from all imputation of Faction and Disobedience whatsoever.

17. Moreover, whereas by our Discipline, Colloquies and Provincial Synods are obliged to take care that particular Churches, destitute of Pastors, be provided for; and Causes of this nature are never transmitted to our National Synods, unless upon extraordinary Occasions, and by way of Appeal. And whereas particular Churches are sometimes necessitated to seek abroad out of their Provinces for a Supply of Pastors, whenas they cannot be furnished at home; yet are these their Researches regulated by the Canons of our Discipline: And therefore it was in Obedience and conformity to them, that the Synods of Dauphiné and Cévennes did bring their Demands for the Churches of Montlimart and Anduze unto that of Nismes, requesting that the Sieurs Cregut and Arnaud might be confer'd upon them for their Ministers. Wherefore his Majesty is most humbly petitioned to take it into his Royal Consideration, that they have not in the least swerved from, nor transgressed the Orders authoritatively imposed by his Edicts. In the mean time, forasmuch as the Churches cannot, without violating their own Discipline, and opening a large Gap unto infinite Disorders and Confusion, suffer that Colloquies and Provincial Synods should attempt to prescribe Laws unto one another; this Synod doth therefore forbid and interdict all such Assemblies the making of any General Orders, whether for Days of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, or for any other Consideration or Account whatsoever, excepting what shall be of concern and relating to their own District and Division.

18. Moreover, we do likewise acknowledge that that Reverence and Obedience, which is in all well-governed States the proper Duty of its Subjects, can never be too carefully recommended to the People; and on the other hand, that impious Licence of blaming the Public Government, and Supreme Authority, cannot be too severely reproved and decried: This Synod doth in join all Pastors in their Sermons and Exhortations to press it home upon the Consciences of their Auditories, and particular Flocks, that they do not in any manner of wise, directly nor indirectly, depart from that Obedience, Fidelity and Respect, which are inviolably due unto his Majesty, and to our Lord's his Ministers; but that they repose themselves firmly on his Royal Word, trusting always in his Majesty's Goodness, that he will hinder and prevent the Designs and Attempts of ill-minded Men, who would, contrary to the Tenour of his Edicts, persecute his poor Subjects, because they be of the Reformed Religion.

19. And to the intent that our Churches may never be impeached of contributing unto any Alterations and Changes, whereby the Public Peace should be broken: This Assembly recommends unto all Pastors an exacter Observation of our Ecclesiastical Discipline, and of the Style of God's holy Word, and of our Confession of Faith, than heretofore; and doth, according to our Canons in all these Articles, expressly interdict and forbid them the utterance of any bitter Words or Expressions (whenever they declare their Faith and Hope) against any Person or Opinion whatsoever: And it doth also most humbly supplicate his Majesty to interpose his Royal Authority, that those of the Romish Religion, who do licentiously depart from their Duty, may be reduced to the Obedience of his Edicts; and that his poor Subjects of the Reformed Religion may not for the future, as they have been upon all Occasions hitherto, be loaden with the most outrageous and atrocious Abuses and Reproaches. And we do farther recommend unto all our Churches, and their respective Members, the observation of our Discipline; and particularly, that no one do publish any Book till it have been first perused and examined, and approved by them who are commissionated thereunto; and that none take upon them to violate the Judicial Sentences of the Civil Magistrate concerning Divorces. And the Province of Cévennes hath and doth protest, that it had never any such Design or Purpose for so doing.

20. And whereas there is a Crime imputed unto our Churches about the Residence of their Pastors, and the Exercise of their Ministry, as if some of them had acted contrary to the tenth Article of January 1561, which yet is very false; for not one of them hath ever attempted to preach forcibly in any Place. Yea and secondly, that Edict of January was only provisional, made for that time, and hath been since abrogated by the subsequent Edicts, particularly by the one and fortieth Article of that Edict made in the Year 1570, and by that of Nants made in the Year 1598; and which by his then Majesty was declared to be a clear, plain, general and absolute Law, by which it was his Will and Pleasure that all his Subjects should be governed. And thirdly, The Pastors do not exercise the Duties of their Calling in any other Places besides those which are allowed them by the 78th, 79th, 80th, and 81st Articles of the Edict last mentioned. And fourthly, Our Lord's of the Council, and the Parliaments, and the several Commissioners for the Execution of that Edict, have from the beginning made out Orders where and in what Places the public Exercise of our Religion should be established and performed, and did always consider that the most part of those Places were but so many Quarters and Members of one and the same Church, served by one and the same Pastor. And fifthly, That the Pastors never preach out of those Quarters, unless in the case of Absence, or Sickness, or of some other lawful hindrance of their Brethren. And lastly, By the sixth Article of the Edict of Nants, explained by the first of the secret and particular Articles, it is granted that our Ministers may reside in any Places of the Kingdom indifferently. Wherefore we most humbly petition that his Majesty would maintain them in that Liberty granted them by his Edicts, and revoke all Orders and Decrees of his Privy-Council which are derogatory to them.

21. Moreover; forasmuch as our Pastors do not receive their Maintenance in a way of begging, nor from the Poors Box, nor from Legacies bequeathed to pious Uses, and destinated for the Relief of the Poor, but only from a voluntary Contribution of their Flocks, or by an Assessment made upon them according to the forty fourth Article of Particular Matters, conformably to those Agreements past between them and their Pastors at their first coming: And that according to the Discipline, the fifth Penny of all Alms is particularly assigned to the maintenance of our Professors, Regents, Scholars, and other such like Persons, whole Poverty renders them meet and proper Objects of those Charities, without ever diverting the Monies of this natu them but according to the Order of Provincial or National Synods: His Majesty is most humbly beseeched to keep up in our Churches the Observation of this ancient Order, established by the Discipline, and authorized by his Edicts, and whereof there was never any Complaint yet formed; and that he would be pleased to interdict his Officers the disannulling or changing of Agreements past and made between the Pastors and their Churches about their Salaries, when they first took upon them the Cure and Charge of their Souls.

22. And since what hath been done in the case of Mr. Petit, relateth to the Execution of this Order, and to the Canons of former National Synods, his Majesty is most humbly requested to approve thereof.

23. Finally; forasmuch as the Declaration made by the Synod of Nismes is, neither as to its Substance nor Terms in which it is framed and expressed, any other Matter than the first Article of the eleventh Chapter of our Discipline, bottomed upon our Confession of Faith, Catechism, and other Expositions of the Belief of our Churches; and for that the Arguments produced on behalf of the Opus operatum, and the Decision made by the Church of Rome, (which is directly opposite unto our Faith aforesaid) do formally condemn it; his Majesty, having by his Edicts allowed of it, is most humbly entreated to grant that his Subjects of the Reformed Religion may still enjoy, and be always secured in the full enjoyment of the Liberty of their Consciences, according to his Sacred and Royal Promises, that so they may all unanimously, with one and the same Heart, and the self-same Vows and Prayers, unanimously employ themselves in the Service of God, and of his Majesty.

CHAP. V. Deputies sent with a Letter unto the King.

24. THere were chosen, by Plurality of Voices in the Assembly, the Sieurs Ferrand, Gigord and Cerizy, to carry unto his Majesty the most humble Thanks and Petitions of the Churches, who were furnished with their Instructions and Letters unto his Majesty, and to our Lord's the Ministers of State.

26. The Provinces having entrusted their Deputies with divers Memoirs concerning the Violations of the Edict, to be tendered unto his Majesty; as they began to read them, the Lord Commissioner remonstrated, That it was his Majesty's Will and Pleasure, that in his Presence none other Matters, saying what related unto the Exercise of the Church-Discipline, should be debated; and that the Title of the said Cahier or Memoirs should be thus qualified, The Cahier and Memoirs of the Pretended Reformed Religion. Whereupon, the Assembly requested his Lordship to consider, that it was never in their Minds or Intentions to treat of Political Affairs, or any State-matters, but only to make a plain and naked Report and Presentment of our Complaints, none of which need to fall under Deliberation, all and every of them being most apparently and undeniably true, just, and expressly grounded on his Majesty's Edict. Besides, his Majesty never took it in any sort ill, that we should address unto him our most humble Remonstrances for repairing the Violations of his Edicts, nor that his Subjects, speaking according to their Consciences, should, contrary thereunto, style and qualify themselves of the pretended Reformed Religion.

27. The Lord Commissioner making report, that by his Instructions he was charged to acquaint the Synod, That in case they would agree with him about two Persons meet and fit to exercise the general Deputation for the Weal and Service of the Churches, his Majesty would approve of them, but if not, that then the Lord Marquess of Clermont should be continued in the Functions of the said Office, and another from out of the third Estate should be chosen and joined with him. The Assembly nominated out of every Province, one Deputy, to confer with the said Lord Commissioner about this Matter: and these Deputies accorded with his Lordship, that the said Lord Marquess of Clermont and the Lord Marbaut should be the Persons, whose Names should be immediately presented unto his Majesty, most humbly also requesting his Majesty to allow and approve of this their Election. And to this purpose there was this following Letter written unto the King.

CHAP. VI. A Copy of the second Letter written by the Synod unto th King, concerning the General Deputies.

AS soon as your Majesty's Intentions were notified unto us about our choice of General-Deputies to reside near your Majesty's Person at Court, we immediately and unanimously agreed with the Lord of St. Mars, your Majesty's Commissioner unto this Assembly, and have elected into that Office the Lord's Marquess of Clermont and Marbaud. And we most humbly beseech your Majesty to allow and accept of them, and to give your favorable Ear unto all our Supplications, which by their Mouth our urgent and extraordinary Necessities shall oblige us to tender to you. That Inclination which is natural unto your Majesty to ease and comfort your People, doth raise our Hopes, that you will vouchsafe to cast the Eyes of your Compassion upon the Miseries of a vast multitude of Souls, who are breathing, and will never breath anything else but a most profound Obedience, Subjection, and Service unto your Majesty; and that you will cause graciously to dart down upon our Churches, the Beams of your Royal Favor and Benificence, the Effects whereof they have comfortably resented: And which makes us the more ardent and zealous in our Prayers and Devotions to Almighty God, for the Preservation of your Majesty's Sacred Person, for the Glory of your Crown, and for the long Continuance of your Majesty's Reign. As being, Great Sir, of your Majesty,

CHAP. VII. Observations upon, and Confirmation of the Confession of Faith received in the Churches of this Kingdom.

THE Confession of Faith was read, word by word, one Article after another; approved and subscribed by all the Deputies of the Provinces, who did, as well for themselves, and in their own Names, as in the Names, and on behalf of their several and respective Synods that had commissionated and sent them, and given them express and particular Charge for so doing, protest, t hat they would live and die in the Profession of this Faith, that they would teach it unto their Churches, and put to their helping Hands, that it should be inviolably maintained and conserved.

CHAP. VIII. Observations on reading of our Church-Discipline.

• Article 1.
  THose Churches which have exhibited unto Scholars a Pension and Maintenance for their Studies, in order to fit and prepare them for the Sacred Ministry, shall have a Right and Preference above all others to use and employ them. And all the Churches are exhorted to be mutually helpful and assisting unto each other in Love.
• Article 2.
  Sinners publicly suspended from the Lord's Supper, shall make Public Acknowledgment of their Offences for which they had been censured. And the Church of Alanson is admonished to see this Canon put in execution.
• Article 3.
  The better practice, and stricter observation of the 12th Canon in the 8th Chapter, is recommended unto all the Provinces: and that of Britain in particular is advised not to omit it for the future. See this Article in the Book of Discipline.
• Article 4.
  This Assembly doth once again enjoin the Church of Nismes, to submit and conform themselves unto the 9th Canon, in the 12th Chapter of our Discipline, according to the Intention of former Synods. The Article is this; The Churches shall be informed, that it belongeth unto Ministers only to administer the Cup, and this for the avoiding many evil Consequences.
• Article 5.
  Without suffering any new Customs to be introduced at Funeral-Solemnities, and that the Parents of the Deceased may be comforted, the practice and observation of the 5th Canon in the 10th Chapter of our Discipline, is recommended to all the Churches: Moreover, in case any one of our Churches hath had, for a long time, any particular Form, which it hath used to its Edification, that Church may retain the observation of that their Order, even by the Allowance of this Assembly.
• Article 6.
  Forasmuch as the 12th Canon, in the 13th Chapter of our Discipline, seems to contradict the 16th Observation of the National Synod of Montpellier upon the Discipline; All the Provinces are exhorted to bring with them, unto the next National Synod, their several and respective Opinions, whether the said Article shall be razed, or receive any Change or Emendation.
• Article 7.
  Though all the Provinces do keep and observe most exactly the 16th Canon in the 14th Chapter of our Discipline; yet shall everyone of them carefully make use of such Expedients as they, in their own particular Judgments, do conceive to be most meet and proper for their better Observation, and the avoiding of all Inconveniences.
• Article 8.
  The Church-Discipline having been read, all and everyone of the Provincial Deputies did, both for themselves and their respective Synods, promise to observe it, and see that it be exactly observed by their Provinces.

CHAP. IX. Observations on reading the Acts of the former Synod, held for the second time at Charenton, in the Months of September and October, 1631.

• Article 1.
  THE Provinces bringing in their respective Judgments upon the Matters commended to their Deliberation by the last National Synod; This Assembly decreed, that nothing should be changed in the 19th and 20th Canons of the 5th Chapter of our Discipline.
• Article 2.
  The Colloquy of Montpellier, which was commissionated by the Synod of Charenton, in its Name, and with full Authority, to judge of the Charge brought in against the Sieur Bony, making Report of their Execution of the said Commission; and the Provincial Synod of Cévennes, whereof he is a Member, giving him a very honorable Testimonial; This Assembly ordaineth, that the Articles which concerned him shall be razed out of the Acts of the first and second National Synods of Charenton, and of that of Castres.

CHAP. X. A penitent Minister, after ten Years Penance, restored.

3. MR. George Arbaud, who was formerly deposed from the Sacred Ministry, by the National Synod of Castres, appearing now in Person, and humbly petitioning that he might be restored again unto it; and the Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc, testifying to his godly Life and Conversion for ten Years last past; This Assembly considering the Sincerity of his Repentance, confirmed by so long a trial, and condescending both to his Supplications, and the Attestations given him by his Province, and having very seriously exhorted him to be more strict and religious in his future Actions than formerly, and to grow in Grace and true Godliness, did grant him his Request, and left it to the Care of the Synod of Lower Languedoc, or of the Consistory of Nismes, to provide a Church for him.

4. Whereas the Sieurs Bony and Donadiu, deputed by the Synod of Cévennes to execute a Commission given them by the last National Synod; had born all the Charges thereof themselves; it was ordained, that the Province of Lower Languedoc should see them reimburs'd and satisfied.

5. All the Provinces are strictly charged to see, that the 14th Canon of the 14th Chapter of the Discipline, be very carefully practiced and observed, and that they bring in an Account of their Obedience to this Canon unto the next National Synod.

CHAP. XI. The Snappishness of the Commissioner, and the Prudence and Patience of the National Synod.

6. LEtters were read from Monsieur Privas, Pastor of the Church of Chastillon, detained Prisoner in the Jail of Agen, humbly petitioning this Synod to endeavor his Enlargement; and the Lord Commissioner demanding, Whether the Synod intended to make his Affair their own, and to interest themselves in it? The Assembly considering that the said Monsieur Privas was before his natural and proper Judges, declared, that, as his present Circumstances were, they could do nothing for him, except the recommending him to the good Providence of God, and exhorted him to wait and suffer patiently whatever should be decreed against him by the Court of Agen.

7. This Assembly remembering the Promise made by the last National Synod unto Monsieur Chamier, decreed, that it shall be performed as soon as God shall bless the Churches with Ability. So that Monsieur Chamier had never a Penny of Monies granted him for his Father's Works.

8. The Monies granted unto Monsieur Bellot and Constance, shall be faithfully paid them, as soon as the Churches may recover their Assignments granted them by his Majesty.

9. All the Provinces are ordered to get for themselves the Acts of all our National Synods, that so they may comfortably discharge the Duty laid upon them by the National Synod of Charenton.

10. The Church of Montpellier informing this Assembly, that the Design and Intendment of the National Synod of Castres was not satisfied; the Consistory of the Church of Nismes is ordered to exhort the Widow of Mr. Scoffier to accompt with them, how that Sum of Money hath been employed, which was given by the said National Synod for the Relief of Mrs. Blandina Scoffier her Sister, that in case the said Monies be yet in her Hands, they may be restored unto the Heirs of Mrs. Jacquelina Scoffier, by whom she was actually maintained.

11. The Judgment of the Synod of Anjou having been perused, to whom the last National Synod had turned over the Cognizance of that Difference risen between the Provinces of Saintonge and Poitou, about the Conjunction of the Church of Saveilles with that of Villefaignan; and several Letters, Memoirs, and Articles of Agreement between the said Churches since the said Judgment, having been read, and the Deputies of the two contending Provinces being heard, this Assembly disallowing the Proceedings of the Colloquy of Augoulmois, which had actually united the said Churches, in prejudice of the Judgment given to the contrary by the Province of Anjou, doth ordain, that the Churches of Chefboutonne and Saveilles, shall continue joined together as heretofore.

12. The National Synod of Charenton having charged the Province of Burgundy to shut up the Account with Monsieur Grass; which yet could not be performed, this Assembly commits the execution thereof to the Consistory of the Church of Lyon.

CHAP. XII. The Restoration of a penitent Minister deferred.

13. JOseph Obery, deposed by the last National Synod, and residing at present in the Canton of Béarn, wrote Letters unto this Assembly, petitioning for his Restoration unto the sacred Ministry; which before they were opened, were presented unto the Lord Commissioner, who having read them, declared that they contained nothing but Matters purely Ecclesiastical: And after they had been seen and perused by the whole Synod, and the Testimonial given him by the Consul of Aubonne in the County of Vaux, and that the Provincial Deputies of Burgundy had delivered in their Opinion concerning him; this Synod could not grant him his Request; yet nevertheless received with Joy the good News of his Repentance and Conversion unto the Lord, and he was exhorted to confirm himself more and more in it, and to continue in the Grace of God.

14. The Province of Lower Guyenne is enjoined to make use of their Authority upon Monsieur Perery, and to see that he do actually reside with his Flock; and in case he continue refractory and disobey their Order, that they do then immediately censure him according to the utmost Rigor and Severity of our Discipline.

15. The Practice of the 3d Article of General Matters in the last National Synod, is recommended unto all the Churches.

16. Complaints having Been brought against divers, Pastors Non-Residents in the Colloquy of Lower Quercy, unto the last National Synod, and those Complaints together with the Letters of those Ministers apologizing for themselves, having been dismissed to the Colloquy of Albigeois, and the Synod of Higher Languedoc to judge of their Case; now the Sentence passed upon them was revised in this present Synod; and this Assembly being willing to support and encourage them in their Ministry, did once more ordain the Colloquy of Albigeois to renew their Informations, and to examine afresh the pretended Inability of those Churches, and to urge and induce them by all kind of Arguments, and those the most forcible, to perform their Duties, and to bring in an Account hereof unto the next National Synod.

17. The Appeal of the Church of Nerac, which refused to defray the Charges the Church of Agen were at in the Removal of Monsieur Vignier, is dismissed over to the Judgment of the Province of Lower Guyenne; because it is not of the Nature of those Affairs which do depend upon National Synods.

18. That Judgment given by the Province of Dauphiné in the Cause of Monsieur Aymier, is ratified by this present Synod.

19. Forasmuch as the Province of Vivaretz hath given their Consent unto it, this Assembly permitteth for this time, that the Church of St. Estienne in Forest, be incorporated with the Province of Burgundy.

20. The Promise made by the last National Synod unto the Province of Béarn, about the Ministers born in it, and employed in divers Churches of this Kingdom, is again confirmed, and the said Province is exhorted to acquiesce and rest satisfied therewith.

21. Whereas the Adjunction of the Church of Valence unto that of Soyon, is indispensably needful for the Subsistence of this latter; the Synod injoineth the said Church to incorporate itself with it, as it hath done formerly; and this Act shall be notified unto them by the Deputies of Lower Languedoc, of Cévennes and Provence, as they return in their way homeward.

22. The Deputies of Vivaretz, remonstrated, that the Article concerning Monsieur Perrier 's Account was left out in that Copy of the last National Synod, which was brought down unto their Province, and that it were sit the said Account should be revised. This Assembly ordaineth, that the said Province do apply itself unto that of Dauphiné, which shall summon the said Perrier before them, and judge finally of the Merits of the said Remonstrance.

23. The Synod of Lower Guyenne shall cite Monsieur Bustanoby before them, that he may accompt with them about the Employment of the three hundred Livers delivered unto his deceased Father by the National Synod of Castres, and they shall make Report thereof unto the next National Synod.

CHAP. XIII. Béarn incorporated with the Churches of France.

28. THE Deputies of the Province of Béarn having declared, that their Synod doth accept the Union of the Churches of this Kingdom, under the Conditions granted them by the National Synod of Charenton, in their Observations upon the first Article of that of Castres, and that they do from this Instant submit themselves unto all our National Synods that shall be held hereafter; and they promise also, that they will allow of all Appeals brought by the Pastors, Elders and Churches of their Principality unto these our National Synods; and farther, that they consent for the future to exercise their Discipline in all Points; according to the Canons of the Discipline established in the Churches of this Kingdom, and enacted by our National Synods, over and besides what hath been determined and decided in the Provincial Synod of Béarn. Whereupon, the Assembly granted that their Appeals should be judged according to the Discipline framed for the Churches of Béarn, by the Command of their famous Princess Jane Queen of Navarre, and ratified by the Parliament of Pau, a Copy whereof, faithfully collationed with the Original, shall be deposited in the Hands of that Province, which shall be charged with the Convocation of the next National Synod, by the Provincial Deputies of Béarn, signed, subscribed and attested by their own Handwritings. And also it is farther granted them as their Priviledg, that whatever Pastors are now actually employed in the Ministry of the Churches of that Province, shall not be removed unto the Service of other Churches in this Kingdom, unless their aforesaid Churches do yield a plenary and explicit Consent thereunto.

29. Mr. Richard, formerly Pastor of the Church at Saponnay in the Province of the Isle of France, presented himself unto this Assembly, humbly petitioning that they would be pleased to give him some Employment in the said Province, according to the Discipline. The Assembly informed him, that the Honor of his Ministry had not been blemished by them, and therefore if he were not in actual Service as he desired, none could be blamed for it but himself, and his imprudent Management of his own Affairs; and forasmuch as there was not at present any vacant Church in that Province, he was advised to depart unto his native Country the Land of Vaux, there to pass the Remainder of his Days; and the Province whereunto he last belonged, is exhorted to continue to him their wonted Charities, and to help him with Monies to defray the Expences of his Journey homeward.

30. Without making any Reflections on the Prohibition of the Province of Vivaretz, this Assembly, doing Right upon the Complaint of Monsieur des Maretz, ordaineth, that the Decree of the last National Synod shall be executed according to the Form and Tenour thereof.

CHAP. XIV. Appeals and Complaints.

1. THE Complaints of the Sieur Genoyer against the Synod of Provence, and Monsieur Maurice his Brother, having been examined, and the said Maurice heard speak in his own Defense on each of the Articles brought against him: This Assembly judged that the said Genoyer ought not to have troubled them about such mean and slight Matters, and which also are not proved; and therefore from hence-forward interdicts him all such manner of Proceedings; and in the mean while exhorteth the Provincial Synods to read over the Acts of the National, that so whatever Matters have been decided in them, may not be concealed from the Churches.

2. This Assembly conserving the Honor of Monsieur Pascard, permits him to exercise the Duties of his Ministry, whenas ever he shall be requested thereunto by the Pastors and Consistories in the Province of Saintonge, and this according to the Discipline.

3. Although the Appeal of my Lady de Juigne is not of the Nature of those Matters which ought to be presented unto the National Synods, yet the Assembly taking Cognizance thereof, and weighing the Reasons urged by the said Lady, and the Motives oh which the Consistory of Pringey hath founded its Censure, confirmed by the Judgment of the Synod of Anjou, it decreeth, That the said Censure shall be taken off; and the said Lady is exhorted to give unto the Church of Pringey the generous Fruits of her Christian Charity and Bounty; and that she would as liberally contribute to the Subsistence of that Church, and of the Gospel there, according to that large and plentiful Estate with which God hath blessed her, as she hath done formerly, &c. to continue it for the future, although she may for her greater Conveniency join herself in Communion with any other Church nearer to her.

4. The Sieurs le Mousnier, de Caux, and de Bures, appealing on behalf of sundry private Persons, Members of the Church of Dieppe, the Appeal brought by them from the Judgment given by the Provincial Synod held at Caen, and the Provincial Deputies of Normandy, and the Acts of those particular Persons aforesaid, and of the afore-mentioned Synod, and of their Commissioners, and of the Consistory of Dieppe, together with the Letters of the said Synod to the Church of Dieppe, and of their Commissioners sent unto the said Church, to see their Sentence executed in it, having been all read: This Assembly passing by the Defects in the Deputation of Monsieur le Mousnier, and his Companions, which are contrary to the Forms usually required and received in all Appeals, and commending their Love and godly Zeal, doth confirm the Judgment of the Synod of Normandy, as being grounded upon Prudence and Charity; and forbiddeth the Church of Diep, and all other Churches of this Kingdom, to receive unto the Exercise of the Ministerial Office among them one called Deschamps, who by his fastious Pranks and Practices, yea, and since that the Synod of Caen had notified it by their judicial Decree, hath himself publicly demonstrated, that his Ministry can never edify nor profit that Church; and the Consistory of that Church is blamed for their Imprudence, for admitting him to preach among them, without ever demanding or perusing his Attestations from the Churches in which he formerly served, and from the Colloquies and Synods of which he was a Member, whereby they have suffered him very inconsiderately to insinuate himself into the Affections of the People, who demanded him to be their Pastor before they had any Knowledge of him. And farthermore, the Consistory of that Church is forbidden hence forward, all Deliberations about either the Reception of any new, or Exclusion of any old Pastor, without having first consulted the Heads of Families belonging to their Church: and according to the Canons of our Discipline, it condemneth the Proceedings of the said Consistory, who through an Excess of Rigour, refused to grant unto the Plaintiffs their Liberty and Priviledg of Appeal, whereby they were, contrary to the Discipline, reduced to a Necessity of making a tumultuous Deputation. And whereas the Provincial Synod, in decreeing the Exclusion of the said Des Champs, did omit what would have principally contributed to their Satisfaction, who demanded him for their Minister; this Assembly taking the Church of Dieppe into its most particular Consideration, doth promise the said Church of Dieppe to provide for them a third Pastor, either within or without the Province, yea, and to engage them to proceed unto the Reception of the Sieur du Bures, recommended by the Testimonial of their Deputies, and of the Province; and this according to the Canons of our Discipline, unto which that said Church is advised to conform itself, and by its Union with their Consistory, to preserve that Peace and Charity which ought to be among all Christians; to the maintaining of which the said Sieurs le Mousnier, de Caux, and de Bures, have promised to lay themselves out unto the utmost.

5. The Church of Plessis appealed, requesting that their Pastor Monsieur de Montigny might actually reside in the Town of Plessis, according to the Discipline and the Canons of our National Synods; and that the Sentence of the Isle of France which had dispensed with him, might be disannulled and reversed. This Assembly judged that, the said Sieur de Montigny was of right obliged to reside at Plessis, and ought not to be dispensed with: yet nevertheless his Church is entreated to allow him four Months in the Year to attend his private Affairs at his House of Albon, provided he do not discontinue the Exercises of his Ministry.

6. Monsieur Fabas was heard in his Complaint about the non-executing of that Decree of the last National Synod, which had authorized and commissionated the Colloquy of Condommois to take Informations, and pass a Judgment of the Contents in the Letters written by those Gentlemen, Mr. de la Fitte, Gillot and Belard, unto Monsieur D' Abadie and Pommarede, during their Abode at Charenton, and the Defense of Monsieur Rivall, upon whose Report those Letters were written, and to the Remonstrance of the Colloquy of Condommois, who have not acquitted themselves of the Commission given them, because the said la Fitte and Gillot refused to submit unto their Judgment, and to the Excuse of the Province of Béarn, that their Union with the Churches of this Kingdom was not at that time ratified, and that they were not obliged to defray the Expences of the Deputies charged by the said Colloquy of Condommois, to inform themselves of the Facts of some particular Persons, but only those Persons who were concerned. This Assembly declareth those Accusations brought in by the said Rivall and Belard against the said Fabas, to be null; and for this Reason, because the first was grounded upon a Report spread abroad from a pretended Accusation brought by a particular Person, who afterwards denied it, and was proved to be false by all the Persons mentioned in it. And the second consists of an ill-taken Equivocation, alleged by one only Witness, who ought not in any wise to be admitted, it being expressly against the Prohibition of the Apostle, 1 Tim. 1.5, 19. Nor had the Colloquy of Pau any reason to grant a Commission unto Monsieur Rivall, to take Information against Monsieur Fabas, who opposed his Institution and Induction into the Church of Morlas, and by consequence was a professed Party against him; and Mr. la Fitte and Gillot have to no good purpose, and only upon the single report of the said Rival, spread abroad a groundless and unproved Accusation against a Minister of the Gospel: Nor should the Province of Béarn have tolerated such Proceedings, nor have permitted the Church of Morlas to be divided, whenas they could have remedied it by fair and gentle Means, according to the Word of God, and the Order of our Discipline. And whereas Mr. Rival and Bellard have defamed a Minister of the Gospel, and occasioned, by their manner of Proceedings, a great deal of unjust Reproach to be laid upon him, which cannot in the least be justified; the said Fabas, Rival and Bellard, are all enjoined to live in Peace and Brotherly Union, and to forbear all Civil and Criminal Prosecutions made, or hereafter to be made before the Magistrate upon the score of their Differences, and to put a period and final issue unto those which are already begun; whereunto the said Fabas and Rival have promised submission respectively, and entered already into mutual Articles and Bonds for so doing.

7. The Province of Béarn complained of, and accused the said Sieur Fabas of rebellion against the Canons of our Discipline, and of unlawful Proceedings, whereby he designed to invalidate the Censures of the Church; and that he did de facto most odiously traduce them before the Civil Magistrate. Whereupon, the said Mr. Fabas was heard, complaining to the contrary, and accusing the Province of Béarn, for that they did, without any lawful Cause, remove him from his Church, and deprive him of his Ministry in it, and have not assigned him any other, and have since suspended him the Exercise of his Ministry, because he had appealed from their unrighteous Censure. And secondly, for that divers particular Members of the Church of Morlas, after they had unjustly reproached him, had divided that poor Church, and abstained schismatically from the Exercises of Religion performed in it. Whereupon, the Acts of the Synod of Béarn, and of the Colloquy of Pau, were perused, as also the Proceedings of the Lord's in the Parliament of Navarre, at the Petition of the said Fabas, and of sundry others belonging to the Church of Morlas, and the Inquisition made by the Commissioners of the said Parliament, who were sent to Morlas to learn and sift out the Sentiments and Opinion of the said Church; there were read also the Letters of the Consistory of the Church of Morlas, humbly requesting that Monsieur Fabas might be continued in his Ministry among them, and those of Mr. Bellard, and other Elders and particular Persons, demanding of the Consistory that he might be removed elsewhere. This Assembly confirming the Ministry of the said Mr. Fabas in the Church of Morlas, judgeth that the Province should not by its Rigour have enforced him to make use of those extraordinary Courses which he did in his own just Defense, nor should it have favored by its connivency the Disunion of those particular Persons, who have separated themselves from the Body of the Church of Morlas; whereas they should have, according to their Duty, reconciled them with the rest of their Brethren; much less ought they to have took that Course they did to suspend the said Fabas, after he had appealed. And the said Mr. Fabas ought not in Duty to have departed from the Forms prescribed by our Discipline; because the way of appealing unto superior Ecclesiastical Assemblies was wide open to him. And therefore the said Province is enjoined for the future to refrain all violent Proceedings contrary to the Discipline, and to apply out of hand suitable Remedies, whereby the Schism in the Church of Morlas may be cured, and the Members thereof reconciled among themseives, and with their Pastor Mr. Fabas; and all others are to acquiesce and rest contented with the Ways prescribed by the Discipline, forbearing all Proceedings contrary to it, and bringing those their Differences into Ecclesiastical Assemblies, there to be composed. And whereas some particular Members of the Church of Morlas have complained against the said Mr. Fabas, their Passion and bitter Expressions are condemned, and they be exhorted to mind their present Duty, which is by a mutual Reconciliation to heal the Breaches, and restore the Peace of the Church of God. All which shall be signified unto them by Letters from this Synod.

8. Monsieur Chorets, a Member of the Church of Paris, complained unto this Assembly of a Judgment past against him by the said Church, which was also confirmed by the Synod of the Isle of France; as also for that they refused him an Attestation which he would have used for divers Ends and Purposes. The Assembly having heard the Deputies of that Province, told him, that his Affair was not of that nature as to be brought before a National Synod; however, out of special Favor to him, they did permit him to discover his Grievances, which being unfolded by him, and considered, occasion was thereby given of remonstrating to him his Offences committed by Words and Deeds, and Proceedings against the Pastors and Consistory of the Church of Paris. And farther, it was declared to him, that the Censures of the said Church had been inflicted on him by reason of his ill Deportments. And farther, he was exhorted to pay all Respect and Obedience unto his spiritual Guides and Rulers? and to subject himself unto the Discipline of our Churches. And finally, he was enjoined to acquiesce in what had been decreed concerning his Matters both by the said Church, and the Provincial Synod. All which he did immediately.

9. The Judgment of the Province of Cévennes, concerning the Ministry of Monsieur Soleil, having been confirmed, the Appeal brought by Mr. Vignolles and Roux was declared null, and the Appellants worthy of Censure, for their unreasonable Misconstruction of it.

10. The Appeal of the Church de la Fitte was rejected, because it ought not to be brought unto, nor received in this Assembly: Wherefore they were enjoined to acquiesce in the Judgment of their Province.

11. On reading that Clause, in the last Will and Testament of the Lord de la Fon, relating to the Legacy bequeathed by him for the educating a young Scholar in Humanity and the Arts, who may one day serve the Church of God in the Sacred Ministry, and the Judgment given by the Synod of Normandy upon it, and the Memoirs of the Church of Baaly: This Assembly disannulled that Judgment of the said Provincial Synod, as also the Appeal of the Church of Baaly; and confirmed the Decree of the last National Synod; and now declareth and ordaineth, That the said Church hath only, nor ought it to have any other Interest in the said Legacy than its bare Administration; for so the Lord de la Fon disposed of it in his Testament aforesaid, for the maintenance of a Scholar: and that it is the proper and special Duty of the said Church to be accountable for it unto the Colloquy of Caen, according to the Intention of the deceased Donor, expressed in that Clause of his Will, wherein he mentions the said Legacy. And the said Colloquy, or the said Church of Baaly, are necessarily to be called in at that time, when the Election of the Scholar is to be made, and to be present at his Examen, to judge of his Progress; and the said Church, if they please, and have need of him, may and ought, before any other, have the choice of him to be employed in the Service of their Souls, in the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments.

12. The Deputies of Cévennes complained, that the Synod of Lower Languedoc had several times attempted to provide for their vacant Churches out of their Province, which is directly contrary to the Canons of our Discipline, and have thereby reduced those two Reverend Ministers Mr. du Mas and de la Cosle, to remain without employment. This Assembly, condemning such Proceedings, doth recommend unto the Province of Lower Languedoc the Practice of the twenty fourth Canon made in the National Synod of Charenton in the Year 1623, Observation the second upon the Discipline. And it being the desire of the Church of Alez, as also of the Synod of Cévennes, whereunto that of Lower Languedoc doth freely consent, that Monsieur Button should be assigned to the Ministry of the Church of Alez, he is, by the Authority of this Synod, given and confirmed to them for their Pastor.

13. The Appeal of Monsieur Rouze, and of the Church of St. Andrew de l' Ancize, was disannulled, because the Affairs of their annexed Congregations ought to be sovereignly and finally determined by their own of the Neighbor-Provinces. And this Assembly recommends the said Mr. Rouze to the care of the Synod of Cévennes, to provide for his comfortable Subsistence, according to the Rules of Christian Charity.

14. This Assembly passing by the Appeal of the Province of Saintonge from the Judgment of that of Poitiers, according to the Decree of the National Synod of St. Maixant held in May, 1609, (Article the nineteenth about • ppeals) leaveth the Family of the Lord du Brueil Goulard at liberty to join themselves unto the Church of Annay.

15. To regulate that Contest between the Provinces of Saintonge and Poitou, the latter of these pretending to reunite the Church of Champagne Mouton with their Synod: This Assembly, confirming the Decree of the first National Synod of Charenton, ordaineth, That, the said Church shall continue incorporated, as it hath been to this day, with that of St. Claud, until the next Synod of Saintonge, which shall make some Provision for Monsieur Ferrand, and, by all fitting Means, for the Subsistence of the Church of St. Claud: and immediately after the breaking up of the said Synod, the Church of Champagne Mouton shall be joined unto that of Courteilles, and provided for, to its liking and content, by the Synod of Poitou: and that said Synod shall take a most particular care that the Church of Vigean be not left destitute of a Pastor.

16. This Assembly ratified the Judgment of the Consistory and Colloquy of Caen, approved by the Synod of Normandy, who declared the Appeal of Monsieur Fourneaux null, and not receivable; and ordaineth, That the said Judicial Sentence be fully executed according to its purport and tenor, in due form, as to the deposing of the said Fourneaux. And whereas he had been publicly suspended from the Lord's Supper, and since he hath acknowledged his Offence (for marrying his Daughter unto one of a contrary Religion) publicly before a whole National Synod; and he having been kept back from communicating at the Lord's Table this last Easter, the said Suspension shall be taken off both from himself and Wise, after that he shall have confessed in the Consistory his Sorrow for the Sin which his Con •• vency hath brought into his Family.

17. Upon perusal of the Judgment past in the Synods of Cévennes and Lower Languedoc, and of the Letters of Monsieur Horle 's Widow, and the Memoirs of the Church of Anduze; this Assembly declareth the said Church to have well deserved the sharpest Censures, and therefore rejecteth their Appeal, and confirmeth the judicial Sentence of both those Synods, and enjoined that said Church to give full Satisfaction unto that poor and afflicted Widow.

18. This Assembly receiving the Appeal of the Lord Chabassier Judge of Anduze, and of Monsieur Couraut Pastor of the Church of Quissac, and condemning the Facility of the Synod of Cévennes held at Sumene, who without hearing of the said Lord Chabassier, had decreed, That the Censure justly pronounced against Mr. Poujade, Minister in the Church of St. Hippolyte, should be razed out of the Acts of the Provincial Synod held at Alez, ordaineth, That the said Censure shall be again inserted into the Body of the Acts of the said Synod; and that the Contents of this Ordinance may be ratified, and become more valid, all Pastors, who extraordinarily assist any vacant Churches, are enjoined to rest satisfied with the defraying of the Charges of their Journey, and sojourning in it, as hath been hitherto constantly practiced in all the Provinces; and they be strictly and expressly forbidden to exact so much as one Farthing from any one of those Churches, because they receive their Maintenance and Sallaries from their own particular Churches, unto which they stand related. And whereas the said Poujade hath appealed from the Synodical Decree made at Anduze, this Assembly declareth, That the said Synod had most just occasion to charge the Consistories of Sauve and Manobles to watch over the Deportments of the Consistory of Nismes; and the said Consistories shall be assisted and strengthened, if need be, with the Presence of the Neighbor-Pastors; and they be authorized to cite the said Poujade before them, that he may give in Answer unto all Articles which shall be brought against him, and to prosecute him according to the nature of the Facts whereof he shall be found guilty, even unto Deposition from the Sacred Ministry; and it shall be denounced to him, that in case he refuse to appear before the said Consistory, that he is now this very instant suspended his Ministerial Function.

19. In explaining the Sense of that Judgment past upon Monsieur Deschamps above in the fourth Article of Appeals; this Assembly declares, That Ministers and Elders may concert among themselves in Consistory, such Matters as they shall esteem and think to be most needful for the admission or exclusion of any Pastor of a Church, but they may not come to any final Resolution, till they have first of all consulted with the Heads of Families duly called, and Members of that Church; which Resolution of them all shall be determined by plurality of Suffrages, according to the Order observed in all well-regulated Assemblies, and under the direction of the Consistory.

20. The Assembly received the Appeal of the Faithful of Boisgency, and disannulled the Sentence of Suspension from the Lord's Table, pronounced against them by the Synod Berry, because the Church of Mer, whereunto they had joined themselves, is well able to subsist of itself, without any Relief or Assistance from them: And farther it doth ordain, That the said Inhabitants shall have the Priviledg of taxing themselves to all Church-Rates and Charges; and out of that Tax, whatever it be that they do or shall promise to pay annually unto the Church of Mer, there shall be deducted the Sum of fifty Livers, which, shall go to the discharging of the Arrears of Wages, owing by the said Inhabitants of Boisgency unto Monsieur Guerin, who was formerly their Pastor, till the whole Debt be paid, according to the Account stated and concluded the 18th day of April in the Year 1632, unless there should be a necessity of revising it.

21. Although the Appeal brought in by the Inhabitants of St. Roman and of Val Francesque, be not receivable, yet the Assembly, out of special Favor, took cognizance thereof, and decreed, That Letters should be writ unto them, exhorting them to mutual Peace and Union in the Worship of God, and the Ordinances of Religion, with those of Val Francesque.

22. Monsieur Pejus was heard, declaring his Grievances, and petitioning for his Re-establishment in the Church of Mer, and for payment of his Arrears due unto him from the said Church. James Martincau, deputed by divers Members of the same Church, adhered to his Demands. There was heard on behalf of the Church of Mer, the Lord de la Bordechabin, sent by the Consistory, as also the Provincial Deputies of Berry: The Acts of the Provincial Synods from which the Appeal was formed, were seen and perused; the Judgments of the Commissioners sent by the Church of Mer and Boisgency, the Letters of Monsieur Jurieu resigning his Ministry to the Disposal of the Synod, the Memoirs of the Church of Mer representing the Poverty whereunto they be at present reduced, and sundry other Considerations which yet did not in the least reflect upon the Honor of Mr. Pejus 's Ministry, and other Memoirs from divers Heads of Families, who desire he may be settled again among them, and the Letters and Memoirs from the Church of Argenton, petitioning that he may be absolutely given to them for their Pastor. After which the Synod rejecting all the Appeals, and confirming the judicial Sentences of the Province of Berry, decreed, That the Censures pronounced against Monsieur Pejus should be razed out of the Body of the Acts of those Synods, and that his Ministry is now granted unto the Church of Argenton; and exhorteth the Church or Mer aforesaid, and the Province, to give him all Satisfaction, or to provide better for him; and all Caballings of particular Members in the Church of Mer, are interdicted them and forbidden. And whereas the said Monsieur Pejus claimeth Arrears of Wages owing to him, forasmuch as the Church of Mer protesteth, that by Reason of their deep Poverty for these five Years last past, they are utterly disabled from maintaining two Pastors, and that they express and restify a more than ordinary Respect and Affection to Monsieur Jurieu, and that the Province being obliged by this their Protestation, had provided for him for the present, till they could do more and better for him, and till such time as the matter of his Appeal was determined, had lent him unto the Church of Boisgency, which had exhibited to him as great and good a Maintenance as he could have had from the Church of Mer; and by his Refusal of such a comfortable Employment, he had thereby deprived himself of that Assistance and Relief they had so charitably procured him, his Petition was rejected.

23. Letters being read from James de Valleroux Lord of la Gayerie, and the Acts produced by him, and the Censures denounced against him by the Consistory of Vertueil, Colloquy of Augoumois, and Synod of Saintonge; the Synod approving of those Censures, r • jected his Appeal.

24. Mr. Daniel Loquet, heretofore Elder and Reader in the Church of Barbezieux, having sent neither Letters nor Memoirs to defend his Appeal from the Sentence of the Synod of Saintonge, the said Appeal was declared null. But afterwards the Letters of the said Loquet, before the Synod broke up, were presented to it, who dismissed his Cause to be finally judged by the Consistory of Bourdeaux.

25. None appearing on behalf of the Church of Vangeau, to maintain their Appeal, opposing the sending of Monsieur Twiscard by the Province of Berry, unto the Church of Chamerolles and Bandaroy, it was declared null.

26. The Appeal of Monsieur Hommeau, who was designed by the Synod of Anjou, to be Pastor unto the Church of Lassay in the County of Maine, it was declared null.

27. Mrs. Judyth Guyot, the Wife of Mr. Laverdan, appealing from the Judgment pronounced against her by the Commissioners of the Synod of Burgundy, and not appearing to maintain her Appeal, the Assembly declared it null and void.

28. Whereas some private Persons in the Church of St. Foy had appealed from the Colloquy of Lower Agenois, who opposed the re-establishing of Mr. Duvall in his Office of Elder, decreed by the Synod of Lower Guyenne, their Appeal was declared null.

29. The Synod of Cévennes having censured Monsieur du Mas, and the Church of Ganges having appealed from that Judgment, but not appearing to defend their Appeal, it was declared null.

30. Monsieur de Monbonoux, and other Inhabitants of the Town of Anduze, appealing from a Judgment given by the Synod of Lower Languedoc against Monsieur Arnaud their Pastor, their Appeal was declared null.

31. Monsieur Talaisac appealing from a Judgment denounced against Monsieur Preudhomme, Pastor of the Church of Cournontaeuail, his Appeal was declared null.

32. Although the Province of Normandy had sufficient reason to set Monsieur Merchant at Liberty, and to bestow his Ministry upon the Church of Gisors; yet nevertheless, because of the importunate Petition of the Church of Athis, of Laselle, and les Voutes, and for that they have all jointly promised to give full and entire Satisfaction unto the said le Merchant, and for that he expresseth a great Inclination to continue his Service unto the said Church of Athis; the Assembly leaving it to the Care of the Colloquy of Roven to provide for the Church of Gisors, ordaineth, That the said Monsieur le Merchant shall be settled again in that of Athis and its annexed Congregations, who shall make him a full and complete Paiment of all Arrears of Salary due unto him: And in Default hereof, the next Synod shall execute upon them that Judgment formerly denounced against them.

33. On Sight and Perusal of the Acts of the Synod of Dauphiné, as also of the Letters and Memoirs of Monsieur Aymin, Pastor in the Church of Die; this Assembly judging his Appeals frivolous, declared on the first, that the Province of Dauphiné had very prudently judged that they ought not to be troubled about Sollicitings made in the Years sixteen hundred thirty three and thirty four, for the Maintenance of the University of Die; that he ought not to have tarried at Paris after the Revocation of the Powers given for those Sollicitings, and that he ought now to be accountable to the Council of the University of Die, who employed him; and in case he were aggrieved, then should he have carried his Complaint to the Consistory of Lions, who were commissionated to judge finally of this Affair: And on the second, that he hath well deserved the severest Censures for not acquiescing in the Judgment of his Province, which is exhorted to oblige him and all others to a personal Residence with their Flocks, on Pain of having all Church-Censures inflicted on them; and in no wise to suffer the Monies destinated by the Churches for the Maintenance of the University of Die, to be diverted contrary to the Intention of the Donors, unto other Uses.

34. The Memoirs of Monsieur de la Fitte, Pastor of the Church of Pau and of de Mirau, Elder in the Church of Bourdeaux, and the Letters and Memoirs of the Lord's de la Peyrette and du Bois, private Members of the said Church of Bourdeaux, were all read, and their Appeal also from the Judgment of the Province of Lower Guyenne, which was reported by the Deputies of that Synod. Whereupon, the Assembly declared, that the Appellants had not any Grievance at all upon them, and that their Appeal was therefore groundless, and rejected.

CHAP. XV. General Matters.

• Article 1.
  * THE Assembly leaveth the Provinces at full Liberty to keep their ancient Customs observed by them in singing that Prayer at the End of the ten Commandments, and which is usually recited by some kneeling, by others standing, and by others sitting, according to the settled established Order in every Church; not judging it in any-wise reasonable to oblige them all unto one only Form in a Matter, which of its own Nature is indifferent.
• Article 2.
  The Province of Berry requesting it, this Assembly ordaineth, that for the future, when the Question shall be moved about furnishing our Universities with Professors in Divinity, that Province in which the University lieth destitute of a Professor, shall invite the four next adjoining Provinces, to depute at their own Charges some of their Pastors, who may assist in Person at the Examen of the Candidate for the vacant Professor's Chair.
• Article 3.
  The Demand of the Province of Poitou was granted, that whoso should hereafter transgress the 16th Article in the 14th Chapter of our Discipline, and the particular Canons enacted in the Province where he resideth, about publishing of Books, shall be suspended from the Ministry.
• Article 4.
  However Men may have a Right to buy or keep Slaves, and this be not condemned by the Word of God, nor is it abolished by the Preaching of the Gospel in the far greatest part of Europe; and though there hath been insensibly brought in a Custom to the contrary, and that Merchants purchase and dispose of them as of their proper Goods and Chattels, especially such as traffick on the Coasts of Africa and the Indies, where this Commerce is permitted, do buy from the Barbarians, either by way of Exchange of Goods, or for ready Money, Men and Women-Slaves, who being once in their Power and Possession, they do again openly sell in the Market, or truck them away unto others. This Assembly confirming that Canon made on this Occasion by the Provincial Synod of Normandy, doth exhort the Faithful not to abuse this their Liberty contrary to the Rules of Christian Charity, nor to transfer these poor Infidels unto other Hands besides those of Christians, who may deal kindly and humanely with them; and above all, may take special Care of their precious immortal Souls, and see them instructed in the Christian Religion.
• Article 5.
  The Province of Lower Languedoc desiring it, all the Provinces are informed to take heed that the 9th Article in the 1st Chapter of our Discipline be not transgressed, which forbids the ordaining of any Proposan without a Title, or assigning him to some particular Church.
• Article 6.
  The Deputies of Lower Languedoc being expressly charged thereunto by their Province, did represent, that although the Churches of this Kingdom had in all their Sermons, Prayers and Thanksgivings, public and private, given evident Proof to the whole World of that Fidelity and most sincere Obedience which his Majesty's natural-born Subjects of the Reformed Religion were obliged to yield unto his Majesty; yet nevertheless, the sworn Enemies of our Religion do never cease railing, slandering and calumniating us, and by divers Pamphlets and Libels fraught with lying Stories, do their utmost Endeavor to make the Loyalty and Fidelity of our Churches to be suspected and called in question, and that there is an absolute Necessity we should justify ourselves not only by Sermons preached in the Pulpit, and by Books composed and published from the Press, unto the whole World, to this very End and Purpose, but also by our most humble Remonstrances unto his Majesty, that he would be pleased graciously to account all the Members of our Churches as his most obedient and loyal Subjects, and to have an entire Confidence in their Fidelity unto his Service, the Welfare of his Estate, and the Augmentation of the Glory of his Crown. The Assembly embraced this Remonstrance as a sacred thing consonant to Reason and Justice, and perfectly correponding with those Propositions tendered us from his Majesty by the Lord Commissioner; and ordained, That all Pastors in the Churches of this Kingdom should give all religious and conscientious Satisfaction herein, according to the Word of God, and the Confession of our Faith, which are punctual and most express on this Subject.
• Article 7.
  Whereas for divers Years last past, War and Mortality have overspread with a Deluge of Woes the far greatest part of Europe, and made the unrepenting Nations sensible, what a dreadful thing it is to fall into the Hands of the Living God, justly incensed against those hard-hearted Sinners, who despise the Riches of his Grace, the Abundance of his Goodness and Long-suffering. The National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France, assembled by the King's Permission in the Town of Alanson, beholding, in the continual Plagues with which all the Provinces of this Kingdom are scourged, evident Threatenings of new impendent Judgments: Wherefore that those affrightful and approaching Storms may be averted, and the Bowels of God's fatherly Compassions may be moved, and that we may obtain from his infinite Mercies and Goodness the Preservation of his Majesty's sacred Person, a Blessing upon his Armies, the Return and Re-establishment of Peace and Prosperity in the State, and a quiet Settlement for his poor afflicted Church, tossed with Tempests, and not comforted: We do exhort all the Faithful by a deep Humiliation of Soul, and a sincere and serious Conversion of Heart, to seek after the Help, Grace and Favor of God. And to this Purpose the Synod decreeth, That a public Fast shall be kept and solemnly observed in all the Churches of this Kingdom, on Thursday the nineteenth Day of November next co •• ing, which shall be notified unto them by reading of this present Act.
• Article 8.
  That the Purity of Doctrine may be entirely preserved, and all Misunderstandings between Pastors, Professors and Churches, may be avoided, and to prevent those many Inconveniences which would thereupon happen, and to tie and maintain more strictly and strongly the spiritual Bonds of brotherly Charity and Union among the Faithful: This Synod doth most rigorously forbid, on Pain of all Church-Censures, yea, and of Deposal from their Ministry, all Pastors of Churches, and Professors in our Universities, to treat of in their Sermons, Lectures or Writings, those curious Questions which may occasion the Fall or Stumbling either of Students in Divinity, or private Christians; it being most necessary that both they, their Scholars and Flocks should keep themselves to the Simplicity and Plainness of the Holy Scriptures, and to the common Expedition of the Orthodox Creed grounded thereupon, and approved by the National Synods, particularly by that of Charenton, held in the Year 1623. They be also forbidden the using of any new Expressions subject to ill Constructions and Misinterpretations, or contentiously to dispute one with the other, upon such Questions or Interpretations, or to draw reciprocally the Saw of Controversy betwixt them in Polemical Writings; nor shall they violate, directly or indirectly, the Canons made either in this or former Synods, about printing of Books, for whose Contents the Licensers of the Press shall be responsible as much as the Authors, unto the Provinces. And those Provinces within whose District and Jurisdiction our Universities lie, shall take a most especial Care of them, and see them visited from time to time, by Persons chosen to that Purpose, and to oblige all Professors both in Philosophy and Divinity, to send every six Months unto the Examiners of Books, in the Neighbor-Provinces, one or two Copies of the Theses disputed and defended in the public Schools. And the Neighbor-Provinces are impowered with full Authority, together with those in which our Universities are erected, to take a particular Knowledge of their Estate: And in case any Pastor or Professor, or any Member of our Churches, in reading or perusing the Books printed with Licence of our Examiners, shall find any matter of Importance, which they shall count worthy of Reprehension, we order that they apply themselves to the Authors of the said printed Discourses, or to the Examiners and Licensers of them, and to demand Satisfaction from them; and in case they refuse to give it, then they shall address themselves unto their Colloquies and Synods. And that Church and Province out of which the said Complaint cometh forth, is forbidden, as are also all other Persons whatsoever, from intermeddling with this Affair, or to take upon them to judge and decide it, or to inflame this Controversy, or to spread it farther; but according to the Canons of our Discipline, they shall leave and resign it entirely unto those Assemblies, to whose Jurisdiction the Authors of these Disturbances do belong, and against whom the Opposition is formed.
• Article 9.
  The Lord Marquess of Clermont our General Deputy, and the Sieurs Ferrand, Gigord and Cerisy, who were particularly delegated to lay at his Majesty's Feet the most humble Supplications and Complaints of our Churches, having immediately after their Return from Court, delivered his Majesty's Letters, and given an Account of that gracious Audience, and most kind and favorable Reception they had from his Majesty, and our Lord's his principal Ministers of State, and how well they approved of the Conduct of this present Synod, and had promised, that as soon as it was concluded and separated, an Answer agreeable to our Desires expressed in the Cahier presented to them, should be given us, and that they would assign for the defraying the Charges and Expences of this Synod, the same Sum of Monies as was granted unto the last National Synod, which was also confirmed by my Lord Commissioner, who had received Letters concerning it, and required that this Assembly would dissolve itself speedily. The Synod having testified their great Satisfaction in the Wisdom, Faithfulness and Affection, manifested by these their Deputies in their whole Negotiation, and finding that they had Hopes given them by his Majesty, that his poor oppressed Subjects of the Reformed Religion should sense and experience the comfortable Effects of his Sacred Royal Promises, and that according to his wonted Goodness, he would take care that they should not be compelled contrary to the Tenour of his Edicts, the Liberty of their Consciences, and the Canons of their Discipline, to adorn the fore-part of their Houses on those Days which are called the Festival of the Holy or Corpus Christi Day, nor on any other Holy Days; nor that they should be forced to yield up their Infants to be baptized after the Popish Manner, or by Midwives, or by any other Persons uncalled, who be not Ministers of the Gospel; and that his Majesty would ordain a Revocation of that Declaration, and of those Decrees which forbad our Ministers to preach in Places where they did not inhabit, because those Decrees were granted on the single Requests of our most imbittered Enemies, and without ever hearing of us the injured Parties, and for that they were derogatory to the Royal Grace contained in his Edicts of Pacification; and by means of those Decrees, a very great Multitude of People were utterly deprived of all the Ordinances and free Exercise of their Religion, and of the Peace and Comfort of their Consciences. Wherefore the Synod resolved once again, and that without delay, to have recourse unto his Majesty's Royal Grace and Favor, and joined extraordinarily, in Commission with the Lord's General Deputies, some select Persons out of its own Body, who, immediately after their Separation, should, in conjunction with them, use such Means for the obtaining and perfecting those Grants and Promises, as they thought needful.
• Article 10.
  But the Lord Commissioner relating how that at the first opening of this Assembly, his Majesty had by his Mouth made a clear, express and absolute Declaration of his Intentions, and had charged him to interdict, as he did once more now interdict all Deliberations contrary thereunto; the Synod did also again insist upon that Answer which they had given to those Matters propounded by him the said Lord Commissioner, and did beseech him, that according to it he would suffer our poor distressed Churches to present their humble and innocent Petition unto his Majesty, which needed not any Deliberation, nor had any other Design or Tendency than to preserve the Privileges of his Majesty's Edicts, and the Liberties of our Consciences to us, whereof we were in danger of being devested and deprived; and therefore did, in pursuance thereof, nominate and appoint the Sieurs de l' Angle and Gigord, together with the Lord's General Deputies, to reiterate the most humble Supplications and Requests of our Churches unto his Majesty, and to the Lord's of his most Honorable Privy-Council, and all of them jointly to solicit for the fulfilling of his gracious Promises, and that they might pass the Seals, and be confirmed in due Form of Law.