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. XVI

Passages at Paris towards the end of the year 1651. An Accusation made a∣gainst me by M. Grandin the Syndic at the instance of the Nuntio, as if I termed my self Deputy from the Fa∣culty. The Jesuites boast how they were confident the Propositions would be condemned at Rome. A scan∣dalous Libel of F. Brisacier the Je∣suit against the Nuns of Port-Royal, censur'd by the Arch-Bishop of Pa∣ris.

BEfore I enter upon the Narration of what pass'd at Rome during the first six months of the year 1652. there are three or four things worth mentioning here which pass'd at Paris in the end of the year 1651. That which hath most affinity with the former Story, is an Enterprise and Slander extremely ridiculous, which they contriv'd against me in the Assembly of the Faculty Novem. 4. no doubt out of a design to cloud and render uncertain the boldness of F. Mulard, who term'd himself a Deputy from the Faculty, by accusing▪ me formally and solemnly in that As∣sembly of having committed my self the same Im∣posture, to which they had induc'd and train'd that Cordelier.

When they dispatcht him from France to come and execute all their prescriptions in virtue of that Chimerical Deputation which they had given him by their own private Authority, and by which they hop'd to authorize all things which they instru∣cted him to say at Rome, they knew full well that I was set forth for France as I have above mention'd. They did not all expect my returning to Rome, or that there would be other persons there be∣sides me who would be displeas'd and concern'd for F. Mulards stiling himself Deputy from so famous a Society, and the knowldge they might have of his Life and Behaviour in the world, which gave him licence to speak any thing without any ones being offended or taking notice of it, undoubtedly made them presume, that this would be observed less in his person then in another; so that they lookt he should act absolutely and with∣out contradiction under that name in all the parts of his Instructions, and that neither he nor them∣selves would be liable to reproach for so foul a juggle: wherefore when they saw afterwards that their plot was contrary to their hope discover'd by my means, whether they were only led with in∣dignation against me for having searcht so far into their contrivance, and therefore aim'd to be re∣veng'd by falsly imposing that Crime upon me, of which themselves were truly guilty; or whether they only design'd to keep off from themselves that Infamy, and render it obscure and dubious in reference to themselves, by imputing the same to one who was likely to complain of it, and accusing him first, though they knew him to be very innocent; so it was, that they took a Resolution to accuse me of it in publick. Now that the accusation might seem the more plausible and better grounded, they would not be the Instruments of it themselves, but thought fit to make it more authentick by the considerableness of the Nuntio's person, which they made use of therein.

M. Grandin who had been chosen Syndic in M. Hallier's room in the last October, and was ac∣cording to custome to give his Thanks in the As∣sembly of the fourth of November, took this complaint for the whole Subject of his Oration.

He said. [as the Letter written by a Doctor, my friend, some days after that Assembly informeth me) that the Nuntio sent for him and the Sub-Dean the day before, to advertise them that M. de Saint Amand (he meant Saint Amour; for having consulted his paper, he said no more Saint Amand but Saint Amour; which consultation of his paper was from his Charity, which told him it might be M. de Saint Amour) acted at Rome in quality of Deputy from the Faculty of Divinity, in behalf of the cause of some, whom with a lower tone he named Jansenists. That the Nun∣tio desired to know the Facultie's mind upon this Advice which he gave them, and whether it were true that it had nam'd the said M. de Saint Amour for its Deputy.

To which M. Grandin added that it was very important that the Faculty took into consideration what he propounded to it.

Several Doctors who presently apprehended the maliciousness of this first proposal of the new Syndic▪ and were perswaded I was not capable of so shameful a falsitie, nor had any ground or need to commit it, hiss'd his Proposal, and de∣claim'd against the Deputation of F. Mulard, of which they had been advertis'd, saying, That that was it of which there was very great great reason to complain. When the murmur was appeas'd, M. Des-chasteaux Doctor and Procurator of Sorbonne (to whom I had written since my Re∣turn to Rome in regard of the remembrance I had of a like charge with as little ground against MM. Bourgeois and Duchesne, and desired him if the same were renewed against me, to declare in my name, that in case it were with the least truth, I consented to pass for the most infamous of men) advertis'd the Faculty of the Letter which I had written to him, and produc'd it at the same time in the Assembly. After the reading of my Letter, he and many other Doctors who were convinc'd of my innocence, said, that it was not requisite that the Faculty declar'd, not barely whether it had de∣puted me or not, but generally whether it had en∣charg'd any other with such Commission to act in its name at Rome about the matters then agitated concerning Grace. Great contest there was in the Assembly upon this Subject, some saying, that the Question was not concerning F. Mulard or

his Deputation, but to give an answer to the Nun∣tio; others on the contrary, that it was not ne∣cessary to answer the Nuntio, because his demand was grounded upon an Imposture, which was wholly visible by my Letter; That nevertheless it being true that I had in no wise usurped that quality, they would not hinder but the Truth might be known to all the earth; but being on the other side certain that F. Mulard had usurped it, it was necessary that upon the complaint made by Doctors who had proofs thereof at hand, the Faculty should declare the reality of the busi∣ness.

The design of the Doctors who complotted this Accusation, was to get the Faculty to declare, that it had not deputed me; which would have been an ignominious Note upon me, and given the pub∣lick and Posterity occasion to conceive that the Faculty had believ'd upon the Nuntio's Depositi∣on that I had been capable of that Falsity. But at length after long debate which lasted almost till noon, it was concluded, that MM. Messier and Grandin should repair to the Nuntio, and tell him that hitherto the Faculty had deputed no person to Rome, and that it was manifest that I had not taken upon me that Quality, by a Letter written to M. Des-Chaste∣aux who produced the same in the Assembly, which Letter the Faculty ordered should be shewn to the Nuntio. MM. Messier and Grandin when the As∣sembly was ended, went to deliver this answer to the Nuntio, and carried him my Letter. The Nuntio desir'd them to leave it, which they did. But M. Des-chasteaux being loth to loose such a proof of my Innocence, pray'd M. Messier to go next day to the Nuntio, and beseech him to re∣turn my Letter: He did so, and the Nuntio deli∣ver'd it without any difficulty.

'Tis remarkable, that though the words of the Faculty were general, and consequently ought in reason to touch such as had taken that Quality up∣on them, and brand them ignominiously, yet M. Grandin and the other Doctors that drew up the Conclusion, inserted in the draught only my name, and spar'd F. Mulards, leaving it to be presumed hereafter, that only I had given occasion for it. But assoon as I had receiv'd the Extract of it, which was sent me after it had been read again and confirmed in the Assembly of the first of Decem∣ber, I perceiv'd how I could make use of it, to re∣flect it back upon the face of them who alone de∣serv'd to bear the affront; As I shall shew when I give an account of the audience which my Col∣legues and I had of the Pope the 21. of January following.

The University also found it self interessed in the Conduct of the above said Cordelier, in regard of the falsities and injuries which they were ad∣vertis'd he spread against them in Rome; and they made a Decree in the ordinary Assembly of the Deputies, held in the Colledge of Navarre, De∣cember 2. by which it was resolved to write to me, and desire me to inform them the most punctually I could of all those falsities and calumnies. The Rector sent me that Decree, and join'd with it Letters of his own, wheredy he advis'd me to make complaint in the Universities name to some Judge, by putting in an information of the Lyes and Calumnies of F. Mulard, and then to pro∣duce my witnesses. But consulting with two Ro∣mans, men of great insight and practice in those matters; one told me that the business must be brought before the Judges Criminal, that it was no very ordinary case; that by reason of sundry disorders lately arisen in those Courts, he feared they would be shy of medling with it. The second told me, That the most proper Court was the Au∣ditor of the Chamber, where he conceiv'd, per∣mission would be easily granted to inform; but for sending the informations elsewhere, he be∣liev'd it would not be allow'd. That this was a mat∣ter of consequence, in which nothing could be done without asking the Pope whether he pleas'd to grant this particular Grace: Which difficulties consider'd, together with F. Mulards being re∣turn'd from Rome, and the Rector desiring no more informations then what he had since seen the day of that Decree (which I sent him) and I esteeming it more requisite to apply our selves totally to the prosecution of the grand Affair, in which all those Injures and Calumnies might be better quasht and dispel'd, then to this incidental Contest, which would withdraw so much attention from the principal; all the difficulties I say, and considera∣tions hinder'd me from fully performing (as I desir'd) all that the University recommended unto me.

The Canons regular of the Order of St. Au∣gustin having notice of the Examen intended at Rome about these matters in a solemn Congrega∣tion, assembled together to consult whether they should send thither one or two of their Fathers, in the name of the Society, in behalf of the interest which they took in the preservation of St. Augustins Doctrine; and they had already cast their eyes upon F. Fronto for the Journey. The General writ to Rome about it to their Procurator General, who shew'd me the Letter, and ask my opinion. I congratulated him and the whole Or∣der for so holy and Christian a care: I told him it might be very useful, and of a great example in due time; but I did not see all things yet in readi∣ness enough for the putting of that good and pious design in execution.

My Correspondent in behalf of my LL. the Bi∣shops writ a Letter to me dated, December 22. 1651. in which he seem'd to foretell in some sort, how the proceeding would be in this affair; as shall be seen hereafter.

Blessed be God (saith saith) that there are persons in the Colledge of Cardinals who understand the Truth in these Matters, though they be very few; but I am still afraid of the Romane Policy. Our Molinist Doctors (who have intelligence e∣very week from Rome) are very pleasant, when they say the Censure of the Propositi∣ons will speedily come forth, and that the Jansenists are made believe that the Pope condescends to the Letters of the Bishops who writ to his Holinesse against that of M. de Vabres, and will not passe Judgment of them at all. They adde that the first Pro∣position is censur'd already, and declar'd He∣retical▪ and that the others are under ex∣amination. That when the Censure is finish∣ed,

before it be declared to you, you shall be called for, to be heard in private, and after that, the Censure shall be publisht. Accordingly they are more briske then usu∣all. Be pleased to inquire into the grounds of this newes, which comes not from one a∣lone, but from many hands.

In the end of this year a Censure was past by the Archbishop of Paris upon a book of F. Brisa∣cier a Jesuite, intitl'd le Jansenisme confonda, &c. Jansenisme confounded. The Cause was for that the Author therein chargeth the Monastery of Re∣ligious Women or Nunnes at Port-Royal with a∣bundance of calumnies and scandals, so far as to accuse them of heresie in doctrine, and heinous disorders in manners: That according to the Rules prescrib'd to the Virgins of the H. Sacrament, there will be a new Religion made; that they shall be call'd Impenitents, Asacramentaries, Incommu∣nicants, &c. For which the Archbishop condem∣ned the said book as injurious, calumnious, and containing many lyts and impostures. He delar'd the said Nunnes pure and innocent from the Crimes wherewith that Jesuite went about to soile the can∣dour of their good manners, and traduce their inte∣grity and Religion, of which the said Archbishop de∣clar'd that he was assured with full certainty. This Censure he order'd to be publisht in all the Parishes of Paris, and caus'd the same to be print∣ed and fix'd upon the gates of all other Churc es. Which was perform'd with the applause of all good men, and a strange madnesse of the Jesuites, who had fruitlesly imploy'd all their credit to hinder the said Censure, which made them passe eve∣rywhere for publick calumniators.