to Fountainbleau that we might wait upon the Bishop of Meaux which was a truth had the kindness for us as to order him to come to Paris and if after our Conferences ended with my Lord Bishop of Meaux we could not with a good Conscience hold Communion with the Church of Rome he would then give us when ever we should desire it a Licence for our selves and Families to depart the Kingdom and that finally my Lord of Meaux would charily preserve our Writing which had been presented unto his Majesty We all three accepted the Proposals And had several Conferences with the Bishop of Meaux But this very day we are urged to come to a Resolution and upon our refusal of signing the new Formulary we are plainly told That it is ill done of us to recoil after that of our own accord we had advanced so far and they farther tell us That our own Writing obligeth us to far greater matters than the new Formulary and that we declare in the very beginning of it That of all Evils Disunion is the greatest and that by this our Confession neither Transubstantiation nor any of those other Points debated by us could be a bar to our Re-union and that in effect we do formally re-unite ourselves by our very Writing and that by submitting our selves to the Conduct of Bishops and of their pitiful Curates we do subject our selves to the whole Ecclesiastical Discipline and that we intreating the Higher Powers who went unto Mass to believe our Sentiments to be the same with theirs who desired the Cup we were engaged at the same time to do as they did even to wait for that Reformation which was universally desired and which the King incessantly pursued as having resolv'd that the Cup should be delivered unto the People in the Sacrament And thus they boast we are caught by our own Writing which was left imprudently enough in the hands of my Lord Bishop of Meaux and which they say also at the same time is in the King 's This is the truth of our present Estate and for which we conjure you most dear Brother to send us as soon as possible your advice lest c. WE whose Names are here-under written being fully perswaded that among Christians there cannot be a greater mischief than to be divided one from another especially when as the providence of God has made us all Subjects to our King who is the most glorious Monarch in the whole World and being unmeasurably grieved that we are bound to depart his Kingdom and to subject our selves unto the authority of strangers whom we can never own for our Soveraign Lawful Princes Do declare That from this very day we can promise my Lord the Bishop of Meaux that we will subject our selves to the Sermons and Even-Songs used in the Catholick Church thereby giving a sensible demonstration of our Union with the Archbishops Bishops and Curates of France We also intreat That we may be absolutely believed to be in the same Sentiments with the Higher Powers who in conformity to the Liberties of the Gallican Church gave in divers Articles as our Historians relate to my Lord Cardinal de Joyeuse concerning the Council of Trent and until such time as they may be established by the King's Authority and signed by the most Reverend Clergy of France in the sence of the second Article of the last Edict verified in Parliament the 22d of this instant October we most humbly beseech his Majesty to grant us the liberty of abiding within his Kingdom in quality of poor private persons we calling God to witness by our Oaths That we will do nothing against his Majesty's Declarations but contrariwise we shall endeavour by our example to keep the People within those bounds of Fidelity and Obedience which we all owe unto the King and our Superiours I suppose those Articles were the same which had been demanded by the Cardinal of Lorrain and the other French Ambassadours in the Council of Trent as they be mentioned by De Mezeray in his 3d Tome p. 1470. viz. That an Ecclesiastick Person should hold but one Benefice That the Mass being finished Prayers might be celebrated in the Vulgar Tongue That the People might Communicate in both kinds That all Pastors should be capable and obliged to Preach and Catechise That the abuse crept in among the Common People in the Worshipping of Images might be removed SECT LV. Now the Ministers have left the Kingdom and vast multitudes of their People steal away after them as well as they can But the King and Haman the French King and his Cabal sit down and drink whil'st that Paris as Shushan of old and all other places in which the Reformed remain are in great perplexities In every Province whithersoever the King's Commandment and his Decree came there was great Mourning among the Protestants Fasting Weeping and Wailing and many lay in Sackcloth and Ashes Yet among the Sighs and Groans or God's poor Saints who mourn for the Desolations of Zion the Ruines of their Temples and Sanctuary the loss and reproach of their Solemn Assemblies the Prophanations of their Holy Sabbaths their deprival of Religious Ordinances the banishment of their Pastors the dissipations of their Churches and the total extirpation of the pure Evangelical Religion and cannot be comforted the Popish Clergy the Monks and Jesuits have their Jubilees and Triumphs and the Pope sends a Letter to the King congratulating him for his Zeal against the Hereticks in his Kingdom and for repealing the Edict of Nantes It spake this Language The Pope's Letter to the French King congratulating him for Abolishing the Edict of Nantes Innocent the XIth to our dearest Son in Christ Lewes the XIVth the most Christian King of France Our dearest Son in Christ SInce above all the rest of those illustrious Proofs which do abundantly declare the natural inbred Piety of your Majesty that Noble Zeal and worthy the most Christian King is most conspicuous with which being ardently inflamed you have wholly abrogated all those Constitutions that were favourable to the Hereticks of your Kingdom and by most wise Decrees set forth have excellently provided for the Propagation of the Orthodox Belief as our beloved Son and your Ambassadour with us the Noble Duke de Estrées hath declared to us We thought it was incumbent on us most largely to commend that excellent Piety of yours by the remarkable and lasting Testimony of these our Letters And to congratulate your Majesty that Accession of immortal Commendation which you have added to all your other great Exploits by so illustrious an Act of this kind The Catholick Church shall most assuredly record in her Sacred Annals a Work of such Devotion towards her and celebrate your Name with never-dying Praises But above all you may most deservedly promise to your self an ample Retribution from the Divine Goodness for this most excellent Vndertaking and may rest assured that we shall never cease to pour
years old heretofore Pastor in the Church of St. Stephens in Forest tall of Stature Chestnut-colour'd Hair Head lifted up he was deposed for Adultery by the Province of Vivaretz 3. John Pressac alias Martin born at Montauban formerly Minister in the Church of Brieteste in Albigeois an Apostate of mean Stature about thirty years old he hath little eyes sunk deep into his Head and purblind brown Chestnut Hair pale Visag'd great Nose rash and haughty in speaking 4. N. Laurens an Apostate born at Montpellier a little dwarfish Fellow about thirty years old bald headed black Beard little Eyes great Lips pale-Visag'd formerly Pastor in the Church of Aymargues in Lower Languedoc publickly accused of Adultery 5. Hector Joly formerly Pastor in the Church of Montauban in the Higher Languedoc about Nine and forty years old pretty tall of Stature black Hair'd was deposed by this Synod for the hainous Crime of Fornication 6. Stephen Giraud heretofore Pastor of the Church of Gemauzac in Xaintonge about two and thirty years old high enough of Stature black Hair red Fac'd his Eyes sunk into his Head was deposed by the Synod of Xaintonge with hopes given him and a promise of being restored but he was totally deprived and deposed by this Synod for Drunkenness Adultery and Theft 7. John Cottelier sometimes Minister in the Church of Nismes in the Lower Languedoc about Five and thirty years little of Stature but a well compacted Fellow bald headed black Hair scarce any Beard high Forehead he was deposed for Fornication and other Crimes 8. Paul Daude formerly Minister in the Church of St. John of Gardonenque Deposed by the Sentence of the Provincial Synod of Sevennes and his Deposition was confirmed in this for divers notorious Crimes he is a Fellow about two and thirty years of Age of a flaxen colour'd Hair red Beard a long and ghastly Visage great Nose Ferrets Eyes sunk deep into his Head and yet poreing upon the Earth and short of Stature 9. N. Philippin born at Newcastle in Switzerland tall enough and great necked red Beard a bald uplifted Head wide open Nostrils lame of his right hand he was sometimes Pastor of the Church of Chasteau Dauphin but interdicted the Ministry for divers Natural Infirmities by the Synod of Dolphin and now a Vagabond Done and Decreed in the National Synod of Alez which sate from the First day of October till the Second of December 1620. Signed in the Original by du Moulin Moderator Brunier Assessor Vignier Scribe Papillon Scribe and by all the rest of the Deputies The Synod of Alez began on a Thursday and ended on a Wednesday The Original was lodged in the Archives of Rochell THE Acts Canons Decisions and Decrees OF THE XXIV NATIONAL SYNOD OF The Reformed Churches OF FRANCE AND OF BEARNE HELD IN The Town of Charenton St. Maurice near Paris the First day of September and ended the First of October in the Year of Our Lord 1623. By the Authority and Permission of Lewis XIII King of France and Navarr being the Sixty Fourth King of this Realm in the Fourteenth Year of his Reign In which Sate the First Commissioner for His Majesty the Lord Augustus Galland a Member of the said Communion according to His Majesties Letters Patents of the 17th of April 1623 verified in Parliament the Second of May following it being His Majesties Pleasure that alwayes in all Colloquies and Synods for the future there shall be present an Officer of the King professing the Reformed Religion to represent his Person and see that nothing but Ecclesiastical matters were Treated and Debated in them as had been Decreed by the Edict The CONTENTS of the Synod of CHARENTON Chap. I. THE first Commissioner from the King in a National Synod the Lord Augustus Galland Deputies to the Synod Election of Officers Chap. II. The Kings Commission to the Lord Galland Chap. III. A great Debate about this Commission Chap. IV. Approbation of the Confession of Faith Chap. V. Observations upon the Discipline Chap. VI. Observations upon the Synod of Alez Chap. VII Reflections upon those Observations made by the Synod of Alez on two Acts of the National Synod of Vitre Chap. VIII Reflections upon their Appeals Chap. IX Reflections upon their Chapter of General Matters Chap. X. Reflections upon that of particular Matters Chap. XI Reflections upon their Colledges and Vniversities Chap. XII One Observation on their General Laws for the Vniversities Chap. XIII Appeals unto this National Synod Chap. XIV Of General Matters Chap. XV. A Remarkable passage about Monsieur Primrose Pastor of the Reformed Church of Bourdeaux and Arnoux the Jesuit See G. M. 16. Chap. XVI A Canon passed in Obedience to the Kings Letter that no Ministers should be Deputies unto Political Assemblies See G. M. 17. Chap. XVII The Causes of the French Kings unwillingness to suffer Monsieur du Moulin to be Minister in the Church of Paris or elsewhere in the Kingdom A Catalogue of du Moulins Works Dr. Twisses Testimony of him and them Chap. XVIII Particular Matters Chap. XIX An Expedient to preserve the Churches Peace P. M. 11. Chap. XX. An Account of Curcellaeus another Ecebolius P. M. 17. Chap. XXI Mr Camerons Address unto the Synod P. M. 33. Chap. XXII Of Vniversities and Colledges Chap. XXIII The Lord of Candals Accompts Chap. XXIV A Dividend of Moneys among the Provinces Chap. XXV The Roll of Apostates Chap. XXVI The Decision of the Arminian Controversies Canons about Predestination Election and Reprobation Errors rejected Chap. I. Of Christs Death and Mans Redemption by it Errors rejected Chap. II. Of Mans Natural Depravedness Conversion and Gods Method in it Errors rejected Chap. III. The Saints perseverance Errors rejected Chap. IV. all subscribed by the Moderator and Deputies XXVII Remarks upon some of the Members of this Synod THE FIRST Synod of Charenton 1623. The 24th Synod SYNOD XXIV 1623. In the Name of God Amen The Acts of the National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France held at Charenton near Paris the First of September and divers Dayes after in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred Twenty and Three CHAP. I. The Kings First Commissioner Deputies and Synodical Officers THE Lord Augustus Galland Councellor of the King in His Council of Estate and Attorney-General of the Kingdom of Navarre was Commissionated by His Majesty to open this Synod by his Royal Authority and to be present in all its Sessions as shall be afterwards Declared There appeared as Deputies for the Province of Normandy Mr. Benjamin Basnage Pastor of the Church of Charenton John Maximilian de Baux Lord de L' Angle Pastor in the Church of Roan John Lewis Mustel Esq Lord of Boisroger Elder in the Church of Ponteau de Mer and James de la Loys Elder of the Church of St. l o. As for the Province of Orleans and Berry Mr. Simon Jurieux Pastor of the Church of Chastillon on the Loir James Imbert Durant Pastor of the Church
Officers of His Majesty their Provincial Synod could not meet but towards the end of August which had exceedingly retarded and put back their Journey so that they could not possibly come any sooner unto this Assembly Their Excuses were admitted and they were admonished for the future to keep exactly to the forme prescribed by the former National Synods in their Letters of Deputation and to bring in Writing the Names of those Persons who being Commissionated could not come hither unto this Synod The One and Twentieth day after the Synod had first met and sate there were Letters brought and read in full Assembly from the Province of Provence assembled in their Synod at Cabrieres on the Eight and Twentieth day of August last By which they excuse themselves and crave that they may be excused for not having sent any Deputies unto this Assembly But all their Excuses were rejected and the said Province was censur'd for their neglect of this their Duty they being able if they had been willing to have Commissionated some from out of their Body unto this Synod and they were farther censured for that their Letters were full of blots and razures and that the clause of submission unto the Votes and Canons thereof was not couched in such full and Emphatical terms as the former National Synods had prescribed Prayers having been offered up unto God and all the Letters of Deputation read and examined The Reverend Mr. Durant Pastor of the Church of Paris was nominated and chosen Moderator Mr. Bayly Assessor and Mr. Faucheur a Pastor and Mr. Launay an Elder to be Scribes CHAP. II. The Kings Commissson to the Lord GALLAND AS soon as the Synodical Officers were chosen the Lord Galland declared that by vertue of and in Obedience to his Majesties Letters Patents bearing Date the Seventeenth of April last and verified in his Court of Parliament the Second of May following by which His Majesty had ordained that in all Assemblies of his Subjects of the Reformed Religion whether Coloquies or Synods one of His Majesties Officers being of the same Religion should assist in Person and see that nothing should be propounded or handled but only such Affairs as were permitted by his Edicts and that he should make report thereof unto His Majesty He came now and sate in this Assembly for that His Majesty had Commissionated him as his Deputy unto this present Assembly as was evident by the Letters Pattents of His said Majesty subscribed by the Kings own Hand Lewis and a little Lower by His Majesties Order De L' Omeny and Sealed with the Great Seal in yellow Wax and Dated the Twenty Ninth of July last which were produced and read The Tenour whereof is as followeth Lewis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre to our well-beloved and faithful Counsellor in our Council of State and Privy Council our Attorney General in our Realm of Navarre Monsieur Augustus Galland Greeting We having Willed and Ordained by our Letters Patents bearing Date in the Moneth of April last that our Subjects of the P. Reformed Religion might hold their Synodical Assemblies as formerly and meet and treat about Matters of their Discipline and that we would Commissionate one of our Officers of the same Religion to be present in those Assemblies and to see that none other Matter should be Debated in them but what is according to our Edicts Now forasmuch as in the Moneth of September next there will be conven'd at Charenton an Assembly of the Deputies of the said Religion from out of all the Provinces of this our Kingdom For these Causes we being well assured of your good affection unto our Service and to the Repose and Peace of our Estate we have Commissionated and do by these presents Commissionate you to meet and be present with them in the said General Assembly whether it sit at Charenton or be removed elsewhere by our permission during the whole time of their Sessions and carefully to take heed that nothing he Treated or Debated in it contrary to our Service or prejudicial to the Publick Peace And in case any other thing shall be proposed or Debated than what concerns the Order and Discipline of the said P. Reformed Religion you shall oppose and suppress it and make those Remonstrances against it as be in such cases needful and give us full and timely notice of the whole and of all and singular passages transacted in it And because of that confidence we have of your Loyalty and Affection we have Commissionated and Deputed and do Commissionate and Depute you for this very end and purpose to be present in all those Assemblies held by our Subjects of the said P. Reformed Religion by our Licence at the said Town of Charenton without your having need of any other powers than what are now given you by these present Letters Pattents which you may communicate unto such Persons as you shall think fit so that none of those our aforesaid Subjects may pretend ignorance you having received full power from us For such is our will and pleasure Given at St. Germain in I aye this Nine and Twentieth day of July and in the Year of Grace One Thousand Six Hundred and Twenty Three and in the Fourteenth Year of Our Reign Signed Lewes and a little lower By His Majesties Order D' LOMENY CHAP. III. A great Debate about this Commission THE Letters Pattents being read The Lord of Montmartyn Deputy General of the Churches unto His Majesty reported that when as He and his Colleague the Lord Maniald were inform'd of His Majesties Will as aforesaid they did what lay in their power by reason and argument to disswade His Majesty from passing this Declaration But notwithstanding all that they did or could urge His Majesty was not pleased in the least to heed or regard them but caused this Declaration to be verified in his Court of Parliament So that neither himself nor the Lord Maniald being able to do any thing more they left it unto this present Assembly to reiterate their Complaints unto His Majesty and if they thought good to tender their Petitions unto His Majesty about it The Synod deliberating in presence of the Lord Augustus Galland about this Affair and cousidering that by this Declaration of His Majesty our Colloquies and Synods were most unjustly charged and condemned for having past beyond the Bounds and Limits of their most humble Duty which they have alwayes deferred and payd unto His Majesty in all their Consultations and Debates and moreover that the benefit of his Edicts was greatly retrenched and those favourable Concessions which His Majesty had granted us were now as good as totally revoked it is resolved that a most solemn humble address should be presented to His Majesty that he would be pleased to maintain our Churches in all their Liberties which had been accorded to them and which they had ever heretofore enjoyed and two Pastors with two Elders were ordained to
of Lower Guyenne The Sieurs John Mizaubin Pastor of the Church of Sainte Foy and James du Fort Pastor of La Bastide in Armagnac together with Mr. John Joan Lord of Loullan Advocate in the Parliament of Bourdeaux Elder in the Church of Duras and Mr. Isaack Grenouelleau Advocate also in the same Parliament and Elder of the Church of Castelsmoron in Albrett For the Province of Xaintonge the Sieurs John Constans Pastor of the Church of Pons and David Belot Pastor of the Church de la Rochechalais together with John Besne Esq Lord of Angoulins Elder in the Church of Rochell and Elijah Marlat Advocate in the Parliament of Bourdeaux and Elder of the Church of Mirambeau For the Province of Poictou The Sieur Peter de la Vallade Pastor of the Church of Fontenay la Conte and Isaac du Soul Pastor of the Church of Lusignan accompanied with Gilles Begaud Esq Lord of La Begaudiere Elder in the Church of Montague and James Coxdel Lord of Soignon Elder in the Church of St. Maixant For the Province of Anjou the Sieurs Daniel Couppe Pastor of Loudun and Stephen le Bloy Pastor of the Church of Anger 's without any Elders because those who were Commissionated fell sick on their Journey which Excuse was admitted For the Province of Orleans and Berry The Sieurs John Guerrin Pastor of the Church of Baugency and John Taby Pastor of the Church of La Charite accompanied with James Pasquier Counsellor and Comptroller for the King in the Town of Baugency and Elder of the Church there and Peter Longuet Advocate in the Parliament of Paris and Elder in the Church of Issoudun For the Province of Normandy The Sieur John Baunier Lord of La Fresnage Pastor in the Church of Caen and Peter Erondelle Pastor in the Church of Roan Accompanied with Peter du Pertuis Esq Lord of Eragny Elder in the Church of Gisors and Mr. Francis Quillel Lord of La Briere Counsellor and Assessor in the Vi-County of Alenson and Elder of the Church gathered in that City For the Province of the Isle of France The Sieurs John Mestrezat Pastor of the Church of Paris and David Blondell Pastor of the Church of Houdan Accompanied with John de Gravelle Esq Lord of Beauterne Elder in the said Church of Houdan and Isaack d' Huisseau Elder in the Church of Paris For the Province of Bearn The Sieurs Peter Rivall Pastor of the Church of Nay and John de Pommarede Advocate in the Parliament of Navarre Elder in the Church of Mourlans who not having inserted in their Letters of Deputation that clause of submission required by the former National Synods were told that for this time they were born withal on those Conditions expresly mentioned in the Canons of the last National Synod but for the future they should not be admitted into these Assemblies nor have a consultive Vote in them excepting only when as the Confession of our Faith should be read in which indeed and nothing else they retain Union with our Churches The Second of October the Lord of Montmartyn General-Deputy for the Churches of this Kingdom unto His Majesty came into this Synod and took his place and voted in it according to the Canons of our Churches and the usual practise of former National Synods After Invocation of the Holy Name of God in Prayer Monsieur Chauve was chosen Moderator and Monsieur Bouteroue Assessor and Messieurs Blondel and Petit Scribes CHAP. II. The Kings Writt for the Calling of the Synod and ordering of Matters in it AS soon as the Synod was formed and the Election of its Officers past the Lord Galland presented His Majesties Letters Patents which being read they were transcribed and the Copy inserted into the Acts of this Synod the Tenour whereof was as followeth The Kings Letters Patents Louis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre to our Beloved and Trusty Counsellor in our Councils of State and Privy Council and Attorney General for our Dominion of Navarre the Lord Galland Greeting We having permitted according to our Edicts our Subjects professing the P. Reformed Religion to convocate and keep a National Council in our City of Castres in the Province of Languedoc this next September that they may as usual take care about matters of Discipline appertaining unto their Religion wherefore it being needful that there should be present in the said Council a Commissioner from us who might watch over our said Subjects that they do not treat of any other Affairs but such as are allowed them by our Edicts and knowing by past Experience that we could not pitch upon a more Worthy Person than your self of whose Fidelity and Affection to our Service Sufficiency and Abilities we are very well satisfied and remembring your singular care and vigilancy manifested in the last National Synod held at Charenton by our said Subjects in the Moneth of September and Year of Our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred and Twenty Three to the general contentment both of us and them also For which causes we have Commissionated Deputed and Ordained and do Commissionate Depute and Ordain you by these presents to go unto our said City of Castres and to sit in the said National Council in our stead and as our Representative and personally to be present at all their Consultations and Resolutions and to see use and exercise our Authority that nothing be proposed or debated but what doth truly concern the Discipline of the Religion aforesaid according to the Tenour of our Edicts and Declarations and particularly of those made and published by us in September Sixteen Hundred Twenty Three about their holding of Colloquies and Synods and you shall look to it also that none of our Subjects do keep any private Conventicles in that our said City You shall also have a special care that nothing be moved or debated in the said Council but what may contribute to the benefit of our Service and the upholding of our Authority and preservation of the Peace of our Kingdom And in case there should be any actings contrary hereunto we command you immediately to suppress them and in our Name and Authority to Act or to make such interdictions and prohibitions as you shall judge needful of which as generally of all Matters transacted in the said Council you shall form a good and ample verbal process That it being brought unto us upon your return we may advise of what shall be most expedient for our Service and the Tranquillity of our Subjects And for the doing hereof we impower you with full Authority and give you our Commission and especial Warrant by these presents For such is our Will and Pleasure Given at Nants Another Copy has the Tenth day this Twentieth day of July in the Year of Grace One Thousand Six Hundred and Twenty Six and of Our Reign the Seventeenth Signed Louis And a little lower By the King Philippeaux And Sealed with Yellow Wax CHAP. III.
Mercurin and that by Authority from this Council 54. There is given an hundred Livers unto Mr. Repasseau for the Supply of his present Wants and to help transport his Houshold-Goods unto Paillac and the said Sum shall be paid him out of the common Mass of Moneys belonging to all our Churches 55. Whereas Monsieur Barre Doctor of Civil Law and Advocate at Montlimard hath composed a Treatise concerning Antichrist and which hath been perused by several Divines commissionated thereunto and they giving a very laudable and good Account thereof it was approved also by this Synod 56. Monsieur Sarazin Pastor of the Church of Campagne had leave given him to quit the Province of Higher Languedoc and to accept of a Call from any Church in the Province of Burgundy but always upon this Condition That he do not leave the Church of Campagne before the Sessions of the Colloquy of Lower Quercy who are impowered fully to discharge the said Sarazin and to take care that that Church be not left destitute 57. The Lord Commissioner Galland was humbly intreated to write unto the Lord President of the Parliament of Tholouse on behalf of divers Inhabitants of Briteste because Warrants were issued out to apprehend them and make them Prisoners although the Matter for which they are in Trouble hath been pardoned by his Majesties Act of Grace and Indemnity 58. The Memoirs of Monsieur Rennoy Pastor of the Church of Coluisson were presented unto this Assembly by Monsieur Petit and were delivered unto the Deputies of Lower Languedoc who were to carry them unto their next Provincial Synod which was charged in an especial manner to consider of them 59. Thirty Livers were ordered unto Nicolas Severin out of the common stock of our Churches but on this Condition that he never trouble us with his Petitions more and the Provinces shall take care to detain their Poor at home that these National Synods may be no more urged with their Importunities 60. There was given as a Gratuity out of the best Moneys belonging to the Churches four hundred and fifty Livers unto Monsieur Cooper Deputy to the Lord of Candall 61. An hundred Livers were ordered unto Sir Augustus Galland his Majesties Commissioner in this Council out of the clearest Moneys of our Churches to defray the Charges he was at in the Business of the Church of Froqualquier 62. Out of its supernumerary Portions the Province of Lower Languedoc shall pay the Sum of thirty Livers unto Monsieur Noguier at which the Charges of his Journey hither have been assessed by the Council 63. Over and besides what he may else need to get off the Writ of Imprisonment issued forth against him by the Privy Council and which had turned over his Cause to be heard in the Court of Beziers there was granted the Sum of one hundred Livers unto Monsieur Pontel which he shall receive out of the common Stock of the Churches Moneys 64. Twenty Livers out of the same Fund was given unto the common Crier of the City of Castres 65. Sixty Livers were given to the Door-keeper of the Council out of the same Stock and he is recommended unto the Lords Consuls and Magistrates of this City of Castres that they would be pleased to restore him unto his Office of Regent which he hath formerly exercised in their Colledg 66. The Lord of Candall is intreated to advance out of the half Portion granted unto Monsieur Mercurin Pastor of the Church of Grasse as much as will be requisite to take off the Writ of Arrest against him in the King 's Privy Council that so the Parliament of Provence may be deprived of the Knowledg of those Matters for which he is in Trouble and do so very much hinder him in the Discharge of his ministerial Duties and Calling 67. The next Synod of Higher Languedoc are charged to present Monsieur Grasset Pastor of the Church in the Isle of Jourdain unto the Ministery and pastoral Care of the Church of Mazamet and to provide the Church in the aforesaid Island of another Minister 68. The Matters concerning the Church of Sarverettes were particularly recommended unto the Lord of Montmartyn our General Deputy 69. The Province of Higher Languedoc is intreated to consider the Losses sustained by Monsieur Daneau Pastor of the Church of Castres in the former and latter Wars that so out of their Charity he may receive some Relief and Comfort 70. Seven hundred Livers were given unto the Children of Monsieur Cameron deceased as a Testimony of that Honour we have for his Name and Memory and they shall also receive a yearly Portion from the Lord of Candall until the next National Synod Moreover Monsieur Olier who pleaded for the Church of Montauban was told by the Council that in case the said Church did not pay the eight hundred Livers in unto his Children which they owed unto Monsieur Cameron their Father and who was sometime Pastor and Professor in their City and University the like Sum should be detained from them by the Lord of Candall out of the Moneys settled upon their University that so their just Debts might that way be pay'd unto these poor Orphans and the Moneys now given them and those others due from Montauban shall be deposited with their Guardian for their Use 71. An hundred Livers were ordered to be paid unto Monsieur Bansillon a worthy Minister in Consideration of the many Damages he hath sustained and they shall be paid him out of the general Stock of our Churches nor shall this occasion the lessening of his Relief from the Province who shall assist and help him in the Prosecution of his Suit the Accompt whereof shall be brought in to the next National Synod to be perused and considered by them 72. The Church of Vezenobre is recommended to the Charity of the Province of Sevennes 73. Monsieur | | | Another Copy calls him Merlat Mercat petitioning the Council to consider the Charges the Church of Pons have been at in getting the Inlargement of their Pastor Monsieur Constans their Petition was remanded back unto the next Provincial Synod of Xaintonge which is exhorted to assist that poor Church out of the supernumerary Portions couched in their Dividend 74. In like manner the poor Churches of Masedazill le's Bordes Savarat and Camarades are recommended to the Charity of the same Province as is also Monsieur Marsillon who hath been a very great Sufferer that they would consider him more than ordinary 75. Monsieur Baux informed this Synod that if he should go to Nismes and exercise his Ministry there he had no certain Stipend promised him and the Lords Petit and Duranty their Deputies did tell him as much that they had no Order from that Church to make any Agreement with him about it and the said Petit did confirm the same in open Council Whereupon the Church of Nismes was exhorted fully to content and satisfy the said Mr. Baux and in case
more particular notice of them unto the Lord Galland we will not therefore detain you any longer than to acquaint you that you may give an intire Credit to whatsoever the Lord Galland shall in out Name declare unto you Moreover we do assure you that as we are very well satisfied with the Carriage and Conduct of your Synod and of your Deputies to us you shall upon all Occasions that occur receive the sensible Pledges of our Good-will Given at Monceaux this 21 st of September 1631. Signed in the Original Louis and a little lower Philippeaux and subscribed To our Dear and Well-beloved the Deputies of the National Synod of our Subjects professing the pret Reformed Religion assembled by our Permission at Charenton 18. His Majesty's Letters being read the said Deputies made report That when they were called into his Majesty's Council and the King having heard them he answered them in these words I have heard and understood all that you have said and you may rest assured that I will preserve you according to my Edicts Give me the Cahier and I will peruse it with my Council After which his Eminency the Lord Cardinal told them That his Majesty was exceedingly satisfied with the Conduct of the Synod and particularly with them their Deputies And it was his Majesty's Intention to maintain his Subjects of the Religion in their Liberty granted by his Edicts and to give them the enjoyment of his Favours and the Fruits of his Royal Good-will and his Majesty had prevented the Petitions of the Churches having already ordered a certain Sum of Money to be delivered unto the Lord of Candall to be distributed among them And his Majesty in token of his accepting the Synod's Petition had taken off the Prohibition laid upon those two Ministers the Sieurs Banage and Beraud and hath permitted them to assist according to the Trust reposed in them by their Provinces in the Synod And as for the Sieur Bouteroue his Majesty hath not been as yet informed of the Contents of the Book written by him nor of the Contents of the Decree denounc'd against him by the Parliament of Grenoble but as soon as he shall have the knowledg thereof he will write unto the Lord Galland his Commissioner and by advising with him will take some effectual course to answer the Request of this Assembly about admitting the said Lord of Bouteroue And as for the rest of their Petitions mentioned in the Cahier presented by them the Deputies unto the King his Majesty was resolved to deal with his Subjects in a manner suitable to his Soveraign Dignity and the Sacred Authority of his Royal Word and would give them most favourable Answers after the breaking up of the Synod and not otherwise 19. Whereupon the Assembly approving the Conduct of their Deputies did give them its hearty Thanks for their Care Faithfulness and Dexterity manifested in the discharge of that Trust committed to them And afterwards his Majesty's Commissioner the Lord Galland acquainted the Synod That by the Letters which he had received from his Majesty and the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and the Lord de la Vrilliere Secretary of State that his Majesty was very well pleased yea highly satisfied with the Conduct and Moderation of this Assembly and with those Testimonials and Expressions rendred by them of their Affection and Obedience to his Majesty and that within a few days this Synod should receive the Effects of this his Good-will in a very considerable Sum of Monies his Majesty resolving to gratify them so far as to defray the Charges the Assembly must needs be at out of his own Treasury and to bear the Expences of all the Deputies in their Travel and Sojourning here And he farther exhorted the Synod and all the Churches in general to continue in their Duty upon which depended their Preservation and that it would give them a most solid ground to expect and hope for his Majesty's most speedy and favourable Answer unto their Cahier which they had sent unto him and which would be dispatch'd as soon as the Synod was broke up and he desired that they would not be over-long nor tedious in their Sessions for many Reasons that he could give And whereas his Majesty for divers very great and weighty Considerations and Motives had by his Writ the eleventh of August last interdicted the Sieurs Beraud Banage and Bouteroue from being Members of this National Synod and by his express Injunction had ordered their removal out of their respective Provinces and that they should in no wise exercise their Ministry either in Languedoc Normandy or Dolphiny Now out of his meer Grace and Respect had to the most humble Petition of this Synod presented him by their Deputies it hath seem'd good unto him to restore those Reverend Persons Mr. Banage Beraud and Bouteroue unto their respective Churches and given them leave to sit according to that Trust reposed in them as Deputies in this very Synod but chargeth them withal to use for time coming more and greater Moderation in their Writings and Sermons in which it is his Majesty's Pleasure that they should be more circumspect and reserv'd and to keep themselves within the Bounds prescribed them by the Discipline And as for the Sieur de Bouteroue before his Majesty will ordain his Restoration his Majesty desireth to be informed of the Sentence past against him in the Parliament of Grenoble because it relates unto a certain Book written by the said Bouteroue 20. Upon this Declaration made by the Lord Commissioner of his Majesty's Good-will and of his favourable Inclinations unto the Churches it was unanimously voted and decreed That most humble Thanks should be returned unto his Majesty for the Grant of his Gracious Favours and that a new Address should be made him by this Assembly with an humble Petition for the restoration of the Sieur de Bouteroue and that the Synod might have Licence given it to sit without a Dissolution till such time as the Monies destin'd by his Majesty's Liberality for the defraying of its Expences be paid in and distributed according to he Intention of his Majesty by the Synod it self conformably to that Order which hath been always observed in the Dividend of Monies granted us by his Majesty CHAP. VIII Election of General Deputies 21. SEveral Provinces requesting that his Majesty should be pleased to grant out his Royal Writ of Licence for the Election and Nomination of General Deputies the Lord Commissioner declared That it was his Majesty's Pleasure that this Assembly should agree with him in the choice of two Persons acceptable unto his Majesty who might exercise the Office of General Deputies and reside near his Person and attend the Court in all its Progress and Motions The Synod having conferr'd in private by its Commissioners with the forementioned Lord did nominate the Lord Marquess of Clermont and the Lord Galland Lieutenant General in the Bailiwick of the Artillery and of
one of his Privy Council he was earnestly intreated most humbly to petition his Majesty to add unto those Favours which he hath already vouchsafed us the Grant also of those which we expect and wait for from his Royal Clemency and Goodness CHAP. XII The Sieurs Bouteroue and Basnage admitted as Deputies to sit and act in the Synod 2. THE same Day the Sieur Benjamin Banage Pastor of the Church of Quarentin and one of the Deputies for the Province of Normandy presented himself unto the Synod craving leave that he might be admitted as a Member into it The Lord Commissioner bespake him that the King for divers Considerations had thought good to debar him Entrance into this Synod and to remove him from his Church and Province of Normandy But having a particular Respect unto the most humble Petitions of this Assembly he gave him leave to take his Place and Vote in it during the remaining Sessions thereof and permitted him to continue the Exercise of his Ministry in his own Church upon condition that he ordered his Words and Actions with that Moderation and Reservedness which became his Calling and Profession 3. Monsieur Denys Bouteroue Pastor of the Church of Grenoble and Deputy for the Province of Dolphiny coming also in like manner and desiring to be admitted into the Synod according to his Majesty's Permission the Lord Commissioner told him That he had given the King occasion to be displeased with him because of a Book which he had printed in June 1628 and was condemned by Decree of the Parliament of Greenoble but that the Prosecution which was against him for being the Author of it and for which he deserved to be put out of the Synod and Province of Dolphiny was remitted by his Majesty's great Goodness in Confidence that for the future he would comport himself with all Moderation and keep within the due and proper Bounds of the Discipline as appeared from the Charge and Letter Missive of his Majesty unto the said Lord Commissioner the Tenor whereof is as followeth CHAP. XIII A Copy of the King's Letter unto the Lord Galland for restoring the Lord of Bouteroue unto his Place in the National Synod My Lord Galland HAving seen by your Letter written unto the Lord de la Urilliere what you report concerning the Minister de Bouteroue whose Restitution I desired might be respited till such time as I was informed of the Decree given against him in my Court of Parliament of Grenoble for a certain Book made by him containing very many injurious and slanderous Discourses I have since reflected on the Reasons alledged by you and those Assurances you have given me that for the future he will carry himself better therefore I now send you this Letter to acquaint you that I have thought good to extend the same Favour to him which I have unto those two other Ministers Banage and Beraud and to restore him unto his Function permitting him as I have also done those now mentioned Ministers to assist in that Synod the Remainder of its Sessions upon condition that hereafter he contain himself within the Bounds of their Discipline which you shall notify unto all the Members of that Assembly that thereby they may be convinced of my Goodness to them and that I shall always be glad to extend the Fruits thereof unto the whole Body and every particular Member of that pret Reformed Religion provided they render themselves worthy of it by an intire Obedience to my Royal Authority And I beseech God to take you my Lord Galland into his holy keeping Written from Vandosme the 20th of September 1631. Signed in the Original Louis and a little lower Phelippeaux And superscribed To my Lord Galland one of his Majesty's most honourable Council of State 5. After that those Remonstrances had been made unto them those aforesaid Ministers Banage and Bouteroue took their respective Places in the Synod according to the Commission given them by their respective Provinces 6. The Lord Commissioner having declared that it was his Majesty's Pleasure that for the future no Strangers but only the proper Members of the Consistories in each particular Church should assist at all their Church-Sessions and Consistorial Actings The Assembly represented unto his Lordship the many Difficulties which did daily occur in the Management of Church-Affairs and which did necessarily require the Assistance Advice and mutual Communication of other Churches Whereupon his Lordship promised to write unto his Majesty about it and to petition his Majesty that he would be pleased in Cases of Necessity to grant that three other Pastors and as many Elders from the neighbouring Churches might be allowed to meet and consult together in the Consistory CHAP. XIV Approbation of the Confession of Faith THE Confession of Faith was read word by word and every Article posedly and in its proper Order approved and signed by all the Deputies who were sent and commissionated by the Provinces and they did all of them in their own personal and relative Capacities both for themselves and for their Principals who had intrusted them and whom they represented and who had given them express Charge so to do protest that they would live and die in the Confession of that Faith that they would teach it unto their Churches and put to their helping Hand that it might be inviolably kept and preserved to Posterity CHAP. XV. Observations on Reading the Church-Discipline 1. THE Provinces of Anjou Xaintonge and Lower Guyenne requesting that the 4th Article of the 1st Chapter might be explained This Assembly decreed that the said Article should be thus expressed A Minister of the Gospel unless in times of Difficulty and cases of very great Necessity in which he may be chosen by three Pastors together with the Consistory of that Place shall not be admitted into this Holy Office c So that those Lines from the Verb are unto the Adjective national must be taken away And Consistories are required not to forsake the wonted Order particularly that of calling in divers Pastors from one and the same Church to ordain their Ministers unless they should be enforced by an extream Necessity to do otherwise of which as of all other extraordinary Occurrences they shall render an Account unto the Provincial and the Provincial unto the National Synods And as to what hath been done in the Province of Anjou this Assembly doth confirm it without allowing of it as a Precedent for the future 2. In case of Difficulties that a Church be constrained to have Recourse unto an University or Neighbour Province to be provided of a Pastor it shall not for the future serve it self of this Expedient nor may the Neighbour-Province or University grant that Church its Demand unless there be an unanimous Consent of all the Churches of the same Colloquy which they shall notify by their Letters approving the Choice of the elected Pastor 3. On the 33d Article of the 1st Chapter and 8th Observation of
Church of Beaulieu and Abraham Homel Elder of the Church of Soyon Article 10. For the Province of Berry the Sieurs John Taby Pastor of the Church of la Charité Daniel Jurieu Pastor of the Church of Mer Henry de Chartres Esq Lord of Clebes Elder in the Church of Marchenoir and Simon Milhommeau Lord of Barandieres Bayliff of Chastillon upon the Loin and Elder of the Church in that Town Article 11. For the Province of Poictou the Sieurs James Cottiby Pastor of the Church of Poictiers John Chabrol Pastor of the Church of Touars Sir Charies Gourjaut Knight Lord of Panieure Elder in the Church of Mougon and Peter Pesseurs Attorney Fiscal of the Dutchy of Touars and Elder of the Church in that City Article 12. For the Province of Bretaign the Sieurs John Boucherean Lord of La Masche Pastor of the Church in Nantes and Samuel de Goullaines Esq Lord of the Landoviniere Elder in the Church of Viellevigne Article 13. For the Province of Higher Guyenne and Higher Languedoc the Sieurs Anthony Garrissoles Pastor of the Church of Montauban and Professor of Divinity in that University Peter Ollier Pastor of the said Church Substituted in the place of Monsieur John Grasset Pastor of the Church of Viane who was hindered by reason of Sickness Anthony Ligonuiere Councellor and Secretary to the King Elder in the Church of Castres and John Darassus Councellor for the King in the presidial Court of Montauban and Elder of the said Church Article 14. For the Province of Lower Languedoc the Sieurs John de Croy Pastor of the Church of Beziers Abraham de Lare Pastor of the Church of Cauvisson the Noble Mark Dardouin Lord of la Caumette Elder of the Church of Nismes and the Noble James de Brueis Lord of Bourdie Elder in the Church of Blanzac Article 15. For the Province of Burgundy the Sieurs Peter Bollenat Pastor of the Church Assembling at Vau Salomon Roy Advocate in the Parliament of Dijon and Elder of the Church of Bussy and Francis Armet Advocate in Parliament and Elder of the Church of Loches the Sieur John Viridet was hindered by a very sore Sickness from coming unto the Synod Article 16. For the Province of Provence the Sieurs Francis Vallanson Pastor of the Church de la Coste and the Noble John de Castellane Lord of Caillez and Rigan Elder in the Church of Manosques 3. The Sieurs Drelincourt Pastor and le Coq Elder of the Church of Paris were chosen together with the Sieur Caillard Elder of the Church of Alanson and the Lord Deputy-General to gather the Suffrages of the Deputies in this Assembly which were taken in written Billets by each of them for Electing the Moderator Assessor and Scribes which was done Successively those Officers being Chosen one after another and by plurality of Billets Monsieur Garrissoles was chosen Moderator Monsieur Basnage Assessor and Monsieur Blondel and Monsieur le Coq Scribes and took their Seats in Order as they were Chosen CHAP. II. As soon as these Officers of the Synod were chosen the Lord of Cumont Councellor for the King in His Council of State and Parliament of Paris Deputed by His Majesty presented Letters Patents which did Commissionate him to Represent His Majesty in this Synod These being read were inserted into the Register of the Acts of this Synod The Tenor and Form of which is as followeth 4. A Copy of the King's Letters Patents containing His Majesty's Commission to Monsieur de Cúmont Lord of Boisgrollier LOUIS BY the Grace of God King of France and Navarré To Our Beloved and Trusty Councellor in Our Councel of State and Court of Parliament at Paris the Lord of Cúmont Greeting We having Granted our Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion to hold a National Synod in the Town of Charenton near Paris on the Six and Twentieth day of December next coming Composed of all the Deputies of the Provinces of Our Kingdom to Treat of Affairs concerning their Religion and being to make choice of a meet Person and of approved Fidelity to Vs who may preside in the said Assembly as Our Commissioner and Represent Vs in it We knowing the Services you have rendered Vs in sundry Honourable Imployments with which We had intrusted you which you have most Worthily and Faithfully discharged We thought We could not choose a fitter Person than your self being well assured that you will continue the Testimonies of your Affection unto Vs and Our Service as aforesaid Wherefore by Advice of the Queen-Regent Our most Honoured Lady and Mother We have Commissionated and Deputed you and We do Commissionate and Depute you by these Presents Signed with Our Hand to go unto the Town of Charenton and to sit in the said Synod there Assembled and to Represent Our Royal Person in it and to Propose and Determine whatever matters We shall give you in Command according to those Memoirs and Instructions We have now delivered unto you and you are to take heed that none other Affairs be there debated but such as ought to be in those Assemblies and which are permitted by Our Edicts And in case the Members of the said Synod should attempt to do any thing contrary thereunto you shall hinder them and interpose therein with Our Authority and give Vs speedy and timely notice of it that such course may be taken to prevent those inconveniencies which would arise as We shall Judge to be most convenient For the doing whereof We give you Power Commission and special Commandment by these presents Given at Paris the 28th of November in the year of Grace One Thousand Six Hundred and Forty Four and of Our Reign the Second Signed in the Original LOUIS And a little lower Phelippeaux The Speech of the Lord Commissioner unto the Synod together with his Propositions and Complaints made in Their Majesties Name against divers Churches Messieurs AS it is a very great Honour to me to be Commissionated by His Majesty to assist in your Synod and to acquaint you with His Will and Pleasure so also have I a great deal of Joy and Satisfaction to behold this Illustrious Assembly chosen out of all the Provinces of this Kingdom and that I can tell you by word of Mouth what was expresly Charged and Commanded me by the King and the Queen His Mother which is to assure you of Their Good Will unto you and Protection of you and of all your Churches and of the intire Execution of the Edicts of Pacification so long as you continue your selves within those bounds of Duty Subjection and Fidelity which you owe unto Their Majesties they being the Higher Powers set over you by God intrusted with the Supream Authority and your Lot and Portion being the Honour of Obedience to Them whereunto you stand Obliged by your Birth the Dictates of your own Conscience and the Favours you continually receive from Their Majesties and by all kinds of Considerations both General and
Loride an Elder for Scribes of the Synod who being Chosen did all of them take their Places accordingly CHAP. II. AS soon as the Officers of the Synod were nominated and seated the Lord de Magdelaine Counsellor to his Majesty in his Court of Parliament at Paris and Deputed by his Majesty to sit as his Commissioner in this Assembly deliver'd the King's Letters patents for his Commission which being Read they were Transcribed and Inserted into the Body of the Acts of this Synod whose Form and Tenor was as followeth Copy of his Majesties Letters Patents given to the Lord Commissioner LOVIS by the Grace of God King of France and of Navar To our Trusty and Beloved Consellor in our Courts of Parliament of Paris the Lord of Magdelaine Greeting We have permitted our Subjects of the Protestant Religion to hold in our Town of Loudun on the Tenth Day of November next a National Synod composed of all the Deputies of the Provinces of our Kingdom for to treat of matters concerning their Religion and being to choose a Person fitly qualified and of known Loyalty and Fidelity to us to assist in it and as our Commissioner to represent our Person in the said Assembly we well knowing those Services which you have rendered us in sundry Honourable Imployments wherein we had Commissionated you and which you have most worthily Discharged We have therefore judged that we could not make a better choice than of your self being well assured that you will continue to us the Proofs and Evidences of your Affection to our Service For these causes we have Commissionated and Deputed and we do now Commissionate and Depute you the said Lord of Magdelaine by these Presents signed with our Hand to pass over unto our Town of Loudun and in our place and stead to assist in the Synod there Convocated that you may then and there propound and answer all those things which we have given you in Commandment according to those Memoirs and Instructions we have delivered to you And you are to take special care that no other matters be there proposed nor debated but such as ought of right to be treated of in those Assemblies and which are permitted by our Edicts and in case they should enterprise any thing to the contrary you shall hinder it and by Interposing of out Authority suppress it or you shall speedily advise us of it that we may by such courses as in our Wisdom we shall judge most fit obviate and prevent it And for so doing we give you power commission and special command by these Presents for such is our Pleasure Given at Bourdeaux this Sixth day of September in the Year One Thousand Six Hundred Fifty and Nine and of our Reign the Seventeenth Signed LOVIS And a little Lower PHELIPPEAVX And Sealed at the lower end with the Great Seal and Yellow Wax CHAP. III. AFter reading his Majesty's Letters Patents the Lord Commissioner made this ensuing Speech unto the Assembly A Copy of the Lord Commissioners Speech Sirs ALthough my many Defects of which I am very conscious and my great Age might have well deterr'd me from accepting of this Commission with which it hath pleased his Majesty to grace and honour me and from coming hither and declaring his Will and Pleasure unto this eminent Assembly made up of the most able and considerable Persons of the Kingdom chosen out of the Body of the Professors of our Religion yet nevertheless I can boldly speak it that according to that Inclination which God hath given me for serving the King and the Publick unto which I have applied my self along time I did not in the least hesitate on this Occasion but did over-look all other Considerations hoping for Supplies from the Supreme Goodness to enable me to the performance of my Duty and from yours also that you will be readily disposed to facilitate what is desired of you And hence it is that I conceive with Joy a good issue of our Affairs even now when as I begin to speak unto you from his Majesty and you also have already took notice of it in that Grant vouchsafed you for your Assembling in this place according to your request which is a most remarkable effect of his Majesty's especial Favour to you which the good Providence of God hath now inspired into him for you after so many other signal Acts of his Royal Bounty you have formerly received from him for which I do not in the least suspect or question your Gratitude and Duty nor the sense of that Obligation which lieth upon you on many Accounts of yielding to him all Obedience according to the revealed Will of God who is the Sole and Sovereign Lord of all Men and of all things whatsoever And when I thus speak of his Majesty you know very well that we must understand all Persons acting by Authority from him according to the same revealed Will of Almighty God and the matter being so notorious we cannot but observe it in this place even that kindness and Justice you have upon many and sundry occasions had proof and sensible experience of from the Hands of his Majesty's first and Principal Minister of State his Eminency the Lord Cardinal Mazarin Nor need I enlarge on this Subject only let me add but one Reflection of my own about this last Favour the Convocation of this Synod which you believed to be at this time so needful for you you stand highly indebted unto his Eminency for it and the best and chiefest Fruit you can gather from its Consultations and Resolutions will be this to be more united among your selves and to maintain in Peace and Concord the whole Body of those of our Religion who are represented by you and to terminate and pacifie those Differences and Dissentions which are among you For sith they are produced through the Vice and Weakness of our Humane Nature and State and begin in the noblest Parts where the whole Body receiveth an alteration we may very much fear a Dissipation if only topiual Remedies be applied for these alone do seldom operate or contribute but a little to the Union and Conservation of the whole And whereas all Assemblies of whit kind soever do depend upon his Majesty who as supreme Lord hath a Right and Jurisdiction over all Persons and Actions and to ordain even in and about matters concerning the Church which was always consider'd as a Part of the State His Majesty was therefore pleased to vouchsafe you this Synod so earnestly desired by you that you might regulate past matters and re-establish among you that Order which you ought to keep for the future and the rather because there be many years lapsed since you had an Assembly of this nature Sirs It is most certain that your Enemies who design your diminution and ruin could never meet with a more favourable means and opportunity to attempt it than by maintaining and fomenting your Divisions and Dissentions for these will
well as in the Pres des Clerks by the Ladies Princes yea and by Henry the Second himself This one Ordinance only contributed mightily to the downfal of Popery and the propagation of the Gospel It took so much with the genius of the Nation That all ranks and degrees of Men practised it in the Temples and in their Families No Gentleman professing the Reformed Religion would sit down at his Table without praising God by singing Yea it was a special part of their Morning and Evening Worship in their several Houses to sing God's Praises The Popish Clergy raged and to prevent the growth and spreading of the Gospel by it that mischievous Cardinal of Lorrain another Elymas the Sorcerer got the Odes of Horace and the filthy obscene Poems of Tibullus and Catullus to be turn'd into French and sung in the Court Ribaldry was his Piety and the means used by him to expel and banish the singing of divine Psalms out of the prophane Court of France The Holy Word of God is duly truly and powerfully Preached in Churches and Fields in Ships and Houses in Vaults and Cellars in all places where the Gospel-Ministers can have admission and conveniency and with singular success Multitudes are Convinced and Converted established and edified Christ rideth out upon the white Horse of the Ministry with the Sword and Bow of the Gospel Preached Conquering and to Conquer His Enemies fall under him and submit themselves unto him O! the unparallell'd success of the plain and zealous Sermons of the first Reformers Multitudes flock in like Doves into the Windows of God's Ark. As innumerable drops of dew fall from the Womb of the Morning so hath the Lord Christ the dew of his Youth The Popish Churches are drained the Protestant Temples are filled The Priests complain that their Altars are neglected their Masses are now indeed solitary Dagon cannot stand before God's Ark. Children and Persons of riper years are Catechised in the Rudiments and Principles of Christian Religion and can give a comfortable account of their Faith a reason of that hope that is in them By this Ordinance do their pious Pastors prepare them for Communion with the Lord at his holy Table Here they communicate in both kinds according to the Primitive Institution of this Sacrament by Jesus Christ himself Sect. 7. Though the Churches of God walked in the Comforts of the Holy-Ghost and were multiplied throughout the whole Kingdom yet were they exercised with Fiery Tryals and underwent most cruel and inhumane Sufferings Satan stormed that his Kingdom was assaulted weakned and subverted this boileth up his Revenge and causeth him to throw out Floods of Wrath against the Church travelling under the pangs of Reformation Hence the Saints of God are imprisoned arraigned for their Lives and condemned by merciless unrighteous Judges for their Profession of the Truth unto the Flames Others are murdered in cold Blood and massacred without any legal forms of Justice in the least And yet in the sight of those cruel Deaths and most barbarous Executions the first National Synod is called and celebrated in the Metropolis of the Kingdom at the very Doors of the Court God inspiring with Zeal and Courage the Pastors of several Churches to meet and consult together about the arduous and most important Businesses of the Reformed Religion Sect. 8. Two things among others were dispatch'd in this Council 1. They publish the Confession of their Faith and tell the King and Kingdom what they believe and practise This was put into the Hands of their Young King lately come to the Crown upon the Death of his Father who though he had sworn to see that famous Martyr of Christ Annas du Bourg Counsellour in the Parliament of Paris burnt yet was at a Tilt by Count de Montgomery a Protestant wounded with a Launce in the Eye and died before he could perform his Oath How Francis the Second entertained this Confession when it was tender'd him is not my Business to relate I shall only give my Reader the Confession itself and I do the rather lay it before him because it is a brief System of the Protestant Religion constantly read at the opening of all their Synods and because of the frequent References unto it in and by all those National Synods which I now publish Sect. 9. The Confession of Faith held and professed by the Reformed Churches of France received and enacted by their first National Synod Celebrated in the City of Paris and Year of our Lord 1559. ARTICLE I. WE believe and confess That there is but one God only whose Being only is simple spiritual eternal invisible immutable infinite incomprehensible ineffable who can do all things who is all-wise all-good most just and most merciful ARTICLE II. This one God hath revealed himself to be such a one unto Men first in the Creation preservation and governing of his works secondly far more plainly in his word which from the beginning he revealed to the Fathers by certain Visions and Oracles and then caused it to be put in writing in those Books which we call the Holy Scripture ARTICLE III. All this holy Scipture is contained in the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament the Catalogue whereof followeth The five Books of Moses namely Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy Item Joshua Judges Ruth the first and second Book of Samuel the first and second Book of Kings the first and second Book of Chronicles otherwise called the Paralipomena one Book of Esdras Nehemiah Hester Job the Psalms Solomon's Proverbs or Sentences Ecclesiastes the Song of Songs Esaiah Jeremiah with the Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonas Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zachariah Malachi Item the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew according to St. Mark according to St. Luke and according to St. John as also the second Book of St. Luke otherwise called The Acts of the Apostles Item the Epistles of St. Paul the Apostle to the Romans one to the Corinthians two to the Galatians one to the Ephesians one to the Philippians one to the Colossians one to the Thessalonians two to Timothy two to Titus one to Philemon one Item the Epistle to the Hebrews the Epistle of St. James the first and second Epistle of St. Peter the first second and third Epistle of St. John the Epistle of St. Jude and the Apocalypse or Revelations of St. John ARTICLE IV. We acknowledge these Books to be Canonical that is we account them as the most certain Rule of our Faith and that not so much because of the common consent of the Church but because of the Testimony and Perswasion of the Holy Ghost by which we are taught to distinguish betwixt them and other Ecclesiastical Books upon which although they may be useful yet we cannot ground any Article of Faith ARTICLE V. We believe That the Doctrine contained in these Books is proceeded from God from whom only and not from men it deriveth
275 276 277. SECT XIV THE Churches after the Parisian Massacre were at a stand That Deluge of Protestant Blood which was then shed had exhausted their best Spirits Multitudes were frighted out of their Native Land which like another Akeldama devoured Men ate up its Inhabitants and others were frighted out of their Religion In such a dreadful Hurricane as that was no wonder if some leaves unripe fruit and rotten withered Branches fell to the Earth and were lost irrecoverably However a Remnant escaped and which was no less than a Miracle generally the Ministers God Reserving them to gather in another Harvest And the Churches in many places revived God staying the rough Wind in the day of his East Wind and giving them a breathing time a little reviving under their hard Bondage They declined not much in number for two and twenty years after But Henry the Fourth having been exalted to the Throne of France by the Reformed Party and revolting from them unto the Popish and embracing that Religion that he might be secured in the Throne the Interest of the Churches did from that day decline visibly Many of the Nobility imitated their King in his Apostasie And the united Example of King and Nobility had a most pernicious influence upon the Populace All the Arts and Tricks of the Court were set on foot to palliate the King's Prevarication and to divide and weaken the Reformed See Histoire Universelle D' Aubigny liv 3. p. 305 306 307 308 309 310. There arose a Combination of Men such as Morlas Rotan de Serres c. who were for accommoding and reconciling the two Religions And these were put upon it by the Bribes and Pensions of the Romish Clergy and Promises of great Preferments They declaim against the nakedness and simplicity of the Reformed Religion and cry up the necessity and beauty of Pomp and Ceremony See Syn. of Saumur 3â— Art of Gen. Mar. Syn. of Montauban 23. Art of Gen. Mar. Syn. of Montpellier 2. Art of Gen. Matters Synod of Privas 1612. Act of the Oath of Union Second Synod of Charenton Art of Gen. Matters 3. which made the Roman Religion so august and venerable in their Eyes blinded with Ambition and Covetousness The National Synods of Saumur Montauban Montpellier and Privas did what they could to stem the Current and to prevent these avaritious Spirits from doing mischief unto their Churches They threaten and order all Accommodators of the two Religions to be actually deposed as being the Servants of Mammon not of God This did something and it stopped the Gap for the present And when the Court saw they could not break the Union of the Reformed and that they were yet a very considerable Party for Wisdom Strength Resolution Union Courage and Conduct Things being also unsetled in the State and the Spaniard sitting close upon the Skirts of the King and possibly he retaining yet some love and sparks of Gratitude for his old Friends of the Reformed Religion and not counting it safe to exasperate them any more he granted them a Fundamental and Irrevocable Edict at Nantes in Brittaine April 1598. for their Liberty and Security SECT XV. The King's Edict for pacifying the Troubles of the Kingdom made at Nantes in the Month of April 1598. and published in Parliament February 15. 1599. As also those particular Articles about it which were afterward verified in Parliament HEnry by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To all present and to come Greeting Among those infinite Favours which God hath been pleased graciously to vouchsafe unto us this must be confessed by all to be one of the most remarkable and illustrious that he hath endowed us with that Courage and Vritue as not to be over-born with those dreadful Troubles Disorders and Confusions which we encountered with at our first coming unto the Crown For the Kingdom was then divided into so many Parts and Factions that that which was the most just and lawful was become the least and weakest and yet notwithstanding we were so supported against the assaults of those storms that we have at length surmounted them and are now safely arriv'd at the Port of Peace and have setled the state in repose and tranquillity For which let God only have the Praise and Glory to whom it is most peculiarly due and let our Subjects also be sensible of his Grace and their obligation to us that he hath honoured us to be his Servant in the Production of so good a Work which as all of them may see is not only the fruit and effect of our Duty and Authority but of something else which possibly at another time might not have been so fit and convenient for our Royal Dignity exposed by us without fear unto the greatest Dangers as we have very frequently and freely hazarded our Life also And for as much as there was a great concourse of arduous and perillous Affairs which could not possibly be composed all at once we were necessitated to use this method First to undertake them which could not be terminated by any other way or means than those of Force and Arms and to defer and suspend for some time the executing and dispatch of others which ought and might have been finished by Reason and Justice such were those general differences between our Subjects and those particular Diseases which had seized on the sounder parts of the State which we conceived might be more easily cured when as the principal cause was removed which was the continuance of the Civil War And now having through the grace of God well and happily succeeded in it and all Arms and Hostilities being wholly ceased within the Kingdom we have great hopes that we shall be as successful in those other Affairs which are yet to be decided and that by this means we shall be enabled to establish a good firm and durable Peace and Tranquillity at which we have ever levell'd and aimed in our Vows and Intentions and which hath been the designed prize of all our painful Labours and Travails undergone by us during the whole course of our Life Among those Affairs which have most exercised our Patience the principal and chiefest were the Complaints brought in unto us from our Catholick Towns and Provinces That the exercise of the Catholick Religion was not universally restored as had been imported by the former Edicts made for pacifying the Troubles occasioned by Religion And also the Petitions and Remonstrances tendered to us by our Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion for that those Edicts granted them were not at all executed and for that they desired some further Concessions to be accorded to them about the exercise of their said Religion the Liberty of their Consciences and the security of their Persons Lives and Fortunes They presuming that they had too just grounds to fear and apprehend new and greater dangers because of the last Troubles and Commotions of which the first and main pretext
Inhabitants to be brought in to them those Accusations and Informations which are made against them that it may be known and judged whether those Actions be triable in the Provosts Courts or not that so afterward according to the quality of the Crimes they may be by those Chambers remanded back unto the ordinary or judged by the Provosts according to law and reason they observing the Contents of this our present Edict And those Presidial Judges Provosts of Mareschals Vice-Bailiffs Vice-Seneschals and others who judge Soveraignly and without Appeal shall be bound respectively to obey and satisfy those Commands which shall be made them by the said Chambers and all even as they have been accustomed to be done in the said Parliaments upon pain of being deprived of their Offices LXVIII The Proclamations Bills of Siquis and Outropes of Inheritances by which a Decree is prosecuted shall be made in those places and at the hours accustomed if it may be done according to our Ordinances or else in the publick Markets provided that there be a Market in that place in which the said Inheritances do lie but where there is none they shall be made in the nearest Market Town of the Jurisdiction of that Court where a Delivery by Judgment is to be made And the Bills shall be set up and affixed upon the Posts in the said Market and at the entrance of the Auditory of the said place and by this means the said Proclamations shall be good and valid and they may proceed to the interposal of a Decree without stopping at the Nullities which may be alledged on this account LXIX All Deeds Papers Writings Evidences which have been taken away shall be restored and returned back on both sides unto their rightful Owners and Proprietors although the said Papers or the Castles and Houses in which they were kept had been taken and possessed by special Commissions from the late King now dead our most Honoured Lord and Brother-in-Law or by Commissions from our selves or by Command of the Governours and Lieutenants-General of our Provinces or by the Authority of the heads of either Party or by any other means and pretext whatsoever LXX The Children of those persons who had departed the Kingdom since the late King Henry the Second our most Honoured Lord and Father-in-Law upon the account of Religion and the troublesome times ensuing although the said Children were born out of the Kingdom shall be reputed True Frenchmen and Natives of the Kingdom and we have declared and declare them to be such nor have they any farther need of Letters of Naturalization or other provisions from us besides this present Edict notwithstanding all Ordinances to the contrary from which we have derogated and do derogate upon Condition that the said Children born in Foreign Countries shall be obliged within the term of ten years after the publication of this present to come and dwell in the Kingdom LXXI Those of the said pretended Reformed Religion and others who have followed their Party and had farmed before the troubles any Office or Demesn or Gabell or Foreign Imposition or other Rights appertaining to us which they could not injoy because of those troubles shall be acquitted and discharged even as we do now acquit and discharge them of all receits whatsoever of the Income of the said Offices or which they may have paid any where else than into the Receit of our Treasury notwithstanding all Obligations made and passed by them on this occasion LXXII All Places Towns and Provinces of our Kingdom the Countries Territories and Lordships under our Jurisdiction shall use and enjoy the same Priviledges Immunities Liberties Franchises Fairs Markets Jurisdictions and Assises Seats of Justice as they did before the troubles began in the Month of March one thousand five hundred and eighty five and in the preceding years notwithstanding all Letters to the contrary and the Disposals of the said Lordships to other Persons provided that this was done meerly and solely upon the account of the said Troubles Which Assizes and Seats of Justice shall be revived and restored in those Towns and Places in which they were before LXXIII All Prisoners formerly detained by the Authority of Justice or by any other means yea and the Slaves in the Galleys for and upon the account of the said Religion shall be inlarged and set at full Liberty LXXIV Those of the said Religion may not be hereafter surcharged nor oppressed by any ordinary or extraordinary Taxes more than the Catholicks nor above the proportion of their estates and abilities And the Parties which shall complain of their being over-burdened shall appear before the Judges to whom the Cognisance of these matters doth appertain And all our Subjects both of the Catholick and pretended Reformed Religion shall be indifferently discharged of all Taxes which had been imposed both upon the one and other during the troubles by them who were of the contrary Party and not consenting as also the Debts contracted and not paid and expences made without their consent however they shall not be able to redemand the moneys which had been imployed in payment of the said Taxes LXXV Nor is it our intention that those of the said Religion nor others who have followed their Party nor the Catholicks who were remaining in the Towns and Places possessed and held by them and which stood up for them shall be prosecuted for the payment of Taxes Aids Grants Increase and the little Tax imposed by Henry the Second Utensils Reparations and other Impositions and Subsidies fallen and imposed during the Troubles fallen out before and till our coming unto the Crown whether by the Edicts Commands of the late Kings our Predecessors or by the Advice and deliberation of the Governours and States of the Provinces Courts of Parliaments and others from which we have discharged and do discharge them by forbidding the General-Treasurers of France and of our Revenue the Receivers-general and particular their Agents and Dealers and other Intendants and Commissioners of our Revenues to search after molest or disturb them any manner of way whatsoever whether directly or indirectly LXXVI All Chieftains Lords Knights Gentlemen Officers Corporations and Communalties and all others which have aided and succoured them their Widows Heirs and Successors shall be quitted and discharged of all moneys which were taken up and levied by them and their Orders whether they were moneys Royal how great soever the summ might be or the moneys of those Cities and Communalties and of particular Persons their Rents Revenues Plate Sale of Houshold Goods of Ecclesiastical Persons or others Trees Timber whether of and belonging to the Crown or to other Persons Fines Booties Ransoms or moneys of another nature taken by them upon the account of the troubles began in March 1585. and the other troubles foregoing until our Arrival to the Crown without that either they or their Agents imployed by them in the levying of the said moneys or who ever gave them
may take away all ambiguities and doubts which may be made because of former Edicts about that difference that is found in them we have declared and do declare all other preceding Edicts secret Articles Letters Declarations Modifications Restrictions Interpretations Decrees and Registers as well secret as other Deliberations done formerly by the Kings our Predecessors in our Courts of Parliament or elsewhere concerning matters relating to the said Religion and to the troubles happened in our said Kingdom to be of no effect nor force From which and those derogations in them contained we have by this our Edict derogated and do derogate from this very instant as we do now break revoke and disannul it Expresly declaring that we will that this our Edict shall be firmly and inviolably kept as well by our said Justices Officers as by all other our Subjects without standing upon or having any regard unto all that which may be contrary to or derogate from it XCII And for greater assurance of the maintaining and observing of this our Edict which is so very much desired by us We Will and Ordain and 't is our Pleasure that all Governours and Lieutenant-Generals of our Provinces Bayliffs Seneschals and other ordinary Judges of the Towns of our said Kingdom incontinently after their reception of this our Edict do swear that they will cause it to be kept and observ'd every one of them in their District As also all Mayors Sheriffs Head boroughs Consuls and Magistrates of Towns whether annual or perpetual shall swear it also And we do also enjoin that our said Bayliffs Seneschals or their Lieutenants and other Judges shall cause the principal Inhabitants of the said Towns both of the one and other Religion to swear immediately after the Publication of this our Edict that they will keep and maintain it We taking all the Inhabitants of the said Towns into our Protection and Safeguard the one to keep the others charging them respectively and by publick Acts to answer in a Court Civil for the transgressions that shall be made of this our present Edict in the said Towns by their Inhabitants or to bring them before and to yield them up into the hands of Justice who shall have broken it We do Command our Beloved and Faithful Officers in our Courts of Parliament Chambers of Accompts and Court of Aids that as soon as they shall have received this our present Edict that leaving all other businesses on pain of nullity for those Acts which they shall do otherwise they do take the like Oath as above and that they do cause this our Edict to be published and registred in our said Courts according to its form and tenour purely and simply without using of any Modifications Restrictions Declarations or secret Registers or without waiting for any farther Command or Warrant from us And our Attorneys-General shall incontinently and without delay require and pursue the said Publication And we Command the said Officers in our said Courts of Parliament Chambers of Accompts and Courts of Aids Bailiffs Seneschals Provosts and other our Justices and other Officers to whom it shall appertain and to their Lieutenants to keep and observe punctually and to cause the Contents and Articles of this said Edict to be used and injoyed fully and peaceably by all those to whom it shall appertain ceasing and causing to cease all troubles and impediments to the contrary For such is our Pleasure In testimony whereof we have Signed these Presents with our own Hand and that this matter may be firm and stable for ever we have caused to be put unto it and backed it with our Seal Given at Nantes in the Month of April in the Year of Grace one thousand five hundred ninety and eight and of our Reign the Ninth Signed HENRY And below by the King sitting in his Council Forget And at the side Visa And Sealed with the Great Seal in green Wax on threads of red and green silk Read Published and Registred the Kings Attorney-General hearing and consenting to it at Paris in Parliament this 25 th of February 1599. Signed Voysin Read Published and Registred in the Chamber of Accompts the Kings Attorney-General hearing and consenting to it at Paris in Parliament the last of March 1599. Signed De la Fontaine Read Published and Registred the Kings Attorney-General hearing and consenting to it at Paris in the Court of Aids the 30 th being the last day of April 1599. Signed Bernard Particular Articles extracted out of the general ones which the King hath granted unto those of the pretended Reformed Religion which his Majesty would not have to be comprised in the said Generals nor in the Edict which was made and framed for them given at Nantes the last April and yet nevertheless his said Majesty hath accorded that they shall be entirely fullfilled and observed as if they had been contained in the said Edict And therefore they shall be registred in his Courts of Parliament and elsewhere as there shall be need and all Declarations Provisions and necessary Letters shall be expedited about them ARTICLE I. THE sixth Article of the said Edict concerning Liberty of Conscience and Permission to all his Majesties Subjects to live and dwell in his Kingdom and the Countries under his Jurisdiction shall hold good and be observed according to its form and tenour as well for Ministers Schoolmasters and all others who are or shall be of the said Religion whether Natives of the Kingdom or others they as to all other things deporting themselves according to the Edict ARTICLE II. Those of the said Religion shall not be constrained to contribute any thing to the Repairings or Buildings of Churches Channels or Priests Houses nor to the buying of Priests Ornaments Lights founding of Bells holy Bread rights of Confraternities hire of Houses in which Priests and Religious Persons do dwell and other such like matters unless they be obliged to it by Foundations Dotations or other Disposals made by them or their Authors and Predecessors ARTICLE III. They shall not be constrained to hang or cloath the forepart of their Houses on those Festivals and Holy-days in which it is ordered to be done but only to suffer that they be hung and clad by the Authority of the Local Officers nor shall the Professors of the said Religion contribute any thing on this account ARTICLE IV. Moreover those of the said Religion shall not be bound to receive Exhortation when as they be sick and near unto Death whether Condemned to it by Justice or otherwise from any others than those of the same Religion and they may be visited and comforted by their Ministers without ever being troubled And as for such who are Condemned by Justice the said Ministers may in like manner visit and comfort them without praying in publick unless in those places where the said publick worship is allowed them by the said Edict ARTICLE V. Those of the said Religion may lawfully injoy the publick exercise
that they are of the said Religion and honest Men. ARTICLE L. That Act of Indempnity granted unto those of the said pretended Reformed Religion by the 74. Article of this said Edict shall be of force as to all taking away of Royal Moneys whether by breaking up of Coffers or otherwise yea and as for those which were levied upon the River of Charante although they had been affected and applied unto private uses ARTICLE LI. The 49. Article in the secret Articles made in the year 1577. touching the City and Archbishoprick of Avinion and County of Venise as also the Treaty made at Nismes shall be observed according to their form and tenour and there shall be no Letters of Mark given by vertue of those Articles and Treaties but only by the Kings Letters Patents Sealed with his Great Seal Yet nevertheless such as would obtain them may get them by vertue of this present Article and without any other Commission from the Royal Judges who shall take informations of the contrary actings denial of Justice and iniquity of Judgments propounded by those who shall desire to obtain the said Letters and shall send them together with their advice closed and sealed up unto his Majesty that he may Ordain therein according as he shall see reason ARTICLE LII His Majesty accordeth and willeth that Master Nicholas Grimoul be restored and maintained in his Title and Possession of the Offices of ancient Lieutenant-General Civil and of Lieutenant-General Criminal in the Bailywick of Alanson notwithstanding that Resignation by him made unto Mr. John Marguerit and his admission into it and the Provision obtained by Mr. William Bernard of the Office of Lieutenant-General Civil and Criminal in the Court of Eximes and the Decrees given against the said Marguerit resigning it during the Troubles unto the Privy-Council in the years 1586 1587 and 1588. by which Mr. Nicholas Barbier is maintained in the Rights and Prerogatives of the ancient Lieutenant-General in the said Bailywick and the said Bernard in the said Office of Lieutenant at Eximes whom his Majesty hath cashiered and all others contrary to this Article of the Edict Moreover his said Majesty for certain and good Considerations hath granted and Ordained that the Grimoult shall reimburse within the space of three Months the said Barbier of that Revenue which he paid in unto the Casual Parties for the Office of Lieutenant-General Civil and Criminal in the Viscounty of Alanson and of fifty Crowns for charges and he shall order the Bailiff of Perche or his Lieutenant Mortaigne to do it And the money being reimburst or if the said Barbier shall refuse or delay to receive it his Majesty hath forbidden the said Barbier as also the said Bernard after the signification of this present Article to intrude themselves into the exercise of the said Offices upon pain of being guilty of Cheating and he the said Grimoult is put into the possession of his Offices and Rights unto them appertaining and thus doing those Suits which were depending in his Majesty's Privy-Council betwixt the said Grimoult Barbier and Bernard shall be terminated and suppressed his Majesty forbiding the Parliaments and all others from taking Cognisance and the said Parties from all Prosecutions for them Moreover his said Majesty hath undertook himself to reimburse the said Bernard of a thousand Crowns furnished unto the Casual Parties for his Office and of the sixty Crowns for the mark of gold and costs having to this purpose now ordained a good and sufficient assignment which the said Grimoult shall diligently get in and at his sole Charges ARTICLE LIII His said Majesty shall write unto his Ambassadours that they do importunately desire on behalf of all his Subjects yea and for those of the said pretended Reformed Religion that they be not prosecuted for their Consciences nor subjected unto the Inquisition going coming sojourning trading and trafficking in all Foreign Countries Allies and Confederates of this Crown provided that they commit no offence against the Government of those Countreys in which they shall be ARTICLE LIV. It is his Majesties Pleasure that there shall be no inquiry made after the receipt of those Impositions which were levied at Royan by vertue of the Contract made with the Sieur de Candelay and others who succeeded him and he confirmeth and approveth of the said Contract for that time in which it took place in the whole Contents thereof until the 18th day of May now coming ARTICLE LV. Those Riots which were occasioned about Armand Courtines in the Town of Millaud in the year 1587. and of John Reines and Peter Seigneuret together with the proceedings against them by the Consuls of the said Millaud shall by vertue of this Edict be abolished and supprest nor shall it be lawful for their Widows and Heirs nor for the Attorneys-General of his Majesty their Substitutes or other Persons whatsoever to make any mention Inquiry or Prosecution notwithstanding and without any respect had unto the Decree given in the Chamber of Castres the tenth day of March last which shall be null and without effect as also shall be all Informations and Proceedings both of the one and other side ARTICLE LVI All Prosecutions Proceedings Sentences Judgments and Decrees given as well against the late Lord of La Noue and against the Lord Odet of La Noue his Son since their detention and Imprisonment in Flanders which happened in May 1580. and in November 1584. and during their continual imployment in the Wars and for the service of his Majesty shall be void null and of none effect and whatsoever hath ensued in consequence thereof And both the said Lords De la Noue shall be admitted to defend themselves and be restored unto that Condition and State in which they were before the said Judgments and Decrees they not being obliged to refund the expences nor to pay the Fines if they had incurred any nor shall there be alledged against them any non-suit or prescription during the said time Done by the King in his Council at Nantes the second day of May 1598. Signed HENRY And a little lower Forget Sealed with the Great Seal upon yellow Wax HEnry by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To our Beloved and Faithful Officers holding our Court of Parliament at Paris Greeting We did the last April cause to be expedited our Letters of Edict for the establishment of a good order and peace between our Catholick Subjects and those of the said pretended Reformed Religion Moreover we have granted unto those of the said Religion certain secret and particular Articles which we will to be of the self-same force and vertue and to be observed and accomplished in like manner as our Edict For these Causes We Will We Command and do most expresly injoin you by these presents That the said Articles Signed with our Hand and attacked unto this under the Counter-Seal of our Chancery you do cause to be Recorded in the Register of our
said Court and that in every point and particular you keep maintain and observe their Contents even as this our said Edict Ceasing and causing to cease all troubles and impediments to the contrary For such is our Pleasure Given at Nantes this second day of May in the Year of Grace 1598. And of our Reign the Ninth Signed by the King Forget And Sealed on a single Label of yellow Wax SECT XVI N. B. A Learned Advocate of Nismes relates from the Press how that Monsieur de Thou President in the Parliament of Taris and the Lord de Calignon a most Zealous Protestant Chancellour of Navarre drew up this Edict and spent three years about it If De Calignon would but have followed his Master Henry the Fourth in his Apostacy from the Reformed Religion unto Popery he had been made Lord High Chancellour of France But that most Pious Lord refused the Greatest Honour that a Person of the Long-Robe was capable of in France that he might not lose the Eternal Glories of the Kingdom of Heaven SECT XVII This Edict was kept tolerably well for twelve years during the Life of Henry the Great as they called him after his Death And yet there were many infractions of it of which the National Synods held at Gap 1603. and at Rochell 1607. Complained in their Bills of Grievances But no sooner was he sent out of the World by the Parricidal Hand of a Disciple of the Jesuits but the Reformed immediately found their want of him And though they had some sprinklings of Court Holy-water now and then yet the old implacable Malice of the Popish Clergy against them brake out upon all occasions and Louis the Thirteenth who succeeded his Father as another Antiochus at their instigation made War with God's Saints in his Kingdom seized upon their Cautionary Towns took away from them their Franchises deprived their Ministers of those Sallaries for which the Churches parting with their Tithes in lieu of that Money which was to be paid by Tallies out of the Exchequer unto their Pastors had compounded with his Father He devoured brake in pieces and stamped the residue of them with his feet so that their strength was quite gone and they lay at his mercy He could do with them as he pleased But the time of their total ruin was not yet come And God giveth the Churches some mercy in the midst of judgment Hence the French King having other designs in his head and looking beyond the bounds of his native Kingdom he leaves persecuting his Reformed Subjects and that there might be a Calm at home and these oppressed lull'd asleep he issueth out his Edict of Grace and Pardon to them from Nismes in the Lower Languedoc dated July 1629. Which is offered to the Reader 's eye SECT XVIII The King's Edict of Grace and Pardon granted by his Majesty unto the Duke of Rohan and the Lord of Soubize and to all other his Rebellious Subjects of the Towns Champain Countrey Castles and places in the Provinces of Higher and Lower Languedoc Sevennes Gevaudan Guienne Foix and elsewhere together with the Articles Done at Nismes in July 1629. and verified in the Parliament of Tholouse the 27th of August the same Year LOUIS by the grace of God King of France and Navarre to all present and to come greeting That Love we bear unto our Subjects and that Compassion we have for the Miserie 's brought upon them by the Wars and Divisions with which this poor Kingdom hath been a long time afflicted have touched us so sensibly that laying by all Considerations of our Health and the Inconveniences of the Seasons of the Year we have used all means possible to reduce under our obedience those who had departed from it and had been the cause of all these Calamities We hoped that the example of those Cities which returned under our Authority in the Years 1620 1621 and 1622 would have affected them with a sence of gratitude but seeing they were hindred from so doing by their obstinacy or by the violence and artifice of those Factions in which they were ingaged We have invited them by our Declarations to return unto their Duty and by all the most favourable Perswasions that our Subjects could receive We have also prepared great and puissant Armies that by force we might reduce them who being obstinate in their Rebellions were become deaf and blind and not moved with any Arguments and Occasions offered them for their Duty And God hath been pleased to bless us with success and to let us reap and enjoy the fruit of our Arms which the City of Rochel hath first of all experienced as is evident by the Edict that We caused to be made and published upon its reduction The City of Privas in Vivaretz which consided in its situation difficult and as they believed inaccessible in its Fortifications and in the abundance of its Provisions and Ammunitions with which it was replenished priding it self in a long continued Prosperity was so bold as to resist Us and to attend the Battery of our Cannons and the Effort of our Arms and despising the sweet Summons of our Goodness the hatred of the Inhabitants was so great that losing all hopes of maintaining themselves in their Rebellion they had rather abandon their Houses and Estates than seek their preservation in our Mercy of which they might have been assured so that they have lost the very hopes of ever enjoying it and could in no wise avoid their destruction by Fire and Sword which the Divine Vengeance hath excited against them for which reason we have provided by our Letters of Declaration separately expedited that they should not be comprised in this present Edict But this Chastisement having rendred others wiser hath caused that not only the High and Lower Vivaretz but also divers other Towns and Forts have returned unto their Duty and have sworn Fidelity unto Us for which cause We have pardoned them their Rebellion and granted them an Act of Oblivion causing their Fortifications and Walls to be demolished which feeding the foolish confidence of others had occasioned all those Miseries they have since suffered Divers Gentlemen also being touched with the Felicity which they had found in our Favour have had recourse unto it and received it and have quitted the Rebels Party The City of Alez extreamly strong in its situation fortified with Ramparts and Bulworks and of all that the Wit of Man could invent for troubling the Land made semblance as if it would resist and stop the Course and Progress of our Victories but when it saw it self incompassed with our Army our Cannons of Battery ready to make a breach it durst not stand out the first shot lest it should be forced to submission as is ever practised in such like cases by the Laws of War so that the Inhabitants came and prostrated themselves at Our feet and implored Our Favour and Pardon which We graciously bestowed upon them And when as
present Commotions they shall be conserved in their said Offices notwithstanding we had set in others into them for a time yea and that they had been received and installed in them We will also that the Officers of particular Lords provided of chargeable Offices and who were deprived of them during these last Commotions shall be restored unto their Offices XI All these aforesaid shall be discharged and we do discharge them of all Contributions and Quarterings of Souldiers both in the former and these present Commotions And likewise the said Commonalties and the particular Members of them of the Indemnities and Securities that may be pretended against them upon the account of Imprisonments Executions or Expulsions out of Towns done by Order of the said Duke of Rohan or of the Council of the Towns or of others established by him either in the present or former Commotions And as for the Taxes and other Moneys imposed upon the Country in case any of them should be of no value through default of payment by those aforesaid of the moneys imposed on them whatever those summs might be the Receivers of the said Provinces may not prosecute these aforesaid for them saving that the Syndic of the Country may be prosecuted till such time as he shall have brought those moneys in upon the general account of the Country XII We do likewise discharge the Consuls and particular Persons who are obliged during the Commotions of the Years 1621 1622 and 1626. and those who do now manage the affairs of the said Towns from payment of the said Obligations notwithstanding all Clauses inserted into Contracts excepting that Creditors shall have power to prosecute those Consuls of the pretended Reformed Religion we shall be found in actual Office to cause those of the said pretended Reformed Religion to be Condemned to divide the said Debt among themselves and to make payment of it XIII They shall also be discharged from all prosecution and exaction done upon the Catholicks and other Inhabitants for the remainders of the Assessments of the former years owing by them although they may have obtained discharges either by our Letters Patents or by the Decrees of the Court of Aids of Montpellier and likewise of what remaineth to be paid of the Impositions and Contributions put upon any of them excepting the Catholicks who be exempted by Orders from the Governours of the Provinces or others who Commanded for us in the War during the present or preceding Commotions XIV The Inhabitants also of Castres shall be discharged from making any restitution for their having taken up Arms against our Service XV. The Burdens which shall be imposed upon the said Towns shall be equally born by all their Inhabitants according to the ancient Custom excepting that the Debts Contracted by the Catholick Inhabitants shall be born by them only and those Contracted by them of the said pretended Reformed Religion shall be acquitted also by themselves only XVI All judgments given by the Judges of those Towns whether in Civil or Criminal matters shall be valid excepting an Appeal unto the said Chambers in Cases which have not been decided by Martial Law or a Council of War XVII That Order anciently kept in the said Towns for the Consulship Government and Assembling of the said Consuls and Town-Councils shall be kept and observed in the same manner as it was before these Troubles XVIII The States of the County of Foix shall meet according to the usual manner and all those Towns which had priviledge of sitting in those Assemblies shall be called to them XIX The Consuls Collectors Receivers and Commissioners who have handled the publick moneys during these present or former Troubles shall be acquitted and discharged they bringing in an Accompt unto the Chamber of Accompts of moneys received and paid by them nor shall the said Chamber claim any Fees from them nor revise those said Accompts And whereas the Inhabitants of Nismes do claim a priviledge that they be not obliged to carry their accompts unto the said Chamber We will that they shall injoy their ancient usage and custom XX. The Tribunals of Justice and Offices of Receipt and others transferr'd because of the present Troubles shall be returned and restored unto those Places in which they were before yea the Comptroler's Office newly created for the City of Montauban but established in that of Moissac shall be set up in the said City of Montauban as soon as the Fortifications of those Towns shall be demolished XXI We will that the Court of the Edict now sitting at Beziers shall be again set up in the City of Castres after that its Fortifications shall be rased and demolished and shall be fixed in the said Town of Castres according to the Edict of Nantes notwithstanding our Order made in January last and the Decree published by the Parliament of Tholouze upon the 102 Article thereof Which said Court of the Edict his Majesty will have maintained in all its Powers given it by the Edicts and other Ordinances XXII And 't is our will and pleasure that those aforesaid who were in Arms against us the 27th day of June last shall enjoy all these Favours and Grants And as for those Towns and Persons who subjected themselves before that day to our Authority they shall injoy more especially the Matters contained in those Letters which we have granted them And we command our beloved and faithful Officers in our Court of Parliament of Tholouze that they cause this our present Edict to be read published and registred and its Contents to be kept observed and maintained according to its form and tenor without transgressing or suffering it to be transgressed For such is our pleasure And that this Matter may be firm and stable for ever we have caused our Seal to be affixed and set unto these Presents Given at Nismes in the Month of July and the Year of Grace 1629. And of our Reign the Twentieth Signed LOVIS And a little lower By the KING Phelippeaux And sealed on threads of Silk with the great Seal on green Wax At the side Visa And there was farther witten Read Published and Registred the King's Attorney General having heard and required it At Tholouze in Parliament the 27th of August 1629. Signed De Malenfant SECT XIX This Edict was observed even as all others which had been given by the former Kings no farther than it pleased them Many Complaints were brought in by their Deputies of its Non-performance and Violations Some small Redresses of their many Grievances to stop their mouths were now and then given them But Lewes dying in the Year 1642 and this present King succeeding his deceased Father there was a Declaration in their favour published by the Queen Regent and Council in his Name July 8. 1643. And the Reformed having stood by him in those difficult times when the late Prince of Condé designed for the Crown and secured it upon his head this important Service drew from him
strict and severe exercise of the Discipline and for not executing the Judgment of the Colloquies and Synods of their Province given forth on this occasion And the said Consistory is enjoyned to see to it that the said Gouze and all his Partners do make satisfaction as in reason they are bound unto the said Sieur Loupiat for the injuries they have done him And in case they so do the said Loupiat shall be intreated to desist from all prosecutions at Law against the said Gouze but in that matter we leave him to his liberty And the said Loupiat at the next Election shall be received into the Eldership according to the Canons of our Discipline And as for the said Gouze we do not conceive him qualified at present for the Office of an Elder 36. The Province of Lower Languedoc assembled at Florac to provide a Pastor for the Church of Meruez fit for their service did lend the Sieur Ollier Pastor of the Church of St. Andrew de Valborgne Whereupon the said Church brought their Appeal into this National Synod Which having heard the whole matter did approve of the Loan made by the aforesaid Provincial Synod but withal gave them to understand that when as the six Months for which he is lent shall be expired that then the said Sieur Ollier shall return again unto his Church of St. Andrew de Valborgne CHAP. VIII His Majesties Proclamation of Pardon BEFORE we proceed unto General matters we shall first exhibit his Majesties Letters Pattents concerning their Pardon who have held Provincial Political Assemblies since that National one which was convened at Saumur in the year 1611. LOUIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To our Beloved and Trusty Counsellors sitting in our Court of Parliament and of the Edict Greeting When God called us to the Government of this Kingdom to Wear the Crown and weild the Scepter of our Ancestors we took up a fixed resolution to follow that form and order in management of State Affairs which was Established by the Deceased King our most Honoured Lord and Father whom God absolve Believing that we could not better secure the Kingdom which he had left us than by imitating his example who had raised it from the deepest desolation to the highest Pinnacle of Glory And we have met with that success and happiness herein that none of our Subjects have had any the least occasion to complain of us For we have took such an effectual course in the Administration of our Government that we have given general satisfaction unto all Persons whom God hath Subjected to us and particularly unto those of the Pretended Reformed Religion for we have not only graciously answered their Petitions and Bills of Grievances which they had presented to us but we have also sent divers Persons of Quality into all the Provinces of this Kingdom with Commissions and Authority to see the Edict of Nantes executed in all its Articles and particular Orders and other Priviledges Granted and Accorded in the Reign of our Deceased Lord and Father to them and in all other cases whatsoever in which it might be executed that so by this means we might free them from all fears and apprehensions of troubles which have been formerly the grounds and pretences used by those our said Subjects for holding extraordinary Assemblies without our Royal Permission and would have made others of a different perswasion to suspect and grow jealous of them Wherefore we being most desirous to provide against those evils and to preserve that Peace Union and good correspondence most Happily Established and kept up by the Edict and its exact observation we do by and with the Advice and Consent and in the presence of the Queen Regent our most Honoured Lady and Mother and of the Princes of our Blood and with the Princes and Officers of our Crown and being fully assured of the good Will in general of our said Subjects of their zeal and fidelity to our service and designing to deal favourably with them We have of our mere and special Grace Plenary Power and Royal Authority remitted and abolished we do remit and abolish by these Presents their offence committed by them who have called or assisted in person at those Assemblies aforesaid which have been held without our Permission in sundry Provinces of this Kingdom and also of all matters fore-passed or done in Consequence of them and we will that they be all fully acquitted cleared and discharged from them and we expresly forbid our Attorney general and his Substitutes in any wise to make any Inquiry Suit or Prosecution for them Yet nevertheless that we may prevent for the future the Licentious calling of such Assemblies forbidden by the Edicts and special Orders made on these accounts by the Late King our most Honoured Lord and Father in the Obedience of which 't is our Will and Pleasure that those our said Subjects shall continue and in pursuance of the eighty second Article of the Edict of Nantes and of the Ordinance of the fifteenth of March 1606. at also of that Answer given the nineteenth of August next following unto their Bill of Grievances presented by the General Deputies of the said Religion the Extracts of which are fastned unto these Presents under the Seal of our Chancery We have prohibited and do prohibit and forbid all those our said Subjects of the said Religion for the future to make any Congregations or Assemblies for treating or debating of holding any publick Assemblies without having first got our Royal License and Permission expresly to this purpose upon pain of being punished at breakers of our Edicts and Disturbers of the publick Peace However we do give them full Liberty of holding their Consistories Colloquies and Provincial and National Synods at hath been formerly granted to them but with this condition that they admit none other persons into them but Ministers and Elders to treat of their Doctrine and Church-Discipline upon pain of losing their Priviledge to hold these Assemblies and on all Moderators of answering for it in their private and personal Capacities And we do command that these our present Letters Pattents be read and recorded and that you cause those our said Subjects to enjoy the benefit of their contents and farther that you see them exactly and punctually observed in the whole extent of your Jurisdiction without permitting or suffering them in the least to be transgressed Moreover we command and enjoin all Governors and Lieutenant Generals Particular Governors and their Lieutenants in the Governments of our Provinces and Cities of their Jurisdiction and the Mayors Bayliffs Sheriffs and Consuls of them to see that they be very carefully kept and observed And the first of our Beloved and Faithful Counsellors and Master of the Ordinary Requests of our Houshold and Counsellors in our Court of Parliament in those places and others our Justices and Officers to make informations of those transgressions aforesaid and to give us
speedy advice of it and in the mean while to proceed against such at shall be found Delinquents according to due course of Law and the Tenour of our Edicts and Ordinances For such is our Will and Pleasure Given at Paris the 24th day of April in the year of Grace 1612. and of our Reign the Second Signed LOUIS And a little Lower by the King in his Council De Lomenie And Sealed with Yellow Wax the great Seal appendant at the bottom with a single Thread CHAP. IX The Synods Declaration against this Proclamation The Letters Patents of His Majesty bore date the 13th of April 1612. And the Synods Declaration was dated the first of Juâ— 1612. 1. HIS Majesties Letters Patents were read containing his Royal Pardon unto them who had called Political Assemblies since that General one held at Saumur which exceedingly surprized 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 THE Reformed Churches of this Kingdom Assembled in a National Synod at Privas having as it usual took the Oath of Fidelity and Humble Obebedience to their Majesties Command and Service and being informed by divers Deputies of the Provinces that the Kings Letters Pattents were directed to the Parliaments and Courts of the Edict containing an Abolition and Pardon of the faults pretended to have been committed in calling of Particular Assemblies in the several Provinces as also a Pardon for what hath been heretofore and since transacted in them they could not be unsensible of such an horrid dishonour as this done unto them so great so contrary to their Intentions and to that Loyalty they have ever upon all occasions exprest both to the service of his Majesty and the happiness of his Government and they could not but be pierced with a most just grief to see themselves blasted with so great a reproach on the account of the said Provincial Assemblies which have been always held as they were in the Reign of Henry the Great of most happy Memory and since also by a Priviledge granted the said Churches in a Letter Written by her Majesty unto the General Assembly of â—aumur the 22th of August 1611. by which they were commanded every one of them to break up and depart unto their respective Provinces and carry back unto their Principals who had Deputed them the good Intentions of their Majesties Vpon which the said General Assembly inferred their Right and Priviledge of Meeting in particular Assemblies and voted the Congregating of them and ordained that the Deputies of every Province should bring with them their Cahiers to be perused and what reflexions had past upon them and answers given to them which was a matter well-known unto the Lords of the Council nor could they believe it or judge it unreasonable because that in those very Instructions given unto the Commissioners sent by their Majesties into the Provinces about the inexecutions and transgressions of the Edict they were commanded to return home immediatly and without delay that they might be in the Provinces before the meeting of those particular Assemblies and 't is a most certain truth they were for the most part either Authorized by the summons of his Majesties Lieutenants or by the conduct and direction of some one or other of the Presidents in the Soveraign Courts and ever in the Magistrates presence The Kings Officers and other persons of Quality having express charge from their Majesties to be there upon the place and sit with them or otherwise some one of the aforesaid Commissioners sent by the said Provinces did moderate and preside in them None of which would ever have plunged themselves in so much guilt in case there had been any as is now pretended Yea so far were our Lords of the Council from judging us guilty that on the contrary they received all our Cahiers Remonstrances and most humble Petitions framed in those Assemblies with the greatest kindness and have since answered them Insomuch at they never esteemed them Criminal nor needing Abolition and Pardon This grieveth and woundeth deeply the very Souls of all who do Profess the Reformed Religion in this Kingdom because it fastens the blot and brand of a Crime upon them which that they might evade they have on all occasions hazarded both their Lives and Fortunes But they have another and farther ground of Grief and Affliction which it that these Letters Pattents look at if some ill men had a design of kindling again those Flames and reviving once more those old hatreds and animosities of their Fellow Citizens and Countreymen against them which have lain Dead and Buried these many years and that they are seeking a new pretext wherewith their most inveterate Enemies may be hereafter furnished to assault and ruine them and finally to render them odious and execrable to all sorts of persons both at home and abroad within and without the Kingdom Such consequenoes as these cannot but involve them in great troubles cannot but shake and unsettle the repose and tranquillity of the Government and grievously augment their fears and sorrows being compelled after this manner to ease their burdened Spirits and to express their sense and resentments of such great indignities because they cannot but avow themselves the best and most Faithful Subjects that ever their Majesties had or shall have in their Kingdoms and Dominions For which cause the said Churches conformably to those humble Addresses made by their General Deputies unto the Council and to their Petition presented unto the Court of Parliament of Paris the 14th of May last do declare as they have done that they never requested nor demanded nor did by any Letters of theirs endeavour to obtain that Abolition or Pardon that it was never done by them nor are they so much as in word or thought guilty of those imaginary Crimes presupposed in them and that they be ready all of them jointly and singly to be responsible for their actions and to publish them to the whole World openly and at noon-day counting all manner of torments far more easie to be born than that they and their Posterity should be stigmatized with such a shameful brand of Infamy which might hereafter deprive them of that true honour and glory which was ever ascribed to them of being true French-men and to be reputed and accounted by strangers the most Loyal and most Faithful Subjects of His Majesty in the worst times persons uncorruptible and the best and most affectionate unto His Government Moreover they do farther declare that they will not in the least either help themselves or make use in any manner of way of those
the Lords William Rivet Lord of Champrernown Pastor of the Church of Taillebourg and Peter Richer Lord of Vaudelincourt Pastor of the Church of Marennes accompanied with the Lords Denys Pasquett Esq Lord of Large Baston Elder in the Church of Angoulesme and Charles Constant Comptroller for his Majesty in the Election of St. John d'Angely and Elder of the Church in that City 8. For the Province of Brittain the Sieurs Josua de la Place Pastor of the Church of Nantes assembling for Religious Worship at Suffé without an Elder for the Lords Daniel de la Tousche Lord of la Ravardiere Elder in the Church of Ploer and Daniel Chastaigner Lord of la Grolliere Elder in the Church of Vielle vigne who was substituted in his Place did both send their Letters of Request that they might be dispensed with for their non-Attendance at the Synod and their Excuses were admitted and accepted 9. For the Province of Lower Guyenne the Sieurs James de Berdoline Pastor of the Church of Duras and Charles d'Aubus Pastor of the Church of Nerac accompanied with the Lords John de Mazilieres Advocate in the High Court of Parliament of Bourdeaux Lord of Grave and Elder in the Church of Nerac the Lord John Aymé de Friginet Advocate also in the same Parliament and Elder of the Church of Bergerac was chosen but fell sick and therefore was excused and in his stead there appeared Isaac de Geneste Lord of la Tour Advocate in the same Parliament and Elder in the Church of la Sauvetat who was substituted by the Suffrages of the Provincial Synod in his stead 10. For the Province of Vivaretz the Sieur Daniel Richard Pastor of the Church of Cheilar and Louis Santel Advocate and Elder of the same Church The Province excused it self for sending but two Deputies and their Excuses were admitted for this time and they were injoined for the future never to omit the Clause of Submission which was not sound in their Letters of Deputation tendred by them unto the Council 11. For the Province of Sevennes the Sieurs Moses Blasehon Pastor of the Church of St. Andrew de Valborgne and Antony Vincent Pastor of the Church of Merneys together with Stephen de Billanges Lord of Blanqfort and Elder in the Church of Vigan and Claudius d'Airebeldoze Esq Lord of Clairan Elder in the Church of Canoblet 12. For the Province of Anjou the Sieurs Matthew Cottiere Pastor of the Church of Tours and Moses Amyraud Pastor of the Church of Sanmur and Professor of Divinity in that University together with the Sieurs Philip Niett Counsellor of the King and Warden of his Majesty's Salt-garners in the said City of Saumur and Elder of the Church there and Josiah Poize Advocate in Parliament Elder of the Church at Previlly 13. For the Province of Dolphiny the Sieur Peter Pittard Pastor of the Church of Alben with the Sieur Francis de Montauban de Rambault Esq Lord of Villars Elder in the Church of Gap and the Sieur Stephen Gilbert Advocate Elder in the Church of Die the Sieur Denis de Bouteroue Pastor of the Church of Greenoble though chosen â—id not appear because of his Majesty's Prohibition yet afterwards he obtained leave to assist in this Council as will appear by its Acts and Records 14. For the Province of Lower Languedoc the Sieurs Michael le Faucheur Pastor of the Cuurch of Montpellier and John de Croy Pastor of the Church of Bezieres together with the Sieurs Peter Cheyron Advocate and Elder in the Church of Nismes and Andrew Bruneau Advocate and Elder in the Church of Bagnols 15. For the Province of Higher Languedoc the Sieur Timothy Delon Pastor of the Church of Montauban with the Sieurs Peter de Villette Lord de la Jongniere Elder in the Church of St. Antonine and Paul Constans Counsellor for the King and Elder in the Church of Montaubon Master Peter Beraud Pastor of the aforesaid Church of Montauban and Professor of Divinity in that University did not appear at first because of his Majesty's Prohibition but afterward when it was taken off he did accordingly take his Place in this Council 16. For the Province and Principality of Bearn there appeared the Sieurs Peter Labadie Pastor of the Church of Pau and John de Pommerade Advocate in the Parliament of Navarre Elder of the Church in Morlas 17. For the Province of Normandy the Sieurs Abdias de Mondenis Pastor in the Church of Dieppe together with Laurence le Fevre Advocate in the Parliament of Normandy and Elder in the Church of Rouan and John Cardell Lord of Marettes Counsellor of the King and his Comptroller in the Election of Alencon and Elder of the Church in the same Place and the Sieur Benjamin Basnage Pastor of the Church of Quarentin though chosen yet did not at first appear because of his Majesty's Prohibition but as soon as it was taken off he came and took his Place in the Synod as will appear in the following Acts. 18. For the Province of the Isle of France the Sieurs John Mestrezat Pastor of the Church of Paris and David Blondell Pastor of the Church of Roussy together with the Sieurs John de Gravelles Esq Lord of Banterne Elder in the Church of Houdan and Charles Mayland Advocate Elder in the Church of Montdidier 19. The fifteenth Day of September the Lord Marquess of Clermont General Deputy for the Churches of this Kingdom unto his Majesty came according to the usual Order of these National Synods and took his Place in it having Precedency given him according to his Degree and Quality and as it was afterward decreed in the eleventh Article of General Matters 20. Prayers having been offered up unto God Monsieur Mestrezat Pastor of the Church of Paris was by Plurality of Votes chosen Moderator and Monsieur Jamet Assessor and Monsieur Blondel Pastor and Monsieur Armet an Elder Scribes of the Synod CHAP. II. The King's Letters Patents 21. AS soon as the Officers of the Synod were chosen his Majesty's Letters Patents were read a true Copy whereof is here inserted 22. Louis by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre to our beloved and trusty Counsellor in our Privy Council and Council of State and Attorney General for our House of Navarre the Lord Galland Greeting We having given leave unto our Subjects professing the pret Reformed Religion to hold a National Synod at Charenton near our City of Paris the first Day of September next in which the Deputies of all the Provinces in this our Kingdom shall meet and consult about Matters concerning their Religion and we being to choose a Person sufficiently qualified and of approved Loyalty who may be present in the said Council as our Representative and Commissioner and calling to Mind the many Services you have done us in sundry and very weighty Imployments with which we have intrusted you both at home and abroad within and without the Kingdom all which
of our Discipline 7. And forasmuch as the Order and Discipline of our Churches cannot subsist without the being and sitting of Colloquies and Synods your Majesty is most humbly requested to give leave that our Colloquies and Provincial Synods may be assembled in the presence of your Majesty's Commissioners and Deputies according to the ancient Order because the Governours of the Provinces do very much oppose the holding of them and defer their Sessions for a long time together and have hindred divers Provinces from Synodical Assemblies three or four Years together 8. Your Majesty having formerly declared with your own Mouth whenas the National Synod was held last at Charenton in the Year 1623 That it was your Pleasure that those Pastors who were born in other Countries not under your Majesties Jurisdiction should continue in the Exercise of their Office in their respective Churches without ever being disquietted or molested We most humbly beseech your Majesty on their behalf that you would be graciously pleased to grant them your Declaration to this Purpose and also to gratify with the same Favour such as have been received into the Sacred Ministry since the Year 1623 in the presence of your Majesty's Commissioners and Deputies 9. And the Lord Galland having informed this Synod that for the future your Majesty intended to restrain this Favour and only to vouchsafe it to your Majesty's natural born Subjects none others being to be received into the Ministry among us We most humbly beseech your Majesty that this Restriction may be taken off and that your Majesty's wonted Favour may be continued to us in this Particular 10. May it please your Majesty also to repeal those Prohibitions issued out against those very worthy Ministers of the Gospel Mr. Bouterove Banage and Beraud forbidding their personal Presence and Attendance in this Synod and that with your Majesty's License they may having been duly chosen thereunto come into it and take their Place and Vote in it according to their Deputations from their respective Provinces 11. And whereas such as make profession of our Religion are for the most part excluded and deprived of all Offices Charges and Publick Dignities of being Doctors and incorporated into the Colledges of Physicians and of all Employments yea and are not so much as suffered to be Masters in those very Mechanical Arts and Trades in which they had been educated and in which they had served their Apprentiships May it therefore please your Majesty graciously to ordain that they may be indifferently admitted unto those aforesaid Charges and Employments with your other Subjects of the Romish Communion 12. And whereas the Triumphs of your Victorious Arms do proclaim your Majesty's Glory We most humbly beseech your Majesty to augment your own Glory yet a great deal more by extending your Clemency and Pardon unto those many miserable Persons who have been detained for a long time together upon no other score than that of the past Troubles in Chains and Slavery aboard your Gallies and to give forth your Royal Order and Command that they may be delivered and enlarged 13. It hath pleased your Majesty in all those Declarations made by you in favour of your Subjects of the Reformed Religion to promise the Continuance of that Bounty granted us by the late King Henry the Great of glorious Memory and divers times since confirmed by your Majesty to contribute towards the Maintenance of our Pastors and Universities as a Compensation for the Tithes paid by them unto the Curates Yet nevertheless for several Years together we have been totally deprived of this Gratuity and whereas divers Sums of Money had been assigned us for the former Years there yet remains due and unpaid a very considerable Sum amounting to six hundred twenty one thousand eight hundred and twelve Livers And although we have been again and again promised this Grace and Favour and particularly upon the Reduction of the Towns of Lower Languedoc in the Year 1628 and afterward confiâ—med by your Majesty's Answer to our Bill of Grievances at Montauban Yet notwithstanding those very Assignations given us in the Year 1627 have been revoked and those of the three next following Years 1628 1629 and 1630 and for this present Year 1631 are not at all paid in unto us Wherefore we most humbly beseech your Majesty that according to your Royal Promises they may be effectually continued to us and that your poor Subjects of the Reformed Religion may enjoy these Gratuities and be fully satisfied for all the Arrears 14. And whereas your Majesty was pleased upon the restoring the Church-Lands in the Principality of Bearn out of which our Ministers received their Sallaries to assign them a continual Stipend out of the Exchequer and Treasury there and this by the Edict of Restitution which was followed by the Declaration made at Montpellier when you gave Peace unto your Subjects yet nevertheless in prejudice of your Royal Words without any Edict revoking that Assignation past in the making up the Accompts and local Charges of the said Principality the Ministers of the Gospel there have been retrench'd from four hundred and fourscore Livers which they did each of them receive yearly to two hundred and thirty four Livers only yea and this very last Year four thousand Livers more have been taken from them Wherefore may it please your Majesty conformable to your Will declared in your Royal Edicts to stop the course of such Diminutions and to reestablish the aforesaid four thousand Livers which have been retrenched and to continue the paiment of their Sallaries unto the Ministers without ever suffering them to be diverted to any other Uses besides those to which they were designed and appointed in that first Institution made by your Royal Bounty 15. The Deputies who are now sent unto the King are expresly charged most humbly to petition his Majesty that Silence may be imposed on his Lieutenant General in the Parliament of Bourdeaux who hath commenc'd a Suit against the Lord of Vandelincourt Minister in the Church of Marennes and his eldest Son for that their Cause is depending in the Court of the Edict sitting at Agen. CHAP. VII The Deputies return from Court with the King's Answer and Letter to the Synod 16 THE two and twentieth day of this Month those aforementioned Deputies unto his Majesty Monsieur Amyraud and de Villars returned with Letters from his Majesty unto the Synod the Tenour of which followed A Copy of his Majesty's Letter unto the Synod By the KING Dear and Well-beloved WE have seen by your Letter of the 13th Instant and farther understand by word of Mouth from your Deputies and by the Memoirs presented to us the Demands which you have to make us on those Matters debated in your Synodical Assembly and now called by our Writ of Licence to sit at Charenton And forasmuch as we have informed the said Deputies of our Intentions on the greater part of your Demands and that we have given a
Lord do expect and wait for this Fruit of your Eminency's great Goodness and whatever shall be received by us it shall be as a most refreshing Shower that shall cause our Hearts to fructifie more abundantly yea and the Hearts of all those of our Religion in that Love and Affection which they have ever had and which our Religion and our Interest inspireth us to have above all other his Majesty's Subjects for his Service and to have the Praise of being true Frenchmen firmly devoted to the Advancement of the State and to that respect which all France oweth unto your Eminency But whatever may be my Lord we invocate incessantly our common Redeemer that he would preserve your Eminency's Person in all Prosperity and bless your Counsels given unto his Majesty and cause them for the future as they have in times past to succeed to the Advantage of the State the Glory of his Majesty and the immortal Honour of your Eminency These are their Vows and Prayers who will conserve inviolably the Quality which they have ever had to be my Lord of your Eminency The most Humble and most Obedient Servants the Pastors and Elders Assembled in a National Synod at Loudun and for them all Daille Moderator c. 6. The Sieurs Eustache and Mirabel who were Deputed from this Assembly unto his Majesty being returned from their Journey gave an Account of their Deputation and delivered Letters from the King his Eminency and the Lord de la Vrilliere unto this Assembly and they received the Praise and Thanks of it for their Care and Labour A Copy of His Majesty's Letter DEar and Well Beloved We were very glad at the Receipt of your Letters dated the 18th Instant and to hear from the Mouths of your Deputies the Sieurs Eustache and de Mirabel the Thanks you have rendred us for our permitting you to hold this National Synod in our Town of Loudun and the Protestations of your inviolable Fidelity and Obedience to us and being well satisfied therewith we were willing to give you the knowledge of it by this our Letter and to exhort you to persist in your Godly Purposes and Duties and to afford us upon all occasions which may offer themselves for our Service the Evidences of your good Conduct And we farther assure you that whilst you continue your selves within the Bounds we require from your Synod and upon all other Occurrences which you may meet withal to maintain as much as in you lieth the publick Peace and Tranquility you shall also receive from us all good and favourable Usage and we shall be delighted to protect you under the benefit of our Edicts and of those of our most Honoured Lord and Father the late King as we have done until now and as we shall yet again once more assure you more particularly by your Deputies whom we return unto you very much satisfied In the mean while we do the more willingly allow the Continuation of the Lord Marquess of Ruvigny in the Office of General Deputy for your Churches near our selves because we are fully perswaded that he will always acquit himself with Care and Faithfulness of that Employ Given at Tholouse the Tirteenth Day of November One Thousand Six Hundred Fifty and Nine Signed LOVIS And a little Lower PHELIPPEAVX The Superscription was To our dear and well-beloved the Pastors and Elders Deputed unto the Assembly of the National Synod of our Subjects of the Protestant Reformed Religion held at Loudun Copy of his Eminency's Letter Sirs YOur Deputies delivered me the Letter which you took the pains to write me I owe you Thanks for your Civilities and the more because his Majesty being perswaded as he is of your inviolable Fidelity and of your Zeal for his Service 't is but needless and superfluous to mention any good Offices for you with his Majesty I pray you to believe that I have a very great Esteem for you as you do deserve it being such good Servants and Subjects of the King I have nothing more but to leave my self to what shall be related of me by your own Deputies and by the Dispatches of the Lord de la Vrilliere I remain Sirs Your most Affectionate to do you Service The Cardinal Mazarin The Sieur de la Morinaye was Deputed by this Assembly with Letters to my Lord Chancellor and to my Lord de Bertueil Comptroler General of the Exchequer and ordered to ride unto Paris and there to take up the Sixteen Thousand Livres Gratuity which his Majesty hath been pleased to bestow upon this Assembly for defraying the Expences of it's Deputies to which purpose the Orders of the Accomptants and the Assignment of my Lord High Treasurer was delivered into his Hands which was under Signed by the Sieur Eustache 7. The Assembly considering that since the Death of the Sieur Bazin General Deputy of our Churches for the Third Estate unto the King that there is no one to supply his Place so that my Lord Marquess of Ruvigny our General Deputy is even born down with the Duties of his Office at Court which is a very great Inconveniency to our Churches it was decreed That a most humble Petition should be tender'd unto his Majesty that he would be pleased to put us again into the Possession of this Priviledge And the Assembly hoping that this their Petition would not be unacceptable unto his Majesty and my Lord Commissioner not in the least opposing it was resolved that we should proceed immediately unto the Election of such Persons as should be presented unto his Majesty according to the usual Forms Which being done it was found that the Sieurs Loride des Galinieres Advocate in the King's Council and in Parliament Jassaud Advocate in the mixt Court of Castres and des Forges Le Coq Counsellor and Secretary to the King had the Plurality of Votes Whereupon it was decreed that my Lord Marquess of Ruvigny shall be intreated to notifie it unto the King as soon as possible together with the most humble Petition of this Assembly that his Majesty would be pleased to chuse one out of these Three according to Custom and to assign him the Salary which his Majesty and the Kings his Predecessors have given unto those who have exercised the said Office of General Deputy 8. Letters being Addressed to this Assembly by the Pastors and Professors of Divinity in the Church and University of Geneva and other Letters from the Pastors and Professors of Divinity in the Churches and Universities of the Cantons of Zurich Berne Basil and Schapheusen joyntly Signed by them they were delivered unto my Lord Commissioner who having first perused them did afterwards order them to be communicated unto the Assembly and to be read in it The Contents of which were large Expressions of their Affections to the Peace of the Churches of this Kingdom and their Joy at the Liberty which it hath pleased the King to give us and the Priviledge of Assembling
behalf of the Mayor Sheriffs and Free Burgesses of the City of Rochell Chap. XIII Approbation of the Confession of Faith Chap. XIV Observations on the Discipline Chap. XV. An Act against Debauchery Chap. XVI Observations upon the Acts of the last National Synod Chap. XVII No Minister to depart the Kingdom without the Kings License Chap. XVIII A Deposed Minister restored Chap. XIX Appeals Chap. XX. Discipline Exercised upon a Scandalous Minister App. 34. Chap. XXI Discipline exercised upon a Delinquent Minister App. 44. Chap. XXII A Scandalous Minister Deposed App. 51. Chap. XXIII Discipline exercised upon a vitious Minister App. 53. See also the very next Appeal Chap. XXIV General Matters Chap. XXV An Act to preserve Deeds Writings Evidences belonging to the Churches G. M. 13. Chap. XXVI An Act for a Publick National Fast G. M. 16. Chap. XXVII Differences between the Cities of Rochell Montauban and Castres composed G. M. 28. Chap. XXVIII Particular Matters Chap. XXIX Care taken for a poor Persecuted Church P. M. 29. Chap. XXX A Donative to Monsieur Chamier P. M. 44. Chap. XXXI Of Vniversities and Colledges Chap. XXXII The Accompts of the Lord du Candal Chap. XXXIII The Synods Letter to the King Chap XXXIV Dividends of Moneys among the Churches and Provinces Chap XXXV The Roll of the Deposed Ministers Chap XXXVI An Act for Calling the next National Synod Chap. XXXVII Catalogue of all the Churches and Ministers in Actual Imployment together with the Vacancies Chap. XXXVIII Letters from the Church of Geneva The Synods Answer to them and from the Church of Paris THE Synod of Castres 1626. The 25th Synod SYNOD XXV 1626. In the Name of God Amen The Acts of the National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France and Bearne Assembled at Castres in Albigeois in the Year of Grace One Thousand Six Hundred Twenty and Six the Sixteenth day of September and the days following to the Fifth of November in the Fourteenth Year of the Reign of Louis XIII King of France and Navarre CHAP. I. AT the opening of this Synod there appeared the Lord Galland one of the Lords of His Majesties Most Honourable Privy Council and Council of State and Attorney General for his Dominion of Navarre as His Majesties Commissioner Deputed by His Majesty unto this Assembly with this Letter following By the KING Dear and well beloved we being fully resolved to keep and observe and see that our Edicts and Declarations be inviolably kept and observed and that you may injoy those Favours and Priviledges which are granted you by them we have freely and willingly suffered you to meet together in this National Synod Convocated by you in our Town of Castres September next where you shall only debate of such Matters as concern the Discipline of your Religion and have also at the same time made choice of our Trusty and Well-Beloved Counsellor the Lord Galland One of the Lords of our Privy Council and Council of State and Attorney General for our Dominion of Navarr to meet you from us and on our behalf in your said Assembly and to assist in person at all your Consultations and to give you plenary Assurance of our good and sincere Intentions for your Peace and Comfort Wherefore we will and require you to give him credit in all things and to rest assured that as long as you contain your selves within the Bounds and Limits of your Fidelity and Obedience which you owe unto us we shall alwayes treat you as good and Loyal Subjects and shall give you to resent the Effects and Fruits of our Favour and good Will unto you on all occasions that may occur as the said Lord of Galland shall in our Name more particularly informe you Given at Nantes this 24th of July 1626. Signed â—eveâ— and Lower Phillippeâ—ux And superscribed To our dear and well-beloved the Deputies of the National Synod of the P. Reformed Churches called by our permission unto the Town of Castres There appeared in the said Assembly for the Province of Provence the Sieurs Paul Maurice Pastor of the Church of Aiguieres and James Franc Notary Publick Elder of the Church of Lormarin For the Province of Vivaretz Forrest and Vellay the Sieurs Alexander de Vinay Pastor of the Church of Annonay and Paul Accaurat Pastor of the Church of Aubenas and Daniel Arcajon the Kings Notary and Elder in the said Church of Aubenas and Daniel Sabatier Elder in the Church of Villeneufve de Berg. These Persons were requested to see that for the future their Provincial Synod suffer not any Letters of Commission or Memoirs which shall be brought before the National Synods by the Deputies of the said Province to be form'd out of their Synodical Assemblies nor that they be subscribed by any others besides the Moderators or Assessors in case the Moderators of the said Synods shall be chosen Deputies For the Province of Britain the Sieurs Andrew le Noir Lord of Beauchamp Pastor in the Church of Belin and Philip de Vassant Esq Lord of Martimont Elder in the Church of Roche Bernard For the Province of Sevennes The Sieurs Nicolas le Blanc Pastor of the Church of Barr and Lawrens Aymard Pastor of the Church of Lezan together with Claudius de Gabriac Lord of Beaufort Elder in the Church of Avez and Charles de Calvet Lord of Aires Elder in the Church of St Privat For the Province of Dolphiny Denis Bouteroue Pastor of the Church in Grenoble and John Corel Pastor of the Church of Ambrun with David Chaluett Elder in the Church of Die and Anthony Brissett Elder in the Church of Montlimart For the Province of Burgundy The Sieurs Peter Bollenatt Pastor in the Church of Avalon which meets for Religious Worship at Vaux Alexander Rouph one of the Pastors of the Church of Lions together with Albert de Mars Esq Lord of Baleines Elder in the Church of Maringues and Lazarus du Puy Counsellor for the King in the Presidial Court of Berg in the Province of Bresse and Elder of the Church in the said Town For the Province of Higher Languedoc The Sieurs Peter Ollier Pastor of the Church of Montauban and Moses de Baux Pastor of the Church of Mazamet together with Mr. John de Portes Doctor of the Civil Law and Advocate in Parliament Elder of the Church of Castres and the Lord John Brassar Doctor of the Civil Law and Advocate in Parliament Elder in the Church of Montauban but he was detained by Sickness in the said City and whereas another was substituted in his place He also came not for want of Notice given him For the Province of Lower Languedoc The Sieurs John Chauve Pastor of the Church of Sommieres and Michael le â—aucheur Pastor of the Church of Montpellier with Francis Petit Doctor of the Civil Law and Advocate Elder in the Church of Nismes and Theophilus Ranchin Secretary of the Kings Chamber and Elder in the said Church of Montpellier For the Province