AN EDICT OF THE French Kings UPON THE DECLARATION Made by the Clergy of France, OF THEIR OPINIONS TOUCHING ECCLESIASTICAL POWER. registered in Parliament 23d of March, 1682.  
LONDON, Printed for Robert Clavell at the Peacock in St. Paul's Church-yard. 1682.   

An EDICT of the French Kings upon the Declaration made by the Clergy of France, of their Opinions touching Ecclesiastical Power.  
LEWIS by the Grace of God, King of France and navarre, to all Present and to Come, Greeting; Though the Independency of our Crown upon any other Power then that of God, be a most certain and uncontrollable Truth, and established upon the very words of Jesus Christ, nevertheless we have been graciously pleased to receive the Declaration which the Deputies of the Clergy of France, assembled by our permission, in our good City of Paris have presented Us, containing their Opinions touching the Ecclesiastical Power; and We have also the more willingly hearkned to the Petition which the said Deputies have made Us, to publish this Declaration throughout our Kingdom, which being framed by an Assembly of so many great Parsonages, equally recommendable for their virtue and their Learning, and such as employ themselves with so much Zeal upon all Occasions that may be thought advantageous to the Church, and our Service; the Wisdom and Moderation wherewith they have declared their Opinions upon this Subject, may very much contribute to confirm our Subjects in that Respect which they are bound, as well as ourselves, to pay to that Authority, which God has given to his Church, and at the same time to take away from the Ministers of the pretended Reformed Religion all Pretences which they lay hold on from the Writings of several Authors, to render odious the Power of the visible Chief of the Church, and the Center of Ecclesiastical Unity: For these Reasons, and for other good and great Considerations Us thereunto moving, after having caused the said Declaration to be duly weighed and considered in our Council, We by our present Edict, Perpetual and Irrevocable, Have Said, Enacted, and Ordained, and do Say, Enact, and Ordain, and it is Our Will and Pleasure, That the said Declaration of the Opinion of the Clergy, hereunto annexed, concerning Ecclesiastical Power, be registered under the Seal of our Chancery, in all Our Courts of Parliament, Baliages, Marshalsea's, Universities, and Faculties of theology, and our Common Law, throughout our Kingdom, and the Countries, Territories, and Signiories under our Allegigiance.  

I.  
We forbid all Our Subjects, and all Strangers residing within Our Kingdom, as well Secular as Regular, of whatsoever Order, Congregation, or Society, to Teach in their Houses, Seminaries or colleges, or to writ any thing contrary to the Doctrine therein contained.   

II.  
We Ordain that all those Persons who have been formerly chosen to teach theology in any of the colleges in any of Our Universities, whether Secular or Regular, shall subscribe the said Declaration, before the Notaries of the Faculties of theology; till which time, they shall not be enabled to perform that Office in any of these Secular or Regular Houses or colleges. Further, They shall submit to Teach the Doctrine which is there set down; and the Masters of the Faculty of theology shall hereby be obliged to deliver Copies of the said Subscriptions, signed by the Notaries of the said Faculty, to Our attorneys or Proctors General.   

III.  
That in all the colleges and Houses of the said Universities, where there shall happen to be several Professors, whether Secular or Regular, One of them shall be obliged once a Year to preach up the Doctrine contained in the said Declaration; And in such colleges where there shall be no more than one Professor, he shall be obliged to preach upon the same Subject once in Three Years.   

IV.  
We also enjoin the Masters of the Faculties of theology, every Year before the opening of their public Lectures, to present to the Archbishops or Bishops of the Towns where they Reside, and also to sand to our Proctors General, the Names of the Professors who shall be appointed to preach the said Doctrine; And We also charge the said Proctors to show to Our said Prelates, and to Our Proctors General, the Writings and Lessons which they design to teach their Scholars, when they shall be thereunto required.   

V.  
Our Pleasure is, That every bachelor, whether Secular or Regular, from henceforward shall not be admitted to any Degree, either in theology or Canon Law, nor shall be allowed Doctor, till he has maintained the said Doctrine by preaching upon one of the said Thesis's therein contained, which he shall be bound to make appear to those Persons who have power to confer those Dignities, and allow those Licences in the Universities.   

VI.  
We Exhort, but nevertheless enjoin, all Archbishops and Bishops of our Kingdom, as also within the Countries, Territories and Signiories under our Obedience, to employ all their Authority to cause the Doctrine contained in the said Declaration, made by the Deputies of the said Clergy, to be taught all over the full Extent of their several Dioceses and Jurisdictions.   

VII.  
We also Command the Deans and Masters of the Faculties of theology, to look after the Execution of these Presents, under pain of being responsible in their proper and private Persons.  
In the same manner We give it in Charge to Our Friends and Feudaries, the Persons that hold our Court of Parliament, that these Our Letters in Form of an Edict, together with the said Declaration of the Clergy; as also that they cause them to be red, published, and registered before, and by the Notaries of the said Courts, and of the Bailywicks, Marshalseas, and Universities within their Jurisdictions, every one in their own right, and for their own proper behoof; and that they look after the due Execution thereof, not suffering it to be in the least infringed or gainsaid, either directly or indirectly, and that they proceed against the Disobedient and Refractory in such manner as they shall judge meet, and the Exigency of the Case shall require: For such is Our Will and Pleasure. And to the end this may be a thing firm and established for ever, We have caused Our Seal to be affixed to these Presents. Given at St. germans en lay, in the Month of March, in the Year of Grace 1682. and of Our Reign the 32d.  
signed, LOUIS.  
And a little lower, By the King, Colbert. Seen, Le Tellier. And signed by the Great Seal of Green Wax.    

The Declaration of the French Clergy concerning Ecclesiastical Power.  
MAny there are who endeavour to pull down and demolish the Decrees and privileges of the Gallican Church so zealously defended by our Ancestors; and to undermine their Foundations, supported by the Sacred Canons and Traditions of the Fathers: Neither are others wanting, who under pretence of them who are not ashamed to bespatter the Primacy of the blessed St. Peter, and his Successors the Roman Pontiffs, instituted by Christ, and to derogate from that Majesty, that Obedience, and that most Reverend Duty that is owing by all Christians to the See of Rome, where in the Faith is preached, and whereby the Unity of the Church is preserved. The heretics also leave no ston unturned, whereby they may be able to render irksome and odious to Kings and Subjects, that Power by which the Peace of the Church is preserved, and by those Frauds and Devices to alienate silly and misunderstanding People from the Communion of the Christ, and the Mother Church: Which Dangers and Inconveniencies that we may obviate and repel, We the Archbishops and Bishops assembled at Paris, by the King's Command, and representing the Body of the Gallican Church, together with several other Ecclesiastical Persons deputed to join with us, have thought fit that these things following be declared and positively confirmed.  

I.  
That in all Spiritual things that appertain to Eternal Salvation, Power and Jurisdiction was given by God to the blessed Peter, and his Successors Vicars of Christ, but not in Matters Temporal and Civil, according to the saying of our Lord, My Kingdom is not of this World: And again, Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to Christ the things that are Christs: Which Places are confirmed by those of the Apostle, Let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers; for there is no Power but from God; but those which are, are ordained by God; therefore he that resists the Power, resists the Ordinance of God. Therefore Kings and Princes in Temporals are not by any Command of God subject to any Ecclesiastical Power: Neither can they be deposed, either directly or indirectly, by the Authority of the Keys; nor can their Subjects be exempted, or disengaged from their Fealty and Obedience; nor discharged from their Oath of Fidelity sworn to their Prince: Which definitive Sentence, we account necessary for the public tranquillity, and no less profitable for the Church, then for Rule and Empire, as agreeable to the Traditions of the Fathers, and the Examples of the Saints, to be inviolably retained and held.   

II.  
That full Power and Authority appertains to the Apostolical See, and the Successors of St. Peter, as Vicars of Christ in Spiritual Affairs, so far, that at the same time the Decrees of the Holy ecumenical Council of the Synod of Constance, approved by the apostolic See, and by the use and practise of the Roman Pontiffs, and the whole Church, and religiously observed by the Gallican Church, concerning the Authority of General Councils, contained in the fourth and fifth Session, may remain in force and irrevocable; and that they who shall endeavour to enervate, or to wrest the Sayings and Decrees of the said Council to the Time of the Schism, as if they were of doubtful Authority, and less approved, are disallowed and rejected by the Gallican Church.   

III.  
Hence it appears that the use of Ecclesiastical or Apostolical Jurisdiction is to be governed by the Canons and Rules made by the Holy Ghost, and consecrated by that Reverence which is given them by the whole World. Also we declare, that the Rules, Customs, and Institutions received by the Gallican Kingdom and Church, and the Determinations and Limits of that Jurisdiction set by the Fathers, are sacred and inviolable. And that it is for the Dignity and Grandeur of the apostolic See, that such Statutes and Customs, confirmed by the Consent of so great a See, and so many Churches, should remain and endure to perpetuity.   

IV.  
In Questions and Disputes of Faith, we allow the chief Determinatito the Pope, and that his Decrees extend to all and every Individual Church; however that his judgement is not Infallible, unless the Consent of the Church be likewise obtained.   

V.  
All which, as received from the Fathers, we thought fit to be sent to all the Gallicau Churches, and Bishops there presiding, under the Conduct of the Holy Spirit, that we may all speak the same thing, and all Unanimously consent and agree in one Sense and Determination.  


Francis, Archbishop of Paris, President.  
Charles Maurice, Archbishop and Duke of Rheimes.  
Charles, Archbishop of Ambrun.  
James, Archbishop of Cambray.  
Hyacinth, Archbishop of Alby.  
M. Phelipeaux, P. P. Archbishop of Bourges.  
Lodowic de Bourlemont, Archbishop of Bourdeaux.  
James Nicholas Colbert, Archbishop of Carthage, Coadjutor of rouen.  
Gilbert, Bishop of tourney.  
Henry de Laval, Bp. of Rochell.  
Nicholas, Bp. of Rhegium.  
Daniel de Cosnac, Bp. and Count of valemce and Die.  
Gabriel, Bp. of Autun.  
William, Bp. of Bazaz.  
Gabriel Ph. de Froullay de Fesse, Bp. of Aurenches.  
John, Bp. of Tolonne.  
James Benignus, Bp. of Meaulx.  
S. de Guemadeuc, Bp. of St. Malo.  
L. M. A. R. De Semiane de guards, Bp. and Duke of Langres.  
Fr. lo, Bp. of Glandeves.  
Lucas d' Aquin, Bp. of Frejus.  
J. B. M. Colbert, Bp. of Montauban.  
Charles de Pradell, Bp. of Montpellier.  
Francis Placidus, Bp. of lined.  
Charles, Bp. of Vaur.  
Andrew, Bp. of Auxerre.  
Francis, Bp. of Troyes.  
lord. At. Bp. of Chalons.  
Francis Ig. Bp. of Triguier.  
Peter, Bp. of Bellay.  
Gabriel, Bp. of Conserans.  
Ludowic Alphonsus, Bp. of Alette.  
Humbert, Bp. of Tulle.  
J. B. d'Estampes, Bp. of Marseilles.  
Paul Phil, de Lusignan de Franc.  
Lodowic D'espinacy de Saint luke.  
Cocquelin.  
Lambert.  
P. de Bermond.  
A. H. de Fleury.  
De Viens.  
Francis Feu.  
De Maupeon.  
Le Franc de la Grange.  
De Senaux.  
Parra, Dean of Bellay.  
De Boche.  
M. de Ratabon.  
Clement de Coudens.  
Bigot.  
De Gourges.  
De Villaneuf de Vence.  
C. Leny de Coadeletz.  
La Faye.  
J. H. de L'Escure.  
Peter le Roy.  
De Soupets.  
A. Argoud, dean of Vienne.  
De Bausset, Rector of Marseilles.  
G. Bochard de Champigny.  
De St. Georges, C. of lions.  
Coudeler.  
Claeron.  
A. faun.  
Gerbais.  
De Guenegaud.  
Fr. de Camps.  
De la Borey.  
Armand Bazin de Bezons, Agent General for the Gallican Church.  
Desmarests, Agent General for the Gallican Church.   registered, and that at the Request of the King's Proctor General, to be executed according to their Form and Tenor, according to the Edict of this Day. At Paris in the Parliament, March 23. 1662. signed, Dongois.   
FINIS.