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. III. The Lord Commissioners Speech to the COUNCIL.

* 1.1THIS Commission being read, The Lord Galland declared fully and at large what Orders had been given him by His Majesty, the Sum of which was an Assurance of His Majesties good Will towards His Sub∣jects of the Reformed Religion, and his Royal promise to preserve them in their Exercise and peaceable profession of it, and that whilest they continued in their Duty and Obedience unto His Majesty he would take care that his Edicts should be strictly and punctually observed. 2. And that the Foundations of their Obedience may be the more firm and solid, His Majesty exhorted his said Subjects of the Reformed Religion to live in a greater Equanimity and Moderation with his other Subjects, though differing from them in Religion. So that the difference in Religion may cause no difference in their Affections, which His Majesty assureth His said Protestant Subjects shall be accurately observed towards them, that so they may not in any manner be troubled or prosecuted upon the pre∣text and ground of their Religion. 3. The Professors also of the Re∣formed Religion ought on their part to promise, that they will not hold any Intelligence, Alliances, or Correspondence with Persons abroad and without the Kingdom, but only with His Majesty, Reposing their intire Confidence in His Majesties Royal Word, Grace and Favour. He

added farther, That His Majesty commanded him to acquaint us, that during the Wars he was never minded to abrogate or disanul the Edicts, because he alwayes had a particular regard to the Repose of his Sub∣jects. For immediately upon his being declared Major, he confirmed his Edicts, renewed his Alliances, increased and augmented his Bounty unto the Ministers, and imployed in his most important Affairs of State the Lords and Gentlemen professing the said Religion, and when as some special Occurrences necessitated him to act otherwise, He did notwithstanding express and evidence the Effects of his Clemency by receiving and pardoning whole Communities, and all such of His Sub∣jects as submitted themselves unto his Authority, he gave them a Ge∣neral Amnesty to Indemnifie them. 4. And although the remembrance of those Actions be dead and buried, yet 'tis His Majesties Pleasure, that the Canon past in the Synod of Realmont be put in Execution, and an Information taken and brought in against those Ministers, who had embrac't the Spanish Faction, and that the Deputies unto this Council do Order a Declaration to this purpose to be drawn up, not as if His Majesty intended an Hue and Cry should be issued out after the guilty, or that they should be prosecuted for it, but that all occasions of Troubles may be taken away, and that the Lives and Actions of those who persisted in their Duty may not at all be blemi∣shed. 5. The said Lord Commissioner added further, That it was His Majesties Will as it had been Decreed in the last Synod at Charenton, that Ministers should be confined to the proper Duties of their Calling, and preach unto their People Obedience, and not do as too too many did in the time of the late Troubles, get into Political Assemblies, and in∣termeddle with Affairs of State. 6. And that Obedience and Subje∣ction unto His Majesties Authority may be kept up inviolably, and not be corrupted by any Foreign Manners or Way of Living; It is His Majesties Pleasure, and according to Laws in this case provided, That no Minister shall depart the Kingdom without his Royal Licence first obtained, nor live in a Foreign Land, nor shall these National Councils lend any of their Ministers unto Foreign Princes or Republicks, who may importune them to such a Loane, either for a determinate time, or during Life, but they shall remit the demand unto His Majesty, who in such cases will particularly consider his good Neighbours and Allies.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Proposals of the Lord Commissioner