The journal of Monsr. de Saint Amour doctor of Sorbonne,: containing a full account of all the transactions both in France and at Rome, concerning the five famous propositions controverted between the Jansenists and the Molinists, from the beginning of that affair till the Popes decision. / Faithfully rendred out of French. ; A like display of the Romish state, court, interests, policies, &c. and the mighty influences of the Jesuites in that church, and many other Christian states, being not hitherto extant.

CHAP. XIV.

Of what was done in the Assembly of the first of December 1649. in order to the Agreement desir'd by the first Pre∣sident.

THe first day of December being arriv'd, M. Charton told the Assembly of the Faculty, that the first President had sent for either side, and signi∣fi'd to us, that the Court of Parliament desir'd we would seek amongst our selves some terms of agree∣ment.

M. de Mincé spoke next, and testifi'd that the first President's meaning was not to remit businesses to the judgement of the Faculty, but only to invite both parties to seek wayes of Accommodation amongst our selves.

M. Hallier spoke something which caus'd a con∣test to arise between M. de Mincé and him, and which was the occasion that M. de Mincé having told him that he ought not to thrust himself into the

Administrations of the Syndicship, M. Hallier de∣clar'd, that he did not pretend to discharge any of them in this Assembly.

M. Mulot put to the Vote that which was pro∣pounded by M. Charton. M. Messier Subdean, de∣livering his opinion the first, said, that for the Pro∣positions it would be fit to nominate two Doctors on each side, to the end they might confer together of what was to be done. But being advertis'd that the Propositions were not under consideration, he alter'd his suffrage, and said, that he judg'd the way of agreement was, to execute the Arrests of the Court.

After which no person spoke more concerning the Propositions, till M. Pereyret, whose advices are usually infallible Prognosticks, and certain rules of the sentiments of all those of that party. He said, that in order to a solid peace, it behoved to discusse the principal cause of the division, to look to that which chiefly had incens'd us, and that was Doctrine. That as for the Syndicship and the other things, they were not the principal, but only accessaries. That it behov'd to apply the remedy to the root of the Evil. That it was this that was chiefly to be ex∣amin'd, and from which we might most expect peace. That all which had been done proceeded from that source. Wherefore it was requisite to give satis∣faction therein, and for that end to take time to deli∣berate again thereupon, and in the mean while to invite all people to examine them. That they who were deputed should do the same. That in the in∣terim it was fit to live in friendship and good intelli∣gence one with another; and for this purpose, to forbear writing or speaking any thing about the said Propositions, and putting the same into Theses. That if in the mean space any Bachelors or Doctors attempt any thing contrary to this rule, either in Theses or Books, it behov'd the Faculty to punish them sharply and severely by its Censures. That not only the first President, but also all the other Presidents and Counsellors whom they had con∣ferr'd with, had advis'd to proceed in this manner; and thus it was that they design'd to act in this Ac∣commodation.

M. Coppin perceiving that this advice tended to renew the enterprise of the first of July, said as well in his own name as in that of a great number of Doctors, (whose mind never was to eschew the examination of those Propositions or others, but who on the contrary alwayes desir'd that it should be set afoot, provided it were done with conditions necessary for the manifestation of truth, and the establishment of a firm peace amongst the Doctors) He said (as I intimated) as well in his own name as in that of the Doctors, that if the resolution were taken to set upon such examination, he demanded that certain conditions should be observ'd therein, such as all equitable persons would esteem just and necessary for the right performance of the same, and which he was going to propound to the Faculty: To do which, he took in his hand a paper, wherein he had written the same; but upon this there was rais'd a great noise, caus'd partly by such as lik'd not the mention of Conditions, and partly by others who dislik'd that we should propose them, because that in this Assembly the question was not about such examination.

We answer'd, that indeed the Dean did not put the same to the Vote, yet M. Pereyret did not for∣bear to debate upon it, and by his discourse give cause to believe that it was intended to turn the de∣liberations of the Faculty that way. M. Pereyret went about to put it off, but he could not handsomly. M. Amiot maintain'd that M. Pereyret had reason to say that such examination was the thing to be consi∣der'd, for that it was requir'd to seek wayes of ac∣cord, and the difference being about Doctrine, it was fit to speak thereof. As M. Coppin continu'd offering to read his paper, (because there would be no time to read it after the examination were con∣cluded upon, and the noise continuing, he could not have a moment of audience) on the one side M. Mulot out of a caprichio by force snatcht away his paper, and M. Pereyret on the other to appease the noise which increas'd more and more, alter'd his former sentence, or at least explain'd it; and con∣cluded no more to examine the Propositions, or to forbid the maintaining of them. M. Mulot also render'd M. Coppin his paper, who gave it into the hands of M. Bouvot, to the end it might be regi∣stred, to be made use of, and had recourse to, as often as it should please those Gentlemen to at∣tempt the examination of the matters in contest.

M. Charton delivering his opinion, did not for∣bear to conclude again upon the examination of the Propositions, without speaking ought, or having any regard to the Conditions presented by M. Cop∣pin. M. Morel advis'd the same with M. Charton, and said that the examination was already made by the Deputies, that there remain'd no more but for them to make their report thereof; that it was re∣quisite to deferre it still, and in the mean time to forbid the Bachelors to maintain those Propositions; but that it was not fit to name other Deputies to discusse the same; and as for M. Hallier, that things ought to be so order'd as that he abide in the office of Syndic.

M. Hallier stood up, and said he would willingly relinquish it, if need were; yet he should advise, that eight or ten Doctors conferr'd together about what was to be done therein; but that it behov'd not to speak of condemning the one or the other.

M. Amiot said, that the time agreed upon to forbear speaking of the Propositions, and of the other transactions of the first of July, was expir'd; that it behov'd now to speak thereof, and to make valid what was till then only suspended.

When I perceiv'd that this advice to take the Propositions in hand again was propos'd by many Doctors, and that it was to be fear'd lest it should prevail, I caus'd notice to be given to an Usher of the Court of Parliament, whom I kept ready to sig∣nifie, in case of need, the Arrest issu'd on the fifth of October, and spoken of before, by which they were forbidden to proceed further upon the business of the Propositions. M. Tassin who receiv'd the charge of signifying the said Arrest, brought it to the Faculty to the Table: They knew not what it was, but had wholly forgotten this Arrest, for the publishing of it had been deferr'd whilst it seem'd not necessary; wherefore it was easily resolv'd that it should be read, to know what it was. Whilest it was reading, MM. Pereyret and Cornet deny'd their having spoken that which the Arrest expresly rela∣ted to have been spoken by them, in presence of the Court, when they were heard there. M. de Saint Roch reply'd to them, that then they needed only to enter a challenge of falsity against the Arrest, and M. Brousse requir'd a Memorandum of the Lye which they gave the whole Court.

After that this Arrest was read, the Suffrages con∣tinu'd on. M. Cornet said the signification of this Arrest disturb'd the peace, and hinder'd them from deliberating of wayes of accord, for that it bound their hands. He was answer'd, that wayes of ac∣cord were sought for upon M. Hallier's businesse; that this Arrest concern'd only the examination of the Propositions, in which it forbad them further to proceed, and therefore did not hinder but that they might endeavour to find means of agreement. M. Cornet continuing his speech, said, that then himself was of M. Chappellas's opinion, and that these con∣tests ought to be taken up according to the desire of the first President, who made the overture of sus∣pending the businesse of the Propositions during three or four months; and that himself should ad∣vise that the said terme be prolong'd; and never∣thelesse because the affair of the Syndic requir'd ex∣pedition, that three Doctors of each side be nomi∣nated, and three in the name of the Faculty, who should all agree about means to accommode the contests.

M. Amiot did not forbear, after this advice, to require a Memorandum of the publishing of this Arrest, as if it had been a misdeed committed against the intentions of the Parliament, by them who caus'd it to be publish'd. And M. Brousse requir'd one likewise of the time in which it was publisht, namely, after divers had given their Suffrages for continuing the examination of the Propositions. He also layd open in general what was contain'd in the paper of Conditions presented by M. Coppin, and requir'd again that M. Bouvot should not fail to re∣gister it.

After the reading of the said Arrest; there was no more speech of proceeding to examine the Proposi∣tions, but only of nominating Commissioners for the businesse of M. Hallier; and at length after di∣vers Expedients mention'd, the plurality of Suffrages concluded that M. Hallier should name three on his own part, M. de Mincé three others, and that as many should be nominated in behalf of the Faculty, as persons indifferent, namely M. Chappellas, M. Gauquelin, and M. du Val, which nine were to meet and consult amongst themselves of means of accord, and make report to the Faculty the seventh of the same month, of what they offer'd in order to an Ac∣commodation.

The proceeding of the Doctors with whom we had to do, was sufficiently strange throughout the whole deliberation. For they debated in the same manner as they would have done if they had been Supreme Arbiters of the Accommodation, and as if the Court had remitted the whole businesse unto them to ordain thereupon. And although we were all divided into two parties, of which some were more heated and others lesse, yet they pretended that there was a third body between them and us, which they call'd The Faculty, (which yet consisted only of themselves) because with the help of the Religious Mendicants their number was unquesti∣onably greater then ours. We did not omit to inti∣mate to them very distinctly upon two or three occa∣sions in this Assembly, that there was not in the Company a third party which compos'd the Faculty; that neither the Court nor the first President had re∣mitted us to be judg'd by themselves, but only to seek between them and us the means of reconciling us, and with charge, that if we did it not, we should have recourse to the Court of Parliament, to be judg∣ed there. Notwithstanding, though we endeavor'd to make this as clear as possible, they could scarce be brought to understand our language, nor to for∣bear acting as if they had been absolute masters of our differences, and as if the Faculty had been some kinde of thing distinct from themselves and us.

Moreover M. Brousse oppos'd this Result as well in his own name as in ours. He said Com∣missioners could not be nominated on behalf of the Faculty, which was no party by it self in this affair, but was wholly divided into two parties. He said, that if it were requisite to nominate Doctors for mediators between such as should be nominated on either side, it would belong to these Doctors to choose them, and to agree about them, in case themselves could not agree together. He said, that particularly the persons nam'd as indifferent, were not so; having declar'd themselves too o∣penly in this assembly for M. Hallier: and he warned the said M. Hallier and the Dean to execute the Arrests publish'd; telling them; that in default thereof he made against them all Protestations re∣quisite in such cases, and persisted in all Oppositions, Appeals and Protestations heretofore made. Ne∣verthelesse the Dean forbore not to warn M. de de Mincé to nominate three Doctors on the part of the Opposers for carrying on the Accord. M. de Mincé answer'd, that without prejudice to the De∣clarations and Protestations made by M. Brousse, he would nominate them that day, and deliver them in writing to M. Bouvot the Register. M. Hallier was likewise warn'd by the Dean, and he immedi∣ately nominated for himself MM. Pereyret, Mo∣rel, and Le Moine. And thus this Assembly ended.

The Conditions for examining the doctrine of Grace which M. Coppin presented in our behalf to the Faculty, were not enter'd in our Registers, what ever importunity we could use to have it done, be∣cause M. Cornet ever since that time was Master of our Registers, and put nothing therein but what himself would. Yet they were printed almost as soon as they were presented, and have been so a∣gain; however I shall not omit to give a Copy of them in the Collection of pieces I intend to place af∣ter this Journal. I shall only observe here, that it is said there in expresse terms, that the Propositions presented by M. Cornet to the Faculty for Censure, are equivocal and ambiguous, and are not maintain'd by any one in the sense which they seem to have of themselves. Postquam omnibus innotuit quàm peri∣culosè M. Nicolaus Cornet Propositiones quasdam de Gratia ambiguas & aequivocas, A NULLO AUTO∣RE IN SENSU QUEM PRAE SE FERRE VI∣DENTUR ASSERTAS, vocaverit in medium, & exa∣minandas Facultati exhibuerit, &c.