The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 29 (Loudun) · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Particular Matters.
1. THE Deputies of the Province of Berry complained againſt Monſieur du Prat Paſtor of the Church of D'Angeau, that whereas he hath been ſetled in their Province for above Six Years, yet in all this times he would never own the Authority of their Synod, nor ſubmit himſelf unto it: This Aſſembly decreed, that he ſhould appear in perſon at the next Synod of that Province, and give a Reaſon of this his Carriage, and undergo its Judgment; and in caſe he pretend any Grievance, he ſhall appeal unto the Synod of Anjou, who ſhall by Authority from this Aſſembly take Cognizance and give Judgment in it; but till the meeting of that Synod of Anjou, he ſhall ſtand bound by the Judgment of that of Berry.
2. The Provincial Deputies of Normandy moving, that this Aſſembly would in their Wiſdoms take ſome care to remedy thoſe Diſorders, which are fallen out in the Church of Alanſon through the long continuance of Elders in their Office: And a Memoir being read, containing the Requeſts of ſome certain Members of the ſaid Church, that there might be a certain time limited when Elders ſhould quit their Office, that ſo they may not perpetuate themſelves in it. This Aſſembly remanded back their Petition unto the Synod of Normandy, according to the Canon of the National Synod of Tonneins, which aſſigned the cognizance of ſuch matters as theſe unto Provincial Synods, and that Provincial Synod ſhall take care in it according to their Prudence, having firſt made an exact inquiry into the true ſtate of the ſaid Church.
3. Monſieur Gualtier, Paſtor in the Province of Xaintonge, preſented himſelf to this Aſſembly, declaring, that he had finiſhed his work upon the Diſcipline of our Church,Monſieur Larroq. did after effect, and Print it. as he had written the laſt National Synod held at Charenton; and that he had another deſign in Hand, which was a Treatiſe of the Harmony of the Articles of our Confeſſion of Faith, Liturgy and Church Diſcipline, with that of the ancient Church, and in ſpecial with the Deciſions of the Councils of the Gallicane Church. The Aſſembly applauded his Zeal, and ordered him to apply himſelf unto his Province of Xaintonge, to which he ſhall produce his work, and they ſhall diſpoſe of it according to the Canons of our Diſcipline. And in the mean while, he and his Labours were recommended unto God, praying that the Father of Lights would enrich him with all needful gifts to the accompliſhing of his great deſign, and to ſhour down his Heavenly Benediction upon his Perſon and Undertaking.
4. The Sieurs Priouleau, Paſtor of the Church of Rochel, Berual Elder, le Toncille, and de la Chapeliere, Heads of Families in the ſaid City, appeared as Deputies from that Church, with a Petition unto this Aſſembly, requeſting that Monſieur Gilbert, Paſtor of the Church of Meſle might be conferr'd upon them as their Miniſter, and they back'd their Petition with very many and weighty Arguments. The Deputies of the Church of Meſle were heard, who did as importunately Petition that their Miniſter the aforeſaid Monſieur Gilbert might be continued with them: And the Provincial Deputies of Poicton, perſiſting in that Reſolve made in their laſt Synod of their Province, that they did not judge it any way fit to grant them their Requeſt. Now although this Aſſembly doth highly value that Church of Rochel and it's Petitions, yet nevertheleſs, it doth not count it reaſonable to deprive the Church of Meſle of a Paſtor, who is ſo very uſeful and needful to them.
5. This Aſſembly did for divers cauſes thereunto moving them, without intending it a Precedent for the future, receive the Informations given by one part of the Elders and Heads of Families in the Church of Calais, although they ought according to the Canons of our Diſcipline to have been carried unto the Synod of the Iſle of France, and took cognizance of thoſe Troubles wherewith that Church hath been agitated about the ſettling of a Second Paſtor in it. The Sieurs Tricotel and Peter du Croix, a Deacon in the Quarter of Guiſnes, and James Barrizeau, of the Lower Town of Calais, Deputies from another part of that Church, had audience given them; and there were read Letters and Memoirs from Monſieur de Montigny Paſtor, who was ſent unto the ſaid Church by the Synod held at Ay this preſent Year. The whole Affair having been heard and debated, a Decree paſt that the Sieur de Montigny, ſhall, if it ſo pleaſe him, exerciſe his Miniſtry in the ſaid Church, till the meeting of the next Synod of that Province, which will be within Six Months at the fartheſt: And before that time, the Church of Calais ſhall chooſe a Paſtor by plurality of Votes, in a lawful Aſſembly, called and directed by their Conſiſtory, according to the order of our Diſcipline, either fixing their choice upon the Sieur de Montigny, who received a moſt Honourable Teſtimony in this Aſſembly, or upon any other, whom they ſhall judge moſt proper for their Edifying. And by th'Authority of this Aſſembly, one of the Paſtors of Dieppe, and Monſieur Pinet, Paſtor of the Church of Amiens, are ordered to take with them an Elder out of their reſpective Churches, and as ſoon as poſſible, to paſs over to the Town of Calais, (the Church of that Place bearing their Charges,) and to do their utmoſt endeavours for the removal of thoſe diſorders in it, and for the ſweetning and reuniting of their diſturbed and divided Spirits, and to cenſure thoſe that are unruly among them, and have incurred Cenſure according to our Diſcipline. And all and every particular Member of the ſaid Church are injoyned to render unto the Sieurs Tricotell and de Montigny, and to their Conſiſtory that Reſpect and Obedience which is due unto them.
6. The Aſſembly having heard the Sieur Baruel, Elder in the Church of Privas, ſpeaking for Monſieur Accaurat, Paſtor of the ſaid Church, about thoſe Differences betwixt him and the Province of Vivaretz, for payment of the Sallary owing to him for his Service done in the Churches of Valz and Albenas in the ſaid Province; and the Deputies of that Province being heard ſpeak in its behalf, the Differences betwixt both thoſe Parties were ſent unto the Synod of Dolphiny, as being the next adjoyning Province, which ſhall put a full and final Period to them by th'Authority of this Aſſembly.
7. The Provincial Deputies of Vivaretz demanding that the Church of La Baſtide de Virac, which was ever annexed unto that of La Gorce, and a Member of their Synod, but hath for ſome time ſince ſeparated from them, and incorporated it ſelf with the Province of Lower Languedoc, might be obliged to rejoyn it ſelf unto the Province of Vivaretz, and to the ſaid Church of la Gorce. The Aſſembly decreed that the Province of Vivaretz ſhould addreſs it ſelf unto that of Lower Languedoc, and demand it of that Synod; and in caſe there be any Conteſtation about it, the Synod of Sevennes ſhall by the Authority of this Aſſembly determine and put a final period unto thoſe Differences.
8. Although the Church of Valence be ſituated in the Province of Dolphiny, yet ſhall it remain united with that of Soyon, according to that Decree of the National Synod of Alanſon; and to regulate their Contributions for Maintenance of the Miniſtry, and other Charges of that Church, they ſhall apply themſelves unto the Synod of Vivaretz, and ſhall be diſcharged of all Contributions impoſed on them by the Province of Dolphiny, that only excepted to the Univerſity of Die, unto which they have voluntarily and of their own accord yielded.
9. The Churches of Iſſoire, Paillac, Sirac, La Gazelle, and Joinctes, ſhall continue united to the Province of Burgundy. And whereas the Deputies of that Province, and thoſe of Sevennes, have repreſented that thoſe Churches are not of ability to maintain a Miniſter, and that this Aſſembly would expreſs a noble act of Charity to make ſome kind of Proviſion for them, a Vote paſſed that there ſhould be Yearly given to them for the Incouragement of their Miniſter, the Sum of Three Hundred Livres, which ſhall be thus payed, 50 l. by the Church or Paris, 40 l. by that of Rouen, 35 l. by that of Lion, 30 l. by that of Monepellier, 25 l. by that of Bourdeaux, 25 l. by that of Rochel, 20 l. by that of Caen, 20 l. by that of Caſtres, 20 l. by that of Grenoble, 15 l. by that of Niſmes, 15 l. by that of Dieppe, and 10 l. by that of Montlimer. And theſe Churches are all ordered to ſend their reſpective Quot…'s at Eaſter unto the Church of Lion, who ſhall ſee it paid in unto the Paſtor, in actual Service of thoſe aforeſaid Churches of Iſſoire, Paillac, &c. and the Church of Lion ſhall give an account of their Receipt and Disburſment of the ſaid Monies unto the Synod of Burgundy. And this Ordinance ſhall be in force till the Sitting of the next National Synod.
10. The Deputies of the Church of Rochell having been refuſed in their Demand of Monſieur Gilbert for their Paſtor, informed this Aſſembly, that they had received new Orders to petition for another Miniſter. And the Aſſembly having nominated Two Paſtors of their own Body to confer with them, and to find out ſome means for their ſatisfaction, and to provide for them according their deſires; but there occurring inſuperable Difficulties, in the way of ſupplying them from another Province, and the Committee ordered to confer with them, making their Report, that they did freely leave it unto the Judgment of this Aſſembly to beſtow upon them any one of the Paſtors in the Province of Xaintonge, who might be detach'd with the greateſt eaſe from their Churches, and Travel moſt profitably in the Edifying of that of Rochell, which now declared that they would wholly acquieſce in ſuch a Perſon as ſhould be choſen and recommended by this Aſſembly, they being not inclined to one more than unto another. The National Synod receiving this their Propoſition with great joy, doth now preſent unto the Church of Rochel, Monſieur Meſnil, formerly Miniſter in the Church of St. Just, to be the ordinary and peculiar Paſtor of the Church of Rochell, he being now freed from his former care by the Judgment of this Colloquy. And this Aſſembly hopeth that he will be a very acceptable, uſeful Miniſter unto them. And till ſuch time as that Church of St. Just can be provided of another Paſtor, the Colloquy or Synod of the Province, ſhall take ſpecial care for their Supply, according to the Order eſtabliſhed by the laſt provincial Synod.
11. The Aſſembly having heard Monſieur de Vauſſoudan, Paſtor of the Church at Saint Aignan, complaining on behalf of that, and the Church of Mans, of a Judgment paſt in the Provincial Synod of Normandy, held at Rouan, the Fifteenth of May, 1658, and the Days enſuing, which upon Letters written to him by the Synod of Anjou, and by the Church of Mans, had declared that Election void, which the Churches of Saint Aignan and Mans had made of Monſieur de L'arpents Son, to receive the Penſion given by the Deceaſed Lady of La Haerangere, for maintaining of a Propoſan. They alſo heard the Sieur de la Croix du Val, Deputy from the Church of Alanſon, together with the Provincial Deputies of Normandy and Anjou, on all thoſe Differences about that Legacy, and about the pretenſions which the ſaid Sieur de L'arpent, and the Sieurs du Val and Alix had unto it. The Contract alſo of this Gift paſſed by the ſaid La Harangere, the Twentieth Day of June, 1598, together with the Decree of the National Synod of Alanſon, held in the Year 1637, and the Judgments of the Synod of Normandy, in the Years 1656, and 1658, were all read and peruſed. Upon the whole, the Aſſembly ordained that the Decree of the National Synod of Alanſon, in the Year 1637, ſhall be duly executed according to its form, intendment and tenour. And when as there ſhall be any vacancy, and a Propoſan is to be choſen, who is to receive the Penſion given by the ſaid Lady, then the Deputies of the Churches of St. Aignan and Mans, ſhall go unto the City of Alanſon, to agree with that Church about the Propoſan, on whom the ſaid Penſion is to be conferred: And in caſe of Diſagreement between thoſe Churches aforeſaid about this Election, in which thoſe of St. Aignan and Mans, ſhall have but one Vote, the Election ſhall be done alternatively; to wit, the firſt time by the Church of Alanſon, which ſhall have the preheminency; but the time the Churches of St. Aignan and Mans conjoyntly, ſhall take place before that of Alanſon, and thus conſecutively one after another: And in this choice and nomination, thoſe aforeſaid Churches ſhall ſee that the Will of the ſaid Lady of La Harangere be faithfully obſerved, who expreſly ordered, that the Children born in lawful Marriage, of the Sieurs Bourdieu, de Bloic, de Portevize, and du Hamel, being Propoſans and deſtinated to the Holy Miniſtry, ſhould be preferr'd before all others, whether thoſe Children born or to be born, were deſcended from their Sons or Daughters. Nor may any Propoſan choſen to receive the ſaid Penſion, injoy it any longer than the term of Four Years. And when as the ſaid Propoſan ſhall be found fit and qualified for the Miniſtry, and be admitted thereinto, the Church of Alanſon ſhall have the firſt choice to retain him in their Service, and next the Church of St. Aignan, and laſtly, the Church of Mans; and in caſe neither of theſe Three ſhould pitch upon him for their Miniſter, he ſhall then be aſſigned unto one of the neareſt Churches. Moreover this Aſſembly doth for certain Reaſons Ordain, that the ſaid Sieur L'arpent ſhall receive the ſaid Penſion for Four Years, commencing from the Day of his Election; which Term being expired, they ſhall proceed unto a new Election, according to the Canon aforeſaid. And this Aſſembly hath diſcharged, and doth now diſcharge the ſaid Church of Mans of all Demands, Claims and Pretenſions whatſoever that might be brought againſt it upon the account of thoſe Sums, which either Mr. Vignier the Father, or his Son have received for that Penſion during ſeveral Years, excepting only what the ſaid Churches may demand of the Heirs of the ſaid Mr. Vignier. And in caſe there ſhould be any difference between the Churches of St. Aignan and Mans about thoſe Elections, which they are bound to make, they ſhall be compoſed and terminated by the Synod of Anjou. And the ſaid Sieur de L'Arpent, and all other Propoſans receiving the ſaid Penſion, ſhall be bound to give Security, that in caſe through their default or neglect, they do not attain to be Miniſters of the Goſpel, or that they change their purpoſe, and divert to ſome other Studies and Employment, they make Reſtitution of the Monies they have thus received, and this agreeable to the Canons of our National Synods.
12. This Aſſembly having heard Mr. Le Croix du Val, Deputy from the Heads of Families in the Church of Alanſon, who declared that he was ſent by them to oppoſe a Propoſition ſet on foot by ſome particular Members of the ſaid Church, and to be tendred unto this Aſſembly, about changing of their Conſiſtory, and its ancient Order; and that being come unto this City, he met with the like Propoſition made to their Provincial Synod of Normandy, held in the Year 1655; and the Aſſembly having peruſed the Memoirs of the Deputies of that Province, had remitted the whole affair unto the Synod of that Province Yet nevertheleſs having waited to ſee if any one ſhould move about this matter, and obſerving that none had done it, he that he might diſcharge the Truſt committed to him, did tender unto this Aſſembly according to his Duty, the Letters and Memoirs with which he was charged, and opened before this Aſſembly the cauſe of his Deputation, and the Arguments they had againſt any ſuch Alteration; and he did in behalf of thoſe Heads of Families Petition, and doth now again Petition, that the Deputies of the ſaid Province may declare whether they be ordered to ſet on Foot that new Propoſition, and whether they intend to ſpeak of it; who anſwered, that they had no ſuch deſign, becauſe that Affair had been remanded back unto their Provincial Synod. The Aſſembly hath diſmiſſed over the Letters, Memoirs, and the Act now preſented by the ſaid Sieur de la Croix du Val, (Deputed by the Heads of Families in the Church of Alanſon) together with the Cognizance and Judgment of this Affair unto the Provincial Synod of Normandy, according as was before decreed.
13. The Aſſembly being informed of the great Diſorders in the Church of Sauvetat, by reaſon of the difference between the Sieur de Carbon, and the Inhabitants of that Town, who compoſe the Church in that place: Letters were voted to be written unto the Lord Duke of La Force, to intreat his Grace, that he would be pleaſed by his Prudence and Authority to terminate thoſe unhappy Diſſentions, which menace that poor Church with no leſs than its utter Ruin and Deſtruction.
14. The Aſſembly having received honourable Teſtimonials from divers parts of the ſingular worth of Monſieur Charles, Paſtor of the Church of Gap, and taking into conſideration his numerous Family, great Deſerts, and low Eſtate in the World, and the Inabilities of his Church, doth highly applaud his Zeal, Pains, Care, Diligence and Perſeverance in his Maſters Service, having ſerved the Lord and his Churches moſt faithfully for many years, and eminently in this Church; wherefore, that he may have a competent Maintenance to ſupply his Neceſſities, this Aſſembly judgeth him every way worthy of the Cares and Reſpects of his Province, and of his own Congregation, which is commended for the Tokens of their Love and Affection to him for his own, and his Subſiſtence. And whereas the ſaid Church did agree and bargain at firſt with him to pay him, during his Life, the yearly Sum of Three Hundred Livres only, they are now moſt earneſtly intreated to extend their Charity and Thankfulneſs unto him, and to augment his Maintenance, by raiſing it up unto Four Hundred Livres a Year for his Life.
15. The Province of Vivaretz, received the praiſe of this Aſſembly for their fervent kindneſs to Monſieur Chenat, formerly Paſtor of the Church at La Gorce, but now employed in the Service of that of Charenton; and it is moſt earneſtly exhorted to continue the yearly Sum of 150 Livres to him for the comfortable Subſiſtence of this good Servant of Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe Labours and Travels have been very great in the Work of the Lord.
16. The Memoirs and Letters of Monſieur Gabet, Paſtor of the Church at Oſſelon, having been read and examined in this Aſſembly, his Affair was diſmiſſed over to the Province of Dolphiny, which was commended for their Charity and Support extended to him, and the ſaid Province was intreated to continue their Cares for the Comfort, and Repoſe of this poor Miniſter, and to hear him in thoſe matters which he ſhall offer to them, and to judge of them according to their Prudence and Equity; and alſo to reprove him for that ill Language where-with he hath ſoiled his Papers ſent unto this Aſſembly.
17. The Inhabitants of the Iſlands of La Voutte, profeſſing the Reformed Religion, ſent Letters Signed by De Bois unto this Aſſembly, petitioning, that they might be abſolutely ſeparated from the Church of La Voute, and joyned unto that of Livron, and that they might continue to pay in their Contributions to it: Several Members of the Church or Conſiſtory of Livron abetted them in their Demand. The Deputies of Dolphiny were deſired to give their Judgment in the caſe, who replied, they had no order to oppoſe it: But the Provincial Deputies of Vivaretz did oppoſe this Petition of thoſe Inhabitants of La Voute, and of the Conſiſtory of Livron. Upon the whole Debate, the Synod not finding this Affair as yet ripe for a Deciſion, did diſmiſs it over to the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc, who ſhould paſs a final Sentence therein by the Authority of this Aſſembly.
18. The Church of Loudun petitioned the Aſſembly to diſcharge them from their Contribution of the Fifth Penny of the Poors Mony paid in towards the Maintenance of our Univerſities, in conſideration of thoſe extraordinary Charges they are obliged to be at in upholding their Leſſer Schools, which have been of ſingular Uſe and Benefit even to the Neighbour Provinces. Whenas the Provincial Deputies of Anjou were heard, and thoſe alſo of Brittaine, who reported with how much che…rfulneſs they had contributed their Sixty Livres yearly for ſupporting their Leſſer Schools, but that at preſent their Deſign was to beſtow this Mony upon that in the Town of Vitre; the Aſſembly could not grant unto the ſaid Church their Petition. But in caſe the Province of Brittaine do ſatisfie the Synod of Anjou, that they have effectually employed the ſaid Sum of Sixty Livres as before, towards the upholding the Leſter Schools in the ſaid Town of Vitre; then the Province of Anjou ſhall allow in account unto the Church of Loudun the like Sum to be employed to the ſame uſe and purpoſe.
19. That Book of the Sieur de la Fite Solon Paſtor of the Church of Orthez in the Province of Bearn, intituled, Diſputationes de Vindiciis Gratiae, being preſented to this Aſſembly for its Approbation, was remanded back to the Synod of the ſame Province, who ſhould examin and approve it according to the Canons of our National Synods.
20. In reading the Memoirs ſent unto this Aſſembly (from Monſieur Clerk, Paſtor in the Church of Coulonges in the Baylywick of Gex) about divers Conteſtations between him as Son and Heir of Mr. James Clerk his Father, Paſtor alſo in the ſaid Bailywick of Gex, and the Widows and Heirs of divers other Paſtors in the ſaid Bailywick, with and againſt the Churches in the ſaid Bailywick and the Provincial Synods of Burgundy, and particularly in that of Gex, held in the Year 1656. and that of Arnay le Due, in the Year 1658. This Aſſembly obſerving that the occaſion of all their Debate was a pecuniary matter, diſmiſſed it over to the Province of Dolphiny to put a final Period to it.
21. The Provincial Deputies of Sevennes demanded on behalf of the Widow of Monſieur Roſſel, formerly Paſtor in the Church of Sauve, but ſince preſented to the Family of the late Duke of Rohan by the Natinal Synod of Caſtres, that he might receive the ſame Penſion for her year of Widowhood, as was paid her Deceaſed Husband yearly during his Life, by Order of the Province of Sevennes: The Aſſembly reſolved, that a Letter ſhould be written to the Lady Dutcheſs of Rohan about this buſineſs; and the Conſiſtory of the Church of Paris is charged to apply themſelves to the ſaid Lady Dutcheſs, that ſome Satisfaction may he given this poor Widow, and to acquaint the Conſiſtory of Anduze with it; and the Sieurs Daille and Loride des Galinieres, Elder in the Church of Paris, are ordred to deliver this Letter unto the ſaid Lady Dutcheſs.
22 Monſieur Chamier Paſtor, informed this Aſſembly of the ſtate of the Church in St. Hyppolyte, by reaſon of the Departure of Monſieur de Mejannes their Paſtor from it, and of an Order that was made for its being ſerved by another at the Charges of the ſaid Sieur de Mejannes till the next Synod. The Deputies of the Province of Sevennes were heard ſpeak unto this matter, who profeſſed that they were ſurprized at this Relation, and that any perſon ſhould attempt againſt an Order of their laſt Synod, which was made upon very good and ſufficient Grounds, and in which Monſieur de Mejannes himſelf had acquieſced. And they wire the more affected at this, becauſe the Parties concerned are neither heard, nor cited to appear and plead for themſelves. And they proteſted farther, that they had no Commiſſion at all from their Province to intermeddle in this buſineſs; and they humbly deſired the Synod, that there might be no Debate about it. And the ſaid Sieur de Mejannes was alſo heard, and the Acts of the Synod of Alez, of Florac, and of Vignan were all read and peruſed. Upon the whole, this Aſſembly diſapproved that too great Facility of the Church and Paſtor, in demanding and yielding to ſuch a Separation, which was every way prejudicial both to the one and other, and of dangerous conſequence to our Churches, if ſuch Examples ſhould be allowed. And the Conſiſtory of Montpellier is ordered to ſend Mr. Euſtache unto the Church of St. Hippolyte, accompanied with one of their Elders, to reconcile Monſieur Mejannes with his Flock, and that it may be effected, they ſhould propound to their Conſideration his great Services, eminent Zeal, and moſt excellent Gifts with which God hath adorned him; and ſith that this Aſſembly doth give him ſuch an ample Teſtimonial, the ſaid Church ſhall be obliged according to their wonted Charity to take care of their Paſtor, and to make Proviſion for his comfortable Subſiſtence; and according to former Decrees, they ſhall allow him a Colleague, for their better Edification; or elſe to releaſe him of ſome part of his Miniſterial Labours, as it hath been ordered in the Canons of General Matters by this Aſſembly. And if any Difficulties occur, which may obſtruct the Accompliſhment of this good Deſign, this Affair ſhall be removed unto the next approaching Synod of the Province of Sevennes, unto whom the Perſon and Miniſtry of the ſaid Sieur de Mejannes are recommended; and till that the ſaid Synod do meet, Monſieur de Mejannes ſhall continue to exerciſe his Miniſtry in the ſaid Church; and all Charges and Expences about this buſineſs ſhall be defrayed by that Church of St. Hippolyte.
23. Monſieur Thourond, Paſtor of the Church of Stofhouſe, complained againſt the Provincial Synod of Lower Guyenne, for not performing their Promiſe of re-imburſing him his Charges, expended by their Order in ſecuring the Peace and Welfare of their Churches: This Aſſembly blamed the ſaid Province for their Remiſſneſs in paying ſo juſt a Debt, and to a perſon, whoſe Zeal, Sincerity and Diligence have deſerved a far more grateful Acknowledgment. And every one of thoſe particular Churches, which have not ſatisfied the Orders of their Province, are enjoyned to pay in to the ſaid Mr. Thourond their particular Aſſeſſments before the meeting of their next Synod, upon pain of the greateſt Cenſures. And in caſe they ſhould neglect it, the next Synod is commanded to take the moſt certain and expeditious courſe for re-imburſing of the ſaid Mr. Thourond within three Months after the expiring of that Synod, and to make an Addition of other Monies, beſides what they had agreed with him, as ſhall be found needful to indemnifie him from all Intereſts, which he was forced to pay by borrowing of Monies for the Service of the ſaid Province.
24. Letters were read from the Church of Lanez, gathered within the Diſtrict of Haſtingues, and the Provincial Deputies of Bearn and the Lower Guyenne, were heard ſpeak about the matters contained in them: This Aſſembly having debated the matter, did decree, that for the future the ſaid Church of Lanez ſhould be joyned unto the Province of Bearn, which ſhall take an eſpecial care of it. And the like Judgment was given for the Churches of Mauleon and Moulay. And whereas the Church of Lanez hath petitioned for a ſhare in the Legacies bequeathed by the Lady Rouly unto the Church of Orthez, this their Petition is remanded back unto the next Synod of Bearn: And in caſe the Church of Geaune ſhould deſire to be incorporated with the Synod of Bearn, they ſhall preſent this their Petition unto the Province of Lower Guyenne, which is intreated to conſider ſeriouſly of the matter, and to grant them what will be moſt ſubſervient to their edifying.
25. The Sieurs de L'Angle Paſtor, and de Gueſdon, Elder in the Church of Rouen, moved that there might be ſome Change made in the Diſtribution of Offices in their Province of Normandy, and the ſaid Sieurs Bochart Paſtor, and de la Roquette an Elder, ſeconded them in their Motion, becauſe they found themſelves overcharged as to Rates and Taxes: And that the Diſtinction of the Higher and Lower Normandy might be ſuppreſſed, eſpecially as to theſe matters. The Aſſembly, having maturely debated this Affair, judged, that it was no ways fit at preſent to make any change herein; and ordered, that the Canons of the National Synod of Charenton in the Year 1644. ſhould be of Force as to all paſt matters, and that all Offices ſhall be born till the next Synod of that Province, by the Colloquies of Rouen and Caux for one Moiety, and for the other Moity by the other Claſſes, who ſhall chuſe a particular Receiver to receive all their Contributions, and to ſend them unto the Receiver General reſiding at Rouen. And in caſe thoſe Difficulties, (brought unto this Aſſembly) between the Higher and Lower Normandy, about their being over-rated on both ſides ſhould continue, then are they for the future to addreſs themſelves unto the Conſiſtory of the Church of Paris, which ſhall judge thereof by the Authority of this Aſſembly, the ſaid Conſiſtory having firſt well-conſidered the Ability and Inability of both Parties.
26. The Sieurs de L'Angle Paſtor, and Gueſdon an Elder in the Church of Rouen, requeſted this Aſſembly to re-inforce by its Authority the Counſels of their Provincial Synod unto the Churches of their Province, for contributing to the Subſiſtence of their Colledge at Quevilly. Whereupon a Decree paſt, that all the other Churches in the ſaid Province of Normandy ſhould furniſh the Sum of Three Hundred Livres towards the maintenance of that Colledge.
27. At the Requeſt of the Synod of Higer Languedoc and Guyenne, which had given a very Honourable Teſtimony to the Piety and great Learning of Monſieur Balthuzar (who was formerly his Majeſty's Counſellor and Advocate in the Preſidial Court of Auxerne) and which hath already raiſed and ſetled a Fund of Three Hundred Livres for his Maintenance; and the Aſſembly having heard that very advantagious Report, which the Committee of Miniſters appointed to examin thoſe Four Diatrebes preſented by the ſaid Mr. Balthazar, had made of them, it applauded the Zeal of that Province of Higher Languedoc. And that the ſaid Mr. Balthazar may be enabled to follow his Studies without Diſtraction, and proſecute his great Work undertaken againſt Cardinal Baronius, it decreeth, that the yearly Stipend of Seven Hundred and Fifty Livres ſhall be ſetled upon him, and paid in unto him by theſe Churches of this Kingdom, to wit, by thoſe of the Higher Languedoc Three Hundred Livres, by thoſe of the Iſle of France One Hundred Livres, by thoſe of Lower Languedoc One Hundred Livres, by thoſe of Normandy Fifty Livres, by thoſe of Xaintonge Thirty Livres, by thoſe of Dolphiny Thirty Livres, by thoſe of Lower Guyenne Thirty Livres, by thoſe of Poictou Thirty Livres, by thoſe of Berry Twenty Livres, by thoſe of Burgundy Twenty Livres, and by thoſe of Anjou Fifteen Livres.
28. My Lord Commiſſioner having received Letters from Monſiur de la Ʋrilliere, notifying his Majeſty's Pleaſure, that the Sieur Gaillard, Paſtor of the Church of Montauban, who is now proſecuted for Criminal matters, might by the authority of this Aſſembly be removed from his Church. The Aſſembly requeſted the Lord Commiſſioner to take it into his conſideration, that becauſe the ſaid Gaillard was abſent, and for that this Aſſembly hath little or no knowledge of his Deportments, it is not at preſent capable o… Judging his Caſe, and that he would be pleaſed, that order might be given our Deputies unto his Majeſty, to infor… …he…ſelves punctually of all matters relating to him, and that they, together with the Church of Montauban, do deliberate and reſolve on the beſt means for his Majeſty'…s ſatisfaction, and in caſe he be innoc…, to … his Majeſty with it, and to demand his Royal Proteſting … but if through Levity, or Inadvertency, …e may h… ſ…er…ed from his Duty, that then they do with the profoundeſt Sub…iſſions implore his Majeſty's Clemency for him, as being … Perſon …o… altogether unworthy of his Majeſty's Grace and Favour.
29 The Sieurs Chamier and * Homel, Monſieur Homel did afterward ſuffer Martyrdom.Paſtors, together with the Sieurs de P…pe… and M…ſonn…. Elders, ſhall ride unto the City of Caſtres, to compoſe the differences between Monſieur de Brugeres, Counſellor in the Court of the Edict, and the other Preſidents and Counſellors in the ſame Court of that City, who are of, our Communion▪ And the Expences of the ſaid Deputies from Montauban unto Caſtres, and during their Abode in it, ſhall be defrayed by their reſpective Provinces.
30. The Aſſembly remembring that the laſt National Synod had pro…ſed Monſieur Chamier Four Hundred Livres, being the Remainders of a greater Sum granted him by ſome of the former National Synod…, as alſo that there had been a like grant of Three Hundred Livr… unto Monſieur de l… Fitte Solon; It was now decreed, that in caſe there be any M…ies in the Hands of the Lord du Candal, that then the ſaid Miniſter… Chamier and de la Fitte Solon, ſhall be payed the Sums before any other Perſon whatſoever.
31. This Aſſembly having an intire confidence in the Conſiſtory of the Church of Paris, that they will appoint Perſons well qualified, to receive and manage the Monies which were formerly, intruſted with them, and for which they have a new Commiſſion given them, and that they will uſe herein as great circumſpection as might be required from Perſons of their Reputation, for Candor, Prudence and Godlineſs, and that they will be as careful in this affair, as if it were their own particular concern, declareth, that its none of its intention…, that the ſaid Conſiſtory ſhould be Sureties and reſponſible for their ſolvability, who are or ſhall be appointed by them to this effect. And this Declaration ſhall hold good for all other Conſiſtories that have the like Commiſſions.