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.

The Supplicate of the Ambassador of FRIULI sent to the most Serene Republick of Venice, about the affair of the most Reverend Patriarch GRI∣MANI.

Most serene Prince, and most Illustrious Seigneurie,

VVE, the most faithfull subjects and ser∣vants of your Serenitie, sent to you by the Reverend Chapters of Aquileia and Oudenay, by the magnifick City of Odenay, and by the magnifick Deputies of you Country of Friuli, do with truth as∣sure you that for divers years our Country, our Cler∣gy and our City have not sent their Agents to the feet of your Serenity about a more urgent, neces∣sary and laudable affair then the present, in which the honour of God, and the peace and tran∣quillity of their consciences being concern'd, we have judg'd the present conjuncture of affairs most favourable for communicating their grievances and needs to your Serenity, to this most Christian Re∣publick, to our most gracious Prince. 'Tis a most advantageous meanes, most Serene Prince, to shew with how great ardour and concord we all desire to testify a perfect and filial obedience and affection not only to your Serenity, but also to the spirituall Heads and Pastors whom God hath given us; as we now desire to testifie the same towards the person of the most Reverend Patriarch John Grimani our most dear and beloved Father, which we shall do with piety and justice, well understanding that 'tis the will of God not onely that we pray to his divine Majesty for the health and prosperity of our Pastors, that we hear them and that we obey them, but al∣so that we have such care of them as good children ought to have of their Father, and perform this duty with so much the more zeal as our spiritual pa∣rents ought to be dearer and more venerable to us then our corporal. VVherefore 'tis reason that when our head languisheth, we suffer together there∣with, according to the Apostle's doctrin, who to confirm unity in the Church of God, and to take a∣way Schismes and Divisions, enjoynes and com∣mands all Churches to have this cate and solicitude which we who are members of it ought to have one for another, and particularly for our Head. Where∣fore confirming to the will of God in the needs which presse us, and in so important an affair, we confidently address to the feet of your Serenity, and hope to receive such comfort from you as is agreea∣ble to your goodnesse, our devotion and the neces∣sity of our Country. VVe represent therefore most humbly to your Serenity, that thirteen years agoe M. Leonard of Oudenay our Compatriote, of the Order of S. Dominick (a man of great note and e∣steem, and lookt upon as a most learned and Ca∣tholick Preacher, and who had passed through all the honours and offices in his Order) preaching in the Church of Oudenay spoke something, out of good intent concerning divine Prescience and Predestination; and that the grand Vicar of that time acquainted the most reverend Patriarch there∣with, who according to the custome of the ancient Fathers & Pastors sent for answer to the Vicar and the Church, a Homily concerning that Subject; conceiving that he should thereby better satisfy and confirme the mind of his Vicar and of all those who had heard the said Preachers expressions about this matter. This Homily was published and registred in the Chancery of your Serenity at the City of Ou∣denay, and soon spread abroad every where: since that time till the present we perceiv'd not that this act of the most Reverend Patriarch caused the least alteration amongst us, other then what we have lately understood and find to be very considerable and of very great consequence. For the report which your Serenity knows to be spread lately con∣cerning this Homily, being apt to cast infamy up∣on the most R. Patriarch, diminish or quite ruin his authority, overwhelme him with affliction and sorrow, and also being capable to give scandal and confusion to our consciences (which would be a deplorable mischief, and therefore requires to be prevented;) this whole Province would have ac∣counted themselves worthy to be accused of disobe∣dience and ingratitude, if in so long oppression of the innocence of a Pastor and a Prelate so dear to them, we should not give yo••r Serenity and all the world certain proofs of our good will and obligati∣ons, both in reference to the affliction which we resent for that of my L. the Patriarch, and to a thing more important, to wit, the inevitable deso∣lation which would befall us, if we should suffer this scandal to continue longer in so miserable a time when all things are full of tumult and confu∣sion. This hath induc'd us to make this Remon∣strance to you with the more earnestness, for that we know that faithful people are oblig'd to love and procure tranquillity and peace, especially at this time when bad examples instigate us to do o∣therwise. But setting aside the affection which we bear to the most R. Patriarch for his merits & ver∣tues sufficiently known to you, which certainly is very great, and for which we would do all things possible to be done by the good children, we have resolv'd not to be deficient in what our Lord com∣mands us with his own mouth; The Scribes and Pharis••es sit in Moses Cha••r, do what they say. Truth it self, most Serene Prince, tells as that we ought to hear our Pastors because they are the Fathers and Masters of the people. And 'tis for this reason that S. Paul saith, Remember those that are over you, who declare the word of God to you; obey your superiours and be subject to them: for they watch as they who must give account of your souls, that they may do it with joy & not with sorrow; for this is profitable for you. These are the authorities of God, to which it is necessary that we obey: & to the end we may do it with more successe, it is necessary that your Serenity, who are guardians of the Holy Laws, favour and assist us. May it therefore please your Serenity, to inter∣pose as you shall think fit, that we may be given to understand with assurance and by Soveraign autho∣rity, what is the doctrin of our Patriarch and Pa∣stor in that Homily; because so long as this is un∣decided, we remain in sadnesse and in a scandal of very great consequence, being surrounded on every side with Provinces and Nations who suffer them∣selves to be led into other sentiments then those prescrib'd by our Mother the H. Catholick and Ro∣man Church, from whom we shall never depart, ac∣knowledging it a particular benefit of God's good∣ness that the Provinces & places subject to the Pa∣triarchal

Superintendecy, and the most happy go∣vernment of your Serenity, are hitherto free from all the troubles which disturb the Church at this day. If therefore the doctrine of the most Reve∣rend Patriarch in this Homily be good, let your Serenity consider how much we are oblig'd, and how greatly charity ought to enflame our hearts, to procure (for the love we bear him) his peace and tranquillity, and preservation of his honour and re∣putation, (all which are things from which we may hope all sort of advantage, as without which we must expect to be deprived of all spiritual consola∣tion.) Your Serenity sees that all these honest and e∣quitable considerations have caused the Clergy, City & all our happy Country account themselves oblig'd to do the same office towards our Pastor, which we read to have been heretofore done by most devou•• nations towards theirs in the persecutions of Liberi∣us Bishop of Rome, S. Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria S. Chrisostome Bishop of Constantinople, and many others, when the devotion of the people excited by the Holy Ghost manifested their piety and affe∣ction towards their Pastors. VVe desire to imitate them in their good actions, so much the more now the time presses us, and we can no longer dessemble: because, most Serene Prince, if the Patriarch be found innocent as he is esteem'd by general consent, we discharge our duty in the resentment which we testifie of his affliction, so tis requisite we do ju∣stice to our selves, in case his doctrine in the sayd Homily be worthy of reprehension and condemnati∣on: for so long as we remain in suspence concern∣ing the same, and the discussion of so important an affair is deferr'd, we cannot but be alwayes in dan∣ger of being deceiv'd. VVherefore to prevent so great mischiefs, and to procure perfect satisfaction to our minds, all the abovesayd persons of your most faithfull Province have with common consent sent us to your Serenity, to the end that by the blessing of God and the intervention of your autho∣rity, we may obtain the effect of our just demands and suffer no evil, having committed no fault. VVherefore we most humbly beseech your Sereni∣ty and this most happy and most Christian Repub∣lick, that seeing the affair, time, occasion and all things permit, you will vouchsafe to write to your most excellent Ambassadors renssiding at the Council of Trent assembled by authority of the Soveraine Pontif, and the Holy Ghost, that they with dili∣gence and Christian benevolence make instance to those H. Fathers chosen out of the most faithfull and learned of all Christendome, to obtain of them, that after they shall have considered with the eyes of Justice the words of my L. the most R. Patriarch in the said Homily, they declare whether the same be conformable to the sound doctrine of the H. Fa∣thers of the Catholick Church; to the end that by an assured and solid declaration of the H. Council we may quiet our consciences, which cannot but be in agitation and trouble so long as our irresolu∣tion therein shall continue. We hope this Remon∣strance by which we are so much oblig'd to you, will be very well pleasing to our H. F. Pope Pius 4 as a Father full of prudence and goodnesse, who will be most joyful to see so holy a conspiration in a whole Province affectionate to its Pastor; that he will acknowledge that this affection as well as this demand being a pure instinct of the H. Spirit (whose first Minister his Holinesse is) will be wor∣thy of his approbation and good will; and lastly he will find consolation in understanding the firm re∣solution which we have to live under the protecti∣on and true discipline of the H. Romane Church our mother: VVhich thing we plainly and faith∣fully manifest by our Zeal to render to our Pastor the honour and respect which we owe to him. By this meanes we keep farre from that Pest which uses to give the sad beginning to unhappy heresies, when inferiors (as the B. Martyr S. Cyprian te∣stifies) obstinately and contemptuously withdraw themselves from the Charity and obedience which they owe to their Superiors. And being thus stirr'd up with pastoral care, he will be also glad to instruct us by his Authority and that of the H. Council, in what manner we are to demeane our selves in these miserable times towards the most R. Patriarch. VVe have the more hope that he will do this, be∣cause we speak of the Patriarchal See of Aquileia which the Soveraine Pontifs his H. Predecessors stile the first after the See of Rome. He will not therefore suffer a member so important, so considerable and so neer himself to remaine injured by the malignity of the times, if this member be found alive and inno∣cent; since were it languid or infirme, he would not faile to comfort, heal and recover it, as God commands him by his Prophet. To conclude most Serene Prince, we have judg'd this way the most easie and ordinary, and that which may put an hap∣py end to our distresses and the many mischiefs wherewith we are threatned. Because the Sove∣raine Pontifs, (as S. Gregory that great Pope of∣tentimes did) whose judgements are inviolable Laws in the Church to defend the innocence and e∣stimation of good Prelates, or else to condemn the scandalous who would live contrary to the H. rules, have from time to time convok'd Councils by authority whereof they have maintain'd their inno∣cence and reputation of good Prelates and chastised the temerity of bad, stopping the mouths of all the world. And if our H. Fathers have assembled Councils to this end, the same thing will be done more easily without any inconvenience to the Church, now the most general and perfect Council is assembled that ever was since that of Nice. It be∣ing equitable both in regard to the nature of the af∣fair (which was not brought upon the stage at this time without some mysterie) and in considerati∣on of the interests of your Serenity, and lastly in respect of the particulat qualities of the most R. Pa∣triarch and his family, that his cause be exa∣min'd and terminated by the judgement and autho∣rity of our H. Father and the H. Council. VVhich if it be not done in this favourable occasion, form∣er examples tell us that we must look to remaine (to our damage) in a perpetual & pernicious irreso∣lution worthy of compassion in it self, and of the H. Council's favour; to which in Case of need we are willing to repair in order to manifest our faith, our charity and our necessity, and that of our whole Province; and we hope to find there, by the help of your Sublimity, all the favour and assistane which shall be needfull to so just and honest a cause as ours. As for our selves, most Serene Prince, being we have perform'd this duty with the utmost integrity, and with singular belief and firme hope that God will from above blesse our endeavours,

we beseech you to accept of our Zeal and humility, and to favour our humble requests (which imply nothing but affection and respect to the most R. Patriarch our Pastor and well beloved Father) with the same judgement and Charity wherewith your Serenety hath continually and unanimously cheri∣shed him and declared him worthy of all favour and of the greatest dignities: which you will the ra∣ther do because we imitate our Prince in our good desires and laudable intentions whilst we embrace what you have first solemnly approv'd by your most grave and wise judgement. We have no intent in all this to defend the cause of our Patriarch, which is known to you and all the world, as if it needed our defence. We agree with what S. Augustin saith, that the best cause is that which is approv'd without needing to be defended; & that the best establisht ju∣stice is that which is not supported by words but by the strength of Truth. Nor do we aime to deliver him from oppression; this belongs to God, and to Princes, whom he hath particularly commanded to deliver the oppressed. But the onely scope of all this discourse and writing is to render an eternal testimony of our respect to your Serenity, besides all that hath been spoken more amply and prudent∣ly by our Collegue. After which we have no more to do but to recommend our Pastor, our Country, the safety of it people and our selves to the Cle∣mency of your Serenity, whom we pray God to preserve in perpetual felicity.

The last day of July MDLXIII.

The most Illustrious and Reverend Legats and Presidents of the Sacred Council of Trent have by A∣postolical authority chosen the Fathers under writ∣ten to deliberate with them concerning the above∣said Letters and Apologie, namely whether the same be heretical or supected of heresie, or so ex∣plicated scandalous; to the end they may give their judgements thereof.

• The most illustrious Cardinal the Cardinal of Lo∣raine and Cardinal Madrutio.
• The most illustrious Ambassadors, the Arch-Bi∣shop of Prague, The Bishop of Five-Kirke, the Bishop of Primistelot, and the Bishop of Aux∣bourg.
• The Arch-Bishops of Granada, Brague and Rege.
• The Bishops of Eureux, Sees, Conimbra, Segovia, Modena, Livia, Arras, Campagna, Theano, Ipre, Namur, Leon, Tortosa.
• The Abots of Clacivaux, Auxbourg.
• The General of the Augustines.

All which Fathers diligently examin'd the said Letters and Apologie, and gave their opinions thereof.