The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Synod 23 (Alès) · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. PARTICULAR MATTERS.
1 MR. Gaſper Martyn Miniſter of the Church of Saillans in Dolphiny related the great loſs ſuſtained by him in the printing of his Book, ſtyled Le Capuchin Reforme, a great number of Copies being left upon his hand through the Craft and Knavery of the Bookſellers; who having printed more Copies than they ſhould, took out their own Number, and leave him to pay the reſt, and in truth to ſtand indebted for the whole Impreſſion. This Aſſembly highly honouring him for his great ſufferings for profeſſing the Truth, and the uſefulneſs of his Works, and in conſideration of his preſent wants, do beſtow upon him one Portion free of all Taxes and Charges, which ſhall be pay'd him until the ſitting of the next National Synod, over and above that ordinary Portion allowed the Church of Saillans for him; and Monſieur Turretin was now deſired to deal with the Printers and Bookſellers of Geneva that the ſaid Mr. Martyn may have ſatisfaction given him for the dammage he ſuſtaineth by their means.
2. Monſieur James de la Planche having faithfully ſerved the Church of God for Six and Twenty Years in Provence, and being now taken blind, and almoſt broken by the Pthyſick, and borne down with many other Afflictions, occaſioned through his paſt labours and ſufferings, and through his declining Age; for which cauſes he was declared Emeritus by the Synod of that Province, and diſcharged with a very honorable Teſtimonial from the Exerciſe of his Miniſtry; and now conflicting with great wants, and needing Relief in his Old Age, he petitioned this Aſſembly that ſome care might be had of him, and a competent maintenance aſſigned to him yearly; The Aſſembly compaſſionating his Poverty, ordained a Portion free of all Charges for him, which ſhall be pay'd by the Lord of Candal unto Monſieur Gras at Lions, who ſhall ſee that the ſaid Summe be remitted him unto the place of his Abode; and the Summ of Six and Thirty Livres was now given him in hand to defray the Expences of his Journey thither.
3. Mr. John Paul Perrin Miniſter of Nions in Dolphiny preſented himſelf before this Aſſembly to render an Account of Printing his Hiſtory of the Vaudois and Albigeois, 2 Vitre. Obſerv. on the former.and he farther declared that he was now writing the General Hiſtory of the Church from the beginning of the World to this Age in which we live. This Aſſembly applauding him and thanking him for his Pains and Labours in the before-mentioned Hiſtory, leaveth it to his prudence and Conſcience to judge whether ſuch a Work as he is now undertaking will be of uſe and benefit unto the Churches, becauſe we would not impoſe that task upon him which would be needleſs and unprofitable. And whereas the ſaid Monſieur Perryn informed us of the numerouſneſs of his Family, and that he had a great charge of Children, and humbly requeſted tha the might have ſome Relief from us, eſpecially for the breeding of a Son of his, formerly debauched by the Jeſuites, but now through Grace brought home again unto Repentance, a youth of Excellent parts, and yielding great hopes that he may be hereafter eminently uſeful in the Miniſtry: The Province of Dolphiny was exhorted to take care of him and his Family according to the Laws of Chriſtian Charity, and the great Merits of the ſaid Monſieur Perrin.
4. Monſieur Albiac Dr. of the Civil Law Living at Velleneuſve in Berry petitioned to be reimburſt the Summ of Fifty Crowns expended by him in executing a Commiſſion for the Churches of the Four Neighbouring Province, viz. of Lower Languedoc, Dolphiny, Sevennes, Vivaretz: This Aſſembly judgeth, That the Provinces which imployed him ought to ſee him ſatisfied, and each of them ſhall pay him equally their parts of ſo juſt a Debt, and the quota of their Moneys ſhall to this purpoſe be detained in the hands of the Lord du Candal, that he may be honeſtly repayed.
5. Mr. Simon Daniel Hoſl…ie Paſtor of the Church of Villenuſve in Berry petitioned that ſome Relief might be allowed unto his Church, becauſe of the great loſſes it ſuſtained in the Troubles of Privas, as alſo to help defray the Expences they ſhall be at in a Suit at Court about the Conſulſhip of their Town. This Aſſembly judging that the Moneys granted us by His Majeſty ought not to be diverted unto ſuch uſes, doth notwithſtanding recommend their Affair unto our Lords the General Deputies, that they might get right due to them by the Lords of the Privy Council, and becauſe of the Neceſſities of the ſaid Church there ſhall be a ſupernumerary portion aſſigned to them, when we make the publick Dividend.
6. Monſieur Maſſez Notary Publick and Secretary to the Conſul of Montauban in the Higher Languedoc requeſting to be reimburſt by the Churches the great Expences he was at in proſecuting the wrongs done him by the Parliament of Tolouſe; It being a buſineſs of General Concern becauſe of the Notorious Violations of the Edicts granted us by our Kings. This Aſſembly exhorted the Province of Higher Languedoc to take care that the ſaid Monſieur Maſſez have ſatisfaction given him for his paſt Loſſes, and that he be indemnified for the future, and that they extend their Charity to him in a moſt ample and exemplary manner, ſith they themſelves have judged his caſe to be of very great Importance to all the Churches.
7. The Magiſtrates, Conſuls, and Conſiſtory of the Town of Privas having repreſented both by Letters and Word of Mouth by Monſieur Tavernier one of their Elders deputed to us, the great Loſſes, Dammages, and Afflictions ſuſtained by them ſince the Death of Monſieur Chambaud, whereby they be now reduced to a moſt lamentable condition, and worthy of our moſt tender compaſſions, which alſo was confirmed by Letters from the Synod and Political Aſſembly of Vivaretz, and praying ſome Charitable Relief to be Exhibited to them, that ſo this conſiderable and populous Church might not be totally deſolated and diſſolved. This Aſſembly ordained, That the Summ of Six Hundred Livres ſhould be given the ſaid Church of Privas for a preſent ſupply: And all the Churches of this Kingdom ſhall by their Deputies here in this Aſſembly, as ſoon as they return unto their reſpective Provinces be exhorted to open the Bowels of their compaſſion to the ſaid afflicted Church of Privas, and to relieve them by a General Collection upon the Lords Day in their reſpective Temples. The Moneys of which Collection ſhall be ſent unto the Churches of Lions and Niſmes to be diſtributed by them unto that of Privas. And Letters alſo ſhall be writ to the Lord Governour of Montauban, to the Marqueſſes of La Charſe of Montbrun, and other the Parents and Kindred, of the late Deceaſed Monſieur de Chambaud, deſiring them to take ſpecial care of the Religious Education of his Children, that they may not be diverted from the True Religion, and trained up in Popiſh Idolatry, but that they would be pleaſed to undertake for them, and become their Tutors and Guardians according to the known Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom.
8. The Heads of Families, profeſſing the Reformed Religion, in the Baylywick of Orillac in the Mountains of Upper Auvergne, petitioned that the Portions granted them by the National Synods of Gap and Rochel might be contined to them: This Aſſembly ordained, that the Portion belonging unto the ſaid Church in the Baylywyck of Orillac ſhall be given it free and diſcharged of all Taxes by the Province of Higher Languedoc.Gap. p. m. 18 3. Rochell.
9. Monſieur Caſaud Paſtor of the Church of Lectoure petitioned on its behalf for ſome charitable Relief to raiſe it up from that woful Ruin and Miſery into which it is now plunged, and to ſuſtain it againſt its Enemies for the future. This Aſſembly compaſſionating the ſaid Church, did order and aſſign a free Portion out of the Dividend of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne unto it; and one part of the Collection which ſhall be made in the Higher Languedoc and Guyenne for the Church of Privas ſhall be given unto the ſaid Church of Lectoure.
10. The Church of Tulette belonging to the Province of Dolphiny, but incloſed on all parts with the County of Veniſſe humbly requeſted ſome relief for its ſubſiſtence. Becauſe this is a Church of great importance, very poor, exceeding feeble and unable to reſiſt the many Enemies which do ſurround it. This Aſſembly ordained that beſides the free Portion which it ſhould receive as well as others out of the Dividend for the ſaid Province of Dolphiny, It ſhall have alſo an half portion free out of the Common Stock of all the Churches until the ſitting of the next National Synod.
11. Hierome Quevedo a Spaniard, eſcaped out of the Priſon of the Inquiſition demanded ſome relief that he might live in the profeſſion of the Goſpel. This Aſſembly ordered him an Hundred Livres out of the common Moneys of the Churches, which ſhall be put into the hands of the Conſiſtory of Montpellier to pay him Quarterly a Portion, that ſo he may learn ſome honeſt Trade whereby to gain a livelyhood. Which Summ ſhall be continued to him or taken from him as the Conſiſtory of the Church of Montpellier ſhall judge of his Deportments.
12. Lawrence Joly one of the Exiled Proteſtants of the Marquiſate of Salluces having brought Letters from the Church of Guilleſtre (which is compoſed of the poor Refugees of the ſaid Marquiſate) unto this Aſſembly, did moſt humbly petition that they might have a Portion of the Moneys granted us by the King for the maintenance of a Paſtor, becauſe they are in hopes that it may allure and attract a great many others who are groaning under that ſore and heavy perſecution in the Marquiſate, and doe hunger after the Bread of Life, and ardently deſire the Inlargement of Chriſt's Kingdom, to quit and forſake it. This Aſſembly in the Dividend of its Moneys will ordain a ſupernumerary Portion for the ſaid Church of Guilleſtre.
13. Monſieur Guingonis ſhall be aſſiſted with Ten Crown out of the common Moneys belonging to the Province of Province. And as for Mr. John Dury Student in Divinity, the Province of Lower Languedoc is ordered to provide for him according to the Canons of our National Synods; and in the mean while he ſhall receive Twenty Crowns out of the Moneys appropriated to the ſaid Province of Lower Languedoc, that ſo he may quit this Town and remove to Montauban.
14. Anthony Verdier formerly a Prieſt in the County of Avignon had Six Livres given him that he might depart hence unto Grenoble.
15. The Church of St. Paul Trois Chaſteaux demanding ſome Relief to ſet up a School among them, and to help build their Temple, were diſmiſſed over to the Province of Dolphiny, which is exhorted to have a ſpecial care of that Church.
16. Monſieur John Perier Paſtor of the Church of Paillac in Auvergne did on behalf of his Church complain againſt the Provincial Synod of Burgundy, for not giving him the Portions granted by the National Synod of Privas, and requeſted that they might be joyned unto Sevennes. As for their Incorporation with the Province of Sevennes this Aſſembly ſends them back unto the Synod of Burgundy, to whom they ſhall deliver this Petition of theirs; and take out thence an Act to be preſented unto the next National Synod. And whereas Two Portions were aſſigned the ſaid Church of Paillac, the one of them ſhall be free and diſcharged of all Rates and Taxes whatſoever, and the other ſhall be of the ſame Nature with thoſe of the other Churches in the Province of Burgundy.
17. There was ordained the Summ of Forty and Eight Livres to be paid unto the Sieurs Guarin, Reſſens, Gabet and Mercurin Paſtors, to witt, Twelve Livres to each of them for Eight Days they have tarryed in this Town at the Commandment of this Aſſembly; which ſaid Summ ſhall be paid them by the Lord of Candal out of the common Stock of the Churches.
18. Monſieur Blewett remonſtrated on behalf of the Church of Martille, the great Expences they have been neceſſitated and enforced to by reaſon of the many and frequent changes of Paſtors, impoſed upon them by the Province of Burgundy which hath utterly diſabled them to maintain the ſaid Mr. Blewett, their preſent Miniſter. The Province of Burgundy is exhorted to take care of this matter; and 'tis enjoyned to give unto the Church of Iſurtille one Portion and half of the Kings Money until ſuch time as they be reimburſt of their Moneys expended about the change and removal of their Miniſters.
Of this Joly ſee Caſtres. AA. 50. Of Appeals. Catalogue of Depoſitions. Act. 9.19. Mr. James Joly Paſtor of the Church of Milhaud having made report unto this Aſſembly of the great charge lying upon him, and eſpecially for that the Family of his Brother being deſtitute of all Relief muſt now be maintained by him. This Aſſembly to teſtifie their Charity and Compaſſion towards them, ordaineth, That a free Portion ſhall be aſſigned the Province of Higher Languedoc, which ſhall deliver it unto the ſaid James Joly, and this Order ſhall be in force and continue till the next National Synod.See App. 24. And as for the Papers which contain the Acts and Eccleſiaſtical proceedings againſt Mr. Hector Joly, and were produced in this Synod, they ſhall not be reſtored to him, but ſhall be kept according to the appointment of this Aſſembly.
20. The Petitions of the Church of Iſſoyre were preſented by Monſieur le Blanc their Paſtor.2 Vitre. g. m. 28. This Aſſembly ordained that the concern of the ſaid Church ſhall be recommended unto our Lords the General Deputies attending upon His Majeſty. And the Portions attributed unto the Churches of Iſſoyre, and of the Mountains of Auvergne ſhall be continued them until the next National Synod. And whereas they demand maintenance to be allowed them for a Colledge: This Aſſembly cannot at preſent make any alteration in the Decrees of the Synod of Vitre, nor can it poſſibly reſtore the new Colledge in Auvergne, except Almighty God ſhould out of his Soveraign Mercy be graciouſly pleaſed to augment the number of our Churches.
21. The Church of Beaune is ordained to ſatisfie Monſieur Blewett for his ſervice among them whilſt he was their Paſtor,Vigeac. 33. and till they do this they ſhall not be provided of another Miniſter.
22. The Church of Marſeilles, and Monſieur Reſſens their Paſtor complained that of the Moneys given them by former National Synods, there is a very conſiderable Summ owing them from the Province of Provence, and this by the Judgment of the Univerſity-Council of Niſmes; which was appointed by the Synod of Lower Languedoc, with full and abſolute Authority from the National Synod of Vitre to judge of this Affair. This Aſſembly commiſſionated the Sieurs Joly, de Benes, and Boiſleroy to Audit thoſe Accounts, who reported that they found the Province of Provence indebted unto the Sieur Reſſens the Summ of One Thouſand Six Hundred Livres, Sixteen Sols and Ten Deniers unto the Seventh of December laſt, the Rights of the Receiver of the ſaid Province being deducted. This Aſſembly ordained, That there ſhould be paid unto Monſieur Reſſens in ready Money the Summ of Five Hundred Livres by the ſaid Province, and whereas there remaineth due One Thouſand, One Hundred, Twenty and Three Livres, Sixteen Sols, and Ten Deniers, this ſhall be payd him alſo either in ready Money, or Moneys-worth at the next Colloquy of Gapenſois, which is ordered to make good payment, and to produce his Acquittances, and farther to allow the ſaid Monſieur Reſſens for his Expences in theſe Expences both at Grenoble and elſewhere in executing the Decree of the ſaid Univerſity-Council of Niſmes, for which the ſaid Province of Provence ſhall give him Thirty Livres.
23. Divers defaults having been obſerved in the Government of the Churches of Provence, 2. Vitre. Act. 16.as appeared from the Acts of their Synods which were read openly in this Aſſembly, and from a particular Inquiry made thereinto, by the Province of Lower Languedoc which Was Commiſſionated by the laſt National Synod of Vitre to viſit the ſaid Province. Now that theſe great Diſorders may be prevented and avoided for time to come, theſe following Canons were firſt framed, and then injoyned the ſaid Province of Provence, to be moſt exactly obſerved in every Point and Article by it.