The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 27 (Alençon) · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. Of ƲNIVERSITIES. The Order taken for upholding and Maintenance of our Univerſities.
Article 1. WHereas the Univerſities of Montauban and Saumur have complained, that by reaſon one of the Provinces hath retrenched part of its Contribution, they have been deprived of that Aſſiſtance which was deſtined unto their Maintenance, and requeſted that ſome Courſe might be took herein by an Order of this Synod, looking forward and backward to what is paſt and to come. The ſaid Province was heard ſpeak in its own Defence, which urged for it ſelf, that it had been over-rated by the laſt National Synod of Charenton, in the Year 1631. This Aſſembly did greatly condemn the aforeſaid Province, for attempting to violate the Canons of that Synod, and for giving an evil Example unto others of committing the like Crime, and forbiddeth that and all other Provinces of being guilty for the future of ſuch Offences, on Pain of forfeiting their Priviledg of entring into theſe National Synods; and ordaineth, that they make good and full Payment of all Arrears due by them unto thoſe before-mentioned Univerſities.
Article 2. The Provinces which are indebted unto our Univerſities, are exhorted to uſe their beſt Endeavours to pay in unto them their Arrearages, according to the Rate before made.
Article 3. The Univerſity of Niſmes demanding her juſt Dues, and that the Sum granted her by the laſt National Synod of Charenton might be actually paid in unto her this very Day, and requeſting that the Sum of ſixteen hundred and thirty nine Livers, three Sous, paid to her Prejudice by the Synod of Lower Guyenne unto that of Montauban, which applied unto its own particular Profit what belonged unto another. This Aſſembly generally condemning all ſuch Proceedings, ordaineth, that the Sum of ſixteen hundred thirty nine Livers, three Sous, ſhall be repriſed by the ſaid Univerſity of Niſmes, out of what is owing by the Province of Normandy and others, who ſhould have brought in their Contributions for the Subſiſtence of the Univerſity of Montauban; and the Univerſity of Niſmes ſhall receive its full Maintenance, according to the Number of Profeſſors, who have been in actual Service there ſince the laſt National Synod of Charenton until now.
Article 4. Although it be as clear as the Sun at Noon-day, that the Inſtruction of Youth, and the upholding of Schools in thoſe Places where they have been erected, be abſolutely neceſſary for the Churches Subſiſtence, the maintaining of Godlineſs, and the propagating of the Doctrine of eternal Life in it, and that all the Faithful are obliged by that great Concern they ſhould have for God's Glory, the Love of his Truth, and their common Edification, to uſe their beſt and utmoſt Skill and Endeavours to find out the moſt proper and convenient means for the promoting and furthering a Deſign ſo evidently juſt and profitable; yet nevertheleſs, foraſmuch as divers Perſons have been diſcouraged either through the Difficulties of the Times, or from their inordinate Affections to the World, preferring their own private Intereſt to the publick, and thereby have cooled in their Zeal, and neglected the Execution of the Canons before enacted for this Purpoſe. Now that this very great and prejudicial Defect may be remedied, and that the Miniſtry of the Goſpel may be perpetuated in the Church of God, and that this moſt important Truſt of Divine Verity may be religiouſly conſerved among us: The National Synod aſſembled by his Majeſty's Permiſſion in the Town of Alanſon, doth exhort all the Churches, all Lords, Gentlemen, and all Perſons in particular to prefer the Service of God, the Glory of his Holy Name, and the re-eſtabliſhed Order of his Houſe, before all other humane Conſiderations whatſoever, and every one of them according to their Abilities to conſecrate unto his Divine Majeſty their Free-Will-Offerings, and to levy among themſelves thoſe Charges neceſſary for the Subſiſtence of our Univerſities and Colledges, and to uſe and exerciſe therein their Chriſtian Charity and Piety in ſupporting thoſe which are more feeble: And all Provincial Synods, Colloquies and Conſiſtories be in joined to take among themſelves the moſt proper Expedients for gathering in thoſe Sums aſſeſſed upon them reſpectively and actually in their own Perſons to ſollicit the Payment of them, and to put to their helping Hand, that all Profeſſors and Regents who ſerve in the ſaid Univerſities and Colledges, may annually receive their appointed Sallaries, and ſo diſcharge the Duties of their Place and Calling with Chearfulneſs: and this ſhall be notified unto all the Churches by reading of this preſent Act.
Article 5. In the Accompt of the Univerſity of Saumur there was the Sum of one hundred Livers owing by the Province of Xaintonge, who ſhall make actual Payment thereof, unleſs they can produce an Acquittance.
Article 6. The Province of Berry having brought in three Accompts of their Colledg rendred by them unto their Provincial Synods aſſembled the 22d of April, 1632, at Chaſtillon upon Loir; the 30th of April, 1634, at Mer; and the 26th of May, 1636, at Chaſtillon aforeſaid; and by the cloſe of the Accompt it appearing that the Sum of four hundred and forty Livers is owing unto the ſaid Colledg: This Aſſembly injoineth that Province to put carefully in Execution the Canons made in the laſt National Synod for the Maintenance of our Univerſities and Colledges, as well for the time paſt as for what is to come.