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. XIII.

A Letter written from Florence to ex∣cuse my self absolutely from returning to Rome, notwithstanding my pro∣mise. My most considerable Obser∣vations at Milan.

VVHen I saw my self out of Rome, I had time upon the way to consider more at∣tentively the danger I had incurr'd, and was more astonisht at the project against me, then I had been when the several notices were first given me thereof. I scarce believ'd what I saw, and ad∣mired how I had escaped the danger, having been so near falling into it. I resolv'd positively not to put my self into the like again, for that it would seem a tempting of God to hazard my self anew to so evident peril. And whereas the reason which brought me off, was the Popes considering that I was ready to depart from Rome to return into France, I resoiv'd to write by the first Post, to make my most humble excuses to my LL. the Bi∣shops, from the promise made in my last of return∣ing to Rome if they appointed me; that so if they persisted in the design of sending some one thi∣ther, they might think, without delay, of some other then me.

Assoon as we arrived in Florence, I did so, and signified by those Letters of the 20 of April, not only that I should not return to Rome as I had pro∣mis'd to do, in case I should by the way receive or∣der for it of my LL. the Bishops, and the Letters to the Pope; but that I should write to a Father of the Oratory, a judicious, zealous and pious person, named F, Petit. (whom I had intreated to open in my absence such Pacquets as were sent to me, and to perform such things in my behalf as re∣quired haste, but could not see him after my re∣ceiving of that last intelligence) not to meddle with any thing, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 do ought of what I had instructed him, because considering the state of things not fit to be told at this time, it would not be safe ei∣ther for the cause or his person, for him (any more then for me) to do any thing whatever about this affair, without express order and authentick power.

I signified by the said Letters expresly, that this resolution was not to be alter'd; of which such as I should acquaint by word of mouth at Paris con∣cerning the grounds thereof, would be convinc'd; that however I hop'd the Pope would not hasten to determine any thing for all the sollicitations made to him; and I intimated among other rea∣sons I had for it, that dining with the Ambassador

the day before our departure, and in the Converse after Dinner having read the Bishop of Valence's Letter to the Archbishop of Tholouse, he heard it silenty till the place where M. de Valence expresses his fear, lest the affair were hastned at Rome, and the Pope determined it before it were well exa∣min'd; at which place the Ambassador who had abundant experience of the Popes resolv'd silence touching these matters, said these words, True indeed, 'tis well said; ha! he cares not; I have spo∣ken to him about it a hundred times, and could never draw one word from him.

I observ'd too both in these and my last letters from Rome, that if any Delegates came, it was ab∣solutely necessary, that they wholly abstain from the name of Jansenius, how well perswaded soever they were of the truth of his opinions and fidelity in explicating those of St. Augustine, and how ar∣dent soever they were for the interests of the par∣ticular cause of that Prelate; because if they should, there would not only be nothing gotten by it to his advantage, but they would also ruine the grand affair for which they were sent to Rome; That for certain, things were in such a posture there, since the haereo fateor, &c. that assoon as the name of Jansenius were heard out of their mouths, they would be in an inevitable danger of rendring the rest of their most just and necessa∣ry Remonstrances altogether unprofitable.

We were at Florence, and the parts adjacent near three weeks; partly in expectation of a passe∣port for Milan, which was there sollicited for us by M. Rinuccini Resident in that City for the great Duke of Tuscany. Thence we went to Bononia, Modena, Parma, Mantua, and after staying so long in those places as was requisite to see them and salute the several Dukes of them, we came down to Venice, arriving thereon Ascension day, whereon that famous Ceremony of renewing the Republicks alliance with the Sea, is celebrated. We departed thence for Genua through the Dut∣chy of Milan; all which State we saw, together with that great and goodly City which gives name to it. We were led round the great cover'd Galle∣ries on the top of the antient square Fortress in the middle, which commands all the Bastions of the new Citadel, which is so handsome, so regular and well fortifi'd. One afternoon we went to M. Stella, Canon of the Cathedral, who shew'd us his Closet so worthy to be reckon'd for a Rarity, not only in regard of the curiosities it contains, but also for the exquisite things made by his own hand belonging to the Mathematicks, the Op∣ticks, and Musical instruments which are in so great number, that there is about fifty several kinds made by himself, and which he knows how to use very skilfully. He shew'd us the great Ho∣spital, and the Seminaries built by S. Charles; and also the great Chrystal Shrine, in which his body still intire cloth'd with his Pontifical Ornaments, is so well preserv'd, notwithstanding the injuries of time, which hath begun to invade the eye-brows and the end of the nose, that he seem'd to me (by his left cheek, on which side he is seen) to have some aire of the pictures which passe about of him. But I cannot forget the particular courteousnesse of M. Rinuccini, who brought us to the knowledge of this Canon, and shew'd us many other civilities. He accompani'd us with the said Canon to the Ca∣thedral Church; the design of which is so vast, and the structure so magnificent, as well fot the Marble, of which it is all built without, as for the great number of exquisite statues about it in a thousand places. He conducted us into divers o∣ther places of the City. He invited us to dine with him a day or two after our Arrival, the Marquis of Caracena having sent him a very great fish on Thursday; we were desired to be at the eating of it the next day; but he season'd it, amongst ma∣ny other delightful things which came into dis∣course, with a question he made, which is worth the setting down here, to shew many Ecclesiasticks, who shall read it one day, the just reproaches which we sometimes deserve to receive from the people of the world. He told me, he wonder'd that almost all the Writers of this age employed themselves chiefly in two things; the one, in amplifying more and more the Popes power, and extending every day his authority much beyond the bounds which our Lord gave him: The se∣cond, in making men go as near as is possible to criminal actions forbidden by the Laws of God and the Church, and exciting them to commit the same with impunity, and without any remorse of conscience, by using all sorts of subtilties to sever from them the sinfulness which blackens them, and inspires a horror of them. He askt me how it came to be so? And he was not ill satisfi'd with my answer, which imported, That I wonder'd at it as well as he, and that his asking me the reason of it, was a sign that he knew it no more then I.