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 same to the Faculty in the Assembly following which was to be on the first of July M. Guillebert perform'd his Charge and on that day presented to the Faculty a Paper in which he had reduc'd what he found worthy of Censure in the said Libel to three principal Heads The first of which contain'd what F. Veron had there written to destroy Confession The second what he had urg'd against Pennance And the third what he maintained against the authority of Councils M. Cornet made himself likewise in this Assembly F. Veron's Protector as he had done in the former He took upon him to justifie F. Veron in that he oppos'd the Propositions of the Bishop of Ipre which he maintained it would also be necessary to examine if this Libel were examin'd although that which M. Guillebert reprehended therein had no affinity with those Propositions Which also he formally made a request for for fear if the Faculty should examine and disallow the Libel alone it might be a kind of Fore-judgement in favour of those against whom it was written Hereupon M. Pereyret failing not to represent at large as he had done in the foregoing year the length of time and greatnesse of pains it would be requisite to spend in that examination insomuch said he that to do it well Jansenius S. Augustin and sundry other Books must be read from one end to the other and after ten years imploy'd therein there will be no great Progress made The Faculty concluded that for the interest of peace it was fit to forbear examining both F. Veron's Libel and the Propositions opposed I have lightly passed over this affair omitting sundry very considerable Circumstances that I might not stay upon any thing but what makes to my purpose yet Two there are which I cannot passe in silence One that M. Cornet drew up the said Conclusion on the first of July 1648. as he liked himself and when it was read on the first of August following M. Guillebert moved the Assembly that the same might be corrected as being neither true nor correspondent to what he had represented to the Faculty touching the Libel Yet this was hindred by the artifices and slights of M. Cornet The other is a clause annex'd to the said Conclusion importing that if notwithstanding the difficulties which render'd the examination so laborious at that time that it was not to be thought on it should please God to inspire any one to present to the Faculty any Propositions to be examined and decided by them it should be free for him to do so after two months In which besides the manifest contradiction appearing in the thoughts of these people who make semblance of being lovers of the tranquillity of the Faculty and neverthelesse are ready to disturbe the same within two months who at this present judge an examination so difficult which yet they are at the same instant dispos'd to undertake two months after It is visible that they had already in their breasts a setled purpose of attempting the Five Propositions the performance of which they deferr'd till July in the following year only by reason of the broyles of Paris For when the proposal thereof was made in Sorbonne on that day M. the Abbot de l' Isle Marivault Doctor of Navarre told one of his friends from whom I learnt it that M. the Bishop of Rhodez had told him before the Kings departure from Paris on the day of the Three Kings 1649. that the said Propositions had been already shewn him to be censur'd on the first day by the Faculty CHAP. IV. Of sundry things which pass'd in several Assemblies of the Faculty in the same year 1648. touching the number of such of the Mendicant Orders as might be admitted into Licenses and Assemblies IN the same Assembly of the second of May 1648. wherein complaint was made of F. Veron's Libel another seed of division brake forth which was of much longer continuance Almost all the Religious Mendicants Doctors of the Faculty were so link'd to M. Cornet and Pereyret that they had no other rule of judgement in any matter under debate but the opinion of the said two Doctors insomuch that their Suffrages were almost alwayes conceiv'd in these terms Sequor sententiam Domini Pereyret Idem cum Domino Pereyret In acknowledgment of which good offices and to multiply voyces they were so well assur'd of these Doctors conspir'd with such other Secular Doctors as they could draw to their party to get receiv'd into Licenses and advanc'd to the degree of Doctor as many Religious Mendicants as they could introduce above the number prescrib'd by the Statutes of the Faculty and Arrests of Parliament In this Assembly two Jacobins desir'd to be receiv'd as Supernumeraries besides three Cordeliers and another Jacobin who had been already receiv'd as such I signified to the Assembly the Statute which hindred us from doing them this favour and declar'd that if they proceeded to effect it I would oppose it neverthelesse it was carri'd by the plurality of voyces I oppos'd the Conclusion and M. de Roux Doctor of the house and society of Sorbonne joyn'd with me in the opposition We presented our Petition to the Parliament and an Arrest pass'd thereupon whereby the parties that pretended to take benefit of the said Conclusion were summoned to the Court on the first day and in the mean time prohibited to make use of it This Arrest was signified to the Faculty on the third of June and all the Secular Doctors excepting perhaps M. Cornet and his intimates who had consented to do that favour to the said Religious Mendicants only out of complyance and had not been instructed in the matter follow'd joyfully with one voyce the judgement of M. Messier which was That the Arrest was to be obey'd leaving the Religious to present themselves if they thought good before the Kings Ministers and represent to them their reasons if they had any The four Mendicant Orders interpos'd in behalf of their Batchelors who were concern'd in the cause which was pleaded on the eleventh of August The said Arrest was confirm'd and besides it was enacted That without regard to our Petition but in justice according to the Arguments of the Kings Attorney General the Arrests of the year 1626. whereby conformably to the Statutes and other Arrests the number of Mendicant Doctors that might be admitted into our Assemblies is restrain'd to two of each Order should be read every year on the first day of October in our Assembly to the end the memory and performance of the same may be perpetual with injunction to the Dean and Syndic to see to the observation of the same as they would answer the contrary at their peril The University having heard the report of this Processe and consider'd the importance of it concluded on June 13. to interpose therein if need were but the Arrest pass'd without mention made of their interposing or concerning themselves in the
Superintendent of the Sorbonne whereof I am the least but your natural Goodness which every one acknowledges and of which all good Servants of the Kings and true Frenchmen are daily sensible of that gives me boldness to represent to you our just complaints and real apprehension of the persecution intended against us The Arrest of Council given in favour of the Religious Mendicants some daies since wherewith all Paris rings furnishes us with most certain proof and undoubted ground of belief of the mischief which is projected against us Your incomparable gentleness and benignity will give me full liberty to represent to you freely without dissembling any thing that which most of all grieves us Inimici nostri sunt Judices M. the Keeper of the Seals is our Judge and Adversary too This is verified by sundry reasons First it is known how that above twenty years ago he contracted a strict amity and familiarity with Doctor du Val. The same hath been cemented and diligently continued by the common administration wherewith they are intrusted by the Carmelites the one for temporal the other for spiritual concernments I omit what other correspondences they have usually together every one knows that the said Doctor du Val is our principal Adversary and hath raised all his tempests in favour of the Religious for the accomplishment of his designs The first President hath informed some of our Doctors that the said M. du Val came to him to recommend the Religious Mendicants On the other side every one knows that Cardinal Spada persues this affair with all eagerness and hath so perfect a correspondence with the Keeper of the Seals that when his Majesty placed him in that Office the Cardinal being informed thereof said in the presence of some Bishops Io non temo piu perche Marillaco a i Sigilli Reali I am out of fear now since Marillac hath the Royal Seals Moreover we see in the Sorbonne the daily commerce of the said du Val with the said Cardinal who according to the instruction he received at his comming into France could not do otherwise For as I understand by Letters from Rome one of the Nuntio's Instructions was that he should lodge as near as might be to the Sorbonne and have perpetual correspondence with Doctor du Val whom he might make use of as a Spy upon the Sorbonne Lastly it hath constantly been observ'd that the Keeper of the Seals is one of the most resolute Defenders and Protectors of the Jesuites and that whenever the said Fathers have had need of his assistance Now that these Fathers are not profess'd Adversaries of the Sorbonne no Person can deny all Paris having seen the experience thereof in their Sermons Pasquils and defaming Libels I shall adde that they have Doctor du Val amongst us who serv'd them as a powerfull instrument in our Assemblies when the question has been about securing us amongst them and he being admonish'd that he acted against his Oath and against his Mother the Faculty answered that he could not act against the said Fathers quia said he commiserunt mihi secretum suum Furthermore we are not ignorant how the Keeper of the Seals is extremely confirm'd in his aversion towards us by Father B. who hath great influence over him either by occasion of the common imployment they have had from the Carmelites or for other reasons Now this Father cannot patiently bear the particular Decree made in the Colledge of Sorbonne for execlusion of such Doctors from the said Colledge as have enter'd or shall hereafter enter into the Congregation of the said Father which is also the grievance of the said Doctor du Val who as intimate Friend of the aforesaid Father B. hath perverted and sollicited seven Doctors of the College of Sorbonne to found and establish the said Congregation by becoming the first associates of the same to the great scandal of the College You see my Lord our just fear of ruine which is pursu'd by our enemies with so great violence and eagernesse You see our adversaries openly profess'd without comprehending those who out of interest dare not declare themselves in the number of which I shall reckon a Cardinal who speaking of your most generous design for the building of your Sorbonne said he esteemed it highly for it self but was sorry it should be intended for Schismaticks However my Lord if that pretended Arrest must be signify'd to us We most humbly beseech you that it be not done publickly in our Assembly on the next day after the Holy-dayes which will be Wednesday To conclude what ever victory our Adversaries may gain over us this glory will remain ours to posterity that we thirty who were depress'd for being faithfull to our King and true Frenchmen signed this common cause in behalf of the King and France This Remonstrance of M. Fillessac to Cardinal Richelieu did not hinder the Arrest from having its course after which the sollicitations and canvasings to get the abovemention'd Censure revok'd were renew'd more then ever But the Parliament check'd the torrent of those canvasings and sollicitations by several Arrests issued forth to maintain it and by an order given to the President le Jay and four Counsellors of this Grand Chamber to repair to the Sorbonne as accordingly they did to hinder all innovation touching this affair in the Assembly of the moneth of February 1627. in which it was to be fear'd one might happen unlesse the Parliament interpos'd its authority to prevent it Matters stood in this posture till the year 1631 when the University of Paris having maturely weigh'd the prejudice it receiv'd as well from the said Arrest of the Council of 2 Novemb. 1626 as from another of the same Council of 18 July preceding concerning the same matter and having gravely consider'd what necessity there was both for its own interest and that of the King and State to provide against the said Arrests they repair'd to the late King at St. German's to present to him a Petition in which they complain'd of those two Arrests as having been pass'd by surprise contrary to all right and upon false suppositions for which reasons they beseech'd his Majesty the same might be vacated M. the Rector went to wait upon the King with this Petition and spoke to his Majesty concerning the importance of this affair three quarters of an hour The King heard him with attention and pleasure He receiv'd himself the Petition which the Rector held in his hand and caus'd it to be reported in his Council in his own presence Whereupon on 8 July 1631 an Arrest was pass'd whereby the aforesaid two of 18 July 2 Nov. 1626 and all others prejudicial to the Statutes and Privileges of the University were annull'd and hereof Letters Patents were expedited for the University M. Cornet could not be ignorant of all this for I reviv'd the memory thereof to all the world in the Assembly of 1 Octob. 1648. when it was needfull to
up thereupon and soon after Printed It shall suffice to signify that M. de Heu Curé of S. Severin M. Chastellain M. Copin M. de Mincé M. Rousse M. Bachelier and M. Brousse joyned with me in the opposition whâ—ch I made against the said election M. Hallier employ'd divers of his friends to the end we might enter into some accommodement with him and we on our part were as desirous thereof as himself so far as the nature and circumstances of the matter permitted and provided we might have sufficient assurance that such accommodement tended to the honour and publick peace of the Faculty as well as to the satisfaction of the parties concern'd The first time he gave me occasion to speak thereof was the 12. of October by a Doctor much his friend and mine who came to me as we were going from a Doctor 's Act that day and told me M. Hallier was prodigiously incens'd against me for that he understood I intended to prosecute in Parliament the opposition I had made against his election to the office of Syndic That M. Hallier had enjoyn'd him to assure me that he was absolutely dispos'd to live in peace with me and to do his utmost for that of the Faculty That he desir'd nothing more then to stifle the divisions arisen upon M. Cornet's enterprise to reconcile the different opinions touching the prepositions made the first of July and to reduce the most exasperated minds to a just temper and mutual concord That he promised in the word of an honest man to use his authority to these ends and to deport himself towards us in his Syndical so well that we should have cause to be glad of him if we would but leave him in quiet and liberty to perform the duties of his place That should he be brought before the Parlament upon the accusation fram'd by me against him we ought to expect from him I particularly all such treatments as are to be fear'd from a man justly provok'd and offended in his honour which was dear to him and which he resolv'd to maintain with the hazard of all other things That we knew well what correspondence and credit he had at Rome to obtain or stop a Bull there against us That he would interest the Pope and the Nuncio in his business That he would stirre up the Clergy of France whose Agent he had been in the last Assembly of the year 1645. That all this put together against the Parliament might be able to balance its authority and make good his attempts That as for me he would destroy me and that informations were promis'd him already against me I could hardly believe all these things did I not take them out of a letter which I writ the next day while they were yet fresh in my memory to one of our common friends whom I thought fit to advertise thereof And here take the very words of my answer to the menaces of M. Hallier I answer'd in summe that I desir'd peace as much as he and had always desir'd it that whatever should happen I would always act my utmost for it but I wish'd a good one safe and honorable That I was not a man to betray weakly the cause of God and the King for a counterfeit peace That all the powers wherewith he threatned me terrifi'd me not in asmuch as I hop'd the justice of my cause and proceeding being known to them they would approve my doings and there would be no division for this cause between them and our Lords of the Court of Parliament That I was sorry that he engag'd in this business but private intorests are nothing to me when the publick are concern'd That whatever he could say or do I would omit nothing of my duty and of what was in my power for the sevice of God and the King and for the defence of Truth and Justice Some dayes after came the festival of S. Vrsula for the solemnising of which all the Doctors of Sorbonne not absent in remote Provinces resort thither together M. the Archbishop of Ambrun was to preach there this year and the Queen was to come thither My chamber was chosen for the said Archbishop to retire into before and after his preaching and accordingly he came thither about nine a clock in the morning Soon after his comming he began to speak to me of the foresaid agreement in a manner something more gentle then that of the above mentioned message and to invite me thereunto by reasons not only relating to particular Doctors and all the Faculty but also to the whole body of the Sate This Prelate may remember that he found it no hard matter to convince me thereof because I was perfectly prepar'd thereunto not only for publick considerations and the desire which he said the Queen had for the agreement to be made but also for that I had my self as great a desire of it as could be imagin'd Neverthelesse all the conference the Archbishop and I had about this matter was terminated in general discourses and we spoke not of any conditions that might be made to that end neither at that time nor in two or three other converses wherein he spoke to me of it again that day There was likewise another person of the Colledge much devoted to M. Hallier call'd M. Segures who spoke to me about it in the same manner too without specifying any conditions thereof and who knew also how desirous I was of it but I did not find that an accommodation was any thing advanc'd by the discourse of either of them whilst they remained within those termes Wherefore the time urging either to conclude it if M. Hallier were dispos'd to do such things as were necessary in order to it or to pursue my opposition before the Parliament in the few days that remain'd thereof to the end to get a Rule of Court therein before our ensuing Assembly of the 4. of November if the publick interests could not consist with the particular aimes of M. Hallier I resolv'd to go the next day to M. Segures to tell him as much and desire him to advertise M. Hallier thereof and withall to propound to him what I desired of him to the end I might have ground to desist from the prosecution I should otherwise be oblig'd to use agninst him and to know after he had spoken with him whether he lik'd the conditions propos'd to him or not M. Segure made several visits to M. Hallier within two or three days during which all prosecutions against him were suspended about the expedients and conditions which were to be taken in order to concluding the said agreement I shall not mention the same here because they are to be set down in a Liste whereof I shall insert a Copy in due place It shall suffice to say that M. Hallier made no difficulty to close with them and to give all the verbal assurances thereof that could be desir'd before persons of honour
likewise was not resolv'd to promise by word the Articles contain'd in that Paper He express'd to us great regret to see this businesse out of probability of accommodation For said he were there nothing between them but the mode and circumstances of things some expedient mâ—ght be sought to facilitate the same but there is not so much as an agreement about the substance We testifi'd to the Coadjutor how troubled we were at the aversenesse of M. Hallier and beseecht him to remember that we were no wise the cause of the miscarriage of the intended reconcilement So we return'd to the Sorbonne to the end the Arrest as yet not s gnifi'd to M. Hallier M. the Dean and M. Bouvot the Register might be signifi'd unto them before the Assembly I will not here report any thing particularly that was done therein all beâ—ng contain'd at large in the Processe Verbal which was soon after printed thereupon and signed by the Usher of the Parliament who came to the Assembly to signifie the same there I shall only say in this place that notwithstanding the said Arrest which expresly interdicted M. Hallier all the functions of Syndic he did not forbear to execute them all in this Assembly and this with a strange contempt of the Parliaments Author ty by himself and all the Doctors who elected him to that place The day of this Assembly being pass'd it behoov'd to wait the resitting of the Parliament to represent to them the infringements that had been made of their Arrests We presented a new Petition to them by whâ—ch we besought them to take order therein and cause the same to be executed We annex'd to this Petition the Processe Verbal of the Usher and a Summons made to M. Bouvot on the 18. of November to declare who had till that day discharg'd the office of Syndic since the Assembly of the 4th of November to which M. Bouvot had answer'd that it was M. Hallier In the mean time M. Hallier ceas'd not to renew his solicitations for an accord with us notwithstanding all that was pass'd He had recourse for that effect to the Bishop of Amiens and the Coadjutor and again assur'd them and entreated them to assure us that he would deal equally with both sides in the matters of Grace Predestination and Free-will and would not in Theses reject the sentiments of S. Augustine After what was past we saw no great likelihood of any reconciliation and little consider'd what might be propounded to us from M. Hallier nor did we trouble our selves with deliberating what to do in reference to his late offer to the said two Prelates For before they had acquainted us with it he went to the Coadjutor and desir'd him to release him of his word and excuse him if he could promise nothing Fryday 26 November M. Broussel reported our new Petition to which report the first President spoke thus See said he here 's a very considerable businesse to reproach an honest man for an Approbation given by him ever since the year 1626. Who are the Petitioners M. Broussel answer'd the Petition must be read and then Sir you will see who the Petitioners are and find that this is not an affair of so small consequence as you apprehend The Petition was read When I was nam'd the first President said There There 's the man that makes all this adoe However the Petition was sign'd with Soit montre Let it be admitted The President de Mesmes seconded the motions of the first President to pacifie matters But when the Doctors Mendicants came to be spoken of the President de Mesmes said We cannot alwayes live in this manner some course must be taken for redresse After ten a clock the first President sent to seek M. Cazaut and ask'd him whether he had made the Processe Verbal concerning what had pass'd in Sorbonne M. Cazaut answer'd Yes and that that Processe Verbal would astonish him That never was seen such a Rebellion against the Arrests of the Court The first President caus'd the first draught of it to be brought to him the copy being not yet finish'd We went the same day to M. Bignon and told him that we would cause our Adversaries to be Summon'd to appear the next morning at the Bar of the Parliament to argue the businesse and he answer'd us that we should be heard there The arguing of other Causes being dispatcht MM r. the King 's Learned Council caus'd all the people to withdraw saving us As M. Langlois the Advocate retain'd on our side was beginning to open the matter and we stood towards the window there appear'd on the other side an Attorney or Procurator who said Messieurs The Cause intended to be open'd to you I am charg'd with my Clients have had no notice of this hearing till yesterday in the Evening and they have no Advocate provided M. Talon thereupon ask'd him Where his Clients were He answer'd In the Hall M. Talon said Call them hither there needs but one word in this businesse we will hear them by their own mouths The Attorney said They are not instructed in their own affairs and so he withdrew We continu'd our pleading and besides the opening of our Case by the Advocate MM. de Mincé and Brousse display'd it from the bottom Amongst other things which were spoken there we complain'd of the Coriolanus reprinted by M. Bail containing the same Doctrine with Corn. à Lapide The King 's Learned Council told us that when such evil books were publish'd there needed no more in order to have justice upon them but straitway to bring them to the Bar. Their conclusions were that on the King's part nothing hinder'd but we might have audience the first day and they told us that we must repair to the first President who would sign us a Placet for appearance on Monday morning M. the first President aiming to prevent us of an Arrest and to reduce us to a Treaty with our Adversaries made many scruples to award us the said Placet but we were so urgent upon the rules of Court notwithstanding the difficulties and refusals he made us that at length he took his pen and began to superscribe our Placet Yet as he was writing a resolution took him to deny us the same absolutely he return'd the pen which we had presented to him and instead of appearing with our Advocates as we ought to do according to the usual order he sent us back to our Reporter by whom he said we should be heard on Monday concerning our Petition Neverthelesse when our Reporter was according to this Rule going to speak thereof on Monday the first President stopt him by a new diversion to other businesse and only sent to tell us at ten a clock that we must come and wait upon him after dinner We did so and there met with our Adversaries in which interview and many others in the same place we had divers conferences with them in his presence It is
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
true not onely in these points but also generally in all the other parts of his book yet the Bull was well made for that it was not in any wise for the condemnation or establishment of any Maxime but onely a bare provisional prohibition of the book till it were clear'd and mens minds heated by its publication were return'd to such calme as they ought to have He added that if the Bull were taken thus and submitted to without scruple as it ought to be all things might be compos'd and such as had withstood it hitherto might receive the contentment which they ought not to hope for without so doing On Tuesday morning I visited Monsignor Spada Patriarch of Constantinople who having heard my story ask'd whether Divines would come to Rome of the Party contrary to that which I was I answer'd him that I knew nothing of that but there were alwayes enough upon the place viz. at Rome for that the Jesuites are our true Adversaries This did not hinder me from visiting F. le Maire the next day who being askt whether he knew really that some of our Doctors would come against us as I was told in several places and himself had not long since testifi'd his belief He answer'd me that he conceiv'd there ought none to come That the reasons of such as were of this opinion were that as for themselves they were as in possession of the doctrine of the Church to what a height ariseth by little and little the presumption of people after having escap'd a condemnation which they so justly deserv'd and consequently needed not plead any thing to maintain it and that they needed not trouble themselves about a thing which all the world consented to that for any ones appearing here for defence of his sentiments it became onely such as had suspected or condemned ones That the sole reason of others who were of advise for the comming of Doctors against us was That no Cause is so good but needs help But the former said that if the Pope thought fit for any of their part to be heard they might either be sent for or taken upon the place Moreover he mention'd a very remarkable distinction which they made of the five Propositions viz. that they must be consider'd and examin'd two wayes first with respect to the people and secondly with respect to the Learned and that if taken with respect to the Learned they have senses capable of being admitted and maintain'd amongst them and neverthelesse taken with respect to the people they be apt to excite a stirre in the Church and cast scandal or scruple into simple soules they ought not to be spar'd but to be condemned Because that indeed in France there were evidently seen two opposite parties as 't were perfectly fram'd and two different Religions That there were seen different Houres that there was made a new Catechisme concerning Grace that the Ecclesiastical and also the secular families were divided c. That it behooved to remedy these disorders and cut off the cause which cause he ascrib'd to the Propositions In the third place The manner which he imagin'd was to be observed in the conferences which I was come to prosecute was very remarkable He spoke as if the whole businesse was to be reduc'd to certain Interrogations which he said would be put to us about the senses in which we understood the Propositions and after our answers and distinctions if need were new Interrogations to be put to us till our sense were well apprehended after which according to his conjecture we were to be remitted home and then Judgment to be pronounc'd at the convenience of the Pope and of such whose ministry his Holinesse pleases to use in this affaire which Judgment according to the Jesuites account ought to be an inviolable rule of our faith For in the fourth place he spoke of the infallibility of all that the Pope doth either in the judgments of the Inquisition or in any others in what matter soever and in his bed too where his Holinesse then was very indispos'd as of certain and indubitable things and as if the H. Spirit and his assistance were not more annex'd to General Councils then to these sorts of determinations which he extended likewise for examples sake to all that was done and should be done in the affair of M. Hersent The same day I visited the General of the Dominicans who told me of the new order which he sent a little while since to all the Religious of his Order to preach and teach the doctrine of S. Augustin and he spoke of it with much esteem and zeal telling me that he did so in conformity to the duty which he ow'd to God and the Church in this point At my coming from this visite I made one to F. Bordonne a Fryer of the third Order of S Francis in whom I found a great sincerity and much esteem and affection for the doctrine of S. Augustin I visited likewise the same day the General of another Order namely of the Sommaschi nam'd F. Vbaldino He told me that as to the ground of doctrine few persons were better inform'd of the sentiments of the Jesuites then himself because he had made two or three courses in Divinity in which he taught the same as he had formerly learnt them himself but at length the mercy of God and the reading of St. Augustine shew'd him his errours That he wonder'd how he came to adhere to them formerly and how he maintain'd them stedfastly for sound truths that he bless'd God for undeceiving him and beg'd the same grace of him for them who were still in love with their own darknesse As for the Account of things which I told him were pass'd upon occasion of the Propositions he pray'd me to make a little History thereof for that he conceiv'd there needed no more to dissipate the whole Conspiracy notwithstanding the great credit of the Jesuites And as for the Congregations of the H. Office of which he was a Qualificator that 't was a good while since he in a manner wholly withdrew from thence and repair'd not thither since the intelligences and practices which he found the Jesuites held there that so he might avoid quarrelling with them c. On Thursday the 24. I shew'd F. Campanella the Propositions in writing and he acknowledg'd that they were the same upon which their opinions were required in writing two yeares ago but he told me that then there were two others and that they were the last in the false Censure that was presented to the Pope as made by the Faculty On the day of St. Lewis the Cardinals were at the Masse which is said in the Church of that name When Cardinal Barberin arriv'd there the Master of his Chamber told me that his Eminence came incognito the foregoing Wednesday to take me abroad with him When Masse was ended I testified to his Eminence my regret for not being at my Lodging when
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
considerable persons touching the Doctrine of Grace A week ago the Queen said before a great company that we should shortly be condemned at Rome The Jesuites say as much to their Confidents and some of them proclaim the same with as great a certainty as if it were in their own disposal Though I know very well that it is impossible for Truth to be condemned by the H. See and though I See not that that which we defend is subject to censure since no person can justifie that the Proposions are held by any Disciple of St. Augustin yet I confess I am something afraid that considering the manner of proceeding held by the Assembly instituted for their examen we may receive some displeasure from it What can we expect from a Consultor who being a profess'd Jesuite is by obligation engag'd to act as our formal Adversary VVhat ought we not to fear from an Assembly in which he who hath fomented the Divisions of Divines hitherto by declaring himself of a party and a Solicitour by the very confession of M. Hallier in our Faculty holds the pen and hath the Office of Secretary And lastly what likelyhood is there that an Affair can be well understood when no hearing is granted to the Parties and when the Communication of their Adversaries Productions is deny'd How can any one know what they would have how judge of their defences But the worst of all is this something will be decreed which shall make nothing to the decision of the present controversie and shall nevertheless be made use of by the Sectators of Molina as a strong determination against effectual Grace Thus Truth will suffer and those who defend it will be persecuted and the Churches troubles continued VVhereas were your writings reciprocally communicated and you allowed audience it would be known wherein all the difficulty consists And as your Memorial is a great overture to Peace since by it you declare that the Propositions are not ours but are equivocally and maliciously fram'd on purpose to involve a good Doctrine in the condemnation of a bad and since you demand only that the several senses may be distinguished with protestation of submission to the Judgement which shall then be pass'd it were an easie thing to resolve peace to the Church by doing justice to those who sue for it All things therefore being consider'd my advice is that you complain to the Pope of that Consultor and that the Secretary and absolutely except against them Also that you request his Holiness to ordain that all which hath been and shall be done till you be heard in presence one side of the other and have had communication of eithers productions be declar'd null as being against all order of justice If you obtain not that which you demand I conceive you may crave his Holinesses benediction and depart as having nothing to do in a place where audience is not afforded you in an affair for which alone you went thither You may come back into France and expect what shall be determined at Rome But since they cannot hurt us without doing extreme wrong to the grace of Jesus Christ if we suffer any thing we will comfort our selves tanquam digni habiti pro nomine Jesu contumeliam pati The interest which we have is common to us with the Disciples of S. Thomas and no less with the H. See whose Doctrine we defend VVe have been wanting neither to Truth nor the H. See and therefore we hope likewise that the H. See will be wanting neither to us nor Truth whereof it is the defence It behooves us to pray very earnestly and expect all from the H. Spirit I am c. Eight days after M. de S. Beuve writ another letter to me which is here subjoyn'd to the foregoing SIR I Do with great reluctancy give credit to the words which the Ambassador said to you since his sentiments can be no other then those of him who sent him which we every day understand to be not advantageous to the cause for which you are at the Popes feet By the last Post I told you what the Queen said before a great presence and since that I hear that the King hath also said that four Propositions of the Jansenists are already condemn'd I can scarce believe that their Majesties spoke this except from the Ambassadors Letters For which reason I must desire you not to trust to what that Lord shall say to you M. the the Official told me he hath learnt from a Jesuite that there are two condemned viz. that concerning the Possibility of the Commandments and that concerning the death of Jesus Christ I answer'd him and all such as have spoken to me as affrighted with these rumors That it behoved to expect the Bull which I was certain would be advantageous to us For either his Holiness will distinguish the senses and then our opinion will be approv'd it not being possible for the Doctrine of the Effectualness of Grace to be condemn'd or else he will not distinguish them and then he will pronounce nothing against us since we hold them good but in one sense alone and not absolutely VVhether by writing or by speaking In the name of God let it be declar'd 1. That we are not the Authors of them 2. That being fabricated of equivocal and captious terms they include sundry senses which we detest 3. That we do not and never did pretend to maintain them saving in the sense of Effectual Grace necessary to to every good action I know not how what M. Hallier hath said to you can agree with what he writes hither He spoke to you about taking a new lodging and yet hath given notice to M. de S. Malo that he is upon his departure and shall speedily come back into France His arrogance do's not surprise me I have known him too long to be scandalized at it I pray God reform him yet more within then without M. le Moine gives out here that F. Annat hath left him his Memoires upon the Five Propositions and so you see he is the Truckler under that good Father I am gald the Dominicans bethink themselves of stirring it is their duty It shall be a secret amongst us till you allow us to speak of it I am not far from your conjecture touching the Popes designs in this affair Is it true that the examination of M. d' Ipre's book is taken in hand at Rome If so it were to be wisht that the Doctors of Lovain would make haste I have sent you the right Title of F. Annats Book and without doubt it is the same which you obstructed there There is nothing to be done as from the Parliament touching the permission for its Printing The discourse about the retractation of M. d' Amiens at his death is ridiculous I am c. Another particular friend of mine who was likewise Doctor of Sorbonne and was at that time in Normandie writ one to me December
shock for him because besides that he saw his eldest son whom he had by his first wife depriv'd of his imployment he had several others of an age which required providing for by his second wife Wherefore when he receiv'd the news of this disgrace he complain'd at first very high in the Popes Presence-Chamber but some of his friends minding him not to shew any resentment as well in respect of the Pope as not to injure his Children further and for the consideration of his reputation in regard of the Publick and particularly of his Envyers who would be the more joyful for his sensibility he alter'd his Note and fell to say that the Pope was Master of his own places which it was not expedient to leave always in the same hands that his Son was yet young enough and that indeed no other reason ought to be inquir'd of what was done then the pleasure of him who did it VVednesday the 15. I went in the afternoon to see some book in the Library of Car. Barberin but finding no body there I went to the Ambassador whom I accompani'd in a Visit which he was going to make being returned from which he took me into his Chamber to discourse about the state of our Affair I told him we could not recede from the demand we made in the beginning for a Conference and reciprocal Communication of writings with our Adversaries for the reason whereof I alledg'd the importance of preserving in the Church that custome and liberty because it was ever judg'd the most facile and sure recourse of those who defended the faith against the errors of its opposers which I confirm'd by the example of S. Hilary the History of whom he had read the day preceding in his Breviary The Ambassador was mov'd with it but attempted to find some difference between that case and ours because S. Hilary made that offer and demand before the Emperor who was not instructed in those matters and could not judge of them and that we were before the Pope who had authority to judge of them and whom we ought to presuppose instructed in those things were there nothing but the light and assistance which he receiv'd from the H. Spirit I answer'd the Ambassador that the difference of these circumstances was nothing to the substance of the example which I brought because it was only to let him see that the confidence wherewith a single man well instructed in the verity of the Faith demanded to confer publickly with an Army of its Opposers suffic'd to maintain it and confound them But to take away the foundation of this difference I produc'd to him the example of the Council of Trent which though it had no less authority to judge nor light then the Pope and though the assistance of the H. Spirit was no less promised to it then to the Pope yet conceiv'd a Conference between the opposite parties about a matter to be so useful and proper for clearing it that it always practis'd it before it pass'd decrees Then I proceeded to the reasons which render'd it more necessary and shew'd that it was much more due to the suit which we made for it both in our names and in those of the Bishops who sent us being of a Degree in the Church considerable enough to oblige the Pope not to deny what they demanded with so great instance and respect since had they appointed it themselves in their own Diocesses they had Authority so to do We discours'd long about this point and at last coming to speak of the Concernment which the King took in this business I represented to the Ambassador that it was not his Majesties interest to have a huddled Decree made at Rome which might excite trouble in the Church and his Kingdom and give him a pretext to persecute his Subjects who though render'd suspected were most affectionate to him but that his true interest was to procure the passing of one against which there might lie no cause of blame according to the accustomed forms of Ecclesiastical judgements and which might produce Peace amongst Divines by a solid clearing of the Truth That I conceiv'd also that the King ought to beware of rendring himself so easily the Minister of a Decree obtain'd by surprise of which the Obtainers might make use for the oppressing of the Truth and its Defenders because though the Calumnies disperst of them at the Court and the false Impressions given of them to their Majesties had inclin'd them to look upon those people as the Object of their Aversion yet other occasions might come to pass in which Decrees might be made not so agreeable and advantageous to the service and contentment of their Majesties as this appear'd to them and to the execution whereof it would be pretended at Rome that they were no less oblig'd and whereunto perhaps they would be necessitated by extraordinary ways of which there were but too many examples The Ambassador told me that most of the world held all this affair to be nothing on our side but a Cabal I answer'd that this might indeed be said of us as it might have been of S. Hilary and those twelve or fourteen Bishops who retir'd half a days Journey from Rimini to a little Town which at this day bears the name of la Catolica the Catholick after so great a number of other Bishops had subscrib'd a Confession of Faith which destroy'd the Faith of the Church and that if the H. See came to pass a judgement in our favour as I doubted not it would if it examin'd things and decided them it would be manifested that it was no Cabal The Ambassador reply'd that there was a suspition of us at Court and that it was believ'd that we only sought protractions to the end that while the affair remain'd undecided the number of our Partisans might still increase and our party be strengthned Hereupon I laid open to the Ambassador as well as I could our sincere Intentions and particular interests that things were handled and dispatcht the most speedily that could be Yet I told him there was this difference between our Adversaries and us that they desir'd to hasten the Decision for the confounding of all things by precipitating them under the pretext of the blame which they charg'd upon us of seeking to retard them but for our parts we were so desirous to promote them in such manner that the speed used therein might not hinder their being examin'd with convenient leisure and attention I likewise told the Ambassador the whole contents of our two Memorials of which there was nothing but he judg'd reasonable I spoke in general of the notorious falshood I had observ'd in the Writings M. Hallier presented to the Consultors touching Pelagius's Confession of Faith which he cited knowingly as a work of S. Augustin or at least relying upon the honesty of the Jesuites from whom he receiv'd and presented them without troubling himself so much as to
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
matters if they save themselves from Censure This is the Order Sir which is to be held and not departed from If our Adversaries have carri'd their Complaint to the H. See we shall also carry ours They could not find Propositions in our Books worthy of Censure our Doctrine is so Orthodox and therefore they fram'd some of their own invention but we have drawn such out of their Books as they can neither disown or defend This no doubt they foresee and therefore endeavour their utmost not to appear in a Disputation which you must insist upon and take the advantage of this Congregation M. Hallier is to return after Easter and go directly to S. Malo without comming to Paris as I understand by the Almoner of the Bishop of S. Malo And if so you judge right that he desires to decline all dispute He has written to M. Amyot that he shall shortly have the Propositions condemn'd that he has been heard in the Congregation and that you stand off and dare not appear there His Letter was publisht in the Sacristie of S. Maderic and read in the seats of the Sorbonne by him to whom it was directed This vain boasting confirmes me in the same conceit besides that understanding persons have inferr'd the same namely that it is false that any Proposition is as yet condemn'd seeing the Parties have not been heard To think that judgment shall be pronounced without hearing you as you demand is to think an impossibility For how can they pronounce upon our sense if they know not what it is which they cannot but by our selves To say that they will pronounce without distinguishing the senses is ridiculous For besides that nothing would be pronounc'd in this case upon the present controversy which is not touching the Propositions but touching the different senses which they have the Thomists would become involv'd in such an absolute condemnation So that there 's no more to be done but to keep in the same mind We will send you help to the end that in case of sicknesse the Congregation may continue He will set forth I hope the first week of Lent c. The third of those Letters was written to me by order of my LL. the Bishops to whom I had address'd mine of Jan. 27. And the Copy is here subjoyn'd Febr. 21. 1653. The answer to the Letter of Jan. 27. SIR I Have communicated your Letter to my Lords who were much surpris'd at your being sent for by Cardinal Spada to appear before an other Congregation then that which it pleas'd the Pope to grant you upon your sute They remember very well that his Holinesse cans'd the late Cardinal Roma to signifye to you that having regard to the Letters and Memorial which you presented to him he granted you the Congregation of Five Cardinals namely Roma Spada Cechini Ginetti and Ghiggi for the discussion and examination of the five Propositions Since that time my LL. alwayes rely'd upon the establishment of that Congregation and perswaded themselves that the judgment of the Five Propositions would be pass'd according to all the formes of Ecclesiastical justice that you should be heard in presence of your Adversaries the Writing communicated all causes of exception against the declar'd opposers of your cause admitted and finally that the Pope would decide the questions in such manner as the like have alwayes been decided by his Predecessors in Councils and particular Congregations When they were most at quiet your Letter comes and gives them notice of another Congregation to which you were summoned this amaz'd them neverthelesse your judicious answer to that summons comforted them they extremely approve the same and injoyn you to insist upon it and not go beyond it M. Hallier will do any thing that he pleases My Lords pray you to continue in the termes of your answer hoping that the Pope being just will have regard thereto and lastly they recommend themselves to you and beseech God to fill you with blessings By Command of my Lords N. After the departure of the Post my Lords condering the present posture of our affair and fearing the ill consequences which they foresaw conceiv'd it befitting their Episcopal care to indeavor the prevention of the same wherefore those who were then at Paris writ forthwith a new Letter to the Pope which came not from them till eight dayes after and was deliver'd to us at Rome in its due time The French translation of it is here inserted the Original Latin in the Collection ensuing Being directed To the most H. F. Pope Innocent X. it proceeded thus MOST H. FATHER BIshops highly affectionate to truth and the Churches peace could not receive more welcome newes then the assurance given us last Summer that your Holines's paternal affection and Apostolical care had induc'd you to establish that Congregation so much desir'd by us Assoon as we receiv'd this intelligence from the Doctors who sollicite this great affair at Rome in our name we rejoyc'd to understand that they had succeeded happily that the supreme See of the Church approv'd and profess'd to embrace that meanes which may be in some manner term'd the only one likely to re-establish publick tranquillity From that time we conceiv'd a firme hope M.H.F. that the clouds of calumnies and humane artifices being dispell'd Truth hitherto outrage'd and oppress'd by its enemies would finde as many protectors as judges and that being an Ecclesiastical Judgment was likely to be pass'd for deciding such important questions relating to the Faith according as has been alwayes practis'd we ought to remain quiet in expectation of what so solemn a Congregation should produce For the Jesuites having caus'd these five Famous Propositions to be contriv'd at pleasuere by persons devoted to them the structure whereof is so artificial and the sense so equivocal thereby to overthrow S. Augustin's authority and make the novel opinion of Lowis Molina triumph over the sentiments of the Congregation of Rome the consent of so many Ages and the Orthodox doctrine of ancient Divines we could not doubt but the esteem and reputation of that H. Doctor of Grace would be in safety when it should be examin'd before that supreme Tribunal which has made him so renown'd in all the earth by the glorious elogies which it hath given him But M. H. F. as much as we rejoyc'd then at the newes of that Cogregation so much have we since been surpris'd with the astonishment of the suddain change of which the Divines deputed by us to your Holinesse have inform'd us by their last Letters to wit that the proceeding in this grand affair is become very different from what we believ'd and that this Congregation is not as was promis'd them a Congregation in which the parties are heard in presence vivâ voce and their Writings respectively communicated for taking away all suspition of fraud but that a course is held wholly different from what they had informed us that they had obtain'd of
what pass'd at Rome but are onely reflexions upon the course held there in our affair and testimonies both of the triumphs which our A dersaries made already every where for the Censure of the Propositions whereof they were confident and of the Christian moderation and constancy wherewith we continu'd to pursue the examen of it and to hope in the divine protection nevertheless they seem to me so fit to justifie to the Publick and Posterity the innocency both of our Doctrin and Deportment that I cannot forbear to insert some of the principal here I receiv'd some from M. de Sainte Beuve every Post and in regard of his quality and ability so well known in the world and because he alwayes spoke directly to the substance of the affaire with great sincerity I shall produce his first and almost alone This he writ to me April 4. SIR YOur concise stile tells me more things then when you are diffuse Even your silence speaks and inasmuch as you sent me no intelligence you thereby inform'd me that you were much employ'd and were not without fear For my part Sir I forthwith regretted your dejection yet could not apprehend that the event of the Congregation to be held before his Holinesse would be disadvantagious to us The power of Truth the assistance of the H. Ghost upon the Pope his Holiness's greatnesse of mind the learning and the generosity of the principal Consultors the interest which the Dominicans have in ours and the multitude of knowing persons of our opinion keep me from fearing any thing and put me in great hope in case they proceed to a definition You cannot imagine how much our Adversaries dread the intervention of the Dominicans They tell some that they are sure the General of the Jacobines will not enter into the Cause but will be contented if he be promis'd that an insertion shall be put into the Bull that the Pope pretends not to prejudice the Doctrin of S. Thomas by it Which discourse was made by a Jesuite nam'd F. le Cointes Companion of F. Paulin the Kings Confessor But whil'st they speak thus their Predicators preach in disparagement of effectual Grace as one F. Mimbourg at S. German del ' Auxerrois and F. Lingendes at S. Gervais They tell others that the Dominicans do not accord with us and this is talk't in Sorbonne and comes from Rome M. Lagault writes to M. Duval as one high in hopes and that which makes them considerable is that 't is said that generally what he sends word is to come to passe by a set time comes to passe accordingly witness the prayers appointed by his Holinesse M. Duval above a fortnight before the last inform'd us that the Pope would appoint prayers and then pronounce without hearing parties and that in France he should be obey'd But all this do's not much trouble me Let his Holiness pronounce if he please he must distinguish the senses unlesse he meanes to adde Oyle to the fire for 't will be a new contest more violent then the first in what sense the Propositions are condemn'd If he does distinguish them our Adversaries must of necessity fall For our sense cannot receive any impeachment being no other but that of effectual Grace What I am charg'd to accquaint you with Sir is this that if it comes to passe that a Bull be pass'd in condemnation of the Propositions without distinguishing and securing the sense of effectuall Grace you must make all possible instances and suit to get the Pope to explain himselfe and leave no seed of division in the affair M. LL. the Bishops command me to write this to you earnestly and particularly that you joyn your selves as much as may be withall the disciples of S. Thomas For it shall not be said that we are injustly opress'd that after the malicious contrivance of Propositions to blacken us this imposture is Crown'd with an ambiguous Bull and that we hold our peace I am c. The same day M. Brousse Writ to me that which followes Paris April 4. 1653. SIR My dear friend I Did not writ to you on Friday last because I had nothing new to tell you and was so engag'd in business that I did not think of the Post day till it was too late Our Adversaries are more insolent then ever and those words of the Scripture may be liberally apply'd to them superbia corum qui te oderunt ascendit semper You will see by a Letter written to me from Lyons what they preach in that City in these parts 't is worse yet F. Mimbourg made at S. Germain de l' Auxerrois a continu'd Satyre against S. Augustine and his disciples who are alwayes those new Hereticks He drawes the world after him by his insolencies as F. Nouel sometimes did against the Book of Frequent Communion Last week he was all about the Oeconomie of Grace and Predestination he speaks such things as Pelagius never thought of so that he laid for a foundation and principle in matter of Religion and Faith that we ought to stick firm to what our sences and reason demonstrate to us because they are the two Lights which God ha's given us for our direction The Concierge of the Hostel de Villeroy who receives and distributes M. Hallier's letters told a friend of mine lately that M. Hallier's servant sent him word that these Jansenists were worse then ever Calvin was that they put them to so many troubles and shifts was not credible The Sieur Lagault writes to a Kinsman of his that he shall return very speedily having no more to do in that Country I salute all our dear Brethren and good friends and am with all my heart c. The person who freequently writ to me in Latin sent me this of April 4. touching the state of things at Rome QUid ex posterioribus tuis colligere debeam non certè scio Quamquam enim causam hanc seminari optandum est tamen ut de aliorum relatione audio non finiendae controversiae ratio initur quae omnino aequa videri possit In consilium admittuntur si quibusdam credimus solum ii qui cum Palavicino sentiunt Albisio caeteri jubentur ex scripto sententiam dicere Brevitas imperatur ne omnia dicere liceat Tui non audisti Dominicani non admittuntur qui tardè tandem rebus suis doctrinae providere in animum induxerunt Fortè istis satisfactum putabunt qui maximè illorum odere sententiam si declarent nolle se quicquam praejudicare Thomistarum opinionibus hac clausula ambiguitate verborum se tegent Dum Jesuitae in omnes adversarios gratiae Molinisticae pronuntiatum esse contendent at certè nihil est ejusmodi aequivocatione iis indignius iis qui se doctrinae fidei Moderatores supremos apud omnes haberi velint Clarè pronuntiandum est Veritas lucem amat neque unquam apud majores nostros primos Ecclesiae fundatores in
of the Consultors affirm'd that in their suffrages none of them not even F. Palavicini himself qualify'd the Propositions with those rigorous terms which are in the Censure The third was dated June 28. and written by F. Guerin who amongst a thousand other good Offices which his inexhaustible charity and singular affection to Monseigneur d' Anger 's and to us induc'd him to do for us both during our residence at Rome and after our departure acquainted me with some which I shall here relate in his own words I have presented your books to wit our little tomes of S. Augustin to the Cardinals Franciotti Trivultio and Omodei who receiv'd them with great joy and expressions of acknowledgement especially the first and the last But the two first particularly Trivultio profess'd that they were much surpriz'd when he saw the Popes Censure forasmuch as there was great likelyhood and reason that you should be heard Trivultio said he did not think that it would any wise conduce to the establishment of peace but rather the contrary because though his Holiness seems in appearance not to have touch'd S. Augustin yet he hath done it indirectly and will cause much trouble The two others earnestly prest the Oration and the Dictinction of the senses of the Propositions which all three judg'd should have been in the Censure Franciotti hath made them already and I shall carry them to Omodei afterwards He had put off our House to Monsignor Caffaretti and sold our furniture presently after our departure and therefore understanding our offer to the Bishops to return to Rome if they pleas'd he offer'd us his own in that case till another could be provided in this obliging manner If you return to Rome be sure you alight nowhere else but at my house if you will have me your friend The fourth is of the same date June 28. written by F. Petit Priest of the Oratory and superior of these which are at Rome in Saint Lewis's Covent Sir I Have received yours of the 21. of June with the inclosed which I have distributed I have seen as many of your friends as I could and presented your recommendations to them they are all glad to hear of your health and pray our Lord Jesus Christ to continue strength and health to you till you come to the end of your Voyage where I doubt not but you will have great Encounters to undergo for the cause of Truth Now F. Dinet is grown so potent at Court by his guidance of the Kings conscience he will not fail to make use of that Authority for persecuting the Truth and those who defend it As for newes here none is spoken of saving that your Adversaries walk with something more stateliness and carry their heads higher then they did formerly The Jesuites proclaim openly that you are condemn'd together with S. Augustin and the whole School of the Thomists and a Divine of the Romane Colledg hath begun to argue from the Censure of the third Proposition that Jesus Christ had indifference in reference to his actions to prove which when he alledg'd the Censure of the third Proposition they say a Student answer'd him Sed illa propositio est de natura lapsa in qua non erat Christus which put him to a nonplus Nevertheless the intelligent sort of people have no great respect for this Censure they see so much partiality and passion and so little justice in it 'T is affirm'd to me that F. Aversa some other Consultors never saw your Writings and was not call'd after your Audience and that this Censure is certainly the same which was made towards the beginning of Lent The same person assures me too that the first beginning of the Congregation 't was a fixt and determinate resolution to censure the Propositions at what rate soever And therefore 't is no wonder that the Jesuites spoke of it so confidently from the first He tells me likewise that none of the Consultors at least the Molinists care not much for S. Augustine's Authority but I hope that God and his Church will uphold the same above all those who go about to diminish it At Rome this whole week hath been spent in Bonfires and publick rejoycings both for solemnity of the Mariage and alliance of the Pamphilian Family with that of Cardinal Barberin and for the Promotion made on Monday of the Prince Prefect who took the Hat on Thursday last but with the publick Panegyricks of the Pope and Cardinals T is believ'd that Cardinal Barberin shall resume the Helm of Government Cardinal Antonio is certainly reported to be at Sea and is expected every day M. Hallier and his Collegues make no shew of departing yet 'T is said they stay here to see how the Censure will be receiv'd at Paris and in your University that so they may sollicite his Holinesse for such course and means as shall be necessary to enforce its reception The fifth was written to me on June 29. by that person without whose counsel I have said in one place of this Relation that I did very few things Both the Original and the Translation are here subjoin'd Il pensiero di non uscire d' Italia fin che habbiano riposta di Francia à me all' amico piace sommannente E la parterera Di Roma come fu ' necessarea così non può essere ripresa ne il fermarsi poteva pastorire niuno buon effetto è nella presente congiuntura si è cavato della bacca ai Papa quel piùs che si può sperare è sarà sempre imprudenza tentare la cognitione d' una causa presso un giudice che non intende li termini Si che non bisogna riguardare quello che ponno dire gli auversarie circa la partenzi ma li sogna con prudenza ponderare li nostri disvantaggi li loro vantaggi altro che l' Aliero in tutti li circoli dove si trova predica che ei tiene la gratia efficace de se è la dottrina di sant ' Agostino è che la decisione del Papa non effende ne l' una ne l' altra è che li Molinisti sono in errore come ancora quei della predeterminatione physica si riscalda in modo sopra di ciò che più non si può dire è chi l' hà sentito più volte à me lo riferisse è persona à Giesuiti affectionata Che il Decreto sia per fape rumore in Francia non si crede perche il Rè adopreà la forza autorità perche sia ricevuto con race che così hà promisso è lo so io Che il campo sia aperto in Roma è meglio perche sino che qui si stava la Corte perretrava tutto l' intemo di vosignoria è sprezzava Memoriali come sè berrissimo ma estendo absenti se sentiranno rumori potranno forzi comparire magiori
his Mother as he acknowledg'd by appearing at the Assembly of the University answering to the Questons propounded to him and submitting himself under his hand to what the University should ordain Though indeed his bad example makes him more culpable then the rest IV. The Rector and the University having an undoubted jurisdiction in reference to discipline they might exercise the same in matter purely of discipline For though the Declaration of the Irish concern matters of doctrine yet the University judg'd of their Fact and their Declaration without out pronouncing upon the doctrine as it declares by its Decree of May 31. Facile intelligi ex verbis dicti Decreti nihil statutum de veritate aut falsitate quinque propositionum in dicta Hibernorum Declaratione contentarum atque in eare DD. Deputatos secutos Academiae mentem V. Nothing was done in this case but what was done lately in a like case without the dislike of any particular person of the University For M. Francis Veron having libell'd the University and spoken new injuries viva voce in its Assembly whether he was cited M. Godefroy Hermant then Rector and now Doctor of Sorbonne concluded by the advice of the Deans and Proctors Sept. 14. 1647. that he should be depriv'd of all degrees rights priviledges and prerogatives of the same University that his Letters of Master of Arts should be torn and cancell'd in the General Assembly of the University at the Mathurines Which was executed without any contradiction VI. The authority of the University cannot be contested without countervening that solemn Arrest given at S. Germanien Laye July 8. 1651 for maintaining its priviledge in jurisdiction And as for judging of doctrine we may say that the cognisance thereof belongs rather to the University then to the Faculty the former having power to hear witnesses cite the subscribers receive their depositions c. which the latter cannot practise but with extreme difficulties Besides all the offenders except one Doctor were of the Faculty of Arts and consequently the cognisance of the cause belong'd more particularly to the Rector and Proctors of Nations then to any other VII But the rise and progresse of this affair will manifest the justice of the University The Rector receiv'd complaints of the Irish Declaration and oft their Conventicles and thereupon apprehending the pernicious consequences of the same prohibited the Irish to passe any judgment of doctrine which most just and easy command they disobey'd and proceeded to sign their Declaration Notice whereof being given to the Rector together with Copies of it could he without betraying his trust the cause of God his Church the King the Parliament and also of the Theologal Faculty look upon this enterprise with indifferent eyes and not remedy such a publick disorder VI. That the Rector and that University acted herein with much prudence and moderation THis assertion will easily be manifested by the bare narration of the affair Notice is given to the Rector of Assemblies held in the Colledges of the University for making new Declarations about points of doctrine and particularly of one held at the Chamber of M. Nicholas Poerus The Rector sends the grand Bedle of the Nation of France thither to forbid such assembling and declaring They dissolve yet afterwise sign their Declaration contrary to the said expresse prohibition The Rector is inform'd of this and a copy of the Declaration brought to him All this while he remaines very patient and is loâ—h to use all his authority so long as he conceives more gentle wayes may serve In this spirit of moderation and prudence he sends for the Irish to inquire the truth in which work he spends almost a whole moneth He acquaints the cheif of the University with the business who all agree to check the enterprise and punish this disobedience At the ordinary Assembly of the University the Irish are interrogated their depositions writ down and four or five hours spent in consultation about them At length after an exact discussion of the affair all the Deans and Proctors are of advice to make an exemplary Decree In all which proceeding what can the most severe Censors find to reprehend They who complain that an affair of this consequence is determind in one single assembly consider not that the Rector was a month in preparing it and the depositions were all heard that the fact was evident as well as the dangerous consequence of it But 't will be said that the Irish submitted to what the University should ordain in reference to their action and why then should they be punish'd with such severity These Objectors may be answer'd that 't was in the power of the Irish to free themselves from this pretended severity after they had receiv'd the judgment of it For being obligd thereby only to revoke their signatures and no punishment inflcted but in case of refusal let them acquit themselves of their promises and they are subject to no penalty Now this comminatory punishment was only to engage them to performance of their word and thence forward they could not break it without doubly meriting punishment both for disobeying the lawes of the University and violating their promise But the truth is they did not submit as they promis'd but instead thereof recurr'd to the Parliament and the Faculty VII The Conclusion NO doubt the Parliament judges the enterprise of the Irish an insolent action and the conspiracy of the Syndic and many Doctors with them against the Rector and the University an effect of blind passion deserving to be repell'd by the publick authority of Justice If 't is a crime in the Rector and the University to have perform'd their office to have had respect for the Arrests of Parliament and lawes of the Realm to have hinder'd conspirators against the Churches peace and the King 's rights 't is so goodly a crime that 't is honorable to be accus'd of it and glorious to be punisht for it But the Court ordains not punishments for actions which it hath alwayes honour'd with praises and there 's reason to hope that if it have condemnations to pronounce 't is against those who favor an enterprise wholly unjust and who tend by this publick division to ruin one of the most ancient works of our Kings the Mother of all good learning and one of the rarest ornaments of the State and Gallicane Church But if they are so in just as to pretend that this Decree is the cause of all this trouble let them look back and see whether the University were not in peace before the Doctrinal Declaration of the Irish The unreasonablenesse of requiring the connivance of the University as it is sufficiently shown already They are the authors of the trouble who thus complain But 't is not credible that the Parliament will countenance their pretences but authorise a Decree made for maintainning the discipline of the University The honour of the Faculty of Divinity the policy of the