The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 27 (Alençon) · Chapter 1 – Chapter 2
CHAP. I. The King's Writ preſented by the Marqueſs of Clermont for calling the Synod. Mr. de St. Mars Commiſſioner. Deputies. Officers choſen.
Article 1. THE Lord Marqueſs of Clermont General Deputy of the Reformed Churches of France, at the opening of the Synod preſented his Majeſty's Warrant, expreſly given by him under his own Hand for the calling of it; the Tenour of which is as followeth.
This ſixth Day of Jannary, in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty and ſeven, the King being at Paris, upon the moſt humble Petition of his Subjects of the Reformed Religion, who craved his Royal Permiſſion for the calling and aſſembling of a National Synod, there not having been one held ſince that of Char…nton in the Year 1631. His Majeſty being deſirous to gratify thoſe his Subjects, and to deal favourably with them, hath permitted, and doth permit the Convocation of a National Synod, the 27th day of May next following the date hereof, in the Town of Alanſon; but on this condition, that there be none other Matters debated in it excepting thoſe only which are allowed by the Edicts; and that the Lord of St. Mars, Counſellor to his Majeſty in his Council of State, be Perſonally preſent in the ſaid Synod, in Quality of his Majeſty's Commiſſioner, as hath been uſual and cuſtomary in ſuch Aſſemblies. In Teſtimony whereof his Majeſty bath commanded me to expedite this his preſent Writ, which he hath ſeen and ſigned with his own Hand, and cauſed to be counterſigned by me his Counſellor and Secretary of State, and of his Commandments.
Signed, LOƲIS: And a little lower, Phelippeaux.
Article 2. There came unto the ſaid Aſſembly, on behalf of the Provinces and Churches, theſe Paſtors and Elders deputed by them, whoſe Names follow.
Article 3. For the Province of Normandy, the Sieurs Benjamin Baſnage Paſtor of the Church of Ste Mere, and John Maximilian de l'Angle Paſtor of the Church of Rouen; together with the Lords John Richer Lord of Ceriſy, Elder of the Church of Gaulé; and Lawrence le Febure, Advocate in the Parliament of Normandy, and Elder in the Church of Rouen.
Article 4. For the Province of Dolphiny, the Sieurs Paul Guyon Paſtor of the Church of Dieu le fit, and Stephen Blanc Paſtor and Profeſſor in the Church of Die; together with the Sieurs James de Beaucaſtell Eſq Lord of Auges, Elder in the Church of Courtezon, and Gaſpard du Baeuf Advocate in the Parliament of Dolphiny, and Elder in the Church of Grenoble.
Article 5. For the Province of Burgundy, the Sieurs Aymedeé de Bons Paſtor of the Church at Chaloons, and Heliodorus du Noyer Paſtor of the Church at Buſſy; together with the Sieurs John Roy Advocate in the Parliament of Burgundy, Elder in the Church of Arnay le Duc; and Charles Perreau Advocate in the ſaid Parliament, Elder in the Church of Autun and Couches.
Article 6. For the Province of Lower Languedoc, the Sieurs Samuel Petit Paſtor and Profeſſor in the Church of Niſmes, and John Gigord Paſtor of the Church of Montpellier; together with the Sieurs Francis de Fonfrede, Counſellor to the King in the Preſidial Court of Niſmes, and Deacon of the ſaid Church; and John Browns Lord of Rouſſares, Elder in the Church of St. Ambroiſe.
Article 7. For the Province of Xaintonge, the Sieurs Daniel Cheſnel Paſtor of the Church of Marans, and*There be two of his Sons Miniſters, and Exites here in England. John Commarc Paſtor of tie Church of Vertueil; together with the Lords René de Saint Leger Eſq Lord of Boiſcond, Elder in the Church of Clan; and Mr. George Reveau, Counſellor to the King, and his Advocate at Rochel, Elder of the Church in that City.
Article 8. For the Province of Provence, the Sieurs Paul Maurice Paſtor of the Church of Aigueres, and John Moneſtier Elder in the Church of Lormarin.
Article 9. For the Province of Sevennes, the Sieurs John Bony Paſtor of the Church of St. John de Gardonengue, and John Surville Paſtor of the Church at Vigan; together with the Sieurs Peter de Fons Lord of des Sabbatieres, Elder in the Church of Quiſſac; and Thomas Serre Eſq Elder in the Church of Sauve.
Article 10. For the Province of Higher Languedoc, the Sieurs Peter Charles Paſtor of the Church of Montauban, and Matthew Tiſſier Paſtor of the Church of Mauvoiſin; together with the Sieur Sebaſtian de St. Fauſte Elder in the Church of Mauvoiſin, and the Sieur David Fournes Advocate and Elder in the Church of Montauban, who was abſent, having fallen ſick on the way.
Article 11. For the Province of Anjou, the Sieurs Daniel Couppé Paſtor of the Church of Loudun, and John Vigneux Paſtor of the Church du Mans; together with the Sieurs George Rabbotteau Advocate in Parliament, and Elder in the Church of Pruille; and Peter de Ceriziers, Counſellor of the King in the Borough of Loudun, and Elder of the Church in the ſame Town.
Article 12. For the Province of the Iſle of France, the Sieurs David Blondell Paſtor of the Church of Rouſſy, and John Daillé Paſtor of the Church of Paris; together with the Sieurs Peter de L'aunay Lord of La Mote, and Peter Marbault Counſellor and Secretary to the King, Elder in the Church of Paris.
Article 13. For the Province of Brittain, the Sieurs Daniel Sauvé Paſtor of the Church of Villevigne, and Giles Lovyer Eſq Lord of la Greſtiere, Elder of the ſame Church.
Article 14. For the Province of Orleans; the Sieurs Jacob le Brun Paſtor of the Church at Romorantin, and John Taby Paſtor of the Church at la Charité; together with the Sieurs Claudius Bernard Bailiff of Chaſtillon upon the Loir, and Elder of the Church there; and Timothy Baignoux Elder in the Church of Mer.
Article 15. For the Province of Poitou, the Sieurs Samuel le Blanc Paſtor of the Church at St. Maixant, and Daniel Pain Paſtor of the Church of Chaſtelheraut; together with the Sieurs Charles de Gourgeaud Eſq Lord of Pannieure, Elder of the Church of Mougon, and Francis Mauclere Eſq Lord of la Mezanchere, Elder in the Church of la Jandouiniere.
Article 16. For the Province of Vivaretz, the Sieurs Alexander de Vinay Paſtor of the Church of Annonay, and Simeon de Hoſty Paſtor of the Church in St. Fortunate; togethe… with the Sieurs Andrew Paget Elder of the Church of Couxnear Privas, and Anthony Regnet Doctor of the Laws, Advocate and Elder in the Church of Aubenas.
Article 17. For the Province of Lower Guyenne, the Sieurs John d' Alba Paſtor of the Church at Agen, and Daniel Ferrand Paſtor of the Church of Bourdeaux; together with Daniel Deſcayrac Lieutenant in the Court of Juſtice at Pugeols, Elder of the Church in the ſame place; and James Charron Advocate in the Parliament of Bourdeaux, and Elder in the Church of Bergerac.
Article 18. For the Province of Bearn, the Sieurs Simon Fuget Paſtor of the Church of Carreſſe, and Peter Margendie Doctor of Phyſick, and Elder in the Church of Orthez.
Article 19. After Invocation of the Name of God, the Reverend Mr. Benjamin Baſnage was, by plurality of Votes, choſen Moderator, and Mr. Couppé Aſſeſſor, Mr. Blondel and Mr. Launay Scribes.
CHAP. II. The King's Commiſſion to the Lord of St. Mars.
AS ſoon as the Officers of the Synod were choſen, his Majeſty's Letters Patents were read, giving a Commiſſion to Monſieur de St. Mars, Counſellor in his Council of State, to repreſent his Perſon in it; the Form and Tenour of which was inſerted into the Acts of this Synod.
A Copy of his Majeſty's Letters Patents.
Louis, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre, To our beloved and truſty Counſellor in our Council of State, the Lord of St. Mars, Greeting.
WE having permitted our Subjects of the pretend. Reformed Religion, to hold in our Town of Alanſon, the 27th of May next enſuing the Date hereof, a National Synod, compoſed of all the Deputies of the Provinces of our Kingdom, to treat of Matters concerning their Religion: And being to chuſe a Perſon of ſufficient and requiſite Abilities, and of approved Loyalty to Us, to be preſent in our ſtead; and to act in quality of our Commiſſioner in the ſaid Aſſembly: Now, we being well acquainted with thoſe Services you have done us in ſundry and honourable Employments wherewith you have been intruſted by Us, and of which you have acquitted your ſelf moſt worthily, we judged that we could not make a better choice than of your Perſon, being well aſſured of the continuance of your Affection to our Service. For theſe Cauſes we have Commiſſionated and deputed, and do commiſſionate and depute, by theſe Preſents, ſigned with our own Hand, you my Lord of St. Mars, for Us, and in our ſtead, to go and ſit in Perſon, on our behalf, in the ſaid Synod, convocated in the ſaid Town of Alanſon, there to propoſe and reſolve whatſoever ſhall be commanded you by us, according to the Memoirs and Inſtructions we have to this purpoſe put into your Hands, taking heed that none other Matters be there propoſed, but ſuch as ought to be treated in ſuch Aſſemblies, and are permitted by our Edicts: And in caſe they ſhould attempt any thing to the contrary, you ſhall hinder them by the interpoſal of our Authority; and you ſhall ſpeedily give us advice thereof, that we may apply thoſe Remedies which are convenient in …uch caſes. And for the doing hereof, we give you Power, Commiſſion, and ſpecial Command by theſe preſents, for ſuch is our Pleaſure.
Given at Paris the ſixth Day of January, in the Year of Grace, One thouſand ſix hundred thirty and ſeven, and of our Reign the ſeven and twentieth. Signed Louis, and a little lower Phelippeaux. And ſealed with the Great Seal of yellow Wax.