The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 20 (Privas) · Chapter 14 – Chapter 15
CHAP. XIV. Of Colledges and Ʋniverſities.
1. THE Church of Clermont in Beauvoyſin was cenſured for not bringing in the Account of the Diſtribution of the three hundred Livers granted to the Colledge erected in their ſaid Town, and the Province of the Iſle of France, ſhall receive that Account from them, and exhibit it unto the Province of Berry; and in caſe the ſaid Moneys have been ill managed and diſpenſed, they ſhall be deprived of that Right and Priviledge claimed by them for a Colledge.
2. The Province of Guyenne was ſeverely cenſured for not doing their duty, in making the Church of Bergerac come to account with them, and they be enjoyned to bring the ſaid Account for the time paſt unto the Synod of Higher Languedoc. And in caſe they comply with the command of this Aſſembly, to quit their grant of fifteen hundred Livers, the three hundred Livers which were ordinarily given them, ſhall be continued unto their Colledge; but if they do not, that Province ſhall not claim any Right in the ſaid three hundred Livers and Augmentation.
3. The Province of Provence alſo was cenſured for not bringing in their Account of the Moneys given them for their Colledge, and they are ordered to tender in that Account unto the next Synod of Dolphiny; and in caſe of failure herein, they ſhall alſo forfeit their Right and Claim unto a Colledge.
4. The Province of Poictou alſo was cenſured for not having brought in their Account of their Colledge, and they were ordered to tender it unto the Province of Xaintonge; and in caſe of failure herein, we declare their Priviledge of a Colledge to be forfeited; and farther, they be enjoyned to agree among themſelves about a certain place where they may erect a Colledge.
5. The Account brought in by the Province of Berry concerning their Colledge, was accepted and approved.
6. The Account brought in by the Province of Xaintouge for their Colledge, was alſo allowed and approved.
7. The Account of the Province of Burgundy for their Colledge is remanded back again to be more exactly reviſed by them.
8. The Province of Brittany ſhall audit their Accounts for a Colledge in the next Synod of Anjou; and in caſe of failure herein, they ſhall forfeit their Priviledge and Claim unto a Colledge; nor ſhall the ſaid Province receive a farthing token of the Moneys granted and deſigned for a Colledge.
9. The Province of Normandy was cenſured for bringing in a partial Account concerning their Colledge, and they are turned over to the next Synod of the Iſle of France, there to perfect their Accounts, or elſe they ſhall be deprived of their Right unto a Colledge.
10. The Conſuls and Inhabitants of the Town of Privas complaining that the Synod of Aubennas had taken away their Colledge which they had maintained for divers years paſt, by the encouragement given them from the Provincial Synod held at Annonay: This Aſſembly decreeth, that the ſaid Colledge ſhall be fixed and ſettled in this Town of Privas, and be aſſiſted with the ſame Salary as other Colledges, the ſaid Conſuls adding according to their promiſes and offers four hundred Livers of their own common Moneys, and they are deſired to diſcharge their duty in maintaining the ſaid Colledge, as they have hitherto done to their great honour, and their former Accounts are all allowed and approved.
11. All Accounts about Colledges which have been redemanded ſhall be brought unto the next National Synod there to be reviſed and approved.
12. It's left to the prudence of the Provinces to erect as many Schools and Colledges more as they can, or elſe to aſſiſt thoſe already in being with ſome better Maintenance.
13. All the Provinces ſhall have Colledges, excepting ſuch as have Maintenance aſſigned for Univerſities, yet nevertheleſs thoſe very Provinces beſides their Univerſities may erect Colledges at their own Charges; and that of Languedoc ſhall give unto the ſaid Colledge of Beziers the ſum of four hundred Livers to be raiſed out of the Stock of their Univerſity-Moneys, amounting to two thouſand ſix hundred Livers.
14. The Provinces requeſting that their Colledges might be enlarged in number, and better provided for with Maintenance: It was reſolved that their number ſhould not be augmented, but that every Province which hath Right unto a Colledge ſhall have four hundred Livers a year allowed them for their Colledge, until the next National Synod.
15. Since that Decree about the Accounts of our Academies at Niſmes and Montpellier (which amounted to the ſum of ſixteen thouſand eight hundred and fourſcore Livers) the Deputies of Lower Languedoc having remonſtrated unto this Aſſembly, that in the Account of the Univerſity of Niſmes, there was a reſumption of ſixteen hundred and four Livers, eighteen Sous, and eight Deniers, owing from the Sieur Palot, whilſt he was Receiver General; and ſeven hundred and twenty Livers in the Account of the Univerſity of Montpellier, they petitioned this Aſſembly, that they would be pleaſed to allow thereof in payment, and that the ſaid ſums might be deducted upon the Debet of the ſaid Account, as alſo that there might be allowed unto the Sieurs Ferrier and Gigord for the years 1601, 1602, 1603, and 1604, the ſum of ſixteen hundred Livers wanting to make up the ſum of ſix hundred granted them by an Ordinance of the Provincial Synod of Montpellier, and this both for the time paſt and to come; and farther, to allow upon the Debet of the ſame Account unto the Sieur Gigord his Wages for the years One thouſand ſix hundred and nine, ten and eleven, which were not allowed him upon pretence of his being abſent; and farther, that they would be pleaſed to allow towards the Impreſſion of certain Books, the ſums which were razed out. This Aſſembly did hereupon ordain, that upon the Debt of the aforeſaid Accounts there ſhall be allowed and deducted the ſum of ſixteen hundred Livers unto the ſaid Sieurs Gigord and Ferrier for the years above-mentioned, beſides what was allowed them for their Wages by the Commiſſioners, and for the years 1609, 1610 and 1611. And unto the Sieur Gigord (notwithſtanding what was álledged againſt him for his abſence) the ſum of one thouſand and fifty Livers, according to the Account ſtated in the National Synod of St. Maixant; and farthermore, the ſaid ſums owing by Pallot, provided that they make it appear by his Account that they are due unto them, and not received from him, and that the over-plus amounting to eleven thouſand one hundred and nine Livers, ſhall be paid out of the Moneys due unto the Churches of the ſaid Province, as it ſhall be appointed in the Dividend; and for the ſeven hundred and one and fifty Livers due unto the Heirs of Monſieur Mouſnier deceaſed, who in his life-time was Profeſſor of Divinity in the Univerſity of Niſmes, as appears from the cloſe and upſhot of that Univerſities Account, they ſhall be paid out of thoſe Moneys which may be owing the ſaid Province of Lower Languedoc by the Lord du Candall, or his Deputy, he being now at Privas, from the remainders of Moneys to come in for the years One thouſand ſix hundred and four, five and ſix; And where they cannot be intirely paid, they ſhall be repriſed out of the Moneys which ſhall hereafter become due.
16. Out of the Arrearages due unto the Churches from the remaining Moneys of the years ſix hundred and four, five and ſix, amounting to the ſum of two and twenty thouſand five hundred threeſcore and fifteen Livers, the Aſſembly ordaineth, that the tenth portion of the ſaid Moneys be given unto the Sieur Vignier as a Gratuity and acknowledgment of his Charges and great Pains taken in the Writing and Printing of his Book intituled, Le Theatre de l'Antechriſt. And the fortieth part of the ſaid Moneys is freely given unto the Sieur Cuper, Deputy of the Lord du Candal, and the ſaid portions ſhall be paid, only with an abatement of a Sous in the Liver, unleſs the ſaid Sieur Vignier be pleaſed to accept of five hundred Livers clear of all incumbrances or defalcations.
17. Out of the beſt Moneys of Arrearages due unto the Churches by the Lord du Candal for the years ſix hundred four, five and ſix, there ſhall be given the ſumm of three hundred Livers unto Monſieur Tompſon Paſtor of the Church of Chaflaignerey to help to bear his Charges in Printing his book intitled; la Chaſſe de la Beſle Romaine, as alſo unto the Sieur Sonis Profeſſor of Theology in the Univerſity of Montauban there ſhall be given the ſum of three hundred Livers out of the ſame Moneys, as a gratuity for his worthy Labors.
18. The Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc having given their reaſons why the Churches of Sevennes and Gevaudan, tho ſeparated from them ſhould bear one half of the half of eleven thouſand one hundred, and ſome odd Livers, for which the whole Province were joyntly together become debtors unto the General ſtock of the Churches: This Aſſembly ordaineth, that both the one and other Synod ſhall make reſtitution of the ſaid ſums by equal portions, both alike, and this within the term of three years, and they ſhall bring in their Accounts for it unto the next National Synod.
19. Whereas upon auditing the Accounts of the Province of Higher Languedoc for the Univerſity of Montauban in this Aſſembly it appeared that they owed five thouſand, four hundred, and ſixteen Livers, thirteen Sous, and four Deniers, it is now decreed, that the ſaid Province ſhall repay this Money within the term of three years by equal portions yearly, and the firſt payment to begin this very year, until the whole debt be fully ſatisfied; not but that the ſaid Province may take its courſe in Law againſt thoſe who have had the management of thoſe Moneys.
20. The Aſſembly having debated about the number of Univerſities to be maintained by us, have reſolved that till the next National Synod, the Univerſities of Montauban, of Saumur, of Niſmes and Montpellier ſhall be maintained, but according to thoſe Laws and Orders which ſhall be hereafter preſcribed to them; and in caſe they do not bring in unto the next National Synod a good and ſatisfactory Account of their Moneys, they ſhall from this very day be razed and diſſolved.
21. In Regulating the Profeſſors for our Univerſities of Saumur and Montauban, this Aſſembly Ordained that there ſhould be two Profeſſors of Divinity in full imployment, and to each of them there ſhall be given the yearly ſum of ſeven hundred Livers, and they ſhall alſo in caſe of Ability be permitted to ſerve in the Miniſtry, the Church compounding with them about their Salary, and the portion of Royal Moneys ſhall be reckoned as a part thereof: And as touching the other Profeſſors thoſe Orders made by the National Synod of St. Maixant ſhall be obſerved, excepting always that the firſt Regents, if capable of teaching Rhetorick, and Profeſſing Eloquence, ſhall only receive four hundred Livers Salary, and thus there ſhall be given one hundred Livers over and above the three hundred formerly aſſigned unto the firſt Regent at Saumur, and an hundred Livers more unto Montauban for their firſt Regent alſo, over and above the wages he now receiveth from the ſaid City.
22. And to every Profeſſor of Divinity in the Univerſity of Niſmes and Montpellier that is in full imployment, there is ordained the ſum of ſeven hundred Livers, fourteen hundred for the two, and to the Profeſſor of Hebrew four hundred Livers, to both eight hundred: and to the Colledge of Beziers the four hundred Livers before-mentioned, the whole ſum thus granted amounting to two thouſand ſix hundred Livers, and in caſe the Moneys be not thus imployed according to the purpoſe and intendment of this Aſſembly, that then they ſhall be returned and re-entred into the Common ſtock of our Moneys.
23. How and After what manner the Univerſity exerciſes ſhall be performed, and how theſe Univerſities are to be governed: This Aſſembly injoyns the Council of theſe Univerſities to prepare a Model, as each of them conceiveth beſt and moſt expedient for them, and let it be brought into the next National Synod, that then there may be a General Canon enacted and eſtabliſhed for them.
24. The Univerſity of Montauban demanding the Sieur Gardeſy Paſtor of Mauvezin to be given unto the ſaid Univerſity for Profeſſor of the Greek Tongue, and that their Charges in getting and tranſporting Profeſſors to them might be conſidered and defrayed: For the firſt this Aſſembly ſends them back unto their own Province there to be heard about this their inquiry; and as to the laſt about paying their charges, it could not in the leaſt be granted them.
25. The Deputies of Dolphiny requeſting to be aſſiſted with ſome Moneys to help to defray their Charges in maintaining their Univerſity of Die, this Aſſembly to gratify them once for all ordaineth that the ſaid Province ſhall receive out of the Moneys owed us by the Province of Lower Languedoc the ſum of three thouſand Livers, and they may ſtop the ſaid ſum, it now lying in the hands of the Lord du Candal, who ſhall make payment of it unto that perſon appointed by the Province of Dolphiny to receive it out of the portions that would befal the ſaid Province in the Dividend: And this ſum ſhall be a Fund for the Province of Dolphiny, and the product hereof ſhall go to the ſupport and maintenance of their aforeſaid Univerſity, nor ſhall the principal be ever alienated; and a juſt account of the whole ſhall be brought into the next National Synod.
26. The Lord of Candal ſhall keep in his hands out of the Moneys to be diſtributed by him unto the Provinces of Higher and Lower Languedoc, Sevennes and Berry, the ſums they are found indebted to us in the Arrears of their Accounts for Univerſities and Colledges, to wit, from the Province of Lower Languedoc and Sevennes eleven thouſand one hundred and nine Livers, from the Province of Higher Languedoc five thouſand two hundred forty & four Livers, from the Province of Berry ſeven hundred and fifty Livers, according to the terms preſcribed the ſaid Provinces, that ſo the ſaid ſums may be diſtributed by the ſaid Lord du Candal according to the Order of this Aſſembly, viz. from the Moneys owing by the Higher Languedoc two thouſand Livers to Monſieur Chamier, and from the Moneys owing by the Lower Languedoc and Sevennes three hundred Livers unto Monſieur Perrin, and theſe two Miniſters ſhall be paid out of the firſt Moneys detained in the hands of the Lord du Candal for the firſt year.
27. The Province of Anjou having brought in their Accounts of Moneys appointed to the Univerſity of Saumur, was found behind-hand indebted ſix hundred ſixty and one Liver, and one Sous, which ſum the ſaid Province ſhall be accountable for unto the next National Synod, and the Originals of thoſe Accounts are ordered to be delivered unto the Deputies of Xaintonge, that by them they may be lodged in the Archives of Rochel.
28. The Account of the Univerſity of Montauban having been brought in to this Aſſembly, together with the difficulties about it for the years One thouſand five hundred ninety and eight, and ninety nine, when they had no Profeſſors in their Univerſity, as likewiſe for the following years, in which a part of thoſe Moneys appointed for their Univerſity, had been employed towards the maintenance of their Colledge; as alſo part of the Moneys of the years ninety eight and ninety nine had been thus diverted and employed: The Synod thought fit to allow of thoſe Moneys deſigned for their Univerſity for the years ninety eight, ninety nine, ſixteen hundred, and ſixteen hundred and one, and the others following, which had been profitably employed in the maintenance both of their Colledge and Univerſity; and ordaineth with reference to thoſe aforeſaid years of One thouſand five hundred ninety and eight, ninety nine, and ſixteen hundred, that the Moneys which had been employed in the year ſixteen hundred, ſhall only be allowed of, without any regard had unto the employment made of the over-plus in the years following, or to the Account of the Receipt which the ſaid Univerſity ſhould have given for thoſe aforeſaid years fourſcore and eighteen, nineteen and ſixteen hundred, amounting to nine thouſand two hundred ſixty five Livers, ſixteen Sous, and four Deniers, and the Expence to two thouſand two hundred forty five Livers, and eighteen Sous; and there was found in the Receipt which ſhould have been made by the ſaid Univerſity, that it was indebted in ſeven thouſand and nineteen Livers, eighteen Sous, and four Deniers: Out of which ſum deducting two thouſand five hundred ninety and nine Livers, which the ſaid Univerſity ſhould have received from the Sieur Palot for three quarters of the year One thouſand five hundred and ninety eight, and which are brought in by Repriſal, to be recovered by the Churches from the ſaid Palot, the Province of Higher Languedoc remaineth indebted the ſum of one thouſand four hundred and ſixteen Livers, thirteen Sous, and four Deniers, which they ſhall pay in at the terms appointed by the afore-mentioned Ordinance.
29. This Synod was informed, how that certain Churches in the Lower Guyenne, lying on the Frontiers of Bearn, as Tartar, Mont de Marſan, Lauze, Bigorre, Soulez, and ſome others, were now and then aſſiſted by the Paſtors of Bearn, and yet were put upon the Catalogue of Churches actually ſerved, that ſo they might have the portions ordained for every Paſtor in the Lower Guyenne. This Synod doth not at all approve or allow that thoſe Churches ſhould be thus inſerted into the Catalogue; however, it leaveth the matter unto the conſideration of the next National Synod, and commandeth the ſaid Province to provide Paſtors out of hand for thoſe Churches, and ſuch as may perſonally reſide among them, and be in actual ſervice to them, and none elſe, to receive their portions; whereof the ſaid Province ſhall yield up a good Account, or elſe be bound to make reſtitution of every one of thoſe reſpective portions.
30. The twelve Paſtors in the Land and Bayliwick of Gex, ſhall receive by way of recompence for the loſs of their Church-ſtock, which was once in their poſſeſſion, the ſum of twelve hundred Crowns out of the Augmentation-Moneys; and although the Joynt-Intereſt of all our Churches lieth near the heart of this Aſſembly, yet becauſe of the remonſtrances and importunities of the Deputies of Burgundy, it grants over and above the twelve hundred Crowns unto the ſaid Paſtors the ſum of ſix hundred Livers to be divided equally among them, but on this condition, that they ſhall engage their people to contribute according to their ability towards their maintenance; and of this they ſhall bring in Evidence and good Proof unto the next National Synod, or otherwiſe they ſhall be deprived of all manner of Aſſiſtance and Relief from us.
31. The Province of Burgundy is enjoyned to provide two Paſtors for the Churches of Maringues and Paillac, and to give them both two free portions out of thoſe two and thirty aſſigned in the dividend unto their Province, and they ſhall give an account hereof unto the next National Synod.
31. The two portions formerly conferred upon the Church of Aubenas by the foregoing Synods, are now left to the free Diſpoſal of the Province of Vivaretz, which ſhall receive in full ſeven and thirty portions, in which are included the three portions aſſigned unto the Church of St. Stephen's in Forreſt.
33. Provence was ordered to provide a Paſtor for the Church of Aix, of Laux, and Marſeille, and two free portions for him taken out of the portions aſſigned in the Dividend unto that Province; as alſo one portion unto the Sieur Maurice a Miniſter Emeritus, and furthermore one portion unto the Church of Manoſques, and to get it ſpeedily a Paſtor, and of all this they ſhall render an Account unto the next National Synod.
34. There ſhall be deducted for the Lord du Candal what remains of the thirds taken by the Sieur de Viſouze out of the Sous upon the Liver, the ſaid Viſouze not liking to do by his portion of the ſaid thirds of the Univerſity Moneys as the Lord du Candal hath done by his, who freely and generouſly beſtowed it on our Univerſities. Therefore he ſhall draw forth four Deniers out of the Liver of the Moneys belonging to the ſaid Univerſity.
35. The ſum of one hundred Livers over and above the two hundred Livers aſſigned by the Synod of St. Maixant ſhall be paid in unto Monſieur*Or T…ant. Renault, Paſtor of Montauban, and Profeſſor of the Hebrew tongue in that Univerſity.
36. The next National Synod God willing ſhall be held in the Province of Lower Guyenne within the ſpace of two years, and in the Month of May, ſaving that it may be either haſtned or delayed as the Lords General Deputies, or either that, or the neighbour Provinces ſhall adviſe of. And the Provinces of Brittany and Provence are left to their Liberty to ſend more than two Deputies, viz. one Paſtor and Elder each, which is only granted them for this next National Synod.
CHAP. XV. The Roll of Apoſtates.
1. JOSHUA Guibert a man of a mean ſtature, the hair of whoſe head and beard is very black, his eyes black, long viſaged and ſtaring out, his skin tawny, ſhaking his head, and ſpitting at his firſt approaches, ſtammering in his ordinary diſcourſes, black teeth, and very Slovenly in his Apparrel, hath quitted Xaintonge, where he was Miniſter in the Church of Archiac, and renounced the truth of Chriſts holy Goſpel.
2. James Cyeſpe born at Puy in Velley, twenty ſix years old, or there-about low of ſtature, black hair'd, and of a lowring countenance, having been accuſed of an enormous crime by a Popiſh ſchoolmaſter when he was at Carpentras in the Jeſuites Colledge, he returned again with the dog unto his vomit of Popery, and publiſheth himſelf at preſent Chaplain and Almoner unto the Biſhop of Vallence. He was ſometimes Miniſter at Creſt in Dolphiny.