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religion_n	kingdom_n	majesty_n	subject_n	3,349	5	6.8187	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85896	The generall and particular acts and articles of the late national synod of the reformed Churches of France, assembled by the permission of the King at Charenton neare Paris, beginning the 26th of December, 1644. Where by the present estate of those churches, as also their doctrine and discipline may be knowne. With divers other remarkable passages, and letters from the King and Q. Regent of France, to the said synod, and of the synod to their Majesties, and other great personages. Never before printed either in French or English, and now faithfully translated out of a written French copy. Whereunto is added a formulary of baptisme for those who from paganisme, Judaisme, and Mahumetisme, are converted to the Christian faith; as also of those Anabaptists who have not bin baptised before, composed in the nationall synod set forth at Charenton in the yeare 1645. and now faithfully Englished.	Eglises réformées de France. Synode national (1644-1645 : Charenton-le-Pont); Anne, Queen, consort of Louis XIII, King of France, 1601-1666.; France. Sovereign (1643-1715 : Louis XIV)	1646 (1646)	Wing G488; Thomason E361_5; ESTC R201205	74,805	110

Ministers of Estate which makes us hope to see in our dayes the generall Peace which sha●l be the perfection of our hapinesse Besides the considerations which are common to all Frenchmen there are other particulars which concerne men of your profession Remember you that upon the entrance of this Kings raigne their Majesties have beene pleased to make a Declaration which confirmes all former Edicts permits you the exercise of your Religion the libertie of your consciences the safetie of your Persons Goods and of your Churches which subsist happily under the shadow of their Royall powers and bounty Observe that by their singular favour you have in the midst of you Dukes Pairs Marshalls of France Generalls of Armies Magistrates Governours of soveraigne Courts and that as yet to this day their Majesties for a witnesse of the confidence they have of your fidelity have granted you this Assembly at the very gates of the Capitoll or principall City of this Kingdome in the sight of all France and of the great people of Paris so different in manners and humours which will be Witnesses and Judges of your actions After all this Sirs I perswade my selfe you will all with a generall consent ayme at this principall end the glory of God the service of the King the good and welfare of your Churches and that in all your words and actions you will bring that prudent moderation and humility which can be desired of good and faithfull subjects which will be a powerfull meanes to draw upon you and upon the Provinces which have deputed you the gracious favour of their Majesties especially when all the world shall observe that ye breath nothing more then that respect and obedience ye owe unto them And to the end all things may be done according to the order prescribed me Their Majesties have commanded me to tell you that all Ministers which are strangers are to be excluded your Synod and that none may assist there which is not deputed by a Provinciall Synod and that during the time it is holden you may not have communication with strangers or other suspected persons but to abide in that place attending the affaires for which ye are called and because your Assemblies doe not constitute a body Politique their Majesties have forbidden you to treat in your Synod of any secular affaires of State or Justice nor to speake any thing in the Re-establishing of Ministers which are strangers and have been Dispossessed by vertue of the Arrests of Parliaments and Letters signed by his Majestie nor to propose there any complaints of pretended infractions of the Edicts seeing you have Chembre iniparties so called in the French and other Courts of Justice established by Edicts to doe you Justice and to repaire the Contraventions unto the Edicts if any shall happen for the which you may procure Remedy before the Counsell of the King and there present your requests according to the accustomed manner your Synod having no power to judge in such matters so that you are to treat onely of your doctrine and Ecclesiasticall Discipline They have forbidden you likewise to nominate any Pastours or other extraordinarie Deputies to receive Letters or to make Answer to them which shall be addressed unto them from their severall Provinces to provide for their affaires during the time that there is a Synod for that by the Edict of the moneth of December 1622. and other subsequent Declarations such Counsells and Counsellors of the Provinces are expresly forbidden Their Majesties also forbid you to print any bookes in any place whatsoever making mention of your Religion without Attestation of two Ministers of this Kingdome under paine of Confiscation of them and not to send forth any Excommunication against Ministers and others which shall change their Religion nor to use any reproachfull words against them by writing or otherwise nor to receive for the time to come any Minister which is a stranger appointing you for this end to put in the attestations of the Proposants and Ministers to understand or to be enformed of the place of their birth They forbid also the Provinciall Synods to summon generall Fasts And for the better assurance of publike tranquility his Majestie enjoynes the Ministers to preach unto his Subjects following the commandement of God the obedience which they owe unto him and that upon no occasion whatsoever it is lawfull for them to take Armes against their Soveraigne And hee forbids them in their Sermons and Writings to give the termes of scourgings Martyrdome and persecution of their Religion under the name of the Church of God or otherwise as likewise to use the word of Antichrist and of Idolatrie and other offensive words in speaking of the Pope of them which are of the Catholike Apostolike Roman Church of the Sacraments and Ceremonies therein upon paine of Interdiction It is forbidden them likewise to make Collections from house to house to gather money of the poore in regard of mens last Wills and Testaments or to sue any in any Court of Justice for Salary or payment of wages in regard of the charges of their Colloques Synods Reparations and garnishing of their Temples In this his Majestie is pleased that the Article 44 in the Edict of Nants be particularly observed and executed and for that their Majestie are adverti●ed you send your children to study and to bee brought up in learning at Genevas in Switzerland Holland c. which are Nations Common-wealthes a verse to Monarchy which may stretch their Precepts to politique and secular affaires a matter of great consequence and may produce dangerous effects for the prevention hereof their Majesties desire that amongst the Articles of Proposants you make one expresse to bee practised for time to come within all your Provinces that no Proposant or Theologue shall be received into the Ministrie if they have studied in these Countreys and Estates And they have commanded me to assure you that upon your conforming to their Intentions in an affaire so important you shall doe a thing very acceptable unto them and advantagious for them of your Religion I have charge also to let you understand that their Majesties are d●spleased that against the Amnestye so much recommended by the Edicts In the Calenders of the Psalmes imprinted at Geneva 1635 these termes are inserted that on the f●fteenth of March 1545 was Assembled the detestable Counsell of Trent and many other like things that in the twenty fourth Article of the Confession of your Faith the Catholike Apostolike Roman Religion is represented with the name of Abuse and deceipt of Satan Purgatory with the title of Illusion and the Shop from whence monasticall vowes Pilgrimages and other things doe arise and in the 28 Article you use these wo●ds Wee condemne the Assemblies of Poperie where all Superstitious and Idolatry have their Vogue Their Majesties not being able to suffer that such words should be affirmed upon Oath in a Nationall Synod of their Kingdome holding them

THE GENERALL And Particular ACTS and ARTICLES Of the Late NATIONAL SYNOD Of the Reformed Churches of France Assembled by the Permission of the King at Charenton neare Paris beginning the 26th of December 1644. Whereby the present estate of those Churches as also their Doctrine and Discipline may be knowne With divers other Remarkable Passages and Letters from the King and Q. Regent of France to the said Synod and of the Synod to their Majesties and other great Personages Never before printed either in French or English and now faithfully translated out of a written French Copy Whereunto is Added a formulary of Baptisme for those who from Paganisme Judaisme and Mahumetisme are converted to the Christian Faith As also of those Anabaptists who have not bin Baptised before composed in the Nationall Synod set forth at Charenton in the yeare 1645. and now faithfully Englished LONDON Printed by T. W. for G. Emerson and are to be sold at the Swan in little Britaine and at the blacke Beare in Pater-noster Row 1646. The Stationer to the Reader THe Church hath been under a threefold oppression first violent under persecuting Emperours 2. Fraudulent under insinuating Hereticks 3. Violent and fraudulent both under the Romish Antichrist every one worse then other This last the most pernicious and perillous as in whom the force and fraude of both the former were combined in one The first was grievous to the body but could not touch the soule the second destroyed the soule though it spared the body the third spared neither but by Impostures lies and a thousand falshoods entangled the soule in damnable errours and upon the bodies of Christians what savage cruelties they have exercised is as incredible to be beleeved as impossible to be exprest They have persecuted poore Christians with fire and water with fire to consume their bodies and bones to ashes With water to consume their very ashes if it were possible to nothing Of this the Church of France hath had most sad and long experience For the persecutions of the Protestants in France How many Edicts Proscriptions Proclamations for their utter destruction are still witnesses thereof What combination of Princes what Armies raised Townes burnt who le Countries depopulated Witnesse that of Merindol and Chabriers private murders publick Massacres as that of Paris wherein were most bloudily cut off very many thousands what cruelties have been exercised for number incredible for fury unsufferable had they not been inspired and supported by the divine power What lingring torments were invented to make them dye piecemeale ut sentiant se mori among many other one is most memorable of a Frier that tooke a poore Protestant filled his bootes full of grease set him upon a forme with his legs hanging over a soft fire and so broyled him to death with many more too tedious to mention here And yet for all these cruell sufferings they have kept the faith and obtained a good report they have been bettered by it like gold that comes the purer out of the fire they have been the cleaner for winnowing the clearer for scowring Tortores nisi habeat Ecclesia non haberet fidos Doctores And certainly this Church though it hath been under many cloudes yet such lights have still broke out in it that the world hath not seene the like And as God hath still moved the hearts of their Princes to give them some intermission of suffering so now a permission of doing even to assemble at Charenton for setling of that Religion whereof their chiefe Princes are enemies If God will restore his Temple Cyrus a heathen King shall grant a Commission for building of it In this Synod there are many things remarkable first the goodnesse of God in moving the hearts of the King and Queen Regent towards them 2. Their loyalty againe in their humble submission to their Soveraigne Princes their obedience to them and praiers for them though of a contrary Religion In the Acts of this Synod observe first their wisdome and moderation in Discipline 2. Their piety and purity in Doctrine but our approbation can adde nothing to their worth If any shall question what need of such frequent Assemblies as many there be that move such questions let him heare what Saint Paul sayes It is necessary that heresies be amongst us Therefore as necessary are often Assemblies of Pastours of the Church Necessitatem hanc furor haereticus imponit and this made the Apostles themselves call a Synod Acts 15. It seemes two dangerous Sects were now like to trouble that Church against whom care is taken in this Synod viz. the Anabaptist and the Independent The first the most pestilent sect that sprang up of late times and could never catch many Disciples in a cleare water did not the latter trouble these streams But the reverend Pastours have put in sufficient caution against them both and God grant their neighbours may follow their worthy president Concerning differencies about matters of indifferency the most antient and true bond of unity is not one discipline one ceremony one policy but one God one Faith one Baptisme and so one Church Una erit consortio aeternitatis and ad colendum unum Deum tota est instituta God grant one thing more sit una vinculo charitatis And that we may all keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace In the name of God Acts of the Nationall Synod of the Reformed Churches of France assembled by the Permission of the King at Charenton neare Paris the 26th of December and dayes following 1644. AFter the opening of the Assembly performed by a Prayer pronounced by Sieur Drelincourt Pastour of the Church of Paris Monsieur the Marquess of Cleremont deputed Generall exhibited the Breuets dispatched by the Commandement of the King for the calling togethe● of them the tenour whereof followeth This day being the twelfth of the Moneth of February 1644. the King being at Paris upon the most humble Petition made unto him by his Subjects of the Pretended reformed Religion to permit them the Convocation and Assembly of a Nationall Synod for that there hath bin none since that of Alenzou in the year 1637 His Majesty with the advise of the Queen Regent his most honoured Lady Mother desiring to gratifie and favourably to treate his said Subjects hath permitted them and doth permit them the calling together of a Nationall Synod in the moneth of December next at Charenton with charge that therein they treate onely of such affaires as are permitted them by their Edicts and that the Commissary appointed by his Majestie shall assist in the said Synod as hath been accustomed In witnesse whereof his Majestie hath commanded mee to expedite this present Declaration which he hath signed with his own hand LOUIS There appeared in the said Assembly with their Letters of trust which were read by Sieur le Cog Ancient of the Church of Paris assisting at the Table with Sieur Calliart Ancient chosen to

scandalous and injurious unto that Religion and Church of which his Majesty held it an honour to be stiled the eldest sonne and against him whom hee acknowledgeth to be the chiefe calling him holy Father and with whom he hath Alliance and amity for these reasons their Majesties desire that in a thing they take so much to heart you will manifest and make known the respect and obedience which you will render unto that which by them is propounded unto you Moreover I will adde this that their Majesties have commanded mee to tell you that they have just cause to complain against you for that since his Raigne they of your Religion have undertaken to re-establish Preaching in Languedoc and elsewhere by an open violent way contrary to the publike Assurance and the generall Lawes of the Kingdome which forbid equally unto the Subjects both of the one and the other Religion to doe right unto themselves as in other things so more especially as likewise in the enterprise of Vsez where they placed Bels in their Temple without permission and leave and against the termes of their Capitulation of the City of Monpellier Their Majesties are displeased that they of your Religion in Languedoc have enterprised to renue the deputation in the Court of Monpellier Nismes and Vsez suppressed long since in the year 1632. out of the Capitulation of the foresaid City and that Seiurs Reyzobs and Faraier deputed themselves without the consent of a Provinciall Synod and that they parted against the leave of his Majestie and that they have established Preaching by private Authoritie in sundry places besides the places designed by the Commissioners of his Majestie in execution of the Edicts of Names and contrary to the same Edicts have continued preaching in those places where the Lords are Ecclesiasticks as their Majesties have beene informed And besides all this certaine Ministers have taken unto themselves that height of liberty as to preach in their Pulpits seditious words and have cut off from their Communion such Parents as have sent their children to the Colledges of the Catholike Apostolike Roman Religion Lastly they have given me in charge to ell you that all these are manifest Infractions unto the Edicts contrary to their duty to the prejudice of the King and the publike tranquillity the which his Majestie hath been so carefull to observe on his part as that hee neither can nor ought as a common Father of his people to suffer the like attempts hoping that for the time to come you will use greater circumspection in removing all just discontentments which may upon any occasion be offered These things heard the Deputies made answer by the mouth of Seigneur Garrisoles Moderator who acknowledging that by the mercifull bounty of Almighty God the prayers of the Churches were so blessed as that after the publike losse of France in the death of the late King of glorious and immortall memory and this sad Ecclipse of our Sunne which seemed to bee for ever buried in the blacke darknesse of uncomfortable griefe and irremediable confusion every man hath seen with incredible joy and admiration the happinesse and peace of the estate of France to appeare as a new bright starre out of the East which hath raised the hope of all his faithfull Subjects and of all Christendome possessed with wonder when they consider that the good hand of God hath not only elevated his Majestie as it were from the Cradle to his Fathers Throne whose birth was so long desired and at length by Gods wonderfull providence obtained by the joynt prayers and supplications of his people and particularly of the Churches but also put the Reines of this Empire into the hands of the Queene Regent a Princesse whose glorious birth seemes to serve for no other end but to place her vertues on the highest Theater o● Glory Secondly under the Auspitious happinesse of the continuall prosperity and succesfull victories thereof have so added to the reputation of this Crowne as that in despight of envy they have joyned hand in hand to second the just Armes of his Majesty imployed in the defence of the Estate the protection of his Al●ies the designes of his Royall Highnesse and other Chieftaines having every where encountred a successe as well happy as glorious insomuch as the first workes of employments from Royall Authority since his Majesties comming to the Crowne hath been the Declaration of the Edicts of Pacification the assurance of their sacred Majesties protection unto all the Churches in favour of which the Edicts have been first published the glorious approving of the services of two great men nourished in the bosome of their Communion and so raised above the pitch of envy as that the Staffe of Marshall of France with the conduct of Royall Armies have been put into their hands without discontentment of any person in the State and that their Majesties have been graciously pleased to receive their Supplications presented by Monsieur the Generall Deputy as that hee hath thought good to grant them the holding of this Assembly and to commit the care and inspection thereof to a person no lesse Illustrious by his vertues worthy of the highest esteeme then by his place of dignity in the first of Parliaments Being thus carryed with the sweet and pleasing violences of resentments of so many good deeds to open their hearts and mouthes in giving thankes unto their Majesties for their singular favours with their most Ardent prayers to God for the preservation of their Sacred persons benediction of the Kingdome the glory of the Crown under the comfortable shadow whereof the Churches enjoying a sweet rest shall never desire or thinke any thing but to practise faithfully and conscientiously the expresse commandement of our Saviour by St. Peter Feare God and honour the King with an intire and sincere obedience without any designe nor to admit in the body of their Nationall Synod contrary to ancient custome persons not deputed by the Provinces nor to foment any communication with strangers nor to take and receive any Letters comming from them nor to give an answer unto them unlesse such as the Commissary representing his Majesties person shall find expedient nor to make any politick deliberations and Rules nor to introduce into particular Churches for their Pastour any Ministers being strangers nor to establish any Counsells of the Province against the will of the King nor to suffer the violation of the rules taken in Nationall Synods according to the intention of his Majestie for the approbation of bookes which shall be published in print touching matters of Religion Nor to Excommunicate any of them which forsake their Churches and acknowledge not their Jurisdiction over them at the time they shall quit their Communion nor to vent any Sermons fraught with rayling and reproachfull termes injurious to the members of the Roman Church as well in generall as particular which may in any sort stirre up or animate the people to a tumultuous rising and

assist for to number the Voyces for every Province two Ministers and two Ancients of the principall Churches To manage the businesse as President Sieur Drelincourt Pastour and Cog Ancient of the Church of Paris after whom Caliart Ancient of the Church of Alenzon joyned with Monsieur the generall Deputy gathered the suffrages of them which were deputed in this Assembly which was carried by a Ticket in writing by every one of them for the nomination first of a Moderator secondly of an Assistant and afterward of Secretaries one after the other By a plurality of Voyces they made choyce to conduct the Action of Sieur Garrisoles for Adjunct and Seigneur Besuag● and for Secretaries Sieur Blondel and Cog all which tooke their places one after the other as they were c●osen Immediatly after the nomination of Moderator Adjunct and Secretaries Monsieur de Cumon the Kings Counsellour in his Councell of estate in his Court of Parliament of Paris Commissary deputed of his Majestie for to assist on his part in this Assembly presented the Patents of his Majesty containing his Commission which being read there were Acts made of them and Registred according to their forme and tenour A Copy of his Majesties Patents LOuis by the grace of God King of France and Navarre to Our beloved and trustie Counsellour in our Councell of State in our Court of the Parliament of Paris Sieur de Cumon health We have permitted our Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion to hold in the Bourg of Charenton neare Paris the twenty sixth of the moneth of December next a Nationall Synod composed of all the Deputies of the Provinces of our Kingdome to Treat of affaires concerning their said Religion and being to make choyce of a sufficient personage whose fidelity is well knowne unto us to assist on our part in quality of a Commissary in the said Assembly knowing the Services you have rendered unto us in divers honourable imployments Wee have committed to your trust of the which you have worthily acquitted your selfe w● have thought that We could not make a better choice then of your Person upon the assurances Wee take that you will continue unto us the testimony of your affection unto our said service For this cause with the advise of the Queen Regent our most honoured Lady and Mother wee have committed unto you and deputed you Wee doe commit and depute you by these Presents signed with One hand for to transport your selfe to assist on our part in the Synod assembled in the Town of Charenton there to propose and resolve what We shall command according to the charge and Instructions given unto you taking care they speake then of no other businesses and affaires then such as are under the quality and condition of such matters or things which ought to be handled in such Assemblies and a●● permitted by the Edicts and if they undertake to doe any thing to the contrary you shall hinder them and shall interpose our Authority or shall speedily give advise that remedy may be taken to prevent such inconveniences as may arise or as Wee shall thinke most fitting to doe for this Wee give you Power Commission and especiall commandement by these presents Given at Paris the 28th of November in the yeare of Grace 1644. and of our Raigne the second signed in the originall LOUIS And underneath Philippeaux After the Reading of his Majesties Patents Monsieur the Commissary spake SIRS As I hold it a great honour to bee commanded by the King for to assist in your Synod and to let you know his will and pleasure in like manner it as great joy and contentment to me to behold this Illustrious Assembly chosen out of a●l the Provinces of this Kingdome that I may be able to tell you I have expresse charge and commandement from the King and the Queen his Mother to assure you of their good will and protection for you and for all your Churches and the entire execution of the Edicts of Pacification so long as you shall continue within the tearmes of Respects subjection and fidelity which you owe to their Majesties which are the higher powers which God hath establisht over you having given unto them that soveraigne Authority and left you as sharers of the glory of obedience unto which you are obliged by your birth the sense of your own consciences the favour you continually receive from their Majesties and by all sorts of considerations both generall and particular After the lamentable accident which deprived us of our King Louis the Just of most glorious memorie there was no man which beleeved not that the end of his life would have been the end of our happinesse But God which loveth France and hath so often raised it from falling suffered not this losse to beget mournfull consequences The Sun sets not but to rise againe and to make us to observe the first day of the Kingdome of Grace Wee haue seen for the beginning of our good and welfare his Majestie holding his Bed or chamber of Iustice accompanied with the Princes of the Blood and of all the great ones and the Queen declared Regent of this Kingdome by the suffrages and solemne Arrests of Parliaments Soone after their Majesties open'd their treasures of Mercy and Clemency they did write to all sorts of persons any way Interessed reconciled many particu●ars to the State gave libertie to prisoners permission to them that were absent to returne to their own houses to them which were accused to pursue their Iustification Replaced all the Innocent in their places of charge and Government and Confirmed the conduct and leading of the armies unto Monsieur the Duke of Orleans who hath made all men to wonder at his orderly proceedings in the siege of Gravelin who in the sight of his Enemie tooke that important place which shall serve as a monument unto posterity of his valour and generosity Wee may adde to this his valorous successe the victory of Rocroy the taking of Theonvile Spire Wormes Mayence Phillipsbourg the defeat of the Bavarians army after they were forced into their Trenches These great and signall advantages followed with sundry others have rendered the name of our King August and venerable unto all Nations and his power formidable to his enemies which have been constrained to confesse it is not to be paralel'd and that the Heaven apparently blesseth and favoureth his Armies and Designes We see likewise that at the same time the fire of a strange war spreads it selfe on all sides about us France enjoyeth within it selfe an assured peace reposing it selfe upon the continuall cares and travels of the Queen Regent whom we may call by just title the Mother of the Country and the Mother of Armies and upon the wise and prudent Counsells of Monsieur the Duke of Orleans and Monsieur the Prince and Monsieur the Cardinall Mazarin upon the perfect union and Intelligence which is between them and upon the fidelity and experience of Messieurs the

liberty of the Consistory to admit the father and sonne or two brothers in one and the same Consistory unlesse they be otherwise hindered of this the Colloque or Provinciall Synod shall take notice Article 6. A Magistrate may be called to the charge of an Ancient in the Consistory provided that the exercise of the one of the charges hinder not the other and that it be not prejudiciall to the Church Article 7. It is likewise left to the wisdome of the Consistory to call unto them Proposants although they have no charge in the Church but not without great causes and considerations It is decreed that the Proposants may not preach publikely The Synod of Charenton 1644. and 1645. confirme the Rule taken by the Synod of Gergeau and Rochel upon the undertaking of Proposants which intrude themselves into the Pul●its to make Propositions which are in stead of Sermons before the people in the ordinary dayes and houres of their assembling The Assembly of the Requisition of the Province of Xantaigne interdicts all Pastours and Consistories to suffer that course to bee practised in their particular Churches or to be brought in among them Article 8. The government of the Church shall be squared according to the Discipline as it hath been agreed on by the Nationall Synods and no Church nor Province may make an Ordinance which conformes not in substance unto the generall Articles of the Discipline to this end the Artic●es of the Discip●ine shall be read in the Consistories at the least in the time they Celebrate the Lords Supper and the Ancients and Deacons are exhorted to have every man a Copy of them to read and study them in their particular and at their leisure Article 9. The knowledge of Scandalls and the judgement of them appertaine to the Assembly of Pastours and Ancients The custome which is in divers places to make enquiry and to have a generall Censure of facts in the assembling of the people in the presence as well of men as women being condemned by the word of God the Churches are advertised to abstaine from it and to content themselves in effect with the ordinary censure agreed on by the Discipline Article 10. The Ancients shall be advertised not to report the faults of offenders unto the Consistory without great reason Vpon the 10 Article It shall be declared that although by disposition of right a Crime may be called publike which meriteth exemplary punishment howbeit wee call that publike which begetteth scandall or an evill example which comes to the notice of all or of many N●twithstanding that shall not hinder but that in pub●ike faults the circumstances be considered to proceed unto censures and corrections It shall likewise be declared that for light faults as private domestick and small injuries it shall suffice to admonish particularly the offender by any of the Consistory but as for publike faults which shall be scandalous by reason of the circumstances they may call the Delinquents into the Consistory to proceed there according to the circumstance of the fact Article 11 and 12. As also no man shall bee called into the Consistory without sufficient cause In the exercise of Ecclesiasticall Discipline they shall abstaine hereafter so far as they may aswell from the formalities as the termes which are ordinarily used in civill Jurisdictions Article 13. The faithfull may be exhorted by the Consistories yea summoned in the name of God to speake the truth so long as it derogates in nothing from the Authority of the Magistrate as also they may use accustomed Formalities in the protestation of an Oath charged by the Magistrate Article 14. When differences happen the parties shall be exhorted to make an accord by all amiable and friendly wayes but the body of the consistories shall not delegate Arbitrators neither shall they carry themselves as arbitrators onely they shall advise as particular men and in their private name Vpon the 14. Article They of the Religion which have processe and differences as well civill as criminall shall be seriously exhorted by the Pastours to indeavour an accord between themselves by the arbitrement of them which are of the Religion without going to law When Gentlemen shall be ingaged in any quarrell they shall be exhorted to subject themselves to the advise and friendly composition of their friends A certaine complaint being made that the Consistories too much trench upon the Magistrate taking Cognisance of Processes to determine them The Assembly Decrees that the Consistories shall bee advertised not to call Pleaders into their Consistory unlesse it bee them which by reason of their Processe commit scandalous offences yet notwithstanding they may exhort the Pleaders by all meanes to compromit their differences or otherwise to accord between themselves Article 15. Besides the admonitions which are made by the Consistories unto them which have offended if it happen that they use greater punishment and censure be it of suspension or privation for a time from the Supper of the Lord or of their Excommunication and cutting off from the Church The Consistory shall be warned to use wisdome in distinguishing the one from the other as also to weigh and examine diligently the faults and scandalls which shall be brought before them with all their circumstances that they may judge of the Censure which is most requisite Because the faults ought to bee corrected in the Church by the word of God and according to the rule of charity and that all are not grievous and scandalous some being enormous others lesse offensive some secret others publike They ought to accommodate the Censure and Reprehension according to the quality and greatnesse of the offences That in secret faults of which the offender shall repent they shall not bee reported unto the Consistory but onely those which they cannot correct by the first meanes or which being publike the Consistory may take Cognizance of and proceed to the correction of them by fitting censures weighing well the Acts with their circumstances to the end they may apply thereunto according to the exigent of the case fitting censures in such manner as it shall bee expedient to draw the sinner to repentance who to this end may by the authority of the Consistory be for a time deprived or kept back from the Supper of the Lord. And if there be need the more to humble him he may be finally Excommunicated and cut off from the body of the Church according to the order before expressed and declared especially if hee shew himselfe rebellious unto the holy admonitions and censures which shall be made unto him and continue obstinate and altogether impenitent But for that this remedy is the last and of all the most rigorous it ought not to be practised unlesse in an extremity after all other more gentle meanes have been tryed and because hitherunto it hath not been used as it ought neither yet hath been made that distinction which is requisite between this last Excommunication and suspension

censured Articles 23. 24. Men may not be deprived of the Supper of the Lord for any ordinary and accustomed fashion of habits in this Kingdome but in this ranke they may not be comprehended which are branded with the notorious marke of impudicity dissolution and over curious novelty as painting naked breasts and the like things of which there is great abuse as well in Men as Women For these things the Consistory shall proceed with a simple suspension of the Sacraments to the end that they may range themselves to that which is most agreeable to Christian modesty Articles 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. Dancings shall be repressed and they which make a practise of dancing after they have been oftentimes admonished shall be excommunicated when they shall continue pertinacious and rebellious therein The Consistories are to be exhorted thoroughly to practise the Article and to cause it to be read in the name of God and authority of the Synods and the Colloques and Synods are to be exhorted to take care in their Consistories that they doe their duty in conserving of them Mummery Jugling Gaming Puppet playing shall not be tollerated neither yet a French game called Faire le Roybait nor Shrove Tuesday be observed of the faithfull they are all forbidden c. Article 30. They which call others to duells or being called thereunto do accept thereof which shall have ●ulled their parties Notwithstanding they shall have obtained their Princes favour or shall be otherwise justified they shal be censured even to the suspension of the Lords Supper which suspension shall be speedily pub●ished and in case that they desire to be received unto the peace of the Church they shall make publicke acknowledgement of their offence Article 31. The Articles here contained touching the Discipline are not so resolved on among us but that if the benefit of the Church require it they may be changed howbeit it shall not be in the power of the Ministers Consistories Colloques or Provinciall Synods to add thereunto nor to diminish from them nor to change them without the advise and consent of a Nationall Synod According to that which hath been agreed upon in the last Nationall Synod held at Gorgean the first day of May 1601. An Extract from the Acts of the Nationall Synod held at Rochell the 2. of Aprill 1571. THis present direction being read and dilligently examined according to the word of God by all the Ministers and Antients deputed by the Churches of France They have in the name of the said Churches promised and protested to keepe and observe them for the edification of the Church the conservation of the order and union of them to the honour and glory of God Another Extract touching the Confession BEcause there is found among men divers sorts of Confessions The Synod hath declared that to be the confession of Faith of the Reformed Churches in France which beginneth thus Wee beleeve that there is one only God c. The which was presented in the first Nationall Synod held at Paris the second of May 1559. As when were present Ja●e by the grace of God Queen of Navarre the high and puissant Princesse Henry Prince of Navarre and Henry Burbon Prince of Conde and the most Illustrious Prince Lewis Count of Nassaw and Messieur Gaspard Count of Caligne Admirall of France and many other Lords and Nobles of great quality Generall Acts of the Nationall Synod Assembled at Charenton c. THe Assemhly prohibits all Provinces to take an Oath of Schollers to the prejudice of the right of al● Nationall Synods and the common edification of the Churches that they shall never depart from the service of the Churches of those Provinces in the Which they were first received in the Ministery of the Gospell At the requisition of the Province of Ceuenes t●e Assembly for to explaine the first Article of the generall Acts of the Nationall Synod held at Saint Maixant have declared that no particular Church may make enquirie after any Pastour without the permission of a Colloque or Provinciall Synod nor establish him by Act in pursuite of such an enquiry without advise be it of the Synod in body or be it of the neighbouring Pastours attending the liking and agreement of the Synod The Province of lower Guyenne having desired that an injunction were made unto all the Churches to keep conformity with them which have received the custome that particular persons entering into the Church humble themselves before God and every man apart make his prayers for the imploration of his assistance in the hearing of the Word The Assembly hath not judged it fitting to make a Rule of such a thing which of it selfe is free but hath left the Churches in their Antient usages exhorting them all respectively to seeke that which tends to edification and to avoyd all ostentation affectation and superstition The Assembly enjoynes a Collection to bee made throughout all the Provinces for the reliefe of the Captives detained in Argier Tunis and other places Upon the Remonstrance of the Provinces of Anjon and the Isle of France all the Churches which have places for Printing houses are particularly charged not to suffer any alteration or change to be made in the Translation of the Scripture or in the Rithmes of the Psalmes or in the text of the Confession of faith Liturgy and Catechisme without expresse order of the Consistory authorised by the Provinciall Synod Upon that which hath been reported by certaine Deputies of Maritime Provinces that many comming from forraigne Countreys which call themselves Independants because they teach that every particular Church ought to govern it selfe by its own proper lawes without dependancy of any person in Ecclesiasticall matters and without obligation to acknowledge the Authority of Colloques and Synods for their government and conduct and establish their habitations in this Kingdome which may hereafter cause great inconvenience if it be not in good time carefully prevented The Assembly fearing that the contagion of this poyson gaining insensibly may bring confusion and disorder among us and judgeing the said sect of Independants not onely prejuditiall to the Church of God insomuch as that it endeavours to introduce confusion unto the place where it hath its being opening wide a gate unto all sorts of singularities and extravagances and taking away all meanes of bringing a Remedy thereunto but also it is very dangerous to the State so that if it have place it will forme as many Religions as there be particular Parishes or Assemblies It is therefore enjoyned all the Provinces and especially the Maritime to take care that this evill take not footing in the Churches of this Kingdome to the end that Peace and uniformity as well in Religion as in Discipline be inv●olably maintained among us and that nothing be here brought in which may alter in any manner the service which is due to God and the King A Report being made of certaine Writings printed and Manuscripts by

faithfull shall bee Advertised to prepare themselves by the reading of this present Act. Particular Acts. REport being made by the Deputies of Normandy of a Processe commenced by the chiefe of a Family of the Church of Rouen as well against her which hath been without permission espoused by his Sonne as against her Parents The Assembly ordereth that the Sonne who hath beene deprived of the Communion inconsequence of this difference seeke the grace of his Father by all duties of submission and respect according to the word of God and that the Father be intreated and earnestly sought unto by the Consistory to limit time in which he will be pleased to voyd the suite which time being passed the Sonne may be admitted to the participation of the Lords Supper The Church and Academy of Sedan having represented by Letters the favourable and gracious entertainment which they doe receive and have received from their Majesties since they have thought good to incorporate the Principali●ies of Sedan and Rancourt unto France and that they need that by order of this Assembly Schollers be sent unto them as unto other Academies of this Kingdome It hath been Decreed that Answer shall be made unto them to testifie the joy that all the Churches take in their prosperity and to assure them that their Academy shall be alwayes upon an equall consideration with others in this Kingdome The Academies for them of the Religion of the Kingdome of France 1. MOntauban 2 Nisme● 3 Die 4 Saumu● 5 and last Sedan lately added A Colledge erected at Chatillon for Schollers founded by Marshall Chatillon and others with Contribution of the Churches Contributions unto those Academies by particular Churches in all the Provinces The whole summe which is levied amounts to fifteen thousand eight hundred Livers A Division of the summe of fifteen thousand eight hundred livers every liver being two shillings of English money remaining of the summe of sixteene thousand livers accorded by his Majesty payd to defray the charges of the Assembly There being 54 Deputies every one of them received 292 livers 11 sous by the hands of Monsieur de la Veilliere Anjou for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous The Isle of France for 3 Deputies to wit Sieur Blundell Drelincourt and Le Cog 877 livers 15 sous Normandy for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous 4 deniers Dauphancy for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Ceuenes 1170 livers 7 sous Bearne for two Deputies 585 livers 3 sous Lower Guienne for two Deputies 585 livers 3 sous 6 Deniers Xantaigne for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Vivarets for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Berry for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Poicton for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Britany for two Deputies 585 livers 3 sous High Guyenne for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Lower Languedock for foure Deputies 1170 livers 7 sous Burgundy for three Deputies 877 livers 15 sous Province for two Deputies 585 livers 3 sous The two hundred livers remaining are to bee employed to defray the charges of the two Deputies if they have need as hath been observed before By reason of the dearnesse of Provision the journeys of the Deputies have been taxed according to the requisition of sundry Provinces at 6 livers the day The Province of Anjou have required that the right of the Convocation of the next Nationall Synod be continued unto them of the said Province The Synod hath accorded unto them their Demands and Agrees that after the expedition of the breuet of his Majesty the said Province shall have the said Convocation and the Synod shall Assemble at Loudun It is agreed that unto the Acts Signed by the Secretaries of this Assembly shall be given the like faith as if they had been signed by the Moderators and the whole body of the Synod Six Ministers were deposed this Synod for changing their Religion One of them named Esay Laurent aged fourscore yeares was deposed for Simony and Rebellion to the Discipline Particular Acte SIeur Blundell who was employed in the service of the Church of Houden when he was deputed by the Province of the I le of France and hath since been drawne thence by the last Provinciall Synod which hath permitted him his Residence at Paris for to intend his studies as it may appeare by reading of the Act of the sayd Synod The Assembly being entreated first to judge of the quality which ought to be given him by the Acts of this Nationall Synod and to take into consideration if it may approve his Residence in Paris Secondly they are to advise in case they are to prepare themselves to answer unto his said Treatise of Primacy if it bee fitting that hee keepe himselfe neare to defend it or if they thinke it fitting that that charge ought to be given unto some other hee leaves it to their consideration as also all which concernes the disposition of the Churches as likewise the ordaining that all they which can make any observations upon the said Treatise may communicate their Instructions to the end that profit may be reaped thereby Thirdly if the Treatises of which he hath produced a List by him composed on divers matters concerning Theology and History may be of any profit Fourthly if that in case that the Aydes which hee had hitherunto at Paris faile him or that hee find himselfe too much diverted if it may be permitted him to retire himselfe elsewhere or without any charge of the Churches he had the meanes to intend the defence of the truth according to the Arrests of the Nationall Synods of Castres Charenton and Alenson and to end the rest of his dayes in serving God and his Church The Synod acknowledging the profit that the Publick receives of his learned labours and that to finish them he cannot bee in a more proper place then Paris as well because of the communication which he may have there with divers learned men as for the reason of the use of many rich Libraries of France he continue there his Residence As for that which concernes the quality which is justly due unto him of the Minister of the Gospell it is enjoyned him to keep himselfe neare for to answer to his booke of Primacy as being a person which may acquit himselfe therein very worthily he is exhorted also to put in light so soone as hee may the Treatises of Theology and History the List of which have been read in this Assembly and of which we hope that the Church of God shall receive very much edification It is enjoyned him particularly to hasten the Edition of his Treatise of Bishops and Priests by the which he shewes that there is small appearance that Saint Peter was ever at Rome And because that the Assembly knowes his excellent gifts amongst other things the great knowledge that he hath in the Antiquity of the Christian Church which causeth all the Churches to esteeme of him greatly They cann●t in any sort