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 Acts of the National Synod of the Reformed Churches in the Kingdom of France, held at St. Maixant, the 25th of May, and divers days following, in the Year of our Lord One thousand six hundred and nine, wherein presented themselves as Deputies from all the Provinces, the Pastors and Elders, who are hereafter named; to wit;

FOR Provence, Monsieur Peter Chalier Pastor of the Church of Seynise, and Bartholomew Recener Pastor of the Church or Merindol, together with Elias de Glandevez, younger Son of the House of Puymichell, Lord of St. Ajon, Elder of the Church in Puymichell, and Peter Texier Elder of the Church of Lormarin or Rouangis.

For the Province of Dolphiny, Master John Vulson Lord de la Columbiere, Pastor of the Church de la Mure, and John Felix Pastor of the Church of Grenoble, together with Charles Martyn Lord of Champoleon Elder, of the Church of Champoleon, and Francois de la Combe, Elder of the Church of St. Marcelin, chosen in the last Synod of their Province; and the said Lord de Champoleon not appearing, Monsieur Jacob Videl Elder of the Church of Brianson presented himself, who was chosen in the preceding Synod, but was not informed of the alteration made in its last Sessions. Whereupon this Assembly judged the said Province worthy of Censure, for not having ac∣quainted the said Videl with their change: And there having been given an honourable Testimony unto the said Videl by the Deputies of the Province, he was admitted to give his deliberative Vote, until the coming of the afore∣mentioned Lord de Champoleon, after which he may return to his own home; but the expences of his jourrley shall be defrayed by the Province. Yet at his intreaty, the Synod gave him his choice either to tarry or de∣part.

For the Province of Vivaretz and Vellay, Monsieur Daniel Richard Pastor of the Church of Choillar, and John du Roure, Elder of the Church of Aubenas; who Reporting the excuses mentioned also in the Letters of their Province, for their repeated failure in the number of their Deputies, they not sending four, the Synod did not at all approve of them; but upon promise made by them in the name of their Province, to perform their duty in time to come, they were on this condition admitted for this time, though censure was past upon the Province, and accordingly executed on them the said Deputies, that for the three first days of Session they should be deprived of their de∣liberative Votes in it.

For the Province of Lower Languedoc, Monsieur Jeremy Ferrier, Pastor of the Church of Nismes, and Monsieur John Chauve, Pastor of the Church of Sommiers, together with William Girard, Lord of Moussac, Elder of the Church of Nismes, and John James du Crois, Lord de la Combe, Elder of the Church of Mompellier.

For the Province of Lower Guyenne, ••erigort and Limousin, Monsieur Jeremy Bauconis Pastor of the Church of Tonneins, and Isaac Sylvius Pastor of the Church of Clerac, together with John de Vertueil Lord of Mallerett, Elder in the Church of Burdeaux, and Jacob des Mais Elder also of the same Church.

For the Province of Burgundy and Baylywick of Gex, Monsieur Peter Coli∣nett Pastor in the Church of Parey le Moynean, and Anthony le Blanc Pastor of the Church of Lions, with James de Jaucourt Lord of Rouvray. Elder of the Church of Chastillion seated upon the Seyn, and John le Gras Elder of the Church of Lions; whose reasons having been heard inducing them to transfer their right of calling the National Synod unto the Province of Poictou, as was decreed by the last Article of the Synod of Rochel, they were accepted and approved: And they demanding that the priviledg of Conven∣ing the next Synod might another time be granted to them, answer was returned, that in due time they should be considered, when as they could present us with a commodious and safe place.

For the Province of Higher Languedoc, and the Higher Guyenne, Monsieur William le Nautonnier, Lord of Castelfranc, Pastor in the Church of Venez, and Mark Antony Benoist; Pastor in the Church of Montauban, with George du Bourg Senior, Elder in the Church of Isle Jourdain, and Levy de Barsac Lord of Breuil, Elder in the Church of St. John du Breuil; which said Lord du Bourg neither appeared in person, nor sent his Excuse for Non-appearance; where∣of the Province shall have notice given it.

For the Province of Brittany, Mr. David Richer, Pastor of the Church of Blain, and Andrew le Noir, Lord of Beauchamp, Pastor of the Church of Roche-bernard, with Louis d'Avangour, Lord du Bois de Cargrois, Elder in the Church of Nants, and Elias de Goulevez Lord of Loudauinieres, Elder in the Church of Vielle Vigne.

For the Province of Normandy, Mr. Abdias Denis Lord of Mondenis, Pastor of the Church of Fescamp, and Benjamin Banage, Pastor of the Church of St. Mere Eglise, with Charles de Fouquerett, Lord de la Haye, Elder in the Church of Rouen, and John de la Rey, Lord of Narsouquett, Elder in the Church of Montivillier.

For the Province of the Isle of France, Beausse, Picardy and Champagne, Monsieur Samuel Durant, Pastor of the Church of Paris, and John Baptist Bugnet, Pastor of the Church of Compeigne, with Gideon de Serres, Lord of Pradett, Elder of the Church of Paris, and James de Harderet, Lord de Bi∣janette, Elder of the Church of Blainville: But the said de Bijanett neither ap∣peared in person, nor sent his excuse for non appearing; whereof the Pro∣vince shall have notice given them.

For the Province of Orleans, Blesois, Berry and Nivernois, Mr. Stephen de Mont-sanglard, Pastor of the Church of Corbigny, and Samuel de Chambaran, Pastor of the Church of Lorges and Marchenoir, with Francois Semelle, Elder of the Church of Corbigny, and Josiah Perrinett, Elder of the Church of St. Amand.

For the Province of Anjou, Touraine and the Maine, Monsieur Samuel Bou∣cherean, Pastor of the Church of Saumur, and Daniel Couppe, Pastor of the Church of Tours, and together with them Toussainct Lord of Leard, Elder of the Church of Bauge, with whom was deputed Bartholomew de Barge, Elder of the Church of Loudun, who yet neither appeared in person, nor excused his absence by any Letters unto the Synod; whereof notice shall be given unto the Province.

For the Province of Xaintonge, Aunix and Augoumois, Monsieur John Merlin, Pastor of the Church of Rechel, and Paul Bonnett, Pastor of the Church of Saujon, together with Arthur de Partenay Lord of Genouille, Elder of the Church of Tonnay Boutonne, and Peter Babouett, Elder of the Church of Sau∣jon But the Lord of Genouille being absent by reason of sickness, Elias Glatinon;

Elder of the Church of Augoulesme, being substituted in his stead, was per∣sonally present at this Synod, and afterward the said Lord de Genouille being recovered, and coming to it, the other returned unto his own habitation.

For the Province of Higher and Lower Poictou, Monsieur Jonas Chesuean, Pastor of the Church of St. Maixant, and Andrew Rivett, Pastor of the Church of Touars, together with Rene de Caumont, Lord of Fiebrun, Elder of the Church of Sansay, and Stephen Chesneuert, Lord de la Miletiere, Elder of the Church of Talmond.

Moreover, the Lord de Mirande one of the General Deputies of the Re∣formed Churches of this Kingdom appeared personally in this Synod, and had his place and priviledge of voting in it, according to the former Decrees passed in favour of those our said Deputies.

There also offered himself Monsieur d'Or, one of the Pastors of the Church of Sedan with Letters from the Mareschall Duke of Bouillon, and from the Pastors of the Principality of Sedan and Raucourt, craving to be received in∣to this Assembly, to have priviledge of voting in it, as well as the other Deputies. But the Assembly gave them the self same answer, which had been given them by former Synods, that forasmuch as the said Churches were incorporated with the Colloquy of Champagne, and the Provincial Sy∣nod of the Isle of France, they judged it in no wise fit to grant them their demand: Only they were Suffered as other Pastors not deputed unto the Synod to be present when points of Doctrine and Discipline were Debated, but should not be otherwise heard in any other matters propounded by them, than speaking by the mouths of the Pastors and Elders deputed by their Pro∣vince. And the said Churches were Censured for importuning the reception of this R. person among us, because of their private deputation given to him, after that an Order had past to the Contrary in the last National Synod. And Letters shall be writ unto the Lord Duke of Bouillon to intreat his Highness that the order of our Churches may not in the least be interrupted, but most inviolably observed, yea and in those affairs, which do more especially con∣cern his own Principality.

Prayers being ended Monsieur Merlin was chosen Moderator, and Mon∣sieur Ferrier, Assessor and Monsieur Rivett a Pastor, and the Lord du Pradell an Elder, were chosen Scribes of the Synod.

It was also decreed for the future that Pastors and Elders who were not deputed by their Provinces should not be admitted into the National Synods, but only when as the Confession of Faith, and Discipline should be read and observations made upon them, during the said reading, and that they should be excluded from all other affairs both General and Particular; and this Ordinance should serve as a Declaration of the mind and sence of forego∣ing Synods about those Articles and Canons relating unto the said Pastors and Elders Non-commissionated. And the Provinces shall be admonished that for great and weighty reasons they do henceforward by their own au∣thority retain at home with them all Pastors of Churches and Elders, who have no deputation from them unto the National Synods, that so the complaints and importunity of those who have no call to sit or vote in them may be obviated and prevented.

Notes

• Provence.
• Dolphiny.
• Vivaretz and Vellay.
• Lower Lan∣guedoc.
• Lower Gay∣enne, Perigart and Li••••••sin. Burgu••dy and Gix.
• Higher Lan∣guedoc and Guyenne.
• Brittany.
• Normandy.
• The Isle of France, Beausse, Picardy and Champagne.
• Orleans, Blesois, Berry and Ni∣vernois.
• Anjou, Tourain and Mayne.
• Leard.
• Xaintonge, Au∣nix and Au∣goumois.
• Higher and Lower Poictou
• General De∣puty.
• Sedan.