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. 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 obser∣ved, 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 al∣wayes treat you as good and Loyal Subjects, and shall give you to re∣sent 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 ••eve••, and Lower, Phillippe••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 El∣der 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 As∣semblies, nor that they be subscribed by any others besides the Modera∣tors, 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 Beau∣champ, 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 Parlia∣ment, Elder in the Church of Montauban, but he was detained by Sick∣ness 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 ••aucheur Pastor of the Church of Montpellier, with Francis Petit Doctor of the Civil Law, and Advo∣cate, 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 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 Rochecha∣lais, 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 Angers, 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 Com∣ptroller 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 in∣deed 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.