The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 26 (2nd Charenton) · Chapter 26 – Chapter 29
CHAP. XXVI. A Dividend of Monies borrowed on the fifth Denier of all the Alms of our Churches, for the maintenance of our four Univerſities at Montauban, Saumur, Niſmes and Die.
1. TO the Univerſity of Montauban for two Profeſſors in Divinity, one in Hebrew, two in Philoſophy, and for the Colledg, three thouſand Livers: Whereof the Province of Higher Languedoc ſhall furniſh nine hundred fifty and ſix Livers; and Normandy a thouſand one hundred Livers; and the Iſle of France ſix hundred twenty and five Livers; and Xaintonge three hundred and nineteen Livers.
2. To the Univerſity of Saumur for two Profeſſors in Theology, one in Hebrew, and two in Philoſophy, two thouſand ſix hundred Livers: More for the Principal of the Colledg one hundred Livers, for the firſt Regent four hundred Livers, for the ſecond three hundred Livers, for the third two hundred and fifty, for the fourth two hundred, and for him that governs the fifth and ſixth Claſſis two hundred and ten Livers, for the Door-keeper and Beadle ſixty. The total Sum is four thouſand one hundred and twenty Livers; of which the Province of Normandy ſhall furniſh ſix hundred five and twenty Livers, the Iſle of France ſeven hundred ſixty eight Livers, and fifteen Sous; Xaintonge fire hundred fifty and ſix Livers, Poictou eight hundred ſeventy and five Livers, Berry three hundred forty and three Livers, ſeventeen Sous; Anjou eight hundred and fifty Livers, Brittain one hundred and ſix Livers, five Sous.
3. To the Univerſity of Niſmes for two Profeſſors in Theology, and one in Hebrew, eighteen hundred Livers; whereof the Lower Languedoc ſhall furniſh eight hundred ſeventy and five Livers, the Lower Guyenne eight hundred ſeventy and five Livers, and Sevennes fifty; In all, 1800 l.
4. To the Univerſity of Die nine hundred eighty one Livers, five Sous; of which Dolphiny ſhall furniſh ſix hundred ſixty two Livers, and ten Sous; Burgundy one hundred thirty and one Livers, ſeventeen Sous; Sevennes one hundred eighty ſeven Livers, ten Sous.
5. And leſt our Univerſities ſhould fall into an utter Deſolation, thrô the Provinces neglect of the before-ordained Contribution, their Deputies now being in this preſent Synod, are expreſly charged to ſee this very Canon punctually executed, and all Provincial Synods to cenſure the delinquent Conſiſtories, and to quicken every particular Church within their Diviſion, to a revival of their ancient Zeal, and to an augmentation of their Alms, which are to be imployed to ſo ſacred and neceſſary a Buſineſs.
6. This Aſſembly being informed how carefully the Univerſity-Council of Saumur have performed their Duty in maintaining the Profeſſion of Divinity in their Univerſity, eſpecially ſince the laſt National Synod held at Caſtres, applaudeth the Zeal of their Profeſſors, which being intruſted with ſo holy and laborious a Calling, do diſcharge it with ſingular Fidedelity and Diligence, in which they ſhall be confirmed, after they have undergone their Examen, according to the Canons of our Church-Diſcipline.
7. The Council of the Univerſity of Saumur remonſtrating their great want of another Profeſſor in Divinity, and that they had pitched upon Mr. Blondel, a Man endowed with Gifts every way fit for ſuch an important Charge: but the ſaid Mr. Blondel excuſing himſelf upon many and divers accounts from accepting of it, and principally for that he hath been requeſted to write the Hiſtory of the Church for the firſt five hundred Years: The Provincial Deputies of the Iſle of France being heard, and Letters from the Earl of Rouſſi, and the Church gathered in his Houſe, having been peruſed, who did all unanimouſly petition that the ſaid Mr. Blondel might be continued to them, becauſe of the great Succeſs of his Miniſtry, and their Edification by it: Hereupon the Aſſembly declared, That for ſundry and weighty Reaſons the ſaid Mr. Blondel could not be granted unto that Univerſity, altho he might be very beneficial to it; and that therefore the Council of the ſaid Univerſity muſt ſeek after ſome other Perſon, from whoſe Labours they might reap the Advantages deſired by them for their Univerſity.
8. The Aſſembly yielding to the Importunities of the Univerſity of Saumur, doth from this inſtant accord, that Monſieur de la Place, Paſtor of the Church of Nantes, notwithſtanding all his Excuſes and Arguments urged by him to the contrary, ſhall take upon him the Profeſſorſhip of Divinity, after that he hath undergone the Examination preſcribed by our Canons. And the Lord Commiſſioner is intreated to procure leave for the Province of Brittain to meet in a Synod within ſix Months, that ſo the Univerſity of Saumur may preſent their Requeſt as ſoon as poſſible unto the ſaid Synod, which is ordered to give their Conſent, and to provide the Church of Nantes of another Paſtor, who may as ſucceſsfully ſerve and edify it as the ſaid Mr. de la Place hath done. And the Province of Anjou is ſeriouſly to conſider the Neceſſities of that Church; that in caſe, through the Advice of the Synod of Brittain, it ſhould ſeek for a Paſtor from among them, they may obtain full Satisfaction and Conſolation. And in caſe the ſaid Synod of Brittain cannot be held within the ſpace of ſix Months, yet the ſaid Mr. de la Place ſhall remove by virtue of this Act unto the ſaid Univerſity.
CHAP. XXIX. Accompts brought in by the Provinces about the Maintenance and Subſiſtence of their Colledges and Univerſities.
9. THE Province of Anjou tendring in two Accompts, one brought unto the Synod of Saumur, in the Year 1629, and the other unto the Synod held at Loudun, in the Year 1631, for the Years 1625, 1626, 1627, 1628, 1629, 1630, and 1631 until the laſt September, they were allowed and approved.
10. The Province of Lower Languedoc brought in no Accompt for their Univerſity of Niſmes, nor for the Colledg of Beziers, becauſe they had received nothing neither for the one nor other, ſince the laſt National Synod of Caſtres, held towards the End of the Year 1626.
11. Nor hath the Province of Higher Languedoc brought in any Accompt for their Univerſity of Moutauban, nor for the Colledg of Caſtres, they not having received one Farthing ſince the ſitting of the laſt Synod.
12. There were five Accompts exhibited by the Province of Dolphiny, of their Receipt and Disburſment for the Univerſity of Die, beginning in July 1626, and ending the 1ſf of July 1630, all which were allowed and approved.
13. The Province of Berry brought in three Accompts for the Colledg of Chaſtillon upon Loir, two whereof were tendred to the Synod held at Chaſtillon, the firſt on the 22d of February, 1629; the other the 22d of March next immediately following; the third and laſt was to tho Conſiſtory of Gien, authorized to examine it by the Synod held at Mer the 18th of June, 1631, for the Year 1628, 1629, 1630, and 1631; and the ſaid Accompts were allowed and approved.
14. The Province of Xaintonge brought in the Accompt of the Colledg of Rochefoucauld, rendred by them the Year 1630, on the 11th of June, unto the Synod held in the ſame Place, and the ſaid Accompt was allowed and approved.
15. The Province of Brittain exhibited alſo an Accompt of the Colledg of Vitré, the 21ſt of June, 1628, concluded and determined by two Elders of the Conſiſtory of that Church, which was allowed and approved.
16. The reſt of the Provinces brought in no Accompts about the Maintenance of their Colledges, they not having received any thing for them ſince the 25th National Synod held at Caſtres in the Months of September, October and November, 1626.