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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Engines on work and redouble their pursuits after that first audience to deprive us of time and power to dispell all those shadows by the Light of Truth This is the particular reason My Lords which caus'd them to urge the speedy publishing of the Decree and they were not contented to alledge this reason in their visits to the Consultors and Cardinals but they mention'd it also in their Writings which by good hap came to our hands though communication of them could never be obtain'd They endeavor in these Writings to insinuate this wicked false conceit to all such as shall read them they impute such opinions to S. Augustine's disciples as are held neither by us nor any Catholick in the Church and they labour to confute what no body ever controverted Thus My Lords having suggested this false conceit both in their Writings and secret Sollicitations they easily prevail'd that to prevent the holding of the Propositions in the Heretical and Calvinistical senses in which they said many held them in France and to extinguish this new pretended heresie which was nothing but a vain fantasm of which they rais'd a fear in the Court of Rome it was necessary for the good of the Church to condemn them But you know My Lords that no Catholick Doctor or Divine of S. Augustin's disciples in France ever accounted these Propositions other then ambiguous equivocal and captious fram'd about four years ago by one of Molina's subtilest Partisans as also that the two first of them were censur'd by S. Augustin's disciples in the Tract intitled Considerations and in the Book Of Victorious Grace as admitting three senses all three heretical and each of the other one heretical sense You know My Lords that we never held the condemn'd Propositions in the formal terms whereof they consist That in the first Memorial which we presented to the Pope when he gave us Audience upon our coming to this City we demanded of his Holinesse that the senses which were in controversie might be distinguisht and that the examination and judgement which was sollicited to be made upon the Propositions might be made upon the said senses That in our first Information in facto representing to his Holinesse and their Eminences the state of the Controversie we declar'd that the Dispute was not at all concerning the Propositions as they were presented And lastly that in the publick Audience we had before the Decree was made we renew'd the same Declarations to his Holinesse and profess'd sudry times that without insisting upon the Propositions which our Adversarries had maliciously contriv'd we defended only the Catholick senses or the particular Propositions fram'd by our selves in perspicuous terms and reduc'd to the pure doctrine of Grace Effectual by it self as S. Augustin hath defended the same in all his works against the Pelagians and Semipelagians Whereby you see My Lords most evidently that not only the Pope's Constitution which pronounces upon the Propositions in their general ambiguity purposely affected to make them obnoxious to Censure and his Holinesse's formal Declarations that he had no intention to prejudice S. Augustin's doctrine which is no wise different from the particular and most Catholick sense which they admit and we defended alone in France and at Rome but also the Writings of our Adversaries who have imputed to S. Augustin's Disciples errors and heresies which they never held justifie that those Censures cannot fall but upon those heresies and errors and that the Catholick sense explicated by us to the Pope in such express and formal terms remains without impeachment and as Catholick as ever it was For 't is beyond all doubt that this sense of Grace Effectual by it self is that of S. Augustin which if there were ground to question our Adversaries needed only to desire a publick Audience of the Pope to demonstrate to his Holiness in our presence either that this sense in which we maintain the Propositions is not that of S. Augustin or else that S. Augustin's doctrine is not that of the Church but the light and evidence of so many express passages of this great Doctor and the secret force of Truth which is terrible to all its opposers hath made them fear to enter into Conference with us touching thts subject in presence of his Holinesse or the Cardinals They were contented My Lords as we have before observ'd to tell them in their secret sollicitations as we discover'd they did at first in their secret Writings that we who were deputed to Rome by Catholick Archbishops and Bishops defended S. Augustin at Rome but others defended Calvin in France which you know they publisht formerly in France by many Libels and false reports against all S. Augustin's Disciples in general And therefore this calumnious Accusation which they fram'd at Rome before the Decree is at this day our justification after the Decree and his Holiness's formal Declaration It remains then My Lords That they can be no other then the publick Enemies of S. Augustin and the H. See who dare pretend that the Propositions are condemn'd of heresie in the proper and particular sense defended by us before his Holinesse and explicated in our Writings since the Pope by the Oracle of his Speech vivae vocis oraculo as they speak in this Court vouchsaf'd to declare to our selves That he intended not to prejudice S. Augustin whose Doctrine having been approv'd by so many Popes cannot be condemn'd of heresie without overthrowing the Authority of the H. See Ecclesiastical Tradition and the perpetual succession of one and the same doctrine in the Church nor without violating the Respect which is due to his Holinesse who would hereby be accus'd of contradicting himself since he hath declar'd in sundry occasions and particularly to us since the publication of this Decree That he meant not to touch Grace Effectual by it self nor the Doctrine of that great Saint and we have already noted that his Holinesse made the same expresse Declaration to the Ambassador sundry times who as we have before said writ this very day to the Court to inform their Majesties thereof All these considerations My Lords have caus'd us to blesse God since this Decree That his Holy Providence brought us into this City to the end that by the Distinction we made in presence of the Head of the Church of Truth from Error when we had the honour to speak publickly to him before the Constitution and by so true and important a Declaration as he was pleas'd to make to us since the same in our last Audience the Censure of Error might be hinder'd from falling upon the Truth and it might not be attributed to Innocent X. contrary to his express intention that he design'd to condemn by his Decree or at least by his silence the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Doctrine of the grand Master of Grace which his Predecessors for twelve hundred years together have admitted approved commended and Canoniz'd by their formal words and most solemn
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
mention the same in answer to those two Arrests of the Council of 8 July and 2 Nov. 1626. which had been signify'd to me anew that day by the Order and at the desire of the Mendicant Doctors Neverthelesse he forbore not in the Assembly of 4 Nov. to oppose those very two Arrests to the injunctions which M. Broussel and Viole us'd to him to see to the execution of those of the Parliament according to the duty of his place But it seems there is no great reason to wonder that M. Cornet so little valued those Letters Patents of 8 July 1631. sixteen years after they had been granted to the University seeing that so soon as they were granted he set himself with all his might to hinder the effect they might have causing himself by a party wholly of Mendicant Doctors to be install'd before the end of three Moneths in the Office of Syndic in which he would not want means to requite the good turns which he should receive from them and to continue the fidelity and correspondence he had sworn with them I shall mention nothing that pass'd in that election besides what I have learn'd from another Letter of M. Fillessac to Cardinal Richelieu dated Nov. 5. 1631. the Copy of which is come to my hands together with the Cardinal's answer And here they follow Another Letter of M. Fillessac Dean of the Faculty to Cardinal Richelieu My Lord ACcording to the command you were pleas'd to lay upon me to give you an account of the election of our Syndic I shall tell you in the first place that God having visited me with his merciful justice by afflicting * * One of his Domesticks had the Pestilence one of my Domesticks I was constrain'd to leave Paris and in my absence on the first of October according to our Statute the election of a Syndic was taken into consideration the term of the former being expir'd In this Assembly fifty Doctors were present But when I return'd to Paris I was desirous to know how the business pass'd Divers Doctors of our Fraternity coming to see me represented to me two considerable defects one in the person the other in the form of the election As to the first they represented him to me as a young Doctor of about five years standing unacquainted with our Statutes Customs and Forms besides which he ha's alwayes been train'd up and instructed by the Jesuites having once purposed to enter into that Society and to that end put himself into their Novitiate where he was indoctrinated for some time and had it not been for a sickness that befell him he would perhaps be now of their Society to which neverthelesse he remains allied by affection And every one knows how little reason we have to be well pleas'd with Them considering the scandalous Libels they have written against us heretofore and those they publish'd lately against our Censure pronounc'd against two Books compos'd by two English Jesuites Now it may here be presum'd that when ever there comes forth such like Papers from the said Society this new Syndic will not fail to crosse the businesse and generally all others relating to that Society as it hath hapned too often which will be a perpetual cause of trouble and division amongst us Our said Confreres make it appear that the Syndic of our Faculty is nothing else but a Censor and what Censure can he passe being ignorant of our Lawes and Customs And besides how will one more antient then himself take in good part any reproof or check from him who hath no credit and authority being a young Doctor As for the second defect of the fifty Doctors present at the election the first of October four and twenty voted it fit to stay till the return of the Dean the other twenty six chose this new Syndic and in this number there were eighteen Religious Mendicants suborn'd by the Nuntio and of them two were interdicted by the Faculty You may consider my Lord if you please that it was never known that his Holiness's Nuntio had any thing to do with our affairs or to attempt to give us Syndics to the prejudice of the Rights of the King the Liberties of the Gallicane Church and the Maximes of France Now if this proceeding be allow'd and this power of the Nuntio confirm'd I think in conscience I ought to discharge my self of the Deanship before I see with my eyes the evident ruine of our Faculty by the losse of its liberty It had been better to have retain'd the former Syndic an antient Doctor very well vers'd in our affairs and who knew how to maintain our discipline These things I have remonstrated to the Nuntio who is obstinate for retaining the new Syndic I conceive it to as little purpose to send M. de Nantes seeing the Abbot of St. Mark your Almoner having come to our Assembly hath declar'd it your intention that the said Syndic be retain'd in his office and perform the duties thereof which neverthelesse seems not to agree with the words of your Letter which speak only of Superseding the businesse till you be more punctually inform'd of the state of it Giving power to the Syndic to execute the place is a confirming of him and thwarting the tenour of the Letter Wherefore it should seem there is no more room left for Remonstrances but much for complaints which I shall continue in my retirement where I shall not cease to the last breath of my life to pray God for your prosperity and health as being Your most humble and obedient Servant J. FILLESSAC Paris 5 Nov. 1631. The answer of Cardinal Richelieu to the foregoing Letter SIR I Have seen the Letter you writ to me in which there are very considerable reasons When we come to Paris I shall be glad that you take the pains to see me that I may advise with you about what will be necessary to be done in this matter In the mean time I can assure you there is no person that desires more to maintain your College in its liberty and procure its advantage upon all occasions then my self who am in particular Sir Your most affectionate to serve you The Cardinal de Richelieu Chasteau-Thierry 15 Nov. 1631. And is it to be wonder'd after this Letter written with so great resentment by so eminent a Dean of the Faculty whose remonstrances were receiv'd and esteem'd by the prime Minister of State whose worth was so highly acknowledg'd by the Commissioners of Parliament when they came into Sorbonne Feb. 2. 1627. that in the draught of their Process verbal they professe to be sorry in behalf of the interest of France that his years were so far advanc'd Is it to be wonder'd I say since this Letter and Remonstrances became ineffectual that M. Cornet hath alwayes had so great an adherence both with the Jesuites and Mendicant Doctors who rais'd and maintain'd him in the office of Syndic and that he hath so successfully
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
joyntly with him Appellants to this Court to set forth in time and place the causes and grounds of the said Appeal against Abuses to the end to be redressed of all by the said Court. For these reasons they desir'd to be admitted Opposers with the said Saint-Amour and Appellants against the abusivenesse of the said pretended Proposal and Conclusion of the first of July last and of all that follow'd thereupon to have the said Appeal allow'd for good and to be permitted to cause the said Cornet and Mulot to be cited and summoned into the Court by their proper and ordinary names and all others whom it should concern to the end proceedings might be had upon the said Opposition and Appeal against Abuses and that the Court would order parties to come and plead by such a day as it should please the said Court to assign prohibitions in the mean time to be made of reading again and registring the said pretended Conclusion of the first of July or any other Act made by the said pretended Deputies and their adherents as also of proceeding further till the said Court should determine therein Moreover whereas another Petition hath been presented by the said Petitioners for the further urging of the former and that the said MM. Cornet and Pereyret under whose names a pretended Censure was sent abroad might be constrain'd to acknowledge own or disown the said pretended Censure Also the Acts and Papers annex'd to the said Petitions and the conclusions of the Kings Attorney General having been seen and weigh'd And for that the said Cornet and Pereyret de Mincé and Saint-Amour and M. James Hennequin an ancient Doctor of Sorbonne have been summon'd and heard and the said Pereyret and Cornet have declar'd that they did not publish that writing or draught of a Censure made by some particular Doctors commission'd for examining the Propositions therein contain'd neither give charge to the Scribe of the said Faculty or any other to deliver out any act or copy thereof but expresly forbid him to communicat publish or divulge the same disowning the publication thereof if any hath been made and also have profess'd that the said Writing was not signed by any of them three nor by the other Doctors appointed for examining the said Propositions and that in the said draught deliver'd to the said Scribe the said Propositions were not so determin'd as they are in the Copy annex'd to the Petition but only the passages of Scripture and Fathers which the said appointed Doctors esteem'd contrary to the said Propositions were cited by them all with an intention to make report thereof to the said Faculty assembled Also whereas they have consented that all things remain as they are and give their word to do nothing in this matter directly or indirectly till the Court shall have given order therein All this being consider'd the said Chamber hath admitted and doth admit the said Petitioners Opposers and Appellants hath held and doth hold the said Appeal valid Ordaineth upon the whole that the Parties shall have a hearing the first day after the Feast of S. Martin In the mean time besides the aforesaid Declaration It hath made and doth make prohibitions and injunctions to the said Parties respectively both on the one side and the other as well to publish the said writing and draught of Censure as to agitate and bring into question the Propositions contained therein also write or publish anything concerning them directly or indirectly in any sort or manner whatsoever till it shall be by the Court otherwise determin'd therein Given in the Chamber of Vacations on the fifth of October one thousand six hundred forty nine CHAP. XIII Of what pass'd during the moneths of October and November touching the Election of M. Hallier to the Office of Syndic MOns Hallier had been of sentiments and interests so different from those of M. Cornet in several things that 't is no small wonder that M. Cornet should think of going out of the office of Syndic in the pursuit of the enterprise which he had contriv'd and hitherto little advanc'd and that at his going out he should think of having M. Hallier for his successor in that place Before that time they had never to my knowledge had any thing common besides adherence and dependance on some persons of the Court of Rome but in all other things a sufficiently great Antipathy Neverthelesse M. Hallier was advanc'd to the Office of Syndic by the whole Faction of M. Cornet and indeed the person of the Syndic was of very great consequence for the successe of the Enterprise whether in regard of the correspondence necessary to be had with Rome for such things as depended thereof or in regard of undertaking and carrying out those which should be acted in the Faculty On one side M. Hallier's just and disinteress'd management I had observ'd in some Academical Affairs wherein we acted jointly together kept me from thinking he could possibly resolve to favour M. Cornet's enterprise but on the other it was perfectly visible that M. Cornet having in his dispose the suffrages necessary for obtaining the Syndicate would not have determin'd to give the same to M. Hallier unlesse he had first drawn from him all possible assurance to second his Designes But to omit what may have been the tye between these two so opposite persons I consider'd but one thing which I lookt upon as that which ought to serve me for a rule in that Election after it was come to my knowledge although I was very loth to make use of it for that M. Hallier and I had ever been very good friends till that present and for that when I had the honour to be Rector of the University I had found him very active against the projects of the Jesuits to ruin it by getting to be incorporated into its body and made partakers of its priviledges But knowing that he had approv'd the doctrine of Sanctarel by setting his Approbation to the book of Corn. à Lapide a Jesuite upon the Canonical Epistles the same year that the Faculty condemn'd it and all the Univesities of the Kingdom receiv'd and confirm'd the Censure thereof I conceiv'd that to suffer him to enter into the sole Magistracy which is in the Faculty of Divinity would be to trespasse against my duty towards the King and the publick especially there being none but my self amongst all the Doctors as I thought that knew of his having given the said Approbation Wherefore when M. Hallier was nominated for Syndic in the Assembly of the first of October 1649. and the suffrage was come to my turn and no objection made by any of his unfitness for that place by reason of the aforesaid Approbation I thought my self oblig'd to object the same and upon that ground to oppose his election I shall not stand here to recite the passages in that Assembly upon this matter because they are contained in the Proces Verbal which was drawn
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
that purpose whatever importunity he made to the said Cardinal whatever perfect intelligence there was between them about all things else and although the Cardinal would otherwise have been glad to oblige M. Hersent both for his own sake and that of his Nation After which certainly I will never wonder that the mysteries of things which passe in that Congregation are so hidden and impenetrable for there can scarce be imagin'd a person more industrious to penetrate into what he desires then this Ambassador nor one more beneficent and civil then that Cardinal nor two persons more united together then they CHAP. VIII A visit of Cardinal Lugo The falsification of the Bull of Urban VIII The eagernesse of M. Albizzi against S. Augustine The Censure of Vallidolid THE favour done me by the abovesaid Cardinal in putting me upon a discourse with Cardinal Lugo caus'd me to conceive my self oblig'd after this conference with him to go and wait upon him in his own house lest I might be lyable either to be charg'd with disrespect to them both or suspected of secret aversion against the said Cardinal Lugo for his being a Jesuit So I went to visit him five or six dayes after and found him at home He receiv'd me very civilly and after some discourse touching the studies of Divinity follow'd aâ— Paris he told me that there were some that studied too much there I understood him well but I was willing to oblige him to speak more clearly and to put himself into the matter of his own accord Wherefore I answer'd That excesse was to be avoided in all things and that though the profession of Literature requires great assiduity with Books yet it was well enough known at Paris how to use moderation and due temper therein At length he declar'd himself and objected to me the Book Of the Authority of S. Peter and S. Paul as a Rhapsodie of passages quotations the interpreting and applying of which proceeded from that excesse he spoke of c. That the Censure upon it had follow'd c. these c. c. are usual in Italy there is great use made of them in speaking and that in the most polite discourses and they are utter'd for the abridging and supplying of what might be added for a more large explication it being suppos'd also that he who is spoken to understands well what is imply'd and is able to supply it I answer'd that as to the passages of that Book M. Bourgeois at his being at Rome had shew'd his Eminence the strongest and clearest of them and that he might have judg'd thereof As for the Censure that we at Paris did not conceive it to touch that Book at all it condemning only the Equality between those two Apostles sine ulla subjectione without any subordination but there were Chapters in that Book wherein several kinds of subordination were set down He told me that the Book spoke not of any besides that which concerns point of Time I answer'd that I had often heard those that had read it make account that there were several others and that as to the foundation of Equality of Power between those two Apostles people not at all interessed for the Book lookt upon it as a thing very honourable and advantageous to the H. See He continu'd firm in this that there was no other subordination mention'd in the said Book besides that of Time and then pass'd to speak of Sufficient Grace the ground of which he drew from Jesus Christ and S. Paul with as much certainty as 't is possible for that which is alwayes Victorious to be deduc'd from them I told him that the Disciples of S. Augustine made no difficulty to admit the same as those of S. Thomas do namely granting a certain posse but never the velle to wit perfect nor the facere besides which Graces there needs another Effectual one to produce the action but as for Sufficient Grace subject to the Will as that was which the first man receiv'd in the state of Original Righteousnesse it could not be admitted because it is conceiv'd contrary to the Doctrine of the Scripture and the Church In fine I told him that this was the thing in controversie amongst Divines for the clearing and pacifying of whose divisions it was to be wisht that the reasons both of the one side and the other might be heard that every thing might be examin'd c. He much dislik'd the Expedient saying that there needed no examination of a businesse which was already judg'd and for proof of his assertion he brought me the Bull of Pius V. I told him that I assented to the truth of that Bull but that all the Propositions contained therein were not thereby condemn'd and upon my alledging the Exception Quanquam earum aliquae possint aliquo modo sustineri in rigore proprio verborum sensu ab autoribus intento he told me that these last words ought to be referr'd to that which follows and that the sense was that Quamvis aliquo modo sustineri pâ—ssent tamen in proprio autorum sensu erant Haereticae c. I answer'd that this sense never came into my mind when I read the Bull notwithstanding the different pointing us'd in the several impressions thereof and that the words did not comply therewith He reply'd that he had consulted the Original of the Bull and found the commaes thus placed Hoc dato non concesso I said that the first words of the Exception were not put into the Bull without cause and that there must needs be some sense at least in which those Propositions may be maintain'd in the rigour and that this was it that was to be consider'd viz. what that sense was He could not gainsay it but chang'd his battery and recurr'd to the Scripture the H. Fathers and the Popes upon whose Authority he pretended that Sufficient Grace was establisht I answer'd him that we judg'd the Scripture Fathers and Popes on our side that if the case were as he said if the opinions of S. Augustin were not such as were to be follow'd the number of those who maintain them as well amongst the antient Doctors of our Faculty as among the younger would not encrease every day as it did Here he fell to mention pensions benefices and money given as he said to make those disciples adding that they were very well inform'd thereof and had receiv'd certain intelligence of all those practices I reply'd that this was so farr from being true that the Court being averse from those Tenents the way for any one to obstruct his own temporal advancement was to maintain them That a greater injury could not be done the Doctors then to accuse them of adhering to the truth upon so low and servile conditions and interests and that they who know and love truth embrace the same only for it self He betook himself to the infallibility of the H. See and cited this passage Ego dixi tibi
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
July 9. I went in behalf of the Houres to visite Cardinal Ginetti in the moring and Cardinal Roma in the afternoon which last made me new instances upon the scruple about the Translation of the first Commandment touching Images On Tuesday morning I finish'd the Memorial which I presented to their Eminences about this matter I caus'd copies to be made of it and carry'd them in the afternoon to the Cardinals Genetti S. Clement Spada and Barberin Which last further advis'd me to look a little into the Catechisme of the Council of Trent and see how it speaks concerning Images And because the time for their Assembly was neer it being to meet on Wednesday morning and there being no order as I knew of to suspend the publishing of â—he abovemention'd Catalogue I left my Memorial at the Palace of those Cardinals whom I could not meet with to present the same personally In the said Memorial having said something about the drift of the Houres I pass'd thus to the answer of objections brought against it This Book having been receiv'd almost universally by all the world with so great applause that there have been six several Editions of it within lesse then a year it hath stirr'd the jealousie of certain persons who not being able to find any thing considerable in it to gainsay have been reduc'd only to blame it for three slight matters First of neglecting to translate out of the Latine the word Redempteur de tous Redeemer of All as if the translator omitted it out of design and set purpose But the Authors of this work know too well what S. Paul saith in 2 Cor. 5. that Jesus Christ dyed for all and what also is said in the first Epistle of S. John chap. 2. that he is the price and ransome for our sins and not for ours only but also for those of the whole World They acknowledge too well That Jesus Christ our Lord is the Saviour of all to retrench maliciously the word Redempteur de tous or conceal a truth which they own de fide and for which they are ready to shed their blood And indeed the said Authors having been very diligent in the Work to translate the Hymnes verse for verse which is very difficult considering the confinement of the French rimes it may have hapned that it hath been put in the French verse which corresponds to the Latin wherein the said word is by reason of the rime which would not fall right in the course of Poetry but the said word is restor'd in the following verse and hath likewise been inserted in sundry other places where the Latin wants it This is seen particularly in the Hymne Lustris sex qui jam peractis in which these six verses Crux fidelis inter omnes Arbor una nobilis Nulla sylva talem profert Fronde flore germine Dulce lignum dulces clavos Dulce pondus sustinet are thus translated O Croix arbre d' amour de salut de grace Arbre vraiment divin qui tout arbre surpasse En miracles divers O bois plus sacré per ce Corps adorable Tu portes le doux fruit le fruit inestimable QUI GUERIT L' UNIVERS In the Hymne Ad coenam Agni providi Et stolis albis candidi Post transitum maris rubri Christo canamus Principi The Translation runs thus Vaincucurs de la mer rouge eschappés de son onde Allons parés de blanc au festin de l' Agneau Publions dans nos chants du REDEMPTEUR DU MONDE Le triomphe nouveau In the Hymne Veni Creator Spiritus the last verse Gloria Patri Domino Natoque qui a mortuis surrexit is thus translated Gloire a Christ par sa mort DES MORTS LE REDEMPTEUR And in the Te Deum this verse Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem non horruisti virginis uterum is also translated into these words Tu n'as dedaigné pour SAUVER TOUT LE MONDE D' entrer dans l' humble sein d' une vierge feconde Thus in divers places of the Hymnes speaking indefinitely and generally it is said that our Lord Jesus Christ is the hope of the whole Vniverse the price of the world the invaluable fruit hanging on the tree which heals the Vniverse the Redeemer of the world the salvation of men and that he shed his precious blood for the infinite price of the guilty Vniverse That he came to deliver man from his misery to heal all our evills to save the guilty to break thc chaines of sinners to wash the world to purchase the Vniverse that we are purchased by his blood That he came to be born and to dye for us That he dy'd for guilty man And more such manners of speech there are in the French which are not found even in several places of the Latine The second objection made against this Work is that the Cardinal de Berule is put in the Calendar with the title of Bien-heureux blessed To which it is answer'd that this is not the fault of the Author who well knows that it pertaines only to the H. See to declare the Saints and the Blessed but a simple devotion which he who corrected the second impression of the said Book had for that Cardinal And accordingly the Author taking notice of the Corrector's fault blotted out the tittle of Blessed from that Cardinal in the four other Ediitons which have been made since the second The third Objection consists in that the Adversaries pretend that the Translator hath interpreted according to the conceptions of Hereticks that passage of the fifth chapter of Deuteronomie Non facies tibi sculptile neque similitudinem omnium quae in caelo sunt desuper c. But those Censors are greatly mistaken in this particular because the Heretiks aime in that translation is to show that the Church do's ill in the laudable custome which it hath of making and having the Images of Saints for which purpose they leave out the word Idol and the end which is to adore them But the Translator hath faithfully put both into this book making expresse mention of the word Idol and of the end for which it is forbidden to make any namely to adore them The Translation is thus Vous ne ferés point d' Idole ny d' Image taillee ny aucune figure pour les adorer You shall make no Idol nor graven Image nor any figure to adore the same which version is not onely sutable to the text of H. Scripture but also necessary for France and it is found so in all the Catechismes printed for the instruction of children and plaine people And all Curates and such as teach the Catechisme to Children and the vulgar have great care when they expound this commandment to recite it thus to them and to make them take notice of it that so they may know the reason for which God made that prohibition and knowing it may also know that when the Church
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
of the Church But yet it was seen well enough too in what sense the Authors meant it and though the words were in the rigor bad yet they were not the principal ground of the Resolution taken in their Congregation In the third place he told me That it was not lik'd that certain Prayers and Oraisons amongst others some to be said before and after Confession and Communion which use to be in other Houres were omitted in these that it was inconvenient for every one to take the liberty of making them after his own fashion and that this diversity of Prayers was not for edification That he perceiv'd well neverthelesse that this was not unanswerable and that he did not tell it me as such but only to inform me of what was spoken and how the matter pass'd and also to let me know that it was well examin'd that if the Conclusion was to the disadvantage of the Book it was not without having had regard to my Remonstrances In a word that which at length absolutely fix'd them and oblig'd them not to suffer the Houres without condemning them was the Bull of Pius V. which was recited and represented to their Eminences by which that H. Pope made express prohibition of printing in the vulgar Tongue in what manner soever the Office of the Virgin that this Bull being to them an inviolable Rule which they ought to follow and one of the principal parts of the said Book consisting in the translation of that Office it was not possible for them to let it passe without condemnation This reason surpris'd me at first and I imagin'd it convincing as well as the Cardinal wherefore all that I could readily answer having never had knowledge of that Bull of Pius V. was that I wonder'd how the case being thus so many other Houres in which the said Office is translated into the vulgar Tongue are not condemned To which the Cardinal reply'd that they had no knowledge of it no person accusing them and prosecuting their condemnation as was done to these which hinder'd not but that these deserv'd it though the other which are equally culpable scape free just as a thief added he is sent to the punishment which he deserves though others much more guilty then he are free from it because they have not been prosecuted before the Judges as he was whom they condemned that as the Judges would likewise condemn those Thieves whom they leave still in liberty were they once accus'd before them so none of those Houres in which the Office of the Virgin is in French would escape condemning by their Tribunal were they there accused This seem'd to me not to agree with what M. Albizzi said to me viz. That in matter of Doctrine there were no parties I found also by this that it was easie for the Jesuites to get what Books they would condemned they being alwayes at Rome to play the part of Accusers but on the contrary it was very difficult for their Books to be condemn'd such as might accuse them not being at Rome Lastly I understood how when the Question is Whether there be any particular thing bad in a Book it is requisite that some be found to advertise the Inquisition of it But in a thing so notorious as to know whether the Houres be translated into French I saw not wherefore an Accuser is necessary nor could I doubt but that the Inquisition of its own accord condemn'd an infinite number of Books without any persons medling therewith besides its own Officers But I dissembled all these thoughts and thought it enough to testifie to Cardinal Roma that I was beholding to the goodnesse wherewith he enform'd me how the matter was carried about the Houres which was no more to be thought of after its being thus determin'd I took occasion to put him in mind of what I had said to him touching that of the five Propositions which I told him was of other consequence then that of the Houres and could not be compos'd without a more exact and longer discussion Wherefore I beseecht him to employ his Authority to bring it to passe that there might be assign'd time and place to all the Catholick Divines that concern'd themselves therein and minded to make their Remonstrances to the H. See touching the matter in question to do it and particularly to those who were to come after me and to be at Rome in October following Cardinal Roma bid me not trouble my self about this telling me that this affair would certainly be drawn out in length that it would not go as that of the Houres that when a Determination is intended there is care taken of not hastening too much That there needed other studies and preparations for making a decision of Faith then for making a Prohibition according to an Ordinance of a Pope That such as would represent to the H. See what seemed good to them either by word of mouth or writing it should always be welcome heard most willingly and their service acknowledg'd by the H. See which cannot take too much evidence in a businesse of such importance That belong'd to the H. See to judge and decide matters contested amongst Christians but after they are decided by it all Christians and others take upon them to judge of its decisions and this obliges it to use all possible precaution to prevent being deceived That for certain I should have more time then I could wish that I now fear'd lest any thing might be precipitated but the day would come that I should complain of not hastening enough so that I ought to be at rest in this businesse and signifie to the Divines that they might come with all assurance and that they should at their coming finde things in the same posture in which I now beheld them I departed from Cardinal Roma well satisfied with my Visit especially in reference to this Affair and even to that of the Houres too because of the information he gave me and the chief essential reason upon which he told me their Prohibition was grounded Some time after I had the curiosity to be further instructed and I confessed the Bullarie There I found the Bull of Pius V. which forbids the Office of the Virgin in the vulgar Tongue but after I had better examin'd it I found not that the said Prohibitions could be extended to the Houres which were in question That which gave occasion to the said Prohibition was that the Avarice of some Booksellers and the malice or brutishnesse of some others leagued with them in that designe put them upon publishing out of emulation one against another several Offices of the Virgin or rather little Books under that name in which there were divers Prayers which they forg'd and which were full of superstitions and other follies to circumvent the simple and promote the sale of their Books Pius V. taking notice of this abuse and considerng how scandalous this exorbitant license taken by some persons in
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
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
reference to the whole Church The Cardinal answer'd me as one a little wearied with the Congregation from which he came yet still full of affection and zeal for the perfect clearing up of these Disputes He told me that he would never spare any thing that lay in his power for the service of the Church that it was requisite to endeavour to bring this businesse to an end but it would be long-winded and of difficult discussion I reply'd that indeed some study and paines would be necessary in it but it might be so manag'd as to save very much if the right course were taken That it was not necessary to begin this Judgement with examining the Propositions because that besides their not relating to us at all and having no Author that taught them but being fram'd at pleasure and out of malice by those who design'd to get them condemn'd should it be resolv'd to pronounce before searching into the bottom of things a thousand difficulties and perplexities would arise of great intricacy and not possible to be remov'd whereas if the chief and essential matter were first discuss'd and regulated it would be afterwards very easie to decide these Propositions and that in a clear indubitable way by reducing them to the Chief Matter which was already setled Wherefore our design would no doubt be to enter strait into that matter assoon as the Congregation were erected and the Jesuites who corrupted the faith of the grace of Jesus Christ in the Church as we hop'd to accuse and convict them appear'd there before us Cardinal Roma answer'd that I had reason and moreover he told me that no doubt it behoov'd to condemn the sufficient Grace held by those Fathers if the Effectual which we maintain'd was declar'd and acknowledg'd for the Catholick and Orthodox faith because indeed one doctrine cannot be true but its contradictory must be false I took the confidence to tell him too that certainly the opinion of those Fathers ought not to be spar'd as it had been formerly in case it were found wholly opposite to the Christian faith as we pretended because their boldnesse was at present rais'd to such a point that they presum'd to make it passe for the faith of the Church having so long escap'd condemnation since it was accus'd whereas all that they pretended in the beginning was but to render it tolerable Which seeing they could not obtain from the Inquisition of Spain where Molina's Book was first accus'd assoon as publish'd they had the cunning to evade the condemnation which was ready to be pronounc'd upon it there by getting the businesse remov'd to the Inquisition of Rome where also the very same condemnation was decreed but restrain'd in darknesse by reason of the death of Clement VIII which hapned when he was fully prepar'd and resolv'd to publish it Cardinal Roma reply'd that this and every thing else should be taken notice of in the progresse of the businesse and so I gave him the Good-night The same day also I had time to visit Cardinal Ginetti to whom I spoke very near to the same purpose that I did to Cardinal Roma Cardinal Ginetti answer'd me by asking me who were those Deputies I told him that in the first place his Eminence was one But the others said he I nam'd them to him he assented and perceiving that I was inform'd thereof he open'd himself with freedome and by his words gave me as many testimonies as he could of the particular care and extraordinary diligence that for his own part he would contribute to the full and perfect discussion of this Affair I was willing also to try that evening to meet with the Procurator General of the Augustines to which purpose coming back from my lodging I went to their Covent As I arriv'd there F. Delbene was coming forth I had been twice that day to finde him to understand something from him which Cardinal Barberin told me this Father had to say to me He would have put it off to another day because it was late but my desire to leave it without delay caus'd me to desire him to come into the Coach where I was in which I offer'd to carry him home and by the way he might tell me what he had to acquaint me with He accepted my offer and told me Cardinal Barberin charg'd him to recommend two things to me First that I should not stir so much to avoid giving occasion of hold against me And secondly that when I spoke of this Affair to such as were to be advertis'd of it I should speak of nothing but of the Propositions without troubling my self at all about Jansenius I answer'd F. Delbene that he knew whether in any of the Conferences which I had with him I spoke so much as one word of that Bishop's Book far or near He reply'd that he had given this testimony of me to Cardinal Barberin when his Eminence spoke to him of it As for the first point of his Advertisement I reply'd that in my judgement that Counsel was given me by the Artifice of the Jesuites who sought occasion to procure me some mischief or at least to give out that my person and sentiments were suspected at Rome but all this should not hinder me from performing of my duty to the utmost of my power That I was come to Rome to advertise the Pope and with him all such as ought to take care of the interests of the H. See of the most pernicious enterprise that ever was made to circumvent it and that tended to cause it to do an Act which would impair its esteem in the eyes of all judicious persons living at this day and be shamful to it in all Ages to come Wherefore instead of abating the ardour wherewith I had hitherto spoken of the evil designes which the Authors of the five Propositions have I thought my self on the contrary oblig'd to make them the more notorious that they might be more heedfully taken notice of and more narrowly observ'd That I knew no person to whom I might in reason addresse my self to discover them but I should forthwith visit him That if heretofore there was a Son who wanting the use of speech from his birth acquir'd it when he saw his Father going to be kill'd I conceiv'd my self oblig'd to lift up mine more and more while I see the Head of the Church and prime Father of all the faithful so unworthily invaded and to practise towards our Adversaries who under the false appearance of zeal for the H. See assault it in that place where it is quickest of sense that precept of Scripture Quod in aure auditis praedicate super lecta That I hop'd God would give me the grace to take no other course and that he Father Delbene would do me a pleasure to assure Cardinal Barberin of this I entertain'd the Father in this manner till we came to his lodging where I left him and return'd to my own 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
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
otherwise were there nothing more then the ordinary impression we should be so far from hindring it that we should rather further it because S. Augustins and our adversaries printed nothing but what prov'd extremely advantageous to the truth and to our cause they fill'd their books so with falsities ignorances and lyes and though all this might serve for some time to uphold their reputation by blinding the lesse attentive yet when their books came once to be sifted in a Congregation of judicious equitable Judges the exorbitances would be scarce credible to which these good Fathers and their adherents suffer themselves to be transported against truth and honesty that therefore the more they printed the more they advantag'd us but all our trouble was that they did it in the sight and knowledge of the H. See and by that means engag'd the same in broyls from which it would be hard to clear it self and which would increase the difficulties of our making known to it the justice of our cause and of its declaring in our favour The Pope was apprehensive of what I said to him about this subject and signifi'd that he had not heard of that book before but he would consider of it and take some order about it I proceeded to tell him how for the better accomplishing their design they attempted to avoid passing through the hands of the Master of the Sacred Palace who was forc'd to supplicate the Cardinals of the H. Office that the rights of his place might not be prejudic'd in this case and all that he obtain'd was that the said Book might passe through his hands and he might read it but withall he receiv'd order to passe it to give it his Imprimatur and that it was actually printing The Pope smil'd a little to render this first audience more agreeable speaking a word of raillery touching the continual contest that there was between the Dominicans and the Jesuites I proceeded to the second thing whereof we agreed that I should complain to the Pope and that was M. Albizzi's extream passion for the interests of the Jesuits and having told his Holinesse that that Man was wholly possess'd with their sentiments and blindly favour'd all their designs I instanc'd visible tokens thereof that I had observed in particular cases I told the Pope how he treated me when I was addressing to Cardinal Panzirolo touching the Houres crying out Si burla il Signor de Sant ' Amor si burla That I presently remonstrating to him calmly that he ought to treat me after another sort if not for my own sake yet in respect to the Bishops of France who sent me and to the affair in which the H. See was the principal concern'd c. The Pope here interrupted me and told me I knew how himself had treated me with how much esteem he had received what I represented to him in the name of those illustrious Bishops and in what account he express'd to hold me particulary I renew'd my thanks to him and he proceeded to tell me that Men are sometimes subject to choler and suffer themselves to be transported with it but it behooved to have a little patience in those cases and excuse them I reply'd that M. Albizzi's proceeding testify'd more then choler that he acted out of palpable Aversion whereof I gave his Holinesse this proof that having continu'd to justifie to M. Albizzi the reason for my acting as I did he persisted to treat me ill and exasperate me saying that I was come to Rome to offer violence and force to the H. See that we were full of evil intentions and sought nothing but to crosse its intersts c. The Pope to shew the injustice of that Reproach interpos'd that if it were so we would not have recourse thither as we had I acknowledg'd the weight of the Pope's reason and added that it shew'd how injurious M. Albizzi was to speak otherwise and that when I remonstrated to the said Signor Albizzi how little just it was in him and very grievous for us that he imputed to us evil intentions against the H. See without having full proof thereof he answer'd me more bitterly That it was but too true that we had such evil intentions Non è che troppo vero c. The Pope here again mention'd M. Albizzi's choler in his excuse After this discourse M. Brousse made some general complaints to the Pope touching the calumnies that were spread without controll against us by the Jesuites and at their instigation To which the Pope answer'd that it was not possible to hinder those disorders That himself could not prevent all the calumnies that were made against him and particularly that it was not possible for him to stop the mouths of those which charged him as if he had no affection to France but had intentions prejudicial to the service of that Crown notwithstanding his care in all cases to give proofs of his affection for that first Kingdom of Christendom in which for his own particular he had receiv'd so much honour and so many obliging treatments But to give the Pope an instance of the boundlesse liberty taken by our Adversaries to dare any thing against us that their blind passion suggested I was willing to have himself a witnesse thereof in presence of my Collegues I said to him H. Father Your Holinesse remembers that you lately saw here a certain Cordelier nam'd F. Mulard who address'd to your Holinesse as being deputed from the Faculty of Divinity at Paris about the same affaires The Pope answer'd that it was true I proceeded H. Father Your Holinesse may also remember whether in the Audiences you did me the favour to give me you heard me so much as name the Faculty out of my mouth to call my self their Deputy and whether I ever said that I was sent from any other then the Prelates whose Letters I deliver'd to you The Pope acknowledg'd the truth of both I continu'd Neverthelesse H. Father I have been accus'd to the Assembly of the Faculty for terming my self their Deputy and they who instigated the said Cordelier to take upon him that Quality here aim'd by that artifice to cause the Faculty to declare that they had not deputed me thereby to blemish my reputation and possibly to take some pretext of inferring that the Faculty indirectly authoris'd the Chimerical deputation of that Cordelier who term'd himself so for three or four moneths in that they did not complain thereof But some Doctors understanding this Fraud and laying it open in the Assembly it gave occasion to the Faculty to declare that they had not hitherto deputed any person hither and by that means that which had been prepar'd to calumniate me hath serv'd to convince before your Holinesse the Authors of that imposture of the Cordelier In proof of all which I presented the Copy of the Facultie's Conclusion to the Pope desiring him to keep it and if he thought good to send it into
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
Consultors and others with what malicious subtilty they who fram'd those Propositions endeavor'd to circumvent it That yet I did not refuse to give in a friendly way but not as to a Judge such light as an honest man could desire in the things which I knew and he was willing to understand which office provided it were thus receiv'd I should not decline to do though it were to a Consultor although lesse willingly to such then to another but withall in such a way that all I said to him should in no wise passe for an Instruction upon the grounds of the Propositions which requir'd greater study and attention and much other solemnity My friend approved this course and acknowledg'd that we had great reason not to recede from it We visited Cardinal Ottobone on Tuesday morning the 5. of March He receiv'd our Complements and made many to us but our affair was little spoken of Parting from him we went to Cardinal Lugo He askt me whether I had continu'd at Rome ever since our last speaking together Whereupon I gave him an account of the occasion of my return and what we four were to sollicite with his Holinesse He reply'd that he had not yet heard speak of those Propositions I proceeded to tell him what necessity there was of examining them throughly in a Congregation in regard of the diversity of their senses He answer'd that it was reasonable that we should be heard and our writings seen That what he could say to us was that it was an affair not handled in the H. Office but reserv'd by the Pope to himself I reply'd that we waited till the Pope pleas'd to erect a special Congregation for the purpose He put us upon the business of S. Peter and S. Paul telling us that the same course was taken for its examination and that the Pope assembled together the ablest Divines in Rome as well of the H Office as others and that himself perswaded his Holinesse so to do I told him we knew nothing of all that nor had we heard any talk of it indeed we knew of the Decree pass'd upon the book but were ignorant of the circumstances which he related He reply'd in such a manner as tended to lead us to that subject again but we diverted the discourse of it by bringing him to that of the solemn Congregation whose establishment we pursu'd He told us again that he thought it fit and just that our writings were examin'd and communicated to the Qualificators and Consultors but for our going to houses to see them he durst not adde that he judg'd it bad but he gave us to understand that it did not please him M. Brousse reply'd and said that Commission was not confin'd within such strait bounds but it enjoyn'd us to desire a solemn Congregation of the Pope in which both parties might be heard both by word of mouth and by writing in presence one of the other and all their writings reciprocally communicated The Cardinal said that it seem'd we intended to have a kind of little Council M. Brousse answer'd that that was necessary as well for other reasons as in regard of the falsities and calumnies that were found to have slipt into secret writings I took this occasion and told him what accusation the Nuntio had made against me in the Faculty what we had said to the Pope of it and what the Pope had answer'd us The Cardinal said he believ'd all those difficulties would come to fall upon the point of sufficient Grace and to perswade us that that was it which was to be defended and would be judg'd the best he made use of this comparison He said it was once indispute which was the best way of counting the howres either by four and twenty begining from the time of one Sun-set to another as the Italians do or â—rom twelve to twelve beginning from Midnight to noon and from Noon to midnight as the French and Spaniards do and that this last way had been judg'd the better since Nations otherwise so opposite agreed in it That so sufficient Grace would undoubtedly be judged the better since the Dominicans and the Jesuites consented in it I reply'd that there were two sorts of Grace which were called sufficient that the Jesuites and the Dominicans agreed in the Word but not in the Thing and that other Divines such as our selves did not impugne all kind of sufficient Grace but onely that which was made subject to Free-will and that the Dominicans oppos'd the same as well as we That therefore when the question is of sufficient Grace we should not speak of it without distinction and without knowing of what nature it is and what it is capable to produce in our hearts by the power which God gives it Cardinal Lugo suffer'd me not to finish this discourse which assuredly was none of the most pleasing to his Eminence but he interrupted it saying that it behoved to defend the same which S. Augustin defended against Pelagius The Abbot of Valcroissant reply'd that that which S. Augustin defended against Pelagius was the Effectual by it self necessary to every pious action whereunto the Cardinal answering nothing I continu'd my relation of what pass'd in the audiences which we had of his Holinesse and told him that the Pope in one audience askt me whether any of the Five Propositions was in the Bull of Pius V. and I answer'd negatively The Cardinal reply'd that the third was in it This agreed ill with what he told us at first viz. that he had not yet heard speak of those Propositions I proceeded that I had told his Holinesse that indeed the third had some resemblance with two or three of those that are in the Bull of Pius V. but yet they were different from it and that upon my saying to the Pope that there needed but one word to change a Proposition His Holinesse answer'd me that there needed but a Comma That I further told the Pope that this third was not condemn'd in the sense that we held it nor like any of the others condemn'd in the sense that we held it nor like any of the others condemned by that Bull. That we did not oppose it in any thing nor had any thing to say against that of Vrban VIII publisht against Jansenius Neither had we ought to plead in defence of his book That all those things were wholly different and separate from our affair That the same was only to beseech the Pope to cause the different senses of the Propositions to be distinguish'd before passing of judgment upon them to admit us to declare which we do not hold and as for those that we do hold to examine the reasons which we have so to do to communicate the writings which we should present to him upon this subject to our adversaries and theirs to us and to hear us upon the whole vivâ voce in presence one of the other to the end that after having well cleard
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
It is that which was in the middle it being likely that the two ends have been broken off since neither the word Jesus nor Rex Judaeorum are found there but only Nazarenus which takes up almost the length of the wood The same day being Sunday March the 10th all of us visited M. Albizzi together He conducted us into his Chamber where having taken our places we prevail'd with our selves to make him the most cordial Declaration we could in hope to have him favourable to our designes when he found how conformable they were to Truth and Justice which we knew he lov'd He answer'd us also on his part very civilly and told us the service of the H. See should be alwayes his inviolable Rule that he should alwayes be a profest enemy to all those that should offend it but he had much confidence that we would alwayes have it in great veneration and he would do for our service what was possible for him He interpos'd some very unpleasing things in his Discourse which we dissembled or mollify'd the best we could only one thing M. Brousse took up as it deserv'd namely that if the Pope heard us before passing his Decision he would hear us if he pleas'd tanquam aliquos de populo as he would do any ordinary people He told us that should the Pope hear and consider all that we intended to represent as he conceiv'd his Holiness would do yet he believ'd that he would not grant us the Congregation which we demanded We answer'd that then we had nothing to represent because we could not deliver any instruction by writing or word of mouth but before such a Congregation that without that our hands were bound and we could not go beyond our Commission He told us the Pope had put into his hands the first Memorial which we left with his Holinesse wherein we supplicated for the Congregation he spoke also of the second touching F. Annat's book in reference to which he said the Pope did no more but remove the Prohibitions formerly made of writing concerning those matters that if any thing were found in the book not right it should be censur'd as well as any other We answer'd that the case being so we desir'd nothing more then that it came forth because it furnisht us with advantageous hold against its Author M. Albizzi added that himself was the Compiler of the Bull against Jansenius that it was made upon a belief that it would appease the troubles and Disputes arisen about those matters and reduce things to silence and the former peace That if what hath follow'd since had been foreseen instead of making a simple prohibition of that book the doctrine perhaps would have been examin'd and possibly condemn'd too but that moderate course was thought sufficient the rather to spare a Bishop who was dead in the Catholick Communion That it was himself M. Albizzi that suggested that Counsel After this he spoke of the Minister of Groning's book which he said was sent him from Brussels and from Paris and having in anger fetcht the Book he read to us out of the Preface that the Author saith they were of S. Augustins opinion touching Grace as Jansenius is too M. Brousse answer'd that there was no need of being angry that we knew nothing of that Book that Hereticks are not alwayes to be believ'd when they say an Author is for themselves otherwise the Bible must be burnt which they all say is on their side that F. Annat in his Book de scientia media cites four or five Hereticks who say that St. Thomas is for them ought they therefore to be believ'd and S. Thomas to be burnt Besides that it behoveth not to be angry if it be true that they are of S. Augustin's mind touching Grace as they alledge on the contrary we ought to thank God because they are Catholicks in this point and they need only to be instructed in the rest wherein they erre For do not you believe said he that one is a Heretick because he is not a Molinist on the contrary I account that to be a Molinist is to be an Heretick But to satisfie him further upon this subject I shew'd him Letters written to me on the second and 9th of February which promis'd an answer to the said Book of which M. Albizzi profess'd himself glad and told us that that was done as it should be He spoke disadvantageously enough of St. Augustine taxing him of excesses or flyings out in his encountring Hereticks He added that these matters were not necessary to salvation That they caus'd despair c. To all which we return'd such answers as it deserv'd He complain'd very much that the Bishops of Machlin and Gaunt could not be prevailed with to receive the Bull. He spoke also of M. Bourgeois We told him all those businesses were different from ours which was only to obtain a solemn Congregation of the Pope in which these matters might be examin'd in the Ecclesiastical formes that besides we were sorry that the Bull was so ill receiv'd but the abuse which the Jesuites made of it was the cause of that mischief Other things were spoken of in this Visite among the rest the place of Haereo fateor in Jansenius which M. Albizzi objected to us twice as a certain conviction of that Prelate's bad sentiments to which we said nothing but these are the principal and at last our Conference ended very calmly and civilly both on his part and ours After we left him we visited the Commissary of the H. Office who was not there when we arriv'd there but his Companion receiv'd us and while he was entertaining us the Commissary return'd to his lodging We discoursed with either of them only about Theological matters in reference to the first Proposition till night broke off the Conversation CHAP. VI. The continuation of our Visites and what pass'd till the end of March M. Brousse constrain'd to return into France in regard of his health Two Copies of the Memoires of M. Pegna which we caus'd to be compar'd very exactly with the Original What successe our Memorial had against F. Annat's Book ON Monday the eleventh of March we visited F. Luca Vadingo our chief Discourse with whom was he already understanding our Affair enough touching the Assembly of Consultors and Qualificators appointed on Thursday following For though as we told him we doubted not of their capacity understanding and good intention and that almost all those whom we visited appear'd favourable to the sentiments of S. Augustin for which we had reason to be satisfy'd and to praise God yet as we told him too a matter becomes more clear and is more throughly discovered after hearing the Contesting Parties upon it then when it is barely examin'd by it self especially when it is intricate as that in question was and when besides the difficulties which are inseparable from it it is industriously embroyl'd and obscur'd as the Authors of those Propositions
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
of the Sub-deanery of the Sacred Colledge by the death of Cardinal Lanti This Dignity belonged of right and according to the ordinary usage to Cardinal Barberin who was the most antient of all those that were there in person but the Pope took it from him and three thousand Crowns of Revenue annexed to it and contrary to custom gave it by a special Brief and priviledge to Cardinal de Medicis Uncle to the great Duke of Tuscany who was indeed more antient than Cardinal Barberin but was not present in person at at their Consistory Lastly I learnt that two daies before M. Albizzi took occasion in an Assembly of the Inquisition to read the Letters which he had receiv'd from Paris by which it was signified to him that M. Hallier was set forth upon his journey towards Rome with some other Doctors that the Cardinals Barberin and Spada were at the reading of those Letters and testified much joy for the sight of so great and famous a personage and who knew so well as their Eminencies said the usages and customs of the University but that which was more considerable herein was that some intelligent persons conceiv'd their comming might prove the cause of establishing the sooner the Congregation which he had mov'd for and which would not be granted at the instance of us alone We had given and lent some Copies of the first Letter against the Minister of Groning to divers of those persons whom I have mention'd who lent it from one to another and testified much satisfaction therewith On Thursday the ninth I carry'd one in the afternoon to Cardinal Ghiggi who seeing by the Title that it was writ against Marests Maresius I suppose wonder'd at it as being against a man whom he knew and of whom he made no great account I read to him the place of that Letter where there is mention of our hope that the Pope would shortly determine our differences To which he answer'd that we did well in asking a Hundred to get Fifty the meaning whereof is that he believ'd it would not be done and therefore that we must have patience That he had told the Pope that the advantage which the Jesuites endeavour'd to make of the Decrees which had been made at Rome had caus'd all the stirre and that one side could hardly be brought to yield to the other adding to this purpose Par in Parem non habet imperium The General of the Dominicans seeing himself engag'd by the interest of truth the Church and his Order to proceed in this affair since the delivery of his Memorial to the Pope resolv'd to acquit himself worthily of all the Duties whereunto he conceiv'd himself oblig'd by the high importance whereof he knew it to be VVherefore though he had about him without looking forth of the Covent la Minerve many Divines of his Order very intelligent and zealous who were capable of doing service therein yet to omit nothing in his power but to strengthen the number and ardor of those whom he might imploy in the defence of truth knowing that F. Reginald of the Covent of Dominicans at Tholouse had for a long time particularly studied all that had pass'd in these Contests since the publishing of Molina's book he sent him a Letter of Obedience to come to Rome dated 11. of May in the same year 1652. VVe had not had time in our first visit to Cardinal Castagusti to inform him of our affair and he had desir'd us to take another opportunity to visit him VVe went accordingly on Tuesday the 14th of May. He receiv'd us obligingly heard our discourse and answered us both in Latin and Italian judiciously in conclusion he oblig'd us to come to him again on the Friday following to give him a Copy of our Latin Manifesto which we did accordingly On Sunday the 19th we went to S. Peters Church to Vespers at our comming from which we fell into the Company of Cardinal Barberin who carried us to walk in his two little Vineyards Amongst other remarkable things which he said to us he discoursed very well how the opinion of Molina arose upon occasion of the opposition which was made at that time to Calvinisme and that things were not so well undestood as to refute him without falling into the other extreme That however Molina's opinion having been judg'd not good he was accus'd to the inquisition in Spain where he said to have only been cited was a thing highly ignominious VVherefore the Society of Jesuites seeing themselves wounded in the affront which one of his Members had receiv'd became wholly interested for him and have since been daily more and more engag'd The morning of Friday the 24th was spent in civilities with the Ambassador M. Hallier arriv'd in the Evening with M. Lagault M. Joysel a 4th nam'd M. Thomas who was a Batchelor of the Faculty and Cousin to M. Hallier but who in the sequel profess'd not to be one of their deputation One came to advertise me of their arrival and the lodging where they alighted presently after their comming I was alone at home when I receiv'd this notice and went instantly to salute them to congratulate with them for their arrival to offer them whatever they needed either in reference to our House or our Persons By that time I got to their Lodging they were at Supper with other Company I fear'd to disturb them by my appearance and because it was already late all I could do was to return home and leave my Servant there to tell them when they were arisen from the Table what diligence I had us'd to wait upon them as also to make them the offers of service vvhich I vvent to offer them my self if I could have found them in a condition fitting to be spoken vvith The next day M. de Valcroissant M. Angram and my self determin'd to visit them We sent about eight a clock in the morning to see whether they were in a condition to receive our visit but they were gone before to the Ambassadour's house where because he came forth late out of his Chamber they spent all the morning excepting M. Lagault who left them and vvent to see the Priests of the Mission and aftervvards came to us VVe offer'd to stay him at dinner vvith us but he excus'd himself for that he purpos'd to return to his Collegues at their Lodging But the Ambassador retein'd them at dinner and in the afternoon we going to the Pope's Vespers understood that M. Hallier and M. Joysell were already gone from thence in one of his Coaches to see Cardinal Barberin So we deferr'd visiting them till the Evening When we arriv'd at their Lodgings they were reconducting two Priests of the Mission who came to see them so that they receiv'd us at their Gate He had no long conference with them because they were called upon to go to collation We invited them to come dine with us the next day but they were promised elsewhere
other thoughts but that these matters were determin'd and that they would act conformably thereunto That this was their Commission The Abbat of Valcroissant reply'd and told M. Hallier that what he spoke would not be found true That the Bishops demanded only a Judgement by their Letter That they did not say that it should be Definitive and they having not said it he had no right to say it that he pass'd beyond his Commission and we would evidence the same to all the world To appease this Contest the Ambassador said it was no time to dispute this that M. Hallier and his Collegues might act as they thought good and we as we pleas'd But it was fit that both sides proceeded with mutual Civility and Candour M. de Valcroissant answer'd the Ambassador that M. Hallier's speaking before us in this manner concerning the Bishops whose Commission he pretended could not but oblige us to gainsay him and that such words were not to be let passe without an answer M. Joysel and Lagault did all they could to make M. Hallier hold his peace and spoke to this effect several times that each party might act as they thought good and neither side was bound to give account thereof to the other M. de Valcroissant upon M. Hallier's saying that they car'd not which way the Pope proceeded answer'd him that yet there were certain usual Rules in his Holinesse's judgement upon matters of Faith and he askt him this Question If the Pope without any examination or consultation should pronounce upon some Doctrine proposed This Doctrine is Heretical would it be well done would you approve it wherefore you ought not to say so generally howsoever the Pope proceedeth but indeed we hope he will do in this affair what shall be most expedient for the peace of the Faithful the clearing of Truth and the dignity of the H. See M. Hallier hereupon seeing himself so prick'd said that if the Pope would hear the Parties as we demanded he was not one that would shun the Conference and they would appear in the Congregation with us but they were come to Rome barely to tell the Pope their judgement and were no Parties I askt him therefore in two words And who are we to signifie to him that in effect we were as little Parties as themselves and perhaps lesse since we acted not but by order of the Bishops who sent us to beseech the Pope to erect a Congregation for the clearing of all things by hearing of both sides therein and that there were very many complaints to be made against them for the management which themselves or the adherents of M. Cornet whom they represented for they labour'd only to effect his enterprise had held for three yeares past to the present M. Hallier and his Collegues knew not what to answer to this In fine the conclusion was that we should never speak of the affaires and questions in agitation when we met together that we should visit one another and talk upon occasions with charity honour and civility But as to what M. Hallier demanded at first that we should divulge nothing concerning our affaires nor write thereof into France we utterly tejected so unreasonable a Proposal which could not be other then the effect of his fear lest it should be known in France in what manner things were transacted at Rome and which accus'd all the Bishops that signed M. de Vabres's Letter whose Deputy he term'd himself of a prodigious insensibility which he attributed to them in so important an affair if they had no curiosity of learning newes concerning it After we had taken leave of the Ambassador we retired altogether and as we pass'd through those vast and spatious Rooms in the Palace of the Barberini where the Ambassador lodg'd I went along with M. Hallier who spoke two things to me very considerable which yet I cannot set down here but with much trouble to see the reasons for which himself affirm'd that he had resolv'd to engage in this affair First That when he enter'd upon the Syndicship he desir'd nothing but peace in the Faculty But some began to push at him and I first of all and so things by little and little came to the passe at which they were now Secondly That the Pope had requir'd his coming to Rome that he was come thither and it would shortly be seen what would follow thereupon I answer'd nothing concerning the Pope but as to his Syndicship I told him that we believ'd this is meant of afterwards for when I oppos'd his election none of the Doctors knew that I intended to oppose it nor that I had the book which was the cause of my opposition that we believ'd I say that he would pursue M. Cornet's enterprise He reply'd that it was not so and that we were mistaken As for his saying that the Pope sent for him and that he was come by his order 't is a thing I could never clearly understand and believe it was not so there not appearing any probability at all thereof However he believ'd it and not only believ'd it but publish'd it openly I heard by a Letter written to me the 22 of the foregoing March that they boasted that they were summon'd by the Pope and the Cardinals before they set forth And by another of the 12th of April that M. Cornet and M. Morel were not contented that M. Hallier and his Collegues had undertaken this Journey but were pacify'd upon M. Hallier's telling them that he was sent for by the Pope and some Cardinals I know not whether by this Pope and these Cardinals there were not really some complot of M. Albizzi and some Cardinals perhaps also some tacite consent or other of the Pope upon some Proposal made to him about it In brief 't is a thing I could never clearly discover but I leave it to the Readers to judge of But as for F. Mulard who set forth from Rome in December to carry them the Letters and Messages which oblig'd them to resolve upon coming he came back again with them or shortly after For to my knowledge he was seen at Rome on Wednesday the 29th of May being the Eve of Corpus Christi and he was heard that very day to say speaking of M. Hallier and his Collegues and swearing by the name of God By G. I have done so much that I have made them come I have put the Sword into their hands let them fight now But what said one to him Will you meddle no more in the matter No answered he at least let them begin when they have done the businesse I may add the last stroke of the Pencil It was added That he could not be so supine as to forbear to meddle till the end and he corrected himself by saying that he might do it also in the interim to put them in the way if need were CHAP. XI Of what pass'd during the whole Month of June and the beginning of July ON the
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
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
much started M. Hallier and his Collegues by telling them that they could not gain any thing hereafter by their pursuites to get the Propositions condemned because the Pope having already declar'd that he would not have Grace Effectual by it self medled with though it should come to pass that the Propositions were condemned yet it would be nothing to the connexion which they have with such Grace so that since we held them only in the sense according to which they have such connexion the condemnation pass'd upon them would give them no advantage against us The antient Procurator General of S. Marcel had desired of me to let him see our Writing de Gestis I carried it to him this morning and askt him by way of Exchange whether he had no sort of Writing which M. Hallier and his Collegues had shew'd him He told me that they had been to see him several times but never left half a line with him He told me also that in Cardinal Spada's Congregations they were upon the fourth Proposition That hitherto they had only given their sentiments by speeches in few words in poche parole That he believ'd their Eminences would see their sentiments in writing at length per extensum but he was not certain of it We gave our Writings thus freely and indifferently to be seen by all such as testified to us the least desire of it whether they were Consultors or not For we considered no person under that quality no notice having been given us of them excepting that we acted a little more reservedly towards such as we knew were Consultors by the private intelligence of our friends Thus I carried our writings de Gestis to this antient Procurator of S. Marcel who was one of the Consultors his lodging being in the way by which I was to go elsewhere and I sent the same some days before to F. Bordone who was none and who liv'd in a remote place off the City But the Letter written to me by this latter the next after he had received the said writing deserves to be reported here because of the singular esteem it professes of S. Augustin and shews what pity it was that a man so full of esteem for that H. Father and who by his charge of Qualificator of the H. Office should by all right have been of the Congregation was yet excluded with some others as well affected towards St. Augustin as he The Contents of the letter were these Illustris Signore Tengo copia del fatto sopra le controversie de gratia del quale S.V. Illustris mâ— hâ— honorato confarmete partecipe ammirando la flaccielagine e temertea di quelli che vogliono combattere la doctrina di sant Agostino DELLA QVALE S. CHIESA NEL DEFINIRE LE CONTROVERSIE DI SIMILI MATERIE COME REGOLA INFALLIBILE SEMPER SI E SERVITA Di S. Cosmo di Roma li. 5. Decembre 1652. Di. V. S. Illustris devotissimo servo nel Signore Signed thus F. Francisco Bordone I have received said he the copy of your writing concerning Facts in reference to the controversies about Grace which you have done me the favour to send me I admire the Impudence and rashness of those who go about to impugn S. Augustines doctrine of which the H. Church hath alwayes made use as of an infallible rule for deciding the controversies of these matters I thank you and kiss your hands c. Your most affectionate in our Lord c. Tuesday the 17. M. de Valcroissant and M. Argran continu'd to sollicite for audience to present the Book of our Writings and the Memorial above mentioned to the Pope wherein we petition'd that they might be communicated And moreover a second Memorial which we had sign'd on Fryday before Decemb. 13. wherein we advertised the Pope of sundry things which we conceiv'd his Holiness would find very important in themselves and yet more regard of their consequences which I will not trouble the Reader with here but leave him to judge thereof by the reading of the said Memorial whereof the translation follows To the H. Father Pope Innocent X. touching some orders given by his Holiness to M. Albizzi and violated both by him and the Jesuites and F. Modeste Consultor of the H. Office Most Holy Father YOur Holiness having consider'd the Memorial which was presented to you in Lent last against the impression wbich was making of a Book of the Jesuites whereof F. Annat was Author touching their sufficient Grace and other like matters against Jansenius with the authority of the sacred congregation of the H. Office your Holiness judg'd the reasons for not permitting the said impression so considerable that although the Book was already finished yet your Holiness forbad proceeding in it and appointed that all the sheets of it which were printed should be supprest and carried to the H. Office The orders most H. Father could then be no otherwise then obey'd but since the same orders have been sleighted and your Holinesse's intentions frustrated and despised inasmuch as though the course of the impression of the said book was stopt nevertheless they have caus'd another to be printed at Paris concerning the same matter against the same Advesary for the same ends and by vertue of the same permission of the H. Office albeit the same permission had been at least suspended and hindred by those orders of your Holiness And although the said Book be printed at Paris yet neither can M. Albizzi nor the said Author with his Companions nor F Modeste Consulter of the H. Office who approv'd it quit themselves of having contemned transgressed and voluntarily and with deliberate purpose violated the express and formal pleasure of your Holiness touching this matter which was to them sufficiently known as your Holiness may evidently see if you please to consider the following reflexions The said permission of the sacred Congregation of the H. Office was granted at the request and sollicitation of M. Albizzi on May 13. in the last year 1651. The Memorial against the Book which was printing here was presented to your Holiness in Lent last your Orders given to M. Albizzi at the same time were by him executed upon H. Thursday and Saturday and the same Memorial put into his hands Lastly the Approbation of F. Modeste was sign'd the 14. of July last and this new book was not published at Paris till towards all Saints with the said permission and approbation in the Front If M. Albizzi most H. Father had had a sincere desire to obey your Holiness he would not have fail'd to have recall'd and requir'd from F. Annat the permission which had been given him since himself having sollicited and got it expedited he must needs know that it was general not only for that Book but for others like it and since he might have perceived clearly by the Memorial that among the reasons which your Holiness had to prohibit the said book there was not any which concern'd it in particular
me that they had been so extraordinarily hastened in their Congregations that he had not had time to read half what he wisht in order to prepare himself for what he was to say The second with M. Valcroissant to F. Tostat a Minime who had been Confessor to the Abbot de S. Cyran during his imprisonment in Bois de Vincennes and who render'd such fair testimonies of his vertue and after so Christian a manner that it well appear'd that he had conversed with him besides in Confession And the third all alone to F. Luca Vadingo on Friday the 20th who told me that many of the Consultors wonder'd that they were set about this affair and pass'd judgement upon it una sola parte informante being informed but by one side That nevertheless we should do well to continue as we did and not fail to make our Remonstrances in time and place for not being heard He ask'd me also to let him see our Writings but not to tell any that I had shown them to him The Ambassador was not at audience on Friday we could not reasonably hope to make use of his mediation for presenting our VVritings and Memorials to the Pope on Sunday the 22d at the end of Chappel Wherefore we were constrain'd to expect the Popes return from taking the aire which the fairness of the day caus'd us to hope he would not fail to do It prov'd so and at his return when he came near the Presence-chamber he stood still M. de Valcroissant presented our Writings and Memorials to him saying H. Father This is the Book of our Writings which we beseech your Holiness to have upon your Table and these two Memorials we pray that your Holiness will please to read The Pope askt what side it was for It was answered that it was upon account of some Bishops of France in behalf of S. Augustine per Sant ' Agostino The Pope repeated the words per Sant ' Agostino with reflection And then having consider'd us a little more attentively he said So So qui è I know I know what it is M. de Valcroissant added that it was in reference to clearing the Five Propositions and defending them in the sense of S. Augustine VVhereupon the Pope making a sign to one of his Officers which follow'd him that he should take the Book and bring it to him he gave us his benediction and as he withdrew said Si vede adesso lo considererò ancora io This affair is now under examination and I will likewise examine it afterwards Returning from Monte Cavallo we went to the Ambassadors house to advertise him of what we had newly said to the Pope but finding him retir'd to write into France I went thither again the next day about dinner time VVhen I had given him the abovementioned account he answered That he had alwayes told me that they would use all necessary speed and I replying that they had not hitherto us'd too much since we could not yet obtain that our first writings might be communicated he began with a higher tone and told me that such communication might draw out the affair in length and that it was requisite I knew that the King would have it dispatcht and would allow but two Religions in his State the Catholick and the Calvinist I answer'd the Ambassador that on our part we would do all we could to accelerate the expedition of it but I believ'd the Kings interest was not so much to have it dispatcht as to have it dispatcht well according as the Catholick Religion which I believe we defended requir'd and that if the King were minded to have but two Religions in his Dominions I did not think that he would admit the Molinisme which we opposed But I entered upon a more considerable reflection which the Ambassador approv'd and told me he would accordingly write that day into France namely that being the event of the judgement which was to be made in this affair was uncertain and probably enough might and ought to be made against the intentions of the Doctors our Adversaries it seem'd to me important for the honour of the King not to concern himself in their behalf to the end that if they should come to be condemn'd as they deserv'd to be it might not be said that his Majesty was engaged in a Party which was worsted The Ambassador retain'd me to dine with him After dinner we fell again upon these matters in reference to which he said divers things to me whereof I shall here recount the principal according to the order in which they came into my memory and I set them down at that time He told me that since the King was come to Paris the wings of those whom he called Jansenists were much clipt that his presence had dissipated above three thousand of them nay more than six I desir'd him to name one of them to me He told me that by Letters from Gentlemen and other persons of quality it was signifi'd to him that Monsieur such a one and Madam such a one had renounc'd the Party Nevertheless he named to me no person of those six thousand who were already faln off but he mentioned M. Singlin and F. Desmares whom he called two grand Pillars that it was written to him that they hung but by a thread and had protested that they would renounce the party assoon as the Pope had determin'd That the Sermons preacht about it had caus'd the Barricadoes at Paris That the Spaniards lookt upon these contests in doctrine as a fit means for fomenting the divisions of the State That the Spaniards caâ—'d not to meddle therein I reply'd that they had meddled therein five or six years ago when the Doctors of Lovain came to Rome to endeavour to stop the course of these divisions but they could not compass their â—ent He told me further that we had made a gâ—…at breach in the Sorbonne which formerly â—…de Rome to tremble by the ability and reputation of its Doctors by having divided our selves and coâ—… to that pass as to put our selves under the judgement of a dozen Monks that we were derided at Rome for having reduced our selves to these terms c. I answer'd the Ambassador that the H. See was the head and center of the Church and therefore recourse had been made to it from all parts of the world not only by ordinary Doctors as our selves but by Councils of Bishops and consequently the same might be done beseemingly enough That when we demanded a Congregation from the Pope we hop'd he would compose it not only of able Monasticks but also of other persons of the Clergy eminent in knowledge and considerable by their Learning as well as by the rank and authority which their Quality gave them in the Church that so the Congregation might be suitable to the weighty matter to be decided by it to the persons that were to contend therein and to the whole Church as being
of need and which caus'd us to hasten with extraordinary diligence the two Informations which you have seen one of the principal transactions since the first of July 1649. till that time and the other of S. Augustin's authority thereby to delineate the first plat-form and lay the foundations of what was to be done in this affair in attendance of the arrival oâ— such as might come hither and we found our selves engaged to do it as if we had been the sole parties For considering our Adversaries humor and the temper of those who upheld them if we had given the least intimation of other persons being expected besides us for terminating this affair with all the world they would have triumphed after a strange sort and publisht as a most certain thing that we sought nothing but evasions and protraction Thus my Lords it was requisite to yield to the disposition of the time and persons and we were further oblig'd to redouble our diligences by the occasion mention'd in our Memorial of the tenth of November But in brief though we were ready by S. Augustin's day and went the same day to present our Writings to Cardinal Roma yet the sickness which surpriz'd him the day before and his death which hapned afterwards caus'd us to defer presenting them till the time specified in the same Memorial VVe conceiv'd my Lords that they ought to have been forthwith communicated to our Adversaries and desir'd it of their Eminences when we presented the same to them as a thing of no difficulty VVe had done it of our own heads if consulting a Friend to commend us to some Officer of justice who might do it he had not hinder'd us by telling us that perhaps their Eminences would not be well pleas'd with that haste it not being the custom of the Place to do it without their order At length my Lords after a fortnight and more was past and we saw that there was no speech of communicating them we renew'd our request to their Eminences and left a short Memorial with them to put them in mind of it The same sollicitation to the Cardinals we continu'd near the whole month of October and though to us it seem'd a very easie and ordinary thing yet one of them having told us that perhaps it would be needfull to speak to the Pope about it before it were resolv'd upon we conceiv'd that at the presentation of your said writings to the Pope whereunto we were oblig'd it would be expedient to present a Memorial likewise to him for this communication and for the two other things contain'd therein touching the Iesuites and M. Albizzi VVe began the tenth of November to endeavour audience of the Pope for this purpose and when ever his Holiness hath given any since that day we have not fail'd to attempt an admittance But the multitude of affairs wherewith his Holiness is incumbred day and night not having permitted to give much during this time we were constrain'd to attend his Holinesse a week ago also in his Presence-Chamber as he return'd from taking the air His Holinesse taking notice of us stood still to know what we would say to him VVe presented to him our Writings and the above-mentioned Memorial with another touching a new Book which F. Annat ha's caus'd to be printed at Paris contrary to the expresse intentions of his Holiness We had not time to speak much to him concerning what we presented but beseecht him to have our writings onely by him and to read those Memorials He told us with much goodnesse and courtesie that himself would consider upon it all and do what should be expedient You see my Lords how far we have been able to prooceed in this affair This week we are preparing to renew to their Eminences the memory of that request for the communication of our writings VVe understand that his Holinesse hath substituted Cardinal Pamphilio instead of the late Cardinal Roma which is a new testimony of the care which his Holinesse continues to take touching this affair In the mean time since October to the present their Eminences have often assembled and summoned together many Divines of divers Religious Orders and different Sentiments even Iesuites too to hear them and it is affirm'd to us that these Congregations are appointed for the examination of our businesse VVe have also understood that MM. Hallier Lagaut and Joysel have frequently visited those Divines and carried to them sundry writings touching the Propositions and made many private Informations as if the Decision demanded by us ought to be made in that form and without other solemnity This is what they desire because they see well that they are not able to maintain in publick against us what they alledge nor answer to what we have to alledge against them VVe have neither visited nor intend to visite any of those Divines under the notion of Consultors and Iudges nor have we given them any information upon the Propositions either by speech or writing but since we have been told what their manner of proceeding is we never car'd to know who they were because we perceived that neither your Orders my Lords nor the quality of our affair could consist with such actings and we have alwayes had too great confidence in the equity and prudence of his Holinesse and their Eminences to fear that they will conclude this affair without hearing us as the weightinesse and condition of the cause deserve and according to the requests which we have made and so often reiterated to them for it You have further represented to us in your Letter with so powerful reasons the importance of acting thus and so expresly enjoyn'd us to follow the same course still which you may be secure we will observe most exactly All the Congregations which their Eminences have made and the delay of the communication of our writings make us not impatient nor ought they to make you so my Lords because we doubt not but it is done to the end their Eminences and the Divines may better understand the state of the affair and the controversie before calling the parties to a publick hearing VVe are inform'd that it is a thing usual enough here in all judgements to view the writings before appointing the communication of them and the quality of this affair which concerns the foundation of faith and Christian Piety deserves more attention and maturity then others less important to the H. See Upon this account it is that we sleight the reports which our Adversaries disperse here and at Paris namely That they shall speedily have such a censure as they desire 'T is an artifice they mak use of to frighten and amuse S. Augustines disciples in France and to decry them by the expectation which they raise in all the world of an approaching condemnation which cannot happen but against those who visibly oppose the authority and doctrine of that incomparable Doctor Nevertheless whatever hope we have that no
read them The Ambassador seem'd mov'd at this passage and spoke in such a manner as gave me to know that if what I said were found true M. Hallier would fall in his and all the worlds opinion into the contempt deserv'd by an action either so malicious or so servile one way or other so contemptible I know not how in the Sequel of our converse he fell to read two chapters of F. du Bosc's Book But I know that what he had read giving me occasion to speak of the necessity of considering the place a Proposition in the place whence it was extracted in order to the right judging of it I brought him this example Manducemus bibamus cras enim moriemur Let us eat and drink for the morrow we shall die And I askt him whether considering it by it self he would not take not for a Proposition unworthy to be produc'd by a Christian and as befitting only the Discourse of a Sardanapalus as undermining the foundations of Religion and Christian Piety as destroying all hope and pretention of an Eternal life and favouring Libertinism and Debauchery Nevertheless I told him I had taken it out of the Books of a VVriter to whose Labours and Preaching the whole Church was mainly beholding for the light of Faith which it had receiv'd who excited us more then any other to renounce the interest and pleasures of the world and our very selves and that in a place where he establishes one of the principal foundations of our salvation namely The Resurrection of the dead In one word out of S. Paul to the Corinthians Chap. 15. vers 32. where after other proofs of this fundamental Truth of our Religion he brings this That if it were not certain it were in vain that we performed all the painful and laborious actions of Christian life we should only cheer up our selves and pass our Lives in delights agreeable to our carnal inclinations being they would be so short and we should have no other afterwards Si secundum hominem ad Bestias pugnavi Ephesi quid mihi prodest siâ—mortui non resurgunt Manducemus bibamus cras enim moriemur VVhence the Ambassador who saw how impious and dangerous this Proposition was when separated from that place and divided from what precedes aed follows it acknowledging also how holy and edifying it was considered in its own place might easily judge of the necessity and justice of considering those under examination with reference to the persons to whom they were imputed Thursday the 16th in the afternoon we visited the General of the Dominicans to acquaint him with the weighty and important reasons which retain'd us from delivering secret and private Instructions upon the Propositions to the Consultors of the Assemblies held at Cardinal Spada's house He approved our reasons and desired us to communicate to him the writings which we presented to the Pope as accordingly we did we same day He told us he conceived that the thing further to be feared in this affair was that some Provisional Remedy would be used therein as Imposition of Silence VVhereunto I answered that we were as well prepared against so unworthy an Expedient as against the rest and that we had a Memorial ready to present to the Pope against such imposition of Silence assoon as we saw the least need of presenting it The more our Adversaries sought to keep their Writings conceal'd the more we endeavoured to communicate and make ours publick VVe had long ago provided a Copy of our first Information De Gestis for the Ambassador to the end to inform him with the most care we could of all that we did in this affair Which Copy I carried to him on Friday the 17th and desired him to ask M. Hallier for his only for an Evening not that I might see them but that having received them from his own hand I might show him the Ambassador the notorious falshood which I had mentioned to him and that he might not doubt of M. Hallier's being guilty of advancing it The Ambassador assented and told me that an Abbot whom he nam'd lately signifi'd to him that he heard M. Hallier and his Collegues say that there was not a page in S. Augustin explicable according to the Letter his Writings were so obscure and perplex'd I answer'd that himself might make experience of it when he pleas'd to read them but if he was minded to read something of them in a language more natural to him I would show him the contrary by the Translation of the Book De Correctione De Gratia which I believed he would very much like I understood that M. Albizzi did not enter into the Assembly of the H. Office which was held on Thursday before the Pope with the Cardinals as he was wont but stay'd without with the Consultors and enter'd not but with them This made me suspect that the Pope had spoken to the Cardinals about our Memorials but I learnt afterwards that possibly he was excluded upon an other business which concern'd him more nearly and which I suppress though I know the particulars of it very exactly that I may avoid saying things disadvantageous to him which are not necessary to my Subject since I do it unwillingly when I am oblig'd to it by that consideration and would willingly omit the same if I did not fear to alter the truth and frustrate those to whom I owe it Tuesday the 21. we went in the evening to Cardinal Ghiggi in whose Anti-chamber we found M. Hallier and his Collegues When M. du Noiset who was aâ— audience came forth they enter'd and we when they came forth The Cardinal spoke first to us and reflecting upon the persons who newly left him said Existimabant negotium finitum esse with some other broken words which we could not hear well but as I believe signifi'd nothing but that those Doctors were mistaken in conceiving that the business was done Whereupon the Cardinal told us that it did not belong to them to know the times and seasons of it Non est vestrum nosse tempora vel momenta After he had ended the Abbot of Valcroissant told him that we came to his Eminence to know whether the Pope had ordained any thing touching our Memorials and that the affairs lately supervening and taking up the Pope and their Eminences to wit the imprisonment of Cardinal de Retz kept us from comming sooner to desire tidings of them The Cardinal answer'd us that those affairs lasted still but he believ'd the Pope had read our Memorials because there seldome passeth above eight or ten dayes but omnes supplices libelli all the Memorials were read and answers given to them We fell to speak of the two principal things demanded by those Memorials namely the reciprocal communication of our Writings and that a publick audience in presence of either side and to perswade the Cardinal of the justness of our demand M. de Valcroissant represented sundry reasons
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
your Holinesse This M. H. F. appearing wholly contrary to our hope of seeing the Churches peace re-establisht we could not understand without extreme grief considering what boldnesse it gives to S. Augustin's declar'd enemies with incredible mischiefs will ensue from it of what new troubles it will afford matter to turbulent spirits what dammage the H. See and the whole Church will receive if Molina's Partisans effect what they have us'd so many slight and artifices to obtain which is That it be not plainly declar'd in what precise sense the Propositions be condemn'd but only that a judgment be pass'd without distinguishing the senses which are proper to them for deciding the capital point of the whole controversy which would afford means to the enemies of the H. Doctor of Grace boldly to abuse the said judgment hereafter not onely against him and his disciples but likewise against the authority and reputation of the H. Apostolick See We beseech your Holinsse therefore to admit this complaint being attended with no lesse affection and respect then grief and anxiety Some small sparks have already caus'd a great flame on all sides and the violence of this evils spreads everywhere The children of the Church are divided their Mother sighs at it and the wisdom of their Comon Father is alone capable to supply a remedy thereunto This affair is treated with very much heat but Y. H. may wholly extinguish it by using clear and precise words in passing a judgment on the sense of the Propositions which is the whole subject of this dispute for by this means Y. H. will stop the contests of those who are divided into different opinions and which both sides have maintain'd with so great ardour Now to attain to this M. H. F. and that none may alledge any excuse to cause delay it it seemes necessary in the present state of things first that liberty be given to our Deputies to declare their sentiments in presence of their Adversaries who are at Rome to the end to discover their artifices and that what shall be alledged by either side in defence of their opinions be respectively drawn up into publick acts by some unsuspected person that copies thereof be given to the parties and that they interchangeably communicate what they advance for the establishing their own or opposing the sentiments of their Adversaries That afterwards the Jesuites being more oblig'd then any others to maintain this contestation in regard they uphold the new doctrine of Molina and are declar'd enemies of that of S. Augustin may enter into the cause inasmuth as they are indeed the principal parties as is evident from hence that the writings presented to the Congregation were made by Fransois Annat of their society who has been so bold as to print the same publickly at Paris under his own name That M. Albizzi abstaine from the Congregation since the causes of exception against him are so just and evident that they are known to all the world And lastly that F. Modeste who hath not fear'd to approve F. Annat's book assoon as it came from the presse may be likewise remov'd out of the number of the Consultors having by so manifest a fore-judgment shown how much he favors Molina and is contrary to S. Augustin Your Holinesse M. H. F. sees that these proposals tend not to eschew the judgment of the cause but seek the meanes of establishing the Churches peace And we hope your Holinesse will favorably admit requests which as things stand are not only just but necssary which are full of low respect to Y. H. and which have no other aime but the good of souls which it hath pleas'd God to commiit to us the authority of your judgment and the glory of the Apostolik See We know that one of the principal duties of Bishops is with great care to watch that the Consciences of their people may remain in peace and Christian tranquillity and that if when Tares are sown amongst them we be so negligent as to sleep instead of plucking them up God will require a severe accompt of us for it This is it which makes us renew our supplications to Y. H. more then ever to conjure you not to use a remedy in this occasion lesse then the evil but to end this grand difference by a Iudgment which may decide the bottome of the dispute ruin error in its root and establish a firme and sure peace Which will most certainly come to passe if it please Y. H. to grant us a Congregation like that which Clement VIII and Paul V. establisht open and free to all parties of which no person may complain and which may be famous for ever We beseech Our Lord Jesus Christ the Author of all graces to preserve Y. H. in health for the general good of all Christendome We are MOST HOLY FATHER c. Y. H. most humble and obedient Sons N. and N. In the absence of our Confreres Paris Febr. 24. 1653. By the same return one of the same Prelates sent me the following SIR I Have read with great joy the generous resolution which you have taken not to a a It was not to return into France as I design'd for six Moneths together about my domestick affairs desert God's cause which you have hitherto so vigorously and happily defended as also the b b My Letter of Jan. 27. Narrative of your transactions with Cardinal Spada Nothing more weighty and judicious and I hope you prudence and constancy will at length bring about the Congregation which we wish I have understood with very much satisfaction how the Order of Dominicans proceeds Be pleas'd to continue your adherence with them as to the fundamental controversy which concerns Effectual Grace For obtaining a solemn Congregation I see nothing more conducive then to persist in urging that the H. See never deny'd to hear Bishops who demanded Audience of it That since the time of Pius V. Greg. XIII and Vrban VIII there have been no parties that demanded to be heard and to conferre nor can there be any obstacle now since M. Hallier and his Collegues agree to it c c They profess'd so in words and Cardinel Spada did them the honour and the kindnesse to say for them that they were ready to do it So that this is meant but ad hominem As for the circumstance of the Inquisition we conceive it hath nothing to do in these parts at present It will be good if the Embassador can move in the businesse and give the Pope to understand that the French cannot acknowledge that Tribunal I am more then ever most really c. The same day N. de Sainte Beuve writ one to me which deserves as well as any not to be deny'd the publick light 't is so clear sincere and comprehensive SIR YOU are very obliging in taking so much pains to encourage me upon supposition that I am very anxious for the successe of our affairs Perhaps something of my
last with more leasure I told him how the Congregations were continued before the Pope without our being yet spoken to about a hearing or any shew that they thought of us The Ambassador answer'd me that we ought not to fear that we should not be heard for we should be as much as we pleased That he well knew what the Pope had said to him That he told him he would take such course in this affair that there should be no tail of it left That if after we had been heard as much as we pleased other persons in France desir'd it and had any thing new to propose they should be waited for to know what they had to say before passing of Judgement That the Pope told him That he knew there were some who presumed to have definitions after their own construction but in an affair of this importance he was loath to hasten or do any thing till after a most exact discussion That should he employ ten years in labouring in it if God afforded him so much life he should not account his time and pains mispent That many persons of quality some of which he named to me had written to him concerning this affair but he had answered them all that they need no more to be troubled then we for assuredly we should have satisfaction in this point and that he was not in jest when he spoke about affairs of Religion That besides the Pope had told him that he should be glad if we would not give him so many Memorials I answer'd him That it would be easie for us to forbear if his Holiness did us justice But we had receiv'd another Letter by the last post from our Bishops to the Pope which if he spoke to him about our affair we beseecht him to tell his Holiness we were desirous to present to him The Ambassador promised me to do it upon Friday following which was the day of his usual audience He kept his word and told me on Friday assoon as he came from audience that he had spoken to the Pope but the particulars I could not conveniently receive from that day by reason that two Danish Gentlemen went with him from Monte Cavallo to dine with him and stay'd there almost the whole day and therefore I repaired to him again on Saturday He told me that the Pope said there was not time enough on Friday to receive the Letter during his audience but we might return upon the first day that he gave any and we should have it or if it were any thing of hast we might give the Letter to Cardinal Ghiggi who would infallibly shew it his Holiness I ask'd the Ambassadour whether he perceiv'd that the Pope's resolution to hear us continu'd He answered That he could not tell me all that he knew therein but we must expect and undoubtedly nothing would be done without such hearing Thursday afternoon M. Angran and I went to present our Book to Cardinal Pamphilio but being hindred from doing it by a Congregation then held at his Palace we returned thither on Friday for the same purpose but without effect Upon more attentive reading of the new Letter of our Bishops to the Pope and considering how it might be taken by him and the Cardinals to whom it would undoubtedly be communicated we fear'd that being the intent of it was only to obtain a Conference and the Ambassador assur'd us That we should have one it might be unseasonable to press for it by that Letter Wherefore we resolv'd to defer delivering it as we had intended to do on Monday March 31. till some new difficulty oblig'd us to it or else to forbear altogether if we saw the performance of what we were yet made to hope 'T was not only the Ambassador who assured us that we should be heard before the Pope as much as we could wish but 't was the general talk in Rome that we should be summoned presently after Easter Whereupon I began to keep close in my Lodging more then formerly to labour with my Collegues to finish the new Writings about which they had been constantly employ'd since the delivery of the first and which we resolved to present to the Pope at the first audience which he should give us The time which I had been forc'd to spend and the little fruit which we found in all our Visites and Sollicitations to the Cardinals and the small necessity of continuing them longer made me resolve to make no more to them and thence forward I could observe nothing of what was done or spoken at Rome but what came to my knowledge occasionally Yet I thought fit to advertise the Ambassador of the change of our Resolution touching the Letter which we had receiv'd for the Pope and he had mentioned to his Holinesse I did so on Thursday April 3. and acquainted him with the reasons above-mention'd He much approved our purpose and told me that nothing press'd us to deliver that Letter which we might do when we pleased but assuredly we should be heard and that by the last he received from M. de Bienne he signifi'd to him that the King concern'd not himself in the businesse either on one side or other that all his Majesty demanded was that it might be dispatch'd and that speedily I answer'd the Ambassador that we desir'd the same but yet it was to be remembred what I had read in a Book of M. Hallier's That sicut Erroris spargendi ita veritatis indagandae sua sunt incrementa that as Error is not spread of a suddain so Truth needs some time to be sought out and discovered That a Statue is not made with the first stroke of the hammer and that a Looking-glasse or a Diamond must be ground a long time before they come to be smooth The Ambassador reply'd that some affairs were spoyl'd by too long demurre I consented but added That others were lost by too much speed that it was requisite to consider the nature whereof they were and to use a reasonable moderation in all That in this we would never cause any delay but what was perfectly necessary That we would go directly to the Question and by the shortest surest way we could and that we would not do like those vvho had lately out of I knovv not vvhat design set afoot Five metamorphiz'd and disguiz'd Propositions in the Congregation Thus they vvere vvritten in a loose leafe vvithout citation date or subscription and given to tâ—e Consultors to pass their Judgements upon and also communicated to other Divines of Rome whose Sentence concerning them some Eminent persons demanded Propositiones primae examinatae a Dominis c. 1. Aliqua Dei praecepta c. 2. Interiori Gratiae c. And the three other famous ones as they were first fram'd by M. Cornet after which were added the following Propositiones mutatae 1. Non potuit natura humana etiam de absoluta Dei potentia creari sine donis supernaturalibus 2.
the reasonablenesse of it telling the other that no dangerous consequence could be feared from it in regard of the praises attributed therein to that H. Doctor by which he said his Doctrine was secur'd The other Cardinal reply'd that those praises were of little advantage to S. Augustin if his doctrine was really condemn'd adding that the Propositions in question were his very doctrin and till their condemnation maintain'd as so many articles of Faith Cardinal Ghiggi answer'd that they were equivocal and contain'd evill sense The other reply'd that they also contain'd Capital truths of the Catholick faith in the good senses wherein they might be understood For proof whereof he began to explain them with admirable facility and clearnesse but Cardinal Ghiggi excused himself from hearing him saying that he had not studied them Whereupon the other said Alas how then can you consent to their condemnation if you have not studied them Cardinal Ghiggi answered I should have studied them had I been da volare oblig'd to give my opinion and Vote concerning them The other demanded if you have not given your opinion how will it be true which the Pope shall say in his Bull that he condemnes them by advice of the Cardinals de Consilio fratrum nostrorum Cardinal Ghiggi answer'd that it would be true by a Council of prudence per un Consiglio prudentiale or otherwise by a Political advice of what was expedient to ordain regard being had to all the circumstances of the affair The other excepted again How can one give a prudential Counsel touching an affair which he hath not studied and sees not to the bottom If this Bull be published 't will be a Bull of the Consultors not of the Cardinals and of Consultors pickt and cull'd by wayes which all the world knowes and the French Doctors are not ignorant of they keep a register of them and if an unfitting Judgement come forth we shall soon see the H. See charg'd with confusion by printed Books in all parts Besides if any obscurity be in the Bull every one will draw it to his own side and this will cause horrible combustions and contest But for all this in summa said my Relator this Cardinal got nothing at all in his conference with Cardinal Ghiggi but very sharp answers from him Non fu guadagnato niente ma sempre acertissima risposta Returning home from the Visit wherein I learnt these passages we deliberated concerning our going altogether that morning to the Pope to deliver him the Letter of Febr. 24. and declare to him that we had been and should be alwayes ready to appear before him whenever he should appoint us Besides the general respect due to the Head of the Church from all the Faithful we consider'd what particular reasons we had for it in the present conjuncture and that the Pope was absolutely determin'd not to hear us at all in a contradictory Conference having so declar'd to our new Collegues that he conceiv'd he had us'd all moral diligences necessary for clearing the Truth that he was perswaded that after those diligences the H. Ghost's assistance of him was infallible and that he was resolv'd to pronounce a Judgement We consider'd the persons who inform'd him from whom he took counsel most of them prejudic'd against S. Augustin's doctrine against us offended with the difficulties we had made to appear before them unlesse on the conditions we demanded and accounting they did us a favour to hear us in the manner which they offer'd seeing that most of the World was become disaffected to us through the contrivances of the Jesuites throughout all Europe especially in France not likely to neglect so favourable an occasion of promoting the dominion which they affect over the conscience and liberty of the Faithful We consider'd that the Bull which was already compil'd against the Propositions could not but give great advantages to our Adversaries and be in their hands like a sword in those of a mad man when once it came forth that having assuredly not been made but by the ministry of M. Albizzi and the assistance of the Jesuites they might easily have slipt into it words of very great consequence beside the Pope's intention from whence the Jesuites might pretend the cause gain'd for their Molina and whose sequels his Holinesse not being sufficiently instructed in these matters could not foresee no more being necessary for his satisfaction saving that it appear'd in general that his intentions were follow'd wherefore we accounted it highly important to stop its publication We consider'd that in one of the Writings prepar'd for us we had our selves done what we beseecht the Pope might be done before all things namely distinguisht the Propositions into the several senses whereof they were capable and clearly explicated them both in the one and the other without equivocation or obscurity Which Writing was necessary to be read and publickly declar'd to the Pope before the Bull came forth to the end that if it absolutely condemn'd the Propositions we might have this authentick proof further that we had not maintain'd them absolutely but only in the Catholick senses whereof they were susceptible We consider'd that we could not have the advantage of making such declaration and protestation before the Pope nor hindering the publishing of the Bull if we still insisted upon being heard in the formes which we had dnmanded because 't was evidently dangerous that the Pope would persist to deny the same to us and without regard to what we had represented to him cause the Bull to be publisht forthwith Which would be of no other advantage to us then that we might complain of being condemn'd after an unheard of manner in defending the best cause of the World But neverthelesse such condemnation would cause great disorder and scandal in the Church We consider'd that the Pope might have good intentions That our Writings were very home that if he gave us time to explicate the same to him and add thereunto viva voce what we pleas'd as he promis'd us the truths which we had to represent to him might make some impression upon his mind stop his purpose against us wherto our Adversaries had drawn him convince him of the necessity of a Conference and consequently move him to appoint one of his own accord without our further demanding it We consider'd that should we be deceiv'd in our hopes this new fashion'd Audience which he would give us not being according to Ecclesiastical lawes and customes and we not accepting it but in regard of the present conjuncture and circumstances above mention'd there would be no great difference between having been heard in this manner and not being heard at all Lastly We consider'd that we accepted not this Audience but only to have the meanes of representing to the Pope that it was not such as we demanded that the accustom'd forms of the Church were not observ'd in it that Ecclesiastical liberty was infring'd by
it and that we resolv'd not to begin to treat our affair after a manner opposite to their forms and liberty but because we now saw no other way to preserve them that we would slip no occasion either in this Congregation or the following of making instances for the same that whatever informations we gave of things we should still conclude that the Pope might see thereby the necessity of having Adversares to object against whatever falshood or mistake might be in what we should represent against both their proceedings and doctrine and in behalf of our own All these considerations confirm'd us in the resolution of going altogether that day to the Pope to testifie to him that we were ready to appear before his Holinesse when he pleas'd and how he pleas'd and in the mean time to deliver him the Letter of February 24. as a testimony of our desires and those of our Bishops and moreover to get ready a Memorial to present to him when we should appear before his Holinesse wherein to desire that both our first and the new Writings which we should present to him might be communicated to our Adversaries Having briefly reduc'd our common resolutions into Writing before we went out of our Lodging we repair'd to the Pope's Presence-Chamber to desire Audience but it being already somewhat late we could not obtain it CHAP. XX. Our resolution declar'd to the Ambassador His care to signifie it to the Pope and desire a set day of him His Advertisement to M. Hallier and his Collegues to be ready to appear likewise before the Pope a day or two after us Visites hereupon to the Cardinals of our Congregation The Bull prepar'd and review'd by these Cardinals severally THursday May 8. being in the Pope's Presence-Chamber and seeing the Cardinals Barbarin S. Clement and Lugo come from the Congregation of the H. Office but Spada Ginetti and Ghiggi stay behind with the Pope I left one to observe how long they continu'd there who told me about an hour and a quarter after and almost at the same time a Laquay came to me from Cardinal Barberin to tell me that his Eminence desir'd to speak with me at what time I would set I askt the Laquay when he conceiv'd his Eminence would be at leisure he told me Between four and five and I sent word that I would not fail to be there at that time By the way I made another Visit wherein I heard that the General of the Dominicans visiting Cardinal de Medicis the Uncle complain'd very much to him of M. Albizzi especially concerning this new Bull and the practises us'd to gain suffrages in the Congregation they talkt of mony given and Bishopricks and other employments promis'd They judg'd it the interest of Spain as well as of the Order of Dominicans to take heed of what pass'd in this affair but Cardinal Pimentel's arrival was thought fit to be expected that he might join with them in the common interest In the mean time Cardinal de Medicis would use his endeavors with the Pope Cardinal Barberin's businesse was not great he told me he invited me to come to him believing I had something to say to him I made our excuses to him that our new Collegues had not yet visited his Eminence I told him the cause of their coming which was to assist us in our negotiation and to make new instances to the Pope for such a Congregation as we had hitherto demanded He answer'd that it was not to be urg'd too much that perhaps the Pope will ordain it of his own accord I acquainted him with their audience of the Pope our resolution to appear before his Holiness when and how he pleas'd He said it would be fit to represent that the Propositions could not be touch'd without entring into the matter de Auxiliis I answer'd that this matter ought to be taken in hand in order to root out the evil Opinions slipt into the Church touching the same And that we had no other intentions nor course to take then what was necessary for maintaining the belief of Grace aginst the late enterprises to ruin it He said there were some who perswaded the Pope that we would oppose Bulls that we must take heed of that and endeavor to remove that ill suggestion against us I answer'd that our carriage was full of sincerity That we did nothing out of affectation That 't would be time enough to speak of this when occasion should be offer'd That neverthelesse seeing he mention'd it I could assure him that we should not transgresse any Bull and as for that of Vrban VIII his Eminence knew how F. Hilarion and my self had spoken to him of it That it might have its full and intire effect and yet all that was in Jansenius's Book be true even to the least line that this was my opinion but in the present Controversie we had nothing to say either of that Book or Bull. This Declaration seem'd to be well taken by the Cardinal who being call'd aside for a little space into the next room brought in with him F. Marinaris a Carmelite and his Chaplain one of quick parts and a scholastick Genius We discours'd long together before his Eminence and afterwards went to see some Books in his Library whereof we had spoken The Cardinal told me of a Heretick who said that they should gain all if things were defin'd as we demanded I answer'd him that that Heretick might be mistaken in his pretention and that no heed was to be given to what he said Yet said his Eminence 't is good to conform to the time and the manner of speech us'd by all the Thomists who have written since the Council of Trent I assented that it was so when the manners of speech tended to the clearing and establishing of Truths but not when they might be prejudicial to and ruin them That if there were some Thomists whose sentiments were a very little different from ours in some slight circumstances there were others who were conformable thereunto But all agreed with us in the manner And besides 't was not by them that the same ought to be regulated but by the Saints and the Councils and above all by the Truth The Candle was lighted I exhorted his Eminence to read the Apology of the H. Fathers and gave the Good night to him and his Divines As I came back I made another Visite wherein I learnt that the Bull whereof the Cardinal above-mention'd had complain'd to Cardinal Ghiggi was no more talkt of That this Cardinal acquainted the Pope with it the same day for fear complaints of it might come to the Pope by other hands then his own That another person speaking of it to the same Cardinal Ghiggi he disown'd it as not having been ordain'd by the Pope That in fine 't was no more talkt of but seem'd suppress'd whether it were stopt upon the above-mention'd Discourse or whether the noise of it was only smother'd
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
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
was directed to M. M. Percheron Doctor in Theology of the Faculty of Paris Arch-Deacon and Grand Vicar of Auxerre And within it contain'd the following words Paris August 9. 1653. Sir I Have receiv'd great consolation by the Letter you pleas'd to write to me of the 3d current for which I thank you with all my heart Touching our Messieurs who are at Rome I have had no newes of them since their departure from thence but I believe by this time they are in France I know not whether M. de la Lane will go to his Abbey of Valcroissant before he come to Paris for he hath business there and he had so resolv'd when we pass'd that way As for the rest I believe you have heard how neither the Jesuites nor M. Hallier would enter into dispute that their intrigues having obtain'd this Bull which sayes nothing but what we said ever since these goodly Propositions were first contriv'd as you will see in the book Of Victorious Grace the Pope before their departure from Rome when they went to take leave of him assur'd them that he had no intention to touch S. Augustin's Doctrine which is inviolable in the Church nor Grace Effectual by it self which is the center of all the difficulties Whereupon our Friends answer'd that they would all their lives defend the same Doctrine even to the shedding of their blood and one of them added that it should be dearer to them then the apple of their eyes The Pope made the same Declaration to M. Hallier with a sensible testimony of the learning modesty and zeal of our Friends insomuch that he said he knew they had liv'd at Rome like Saints He made the same Declaration to the Generals of the Augustins and the Jacobins and also to the Ambassador who certify'd the King of it likewise writ word of it to the Nuntio and we saw the Original of the Letter So that we receive the Bull with joy because the sense of Saint Augustin not being condemn'd as indeed it could not be 't is an evidence of its confirmation after all the intrigues of its enemies and that which kept the Pope from pronouncing upon the Distinction of senses was that he could not do it without condemning Molina which the faction of his Partisans hinder'd For these reasons S. Augustin is more zealously adher'd to then ever the Bull hath only healed mens minds to defend him and gain'd him many disciples who before were indifferent Many Philosophical Acts in the Vniversity contain no other Doctrine touching Liberty Predestination the state of pure Nature the vertues of the Pagans and nothing is heard but Elogies of Saint Thomas and Saint Augustin his Master The Chancellor of the Arts goes every Sunday to give the Cap of Master in Arts to the Respondents and makes admirable Elogies of those two Angels of Divinity Saint Augustin and Saint Thomas The Jesuites misse of their Markets there and lately when in an Act of Philosophy at their Colledge the Regent sayd Transeat to an authority of Saint Augustin he was hiss'd by the Company whereupon some Bishops who were present told him he was an impertinent person and rising up immediately went out and made great complaint hereof to their Rector You see in what condition we are and we thank God this Bull hath yet made no Molinists nor is it likely to make any I believe you have seen the Distinction of the senses of the Propositions which our Friends presented to the Pope However I send you two copies of it in French for your self and M. Verrier because I have it not in Latin but I will endeavor to get one for you upon thr first occasion 'T is a piece which deserves to be kept and which stops the mouthes of the most obstinate Pelagians I hope our modesty and restraint will obtain in time what our zeal could not I am c. The shallownesse of the water in the River which goes from Auxerre to Paris and the contrariety of the wind kept us long from arriving at Paris but we got thither at length thanks be to God in good health towards the middle of September So many things have pass'd concerning the Constitution since our return that if I should undertake a Relation of them I should engage my self upon a new Work or at least add a new Part to this which would be larger then any of the rest Therefore I shall adjoin none of those things which are come to publick light the Memory whereof may be preserv'd to Posterity by the paines of other persons as fit or fitter to transmit the same then my self I should not have taken upon me to collect those which I have related in this Journal had I known any one so well inform'd of them and able to do it so exactly I attempted it because it seem'd a Work reserv'd for me alone and I thought my self accountable for it to God and the Publick I shall keep the same mind in those few things which I shall add of what pass'd since our return to Paris and setting aside all those which are already known to the world and of which it cannot be but some hand or other will one day give a Collection to the Publick I shall speak only of such as are particular to me and whose remembrance might be lost if I should not here briefly set down what I know thereof CHAP. V. Of the particular things which came to my knowledge after our return to Paris A Calumny spread at Rome that we had printed a book at Venice against the Popes Constitution The Pope gives notice to the Consistory of his Constitution and of the submission wherewith it was receiv'd The imprisonment of F. Nolano falsly attributed to the Doctrine of Effectual Grace ONe of the first things that I learnt after our return to Paris was that our Adversaries according to their old practice of calumniating gave out at Rome after our departure from Venice that we staid there so long only to print a Work to which they gave this Title Augustinus à Pelagianis condemnatus in which they feign'd that we term'd the Pope and his Congregation Pelagians because he had condemn'd S. Augustin by his Constitution whereas we took no other care in all places where we found occasion to write or speak of it but to manifest the respect which the Pope had alwayes testify'd for S. Augustin and for his Doctrine of Grace Effectual by it self and that the Pope had real and positive intentions not to prejudice the same in any thing that he did However the same of this Chimerical work was spread at Rome it came even to the Popes eares who was greatly offended with it as indeed he had reason had it been true after the satisfaction which he told us he had receiv'd by all that we defended in his presence and after his so expresse and obliging Declarations to us of his right intentions but he was much offended that
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
Letter of the twentieth of April 1654. which contains an Answer to two of mine in which after a most sincere Declaration that I condemn'd the Five Propositions condemn'd by Pope Innocent X. and that all our Friends did the same I declar'd to him no lesse clearly that I was perswaded Jansenius was not the Author or Assertor of them and that the reading of a little Tract made against F. Aunat's Cavilli Jansenianorum had fully convinc'd me thereof I sent him two of those Books and desir'd him to communicate them to Cardinal Spada and Cardinal Ghiggi now Pope Alexander VII Cardinal Barberin's Answer was this Sir LAst week your letter of the 6. of March was deliver'd to me and this week I have receiv'd another of the 20 th Both of them are so full of goodness and civility towards me and so lively expresse your remembrance and affection to me that I owe you a thousand thanks for them As for the particularities in the former I cannot but much commend your pious sentiments touching our H. F. and the resolutions which you take highly esteeming the confidence which you professe to have in truths deliberated with mature consideration And I am glad to understand by the other letter the issue of the last Assembly remaining in expectation to know the passages of the next In the mean time I shall willingly read one of the two copies which you pleased to send me and shew them to the persons you desire Moreover I hope that as you are liberal to me of your favours you will be so likewise of your commands which I entreat you to be assuring you that they will be most acceptable to me since I particularly desire to let you know how much I am Sir Yours most affectionate Cardinal Barberin Rome April 20. 1654. The mention of F. Annat's book intitled Cavilli Jansenianorum puts me in mind of the witnesse which he renders to the truth of two or three considerable passages in my Journal For he acknowledges 1 That the Constitution was already drawn when we had our grand audience of the Pope jam concepta definitione p. 37. 2. That after that Audience no Congregation was held to examin either what we had spoken or the Writings which we had presented nulla deinceps habita est Congregatio p. 37. 3. That we only huddled over the matter not speaking directly to the Propositions but altogether concerning Effectual Grace Nam cum dicturi essent de quinque Propositionibus coeperunt dicere de Jesuitis Satyram illam excepit effusa in commendationem S. Augustini gratiae per seipsam efficacis oratio de quibus nulla erat controversia post longa quatuor circiter horarum fastidia compertum est nondum coepisse dicere de tribus capellis p. 35. Wherefore these important mattes of fact can no longer be question'd even by the most injust adversaries after so publick an attestation by him who had the best meanes to be informed of them and the most interest not to acknowledge them I had here ended this Addition but that as I was closing up my papers I cast my eyes upon a Decree of the Inquisition of Rome touching the Pope's Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the temporal territory of Kings and other Soveraignes And finding that it was made about the same time of the preceding letter and seem'd worthy of the publick curiosity and view I thought fit to insert the following translation of it A DECREE Of the sacred Congregation of the Supreme and universal Inquisition specially deputed by the H. See against Heresie in the whole Christian Commonwealth Thursday 15. January 1654. IN this City and perhaps in other places a Manuscript in Spanish hath been publisht beginning with these words His Excellence hath receiv'd a letter by the hand of the Nuncio and ends with this which is most agreable to the service of God the good of soules and upright justice The Author of which according to publick fame is BENOIST DE TREGLIES collateral of the Counsel or Regent of the Chancery of Naples And amongst other temerarious and scandalous Propositions it contains the following The Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction belonging to his Holinesse as Pope out of his own temporal territory concernes Causes and Persons and is restrain'd to Determinate Causes and Persons in whom alone it may be exercis'd Wherefore the Territory belongs onely to the King and as he who exercises jurisdiction in a strangers territory is to demand the good leave of the Lord of the Jurisdiction of that Territory So when the Pope having no Jurisdiction in a Territory intends to exercise any in that of the King over causes and Persons in what concerns him he ought to let his Writs be examin'd by the Temporal Prince that so it may be known whether the Causes and persons contained therein be of his Jurisdiction Which Proposition having been examin'd and weigh'd by the Qualificators of the supreme and universal Inquisition according to the expresse command of our H. F. Pope Innocent X. the said Qualificators with unanimous consent adjudge the same Heretical and Schismatical Wherefore least the Faithfull should be infected and corrupted with pernicious opinions and heresies by the reading of the abovesaid Manuscript The Congregation of the supreme and Universal Inquisition absolutely forbids and condemnes the said Manuscript whether it be disperst in the Spanish or any other language whatsoever under the penalties and Censures contain'd in the Table of prohibited books And let the Author know that he shall be punisht with Censures and other Ecclesiastick paines unlesse he purge himself speedily John Ant. Thomasi Notary of the H. and Universal Inquisition of Rome One thing I forgot to mention in my Journal which is that during our residence at Rome one of my Collegues got sundry original pieces of the Congregation de Auxiliis which are kept in the Library of the Augustines carefully transcrib'd and compar'd He also recover'd the Original writings of F. Lemos touching the disputes of that Congregation in which volume the same writings are sign'd by the hands of Clement VIII and Paul V. A SECOND ADDITION Made to this Journal on S. Martins day 1662. THe Relation given to the Assembly of the Clergy anno 1655. by the Bishop of Lodeve now of Montpellier of what Pope Innocent X. told him was done at Rome in the affair of the five Propositions deduces things with so little clearnesse and exactnesse as to order and time that when it came to my view first about a year ago I thought it might serve in some sort to prove the substance of what is related in my Journal and in requital my Journal might make it better understood And this Relation having been so well approv'd by the Assembly that they desir'd the said Bishop to give it them in writing to the end it might be inserted in the Verbal Processe which they caus'd to be printed I presume all those who have read that alone will be more
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