The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 18 (3rd Rochelle) · Chapter 11 – Chapter 12
CHAP. XI. Particular Matters relating to the Provinces of the Iſle of France, Picardy, and Champagne.
Article the Firſt. MOnſieur Du Bois the younger, addreſſing himſelf unto this Aſſembly, to prove his Liberty, in being freed not only from the Church of La Ferté au Vidame, and its annexed Congregations, but alſo from the Province of the Iſle of France and Champagne; after peruſal of the Acts of the Colloquy and Synod of the ſaid Provinces; he was declared free, and to be diſpoſed of elſewhere, according to the Rules of our Diſcipline, as this Synod ſhall judge meet, and in the mean while he may continue the exerciſe of his Miniſtry in the Church gathered in the houſe of the Lady de la Barre.
Article 2. The Provincial Deputies of Burgundy, Lyonnois and Foreſt complaining that Monſieur le Faucheur at preſent Miniſter of the Church at Nonnay in Vivaretz, had quitted the ſaid Church and Province, without ever having his Legal Diſmiſſion from them, and therefore demand that he be remanded back unto the Church of Dijon. And the Deputies of Vivaretz being heard, who required the confirmation of his Miniſtry unto the Church of Nonnay: And the Deputies of the Iſle of France demanding him for the Church of Paris, and thoſe of Sedan alſo petitioning that he might be aſſigned to them for their Paſtor: And the Deputies of Dolphiny producing Articles of Agreement made between them and the ſaid Faucheur, in conſequence whereof they claimed him for the ſervice of the Church in Grenoble. This Synod in no wiſe approving thoſe Articles of Agreement, and finding that the Province of Burgundy hath a juſt right unto him, though yet it was not abſolute, and that neither the Churches of Paris or Sedan have any the leaſt pretext of claim unto him; It therefore uſing that power and authority which they have over him, who ought as Paſtor to be reſponſible unto this Aſſembly, doth confirm him as fixed Paſtor unto his own Church of Nonnay, without ever ſuffering either his Father or himſelf to pretend unto any right for the future of leaving that Church, or to be given unto any other.
Article 3. The Church of Chaſtillon on the Loir petitioning that Monſieur Solais might be given them for their Miniſter, the Synod did not judge it reaſonable to grant them their requeſt, becauſe he was not diſcharged by the Province of the Iſle of France, whereunto he belongeth. But the Province of Orleans and Berry are ordered out of hand, and with as much conveniency as they can, to provide a Paſtor for the ſaid Church.
Article 4. Monſieur de Montigny demanding in the name of the Province of the Iſle of France, that Mr. de la Touche the Elder ſhould reimburſe the Church of Paris the Moneys laid out by them for his Education when he was their Scholar; or that he be ſent back again unto the ſaid Province, therein to exerciſe his Miniſtry. This Aſſembly ordaineth, That the hundred Livers given by him unto the Church of Compiegne, ſhall be deducted, and allowed him in the Account; and farther ordaineth, that he bring in his Account by the hands of his Brother, a Miniſter in the ſaid Province, unto their next Provincial Synod, that the remainders of his Debt may be ſeen and known, as alſo what may be owing him from the Moneys of his Majeſties Liberality; which Account being thus Audited, thoſe who have the Arrearages of that Moneys in their hands, ſhall be bound to make good payment of it.
Article 5. Monſieur de Montigny requeſted on behalf of the Church of Paris, that Monſieur Ferrier might be given them for their Miniſter. The Synod having heard the Deputies of Lower Languedoc, and conſidered the Call given the ſaid Ferrier by the Church of Niſmes, judgeth that he cannot be conveniently removed from Niſmes, and farther enjoyns him to diſcharge with care and diligence his Office of Paſtor and Profeſſor there. Whereupon the ſaid de Montigny renewed with greater importunity his demands, that Monſieur le Faucheur, and Monſieur Peyrol might be given unto the Church of Paris inſtead of le Ferrier. The Synod judged it inexpedient to alter its reſolution, ſo lately taken about le Faucheur, nor to come to a new one about the ſaid Peyrol, conſidering his Office of Paſtor and Profeſſor in the Church and Univerſity of Montpellier. And he being farther urgent with them for Monſieur Chave, the Synod replied, he was not at their diſpoſal, becauſe he wholly appertained unto the Church of Geneva.
Article 6. A Propoſition was made about the expediency of reducing the number of our Univerſities, ſeveral Brethren judging them to be too many, and that the Profeſſors and Regents in them might be leſſened and fixed, and that a general ſum might be aſſigned to them, becauſe that of Saumur demanded an Augmentation. The Synod not being able at preſent to come to a ſtated reſolution on theſe Articles, ordered all the Provinces to be ready with their thoughts about them againſt the next National Synod.
Article 7. And that the poor Churches of this Kingdom may be relieved with the greater eaſe and advantage; ſuch Churches as are of ability to maintain a Colledge, ſhall bring with them an Account of what they can do, without the aſſiſtance of the publick: That ſo an eſtimate may be taken of what may be added to compleat and perfect our Univerſities. And the Provinces bordering on the Univerſities already erected, are intreated to watch, over ſee and viſit them, and to certifie the Approaching Synod, of the duties or defaults of their reſpective Regents and Profeſſors. And in the mean while it was not judged convenient to beſtow on that of Saumur the Augmentation demanded by them; but it was deferr'd until the next National Synod.
Article 8. Monſieur de Montigny and Poupart inſtantly demanding Monſieur Bede to be given at leaſt for ſome time as Miniſter unto the Church of Paris. The Synod having heard the ſaid Bede, and Monſieur de Burges Elder of the Church of Loudun, did not find it reaſonable to deprive them either for a time, or for ever of the Miniſtry of their ſaid Paſtor.
Article 9. The Synod proceeding in their diſtribution of Paſtors, freed from all ingagements, did grant Monſieur du Bois to be the Miniſter unto the Church of Laval in the Maine.
Article 10. Monſieur du *Alias Merlin.Moulin demanding whether Dory Lord of Grateloupe might be readmitted into fellowſhip with the Church, he continuing in that Marriage ſtate ſolemnized between himſelf and the Grand-daughter of his late Wiſes Siſter, becauſe it was allowed by the Judicial Court at Nerac, which had regiſtred the Licenſes granted him by his Majeſty. This Synod duly pondering all circumſtances, and divers other matters propoſed about it, have determined, that both himſelf and Wife may be reconciled unto the Church, and received into Communion, provided that they be firſt admoniſhed of the fault committed by them, and alſo, that it be notified unto the people that we do not at all approve of this Marriage.
Article 11. The Deputies of the Iſle of France moving about the five hundred Crowns, which were drawn from them by the two Paſtors of the Church of Mantes and Fountainbleau: This Synod conſidering the ſupernumerary portions aſſigned unto the ſaid Province and their Annexed Congregations, judgeth that they have no reaſon to complain for what is paſt, and for the future it doth order five ſupernumerary portions more to be aſſigned unto the ſaid Province, for the better relief of thoſe two Churches of Mantes and Fountainbleau.
Article 12. And farther, it enjoyneth the ſaid Province to cauſe thoſe two Paſtors to conform themſelves unto the Diſcipline of our Churches, and to reſt contented with the ordinary ſtipends, received by the other Paſtors of that Province; and in caſe they do not acquieſce in the Authority of this Synod, they ſhall be proſecuted according to the Canons of out Diſcipline.
Article 13. The Deputies of ſeveral Provinces inſtantly demanding that ſome Colledges might be erected for the educating our Youth in good Learning before they be ſent unto the Univerſities: This Synod hath granted unto all the Provinces in which there be no Univerſities, the ſum of one hundred Crowns each, towards the ſetting up of Leſſer Schools, wherein Children may be trained in Grammar-Learning: And the Provinces are charged to bring in their Accounts of their faithful diſpoſal of this Money unto the next National Synod.
Article 14. The Province of Burgundy is ordered to call the next National Synod within two years, and in caſe the ſaid Province cannot conveniently nor ſafely do it, then the priviledge of ſummoning it, ſhall be devolved on the Province of Poictou: And the two years are thus limited, to commence the firſt of May next enſuing.
CHAP. XII. The Roll of Depoſed Miniſters.
1. IN Xaintonge Monſieur Conſtantin, a man of indifferent ſtature, whoſe face and skin are of Olive-colour, his eyes ſomewhat great, a ſmall red beard, and about forty years of age.
2. In the Province of Anjou, Theophilus Bluett, otherwiſe de la Combe, tall of ſtature, black hair, large whiskers on his beard, when he ſpeaks he bends down his eye-lids, aged about thirty nine.
3. In the Province of Poictou Baptiſt des Touches, near ſixty years of age, of a middle ſtature, his beard black, mingled with gray, of an Olive complexion: A fellow utterly unlearned.
4. In the ſame Province, Oliver Enguerrand, Apoſtate, about thirty years of age, of a middle ſtature, pretty full fac'd, having no beard.
5. In the Province of Normandy, James de l'Obel, alias du Val, born at St. Lo, heretofore Miniſter in the Baylywick of Giſors, tall of ſtature, brown hair, a meagre viſage, aged about five and forty or fifty years.
6. In the Province of Lower Languedoc, Samuel des Planteuit, alias de la Pauſe, formerly Paſtor in the Church of Beziers, about ſeven and twenty, or eight and twenty years of age, full viſag'd, and pur-blind.