The General said that they doubted him much more since the late Declaration he made what part and interest he took in this affair He told me some particularities of M. Hallier's visite to him ten or twelve dayes before which I do not repeat here because they are mention'd in the relation of it before inserted I went again to la Minerve in the afternoon to shew F. Reginald some Propositions of S. Augustin which F. Adam knowing for such tax'd of impiety and heresie As I was shewing the same to him in that Jesuites book under the Cloister the General pass'd by to go into the City we shew'd them to him too and he thankt me for the double obligation which he said he receiv'd from me that day As I was coming from la Minerve I met F. Angelo Ricci who told me he had heard in several places in the houses of Cardinals and Prelates and one might be assur'd of what he said he was so wise reserv'd and circumspect that many bad tenets were imputed to us from which he advertis'd us to endeavor to defend and justifie our selves These bad tenets were he said concerning Venial sins Publike Pennance and the Pope's power He was one of those who were troubled at our resolution not to informe the Congregation at all whilst it remain'd secret and acted in obscurity as it did Wherefore to remedy this his conceit as well as I could I told him that the best and soveraign means to purge us from those calumnies was the Congregation which we demanded before which our Adversaries might impute what they pleas'd but yet should be oblig'd to keep to certain heads upon which after we were well justifi'd they would be no longer creditable in imputing the same or any others to us For which end it was requisite that we endevor'd the obtaining of such a Congregation before which all things being clear'd calumnies would be destroy'd and confounded and till then we ought to suffer them with patience since we could neither hinder them nor defend our selves from them He exhorted me however that seing the Signori on whom we depended would not grant what we demanded we would conforme to their course being the more stedfast we persisted in the contrary the more danger we should be in to exasperate them The great goodnesse and gentlenesse of so accomplisht a Gentleman and vertuous an Ecclesiastick oblig'd me to tell him for his satisfaction if it might prove so that though the Congregation we demanded seem'd to us so easy and necessary a means for discovering the falsehood and malice of those calumnies yet if we could employ any other that were capable to overthrow them we would willingly do it Thursday the 20th I had much talk with M. Hallier and his Collegues in the Pope's Presence-chamber where they spoke many remarkable things and M. Hallier amongst others very contemptuous words against the Arrests and authority of the Court of Parliament And touching the voices of Mendicant Doctors whom we endevor'd to reduce to two suffrages of each Order in the Assemblies of our Faculty they told me they were perswaded that we did not attempt it but only to the end we might more easily establish the points of doctrine which we had a mind to introduce there But I think it more fit to passe over this Dialogue then to recount all the particularities of it which I writ down the same day Friday the 21. I went to carry the General of the Augustines a Copy of our Memorials He thankt me for them and told me he had had audience of the Pope that day seven night about other affaires yet took occasion to mention ours and represented to him that it was a very difficult and hazardous matter that it could not be searcht with too much warinesse that no precautions and diligences ought to be neglected in it because it was manifest that the five Propositions were invented onely to ruin and and overthrow S. Augustin's doctrine Whereupon the Pope answer'd him that he would have either side heard and that in his own presence Vogliamo che tutti siano sentiti inanzi di noi This good General out of the abundant joy which this hope gave him told me there was yet an excellent means of making this examen and discovering the effects of Nature and Grace namely by considering a little with attention and reflection all that passes daily within our selves He told me also that we must be prepar'd with three things in order to refutation of what our Adversaries might oppose to us First to explicate solidly some principal passages of S. Augustin which they alwayes objected to us Secondly to do the like with some of the Council of Trent which they likewise made use of Thirdly to observe very distinctly wherein consisted the Doctrin of Calvin and declare how it was different from that of S. Augustin He said It was a shame to see the Writings of our Adversaries in which they boldly cited false Councils which having had the curiosity to search he found to be such He shew'd me many sheets of Paper written with his own hand containing Observations which he had already made upon this affair He had collected all that pass'd in Cardinal Spada's Congregations And being I wonder'd at his great pains and exactnesse amidst his many other businesses inseparable from his quality of General He told me he never spar'd his pen to ease his memory He said 't was a strange thing that Vasquez having without contract taken the liberty to explicate the Propositions of the Bull of Pius V. without complaint ever made thereof by any body yet the same act was a crime of State in Jaensenius That the answer which they gave in this case was that Vasquez ly'd and that Cardinal Tolet had not writ in his Journal that which Vasquez saith was told him by that Cardinal Which was neither a good answer nor a proof that Vasquez ly'd because the Cardinal might have told him a thing by word of mouth which he had forgot to set down in his Journal He lent me the book of Turrienus printed at Lyons 1623. to read the Bull of Pius V. in it He had noted it with his own hand in divers places and I found that in pag. 611. right against this paragraph Deinde sciendum est inexpositione this General had writ these words Die 7. Febr. 1653. Cardinal Spada dixit Vasq mentiri quia aliter reperitur in M. S. ejusdem Toleti Which was a secret reveal'd innocently and without incurring excommunication which who so had reveal'd it knowingly could not have escap'd This I suppose was spoken by Cardinal Spada to ward off some objection which he could not otherwise avoid and was a new proof of his engagement in the defence of the contrary party Comming from this visite I made another in which I learn't that Cardinal Barberin said in discourse with Cardinal S. Clement the day before that it was ill done to set upon
which I could by no otherways understand any certainty at Rome I was in this perplexity between the desire of having audience of his Holiness and the consideration which depriv'd me of the confidence to request it till the beginning of the year 1651. when having in a visit made to the Ambassador understood that he was satisfi'd with having acquainted the Court with the proceedings he disgusted that he expected an answer thereof and that till then he would not inflame matters nor drive them to a rupture I thought fit not to let passe this interval without indeavoring to obtain an audience For which purpose I went two several times to the Presence Chamber of his Holiness but I could not obtain it though my Lord Torreiani Archbishop of Ravenna who was the introducer of strangers conducted me thither once purposely and did what he could to procure it me and from that time no occasion being offer'd to request it till the arrival of the King's letter abovemention'd and the Ambassador's consequently retiring to Tivoli I did not any more think of presenting my self but with the Gentleman whom I accompani'd in his journey a few days before we should leave Rome to return into France as I shall relate in due place In the mean time I neglected no other means which I could devise to finde some remedy to the inconveniences which were feared Cardinal Barberini offer'd me a very advantageous one for his Eminence whose esteem and Authority are so great in Rome that seldome any businesse can miscarry if he favour it remembring an ancient correspondence which I had had the late honour to contract with him by letters when I writ to the late Pope Vrban VIII against the design of the Jesuites to invade the priviledges of the University of Paris whil'st I was Rector of it had now the goodness to desire to renew the same and sent for me to dyne with him on the 10. of January He invited at the same time M. the Abbot Antenore a very accomplisht Roman Gentleman who had studied at Paris in the Colledge of Clermont and spoke French so naturally that it was not easie to distinguish his Country as also Lucas Holstenius whose worth is well known by all that have seen the translations he hath publish't and the Works he is Author of Our discourse before and in the time of dinner was about Books of which his Eminence hath a very vast and general knowledge and about the divers contests which were arisen between Learned men M. Pereyret's trip was not forgotten who took the Count Boniface to whom S. Augustin writ so many Epistles for Pope Boniface which occasion'd the said Doctor to say that Pope Boniface gave S. Augustin charge to write for the Church against the Pelagians because they had been friends whilst the Pope was a soldier That I might draw the discourse to the Letter of M. de Vabres of which I was desirous to learn some tidings I bethought my self to mention the raillerie lately made upon that Bishop for boasting in one of his Works That he had written more Ecclesiastical History then his Adversaries had read because indeed it was granted that he had written some which no body ever read But this mov'd not Cardinal Barberini to speak any thing of that Letter whether it were that he knew nothing of it yet or that he was pleas'd to be silent of it The rest of the day also would have pass'd without my making any advantage of it had I not resolv'd to speak to him a little more plainly about the new Hours in his Library whither he lead us after dinner and where there is so great convenience to imploy one's self with as much satisfaction as profit amongst so great a number of good books and plac'd in so good order that after that of the Vatican which hath no equal there is none in Rome to be compar'd therewith Card. Barberini told me concerning the Hours that they were very much spoken of and found fault with for two things The one by reason of the Calendar which is put into it the other because this Epithete Redemptor omnium is not exprest in the translation of the Hymnes where it is in the Latin I could not but answer him in reference to the Calendar that having read it throughout I found not any thing to be blam'd therein He reply'd that there might be several Impressions of the Hours and that perhaps there was that in the other Editions which was not in mine I answer'd that I knew not whether there were more Impressions of them that I had taken the Copy I had as soon as they were put to sale a few dayes before my departure that I might read it during my journey without knowing any thing of them at that time otherwise then by the great esteem which I heard was made of them by divers persons of worth whilst they were printing The Cardinal ask'd me whether I had the book still and told me himself had it not and should be glad to see it I promis'd to bring it to him and in the mean time as for the Epithete Redemptor omnium I told him he should see that it had been omitted without design in the translation of the Verses which answer to the Latin in which it is but only through the necessity which ariseth in Verses for which the Author also makes some excuse in the Preface for in the first hymn where it was omitted in the first couplet it is exprest in equivalent words in the second and fourth besides that it is exprest in several other places of this Translation and even in those which have it not in the Latin I added that he might find that the Title of Creator of all things was not exprest in more general terms then this of Redeemer of all and that this of Redeemer of Believers whereby that of Redeemer of all might have been restrain'd had there been any thing of design was also express'd in such a manner as abundantly evidenc'd there had been no thought of taking advantage by this Translation in reference to the matters in contest We spent the rest of the afternoon in other discourses The Sunday following I went to carry the Cardinal my Copy of the Houres and offer'd it his Eminence to put into his Library He accepted it on condition that I would send for it as often as I had occasion and for any other of his books which offer he made me before but with so much goodnesse and civility that nothing can be imagin'd more obliging With the book I deliver'd him a little Note wherein I had set down the pages where he might see all that I had spoken in its justification after some other discourses we descended from his Chamber and he took me into his Coach to go with him to take the air I had now time and opportunity to tell him all that had been signify'd to me concerning the Letter of M. de
Wherefore before I transcribed my Copies that I might be assured the Original was the hand of M. Pegna I had oft desired M. Noiset his Successor in that Office to whom I had very free access to shew me some of the Records of their Tribunal of the hand-writing of M Pegna At length on Sunday the 28. of Jan. M. du Noiset sent to Brousse and I when we repaired thither an antient Notary of their Tribunal nam'd Peter Cottuen giving him order to do all necessary things for us that we desired When this Notary had shew'd us several Papers written with the hand of M. Pegna and we found that they were all like that of the Book which I had we pray'd him to get us two persons expert or sworn for the verification of Writings He fetcht two who were name Andreas Albercius and Franciscus Pignocatus and they acknowledg'd that the Book which I had was of M. Pegna's hand whereupon they drew an Act or Memorandum which was deâ—ver'd to us the same day On Tuesday the 30. of January we went to the Ambassador to acquaint him with all that pass'd in the Audience which we had had of the Pope The Ambassador gave us very fair opportunity for he lead us out to walk with him to the Church of St. Martin where we heard Mass and afterwards he carri'd us back to dine with him In the afternoon we visited Cardinal Roma who confirm'd to us what he had always promis'd that we should not fail to be heard in this affair as amply as we could wish and declar'd to us that he promis'd the same again On Wednesday morning the last of this month we waited upon Cardinal Barberin de la Minerve Whilst he was there we visited F. Barelier When the Cardinal came forth he carri'd us to S. Jacques des Incurables where he said Mass and serv'd the poor at Dinner whom he treated that day and we assisted his Eminence to serve them That afternoon we visited the Marquis del Buffalo then F. Vbaldino who amongst other things speaking of the Pope and of Divinity reiterated plainly what I have above reported that is was not his Profession Non è la sua Professione and afterwards the General of the Dominicans whom we entertain'd amply and calmly concerning the matter of our Affairs and he very well receiv'd what we said One thing remarkable he told us viz. That Cardinal Lugo whilst he was a Jesuite endeavour'd to engage him in a Ligue against the Book of Jansenius The first observable thing that occur'd in February was that on Monday the fifth day of that month one came and told me from a good hand that F. Fani a Dominican and Companion of the Master of the sacred Palace having read F. Annat's Book found two Calvinistical Propositions in it notwithstanding which he forbore not to give it his Imprimatur on condition that they should be expung'd That this condition very much displeas'd the Author who went forthwith to complain thereof to M. Albizzi That M. Albizzi to content him and revenge the Injury done to such an ancient Jesuit as F. Annat by so young a Dominican presently writ to the Printer that without taking heed to the Restriction of the Imprimatur he should not fail to print all that the Jesuites appointed him That F. Fani going to the Printer to see whether F Annat had taken care to expunge those two Calvanistical Propositions out of this Book and how the places were corrected he there found M. Albizzi's Letter contrary to the correction which he had enjoyn'd That he took and compar'd a Copy thereof before a Notary and carried the same to the Master of the sacred Palace who being inform'd of the whole matter on the foregoing Wednesday acquainted the Congregation of the H. Office therewith who gave a check to M. Albizzi for so doing and enjoyn'd him to meddle no more with things that belong'd not to the functions of his place On Wednesday morning Feb. 6. we went to Monte Cavallo to thank the Popes Maistre de Chambri for the audience which he had procur'd us and to tell him that in that Audience we had spoken to his Holiness of a particular affair which was urgent and abont which we conceiv'd our selves oblig'd to present him a new Memorial which Memorial we desir'd him to deliver without delay We told him also that the Affair of which we were to inform the Pope being of the nature of those which are held at Rome the most secret we had made two Copies whereof one was seal'd the other open in the ordinary form that we would leave with him which he pleas'd He refer'd it to our own choice We perceiving that he was willing to have that which was open conceiv'd that civility oblig'd us to repose that confidence in him in which nevertheless we did ill for had we given him the seal'd Copy he would no doubt have deliver'd it the same day to the Pope without troubling himself about what was contain'd in it whereas giving him that which was unseal'd he had the curiosity to look into it and the quality of the matter made him backward to deliver it this and other delayes which superven'd almost made that Memorial of no use as I shall relate hereafter But so it was that we left tâ—e unseal'd Copy of the Memorial with the Popes Maistre de Chambre who promis'd to deliver it to his Holiness the same day We went afterwards to visite F. Delbene who repay'd our Visit in the afternoon in both which Entertainments nothing pass'd but after the general way in which we treated this affair as I have above in imated On Thursday Feb. 8. we visited Padre Bordone whom we found very inclinable to be inform'd fully of the bottom of our Controversies and very ready to receive such Impressions thereof as S. Prosper and S. Augustin might give him in the reading which he promis'd us he would not fail to undertake them with care and diligence On the ninth M. Brousse and I went to the Popes Presence-Chamber to know of his Maistre de Chambre what he had done with our Memorial He told us that that Memorial was about an affair of too great consequence and fit only to be treated by an Ambassador That to confess the Truth he conceiv'd that by our giving it open to him we were willing that he should read it that he did so and afterwards could not resolve to present it to the Pope That the Pope had a Nephew who did not stand for nothing That if we thought good we might address to him to present to it his Holiness or if we lik'd better we might come the Sunday following for an Audience and present it our selves We accepted this last condition and took back our Memorial being unable by all our Reasons to perswade this Maistre de Chambre to do us that Office or satisfie his fears On Saturday the 10. M. Brousse and I were at
answer'd in Latin which thereby became the language us'd in all the rest of the entertainment We ended this day with a Visit to the Abbot Charrier to congratulate with him for the happy success of his Vigilance in negotiating for the Cardinals Hat for my L. the Coadjutor of Paris notwithstanding all the Artifices and obstacles employ'd by divers persons to cross it and to testifie to him the joy and hopes arising to us from that promotion in reference to the good of the Affairs of the Church of France On Wednesday we learnt that the Jesuites were advertis'd and alarm'd at what we had done to hinder the publication of F. Annat's Book We made a Visit to Cardinal Corrado who receiv'd our Complements upon his promotion with great Christian humility and very exemplary sentiments of Piety He well understood our Affair and told us with great modesty that in this and in all others he should always endeavour to do what the service of the H. See required of him He said also that if what we reported of the Exorbitances of the Jesuites and others against St. Augustin were true it was necessary that his Holiness took some course therein and that it was not possible to suffer the Authority of that holy Doctor to be shaken but the Faith and the H. See must receive prejudice thereby Monsignor Sacrista shew'd us in the Afternoon the rich Ornaments and pretious Reliques of the Popes private Sacristy or Vestry As we return'd we went to see F. Campanella at the Carmelites de la Transpontine And at night I went to see one of my particular friends who inform'd me that the General of the Augustines was added by the Pope to the number of Qualificators who were to be employed afterwards in the examination of the Five Proportions The next day I left my Collegues with F. Lezzana an antient Monastick and Professor in Divinity Author of some works in print and went to the Company of the Commissary of the H. Office who told me that the Jesuits made a great clamour about a Book newly printed by a Minister of Holland nam'd Desmares at Groning That they took occasion from thence to redouble their instances for the condemnation of the Propositions which they demanded even without hearing the Parties and as a thing very urgent and necessary not only for retaining us for that lash and humiliation in the submission and obedience which we ow'd to the H. See but also for the reuniting to the Church several Provinces withdrawn from it and continuing in their rebellion and separation by our example That there was much talk in Rome about this Matter and that those Fathers omitted not to allarm the Pope and the Cardinals with it I had not yet seen that Book but I understood by Letters from Paris of the 26. of January what it was and that there was an Answer intended to be made to it I had already answer'd to those Letters as not being much surpris'd at that work by the fear of what advantages might be made of it against us for some time since after this Agitation we might make greater of it against the Jesuites and the Hereticks themselves that produc'd it I told this good Father the substance of all those Letters with which he was satisfi'd so that he plainly acknowledg'd that he needed but a little time to dispell all the Umbrages and Suspitions that might be given or taken by the said Book He informed me also of another remarkable thing namely that in the year 1612. the H. Office made a Declaration by which it was judg'd that the Books printed before the Prohibition of Paul V. were not comprehended in that Prohibition and might be reprinted without obtaining a new permission I return'd to F. Lezzana to call my Companions from whom I learnt that that Father had a great desire to be inform'd of all that he carefully read all the Writings he could on this Subject that he was at work about the Propositions that he profess'd to follow the Doctrine of St. Augustine and held the necessity of Effectual Grace ad singulos actus that the reading of S. Augustine had caus'd him to embrace those sentiments and that it infus'd piety In the afternoon we visited Cardinal Capponi who testifi'd to us a very high veneration for St. Augustin and an equal astonishment at the detractions and calumnies which we told him were spread against that H. Doctor and against us As for the Congregation which we required he said his opinion was it ought rather to be establisht sooner then later that so the matters in question might be manag'd with all fitting leasure and exactnesse Stabilirla quanto prima è poi ben maturarla CHAP. V. Of the Visites which we made during the first dayes of March as well to the sacred Colledge as to the Consultors and Qualificators who are usually employ'd at Rome in matters of Doctrine I Learnt on the first day of March a very remarkable thing namely that before the Bull of Vrban VIII Cardinal Barberin himself took the paines to make sundry accusations against the book of Jansenius in the Assembly of the H. Office and that his Eminence caus'd it to be brought thither on divers occasions to shew that assembly the erroneous opinions whereof he accus'd it That one time amongst the rest he accused him for having written that Original sin was the sole cause of the damnation of the reprobate as if it were the only cause and actual sins contributed nothing at all thereunto But that it always hapned that it was evinc'd to his Eminence by examination of the places which he cited that the Memoires deliver'd to him against that book were not well grounded and that in this point particularly they were without any appearance since as Cardinal S. Clement who was then but Master of the sacred Palace shew'd in a full assembly that Bishop expresly saith that actual sin is the radical cause thereof causa radicalis damnationis which is very true Whereupon during some time that book was no more spoken of in the said Congregation but a little after when it was least thought of the Bull of Vrban VIII decreed against the same book was publisht In the afternoon we visited Cardinal Giori to whom we had scarce begun to speak but one came to advertise him that the Pope was going to S. Peter's Church whither he was oblig'd to repair to receive his Holinesse and so we were constrain'd to take leave of him without further communication My companions and I went to visite F. Modeste who made as if he were ignorant of our affair and of the Five Propositions though I had formerly acquainted him therewith whilst I was at Rome alone He gave us but general and popular answers concerning the diversity of Hereticks with whom S. Augustin had to deal and said that the vehemence wherewith he opposed them making him sometimes speak with Exaggeration all his sayings were not to
stopping an evil in its fountain Principiis obsta and that if some one had done the same Office for Janseniu's book when his executors caus'd it to be printed he should have done both him and them a good office but they had been the Murderers of his work and done him great wrong that himself Cardinal Ghiggi had read the whole book that besides about half a page which they might have left out or explain'd there was nothing in it to be excepted against because we had in mandatis to speak nothing that might relate to Jansenius and had made it a chief point to abstain as much as possible even from pronouncing his name we answer'd nothing to this discourse of Cardinal Ghiggi concerning him But the Abbot of Valcroissant returning to what concern'd our Impression gave his Eminence an account of the number and order of the books which we purposed to get printed and upon his mentioning the Epistle of Celestine the Council of Orange and the Epistle of Sardinia the Cardinal stumbled a little at it and askt us why we did not put those other works into a little book apart But when the Abbot of Valcroissant had answer'd that those works had been formerly printed together with those of S. Augustin as pertaining thereunto and treating of the same matter he was satisfi'd At length I beseecht his Eminence to believe that in procuring this Impression we had not had the least thought of any bravado or ostentation but onely design'd to clear the things in question by the most solid short and innocent way that we could chuse But I added further that though we had been too blame in beginning it as we conceiv'd there could not be the least pretext yet things being to come to this passe it seem'd expedient not to stop it or interrupt it longer in regard of the occasions which thereby might be taken to say That S. Augustin began to be no longer in esteem and approbation at Rome as formerly but to avoid the scandalous sequels which such discourse might produce The Cardinal reply'd that he lookt upon this argument as something yet not as unanswerable for then it would follow said he that a man might engage thus upon what he please and plead afterward such inexpediency to hinder him I answer'd that I judg'd such proceeding in the general as unreasonable as himself did but in this case and in the affair under question this argument appear'd to me very strong and convincing because the thing undertaken was profitable just and holy and from whence we could not reasonably presume the least probability of any inconvemence That we had us'd all circumspection and observ'd all the formes and rules that could be wishâ— before we began and that the Obstruction of the work would be of no profit but draw prejudicial sequels after it His Eminence was in haste and so it behov'd us to break off and we accompany'd him discoursing of other indifferent things as far as the apartment of Cardinal Cherubini On Thursday morning April 18. the Abbot of Valcroissant and M. Angran went to wait upon Cardinal Barberin who had been in the Country the two preceding dayes and so could not be informed before touching this Impression But I went alone to Cardinal Spada and assoon as his Eminence was in condition to be seen I told him that when we presented our Memorial to him we acquainted him only with reasons alledged for obstruction of our work That we accounted our affair so clear and so just that we doubted not but we should have had after the foregoing daies congregation the liberty to continue it but having had no answer in the morning we went in the afternoon to M. Albizzi who raised new scruples to which I was come to acquaint him in two words what we had to answer That M. Albizzi told us in the first place that he had cross'd us out of the fear he had of a Table which he intended to adjoyn to the book and secondly that in the works of S. Augustin selected by us there were Crudities which had been digested and refin'd in his latter works That as to the first difficulty I was to tell his Eminence that we had not so much as the least thought of annexing a Table to the intended Volumn And as to the second 1. that the word Crudities could not be applyed to S. Augustin's works without failing in the respect which is due to him and to the Popes who have approved them 2. That there was really neither crudities nor obscurities nor excesses nor perplexities in his works And thirdly that in case there were such crudities obscurities and perplexities in others of his works yet not in these which we have chosen to print that are resolv'd and cleard as being the last which he compos'd upon this matter and when the greatest difficulties and strongest objections which his adversaries had to alledge against the doctrine of the Scriptures and the Church which he maintain'd hâ—d been propounded to him and he had destroy'd and confounded the most perplexing subtilties I gave the Cardinal an account of the order and substance of those Books as well as the shortness of the time permitted He heard with gravity and decency all that I represented to him After which he accompanied me only to his Chamber door but answered me not so much as one single word In the afternoon we went to M Albizzi no know what was resolv'd upon in the Congregation before the Pope that morning But upon the way I was inform'd there had been no mention of our business That M. Albizzi before the Popes comming to the Assembly talkt much with Cardinal Pamphilio and Cardinal Barberin apart and that it vvas determin'd at length amongst them to defer propouning it to a particular Congregation at the Palace of Spada M. Albizzi ending the conference with their Eminences with these words Non daremo fastidio al Papa questa matina ne parlaremo nella Congregatione particolare alla Casa di Spada However we proceeded to M. Albizzi to see what he would say to us He had not leisure enough the day before to hear what we had to tell him concerning the order and subject of the books whereof we had made choice The Abbot of Valcroissant gave him account thereof during which M. Albizzi held in his hand the little Volumes of S. Augustin printed by M. Vitré and read the titles of them and after what M. de Valcroissant had said to him he seemed to make no great difficulty about out affair telling us he believ'd it would be terminated at the House of Cardinal Spada where a Congregation was to be held that day that the Pope should afterwards be acquainted with it in a word That perhaps Cardinal Spada would send for us to tell us that we might continue our Impression that he was not certain of it but he told us this by way of advice He askt us whether M. Brousse were gone
1646. my time of Licentiate being accomplish'd and the Ceremonies of conferring Degrees deferr'd till after Easter I thought fit to employ that interval of time in a journey to Italy invited thereunto by the company of M. de Souvré Chevalier of the Orders of the King and first Gentleman of his Chamber and of M. the Abbot de Bassompierre now Bishop of Xaintes and of some other persons of quality whom I had the honour to know at Court M. Bourgeois Doctor of Paris and M. Duchesne an antient Professor in Philosophy were then at Rome by Order of my Lords the Bishops who had licenc'd the Book Of Frequent Communion to defend the same against the prosecutions us'd by the Jesuites there to get it censur'd During the short abode I made there M. Bourgeois and M. Duchesne told me the Book Of Frequent Communion was wholly acquitted but the Jesuites had turn'd all their forces against another Book to which That had given occasion namely that Of the Greatnesse of the Roman Church Neverthelesse that they conceiv'd they had so clearly evidenc'd to divers Cardinals the validity of the passages of the said Book which establisheth in the two Princes of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul the Authority in question that they believ'd it now out of all danger of Censure In these very termes I inform'd of this matter divers of our Confreres who requested intelligence thereof at my return which was in the moneth of August the same year And in September following having receiv'd the Doctor 's Cap the first time I had the honour to enter into the Assembly of the Faculty which was 1 Octob. 1646. M. Cornet then Syndic acquainted the Faculty that the Nuntio had told him that certain Manuscript Gazettes or Mercuries were come to his hands from Rome which spoke two Doctors there who pretended to be Delegates from the Faculty for the maintaining a Book as Orthodox which undertook to shew That there may be two Heads in the Church Of which he advertis'd the Faculty in regard of their concernment therein and intreated them to declare to him whether they had sent the said Doctors to Rome for the defence of such Book This proposal was made after a manner so odious and captious against the said Book that M. Chastellain who was friend to M. Bourgeois and was satisfy'd of the goodnesse of the Book defended by him at Rome in which also he knew it was not maintain'd That there may be two Heads in the Church conceiv'd that enough would be done both for the Book and for M. Bourgeois if it were declar'd to the Nuntio That no person of the Faculty had so much as heard speech of any Book written to that purpose and accordingly he nominated M. Pereyret and some other Doctors to carry this answer to the Nuntio This disowning of an Imaginary Book was very well pleasing to the enemies of the True Book which M. Bourgeois defended For they saw well it would not be difficult for them to involve the true one in it So this advice was universally assented to though with different ends and aims My turn of suffraging came not till the last but I did not forbear to give some intimation of the ill use I fear'd would be made of this Declaration which when I saw ratifi'd by the Conclusion of the Faculty speaking after the Assembly with the Doctors to whom upon the assurance given by M. Bourgeois and M. Duchesne I had signify'd that I conceiv'd the Book out of danger of Censure I told them that after this Declaration of the Faculty I judg'd the Censure would indubitably follow and believ'd two Moneths would not passe before its appearance Moreover because I saw the reputation of M. Bourgeois and M. Duchesne unjustly impeach'd I gave such a testimony of them in this Assembly as I believ'd I was bound to do being so lately return'd from Rome where I had seen as I assur'd the Assembly that they took not upon themselves the quality of Delegates of the Faculty that all people of honour that knew them look'd upon them as sent by those of my Lords the Prelates of France who had given approbation to the Book Of Frequent Communion and that none but framers of Gazettes or Mercury-mongers could speak otherwise of them However upon that Gazette which came to the Nuntio and from him to the Faculty the Conclusion pass'd M. Pereyret went to visit him according to the commission given him so to do and although he had receiv'd none to leave any thing in writing with the Nuntio yet he declin'd not to give him a Memorial of what he said to him which he drew up as himself pleas'd without communicating any thing thereof to the Faculty The term of publishing the Decree of the Inquisition of Rome which appear'd against the mention'd Book consequently to the Declaration of the Faculty was longer then I imagin'd it would have been for it was deferr'd till the 25th of January the following year 1647. being the very day of the Conversion of St. Paul which I cannot but observe here because I doubt not but it was design'd by the authors of the Decree Some time after this Decree came into France to the Nuntio with command from the Pope to cause it to be printed and sent to the Ordinaries of places by which order and for which purpose it was printed by Sebastian Cramoisy I shall mention no other particulars of this Decree but what are in the Speech of the deceased M. Talon Advocate General whereof and of the Arrest which follow'd it I had a Copy which I shall insert here to preserve the same to posterity though they have been printed since in flying and perishing pamphlets A Speech deliver'd in the Grand Chamber by Mons Omer Talon Advocate General on Friday 10 Maii 1647. Gentlemen VVE receiv'd on Wednesday an order from the Court to make inquiry concerning a Bull printed a few dayes since and a Sentence issued forth by the Provost of Paris on Monday last whereby he hath condemned a small Writing and Book containing one sheet of Paper which Writing is contrary to the authority of the said Bull. Moreover the same day we heard what pass'd in the presence of the Queen touching the same affair where you were pleas'd Sir addressing himself to the first President to expresse the sentiments of the Company and their reasons for opposing the enterprise of the Popes Nuntio who goes about to establish a new Jurisdiction in this Realm After which discourse the Queen having called us and heard from our own mouths something of the particulars of this affair and afterwards conferr'd of it with M. the Cardinal Mazarin M. the Chancellor gave us to understand that there was a difference to be made between a Bull issu'd by authority of the Holy See for the printing and publishing of which there is the King's Privilege and one set forth by the Mandate or Certification of the Nuntio who makes
under the penalties provided by Law in such Case And requires all Printers and Stationers to keep and observe the Rules and Orders made about the matter of Printing under penalty of being fin'd at pleasure Lastly The Substitute or Deputy of the said Attorney General is hereby required to be diligent in causing this Arrest to be put into execution and to certifie the Court thereof within a Month to which end it shall by the care of the said Attorney General be forthwith sent into all Bailywicks and Precincts throughout the Realm Given in Parliament the 15th of May One thousand Six hundred Forty seven Signed Du Tillet CHAP. II. Of what pass'd in the Assembly of the Faculty on the first of March 1647. concerning a scandalus Libel against Petrus Aurelius AMongst the Libels publisht this year by the Jesuites or their Partisans there was one in Latin intituled The Divinity of Petrus Aurelius or His principal Errors against Faith and Good Manners a Libel full of abundance of falsifications and calumnies charging that famous Writer with errors directly contrary to his sentiments and fixing the name of Error upon Catholick Truths In the Assembly of the Faculty on March 1. M. Pereyret according to appointment formerly laid upon him to read the said Libel and make his report of the same that day declar'd that he had found that It contain'd a hundred Propositions most of which were drawn intire and word for word out of the Works of Petrus Aurelius and the rest made up of his words taken out of several places and so put together as to make perfect sense that the Author of the said Libel had to every one of those hundred Propositions added as many Conclusions by which he attributed sundry Errors to Petrus Aurelius That moreover it would be not only unprofitable but prejudicial to set upon the examination of the said Libel because it would cost the Faculty not only some Months but even many years multos annos to discusse the sincerity of the extracted Propositions and the truth of the consequence drawn from them according to their accustomed diligence and fidelity and to the rules of Theology Wherefore he concluded that he judg'd it suitable to the interest and dignity of the Faculty to bury the whole Matter in silence especially seeing the Epistle prefixt to the Libel was already torn by the Hangman's hand and the Book condemned by a sentence of the Lieutenant Civil at the request of the Agents of the Clergy This subtilty M. Pereyret made use of to engage the Faculty to abandon him who had so generally defended them And for that men are easily led to such course as exempts from trouble this Motion met with no opposition CHAP. III. Of what pass'd in the Assemblies of the Faculty on the second of May the first of June and the first of July in the year 1648. upon occasion of a Libel of F. Veron IN the year following 1648. was publisht another Libel intituled A Gag for the Jansenists and Arnaudists whereof F. Veron was the Author It was sold by all the News-Sellers of Paris in the end of Lent It contain'd Maxims so scandalous and prejudicial to the salvation and edification of Christians it was fill'd with so many injuries and calumnies and was so apt to trouble the publick Tranquillity that the Lieutenant Civil having taken notice of it thought himself oblig'd not to fail in the duty of his Office to cause it to be suppressed To which purpose he sent for the Syndic and Jurates of the Booksellers forbad them to sell it and gave order that the said Prohibition should be printed and fixt up in publick places F. Veron was rather exasperated by this Prohibition than convinc'd of the mischief his Libel might do He had publisht it at first without any Licence and therefore sought to get one but not finding any at Paris he procured one from a Cordelier Doctor of Tours and forg'd another of another Doctor a Cordelier at Chartres with which approbations he caus'd his Book to be publisht and distributed again after Easter Amongst the Errors and Calumnies wherewith this Libel was fill'd especially against the antient Fathers and Councils in the sixth Page of the first Impression he writes That antiently many judg'd that it was not commanded by Jesus Christ to make Confession even at the time of death much less that there was any Precept to do it before Communicating even by such as had sinn'd mortally conceiving that Contrition alone was sufficient And that there was in those times no Precept to confesse every year but that it was so ordain'd only by the Fourth Council of Lateran in the year 1215. And Page 7. That the use and practice of the Sacrament of Pennance and Confession for Mortal Sins either before the Communion or at the time of Death appears very rarely in Antiquity The new publication of the Libel with the said approbations being likely to propagate the seditious Maximes contained therein and do wrong to the Faculty by reason of the approbations of those of their Body wherewith it was authoriz'd M. Guillebert Doctor of Sorbonne made complaint in the Assembly of the second of May following against the said Libel and the Doctors that appear'd Licencers of it Assoon as they who were in the Assembly heard M. Guillebert read one or two of the Maximes of the Libel they were so mov'd thereat that they were ready to nominate certain Persons to read it and make report thereof according to Custom in the Assembly following But M. Cornet diverted them from so doing by desiring that before they debated upon this businesse the Doctors who had given the Licences might be sent for to give account of what they had done Whereupon the Faculty demurr'd and gave charge to F. Lavaux who was then Warden of the Cordeliers to write to them to that purpose In the Assembly of June F. Charruau appear'd and justified his Approbation with all imaginable boldness proceeding from the assurance he had of a Party in the Faculty sufficiently potent to protect and bring him off He discours'd with great vehemence against the Book Of Frequent Communion and that of Jansenius so long as he pleas'd to speak he was not interrupted by any one but heard peaceably But when M. Guillebert offer'd to represent with singular moderation and few words some of the principal Points and most pernicious Maximes he found in the said Libel he was interrupted several times by divers Doctors and particularly by M. Cornet who omitted nothing he could do to disturb him every moment to disorder the coherence of his Discourse and to keep him from being heard and understood At last the time of this Assembly being elaps'd and having been spent in several altercations which clearly appear affected for that end it broke up after they had given charge to M. Guillebert to make an Extract of the Propositions of the said Libel which he should find most dangerous and represent
after the first Assembly retir'd dissatisfy'd and repair'd thither no more M. Chappellas withdrew himself after the second conference because he having gainsay'd him that gave his opinion before him and branded the First Proposition of Heresie the said M. Chappellas maintaining the same to be Catholick and S. Augustines neverthelesse the plurality concluded that it was heretical M. Gauquelin arriv'd at the meeting in the middle of the examination and having seen the proceeding held therein would be present at it no more M. Hennequin assisted not at the last Assembly where the Deputies sign'd the Result in the presence of M. the Dean who was present there to conclude though he had not been at the other Assemblies For there is a Law which begins Si duo ex tribus c. which forbids some Commissioners to proceed in the absence of the rest unlesse their commission expresly allow it Duo ex tribus Judicibus uno absente judicare non possunt quippe omnes judicare jussi sunt D. de re judicata L. 39. CHAP. VIII Of the Writings which were publish'd during the same moneth of July by the Disciples of S. Augustin touching the Propositions BEfore this moneth expir'd books were publish'd concerning the subject of the Propositions which M. Cornet had presented to the Faculty One was intitul'd Molinae Collatorumque adversus S. Augustini doctrinam apparatus Another began with these words In nomine Domini And a third had this title Considerations upon the enterprise made by Master Nicholas Cornet In each of those three Works complaint was made of the maliciousnesse wherewith these Propositions were fram'd and render'd capable of divers senses very opposite of which some were certainly Catholick and the other evidently Heretical to the end that being expos'd to examination they might be condemn'd under pretext of the heretical senses which they might include and that when under the said pretext the authors of the said design should have obtain'd a censure thereof they might apply the same as should seem good to themselves and cause it to fall upon the Catholick sense which they also admitted and which M. Cornet and his Complices principally aim'd at though they durst not declare themselves against the same Of these books especially The Considerations some were given to the Examiners before they had ended their private meetings they were likewise given to all the Doctors they could be deliver'd to before the first of August And I cannot sufficiently wonder how considering the clearnesse wherewith the disguise and artifice of those deceitfull propositions and the deplorable sequels of the whole attempt is therein laid open neverthelesse the beginners of it could be more obstinate in it then at first and how such as they had perverted could be as inclin'd as themselves to conclude in the assembly of the first of August upon a condemnation not lesse ambiguous then the Propositions themselves had there been nothing else to hinder them from doing so but these Books Those Works might deserve to be inserted here intire for the importance of the things contained in them and especially for the undeceiving of such as have ben kept in a belief that we have sometimes absolutely maintain'd the said Propositions For they might see in every page of them that we spoke at first of the Propositions as we have done since namely as equivocal fallacious ambiguous fram'd with cunning to render them capable of divers senses very opposite whereof some are most certainly Catholick and the other most evidently heretical But I will content my self with reciting some lines out of that of the Considerations which shall clearly manifest what I say even to persons most obstinate and prejudic'd The 22. 23. article of those Considerations run in these terms XXII Moreover it is clear that they have gone about to encounter S. Augustin like Foxes not like Lions and that to cover the shame of making themselves Masters and Censors of the greatest Master of the whole Church next S. Paul in these matters and together with him of the Popes Councils and of all antiquity they have express'd the Propositions in ambiguous and confus'd words that so being true in one sense and false in another they might excuse themselves to intelligent men by saying that they intended only to condemn the evil that was in them without purposing to wound S. Augustin and at the same time decry them before the simple and ignorant which are the greatest number for absolutely condemn'd as well in the sense of S. Augustin which is that which they chiefly design to ruine as according to the other XXIII This is seen clearly in the first Proposition Aliqua Dei praecepta c. which according to S. Augustin and the Bishop of Ipre who hath handled and excellently explicated it by a multitude of clear and indubitable passages hath no other meaning but this that the Righteous are not alwayes in one and the same disposition nor in the same internal vigour but that they are sometimes so weak that they cannot prevail with themselves to do those things which are their duty although they know God commands the same and they have a desire to do them as it is manifest by S. Paul who cryes out that he cannot do the good which he would according to the explication of the Fathers In this sence so true and so conformable not only to S. Augustin and the Scripture but also to the ordinary Prayers of the Church and the continual experience of the greatest Saints and of all such as endeavour to serve God faithfully this Proposition cannot receive any impeachment from envy it self But being taken after another sort and according to the Letter it may signifie another thing namely that there are Commandments of God which the righteous can never keep by the strength which is given them in this present life what grace soever God communicates to them and whatsoever will they may have to performe the same which is an Error and a Heresie advanc'd by Calvin in as much as it makes the Commandments of God absolutely impossible in this world In the mean time this is one of the sences intended to be put upon this Proposition to render it odious and to make the people and ignorants believe that it is what S. Augustine and his Disciples teach For it was propos'd in the same termes under the names of Luther and Calvin in the * * Theses Claromontanae An. 1644. Jan. 4. Concl. 18. Sacriâ—ega est impia Calvini Lutherique sententia Calv. in Antid in cap. 12. Sess 6. Luth. in Latom. qua statuunt esse in lege gratiae quaedam hom ni praecepta illi secundum statum is vires in quibus constitutus est impossibilia eam impotentiam etiam in fidelibus reperiri nec tantum quando nolunt praecepta implere sed etiam quando volunt Calvinus in Antid Concil Trid. Sess 6. cap. 12. Mihi sufficit nominem extitâ—sse unquam qui legi
speak after this discourse and answer'd almost in these words Messieures About four or five years ago when the heat began on either side about opinions of Doctrine which concern the Propositions in question the Faculty by an universal consent of all the Doctors for avoiding contentions and divisions which might arise amongst them thereby ordain'd that no Speech should be had thereof on one side or other From that time they remain'd in silence and peace till the first of July last when M. Cornet the Syndic as I since understood said M. de Mincé for I was not at that Assembly by a manifest enterprise against that Conclusion of the Faculty set afoot and requir'd to be debated certain Propositions relating to that doctrine In which he not only violated the resolution which the Faculty had taken not to speak thereof but also acted contrary to the order receiv'd and practis'd from all time in the said Faculty which is wont not to debate upon any Propositions unless the books and places of the books from whence such Propositions are taken be noted and examin'd because the understanding and true sense of them depends very often upon what goes before and what follows after Now the Propositions which M. Cornet hath made and set afoot in that Assembly of the first of July are loose and of uncertain sense neither the places nor authors from whence they might be drawn being signify'd by him Since that Assembly of the first of July nothing more hath been said concerning those Propositions for that of August was spent in a contest arising touching a pretension of the Chancellor of the University In this of the first of September the Faculty hath likewise spoken nothing more thereof But for all this there is publish'd this moneth a Censure under the name of pretended Deputies who have no power so to do it not appertaining to any but to the Faculty in a formal and legal assembly Wherefore may it please you we desire that that pretended Censure be declar'd of no value and authority as indeed it is not M. de Mincé having ended and the President turned his head to M. Cornet who said That whereas they disown the Censure they mean that they disown it indeed as to the publication but not as to the doctrine And as to what M. de Mincé had said namely that it is not the custom of the Faculty to censure Propositions without first examining the places of Authors whence they are taken he said it was much otherwise That the Registers of the Faculty were full of Censures which had been so made upon bare Propositions without noting the Authors whose they were Particularly that this was practis'd during the space of twenty years from the year 1540. to the year 1560. which was the time when Luther and Calvin began to appear and publish their errors That even the last year the censuring of a book being spoken of in the Faculty they had forborn to touch the Author to this hour but order'd that Particular persons who pleased to propound Propositions after two moneths time should have liberty so to do Hereunto it was reply'd by M. de Mincé that that which was said by M. Cornet was not true that the example of the foregoing year which he brought made against him the case thereof being thus A Libel had been publish'd the year before under the name of F. Veron in which many things were judg'd by the whole Faculty evidently mischievous besides many invectives and injuries against the memory and reputation of M. the Abbot of Cyran and the two MM. Arnauls hereupon some persons intimating in the Faculty that there were things in that Libel which had relation to and connexion with the matters concern'd in the Propositions in question the Faculty ordain'd that the Censure of the said Book should be deferr'd for fear mens minds should become heated and divided upon occasion of the said matters which were touch'd upon transiently and by reflexion in that Libel All which shews with how little reason M. Cornet hath brought that example and what wrong he hath done by causlesly violating so prudent and necessary a resolution as the Faculty had made for four or five years not to determine or decide any thing touching those matters on one side or other At this time M. Hennequin came and was introduc'd into the Chamber and as he advanc'd towards the side of the Table where MM. Pereyret and Cornet were Mr. Cornet went a step or two to meet him as if he meant to tell him somthing in his ear before he came to the place of speaking Which M. Hennequin perceiving put his hand before his breast and face to stop him and signifie to the Judges that he meant not to speak any thing that M. Cornet purposed to suggest to him The President said to him We have caus'd you to come hither that we may be inform'd by you concerning a Censure of certain Propositions which runs under your name and here are some of your brethren pointing at M. de Mincé and me who have complain'd to the Court thereof M. Hennequin answer'd That he would speak the truth sincerely as he had alwayes made profession and was bound in conscience to do He said that indeed having been put amongst the Deputies nominated in the Assembly of the first of July for examining those Propositions he accordingly had divers times met together with them in the house of the Scribe of the Faculty and that they had noted the places of Scripture and of the Fathers which to them seem'd contrary to the said Propositions with purpose to make report and leave the judgement of the same to the Faculty as to whom it appertaineth and not to themselves but as to the having determin'd the Propositions or sign'd or decreed any Censure that this they had not done That in the mean time he had been astonish'd when being at Troies whither he lately took a journey he saw divers Copies of a Censure brought from several parts That likewise on the other side he had seen books written in defence of the said Propositions That all this was not well and that it must be acknowledg'd that there was on either side a little too much heat The President said that it behooved all of us to labour to moderate the same and that the Court would on their part contribute their utmost thereunto and thus he seem'd to put an end to this hearing and to dismisse us Which I seeing and conceiving that the things which might be spoken for the obtaining of the Arrest we aim'd at had not been sufficiently unfolded I began to speak and told the Court that M. de Mincé had been often absent from Paris during all that pass'd in this affair and so could not represent to the Court many important circumstances thereof which came not to his knowledge but that with their permission I should resume the matter from the beginning and lay open to the
not material to give account of them only I will touch two circumstances which are too considerable to be omitted One is that M. Hallier having in one of those visits told the first President that he could not obtain peace with us because he had refus'd to sign the Propositions of Jansenius We answer'd him immediately that he had never been spoken to about them M. Hallier reply'd that we caus'd the same be demanded of him by the Coadjutor We answer'd that it was nothing so But returning again the next morning M. de Lalane who in the mean time went to the Coadjutor for the same purpose said to the first President Sir I am commanded by the Coadjutor to tell you from him that he never from us demanded of M. Hallier to sign the Propositions of Jansenius as M. Hallier told you yesterday To which the first President having answer'd that that was not the matter in question M. de Lalane reply'd Sir it is not just that M. Hallier should impose upon the Coadjutor and us and that we say nothing thereof The second is that whatever instance we could use to bring him to allow that our contests should be decided according to the ordinary wayes by the judgement of the Court he would not consent thereunto but told us that we must labour to end the same our selves by agreement adding that this was the mind of the Court which he testifi'd that he had receiv'd order to acquaint us with CHAP. XIV Of what was done in the Assembly of the first of December 1649. in order to the Agreement desir'd by the first President THe first day of December being arriv'd M. Charton told the Assembly of the Faculty that the first President had sent for either side and signifi'd to us that the Court of Parliament desir'd we would seek amongst our selves some terms of agreement M. de Mincé spoke next and testifi'd that the first President 's meaning was not to remit businesses to the judgement of the Faculty but only to invite both parties to seek wayes of Accommodation amongst our selves M. Hallier spoke something which caus'd a contest to arise between M. de Mincé and him and which was the occasion that M. de Mincé having told him that he ought not to thrust himself into the Administrations of the Syndicship M. Hallier declar'd that he did not pretend to discharge any of them in this Assembly M. Mulot put to the Vote that which was propounded by M. Charton M. Messier Subdean delivering his opinion the first said that for the Propositions it would be fit to nominate two Doctors on each side to the end they might confer together of what was to be done But being advertis'd that the Propositions were not under consideration he alter'd his suffrage and said that he judg'd the way of agreement was to execute the Arrests of the Court. After which no person spoke more concerning the Propositions till M. Pereyret whose advices are usually infallible Prognosticks and certain rules of the sentiments of all those of that party He said that in order to a solid peace it behoved to discusse the principal cause of the division to look to that which chiefly had incens'd us and that was Doctrine That as for the Syndicship and the other things they were not the principal but only accessaries That it behov'd to apply the remedy to the root of the Evil. That it was this that was chiefly to be examin'd and from which we might most expect peace That all which had been done proceeded from that source Wherefore it was requisite to give satisfaction therein and for that end to take time to deliberate again thereupon and in the mean while to invite all people to examine them That they who were deputed should do the same That in the interim it was fit to live in friendship and good intelligence one with another and for this purpose to forbear writing or speaking any thing about the said Propositions and putting the same into Theses That if in the mean space any Bachelors or Doctors attempt any thing contrary to this rule either in Theses or Books it behov'd the Faculty to punish them sharply and severely by its Censures That not only the first President but also all the other Presidents and Counsellors whom they had conferr'd with had advis'd to proceed in this manner and thus it was that they design'd to act in this Accommodation M. Coppin perceiving that this advice tended to renew the enterprise of the first of July said as well in his own name as in that of a great number of Doctors whose mind never was to eschew the examination of those Propositions or others but who on the contrary alwayes desir'd that it should be set afoot provided it were done with conditions necessary for the manifestation of truth and the establishment of a firm peace amongst the Doctors He said as I intimated as well in his own name as in that of the Doctors that if the resolution were taken to set upon such examination he demanded that certain conditions should be observ'd therein such as all equitable persons would esteem just and necessary for the right performance of the same and which he was going to propound to the Faculty To do which he took in his hand a paper wherein he had written the same but upon this there was rais'd a great noise caus'd partly by such as lik'd not the mention of Conditions and partly by others who dislik'd that we should propose them because that in this Assembly the question was not about such examination We answer'd that indeed the Dean did not put the same to the Vote yet M. Pereyret did not forbear to debate upon it and by his discourse give cause to believe that it was intended to turn the deliberations of the Faculty that way M. Pereyret went about to put it off but he could not handsomly M. Amiot maintain'd that M. Pereyret had reason to say that such examination was the thing to be consider'd for that it was requir'd to seek wayes of accord and the difference being about Doctrine it was fit to speak thereof As M. Coppin continu'd offering to read his paper because there would be no time to read it after the examination were concluded upon and the noise continuing he could not have a moment of audience on the one side M. Mulot out of a caprichio by force snatcht away his paper and M. Pereyret on the other to appease the noise which increas'd more and more alter'd his former sentence or at least explain'd it and concluded no more to examine the Propositions or to forbid the maintaining of them M. Mulot also render'd M. Coppin his paper who gave it into the hands of M. Bouvot to the end it might be registred to be made use of and had recourse to as often as it should please those Gentlemen to attempt the examination of the matters in contest M. Charton delivering his opinion did not
who was as zealous for the same as was necessary and withall as submissive and respectfull to those from whom these orders were transmitted to me Yet I could not but signifie the little probability I saw of well acquitting my self thereof being newly arriv'd in a place where I had little correspondence where I was likely to be something suspected where my steps might be watcht where I had other engagements hindring me from being master of my self and where the affaires for which I was desir'd to concern my self were very odious However I promis'd to do my best therein and to neglect no opportunities And accordingly I set my self to it as much as all those circumstances and a weak unrepaired health permitted but for all my diligence till the end of this year I could discover nothing concerning the Houres and as for the Letter I only learnt that it had been sent already and that the F. Richeome the Jesuit one of the French Penitentiaries at S. Peters boasted that it was subscribed by fifty Bishops He that told me this was well seen in those affaires and in the whole managery of the persons upon whom the same depended amongst the things he told me upon this subject I observ'd these two principal One that he believ'd this Letter could not produce any thing new against Jansenius because these persons now mention'd knew well that too much had been done already but as for any thing that came from those who were lookt upon as his followers they would find no mercy being ill gusted in this Court insomuch that when nothing could be discover'd ill in any writing of theirs that may of it self deserve to be condemned yet it is enough for its condemnation that it proceedeth from suspected persons This Maxime made me cease to wonder at the condemnation pronounc'd against the Catechisme of Grace concerning which one had also written particularly to me complaining that in that condemnation the little Book was accus'd of containing the Propositions condemned by the Bulls of Pius V. and Gregory XIII though indeed there was none such in it whereas it but slightly prohibited the Catechisme publish'd by the Jesuits against the former under the name of a Doctor of Doway only for that it treated of the matter of Grace though indeed it contain'd sundry direct Heresies This prejudice of the Court of Rome against such as were there accounted Jansenists much abated my desire of representing to some that might impart it to the Masters of the Censures how unreasonably they suffer'd themselves to be guided by the byas of the Jesuits being desir'd so to do by one of my friends to the end this might make them more reserv'd for the future and bring about the revocation of the said Decree if it were possible But this person gave me to understand that it was not to be hop'd for and this was the second thing I observ'd in his discourse because the Tribunal from whence that Condemnation issu'd knew not what it was to retract or look backwards being fix'd and immutable in its resolutions and that when once it hath pass'd any thing it is never to be brought by any motive in the world to alter it As for M. Hersent he was escap'd from Rome before my arrival there I was told that when it was known abroad the stir and speech about him ceas'd as if no more had been aim'd at but to constrain him to flye because otherwise there was both a necessity and a resolution to clap him in prison And M. the Bailly of Valencai then the King's Ambassador at Rome a person of great gentlenesse and civility speaking to me one day thereof said that M. Hersent had several times profess'd while he was in his house that were it not for that fear he would willingly have appear'd before the Judges of the Inquisition to defend every thing in the Sermon he had printed and for which he was in trouble That himself had at M. Hersent's request several times desir'd of the Pope liberty and security of hâ—s person for that purpose which the Pope would never admit of giving no other answer to his importunities but Vedremo Vedremo We will see We will see That he conceiv'd the reason was for that the Pope was very close in these matters and would not have any speech thereof at all That himself had often press'd him from the Queen for an answer to some Questions which he propounded to him by his Majestie 's order but could never bring his Holinesse to declare himself nor draw one word concerning the same from him whatever urgent solicitation he had us'd to him That the Pope acted in all cases with the same reservednesse and had treated the Capuchines in the same manner amongst others F. Joseph de Morlaie who being at Rome desir'd for quiet of their consciences to propose to him two difficulties before their departure of which they could never procure any answer or satisfaction That therefore he did not wonder at the Pope's refusing to grant M. Hersent the liberty he desir'd to speak of such matters But others told me that this was not the thing which most exasperated the Pope's mind against him but his seeming in his Epistle to blame his Holinesse of negligence touching the doctrine of Grace his vaunting of his particular fidelity which he said was so well known to the Pope and his praising Jansenius but above all the answer he made when instead of delivering of the printed Copies of his Epistle and Sermon he told those that demanded them that he had already sent them into France This boasting his fidelity towards the H. See was undoubtedly founded upon the Book of Optatus Gallus de cavendo Schismate which he had written by contrivance with the Nuntio to shew that the late Cardinal Richelieu tended to make a Schism in France by which he put himself in danger of being infallibly ruin'd in case he had been discover'd so that 't is strange a person that had hazarded himself so far for the interests of the Court of Rome should be so ill dealt with and for so little cause But usually nothing is more hatefull to Grandees then to be upbraided with the services done them and they had rather ruine a man then confess thâ—mselves beholding to him for any thing especially if himself go about to bring them to such acknowledgement There was a Dominican that suffer'd a back-blow by the disgust taken at the printing of the said Book namely he upon whose report the Master of the Palace gave permission for it for he was confin'd in the Covent of Minerva till he should give account how deep he had been in the businesse and there he remain'd a long time though it seem'd wholly laid asleep From Spain I heard that the Jesuits who alwaies govern'd the new Queen had prevail'd with her to desire for her first request to the King her Husband that the Bull against Jansenius might be commanded to be receiv'd
part were bent only upon the several Courts of the Pope the Cardinals Ambassadors Princes and Princesses whereof there was a great number at Rome That they there studied nothing but the different interests and designs of this or of that yet few did no more but study them but the general practice was to mingle their own therewith and seek means and occasions of advancing the same to which the taking part in these contests or seeming to understand them was so far from conducing that on the contrary it was an obstacle That besides should every one apply themselves to these matters as much as they avoided them it would be hard to find many otherwise inform'd thereof then according to the intelligence given them by the Jesuits these Fathers having gained the Passes made sure of those whom they saw might be imploy'd in these affaires byass'd them and form'd them to such conceptions of us also as they pleas'd presented their own Books to them and took care to have the Book-sellers provided therewith so that if I should go for example to M. Blaise the French Book-seller at Rome and ask for F. Petau's Book Of Publick Pennance I should not fail to have it shewn me presently but if I should ask for M. Arnauld's Of Frequent Communion against which that of F. Petau was written I could have no account of it And therefore no body having hitherto spoken in our behalf nor taken care for the dispersing of our Books there as the Jesuits have to keep them from being seen I ought not to wonder that F. Barelier and infinite others lesse capable and laborious then he have either had no knowledge at all of our affairs or if they have been never so little inform'd thereof it hath been to our disadvantage Cardinal Ludovisio then Grand Penitentiary at Rome a little time after this visit confirm'd to me the truth of what was told me concerning the scarcity of our Books there For hearing after my coming to Rome that there was a Doctor of Sorbonne in the City he sent one to me to tell me he desir'd to see the Book Of Frequent Communion which he understood was to be translated into Latin and to ask me whether it were so I told the Messenger that it was translated above three years ago and that I was sorry that I had lost in my Journey two Copies which I took of it in that Language at my coming from Paris because it would have been a contentment to me to have been able to gratifie the Cardinal's desire of seeing it In the mean time this shews the scarcity there is in that Country of the most Excellent Peices which sute not with the gust of the Jesuits Besides this difficulty which concern'd all the world there was another on the part of the Cardinals who might be employ'd about these matters For the Pope could not likely make any resolution upon this businesse without first having debated the same with my Lords the Cardinals nor could there ascend much light to the Throne of his Holinesse to illuminate the same in this particular but what must be transmitted to it by their means Now it was certain that they were not much better instructed about these matters then the rest of the Romans but rather something lesse inclin'd to admit any information thereof The continual diversions which they are oblig'd to suffer by so many audiences as they must give to such as have businesse with their Eminences by so many Congregations as they must be present at by so many active and passive visits from which they cannot free themselves and by so many publick Administrations and other external occupations to which they are subject leave them farre lesse time and leisure for it Very much care had been taken to prepossesse them to our disadvantage and against the truths we might have to defend they were very little inclin'd to undertake the paines which is necessary to search the bottome of them not having been brought up in this kind of study and they were much more jealous for the authority of Decrees issu'd from their Tribunals the preservation or destruction of whch they were told was concern'd in all such things as had the least relation to these matters CHAP. VI. Letters written to Paris containing the reasons of believing that it would be advantageous to send to Rome with those of fearing that it would be unprofitable or prejudicial concluding nevertheless that it seem'd best to send thither THE summe of all my reflexions upon this posture of affaires was that if on one side the intelligence I had given by former letters might move my Lords the Bishops to write and send some Ecclesiasticks to represent the importance of our businesse and the circumspection and diligence wherewith it requir'd to be handled on the other I consider'd that the above-mention'd reasons might increase the necessity of a delegation for that purpose but withall that they must needs cause it to be fear'd that such delegation would be unprofitable unlesse it were powerfull enough to overcome all those perplexing conjunctures and to supply all those needs above mention'd I writ therefore once again about this mattet with more care then I had done before and layd down as exactly as I could all the reasons I conceiv'd possible to perswade or disswade such a delegation to the end that all of them being weigh'd those might be follow'd which should be found best and most urgent I added to those above which make against a delegation that perhaps it would not have any good effect because that the Pope lik'd not at all to handle such matters that he would not hear any speech of them and perhaps would imploy in their examination persons not very intelligent therein That the Jesuites had a great influence upon most of the Officers of the Inquisition Cardinals and others and bore a greater sway amongst them then was imaginable That all these conjunctures being so contrary and the Pope much advanc'd in age it was perhaps expedient to let his Pontificate passe over with the most silence and least stirre possible in expectation of another more favorable during which time this affair might come to more maturity Lastly that this reason was of great moment with me in regard of the fear we ought to have of injuring the affairs of God by handling them which affections and precipitations a little too humane and not what that humble respect and Christian patience which ought to be had for his holy Providence On the other side I alledg'd that the mischief was great and urgent that the Decrees obtain'd every day at Rome as that lately against the Catechism administer'd matter of triumph to the vain glory and ignorance of the Jesuites and brought the disciples of S. Augustin and his doctrine into some state of oppression and always more and more engaged the Court of Rome That it was further to be fear'd M. de Vabres's letter might extort some ill-digested
buy such little curiosities as we minded to carry from Rome into France amongst divers fine Prints which I had from a Graver there I bought also five sheets of Paper upon which there were above a hundred pourtraicts of several Jesuites who were Canonis'd thus as having shed their blood for the Christian Religion amongst whom this was in its order Pater Henricus Garnetus Anglus Londini pro fide Catholica suspensus sectus 3 Maii 1606. None in the world is ignorant that he suffer'd there the punishment of death for the Powder-plot of which he was accus'd convicted and acknowledged himself guilty before he dy'd insomuch that out of his resentment of his fault upon some reproaches made to him as having pretended in committing it to attain to the glory of Martyrdom He answerd That it was a thing unheard of for Traytors and Parricides to be ranked amongst Martyrs Nunquam auditum fuit parricidam esse Martyrem as it is related in these words if I remember aright by a well known Author who writ the History These Prints which are alwayes sold at the Sign of the Eagle near the Church of S. Marcellus with permission of the Superiors I took with me to make use of one day against those who have thought fit that the Houres should be condemn'd because in one of the Editions M. de Berule is found in the Calendar with this Letter B. which signifies Blessed a title which the Censors of that excellent Work affirm is not lawfull to be given to any person but by the authority and approbation of the Pope whilst at the same time they suffer the title of Martyr to be given publickly and without contradiction for these forty yeares to persons dead in the greatest infamy and for the most enormous crimes Cardinal Barberin did us the honour to visit us on the 25. day of March amongst other things we talkt of the Molinomachie of Aurelius Avitus The Cardinal ask'd me what was the subject of that Work I answer'd him that it was written concerning the Jesuits pretence that the Propositions condemn'd by the Bull of Pius V. agreed with the Doctrine of Jansenius that it shew'd with wonderfull solidity and invincible clearnesse that such pretended agreement was indeed none at all but impertinent and maliciously and falsly alledged by the Jesuits that their artifices and horrible calumnies in all that businesse were laid open by the Author of the said Book Amongst others I told him of the 22. pretended Agreement in which the Jesuits recite this Proposition out of Pius V's Bull Deus non potuisset ab initio talem creare hominem qualis nunc nascitur I told him that I had found true what the Molinomachie said thereof namely that Jansenius having mention'd it in his Book as an Objection to be clear'd and accordingly clear'd it very solidly they have taken it out of that place as if Jansenius had written and affirm'd it as of himself without setting down the words foregoing which shew that he mentions it as an Objection but suppressing all that the Bishop alledgeth to shew that it hath been condemned in the sense wherein it is taken by Pius V. but that this sense makes nothing to that of S. Augustine which he recites and explicates The Cardinal profess'd himself surpriz'd at what I said and could not imagine though upon my affirming it and engaging my self to shew it him he believ'd it that 't was possible for men to resolve upon such black falsities But for the better understanding of the businesse he put to me the usual difficulty above-mention'd which the Jesuits make use of to discredit Jansenius upon all occasions namely that objecting the said Propositions to himself he saith Haereo fateor sed quid ad Doctrinam S. Augustini as if Jansenius oppos'd the Authority of S. Augustine to Pius V. and Gregory XIII And indeed he propos'd it as thinking to presse me with this instance but I told him that this was also one of the cheats of that Bishops enemies and was likewise laid open in the Molinomachie that Jansenius did not thus close up his discourse that it was an intolerable wickednesse to suppresse the remainder by which he explicates this Proposition and reconciles the H. See with it self and that with very great care esteem and veneration that the intire place ran thus sed quid ad Doctrinam S. Augustini clarissimam invectissimamque quam toties probavit sequitur sequendamque monuit Apostolica sedes that he did not rest there but a little after added and put to himself this question as out of all likelihood namely Whether the H. See can be contrary and opposite to it self to which he answereth that this absurdity cannot be affirm'd and then shews that the H. See really agrees with it self and that the Doctrine of S. Augustine approv'd by the Popes hath nothing of affinity with the Propositions condemn'd by Pius V. and Gregory XIII This reply clear'd and satisfi'd Cardinal Barberin who rejoyn'd nothing further The minds of many in constant imployment at Rome about matters of Doctrine were so possess'd with aversion against the Bishop of Ipre that they would not admit of any thing that might contribute to the clearing of his intentions or to his justification M. Albizzi as I have since understood effected some time ago that F. Lucas Vadingo Superior and in a manner Founder of the house of S. Isidore in which are the Monks of S. Francis all Irish one of the Consultors of the H. Office a man of singular piety and very great parts was fain to absent himself from the Assemblies of that Congregation only for saying That it was requisite to examine Jansenius's Book and to let it passe current after having retrencht out of it what was reprovable if there were any thing which deserv'd such correction And the F. Abbot Hilarion of the Order of the Bernardins some time after his composing the Book I mention'd above in which he noted the different senses in which the Propositions might be taken receiv'd an order from Cardinal Spada to repair no more to the Congregations where those matters were handled The manner of it was thus The Cardinal told him That it was not necessary that he should be present any more at the Congregations held about this affair F. Hilarion answer'd That he was oblig'd to obey his Eminence The Cardinal reply'd That he did not say that but only intreated him that he would think good to repair thither no more When F. Hilarion gave me this relation he told me that the Cardinal spoke this to him because it had been his advice that the sense of Jansenius upon the Propositions might be examin'd and explicated And as for F. Lucas Vadingo that he receiv'd an expresse prohibition for it by the intrigues and solicitations of M. Albizzi F. Campana Procurator General of the Dominicans preach'd this Lent at Rome in the Church of S. Peter and it was the third
senses they have been advanced and maintained to hear the pleadings and arguings of either side thereupon to view all the Books written lately touching the said Propositions to distinguish the true sence of them from the false and ambiguous to inquire carefully into all that hath pass'd in the businesse since the beginning of the dispute and after this to give an account to your Holinesse of all things done and ordained by us in this affair which concerneth matter of Faith that so what were rightly pronounc'd by us about this matter might be confirm'd by your Apostolical Authority But how many artifices may there be to oppresse and overthrow the truth by thus directly addressing to your See before our examining and judging of the cause By what abundance of calumnies may the reputation of our Prelates and Doctors be blemish'd And by how many fallacies may your Holinesse be circumvented and surpris'd in this great affair which concerns points of Faith For on the one side it is visible that they in whose favour our Brethren the Bishops writ to your Holinesse maintain firmly and obstinately that the greatest part of the new Schoole-men is of their opinion and that their Doctrine is most consentaneous to the goodnesse of God and the equity of natural reason On the other side they who adhere to S. Augustin declare not in secret but publickly that the Questions contested about are not now dubious and problematical but that 't is an affair ended and terminated long agoe that they are the received Determinations of antient Councils and Popes whose Decrees are most evident in this matter and especially those of the Council of Trent which they maintain consist almost wholly of the words and maximes of S. Augustine as well as those of the second Council of Orange do Wherefore they professe that instead of fearing either our judgement or yours they have rather reason to desire the same having all ground to promise themselves that your Holinesse being assisted by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost who vouchsafes to guide you when you consult him and to hear you when you pray to him will not in the least thing depart from what hath been determin'd by the H. Fathers that so it may not happen which God forbid that the reputation of the H. Apostolical See fall under the contempt of Hereticks who narrowly observe the least of its actions and words But we have ground to hope that this will never come to passe especially if for retrenching all contest for the future your Holinesse will please by treading in the footsteps of your Predecessors to examine this affair from the bottome and to hear the reasons and defences of either side according to custom Vouchsafe therefore most Holy Father either to let this important dispute which hath lasted divers ages without breach of the Catholick Vnity continue still a little longer or to decide all the Questions by observing the legitimate forms of Ecclesiastical Judgements And we beseech your Holinesse that you will please to imploy all your care and zeal that the interests of the Church intrusted to your Government be not any wise injur'd in this Cause God accumulate many years prosperity and happinesse upon your Holinesse We are Most Holy Father Your Holinesse's most humble Sons and Servants in Christ Jesus Signed thus in several Copies In one Lewis Henry de Gondrin Archbishop of Sens. B. Delbene Bishop of Agen. Gilbert Bishop of Comenge Le Beron Bishop of Valence and Die A. Delbene Bishop of Orleans Bernard Bishop of S. Papoul J. Henry de Salette Bishop of Lescar in Bearn Felix Bishop and C. of Châlons In another Francis Bishop of Amiens In a third Henry Bishop of Angiers In a fourth Nicholas Bishop and C. of Beauvais The friend whom I intreated to come to me accordingly repair'd to the lodging I had taken We consider'd the above mention'd Letters and having discours'd largely of all things I desir'd him to go and confer thereupon with the other person who could not so well come abroad and who did not think meet the delegation should be hastened and to assure him that if the present posture of things at Rome would not bear the prosecution of my affair I was for my own part ready to return back the next morning to Civitá Vecchia and so to Genua by the Gally in which I came and which was to return thither within a few days I entrusted my Letters to this friend who accordingly carried them to that other person and after having confer'd together upon them came again to me the same day I conceive that in case things had been still intire and not yet medled with we three should have agreed to leave them so for some time and wait till mens minds were better prepar'd then at present to receive our Remonstrances and consider the truths which we were to defend in the Sequel of this affair if the first Justice desir'd by us were granted of which there seem'd not to be any doubt being su'd for by persons so eminent among their brethren as those Bishops of France who subscrib'd the letter whereof I was bearer But for that it was not absolutely in our power to act so directly against their orders and intentions without having reasons evidently convincing and perfectly indubitable for so doing and also for that although there were very strong ones to perswade it expedient not to hasten so much the producing of my Letters and beginning the prosecution enjoyn'd me yet there were others too no less powerfull to evince such prosecution both beneficial and necessary We all three judg'd that it ought to be begun we consider'd that the business was in very evident danger whatsoever course were taken and that unless I stir'd in it the ill success would infallibly be attributed to so irregular a managment as mine would be That such ill success was almost inevitable there being already a Congregation establisht which secretly carri'd on the affair and which receiving neither opposition nor information contrary to the conceptions begotten in them by M. de Vabres's Letter subscribed by so many Bishops and other persons who conspir'd and solicited the condemnation aim'd at in writing it would not fall to follow those prepossessions and conclude upon the condemnation That by the high credit and great authority of the persons who interested themselves in the prosecution of the same and in whose power it would be to make such application and use of it as they pleas'd it would cause as much mischief and have as evil consequences in what manner soever it were concluded as if it were so notwithstanding the letters I should deliver and the remonstrances I could make Besides those letters and remonstrances in whatsoever manner they were received and whatsoever regard were had of them might always hinder some of those ill effects and grievous consequences For either the condemnation would be proceeded to notwithstanding my letters and remonstrances and without granting
testify'd to me he would make his own giving me cause to believe that he would meddle with it no more because he saw no likelihood of succeeding in it depriv'd me also of all hope and with hope of all courage to labour in it which I had the more reason to give over when I consider'd how it was fully concluded and how all the instances and sollicitations which I could use for hindring it were henceforth unprofitable and out of time in as much as I certainly knew that the Printer had already carried the Secretary of the Congregation of the Index a proof of the said Catalogue and that the Houres were in it though I durst not plainly tell Card. Barberin so the importance necessity and obligation of secrecy of the way by which I understood it being more considerable to me then any other advantage which I could obtain in behalf of the Houres by divulging it But besides I was oblig'd to take heed of letting it be known that I understood how the businesse stood even for the interest of the Houres because I fear'd that if the Commissioners of the H. Office came to discover that I knew it so certainly they would lose all the good will and inclination which they might otherwise have to do that excellent Work the Justice which I desired and this in regard of the reputation of their Tribunal which they would account impaired should they suffer it to be thought subject to any vicissitudes or capable of changing its determinations Wherefore I was oblig'd to keep my self within these bounds with Cardinal Barberin and to content my self with representing to him the most effectually I could the dangers wherein the Houres might be of receiving some doom as I presum'd for the reasons wherewith I acquainted him to oblige him to prevent the same according to the affection which he had to defend them but seeing he referr'd the matter wholly to my self I could no longer look upon it as other then desperate and irremediable Hower that I might not hereafter repent of having been able to make some remonstrance in behalf of the Houres and not having done it I resolv'd upon what Cardinal Barberin lately enjoyned me viz. to go again and visit Cardinal Spada and try my last endeavour with him When I came to his Palace he was receiving a visit from a person of Quality with whom he was about an hour at the end of which came a Gentleman from Cardinal Barberin to know whether Cardinal Spada were at home I doubted presently whether Cardinal Barberin had not alter'd his resolution since my departure and I imagin'd that it was about the affair whereof I had spoken to him that he intended to come visit Cardinal Spada I had some mind to withdraw without speaking to Cardinal Spada for fear of spoiling any thing by so doing and that I might leave the businesse to Cardinal Barberin intire to do what he should think fit for the successe of it But the Marquis who was with Cardinal Spada coming forth almost as soon as the news of Cardinal Barberin's coming was brought and it coming into my mind that Cardinal Barberin would perhaps be glad that I spoke some thing to Cardinal Spada before himself did according to the order which he gave me I spent the little interval of time which was between the Marquis's visit and Cardinal Barberin's comming in representing to Cardinal Spada in few words and the greatest moderation I could the same things whâ—ch I had said to Cardinal Barberin I told him of the absolute power which I was inform'd he had in this businesse of the inconveniences and sad consequences which he might prevent by doing what I requested of him and of the many obligations there would be to his Eminence for his good proceeding therein Cardinal Spada answer'd me plainly by acknowledging the Catalogue talk'd of to come forth in which the Houres were but he spoke of it as a Prohibition little considerable and not likely to do the Houres much prejudice there being thirty or forty books compris'd together in the same Prohibition That neverthelesse if I were minded to prevent it I must have recourse to the H. Office to take order therein but as for himself he could do nothing alone Cardinal Barberin arriv'd there incognito by the little Door Cardinal Spada went to meet him and I withdrew Though it was already somewhat late yet I went to Cardinal Barberin's Palace to wait for him at his return and know what what he had done in this Visit It lasted a long hour and he came not home till night He told me when he was return'd that I must again visit all the Cardinals whom I had visited before concerning the Houres He took the pains to deduce particularly what I was to represent to them and by all that he said he gave me very much ground to hope that they were dispos'd to have regard to my Remonstrances He advis'd me to draw up a Memorial to present to them and after it was finish'd to let him see it that he might tell me whether it were right Moreover touching the Gown and Cap which I had worn hitherto in the visits which I made to the Cardinals he told me that they did not like to see me in that habit and that he conceiv'd they would be willing that I wore it no longer I render'd thanks to his Eminence for all the care which he took of this businesse And as for the habit I answer'd him that I should be very glad to be dispens'd with from the subjection and trouble of wearing it which I had not done hitherto with some inconvenience but only out of respect to their Eminences as himself had seen we use to do in France in occasions of honour and ceremony This Advertisement was the cause that before I presented my self in the Pope's presence chamber to have the Audience of him which I above mention'd on Sunday morning July 9 I went to the Master of the Pope's chamber to his Apartment to inquire of him in what habit he thought good I should present my self to have Audience of his Holinesse and I offer'd him of my own accord to go with my Cassock and my Cloak He answer'd that this would be best because of the novelty of the other about which it would be requisite to speak to the Pope to know whether his Holinesse lik'd my wearing of a Gown and Cap seeing the other Doctors which were there before presented themselves only in their Cassock and Cloak Whereupon I was not unwilling to accept the offer which he made me to avoid deferring my Audience by the discussion of a scruple of this nature seeing too the principal cause of my wearing a Gown and Cap namely to have it taken notice of at first that I was come back to Rome about a publick employment was ceas'd at that time by all the visits which I had made to shew the occasion of my return The same Sunday
makes Images it doth nothing contrary to this commandment of God because it makes them not to adore them but onely to render to them the worship cultum which is due unto them And by this means the Catholick people are deliver'd from the fallacies and false explications and reproaches of Hereticks whereas if they were not thus instructed Hereticks might circumvent and seduce them That if these reasons be not accounted sufficient to take away all the suspitions that may be rais'd against the good intentions of the Author of this Work but your Eminences judge it necessary to adde to the Book some Preface or Explication or other like thing for greater assurance of this Authors sincerity and good purposes what your Eminences shall in prudence please ta appoint therein shall be punctually perform'd the book shall be brought to you within three moneths reprinted with such new declaration and shall never be printed otherwise hereafter Moreover the book is of very great profit and edification to Christians containing nothing but the principal and most necessary Maximes of Christian life drawn out of the H. Scripture and the H. Fathers of the Church It would be a sad and deplorable thing if people should imagine that your Eminences condemn them as the enemies of the said book will endevor to perswade if it receive any impeachment though it be not possible for their malice to hinder the great applause which it receives from all the world Wherefore besides the good which your Eminences will do and the scandal which you will prevent you will also oblige very many pious and knowing persons who will endevour to acknowledge this favorable dealing by all means possible and will pray to God for the long and happy preservation and exaltation of your Eminences whom God blesse c. My purpose was to be on Wednesday morning July 12. at la Minerve half an hour before the time which I understood the Cardinals were to meet there for their Congregation that so I might salute them as they came partly to excuse the necessity there was of my leaving the Memorial at their Houses the foregoing Evening having not time to return thither to present the same to themselves and partly to inform them of what I read the precedent night in the Catechisme of the Council of Trent But they repaired thither much sooner this day then ordinary by reason that Cardinal Pamphilio who was to take his first sitting there that day could not come thither later and so they were all enter'd before my comming except Cardinal Roma to whom I presented a Copy of the said Memorial which I could not deliver to him in the evening I was afraid too lest M. Albizzi should think himself slighted and be incens'd against us if I did not present him one in particular for which reason I inquir'd whether there were no means to get him out of the Assembly for a moment to present the same to him I was answer'd No but if I had a mind to speak any thing to the Assembly I might enter in for they would presently be call'd who had any thing to propose to it I was something scruplous of resolving upon it fearing lest by my presenting my self there I might give the Congregation ground to pretend that a Frenchman and a Doctor of Sorbonne acknowledg'd its jurisdiction However I determin'd to enter with the same mind and manner as I intended to addresse a Memorial to it namely not as acknowledging any jurisdiction or superiority in the said Congregation either in respect of France or of the book or of the Author for whom I interceded but onely for preventing if possible the scandals which might arise from the Decrees of a Company of persons who indeed held a very considerable rank in the Church in regard of the manner wherewith many Catholicks in France look upon those Decrees the bad use which sundry particular persons make of them and the false and pernicious consequences which they draw from them They were seated about the Table in this order The Cardinals Roma and Barberin were at the upper end on their right hand on one side of the table were the Cardinals Ginetti S. Clement Lugo and Pamphilio over against these two last M. Albizzi and the F. Commissary of the H Office sat upon lower seats and before them there was a barre joining to the Table Along the wall opposite to the Cardinals sat seven or eight of their Consultors I drew neer to speak at the end of the table which was empty and I told them in Latin That to avoyd troubling them by repetition of what I had represented to them as well by word of mouth as by my Memorial I should adde nothing thereto but that having the foregoing night read the Catechisme provided for Curates by order of the Council of Trent translated into the vulgar tongue and printed by the command of Pius V. I observed that the Commandment touching Images was there express'd in the same words as in the Houres and that in a higher and more dangerous manner if the reasons of those who made the said Objection against the Houres deserved to be received For the Catechisme hath these expresse word Non tifarai alcuna imagine sculpita Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image Sculpita which seemed most to offend the accusers of the Houres And whereas in the Houres it is onely said that they shall not make them to adore them it is in the Catechisme that they shall not adore them yea which is more that they shall not honour them Non le adorerai ne le honorerai Wherefore if the Houres deserv'd to be condemn'd for that translation the Catechisme deserves it much more for this and on the contrary if the Catechisme hath not been condemn'd in these hundred years since its printing the Houres deserve it far lesse I added that if there were any thing else to be objected against the Houres besides what I had already heard I noe onely hop'd that it would not be harder for me to answer solidly thereunto then it had been to answer the objections made hitherto but also that if their Eminences desir'd any thing else from the Authors of the Houres for a more ample justification of their right Belief honest management and submission to their Eminences I assur'd them that they should give them full satisfaction within what time it pleased them to prescribe Cardinal Roma speaking in the name of all answer'd that they would consider what I had represented to them by word of mouth and by writing and then give me an answer dabimus responsum As I retir'd I left a Copy of my Memorial to M. Albizzi and layd upon the table before him the Catechisme translated into Italian which I procur'd the day before and lookt upon as a Piece that abundantly determin'd the capital difficulty brought against the Houres I waited for M. Albizzi at his comming out of the Assembly partly to
had spoke them in some private audience where I might have reply'd to him before those that heard them but in a place so publick as this was before so great a multitude and at a time when there was no room for much reply for it was in the middle of the way and we were already almost at the foot of the stairs which leads up to the Pope they were a sufficient rude taste of the haughty and imperious treatment which I was to look for when I should be oblig'd to visit M. Albizzi But notwithstanding the just commotion which they caus'd in me yet through a secret fear I had lest he spoke them only to incense me and force me to some more vehement answer as indeed he deserv'd but from which he might have taken advantage against me I did not address my answer to him but to Cardinal Panzirolo though so loud as to make it heard by most of those that took notice of the affront telling him that his Eminence would see whether I jested or no when he perus'd the Memorial which I presented to him That I address'd my self to him to beseech him to acquaint his Holiness that some of the Bishops whose Letters I had presented to him and who knew what the Book was would account the treatment it received as done to themselves and that I did not mention the same to the Pope when I presented him their Letters because I did not then fore-see that it was fit to speak of it at least so soon to his Holiness Whilst I was speaking this to Cardinal Panzirolo M. Albizzi was still behind him a little on one side and having taken hold of a corner of the Book he held it up very high and shew'd it to all the company shaking it and threatning saying I had spoken of it what seem'd good to me but they were going to see above whether I had reason or no. Leaving Cardinal Panzirolo to pass on I answer'd M. Albizzi That that was it which I waited for but I wonder'd in the mean time at this his usage both of the Book and of my self M. Albizzi angerly reply'd That I thought I had done a great matter yesterday when I had spoke of the above mention'd Catechism but I ought to have first lookt all along the place I cited which is clearly expounded as the Catholick sense requireth which the Author of the Hours hath not done I answer'd That the Catechism was more large and extendeth it self further in the exposition of the said Commandment then the Translation of the Hours doth yet in the few words it containeth it is well enough and clearly enough explicated without needing other comment to make it more intelligible M. Albizzi reply'd That the generality of the world could not well understand it being so compendious I told him That it was very easie for any person to understand of how mean capacity soever He reply'd That women did not understand it I said That the meanest women understood it well and that all such as teach the Catechism every day to little Girles and Children were too carefull in expounding it to leave obscurity in it and that in France there was no Catholick ignorant of it He continu'd speaking to me in a muttering way and as offended at the care I took for the defence of the Hours as if I went about thereby to do some violence to Religion and to the H. See and to oblige it to tolerate a thing which might not be I answer'd That it was not my intention nor thought to engage the H. See to any thing whatever against its inclinations and interests but to serve it by letting the Pope know the ambushes prepar'd against it by the equivocal Propositions whose Decision is pursu'd and by informing him the most carefully I could of the true state of all the things wherewith I was incharg'd And as for himself I beseecht him that he would vouchsafe to hear what I had to say to him with some kind of equitableness and not reject the evident justification which I could make both of the purity of the Doctrines contain'd in the Hours and of the purity of their intentions who publisht them which is very easie to be judg'd since even in the whole Book there can hardly be found any rational ground for the least suspition M. Albizzi reply'd That it was too manifestly seen how bad that Authors intention was and that all that is reported of the evil designs of such people against the Holy See whereof they are enemies is but too true Finding by this Answer that he was absolutely corrupted against us and that the moderation and patience which I us'd in all this discourse did only exasperate him and make him break out the more against me I fell into the just indignation which his carriage constrain'd me to and told him with confidence That what he said would not be found true and that I would never endure that any person do such a high Injury as he had done to the worthy persons whose sound Piety and sincere intentions I was acquainted with without protesting against the Injustice shewing the wrong done them by so false and prejudicial a belief which can have no other foundation but calumnies and frauds M. Albizzi reply'd not to this discourse but mutteringly between his teeth so that hearing none of his words and seeing mine very unprofitable with him I stop'd there which silence was more easie to me for all that we spoke was upon the way going up to the Popes apartment where we arriv'd when we ceas'd speaking On Friday July 14. I was present at Masse with the Cardinals in the Chappel of the Cordeliers in the place Colonna upon occasion of the Feast of St. Bonaventure and I heard an Oration in Latin made there by a young Cordelier at the end of Masse in praise of the aforesaid Saint In the afternoon I went to visit three Cardinals to whom I spoke about the affair of the Houres The first was the Cardinal of S. Clement in conference of whom I discover'd two remarkable things First that what I said represened in the Congregation of the H. Office on Wednesday was very well receiv'd there yet that I had better not have appear'd in person in that Congregation and that for keeping the greater circumspection and gravity in my Conduct And secondly that the grand occasion of complaints and prosecutions made against the Houres was not any ill observ'd in them but the bad opinion taken up against those people who put them forth The second Cardinal whom I visited was Roma who told me that my Memorial was not read in their Congregation on Wednesday but it should be in a private one held in his House for that purpose to be reported afterwards to the General but in the mean time I should not trouble my self that nothing would be done but after mature and serious deliberation And as I took occasion to tell him what
Auxiliis and that the H. See was not at this time dispos'd to decide that matter I told him that then it could not pronounce any thing upon the said Propositions because it was wholly comprehended and involved therein He proceeded to ask me whether it were not our intention that nothing should be done against the prevalence and efficacy of Grace I answer'd That provided that point were established we desir'd nothing more and that we reduc'd all our thoughts and pretensions thereto because all the rest of our sentiments were dependant on and insepareble from it He told me that perhaps the H. See was not dispos'd to establish any thing about it and he askt me whether it were not enough that nothing were done against it and that too without destroying the sufficient Grace of the Jesuits I answer'd That the H. See could not preserve or spare the sufficient grace of the Jesuits without doing wrong to effectual Grace That they are two things so opposite and contradictory that the one or the other must needs fall to the ground that there is no mean between them and that we could not consent that the H. See admit or suffer as probable a Maxime which it hath always condemned and which is diametrically opposite to another which it hath always establisht and mantain'd as de fide and as that of the whole Church Then we fell upon St. Augustin and the Cardinal spoke of him as if his sentiments were difficult to be known and as if some of his works were favourable to the Maximes of Grace which we defended and in others there were principles conformable to the opinions of the Jesuites To which I answer'd That the Doctrine of St. Augustine touching Grace was clear and uniform That I was so certain of it that if but one of his works where he handles the ground of this matter could be shew'd me in which his sense could be presum'd conformable to the sufficient grace of the Jesuites I offer'd to yield the cause and on the contrary if the effectual Grace in behalf of which I was to speak was not generally receiv'd in all his works written upon this subject and in every one of them particularly I would renounce the prosecutions which I purpos'd to make for the establishing of it I know not how he fell to tell me of Paludanus who writ in Flanders very advantageously for the Bull though he was not of the Jesuites opinion and he told me that if such a man as he should write to his Holinesse in behalf of the present affair of the Propositions it would be of great moment and produce a good effect At length I told the Cardinal what cause I had to complain of the treatment which M. Albizzi shew'd me and what little confidence I could have that any thing offer'd by me was likely to make any impression upon his mind in as much as he looking upon us as he did as people of ill designes against the Church and the H. See though we profess'd none he could not receive any thing whatever I should say to him but on the contrary must needs esteem it suspected and slight it through the belief which he will alwayes have that it is spoken unsincerely and out of a bad design Cardinal Barberin reply'd that this was considerable and that I might represent the same to the Pope and to my LL. the Cardinals CHAP. VI. Several Visits in the end of July and the beginning of August chiefly to the Cardinals Spada Roma Barberini and M. the Ambassador who was come back to Rome from Tivoli AFter this Affair was thus ended I apply'd all my cares to that for which I was sent for which I saw but two things that I could do One was to visit all persons to whom I could have accesse and who might upon occasion contribute to the manifesting of the Design of the framers of the Five Propositions after my informing them of what had pass'd in France about them and of the Contents of the Bishops Letters which I deliver'd to his Holinesse The second was to renew from time to time my visits to such Cardinals as I perceiv'd capable of procuring in this businesse such delay as was requisite for its thorough examination by considering all that the Divines whom I expected and others that might come had to represent by word of mouth or by writing in this occasion M. le Bailly de Valencey the King's Ambassador at Rome having spent above Six Moneths at Tivoli return'd thither on Monday July 17. upon the instances made to him for that purpose from the Pope by the Venetian Ambassador who mediated for the accommoding of his difference with his Holinesse On Tuesday morning he went incognito to see the Pope and I had the honour to accompany him in that visit at the end of which I recall'd to his memory all that I had said to him at Tivoli where he was at my comming to Rome and I made him a summary recital of all that I had done since my last seeing him On the 25th I visited M. Michel Angelo Ricci a very wise and studious Roman Gentleman in whose converse I observ'd this particularity That having by him the works of Petrus Aurelius printed by order of the Clergy of France he lent them to me and told me that as for himself he durst not read them because of a Decree of the Inquisition made March 19. 1633. and publisht at Rome Febr. 16. 1642. by which that Tribunal forbad all books made on either side in the contests arisen concerning the Bishop of Calcedon and upon the businesse of the books of the English Jesuites which were censur'd by the Divinity Faculty of Paris and by the Clergy of France I thank'd this Gentleman for his favour in lending me that famous Author though it was then uselesse to him not daring to read it but I said nothing to him how that Decree was receiv'd and treated in France where the Bishops in the year 1643. having renew'd their Censures against the books of England with the true names of the Jesuites who were the Authors of them did also censure a new a book written in its defence by one of those Fathers What further concerns this matter I shall not here relate but I shall referr the principal Pieces about it to the choice ones plac'd at the end of this Journal On the 26th I went to acquaint a person very illustrious both for dignity and knowledge with what haste Cardinal Barbâ—rin had given me cause to fear this affair would be terminated This excellent Personage answer'd thereunto in these words Se fanno una definitione precipitâ—sa so quel ch' ho da far La Chiesa sarà la mia regâ—… bisâ—gnerà veder chi havrà ragione o di questâ—â—…pa o de gli aliri If they make a precipitated definition I know what I have to do The Church shall be my rule it will be needfull to see who hath reason
could not imagine their Eminences would end any thing without taking Divines into the businesse and that if himself hapned to be one of those to whom it were referred he would do his duty That he conceiv'd the Fathers Hillarion a Bernardin and Lucas Vadingo a Cordelier would be interessed in it and that I ought not to fear lest the Jesuites with all their strength of credit which is undoubtedly very great at Rome could cause any great haste in this businesse hasting in such a case as this being so perfectly contrary to the mind of the Pope and Cardinals but that which I ought to fear was lest they did not cunningly and underhand get such Divines nam'd for the said Congregation as were of the sentiments of their society Perceiving this Qualificator so correspond with mine touching the motion which I made for a Congregation I thought fit to mention to him the difficulty which some made of it alledging that the Pope is not obliged to hear any person in order to make a Decision when there appears no Author that broacht a doctine or made a book and sollicited to have his defence heard and his reasons consider'd and that out of this hypothesis there is no Party interessed therein or who may oblige to enter into the cognisance of the cause for the discussion and preservation of his interests He answer'd me that every person that would interpose therein is really and truly a Party That so the Jesuites defended as far as seem'd good to them the book of one of their Fathers nam'd Amicus who was dead and who taught Homicide to be lawfull in point of Conscience That they deliver'd writings in his behalf four fingers thick and that particularly four or five dayes before that Jesuite was condemn'd himself was oblig'd by a Cardinal to receive a new writing in favour of that Jesuite which contain'd forty six leaves of paper The same day I visited il Signor Camillo Piazza Procurator for the accused persons Monsignor Paolucci the most antient of the Prelates of Rome who had still fresh in memory what pass'd under Clement VIII and Paul V. in the Congregation de Auxiliis and since that time had spent a great part of his time in reading of S. Augustin as also the Procurator General of the Capucines in the visites of whom I remarke nothing worthy particular observation no more then in that of Cardinal Ginetti whom I visited on Fryday afternoon though I entertain'd him very long and very commodiously and spoke about almost all the things which I have above related excepting certain particularities which were not proper for the conference which I had with him On Saturday morning I visited F. Delbene who having heard the whole relation which I made to him of this businesse told me that I mention'd onely five Propositions but he thought there were seven which he said were deliver'd to them to examin almost two years before though after a new forme for that he and his Collegues never spoke together of them saving once but every one in particular deliver'd his sense to the Pope sign'd and seal'd That for his own part he had in his Paper distinguisht the senses and adjoin'd to each of those senses its sutable qualification That he never heard word of it since His franknesse gave me the boldnesse to ask him or rather to tell him as a certain thing of which I was otherwise inform'd whether when the seven Propositions he mention'd were deliver'd to them they receiv'd not together the Censures which the Faculty of Paris had made of them He was sometime without answering me fearing no doubt to sin against the secrecy which he had sworn to that Tribunal if he told me and against the truth if he deny'd it Seeing him in this perplexity I repeated to him the same discourse so as urg'd him more to answer me At length he answer'd that it was so but a colour which arose in his countenance was testimony enough to me that the thing was so and I had this new proof That the first time of the Propositions being presented to the Pope besides the bad senses they were made capable of in themselves they were render'd odiours by a Censure of an Eminent Faculty wherewith they were suppos'd already blemish'd But when I told F. Delbene that that pretended Censure was never made by the Faculty and that it was a work of the same men that contriv'd the Propositions he was extraordniarily surpris'd at it and could not forbear telling me that they always took it for a true Censure and advising me to advertise all such of its falsity as I should speak with about this affair I return'd after this to the F. Procurator General of the Servi to carry him a Paper which I promis'd to shew him when I visited him He spoke this day of the businesse as having had some light since I saw him and told me He was confident no decision would be made without referring it not onely to the most able Divines of Rome but also to some of forreign Countries who should be sent to for that purpose That for the present the Cardinals were still consulting whether it were fit to make a decision or no That the Assistant of the Jesuites of France who was well acquainted with what pass'd in France about this matter proclaim'd that the decision was marvellously wisht for there by all good men and almost generally by all the world That unlesse it were speedily made all would be in a general disorder there because the Propositions were maintain'd there in their bad sense at least by such as being capable of resting there when they hear the same propos'd by others and ignorant of distinguishing the senses which they may admit accounted them true and maintain'd them according to the natural senses which they include I answer'd this Qualificator that he went a little too far and that if F. Armat who was then Assistant for France at Rome affirm'd this for true the intelligence which he receiv'd from France touching this matter was not so for that in reality there was no Catholick in France of whatever condition so unhappy as to be of such belief But those good Fathers and their Associates in the Cabal about the five Propositions publisht this for the more easy obtaining of their condemnation On Sunday the 20th I went abroad with Cardinal Barberin to take the aire where among other things I told him of a Cardinal one of his creatures so they speak at Rome with whom I confer'd about the five Propositions and who told me that having examin'd the doctrine of Jansenius touching them he found all his sentiments very Catholick though in some other particular points as touching the works of Infidels he found him differing from his own and consequently contrary to the true which suffis'd said that Cardinal to give ground for the Bull of Vrban VIII against him Cardinal Barberin answer'd me that though Jansenius's sentiments were
any one blam'd me for this fault I might render it in some measure excusable by pleading that what concern'd the above mention'd Author is but very lightly touch'd therein and promising to do my utmost that there be no more medling therewith Moreover I aim'd by giving them about to prevent that blame according as I saw fit having regard to such as I presented them to and if perchance there was any one whom I fear'd lest receiving them from my hand he should take them as an information which I had to deliver touching the Propositions I roundly explain'd my self before giving them by saying expresly that I did not give them for that cause and that which I gave was not that which we had to say before the Congregation which I desir'd when it should be establisht but only a slight draught of our sentiments publisht in France to disabuse the world of the Calumnies spread abroad against us and I desir'd precisly that it might not be received from me but upon this condition The F. Commissary of the H. Office receiving from me the Latin Manifesto and having heard what I proposed to signifie to me in two words that he understood my meaning told me that I gave it him and he receiv'd it amicè non juridicè I had already contracted so much friendship and good correspondence with the whole order of which this Father was and they accounted all that I propounded to them touching this affair so judicious and just that upon a naked overture which I made to them of what importance it was for the preservation of the Doctrine of St. Augustin and St. Thomas in our Faculty to choose in October following a Syndic well affected to this Doctrine the General writ expresly thereupon to the Religious of his order who were Doctors of our Faculty He sent the Letter to me assoon as it was written on the ninth of September for me to dispose of and cause to be delivered to the hands of such of his Fryers as I should think fit when the time of the Election came I went to thank him for it the same day and by the same means I saw one of his most eminent and commendable Fryers in whose Conference I learn'd that a Gentleman who came heretofore frequently to visit F. Lemos and one day brought him a Breviary which Clement VIII presented to him as a small pledge of his good Will and the value he had of his Ability and Vigour to defend against the Jesuites the sentiments of S. Augustin S. Thomas and the Church touching Grace testifi'd after the death of that Pope which hapned in March that his design and resolution was to publish on the Eve of Pentecost following at the end of Vespers his Bull against Molina and then to create F. Lemos Cardinal in presence of the Jesuites and the Dominicans That the Cardinal Monopoli to whom Clement VIII open'd his mind also about this particular in like manner declar'd the same after the Popes death That during the time that he labor'd and caus'd others to labour in the examination of these matters besides the care he took to be inform'd thereof by solid study and the reading of St. Augustins works as well the Writings presented to him both in behalf of the Jesuites and of the Dominicans which he weighed with singular diligence he was sometimes found early in the morning goeing a foot without followers cloth'd in Penitents saccloth from Monte Cavallo to S. Maria Maggiore and that many times too he spent two or three hours in the night at Prayers upon his knees ad limina Apostolorum These particularities this learn'd and zealous Dominican had told Cardinal Roma before he told them to me and the Cardinal was much affected and edifi'd therewith and presently out of the satisfaction which he had with the same cry'd out with his ordinary plainness in these words O Santi sensi digni d' un Papa sarebbe stato questo un Santo se non havesse lasciato tanti bien◠a' sui parenti O holy thoughts worthy of a Pope this man might have been a Saint if he had not left so much wealth to his kindred On Sunday morning Sept. 10. I went to Cardinal Barberin to shew him a Letter written to me from Paris August 25. and brought to Rome by an extraordinary Courier who came thither upon a vacancy This Letter was written to me from the Prelates by whose order I was return'd and contain'd amongst others a thing which I conceiv'd would be well pleasing to this Cardinal It was that those Prelates were resolv'd to admit the Bull of Vrban VIII but never to consider it as other then provisional and as an act of policy by which the Pope upon the first complaints made to him of that Book without having examined or judged of it but having regard to those complaints and to prevent the ill Consequences which they caused to be fear'd from that book stopt the course of it and forbad the reading of it till after mature examination of it it were otherwise ordain'd which is in effect the same thing that Cardinal Barberin had said to me twenty times And indeed he was very glad of this good News and as I added that it was requisite also if it were possible to oblige the Jesuites to keep themselves within these bounds and to cease from pretending as they had done hitherto that that Bull prohibited the said Book not only upon a political account but condemned the Doctrine of it as evil and pernitious the Cardinal answer'd that we ought not to trouble our selves about what the Jesuites say but rest upon and hold to what the Bull saith Lasciateli dire voi stiate à quello che dice la Bolla Let them talk c. That we ought to be satisfi'd since we knew that it was made only of that extent and for such effect that no person knew better then himself what intentions his Uncle had in making and his Eminence likewise in procuring it that indeed it might be a little more clear then it is but all things are not always done with so great circumspection and in the perfection that they ought to be Cardinal Barberin's Library-keeper to whom his Eminence gave order to send me the Books which he desir'd I should see occasionally confirm'd to me what the Cardinal had told me so often and so many others besides him That the Bull of Vrban VIII in the bottom of it and really doth not prejudice the Doctrine of any Author in particular but that it was alike decreed against all those as well on one side as the other who had written of the matter de Auxiliis without permission of the H. See For this Library-keeper nam'd Signor Carlo Moroni a man of parts and very civil sending me by his Masters order the Book of Ripalda he did it with the same precaution as if he had sent me Jansenius's works advising me not to read it unless
I had permission to do it because it was compris'd in the general prohibitions made at Rome touching that subject 't is probable he did not give me this advertisement without receiving some little order for it from Cardinal Barberin as well as for sending me the Book I know not precisely at what time it was for there is no date to the Letter which he writ to me when he sent it but I am sure that it was much about this time that I am now upon See the tenor of it Molto illustre e reverendissimo Signore mio osservandissimo L'Eminentissimo Signor Cardinale Barberino in hà commendato che io mandi a V. S. questo tomo del Ripalda Mà perche l' Eminentissimo si ritrova impegnato di doverlo prestare fra tre o quattro giorni ad un personaggio la supplico à volerlo rimandare in tempo Quando questo libro s' intende compreso nella prohibitione credo che V. S ne haverà la licenza Ne altro in occorre se non di rassegnarmi a V. S. molto illustre e reverendissima Humillimo Servitore Carlo Moroni Right Worshipfull and Reverend THe most Eminent Lord Cardinal Barberino hath commanded me to send you this volume of Ripalda Which for that his Eminence is engag'd to lend it elsewhere within three or foure dayes I desire you to return in time Whereas the book is compris'd within a Decree of Prohibition I presume you have leave to peruse it I have nothing else but to subscribe my self c. In the afternoon I went to see the General of the Augustins but I could do nothing with him by reason of the distrust he had of F. Morel whom he lookt upon as M. Albizzi's spie about him from whom he knew the said Father had receiv'd some good offices and particular favours in recompense for the Writing which he made and of which I have above given account On Tuesday September 12. in the morning I went to see M. the Abbot de la Paix who in regard to his profession of being a disciple and Monastick of S. Augustin told me he would willingly employ himself to help me in the cause wherein by the Account by me given him he saw the Doctrine of that great Doctor of the Church was so unworthily and maliciously impeach'd In the afternoon I went to see Cardinal Vrsin who as concern'd for the satisfaction of the Kingdome and Church of France could have wisht with me that these contests were compos'd and terminated as I came to request but he intimated several Political and Theological reasons which in his judgment render'd the discussion and decision of them in a manner impossible And as he was Protector of Poland he told me that he understood that these Disputes were ready to arise into heat there too and he mention'd also though with some obscurity a certain Letter from the King of Poland to the Pope touching the Queen's Confessor who was said to be an Arnaudiste and ingaged in the opinions which divide the Church at this day I told this Cardinal that I knew him to be a very able and honest man Doctor of our society of Sorbon and who would alwayes defend himself very well from the vain accusations that may be made against him This Cardinal Vrsin receiv'd with his accustom'd civility and told me I should do him a pleasure in shewing him some Writings which might inform him more particularly of the state of our Controversies At my coming from him I went again to F. Campanella to whom I lent our Latin Manifesto till Sunday following he held himself oblig'd and receiv'd it with contentment but on condition that when he restor'd it I should dispense with him for telling me his sentiments of it On Wednesday Septemb. 13. in the afternoon I met M. Fernier who was with another Canon of Auxerre I went with them to Cardinal Barberin's Library and from thence to walk abroad M. Fernier inform'd me that a certain Cordelier nam'd F. Mulard of whom I shall give account hereafter was arriv'd at Rome the day aforegoing and that himself was much scandaliz'd at the unworthy speeches which he heard that Cordelier utter since his arrival in contempt of the Bishops whose Letters I brought to the Pope for example of M. d' Amiens that he was a good Beer-drinker and of the rest the like vile and shameful injuries On Thursday Septemb. 14. I went to give notice of this Cordelier's arrival to that good Fryer who inform'd me of M. Hallier's long Letter of which I have spoken above and also that others were coming of which this Cordelier was the bearer This Fryer confirm'd to me that what he had told me of M. Hallier's Letter was true that he had since been better inform'd of it that it was written to M. Albizzi but was also show'd to the Pope that it consisted of six Pages in which he had put many petty trifles all which tended but to represent to his Holinesse that Jansenism was imbrac'd in a manner by all the Preachers that it was also follow'd by the Confessors that all the world was ingaging in it that the whole Church of France was endeavor'd to be drawn to it and that if the Pope took not heed ere ten yeares hence the mischief would be past remedy I understood that the four Cardinals whom Cardinal Barberin nam'd and injoin'd me to visit Roma Spada Ginetti and Cechini continu'd to assemble together every Thursday afternoon with some Divines at Cardinal Roma's Palace but being uncertain whether or no they had begun to take the Propositions in hand I wish'd to be resolv'd and that they also knew that the Assemblies which they made would be accounted in France as Beginnings of the Congregation which I came to desire that so on one side they might think themselves more engag'd to establish it and withall conceive themselves lesse free to regulate any thing in this matter before hearing the parties on either side by word of mouth and writing as I sollicited openly and publickly For this reason I determin'd that afternoon to go see the Cardinal Roma to take him at the breaking up of that Congregation and to be in his Palace at the time that they who compos'd it went away I did so and after they were gone and I was introduc'd all alone to Cardinal Roma as 't is the custome I told him That I came to congratulate with him for those first dispositions towards the erection of the Congregation which I came to request of the Pope that I conceiv'd my self oblig'd to send word to the Bishops of France in whose name I was at Rome what I knew thereof and the hope I conceiv'd from thence for the perfect accomplishment of their desires and the request which they made to the Pope by their Letters which certainly they would rejoyce very much to understand by reason of the grand importance of which they knew the Affair to be in
different and so opposite that one was most evidently heretical and the other most certainly Catholik That my being at Rome was to advertise the Pope thereof and to beseech him that before Determining any thing his Holiness would please to give audience to both parties in a solemn Congregation F. Mulard not knowing what to reply hereunto and wlling to bring M. Hallier off the stage drew out of his sleeve a Letter seal'd and directed to his General which he said was written by M. Albizzi to desire that General in two lines that he would not oblige F. Mulard to depart from Rome because his presence was requisite there in reference to things which were treating in the H. Office That he F. Mulard had had that Letter before his General went away that morning as he did to go towards France but he would not deliver it to him before his departure that so he might put the same into the hands of the person who was to represent him and performe his charge in his absence by which means the Letter would have its full effect without any reply or difficulty You see said the Father I shall be no longer here by authority from M. Hallier but by that of the H. Office Do you go now and tell M. Albizzi and the two Cardinals that advis'd me to addresse to him for this purpose that they are to blame to retain me here To which I answer'd that it was all one to me whether F. Mulard was at Rome by the order of the H. Office or of his Patron or of any other whatsoever provided the name of the faculty whereof I had the honour to be a Doctor were not falsely us'd therein These are the words of all that was depos'd by the witnesses who subscrib'd the Act of Memorandum which I caus'd to be taken of this Confefence but there were also some other things spoken which were forgotten or purposely omitted M. Fernier was also witnesse of all though he would not be one of those that subscrib'd the said Act. I shall mention only three of the most remarkable The first was that F. Annat was the Author of the Book De Ecclesia praesentis temporis The second was that speaking of the Letter which M. Albizzi gave him to his General the said Signor Albizzi was every day with the Pope that it was he that did all that the Pope rely'd wholly upon him and that one might say that what he did and what he would the Pope did and would The third was in reference to the effect of the Letter which M. Albizzi gave him that it was fit that they the Religious or Fryers might have recourse to some Powers against the commands of their Generals which were too burthensome to them because otherwise a Monk meaning his General might wrongfully and crossely torment an honest man as himself F. Mulard with a tyrannical power And the fourth was that having had recourse to Cardinal Spada to prevent the command to return into France which he fear'd to receive from his General he offer'd the Cardinal to return thither if his Eminence judg'd fit and that the Cardinal answer'd him in these two words Non Expedit Which when I consider I am apt to think that the said Cardinal was instrumental to the abovesaid Letter because on September 21. F. Epiphanius a Fryer dela Premonstré a very able honest man then at Rome about an affair of his Order told me upon another occasion that F. Novet a Minime lately inform'd him that F. Mulard would have made use of him a few dayes before to present a Memorial to that Cardinal to beseech his Eminence to cause him to stay at Rome considering that he was deputed thither not only by M. Hallier but also by the whole Faculty non solum à Syndico as his Memorial ran sed etiam à Facultate delegatus Moreover I know not whether F. Mulard's suspicion that I had contributed to his return into France enjoyn'd him by his General was not in some sort well grounded though if I did it was without having any such designe But see what befell me that same day October 21. I learnt in the morning of F. Mariana that that General was suddenly to go into France that he was an able and upright man and of good understanding too in the businesse wherewith I was encharged That he had the greatest hand in the condemnation made at Vallidâ—lid of the 22. Propositions prejudicial to the honour of S. Augustin and to the authority of his doctrin and this good Priest invited me to visit him before his departure that I might know him and also advertise him of the book which F. Mulard distributed about at Rome intitl'd Jansenius de Sancto Augustino pessimè meritus in the first six lines of which it was said that the Censures of those 22. Propositions were impostures I went then that evening to Ara Coeli The General was not there His Secretary nam'd Michel Angelo de Napoli staid with me to entertain me in expectation of him When he understood all that I told him aswell concerning our affair of the Propositions as that of F. Mulard whom he knew he pray'd me not to go away before I spoke with the General also who was as he said to depart very early the next day I waited for the General though he came not home till it was late I inform'd him in the fewest words I could of both those affaires and by the little discourse we had together he seem'd to me well vers'd in the reading of the Fathers and well affected to the good and sound doctrine and I took leave of him without speaking so much as one word about the Dismission which he gave that very night to F. Mulard against which he defended himself the next morning by the Letter abovemention'd It was with that Letter that he and I ended our principal discourses touching his Legation to Rome but because he pass'd there for a man as rare in his person as his call to this emplyment was extraordinary and that so many things were daily told me of his irregular deportment that they did not seem credible I was willing to inquire from the place of his birth which was also the Country of his Cousin M. Hallier whether the the principal of them were true or no. The person who made inquiry thereof at my intreaty received the following Letter by which we may judge of the advisednesse and candour of those who put an affair of the Faculty into such hands and blusht not to adde to the others qualities of this Cordelier that of Deputy from that renowned and famous society See the Copy of the Letter which I mention'd SIR THese few words may serve to certify you that I have gotten exact information touching F. Mulard the Cordelier The said Mulard is a native of this City of the Parish of S. Hilary next the Monastery About thirty two or thirty three years ago he was
a Physitian Some time after he became a Capucine After he had worne the habit a long time he cast his Cowle into a Ditch and went to Montpellier in which place he took a wife amongst the Hugonots There he pass'd for a good considerable Physitian At length he was discover'd by a Father Capucine passing through Montpellier to whom the said Mulard going to visite him as a Physitian was constrain'd to confesse that he had been of his Order There was a maidservant in the house where the sick Capucine was who heard the passages between him and F. Mulard and fail'd not to tell the same to the Master of the House The matter being divulg'd the said Mulard fled and went to Rome to get a dispensation from his Vow He hath had the permission of the Pope to wear a Cordelier's habit He belongeth to no Covent He pass'd through this City a moneth ago it is not known in what place he is at present He calls himself Almoner to the Count of Harcourt This is all that I have been able to learn of the life of the said Mulard He is brother to our she-Cousin Le Feure c. I am ever with all my heart From Chartres Feb. 4. 1652. SIR Your most humble and affectionate brother to serve you Edeline I shall adde to this letter by the way that it was not without cause that this Cordelier term'd himself Almoner of the Army he had so much more in all his manners and deportment of the Soldier and Goodfellow then of the modesty and restraint of a Religious or Fryer I speak this word upon my own account with confidence not doubting but such as know him and read this will in regard of what he is really say that I have spoken very sparingly of him And not to mention others F. Morel himself before the third of October said with laughter that he would write to M. Hallier to thank him for having made so worthy a choice by sending to Rome in behalf of the Faculty such an ancient Doctor and an able man as F. Mulard CHAP. X. Visites made in the end of September and the beginning of October A story concerning Clement VIII Manuscripts of the Congregations de Auxiliis in the Library of the Augustines Of that whereof I took a Copy there The Jesuites in vain indevour to draw the Dominicans to their side VVHen I quitted F. Mulard on Wednesday September 27. at my coming fron M. Gueffier's house who went to waite upon the Ambassador I return'd to my lodging to fetch the Preface of the book Of victorious or Prevailing Grace which had been sent me in sheets and carry it presently to the Ambassador according to what he had desir'd me to do in order to give him knowledge of the state of our Contest by the perusal of that Preface when he return'd from his visits and to give him time to be in some measure inform'd thereof before the day of his ordinary audience which was to be on the Fryday following I found at my lodging F. Petit who waited there for me to tell me that F. Mulard dining the day before with M. the Abbot Testu said there that M. Albizzi had assur'd him that within a little time the Censure of the five Propositions would be pass'd I went to the Ambassador's house and accompani'd him to S. Cosme and S. Damien whether he went He caus'd his Coach to turn on the side of S. John de Lateran out of the walls of Rome and having alighted to walk and to speak to me in particular about our matters he put many difficulties to me which consisted in the Consequences ordinarily drawn from them by such as oppose them with humane wit and he did it after a manner very pressing and nevertheless obliging Whereupon having given him the answers which the Fathers make thereto I invited him to read all those arguments in the Epistle of S. Prosper to S. Augustin and also to view the Answers which S. Augustin makes to the same in the book De Praedestinatione Sanctorum of which I had been but a bad Echo in what I had said to him The second part of our discourse was touching the submission which we were likely to shew to the Decision which the Pope might make of these matters and I assur'd him that if he made one after hearing the paties in the ordinary formes of a Lawfull Examination such as I supplicated for in the names of the Prelats whose Letters I had deliver'd to him we would shew an absolute submission to such a Decision but if he made any otherwise and without having discuss'd the contested matters in a due manner we should have as much submission for it as it deserv'd and yet the greatest we could And to satsify him of the necessity and justice there was in granting that solemn Examination to the Prelats who demanded it and in whose names I sollicited for it I related to him with how much instance The Councel of Trent offer'd the same to Hereticks The Ambassador reply'd that as for that particular they did not yield to the Decisions of that Council I answer'd that they did not but that was it which took from them all ground of blaming it in that point whereas if they had demanded such Examination and it had been deny'd to them they would have had very just reason to complain thereof At length I deliver'd to him the Preface of the book Of Victorious Grace and advertis'd him of what was contain'd in the fifth page thereof in favour of Jansenius of whom they would not hear any speech at all at Rome I told him I could have wisht that that passage had been left out because it alone was enough to incense the minds of the Romans and make the whole book suspected But I desir'd the Ambassador also to take notice of the time in which the book was written because there was then no thought of any person 's coming to Rome in pursute of such Examination but on the contrary there was daily expectation of some precipitated Censure according to the Menaces of the Jesuits in all places That at the present we hop'd things would be done upon Cognisance of the Cause and with justice and therefore declin'd speaking of Jansenius partly to avoid clashing with the people with whom we had to do and partly because indeed the interests of that Prelat's book had not affinity with the prosecution wherewith I was encharged though in the sequel the same might be advantageous to it namely if the doctrine contained therein be conformable to what shall be decided Concerning the Jesuits the Ambassador told me that they prosecuted with all possible eagernesse a judgment uponthe Propositions without speaking of such examination that he receiv'd letters every week to do such offices as lay in his power for the promoting thereof which he did as much as he could but without injuring any person and with endeavours to bring both the one side
but the same Jansenists were agreed with the Dominicans as to the main namely the Effectualness of Grace and its necessity to all good actions On the 13th I found F. Malgaires at the Ambassadors house he askt me whether I could lend him fot two or three hours the Book of S. Fulgentius which was newly publish'd by a Jesuite of Dyon I told the Father that instead of two hours I would lend it him for three days I askt him what news of F. Hilarion and what he said to our affairs He told me that F. Hilarion would not further open his sentiments in reference to the Propositions that he had given you seal'd up to the Pope two years ago next November and that he would speak no more thereof which I mention not in this place but as a new testimony in confirmation of what I said before of the manner how they were propos'd to the Pope and how the Divines consulted upon them delivered their judgements viz. at the same time that the false Censure of the Faculty was carried to Rome and the first President made a Truce between us and our Adversaries at their instigation for so much time as was requisite to let that false Censure have its full effect Tursday October 17. I had a second audience of the Pope in which I presented to him a Letter which the Bishop of Grasse now of Vince had written to him But before I relate the particularities of that audience I think it not impertinent to insert here some Letters which I received from Paris and which shew with what intentions my LL. the Bishops who interposed in this affair and we conjontly with them acted therein CHAP. XI Letters from Paris confirming the Resolution of the Bishops to do nothing but in a regular Congregation where Divines might argue on both sides I Received many at this time but all breathed the same spirit with these subjoin'd which I have selected not by way of preference before the rest but for that they have more connexion and correspondence to the matter which the Series of my Journal puts into my hands The first of those Letters is dated 14. July 1651. and contains these words Sir I send you by this Post the Letters which my LL. the Archbishop of Tholouze and the Bishop of Grass have written to the Pope You may please to present the same to his Holiness and use all imaginable endeavours with him to procure the effect with them and particularly in the point which ooncerns a Congregation like that which was erected in the time of Clement VIII and Paul V. I am charg'd to tell you that you must represent to his Holiness that those Propositions have been fram'd by the Adversaries of St. Augustine 's disciples on purpose to confound them and blemish the honour of that great Doctor of the Church or if you cannot have audience of his Holiness they intreat you at least to acquaint the Examinators that the Propositions are not in any Author that they were never advanced by the Disciples of St. Augustin that to this present the Disciples of Molina have not been able to verifie it nor ever will since in all their Writings which they have published to render the Propositions invented by themselves cdious they have said nothing that verifies it That the Pope ought not to deny the Disciples of St. Augustin the conference which they demanded in the Assembly of December 1. 1649. since the same is according to the Rules of the Church and to what hath been formerly done in presence of Popes and authorised by them That they are ready to depute for that conference as many Deputies as his Holiness shall please and that the said Deputy shall set forth by order of my LL. the Prelates who writ the Letters which you presented to the H. Father They are all prepar'd for the journey My Lords have also commanded me to desire you to represent in their names to our H. Father or to the Commissioners who examine that the judgement which they render upon the Propositions before the Parties be heard will serve only to augment the Disputes since the Propositions being capable of very different senses whereof one is Catholick and the other is not some will say that they are condemned only in the Heretical sense others will contest that they are condemned absolutely and so people will not know what to make of them which will cause great trouble to the Church and undoubtedly much diminish the respect which ought to be had for the authority of the H. See c. The second is of the same date written by one of the Deputies design'd to be join'd with me who speaks in the end of his Letter in these words In the mean time while you expect us use all possible endeavours that nothing be pronounced upon the Propositions But you see they will do it and there is no way to help it then you must endeavour to get three things done viz. that it be declared expresly 1. That they mean not to lay any blemish upon the Doctrine or Authority of St. Augustine which the H. Father requires to be reverenced by all the Faithful 2. That there is no purpose at all to impeach Effectual Grace by it self necessary to all good actions and to all the good motions of the Will which regard Salvation 3. That there is also no design to damn the Propositions according to the connexion which they have with the same Doctrine of Effectual Grace by it self necessary to all the good motions of the Will c. The third of those Letters is from the same person who writ the first to me as from the Bishops and in this which was writen on the 25. of August he spoke in these terms I received your Letter of the 31. of July on Sunday last I shew'd it to my Lords They gave mecharge to tell you that they are very glad to know what Cardinals they are to whom the Pope hath given Commission to view and examine the Five Propositions and they hope that as they are very just persons they will contribute all their Power that his Holiness may grant to the persons whom they shall send a Conference or Congregation de Auxiliis to defend the Catholick sense of the said Propositions against all those that mantain they are Heretical and worthy of the greatest Anathemaes My Lords expect that the proceeding will not be so quick in this affair which is the foundation of one of the greatest Contests that ever was in the Church c. The Deputies will set forth the next day after the Nativity of our Lady Their Commission imports That they confer not in secret about the Propositions but demand a publick Conference The Latin Writing which I send you hath been drawn according to the order which you gave me My Lords are porswaded that nothing can be more plain concise and nervous then that little Tract They are confident the Jesuites will
never be able to say any thing against it at least openly either in a publick regular conference or by Writing Indeed in secret it is certain they may speak all that they please but it cannot be legal or valid in the Judgement of any Court whatsoever My Lords have given me charge to tell you that they have no other design in their Letters and the Commission which they have given you but to preserve in the Church the Authority of the great St. Augustin and the Veneration that is due to his Doctrine which the Church hath made her own They do not consider this Doctrine because it hath been recited by the Bishop of Ipre they say it is considerable only upon the account of its being St. Augustines and that M. d' Ipre cannot pass for the Author of any opinion because he hath advanced nothing of himself but all that he hath said he drew out of that great source of light So that in this affair they have no regard at all to Jansenius but solely to St. Augustin The Bishops of Flanders may if they think fit send their Deputies to beseech the Pope to cause Jansenius to be examined thereby to take from his Adversaries the pretexts which they daily make use of to calumniate him by calumniating the Doctrine of his Book My Lords will never consider the Bull against Jansenius but as provisional and made only for a Political purpose For whatever the Jesuites say they will never make it believ'd that the sayd Bull importeth any thing else but a Prohibition and not a condemnation Those Fathers do all they can to make good what they say by the word damnat which is us'd in reference to the Doctrine of Bavis which the Pope is there made to say that he reneweth in his Book intitled Augustinus But there is no strength in this inference because if the Examiners of Jansenius 's Book had found manifestly that he renewed the Doctrine of Bavis undoubtedly they would not have suffered only the word Prohibit to be put in the same place where it is and not rather have put in that of damnat They would not have pronounced against it after the same manner as against the Thesis of the Jesuites There is no rational man but yields to all this and is of the same sentiment that I send you touching this Article My Lords much wonder that there are found persons whom God seemeth to have plac'd in his Church for the deciding of matters of Faith and regulating the manners of the Faithful who yet think 't is a persecution rais'd against the Jesuites to oppose them touching Sufficient Grace They say that such Grace is directly opposite to the faith of the Church that it wholly destroyes the belief of Original Sin and evacuateth the adorable value and victorious power of the death and cross of Jesus Christ that it the foundation of Libertinism and Impiety that it destroyes Prayer and Christian Humility and that it puts our Salvation in our own power c. How is it possible that Catholicks can finde what to blame in so lawful an opposition the want of which hath through a just judgement of God for reasons which we know not brought the doctrine of the Church at present into a lamentable condition and reduc'd the undaunted defenders of this faith to be worse treated then Hereticks It is very necessary that you press this point home All this hath no reference at all to Jansenius All my Lords which are here cannot brook the ill treatment us'd to the Houres since it apparently disparageth the Authority of the H. See and exposeth the same to the laughter of Hereticks But that which surpriseth them more is that the Jesuites whom they know very well to be the Authors of that blow given the Church instead of hiding their malice and temerity and hindring all speech of that affair do all they can to move the Archbishop of Paris to blast those Houres publickly To which purpose they employ'd the Nuntio too who solicited the said Lord for the reception of that Decree aend hath given him an extract of a Letter sent to himself from Rome containing the reasons for which the Houres were put in Indice Expurgatorio I send you the Copy of that Extract c. He writ so but the Extract was left behind upon his Table and he sent me word that all the prosecutions of the Jesuites and the Nuntio against the Houres could prevail nothing at all upon the Archbishop so that they were sold and esteemed no lesse after that Decree of Rome then before The fourth of these Letters which I mention here to represent more punctually the sentiments which people had at Paris touching the transactions at Rome in this matter was dated Septem 29. In which after earnest injunction by order of my said Lords to omit nothing in my power for the obtaining of the Congregation which they esteemed so necessary for the fitting discussion of the matter of the five Propositions it was prescrib'd me from them That in case the said Congregation were denyed and after long patience and continual solicitations sufficiently testifying the ardour of my zeal nothing were granted but a slight audience in which the points in Dispute could not be throughly examin'd I should no longer deliberate but declare that my Commission required that the parties might be heard in the manner that Clement VIII and Paul V. heretofore heard the Dominicans and the Jesuites in the solemn Congregation de Auxiliis which not being granted I had order to take leave and retire CHAP. XII An Audience of the Pope Octob. 17. A Letter of M. the Bishop of Grasse deliver'd to the Pope at that Audience I Told the Pope in the first place that I had sigfy'd to my Lords the Bishops whose Letters I had presented to him with how great gentlenesse towards me and esteem for them he had receiv'd the same and what assurance he had given me at that time that no decision should be made upon the Five Propositions before such things as they intended to represent by persons sent hither for that purpose had been well consider'd That the same Bishops were joyful to understand the order that he had given to some of the Cardinals to apply themselves particularly to the study of those matters to the end they might be of the Congregation which would be establisht to discuss them and that there were three Doctors upon the way coming to join with me to inform his Holinesse more largely then I could do alone of the importance of this Affair But I had scarce ended this speech when the Pope began to speak and told me that I ought to remember that he intimated two things to me which were not to be thought of one was the resuming of the Bull of Vrban VIII and the other entring into an examination of the matter de auxiliis That as for any thing else he had told me nothing should be done
was told by one of the H. Office that he to whom F. Annat's book de Incoacta libertate then under the Presse was committed to read had made his Report of it eight dayes ago that M. Albizzi mov'd there might be given to it not only a Licence for printing but also a kind of Approbation that there was nothing in it contrary to the Faith but the Members of the H. Office considering it was not their Custom M. Albizzi could not bring them to his intended innovation and so the book was only remitted to the Master of the Sacred Palace I went to visit him on Saturday the 19. and represented the Prejudice which the Cause of Grace Effectual by it self would receive by the Approbation which F. Annat endeavour'd to get from the Congregation of the H. Office for the Book he was printing and the advantage which the Jesuites would make of it for the upholding of their Molinistical Grace subject to Free Will which could not be establisht but upon the ruines of many Christian Truths The Master of the Sacred Palace presently agreed with me as to the prejudice which those truths receive from that Molinistical opinion and particularly mention'd many truths that are subverted thereby But he told me that he did not believe F. Annat's book was writ in defence of that opinion That were it so it could not afford any consequence as to the matter of the Doctrine which would not fail to be maintain'd when they came to the Decision but till it were come to that the Pope had prohibited writing of these matters without permission of the Congregation of the H. Office That the said Congregation had given F. Annat such permission and him the Master c. permission to peruse the book and give his consent to the impression That he had done so and could not have done otherwise That those people were Almighty Ognipotenti That he was in an office in which it was necessary to obey By which I saw that we must be contented either to behold that book publisht with whatever advantagious Notes of Approbation it could be authoris'd or else stop its course by our complaint to the Pope against it if we could get audience of him before it came forth CHAP. II. Of the first Audience which we had together of the Pope Jan. 21. 1652. at the end of which we deliver'd to him our first Memorial AT length we obtain'd that so much desired Audience on Sunday Jan. 21. After we had made the usual kneelings at entrance into the Chamber where the Pope was and kiss'd his feet we placed our selves all four before him in a Semicircle and being upon our knees M. Brousse our Senior spoke in Latin to his Holinesse what followeth in the Translation Most Holy Father THE Joy we resent this day is so great that no words are capable to expresse it For what could happen more desirable and more happy to Sons of the Church to Priests and Doctors then to see our selves prostrate before the Common Father of Christians the Visible Head of the Church the Vicar of Jesus Christ and the Successor of S. Peter to kisse his feet and receive a benediction from his hand and mouth So that we doubt not but the sequel of this Year will be favourable to us and the successe of our Commission fortunate since we begin both the one and the other with your Holinesse's benediction Behold us most H. F. at the feet of your Holinesse sent from many most illustrious Bishops of France who excited with an ardent Zeal for the Mysteries and Articles of Faith and animated by their respect to the Holy See and particularly towards your Holinesse have delegated us hither to beseech you in their Name according to the laudable custom of the Church in the like occasions to please to ordain a Congregation for the Examination and Discussion of five Equivocal Propositions fraudulently and subtilly contriv'd and whereof the Authors themselves sollicit a Censure with all kind of artifices to the end that after the Parties shall have been heard in presence one of the other their proofs and reasons reciprocally produc'd subscrib'd and communicated the whole being weigh'd and examin'd as the importance of the matter requireth your Holinesse may pronounce and declare by the supreme authority which you have in the Church what ought to be follow'd and what avoided which is the true sense of those Propositions which we are oblig'd to hold and which the false which we ought to abhorr as we understand by publick and authentick Acts to have been practis'd under Clement VIII and Paul V. of hâ—ppy memory with so great glory to those two great Popes so much lustre of the truth and so great advantage to the H. See Our Confrere here present hath formerly propounded the same more largely to your Holinesse when he had the Honor to present to you the Letters of our LL. the Bishops and therefore I shall not repeat it for fear of being tedious to your Holinesse reserving my self to speak further thereof when your Holinesse shall please to command me For your Holinesse may easily judge by that strength of mind which it hath pleased God to give you of what importance this Suite of ours is for the preservation of truth for unity for peace and for the authority of the Church Forasmuch as the said Propositions being capable of divers senses true and false Catholick and Heretical and having been cunningly fram'd by those who are the Authors of them with design if once they be condemned in general and according to the rigor of the words to attribute to themselves the judgement of such Equivocal Censure and under pretext of defending it to take the Liberty of applying it as they please to all the kinds of senses and so by mingling the true with the false and error with the Catholick faith to excite envy and hatred against many both Bishops and Doctors of very great piety and excellent learning to accuse them to your Holinesse as guilty of spiritual Treason and to traduce them by their injuries and calumnies in the minds of the ignorant common people as they have not been asham'd to do already to the great scandal of all good men In which regard most H. F. there is none but sees how necessary the clearing of those Propositions is for Vnion for peace and for the good of the Church to the end that the parties having been heard on either side all the equivocations and ambiguities of words being unfolded and all the odious cavills dispell'd and rejected falsitie may become sever'd from truth error from the faith and bran from the flower to use S. Gregorie's Words I passe over in silence most H. F. that so I may not abuse the grace which your Holinesse doth me in hearing me that all this dispute concerns the dignity authority and doctrine of S. Augustin whom the supreme Pontifs and the whole Church have alwayes held in so great
veneration of that glorious Doctor I say the scourge of Hereticks by whose mouth and pen during twenty years of his life the Church triumphed over its enemies and still triumphs after his death so that while the saving and victorious grace of Jesus Christ is in question the cause is not only S. Augustin's but that of the Church Now most H. F. whereas the summe of the difficulties which arise in this cause is principally to know what is the sense of S. Augustin undoubtedly nothing is so necessary in the Church as the discussion and judgement of that true sense since if your Holinesse should suffer people to continue to expound it in several manners the authority and doctrine of that great Father so often approved and commended by the Church and by the supreme Pontifs Innocent Zozimus Boniface Celestin Sixtus Leo Gelasius Hormisdas Felix John Gregory Clement Paul and others would receive a mortal wound be shatter'd and made to jarre with it self and become expos'd hy means of fallacious Propositions to the Censure of those who have seen hitherto that it was an attempt equally rash and unprofitable to impugne the same under the name of S. Augustin which your Holinesse easily judges would be the most prejudicial thing in the world the most injurious to the supreme Pontifs the most offensive in reference to the Holy Doctor of Grace and the most destructive to holy and sacred Tradition Your prudence and your goodnesse therefore most H. F. will be pleas'd to grant in behalf of the grace of Jesus Christ that favour to the Bishops which they request that quiet to the Faithfull which they wish and that comfort to good men which they desire and to our most humble supplications the accomplishment of our hope that by this means the Faith may be cleared Truth establisht Christian Vnity strengthned sacred Tradition preserv'd the honour of the Church maintain'd in the maintaining of the authority of S. Augustin and that all may conspire to the upholding of the Majesty and Soveraignty of the H. See and the Roman Church from whence as from a plenteous fountain flow the streams which water other Churches as that Pope sometimes said who first bore the name which your Holinesse doth And lastly that by these so important reasons the Church may have the comfort to see your Holinesse happily accomplish what that H. Pope begun and that what God did in Innocent I. by his grace and for his grace he may do the same in Innocent X. and that it may be a part of the glory which by committing to you the guard of his divine flock he hath reserv'd to your Holinesse to whom we in the quality of true sonnes of the Church Priests Doctors and Deputies of our LL. the Bishops of France wish at this beginning of the year an accomplish'd felicity and for whose health and prosperity we daily offer our Sacrifices to his Divine Majesty M. Brousse pronounc'd this discourse very deliberately and pathetically according to his usual way and quickned it with as much vigour as the modesty and the submission befitting one that speaks to the Pope and the place so little distant from him and so private wherein we were could permit The Pope heard him with great gravity and attention and when he had ended the Pope answer'd in Italian and made a discourse of about the same length with this of M. Brousse The substance which we could recollect of the Popes answer was not much different from what he had said to me in the two other audiences which he gave me alone He told us that he would not have us speak of Jansenius at all Non voglio che sia fatta mentione di Jansenio in nissuna maniera Those were his words That when his book first came forth what in it concern'd this affair was diligently examin'd That after such examination it was thought meet to make the Bull of Vrban VIII which was publisht upon this occasion and by which the reading of Jansenius's book and the Theses of the Jesuites which treated of this matter was prohibited that as to the publication and execution of that Bull sundry difficulties were made but they were never sound of moment enough to hinder the execution of the same Thar the prohibitions made formerly by the Popes to write and dispute of those matters de Auxiliis were not made without great necessity and cognizance of the cause That Clement VIII and Paul V. his Predecessors after they had taken very much pains and spent much time and study upon this subject and after they had assembled the most able Divines who likewise labour'd very much in it at length all they could do was to impose a perpetual silence in these matters upon the Divines of both sides That the best course was to keep to that and not renew at this day those old disputes which could not be terminated in those times and consequently not to speak of establishing a new Congregation de Auxiliis That as for the doctrine of S. Augustin there was no scruple but it ought to be follow'd and embrac'd in the Church as it had been in all times in singular esteem and veneration but the question was who were they that truly embrac'd it That when the Deputies of the Faculty of Lovain came to Rome to defend the book of Jansenius they said the same things that we do of the doctrine of S. Augustin and the authority it ought to have in the Church That it was to that alone which they adher'd and that Jansenius adher'd to the same but after his book had been examin'd and compar'd with the doctrine of S. Augustine they who were employ'd therein at that time found that Jansenius held Propositions very different from the sentiments of S. Augustin That all the world pleaded that authority and doctrine and every one drew it to his own side but it could not favour all That every one construed it as he was inclin'd and understood it after his own way but it behooved not to stick so close to things and words but to consider with what exaggeration and Hyperbole S. Augustin and other Holy Fathers of the Church may have spoken in some cases as also not to rely and build upon what they may have sometimes said in the heat and vehemence of discourse as upon the words of Scripture The Pope in speaking all this extended it more to other Fathers then to S. Augustin and took his rise from what had been done by others to tell us that the same might also have been done by S. Augustin but indeed he spoke it with much hesitancy and rather to make the answers and objections to us which possibly had been suggested to him by M. Albizzi or others imbu'd with the Jesuits principles then as being himself perswaded thereof Wherefore his discourse leaving sufficient room for a reply M. Brousse told the Pope in Italian as the Letter relateth which he writ the next day
to M. Puilon Doctor in Physick of the Faculty of Paris his Countryman and friend That we had nothing to do with Jansenius That he was an Author in whom we were not concern'd no more then the Bishops who deputed us that we barely requested the examen and discussion of the Propositions in question in regard of the diversity of senses whereof they are capable to hinder that the Censure which was to be made of them as we acknowledg'd they deserv'd it in one sense might not be reflected upon the doctrine of S. Augustin as the enemies of that Saint profess'd to desire having purposely fram'd them equivocal and with different senses As for the Congregation de Auxiliis that we would abstain from the word Auxilium saving so far as it would be necessary for the understanding of the Propositions we knew the Pope was so firmly resolv'd not to renew the examination of that matter that lest we should at the first addresse receive from his Holinesse a precise and absolute refusal of the Congregation for which we supplicated we were forc'd not to unfold to him so openly how it was contain'd in each of the Propositions well understood Wherefore to render our Motion the more passable M. Brousse was oblig'd to tell him in general as his letter rehearseth that we should abstain from the term Auxiliis saving so far as would be necessary for the understanding of the Propositions And because his Holinesse spâ—ke of what pass'd under Clement VIII as if after his time nothing had been done in this affair and that the thing remain'd undecided he prayed his Holinesse to permit him to revive in his memory that point of history and he told him that after the death of Clement VIII when the choice of his Successor was in agitation it was determin'd in the Conclave before proceeding to Election that he who should be chosen should finish what Clement had begun touching the matter de Auxiliis That therefore Paul V. who succeeded Leo XI whose Papacy lasted but a few dayes immediately after his promotion to S. Peters Chair reassembled those Congregations that the matters having been examin'd anew at the instance of the Jesuites for defence of their Molina who they said was ill understood and ill dâ—fended to the Congregations under Clement the matter was at length so terminated after many Congregations that fifty Propositions of Molina were condemned that the Bull was prepar'd and ready to thunder forth but that which hindred it was the quarrel of Venice from whence the Jesuites being driven pray'd his Holinesse not to publish that Bull which would quite overwhelm them promising him what they have not kept to renounce Molina and no longer teach those evil Maximes M. Brousse added that this being a matter of fact and history which pass'd at Rome we should not only be imprudent but also deserve punishment for averring it at his Holinesses feet if it were not true but we were certain that the Acts of those Congregations with the Original of the Bull of Paul V. were in Castello in the Castle S. Angelo and that if it pleased his Holinesse to cause the same to be publish'd there would be no longer need of a Congregation for the terminating of all these contests The Pope signified his satisfaction in this point of history and answer'd that he would think on it M. Brousse had the liberty to say many other things to him among others concerning S. Augustins doctrine that we adher'd to that alone not as the Pope might fear we misconstru'd it but as it would be found to be really his That when it came to be examin'd it would be found clear and uniform and that it must needs be so since the Fathers and whole Councils have embrac'd it and commended it to the whole Church as that which ought to be follow'd and with which the Church had already triumph'd over so many Hereticks We having there concluded it meet for me to speak to his Holinesse if I could have time I took occasion in this place to say That it would be one of the principal things in which his Holinesse would by God's help one day have the satisfaction to find who were mistaken our adversaries or we when he had examin'd it and caus'd it to be examin'd in the solemn Congregation for which we came to supplicate That he should see by the sequell of that examination whether our adversaries or we had the true understanding of St. Augustin's sentiments That we now declar'd to him that we would only adhere to what was acknowledg'd without contradiction and with perfect evidence to have been taught by that great Doctor as the pure doctrine of the Church and approv'd for such by Popes and that it was for this purpose chiefly that we beseecht his Holinesse to establish the Congregation desired by the Bishops upon occasion of those Five Propositions whereof every one understood in the Catholick sense of Effectual Grace contain'd an abridgement of his whole Doctrine so connex'd together were these matters and dependant all upon one and the same principle After this I took occasion from the Silence which the Pope so much insisted on to complain to him of F. Annats book which was printing I represented to him that that silence was so far from having been enjoyn'd to Divines for ever that at the same moment we were speaking to him that book was printing in Rome That M. Albizzi not content to have obtain'd permission from the Congregation of the H. Office for that Jesuite to break this silence by publishing his book us'd his endeavours to have it come forth with the Approbation of that Congregation and the authority of his Holinesses name thereby to engage the H. See unawares in the interests and sentiments of that Society because upon the determination of one single point on one side or other depended all that was to be held pro or con in the whole matter de Auxiliis The Pope answer'd me that it was a great mistake to think that all that was printed at Rome was the sentiments of the H. See but the approbation or Imprimatur requisite for the impression of books was not granted nor required but to hinder least any might be printed that were contrary to the Law of God and to Religion or against good manners Omitting what might have been reply'd to the Pope as that the sentiments of the Jesuites touching Grace were wholly contrary to Religion and to the good manners of true Christians I answer'd that F. Annat had designed not only to get the usual and general Imprimatur to his book but to have it examin'd by the Congregatiom of the H. Office to the end they might authorize the doctrine of it and so the H. See become insensibly engag'd in the unhappy cause of their Molina that it wat only this consideration and fear of the engagement of the H. See that made us anxious about the impression of thar book that
is in Jansenius's book Ptopositions condemned by Jansenius that is to be understood as they were condemn'd by the Pope and not otherwise but amongst those which he there condemnes there are some excepted and it was not said that those which were excepted were not the same that Jansenius taught So that the difference not having been made by the H. See there was reason to forbid the book and the reading of it by provision till it were made But yet all that was in it might be true to the least line and yet the said Bull have its full and intire execution Thus this learned Monastick engag'd us to speak much of Jansenius but before we parted we told him let the affaires of that Bishop go as they would it was nothing to us who had nothing to propound either for his defence or against the Bull and that we stuck onely to the affair of the five Propositions in question Of which we gave him the reasons namely the Catholick sense concerning Effectual Grace included in them which we explicated to him He was well pleas'd therewith and acknowledg'd every one for Catholick which we mention'd telling us he believ'd they could be in no danger as to that sense And at last he invited us to come the fourth sunday of Lent to see those rare and precious Reliques which are in that House whereof he is Superior The same day Fryday the 16th we went to visite Cardinal Rapaccioli according as we were advised He professd much desire to be instructed concerning our affair whereof we inform'd him punctually enough and when we told him we were not come for the defence of Jansenius's book but onely for the clearing of the different senses which might be given those Propositions he answer'd that we did prudently because Jansenius malè audiebat Romae That in this affair he should be set aside and the Propositions examin'd without taking notice of him To which we reply'd as we had done in former visites That when the senses of those Propositions were distingush'd and cleared and the Pope had pass'd a particular judgment of them it would be easy to find whether the doctrine of Jansenius upon this subject were Catholick or Heretical onely by comparing those senses so cleared and judged with what is contain'd in the book of that Bishop We also visited Cardinal Ludovisio who heard our account of this affair with great civility Besides the general things which we represented every where else we testifi'd to him that notwithstanding the necessity of it yet we were very backward to bring this new incumbrance upon the Pope besides those which molested him already To which he answer'd that the Pope was not a temporal Prince but by accident that God had not establisht him such but as for matters of Faith and Truth they ought to be his first care We beseecht him to remember the justice of our sute for a Congregation for the discussion of this affair and to favour this sute with his approbation and recommendation in such occasions as he might have to do it He told us that by what we had said he sufficiently understood the importance of it but the same would be more apparent when the Pope had appointed Judges to examine it and if he were of the number he would do all in his power in behalf of truth and justice The Procurator General of the Augustines receiv'd the next visite from us we instructed him soundly and amply of our intentions and confirm'd to him altogether what I had formerly acquainted him with alone The same day I endevor'd to speak with Monsignor Ghiggi but was told some other houre in the day would be more proper then the Evening yet I could not obtain to have one expressely assign'd me because Monsignor they said was not at his own dispose I durst not go thither again on Saturday in regard of the Dispatches for Italy but I design'd that day for some particular visites amongst which one was to F. Dinel the Jesuite we talked much more of the ancient acquaintance which he and I had at Court while he was the late King's Confessor and of the singular good will which he acknowledg'd his Majesty had for me then of the affairs of the time saving that we spoke something about my return and my Commission to Rome of which he acknowledg'd with me the fruit could not be but advantageous to all the world On Sunday the 18th after we had been to accompany the Ambassador to Chappel I went to Monsignor Ghiggi's house but not finding him I return'd thither in the afternoon and stay'd to speak with him till six a clock at night I told him we were constrain'd to have recourse to him for our Memorial by reason of the difficulty and delay of audience from the Pope and the fear lest the book should come forth in the mean time He said it was a matter that did not belong to him yet he had spoken of it to the Pope who told him he had given order that the book should not come forth without having been first well perus'd c. I did not think fit to give Monsignor Ghiggi such an answer as would have been more material then that which I made him I ought to have told him that it was difficult to weigh the consequences of the impression of that book without having first examin'd things to the bottome as we desir'd they might be and the parties heard But having thank'd him for his good office I onely said That with what ever care it might be perused we had to do with people that had many wiles and subterfuges that explicated their writings on way to the Examiners before printing and afterwards understood them another and made what use of them they pleas'd That for instance they took this course to draw the Dominicans into the same complotment with themselves perswading them that they both defended the same kind of Grace which they call sufficient though they knew very well that that which the Dominicans hold besides which learned Divines maintain that there is requisite Effectual Grace to determine the Will to a good action is wholly different from their own which they so subject to the Will as to make the good or bad use of it wholly to depend upon that Faculty Monsignor Ghiggi fell upon the Political reason that there was not to permit either side to print such sort of books and that it was requisite to forbid all the world equally so to do I answer'd that it would be good in the interim but at length it was requisite to manifest which side had reason which defended the Truth and the Faith and so come to a solemn decision which would bring all parties to accord He made great difficulties as to this in regard he saw that while the H. See remembred and consider'd that Clement VIII Paul V. had labour'd so much in these matters without determining any thing it would be loth to reassemble
be lookt upon as if they were Scriptures He said also that the Pope was not oblig'd to hear the Parties in order to making of a Decision To which we answer'd that at least it suted with his prudence and his justice when it was requested as it was by us in the name of persons whose worth and quality gave them right and authority so to do Having continu'd with him till one a clock in the night we departed On Saturday we visited Cardinal Ghiggi who receiv'd us standing and excus'd himself that the day being then Post-day made him in hast He spoke of his Promotion with great sentiments of piety and modesty He told us that he did not deserve that dignity nor had he sought it that he follow'd the Maxime of the Bishop of Geneva To aske nothing To refuse nothing and To complain of nothing On which occasion he told us that he always wore upon his breast a Meddal on the one side of which was the Pourtrait of that great Bishop and on the other that of S. Augustin Touching our affair he said that it was best to deliver Propositions very clear and exact and that sometimes great stirre and opposition about a businesse occasions the establishing of what we would overthrow for which he cited the same verses of Horace Ventus ut amittit vires c. which he had done formerly in a letter to M. Daquin Doctor of Physick at Paris who sent him the book Of Frequent Communion during his Nuntiature i◠Germany upon occasion of the complaints and Writings which the Adversaries of that Excellent book publisht against it as M. Brousse remembred him when he utter'd them in this audience I shall repete them here with four or five of the preceding lines of that Letter Ego sanè non video quid contra librum de Frequenti Communione scribere sit opus cùm in eo adeò attemperata videantur ea dogmata quae affert ut nihil in eis peccatum dicas Tota namque moles difficultatis ad praxim devolvitur in qua quidem non tam facile est praescribere leges cum unica auricularis secreta confessio examen sit quo ad actum deducitur tota instructio in ea confessione servatur maximum omnium arcanorum Spreta obsolescunt si irascaris agnita videntur dicebat ille dum aliàs Ventus ut amittit vires nisi robore densae Occurrunt Sylvae spatio diffusus inani Vtque perit magnus nullis obstantibus ignis Sic hostes mihi deesse nocet Leaving Cardinal Ghiggi we went to visit Cardinal Cechini who caus'd seats to be set for us round the Table where he was and after he had heard M. Brousse's discourse he answer'd us that if he receiv'd any commands from his Holiness as to this matter he would acquit himself thereof punctually On Sunday the third the Abbot of Valcroissant and I visited Cardinal Vrsin before his going to Chapel whither we accompanied him After Chapel we went all together to see Cardinal Cornaro who was standing and uncover'd all the while we were speaking to him which we did largely enough Mention was made of one of the causes which caused Paul V. to suspend his Bull against Molina namely the banishment of the Jesuites by the Commonwealth of Venice which happening upon occasion of his Interdict when he was upon the point to publish his Bull he was willing to spare them that second mortification in hope that without it they might of themselves return to Orthodox sentiments from which all that had pass'd in those matters ought to have convinc'd them that they were gone farr astray In the afternoon we visited Cardinal Ginetti to whom we gave an account of our audience with the Pope particularly of the falsities and calumnies of which we complain'd and of F. Annat's book which was printing Touching the former He acknowledg'd that I had never spoken to himself but in the name of the Bishops and that F. Mulard had address'd to him as the Faculties Deputy and touching the book that we should do well to speak about it to the other Cardinals of the Holy Office We reply'd that we intended it though we were no further concern'd then that the name of his Holinesse or their Eminences might not be engag'd in it that we had spoken first to him partly because of the singular benevolence which he had testify'd to us and partly in regard of a particular authority which we knew he had as to the printing of books We visited Cardinal Lomellino next whom we entertain'd very familiarly He answer'd us that his various employments had much diverted him from the study of those matters and thought he had been always oblig'd to apply himself thereunto yet conceiving himself more oblig'd by his new dignity of Cardinal he should willingly do it Whereunto we excited him by the satisfaction which we told him he would receive in it After which I went alone to carry Card. Roma a copy of our Memorial against F. Annat's book The Cardinal told me it was not the intention of their Congregation to give F. Annat permission to write of the matter de Auxiliis I answer'd that neverthelesse his book was upon that subject but we were not much troubled at that and if he pleas'd to cause the Printer to give us a Copy of what was already printed we would deliver his Eminence such observations thereupon as should shew that it was not our own interest that induc'd us to obstruct the publishing of it but the sole consideration of the H. See which the Jesuites would proclaim to have authoris'd the pernicious sentiments of that Libel I learnt the same day that the Consultors and Qualificators which were to have met last week did not assemble the cause of which was the subtilty of one of the principal and best meaning men who alledg'd that he could not yet meet anywhere to consult of these matters till he had employ'd more time in studying them And he said this to the end the rest might follow his example and not be asham'd to say and do the same The same friend that gave me this intelligence counsell'd me to take some care to inform one of the Consultors whom he nam'd and who deserv'd it both because he needed it and because he was a well-meaning and treatable man But I answered I could not do it because we had no Order to inform any person in private and secretly and all that was done in this manner was suspected by us and little troubled us That we must first see the Congregation which we desir'd of the Pope well open and well setled before we resolv'd upon informing any one This done we would take all possible care and necessary pains to inform every one both in private and in publick but till th◠were done we could proceed no otherwise then 〈◊〉 had done hitherto namely to make known to all such as were concern'd for the interests of the H. See
heard and consider'd all the Pope might passe judgment thereof and his decision might be receiv'd peaceably with the satisfaction of both parties and with the respect that shall be due thereunto We rose up and Cardinal Lugo told us as he accompany'd us that he was glad for his not being concern'd in this affair nor employ'd in it and we told him on the other side that we wisht his Eminence were employ'd in it Ending this visite we went to Cardinal S. Clement who assoon as M. Brousse had begun to lay open the subject of our coming told us he understood the businesse well enough but he would acquaint us with some particularities that had pass'd at Rome He said the Nuntio had sent thither a certain Censure made by the Sorbonne in which those Propositions were condemn'd That the Pope appointed four Divines to write their sentiments upon those Censures that three of the four plainly and fully confirm'd those Censures but the fourth spoke a little more uncertainly That himself being upon occasion oblig'd to speak what he thought of them he had said freely That the Censures were Heretical and not the Propositions For he constru'd them all to the sense of Effectual Grace That the Pope hearing his opinion said See Cardinal S. Clement saith our Divines are Hereticks and that he reply'd to the Pope that he did not say that his Divines were Hereticks but the Censures and yet if they persisted obstinate in avowing the confirmation which they made thereof they would be Heretical too as well as the Censures He spoke something about the earnest study of these matters which was requisite for the right understanding of them whereby he gave us to know that he understood the same well He began to enter upon the discussion of the first of the Propositions when one came to advertise him that the Prince of Lunebourg was coming to take leave of him being to return into Germany which broke off our conference The Cardinal made an excuse to us and testif'd his regret for this interruption We told him we could come again to see him he answered that it was not needfull and that he was sufficiently inform'd of all that had pass'd and was daily acted as to this affair We went in the afternoon to accompany the Ambassador to the Cardinals Homodei Santa Croce and Corrado At his return he askt us whether any thing was done touching our Memorial We told him we had heard no tidings of it He reply'd that nevertheless he conceiv'd the Pope had taken order in it and as he was told had charg'd the General of the Jesuites to hinder those of his Order from Writing upon these matters during these contests and this posture of things without the Books be first seen and examin'd at Rome We answer'd That it was contrary to what we wisht because the Jesuites made no books but whaâ— furnish'd us with new Arms and so the more they writ the more they fortif'd 〈◊〉 but our sole intent in this maâ—ter was that their books might not be review'd at Rome forâ—…ar the H. See shâ—uld suffer it self to be engag'd in their sentiments and surpris'd by their Artifices M. Guâ—ffâ—…r did us the honor to invite us to dinner on Wednesday the sixth and in the afternoon we accompanied the Ambassador in the Visits which he continued to the new Cardinals Ottobone and Lomelino On Thursday the seventh the Cardinals held a Chappel at la Minerve for the solemnity of the feaâ— of S. Thomas where they were all present except those of the H. Office who on another day then Thurday would havâ— been there rather then the rest but now prefer'd their usual Assembly held before the Pope before that Ceremony We were invited in the afternoon to the Covent of the Bare-footed Carmeliets where an Oration and a Dispute were to be made for the celebration of the same Festival The Abbot of Valcroissant and M. Angran were there and M. Brousse and I continued to accompany the Ambassador in the rest of the Visits which he was to make to the new Cardinals Aldobrandino and Ghiggi Friday the eight being the ordinary day that Ambassadors have audience of the Pope regularly every foâ—tnight we presented a little Memorial in French to our Ambassador as he was going to the Pope partly to remind him of that which at our instance he had left with his Holiness at his former audience and partly to inform him more expresly of the reasons which induc'd us to present it which tended in no wise to hinder the Jesuites from writing and publishing Books but only from doing it with the owning and approbation of the H. See And to shew him that it was no vanity that we said that we could have advantages against the Jesuites out of their own Books and particularly out of that whose publishing we endeavour'd to obstruct we shew'd him a printed sheet of it in which F. Annat either by a gross error or obstinate malice which could not but turn to his own confusion cited Pelagius's confession of Faith as a work of S. Augustin containing his Doctrine The Ambassador took our little Memorial and the sheet we left with him to shew the Pope if he found it meet He told us he was mindful of us and that we were already in the Note of what he had to say to his Holiness At his Return we enter'd into his Chamber and he told us the Pope said It was a strange thing we should oppose the Impression of that book that it had past through the ordinary forms if it contain'd any thing to be dislik'd after it was printed it should be censur'd and they who did not do their duty should be reproved That the same course should be taken as was about M. Hersents book after the impression and publication of which a French Dominican who licenc'd it was confin'd six or eight months in la Minerve and the Master of the sacred Palace in danger of being cashier'd till both of them clear'd and justifi'd themselves of what they had done But besides if the Pope must take care of the printing of Books he would be overwhelm'd with infinite new incumbrances thereby That he had fifty thousand other Affairs without that and therefore we must have patience if he could not meddle with it The Ambassador told us that he reply'd to the Pope that it was more expedient to hinder a mischâ—ef before it were done then to stay till it were done to remedy it and that it was easier to quench a taper that was ready to set fire on a Woodpile then to extinguish the fire when the Woodpile was flaming This he said he represented to the Pope not as interessing himself in the businesse but by way of advice which he receiv'd from us He added that notwithstanding these considerations did not alter his mind but he continu'd still in that which he had declar'd to us that he took not the part of that book
and if we found any ill in it after it was printed it would be easie for us and all others to complain and the remedy would not be difficult We answer'd the Ambassador that since it was so and after this declaration of the Pope it would be more advantageous for us that the book were publish't then suppress'd The Ambassador reply'd that yet he doubted whether in would come forth because though the Pope was averse and made semblance of not much regarding it yet he perceiv'd that the Pope mus'd upon it and made some reflexion upon our instances and that he believ'd it would be no ill way for us to continue the same by the mediation of some of the Cardinals That for his part he could not speak in it any otherwise then by way of advertisement and representing to the Pope of what consequence we said it was but not with that zeal and importunity which he should have done if he had receiv'd order from the King to meddle in it We gave the Ambassador our humble thanks and acknowledg'd that he had done all we could hope from a very obliging and equitable person That according to his advice we would endeavor to speak to some of the Cardinals as we had done already to Roma and Ginetti but rather for forme then otherwise because the Pope having declar'd that he took no part in it we were satisfi'd and secure as to the rest In the afternoon we went to see Cardinal Barberin He was ready to go to S. Peter's Church when we came there however he caus'd us to enter into his Chamber and askt us whether we would accompany him thither In the mean time before any thing was spoken concerning our businesse he askt us whether we had instructed the persons whom it was requisite I answer'd that we endevor'd it as much as possible and M. Brousse added that we had had audience of the Pope and were well satisfi'd with the reception which he gave us But without staying to hear any of the particulars he askt us what was the first Proposition I told it him He askt whether we had writ nothing upon that subject I answer'd that something was written at Paris which he had seen but for our parts we had compos'd nothing about it but a Memorial which we left with the Pope at the end of our audience wherein we mov'd his Holinesse for a Congregation in which the Divines of different opinions might be solemnly heard in defence of their opinions The Cardinal further put us upon speaking of the different senses of the first Proposition but to prevent it I told him we would give the explications thereof when the Congregation was assembled the Cardinal reply'd that the Italians were molto tristi that is very untoward and è grande la nostra tristitia added he that at Paris they say for accomplishing affaires it is requisite to sollicite them well but at Rome it required more paines to make those on whom they depended onely to remember them I reply'd to his Eminence that we had no order to act otherwise then we did nor should we what ever resolution were taken at Rome in this affair That provided we acquitted our selves of that commission it was sufficient for us That it belong'd to the Pope or their Eminences to see to the rest M. Brousse confirm'd the same and spoke of F. Annat's book and our Memorial to hinder its coming forth Which he said we resolv'd upon cheifly because of the affront that seem'd to be done to the Bishops who sent us by letting a book of that nature come forth own'd and approv'd in which the present contest was determin'd in favour of one of the parties at the same time that we were suing in the name of those Bishops for a solemn Congrregation to examine it in pretence of the parties and to decide it after they had been heard M. Brousse urg'd this very well when one came to advertise the Cardinal that it was time to go to S. Peter's Upon the way we mention'd the Bishop of Geneva's book term'd an Introduction to a devout life I told him that I understood by the Bishop of Belley in what outragious manner many Mendicant Fryers and the Capucines especially oppos'd it at its first apearance that their zeal became so vehement against that book that some carri'd it into their pulpits and after they had declar'd against it threw it down in the pulpit and trampled upon it with great demonstrations of indignation others carri'd it into the pulpit loosestitcht and after the like declamations broke the thred that held the leaves together and scatter'd them among their auditors and lastly that others burnt it after the same tragical manner I told the Cardinal that M. Hallier and M. Hermant were present when M. du Belley told us these passages at a Visite which we made to him together at the beginning of and concerning the opposition that was made against the book Of Frequent Communion That therefore it was not to be wonder'd that good books were sometimes disparag'd and persecuted by ignorant Fryers but that the event will be sooner or later like that which the same Bishop told us befell the Introduction to a Devout Life which having by that meanes been much more read then otherwise it would have been at length merited so general an approbation that its Persecutors finding that the laughers were not on their side became oblig'd to betake themselves to that of the laughers and to be at last themselves the approvers of it with all the rest of the world which the prodigious multitude of its several Impressions testifi'd We ended our journey to S. Peter's as we were speaking of the book of the Minister of Groning of the advantages which the Jesuites might pretend to derive from it and of those which on the other side we conceived more reasonably might accrue to us when the answer to it preparing by one of our friends was publisht Wherewith Cardinal Barberin testifi'd to us sufficient satisfaction We left him at S. Peter's and repair'd to Cardinal Lanti who receiv'd us courteously heard us and answer'd us prudently vigorously On Saturday the 9th I made a private visit in which I learnt two considerable things One that the Congregation of Consultors and Qualificators design'd to confer together upon the first Proposition was appointed to meet again on Thursday following and that this was the cause that persons well instructed and qualifi'd were employ'd to visite those Consultors and give them some light upon the Propositions The other that the Preacher of the Jesuites Profess'd House having a few dayes before taken occasion to speak in his Sermon of the immaculate conception of the Virgin which he did besides his purpose too he went about to prove it by certain Plates of Copper that spoke of it which had been found in a Cave in Spaine during the Papacy of Vrban VIII who being advertis'd in what veneration they began
inconvenience that the Printers work had been hindred for three weeks already therefore he promis'd me satisfaction and expedition The Congregation held before the Pope on Thursday morning May 2. was very long not ending till an hour and half after noon and another was held the same evening at the Palace of Cardinal Roma at which were present the Cardinals Spada Ginetti and Lugo and M. Albizzi in all probability it was about the conception All that day I could hear nothing touching our Impression but having by chance visited Cardinal Vrsin I learnt from his Eminence that M. Hallier was a coming with some companions and that their arrival might cause the hastening of the Congregation which we requested but nevertheless he believ'd nothing would be done Nor could I have any News from M. Albizzi on Fryday and Saturday the fourth and fifth of May neither by our selves nor by the intervention of the Printer But on Sunday morning as I was ready to go abroad the Printer came to tell me he had been with him the night before and receiv'd from him our two Volumns of St. Augustin with a list of such Apostilles as he would have charg'd in the four Treatises which we design'd to take out of them Having consider'd that list which contain'd six Articles M. de Valcroissant and my self went to Mr. Albizzi forthwith and signifi'd to him that we would add to the Apostilles such of the alterations which he had set down as we found agreeing to the Text but for others not agreeing thereunto or likely to alter the sense we could not add them yet were contented according as we offer'd in our Memorial to leave them all out Mr. Albizzi heard what we said to him made a mark upon his paper and almost consented but he did not resolve immediately only told us he would signifie our Answers à questi signori He would have us understand that it was to the Cardinals that he intended to signifie our Answers as meaning their Eminences by questi signori but it was in reality to the Jesuites and very probably to the Penitentiaries of St. Peter who were his near Neighbours For when we represented to him the incovenience which the poor Printer suffer'd by doing nothing for a month together his Letters being still engag'd in the two sheets which he had got ready of our Book in daily expectance of liberty to proceed and therefore desir'd him that the Printer might fall to work again the next day he told us it should be so and appointed the Printer to come to him that evening Now it was morally impossible that he could or would go that afternoon which was growing very hot to the Cardinals who liv'd remote from him or that their Eminences would be ready to apply themselves so suddenly to the examinat on of those Apostilles as the Jesuites might be who were more instructed therein who perhaps were the Authors of them and who liv'd sufficiently near him However of those six observations there were two most remarkable touching which we could agree to nothing but leaving them out in regard of the bad senses which they might have One was upon the 14th Chapter of the Book de Gratia Christi where the power and operative vertue of Grace being explicated there was put in the margent Gratia efficit which he would have thus Gratia efficax efficit to intimate that there is another sort of Grace nam'd sufficient which acteth not and which he said in his note that St. Augustin teaches and supposes frequently in his other books C. 14. had this note Augustinus describit tantùm gratiam efficacem non excludit sufficientem quam alibi saepe supponit Ergo ne cui detur occasio errandi in Apostilla prima ubi dicitur Gratia efficit ponendum esset Gratia efficax The second was upon the 32. Chap. of the same book where St. Augustin relates and cites Pelagius's Confession of Faith for denoting and distinguishing whereof to less skilful Readers there was an Apostille And because Mr. Morel had had the inadvertency to cite that confession of Pelagius's Faith as a work of St. Augustin for which he was reprehended by the Abbot de Bourzeis therefore the interests of that Doctors were so dear to M. Albizzi or the Jesuites that they would not have any Apostilles set there at all and though we condescended to put only these words Libellus Fidei Pelagii which are expresly in the Text yet we were constrained to leave them out nor did we make much resistance when we knew they would have it so Cap. 32. had this Remarque from M. Albizzi Apostilla nihil facit ad textum tangit controversiam peculiarem inter D. Morel doctorem Sorbonicum alium doctorem Jansenistam à qua videtur abstinendum Extraordinary care in behalf of a man that took Pelagius for S. Augustin and an injurious word against him that defended S. Augustin from that Reproach But it behooved to suffer it with patience as well as all the other rigours which we daily experienc'd for our most sincere intentions and lawful demands In the evening the Printer repair'd to speak with M. Albizzi but could not But the next day he brought us a second Writing in reference to Answers which we made to M. Albizzi And being now free either to add in the Apostilles what was not contrary to the Text and mind of S. Augustin or to put none at all our Printer to whom M. Albizzi return'd the licence for Printing which he had from the Master of the sacred Palace prepar'd his forms which were ready almost a month before to print the next day and proceed to finish these four Treatises whereof M. Albizzi had review'd the Apostilles We could not supply him with Books to review the Apostilles of the rest which we intended to print but assoon as we design'd this Impression having writ into Flanders for the three small Tomes that we might receive them by such time as we should need them the second was brought to us Thursday the ninth of May. On Sunday the 12. we carried it to M. Albizzi for him to review the Apostilles of the other eight Treatises of S. Augustin contain'd in our licence for printing And that he might dispatch all together and the sooner we carri'd him at the same time the little Tome in which the Epistle of Celestine 1. is of the Impression of M. Vitre anno 1644. As for the second Council of Orange the letter of Boniface 11. who confirmed it and that of the Bishops banisht into Sardinia we presented him other books which he presently deliver'd us again because they had no Apostilles On Thursday the 16. I found him in the Popes Presence-Chamber and askt him whether he had view'd those Apostilles He told me No but he would dispach them the next day or the day after The same day I receiv'd the third small Tome of S. Augustin by the Courier of Flanders On Sunday the 19. being
in the doctrine of Saint Augustin whom he had not read He told me that I ought not to fear and that their wishes or wills would be in no consideration at all After this I withdrew but I remember that in the course of this conference I told Cardinal Ghiggi of the approbation which M. Hallier had given not two years since whilst he was Syndic to the first and third Proposition taken in the sences in which alone we held them and after that approbation so freshly and solemnly given new interests having made him change his mind he now prosecuted the condemnation thereof I remember also that one told me in the Pope's Presence-chamber that M. Hallier and his Collegues were gone that day to wait upon Cardinal Spada that before their parting from him they had spoken something to him in private wherefore reflecting upon his staying with the Pope after the Congregation of the H. Office it seem'd not improbable but he stay'd so in reference to them and the affair about which they came On Friday June 14. I carri'd Cardinal Ghiggi the Copy of our Memorial which he told me he would gladly see lo vedrò volontieri and in the afternoon we went to la Minerve to see the Procurator General of the Dominicans whom we found to be a very intelligent and resolute man We visited also the F. Prior of the Covent who receiv'd us in the Sacristy whilst M. Hallier and his Collegues were under the Cloyster with F. Molano whom they were come to visit After they had left him F. Molano told us that M. Halier had assur'd him that they would maintain Effectual Grace and F. Fani whom we met told us also that they had declar'd the same thing to the Master of the Sacred Palace He profess'd that he did not otherwise impeach the Propositions than in Calvin's sence and that this was correspondent to the discourses which he had held upon the way in divers places amongst others at Lyons where he said That he was not going to Rome to dispute but only to let the Pope know that the Doctrin contrary to that of the Propositions was the Doctrine of the Church which could not be opposed without Error and that they who contradicted it were guilty of as pernicious tenents as those of Calvin as he said he would prove to his Holinesse by the Book of the Minister Maresius which he carri'd with him and made a great stirre with everywhere All this is out of a Letter written to me from Paris May the 10th upon the testimony of People of Honor who heard him discourse in that manner and sent the Intelligence from Lyons thither On Saturday the 15th I went to see F. Luca Vadingo I put him to speak of M. Hallier and his Collegues He said he would not tell me what they had spoken to him as neither would he tell them what we should speak to him but he would serve both the one and the other alike That he had profess'd to them how just our Demands were And upon my urging him to speak by saying that theirs did not agree with ours he told me at length though with some hesitation that they had affirm'd to him that there was danger lest we might embroyle and perplex things in a Congregation whereunto he had answered That men were as quick-sighted at Rome as in any place of the world Tanto oculati quanto si voglia in altro luogo and that there was one thing there which was not anywhere else namely the infallibility of the Pope by the assistance of the H. Spirit From thence I went to the Master of the Sacred Palace where I saw his Companion who told me that M. Hallier and his Collegues spread a report that we were all enemies to those of Religious Orders that we set upon the Jesuites to ruine them by doctrine because none but they were able to resist us and when we had once pull'd down the Jesuites we would soon dispatch the rest I had no need to satisfie him concerning these accusations because he was so already but he told me it were good that we remov'd such evil Impressions out of the minds of others more credulous We purpos'd to demand Audience of the Pope the next day to speak to his Holiness concerning these new Comers and to renew the Requests which we had formerly made to him I went to his Presence-Chamber ro facilitate the procuring thereof but I was advis'd in the afternoon to defer these instances till there were greater necessity In the afternoon I went to Cardinal Roma I complain'd to him 1. what false things and remote from the business M. Hallier and his Collegues as we understood spread every against us 2. What their profess'd design was namely to get a pure and simple condemnation for that the things in question were already determined The Cardinal answer'd And where are they so we must see how I told him that perhaps they believ'd their word would be sufficient and that if they saw they could not compass a condemnation of that nature we fear'd they would then aim at an Imposition of silence which would be unprofitable and prejudicial rather then come to a Congregation He reply'd that every one doth his utmost for the accomplishment of his designes I answer'd that we all ought to have but one and the same to wit the clearing of truth the establishment of Peace amonst Divines and that sutably to the honor and dignity of the H. See The Cardinal reply'd that the clearing of Truth included all the rest I answer'd that what he said was very true but a Congregation was necessary for that clearing of Truth He reply'd that it was a thing already resolv'd and decree'd I profess'd my joy for it We arose up and I askt him what persons were of it that we might visit them He told me this was not yet to be known and that it was fit that they were visited before-hand I know not whether M. Hallier had got some inkling hereof elsewhere but the Cardinal said that they were not altogether Strangers to it when they came to him and that they had spoken very reasonably Mi pare said he che parlano molto a justamente I did not certainly understand that they had had audience of the Pope till Thursday the 17th but then I learnt that it was very short and that there could not have been many things spoken of I learnt also that they were displeased at the Lodgeing where they were and had seen another which had likt them better that they had agreed about the price but the difference between them and the owner was that they would take it but for three Months and the Owner would not let it except for a year and that it was at length compounded by a Friend of theirs who perswaded them to take it for six Months Tuesday in the afternoon I went to see a Discalceated Carmelite Professor in Theology a Person of great
parts probity and prudence born at Chartres as I think as well as M. Hallier his Name was F. Melchior He told me that M. Hallier had said to him that he found nothing to say against us to our manners that he was of the same mind with us in reference to the ground of doctrin that there was nothing but the novelty of terms and the manner of speaking with the consequences that he was offended at As for his audience of the Pope that he had given him fair words but it was not upon that that he placed the principal hopes which he had of the successe of his pursutes On Wednesday in the afternoon the Abbot of Valcroissant and my self went to Cardinal Spada The Abbot very well represented to him the justice of our Demand and very solidly reply'd to the many frivolous answers and difficulties which our Adversaries made about it so that the Cardinal seemed by his countenance much satisfied therewith He told us those Gentlemen had been with him in the morning that they had not spoken of all the particulars mention'd by the Abbot and that they had declar'd to him how they desir'd a speedy dispatch of this affair On Thursday morning June 20. came to visit me and told me M. Hallier and his Collegues had been with him the day before That he put him in mind at his first complement of an antient acquaintance which they had had but obiter in the University where they met That after the complements he told him that he was not in that Court about the matters which had been agitated between the Dominicans and the Jesuites that those things were disputable and probable on either side but as for the Propositions they were Heretical and taught by a meer Heretick That afterwards falling to discourse of the Propositions in particular there was not one of them but he undertook to confute sometimes upon foundations contrary to those of the Jesuites and soon after upon the Principles and Maximes of those Fathers That he admired this poor man qui non constabat sibi who did not agree with himself that if he committed the like extravagances everywhere else there needed none to ruine all that he said but himself That he had told him that as for the Propositions whether in their grounds or their consequences there was only St. Augustin suoi scholari that were of that Opinion He told me that he reiterated to him many times That France was in a general combustion about these Contests That of the hundred and twelve or hundred and eighteen Bishops in France fourscore had declar'd for the sentiments whch he defended That these things were so misconstru'd that some Bishops otherwise good men had taken upon them to maintain Calvinistical Propositions That the University favour'd the Jansenists too who as M. Hallier told him and he repeated to me several times in his visit held the Propositions wholly Lutheran and Calvinistical The Abbot Rondanini came to see us during this conference and because we were not ready to receive him he went to take a Turn upon the Mont de la Trinite The Visitant departed and the Abbot return'd we all three receiv'd him M. de Valcroissant M. Angran and my self In his long conference with us he told us mucb the same things concerning the Visits of M. Hallier and his Collegues as are above related When his visit was ended F. Mulard came to see us He went to make a turn in the City and left him with M. de Valcroissant to whom he told several particularities about his Voyage and that of M. Hallier and since their arrival at Rome this very remarkable viz. that M. Hallier told him that the Pope signify'd to him at his audience that he had added Cardinal Ghiggi to the four others which his Holinesse had nominated for the Congregation with honourable Titles namely Roma Spada Ginetti and Cechini Roma he said was huomo da bene an honeâ—… man Spada huomoâ—capace an able man these were the qualities in which they excel'd without having added any thing concerning the two other I had entreated F. Guérin to endeavor to get a Copy of the Memorial which M. Hallier and his Collegues presented to the Pope that we might see as we on our part were very willing that all the world saw ours For that purpose he address'd himself to F. Noel who had great intimacy with M. Hallier F. Guerin told me that F. Noel assur'd him that there was no Copy of that Memorial iu rerum natura That it was very plain and all it contain'd that such and such deputed to his Holinesse by fourscore Bishops beseecht him to decide the Five Propositions in question or the Questions contain'd in the Five Propositions That they represented to his Holinesse that they were matters already decided and assur'd him that these Propositions had no relation at all to the Dispute between the Dominicans and Jesuites in the time of Clement VIII In the afternoon we went to see Cardinal Barberin who was ready to go abroad to Card. Brancaccio we accompani'd him thither and after a short time spent in taking the ayre he brought us to our own lodging Upon the way we spoke concerning books I complain'd chiefly of the malice of certain Authors who writ against us and for want of true grounds to do any thing falsly imputed to us some bad opinions which we own'd not and afterwards labour'd to prove against us such things as we agreed in and acknowledg'd true as well as themselves I instanc'd in the book of F. Annat de Ecclesia praesentis temporis which is wholly founded upon a false and calumnious supposition The Abbot of Valcroissant alledg'd also to him for example Riccardus who makes use likewise of the same fraud to impeach falsly the Third Proposition opposing it in a ridiculous sense of a Necessitating Grace destroying Indifference in with it was notorious that neither we nor any Catholick maintain'd it It was added further that if Riccardus had encounter'd it in a false sense M. Hallier had approv'd it during his Syndicship in its true sense We arriv'd at our Lodging whether it pleas'd his Eminence to bring us and so our Discourse broke off On Sunday the 23d in the afternoon we went to see Cardinal Ghiggi The Abbot of Valcroissant very well refuted as he had done before to Cardinal Spada some of the principal reasons for which M. Hallier and his Collegues endeavour'd to obstruct the Congregation which we demanded as also the most considerable slanders by which they endeavour'd to decry us as sworn enemies of the H. See The Cardinal heard all the Abbots Discourse calmly and when he had done askt us where M. Hallier spoke all the things whereof we complain'd for he remember'd none of them and indeed that all that was spoken to him in that manner enter'd at one ear and went out at the other That besides he was not yet commission'd by the Pope to
sentiments of S. Augustin whom the Church owneth not only as one of its Pillars but as its Master and Teacher particularly in the matters of Grace and he writ his book being a Prelate and Pastor of the Church should all those who writ before and after him have incurr'd the Censure of the H. See yet methinks all these peculiar considerations ought to secure him from it Nevertheless by a most manifest injustice endeavours are us'd to get his book subjected to Censure and to acquit all others Whereas it is alledg'd as you tell me that the other books have not been inform'd against as this hath been and that had they been complain'd of and presented to the Pope they would likewise have been prohibited This is to seem blind in these things and deeds either through ignorance or passion through ignorance and want of understanding in these matters if we admit they speak really through passion and interest if knowing well how the same have pass'd and not believing what themselves pretend they think to make the same credited by others For all the world knows how many complaints have been made how many Petitions have been presented to the Pope against the Jesuites and the books and writings publisht by them about these matters which yet they urge are prohibited to be written of In one single printed Petition have been noted I think twenty Jesuitical Authors who have set forth books since that Prohibition which is urg'd to stop that of the Bishop of Ipre When M. Sinnic pass'd by Paris to go to Rome he took with him a Copy of the Theses of Lovain printed at the foot of the Bull wherein they were expresly prohibited And for all this ignorance is pretended and they say Justice should have been done against those Authors and their writings had complaint been made thereof to the H. See I confess Sir I admire how any dare alledge such excuses in the place where you are as they so confidently do and how they can hold you in hand with c. You see Sir with what liberty I write and expose my thoughts to you in answering to your Letters 'T is an evidence of the sincerity of the friendship I bear you and of the confidence I have in yours Assure your self I do not forget you in my addresses to Almighty God I represent to him your affairs and necessities as my own and beseech him to make me as I desire to be always more and more yours which I shall look upon as his mercy towards me the making me more to be his And I desire you to beg the same of him in my behalf The same day that we desir'd the Pope's Maistre de Chambre to defer the Audience which he was willing to procure for us as I related at the beginning of this Chapter I went in the afternoon to Cardinal Ghiggi partly in reference to M. Hallier and his Collegues partly to make some Remonstrances to his Eminence touching the Consultors and M. Albizzi I told him that I came to speak to his Eminence about some things a little troublesome which concern'd our affair that I was loth to give him disturbance with them but we could not represent the same to him to the end he might take some order therein if he could unless his Eminence were advertis'd thereof that so if the Pope happened to speak to him about them he might be prepar'd to tell his Holiness his sentiments I told him that when we were sent for to Cardinal Roma to hear the Declaration which he was to make to us from the Pope concerning the erection of the Congregation M. Albizzi was present at what the Cardinal said to us that by being so it seem'd to us that M. Albizzi was intended to be Secretary of the said Congregation and that the same appear'd to us very hard to admit considering his great prepossession against us and the extreme partiality which he profess'd as openly in behalf of our Adversaries Now to satisfie the Cardinal concerning his partiality I intended to represent to him 1. What M. Albizzi had done in the business of the Houres 2. That he had told me that my opposing the Censure M. Cornet endeavour'd to get pass'd in our Faculty against the Propositions was a disservice to the H. See 3. That upon a bare suggestion of F. Mulard he had obstinately maintain'd that we were not deputed by several Bishops 4. The manner wherewith being in his Antichamber I had heard him speak of me to two Flemish Cordeliers 5. His insolence at la Minerve upon a very civil visit which we made to him 6. His opposition and rigorous and altogether unjust treatment of us about the impression of S. Augustin 7. What he had done on the other side to get publisht F. Annat's book if he could against the Popes intention and how he quarrell'd with the Printer when he saw that Fathers book prohibited by the Pope 8. The continual correspondence he hath held with M. Hallier and his Collegues since their arrival besides that which he hath always held with the Jesuites 9. VVhat I heard from F. du Plantet that he had wonderful kindness for them and their affair 10. I had also purpos'd to speak to him about the diversity of the Commaes which he had caus'd to be put into the second impression of the Bull of Vrban VIII purposely to comply with the Jesuites But I could not particularly acquaint the Cardinal with any thing but the insolence which M. Albizzi had shew'd us at la Minerve and his dealing with us about our impression of some of S. Austin's works but I did it with great resentment terming it barbarous and un procedere di Turco I added that it was a shame that he should deport himself thus with the countenance of their Eminences and oftentimes acting in their names That I had proofs hereof at hand but it would require an hours time for his Eminence to see them The Cardinal seem'd mov'd at my discourse and almost convinc'd of what I said yet he told me that we might comfort our selves for that the Pope and their Eminences would look exactly into the matter having purposed so to do that he was sorry for our discontent but should a Prince have regard to the inclinations and aversions which one side or other may have against persons nothing would ever be done I assented to him that to do so generally is difficult yet experience sometimes shows that it is necessary and the late History of Mascambrun sufficiently evidences that I had reason Then I proceeded to speak concerning the choice and alteration made of the Consultors attributing the same chiefly to the suggestions of M. Albizzi and adding that we had cause to fear that he would do his utmost to introduce persons engag'd in the sentiments of the Jesuites and exclude such as he saw inclin'd to favour S. Augustin's Doctrine The Cardinal told me by the way that S. Augustin's Doctrin
Secretary had the direction of every thing I reply'd that I was unwilling to go to M. Albizzi because perhaps his Eminence would be better within two or three days and in case his infirmity continu'd it would be time enough then to consider what course to take He was satisfi'd with this resolution and I was very glad of it being loth to come into M. Albizzi's hands sooner then needs must and partly because we might have leisure for the making of other Copies of our Papers to present to the other Cardinals at the same time that we deliver'd the first to Cardinal Roma To which purpose I went to find out divers Clerks or Copists and excepting the time of my attendance upon the Ambassador on Friday the 30th I spent that day and the next with my Collegues in setting our Clerks to work and comparing what they had written Aug. 31. going between four and five a clock in the afternoon to learn tidings of Cardinal Roma I found that he was gone abroad to make a visit hard by wherefore I staid till his return and saluted him as he alighted out of his Coach congratulating him both for his recovery and the hope it gave me that his health would permit him shortly to look upon our Papers and betake himself to all the rest of our affair He answer'd that he was far from being recover'd that he went abroad only by order of the Physitians to take a little air but as soon as it pleas'd God to restore his health he would willingly imploy it in what concern'd us I reply'd that in the mean time we would offer our prayers to God to return it sufficiently for that purpose and certainly it was much our obligation and interest so to do in regard of the understanding sincerity and uprightness wherewith we knew he would comport himself therein CHAP. VI. Of two Conferences held at Paris during this moneth of August between M. de Sainte Beuve Doctor and Professor of Sorbon and F. l'Abbe the Jesuite Other Letters written to us from Paris during the same moneth enjoyning us not to appear but in presence of our Adversaries I Receiv'd news at the end of this moneth of two famous Conferences held at Paris in presence of some persons of Quality between M. de Sainte Beuve and F. l' Abbe the Jesuite touching the subject of a work publisht by this Father in reference to the controversies of the times The Father receiv'd much confusion therein having been convinc'd of foul dealing or little intelligence of the points whereupon they confer'd which were many in number The Letter which M. de Sainte Beuve did me the favour to write to me about it contains so clear and compendious an account thereof that it may be inserted here at length with the satisfaction of those that shall read it and without much interrupting the course of the principal Narration in hand A Copy of the said Letter From Paris Aug. 2. 1652. SIR THe discourse of F. Annat is the common discourse of the Society Those good Fathers publisht here as well as at Rome that the Pope is to pronounce with all speed and when they are told that there is no Congregation yet setled in which the Parties may be heard they answer that his Holiness will not hear any Parties and that their Society hath resolv'd not to enter into a conference either at Paris or at Rome touching the controverted Doctrine This is what F. l' Abbe said to me in the conference I have had with him when he wisht it might be heard privately for fear as he said it might be disown'd by the Society which hath resolv'd not to confer about these matters Nevertheless I think not to offend them if I acquaint you with some of the particulars of it You shall know then that he hath compos'd a book entitl'd Elogium Divi Augustini Umbra ejusdem Tumulus novae Doctrinae Epitaphium Antitheses Cornelii Jansenii Divi Augustini He presented the same to M. Dugue Bagnols to whom he is known for he liv'd long at Lyons and is Procurator General of that Province M. Dugue surepris'd at the sight of those Antitheses committed the same to the perusal of some friends and by them was assured that they were full of falsifications whereupon he repair'd to the Father and engag'd him to a Conference for which I was chosen The day place and hour appointed in the presence of the Abbots Charrier and de Bernai M. M. de Morangis de Beaumont Dugue the Lievtenant Criminal of Lyons de Pomponne and Croisi at the house of M. de Bernai I offer'd to make good five things 1. That the Author in contriving his Antitheses had made use of many Treatises constantly held not to be S. Austin's 2. That it appear'd upon perusal of them that he had no tincture of the reading of that Father 3. That he had corrupted his words shamefully 4. That he had perverted his sense And 5. That he had falsifi'd M. d' Ipre in the places which he cited for his Antitheses both as to the words and the sense I prov'd the former of these 1. Because he cited as S. Austin's works the book De vera falsa Poenitentia that De Praedestinatione Gratia the Hypognosticon the 191 Sermon De Tempore which is Pelagius's Confession of Faith and the book ad Articulos sibi falso impositos and I justifi'd all this by the testimony of Cardinal Bellarmin lib. de Script Eccles in Aug. Hier. which as you see admits of no reply The second Charge I made good by producing two and twenty allegations ill made among the rest the fifth book ad Simpl. The three Operis imperfecti the ten contra Julianum And to make it appear that it was not through errors of the Printing I desir'd the F. to tell me whether they had in their Colledge the third book of the Opus Imperfectum if they had to let me see it He promis'd I should telling me they had the same of two or three Editions The third was prov'd by confronting the places as he cites him with the plain Text and made horrible things appear as for example that he added a Negation to an affirmative Proposition of S. Austin 's c. I prov'd the fourth only by two places the time enforcing brevity the first of which was an objection of S. Augustin which he cited as if it was his answer and the other was the Pelagian Doctrine which he call'd the Augustinian And for the fifth I contented my self with chusing one place out of M. d' Ipre which he falsifi'd in the citing by putting a negative for an affirmative All this convinc'd the Company who demanded of this good Father whether he had any thing to object against me whereupon apprehending that they were desirous to see me act the Respondent as well as the Opponent I declar'd that I was ready to perform that part too and for the subject of
they would obey and so he withdrew Accordingly the second Sunday of November they officiated in the profess'd House of le Giesù with the abovesaid ceremonies They celebrated the grand Masse with Deacon and Sub-deacon the Portecierges and the Port'-encense In the afternoon at Vespers which were those of S. Martin there was a Jesuite who officiated in his Surplice and Cope within the Railes there were two Portecierges and one Port-encense and two other Acolytes in Surplices all Jesuites VVhen they had about this time at their Colledge the Forty Houres they perform'd the same in like manner They were oblig'd likewise to use the same solemnity in the Noviciate when there should be a grand Mass or Vespers sung but it was not believ'd that they would make much hast in taking up this usage out of Italy where they were more distant from the Pope's presence But let us return to the things which concern us CHAP. XI New Sollicitations for the Communication of our Writings and a new Writing of M. Hallier's which fell into our hands VVE did not go out of our Lodging on Tuesday the first of October but we understood the next morning that a second Congregation was held at the House of Cardinal Spada That the other Cardinals were so late in appearing there that Cardinal Spada being impatient thereat sent Laquayes to their Eminences to know whether they would come That at length Cardinal Ginetti and Ghiggi appear'd there but Cardinal Cechini did not come at all That the consultors enter'd very late and that the congregation lasted but a very litle time In the afternoon I visited the Ambassador He told me that the day before he had seen two of the Doctors our Adversaries who acquainted him that the Conferences were begun that they were not sent for to them and that they let them alone I answer'd the Ambassador that these were the proceedings which they desir'd being acceptable enough to people that had no mind to appear publickly before the Congregation The Ambassador reply'd that nevertheless they declar'd that they were ready so to do I answer'd That they were ready indeed as those who to play the Bravoes make shew of willingness to fight a Duel but underhand for fear of becoming engag'd to fight get guards set upon themselves The Ambassador said that he had always told me that it would be a hard thing to get them at Rome to resolve upon giving us a publick hearing I answer'd that we were not yet at the end of the Affair that we should be too blame if we complain'd so soon that they would not hear us that we still hop'd they would do according to the promise made to us at the declaring of the Establishment of the Congregation which we had demanded That these first conferences which the Consultors had together were perhaps on purpose to venilitate the Propositions among themselves thereby to reduce them to clear and distinct senses which was the first thing that we had represented to the Pope as necessary to be done in order to proceed profitably and sincerely in the whole Examen and decision of this Affair The Ambassador went to see the Cardinals Capponi and Vrsini I accompanied him in those two Visits and in the Discourse that I had with him by the way I entreated him to take some occasion to get M. Hallier and M. de Valcroissant to enter into a conference together about some point of the matter in question and that it might be in his presence or of two or three of his friends with him that so it might be try'd in what maner both the one and the other would scan and discuss of things and that both sides of us might be put a little in breath by that Essay The Ambassador answer'd me that it was not fit for him to thrust himself so far into the discussion of these matters I reply'd that it would not be to decide them but no more then as when the King causes the Regiment of Guards to be exercised where every one does what he would do in a battle yet without any being victorious or vanquished or so much as any fighting offer'd on one side or other The Cureé of S. Saviour had been gratifi'd by the Pope with the Office of Sub-bibliothecary of the Vatican which is a considerable quality as well in regard of the esteem which is thereby made of the capacity of the person to whom it is given as in regard of the appurtenances annex'd to it and for that it puts a man into the rank of the Prelacy which obliges him to go in a Coach and cloth'd with violet di pavonazzo 'T was Cardinal Ghiggi his Countryman and antient friend who induc'd the Pope to acknowledge the merit and labour of this Curié by conferring the said Dignity upon him He was ours as cordially as any man could be anothers and assoon as he had in his hands the badges of his Magistracy which were the keys of the Vatican and the Achives and Presses where the Books are he came to offer us the use of them not only at the ordinary times when such as have permission may resort thither but also at all hours that we pleas'd day and night He told me on Thursday October 3. that the good Master of the sacred Palace who knew not what intimate correspondenee we had with him intreated him out of kindness to us to accommodate us with such books of the said Library as we should need If I did not fear to fall into too frequent and tedious Repetitions of the same thing I would here set down another Conference that I had with F. Mulard in presence of Sig. Domenico Ferranti and F. Fani in which he told more things concerning his Deputation the foregoing year and of that wherewith he affirmed himself encharged this year from the King about the same Affair and of M. Hallier's letters to the Cardinals and M. Albizzi then I have yet related But to leave it all and speak no more of it I will only add two new particulars more here not hitherto mentioned First That in the beginning M. Joysel was not to have been one in the voyage wherein M. Hallier was engag'd That the Letters of Recommendation from the Court in behalf of these Doctors spoke only of M. Hallier and M. Lagualt that M. Joysel aftetwards entreated them to take him into their company And secondly that the year before when his General charg'd him upon his obedience to return into France he did it partly because of the Complaints which the General of the Dominicans made against him to his General when he saw him solicit this Affair against us In the Afternoon we went to the Cardinals of our Congregation to put them in mind that it was a fortnight since we had presented our writings to them that we conceiv'd that they might have since perus'd them that in our judgements it was expedient that they would please to communicate them
deny it So that to have M. Albizzi for Secretary is to have a person whom we have had all reason to suspect ever since M. Halliers Declaration before the Faculty Moreover Sir every one knows that in Flanders it is loudly complain'd of in Books that M. Albizzi inserted something into the Bull touching M. de Ipre which was not in the sense of the late Pope of happy memory This alone ought to hinder him of being suffer'd to exercise the Office of Secretary without complaint and remonstrance to his Holiness against it Perhaps they will say That a Secretary is neither Judge nor Consultor 't is true but then it cannot be deny'd that he hath very great power in a congregation And besides though he could do no great matter yet it is not suitable to order at Rome especially where all things are done so exquisitly that the very adversaries of the Church are constrain'd to acknowledge the prudence of the proceedings wherewith things are carried there But if Sir they will not do you justice in these points I conceive it will be more expedient to produce nothing then to submit to such a congregation as that which is contrary to the intention of his Holiness And in this case leave them to ordain what they think good we shall very well know how to acquit our selves in all things Let them perplex and intangle the whole matter as much as they will yet it must be reduc'd to three points 1. VVho are the Authors of those Propositions 2. VVhether it be true that they consist of equivocal terms which is the cause that they have sundry bad senses And 3. VVhether they be condemnable according to the sense of the necessity of Grace Effectual ad singulos actus which is the only sense in which we have maintained them hitherto and pretend to maintain them for the future Now being we know that they cannot be condemned in this sense hence it is that we have no reason to apprehend any thing If they will make a Gallimawfry of them it will be easie to let all Europe see both the goodness of our cause and the bad proceedings taken to disparage a Doctrine which they durst not openly condemn Those persons will twice think what they shall do and I can scarce believe that they will contribute to the oppression of Truth and of the persons who defend The Doctors of the Faculty of Paris ought to be more considered then to be sleighted and it is not needfull to alienate the minds of those who have all possible devotion for the H. See which will be done undoubtedly in case they do not do them justice in an Affair which speaks for it self ' I have often said it to M. Duvel and I know not whether he hath told it to the Nuncio There are many persons very little affectionated towards the Holy See who wish that justice be not observed towards us hoping thereby to draw us to their party For my part I hope God will not so abandon me but I know not whether this will not much diminish the high esteem which ought to be had for what proceeds from so venerable a Throne But this Sir is enough touching that point I cannot end this Letter without letting you know that M. de Marca nominated to the Archbishoprick of Tholouse being in court last week said to M. Nain de Beau. Master of the Requests and to M. Queras our Confrere that when he consented to the setting of his name to the Letter sent to his Holiness he did it only at the entreaty of F. Petave and M. Hallier who writ to him about it and that it was never his intention to demand of the Pope a condemnation of the Propositions but only that it would please his Holiness to pronounce upon the present controversies And when the abovenamed persons reply'd to him that the Letter subscrib'd with his name demanded of the Pope the condemnation of the Five Propositions he was amazed at it and desired to see a copy of the Letter which was promised him And accordingly one being found in the hands of M. Lovistre Curée of Mantes where the court then was M. de la Militire tooke upon him to transcribe and present it to him You see Sir how the Prelates have been inveigled and how the Pope is imposed upon when it is represented to him that all the Prelates whose names are at the bottom of that Letter demand of him the condemnation of the Five Propositions as being the causes of all the stir and contentions Moreover these two Gentlemen have had the honour to confer with him about the senses of the Propositions and he acknowledg'd that ours was not condemnable and he said only that his opinion was that whosoever hath Faith hath all that is necessary from God to pray actually and he advanc'd this Doctrine founded he said upon that word of S. Augustin Fides impetrat You may judge by this what sentiment the Thomists have upon this point The Book of F. Martinon came forth here some days ago 'T is a Transcription of all that hath been written against us by our Adversaries but not a confutation of all that we have opposed to their sentiments It hath abundance of evil and unjustifiable Propositions It bears a Warlike title It may easily be rendred a pitiful piece in one printed Quire or a work like to Vulpes capta We are given to hope for one from M. Annat shortly we expect it with joy not doubting but that it will be of use for the manifesting of the Truth I am Sir c. The beginning of this Letter shews the truth of what I said to Cardinal Ghiggi in the andience he gave me on July 23. that I was not hasty to send word into France of such things as might cause dissatisfaction there so long as necessity and our obligation of informing our friends and our Bishops of what pass'd at Rome permitted me to defer or wholly dissemble them VVhen I writ touching this matter to M. de Sainte Beuve the last day of September I said nothing of the delay of communicating our writings nor of the dubiousness signified to us whether it would be granted or no nor of the Memorial which we had resolv'd to present as a more express demand thereof which might knock at the door of justice of the Cardinals chosen by the Pope to render the same to us and which might leave to posterity more express monuments of the prosecutions and unheard-of difficulties whereunto we were reduc'd in case we should one day be oblig'd to acquaint the world with such irregular proceedings I thought it sufficient to tell him only that we were solliciting their Eminences to ordain the Communication of our writings to our Adversaries and to let them know that we were ready to appear at the Congregation when it should please them to assemble it And I us'd this reservedness out of hope that we should obtain justice at
of those which I have represented to you and with more energy than I have been able to relate them but I conceived it would be sufficient if I reported to you the substance of the the principal some having escaped my remembrance others being not essential to the business Thursday morning M. de Valcroissant stay'd yet at home to prepare himself against VVednesday but M. Angran and I repaired again to Cardinal Spada's house as he appointed us the day before VVe gave him our answer almost in these very words viz. That we could not accept the offer made to us by his Eminence but upon the conditions which we had mentioned that upon those terms we were ready to accept it and comply with it that we dispair'd not to obtain the same when his Holiness and their Eminences had consider'd how just and important they were and never were deny'd by the H. See when demanded that perhaps it never hapned in any kind of judgement that the Judges signifying to one Party that they were ready to hear it and the party answering that it was ready to speak on condition its adversary might be present the Judges deny'd such a condition VVe added that to shew his Eminence that it was not particular obstinacy but an express obligation which caus'd us to act thus besides our General Commission oftentimes reiterated to us by us by particular Letters we beseecht his Eminence to look upon one which we had received lately wherein the aforesaid Order was most expresly renewed And hereupon my Lords we presented to him a Copy of the Letter which you did us the honour to write to us the 28th of November last we desired his Eminence to read it and offer'd to leave the Original with him for more surenesse His Eminence replyd that there was no need of it yet if we pleased for our own satisfaction to read it he would hear it So we read the Original to him Which ended his Eminence excepted at those passages of the Letter whieh concerned our adversaries and said in their defence that they seem'd not to him desirous of avoiding a mutual conference but on the contrary professed to wish it and to be ready for it and further declar'd that however the H. See proceeded in this affair they were contented We answer'd that we wonder'd not much if in some occasions they professed to desire such a Conference but we conceived that what emboldned them to speak thus of it was their perceiving that it was not likely to be granted to us and that if they should find that they must come to it they would not be so desirous of it His Eminence reply'd that it was one thing to conjecture the secret intentions of persons and an other to tell what of them appeared outwardly but as for what appeared of those Doctors none could deny but they were so dispos'd and were perfectly submissive to all that should be ordain'd by the H. See not only in reference to the Decision it self but also as to the manner of proceeding These affected compliances which our Adversaries have always in their mouths and boast of upon all occasions call'd to my mind that the principal artifice made use of by Pelagius and Caelestius to circumvent Pope Zozymus was the professing an absolute submission to him as * * Annal. Eccles ad an 417 418. Baronius observes But we answered his Eminence that we did not judge of them by their secret intentions but by what they declar'd at their first coming in presence of a person of unexceptionable credit who would attest the same to his Eminence if it were needfull For when it was propos'd that they and we together should by common consent sue for such a Congregation upon being press'd to it at last they answer'd plainly that if we could obtain it they would appear before it but they would first do all they could to hinder it demanding formally a pure and absolute condemnation of the Propositions without hearing of parties We added that this proceeding did not surprise us because we certainly knew they could make good nothing against us either by speech or writing when it came to be compar'd with what we had to say on the other side to overthrow it His Eminence said that we spoke very confidently and our Adversaries no less that they had shew'd as well as we by the Books which they had made touching this matter that they could easily defend themselves viva voce and by writing it being easier to do it this way then by printed works of which all the world must judge We answered that we could not perswade our selves that his Eminence had perus'd the Books of both sides for then he could not but have found that they were reduc'd by this way to the necessity either of being silent or alledging nothing more but indefensible things The Cardinal did not assent to this nor yet altogether gainsay it but leaving the cause between both and saying that this was our conceit ann perhaps others were of another mind I know not how we fell again upon the principal subject of our discourse but his Eminence alledg'd for instances against our demand the Conference of Poissy and Fontainebleau and other ordinary Disputations which produce no fruit We answer'd that it was not to be wonder'd because in those Conferences and ordinary Disputations there were no Judges to determine upon hearing of the parties which was in the right His Eminence further said that he wonder'd at the assurance wherewith both we and our Adversaries spoke of our affairs We answered that this was a motive to perswade the bringing of us together that it might be seen who had reason in the allegations advanc'd in the absence of their adversaries His Eminence said that Conferences serv'd only to exasperate men's minds more and produce division and noise VVe answer'd that if any one fell impertinently into heat in these Conferences it would be to his own prejudice and besides upon the first appearance of such misbehaviour a little admonition would settle all again and we beseecht his Eminence to consider what we had represented to him for the obtaining of a Conference He reply'd that we might sollicite it and if the Pope appointed so well VVe answered that we sollicited not only his Holiness but likewise his Eminence for it That we knew the Pope would do nothing therein without his advice and that his Holiness had so great esteem of him that we doubted not but to which ever side he inclin'd he sway'd much in the business VVherefore we had recourse to him and supplicated him to further our sute with his Holiness The same Evening my Lords I went to acquaint the Ambassador with the passages of these three visites to Cardinal Spada and to beseech him to speak thereof to his Holiness the next day being that of his audience and procure one for us to the end that we might make our Remonstrances to him our selves
from the King of Poland I writ thereupon to M. Fleury the Queen of Poland's Confessor from whom I received the following Answer From Grodna in Lituania January 17 1653. SIR I Read to the Queen the Contents of your Letter of the last of November She was amaz'd when she heard that you were assured that the King of Poland had written in favour of the Fathers and to press the conclusion of our affair and that his Majesty fear'd that doctrine might spread in his Kingdom Two dayes after the Queen told me in presence of her first Physitian a good Friend of the Fathers that he had spoken to the King about it and the King affirmed that he had not written He said indeed that he had been much press'd to do it and that within three or four dayes but alwayes refus'd to write and would leave the cause to be judg'd without medling in it that it was not an affair for a King but for the H. See and the Pope This Sir I thought good to write to you that you may be confirm'd in the knowledge you have otherwise that the good Fathers employ other weapons than Study and Prayer for advancing their designs and for the judgement of an Affair wholly Ecclesiastical c. 'T is clear by this Letter that the King of Poland had not written about this matter Yet the assurances given me at Rome of the receit of his Letters there were very express and that which the Pope himself said to me was a very evident confirmation of it So that it seems doubtfull whether amongst the Arms made use of by the good Fathers to promote theit designs there was not a supposititious Letter of the King of Poland as there had been a False Censure of the Faculty of Divinity of Paris Their false Deputy F. Mulard was at Chartres the same Month where upon the Eye of the King he visited M. Feron Doctor of the Society of Sorbonne and Abbot of S. Laumer and told him that he was come from Rome and should return thither suddenly with good tackle against the Thomists That the H. F. would shortly pronounce upon the controverted Propositions and according to all probability in favour of the Molinists This notice was given by the said Sieur Peron the next day in a Letter to an intimate Friend of his Doctor of Sorbonue M. Brousse sent me word by one of the 24th That a Friend of his a considerable Officer of the Queen's told him that he was present on Monday before when the Bishop of S. Malo told her Majesty no doubt upon the Letters which he had receiv'd from M. Hallier that three of the Propositions were already condemn'd and the rest would be so suddenly That these reports were dispersed abroad and occasioned many persons of Quality to resort to him for information of the truth In fine I learnt by the Letters of this Month that as Orders were given and extraordinary endeavours used to pluck M. Cordon out of the Colledge of Montaigu and M. Monassier out of his Chair of Divinity in the University of Caën so the like had been employ'd to hinder two Fathers of the Oratory from preaching ar Paris in the two Churches where they were retain'd That M. Argentier went to the Marguilliers of S. Bennet to tell them from the Queen that her Majesty would not have F. Des Mares preach there and that a Letter under the Privy-Seal was sent from the King to F. le Boulx to forbid him comming to Paris where he was also to preach in another Church CHAP. V. Containing what pass'd in the first dayes of February particularly concerning a Memorial prepared by the General of the Augustines touching the Five Propositions Of a Letter which we writ to our Bishops informing them that the Congregation appointed for us by the Pope took the style of the Congregation of the H. Office And of a Writing of M. Halliers which came by chance to my hands THe first of February I visited Cardinal Altieri who was about to return me the Book of Prevailing Grace which we had lent him and the first Chapter of our Writing concerning S. Augustin's authority which he had caus'd to be transcrib'd being to return to his Bishoprick the Monday following He told me that he thought the Pope had intended to adde him to our Congregation but for certain respects because he must have added others too it was not done and that his Holiness was willing that when he took his leave again in the last Consistory their long Discourse should make the world believe that they had many affairs but they had none at all and all that they said was only familiar and indifferent things I know not whether I was mistaken in my suspition that the cause of the Pope's declining to adde this Cardinal to the Congregation was his having open'd his mind too freely to others about the necessity and justice of hearing the Parties as we demanded and seriously sifting the whole matter de Auxiliis before any thing could be reasonably pronounced upon the Propositions But so it was we were depriv'd of his protection and bore his absence with the same submission to God's good pleasure which we used in all other difficultâ—es opposite to our desires of seeing his Truth triumph over all those who assaulted and oppress'd it so unworthily The same morning I went to la Minerve where I learnt that F. Barellier and F. Reginald went the day before to the Ambassador by their Genera'ls order to beseech him to allow them to intervene in the affair of the Propositions against the Jesuites and that the Ambassador answer'd them that their intervention would be no wise displeasing to the King whose whole interest in the affair was to have it decided with the greatest diligence possible Sunday Feb. 2. the day of the Purification having first accompany'd the Ambassador to the Pope's Chappel and according to my weak measure perform'd the duties of pyety required by that Festival I went to our Advocate who told me that being with Cardinal Spada at the end of a Congregation held at his House and speaking to him about our affair his Eminence told him strange things cose stupende which yet our Advocate did not explain to me exactly That as for our demands the Cardinal said the Pope had given order to treat this affair in the manner wherein they acted and till his Holiness appointed otherwise they could not alter it That it was not in their power but if we would obtain more than was hitherto done we must address to the Pope Touching the persons against whom we excepted our Advocate told me further that we could not accomplish our desire that he advis'd us to desist from it otherwise we should make so many persons our Enemies to no purpose That in conclusion he ask'd the Cardinal how the affair stood then in the Congregation who answer'd him that it was under examination whether the Propositions were any of those which
as I had now done and that we were so far from thinking to inform the others that on the contrary we had avoided all occasions of doing it because we would not do it but to good purpose which could not be but according to the manner and form which we demanded The same day I desir'd our Advocate to go to the Cardinals of our Congregations and press them with the most urgent reasons he could to grant us a Conference We talkt largely together about the consequences which were to be feared in case they should not grant it and he undertook to visit them for the purpose aforesaid except Cardinal Pamphilio whom he said he could not yet addresse to but for each of the rest he took a Copy of the two Memorials which he had presented to the Pope to leave with their Eminences after he had spoken to them what he intended Tuesday the 4th I went to shew F. Annat's book to Cardinal Spada that he might thereby see that the Jesuites were in the cause as well as M. Hallier and his Collegues in as much as these Doctors were but as the Agents and Pamphlet-venters of those Fathers The Cardinal answer'd that he had never told me that those Fathers were not of the same opinions or that they acted not something underhand but that they had not spoken to him about them and that the Pope having put two Dominicans into the Congregation for one Jesuite we were rather favour'd than otherwise VVe heard in the morning at la Minerve that the General of the Domincians was gone to get audience of the Pope to present his Memorial and his Papers to his Holiness and that the Commissary of the H. Office desir'd to speak with M. de Valcroissant as a particular Friend and that we might go to him by the back stairs In the afternnon I accompani'd him thither He propounded to us some difficulties upon the first Proposition in which having receiv'd satisfaction from M. de Valcroissant's answers he told us that it would be good that we could meet together some times but in such a place as might not give jealousie to any body I spoke to him concerning F. Annat's book newly printed I shew'd it him and told him it was the same Writing which M. Hallier and his Collegues had presented to him four or five Months before He answer'd me that he had one of them too but had not had time yet to read it Some dayes before this visit a Writing of good length made by our Adversaries upon the third Proposition fell into my hands we caus'd it to be transcrib'd by several Amanuenses that it might be precisely restor'd by the time at which he who lent it us was oblig'd to return it Afterwards recovering two others one upon the fourth and che other upon the fifth Proposition we apprehended that these three Writings were parts of an intire Treatise upon the Propositions and consequently that we wanted what had been commented upon the two first but we could never light upon them That upon the Third Proposition was nothing but a heap of passages and argumentations out of Ricardus and F. Pelau in his Treatise of Liberty and besides an infinite number of wrested citations it was wholly founded upon a point not at all in question For it pretended to show that according to the Fathers Free-will requires some kind of Indifference Now this was never disputed none having ever deny'd that Free-will is alwayes inseparably in this life joyn'd with the indifference held by the Thomists that is to say with an active power of acting or not acting Nevertheless upon this false foundation all the said Tract is built and falls to the ground by the sole distinction of two sorts of Indifference whereof one which is held by Molina destroyes Effectual Grace because it infers that a man may so act and not act that it sometimes comes to pass that the VVill acts not and consents not to the same Grace which causes it to act at another time in the same dispositions and this is that which we oppos'd The other held by the Thomists does not in any sort destroy Effectual Grace since it so gives the active power of not doing that whereunto Effectual Grace determines us that yet it never comes to pass that the thing is not done And as for this sort of Indifference we not only never rejected it but have formerly admitted it in a hundred places of our Writings But hence it is easie to judge what impression might be made upon the minds of the Cardinals by the noise of a hundred passages pretended to be formally against the opinions of the Jansenists which they understood only by the fabulous and calumnious reports which it pleas'd our Adversaries to make of them in their Writings and Discourses And 't is pleasant to observe that as they attributed to those Utopian Jansenists which subsisted only in their own brains the imaginary Opinion of an absolute Necessity which takes away the power of acting and not acting and destroyes Indifference so they make them speak after their mode and attribute answers to them which no body ever thought of Respondent primò Jansenistae voluntatem hoc quidem posse si velit quia si vellet hoc ipso actu illud faceret sed non posse illud velle propter grntiam qua impedit ne id velit Which is a ridiculous answer sorg'd by them at pleasure for no body denyes that the Will can resist Effectual Grace and hath the active power to will it though it never comes to pass that it doth will it because Grace makes it will the contrary and determines it to will not to use the power which it hath Respondent secundò say they further hoc sensu Voluntatem posse dissentire quatenùs absente gratia non operatur illud bonum ad quod per gratiam excitatur quod eâ praesente necessariò operatur This is properly the ridiculous Chimaera of the Necessitating Grace which destroyes the active power of resisting it self whilst it is present It sprung first in F. Annat's Imagination who diffus'd it into those of M. Hallier and his Collegues and by their means endeavour'd to perswade the Cardinals and Consultors of it 'T is easie to triumph thus over Adversaries by attributing to them imaginary opinions and answers The length of this Writing hinders me from transcribing it particularly I shall only adde that it is concluded with the ordinary Protestation that they do not persecute the Propositions in the sense of Effectual Grace and that the question is not about the points contested between the Dominicans and the Jesuites Colligitur secundo say they in the writing upon the Fifth Proposition quid dicendum sit illis qui hanc esse putant controversiam de auxiliis Divinae Gratiae tamdiù olim dissertatam sub duobus Pontificibus inter Thomistas Jesuitas jamque hoc pretextu Janseniani utuntur ut Censuras eludant cum
Jesuites he answer'd me that the condition of a Doctor were very unhappy if it oblig'd to renounce the acquaintance and commerce of the Jesuites Thursday the eleventh I carri'd Cardinal Spada a Copy of the printed Preface of F. Annat's Bibliotheca to confirme to him further how those Fathers interessed and carri'd themselves in this affair And the next day I shew'd the same to our Advocate that he might see by the thing spoke of himself therein the extrem impudence and shamelesnesse of that Writer Our Advocate scarcely beliving his own eyes desir'd to transcribe what concern'd himself that he might keep it as a proof of the spirit of Lying and bitternesse of those good Fathers But I say'd him the labour promising to send him an intire Copy As for the Memorials deliver'd to him to be presented to our Cardinals of which I askt him tidings he said he had been with but two namely Ginetti and Cechini and not with the others because those two refused to receive a of Copy those Memorials after as they alledg'd the Pope had declar'd his pleasure and signifi d that he would not grant the contradictory audience and reciprocal communication of writings demanded therein So that our Advocate return'd the same to me saving one Copy which he kept for himself But to comfort me in some sort for the trouble it might be to me to see things so remote from our hopes he told me one out of friendship which he hap learn't in discourse with Cardinal Ginetti who was his great friend and open'd his mind to him namely that his Emincence believ'd that nothing would be done or if any thing such as would do neither hurt nor good questo non portareble ne nocumento ne grovamento and that we had reason to be not a little satisfi'd because we had sav'd a Bull which our Adversaries would undoubtedly have extorted from the H. See had not we come to Rome Fryday the 14th after accompanying the Ambassador to the Pop's Palace we went to that of Cardinal Pamphilio to try whether we could present our book to his Eminence before the Ambassador came thither but we could not In his Antichambre we found the Bishop of Borgo who in a long converse told us that being lately in a company where F. Palavicini was this Jesuite said of S. Augustin that he was no great Divine che sant ' Agostino non era gran Theologo I made a visite in the evening wherein I learn't two things First that an Officer Of the Pope's chamber said that if his Holinesse could condemn us he would willingly do it because he saw all France wholly dispos'd to receive and cause to be executed all the Decrees which he should make if they were against the Jansenists but if nothing could be done against them nothing should be done at all Secondly that there had been a Congregation the Wednesday foregoing at the Pope's Palace which lasted three houres and that one of the most sagacious Consultors had said to a Cardinal who told it me that all things went alla peggio were in a very bad posture there that there was another appointed on Tuesday following and that all who knew his Holines's accustom'd circumspection and slownesse and the heavy and long manner of proceeding of the Court of Rome which occasion'd the Anagram and Proverb Roma Mora wonder'd extremely at this extraordinary speed and presag'd no good from it because it was wholly contrary to the genius of Rome and yet amore to that of his Holinesse We spent all the morning of Tuesday the 18th in the Antichamber of Cardinal Pamphilio to see whether we could present our Book to him But his door was so inviron'd with persons desirous to speak with him amongst whom were the Generals of the Sommasques the Conventual Cordeliers and the Jesuites crowding to use M. Albizzi's words tanquam aliqui de populo as all the rest did to enter where his Eminence was that all we could do was to get out of the throng and in expectation till it was over talk with some Prelates whom we found in the Antichamber amongst which was the Bishop of Borgo At length the multitude diminish'd and many who were as earnest as we were at last constrain'd to return as well as we without speaking to the Cardinal the Resident of Genua comming to his Eminence after he had done his audience with his Holinesse Thursday the 20th as I was going to Cardinal Barberin I met F. Reginald in the street who told me that a Consultor ask'd whether he might safely affirm in the Congregation that we acknowledg'd the Sufficient Graces held by the Thomists because he hop'd to make great advantage of such a Declaration for if we would do this he hop'd that M. Hallier and his Collegues might make one in favour of Effectual Grace I answer'd F. Reginald that there was no difficulty between the Divines of his Order and us as to the substance of those imperfect Graces which they term Sufficient but that before making a Declaration of so much before a Congregation there ought to be such a one establish'd as we demanded and that while this continu'd to act as it begun we could not make any before it being resolved not to own it As for M. Hallier and his Collegues we would not hear of any Treaty with them When I came to Cardinal Barberin I told him that the last time I had the honour to see his Eminence he askt me whether we agreed with the Thomists and I was now come to satisfie him For which purpose I presented to him the third Chapter of the Information which we had prepar'd upon the first Proposition He answer'd me that those Writings were very long that all the world could not see them That if we would present a little Memorial and thereby declare that we held Sufficient Grace as Alvarez and Lemos I reply'd that we could not give any such private Memorial but this and every thing else should be seen in the progress of the Congregation when it should be held He told me that the Congregation made hast I answer'd his Eminence that it was without our partaking in it and so long as it was held in that manner we could do no otherwise I spent the afternoon at Cardinal Ghiggi's apartment but he would not give me audience The things considerable which I learnt there were these First That the Pope had promis'd F. Lezzana a while since to give him permission to write and print concerning the matter de Auxiliis as this Father told me and that he came to desire his Eminence to put his Holiness in mind of it To which the Cardinal answer'd that he must have patience till after Easter and that in the mean time it would be seen what would be the result of those Congregations And Secondly That a Fourth Congregation was to be held before the Pope upon Saturday following in the afternoon which I discover'd by a Bill which
where he pleases Because as he saith elswhere God hath the will 's of men more in his power then they have themselves Let them hear S. Prosper in his Poem of Grace chap. 16. where he hath this sense But the Grace of Christ being through Christ all-powerful heals a languishing soul after another manner 't is the spirit and hand of God himself both beginning and accomplishing his divine work Let a man be young or old rich or poor yet when that exerts its activity any time is favorable Nothing withstands its powerful assistance hardnesse of heart do's not stop its course And all the vain power of the second cause yields to his high designes purposed before the foundations of the world Whence this Argument may be fram'd The grace of God which is of such a nature that it can change the most opposite wills of men and convert to good those whom he pleases when he pleases and where he pleases he having alwayes in his power the means of doing that which pleases him without ever being lyable to any retardment from the contrary manners or inclinations of men by any cause or obstacle whatsoever is perfectly free and independent as to its efficacy or any natural disposition whatsoever But the Grace by which God converts the wills of men and which the Church asks of him in her prayers is such according to S. Augustin and S. Prosper and the contrary opinion cannot be held without folly or impiety Therefore the Grace by which God turns the wills of men and which the Church desires in her prayers is perfectly free and independent upon any natural disposition whatsoever and the contrary opinion is impious But moreover we see that the Churches prayers are grounded not only upon God's prescience but upon his vertue and energy which acts upon our will as it pleases him For as is above shewn the Church prayes thus in the Collect of the Holy Altar us'd almost throughout the whole East Lord give us vertue and the meanes to preserve it cause the wicked to become good and uphold the good in their goodnesse For thou art able to do all things and none can withstand thee Thou savest when thou pleasest and no person resists thy pleasure Whereas on the contrary by this Answer of the Molinists the prayers of the Church should not be grounded upon the power but the prescience of God and 't would not be needful to pray for a Grace whereby he may turn our will to himself and fill us with his love but only for a Grace whereby he may know by his prescience that we will turn our selves to him not by the power of a determining and applying grace but by the motion of our own Free-will Whence it would follow that God gives only a grace of Possibility whereof he foresees our will will make good use in such and such circumstances and not the grace to will and to do that is which operates both the will and the action which is the most impious opinion that can be imagin'd Again 't is indubitable that God by his prescience knows all the good works which we are to perform But the ground of his knowing them beforehand is that 't is himself who will do them he sees them before they are done because he ha's prepar'd and predestinated the good works in which he will have us walk See how S. Augustin speaks touching this matter in the book De Praedest Sanctorum cap. 10. That which the Apostle saith speaking of good works That God hath prepar'd them to cause us to walk therein denotes Predestination which cannot be without Prescience as Prescience may be without Predestination For God by his predestination hath foreseen the things which himself is to do Whence it it is said by the Scripture That God doth the things which are not yet come to passe but he can also know these by his Prescience which himself effecteth not as all sins After which he proves that the good works which we perform are not those which God hath barely foreseen but which he hath promis'd and consequently works in us For he promiseth saith he what he is to effect himself and not what men are to effect because though men perform holy actions pertaining to the Worship of God yet 't is God himself who causeth them to perform what he hath commanded them and 't is not they who cause God to accomplish what he hath promis'd otherwise it would follow that the accomplishment of Gods promises depended upon men and not upon God himself and that 't was they who acquitted God towards Abraham of what he had promis'd to Abraham Now that H. Patriarch had no such beleef but giving glory to God he stedfastly believ'd that God was able to do what he had promis'd The Scripture saith not that God could foretell or foresee it For he can foretell and foresee what others will do and not himself but it saith that he could do it denoting thereby that what he promis'd was not what others were to do but what he would do himself From which words of S. Augustin I shall with Your favor M. H. F. form this Argument The prayers which the Church makes to God have no other foundation but Gods very promises But Gods promises are founded only upon his power and not upon his prescience Therefore the Churches prayers are likewise founded only upon God's power This Argument may be propounded after another manner and more convincingly God acts in the hearts of men to work out their salvation in such manner as he ha's promis'd to act therein But God promis'd Abraham the faith and conversion of Idolatrous Nations not because he foresaw that they would believe but because he had power to cause them to believe Therefote he daily acts after the same manner in the heart of man in reference to faith and conversion not because he foresees that man will turne by his grace but because he is able and hath resolv'd to work such consent in his heart But I will concede to our Adversaries that the Church prays to God for no other grace in order to all actions of piety then that which they call Congruous in the sense before explicated and to which he foresees that man will freely consent if he give him the same Yet this very thing is more then sufficient to refute their doctrine and convince their errors For as 't is evident by what I have already said the Church asks no other grace of God for a pious action then that which it believes wholly and absolutely necessary to the doing thereof But the Church for every pious action desires that grace which they term Congruous And consequently believes absolutely and wholly necessary to every pious action Thus they who have not this Grace for a certain action of piety suppose Repentance have not all the grace which is necessary to repent But all whom the Church prays God to turn to himself by
may spread no further 't is requisite to apply the Iron and the Fire to this sore For what can be more wicked and heathenish more remote from our holy Religion and more opposite to the first of Christianity Is there any thing more deadly to souls more apt to thrust them into a precipice and more likely to expose them to all kind of dangers They thereby highly declare themselves themselves enemies of the Catholick faith they publish their ingratitude for the benefits which they have receiv'd from God and care not to be worthy of our Communion since they have polluted it by publishing such errors They have absolutely abandon'd our Religion For there is nothing whereunto our profession more obliges us and all our daily prayers to God tending only to implore his mercy how can we endure them who teach such errors What strange error is that which blinds them Do not they deserve to be plung'd as they are in such grosse darknesses 'T is fit to root them out of the midst of us they are to be driven far from the Church that the evil may be kept from taking more root in our bowels and by spreading further become incurable What this Gangrene hath corrupted is to be cut off from what remains sound in the body of the Church to the end the strength of so dangerous a poyson reach not to the parts which are not yet sick and that the flock may remain sound by the separation of the sheep infected with this cruel pestilence Now wherefore M. H. F. doth this great Pope speak with so much heat against those Hereticks unlesse because they dared to affirm that men have no need of Effectual Grace for the performing of Righteousnesse overcoming of sin and observing of Gods Commandments For he accuses them throughout the said Letter of denying that assistance of God which we pray for and consequently of taking away the necessity of prayer But the succour which we ask and obtain by prayer is effectual by it self and cannot be understood after any other manner as I have most clearly prov'd Consequently the cause of his condemning them as Hereticks and declar'd enemies of the faith and Christian piety is because they affirm'd that we have no need of the grace of God effectual by it self for the accomplishing the Commandments surmounting temptations Now this is the very same which the Molinists teach and maintain at this day whilst they hold their sufficient Grace subject to Free-will and I shall further presse them with this Argument which shall be the conclusion of all that I have hitherto spoken The cause why S. Augustin the Fathers of the Council of Carthage Pope Innocent I. and the whole Church condemn'd the doctrine of the Pelagians as impious heretical sacrilegious is for that it follows from thence that the Grace which the Church begs of God by her prayers is not necessary in order to doing good Whence it appears that every Doctrine from whence the same consequence may be drawn is likewise heretical sacrilegious and worthy to be strucken with Anathema But it follows from the Molinistical doctrine of sufficient Grace subject to Free-will as to its use that the grace which the Church asks of God by her prayers is not necessary in order to doing good since as I have shewn by invincible proofs the Grace implor'd by the Churches prayers is effectual by it self and it followes from the doctrine of sufficient Grace subject to Free-will is not necessary to doing good Therefore it follows from the doctrine of Molinistical grace that the Grace implor'd by the Churches prayers is not necessary to doing good and thus by manifest consequence the doctrine of Molinistical grace subject to Free-will ought according to the judgement of S. Augustin all the other Bishops of Africk Pope Innocent I. and the universal Church to be accounted heretical sacrilegious and worthy to be struck with Anathema I purposed M. H. F. here to end this so long Dispute at this time for fear of being tedious to Your Holinesse but judging by the gentlenesse and extream goodnesse wherewith You do me the honour to hear me that You give me full liberty of speaking and will not be displeas'd that I employ what remains of this day in bringing new proofs I shall endeavor to show by a second testimony of S. Augustin the truth of the same Proposition which I have undertaken to prove and which is the subject of all the present Contest namely that Grace effectual by it self is necessary to all actions of piety 'T is the subject which that great Saint handles in the book De Gratia Christi wherein he represents so clearly and with such lively colours what is the true Grace of Jesus Christ to the end that the same may be distinguisht from that false Grace which Pelagius endeavor'd to establish by his disguisements and artifices But that the testimony of this great Light of the Church may have as much weight and authority upon Your Holiness's mind as it deserves I conceive requisite to give Your Holinesse a brief account of the occasion of S. Augustin's writing that Book 'T is therefore to be observ'd as Ecclesiastical History and that Book it self teach us that Albinus Pinianus and Melanius so Illustrious among the Romans for their birth quality and piety that none surpass'd them in Nobility Dignity and Riches going out of devotion into Palestine and there finding Pelagius exhorted him to condemn in writing the evil opinions whereof he was accus'd whereunto he scrupled not to condescend in hope that by pronouncing a false Anathema upon them and making a disguis'd and artificial profession of faith he might attract to himself persons of so great authority and cause all the world to judge him innocent not only of the crime but likewise of the suspition of Heresie See the words which he writ I anathematise those who affirm or believe that the grace whereby Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners is not necessary not only in all places of the earth but also in every moment and in all our actions And I acknowledge that all they who endeavor to abolish or oppose it fall into eternal condemnation Assoon as Albinus and Pinianus had this confession of Pelagius's faith in their hands they sent it to S. Augustin and desir'd him to send them his judgement upon it He answer'd them that Pelagius spoke like a Catholick and yet was much to be distrusted because he hid his poison under the ambiguity of the word Grace thereby the more easily to deceive such as took not the more heed thereunto And upon this occasion he expresly writ a whole Book concerning the grace of Jesus Christ and sent the same to them wherein he descries all Pelagius's artifices unfolds all the ambiguities of his words teaches what is to be understood by the words Jesus Christs Grace and what Grace that is which Pelagius ought to confesse necessary to
that all the Conventual Cordeliers who had chosen their General in the morning came with him in great number to salute the Pope and kisse his Holinesse's feet F. Modeste was of this Order and pretended to this Generalship There was a Statute of the Order which render'd him uncapable of being nominated For the removing of which obstacle he obtained an expresse Brief of the Pope Cardinal Pamphilio was Protector of this Order that is in plain terms according as things are transacted the Master and Soveraign of it and on Friday he went in person purposely to sollicite the suffrages of the Fryers in favor of F. Modeste Now this Cardinal having conferr'd with the said Fathers about the matter held himself so assur'd of this Election that on Friday he told the Pope who concern'd himself therein that the businesse was as good as done On Saturday very early he return'd to speak to those Fathers again that he might keep them in the same mind but several of the Fathers looking upon this proceeding as having some shew of violence there arose a loud cry amongst the multitude Libertà Libertà Liberte Liberte which cry was begun by certain French Hereupon Cardinal Pamphilio who before accounted the thing most certain withdrawing himself that he might avoid giving occasion to those complaints and leave them to make their Election in peace the Fryers chose an other then F. Modeste which being reported to Cardinal Pamphilio he conceiv'd himself oblig'd to give the Pope notice thereof forthwith The Pope seeing this so sudden change of the state wherein this Cardinal told him things were the day before said these words to him perhaps partly in jest and partly otherwise Veramente nuscirete bene in un Conclave 'T is likely you would speed well in a Conclave CHAP. XXVI Of the Letters writ to me from Paris during the month of May and June concerning my relation of what pass'd at Rome during May. SCarce any thing considerable was writ to me by the two first Posts that return'd in May but what was at least reiterated and spoken more expresly by those Letters of the three last Wherefore to abridge and retrench unnecessary repetitions I shall here give an account only of those of the 16th 23d and 30th of this month Those of the 16th spoke of a ridiculous Libel which the Molinists caus'd to be cry'd up and down the streets whereof they were afterwards asham'd See what M. de S. Beuve writ to me about it Since the prank which those of this City had the boldnesse to play last week they have publish'd nothing they blush when they are reproacht with the insolence of causing a ridiculous piece to be cry'd about intitled A CATALOGVE INSTRVCTION SENT BY OVR H. F. THE POPE AGAINST THE JANSENISTS They turn the fault from themselves upon the Hawkers and Pamphlet-venters And neverthelesse 't is certain that M. le Moine was the Approbator of it as I found by a Letter wrii to me by M. Taignier May 9. touching the same The Libel saith he whereof I spoke to M. Valcroissant is publisht under the Licence of M. le Moine who hath written with his own hand at the bottom of the Frontispiece THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS WRITING WHICH MAY HINDER IT FROM BEING PRINTED LE MOINE I have this Writing with le Moine's Original Signature The Molinists absolutely affirm that the Condemnation of the Propositions is most assured and will undoubtedly be receiv'd at the end of this month You will receive F. Annat's book de Ecclesia praesentis temporis by the Messenger who sets forth on Tuesday In his Letter of the 23d M. de S. Beuve speaks thus Sir I understand by your last Letter that nothing has been done since Easter but the reasons thereof are unknown to me only people spend their judgements much concerning this delay I leave policy to the Italians and tell you that you must still act vigorously and pursue the destruction of Molinism It makes me somewhat impatient that the Dominicans have not yet presented their Memorial I know all arts are practis'd to make them desist M. de Marguerie a known disciple of the Jesuites though an antient Counsellor of State proclaims the General of the Dominicans Pragmatical and ignorant and takes this liberty even in speaking to Dominicans from whom I heard it Judge whence such language hath its original M. le Moine lately discoursing in our Court with the Abbot de Bourzeys and my self and blaming the Abbot for imposing upon him in his last book by accusing him of denying Scientia Media after some pleasant discourse amongst the rest the Abbot telling that he did not declare himself for Scientia Media openly till after the printing or at least writing of this book having till the last year avoided the Question but that he saw how he drew near Molina every day inasmuch as he affirm'd that the Grace of Action cannot be explicated but by Scientia Media at length the Discourse fell upon the Declaration of the Dominicans for S. Augustin's Doctrine and M. le Moine let slip this word that only two or three poultry Jacobin's declar'd themselves at Rome I could not suffer this language but took him up and told him that he was mistaken that the whole Order was of that mind that I knew it most perfectly to all which he was silent M. Annat said lately that he conceiv'd M. Hallier would return speedily I know not whether it be because he is to be at the Council of Tours appointed on the first of July but I know certainly that Pass-ports have been sent for him and his Collegues Perhaps they will substitute F. Mulard in their place as a most worthy Deputy an exemplary Monastick and a man of great probity I wish I may be mistaken concerning M. N. but I fear I am not The new-chang'd Propositions are in my opinion a testimony of the weaknesse of our Adversaries Good use must be made of this opportunity and two things inculcated to every one First That they endeavor to put the change upon us and secondly That they have no order from the Bishops to demand the Examen of these Propositions After which they must be urg'd to alledge the Authors of them and his Holiness convinc'd that they abuse the H. See by going about to delude it with their malicious and envenomn'd imaginations For my part I confesse I know not with what conscience M. Cornet contriv'd the first Propositions or our Adversaries there substituted the second Fail not to demand the condemnation of the Propositions injurious to S. Augustin's authority at their first Audience 'T is left to your prudence to propound other Propositions according as you shall judge expedient I think no day in the course of these two years afforded me more Letters worthy of inserting in this Journal then this thirtieth of May I have half a dozen in my hands whereof the first was from my Lord the Bishop of Chaalons Sur Marne
of the Consultors affirm'd that in their suffrages none of them not even F. Palavicini himself qualify'd the Propositions with those rigorous terms which are in the Censure The third was dated June 28. and written by F. Guerin who amongst a thousand other good Offices which his inexhaustible charity and singular affection to Monseigneur d' Anger 's and to us induc'd him to do for us both during our residence at Rome and after our departure acquainted me with some which I shall here relate in his own words I have presented your books to wit our little tomes of S. Augustin to the Cardinals Franciotti Trivultio and Omodei who receiv'd them with great joy and expressions of acknowledgement especially the first and the last But the two first particularly Trivultio profess'd that they were much surpriz'd when he saw the Popes Censure forasmuch as there was great likelyhood and reason that you should be heard Trivultio said he did not think that it would any wise conduce to the establishment of peace but rather the contrary because though his Holiness seems in appearance not to have touch'd S. Augustin yet he hath done it indirectly and will cause much trouble The two others earnestly prest the Oration and the Dictinction of the senses of the Propositions which all three judg'd should have been in the Censure Franciotti hath made them already and I shall carry them to Omodei afterwards He had put off our House to Monsignor Caffaretti and sold our furniture presently after our departure and therefore understanding our offer to the Bishops to return to Rome if they pleas'd he offer'd us his own in that case till another could be provided in this obliging manner If you return to Rome be sure you alight nowhere else but at my house if you will have me your friend The fourth is of the same date June 28. written by F. Petit Priest of the Oratory and superior of these which are at Rome in Saint Lewis's Covent Sir I Have received yours of the 21. of June with the inclosed which I have distributed I have seen as many of your friends as I could and presented your recommendations to them they are all glad to hear of your health and pray our Lord Jesus Christ to continue strength and health to you till you come to the end of your Voyage where I doubt not but you will have great Encounters to undergo for the cause of Truth Now F. Dinet is grown so potent at Court by his guidance of the Kings conscience he will not fail to make use of that Authority for persecuting the Truth and those who defend it As for newes here none is spoken of saving that your Adversaries walk with something more stateliness and carry their heads higher then they did formerly The Jesuites proclaim openly that you are condemn'd together with S. Augustin and the whole School of the Thomists and a Divine of the Romane Colledg hath begun to argue from the Censure of the third Proposition that Jesus Christ had indifference in reference to his actions to prove which when he alledg'd the Censure of the third Proposition they say a Student answer'd him Sed illa propositio est de natura lapsa in qua non erat Christus which put him to a nonplus Nevertheless the intelligent sort of people have no great respect for this Censure they see so much partiality and passion and so little justice in it 'T is affirm'd to me that F. Aversa some other Consultors never saw your Writings and was not call'd after your Audience and that this Censure is certainly the same which was made towards the beginning of Lent The same person assures me too that the first beginning of the Congregation 't was a fixt and determinate resolution to censure the Propositions at what rate soever And therefore 't is no wonder that the Jesuites spoke of it so confidently from the first He tells me likewise that none of the Consultors at least the Molinists care not much for S. Augustine's Authority but I hope that God and his Church will uphold the same above all those who go about to diminish it At Rome this whole week hath been spent in Bonfires and publick rejoycings both for solemnity of the Mariage and alliance of the Pamphilian Family with that of Cardinal Barberin and for the Promotion made on Monday of the Prince Prefect who took the Hat on Thursday last but with the publick Panegyricks of the Pope and Cardinals T is believ'd that Cardinal Barberin shall resume the Helm of Government Cardinal Antonio is certainly reported to be at Sea and is expected every day M. Hallier and his Collegues make no shew of departing yet 'T is said they stay here to see how the Censure will be receiv'd at Paris and in your University that so they may sollicite his Holinesse for such course and means as shall be necessary to enforce its reception The fifth was written to me on June 29. by that person without whose counsel I have said in one place of this Relation that I did very few things Both the Original and the Translation are here subjoin'd Il pensiero di non uscire d' Italia fin che habbiano riposta di Francia à me all' amico piace sommannente E la parterera Di Roma come fu ' necessarea così non può essere ripresa ne il fermarsi poteva pastorire niuno buon effetto è nella presente congiuntura si è cavato della bacca ai Papa quel piùs che si può sperare è sarà sempre imprudenza tentare la cognitione d' una causa presso un giudice che non intende li termini Si che non bisogna riguardare quello che ponno dire gli auversarie circa la partenzi ma li sogna con prudenza ponderare li nostri disvantaggi li loro vantaggi altro che l' Aliero in tutti li circoli dove si trova predica che ei tiene la gratia efficace de se è la dottrina di sant ' Agostino è che la decisione del Papa non effende ne l' una ne l' altra è che li Molinisti sono in errore come ancora quei della predeterminatione physica si riscalda in modo sopra di ciò che più non si può dire è chi l' hà sentito più volte à me lo riferisse è persona à Giesuiti affectionata Che il Decreto sia per fape rumore in Francia non si crede perche il Rè adopreà la forza autorità perche sia ricevuto con race che così hà promisso è lo so io Che il campo sia aperto in Roma è meglio perche sino che qui si stava la Corte perretrava tutto l' intemo di vosignoria è sprezzava Memoriali come sè berrissimo ma estendo absenti se sentiranno rumori potranno forzi comparire magiori
stabilire niuno punto Controverso fra le suole Ma quest ' ordine essendo privato non sodisfa Noi habbiamo scritto per tutte l' Vniversità che siano raccolte tutte le consequenze de Giesuti o d' altro siano mandata à Roma perche intendiamo movera la controversia se havremo in mano cosa che dia motivo come credo che havromo è impossibile che il Giesuita si tratenga fra termini della modestia essendo Pedante pervicace Così il fatto farà conoscere a nostro signore quello che non ha voluto credere per le nostre istanze Del resto la Corte passa con discorsi di marritaggi e con dissegni che non passano i confini della famiglia Panfilia de quali non voglio inbrattare il folio e li faccio riverenza con compagni That is in our language As to the affair in the Roman Colledge which belongs to the Jesuites there are readings concerning the merit of Christ and presently after the Censure of the third Proposition they took occasion thence to establish the necessity of Indifference in order to merit Concluding that no action of Jesus Christ was meritorious except upon account of the circumstances in reference to which it was indifferent The Pope was inform'd of it and he sent order to the General of the Jesuites to write to all the Society and forbid all persons to make use of his Bull to the establishing of any point controverted in the Scholes and to enjoyn observation hereof in all his Colledges But this order being particular and secret do's not satisfy For our parts we have written to all Universities to get a collection made of all the consequences which the Jesuites or others can draw from this Bull and to have it sent to us at Rome because our design is to renew the Controversy in case we can get any thing material as no doubt we shall it not being possible for the Jesuites to keep themselves in the bounds of modesty considering what insolent Pedants they are The result whereof will be to cause the Pope to know that which he would never believe upon our remonstrances Nothing is talkt of at the Court but maniages and designes pertaining to the Pamphilian family wherewith I will not fill my paper I kisse your hands and those of your Collegues The Nineth is of the 12th of July written by F. Guerin and amongst other things containes these The last Week M. Hallier came to seek me as himself said several times and F. de Vertamont one But neither of them finding me they went severally to F. Placide to whom they made heavy complaints against me for all that I have done and continue to do for you which is to uphold so bad a cause c. But in particular for that I visited Cardinal Trivultio and told him as they most falsely alledg'd that the Bishops would never receive the Bull c. Afterwards I met F. de Vertamont and told him the occasion of my visiting the said Cardinal which was to present S. Augustin's book to him and that I had spoken nothing else of what was imputed to me With which he professed himself satisfi'd But seeing M. Hallier shortly after he added that I had confessed to this Father that I had said to Cardinal Trivultio that there ought to be a Council for deciding these questions which is as far from truth as the other calumny These two persons viz. Vertamont and Hallier told F. Placide that I might perhaps receive a personal affront unlesse I took heed to my self You see what this tends to They say I ought not to have presented your books to the Cardinals I have so much to tell you concerning this businesse that the paper and the day would fail me should I go about to tell you all and therefore I shall be silent The Tenth is also of the 12th of July written by F. Petit in which I find these termes The grace of Jesus Christ our Lord be with you for ever I have distributed all those which were in the pacquet and particularly that of P. A. to whom I deliver'd the same with my own hand He brought me his answer to it this morning and I send it here inclos'd He bid me tell you something which he purposely omitted in his letter to wit that his Cardinal was yesterday inform'd by the Cardinal of Florence or Trivultio that he was assur'd by letters out of Flanders that the Bishops of that Country would not receive his Holinesses declaration upon the Five Propositions saying that they acknowledg'd nothing for a Decision of Faith but what the Pope determin'd cum suo Clero and not what he determin'd with three or four Cardinals and in such a Congregation as that which made this Declaration Were our Bishops of France and your Doctors thus magnanimous the Molinists would not have whereof to glory This would render this Court more circumspect in the making of such decisions F. Reginald salutes you and your Collegues and desires me to tell you that in a visite which he made this week to Cardinal Barberin they discours'd concerning his Holinesses declaration and the certainty that the Jesuites would make use of it against Effectual Grace but the Cardinal told him they would not and that he had signifi'd his Holinesses order to the General of the Jesuites enjoyning him to write to all their Fathers Houses and Colledges that the Pope forbad them to make advantage of this Censure against the doctrine of S. Augustin and S. Thomas or against Grace effectual by it self The same Cardinal told me neer the same thing yesterday in a conference of half an hour which I had with him upon occasion of my going to him to desire his protection against the menaces of the Penitentiaries of S. Peter to put into the H. Office as a person disobedient to this Censure I assured him that I receiv'd the same as a Condemnation of the heretical senses of the Propositions but not as a condemnation of S. Augustin's doctrine touching Grace effectual by it self necessary to every good work of Christian piety because his Holiness had solemnely assur'd you that he designed not to prejudice this doctrine in any wise c. He acknow edg'd that this was most true but added that we ought to keep as far as may be from the manner of speaking us'd by hereticks and that although the thing express'd by such manners of speech be true yet because Hereticks use the same manners of speech in ill part therefore we ought to abstain from them The conclusion of all his discourse was that this Censure is rather a condemnation of termes and words then any thing else That as for the doctrine of our Congregation so farre as we stuck to S. Augustin S. Thomas and the manner of speech of the ancient Scholiastick Thomists as Bannes Alvarez Lemos c. nothing could be said against
he gave order to one to collect the Titles of all Books lately written by those Messieurs whom they call Jansenists saying he would answer them all This word a Father of the Oratory who heard it from Rome writ to me from Lions September 12. in which Letter he likewise tells me that a Bookseller of Lions told him that a certain person assur'd him that he had seen some leaves of this fantastical Book which never was not even in Idea saving in the head of those who invented this Calumny A few dayes after viz. October 4. the Pope held a Consistory in which we acquainted the whole sacred Colledge with this new Constitution and the submission and reverence wherewith he heard it was receiv'd in all parts excepting Flanders and particularly in France and his Holiness testifi'd great satisfaction thereupon All the Cardinals excepting foure or five who spoke not a word congratulated the Pope for the contentment which he took therein and gave great applauses to his Holinesse A little while after viz. Octob. 17. I heard some newes from Rome which I shall insert by the by The Agent of the Bishop of Angelopolis desir'd me to get the Brief which he had obtain'd against the Jesuites printed in some work wherein it might be inserted for publick view because these Fathers had bought most of the Copies at the Apostolical Printing-house purposely to abolish the memory of it Moreover this Agent hapned one day to walk in the vineyard of the Augustines where all those Fathers wisht all sort of benedictions upon all the defenders of S. Augustin's doctrine And lastly F. Campanella seeing divers of the Consultors who had been of the Congregation for the Five Propositions rewarded with preferments for their pains as F. Celestin who was lately gone to his Bishoprick of Boiano which the Pope had given him in the Kingdome of Naples presented a Memorial to his Holinesse that he might have one likewise in the same Kingdome F. Nolano an able and ancient Dominican was treated after another sort Nov. 8. no doubt by the procurement of some persons who charg'd some great crime upon him M. Albizzi went to la Minerve about 8. a clock at night with other Officers of the H. Office and enter'd into this Father's Chamber to seise upon him and his Papers There being a Writing upon his Table in the Portuguese language which some body intended to print and this Father was perusing at the request of the Master of the sacred Palace M. Albizzi askt him whether that were the Book which he had made against the Pope's authority F. Nolano answer'd him that he had been prisoner three several times amongst hereticks for defence of that authority and he believ'd this would be the fourth M. Albizzi took away all his papers with those which he had of F. Lemos and carri'd him to the prison del Borgo Whence some dayes after he was remov'd to the prison of the Inquisition and the good Priest who sent me this newes by a letter of Nov. 24. added that no body could imagine what might be the cause of this imprisonment that it could be attributed to nothing but an absolute persecution of the enemies of Christ's Grace who had cunningly suggested to the Pope by the intervention of some Cardinals that this Father talkt and writ against his authority which not being found true 't was believ'd this falshood would be blown away and the contrary manifested since this Father in all his discourses and writings testifi'd greater respect then any other person to the H. See and to the person who fills it Which caus'd a Cardinal to tell F. Fani that their Eminences already perceiv'd that they had committed a great error which neverthelesse would perhaps be continu'd upon reason of State but it was hop'd God would protect the innocent and make the authors of this surprisal sensible of their fault Our common Adversaries fail'd not to impute this imprisonmen to the zeal of this good Father in defence of our common doctrine of S. Augustin and S. Thomas touching the necessity of Grace effectual by it self to every act of Christian piety M. Hallier alledged that it was for that he had distributed some Copies of our writing of the Distinction of senses to discredit this heavenly doctrine and all its defenders by terrifying simple spirits with what treatment they saw we receiv'd at Rome But besides the grounds that there are to hope that the sequel will destroy the foundations of all these artificial calumnies and manifest that these were the sole causes of his consinement Two or three occurrences at Rome about the same time evidence that it was not this doctrin which drew this disgrace upon this Father for the same person who writ this newes to me tells me in the same letter of a Sermon which himself preacht the day before viz. on Sonday the 23d a fortnight after F. Nolano's imprisonment in which he spoke in defence of this Grace and against the opposite error as openly and with as much vigour as 't is possible to imagine His Letter run's thus translated Yesterday saith he immediately after the foregoing newes of F. Nolano I preacht at the Oratory and upon that place of the Gospel Cum videritis Abominationem c. When you shall see the Abomination of desolution in the midst of the holy place c. I shew'd that this abomination is the pernicious and proud doctrine of Pelagius the forerunner of Antichrist for as when he shall sit in the temple of God he will have himself acknowledged as if he were God himself so the Pelagian Dogma would have it self acknowledg'd as if it were God since it makes our Free-will not onely God of it self but also God of God himself in that it will have his Divine Majesty and power subordinate to and dependant upon its pleasure and that to sow this error there are already come Antichrists and false Prophets who by the prodigious and surprising things which they do indeavor to lead even the Elect into error for instead of teaching litle children the Catechisme they infuse into them the grounds of the Pelagian heresie as they have lately done at Spoleto This Discourse saith he pleas'd the auditory I know not whether it will be acceptable to the Molinists and I fear least they contrive and raise some greater persecution against me then that of F. Nolano but let his Divine Majesty dispose how he pleases of my person for his honour and glory Now to satisfy the Reader what this Preacher meant by those false Prophets who instead of teaching Children the Catechisme infuse into them the grounds of the Pelagian heresie as they had done lately at Spolelo I must advertise him that it being the humour of the Jesuites to make ostentation to the people of every thing they were not contented to give to children whō they taught the Catechisme the titles of the Emperor but to do it with great pomp and fantastical
by the Pope for their service to the Church in purging it by their care from the new doctrines introduc'd into it That M. Hallier had gotten a good Benefice and his Holinesses nomination for the Bishoprick of Toul and that his Collegues were enter'd in the Dataries grand Book for Benefices vacant within six Moneths There was a talk also of some Medals which his Holinsse presented to them as a testimony of his good will towards them Concerning which I shall acknowledge it certain that the Pope's Medaller in favour and upon occasion of the new Constitution made a new stampe in which the pourtrait of the Pope was on one side and on the other a H. Spirit with this Devise about Replevit orbem terrarum But whether they receiv'd these Medals from his Holiness's hand or bought them of the Medaller is a thing very uncertain nor do the Letters written to me concerning the same clear the doubt However were it so or no they set forth for France and travelled by the Country of the Grisons M. Hallier and M. Lagault came both sick to Coire which is the chief City in the beginning of October and M. Lagault dy'd there in a very short time for whom a service was perform'd as solemn as the place permitted the City being wholly possess'd and govern'd by those of the P. Reformed Religion only the Church and the Bishops Palace and some few Houses which stand like a Cloister wherein dwell all the Catholicks of either sex are built upon a Hill higher then the rest of the Town There are Capucines there who perfume the services of the Church One of them made a Funeral Oration in the service of M. Lagault He took those words of the Prophet Zachary for his Text Vbi suut Patres Vestri From which he said he would take occasion to treat of the state of souls separated from the body not in general but particularly of that of this Doctor who truly deserv'd the name of Father because he had beee a Father to the poor by the Almes which he gave them a Father to miserable persons condemn'd to death by his charitable assistance of them in their sad extremity and a Father of the Church too as he had testify'd during his life both by his learning writing and other Talents but especially in his last Legation to his Holiness before whom he had defended the cause of the Church with such zeal that he triumpht over his enemies the Jansenists He said it was to be enquir'd in what place this Father might be That there were but three into which Souls depart Hell Paradise and Purgatory that the soul of this Father was not to be sought in the first of these places because he had not done the works which lead thither that then it should be sought in Paradise to which his good works had caus'd him to take the way But considering that it was improbable but that during his life he had committed some small venial sins he must be concluded to be in Purgatory where he was a purifying and from whence he exhorted every one to help to deliver him by their prayers His Hearse was cover'd with black cloth round about which were Death's-heads painted in paper and fastned thereto and on the top there was the figure of a heart painted red in paper likewise He was interr'd in the Episcopal Church amongst the Canons where he expects the Resurrection which I pray God may be as happy to him as I wish it through his mercy to my self M. Hallier's indisposition detain'd him some dayes longer at Coire but M. Joysel continu'd his Journey towards Paris with the rest of the Company that came with them to Coire They all pass'd by Geneva and came to Lions and when M. Hallier was there I was inform'd by a Letter that he publisht such horrid calumnies there against me and my Collegues but especially against me that he who advertis'd me thereof not daring to mention the same in his Letter to my self refer'd me to another friend to whom he had written them 'T were to no purpose to extract them out of the Letters for I have hitherto slighted them and am contented to have suffer'd as notorious calumnies from his own mouth in December last when he and I hapned to meet at the house of M. de Souvre Knight of the Kings Orders and first Gentleman of his Chamber to whom the next day I writ the following Letter Sir HAd M. Hallier been contented yesterday in the Discourse we had together in your presence onely to have given me the injurious and offensive words which you heard he did I should have already forgotten them and had no displeasure left for his having been so unmindful of the respect which is due to a person of your quality and so much exceeding the bounds of the moderation requir'd in all the Actions and words of a man of his age and profession Had he added to his injuries onely the several falshoods which he asserted with prodigious confidence and affectation I should have accounted him sufficiently punish'd by being convinc'd as I convinc'd him of part of those falshoods by being urg'd as I urg'd him divers times though he would not hear it to choose any of those facts about which we disagreed to be discuss'd and prov'd before you to the end that by what should be found true of that single one it might appear what judgement was to be made of the rest and which of us spoke with truth and good grounds But the horridness of the calumny which alone I resented as soon as he utter'd it told him I could not but challenge him either to prove or retract or else to pass for a bold and insolent calumniatour seems to me so important and touches me so to the quick that I cannot forbear to renew my resentments and complaints thereof to you by writing It constrains me Sir to beseech you again most earnestly to suffer me to press M. Hallier by the wayes of honour either to come and justifie before you so black an accusation as he had the boldness to charge upon me to my face or else to disown it as spoken in heat and without good information otherwise in case he declines to satisfie this my just demand he must remain in the opinion of your self and all persons who shall hear of this Affair a person convicted of calumny Could it be suffer'd as the rest in silence without prejudice to the estimation of my inviolable fidelity to the Kings service I should constrain my patience to the utmost to bury it in oblivion But since M. Hallier hath reproacht me in your presence to my face of having disperst Libels at Rome against the King he would take my silence for guiltinesse if I should not resent this hainous accusation and urge him either to retract it or make it good I have lately perceiv'd by most certain reports of what he hath spoken of me upon
the Faculty of Divinity at Paris for examining the Doctrine of Grace mention'd Part 1. Chap. 14. are to be found in the Collection at Page 3. The Letters of some of the Bishops of France to the Pope concerning that of M. de Vabres about the Five Propositions translated into French Part 3. chap. 1. is in Latin in the Collection at p. 5. The Decree of the Inquisition of Rome mention'd Part. 3. chap. 6. importing the suppression of all books written on either side upon occasion of the Contest between the Bishop of Chalcedon and the Jesuites of England and some other Pieces touching the same matter Coll. p. 27. A Writing made and publisht at Paris and Rome in July 1651. almost two yeares before the Constitution of Innocent X. in form of a Manifesto in behalf of the Divines disciples of Saint Augustin mention'd Part 3. chap. 7. and elsewhere in the Journal is to be found Coll. p. 35. A Writing of F. Morel one of the Order of the Augustines and Doctor of the Faculty of Divinity at Paris full of impostures and calumnies against Saint Augustin's disciples mention'd Part 3. chap. 8. Coll. p. 139 Apologetical Memoires in behalf of the proceedings of the Vniversity of Paris against the certain enterprize of the Irish mention'd Part 3. chap. 9. Coll. p. 126. A Manuscript containing divers Resolutions of the Consultors in the Congregation de Auxiliis wherein the main difficulties concerning Grace are determin'd against Molina and according to the Sentiments of Saint Augustin's disciples mention'd Part 3. chap. 10. Coll. p 31. The Letter of M. de Godeau Bishop of Vence to the Pope mention'd Part 3. chap. 12. Coll. p. 6. The Letter of M. de Menchal Archbishop of Tholouse mention'd ibid. Coll. p. 7. The Letter of M. de Palafax Bishop of Angelopolis mention'd Part 3. chap. 13. Coll. p. 11. A Manuscript containing sundry Pieces about a great Contest touching absolute Predestination determin'd by the Council of Trent in the Affair of M. Grimani Patriarch of Aquileia mention'd Part 4. chap. 9. Coll. p. 237. Three VVritings made by a learned Dominican for Cardinal Roma mention'd Part 5. chap. 9. Coll. p. 62. The Letter of two of the Bishops who sent us to Rome injoyning us not to depart from their order of solliciting the establishment of a solemn Congregation in which the Parties might be heard viva voce scripto mention'd Part 5. chap. 17. Coll. p. 8. An Act pass'd before a Notary by M. Sinnigh Doctor of Lovaine February 22. 1647. concerning what hath been spoken of Jansenius's book in some Audiences which he had of the Popes Urban VIII and Innocent X. and some Cardinals mention'd Part 6. chap. 1. Coll. p. 236. The VVriting made by the Dominicans to be presented to Pope Innocent X. with their Memorial to intervene in this Affair mention'd Part 6. chap. 9. Coll. p. 44. The new Letter written to Pope Innocent X. towards the beginning of March 1653. by two of our Bishops then at Paris to presse his Holinesse for a solemn Congregation mention'd Part 6. chap. 11. Coll. p. 9. Our Answer to the LX. passages of Saint Augustin cited by M. Hallier Lagault and Joysel wherein we shew how all of them are either impertinently or perversly cited mention'd Part 6. chap. 21. Coll. p. 89. Pieces added to this Collection THe Speech of F. Mulard to the Pope wherein this Vagabond Cordelier professes himself deputed to his Holinesse from the King and the Sorbonne c. Coll. p. 199. The Votes or Suffrages of the Consultors of the Congregation of Innocent X. touching the Five Propositions with short Notes of a Divine Saint Thomas's disciple Coll. p. 144. The six Disquisitions of Paulus Irenaeus Coll. p. 157. A COLLECTION OF SUNDRY TRACTS LETTERS c. Thought fit to be subjoyn'd to the JOURNAL Reasons of my selection of these particular Pieces MY purpose not having been to annex to this JOURNAL all such Pieces as may have reference thereunto for they alone would form too great a Volume I therefore here offer the Reasons upon which I have made choyce of the following and omitted some others which might seem to have right to a place here likewise I. I have not doubted of the fitness of adjoyning such rare and curious Pieces as have not otherwise been publick and are hard to be procur'd as the Manuscript about the Dispute touching Gratuitous Predestination determined in the Councill of Trent Some Decisions made by the Congregation de Auxiliis and other Pieces of like nature II. I have also annexed the Writings of the Dominicans mentioned Part. 6. Chap. 9. and elsewhere because they shew not only the zeal which that Order had for the Cause we maintain'd but also the clearnesse wherewith those Divines comprehended all the Artifices of the Molinists and the perfect correspondency of their Sentiments with what we argu'd both before and after the Constitution having held the Propositions in the same sense with us viz. that of Effectual Grace and justifi'd Jansenius much more openly than we by the same Proofs and Principles that have since been made use of for that purpose III. I have not thought fit to augment this Volume with the Writings of our Adversaries that have fallen into my hands because I conceiv'd they might produce the same themselves if they judg'd it meet and that the Abridgements which I have made of them seem'd to me sufficient to acquaint the Reader what they were I have been content to set down one of them at length Part. 5. Chap. 8. which shews what sense they put upon the Propositions their other Writings proceeding upon the same Principles IV. But for that their chief Weapons were Impostures and Calumnies it hath appear'd to me necessary to insert at length into this Collection the Writings of F. Morel whereof I have spoke Part. 3. Chap. 8. because it sets forth in what manner they decry'd us at Rome and what Impostures they made use of to render us odious to the Pope and Cardinals as those that were Enemies to the H. See V. For the same reason I have added the Harangue of F. Mulard to the Pope whereof no mention is made in the JOURNAL because I had no knowledge of it whilst I was at Rome but when I found that it was printed in the Juridical Narration of M. Fileau I conceiv'd it requisite to be annex'd to the other Pieces as that which confirms all that I have spoken concerning the impudence of that Cordelier who falsly styling himself Deputy from the King of the Sorbon correspondently made a Speech to the Pope full of Lyes and Falsities VI. For that the Suffrages of the Consultors have more essential connexion with the affair deduc'd in the Journal than any of the other Pieces I have also thought meet to adde to the same though I have scarce spoken thereof before not having been able to discover any thing of them during my residence at Rome Yet finding
B. P. haec alia quae Tuae Sanctitati constabunt mea humilitas muneris oneris Pastoralis obligatione compulsa Tuo sanctissimo zelo retulit moderanda vel omnino reformanda omissis etiam plurimis de hi◠sanctis Religiosis Iesuitis quae ad Tuas aures minime fortasse pervenerunt nam ipsi enixe admodum curant ita cum meis istic Procuratoribus quamvis frustra actum est ut ea Tuae Beatitudini occultentur remedium exposcunt censura indigent reformationem expetunt Tuoque prudentissimo judicio relinquendum erit quibus mediis remediisque haec omnia si non sanari saltem moderari valeant quod facillimum Tuae supremae potestati erit praecipue omnibus fere Ecclesiae Ordinibus in idipsum conspirantibus CLVII Vel arctioribus legibus institutis choro clausura communi unius anni professione vel duorum ad terminos certos praefixa Vel aliquibus institutis quae ad mortificationem poenitentiam tendant sine quibus quam facillime disciplina Regulatis communiter laxatur solvitur Vel ad Clerum secularem Religionem Clericalem reducendo cum eo incorporando quod ipsis Iesuitis jucundius perpaucis sui Ordinis decretoribus exceptis Clero utilius negotio ipsi facilius esse fortasse videbitur CLVIII Nam si Clero seculari accresceret haec sancta Religio permanente ea semper in praecipuis suarum institutionum exercitiis quae Cleri secularis professioni minime contrariantur imo maxime juvant secularia ista Collegia ab Episcopis tanquam ab Apostolicae Sedis Delegatis legibus a Tua Sanctitate assignatis sine tanto Reip. Christianae incommodo gubernarentur Quam primam quidem eorum vocationem sui S. Fundatoris fuisse tradunt aliqui CLIX. Et hoc medio ipsis Iesuitis medicinam Clero Episcopis operarios sine livore ministros spirituales sine aemulatione exterisque Religionibus tranquillitatem sapientia Tua Innocenti sanctissime Spiritus Sancti radiis illustrata praeberet Ecclesia tota universalis tot tantisque quaestionibus controversiis discordiis difficultatibus scandalis aliis eorum negotiis tanquam procellis implicata agitata conquiesceret CLX Omnia haec Pontifex Beatissime Tuae infallibili censurae submitto si quid non congruum vel indecens vel quod aliquo modo reverentiae quae Tibi ab ovicula ista debetur quod offendiculum praestare possit scripserim parcas clementer quaeso non meae propriae existimationi aut elationi sed zelo quo ardet animus meus Pastoralis baculi auctoritatis sacrarum constitutionum observantiae fideique purae rectae propagationis universalis Ecclesiae felicitatis atque incolumitatis a Tua benignitate imputandum esse confido Deus Opt. Max. gratia benedictionibus quibus tuas oves imples Sanctissime Pastor Te repleat Tuamque Sanctitatem protegat gubernet Angelopoli 8 Jan. Anno 1649. Episcopus Angelorum Populi The Decree of the Inquisition mention'd Part. 3. Chap. 6. importing the suppression of all books written on either side upon occasion of the Contest between M. the Bishop of Chalcedon and the Jesuites of England Also some other Pieces touching the same matter Decretum Sacrae Congregationis Eminentissimorum Reverendissimorum Dominorum S. R. E. Cardinalium à SS D. N. Urbano Papa VIII sanctaque Sede Apostolica ad Indicem librorum eorundemque permissionem prohibitionem expurgationem impressionem in universa Rep. Christiana specialiter deputatorum ubique publicandum CUm inter Chalcedonensem Regulares Angliae proximis hisce annis nonnullae controversiae ortae sint harum occasione varii libri evulgati in quibus qui ut riusque partis opinionem sequuntur plures contineri propositiones contendunt Catholicae doctrinae repugnantes non sine perturbatione publicae quietis scissura fraternae charitatis Propterea S. Congregatio Indicis ad evellenda radicitus semina discordiarum Christianam pacem inter fideles stabiliendam literarum Apostolicarum tam quae a felicis recordationis Clemente Papa VIII sub 9 Octob. 1592. quam quae a S. D. N. Urbano Papa VIII sub 5 Maii 1631. ad hujusmodi contentiones in Anglia incitatas supprimendas libros prohibendos emanarunt ad alias nationes nondum pervenerunt auctoritatem sequuta decrevit omnes ac singulos libros tractatus alia quaecunqve quovis idiomate ubicunque impressa sive manu duntaxat exarata quae ad praedictas controversias spectare aut quacunque ratione directe vel indirecte trahi possunt sive praefatas contentiones principaliter immediate sive occasionaliter mediate quomodolibet attingunt supprimenda prout praesenti Decreto omnino supprimit Mandans omnibus singulis toto orbe fidelibus cujuscunque status conditionis prae eminentiae dignitatis sub poena excommunicationis ipso facto absque alia declaratione incurrenda a qua non nisi a S. Sede Apostolica praeter quam in mortis articulo absolvi possint ne ullus in posterum imprimere manu scribere aut quovis modo de iis rebus tractare aut disputare aut quaestiones movere audeat Ne quis autem ex hoc Decreto alios criminandi vel exprobrandi occasionem aliquam arripiat Eadem S. Congregatio expresse declarat se in praesentia non intendere aliquid de meritis causae statuere vel ulli auctori aut operi ignominiam aliquam aut notam malae doctrinae inferre sed judicium horum omnium Apostolicae Sedi in opportunum tempus reservans nunc praecipit ne quis adversae partis libros tractatus eorumve auctores haeresis vel malae doctrinae notâ vel alia quacunque ante Sedis Apostolicae definitionem verbo vel scripto deinceps afficiat In quorum omnium singulorum fidem manu sigillo Eminentissimi Reverendissimi D. Cardinalis Pii S. Congregationis Praefecti praesens Decretum signatum munitum fuit Romae die 19 Martii 1633. C. Ep. Portuensis C. Pius Locus †sigilli F. Joannes Baptista Morinus Ord. Praedicatorum S. C. Secretarius Romae ex Typographia Rev. Cam. Apost 1633. The publication of this Decree Anno 1633. caus'd great amazement in France for this General Suppression decreed by the Roman Inquisition seem'd to put the books of the English Iesuites against the Bishop of Chalcedon though full of Errors and Heresie against the Hierarchy and the Sacrament of Confirmation in the same rank with the Censures of the Bishops and the Sorbonne who had condemn'd the said wicked books and with all that had been written to justifie those Censures against the infamous and scandalous Libels of the said English Iesuites This gave occasion at that time for the framing and publishing of a Latin Disquisition upon that Decree which because it is very scarce to be had shall be here inserted Disquisitio Decreti S. Congregationis Eminentissim
Doctrinal Sentence upon all the Articles in particular which were to be condemned in the said books with qualification of every Proposition The said Censures were sent abroad by order of the said LL. Prelates together with a circular Letter This gave occasion to the said English to compose four other books in confirmation of the Doctrine of the former namely 1. Hermanni Loemelii Spongia 2. Querimonia Ecclesiae Anglicanae 3. Appendix ad Illustrissimum Dominum Archiepiscopum Parisiensem 4. Defensio Decreti All four under the name of Hermannus Loëmelius whose true name is Floid There is no injury or contumely which he doth not vomit against my LL. the Prelates the Faculty and the said Censures Hereupon our said LL. Prelates assembled again to continue their condemnation against the said four books which they apprehended as well as the two first to be composed by Iesuites whereof when the said Iesuites were advertis'd they delivered a Disavowry wherein they declare the said books not to be compos'd by any of their Society being displeas'd that such questions had ever been propounded The said Disavowry was made at Paris the 23 of March 1633. signed by De la Salle Superiour of the Profess'd House Stephen Binet Rector of the Colledge of Clermont Julian Haineufve Rector of the Novitiate and Claudius Maillan the Kings Confessor Now though this Disavowry did not fully satisfie the said Lords yet for that they were lovers of peace they were contented with it for that time But they were much astonish'd when they saw in a book entitl'd Bibliotheca Scriptorum Societatis Jesu Auctore Philippo Alegambe ex eadem Societate Jesu printed at Antwerp apud Joannem Meursium Anno 1643. The Authors of the said Tracts nam'd by their right names and acknowledg'd to be Iesuites and that in the said Bibliotheca they are nam'd with Elogiums and that they speak contemptuously of our LL. the Prelates and the rest who censur'd the said two first books and which is worse that in the Index of the Contents they place under the head of books written against Hereticks two of Floid's books namely Querimonia and Spongia though they are compos'd against our LL. the Prelates Messieurs of the Faculty of Paris and against their Censures This gave occasion to our said LL. to assemble again and after several Conferences they have thought meet to send again into the Provinces the said Censures under the names of their right Authors who are Edward Knot whose true name is Matthias Wilson who was formerly Censur'd under the name of Nicholas Smith and John Floid who was likewise Censur'd under the name of Daniel à Jesu both Iesuites if the said Alegambe in his Catalogue be not mistaken in this particular as 't is said he is in other things the Iesuites of France still persisting at the present in the Disavowry which they heretofore deliver'd that the said Authors are not of their Society and that they cannot answer for the fact of the said Alegambe who is the King of Spain's Subject and also to declare the said four books contumelious injurious against the Honour and Dignity of my LL. the Prelates in general and of the Archbishop of Paris in particular and of the Doctors of the Faculty of Paris besides that they contain the same Doctrine formerly Censured in the two other c. It is good to observe touching the above-mention'd Disavowry of the Iesuites that some more intelligent persons found that they had made use of an Equivocation according to their custome For having set down this Title The Disavowry of the Fathers of the Society of Jesus in France they said in the sequel that the said books were not made by any of their Society meaning in France with reference to the Title because they were made by English Iesuites Moreover the Bishops had so little regard to the said Disavowry that in the same printed piece wherein they speak of it they renew their ancient Censure against the books of England with this Title Epistola Archiepiscoporum Episcoporum Parisiis nunc agentium ad Archiepiscopos Episcopos Regni Galliae super animadversione duorum libellorum quorum tituli sunt Prioris quidem Modesta brevis discussio aliquarum assertionum Doctoris Kellisoni in tractatu de Ecclesiastica Hierarchia Auctore Edvardo Knotto Jesuitarum Anglorum Viceprovinciali sub ementito nomine Nicolai Smithaei Posterioris verò Apologia pro modo procedendi S. Sedis Apostolicae in regendis Angliae Catholicis tempore persecutionis Auctore Joanne Floido Jesuita Anglo sub falso nomine Danielis à Jesu Jussu Cleri denuò in lucem edita Universis per Galliam constitutis Reverendiss Patribus Archiepiscopis Episcopis Dominis Fratribus nostris Religiosi ssimis Archiepiscopi Episcopi Parisiis variis de causis agentes salutem in D. LImites habet Jurisdictio Episcoporum non habet charitas omnes illud Apostoli usurpare possumus debemus Instantia mea quotidiana solicitudo omnium Ecclesiarum quis infirmatur ego non infirmor quis scandalizatur ego non uror Itaque veteri atque Apostolico instituto si qua in nostris Paroeciis schismata oriuntur aut haereses auctoritate compescimus si alibi medemur amore qui tum demum Christo dignus est animarum nostrarum Episcopo cum omnes complectitur sicut pro omnibus ille mortuus est Huc accedit quod ubi de errore agitur qui spectar Ecclesiam sibi prospicit qui aliena curat serpit enim ut cancer error istiusmodi merito cum unum inficit omnes terret His de causis factum est Fratres Reverendissimi ut nostra fuerimus arbitrati quae essent Anglorum nec minus miserandae istius Ecclesiae vulnera sensetimus quam si nobis ipsis essent inflicta Cum enim accepissemus allatos ex ea Insula libellos duos quos linguae periti dicerent pestilentis doctrinae esse plenissimos concurrimus velut ad sedandum domesticum incendium quotquot in hoc orbis theatro versabamur Episcopi donatos Latinitate excussimus diligentissime ac recensuimus iisque tandem inussimus stigmatis quibus facile a scriptis probae ac sanae doctrinae discernerentur Atque hoc judicium nostrum ad vos mittere visum est Fratres Reverendiss ut quorum una est causa unus spiritus una charitas unus quoque sermo sit ac sententia Neque enim ullo modo dubitamus quin ea quae damnanda censuimus sitis damnaturi eandem fidem eadem doctrina totis animis professuri Primum autem in iis libellis finis ipse ac scopus summopere displicuit Id enim agunt potissimum eoque collimant ut quam Dominus auctoritatem Episcopis attribuit elevent quam maxime ac deprimant Tum vero per Episcoporum latus non Divinum tantummodo confirmationis Sacramentum sed Ecclesiae Hierarchiam qua nihil sub coelo est
more and more enflames the hearts of his elect with holy and chast desires so that they remain wholy cleansed when they are washt from the pollutions of this world There is none but may and ought to acknowledge this Predestination of the Saints whereof no other reason can be given but the good pleasure of God's will which S. Paul expresses in the abovecited place and S. Peter in the first chapter of the first of his Epistles and all the Prophets both of the old and new Testament have likewise acknowledged this gift in the Elect insomuch that the light of the Sun is not more bright then that of these divine testimonies Let there be no mention therefore of those false pitiful and forc't consequences by which some pretend as is above observ'd that Free-will is destroyed by God's gratuitions election and that man remaines like a stock or a stone as S. Paul witnesses it fell out in his time that what he preached for the advantage of Grace was construed to establish the liberty of the flesh as if it had been lawfull for every one to do evil that Grace might become more abundant which is a damnable inference These are the consequences drawn by those who are unwilling to give God all the honour which is due to him or would share halfe of what belongs to Christ alone and who know not the exceeding mercy which hath been shewn to us by the death of the Son of God who willing to manifest to us the deep misery of our bondage exemplifyed in himself what is the true liberty of his Children and afterwards taught the same with his own mouth when he saith If the Son make you free you shall be free indeed Wherefore we ought to know that Predestination does not deprive the Elect of their Free-will but gives procures and preserves the same to them it does not force or use violence to any man but he causes the VVill to incline it self to good and voluntarily and sweetly VVhence we see by experience that there is nothing in the world more free or whose power is greater than that of a good Christian since his liberty extends over all things even to the death of sin and his own and that nothing can do any prejudice to him provided as S. Paul speaks Christian liberty be not turn'd into a Carnal liberty and if it happen sometimes that he falls into sin he finds that saying of the Scripture verifyed in himself that all things even sins too turn to the advantage of those that love God Now this I speak after S. Augustin and it must be taken in this sense that the sins whereinto a Predestinated man hath suffered himself to fall serve him for an occasion to recurre unto God whom he hath deserted to deplore and repent of his sin and to become better by it continually alwayes knowing more and more the death which arises from sin and the life which Jesus Christ gives 'T is true indeed in the Reprobate Free-will is not at all serviceable towards the attaining of eternal life as S. Augustin writing to Simplician saith liberum arbitrium plurimum valet imo vere qu idem sed in venundatis sub peccato quid valet And in a few lines after the same Father saith Praecipitur ut recte vivamus sed quis potest recte vivere nisi justificatus ex fide You see this holy man did not conceive as some doe at this day that 't is a horrible thing to affirme that Freewill is not sufficient to bring us to salvation he is so far from it that he wholly condemnes Free-will without Grace in reference to merit and justification as plainly appears throughout all his works Let us likewise forsake that fleshly Presumption which makes it strange that our Salvation is not in the power of our own Free-will because those are happy whose salvation is in the Hands of God and they most unhappy who depend upon themselves This is what S. Paul teaches us from that passage in the 33d chapter of Exodus I will be gratious to whom I will be gracious and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy Wherefore 't is not of him that willeth or of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Yet must it not be said that the Apostle in this place denyes and impugnes the cooperation of our Will but he referrs all the glory to God who powerfully sollicites and invites the wills of those that believe Whence it is that he complaines by the Prophet of that hardned people which would not obey the voice of God who called them and desired to draw them to himself and gather them under his wings as a Hen gathereth her Chickens T is true that as no other cause can be given of Predestination and Reprobation but God's will guided by his ineffable justice as S. Augustin speaks so 't is our faults and iniquities which are the cause of our damnation and this is what the Scripture saith in those words Thy destruction is from thy self O Israel but thy salvation is of me You understand all that I have written to confirme the first Proposition whereat you took scandal That the Predestinated cannot be damn'd nor the Reprobate sav'd and I could not doe it better then by the word of God which divides the spirit from the soul But to the end that you and every one else may be assured that I have cited the Holy Scriptures faithfully I shall hereunto add the sentiment of S. Augustin that pillar of the Church taken out of Sundry places of his works concerning this matter And in the first place to let you see that 't is his opinion that the Predestinated cannot be damn'd nor the Reprobate sav'd see what he saith in the Third Tome in his book De fide ad Petrum cap. 25. Firmissime tene nullatenus dubites omnes quos vasa misericordiae gratuita bonitate Deus fecit ante mundi constitutionem in adoptionem filiorum Dei praedestinatos a Deo neque perire posse aliquem eorum quos Deus praedestinavit ad regnum caelorum nec quemquam eorum quos non praedestinavit ad vitam ulla posse ratione salvari Praedestinatio illa gratuita donationis est praeparatio qua nos Apostolus ait praedestinatos in adoptionem filiorum Dei per Jesum Christum in ipsum See now whether this H. Doctor did not understand the above cited passage of the Epist to the Ephesians as I do confesse that what is contain'd therein is not the imagination of any man but a truth dictated by the H. Ghost Therefore the H. Doctor doth not hesitate in the matter but saith Firmissime tene He confirmes the same thing in his commentary upon the 69. Psalme at the 28. verse where it said Let them be blotted out of the book of the living And in another place writting against Julian he hath these express words Absit enim ut praedestinatus ad vitam
its going from thence and in case the fair weather continu'd not according to expectation then to land and take horse at the shore where it staid that so what ever happned I might arrive at Rome at the end of the week Saturday afternoon being come I took leave of the Gentleman for whose sake I undertook this journey and of some others whom we were acquainted with at Rome and found at Genua as the little Rendes-vows appointed for the meeting of all our company to passe together into France There was also a Canon of Noion call'd M. Wiar a very accomplisht and prudent man with whom we had been ever since our departure from Rome they had all the goodness towards me as well as the Gentleman my friend to accompany me to the Gally where was the place of our separation Our voyage was for my design of just the length I wisht For we arriv'd at Civitá Vecchia on Wednesday about three in the afternoon with one man more then we were at Genua who was as well pleased as my self with being at Civitá Vecchia though upon a very different ground He was a Neapolitane a goodly personage of a sprightly aspect and about 50. years old we found him in the open Sea alone in a little skiffe which he row'd along as well as he could with two oars and his shirt hois'd up instead of a sail We took him and his skiffe by the way into our Gally he told us that the Spaniards had taken him by force from Naples to bear armes and carry'd him to the garrison of Portolongone from whence he escaped in that manner Asson as we landed at Civitá Vecchia I gave order to have horses ready to depart in the evening intending to travel all night that so I might arrive as I did accordingly the next morning at Rome at the same time that the Assembly of the Inquisition was holden before the Pope whither no person was likely to carry them the news and also might have a whole week free wherein to order my affairs and shew my self publickly before they could any wise consult about me THE THIRD PART Containing what pass'd at Rome from the time of my return thither as Delegate or Deputy from the Bishops 15. June 1651. till the end of that year CHAP. I. The Bishops Letter to the Pope Deliberation whether it were fit to deliver it Resolution to do so BEing arriv'd at Rome on 15. June 1651. about one after noon I presently sent to inquire for such Letters as were sent to attend me there from my LL. the Bishops and I writ a Note to him whom I saw last there before my departure from whom I learnt the particulars of what had pass'd about me before the Pope advertising him of my return and beseeching him to come and see me the soonest he could that afternoon Amongst those Letters there were some for the Pope others for MM. the Cardinals d' Este Spada and Barberin and others for my self Those for me contain'd the Orders laid upon me by my LL. the Bishops who writ them to present theirs to his Holinesse and their Eminences and to endeavour the effect of them to wit the establishment of a Solemn Congregation like those held under Clement VIII and Paul V. to which Catholick Divines of different judgements about the matters of Grace might be call'd and fully heard on either side both vivâ voce and by writing according to the accustomed forms and with intire Ecclesiastical liberty before the Pope pronounce any Judgement upon the Five Equivocal Propositions which were presented to him that so by this means that which he shall pronounce may be more signal more satisfactory more venerable to all the world and more likely to dispel all difficulties to confirm the truth and to establish a sound peace amongst all Catholick Divines The Letters directed to the Cardinals were sealed it was signifi'd to me that they were from M. the Bishop of Angiers who was particularly known to them and that he therein beseecht them to further the effect of so just a request and to favour me with their protection wherein I should need it Those for the Pope were yet open of which take here the translation They were directed To the most Holy Father Pope Innocent X. at Rome The contents follow Most Holy Father WE have understood that some of our Brethren Bishops of France have written to your Holinesse touching an affair of very great importance and difficulty and requested you by their Letter to decide clearly and plainly certain Propositions which last year rais'd great disturbance without any benefit in the Theologal Faculty of Paris nor could the issue be otherwise for being contriv'd purposely in ambiguous termes they could produce nothing of themselves but disputes full of animosity about the various senses put upon them as it alwayes happens in Equivocal Propositions Wherefore our Brethren must give us leave to declare that we cannot approve their design in this matter For besides that the Questions about Divine Grace and Predestination are full of difficulties and are not ordinarily handled without violent contests there are other very considerable reasons which give us ground to conceive that this present time is not fit for the terminating of so important a Difference unlesse your Holinesse will please in order to passing a solemn judgement upon it which seems not to be their intention to proceed therein according to the forms practised by our Fore-fathers to resume the affair from its original and to examine it wholly and intirely to that end summoning and hearing the reasons and arguments of either side as was done not long since by the Popes Clement VIII and Paul V. of Holy memory For if your Holinesse do not take this course the condemned party may with justice complain of having become so by the calumnies and artifices of their Adversaries without having their own reasons heard To which perhaps they may adde that this cause was brought to your Holinesse before it was judg'd in a Council of Bishops And to strengthen the justnesse of their complaints by examples of the antient Discipline of the Church they may alledge the Council of Alexandria against Arius that of Constantinople against Eutyches those of Carthage and Mileva against Pelagius those of Valence and Langres held in France for the same matter now in Question and other Councils against other Hereticks And truly most Holy Father were it meet to examine and decide the said Propositions the legal order of the Judgements of the Vniversal Church together with the Custom observ'd in the Gallicane Church requires that the greatest and most difficult Questions which arise in this Realm be first examined by our selves Which being so Equity would oblige us to consider maturely whether the Propositions complain'd of to your Holinesse have been made purposely to cast an odium upon some persons and to excite a combustion in what Books by what Authors and in what