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. XXVIII. Particular Matters.

1. SOME having very cunningly and maliciously robbed the Deputies of Lower Languedoc, of certain Papers quoted in an Inventory, which they had brought to this Council, giving an account of the Grounds and Reasons of that Judgment passed by the Provincial Synod on George Arbault: the Council being well fatisfied of their Integrity and Fide∣lity, and particularly of Monsieur Petit's, with whom all those Writings were deposited, did think it needful to give them this Attestation, and fully to discharge them of all those Papers which were delivered unto Monsieur Aymard, one of the Provincial Deputies for Sevennes, who will exhibit them upon all Occasions, excepting those relating to the Sieur Arbaut before-mentioned, which he received from the hands of the Sieurs Mestrezat and du Puy, (who were commissionated by the Synod to peruse them) he having given them a Receipt under his own Hand, which was delivered by him unto the aforesaid Monsieur Aymard, toge∣ther with those Papers, and two Inventories subscribed by the Sieurs du Cros and Petit.

2. In reading the Accusation of the Sieur Arbaut, and some other Acts brought against him, the Colloquy of Anduze was ordered to inform themselves of the Deportments of the Sieurs du Cros Pastor of the Church at Blansac, and of Raly Pastor in the Church of St. John de Maruejoly, and to proceed against them: And the Commissioners deputed by the Province of Lower Languedoc, were ordered to deliver unto the said Col∣loquy, the whole Relation of their Proceedings. And the said Colloquy should judg of those Differences which are risen up between the said Ar∣baut, formerly a Minister, and the Colloquies of Montpellier and Ʋsez, all which shall be notified to them by their Scribe.

3. Monsieur Tourtelon, a Pastor Emeritus, came unto the Synod, bit∣terly complaining of his great Poverty and Misery, and petitioned for some Relief. Mr. Cooper was intreated to advance an hundred Franks be∣fore-hand unto this aged Gentleman, payable out of that Portion assigned to him; and which will become due out of the Dividend for the Pro∣vince of Lower Languedoc, to whose Charity we do in an especial manner recommend him.

4. There was again read the Petition of John le Febure,* 1.1 a Bookseller in Geneva, reiterating his former Complaints unto divers of our National Synods, against Monsieur Manueill a Minister, somewhere serving in the Province of Bearn. After hearing the Allegations of the Deputies of that Province, on behalf of Manueill, the Synod not admitting their Ex∣cuses, nor being able any longer to suffer that the Advice and Orders of our preceding Synods, and the Complaints of the said Febure, and of the Church of Geneva, should be so wretchedly slighted and despised; and that a Fellow, blasted in his Reputation for an infamous Crime, from which he hath not acquitted, nor careth to acquit and clear himself, should be continued in the Ministry in that Province; and that Provincial Synod to have no regard at all unto the Proceedings had against him by that famous City of Geneva, nor to take the least care that the said Manueill should purge and justify himself from the Crime imposed on him, that so the Scandal might be repaired, either by his compleat Absolution and Discharge, or by an exemplary Punishment inflicted upon him for his said Offence: A Decree past, That in case the Synod of the said Province of Bearn did not give full Satisfaction unto the Requests of this, and of the former National Synods of our Churches, and produce undoubted Evi∣dence thereof unto the next National Synod by valid Acts of their Duty and Obedience thereunto, that then their Deputies should be utterly ex∣cluded these Synods; nor should they have either admission or session, consultive or decisive Votes in them.

5. The Deputies of Bearn complaining, that the Parliament of their Province did, directly and openly, set themselves against the Observation, of that Canon of our Discipline, which enjoined Consistories to censure those Parents, who sent their Children unto Colledges governed by Popish Priests and Jesuits. The Synod ordered that his Majesty should be most humbly petitioned by the Lord Mont-Martyn our General Deputy, That he would be pleased to leave unto the Churches, the free use and exercise of our Discipline, which hath been granted us by his Majesty's Edicts. And the Pastors of Bearn should be exhorted to exercise the Discipline more strictly and carefully than ever, because it is founded upon the Word of God, and the Canons and Practice of God's ancient Church.

6. The Sieur Pontier, formerly Pastor of the Church of St. Giles in the Province of Poictou, reported the many and great Damages he had sustained since he was discharged the Service of that Church; and that he was totally deprived of his Portion, which would have otherwise ac∣crued to him from the Monies of his Majesty's Liberality. The Synod 〈◊〉〈◊〉 That out of the Arrears due unto the Province of Poictou, the sa•••• ••••eur Pontier shall receive what would have appertained to him of the Monies settled on the Church of St. Giles, until such time as they be provided of another Pastor. And some further care shall be taken for him in the Dividend of our Monies.

7. The Synod taking notice, that the Defects in the Call of Monsieur de Rié, proceeded not from himself, but from the Synod of Provence; and having severely censured that Synod for their Contempt of the Canons of our Discipline in the Election and Ordination of Ministers, decreed, That the said Monsieur de Rié shall be recommended unto that Synod to provide a Church for him; and that a free Portion shall be allotted him out of the Dividend of the Churches of Provence; and that thirty Livers shall be paid him in ready Money by Monsieur Cooper, out of the Mass of Monies belonging unto the Churches of that Province, and the Re∣ceiver of that Province shall allow it on accompt unto the Lord of Candal.

8. Whereas the Acts and Memoirs produced by Monsieur Courroy, Pa∣stor of the Church of St. Ambroise, and by his adverse Party, have been, by the Committee that reported them, brought into the Synod, and are all tackt and bundled together; and that through incogitancy the said Pa∣pers were delivered by Monsieur Blondell, one of our Scribes, unto the Deputies of the Town of St. Ambroise. The Synod ordaineth, That the Provincial Deputies of Burgundy, when-as they execute the Commis∣sion given them, shall take cave that the Papers belonging unto the said Monsieur Courroy, be faithfully restored to him; and in case those who now possess them shall refuse so to do, they shall be inforced to it by the rigour of Church-Censures.

9. Whereas the Parties are now agreed, that Clause in the Censure pro∣nounced against the Province of Vivaretz, by the Colloquy of Valenti∣nois, shall be razed out of the Act of the said Colloquy.

10. Upon that Complaint of Monsieur de la Garie, Pastor of the Church of Barbezieux, the Synod decreed, That the Province of Higher Languedoc should pay him, out of their best and clearest Monies they shall receive from the Lord Candall, an hundred Livers, whereunto the Charges of his Journey were limited, upon condition that he do accompt, in the first place, for what he hath already received from the said Pro∣vince.

11. The Synod inclining to grant the Church of Rochel their Re∣quest, who demanded, That Monsieur Vincent, Pastor of the Church de L'Isle Bouchard, might be settled among them, decreed, That notwith∣standing the Remonstrances of the Provincial Deputies of Anjou, and their insisting on their and that Church's Interest in him, the said Mon∣sieur Vincent shall, from this present day, be reputed and owned as the peculiar Pastor of Rochel; but with this Condition, that he shall conti∣nue the exercise of his Ministry for six Months longer in the Isle of Bou∣chard: During which time the Province of Anjou shall do their best en∣deavour to get them supplied; and on the other hand, the said Church shall compound with that of Rochel to reimburse them of their Expence and Damages, by removal of their Minister from them.

12. The Provincial Deputies of Xaintonge petitioning, That the Church of Saveilles might he joined unto that of Villefaignan, and incor∣porated with the Colloquy of Augoulmois, because of the present and pressing Necessities of that Church. The Council remanded them back unto the Province of Poictou, which is intreated, out of Charity, to comply with this Request of the Province of Xaintonge, that so by that conjunction, the Subsistence of the Church of Villefaignan may be the better strengthned.

13. Monsieur d' Anglade, Pastor of the Churches of Mouzie and Pom∣port, having writ Letters unto this Synod, in which he prayed paiment of some certain Charges due unto him, as he pretends, from the Univer∣sity of Nismes; his Request was rejected.

14. The Church of Auvergne do express their Approbation and Con∣sent unto the next Synod of the Higher Languedoc; that the said Synod may reunite all those Churches into one Colloquy, and conjoin with them some of the nearest Churches of St. Germain; in which case the Colloquy of Anvergne shall be annexed unto the Synod of Sevennes.

15. The Sieur d' Huyisseau requesting, both for himself and the Sieur Guydon, who was commissionated, together with him, by the Synod of Vitrè, to prosecute the Sieur Palot, that the Synod would be pleased to take some care about the paiment of their Expences, and of the Sum of two thousand Livers, which were granted them by the Synod of Alez. The Synod having not as yet been able to recover one Penny from the

said Palot, of those vast Sums he owes the Churches; and there being not a Farthing paid of the twenty four thousand Livers, out of which their two thousand Livers were to have been given them, those two Gentle∣men, Mr. d' Huysseau and Guydon were desired to have a little patience, and to rest satisfied with this, that they were in the same Condition with all the Churches; and that if it should please God at any time here∣after, as we trust he will, to give us some Fruits of their Prosecutions, we would then make good our Promises: And they were farther assu∣red, that in case, before the sitting of the next National Synod, nothing was recovered of our Debts from the aforesaid Palot, that yet notwith∣standing the said Gentlemen should have full Contentment given them out of the first Monies which the Lord of Candall payeth in unto the Churches: And whereas there is only two thousand Livers demanded by them, this Council doth, for their patient Forbearance, engage to pay them the said Sum, and Five hundred Livers more. Which the said Sieur d' Huysseau did very kindly accept, both for himself and his absent Colleague, Monsieur Guydon: And he also promised to yield up that Ac∣compt, cleared and framed by him, of the Monies accompted for by the said Palot, and not delivered into the Hands of the Lords Commissioners, that so we may have recourse unto it, when need requires, in out prosecu∣tion of the said Palot.

16. The Lord of Angoulin's requesting, on behalf of the City of Ro∣chel, that the Synod would be pleased to reimburse the said City the Sum of Two thousand five hundred Livers, which were lent unto cer∣tain Deputies of the Provinces, assembled in the said City, in the Year Sixteen hundred and seventeen. This Demand was dismissed over to the next Politick Assembly, which his Majesty shall be pleased to grant un∣to his Subjects of the Reformed Religion, that so the said Assembly may take care about it, to whom it doth belong, because the Monies of his Majesty's Liberality, and which are at the disposal of our National Sy∣nods, ought not to be diverted from that particular Use and Service, whereunto his Majesty hath devoted them.

17. The Deputies of the Isle of France, declaring how very useful unto the Churches, the worthy Labours of Monsieur Blondel, Pastor of the Church of Howdan, might be; and the Synod being further infor∣med of his rare Dexterity and Diligence in the Imployment of those ex∣cellent Talents which the Lord hath concredited to him for the Edifica∣tion of his Church, it decreed, That he should be publickly commended and incouraged, and that the Lord of Candall should pay him in present∣ly, as a Token of our great Esteem and Value for him, a Thousand Li∣vers, to buy him Books; and that as soon as his Works shall be ready for the Press, the Synod will defray the Charges of their Impression. And because his great Excellency lieth in Church-History and Antiquity, he is earnestly desired to follow his Genius, and to combate and refute the Adversaries with that Weapon.

18. The Demand of Quentin Mareschall, a Printer dwelling at Chastel∣heraut, is dismissed over to the Province of Poictou, who shall take care of it, according to the Rules of Christian Charity: And the said Mares∣chall is forbidden the troubling our National Synod any more with his lit∣tle Businesses.

19. The Synod, not abridging the Rights and Priviledges of any Pro∣vince, doth permit that of Higher Languedoc to recal Monsieur Casaux, a Pastor lent unto the Church of Montagnac in the Lower Guyenne; and the Lower Guyenne may recal Monsieur Testard, at present Minister of the Church of Realmont, in the Province of Higher Languedoc, whenever the Necessity and Edification of the Church shall so require.

20. Monsieur Mestrezat presented Letters from the Lord de Launay, and requested, by word of Mouth, both for himself and his said Col∣league, that the Synod would be pleased to discharge them from that Commission, which the National Synod of Charenton had intrusted them with. But this Synod not being in a capacity to alter the Decree of that Synod, did earnestly intreat them both to continue in that Employment for the general good of the Churches.

21. Monsieur Tolozany, Pastor of the Church of St. Antonine, relating the great Poverty of his Church and Family, and the extream Necessity whereunto he is reduced in his old Age. The Synod not being at present in a capacity to alter any thing in former Constitutions, for the Relief of our indigent Ministers, doth ordain, that immediately three hundred Li∣vers be given him to the easing of his Church, of which, in the Dividend that shall be made of the Monies granted us by his Majesty, there shall be a particular care taken.

22. Letters from my Lady Marchioness of Bouillé, and from Monsieur du Mont, formerly Pastor in the Church of Mimbre in the Territory of Maine, were read in open Synod: And Information being made of the no∣torious Crimes committed by the said du Mont, the Province is ordered to proceed forthwith against him, and to depose him from his Office. And the said Lady shall be advised of it by Letters from this Synod.

23. The Complaint of Monsieur Toussain, a Pastor Emeritus, in the Province of Dolphiny, was given unto the Province of Sevennes, who should procure, by their best Skill and Power, the paiment of those Arrears of Wages due unto the said Toussain by the Church of Mar∣vejoils.

24. Monsieur* 1.2 Brucet a Proposan, being demanded by the Church of La Verdac to be their Pastor, the Colloquy of Condommois is authorized to examine and ordain him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1626. The 25th Synod.
• * 1.2

  Anot••er Copy calleth him Benter.