Synodicon in Gallia reformata, or, The acts, decisions, decrees, and canons of those famous national councils of the reformed churches in France being I. a most faithful and impartial history of the rise, growth, perfection and decay of the reformation in that kingdom, with its fatal catastrophe upon the revocation of the Edict of Nants in the year 1685 : II. the confession of faith and discipline of those churches : III. a collection of speeches, letters, sacred politicks, cases of conscience, and controversies in divinity, determined and resolved by those grave assemblies : IV. many excellent expedients for preventing and healing schisms in the churches and for re-uniting the dismembred body of divided Protestants : V. the laws, government, and maintenance of their colleges, universities and ministers, together with their exercise of discipline upon delinquent ministers and church-members : VI. a record of very many illustrious events of divine providence relating to those churches : the whole collected and composed out of original manuscript acts of those renowned synods : a work never be extant in any language.

CHAP. XX.

17 MOnsieur de Courcelles formerly Pastor in the Church of Amiens, having refused to subscribe the Doctrine received in the Synod of Alez, did freely and of his own accord resign his Pastoral Charge into the hands of the Provincial Synod of the Isle of France, but now protest∣ing in this Assembly that he had quite rejected those Arminian Dogmes, and that he did own and acquiesce intirely in the Doctrine received of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom, and humbly petitioned this Sy∣nod, that they would be pleased to restore him again unto his Charge, upon the promises he did now make of retaining the form of sound words. After that the Deputy of the Isle of France had related the proceedings of their last Synod upon the fact of Courcelles his quitting of his Place and Calling, he was again called in, and did plainly, and clearly, and with great earnestness avow and confess his consent unto the whole Doctrine taught and contained in those Canons decreed at the Synod of Alez, and in this also, holding and believing it to be the truth, and agreeing with the Word of God, and that he renounceth all Errors condemned in those aforesaid Canons; and that he believeth those said Canons in every Branch and Article of them, and was resolv'd to sign and defend them for the future to the utmost of his power during Life. The Assembly having received this his Declaration and Protestation restored him again unto his Ministe∣rial Office, and remanded him back unto the Isle of France to be presented unto a Church, and in case he could not meet with one in that Province, then he might accept of a Call in any other. And for his Comfort he had License given him in the interim to preach in any Church for its Edi∣sication, yea, and in the Church of Paris also, provided the Reverend Pa∣stors of that Congregation, did invite him to it. Moreover this Assembly

approved of all those former proceedings of the Province aforesaid in and about this business of Courcelles, as having been done and managed with singular prudence, Candor, and Charity: And it gives also unto the said Courcelles one Portion for his subsistence, until such time as he be pro∣vided of a Church.

18. Letters were tendred and read in this Assembly from the Lords Curators and Professors in the famous University of Leyden, requesting that Monsieur Rivett, who had been lent unto the said University by a former National Synod for their Divinity Professor might be confirmed and continued to them during Life by the Authority of this also. The Let∣ters of Monsieur Rivett writ unto this Assembly were in like manner per∣used; and his Brother the Lord of Chamvernown declared, that Doctor Rivett testified and expressed a continual Love and sincere Affection, as in Duty he was bound, unto his Native Countrey, and that Cordial desire he had alwayes to serve it; but that he could not at present be removed from the University of Leyden, but to its very great dammage and his own in particular, for which cause he intreated this Assembly to continue him for some few years more in the aforesaid University of Leyden. The Synod did hereupon grant him his request, and ordered his continuance there until the next National Synod, and that an answer should be written unto the Lords Curators and Professors there accordingly. He lived there to his Death, which fell out in the year 1651. His Works are Printed in Three Folio's.

19. The Church of Alez petitioned that the Reverend Monsieur Chauve Minister of the Church of Sommieres, might be co••ferred upon them for their Pastor. After perusal of these Letters, those of Monsieur Chauve were also considered, who complained that his burthen was too heavy for his Shoulders, and that he could not without assistance go through the ne∣cessary Duties of his Charge in either of those Churches. The Deputies also of Sevennes, and the Lower Languedoc, and Monsieur L' Espeisses for the Church of Alez were all heard; whereupon this Synod confirmed Monsieur Chauve in his Ministry of the Church of Sommiers and enjoy∣neth the said Province to take care that he have help and comfort given him in his great labours.

20. The Church of Bourdeaux petitioned that Monsieur Alba Minister of the Church of Tonneins, and Ferrand Minister of La Parade, in the Province of Lower Guyenne might be bestowed on them for their Pastors. Another Petition also was presented from the Lords President and Coun∣sellors in the Court of Agen, that they might be favour'd with the Ministry of the same Monsieur Alba. After perusal of several Letters from the Churches of Tonneins, La Parade, Bourdeaux, and Agen, and those of the Lords President, and Counsellors there, and hearing of Monsieur Coderois, Elder in the Church of Bourdeaux, and of Monsieur Alba, and of the Pro∣vincial Deputies of Guyenne; This Assembly presented Monsieur Ferrand unto the Church of Bourdeaux, and Monsieur Alba unto that of Agen until the next National Synod: And it does enjoyn the Colloquy, and on their default, the Synod of that Province to make some speedy provi∣sion for the Church of La Parade, that they may be without delay supplied with a Pastor.

21. Relation was made by the Province of Vivaretz concerning some Miscarriages of Monsieur des Maretz heretofore Pastor in the Church of Valet. This Assembly not being able to judge of this Matter, because of his absence, hath dismissed the business unto the next Session of the Collo∣quy of Valentinois in Dolphiny, to take cognisance of it, and to examine Witnesses about it, and to give a final Judgment therein, by Authority

from it, and ordaineth that the said des Maretz be cited to appear before them, and that the Deputies of the said Province shall carry those Evi∣dences thither which they produced in this Assembly.

22. Monsieur Huron a Minister without Imployment was presented to the Church of Mirembeau in the Province of Xaintonge at the request of Monsieur Thomas Elder in the said Church, and this Assembly did also by vvay of Advance give him Sixty Livres.

23. Monsieur Morell Deputy from the Church of Die desired this Assembly that it would be pleased for the future to pay the Professors of that University their Stipends; and in case the Synod vvould be pleased to do it, they offered freely to relinquish their right which by contract with the Province of Dolphiny they had over the said University; or else that we would grant some greater Augmentation than heretofore towards the maintenance and keeping up of the said University. This Synod ordered that the Six Hundred Livres granted by the National Synod of Alez, should be continued unto that University.

24. The Province of Provence complained by Letters of Monsieur Huron sometime since Minister of the Church of Riez in the same Pro∣vince that he had lying by him very many Papers belonging to them, and that he had not given an Account of his Deputation unto the last Synod of Alez, and finally that he stood indebted a considerable Summ of Money unto the said Province; and therefore they requested this Assembly to in∣joyn him the said Huron to come in Person unto their next Provincial Synod, and to give an Account of these Matters. After that Monsieur Huron was heard speak for himself, and the Provincial Deputies of Dol∣phiny, who produced the Memoirs of the Province of Provence, this Assem∣bly did not judge the two first Articles complained of either reasonable or charitable, and declares him acquitted and absolved from them: And as for the third concerning the Summs of Money pretended to be owing by him, the Cognisance and Judgment thereof is devolved on the Consistory of Montpellier, unto which Monsieur Huron may send, or in Person deli∣ver what he has to produce for his own Justification and Discharge.

25. The same Monsieur Huron complaining that the Province of Pro∣vence have not payd him one farthing of the Dividend he should have had of the Kings Moneys since the sitting of the last Synod at Alez: This Assembly counting this Affair not to belong to its cognisance, did remand it as that last immediately foregoing unto the Consistory of Mont∣pellier.

26. The Widow of Monsieur Toussaint deceased, late Pastor of the Church of Luc in Provence complained, that notwithstanding all her earnest Sollicitations and Endeavours used by her with that Province she could never get a Denier of the Four Hundred Livres, nor of the Seventy and Five Livres, nor a Doit of the Arrearages ordained by the National Synod of Alez for the maintenance of her poor Orphans. This Assembly ordain∣eth the Lord of Candal to pay the said Four Hundred Livres unto the said Mrs. Toussaincts out of the Moneys belonging to that Province, because of the security brought by her from Monsieur Galles her Father, Physitian to the City of Orange; and as for the Arrears, and other Articles of her demands the Judgment of them is devolved upon the Colloquy of Baronniers in Dolphiny, which injoyned to put the Decree of Alez in Exe∣cution, and by Authority from this Assembly, to put a final period to this business.

27. The said Province of Provence having given in none Account of the Observation of those Canons which were made particularly for them in the Synod of Alez. This Assembly ordereth the Sieurs of Chambrun and Crubelier to go in Person unto the next Synod of the said Province, which shall bear their Charges, and that afterwards the Province of Dolphiny and Lower Languedoc shall send each of them one Pastor unto their following Synods to see those aforesaid Canons punctually observed by that Pro∣vince of Provence. And these Three Provinces of Dolphiny and Lower Languedoc and Provence, shall each of them give an Account hereof unto the next National Synod. And once more the said Province of Provence is injoyned carefully to observe and keep those Canons, or else they shall lose and forfeit all part and interest in the Moneys of His Majesties Bounty.

28. Monsieur Jasper Martin Pastor in the Church of Saliens complained that he was never payed one farthing of that Portion granted him by the Synod of Alez, and therefore petitions this Assembly to give him another until the meeting of the next National Synod. This Assembly orders that he be payd in this present year the Portion granted him in the year 1620. by that of Alez, and farther as an augmentation the Summ of One Hun∣dred Livres more.

29. Monsieur du Val heretofore Pastor in the Church of Falaise in the Province of the Isle of France appeared personally in this Assembly petitio∣ning to be restored unto the Ministry, and provided of a Church by its Authority. The Synod not being fully informed for what reasons the said Province had suspended him the Exercise of his Ministry hath reman∣ded him b••ck again unto the said Province, which shall dispose of him ac∣cording as they shall judge best for the Glory of God, and the Edification of his Church.

30. The Widow of Monsieur de Preau late Pastor in the Church of Vitre, in the Province of Britain petitioned this Assembly to allow her the same Pension they did others in her condition only till such time as she had finished her Law-Suit commenc't against the Murderers of her Husband. This Synod not judging this Affair to belong unto its cognisance hath dis∣missed her over to that of the Province, and recommends it particularly unto them.

31. Monsieur Joly formerly Pastor of the Church of Hour and Baillolet petitioned this Assembly, that whereas the Colloquy of Beausse by Order of the Provincial Synod of the Isle of France had suspended him from the Ministry for Three Moneths time, because he had deserted those aforesaid Churches, we would be pleased to take his suspension off the File, and out of the Acts of the said Colloquy after that both the Lord of Sasseuse Elder in the said Church of Baillolet, and the Deputies of the Province had been heard: This Assembly approveth of the said suspension: Yet for divers Considerations doth ordain that it be razed out of those Acts.

32. The Province of Lower Guyenne complained that in the dividend of Moneys given us by the King, and to be received this very Year, the Synod had forgotten the Summ of Three Hundred Livres appointed by the National Synod of Alez for maintaining of a Minister in the Churches in the Land of La Bour in Biscay. This Synod intreateth the Lord of Candal that out of the good Moneys which might accrew for the Wages of a Second Professor in the Universities of Saumur, Montauban, and Nismes, he would be pleased to pay unto the aforesaid Province of Lower Guyenne, the Summ of Three Hundred Livres yearly.

Notes

• N. B. This Curcelles was after fixed Pastor in the Church of Vitre le Fran∣cois in Cham∣pagne, where having begot his Servant Maid with Child, he for∣sook his Church, and fled into Hol∣land, that the might escape the punish∣ment due un∣to his crime, which of his free will he had commit∣ted; where he returned with the Dog unto his for∣mer Vomit, and licke up his once Ab∣pured ••rror•• and lived and dyed an im∣placable line my of the Truth and and of all its Professors. When he was dead, there was found a∣mong his Books a Ma∣nuscript writ∣ten with his own hand a∣gainst the Godhead of Our Lord Je∣sus Christ, and the pro∣fession of the Truth.