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. XI.

Notice of my being in danger to be put in∣to the Inquisition. Of the Molinoma∣chy of Aurelius Avitus. The Expli∣cation of Haereo Fateor. Such as were thought inclinable to defend Jan∣senius, remov'd from the Assemblies of the Inquisition. An Audience of the Pope.

I WAS advertis'd about the same time that I was in danger of falling into the like my self, for that (as he affirm'd who gave the notice there∣of to the Gentleman my companion) in the vi∣sits which I had made to the Cardinals I had spoken too freely of those sentiments which passe at Rome for Heretical; that in reference to these matters there needed no more then a single Hear-say to cause a man to be apprehended and put in a safe place, that is to say, in the Inquisition; that when any one is once there, it is not easie for him to get out; and therefore I had great reason to take heed to my self. He who came to give this notice was a Jesuite, and at this time perform'd the office of Secretary for France to his General, and with whom I being frequently in company together with that Gentle∣man who had been recommended to him by some Letters of his Confreres in France I had contract∣ed some acquaintance and friendship; Which ne∣verthelesse I did not believe so great, as to be more prevalent with him then the interests of his Society, and I scarce doubted but that he came to give me this intelligence by contrivance of his Confreres, either to frighten me, or for some o∣ther reasons. However, this Father was thank'd for the kindnesse which he profess'd to do me; but withall he was given to know, that finding my self culpable of nothing, I feared nothing; which yet did not hinder but that, there remaining not a∣bove three weeks to the time set down by us for our departure, I was more wary of my self then formerly, for fear of occasioning the crossing of our designs, by giving any hold against my self. We began to take our leaves, and to buy such lit∣tle curiosities as we minded to carry from Rome into France: amongst divers fine Prints which I had from a Graver there, I bought also five sheets of Paper, upon which there were above a hundred pourtraicts of several Jesuites who were Canonis'd thus, as having shed their blood for the Christian Religion, amongst whom this was in its order, Pater Henricus Garnetus Anglus Londini pro fide Catholica suspensus & sectus, 3 Maii 1606. None in the world is ignorant that he suffer'd there the punishment of death for the Powder-plot, of which he was accus'd, con∣victed, and acknowledged himself guilty before he dy'd; insomuch that out of his resentment of his fault, upon some reproaches made to him as having pretended in committing it to attain to the glory of Martyrdom, He answerd, That it was a thing unheard of for Traytors and Parricides to be ranked amongst Martyrs, Nunquam audi∣tum fuit parricidam esse Martyrem; as it is re∣lated in these words, if I remember aright, by a well known Author who writ the History. These Prints, which are alwayes sold at the Sign of the Eagle near the Church of S. Marcellus, with per∣mission of the Superiors, I took with me to make use of, one day, against those who have thought fit that the Houres should be condemn'd, because in one of the Editions M. de Berule is found in the Calendar with this Letter B. which signifies Blessed, a title which the Censors of that excel∣lent Work affirm is not lawfull to be given to a∣ny person but by the authority and approbation of the Pope, whilst at the same time they suffer the title of Martyr to be given publickly and without contradiction for these forty yeares to persons dead in the greatest infamy, and for the most enormous crimes.

Cardinal Barberin did us the honour to visit us on the 25. day of March; amongst other things we talkt of the Molinomachie of Aurelius Avitus.

The Cardinal ask'd me what was the subject of that Work. I answer'd him, that it was written con∣cerning the Jesuits pretence that the Propositions condemn'd by the Bull of Pius V. agreed with the Doctrine of Jansenius; that it shew'd with won∣derfull solidity, and invincible clearnesse, that such pretended agreement was indeed none at all but impertinent, and maliciously and falsly alledged by the Jesuits; that their artifices and horrible ca∣lumnies in all that businesse were laid open by the Author of the said Book. Amongst others I told him of the 22. pretended Agreement, in which the Jesuits recite this Proposition out of Pius V's Bull; Deus non potuisset ab initio talem creare homi∣nem qualis nunc nascitur. I told him, that I had found true what the Molinomachie said thereof; namely, that Jansenius having mention'd it in his Book as an Objection to be clear'd, and according∣ly clear'd it very solidly, they have taken it out of that place, as if Jansenius had written and affirm'd it as of himself, without setting down the words foregoing, which shew that he mentions it as an Objection, but suppressing all that the Bishop alledgeth to shew that it hath been condemned in the sense wherein it is taken by Pius V. but that this sense makes nothing to that of S. Augustine, which he recites and explicates. The Cardinal profess'd himself surpriz'd at what I said, and could not imagine (though upon my affirming it, and engaging my self to shew it him, he believ'd it) that 'twas possible for men to resolve upon such black falsities. But for the better understand∣ing of the businesse, he put to me the usual difficul∣ty above-mention'd, which the Jesuits make use of to discredit Jansenius upon all occasions; namely, that objecting the said Propositions to himself, he saith, Haereo, fateor, sed quid ad Doctrinam S. Au∣gustini? as if Jansenius oppos'd the Authority of S. Augustine to Pius V. and Gregory XIII. And indeed he propos'd it, as thinking to presse me with this instance; but I told him, that this was also one of the cheats of that Bishops enemies, and was likewise laid open in the Molinomachie; that Jansenius did not thus close up his discourse; that it was an intolerable wickednesse to suppresse the remainder, by which he explicates this Propositi∣on, and reconciles the H. See with it self, and that with very great care, esteem, and veneration; that the intire place ran thus, sed quid ad Doctrinam S. Augustini clarissimam invectissimam{que}, quam toties probavit & sequitur, sequendam{que} monuit Apostolica sedes? that he did not rest there, but a little after added and put to himself this question, as out of all likelihood, namely, Whether the H. See can be contrary and opposite to it self? to which he answereth, that this absurdity cannot be affirm'd; and then shews that the H. See really agrees with it self, and that the Doctrine of S. Augustine, approv'd by the Popes, hath nothing of affinity with the Propositions condemn'd by Pius V. and Gregory XIII. This reply clear'd and sa∣tisfi'd Cardinal Barberin, who rejoyn'd nothing further.

The minds of many in constant imployment at Rome about matters of Doctrine, were so possess'd with aversion against the Bishop of Ipre, that they would not admit of any thing that might contribute to the clearing of his intentions, or to his justifica∣tion. M. Albizzi (as I have since understood) effected some time ago, that F. Lucas Vadingo, Superior, and in a manner Founder of the house of S. Isidore, in which are the Monks of S. Francis all Irish, one of the Consultors of the H. Office, a man of singular piety and very great parts, was fain to absent himself from the Assemblies of that Congregation, only for saying; That it was requi∣site to examine Jansenius's Book, and to let it passe current after having retrencht out of it what was reprovable, if there were any thing which deserv'd such correction. And the F. Abbot Hilarion, of the Order of the Bernardins, some time after his composing the Book I mention'd above, in which he noted the different senses in which the Proposi∣tions might be taken, receiv'd an order from Car∣dinal Spada to repair no more to the Congregati∣ons where those matters were handled. The manner of it was thus: The Cardinal told him, That it was not necessary that he should be present any more at the Congregations held about this affair. F. Hilarion answer'd, That he was oblig'd to obey his Eminence. The Cardinal reply'd, That he did not say that, but only intreated him that he would think good to repair thither no more. When F. Hilarion gave me this relation, he told me, that the Cardinal spoke this to him be∣cause it had been his advice that the sense of Janse∣nius upon the Propositions might be examin'd and explicated. And as for F. Lucas Vadingo, that he receiv'd an expresse prohibition for it, by the in∣trigues and solicitations of M. Albizzi.

F. Campana, Procurator General of the Domi∣nicans, preach'd this Lent at Rome in the Church of S. Peter, and it was the third or fourth Lent that he preach'd there, it being usual to be retain'd Preacher of a Church not for one year only, but for many, till some occasion obliges him to desist from that imployment. I went to hear him as often as I could: He was an excellent man, and I was much edify'd by him. I was there on Tuesday in the Passion week, and he gave notice of a Ser∣mon about Predestination for the Wednesday fol∣lowing. But what? (said he) many will say 'tis a nice subject, and not meet to be preach'd of to the people. O, answer'd he, S. Augustine is not of that mind, who saith, That Praedestinatio Sanctorum populo Christiano praedicanda est ut qui gloriantur in Domino glorientur. I return'd thither on Wednesday, and he made a very good and solid Sermon upon that subject.

The Gentleman with whom I was, and my self, had resolv'd to depart immediately after the cele∣bration and ceremonies of the Feast of Easter; and that we might not be delay'd by an audience which we wish'd to have of the Pope before our depar∣ture, we solicited for one at the end of Lent; which on H. Monday we obtain'd, and the Pope treated us with very much gentlenesse, courtesie and familiarity, for half an hour. I twice turn'd the discourse as much as I could to things border∣ing upon the contests of the times, to give his Ho∣linesse occasion to enter upon them, but he hand∣somely kept off them, and we spoke not one word thereof far nor near.

I much wonder'd at this time at the Pope's close∣nesse upon the two occasions which I gave him of speaking of things which belong'd to my pro∣fession,

seeing in the audience I had had of him five years before, in the company of the Abbot Bassompiere now Bishop of Xaintes, the Marquis of Marevil Brother-in-Law to M. de Angoulesme, M. Sanguin the Son, first Master of the King's Hous∣hold, and the Abbot Bontemps, now first Vallet of his Majestie's Chamber, the Pope left none of the contests risen amongst Catholicks without speak∣ing something to me of them, and giving me occasi∣on himself to tell his Holinesse my thoughts there∣of, though the company was then much more nu∣merous, and he had lesse cause and time to fix his discourse with me then he had in this occasion, be∣ing only with that Gentleman. So that I could not attribute his reservednesse and silence in these matters to any thing but to the resolution which it was told me he had so often made of not hearing any speech thereof at all, for that they did only trouble him without any benefit; and perhaps this consideration had some place at this time. But after I understood, as I am going to relate, that I had been accused to him for one of the most zealous of those whom they call Jansenists, and that there had been found one who defended me from that reproach: I conceiv'd the principal reason of his silence was, to know who had spoken true, my ac∣cusers or my defenders; and that he would let me go on alone without replying any thing on his part which might give me occasion of speaking, to see how far my zeal (of which complaints had been made to him, which I knew not of) would lead me. Since my understanding of which, I ac∣counted it my great good fortune that I kept with∣in the bounds of the respect and circumspection which I owe to the head of the Church, and spoke nothing to him of the affaires which concern it, and are above my reach, without his giving me an invitation to tell him what I knew thereof, which I should have done in this case in all Christian since∣rity, and according to the measure whereof I am capable.