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.

SECT. LI. The King's Edict, forbidding all Publick Exercise of the Pretended Re∣formed Religion in this Kingdom.

LEWES, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre, To all present and to come, Greeting. Whereas King Henry the Great, our Grand∣father, of glorious Memory, having procured a Peace for his Subjects, after those great Losses they had sustained during the Civil and Foreign Wars, endeavoured that it might not be disturbed upon the account of the Pre∣tended Reformed Religion, as it had fallen out in the Reigns of the Kings his Predecessors, had therefore by his Edict, given at Nantes in the Month of April, in the Year one thousand five hundred and eighty eight, esta∣blished such Measures as should be observed with reference to those of the

said Religion, the Places in which they might exercise it, and ordained extraordinary Judges for the ministring of Justice to them, and finally, had provided also by special Articles whatsoever he conceived needful to main∣tain Tranquillity in his Kingdom, and to diminish that Aversion which had arisen between persons of the one and other Religion, that so he might be the better enabled to carry on his design of reuniting them unto the Church, who had been too easily estranged from it. And forasmuch as this Inten∣tion of the aforesaid King, our Grandfather, could not by reason of his sud∣den death be accomplished, and the Execution of the said Edict was also interrupted; during the Minority of the late King our most honoured Lord and Father of glorious Memory, by reason of the new Enterprises of those of the Pretended Reformed Religion, so that occasion was taken to deprive them of divers Priviledges which had been granted them by the said Edict. Nevertheless, the said King, our late Lord and Father, using his ordinary Clemency did yet vouchsafe them a new Edict at Nismes, in the Month of July one thousand six hundred and twenty nine, by means whereof Peace being again restored, the said late King, animated with the same Spirit and Zeal for Religion, as the King our Grandfather, had resolved to improve to the utmost this Peace, by endeavouring to bring his godly design into pra∣ctice: but the Foreign Wars falling out a few Years after, in such a manner, that from the Year 1635. until the Truce concluded with the Princes of Eu∣rope in the Year 1684. the Kingdom having but little rest, it was scarce possible to do any thing for the advancement of Religion, unless it were to diminish the numbers of the Churches belonging to those of the Pretended Reformed Religion, by interdicting such as had been built contrary to the Orders of the said Edict, and by suppression of the Mixt Chambers, which were erected only provisionally.

God having at last granted to our People the injoyment of a perfect Peace, and we also not being occupied with those cares to protect them a∣gainst our Enemies, and being able to improve this Truce, which we ef∣fected for this very end, that we might wholly apply our selves to seek out such means whereby we might accomplish successfully the design of the said Kings our Father, and Grandfather, upon which also we entred as soon as we came unto the Crown, we now see, and, according to our Duty, thank God for it, that our Cares have at last obtained that end we had pro∣pounded to our selves, inasmuch as the far greater and better part of our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion have embraced the Ca∣tholick. And inasmuch as hereby the Execution of the Edict of Nantes, and of whatsoever else hath been ordained in favour of the said Pretended Re∣formed Religion is become useless, we have judged, that we could do no∣thing better towards the total blotting out of the remembrance of those Troubles, Confusions and Mischiefs which the progress of that false Reli∣gion had caused in our Kingdom, and which occasioned that Edict, and several other Edicts and Declarations which had preceded it, or had been in consequence thereof Enacted, than totally to revoke the said Edict of Nantes, and the special Articles which in pursuance of it had been conceded, and whatsoever else had been done in favour of that said Religion.

I. We therefore make known, that for these Causes, and others thereunto us moving, and of our certain knowledge, full power, and Royal Autho∣rity, we have by this present perpetual and irrevocable Edict, suppressed and revoked, we do suppress and revoke the Edict of the King our said Grand∣father, given at Nantes in the Month of April, one thousand five hundred eighty and two, in its whole extent, together with those special Articles ordained the second day of May following, and the Letters Patents expedi∣ted

thereupon, and the Edict given at Nismes in the Month of July, one thousand six hundred and twenty nine, we declare them void, and as if they had never been, together with all Grants made as well by them, as by other Edicts, Declarations and Decrees, to those of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, of what kind soever they may be, which shall in like manner be reputed as if they had never been: And in consequence hereof we will, and 'tis our pleasure, that all the Temples of those of the said Re∣ligion, situated within our Kingdom, Countries, Lands and Lordships of our subjection shall be immediately demolished.

II. We forbid our said Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion any more to assemble themselves, for exercise of their said Religion, in any Place or Private House, under any pretence whatsoever, yea, and all real Exercises, or such as were in Lordships, although the said Exercises had been maintained by the Decrees of our Council.

III. In like manner we forbid all Lords of every degree the Exercise of their Religion in their Houses and Mannors, whatsoever may be the Quality of their said Mannors, and that upon pain of Confiscation of Bodies and Goods for those of our said Subjects, who shall so exercise their said Reli∣gion.

IV. We command all Ministers of the Pretended Reformed, who will not turn from it and embrace the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Religion, to depart our Kingdom and the Lands of our Dominion, within a Fort∣night after the publication of this our present Edict, and not to tarry be∣yond that time, or during that said Fortnight to Preach, Exhort, or perform any Function of their Ministry, upon pain of being sent to the Gallies.

V. Our will is, that such of the said Ministers, who shall change their Re∣ligion, shall, during their whole life, continually injoy, and their Widows also after them, as long as they remain unmarried, the same Exemption from Taxes and Lodging of Souldiers, which they injoyed during the time of their Ministry; and farther, we will pay also unto the said Ministers, as long as they live, a Stipend, which shall exceed by one third the Wages they received for their Ministry, and their Wives also, as long as they abide Widows, shall injoy the one half of their said Stipend.

VI. If any of the said Ministers desire to become Advocates, or would pro∣ceed Doctors of the Laws, 'tis our will, and we declare it, That they shall be dispensed as to three Years studying, prescribed by our Declarations, and having undergone the usual Examination, and thereby judged capable, that they be promoted Doctors, paying one half only of those Fees, custo∣marily paid to this purpose in every University.

VII. We forbid all Private Schools for the Instruction of the Children of those of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, and generally all other things whatsoever, that may bear the sign of Priviledge or Favour to that said Religion.

VIII. And touching the Children that shall be born of those of the said Preten∣ded Reformed Religion. Our Will is, that for time to come they be bapti∣zed by the Curates of their Parishes. Commanding their Fathers and Mo∣thers for that purpose to send them to their Churches, on penalty of being fined five hundred Livers, or a greater summ; and those Children shall henceforth be brought up in the Catholick, Apostolick, and Roman Reli∣gion: And we most strictly Command all the Judges of those respective places to see that this be Executed.

IX. And that we may express our Clemency towards those our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, who are withdrawn from out of our Kingdom, Countries, and Lands of our Dominion before Publication of this our present Edict, we will and give them to understand, that in case they return within the space of four Months, from the day of its Pub∣lication, they may, and it shall be lawful for them to enter into the pos∣session of their Estates, and to injoy them even as they might have done, if they had been always at home; whereas contrarily, such as within that time of four Months shall not return into our Kingdom, or Countries, or Lands of our Dominion, their Estates abandon'd by them shall be and re∣main Confiscated, according to our Declarations of the twentieth day of August last past.

X. And we do most straitly again repeat our Prohibitions unto all our Sub∣jects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, that neither they, nor their Wives nor Children do depart our said Kingdom, Countries, or Lands of our Dominion, nor transport their Goods and Effects, on pain, for Men so offending, of their being sent to the Gallies, and of Confiscation of Bodies and Goods for the Women.

XI. We will and give them to know, that all Declarations published against the Relapst, shall be Executed according to their form and tenour.

XII. And furthermore, Those of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, till such time as it shall please God to illuminate them as others have been, may abide in the Towns and Places of our Kingdom, Countries, and Lands of our Dominion, and continue their Traffick, and injoy their Goods, without being troubled or hindred, because of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, Provided as before, That they do not exercise it, nor assemble themselves on pretence of Prayers, or of any manner of worship, according to that said Religion, on the Penalties beforementioned, of Con∣fiscation of Bodies and Goods. We Command all our Trusty and Well-be∣loved Counsellors in our Court of Parliament, of Accounts, and Court of Aids at Paris, Bayliffs, Seneschalls, Provosts, and other our Justices and Officers to whom it shall belong, and to their Deputies, that they cause this present Edict to be read, published, and registred in their Courts, and Jurisdictions, yea, and in Vacations, and to entertain it, and cause it to be entertained, kept and observed in every particular, without swerving,

and that in no manner of wise they permit the least swerving from it. For such is our Will and Pleasure. And that this may be for ever firm and sta∣ble, we have caused these Presents to be Sealed with our Seal.

Given at Fountainbleau in the Month of October, in the Year of Grace one thousand six hundred eighty and five, and in our Reign the Forty Third.

Signed, LOƲIS.

Visa, Le Tellier.

And a little lower, By the KING, Colbert.

And Sealed with the Great Seal of Green Wax, upon threads of red and green silk. Registred, heard, and at the Request of the Kings Attorney General, that they might be Executed according to their form and tenor, and Copies col∣lationed, sent unto the Courts, Bailiwicks, and respective Jurisdictions, that they might be in like manner Registred. And the Deputies of the King's said Attorney-General are Commanded to see its Execution, and to Certifie the Court thereof. At Paris in the Chamber of Vacations the two and twen∣tieth day of October, in the Year one thousand six hundred fourscore and five. Signed, De la Baune.