The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 25 (Castres) · Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII. Differences between the Cities of Rochel, Montauban and Caſtres, 1626. The 25th Synod.compoſed.
20. THE Council compoſing the Differences which had fallen out between the Cities and Communalties of Rochel, Montauban and Caſtres, in dividing the Collection-Money before-mentioned, they being at Variance among themſelves about it: And having heard the Reaſons and Pretenſions of the ſaid Cities and Communalties, both from the Mouth of their Deputies, and the Report of the Commiſſioners appointed for the managing of this Affair; and having maturely Conſidered the whole, decreed, That the fourth Part of thoſe Moneys ſo collected, ſhall be delivered into the City of Caſtres, and the other three Parts ſhall be equally divided betwixt the Cities of Rochel and Montauban. And that the ſaid Cities and Communalties may reap and enjoy the Benefit and Comfort of the ſaid collected Charities, their Deputies here preſent are enjoined to nominate one certain Perſon from among them, to receive thoſe Moneys, who is a Perſon of ſufficient Honeſty and Ability to be reſponſible for them; together with three or four other Perſons of known Integrity and Fidelity, who may be preſent, and actually imployed in the Diſtribution of them, which ſhall be made by the Command and Authority of the Mayors and Conſuls of the ſaid Cities; and thoſe Commands and Orders ſhall be ſigned and copied out by thoſe now-mentioned Overſeers for the Poor: And both they and the ſaid Receiver ſhall be obliged to ſend the Certificate unto the next National Synod, of the faithful Employment of thoſe Moneys unto the common Uſes and Neceſſities of their Poor, and that they were not in the leaſt diverted from the Intention of the charitable Donors, nor of his Majeſty, unto the Benefit and private Profit of ſome few particular Perſons, either for defraying their Expences in Travel, or Deputations, or any other occaſion whatſoever: And the Council ſhall agree and pitch upon thoſe aforeſaid Receivers and Overſeers. And to facilitate the receiving of thoſe Sums collected, and to prevent all Delays, Confuſions, Inequalities in receiving, and other Inconveniences which may fall out, in caſe the ſaid Cities ſhould ſend abroad unto the Provinces and particular Churches to gather in what had been granted them, and above all to eaſe them of thoſe great Charges which they muſt of Neceſſity be at in this Caſe, it was thought beſt to order the Conſiſtories of Paris and Lyons to chooſe a Perſon from among them to be the General Receiver of thoſe Moneys. And all the Provinces are enjoined to ſend ſpeedily, and, if poſſible they can, within a Month's ſpace after the Return of their Deputies, the Moneys collected by them, viz. the Provinces of the Iſle of France, Normandy, Brittain, Anjou, Berry, Poitou, and Xaintonge, to thoſe who are ordained to receive them in the City of Paris; and thoſe of Burgundy, Dolphiny, Provence, Vivaretz, Sevennes, Higher and Lower Languedoc, and Guyenne, to them who ſhall be appointed in the City of Lions; that ſo theſe Moneys being received by them, may be tranſmitted to the particular Commiſſioners of the ſaid Cities, either by Bills of Exchange, or any other way, together with their Acquittances, according to the Dividend before ordained.
2. In Purſuance of this laſt-named Article, the Lord of Angoulins was nominated to be Receiver for the Town of Rochel; and for Overſeers Monſieur de L' Hommeau, and Monſieur Colomiez Paſtors, together with Mr. Paul Mervant and Nicholas Cheſnell, Peers and tree Burgeſſes, and Elders of the City of Rochel: And for the City of Montauban, the Lord Roques, firſt Conſul, was declared Receiver, and the R. R. Mr. Ollier and Charles, Paſtors; together with the Lords d' Aſſier, Barrampere, and du Bois, Elders, for Overſeers. And for the City of Caſtres, Mr. Thomas was nominated Receiver, and the Lords de la Gaſquerie, de Servoles, de Liſſac, de Bernard the Elder, de Legonier, and Rony the Auditor, for Overſeers. And all and every one of theſe now-mentioned Perſons, were agreed upon and approved by this Council; which alſo enjoined them, who received theſe Collections and Charities, to deliver them unto theſe Receivers.
22. In every Province there ſhall be reſerv'd a Cahier of the particular Complaints and Grievances of particular Churches, oppreſſed upon the ſcore and account of Religion, that ſo thoſe Cahiers may be all tranſmitted to the Church of Paris, which ſhall compile out of them one general Cahier to be left in the hands of our General Deputies.