The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 25 (Castres) · Chapter 32
CHAP. XXXIII. 1626. The 25th Synod.The Copy of that written Letter by the Synod unto the King, concerning the Nomination of our General Deputies.
N.B. IN all the Councils and Synods, their Letters and Acts are written and drawn up by their Officers, either the Moderators or Scribes: but in my beſt Copy, out of which I have this enſuing Letter, it is ſaid to be writ by Monſieur le Faucheur, Paſtor of Montpellier. 'Tis true, he was Con-deputy for the Province of Lower Languedoc, with the Moderator in this Council.
SIRE,
BEing informed by your Majesty's Writs, and by Word of Mouth from the Lord Galland your Majeſty's Commiſſioner unto our Synod, of your Majeſty's Pleaſure about the Nomination of General Deputies for our Churches to reſide at Court. Although this be a Matter no ways belonging to our Vocations, and that hereby, to our very great grief, we are diſappointed of thoſe Hopes, which your Majeſty's Declarations and former Writs had given us, that we ſhould ſhortly enjoy a General Aſſembly: Yet nevertheleſs, that we might in this, as in all other our Actions, expreſs that profound Deference and perfect Obedience we yield unto your Majeſty's Commandments, we have proceeded unto this Election, confiding in your Majeſty's Royal Promiſe, That whenas your weighty Affairs of State will bear it, you will then accordingly iſſue out your Royal Warrant and Order, for the ſummoning a General Politick Aſſembly. Wherefore we have nominated the Lords de la Suze, de Clermont and de Beaufort, and the Lords Bazin, Texier and du Puy, Perſons well known to us for their ſingular and unſtained Loyalty, Fidelity and Affection to your Majeſty's Government and Service, and to the Publick Peace of your Kingdoms. And we have ordered the Sieurs Blondel and de Banterne to wait upon your Majeſty, and to give your Majeſty a moſt faithful account hereof, that ſo your Majeſty having prick'd out two of them whom your Majeſty beſt liketh, our Churches may have notice of it, and make their Applications to them, and by their Mouths declare unto your Majeſty our juſt and real Grievances, which ſhall ever be attended with Proteſtations of our moſt loyal and cordial Obedience unto your Majeſty: And we moſt humbly ſupplicate your Sacred Majeſty to grant them a favourable Audience, and to extend your Royal Compaſſions unto the beſt and moſt innocent of all your People; who though they ſerve your Majeſty with greater ardor and chearfulneſs than any other of your Majeſty's Subjects; yet notwithſtanding ſhall never enjoy the Sweets and Happineſs of your Government, in caſe thoſe bitter Preſſures and Calamities, under which they be now labouring and groaning, ſhould be but of a little longer duration and continuance. And as for our ſelves, Sire, we do in the moſt ſolemn manner profeſs unto your Majeſty, that let our Condition be what it will, Happy or Miſerable, yet are we, through Grace, reſolv'd to live and die in a moſt inviolable Fidelity to your Majeſty's Perſon and Government. But we hope, that whenas your Majeſty ſhall be truly informed of the ſincerity and willingneſs of our Obedience, and of thoſe unworthy Treatments we have received from the Malice of our Enemies, your Majeſty will not only remunerate us here or there, but in all the Provinces of your Kingdom, and you will judg us rather worthy of your Protection, and to be ſhielded by your Royal Juſtice and Goodneſs, than to be expoſed any longer unto our ſore Oppreſſions, and exceeding great Miſeries.
In confidence of this, Great Sir, we addreſs our ſelves unto our God, (to whoſe Throne of Grace, Night and Day, the Sighs of our Souls under our deep Afflictions are aſcending) that he would be pleaſed to preſerve your Majeſty's moſt Sacred Perſon, and to eſtabliſh the Glory of your Scepter, and to inſpire your Royal Heart with motions of Pity and Compaſſions for us, which may afford us farther occaſion of bleſſing his great and glorious Name, and give us ever to live under ſo juſt and merciful a Monarch; and that he would pour upon your Crown, the richeſt and choiceſt of his Heavenly Benedictions.
From the City of Caſtres, Nov. 5. 1626. Theſe, SIRE, Are the Vows and Prayers of your Majeſty's moſt humble, moſt faithful, and moſt obedient Subjects and Servants, the Paſtors and Elders of the Reformed Churches in France, aſſembled in their National Synod, and for them all,
Chauve, Moderator.
Bouterove, Aſſeſſor.
Scribes.
Blundel &
Petit