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. III.

How we observ'd that the Congregation held at Cardinal Spada's house was only a part of the Inquisition. The Audience given there to M. Hal∣lier and his Collegues: the Letter which I writ thereupon to the Advo∣cate General Brignon. A Conference which I had with the Ambassador touching what had pass'd between us and Cardinal Spada.

THE foregoing Chapter contains the principal and most considerable Passages from the time of my being sent for to Cardinal Spada till the departure of the Pope, Jan: 27. Some small par∣ticularities remain not unworthy to be related.

Wednesday the 22. after our second Visit to Cardinal Spada, we went in the evening to adver∣tise Cardinal Ghiggi of what had pass'd in those two visits, and of the necessity of making the same answer the next day to that Cardinal which we had already given him. At first Cardinal Ghig∣gi would scarce hear us, but turn'd the whole car∣riage of the Affair upon Cardinal Spada who was (he said) Dean of the Congregation; but reiterating the Remonstrances, and beseech∣ing him to consider that we were come to beseech his Eminence to assist the justice of our demands, in case Cardinal Spada made report thereof to the Pope the next day, as we believ'd he would; he heard what we had to say with more patience, and more courteously receiv'd our request that he would be favourable to us.

On Thursday morning having been so late with Cardinal Spada that before his going to Monte-Ca∣vallo there was no time but for his Mass which was just beginning; and finding, as he conducted us, M. Hallier and his Collegues staying to attend up∣on him thither, we thought good to perform that duty to his Eminence as well as they, thereby to oblige him the more to be mindful of us and the justice of the things which we had represented to him.

As we were going down stairs, he caus'd his Maistre de Chambre to signifie to M. Hallier and me, that we should go in the Coach with him. This Doctor and I sat near together, and talkt peace∣ably: I put on the most free and cheerful counte∣nance I could, that the Cardinal might know that the justice of the things demanded by us, though he were not dispos'd to grant them, kept us from discontent and anxiousness about the issue.

In the afternoon we went again to our Advocate to tell him how things stood; after which he said, that according to the ordinary forms there was not the least difficulty in our affair, but he had heard that they would burlare gli uni & gli altri, delude both the one side and the other. Neverthe∣less he promis'd to visite their Eminences in our name, to make such instances to them as our af∣fair required, and to endeavour to know the rea∣sons which mov'd them to baffle us in that man∣ner.

In the Evening a Laquay of Cardinal Spada's addressed himself to us, to know M. Hallier's lod∣ging, which I told him, and believe he was to give him notice to appear before the Congregation on Monday following.

Being on Friday amongst the attendants of the Ambassador, I heard some Frenchmen say one to another, that M. Hallier and his Collegues said the day before that our affair was just going to be dispatcht, and that those Doctors believed it would have been ended that day, because the Cardinals Barberin, S. Clement, and Colonna went out of the Congregation of the H. Office before them which were of ours, and these, viz. Spada, Ginetti, Ghig∣gi and Pamphilio stay'd after the rest a whole hour with the Pope; but as I sent word in the above∣said Letter to the Bishops, it was only about the report which Cardinal Spada made of what had pass'd between him and us.

Saturday in the afternoon we visited M. Guef∣fier and gave him an account of all that had pass'd in our affair. He was highly pleas'd that we had had recourse to the Pope himself, and not to the Congregation of the H. Office. And the next morning he came to tell me that he was desirous to write into France that we were in danger of ac∣knowledging in these contests the Congregation of the H. Office, whose jurisdiction and authority is not own'd in France. I answer'd that we were far from it on our part, and I read the above-mention'd Letter, which he counsell'd me to send word for word as it was drawn to the Bishops to whom it was written; and pray'd me to inquire in the mean time a little more exactly whether the Congre∣gation was summon'd with the Title of the H. Of∣fice.

Monday the 27th. I went to see the General of

the Augustins, and recounted to him the last weeks passages in our affair. He was pleas'd therewith, and pray'd me to let him presently set down some∣thing thereof in writing, or promise to give him a Narrative, which I willingly did. At my request he shew'd me the Ticket for appointing the Assem∣bly to be held that afternoon at Cardinal Spada's Palace, and offer'd to give me a copy of it, ta∣king up his pen for that purpose; but bethinking himself he said It was best that I transcrib'd it my self for fear of some inconvenience. I did so, and these were the words of it. Die Lunae 27. Janua∣rii erit Congregatio Sancti Officii in Palatio Eminen∣tissimi & Reverendissimi Domini Cardinalis Spadae. Forthwith I went to M. Gueffier, to shew him what I had discover'd.

Afterwards I went to see F. Luca Vadingo, and his Ticket was wholly like the foregoing. In the afternoon I sent one to the Gates of our Cardinals to see if there were any left, and bring one to me if it could be done without offence, that I might have an Original written with the hand of the Cur∣sors of the H. Office. That which was fastned at Cardinal Ghiggi's gate was brought to me, contain∣ing the same words with the former, and these be∣sides on the backside, Sancti Officii, Eminentissimo & Reverendissimo Domino Cardinali Chisio; and within, before Die Lunae and the rest, Eminentis∣sime & Reverendissime Domine. I acquainted M. Guffier with all this, and he writ that day into France what he thought good; and for my own part, I did my Duty therein eight dayes after, by a Letter which I writ to M. Brignon, Fe∣bruary 3.

At the Congregation thus summon'd this after∣noon, H. Hallier and his Collegues were present; and all that I learnt they d••d there was intimated to me the same Evening by a Friend who was pur∣posely at Cardinal Spada's house to see what past there. He did it in the following Note.

The Congregation begun about three a clock. Your Adversaries ariv'd about a quarter of an hour before, and fell into talk with F. Campanella. When the other Qualificators and Cardinals were come, their Emininces retir'd into their accustomed chamber, the Qualificators into theirs, and the Molinists into that where the fire was. They did not enter where the Cardinals were at the same time as the Qualifica∣tors, because F. Palavicini was not yet come. On the contrary they went so towards the Stair-head that one would have thought they had been going away. But meeting that Father upon the stairs, they came back with him, and enter'd into the Congregation, and there stay'd till the Ave Maria. When they came forth, the FF. Tartaglia, Campanella, Celestin and A∣versa congratulated them; and so did F. Delbene in ceremony. This is all that I could spye or understand; The Ticket upon Cardinal Spada's gate was like that brought you from Cardinal Ghiggi's, so that there was no necessity of taking it, the great multitude also being there. I kiss your hands, and cause some good Souls to pray to God for you, that by his assist∣ance you may be victorious on Wednesday over your Adversaries.

The good Priest who writ this Note believ'd that we were to appear indeed on Wednesday accord∣ing to the Offer which he knew Cardinal Spada had made to us, and comming to see us the next day he wonder'd at our resolution and answer, that we could not appear unless upon the conditions above-mention'd; and the more, because he came to tell us from Monsignor Sacrista that he concluded by discourse with Cardinal Ghiggi that it was likely a Bull would be pass'd for condemning t••e Proposi∣tions, yet without hurting S. Augustin or Effectu∣al Grace. This good Priest was a little startled at this report, and blam'd us both from himself and Monsignor Sacrista of a little obstinacy. VVhere∣fore to justifie our selves to the latter, as we did immediately to the former, I went on Tuesday in the afternoon to him, and after some discourse on either part about the business, I told him that we were responsible only for the demands which we had made and still insisted upon; that the H. See was so for what it should do upon those demands; and that it was a strange preposterousness, to see the H. See deaf to the horrible accusations made a∣gainst the Jesuites, who outrag'd it by going about to engage it with themselves to dishonour S. Au∣gustin and hfs Doctrine, and that the same H. See was inclin'd to grant to those Reverend Fathers a condemnation of the Propositions which ••hey had contriv'd purposely to accompl••sh the trea∣cheries and outrages which they intended a∣gainst it.

The next morning I talkt with several persons at la Minerve about the same matter; and after they had heard me, the conclusion of the plurality was, that we had done well, and been mindfull of one of their Proverbs, That the Asse which suf∣fers himself to be laden at the beginning of the jour∣ney, must carry the same burden all the rest of the way.

The last visit which I made during this month to the Ambassador was upon Friday the 31. to∣wards Evening, to beseech him to explain to me a little more largely what he had told me the week before at his comming from audience concerning the Pope's good purposes to give us contentment, and to hear us in presence of our Adversaries. The Ambassador fell at first to speak of our Memorials, and did me the favour to repeat to me the particu∣larities which the Pope said to him thereupon, ad∣ding that we spoke a little too vehemently against the persons of whom we complain'd. I answer'd him that it was necessary to speak so; that never∣theless we did it with great circumspection, weigh∣ing all our words, and taking heed whether it would be easie for us to prove what we found our selves oblig'd to alledge. And to shew him more parti∣cularly all that we had said therein, I offer'd him a copy of them which he willingly accepted. As for the principal affair, he told me the Pope intended to have the Votes of the Consultors in writing, examine them himself, caus'd the Congregation held at Cardinal Spada's house to assemble before his Holiness▪ to dispute the same matters in his own presence which were debated there. That the ex∣amination ended, he would appoint publick pray∣ers, make a Jubilee, and other such solemnities, before the resolution which he was to take in this so important occasion. That he would also first assemble all the Cardinals with their habits of ce∣remony, Rochets and otherwise. That himself

would appear in his Cap, and cloath'd with his o∣ther Pontifical ornaments. In brief, that the busi∣ness would be very solemn. But that he (the Am∣bassador) could not tell me all that he knew, yet we should assuredly see the affair determin'd with perfect solemnity; that in the mean we ought to trouble our selves about nothing else, but to get ready to appear before that venerable Assembly, and represent all that we conceiv'd necessary for justification of the cause we defended, possibly too (as he hop'd) in presence of our Adversaries, that nothing might be wanting to our content∣ment or the discussion of the affair. I testifi'd to the Ambassador great satisfaction for the hope he gave me, and told him that course would be admi∣rable and afford great edification to all the Church, provided it were follow'd and put in executi∣on. He answer'd that I need not doubt of it, and that sometimes Popes, ill-lik'd for other reasons, perform'd extraordinary and impor∣tant things in which God's protection and direction was manifestly seen, and which oblig'd such as were otherwise not well pleased with them, to heap all sorts of applauses and benedicti∣ons upon them.

The Ambassador added that nevertheless he must advertise me that many at Rome disapprov'd our carriage. That it was mere disobedience that we would not be heard, except after our own fashion. That we had no reason to pretend a necessity of hearing us as Parties in the affair; That they would not so much as hear of that word; that there was nothing in the points, which concern'd the Faith; and that the aime both of the one side and the other was to seek the truth, and contribute what every one could towards finding it. I an∣swered the Ambassador that the Faith of every one being that which might be dearest to him, there was nothing in which he might be a party with more reason then when that is concern'd. That a man assaulted therein, had more reason to defend himself, then his goods, life and honour. That it was the most ordinary matter of contests that could spring up in the Church; and that if in other judgements it was fit to beware of suspect Judges, and to procure the observation of forms, more ought to be taken in such cases wherein a man's faith is in question. The Ambassador reply'd that the offers of hearing us in the Congregation ap∣pointed for our affair made us culpable of our own wrong; and since we would not accept them, per∣haps we would wonder that a Cardinal should come to him to make a publick Memorandum or Act of those Offers, and of our refusal and diso∣bedience. That consequently thereunto a Decree would come forth; and that for his part, he could not but give way to the Act demanded of him, and write into France how things pass'd. That verbal processes would be made at Rome of the whole transaction, enter'd into the Registers of the H. Office, and found there to the end of the world. I answer'd the Ambassador that the offers made to us of hearing us, were not pure and simple, no more then our refusals; but we were offer'd to be heard in a secret and private Congregation, in which there was a Secretary and Consultors, our profess'd Adversaries, in which they were to be Iudges, and we to be heard severally, instead of obliging our Adversaries to appear there in our presence to answer the accusations which we had to make against them, and also to produce their defences before us and their charges against us. That provided the Act were made not only of the Offer and our Refusal, but also of the cir∣cumstances pertaining both to the one and the o∣ther, it could never be but to our advantage and glory; but if the circumstances were omitted, and the Act nakedly enter'd into the Registers, I should endeavour (and I added that I had done it already) not to omit them in the Letters which I was oblig'd to write into France, to give an account of our negotiations at Rome; and I hop'd those Letters would become publick and remain monuments to posterity as authentick and permanent, and more credible than the Registers of the H. Office, since they would shew their defect, and want of fidelity and exactness. As for the Ambassador, if he were oblig'd to send word into France concerning the said Offer and Refusal; I hop'd from his justice and generosity that he would not deny my most humble request to send the circumstances of them too; as also to consider that 'twas no disobedience to request so just and necessary a thing of the H. See as we demanded, of being heard pro & con by word of mouth and writing in presence of our Ad∣versaries upon the matter in question; especially being oblig'd thereunto as we were, by the Com∣mission given us by the Bishops who sent us. That if the Pope had at first done us this justice and grace together, as we might have hop'd; or rather if the Declaration which he made to us by Cardinal Roma that he had granted the same to us, had been perform'd, we should not have been constrain'd to renew our instances so long and so often; but we had been oblig'd to reiterate the same, and endea∣vour to surmount all the difficulties lay'd in our way from time to time; and thus it was not through obstinacy but necessity that we acted in this manner. The Ambassador seeing me so cou∣ragiously defend our proceeding against his ex∣ceptions, told me, He was not alwayes so bad as he appear'd, but spoke all this to let me know how things were constru'd at Rome: and because the Pope and Cardinal Spada were wholly surpris'd and astonish'd at the resolute manner wherein I had spoken to his Eminence about this Subject. I an∣swer'd the Ambassador that in all I said to Cardinal Spada I did not think I had any wayes violated the respect which we ow'd to his Eminence and the H. See. The Ambassador reply'd that he had nothing to blame me for thereupon; but our down-right and flat refusal to appear in the Congregation a∣maz'd them, and that they lookt upon it as if we intended to give law to them, which they were wont not to receive from but to give to others. I told the Ambassador again that no Judges in any place of the world conceiv'd that the Parties conten∣ding before them had the least thought of giving them law, when they humbly demanded the fa∣vour to represent to them the merit of the cause upon which they were to pronounce; and besides that this seem'd to me a First Principle known by it self, and needing no proof, that the Commissi∣on of the Bishops who sent us was to us a Law which we might not transgress. The Ambassador answer'd me that if those Bishops were themselves

personally at Rome, they durst not act there as we acted; because there were means to reduce them, & in case of too much perverseness to depose them. I reply'd that it was strange that so much difficulty should be made at Rome to grant to us and those Bi∣shops a thing which had been formerly so easily granted to the Dominicans and the Jesuits in a like contest under Clement VIII. and Paul V. in the Con∣gregation de Auxiliis. The Ambassador answer'd me that they knew at Rome what was done in that Congregation, and had the Acts of it. I reply'd that we had them too, and knew as well as they all that pass'd therein: which the Ambassadour took as too confidently spoken, because it imply'd that we paralleld our selves with them. Then he askt me for an example of any Saint, who refused to be present in a Council as we did to be in this Congregation. I instanc'd in S. Chrysostome, whose Festival the Church had celebrated but four dayes before. Yet he said we should do well to appear there, because if we were heard severally, perhaps it would be a means to oblige them to hear us afterwards in presence of our Adversaries. I an∣swer'd him that nothing hinder'd but they might do it at once, if they had any such intention; and that moreover perhaps the case would be the same as with our Writings which we had fairly present∣ed upon a full confidence that the same would be communicated without any difficulty; and yet we could never obtain the communication of them, whatever instance we had made for it. The Am∣bassador said that perhaps the reason was, because we had demanded it with too great earnestness; that they would communicate them when we de∣manded it no more, and least thought of it. That they would do things after their own fa∣shion, and not be forc'd to any thing. That they were the Masters, and would have it ap∣pear so.