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. The Lord Galland the King's Commissioner. The King's Writ for calling the Synod. Deputies Names. Election of Synodical Officers.

• Article 1. AT the opening of this Assembly, the Lord Galland, Counsel∣lor to his Majesty in his most honourable Privy Council, and Council of State, and Attorney General for his Dominion of Navarre, appeared in Person as Commissioner deputed by his Majesty unto it, and presented his Majesty's Warrant, signed with his Sign Manual for the convocating of it.
• ...2.

  This 29th Day of January, in the Year of our Lord 1631.

  The King being at Paris, upon the most humble Petition of his Subjects of the pret. Reformed Religion, that they might be permitted to meet and assemble in a National Synod, there not having been one held since that of Castres, in the Year 1626. His Majesty being very willing to gratify those his Subjects aforesaid, and to give them some Marks of his Royal Favour, hath granted and permitted, and doth grant and permit unto those his aforesaid Subjects, the Power and Priviledg of holding a National Synod the first Day of September next at Charenton near Paris, but with this Condition, that none other Matters shall be debated in it, but such as are allowed them by his Majesty's Edicts; and that the Lord Galland, Counsellor to his Majesty in his Privy Council, and Council of State, and Attorney General for his House of Navarre, shall assist per∣sonally in the said Synod as his Majesty's Commissioner, as hath been ac∣customed and practised heretofore. In Testimony whereof his Majesty

• ...

  hath commanded me to issue out this present Writ, which he was pleased to sign with his own Hand, and commanded it to be countersigned by me his Counsellor and Secretary of Estate, and of his Commandments, and of his Treasury.

  Signed in the Original,

  LOƲIS.

  And a little lower,

  Phillippeaux.

• 3. There appeared on Behalf of the Churches in the several Provinces of this Kingdom, the Pastors and Elders, whose Names are hereafter mentioned.

  For the Province of Burgundy, the Sieurs Peter Boullenat Pastor of the Church of Vaux, and Alexander Rouph Pastor of the Church of Lyons, together with the Lords Timothy Armet, Advocate in the Privy Council, Elder in the Church of Conches, and Lazarus du Puy, Coun∣sellor for the King, in the Presidial Court of Bourg, and Elder of the Church gathered in that Town.

• 4. For the Province of Provence, the Sieurs Paul Maurice, Pastor of the Church at Aiguires, and Peter de Peyre Lord of Retardet, Elder in the same Church.
• 5. For the Province of Orleans and Berry, the Sieurs Daniel Jamett, Pastor the Church of Gien upon the Loir, and James L'amy Pastor of the Church of Chasteaudun, accompanied with Master Claudius Bernard, Elder in the Church of Chastillon upon the Loir, and Bailiff of the said Town; and Henry du Four, Doctor of Physick, Elder in the Church of Blois.
• 6. For the Province of Poictou, the Sieurs Isaac de Cuville, Pastor of the Church in Couhé, and John le Masson, Pastor of the Church of Civ∣ray, together with the Lords René de Lauvrignac,Esq Lord of Miauv∣ray, Elder of the Church of St. Maixant, and Giles Begaut Lord of la Begaudiere, Elder in the Church of Montague.
• 7. For the Province of Xaintonge, the Lords William Rivet Lord of Champrernown, Pastor of the Church of Taillebourg, and Peter Richer Lord of Vaudelincourt, Pastor of the Church of Marennes, accompanied with the Lords Denys PasquettEsq Lord of Large Baston, Elder in the Church of Angoulesme, and Charles Constant, Comptroller for his Ma∣jesty in the Election of St. John d'Angely, and Elder of the Church in that City.
• 8. For the Province of Brittain, the Sieurs Josua de la Place, Pastor of the Church of Nantes, assembling for Religious Worship at Suffé, with∣out an Elder; for the Lords Daniel de la Tousche, Lord of la Ravardiere, Elder in the Church of Ploer, and Daniel Chastaigner Lord of la Grolliere, Elder in the Church of Vielle vigne, who was substituted in his Place, did both send their Letters of Request, that they might be dispensed with for their non-Attendance at the Synod, and their Excuses were admitted and accepted.
• 9. For the Province of Lower Guyenne, the Sieurs James de Berdoline Pastor of the Church of Duras, and Charles d'Aubus Pastor of the Church of Nerac, accompanied with the Lords John de Mazilieres, Advocate in the High Court of Parliament of Bourdeaux, Lord of Grave, and Elder in the Church of Nerac; the Lord John Aymé de Friginet, Advocate also in the same Parliament, and Elder of the Church of Bergerac, was chosen, but fell sick, and therefore was excused; and in his stead there appeared Isaac de Geneste, Lord of la Tour, Advocate in the same Parliament, and

• Elder in the Church of la Sauvetat, who was substituted by the Suffrages of the Provincial Synod in his stead.
• 10. For the Province of Vivaretz, the Sieur Daniel Richard, Pastor of the Church of Cheilar, and Louis Santel, Advocate and Elder of the same Church. The Province excused it self for sending but two Depu∣ties, and their Excuses were admitted for this time; and they were in∣joined for the future never to omit the Clause of Submission, which was not sound in their Letters of Deputation, tendred by them unto the Council.
• 11. For the Province of Sevennes, the Sieurs Moses Blasehon, Pastor of the Church of St. Andrew de Valborgne; and Antony Vincent, Pastor of the Church of Merneys; together with Stephen de Billanges, Lord of Blanqfort, and Elder in the Church of Vigan; and Claudius d'Airebel∣dozeEsq Lord of Clairan, Elder in the Church of Canoblet.
• 12. For the Province of Anjou, the Sieurs Matthew Cottiere, Pastor of the Church of Tours; and Moses Amyraud, Pastor of the Church of San∣mur, and Professor of Divinity in that University; together with the Sieurs Philip Niett, Counsellor of the King, and Warden of his Ma∣jesty's Salt-garners in the said City of Saumur, and Elder of the Church there; and Josiah Poize, Advocate in Parliament, Elder of the Church at Previlly.
• 13. For the Province of Dolphiny, the Sieur Peter Pittard, Pastor of the Church of Alben; with the Sieur Francis de Montauban de RambaultEsq Lord of Villars, Elder in the Church of Gap; and the Sieur Stephen Gilbert Advocate, Elder in the Church of Die; the Sieur Denis de Bou∣teroue, Pastor of the Church of Greenoble, though chosen, ••id not ap∣pear, because of his Majesty's Prohibition, yet afterwards he obtained leave to assist in this Council, as will appear by its Acts and Records.
• 14. For the Province of Lower Languedoc, the Sieurs Michael le Fau∣cheur, Pastor of the Cuurch of Montpellier, and John de Croy, Pastor of the Church of Bezieres, together with the Sieurs Peter Cheyron, Advo∣cate and Elder in the Church of Nismes, and Andrew Bruneau Advocate and Elder in the Church of Bagnols.
• 15. For the Province of Higher Languedoc, the Sieur Timothy Delon, Pastor of the Church of Montauban; with the Sieurs Peter de Villette, Lord de la Jongniere, Elder in the Church of St. Antonine; and Paul Constans Counsellor for the King, and Elder in the Church of Montau∣bon; Master Peter Beraud, Pastor of the aforesaid Church of Montauban, and Professor of Divinity in that University, did not appear at first, be∣cause of his Majesty's Prohibition, but afterward, when it was taken off, he did accordingly take his Place in this Council.
• 16. For the Province and Principality of Bearn there appeared the Sieurs Peter Labadie, Pastor of the Church of Pau; and John de Pomme∣rade, Advocate in the Parliament of Navarre, Elder of the Church in Morlas.
• 17. For the Province of Normandy, the Sieurs Abdias de Mondenis, Pastor in the Church of Dieppe; together with Laurence le Fevre, Advo∣cate in the Parliament of Normandy, and Elder in the Church of Rouan; and John Cardell Lord of Marettes, Counsellor of the King, and his Comptroller in the Election of Alencon, and Elder of the Church in the same Place: and the Sieur Benjamin Basnage, Pastor of the Church of Quarentin, though chosen, yet did not at first appear, because of his Ma∣jesty's Prohibition; but as soon as it was taken off, he came and took his Place in the Synod, as will appear in the following Acts.
• 18.. 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 Roussy; together with the Sieurs John de GravellesEsq Lord of Ban∣terne, Elder in the Church of Houdan; and Charles Mayland Advocate, Elder in the Church of Montdidier.
• 19. The fifteenth Day of September, the Lord Marquess of Clermont, General Deputy for the Churches of this Kingdom unto his Majesty, came according to the usual Order of these National Synods, and took his Place in it, having Precedency given him according to his Degree and Quality, and as it was afterward decreed in the eleventh Article of Ge∣neral Matters.
• 20. Prayers having been offered up unto God, Monsieur Mestrezat, Pastor of the Church of Paris, was by Plurality of Votes chosen Mode∣rator; and Monsieur Jamet Assessor; and Monsieur Blondel Pastor, and Monsieur Armet an Elder, Scribes of the Synod.