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

CHAP.VIII. His Majesty's Proclamation of Pardon.

BEFORE we proceed unto General matters, we shall first exhibit his Majesty's Letters Patents, concerning their Pardon, who have held Provincial Political Assemblies since that National one, which was convened at Saumur in the year, 1611.

CHAP. IX. The Synods Declaration against this Proclamation.

1. HIS Majesty's Letters Patents were read, containing his Royal Pardon unto them, who had called Political Assemblies since that General one held at Saumur; which exceedingly surprised and astonished this National Synod; and that there might be some remedy provided in time against such Impendent Storm, it was judged needful by all the Deputies unanimously to prepare a Declaration on this occasion, which should be inserted in this place among our Acts, and forth-with Printed, that so by this Imprinted Act, the Innocency of our Churches might be attested and published to the whole Christian World.

Here followeth the said Declaration.

CHAP. X. General Matters.

2. THE Consistories of those Towns in which Printers professing our holy Reformed Religion do live, are exhorted to look carefully to the Impressions of our Psalm-books, that nothing be inserted into the Calendars trenching upon the honor of any particular persons. And our Brethren, the Pastors of Geneva, are desired to bear a strict hand over the Printers in their City, that this Canon be punctually observed by them.

3. Proposans maintained by the Provinces shall not be received into the Ministry without the consent of their respective Provinces; nor shall any Proposans maintained by particular Churches be received into a Pastoral Charge without the consent of those very Churches from whom they received their Exhibitions.

4. The Deputies of the Province of Aujou queried at what time after their Conversion from Popery to the Communion of our Reformed Churches, such persons might be called into the Office of Elders and Deacons. This Assembly ordained that it might be about the same time, that other such might be admitted into the Ministry, to wit, after two years trial and experience had of them, and of their sincerity.

5. Forasmuch as a torrent of Dissolution, Irreligion and Profaneness is broke in upon us, and most shameful divisions are risen up in our Churches, which do visibly and terribly threaten us with the near approaches of God's Judgments, ever since the Death of our late King. This Assembly enjoineth all the Churches within the Realm to proclaim an extraordinary Fast, which shall be celebrated the first Wednesday in November next, and be Universally and most Religiously observed by them.

The Provinces are exhorted carefully to collect the History of those Ministers and other Christians, who in these last times have suffered for the truths of the Son of God, and to transmit such Memoirs unto Geneva that they may be inserted into our Book of Martyrs, and published to the World by the Pastors of that Church.

7. Altho a person be chosen Counselor for the Province, and would thereupon be reputed for, and Act as an Elder, yet shall he not be admitted unto the Office of an Elder, unless he pass through the forms prescribed by our Discipline.

CHAP. XI. The Act of Re union.

8. THE present National Synod▪ of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom desiring to secure the Peace and Union of the said Churches, and inflamed with the Zeal of God's House and Glory, and grieved to see Satan sowing the Seeds of discord among us, which redound to the Infamy and weakening of the said Churches, and may in after times produce worse and more dangerous effects; moved with charity towards the Members of our body, and being willing to make some provision for a Fraternal concord, the indispensable duty of all the Faithful, hath and doth now resolve to exert itself even unto the utmost for the compassing of a Blessed and Holy peace and re-union among ourselves under their Majesty's Authority. And having once again Sworn our Oaths of Allegiance and Fidelity to them, and that this Union may be the more easily effected and obtained; This Assembly ordereth the Sieurs du Moulin and Durant Pastors, and the Sieur de l'Isle Grossat Elder in the Church of Orleans to be joined as Commissioners together with our General Deputies in Court. And all persons are exhorted to labor that the Memory of past matters be Buried in Oblivion, and in the name of all our Churches to become Peace-makers, that so the several humors and different Opinions risen up in the Assembly of Saumur may be Ballanced, Allayed, and Composed, Declaring that the General desire of the said Churches is to reunite in one their affections, who have been alienated from each other; and this to be done according to the Methods and Counsels given and prescribed by this Assembly, whereunto they may make such Additions as their Zeal and Prudence shall suggest; and they shall diligently and conjointly inform the Provinces of their actings herein, together with the result and success of their Mediation. To this end Letters shall be Written and sent from this Assembly unto the Lord's Mareschals and Dukes of Bouillon and de les Diguieres, exhorting and adjuring them in the Name of God, that they would be pleased at the instant entreaties of our Churches to join themselves together with us in an humble Petition and Address unto their Majesty's, and to testify by evident effects their Zeal and Affection towards them, and readily to embrace all opportunities that may either publicly or privately contribute to the safety of the State, Quiet and Honor of the Kingdom, as also that they would be pleased to join themselves together with our Churches for the procuring an entire removal of those Letters of Abolition, verified and published of late by the Parliaments, although never demanded nor deserved by us, and to insist on it that the more important and necessary matters in our Petitions tendered unto their Majesty's may receive a gracious answer, and to endeavor that for the future all gratifications of persons and parties may be equal, and all marks and notes of division and separation may be removed, demonstrating thereby their forgetfulness of what is past, and that they do cordially pursue, without partiality, the good of all, and that generally (upon all occasions which may so fall out) they do manifestly express their zeal, care and affection to the common public Weal of our Churches as they shall be required, admonished and informed by the General Deputies of the said Churches. Moreover, the said Lord's shall be exhorted in our before-mentioned Letters, that they would be pleased to resign up their own private Interests to those of the public, and that they would lay by their own particular Resentments (which have been very much inflamed by the cunning crafts, artifices and devices of the Enemies of our Religion) and that they would hold a more firm Correspondence and sincere intelligence with the Lord's Duke of Rohan, and of Sully, of Soubize, de la Force, and of the Lord du Plessis, and with all others, from whom, by reason of these unhappy differences, they have been estranged, that so being all jointly reunited in the Bond of Friendship, they may more advantageously promote the common Weal of our Churches, the repose and happiness of the State, and the establishment of their Majesty's Authority. And the like Letters to the same purpose shall be written to the Lord's of Chastillion, of Parabere, to the Dukes of Rohan and of Sully, to the Dukes of Soubize, and de la Force, and to the Lord du Plessis, from this Assembly, to acquaint them with our desires and invitations in the name and behalf of all our Churches to join in with the Lord's Dukes of Bouillon and de les Diguieres, and that as we had exhorted these, so we do earnestly exhort their Lordships also to quit and forego their own particular Resentments and Discontents, and that as formerly they have, so they would be pleased now and evermore to testify their zeal and affection for the Weal and Repose of our poor Churches; and that they would demean themselves with a generous frankness and integrity in their mutual Correspondence and Re-union one with the other, that being united in a perfect Bond of Charity, they may with conjoined Forces promote and advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus. Letters also shall be written unto the Lady Dutchess of Tremouille, entreating her in the name of all our Churches, to continue her endeavors in mediating the said Peace and Re-union, and to give her thanks for her singular care in the Education of her Children in the True Religion, and in the Fear of God, and in Love and Affection to our Churches, hoping and praying that they may hereafter prove excellent and useful Instruments of God's glory, and of the Churches good. And it shall be protested to all and everyone of those Lord's in the name and behalf of our Churches in the said Letters directed to them of our Intention and Resolution to consider, honor and value them according to their Families, Qualities, Dignities, and Merits, as being the most honorable Members of our Body. And the said Letters shall be presented them, to wit, unto the Lord's of Bouillon and of les Diguieres, of Chastillion, and to the Lady Dutchess of Tremouille by the immediate hands of our General Deputies: Those for the Lord Duke of Rohan, and my Lord of Soubize, by the Lord's Barons of Saujon and Bonnet, Deputies for the Province of Saintonge, who shall also acquaint them particularly from this Assembly with our sentiments, desires and designs, exhorting them to approve of them, and to consent unto them, and they shall be entreated to declare freely their thoughts of the whole, that so the General Deputies may be out of hand advised, and allured of it. The Letter to the Lord Duke of Sully shall be tendered by Monsieur de l'Isle Grossat, Deputy for the Province of Berry. That to the Lord de Plessis by the Sieurs Perillau, Vigneux and Ferrand, Deputies of the Province of Anjou. That for the Lord de la Force by the Sieurs de Brassalay and du Hau, Deputies of Bearne. That for the Lord de la Parabere by the Sieurs de Cuville and Cognac, Deputies of Poitou. And all these Gentlemen are charged with one and the same Message as above-mentioned, only they may make such additions as their zeal and dexterity shall judge to be most conducing to the Weal and Perfection of so glorious a work. Moreover, this Assembly entreateth and exhorteth that for God's sake, and the glory of his great name, and their own salvation, and for the peace and welfare of the Nation; yea it adjures by all that is desirable or commendable, the whole Body of our Communion in general, and every faithful Soul in particular, to divest themselves of all Animosities whatsoever, and to lop off immediately all dissolutions and dissensions, lest they should be the causes of the dissipation of the Churches of God in this Kingdom, which have been planted in the Blood of infinite Martyrs, and preserved by the Zeal and Concord of our Fathers; and that they would at length open their Eyes and see, and consider that the Churches Enemies bottom all their designs of ruining us upon our own Intestine Dissensions, and that by reason of these we are become very little, and exceeding despicable with our Adversaries. And all Pastors and Elders of Churches are enjoined diligently to procure the Re-union of the respective Members of their Flocks, and to lend one another their helping-hand to effect so good a work, and mightily to insist upon it in their pu • lick Sermons, and private Exhortations and Remonstrances: And in case they should meet with contempt, scorn and reproach in the discharge of this their duty, and that any one through an obdurate perverseness should show himself implacable and irreconcilable; This Assembly, according to that Authority which the Great God gives unto the Ministers of his holy Word, denounceth to them the dreadful Judgments of God, and wisheth that they may be had in Execration among and by all the Faithful; yea, all the (ensures of the Church shall be exerted against such Refractory persons, and the utmost rigor of our Discipline shall be inflicted and executed upon them, lest the good Name of God should be blasphemed through our sins, and that we may not contract upon ourselves the guilt of the Churches desolation; but rather that b the Bond of Peace and Fraternal Union, the Church of God may send forth a sweet perfume among our Adversaries, and his holy Name may be blessed and glorified by the Children of men.

9. And whereas in the prosecution of the said Re-union, the several persons before mentioned to be employed in it, must needs be at considerable Expence; this Assembly leaveth that Affair unto the prudence of our Lord's the General Deputies, who shall apply themselves to the Lord of Candall, with this our Order, to disburse Moneys for their necessary Charges. And the Lord's the General Deputies at Court, are ordered to complain unto their Majesty's, that the Moneys granted by them by way of Augmentation unto our Churches are not paid, nor have we the disposal, or management, or receipt of them; and they shall again by word of mouth renew their former Instances, and vigorously importune that the said Augmentation-Moneys, and all other sums belonging to us, may be put into such hands as shall wholly depend upon our Churches, that so according to the Warrants granted us for the said Moneys, and according to the Promise made us, they may be paid in unto us without any defalcation or diminutions, and that our poor Churches may be cased of that Penny in the Liver (which the Receivers attribute unto themselves,) and their condition bettered, if may be. And as to what sums have been advanced by the aforesaid Lord's Deputies, notice shall be given thereof unto the Provinces.

CHAP. XII. A Warrant signed for 45000 l. for the Churches.

FRiday the 22th of June, the Lord de Rouvray produced in this Assembly the Original Grant of Augmentation of five and forty thousand Livers which it hath pleased His Majesty to bestow upon our Churches. And this Assembly ordered the said Lord de Rouvray to return for us and for all the Churches, our most humble thanks unto their Majesty's, who have by this their extraordinary Bounty laid new obligations upon us to call upon our God with the greatest Ardency in our Prayers, that he would bless and prosper their Majesty's Persons, Crown and Government. And the said Grant was deposited in the hands of the Sieur Bonnet, Pastor and Deputy of Saintonge, who was to lodge it safely in the Archives of Rochelle; whereof he shall give advice by Letters under his own hand unto the said Lord de Rouvray.

12. This Assembly giveth full power to the Lord's our General Deputies to pass a contract with the Lord du Kandel about the Receipt and management of the five and forty thousand Livers Augmentation Money, and if possible they shall make but one only Contract of the two sum, to wit, of that first granted, and of the aforesaid Augmentation, and of their Receipt, always reserving the right of our Churches.

13. The s • me General Deputies are charged to oppose themselves formally against all persons whatsoever, that shall endeavor at Court to obtain any Relief to the detriment of the body of the Churches in this Kingdom, and contrary to the Union sworn by us, and advice shall be given hereof unto the Churches, that so the Pastors more especially, and the Consistories may do their duty in suppressing such like motions and Enterprises, as being scandalous, and menacing the Churches with great confusions.

14. This Assembly enjoineth all the Consistories of those places, where the Courts of Parliament and Chambers of the Edict are established, to remonstrate unto the Counselors professing our holy Reformed Religion their timorous luke-warmness in not opposing and resisting the Verification and Recording of those Letters of Abolition, it being their special duty to have opposed them, and to have demanded that their Act of Opposal might be recorded: Moreover the Consistories of those self-same Towns are exhorted to present unto the said Parliaments and Chambers of the Edict the General Declaration of this National Synod concerning those Letters of Abolition.

15. This Assembly ordaineth that for the future the Provinces shall send unto the National Synods a Catalogue of their Pastors in actual service, and of the Proposans maintained by them, attested by the Manual Subscription of the Moderators and Scribes of their Synods: Otherwise there shall be no reckoning made of the Rolls brought in, when as the Moneys given us by his Majesty shall come to be distributed.

16. This Assembly yielding to the necessity of the times, and observing that whatsoever Petitions and Addresses have been made unto their Majesty's by our extraordinary Deputations, are always ill resented, and misconstrued, and became so very unpleasing and distasteful to their Majesty's, that they would never vouchsafe a kind or acceptable answer to them; therefore it doth at present conceive it best for us to keep ourselves unto the ordinary ways of humble Petitions and Remonstrances, by the mouths of our General Deputies, Hoping that the goodness and clemency of the King and of the Queen Regent his Mother, and that the Justice of our Lord's in the Privy Council will by this means, the former having been disliked by them, grant that we shall at last reap and receive the fruit and benefit of them. And to this purpose the said General Deputies shaving rendered our most humble thanks unto their Majesty's for their gracious favors conferred upon their most Loyal and most Humble, and most Dutiful Subjects of the Reformed Religion, and particularly for the Augmentation of fifteen thousand Crowns a year granted to our Ministers) are charged most humbly to Petition their Majesty's, that they would be pleased to exempt them from that necessity which is imposed upon them (and now with greater severity than ever, and contrary to that Liberty of Conscience promised us) of styling ourselves, of the pretended Reformed Religion: Because we had rather and more willingly suffer the greatest torments, than stand obliged to condemn with our own mouths our most holy Religion. And their Majesty's also shall be requested to grant leave unto us in all Cities and Towns where▪ there be a number of families of our Religion, to keep lesser Schools, for the Education of our Children, and that those Restrictions and Modifications annexed unto the answer given to that article in our last complaint and Bill of Grievances may be taken off the file: This being a matter which can never be dismembered nor severed from our Liberty of Conscience. And whereas contrary to the hopes conceived at first by the Churches, when they sent their Commissioners from every Province, this Assembly is fully assured from all quarters, that the far greater part of our demands and remonstrances have been rejected, and that they have been all turned over to the Privy Council, and that it may be truly said, that after all the great coyl and noise made, nothing hath been yielded us, except a few Burying places, and those also in divers places to the detriment and disadvantage of our Religion, the said Deputies are charged to complain thereof unto their Majesty's, and most humbly to petition that it may be remedied and redressed and to this purpose the Memoirs of the Provinces and Churches groaning under these oppressions shall be put into their hands, that so some effectual course may be taken for their relief, and by such methods as they shall judge most fit to effect and compass it; and they shall farther insist on the Revocation of the Letters of Abolition verified in the Courts of Parliament. And whereas it is a matter of great importance and concernment to all the Provinces, that they be duly acquainted with the issue and success of our Renewed and Repeated Supplications unto their Majesty's, the aforesaid Deputies are enjoined, that as soon as they shall have received an answer to them, they do immediately transmit it unto the Provinces.

17. The Sieurs Bigot and de la Comb were Deputed by this Assembly to prosecute at Law Monsieur Palot, that so the Churches Moneys remaining in his hands, and with which he was entrusted, and which he oweth unto us, and would never render an account of them, may be recovered. And to this purpose it giveth Letters of Attorney unto the said Sieurs Bigot and de la Comb, with full power to receive all offers from Monsieur Palots Partners, and to treat with them in the Name of all the Provinces, and authorizeth them to accquit the said Partners of any sums which may be due by the said Palot even to the one third of the whole, provided the said Partners will make good the other two thirds, if they cannot compound with them upon better terms, that so the two thirds may come free info the Churches hands. But and if they cannot obtain better terms, and that they may be enabled to defray the Costs of this suit, they shall receive an yearly allowance of fifteen Hundred Livers, to be paid them quarterly by the Lord of Gandal, out of those Moneys which are to be paid into the Churches for the october quarter of the year one thousand six hundred and Eleven, and this to be done proportionably every year, quarter and day as long as the suit continues, and we farther promise, that if it shall please God to succeed their care and diligence with his Blessing, to give them a considerable gratuity for their pains. And the said Sieurs Bigot and de la Comb are ordered to advise and consult with the Lord's General Deputies, without whose Approbation they may not receive any offers from the Partners, nor act anything in the said process. And the said Lord's Deputies shall deliver unto the said Bigot and de la Comb all Papers concerning this matter, and notify unto them at what time they may be in Paris, and the said de la Comb is allowed for his journey thither the sum of one hundred and fifty Livers, which shall be paid him by the Lord du Kandel out of the fore-mentioned quarter, of the sum of fifteen hundred Livers.

CHAP. XIII. Of Particular Matters.

Monsieur Archimaud came unto this Assembly with Letters from several persons living in the County of Venisse and Archbishopric of Avignon, and with Letters also from the Lord of Saint A • ban, requesting that according to a Decree made in their Synod at Montdragon, held by his Majesty's authority, they might be admitted to sit and vote among us as another Province, and farther, that they might be assisted with some Moneys, at least to help forward the meeting of their Arbitrators, as it had been agreed by them. This Assembly accepting of their Agreement with us in the Confession of faith owned in all the Churches of this Kingdom, doth profess to embrace them in this Union as dear Brethren, to whom they are ready to impart all Christian Love, and are sorry that they cannot in this Assembly, which is purely Ecclesiastical, give them the privilege of being a distinct Province, that belonging properly to a Political Assembly, unto which for this purpose they must apply themselves; and farther, we cannot at present assist them with any Relief Suitable to their necessity, by which this Assembly might give them a solid and substantial token of that good will it bears them: However the effects and fruits thereof according to our ability shall be manifested upon all occasions. And their Affair at Court was most affectionately recommended to our Lord's General Deputies residing near their Majesty's.

2. Monsieur de Vialle Lieutenant Criminal of Montauban tendered Letters unto this Assembly, humbly petitioning that the Sieur Chamier Pastor of Montlimard might be bestowed upon the University of Montauban, to read and Profess Divinity in it. And the Lord du Plessis also at the same time did by the Sieur Perillau demand him for the University of Saumur to be Professor there. But upon hearing the Deputies of the Church of Montlimard, and the Deputies of the Province of Dauphiné, who produced Letters from Monsieur de Gouvernett by the hands of Monsieur de Chambaud, and presented them unto this Assembly, they declared against the Interests both of Montauban and Saumur, because of their particular right and title unto Monsieur Chamier, and they urged farther that by the Decrees of three National Synods he could not be removed from his Church; And having heard the protestation of Monsieur Chamier, declaring that he had no inclination to remove, and that he would leave himself wholly to the disposal of this Assembly; for divers Considerable reasons, notwithstanding all these oppositions it was resolved that the Sieur Chamier should be put into the distribution of Pastors and Professors, And the Church of Montlimard should be provided of another Pastor.

3. There being a very great difference between the Churches of Nismes and Vallence about Monsieur Murdt recalled by the Church of Vallence to be their Pastor, as the Assembly was composing and determining it, the Sieur Mallamont Elder of the Church of Nismes came in, and accused that Act of the Colloquy of Nismes presented by the Sieur Bansillon as false and forged, who yet avouched the contrary, and tendered for proof thereof the whole Act of the said Colloquy, but not signed. This Assembly not being able to Judge of the pretended forgery, remanded back the said Bansillon and Mallamont unto the next meeting of the Colloquy of Nismes, there to end the difference betwixt them, and the said Colloquy is enjoined on pain of Censure always for the future to see their Acts Subscribed and Attested.

4. Monsieur, Richaud Pastor of Mazac presented unto this Assembly Letters from his Father, broken with age and poverty, requesting that his portion of Moneys from the Kings bounty might be sent unto him into the Lower Languedoc, where he desires to retire and end his days: This his request was granted. And the Province of Lower Languedoc is enjoined to pay in the first place before any other Pastor without the least diminution the said Monsieur Richaud his portion assigned him as Pastor, and as every other pastor hath or shall have, according to what may be hereafter decreed in this Assembly.

5. Information was given in to this Assembly that in the Province of Higher Languedoc there were divers Pastors, who did not reside in their Churches. Whereupon that Province was expressly enjoined to see to it that every Pastor might have a dwelling house, and personally reside with his Flock, and that they Censure the disobedient, excepting the Sieurs Bichetteau and Richaud, according to the report made in this Assembly by Monsieur Malleret Deputy of the National Synod of St. Maixant, who was Commissionated to go unto the very places, and to take notice of all the difficulties pretended or real on this Subject.

6. The Sieur du Puy Pastor of the Church of St. Stephen and St. Marcellin in Forest demanding in the Name of his Church to be separated from the Province of Burgundy, and joined to that of Vivaretz, and also to be assisted with portions, and some other sums of Money, for the better support of his Church, which is threatened with utter ruin: This Assembly doth readily grant them their desire, and that they shall be separated from the Province of Burgundy, and be joined to that of Vivaretz, and ordereth that three annual portions be given them for their Relief in cafe of necessity, which shall be paid them without abatements until the next National Synod.

7. The Sieur Moze Minister of the Gospel, having complained in this Assembly, that he was suspected in the Assembly of Saumur to have driven on some secret designs at Montellimard against Monsieur Chamier, though without any ground or occasion on his part; and the said Monsieur Chamier having declared that at his return from the said Assembly, he could not meet with any evidence whereby to convict the said Moze: This Assembly doth assent unto the truth of what is declared by the said Moze, and it shall be improved as is Meet and Equitable, for his service; but withal it cannot but take in ill part the actings of the Synod of Dauphiné, which discharged him from one Church without giving him another.

8. The Colloquy of Usez is charged to pass over unto Nismes, and to demand of that Consistory the Original Letters of Captain Gautier which Monsieur Ferrier avoucheth to be among the Papers of that Consistory: And to this purpose the Copy which the Sieur Faye delivered into this Assembly was put into the hands of Monsieur Chamier, who promised that he would tear in pieces both that Copy and its Original, according to the desire of this Assembly.

9. The Sum of two hundred Livers was ordered unto Andrew Chanforan Son of Monsieur Chanforan Pastor of the Church of Pouzain, and to be paid by the Province of Provence, in lieu of an exhibition which the said Province was obliged to allow the said Andrew as a Proposan, since the last Synod of Rochell until that of St. Maixant; and whereas Monsieur Chanforan the Father demands of the same Province certain Arrears of Moneys granted by the King, and received by the Sieur Callian upon the portion assigned to the Church of la Coste, whereof he was a member in the year one thousand six hundred and eight, this Assembly ordaineth that the aforesaid Province shall pay in unto the said Monsieur Chanforan the sum of two and forty Livers, claimed by him both for his Arrears, and from the Church of Muil, which was annexed unto that of la Coste, saving always to the said Church of la Coste their power of producing an Acquittance under the hand of the said Chanforan, and to the Province thereof redemanding six Crowns upon the portion of the Church of Muil, as annexed to that of la Coste, and the aforesaid sums amounting to two hundred and forty two Livers, shall be taken out of the first Moneys which become due unto the Province of Provence.

10. Monsieur Perrin is desired to review his History of the Albigenses which hath been perused by our Commissioners, and to present it finished unto the Synod or Dauphiné, that according to the desire of this Assembly it may be printed.

11. The demand of Gilbert Vernoix Printer at Bergerac about a recompense for his having Printed some certain books, is remanded back unto the Synod of Lower Guyenne, that he may be satisfied, as the said Synod shall think meet.

12. The Deputies of Poitou requesting that the Province of Normandy might fulfil that Promise made by them in the National Synod held at Gergeau, for the relief of Monsieur de Vatable, who is overwhelmed with extreme poverty, and to whom there is due the sum of an hundred Livers by the Church of Luneray: This present Synod ordaineth that the said Province of Normandy do fully content and satisfy the said Vatable, and pay one half of what is due unto him out of their own purses, and take up the other half from the Church of Luneray, in which he was Minister.

13. The Deputies of Saintonge redemanding from the Province of Poitou two Churches said by them to have been severed from their Province, are remanded back again unto the said Province of Poitou, before whom they shall open their complaints, and in case they cannot agree among themselves, they shall refer the difference unto a neighbor Colloquy or Synod, with full power to compose it.

14. The Deputies from the Churches in the Principality of Béarn, having presented their desires according to the Instructions given them by their own Synod in Writing; This Assembly replies unto their first Article, that they cannot approve of the actions of such Provinces, as hinder their Students in Theology from Studying in the University of Béarn, and it accepts also of the Recommendations given by those Deputies of the Church of Bigorre, of Souilles and of Astaingues: And as to their second and third demands, they were advised to observe the Canons of our Church-Discipline; and as to the last Article in their Instructions, this Assembly can give them none other answer than this, that it highly applauds of their Zeal and good affection, and leaveth them to their liberty of sending to our National Synods either one or more Pastors and Elders.

15. The Sieur Beauvay complaining by Letters of the Province of Higher Languedoc for not fulfilling that decree of the National Synod of St. Maixant, which enjoined the said Province to pay him the sum of one hundred Livers owing him by the Sieur Durdes a Minister in the said Province: This Assembly ordaineth that the said hundred Livers shall be detained in the hands of the Lord du Candall, or of his Deputy, to be given unto the Sieur Carthaud Pastor of Diep in Normandy, that he may pay them unto the said Sieur de Beauvais.

16. The Sieur Champoleon demanding by Letters from this Assembly to be reimburst of his expenses of his Journey from Saumur to Dauphiné, and from Dauphiné back again to Saumur, where he found the Assembly broke up, and which Journey he undertook at the command of the said Assembly: This Synod orders him to have recourse unto another Political General Assembly for his answer.

17. Relation being made in this Assembly of those unheard of Riots committed by the Sieur de Tremoulet, in the Church of Servest in Vivaretz, the Colloquy of Annonay is ordered to meet as soon as possible they can, and to examine the matter of fact, and by the Authority of this Synod judicially to censure and condemn it. And in the mean while, the Pastors shall Assemble the Consistory of that place, and Summon before them the said du Tremoulet, and all his Partners in that Scandal, and in case of their non-appearance, immediately to suspend them from the Lord's Table, and to denounce this their suspension publicly before the whole Congregation.

18. Report being made of the extreme Poverty of Mr. William Papin, who was discharged from his Ministry, and is now Emeritus, and at present residing in Dauphiné; this Assembly gives him freely one portion free of all Taxes for his Subsistence, which shall be drawn out of the Province of Vivaretz, where he once served, and given unto the Province of Dauphiné, with order that they pay it him punctually.

19. The Churches of the Bailiwick of Gex reported by their Deputy the Sieur du Pain, how that they were dispossessed of all their Antient Church-Lands and Stock, and that their Temples wherein they worshiped God, were taken from them, notwithstanding all their Petitions and Endeavors to preserve them. This Assembly gave express order to our Lord's the General Deputies in Court, that they be very urgent with their Majesty's, that the twelve hundred Crowns granted unto the said Churches, and taken from the five and forty thousand Livers of Augmentation lately given unto our Churches, may be paid out of some other Fund, and that the said Augmentation-Moneys may come in wholly and freely without cloggs and defalcations unto our Churches: And farther, that the Churches of Gex may be assisted with some Relief towards their Building of other Temples.

20. The Church of Montpellier was censured for seeking Monsieur de Faucheur to be their Pastor by oblique and very unbecoming ways: And the Church of Annonay also fell under the same Censure for driving that unworthy Bargain with the said Church of Montpellier.

21. The Lord's General Deputies informed this Assembly how that the Church of Bergerac deserting the Union of our Churches, had by undue means procured to themselves the sum of fifteen hundred Livers out of the five and forty thousand Livers of Augmentation towards the maintenance of their College, to the great prejudice of all our Churches, and especially of their own Province. This Assembly judgeth them worthy of the greatest and severest Censures, and enjoineth their Provincial Synod to make them yield up that Warrant gotten by them for the said sum: And in case of their refusal, the said Synod shall denounce unto them by the Authority of this Assembly, that their portions out of the King's Moneys shall not be paid them, but detained in the hands of the Receiver General of the Province: And if it be found that any one of their Pastors have tampered in this Disunion, they shall be suspended from their Charges, and all the other Delinquents shall be censured as Schismatics and Deserters of our Union: And farther, it is ordained, that none of their Pastors or Elders shall be received as Members of the Provincial or National Synods, until such time as they have fully submitted themselves to our common Order, and so receive their portions in the usual and ordinary ways which are appointed them.

22. The Affairs of the Churches in the Principality of Béarn are particularly recommended to the care of our Lord's General Deputies at Court.

23. The Province of Dauphiné having not brought in to this Assembly the Account of their distribution of the Charity-Moneys gathered, and deposited with them for the poor Refugees of the Marquisate of Salluces, as they were enjoined :This Assembly doth once more command and enjoin them, on pain of Censure, to perfect the said Account, and to bring it in to the next National Synod. And whereas in consequence hereof the Sieur de la Comb presented an Acquittance which the Provincial Synod held at Ambrun the seventeeth day of June, One thousand six hundred and ten, had given hi Assessor, Guyonne and Jullien Scribes, the aforesaid Sieur de la Comb is discharged by this present Assembly of the sums of seventeen hundred fifty nine Livers and eleven Sous, which had been delivered to him in the National Synod of St. Maixant by the Provinces of Berry and Britain, by whom also the said Sieur is acquitted, he having deposited them in the hands of the Province of Dauphiné.

24. A difference having risen between the Church of Sezane and the Sieur Normund, Pastor of Belesme, about some Moneys which the said Normund had received in the name of the Church of Sezane, he having visited them in hopes to be called unto the Ministry among them, the Deputies of the Isle of France were appointed to compose it; which Agreement now perfected by them, is approved and confirmed by this Assembly, and it ordains, that the said Sieur Normund do out of the Moneys received by him, restore sixty Livers unto the said Church, and pay it for their use into the hands of Monsieur Montigny, Pastor of the Church of Paris, and this within three months, within which time also the said Church shall restore unto the said Normund his Books and Clothes in their custody, and so they shall give mutual Discharges and Releases unto one another.

25. The Deputies of Anjou demanding reimbursement from the Province of Brittany of moneys expended by them, and paid by the Church of Saumur towards the maintenance of Giles Drisonieurs formerly a Monk in the Province of Brittany; and the Province of Brittany contesting with them to the Contrary. The whole affair is dismissed over to the Province of Normandy which is finally to determine it.

26. Monsieur Moulin having tendered unto this Assembly a Latin book made by him upon the controversy with Piscator concerning justification, The Sieurs Sonys, la Fresnaye, le Faucheur, and Bonnett, were ordered each of them to peruse and read it, and make report of it, who gave in a very honorable Account of it, as containing sound and orthodox Doctrine, and contributing very much unto the Churches Edification; whereupon Monsieur du Moulin had the thanks of the whole Assembly given him for his great labors taken in the conference at Paris on this Article in defense of the Truth. Yet nevertheless lest that reunion projected in this Assembly should be retarded, it adviseth him not to publish it, till the sitting of the next National Synod; during which time he shall send a Copy of his book unto every Province, that so this matter being more carefully examined, it may come forth with general Approbation and Satisfaction.

27. The difference between the Isle of France, and le Sieur de le Touche Pastor of Mouchamp in Poitou is dismissed over to the next Provincial Synod of Berry, who by authority of this Assembly shall put a final period to it.

28. A Letter was read from the Inhabitants and Consistory of the Town of Clerac, and their demands heard also by the mouth of Monsieur Ricotier their Pastor: But this Assembly devolved the whole matter over to the next General Politick Assembly, then and there to be provided for according to the Decree of the last Assembly of Saumur, 1611.

29. The Sieur Bigot having tendered Letters from the Church of Paris, earnestly requiring that the Sieur Chauve, Minister of the Church of Sommieres, might be given them for their Pastor, as also the Letters of the said Chauve written unto the said Church of Paris. This Assembly judgeth that the desire of the Church of Paris cannot be gratified, considering the great opposition made by the Province of Lower Languedoc, and the Answer made them by the said Monsieur Chauve.

30. The Charges of the Deputies of Higher Languedoc unto this Assembly, shall be defrayed out of the portions of His Majesty's Moneys belonging unto that Province.

31. The Sieur Chamier is granted unto the Church of Montauban for Pastor, and Professor of Divinity in their University, upon this condition, that the said Church and University do give him full contentment as to his Stipend; and the said Sieur Chamier shall betake himself within three months unto Montauban, and the Wages of Professor in Theology, and the portion of the King's Moneys shall be counted to him from the first day of July next coming.

32. The Sieur Ferrier is given Pastor unto the Church of Montlimart, and thither he shall transport himself within one months time after the signification of this present Order to him, and he shall cease Preaching in the Church of Nismes upon the penalties before mentioned.

33. The Church of Annonay had the Sieur Moze given it for Pastor, and he is charged to mind his duty, as also his Church is required to give him full content, and the Province of Dauphiné shall give a portion unto the said Sieur, Moze proportionable to the time in which he had nothing assigned him.

34. The Sieur Escoffier, Pastor of the Church de la Chastre in Berry, is ordered, on pain of suspension, to content the Province of Dauphiné for their Charges expended on him whilst he was a Scholar.

35. The Province of Berry being indebted to the Churches the sum of fifteen hundred Livers Moneys belonging to the Academy of Boisbelle: This Assembly forgiveth them the one half, and ordereth that they make restitution of the other half, viz. seven hundred and fifty Livers within three years, they paying a third part of the said sum every year.

CHAP. XIV. Of Colleges and Universities.

1. THE Church of Clermont in Beauvoysin was censured for not bringing in the Account of the Distribution of the three hundred Livers granted to the College erected in their said Town, and the Province of the Isle of France, shall receive that Account from them, and exhibit it unto the Province of Berry; and in case the said Moneys have been ill managed and dispensed, they shall be deprived of that Right and Privilege claimed by them for a College.

2. The Province of Guyenne was severely censured for not doing their duty, in making the Church of Bergerac come to account with them, and they be enjoined to bring the said Account for the time past unto the Synod of Higher Languedoc. And in case they comply with the command of this Assembly, to quit their grant of fifteen hundred Livers, the three hundred Livers which were ordinarily given them, shall be continued unto their College; but if they do not, that Province shall not claim any Right in the said three hundred Livers and Augmentation.

3. The Province of Provence also was censured for not bringing in their Account of the Moneys given them for their College, and they are ordered to tender in that Account unto the next Synod of Dauphiné; and in case of failure herein, they shall also forfeit their Right and Claim unto a College.

4. The Province of Poitou also was censured for not having brought in their Account of their College, and they were ordered to tender it unto the Province of Saintonge; and in case of failure herein, we declare their Privilege of a College to be forfeited; and farther, they be enjoined to agree among themselves about a certain place where they may erect a College.

5. The Account brought in by the Province of Berry concerning their College, was accepted and approved.

6. The Account brought in by the Province of Xaintouge for their College, was also allowed and approved.

7. The Account of the Province of Burgundy for their College is remanded back again to be more exactly revised by them.

8. The Province of Brittany shall audit their Accounts for a College in the next Synod of Anjou; and in case of failure herein, they shall forfeit their Privilege and Claim unto a College; nor shall the said Province receive a farthing token of the Moneys granted and designed for a College.

9. The Province of Normandy was censured for bringing in a partial Account concerning their College, and they are turned over to the next Synod of the Isle of France, there to perfect their Accounts, or else they shall be deprived of their Right unto a College.

10. The Consuls and Inhabitants of the Town of Privas complaining that the Synod of Aubennas had taken away their College which they had maintained for divers years past, by the encouragement given them from the Provincial Synod held at Annonay: This Assembly decreeth, that the said College shall be fixed and settled in this Town of Privas, and be assisted with the same Salary as other Colleges, the said Consuls adding according to their promises and offers four hundred Livers of their own common Moneys, and they are desired to discharge their duty in maintaining the said College, as they have hitherto done to their great honor, and their former Accounts are all allowed and approved.

11. All Accounts about Colleges which have been redemanded shall be brought unto the next National Synod there to be revised and approved.

12. It's left to the prudence of the Provinces to erect as many Schools and Colleges more as they can, or else to assist those already in being with some better Maintenance.

13. All the Provinces shall have Colleges, excepting such as have Maintenance assigned for Universities, yet nevertheless those very Provinces besides their Universities may erect Colleges at their own Charges; and that of Languedoc shall give unto the said College of Beziers the sum of four hundred Livers to be raised out of the Stock of their University-Moneys, amounting to two thousand six hundred Livers.

14. The Provinces requesting that their Colleges might be enlarged in number, and better provided for with Maintenance: It was resolved that their number should not be augmented, but that every Province which hath Right unto a College shall have four hundred Livers a year allowed them for their College, until the next National Synod.

15. Since that Decree about the Accounts of our Academies at Nismes and Montpellier (which amounted to the sum of sixteen thousand eight hundred and fourscore Livers) the Deputies of Lower Languedoc having remonstrated unto this Assembly, that in the Account of the University of Nismes, there was a resumption of sixteen hundred and four Livers, eighteen Sous, and eight Deniers, owing from the Sieur Palot, whilst he was Receiver General; and seven hundred and twenty Livers in the Account of the University of Montpellier, they petitioned this Assembly, that they would be pleased to allow thereof in payment, and that the said sums might be deducted upon the Debet of the said Account, as also that there might be allowed unto the Sieurs Ferrier and Gigord for the years 1601, 1602, 1603, and 1604, the sum of sixteen hundred Livers wanting to make up the sum of six hundred granted them by an Ordinance of the Provincial Synod of Montpellier, and this both for the time past and to come; and farther, to allow upon the Debet of the same Account unto the Sieur Gigord his Wages for the years One thousand six hundred and nine, ten and eleven, which were not allowed him upon pretence of his being absent; and farther, that they would be pleased to allow towards the Impression of certain Books, the sums which were razed out. This Assembly did hereupon ordain, that upon the Debt of the aforesaid Accounts there shall be allowed and deducted the sum of sixteen hundred Livers unto the said Sieurs Gigord and Ferrier for the years above-mentioned, besides what was allowed them for their Wages by the Commissioners, and for the years 1609, 1610 and 1611. And unto the Sieur Gigord (notwithstanding what was álledged against him for his absence) the sum of one thousand and fifty Livers, according to the Account stated in the National Synod of St. Maixant; and farthermore, the said sums owing by Pallot, provided that they make it appear by his Account that they are due unto them, and not received from him, and that the over-plus amounting to eleven thousand one hundred and nine Livers, shall be paid out of the Moneys due unto the Churches of the said Province, as it shall be appointed in the Dividend; and for the seven hundred and one and fifty Livers due unto the Heirs of Monsieur Mousnier deceased, who in his life-time was Professor of Divinity in the University of Nismes, as appears from the close and upshot of that Universities Account, they shall be paid out of those Moneys which may be owing the said Province of Lower Languedoc by the Lord du Candall, or his Deputy, he being now at Privas, from the remainders of Moneys to come in for the years One thousand six hundred and four, five and six; And where they cannot be entirely paid, they shall be reprised out of the Moneys which shall hereafter become due.

16. Out of the Arrearages due unto the Churches from the remaining Moneys of the years six hundred and four, five and six, amounting to the sum of two and twenty thousand five hundred threescore and fifteen Livers, the Assembly ordaineth, that the tenth portion of the said Moneys be given unto the Sieur Vignier as a Gratuity and acknowledgment of his Charges and great Pains taken in the Writing and Printing of his Book entitled, Le Theatre de l'Antichrist. And the fortieth part of the said Moneys is freely given unto the Sieur Cuper, Deputy of the Lord du Kandel, and the said portions shall be paid, only with an abatement of a Sous in the Liver, unless the said Sieur Vignier be pleased to accept of five hundred Livers clear of all incumbrances or defalcations.

17. Out of the best Moneys of Arrearages due unto the Churches by the Lord du Kandel for the years six hundred four, five and six, there shall be given the sum of three hundred Livers unto Monsieur Thompson Pastor of the Church of Chaflaignerey to help to bear his Charges in Printing his book intitled; la Chasse de la Besle Romaine, as also unto the Sieur Sonis Professor of Theology in the University of Montauban there shall be given the sum of three hundred Livers out of the same Moneys, as a gratuity for his worthy Labors.

18. The Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc having given their reasons why the Churches of Cévennes and Gevaudan, though separated from them should bear one half of the half of eleven thousand one hundred, and some odd Livers, for which the whole Province were jointly together become debtors unto the General stock of the Churches: This Assembly ordaineth, that both the one and other Synod shall make restitution of the said sums by equal portions, both alike, and this within the term of three years, and they shall bring in their Accounts for it unto the next National Synod.

19. Whereas upon auditing the Accounts of the Province of Higher Languedoc for the University of Montauban in this Assembly it appeared that they owed five thousand, four hundred, and sixteen Livers, thirteen Sous, and four Deniers, it is now decreed, that the said Province shall repay this Money within the term of three years by equal portions yearly, and the first payment to begin this very year, until the whole debt be fully satisfied; not but that the said Province may take its course in Law against those who have had the management of those Moneys.

20. The Assembly having debated about the number of Universities to be maintained by us, have resolved that till the next National Synod, the Universities of Montauban, of Saumur, of Nismes and Montpellier shall be maintained, but according to those Laws and Orders which shall be hereafter prescribed to them; and in case they do not bring in unto the next National Synod a good and satisfactory Account of their Moneys, they shall from this very day be razed and dissolved.

21. In Regulating the Professors for our Universities of Saumur and Montauban, this Assembly Ordained that there should be two Professors of Divinity in full employment, and to each of them there shall be given the yearly sum of seven hundred Livers, and they shall also in case of Ability be permitted to serve in the Ministry, the Church compounding with them about their Salary, and the portion of Royal Moneys shall be reckoned as a part thereof: And as touching the other Professors those Orders made by the National Synod of St. Maixant shall be observed, excepting always that the first Regents, if capable of teaching Rhetoric, and Professing Eloquence, shall only receive four hundred Livers Salary, and thus there shall be given one hundred Livers over and above the three hundred formerly assigned unto the first Regent at Saumur, and an hundred Livers more unto Montauban for their first Regent also, over and above the wages he now receiveth from the said City.

22. And to every Professor of Divinity in the University of Nismes and Montpellier that is in full employment, there is ordained the sum of seven hundred Livers, fourteen hundred for the two, and to the Professor of Hebrew four hundred Livers, to both eight hundred: and to the College of Beziers the four hundred Livers before-mentioned, the whole sum thus granted amounting to two thousand six hundred Livers, and in case the Moneys be not thus employed according to the purpose and intendment of this Assembly, that then they shall be returned and re-entered into the Common stock of our Moneys.

23. How and After what manner the University exercises shall be performed, and how these Universities are to be governed: This Assembly enjoins the Council of these Universities to prepare a Model, as each of them conceiveth best and most expedient for them, and let it be brought into the next National Synod, that then there may be a General Canon enacted and established for them.

24. The University of Montauban demanding the Sieur Gardesy Pastor of Mauvezin to be given unto the said University for Professor of the Greek Tongue, and that their Charges in getting and transporting Professors to them might be considered and defrayed: For the first this Assembly sends them back unto their own Province there to be heard about this their inquiry; and as to the last about paying their charges, it could not in the least be granted them.

25. The Deputies of Dauphiné requesting to be assisted with some Moneys to help to defray their Charges in maintaining their University of Die, this Assembly to gratify them once for all ordaineth that the said Province shall receive out of the Moneys owed us by the Province of Lower Languedoc the sum of three thousand Livers, and they may stop the said sum, it now lying in the hands of the Lord du Kandel, who shall make payment of it unto that person appointed by the Province of Dauphiné to receive it out of the portions that would befall the said Province in the Dividend: And this sum shall be a Fund for the Province of Dauphiné, and the product hereof shall go to the support and maintenance of their aforesaid University, nor shall the principal be ever alienated; and a just account of the whole shall be brought into the next National Synod.

26. The Lord of Kandel shall keep in his hands out of the Moneys to be distributed by him unto the Provinces of Higher and Lower Languedoc, Cévennes and Berry, the sums they are found indebted to us in the Arrears of their Accounts for Universities and Colleges, to wit, from the Province of Lower Languedoc and Cévennes eleven thousand one hundred and nine Livers, from the Province of Higher Languedoc five thousand two hundred forty & four Livers, from the Province of Berry seven hundred and fifty Livers, according to the terms prescribed the said Provinces, that so the said sums may be distributed by the said Lord du Kandel according to the Order of this Assembly, viz. from the Moneys owing by the Higher Languedoc two thousand Livers to Monsieur Chamier, and from the Moneys owing by the Lower Languedoc and Cévennes three hundred Livers unto Monsieur Perrin, and these two Ministers shall be paid out of the first Moneys detained in the hands of the Lord du Kandel for the first year.

27. The Province of Anjou having brought in their Accounts of Moneys appointed to the University of Saumur, was found behind-hand indebted six hundred sixty and one Liver, and one Sous, which sum the said Province shall be accountable for unto the next National Synod, and the Originals of those Accounts are ordered to be delivered unto the Deputies of Saintonge, that by them they may be lodged in the Archives of Rochelle.

28. The Account of the University of Montauban having been brought in to this Assembly, together with the difficulties about it for the years One thousand five hundred ninety and eight, and ninety nine, when they had no Professors in their University, as likewise for the following years, in which a part of those Moneys appointed for their University, had been employed towards the maintenance of their College; as also part of the Moneys of the years ninety eight and ninety nine had been thus diverted and employed: The Synod thought fit to allow of those Moneys designed for their University for the years ninety eight, ninety nine, sixteen hundred, and sixteen hundred and one, and the others following, which had been profitably employed in the maintenance both of their College and University; and ordaineth with reference to those aforesaid years of One thousand five hundred ninety and eight, ninety nine, and sixteen hundred, that the Moneys which had been employed in the year sixteen hundred, shall only be allowed of, without any regard had unto the employment made of the over-plus in the years following, or to the Account of the Receipt which the said University should have given for those aforesaid years fourscore and eighteen, nineteen and sixteen hundred, amounting to nine thousand two hundred sixty five Livers, sixteen Sous, and four Deniers, and the Expence to two thousand two hundred forty five Livers, and eighteen Sous; and there was found in the Receipt which should have been made by the said University, that it was indebted in seven thousand and nineteen Livers, eighteen Sous, and four Deniers: Out of which sum deducting two thousand five hundred ninety and nine Livers, which the said University should have received from the Sieur Palot for three quarters of the year One thousand five hundred and ninety eight, and which are brought in by Reprisal, to be recovered by the Churches from the said Palot, the Province of Higher Languedoc remaineth indebted the sum of one thousand four hundred and sixteen Livers, thirteen Sous, and four Deniers, which they shall pay in at the terms appointed by the afore-mentioned Ordinance.

29. This Synod was informed, how that certain Churches in the Lower Guyenne, lying on the Frontiers of Béarn, as Tartar, Mont de Marsan, Lauze, Bigorre, Soulez, and some others, were now and then assisted by the Pastors of Béarn, and yet were put upon the Catalogue of Churches actually served, that so they might have the portions ordained for every Pastor in the Lower Guyenne. This Synod doth not at all approve or allow that those Churches should be thus inserted into the Catalogue; however, it leaveth the matter unto the consideration of the next National Synod, and commandeth the said Province to provide Pastors out of hand for those Churches, and such as may personally reside among them, and be in actual service to them, and none else, to receive their portions; whereof the said Province shall yield up a good Account, or else be bound to make restitution of everyone of those respective portions.

30. The twelve Pastors in the Land and Bayliwick of Gex, shall receive by way of recompense for the loss of their Church-stock, which was once in their possession, the sum of twelve hundred Crowns out of the Augmentation-Moneys; and although the Joynt-Interest of all our Churches lieth near the heart of this Assembly, yet because of the remonstrances and importunities of the Deputies of Burgundy, it grants over and above the twelve hundred Crowns unto the said Pastors the sum of six hundred Livers to be divided equally among them, but on this condition, that they shall engage their people to contribute according to their ability towards their maintenance; and of this they shall bring in Evidence and good Proof unto the next National Synod, or otherwise they shall be deprived of all manner of Assistance and Relief from us.

31. The Province of Burgundy is enjoined to provide two Pastors for the Churches of Maringues and Paillac, and to give them both two free portions out of those two and thirty assigned in the dividend unto their Province, and they shall give an account hereof unto the next National Synod.

31. The two portions formerly conferred upon the Church of Aubenas by the foregoing Synods, are now left to the free Disposal of the Province of Vivaretz, which shall receive in full seven and thirty portions, in which are included the three portions assigned unto the Church of St. Stephen 's in Forest.

33. Provence was ordered to provide a Pastor for the Church of Aix, of Laux, and Marseille, and two free portions for him taken out of the portions assigned in the Dividend unto that Province; as also one portion unto the Sieur Maurice a Minister Emeritus, and furthermore one portion unto the Church of Manosques, and to get it speedily a Pastor, and of all this they shall render an Account unto the next National Synod.

34. There shall be deducted for the Lord du Kandel what remains of the thirds taken by the Sieur de Visouze out of the Sous upon the Liver, the said Visouze not liking to do by his portion of the said thirds of the University Moneys as the Lord du Kandel hath done by his, who freely and generously bestowed it on our Universities. Therefore he shall draw forth four Deniers out of the Liver of the Moneys belonging to the said University.

35. The sum of one hundred Livers over and above the two hundred Livers assigned by the Synod of St. Maixant shall be paid in unto Monsieur Renault, Pastor of Montauban, and Professor of the Hebrew tongue in that University.

36. The next National Synod God willing shall be held in the Province of Lower Guyenne within the space of two years, and in the Month of May, saving that it may be either hastened or delayed as the Lord's General Deputies, or either that, or the neighbor Provinces shall advise of. And the Provinces of Brittany and Provence are left to their Liberty to send more than two Deputies, viz. one Pastor and Elder each, which is only granted them for this next National Synod.

CHAP. XV. The Roll of Apostates.

1. JOSHUA Guibert a man of a mean stature, the hair of whose head and beard is very black, his eyes black, long visaged and staring out, his skin tawny, shaking his head, and spitting at his first approaches, stammering in his ordinary discourses, black teeth, and very Slovenly in his Apparrel, hath quitted Saintonge, where he was Minister in the Church of Archiac, and renounced the truth of Christ's holy Gospel.

2. James Cyespe born at Puy in Velley, twenty six years old, or there-about low of stature, black hair'd, and of a lowering countenance, having been accused of an enormous crime by a Popish schoolmaster when he was at Carpentras in the Jesuits College, he returned again with the dog unto his vomit of Popery, and publisheth himself at present Chaplain and Almoner unto the Bishop of Vallence. He was sometimes Minister at Crest in Dauphiné.

CHAP. XVI. The Accounts and Disbursments of our Moneys by the Lord du Kandel.

THE Deputies out of every Province appointed to examine the Accounts of the Lord du Kandel, and to make a Dividend of the Moneys given us by his Majesty, have reported that they were personally present at the auditing and finishing the Accounts brought in by the Lord du Kandel unto the Synod of St. Maixant in the year one thousand six hundred and nine, that he was in Arrears for the years 1604. 1605. and 1606. the sum of forty thousand, three hundred, and twenty Livers, nineteen Sous, and one Denier, for the payment whereof he presented a Breviate of the sums paid by him, according to the ordinance of the said Synod, amounting to the sum of Ten thousand, six hundred and fourscore Livers, and five Sous, and that he hath yet remaining in his hands to • e distributed among the Churches, according to the Dividend of the said Synod the sum of four thousand, seven hundred, sixty and six Livers, seven Sous. He declared farther, that he could never be paid the sum of two thousand, two hundred, fourscore and seven Livers, ten Sous, razed out of the said Account, and charged upon the Garrisons, nor the sum of two and twenty thousand, five hundred and seventy five Livers, seven Sous and one Denier, which yet remaineth due, to wit, from the Receiver General of the Revenue at Poitiers for the year 1604. the sum of six hundred and one and twenty Livers, nineteen Sous and one Denier, and for the year 1605. Three thousand six hundred Livers, and from the Receivers of Limoges for the years 1604, 1605, 1606. the sum of eighteen thousand three hundred, fifty three Livers, eight Sous, of which sums he made Reprisal in his Account, and saith that he hath given evident proof of his diligence used to recover those sums aforesaid unto the Commissioners appointed by his Majesty for the clearing of his Accounts, which not appearing unto us, the Lord's du Rouvray and de la Milletiere our General Deputies are entreated to see those Accounts cleared, and the said Lord du Kandel is desired to continue his endeavors for the recovering of those Moneys which are yet due unto us.

They made farther report that for the years one thousand six hundred and seven, six hundred and eight, he was in Arrears the sum of eight and thirty thousand three hundred and twenty Livers, fifteen Sous, for the payment of which he brought in an Account attested by the Lord de la Milletierre, amounting to thirty three thousand, seven hundred forty and eight Livers, fifteen Sous and five Deniers, and declareth that he hath remaining by him the sum of four thousand, four hundred, seventy and seven Livers, two Sous and seven Deniers to be distributed among the Churches, as was before ordered.

Moreover they acquainted the Assembly that they had seen and examined the account tendered them by Monsieur Sulpitius Cuper Deputy of the said Lord du Kandel, for the years 1609, 1610, and 1611. Whose Receipt amounts to four hundred and five thousand Livers, and his disbursment for the years 1609, and 1610, and for three quarters of the year 1611, to the sum of three hundred seventy and one thousand two hundred twenty nine Livers, nineteen Sous and four Deniers, and there was time given for payment for the years 1610, and 1611. For four and twenty thousand nine hundred, fifty and five Livers, nineteen Sous and eleven Deniers, because he could not produce his Acquittances. And therefore their remaineth due for those years the sum of ten thousand Livers and eight Deniers, and for the last Quarter of the year, 1611, three and thirty thousand, seven hundred and fifty Livers, which he must pay according to the order before settled by the Synod of St. Maixant. Out of which Moneys this Assembly appointed that there should be distributed the sum of three thousand Livers formerly given unto the Sieurs Bigot and de la Comb according to that Article inserted into their Deputation, and three hundred sixty and six Livers to defray their expenses at this present Synod; so that there remaineth of the said sum three and thirty thousand, four hundred Livers and eight Deniers.

CHAP. XVII. Here follows the Dividend of four thousand seven hundred sixty and six Livers arising from the Arrears of the years 1604, 1605, and 1606. according to the Account of St. Maixant. In which the Provinces of Higher Languedoc and Lower Guyenne are not contained, they having received the portions befallen them in ready Money, or by Warrants under the hand of the said Lord du Kandel.

Another Dividend after the same manner of the sum of four thousand, four hundred, seventy and seven Livers, two Sous and one Denier, arising from the Arrears of the years, 1607 and 1608.

Another Dividend among all the Provinces of the sum of thirty thousand three hundred and ninety Livers of the remaining Moneys for the last Quarter of the year; 1611. according to the Regulation made in the Synod of St. Maixant and divers other orders.

There remaineth for the years 1609 and 1610. ten Livers and eight Deniers, for which the Lord du Kandel is to be accountable.

Another Dividend among all the Provinces of one hundred and fourscore thousand Livers given by his Majesty unto the Churches, for this present year, and for the years following according to the Decree of this National Synod of Privas, and to be observed until the next National Synod; according to which the Lord du Kandel, and the Lord de Visouze shall make payments of those sums at the terms which shall be hereafter appointed.

Deductions which must be made from the said sum of one hundred and fourscore thousand Livers.

In the first place there shall be allowed by the Warrant before-mentioned.

CHAP. XVIII. A Dividend for the Universities.

This is but one half of the sum of three thousand three hundred Livers ordained for them, by the preceding Sypods, besides the sum of two thousand two hundred Livers upon the lesser Account; The other moyety of the said three thousand three hundred Livers was cast upon the Account of the Garrisons, to make up the sum of thirty thousand five hundred Livers, though it had been ordered to be paid in yearly unto the said General Deputies.

Wherefore there remaineth to be distributed to the service of the said Churches the sum of one hundred and sixty thousand, two hundred and sixty Livers, which were divided in manner following.

And all these several sums the said Lord du Kandel shall pay in quarterly unto the Universities, Deputies, Commissioners and Provinces at the terms appointed, and in manner following.

What cometh into the Provinces of the Isle of France, Berry, Normandy, Anjou, Poitou, Lower Guyenne, Higher Languedoc, taking in the Universities within the said Provinces, shall be paid in to such Commissioners as shall be hereafter named.

The first payment shall be made on the first of July.

The second the fifteenth of the next October.

The third on the last of January following, when we date the year 1613.

And for the Isle of France the payment shall be made at Paris, for Normandy at Rouan, for Berry at Orleans, for Poitou at Poitiers, for the Lower Guyenne at Bourdeaux, for the Higher Languedoc at Montauban, for Anjou at Tours.

For the Lower Languedoc, Cévennes, Provence, Brittany and Saintonge.

The first payment shall be before the last day of July.

The second before the last of this next October.

And the third before the last of February, sixteen hundred and thirteen.

To wit, for Provence, Lower Languedoc and Vivaretz in the City of Montpellier.

For Brittany at Nants.

For Saintonge at the City of Rochelle.

And for the Provinces of Burgundy, Dauphiné and Vivaretz to the Commissioners which are or shall be named by the said Province, at the City of Lions.

To wit, the two first payments at the Fairs in August and All-hallontide, of this present year, and the third at the Fair of the three Kings, in the year 1613.

And the above-mentioned Provinces shall be obliged to appoint in each of those before named Towns; one certain house unto which the Lord du Kandel may come, and make payment of those Moneys. And the said Lord du Kandel shall pay in quarterly unto the said Churches whatsoever he can actually recover of that Quarter unto each of the Provinces equally, (they concurring to the abatement of a Sous in the Liver,) within the fifteenth of August of the year 1613. at the places, and unto the persons named by the said Provinces. And touching the overplus which remaineth to be recovered after the fifteenth of August in the year 1613, he shall give in his notes in writing unto every particular Province, who shall come and take them according to the Account and Dividend, which shall be made by our General Deputies at Court. Of all which sums thus actually paid down by the said Lord of Kandel he shall take and keep unto himself a Sous in the Liver, which was freely granted him, excepting for the Universities, from whom he may detain only four Deniers, a farthing in the Liver, which in truth is not his, but the right and due of the Lord de Visouze.

And as for these Rescriptions of the last Quarter, he shall only take three Deniers; and the whole shall be managed and dispatched in a full and exact conformity to that agreement past between him and the Deputies of our Churches at the National Synod of Gap, and the Regulations made in the following years.

Moreover the said Lord du Kandel is required not to divert unto any other uses the Moneys of our Churches and Universities, whatever orders he may receive from other hands, without an express order from a National Synod; otherwise it shall not be allowed him in the yielding up of his Accompts.

CHAP. I. Deputies Names. Officers chosen.

1. AFTER Invocation of the Name of God, the Letters of Deputation were read, that so the Call of every person assisting in it, might be known, and the Oath taken by them, that they had not by any secret, under-hand or undue practices gotten themselves Elected Deputies, and that they knew not any of this Assembly to have so done; after which they chose the Sieur Gigord Moderator, and Monsieur Gardesy Assessor, and Monsieur Rivett a Pastor, and Monsieur Maltret an Elder, to be Scribes.

2. The Assembly proceeding in their Examination of the Letters of Commission begun with the Province of Higher Languedoc, and Higher Guyenne, for which there appeared Monsieur John Gardesy, Pastor in the Church of Mauvesin, and Bennet Balarand, Pastor in the Church of Castres, with Peter du Puy, Lord of Sabournac, Elder in the Church of St. Paul la Miate, and Denys Maltret, Advocate in the Court of Castres, Elder of the Church in that City.

3. For the Province of Poitou, Monsieur Andrew Rivet, Pastor of the Church at Touars, and Peter de la Vallade, Pastor of the Church in Fontenay Compte, with Jonas de Bessay, Lord of Bessay, & Elder in the Church of Marueil, and Giles Begaud, Lord of la Begaudiere, Elder in the Church of St. Fulgentius.

4. For the Province of Brittany, Monsieur de la Place, Pastor of Zion, and Andrew le Noir, Lord of Beauchamp, Pastor of the Church gathered in the House of my Lord the Duke of Rohan, with Stephen Groyer, Lord of Kerbouchart, Councillor of the King, and Alloue de Guerrande, Elder in the Church of Croisis, and James de Beaulieu, Elder in the Church of Rennes.

5. For the Province of the Isle of France, Picardy, Champagne, and the Land of Chartres, Mr. James Imbert Durant, Pastor in the Church of la Ferte of the Vidame, and Abraham de la Cloche, Pastor of the Church of Chaltray, together with Elijah Bigot, Advocate in the Parliament of Paris, and Elder in the said Church, who tendered Letters of Excuse from the Sieur Vauquet, Elder of the Church of Laon, declaring the Reasons of his absence from this National Synod, of which his Province shall take cognizance, and they be exhorted to take care that for the future there may be none of their Deputies wanting.

5. For the Province of Vivaretz, Vellay, and Forest, Monsieur Daniel Chanforan, Pastor of the Church of Poussin, and Monsieur John du Croy, Pastor in the Church of Villeneuve de Berg, together with James Olivier, Advocate in the Court of that place, and Elder in the same Church, and James Garnier, Elder in the Church of Privas.

7. For the Province of the Lower Guyenne, Monsieur Jeremy Bancons, Pastor in this Church of Tonneins, and Ezekiel Marmett, Pastor in the Church of Nerac, together with Francis de Lusignan, Baron of Lusignan, Governor for the King in his Town and Castle of Puymirol, and Elder of the Church there gathered; and John de la Nouaille, Elder in the Church of Gensac.

8. For the Province of Saintonge, Aulnix, and Augoulmois, Monsieur Louis le Chevelier, Lord of la Cappelliere, and Jerome Colomiers, both Pastors in the Church of Rochelle, together with Leon de St. Maure, Baron of Montosier, Elder in the Church of Bene, and Peter de Breuil, Lord of Fontenelles, Elder in the Church of Barbezieux.

9. For the Churches in the Principality of Béarn, Monsieur John de Dizerotte, Pastor in the Church of Olleron, and Peter de Nauguey, Doctor of Physic, Elder in the Church of Lescar.

10. For the Province of Anjou, Touraln, le Maine, Condomnois, Vendomois, and the Lower Parche, Monsieur Samuel Bouchereau, Pastor in the Church of Saumur, together with Eleazar de la Primauday, Lord of la Barree, Elder in the Church of Bourgueil, and Abes dit Val, Lord of Villiers, the King's Attorney in the Election, and Granary of Salt at Chasteaugontier, and Elder of the Church there, who related unto this Assembly, that Monsieur Daniel Coupe, Pastor in the Church of Tours, their Fellow-Deputy, was absent through the opposition of his Consistory, which also was confirmed by the Brethren that passed through that Town. Whereupon the Synod judged the Authors of his absence highly censurable, and cannot approve of the said Coupes compliance with their will, to the prejudice of what had been decreed in the Provincial Synod. And that a meet Censure, according to the merits of the Cause, may be duly inflicted on them, express order is given to the Pastors and Elders of the Isle of France and Anjou, that in their return from hence homeward, they shall pass unto Tours, and particularly inquire into this fact, and by Authority of this Assembly shall pass Sentence on them, and all their Charges shall be defrayed by that said Church, and they shall make report of their duty herein either in Person or by Letters unto the next National Synod.

11. For the Province of Higher Languedoc, Monsieur John Gigord, Pastor and Professor of Divinity in the Church and University of Montpellier, and John Bansillon, Pastor of the Church in Aiguemortes, together with Peter de Massanes, Councillor for the King, and General in the Court of Assistants at Montpellier, and Elder of that Church, and Henry de Farrell, Lord of St. Privat, Elder in the Church of Usez.

12. For the Province of Cévennes and Gevaudan, Monsieur John Bony, Pastor in the Church of Sauve, together with James de Combier, Lord Baron of Fonds and of Serignac, Elder in the Church of Juissac, and Peter de Sduorin, Lord of Pomaret, and of St. Andrew de Valborgne, Elder in the Church of the same place, who presented Letters from Monsieur John Fitz, Pastor in the Church of St. John of Gardenengue, excusing his absence by reason of sickness befallen him in his Journey; which excuse being warrantable, was accepted by this Assembly. Since, there arrived Monsieur Isaiah du Marez, Pastor of the Church of Alez, who being substituted in his stead, and tendering the Act of Substitution unto this Synod, he was immediately admitted.

12. For the Province of Provence, Monsieur Samuel Toussain, Pastor in the Church of Luc, with Balthazar Geronte, Lord of Verages, Elder in the Church of Aiguieres.

13. For the Province of Dauphiné, Mr. Paul Guyon, Pastor in the Church of Dieu le Fit, and Denys Bouteroue, Pastor in the Church of Grenoble, together with James de Veze, Lord of la Lo, Elder in the Church of Montlimart, and Francis de la Comb, Elder in the Church of St. Marcellin.

14. For the Province of Burgundy, Lyonnois, Bea • jolois, Brosse and Gex, Monsieur Peter Colinet, Pastor of the Church of Paray in Charolois, and Peter Eliot, Pastor of the Church of Arnay le Duc, together with John de Jaucour, Lord of Villarnou, Elder in the Church of Avalon, and John Grace, Elder in the Church of Lion.

15. For the Province of Normandy, Monsieur Benjamin Banage, Pastor of the Church at Karentan, and Samuel de l'Escherpiere, Lord of la Riviere, Pastor in the Church of Rouen, together with Paul du Vivier, Lord of Beaumont, Elder in the Church of Bayeux, and James le Noble, Lord of la Leau, Elder in the Church of Dies.

16. For the Province of Orleans, Berry, Blezois, &c. Monsieur Daniel Jamett, Pastor of the Church of St Amand in Bourbonnois, and Samuel de Chambaran, Pastor of the Church of l'Orges and Marchenoir, together with Louis de Courcillon, Lord of d'Angeau, Elder in the said Church, and James de Brissay, Lord of Jenonville, Elder in the Church of Gergeau.

17. There appeared also in this Assembly Stephen Chesneverd, Lord of la Millitiere, General Deputy of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom, who was admitted, and had both his deliberative and decisive Votes granted him.

CHAP. II. An Order about Letters of Deputation.

1. ALL the Provinces for the future are enjoined to express the proper names and surnames of the Pastors and Elders deputed by them unto these National Synods, and to specify that particular place wherein they exercise their respective Offices. And whereas that failure observed by former National Synods about Submission and Obedience, is still found wanting in several Letters of Deputation from divers Provinces; it is ordained, that it shall be promised in express terms, without any condition or modification whatsoever, unto all things which shall be determined and decreed by these National Synods.

CHAP. III. Urgent Matters.

2. THE Church of Paris excused its Consistory, and Monsieur du Moulin one of their Pastors, about his absence from this Assembly, though' nominated thereunto by the Synod of the Isle of France, and offered, that if he might have speedy notice of it, and this Assembly judged it needful, he should yet come unto them: But upon debate it was found utterly inconvenient for the said Monsieur du Moulin to appear in person among us, or that the cause of his trouble should be examined and judged by this Assembly, this being no proper place for its trial; for by such an Anticipation we should imbroil ourselves with the Civil Magistrates, wherefore the excuses both of the Consistory of that Church, and of the said Sieur du Moulin were accepted.

3. The Letters of the Lord's Dukes of Rohan and Sully, and from the Lord du Plessis Marli, were received and read in this Assembly, all tending to assure the Churches of this Kingdom of their holy Resolution immovably to persevere in our Faith and Discipline, and to adventure their Estates, their Lives and Fortunes for the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ, expressing also their great desire that all the Members of our Churches might be preserved in a sweet and perfect Concord. After thanks given them in the person of their Messengers, Letters were ordained to be written unto each of them, applauding their Zeal and Religious Affection, and exhorting them to perseverance in this their godly Resolution; and farther, to assure them that this Assembly will do its utmost endeavor that their pious desires of uniting all the Members of the Church may be accomplished.

4. This Assembly being informed that Mr. David Hume formerly Pastor in the Church of Duras in the Lower Guyenne was lately returned from his native Country of Scotland, and as he passed through England, his Majesty of Great Britain had charged him with a Letter, to be delivered to us, concerning differences sprung up in our Churches on several points of Doctrine. The Assembly ordained that (before it was read unto us) a Copy thereof should be transcribed and sent unto the Lord de Rouvray our Deputy General at Court, that so in case we should be suspected there, he might immediately discover that it was nothing of State-Affairs, but only a Point of Doctrine, which concerned all the Reformed Churches gathered in divers Kingdoms, and Republics: To Communicate in which Matters we had all freedom ever promised us, and as for those of another nature we would never intermeddle with them, unless we had an express and new permission from the King.

5. Monsieur Hume being called in, did by word of mouth relate what was given him in charge by his Majesty of great Britain, who advised this Assembly as from him to procure and maintain a firm Union in points of Doctrine among the Pastors, Professors and others the Members of our Churches, without quarrelling with the Divines of Germany or any persons teaching otherwise, who handled the point of Justification in a different manner from us: and particularly that we would silence that controversy risen up between the Sieurs du Moulin and Tilenus, and yet to prize and value those Gifts which the great God hath so plenteously bestowed upon them for his Churches Edifying; Assuring us farther of his Majesty's good will, affection and purpose to defend the Churches of God, and particularly ours: Which also was the substance of his Letter. This Assembly returned their most humble thanks unto the King of Great Britain (speaking by the said Mr. Hume the bearer of his Letters,) and put off their consideration and resolutions about this affair unto its proper place, viz. then to be debated, when as the Acts of the Synod of Privas shall be reviewed.

6. The Deputies of the Council for the Province of Lower Guyenne craving leave to be heard in this Assembly about matters of great importance, which they were ordered to declare unto us, being introduced, they began to vindicate and justify the means used by them in their prosecution of the violations of the Edict, by which their Churches had exceedingly suffered, whereof they gave many and particular instances in divers Articles, and concluded with an earnest suit unto this Assembly that we would by all lawful means prevent divisions among ourselves, and so obviate the Plots and practices of the enemies of our Religion in the present State of affairs which are now upon the wheel. Whereupon the Assembly did assure them of that favorable construction it put upon their good intentions, and on their proceedings as reported by them, and of the ways and means they had used; and it farther promised that everyone of the Deputies of this Synod should remonstrate the same unto their respective Provinces, that so none ill opinion might be taken up or entertained to their prejudice. And as for those remedies craved by them for hereafter, against our common public evils, and their particular sufferings, the Assembly knoweth none more proper and fit than what is offered us, viz. the next General Assembly granted us by their Majesty's, who therefore shall be most humbly thanked for it, and yet most earnestly and humbly entreated to change the place of their meeting, and to defer the time thereof unto the twentieth day of August next, that so the Provincial Assemblies may sit the longer, and have the more time and leisure to intend and perfect our desired Union. And this Assembly seeth itself obliged to procure it, because of what has been already Proposed and advanced, which also it will do by all lawful and possible means. And as for the Modifications and restrictions of the Writ, it Judgeth that they ought to be sent over to the mixed Provincial and General Politick Assemblies, which the Deputies unto this Synod shall everyone of them at their return represent unto their respective Provinces; and Monsieur de Rouvray our General Deputy shall be written unto out of hand, to present our most humble thanks, as also our before-mentioned Requests unto their Majesty's, that so this Assembly may receive an answer before its dissolution.

CHAP. IV. Observations made on Reading the Confession of Faith.

• Article 1.
  THERE, being found some difference about the 6th. Article of the Confession in the Latin and French Copies; the first restraining that approbation which had been determined in the Mystery of the Trinity unto the four first ancient Councils, but the others extending it indefinitely unto the ancient Councils: This Assembly decreed that nothing should be altered in the French Edition of it.
• Art. 2.
  On the 8th. Article. Because that in divers Copies there was a Typographical Error which altered the very sense of the Article, Exprimant que Dieu (fait) Convertir, au lieu de dire (qui'l Scait) Convertir, this Assembly exhorts the Pastors of those Churches which have Printers, to admonish them that they get some Judicious Person to oversee and correct the press, that we may not be troubled anymore with complaints of this nature, and that once for all our Confession be Printed with the greatest exactness according to the Copies revised in the last National Synods, and the like notice shall be given to the Pastors and Professors in the Church of Geneva.
• Art. 3.
  On the 9th. Article instead of these words (qui'l y ait) there must be read, qui'l ait.
• Art. 4.
  On the 39th. Article, towards the close of it, the words of Institution shall be added, according to the Decree of former National Synods, in the express terms of St. Matthews Gospel, Take, eat, &c.
• Art. 5.
  The Confession of Faith of the Churches in this Kingdom having been read word by word was approved in all its Articles by the Deputies, not only for themselves personally, but generally for all the Provinces represented by them, and by whom they were commissionated, and all of them swore for themselves, and for their Principals, That they believed it to be true, that they would teach it as such, and procure to the utmost of their pow • r that it should be taught and believed in and by all their Churches and Provinces.

CHAP. V. Observations on Reading of our Church-Discipline.

• Article 1.
  THE Deputies of the Province of Orleans and Berry having noted it, it was ordered that after these words in the close of the fourth Article in the first Chapter (His ordination being completely finished in that Church whereunto he is sent) the following words shall be razed (then there shall be Deputed three Ministers to Present him unto the People) in lieu of which these shall be substituted: Which shall be informed. of his Election by Act and Letters from that Synod or Colloquy, carried and read unto them by a Pastor or Elder.
• Art. 2.
  The 5th. Article shall begin with these words, He whose Election is declared and published to the Church shall make a Proposition &c.
• Art. 3.
  The 7th. Article shall not begin with these words (when Ministers are to be ordained) but with these following, All which as before having been observed, two Pastors, Deputed expressly by the Synod or Colloquy to ordain by imposition of hands, the Minister Elect, being come unto the Church, He of them who is to Preach, shall treat of the nature and manner of ordination &c.
• Art. 4.
  Whereas the Deputies of Burgundy moved about the sense of the 7th. Article, as to the hand of fellowship, and of the newly Elected Pastors presence at the Acts of Colloquies and Synods after his Election▪ This Assembly judgeth that the hand of fellowship ought not to be given him but immediately after his ordination, and that this is the sense of that Article, and though he may be permitted entrance into the Colloquy or Synod, yet shall he not be admitted to give his decisive suffrage the first Sessions after his Ordination.
• Art. 5.
  In expounding the 19th. Article of the same Chapter, this Canon was made, That none of the Pastors Ministring in the Houses of Princes and great Lord's should be chosen Deputies unto our National Synods, unless it were for that particular Province unto which their Church and Consistory is joined at the very instant time of their Deputation.
• Art. 6.
  The Deputies of the Isle of France insisting for a change of some words, which their Provincial Synod judged needful to be altered in the 47th. Article of the same Chapter: This Assembly thought it inconvenient to make any alteration.
• Art. 7.
  The Deputies of Vivaretz demanding that in the second Article of the 7th. Chapter the number of Elders which are to be sent unto Synods or Colloquies might be reduced to the same with that of Pastors; and that one Elder only might be Commissionated with the Pastor: The Assembly ordained that there should be nothing changed in it.
• Art. 8.
  As to what hath been observed by the Province of the Isle of France on the 5th. Article of the 8th. Chapter, this Assembly ordains that the Article shall not be changed, but these words following shall be added to it, Saving always their power to prosecute that ungrateful Church, according to the Judgment of the Provincial Synod.
• Art. 9.
  On the 5th. Article of the 3d. Chapter after these words, They shall herein follow the Common form, there shall be these added: And they shall suffer none other books to be read but the Canonical books of the old and New Testament.
• Art. 10.
  In the 2d. of Article the 11th. Chapter, instead of these words that he were chosen Doctor, it were best, so that all Ambiguities may be removed, to read both Doctor and Minister.
• Art. 11.
  The Province of Berry remonstrating by their Deputies that the 5th. Article of the 13th. Chapter had been changed at Privas without the Consent of the Provinces, and demanding that it might stand as it had been couched by the Synod of Gergeau; which also was demanded by the Province of Lower Languedoc and Cévennes. This Assembly ordained, that the Article should remain in that very form as it was framed by the National Synod of Privas.
• Art. 12.
  At the request of the Deputies of the Isle of France, this Assembly considering the 32d. Article of the 13th. Chapter, treating of Monks and Priests revolting from the truth of the Gospel, which they had once embraced, and returning like Swine to Wallow in the Mire of Idolatry, doth Judge meet and fit for the removing of all Ambiguities, that these following words should be added to it, viz. Chaunting Masses, and entering again into their Cloisters.
• Art. 13.
  The Deputies of Higher Languedoc moved, that because of the great advantage would accrue unto us by Monitories gotten out of their Ecclesiastical Courts against those of the Church of Rome, especially in compelling them to confess the truth, it would be very convenient for us to allow the demanding of them, and that the 11th. Article of the 14th. Chapter might be razed out. But this Assembly ordained that the article should abide in its full force, and nothing at all to be changed in it.
• Art. 14.
  Altho the Deputies of Cévennes demanded it, yet this Assembly did not conceive that the 32th. Article in the same Chapter concerning Duels needed any further explication, wherefore it shall continue as it is, the words being very clear and plain, and their sense obvious to any common Understanding, and their exact and careful observation of this Canon is recommended unto all the Consistories.

  Our Church Discipline being read, the Assembly approved of it in all its Articles, and all the Deputies Promised, and Sware for themselves, and their Churches and Provinces, that they would observe it in their own persons, and use their best endeavors that it should be most carefully observed in their respective Churches and Provinces.

CHAP. VI. Observations on reading the Acts of the National Synod of Privas.

• Art. 1.
  IN reading that Article concerning such as will not yield to the Majority of votes in our General Assemblies: the Deputies of the Province of Saintonge craved advice how to Censure them that will not acquiesce in the votes and resolutions of our General and Provincial Assemblies, whether Ecclesiastical or Political, but set themselves vigorously against their Execution. This Assembly ordains, that such refractory persons in any of those Assemblies shall be prosecuted with all Ecclesiastical Censures, according as Consistories, Colloquies, Provincial and National Synods shall Judge meet.
• Art. 2.
  The Lord de la Millitiere Deputy General earnestly demanding, both in his own name, and in their's also who were joint Deputies together with him for the Reunion, that the Censure past on the Sieur de Barjac, which seemed to revive the Memory of our by-past divisions, might be taken off the file, and razed out of the Acts of the Synod of Privas. This Assembly ordained that the said Canon shall remain in those very words in which it was conceived.
• Art. 3.
  In that Article which gives leave unto Elders, the Pastor being refused and excepted at, to Judge of some Emergent differences, yea even to suspension from the Lord's Supper, the Province of Lower Languedoc demanded that there might be some mitigation of its rigor. This Assembly Judged that that Article should abide as it was conceived, without any alteration at all.
• Art. 4.
  Upon the fourth Article treating of Marriage-Promises, that they should be made in words de futuro, The Lord de la Riviere demanded that the name of the Church of Rouen might be razed out of that admonition which had been given it, and to that of Diep, to forsake their Custom of betrothing persons publicly in their Temples declaring that in the Church of Rouen they were only done in the Consistorial Chamber, the Pastors and Elders being present. This Assembly acquainted him, that they could not in the least approve of this Order and Practice among them.
• Art. 5.
  On that Article concerning the Works of Monsieur Chamier Pastor and Professor at Montauban, the Assembly ordained that before they be sent unto the Press, they shall be put into the hands of some certain Pastors and Professors in Divinity to be perused and examined, and the Pastors and Professors his Colleagues in the Church and University of Montauban are named to this purpose.
• Art. 6.
  The Synod of Dauphiné is charged to read over the History of the Waldenses and Albigenses, collected and written by Monsieur Perrin, who also is required as soon as it is Printed to send a Copy to everyone of the Provinces.
• Art. 7.
  That Article which deferred the changing of that of St. Maixant, concerning Baptism, to the examination of the Provinces, being now again read, this Assembly advised that the Provincial Deputies should gather the judgment of this Synod by Majority of voices, and not the particular opinion of each single person. In pursuance whereof, it was carried by plurality of Votes, that the order practiced before the said Synod of St. Maixant should be still observed, and that it should not be lawful to celebrate Baptism, unless there were a Sermon either immediately before or after that Sacrament.
• Art. 8.
  On that Article concerning the expenses of the Church of Annonay in getting a Minister to Preach among them during the abode of Monsieur le Faucheur at Saumur: This Synod ordaineth, that it shall pass into a General Canon, that the Provinces shall defray the charges of those Churches whose Pastors are Commissionated unto General Assemblies, be they either Political or Ecclesiastical.
• Art. 9.
  The Assembly having received a good Testimonial of the worthy carriage of Monsieur Bansillon Pastor of Aiguesmortes since the last National Synod, doth ordain that that Article of his Censure be razed out of the Acts of the Synod of Privas.
• Art. 10.
  Reading the Act of Re-union, the Lord de la Millitiere General Deputy gave in an account of the endeavors used by the Sieurs du Moulin, Durant, de l'Isle Groslot together with the General Deputies in reconciling all those Lord's mentioned by name in that Act, as also of other private persons; for which the Assembly returned them hearty thanks, and doth discharge them of their Commission with that honor which is deservedly due unto them for their great diligence in it.
• Art. 11.
  The Churches in the Principality of Orange reiterating their complaints by the month of the Sieur Julien against the Synod of Dauphiné held at Veines, for excluding them from the Political Assembly of that Province: This Assembly (the Deputies of that Province having owned the charge brought in against them, viz. That they were excluded an Ecclesiastical Synod) judgeth that the said Churches of the Principality of Orange ought to be restored unto their former privilege.
• Art. 12.
  Mr. Mayor of Bergerac declaring on behalf of that Church and Town, that it was never their Intention to depart from the Union of our Churches, or to procure their own private good to the prejudice of the Public, as they were condemned for by the Censure of the National Synod at Privas: And the Province being heard on those inquiries they were obliged to make, and testifying for them, that they could never find by any Witnesses, nor by any probable conjectures, that they had gotten the Kings Writ of grant for their College out of the Moneys bestowed upon the Churches; and the said Mr. Mayor requesting on their behalf that that sum might be vouchsafed them by order of this Assembly out of the free and charitable benevolence of our Churches: It was decreed that the said Mr. Mayor should produce an Act, proving that the said Communalty of the Town of Bergerac do address themselves for this matter unto this Synod, and that they renounce all other ways of obtaining it, and particularly the effects of that Writ aforesaid, and upon doing this, they were promised full contentment in all their demands.
• Art. 13.
  The Deputies of the County of Venise and Archbishopric of Avignon requesting, that according to what was promised them in the Synod of Privas, so by the authority of this Assembly our Deputies in Court might recommend their affairs unto their Majesty's, and that particular Prayers might be offered up unto God for them in all the Churches; This Assembly granteth them their desire on those two heads, and enjoineth all the Deputies as soon as they return unto their respective Provinces to report unto those Provincial Assemblies their miserable estate, that so it may be inserted into their Memoirs which shall be sent unto the next General Assembly.
• Art. 14.
  The National Synod of Privas having ordered the Colloquy of Nismes to examine the matter of Fact about that difference between Monsieur de Bansillon and de Mallamont concerning an Act of that Colloquy for which Mallamont accused him of forgery. It appears by an Act of the said Colloquy since held, and now produced, that that which was produced by the Sieur Bansillon was certainlytrue, and the said Sieur Mallamont being fully convinced of it, doth renounce his Accusation of the said Bansillon.
• Art. 15.
  Monsieur Brunier Pastor of the Church of Usez is charged to yield up unto the Province of Lower Languedoc, those Letters forged by that infamous Apostate Jeremy Ferrier under the name of Captain Gautier.
• Art. 16.
  In executing that Decree of the National Synod of Privas about the Expences which the Province of Orleans had disbursed in the University upon Mr. Solomon, and which the Province of Lower Guyenne, now enjoying his Ministry, stands obliged to return back again unto them: The Deputies of Berry acknowledged that they drew out of the hands of the Lord du Kandel the sum of five hundred Livers upon an Acquittance of the said Province of Guyenne, which yet the said Deputies redemanded, as having before paid it in unto the said Solomon for his encouragement. This Synod ordaineth, that the Moneys detained by the said Province of Orleans shall remain in their custody, saving always to the said Province of Guyenne a power of redemanding from the said Solomon what they had disbursed for him.
• Art. 17.
  The Decree of the same Synod, concerning the Charges of those Commissioners sent unto Orleans, which were to be equally defrayed by all the Churches of that Province, shall stand valid.
• Art. 18.
  Le Sieur de la Vienerie, Pastor of the Church of Tonne-Boutonne in Saintonge, presented his Petition, that the Canon of the Synod of Privas concerning his Book, might be moderated, and those words in it by which his said Writings were declared to be very suspicious and erroneous in the points of Justification, Predestination, Invocation of Saints departed, &c. might be obliterated. Moreover, he professed that he was not convinced in his Conscience to be guilty of those matters whereof he is accused, and desireth they may be proved, he having written nothing, but what he believeth to be the truth. This Assembly voted, that the aforesaid Canon should remain still in force; and that Monsieur Banage and Bouchereau should peruse his Book, and give him instruction, and make report thereof unto this Synod; which they did accordingly; whereupon this Assembly did once more enjoin him to suppress that his Manuscript, which though' revised by himself, cannot be approved of neither in his words, nor in his manner of handling it: And exhorts him in his way of teaching to follow the form of sound words contained in the holy Scriptures; however, we judge charitably of him, and of his Opinions and Intentions, believing that he is orthodox, and sound in the Faith, principally as to the Fundamentals of Religion.
• Art. 19.
  Revising that observation made upon the 18th Article of our Confession of Faith, especially about the Oath enjoined to be taken by all Pastors actually employed, and Proposans who are designed for the Ministry, concerning Justification, divers Provinces remonstrated that it needed some explanation: The Assembly, after mature deliberation and long debate had of the matter, ordained that it shall be couched in these terms.

  Forasmuch as divers persons demand an explanation of the 18th Article of the Confession of our Reformed Churches in this Kingdom, wherein the Doctrine of Justification is freely asserted; this Synod declareth, that in this point, the Form of Doctrine which ought to be received and taught in the Churches of this Kingdom, according to the Scriptures, is, That Man (not having in himself, either before or after his Effectual Calling, any Righteousness of his own, by which he may subsist before the Judgment-seat of God,) he cannot be justified but by Jesus Christ our Savior, who being incarnate, was obedient unto his Father from the first moment of his birth, unto the last of his ignominious death upon the Cross, having most perfectly both in his life and death, fulfilled the whole Law given unto men, and that particular Commandment imposed on him by his Father of suffering, and giving his Soul a ransom for many: By which most perfect Obedience we are justified, because it is counted ours by the Grace of God, and apprehended by that Faith which he gives unto us. From which we are assured, that through the merit of this whole Obedience we have, and shall obtain the forgiveness of all our sins, and be made worthy of everlasting life. And all Pastors, Professors in Divinity, and all other the Members of our Churches are enjoined to hold fast this Doctrine, and in no wise to depart from it, and they be forbidden either by word of mouth or writing to teach or preach publicly or privately anything that may be directly or indirectly repugnant to it. Moreover, this Synod ordaineth, that whosoever are chosen into the holy Ministry, shall promise it before God; and all Consistories, Colloquies and Provincial Synods shall exert their whole Authority to see this Canon punctually observed, inspecting their Ministers, and all other persons, that none act contrary hereunto, and to prosecute such as do, with all the Censures of the Church.

• Art. 20.
  In obedience to that Decree of the National Synod of Privas, the Province of Normandy hath paid in to Monsieur Vatable the hundred Livers by the hands of the Deputies of Poitou, and took up from them their Acquittance.

CHAP. XVII. Appeals.

1. MOnsieur John Constance, Pastor of the Church at Mazgravier, appealed from the Decree of the last Synod of Higher Languedoc held at Mauvesin, for refusing him leave to withdraw from that Town, though' requested by him because of his Wifes sickness, which could not brook the Air of Maz, and because of those many unkindnesses he hath for divers years received from them; and the Sieur Darder for from the Decree of the same Synod, which permitted the said Monsieur Constance to live at Montauban until the next Provincial Synod: Both of them being heard, and the Deputies of that Province declaring the reasons which swayed them to pass that Decree; This Assembly doth discharge the said Monsieur Constance from all Pastoral relation unto the said Church of Mazgravier, on condition that the next Colloquy do provide a Pastor for the said Church who shall reside with them, and the said Constance of another Church; And Ordaineth, that till this can be performed, he shall continue to serve the said Church as before, but without being obliged unto residence, and the said Church is enjoined to make full payment to him of all his Arrears of Salary, or they shall not be provided of another Pastor.

2. The Appeal of some Elders in that Church of Mazgravier from the same Synod, was rejected, because it was of the Nature of those things which might be finally determined within the Province; and the parties were told that they deserved a very sharp reproof, for presenting unto this Synod Acts attested by a Public Notary, as also for that (contrary to the Canons of our National Synods) Elders going out of office had named their successors, whereas they ought to be chosen by the common suffrages of their Consistory.

3. The like Judgment was past upon the pretended Appeal of Isaac Perrier, it being a matter which ought to be determined by the Provincial Synod.

4. John Froment suspended from his office of Elder by the Synod of Higher Languedoc in opposition to a decree of his Colloquy which had restored him although neither the Consistory, nor his adverse party nor any other had Appealed, was now heard upon his Appeal: The Deputies of the Province making no answer to the reasons of his complaint, this Assembly Censured the said Province for proceeding so unjustly, and contrary to all order, and therefore re-instateth the said Froment in the Eldership.

5. Monsieur Paul Banquemar a Citizen of Rouen complained of the Consistory of that Church for not suffering the Banes of his Daughter to be published after the contract had been past before the Notary, unless she were first of all Betrothed by the Pastor; he judging this act of theirs contrary to the Canon of the Synod of Privas, appealed from the Provincial Synod of Normandy held at Sees in the year 1613. by which that Custom of calling in the Pastors before the publishing of Banes, though formerly practiced, was not confirmed, and imposed upon all their Churches. This Assembly finds the Consistory of Rouen to be too severe in in this matter, and that the Synod should not have made it necessary, and for the future it enjoineth them to leave those parties to their Liberty: And on the other hand it exhorts the Appellant to be more Moderate than he has been in his Letters, remonstrating to him, that it is his duty not to revive those old quarrels, which through the vigilance of the Consistory, and his own silence, had been long ago buried in oblivion.

6. The Sieur Fevry Pastor of the Church of Tonne-Charante Appealed from a Decree of the Province of Saintonge for detaining him in the Ministry of that Church, notwithstanding the Petition of his Father, who redemanded him. This Assembly grants him his Liberty, provided he make it appear unto the Colloquy or Synod of the Church he serveth, that he is called by another Church near unto that of his Fathers, according to the methods observed by us, whereof the said Synod or Colloquy shall take cognizance within the space of one year at the farthest.

7. The differences between the Provinces of Poitou and Brittany about dismembering the Churches of Montague and of Viellevigne are dismissed over to the Province of Anjou with full Authority from this Assembly to put a final period to them: Because the Church of Montague was not heard in the Synod of St. Maixant, as the Deputies of Poitou do relate it.

8. The Sieur Textor being Emeritus, a discharged Pastor, Appealed from an Ordinance of his Synod of Burgundy for diminishing his portion granted that Province in his Name, and for his use. This Assembly enjoineth the said Province to restore him all his Arrears, and for time to come to give him the quiet enjoyment of the whole. And this order shall be of-force not for him only, but for all others in the like circumstances with him, nor may the Provinces dispose of their Moneys to any other uses.

9. The Sieur Collinet having Appealed from the Decree of the Synod of Burgundy, this Assembly Ordaineth that the Province shall pay the C not only of the said Collinet, but also of the Messenger, who was sent unto Court with the verbal processes of the Churches of Chaalons, Paray, &c.

10. The Colloquy of Chaalons Appealing from the Ordinance of the Synod of Burgundy which had adjudged the Church of Mascon unto the Colloquy of Lions, and by Consequence would dispose of the Sieur Perreaud formerly Pastor of Pont de Vaux. This Assembly Decreeth that the Church of Mascon should remain incorporate with the Colloquy of Chaalons, until such time as the Church of Pont de Vaux may be provided of another Pastor, which shall be done without any delay.

11. The Sieur Rigert a Pastor Emeritus in the Province of Dauphiné complained in his Appeal against the Synod of that Province for taking his portion to the common Charges with others. It was Decreed that the said Province should for the future leave his portion wholly free unto him.

12. Clement le Servier, otherwise le Dauphin having Appealed from the Sentence of the Provincial Synod of Dauphiné, for deposing him from the Sacred Ministry, and not appearing to defend it in this Assembly, his Appeal was declared null and void.

13. The Church of Val Francesque Appealed from the Synod of Cévennes, because it granted unto the Quarter of St. Romans that the Lord's Supper should be celebrated amongst them upon a Sabbath day: But this Appeal of theirs was declared null, for that its contents was of the nature of those things which might be finally determined in the Synod of their Province.

14. The Appeal of Monsieur Massouverain Pastor of the Church of Poussin in Lower Languedoc was declared null, because he neither appeared in Person nor by Letters to prosecute it. And the said Massouverain is enjoined to appear before the Province of Cévennes there to answer unto such matters as shall be brought in against him.

15. The Appeal of the Church of Teyrac in the same Province about the Ministry of the Sieur Guerin was declared null, because none appeared for them, nor did they send any Memoirs concerning it.

16. The Appeal of the Church of Vigan about the Free School of that Province granted to the Church of Anduze, was rejected, because it was of the Nature of those businesses which might be determined finally by the Province.

17. It was also judged needless to bring into this Assembly an Appeal from the Decree of the Provincial Synod of Cévennes for their refusing to annex the Churches of the upper Rouargue unto their Province.

18. Whereas an Appeal was brought in by the Province of Burgundy redemanding Monsieur Margonne formerly a Minister of their's in the Church of Noyers, but at present serving the Church of Chastillon on the Loire: And the Deputies of Berry assuring this Assembly that God hath eminently owned and blessed his Ministry there, with singular success: All which being seriously considered, His Call unto the Church of Chastillon was confirmed by the authority of this National Synod; and it farther ordained that the Province of Berry should give unto the Province of Burgundy a Proposan meet and sit for the Sacred Ministry, and such an one as shall be acceptable unto the said Province, and this against the sitting of their next Provincial Synod.

19. An Elder of the Church of Castel-Sagrat, and Monsieur Tinell the Father appealed from the Synod of Cévennes for refusing to give them Monsieur Tinell his son at present Pastor in the Church of Anduze, whom they earnestly demanded to be bestowed on the Church of Castle-Sagrat as their own peculiar Pastor. This Assembly (approving that decree of the Synod of Cévennes, because the ordinary forms in the request of those of Castle-Sagrat were not observed) doth ordain that Tinell the Father, and the said Church of Castle-Sagrat shall observe those regular and necessary forms and courses enjoined by our Discipline, and shall apply themselves to the Synod of Lower Guyenne, or to the nearest Colloquy of the upper Agenois, who shall judge of the carriage of the said supplicating Church, and what interest those of Puymirol may have in their Minister, and in case the Colloquy or Province before-mentioned do yield unto the demand of the Father, and of those of Castel-Sagrat, the Synod of Cévennes or the next Colloquy of Anduze shall approve thereof, and grant the young Tinell according to their desire unto the said Church of Castle-Sagrat.

20. The Colloquy of Sauve appealing from an Ordinance of the Synod of Cévennes, which had enjoined every Colloquy to defray its own charges: This Assembly answered, that the judgment of that Synod was wrong, and the Colloquy did well in its Appeal. And that for time to come the Decree formerly made shall hold good, and be in force not only to the defraying all charges about Deputations, but also for their share and participation in charitable gifts, and in all other Moneys of the like Nature.

21. The Letters of Charles Roy public Notary at Loudun, together with his Appeal from the Sentence of the Provincial Synod of Anjou being read, were rejected, and the said Roy was exhorted to conform himself unto the Orders of our Church in the administration of Baptism, which have been approved, ratified, and confirmed by the common and unanimous consents and suffrages of all the Provinces represented in this National Synod.

22. The Province of Champagne complaining of a decree past in the Provincial Synod of the Isle of France, which had devolved upon the same Synod the right of calling it unto any place as in their discretion they should judge meet, provided it were carried by plurality of Votes: This Assembly ordained that the Colloquy of Champagne shall have the privilege every fourth year in course of appointing time and place for the meeting of that Synod.

23. The Church of Pons appealed for that the judgment of their Colloquy was confirmed by the Provincial Synod of Saintonge, whereby they were condemned to pay the Sieur du Perier his sallary during his suspension. But this Appeal of their's was dismissed over unto the Province of Poitou and there finally to be decided, according to their Canon established about pecuniary matters: and the same Province shall finally judge and determine of their complaint who were deprived of all assistance and supplies from the Moneys of his Majesty's liberality ever since they had been destitute of a Pastor; in case the Province of Saintonge (to whom for this purpose they shall make their first addresses) refuse to do them right.

24. The Sieur Gouside Pastor in the Church of Gevaudan appealed from the Synod of Lower Guyenne, because they refused to discharge him from that Church, and the Synod of higher Languedoc together with the Church of Villemur, demanding the said Gouside to be their own appropriated Pastor, joined with him in the said Appeal. This Assembly (acknowledging that the Synod of Lower Guyenne have a right to detain him) yet, because of the great want and earnest desire of the Church of Villemur, and the necessary affairs of the said Gouside which call him into those parts, and would otherwise very much distract him in his studies, doth grant both to him, and to that Church and Province their joint requests, but with this condition, that the said Province shall provide an able Proposan fit for the Ministry to serve in the Church of Gevaudan, and shall present him unto the next Colloquy of higher Agenois, in case the Province of Lower Guyenne cannot bestow upon them another Pastor.

25. The Deputies of the Church in the Sheriffdom of Nerac took out an Appeal against the Synod of Lower Guyenne, which had grievously censured the said Church, and obliged it to receive the Sieur Latanne for their fourth Pastor, who was formerly Pastor in the Church of Senitot in Normandy, though' he professed that he was only a Loan unto that Church, he having been preengaged by his Father, and with his own consent unto the Church of Nerac, yea and in his absence, and before he was ordained unto the Ministry of the Church of Senitot, to which he had never gone, but on this condition, that the Church of Nerac might recall him any time when they pleased. This Assembly having patiently heard their several discourses, and seen the Writings produced by the respective Parties, doth judge that the actings and proceedings of the Consistory of Nerac, are justly censurable, and it doth de facto censure them, declaring that it hath done very great wrong unto the said Sieur Latanne, in taking him off from that Church wherein he served, and not employing him in theirs whereunto they had called him; that they began ill, in lending a Minister that was never theirs, and that they ended ill, in producing divers acts and deliberations of their own expressly contradicting one another. And as for the said Sieur Latanne, this Assembly testifieth for him, that he did not in the least intrude himself among them, and that he had a right to take his leave of the Church of Senitot upon the recalling of him back unto them by his Father and the said Church of Nerac; from which nevertheless, for peace sake, and the bettering of its estate, he is set at liberty and discharged, and may be presented unto any other; and the said Church of Nerac is ordered to pay unto him the said Latanne his wages due unto him ever since his coming among them, deducting only what he hath re • eived for serving of other Churches, unto which he was sent by the Colloquy.

26. The said Sieur Latanne remonstrating that the Act delivered to him, and to those of Nerac, had some ambiguity in it as to what concerns the payment of his Salary, which might possibly be refused him, and cause a greater difference between him and that Church than ever. This Assembly having heard Monsieur Marmet upon this subject (who was concerned in it, and declared his purpose about it) did ordain, that the aforesaid Latanne should receive from Monsieur Gorton out of the first moneys of the Portions assigned unto the Church of Nerac the sum of three hundred Livers, and give a general release unto the said Church of Nerac, nor shall any of the Churches in which the said Sieur Latanne hath exercised his Ministry since his return into Guyenne be either by them of Nerac, or by the said Latanne, troubled with demands of money on his Account.

27. Whereas Anthony de Roussan Ballance-maker in the City of Lions (another Copy reads Achilles Bulliond Advocate for the King in the election of Lions ) appealed from a decree of the Synod of Burgundy and Lionnois, injoining him on pain of excommunication to take away his son from the Jesuits School: The Assembly having heard his arguments inducing him thereunto, do judge them frivolous and null, and consequently his Appeal also, and approves and ratifies the Decree of that Provincial Synod.

28. Master Isaac Ferrier appearing in person to prove his being acquitted and justified by the Province of Vivaretz, and demanding to be restored unto the Sacred Ministry: The Assembly Commissionated two Pastors and two Elders to inspect the Papers produced both by him and that Province, and to make report thereof in order unto sentence; which being done by them, and they Reporting what he had owned and confessed at the Synod of Privas, and also that there was required a more ample evidence and testimonial as to his life and deportments since, than he hath yet offered. For these Papers of his were all examined in the Consistory, Colloquy and Provincial Synod. Moreover the Deputies of Vivaretz declared what had passed in their Synod about his pretended Justification: and the said Ferrier having been heard upon the whole, and his assertions, denials, and replies being all maturely considered, it was found that he had not given any satisfaction in the least unto that order of the Synod of Privas, nor lived since with that regularity as one who was bound by his conversation to have gotten the Churches approbation, but rather hath given new grounds and occasions for new accusations to be brought in against him. Yet because that in the most principal points he seems not to be fully convicted, this Assembly continues on him his suspension until the next National Synod, and in the mean while he shall retire unto some certain Church in the Province of Higher Languedoc, or unto the City of Geneva, at his own liberty: but so to live, that he procure either from the said Church or Province a public and honorable Testimony of his Repentance: And as to what is past, we give him leave to use all lawful means for his justification, which also he shall produce in that Synod, that they may take cognizance thereof: And in the mean while a portion shall be continued him for his subsistence out of the Moneys assigned to the Province of Higher Languedoc, which shall be paid him in free of all Charges, and power is given him to recover the Arrears granted him the last year, and now lying in the hands of the Lord du Kandel, or of the Receiver for the Province of Higher Languedoc.

29. The Church of Beziers appealed from the Synod of Lower Languedoc for refusing to pay the Wages of the Sieur Codur during the time of his absence from them about the general Affairs of the Church, and for which the said Sieur Codur hath obliged himself by promise not to demand a penny from the said Church of Beziers: This Assembly considering the long time of his absence (during which he served the whole Province in general) and for that the said Church of Beziers hath paid the said Sieur de Codur his Wages all along, and been besides at other charges in getting Ministers to supply his place, doth ordain, that the Province of Lower Languedoc, by way of recompense, shall pay in unto the said Church the sum of four hundred and fifty Livers, without casting in to this payment, or making any allowance for it the portion of Moneys granted us by the King; and also the said Church shall cancel that obligation the Sieur Codur hath given them.

30. The Church of Beziers brought another Appeal, upon another account; Monsieur Codur had been lent for six months unto the Church of Ganges by the Province of Lower Languedoc, but was since redemanded by another Synod of the same Province; whereupon at the earnest request of the Sieur Codur, who desired to be set at liberty, he prevailed with both Parties to refer his disposal unto the Judgment of this Assembly. After hearing the Deputies of the said Church of Beziers, and the said Sieur Codur in their complaints, demands, reasons and answers, the said Codur was yielded up for fixed Pastor unto the Church of Ganges, who should enjoy him as their own; and it was further decreed, that the Province of Lower Languedoc shall send unto the said Church of Beziers two Pastors, who shall serve them by way of Loan, until such time as they can be provided of a Pastor to be wholly appropriated to them, which shall be done as soon as possible. And for the present the Elder of the Church of Ganges binds himself for the whole Church, that the said Sieur Codur shall minister to them of Beziers for three months longer.

31. Monsieur Mernyeur the younger, Pastor of the Church of Pompignant and la Cadiere, appeared in this Assembly to prosecute an Appeal brought by him from the Synod of Cévennes, which would have deprived the Church of St. Hyppolyte of its hopes ever to enjoy him for their Pastor, and enjoining the said Mernyeur to make his Residence in any one part of his Church, excepting that which is contiguous unto that of St. Hyppolyte: And several Deputies in the name of sundry the Inhabitants of the said St. Hyppolyte, appeared also as Appellants from the same Synod, for declaring that they could not maintain two Pastors, and had rejected their Petition, wherein they humbly requested of them that the said Sieur Mernyeur might be given them for their Minister, and that those Churches of Pompignant and la Cadiere might be incorporated with theirs of St. Hyppolyte. After a fair hearing of all these Appellants, and of the Deputies for the Province of Cévennes, this Assembly ordained, that the next Colloquy or Synod of the Province shall make a Deputation of some Pastors and Elders, who shall upon a Lord's day assemble that Church of St. Hyppolyte, and by the Majority of Votes learn from them their will, and ability to maintain two Ministers, in which case they shall join another Pastor unto him that is upon the place, and the said Sieur Mernyeur shall remain affixed unto his own Churches, which he shall carefully serve, especially because the Sieur Boni hath from the Colloquy of Sauve engaged himself for the punctual payment of his Salary. And farther, it ratifies the Judgment of the Provincial Synod of Cévennes in that Article of his not living at St. Hyppolyte, and commands the said Mernyeur, that he do this very next ensuing morning return home unto his Church, and personally reside at it.

32. The Church of Nismes appealed from the Province of Lower Languedoc, for refusing them the grant of the Ministry of Monsieur Chauve, at present Pastor in the Church of Sommieres, urging for themselves the great importance of their Church, and the indispensible necessity they had of a Pastor, whose Age and Experience might be able to undergo the burdens of so numerous a Congregation. After hearing the Letters of the said Church of Nismes, and their request, uttered by the mouth of the Sieur de Pucchredon their Deputy, and the Arguments of the Provincial Synod by their Deputies to the contrary, this Assembly ordained, that the said Sieur Chauve should be lent for three months unto the Church of Nismes, after which term the Provincial Synod (having heard both the Churches, and the said Sieur de Chauve ) may judge whether it be needful or not to dispose of his Ministry, and if they find it necessary, then by the Authority of this Assembly they shall give him unto the Church of Nismes, and they shall provide that of Sommieres with another Pastor either taken from Nismes or elsewhere.

33. The Sieur de la Faye, Pastor of the Church of Aubenas in Vivaretz, appeared in this Assembly Appellant from the Judgment of the Provincial Synod, which had threatened him with the greatest Censures, as if he had deserved them; and farther had ordained, that the next Synod of his Province should remove him unto some other Church, which in their wisdom they should conceive to be more expedient for him, and that in the mean while the Colloquy should have a watchful Eye over his conversation. But this Assembly condemned all the proceedings of that Province in this Affair, particularly, for receiving Informations against the said Sieur de la Faye unattested, and for censuring him without any cause or Reason, and for not having recorded that their Censure, nor brought hither any Record thereof; and therefore approving the Appeal of the said Sieur de la Faye, it doth abrogate that Sentence of the said Provincial Synod as infamous and unjust in every article, branch and member of it.

34. Certain Inhabitants of Caussade Appealed from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc, importing that the Sieur Grand formerly their Pastor, but afterwards suspended for three months, and then removed from three years, should now at last the term being expired be imposed again upon them. This Assembly (over-looking the formalities which ought to have been observed in their Appeal, but were not) did graciously receive both them and it; and having heard the Province, and seen the Decree declaring several miscarriages whereof the said Grand had been guilty, ordained that he be summoned to make his personal appearance before us, and to be heard speak with his own mouth what he hath to say for himself, and then to be Judged according to the merits of his cause. Whereupon, the said Sieur Grand having been examined by a Committee appointed for that End, and they making report of his confessions and answers, this Assembly aggravated his Censure, and Judged that he could not exercise his Ministry to the edification of that Church of Caussade, and therefore doth ordain that he be disposed of somewhere else, by the Colloquy of Lower Quercy at their next meeting, and that he be forever made uncapable of returning to Caussade, nor may the said Church ever have power over him, or his Father who became bound for him, to redemand the Moneys disbursed by them on his Studies, because they enjoyed the exercise of his Ministry for some space of time.

35. The Colloquy of the Isles Appealed, for that Monsieur de la Forest formerly Pastor in the Church of St. John d' Angely was given by their Provincial Synod unto the Church of Mauze in the Colloquy of St. John d' Angely. The Sieur Cocq' a Minister having been heard speak for that Colloquy, and the Deputies of the Synod of Saintonge for the Province, this Assembly confirmeth the said de la Forest in the Pastoral office of that Church of Mauze and ordaineth that the Province shall provide for the Church of St. John d' Angely as soon as possible they can.

36. The Church of Agen Appealed, because having demanded their portions free of all taxations, the Synod of Lower Guyenne had refused it: This Assembly rejected their Appeal, and dismissed over the affair relating to it unto the said Province, which shall provide for their Pastors maintenance, as soon as one shall be settled with them.

37. The Church of Boislebeque appealing from the decree of the Synod of Normandy, by which Monsieur Simson was not only excluded from the said Church of Boislebeque but also from all other Churches of Normandy; this their Appeal was made null and void, and the judgment of the said Province confirmed, which is entreated to take care that the said Church of Boislebeque be supplied with a second Minister, in case they shall judge it needful.

38. The Colloquy of Albigeois brought an Appeal from the Judgment given in their Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc, about the affair of Monsieur Josion one of the Pastors of the Church of Castres, relating to the Censures past against the said Colloquy and their Deputies. After hearing the Sieur Raffin Pastor of the Church of Realmont for the said Colloquy, and the Deputies of the said Province, together with the said Josion, and the Sieur de la Garrigues Deputy of the Church of Castres, and the report of the Commissioners deputed to inspect the writings produced by the several parties, and who were ordered to examine and hear Witnesses dwelling upon the place, and who were particularly mentioned by name unto them, this Assembly took off the Censure inflicted upon the said Colloquy and its Commissioners by the said Synod; and yet approveth of its judicial sentence in all other particulars, and ordaineth that all Papers concerning this business be deposited with Monsieur Gardesy, that so the remembrance of them may be forever forgotten.

39. The appeal of Monsieur Raffin Pastor of the Church of Realmont from the Synod of Higher Languedoc, which had confirmed an Ordinance of the Colloquy of Albigeois, obliging the said Church to visit the annexed Church of la Fenasse every six weeks, was disannulled, and the decrees of the Provincial Synod and Colloquy were both confirmed.

40. The Consuls of Pamiers appealed from a decree of the Synod of Higher Languedoc, which would not grant them the precedency claimed by them, to communicate first at the Lord's Table before the Judge of that City: But this their appeal was rejected, because it was of the nature of those things, which might be finally determined by the Synod of their own Province.

41. The appeal of Monsieur Grave, Elder in the Church of Pamiers from the Decree of the Synod of Higher Languedoc, about Moneys ordered to be kept by Monsieur Ligonnier in his hands, was declared null and rejected, and the act of that Synod was ordered to be put in execution, and made effectual.

42. The Sieur Collinet appealing from the decree of the Provincial Synod of Burgundy, this Assembly ordained that that Province should defray the expenses of his journey to Court, because he was sent thither to carry the verbal process of the Churches of Chaalons, Paray, &c.

43. The Consistory of Mornac appealed from the Decree of the Synod of Saintonge, which had ordained that the said Church should pay unto the Sieur Cocque their Pastor his arrears due unto him from them; but this their appeal was rejected by this Assembly, who also injoin the said Church to make full payment unto him of his just dues, or otherwise they should be deprived of the Sacred Ministry of the Gospel by the next Colloquy of the Isles, or by the Provincial Synod, who have all authority given them so to do from this Assembly.

44. The Sieur Suffran appealed from the Colloquy of Lionnois which had suspended him from his Ministry, to which he saith he submitted purely out of fear. This Assembly having heard the Deputies of that Colloquy, and the arguments of the said Suffran comprised in a Script of His presented to us, finds the Colloquy to have judged prudently and piously in every particular of their Sentence, and ordaineth that he be provided of a Church as soon as may be in the Province of Lower Languedoc or in some neighbor Province; and that in the mean while a portion of Moneys allotted unto the Pastors shall be detained in the hands of the Lord du Kandel to be paid unto him. With this condition, that when as he shall be provided of a Church, that portion shall be put upon the score of the Province, wherein it lieth and he officiates.

CHAP. VIII. General Matters.

1. THE Province of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne proposed that a most humble Petition might be tendered by them unto their Majesty's, that they would be pleased to grant unto their Ministers a full maintenance. This Synod is of opinion, that it were more proper for a Politick Provincial Assembly to make this request, than for us which are but an Ecclesiastical.

2. The same Province moved another case: Whether Consistories might be allowed to give in evidence unto the Civil Magistrate against insolent and outrageous persons abusing their Pastors or Elders, who called them, according to the Duty of their Places before them. This answer was returned, that that Canon of our Discipline forbidding the discovery unto a Civil Judicature of matters transacted in the Consistory ought not to be restrained to the sole confessions of Crimes, but is to be understood in the most comprehensive sense of all things whatsoever, excepting only such riots and outrages, whose fact being notorious, it may be lawful to inform the Magistrate of: But as for outrageous words, of what kind soever they may be, Consistories shall apply the censures of the Church to redress and reform them.

3. The Province of Higher Guyenne requested that there might be a particular Canon made for removing Elders from their office in the Churches, and that the time of their coming in, and going out might be fixed and limited. This Assembly Judgeth that this matter should be left to the prudence of Provincial Synods. But nevertheless it ordaineth that if an Elder be deputed unto a National Synod by his Province, he shall continue in his office, though the term thereof be expired, until such time as he have discharged the trust reposed in him, and shall have given an account unto the Province of those affairs concredited to him, and dispatched by him in that National Synod.

4. Forasmuch as divers Provinces have remonstrated that by Reason of the continuance and growth of ungodliness, we be daily threatened with the most dreadful Judgments of God, and that there is an indispensable necessity of extraordinary prayers unto the throne of Grace for the prosperity of their Majesty's, and for imploring the good blessing of God upon the beginning and progress of the Kings personal Government, who will be very shortly declared Major, and that the public weal of the State may be promoted, the Peace and Union of our Churches more firmly stablished, that therefore we be called out to celebrate a public Fast in all the Churches of this Kingdom: This Assembly for these causes now-mentioned doth appoint the fourth day of this next September to be observed generally in all the Churches of this Kingdom as a day of Solemn Prayer, Humiliation and Fasting. And as for those extraordinary Prayers which are used, 'tis left unto the Churches prudence where they be in use, either to continue them, or lay them down.

5. The Deputies of Berry demanding some alteration in that Canon of the National Synod of Rochell concerning Monks, who forsaking their Convents, were to be sent back unto their respective Provinces: Because it lays a very burdensome charge upon the poor Churches, which are utterly unable to Support under it. This Assembly Judged it not their duty to make any change in that Canon; only it adviseth the Provinces to be very circumspect in their reception of such persons, and in the dispensation of their charities, lest they become a charge unto the Provinces which do already need relief.

6. At the request of the Provincial Deputies of Burgundy and Orleans, our Lord's the General Deputies are entreated and exhorted, and also by this Assembly, to get those Letters Patents for exempting the Pastors of our Churches from all taxes and other subsidies verified, they having been already granted: And the Deputies of the Provinces in this Synod are charged to carry back this same Petition unto their Mixt Provincial Assemblies, that so they may join their most humble requests with those of the General Assembly; in case it be not done before the time of their meeting.

7. The Province of Dauphiné desired that those words Prestre and Prestrise in the 5th. Section of our Catechism might be changed into those of Sacrificateur and Sacrificateure, because none questioned their sense and meaning, and for that words were received by common usage. The Assembly did not Judge it any wise convenient to alter these words.

8. At the request of divers Provinces it was ordained that our National Synods should not only not innovate anything in the confession of Faith, Catechism, Liturgy, and Discipline of our Churches, unless the matter had been first Proposed by one or more Provinces, but also unless it were a thing of very great importance, nor should that be resolved on, till such time as all the Provinces being duly informed of it, had first debated it at home in their respective Synods; and if it so happen that any of them shall have considered of it before the rest, they may write their thoughts about it unto that Province, which is impowered to call the next National Synod; and, in case the matter be urgent, it shall be couched in the Letters of Summons, that so they may come prepared for it.

9. The Province of Dauphiné moved, whether if two or three Witnesses were brought by an Informer to give in evidence against a Pastor or Elder, they might be admitted, so that their testimony should be of sufficient force and virtue to condemn the accused, altho there be none other crime objected against them. This Assembly seeth no difficulty at all in the case.

10. The Province of Anjou requesting it, this Synod injoineth all Consistories in their choice of Elders, to cause such persons to be elected as are irreprehensible, according to our Discipline, and carefully to observe that Canon about the qualities necessarily required in them who are called unto those Offices. And all Colloquies and Provincial Synods are charged to put to their helping hand, that this Ordinance be duly kept and observed.

11. The Province of Saintonge moving it, this Assembly ordained that such Persons who get themselves preferred unto the Government of our cautionary Towns, or unto the office of Counselors in the mixed Courts, or shall obtain any other places granted unto Gentlemen professing our Religion, without taking the necessary attestations according to the Letter and import of the Kings Writ for Governors, and the particular Articles for Counselors in Sovereign Courts, they shall be declared Desertors of the Union of our Churches, and prosecuted with all Church-censures. And those of our Religion which are in possession shall be exhorted to keep still possession of those places, and not to resign them, but on this condition, nor consent to their admission and reception, who offer themselves without such a Testimonal. And as for those other ways of complaints and remonstrances to be made unto their Majesty's, of the notorious violations of our Privileges, they shall be carried unto the next approaching Political Assemblies granted us by the Writ of their said Majesty's. But for the present our Lord's the General Deputies are charged to require that some other person duly qualified according to the above mentioned orders may be substituted in the place of the Sieur Berger, who is of late revolted from the truth. And if that particular Government, now become vacant by his Apostasy be not supplied before the next meeting of the general Assembly, notice shall be given unto them of it, that so they may prosecute it in the name of all the Provinces.

12. At the request of the same Province of Saintonge all Consistories be enjoined to take special heed that Commanders in our Cautionary Towns do not admit into their familiar converse any debauched persons who be guilty of crimes deserving corporal punishment.

13. And whereas the same Province, hath desired that we would frame another form of excommunication besides that which is inserted in our Discipline, we concur with them in their motion, and shall take care that it be done accordingly.

14. The Province of the Isle of France requested that an order might pass for our Readers to publish the Banes of Marriages out of their desks, and not for Pastors to do it from the Pulpit. But this matter was left to the prudence and liberty of Consistories.

15. The aforesaid Province of the Isle of France demanding it, this Assembly ordained, that the Canons of former National Synods concerning Attestations should be most strictly observed, and whatsoever Consistory presumeth to give one in any other form shall be most severely censured: And therefore all Officers into whose hands such Attestations may fall are entreated to detain them, and to present them unto the Provincial Synods, or Colloquies, upon whom the Churches which have given them are dependant.

16. The Provinces of Saintonge, the Higher and Lower Longuedoc, and of the Isle of France all moving that it would be expedients lessen the number of our Universities in this Kingdom, and to reduce them unto two only, that so they might be rendered more complete: This Assembly doth not judge meet to diminish their number, but adviseth that the Professors there employed do discharge their duty carefully and acquit themselves of their Offices faithfully and most conscientiously.

17. Provincial Synods, Colloquies, and Consistories are expressly forbidden to admit any Persons unto the Lord's Table, who directly maintain Idolatry, or breed up their Children in it, or have recourse unto the Pope for Dispensations, that they may enjoy Benefices, or others under their name. And all such are judged utterly unworthy of obtaining Testimonials from our Churches, whereby they may be advanced unto those important Charges in our Cautionary Towns.

18. The Lord's General Deputies are ordered to give their Majesty's the most humble Thanks of this Assembly, for that they have been pleased to discharge our Churches of the Sous in the Liver, which was formerly taken for paying the Salaries of our General Deputies out of the Moneys granted us by their Liberality, and they are with all humility earnestly to request them to ease us of paying three thousand six hundred Livers, which have been extraordinarily given unto the Inhabitants of the Bailiwick of Gex, by way of recompense for the loss of their Churches Stock, whereof they were formerly in possession, and that it may be paid them out of some other Fund than ours.

19. Relation being made that divers Persons of eminent Note and Quality, both within and without the Kingdom, are designing how to bring the Orthodox Churches of France, England, Germany, Switzerland, the Low-Countries, and Geneva, to a nearer Communication in some convenient place, by Deputies sent from them all, that so there may be a more strict and familiar Correspondence in Doctrine effected and kept up among them; whereunto His Majesty of Great Britain expresseth a very great inclination. It was resolved, that those excellent persons who travail in this most pious Undertaking, should have the Thanks of this Assembly, and be entreated to persist in their laudable prosecutions of it. And in the mean while this Design shall be imparted by the Provinces unto such as understand these matters, that so this Proposal may be more seriously advised on in the next National Synod.

20. For as much as the pernicious Doctrine of the Jesuits against the Lives, Estates, and Authority of Sovereign Princes is propagated, and most impudently published to the World by the chiefest of that Sect; Suarez having within a few months gone beyond all the Fellows of his Order, in a Book newly published by him: This Assembly detesting that abominable Doctrine, together with its Authors, exhorts all the faithful of our Communion to abhor and execrate it, and all our Ministers and Professors are to Teach and Preach against it powerfully, and to batter it down with force of Arguments, and to defend at the same time conjointly together the Rights of God, and those of the Higher Powers ordained by him.

CHAP. IX. Particular Matters.

1. THERE was read an Act of the Colloquy of Higher Agenois, in which the Council of Lower Guyenne complained against the Lord of Pujole, and against a certain Judgment of the said Colloquy, past in his favor, because that the said Lord had seriously protested of his sincere intentions to persist in the profession of our Religion, they could not imagine that he would admit into his heart such a disloyal thought as to abandon the Sacred Communion of our Churches, and to bring the worst of evils upon his Soul in good earnest; yet nevertheless they did judge the said Lord worthy of the heaviest Censures for his great miscarriages in all his public actings, particularly, that instead of demanding in a lawful Assembly the Reformation of those Defaults and Abuses he pretended to have observed in the Council, he had as much as in him lay exposed it to the highest contempt and infamy, and followed a course notoriously contrary to all Orders, which have been until now uniformly obeyed and practiced among us with good acceptance and success; a matter of very dangerous consequence, and which might cause an irreparable breach in our Union: Which fault of his he did confess and acknowledge, and promised for the future to conform himself to the Canons which are now, or hereafter may be established by these Assemblies. And Monsieur