The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 24 (1st Charenton) · Chapter 22 – Chapter 23
CHAP. XXII. Of UNIVERSITIES and COLLEDGES.
1 A Motion was made about reducing the Number of our Univerſities unto two, and this by ſeveral Provinces, that ſo they might be the better furniſhed with Profeſſors. After it had been debated the Synod came to this Reſolution, that for the preſent nothing ſhould be either innovated or altered either as to Number or Place, but as they were ſo they ſhould continue fixed at Saumur, Montauban. and Niſmes.
2. Profeſſors who have ſerved in our Univerſities this preſent year 1623. ſhall be payd their Sallaries as heretofore.
3. This Aſſembly conſidering the Poverty of our Churches, and how neceſſary it is for us to be good Husbands of His Majeſties Liberality, ordaineth that for the future the Profeſſors place in Greek ſhall be ſuppreſſed, as being ſuperfluous and of ſmall profit.
4. Whereas formerly the Office of Principal in our Univerſities was diſtinct from all other Offices, It ſhall be for the future ſuppreſt, and the ſuperintendency of the Principal over the Colledge ſhall be conferred upon ſome one of the Profeſſors or Paſtors according as the Univerſity Council ſhall think fitteſt, and he ſhall alſo receive the Summ of One Hundred Livres yearly, and his Lodgings in the Colledge.
5. No Wages ſhall be given in our Univerſities unto a Printer.
6. The Door-keeper and Bedell's Office may be united in one, and he ſhall have but ſixty Livres yearly.
7. To the Univerſity of Niſmes ſhall be given for the future the Summ of Eighteen Hundred Livres, viz. for two Profeſſors in Divinity each Seven hundred Livres, and to the Hebrew Profeſſor four hundred only.
8. Monſieur Codur who is at preſent Profeſſor of Hebrew in the Univerſity of Niſmes ſhall have our hearty thanks for his great pains taken hitherto in his Office, and ſhall be preferred unto the Church of Bernix to be their Paſtor, or to any other, as the Colloquy or Provincial Synod ſhall judge convenient. And beſides the Portion appropriated unto that Church wherein he may officiate, there ſhall be continued to him that Portion granted him by this until the ſitting of the next National Synod. And whereas Mr. Petit was formerly Profeſſor of the Greek, he ſhall be henceforward Profeſſor of the Hebrew Tongue in that Univerſity.
9. There ſhall be given to the Univerſity of Montauban the Summ of Three Thouſand Four Hundred and Fifty Livres, To each of the two Profeſſors in Divinity the Summ of Seven Hundred Livres, To each of the Two Profeſſors in Philoſophy Four Hundred Livres, Beſides Eight Hundred and Fifty Livres more are ordered unto the ſaid Univerſity until the next National Synod, and no longer; nor ſhall this be drawn in conſequence, as a preſident for time to come.
10. For the Univerſity of Saumur there ſhall be delivered out the Summ of Four Thouſand one Hundred Livres, viz. for two Profeſſors in Divinity to each Seven Hundred Livres, for one Profeſſor in Hebrew Four Hundred Livres, for two Profeſſors in Philoſophy to each of them Four Hundred Livres, for the Principal of the Colledge One Hundred Livres, for the Regent of the firſt Claſſis Four Hundred Livres, for the Regent of the Second Three Hundred Livres, for the Regent of the Third Two Hundred and Fifty Livres, for him in the Fourth Two Hundred and Ten Livres, for him in the Fifth Nine Score Livres, and for the Bedell and Door-keeper Sixty Livres.
11. And foraſmuch as in each of our Univerſities there is at preſent but one Profeſſor in Divinity, This Aſſembly decreeth that the Summ of Two Thouſand One Hundred Livres for the Three vacant Profeſſions ſhall be detained in the hands of the Lord du Candal from out of the Second and Third Quarters of the year 1624, to be diſtributed among thoſe Profeſſors who ſhall be eſtabliſhed. And in caſe the ſaid Offices ſhould not be provided for, or ſome one of them ſhould remain vacant, The ſaid Lord du Candal ſhall diſtribute that Summ detained in his hands among the Churches.
12. The Orders to be expedited for paying the Sallaries of our Profeſſors and Regents ſhall be Given and Signed by the Rector and Univerſity Council, and ſhall have this clauſe expreſly inſerted in them that the ſaid Regent and Profeſſors were all of them in actual Service.
13. This Synod alſo deſirous to make ſome Canon that may be obſerved about admiſſion of Students in Theology, who are to be maintained by the Provinces, it doth therefore decree that for the future, the Provinces ſhall take ſpecial care in the choice of Scholars whoſe Exhibitions are to be payd them by the Colloquies, becauſe they are hereafter to ſerve in the Sacred Miniſtry, above all looking to their Lives and Converſations, to their Capacities and Underſtandings, and to their Natural Gifts and Parts, and ſtrictly to examine the Atteſtations of Conſiſtories and Colledges, in which they have been converſant: And they ſhall not admit any into this number but ſuch as have finiſhed their Courſe in Philoſophy, and who ſhall prove it by producing their Letters of Maſterſhip in the Arts, or ſome other equivalent Teſtimonials, nor ſhall they receive any without good and valid ſecurities for reſtitution of the Summs received in caſe of Apoſtacy, and diverſion or promotion to another Calling, beſides that of the Miniſtry. And that we may proceed in the ſaid Choice with the more and greater Caution, and that Perſons of mean hopes may not be nominated, the ſaid Scholars ſhall not only be examined by the Colloquies who preſent them, but alſo by the Provincial Synod. And that they may be retained within the bounds of their Duty, the Colloquies or Provinces who ſend them unto the Univerſities to be their Seminary and Nurſlings, ſhall inform the Univerſity-Councils, and the Council of the Schools of them, that they watch over them continually, and take a moſt eſpecial and ſignal care of them above all others, and not to give them at any time leave to wander or travel abroad, or to remove elſewhere without having firſt conſulted their Colloquies. And the Profeſſors ſhall be obliged to examine them yearly twice at leaſt, and give faithful notice unto their reſpective Colloquies of their Converſation and Studies, and Miniſters Children ſhall be preferred above all others, caeteris paribus.
14. The Province of Anjou preſented the Account of the Univerſity of Saumur for Three Quarters of the year, 1620. for the whole year 1621, and for Three quarters of the year 1623. But foraſmuch as they did not bring with them any Acquittances or Evidences to juſtifie the ſaid Accompt. This Aſſembly being thereby diſabled from examining and concluding it, hath diſmiſſed it over to the Colloquy of Higher Poictou, which ſhall audit it, and give in an Accompt thereof unto the next National Synod. In the mean while whereas in the disburſement of the ſaid Accompt there appears in divers Articles a Notorious diverſion and Abuſe and Alienation of the ſaid Monies, This Aſſembly ordereth that the Summs imployed in the ſaid Accompt for the Printers Wages, the Tax impoſed on ſome of the Regents, for a Gallery in the Temple, for repairing one of the Profeſſors Lodgings ſhall be immediately razed out, and detained from the ſaid Province of Anjou, ſaving alwayes unto them a full power of re-demanding thoſe Moneys from ſuch as had ordered their disburſements, whoſoever they were.
15. The Province of Orleans and Berry brought in the Accompt of their Colledge ſettled at Chaſtillon upon the Loir for the years 1621, 1622, and until the 12th, of May 1623. which was allowed and approved. And the Province of the Iſle of France may lend them Four Hundred Livres out of their Colledge-Moneys, until ſuch time as they can fix on a convenient place where to Erect it.
16. The Province of Poictou brought in the Accompt of the Colledge of Niort for the years 1620, and 1621, and by a ſtop put on the ſaid Account in the Province, the ſaid Colledge ſtood indebted the Summ of three hundred Livres, which were never diſtributed, becauſe that Colledge was ſuppreſt by Order of His Majeſty; for which three hundred Livres that Province muſt hereafter be accountable.
17. The Province of Lower Guyenne did not bring in any Accompt for the Colledge of Bergerac ſince the MonethMonth of March 1620, becauſe His Majeſty had given expreſs order, that they ſhould not have a Penny payd them.
18. The Province of Xaintonge brought in their Accompt for the Colledge of Rochefoucault for the year 1620, which was not approved. And whereas the ſaid Province complained that they received nothing for the years 1621, and 1622, though yet they maintained their Colledge all that time. This Aſſembly ordaineth the ſaid Province to tender unto the next National Synod an Accompt of their disburſements in thoſe years, who ſhall give them ſomething in conſideration thereof.
19. The Province of Sevennes rendred no Accompt for the Colledge ſettled at Anduze by the National Synod of Alez, becauſe they never received a farthing token ſince its Erection. And whereas they now require to be reimburſed all their Coſts and Expences ever ſince the Eſtabliſhing of their Colledge, This Aſſembly ordaineth them to bring in their Accompt unto the next National Synod, who will do for them as is meet.
20. The Province of Britain preſented their Accompt for the Colledge Erected at Vitre ever ſince the Synod of Alez unto this time, and makes Receipt both of Four Hundred Livres given it by that National Synod, as alſo of two hundred Livres more which the ſaid Province was bound to furniſh yearly towards the maintenance of the ſaid Colledge, and the ſaid Accompt was approved and allowed.
21. The Province of Vivaretz brought in no Accompt for the Colledge ſetled at Privas by the Synod of Alez, becauſe they received juſt nothing although they bore the Charges of its Eſtabliſhment and Maintenance; for the Re-imburſement or which Summs they requeſting ſome ſpeedy and careful courſe might be taken, they were diſmiſſed over to the next National Synod, who would do for them as was meet and convenient.
22. The Province of the Iſle of France preſented an Accompt which had been tendred the laſt March unto their Synod for ten years beginning in 1613, and ended the laſt December, 1622. But inaſmuch as they produced neither Evidences and Acquittances to clear and juſtifie the disburſements in that Accompt, as they were injoyned by the laſt National Synod: The Commiſſioners could not proceed to examine and cloſe it. This Aſſembly judgeth the ſaid Province of the Iſle of France to have incurr'd a ſevere Cenſure for deſpiſing the threats of the laſt National Synod, and for not perfecting their Accompt of Moneys given towards the maintenance of their Colledge: And commands them immediately after the meeting of their next Provincial Synod to bring in their Accompt unto the Colloquy of Roan, which by Authority from this Aſſembly ſhall examine it, and make report thereof unto the next National Synod, on pain of loſing their Right and Title unto a Colledge.
23. The Province of Dolphiny brought in their Accompt for the Univerſity of Dye, which was allowed and approved.
24. The ſame Province alſo brought in their Accompt for the Colledge ſettled at Ambrun, and produced ſeveral Acquittances, by which it appeared their disburſements on it were far more than the Moneys given by the National Synod for it. This Aſſembly approving of the ſaid Accompts, exhorts the City of Ambrun to carry their Acquittances unto the Provincial, that ſo the Provincial may bring them unto the National Synod.
25. This Aſſembly rejected the Excuſes made by the Province of Normandy for not bringing in their Accompts of their Colledge, and they be charged to be more careful for the future, and not fail to bring in their Accompt unto the next National Synod, both for what is paſt and will enſue till that time.
26. The Province of Lower Languedoc declared that they could not give an Accompt for their Colledge at Beziers becauſe ſince the ſitting of the National Synod at Alez, they never received a Denier towards it.
27. The Province of Burgundy preſented their Accompt for the Colledge ſetled at Pont de Velle, but having brought no Acquittances, they were ordered to carry them back with them; and to tender them in due and better forme unto the next National Synod.
28. The ſame Province alſo brought in their Accompt for the Colledge of Gex for the years 1617, 1618, 1619, 1620, and 1621, which was allowed and approved, and there was granted an Augmentation of an Hundred Livres more unto the ſaid Colledge.
29, There was no Accompt brought in by the Province of Provence, though they had been expreſly obliged to it by the laſt National Synod of Alez. Wherefore they be injoyned to produce it unto the next National Synod on pain of forfeiting their Right unto a Colledge. And the Deputies of Dolphiny and Lower Languedoc, as they have been by a former Decree of this preſent National Aſſembly injoyned, ſhall go in Perſon unto the Synod of that Province, and particularly inform themſelves of the State of the ſaid Colledge, and whether that Province hath diſcharged their Duty with reference to it or no.
CHAP. XXIII. The Accompts of the Lord of CANDAL.
1 THE Seurs Baſnage and le Clerk, Paſtors, du Port and du Four Elders having been conſtituted a Committee to audit the Lord of Candals Accompts, do report, that examining and peruſing of them, he makes himſelf Debtor for the Summ of Four hundred, fourſcore and eighteen thouſand, eight hundred twenty five Livres, Received for the laſt Quarter of the year 1619, and for the years 1620, and 1621. And out of the ſaid Moneys he hath disburſed the Summ of Four hundred fourſcore and eighteen thouſand eight hundred and fifty Livres, ten Sous, and four Deniers. So that there would be owing the ſaid Lord of Candal the Summ of five and twenty Livres, ten Sous, and four Deniers. But it muſt be obſerved that in the ſaid disburſement there is included the Summ of one hundred threeſcore and nine thouſand eight hundred forty and two Livres, two Sous and two Deniers, whereof there was made repriſal in ready Money in the ſaid Accompt, and not received from the Quarters of October in the years 1619, 1620, and 1621, on theſe terms that he continued his diligence, care, and labour for the recovery thereof, that ſo it being got, a Dividend might be made thereof among the Churches; And the ſaid Lord of Candal ſhall bring in Evidence unto the next National Synod of his care and diligence for the recovery of the ſaid Moneys, and how he ſhall have diſpoſed of them.
2. Moreover in the ſaid disburſement there is included the Summ of Six thouſand five hundred and eighteen Livres, one Sous, and four Deniers, which was forborn him in four Ar icles of the ſaid disburſement for want of Acquittances from the Receivers of the Provinces of Provence, Britain, and Colledge of Bergerac, which he is ordered to produce before the next National Synod.
3. Moreover the ſaid Lord of Candal produced the Acquittances of thoſe Parties which had been forborne him on the former Accompts rendred by him unto the National Synod of Alez, by reaſon whereof the ſaid Parties are now diſcharged.