The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 26 (2nd Charenton) · Chapter 24 – Chapter 25
CHAP. XXIV. Of Univerſities and Colledges.
Canon 1. THE ninth Article of general Laws for the Univerſities made in the 23d National Synod at Alez, ſhall be couched in theſe words; The Doctors and Profeſſors of Divinity, having been firſt choſen by the extraordinary Council of the Ʋniverſity, the ſaid Election ſhall be brought unto the Provincial Synod to judg thereon; and in caſe it be approved by them, then Order ſhall be taken for the examination and reception of the Elect Profeſſors, according to the third Canon in the ſecond Chapter of our Church-Diſcipline.
Canon 2. Foraſmuch as hitherto our Profeſſors of Philoſophy, in the Univerſities of this kingdom, have not publickly taught Metaphyſicks, when they read their Courſe of Philoſophy, although that be one of the moſt principal Sciences, and which demonſtrateth the Principles of all the reſt, and that it is now more needful than ever to reſtore it unto its true Luſtre and Purity, becauſe it hath been for ſo long a time exceedingly corrupted by the evil Artifices of the Doctors in the Romiſh Church who have abuſed its Maxims to the depravation of Theology, and have blended with it their falſe Principles, which they endeavour to the utmoſt of their Power, daily to eſtabliſh, to the great prejudice of Divine Truth: Wherefore this Synod enjoineth all Profeſſors of Philoſophy to teach, during their Courſe, together with the other parts of Philoſophy, the ſaid Science: And all Univerſity-Councils are ordered to exert their Authority, that the firſt Elements of Logick be taught in the firſt Claſſes, that ſo whenas Scholars depart the Colledges, they may be prepared for higher Learning: And that Profeſſors of Philoſophy do look to it, that they do not in the leaſt invade the Profeſſion of Theology, but do contain themſelves within their own Bounds, without roving abroad in the handling of unprofitable Queſtions.
Canon 3. And ſince the knowledg of the Greek Tongue is abſolutely neceſſary for all Propoſans, who aſpire unto the Sacred Miniſtery, and for that the profeſſion thereof is a ſingular Ornament unto Univerſities, we therefore wiſh it might be continually upheld in them: but becauſe the preſent Wants of our Churches are very great, and our deep Poverty will not permit a Maintenance to be now allowed unto the Profeſſors of that Language, this Synod leaving the Care thereof unto the next National Synod, that ſo the Inſtruſtion of our Youth may not be retarded, doth order all Univerſity-Councils to have a careful Eye upon the Regents of the firſt and ſecond Claſſes, that the Greek Tongue be taught diligently by them; and that our Scholars, when they are promoted unto the Publick Lectures, may be of ſufficient capacity to read and underſtand Authors in their Original Language, and be able to give a ſatisfactory account of them.
Canon 4. This Aſſembly being not in the leaſt able to approve the Actings of the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc, which inſtead of proceeding to examine Mr. Codur, according to the requiſite Solemnities and Forms preſcribed by our Church-Diſcipline, had ſatisfied themſelves with a bare Confirmation of him in that conditional Settlement, which was done by the Colloquies of Niſmes and Ʋſez, who called him to exerciſe the Profeſſion of Theology in the Univerſity of Niſmes; doth injoin all the Provinces for the future to keep themſelves to a preciſe obſervation of ſo neceſſary a Canon; and eſpecially it injoineth the Province of Lower Languedoc punctually to perform what hath been omitted with reſpect to Monſieur Codur; as alſo to exert their Power, that his Succeſſor in the Hebrew Tongue be duly examined, and all Formalities moſt accurately and exactly obſerved.
Canon 5. After that the Opinions of all the Provinces had been taken upon that Article charged on them by the laſt National Synod of Caſtres, Whether it were expedient to leſſen the number of our Univerſities at preſent? This Aſſembly unanimouſly reſolved to maintain them all, as alſo thoſe Colledges which are already eſtabliſhed in every Province, becauſe they be the Seed-plot and Nurſery of the Church of God, and that without their ſubſiſtence, it will be utterly impoſſible to provide for the Inſtruction of our Youth, and the growing Wants of our deſtitute Flocks, through the death of their Aged and Learned Paſtors.
Canon 6. And whereas for divers Years laſt paſt, the Neceſſities of the State would not permit our Churches to enjoy, as formerly, the Effects of his Majeſty's Bounty, and for that the Univerſities and Colledges in the Provinces have not received any regular Maintenance; and that through the withdrawing or diverting of Penſions and Aſſignations, and other Hinderances, they may hereafter fall into the like Inconveniencies, which may plunge them at laſt into a total Ruin. This Aſſembly, till ſuch time as the Churches can reap the uſual Fruits of his Majeſty's Liberality, hath decreed, That the fifth Denier of all Alms received in all the Churches being ſet by, a certain Sum ſhall be extracted and employed towards the Maintenance of our Univerſities and Colledges, by way of Advance and Loan only, until the Monies granted us by his Majeſty being received, Reſtitution be made of theſe borrowed Sums, to the Comfort and Benefit of the Poor.
Canon 7. Every Provincial Synod ſhall to this purpoſe appoint a Conſiſtory, which ſhall be charged to receive thoſe extracted Sums, from the Fifth of all Alms in every Church, and to ſend them unto thoſe Univerſities which ſhall be mentioned to them, according to the Dividend which ſhall be hereafter made, as well of the Univerſities as Colledges, and to take an Acquittance from the Council of thoſe Univerſities; and by virtue thereof, to draw out of the Hands of the Lord du Candall, or his Agent, or Deputy, the Sums advanced by them, who ſhall make good paiment out of the cleareſt Monies unto thoſe particular Churches, according to the Rates which they had furniſhed, quarterly, and the firſt Quarter to begin the firſt of October in this preſent Year.
CHAP. XXV. An Act for an Aſſeſſment for the Univerſities.
8. ACcording to this Order the Provinces having been aſſeſſed their reſpective Quota's for the Univerſities and particular Colledges, it was thus reſolved:
1. That the Province of Burgundy ſhould contribute upon its Fifths, to the Sum of five hundred thirty one Livers, and eight Sous.
2. The Province of Berry, ſeven hundred forty three Livers, fifteen Sous.
3. Poictou, twelve hundred ſeventy and five Livers.
4. Higher Languedoc, nine hundred fifty ſix Livers, fifteen Sous.
5. Lower Languedoc, twelve hundred ſeventy and five Livers.
6. Normandy, two thouſand one hundred twenty and five Livers.
7. The Iſle of France, fifteen hundred ninety five Livers, and fifteen Sous.
8. Brittain, five hundred Livers.
9. Lower Guyenne, twelve hundred ſeventy and five Livers.
10. Sevennes, ſix hundred fifty and ſeven Livers, ten Sous.
11. Anjou, eight hundred and fifty Livers.
12. Dolphiny, one thouſand ſixty two Livers, and ten Sous.
13. Xaintonge, twelve hundred ſeventy and five Livers.
14. The Province of Provence giveth nothing, as ſhall be declared in the tenth Article.
15. The Province of Vivaretz giveth nothing alſo.
All which Sums amount to fourteen thouſand one hundred twenty and two Livers, thirteen Sous.
9. And whereas the Province of the Iſle of France hath not as yet erected its Colledg, till ſuch time as it can conveniently reeſtabliſh it: This Aſſembly conſerving their full Right and Priviledg, doth exhort them to caſt in, by way of Addition, unto the Stock of Monies deſtin'd for the Maintenance of our Univerſities, two hundred Livers, which they be charged to levy upon the Churches of their Diviſion, for the upholding of their Colledg; and to continue unto the Province of Berry, the grant of two hundred Livers, to help maintain more eaſily the Colledg of Chaſtillon upon the Loir; but with this Condition, that the Province of Berry doth bring in yearly Evidence, how they have employed the laid two hundred Livers; and alſo whether they have disburſed their own Monies, as they were bound, towards the maintenance of their Colledg.
10. As for the Provinces of Provence and Vivaretz, Report being made of the Deſolations befallen them through their being made the Seat of War; and both of them having declared, that by reaſon of their Poverty they could not maintain their Colledges at preſent, nor contribute any thing to the Subſiſtence of our Univerſities, as the other Provinces did in the 8th Article but now mentioned; this Aſſembly doth for this time bear with their Failure, and in the mean while doth enjoin them to levy, as the other Provinces do, the fifth Denier of their Alms to be imployed towards the maintenance of their Scholars deſtin'd for the Miniſtry, according to the import and meaning of the third Article in the ſecond Chapter of our Church-Diſcipline: and they be charged to bring in a clear and evident proof of their Obedience in this Particular unto the next National Synod.
11. The Synod alſo having been informed of the Prejudice done unto the Colledg of Montauban, by retrenching the Sum of ſix hundred Livers, which was wont to be impoſed on the County of Querey: To prevent the utter Diſſipation of the ſaid Colledg, a Decree was made, That out of the fifth Denier in the Province of Higher Languedoc, there ſhould be aſſigned to it four hundred Livers every Year until the next National Synod, upon condition that they be accountable for the ſaid Sum, as had been before ordained.