The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 28 (3rd Charenton) · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. APPEALS.
1. THE Churches of Divonne and Grilby, in the Land of Gex, appealing from a Judgment in pecuniary matters, their Appeal is according to the Diſcipline ſent unto the Province of Burgundy: And the Deputies of that Province, are Ordered to take into their Cuſtody all Papers of both Sides relating to it.
2. That right may be done the Church de la Fite upon their Appeal, this Aſſembly judgeth, that the Province of Lower Guyenne hath exceeded the ſtated Rules. Firſt, In removing Monſieur de Bourdieu from the Church in that Town, unto which he was by a particular Covenant obliged, and without hearing the Church, as is evident from the Acts of the ſaid Provincial Synod. 2. For fixing the ſaid Monſieur de Bourdieu, abſolutely in the Church of Bergerac, notwithſtanding the Appeal of that of La Fite. 3. That when the ſaid Church of La Fite re-demanded their ancient Paſtor, they provided for them Monſieur Belon, a Perſon never deſired by them, and againſt whom very many Members of the ſaid Church made their Exceptions, as being one by whom they could not profit. Wherefore that ſaid Province and all others, are forbidden for the future, to uſe any ſuch manner of dealings; and the ſaid Province is enjoyned to comfort and accommodate the ſaid Church of la Fite, as ſoon as poſſibly they can, by providing a Paſtor for it, who may be more pleaſing and acceptable to them than Monſieur Belon, and to ſettle the ſaid Belon in ſome other place, where he may employ his Gifts more uſefully. And whereas Bergerac is a Church of no ſmall importance, and its Neceſſities are very great and urgent, and Monſieur de Bourdieu is exceeding Succeſsful in his Miniſtry there, this Synod doth approve of his being in that Station, and confirmeth him in the Paſtoral Office of that Church. And whereas the Lord of Rabas, his Majeſties Commiſſioner in the Synod of St. Foy, who made this Change, hath complained by Letters, that the Act of Monſieur de Bourdieu's Removal was paſſed before a Publick Notary, an Anſwer was Voted to be returned, aſſuring him how great Deference this Aſſembly hath for his Lordſhip's Perſon and Quality, and to the truth of that Teſtimonial rendred by the Deputies of Lower Guyenne concerning what was tranſacted in their Provincial Aſſembly, and that whilſt Judgement was paſſed upon the ſaid Appeal, that Act was not in the leaſt regarded.
3. Upon Hearing the report of the Committee, who were ordered to inſpect the Appeal of Monſieur Reynault, Paſtor of the Church of Realville, and the Proceedings againſt him by the Synods of Mauvezin and Realmont, this Aſſembly conſerving the Honour of his Miniſtry untainted, and confirming the Judicial Acts of the Province, to whoſe care and kindneſs, he is yet notwithſtanding particularly recommended, doth exhort him to enjoy his Quietus the remainder of his Days, that in caſe his many and frequent Sickneſſes ſhall not permit him to go through with the Duties of his Calling, yet he may Edifie the Church of God by his Exemplary Life and Converſation.
4. Report being made by the Commiſſioners, appointed to examine the Letters and Memoirs of Monſieur Moyſnier, who appealed, becauſe the word of Cenſure was not inſerted into the Act of the Synod of Higher Languedoc, and had formed a Complaint againſt the Sieur Crubel: This Aſſembly, as to the firſt Article judgeth, that his Appeal was ill grounded. And as for his Complaint, in as much as he never gave notice of it unto Monſieur Crubel, it ſhall be carried unto the Conſiſtory of the Church of Montauban, to whom the care of reſtoring him unto his charge is particularly recommended.
5. The Colloquy of Condommois appealing from the Synod of Lower Guyenne, for taking to themſelves the Cognizance of Monſieur Rival's Complaint, and of that of the Province of Bearn, and not having ordered any Perſon to appear for them, nor ſent any Memoirs whereby to ſuſtain their Appeal, this Aſſembly declareth the ſaid Appeal null and void, and the Appealers worthy of the greateſt Cenſures, for having by a kind of Chicanery of Law, obſtructed the final Deciſion of that Affair; and requireth the very next Synod of that Province to give Judgment on it, and not only to denounce the Cenſures, but to ſee them as zealouſly executed, and to exert their Authority; that whatever Legacies have been heretofore, or may be hereafter bequeathed unto the Church of Marſan, be punctually and faithfully applied according to the Intention of the Teſtators; and that the right of Alternation expreſsly declared in this Teſtament, be kept inviolably for the Province of Bearne.
6. Memoirs ſent from the Church of St. Hippolite were read, in which they maintained their Appeal from the Decree of the Synod of Sevennes, who had forbidden them to ſeek after Monſieur Poujade, now in the Miniſtry of the French Church of Canterbury in England. And the Deputies of the Province produced and alledged the Reaſons of their Prohibition; and the whole affair having been maturely conſidered and debated, this Aſſembly confirmeth that Decree from which they have Appealed, and forbids that Church of St. Hippolyte of ever any more entertaining a Thought for the ſaid Poujade; and this alſo ſhall be obſerved as a ſtanding Rule by all the Churches of that Province.
7. Although the Appeal of the Conſiſtory of the Church of St. John de Gardonengues be not of the nature of thoſe things which are to be brought unto theſe Aſſemblies, yet nevertheleſs this Aſſembly deſirous of the Peace of that Church, and for the procuring and effecting of it, hath took cognizance thereof; and vacating the Judgment of the ſaid Synod of Sevennes, which had approved that Monſieur Bony the Younger, ſhould erect a Seat for himſelf in the Temple, directly contrary to the advice of the Conſiſtory, retaining the ancient Cuſtom of that Church. It Declareth, that excepting the Lords and Magiſtrates, and Judges of that Place, every one ſhould be at liberty to ſit where they pleaſed. And it is farther Ordained, that in all ſuch like caſes, every Conſiſtory ſhall have full Power to Act and Provide what will be moſt for the Peoples Edifying, without any Appeal at all from them. And that for the future, no Appeals of this kind ſhall ever be admitted into the National Synods.
8. The Acts of the Synod of Sevennes, and a Letter written from Monſieur Tubert, complaining of his being Depoſed from the Holy Miniſtry, without ever confronting of the Witneſſes, being all read, and the Deputies of that Province heard, who had no Memoirs given them by their Principals for juſtifying of their Judgment, the Aſſembly diſmiſſed this Cauſe to the Cognizance of the next Synod of Lower Languedoc, and enjoyneth the Parties to appear in Perſon before it, and to bring with them all their Acts and Evidences that may ſerve to the clearing up of this matter, and impowereth the ſaid Synod to give forth a final Judgment on it.
9. The Appeal of the Church of Brenoux, concerning their Conjunction with that of Laval, is diſannul'd; becauſe that ſuch Matters as theſe about Uniting one Church unto another, are to be judged Sovereignly without Appeal, by every Provincial Synod.
10. The Church of Vixan Appealed from the Synod of Sevennes, for rejecting their Petition, when they craved leave to get for themſelves a Second Paſtor. This Aſſembly diſannulleth their Appeal, becauſe that the ſaid Church had not ſent any Memoirs for the upholding of their Appeal, and becauſe the Ground of it is now wholly removed.
11. That Sentence pronounced by the Provincial Synod of Lower Guyenne is confirmed in all its Branches and Articles, and the Conſiſtory of Tonneins hath incurred the greateſt Cenſure, for having (under the pretext of a particular Counſel offered by the ſame Synod unto the Church of Bergerac, and propounded by them as an Example to be followed by all others in the Province,) deprived Monſieur Fevron (who now Appealed) of a Right acquired by him through a long and uninterrupted Poſſeſſion, without any Complaint brought in againſt him. 2. For Suſpending Monſieur Fazas the Younger, maintaining his Father's Right; yea, ſince he had entred his Appeal, without any the leaſt regard had unto his Father's unjuſt Depoſal from his Office in the Elderſhip. 3. For refuſing to notifie unto the Church, the Reſtitution of the ſaid Monſieur Fazas, unto his Office, whom they had Depoſed, although the Provincial Synod had ordered them ſo to do, and that according to the Canons of our Diſcipline. Moreover this Aſſembly Decreeth, that the Judgment of that Provincial Synod ſhall be fully and moſt effectually performed; and that the Paſtors and Elders of the Church of Tonneins, who ſhall not acquieſce in it, ſhall be Cenſured and Suſpended from their Offices by Monſieur Brignos, (another Copy hath Brinol) Paſtor of La Parande, who was ordered by the Provincial Synod to inflict the Cenſures on them. And the Lord of St. Blancard, by reaſon that his Houſe is Situated on the other ſide of the River, ſhall be at liberty to joyn himſelf unto that Church which is neareſt to him. And farther, all Conſiſtories are ſtrictly forbidden to bring any Appeals of this Nature unto theſe National Synods; and although it be not our Intention to trouble our Selves with particular Cuſtoms, which have obtained in the Churches, about ſeating of Perſons in our Temples, yet we do declare our Judgment, that there are leſs and fewer Inconveniences in leaving them free to all Comers, than to aſſign them unto particular Perſons of a Private Condition, who have no Right nor Priviledge to arrogate and claim unto themſelves a preheminence above any others.
12. This Aſſembly deſiring to preſerve thoſe Lords who have the priviledge of high Juſtice, and other Gentlemen in the poſſeſſion of thoſe Advantages granted them by the Edict, and doing right unto the Lord of Marcaſſargues, upon his Appeal, Ordaineth, that the Province of Sevennes ſhall yield unto his Lordſhip's Demand, upon thoſe Conditions expreſſed in his Memoirs, and produced by him in this Aſſembly, to wit, that the Paſtors ſhall come unto his Houſe at his Charges, and without prejudice to thoſe Religious Exerciſes, which are to be performed formed on certain Days of the Week; and that there be the like Conſideration had for Perſons of the ſame Quality and Character.
13. A Man going by the Name of Michael, dwelling at St. Stephens de val Franſciſque being Condemned by the Provincial Synod of Sevennes, to ſeparate himſelf from the Niece of his Deceaſed Wife, whom he had eſpouſed, Appealed unto this Aſſembly; who having conſidered the Caſe, judged that Monſieur Sauvage the Paſtor, and the whole Conſiſtory of St. Stephen's, had deſerved the greateſt Cenſures for their Diſreſpect ſhewn unto the Laws of the Land, and the Canons of our Diſcipline, in publiſhing the Banes of the ſaid Michael, and afterwards for having given him a Certificate of their Publication. The Synod alſo of Sevennes was juſtly blamed for admitting a Fellow ſo deep in Guilt, and engaged and reſolved to continue in his Sin, to take an Oath in their Preſence. And the Sieur Auſez is ordered to appear before the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc, and to be accountable unto them for what he hath done in this buſineſs. And the ſaid Michael and his Wife are commanded to give Glory unto God, and to refrain each others Company, and no more to wound their Conſciences, by continuing in a Life ſo Scandalous, Condemned by the Word of God, and the Statute Laws of the Kingdom. And whereas the ſaid Conſiſtory of Saint Stephens, have took upon them by their Letters to maintain the Cauſe of theſe Delinquents, and that there is very much reaſon to ſuſpect, that the Signature of Monſieur Barjon, affixed to the Lower end of the ſaid Letters is Counterfeited, they ſhall be all carried to the next Synod of that Province, which ſhall inform themſelves of the matter of Fact, and in caſe the Suſpicion be found to be well grounded, they ſhall immediately proceed to cenſure the Perſon or Perſons guilty of this Forgery.
14. The Acts and Memoirs ſent from the Sieur de Combalaſſe, and thoſe Joyning with him on the One Party, were read in this Aſſembly; and on the other, the Deputies of the Province of Higher Languedoc were heard, giving in the Reaſons of that Judgment, which the Provincial Synod held at Mauvezin, had prononuced, both againſt the ſaid Sieur de Combalaſſe, and thoſe who had Accuſed him. Whereupon the ſaid Judgment was Confirmed in all its Articles and Members. And foraſmuch as there have been very many Defaults in the Proceedings on all Hands, which deſerve a Cenſure, it was Decreed, that ſith the Miniſtry of the ſaid Sieur de Combalaſſe can be no longer Edifying to the Church of Realmont, he ſhall be removed from it, and another Paſtor Subſtituted in his Stead. And whereas upon Reading thoſe Acts produced, divers Articles of Accuſation appeared, which were not ſufficiently cleared nor proved, the Colloquy of Albigeois is charged at their next Meeting; as alſo the Synod of higher Languedoc, to reviſe this matter, and to take new Information thereupon; and as things alledged, ſhall be averred and proved, to apply the Cenſures appointed by our Diſcipline.
15. Monſieur Guyonnet, Paſtor of the Church of Chaſtillon upon Seine, having Appealed unto this Synod, that right might be done him, a Decree paſt, that he ſhould continue to ſerve the ſaid Church one Year however, until the Meeting of the Provincial Synod of Burgundy; upon the breaking up of which, he ſhall be at full Liberty. And the Sieur de Carouge ſhall be ſent unto the Church of Beaune, to continue there for a time, and at the departure of the ſaid Monſieur Guyonnelt, he ſhall be ſettled in the Church of Chaſtillon, as its peculiar Paſtor.
16. That Judgment pronounced by the Province of Berry, upon the Sieur de la Galere, was Confirmed, and his Appeal from it diſannulled; yet foraſmuch as the ſaid Province, and that of Anjou, in which he hath heretofore exerciſed his Miniſtry, have given him an Honourable Teſtimony; this Aſſembly Decreeth, that he ſhall be left upon the Roll of Paſtors, who are by the National Synod to be diſtributed among the Churches, and ſhall be imployed in ſuch an One as the good Hand of God ſhall direct him to.
17. The Sieur Codure, formerly Paſtor and Profeſſor of Divinity in the Church and Univerſity of Niſmes, having ſent Letters with a Diatribe of his, Dedicated unto this Aſſembly, in which he pretends to reconcile the Differences between the Proteſtants and the Church of Rome concerning Juſtification, and demanded Audience of it: According to his Requeſt, he was admitted to propound the Reaſons and Motives of his Deſign. Which having done, there was a moſt ſerious Remonſtrance made him of the great wrong he had done; Firſt, Unto the Truth of God, in taking upon him to reconcile Contradictory Opinions, and utterly inconſiſtent one with the other. And then Secondly, How injurious he was unto the Proteſtants, in oppugning as erroneous their common Confeſſion, that ſo to their prejudice he might advantage the Romiſh Church, which doth notoriouſly confound Two of the greateſt Bleſſings of God, and inſeparable one from the other, though yet always diſtinct in themſelves; to wit, The Sinners Abſolution before the Tribunal of God, upon the account of the Merits of Chriſt Jeſus, his Obedience imputed to him, and Regeneration wrought in the Heart of Man, by the Sanctifying Operation of the Holy Ghoſt. And Laſtly, how much an Enemy he was unto himſelf, in Forſaking his Miniſtry, and the Cure of Souls, to become an Advocate of ſuch a Vile and Ungodly Cauſe as is this of the Papacy, which is altogether unreaſonable in him, for that he undertakes things impoſſible. But he ſtill proteſting that he never intended to, and never would depart from the Orthodox Creed profeſſed in our Churches, and offered to purge and acquit himſelf from all Suſpicions that might be had of him by his Voluntary Subſcribing the principal Articles of the Doctrin of Truth, from which he was ſuppoſed to have ſwerved and declined: They were thereupon offered to him; which when he had as freely and in general Signed and Subſcribed, as he had offered to do it, yet it being done with heſitation for ſome time, and this alſo attended with ambiguous Expreſſions, the Aſſembly was conſtrained to doubt of his Sincerity; and it was the rather feared, for that after the Subſcription required, he reſolutely refuſed to follow his Vocation, and the Counſel of his Brethren, diſcovering an unworthy Diſdain and Scorn of that Holy and Honourable Employment in the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, whereunto in his Younger Days he was called by God. All which conſidered, the Synod interdicted him all the Offices of the Sacred Miniſtry, and of the Profeſſion of Theology, and injoyned both the Province, and that particular Church where he conſtantly Reſideth, to Watch over his Deportments, and to give an accompt of him and his Converſation unto the next National Synod, which may, according to what Teſtimonials they ſhall receive of him, and his future Carriage, proceed unto his Reſtauration.
18. The Sieur Roux, coming with Letters and Memoirs written by Twelve Perſons (or thereabout,) in the Name of the Conſiſtory of Aymargues to ſuſtain their Appeal, which he and others who had Deputed him, had made from the Judgment paſt againſt them in the Synod of Lower Languedoc; and on the other ſide, an Appeal of Monſieur Sigillory, Paſtor of the Church of Aymargues being read, and the Deputies of that Province heard, giving an Account of the Reaſons of their Judgment; this Aſſembly Declared, that thoſe Appeals ought not to have been brought unto it, nor ſhould the Provincial Synod have ſuffered it, and doth therefore diſmiſs the Cognizance of their Affair, to the Provincial Synod of Sevennes. And whereas divers matters have been alledged, but not proved againſt Monſieur Sigillory, concerning violent Actions pretended to have been done by him, bitter and injurious Words uttered in his ordinary Talk and Diſcourſes, Sermons fraught with Invectives, Perverſe and Unworthy Wreſtings of the Word of God; the Conſiſtory of Sauva is Commiſſionated to ſend Deputies unto his Church, and to inquire and inform themſelves of theſe things, upon the Places where they have been ſaid to be uttered and acted, and to make report of the whole unto the ſaid Synod, which ſhall have full power to diſpoſe of the Miniſtry of the ſaid Sigillory, according as will moſt contribute to the Edification of God's Church.
19. The Church of Duras having demanded of the Province of Lower Guyenne, that Monſieur Thoroud might be beſtowed upon them for their Paſtor; and being denied their Requeſt, they brought in an Appeal from them unto this Aſſembly, but ſent no Memoirs at all for the upholding of it. The Church of Leyras alſo oppoſed their Petition, and requeſted of that Provincial, and of this National Synod, that it might not be deprived of the Miniſtry of their Paſtor, the ſaid Monſieur Thoroud. Upon the whole, the Judgment of the Provincial Synod was Confirmed, and the Sieur Thorold fixed in the Paſtoral Office of the Church of Leyras, and the Appeal of the Church of Duras declared null and void.
20. Whereas the Lord de la Baume complained by Word of Mouth, and produced Letters and Memoirs from Four Elders, and a great many Heads of Families living at Saint Foy, and who were Appellants with him, oppoſing the Settlement of Monſieur Privat, in the Paſtoral Office of their Church, and petitioning that Monſieur Alba (who was ſet at Liberty by the laſt Synod of Lower Guyenne, to officiate in his Majeſties Army in Germany, under the Conduct of his Excellency the Lord Mareſchal de Turenne as his Chaplain,) might be given to them as their Paſtor. And the Sieur Guyon Paſtor of the Church of Bourdeaux being heard ſpeak on behalf of his Province, and the Sieurs Privat and Alba for what particularly concerned themſelves: And the Aſſembly being well aſſured of the Conſent of Mademoiſelle de Bouillon, (who remitted in her Brothers Name the Lord Mareſchal of Turenne, whatever right he could lay claim unto in the Miniſtry of the ſaid Alba,) and condeſcending to the deſire of the Plaintiffs, and to put a final end to all their Complaints, did Ordain, that thoſe Miniſters aforeſaid, the Sieurs Privat and Alba ſhould ſerve joyntly the ſaid Church of St. Foy; and that the ſaid Church may be fully ſettled, and its divided Members mutually and perfectly reconciled among themſelves in a cordial Peace and Union, the Sieurs Garriſſoles and Daraſhus are Commiſſionated and Expreſly ordered as they return unto their own Province to ride over unto St. Foy, and to uſe all poſſible means for the Peace and Repoſe of the ſaid Church; and in caſe they be not able to remove all the Obſtructions, and to ſurmount all the Difficulties which may occur, the Synod of higher Languedoc is nominated and appointed to hear all Parties, and to put a final Period to their Contentions, by his laſt Judicial Sentence from which there ſhall be no Appealing.
21. The Sieur Pejus Appealed from divers Judgments paſt upon him by Synod of Berry, in purſuance of an Act made on his Account, in the laſt National Synod of Alanſon. This Aſſembly declareth his Appeal not admittable, and ordaineth that the next Synod of Berry ſhall exert their Authority, and ſee that all his Arrerages due from the Church of Argenton be paid him Honeſtly, and without delay at the rate of Three Hundred and Twenty Livers a Year; and that for the future they do conſtantly furniſh him with Three Hundred and Fifty Livers Yearly. And in caſe of any default herein, that then the ſaid Pejus ſhall be ſet at Liberty, to provide for himſelf in any other Church either within or without the Province.
22. The Lady Dutcheſs of Trimouille, having deſired Audience of this Aſſembly, which was granted her; ſhe propoſed, that it was very needful for the Peace and Welfare of the Church of Vitre in Brittain, that the Sieurs Petre and Jortain its Paſtors ſhould be removed from it, becauſe of the Miſunderſtandings and Diviſions, which have been between them for many Years together. Moreover the Province of Anjou requeſted, that the Church gathered at Terchant (which was only joyned for ſome time to that of Vitre, by the National Synod held there in the Year 1583,) might be reincorporated with that of Laval, becauſe the ſaid Church of Terchant lieth, and is ſituated in the County of Laval, and was from its firſt Foundation United to, and a Member of that of Laval. The Deputies of the Province of Brittain were alſo heard ſpeak on behalf of their Synod, who reported how oppoſite the Intentions of the Lady of Montmartin were unto this Separation, becauſe the Diſcords between the Paſtors, had divided the Body of the Church of Vitre; which being at length tired with their Contentions and Debates, in which they have been unavoidably ingaged through their Means, did entreat by Letters the Lady Dutcheſs of Trimouille to get them diſcharged from their Miniſtry in it. This Synod Decreeth, that according to the deſire of the ſaid Lady Dutcheſs, thoſe Two Paſtors who have hitherto ſerved in the ſaid Church of Vitre, ſhall be transferred elſewhere. And that Monſieur Jortan ſhall be ſent unto the Church in the Iſle of Gaſt and Laſſay, provided the ſaid Monſieur Jortane and the Church do Conſent unto it; and the Church of Vitre, ſhall be provided of a Paſtor, adorned with Gifts and Graces meet for their Edification. And as for that of Terchant and Vieuville, the Sieurs Baſnage and de L'Angle, together with the Sieurs Gueſdon and Caillard, or in caſe of their Lawful Hindrance, then two other Paſtors, and Two Elders, Members of the Colloquy of Conſtantin, taking with them the Memoirs and Acts brought hither unto this Synod from the Church of Vitre, ſhall paſs over to it at the Charges of the ſaid Church, and ſhall proceed to Cenſure thoſe Perſons, whom they find guilty of theſe Diviſions. And they ſhall ſend Monſieur Petre to the Church of Terchant and la Vieuville; and that they may effectually compoſe the Diſcords which do trouble the Church of Vitre, they ſhall endeavour to gain the Conſent of the Lady of Montmartyn, for the ſettling of Monſieur Petre, in the ſaid Church of Terchant, and to yield unto the Diſmembring of the ſaid Church from that of Vitre, and diſpoſe the ſaid Lady to follow the Intention of this Aſſembly: And they ſhall give an Accompt hereof unto the next National Synod.
23. Monſieur Huron, Paſtor of the Church of Barbigneres, ſent Letters with his Appeal from the Synod of Lower Guyenne, which had interdicted him the publiſhing of ſome certain Diſcourſes of his about State Affairs, becauſe they did not conceive them to be any wiſe Edifying unto the Church of God. This Aſſembly Declareth, that the ſaid Appeal ought not to be admitted, nor can it be of right brought before it; and farther, the ſaid Huron is injoyned to acquieſce in the judgment of his Province.
24. Monſieur Charron Advocate in the Parliament of Bourdeaux, and Elder of the Church of Bergerac, Complained and Appealed from the Synod of Lower Guyenne, by the Mouth of the Lord of Pyrarede, with whom he had depoſited his Memoirs. This Aſſembly reverſing the Judgment of that Provincial Synod, taketh off the Cenſure which was inflicted on him by the Colloquy of Perigord, there being an Error in it, and declareth that the Conſiſtory of Bergerac hath acted very ill in their Proceedings; and that the Sieur Jacob Tourneau having carried himſelf ſo unnaturally and unhumanly to his own Father, as is publickly and notoriouſly known to the whole World, ought not to have been choſen unto the Office of an Elder in that Church of Chriſt.
25. The Synod of Higher Languedoc ſhall judge finally of that Appeal brought by the Church of Saint Foy, which was condemned by the Synod of Lower Guyenne, to pay the Arrerages due unto the Heirs of the Sieurs Heſparian and Mizaubin their Deceaſed Paſtors for their Work and Service in the Miniſtery among them.
26. The Appeal of Monſieur Crane ſhall be ſignified unto the Conſiſtory of St. Maixant, and by them carried unto the Synod of Xaintonge, who ſhall by the Authority of this Synod paſs a final Judgment on it.
27. Mr. Giles Marchand, Advocate in the Parliament of Rouen, preſented a Petition unto this Aſſembly, requeſting that there might be ſome Alteration made in the Government of the more Populous Churches of this Kingdom; and he Complained, that becauſe he had inſiſted on ſuch like Propoſals, he was Suſpended from the Lord's Supper by the Conſiſtory of the Church of Rouen; and this Sentence of Suſpenſion was Ratified by the Authority of the Provincial Synod of Normandy. Anſwer was return'd him in theſe Words, that the National Synod injoyned him to abandon theſe his Deſigns and Fancies which could never be effected according to his Intentions. And inaſmuch as he hath promiſed to acquieſce in what ſhall be here Ordained; if he do, let him be again admitted to Communion with the Church at the Lord's Table.
28. The Sieur de Coutures Appealing from a Judgment given by the Iſle of France; and not ſending any Memoirs to abet and maintain it, his Appeal is declared null and void.
29. Le Sieur Touſſaints de Rouſſannes Appealing from the Synod of Lower Guyenne, for giving leave to the Sieur de Blancard, to ſit ordinarily among the Elders in the Church of la Fite, (which they did out of reſpect to his Old Age, and many Infirmities; and becauſe of thoſe conſiderable Services he had done the Church of la Fite;) and not ſending any Memoirs to ſuſtain his Appeal, it was declared null.
30. Thoſe Appeals of the Churches of Navarrins and Ortez from the Judicial Sentence pronounced in the Synod of Bearn held at Lambeze are declared null.
31. Monſieur Rondel who had been Depoſed from his Office of Elder by Sentence of the Conſiſtory of Vitre, which alſo was Confirmed by another of the Provincial Synod of Brittain, having Appealed from them, ſhall declare his Grievances unto the Sieurs Baſnage and de L'Angle, who are Commiſſionated by this Aſſembly to remedy thoſe diſorders in the Church of Vitre, and to judge finally of thoſe matters, without any Appeal from them.
32. The Sieur Aymin, at preſent Paſtor in the Church of Manoſques Appealed from the Synod of Dolphiny, held in the Year 1642, at Nyons, which had by their Decree removed him from his Miniſtry in the Church of Die, and given him liberty to provide himſelf elſewhere, either within or without the Province, according as the good Providence of God ſhould direct him. The Aſſembly having heard him open particularly his Grievances, and the Anſwers made unto them by the Deputies of that Province, doth Confirm the Decree of the ſaid Synod of Nyons, and at the requeſt of thoſe aforeſaid Deputies, doth in compliance with the ſaid Province and Church of Die, now ſettle him in the Church of Manoſques; nor may he on pretence of any Bargain and Agreement made betwixt him and the Church of Die, demand or claim a Farthing from them for the time in which he hath exerciſed his Miniſtry among them. And farther, Licenſe is given unto the Church of Manoſques, to provide themſelves of another Paſtor, as God ſhall give them Ability and Opportunity for ſo doing, either within or without the Province, in caſe the ſaid Aymin ſhall leave them deſtitute and unſupplied, to follow his Suits at Law, which he hath already, or may hereafter Commence, or in caſe he ſhall Abandon them without their Conſent firſt had and obtained.
33. The two Synods of Poictou and Xaintonge, having agreed and joyntly conſented to the Uniting of the Churches of Champagne-Mouton and St. Claud, and after reading thoſe Letters ſent from the Right Honourable the Earl of Rouſſy (by whoſe Contribution the ſaid Church of Champagne-Mouton is principally maintained,) and who requeſted that Monſieur Ferrand might be continued in his Miniſtry there, notwithſtanding the means uſed by the Church of Courtelles to remove him thence, and gain him for themſelves; as it appeareth by their Letters, Appeal and Memoirs ſent unto this Synod for this very end and purpoſe. This Aſſembly confirmeth the Union of thoſe ſaid Churches of Champagne and St. Claud, and Ordaineth the Synod of Poictou to take all poſſible care for the ſpeedy ſupply of the Church of Courtelles, by ſome able and worthy Miniſter, who may be for its Edification. And on default hereof, the Church of Courtelles ſhall be reincorporated with that of Champagne and St. Claud, and ſhall be ſerved alternatively by the ſaid Monſieur Ferrand, who alſo ſhall aſſiſt alternatively at the Synods of Xaintonge and Poictou.
34. Monſieur Homel, Deputy for the Province of Vivaretz, came charged with the Memoirs of the Univerſity of Die, and declared in the audience of this Synod, the Grievances they had ſuſtained by Judgments paſt upon them the 21st Day of March, 1638, and the 7th of March, 1643, by the Conſiſtory of Lion, to whoſe Cognizance the Difference betwixt the ſaid Univerſity and Monſieur Aymin had been remitted, upon occaſion of an Accompt which ſhould have been rendred by him of a certain buſineſs, with the management whereof he was intruſted by that Univerſity: And the ſaid Mr. Aymin was heard in his Anſwers to them. Upon the whole, this Aſſembly amended theſe Judgments aforeſaid, and hath regulated and reduced the Payments to be made unto the ſaid Aymin, to Sixty Sous by the day for his Journeys, and thoſe Days to the Number of Six Hundred, Fifty and Nine; ſo that the Sum due for them, amounts to Sixteen Hundred Forty and Seven Livers, and Ten Sous. Moreover it is Ordained, that thoſe aforeſaid Judgments of the 21ſt of March, 1638, and the 7th of March, 1643, ſhall ſtand good for thoſe other Sums, which have been adjudged him, ariſing to Seven Hundred, Forty and Seven Livers, Seven Sous; out of which there ſhall be deducted the Sum of Two Hundred and Ten Livers received by Monſieur Aymin, and couched by himſelf in his Accompt of the 4th of January, 1638. And the Sum of an Hundred and Thirty Livers, Five Sous, which he received of the Conſiſtory of Lyon, March the 27th, 1634, together with the Sum of Eight Hundred, Thirty and Four Livers, Sixteen Sous, owned by him on account of the 17th of January, 1642, all thoſe Payments amounting to the Sum of 2982 l. the ſaid Mr. Aymin ſhall reſtore and make Payment out of them the Sum of Five Hundred Eighty and Seven Livers, Four Sous, unto the ſaid Univerſity; and of all other Sums received by him, which he never charged, nor brought in himſelf Debtor for on his Account; as alſo all Papers, Deeds, and Inſtructions belonging to the Univerſity of Die, and lying by him and in his Cuſtody, he ſhall Surrender to them.
35. Whereas the Univerſity of Saumur, have brought in an Appeal, upon a buſineſs of Monſieur Forbes their Profeſſor of Eloquence, it is declared null.
36. The Appeal of the Church of Laſſay about their Paſtor Monſieur Rouvean is declared null.