The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 20 (Privas) · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Of Particular Matters.
Monſieur Archimaud came unto this Aſſembly with Letters from ſeveral perſons living in the County of Veniſſe and Archbiſhoprick of Avignon, and with Letters alſo from the Lord of Saint A…ban, requeſting that according to a Decree made in their Synod at Montdragon, held by his Majeſties authority, they might be admitted to ſit and vote among us as another Province, and farther, that they might be aſſiſted with ſome Moneys, at leaſt to help forward the meeting of their Arbitrators, as it had been agreed by them. This Aſſembly accepting of their Agreement with us in the Confeſſion of faith owned in all the Churches of this Kingdom, doth profeſs to embrace them in this Union as dear Brethren, to whom they are ready to impart all Chriſtian Love, and are ſorry that they cannot in this Aſſembly, which is purely Eccleſiaſtical, give them the priviledge of being a diſtinct Province, that belonging properly to a Political Aſſembly, unto which for this purpoſe they muſt apply themſelves; and farther, we cannot at preſent aſſiſt them with any Relief Suitable to their neceſſity, by which this Aſſembly might give them a ſolid and ſubſtantial token of that good will it bears them: However the effects and fruits thereof according to our ability ſhall be manifeſted upon all occaſions. And their Affair at Court was moſt affectionately recommended to our Lords General Deputies reſiding near their Majeſties.
2. Monſieur de Vialle Lieutenant Criminal of Montauban tendred Letters unto this Aſſembly, humbly petitioning that the Sieur Chamier Paſtor of Montlimard might be beſtowed upon the Univerſity of Montauban, to read and Profeſs Divinity in it. And the Lord du Pleſſis alſo at the ſame time did by the Sieur Perillau demand him for the Univerſity of Saumur to be Profeſſor there. But upon hearing the Deputies of the Church of Montlimard, and the Deputies of the Province of Dolphiny, who produced Letters from Monſieur de Gouvernett by the hands of Monſieur de Chambaud, and preſented them unto this Aſſembly, they declared againſt the Intereſts both of Montauban and Saumur, becauſe of their particular right and title unto Monſieur Chamier, and they urged farther that by the Decrees of three National Synods he could not be removed from his Church; And having heard the proteſtation of Monſieur Chamier, declaring that he had no inclination to remove, and that he would leave himſelf wholly to the diſpoſal of this Aſſembly; for divers Conſiderable reaſons, notwithstanding all theſe oppoſitions it was reſolved that the Sieur Chamier ſhould be put into the diſtribution of Paſtors and Profeſſors, And the Church of Montlimard ſhould be provided of another Paſtor.
3. There being a very great difference between the Churches of Niſmes and Vallence about Monſieur Murdt recalled by the Church of Vallence to be their Paſtor, as the Aſſembly was compoſing and determining it, the Sieur Mallamont Elder of the Church of Niſmes came in, and accuſed that Act of the Colloquy of Niſmes preſented by the Sieur Banſillon as falſe and forged, who yet avouched the contrary, and tendred for proof thereof the whole Act of the ſaid Colloquy, but not ſigned. This Aſſembly not being able to Judge of the pretended forgery, remanded back the ſaid Banſillon and Mallamont unto the next meeting of the Colloquy of Niſmes, there to end the difference betwixt them, and the ſaid Colloquy is enjoyned on pain of Cenſure always for the future to ſee their Acts Subſcribed and Atteſted.
4. Monſieur, Richaud Paſtor of Mazac preſented unto this Aſſembly Letters from his Father, broken with age and poverty, requeſting that his portion of Moneys from the Kings bounty might be ſent unto him into the Lower Languedoc, where he deſires to retire and end his days: This his requeſt was granted. And the Province of Lower Languedoc is injoyned to pay in the firſt place before any other Paſtor without the leaſt diminution the ſaid Monſieur Richaud his portion aſſigned him as Paſtor, and as every other paſtor hath or ſhall have, according to what may be hereafter decreed in this Aſſembly.
5. Information was given in to this Aſſembly that in the Province of Higher Languedoc there were divers Paſtors, who did not reſide in their Churches. Whereupon that Province was expreſly injoyned to ſee to it that every Paſtor might have a dwelling houſe, and perſonally reſide with his Flock, and that they Cenſure the diſobedient, excepting the Sieurs Bichetteau and Richaud, according to the report made in this Aſſembly by Monſieur Malleret Deputy of the National Synod of St. Maixant, who was Commiſſionated to go unto the very places, and to take notice of all the difficulties pretended or real on this Subject.
6. The Sieur du Puy Paſtor of the Church of St. Stephen and St. Marcellin in Forreſt demanding in the Name of his Church to be ſeparated from the Province of Burgundy, and joyned to that of Vivaretz, and alſo to be aſſiſted with portions, and ſome other ſums of Money, for the better ſupport of his Church, which is threatned with utter ruine: This Aſſembly doth readily grant them their deſire, and that they ſhall be ſeparated from the Province of Burgundy, and be joyned to that of Vivaretz, and ordereth that three annual portions be given them for their Relief in cafe of neceſſity, which ſhall be paid them without abatements until the next National Synod.
7. The Sieur Mozé Miniſter of the Goſpel, having complained in this Aſſembly, that he was ſuſpected in the Aſſembly of Saumur to have driven on ſome ſecret deſigns at Montellimard againſt Monſieur Chamier, tho without any ground or occaſion on his part; and the ſaid Monſieur Chamier having declared that at his return from the ſaid Aſſembly, he could not meet with any evidence whereby to convict the ſaid Mozé: This Aſſembly doth aſſent unto the truth of what is declared by the ſaid Mozé, and it ſhall be improved as is Meet and Equitable, for his ſervice; but withal it cannot but take in ill part the actings of the Synod of Dolphiny, which diſcharged him from one Church without giving him another.
8. The Colloquy of Uſez is charged to paſs over unto Niſmes, and to demand of that Conſiſtory the Original Letters of Captain Gautier which Monſieur Ferrier avoucheth to be among the Papers of that Conſiſtory: And to this purpoſe the Copy which the Sieur Faye deliver'd into this Aſſembly was put into the hands of Monſieur Chamier, who promiſed that he would tear in pieces both that Copy and its Original, according to the deſire of this Aſſembly.
9. The Sum of two hundred Livers was ordered unto Andrew Chanforan Son of Monſieur Chanforan Paſtor of the Church of Pouzain, and to be paid by the Province of Provence, in lieu of an exhibition which the ſaid Province was obliged to allow the ſaid Andrew as a Propoſan, ſince the laſt Synod of Rochell until that of St. Maixant; and whereas Monſieur Chanforan the Father demands of the ſame Province certain Arrears of Moneys granted by the King, and received by the Sieur Callian upon the portion aſſigned to the Church of la Coſte, whereof he was a member in the year one thouſand ſix hundred and eight, this Aſſembly ordaineth that the aforeſaid Province ſhall pay in unto the ſaid Monſieur Chanforan the ſum of two and forty Livers, claimed by him both for his Arrears, and from the Church of Muil, which was annexed unto that of la Coſte, ſaving always to the ſaid Church of la Coſte their power of producing an Acquittance under the hand of the ſaid Chanforan, and to the Province thereof redemanding ſix Crowns upon the portion of the Church of Muil, as annexed to that of la Coſte, and the aforeſaid ſums amounting to two hundred and fourty two Livers, ſhall be taken out of the firſt Moneys which become due unto the Province of Provence.
10. Monſieur Perrin is deſired to review his Hiſtory of the Albingenſes which hath been peruſed by our Commiſſioners, and to preſent it finiſhed unto the Synod or Dolphiny, that according to the deſire of this Aſſembly it may be printed.
11. The demand of Gilbert Vernoix Printer at Bergerac about a recompenſe for his having Printed ſome certain books, is remanded back unto the Synod of Lower Guyenne, that he may be ſatisfied, as the ſaid Synod ſhall think meet.
12. The Deputies of Poictou requeſting that the Province of Normandy might fulfil that Promiſe made by them in the National Synod held at Gergeau, for the relief of Monſieur de Vatable, who is overwhelmed with extream poverty, and to whom there is due the ſum of an hundred Livers by the Church of Luneray: This preſent Synod ordaineth that the ſaid Province of Normandy do fully content and ſatisfy the ſaid Vatable, and pay one half of what is due unto him out of their own purſes, and take up the other half from the Church of Luneray, in which he was Miniſter.
13. The Deputies of Xaintonge redemanding from the Province of Poictou two Churches ſaid by them to have been ſevered from their Province, are remanded back again unto the ſaid Province of Poictou, before whom they ſhall open their complaints, and in caſe they cannot agree among themſelves, they ſhall refer the difference unto a neighbour Colloquy or Synod, with full power to compoſe it.
14. The Deputies from the Churches in the Principality of Bearn, having preſented their deſires according to the Inſtructions given them by their own Synod in Writing; This Aſſembly replies unto their firſt Article, that they cannot approve of the actions of ſuch Provinces, as hinder their Students in Theology from Studying in the Univerſity of Bearn, and it accepts alſo of the Recommendations given by thoſe Deputies of the Church of Bigorre, of Souilles and of Aſtaingues: And as to their ſecond and third demands, they were adviſed to obſerve the Canons of our Church-Diſcipline; and as to the laſt Article in their Inſtructions, this Aſſembly can give them none other anſwer than this, that it highly applauds of their Zeal and good affection, and leaveth them to their liberty of ſending to our National Synods either one or more Paſtors and Elders.
15. The Sieur Beauvay complaining by Letters of the Province of Higher Languedoc for not fulfilling that decree of the National Synod of St. Maixant, which enjoyned the ſaid Province to pay him the ſum of one hundred Livers owing him by the Sieur Durdes a Miniſter in the ſaid Province: This Aſſembly ordaineth that the ſaid hundred Livers ſhall be detained in the hands of the Lord du Candall, or of his Deputy, to be given unto the Sieur Carthaud Paſtor of Diep in Normandy, that he may pay them unto the ſaid Sieur de Beauvais.
16. The Sieur Champoleon demanding by Letters from this Aſſembly to be reimburſt of his expences of his Journey from Saumur to Dolphiny, and from Dolphiny back again to Saumur, where he found the Aſſembly broke up, and which Journey he undertook at the command of the ſaid Aſſembly: This Synod orders him to have recourſe unto another Political General Aſſembly for his anſwer.
17. Relation being made in this Aſſembly of thoſe unheard of Riots committed by the Sieur de Tremoulet, in the Church of Serveſt in Vivaretz, the Colloquy of Annonay is ordered to meet as ſoon as poſſible they can, and to examine the matter of fact, and by the Authority of this Synod judicially to cenſure and condemn it. And in the mean while, the Paſtors ſhall Aſſemble the Conſiſtory of that place, and Summon before them the ſaid du Tremoulet, and all his Partners in that Scandal, and in caſe of their non-appearance, immediately to ſuſpend them from the Lords Table, and to denounce this their ſuſpenſion publickly before the whole Congregation.
18. Report being made of the extream Poverty of Mr. William Papin, who was diſcharged from his Miniſtry, and is now Emeritus, and at preſent reſiding in Dolphiny; this Aſſembly gives him freely one portion free of all Taxes for his Subſiſtence, which ſhall be drawn out of the Province of Vivaretz, where he once ſerved, and given unto the Province of Dolphiny, with order that they pay it him punctually.
19. The Churches of the Baylywick of Gex reported by their Deputy the Sieur du Pain, how that they were diſpoſſeſſed of all their Antient Church-Lands and Stock, and that their Temples wherein they worſhiped God, were taken from them, notwithſtanding all their Petitions and Endeavours to preſerve them. This Aſſembly gave expreſs order to our Lords the General Deputies in Court, that they be very urgent with their Majeſties, that the twelve hundred Crowns granted unto the ſaid Churches, and taken from the five and forty thouſand Livers of Augmentation lately given unto our Churches, may be paid out of ſome other Fund, and that the ſaid Augmentation-Moneys may come in wholly and freely without cloggs and defalcations unto our Churches: And farther, that the Churches of Gex may be aſſiſted with ſome Relief towards their Building of other Temples.
20. The Church of Montpellier was cenſured for ſeeking Monſieur de Faucheur to be their Paſtor by oblique and very unbecoming ways: And the Church of Annonay alſo fell under the ſame Cenſure for driving that unworthy Bargain with the ſaid Church of Montpellier.
21. The Lords General Deputies informed this Aſſembly how that the Church of Bergerac deſerting the Union of our Churches, had by undue means procured to themſelves the ſum of fifteen hundred Livers out of the five and forty thouſand Livers of Augmentation towards the maintenance of their Colledge, to the great prejudice of all our Churches, and eſpecially of their own Province. This Aſſembly judgeth them worthy of the greateſt and ſevereſt Cenſures, and enjoyneth their Provincial Synod to make them yield up that Warrant gotten by them for the ſaid ſum: And in caſe of their refuſal, the ſaid Synod ſhall denounce unto them by the Authority of this Aſſembly, that their portions out of the King's Moneys ſhall not be paid them, but detained in the hands of the Receiver General of the Province: And if it be found that any one of their Paſtors have tampered in this Diſunion, they ſhall be ſuſpended from their Charges, and all the other Delinquents ſhall be cenſured as Schiſmaticks and Deſerters of our Union: And farther, it is ordained, that none of their Paſtors or Elders ſhall be received as Members of the Provincial or National Synods, until ſuch time as they have fully ſubmitted themſelves to our common Order, and ſo receive their portions in the uſual and ordinary ways which are appointed them.
22. The Affairs of the Churches in the Principality of Bearn are particularly recommended to the care of our Lords General Deputies at Court.
23. The Province of Dolphiny having not brought in to this Aſſembly the Account of their diſtribution of the Charity-Moneys gathered, and depoſited with them for the poor Refugees of the Marquiſate of Salluces, as they were enjoyned :This Aſſembly doth once more command and enjoyn them, on pain of Cenſure, to perfect the ſaid Account, and to bring it in to the next National Synod. And whereas in conſequence hereof the Sieur de la Combe preſented an Acquittance which the Provincial Synod held at Ambrun the ſeventeeth day of June, One thouſand ſix hundred and ten, had given hi Aſſeſſor, Guyonne and Jullien Scribes, the aforeſaid Sieur de la Combe is diſcharged by this preſent Aſſembly of the ſums of ſeventeen hundred fifty nine Livers and eleven Sous, which had been delivered to him in the National Synod of St. Maixant by the Provinces of Berry and Brittain, by whom alſo the ſaid Sieur is acquitted, he having depoſited them in the hands of the Province of Dolphiny.
24. A difference having riſen between the Church of Sezane and the Sieur Normund, Paſtor of Beleſme, about ſome Moneys which the ſaid Normund had received in the name of the Church of Sezane, he having viſited them in hopes to be called unto the Miniſtry among them, the Deputies of the Iſle of France were appointed to compoſe it; which Agreement now perfected by them, is approved and confirmed by this Aſſembly, and it ordains, that the ſaid Sieur Normund do out of the Moneys received by him, reſtore ſixty Livers unto the ſaid Church, and pay it for their uſe into the hands of Monſieur Montigny, Paſtor of the Church of Paris, and this within three months, within which time alſo the ſaid Church ſhall reſtore unto the ſaid Normund his Books and Clothes in their cuſtody, and ſo they ſhall give mutual Diſcharges and Releaſes unto one another.
25. The Deputies of Anjou demanding reimburſement from the Province of Brittany of moneys expended by them, and paid by the Church of Saumur towards the maintenance of Giles Driſonieurs formerly a Monk in the Province of Brittany; and the Province of Brittany conteſting with them to the Contrary. The whole affair is diſmiſſed over to the Province of Normandy which is finally to determin it.
26. Monſieur Moulin having tendred unto this Aſſembly a Latin book made by him upon the controverſy with Piſcator concerning juſtification, The Sieurs Sonys, la Freſnaye, le Faucheur, and Bonnett, were ordered each of them to peruſe and read it, and make report of it, who gave in a very honourable Account of it, as containing ſound and orthodox Doctrine, and contributing very much unto the Churches Edification; whereupon Monſieur du Moulin had the thanks of the whole Aſſembly given him for his great labours taken in the conference at Paris on this Article in defence of the Truth. Yet nevertheleſs leſt that reunion projected in this Aſſembly ſhould be retarded, it adviſeth him not to publiſh it, till the ſitting of the next National Synod; during which time he ſhall ſend a Copy of his book unto every Province, that ſo this matter being more carefully examined, it may come forth with general Approbation and Satisfaction.
27. The difference between the Iſle of France, and le Sieur de le Touche Paſtor of Mouchamp in Poictou is diſmiſſed over to the next Provincial Synod of Berry, who by authority of this Aſſembly ſhall put a final period to it.
28. A Letter was read from the Inhabitants and Conſiſtory of the Town of Clerac, and their demands heard alſo by the mouth of Monſieur Ricotier their Paſtor: But this Aſſembly devolved the whole matter over to the next General Politick Aſſembly, then and there to be provided for according to the Decree of the laſt Aſſembly of Saumur, 1611.
29. The Sieur Bigot having tender'd Letters from the Church of Paris, earneſtly requiring that the Sieur Chauve, Miniſter of the Church of Sommieres, might be given them for their Paſtor, as alſo the Letters of the ſaid Chauve written unto the ſaid Church of Paris. This Aſſembly judgeth that the deſire of the Church of Paris cannot be gratified, conſidering the great oppoſition made by the Province of Lower Languedoc, and the Anſwer made them by the ſaid Monſieur Chauve.
30. The Charges of the Deputies of Higher Languedoc unto this Aſſembly, ſhall be defrayed out of the portions of His Majeſties Moneys belonging unto that Province.
31. The Sieur Chamier is granted unto the Church of Montauban for Paſtor, and Profeſſor of Divinity in their Univerſity, upon this condition, that the ſaid Church and Univerſity do give him full contentment as to his Stipend; and the ſaid Sieur Chamier ſhall betake himſelf within three months unto Montauban, and the Wages of Profeſſor in Theology, and the portion of the King's Moneys ſhall be counted to him from the firſt day of July next coming.
32. The Sieur Ferrier is given Paſtor unto the Church of Montlimart, and thither he ſhall tranſport himſelf within one months time after the ſignification of this preſent Order to him, and he ſhall ceaſe Preaching in the Church of Niſmes upon the penalties before mentioned.
33. The Church of Annonay had the Sieur Mozé given it for Paſtor, and he is charged to mind his duty, as alſo his Church is required to give him full content, and the Province of Dolphiny ſhall give a portion unto the ſaid Sieur, Mozé proportionable to the time in which he had nothing aſſigned him.
34. The Sieur Eſcoffier, Paſtor of the Church de la Chaſtre in Berry, is ordered, on pain of ſuſpenſion, to content the Province of Dolphiny for their Charges expended on him whilſt he was a Scholar.
35. The Province of Berry being indebted to the Churches the ſum of fifteen hundred Livers Moneys belonging to the Academy of Boisbelle: This Aſſembly forgiveth them the one half, and ordereth that they make reſtitution of the other half, viz. ſeven hundred and fifty Livers within three years, they paying a third part of the ſaid ſum every year.