The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 21 (Tonneins) · Chapter 7
CHAP. XVII. Appeals.
1. MOnſieur John Conſtans, Paſtor of the Church at Mazgravier, appealed from the Decree of the laſt Synod of Higher Languedoc held at Mauveſin, for refuſing him leave to withdraw from that Town, tho' requeſted by him becauſe of his Wifes ſickneſs, which could not brook the Air of Maz, and becauſe of thoſe many unkindneſſes he hath for divers years received from them; and the Sieur Darder for from the Decree of the ſame Synod, which permitted the ſaid Monſieur Conſtans to live at Montauban until the next Provincial Synod: Both of them being heard, and the Deputies of that Province declaring the reaſons which ſwayed them to paſs that Decree; This Aſſembly doth diſcharge the ſaid Monſieur Conſtans from all Paſtoral relation unto the ſaid Church of Mazgravier, on condition that the next Colloquy do provide a Paſtor for the ſaid Church who ſhall reſide with them, and the ſaid Conſtans of another Church; And Ordaineth, that till this can be performed, he ſhall continue to ſerve the ſaid Church as before, but without being obliged unto reſidence, and the ſaid Church is injoyned to make full payment to him of all his Arrears of Salary, or they ſhall not be provided of another Paſtor.
2.3. Rochel, g m. 2. and obſervat. 11. The Appeal of ſome Elders in that Church of Mazgravier from the ſame Synod, was rejected, becauſe it was of the Nature of thoſe things which might be finally determined within the Province; and the parties were told that they deſerved a very ſharp reproof, for preſenting unto this Synod Acts atteſted by a Publick Notary, as alſo for that (contrary to the Canons of our National Synods) Elders going out of office had named their ſucceſſors, whereas they ought to be choſen by the common ſuffrages of their Conſiſtory.
3. The like Judgment was paſt upon the pretended Appeal of Iſaac Perrier, it being a matter which ought to be determined by the Provincial Synod.
4. John Froment ſuſpended from his office of Elder by the Synod of Higher Languedoc in oppoſition to a decree of his Colloquy which had reſtored him although neither the Conſiſtory, nor his adverſe party nor any other had Appealed, was now heard upon his Appeal: The Deputies of the Province making no anſwer to the reaſons of his complaint, this Aſſembly Cenſured the ſaid Province for proceeding ſo unjuſtly, and contrary to all order, and therefore re-inſtateth the ſaid Froment in the Elderſhip.
5. Monſieur Paul Banquemar a Citizen of Rouen complained of the Conſiſtory of that Church for not ſuffering the Banes of his Daughter to be publiſhed after the contract had been paſt before the Notary, unleſs ſhe were firſt of all Betrothed by the Paſtor; he judging this act of theirs contrary to the Canon of the Synod of Privas, Privas, obſ. 9.appealed from the Provincial Synod of Normandy held at Sees in the year 1613. by which that Cuſtom of calling in the Paſtors before the publiſhing of Banes, tho formerly practiſed, was not confirmed, and impoſed upon all their Churches. This Aſſembly finds the Conſiſtory of Rouen to be too ſevere in in this matter, and that the Synod ſhould not have made it neceſſary, and for the future it injoyneth them to leave thoſe parties to their Liberty: And on the other hand it exhorts the Appellant to be more Moderate than he has been in his Letters, remonſtrating to him, that it is his duty not to revive thoſe old quarrels, which through the vigilance of the Conſiſtory, and his own ſilence, had been long ago buried in oblivion.
6. The Sieur Fevry Paſtor of the Church of Tonne-Charante Appealed from a Decree of the Province of Xaintonge for detaining him in the Miniſtery of that Church, notwithſtanding the Petition of his Father, who redemanded him. This Aſſembly grants him his Liberty, provided he make it appear unto the Colloquy or Synod of the Church he ſerveth, that he is called by another Church near unto that of his Fathers, according to the methods obſerved by us, whereof the ſaid Synod or Colloquy ſhall take cogniſance within the ſpace of one year at the fartheſt.
7.St. Maixant, p. m. 17. 2. Vitré, obſ. 3. on the former Synod. The differences between the Provinces of Poictou and Brittany about diſmembring the Churches of Montagu and of Viellevigne are diſmiſſed over to the Province of Anjou with full Authority from this Aſſembly to put a final period to them: Becauſe the Church of Montagu was not heard in the Synod of St. Maixant, as the Deputies of Poictou do relate it.
8. The Sieur Textor being Emeritus, a diſcharged Paſtor, Appealed from an Ordinance of his Synod of Burgundy for diminiſhing his portion granted that Province in his Name, and for his uſe.See below Art 11. This Aſſembly injoyneth the ſaid Province to reſtore him all his Arrears, and for time to come to give him the quiet injoyment of the whole. And this order ſhall be of-force not for him only, but for all others in the like circumſtances with him, nor may the Provinces diſpoſe of their Moneys to any other uſes.
9. The Sieur Collinet having Appealed from the Decree of the Synod of Burgundy, Gap App. 15.this Aſſembly Ordaineth that the Province ſhall pay the C not only of the ſaid Collinet, but alſo of the Meſſenger, who was ſent unto Court with the verbal proceſſes of the Churches of Chaalons, Paray, &c.
10. The Colloquy of Chaalons Appealing from the Ordinance of the Synod of Burgundy which had adjudged the Church of Maſcon unto the Colloquy of Lions, and by Conſequence would diſpoſe of the Sieur Perreaud formerly Paſtor of Pont de Vaux. This Aſſembly Decreeth that the Church of Maſcon ſhould remain incorporate with the Colloquy of Chaalons, until ſuch time as the Church of Pont de Vaux may be provided of another Paſtor, which ſhall be done without any delay.
11. The Sieur Rigert a Paſtor Emeritus in the Province of Dolphiny complained in his Appeal againſt the Synod of that Province for taking his portion to the common Charges with others.See above Art. 8. It was Decreed that the ſaid Province ſhould for the future leave his portion wholly free unto him.
12. Clement le Servier, otherwiſe le Dauphin having Appealed from the Sentence of the Provincial Synod of Dolphiny, for depoſing him from the Sacred Miniſtery, and not appearing to defend it in this Aſſembly, his Appeal was declared null and void.
13. The Church of Val Franceſque Appealed from the Synod of Sevennes, becauſe it granted unto the Quarter of St. Romans that the Lords Supper ſhould be celebrated amongſt them upon a Sabbath day: But this Appeal of theirs was declared null, for that its contents was of the nature of thoſe things which might be finally determined in the Synod of their Province.
14. The Appeal of Monſieur Maſſouverain Paſtor of the Church of Pouſſin in Lower Languedoc was declared null, becauſe he neither appeared in Perſon nor by Letters to proſecute it. And the ſaid Maſſouverain is injoined to appear before the Province of Sevennes there to anſwer unto ſuch matters as ſhall be brought in againſt him.
15. The Appeal of the Church of Teyrac in the ſame Province about the Miniſtry of the Sieur Guerin was declared null, becauſe none appeared for them, nor did they ſend any Memoirs concerning it.
16. The Appeal of the Church of Vigan about the Free School of that Province granted to the Church of Anduze, was rejected, becauſe it was of the Nature of thoſe buſineſſes which might be determined finally by the Province.
17. It was alſo judged needleſs to bring into this Aſſembly an Appeal from the Decree of the Provincial Synod of Sevennes for their refuſing to annex the Churches of the upper Rouargue unto their Province.
18. Whereas an Appeal was brought in by the Province of Burgundy redemanding Monſieur Margonne formerly a Miniſter of their's in the Church of Noyers, 2 Vitré, obſ. 5. upon the foregoing Synod.but at preſent ſerving the Church of Chaſtillon on the Loire: And the Deputies of Berry aſſuring this Aſſembly that God hath eminently owned and bleſſed his Miniſtry there, with ſingular ſucceſs: All which being ſeriouſly conſidered, His Call unto the Church of Chaſtillon was confirmed by the authority of this National Synod; and it farther ordained that the Province of Berry ſhould give unto the Province of Burgundy a Propoſan meet and ſit for the Sacred Miniſtry, and ſuch an one as ſhall be acceptable unto the ſaid Province, and this againſt the ſitting of their next Provincial Synod.
19. An Elder of the Church of Caſtel-Sagrat, and Monſieur Tinell the Father appealed from the Synod of Sevennes for refuſing to give them Monſieur Tinell his ſon at preſent Paſtor in the Church of Anduze, whom they earneſtly demanded to be beſtowed on the Church of Caſtle-Sagrat as their own peculiar Paſtor. This Aſſembly (approving that decree of the Synod of Sevennes, becauſe the ordinary forms in the requeſt of thoſe of Caſtle-Sagrat were not obſerved) doth ordain that Tinell the Father, and the ſaid Church of Caſtle-Sagrat ſhall obſerve thoſe regular and neceſſary forms and courſes injoined by our Diſcipline, and ſhall apply themſelves to the Synod of Lower Guyenne, or to the neareſt Colloquy of the upper Agenois, who ſhall judge of the carriage of the ſaid ſupplicating Church, and what intereſt thoſe of Puymirol may have in their Miniſter, and in caſe the Colloquy or Province before-mentioned do yeild unto the demand of the Father, and of thoſe of Caſtel-Sagrat, the Synod of Sevennes or the next Colloquy of Anduze ſhall approve thereof, and grant the young Tinell according to their deſire unto the ſaid Church of Caſtle-Sagrat.
20. The Colloquy of Sauve appealing from an Ordinance of the Synod of Sevennes, which had injoined every Colloquy to defray its own charges: This Aſſembly anſwered, that the judgment of that Synod was wrong, and the Colloquy did well in its Appeal. And that for time to come the Decree formerly made ſhall hold good, and be in force not only to the defraying all charges about Deputations, but alſo for their ſhare and participation in charitable gifts, and in all other Moneys of the like Nature.
21. The Letters of Charles Roy publick Notary at Loudun, together with his Appeal from the Sentence of the Provincial Synod of Anjou being read,See above the 6. obſ. on the former Synod. were rejected, and the ſaid Roy was exhorted to conform himſelf unto the Orders of our Church in the adminiſtration of Baptiſm, which have been approved, ratified, and confirmed by the common and unanimous conſents and ſuffrages of all the Provinces repreſented in this National Synod.
22. The Province of Champagne complaining of a decree paſt in the Provincial Synod of the Iſle of France, which had devolved upon the ſame Synod the right of calling it unto any place as in their diſcretion they ſhould judge meet, provided it were carried by plurality of Votes: This Aſſembly ordained that the Colloquy of Champagne ſhall have the priviledge every fourth year in courſe of appointing time and place for the meeting of that Synod.
23. The Church of Pons appealed for that the judgment of their Colloquy was confirmed by the Provincial Synod of Xaintonge, whereby they were condemned to pay the Sieur du Perier his ſallary during his ſuſpenſion. But this Appeal of their's was diſmiſſed over unto the Province of Poictou and there finally to be decided,See 3 Recl…d g. m. 8. according to their Canon eſtabliſhed about pecuniary matters: and the ſame Province ſhall finally judge and determine of their complaint who were deprived of all aſſiſtance and ſupplies from the Moneys of his Majeſties liberality ever ſince they had been deſtitute of a Paſtor; in caſe the Province of Xaintonge (to whom for this purpoſe they ſhall make their firſt addreſſes) refuſe to do them right.
24. The Sieur*In two other Copies he is called Gaud…e. Geſille. Gouſide Paſtor in the Church of Gevaudan appealed from the Synod of Lower Guyenne, becauſe they refuſed to diſcharge him from that Church, and the Synod of higher Languedoc together with the Church of Villemur, demanding the ſaid Gouſide to be their own appropriated Paſtor, joined with him in the ſaid Appeal. This Aſſembly (acknowledging that the Synod of Lower Guyenne have a right to detain him) yet, becauſe of the great want and earneſt deſire of the Church of Villemur, and the neceſſary affairs of the ſaid Gouſide which call him into thoſe parts, and would otherwiſe very much diſtract him in his ſtudies, doth grant both to him, and to that Church and Province their joint requeſts, but with this condition, that the ſaid Province ſhall provide an able Propoſan fit for the Miniſtry to ſerve in the Church of Gevaudan, and ſhall preſent him unto the next Colloquy of higher Agenois, in caſe the Province of Lower Guyenne cannot beſtow upon them another Paſtor.
25. The Deputies of the Church in the Sheriffdom of Nerac took out an Appeal againſt the Synod of Lower Guyenne, which had grievouſly cenſured the ſaid Church, and obliged it to receive the Sieur Latanné for their fourth Paſtor, who was formerly Paſtor in the Church of Senitot in Normandy, tho' he profeſſed that he was only a Loan unto that Church, he having been preengaged by his Father, and with his own conſent unto the Church of Nerac, yea and in his abſence, and before he was ordained unto the Miniſtry of the Church of Senitot, to which he had never gone, but on this condition, that the Church of Nerac might recall him any time when they pleaſed. This Aſſembly having patiently heard their ſeveral diſcourſes, and ſeen the Writings produced by the reſpective Parties, doth judge that the actings and proceedings of the Conſiſtory of Nerac, are juſtly cenſurable, and it doth de facto cenſure them, declaring that it hath done very great wrong unto the ſaid Sieur Latanné, in taking him off from that Church wherein he ſerved, and not employing him in theirs whereunto they had called him; that they began ill, in lending a Miniſter that was never theirs, and that they ended ill, in producing divers acts and deliberations of their own expreſly contradicting one another. And as for the ſaid Sieur Latanné, this Aſſembly teſtifieth for him, that he did not in the leaſt intrude himſelf among them, and that he had a right to take his leave of the Church of Senitot upon the recalling of him back unto them by his Father and the ſaid Church of Nerac; from which nevertheleſs, for peace ſake, and the bettering of its eſtate, he is ſet at liberty and diſcharged, and may be preſented unto any other; and the ſaid Church of Nerac is ordered to pay unto him the ſaid Latanné his wages due unto him ever ſince his coming among them, deducting only what he hath re…eived for ſerving of other Churches, unto which he was ſent by the Colloquy.
26. The ſaid Sieur Latanné remonſtrating that the Act delivered to him, and to thoſe of Nerac, had ſome ambiguity in it as to what concerns the payment of his Salary, which might poſſibly be refuſed him, and cauſe a greater difference between him and that Church than ever. This Aſſembly having heard Monſieur Marmet upon this ſubject (who was concerned in it, and declared his purpoſe about it) did ordain, that the aforeſaid Latanné ſhould receive from Monſieur Gorton out of the firſt moneys of the Portions aſſigned unto the Church of Nerac the ſum of three hundred Livers, and give a general releaſe unto the ſaid Church of Nerac, nor ſhall any of the Churches in which the ſaid Sieur Latanné hath exerciſed his Miniſtry ſince his return into Guyenne be either by them of Nerac, or by the ſaid Latanné, troubled with demands of money on his Account.
27. Whereas Anthony de Rouſſan Ballance-maker in the City of Lions (another Copy reads Achilles Bulliond Advocate for the King in the election of Lions) appealed from a decree of the Synod of Burgundy and Lionnois, Gap, App. 8. below p. m. 38.injoining him on pain of excommunication to take away his ſon from the Jeſuits School: The Aſſembly having heard his arguments inducing him thereunto, do judge them frivolous and null, and conſequently his Appeal alſo, and approves and ratifies the Decree of that Provincial Synod.
28. Maſter Iſaac Ferrier appearing in perſon to prove his being acquitted and juſtified by the Province of Vivaretz, Privas, Ap. 28and demanding to be reſtored unto the Sacred Miniſtry: The Aſſembly Commiſſionated two Paſtors and two Elders to inſpect the Papers produced both by him and that Province, and to make report thereof in order unto ſentence; which being done by them, and they Reporting what he had owned and confeſſed at the Synod of Privas, and alſo that there was required a more ample evidence and teſtimonial as to his life and deportments ſince, than he hath yet offered. For theſe Papers of his were all examined in the Conſiſtory, Colloquy and Provincial Synod. Moreover the Deputies of Vivaretz declared what had paſsed in their Synod about his pretended Juſtification: and the ſaid Ferrier having been heard upon the whole, and his aſſertions, denials, and replies being all maturely conſidered, it was found that he had not given any ſatisfaction in the leaſt unto that order of the Synod of Privas, nor lived ſince with that regularity as one who was bound by his converſation to have gotten the Churches approbation, but rather hath given new grounds and occaſions for new accuſations to be brought in againſt him. Yet becauſe that in the moſt principal points he ſeems not to be fully convicted, this Aſſembly continues on him his ſuſpenſion untill the next National Synod, and in the mean while he ſhall retire unto ſome certain Church in the Province of Higher Languedoc, or unto the City of Geneva, at his own liberty: but ſo to live, that he procure either from the ſaid Church or Province a publick and honourable Teſtimony of his Repentance: And as to what is paſt, we give him leave to uſe all lawful means for his juſtification, which alſo he ſhall produce in that Synod, that they may take cogniſance thereof: And in the mean while a portion ſhall be continued him for his ſubſiſtence out of the Moneys aſſigned to the Province of Higher Languedoc, which ſhall be paid him in free of all Charges, and power is given him to recover the Arrears granted him the laſt year, and now lying in the hands of the Lord du Candal, or of the Receiver for the Province of Higher Languedoc.
29. The Church of Beziers appealed from the Synod of Lower Languedoc for refuſing to pay the Wages of the Sieur Codur during the time of his abſence from them about the general Affairs of the Church, and for which the ſaid Sieur Codur hath obliged himſelf by promiſe not to demand a penny from the ſaid Church of Beziers: This Aſſembly conſidering the long time of his abſence (during which he ſerved the whole Province in general) and for that the ſaid Church of Beziers hath paid the ſaid Sieur de Codur his Wages all along, and been beſides at other charges in getting Miniſters to ſupply his place, doth ordain, that the Province of Lower Languedoc, by way of recompence, ſhall pay in unto the ſaid Church the ſum of four hundred and fifty Livers, without caſting in to this payment, or making any allowance for it the portion of Moneys granted us by the King; and alſo the ſaid Church ſhall cancel that obligation the Sieur Codur hath given them.
30. The Church of Beziers brought another Appeal, upon another account; Monſieur Codur had been lent for ſix months unto the Church of Ganges by the Province of Lower Languedoc, but was ſince redemanded by another Synod of the ſame Province; whereupon at the earneſt requeſt of the Sieur Codur, who deſired to be ſet at liberty, he prevailed with both Parties to refer his diſpoſal unto the Judgment of this Aſſembly. After hearing the Deputies of the ſaid Church of Beziers, and the ſaid Sieur Codur in their complaints, demands, reaſons and anſwers, the ſaid Codur was yielded up for fixed Paſtor unto the Church of Ganges, who ſhould enjoy him as their own; and it was further decreed, that the Province of Lower Languedoc ſhall ſend unto the ſaid Church of Beziers two Paſtors, who ſhall ſerve them by way of Loan, until ſuch time as they can be provided of a Paſtor to be wholly appropriated to them, which ſhall be done as ſoon as poſſible. And for the preſent the Elder of the Church of Ganges binds himſelf for the whole Church, that the ſaid Sieur Codur ſhall miniſter to them of Beziers for three months longer.
31.*Another Copy reads Meenyers. Monſieur Mernyeur the younger, Paſtor of the Church of Pompignant and la Cadiere, appeared in this Aſſembly to proſecute an Appeal brought by him from the Synod of Sevennes, which would have deprived the Church of St. Hyppolyte of its hopes ever to enjoy him for their Paſtor, and enjoyning the ſaid Mernyeur to make his Reſidence in any one part of his Church, excepting that which is contiguous unto that of St. Hyppolyte: And ſeveral Deputies in the name of ſundry the Inhabitants of the ſaid St. Hyppolyte, appeared alſo as Appellants from the ſame Synod, for declaring that they could not maintain two Paſtors, and had rejected their Petition, wherein they humbly requeſted of them that the ſaid Sieur Mernyeur might be given them for their Miniſter, and that thoſe Churches of Pompignant and la Cadiere might be incorporated with theirs of St. Hyppolyte. After a fair hearing of all theſe Appellants, and of the Deputies for the Province of Sevennes, this Aſſembly ordained, that the next Colloquy or Synod of the Province ſhall make a Deputation of ſome Paſtors and Elders, who ſhall upon a Lord's day aſſemble that Church of St. Hyppolyte, and by the Majority of Votes learn from them their will, and ability to maintain two Miniſters, in which caſe they ſhall joyn another Paſtor unto him that is upon the place, and the ſaid Sieur Mernyeur ſhall remain affixed unto his own Churches, which he ſhall carefully ſerve, eſpecially becauſe the Sieur Boni hath from the Colloquy of Sauve engaged himſelf for the punctual payment of his Salary. And farther, it ratifies the Judgment of the Provincial Synod of Sevennes in that Article of his not living at St. Hyppolyte, and commands the ſaid Mernyeur, that he do this very next enſuing morning return home unto his Church, and perſonally reſide at it.
32. The Church of Niſmes appealed from the Province of Lower Languedoc, for refuſing them the grant of the Miniſtry of Monſieur Chauve, at preſent Paſtor in the Church of Sommieres, urging for themſelves the great importance of their Church, and the indiſpenſible neceſſity they had of a Paſtor, whoſe Age and Experience might be able to undergo the burdens of ſo numerous a Congregation. After hearing the Letters of the ſaid Church of Niſmes, and their requeſt, uttered by the mouth of the Sieur de *Another reads Pierre d'Or; another Pinedon.Pucchredon their Deputy, and the Arguments of the Provincial Synod by their Deputies to the contrary, this Aſſembly ordained, that the ſaid Sieur Chauve ſhould be lent for three months unto the Church of Niſmes, after which term the Provincial Synod (having heard both the Churches, and the ſaid Sieur de Chauve) may judge whether it be needful or not to diſpoſe of his Miniſtry, and if they find it neceſſary, then by the Authority of this Aſſembly they ſhall give him unto the Church of Niſmes, and they ſhall provide that of Sommieres with another Paſtor either taken from Niſmes or elſewhere.
33. The Sieur de la Faye, This was razed out by the ſecond of Vitré, Obſ. 6. upon this preſent Synod.Paſtor of the Church of Aubenas in Vivaretz, appeared in this Aſſembly Appellant from the Judgment of the Provincial Synod, which had threatned him with the greateſt Cenſures, as if he had deſerved them; and farther had ordained, that the next Synod of his Province ſhould remove him unto ſome other Church, which in their wiſdom they ſhould conceive to be more expedient for him, and that in the mean while the Colloquy ſhould have a watchful Eye over his converſation. But this Aſſembly condemned all the proceedings of that Province in this Affair, particularly, for receiving Informations againſt the ſaid Sieur de la Faye unatteſted, and for cenſuring him without any cauſe or Reaſon, and for not having recorded that their Cenſure, nor brought hither any Record thereof; and therefore approving the Appeal of the ſaid Sieur de la Faye, it doth abrogate that Sentence of the ſaid Provincial Synod as infamous and unjuſt in every article, branch and member of it.
34. Certain Inhabitants of Cauſſade Appealed from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc, This was reverſt in the 2d Synod of Vitré, p. m. 12.importing that the Sieur Grand formerly their Paſtor, but afterwards ſuſpended for three months, and then removed from three years, ſhould now at laſt the term being expired be impoſed again upon them. This Aſſembly (over-looking the formalities which ought to have been obſerved in their Appeal, but were not) did graciouſly receive both them and it; and having heard the Province, and ſeen the Decree declaring ſeveral miſcarriages whereof the ſaid Grand had been guilty, ordained that he be ſummoned to make his perſonal appearance before us, and to be heard ſpeak with his own mouth what he hath to ſay for himſelf, and then to be Judged according to the merits of his cauſe. Whereupon, the ſaid Sieur Grand having been examined by a Committee appointed for that End, and they making report of his confeſſions and anſwers, this Aſſembly aggravated his Cenſure, and Judged that he could not exerciſe his Miniſtry to the edification of that Church of Cauſſade, and therefore doth ordain that he be diſpoſed of ſomewhere elſe, by the Colloquy of Lower Quercy at their next meeting, and that he be for ever made uncapable of returning to Cauſſade, nor may the ſaid Church ever have power over him, or his Father who became bound for him, to redemand the Moneys disburſed by them on his Studies, becauſe they enjoyed the exerciſe of his Miniſtry for ſome ſpace of time.
35. The Colloquy of the Iſles Appealed, for that Monſieur de la Foreſt formerly Paſtor in the Church of St. John d' Angely was given by their Provincial Synod unto the Church of Mauze in the Colloquy of St. John d' Angely. The Sieur Cocq' a Miniſter having been heard ſpeak for that Colloquy, and the Deputies of the Synod of Xaintonge for the Province, this Aſſembly confirmeth the ſaid de la Foreſt in the Paſtoral office of that Church of Mauzé and ordaineth that the Province ſhall provide for the Church of St. John d' Angely as ſoon as poſſible they can.
36. The Church of Agen Appealed, becauſe having demanded their portions free of all taxations, the Synod of Lower Guyenne had refuſed it: This Aſſembly rejected their Appeal, and diſmiſſed over the affair relating to it unto the ſaid Province, which ſhall provide for their Paſtors maintenance, as ſoon as one ſhall be ſetled with them.
37. The Church of Boiſlebeque appealing from the decree of the Synod of Normandy, by which Monſieur Simſon was not only excluded from the ſaid Church of Boiſlebeque but alſo from all other Churches of Normandy; this their Appeal was made null and void, and the judgment of the ſaid Province confirmed, which is intreated to take care that the ſaid Church of Boiſlebeque be ſupplied with a ſecond Miniſter, in caſe they ſhall judge it needful.
38. The Colloquy of Albigeois brought an Appeal from the Judgment given in their Provincial Synod of Higher*Another Copy Higher Guyenne. Languedoc, about the affair of Monſieur Joſion one of the Paſtors of the Church of Caſtres, relating to the Cenſures paſt againſt the ſaid Colloquy and their Deputies. After hearing the Sieur Raffin Paſtor of the Church of Realmont for the ſaid Colloquy, and the Deputies of the ſaid Province, together with the ſaid Joſion, and the Sieur de la Garrigues Deputy of the Church of Caſtres, and the report of the Commiſſioners deputed to inſpect the writings produced by the ſeveral parties, and who were ordered to examine and hear Witneſſes dwelling upon the place, and who were particularly mentioned by name unto them, this Aſſembly took off the Cenſure inflicted upon the ſaid Colloquy and its Commiſſioners by the ſaid Synod; and yet approveth of its judicial ſentence in all other particulars, and ordaineth that all Papers concerning this buſineſs be depoſited with Monſieur Gardeſy, that ſo the remembrance of them may be for ever forgotten.
39. The appeal of Monſieur Raffin Paſtor of the Church of Realmont from the Synod of Higher Languedoc, which had confirmed an Ordinance of the Colloquy of Albigeois, obliging the ſaid Church to viſit the annexed Church of la Fenaſſe every ſix weeks, was diſannulled, and the decrees of the Provincial Synod and Colloquy were both confirmed.
40. The Conſuls of Pamiers appealed from a decree of the Synod of Higher Languedoc, which would not grant them the precedency claimed by them, to communicate firſt at the Lords Table before the Judge of that City: But this their appeal was rejected, becauſe it was of the nature of thoſe things, which might be finally determined by the Synod of their own Province.
41. The appeal of Monſieur Graue, Elder in the Church of Pamiers from the Decree of the Synod of Higher Languedoc, about Moneys ordered to be kept by Monſieur Ligonnier in his hands, was declared null and rejected, and the act of that Synod was ordered to be put in execution, and made effectual.
42. The Sieur Collinet appealing from the decree of the Provincial Synod of Burgundy, this Aſſembly ordained that that Province ſhould defray the expences of his journey to Court, becauſe he was ſent thither to carry the verbal proceſs of the Churches of Chaalons, Paray, &c.
43. The Conſiſtory of Mornac appealed from the Decree of the Synod of Xaintonge, which had ordained that the ſaid Church ſhould pay unto the Sieur Cocque their Paſtor his arrears due unto him from them; but this their appeal was rejected by this Aſſembly, who alſo injoin the ſaid Church to make full payment unto him of his juſt dues, or otherwiſe they ſhould be deprived of the Sacred Miniſtry of the Goſpel by the next Colloquy of the Iſles, or by the Provincial Synod, who have all authority given them ſo to do from this Aſſembly.
44. The Sieur Suffran appealed from the Colloquy of Lionnois which had ſuſpended him from his Miniſtry, to which he ſaith he ſubmitted purely out of fear. This Aſſembly having heard the Deputies of that Colloquy, and the arguments of the ſaid Suffran compriſed in a Script of His preſented to us, finds the Colloquy to have judged prudently and piouſly in every particular of their Sentence, and ordaineth that he be provided of a Church as ſoon as may be in the Province of Lower Languedoc or in ſome neighbour Province; and that in the mean while a portion of Moneys allotted unto the Paſtors ſhall be detained in the hands of the Lord du Candal to be paid unto him. With this condition, that when as he ſhall be provided of a Church, that portion ſhall be put upon the ſcore of the Province, wherein it lieth and he officiates.