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. IV. Observations upon the National Synod of Rochel.

* 1.11. THE first Article of general matters, which did not permit the De∣puties to carry with them the Acts of Appeals, and of particular matters, was for divers considerations revoked.

2. The Lords our General Deputies are again charged to require of his Majesty a Declaration for the Naturalizing the poor Fugitives of the Marqui∣sate of Saluces.

3. The excuses made by the Churches of Bearn, for not sending their De∣puties unto this Synod were accepted and approved, and Letters of thanks were ordered to be writ them, and to exhort them not to suffer such per∣sons to be Married in their Temples, who wander from the Neighbour Pro∣vinces without attestations.

* 1.24. The Province of Poictou requesting that some course might be taken to prevent that great abuse committed by Monks, who having quitted their Convents, did rove up and down, hither and thither, from one Church unto another: This Assembly answered, that there could not be any better

Expedient found out, than the exact observation of that Canon made in the Synod of Rochel, which sends them back to the Province where they were born, nor did we judge it convenient to comply with the Province of Berry, who would have a publick Stock erected, and set apart for the main∣tenance of such fellows.

5. Letters shall be dispatcht from this Assembly unto Monsieur Tilenus Professor at Sedan, about the matters relating to him, proposed in this Synod.

6. U on hearing the report made by the Deputies of Dolphiny concerning the Labours of Monsieur Chamier on the controversies of these times: This Assembly applauded his great diligence, and gave him advice to pursue the finishing of his whole work, that it may be published to the World intire; Promising that the next national Synod shall take notice of his great charges and expences, and seal their acknowledgments to him with a pledge and character of their respects and bounty.

7. Letters were sent from Monsieur Perrin, accompanied with others from the Province of Dolphiny, informing us of the progress made by the said Perrin in his History of the Albingenses and Vaudois, whereof the rude draught was now pr••sented. This Assembly approving his method, exhorts him to continue his labour, and to finish it as soon as possible: And Messieurs Ferrier, Durant, Benoist, Castelfranc and Vignier, are intreated to transmit unto him whatever Memoirs they have found out, or can get, that so it may be published suddenly. And this Synod will assist him with their bounty to help to bear his great expences in books, and for its impression.

8. The Children of poor Ministers are exempted from the rigour of that Article, which had ordered, that no Schollars should be maintained out of the Moneys of the Kings bounty,* 1.3 untill such time as they have finished their Studies of Humanity, and begun their course of Philosophy. And 'tis left unto the discretion of Synods and Colloquies, at what age and capacity they shall judge fit to enroll them in the Catalogue of Pensioners.

9. Monsieur Vignier presenting his Theater of Antichrist, composed by him in obedience to the command of the National Synod, received the thanks of this Assembly for his great and worthy pains, and the University of Saumur is ordered to peruse it, and having given their opinion of it, we order that it be Printed together with th•• Authors Name.

* 1.410. The Province of Dolphiny by the Authority of this Synod is discharg∣ed of all accounts of Moneys received from the Provinces, for the poor Fugi∣tives of the Marquisate of Saluces, and their Deputies, who were charged in the Synod of Rochel, with four hundred Livers gathered in the Church of Bourdeaux, and with eight hundred Livers from the Church of Rochel, are also acquitted by this Synod. And the aforesaid Province is also discharg∣ed of the summ of six hundred sixty five Livers, nine Sous, and one Denier, payed by it unto the Churches of Provence, conformable to the Order of the last Synod.

11. That Article concerning the Synod of Normandy, shall remain as it is, and the Province shall continue to summon to it all its Pastors, according to the Discipline.

12. The Deputies of Xaintonge remonstrating that the censure past by the foregoing National Synod on the Consistory of Soubize, and Monsieur Cheva∣lier its Pastor, was grounded on a false accusation, and therefore required that the said Censure might be razed out of the Book of our Acts. This Assembly dismissed the whole unto the Synod of Xaintonge, who should hear both the Accusers and Accused, and by the Authority of this Assembly judge finally of that affair, and in case it were found to have been ill-reported, to cast the self-same Censure upon the false Accusers.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See the third Synod of Ro∣chel.
• * 1.2

  Concerning Monks quit∣ting their Convents. See the third Syn. of Rochel, g. m. 16.
• * 1.3

  See the 43d Artic. of g. m. in the third Syn. of Rochel. Moderation in favour of the Children of poor Mini∣sters.
• * 1.4

  The Province of Dolphiny ac∣quitted for her receipt and distribu∣tion of Moneys for the poor Refuged from the Marqui∣sate of Salu∣ces.