The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 26 (2nd Charenton) · Chapter 7 – Chapter 14
CHAP. VII. The Deputies return from Court, with the King's Anſwer and Letter to the Synod.
16 THE two and twentieth day of this Month, thoſe aforementioned Deputies unto his Majeſty, Monſieur Amyraud and de Villars, returned with Letters from his Majeſty unto the Synod, the Tenour of which followed.
A Copy of his Majeſty's Letter unto the Synod.
By the KING.
Dear and Well-beloved,
WE have ſeen, by your Letter of the 13th Inſtant, and farther underſtand, by word of Mouth, from your Deputies, and by the Memoirs preſented to us, the Demands which you have to make us on thoſe Matters debated in your Synodical Aſſembly, and now called by our Writ of Licence, to ſit at Charenton. And foraſmuch as we have informed the ſaid Deputies of our Intentions on the greater part of your Demands, and that we have given a more particular notice of them unto the Lord Galland; we will not therefore detain you any longer, than to acquaint you, that you may give an intire Credit to whatſoever the Lord Galland ſhall in out Name declare unto you. Moreover we do aſſure you, that as we are very well ſatisfied with the Carriage and Conduct of your Synod, and of your Deputies to us, you ſhall, upon all Occaſions that occur, receive the ſenſible Pledges of our Good-will.
Given at Monceaux this 21ſt of September 1631. Signed in the Original, Louis, and a little lower Philippeaux; and ſubſcribed, To our Dear and Well-beloved, the Deputies of the National Synod of our Subjects profeſſing the pret. Reformed Religion, aſſembled by our Permiſſion at Charenton.
18. His Majeſty's Letters being read, the ſaid Deputies made report, That when they were called into his Majeſty's Council, and the King having heard them, he anſwered them in theſe words; I have heard and underſtood all that you have ſaid, and you may reſt aſſured, that I will preſerve you according to my Edicts. Give me the Cahier, and I will peruſe it with my Council.
After which his Eminency the Lord Cardinal told them, That his Majeſty was exceedingly ſatisfied with the Conduct of the Synod, and particularly with them their Deputies: And it was his Majeſty's Intention to maintain his Subjects of the Religion, in their Liberty granted by his Edicts, and to give them the enjoyment of his Favours, and the Fruits of his Royal Good-will; and his Majeſty had prevented the Petitions of the Churches, having already ordered a certain Sum of Money to be delivered unto the Lord of Candall to be diſtributed among them. And his Majeſty, in token of his accepting the Synod's Petition, had taken off the Prohibition laid upon thoſe two Miniſters, the Sieurs Banage and Beraud, and hath permitted them to aſſiſt according to the Truſt repoſed in them by their Provinces in the Synod. And as for the Sieur Bouteroue, his Majeſty hath not been as yet informed of the Contents of the Book written by him, nor of the Contents of the Decree denounc'd againſt him by the Parliament of Grenoble; but as ſoon as he ſhall have the knowledg thereof, he will write unto the Lord Galland his Commiſſioner, and by adviſing with him, will take ſome effectual courſe to anſwer the Requeſt of this Aſſembly, about admitting the ſaid Lord of Bouteroue. And as for the reſt of their Petitions mentioned in the Cahier preſented by them the Deputies unto the King, his Majeſty was reſolved to deal with his Subjects in a manner ſuitable to his Soveraign Dignity, and the Sacred Authority of his Royal Word, and would give them moſt favourable Anſwers after the breaking up of the Synod, and not otherwiſe.
19. Whereupon the Aſſembly approving the Conduct of their Deputies, did give them its hearty Thanks for their Care, Faithfulneſs, and Dexterity manifeſted in the diſcharge of that Truſt committed to them. And afterwards his Majeſty's Commiſſioner, the Lord Galland, acquainted the Synod, That by the Letters which he had received from his Majeſty, and the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and the Lord de la Vrilliere Secretary of State, that his Majeſty was very well pleaſed, yea, highly ſatisfied with the Conduct and Moderation of this Aſſembly, and with thoſe Teſtimonials and Expreſſions rendred by them of their Affection and Obedience to his Majeſty; and that within a few days this Synod ſhould receive the Effects of this his Good-will in a very conſiderable Sum of Monies, his Majeſty reſolving to gratify them ſo far, as to defray the Charges the Aſſembly muſt needs be at, out of his own Treaſury, and to bear the Expences of all the Deputies in their Travel and Sojourning here. And he farther exhorted the Synod, and all the Churches in general, to continue in their Duty, upon which depended their Preſervation, and that it would give them a moſt ſolid ground to expect and hope for his Majeſty's moſt ſpeedy and favourable Anſwer unto their Cahier which they had ſent unto him, and which would be diſpatch'd as ſoon as the Synod was broke up; and he deſired that they would not be over-long nor tedious in their Seſſions, for many Reaſons that he could give. And whereas his Majeſty, for divers very great and weighty Conſiderations and Motives, had, by his Writ the eleventh of Auguſt laſt, interdicted the Sieurs Beraud, Banage, and Bouteroue, from being Members of this National Synod, and by his expreſs Injunction had ordered their removal out of their reſpective Provinces; and that they ſhould in no wiſe exerciſe their Miniſtry, either in Languedoc, Normandy, or Dolphiny: Now out of his meer Grace and Reſpect had to the moſt humble Petition of this Synod, preſented him by their Deputies, it hath ſeem'd good unto him to reſtore thoſe Reverend Perſons, Mr. Banage, Beraud, and Bouteroue, unto their reſpective Churches, and given them leave to ſit, according to that Truſt repoſed in them, as Deputies in this very Synod; but chargeth them withal to uſe, for time coming, more and greater Moderation in their Writings and Sermons, in which it is his Majeſty's Pleaſure that they ſhould be more circumſpect and reſerv'd, and to keep themſelves within the Bounds preſcribed them by the Diſcipline. And as for the Sieur de Bouteroue, before his Majeſty will ordain his Reſtoration, his Majeſty deſireth to be informed of the Sentence paſt againſt him in the Parliament of Grenoble, becauſe it relates unto a certain Book written by the ſaid Bouteroue.
20. Upon this Declaration, made by the Lord Commiſſioner of his Majeſty's Good-will, and of his favourable Inclinations unto the Churches, it was unanimouſly voted and decreed, That moſt humble Thanks ſhould be returned unto his Majeſty for the Grant of his Gracious Favours; and that a new Addreſs ſhould be made him by this Aſſembly, with an humble Petition for the reſtoration of the Sieur de Bouteroue; and that the Synod might have Licence given it to ſit, without a Diſſolution, till ſuch time as the Monies deſtin'd by his Majeſty's Liberality for the defraying of its Expences be paid in, and diſtributed according to he Intention of his Majeſty by the Synod it ſelf, conformably to that Order which hath been always obſerved in the Dividend of Monies granted us by his Majeſty.
CHAP. VIII. Election of General Deputies.
21. SEveral Provinces requeſting that his Majeſty ſhould be pleaſed to grant out his Royal Writ of Licence for the Election and Nomination of General Deputies; the Lord Commiſſioner declared, That it was his Majeſty's Pleaſure that this Aſſembly ſhould agree with him in the choice of two Perſons acceptable unto his Majeſty, who might exerciſe the Office of General Deputies, and reſide near his Perſon, and attend the Court in all its Progreſs and Motions. The Synod having conferr'd in private, by its Commiſſioners, with the forementioned Lord, did nominate the Lord Marqueſs of Clermont, and the Lord Galland, Lieutenant General in the Bailiwick of the Artillery, and of the Louvre, hoping that his Majeſty will ſo far condeſcend as to approve of the Obedience of our Churches, and hereafter to reſertle them in the practice of their ancient and accuſtomed Order.
CHAP. IX. Monſieur Beraud admitted as Deputy to ſit and act in the Synod.
22. THE three and twentieth day of September, the Sieur Beraud, Paſtor of the Church of Montauban, and Profeſſor of Divinity in that Univerſity, came unto the Synod, petitioning that he might be reſtored, and take his place in it, according to his Majeſty's Intention expreſſed in his Letters written to the Lord Commiſſioner; who directing his Speech unto the ſaid Dr. Beraud, told him, That his Actions and Writings had formerly given unto his Majeſty very many and juſt Reaſons of being diſſatisfied with him, and great occaſion of Scandal and Complaint againſt thoſe of the Reformed Religion. For which cauſe his Majeſty, by his Writ of the ſixteenth of Auguſt laſt, had excluded him out of the Synod, and deſtin'd his Abode and Miniſtry ſomewhere elſe than at Montauban: But his Majeſty having a favourable Reſpect unto the Petition of the Synod, had, of his ſpecial Grace, reſtored him unto his Church, and permitted him to aſſiſt the remainder of its Seſſions, as a Member of it in this Synod, becauſe he hoped that he would, as he now commanded him to, govern himſelf in all his Actions and Writings, with a Moderation well-befitting his Profeſſion. Whereupon the ſaid Dr. Beraud took his place in quality of Deputy for the Province of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne, according to that Commiſſion he had received from his Province.
23. The Lords Clermont and Galland, who were nominated unto the Office of General Deputies for the time coming, were intreated to carry unto his Majeſty the Act of their Election by this Aſſembly; and its moſt humble Petition, both for the reſtoration of the Sieur de Bouteroue, and the paiment of the Monies deſigned to defray the Expences of this Synod, and to procure an Anſwer unto that Branch of our Cahier, concerning the Monies granted us by his Majeſty's Liberality, that ſo the Dividend may be made before our departure. And the Lord Commiſſioner was alſo intreated to accompany the Petitions of the Synod with his Lordſhip's Letters, and by his Mediation to facilitate their Acceptance, and the getting of a Decree upon them.
CHAP. X. A Copy of the ſecond Letter written by the Synod unto his Majeſty.
To the KING.
SIRE,
WE had no ſooner knowledg of your Majeſty's Intentions about the Election of our General Deputies, who are to reſide near your Majeſty's Perſon; but we immediately concurr'd with the Lord Galland, your Majeſty's Commiſſioner in this Aſſembly; and we nominated to the exerciſe of this Office, the Lord Marqueſs of Clermont, and the Lord Galland, eldeſt Son of the Lord Commiſſioner; who were no ſooner choſen, than we commiſſionated them to wait upon your Majeſty, and to preſent, and tender together with the ſincereſt Proteſtations of our moſt inviolable Fidelities, and immoveable Reſolutions, to live and die in that Devotion, (which we all owe unto your Majeſty's Service) our moſt humble and thankful acknowledgments for the favourable Promiſe vouchſafed us to defray the Charges of this Aſſembly; as alſo our moſt humble Petitions, That it would pleaſe your Royal Goodneſs, in which only next unto and after our God, lieth all our Conſolation: And 'tis our hope, that you will continue your Royal Benefits unto us, as to your dutiful and moſt faithful Subjects; and that you will always under this Quality, ſhroud us with the Sacred Covert of your Majeſty's Protection. Wherefore, with all reverence, we beſeech your Majeſty to give them a favourable Audience, as well for the preſent in this our Requeſt, that you would daign to ſhower down upon our Churches the Streams of your Majeſty's Liberality and Bounty, which we have formerly enjoyed: as alſo that hereafter, in all thoſe Remonſtrances and Petitions which our urgent and extraordinary Neceſſities ſhall oblige us to make unto you, we may experience the natural Inclination of your Majeſty to cheriſh and comfort your People; and we ſhall always ſtudy, and zealouſly endeavour to render our ſelves worthy of the Fruits and Effects thereof, by all Acts of Duty, Obedience, and imaginable Submiſſions. Which give us, Sire, to hope, that you will not refuſe to caſt the Eyes of your Compaſſions upon our Miſeries, and to open your Ears to the groanings of thouſands of Souls, who under all their Grievances and Oppreſſions ſuffered by them, do yet notwithſtanding breath nothing elſe but a moſt profound Obedience and unſhaken Loyalty unto your Majeſty. And this makes us the more devout and zealous in our Addreſſes unto the Throne of the King of Kings, ardently and moſt importunately beſeeching him for the preſervation of your Majeſty's moſt Sacred Perſon, for his Benediction on all your Deſigns and Ʋndertakings, for the Glory of your Crown, for the Fidelity of your People, and for the long Continuance of your Reign, becauſe, Sire, we are,
From Charenton, Sept. 23. 1631. Your Majeſty's moſt humble, and moſt obedient, and moſt faithful Subjects and Servants, The Deputies of the National Synod aſſembled by your Permiſſion at Charenton, and for them all,
Meſtrezat Moderator.
Jamett Aſſeſſor.
D. Blondell Scribe.
Armett Scribe of the Synod.
CHAP. XI. The General Deputies make Report of their Audience; and the King's Anſwer to that Letter.
1. THE fourth Day of October, the Lords General Deputies being returned, and making Report of their kind Reception from the Miniſters of State, who alſo informed them that his Majeſty had granted ſixteen thouſand Livers for defraying the Expences of this Synod, and that he permitted Monſieur Bouteroue to take his Place with the other Deputies in the Synod; and that his Majeſty did judg meet that this Synod ſhould break up of its own Accord as ſoon as poſſible it could, and that after their Departure the Cahier preſented by the Sieurs Amyraud and de Villars ſhould have a favourable Anſwer, and that without Delay. And the Lord Commiſſioner added that his Majeſty expreſſed in his Letters written to him, his ſingular Satisfaction in the Synod, to which he granted three Days more for the perfecting and ſtrengthning of their remaining Affairs; and that they ſhould be no ſooner ſeparated, but he would anſwer their Cahiers, and that in the moſt favourable manner, particularly in what relates unto the Maintenance of the Miniſters; that the Choice of Deputi… was very acceptable to him, though they could not enter upon their Office till after the Separation and Departure of this Synod. Upon which, the Aſſembly having returned their moſt hearty Thanks unto the Lords Deputies aforeſaid, for their ſingular Affection and Diligence in promoting the Weal of our Churches; They intreated the Lord Commiſſioner to continue his wonted good Offices unto the Churches, and by his daily Interceſſion for them with his Majeſty, to be more and more uſeful and beneficial to them: And inaſmuch as he was near his Majeſty, and one of his Privy Council, he was earneſtly intreated moſt humbly to petition his Majeſty to add unto thoſe Favours which he hath already vouchſafed us, the Grant alſo of thoſe which we expect and wait for from his Royal Clemency and Goodneſs.
CHAP. XII. The Sieurs Bouteroue and Baſnage admitted as Deputies to ſit and act in the Synod.
2. THE ſame Day the Sieur Benjamin Banage, Paſtor of the Church of Quarentin, and one of the Deputies for the Province of Normandy, preſented himſelf unto the Synod, craving leave that he might be admitted as a Member into it. The Lord Commiſſioner beſpake him, that the King for divers Conſiderations had thought good to debar him Entrance into this Synod, and to remove him from his Church and Province of Normandy: But having a particular Reſpect unto the moſt humble Petitions of this Aſſembly, he gave him leave to take his Place and Vote in it during the remaining Seſſions thereof, and permitted him to continue the Exerciſe of his Miniſtry in his own Church, upon condition that he ordered his Words and Actions with that Moderation and Reſervedneſs which became his Calling and Profeſſion.
3. Monſieur Denys Bouteroue, Paſtor of the Church of Grenoble, and Deputy for the Province of Dolphiny, coming alſo in like manner, and deſiring to be admitted into the Synod, according to his Majeſty's Permiſſion; the Lord Commiſſioner told him, That he had given the King occaſion to be diſpleaſed with him, becauſe of a Book which he had printed in June, 1628, and was condemned by Decree of the Parliament of Greenoble; but that the Proſecution which was againſt him for being the Author of it, and for which he deſerved to be put out of the Synod and Province of Dolphiny, was remitted by his Majeſty's great Goodneſs, in Confidence that for the future he would comport himſelf with all Moderation, and keep within the due and proper Bounds of the Diſcipline, as appeared from the Charge and Letter Miſſive of his Majeſty unto the ſaid Lord Commiſſioner; the Tenor whereof is as followeth.
CHAP. XIII. A Copy of the King's Letter unto the Lord Galland, for reſtoring the Lord of Bouteroue unto his Place in the National Synod.
My Lord Galland;
HAving ſeen by your Letter written unto the Lord de la Urilliere, what you report concerning the Miniſter de Bouteroue, whoſe Reſtitution I deſired might be reſpited till ſuch time as I was informed of the Decree given againſt him in my Court of Parliament of Grenoble, for a certain Book made by him, containing very many injurious and ſlanderous Diſcourſes. I have ſince reflected on the Reaſons alledged by you, and thoſe Aſſurances you have given me, that for the future he will carry himſelf better; therefore I now ſend you this Letter, to acquaint you, that I have thought good to extend the ſame Favour to him, which I have unto thoſe two other Miniſters, Banage and Beraud, and to reſtore him unto his Function, permitting him, as I have alſo done thoſe now mentioned Miniſters, to aſſiſt in that Synod the Remainder of its Seſſions, upon condition, that hereafter he contain himſelf within the Bounds of their Diſcipline, which you ſhall notify unto all the Members of that Aſſembly, that thereby they may be convinced of my Goodneſs to them, and that I ſhall always be glad to extend the Fruits thereof unto the whole Body, and every particular Member of that pret. Reformed Religion, provided they render themſelves worthy of it by an intire Obedience to my Royal Authority. And I beſeech God to take you, my Lord Galland, into his holy keeping.
Written from Vandoſme, the 20th of September, 1631. Signed in the Original Louis, and a little lower, Phelippeaux: And ſuperſcribed, To my Lord Galland, one of his Majeſty's moſt honourable Council of State.
5. After that thoſe Remonſtrances had been made unto them, thoſe aforeſaid Miniſters Banage and Bouteroue took their reſpective Places in the Synod, according to the Commiſſion given them by their reſpective Provinces.
6. The Lord Commiſſioner having declared that it was his Majeſty's Pleaſure, that for the future no Strangers, but only the proper Members of the Conſiſtories in each particular Church ſhould aſſiſt at all their Church-Seſſions and Conſiſtorial Actings. The Aſſembly repreſented unto his Lordſhip the many Difficulties which did daily occur in the Management of Church-Affairs, and which did neceſſarily require the Aſſiſtance, Advice and mutual Communication of other Churches. Whereupon his Lordſhip promiſed to write unto his Majeſty about it, and to petition his Majeſty that he would be pleaſed in Caſes of Neceſſity, to grant that three other Paſtors, and as many Elders from the neighbouring Churches might be allowed to meet and conſult together in the Conſiſtory.
CHAP. XIV. Approbation of the Confeſſion of Faith.
THE Confeſſion of Faith was read word by word, and every Article poſedly and in its proper Order, approved and ſigned by all the Deputies who were ſent and commiſſionated by the Provinces; and they did all of them in their own perſonal and relative Capacities both for themſelves and for their Principals, who had intruſted them, and whom they repreſented, and who had given them expreſs Charge ſo to do, proteſt that they would live and die in the Confeſſion of that Faith, that they would teach it unto their Churches, and put to their helping Hand, that it might be inviolably kept and preſerved to Poſterity.