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. XII. Acts passed on Tuesday the Tenth day of the Month.

I. THE R. Mr. Beza craving our thoughts about M. Mercure, a Brother of ours in the Ministery, this Assembly is of opinion, that the next Synod of Lower Languedoc do take Cognizance of that Matter, and how he was re∣stored unto the Ministery, and they shall also take notice of the Calumnies imposed by him, as is said, upon the Church of Geneva.

II. As to that Fact related by the Elder of Taillebourg, we advise, that the Minister of that Church ought to solemnize the Marriage, and to cen∣sure him who got the Pope's Dispensation because of Consanguinity.

Acts passed on Wednesday the Eleventh of the same Month.

I. Our Brother Guillemet, Deputy for Poictou demanding Counsel of us, what ought to be done in a particular Case mention'd by him; we an∣swered, That the Knowledge of some Crimes must be first given in unto the Magistrate; and the Consistory shall wait till such time as the Facts have been verified before him, and then shall they proceed to inflict Censures upon the Delinquent according to his domerits: unless the Circumstances prove such as can not admit of any delays.

II. The Synod being informed that certain Churches in Languedoc do practise divers things contrary to our Discipline, as that in the Election of Elders, and in the Mission and Loan of Ministers they gather the Peoples Votes one after another: It doth disapprove and condemn all those Usages and Customs, and admonisheth the said Churches to conform themselves unto that Order established and observed by us, according to the Discipline, and in case of default those Churches shall be censured.

III. This Article shall be inserted into the Discipline, That Ministers or Elders deposed from their Office for Crimes deserving capital Punishment, or bearing Marks of Infamy, whatever their Repentance may be, they shall never be restored unto their Churches. But in case of lesser miscarriages after pub∣lick Satisfaction given by them unto the Congregation, they may be restored by the Provincial Synod, but to serve in another Province, and not otherwise.

There were present at this Synod of Rochel, Joane by the Grace of God Queen of Navar, the high and mighty Prince Henry, Prince of Navar, the high and mighty Prince Henry de Bourbon. Prince of Conde, and the most illustrious Prince Lewis, Count of Nassau, and Sir Gaspar, Count de Colligny, Admiral of France, and divers other Lords and Gentlemen, be∣sides the Deputies, who were Members of the Church of God.

At Rochel in the Month of April, 1571. in the 12th. Year of the Reign of Charles the 9th. King of France,

Subscribed thus,

• Theodore de Beza, Moderator of the Synod.
• Nicholas de Galars, and Scribes Elected.
• John de la Rogeraye. Scribes Elected.

Notes

• He is called in another Copy Guille∣min. The know∣ledge of some Crimes must be first notifi∣ed unto the Magistrate. Elders shall be chosen, Mi∣nisters sent with∣out any other formalities than what is provided for by the Dis∣cipline.